Interludes: Forgotten Pasts
Chapter Three
Jerusalem, Israel 2030
The dig was dark and dank even in the hot desert sun, magicked to resemble the dwellings of the workers. The work was slow; most of them were humans, either too old, too weak, or too young to do any of the harder labor the minor demons could. The rest of the workers were lower class demons that had no say in the matter.
Bestar glared into the glum how hard was it to find a little gem? It wasn't like finding its resting place was that hard, they knew exactly were to dig. Yet it had been nearly two years and there was still nothing to show for it. Bestar growled and kicked the nearest worker. If they didn't find something soon he was going to start executing.
As if reading his mind a lone human came running up to him holding something in his hands. Bestar held his urge to lope off the humans' head and waited for it to stop in front of him.
"Master," The human panted holding up the object in his hands as he knelt on the ground. "We have found it."
Bestar growled and snatched the stone out of the human's hands ready to kill it for lying. Yet when he opened his hand to the stone he was sure this was what they had been looking for all along. The gem in his hand glowed a deep blood red, flawless, cut in the shape of an orb. There could be no doubt this was the Gem of Kimera.
"Good," Bestar rasped, drew his sword and killed the human where he knelt, satisfied.
***
Mojave Desert, California
"Listen up." Graham shouted into the din of the meeting room. He waited for the inevitable silence as every soldier in the room settled down for the meeting. Once accomplished he nodded to Forrest whom took his place in front of everyone.
"Alright." Forrest said into the silence. "As all of you well know we have a vampire in out midst who wants things the way they were as much as we do. And you all know the reason why we have agreed to let him help us." He glanced around the room. "It has been a year in the making and now we are ready. Tomorrow we will head out in teams of three. Most of you will converge into the city of Los Angeles; you will vanish into the city and remain there. If this plan fails you will try to get as many people out of that city as possible and find a place to live out your lives."
"The rest of you," Graham continued forestalling any arguments. "Will be assigned to two teams, one will travel to Sunnydale where a contact is waiting to sneak us into the city. The other team will be standing by for further orders. It is important that everyone follow their orders, the success of this mission depends on it."
"Sir?" one of the younger solders asked. "What about our men who are still within Sunnydale?"
"Count them as dead." Angel answered form the shadows. "Prador Saceros made sure any threat to him was eradicated once the demons had control of most of the city. If any of them survived they will only be a shell of their former selves now."
"Then how do you know your grandson is still alive?" the same solder bit out.
Angel stepped out of the shadows right next to the young man. "Because." He said calmly. "Prador Saceros would have kept the only fully human child born from a vampire and a human alive at all costs. To kill the Link of Ages would mean his destruction."
"Listen up as I call your names." Graham said interrupting. "If your name isn't called you will pair up with someone in teams of three and head for Los Angeles." He took out a list. "Michael Liven, Josh Agate, Justin Borne, Harry Marshals, Peter Harris, Daniel Max, Jacob Waters. The rest of you are dismissed."
Everyone but eight men left the main room. Graham met the eyes of Mathew Miller and sighed, "Mathew you are dismissed."
"No," the young man said standing his ground. "I'm not going to hide while you go out and get yourself killed."
"Let him stay," Angel said watching the boy closely. "Someone will need to retrieve Xander and he knows how to get by other demons."
Graham gave the vampire a challenge in glaring; finally he shifted his gaze to the younger Miller. "You will follow your orders to the letter young man, or I will personally send you back here."
Mathew nodded giving his father a solute.
Graham shook his head, "Alright, Jacob, Peter, Josh; you will stay here with the chopper. If we do not return tomorrow you will fly over the Sunnydale and deploy the weapon." The three young men nodded and left the room to get some sleep while they still could. Graham turned to the rest. "The rest of us will meet Angels contact at Sunnydale's city limits. He will get us into the city; from there you will be given orders. Dismissed."
"You shouldn't have given into him." Forrest said once the others were gone. "You know that if we succeed there is a chance he will have the same fate as us."
"I know." Graham said. "But there is the chance he will anyway." He turned to his long time friend. "Beside, in the right timeline I might never get the chance to have him."
Forrest nodded, patted his friends shoulder and left to get ready.
"You will never regret the time you are able to spend with your son." Angel told the young man wistfully then walked away.
"I hope your right." Graham said quietly into the empty room.
***
Sunnydale, California 2001
Riley held Xander close as they stood in the crowd among the demons. The boy had tried to bolt when Buffy and Giles were lead to the podium, yet the vampire refused to let him go, he refused to let Xander have the same fate as the rest of his friends and family. A few others also been lead to the podium as well, people that Riley and Xander didn't know, but figured were some threat to Saceros and his reign over the world.
"Please Riley." Xander whimpered into his ear as the large demon walked onto the podium surveying his captives. Riley caught Buffy's eye and her pleading look for him to keep Xander safe, she knew she would die this day yet as ever thought of others and their safety before hers.
"Shh." Riley said into the boy's ear holding him closer. A few demons gave the pair an odd look, Riley merely mouthed 'new mate' to them and they understood. They only say Xander as a pretty little thing that most likely had no mind past that of a child's, not a good Childer, but that makings of a devoted mate.
At the moment that thought would be true.
Saceros looked over his captives a clawed hand scratching the underside of his chin. "I seem to be missing a little white knight." Riley froze as the demons gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Riley and Xander. "You!" he pointed at the soled vampire. "Bring him to me."
Taking a deep un-needed breath Riley half carried, half dragged Xander to the podium. "My lord." He said in a whisper. "The boy is no threat, the vampire that was his father is dead and the boy has lost his mind."
Saceros growled in warning and took Xander's face in one of his clawed hands making the boy look him in the eye. Riley knew but the surprised look in the demons eyes Saceros knew what the Diamphire was and what his death would mean.
With a hiss the demons threw that boy back into the vampire's arms. "Keep him then." Saceros said and walked to his first sacrifice.
Riley breathed a sigh of relief and carried Xander back into the crowd.
