Chapter 12

(Sunnydale)

Daniel 'Oz' Osborne blinked as he seemed to come out of a long nightmare. A nightmare he knew had been very real. He had learned a very dangerous truth tonight. He now knew what had caused the high death rate in Sunnydale. He knew what had caused so many of his friends, and fellow school kids to be killed. He knew now that true evil exists. Raising his hand in which he still held the former replica of the Soulreaver blade, which was now very real. He had dressed as one of his all-time favorite game characters, Kain from the Legacy of Kain series. He had watched, locked away in his own head, as Kain had destroyed vampires and demons alike after taking control of his body, he had watched him do a favor for the possessed form of one of his teachers. Then near the end a white light had washed over him, and suddenly he had found himself face to face with Kain himself. His mind drifted to that meeting as he headed home. Tomorrow he decided he would confront the group he now knew hunted vampires to keep Sunnydale safe.

+HX+

(Flash Back, Dreamscape)

Kain stared at the human male who was dressed as he was. Clearly something was going on here. Moving forwards he decided to talk to the human and see if he knew what was happening, the young human remained where he was and didn't run. Before he could reach him, both stumbled as they both received a memory dump. They both suddenly knew exactly what was going on, and why they were suddenly face to face.

Oz could barely believe what was going on, for someone usually so stoic he was suddenly overwhelmed by multiple emotions and thoughts. Knowing the truth that had somehow eluded, not only him, but everyone else in Sunnydale was startling, but also truly horrifying. Now he was face to face with a vampire lord who had only existed in a game the day before. Now he had to take into account that maybe Kain was real in a dimension not unlike his own. He ensured he gave off no signs of fear as Kain approached him. This wasn't something he was going to forget anytime soon.

"A dangerous gambit these higher powers are playing," Kain stated as he looked him in the eyes. "Giving you my powers, my skills and more importantly my sword," he added. "It would make you one of the most powerful humans in your world," he pointed out.

"But I wouldn't have your blood lust, or you will to dominate the world," Oz shot back. "I will help fight the darkness, I will help protect my people," he added. "I will also be cured of being a werewolf," he told him.

That had been one of the most startling bits of the memory dump. He was a werewolf and had been since being bitten by his small cousin two months ago. This explained why he had woken up naked in various places for those two months. If he accepted the offer then he would be cured of that affliction, instead he would gain the ability to change into a normal wolf just as Kain could.

"Just remember what would happen should someone claim the Soulreaver from you," Kain warned him.

"Over my dead body," Oz shot back with a pointed glare. "All my enemies will get out of me is death," he assured him "Vae Victus," he quoted causing Kain to chuckle with his usual laugh.

"So you will take the offer?" Kain inquired as he crossed his arms.

"I will," Oz replied with no remorse for his choice. He wanted to be able to help fight the darkness he now knew infested his town and more importantly the world. He also wanted to be cured of being a werewolf. Before Kain could respond, the white light washed over them and Kain found himself back in the streets of the unusual city he was in.

+HX+

(Sunnydale)

Oz knew his life would never be the same now that he had chosen to accept the powers and skills of Kain. He also knew he would have to ensure that if something happened to him that the others would take and bury the Soulreaver so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. Heading for his home, he wondered just what Harris and the others in his group would say when he talked to them tomorrow and revealed that even more had happened last night than they knew.

+HX+

(Sunnydale High)

Xander sighed as he sat down after what had been a very stressful night, granted it wasn't over yet. They had decided to cut any more conversations until they had rounded up all of the kids and got them back to the school for pick up by their parents, by the luck of God herself they hadn't lost any of them to the madness that had engulfed Sunnydale thanks to Ethan's spell. Snyder and the parents had been waiting for their return. It seemed none of the parent's had noticed anything odd and quickly dismissed their children's tales as just that tales. It still amazed him how blind they could be. The X-Men had returned with them still wanting to sort some things out. They had filled Amy in completely about the night's events, as well as the truth of Sunnydale. To say the young witch had been shocked was an understatement. He glanced at Cordelia who sat next to him and could see the tension in her and glancing at Jenny he noted the same in her as well. They had a lot to talk about, but for now they had to focus on other things.

