When they heard his voice the scoobies turned around, seeing Xander
standing at the head of the table ,a cigarette between his lips, while he
examined the remains of Willows spell.
"Looks like the soul curse worked," he said casually, before he looked at them.
"Xander?" Buffy asked like she has seen a ghost.
"The one and only," he declared and wanted to take a drag from his cigarette, when he was suddenly charged by the blonde slayer and the red haired witch, who hugged him hard.
"Guys, air," Xander croaked out after a moment. Buffy and Willow untangled themselves from him. "What's going on here? As far as I know I didn't cast any love spells recently."
Buffy punched him on the arm. "We thought you were dead," Buffy said and motioned at the tv.
Xander winced and grabbed his arm. "What?" he asked confused. "You thought that I was dead because of that little incident?"
Buffy looked with wide eyes at him. "Little incident?" she nearly shouted. "You blew up City Hall.?"
Xander rolled his eyes at that. "And you are the one to speak miss-'I needed a rocket launcher for my birthday, so I could kill an ancient demon that wanted to bring forth the Apocalypse'."
Buffy glared at him. " That was something different," she said, emphasizing her words by poking him in the chest.
"Ah, guys," Oz called out. "Tv."
The scoobies immediately turned around and looked at the screen.
"Standing with me is now is Mayor Richard Wilkins," the reporter declared. "Mr. Wilkins, do you have any idea who might be responsible for this?"
"Well Heidi, as far as we know there has been no threats to the city. At the moment we think that the explosion is the cause of a gas leak," the Mayor explained.
"Thank you Mr. Wilkins. This was Heidi Moure for Sunnydale news," but before the reporter could continue Giles had already shut the tv off.
"It seems that your attack didn't turn out as planned," Giles exclaimed. "The Mayor is still alive."
Xander shrugged. "I didn't count on that. But I was able to take more than fifty vampires out with my little attack, so I think the results were quite positive."
"Fifty vampires," Buffy exclaimed shocked.
"You would never believe what you can achieve with a little bit of C4," Xander told her with smile and walked into Giles' office. A second later he came out of it, one of the boxes in his hands. "Which reminds me, we still have a lot of work to do," Xander said, but winced when got a clear view on Buffy's face for the first time. "Ouch, Buffy. What happened to your face?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
After the Mayor gave his interview, he opened the door of the waiting limousine and stepped into it.
"Now I'm really angry," the Mayor exclaimed and looked at the two sizes too small suit he was forced to wear. "Does he know how much an Armani suit costs now a days," he asked the vampire that was sitting in his underwear in front of him. "Well, things aren't really working as planned," he exclaimed angrily. "How is our status?" he asked the other vampire.
The vamp sighed before he answered. "Our attack at the library was a failure. Only three of our vampires returned. That ,and the casualties we had here at City Hall, means that we lost more than 75% of our vampire forces."
"Yes, that's quite a drawback," the Mayor said and took the statistics from the vampires. "But this game isn't over, yet. Is the box secured?"
The vamp nodded at that. "Yes Boss, Everything is prepared."
"Good," the Mayor said and looked at the last page, on which his appointments for the day were printed. "We still have a ritual to perform and a Graduation ceremony to attend," he said and wrote something under the two points. "And last but not least take revenge on Alexander, for all the trouble he caused me."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Angel finally woke up, groaned and tried to stand up. When he opened his eyes he looked at the barrel of two shotguns and an equally threatening pistol.
"Whoa, whoa. It's me." he exclaimed and lifted his hand in surrender.
"You remember?" Buffy asked warily, but didn't remove the crossbow she had pointed at his chest.
"Yeah, you had me knocked out long enough for me to regain the memories when Angelus was in charge," Angel explained.
"Not that I don't believe you," Xander started. "..but I don't believe you. Will?" he called for the witch.
Willow moved in front of Angel. "This will only take a few seconds," she explained. She started to chant and a glow appeared on Angels' chest. A few seconds later the glow disappeared.
"It's okay. He is Angel again," she stated.
"Now, if you have nothing better to do you can help us prepare the library for the final showdown," Xander said and he and the two Watchers removed their guns from Angel's face.
The vampire followed Xander to the boxes filled with C4. He took a few packages and held them out for the souled vampire.
"You can help Faith over there," he said and motioned to the dark haired slayer.
"Okay," Angel said. "Look Xander."
"Angel," Xander interrupted him. "I really am not fond of saying it, but this time it wasn't your fault, okay?"
