FIC: Chosen Twelve (10/?)

"Mi'lord?"

Earl Andres looked up at the knock on his front door. Recognising the excited voice as belonging to Petro Pyrgos he raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the animation in the normally dour captain's voice before looking towards the scarred muscleman by the door. "Let him in," he instructed.

Probus nodded before opening the door, hand warily resting on his sword hilt even in the presence of his fellow soldier. But then there had been three past assassination attempts on him.

Pyrgos' eyes had a rare gleam as he bounded into Andres' ramshackle office. "Mi lord, the summonsed dozen have arrived!" The former Honoured Watch officer took a breath before continuing his report. "And that is not all. Slice-Hand, the Vengeful Weapon, and Dancing Death are with them!"

Andres' eyes widened. Slice-Hand was a legend of yester-year, believed dead for years, but in his prime a formidable warrior. Vengeful Weapon, Jabari Aren, was with the Ishanti Blade-Lord, Ka'Tra Swift-Sword, and Kamper Kraft of the Kennest Blade, one of the world's three premier warriors. Dancing Death on the other hand was a notorious lady outlaw, known as much for her sharp temper as her dazzling sword skill. "Why?"

"According to Marcello, Slice-Hand had been travelling with the twelve. Jabari Aren and Diokete Xulon were drawn by a fight they were having with Clear-Bloods."

"Ah," Andres nodded dazedly before collecting himself. "It seems that fortune is smiling on us at last. These champions from another dimension and our own, present us with -."

Suddenly the door crashed open and a striking beautiful brunette stormed in, black eyes spitting fire. Probus stepped to intercept her, but an elbow to the chest sent him wheezing into the far wall. "Not on your best day," the curvy beauty snarled before directing her volcanic gaze at Petro. "Don't even think it," she warned before turning back to him, grabbing the corners of his desk and leaning over it. "They say you're the big cheese around here, right?" His mouth opened. Before he could speak, his uninvited guest continued. "Yeah, you're the boss, you've got the self-important jive of a bastard Watcher. Question is are you the mother-fucker who did the spell who transported me across dimensions in the raw?"

Andres gulped. He only understood one word in ten of what the enraged beauty had growled at him, but he got enough of the general gist to be worried. "T…the mage who performed the spell is dead."

"Oh," the raven-haired temptress looked briefly nonplussed before straightening. "Lucky for him." The young woman's ebony orbs hardened to stone. "How the fuck are we supposed to get home then?"

Andres swallowed again. "That is beyond my knowledge," he reluctantly admitted.

"Fucking A!" the brunette snorted before turning on her heel and striding out of the room, door slamming behind him.

It was a moment before Andres managed to speak. "That was Faith I assume?" Petro paused in helping Probus to his feet to nod. "By all the fires," he muttered. Magoi's drawing had not done the woman's vibrant beauty justice, but the notes he'd written had also failed to mention she had a temper to rival an enraged ogre's. Squaring his shoulder, he stood, chair scraping back on the threadbare red carpet underfoot. "We had best greet our guests."

Angel looked up as Faith erupted from one of the buildings, the building shuddering under her exit. "I think someone's not happy," Connor muttered.

"Gee," Angel winced as Faith's voice reached them, a few seconds before the sulphurous Slayer, "what gave it away?"

He watched as Xander hurried over to intercept his wife. Marrying Faith, he couldn't decide if that proved Xander had great taste or was insanely brave. Knowing Xander, he decided it was probably a little bit of both. He scowled as his enhanced hearing picked up what the Bostonian had learnt from her confrontation with the rebel leader. The mage had brought them here had died in the attempt? That wasn't good at all.

Even as he started towards the duo, a distinguished-looking man, a nobleman if his memories from his human days served him, hurried out of the building Faith had just exited, a pair of tough-looking men flanking him. "Greetings travellers," the greying man shot Faith a tentative look before casting a glance over their entire party. "Thank you for coming-."

"Like we had a choice."

The noble grimaced at Faith's grunt. "I'm honoured to make your acquaintance. Perhaps you'd like to talk somewhere more discreet."

Giles shot Faith a warning glare. The Bostonian Slayer glared right back at the Englishman. "By all means sir," the Council head turned to the noble. "Please, lead the way."

