In the meantime Richard Wilkins went through his financial records. The
loss of all the money about a month ago cost him a lot of his reputation.
Many criminal organisations declined to work with him. But all that
wouldn't matter in a few days. His Ascension was near and after that money
would be the least of his worries.
His thoughts were interrupted by one of his vampires bursting through the door.
"Boss, something bad happened," the vampire told him.
"Didn't your mother tell you to knock before you enter a room?" the Mayor asked and looked accusingly at the vampire. After a few seconds the vampire couldn't stand the glare of the Mayor and looked at the floor. The Mayor sighed. "Okay, tell me what happened."
"The slayer and her friends hit our safehouse at Collins Street. Twenty minutes later another group hit our drug warehouse at George Street," the vampire reported.
Mayor Wilkins sighed. "Alexander and his friends are really making us some trouble."
"Boss, we are running out of businesses and men. You have to do something," the vampire said.
"I know that," the Mayor exclaimed. "And I already have a plan that will occupy the slayer and her little group for a while."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"Hey guys," Xander greeted the remaining members of the Scoobie gang when he, Buffy, Faith, and Willow entered the library.
"And hello to you Xander," Giles said, without looking up from his old book. "I suspect your attack went as planned."
"Like clockwork," he said and sat down on the chair beside Cordelia. The brunette immediately stood up and sat down a few chairs further away from him.
"What?" Xander asked and looked confused at her.
"God Xander, you smell like you have taken a bath in cordite," she said and pinched her nose.
Xander lifted his right arm and smelled under it. "Cordy, you have never seen me when I really smelled of cordite."
Giles was getting irritated. "Could we please concentrate on more important things. How did your attack go?"
"Very well G, twenty two dustpiles and no casualties," Faith told him.
"Did your spell work?" he asked Willow.
"Yeah it did," Willow exclaimed cheerfully. "It was really cool when all those vampires exploded almost the same time into dust."
"I'm proud of you," Oz said beside her and squeezed her hand.
"Anything else?" Giles asked
"Yeah, we blew up the drugs in the warehouse and we found this," Xander said and lifted the briefcase on the table. He opened it and turned it so everyone could see it.
"Whoah," most of the Scoobies exclaimed at the same time.
"How.. how much is this," Wesley finally asked.
"About a million," Xander said.
"What do you want to do with the money," Cordelia asked, her gaze still fixed on the briefcase.
Xander noticed this. "Don't look so greedily at my money."
"Your money? As far as I know I helped you get it," Faith said.
"Hey, hey, stop everyone, okay? I need the money tonight," he said and closed the briefcase. "I told you that my friend is coming to town. I mean, he trusts me enough but he still prefers cash instead of a transaction. That reminds me, Oz I need you and your van," he told the werewolf.
"My van?" Oz asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, there is not enough room in my SUV to store all the stuff. So I need a helping hand," Xander explained.
Oz considered this a moment, then he shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, I'm in."
"Good," Xander said and looked at his watch. "Which reminds me, it's almost time. We have to go," he said and took the briefcase. He and Oz walked into the direction of the library's doors. Just before they left they were interrupted by Buffy.
"Xander, what kind of equipment requires one million dollars?" the blonde slayer asked.
"The dangerous kind Buffy," Xander told her with a smile.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Oz and Xander waited for about an hour at the docks of Sunnydale, leaning against the black SUV. The zebra striped van was parked a few meters behind the car.
But even the cool façade Oz kept up most of the time couldn't conceal that he was getting impatient.
"Xander, is this friend of yours showing up any time soon?" the werewolf finally asked.
"Just have a bit more patience Oz. He will come," Xander said and took a pack of cigarettes out of his jacket and lighted one.
Oz looked puzzled at him. "Since when do you smoke?"
"Started about two months ago" he told him and took a drag. "If you are working for the darkside and your partners are vampires and demons you tend to get nervous. This calms me down."
