The Emperor's Key

Chapter Six

Authors note

I strongly suggest you read the reviews section before reading this bit.
"Huh" I don't want to get into a fight. I admit that you know more than me and that was probably the longest review I have ever had. But I think I can still salvage some shred of dignity.
Excommunicatus hereticus; The High Lords of Terra and the Ultramarine primarch Roubert Gilliam (probably not spelt right) wrote the rules and regulations of the second founding including "excommunicatus hereticus" (or to be excommunicated as a heretic). The Space Wolves are the only chapter not included in these rules. The practical up shot of which being that the Inquisition, Deathwatch ect have no authority over Logan Grimnar or any Great Wolf, this is why I chose him. Russ had already left by the time the Codex Astartes came into effect and it was Bjorn the Fellhanded who rejected them (going as far as to threaten to leave the Imperium in protest). As for an all out attack on the Fang (the mountain strong hold of the Space Wolves). Not even the High Lords of Terra would dare to try such a thing. It would kindle a rebirth of the Age of Apostasy, a general civil war. With Chaos on the rise, The Necron's attacking, and the remains of the Tranid Hive Fleets, let alone the emergence of the Tau, continued attacks from Dark Eldar and Orks they need all the help they can get.
As for the shotgun, my hands are up. In the end your right, I'm wrong and I'm not proud of it. I could argue that propellants and shells could change and improve over the space of 20 years let alone 20 thousand but I would be trying to defend a flawed idea (P.S. Bolter shells are explosive and fired at super-sonic speeds this I know but where did you get the measurement of a 12cal round ? From what I can see of the models the barrel is much bigger maybe not leg size but at least arm size, I chalk that down as a "Spikeisum")
Finally, web-way portals on Earth. It's not fair I've been really subtle about it too. Lets look at the history of... THE STARGATE! (dum, dum, dumm!). The Ancients built the Stargate, the Eldar learnt to use the web-way from the Old Ones. The Old Ones spread life throughout the galaxy, the Ancients colonised space. The Ancients worst enemy was a race called the Wraith who suck your life force (see Stargate Atlantis). The Necron's worship a race of gods that suck the life energy from people and stars alike who are the sworn enemies of the Old Ones. With a bit of imagination you can see the connection. That's how a web-way portal can be on Earth and thus Warhammer 40K, Buffy and Stargate SG-1 are all in this crossover. The key point is when Ulrik lists the optional web-way portals and says 'There are two web-way portals active. One is under heavy guard on the other continent.' Heavy guard equals U.S. military deep underground and a naquada enhanced hydrogen bomb. The kind of defences that will kill a space marine (i.e. BOOM)
As for Slaanesh (The Corruptor) active in this time, do you really believe that time travel is impossible for a being spawned in the depths of the warp? Space hulks are spat out at random times in a variety of different places. In the warp time and space don't exist so the chaos gods can be anywhere anyhow anyway.

Feel free to argue again... Actually I look forward to it. Thanks for all the reviews so far but now on with the story.
But first; Disclaimer

I own non of the characters used in this story, base concepts and background all belong to Mutant Enemy inc, Games Workshop and MGM (MGM only by inflection). The plot is mine but I can't find it for the holes.

Dawn had come in, looked at Buffy for a strange moment and left. Then, saying she needed some real sleep, left. A horrid silence permeated the room. Spike sat next to the comatose slayer while Angel stood at the foot of her bed. Illyria just hovered. In the corner sat cross legged was another Adeptus Astartes. This one, Spike reasoned, was the strangest.

He had the wolf pelt cloak, tooth necklace and armour but no helmet. He had some kind of hood and a big collar that stretched over his ears from behind. Held flat across his lap was a thick staff surmounted with a wolf skull. From here Spike could smell the power coming off him as well as that strange wolf trace all the others had. Hopping from one end of the staff to the other was a jet black bird. It stopped and tilted its' head at him before hopping from the staff to its owners shoulder and turned around facing the former vampire. The large man opened his eyes and smiled 'Spike.'

