Disclaimer in Chapter One - Time to Suit Up!
Authors Note 1: Hey guys, again, sorry this one took so long, Real Life got in the way, seriously, life would be so much better if I didn't have to deal with RL all the time... *SIGH*
Something a little different this chapter, but its something I've wanted to do for a while in a fic, (I toyed around with this when I wrote my Repo! The Genetic Opera ficlet over on tthfanfic). Hopefully it works in context to what's going on in this chapter.
P.S. XH & The Ultimate Gloves is posted on tthfanfic too, its 2 chapters ahead and this chapter ends on a cliffhanger, I will update this one after the weekend, so either you can find out what happens straight away, or wait it out three days, your choice.
And some new forms of communication:
"Speech"
*Sound Effect*
~Comm's or Radio~
#Singing#
He moved quickly or as quickly as the traffic at that time of night allowed. He had to get as far away from his friends as quickly as possible.
Possession.
It couldn't just be some cool Gloves that gave you abilities any kid would be envious of. No, not with his luck. No, with his luck it turned out that they were made by the woman hating psycho that had murdered his friend.
Oh, bonus, he might start acting like the woman hating psycho that had murdered his friend and try to murder the rest of his friends.
He honked his horn a few times as he passed a few slow cars, weaving in and out of traffic as he made his way across the city. "Come on!" He yelled at the car in front of him as it refused to pick a lane. "Move!" He pounded the horn a few more times, *BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEE-CRACK!*
He looked down at his hand, his fist buried into the steering wheel, before the airbag suddenly deployed. The large balloon inflated in front of him in a second, his hand almost crashing into his face from the force of the cushion before it popped from a hint of claw that had sprung fourth from his knuckles. He swerved the car off the road and into an alleyway, crashing into a series of trash cans before stopping just short of a collection of dumpsters at the other opening.
Shaking the dust from the airbag off his head and spitting it from his mouth he looked down at the remains of his now broken and useless sterling wheel column. He sat; amazed the wheel had still worked as he had turned off the road. He looked at his hand in the middle of the wheel and pulled it from the wires and airbag remains. The claws on his right hand had popped out of his knuckles about an inch long. Taking a calming breath as his head seemed to still be buzzing from the accident he spoke to himself.
"Ok, keep it together..." He stared at his hand. "Don't get upset, that way leads to the dark side. Calm blue oceans, calm blue oceans, you don't have a murderer living inside of you, calm blue oceans..." The claws retracted, his flesh healing from where they had pierced his skin on their way out. "There... Just gonna have to remember that I guess. Emotions equal abilities appearing. " He blew out another calming breath and reached out to adjust the rear view mirror. As he removed his hand a face smiled at him from the back seat.
"Hi ya Harris!" Warren waved.
"Ahh!" Xander let out, startled, spinning in his seat, both sets of claws popping from his hands. He raised them up ready to attack.
The seat was empty.
She let out a yawn as she climbed out of the back of the van and stretched out her cramped muscles. "From now on," she turned around to the other Slayers that were piling out of the vehicle. "If I ain't drivin', I get permanent 'Shotgun', got it?"
The various girls each gave out half-hearted groans as they too worked out the kinks.
"Or we put a bed in the back of the van, so I can just sleep the whole time." She smiled turning around to the building again. "Amongst other things..."
"Pass!" A slightly taller brunette said from her side.
"You can't say 'Pass' Little B. It's my squad, my rules."
"Yeah..." Dawn looked at the Dark Slayer before her. "Don't care Faith, I only agreed to you picking me up at the airport cos it was on your way. Just cos you don't know the rules to 'Shotgun' doesn't mean you can call permanent 'dibs'."
"Squad leader," Faith said, drawing out the words. "Vi, back me up."
A redhead with short hair hidden under a hat paused, unpacking the Squad's gear to look at the woman. "Don't make me pick between one of my friends and my Head Slayer, that's not fair." Vi sighed, slinging a bag over her shoulder. "Ask someone else."
Various 'No thank you's', 'Leave me out of it', and 'On your own girl' where her only responses.
"You guys suck!" Vi pouted.
"We were in sight of the Van, Faith," Dawn smiled at her friend. "Rules clearly state, once the vehicle is in visual range, the first to call 'Shotgun' is awarded the seat. In the event of two or more calls at the same time, whoever reaches the car first is awarded the seat. You neither called or got to the van first, you lost."
"Who's making up these rules?" Faith quirked an eyebrow at the girl.
"Standard Scooby rules." Dawn turned and headed towards the large building they had parked in front of. "Willow, Xander and their friend Jessie came up with them years ago. Now hurry up, we got to see how Xander's doing..."
