Summers' Residence
The battered set of warriors sit around Buffy's home. Tara, with a far off look on her face, holds her hand over one of Cordelia's more serious wounds. She heals it mostly before Kate wraps some bandages around it.
"Thanks," Cordelia says and both women nod to her.
Cordelia looks around the rest of the room. Clark's body still appears to be healing from his battle with Scorpion. Buffy is currently sharpening what appears to be her tenth stake. Xander is pacing about the living room.
It's all complete and total uncomfortable silence. Silence that's broken by Anya loudly slurping some water.
"Sorry," she apologizes when everyone stares at her.
Raiden, who is standing in the center of the room, then clears his throat.
"Are you ready to hear what I have to say?" He asks them. Buffy turns her head to him.
The look on her face is as distant as Tara's is, but some life still seems to be there.
"I don't know if I'll ever be ready after...after...," Buffy closes her eyes and briefly flashes back to Willow's blood splattering across her face.
"You know what I mean, but you might as well try to explain anyway," Buffy continues.
"Your realm is in danger of being conquered by a man known as Shao Kahn," Raiden explains.
Buffy does her best to pay attention to Raiden as he explains the dangers approaching the world. Ordinarily she'd say something witty due to this being yet another apocalypse, but her mind draws a blank. So she just listens as the explanation goes on for what feels like an eternity until Raiden finally finishes.
"Do you have any questions?" He asks.
"Yeah. Can't we just prematurely strike this Kahn guy like his friends did to us?" Buffy asks. Voice full of spite.
"The Elder gods will not allow it," Raiden answers. "I am unsure of how Shao Kahn's forces managed to attack you without their knowledge, but now the gods will be on full alert. They will not allow another surprise attack from either party."
"This tournament," Clark finally speaks. "People will die in it won't they?"
"Yes," Raiden answers. "There have been instances of combatants surrendering, but they are never fighters from Outworld. Shao Kahn has seen to that."
Clark runs a hand down his face and turns away from Raiden.
"You have a problem with killing or something? When the fate of the world is at hand sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Just suck it up and get over it," Anya blurts out. Clark glares at her.
"You have to forgive Anya," Buffy groans. "She does that a lot."
"So these fighters...are they going to be as strong as the ones we fought today?" Cordelia asks.
"Yes and some are even stronger," Raiden answers.
"I don't know why I hoped Sineya would be wrong about their power," Buffy sighs.
"You have spoken with the Primeval One?" Raiden asks.
"Yes. How do you know her?" Buffy questions.
"She fought for Earthrealm centuries ago before disappearing. It wasn't until recently that I knew her powers passed from one being to another," Raiden explains.
"Not to interrupt this thrilling exposition, but if you're a god, then what do you need Buffy for?" Xander asks.
"Unless directly challenged I cannot participate. Even if I am challenged, this man known as Shang Tsung," Raiden waves a hand and an image of Shang Tsung appears, "possesses extremely powerful magics."
"I'd like to see just how powerful," Tara says with her fists clenched.
The lights in the room start to flicker on and off and every stares at her.
"Sorry," she apologizes.
"This isn't something you should become involved with; only these two must fight," Raiden says pointing to Clark and Buffy.
"If these guys are as strong as you say they are, then we'll need all the help we can get," Clark comments.
"So be it, but only if you truly believe they can make a difference in the tournament. This is not something to be taken lightly," Raiden tells them.
"If there's one thing we don't do, it's take our apocalypses lightly. Just point us in the direction of the tournament and we'll handle the rest," Buffy requests.
Raiden nods and waves his hand. An image of a shipping dock appears before the group.
"One week from today, a ship will depart from this dock at midnight for Shang Tsung's island. He will have home field advantage, but both of your powers should be able to even the odds. I will be on the island as well to provide any knowledge on Shao Kahn's warriors if needed. If you understand then I will leave you to prepare." Raiden says.
Clark still remains silent, but Buffy gives Raiden a nod.
"May the elder gods be with you both," and in a whirl of his cape, Raiden disappears. The second he is gone, Buffy turns to Angel.
"I know what you're about to ask me Buffy and the answer is no," he says.
"What do you mean 'no'?" Giles asks instead of Buffy. "You heard what Raiden said. These fighters will be absolutely ruthless. Seeing as there are few ways to kill you, you'd be perfect to go up against them."
"There's nothing to protect me from the sunlight," Angel reminds them.
"I think I know a way to deal with that. At least temporarily," Tara says.
"Look, I'm still not going. We only have one shot at stopping these guys and if this tournament goes south, we need to mount a defense."
"I can get in touch with Riley and his commandos and they can serve as the second line should things come to that," Buffy says to him.
"If they are going to serve as the second line, someone's going to need to stay behind and act as a guide for them Buffy," Angel counters.
"I don't understand you right now," Buffy says getting in his face.
"Guys," Cordelia says starting to grab her head.
