It was late afternoon when the Mayor's limousine arrived at Sunnydale High.
The politician stepped out of the car and was immediately greeted by
principal Snyder.
"Mr Wilkins, it's an honour for us to have you as our guest speaker," Snyder welcomed the Mayor.
"The pleasure is mine Mr Snyder. Is everything prepared?" the Mayor asked as the two men walked up to the quad.
"Yes, everything here is ready. You will hold your speech there," Snyder said and motioned towards the podium.
"Very good. And I want you to make sure that all students attend the ceremony. But I have another favour to ask for," the Mayor told him and handed him a sheet of paper. "You know the names on this list?"
"Of course," the principal said. "They are the greatest trouble makers at the school, especially the Summers girl and the Harris boy."
"It's very important that you guarantee that they attend the Graduation ceremony," the Mayor told him.
Snyder nodded "But how am I supposed to do that?"
The Mayor turned around and walked back to his limousine and the principal had trouble keeping up with him.
"I don't know," The Mayor admitted. "And I don't care. If you are not able to force a couple of teenagers to attend a ceremony, well that could mean you are not qualified for this job."
"No Mr. Wilkins, I assure you that I won't fail," Snyder told him as the Mayor stepped back into his limousine.
"I hope so. You know what happened to you predecessor. After all, it's quite hard to find a new principal who is willing to take over a school on top of a hellmouth," the Mayor told him before he closed the door and the limousine drove down the road.
Snyder looked with fear after the limousine, but finally turned around to complete the preparations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"I can't believe that they are forcing us to wear red," Cordelia exclaimed, as she and the rest of the Scoobies walked up to the podium. "And it's quite uncomfortable with this crossbow under it."
"Look at the positive side C," Faith told her. "If you get killed there will be no visible stains on your robe."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Well that's good to know."
"Guys stop it, okay?" Buffy told them. "No one is going to die, if we can prevent it."
They continued their walk when they were suddenly stopped by principal Snyder.
"You wait a second," he told them. "Okay, Summers here, Chase here, Rosenberg here, Ozborne here, Williams here," the principal said and made a mark on each name of his list. "Where is Harris?" he finally asked.
"Oh, he is sick," Willow exclaimed nervously "Very sick."
Snyder looked at all of them and finally made another mark on Xander's name.
"Well, if he is not here, that means he will not get a diploma.," Snyder said and walked away.
"What an asshole," Faith muttered. "What a shame we are not allowed to kill humans."
"Come on guys," Buffy said and they continued their way. The Scoobies sat down on their respective chairs and watched as the Mayor walked up to the podium and started his speech.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
From his position in the hallway Xander also watched the Mayor's speech. He was bored to hell, standing here in the dark and listening to the Mayor talking about the hundred years history of Sunnydale.
"Man, he is really evil," he muttered. For a second he was tempted to walk up to the podium and tape his mouth again.
But finally he was able to control his urge. He took the Desert Eagle from his holster and checked the magazine for the third time. He hoped that the .50 cal bullets were enough to get the Mayor's attention.
When suddenly day became night he knew that the moment he worked the last few months had finally come.
Suddenly the Mayor was shaken by a wave of pain. He nearly collapsed on the ground, but after a second he had himself back under control and began speaking again.
"And so as we look back on the events that brought us to this day," came his voice over the speakers, before his body was hit by the next series of convulsions and agonising pain came over him. This time was worse, the Mayor was barely able to stand. He grabbed hold of podium and was able to stabilize himself.
Instead of rushing to his help, Snyder stood up and walked back a few steps. Around him the other teachers were doing the same.
The Mayor lifted his head and surveyed the crowd of students in front of him. He swallowed and opened his mouth again.
"We must all," he started before his body was hit by the third wave of pain. But he didn't hold back this time and screamed at the top of his lungs. The parents and teachers now looked with fear and worry at the podium.
"It has begun. My destiny," The Mayor shouted with delight. "It's a little sooner than I expected I had this whole section on civic pride," he said and looked through the cards he still had in his hand. "But I guess we'll just skip to the big finish!"
