Figure I'd answer a few reviews with this chapter... so...
Title: The Chase
Author: Cobra
Rating: M
Summary: Xander has never been one to turn a blind eye. Now he'll go farther than ever before to face an evil that has never been beat.
Disclaimer: I own nothing...
Angel Investigations.
Xander sat calmly across from Tim. Stubborn looks on both there faces.
"I'm going."
"No you're not." Xander said calmly.
"Give me on good reason. And don't say I'm a kid!"
"I need someone I trust to watch over Cordy while Deadboy and I are gone." Xander said no falseness in his voice. Tim looked confused for a moment.
"Huh?"
"Look, Cordy is important to me. If I don't make it back, I need you to tell her a few things. And I'm going to need you to get in touch with my friends in Sunnydale."
"But Reggie.." Tim started only to be cut off gently by Xander.
"Is most likely fine. And if he is, I will bring him back. I promise."
"I'm worried Xander." The young boy said finally showing his age. Showing his weariness.
"I know." Was all that Xander could answer with.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Angel walked into the office quickly finding Xander sitting in the front hall.
"What have ya got DB?" Xander asked with a hopeful and humorfull smile. Angel rolled his eyes for a moment as the door opened again and Wesley Wyndam Price walked through the door.
"Can I talk to you alone for a minute?" Xander asked as he forcefully grabbed Angel's arm and pulled him into his office.
"I know what you're going to say." Angel said in a plaintive voice as the door of his office closed loudly.
"Oh really. Then why the hell did you bring him?"
"He volunteered."
"I'm unvoluntering him." Xander shot back with a sneer., "He's folded one to many times Angel. I can't have him watching my back."
"He can hear you ya know?"
"I don't care. This is to important. I've got two, possible three people to save on this."
"And you can't do it alone."
"If he comes with us he's most likely going to die." Xander answered in a loud voice that spoke volumes, he had seen enough death around him.
"He knows." Angel answered flatly.
"What?" Xander asked as he deflated slightly.
"He knows Xander. He knows this is a suicide mission. I told him that upfront."
"Last time I saw him he had no magical ability worth mentioning."
"That was before he was kicked out of the Watchers Council. He's been trying to prove himself every since. He's not the greatest, but he's past decent."
"Great, just what we need, someone with something to prove."
"You mean two people?"
"Angel, you know me. Yeah, I've done things in the past to try and prove myself to others, and to myself. But when the chips were down, proving myself was never in my mind. And it's not this time." Xander answered a low rage entering his voice. Angel looked in thought for a second before nodding.
"I know. We need him Xander. As much as you and I hate to admit it."
"Fine. We'll take him."
"And try to protect him." Angel said as Xander turned.
"I just hope he can protect himself. The things were facing, we might not be around." Xander answered as he walked out the door and nodded to Wesley who was looking at him with slacked shoulders., "You're in Wes. Get what you need. We leave at midnight."
"Of course."
Xander, Wesley, and Tim stood outside by Xander's stolen car as midnight struck on the clock.
"Here Xan." Tim said with a depressed smile as he handed Xander a small notepad.
"What's this bro?" Xander asked with a smile as he took the offered object.
"Everything Reggie and I could put together on the Tall Man. His forks, his strength, everything."
"Thanks man." Xander said with a serious voice as he put a hand on his young friends shoulders.
"No problem. Later."
"Yeah, later." Xander said as he watched Tim turn and walk back into the building. "Bye Cordy, it was nice to meet ya Doyle. Keep an eye on her."
"You got it man."
"Bye Xand. Don't get dead."
"Me?" Xander asked with a smile as he opened the door of his car and sat inside. Cordy smiled slightly.
"I'll be back in a few days. Stay in one piece." Angel said as he opened his door and let Wesley into the back seat.
"No prob boss."
"Um... farewell." Wesley said with a wave. Doyle and Cordy looked confused for a moment before waving back.
"Yeah. Bye." Cordy said with a smile as the car started with a rumble and left the curb.
"You think they'll be okay?" Cordy asked with a concerned tone.