"But I killed," Angel again tried.
"Yeah, but we have no time for your self pity now. You can brood when all this is over. But now we need you," Xander told him.
Angel thought about that for a second and finally he accepted the C4.
"So you really think this will work?" Angel asked.
Xander shrugged. "Well, from what Giles could find out from the books of Ascension, the Mayor will only be invincible until he changes, and then he is vulnerable."
"Not that," Angel clarified. "I meant if you know how to blow up the whole school?"
Xander shrugged "If I was able to blow up City Hall I think I will manage to blow the school up," he told the vampire and moved to another section of the library.
"What?" Angel asked.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
The scoobies prepared the library the whole night. But when the sun dawned Buffy and Xander had another thing to do.
"Do you think that this is really necessary," Joyce asked while Xander lifted the last of her suitcases into the trunk of her car.
"Believe me Joyce, you don't want to be here if something goes wrong," Xander explained and closed the trunk.
"He is right mom," Buffy joined in. "And we will be able to concentrate on fighting if we know that you are out of danger."
"Well, just be careful you two," Joyce said and pulled each of them into a hug. Then she stepped into her Jeep and drove down the road. Buffy and Xander waved after the departing vehicle until it disappeared behind the next corner.
After that both walked up to Xander's SUV.
"Xander, there is one thing that bugs me," Buffy exclaimed as they stepped into the car.
"And that is?" Xander asked in return and started the engine.
"Okay, we now have an army of students and we are ready to blow up the whole school, which by the way was a fantasy of mine since Snyder is in charge," Buffy summed the situation up. "But how the hell are we going to bring the Mayor into the school."
"A bait," Xander simply said as he drove into the direction of the school.
"A bait?" Buffy asked confused.
"Yep."
Buffy waited for something else to come, but Xander kept silent.
"And what's gonna be the bait?" Buffy finally asked annoyed.
"The question isn't what's gonna be the bait, but who," Xander stated.
"Okay, and who is gonna be the bait."
"Me," Xander said.
"You?" Buffy asked after a few seconds with disbelief.
"Yep."
"Could you clarify that a bit?" Buffy asked.
"Well, like you said: Someone has to lure the Mayor into the school and that's gonna be me," Xander explained.
"Xander, no way are you doing that," Buffy told him. "I'm going to do it. I'm faster than you."
"No Buffy, I'm gonna do it," Xander said firmly. "I bet after last night the Mayor will be quite pissed at me and wants revenge. And by the way you are not faster than me."
"Oh please," Buffy said mockingly. "I admit that your abilities have grown in the past year, but I'm still the slayer. I'm sure that I'm faster than you."
"How about this," Xander proposed. "Once we have prepared everything we can have a little race. You against me. The one who wins will be the bait in our little trap. You in?," Xander asked.
"Okay, I'm in," Buffy said. Xander reached out with his hand and Buffy shook it, sealing their deal this way.
"You have no chance," Buffy stated.
"We will see," Xander said with a smile while he pulled into the parking lot at Sunnydale High.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"Okay, everything ready?" Xander asked, when he and Buffy entered the library. All the scoobies were gathered around the table.
"We just gave out the last weapons to the students," Giles explained. "So, you were able to convince your mother to leave town."
"Yeah, she is heading out of town as we speak," Buffy told him, while she and Xander sat down at their respective chairs at the table.
"Okay, let's go over the plan," Xander said and motioned to the map of Sunnydale High they had placed on the table.
"So, we are going to have an eclipse. That means that the Mayor's vampires will be out there in full force. But after the casualties they had to endure in the last couple of days this is the least of our problems. Our main objective is to take out the Mayor. He will hold his speech here and the students will be sitting here," Xander said and marked the two places. "Giles already explained that the Mayor will need a lot of food so he can complete his Ascension. In other words: students."
He could see the 'eww'-looks on Buffy's, Willow's and Cordelia's faces.
"That means that the vampires will probably attack from this direction," Xander said and drew an arrow from the street to the location of the students. "That will trap all the students between the Mayor and the vamps. Okay, one group will attack the Mayor and try to hold him off long enough that the rest of the students can break through the vampires lines," Xander said and drew another arrow from the location of the students to the vampires. "Giles, Wesley, Angel and another group of students you will attack the vampires in the back. Once all the students are evacuated phase two can step into motion."
He exchanged a look with Buffy.
