Xander suddenly grabbed Chloe and pulled her against him clamping his hand over his mouth. A vampire appeared in their viewpoint still hunting for them. He pulled hi stake from his back pocket. "Please work," he wished and threw the stake at his back. The vampire flinched and yanked it out of him. The vampire saw them and grew his fangs and three other vampires dropped into the scene.
"What do we do now?" Chloe asked standing back to back with Xander.
"We have to cut their heads off," he told her. "You ready to kick some butt?"
Chloe looked over her shoulder and put on her game face. "Let's do this." One of the vamps leapt at Chloe and pushed her against the wall. However, when he saw the crucifix hanging on Chloe's necklace he backed away from her. Chloe reacted and thrust her stake into his heart turning him into dust. Xander sliced off one of the vamps heads spun around and took off the head of the vampire behind him. Chloe dodged another vampire's attack and stabbed him with her stake killing him. One of the vamps grabbed her from behind, but Xander sliced of its head. The final two vampires charged Chloe and Xander and they smiled and stood their ground. The vampires went to attack, but Chloe and Xander stepped out of the way of their attack and killed them both from behind.
"Piece of cake," Xander said cleaning his machete.
"You are really used to this whole ordeal aren't you?" Chloe asked him as they walked back to Angel Investigations to collect more weapons.
"I've been doing this for a while now. What about you?"
"Since I was fourteen. My life was pretty average as you could imagine, but when I met Clark everything changed. I found myself fighting meta-humans, alien soldiers, vengeful ghosts, witches, neglected cheerleaders with nothing better to do. What about you?"
"Run of the mill supernatural creatures. Vampires, a werewolf, an invisible girl, evil hyenas, witches, a giant snake, and even a giant praying mantis."
"A praying mantis?"
"Long story. And if my guess is correct during your own adventures you had a thing for Clark? Am I right?"
"What makes you say that?" Chloe asked.
"Same story for me; boring ass normal existence turned upside down when a new girl suddenly drops in my life. I liked her and even jumped at the chance to perform CPR when she nearly drowned after fighting a vampire known as the Master, but after a while I moved on with my life and didn't spend every waking moment pining for someone I couldn't have like something out of a bad teen soap opera."
"You just described how the rollercoaster relationship between Clark and his ex-girlfriend Lana in one sentence," Chloe laughed.
"It was that bad, huh?"
"You have no idea. It got to the point that by the time we reached our senior year of high school the class actually started a pool for when they would break up/ get back together again. I tried moving on, but most of my attempts ended with the person trying to kill me or breaking up with me due to jealousy."
"As cheesy as this line might sound sometimes you find the right person when you just stop looking for them."
"You're right that line is cheesy," she laughed. "So, any sort of relationship angst for you guys?"
"Buffy and Angel were… different from your average couple. Mainly because he was a Vampire and she's a Vampire Slayer; kind of a forbidden love sort of thing."
"It's something you'd expect from one of Stephanie Meyers Twilight books."
"Don't even mention those books. They sucked and were all kinds of inaccurate where vampires are concerned."
"You should know seeing how you're the expert."
"Well I don't mean to brag, but I am the brains of my team. Don't tell Buffy I said that or she'll probably poke out my other eye."
"My lips are sealed," Chloe said giggling a little. "For most of my time knowing Clark I was the brains of the outfit until about a few months ago. I still am though he isn't as dependent on me as usual."
"Well you can't remain someone's side kick forever," Xander said as the reached Angel Investigations.
"Have you noticed something?"
"What?"
"Other than those vampires that came after us, we haven't met any more resistance."
"That Spike imposter doesn't consider us to be a threat since he looks at us as sidekicks. We'll show him though," Xander said opening the trunk of his car. "We'll show him we aren't your average humans to be thrown around. Now where is it? Aha," Xander said pulling out two swords.
"What's so special about those?"
"My brain washed friend is a powerful witch as you just witnessed firsthand. I had her cast a spell on these blades making them capable of cutting through anything and I mean anything." After the two of them went through Xander's car (and then raided the Impala's trunk) they set off for the parking garage again when an idea popped into Xander's head. "Wait," he said placing a hand on Chloe's shoulder.
