A/N: LUV ALL OF YOU!!! HERE IT IS!!!

Chapter Nineteen: Apocalypse

Max darted around the Command Center frantically, almost to the point of hysteria. Only five more hours to go. She thought sucking in a deep breath. And we don't even have enough guns.

"Mole!" She called out.

The said transhuman emerged from the arsenal, carrying a sniper. "You rang?"

"How much?"

Mole grimaced. "'Bout two-fifty."

Max grimaced with him. Two hundred and fifty guns for three hundred and sixty-four transgenics. For the first time in her life, she was actually pissed that they did not have enough guns.

For a very long time, guns disgusted Max. She despised them up the point that she won't touch them. On reason: Guns kill. Plain and simple.

Yeah right. She snorted. Knives kill too, so do those hands of yours.

"But do we have enough bullets?" Max asked hopefully.

Mole grinned. "Thousands, Queen Bee. Thousands."

Max sighed in relief. "Good. Distribute all guns to the best shooters." Mole raised an eyebrow. "Now."

"Yo Maxie!" A voice shouted out from the entrance doors were Mole just exited through. It was Jewel. She was waving a wad of documents in the air enthusiastically. "I got the maps!"

"Thanks," Max said gratefully, accepting the papers and motioning for Jewel to follow her. They stopped at a small, rusty coffee table and spread the maps out on the metal surface. After a few minutes, she had memorized every single detail.

"Jewel, remember the teams we formed a few weeks ago?" Max asked.

"Of course," Jewel said nodding. "The five Elite teams."

"I want you to get them here now. I have a plan."

"I've picked three tunnel exits that three of our teams will emerge from. Each leads to a concealed location outside of Terminal City. All of these tunnel exits are hidden under a dumpster, which wouldn't be all that of a problem for you guys. Super strength and all that shit..."

"When do we come out?" a voice called out from the crowd.

"As Dix had found out, unbeknownst to them, they will be attacking at exactly twelve noon. That's when you come out."

"How would we know if its safe enough to come out?" Another asked.

"Shut up and let me finish first!" Max snapped, her patience wavering. They had four hours and forty minutes left. "I already sent out an X5 to plant bugs near the said dumpsters. That way you'd hear if anyone is coming."

"You sent out an X5?" Someone asked incredulously. "Isn't that a bit dangerous considering the circumstances we are in now?"

Max smirked. "Don't worry. This X5 has plenty enough experience." The double-doors to the Command Center slammed open. "And he's here already."

"Did I miss anything?" Alec asked, shaking the droplets of rain on his hair as he jogged up to her. It was drizzling outside, and it was rather irritating for them, considering the fact that they were part feline. Cats hate water.

But of course, when the time came for them to fight, they wouldn't be hating the water. They'd be loving how it would wash away their blood.

"Not much," Max said with a shrug turning back to her audience. "Teams Three, Four, and Five would pick ten more people to come with them. That way, we'd have sixty of our men waiting outside TC. The rest would stay here, and fight it out straight out the front and back entrances."

"What about the roof?" Mole asked. "They'd be having choppers, that's for sure."

"I already assigned some people on the roof." Max said, trying to keep her calm. She was beyond nervous now. Only Four hours and twenty-five minutes to go. "Alright that's about it people. Get your firearms from Mole, and rest it out. I'll be meeting with you again an hour before we go to our designated positions." She waved them off. "You're all dismissed."

A warm hand found her cool cheek. "You okay Maxie?"

She twisted around and met Alec's dazzling hazel-green eyes. She had always found it entertaining to just watch them. Especially when he was happy, the flecks of hazel would dance up and down like flames. But now, they were filled with nothing more but concern and anxiety.

She forced a smile. "I'm always okay."

Alec laughed lightly . "Isn't that supposed to be my line?"

This time, Max's smile was truly genuine. It was that irresistible charm of his. It always made her feel better when she was down there. Way down.

"Seriously Maxie, are you alright?"

Max sighed. "Of course not. We're about to go into war, Alec. A full-out war with the people who made us." Hurt shone on her face. "Do you know how painful that is? They created us and then they just suddenly decide that they have no use for us anymore? We're just things to them...garbage...trash that pollute their world..."

Alec wrapped an arm around her shoulder as tears started to flow down her face. "Max, this isn't Manticore anymore. Manticore's long gone. They were the ones who made us. Not these people..."

"I know that...but in a way...it's still the same. They're still the same race...ordinary humans who don't give a shit about the fact that we have souls. We have souls too, Alec. We feel. We're no robots whom they can just manipulate and order around." She was sobbing now, and Alec kissed her on the head as an attempt to comfort her.

It did.

Alec always did. He always made things alright...well, maybe not entirely...but better...and better was better than nothing at all. "I love you." He whispered in her ear.

She smiled. "I love you too."

Willow shut her eyes halfway through the spell as energy poured through her. The stimulating warmth spread through her body like a rapid fire, almost taking her breath away. It had been such a long time since she had felt this kind of vigor. This kind of drive.

She embraced the magic as it enveloped her, sliding across her body like second skin.

Softly, she chanted under her breath, the Latin words flowing easily from her tongue.

Slowly, she completed the spell.

There was a flash of bright light, and her hair went white, her eyes glowing black in the dimness of the broken-down classroom.

Almost there...

She gasped in relief, her hair color reverting back to scarlet as the power left her.

I've done it...she thought with a small smile. I've transformed all Potentials into Slayers.

And then she lost consciousness.

Buffy stared at the Seal, the entrance to the Hellmouth, as she waited for the rest of the Potentials to arrive. Faith was already there, standing beside her, her eyes too on the Seal. Inside it, their worst nightmares were waiting for them, waiting to strike. The last Potential finally arrived, and they all circled around the Mouth of Hell.

Faith drew out a small blade, cutting her palm open until the blood began to drip on the Seal. One by one, the Potentials sliced their hands and held them out spontaneously on the metallic disc. They watched in horrified entrancement as drops of crimson fell down onto the Seal.

And slowly, it began to open.

"We're going to Hell," Faith announced, leading the way into the ground.

And slowly, they began to descend.

The Potentials gasped when they finally arrived at their destination. A cliff overlooking a vast canyon overflowing with Uber Vampires. Spike, Faith, and Buffy stood side by side watching and waiting...waiting for Willow's spell to take effect.

Seconds ticked by and then...

"Whoa!" Faith exclaimed, grinning as the Potentials were suddenly bathed in shimmering white light.

"Can you feel it?" Buffy asked.

The girls nodded, smiles gracing their terrified faces.

"Congratulations," Spike remarked with a nod of his bleached-blonde head. "You are now officially Slayers."

Faith smirked. "Welcome to our world."

"This is it girls," Buffy spoke in a steady voice. "This is your final test. All your training will finally be put to use. You are all Slayers now. You now have the strength, the speed, and the power." Buffy's eyes flashed. "We are the protectors of this world, and it is up to us to fulfill our duties. You were Chosen for this. This is your destiny."

Faith rolled her eyes with a grin. "What she means is – let's go kick some ass!"

A/N: Girl power!!! Woohoo!!! Ahem, anyway, I just wanted to ask you guys a question: Who Chooses the Slayers? I mean, do the Powers that Be choose them, or whoever? It would really help in the sequel... hint! Hint! Bwahahahaahahah!!! :-) Review!