Equinox - Prologue

Disclaimer - The character belong to Joss and Paramount im just using them for my own wicked sense of pleasure.

Authors note - This is going to be my epic fic which im currently still writing. I have four chapters so far but im not gonna post them until i know someone wants to continue reading my work so feel free to leave comments.


A few well-placed branches covered the entrance to the tunnel system, making it almost impossible to spot had it not been for the high tech equipment Lara had Bryce pack for her.

“Here, this is where we get in.” The rest of the motley crew joined her helping move the branches aside to reveal what looked like a solid stone gate. Etched into it were symbols Egyptian in style, nothing Lara had ever seen before. Taking out her mobile and the mini camera from her rucksack she took photographs of the inscriptions as she dialled Bryce.

“ I have some pictures I’m sending you, I want you to run them through the language computer. Call me as soon as you’ve done.” Lara hung up the phone and turned to the others stood behind her.

“Wow all those gadgets, must make your life pretty neat.” Buffy said as she walked passed Lara, wanting to check out the gate for herself.

Faith took hold of Lara’s forearm stopping her from replying to the petty comment made by Buffy. Giving the ‘ she’s not worth it look’ A few minutes passed before the sound of Lara’s mobile broke the uncomfortable silence.

”Bryce, what have you found?.”

“The computer couldn’t find anything conclusive. It has each symbol representing a different language; not all of the symbols have been translated yet. Some of them it doesn’t even acknowledge as a language, So far they all mean one word.” Bryce paused.

“ And the word is?.” Impatient in her tone.

“Well they all mean OPEN but like I said not all of th…” His voice cut off as Lara hung up on him.

“Right. The symbols on the door all translate as OPEN so there must be a switch or button here.” She said putting away the mobile as she spoke to the group.

Lara joined Buffy at the doorway shining the torch onto it looking for any signs of a switch. Xander, Anya, Willow and Faith all climbing over the branches they had moved to join the girls in the search.

”There, shine the torch on that symbol, the one with the rock and the weird thing sticking out of it.” Xander almost shouting with excitement that he found the switch “The light disappears into the cracks.”

Lara shone the torch over where Xander had pointed.

“Well done X man.” Faith gave him a cheeky smile.

Lara pushed on the symbol; it gave in to the pressure, taking a step back as the door crumbled and disappeared before them. When the dust cleared they all went inside, following the narrow pathway that gently sloped down, opening up into a cavern various sub tunnels running off in different directions.

”Well this could take some time.” Lara’s voice echoed through the hollow space.

“ Well fresh it’s not.” Willow said covering her mouth to stop the smell penetrating her senses.

“ There’s a lot of ground to cover, so how about we split into two’s and take a tunnel, The quicker we get this done the better. I don’t like how easy this has been so far. For something that is supposed to be SO powerful!” Buffy added sarcastically.

Almost as if oblivious to what Buffy had said Lara and Faith were already paired off and heading for the tunnel directly infront of them.

“ Twenty minutes guys! We meet back here.” Buffy shouted after them.

“ Yeah whatever B.” Faith didn’t look back.

Willow and Buffy took the tunnel to the left, Xander and Anya to the right.

“ She still barking orders, Fuck she really pisses me off. Thinks she’s all that, trying to be top dog.” Faith grumbled to herself.

“ You know she doesn’t mean to, she thinks she has to protect everyone. Actually I think she’s jealous of you.” Lara offered in Buffy’s defence.

“Me? Why?.” Faiths face had the look you’re bat shit crazy.

Lara stopped walking and faced Faith “ Well you’re a slayer too but you don’t let it define your life. You have a good balance going. You slay, you have fun you don’t let it take over the important things in your life. It’s like a job to you and I don’t think Buffy knows how make them two separate parts of her life”

Faith suddenly grabbed Lara and pulled her to her side as she kicked a vampire about to pounce on her. In the blink of an eye Faith had pulled a stake from her boot and threw it hitting the vamp in the chest reducing him to ash.

“ I was a little slow there.” Lara smirking at the speed of Faiths reflexes.