"What is it?" She asked. Xander looked over at the Impala and both of them smirked.
Buffy's head was throbbing as she finally came to. She quickly realized that she was tied up and made an attempt to break free. As she tried Buffy scanned the area and saw Sam and Dean tied up as well as Clark, who had a weird glowing green rock around his neck. Buffy then saw Dark Willow and Angelus standing propped up against a wall.
"Nice to see you're all finally awake," Angelus said.
"Angelus?"
"Give the girl a cigar."
"But how is this possible?"
"Anything's possible in our world, Buffy. Right Willow?"
"Willow? You did this to him?"
"All I had to do was chant the correct spell and then Angel's soul hit the road."
"But fear not Buffy. I'll spare you the agony of carrying on in this world without him," Brainiac said.
"Before you kill us aren't you supposed to brag about your big plan? It's standard super villain protocol."
Seeing as Buffy wouldn't be living through this he saw no problem explaining himself. "I am the Brain Interactive Construct or Brainiac for short. I am a highly advanced alien computer from the planet Krypton. My reasons for looking like Spike are quite simple. During my first time on Earth my ship made a crash landing just on the outskirts of Sunnydale and who should be standing there but Spike. The Brainiac ooze separated from the ship and attached itself to Spike invading his body and taking over his brain. The ship then scanned Spike and copied his image though for reasons unknown it didn't copy his hair color correctly. The ooze released its control over Spike after that but remained inside of him seeing everything he saw. Years later when Spike was killed I absorbed the Brainiac ooze left in his wake and absorbed all of his memories and knowledge. I also absorbed his consciousness, which threatened to nearly over whelm me, but I managed to suppress it. I decided to use what he knew as a backup plan in case my plans fell through. However I was destroyed by Kal-el shortly after and didn't resurface again for two years."
"If you don't mind me asking who's Kal-el?" Buffy asked.
"Him," Brainiac said pointing towards Clark.
"Aliens really do exist," Buffy thought. "I so owe Xander 20 bucks."
"Before I was destroyed for the second time I infected some of my essence in Kal-el's friend. I remained in her body until I could come up with the perfect plan to take over this world and as it would turn out it rested with Spike's memories.
"I can't stand it when villains monologue," Dean groaned.
"My plan first involved me rounding up some of Spike's old followers. Then I had them commit a series of attacks bound to get the attention of Sam and Dean whom I heard about when rallying the troops. They carry a journal with them that just so happens to have the incantation to open the demon's vortex."
"What are you talking about?" Dean asked. "If there was some kind of incantation like that in the journal we would've known about it." Brainiac raised the journal and turned it to the last page.
"You never thought to check the last page?" Sam asked Dean.
"I thought that was just random gibberish and besides you know I flunked high school Latin."
"While you're busy explaining things how bought telling us how you turned Willow evil again," Buffy said while struggling with her restraints. "It's rather simple really. I just used my powers to reawake the dormant part of her mind that was Dark Willow. And I wouldn't bother struggling Buffy. You are bound by part of the Brainiac ooze. It is stronger than anything you could ever break." Brainiac then put his hand in his jacket and pulled out Angel's blood. He walked to a massive symbol on the floor and poured Angel's blood on it. He then handed the journal over to Dark Willow and she started to recite the incantation.
"Xander where ever you are, we could sure use your help right about now," Buffy thought.
Clark attempted to break out of the ropes that bound him but it was no good. The vampires used a very big piece of Kryptonite to keep him at bay. Kate came walking over to Clark as he attempted to break free.
"Is the big, strong alien stuck?" She mocked. "So I attack you're girlfriend and you decide to play hero and come rushing up here without even thinking about what you were going to be up against."
"Big words coming from someone who retreated after only one punch," Clark responded. Kate punched Clark for his comment and continued.
"You can try to act brave all you want but it isn't going to help her. She probably only has hours left to live. Of course you won't be there to witness it seeing as you'll be dead in little more than a minute. Once the vortex opens there won't be a thing any of you can do to stop us."