"He's been lying on his ass for a week," Faith followed her. "He's probably goin' nuts by now." She smiled as they approached the hospital doors.
They were maybe ten paces from the doors when they flew open and a determined Blonde came sweeping out, trailed by two slayers and an arguing Giles.
"Hey B," Faith turned serious at the Chosen when she noticed the look on her face. "What's the hubbub? Boytoy OK?"
"He ran, again," Buffy didn't break her stride, heading to the car park. "He just left!"
"Buffy please, calm down." Giles continued his argument.
"Giles, he just left!" Buffy rounded on the Watcher. "He doesn't know what's happening to his body..."
"Xander?" Dawn looked between the two. "He's gone?"
"Yeah, he just climbed out a window," Buffy turned to look at her Sister. "Geez, you look like hell."
"Red eye Buffy," Dawn crossed her arms. "Kind of hard not to look like hell on one of those."
"X-Man climbed out a window?" Faith asked, surprised.
"Appropriate choice of words," Buffy turned to her fellow Chosen. "He swung out on a web line. I'm heading out to see if I can find him, you coming?"
Faith looked at the assembled group that was now standing around them. "Yeah, sure, then you can fill me in."
"Let's go," Buffy turned and headed straight for the van Faith and Dawn had just gotten out of. "Can we use that?" She pointed at the vehicle.
"I guess..." Faith followed, along with Giles, Dawn and the two slayers Faith didn't recognise.
"Cool," one of the slayers, Mia, called out, "Shotgun!"
"I'm gonna hit her," Faith grumbled.
"No, I'm shotgun," Buffy shot the slayer down. "One of you guys drive." She called over her shoulder, getting into the front passenger seat.
"Guess I can't stop you..." Giles sighed. "Girls," he called to the Slayers from Faith's squad who were still unloading bags out of the van. "Put a weapons pack back in the van and hand over your radios." He quickly grabbed a radio from one of the Slayers and switched it on, turning it to a channel. "Here," he handed it to Buffy through her open window. "You're on Tac. Three, if Xander remembers the new guidelines he should be on the same channel. Try him on there while you look for him. We'll let you know if the Coven is able to track him down."
"Thanks." Buffy smiled at the man, Faith and the two slayers hopping into the Van, Faith grumbling as she got into the back. "He'll be ok, won't he?"
"Sure," Giles smiled as for a second Buffy looked like a scared little girl. "After his scare in the gym this afternoon I don't think he'll be using his abilities willy nilly..."
*SNIKT*
His claws retracted as he stared at the empty seat.
"Oh not good..." He turned around to stare at the broken steering wheel. "Yep, definitely not good."
He reached for his pack and his battle axe sitting on the passenger seat when he froze. He looked about the car, confusion on his face before he gave a small sigh, grabbed his pack and got out of the car. He patted himself down, checking his pockets and gave a slight frown, now feeling even more confused. Giving the pack a once over, he pulled a stake out and put it into his jacket pocket. He was about to sling it over his shoulder when he thought again and retrieved the radio from inside the bag. Finally looking around himself he realised he was in a dark alley.
"Fun, fun, fun..." He turned on the radio. Static greeted him as he switched it to the proper channel. The static cleared and he heard a faint whispering come over from the speaker.
~*BUZZ!* Can't... -Ve a Party... -Out a chee... Plate... *BUZZ!*~ cracked the radio.
"Weird... But not my problem..." Xander placed the radio on his belt, ignoring the static, despite the familiarity of the voice. "I so gotta get out of town."
"Look fellas," a dark voice called from the shadows. "He has to get outta town."
"What's the matter matey?" Another called out. "You got a boat to catch?"
"Come on," Xander said looking up at the dark night sky. "You hate me that much?"
Three men slowly slunk out of the darkness at the alley entrance, each with a sneer on their faces.
"Oh thank God," Xander let out a breath. "Ok, sorry, my bad, I take that back," he said, looking up at the sky again. Each man looked at him confused. "Sorry, it's just; I thought you were Vam- N-never mind..." He looked back at the men and waved it off.
"He ain't scared?" One said, outrage beginning to appear on his face. "Mack, you said they'd be scared."
"Folk I rumble usually are," the middle man said, producing a knife in his hand. "Hand over ya money pal."
"Ah, no." Xander said crossing his arms. "Can you let me through?"
"Cocky sonofabitch, ain't he," the third remarked.
"No, not really," Xander sighed, looking behind the three men before looking up at the sky once more. "I really can't win with you, can I?"
"Who you talkin to?" The third guy asked, looking up.
