Chapter Eight
TITLE: The Power of XION
AUTHOR: Methos if ya want to host it somewhere else just tell me where ya putting it ok? ;)
DISCLAIMER: All things BtVS belong to Joss Whedon, Green Lantern, ION, Batgirl and any other mentions of DC characters belong to DC Comics ok? I own nothing ;)
SUMMARY: On Halloween Ethan's little costume stunt may have changed the future more that he know. and created something completely new in this dimension.
FEEDBACK: love it :) my first fanfic and so many reviews already :) more please lol
RELATIONSHIPS: None as yet, copious amounts of flirting yes but no relationships planned.
RATING: FR18
SPOILERS: Anything from the Halloween episode onwards. I plan on taking the story through to the bitter end of Buffy. Changing a few things along the way of course ;)
AN: I took a few liberties with the "Whats my line" episode cannon as I needed to have a few things found and made aware of that couldn't have been done if I'd stuck with my origonal plan so if anyone spots any glaring errors please let me know and I'll fix them asap ok?
On with the story :)
M
What's my line? Part 1
"Come on ladies, its career week. Curious to find out what sort of jobs your future could hold?" Xander asks, following Buffy and Willow through the school to the cafeteria.
Picking up his career quiz Xander starts reading aloud. "Are you a people person, or do you prefer keeping your own company? Tick. Defiantly a people person. Do I look like some sort of friendless looser?" Xander asks no one in particular and isn't ready for the response.
"Well your clothing tastes have picked up, but you're still a looser Xander." Came the reply from behind him.
"Cordelia, What do I owe the pleasure?" Xander asked turning round to face the voice. He'd been dressing a little different since Halloween. His loud shirts were gone and replaced by a black vest top that showed off his new muscles with a green shirt undone over the top.
"I just came to find out why you and slay girl over there are even bothering with this. Shouldn't you just go down to the local burger stand and hand in your applications now? That way you won't have to wait until you graduate to get a sucky job." Smiling Cordelia turned and started to walk away but as she took her first step something lifted her leg of the floor and twisted causing her to fall to the floor in an undignified heap.
"Xander." Buffy whispered in his ear.
"What? No one saw anything. It was just a form of karmic payback." Grinning Xander stood up and followed by the two girls made his way outside leaving Cordelia on the floor screaming to anyone that would listen.
"Come on guys. It's a good time. Let's you see what time of life you could have after high school." Willow smiled sitting down on the grass.
"Do I like shrubs?" Buffy asked out of the blue.
"Huh?" was Xander's as always eloquent response.
"Do I like shrubs?" Buffy repeated.
"Dunno. I kinda go for shrubs. They're not a big as bushes to vamp's can't hind in them." Xander quipped watching Buffy's horrified face.
"Xander! We don't want the entire school finding out about vampires do we? Keep it down." Buffy scolded him.
Grinning back Xander looked over to see Principal Snyder moving through the campus. "Oi! Snyder." Xander yelled out, "You dress yourself today or did you let your little sister do it for you?"
Before he could get another quip out he was pushed to the floor by Buffy who was looking at him as if he had gone mad. "Xander, What do you think you're doing? Trying to get expelled?"
"It's cool Buffy. I'm blocking the sound from moving any further then 2 feet from where we are at the moment. It was one of ION's powers and one I'm only starting to develop now. I thought it could come in handy for patrol or sneaking about." Sitting up again Xander watched Snyder without so much as a glance in the groups direction, "See he hasn't got a clue about what went on. He heard nothing." Xander finished off in a terrible Italian accent that sounded more Russian than anything else.
"What about you Buffy? Aren't you interested to find out what sort of career you could have?" Willow asked standing up and brushing the grass off her skirt.
"It's pretty much a moot point for me. We all know the deal don't we? Sub minimum wage, High risk." Buffy replied standing up next to Willow.
"Sharp wooden things?" Xander finished of standing up to walk off with the two girls.
"Since Snyder's making me take the test I can't even just avoid it all and skip out. He's following me every step during class to make sure I get everything done, otherwise believe me I wouldn't even be taking this stupid thing." Getting angry at the situation Buffy storms off towards the library to blow off some steam leaving behind a very confused Willow and Xander.