The Mayor started to grimace as his body began to stretch and grow at an incredible rate. His suit split around him, his skin turned green and his face turned into a demonic grimace. Xander looked as the change continued. The Mayor still grew and finally the giant snake that now stood in his place was taller than the buildings surrounding him.
The snake opened and closed his mouth, surrounded by long mandibles, and liked he was testing its new ablities. Finally the demon looked satisfied and searched the ground under him for targets.
"It didn't look that big in the book," Xander muttered, looking down at the Desert Eagle and wishing that he brought something bigger with him. But finally he shrugged, stepped on his bike and drove along the hall until he was under the doorway.
He noticed the parents and faculty members running for their lives, whereas the students stood their ground and dropped their robes, to reveal the weapons he and the other Scoobies had dispensed among the students.
"Showtime," he said as he watched the beginning of the battle.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
The first victim of the incarnation of the demon Olvikan was the principal of Sunnydale. The snake's mouth descended on Snyder and swallowed the little man in one gulp.
Those seconds gave the Scoobies and the students the time they needed to arrange their defence. The first rows held their spears in the air to hold the Mayor off where as the students behind them fired their crossbows and arrows at the snake.
The bolts and arrows that hit their mark were not able to penetrate the thick skin, but they were enough to shy the Mayor away momentarily.
"Okay, let's get out of here," Buffy shouted over the battle sound and the students moved slowly back.
"B, the vamps are here," Faith shouted from the back of the crowd, and motioned to the street where about two dozen vampires were advancing on the students.
"Take them down," Buffy shouted back, before she concentrated back on the fight.
"Take your crossbows," Faith ordered her group of students. The pupils took their distance weapons and aimed them at the vampires.
"Fire," Faith shouted and the stray of bolts and arrows went into the first wave of vampires. Most shots missed their target, but the students were able to kill three vampires, wounding more in the process.
The vampires looked confused. They didn't expect much resistance from the students.
"Reload," Faith called and the students did as ordered. "Fire."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
From their position Angel, Giles, Wesley and the students that were assigned to their group watched as the vampires were closing the trap around the Graduation ceremony.
"Now?" Angel asked.
"Now!" Giles confirmed the order and lead the small groups of warriors down the road and into the rapidly reducing group of vampires.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"Cease fire," Faith shouted as she saw Giles and his group advance at the vampires. After all they didn't want to hit their own people in a crossfire. "Everyone: hand to hand," she shouted and took her sword from her belt. Around her the students were doing the same and took out their stakes, battle axes and swords.
"Attack," she ordered and the students charged into the vampires, breaking through their lines with their superior number of fighters. Before she followed their example she looked over her shoulder and saw the Mayor swallowing two students from the first row.
"Shit," she cursed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Buffy looked with horror as the two students were killed by the Mayor. They wouldn't be able to hold off the Mayor any longer. He was getting more comfortable with his new body and more aggressive with every second.
She looked around and spotted Xander at the doorway of one of the entrances to the school. He nodded in her direction and Buffy nodded back.
"Okay, let's get out of here," Buffy shouted and the students dropped their spears and turned around and ran for their life. The Mayor took his chance, reached out and swallowed another one of the students.
His attempts to follow the students however were interrupted when a spray bullets hit him in the side.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Angel brought his sword down and decapitated the vampire in front of him. Not waiting for the body to turn into dust he plunged the blade into the abdomen of another vampire.
Wesley and two students were working together, the students holding the vampire in place while Wesley staked the undead.
Giles made sure that he didn't hit someone, before he shot a vampire in the chest with his crossbow.
He took a second to look around, noticing the increasing number of students running down the stairs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"Hey Richard," Xander shouted at the giant snake. "I think we have some unresolved issues between us. What do you say? You ready for a little mano a snake?" Xander challenged the former Mayor of Sunnydale.
Not waiting for an answer, Xander turned the bike around and drove down the hallway, hoping for the Mayor to follow him.