"God, but he doesn't seem to be listening." He told the man, looking over the muggers shoulder.
"Great Mack," the third guy smacked the guy, Mack, with the back of his hand. "He's a Jesus freak! Jesus freaks ain't ever got no money on 'em."
"Shut up Dale." Mack told the man.
"Yeah," a large voice said from behind the three muggers. "Shut up Dale."
"Eh, when you guys turn around," Xander took his pack off his back and placed it next to a set of trash cans and some empty wooden pallets. "Just run away, it will save you guys a lot of broken bones... And possibly your life."
"What are ya blabberin' ab..." The words dyed on Dale's lips as all three turned around and came face to chest with a large, brown skinned, goat-horned demon flanked with several yellow eyed, game face wearing Vampires. "Hole-y Hannah!"
"Boo!" The goat-horned demon smiled darkly.
Three screams of terror, a knife clashing to the ground and three sounds of pee running down pants legs greeted his response. All three men seemed not sure which way they should run, each man bumping into the other in a good impression of the Three Stooges. After a few seconds of fumbling they all seemed to figure out which way to go as they all began running away in the same direction, all screaming for their lives.
"Leave 'em," Goat-Horn growled to his minions. "The Dude is the one we want."
"Me?" Xander pointed at himself.
"Yep, word in The Underground is you're the Slayer's Watcher," Goat-Horn stepped forward. "And she's setting up shop on this here 'mouth."
"Underground huh?"
"Yeah, it's this nice bar over in West Bank next to the Harbour Inn Cafe, it's like only a block away from the Cuyahoga River," a Vamp on the demon's left smiled. "So it's real cool if you gotta dispose of a body real quick, plus it's like a five minute drive from Browns Stadium, go Browns!"
"Oh," Xander looked surprised at the Vamp. "Cool."
"Keith!" Goat-Horn bellowed, annoyed. "He don't need to know that! You're always ruining it!"
"I just thought he might be interested..." The Vamp began to explain.
"Keith!" Goat-Horn bellowed again, this time joined by some of the other Vamps.
"Well he is gonna be living here," Keith nodded to Xander, and then he smiled to the group. "He should get to know the place right? It's the least we could-"
"Keith!" This time all the Vamps joined the demon in bellowing the Vamp's name.
"Geez, ok, ok," Keith raised his hands above his head in surrender. "But in my defence they've got some great Dogs at Bro-"
"KEITH, SHUT UP!" This time Xander joined in with the demons.
"Fine, fine, don't stake me." Keith sighed.
"Where was I?" Goat-Horn scratched at one of its ridged and curved horns.
"Underground?" Xander supplied, crossing his arms.
"Oh, yeah, thanks," Goat-Horn smiled.
"No problem." Xander smiled, moving his right hand up and down his left shoulder before frowning to himself.
"Well," Goat-Horn collected himself. "Cos she's here, we're gonna leave her a little message..." The demon smiled more, cracking his knuckles, several of the Vamps sniggered behind it.
"Oh," Xander looked at his right hand on his left arm. He moved it up to his shoulder; he patted himself a few times then waved his fingers back and forth. The frown on his face seemed to deepen as he looked at his hand, then down his arm and then out to his left side.
He blinked his eyes.
Then he smiled just a little before turning to the demon.
Subtly he put both hands on his hips, his right thumb flicking on his radio and turning the volume off. "Well, I don't have a pen or paper on me at the moment," he locked the broadcast button down, disguising it as he pretended to pat himself down, looking for paper. "But if you tell me the message I should be able to remember it."
"Ha ha, you ARE the message!"
"So, where we goin'?" Faith asked after Buffy finished explaining what had happened.
"Come on Xander!" Buffy pleaded over the radio for what seemed like the hundredth time. "We can help you, come home!" she looked out the window. "He has to be running for some stupid reason," Buffy mused to herself before pushing the talk button on the radio again. "Xander!"
"He ain't listening B." Faith said flatly. "And the stupid reason would be?" Faith sat forward in her seat.
"He probably thinks he's gonna hurt someone." She looked back at her dark haired counterpart. "Hurt one of us... Me..."
"Yep," Faith sat back in her seat. "You were right, it is a stupid reason, he would never hurt any of you guys, or any of the juniors." She gestured to the slayer next to her.
"That was before Andrew blurted out that the Gloves were made by Warren."
"And he kinda attacked Mr. Wells," Hailey said from the driver's seat. "Ma'am, where am I going? We can't just drive round in circles."
"Ma'am?" Faith mouthed with a smile, a hint of glee in her eyes at the slayer's choice of words.
"Not now Faith," Buffy shot at the back seat. "He'll wanna get out of the city fast..."