Across town in an abandoned warehouse.
"Read the soddin' this again." Spike yells at the vampire holding the book. He obviously impatient and striding around the warehouse like a caged animal.
"Well, I'm not sure. It could be, uh... deprimere... ille... bubula... linter." The vampire stammers out looking over at spike who is now flicking through another book with interest.
"Debase, the beef, canoe." Spike reads out, "Somehow that doesn't strike me as being bloody right." Screaming the last part spike storms over to the vampire and punches him in the face knocking the vampire back a few feet before falling to the ground.
"Come on spike. Come dance." A sing song voice calls through the warehouse as Drusilla walks through and starts stroking spikes hair.
"Not now pet. Can't you see I'm trying to work?" spike growls at her causing Drusilla to flinch and whimper, "I'm sorry love. It's just I can't stand seeing you like this. There's a cure in this soddin book somewhere I just can't find it. Even geek boy over there's having trouble with it." walking over to the vampire spike picks him up and dusts him off, "well? Enlighten me." Picking up the dictionary again spike looks at the vampire expectantly.
"Well... it might be... fumo... crudus... sato"
Spike again it flicking through the dictionary occasionally looking up at Drusilla who is now dealing a tarot deck on the table. "Smoke. The green. Plant? I somehow doubt that the writer of this religious book was into soddin wacky backy mate." Standing up laughing he walks over to Drusilla and puts his arms around her.
"He can't help you," Drusilla says rubbing her face against spikes cheek, "not without the key."
"A key? You mean this book's in some sort of bloody code?"
Drusilla smiles and nods weakly. Turning another card to show a mausoleum she looks up at spike.
"Is that where we'll find the key pet?" he asked placing his finger on the card. Looking at her smile he grins, "I'll send the boys pronto." Laughing he pulls Drusilla up and twirls her around the place causing shrieks of laughter to come from her.
"It just feels like... well I don't know how to describe it Buffy. I can feel the energy inside me getting stronger each time I use it. I just don't know what I'm capable off anymore." Xander trails off looking at the floor.
"Xander. You're not going to do anything wrong with this power. You've had it... what a month or so now?" waiting for him to nod she goes on, "and what's the worst thing that's happened so you? A couple of bruises. You've learnt to fly and do all sorts of cool stuff."
"Yeah Buffy but I also use it stupidly. Like with Cordelia this afternoon. I did it without even thinking about it. I just wanted it to happen and it did. That's not how it works normally. I have to concentrate and focus my will on something if I want it to happen, but lately it's been easier to do things." Grinning he stops and turns to Buffy, "I can even make people now. People who move and talk of their own accord. It takes a lot of energy so I'm pretty much wiped out after but I can do it. Come on. Who do you want for back up tonight? Obi Wan Kenobi? The Highlander? Batman?" Laughing he trails off looking at Buffy's face.
"You mean it don't you?" she asks after the shock wears off.
"Yeah Buffy. All I have to do is imagine them and want them here and... Poof, "waving his arms for effects a small green cloud appears. "Anyone you want. Instant backup." Smiling he creates a sword in his hand, "and speaking off." Nodding over to a mausoleum where Buffy see's a vampire try and sneak in.
"Shall we?" Buffy asks grinning at Xander.
Creating another sword and handing it to Buffy he smiles back at her and they both make their way over to the vampire.
Once they are outside the mausoleum Xander dampens the sound they're making and smiles over at Buffy. "I'll cover out here if you want to take inside."
Grinning Buffy walks over and enters the mausoleum.
"Is there no rest from you people?" smiling at the vampire now panicking and looking around for an exit Buffy walks down the stairs and assumes a combat stance.
"Look slayer, I don't want any trouble here I just came for this and now I'm leaving." The vampire holds its hands up trying to pacify the slayer.
"So not only creature of the night, but grave robbing as well? That's low even for you." A green glow suddenly lights up the area for a second before a soft 'poof' could be heard from outside.
"The green death. Oh god please let me go." The vampire starts whimpering.
"What? Huh?" confused Buffy looks around. Suddenly putting two and two together. The green death they mean Xander? Wow he's got a better name in vamp circles that I do.
