Warning!

This chapter contains the horizontal tango. If you are to young to know what that is, get out of here now son. I do not want to see your baby face round here again. I refuse to take any responsibility for whatever mental scars my writing might cause you. By continuing to read you agree to these terms. You also agree to donate your brain to science and your soul to Chaos. If you try to sue me, or wiggle out of this agreement, know that I have the best lawyer in the
multi-verse at my side,

Mr ( just as planned ) Tzeentch.

Now that thats over. Cue the theme song.

Chapter 9

Party Gifts and Tricks

"Da best means of Defense is Attack, an' da best means of Attack is a really really Big One, right, with lots of Boys an' dead big shooty things an' what have ya."

Buffy tossed and turned fitfully in her sleep. Plagued by premonitions granted to her by the slayer essence. She watched as Angel smiled at her, They were at the Bronze. People were dancing. And she smiled back as she walked towards him, only for Angels smile to fade, expression turning to pain, as his body began to crumble into dust. Revealing Drusilla, with a stake in her hand, smiling evilly at her.

"Surprise" Drusilla giggled. "Happy birthday Buffy."

"NOOOoo!" Buffy woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat. "Angel" she gasped. Climbing out of bed and finding some clothes Buffy decided to go to Angels place just to make sure he was alright.

Sometime later she banged on the door to Angels hideout. Her stomach doing flip flops. When Angel opened the door she felt such a rush of relief it made her weak in the knees. The fact that he wasn't wearing a shirt didn't help matters either, and before she fully knew what she was doing her lips were locked with his.

OoO

It was later that same morning at Sunnydale high. Buffy and Willow were walking up to the front gates when Willow spotted Oz. A boy she had met during career week. Oz had gotten shot in the arm when Patrice the Terakan assassin posing as a police officer had tried to kill Buffy. Afterwards Oz and Willow had formed a delicate friendship. But willow longed for more. Yet she was torn between her old feelings for Xander and her new crush on Oz. After talking it over with Buffy willow decided to act on her advice and give her blossoming relation with Oz a try. And since they were throwing Buffy a surprise party she felt it was the perfect opportunity to invite him and get closer. To her indescribable delight Oz agreed to be her date to the party. Leaving willow feeling ecstatic.

Inside the school Xander ran into Giles.

"Oh good morning Xander." Giles greeted. "Is everything in order for the party?"

"Absolutely, you ready to get down you funky party weasel? Xander grinned.

"Here comes Buffy, now remember, discretion is the better part of valor." Giles said as Buffy Dawn and Jenny approached the two of them.

"You could've just said 'Shhh' Giles" Xander said with mirth. "Are all you Brits such drama queens?"

He then turned to the approaching girls.

"Buffy I feel a pre-birthday spankin' coming on." he grinned, rubbing his hands.

"I'd curb that impulse if I were you, Xander." Jenny said as she shot him a mild glare. Buffy ignored him altogether.

"Check, cancel spanking." Xander said as he pretended to speak into a hidden microphone in his shirt collar like he was some kind of cheesy secret service agent. He completely missed the look Dawn was giving him.

"I wouldn't mind a spanking from him." the teen girl thought, then felt her face flush as butterflies exploded in her stomach at the thought of being across Xanders lap. Blushing furiously she turned away from the group and quickly fled to her classes before anyone could notice.

"Are you alright Buffy? You seem a little fatigued." Giles asked as they all sat down at one of the tables in the lounge area.

"Rough night." The slayer sighed. "I had a dream that Drusilla was alive, and that she killed Angel. It just really freaked me out Giles."

"Do you feel it was more of a... a portent?" The older man asked.

"See thats the thing, I don't know. I don't want to start a big freak-out over nothing."

"Still, best to be on the alert. If Drusilla is alive it could be a fairly cataclysmic state of affairs."

"Again so many words." Xander deadpanned. "Couldn't you just say: We'd be in trouble."

Giles shot the boy an exasperated look. "Go to class Xander."

"Gone." Xander said as he stood up and gathered his belongings. "Notice the economy of phrasing. Gone. Its simple. Direct." he smiled as he walked off to get to class.

"Maybe I should get gone too." Buffy sighed as she stood up to leave.

"Don't worry unduly Buffy, I'm sure its nothing."Giles said reassuringly.

"I know I should keep my slayer cool, but hey, its Angel. Which automatically equals maxi wig."

OoO

Dalton walked into the factory hideout, carrying a big ornate wooden box. All around the room the other henchmen were putting up morbid decorations and endless rows of candles for Drusilla's party.

"I brought the package." He called out.

Spike rolled up in his wheelchair, Drusilla in tow. "Just put it on the table with the other gifts." he sighed before turning to Drusilla. "You're dead set on this pet? Wouldn't you rather have your party in Vienna?"

Drusilla shimmied up to her lover. "But the invitations are sent."

"Yeah, but I've kind of had it with this place. Nothing ever comes off like its supposed to." He sighed as he poured himself another glass of Pigs blood and Scotch, tossing it back in a single gulp.

"My gatherings are always perfect." Drusilla purred, running her hands up and down spikes chest. "Remember Spain? Hey? The bulls?" she breathed in his ear.

Spike cracked a smile at her. "I remember, sweet. But Sunnydale is cursed for us. Angel, the Slayer. And now that thrice damned Scrapyard bloke."

"Shhh.." Drusilla whispered in his ear, cutting him off before he could fly into another raging rant. "I've got good games for all of them." She continued as she tenderly licked the burn scar on his face. "You'll see"

She lingered at Spikes side for a moment longer, then got up and walked to the table laden with boxes. Running her hands across the aged wood she let out an excited little moan.

"Can I open one? Can I, can I?" she practically bounced. Her face split into a not quite sane little smile.

"Just a peek love." Spike said as he rolled up to the table. "they're for the party."

Giggling like a little girl Drusilla unlocked the nearest box and raised the lid. Peering inside with delight.

"Do you like it pet?"

"It reeks of death." She moaned happily. "This will be the best party ever."

"And why is that pet?"

"Because..." she said coyly before slithering into spikes lap. "It will be the last."

OoO

Jenny Calendar entered the schools computer room, her arms full of file folders, lesson plans and student reports. She busied herself with putting them away and laying out the next lesson plan for her class, unaware that she was being watched. It wasn't until her name was spoken that she looked up startled. Quickly turning around to confront the speaker, coming face to face with an older man with curly gray hair and a small mustache, wearing a dark brown suit and an old scruffy looking hat.

"Jenny Calendar" the man repeated. His voice thick with a heavy foreign accent. "You look well."

"You startled me, and yes I'm fine" she said as she straightened her dress then walked around her desk to put some distance between them. "I know I haven't written much lately, I've been busy."

"I cannot imagine what could be so important that you would ignore the responsibility to your people." The elder man spoke in a condescending tone.

"Well I've been working and.." Jenny began, but the man interrupted her.

"The elder woman has been reading signs. Something is different, something has changed."

Jenny glowered at the man. "Nothing has changed. The curse still holds."

"The elder woman is never wrong. She says his pain is lessening, she can feel it." he said as he looked at her with a stern, penetrating gaze.

Jenny swallowed, averting her eyes. "There is..." she hesitated.

"There is what?" the man pushed impatiently.

"There is a girl." Jenny said slowly.

"What! How could you let this happen?" the man exclaimed, clearly shocked.

"I promise you, Angel still suffers." Jenny insisted. "And he makes amends for his evil. He even saved my life."

"So you just forget that he destroyed the most beloved daughter of your tribe? That he killed every man woman and child that ever touched her life."

OoO

Xander was taking a detour through the halls of the school in order to avoid Herr Snyder, Sunnydale Highs own personal little Hitler, on his way to the library. He was passing through the hallway adjacent to the computer room when he heard raised voices. Recognizing one as belonging to miss Calendar, the other he didn't know, but he did not like the tone of voice that the man was using. He stopped just outside the classroom door, leaning against the wall and listening in. His expression growing darker the more he heard.

OoO

"Vengeance demands that his pain be eternal, as ours is! If this... this girl gives him even one minute of happiness, it is one minute too much!" The man practically shouted in jenny's face.

Jenny let out a tired sigh. "I'm sorry, I thought.."

"You thought what? You thought you are Jenny Calendar now!? You are still Janna of the Kalderash people. A Gypsy." He spoke, his eyes boring into hers.

"I know... uncle Enyos, I know." Jenny glowered.

"Then prove it. Your time for watching is past. The girl and him, it ends now! Do what you must to take her from him."

"You so much as lay a finger on her or her family, and I will end you." an icy voice spoke from behind them. Both Jenny and Enyos turned to face a seething Xander Harris standing in the doorway to the classroom. Jenny's face paled and a shiver of fear ran down her spine as she saw the cold rage in Xanders eyes.

"Xander." she gasped.

"What is this, who do you think you are!" Enyos demanded.

"Thats not important" Xander growled. "Whats important is that you are threatening my friend. And I take that sort of thing very, very personal."

Enyos drew himself up to his full height, which was still several inches shorter then Xanders towering 6 feet 3 inches. "Now you listen here boy, the vampire Angelus owes us an eternity of suffering for what he has done to us, and you will not interfere!" he bellowed, pointing an accusing finger in Xanders face, spittle flying from his mouth.

"No, you listen." Xander hissed as he grabbed the mans hand, twisting his arm behind his back and slamming him face first into Jenny her desk. Shocking the young woman with the sudden outburst of violence

"You are going to leave Sunnydale, you are going back to this clan of yours, and you will tell them to leave us the hell alone. If you do not, I will cut off your balls and feed them to you before I snap your neck. Understand!?" Xander hissed into Enyos his ear.

Without waiting for a reply he yanked the man upright, spun him round to face the door, then kicked him through it, straight into the hallway wall. Badly dazed Enyos took a moment to get back on his feet. Turning to glower at Xander before walking away unsteadily.

"This is not over!" he called over his shoulder as he vanished down the hall.

Xander took a moment to calm down, taking several deep breaths before he turned to Jenny, who still stood rooted to the spot.

"We need to have a serious talk." he said flatly.

OoO

Buffy was in the library with Giles, discussing her latest slayer dream vision when Dawn and Willow walked in.