"Hopkins it is," Hailey nodded, moving into another lane.
"Hardly any flights this time of night," Faith told the girl. "I just came from there; next outgoing flight ain't for five hours or so."
"Maybe he would drive?" Hailey offered.
"He can't for too long nowadays," Buffy informed them. "His eye starts to get tired, same with his neck."
"His neck?" Faith asked.
"He has to keep looking back and forth to his left; otherwise the whole left side of the car is one big blind spot."
"Ah."
"So..." Hailey trailed off.
"Bus? Kickin it Rogue Slayer style?"
"To many people on a bus," Buffy shook her head before returning to the radio. "I'm getting sick of this! Answer me Xander!"
"Boat." The slayer next to Faith said softly. "He'd go by boat."
"I'm not sure Mia..." Buffy began.
"If he can get on a boat, hole himself up in a cabin or storeroom, away from people," Mia continued. "Cross the Lake into Ontario, and then out into the wilderness, most likely heading up to the Yukon." She said looking out the window. "Logan style, it worked for him... Well, mostly."
"How do know...?" Faith began.
"Xander told us to read through Andrew's comic collection," She said flatly. "He didn't want us to be caught unawares in case his powers went haywire again. And I kinda like the Wolverine Character... Origins was a cool book."
"You both read the books?" Buffy turned to Hailey.
"Ahmm... I've been meaning too?" Hailey shrugged.
"We don't really have a Watcher assigned to us, just basic PT with the others till the school is finished." Mia looked to Buffy. "Xander tried to fill in when we were guarding him."
"X-Man steppin' up," Faith whistled. "Even when confined to a hospital bed."
"Ok, head towards... Ah?" Buffy looked at all three in turn.
"Old River," Mia spoke up. "Everywhere else is fishing charters."
"How could you possibly...?"
"I grew up here."
"I like you girl," Faith punched the girl lightly in the arm. "Names Faith, when you finish at the school, you come see me, my Squad ain't full yet."
The large goat-horned demon grinned, cracking it knuckles, its fists large. It took a step forward, the vamps accompanying it flanking its sides.
"The message is gonna be a beating," Keith spoke up.
"Oh, no, I got that Keith." Xander sighed. "Thanks."
"Here to help." The Vamp smiled.
"I doubt that." Xander said dryly. "Well, that's... That's just not gonna work." Xander said rubbing his chin. "I'm terrible as a message; can't we just talk about it? I remember messages way better if I don't get beat up first."
"You ain't got a choice." Another Vamp piped up before a large roar was heard from behind Xander.
Headlights bathed the odd group as a car screeched into the alleyway. The demons before Xander looking over his shoulder as a red convertible, roof down came barrelling into the alleyway, some of them recognising the car's occupants by their Blonde and Dark hair as they came to a stop next to Xander's own crashed car.
"Oh crap..." One of the Vamps visibly trembled.
"Oh no, don't worry about them," Xander glanced over his shoulder for a second as the passengers got out. "They won't bother us..."
"Why not?" The Vamp looked at the women, the dark haired one twirled a stake in her hand, and the blonde simply levelled her gaze at the Vamp and crossed her arms.
"Cos they're my friends," he pulled the radio from his hip. "And they've been listening in," he brought the radio to his lips, looking over his left shoulder. "Don't attack, I got this, you guys are just performing back up." Not waiting for an answer, Xander returned the radio to his belt.
Behind the Slayers a back door to a bar somewhere opened and a funky guitar, keyboard and drums could be heard, slowly getting louder.
"Besides," Xander smiled. Buffy and Faith slowly approached him from behind, both Chosen stopping about five paces away. "We're just talking at the moment, right? Chatting... Singing?"
Goat-Horn looked confused, his head tilting to the side in a very dog like manner as if to understand the man better. "Singing?"
The music seemed to fade in louder from around them now, the Vamps looking for the source of the funky beat.
"Yeah," Xander smiled wider, a goofy look on his face as the music got louder, as if whoever was playing the Funky guitar was right next to him. "Singing..."
As Goat-Horn looked to Keith, as if to ask, 'You heard him say singing too, right?' Xander put his hands in his pockets and began to slowly walk backwards.
#Like the legend of the Phoenix# Xander began to sing, a huge smile on his face as the demons looked at him confused.
#All ends with beginnings,# Xander continued, Keith the only one of the group who smiled at the man, not sure what to make of this turn of events.
#What keeps the planets spinning, uh,# Xander shrugged. #The force from the beginning,#
Xander took a breath, "Look," he spoke, gesturing to the demons before him.