"Please slayer. I've heard the stories about that 'thing'. They say he keeps vampires for pets and fly's around with angels. Please you've got to save me. Please!" getting down on his knees he looks up at Buffy practically crying.
"Oh god. Xander. Can you come in here for a minute?" Buffy yells over her back and waits until she hears the mausoleum door open again.
"You ok buff? What's going on here? Some kinky mistress slave thing?" Xander quips looking at the vampire on his knees grovelling to Buffy.
"You're not going to believe this but he wants me to save his life." She could hardly keep the disbelief out of her voice as she told Xander.
Trying to keep a straight face Xander looked down at the vampire. Keeping control of his voice he looked back at Buffy. "Save him? From what? You're the slayer. You're his big bad what does he need you to save him from?"
"Go on; tell him what you told me." Buffy say's nudging the vampire.
"The green death. I saw the flash. That only happens when he's about." The vampire stammers out still on his knees.
"Wait a minute the green death? He's here? Where? Giles has had me researching this thing for weeks now. What do you know about him?" kneeling down to face the vampire Xander misses the look of amusement the passes Buffy's face.
"They say he's invincible, that he fly's around Sunnydale at night with wings made from light itself. I've heard that he's one of the old ones come back to take the hellmouth for himself, that..." the vampires speech is suddenly cut off as Buffy takes the creatures head off with her sword and grins down at Xander.
"What did you do that for? Giles has been hunting down everything about this green death ever since Angel mentioned it to him. Giles thought it was some sort of plague not an actual demon. Now we'll never know. Hey buff we'd better get out of here before it comes round. I don't know what an old one is but... Buffy what's wrong? What ya laughing at?" looking over at Buffy she was lent on the side of a coffin laughing so hard she could barely stand.
"It's you, you idiot. You're 'The Green Death'. You're the thing you've been researching for weeks now. Oh god I can't wait to see Giles face when we tell him." Wiping her face she picks up the cloth parcel from the floor and wipes off the vamp dust, "Come of we'd better get back to Giles and show him this. Might be important."
"Me?" Xander finally reply's, "I'm the green death? How? What?" stammering Xander and Buffy make their way out of the mausoleum.
"It's you and your powers. A vamp must have seen you fighting, flying round or something. Now all the vamps are more scared of you and your flashy lights than me." Pouting Buffy looked over at Xander who was still trying to grasp the idea with a goofball expression on his face.
"I'm more feared than you?" he finally asked quietly in awe.
"I know, and I'm the slayer. It just isn't fair."
Smiling Xander started walking out of the graveyard followed by Buffy. "It's ok buff. I'll let you be my sidekick if you want. You'd have to have a cool name though... how about the midget?" grinning Xander quickly ran away from the enraged slayer.
"I'll give you midget." Could be heard ringing through the empty graveyard.
"Giles, you about?" Buffy asked walking into the library followed by Xander.
"Buffy good, how did patrol go?" smiling Giles put down his cup of tea and looked up and the two teens.
"Good Giles. We found a vamp trying to rob some grave. Brought you back a little something as well." Tossing the wrapped item on the table Xander quickly created two recliners for him and Buffy to laze on.
"Was this what the vampire was trying to steal?" asked Giles carefully unwrapping the item.
"Yeah, we also got some new information about 'the green death' thing that's got the vamps and demons so terrified." Grinning Buffy looked over at Xander who was now turning a bright shade of red.
"Oh?" Giles looked up, "well come on. It might be important. Another master arrived in town? Or a new type of demon perhaps?" Giles asked going into full watcher mode.
"Well, you could say the answer was under our noses the entire time Giles" Buffy grinned obviously enjoying this.
"It's me ok?" Xander suddenly said standing up from his recliner, "I'm the green death."
"You but? Oh bloody hell. I feel so stupid." Giles muttered taking off his glasses and starting to polish them.
"Tell me about it G-man. I've spent the last two weeks trying to research myself. No wonder I couldn't find anything about it, and get this. The vamps are now more scared of me than they are Buffy." Smiling he looked at Buffy who was going the same red now.