"If it isn't my big sister, the woman of the hour." Dawn Quipped.

"Its happy birthday Buffy." Willow chimed in. Giving her best friend a brief hug. Seeing Buffy's broody expression willow stood back up. "Its not happy birthday Buffy?"

Giles sat down to polish his glasses. "Its just that part of the nightmare Buffy had the other day actually transpired." explaining how during a discussion Buffy had with her mother, Joyce summers dropped a plate on the floor. Just like in her nightmare about Drusilla killing angel.

"Which means Drusilla might actually still be alive." Buffy said, sounding rather alarmed. "In my dreams I couldn't stop her. She blindsided me, and Angel was gone before I could react."

"Even if she is alive we can still protect Angel. Dreams aren't prophecies Buffy. You proved that when you killed the master. You dreamed he would rise but you put a stop to it."

"OK, so we're one step ahead but I wanna make sure we stay that way Giles."

He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Absolutely Buffy, let me read up on Drusilla, see if she has any particular patterns. Well figure this out, I promise. Why don't you meet me here at seven and we'll work out a strategy."

"Wait, seven, what will I do in the meantime?"

"Go to classes, do homework, have supper?" He suggested.

Her face fell a little. "Oh, right... be 'that' Buffy." She quickly gathered her things and exited the library to get to her next class.

"So much for our surprise party." Dawn sulked.

"And I bought little hats and everything. Guess I better tell Cordelia its off." Willow moaned.

"No you won't" Giles said while grabbing a mug of tea from his office. "Were having a party tonight."

Both girls stared at him briefly as if he'd grown a second head.

"He looks like Mr caution man, but the sound he makes is funny." Dawn quipped. Making willow roll her eyes at her.

"You hang out with Xander too much." she said in mock accusation. Dawn stuck her tongue out at her before breaking down in giggles.

"Buffy's surprise party will go ahead as we planned, except I won't be wearing a little hat." Giles continued, taking a few sips of tea. The steam rising from the cup momentarily fogging up his glasses.

"But.. Buffy and Angel.." willow started, but Giles interrupted her.

"May well be in danger, as they have been before and undoubtedly will be again at some point. One thing I've learned on my tenure here on the Hell Mouth is that theres no good time to relax, ever. But Buffy's turning seventeen just this once and she deserves a party."

"You better throw me a party too when I turn sixteen in a few weeks." Dawn said, giving Giles a mock pout before her facade cracked and she smiled.

"Of-course we will." Giles said in a fatherly tone. "But tonight is your big sisters night."

"And anyway, Angel is coming so she'll be able to protect him, and have cake." Willow said perkily.

OoO

It had been a tense couple of minutes as Jenny explained to Xander about the Kalderash clan, the ancient curse placed on Angel; and her mission to ensure that it stayed strong, because every Gypsy curse had some kind of clause to it. Her voice grew quieter as she explained. The fact Xander was glaring daggers at her didn't help either.

"So let me get this straight. You are part of the Gypsy clan that originally cursed Angel, and they send you here to make sure that the curse stays in place. Am I right so far?" Xander recapped.

"Yes.." Jenny said quietly. Still unable to look him in the eyes. "We had to make sure."

Xander was silent for a long time. Eventually his glare vanished, to be replaced by an expression of fatigue "You know you could have just told us the truth. That would have saved us a lot of potential drama."

"Oh sure, I can see how that would have turned out." Jenny said sarcastically. "Buffy would have kicked my ass out the door the moment I told them what I was here for. And Rupert..." she trailed off.

"You fear he wouldn't want anything to do with you anymore." Xander said matter of factly. Jenny nodded.

"You really care for him don't you?"

"Yes" she breathed, the tiniest hint of a blush forming on her face. Xander decided to move on.

"So, now that the cat's out of the bag, where does that leave us?"

Jenny looked up. "You have to believe me Xander, I don't mean you or the others any harm. I don't even mean Angel any harm. He saved my life... but we have to make sure his curse holds. 'I' have to make sure."

"But why.. what is so important about this curse? What happens if it fails.?"

"I don't know. They never told me, but whatever it is can't be good."

"You should tell Giles the truth. He deserves that much at least." He held up a hand to forestall any protests. "He's a smart man. If you explain things to him in private without Buffy there to cause a scene or emotional outburst I'm sure he will understand."

Jenny nervously wrung her hands. "But what if he.. gets angry."

"He might get angry yes, but I've seen the way he looks at you. How his face lights up when you're in the same room. Trust me, he'll forgive your deception eventually. Just be honest, it will work out. Why don't you talk to him tonight after Buffy's surprise party."

"Are you sure you want me there?"

"It would look a lot more suspicious if you weren't there." He said with a small smile. "Besides, this way I can keep an eye on you." was the thought he left unspoken.

"Alright." Jenny said, the beginning of a smile appearing on her face. "I'll make sure to be there."

OoO

Evening rolled around. Buffy, still in a less then cheerful mood ran into Jenny who offered her a ride. Saying that Giles had arranged a different meeting place. As they arrived in Jenny's car at the Bronze they spotted Dalton and a group of Vampires unloading an antique looking box from a lorry.

Buffy, against Jenny's protests immediately jumped into action. Climbing out of Jenny's car and jumping onto the back of the lorry to deliver a crushing kick to the lead vampires left knee. It snapped like so much rotten wood, sending the demon crashing to the ground with a scream of pain. She jumped of the lorry, slamming her elbow into the face of another vampire; shattering its nose. Dalton tried to scurry off with the box but she swiped his legs out from under him. Sending him crashing to the ground. The heavy box landing on his face, momentarily stunning the nerdy vampire.

She was about to deliver the deathblow with her stake when another Vampire barreled into her, lamming her into a wall. The breath exploded out of her lungs as she impacted the steel sheathed wall of the Bronze, but she recovered quickly. Sending a series of jabs and uppercuts into the vampires torso and face.

Inside the bronze the scoobies emerged from their hiding spots as the sounds of battle became ever more audible. They were about ready to head for the door and find out what all the commotion was about when it happened. The vampire grabbed Buffy by the arms, attempting to bite her. Buffy launched her body into a spin, trying to throw the vampire off, but she overestimated the vampires weight and the two of them went spinning out of control.

They came crashing through one of the Tinted glass windows of the Bronze, Buffy quickly getting back on her feet. She roundhouse kicked the vampire then staked it as it bounced back off one of the tables, turning it to dust.

"Surprise" Cordelia shouted, earning herself a glare from all the others. As the dust settled the other scoobies gathered round Buffy.

"Buffy what happened? Are you okay?" Giles asked.

Dusting herself off she nodded. "I'm fine Giles... there were some vamps outside and..whats going on?" She asked as she noticed the decorations.

"Oh ehm.. just a.. surprise party." Giles stammered then blew a little party whistle, before tossing it over his shoulder nonchalantly.

Her face cracked into a warm smile. "You guys did all this for me? That is so sweet."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Angel asked her quietly as he helped to steady her. To which she nodded vigorously.

"I'm peachy. Really."

"Thats my big sister. Nothing gets her down. Not even the undead." Dawn chirped.

"Are 'you' okay?" Willow asked Oz. Who was still staring at the spot where the vampire had burst into dust.

He hesitated for a moment, then said: "Yeah.. hey did anyone else just see that guy turn into dust?"

"Oh, well, kinda." Willow stammered before Xander cut in.

"Yep, Vampires are real. A lot of them live here in Sunnydale. Willow can fill you in on the details." He deadpanned.

"I know its hard to accept at first." Willow started to explain. But Oz interrupted her saying: "Actually it explains a LOT."

It was then that Jenny walked into the Bronze, carrying the big wooden box the vampires had been offloading. "Could somebody give me a hand here? Those creeps left this behind"

With Angels help she put the big box down on an empty table as the rest of the scoobies gathered round curiously.

"What is it?" Dawn asked.

"Well there's one way to find out." Buffy replied as she examined the box for a way to open it.

Finding the release on the side of it, it took a moment of fiddling with it for it to unlock with a click. As they pulled back the lid on the box the contents were revealed. Inside the box lay a severed arm encased in old, ornate medieval armor made of dark metal and chain-mail. There was a faint scent of grave dust and death about it.

They all stared at the severed limb in distaste when all of a sudden it reared up, clamping its hand around Buffy her throat and started to squeeze the life from her. She stumbled, hands shooting towards her neck to try and dislodge the arm. But the evil thing wouldn't budge. She began to choke as her air supply was cut off.

"G-get it.. off...me" she managed to choke out.

Angel, being the closest to her rushed forward. Grabbing the fingers of the hand and tried to pry them loose with all his vampiric strength. The hand let go of her throat then started to thrash about trying to choke Angel instead. It took Angel and Xanders combined effort to wrestle the arm back into the box. Slamming the lid shut and locking it back up.

"Are you alright Buffy." Dawn asked her sister. Her face a grimace of concern.

"Yeah.." she coughed "Damn that thing had major grip."

"What the heck was that?" Willow said.

"It looked like an arm." Oz deadpanned.

"Clearly its the hell-mouths answer to what do you get the slayer who has everything." Xander cut in. Glaring angrily at the box containing the offending appendage. He had to seriously resist the urge to get a shoota and blast the damn thing.

"It cant be, she wouldn't." Angel muttered. Staring at the box with mounting horror.

Xander rounded on him. "What, a vamps version of snakes in a can or do you care to share?"

"Angel?" Buffy stared at him with some confusion.

"Its a legend, from way before my time even. About a demon brought forth to rid the earth from the plague of humanity. Separate the righteous from the wicked, and then burn the righteous down. They called him the Judge."

Giles took of his glasses, polishing them furiously with a handkerchief. "The judge? T-this is he?"

"Obviously not all of him." Dawn deadpanned.

Buffy waved her hand. "Still needing more back story here." she snipped.

"He couldn't be killed yes?" Giles said as he looked at Angel for confirmation, who nodded "An army was sent against him, most of them died. But finally they were able to dismember him, but not kill him." Giles continued.

"And the pieces were scattered to the four corners of the earth." Angel finished.