#We've,# Without missing a beat, both Slayers behind Xander interrupted, each stepping toward him as they sung.
#Come too far,# they sang, Xander turning to the Chosen, a slightly annoyed look on his face.
#To give up,# both women smiled at their friend, a smile breaking onto Xander's face as well.
#Who you are,# both women flanked the man.
#So let's raise the bar,# both women produced stakes in their hands, Xander looked between the two and turned to face the Demons.
#And our cups to the stars,# the Slayers finished singing.
As the large Goat-Horned Demon looked on in stunned silence, his mouth agape, the Slayers took one last step closer to Xander.
#She's up all night to the sun,# Xander sung, nodding his head to Buffy on his left.
#I'm up all night to get some,# he pointed to himself.
#She's up all night for good fun,# he pointed to Faith on his right.
#I'm up all night to dust Vampires.# he pointed to himself again.
Sobering confusion flashed across the group of Vampires faces, not sure if they had heard the last line right.
#We're up all night to the sun,# this time he pointed amongst all three of them, each of them taking a slow step forward with each line he sung.
#We're up all night to get some,# closer to the demons.
#We're up all night for good fun,# closer still.
#We're up all night to dust Vampires.# they stopped just in front of the group. Without warning Xander raised both his gauntlet covered hands, the palms glowing bright as he prepared to fire.
#We're up all night to dust Vampires,# he shot a Vamp, Keith, in the head with his left repulsor, the Vamp disintegrated into dust.
#We're up all night to dust Vampires,# he shot another, this time on Goat-Horn's left with his right repulsor.
#We're up all night to dust Vampires,# Buffy threw a stake, it dusted a Vamp on Goat-Horn's right.
#We're up all night to dust Vampires.# Faith threw her stake, the projectile dusting another vamp, this time on the demon's left.
Goat-Horn now looked scared as Xander and the Chosen each took on a casual stance, as if they hadn't just taken out four of his minions.
#The present has no ribbon,# Xander stared at his gauntlet covered hands before him.
#Your gift keeps on giving,# he looked up at Goat-Horn as his hands returned to their Gloved form.
#What is this I'm feeling?# Xander placed a hand on his own chest, stumbling a step back.
#If you wanna leave I'm with it,# Xander seemed to look over the demon's shoulder at someone who wasn't there.
#We're come too far,# Buffy sung as she stormed in front of Xander, placing her hands on his shoulders, the man still staring at someone in the darkness beyond the demons.
#To give up who you are!# Buffy pushed her friend back a couple paces to jolt him out of his staring as she sung.
#So let's raise the bar,# Xander muttered the next line as Faith placed a hand on his shoulder, nodding to her friend.
#And our cups to the stars,# Faith finished, holding up her stake as Xander turned to her then back to what was now clearly a man standing in the darkness.
#She's up all night to the sun,# Xander looked to Buffy, determination appearing on his face.
#You're up all night to get some,# Buffy sang, looking into his eyes.
#I'm up all night for good fun,# Faith added.
#We're up all night to dust Vampires!# all three sang together, the music swelling as all three Scoobies sprang into action.
#We're up all night to dust Vampires,# they sung as one, Xander pinning two Vamps to the ground with his webbing, both Slayers plunging stakes into the pinned down demons chests.
#We're up all night to dust Vampires,# Xander pinned the last two down and the Slayers repeated themselves.
#We're up all night to dust Vampires,# Xander pointed his webbing at Goat-Horn and began to spin the demon into a giant cocoon. The demon struggled against the sticky webbing but he stayed where he was, the white threading covering him from shoulders to hoofs.
The music around them began to sound more electronic, as if some DJ was mixing the track as they performed their routine. Xander stepped close to the struggling demon, looking up into it's annoyed, and yet slightly terrified eyes.
#We're up all night,# Xander sung softly, reaching to hold a curled horn in each hand. The large curved and ridged horns began to glow a fluorescent pink, the demon letting go a bellow of half rage, half fear, its teeth bared as they too began to glow fluorescent pink as its whole skull was charged by Xander's touch.
#To Kill,# Xander whispered, letting go of the demon's horns. #Demons!#
Again the demon bellowed, this time all three Scoobies turned their backs on the demon and began to walk away, the music began to swell, the funky beat growing to a close.
*KA-BO-*
~D-don't attack,~ the radio crackled to life in Buffy's hand.
"Holy crap!" Faith let out at hearing the man's voice squawk from the walkie-talkie.
"Oh my god, Xander?" Buffy yelled into the device. "Where are you?"
~...Just performing back up.~ Xander's muffled voice answered, followed by static.
"Xander! Xander?" She yelled again.