Saceros stopped in front of the Slayer a slight smile playing his lips. "So the Slayer falls." He murmured "You have no idea the pleasure it gives me to see the greatest Slayer to ever live die by my hand. To bad you will be the last Slayer it might have been sporting to hunt each one of you down."
"Oh don't worry too much." Buffy said in defiance. "You will fall by the hand of my kind, mark my words you will not live to see your thirty-first year of reign."
"Oh I doubt you will have any say in that matter much longer." Saceros said taking her by the throat. "In fact you won't be saying much at all." With that he snapped her neck in two.
Riley covered Xander's mouth with his hand to keep the boy from crying out. He hid the boys face in his chest to keep the tears from public view; it wouldn't do to have other demons know that the boy was in control of his mind.
Saceros dropped the Slayers body with a disappointed look. "And I thought that would be harder." He commented electing a laugh from the crowd. He turned to Giles, "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"Combust." Was all the Ex-Watcher said before he went up in flames.
Saceros looked impressed, "Well I guess if that was the way he wanted to go."
"Xander Com'on." Riley said nudging the boy. "Let's go." Xander whimpered again and allowed himself to be lead out of the crowd.
And then there were two.
***
Sunnydale, California 2030
Malcolm carefully slid his rope down over the edge of the cut window. If he didn't get the movement right the rope would crash into one of the sensors and alert the guards. Yet if he moved too slowly he would run out of time. Sometimes he wished for more advanced technology.
"Ok that's good." The little voice said in his ear. Xander's cool voice over the mic soothed his nerves a little enough for his to do his job correctly. Carefully Malcolm lowered himself over the edge of the window and lowered himself down the rope.
"Not too fast." Riley's voice cut in, in warning. "The guards are attracted to certain movements."
"It would help if you knew what kind of movements." Malcolm whispered back trough clenched teeth.
"Well that would make burglary too easy wouldn't it?" Riley countered with low amusement.
"Bloody hell!" Malcolm exclaimed as the robe snapped and he fell to the padded ground below.
The lights in the dark room came on and Riley and Xander walked in taking off their head mics. The room in light showed only the work out room Riley had given Xander decked out to resemble part of the Prador's palace. They had been working on this particular plan for months but couldn't seem to get it to work.
"Why dose that keep happening?" Xander asked annoyed helping Malcolm to his feet.
"I still say it's the rope," Malcolm said rubbing his backside. "It just doesn't seem strong enough."
"Maybe you're just to heavy." Riley said earning himself a glare. "No I mean it, we need to have a thin rope but even tough it is strong the closer to the ground you get the less weight it can hold." He looked Xander over. "Xan, you're a skinny rat, you try it."
"I'm gonna pretend you didn't just call me that." Xander growled, but took the broken rope and scaled the small ladder to the fake window.
"Ok," Riley said clapping his hands together, "Lets try this again!"
***
Tunnel Entrance to Sunnydale
"So where is the contact we're suppose to meet?" Graham whispered to the shadow next to him as he glanced back at his fidgeting men.
"We're early." Angel answered for the fifth time. "He'll be here."
Graham sighed moving himself closer the shadowed form of his son. "Ok, lets review what you are to go when we get inside." He whispered feeling the boy roll his eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me Mathew this is important."
"I know," Mathew said with a sigh to match his fathers. "Once I get in there I go with Angel and look for his grandson. Once he's found we head back here, if you don't come back in an hour we are to go to LA." He rolled his eyes again. "I know what I'm doing father, it's not like I haven't before."
"Dose he remind you of someone?" an accented voice said from the shadows. Everyone but Angel and Graham jumped, the former because he know the owner of the voice was there and the latter because long practice kept his still.
"He reminds me very much of Xander, or were you thinking of someone else?" Angel commented dryly as to figures emerged from the shadows.
"No," Doyle drawled. "Xan was who I was thinking of. This the team?"
"Yup."
Doyle nodded. "Ok, who comin' with me and who goin' with Giles here?"
An older man stepped out of the shadows burn scares were ever flesh showed, white hair, and a battle axe no one doubted he could use.
"The squirt and I are coming with you." Angel said, "The rest of them are going with Giles."
"Lets go then" Doyle said cheerfully leading them trough the tunnel into the cold Sunnydale air.
"Ok, split up." Graham said. "You have your orders."
Angel and Mathew ignored Graham's orders to the others as they followed Doyle down another path seconds later being melded into the darkness.
***
"This is hopeless," Xander muttered after he too have fallen at a slightly lower height then Malcolm had. "We either need a stronger rope or a new plan. Either way I'm going for a walk."
"Xander." Riley warned quietly, now was not the time to go hunting.
"Just a walk Ri, I need to think." Xander said walking to the door. "I'll be back in an hour."
"You better be!" Riley shouted to the shut door.
Ten minutes later Xander was outside headed for the park most of the 'pets' frequented on warm summer nights. In this city there was less of a chance of being attacked then in some of the other cities. That was only because anyone dieing here had to be cleared if the death was intentional and everyone knew the consequences of breaking that law. The park as expected was empty at this time of night as most of the pets had gone home to their masters or to sleep away another day. It was a dull existence really.
Xander sat on one of the swings gently swaying beck and forth as he thought of the problem with the rope and how they would get inside the Prador's palace. It had already proven that it wouldn't be easy, but that was a given, what they wanted to accomplish was everything Saceros didn't want happening. Security would be even tighter now that the Gem of Kimera had been found, the gods knew how many lower demons and living humans would love to get their hands on it just for the power. Only a hand full of those people would get it to set time right again. It was going to be a close race, and Xander was pretty sure he and Riley were the only ones who knew how to stop all of this from happening again once the time line had be set right. That was the key, to make sure this never happened again. Ever.
Movement to his left caught his attention. For a moment Xander ignored it thinking it was one of the other mates that had spotted a comrade - they being the only ones that would come over here now that Xander was here. Yet when no familiar voice greeted him, he raised his head to find out who had come.
There standing in the soft moon light were two people he thought he knew and one he thought looked similar to someone he knew. But that was impossible because he and Riley had been the only survivors. Yet there they stood, plan as night, waiting for him to acknowledge them.
