Brave New World 5
Authors: lirpa - liroa15@yahoo.ca
shana
Dedication: To all those who have inspired us.
Distribution: Our site, if you want it just ask.
Disclaimer: They belong to Joss and Marvel, not to us. If they really did this wouldn't be on the internet.
A.N: I don't know very much about the X-Men comics. I own a few, but that's it. I'm apologizing in advance if we screw up the dialects. Just for the record I'm also a grammar freak so the dialects might not be as involved as they normally are.
There have been some concerns raised that the characters are OOC. If you find this to be the case we apologize. It was never intentional and probably has more to do with our individual writing styles than anything else. The fact remains that the story is written and while minor revisions may be made during the editing and typing processes there is little I can do for the main idea at this point in time. In fact, this story was completely finished before anyone, besides my self and my co-author, saw the prologue. What I can do to make the characters more in character I will try to do, and if it helps, think of it more as the movie Wolverine. The only reason that the comics were needed at all was to bring Gambit into the story. So if it helps to place it in the movieverse, have at it.
Questions and Answers to follow. This is where I'll answer your questions, and the questions anyone has. It's actually a kind of novel idea because I've never had to do this before.
To Darklight at ff.n. We find it improbable that most of the Council's records would be accessible by Magneto. The organization itself was a secret and it follows that its documents would also be secret. In addition, most of the documents would be in England and not America, which for the practical purposes of this story means that Mags is just going to have to trust the Slayers. In regards to the Council, we're hoping that the New Watcher's Council will be much nicer to the girls. The council may not have known that their Slayers were merely mutants as well. That wouldn't exactly be something you'd want a lot of people to know and the knowledge may have just died out over several generations. And, as you can see, the chapters are coming.
To Prophetess of Hearts at ff.n. There is actually iron in everyone's blood, bound to the hemoglobin. It's what gives blood its distinctive red colour. We believe that Magneto would be able to manipulate this iron in much the same way that he would manipulate an iron rod and the like. Because of this we believe he'd be able to pick the girls up.
To restive at Twisting the Hellmouth. Thank you for taking the time to review, and actually agreeing with our characterization. As you've probably guessed from my replies we've had some trouble satisfying everyone with our portrayals. We're very glad that you're enjoying the fic. As for the evil genius with a secret lair bit, only be kidnapped by the best. J
To Harry2 at ff.n. Thank you for your suggestions on how to improve the characters, we've been informed (numerous times) that they don't seem to be quite right but no one could say quite why. Hopefully, with practise, any problems we encounter writing these characters shall disappear. As for the Rogue and Gambit relationship, neither my co-author nor I have a great deal of fondess for Rogue. Because of this it is unlikely that she will make any appearaances in our work, and if she does it will only be token. Scott and Logan have presented partcular problems at different times during the story to write and we hope that they turned out as best as may be expected. As for Faith's lack of creativity, I can only attribute that to a desire not to have the Slayers steal insults from one another and for each line of dialogue to be as original as it may. After a while we just sort of ran out of insults to use.
To S.M. at ff.n. Thank you for your kind review. As you can see, here's the next chapter.
To Eriee at ff.n. Again, thank you for taking the time to review, and to compliment the story. As you can see here is the next update.
To lil badass at ff.n. Thank you for your review. It was very much appreciated.
lirpa
Brave New World 5
by lirpa and shana
"Truly an admirable undertaking," Magneto interjected.
"Shut up, bub," Logan growled.
"Hey, stop talking to my friends like that," Faith demanded.
"He's not your friend," Logan denied easily.
"He is if I say he is," Faith returned. "And I say he is."
Logan only growled his anger, bringing a victory smirk to Faith's visage.
"Can we stop this? It's so obvious you're related. You have all the same buttons."
"Shut up, Xander," Faith growled. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get in touch with her Slayer sense and find out how many vampires still lurked in the compound.
"B?"
"Too many," Buffy replied wearily. "We'll just have to wait until they go to ground at dawn."
"Are you sure?" Faith practically begged.
"Yep, so sit down and be nice. And you can't ignore anyone either," Buffy returned.
"I hate you."
"No, you don't," Buffy rebuked. "And some day you'll thank me."
"Well that day is not today," Faith replied sourly.
Ignoring her Buffy joined Scott in the corner of the airship.