"Angel is wit 'em. They'll all be fine."
"Yeah. I'm sure you're right." Cordy said as she turned and walked into Angel Investigations.
"I hope I am princess..."
Xander yawned as dawn began to break over the horizon. He sighed as he pulled into another abandoned motel.
"What are we doing?" Wesley asked as he rubbed his eyes and put his glasses back on.
"Stopping for the day. We're only thrity miles out of Morningside, that means we rest, and plan as much as we can." Xander answered as he parked the car and stepped out.
"I'll get a couple keys from the office. Get ready to move quick Angel."
"Yeah yeah." The vampire mumbled from under a heavy blanket in the backseat. Xander laughed quietly as he moved away from the vehicle. He came back a minute later with two keys.
"What now? Search all the rooms?" Wesley asked as Xander pulled the car to a parking space between the two rooms.
"No, we get in our rooms, and bed in for the day. I have to read this book, and we all need some rest."
"Sounds like a plan. Now, can anyone let me the hell out of here." Angel said in an agrivatted voice.
Xander frowned as he read the notebook Tim had quickly put together.
"What is it?" Angel asked as he turned from the t.v.
"It says here a tuning fork Reggie had made the sphere's explode, and stopped the Tall Man in his tracks." Xander was about to begin again till Wesley walked in with an almost smile on his face.
"I can't believe it, it looks like it's been months since anyone has been here, yet the electricity still works and there's no messages on the machine. It must be high level magic to make everyone miss everything. It is amazing."
"Yeah, glad you're so excited." Xander said in a deadpan voice before turning to Angel., "So what do you think? Why would a tuning fork stop him?"
"I don't.."
"It could be Harmonics." Wesley interrupted as he moved to sit down beside Xander's bed. Looking over the youngman's shoulder at the book in his hands., "From the way you have explained all these happenings the Tall Man, as you call him, draws his power from the portals, or forks. The octave the tuning fork produces could interrupt the feed of power."
"Okay..." Xander said in a thoughtful voice.
"I will explain..."
"No," Xander cut him off quickly., "Just tell me one thing, can we blow it up?"
"Um, yes, we would only need the location of the power source."
"Ah, okay, so... We're screwed." Xander said as he closed his eyes and fell back on the bed. A rumbling sound from outside made them all look toward the door.
"Wesley, cover me." Xander said as he stood and picked up his Mossberg twelve-guage shotgun.
"Um, quite right." Wesley said as he quickly picked up his own weapon and followed Xander to the door. Xander peeled the blinds back an inch and a smile graced his face.
"It's Reg." Xander said as he moved and opened the door., "Stay on you're toes." Xander walked into the early afternoon sunlight with an easy gate. A smile on his face as Reggie stepped out of the Cuda.
"Xander. Tim okay?" Reggie asked quickly as he noticed the kid not around.
"Yeah, his with some friends in L.A. How'd you get out of there Reg?"
"That's an interesting story." Reggie said with a smile as the passenger side door of the muscle car opened and a tall young man with long brown hair stepped out., "Xander, meet Mike."
"So it will work?" Xander asked as he sat across from Mike and Reggie. Wesley and Angel stood off to the side listening intently.
"Yeah, well, it will when I get to the machine. I can destroy it. Shut down all the gates, and free the souls the tall man is using to power it. But, I need people on this side keeping him busy. I'm strong, and I know what I'm doing. But, I'm still no match for him." Mike said with a frown on his face.
"Angel, Wesley, and I can take care of HIM. He and I have unfinished business anyway."
"She's dead Xander. You know that." Mike said with a sad look on his face.
"I have to make sure Mike. You know that." Xander shot back in a sad voice., "What I don't understand is why even mess with me? Why bring me into this mess."
"It's a game to him Xander. And you're another piece, we may never have the answers. Hell, I still don't know what the hell he wanted me to take his place for. I don't know why he was trying to make me, into.. .him." Mike was angry it was apparent in his voice, in his body movements.
