Chapter 5

Xander's Place
Two Weeks Later.


Xander turned the Mercedes into the driveway, and stopped in the carport. He grabbed his books and headed into the house. As he turned the corner to the backyard, he noticed Giles in the garden, looking at Deidre's handiwork.

Turning, he headed to the shop, where he opened the door and stepped in.

Too late, Giles saw him and yelled for him to hold it.

Xander got one foot in the door and froze. Not more than ten feet from him, Faith was standing in the middle of the shop, wearing only a pair of fire engine red panties. Very skimpy panties, he might add. Her back was to him, and as he gulped, the door slammed into him, knocking him back outside.

Xander found himself sitting on the hard ground outside the shop, too stunned to even think, the image of Faith's shapely behind etched in his mind.

Giles rushed over to help the young man to his feet and heard him mutter something about 'naked Slayer' as he stood.

Buffy stuck her head out of the door and immediately started in on Giles.

"Giles! We told you to guard the door to keep everyone out of here," she said.

"Sorry, Buffy. I was just admiring the garden, and didn't hear him come in."

"Well, keep everyone out," she reminded him, as she started to close the door.

"Gees, Faith, I think you broke Xander," they heard her laugh as the door closed.

Xander had recovered somewhat by now and was looking at the Watcher.

"What's going on, Giles?" he asked.

"I really don't know, Xander," the older man admitted, as he helped the brunet to his feet. "All I know is that Deidre was working on something for Faith, and she asked me to bring Buffy here after school, as well. Something to do with Slaying, apparently, but I don't know exactly what."

"Well, I guess I'll go and change, then, and see what's up when it's okay to enter," Xander responded, wandering off toward the house.

After changing and having a quick snack, Xander returned to the patio to wait with Giles. They were sitting there, awaiting permission to enter Deidre's domain.

"So, how is school going?" Giles asked.

"Not too bad. Willow's been helping me with math and chemistry. Cordy's been helping with English and Current Events, and, strangely enough, she's doing a very good job."

"So, when are you planning on taking your SAT's?" The watcher asked.

"I'm guessing in about two weeks. Have to have them in before the end of the month, if I want to start this fall."

"Mr. Stark is serious about this, isn't he?"

"Yeah, Tony said that if I wanted to keep on working for him on this, I had to have a better understanding of how and why the way things work. I want to be able to work with him without appearing to be an imbecile."

"From what Willow tells me, you are doing a wonderful job. You've managed to pull your grades up to over a C average in just the last month, and are still doing better," Giles commented.

"Yea, well, actually thinking you have a chance now, makes a big difference in the way I look at things nowadays."

"Xander, you always had a chance, you just never saw it. And to my shame, I never thought to point it out to you how smart you were," he apologized. "Intelligence can take many forms. You have seen things, helped us plan things that Willow and I never noticed. You look at things differently. Not in a bad way, only a different one, which we never truly recognized was just as valid as ours, and so we ignored you, and let you think you were useless."

"Thanks Giles," Xander said, in a voice thick with emotion. "That means a lot, coming from you."

The door opened and Buffy stuck her head out. "Come on in, guys, she's decent now."

Ever since the Cruciamentum, Buffy, Willow and Oz were treating both Faith and Xander with new respect. And Buffy found that once she got to know the real Faith, not the one hiding behind a tough attitude, that the younger girl and she had a lot in common.

Xander and Giles entered the shop, curious, and became even more so when they saw the young Slayer.

Faith was standing next to Deidre wearing some kind of armored vest.

What they could see above the waist of her hip hugging jeans looked almost like Xander's chest piece. There were no sleeves, or helmet, but there was a armored collar that went up to just below the chin, and a piece that went up the back of her neck and head. It didn't cover the ears, but there were ear pieces, and a narrow band that encircled her forehead, somewhat like a metal sweatband.

Deidre looked at the two staring men and smirked. The outfit hugged the Slayer's body like a very tight metal tee shirt.