"So, vampires?" he questioned weakly.
"Yep."
"And they try and kill you?"
"Yep."
"And you kill them?"
"Yep. And demons and nasties too."
"And mutants?" Scott questioned nervously.
"No, mutants are human too."
Scott sighed. "The FOH wouldn't agree with you on that score."
"That's because they're afraid and they're trying to take it out on us."
"That doesn't make it right," Scott argued.
"I never said it did. I only explained how it could be understandable."
"Fine, but I don't have to like it," Scott grumbled.
"No one really does, Scotty. That's the secret of it."
*Several hours later, Dawn*
"Well, that's it. Let's get out of here, B," Faith drawled.
"You think he's just going to let us go?" Logan asked disbelievingly.
"Of course he is, because he said he would."
Logan only snorted, but the metal doors fell to the ground.
"I hope we shall me again, Alexander Harris," Magneto spoke formally.
Xander smiled slightly. "I'm sure we will Eric, in fact, I'll guarantee it."
"Remember what I said," Magneto advised.
"Only if you will grant me the same consideration," Xander replied formally.
Magneto inclined his head slightly. "Of course."
"Hopefully we shall meet again under better circumstances," now Magneto addressed the Vampire Slayers and Xander.
Faith dragged the reluctant Magneto into a hug. "Don't be a stranger," she whispered into his ear. Logan growled in the background.
Faith let go of Magneto and Buffy stepped into her place. "Take care, metal head. Some day we'll meet again and then we'll see how much we've both learned." Then she let him go.
"Come on, Scott. It's time to go home," Buffy commanded.
While the X-Men sent distrustful looks in Magneto's direction they headed towards the Blackbird. Only when they were inside did everyone breathe a collective sigh of relief.
"Why are you so worried?" Faith asked, relaxing into one of the plush chairs on the Blackbird.
"Magneto is a dangerous enemy," Scott explained.
"Your enemy. He likes Xander, B, and me. Thinks we're unusual and amusing. I blame Xander."
Xander rolled his eyes. "Says the Vampire Slayer."
"Hey, it's a Calling."
"With no benefits," Buffy added, bringing a chagrined look from Scott.
"Do mutant terrorists get benefits," Buffy asked.
"A few. We have our own med lab, which you've seen, and Xavier's money eases the way for us somewhat."
"Lucky you."
Hank already had the Blackbird in the air, heading back towards Salem, New York.
Faith sat in her comfy chair, pretty much twiddling her thumbs. Xander and Remy were involved in a conversation, of sorts, and Buffy and her cousin were discussing something, probably vampire slaying, quietly, too quietly for Faith to hear.
Logan sat down next to his daughter, trying to evaluate her mood.
"How are you, kid?" he queried.
"Fine," she growled.
"The bastard didn't hurt ya, did he?"
Faith laughed. "Of course not. Mags and I get along great."
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't try to bullshit me, People have been trying to pull the wool over my eyes for years, and it's never worked. I imagine he felt the same."
"I doubt that," Logan growled.
"Well I don't. What I want to know is why you're here."
"Someone had to go?" Logan temporized.
Faith rolled her eyes. "Obviously, but why you?"
Logan shifted uncomfortably before answering. "My healing factor allows me to get injured fairly badly and still come out of it fine. Besides, my claws are damn effective weapons."
"Okay, I'll buy that, even though your claws are metal. What I wouldn't give for a weapon that no one could take away from you." She sighed dreamily.
"It's not all it's cracked up to be," Logan replied sourly.
"Maybe not for you, but I could have used them when I first started out slaying."
Logan shifted again and growled absently. "I wasn't born with them. Some sick freak fused liquid adamantium to all my bones in an experiment."
"Why you?" Faith asked, genuinely interested.
"Because my healing factor would keep me alive. And it did," Logan replied shortly.
"Oh."
There was an awkward silence between both father and daughter for a few tense moments, neither knowing exactly what to say as the Blackbird slowly descended.
"Here we are," Scott commented loudly, in an attempt to break the tension. And it worked.
"You're a good kid," Logan declared gruffly, slightly embarrassed.
"No, I'm not. But you're getting there," Faith replied.
"Getting there? What's that mean?" Logan demanded.
They all entered the X-mansion, leaving Logan's question unanswered, to be greeted by one Charles Xavier.
