Teaser

 


 

 

Originally broadcasted 1/3/06

Fade In:

Int.

Darkened Room – Late Afternoon

A man was writing something down on a legal pad while a young woman spoke with a hint of nervousness in her voice.

“I think I just reacted. I mean. I saw Willow trapped. Faith in trouble, or what I thought was trouble and…I just wonder if she hates me now. Ken, I mean. We’re the daring duo, she says. The last two left from Sunnydale, well, you know, the newbies anyway.”

Vi sat in a chair and nervously played with the end of her shirt.

“So, you and Ken are close?” Dr. Millenti asked.

“Yeah, or we were. With Ken it’s hard to tell. Sometimes she’s all quiet because something’s got her in a bad mood. I’m just not sure if it’s because Gregor’s gone or…”

“Or what?” Millenti asked, when Vi didn’t continue.

“Or because I’m the one that killed him,” she said quickly. “And that’s what I did. I killed him.”

“And how does that make you feel?”

Vi took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

“Willow said it was an accident, and Rowena said she felt sorry for me. She knew what it feels like to kill a person, a couple of them over the years, and Faith, well, she pretty much said the same thing…Xander, well, he said I made the right call and it’s Gregor’s fault he’s dead. But it’s his job to stick up for me, I guess, being my boyfriend and all.” Vi grinned briefly at the thought.

“And Kennedy?”

“Ken, she hasn’t said much of anything, actually.”

“And what do you say?” Millenti pressed. “Have you killed before?”

“Lots of demons yeah, but, no people; no humans.” Millenti simply looked at Vi with sympathy. “I mean, I didn’t want to kill him, it just happened. But I thought he was gonna kill Faith, and truth is, he would have, or at least put her in some hell dimension, so yeah, I made the right call,” she said defensively.

“I’m not here to judge you, Vi,” Millenti told her gently. “I’m here to talk, that’s all.”

“I’m not sure what good that will do. Talking won’t bring Gregor back. It won’t make Kennedy stop being mad at me and hating me the rest of her life and me losing the one friend I had left in all of this.” Vi began to tear up. “And it’s not going to take away the fact I killed someone. That someone is dead because of me. My job is supposed to be to help and protect humanity. Not take it away from people. But…the way I see it, any way you look at it, I failed. Because that’s exactly what I did.”

Millenti said nothing at first. “The reports claim that you and Kennedy both fired at Gregor.” Vi nodded. “But yours happened to be the one that hit him.” Vi snorted with a small melancholy grin. “What?” Millenti asked.

Vi shook her head. “Irony.”

“What about it?” Millenti asked.

“That morning at target practice, Ken and I were ripping on each other. It’s a slayer thing,” she added, as a quick side note. “I claimed to be a crack shot and she said I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. Later that night, turns out I was the one who was right, because…I raised the crossbow, aimed and fired. And now her uncle is dead, and I’ve lost a best friend. I’m…I’m sad, and yeah, I’m angry. I wish the son of a bitch never showed up. If he hadn’t, then he wouldn’t be dead and Ken wouldn’t hate me and I’m pissed that he did that – to Willow, Faith, Kennedy and me…I guess that makes me pretty selfish, huh?”

Millenti gave her gentle grin. “That makes you human.”

Vi began to tear up again and Millenti handed a tissue her way, which she accepted just as she began to cry.

Fade To:

Int.

Kadin’s Cabin – Gameroom – Night

The cue ball smacked into the eight ball, sending it spiraling into the corner pocket. With a perfect back spin, the cue ball spun away from sinking in after it.

Kadin slowly stood up from leaning over the table and smiled. “Well, that was…entertaining.” She looked down at the completely clear table. “Although, I guess it’s more fun when you’re not playing by yourself.” She let out a sigh and leaned her cue against the nearby wall, then reached down to pick up her beer off the edge of the table.

Just as Kadin lifted the bottle to her lips to take a drink, a quiet thud caught her attention. She pulled the bottle back from her lips and listened intently. When no other sound came, she lifted the bottle to try to take another drink.

The thud was louder this time, and Kadin nearly spilled the beer down her shirt when she jerked it back from her lips. “Dammit!” She placed the bottle back on the edge of the table and reached over to grab a hand towel to wipe the dribble from the front of her shirt.

The third thump was even louder than the last.