"It's true Giles. This one vamp saw a flash of green light and suddenly he was begging me to save him. I thought I was supposed to be the slayer, the thing that terrifies vampires." Pouting she looked up at her watcher who was obviously trying not to laugh.
"Yes well Buffy. You might be the slayer but it seems Xander here has made a name for himself as his powers are... how should I put this? Flashier than yours." Smiling Giles finished unwrapping the parcel and held a gold cross up in the light.
"Ohh pretty" Buffy said looking at the cross, "but what would a vamp want with a cross?"
"This is the cross of Dulac Buffy. It's a sort of key to understanding some of Dulac's writings. Without it the books are useless. I must say Buffy this is the find of a lifetime. The council believes all of the crosses were lost during the fourteenth century."
"So it's important then?" Xander asked taking a closer look at the cross.
"Vitally so Xander. Most of Dulac's writings were of an arcane nature. Some of the darkest magic's. He wrote them in code so that only those with the crosses would be able to understand the spells. Without them the books just look like gibberish."
"So what use is it to us then? Do we have one of these books lying around or do we need to send off for one?" Buffy asked getting bored with the watcher talk.
"Well in fact we do... no we don't that's what the vampire took from the library." Giles said banging his hand down on the table making both Xander and Buffy jump, "a book was stolen a month or so back by a vampire. It was one of Dulac's tomes. Buffy we must retrieve the book at once."
"Chill Giles we'll get the book back, but I've got to get home soon otherwise mom will start sending out search parties. I'll go hunt down your book tomorrow night ok?" smiling she stands up from the recliner which promptly disappears, "I'll see you two tomorrow ok? See ya." Smiling Buffy walks out the library and starts her way home.
"We'll get it. Don't worry Giles. It's not like the vampire can read it now without the cross, can he?" sitting down on the table Xander looks at Giles.
"Well no. I suppose not Xander but still..."
"Anyway did you find out anything more about this 'vigilante' we've been hearing stories about? Buffy's feeling off as it is now she found out about 'the green death' thing. We don't want her finding out the vamp's are scared of something else that isn't her." Xander picks up the cross and starts throwing it up in the air and catching it before it's taken away by Giles.
"Not much Xander. It seems our new friend is quite elusive. From what I can tell it's a woman and she has enormous power on her side. Nothing like you have, the stories I've heard from Willie seem to paint the picture of some sort of super slayer."
"Well I'm sure we'll come across her eventually Giles. There's not enough room in this town for three super powered people without us bumping into each other. "Laughing Xander jumps off the table, "There was something else I've been meaning to talk to you about Giles. I'm getting a bit worried about my powers."
"What do you mean Xander? Is there something wrong?" looking at Xander now more intently.
"No nothing like that. It's getting easier that's all."
"Well it was bound to. After using anything for a while it gets easier to use and control Xander."
"Not like this Giles. I can feel the power inside me. It's getting stronger. Where I used to be barely able to make a construct move, now I can make them walk around and talk. It's also happening now when I don't want it to."
"When you don't want it to?" Giles repeated getting a worried look on his face.
"Yeah Giles. Like this afternoon I made Cordelia fall. I saw the green glow on her legs as she was lifted up and dumped on the ground but I didn't do it. Well I did do it but I didn't mean to." Looking up Xander was obviously repentant.
"From how you've describe your power's working to me it sounds like what's happening is just a lapse of concentration. Perhaps joined with your subconscious it's causing these things to happen without you meaning to. I'm not a psychiatrist so I couldn't really help you there but it sounds like you just need to concentrate more and try and stop your emotions control your powers." Giles smiled at Xander, "I know you don't mean to do these things and you're a good young man, but sometimes these things take time."
"I know Giles. I'm just worried about going off the deep end or something. I don't want to hurt anyone and it seems like these powers are just getting out of control."
"Look if it's any help to you why I show you some of those advanced meditation techniques you were asking about? Are supposed to help you tap into your soul so to speak and bring harmony to your body. At least that's what I've been told. I've never manager to complete the set myself."
"I'll try them Giles. Thanks." Xander grinned up as Giles fetched the book out of the office.