~We're up all night... *BUZZ*... To dust Vampires...~ Xander half sung, half groaned in pain.
"Xander?" Buffy looked back at Faith and Mia, worry on her face. "XANDER!"
Static greeted her once again.
"He's gone B." Faith put a hand on the senior Slayers shoulder, Buffy slumping back in her seat.
~Buffy?~ the radio in Buffy's hand squawked to life again, the Chosen almost fumbling the device.
"I'm here Willow," Buffy brought the radio to her lips again. "What have you got?"
~We're, ah... We've had some problems finding him.~
"Problems?" Buffy almost yelled.
~We can't track him,~ Penny's voice cracked from the speaker. ~We can't seem to trace his Life Force.~
"What does that mean?" Faith asked the Slayer.
"Why not?" Buffy asked.
~It seems like there isn't enough of it for the spell to find,~ Willow's voice was full of worry.
~We did get a flicker though, just before the spell failed.~ Penny added.
"Where?" Buffy said quickly.
~A block away from the Old River Docks.~ Willow informed them.
"That's where we're headed now."
~What?~ Willow asked, confused. ~Why? How did you kno-~
"Mia is a local," Buffy told the Witch, smiling at Mia.
"Way to go Mia." Faith punched the slayers arm again.
~Good!~
"Do you have any idea where exactly?" Buffy asked into the radio.
~No, just a general area...~ Penny answered.
"Ok, keep us-" Buffy began.
*KA-BOOOOOOOM!*
All four Slayers turned and looked up the street they were driving on and to the rising fireball and smoke that had appeared slightly to their right.
~What was that?!~ Willow and Penny yelled from the radio.
~We just saw a large spike in energy in the area we observed the flicker.~
"X-Xander sent up a f-flare!" Buffy said, the radio slack in her hand. "Hailey!" She pointed at the smoke trail.
"Yes Ma'am!" Hailey stepped on the gas.
*-OOOOOOM!*
"If you're quite finished..." A voice cut through the night, the music stopping instantly, the last remnants of the explosion the only sound to be heard.
"Spoil my fun." Xander said in a childish tone. The alley around him dissolved to darkness, the flaming remains of the demon disappearing along with the two Chosen Slayers, their convertible and his crashed car.
"You gonna show yourself?" Xander called out into the darkness.
"How did you know?" The voice asked from the shadows.
"It was a dream?" Xander laughed. "It was obvious, now show yourself."
Several feet away a man stepped into an unseen light source.
"I knew it was you, augh!" Xander threw up his hands in disgust.
"How did you know it was a dream?" Warren sneered at the man.
"A couple of things," Xander decided to throw him a bone. "One, I caught a glimpse of you in my rear view mirror."
"I knew you saw me there," Warren himself looked disappointed. "Damn it! Ya see, that's what I get for trying to be creepy and cliché." He rubbed his face. "Two?"
"Well, two was that when I left the school, I had a radio and a couple stakes in my jacket."
"Really?"
"Yeah, also had a fairly nice battle axe on the front seat too that mysteriously went missing" Xander nodded. "Even with these," he gestured to his gloved hands, "I'm still gonna go out at night armed."
"Man, rookie mistakes..." Warren chastised himself.
"Not done," Xander stopped the man. "There's more."
"More?"
"Notice anything missing?" Xander gestured to himself.
"Wha-? No."
"No, seriously, take a close look..." He stuck his chin out and gestured more enthusiastically at his face.
"N-no..." Warren took a step closer. "I don't... I?"
"He's got two eyes ya Moron!" A gruff voice barked out of the darkness.
"What? Who's there?" Warren called out where the voice had come from.
"See," the voice took a puff from a cigar, the lit end glowed in the darkness, lighting the man's face slightly. "In the real world, e's only got the one."
"I was wondering when you were gonna show up Colonel," Xander turned to the man as he stepped out of the darkness.
The Colonel was tall, large shoulders and hardened muscles. His hair was short and tight, slight graying on his temples, his face had a couple days growth to it, the beard seemed to give his chiselled chin more definition. He looked hard, like he could handle anything thrown at him, a fact that was helped by the dark eye patch over his left eye and the visible scaring that snaked its way from underneath. He pulled the cigar from his mouth and blew out a steady stream of smoke. He was dressed in a pair of camo cargo pants, big army boots and a green wife beater, an old school leather holster that housed a M1911 sat on his hip. His dog tags hung on his chest, the metal gleamed in the visible light as they sat pride of place outside his wife beater.
"Long time no talk Harris," the Colonel nodded at the man.
"How are you still doing this?" Warren looked between the two men before him.