'How do you know my name mate?'

'I am a Rune Priest. I know many things.'

'Really. Who killed JFK?'

'As I expected. You ask me a question I can not possibly know to prove me wrong. While this ancient history may be clouded by time your past is known to me youngling.'

'Shows how much you know mate. I'm over two hundred.'

'Indeed you are but to one such as me you are but children.'

Angel frowned 'How old are you?'

'For over five hundred years I have served The Emperor through the will of Russ. I am Njal, the Stormcaller.'

'You and your kind aren't human, we know that but your different aren't you?'

'As I said, I am a Rune Priest. The ways of the runes and the thoughts of the mind are no stranger to me.'

'You're a bloody mind-reader and fortune teller. Priceless. Tell me mate do your visions come from a higher power or the power of your friends magic bag? ' Spike didn't try to hide the sarcasm.

'A fool speaks while the wise listen.' He turned to Illyria. 'You once ruled a mighty world empire before man walked on this world demon.'

'What of it.' Illyria snapped.

'One such as you will have heard of the Necron and their Gods.'

'Quiet you tongue Sorcerer!' Spike had never heard her whisper in fear like that before, he doubted any one had. 'They can pull your words from the air and you might have brought ruination to us all!!!'

'I think not, the dead ones do still sleep and will not awake for some time. Only the powers of chaos do threaten this time. Spike, your slayer has need of you yet again. Your distraction was almost fatal.'

'I got caught up, I know I should have been there for her but I couldn't get away.'

'Such is the Changer of Ways; subtle and distracting.'

'Who?'

'Of all the Chaos Gods He is the most deceitful and treacherous.'

'What's that got to do with anything? I thought this Corruptor guy was controlling Buffy.'

'He was. As was the Changer of Ways controlling you. What you call Wolfram and Heart is merely a shadow and the Senior Partners truly the gods of chaos.'

'This has all been to get Dawn? The last five years?' Angel burst out 'Why?'

'The child is still innocent. This in itself is cause to drive Chaos to desire her while her mystical nature means that they can destroy this universe. But not all has been connected to the Key. You and your destiny was also important to them. Your counter part, Angelus, would have been a champion of all the chaos gods, if he knew they existed.'

'Bloody wonderful mate, but when Buffy's back to her old self she'll drop kick them all back to hell!'

'I am sorry my friend. It will take more than those empty words to wake her.' Njal walked to her side, just in front of Spike. 'In her mind there is a time you gave her strength to fight for that which she lost.'

'What of it.'

'She needs that strength again, as do you. The benediction of Russ is strong but it cannot help those who do not try.' The sorcerer touched her forehead where four faint, dark, lines rested. 'My protection is all but spent, very soon now Russ will be unable to protect her. I can bridge your minds and let you help her. It is very dangerous for one who is not trained and chaos can easily infect the unwary.'

'Then let me go!' Angel jumped between Spike and Njal. 'I can help her.'

'NO!' Njal roared as his bird flared its wings. 'You have no idea of the charm of chaos. She will offer you temptation and you would accept. Only Spike has the knowledge to protect her or the conviction to save her. I have looked into both your minds. You were ever a drunken leachier given to flights of fancy to whatever pretty woman passed your eye. Spike is a killer, he has taken pleasure in it but never so much as you. You were never a good man Liam, William here was. At one time.'

'So Angel is not good enough to save her. Sorry Peaches guess I'll have to save the day. Whatever your going to do, do it now.'

While Angel brooded Spike followed the sorcerer's instructions. 'Sit down here. Now open your mind fully. I cannot follow you.'

'Good Buffy doesn't like it when people snoop.'

'Now you must sleep.'

'How?' Spike realised how as he spoke, a fast blur he guessed was a staff came towards him.