"Welcome, gentlemen," Deidre greeted them in her Scottish brogue. "This is the prototype of the Mark III, Slayer Armored Combat Vest."

"Wow," was all Xander could say as he looked it over.

Faith caught his eye and gave him a sly grin, which caused him to blush furiously.

"What exactly does this vest do?" asked Giles.

Deidre smiled, she was getting into her area now, and she was getting ready to lecture.

"After everything that has gone on here lately, I wondered if there was a way to better protect the girls, without costing them their mobility. So, working with Faith, I managed to adapt a simpler version of Xander's chest plate. It doesn't have the multi-purpose light or repulsor beam in it, but it still provides the armor's protection. The piece going up the back of the neck was the most difficult to put together, trying to add the protection without limiting the flexibility that a Slayer needs, but I worked it out over time. The headpiece protects the back of the skull, as well as holds the transceiver electronics," she explained.

"Yea, D here was having me bend every way possible to check this thing out, but she finally put this one together. I'm supposed to patrol in it tonight to check it out," Faith added.

"Once we are sure that this one is configured correctly, I will put one together for Buffy, and then work on adding some teeth to it. But, as it is right now, a Slayer wearing this is protected over the most vital areas."

Giles was stunned, enough so that he staggered back and dropped into a chair along the wall.

He was one of the most unconventional Watchers in their recent history, but the idea that a group of people who just recently became aware of Slayers and try to ensure their survival more than surprised him. That they would spend so much time, money, and effort to aid them just staggered him.

He just sat there, watching Faith go through a complicated routine to test the limits of her movement and wondered. Wondered why the Council of Watchers never considered putting any of their considerable resources into providing any protective clothing or better weapons for the Slayers.

Suddenly, both Buffy and Faith became aware that their Watcher was sitting quietly in the corner, a single tear tracking down his cheek.

Both girls went to him, kneeling down next to him.

"Giles. Is everything okay?" Buffy asked, concern in her voice.

"Why?" he said softly. "Why is it that it has to be someone outside of the Council that would show concern for the safety of the slayers? All the resources available to them, and they never once tried to do anything to improve the chances of all those poor girls."

"I don't know Giles. Maybe because most of the ones who make the decisions were never field Watchers. They don't see things the same way. To them we're just tools, something to use until it is no longer useful. I really don't know," Faith speculated.

Xander stood watching the two Slayers comforting their watcher. It was times like these when he truly realized how Giles really felt. Born into tradition, and following those traditions simply because he did not know anything else. Then along comes something like this. A complete stranger starts helping, and comes up with a way to protect 'his' Slayers.

Giles was a good man, and he wanted both Buffy and Faith to be as safe as possible.

You couldn't really fault a man just because he did not know a better way to do something. He was adapting now, and Xander had no doubt that Giles would quickly accept what was happening, and do his part to help things along.

There was the sound of a throat being cleared, and everyone turned to look at Deidre.

"Come on, Faith, we still need to get finished here," said the Scottish engineer.

Faith resumed her place by the computer console, and she stood quietly while she was hooked up to some testing equipment.

"There are still several tests to be completed on this, but everything is going very smoothly, since the existing technology from the power suit that Xander uses is only being slightly modified. Eventually, we will be adding coverings for both the arms and legs as soon as I work out some mobility and flexibility issues. After that, I can add some better weapons. Right now, the main thing is to make sure that you guys are protected from injury," Deidre explained. "Now that I have Buffy's measurements, I can get a vest made for her."

Buffy started to feel out of place as she watched Xander move next to Faith and begin to caress the brunette's back. She was feeling extremely confused as she started to feel slightly jealous of the younger Slayer. She shook her head slightly and sighed. \\ I have Angel, // she told herself.

