Part Thirty Eight: Testing Ones Metal

Xander marveled at the change he had undergone. He was at least a foot taller and quite a bit bulkier if he went by how his previously baggy clothing now hugged his every curve. The fact that he also appeared to be made completely out of metal wasn't freaking him out nearly as much as is should be.

"What kind of freak are you?" asked Jack just before he attempted to air out Xanders internal organs with a knife, but all he got for his troubles were a shower of sparks.

"Apparently a freak that isn't hurt by knives," said Xander in a pleased tone as he grabbed Jack. "Now about disarming that bomb."

"No way man, that bomb is going off no matter what," said Jack.

"Well then you'll have a front row seat, won't you," said Xander. "You see I'm guessing that maybe I'll survive this little explosion in this form. You on the other hand will be the zombie equivalent of a hotdog that has been on the barbeque for about an hour."

"There's a chance that the bomb will blow you up too," said Jack in a desperate voice.

"I'm willing to take that chance, how about you?" asked Xander as he held Jack directly over the bomb.

For a moment it looked like Jack was going to cave, but then the Zombie closed his eyes and smiled. "Go ahead and stay then, being dead for good is better than what would happen to me if the boss find out I failed."

"What boss?" asked Xander.

"Sorry, I don't do the stupid villain routine, besides you're out of time," said Jack. Glancing at the timer Xander saw that Jack was right; he only had ten seconds before boom time.

"Okay plan B," said Xander as he broke Jacks neck, and then ripped the bomb from the gas furnace. Hugging the bomb Xander curled up into a ball, and silently counted down with the timer.

"I must admit, that was a rather bracing affair," said Giles as he leaned against his sword.

"I'll say this about you small town people, you know how to throw one hell of a party," said Faith with a grin.

"You don't know the half of it," said a voice from beyond the doorway.

"Xander?" asked Buffy and Willow as they turned to look at the figure.

"Way to bulk up X!" yelled Faith as she practically devoured the muscular metal man who was dressed only in a school banner. "Got to say, I'm loving the new threads."

If it was possible for metal to blush Xander would be crimson by now, but as it was he simply found yet another reason to love this form.

"How did this happen," asked Willow as she touched Xanders cooling metal form.

"Not to sure about that, but we have bigger problems right now," said Xander.

"Me, I'm hoping that they get to biggest real soon 'cause I'm ready for round two," said Faith in a lewd grin.

"Faith please," said an exhausted Giles. "Please tell us Xander, just what is more important than finding the reasons behind your current condition?"

"How about the fact that someone hired a gang of zombies to blow up the school while you were closing the Hellmouth?" asked Xander as he attempted to ignore the way Faith had pressed up against him.

"That would count," said Giles with a sigh. "Do you have any idea who hired them?"

"No," said Xander. "I kind of had to take care of the bomb, and when I was trying to put the leader back together in the boiler room Oz kind of came in and ate him."

"Oz ate a zombie?" squeaked Willow.

"Yeah, he's down in the boiler room taking a little doggy nap," said Xander. "It would almost be cute if he didn't look like a bloody, demonic version of Lassie."

"Oz doesn't need to know about this, does he?" asked Willow in a small voice.

"Nah," said Faith. "Wolfman doesn't need any more problems."

"Well since there isn't anything we can do about this tonight I suggest that we get Oz back into the cage, and retire for the night," said Giles.

"That shouldn't take too long, I seem to be stronger now," said Xander.

"How much stronger?" asked Faith and Giles at the same time, but in two completely different tones.

"Don't know, didn't have much problem holding Jack with one arm, so I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, significantly," said Xander.

"Ah the precision answers I have come to know and love," said Giles. "I don't suppose you have even tried turning back to see if its even possible, let alone to see if you retain your strength."

"Can I get back to you when I have more to cover me than a freaking school banner?" asked Xander.

"Yes, quite," said Giles as he remembered the situation. "Later then."

"Later," Xander agreed as he started to easily move the debris around.

"Hey X, give me a lift!" yelled Faith as she rand toward Xander.

"The head good enough for you?" asked Xander as he got ready to give his girlfriend what he was privately calling a fastball special.

"You know it X," said Faith right before Xander launched her at the head of the newly demonic Mayor.

It was a risky plan but it was all they had. Without a way to lure the Mayor into the school they had to dismiss Xanders first idea, and use his second riskier one. This plan relied on the old saying that involved cutting off the head of a snake, instead of 'peace through superior firepower.'

Landing on the back of the snakes head beside her sister slayer Faith quickly plunged her greatsword into the neck of the mayor at the same time as Buffy. As the Mayor screamed in pain the two mystically empowered fighters held tight to their swords, and then began to slowly cut the head off. It was a long process that took almost fifteen minutes, but in the end the head came off, with a minimal loss of life thanks to Xander keeping the Mayor in one place.

"Like I said before," said a blood covered Faith. "You people really know how to through a party."

"That mean you're going to stick around?" asked Xander.

"As long as you keep me interested boytoy," said Faith.

"I can live with that," said Xander.