With a very strange sensation Spike came to. It took him a while to place where he really was. In Buffy's mind her current flat, Sunnydale home and what he guessed was her old house LA had merged into some kind of freakish surrealist world. That wasn't the most distracting thing, the walls were made of a multicoloured light that danced around itself. Forcing himself to ignore it Spike checked each room.

In the living room three naked demons that looked like girls hopped around in a very interesting dance. 'Bugger me.' Spike whispered after a moment before retreating from the room. Turning around he bumped into another, this one was so amazingly beautiful that his heart almost stopped beating again.

'Hi,' she giggled at him wrapping her arms around his neck. 'Want to dance?'

'Sorry love but no thanks.' Disentangling himself he made it into the dining room only to find Dru and Harmony there in what had to be a very uncomfortable position.

'Spikey want to play?' "Harmony" said somehow this version looked better than great. Spike was half way to them before he realised he had moved. Quickly he realised exactly what the strange sorcerer had meant, and that discretion was the better part of valour.

Dodging around the entwined vampires he reached for the door, ready to get out of Buffy's mind. A strange thought crossed his own mind, so strange he actually said it out loud 'Since when is William the Bloody Valiant?' Behind him the two women stopped. 'I'm onto you now you basterd! Can't corrupt me so trick me to leave? Well I have news for you mister high and mighty...' spinning on his heal Spike saw the two sticky demons sneaking up behind him. In response he delivered a snap kick to "Harmony's" mid section before braking "Dru's" neck and throwing the two of them out of the house into the pack of dark grey wolves that stalked just outside of the door. 'Not even your God will keep me from her!'

The flickering walls writhed in some sort of agony as a voice Spike recognised as the Immortal's drifted down from above 'That's what you think...' Falling to his knees Spike felt something assaulting his senses. A cloying smell of sweet honey and molasses seeped through the walls. Even in his dream state Spike could feel his body shutting down one piece at a time. He could hear Buffy's voice whispering for him to relax and let her care for him.

The sound of her voice was all he needed to fight back. With a tremendous lurch he forced his will against the stifling smog. Fighting against its' effects. His arms were as heavy as lead weights and his head packed with cotton wool. Again he forced every inch of himself against this subtle assault. As a last ditch attempt he dragged himself up to the knifes and plunged one into his hand.

Waves of pain blew the puff clouds from his mind, thankful his hunch was right he dug deeper and pushed the fog totally out of his body. 'What's next Wanker? What else have you got in your bag of tricks!'

Now that the inside walls had gone Spike could see the four pretty girls standing between him and some great squid thing that held his love. He watched as the four women changed from young, attractive humans to old crone like half human half lobster things with dinosaur legs and red pincers for arms. 'Oh bollocks!' They charged as one in some sort of half run half hobbling gait.

With the inside of the house completely gone there were no weapons to fight with and Spike seriously doubted his chances with out one. Ducking and dodging Spike tried everything he had on the four whatever's. They barley flinched. 'Buffy! Love! Need some help here!'

Dodging from one to the other he made his way to the mass of tentacles that ended in muti-fingered hands. One swatted Spike away while another grabbed him and pushed him to the floor. 'Spike.' He looked up to see Buffy being passed from one hand to another, slowly descending to the pinned ex-vampire. 'Why do you try and fight him? If you stop he's promised to give me you.'

'Never. In the last few minutes I've seen what this guy is. I've also seen what he can make you do.'

'Spike,' Buffy gently stroked his face. 'He can help make you happy that's all he wants.'

'What about Dawn you stupid bint? He wants to make her happy to! She's barely eighteen! This sick monster wanted both you and her at the same time.' He watched as she backed away. 'So what did you do when she refused? Brake her arm! What's next her legs? I know brake her spine that way she won't be able to struggle when he rapes her. Over and over again until she's so buggered that she starts dreaming up thing like this!' He gestured to the things surrounding them. The many limbed squid thing was slowly fading and the four demons were glancing around at the subtly changing environment.

