"Okay, so one more time," Xander said. "Giles and Willow will bar the door
on the right side, and hole up there with crosses, holy water and crossbows
until the fight's over. Before we start, Oz and I will toss our very own
home made Molotov Cocktails into the factory via the windows, thank you
very much Willow for finding the recipe online, much help there. After
that, Oz goes for his van, and Buffy, Faith and I rush with weapons and
take out everything we can. Your basic hack and slash, only without the
dice," he said with a smirk.
Willow shook her head. "And there's no DM, Xander. Plus, actual death is a factor."
Oz smiled at them, and the rest of the group looked confused.
"Oh, we're talking Dungeons and Dragons here. It's a. . . you know, never mind," Xander said.
"Well. As plans go, it's fairly simple," Giles said.
"Yup. Straight forward assault. How much time do you guys need to make up those bombs?" Xander asked.
"A couple of hours should do it, I think," Willow said.
"Great. In the meantime, I'll go rough up Willy again, to see what he knows about these commando boys."
"I'm comin' with ya, X," Faith said.
Xander nodded at her. "All right. We'll be back in a while. "
* * * * *
"Willy!" Xander yelled as he and Faith walked into the bar. "How are you doing, my friend?"
"Oh, uh, hey kid. Slayer," Willy said, wiping down the bar. "You're a little earlier than my normal patronage, today. What can I do for you?"
"Well, Willy, we find ourselves in need of some more information," Xander said, sitting down at the bar.
"And we don't want any trouble about it," Faith said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"Hey, uh, since when did you guys start working together?" Willy asked. "Thought you were in a coma, Slayer."
"I was," she said. "Got better."
"I see that. I'm real glad, too. Good to see the Slayers healthy."
"Well, thanks, Willy. That's real sweet of you."
"I'm a sweet guy," he said.
"Can you two flirt some other time?" Xander asked. "We're kind of in a rush."
"Uh, sure, kid. What do you need?"
"Commandos. Running around town with weird guns. What do you know?"
"Commandos, huh? Yeah, I heard about them. They started showing up about the last time you and blondie were in here."
"Don't call her that."
"Sure thing, kid. Anyway, word is they've been demon-hunting. Demons just disappearing left and right, even the peaceful ones. It ain't you guys, cuz you folks know your stuff, you don't pick on the demons who just want to live, you know?"
"Right. So what are they, then?"
"I don't know, kid. What I do know is that they tend to do more of a capture than a kill. Or they're really effective at gettin' rid of the bodies. They hunt in squads, but like I said, I don't know what their goal is, or who they work for."
"Okay. Hey, how come you're so much freer with the info today than last time? I mean, I didn't even get to slam your head into the bar."
"They're robbin' me of my clients, man. I'm just lookin' out for Willy."
"Right. Well, if you hear anything, you let us know, then."
"Right, right. Willy's your guy."
"Good," Xander said as he and Faith turned to walk out. "Oh and Willy? Last time. . . you were righter than you thought."
"About what?"
Xander grinned. "Me and blondie."
* * * * *
"So, he basically said they capture demons, hunt in groups, and aren't us," Buffy said, as the group drove towards the factory in question. "We already knew that."
"Yeah. But he said he'd contact us if anything came through," Xander said. "They're hurting his business, so I'd be willing to bet that's not a lie."
"Well, they don't seem to be an immediate threat, anyway," Giles said. "For now, we should concentrate on the task at hand."
The van pulled to a stop and the group piled out, with Xander and Buffy hauling some wooden barricades for the door Giles and Willow would be stationed at.
Faith and Oz handled the weapons, with multiple stakes for the three who would be going into melee, as well as any larger weapons they might want. Xander took Lancelot's magical sword, Buffy took the sword Xander usually used, and Faith hefted a battle-axe.
Xander sheathed the sword, and he and Oz split up the Molotov Cocktails between them. With everybody in position, Buffy gave the signal for Oz and Xander to start throwing. Fiery bottles flew through the air and into the factory, shattering and setting portions of the building ablaze. When the bottles ran out, Xander, Buffy and Faith charged into the factory, as Oz started up his van and Giles and Willow steadied themselves for any vampires who tried to come their way.
Inside the building, Xander, Buffy and Faith were all dusting vampires left and right, making their way towards the center of the room. The vamps seemed intent on keeping them away, but a number of them had been incapacitated, or outright killed, by the aerial assault of Molotov cocktails.
As Xander met up with Faith on the left side of the building, they saw Buffy fighting her way through a group of vampires. Glass shattered as a number of men in black fatigues crashed through the windows in the factory and started firing pulse rifles at vampires left and right. Stunned, many of the vamps fell to the floor. Buffy, Faith and Xander made quick work of these as they rushed towards the center of the building, where a large, purple demon stood, surrounded by a group of ten vampires and 4 Fyarl demons.
Faith, Xander and Buffy set their weapons at the ready, waiting for the action that all knew was coming. On the opposite side of the circle, eight commandos stood with their rifles bearing down on the group. The vampires made the first move, most of them rushing the commandos. Only two vampires and the Fyarl demons attacked the Scoobies.
The faster, yet weaker vampires reached them first, but were quickly dusted. The Fyarl demons, noted for their viciousness and strength, but not intelligence, rushed head first at the Scoobies. Xander's magical sword made quick work of two of the demons, as Buffy and Faith took one each.
Faith quickly found her axe embedded in the shoulder of one of the Fyarl's, stuck. With a quick roundhouse and a couple punches, Faith managed to put the demon down and break its neck. Buffy was having less luck. Her sword wouldn't pierce the tough hide of the demon and she quickly abandoned it for hand-to-hand combat. A quick kick to the nether regions of the much- larger Fyarl left it incapacitated. Buffy quickly snapped its neck and moved on.