"So what happens now?" Buffy inquired while doing her best to forget about the loss of Angel for now.

"For right now I suggest you all go home and get some sleep, being possessed has to have had an effect on all your systems," Hank McCoy answered with a calming smile. "I'm sure you are all beginning to feel the effects of the fighting you've been through, as well as the stress the possession has taken on your bodies systems," he added.

"But before you leave I think it is clear we will have to return or have you come to the mansion," Scott said from next to Emma. "Those of you who are now mutants will need help in learning to control their powers," he said.

"Already offered my help in that boyscout," Logan responded. "If the kid wants training, I will train him," he stated.

"I appreciate it and I think I will need it," Xander spoke up as he popped his own claws and winced at the sharp pain he felt as the adamantium claws came out. "Having your powers and skills means little if I don't know how to properly use them, and while I have your knowledge in that regard, I can't rely solely on memories which are not mine," he told them with a smile.

"Why not?" Buffy asked.

"Because I didn't learn them myself and hence my body might not react as say Logan's would, you can't just imprint things into people and expect them to be suddenly experts Buffy," Xander answered.

"Xander is correct Buffy, imprinting memories have been used before by the council, the people used were ordinary watchers and they were sent into the field with the memories from black ops soldiers," Giles said picking up from Xander's explanation. "They were massacred because while they had the memories of the soldiers skills, they hadn't learnt them for themselves or at least trained to ensure their bodies could react in such a way as the memories they'd had imprinted," he explained as best he could. "Imprinting isn't an easy fix to create warriors," he stated.

"I'll say I'm already having trouble keeping my powers under control," Cordelia admitted as did Willow and Jenny. "I have to focus hard to ensure I don't accidently start reading your minds," she added.

"I can change little things like my hair color and length," Willow put in. "But so far I can't change my appendence or body shape," Willow added with a frustrated sigh.

"I assume that will take time Willow, remember there is no one here who can actually train you to use your particular gifts," Giles pointed out to her. "But with time and effort you should be able to do both, it will just take time," he assured her.

Willow hoped he was right.

"They are correct of course," Metatron said, appearing behind them all with a small smile. "You have the skills and powers, but not the experience to use them just yet," he told them. He knew had they sent Whistler back here to explain this he would have been ripped to pieces, they hadn't taken Janus's request well which was no surprise. God hadn't exactly been pleased by the chaos God's request, but she realized that Janus was correct. Without Ethan, they would never have found out about the Powers that Be's actions, hence she had granted Ethan this one escape. "You will need to train for them to be ingrained enough to use them in combat, so don't be reckless Slayer now that your vampire lover has been disposed of," he stated, concentrating on Buffy who growled in response at the reminder that Angel was gone.

"Bring him back," Buffy pleaded.

"Sorry Slayer no can do. Liam is now at rest and we will not pull him out of it just so you can play with fire," Metatron stated.

"Wait a minute, is Angel dusted?" Jenny inquired in shock. If this was true it meant her entire mission in Sunnydale was over, glancing at Xander she noted he was now watching her as was some of the others. They must have heard the tremor in her voice as she spoke.

"Yes Janna he was dusted by Abigail an hour ago," Metatron responded, deciding this secret needed to be dealt with now if the group was to have any hope of staying together. Jenny paled as the unknown man spoke her real name.

"Why did you call her Janna?" Xander asked as he glanced between him and Jenny.

"It's time for the truth," was all Metatron would say. At this the entire group turned to Jenny who closed her eyes hoping this would turn out okay.

"My name isn't Jenny Calendar, it is Janna Kalderash of the Kalderash tribe," Jenny finally said, nervously glancing at Xander and Cordelia who were watching her closely. "I was sent here to keep an eye on Angel and ensure the curse that gave him his soul remained intact. My cover as a teacher including my age is false," she added. "I was sent as this was to be my right of passage to which I would be claimed an adult within the tribe, but things didn't go as planned as I became friends with you all and…," she trailed off at the end as her eyes fixed on Xander's.

"And what?" Giles inquired, but Jenny refused to answer as that was personal and concerned only her, Xander and Cordelia.

