Part 19

Wesley and Gunn help Fred set up the stroboscopes around the lobby. When all are in place, Fred nods her head toward Cordelia and she flicks a switch. They all watch, as the lobby is flooded with bright flashing lights.

{That ought to distract them.}

They all get some weapons from the weapons cabinet so they could practice here with the lights flashing and make sure they wouldn't be too distracted. It wouldn't do to lop of the appendage of someone you didn't want to harm.

Angel and Willow watched from the stairs as their friends wielded their weapons. Willow silently said an incantation that made it easier for them to see.

Wesley suddenly stops as the lights stopped flashing. When he lowered his weapon the lights flashed but when he raised it they were still. Wrinkling his brow he watched in confusion as the others lowered and raised their weapons.

{What's happening?}

Willow gently placed a hand on Wesley's shoulder.

Wesley jumped when he felt a hand from behind. Turning to see his attacker he smiled self-consciously when he saw it was Willow.

{I did a spell to make it easier for you to see in the flashing lights. The lights continuously flash; you just don't see it when you use your weapons.}

{Thanks, Willow. I'm afraid we'll need all the help we can get.}

Angel came to stand next to Willow and he gently lays his arm around her waist and looks at his friends. He knows the upcoming battle will be hard on all of them. Not only do they have to battle their respective 'big bad' but they also will be concerned with what is happening with the others.

{The Powers picked us for a reason in this fight against Doc and Astrote. They placed the scrolls in Wesley's hand, they brought Willow to us to help once she had Gaia's favor and most of all they brought us together as friends. We'll get through this like we have every other apocalypse we've been able to defeat.}

Willow smiled at her friends and took Angel's hand. {If the Gentlemen don't bring the box with them here we'll find it and open it. Remember when you feel your voice returning SCREAM!}

With a last wave goodbye Willow and Angel left them to their battle.

~~~~

Doc watched as one of the Gentlemen picked up the box. "Are you sure that it's a good idea to take that with you?"

The one closest to Doc just nodded his head.

"All right. I suppose you know what you're doing."

The Gentlemen and their lackeys continued out the door and toward their destination.

"Do you think they'll get their hearts?"

Doc turned to Astrote, "I don't know but I do know that they'll succeed in brining Angel and Willow to us. This is the last sign in the Urok scrolls. After the 'Heartless Demons' the final battle is to begin. So you will have your fight with Willow and I will have mine with Angelus. Don't forget to try to get Willow to use her bond with Angelus to defeat you. Once she draws on the demon's bond she will be easily tempted to the dark."

"What will happen to Willow once you kill Angel and she has drawn on their bond?"

"Oh, I'm not going to kill Angel. Quite the contrary. I am planning on using their bond to bring them both to the dark. Once you have brought Willow over to evil it will be very simple to bring Angelus. Just imagine, Astrote. The destructive power those two can wield will be amazing. Do you remember the glory days of Angelus? Well combine that with the dark magicks that Willow will be able to do."

Astrote's eyes glaze over as he imagined the vicious power of those two.

~~~~

The lackeys approach the Hyperion and wait for the Gentlemen to float closer before opening the door.

As one Fred, Gunn, Wesley and Cordelia turn at the sound of the opening door. Cordelia nervously touches the switch. They have all agreed that they'll wait until they get further in the room before she turns the power on.

Fred, Gunn and Wesley begin to back up and spread out. The lackey's make a move to attack and the Gentlemen are just eerily watching. Suddenly the lobby explodes in flashing light. The Gentlemen raise their arms to cover their eyes and begin to back away.

Wesley raises his axe and decapitates the nearest lackey. Cordelia raises her crossbow but before she can fire she is grabbed from behind. One of the Gentlemen approaches with a scalpel. Wesley turns to see Cordelia is in trouble and grabs a knife out of his sheath. Holding the tip of the blade, he aims and throws towards the Gentlemen. The knife spins until it hits its target. The Gentlemen drops the scalpel he was holding and reaches for the knife sticking out just below his shoulder.

Fred sees that one of the Gentlemen is holding a box with one hand and shielding its eyes with the other. Taking advantage of its distraction she raises a crossbow and fires. Gunn sees Fred fire the crossbow and the lackey that is approaching her from behind. He raises his sword and runs to intercept.

The Gentlemen holding the box drops it when the crossbow bolt strikes him in the chest. A white mist rises from the box and floats toward each of the warrior's throats. Two mists float out the window.

Gunn yells as he thrust the sword into the lackey. Fred begins to scream. Two of the Gentlemen heads explode. Cordelia sees what happens when Fred screamed and begins screaming. The sound of her screaming causes the Gentlemen in front of her to explode. Seeing half the Gentlemen explode they leave the screaming to the women and Gunn and Wesley attack the lackeys.

"Wes, look out!"

Wesley turns and sees a lackey coming up behind him. Silently thanking that they got their voices back he turns and swings his axe. The lackey's head leaves its body behind.

Fred and Cordelia abruptly stop screaming. The Gentlemen are defeated and Gunn finally killed the last lackey.  Cordelia wearily walks over to the switch and the lobby returns to normal. She looks around and sees the room littered with bodies and Gentlemen goop.

"Why can't all demons be like vampires and go poof when you kill them? I mean how are we supposed to get out this green goop stain off the floor? It's not like I can call a cleaning service and say 'oh by the way, can you get demon guts off floors?' And these bodies are we supposed to bury them in the back?"

"Well, you can maybe ask if they can get yogurt stains off. When their head exploded it kinda looked like yogurt."

"Thanks for that visual. Now I'll never be able to eat yogurt again."

Gunn just smiled.

~~~~

Angel and Willow see Doc and Astrote through the window. Willow gives Angel's hand a squeeze. She waits until he turns his head, {Let's do it!}

Angel squeezes her hand back and leaps through the window silently glad that they never did an uninvite spell. At the sound of glass breaking Doc and Astrote enter the room.

"Well, well. I didn't expect you so soon but I'm glad you could make it."

Willow's eyes widened. This was Doc? This kindly grandfather was the Hell God?

Doc smiled at Willow's shock. "This is the form I take when I come to this realm. It suits me don't you think?"

A mist enters through the broken window and down the throats of Willow and Angel.

"I don't know, I think big, scaley demon would suit you better."

Doc tsked, "It seems the Gentlemen have failed. It's so hard to get good help. Oh well at least they brought you to us."