Rachel: can't help but feel there has been a breakdown in communications somewhere and that this isn't the way to discus how my dyslexia affects me. You don't want to read by work, that's up to you: no one is forcing you to read or review anything. If you would like to try and discuses things further without resorting to trading insults, let me know what your Email address is and I'll try and explain things again.

Zeppo 3: Slayer Evolved
Part 4: Warpath

Xander hit the glass screen with all the strength he could muster: it exploded outwards, showering the two solders on the other with glass. Xander landed on his feet, ignoring the pain of the glass shards cutting into his unprotected flesh.

One of the guards recovered his wits and went to draw his side arm, and Xander reacted as any Spartan would: pivoting on his left foot, he span round, his right leg flying up to connect with the solders solar-plexus.

The guard collapsed to the floor with a grunt, the air driven from his lungs.

Regaining his footing, Xander lifted the second guard up off the floor by the front of his uniform and punched him in the face with enough force to knock the dazed man out could.

Grabbing their side arms, Xander turned and made his way down the dimly lit corridors in search of his armour.

Buffy snuck down a hallway holding a stun-gun she'd taken from a guard who had tried to stop her when she exited the elevator. The way ahead looked clear, but she couldn't sure because of all the side passages and office doors. Running from cover to cover, Buffy started to make her way towards what Cortana said was most likely the holding area.

Voice coming from a corridor just ahead forced Buffy to duck into a darkened room. She pulled her flashlight out and looked around: it appeared to be some sort of lab, and she recognised what lay on the main table.

"I've found Xander's armor." She told Cortana over the phone, "Look's like they were getting ready to take it apart."

"Are there any signs that it's been tampered with?" The AI asked, "Any obvious damage?"

"No, it looks intact."

"Ok, put it on."

"What? No way: Xander told me what that could do to someone!"

"To a regular human, yes, but you're the Slayer: you should be able to use it without a problem."

"And if there is a problem, I end up an invertebrate!"

"Look, the chances are you're not going to have a chance to get back in here and suit Xander up after you've rescued him, so the only way to get both him and the armor back is for you to ware it."

"I so don't like this plan…" Buffy protested as she started to strip.

"Hello Solider-boy." Xander pressed one of his confiscated guns against the back of Riley's head, "Congratulations: you're my ticket out of here."

"Dr. Walsh is never going to let you go." The young government agent protested, "You're too important to her..."

"Then I suggest you start praying that she holds you of more importance: I have the full memories of someone who was trained as a Special Forces operative since the age of six, as well as the complete ORION program upgrades for my body. I could cripple you in seconds, but leave your mind intact. You what me to show you how?"

"N-no."

"Then where is the exit?"

"Down there, two levels up." Riley pointed down the corridor, "But it'll be guarded."

"I don't like killing, but I like you guys even less, so anyone who try's to stop me will come off worse." Xander hit him on the back of the head with the barrel of the gun, "Move it grunt."

"Ok, I've got the helmet on." Buffy reported, "How do I turn this thing on?"

"I think it would be better if I did that." Cortana suggested, "Open up the panel on the left for-arm and plug the phone into the universal adapter there."

"Ok." Buffy did as she was instructed, and there was a bleep followed by a sense of vertigo, "Cortana?"

"I'm right here." The AI's voice came from inside the helmet, "We won't be able to use all the suits futures as you lack the cybernetic upgrade's needed, but you should be able to use the shields and motion tracker."

There was a buzzing sound, and Buffy felt her teeth tingle as the Mjolnir armor's energy shields powered up around her.

"That's better." Cortana sounded confident, "I've set suit to its lowest sensitivity, but you should still be careful when you try and move. If it looks like you can't cope, I'll cut the power instantly."

"Gee, I feel so much better…" Buffy shifted her arm slightly, and it shot up to a right angle to her body, "Wow, cool!"

"Yes, but remember: this suit was developed to be used by someone with a tougher physical body than you." Cortana warned, "You may be able move around, but don't try anything to advanced just yet…"

"Check this out!" Buffy cartwheeled across the room, the armor leaving inch deep immersions in the concrete floor, "You know, a girl could get used to this!"

"Hey, don't get too comfortable: this is Xander's suit, remember?"

"What about you? Who do you belong to?"

"Technically I am the property of the Office of Naval Intelligence, United Nations Space Command. But as neither agencies exist, I'm kind of a free agent."

"Yet you've stuck around to help Xander."

"I have my reasons." Cortana sounded annoyed, "Now lets go rescue our boy."

"Next time you want to take a hostage, you might want pick someone more important that Mr Flynn there." Dr Walsh tilted her head to the side as she approached the standoff between Xander and a dozen Initiative agents, "It would be unfortunate if you killed him, but he's not irreplaceable."

"Nice to know your place, huh, Solider-boy?" Xander smiled, "I'm leaving, and I don't recommend you try and stop me."

"Mr Harris, the only chance you have of leaving this place alive is to help us take apart your armor and find a way to recreate it in a way that won't kill anyone who try's to use it." Walsh sighs, "Anything else is just wishful thinking on your part."

"Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish for tonight." An electronically distorted voice came from behind Walsh, and she felt the barrel of a MA5B assault rifle prod her in the back, "You going to let my friend there go?"

"Who the hell?" Walsh slowly turned round and found herself face-to-face with a Spartan, "How the…"

"Abracadabra, bitch!" Buffy pushed the guns barrel up the other woman's nose, "Go ahead; make my day!"

To Be Continued…