"You're a good person Xander, if you weren't you wouldn't be worried about hurting anyone would you? Now go home and try and get some rest ok?" smiling at Xander Giles made his way back into the office and put his kettle on.
As Xander made his way out of the library he could hear Giles on the phone making dinner arrangements. Wow Giles has a date. Wonder who with? Smiling to himself at the thought of Giles on a date Xander made his way home.
Climbing up the tree next to her house Buffy could see that the light was on in her bedroom, "Sure I turned that light off when I left." She muttered to herself as she made her way across a branch to her window. Reaching the window she peaked inside quickly to make sure the coast was clear, "Angel." She said under her breath before throwing her bag through the window and jumping through herself.
"Buffy. You scared me." Angel said standing up from the bed.
"Yeah well now you know how it feels." Smiling Buffy looked at angel. "Looking for some quality time with Mr. Gordo?"
"Huh?" came Angel's reply.
"The stuffed pig." Buffy said smiling to herself as he tossed it to the bed. Walking over to her dresser she takes off her hair band and throws it in a drawer before shaking her head to get all the tangles out of her hear." Feeling a hand on her shoulder she looks up and see's nothing in the reflection.
"Are you ok? I had a bad feeling."
"I'm ok. I just wish it was easier. To have a normal life. Have a normal boyfriend." Bowing her head she realised what she'd just said, "I didn't mean it like that Angel. I just wish I could have a normal life again."
"Was this part of that normal life?" angel asked picking a picture of Buffy ice skating off the mirror frame.
"Yeah. I used to love it." Buffy smiled wistfully.
"You know there's that ice rink up on fifth, it's closed on Tuesday." Angel smiled at her face as it lit up with a smile.
"Tomorrow's Tuesday." Buffy grinned.
"I know." Angel said before kissing her softly and disappearing out the window.
Back at the abandoned warehouse.
"It's not bad enough we've got the slayer to deal with now we've got the bloody ION git as well. You know what the other vampires are calling him Dru? The green death. I ask you what sort of a name is that. We need some help here or we're never going to get your bloody cure."
Drusilla smiles at him. "Who do you have in mind Spikey?"
"I think it's time we called in the big guns. The order of Teraka." Spike grins as the fledgling at his side stutters.
"The order of Teraka? Don't you think that's over kill?"
"No, for a slayer and a bloody superhero I think that's just about enough kill."
"They're coming to my party." Drusilla says Drusilla dealing three tarot cards. One is of a Cyclops, another of a centipede and the third of a panther.
"Hmm, three of them." Spike mutters to himself walking off into the darkness.
"They're coming and another." Dealing another card she sees the seven of swords. "Another is coming. One who comes out of the slayers shadow, one who has the slayers back." Smiling Drusilla places the cards back in the deck and starts dancing round the room.
The next day at school.
"Oh, here I am.'Personal shopper or motivational speaker.' Neato!" Cordelia said looking at the board with all the results on. "Wonder what you got Xander, garbage collector or fast food waiter?" she said leafing through to find Xander's results before a look of shock came over her face.
"What? What did I get?" Xander asked the now shocked Cordelia as she made her way out of the crowd silently, "Come on what?" looking up Xander went through the papers to find his name. "Whoa." Was the only thing he could say before looking up Buffy and Willow and moving back out of the crowd.
"So? How did I do?" Willow asked as Xander came around to their table.
"You're name wasn't up there will's so I guess you passed." Xander said still shocked at what he had seen.
"It's not the sort of test you pass Xander. I filled it in correctly. I used a number 2 pencil and everything." Willow started babbling.
"What can I say Willow. You're name wasn't up there."
"What about me? What did I get?" Buffy asked obviously exited but not wanting to show it.
"Law enforcement." Xander said grinning.
"What like police?" Buffy asked shocked.
"Yep Handcuffs and everything." Xander replied winking at her.
"What about you Xander? What did you get?" Willow asked still puzzled as to why her name wasn't up there.
"That was a bit weird. They must have got my paper mixed up with someone else because I got 'professional illustrator'." Xander said as the bell rang.
"Wow." Was all Buffy could say as she stood up.
"But where am I? What do I do? What if they didn't grade me because I don't have a career?" Willow babbled in full force again.