"I'm going to find Amelia tonight. And the Tall Man, he is going to die. That's already set in stone." Xander said his voice taking an edge to it only one other present had ever heard. Angel looked toward the floor as a smile of respect once again reached his lips.
"I'm going through the forks with Mike." Reggie said in a determined voice. Xander thought of Tim, and was about to voice his questions. He stopped himself knowing that Reggie had thought this through.
"Okay, we move at dark. Everyone get some rest." Xander said as he stood and started to walk outside.
"What are you going to do?" Angel asked as he moved to set down.
"Get a few suprises ready. Soldier boy has an itch." Xander said with a smile as he pointed toward his head.
"Thought he was gone."
"I still get some flashes, a few memories. And now, I'm going to put the nightmares to good use."
"Yeah? How's that?"
"Give them to something else." Xander answered in a cold voice as he walked out of the room and toward his stolen car.
"Care to let us in on that conversation?" Reggie asked with a confused tone.
"Just trust us."
"Sure." Reggie said with a shrug as he followed Xander from the room. Mike smiled slightly and walked out behind his friend.
"Who knew there'd be an army at the end."
"Alright." Xander said as the five men stood outside the large masoleum., "Angel, Wesley, Go in the back. Be careful." Angel and Wesley both nodded and turned walking into the darkness., "Reg, Mike, let's find a gateway. Then, we'll take care of the Tall Man."
"Alright." Mike said with a nod of his head as he opened the doors and the trio stepped in.
"It's quiet." Xander said as he held his shotgun at ready. The large sword strapped to his back just sticking out above his head.
"Always is." Reggie said as he surveyed the hallway with weary eyes. His eyes quickly widened as he heard the familiar whistle., "Get ready." He had just finished his statement as the Tall Man walked into view.
"Together? This is a suprise." The Tall Man said with an empty look in his eyes. Mike stayed silent as Xander and Reggie looked in horror. Sphere after sphere formed up behind the Tall Man, gleaming light off there smooth surfaces., "It's time to end this boy." The evil being said to Mike with a smile.
"I'm ready."
"Ready to die?"
"Where's Mia?" Xander asked as he brought his Mossberg to his shoulder.
"She's resting." The Tall Man answered turning his attention to Xander. The young man growled in anger as he pulled the trigger of the shotgun sending pellets flying into the torso of the Tall Man knocking the being off his feet. Reggie quickly pulled his tuning fork from his pocket and hit it against the wall. The tune carrying down the hallway making the sphere's explode one after another. The trio quickly ran into a side hallway kicked open the closest door and slide to a stop. Xander's eyes quickly fell on the table in the center of the room.
"Mia." He whispered out in a sad voice.
"Xander." Mike said with a sad voice. The young man turned and saw Mike pointing toward the forks, the gateways.
"Go. We'll take care of the rest."
"Bye Xander. Take care of Tim." Reggie said in a sad voice as he sat his four barreled shot gun on the floor.
"I will. Don't let us down."
"Never." Reggie said with a smile as he and Mike turned toward the gate. With a wave the two heroes disappeared. And not thirty seconds later the gateway did as well. Xander turned slowly, his legs moving before he told them to. The sword dropped from Xander's hand as he looked upon her body. Shriveled, pale, dead. Tubes and wires came from her body like they were alive. He walked up to the table slowly. His breath hitched as he touched her face, her hair.
"I'm so sorry Mia." Xander said as he laid his forehead against hers.
"She was a tough one boy." A deep voice echoed from behind him. Xander turned slowly his face a mask of rage and hatred.
"It's our time now." Xander muttered with a snarl.
"Perhaps." The Tall Man said with an evil smile on his thin face.
"Why me?" Xander asked as he turned from the table and faced the evil being.
"It wasn't so much you boy. As your friends, in a few years they would have stood against me, perhaps stopped me. I thought attacking you would bring them all into this, letting me, finish this game before it had really even began."
"This isn't a game." Xander said in a cold voice as he took a step toward the Tall Man., "I've got news for you, you're not God."
