CHAPTER FIVE

After we dealt with Spike and Dru things calmed down for the time. Giles thought that vampires were busy with each other, trying to gain the leadership over each other. Still, with two Masters gone, even the other demons decided to lay low.

Buffy took care of the remaining stupid vampires with ease. There was no Big Bad lurking in shadows, trying to end the world. For now. Until Buffy's birthday party came along.

We, meaning Cordelia , Wills and Miss Calendar , arranged for everything. It was supposed to be a surprise, but hey, this is Sunnydale.

It was just us, the Scoobies plus Oz. Oz was the newest addition to the gang. Short, thin dude with hair that changed colors every other week. He was Willow's boyfriend. And she was happy to have him.

Oz was the guy who took the bullet for Willow on the day that fake policewoman tried to kill Buffy. In my eyes , that was the best way to be a man I could trust. He was relatively harmless. He played guitar in the local band called " Dingoes Ate My Baby", and was pretty good. Cordelia dated once their singer Devon.

Where was I ? Oh , yes the party was going on and Buffy was just supposed to enter. Boy, she did enter. But not through the door. She entered through the glass window, by throwing the vampire in before her. He had some kind of box, but not for long –Buffy staked him.

" Surprise ! " Cordelia cheered, and we looked at her. She looked annoyed. " Well, it is !"

Angel and Giles approached Buffy who set the box on the table. I mourned the cake. It looked so yummy. I watched Oz who was pretty calm about it, cool as ice. Jenny and Willow were busy explaining the nightlife to him, so I joined the others around the box.

It looked like a small coffin to me.

Buffy pried it open. There was a blue arm inside, wearing leather armour. Freaky. Angel stepped away, a terror on his face. The arm jumped to life and started to strangle Buffy with tremendous strength. We all jumped to help and the arm went in the box again, which was nailed shut again.

Buffy massaged her tender throat. " What is that thing Angel? You recognized it. "

He looked still stricken. " If I am not wrong, it's the arm of The Judge."

Giles looked ready to pee himself. " No ! " He protested. " It can not be !"

I was confused. " How can one arm be so bad guys ? "

Angel grimaced. " When I was younger, I heard legends about the demon lord called The Judge. He was sent forth to divide the just from the wicked and burn the just. He was said to be indestructible. He was impervious to all attacks. "

Giles took over. " It took an army to stop him, the stories spoke that even some demons helped. He was unable to die, so he was taken apart and his limbs sent into the world, never to be assembled again. He could end the human race."

Oz just spoke one word. " Intense." I later learned it was his usual answer.

Giles grabbed the box giving me a look that said to do as he told. " I'll take care of it. Xander, you will drive. "

Buffy was protesting. " But Giles, it's dangerous ! I should be the one to guard it, or Angel."

Giles shook his head. " That's exactly what I am counting on for our enemy to think. Whoever wants the arm will look at you or him first. I will use my Watcher contacts to hide the thing. It is safer that way. Let's go Xander."

Angel was moving out too. " I'll try to see if there is a new player in town. Someone is trying to gather the Judge parts , it can't be missed by other demons."

Giles and I drove to his apartment and I begun to draw the storage seal for the box. I had Giles do the sealing, to ensure it's success. He used magic to seal the magic item, and it worked. We remained on guard for the whole night, and in the morning we went in the post office disguised by illusion made by Giles. I could use the Henge no jutsu, but only on myself. So this was the better way.

We mailed the stored box as a big paper letter, which was the perfect disguise. The gang was together that evening listening to Angel.

" There is a new master vampire in Sunnydale, " he begun. " He took over for Spike. It seems that Spike was looking for the parts first and this guy did the search for him. Hen he heard of Spike's death, he decided to continue the search. "

" Who is he ? " Buffy asked with worried tone.

Angel looked worried too. " He is known as The Musketeer, and is almost a century older than me. He used to be a musketeer for the king of France, and is really good with sword."

Cordelia did not seem worried. " So what ? He can't assemble The Judge anymore. "

Giles disagreed. " Not at the moment Cordelia. But he is immortal and has all the time in the world. If he runs away, we will never know when he will make his move again. We must deal with him now."

Another book night was in front of us. Angel left to gather more info.

Books said the same all over, he could not be harmed by any weapon forged and so on. It was rather demoralizing.

But Buffy had an idea. " I think I know were they are ! In the factory used by Spike, The Musketeer must have moved in."

" Are you certain ? " Giles asked. She was. " I'll go get Angel. We will see for ourselves."

She left. I had to admit that the two of them were a good team. A few hours later Giles had to answer the phone. When he put it down, he was pale.

" What's the matter G-man ?" I asked.

" Someone just robbed the delivery truck from the postal office. The driver was killed and the truck is gone. I must presume our item is stolen."

" The Musketeer ? " Willow asked fearfully. Giles nodded.

" That's too coincidental, " I said. " That means he was watching us all. It also may mean that the factory is a trap."

Giles gave me the keys to his car. " Go, there might be enough time to warn Buffy and Angel. Be careful."

