“He came out of nowhere!” A man cries out as he flees down a Magic Town street. He cradles his daughter in his arms and looks back at his saviour: a man, a tall man, in a long black coat. He has really good hair.

Angel assures the man that he’ll be fine. Not that he asked. “I’ve got this! Just stand back and…”

But the vampire is grabbed by the throat. The hand that grabs him is green and clawed. It belongs to a large, scaly creature, far more amphibian-looking that human, with gills for ears. It roars as it locks eyes with Angel and then pushes him away, with a slam to his face.

This is enough for Angel, who puts his game face on, his fangs glinting in the light. He growls and charges at the creature, hitting it square in it’s stomach – and his blow bounces straight back at him. The creature looks at him, as if he was just tickled, and simply swipes his giant arm in the vampire’s direction, sending him spiralling backwards into a concrete slab. The creature walks towards Angel and then begins to speak – with a clearly Welsh accent!

“Listen to me, Angel. You strut up and down these streets like you’ve been elected Protector of the Bloody Realm. Well, I didn’t vote for you, mate.”

He picks up the vampire, once again by the head for some reason Angel is dreading, and the vampire tries to move, but can’t. He braces himself for the blow as the creature raises his claws above his head.

“Hello. What’s all this then?”

The demon suddenly stops, much to Angel’s relief and confusion. The creature sees a swirl of rocks floating around him, shimmering with a blue energy. It looks kinda pretty. “What? Who’s doing this?”

But the stones keep on swirling, and stop being pretty when they begin to hit him, seemingly on purpose, in the head. He drops Angel to the ground in an effort to shield himself, but the pebbles keep hitting him, lashing at him even harder.

Trying to remain triumphant, whilst looking silly defending himself from pebbles, the demon lurches away from Angel, and begins to move, quicker with each step, away from the street.

“Bugger this! I’m not sticking around to get pelted by ghost bricks,” are his final words to the vampire as he runs off, clearly irritated and confused, especially when one larger brick hits him in the face for good measure.

As soon as the demon is gone, the stones drop to the floor, harmless and discarded, as if they’d never moved. The man lets his grip on his daughter go slightly. The girl comes rushing to a few metres from where Angel is bruised on the floor. She looks up at the woman who seemingly saved them. “You’re so pretty. Did you make the monster go away?”

Standing there, her hands encased in the same blue energy, is former Sunnydale resident Amy Madison. She smiles down at the girl, affection in her face. “Of course I did.” Her hands stop glowing as she approaches the girl now and crouches until she’s at eye level. She looks in the girl’s eyes, and brushes the girl’s hair back, behind her ear. It’s only now that the battle has ended that Angel notices the girl has green skin. “Because we pretty girls have to stick together.”

The girl smiles, sweetly. “My name is Claudia. What’s yours?”

“Amy.”

As Angel rises to his feet, he catches a glimpse of the witch from behind and, once he’s heard the name, walks over to her slowly. “Wait. Amy Madison?”

Amy hears his voice and prepares her smile before she turns. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it Angel?”

“What are you doing here?”

Amy grins. “You mean other than helping these fine people.” Angel can tell by her voice and the grin that she wants something else. “Yes. Other than that.”

She looks at Angel now, the grin gone. Now, she has sadness in her face and a look of contrition. She points to him for a moment. “Fact is, Angel, I need your help.”

Angel just stares at her in confusion.

In Suriname, in South America, at a covert US military installation, a boat has pulled into the docks. A group of women, DeepScan Slayers, leave the boat and come ashore, listening to orders from their commanding officer, Tonia Marsh.

“And stay together, ladies. I don’t want to have to go looking for anyone when it’s time to launch.”

Faith Lehane is walking with the other Slayers, and looks at the only one she’s familiar with so far, Mai, from her rock star mission. “We’re on a secret base in the middle of the jungle. Where does she think we’re going?”