"How does that work anyway. The corners of the earth. What with it being round and all." Oz mused out loud.

"I've kinda wondered that myself." Xander quipped in return.

"So now all the parts are being gathered here." Jenny said, ignoring the two boys antics.

"By Drusilla." Buffy added. "Those were spikes cronies outside."

"Shes crazy enough to do it." Angel growled.

"Do what? Re-assemble the judge?" Willow asked quietly.

"And unleash Armageddon." Angel said sotto voce.

"Is anybody else gonna have cake?" Cordelia cut in, fed up with the doom and gloom conversation, she walked off to grab a slice while the others continued their discussion.

"We need to get this out of town, its imperative that we keep this out of Drusilla's hands at all costs." Giles said while still trying to polish a hole into his glasses.

"Angel, you have to do it, you're the only one who can protect this thing." Jenny stated.

"Shouldn't we try to destroy it instead?" Dawn cut in "I mean if we take it somewhere else whats to stop them from finding it again and bringing it right back here?"

"We can't destroy it." Giles said. "people tried before without success. Thats why the boxes were scattered in the first place."

"I say we pour this thing in concrete and toss it into the deepest part of the ocean" Xander stated, banging a fist on top of the box.

"There's no time for that." Jenny insisted. "We need to get this out of here now."

"She's right" Angel nodded. "I'll take it out of here. With any luck I can catch a ship to china or something."

"Whoa whoa, CHINA?!" Buffy shouted. "How long did you plan to be gone."

"I don't know. Maybe a few months." Angel sighed.

"You know those newfangled flying machines are a lot safer then they used to be."

"I can't fly Buffy, theres no sure way to guard against the daylight. I don't like this anymore than you do Buffy. But there's no other choice." Angel said, staring into her eyes.

"When?" She breathed, choking back a stab of dread at the prospect of losing Angel.

"Tonight. As soon as possible."

"But its my birthday." she whispered. Fighting back the tears she felt welling up."

Angel stared into her eyes for a long moment. Unable to offer her comfort.

"I'll drive you to the docks." Jenny offered.

OoO

The drive to the docs did not take all that long. But everyone was quiet and on edge, making the trip feel so much longer. Buffy was sad and sulky. Angel was brooding like a pro about what to do with the box once he got to Asia. Jenny too, was silent all the way. Once at the docks Buffy and Angel proceeded alone. Jenny remained in her car to give them some privacy to say their farewells. As they walked towards the ship that would take him to Asia, Buffy held onto Angels arm. Unwilling to part with him.

"Are we gonna be okay? Us I mean." Buffy mumbled sadly.

"What do you mean Buffy?" Angel asked her quietly. Trying to keep the sadness out of his voice.

"Six months, a year. Who knows how long until we will see each-other again."

Slowly Angel put the box containing the Judge's arm down "I will be back Buffy. I promise." he fished into his coat pocket producing a silver ring with a hands, a crown and wings. "I have something for you. For your birthday. I wanted to give it to you earlier but..."

"Its beautiful." said Buffy. A small smile appearing on her lips for the first time since they left the Bronze.

"My people... before I was changed, they exchanged this as a sign of devotion. It's a Claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship. The crown represents loyalty. And the heart... well, you know."

Buffy gazed into his eyes a moment. A single tear slipped down her face.

"Wear it with the heart towards you. It means you belong to somebody. Like this" Angel finished. Showing her his hand. A similar ring around his own finger.

Buffy gave him a kiss, then slid the ring around her finger. They stood in silence for a moment.

"I don't wanna do this." Buffy whispered.

"Me neither."

"So don't go. Well find another way."

Angel said nothing. Instead he leaned forward. Locking lips with hers. One final goodbye kiss. It did not last very long as they were rudely interrupted by Spikes cronies.

Two of them leapt off the ship itself while another two ran up the pier itself. Buffy and Angel broke off from each other. Buffy delivering a right cross as her opponent closed the distance. She followed up with a crane kick that send the vampire crashing into a stack of crates.

Angel let out a vicious snarl. Delivering a trio of punches to his opponents chest. He then grabbed the Vampire by the hair and yanked his head down. Bringing up his knee to smash into the guys nose. It shattered with a satisfying crunch.

The Vampire fighting Buffy got up from the stack of broken crates. Behind her the third one approached, twirling a boat hook he had picked up. He swiped at her with the rusty piece of steel, narrowly missing her face. Buffy lashed out with her foot. Delivering a savage kick to the groin. As the Vampire collapsed in pain she grabbed the hook and smashed it into his skull. Dusting it. In the chaos of combat, none of them saw Dalton sneak up and snatch the box away.

Angel kicked his assailant repeatedly in the stomach. Growling as he shifted into his game face. He was about to finish him off when he heard a cry from Buffy. The remaining vampire had managed to grab her from behind and tossed her off the pier into the cold dark waters below. Without thinking Angel Backhanded his opponent aside, then jumped in after her.

OoO

Almost forty five minutes later Buffy swept through the library doors like a thundercloud. The rest of the scooby gang, sans Oz had been waiting for her to return. Seeing her thunderous expression Giles rose from his seat.

"Buffy what happened?"

"Dru's guys ambushed us. They got the box." Buffy scowled.

"Wheres Jenny?"

"She took Angel to get clothing, I had some here."

"And we needed clothing why?" Xander asked.

"We got wet." Buffy deadpanned. "Giles what do we know?"

The elder watcher rose from his seat, a frown plastered on his face."The more I study the Judge the less I like him. His touch can literally burn the humanity out of you. A true creature of evil can survive the process. No human ever has."

"Whats the problem, we send Cordy to fight this guy and go for pizza." Xander quipped, but the joke fell on deaf ears. Giles continued explaining what he had learned.

"No weapon forged can kill him. Not very encouraging. If we could only stop them from assembling him."

"We need to find his weak spots and we need to find ut where they are keeping him." Buffy scowled as she looked over Giles notes.

It was then that Angel and Jenny arrived. With everyone assembled the scoobies pulled out every book that seemed relevant to the current crisis and began to research. Several hours passed and their moods grew darker as they came up with no new information. It was just over two in the morning when Xander let out a disgusted sigh.

"I think I've read this already." he said with a glare at the book he was holding. As if willing the thing to burst into flames for wasting his time.

Dawn let out a yawn from her seat in the corner. A pile of books lay stacked up next to her. "I'm getting nowhere either."

"Any luck Angel?" Giles asked the vampire as he emerged from the stacks with another tome. But before Angel could answer Giles motioned for him to be quiet as he spotted Buffy, asleep in his office chair. Her face resting on the book she had been reading. "It seems Buffy needed some rest."

"Yes she hasn't been sleeping well, tossing and turning."Angel said quietly, causing everyone to stare at him. "What? She told me. Cause of her dreams."

It was several minutes later when Buffy suddenly woke with a cry of alarm. "Angel!"

"I'm here Buffy, what happened."

"I think I know where spike and Drusilla are." Buffy said. "I saw them, in my dream. They are in an abandoned factory. We have to go."

"Thats very good, however you do need a plan. I know you're concerned Buffy but you can't just go off half cocked." Giles replied as he came down the stairs with more books to research the Judge.

"I have a plan." She said as she put on her jacket. "Angel and I go to the factory, do a little recon. Find out how far they've gotten with assembling the Judge. You guys check any places the boxes could be coming into town. Airports, shipping yards, anything you can think off. We need to stop them from getting all the boxes into one place."

"Yes thats actually quite a good plan." Giles stammered.

"This thing is nasty and its real Giles, we can't wait for it to come to us." Buffy replied before she and Angel marched out the library.

Way in the back Xander was observing the conversation when Dawn quietly came over to him.

"What are you thinking?" She asked. "You got that look on your face."

Xander gave her a quizzical glance. "What look?"

"You get this sort of far away glare in your eyes when you're thinking deeply about something."

"I just feel like were wasting our time here. We've already gone over a dozen or more volumes worth of books and they all say the same thing. No, were definitely wasting time here. We need to get to my place and gather as much firepower as we can and get ready to make a stand."

"Well, since they want us to go stake out possible shipping locations id say nows the perfect time to sneak away."

OoO

Dawn and Xander exited the school grounds. They had told Giles they would stake out the Bus station at the edge of town. Giving them all the time they needed to make their way to Ravens Garage.

They threw open the front door as they marched into the place. Startling Bob who had been sleeping on top if the front office desk, and promptly fell off it, landing flat on his face.

Picking himself painfully off the floor he grumbled under his breath. "Why'se yous makin all dot racket. Stupid 'umies."

Dawn and Xander made a beeline for the armory. Which was little more then a small store room that Xander had reinforced with some metal plating. It was where he kept all of his finished weapons and spare munitions. They briefly passed through the kitchen where Wingnut was busy making a grilled cheese sandwich using one of the spare Burna's. The smell of burning cheese and partially carbonized bread permeated the room.

"Lets see what do we have. Four combi shootas. Half a dozen stikk bombs. Forty clips of anti vamp ammo. Ten gallons of holy water. Assorted combat blades. Six cannisters of Squig gas. You know I really wish you'd make me a bolter." Dawn said as she took stock of the supplies.

"I told you I will make you a bolter or bolt pistol as soon as I can figure out how to make the proper munition for it." Xander groused. She had been pestering him to make her a bolt gun and chain sword for days now, ever since she learned about his newfound engineering and manufacturing skills.

Its not like Xander didn't want to make her some personal wargear. It was more a matter of figuring out how to make it work. Imperial technology being somewhat different from all the Ork tech floating around his brain. He was positive he could replicate it given enough time though.

Looking over his supplies he let out a disgusted sigh. "Somehow I don't think this will cut it. Giles said it took an army to kill this thing last time around."

"Well since we don't have an army I suppose mass firepower will have to do the trick." Dawn quipped.

"Except were a little short on that front too. Sure this stuff is enough to deal with our regular clientèle of demons and vamps. But this Judge guy is supposed to be invincible."

"So build some bigger guns. If its bigger firepower we need then make it happen."

"Theres no time to build something bigger. If we want to be ready well need weapons now."

"Well maybe you can just buy something?" Dawn said, then shook her head. "Forget it, dumb idea."