"Scott," he began, "there is a call that came from a Rupert Giles waiting for you. Since I sensed your presence, I asked him to hold."
"Giles," Buffy breathed.
"Damn," Xander swore. "I guess that means it's back to saving the world. Roadtrip's over."
Scott lead their three visitors to his office, so that they could receive their call in peace. Scott made his way down into the foyer, where most of the X-men were still gathered.
"Scott?" Xavier asked.
"He didn't phone to talk to me. He needed to talk to my cousin and her friends."
"May I ask why?"
"The world is ending apparently."
"That is a most disturbing statement, but I am afraid that I have to deploy the team anyway."
"With de femmes, non?" Gambit asked.
"No, Gambit. To Cleveland. Cyerbro has detected Apocalypse in that area."
The assembled X-men fell silent when the visitors descended the stairs, Buffy in the lead. She approached her cousin, head held high with a determined glint in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Scott," she whispered in his ear. "We have to go." She embraced him tightly, mindful of her strength, and turned to leave.
"Buffy, wait," Scott called, causing the blonder slayer to turn and her friends to pause.
"Yeah Scott?"
"Where are you going? Maybe we can give you a lift?" Scott offered, ignoring Xavier's frown.
"Cleveland. There's an Apocalypse going on there."
"Indeed," Charles agreed. "Apocalypse is in Cleveland."
"Not Apocalypse, like the guy you fight, but the apocalypse as in the end of the world, Baldy," Faith snapped.
"It's settled than," Scott announced, "since we're going to Cleveland to fight our Apocalypse, we'll drop you off so you can fight yours."
"And let's hope that the forces of evil haven't ganged up with this guy," Xander muttered,
"Xander," Buffy and Faith screamed at him.
"What?"
"You should know better than to say things like that after seven years."
"All right, all right."
"The boy-" Xavier began
"Whose name is Xander," interrupted said "boy."
"Xander," Xavier continued. "has a point. If two forces of great evil are close together then it is possible that they could join forces/"
"Didn't want to hear that, baldy," Faith growled.
Scott sighed, irritated. "If we don't hurry there won't be a world to save.'
As if everyone just realized that they were wasting time, they sprinted towards the Blackbird,
As soon as everyone was seated, Scott and Storm launched the Blackbird, and they started towards Cleveland. Buffy phoned Giles to get more information about everything that was happening and what could be expected when they landed,
"The vampires and demons," he told her, "are working with some big monster calling himself Apocalypse. Nothing we've tried against him has worked. Even the most powerful magiks have had no effect. We have managed to eliminate most of his helpers however. His magikal and physical immunity hasn't spread to them yet."
"Shit," Buffy swore after Giles was done. "I'll phone when we get there."
She hung up and tuned to look at everyone in the jet. "Apocalypse has joined up with the traditional dark forces. That means that we're all in deep shit. Magik doesn't work on this Apocalypse dude," Buffy concluded dully.
This comment drew a wince from Xander and Faith.
"Scott's eyebeams do," Logan responded. "But he's immortal, so the best we can hope for is to stop him."
"Damn it," Faith growled. "Why do all the evil guys have to be practically invincible?"
There was a strained silence in the Blackbird when it landed, and on the trip to meet with the others that followed.
"Okay," Buffy muttered, breaking the solemn silence. "So where is this guy supposed to appear tonight?"
Giles supplied a location and Buffy continued mentally planning with the information at hand.
"We should take out as many of his followers as we can before he appears," she concluded.
Scott nodded.
"Let's go then," Buffy called out. "And Xander…"
"I know, Buff. Try to stay out of trouble."
"X-men, move out," Scott ordered a second later.
The two teams raced to the specified location to find a huge gathering of vampires and demons.
Gambit immediately began throwing charged cards at the vampires, and Storm was calling down lightening to strike several of the larger nasties. And it might not have killed them, but it did distract them enough for Buffy and Faith too. Logan had beheaded several, and Scott blasted a few in the first few moments of the battle. Scott was careful not to do too much because he had to save himself for the fight with Apocalypse that was coming.
The slayers and their core group were doing well, all still breathing, and having accounted for well over two dozen nasties. Willow and Giles were quite lethal with magik and weapons, and even Xander was doing fairly well.
When the time came for Apocalypse to appear, there were only about two dozen of the forces of darkness left standing. Thought o be fair, some had fled. Apocalypse appeared, but about five minutes after he was scheduled to.