The three warriors of light stood opposite the demon, which sat cross legged in the center of a pentagram. On the other side of the demon, the commandos were still fighting off vamps. They had taken out a few of them, but had losses themselves and didn't look good. Seeing their sorry state, the Scoobies wordlessly agreed to jump in and save them. Circling the still- resting demon, Buffy, Faith and Xander attacked the vampires from behind, quickly dusting them all and leaving the commando's to tend their wounded.
Xander, Faith and Buffy turned back to the Fargath demon.
"Guess this is him," Xander said, pointing his sword at the back of the demon.
"Looks like," Faith said. "Also doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Guess he's in a trance or something. Still, though, we should approach carefully."
"Triangle?" Buffy asked. "Or full frontal?"
Xander grinned. "Well, with you two girls, I'd definitely want a full- frontal."
Faith and Buffy both smacked him, but his head glowed white and they didn't touch him.
"No, fair, Xan," Buffy said. "We should get to smack you for that."
Somebody behind them coughed. They turned to see a tall man in a ski-mask holding a pulse rifle.
"Yeah?" Xander asked in an annoyed tone.
"Who are you people? What are you doing here with the HSTs?" the commando asked.
"What the fuck's an HST?" Faith retorted.
"Hostile Sub-Terrestrial," the man replied. "And you are. . ."
"The local cavalry," Xander said. "And you guys are those commandos we've been seeing around and hearing about. Demon hunters, huh? And not just hunting, capturing, too."
"Who told you that?" the man asked.
"One of our contacts," Xander said, glancing at Buffy, who was frowning. "Said you guys are even taking the peaceful ones. What, do you lock 'em up and do experiments on them?"
"Our actions are classified," the man said.
"Classified?" Faith asked. "So you're government, then. Well that's fun."
Xander looked at Buffy again. "What is it, Buff?" he asked.
The commando looked at Buffy for the first time and took a step back. "Ah. . . um, we have to leave, we've been compromised."
"No," Buffy said. "Take off your mask."
"I'm not allowed to do that. I really have to-"
"Riley, take off your mask," Buffy said.
Xander and Faith both looked surprised.
"Riley?" Faith asked.
Buffy nodded. "Can't you tell? His voice, how he holds himself. It's Riley. Faith, could you get Giles and Will?"
"No, I don't know who you're talking about. We have to leave." The man turned and started motioning to the other commandos as Faith jogged outside. Xander glanced at Buffy, who nodded at the man. Xander strode up and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back towards Buffy. A brief struggle ended up with the man's mask off and him on the floor, with the remaining commandos pointing their rifles at Buffy and Xander.
"See?" Buffy said, pointing. "Riley. You're a horrible liar, you know. He's Riley Finn. Psych TA. You met him at the picnic. And, apparently, he's the leader of a group of government commandos in Sunnydale to research the activities of demons and the like. That pretty close to it, Riley?"
The young man sighed and waved off his troops.
"Look, I can't talk about it," he said. "It's all. . . classified. But you folks seem pretty. . . adept at what's going on here, just don't let-"
"RILEY?" came a disbelieving yell from the door of the factory.
Riley's head dropped. "Walsh is going to have my hide over this," he said.
"Professor Walsh?" Buffy asked. "She's in on this too? What, is the whole psych department just a front?"
"I-No! Not Professor um. . . I. . . CRAP!"
"Face it, Ry," one of the commandos said, coming up to him. "You're busted."
Riley turned his head to the man. "Lead a sweep. The whole area. Make sure the perimeter is free of HST's."
"Oh, but ignore the guy in the striped van," Xander said. "He's with us."
Giles, Faith and Willow walked up to the group, with Giles heading off to inspect the demon.
"Buffy, why is Riley here?" Willow asked.
"He's one of the commandos. Apparently in some sort of leadership position. He reports to Professor Walsh, or something."
"Oh," Willow said. Then she went over to look at the demon with Giles.
"Oh?" Riley asked. "That's it, just 'oh'? You people don't seem shocked."
Buffy shrugged. "There's not a lot that surprises us these days," she said.
"You haven't been surprised by a whole lot. . . discounting Angel. . . since you died," Xander said.
Buffy nodded. "That's true. I had you to bring me back, though, so it all worked out."
Riley brought his rifle to bear, quickly shifting back and forth from Buffy to Xander.
"Not like that, with CPR," Xander said. "Christ, give a guy some credit."
Riley kept his weapon trained until Xander pulled out a cross and held it in his hand without getting burnt. "See? Human."
"So, what are you guys doing here?" Buffy asked.
"Look, I'm the. . . guy with the gun here, I'll ask the questions," Riley said. "Who are you?"
"I'm Buffy. College student. But you knew that."
"Xander. Her boyfriend. I work construction."
"I'm Faith. I don't do anything but fight."
"And sleep."
"Shut up, X."
"And eat."
"I said shut up."
"And spend my money."
"Do you want me to break you?"
"Please?" Xander grinned as Faith glared at him.
"Guys!" Buffy scolded.
Faith and Xander looked falsely apologetic. "Sorry Buffy," they said simultaneously.
Buffy rolled her eyes at them.
"So, what?" Riley asked. "You just all have superpowers or something?"
They shrugged. "Basically," Buffy said. "So we fight the demons."
"Which we really should be getting to, by the way," Xander said, pointing behind him.
"Uh uh, no way," Riley said. "We're under orders to bring this guy in for testing."