"Actually you gave 'me' an idea." Xander replied. A crazed twinkle In his eye.

"What? Don't tell me were going to rob a gun store now." Dawn said jokingly with a grin. That grin quickly faded though when she saw Xanders contemplative expression.

"Not a gun store no." he said then called out to the Grots in his loudest warboss voice. "WINGNUT! BOB! FIXIT! GED OVA 'ERE. NOW!"

The three Grots soon came a running. Almost tripping over one-another in their haste to obey their Warboss. They barreled into the room, lining up in front of Xander and Dawn. For some reason Wingnut had one of his boots in his mouth and a half eaten grilled cheese sandwich on his foot instead of the other way around.

"Right... Gretches! Its time ta move out. Da warboss needs more Dakka... and ah knows juuust where ta gets some. Lets load up da lobba. Its time ter go lootin!"

OoO

The vampire party was in full swing as Buffy and Angel quietly snuck across the walkway that snaked through the rafters of the old factory complex. After looking around for a but Buffy turned to Angel, concern written all over her face.

"I saw this, the party."

Their attention was drawn back to the floor below as Spike and Drusilla made their entrance, followed by the hulking blue armored form of the Judge.

"We should get out of here Buffy." Angel whispered urgently. But things turned out differently.

Below them the judge looked left and right as if he expected to find something. The demon sniffed the air in agitation, drawing spikes attention.

"What is it?" the wheelchair bound vampire demanded.

Sniffing the air one more time the judge suddenly looked up. Staring straight at Buffy and Angel and letting loose a challenging growl.

"Run for it." Angel urged. But just as they turned to leave they found themselves surrounded on all sides by Spikes cronies.

OoO

The Sunnydale National Guard Armory was primarily used as a training post, This meant that a lot of the time the base was only lightly staffed because most of the troops were out on manoeuvres or survival training in the desert. Tonight was such a night, with only one platoon on base. This being Sunnydale, aka Sunnyhell to those in the know, the base was a bit worse for wear. And security was awfully lax. Though relatively small, the armory was well stocked. Out on the grounds several sentries were walking the perimeter fence. Overhead the skies broke as it began to rain, slowly at first, but quickly gathering in intensity.

With a low rumble, a heavily remodeled Dodge Ram Pickup Truck four seater pulled up to the back of the main building, just outside the perimeter fence. Heavy duty steel plates had been welded to the bodywork in a haphazard way, spray painted in bright firetruck red and decorated with almost neon blue fanged skull symbols. The front of the truck had a very large set of steel bull-bars bolted to it, complete with a set of large cow horns as an ornament. Dark tinted windows shielded the occupants from prying eyes. The back of the truck was covered by a black tarp.

"Show time" Xander grinned as he opened the door and jumped out into the rain. Dawn following suit from the passenger side. The back doors also swung open, as Wingnut Fixit and Bob emerged from the backseat. Hauling bolt-cutters, hacksaws and grinding tools. Dawn was carrying a modified paint-ball gun slung over her shoulder.

Xander pulled away the tarp, revealing a large multi tubed launching device. Like a multi mortar. Every tube wide enough to hold a tennis ball sized projectile. He swung the device round and aimed it at the sky over the armory.

"The lobba is loaded, Fire in the hole." he chuckled as he pushed a really big red button on the device. The label below it read: 'Push dis ta fire, stoopid!'

With a dull series of whoomps the device shot a dozen glass orbs filled with greenish gas into the air. There was a clunking sound and the tinkle of glass as the device cycled its loader and then a second series of whoomps as the second salvo shot high into the air.

"Masks on folks." Xander quipped as he pulled a gas-mask over his face. Dawn and the Gretchin followed suit. As the first series of glass spheres came crashing to the ground in showers of glass shards the launcher spat a third volley into the air.

Dawn casually walked up to the fence, her Sororitas training kicking in as she took aim with the paint-ball gun. Aiming for the windows on the second floor of the main office she squeezed off a series of shots. Marble sized glass spheres instead of paint-balls thumping from the barrel with each pull of the trigger. They crashed through the second floor windows, shattering against the walls to unleash their gaseous content.

As more and more spheres crashed down all around the base a fog of green gas began to rise up, growing thicker by the minute. For a moment confusion reigned supreme as the sentries milled around in alarm. Trying to find the source of the attack. But soon the gas began to overwhelm them. One by one they fell into unconsciousness. Dawn shifted her aim, firing into the barracks windows. Soon troops began to pile out the doors trying to escape the clouds of gas only to run into the much greater fog of gas outside.

Two minutes after the first shot launched every soldier and staff member on base was sleeping soundly.

Wingnut Fixit and Bob ran up to the fence, and began tearing it down with their chosen tools, all the while cackling gleefully. Once the fence was down Xander drove the Trukk through the opening.

"What was in those things anyway?" Dawn asked as Xander parked the truck. The gas had begun to dissipate by now thanks to the heavy rainfall, so it was safe to remove the gas masks. They were rather stifling.

Xander hopped out the driving seat, hefting a bolt-cutter of his own. "Just a combination of hallucinogenic fungi spores and phenobarbital. They are going to be so spaced out when they wake up they'll probably think Martians came down and took all the stuff were about to steal."

With a loud snap he cut through the heavy padlock on the armory door. He let out an appreciative whistle as they stepped inside. Boxes of munitions lined the wall. There were crates of grenades, C-4, AT4 rocket launchers, claymore mines, and a myriad of other stuff.

"Were gonna need a bigger truck." Dawn deadpanned.

"That can be arranged, lets check out the motor pool." Xander replied as he walked off to do just that. Behind them the Grots began to haul crates of ammo out the door and stacking them up for transport.

The motor pool was mostly empty, many of the vehicles being out in the field with the troops on manoeuvres. However they did find two M35 Cargo trucks.

"Oh yeah, these will do just fine." Xander chuckled as he hopped into the cab of the nearest truck and started to hotwire it. After a minute of fiddling with the wiring the engine roared into life. "Alright, we got wheels. Take this to the boyz while I start the other one."

"Uhhh Xander, hate to burst your bubble but I don't have a license, I'm only fifteen. I cant legally drive a car, let alone a truck, least not until my birthday in a few weeks" Dawn said.

Xander stared at her for a moment. Tilting his head left then right as if he tried to figure something out. Finally dawn had enough of him staring at her like she was an item on display in a shop.

"What?" She asked huffily.

"Tell me... what part of robbing a military depot strikes you as legal?" Xander deadpanned. Dawn let out a groan. Unable to believe her own stupidity right then.

"I cant believe... what the hell was I thinking." she shook her head and hopped into the truck. Shifting it into gear and roaring away to start getting it loaded.

Xander walked off towards the second truck and was about to start hot-wiring it when his eye fell on something large in the back of the motor pool covered by a large tarp. The shape of it caught his attention and he hurried over to check it out. Pulling the large tarp away his face cracked into a manic grin that threatened split his face in half. For beneath the tarp was an actual M1 Abrams Tank. He stared at the war machine in silence for some time, then... slowly... he began to chuckle.

"heh..hehe...heheheh.. hahahahaha.. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Xanders body shook with manic laughter as his eyes seemed to shine with a mad light. "Yoink!" he exclaimed as he hopped into the tanks drive section. And with a rumble the engine flared into life.

Half an hour later both trucks had been loaded to capacity, and the small convoy of vehicles sped out the gates of the Sunnydale Guard Depot. Xander in the lead driving the tank, with Dawn following in the first truck, while the Grots followed her in the second one. Fixit was behind the wheel while Bob was on his knees on the floor, operating the paddles with his hands and Wingnut worked the gear shift. Xanders pickup brought up the rear, following the convoy on autopilot. Xander was cackling gleefully all the way back to the garage. The occasional echo of mad laughter emanating from the tanks driver section as the convoy vanished into the heavy rainfall.

OoO

Buffy struggled as Spikes henchmen dragged her and Angel to the Judge. Drusilla crooned excitedly.

The judge loomed closer, raising a hand to burn Buffy to cinders.

"No!" Angel shouted. Interposing himself between Buffy and the Judge "Take me instead."

Spike rolled his eyes. "You're not getting the concept mate. There is no instead. Only first and second. And if you go first, well, you won't get to see her burn."

The judge raised his hand, slowly moving closer to Buffy. At the last second she brought her legs up, leaning her weight on the two Vampires holding her arms, and kicked the judge square in the chest. Angel used the opportunity to break free, dashing forward to release the chain holding up the heavy steel chandler that had several old TV's strapped to it. The entire thing came crashing down, narrowly missing the Judge. In the confusion Buffy broke free of her captors grips. Launching into a spin kick that send them both sprawling.

"This way." she called out to Angel, pointing to where the TV chandler had smashed a hole into the floor.

Buffy and Angel jumped through, landing in one of the abandoned service tunnels underneath the factory. They broke into a run, dashing down the tunnel to put as much distance between themselves and the Judge as possible. They broke the rusted padlock on a side door that led into a utility cellar. From there they made their way up to street level and out into the rain. They didn't look back as they fled into the downpour.

They arrived at Angels hideout almost half an hour later. Soaked to the bone by the torrential rains. Buffy's teeth were chattering and she shivered uncontrollably. She felt so very cold.

"You're shaking like a leaf." Angel said with concern.

"I'm cold." Buffy gasped. Trying to keep her teeth from chattering.

"Let me get you something." Angel said. Making his way over to his dresser. Pulling out one of his shirts and a sweater for her to wear. At least until her own clothes were dry. "Put these on. Get under the covers, just to warm up."

Buffy silently took the offered clothes. Making her way over to Angels bed. She sat down and started to strip off her soaked vest. Angel, trying to be a gentleman turned around to give her some modicum of privacy, causing her to smile despite the shivers. As she pulled of her vest she felt a pain in her upper back. Letting out a hiss.

"Whats wrong?" Angel asked.

"Nothing, I just have a... cut or something." Buffy winced.

"Can I... let me see?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment, then said: "Okay." Using her vest to cover her chest. Her top was so soaked with water it was virtually transparent.

She turned sideways as Angel sat down next to her on the bed. With gentle fingers he examined her back, finding a shallow cut across her shoulder blades.

