Xander immediately went back to his apartment. He didn't feel like staying at the Summer's house any longer. Back at his apartment complex, he unloaded the equipment her had stolen from the police station. Normally he would have been about more careful, but the streets and the surrounding buildings were already deserted.

When he had finally stored all the stuff in his apartment, he began to check the guns he had liberated.

He had two Baretta 92, three Benelli M3 shotguns, one H&K Mp5 from one of the SPD's SWAT teams and enough ammunition to start a small war. In addition to that he also had a couple of holsters and extra magazines from the police station. From the army base he had five grenades, two night vision goggles and a pair of night vision binoculars.

Xander started to take the guns apart and cleaned each one of them. After he was satisfied with their condition, he turned his attention to the Mp5. One of the things he had taken from the police station's armoury was an upgrade kit for the sub-machinegun. The kit consisted of a silencer, a scope, laser sight and a flashlight for the Mp5.

He had just finished screwing the silencer to the muzzle, when he heard a knock on his door.

"Hey Xander," Faith greeted him, as he opened the door.

"Faith," Xander exclaimed surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Faith shrugged. "B sent me and Wood out to search for the Bringers. I though you might want to join."

Xander looked confused, but a quick look out of the window showed him that it was already dark. He hadn't noticed that had worked that long on the Mp5. "Wait a second," he said and walked back to the kitchen table. He took one of the Barettas and stuffed in one of the shoulder holsters. He also grabbed the Mp5 and walked back to Faith.

"Whao," Faith exclaimed surprised as Xander fastened the holster around his shoulder. "You want to start a small war or what?"

"Just compensating my lack of super powers," he said as they walked down the stairs and out of the apartment complex, where Wood already waited for them.

"Xander," Wood greeted him and shook his hand. "Glad that you're okay."

"Thanks," Xander answered with a thankful nod. "So, where do we start?"

"I'd say the classics," Faith proposed.

Xander nodded. "Cemetery is it."

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Back at the Summer's residence Buffy stared into the mirror of the bathroom. The cut on her head had already healed and would disappear in a day or two. Same went for the bruise on her throat where Xander hat hit her. But right now it was a reminder of her embarrassment this afternoon, when she had to face the SITs in the kitchen.

She sighed and splashed her face with some water from the sink.

"Your plan didn't work," she said, accusing the souled vampire that stood behind her, even if she couldn't see him in the mirror. Spike simply leaned against the wall and watched her. "Now it's even worse," she continued. "All the SITs saw how he beat the crap out of me."

"That wasn't your fault and you know it," Spike said, trying to convince her of that. "Xander tricked you. He only won because he cheated."

"What am I supposed to do?" Buffy asked after a long pause. "The Potentials lost nearly all their respect for me. It won't be long before they'll stand up against me and I have no idea how I can prevent that."

Spike considered that for a moment, he already knew that answer to that question. "We need a quick victory," he finally stated. "Xander beat you up. Now you have to show them that you're despite that the better leader."

"That's the problem," Buffy exclaimed with dry laugh. "Caleb was our best chance to wipe the First's troops out. But his Bringers are now somewhere else. And we don't know here they are."

"Don't worry," Spike said and walked in the direction of the door. "They will turn up eventually."

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"Did Buffy have any idea how we're supposed to find those Bringers?" Wood asked when they walked through Restfield cemetery.

"I don't think so," Faith said and tried to pierce the darkness with her eyes. "Buffy normally doesn't think."

"Well, that might be helpful," Xander said and handed her a pair of binoculars.

"What's that?" the slayer asked.

"Night vision binoculars," Xander explained. "Took them with me from the Army base. Bu I can't really use them," he said and motioned at his eyepatch.

"You raided the Army base?" Faith asked with an amused expression. "Way to go X-Man."

They continued their search in silence without any results. When they had searched the whole graveyard without encountering any Bringer, Faith decided to break the silence.

"Hey Xander. Have you reconsidered what Dawn and I talked about with you?"

"Yeah I have," Xander admitted. "Had some time think over it."

"And?" she asked.

"I still don't think I would be a good idea," the Zeppo told her.

"Why not Xander?" Wood spoke up. "Buffy is not exactly doing a great job with leading the troops."

"Yeah X," Faith agreed. "And I'm sure that most of the Potentials have the same opinion. Woody and I would support you in a heart beat. Dawn too. And I'm sure that Giles and Anya would do the same."

"Well, I'm flattered for all the support," Xander told her with a smile. "But I still hope that Buffy will come to her senses."

"If you ask me that's a lost cause. But whatever suits you," Faith said and peered again through her binoculars. "Wait a second. I think I have something here."

"Bringers?" Wood asked.

"I think so," Faith said and handed him the binoculars. "There are not many people here in Sunnydale that walk around in hoods. What are they doing?"