"He's right. We're talking about going to war with another dimension," Kate interjects.
"I've been doing this for years," Buffy fires back.
"I've heard you've died already. Don't think you're doing a good job," Kate says.
"Guys," Cordelia says again.
"Excuse me, but just who are you?" Giles asks.
"GUYS!" Cordelia screams and then faints. Clark catches her mid fall.
"What's wrong with her?" Clark asks.
"She's having a vision," Angel answers. "Take it easy, Cordy. What did you see?"
"I saw...I saw...you guys not fighting," she responds. The group glares at her.
"Don't look at me that way," she says to them as Clark helps her up. "If Angel doesn't want to go we need to accept it and move on. Fighting about it won't solve anything and it certainly won't bring back Willow."
"Or Chloe," Clark whispers.
"Who?" Cordelia asks.
"She was my best friend...a man from Outworld, or a demon, whatever he was, killed her right in front of me...ripped her heart out and crushed it. I-I never felt so much anger before in my life," he quietly states.
"There's a lot of anger going around today, Clark. So do you know anyone else that can help us?" Buffy asks him.
"A couple of people. I don't know if they will help, but it's worth a shot," Clark answers. "What about you?"
"I"m going," Cordelia answers for Buffy.
"No you aren't," Buffy says.
"It's my fault Willow's dead. I'm going and lest we forget, I can see the future remember?" Cordelia reminds her.
"I'm coming too," Tara volunteers.
"I'm not a fighter, but I know someone who can help. Met her during my vengeance demon days. She's a real wonder," Anya says.
"You already know my answer," Giles says.
"Mine too," Xander speaks up.
"Just remember. You aren't fighting. Understood?" Buffy asks and Xander nods.
"So what now then?" Stryker asks.
"We start preparing," Buffy says.
"I-I need to go see Lois at the hospital," Clark says. "I'll let you guys know if my friends are willing to come." He heads for the door, but Buffy gently takes his hand.
"Clark...it'll be all right. We'll make them pay for what they did to our friends," she says. Clark half smiles.
"Nice meeting you all," he says to the others and then exits the house.
"Are we forgetting anyone else we can ask to fight?" Buffy asks once Clark is gone.
"Well...it pains me to even think of asking him," Giles starts.
"No way. We are not asking-"
A short while later
"Spike, we need your help," Buffy sighs while feeling that she may throw up at any second.
"You...want my help? Have you forgotten that I HATE you all?" He asks the Scoobies sitting around his crypt home.
"Listen Spike. The world is in danger and the pandemonium and destruction that follows will include you if you don't help us," Buffy says.
"You've handled plenty of apocalypses before. What the bloody Hell makes this any different?" Spike asks.
"It's a tournament and if we lose our world gets forcibly merged with another dimension. We've already seen how strong some of their fighters are. They've already killed Willow and-"
"Wait. Willow's dead? Sad. I liked her," Spike admits.
"So you'll help us?" Tara asks.
"Answer's still no," Spike declines.
"Why?" Buffy asks; close to staking Spike at this point.
"Let's list the reasons shall we. I'm not fighting in a tournament where I can easily get killed by, you know, the sun," Spike says.
"I think I know a temporary way around that," Tara says.
"Terrific, but incase you've forgotten, this stupid chip in my head won't let me hit any of these fighters," Spike continues.
"There's plenty of inhuman fighters, Spike," Buffy explains.
"I'd rather take my chances fighting whatever sorts of things populate the Earth if we lose. I'm staying."
"You're going!" Buffy yells pinning Spike to the wall.
"I'm staying!" Spike shouts back.
"You're going!" Tara shouts to everyone surprise.
What shocks them more is when she walks right up to Spike, holds her hand in front of his face, and a ball of fire forms in her palm.
"Well...when you p-put it that way," Spike stutters.
"Good. Boat for the tournament leaves in a week. We'll come back for you then and if you even think of skipping town and we survive this, we will find you. Is that clear?" Buffy asks.
"Crystal," Spike answers looking at Tara's fireball. He scowls at her as the ball vanishes and Buffy lets him down.
Clark enters Lois' hospital room. Her head turns slightly at his entrance.
"Where the Hell have you been?" She asks, but doesn't sound angry.
"That's kind of hard to explain, Lois," Clark truthfully states.
"I don't think it is. When that guy...murdered Chloe, I saw you run at him. You got to him in only seconds and then you both disappeared. I thought I was hallucinating at first because I was distraught, but then I remembered the bomb. You're the one that got rid of it aren't you?" Lois asks.
"Yes," Clark responds.
"Are you one of the meteor infected? Is teleportation your power?" She asks. "It would certainly explain you always being at the right place at the right time."
"No, I'm not meteor infected. I was born this way and I'm not a teleporter. I can do far more than that actually." Clark reveals. Lois stares at him for a few minutes.
"Lois...please say something," Clark says.
"...guess I shouldn't call you Smallville anymore," Lois finally says.