"Its already closed. You'll be fine." he breathed. Buffy closed her eyes and leaned into him. Rubbing her cheek against his in an almost catlike manner. He slowly wrapped his arms around her as she leaned into him.

"You almost went away today." she whispered sadly.

"We both did."

"Angel... I feel like I lost you." Buffy whispered. Fighting not to break down and cry. "you're right though. We cant be sure of anything.."

"Shh-shh-shh." Angel hushed her quietly. "I love you. I try not to but I can't stop."

"Me too." Buffy gasped. Almost unable to form the words. "I can't either."

As they leaned into each other she turned to face him. Her lips seeking his. They kissed, slowly at first. Their movement uncertain. But with each kiss they grew more passionate.

"Maybe we shouldn't..." Angel tried to say. But Buffy didn't let him finish.

"Don't.. Just kiss me." She urged. Her lips clamping onto his with an almost desperate passion.

They stayed locked together like that for several minutes. Their lips practically glued together as their tongues dueled. Angel leaned back onto the bed, dragging Buffy with him. Her hands Roamed all over his chest, almost clawing at his shirt. Until eventually she literally ripped it off him.

Angels own hands were rather busy too. Sliding down her sides until they paused at her hips before going back up and under her shirt, lifting it up and over her head. He tossed the soaked shirt aside and began to struggle with her clasp of her Bra. Mentally swearing that whoever invented the darn things must have been a sadist as he fiddled with the clasp. Finally he undid it and slowly he pulled her Bra off. Revealing the creamy white mounds beneath.

Buffy blushed slightly as he undid her bra, but her desire squashed any feelings of embarrassment before long. She wanted him badly. She leaned down, her breasts touching against his chest, and kissed his neck. She had been waiting for this moment for so long, and she wanted to make it last. She felt his hands slide across her back. His fingers tracing her spine down to the small of her back, and then his hands gently cupped her ass. Eliciting a slight moan from her as he squeezed it lightly.

She reached down with her hand in-between their bodies as she searched for her belt and undid it. As soon as her pants came loose Angel hooked his fingers into the waistband of them and slowly pulled them down until they were around her knees. She wriggled her legs out one by one and kicked them aside as angel shimmied out of his own pants. The two of them rolled over so that Angel was on top for the moment. Their eyes locked and they stared into each other for a moment, then resumed their passionate kiss with a vengeance.

After another minute or two Angel broke the kiss and slowly slid down her body. Planting kisses all over. He started at her neck. Then her collarbone. Next he kissed each of her breasts and then slid down her belly. Kissing her abdomen and her navel. She closed her eyes as he hovered over her pelvic mound. And she let out a soft squeal of delight as he kissed it too. She felt his fingers grasp the waistband of her panties and begin to pull them down slowly. Her face suddenly felt uncomfortably hot. And as her panties came all the way off she felt a surge of moisture in her vagina.

Angel savored the moment, admiring her womanhood. He noticed that she had trimmed her pubes until only a tiny strip of warm blond curls remained. He gave it another kiss, drawing forth a moan from Buffy. Then he kissed up her inner thigh until he reached her knee, then came down again and up her other leg, then down again. He was driving her crazy with lust and she bit her lip as not to cry out.

"Angel.. s-stop teasing me. I-I need you." She moaned

Angel smiled and then moved his mouth over her warm wet opening. This time she did cry out as his tongue probed between her labia and found that most sensitive little pearl. Her fingers clawed at the bedsheets as Angels tongue danced across her womanhood and clit. She had masturbated before, but this sensation was unlike anything she had managed to do herself. It felt like tiny bolts of electricity shooting up her spine.

He kept it up for several minutes until suddenly her entire body went rigid and she let out a high pitched cry of pleasure as she climaxed. Her breath was labored and her body glistened with sweat. She lay there panting for several moments. Her eyes closed and a perfect smile plastered onto her face. When she opened her eyes again she looked into Angels face as he was hovering over her. Leaning on his arms. She smiled at him and pulled him down in another kiss, tasting her own juices on his lips.

As they embraced she felt something hard poke against her thigh. She looked at him with a sparkle in her eyes and in response to his unasked question she slowly spread her legs. Their lips locked once again as she felt his manhood rub against her opening. She spread her legs wider and arched her hips, guiding him into her. As he entered her she felt another surge of pleasure. And also totally content. Here she was together with the man she loved, sharing that most intimate of moments. She couldn't remember ever being happier.

Leaning on his elbows Angel began to move his hips back and forth. Each stroke sending a surge of pleasure through her. She began to move with him. Meeting his thrusts with her own until they moved in unison. She wrapped her arms around him. Pulling him tightly against her. She never wanted to let go. She moaned his name as he pushed into her. She was getting so close again. Angel for his part was reaching his own boiling point. But he was determined to hold out for her. Their bodies rocked in sync with each other until finally Buffy let out another cry of pleasure as her orgasm crashed through her. And as she clamped her legs around him, pulling him ever deeper in the process Angel reached his own climax.

They Lay snuggled up together for the longest time. Feeling both warm and content. She looked at him with her eyes half closed as sleep was tugging at her. Her lips curved into a delicate smile.

"I love you." She whispered before they both drifted off to sleep.

Deep in the night Angel awoke suddenly, his body felt like it was on fire. He rolled out of the bed and stumbled to his feet, gasping in pain he stumbled for the exit. He landed in a heap in the pouring rain.

OoO

Across town Drusilla let out a cry of her own as her mystical abilities made her feel an echo of Angels agony. She writhed and twisted. Falling to the ground with a sob. "Ooooh... my Angel.." She moaned as spike looked on stunned. Unable to help his dark mistress of the night.

OoO

Angel doubled over, unable to move. His chest ached like he had been staked. He cried out for Buffy, but she was asleep inside. She did not hear the agonizing scream as Angels soul was torn from his body, and the demon Angelus laughed in triumph.

OoO

Xander and Dawn looked rather pleased with themselves as they entered the library in the morning. Their smiles faded however when they saw the expressions of gloom on Giles and Buffy's faces. Buffy had come in only minutes before.

"Whats going on?" Dawn asked.

"Its the Judge" Buffy said. "He's active. He nearly killed us, but Angel got us out."

"Why didn't you call?" Giles asked.

"We had to hide. We got stuck in the sewers and with the hiding and, we just split up. No one's heard from him?" Buffy asked with growing dread. They all shook their head.

"We got to stop the Judge." Xander said. "What can you tell us Buffy?"

"Not much, strong, I kicked him in the chest and felt like I had a sudden fever. If he had gotten his hands on me.."

"In time he won't need contact." Giles said. "He'll be able to turn us to charcoal with a look, the stronger he gets."

"Also, not the prettiest man in town." Buffy quipped grimly.

"I'll continue my research, we must find some kind of weakness. The rest of you should get to classes."

As the group fanned out of the library Xander broke off from the others. Dawn noticed he was about to pull another disappearing act and quickly followed him.

"Xander, where are you going?"

"You heard Buffy, the Judge is active. We've just run out of time. I'm going to the garage and prepare."

"I'll come with you." Dawn said.

"No! I need you here. Please, do as Giles said, get to class then help out with the research. If the Judge has a weakness we have to find out. And before you protest, it has nothing to do with whether or not you can fight or not, I'll be working on a weapon to fight the judge, and you aren't a mechanic Dawn."

"Alright Xander... But promise you'll come to the research tonight."

"I'll be there. And just to be safe I want you to take this.." Xander opened his backpack, pulling out a new and improved version of his Kromo. It was a lot compacter, and had a small drum magazine instead of a regular clip to allow for a much greater ammo capacity.

"This is a Slugga. Keep it in your bag. Don't use it unless you absolutely have to. Its not a bolt pistol but it will do in a pinch. Ive loaded it with the regular mix of ammo plus something extra we raided last night." He handed her a second drum magazine. This one had a large red X painted on it. "Incendiary rounds. So be extra careful with them" He said in answer to her questioning stare.

Dawn nodded. She took the magazine gingerly and quickly stuffed it and the boxy little gun in her bag.

"We'll make it through this Dawn." Xander said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before he set off for the front exit.

OoO

"Are we feeling better then?"Spike asked Drusilla who was lying on the table in the factories main room. Her gaze still far away as she looked up at the ceiling.

"I'm naming all the stars." Drusilla moaned.

"You can't see the stars luv." Spike said. "Thats the ceiling. Also, it's day."

"I can see them, but I've named them all the same name. And theres terrible confusion." Drusilla said in a sing song voice, her hands running up and down her body in a most seductive way that made spike swallow despite himself. Cursing his luck for being bound in that fucking wheelchair. He wanted nothing more then rip the clothes off of Dru right now and ravish her.

With that option out of the question for the moment he turned back to the matter at hand, asking: "Did you see any further? Do you know what happens to Angel?"

"Well.. he moves to New York and tries to fulfill that Broadway dream. Its tough slaying, but one day he's working in the chorus when the big star twists her ankle" Angel said sarcastically as he emerged from the shadow of the factory.

Spike and Drusilla rounded on him. Spike in particular glaring daggers at the other vampire.

"You don't give up do you!" he snarled. Causing Angel to chuckle.

"As long as theres injustice in the world. As long as scum like you is walking... well.. rolling, the streets I'll be around. Look over your shoulder and I'll be there."

Spikes glare turned into a sadistic grin. "Uhm yeah.. Angel, look over 'your' shoulder. Mate."

Before Angel had a chance to do so a large powerful hand grabbed him by the arm, spinning him round to come face to face with the Judge. Who placed his other hand on Angels chest. Spike and Drusilla looked on expectantly. Waiting for Angel to burst into flames. But nothing happened.

"What are you waiting for, burn him down already." Spike roared.

"Gee maybe he's broken." Angel taunted. "Can we hurry this up? It kinda itches."

The Judge let go of him and grumbled. "This one can not be burned. He is pure. There is no humanity in him."

"Couldn't have said it better myself." Angel chuckled.

Drusilla looked at him longingly. "Angel." she spoke quietly. Her voice full of excitement and lust.

"Yeah baby, I'm back."