"Your death," Oz stated.
Xander smiled at that. "Hardly. Even if my hyena abilities are weak, they are enough to remove any kind of dirt from my lungs. Therefore, no problem."
"Handy."
"Yeah it is. But don't tell Joyce, she would kick me out of her house if she found out about me smoking," Xander said with a slight chuckle.
"Your secret dies with me," Oz said and was now also smiling.
"Good to know," Xander said and spotted a pair of headlights in the distance. A few seconds later the night revealed a truck. "That's him."
"You sure?" Oz asked.
"Yeah, it's his car," he said and threw his cigarette on the ground.
The truck stopped beside the two vehicles and a man about thirty years old with short brown hair stepped out. From the clothes to the way he handled himself screamed army.
Xander walked up to the older man and shook his hand.
"Kyle. How are you man?" he greeted the ex-soldier.
"I'm good Harris," the other replied with a smile. "And how have you been?"
"Same old, same old," Xander answered.
"That bad, huh?"
"Yeah basically," Xander said with a smile of his own. "Kyle, this is my friend Oz. Oz, this is Kyle Simmons aka Shadow."
"Shadow?" Oz asked puzzled.
"Yeah. They don't see me till I'm there and when they finally do, they are either dead or I'm long gone," Kyle explained his nickname. "Do you trust him kid?"
"Stop calling me kid and yes, I trust him with my life," Xander said a bit annoyed.
"Good enough for me," Kyle said and shrugged. He lead the two to the back of the truck. "I got all the stuff you ordered. Some of it was really hard to get, but I manged it," he explained while he opened the trunk.
"Okay let's start with the unloading. The explosives come in the SUV and the guns and electronic hardware in the van."
"You really make me curious Harris," Kyle said. "For what do you need that much C4. Do you want blow up the whole town? And especially, where do you get the money to pay for it?"
"You remember these freaks I rescued you from?" Xander asked him while they carried the boxes to the two waiting cars.
"Hey, you didn't rescue me, okay. You assisted me," the ex-soldier stated.
Xander rolled his eyes at that. "Whatever. We got something like that here in town, only meaner and bigger."
"No shit," Kyle said with wide eyes. "Okay that means I'm out of town. If you need all the C4 to blow up only one, I don't want to be here when something goes wrong."
"Good idea. For the money, well I got it from someone who don't need it any longer."
"Well, as long as you can pay the stuff I don't care where the money comes from," Kyle said.
They carried the remaining boxes in silence until after ten minutes all the equipment was loaded into the van and the SUV.
"By the way, I got a little present for you," Kyle said and opened the last box.
Xander whistled at the sight and took one of the brand new G36 assault rifles in his hands.
"Where did you get these babies from?" he asked.
"A friend of mine in Europe modified them for the German Special Forces," Kyle explained. "After the job was done he had some left, so he sold them to me."
"Nice," Xander said and put the rifle back in it's place. Then he took one of the four pistols and examined the also brand new H&K P8. "I have to try them out one day."
"Thought you liked them," Kyle said and the two put the box into the van.
"I think we are finished," Xander said and gave him the briefcase.
"That's too much Harris," Kyle exclaimed a bit shocked after he checked the content.
"Just take it and put the rest on my account. I might order something else in the near future if I don't die a very brutal death in the next few days," Xander explained.
Kyle shrugged. "You are the boss," he said and held out his hand. "Good luck Harris. Looks like you need it."
Xander shook the older man's hand. "Thanks Kyle."
The ex-soldier walked to his truck and Xander moved over to Oz.
"You take my SUV Oz. We will need the explosives at the school," Xander said and waved after the departing form of the truck.
Oz nodded "And what are you going to do?"
"I will drive your van with all the guns to a safe location. After I'm done there I will meet you at the school and can change cars again," Xander explained.
"Okay. Just be careful with my baby. I don't want any more scratches."
"I will keep that in mind," Xander said.