Mai smiles. This is not the first negative reaction she’s seen to their leader. “Don’t mind Tonia. She might seem a little wound up, but she runs a tight ship and gets the job done.”

On the edge of the dock, a soldier approaches Tonia, whose shades protect her eyes from the sun. “The truck with your equipment is coming around ASAP, ma’am. I’ve got a detail assigned to load it for you.”

Marsh shakes her head at him, bluntly. “Negative, Private. That’s our stuff and I want my people to handle it.”

The soldier doesn’t look happy, but it’s not worth the loss of privileges and doesn’t argue with her. She’s their guest in this after all. As he leaves her side, Tonia Marsh, clearly a consummate soldier, yells further orders in the Slayers’ direction. “Mai, front and centre.”

Mai is as dedicated as Marsh, Faith notes. “Right here.”

“Supervise the loading of our supplies and extra-ammo. I don’t want it buried under everyone else’s junk in case we need it fast. Faith!”

Faith isn’t sure how to react to the cry. Does she salute? She decides to test the waters and simply replies with a casual “Yo.” If this annoys the commanding officer, it doesn’t show on her face. She doesn’t react at all. She just orders Faith, matter-of-factly. “Walk with me.”

Walking through the camp, Tonia briefs Faith on what she knows about her. “Kennedy assigned you as my next in command. I respect Kennedy too much to second guess her. But I will anyway.” She looks at Faith, briefly, but they carry on walking.

“If this is the ‘keep your nose clean’ speech, can we skip ahead to where I salute and assure you I’ll mind my p’s and q’s?”

Tonia stops for a moment, trying to get their relationship off to a good start. “No. This is the ‘give you a chance’ talk. Maybe find out who I’m working with, unless you just want me to judge by your reputation. Rejected by the London Slayers. Recently lost a well-paying rockstar client…”

Faith sighs. “Point made. You have questions, fire away. I’m an open book.”

Tonia gives her a look, like she would have done so without permission. “You quit DeepScan and then un-quit when had a shot at this mission. Why?”

Faith looks away from Tonia, but just as soon looks back. “Just personal reasons.”

Marsh stops now, outside a tin hut hastily set up as a makeshift command centre. “Do you know why Riley Finn is missing, Faith?” Faith shakes her head. It wasn’t in the file.

“Against orders, Finn ran off into the jungle to search for his wife when she vanished. Finn had his reasons, sure, personal reasons. And that didn’t work out, did it? So, I need to know what are you looking to get out of this?”

Faith looks down at the ground and then straight at Marsh. “Just to find Riley. So, my motivations won’t cross DeepScan’s objectives. But I fouled up once. I owe the guy.”

“And rushing off into the jungle to rescue him will square you, huh?”

“I don’t know. I just want to look him in the eyes and see what I get back.”

Tonia smiles a faint smile, but then instantly reverts back to commander. “Good enough. For now. Come on. We’re late for the briefing.”

Inside the hut are two soldiers, one with a scar up his face, the other looking remarkably young. A young woman with shoulder-length black hair, wearing glasses, is also with them. In between them is a large rectangular table, one which Faith suspects is the biggest they could fit in the cramped tin shelter. There are windows, but in the South American sun, they create a sweltering heat, and a fan is blowing, desperately groaning with age, in the corner. The scarred gentleman sees Marsh and Faith enter. The other Slayers are already gathered. Faith takes a place next to Mai as the man starts to speak. “Good. DeepScan is here. We can get started.”

“Ladies, I’m Major Billings, representing Uncle Sam.” He turns to the woman on his right. “This is Reese Zane of Zane Pharmaceuticals.”

Marsh extends her hand to the woman, but not the Major, Faith notices. “Tonia Marsh, ma’am. I’m DeepScan unit leader.”

Reese Zane takes her hand and shakes it rigorously, with a look of relief on her face. “Thank God you’re here. After the way the military has botched things, I’m glad to have some professionals onboard.”