"Its really true?" Spike said in disbelief.

"Its really true!" Angelus replied. "Ive come home."

"No more of this 'I've got a soul' crap!"

"What can I say hmm..." Angelus mused as he struck a match against the table Drusilla was reclining on and lit a cigarette "i was just going through a phase."

Spike laughed darkly. "This is great, this is so, so great."

"Everything in my head is singing." Drusilla hummed as she started dancing on the table in a seductive manner. "Were a family again. We'll feed, and we'll play." She growled in a predatory manner.

"I gotta tell you, it made me sick to my stomach watching you be the slayers lapdog." spike said. Making Angelus growl into his face, right before kissing him on the forehead, drawing another bout of laughter from the wheelchair bound vampire.

"How did this happen?" Drusilla hummed.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Angelus replied. Hopping up and sitting cross-legged on the table.

"Who cares!" Spike exclaimed. "What matters is he's back. Now its four against two. Which are the kind of odds I like to play."

"Were going to destroy the world." Drusilla giggled, leaning towards Angelus. "wanna come?"

"Destroying the world, great." Angelus mused as he tossed away the half smoked cigarette. "I'm more interested in the slayer."

"Well shes in the world, so that should work itself out." Spike said.

"Give me tonight." Angelus said as he turned to the other two. "Lay low for a night, I guarantee by the time you go public she won't be anything resembling a threat."

"Spike cracked a sadistic smile. "You've really got a yen to hurt this girl haven't you?"

"What can I say, she made me feel like a human being. Thats not the kind of thing a fellow just forgives."

"And what about Scrapyard. We still know next to nothing about this bloke. Where he operates from, how he gets his gear. You were there at the church mate, you saw the damage the bastard can do."

"Let old blue over there handle Scrapyard if he shows his face. Me, I want the Slayer."

OoO

Sparks flew and metal ran molten as Xander and the Grots worked round the clock to cut apart and strip the Abrams tank. Armor plates were cut to size and taken to the forge where they were molded into new shapes with sheer brute force. Being a composite armor of metal and ceramics the plates couldn't be simply melted down. The sound of hammer blows became utterly deafening as they pounded the plates into shape. Power-saws howled, rivet guns barked and blow torches belched flame as they gave shape to Xanders latest creation while in the background an old beat up stereo was playing the 'Weird Science' theme repeatedly on full blast.

Parts were ripped out of the quickly dwindling Abrams, and re-purposed for various projects around the workshop. The powerful Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine engine and the entire track section finding a new home in the still incomplete Battlewagon. And so did most of the tanks electrics and electronics. But that was not where the armor plates went.

The armor of the tank instead found a new purpose in the outer shell of Xanders 'Mega Armor.' making a workable exo-frame had been quite a challenge. In the world of the forty first millennium Orks who wore Mega Armor never took it off, because some smart runt might get the bright idea to steal it. The suit was actually build around the wearer, and once done the Orks were locked in. Which did complicate things a bit for the wearer. Since their hands were locked inside the suit as well they usually had to be spoon fed by a Grot slave. And lets not even mention bathroom trips. Seriously, don't go there.

Xander however couldn't walk around in the suit all the time and so he needed to come up with a system that would allow him to enter and exit the suit relatively easily. Enter the good old clamshell design. Basically the torso of the suit would fold open like the shell of a clam, allowing the operator to climb in and out with a minimum of fuss.

Xander wiped his brow to stop sweat from getting into his eyes. Smearing his forehead with machine oil. He was currently hooking up the power feed for the right arms main weapons. A pair of M134 Miniguns fed from an ammo hopper on the back of the suit. Each gun capable of spitting out up to six thousand rounds a minute. Serious Dakka for the serious Warboss. As if that wasn't enough, welded above each shoulder was a boxy three tubed launcher capable of firing Fin-stabilized HEDP 502 (High Explosive Dual Purpose) rockets. Giving him a total of six rocket shots.

Was it overkill? Under any other circumstance it would be. But since they were facing a demon that by all accounts couldn't be killed, Xander decided to follow the ancient Orkish wisdom that: 'Dere ain't no such fing as too much Dakka'. This 'Judge' claimed to be invincible? Fine, then Xander would put that claim to the test with extreme prejudice.

He just finished soldering the last power connection on the armor when his watch beeped. It was time to join the others at the library like he had promised Dawn. He screwed the control panel shut then lowered the armor plate down to protect it. He gave the armor one less look over. It was, in a word, ugly. It was crude, way too bulky, and every armor plate was scratched up and off color thanks to the improvised reforging process he had subjected them to. The suit was also poorly balanced and much too heavy. But it would have to do for now. After all it was a prototype as well as a rush job.

The next one would be better, stronger, tougher, and ten times as deadly. He quickly washed the grime off his hands, grabbed a clean shirt then ran out the door.

OoO

Buffy pushed open the door to Angels hideout. She slowly made her way inside, looking around to see if he was home. She had been looking for him since that morning. She looked over to the bed where she and Angel had shared a night of passion when a sound behind her made her turn. Coming face to face with..

"Angel." Buffy gasped in surprise, seeing him stand there, sans shirt.

"Hey Buffy."

"Where have you been, where did you go? Ive been looking for you all over." Buffy said. Her voice full of relief.

"Ive been around." Angel deadpanned.

Buffy hugged him tightly. "I was freaking out, you just disappeared."

"What? I took off." Angel said coldy, breaking her embrace and walking over to his dresser to put on a shirt.

"But you didn't say anything. You just left."

"Yeah, like I really wanted to stick around after that." Angel snorted as he buttoned up his shirt.

Buffy looked stunned. "what?" was all she managed to say.

"You've got a lot to learn about men kiddo. Although I guess you proved that last night."

"What are you saying?" Buffy's eyes grew wide with disbelief.

"Lets not make a big deal out of it, okay?" Angel said nonchalantly as he brushed past her and put on his coat. "In fact lets not talk about it at all. It happened."

"I don't understand." Buffy's voice wavered. "Was it.. me? Was I not good?"

"Oh you were great, really. I thought you were a pro." Angel said with a smirk.

Buffy looked dumbstruck. Like he had actually physically hit her. "How can you say that to me."

"Lighten up, it was a good time. We don't have to make a big deal out of it."

"It is a big deal!" Buffy almost shouted. Tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't understand why he was treating her so coldly.

"Its what? Bells ringing, fireworks? A dulcet choir of pretty little birdies?" Angel said laughing. "Come on Buffy its not like I've never been there before." Then his tone turned darkly. "I should have known you wouldn't be able to handle it." Then he turned and walked away.

"Angel!..." Buffy shouted, then her voice turned into barely a whisper as tears ran freely. "I love you."

"Oh right.. I love you to. Ill call you." Angel said, and then he was gone. Leaving Buffy in tears.

OoO

Everyone had gathered once more in the library in an effort to learn more about the Judge. Even Oz and Cordelia were present. The search for information had taken on a new urgency. Books were piled haphazardly everywhere. And everyone was looking to find the Judge's one weakness. If any existed.

"Ugh.. every time we find something on the Judge it says the exact same thing." Dawn sighed in disgust. "No weapon forged.. took an army.. yada yada yada. There's no useful information on him anywhere."

"I hate to say it.. but I think Dawny has a point." said willow as she closed the book she had been reading. "Were running out of time."

Giles emerged from his office, a book in one hand and a mug of tea in the other. "I do admit the situation seems rather bleak at the present."

"Were going in circles Giles. We need a fresh perspective." Willow said as she put her book on one of the many piles spread around the library.

"What I need is something to drink." Dawn said as she hopped out of her seat and stretched her arms and back. "I'm gonna run down to the vending machines. Anyone else want anything?"

"Wait up ill join you." Willow said as she followed Dawn out the door.

As the two girls left, Jenny's cellphone rang. Her eyes went wide as she looked at the number. She walked into the stacks all the way to the back and answered it.

"What do you want uncle?" She hissed into the receiver with barely contained hostility.

"The curse is broken. The Elder woman has seen it. The demon is free."

The cellphone fell from her suddenly numb fingers. Hitting the polished wooden floor with a crack.

OoO

Dawn and Willow were on their way back to the library from the vending machines. Their arms full of snacks and soda's, when suddenly the lights in the hallway went out.

"Whats going on?" Willow squeaked.

"I don't know, but we better get back to the others." Dawn answered. Her gut telling her something was up.

"Willow, Dawn." Came Angels voice from behind them. They turned around to see him standing in the darkness.

"Angel." Dawn said surprised. And the feeling in her gut intensified as she looked at him.

"You're okay." Willow said happily. "Have you seen Buffy? She's been looking for you."

"Yeah, hey whats with the lights?" Angel asked as he looked around the dark hallway.

"We don't know. We were just about to check." Dawn said.

"forget about that for a minute, Dawny, go get the others. I need to show you guys something." said Angel.

"Okay, ill go get them now." Dawn said as she took willows snacks and ran off to the library. The further she went the more intense her feeling of unease became. She stopped just outside the library door, dropped the snacks and soda's, grabbed her backpack from the coat hanger next to the library doors and double timed back to Willow.

Meanwhile Angel had motioned for willow to come and see something special. Willow did not have the same gut feeling as Dawn and so she approached the master vampire without fear. She was about three quarters of the way there when Jenny suddenly emerged from one of the side passages.

"Willow stop! Get away from him." She called out. Holding a cross in her hand.

Willow turned around in confusion. "what?"

That split second was all Angelus needed to strike. He crossed the distance between him and willow in the blink of an eye and grabbed her in a choke hold.

"Let her go." Shouted Dawn as she returned to the hallway just then.

"Hmm lets see.. nope I don't think I will." Angel chuckled darkly.

"Angel?" Willow whimpered as he half chocked her.

"He's not Angel anymore." Jenny and Dawn said at almost the exact same time.

"Wrong, I am Angel at last." Angelus snarled through a sharp toothed grin. "and I got a message for Buffy."

"Then give it to me yourself." Came Buffy's voice from behind him."

Angelus turned, to find Buffy standing in the doorway. He smiled viciously. "Its not really the kind of message one tells. Its more the kind of, find the dead dismembered bodies of your friends, kind of message."