"We still haven't decided who is gonna do it, but basically one of us," he said and motioned at Buffy and himself, "will try to lure the Mayor into the library, leave through the window in the back and blow the school up, killing the mayor this way."
Xander looked at the faces of all the Scoobies. "Any questions?" he asked, but no one of them said anything. "Well, I suggest that you all try to get some rest. The last 24 hours were quite exhausting. And you will need your strength for the fight," he said and stood up, the rest of them following his example. A few seconds later most of the scoobies had left the library,
"So Buffy, you ready for our little race," he asked the blonde slayer.
"Anytime, anyplace Xandman," Buffy challenged him.
"Okay," Xander said. "We are meeting in about an hour at the street in front of the school. Don't be late," he said and left the library.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
The Mayor looked at his remaining vampires. The warehouse that was currently his base of operations was not exactly comfortable, but it had to be enough for the moment.
"So everything is clear?" he asked after he and his vampires went through the plan. The vampires nodded.
"Okay, then take your positions," the Mayor said. "And please wear something formal. After all we are attending a Graduation ceremony."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
After an hour Buffy waited on the sidewalk for Xander to arrive. Suddenly she heard the sound of a motorbike and a few seconds later a black Kawasaki Ninja parked beside her.
"Hi Buffy," Xander said and took the helmet off.
Buffy stared confused at the bike.
"Since when do you have a bike?" she asked.
Xander shrugged. "For a while. Don't get angry, I paid for it. Can we start now?"
"Yeah, we can start. You want to give the signal?"
"Okay," Xander said without stepping down from his bike. Instead he put the helmet back on.
"Oh, you gotta be kidding me," Buffy finally exclaimed, when she realised that he had no intention of getting off the bike
Xander opened the visor of his helmet and looked at the slayer. "What?" he asked.
"Xander that's unfair," Buffy exclaimed. "Of course you are faster with the bike. I thought we both would run on foot."
"What? Did you think I wanted to outrun a giant snake on foot," Xander said and looked strangely at her. "I may be crazy, but I'm not insane."
Buffy stomped angrily at the ground. "Fine. Have it your way. Get eaten by the big, nasty snake. I don't care any longer," Buffy said and walked into the direction of the school's entrance.
Xander slowly followed her with his bike, a big smile plastered on his face.
"Looks like the soul curse worked," he said casually, before he looked at them.
"Xander?" Buffy asked like she has seen a ghost.
"The one and only," he declared and wanted to take a drag from his cigarette, when he was suddenly charged by the blonde slayer and the red haired witch, who hugged him hard.
"Guys, air," Xander croaked out after a moment. Buffy and Willow untangled themselves from him. "What's going on here? As far as I know I didn't cast any love spells recently."
Buffy punched him on the arm. "We thought you were dead," Buffy said and motioned at the tv.
Xander winced and grabbed his arm. "What?" he asked confused. "You thought that I was dead because of that little incident?"
Buffy looked with wide eyes at him. "Little incident?" she nearly shouted. "You blew up City Hall.?"
Xander rolled his eyes at that. "And you are the one to speak miss-'I needed a rocket launcher for my birthday, so I could kill an ancient demon that wanted to bring forth the Apocalypse'."
Buffy glared at him. " That was something different," she said, emphasizing her words by poking him in the chest.
"Ah, guys," Oz called out. "Tv."
The scoobies immediately turned around and looked at the screen.
"Standing with me is now is Mayor Richard Wilkins," the reporter declared. "Mr. Wilkins, do you have any idea who might be responsible for this?"
"Well Heidi, as far as we know there has been no threats to the city. At the moment we think that the explosion is the cause of a gas leak," the Mayor explained.
"Thank you Mr. Wilkins. This was Heidi Moure for Sunnydale news," but before the reporter could continue Giles had already shut the tv off.
"It seems that your attack didn't turn out as planned," Giles exclaimed. "The Mayor is still alive."
Xander shrugged. "I didn't count on that. But I was able to take more than fifty vampires out with my little attack, so I think the results were quite positive."
"Fifty vampires," Buffy exclaimed shocked.
"You would never believe what you can achieve with a little bit of C4," Xander told her with smile and walked into Giles' office. A second later he came out of it, one of the boxes in his hands. "Which reminds me, we still have a lot of work to do," Xander said, but winced when got a clear view on Buffy's face for the first time. "Ouch, Buffy. What happened to your face?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
After the Mayor gave his interview, he opened the door of the waiting limousine and stepped into it.