If Billings is annoyed, his tone doesn’t give it away. “Your father’s company is funding this expedition, so we respect your right to bring in any experts you deem necessary. Also, I was surprised to find out how much influence Mr. Zane has at the State Department. Maybe we should start the briefing.”

Zane impatiently turns to the soldier. “Very well.” She picks up a control that activates screens around them. It’s a history of the family.

“My father, Walt Zane, started Zane Pharmaceuticals in his garage some twenty-six years ago. He had a Ph. D in Chemistry from Cal Tech and enough ambition for ten men. Now the company is one of the leading innovators in experimental medicines and biotech. We’ve had good luck with discovering new plants deep in the South American jungle. The extracts have helped us make breakthroughs with everything from Alzheimer’s to Lupus.”

As a picture of her father a few months ago pops up on the screen, Reese sighs. “My father decided, foolishly in my opinion, to lead this current expedition himself. Please understand that I love my father dearly, but it’s well known he’s something of a camera hog.”

“Zane Pharmaceuticals made nine billion in profits last year. We are poised to take the company public in three weeks.” She places her hands on the table in front of her and stares directly at everyone, making sure she looks all of them in the eyes. “So Walt Zane dead in the jungle is not an option. My father needs to be found quickly, discreetly and alive. Major?”

Billings grunts as he moves to take her place with the controller. A map of the local area flickers to life. “The US military was tasked with providing an escort for Dr. Zane’s expedition. Everything was going fine until a few days ago when we lost contact with them. The jungle canopy is thick that far in, and satellite phones have trouble connecting sometimes. But when they missed two scheduled calls, we dispatched a follow-up team, fast.”

Another click. This time a picture of a woman Faith knows of, but has never met. “Samantha Finn led the follow-up team. She was ready for anything, but at that point we were still thinking it could have been a simple communication problem. When Sam’s team failed to report, we were forced to assume something more significant was happening.”

Faith steps forward, questions ready. “And that’s when Riley went after his wife.”

Major Billings looks at her. His eyes lock with hers. “Yes, I’m sorry to say. I understand his feelings, but we’ve already lost enough people. Running off half-cocked isn’t how we do things.”

Faith takes in the info, nods and then presses for more. “So what are the possibilities here? Native hostiles? Jungle cats? Big-ass anacondas that swallow you whole?”

Billings chuckles, almost under his breath, and then changes the map again. “All of the above and more. Miss Marsh, we’ll take your team downriver and unload them here.” A point on the map lights up, brighter than the rest. “From there we go on foot. It’s your show, but I imagine you’ll want to eyeball the camp first and see if anyone’s still there. I’ll ride along as military liaison.”

Reese talks louder now, declaring her intention to join the mission. Billings says it’s for her own safety more than anything – he hasn’t got the back-up to leave her behind – but he also says he’s not in favour of taking her. However, he adds, he has his orders and that includes deferring to DeepScan – and it’s to them Reese has appealed to.

Shortly afterward, as the team prep for departure, Mai has been searching for Faith. She finds her at the shooting range. “Sorry. Didn’t know I was missing.”

Watching her friend’s progress, there’s a smirk on Mai’s face. “I’m guessing nobody ever taught you to shoot.”

Faith turns, seriously. “I’m getting better.”

“Really?”

Faith chuckles. “Nope.” She asks Mai if she’s here to give her some shooting lessons, but Mai says no. However, if they’re going to be out there in the jungle, she would at least prefer Faith works on her aim.

But no, she wants to talk about something else. And she’s quick to the point about it. “So, you and Finn, what’s the story?”

Faith smiles. She saw the question coming. “The boss lady already tried to get that story out of me.”

Mai looks at her and then softens. “Then tell me. We’re all supposed to work side my side, but we hardly know you. I’d prefer not to march into the jungle with a stranger.”

Faith turns to her now and sighs. She closes her eyes for a moment, thinking back to the last time she saw Riley Finn. “Okay. You get the short version.”