As Deidre was running a check on Faith's combat vest, Tony Stark came in with a tall dark haired man with an eye patch.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Nick Fury, the head of S.H.I.E.L.D, the Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage, and Logistics Directorate. He's the one I told the Watchers about. He doesn't believe in Vampires or Demons, and wanted to see for himself if I was drinking again."

Xander coolly appraised the man; he was muscular, and had a very hard manner about him. Everything about him suggested that he was *extremely* dangerous.

For his part, Nick Fury looked over the group. Two young girls, and one young boy, no, make that a young man, all with eyes that had seen more than anyone that young should ever see.

Introductions were made all around the group by Tony. He was explaining about the Slayers and invited Giles to join in the conversation. Xander could see the doubt in Fury's stance and demeanor, but the man seemed to be listening.

"So, you are telling me that these young girls have been waging a war against demons and vampires for centuries? And they have only done so with a group of Brits to help them and provide intel?" Fury demanded.

"Well, yes, that is basically correct," stammered Giles.

"Damn! And none of them ever asked for help?" he demanded.

"Some have tried to go outside of the Council for assistance, but usually if that happened, the Watcher was removed, and another assigned to the Slayer."

Fury arched an eyebrow, and looked at Giles.

"Removed?" he asked.

"Yes, usually a wet work team would kill the Watcher, and then remove the Slayer from the location and reassign her to a new Watcher, or, if they felt that she was too far gone, she would be killed, and they would start over with the next Slayer."

Fury just growled and shook his head.

Xander surreptitiously watched the newcomer. He was a powerful looking man whose very presence screamed "DANGER". He knew he had a hard time trusting people, and he only fully trusted Faith, Giles, Tony, and Deidre. He still trusted Willow, but only on certain things, knowing that whatever he would tell her would go straight to Buffy. Even though he loved her like a sister, he was still cautious around her after the whole Angel return thing.

He would put enough trust in the SHEILD agent to allow him to patrol with them, but would still keep an eye on him and make sure 'his' girls were protected.

"THEY DID WHAT?" Fury yelled.

"They fired Giles after they forced Buffy to submit to the Cruciamentum, a ritual test of a slayer. They removed her powers with drugs and magic, and then forced her to fight a particularly vicious vampire. She survived only because Xander interfered with the test," Stark explained.

"Look, Tony, I don't know how much of this vampire/demon mumbo-jumbo that I believe. But you have never lied to me, so I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. I'll patrol with them tonight and see for myself, and if it is true, then the proverbial shit is going to hit the fan," Fury growled.


Restful Pines Cemetery


The Scooby Gang, with the addition of Rhodey and Fury, entered the cemetery and started their normal patrol.

Buffy was a little bit agitated that Deidre had made her promise to wear the bulletproof vest that she was given, but finally gave in, figuring it was easier to wear it than argue with the stubborn Scotswoman.

Fury wore the standard dark SHIELD battledress/armored uniform, and carried a battle axe, still a bit miffed that he had been talked into leaving his Mossberg combat shotgun behind. Giles' admonishment of "We do NOT want to attract too much attention to ourselves" grated on his nerves.

Willow and Oz made up the rearguard, both carrying the new Commando crossbows that Tony had brought with him. They were both lighter and easier to load than the ones Giles had. As an added bonus, the laser sights made targeting much easier.

Rhodey carried his silenced H&K USP 45, as well as a sword; figuring he could kneecap the vamps, and then decapitate them with the sword.

Buffy and Faith took the lead, a little ahead of the others, reaching out with their Slayer senses.

It was near the end of the usual route before they came across anything. But when they did, it was far more than they had expected.

Up ahead were more than a dozen vampires, accompanied by a Faf'Nal Demon. This is a demon whose diet consists of recently dead 'human' bodies.

The vampires were busy involved in digging up a trio of recently filled graves.

The two Slayers had dusted a pair of them before they were noticed, but then the battle was on. Willow and Oz took up watch behind them, making sure that nothing surprised them by attacking from their rear.

Xander waded in to the fight, using the hand blade with the wooden inserts to good advantage.