'Why should you care about the little brat?' Buffy snapped back.. 'Or is that what you really want? Getting closer to me just to have your naughty little way with her.' Dawn suddenly appeared between them wearing a skin tight tank top and mini-skirt, both were ripped.

'Your joking! You have got to be bloody joking!' Spike shouted before the illusion of the littlest Miss Summers kissed him. When she finished he head-butted the phantom and spitted out its taste. 'Snap out of it Buffy! I love you. Not because you have a sister, not because your the slayer, but because of you!' At the end of his strength he struggled to stand up. 'I know you don't love me, you can barley stand the sight of after what I did. But I still love you and no amount of tricks or silly little games will change that.'

'What do you know about love? He offers you what you most desire, lust.'

'Your not doing much for the blond stereotype are you. I clawed and fought to win back my own soul. Was that lust. That night when you lost everything and I held you was it my "lust" that gave you strength?' Now he was on his feet staring down Buffy. 'Take my strength again. See what you have become and use it to brake free.' She was shaking like a tree in a gale.

A new voice came from the wavering limbs 'You might as well be talking to rocks vampire. She is mine. She has given her body and I took her mind her soul wallows in sin and soon I will feast upon both hers' and all those she holds dear.' The Immortal gloated.

'She let you borrow her body, you basterd. Now she wants it back!' Buffy bellowed at the creature. In a flash it became the Immortal in shape as well as voice. Behind him Spike could feel the four demons back off as Buffy's snapped into focus and her body almost cracked straight.

'Kill them both, I will feed on their souls tonight!'

'Oh shit!' Spike tackled Buffy out of the way of the charging beasts. 'Good to see you back love.'

'Thanks,' Buffy flashed him a smile that made every ache and bruise vanish. Rolling ether side they flipped up, in unison, to face the four advancing demons. 'Weapons time!' In a blink of an eye Buffy was holding the Slayer scythe. Spike looked down to see a short sword in his hand.

It didn't take long for the two seasoned warriors to kill the four demons. They were simply not good or fast enough to stop them. After beheading the four things dissolved into the ground.

The Immortal was not happy about that, and the real fight started. He was fast enough to dodge or deflect both Buffy and Spike when they did hit the weapons bounced off him. He kicked Buffy into a half "there" bookcase and back handed Spike away.

Buffy grunted with pain and forced her self back into the fight. While she was in control of herself here in this dream world her real mind was still under the control of that smug creep. When Spike was smacked out of the fight she charged at her one time lover. He bushed away the strike and clasped his hand firmly around her neck. Bringing her close he almost suffocated her with a kiss. She felt her own desire increase ten fold with that act. Alien thoughts flickered around her mind; "So what if he's evil?" "Can he be all bad if he can make you feel like that?" she knew that they weren't her own thoughts and suppressed them. 'Go back to hell asshole!' She screamed in his face.

He laughed, 'Hell means nothing to a being that came from the Warp! I was going to show you that but now I'm hungry.' The rapist smiled chillingly at her.

Buffy glanced beyond him and two the door in the strangely still substantial walls. 'Aren't we forgetting someone?' She asked and he turned to look.

'NO!' he shouted before Spike opened the door. Buffy was surprised when the entire house crumbled into powder. Standing beyond the foundations was a pack of very large wolves with teeth the size of knives and claws like cargo hooks. The Alpha of the pack stepped forward. Not only was it bigger but its coat was as black as night and it had two heads. The Immortal dropped her and backed off. With deliberate slowness the pack circled him.

Buffy, fortunately, had the good sense to get out of the way and now stood beside Spike watching the dance in front of her. When he stopped retreating the circle of wolves stopped contracting, all but one fell to the haunches. The two headed wolf grinned and stalked forward. Buffy could see the desperation in the Immortals eyes but just couldn't feel any pity for him. In a last ditch attempt he jumped at the massive wolf.