"They're heading toward that church at the other side of the street," Wood said and pointed at the building. "I think we should follow them."

As silent as it was possible the three followed the First's minions to the church.

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The inside of the church was crowded with Bringers. They all stood in the main chamber and had kneeled down in front of the altar. A hooded person stood in front of them and waited patiently for the arrival of their master. Finally the First appeared behind the altar and looked expectantly at the figure in front of it.

"Is everything prepared?" it asked the hooded figure that stood in front of her.

"Yes master," the figure replied with a woman's voice. "All you troops have assembled here. We are awaiting your orders."

The First nodded at that and looked its assembled soldiers. "Calebs's demise delayed our plans," it declared. "And we are not strong enough to attack the slayer directly."

The First stopped for a moment. When it continued an evil smile had appeared on its face. "But our numbers will continue to rise. And soon we will be enough to face them. And then they will all die."

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Xander and his two companions followed the two Bringers to the church. They stopped outside the front doors and peered inside the church.

"Crap," Faith whispered, after the First had finished its speech. "They plan their attack on us."

Wood nodded at that and looked closer at the assembled Bringers. "There are about thirty Bringers in there," he finally said. " That's not enough for them to attack us. But could be a problem for us if they really reinforce their troops."

"What do you think Xander?" Faith asked the Zeppo. But Xander simply stared at the Bringers, not noticing the dark slayer. "Xander," she whispered again and slapped him on his forearm.

That finally got his attention and he looked over to the slayer. "What?"

"You okay?" Faith asked. "You kinda zoned out there."

"I don't know," Xander admitted and again looked at the groups of Bringers. "There is something wrong here. I just can't put my finger on it."

They waited for another few minutes,just in case something important happened.

"I think we have to get out of here," Faith said finally and stood up. "We have to tell the group about this."

Wood nodded and followed the slayer instantly. Xander stayed for few more seconds before he also left his spot at the door. But he couldn't shake of the feeling that they had missed something important.

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About five minutes after Xander, Faith and Wood left the church the hooded figure finally became impatient.

"Are they away?" she asked annoyed.

"Yes," The First told her with a smile. "You can drop the spell now."

The hooded woman nodded and folded her hands in front of her. She chanted a few words in and ancient language and waited for the results. Right after the spell had ended, the air behind the Bringers began to shimmer and weaver.

Finally the air cleared itself and revealed another group of Bringers, that up to now were hidden by the cloaking spell. The First smiled as it watched it troops. The number of Bringers had more than doubled in these few seconds.

"Your orders master," the hooded woman asked. "The real ones."

"We follow the plan I have initiated," the First replied calmly. "And if it doesn't work, then we still have brute force to accomplish our goals."

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Back at the Summer's residence the Potentials had gathered in the living room to watch some TV. The rest of the Scoobies had joined them, while Buffy and Spike sat in the kitchen, brooding over a map of Sunnydale.

"Faith," the blonde slayer greeted her dark counterpart as she walked into the kitchen with her two companions. She eyed Xander with a dark expression, but quickly focussed back on Faith. "How did your patrol go?"

"More or less successful," Faith told the slayer. "We followed two Bringers to an abandoned church. They set their base up there," she said and marked the position on the map.

"The Bringers are there," Buffy asked and pointed at the map. "How many?"

"About thirty of them," Robin answered. "And a hooded woman that leads them."

Buffy contemplated her actions for a moment. Xander watched her during that, hoping that she would make the right decisions this time.

Finally Buffy stood up and walked in the living room. She grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. That got her the attention of everyone. "Okay everyone," she called out. "Gear up. We're paying the First a little visit."

The Potentials looked at each other, not sure what to make out of Buffy's order.

Buffy noticed the lack of enthusiasm. "Any problems with that?"

When none of the occupant of the room spoke up, Xander stepped forward and addressed the blonde slayer. "Yeah, I've got a problem with that."

Buffy glared at him, but didn't want to embarrass herself in front of the group again. "And why's that?" she finally asked, masking her anger as good as possible.

"I don't know," Xander admitted tiredly. "But something was definitely wrong when we were at the church. Call it a feeling."

Buffy snorted at that ."And because of your feeling I'm supposed to wait and let the First get away with its troops."

"If I remember correctly it was you that attacked Caleb's vineyard out of a feeling," Xander threw back at her, finally running dry with his patience.

"That's something different," Buffy told him."I'm a slayer. It's not like I didn't have more than one prophetic dream in my life. When I get a bad felling and act on it, it's justified. If you get one, than simply because you're scared."

"Oh, cause you're the slayer you are allowed to act on your instincts. But the rest of us not, because we have no supernatural senses?" Xander stated angrily.