"Not a chance, buddy," Xander said. "This guy wants to end the world, they don't get research grants."
"Actually," Giles said, approaching the group, "this particular individual does not want to do anything. It is not the demon we're looking for. Nor in fact a demon at all."
"Not a demon?" Xander asked. "So what, it's papier-mâché?"
"Well, I say it is not a demon, but that is not entirely accurate. It is not a demon anymore. It's dead. And not the Fargath we seek, either. So as of now, the apocalypse is still on."
Riley stood there, stunned. "Did you just say apocalypse?"
* * * * *
"The Slayer," Professor Walsh said, as the Scoobies sat at desks in front of her. "I was led to believe that you're a myth."
"Well you were myth-taken," Buffy said.
The Scoobies looked at her, disbelieving. She shrank into her seat a little.
"Yeah, so," Faith said. "Slayers, we're real. So are commandos, apparently."
"Did you say Slayers plural? All that we've heard say that there's only one."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Xander said.
"Excuse me?" Walsh asked.
"That's my fault," Xander said. "See, this one time, a few years ago, Buffy died. For a few minutes. I CPR'd her back to life, but not before another Slayer was called."
"And that's Faith," Walsh assumed.
"No," Buffy said. "That was Kendra. She was more. . . institutionalized, in the 'following rules' way, not the insane way, than either Faith or me. She died about a year after I did. For real died, though. Then Faith was called"
"I see," Walsh said. "Well that takes care of two of you. The rest?"
"I'm Buffy's soulmate, and the protector of mankind," Xander said.
Willow snorted. "Taking your name a little too seriously there, Xand."
"Hey, it's what I do. The only right thing my dad ever did was name me Alexander. Anyway, I'm what's called a White Knight. You probably won't have heard of me."
"No, I can't say we have."
"The rest are friends who help because they want to," Buffy said.
"Yes, we have no special destiny laid out by prophecy," Giles said. "But we manage."
"And I'm a witch!" Willow added "Or, well, I'm training to be. I'm improving."
"That fire thing is real nifty, Will," Xander said, encouragingly. Willow grinned.
"I am a former Watcher," Giles said. "I am basically on the research aspect of our battle."
"Hey, Ripper can hold his own," Buffy said.
"Yes," Giles said. "And be thankful that he so rarely sees the light of day."
Buffy shrugged.
Walsh turned to the silent one. "So you must be the 'normal' one?"
The others snickered as Oz shrugged.
"Werewolf," he said.
"Really?" Walsh asked. "Fascinating. The full moon is in a few days, if I recall. Would you mind if we -"
"Yes, we would," Xander said. "No offense, but all we know about you is that you work for the government and capture demons. Even the peaceful ones. That doesn't say good things about this little institution of yours."
"Hey, what are you guys called, anyway?" Faith asked.
Walsh looked at Riley. He was gazing at Faith. Walsh shook her head and decided on her own to give the Scoobies a bit of trust.
"We are the Initiative. And I take offense at the implication that we do something immoral with so-called 'peaceful demons'. I don't believe there is any such creature."
"Well, maybe we could educate you," Giles said. "Demons have in the past been useful to us. In fact, last year one was most helpful in deceiving a. . . er."
Giles glanced at Faith, who gave him a slight nod.
"Who was most helpful in deceiving an enemy at the time," Giles continued. "I had known him for quite some time. Introduced him to his wife, actually."
"Right," Buffy said. "And then there was Whistler, who was. . . well, helpful, I suppose."
"I see," Walsh said. "Well, perhaps you could give us a list of the peaceful ones?"
"Or you could give us a list of what you have, and we can tell you what's peaceful," Willow said. "It would be faster for them. A lot of them just want to live like the rest of us, they shouldn't be kept locked up."
"I see. Well, we have, in fact, finished what tests we run with most of the HST's we've captured up to this point. Riley?" Walsh said.
Riley continued gazing at Faith, who was pointedly looking at the floor.
The Scoobies grinned.
"Agent Finn!"
"Hmm? Oh, sorry, yes ma'am?"
"Compile a list of all the types of demon we've captured, and give it to them. See that the peaceful ones are released with our apologies."
"Yes, ma'am."
"So. . . who is the leader of your group?" Walsh asked.
"We're. . . kind of a team. No real leader," Xander said.
"That's no way to run a unit," Walsh said. "But, I suppose you've all survived here longer than we, and you know what works."
"Is there anything else you can tell us about your operation?" Giles asked. "For instance, your demon library, um. . . experience in the field, what it is you actually do, things of that nature?"
"Ah. Of course. Riley?"
Riley stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. "Our charter states that we are to study and examine demons to find the most effective way of exterminating them. So far, we have catalogued eleven separate species of demon here in Sunnydale, bringing the total count up to twenty- three unique types of demon."
"We're quite proud," Walsh said. "I'm told we have the second largest demon listing of anybody in the world."
The Scoobies stayed silent. Riley looked at them, oddly, as their faces turned red. They were all biting their lips, but eventually, Buffy started to snicker. She was followed quickly by Willow and soon all of them burst out laughing.
Professor Walsh raised an eyebrow at Riley who merely shrugged. When the group had calmed down she continued. "I take it there is something funny about our database?" she asked.
"Um. . . well, not funny, really," Xander said. "You say, you have the second largest demon listing in the world? What are you comparing to?"
She shrugged. "Many of our allies have similar operations for fighting demons. We have shared some of our information, as have they. By this, we have come to the conclusion that our listing is among the most complete. Why, how many do you know of?"
"Counting vampires?" Xander asked. Walsh nodded. Xander turned to Giles.