"Do you get all of your lines from comic book characters?" Clark asked. She once again punched Clark and walked over to Brainiac's side.
"Is it ready yet?" She asked. A few more seconds passed before Willow finished the incantation and gave her the journal as well as the device.
"Yes," Brainiac said as the symbol began to glow. A hole appeared in the center of it and began to grow in size. Willow started to chant a second incantation as it did.
"Sam, what is she saying now?"
"It sounds like… a resurrection spell."
Brainiac smiled. "And it begins." He said. Suddenly Brainiac heard the sound of car revving up its engines. Several of the vampires went to investigate before being blinded by the car's bright head lights.
"Don't you think Dean will be upset when he finds out you hotwired the Impala?" Chloe asked.
"He'll get over it once we save his life. You ready?" Xander asked holding up his hand.
"Let's do this," she responded taking his hand. Xander floored it and ran over all of the blinded vampires in his way. He jerked the wheel to the right bringing the Impala to a sliding stop. "Never fear my friends; the cavalry has arrived," Xander announced steeping out of the Impala.
"Uh…. Xander," Buffy said.
"The imposter is right behind me isn't he?"
"Yep."
"Oh boy." Xander felt a hand don his shoulder and was spun around by Brainiac. He gripped Xander's neck and raised him off his feet. Suddenly Brainiac let out a pained yell dropping Xander and turning to face Chloe.
"These swords really do cut through anything," Chloe thought. Brainiac changed his hands to blades and went on the offensive. Chloe deflected his first two strikes and went for his chest. Brainiac dodged her attack and blocked Xander's attempted stab from behind. He jumped back a few feet and smiled. "You two can do better than that can't you?" Xander and Chloe rushed him, but he stopped both their attacks with no effort. He launched his foot into Chloe's chest forcing her to the other side of the parking garage.
"Chloe!" Xander shouted forgetting Brainiac was still next to him. He tried to run to her aid, but Brainiac grabbed Xander's shoulders and tossed him in Buffy's direction. He made a hard crash into the wall and landed next to her.
"Better late than never?" Xander asked as he went behind Buffy to release her.
"Gotta say you do know how to make an entrance," Buffy replied as she was finally freed. Xander handed her the sword while he went to free Sam, Dean, Clark, and Ruby. Buffy, however was no longer in the room. When Xander turned his back Brainiac flew over to her at super speed, grabbed her, and took her the upper levels the parking garage.
"Buffy!" Dean shouted.
"Don't worry about her. She can take care of herself," Xander assured as he cut Dean free.
Upon reaching the top Brainiac threw Buffy to the edge of the garage. She hit it so hard that part of the ledge broke off. Buffy felt a great sense of pain as she got up on her feet. She brandished her sword ready for battle while at the other side Brainiac raised both of his arms and changed them into two blades. Brainiac ran at Buffy and swung both blades. Buffy dive rolled out of the way and swung her sword at Brainiac's leg causing him to stumble. He easily recovered and went for several more blade strikes at Buffy. She did her best to deflect all of them, but slipped up and was cut on her leg. Buffy fell from her feet and received a kick to the chin by Brainiac causing her to see stars. Buffy struggled to her feet and prepared for another attack, but saw that Brainiac was gone.
She scanned the area when she felt two arms grab her from behind across the chest. Brainiac hurled her to ledge and she hit it hard. As she tried to recover Brainiac punched her across the face. Buffy could taste blood as she fell to the ground. She rolled out of the way just in time to miss his foot coming down. He pulled Buffy to her feet and went for a punch straight to the face, but before he could Buffy plunged her sword into his knee. Brainiac groaned in pain as he released Buffy and attempted to pull the sword out of his knee. Buffy went for a kick to the chest before he had a chance but Brainiac stopped it and tossed Buffy back. He pulled out the sword and tossed it away.
"I'm through toying with you Buffy," Brainiac said. He then went into super speed mode landing punch after punch on the unable to keep up Buffy. He stopped in front of her and kneed her in the face before grabbing her head and slamming it into the ledge and throwing her back onto the floor. He casually walked over to Buffy who was on her hands and knees and kicked her in the chest. Buffy felt all of her energy leave her as she fell to the floor. As she fell she saw the sword. If she could just reach it… Brainiac seemingly read her mind and super sped over to her. "Good bye Buffy." And he threw her over the edge hurtling down to the vortex. Clark spotted her and caught her mid fall.