The snake looked after the departing vehicle, then after the fleeing students. Making a decision he followed Xander, crashing through everything that was in his way.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Faith staked the vampire in front of her. She had dropped her sword a while ago. With this little room it was rather a threat for herself and the students around her.
"How is it going," came the voice from besides her.
"Hey B," Faith said and punched another vampire in the face. "You finished your job?"
"Yeah," Buffy told her and staked a vampire herself. "Now it's Xander's turn."
"Hope it works," Faith exclaimed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Xander drove down the hallways of Sunnydale High, only slowing down when he had to round a corner. In the rear mirror he could see the Mayor, about ten meters behind him.
Finally he reached the library and crashed through the doors. He twisted the throttle all the way, accelerating the bike as much as possible. He drove over the ramp they had installed earlier and through the area they had cleared of stacks. He lifted the front wheel and jumped through the windows.
Behind him, the Mayor crashed through a wall, but stopped in his tracks when he noticed the explosives planted all over the library.
Suddenly realizing the plan of his enemies he leaped forward, following the way Xander had taken earlier.
Outside the building, Xander stepped on the brakes once he had solid ground under him. Not waiting a single second he took the remote control out of his pocket and pressed the button.
The C4 packages they had planted in the whole library immediately exploded, destroying everything in the area.
But it didn't stop there. A lot of the force of the explosion destroyed also major parts of the carrying structure of Sunnydale High. Parts of the building collapsed immediately, the other parts would follow in the next hours.
Xander looked satisfied at his work. The exhaustion of the last day and weeks caught up with him and at the moment he wanted nothing more than a shower and a warm bed.
He wanted to turn around, when he heard a rumble from the remains of the library. He eyes widened when he saw the head of the Mayor come through the wall of fire.
He was just able to jump from his bike, when the Mayor tried to swallow him. He was however able to smash the bike in the process.
Xander ran a few feet away and noticed for the first time the state the giant snake was in. It's body was ripped into two pieces, only the front part was attacking him. The skin was covered with wounds and burnmarks. And it was leaving a long trail of green blood behind him.
"Oh no," Xander whispered.
"You have thwarted all my plans Alexander," the snake answered in the twisted voice of Richard Wilkins. "But I will have the satisfaction that I'm not the only one who dies today," it said and leaped after Xander.
Xander rolled out of the snake's way. Both combatants circled each other, waiting for a mistake from the other. Xander quickly took his jacket off and revealed the vest he had prepared for a situation like this. The vest was covered with C4. The idea was, that if everything went wrong someone had to sacrifice himself in order to take the Mayor out. The plan was simple: Get the Mayor's attention, get eaten and blow him up from the inside.
This situation here was however different. In this state, the Mayor was no longer a threat to the world, but still a threat for Xander. So the Kamikaze plan was not suitable.
Both the demon and the human still circled each other. Xander now took the vest off and activated the thirty second timer of the explosives.
Xander stopped moving.
"You want to eat me?" he challenged the snake. "Come on, let's get over with it," Xander shouted and waited for the attack.
The Mayor took his chance and again leaped after Xander. Before he could reach him Xander threw the vest into the Mayor's throat and rolled out of the way.
The Mayor swallowed the vest and gulped. He looked confused at Xander, who simply smiled at the demon.
"Game over asshole," he told the Mayor.
The snake roared in anger and charged Xander, knocking him a few meters away. On his way Xander's shoulder hit a tree that was in his path, dislocating his shoulder on impact.
He landed on the ground and groaned in pain. But when he saw the Mayor coming his way he couldn't do anything different than smile.
Before the snake could reach him, the vest in his stomach exploded, ripping it's body in pieces. The explosion covered the nearby area in blood and gore. Xander also was covered from head to toe in green blood.
Xander waited for a few seconds before he stood up and looked at the remains of the demon Olvikan.
"Man, that's gross," he said as he tried to wipe the demon blood from his clothes.
Finally realising, that he couldn't do anything about it at the moment he turned around and walked in the direction of the street.