"Buffy! Xander!" Giles called out and approached the two. "I think you should both calm down and continue this conversation in civilized matter."

"Stay out of this Giles," Buffy snapped at her former watcher and returned her attention to Xander.

Xander sighed and looked around the room. All of the SITs and Scoobies watched their argument with growing interest. Realizing that her probably wouldn't reach Buffy with reason, he decided to change his tactics.

"Okay," Xander sat after a moment. "I have a deal for you. Buffy. I will support you in every way possible. I'll do everything you want me to do. I will never question your decision again as long as the fight against the First goes on. All I expect from you is to answer me one single question," Xander told her. That statement surprised everyone in the room, Buffy the most. None of them expected Xander to cave in that easily.

"Fine," Buffy replied finally, happy that the constant questioning of her leadership skills would soon be over. "Ask your question."

"What's your plan?" Xander simply asked. If the offer that he wouldn't challenge her again didn't throw Buffy of her feet, this few words sure did the job.

"Wh.What?" the blonde slayer stammered out. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you must have some kind of battle plan," Xander stated. "Or did you just want to storm into there and start killing ."

"I..."Buffy started, but was a complete loss of words.

"I'm going to make it a bit easier for you," Xander told her. "Do you want to attack them from one side only? Or do you want strike from different positions, so the Bringers have no chance to escape?" he proposed, catching Buffy off guard with each word. The Slayer just stood there as the Zeppo continued his interrogation. "And if you want to do that, who is supposed to lead the different groups? What about reconnaissance, so we don't run into the next trap the First might have planned for us. And where are we supposed to treat our wounded? Sunnydale hospital is already deserted. What about reinforcements? Where are we supposed to regroup if the Firsts troop overpower us."

"Stop it," Buffy screamed, barely holding herself back to physical harm him. She took some deep breaths before she answered. "I have already considered all that," she exclaimed finally.

"Oh really," Xander asked with a sneer. "Why does it seem to me that you're just saying that so you don't look like a fool in front of everyone."

"Xander," Buffy said, faking a smile. "Could I speak to you for a moment," she said and tried to drag Xander in the direction of the kitchen.

"No Buffy. I don't think so," Xander replied and yanked his arm free out of her grip. "If you want to lead all those girls into the next pitfall, well, that's your decision," Xander told her with the barest hint of emotion and leaned forward so their faces were only inches apart. "But I want nothing to do with it."

Before the slayer could mutter another word, Xander had already turned around and walked in the direction of the front door.

"Good," Buffy exclaimed after he had slammed the door behind him. "I thought he would never leave,"

"How dare you," Dawn accused at her."Even when all of us thought that the attack on Caleb was a mistake, he still supported you. He lost his eye because he believed in you. And now you are thanking him that like this?"

But Buffy just stared coldly at her. "You can leave if you don't like it."

"You know what," Dawn told her with furry expression. "I'm doing exactly that."

"Wow," Faith exclaimed after Dawn also had slammed the door behind her. "Little sis has more spine than her sister," she said, which earned her a glare from Buffy. Faith ignored the blonde slayer and instead turned to the dark skinned man besides her. "Come on Woody. We have nothing left here."

"You coming G," Faith called out as she and the principal of Sunnydale High left through the front door. Giles and Anya exchanged a look for a few seconds. Finally both shrugged their shoulders and followed the dark slayer.

Buffy meanwhile could only watch shocked as more and more of her friends left the house.

"Okay guys," Buffy exclaimed, trying her hardest to hide her nervous state. "Now that we have lost this extra weight we can go on with the initial plan."

"Plan?" Kennedy asked with a raised eyebrow. "You have a plan now? I though Xander prooved that this is not the case."

"Kennedy," Buffy snapped at the Potential. "Shut up."

"No, I won't," the SIT declared. "Admit it Buffy. You fucked up in your fight against Caleb. But instead of learning from you mistakes, you are about to repeat them."

"You don't have any idea what it's like to lead a group into a war," Buffy accused her.

"No I don't," She admitted. "But even I could do a better job than you, despite my lack of experience. Think about it. When even your friends have given up on you, why should we bother any longer?"

When Buffy couldn't find an answer to that question, the potential slayer stood up and walked in the direction of the front door.

That action finally broke the dam that had keeped the Potentials under Buffy's control. One after another stood up and followed Kennedy out of the house.

During all this, Willow stood up and walked up to the blonde slayer.

"I'm sorry Buffy," The witch told her ."But Xander is right. You have no plan. And you wouldn't even consider another opinion or our help."

"You too Willow," Buffy asked her, trying her hardest to suppress the tears that stated to swell in her eyes. "Even after I accepted you back here. After everything you did?"

