The
Chaos Factor
By: Schehrezade
Rating: R
Warning: Extreme Language, Sexual Situations, Violence
Feedback: Craved in the most unbecoming manner: Bad_Rude_Man@hotmail.com
SO many girls to thank for their help in
betaing!
Firstly megan_peta for her unending patience and stellar betaing, she
has worked like a trojan to get this fic tidied up and ready for
posting. She is a true gem *hugs*. Secondly to my fellow co-conspirator
lmbossy who has battled through illnes and a trip to Vegas to beta
chapters as well as create all her exceptional artwork for the fic and
her contributions for today - I can't wait to see these as I haven't
been given a sneak peek this time! And finally just_sue thank you for
all your hard work on chapter six, betaing has never been so fun ^_^
lmbossy and I brainstormed the premise for The Chaos Factor on the
flight back from Atlanta, once we were back in UK we researched
extensively and discovered alot of brilliant gods and iconography for
chaos which I have pulled into the fic - we had so much fun thinking up
the entire thing. We both hope everyone enjoys the fic?
Prologue
The cell was lit with a single fluorescent strip sunk into a recess and
covered over with heavy-duty bars; it flickered on and off,
illuminating the slumped form of a man. The slight buzzing hum of the
light was just another added irritation that the incarcerated man had
adjusted - to eventually. He could hear the screams and unearthly howls
of his neighbours, both mortal and demonic, as they rattled the steel
reinforced doors of their cells trying to escape the government
sanctioned hellhole they resided in.
Ethan Rayne lay still on the hard mattress, his face turned to the wall
as he resolutely ignored the three figures peering in through the small
window in the door to his cell. He was used to the constant
surveillance and discomfort; the cameras were on 24/7 and every
movement and breath taken was documenting. His sessions in the 'White
Room' were also documented. Ethan snorted. As if anyone could forget
the pain of those sessions. His entire body was black and blue from the
beatings that were disguised as training sessions.
He threw one arm over his face, using his forearm to block out the
annoying flickering of the light and mentally consigned Ripper to the
seventh level of Hades; it was his fault he was stuck here being beaten
and tortured. His and the whey faced girl who was his charge: the
Slayer.
He was never going back to Sunnydale again! Every time he went there he
had his arse handed to him, but this last time had been different. The
Fyarl-shaped Ripper had been ruddy funny, but the long-term
ramifications to himself were not. He was currently residing in a
mystical prison at the US Government's pleasure.
"Bloody Slayer, bloody – bloody Ripper," Ethan grumbled under his
breath. He was stuck in some army controlled hellhole, and the poking
and prodding had gotten old about three minutes after they had decided
to give him a full medical. He had spent the rest of his time locked
up. Once, he'd woken up from a dreamless sleep with a pounding headache
and no memory of why the back of his head had been shaved. Ethan
shivered slightly and curled into a ball. His sardonic features were
for once immobile as he lay there counting the lines he'd carved into
the cell wall.
"Oh, this is so thrilling. It's just like visiting Arkham Asylum. All
these long corridors, grim looking guards and windows into cells
containing freaks and monsters. Actually it's just like the office,
what fun!"
Ethan shifted slightly at the sound of the woman's voice; he refused to
look round and add to her enthusiasm.
The army doctor ignored the elegantly dressed, tall brunette's comments
and checked his clipboard. To his right stood the C.O of Area 51. "Sir,
are you sure you want to release the inmate to her?" His youthful face
showed his disgust. "A lawyer for that firm?"
The grey-haired general with a standard military crew cut nodded
resignedly. "Yes, the authorisation for prisoner transfer has come from
up high. We're getting a good exchange." He bit his lip, trying to
refrain from adding that the entire organisation had essentially been
held hostage by the woman's firm, with an offer that no one in their
right mind could refuse. The medical ramifications of the exchange
would save countless lives.
The woman in the grey suit nodded; a lock of her shiny hair slipped
across her face and curled under her chin. Her red lips parted in a
malicious smile. "Oh come on. Your government is getting a good deal.
Five Nesarlin demons for a puny human, the money you guys are going to
get on patents alone from those demons will more than level the
National debt problem." She paused and gave them a calculating smile.
"Well, that's if you can work out how to get the fluid out of their
organs to cultivate the universal cure for you know what."
The General ignored her needling. "Open the cell up and get Hostile 598
ready for transport."
Ethan scrambled to his feet as the doctor pulled him off the bed and
cuffed him with the magic inhibitors that he had gotten to know only
too well. He let himself be dragged out of the cell and finally looked
up into the suited woman's amused eyes. Something sparked inside of him
– hope. Evil was vibrating off the woman and it tickled the back of his
neck, sending shivers of anticipation down his spine. If she was here
for him, then things were about to get interesting.
"Mr Rayne, good to finally meet you! Our firm has followed your career
for quite sometime with great interest. Some of your more recent
sojourns on the West Coast were slightly inadvisable, but the Senior
Partners have reassured the US government that from now on you won't be
going anywhere near Sunnydale." She reached around and looped an arm
through Ethan's and urged him to walk down the corridor. "Come on,
you've got an appointment with some of my superiors." Lilah Morgan
grinned at the silent chaos worshipper, enjoying his stunned amazement;
she loved it when she was in control and about to unleash untold
mischief on the world. From her reports, the skinny guy as her side was
going to be an asset for her client in ways Rayne had only dreamt
about. "We have so much we need to get you working on for us." She
reached up and tapped the back of Ethan's head. "Once we get rid of
that pesky problem."
The general gritted his teeth; part of him was itching to reach for his
side arm and take out the slimy magic user. He still couldn't believe
his orders, to release such a dangerous individual into the general
public under the aegis of some L.A based law firm. This wasn't going to
end well...
A/N I know not Spuffy yet but I had to set the scene and get some
villians into play - commenty goodness would be fab! There are more
chapters to come today so settle in and hopefully you will enjoy this!
Writing Ethan has been great fun and a massive challenge as I have
never tackled the character before!