"So you are a god damn fake, just here to make sure Angel continued to suffer?" Buffy spat, jumping to her feet in anger.

"He was supposed to suffer you idiot girl. He killed hundreds of people as Angelus before he was cursed," Jenny snapped back, not willing to be made to look like the bad guy in this. "He butchered seventy of my people the night he was captured, including the daughter of the tribe's chieftain who he raped before he ripped her heart out," she snarled as ever after a hundred years every member of the tribe despised Angelus for what he did. "Angel as he calls himself was supposed to ensure Angelus suffered for his crimes, although I think it would have been better had he been staked when he was captured," she vented. "No one thought for one minute a girl would come along, let alone a Slayer, who would fall in love with the thing," she went on.

"She has a point Slayer," Metatron cut Buffy's response off before she could even say one word. "You were not meant to fall in love with that thing, the reason you did so was part of the Power's plans to strip you of the ability to love," he told her, rendering her mute in shock. "Would have worked too, you'd never have been able to recover your ability to truly love had you given yourself fully to that thing," he admitted. "Lucky for you chaos has a habit of changing things, it might take a little time, but you will find love again," he assured her with a smile.

"She still lied to us," Willow pointed out, unable to decide how she felt about the sudden revelation about her favorite teacher.

"No she didn't, at least not by choice," Cordelia argued. "She was under orders to come here and do this, which is different than coming here and lying just for the fun of it," she added. "I'm sure if she had the choice then she would have told us the truth," she said with certainty. Cordelia however was uncertain if she was defending Jenny or Janna, because they were friends or because of what had happened between them even if they hadn't been in control of their bodies. It had changed things between all three of them. She just didn't know how as her emotions were all over the place where it concerned her, Xander and Jenny/Janna.

"I agree, this is like soldiers or police going under cover and being unable to tell anyone the truth," Xander agreed with Cordelia. "She had orders to obey, yet she still helped us at the risk of her own life," he pointed out as he reached out under the table and gave her hand a quick squeeze in support. "I'm sure nowhere in her orders did it say help the Slayer and her friends keep the Hellmouth shut," he said with a look at Jenny.

"No they didn't," Jenny responded, thankful at least some of the group was sticking up for her and that it was the two she was closest to at that as well. "The only thing that mattered to the tribe was revenge, they didn't care that he had moved to the Hellmouth," she admitted.

"But why?" Buffy demanded to know. "They had to know if the Hellmouth opened then we all die," she added not understanding their point of view.

"Buffy my people are Romany, the one thing you should know about them is to never get on their bad side as they will make you suffer for it," Jenny answered, glad to see the Slayer seemed to be calming down. "They are famous for their acts of revenge within the supernatural community," she told them all.

"So what will you do now?" Giles inquired as the X-Men watched and learned what they could about their new friends and allies.

"Send my final report to the tribe, explaining why and how Angel was dusted, what they make of it I don't know," Jenny answered with a sigh. "But I won't be leaving the Hellmouth if that is what you are asking, this is my home now and you are my friends," she stated.

Buffy frowned, not really sure what to say to her, she was still hurting from Angel's loss no matter what the unknown guy had told her. Learning Jenny Calendar wasn't who she was supposed to be and had only come to keep an eye on her lover, well it didn't sit well with her. But she understood being under orders. As the Slayer how could she not, did that make it right?" she wondered.

"I suggest you all turn in now. You've absorbed a hell of a lot of information," Metatron advised. "A good sleep will put things in perspective," he added before he vanished once more.

"Who is that guy?" Kitty asked, having been wondering about his identity since he turned up.

"I don't know, but whoever he is he has some power within him," Jean responded still getting used to being back in her own body. "But he is correct, we all need some sleep, we will return tomorrow to continue our discussion, although we have our own things to discuss before we come back," she said turning to Xander and the others.

Before the group all stood up and began to say their goodbyes, the night had been long and they knew nothing had been sorted just yet, Willow mumbled, "I can't help myself, but that guy reminded me of someone."