"Most gracious," the nobleman nodded. "This way."

The man led their group through a bewildering succession of narrow streets, crooked alleys, and up and down steps until at last stopping at the back of a long thin building. The noble turned back to face them. "I apologise for the circuitous route, but secrecy is of the utmost importance. Should the empire discover our base here they'd wipe us and this town from the map. Please, come in."

As the noble had been speaking, the two rebels who'd helped them in their battle with the Clear-Bloods had opened the building's door to reveal a barn, its floor covered with straw. "I'm Earl Fortis Andres, the leader of the resistance."

"Rupert Giles, leader of our little group," the Watcher replied. Angel decided allowing the Watcher his illusions wasn't going to hurt anyone. Each of them introduced themselves in turn, Illyria with her trademark arrogance and Faith her usual grumpiness.

Once the introductions were over, Earl Fortis Andres nodded. "I apologise both for our rude surrounding and the way you were brought here. It was done without my knowledge or approval."

"Then maybe you could just send us back?" Kennedy suggested.

"I am afraid that's not possible," the Earl paused before casting Faith an almost fearful look. "The spell-casting cost our pre-eminent mage his life."

The barn erupted in an uproar, questions and shouts filling the air. Eventually Giles managed to calm the clamour to discomforted mutters. "We have Willow," the Englishman pointed out. "It might take a little time but I'm sure she can work out how to send us home." Kennedy's mouth opened. "Without loss of life of course." The Watcher looked towards the resistance leader. "And while we are here we can perhaps help you? If you have any ideas?"

After a second the earl nodded. "We have a number of targets that be too difficult for normals to take out without -."

"Screw this drip drop approach," Faith snapped. "You've got all the other resistance groups, Bellator told us about them. Why not get them all together, strike at the capital, The Impregnable Will, and wipe this asshole Emperor from the face of the planet?"

A long silence followed Faith's suggestion. "I think that is a little rash -."

"No," Xander interrupted Giles' rebuke. "We were sent here for a reason. We never tried to contain the Master, the Mayor, or any of the others."

"He has a point, Giles," Angel added his support. "An organisation this size can be easily squashed. Adding other groups will only make it stronger."

"The other groups won't work with us," the earl replied.

"Then you idiot," Angel groaned as Xander's scathingly undiplomatic comment, "you work with them. The emperor's the big issue isn't he? Sort everything else afterwards!"

The earl stared at the one-eyed Watcher. "You are wise indeed!" Angel snorted. "Only it is perilous to travel any distance, the Hordesmen and their allies are everywhere."

"Then we'll be careful," Angel said. "Who do you suggest we get in contact with?"

"Ka'Tra Swift Sword in Ishanti, Kamper Kraft of the Keenest Blade is rumoured to be raiding in Urad, Mate Dane in the Highlands, and Chief Dulak of Shem."

"No-body else?" Giles queried.

The earl shrugged. "Resistance in all other lands has been pacified."

"How encouraging," Angel guessed that only he and Connor picked up Giles' whisper. "Xander," the Englishman looked towards Xander, "I'd like you to take Faith and hunt down this Kraft-."

"I used to serve with The Keenest Blade," Bellator interrupted. "I'd be more than happy to go with them."

"Thank you," the Englishman nodded respectfully. "I was just about to ask you to." The Watcher turned to Wood. "Robin, I was wondering if you'd accompany Jabari into Shem?" The African-American nodded silently. "Thank you," Giles turned to him, "Angel, if you'd be so good as to lend him the Groosaluug?" Angel looked towards his friend. Groo nodded. "Thank you, Angel, could you take the rest of your team to meet with Mate Dane?" He nodded. "Thank you, Miss Xulon, could you and your brother go with him as guides?"

The lady outlaw shrugged. "Got nothing better to do."

"Most kind." The Watcher looked towards Kennedy. "Kennedy, could you take Rona and Vi, together with Tachy and Torvas, and go to Ishanti?"

"Sure Giles," the lesbian Slayer agreed. "Only what are you and," Kennedy looked towards her girl-friend, "Willow going to do?"

"Ah, yes," Giles pinched his nose before continuing. "I had thought Willow and myself would stay here and attempt to research the spell that brought us here." Giles looked towards the noble. "If that's alright?"