"Thanks, Clark."
"No problem."
"Watch out!" She quickly warned. Clark jumped upward missing Willow's energy burst. He put down Buffy and pulled up part of the concrete floor. He tossed it at Willow, but she destroyed it without even flinching and telekinetically pushed all the debris back at Clark and Buffy. They two of them tried to run out of harm's way, but Willow fired another energy attack at Clark blasting him through a wall; she focused on Buffy and did the same. Buffy executed a series of back flips dodging the attack, but Willow used her mind to trip her up allowing her to be hit with the attack.
"Where's the journal!" Dean called out as he sliced one of the vampire's heads.
"Looking for this?" A voice called out. The team all turned to see Kate holding the journal just over the vortex. Clark jumped out of the debris and super jumped over to her but felt the burning pain of Kryptonite. Kate turned out to be wearing the Kryptonite used to incapacitate him around her neck. Clark fought to keep his strength together as he couldn't give up. She went for a bite, but Clark kept her head back. She was clearly stronger though thanks to the rock and inched closer to Clark's neck. Before she could take a bite out of him Clark took one hand away from her face and thrust it at her necklace ripping it off. He threw it into the demon vortex and slammed his free fist into her stomach. She let out a grunt and backed away from Clark, panting slightly. She made another lunge at Clark, but he easily dodged and restrained her from behind. He stole back the journal and threw her into a group of vampires knocking them all down like bowling pins.
"Sam is there any possible way for you to translate this?" Clark asked handing Sam the journal.
"I don't know. This is an ancient demon dialect. I've never seen it before."
Several growls could be heard from the vortex as several vampires came out of the vortex followed by several demons. As they all rushed the heroes Clark's eyes changed color before he fired off a blast of heat vision at the floor. It kept back the vampires, but not for long. Some of them ran through the fire and were unharmed. Sam and Dean rushed towards them and sliced off two of the vamps heads but, were quickly surrounded by the others. More vampires took a running start and leapt over Clark's wall of flame. Xander staked one of them, but was grabbed from behind. Chloe stabbed the vampire in the back making it release its grip on Xander. A fist connected with his neck knocking him away.
"Xander!" Chloe cried out running to his aid.
"Aw isn't that sweet?" Angelus mocked standing in their path. Xander rushed Angelus, but he punched him across the face and snatched a handful of his shirt tossing him in Chloe's direction. Chloe jumped out of his way and tried to attack Angelus. He dodged Chloe's kick and punched her leg before hitting her in the throat. Angelus went to finish her off, but Xander came back at him and slashed at Angelus' knees causing him to fall. Xander threw a punch at Angelus, but even injured he was still able to parry his attack and hit him in his stomach knocking the wind out of him; as the fight continued more and more vampires and demons clawed their way out of the demon vortex.
"Sam! Any day now!" Dean said as more vampires arose from the vortex.
"I'm trying! I'm trying!" Sam shouted as he continued to look at the journal. Suddenly Sam felt a familiar rush of power course through him. He looked at the portal and then at the journal.
"Sam! What are you waiting for!" Dean shouted. Sam wasn't sure. He wanted to close the portal, but something was holding him back. His heat beat started to pick up and he could feel himself sweat. He looked back at Dean with apologetic eyes.
"I'm sorry, Dean. I… I can't… help it." His eyes turned black and he backed away from the portal.
"Sam, what the hell! Close the portal!" Dean ordered his brother. All Sam did was smile evilly as the whole garage began to shake.
"Something big is coming!" Buffy warned everyone getting back to her feet.
"But what is it!" Dean asked. His questioned was answered when a hand shot out from the portal and gripped the edge.
Brainiac walked over to the portal and gazed inside. "Welcome back Master."
A/N: The Master is back and the demon vortex is letting more demons out with each passing second. Can our heroes prevail? Only one way to find out.