After that both went to the others car and drove in their respective directions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Author's notes: I'm really curious: Does anyone recognize the character of Kyle Simmons aka Shadow?
His thoughts were interrupted by one of his vampires bursting through the door.
"Boss, something bad happened," the vampire told him.
"Didn't your mother tell you to knock before you enter a room?" the Mayor asked and looked accusingly at the vampire. After a few seconds the vampire couldn't stand the glare of the Mayor and looked at the floor. The Mayor sighed. "Okay, tell me what happened."
"The slayer and her friends hit our safehouse at Collins Street. Twenty minutes later another group hit our drug warehouse at George Street," the vampire reported.
Mayor Wilkins sighed. "Alexander and his friends are really making us some trouble."
"Boss, we are running out of businesses and men. You have to do something," the vampire said.
"I know that," the Mayor exclaimed. "And I already have a plan that will occupy the slayer and her little group for a while."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"Hey guys," Xander greeted the remaining members of the Scoobie gang when he, Buffy, Faith, and Willow entered the library.
"And hello to you Xander," Giles said, without looking up from his old book. "I suspect your attack went as planned."
"Like clockwork," he said and sat down on the chair beside Cordelia. The brunette immediately stood up and sat down a few chairs further away from him.
"What?" Xander asked and looked confused at her.
"God Xander, you smell like you have taken a bath in cordite," she said and pinched her nose.
Xander lifted his right arm and smelled under it. "Cordy, you have never seen me when I really smelled of cordite."
Giles was getting irritated. "Could we please concentrate on more important things. How did your attack go?"
"Very well G, twenty two dustpiles and no casualties," Faith told him.
"Did your spell work?" he asked Willow.
"Yeah it did," Willow exclaimed cheerfully. "It was really cool when all those vampires exploded almost the same time into dust."
"I'm proud of you," Oz said beside her and squeezed her hand.
"Anything else?" Giles asked
"Yeah, we blew up the drugs in the warehouse and we found this," Xander said and lifted the briefcase on the table. He opened it and turned it so everyone could see it.
"Whoah," most of the Scoobies exclaimed at the same time.
"How.. how much is this," Wesley finally asked.
"About a million," Xander said.
"What do you want to do with the money," Cordelia asked, her gaze still fixed on the briefcase.
Xander noticed this. "Don't look so greedily at my money."
"Your money? As far as I know I helped you get it," Faith said.
"Hey, hey, stop everyone, okay? I need the money tonight," he said and closed the briefcase. "I told you that my friend is coming to town. I mean, he trusts me enough but he still prefers cash instead of a transaction. That reminds me, Oz I need you and your van," he told the werewolf.
"My van?" Oz asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, there is not enough room in my SUV to store all the stuff. So I need a helping hand," Xander explained.
Oz considered this a moment, then he shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, I'm in."
"Good," Xander said and looked at his watch. "Which reminds me, it's almost time. We have to go," he said and took the briefcase. He and Oz walked into the direction of the library's doors. Just before they left they were interrupted by Buffy.
"Xander, what kind of equipment requires one million dollars?" the blonde slayer asked.
"The dangerous kind Buffy," Xander told her with a smile.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Oz and Xander waited for about an hour at the docks of Sunnydale, leaning against the black SUV. The zebra striped van was parked a few meters behind the car.
But even the cool façade Oz kept up most of the time couldn't conceal that he was getting impatient.
"Xander, is this friend of yours showing up any time soon?" the werewolf finally asked.
"Just have a bit more patience Oz. He will come," Xander said and took a pack of cigarettes out of his jacket and lighted one.
Oz looked puzzled at him. "Since when do you smoke?"
"Started about two months ago" he told him and took a drag. "If you are working for the darkside and your partners are vampires and demons you tend to get nervous. This calms me down."
"Your death," Oz stated.
Xander smiled at that. "Hardly. Even if my hyena abilities are weak, they are enough to remove any kind of dirt from my lungs. Therefore, no problem."