"Well, um, as far as our. . . electronic database goes. . . well, I couldn't really estimate. Willow?"
Willow thought for a second. "Well," she said, "I haven't been updating it in a while, but I think before the ascension I had it up around 140? Does that sound right?"
Giles nodded. "Yes, I believe so."
Walsh looked shocked. "A. . . hundred and forty types of demon?" she asked. "Is that even possible?"
Xander nodded. "Sure," he said. "But that's not the complete listing, just what we've managed to put on computer. It's kind of time consuming."
"Like you'd know," Willow said, sarcastically. "You never once helped me catalogue demons, it was all 'let's go kill stuff' or. . . or making out with Cordelia in a broom closet or drooling over Buffy."
Xander looked at her. "Sorry," she said.
He smiled. "That's okay, Will."
"I'm sorry," Walsh said. "I'm just not quite sure how a group of civilians can have such a vast database."
"I don't know. How long have you been doing this?" Xander asked.
"Well, The Initiative has only been around for about 9 months, having moved here to Sunnydale just before the beginning of the fall semester of college. However, the government has been collecting the list for approximately eight years now."
"Oh," Xander said. "Well. . . this is the beginning of our fourth year."
"What sort of resources do you use?" Walsh asked.
Giles shot him a look.
"Ah. . . the kind that don't get talked about with big government agencies that might not like the idea," Xander said.
"Understandable," Walsh said, nodding her head. "There is, after all, no strict reason for you to fully trust us yet, although I hope in time we'll be able to come to some sort of understanding."
"Of course," Xander said. "So, what type of experience do you guys have?"
"Agent Finn, here, is our best and brightest soldier. He has excelled in combat and carries with him 17 vampire killings, four of them solo. He has participated in the successful capture of six of the eleven demons currently residing in our holding cells. And all this in just 9 months."
Riley stood proud, a smile cracking across his lips.
"Oh," Xander said, a little embarrassed. "That's. . . good."
"Good? That is excellent. Agent Finn is the best we have."
"Ah," Xander said.
"And yourself?" she asked. "This is, after all, an exchange of information."
"Well, we don't really keep. . . statistics. . .."
Giles leaned over and whispered in Xander's ear.
"Between all of us though, probably, about 65 or 70 vampires, and maybe 15 demons?"
"Ah," said Professor Walsh, happily. "We're ahead of the curve, then."
Xander winced. "Um. That. . . was in the last nine months."
Willow leaned over and whispered to him.
Xander's shoulders slumped a little. "I. . . forgot about my road trip. Can we make that 80 vampires and 18 or 19 demons?"
"Eighty?" Buffy asked.
Xander shrugged. "I burnt down a nest."
"So, I'm not the only arsonist here?"
Xander grinned. "Not anymore."
"How is it that you've slain so many?" Walsh asked.
"Cuz you're sittin' on a Hellmouth, lady," Faith said.
"A. . . Hellmouth?" Walsh asked.
"Yes," Giles said. "This town is a center of mystical convergence, a sort of beacon for demonic forces. You've seen, of course, the old high school?"
Walsh nodded.
"Yes, well, that was built directly on top of the Hellmouth, which opened twice while we were there guarding it."
"We haven't really seen any evidence of increased demon activity here," Riley said.
"Well, they have been pretty quiet since we blew up the Mayor," Buffy said.
"Blew up the Mayor?" Walsh asked.
They nodded.
"See, he was like this really old evil guy who had sold his soul over a hundred years ago and he was our graduation speaker but he was trying to ascend as this big snake of a demon, which was going to be a pure demon, so bigger than other demons and like way more powerful, and so he was going to eat us all, because that's what demons do, plus he needed the food to increase his strength and also he was evil, but we got the whole graduating class to fight and then we blew up the school with him in it and he died," said Willow.
They all looked at her impressed.
"Sorry. I babble."
"That all right," Walsh said. "Okay, so what do you need our help for? It appears you've had this town under control for years."
"Oh, we have an apocalypse coming and the demon that's the key to it has up and disappeared on us," Xander said.
"Excuse me, did you say an apocalypse?"
"Yeah," Buffy said, shrugging. "It happens. You guys have a lot more man power than we do, and we need to keep an eye on holy sites near the old high school. There are none within a half-mile radius. . . half mile, right Will?"
Willow nodded.
"Yeah," said Buffy. "So, the demon will need to do his end-of-the-world ritual from a holy site. Church or temple or something like that. If you find him, call us, cuz we know how to take him out. And if you try it, the world will end. It has to be me and Xander who take him out."
"Are you-"
"Yes," Xander said. "We're sure."
Walsh nodded. "All right. I'll trust you. For now. How can we reach you?"
"Willow, Oz and I are on campus, Xander you can reach at my home number. Giles and Faith at his. . . which he can give you."
"Of course," Walsh said. "I suppose we should wrap up for the night. We'll. . . talk later. Oh, and ladies?"
Buffy and Willow looked at her as they were rising to leave.
"I think the two of you can count on well earned A's this semester."
They grinned as the Scoobies left. Riley made a quick check in with Walsh, then followed suit.
"Bronze?" Xander asked.
Giles rolled his eyes as the rest of the Scoobies nodded. "Don't you people ever do anything else?"
"What," Buffy asked, "like take out a nest of vampires and expose a government financed black-ops demon research project?"
"I. . . well, that's a valid point, I suppose," Giles said, cleaning his glasses. "I shall see you lot some other time."
The Scoobies moved off towards the Bronze, when Xander leaned over and whispered to Willow. She grinned and turned around.
"Hey Riley!" she said, causing the man to turn around. "Do you wanna join us?"
