Roll Titles: THE DAMNED

STARRING

Eliza Dushku as Faith

Casey Affleck as Sir Robert La Morte

Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce

Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg

David Boreanz as Angel

And Seth Green as Daniel 'Oz' Osborne

Guest Starring:

Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles

Nicholas Brendon as Alexander 'Xander' Harris

Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn Summers

Iyari Limon as Kennedy

Vincent Karthieser as Connor

Jake Busey as Micah Luke

And Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers

CREATED BY
Kurt Garwood

Based on the shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel created by Joss
Whedon

WRITTEN BY
Kurt Garwood

Micah Luke ran straight at Buffy Angel, unimpeded by the weight of his armor, he swung his serrated sword wildly, hoping to catch either one off guard. Buffy and Angel parried by the blow, both grunting as they did so. Flustered by this brief setback, La Morte muttered something under his breath and a pale flame suddenly appeared in his hand. Smiling, he threw a ball of concentrated holy magic at Angel.

"Disperse ye vile demon," he sneered.

Luckily for Angel, La Morte hadn't been aiming very precisely and it missed the man-vampire slightly, blowing a huge chunk in the gothic walls.

"Blast," Luke said, "although I suppose I should avoid blasphemy. Oh well, I guess I can do whatever I want, so the whole Ten Commandments thing really doesn't matter in the end." He chuckled and then started chanting loudly and multiple balls of fire appeared in the palm of his free hand. Buffy leapt down to the ground while Angel dived for the shelter of several arcane statues.

Micah Luke started flinging the balls of holy fire wildly, first at Buffy and Angel and then he noticed Kennedy and Dawn trying to slip away in the chaotic melee swirling around him.

"Ye shall not escape," the uber-preacher screamed and he hurled several fireballs in their direction. Kennedy felt a heated presence behind her and she instinctively fell the ground, bringing Dawn with her. The fireball landed several inches away from them, creating a small crater in the carpeting.

Micah Luke jumped off of the altar and ran after the junior slayer and the key, sprinting as fast as he could. He reached them by the time Kennedy and Dawn managed to stand back up. They didn't have time to react before Micah Luke and several red-robed Jesuits seized Dawn. Dawn struggled, trying to free herself from the strong hands of the evil man that gripped her while Kennedy tried to fight off two of the Jesuits who stabbed at her with their long pikes. Micah Luke clamped a hand upon Dawn's mouth to prevent her from screaming. He winced as she bit down hard.

"Filthy whore!" he snapped, "I'll kill you right now!" He pulled a dagger from his boot heel and tried to slash Dawn across the arm with the hope of drawing blood. Dawn fought back, managing a kick to his groin that knocked the dagger out of his hand. He hurled her against the floor and she hit it with a loud smack, stunning her against the hard stone.

"That's better," he grinned as he raised his sword in a cleaving motion. Then, Angel, who had recovered, jumped him from behind and bit down savagely on Micah Luke's exposed neck. The fanatic screamed like a little girl, clawing at the vampire to let go but Angel intensified his bloodsucking. He felt blood trickle down his neck as he seized his sword and ran Angel through with a backward thrust. Luckily for Angel, he missed the vampire's heart completely but Angel felt a shooting pain in his stomach as the serrated holy sword plunged into it. He let go of Micah Luke's neck and freed himself, gritting his teeth as he tried to bear the intense pain.

Micah Luke whirled around, his neck wound healing quickly. "Well vampire, I see that you have tasted the fury of my blade. Let's just say this sword has an aversion to demonic creatures and harms them greatly. Oh look, your wounds aren't healing as fast as they usually do. The thing I love about the sword the most is how it can wound demons gravely or even kill them with the slightest of wounds. Meanwhile, my little neck wound heals without any problem. Praise the Lord for that." He stepped forward, calmly eying Angel's intense pain.

He heard a loud click from behind him and felt a crossbow bolt bury imbed itself in his back, penetrating out of his chest. Micah Luke turned around to face Buffy, who had confiscated a crossbow from one of Micah Luke's henchmen and had coolly aimed it at him.

"You forget slayer that none of your little trinkets work against me now. I am the alpha and the omega, and nothing forged by man can harm me!" He rushed at her, ignoring the crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest. He managed several quick slashes and cut Buffy across the shoulder. Her slayer senses responded and she smashed the crossbow across the fanatic's face, stunning the fanatic whose shoulders she barely reached. He howled in pain as she headbutted him in the chest, knocking him backwards. He lashed out blindly with his sword and mailed fist, hoping to strike at the petite blonde. She dodged his blows and unsheathed her scimitar from her belt, slashing Micah Luke across the chest and piercing his armor as she did so.

Micah Luke continued to stagger backwards as Buffy pressed her assault. She ran at him, kicking and punching between sword swipes. Covered in bruises, lacerations and wounds, Micah Luke fled in terror, still blinded by splinters in his eyes. He smashed against the wall in a comical manner and lay still for a moment. Buffy helped up Angel who was still reeling from his wounds to his feet, his face dazed and in grievous pain.