"Hey ugly," Buffy called up to the towering figure, "ever heard of being on time."
"Now, Slim," Logan called across the battlefield, pitching his voice so that it would carry. The voiced roughed by the exertions of battle got Scott's attention and his optic blast pushed Apocalypse bad a mere moment later.
"Wills, Giles, now," Xander called. The scoobies had suggested that magik might work on Apocalypse if he was distracted by an attack that he viewed as a threat, by Scott's attack. The X-men had agreed to give it a try.
Willow and Giles began to chant rapidly, and loudly, in a different language. They soon were encased in am off white glow that spread out from them to surround Apocalypse, who was still trying to remove Scott from the equation. It brightened until it was blinding, and when the assembled warriors blinded to clear the light from their eyes, they found Apocalypse was gone.
"Y' killt Apocalypse," Remy finally managed, awe in his heavily accented voice.
"Naw," Xander responded, rather flippant about the whole thing after this long, "they just moved him, and maybe stopped him from returning to Earth."
"Maybe," Giles muttered to emphasize the point, wiping at his forehead with the back of his hand as he did so. The rest of the other vampires, demons, and assorted hellish creatures had disappeared as well. They had either fled or been caught up in the parameters of the spell.
"That leaves only one question," Scott said tiredly.
"What?" Faith asked, just as tiredly, leaning against something that looked like it might have been a support pillar in a warehouse at some point in its history.
"If the three of you are coming back with us or staying here?"
"I'm going," Faith announced. "Going to get to know this family I inherited."
"I'm going too," Buffy added, taking in the shocked expressions of Willow and Giles. "With Dawn in England and tons of Slayers I'm not really needed. Besides, I'd like better control over my strength."
"I'm in too," Xander commented dryly. "Magneto still owes me a discussion, so I'll have to track him down."
"You know, Xander," an exhausted looking Bobby commented, "you're crazy."
"Why thank you."
The groups was still laughing as they headed toward the Blackbird after a set of tearful good-byes. But no one was terribly upset, after all they were heading towards a new chapter in all of their complicated lives.
Fini Chapter Five
Authors: lirpa - liroa15@yahoo.ca
shana
Dedication: To all those who have inspired us.
Distribution: Our site, if you want it just ask.
Disclaimer: They belong to Joss and Marvel, not to us. If they really did this wouldn't be on the internet.
A.N: I don't know very much about the X-Men comics. I own a few, but that's it. I'm apologizing in advance if we screw up the dialects. Just for the record I'm also a grammar freak so the dialects might not be as involved as they normally are.
There have been some concerns raised that the characters are OOC. If you find this to be the case we apologize. It was never intentional and probably has more to do with our individual writing styles than anything else. The fact remains that the story is written and while minor revisions may be made during the editing and typing processes there is little I can do for the main idea at this point in time. In fact, this story was completely finished before anyone, besides my self and my co-author, saw the prologue. What I can do to make the characters more in character I will try to do, and if it helps, think of it more as the movie Wolverine. The only reason that the comics were needed at all was to bring Gambit into the story. So if it helps to place it in the movieverse, have at it.
Questions and Answers to follow. This is where I'll answer your questions, and the questions anyone has. It's actually a kind of novel idea because I've never had to do this before.
To Darklight at ff.n. We find it improbable that most of the Council's records would be accessible by Magneto. The organization itself was a secret and it follows that its documents would also be secret. In addition, most of the documents would be in England and not America, which for the practical purposes of this story means that Mags is just going to have to trust the Slayers. In regards to the Council, we're hoping that the New Watcher's Council will be much nicer to the girls. The council may not have known that their Slayers were merely mutants as well. That wouldn't exactly be something you'd want a lot of people to know and the knowledge may have just died out over several generations. And, as you can see, the chapters are coming.
To Prophetess of Hearts at ff.n. There is actually iron in everyone's blood, bound to the hemoglobin. It's what gives blood its distinctive red colour. We believe that Magneto would be able to manipulate this iron in much the same way that he would manipulate an iron rod and the like. Because of this we believe he'd be able to pick the girls up.