"Of course," the earl agreed.

"Perhaps you could tell us some more about the empire's major players?" Xander suggested.

"Of course,." The earl looked towards one of the men with him. "Petro is the head of our military operations. He'll answer any questions as much as he can."

"Okay," Angel raised an eyebrow at Xander's commanding tone. Maybe the boy had changed after all. "How about you tell us about the imperial organisation, the groups that might be hunting us?"

"I'd be more than happy to oblige," the soldier paused. "Warlord Bellum leads the main force, the Howling Hordes. They're an army of tens of thousands. They're murderously efficient."

"Bellum's good," Bellator growled. "He would be the leader of The Keenest Blade, except he broke the 1st and 2nd rules."

"The 1st and 2nd rules?" Faith asked. "Whatcha talkin' 'bout?"

"No Keenest Blade will kill a civilian. No Keenest Blade will rape or torture a prisoner," Bellator intoned. "These are the rules that make The Keenest Blade the elite of the mercenary world, because they hold themselves to a higher standard." The grizzled veteran paused. "Bellum was a young officer two decades ago when he ransacked a village and tortured a number of prisoners for information." The battle-hardened warrior paused for a second. "Bellum's a brilliant strategist and leader, but utterly ruthless and amoral."

"Then there is Areox Lex, the leader of the Purge. The Purge hunt down rebels, dissidents, and deserters in addition to spying on the civilian population. They're everywhere, fear of them is everywhere." Petro paused. "Decorus Mors is the leader of The Shadow Fang. Little is known about The Shadow Fang, but they're always used by the emperor as a precursor to invasion, assassinating all of a nation's leaders. Then there is Dotos Hex, apart from the emperor our world's most powerful magic-user. She leads The Magic-Tamers, an organisation that polices the empire's magi, killing all who won't join and using their powers to police normals."

"King of like the Psi Corps in Babylon 5." Xander reddened when everyone turned to him. Angel smirked, maybe the kid hadn't changed that much. "Sorry, go on."

After an uncertain stare at Xander, Petro nodded. "There is also Therion Wanax. A snarling brute of a man, he is little better than the beasts he controls – goblins, trolls, ogres, and other even fouler creations." The soldier paused, distaste flickering across his face. "And now we reach the worst – Crucia Sequi. He runs The Truth-Givers, the Imperial religious order who force the general population to worship the emperor as a living god. Any 'blasphemers' are given into his hands for re-education'." Petro scowled. "He is a sadist who frequently trumps up charges against either those who challenge him or women who take his fancy so he can get them into his hands. In addition, he experiments on his prisoners, merging them with animals or demons, testing their pain thresholds, amongst other still darker things."

"He sounds like just the guy ya wanna bring home to mom." Faith paused. "Well, my mom anyhow."

The soldier looked towards Faith for a second before continuing. "Then there is Veritas Callidus, the emperor's adjunct, the woman whose order in any matter can only be over-ruled by the emperor himself. And the Fists, the governors of each of the conquered lands."

A long silence followed the warrior's words. "Boy," Connor finally commented, "you know how to make people feel welcome don't you?"

Vistro hid a smirk as he made his way through the tavern attached to the city barracks, eyes fixed on the two men sat in the far corner. One was an Ishanti, tall for his race with cold, dead eyes, hooked nose, and a scar running down his left cheek. The other was a short and powerfully-built figure, dressed entirely in dirty animal fur. Grey hair was tied in a pony-tail so that his savagely hewn features and yellowed, uneven teeth were clearly visible.

Vistro was barely able to control his glee as he approached the two men. The first of the pair was Tla Ra Swiftsword, younger cousin of Ka Ra and perhaps the only man capable of rivalling Ka Ra as the empire's greatest swordsman. The other was Tod Nacht, a brute of an axe-man who had been the chief of one of Urad's largest Horse Clans. Both men led bounty-hunters, Nacht 'The Dread-Bringers, and Swiftsword, 'The Head-Takers'. Together with his 'Soul-Hunters', they were the empire's most notorious bounty-hunters. And now with the imperial edict in his back-pocket, all three groups were under his control, no matter what Swiftsword or Nacht said.

And now he had fifty warriors to take down twelve.