They only had a second respite before La Morte was back on his feet, healing and angrier than ever. He scrambled for his serrated sword and he started hurling holy bolts at them while he did so. Buffy was then startled by a loud scream. It was Dawn who was being dragged off by a group of fanatics led by several Jesuits.

"Dawn!" Buffy shouted and she rushed after the surging mass, who was all trying to drag her over to the altar for sacrifice.

Willow, Xander and Giles heard her voice and fought their way through the struggling mass of fanatics. Willow bowled them over with a magic force, clearing a path for them to aid Buffy in her struggle. They reached Buffy and joined her in her fight to free Dawn from the clutches of the fanatics.

Meanwhile, Wesley, Oz and Angel fought ferociously to delay Micah Luke from rallying the remnants of his crusaders, who still numbered well over a hundred. Oz knocked his opponents aside with the raking force of his claws and massive werewolf frame while Wesley picked off enemies from a distance as Angel protected him.

Giles, Xander and Buffy fought side by side with Willow and Kennedy. Xander knocked enemies aside with his ax while he fought to reach Dawn. Giles watched his back, slashing and cleaving faces, hands and bodies that tried to get his way. Kennedy and Buffy used a combination of swordplay and martial arts to combat their foes, breaking bones and burying their blades in anyone who tried to stop them. A Jesuit tried to use his ceremonial spear as a practical weapon, but Buffy knocked aside with a kick and then she knocked him unconscious with an uppercut to the forehead. Willow send a fireball careening into another group of fanatics that tried to rush the exposed group from behind, singing or frying the zealots.

But suddenly, one of the Jesuits managed to sneak up upon Willow from behind a row of statues. He struck her on the head from behind with a mace, smiling as the blunt end of his elaborate club bashed against her cranium, sending the Witch into unconsciousness.

"Willow!" Kennedy screamed and she picked up one of the spears from a fallen fanatic and skewered the red-robed figure with it, watching in fury as he slumped to the ground, smashing into a statue as he bled to death on the floor.

"Looks like you're out of luck," a voice from behind them said. Micah Luke stood there, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust. Now, he looked more invincible than ever to the group of warriors who had just lost their slight advantage over him- their spellcaster lay knocked out on the floor.

"And now I have you where I want you," Micah Luke grinned gleefully as he walked towards the group, brandishing his blade. He was followed by several dozen of his followers, all of them with the same sinister glee on their faces as they pointed pikes and spears at the group.

Buffy's eyes darted towards Micah Luke, then back at the Jesuits who were tying Dawn up in order to prepare her for the sacrifice. "We're trapped," she shouted to the rest of the group.

"Yeah, I thought that was kind of obvious," Xander replied. "It's either save Dawn and get skewered by these guys at our backs or defeat the big bad while his henchmen end the world. This seems like a definite lose-lose situation."

"Our best bet is to keep Micah Luke and his men at bay while Buffy and Kennedy free Dawn," Giles spoke up hurriedly, "might as well go down fighting." He hefted his ax before burying it into the chest of a charging fanatic who ran out from the safety of the wall of spears bearing down upon them.

"Xander you try to revive Willow and help Giles, Kennedy, I want you to follow me," Buffy relayed her orders quickly. There was no room for opposition, everyone knew that they were in a cul-de-sac. Kennedy slashed, punched and kicked her way through the masses of red robes in order to reach Dawn. Buffy watched her back, slicing off the limbs or slashing anyone who tried to strike at Kennedy from the rear. They soon cleared a path, leaving dead and wounded Jesuits laying on the ground behind them. Buffy reached the altar right as one of the Jesuits was about to slit Dawn's throat.

"Sorry to interrupt, but that's my sister," Buffy tackled him, smashing him down to the ground and sending his knife clattering against the floor. His three fellow priests tried to help him, but Kennedy easily dispatched them. Buffy and the master Jesuit scuffled briefly, but Buffy soon gained the upper hand, overpowered him and effortlessly snapped his neck.

Buffy cut Dawn's bonds as Kennedy took care of another group of Jesuits who tried to stop them. Buffy supported Dawn, who was staggering in shock while Kennedy watched their backs. They made their way to Giles and Xander, who were gradually losing ground as the fanatics pushed them back.

As Buffy, Dawn and Kennedy reached Giles and Xander, Micah Luke's soldiers parted ranks in order for him to step in front of them. There were probably only about thirty left, their numbers thinned by the battle, but the survivors looked grim and eager to continue fighting.

Micah Luke walked up to within several paces of the group. He eyed them evilly, "I think it would be quite gratifying if I started with the slayer herself." He patted his sword against his free hand, "or should I just take care of the Key once and for all? Decisions, decisions." He interrupted himself, "oh by the way, I took care of your friends, well, unfortunately, the werewolf escaped, but I'm sure he'll be back to save his witch." He snickered as a burly fanatic dragged Wesley, who was bruised and beaten and threw him on the floor in front of Micah Luke. Another fanatic dragged a wounded Angel and deposited him at the feet of his commander.