"Handy."
"Yeah it is. But don't tell Joyce, she would kick me out of her house if she found out about me smoking," Xander said with a slight chuckle.
"Your secret dies with me," Oz said and was now also smiling.
"Good to know," Xander said and spotted a pair of headlights in the distance. A few seconds later the night revealed a truck. "That's him."
"You sure?" Oz asked.
"Yeah, it's his car," he said and threw his cigarette on the ground.
The truck stopped beside the two vehicles and a man about thirty years old with short brown hair stepped out. From the clothes to the way he handled himself screamed army.
Xander walked up to the older man and shook his hand.
"Kyle. How are you man?" he greeted the ex-soldier.
"I'm good Harris," the other replied with a smile. "And how have you been?"
"Same old, same old," Xander answered.
"That bad, huh?"
"Yeah basically," Xander said with a smile of his own. "Kyle, this is my friend Oz. Oz, this is Kyle Simmons aka Shadow."
"Shadow?" Oz asked puzzled.
"Yeah. They don't see me till I'm there and when they finally do, they are either dead or I'm long gone," Kyle explained his nickname. "Do you trust him kid?"
"Stop calling me kid and yes, I trust him with my life," Xander said a bit annoyed.
"Good enough for me," Kyle said and shrugged. He lead the two to the back of the truck. "I got all the stuff you ordered. Some of it was really hard to get, but I manged it," he explained while he opened the trunk.
"Okay let's start with the unloading. The explosives come in the SUV and the guns and electronic hardware in the van."
"You really make me curious Harris," Kyle said. "For what do you need that much C4. Do you want blow up the whole town? And especially, where do you get the money to pay for it?"
"You remember these freaks I rescued you from?" Xander asked him while they carried the boxes to the two waiting cars.
"Hey, you didn't rescue me, okay. You assisted me," the ex-soldier stated.
Xander rolled his eyes at that. "Whatever. We got something like that here in town, only meaner and bigger."
"No shit," Kyle said with wide eyes. "Okay that means I'm out of town. If you need all the C4 to blow up only one, I don't want to be here when something goes wrong."
"Good idea. For the money, well I got it from someone who don't need it any longer."
"Well, as long as you can pay the stuff I don't care where the money comes from," Kyle said.
They carried the remaining boxes in silence until after ten minutes all the equipment was loaded into the van and the SUV.
"By the way, I got a little present for you," Kyle said and opened the last box.
Xander whistled at the sight and took one of the brand new G36 assault rifles in his hands.
"Where did you get these babies from?" he asked.
"A friend of mine in Europe modified them for the German Special Forces," Kyle explained. "After the job was done he had some left, so he sold them to me."
"Nice," Xander said and put the rifle back in it's place. Then he took one of the four pistols and examined the also brand new H&K P8. "I have to try them out one day."
"Thought you liked them," Kyle said and the two put the box into the van.
"I think we are finished," Xander said and gave him the briefcase.
"That's too much Harris," Kyle exclaimed a bit shocked after he checked the content.
"Just take it and put the rest on my account. I might order something else in the near future if I don't die a very brutal death in the next few days," Xander explained.
Kyle shrugged. "You are the boss," he said and held out his hand. "Good luck Harris. Looks like you need it."
Xander shook the older man's hand. "Thanks Kyle."
The ex-soldier walked to his truck and Xander moved over to Oz.
"You take my SUV Oz. We will need the explosives at the school," Xander said and waved after the departing form of the truck.
Oz nodded "And what are you going to do?"
"I will drive your van with all the guns to a safe location. After I'm done there I will meet you at the school and can change cars again," Xander explained.
"Okay. Just be careful with my baby. I don't want any more scratches."
"I will keep that in mind," Xander said.
After that both went to the others car and drove in their respective directions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Author's notes: I'm really curious: Does anyone recognize the character of Kyle Simmons aka Shadow?