"What?" Xander stared at the geek.
"He thinks you're still lucid dreaming." The Colonel answered.
"That's how you manipulated the dream?" Warren looked annoyed.
"Yeah, as soon as I realised I could see on my left side I started to catch on," at Warren's blank look he elaborated. "Since losing my eye I've noticed I still dream with two eyes, albeit a little freaky the first couple times I noticed, now I think it's kinda like how Willow's Grandfather once told us that even though he came to America speaking English he dreams in Polish like he did when he was a child..." Xander smiled sadly as he thought of the old Jewish man from his youth. "Lucky thing too... I've never gotten it to last this long. And believe me, I've tried, oh man have I tried. I normally only get as far as realising it's a dream, then trying to take control when I suddenly panic, lose my grasp and wake up."
"Panic?" Warren stared at the man.
"Well, the first time I truly realised I was dreaming, the First Slayer was trying to kill me in my sleep." Xander shrugged. "Kind of puts the damper on the training."
"Yeah, but if it weren't for her you never would have started to train in taking control of your dreams." The Colonel offered.
"True, true," Xander nodded, rubbing his chin.
"So if this isn't him still manipulating the dream," Warren pointed at Xander then at the Colonel, "Who are you?"
"Excuse me?" Xander paused, looking back and forth between Warren and the Colonel.
"Who are you?" Warren said more forcefully, sneering at the man as he took another puff from his cigar.
"You don't know?" Xander stared at the nerd.
"He doesn't know Harris." The Colonel folded his arms with a smile.
"Wait, wait, wait," Xander waved his arms about. "You've been here a whole week, stuck in my head." He pointed to his own. "And you don't know the Colonel?"
"I've never seen him before!" Warren yelled, getting angry.
"What...?" Xander looked dumbfounded.
Somewhere in the darkness all three heard the faint sound of laughing. The cackle was animalistic as it washed over each of them.
"What the hell was that?" Warren looked out into the void around them.
"He doesn't know?" Xander looked off into the middle distance.
"He doesn't know Harris." The Colonel chuckled.
"Doesn't know what?" Warren sneered.
#Run, run, run away,# Xander smiled, singing softly.
"Enough Singing!" Warren yelled, another bark of laughter could be heard coming from the darkness, this time from behind him.
#Buy yourself another day,# Xander continued.
#Run, run, run and hide,# this time the Colonel joined in.
Warren flinched, staring at the Army man, the fact that he was singing was more disturbing than the words he sung.
#Somewhere no one else can find...# the Colonel finished, again taking a puff from his cigar.
"Momma's comin'." Xander stared at Warren.
"Momma?" Warren relaxed. "You're Mommy is coming to save you?"
Xander smiled, shaking his head slowly, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "Never said she was my Momma,"
Again the same bark of laughter came from the darkness, this time right over Warren's shoulder.
"She's heeeeerrrrreeeee..." Xander called out as Warren spun on the spot and stared out into the darkness.
As the Nerd tried to make out what was in the darkness, two eyes appeared, big and yellow. Before he could comprehend what he was looking at a large pair of jaws flashed out at him, the teeth gleaming in the little light that bathed them all. Warren's arms came up on instinct, shielding him, the arm only giving the jaws something to grab as they clamped down on his left arm and pulled him into the darkness.
Xander smiled as he heard the combined screams of panic and, growls of laughter that came from the darkness where Warren had been dragged.
"Oh, she's mad!" Xander shook his head.
"What did you expect?" The Colonel stepped up to the man. "She barely tolerates me being here and I'm just a memory. Add an unwanted Psycho A.I. and you just know she was gonna blow her top."
"Not blow top!" An animalistic female voice called out from the darkness. "Protect Pack! Difference."
"Yeah Colonel, there's a difference," Xander hit the man in the arm with the back of his hand.
"Cub! Respect!" The voice growled out.
"Sorry Momma," Xander hung his head at her words.
From the darkness came a flying, bloodied and beaten mess that landed at the feet of the two men. Warren was panting, tears streamed his dirty face, his nose was bleeding as well as several deep lacerations to his face, and bite marks littered his arms, chest and legs. His clothing was torn everywhere he was bloody, the cloth sticking to his flesh from the wetness of his blood. He rolled over onto his back and was about to sit himself up when she walked into the light and he saw her for the first time.
"M-Momma?" He stammered to himself as he looked behind to the two men, then back to the beast before him.
"Momma." Both men grinned.