"Now I'm really angry," the Mayor exclaimed and looked at the two sizes too small suit he was forced to wear. "Does he know how much an Armani suit costs now a days," he asked the vampire that was sitting in his underwear in front of him. "Well, things aren't really working as planned," he exclaimed angrily. "How is our status?" he asked the other vampire.
The vamp sighed before he answered. "Our attack at the library was a failure. Only three of our vampires returned. That ,and the casualties we had here at City Hall, means that we lost more than 75% of our vampire forces."
"Yes, that's quite a drawback," the Mayor said and took the statistics from the vampires. "But this game isn't over, yet. Is the box secured?"
The vamp nodded at that. "Yes Boss, Everything is prepared."
"Good," the Mayor said and looked at the last page, on which his appointments for the day were printed. "We still have a ritual to perform and a Graduation ceremony to attend," he said and wrote something under the two points. "And last but not least take revenge on Alexander, for all the trouble he caused me."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Angel finally woke up, groaned and tried to stand up. When he opened his eyes he looked at the barrel of two shotguns and an equally threatening pistol.
"Whoa, whoa. It's me." he exclaimed and lifted his hand in surrender.
"You remember?" Buffy asked warily, but didn't remove the crossbow she had pointed at his chest.
"Yeah, you had me knocked out long enough for me to regain the memories when Angelus was in charge," Angel explained.
"Not that I don't believe you," Xander started. "..but I don't believe you. Will?" he called for the witch.
Willow moved in front of Angel. "This will only take a few seconds," she explained. She started to chant and a glow appeared on Angels' chest. A few seconds later the glow disappeared.
"It's okay. He is Angel again," she stated.
"Now, if you have nothing better to do you can help us prepare the library for the final showdown," Xander said and he and the two Watchers removed their guns from Angel's face.
The vampire followed Xander to the boxes filled with C4. He took a few packages and held them out for the souled vampire.
"You can help Faith over there," he said and motioned to the dark haired slayer.
"Okay," Angel said. "Look Xander."
"Angel," Xander interrupted him. "I really am not fond of saying it, but this time it wasn't your fault, okay?"
"But I killed," Angel again tried.
"Yeah, but we have no time for your self pity now. You can brood when all this is over. But now we need you," Xander told him.
Angel thought about that for a second and finally he accepted the C4.
"So you really think this will work?" Angel asked.
Xander shrugged. "Well, from what Giles could find out from the books of Ascension, the Mayor will only be invincible until he changes, and then he is vulnerable."
"Not that," Angel clarified. "I meant if you know how to blow up the whole school?"
Xander shrugged "If I was able to blow up City Hall I think I will manage to blow the school up," he told the vampire and moved to another section of the library.
"What?" Angel asked.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
The scoobies prepared the library the whole night. But when the sun dawned Buffy and Xander had another thing to do.
"Do you think that this is really necessary," Joyce asked while Xander lifted the last of her suitcases into the trunk of her car.
"Believe me Joyce, you don't want to be here if something goes wrong," Xander explained and closed the trunk.
"He is right mom," Buffy joined in. "And we will be able to concentrate on fighting if we know that you are out of danger."
"Well, just be careful you two," Joyce said and pulled each of them into a hug. Then she stepped into her Jeep and drove down the road. Buffy and Xander waved after the departing vehicle until it disappeared behind the next corner.
After that both walked up to Xander's SUV.
"Xander, there is one thing that bugs me," Buffy exclaimed as they stepped into the car.
"And that is?" Xander asked in return and started the engine.
"Okay, we now have an army of students and we are ready to blow up the whole school, which by the way was a fantasy of mine since Snyder is in charge," Buffy summed the situation up. "But how the hell are we going to bring the Mayor into the school."
"A bait," Xander simply said as he drove into the direction of the school.
"A bait?" Buffy asked confused.
"Yep."
Buffy waited for something else to come, but Xander kept silent.
"And what's gonna be the bait?" Buffy finally asked annoyed.
"The question isn't what's gonna be the bait, but who," Xander stated.
"Okay, and who is gonna be the bait."
"Me," Xander said.
"You?" Buffy asked after a few seconds with disbelief.
"Yep."
"Could you clarify that a bit?" Buffy asked.
"Well, like you said: Someone has to lure the Mayor into the school and that's gonna be me," Xander explained.