Which he did, by shrieking and falling backward out of the swing while trying to get away. Unfortunately his leg caught in the swing and wouldn't untangle in his panic. The thing that couldn't possibly be his grandfather quickly moved to his side moving to untangle his leg. Xander shrieked again jerking away as best he could hoping one of the police demons would hear and come help him.
"Xander, Xander! Its alright, it's me." The thing that looked like Angel said trying to calm the flighty boy.
"No, no, no! You're dead! They're all dead!" Xander cried as he gave us his struggles.
Angel didn't feel this was the time to point out that indeed he was dead, he didn't think the boy mean dead as in undead anyway. "Xander look at me" he said in a soothing matter. "I'm not dead, dead I promise. I've been stuck in LA trying to find a way here."
The boy eyed him skeptically "You left us- left me! Angel wouldn't to that if he was still alive!"
"And I didn't leave you." Angel said firmly capturing the boys' face in his hands. "I'm here now, and you're going to have to trust I know what's best for you, because we have to leave the city now."
Xander shook his head violently. "No! Can't leave now!" he pulled free of the swing and Angel standing a few paces away from him. "We've come so close we've almost got the way in, Riley-"
"Riley?" Angel growled stepping closer to the boy taking a good whiff of the boys' scent. "What did he do to you?"
Xander blinked in confusion. "Do to me? What do you mean what did he do to me? He's kept me a live all this time. If it weren't for him I'd be some demons play thing, or worse dead!" Angel eyed him; Xander suddenly knew what the vampire had meant. "Ewww! No way, like I said he kept me alive, but he never touched me."
Angel nodded, "Fine, but your coming with me, its no longer safe here."
Again Xander shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere with you, just because you look like him doesn't mean you are him. I have to go anyway before I'm missed." He turned to leave only to find himself facing the business end of a taser, the young man staring at him with cold eyes.
"You are not going away were Xander." Angel said stepping behind him.
"If you were the real Angel you wouldn't be doing this." Xander whispered not taking his eyes off the weapon.
Angel snorted. "Of course I would" he said, "I'm your grandfather."
"If you say so." Xander said knocked the weapon out of the young mans hand and ran.
"No, I do think he and Mathew are at all alike." Angel said sarcastically to Doyle and gave chase.
"Should we go after them?" Mathew asked cradling his injured wrist.
"Do you think you can catch up with a vampire and a half vamp at full speed?" Doyle asked casually.
"Never tried it." Mathew admitted. "But we need to do something."
"Good point, common." Doyle said and ran after the fast retreated figures. Mathew muttered under his breath and followed at a slightly slower pace then the demons he was chasing.
Angel chased Xander into a run down building. The door the boy went through was not a way into the building as he had though but down a small hall the lead into the underground were most of the lower demons lived. The demons there looked curiously at the boy running from the vampire, but move neither to help nor hinder nor aid. Behind him he could hear Doyle and Mathew catching up with him both breathing hard with the effort. In front of him Xander had stopped to pound on a door that wouldn't let him enter in his panicked state.
"Riley! Malcolm! Someone! Help!" he yelling slamming his fist against the door to make as much noise as possible.
"Xander." Angel said calmly stopping a few feet away from the boy, Doyle and Mathew right behind him.
"No, stay away!" Xander pleaded pounding harder on the door.
"Xan, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm trying to save you." Angel said still keeping his voice as calm as possible.
"No, your not!" Xander yelled. "Your not Angel! Angel died twenty-nine years ago!"
"Did they brain wash him or something?" Mathew asked Doyle quietly watching the trade.
Doyle watched for a moment longer and shook his head. "I don't think so." He watched the boy's expression. "No I think he just gave up hope on any one else being alive, and now that he sees someone he is afraid to believe that it could be true."
"Interesting." Mathew said.
Suddenly the door was opened and a blond man grabbed Xander dragging him away from Angel and behind him. Angel stood his ground watching the blond with a challenge on his face half-shifting in and out of his demon face.
"Angel." The blond finally acknowledged turning back to the boy in his care. "It's ok Xanny, it's really Angel."
Xander just turned tail and ran deeper into the underground building.
Riley smirked. "Well, I take it he didn't take you well."
"He was simply ecstatic." Angel deadpanned.
"Don't take it personally," Riley said. "He hasn't been the same since Spike was killed, he's too afraid to believe anyone else could still be around."
"I understand." Angel said, and he did this disaster had taken a lot out of him as well.
Riley turned to Doyle and Mathew. He nodded to Doyle as if expecting him and eyed Mathew for a moment before shaking his head. "Please come in all of you." He held up his hand a little. "As long as none of you have ill intentions."
"Riley there are two vampires living here," Angel said in exasperation. "It's not like anyone here needs an invitation."
Riley snorted. "On the contrary, there is a human living here. But if you have no ill intentions you make come in."
Angel raised an eyebrow and the mention of a human, but entered the door way into the main room of the structure. He whistled in appreciation and surveyed how well they had been surviving; they had done pretty well for themselves. This place was even fit to house a human, hell, several humans in fact.
Speaking of humans. Once the main door was closed a young man wearing simple jeans and a tee shirt walked down a small flight of steps a look of worry on his face. "Riley." He said not noticing the others yet. "What happened to Xander? He looks like he's seen a- err.."
"It's alright Mal." Riley assured him. "Just some surprises at a very in opportune time"
"Indeed." The young man said his British accent thick with uncertainty. "Well if you would like to know he's hiding under his bed and wont come out."
"Thank you Mal." Riley said then nodded to Angel. "Why don't you show Xanny's grandfather to his room, they really need to talk, but stick around just incase."
Malcolm nodded. "If you will just follow me."
Angel nodded and followed the Brit. back up the stairs.
Riley turned back to Doyle and Mathew. "I take it you didn't tell any of them our plan." He asked Doyle who shook his head.
"What plan?" Mathew asked looked back and forth between the souled vampire and the half demon.
"Graham makes fine looking children." Riley commented ignoring the question.