Rhodey took a vamp's knees out, and then swung the sword, quickly beheading it and moving on to another. Fury just stared as the deadly team tore through the creatures. He now fully understood that vampires are a reality, especially after seeing more than a couple of them dusted. Rather than running into the middle of the fight, he stayed back, realizing he would only be in the way. He could also guard the two teens watching their backs.

Xander pinned a vampire to the wall of a crypt with his left hand repulsor, while he used the blade in the other to dust yet another one.

Buffy took a hit in the back that knocked her down, but she bounced back up on her feet and dusted her attacker.

The vampires had been drastically reduced in number, but were still furiously fighting back. Faith had dusted one, but then lost her stake when it stuck between her target's ribs, and dusted with its target. She quickly spin-kicked one vamp to the ground, and was reaching for another stake when the demon hit her across the back with a massive club. She flew into a fairly tall headstone, snapping it off. Afterwards, she struggled to get to her feet, partially stunned.

The demon rushed at her, wielding his club and aiming to take her head off.

Xander saw this and started to sprint to her aid, but knew in his heart he would be too late to prevent her from being badly hurt.

Nick Fury saw the demon rush at the dark haired girl, and without thinking, drew the pistol at his hip and fired at the attacking demon. The foot long flash of light that left the strange handgun hit the charging creature full in the chest. It burned a massive hole in the chest of the monstrous Faf'Nal Demon, dropping it instantly.

Buffy staked the last vampire, and joined the others staring at the huge, smoking hole in the now dead demon's chest.

"Wow," was all Faith could say when she saw it.

"Understatement much?" Buffy replied quietly.

As the demon started to melt into a puddle of nasty sludge, the Scoobies looked up at Fury. He holstered his sidearm and looked back at them.

"Charged Particle pistol. Never leave home without it," he grinned.

Xander mentally filed that bit of information away, making note to ask Tony about it as soon as possible.

The five Slayerettes all stood watching Fury, waiting for him to explain. Jim Rhodes just stood back and smirked at Fury's predicament.

Fury sighed, slightly agitated. Whoever left these teenagers in charge of protecting the world was either deranged, or stupid.

"Fine." he finally growled an explanation. "Charged particle weapons are a new technology that the SHIELD has been working on for a while. They are superheated particles encased in a magnetic field. When they hit, the magnetic field dissipates, allowing the particles to burn through the target. The particles are drawn from the surrounding air, making the need for ammunition non existent. A handgun like this can fire about a hundred shots before running out of power, making a police officer or soldier much more effective, as well as more deadly. The particles would disable a car's electronics if it were to hit it, and will burn through almost any body armor known."

This last fact, about burning through body armor, flashed through both Xander's and Faiths minds at exactly the same time. This caused them to regard each others battle clothes with concern. None of the exchange of glances seemed to be caught by anyone else, although Xander made a mental note to ask Tony about this piece of information.

Fury paused to light a cigar, inhaled a large cloud of smoke and then glared at all five of the teens.

"Now, this whole project is classified as 'Top Secret', and if any of you breathe any of this to anyone, I will have you arrested and jailed for espionage. Clear?" he demanded in a quiet steely tone.

All five of them gulped, and agreed with him, sure that he meant every word of what he said.


Later


They finished the sweep through the cemeteries, and later headed for a quick pass by the Bronze before heading home for the night. They were just passing an alley when Buffy and Faith held up their hands signaling a stop.

"Vamps, five or six of them, and they have a couple of hostages," Buffy turned and said quietly.

Quickly they made plans. Buffy, and Faith would stalk through the alley, while the others would back them up. Ironman would signal them from the rooftop when to strike.

And with that, Xander lifted up on his boot jets and flew up to the roof of the nightclub.

Softly, Xander crept over to the edge of the roof to peer into the alley. He sealed off his helmet so that when he spoke, no one without a radio would hear it.