To restive at Twisting the Hellmouth. Thank you for taking the time to review, and actually agreeing with our characterization. As you've probably guessed from my replies we've had some trouble satisfying everyone with our portrayals. We're very glad that you're enjoying the fic. As for the evil genius with a secret lair bit, only be kidnapped by the best. J
To Harry2 at ff.n. Thank you for your suggestions on how to improve the characters, we've been informed (numerous times) that they don't seem to be quite right but no one could say quite why. Hopefully, with practise, any problems we encounter writing these characters shall disappear. As for the Rogue and Gambit relationship, neither my co-author nor I have a great deal of fondess for Rogue. Because of this it is unlikely that she will make any appearaances in our work, and if she does it will only be token. Scott and Logan have presented partcular problems at different times during the story to write and we hope that they turned out as best as may be expected. As for Faith's lack of creativity, I can only attribute that to a desire not to have the Slayers steal insults from one another and for each line of dialogue to be as original as it may. After a while we just sort of ran out of insults to use.
To S.M. at ff.n. Thank you for your kind review. As you can see, here's the next chapter.
To Eriee at ff.n. Again, thank you for taking the time to review, and to compliment the story. As you can see here is the next update.
To lil badass at ff.n. Thank you for your review. It was very much appreciated.
lirpa
Brave New World 5
by lirpa and shana
"Truly an admirable undertaking," Magneto interjected.
"Shut up, bub," Logan growled.
"Hey, stop talking to my friends like that," Faith demanded.
"He's not your friend," Logan denied easily.
"He is if I say he is," Faith returned. "And I say he is."
Logan only growled his anger, bringing a victory smirk to Faith's visage.
"Can we stop this? It's so obvious you're related. You have all the same buttons."
"Shut up, Xander," Faith growled. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get in touch with her Slayer sense and find out how many vampires still lurked in the compound.
"B?"
"Too many," Buffy replied wearily. "We'll just have to wait until they go to ground at dawn."
"Are you sure?" Faith practically begged.
"Yep, so sit down and be nice. And you can't ignore anyone either," Buffy returned.
"I hate you."
"No, you don't," Buffy rebuked. "And some day you'll thank me."
"Well that day is not today," Faith replied sourly.
Ignoring her Buffy joined Scott in the corner of the airship.
"So, vampires?" he questioned weakly.
"Yep."
"And they try and kill you?"
"Yep."
"And you kill them?"
"Yep. And demons and nasties too."
"And mutants?" Scott questioned nervously.
"No, mutants are human too."
Scott sighed. "The FOH wouldn't agree with you on that score."
"That's because they're afraid and they're trying to take it out on us."
"That doesn't make it right," Scott argued.
"I never said it did. I only explained how it could be understandable."
"Fine, but I don't have to like it," Scott grumbled.
"No one really does, Scotty. That's the secret of it."
*Several hours later, Dawn*
"Well, that's it. Let's get out of here, B," Faith drawled.
"You think he's just going to let us go?" Logan asked disbelievingly.
"Of course he is, because he said he would."
Logan only snorted, but the metal doors fell to the ground.
"I hope we shall me again, Alexander Harris," Magneto spoke formally.
Xander smiled slightly. "I'm sure we will Eric, in fact, I'll guarantee it."
"Remember what I said," Magneto advised.
"Only if you will grant me the same consideration," Xander replied formally.
Magneto inclined his head slightly. "Of course."
"Hopefully we shall meet again under better circumstances," now Magneto addressed the Vampire Slayers and Xander.
Faith dragged the reluctant Magneto into a hug. "Don't be a stranger," she whispered into his ear. Logan growled in the background.
Faith let go of Magneto and Buffy stepped into her place. "Take care, metal head. Some day we'll meet again and then we'll see how much we've both learned." Then she let him go.
"Come on, Scott. It's time to go home," Buffy commanded.
While the X-Men sent distrustful looks in Magneto's direction they headed towards the Blackbird. Only when they were inside did everyone breathe a collective sigh of relief.
"Why are you so worried?" Faith asked, relaxing into one of the plush chairs on the Blackbird.
"Magneto is a dangerous enemy," Scott explained.
"Your enemy. He likes Xander, B, and me. Thinks we're unusual and amusing. I blame Xander."
Xander rolled his eyes. "Says the Vampire Slayer."
"Hey, it's a Calling."
"With no benefits," Buffy added, bringing a chagrined look from Scott.
"Do mutant terrorists get benefits," Buffy asked.