Faith froze mid-stride, causing Oz to walk full force into her, and they both fell down. Riley looked for a second, shook his head then jogged to catch up. "I'd love to," he said, leaning down to help Faith up.
Faith smiled. "Fun."
----------
End Chapter 22
Willow shook her head. "And there's no DM, Xander. Plus, actual death is a factor."
Oz smiled at them, and the rest of the group looked confused.
"Oh, we're talking Dungeons and Dragons here. It's a. . . you know, never mind," Xander said.
"Well. As plans go, it's fairly simple," Giles said.
"Yup. Straight forward assault. How much time do you guys need to make up those bombs?" Xander asked.
"A couple of hours should do it, I think," Willow said.
"Great. In the meantime, I'll go rough up Willy again, to see what he knows about these commando boys."
"I'm comin' with ya, X," Faith said.
Xander nodded at her. "All right. We'll be back in a while. "
* * * * *
"Willy!" Xander yelled as he and Faith walked into the bar. "How are you doing, my friend?"
"Oh, uh, hey kid. Slayer," Willy said, wiping down the bar. "You're a little earlier than my normal patronage, today. What can I do for you?"
"Well, Willy, we find ourselves in need of some more information," Xander said, sitting down at the bar.
"And we don't want any trouble about it," Faith said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"Hey, uh, since when did you guys start working together?" Willy asked. "Thought you were in a coma, Slayer."
"I was," she said. "Got better."
"I see that. I'm real glad, too. Good to see the Slayers healthy."
"Well, thanks, Willy. That's real sweet of you."
"I'm a sweet guy," he said.
"Can you two flirt some other time?" Xander asked. "We're kind of in a rush."
"Uh, sure, kid. What do you need?"
"Commandos. Running around town with weird guns. What do you know?"
"Commandos, huh? Yeah, I heard about them. They started showing up about the last time you and blondie were in here."
"Don't call her that."
"Sure thing, kid. Anyway, word is they've been demon-hunting. Demons just disappearing left and right, even the peaceful ones. It ain't you guys, cuz you folks know your stuff, you don't pick on the demons who just want to live, you know?"
"Right. So what are they, then?"
"I don't know, kid. What I do know is that they tend to do more of a capture than a kill. Or they're really effective at gettin' rid of the bodies. They hunt in squads, but like I said, I don't know what their goal is, or who they work for."
"Okay. Hey, how come you're so much freer with the info today than last time? I mean, I didn't even get to slam your head into the bar."
"They're robbin' me of my clients, man. I'm just lookin' out for Willy."
"Right. Well, if you hear anything, you let us know, then."
"Right, right. Willy's your guy."
"Good," Xander said as he and Faith turned to walk out. "Oh and Willy? Last time. . . you were righter than you thought."
"About what?"
Xander grinned. "Me and blondie."
* * * * *
"So, he basically said they capture demons, hunt in groups, and aren't us," Buffy said, as the group drove towards the factory in question. "We already knew that."
"Yeah. But he said he'd contact us if anything came through," Xander said. "They're hurting his business, so I'd be willing to bet that's not a lie."
"Well, they don't seem to be an immediate threat, anyway," Giles said. "For now, we should concentrate on the task at hand."
The van pulled to a stop and the group piled out, with Xander and Buffy hauling some wooden barricades for the door Giles and Willow would be stationed at.
Faith and Oz handled the weapons, with multiple stakes for the three who would be going into melee, as well as any larger weapons they might want. Xander took Lancelot's magical sword, Buffy took the sword Xander usually used, and Faith hefted a battle-axe.
Xander sheathed the sword, and he and Oz split up the Molotov Cocktails between them. With everybody in position, Buffy gave the signal for Oz and Xander to start throwing. Fiery bottles flew through the air and into the factory, shattering and setting portions of the building ablaze. When the bottles ran out, Xander, Buffy and Faith charged into the factory, as Oz started up his van and Giles and Willow steadied themselves for any vampires who tried to come their way.
Inside the building, Xander, Buffy and Faith were all dusting vampires left and right, making their way towards the center of the room. The vamps seemed intent on keeping them away, but a number of them had been incapacitated, or outright killed, by the aerial assault of Molotov cocktails.
As Xander met up with Faith on the left side of the building, they saw Buffy fighting her way through a group of vampires. Glass shattered as a number of men in black fatigues crashed through the windows in the factory and started firing pulse rifles at vampires left and right. Stunned, many of the vamps fell to the floor. Buffy, Faith and Xander made quick work of these as they rushed towards the center of the building, where a large, purple demon stood, surrounded by a group of ten vampires and 4 Fyarl demons.
Faith, Xander and Buffy set their weapons at the ready, waiting for the action that all knew was coming. On the opposite side of the circle, eight commandos stood with their rifles bearing down on the group. The vampires made the first move, most of them rushing the commandos. Only two vampires and the Fyarl demons attacked the Scoobies.
The faster, yet weaker vampires reached them first, but were quickly dusted. The Fyarl demons, noted for their viciousness and strength, but not intelligence, rushed head first at the Scoobies. Xander's magical sword made quick work of two of the demons, as Buffy and Faith took one each.
Faith quickly found her axe embedded in the shoulder of one of the Fyarl's, stuck. With a quick roundhouse and a couple punches, Faith managed to put the demon down and break its neck. Buffy was having less luck. Her sword wouldn't pierce the tough hide of the demon and she quickly abandoned it for hand-to-hand combat. A quick kick to the nether regions of the much- larger Fyarl left it incapacitated. Buffy quickly snapped its neck and moved on.