She stood proud and large, much larger than any of her kind seen on earth, standing tall she came to Xander's chest height. She grinned, her teeth dripped with her own drool mixed with a hint of the nerd's blood. Her coat was spotted, thick and matted in places, but still shone with a mystical quality to it. On all fours she padded closer to Warren, the nerd moving quickly down on to his back until he was lying on the ground. She huffed at the nerd, her breath powerful enough to blow his hair back. She stood over Warrens body, a large dinner plate sized paw on either side of his prone, shivering in fear, figure. Momma bowed her head down to look at the man that laid before her in submission; she let out a low cackle.
"Momma," Xander pointed to Warren. "This is Warren Mears, the murderous bastard that killed Tara and shot Buffy." He kneeled down next to the bloodied man. "Warren, meet Momma, the Great Hyena Spirit that once possessed me." He looked back and pointed at The Colonel. "That's The Colonel; I became him one night on Halloween."
Warren looked up at the Great Hyena that towered over him and gulped.
"Appropriate response." The Colonel chuckled.
"Wait, s-she possessed you?" Warren looked to the carpenter. "Not anymore? Then why is she here? Why are they both still h-he-" he was cut off as Momma placed a paw on his chest and began to press down.
"Careful meat," Momma growled.
"We're still here cos he is ours!" The Colonel ground out. Momma looked up at him sharply and flashed her teeth. "Ok, ok, he's yours; you just permit my memory to hang around." Momma nodded with a smile, looking back down at the bloodied man.
"Technically the both of you are memories," Xander stood, reaching out to scratch Momma behind the ear, the Great Hyena smiling and turning into the touch. Momma began to huff a light laugh as she closed her eyes, almost purring in pleasure..
"Yes," Momma shook her head as he finished scratching her. "But part still lingers, you my cub!"
"Yes, I am." Xander smiled, he had learned long ago to not argue with a woman, doubly so if the woman was a mother.
Momma returned her attention to Warren under her paw. She applied pressure again, the man giving a slight yelp in protest.
"My cub!" She growled. "No room for you!"
"I didn't-" Warren tried to answer.
"No Room!" She barked. "Soldier!" She released the nerd and turned to the Colonel. "Put him Cage!"
"Ma'am!" The Colonel snapped to attention with a grin. He picked up the bloodied Warren and disappeared in the dark with him.
"Cage?" Xander asked.
"Know what he does," Momma huffed. "Same as Great Hyena, but you my cub, you be no one else's. Not now you have senses back." She moved closer, rubbing her head into his neck and shoulder. "Good see you."
"You too Momma," Xander wrapped his arms around the large hyena. "So he was trying to possess me?"
"Yes." Momma pulled away from the embrace. "Came with Gloves."
"I'm starting to see why Buffy and the others don't like these things..." He looked at his hands.
"No!" She nipped at his arm. "Gloves good. Make you strong cub! Make you warrior like little warrior you mate with."
"Little warrior I mate wi-? I don't mate with anyon-? Wait..." Xander got an embarrassed look on his face. "Momma, I'm not mating with Buffy!"
"Why not? Don't know how?" She smiled.
"Momma!"
"I want Grand-Cubs!" Momma barked.
"Momma! Xander!" The Colonel came running into the light.
"Whoa Colonel," Xander stopped the man. "Where's the fire?"
"Outside!" The Colonel yelled.
As Xander gave him a confused look and Momma tilted her head to the side all three heard Warren's laughter in the distance.
Buffy was scared.
Smoke was never a good sign. And now with Xander's Gloves it was even more of a bad sign.
"Oh god!" Buffy sobbed as they turned off the road into an alley, smoke and flames billowing out of a crashed car.
"That's not..." Faith gasped, staring at the car, the frame of the vehicle beginning to show as the flames consumed it.
"Xander's car!" Buffy yelled.
As Hailey slowed to a stop a safe distance from the wreck, Buffy didn't waste time for the van to come to a complete stop and bounded out of the moving car, running for the flames.
"Buffy!" Faith yelled, jumping after her, followed closely by Mia.
Authors Note 2: There you go, hope you liked it, at first I wasn't sure if I explained the lucid dream sequences as well as I saw them in my head, but hopefully you understood.
If not, feel free to ask me about it in a review, good or bad, doesn't matter, I still like receiving them... Even though I die a little inside when they get hateful (Looking at you Mum!).
Also I really like Momma the Great Hyena Spirit, I'm gonna try to get her more into the story further down the line, might do something with Dr Strange and magicks, or I might save that for the next story.
Additional Disclaimers: 'Get Lucky' was written by Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers and usually performed by Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers. And I assume it is owned by Columbia Music.
'Kingdom Come' by The Civil Wars, and I again assume written by them, I can't find out either way, and again assuming it is owned by Universal Republic Records.