"A few. We have our own med lab, which you've seen, and Xavier's money eases the way for us somewhat."
"Lucky you."
Hank already had the Blackbird in the air, heading back towards Salem, New York.
Faith sat in her comfy chair, pretty much twiddling her thumbs. Xander and Remy were involved in a conversation, of sorts, and Buffy and her cousin were discussing something, probably vampire slaying, quietly, too quietly for Faith to hear.
Logan sat down next to his daughter, trying to evaluate her mood.
"How are you, kid?" he queried.
"Fine," she growled.
"The bastard didn't hurt ya, did he?"
Faith laughed. "Of course not. Mags and I get along great."
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't try to bullshit me, People have been trying to pull the wool over my eyes for years, and it's never worked. I imagine he felt the same."
"I doubt that," Logan growled.
"Well I don't. What I want to know is why you're here."
"Someone had to go?" Logan temporized.
Faith rolled her eyes. "Obviously, but why you?"
Logan shifted uncomfortably before answering. "My healing factor allows me to get injured fairly badly and still come out of it fine. Besides, my claws are damn effective weapons."
"Okay, I'll buy that, even though your claws are metal. What I wouldn't give for a weapon that no one could take away from you." She sighed dreamily.
"It's not all it's cracked up to be," Logan replied sourly.
"Maybe not for you, but I could have used them when I first started out slaying."
Logan shifted again and growled absently. "I wasn't born with them. Some sick freak fused liquid adamantium to all my bones in an experiment."
"Why you?" Faith asked, genuinely interested.
"Because my healing factor would keep me alive. And it did," Logan replied shortly.
"Oh."
There was an awkward silence between both father and daughter for a few tense moments, neither knowing exactly what to say as the Blackbird slowly descended.
"Here we are," Scott commented loudly, in an attempt to break the tension. And it worked.
"You're a good kid," Logan declared gruffly, slightly embarrassed.
"No, I'm not. But you're getting there," Faith replied.
"Getting there? What's that mean?" Logan demanded.
They all entered the X-mansion, leaving Logan's question unanswered, to be greeted by one Charles Xavier.
"Scott," he began, "there is a call that came from a Rupert Giles waiting for you. Since I sensed your presence, I asked him to hold."
"Giles," Buffy breathed.
"Damn," Xander swore. "I guess that means it's back to saving the world. Roadtrip's over."
Scott lead their three visitors to his office, so that they could receive their call in peace. Scott made his way down into the foyer, where most of the X-men were still gathered.
"Scott?" Xavier asked.
"He didn't phone to talk to me. He needed to talk to my cousin and her friends."
"May I ask why?"
"The world is ending apparently."
"That is a most disturbing statement, but I am afraid that I have to deploy the team anyway."
"With de femmes, non?" Gambit asked.
"No, Gambit. To Cleveland. Cyerbro has detected Apocalypse in that area."
The assembled X-men fell silent when the visitors descended the stairs, Buffy in the lead. She approached her cousin, head held high with a determined glint in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Scott," she whispered in his ear. "We have to go." She embraced him tightly, mindful of her strength, and turned to leave.
"Buffy, wait," Scott called, causing the blonder slayer to turn and her friends to pause.
"Yeah Scott?"
"Where are you going? Maybe we can give you a lift?" Scott offered, ignoring Xavier's frown.
"Cleveland. There's an Apocalypse going on there."
"Indeed," Charles agreed. "Apocalypse is in Cleveland."
"Not Apocalypse, like the guy you fight, but the apocalypse as in the end of the world, Baldy," Faith snapped.
"It's settled than," Scott announced, "since we're going to Cleveland to fight our Apocalypse, we'll drop you off so you can fight yours."
"And let's hope that the forces of evil haven't ganged up with this guy," Xander muttered,
"Xander," Buffy and Faith screamed at him.
"What?"
"You should know better than to say things like that after seven years."
"All right, all right."
"The boy-" Xavier began
"Whose name is Xander," interrupted said "boy."
"Xander," Xavier continued. "has a point. If two forces of great evil are close together then it is possible that they could join forces/"
"Didn't want to hear that, baldy," Faith growled.
Scott sighed, irritated. "If we don't hurry there won't be a world to save.'