"Xander, no way are you doing that," Buffy told him. "I'm going to do it. I'm faster than you."
"No Buffy, I'm gonna do it," Xander said firmly. "I bet after last night the Mayor will be quite pissed at me and wants revenge. And by the way you are not faster than me."
"Oh please," Buffy said mockingly. "I admit that your abilities have grown in the past year, but I'm still the slayer. I'm sure that I'm faster than you."
"How about this," Xander proposed. "Once we have prepared everything we can have a little race. You against me. The one who wins will be the bait in our little trap. You in?," Xander asked.
"Okay, I'm in," Buffy said. Xander reached out with his hand and Buffy shook it, sealing their deal this way.
"You have no chance," Buffy stated.
"We will see," Xander said with a smile while he pulled into the parking lot at Sunnydale High.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"Okay, everything ready?" Xander asked, when he and Buffy entered the library. All the scoobies were gathered around the table.
"We just gave out the last weapons to the students," Giles explained. "So, you were able to convince your mother to leave town."
"Yeah, she is heading out of town as we speak," Buffy told him, while she and Xander sat down at their respective chairs at the table.
"Okay, let's go over the plan," Xander said and motioned to the map of Sunnydale High they had placed on the table.
"So, we are going to have an eclipse. That means that the Mayor's vampires will be out there in full force. But after the casualties they had to endure in the last couple of days this is the least of our problems. Our main objective is to take out the Mayor. He will hold his speech here and the students will be sitting here," Xander said and marked the two places. "Giles already explained that the Mayor will need a lot of food so he can complete his Ascension. In other words: students."
He could see the 'eww'-looks on Buffy's, Willow's and Cordelia's faces.
"That means that the vampires will probably attack from this direction," Xander said and drew an arrow from the street to the location of the students. "That will trap all the students between the Mayor and the vamps. Okay, one group will attack the Mayor and try to hold him off long enough that the rest of the students can break through the vampires lines," Xander said and drew another arrow from the location of the students to the vampires. "Giles, Wesley, Angel and another group of students you will attack the vampires in the back. Once all the students are evacuated phase two can step into motion."
He exchanged a look with Buffy.
"We still haven't decided who is gonna do it, but basically one of us," he said and motioned at Buffy and himself, "will try to lure the Mayor into the library, leave through the window in the back and blow the school up, killing the mayor this way."
Xander looked at the faces of all the Scoobies. "Any questions?" he asked, but no one of them said anything. "Well, I suggest that you all try to get some rest. The last 24 hours were quite exhausting. And you will need your strength for the fight," he said and stood up, the rest of them following his example. A few seconds later most of the scoobies had left the library,
"So Buffy, you ready for our little race," he asked the blonde slayer.
"Anytime, anyplace Xandman," Buffy challenged him.
"Okay," Xander said. "We are meeting in about an hour at the street in front of the school. Don't be late," he said and left the library.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
The Mayor looked at his remaining vampires. The warehouse that was currently his base of operations was not exactly comfortable, but it had to be enough for the moment.
"So everything is clear?" he asked after he and his vampires went through the plan. The vampires nodded.
"Okay, then take your positions," the Mayor said. "And please wear something formal. After all we are attending a Graduation ceremony."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
After an hour Buffy waited on the sidewalk for Xander to arrive. Suddenly she heard the sound of a motorbike and a few seconds later a black Kawasaki Ninja parked beside her.
"Hi Buffy," Xander said and took the helmet off.
Buffy stared confused at the bike.
"Since when do you have a bike?" she asked.
Xander shrugged. "For a while. Don't get angry, I paid for it. Can we start now?"
"Yeah, we can start. You want to give the signal?"
"Okay," Xander said without stepping down from his bike. Instead he put the helmet back on.
"Oh, you gotta be kidding me," Buffy finally exclaimed, when she realised that he had no intention of getting off the bike
Xander opened the visor of his helmet and looked at the slayer. "What?" he asked.
"Xander that's unfair," Buffy exclaimed. "Of course you are faster with the bike. I thought we both would run on foot."
"What? Did you think I wanted to outrun a giant snake on foot," Xander said and looked strangely at her. "I may be crazy, but I'm not insane."
Buffy stomped angrily at the ground. "Fine. Have it your way. Get eaten by the big, nasty snake. I don't care any longer," Buffy said and walked into the direction of the school's entrance.
Xander slowly followed her with his bike, a big smile plastered on his face.