The three warriors of light stood opposite the demon, which sat cross legged in the center of a pentagram. On the other side of the demon, the commandos were still fighting off vamps. They had taken out a few of them, but had losses themselves and didn't look good. Seeing their sorry state, the Scoobies wordlessly agreed to jump in and save them. Circling the still- resting demon, Buffy, Faith and Xander attacked the vampires from behind, quickly dusting them all and leaving the commando's to tend their wounded.
Xander, Faith and Buffy turned back to the Fargath demon.
"Guess this is him," Xander said, pointing his sword at the back of the demon.
"Looks like," Faith said. "Also doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Guess he's in a trance or something. Still, though, we should approach carefully."
"Triangle?" Buffy asked. "Or full frontal?"
Xander grinned. "Well, with you two girls, I'd definitely want a full- frontal."
Faith and Buffy both smacked him, but his head glowed white and they didn't touch him.
"No, fair, Xan," Buffy said. "We should get to smack you for that."
Somebody behind them coughed. They turned to see a tall man in a ski-mask holding a pulse rifle.
"Yeah?" Xander asked in an annoyed tone.
"Who are you people? What are you doing here with the HSTs?" the commando asked.
"What the fuck's an HST?" Faith retorted.
"Hostile Sub-Terrestrial," the man replied. "And you are. . ."
"The local cavalry," Xander said. "And you guys are those commandos we've been seeing around and hearing about. Demon hunters, huh? And not just hunting, capturing, too."
"Who told you that?" the man asked.
"One of our contacts," Xander said, glancing at Buffy, who was frowning. "Said you guys are even taking the peaceful ones. What, do you lock 'em up and do experiments on them?"
"Our actions are classified," the man said.
"Classified?" Faith asked. "So you're government, then. Well that's fun."
Xander looked at Buffy again. "What is it, Buff?" he asked.
The commando looked at Buffy for the first time and took a step back. "Ah. . . um, we have to leave, we've been compromised."
"No," Buffy said. "Take off your mask."
"I'm not allowed to do that. I really have to-"
"Riley, take off your mask," Buffy said.
Xander and Faith both looked surprised.
"Riley?" Faith asked.
Buffy nodded. "Can't you tell? His voice, how he holds himself. It's Riley. Faith, could you get Giles and Will?"
"No, I don't know who you're talking about. We have to leave." The man turned and started motioning to the other commandos as Faith jogged outside. Xander glanced at Buffy, who nodded at the man. Xander strode up and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back towards Buffy. A brief struggle ended up with the man's mask off and him on the floor, with the remaining commandos pointing their rifles at Buffy and Xander.
"See?" Buffy said, pointing. "Riley. You're a horrible liar, you know. He's Riley Finn. Psych TA. You met him at the picnic. And, apparently, he's the leader of a group of government commandos in Sunnydale to research the activities of demons and the like. That pretty close to it, Riley?"
The young man sighed and waved off his troops.
"Look, I can't talk about it," he said. "It's all. . . classified. But you folks seem pretty. . . adept at what's going on here, just don't let-"
"RILEY?" came a disbelieving yell from the door of the factory.
Riley's head dropped. "Walsh is going to have my hide over this," he said.
"Professor Walsh?" Buffy asked. "She's in on this too? What, is the whole psych department just a front?"
"I-No! Not Professor um. . . I. . . CRAP!"
"Face it, Ry," one of the commandos said, coming up to him. "You're busted."
Riley turned his head to the man. "Lead a sweep. The whole area. Make sure the perimeter is free of HST's."
"Oh, but ignore the guy in the striped van," Xander said. "He's with us."
Giles, Faith and Willow walked up to the group, with Giles heading off to inspect the demon.
"Buffy, why is Riley here?" Willow asked.
"He's one of the commandos. Apparently in some sort of leadership position. He reports to Professor Walsh, or something."
"Oh," Willow said. Then she went over to look at the demon with Giles.
"Oh?" Riley asked. "That's it, just 'oh'? You people don't seem shocked."
Buffy shrugged. "There's not a lot that surprises us these days," she said.
"You haven't been surprised by a whole lot. . . discounting Angel. . . since you died," Xander said.
Buffy nodded. "That's true. I had you to bring me back, though, so it all worked out."
Riley brought his rifle to bear, quickly shifting back and forth from Buffy to Xander.
"Not like that, with CPR," Xander said. "Christ, give a guy some credit."
Riley kept his weapon trained until Xander pulled out a cross and held it in his hand without getting burnt. "See? Human."
"So, what are you guys doing here?" Buffy asked.
"Look, I'm the. . . guy with the gun here, I'll ask the questions," Riley said. "Who are you?"
"I'm Buffy. College student. But you knew that."
"Xander. Her boyfriend. I work construction."
"I'm Faith. I don't do anything but fight."
"And sleep."
"Shut up, X."
"And eat."
"I said shut up."
"And spend my money."
"Do you want me to break you?"
"Please?" Xander grinned as Faith glared at him.
"Guys!" Buffy scolded.
Faith and Xander looked falsely apologetic. "Sorry Buffy," they said simultaneously.
Buffy rolled her eyes at them.
"So, what?" Riley asked. "You just all have superpowers or something?"
They shrugged. "Basically," Buffy said. "So we fight the demons."
"Which we really should be getting to, by the way," Xander said, pointing behind him.
"Uh uh, no way," Riley said. "We're under orders to bring this guy in for testing."
"Not a chance, buddy," Xander said. "This guy wants to end the world, they don't get research grants."
"Actually," Giles said, approaching the group, "this particular individual does not want to do anything. It is not the demon we're looking for. Nor in fact a demon at all."