"Doesn't he?" Doyle asked. "This one is genetically made. He and Forest for some reason can't mate with females. So Graham begged one of the researchers to find a way for him to have children, carried the boy to full term too."
Riley acted surprised, while such a thing didn't surprise him in the least knowing Graham. "Who's the other father then?"
Doyle grinned flinging an arm over the vampires shoulder. "Remember those samples the good Professor had you give to be frozen?"
"Really?" Riley asked, no surprised. "I got a kid now huh?"
Mathew paled. "Genetic.."
Riley caught the boy before he hit the ground.
***
"Xander?" Malcolm asked kneeling down to look under the bed.
"Are they gone?" Xander asked in a muffled voice as he had dragged several blankets down with him to hide under as well.
"Your grandfather seems like a nice man." Malcolm commented with out answering the question. "And I do believe he is very much.undead.not a ghost."
Xander simply sniffed in reply.
Malcolm sat up and looked at Angel standing in the doorway. "He'll be under there for a while longer."
"Dose he do this often?" Angel asked admiring the way the young man handled the other.
"Well," Malcolm said in thought. "I've been here a year and he's done this about four times a month. Panic attacks you know, or nightmares."
Angel nodded. "Not to sound heartless or anything, but I need him out very soon, in fact all of us have to leave soon."
Malcolm raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Angel stated at the young man for a long moment and finally sighed. "In an hour and a half what remains of the US government is going to blow up this town."
Malcolm blinked. "Blow up?" he asked, "Well I guess that cuts our schedule a little tight. Might I ask why they are doing this?"
"Because they believe in doing so they will sent the time line right." Angel answered as if he didn't like it any better then Malcolm seemed too.
"Oh." Malcolm said kneeling down again and then crawling under the bed with Xander. "Xander? We have to go get the Gem now."
A sniff then Xander's head lifted from the folds of a blanket. "Why?"
"Because the surviving government are idiots." Malcolm answered.
"Did he go away?" Xander asked in a small voice.
Malcolm shook his head. "No, Xanny, but your gonna have to be strong for me, can you do that?" Xander nodded a little wiping his eyes with a sleeve. "That a boy, common." He slid out from under the bed taking Xander with his least he lose his courage and take even longer to coax out again. The boy watched Angel nervously, Malcolm motioned the vampire not to speak, and as long as nothing was said Xander would be fine for a while.
"What happened to him?" Malcolm asked as he lead Xander back into the foyer where the others were waiting.
"Found out I'm a dad." Riley answered proudly. "Well a donor second dad. He didn't take the revelation to well."
"I see." Malcolm said making Xander sit next to the unconscious young man. "Well I have a revelation as well. We need to get the Gem as of five minutes ago."
Riley looked between Doyle and Angel. "What did they do?"
"They are going to blow up Sunnydale, they think it will set the time like back to normal." Doyle answered.
"Giles took them back to the old school to set up markers." Angel said.
Xander whimpered moving to hide his head in Riley's shoulder. Angel looked at them apologetically.
"Angel," Riley said slowly. "Giles died twenty-nine years ago. It one of the main causes of Xander's nightmares, watching him die."
"The Powers needed him." Doyle said. "He didn't come out of the predicament unscathed, but he is indeed alive."
Riley shook his head. "We go after the Gem now, you guys can come or go back, but we are going to the palace. Malcolm get our supplies, we have to go in the hard way."
"On it," Malcolm said.
"Xander doesn't look like he's fit to walk let alone help fight a head demon." Angel said inwardly wincing as the boy outwardly flinched at the sound of his voice.
"Xanny's mental state half the time is the reason why Prador Saceros set the wards so only he or Xander could get in, he thought it would be a great joke since Buffy's body is perfectly preserved and hanging on the wall in his anti-chamber were the Gem will be. We tried to find other ways in, but we don't have time now. Xander will have to face his fears to save the world, I just hope that if this works he won't remember anything about this place."
"Then we'll go with you." Mathew said with a groan as he sat up slowly. "If we go out, I wanna go out kicking as many asses as I can."
"I don't think your father would like that." Riley pointed out to the young man.
"My father, passes down his immortality to me." Mathew said. "Add that to my other fathers immortality, and yours as well, I doubt I have much to worry about."
Riley had to count that equation several times in his head still getting an odd number. "Did you just add another person into that statement?" Riley asked confused.
Mathew nodded. "Well, there is Graham, and Forest, and I guess now you."
Riley shook his head. "I think I've gone cross-eyed."
"It's ok, I was a bit surprised myself." Mathew answered. "Well about you, not them."
"If you are immortal like Graham and Forest, what will happen if we set the time line right?" Angel asked.
Mathew shrugged. "Well, it its still this date then a guess nothing. But if the date goes back I might regress, not by much tough, maybe to about seven or eight."
"If we get the Gem the time like will go back to just before all this happened. The trick is to stop all of this from happening again." Riley said. "Its another reason why Xander needs to take the Gem, he is the only one that would know what happened that day."
"I have everything we will need." Malcolm said running down the stairs carrying two packs in his hands. "I just hope this works, we only have one shot."
"It'll work." Riley said taking one of the packs and strapping it to Xander's back.
Malcolm looked at Xander in concern, "Is he up to this? I've never seen him in this state before."
"I know." Riley said, "Just be ready."
Malcolm nodded strapping the second pack onto his back.
Riley nodded again picked Xander up and carried him to the door. "Ok, let's head out, we don't have much time left."
Malcolm followed Riley and his burden out the door leaving the other three to follow. "Do we have a chance of this working?" Mathew asked the two older demons.
Doyle shrugged. "Well its unlikely we will survive. Well you'll survive. And if this works it wont matter anyway cause none of this would have ever happened."
"Then why would I still be a live?" Mathew asked confused.
"Because more then likely you would have been born the same way you were in any time line." Angel answered.
"I had to ask didn't I?" Mathew asked shaking his head.
"Yes." Doyle answered. "Now lets go, I'm sick of this time line, lets try another one."
"Sounds good to me." Angel said casually.
"Are you guy's coming or not?" Riley asked in exasperation, "This isn't a picnic you know."
"Oh, yeah right." The three agreed and followed.