“I didn’t know Riley very well. Just long enough to do something bad to him. He trusted me because, well, let’s just say he thought I was a different person. If you’re guessing magic was involved, yeah. So anyway…”

She’s surprised by Mai’s hand on hers. She moves Faith’s fingers to the right position on the pistol she’s still holding. “Breathe and squeeze.”

“What?”

Mai moves behind Faith, shows her how to hold the gun, where to stand, lining her up with the target. “Breathe easy then hold it right when you shoot. Squeeze the trigger. Don’t jerk it.”

Faith sighs. She knows this and doesn’t like the weapon in the first place. “I know. They told us that the first day. Basic stuff.”

But now Mai moves and raises Faith’s arms with hers, aiming her shot. “Knowing isn’t the same as doing. It’s practice you lack, not knowledge.”

She then holds onto Faith as she fires. Mai smiles and Faith can feel it on the back of her neck. “Better.”

In the underground demon bar, underneath the oldest streets in London, somewhere beneath Magic Town, a large green insectoid creature is about to lose his temper at someone sitting at ‘his’ bar stool. “That’s my seat, you little…”

Then the demon turns the person around and backs away quickly, raising his hands and apologising profusely. “Oh, Angel! It’s you. No offence, mate. Sorry. Let me get you something.”

The insect turns and yells for the barkeep. “Rory! A pint of the black stuff for my boy, Angel, here!” He places his hand on Angel’s shoulder, trying to be friendly, but the vampire doesn’t look at him. He just warns him.

“Hands off.”

The demon lurches backward again, nearly knocking the person behind him off his feet. “Right then. I’ll let you enjoy your beverage.” He scuttles away, narrowly avoiding the wall as he moves, frightened.

The person who had almost collided with the creature takes a seat next to Angel at the bar. Angel recognises him instantly. “Well well, if it isn’t the Sheriff of Magic Town. I sense a less than sunny mood.”

“Hello Brandt. Let’s just say I had a rough night.”

“Yeah, I heard you went a couple of rounds with Catfish Bob.”

Angel considers the amphibian that he met earlier. “Is that what they call him? Fits.”

Brandt goads him slightly now, with a playful skip in his voice. He already knows the score, Angel knows. The human just wants him to say it. “Also heard you had a little help. Someone who rides a broom. We got us a new player in town?”

Angel smiles. Of course. A new power arrives and everybody panics slightly. “Nobody you need to worry about.”

Brandt waves at Rory, who nods. “I know you feel responsible for the folk around here. Hell, we both know you’re more than equipped to handle this lot than I am. But technically, I am Her Majesty’s lawful representative around here, so I should really stay abreast of current events. Throw a fellow a bone, eh?”

Angel doesn’t look at him straight away and is careful what he says. “Just somebody from the old days. She was looking for a favour. I told her I wasn’t in the favour business. So she’s probably miles away by now. I wouldn’t worry about…”

As Rory delivers Brandt’s drink, he also looks at Angel and points to the far end of the bar. The dimly lit side. “Your appointment is here, Angel.”

Angel looks up, confused. He hadn’t arranged anything. “My appointment?”

He and Brandt look in the direction Rory pointed in and see a blonde woman sitting at the table, who waves at Angel cutely. Brandt looks at him. “You were saying?”

Angel sighs and gets up slowly. “Guess I’d better look into this. Catch you later, Brandt.”

As he leaves the detective and arrives at Amy’s table, he glares at the witch. “I should have known you’d be more persistent.”

Amy smiles. “You’d just been slapped around pretty good by an ugly fish monster. I figured I’d wait and make my pitch later, when you were in a better mood. You could at least hear me out this time.”

Angel doesn’t say anything. He waits for her to speak. Amy looks at him and then leans in closer. “I heard you successfully brought Giles back from the dead.”

Angel laughs aloud. “Well, you glossed over the part where it was incredibly hard and almost backfired a dozen times. And the results weren’t exactly textbook. But yeah.”

