jedibuttercup

PG-13; B:tVS, DOOM. 400 words. (Next in the Handle ID Slayer ficlet series).

They knew what they were facing now, but would it be enough?

Title: Research Data
Author: Jedi Buttercup
Disclaimer: The words are mine; the worlds are not. I claim nothing but the plot.
Rating: PG-13
TtH Prompt: #63 - Computer
Summary: They knew what they were facing now, but would it be enough? 400 words.
Spoilers: B:tVS post-"Chosen"; "DOOM" (2005)
Notes: Movieverse. Sixth in the Handle ID Slayer flashfic sequence. Events are now happening out of sequence, but the action is far from over.

"You're sure about this?" Sarge demanded fiercely, looming large in Buffy's personal space.

Somewhere in the back of the lab, something crashed; Reaper acting out on the machines, she guessed, as the flatline sound reporting Goat's death abruptly cut off. "We're sure," she replied firmly, refusing to budge.

Sarge's gaze moved over her shoulder, his lip curling in anger. "What were you people working on up here?" he snarled.

"I-- as far as I knew, we were analyzing bones and artifacts," Sam said shakily.

"As far as you knew?" Sarge responded, incredulously.

"He, he has C24 in his cells-- but we were never going to do human studies--" Sam stuttered.

"C24?" Reaper spoke up, intensely. "You mentioned that in the genetics lab-- what were you downloading, Sam? What were you sent to protect?"

"The research data!" she replied, voice thick with tears.

"Research into what?" Buffy asked, glancing back over her shoulder at the visibly distressed siblings.

"Wait, wait," Portman interrupted, moving away from Goat's quiescent body to kick at the wrapped corpse on the floor. "You're telling me the scientists made these fuckin' things?"

"Shut up, Portman," Sarge ordered. "So where's the data now, Dr. Grimm?"

Sam produced a chip-disc from a pocket with a trembling hand. The team gathered around her computer to watch as she inserted the disc-- then stared, transfixed with horror, at the sight of Dr. Carmack injecting a convicted criminal with a mysterious clear substance, coolly monitoring and reporting on the onset of the man's mutations.

"Genesis, chapter one," Reaper commented grimly as the file closed.

"Was this everything?" Sarge asked, glaring at Reaper, then Sam.

"I have three more downloads," Sam replied.

"Then do it," Sarge ordered. "Slayer, Duke, with her. Reaper, Kid, pairs; cover formation, sweep the corridors. We have two scientists left unaccounted for, plus Stahl. Destroyer, you and Portman go to the airlock; arm Pinky. Nothing gets back through the Ark."

Reaper looked like he wanted to argue, but it was Destroyer who spoke. "Where you goin'?"

"I'm going to the armory," Sarge answered, an anticipatory gleam in his eyes.

Buffy watched warily as he left. They knew what they were facing now, but would it be enough? Buffy had no way of knowing, bar another Slayer dream, and that wasn't good enough. As soon as Sam was finished here, she was going to move her-- orders or no.

-~-

(x-posted to