Angel this can't be you. Please, some part of you must remember who you really are." Buffy pleaded with him.

"I thought we already covered this part."

It was that moment Xander arrived on the scene. Coming through the side door next to Jenny and Dawn. "Whats going on here."

"Well if it isn't Harris. The most useless one of the group." Angel snarled as he looked over his shoulder, unwilling to turn his back on Buffy.

"Angel has turned." Dawn hissed to Xander.

Seeing the master Vampire hold willow in a choke hold almost made Xander snap. For a moment all he could see was red. But he fought down the killing rage. "Let her go dead boy. Or I swear I'll.."

"You do WHAT! Huh Harris?" Angel growled. "Bore me to death with your stupid jokes? Shut up and stand there being useless as always. This is between me and Buffy."

"Angel talk to me." Buffy pleaded. "we can fix this. Well figure out whats wrong and help you."

"Dream on schoolgirl. Your boyfriend is dead. And all of you will soon follow."

Behind him Dawn reached into her backpack, pulling out the Slugga Xander had given her. With a silent click she slid the safety off and raised the weapon, taking aim at Angelus head.

Jenny's eyes grew wide as saucers when she saw Dawn pull the strange gun from her backpack. "What are you doing." she hissed quietly at the girl. But Angelus had heard her. He turned his head to see what was happening just as Dawn pulled the trigger.

The gun bucked in her hand with an earsplitting DAKKA. Sending a flaming tracer round screaming down the hallway. The guns recoil was stronger then she expected, and it threw of her aim. Instead of blasting his skull to splinters the shot landed in Angelus shoulder with enough force to tear the upper arm bone from its socket, shatter his collarbone, scorch his flesh and then exit on the other side. The arm holding willow lost all function and the terrified redhead tire free, scrambling to safety.

With willow out of the way Dawn emptied the rest of the magazine, but Angelus was already sprinting for the exit, and only a few shots found their mark. Most of them tearing into his back, leaving ugly wounds that while painful, were not lethal to a vampire.

"THIS ISNT OVER!" Angelus roared as he vanished into the night.

Buffy looked on stunned. She had been ready to strike and save Willow, but then Dawn, her little sister Dawn had pulled out a GUN of all things and... her mind simply shut down for a moment. She could not comprehend what she had been seeing. The others lead her back to the library where they told the rest of the gang what had happened.

OoO

Angelus was Snarling with rage as he entered the factory.

"Whats the matter mate, plans not go as expected." Spike smirked.

"They shot me. They goddamn shot me!" Angelus roared in indignation as he cradled his wounded arm. The bone was already mending thanks to the teenage girl who's blood he had drained on the way back. But it would be several hours before he could use it again even slightly. Those silver bullets had hurt way more then they should have, and those tracers had burned his flesh. Making the wounds infinitely harder to heal.

"Wait who shot you?" Spike asked in confusion.

"The slayers little sister. She pulled some kind of gun at me and shot me to hell."

Spikes face turned into a snarl of rage. "Its that Scrapyard bloke. I'm sure of it. The only way the little bit could get her hands on a gun of any kind is if he gave her one. I knew that bastard was in cahoots with the slayer and her little ninny band. " he spat. Almost incoherent with fury. "Thats it, were moving up the plan. We attack tonight, before they can come after us."

"I will be ready by then." Said the Judge as he emerged from the gloom of the factory.

"Tch, you will only slow us down with those wheels. But don't worry. I'll take good care of Dru while were out." Angelus smirked.

"I won't be in this chair forever mate." Spike growled. "Get ready to move. Soon as the sun goes down tonight we make this town burn."

OoO

"And you're absolutely certain Angel has reverted to his former self?" Giles asked once again. After they had explained what happened. Buffy was still half in shock.

"Yeah, were all certain. Anyone not feeling certain here?" Xander said sarcastically as he paced up and down the length of the library.

"You wouldn't have believed him." Willow said meekly. Her neck still felt sore. "He came here to kill us."

"Well he failed." Dawn stated. "We can sit around here and wallow in despair or we can take the offensive while he's wounded."

"What are you saying." Buffy rose up from her seat. The shock of events finally wearing off. "You wanna go and kill Angel."

"He's not Angel anymore." Xander said fatly. But Buffy ignored him.

"And where the hell did you get that gun." Buffy screamed in Dawns face. "Have you lost your goddamn mind!"

"Scrapyard gave it to me. For protection!. If he hadn't Willow would be dead now." Dawn yelled back.

"Ive told you to stay AWAY from that freak!" Buffy shrieked at the top of her lungs, snatching the gun from the table where Dawn had put it and throwing it against the cage where Giles kept the rest of the weapons as well as some of his more dangerous tomes and books. The Slugga broke into several pieces as it hit the unyielding steel frame. "Why wont you ever listen!"

"Buffy thats enough!" Giles said sternly. "We can deal with this matter later. Right now we have a crisis on our hands, and if we do not act soon there may not be a future for any of us! We need to figure out what happened. What caused Angel to revert. Did you notice anything at all?"

Buffy sank back into her seat at Giles reprimand. "I should have known. He was acting so different. I should have known. The things he said."

"What things?" Asked Giles.

"Its private." Buffy mumbled.

"But you didn't notice he'd turned bad?" Jenny asked.

"How did you?" Said willow. "You knew. You told me to get away from him."

"Well I... I saw his face." Jenny said hurriedly.

"Bullshit!" Dawn shouted. "I was in the same spot you were. You couldn't see shit in that hallway. You're lying."

"N-no.. I.. " Jenny fumbled for an explanation.

Buffy rounded on her. "Is that true? Did you know. How did you know!"

"I... I can't.." Jenny began. But Buffy suddenly pounced on her. Pinning her up against the wall with her left hand. Her right held back, ready to lash out.

"YOU KNEW! YOU CAUSED THIS DIDNT YOU! ANSWER ME!" Buffy was screaming through her tears. Her grip slackened and she fell to her knees, unable to stand as he body shook with sobs.

"I didn't know what would happen." jenny almost whispered. "i was sent here to watch Angel. To make sure the Gypsy curse on him held. I didn't know what would happen. They never told me."

It took several minutes for Buffy to calm down enough to be able to speak. When she did, her voice was a hoarse croak. "Curse him again."

"I can't" jenny said sadly.

"Don't give me that nonsense, Curse him again. Fix this."

"I can't Buffy. Those magics are long lost, even to my people."

Buffy sank back into her seat as more tears welled up. She sat there for several more minutes, crying silently.

It was Cordelia who eventually broke the silence. "This is just great. Theres an unkillable demon in town. Angel's joined his team. Our slayer is a basket case. I say we hit bottom."

"Much as I hate to agree with her, I think she's right." Willow said. "We've tried to find a weakness to exploit and come up empty. And we lost one of our allies."

"Then we'll just have to make do with what we got." Buffy said suddenly. Rubbing her eyes dry. They were red and puffy. "Since we know Angel has joined their team they will most likely make their move soon. We'll have to hit them before they hit us, and hope we can stop the judge without an army."

"This has all the makings of a suicide run." Giles sighed tiredly.

"I know Giles." Buffy said softly. "But I don't now what else to do."

Giles nodded in resignation. "So what do we do?"

"We meet back here this afternoon. We'll grab what weapons we can and go to the factory. Theres a chance they've moved from there already, so if thats the case we find their most likely target and hit them there."

OoO

They did just as they planned. The whole scooby gang gathered in the library, loaded two big sports bags full of weapons and then hopped into Oz his van. They drove to the factory in grim silence. Xander had been unable to find a good excuse to get out of the fight and so had his Grots prepare his armor and load it onto one of the trucks. The scoobies smashed their way into the factory only to find it abandoned.

"Shit I knew it." Buffy cursed. "They moved. Where could they have gone?"

"They'd need a crowded place to carry out their massacre." Giles said grimly

"The bronze?" Dawn offered.

"Closed tonight." Cordelia said.

"Well theres not a lot of places to go in Sunnydale." Xander said as he racked his brain for locations.

"Uhm guys... If I were to line up someplace to get slaughtered... I think I know where." Oz broke in.

OoO

The Sunnydale mall was bustling with people. Men women and children going about their daily business. They had no idea their little trip was about to be rudely interrupted. From the entrance to the parking garage Angelus, Drusilla and the Judge emerged, flanked by over a dozen henchmen. The goons quickly spread around the mall at Angelus command. Locking all the exits and trapping the people inside.

OoO

The elevator opened up to reveal the scoobies. One of the vampire flunkies standing guard next to the elevator was dusted instantly. As they emerged from the elevator the scoobies fell into a loose combat formation.

"They are here. This is it guys. Get ready for the biggest battle we ever faced." Buffy said as she gripped the bag of weapons they were carrying tightly.

None of them noticed as Xander suddenly broke off from the group and sprinted for the exit. Pressing the hidden signal button on his watch.

OoO

"Time to do your thing Blue." Angelus said to the Judge, who stepped forward and raised his hand.

A bright beam of ethereal heat leapt from the Judge's hand. Striking the nearest group of shoppers. The beam flash fried their bones. Turning them into superheated gas. This in turn vaporised their body fluids, which cooked their flesh in less then two seconds. They did not even feel any pain as their bodies literally exploded. The cooked meat disintegrating into ashes. All this took place in three seconds flat. Making it seem as if they simply vanished in puffs of foul smelling smoke. As the judge raised his other hand for a second blast a trio of arrows suddenly thumped into his chest.

"Who dares!" The demon bellowed as it tore the crossbow bolts from its chest.

From the cover of the malls juice bar emerged the scoobies. Buffy, Giles, Willow, Dawn, Oz. Cordelia, and even Jenny. Despite Buffy's rejection she had decided to come along. She wanted to see this through. Giles, Buffy and Jenny were holding crossbows. While the rest of the scoobies were carrying various weapons, ranging from stakes to battle axes.

"What do we do now?" Giles asked Buffy.

"Hold off the flunkies as best you can. I will try and dismember papa smurf ." Buffy said as she dropped her crossbow and hefted a two handed battle axe.