"Not a demon?" Xander asked. "So what, it's papier-mâché?"
"Well, I say it is not a demon, but that is not entirely accurate. It is not a demon anymore. It's dead. And not the Fargath we seek, either. So as of now, the apocalypse is still on."
Riley stood there, stunned. "Did you just say apocalypse?"
* * * * *
"The Slayer," Professor Walsh said, as the Scoobies sat at desks in front of her. "I was led to believe that you're a myth."
"Well you were myth-taken," Buffy said.
The Scoobies looked at her, disbelieving. She shrank into her seat a little.
"Yeah, so," Faith said. "Slayers, we're real. So are commandos, apparently."
"Did you say Slayers plural? All that we've heard say that there's only one."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Xander said.
"Excuse me?" Walsh asked.
"That's my fault," Xander said. "See, this one time, a few years ago, Buffy died. For a few minutes. I CPR'd her back to life, but not before another Slayer was called."
"And that's Faith," Walsh assumed.
"No," Buffy said. "That was Kendra. She was more. . . institutionalized, in the 'following rules' way, not the insane way, than either Faith or me. She died about a year after I did. For real died, though. Then Faith was called"
"I see," Walsh said. "Well that takes care of two of you. The rest?"
"I'm Buffy's soulmate, and the protector of mankind," Xander said.
Willow snorted. "Taking your name a little too seriously there, Xand."
"Hey, it's what I do. The only right thing my dad ever did was name me Alexander. Anyway, I'm what's called a White Knight. You probably won't have heard of me."
"No, I can't say we have."
"The rest are friends who help because they want to," Buffy said.
"Yes, we have no special destiny laid out by prophecy," Giles said. "But we manage."
"And I'm a witch!" Willow added "Or, well, I'm training to be. I'm improving."
"That fire thing is real nifty, Will," Xander said, encouragingly. Willow grinned.
"I am a former Watcher," Giles said. "I am basically on the research aspect of our battle."
"Hey, Ripper can hold his own," Buffy said.
"Yes," Giles said. "And be thankful that he so rarely sees the light of day."
Buffy shrugged.
Walsh turned to the silent one. "So you must be the 'normal' one?"
The others snickered as Oz shrugged.
"Werewolf," he said.
"Really?" Walsh asked. "Fascinating. The full moon is in a few days, if I recall. Would you mind if we -"
"Yes, we would," Xander said. "No offense, but all we know about you is that you work for the government and capture demons. Even the peaceful ones. That doesn't say good things about this little institution of yours."
"Hey, what are you guys called, anyway?" Faith asked.
Walsh looked at Riley. He was gazing at Faith. Walsh shook her head and decided on her own to give the Scoobies a bit of trust.
"We are the Initiative. And I take offense at the implication that we do something immoral with so-called 'peaceful demons'. I don't believe there is any such creature."
"Well, maybe we could educate you," Giles said. "Demons have in the past been useful to us. In fact, last year one was most helpful in deceiving a. . . er."
Giles glanced at Faith, who gave him a slight nod.
"Who was most helpful in deceiving an enemy at the time," Giles continued. "I had known him for quite some time. Introduced him to his wife, actually."
"Right," Buffy said. "And then there was Whistler, who was. . . well, helpful, I suppose."
"I see," Walsh said. "Well, perhaps you could give us a list of the peaceful ones?"
"Or you could give us a list of what you have, and we can tell you what's peaceful," Willow said. "It would be faster for them. A lot of them just want to live like the rest of us, they shouldn't be kept locked up."
"I see. Well, we have, in fact, finished what tests we run with most of the HST's we've captured up to this point. Riley?" Walsh said.
Riley continued gazing at Faith, who was pointedly looking at the floor.
The Scoobies grinned.
"Agent Finn!"
"Hmm? Oh, sorry, yes ma'am?"
"Compile a list of all the types of demon we've captured, and give it to them. See that the peaceful ones are released with our apologies."
"Yes, ma'am."
"So. . . who is the leader of your group?" Walsh asked.
"We're. . . kind of a team. No real leader," Xander said.
"That's no way to run a unit," Walsh said. "But, I suppose you've all survived here longer than we, and you know what works."
"Is there anything else you can tell us about your operation?" Giles asked. "For instance, your demon library, um. . . experience in the field, what it is you actually do, things of that nature?"
"Ah. Of course. Riley?"
Riley stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. "Our charter states that we are to study and examine demons to find the most effective way of exterminating them. So far, we have catalogued eleven separate species of demon here in Sunnydale, bringing the total count up to twenty- three unique types of demon."
"We're quite proud," Walsh said. "I'm told we have the second largest demon listing of anybody in the world."
The Scoobies stayed silent. Riley looked at them, oddly, as their faces turned red. They were all biting their lips, but eventually, Buffy started to snicker. She was followed quickly by Willow and soon all of them burst out laughing.
Professor Walsh raised an eyebrow at Riley who merely shrugged. When the group had calmed down she continued. "I take it there is something funny about our database?" she asked.
"Um. . . well, not funny, really," Xander said. "You say, you have the second largest demon listing in the world? What are you comparing to?"
She shrugged. "Many of our allies have similar operations for fighting demons. We have shared some of our information, as have they. By this, we have come to the conclusion that our listing is among the most complete. Why, how many do you know of?"
"Counting vampires?" Xander asked. Walsh nodded. Xander turned to Giles.
"Well, um, as far as our. . . electronic database goes. . . well, I couldn't really estimate. Willow?"
Willow thought for a second. "Well," she said, "I haven't been updating it in a while, but I think before the ascension I had it up around 140? Does that sound right?"
Giles nodded. "Yes, I believe so."