"Willow relax, just go to the careers department and talk to them about it. I'm sure you'll be fine. I've got to go and find Giles now. Ever since we bought that cross back he's been on high alert."
"Better you than me Buffy." Xander grinned before heading to class followed by a muttering Willow as Buffy made her way to the library.
Sunnydale Ice Rink
Buffy was already on the ice doing complicated twirls and jumps when angel arrived, "Angel." Making her way over to the vampire she skidded to a stop and kissed him softly.
"Enjoying yourself?" Angel asked smiling at her.
"Yeah. I haven't done this in years, thought I'd forgotten how."
A growl echoes round the rink and angel starts looking round. He sees a man coming through the tunnel, storming towards them. Buffy grabs angel and throws him behind her onto the ice before making her way back into the middle of the rink.
"Come and get me ugly." Buffy smiles as the man does exactly this. As he steps foot on the ice Buffy starts charging at him using her slayer strength to push herself faster. Two or three foot in front of him, Buffy leaps into the air letting the speed she had gathered push her through the air as she leapt into a flying kick position.
The man didn't see what was happening. He only noticed the glint on her blades a moment before then connected with his neck and the momentum and weight of the slayer forced the blade through severing his neck from shoulders, spraying Buffy and the ice in blood.
"Buffy..." angel starts trying to stand up on the ice but falling on his ass.
Laughing Buffy moved over to angel and helps him up and over to the rink side.
"Wow that was intense." Buffy grinned wiping the blood from her face, "and disgusting. I only had a shower before coming here now look at me."
"Buffy go home." Angel says bending down looking at the body.
"What? I'm not that bad. Besides did you see that flying kick? It was awesome." Grinning Buffy smiles at Angel.
"I mean it Buffy. You see this ring? It's from the order or Teraka. Show it to Giles he'll know what it means." Stalking off through the tunnel angel only softly heard Buffy call after him.
High School library later that night.
"I'm afraid he was not overreacting Buffy. This ring is worn only by members of the order of Teraka. It's a society of deadly assassins dating back to before King Solomon." Giles explained with a serious look on his face as he examined the ring.
"Assassins? Why are they after me? Buffy asked now slightly afraid.
"Because you're the slayer?" Xander offered up as explanation causing Buffy to shrug her shoulders.
"I don't know, I don't know. I think the best thing we can do is to find a secure location. Somewhere out of town until we decide on the best course of action."
"Giles You are the second person that's said head for the hills. What's going on?" Buffy asked now visibly afraid.
"Buffy the order are a highly trained group of assassins. Not just demons but humans and vampires as well. They will not stop. You kill one another will come, and another, and another." Giles stopped to polish his glasses before continuing, "You will never know when one is coming. You will only know just before they attack."
Buffy swallows loudly and looks at Giles. "But where can I go?"
"I've got something better." Xander stands up causing everyone to now look at his curiously. "I've been trying this out for a few days now. It's not perfect and nowhere near as powerful as the original but it should last a few days. More than enough time for us to figure out who these guys are and put a stop to them." Grasping Buffy's hand he holds his other hand over the palm and a bright green glow emanates from within. As the glow stops Xander is visibly worn and falls onto a chair.
"What is this?" Buffy asks holding her fist tightly closed, almost afraid of what she might find.
"It's a ring Buffy. A Green Lantern ring." Seeing the shocked look on willows face and the confused look on Giles' and Buffy's he decides to elaborate before collapsing, "the green lantern rings we're the source of powers for the green lantern corps. With them they could do pretty much anything I can do. The only limitations were yellow and time. The rings couldn't affect anything yellow and they had to be recharged every twenty four hours." Taking a breath and standing up now feeling more energised he continued, "This one's not as powerful as those. As much as I want to I can't create a full ring. This one will however protect you from any harm for three days before it needs charging again. It took a lot of willpower to make so please don't lose it."
"Wow." Willow exclaimed. "It's just protection though? It can't make her fly or create a bomb or anything?"
"No Willow. As I said it's just for protection." Looking over at Buffy she was examining the ring closely.
"Xander it won't fit. It's too big." Realising what she said Buffy went bright red.