Chapter Three
Jerusalem, Israel 2030
The dig was dark and dank even in the hot desert sun, magicked to resemble the dwellings of the workers. The work was slow; most of them were humans, either too old, too weak, or too young to do any of the harder labor the minor demons could. The rest of the workers were lower class demons that had no say in the matter.
Bestar glared into the glum how hard was it to find a little gem? It wasn't like finding its resting place was that hard, they knew exactly were to dig. Yet it had been nearly two years and there was still nothing to show for it. Bestar growled and kicked the nearest worker. If they didn't find something soon he was going to start executing.
As if reading his mind a lone human came running up to him holding something in his hands. Bestar held his urge to lope off the humans' head and waited for it to stop in front of him.
"Master," The human panted holding up the object in his hands as he knelt on the ground. "We have found it."
Bestar growled and snatched the stone out of the human's hands ready to kill it for lying. Yet when he opened his hand to the stone he was sure this was what they had been looking for all along. The gem in his hand glowed a deep blood red, flawless, cut in the shape of an orb. There could be no doubt this was the Gem of Kimera.
"Good," Bestar rasped, drew his sword and killed the human where he knelt, satisfied.
***
Mojave Desert, California
"Listen up." Graham shouted into the din of the meeting room. He waited for the inevitable silence as every soldier in the room settled down for the meeting. Once accomplished he nodded to Forrest whom took his place in front of everyone.
"Alright." Forrest said into the silence. "As all of you well know we have a vampire in out midst who wants things the way they were as much as we do. And you all know the reason why we have agreed to let him help us." He glanced around the room. "It has been a year in the making and now we are ready. Tomorrow we will head out in teams of three. Most of you will converge into the city of Los Angeles; you will vanish into the city and remain there. If this plan fails you will try to get as many people out of that city as possible and find a place to live out your lives."
"The rest of you," Graham continued forestalling any arguments. "Will be assigned to two teams, one will travel to Sunnydale where a contact is waiting to sneak us into the city. The other team will be standing by for further orders. It is important that everyone follow their orders, the success of this mission depends on it."
"Sir?" one of the younger solders asked. "What about our men who are still within Sunnydale?"
"Count them as dead." Angel answered form the shadows. "Prador Saceros made sure any threat to him was eradicated once the demons had control of most of the city. If any of them survived they will only be a shell of their former selves now."
"Then how do you know your grandson is still alive?" the same solder bit out.
Angel stepped out of the shadows right next to the young man. "Because." He said calmly. "Prador Saceros would have kept the only fully human child born from a vampire and a human alive at all costs. To kill the Link of Ages would mean his destruction."
"Listen up as I call your names." Graham said interrupting. "If your name isn't called you will pair up with someone in teams of three and head for Los Angeles." He took out a list. "Michael Liven, Josh Agate, Justin Borne, Harry Marshals, Peter Harris, Daniel Max, Jacob Waters. The rest of you are dismissed."
Everyone but eight men left the main room. Graham met the eyes of Mathew Miller and sighed, "Mathew you are dismissed."
"No," the young man said standing his ground. "I'm not going to hide while you go out and get yourself killed."
"Let him stay," Angel said watching the boy closely. "Someone will need to retrieve Xander and he knows how to get by other demons."
Graham gave the vampire a challenge in glaring; finally he shifted his gaze to the younger Miller. "You will follow your orders to the letter young man, or I will personally send you back here."
Mathew nodded giving his father a solute.
Graham shook his head, "Alright, Jacob, Peter, Josh; you will stay here with the chopper. If we do not return tomorrow you will fly over the Sunnydale and deploy the weapon." The three young men nodded and left the room to get some sleep while they still could. Graham turned to the rest. "The rest of us will meet Angels contact at Sunnydale's city limits. He will get us into the city; from there you will be given orders. Dismissed."
"You shouldn't have given into him." Forrest said once the others were gone. "You know that if we succeed there is a chance he will have the same fate as us."
"I know." Graham said. "But there is the chance he will anyway." He turned to his long time friend. "Beside, in the right timeline I might never get the chance to have him."
Forrest nodded, patted his friends shoulder and left to get ready.
"You will never regret the time you are able to spend with your son." Angel told the young man wistfully then walked away.
"I hope your right." Graham said quietly into the empty room.
***
Sunnydale, California 2001
Riley held Xander close as they stood in the crowd among the demons. The boy had tried to bolt when Buffy and Giles were lead to the podium, yet the vampire refused to let him go, he refused to let Xander have the same fate as the rest of his friends and family. A few others also been lead to the podium as well, people that Riley and Xander didn't know, but figured were some threat to Saceros and his reign over the world.
"Please Riley." Xander whimpered into his ear as the large demon walked onto the podium surveying his captives. Riley caught Buffy's eye and her pleading look for him to keep Xander safe, she knew she would die this day yet as ever thought of others and their safety before hers.
"Shh." Riley said into the boy's ear holding him closer. A few demons gave the pair an odd look, Riley merely mouthed 'new mate' to them and they understood. They only say Xander as a pretty little thing that most likely had no mind past that of a child's, not a good Childer, but that makings of a devoted mate.
At the moment that thought would be true.
Saceros looked over his captives a clawed hand scratching the underside of his chin. "I seem to be missing a little white knight." Riley froze as the demons gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Riley and Xander. "You!" he pointed at the soled vampire. "Bring him to me."
Taking a deep un-needed breath Riley half carried, half dragged Xander to the podium. "My lord." He said in a whisper. "The boy is no threat, the vampire that was his father is dead and the boy has lost his mind."
Saceros growled in warning and took Xander's face in one of his clawed hands making the boy look him in the eye. Riley knew but the surprised look in the demons eyes Saceros knew what the Diamphire was and what his death would mean.
With a hiss the demons threw that boy back into the vampire's arms. "Keep him then." Saceros said and walked to his first sacrifice.
Riley breathed a sigh of relief and carried Xander back into the crowd.