"Buff, Faith, there are two female vamps leading two guys toward you. There are another four hidden, two behind the dumpster, and two in the entryway to Guido's Pizzeria, " Xander radioed. "If you stick to the sides of the alley in the shadows, you should be able to get close enough to jump them. Rhodey, you, Fury, Willow and Oz, can keep anyone from getting out of the alley."

"Gotcha, boytoy," Faith responded.

"Right, Xander," Buffy acknowledged.

"Got it," replied Rhodey as he passed instructions on to the others.

Xander knelt on the edge of the roof, watching as the two Slayers moved soundlessly into the alleyway. He knew that they would be able to move silently in a way that he only wished he could.

He watched as the two Slayers silently slinked into the alley, each on a different side. Faith managed to creep right up behind the two at the dumpster when one of the female vamps roughly pushed her 'date' up against the back of the Bronze and went gameface.

"Now!" Xander signaled through the radio.

Faith struck first, ramming her stake through the back of one of the unsuspecting vamps. Buffy was almost as fast, darting around the corner to stake one of the bloodsuckers hiding in the doorway. The two females spun away from their unsuspecting victims to look around for more attackers. Finding none, they advanced on the two Slayers as well.

Buffy furiously pounded her remaining vampire, hitting him with a flurry of punches and kicks, leaving him reeling and sliding down the locked door until she shoved a stake in his cold, dead heart.

Faith was not doing quite as well. Her surviving opponent, showing some skill, tossed her out into the open alleyway, right into the middle of the two females.

She doubled her efforts, kicking and throwing punches feverishly. One of the females was dusted, and she had the remaining male down, stunned. Battling the last female, it looked like she was home free, when a man sprinted down the alley toward her.

Xander scanned the man as he ran toward the dark haired slayer, and was surprised to see that he had body heat.

\\ Human, but what the hell is he doing? // Xander wondered as he moved into action.

He stepped off of the roof as the running man neared Faith, triggering his boot jets at the last minute to allow him to land softly.

As it was, Xander had to really get a move on to intercept the stake headed for the man's chest.

Luckily, he was able to get his hand out in front of the guy, just in time for Faith's stake to splinter on his armored hand.

Buffy staked the downed male vampire, and Oz drilled the running female with a crossbow bolt as she neared the alley entrance, having decided to make a break for it during the distraction caused by the human who interfered.

Faith stood stock still, her hand aching from the impact against Xander's armor, and bleeding from a deep cut caused by a splinter.

\\ I almost killed a man, // went through her head over and over again. \\ You're nothing but poor white trash girl, never amounted to anything at all, // ran through her mind as well, as she remembered what her mother used to say.

Buffy, in an uncharacteristic gesture, hugged the younger Slayer as the rest of the group joined them.

Fury stood looking at the man who almost got himself killed.

"Man, talk about stupid. What kind of moron runs up to someone in the middle of a fight? That is the easiest way to get killed!" he practically screamed at the newcomer.

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked, still holding onto her upset sister Slayer, as Willow bandaged her hand.

"Where do you think the term 'friendly fire' comes from? In any combat situation, the adrenaline is pumping, people are keyed up, nerves are strung as tight as piano wire, and when some fool rushes into the middle of things, they end up dead." Fury paused to light up his cigar again.

"Faith, what happened here was nothing more than an accident; one that Ironman prevented, but it was still an accident. You were in the middle of fighting three vampires, and even a moment's lapse in attention would surely end up with your early death. Your reaction was normal, and expected. If it had been me, likely the same thing would have happened."

Faith looked up at everyone, hope in her eyes. And all around her, they nodded their agreement, Fury's explanation making it easier to understand, and accept.

Xander nodded his head in agreement, then turned to the man whose life he had just saved.

"And what is your story?"

"I'm," he gulped, "I'm Allan Finch, the Deputy Mayor, and I need to talk to Rupert Giles. I knew that these girls were Slayers, and wanted them to take me to him," replied the frightened man.