Laughing Xander moved over to her and took the ring. "Buffy it's a perfect fit." He said with a smile as he slipped it on.
To her amazement the ring at first was too big for her then it sort of shrank before sitting snugly on the base of her finger glowing softly.
"Thank you." Buffy said looking into Xander's eyes, "Thank you."
"Well isn't this touching?" spike comment's striding into the library like he owns it.
"Spike!" Buffy says immediately looking round for a weapon or something she can use.
"You have something that belongs to me watcher." Spike grins looking at the slayer and her gang. A small redhead is sat at the table surrounded by books and there's a boy stood by the slayer that he recognises from somewhere, "Don't I know you?" spike asks.
"No but I know you spike." Xander starts building up power in his hand behind his back.
"You walk right in here and expect to just take whatever you want? That's a bit suicidal even for you spike." Buffy says as she walks in front of Xander to hide the green glow that's coming from him.
"You're right slayer. If I didn't have an ace in the hole." Spike grins thrusting his hands into his pockets, "I've got Angel. Now unless you want him to be gritting roadsides by this time tomorrow I suggest you give me what I want and let me leave."
"And what is it exactly that you want spike?" Giles asks standing up.
"I want the cross. The one you're slayer bint stopped me from getting the other night." Looking at the Buffy he could see her bristling with anger, "You give me the cross and I let angel go. Sounds like a fair trade to me."
"And how do we know you'll uphold you're side of the bargain?" Buffy asked glaring at spike, "You're not the most trustworthy person."
"You'll just have to trust me. Now where is that bloody cross?" spike asks getting impatient.
"Buffy I can dust him from here. Just let me take a shot." Xander whispers in her ear.
"You dust me? Be serious please." Spike laughs looking at the shocked face on Xander. "Don't be bloody stupid whelp."
"Don't Xander, please. He's got Angel." Placing her hand of Xander's chest she feels the energy slip away from him.
"Pay attention to the slayer whelp. You don't want to get hurt. Now my cross if you don't mind?" spike says grinning and holding out his hand.
"Here." Buffy shouts in anger picking the cross off the table and throwing it at him.
Catching the cross spike's hands immediately begin to smoke, dropping the cross he gets a clots out of his coat pocket and picks it up, "Shouldn't have done that slayer." He growls before running out of the library.
"You should have just let me take my shot. I would have dusted him easily." Xander frowns at Buffy sitting down.
"And then Angel would have been killed. Xander please help me find him."
"Ok I'll do a sweep from sky level but can't promise I'll find anything. Knowing spike he's probably somewhere underground." Xander says standing up and changing into his 'work clothes' in a flash of green light.
"Thank you. I'll check out willies, see if he knows anything about this order thingy before heading home. I'm sorry Giles." Without letting Giles say a thing Buffy runs out of the library into the night.
"I'll do a sweep. Spike couldn't have got far Giles. I'll follow him back to his lair of whatever get angel and dust spike. Be done before morning." Xander grinned at the watcher letting the green shine through his eyes.
"Please be careful Xander, and thank you for what you did for Buffy. Something like that may turn the tide or battle." Smiling at the young man he watched him go out into the night and take off in a green glow.
"What can I do Giles?" Willow asked looking at him, "I've got all these skills but I can't do anything to help."
"You can help me researching this other vigilante that's been reported in Sunnydale. If we have someone else on our side I'd like to know who it is and what they are doing. Anything strange in the past month." Handing a book to Willow he could see the smile on her face at being useful.
"I just want to help Giles. I know I'm not a hero like Buffy or Xander but I've got skills. I can fight now." Looking at Giles expectantly Willow thought about all the times Xander and Buffy had gone on patrol and told her to stay here because it wasn't safe.
"I know you can Willow. Buffy is just afraid that you might get hurt or something."
"What about Xander? He could get hurt or worse." Willow counter argued.
"Yes he could, but he's shown that if the situation gets too much for him or Buffy he can get them out if it quick and without incident. You are an extraordinary fighter Willow but vampires have speed and strength that sometimes not even a slayer can match. We'll keep up with your training but for now can you help me locate this information?" smiling at the young girl before heading into his office Giles aloud a brief smile to cross his lips. She would be ready to patrol soon and gods help any vampires that came across this trio on patrol.