“Fine!” The hunter threw the towel back onto the table. “I get the picture, all right?” She shook her head as she quickly left the room.

Cut To:

Int.

Watchers Council – Kennedy’s Apartment – Moments Later

Kennedy rolled over in bed and let out a deep sigh. She glanced over at the bedside clock to see it was nearly two a.m.

The slayer closed her eyes and tried to will her body to sleep, but after a long moment without success, she finally relented. Throwing the covers back, she got out of bed and headed for the kitchen.

Cut To:

Int.

Kadin’s Cabin – Study – Same Time

“Okay,” Kadin began as she pushed open the door, “whatever baddie you are that decided you just couldn’t wait to break into my house, I hope you…” Her words died away when the faint glimmer of a silver light caught her attention. She stepped more fully into the room before slowly making her way over to the small chest that was lying open on the floor.

Various papers and medallions spilled out all along the hardwood surrounding the chest. Intrigued, Kadin bent down to sift through some of the clutter. “What the hell is all this?”

She searched through the contents until her eyes landed on one of the papers that looked the oldest. She reached down to pick it up and began to read over the words.

Kadin’s eyes grew more focused as she read the lines.

Dearest Kadin,

If you’re reading this, I’m no longer with you. I can’t really say that fact surprises me, it seems as though each member of our family is destined to meet an early and rather unfortunately timed death.

Kadin paused to consider those words. With a sigh, she began to read again.

How I wish I could have met you. Your mother was on the phone with me every day, telling me how smart you were and how much you were growing. I wish I could have been here in person to tell you just how important your life is about to become.

“My life?”

Yes, Kadin. Your life. Your life is more precious than you may think. If I’m right, by now, you are the only Van Helsing left. That, my child, is about to become the single most important thing in your life. I wish I had time to explain, but all you need to know is contained within this chest. Be safe in your journey, my dear Kadin, and remember, I am always with you.

With my deepest love,

Your Great-grandmother,

Ella Van Helsing

Kadin stared at the paper a moment longer before slowly dropping it back onto the floor. “Okay,” she nodded slowly, looking around at all the other papers. “So this is one of those…magic things. I get that…but what the hell am I supposed to do with it?”

Cut To:

Int.

Watchers Council – Kennedy’s Apartment – Same Time

Kennedy poured some hot water into her cup and placed the kettle back on the stove. She picked up a spoon and stirred the tea bag around in the liquid, the color quickly changing to a murky brown. The slayer sighed and lifted the cup to her lips, breathing in the aroma. She wrinkled her nose.

“Smells like crap and tastes like it too,” Kennedy grumbled as she took a sip. “Must be good for you.” The slayer placed the cup back on the counter and braced her hands against the edge. Staring down into the swirling black liquid, she sighed.

Cut To:

Int.

Kadin’s Cabin – Study – Same Time

Kadin still sat in the middle of the floor, with the papers spread out around her. She was sifting through the mess when the sudden flash of silver light underneath another of the old looking papers caught her eye. The hunter reached down and slowly lifted the paper away to discover a silver circular medallion. In the middle was the indention of what appeared to be the interwoven letters “V” and “H.”

Kadin kept her eyes on the medallion as she reached into her shirt and pulled out the necklace her father had given her. Her eyes darted between the interwoven “VH” she wore around her neck and the silver medallion lying on the floor. They appeared to be a perfect fit.

“Just what I need,” the hunter groaned, “more creepy magic stuff.” Kadin reached down and picked up the circular medallion, pulling the necklace from around her neck at the same time. She held her necklace hovering over the medallion, hesitating to place them together.

Just as she was about to pull them completely apart, she felt the necklace suddenly yanked down onto the medallion. Her hands jolted from the unseen force as the two silver pieces clanged together.

“Okay…oww.” Kadin dropped the now complete medallion onto the floor in front of her, shaking both her hands and rubbing them on the material of her pants.

The medallion began to glow. At first it was a low, burning white light, but then it began to get brighter and more fluorescent. Kadin paused with her hands still resting on her thighs as she gazed down at the glowing medallion. “What the…?”

Before she could finish her sentence, the white light became blinding and flared up right into her face. The hunter flew backward, as if by an explosion. She was propelled back several feet through the air. Her head slammed back into the floor. She remained where she fell, unconscious.

Black Out

 

 

End of Teaser