Saceros stopped in front of the Slayer a slight smile playing his lips. "So the Slayer falls." He murmured "You have no idea the pleasure it gives me to see the greatest Slayer to ever live die by my hand. To bad you will be the last Slayer it might have been sporting to hunt each one of you down."
"Oh don't worry too much." Buffy said in defiance. "You will fall by the hand of my kind, mark my words you will not live to see your thirty-first year of reign."
"Oh I doubt you will have any say in that matter much longer." Saceros said taking her by the throat. "In fact you won't be saying much at all." With that he snapped her neck in two.
Riley covered Xander's mouth with his hand to keep the boy from crying out. He hid the boys face in his chest to keep the tears from public view; it wouldn't do to have other demons know that the boy was in control of his mind.
Saceros dropped the Slayers body with a disappointed look. "And I thought that would be harder." He commented electing a laugh from the crowd. He turned to Giles, "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"Combust." Was all the Ex-Watcher said before he went up in flames.
Saceros looked impressed, "Well I guess if that was the way he wanted to go."
"Xander Com'on." Riley said nudging the boy. "Let's go." Xander whimpered again and allowed himself to be lead out of the crowd.
And then there were two.
***
Sunnydale, California 2030
Malcolm carefully slid his rope down over the edge of the cut window. If he didn't get the movement right the rope would crash into one of the sensors and alert the guards. Yet if he moved too slowly he would run out of time. Sometimes he wished for more advanced technology.
"Ok that's good." The little voice said in his ear. Xander's cool voice over the mic soothed his nerves a little enough for his to do his job correctly. Carefully Malcolm lowered himself over the edge of the window and lowered himself down the rope.
"Not too fast." Riley's voice cut in, in warning. "The guards are attracted to certain movements."
"It would help if you knew what kind of movements." Malcolm whispered back trough clenched teeth.
"Well that would make burglary too easy wouldn't it?" Riley countered with low amusement.
"Bloody hell!" Malcolm exclaimed as the robe snapped and he fell to the padded ground below.
The lights in the dark room came on and Riley and Xander walked in taking off their head mics. The room in light showed only the work out room Riley had given Xander decked out to resemble part of the Prador's palace. They had been working on this particular plan for months but couldn't seem to get it to work.
"Why dose that keep happening?" Xander asked annoyed helping Malcolm to his feet.
"I still say it's the rope," Malcolm said rubbing his backside. "It just doesn't seem strong enough."
"Maybe you're just to heavy." Riley said earning himself a glare. "No I mean it, we need to have a thin rope but even tough it is strong the closer to the ground you get the less weight it can hold." He looked Xander over. "Xan, you're a skinny rat, you try it."
"I'm gonna pretend you didn't just call me that." Xander growled, but took the broken rope and scaled the small ladder to the fake window.
"Ok," Riley said clapping his hands together, "Lets try this again!"
***
Tunnel Entrance to Sunnydale
"So where is the contact we're suppose to meet?" Graham whispered to the shadow next to him as he glanced back at his fidgeting men.
"We're early." Angel answered for the fifth time. "He'll be here."
Graham sighed moving himself closer the shadowed form of his son. "Ok, lets review what you are to go when we get inside." He whispered feeling the boy roll his eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me Mathew this is important."
"I know," Mathew said with a sigh to match his fathers. "Once I get in there I go with Angel and look for his grandson. Once he's found we head back here, if you don't come back in an hour we are to go to LA." He rolled his eyes again. "I know what I'm doing father, it's not like I haven't before."
"Dose he remind you of someone?" an accented voice said from the shadows. Everyone but Angel and Graham jumped, the former because he know the owner of the voice was there and the latter because long practice kept his still.
"He reminds me very much of Xander, or were you thinking of someone else?" Angel commented dryly as to figures emerged from the shadows.
"No," Doyle drawled. "Xan was who I was thinking of. This the team?"
"Yup."
Doyle nodded. "Ok, who comin' with me and who goin' with Giles here?"
An older man stepped out of the shadows burn scares were ever flesh showed, white hair, and a battle axe no one doubted he could use.
"The squirt and I are coming with you." Angel said, "The rest of them are going with Giles."
"Lets go then" Doyle said cheerfully leading them trough the tunnel into the cold Sunnydale air.
"Ok, split up." Graham said. "You have your orders."
Angel and Mathew ignored Graham's orders to the others as they followed Doyle down another path seconds later being melded into the darkness.
***
"This is hopeless," Xander muttered after he too have fallen at a slightly lower height then Malcolm had. "We either need a stronger rope or a new plan. Either way I'm going for a walk."
"Xander." Riley warned quietly, now was not the time to go hunting.
"Just a walk Ri, I need to think." Xander said walking to the door. "I'll be back in an hour."
"You better be!" Riley shouted to the shut door.
Ten minutes later Xander was outside headed for the park most of the 'pets' frequented on warm summer nights. In this city there was less of a chance of being attacked then in some of the other cities. That was only because anyone dieing here had to be cleared if the death was intentional and everyone knew the consequences of breaking that law. The park as expected was empty at this time of night as most of the pets had gone home to their masters or to sleep away another day. It was a dull existence really.
Xander sat on one of the swings gently swaying beck and forth as he thought of the problem with the rope and how they would get inside the Prador's palace. It had already proven that it wouldn't be easy, but that was a given, what they wanted to accomplish was everything Saceros didn't want happening. Security would be even tighter now that the Gem of Kimera had been found, the gods knew how many lower demons and living humans would love to get their hands on it just for the power. Only a hand full of those people would get it to set time right again. It was going to be a close race, and Xander was pretty sure he and Riley were the only ones who knew how to stop all of this from happening again once the time line had be set right. That was the key, to make sure this never happened again. Ever.
Movement to his left caught his attention. For a moment Xander ignored it thinking it was one of the other mates that had spotted a comrade - they being the only ones that would come over here now that Xander was here. Yet when no familiar voice greeted him, he raised his head to find out who had come.
There standing in the soft moon light were two people he thought he knew and one he thought looked similar to someone he knew. But that was impossible because he and Riley had been the only survivors. Yet there they stood, plan as night, waiting for him to acknowledge them.