The graveyard.
Xander sets down and 'flashes' back into his usual clothes. He'd lost spike somewhere in the graveyard. Judging from the speed at which the vampire was running it was close to his lair.
"Come out, come out where ever you are." Xander called into the empty graveyard and laughed when he didn't get a response. We'll just have to do this the old fashioned way he thought to himself as he started walking through the graveyard.
Creating a construct of Master Qui Gon Jin from star wars and one of Methos from highlander for company Xander swept through the graveyard looking for any sign of spike.
"This is most peculiar." The Methos construct said startling Xander, "I'm aware that I'm not really here and I know that I'm a fictional character from a TV show."
"Uh yeah." Xander said beginning to get a bit wierded out.
"But I have all the memories of me, I know I AM Methos." The Methos construct said.
"Uh why are you asking me? And how are you talking in the first place... you mean you're aware of what you are?" Xander asked intrigued. This was the first time one of his constructs had talked let alone showed consciousness.
"I too feel the same." Qui Gon said from the other side of Xander, "And I can tell you that there is someone hiding in the bushes 13 feet behind us."
Grinning to Qui Gon and Methos, Xander suddenly had an idea. "You go left Qui Gon and Methos, You right. I'll catch spike by surprise," with than Xander took to the sky's again looking down to see Qui Got and Methos stalk around the graveyard towards the bush in question. As soon as they were within five foot of the bush Xander swept down and encased the bush in a Green shield, "come out spike. I know you're in there..." Xander was suddenly cut off by a sword at his throat. Looking over he saw an exotic young women holding the sword in a way that showed she knew how to use it.
"What are t'ose t'ings?" she asked with a strong Jamaican accent nodding to his constructs.
"I'll be happy to tell you once you've got the sword out of my neck." Xander quipped back. He knew he could take her down if he had to but the energy inside her was the same as Buffy's. The bright green energy. Did that mean she was a slayer?
Moving the sword down from his neck and away from his body the young woman asked again. "Now what are t'ose t'ings? I saw you create t'em from not'ing."
"They're constructs. An ability of mine." Xander retorted trying to figure out exactly what this young woman was.
"Not very stealthy. They be glowing bring green." Smiling the young lady put the sword up and held her hand out, "I'm Kendra."
"Xander." He replied, "Haven't seen you about before? You the new vigilante we've been hearing about round here?"
"Not me. I got it last night. Just patrolling the area when I saw you and t'ose green things having a conversat'on." Kendra said trying to relax but it was hard. Her slayer training was telling her to hide from this man but he had an easy smile and looked like he could be of some help so she stayed for the minute.
"Patrolling? That's what I'm doing. So you got any power's or abilities like mine then?" Xander asked now fishing for information about the new arrival.
"I apologise. I'm Kendra... the vampire slayer."
To Xander this just confirmed what he already knew. "Vampire slayer huh? Thought there could only be one of you."
"Indeed, into each generation there is the chosen one. She alone will stand again the forces of darkness." Kendra said proudly reciting the chosen one speech.
"Well think there's been a cock up in the system somewhere missy because we've already got a vampire slayer here."
"That cannot be. There is only one. Once that slayer dies then the power is passed onto the next." Kendra said not believing the man in front of her.
Dissolving the constructs Xander started walking towards the gate of the cemetery. "I think we'd better talk to Giles about this."
"Who is Giles?" Kendra asks catching up with Xander.
"Giles is Buffy's watcher. She's the vampire slayer." Smiling he looked over at Kendra.
"Yes I agree talking to my watcher would be most useful. But if she is the slayer what are you?" Kendra asked inquisitively.
"Me? I'm the Torchbearer." The name slid off Xander lips before he had even thought about it. He wanted to say something cool like 'I'm complicated' or something like that. Torchbearer? He didn't even know what that was.
"What is this 'Torchbearer'? I don't know the name." Kendra asked stopping to look at him.
"Funny. Neither do I." Xander muttered without stopping walking.
AN: woohoo bit of a long one there but looks like part two might be longer.
hope you're all still enjoying it and remember reviews are a friend :)
M