Willow glared at her. "Just another point why I should leave," she accused the slayer. "My Buffy, the Buffy I proudly could call my friend would have never used that against me in an argument." Willow followed the last Potentials, but stopped in front of the door. "You are not that person anymore," she said over her shoulder. "I hope you will be it one day again. But right now, I would choose Xander's side anytime of the day."

And with these words she closed the door behind her.

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"Xander wait," Dawn called out, running up to the departing form of he Scoobie.

"What do you want?" he snapped at her, without slowing down. When he realise what he just said he turned around. "Sorry Dawn. But I'm just not in the best mood right now," he apologised with sigh. "I mean what am I supposed to do? I tried to get through to her, but she just won't listen. No matter what I say, she sees it as a kind of challenge for her position of the leadership."

"It's not your fault," Dawn reassured him. "She doesn't listen to anyone of us," she told him. "Except Spike," she added after a second.

"Yo X-Man," Faith called out attracting both their attention. "You ready to accept some more fugitives?"

"What are you two doing here?" Xander asked surprised as the dark haired slayer and the principal walked up to them.

"Isn't it obvious?" Faith told him with a smirk. "We're joining the rebellion against the evil Emperor."

"Giles, Anya," he greeted them. Just now he spotted the stream of Potentials that had followed them.

After a couple of minutes, all the Potentials stood in a semi circle around the male scoobie. The last one to join them was Willow.

"Okay Xander," Willow started. "We're all here. Now, what are we supposed to do?"

Xander shook his had and took a long moment to gather his thoughts.

"Okay," he finally. "First priority is get us a new base of operation. My apartment is obviously not big enough for you all. That means we have to search for another location."

Xander though about his possibilities and came quickly to a solution. "I got it," he said and turned to Giles. "Giles. Take Anya and Willow with you. Bring the Potentials to Angel's old mansion."

"Good idea. The building is big enough and there are few entrances we have to guard," the watcher said with a nod and led the Potentials down the street.

"Faith, Dawn," he said and turned to the two. "You two are going to raid one of the supermarkets. We need something to eat after all. Take my car," he said and handed Faith the keys. "It's still at my apartment. We are going to meet at the mansion once we're finished."

"Yes sir," Faith said and mock saluted in front of Xander.

"And what am I supposed to do?" Robin Wood asked, once the two women had disappeared around the next corner.

"You got a car?" Xander said without looking at him.

"Yeah," the principal responded. "A SUV. It's still at my apartment."

"Good," Xander responded with a smirk. "Robin, You ever broke into a police station?"

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"They left," Buffy repeated for the umpteenth time. "All of them."

Since all her friends and the potentials had left the house Buffy sat on the couch, repeating those words over and over again.

"Oh Buffy," Spike said from besides her. "I would like to say that I could make it better. But I can't," he admitted and stood up. He walked to the other side of the room and waited a few more moments. "And even if I could I wouldn't do it."

That statement finally brought Buffy out of her trance. "What are you talking about?" she asked confused. "I don't understand."

"Well that's nothing new with you," The First replied sarcastically. Buffy almost jumped. She hadn't noticed the appearance of the ultimate evil. It sat besides her on the couch, where only moment before Spike had sat. It smiled with Buffy's face at her. "Don't you understand blondie? Spike is finally showing his true colours."

Buffy could only stare between the First and Spike, still don't able to believe what she just heard. "I don't understand," she repeated.

"Oh, are that the only words you know?" Spike asked with a snort. "Don't you get it you stupid bitch? I'm working for the First."

"But you have a soul," Buffy responded.

"You really thought I would voluntary get my soul back," he asked her with an amused expression. "Damn. You must have read Anne Rice book once too often."

Buffy just wanted to ask her next question, when the First silenced her. Buffy was shocked to see that it had taken the form of her Mother. "Sweety, I'll explain everything to you, I swear," the First told her with a smile. "But we have tight a schedule to follow."

The First nodded at someone behind Buffy. "What.." Buffy started, but was silenced, when her whole body was encased in ice.

"Good shot Andrew," the First congratulated the geek, who had and upgraded version of the evil trio's freezing gun in his hands.

"And she won't take any damage from that?" Spike asked and lighted a cigarettes.

"No," Andrew responded. "Captain America was locked in an iceberg for decades and it didn't harm him. She won't hurt get by a few ours in this thing," the geek explained, but Spike had already stopped listening after the first few words.

"Whatever," Spike said and focused on the front door. The hooded woman entered the room, a couple of Bringers behind her.

"Right on time," the First exclaimed with a smile. The Bringers immediately lifted Buffy frozen body off the couch and carried it out off the house.

"Is everything prepared?" the First asked.

"Yes master," the woman replied and threw the hood over her head, which revealed the smiling face of Amy Madison. "The school is in our hand. And everything is prepared for the sacrifice."

"Excellent," the First said with a smile. "Everything went according to the plan."