OoO

Outside the mall a military M35 Cargo truck pulled up to one of the loading docks. The truck had been re-sprayed in bright red and garish blue colors with checkered black and white decorations thrown on in a random fashion. It made for a bizarre sight. Not as bizarre as the driver though. In an attempt to disguise himself, Fixit was wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses that were way to big for him. The other two Grots remained out of sight as they worked the pedals and shift. Trying to park the truck without smashing into anything.

Xander sprinted around the corner and climbed up the back of the truck. There was series of pneumatic hisses followed by the whine of servo motors adjusting, and the clunk of mechanical seals locking into place. Then the truck suddenly rocked on its suspensions as something massive took a heavy step forward. From the gloom of its Cargo hold emerged a massive form that jumped down to the pavement with a boom that cracked the concrete, then quickly made its way inside.

"Just hold on guys." Xander thought as he entered the warehouse section of the mall. Outside the Grots readied the truck for a quick getaway once the fighting was done.

OoO

The battle was not going well for the scoobies. Oz, Willow and Cordelia had managed to dust two flunkies so far, but were being boxed in by several more. Giles had managed to shoot one, but only wounded it and had been knocked unconscious for his troubles. Jenny and Dawn were franticly trying to hold off several more of them from killing Giles.

Up on the steps Buffy was facing off against the Judge. Rather then simply burning her to death the ancient demon wanted to flex his muscles for a bit. He had engaged the slayer in brutal melee combat.

Buffy swung the over sized axe in killing arc that would have cleaved a man in two. But the judge simply stood his ground. One of the axeheads slammed into his chest-plate and simply shattered into pieces. Leaving Buffy with only half an axe. The return blow caught Buffy in the stomach with a vicious jab. All the air seemed to explode out of her lungs and she felt feverish from the momentary contact. The pain only enraged her though.

With a snarl she jumped up, delivering a rising kick to the Judge's chin. She landed and followed up with a series of rapid punches directly to the demons face. Putting enough strength into it to make the demon stagger back slightly. With a cry of rage she grabbed it by one of its horns and yanked him forward. Slamming him face first into one of the pillars adjacent to the steps with enough force to leave a clear imprint of the demons face in the plasterwork. Leaping backwards the grabbed the half broken axe and delivered a massive overhead blow to the back of the Judge's head with the flat of the blade. Sending the demon tumbling to its knees.

Buffy was panting. Her throat felt raw and her head felt like it would explode. She felt like she had a raging fever. Her legs felt wobbly as her momentary Slayer berserker rage faded. For a moment she dared to hope she had done it. That the massive axe blow had killed the demon. But then the Judge rose to his its feet.

"Are you done?" It deadpanned as it looked over its shoulder at her. "Then its my turn."

Her world exploded into pain.

OoO

Xander rushed down the halls as fast as he could. The armors massive weight shattering the floor tiles with every step. He could hear the sounds of battle from up ahead. He decided to take a shortcut. Smashing the armor through a storefront he activated his thermal imaging system to try and find the scoobies. The vamps didn't give off any body-heat, and the other civilians had fled so the only heat sources in the building should be them. He panned his scanners left and right when he suddenly spotted a massive heat source. It had to be the Judge.

"Time to make another grand entrance." Xander chuckled despite himself as he readied one of his launch tubes and aimed at the wall.

OoO

Angelus watched with a smirk plastered to his face as the judge backhanded Buffy, sending her flying back and landing in a heap on the ground. Her battle axe spinning away to plant itself into a nearby wall. The rest of the scoobies were scattered all over the place. Fighting off flunkies or taking potshots at the judge from cover with their crossbows in an attempt to cover Buffy, who was trying to pick herself off the floor.

"Time to die vampire slayer." The Judge declared as it raised a hand at Buffy. Ready to burn her to a crisp.

A sudden loud explosion made everyone flinch or duck for cover as a section of wall suddenly vaporised in a cloud of dust and pulverized concrete.

"What is it NOW!" The judge roared in anger at being interrupted again.

"Scrapyard." Dawn said hopeful.

"Doesn't this wanker ever use a door?" Angelus sighed as they waited for the dust to settle. "This is great though. We get to kill two birds with one stone. Saves us the trouble of hunting the guy down." he thought and his smirk seemed to only grow larger as he anticipated Scrapyards imminent demise at the hands of the Judge. The smirk on his face evaporated as a massive shadow appeared within the billowing dust cloud, accompanied by booming footsteps. And then from the gloom emerged Xander in his Mega Armor.

"Doors are for twats. Speaking of which?" he spoke as he raised the twin Gatling cannons. Their barrels already spinning up to maximum velocity. "Any last request, pussy face?"

The engines on the guns howled as they hit maximum rotation, then with a deafening BRAAAAAAP! let loose a virtual river of bullets. They ripped across the distance between Scrapyard and the Judge, tearing a jagged pattern across the floor before Xander adjusted his aim and the stream of projectiles ripped into the Judge. Armor flew off of him in waves of metallic confetti. Completely shredded by the hypervelocity rounds. But incredibly the skin underneath it remained unblemished. Bullets smacking into it either flattening and bouncing off as a crumpled wad of metal or ricocheting away in random directions.

The judge responded with a beam of ethereal fire. Blasting one of the guns from its housing. The metal running molten with the heat. Sparks and small explosions followed as part of the ammo in the feeder belt cooked off. Xander responded with a salvo of rockets from his left shoulder launcher. But without aiming them properly none caused a direct hit. Instead they slammed into the ground just in front of the judge. Sending up blast waves of fire and razor shards of concrete. Surprisingly the explosions and jagged shards of rock did cause some damage to the Judge's otherwise impervious skin. With a roar of hatred Xander set into a run. Intent on ripping into the judge with his Power Klaw.

Relishing the idea of direct combat after centuries of living death the Judge too sallied forth to meet this new challenger head on and test his strength. The judge lashed out with a massive fist, connecting squarely with Xanders chest armor. The sound of a massive sledgehammer striking an anvil reverberated across the mall. Xander staggered, ears ringing and his body felt like it had been pulverized by the kinetic force behind the punch. His suits chest plate sported a massive fist shaped dent. With a roar he backhanded the Judge with his Power Klaw, sending the daemon flying into the wall. He then threw the three Ton armor into a run, slamming its full weight into the Judge. Concrete cracked and shattered as the full weight of their bodies slammed into the wall with the force of a freight train. With a snarl he pinned the blue monster down with the Power Klaw, then stuck his remaining gun into it's face. Firing into it at point blank range.

Even the Judge's legendary invulnerability couldn't keep up with the amount of damage being inflicted. One of his horns shattered. Shards flying every which way. And the left side of his face looked like a giant bruise. Turning an ugly shade of green and purple, bluish blood starting to seep through the skin. With a growl Xander closed his claw arm. The razor sharp edges of the blades digging painfully into the Judge's torso. Servos whined as the pressure build. With a series of wet pops, several ribs gave way. But the Judge was far from defeated.

The blue demon roared as it pushed back against the Mega Armor. Shooting a stream of fire from its eyes that struck it at point blank. Xander was forced to let go and turn away before the beams burned through the already weakened chest plate and flash fried him. The Judge wasted no time. It reared back, then delivered a thundering right cross that send shards of armor flying everywhere. The force of the blow spun Xander round. A second punch send him crashing into the wall. The force of the impact shook the building.

Damaged by the earlier impacts a support column gave way and the entire wall and part of the floor above it came crashing down like an avalanche. Burying Xander under several cubic tons of concrete rubble and merchandise from the store on the floor above. Slowly the dust settled. There was no trace of Xander. All anyone could see was a large pile of broken concrete, brickwork, timber and... panties from the Victoria's secrets shop they just demolished.

The judge spat a wad of blueish blood onto the ground and wiped its lips as it glared at the small mountain of rubble and underwear. "Puny mortal, you were never a match for my power."

"You.. you monster!" Dawn cried out as she grabbed Buffy's fallen crossbow off the ground. Tears stained her eyes as she intoned a prayer, pouring all her anger and hatred into the crossbow bolt. "Blessed God Emperor of holy Terra, let my aim be true. Make the unclean thing suffer! Pro Imperatore et Imperio... STRIKE HIM DOWN!" The bolt glowed with a golden light.

As the judge turned to face the impudent little mortal she pulled the trigger. Her aim was true and the bolt flew, straight as a hawk, leaving a glimmer trail or light behind... and buried itself up to the vanes in the demons eye. The power of Dawns prayer nullifying the Judge's unholy protection.

The judge let out an ear splitting howl of agony. Clawing at its face to try and dislodge the bolt. But the barbed little missile was stuck fast. Blackish blue blood seeped from the wound.

"YOU WILL SUFFER FOR THAT!" the demon bellowed as it stalked towards Dawn. It drew itself up to its full height, ready to strike her dead when suddenly the pile of rubble shifted. The Judge turned to face the stirring pile of concrete. Its one good eye widening in surprise as Xanders Power Klaw burst from the rubble. "what?"

Clawing his way free, Xander stood up straight. Broken stone and timber shifting and falling off him as he righted himself. His armor was dented, sparks flew off of exposed wiring and tiny wafts of smoke billowed from some of the joints. His remaining gun was gone. Ripped clean off its housing. And only one missile tube remained undamaged. The suits armored helmet turned to face the judge. Its eyes burning with a baleful red light. Outside the mall, thunder rumbled across the sky.

"Oi cock-smurf, Wese not done dancin yet! Ah gots me a Klaw wiv your name on it." Xander growled, flexing his Power Klaw. The servos howling and whining loudly as if they shared his rage.

"It's now or nevah. Powa systemz is down to thurty percent an droppin like gork parked 'is fat arse on it. Ah didn't wantz ta use dis system wivout testin it further, but Ah guess I 'ave no choice now." Xander thought as he rerouted emergency power to his Klaw. "Powa field... switch on! An pray ta mork dis workz"

A low bass hum became audible as a crackling energy field extended across the blades of the Power Klaw, creating a shimmering corona of orange red light. Miniature lightning bolts arced between the tips of the claw blades. Spitting fat sparks every which way with a sizzling electric buzz.

"Awright nancy boy! Git ready fer round too! I's gonna turn youse into a pavement pizza."