As if everyone just realized that they were wasting time, they sprinted towards the Blackbird,
As soon as everyone was seated, Scott and Storm launched the Blackbird, and they started towards Cleveland. Buffy phoned Giles to get more information about everything that was happening and what could be expected when they landed,
"The vampires and demons," he told her, "are working with some big monster calling himself Apocalypse. Nothing we've tried against him has worked. Even the most powerful magiks have had no effect. We have managed to eliminate most of his helpers however. His magikal and physical immunity hasn't spread to them yet."
"Shit," Buffy swore after Giles was done. "I'll phone when we get there."
She hung up and tuned to look at everyone in the jet. "Apocalypse has joined up with the traditional dark forces. That means that we're all in deep shit. Magik doesn't work on this Apocalypse dude," Buffy concluded dully.
This comment drew a wince from Xander and Faith.
"Scott's eyebeams do," Logan responded. "But he's immortal, so the best we can hope for is to stop him."
"Damn it," Faith growled. "Why do all the evil guys have to be practically invincible?"
There was a strained silence in the Blackbird when it landed, and on the trip to meet with the others that followed.
"Okay," Buffy muttered, breaking the solemn silence. "So where is this guy supposed to appear tonight?"
Giles supplied a location and Buffy continued mentally planning with the information at hand.
"We should take out as many of his followers as we can before he appears," she concluded.
Scott nodded.
"Let's go then," Buffy called out. "And Xander…"
"I know, Buff. Try to stay out of trouble."
"X-men, move out," Scott ordered a second later.
The two teams raced to the specified location to find a huge gathering of vampires and demons.
Gambit immediately began throwing charged cards at the vampires, and Storm was calling down lightening to strike several of the larger nasties. And it might not have killed them, but it did distract them enough for Buffy and Faith too. Logan had beheaded several, and Scott blasted a few in the first few moments of the battle. Scott was careful not to do too much because he had to save himself for the fight with Apocalypse that was coming.
The slayers and their core group were doing well, all still breathing, and having accounted for well over two dozen nasties. Willow and Giles were quite lethal with magik and weapons, and even Xander was doing fairly well.
When the time came for Apocalypse to appear, there were only about two dozen of the forces of darkness left standing. Thought o be fair, some had fled. Apocalypse appeared, but about five minutes after he was scheduled to.
"Hey ugly," Buffy called up to the towering figure, "ever heard of being on time."
"Now, Slim," Logan called across the battlefield, pitching his voice so that it would carry. The voiced roughed by the exertions of battle got Scott's attention and his optic blast pushed Apocalypse bad a mere moment later.
"Wills, Giles, now," Xander called. The scoobies had suggested that magik might work on Apocalypse if he was distracted by an attack that he viewed as a threat, by Scott's attack. The X-men had agreed to give it a try.
Willow and Giles began to chant rapidly, and loudly, in a different language. They soon were encased in am off white glow that spread out from them to surround Apocalypse, who was still trying to remove Scott from the equation. It brightened until it was blinding, and when the assembled warriors blinded to clear the light from their eyes, they found Apocalypse was gone.
"Y' killt Apocalypse," Remy finally managed, awe in his heavily accented voice.
"Naw," Xander responded, rather flippant about the whole thing after this long, "they just moved him, and maybe stopped him from returning to Earth."
"Maybe," Giles muttered to emphasize the point, wiping at his forehead with the back of his hand as he did so. The rest of the other vampires, demons, and assorted hellish creatures had disappeared as well. They had either fled or been caught up in the parameters of the spell.
"That leaves only one question," Scott said tiredly.
"What?" Faith asked, just as tiredly, leaning against something that looked like it might have been a support pillar in a warehouse at some point in its history.
"If the three of you are coming back with us or staying here?"
"I'm going," Faith announced. "Going to get to know this family I inherited."
"I'm going too," Buffy added, taking in the shocked expressions of Willow and Giles. "With Dawn in England and tons of Slayers I'm not really needed. Besides, I'd like better control over my strength."
"I'm in too," Xander commented dryly. "Magneto still owes me a discussion, so I'll have to track him down."
"You know, Xander," an exhausted looking Bobby commented, "you're crazy."
"Why thank you."
The groups was still laughing as they headed toward the Blackbird after a set of tearful good-byes. But no one was terribly upset, after all they were heading towards a new chapter in all of their complicated lives.
Fini Chapter Five