Which he did, by shrieking and falling backward out of the swing while trying to get away. Unfortunately his leg caught in the swing and wouldn't untangle in his panic. The thing that couldn't possibly be his grandfather quickly moved to his side moving to untangle his leg. Xander shrieked again jerking away as best he could hoping one of the police demons would hear and come help him.
"Xander, Xander! Its alright, it's me." The thing that looked like Angel said trying to calm the flighty boy.
"No, no, no! You're dead! They're all dead!" Xander cried as he gave us his struggles.
Angel didn't feel this was the time to point out that indeed he was dead, he didn't think the boy mean dead as in undead anyway. "Xander look at me" he said in a soothing matter. "I'm not dead, dead I promise. I've been stuck in LA trying to find a way here."
The boy eyed him skeptically "You left us- left me! Angel wouldn't to that if he was still alive!"
"And I didn't leave you." Angel said firmly capturing the boys' face in his hands. "I'm here now, and you're going to have to trust I know what's best for you, because we have to leave the city now."
Xander shook his head violently. "No! Can't leave now!" he pulled free of the swing and Angel standing a few paces away from him. "We've come so close we've almost got the way in, Riley-"
"Riley?" Angel growled stepping closer to the boy taking a good whiff of the boys' scent. "What did he do to you?"
Xander blinked in confusion. "Do to me? What do you mean what did he do to me? He's kept me a live all this time. If it weren't for him I'd be some demons play thing, or worse dead!" Angel eyed him; Xander suddenly knew what the vampire had meant. "Ewww! No way, like I said he kept me alive, but he never touched me."
Angel nodded, "Fine, but your coming with me, its no longer safe here."
Again Xander shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere with you, just because you look like him doesn't mean you are him. I have to go anyway before I'm missed." He turned to leave only to find himself facing the business end of a taser, the young man staring at him with cold eyes.
"You are not going away were Xander." Angel said stepping behind him.
"If you were the real Angel you wouldn't be doing this." Xander whispered not taking his eyes off the weapon.
Angel snorted. "Of course I would" he said, "I'm your grandfather."
"If you say so." Xander said knocked the weapon out of the young mans hand and ran.
"No, I do think he and Mathew are at all alike." Angel said sarcastically to Doyle and gave chase.
"Should we go after them?" Mathew asked cradling his injured wrist.
"Do you think you can catch up with a vampire and a half vamp at full speed?" Doyle asked casually.
"Never tried it." Mathew admitted. "But we need to do something."
"Good point, common." Doyle said and ran after the fast retreated figures. Mathew muttered under his breath and followed at a slightly slower pace then the demons he was chasing.
Angel chased Xander into a run down building. The door the boy went through was not a way into the building as he had though but down a small hall the lead into the underground were most of the lower demons lived. The demons there looked curiously at the boy running from the vampire, but move neither to help nor hinder nor aid. Behind him he could hear Doyle and Mathew catching up with him both breathing hard with the effort. In front of him Xander had stopped to pound on a door that wouldn't let him enter in his panicked state.
"Riley! Malcolm! Someone! Help!" he yelling slamming his fist against the door to make as much noise as possible.
"Xander." Angel said calmly stopping a few feet away from the boy, Doyle and Mathew right behind him.
"No, stay away!" Xander pleaded pounding harder on the door.
"Xan, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm trying to save you." Angel said still keeping his voice as calm as possible.
"No, your not!" Xander yelled. "Your not Angel! Angel died twenty-nine years ago!"
"Did they brain wash him or something?" Mathew asked Doyle quietly watching the trade.
Doyle watched for a moment longer and shook his head. "I don't think so." He watched the boy's expression. "No I think he just gave up hope on any one else being alive, and now that he sees someone he is afraid to believe that it could be true."
"Interesting." Mathew said.
Suddenly the door was opened and a blond man grabbed Xander dragging him away from Angel and behind him. Angel stood his ground watching the blond with a challenge on his face half-shifting in and out of his demon face.
"Angel." The blond finally acknowledged turning back to the boy in his care. "It's ok Xanny, it's really Angel."
Xander just turned tail and ran deeper into the underground building.
Riley smirked. "Well, I take it he didn't take you well."
"He was simply ecstatic." Angel deadpanned.
"Don't take it personally," Riley said. "He hasn't been the same since Spike was killed, he's too afraid to believe anyone else could still be around."
"I understand." Angel said, and he did this disaster had taken a lot out of him as well.
Riley turned to Doyle and Mathew. He nodded to Doyle as if expecting him and eyed Mathew for a moment before shaking his head. "Please come in all of you." He held up his hand a little. "As long as none of you have ill intentions."
"Riley there are two vampires living here," Angel said in exasperation. "It's not like anyone here needs an invitation."
Riley snorted. "On the contrary, there is a human living here. But if you have no ill intentions you make come in."
Angel raised an eyebrow and the mention of a human, but entered the door way into the main room of the structure. He whistled in appreciation and surveyed how well they had been surviving; they had done pretty well for themselves. This place was even fit to house a human, hell, several humans in fact.
Speaking of humans. Once the main door was closed a young man wearing simple jeans and a tee shirt walked down a small flight of steps a look of worry on his face. "Riley." He said not noticing the others yet. "What happened to Xander? He looks like he's seen a- err.."
"It's alright Mal." Riley assured him. "Just some surprises at a very in opportune time"
"Indeed." The young man said his British accent thick with uncertainty. "Well if you would like to know he's hiding under his bed and wont come out."
"Thank you Mal." Riley said then nodded to Angel. "Why don't you show Xanny's grandfather to his room, they really need to talk, but stick around just incase."
Malcolm nodded. "If you will just follow me."
Angel nodded and followed the Brit. back up the stairs.
Riley turned back to Doyle and Mathew. "I take it you didn't tell any of them our plan." He asked Doyle who shook his head.
"What plan?" Mathew asked looked back and forth between the souled vampire and the half demon.
"Graham makes fine looking children." Riley commented ignoring the question.
"Doesn't he?" Doyle asked. "This one is genetically made. He and Forest for some reason can't mate with females. So Graham begged one of the researchers to find a way for him to have children, carried the boy to full term too."