It took me twenty minutes to find the place. It was too late. They were already inside. The building was surely guarded on the inside. So i went up on the roof of the neighboring building.

I gathered some chakra and sent it to my legs. I vaulted over the seven meters of distance. I almost did not make it.

There was a vampire on guard. He heard the thump of my landing and he had me in his hands very quickly. That is, he raised me with one hand on my throat and enjoyed my struggle.

Some how I formed the seals and fried him with my electrically charged hands. Thousands of volts coursed through him and he let me go. I splashed him with holy water and staked his sadistic ass. My throat hurt.

I crawled through the roof entrance and moved in shadows.

When I saw them, I almost cursed loudly. They were caught, and The Judge was whole. Tall, blue skinned and horned dude. And he just fried the vamp with glasses to the ash claiming he had humanity left over in him. That was interesting to hear, that some vamps could retain some of human habits, echoes. They could be nothing else, because every vampire considered people as food.

The Musketeer was there too, gloating in front of Angel. He had a long coat, boots and wide old style hat with feathers in it. He could actually pass for a slightly eccentric dude if he ever walked in the public.

I turned on my Sharingan to see better. I read the lips of The Musketeer as he gloated to Angel. " Angelus, Angelus... what a shame to meet like this. A Slayer's pet you are, disgraceful. Do you have any idea how shamed your grandchilde was. Ah, Spike was truly vicious. He started this, and I will finish it."

I had to give him that. He was careful not to reveal too much, not even now. At his gestures, his goons brought Buffy and Angel closer to The Judge. I tensed, ready to interfere.

Luckily I did not need to. They managed to free themselves and cause the heavy load of metal to fall down,opening a hole in the ground. They got away. I was already on the move.

Four throwing knives with exploding tags flew unerringly at The Judge. He dismissed them, since forged weapons were harmless. But what about the ones I drew and charged with chakra. Both, the paper and the knives were not made by man, but by machinery.

" Fool, I cannot be harmed by any weapon forged ! " He roared, and I grinned.

" Hey, who said that they were ? "

He had the time to look surprised before the four simultaneous blasts of energy tore him to shreds, along with vampires around. The fire started, engulfing the ground in yellow inferno of heat.

I turned around to leave. I froze. He was standing on the walkway with me, looking pissed off.

" I bet you are proud of yourself human ! " The Musketeer hissed, his face still in human guise. " I had such a nice plan, and you ruined it. "

He moved towards me, fast.

I jumped over the railing. I saw him look surprised. Of course, no human could make the jump and stay whole. I channeled my chakra, as much as I could to reinforce my legs. It still hurt when I landed, my legs felt like they were broken.

There was no time to waste, since the vampire leaped at me. I jumped through the flames right in the hole made by Angel and Buffy.

I knew he would follow, so I started to make hand signs before even landing again. My eyes lit red again, and I could see him jump in. Right into my Great Fireball. I guess he was too angry to be careful.

It was understandable though. I mean, how many people can make fires out of their mouth ? Some powerful witches or wizards , sure. Not that too many of these walked around. I definitely did not look like I could. That was my advantage, my ninja power. I looked ordinary.

The Musketeer was dust, only his saber survived, half melted. I felt satisfied and started to run after Buffy and Angel. Angel caught me several minutes later, and almost broke my neck.

" Xander ?! " He was very surprised. Buffy was angry. " What are you doing here ? " She asked.

I chuckled. " G-man sent me to warn you of the trap. But it was too late so I sneaked in. "

Angel was confused. " How did you get past them ? And what was that explosion ? "

" Oh, that . " I said. " Just some explosives I threw at The Judge. He is history, as is The Musketeer."

Angel was shocked. " But the legends..."

I laughed. " Yeah, but this is the modern age. Weapons are not forged anymore, well not all of them. Chemically based explosives, very tricky."

Buffy got it. " Oh, my god! You took him down with weapons that were like, cooked ? "

I laughed even harder. " Sure. The Musketeer also got blasted in the fire , so no worry."

Angel just started to walk, shaking his head. We followed him to his place. It rained badly so we stayed at his apartment, drying ourselves. I was glad they believed my story, I just did not want them to know everything I could do. I just wasn't ready to tell.

Cordelia arrived later to pick Buffy and me. We did not wish Buffy's mom to worry. Cordelia had to go home, so she left me at Giles's doorstep.

He listened to my tale, as I ate the dinner. I was pretty hungry.

" Amazing ! Your tags are truly effective. Anyway, i still must say that you were extremely lucky. " He said.

I nodded, massaging my legs. " I know. My legs hurt. And I never sensed him come up behind me. He was really fast."

Giles nodded. " He must have jumped the distance in the single leap. Vampires are better than Slayers in that regard. "

" I'll remember that. Still, he underestimated me-he wanted to kill me slowly. That's why I was able to jump down. He let me, thinking I would break my legs."

Giles seemed satisfied. " Good, I am glad you are aware of your limitations. "

I sighed. " Well, I best go home. I'm sure you and Miss Calendar have some things to do."

He gave me an irritated glare, and i snickered. " See you G-man."