Amy waves her hand at his comments. “Minor glitches. Sounds like on the whole you did a bang-up job. Which is good, because I’m going to need to know how to do that.” She bends down beneath the table and pulls up a jar. It has a red, crimson liquid in it, all congealed together. There’s a label on the jar, a name scribbled on the side.

Angel pulls back from the table as Amy places it down. He looks at it and then back at her, disgust on his face.

“Is that… Warren?”

In Suriname, the Slayers and Billings, along with Reese Zane, have approached the shore they needed by boat. As they hitch ashore and unload their gear, Marsh gives them their orders. “Let’s lock and load, people. Nell, you take point. Mai, you’ve got our six. I’d like you nice and safe in the middle, Miss Zane.”

The civilian doesn’t argue. “Works for me.” As Nell moves towards the foliage of the deep jungle before them, she finds her path and motions back to the others. Marsh nods and then yells at everyone else. The sun will fade soon and they need to be through the jungle first.

As they walk through the jungle, with Nell ahead, they look cautiously around them. Faith listens. The jungle is teeming with life all around her. She’s waiting, knowing something is coming.

Nell, a little too far ahead Faith thinks, reacts to something ahead of her and removes the safety catch from her rifle. She whispers back at Marsh, who comes towards her silently.

“I think there might be something…”

Suddenly a man comes from the foliage. He’s silent, doesn’t say a word, but he’s too quick. As Nell fires her weapon, he dodges the bullet, but his spear pierces straight through her chest. Nell is dead in seconds.

Suddenly a tribal group come from the foliage all around them. The Slayers are surrounded, as Marsh yells out a warning to the troops. “They’re on both sides!”

As another Slayer falls to another spear, Faith disarms one, takes his spear and cracks him around the head with it. Another tribesman sneaks up behind her, preparing to spear her through the back, but Marsh yells, delivering a fatal shot to him before he reaches Faith.

For a minute, it’s chaos as bullets fly everywhere, taking out several tribesmen. Faith senses something else though, something in the jungle.

As Marsh yells at the team to regroup, she shouts in horror as a tribesman comes towards her, bullet wounds in his chest. That distracts her enough. He grabs a hold of Tonia, too quick for him to move – and then sinks his fangs into the commanding officer’s neck. She drops to the floor, drained and dead, the vamp licking his lips. Faith looks over at Marsh’s body in shock.

“Vamps,” she whispers.

Faith picks up Marsh’s weapon, slightly bigger than hers and takes over, with no hesitation. She yells orders at the team. “They’re vampires! Take off their heads!”

One Slayer turns to her, confused. “But daylight!” But Mai taps her on the shoulder, reassuringly. “You heard Faith! Give them Hell!”

Each Slayer raises their rifle and fires at the tribesmen. Several of the tribesmen, caught in a barrage of silver bullets, are dust on the spot. Some get their spears in the air before the Slayers can react.

In the pandemonium, Reese Zane stumbles as she tries to remain away from the vampires. However, one grabs her by the arm, looking at her hungrily.

She screams out, desperately trying to move away. A voice from behind the vampire gets his attention and he spins around.

“Excuse me?”

As he turns, Faith shoots him point blank in the head with a silver bullet. “Nuh-Uh.”

The vampire squelches into dust around Reese’s face. As the Slayers regather in the centre and survey the battle site, Billings tells Faith that the rest of the vampires are fleeing.

But the Slayers aren’t looking in his direction. They’re all staring at the body of their commanding officer, at Tonia Marsh’s corpse on the ground.

They all look down in silence.

Billings comes forward. He decides to pull the plug on the mission, ordering the Slayers back to the boat. Reese is indignant, yelling at him. “You aren’t in charge.”

Mai interrupts her, leaving Reese with another disappointing look. “No,” she says, staring at the two and then sliding up next to her friend.

“Faith is.”