Riley acted surprised, while such a thing didn't surprise him in the least knowing Graham. "Who's the other father then?"
Doyle grinned flinging an arm over the vampires shoulder. "Remember those samples the good Professor had you give to be frozen?"
"Really?" Riley asked, no surprised. "I got a kid now huh?"
Mathew paled. "Genetic.."
Riley caught the boy before he hit the ground.
***
"Xander?" Malcolm asked kneeling down to look under the bed.
"Are they gone?" Xander asked in a muffled voice as he had dragged several blankets down with him to hide under as well.
"Your grandfather seems like a nice man." Malcolm commented with out answering the question. "And I do believe he is very much.undead.not a ghost."
Xander simply sniffed in reply.
Malcolm sat up and looked at Angel standing in the doorway. "He'll be under there for a while longer."
"Dose he do this often?" Angel asked admiring the way the young man handled the other.
"Well," Malcolm said in thought. "I've been here a year and he's done this about four times a month. Panic attacks you know, or nightmares."
Angel nodded. "Not to sound heartless or anything, but I need him out very soon, in fact all of us have to leave soon."
Malcolm raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Angel stated at the young man for a long moment and finally sighed. "In an hour and a half what remains of the US government is going to blow up this town."
Malcolm blinked. "Blow up?" he asked, "Well I guess that cuts our schedule a little tight. Might I ask why they are doing this?"
"Because they believe in doing so they will sent the time line right." Angel answered as if he didn't like it any better then Malcolm seemed too.
"Oh." Malcolm said kneeling down again and then crawling under the bed with Xander. "Xander? We have to go get the Gem now."
A sniff then Xander's head lifted from the folds of a blanket. "Why?"
"Because the surviving government are idiots." Malcolm answered.
"Did he go away?" Xander asked in a small voice.
Malcolm shook his head. "No, Xanny, but your gonna have to be strong for me, can you do that?" Xander nodded a little wiping his eyes with a sleeve. "That a boy, common." He slid out from under the bed taking Xander with his least he lose his courage and take even longer to coax out again. The boy watched Angel nervously, Malcolm motioned the vampire not to speak, and as long as nothing was said Xander would be fine for a while.
"What happened to him?" Malcolm asked as he lead Xander back into the foyer where the others were waiting.
"Found out I'm a dad." Riley answered proudly. "Well a donor second dad. He didn't take the revelation to well."
"I see." Malcolm said making Xander sit next to the unconscious young man. "Well I have a revelation as well. We need to get the Gem as of five minutes ago."
Riley looked between Doyle and Angel. "What did they do?"
"They are going to blow up Sunnydale, they think it will set the time like back to normal." Doyle answered.
"Giles took them back to the old school to set up markers." Angel said.
Xander whimpered moving to hide his head in Riley's shoulder. Angel looked at them apologetically.
"Angel," Riley said slowly. "Giles died twenty-nine years ago. It one of the main causes of Xander's nightmares, watching him die."
"The Powers needed him." Doyle said. "He didn't come out of the predicament unscathed, but he is indeed alive."
Riley shook his head. "We go after the Gem now, you guys can come or go back, but we are going to the palace. Malcolm get our supplies, we have to go in the hard way."
"On it," Malcolm said.
"Xander doesn't look like he's fit to walk let alone help fight a head demon." Angel said inwardly wincing as the boy outwardly flinched at the sound of his voice.
"Xanny's mental state half the time is the reason why Prador Saceros set the wards so only he or Xander could get in, he thought it would be a great joke since Buffy's body is perfectly preserved and hanging on the wall in his anti-chamber were the Gem will be. We tried to find other ways in, but we don't have time now. Xander will have to face his fears to save the world, I just hope that if this works he won't remember anything about this place."
"Then we'll go with you." Mathew said with a groan as he sat up slowly. "If we go out, I wanna go out kicking as many asses as I can."
"I don't think your father would like that." Riley pointed out to the young man.
"My father, passes down his immortality to me." Mathew said. "Add that to my other fathers immortality, and yours as well, I doubt I have much to worry about."
Riley had to count that equation several times in his head still getting an odd number. "Did you just add another person into that statement?" Riley asked confused.
Mathew nodded. "Well, there is Graham, and Forest, and I guess now you."
Riley shook his head. "I think I've gone cross-eyed."
"It's ok, I was a bit surprised myself." Mathew answered. "Well about you, not them."
"If you are immortal like Graham and Forest, what will happen if we set the time line right?" Angel asked.
Mathew shrugged. "Well, it its still this date then a guess nothing. But if the date goes back I might regress, not by much tough, maybe to about seven or eight."
"If we get the Gem the time like will go back to just before all this happened. The trick is to stop all of this from happening again." Riley said. "Its another reason why Xander needs to take the Gem, he is the only one that would know what happened that day."
"I have everything we will need." Malcolm said running down the stairs carrying two packs in his hands. "I just hope this works, we only have one shot."
"It'll work." Riley said taking one of the packs and strapping it to Xander's back.
Malcolm looked at Xander in concern, "Is he up to this? I've never seen him in this state before."
"I know." Riley said, "Just be ready."
Malcolm nodded strapping the second pack onto his back.
Riley nodded again picked Xander up and carried him to the door. "Ok, let's head out, we don't have much time left."
Malcolm followed Riley and his burden out the door leaving the other three to follow. "Do we have a chance of this working?" Mathew asked the two older demons.
Doyle shrugged. "Well its unlikely we will survive. Well you'll survive. And if this works it wont matter anyway cause none of this would have ever happened."
"Then why would I still be a live?" Mathew asked confused.
"Because more then likely you would have been born the same way you were in any time line." Angel answered.
"I had to ask didn't I?" Mathew asked shaking his head.
"Yes." Doyle answered. "Now lets go, I'm sick of this time line, lets try another one."
"Sounds good to me." Angel said casually.
"Are you guy's coming or not?" Riley asked in exasperation, "This isn't a picnic you know."
"Oh, yeah right." The three agreed and followed.