As he walked to the large group of students that was gathered there, the first ambulance and fire brigade trucks arrived.
"Mr Wilkins, it's an honour for us to have you as our guest speaker," Snyder welcomed the Mayor.
"The pleasure is mine Mr Snyder. Is everything prepared?" the Mayor asked as the two men walked up to the quad.
"Yes, everything here is ready. You will hold your speech there," Snyder said and motioned towards the podium.
"Very good. And I want you to make sure that all students attend the ceremony. But I have another favour to ask for," the Mayor told him and handed him a sheet of paper. "You know the names on this list?"
"Of course," the principal said. "They are the greatest trouble makers at the school, especially the Summers girl and the Harris boy."
"It's very important that you guarantee that they attend the Graduation ceremony," the Mayor told him.
Snyder nodded "But how am I supposed to do that?"
The Mayor turned around and walked back to his limousine and the principal had trouble keeping up with him.
"I don't know," The Mayor admitted. "And I don't care. If you are not able to force a couple of teenagers to attend a ceremony, well that could mean you are not qualified for this job."
"No Mr. Wilkins, I assure you that I won't fail," Snyder told him as the Mayor stepped back into his limousine.
"I hope so. You know what happened to you predecessor. After all, it's quite hard to find a new principal who is willing to take over a school on top of a hellmouth," the Mayor told him before he closed the door and the limousine drove down the road.
Snyder looked with fear after the limousine, but finally turned around to complete the preparations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"I can't believe that they are forcing us to wear red," Cordelia exclaimed, as she and the rest of the Scoobies walked up to the podium. "And it's quite uncomfortable with this crossbow under it."
"Look at the positive side C," Faith told her. "If you get killed there will be no visible stains on your robe."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Well that's good to know."
"Guys stop it, okay?" Buffy told them. "No one is going to die, if we can prevent it."
They continued their walk when they were suddenly stopped by principal Snyder.
"You wait a second," he told them. "Okay, Summers here, Chase here, Rosenberg here, Ozborne here, Williams here," the principal said and made a mark on each name of his list. "Where is Harris?" he finally asked.
"Oh, he is sick," Willow exclaimed nervously "Very sick."
Snyder looked at all of them and finally made another mark on Xander's name.
"Well, if he is not here, that means he will not get a diploma.," Snyder said and walked away.
"What an asshole," Faith muttered. "What a shame we are not allowed to kill humans."
"Come on guys," Buffy said and they continued their way. The Scoobies sat down on their respective chairs and watched as the Mayor walked up to the podium and started his speech.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
From his position in the hallway Xander also watched the Mayor's speech. He was bored to hell, standing here in the dark and listening to the Mayor talking about the hundred years history of Sunnydale.
"Man, he is really evil," he muttered. For a second he was tempted to walk up to the podium and tape his mouth again.
But finally he was able to control his urge. He took the Desert Eagle from his holster and checked the magazine for the third time. He hoped that the .50 cal bullets were enough to get the Mayor's attention.
When suddenly day became night he knew that the moment he worked the last few months had finally come.
Suddenly the Mayor was shaken by a wave of pain. He nearly collapsed on the ground, but after a second he had himself back under control and began speaking again.
"And so as we look back on the events that brought us to this day," came his voice over the speakers, before his body was hit by the next series of convulsions and agonising pain came over him. This time was worse, the Mayor was barely able to stand. He grabbed hold of podium and was able to stabilize himself.
Instead of rushing to his help, Snyder stood up and walked back a few steps. Around him the other teachers were doing the same.
The Mayor lifted his head and surveyed the crowd of students in front of him. He swallowed and opened his mouth again.
"We must all," he started before his body was hit by the third wave of pain. But he didn't hold back this time and screamed at the top of his lungs. The parents and teachers now looked with fear and worry at the podium.
"It has begun. My destiny," The Mayor shouted with delight. "It's a little sooner than I expected I had this whole section on civic pride," he said and looked through the cards he still had in his hand. "But I guess we'll just skip to the big finish!"