“You good? Thought it wouldn’t stay quiet for long, come on we gotta move, There’ll be more along soon enough.” Faith picked up the stake from the now dusted vamp and led the way.

Walking deeper down the tunnel the light from their torches expanding as the walls widened. This ended at a ledge fifty-foot from the cavern floor and only five-foot wide

“ Shit. I don’t see any way down, and there’s something over there on the floor. What else you got in that utility bag Croft.”

“Oh just a few essentials you know lipstick, mascara and a few bits of climbing gear.” Lara’s sarcasm amusing them.

Lara shot Faith a wicked evil grin as she took the harness and rope from her backpack. Securing the pins into the wall and harnessing herself she turned to Faith “You got back?.”

“Always.” Faith replied

Lara stood at the edge and threw a flare down into the depths, After a quick check to make sure there was nothing lurking in the shadows she began her decent. Faith alert and on guard covering her from above.

“How ya doin.” Faiths voice echoing down to her.

“Great I’ve found the floor feels a little softer more earthy down here, I’m going to check it out over there. Pull the harness up and come on down”

“ Ok boss lady.”

Lara took off the harness clipping it back on to the rope for Faith to use. As she made her way carefully toward the rear of the cave she lit a flare and threw it ahead of her, not wanting any nasty surprises she readied her guns. The flare rolled lighting the darkness as it went disappearing as it fell down into a void. The hole wasn’t deep as it gave her enough light to see its size and if there was anything lurking nearby. The ground softening underfoot she bent down crawling on her hands and knee’s. Wary it might collapse she lay flat on her stomach levelling her weight as much as possible, army crawling to the edge. Peering over she could see the flare not far away crackling and smoking against another tunnel wall. Hearing movement through the earth behind her she rolled over onto her back, hoping that it was Faith joining her, instead she found herself staring at what looked like a vampire. Its naked skin was pale, hairless and leathery its hand and feet webbed with long sharp claws. The smell emanating from it was foul as it stood growling and hissing at her.

“Well hello.” Lara drew her guns from her side and started shooting she knew it wouldn’t kill it but she did want to move it back enough to get to her feet. Not caring so much if the floor caved in she flipped herself up unloading both clips into the thing that was about to eat her. The gun emptied, she stopped firing and grinned not bothering to reload. Instead she stared at the thing before her and let out an amusing hmmm sound. The beast hissed and snarled bearing it’s elongated fangs as the holes mended themselves spitting the bullets out to the floor.

“ Hello dinner” the beast rubbed it’s hand over it’s stomach. “I’ve never seen anyone smile before I eat them” the longer fangs gave the monster a slight lisp.

“That’s because I know something that you don’t.” returning the guns to her holster she folded her arms across her chest and cocked her head slightly to the left “ How hot my wife looks when she’s angry.”

The beast turned in time to see Faith land the roundhouse kick to his head knocking him to the floor. Pulling out the stake she had tucked into her belt and plunging it into his chest, expecting him to disappear in a puff of smoke. When he didn’t she took a step back toward Lara. A puzzled look on her face.

” Aren’t they supposed to go poof?.” Lara quizzed.

“Yeah they are” came the snappy reply. “Think Damn It”

Then Faith grinned.

The beast sat up shaking the fuzziness from his head and snarled at the double meal. Faith took the dagger from her boot and threw it at the beast landing him square in the forehead, stopping him from any further movement.

“Think that ‘s done it though” Smugness radiating from her.

“ Sorry baby, I got a little caught up LITERALLY in the damn ropes.” Faith winked at Lara.

“ That’s ok I was just about to kick his ass” Lara said trying to convince Faith she had been in control.

“Yeah you looked all prepared, Good job I showed when I did. Really not quite sure what that thing was.”

“Well I think it’s dead now. All thanks to the mighty slayer.”

“Jeez save your life, AGAIN and all I get is sarcasm.”

“Would you rather I got you a medal or a trophy perhaps.” Lara grinned

Lara held her hand out to Faith drawing her closer “Thank You.” Lara whispered as she leaned in and stole a soft kiss.