Walsh looked shocked. "A. . . hundred and forty types of demon?" she asked. "Is that even possible?"
Xander nodded. "Sure," he said. "But that's not the complete listing, just what we've managed to put on computer. It's kind of time consuming."
"Like you'd know," Willow said, sarcastically. "You never once helped me catalogue demons, it was all 'let's go kill stuff' or. . . or making out with Cordelia in a broom closet or drooling over Buffy."
Xander looked at her. "Sorry," she said.
He smiled. "That's okay, Will."
"I'm sorry," Walsh said. "I'm just not quite sure how a group of civilians can have such a vast database."
"I don't know. How long have you been doing this?" Xander asked.
"Well, The Initiative has only been around for about 9 months, having moved here to Sunnydale just before the beginning of the fall semester of college. However, the government has been collecting the list for approximately eight years now."
"Oh," Xander said. "Well. . . this is the beginning of our fourth year."
"What sort of resources do you use?" Walsh asked.
Giles shot him a look.
"Ah. . . the kind that don't get talked about with big government agencies that might not like the idea," Xander said.
"Understandable," Walsh said, nodding her head. "There is, after all, no strict reason for you to fully trust us yet, although I hope in time we'll be able to come to some sort of understanding."
"Of course," Xander said. "So, what type of experience do you guys have?"
"Agent Finn, here, is our best and brightest soldier. He has excelled in combat and carries with him 17 vampire killings, four of them solo. He has participated in the successful capture of six of the eleven demons currently residing in our holding cells. And all this in just 9 months."
Riley stood proud, a smile cracking across his lips.
"Oh," Xander said, a little embarrassed. "That's. . . good."
"Good? That is excellent. Agent Finn is the best we have."
"Ah," Xander said.
"And yourself?" she asked. "This is, after all, an exchange of information."
"Well, we don't really keep. . . statistics. . .."
Giles leaned over and whispered in Xander's ear.
"Between all of us though, probably, about 65 or 70 vampires, and maybe 15 demons?"
"Ah," said Professor Walsh, happily. "We're ahead of the curve, then."
Xander winced. "Um. That. . . was in the last nine months."
Willow leaned over and whispered to him.
Xander's shoulders slumped a little. "I. . . forgot about my road trip. Can we make that 80 vampires and 18 or 19 demons?"
"Eighty?" Buffy asked.
Xander shrugged. "I burnt down a nest."
"So, I'm not the only arsonist here?"
Xander grinned. "Not anymore."
"How is it that you've slain so many?" Walsh asked.
"Cuz you're sittin' on a Hellmouth, lady," Faith said.
"A. . . Hellmouth?" Walsh asked.
"Yes," Giles said. "This town is a center of mystical convergence, a sort of beacon for demonic forces. You've seen, of course, the old high school?"
Walsh nodded.
"Yes, well, that was built directly on top of the Hellmouth, which opened twice while we were there guarding it."
"We haven't really seen any evidence of increased demon activity here," Riley said.
"Well, they have been pretty quiet since we blew up the Mayor," Buffy said.
"Blew up the Mayor?" Walsh asked.
They nodded.
"See, he was like this really old evil guy who had sold his soul over a hundred years ago and he was our graduation speaker but he was trying to ascend as this big snake of a demon, which was going to be a pure demon, so bigger than other demons and like way more powerful, and so he was going to eat us all, because that's what demons do, plus he needed the food to increase his strength and also he was evil, but we got the whole graduating class to fight and then we blew up the school with him in it and he died," said Willow.
They all looked at her impressed.
"Sorry. I babble."
"That all right," Walsh said. "Okay, so what do you need our help for? It appears you've had this town under control for years."
"Oh, we have an apocalypse coming and the demon that's the key to it has up and disappeared on us," Xander said.
"Excuse me, did you say an apocalypse?"
"Yeah," Buffy said, shrugging. "It happens. You guys have a lot more man power than we do, and we need to keep an eye on holy sites near the old high school. There are none within a half-mile radius. . . half mile, right Will?"
Willow nodded.
"Yeah," said Buffy. "So, the demon will need to do his end-of-the-world ritual from a holy site. Church or temple or something like that. If you find him, call us, cuz we know how to take him out. And if you try it, the world will end. It has to be me and Xander who take him out."
"Are you-"
"Yes," Xander said. "We're sure."
Walsh nodded. "All right. I'll trust you. For now. How can we reach you?"
"Willow, Oz and I are on campus, Xander you can reach at my home number. Giles and Faith at his. . . which he can give you."
"Of course," Walsh said. "I suppose we should wrap up for the night. We'll. . . talk later. Oh, and ladies?"
Buffy and Willow looked at her as they were rising to leave.
"I think the two of you can count on well earned A's this semester."
They grinned as the Scoobies left. Riley made a quick check in with Walsh, then followed suit.
"Bronze?" Xander asked.
Giles rolled his eyes as the rest of the Scoobies nodded. "Don't you people ever do anything else?"
"What," Buffy asked, "like take out a nest of vampires and expose a government financed black-ops demon research project?"
"I. . . well, that's a valid point, I suppose," Giles said, cleaning his glasses. "I shall see you lot some other time."
The Scoobies moved off towards the Bronze, when Xander leaned over and whispered to Willow. She grinned and turned around.
"Hey Riley!" she said, causing the man to turn around. "Do you wanna join us?"
Faith froze mid-stride, causing Oz to walk full force into her, and they both fell down. Riley looked for a second, shook his head then jogged to catch up. "I'd love to," he said, leaning down to help Faith up.
Faith smiled. "Fun."
----------
End Chapter 22