The Mayor started to grimace as his body began to stretch and grow at an incredible rate. His suit split around him, his skin turned green and his face turned into a demonic grimace. Xander looked as the change continued. The Mayor still grew and finally the giant snake that now stood in his place was taller than the buildings surrounding him.
The snake opened and closed his mouth, surrounded by long mandibles, and liked he was testing its new ablities. Finally the demon looked satisfied and searched the ground under him for targets.
"It didn't look that big in the book," Xander muttered, looking down at the Desert Eagle and wishing that he brought something bigger with him. But finally he shrugged, stepped on his bike and drove along the hall until he was under the doorway.
He noticed the parents and faculty members running for their lives, whereas the students stood their ground and dropped their robes, to reveal the weapons he and the other Scoobies had dispensed among the students.
"Showtime," he said as he watched the beginning of the battle.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
The first victim of the incarnation of the demon Olvikan was the principal of Sunnydale. The snake's mouth descended on Snyder and swallowed the little man in one gulp.
Those seconds gave the Scoobies and the students the time they needed to arrange their defence. The first rows held their spears in the air to hold the Mayor off where as the students behind them fired their crossbows and arrows at the snake.
The bolts and arrows that hit their mark were not able to penetrate the thick skin, but they were enough to shy the Mayor away momentarily.
"Okay, let's get out of here," Buffy shouted over the battle sound and the students moved slowly back.
"B, the vamps are here," Faith shouted from the back of the crowd, and motioned to the street where about two dozen vampires were advancing on the students.
"Take them down," Buffy shouted back, before she concentrated back on the fight.
"Take your crossbows," Faith ordered her group of students. The pupils took their distance weapons and aimed them at the vampires.
"Fire," Faith shouted and the stray of bolts and arrows went into the first wave of vampires. Most shots missed their target, but the students were able to kill three vampires, wounding more in the process.
The vampires looked confused. They didn't expect much resistance from the students.
"Reload," Faith called and the students did as ordered. "Fire."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
From their position Angel, Giles, Wesley and the students that were assigned to their group watched as the vampires were closing the trap around the Graduation ceremony.
"Now?" Angel asked.
"Now!" Giles confirmed the order and lead the small groups of warriors down the road and into the rapidly reducing group of vampires.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"Cease fire," Faith shouted as she saw Giles and his group advance at the vampires. After all they didn't want to hit their own people in a crossfire. "Everyone: hand to hand," she shouted and took her sword from her belt. Around her the students were doing the same and took out their stakes, battle axes and swords.
"Attack," she ordered and the students charged into the vampires, breaking through their lines with their superior number of fighters. Before she followed their example she looked over her shoulder and saw the Mayor swallowing two students from the first row.
"Shit," she cursed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Buffy looked with horror as the two students were killed by the Mayor. They wouldn't be able to hold off the Mayor any longer. He was getting more comfortable with his new body and more aggressive with every second.
She looked around and spotted Xander at the doorway of one of the entrances to the school. He nodded in her direction and Buffy nodded back.
"Okay, let's get out of here," Buffy shouted and the students dropped their spears and turned around and ran for their life. The Mayor took his chance, reached out and swallowed another one of the students.
His attempts to follow the students however were interrupted when a spray bullets hit him in the side.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Angel brought his sword down and decapitated the vampire in front of him. Not waiting for the body to turn into dust he plunged the blade into the abdomen of another vampire.
Wesley and two students were working together, the students holding the vampire in place while Wesley staked the undead.
Giles made sure that he didn't hit someone, before he shot a vampire in the chest with his crossbow.
He took a second to look around, noticing the increasing number of students running down the stairs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
"Hey Richard," Xander shouted at the giant snake. "I think we have some unresolved issues between us. What do you say? You ready for a little mano a snake?" Xander challenged the former Mayor of Sunnydale.
Not waiting for an answer, Xander turned the bike around and drove down the hallway, hoping for the Mayor to follow him.