It leaped at the Immortal at the same time. She heard the crack as her corrupters bones broke. By the time the two had landed the wolf had already ripped into his neck killing him instantly. The wolf pack howled in unison before fading away leaving their leader and echo's behind. The alpha stood up and watched the two survivors for a short moment before bowing its head and disappearing itself.

Now the dreamscape was empty save for Buffy and Spike, he smiled and looked around. 'While a blank white world might be interesting I have a feeling it will get old very fast.'

'I think your right, give me a minute' Buffy focused on the one place she knew she would be safe in.

'My old crypt? Good choice.' Spike commented before sitting down.

'I know who you really are you know.' Buffy smiled at him despite the pain she felt saying those words.

'Huh?'

'You're not here. I picked you as a metaphor to help me fight the Immortal's control. You're me or at least a part of me here to help.' Buffy fought to keep the pain from her voice but knew she was failing. 'I did take physiology 101 you know.'

'You chose me to be the face of salvation, Why?'

'I guess because I love you, or the real Spike. Whatever.' Buffy sat down on another chair she imagined up.

'Now your trying to make yourself feel better. You can never love me I, know that and I accepted that.' He got up and walked to the door. 'This is just a guess but if I go out this door I'm out of your mind.'

'Don't go. Stay here with me.'

'As soon as I go you can wake up.'

'I don't want to wake up. I can't face them.'

Spike sat back down. 'Face who?'

'Dawn, Willow, Giles, Xander. I can't. Last time I spoke to Willow she tried to worn me. She felt something was wrong. I told her to mind her own business and to find "new toy" if Kennedy was getting "too old for her.".'

'Oh. She wouldn't take that well.'

'I can't remember when I told her that. I haven't spoken to Xander since we left America. I don't know where he is. Last thing I heard Giles was touring the world and your dead. There's no one left.'

'Dawn's alright and what's-his-name, Andrew, still lives in Rome don't he?'

'How can I speak to her again. Oh God you don't know how much I wanted to take her...'

'Her new friends stopped you. Luckily. Is that the real reason?'

'No Spike. As long as you're here I don't have a reason to go back. You have to know it's true. I do love you. I treated you worse than I treated Riley. You came back. I used you used your love of me to hurt my self and then you. Hell Spike I drove you half way into madness, letting the first brainwash you. Still you loved me.' Buffy was crying but refused to back down. 'I left you down there, I let you die not just for me but for the world. Do you know how strong that kind of love is? How it can infect?'

'Buffy, love. You are amazing. Your strength your spirit and your innocence. You can't hide in here forever.' He touched her forehead. 'Sooner or later you have to face the world, and if I'm holding you back then there is one thing I have to do.' Spike turned back to the door, opened it, and vanished.

Spike opened his eyes and spent a few moments figuring out what had just happened. Picking himself up he found all the injuries he suffered there where recreated in the real world, including the knife wound in his hand. 'Well that was a bloody doddle and a piece of piss. Pardon me Peaches this hero needs a bandage.' Spike barley whispered the next part 'And a very cold shower!' Barging past the questioning ex-vampire he half ran to the bathroom.

Angel watched Spike leave like the fires of hell were licking at him. Turning to the old sorcerer asked him, 'Why hasn't she woken up yet?'

'Now free from Chaos and its illusions she has to face up to what she did while under it's control.'

'She'll be alright won't she?'

'I am afraid that I strongly doubted she would get this far. While the outside force was potent perhaps what it left inside is more.'

'Inside? You mean she's pregnant!?'

'No, her body rejected his seed. He was not powerful, nor she weak enough to complete that foul pairing. It is her mind and her own doubts that do most threaten her now.'

Illyria stood behind Angel. 'Will Spike not be useful again?'

'Again no. Her fear is that no one will accept her. She also knows that Spike will accept her no matter what. He left because with his continued presence she would have no reason to return to this world.'

'She will won't she?' Angel begged.

'She is strong enough but is she willing? I can not tell.'

Get ready for the next chapter...