"What about?" Buffy asked.

"I will only talk to Rupert Giles, and only if you protect me," the frightened man said.

Xander looked at both Fury and Rhodey, then shrugged.

"Okay, let's go," he said.

The group headed off to the parking lot where they had left the cars. Faith in front, and Buffy following, both making sure that they would not be surprised. The rest grouped around the frightened Deputy Mayor.


Back at Xander's Place


Allan Finch had just told the gang everything that he knew, and was begging them to protect him from the Mayor.

Giles was discussing the ramifications of a full ascendance with Stark and Fury.

"Gentlemen, we are not talking about a normal demon here. Depending on the form of demon that the Mayor assumes, he could be upwards of fifty to sixty feet tall or in length. He would also be immune to most weapons that we could bring against him," Giles informed them.

"So, why don't I just go whack him now, before this ascendance thing?" asked Fury.

"Because, if our information is correct, he has been preparing for this for the last one hundred years, and the last hundred days prior to his ascension he cannot be hurt, as he is completely invulnerable to damage, both physical and magical. From what I can gather from my various texts, he will be at his most vulnerable point immediately after he changes, or within a few minutes after the metamorphosis."

Both Fury and Stark swore.

"What will it take to kill him then, Giles?" Xander asked.

"It will depend on which demonic form that he has chose to ascend to, but likely an extremely hot form of fire, or a large explosive force."

Xander looked over at Tony Stark and Fury, his eyebrow raised.

"Don't worry," Fury growled around his cigar. "SHIELD will provide whatever assistance you need to stop this thing. And I will make sure that Finch here," jerking his thumb at the informer, "is moved out of town, and put in protective custody."

The group discussed the need for secrecy and possible solutions to the Ascension for the next hour or so, and then started to leave for the night.

Finally, only Giles, Deidre, Xander, Faith, and Buffy were still in the shop.

"Guess it was a good thing I had you wear that vest, Buffy," Deidre said in her thick Scottish brogue.

"Huh?" was all Buffy had to say, as she wondered what the woman was talking about.

"Take off your jacket," Deidre asked.

And, as Buffy removed her jacket, the rest moved behind her to see what the engineer was talking about.

Deidre had her pull off her vest, and held it up for all to see.

Across the area where her lower back would have been, the vest had a deep cut in it, and the version of Zylon that Stark International had modified, was mashed and damaged. But the inner layer of material was in excellent condition.

Buffy looked at it and paled.

"That would have cut me in half," she whispered, throwing her arms around the woman and hugging her.

Giles, Xander and Faith all looked at each other. Knowing how close a friend had been to death was a very sobering experience.

Deidre informed them that she would have several vests delivered, and that no one was to go out without a vest or body armor.


1630 Revello Drive


Xander pulled in the driveway of Buffy's home and shut the car off. He got out, as well as the two Slayers. Buffy said her good night, and headed to the front door.

"Faith, could I talk to you for a minute?" Xander asked.

Faith turned to Buffy and said, "Be there in a minute, B."

Buffy continued up to the door, and was surprised when it opened for her. Her mother stood behind the door as her eldest daughter entered the home.

She stood there holding the door, but finally closed it when Buffy told her that Faith would be in, in a minute or so.

Buffy went into the dining room and peeked out through the curtain. Joyce joined her.

They watched the young couple talking for a minute, and then Faith threw herself on the young man in front of her, and from what they could see was laying one heck of a kiss on Xander. After a couple of minutes, she separated from him, and walked toward the front door. What was unusual was the fact that she kept looking back at Xander as he got in the car and drove away.

Both Buffy and Joyce dashed for the kitchen, and were trying to look natural when Faith entered the kitchen.

What was most noticeable was the huge smile on her face, and the fact that she seemed to be walking on air.

"So, what's up, Faith?" Buffy asked innocently.

"Xander asked me to the prom," was all the brunette said as she floated up to her room.

TBC