The snake looked after the departing vehicle, then after the fleeing students. Making a decision he followed Xander, crashing through everything that was in his way.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Faith staked the vampire in front of her. She had dropped her sword a while ago. With this little room it was rather a threat for herself and the students around her.
"How is it going," came the voice from besides her.
"Hey B," Faith said and punched another vampire in the face. "You finished your job?"
"Yeah," Buffy told her and staked a vampire herself. "Now it's Xander's turn."
"Hope it works," Faith exclaimed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Xander drove down the hallways of Sunnydale High, only slowing down when he had to round a corner. In the rear mirror he could see the Mayor, about ten meters behind him.
Finally he reached the library and crashed through the doors. He twisted the throttle all the way, accelerating the bike as much as possible. He drove over the ramp they had installed earlier and through the area they had cleared of stacks. He lifted the front wheel and jumped through the windows.
Behind him, the Mayor crashed through a wall, but stopped in his tracks when he noticed the explosives planted all over the library.
Suddenly realizing the plan of his enemies he leaped forward, following the way Xander had taken earlier.
Outside the building, Xander stepped on the brakes once he had solid ground under him. Not waiting a single second he took the remote control out of his pocket and pressed the button.
The C4 packages they had planted in the whole library immediately exploded, destroying everything in the area.
But it didn't stop there. A lot of the force of the explosion destroyed also major parts of the carrying structure of Sunnydale High. Parts of the building collapsed immediately, the other parts would follow in the next hours.
Xander looked satisfied at his work. The exhaustion of the last day and weeks caught up with him and at the moment he wanted nothing more than a shower and a warm bed.
He wanted to turn around, when he heard a rumble from the remains of the library. He eyes widened when he saw the head of the Mayor come through the wall of fire.
He was just able to jump from his bike, when the Mayor tried to swallow him. He was however able to smash the bike in the process.
Xander ran a few feet away and noticed for the first time the state the giant snake was in. It's body was ripped into two pieces, only the front part was attacking him. The skin was covered with wounds and burnmarks. And it was leaving a long trail of green blood behind him.
"Oh no," Xander whispered.
"You have thwarted all my plans Alexander," the snake answered in the twisted voice of Richard Wilkins. "But I will have the satisfaction that I'm not the only one who dies today," it said and leaped after Xander.
Xander rolled out of the snake's way. Both combatants circled each other, waiting for a mistake from the other. Xander quickly took his jacket off and revealed the vest he had prepared for a situation like this. The vest was covered with C4. The idea was, that if everything went wrong someone had to sacrifice himself in order to take the Mayor out. The plan was simple: Get the Mayor's attention, get eaten and blow him up from the inside.
This situation here was however different. In this state, the Mayor was no longer a threat to the world, but still a threat for Xander. So the Kamikaze plan was not suitable.
Both the demon and the human still circled each other. Xander now took the vest off and activated the thirty second timer of the explosives.
Xander stopped moving.
"You want to eat me?" he challenged the snake. "Come on, let's get over with it," Xander shouted and waited for the attack.
The Mayor took his chance and again leaped after Xander. Before he could reach him Xander threw the vest into the Mayor's throat and rolled out of the way.
The Mayor swallowed the vest and gulped. He looked confused at Xander, who simply smiled at the demon.
"Game over asshole," he told the Mayor.
The snake roared in anger and charged Xander, knocking him a few meters away. On his way Xander's shoulder hit a tree that was in his path, dislocating his shoulder on impact.
He landed on the ground and groaned in pain. But when he saw the Mayor coming his way he couldn't do anything different than smile.
Before the snake could reach him, the vest in his stomach exploded, ripping it's body in pieces. The explosion covered the nearby area in blood and gore. Xander also was covered from head to toe in green blood.
Xander waited for a few seconds before he stood up and looked at the remains of the demon Olvikan.
"Man, that's gross," he said as he tried to wipe the demon blood from his clothes.
Finally realising, that he couldn't do anything about it at the moment he turned around and walked in the direction of the street.
As he walked to the large group of students that was gathered there, the first ambulance and fire brigade trucks arrived.