3rd Person's POV
Jenny and Giles are preparing, lighting candles.
"The first thing we have to do is form the Circle of Kayless, right?"
"Form the Circle-- But there's only two of us. That's really more of a line."
"You're not getting it, Giles We have to form the Circle inside. I'm putting out a flash. I just hope enough of my group responds."
"Won't Moloch just shut you down?"
Jenny shakes her head, "I'm betting he won't figure out what we're doing till it's too late."
"'Hoping' and 'betting'. That's what we've got."
"You wanna throw in 'praying', be my guest."
"I'm going to check on Laney for a moment."
Jenny nods as Giles leaves the office. He starts to make his way towards the table but sees its empty. He stops in his tracks and looks around the library. He walks around the bookcases but still nothing.
Hurrying back to the office he starts to freak out.
"What's wrong?"
"She's gone."
Jenny frowns, "Well why is that so bad. She's independent she should be fine."
"She's too independent and I'm sure she has a concussion. I bet she's gone after Moloch also. I've got to reach Buffy."
"W-hat why would she- wait why do you care so much? Why would she go after the demon?"
"Willow is her sister... and I just- she's very special to me. I see her as my own dau- she's just is. They all are. Don't tell them I said that... I'll never hear the end of it."
Jenny nods with a smile, "You're secret is safe with me. And just think if she did go after the demon so did Buffy. So she'll be okay."
Giles nods still somewhat nervous.
Buffy and Xander enter the building. They see the door marked ROBOTICS LAB 02 and head for it. Buffy tries it and it's locked as well.
She frowns, "I can't bust this. This is heavy steel."
"Then let's find another way in--"
Just as Xander speaks a the lights go out, emergency lights casting a dim, eerie glow. A loud K-CHNK of a deadbolt lock echoes throughout the room. Xander runs back to the door they came in through-- it's locked.
"What's going on?"
Buffy spies a security camera in the corner of the room.
"The building's security system is computerized."
Xander smiles sheepishly, "Whoops."
Red lights start flashing-- and jets of gas pour down, start filling the room. Xander and Buffy are staggering, the room filling with gas. Buffy slams herself against the door in an effort to get out.
She falls to the ground coughing as the room fills up more and more. Looking over she sees Xander also on the ground. She starts to freak out trying to figure out how they are going to get out of this one.
Suddenly the door swings opens. Buffy smiles widely as the figure helps her and Xander out the room.
"I thought you were on bed rest."
Laney looks at Buffy with a grin as she holds herself up on the wall, "Yeah well... my friends and sister need me so..."
"Thanks be careful."
Laney nods as Xander comes to. He coughs some more then looks up at her and Buffy.
"What are you doing here?!"
"Saving your life apparently."
Xander frowns, "True... thank you. But you need to be careful."
"So I've been told."
Buffy leads the two down the hall to another room. Xander follows as he helps Laney down the hall. She holds her head and groans, making him glance at her in concern.
"You okay?"
"Yeah I think..."
They make their way to Buffy who kicks open the door. Willow whirls as they pour in.
"Buffy! Laney?!"
Moloch comes at Willow-- Buffy runs and does a flying kick to his chest, pushes him back but not over.
"Ow! Guy's made of metal."
The scientist grabs Xander from behind making Laney instantly whirl around and back hand him then hold her head.
"Ow... is the room spinning? Why is the room spinning?"
Xander punches the scientist who then falls to the ground. Then he holds onto a discombobulated Laney, moving her away from the Moloch guy. Buffy grabs Willow and they make for the door. Moloch moves between them and the door-- then stops again, clutching his head.
"No! I will not go!"
He raises his head. His eyes glow brighter than they ever have.
The four are headed for an open door-- when they see the security guard and two other scientists running toward them from the other side of the door. Buffy shuts the door on them, locks it.
"Let's go this way!" Xander says as he takes off down the corridor still holding Laney.
"Wait--"
Buffy looks down the corridor-- and Moloch smashes through the wall right behind her. He grabs her and throws her against the other wall. She sinks to the ground as he approaches.
"I was omnipotent! I was everything! Now I'm trapped in this shell..."
He reaches for Buffy, who is still dazed.
"Malcolm!"
Moloch turns and Willow smashes him in the head with a fire extinguisher, speaking through gritted teeth.
"Remember me? Your girlfriend?"
She smashes him in the head again.
"I'm thinking we should break up."
SMASH!
"But maybe we can still be friends."
She brings it down again-- only this time he grabs it. Throws it and her away-- she flies back right at the nearby Xander and Laney, knocking them all down.
Moloch turns back to Buffy, who has gotten shakily to her feet. She punches him once in the stomach area. Bad idea.
"Ahhh!"
"This body is all I have left, but it's enough to crush you."
He advances-- she steps back, looks around for an avenue of escape.
There is no escape-- she's backed into a corner. Right behind her is a giant fuse box with the legend DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE on it.
She backs up another step, faces Moloch.
Buffy smirks, "Take your best shot."
Moloch pulls back his arm-- drives his fist at her-- and Buffy does a perfect split. She drops right out the line of fire as Moloch slams his fist right into the fuse box.
He starts to shake, to smoke as Buffy rolls out and comes up next to him.
"Hurts, doesn't it?"
He turns to her, smoke pouring from his eyes like fury. She takes a step back as he starts to spark. She turns and runs.
"Get down!"
Buffy dives to the floor alongside Xander and Willow as Moloch explodes.
It takes a moment for the smoke to clear. When it does, the three look around.
By their feet lies his lifeless head.
"Well I'm glad that's over." Buffy says as she gets to her feet.
She frowns looking at the unconscious Laney. Willow looks at her sister then touches her forehead.
"She's burning up. How are we going to get her home?"
"I got her."
Willow moves as Xander easily picks up Laney's body.
"Oh well that works."
The gang walk out the building in silence until Willow looks at them with sad eyes.
"Thanks for saving me guys. I'm sorry. I didn't know Malcom was a demon... I was just so happy someone was interested in me finally."
"Willow... you are beautiful, smart, and funny. The right guy will come along before you know it. And hey it's okay that was... uh fun."
Willow laughs as Buffy grimaces. Xander nods at Willow agreeing with Buffy.
"Yeah plus I got to hit someone!"