"But better yet, why don't I take care of the vampire first," Micah smiled, "this should be entertaining."

He was interrupted by a voice behind him; he whirled around to face a figure shrouded in a black cloak while a shorter figure stood at his side.

"Praise the Lord! It's Robert La Morte!" Micah's face lit up, "I'm afraid we missed you at the service today, but never fear! The time of atonement is at hand, I am about to eradicate these infidels and fulfill our destiny. Care to join me?"

"Of course," La Morte walked out of the shadows. He took off his cloak, exposing his shining black armor. He unsheathed his claymore and started towards Micah Luke, who turned his face to gloat at Buffy and her friends. La Morte used the opportunity to manage a wink at Angel. Micah Luke turned around, his stupid grin still on his face.

"'Bout time you showed up brother, these people were giving some trouble," he lowered his sword, expecting La Morte to finish off Angel and the others.

"Yes, you're right. It's about time indeed," La Morte walked next to La Morte, raising his sword as if to bury into Angel. Then, he suddenly turned aside at an angle and ran Micah Luke through the stomach. A wave of gasps went across Micah Luke's followers as they watched their champion strike at their leader.

"Nice Job R, now it's time I took care of these boys," Faith revealed herself in the shadows and charged at the thirty odd group. She dodged a spear thrust, and knocked the weapon from the fanatic's grasp with a well aimed punch. She ducked as a fanatic slashed at her with an ax, sneaking under the man's guard and burying her blade into his stomach. Their confronters now distracted, Buffy and Xander carried Dawn and Willow away while Giles and Kennedy cleared a path for them. Angel staggered to his feet and joined Faith in pummeling the rest of Micah Luke's followers. He knocked an onrushing fanatic aside and seized her weapon, lashing out at his enemies with the ferocity of a wounded animal.

Meanwhile, Wesley crawled off in the chaos towards where he had been disarmed of his crossbow. He saw the crossbow lying next to a row of smashed statues and dead fanatics and he dragged himself to it, wincing as he felt pain shoot through his wounded leg. La Morte had saved his life, but he didn't care. The monster would pay for what he had done to Wesley's friends. A crossbow bolt to his forehead would stun him and then Wesley could either use Micah Luke's sword or La Morte's sword to dispatch him.

Buffy, Giles, Xander and Kennedy managed to clear through the rest of the mob and carried Dawn and Willow out of the cathedral. They watched as Angel and Faith dispatched the rest of Micah Luke's fighters. The dark slayer and the souled vampire fought like a merciless team, smashing aside their opposition, who fell in droves before their wrathful blades. The ten or so fanatics that remained fled the room towards the catacombs underneath.

Meanwhile, La Morte dragged the wounded Micah Luke towards the altar. He pulled his sword out from Micah Luke's body, taking pleasure in the zealot's pain. He seized Luke by the shoulders and rammed him against the altar. Then, he savagely kicked him in the groin.

"This is for all the innocent people who died today, Micah, all because of your mad dream of conquest," La Morte spoke angrily, "for hundreds of years I have watched as religious fanatics like you have carried their reign of terror across the world, slaughtering more innocents than any demon ever could. You are scum, the very monster you claim to fight. But I vowed to never kill again after tonight, I'll never resort that depraved level again! Not even on some vile cur like you!" He walked away, leaving Micah Luke sputtering and coughing up blood.

He walked over to Angel and Faith.

"Nice acting, you had me fooled for a moment," Angel managed a smile, "you guys saved our lives, we wouldn't have had a chance if it hadn't been for you."

"Guess we aren't murderers anymore, that's a welcome change," Faith returned the smile, "so back to the Hyperion with the others?"

They turned to follow Buffy and the others when they heard the sound of a crossbow clicking behind them. The three gradually turned around to face Wesley, who had struggled to his feet and now held a crossbow aimed at La Morte.

"Not so fast, it's judgment day La Morte!" Wesley snarled. Buffy then appeared behind Faith and Angel, armed with a crossbow she had taken from one of the dead fanatics. She cocked it and aimed it at Faith.

"Buffy, Wesley, this is madness," Angel shouted, trying to persuade his comrades to lower their weapons.

"No Angel, this is what needs to be done," Buffy answered him coldly, "Faith can live, but I want to see La Morte dead."

Oz then appeared out of one of the dark corridors in his human form. He had taken some clothes off of a dead zealot and now he was armed with a pike. He walked up to join Buffy and leveled the weapon at Angel.

"Glad to know you're okay Oz, La Morte just tried to kill Wesley and we're going to finish the traitor right now," Buffy greeted him. "Make sure Angel and Faith try not to stop us."

"B, you can't let Wesley do this! Don't let him kill Robert-" Faith pleaded with her sister slayer, staring back at La Morte.

"If you wish to kill me, Wesley, then do so, I shall not oppose you," La Morte dropped his sword, which clattered to the floor. Wesley watched him do this with an eager look on his face while Buffy and Oz stared emotionless.

"Prepare to die, monster!" Wesley shouted as his finger inched towards the trigger.