The X-Men left first with Jubilee in the lead. She was as giddy as she had once been before she had been turned into a vampire. Giles decided to drive the others home so they would have a less chance of running into any trouble; it was a tight fit due to Giles old beat up car with Cordelia having to sit in Xander's lap while Willow sat in Buffy's. The trip was quiet as no one felt like speaking, Cordelia soon got comfortable being on Xander's lap. She laid her head on his shoulder and began to slowly drift off to sleep. Willow was dropped off first and then Buffy herself who lived close by. Jenny was next and exchanged a quick heated glance with Xander before she exited the car. Cordelia had to be coaxed awake when Giles pulled up in front of her home, before she could talk herself out of it she kissed Xander goodnight with a soft simple kiss before quickly getting out of the car and running into her house with a quick backward glance at Xander's stunned look at her actions.

Giles smirked before he pulled away and was pleased to see the two were finally passing the boundaries that had kept them apart. Finally he dropped Xander off and waited until the young man was safely inside before he headed for his own home and more importantly his bed.

Logan led the X-Men straight to the parked invisible blackbird, his nose able to pick up the smell of the engine fuel. He glanced back into the darkened night of Sunnydale as the others boarded. He could still smell vampires moving about, but he guessed they had cut their numbers down for a while. Turning he moved to board the plane to find Jean waiting for him at the top of the ramp, glancing at her flaming red hair and piercing green eyes once more he felt his emotions for her rush forward and he felt the usual urge to want to take her in his arms, but he held himself back. They had a lot of talking to do, him, her and Betsy before he could even think of things like that.

Jean gave him a small smile as she pressed the button to seal the ramp. She could sense Logan's thoughts and would have been very happy to be taken into his arms, but she agreed that they had to talk before anything happened.

"We're clear Scott," she shouted up to the cockpit before she took a seat next to Logan and Jubilee, which still looked to be in shock from being cured of her vampirism. Rachel was on her other side and smiled at her, clearly pleased to have her mother back.

"Roger that, lifting off now," Scott shot back, still finding it hard to look at his ex-wife in the eyes, even more so because she was once more back among the living. "Now will someone tell me what the deal was with that witch we ended up fighting?" he inquired, turning himself to face Jean, Logan and Besty.

Logan glared back at him and then shook his head. He had no intention of letting Scott know about what went down between him, Betsy and more importantly Jean. The man might now be in a relationship with Emma, but that didn't mean he had completely left his past with Jean to rest especially where he was concerned. He wouldn't be surprised if Scott was okay with Jean getting together with anyone, as long as it wasn't him. Their long running rivalry where Jean was concerned was by no means put aside. Things might be different, but something's always remained the same no matter how many years passed and he believed Scott's aversion of him getting close to Jean was one of them.

"She attacked us Scott, which is why we were resting at the house you found us in," Betsy said, simply having been relieved during the madness of their reunion and then the big fight no one had bothered to ask why they were in the house in the first place.

Scott frowned not believing Betsy's simple answer, the glare Logan was still giving him told him as much. He almost turned to glance at Emma to see if she could get any answers with her powers, but Jean's voice cut him off.

"Don't even think about it Scott, our daughter's threat of shutting Emma's mind down if she attempts to snoop around in our heads goes double for me," Jean told him in warning. "And I will not be as nice about it as Rachel would have been," she added with a dangerous smile aimed at the blond telepath who glared back at the threat.

"I don't believe it was a simple attack Jean," Scott finally said as he turned back around, knowing he wasn't going to get any answers just yet. "For now I will let it drop, but I will get the truth eventually," he added with a shake of his head at their stubbornness to just tell him what had happened and thus missed the looks exchanged between Logan, Jean, Betsy and Rachel who all knew the truth. "We should be back at the mansion in an hour and a half, then I suggest we all get some sleep and in the morning we have a long talk about what has happened," he told them as he let the topic drop. He rubbed his eyes already feeling like he wanted to collapse into his bed and fall asleep.

"Push the engines Scott, I want my bed," Kurt groaned as he tried to get comfortable. "And I don't think I'm the only one," he added as Kitty who sat beside him tried to curl up against him.

"Sorry Kurt, you will just have to do the best you can," Scott shot back with a grin. "We pushed it getting here," he reminded him.

"Well do the best you can then," Kitty responded before Kurt could as she closed her eyes and tried to imagine she was in her bed.