"That is your opinion. I underestimated you boy. You're much more resourceful than I believed."
"Don't worry. It won't happen again." Xander said as he took another look at the body of Amelia on the table. He turned and jumped forward slamming a right fist into the Tall Man's nose before spinning and slamming a left elbow under his chin. As the Tall Man's neck was clearly exposed Xander pulled the knife from his belt and slammed it home. Up to the hilt in the evil beings neck. The young man's breath left his body as the Tall Man slammed a right hand into his chest sending him flying into a wall.
"Good boy. Very good." The Tall Man said as he pulled the dagger from his neck and tossed it on the ground., "But not good enough." The Tall Man quickly walked across the room picking the still dazed Xander off the floor by his neck with ease.
"Keep smiling." Xander gasped out with a smile of his own., "Someday, someone like me, is going to kill you."
"No, it is not written." As the Tall Man prepared to break the young mans neck a foot came from nowhere slamming into the mans face and sending his form flying across the room. Xander fell from the air landing on his knees.
"Don't ya know, prophecies and Xander don't mix." Angel snarled his true face gleaming under the florecent lights.
"Bout time you showed up Deadboy."
"Shut up Harris." Angel snarled as the Tall Man stood from the floor. Angel jumped forward and inhuman sound coming up from his chest and out of his mouth as he slammed into the old looking being.
"Are you alright?" Wesley asked as he quickly helped Xander to his feet.
"Peachy." Xander muttered in a hoarse voice.
"Reggie and Mike?" Wesley asked as he turned and watched the little monsters the Tall Man created filling the hallways.
"Through the forks. It's up to us now." Xander said as he finally caught his breath. Wesley turned a horrified expression on his face for a moment before he saw Xander's empassive one.
"Very well." Wesley said as he sat his face in stone and began to mutter under his breath. Flames shot from his hands as the little demons moved toward them. The first two waves falling under the bristling heat., "I'll take care of these buggers."
"Good man Wes." Xander said as he walked to his sword.
Angel groaned in pain as he was slammed into a wall, the Tall Man's hand around his neck.
"You are no greater a threat than the boy." The being said it's smile still present. A look of shock quickly took it's place as it's arm was sliced apart at the elbow.
"Told you our time was here." Xander yelled out as he twirled the blade in his hands and moved in a lightening fast motion. The sword cleaved the air in a high whistle, the razor sharp blade slicing into the Tall Man's neck with precision. Cutting through the flesh, cartlidge and bone like a hot knife through butter. As the Tall Man's head rolled from the body across the floor Xander turned and watched with a smile as the little monster all fell with him. Angel stood, messaging his neck out of instinct.
"It's over." The vampire muttered as he spit blood from his mouth.
"I think it is." Xander said as he held the sword pointed toward the floor., "Let's get out of here."
Xander, Wesley, and Angel began to walk from the room, lowering there guard slightly. A sound from behind made the three men turn quickly. Not fast enough as a golden sphere slammed into Xander's shoulder, the twin blades cuting through his skin sending him flying back. The young man slammed into a wall, a scream flowing from his lips as the ball tried to press itself farther into him. Wesley reached him first and tried to grab the sphere. The flying ball flew back from Xander's shoulder, dodging Wesleys finger and slamming it's side into the bridge of the english man's nose sending the young ex-watcher flying backward. The sphere turned quickly it's blades dripping Xander's blood as it moved toward the fallen Wesley. Angel was barely fast enough to intercept it. The vampire with a soul grabbed the flying sphere with both hands keeping it at arms length with all his strength. Xander stood up unsteadily, his eyes almost glazed as he surveyed the room. His eyes fell on the sword he had dropped with the ball had hit him. He quickly picked up the sword and ran toward Angel.
"Duck!" Xander yelled as he jumped in the air kicking the ball with his right foot. Before his feet hit the ground he swung the heavy broadsword through the air. Metal hit metal in a shower of sparks as the golden sphere flew toward the end of the room hitting a wall and rolling across the ground trying to fly again. Xander's eyes fell toward the floor and landed on the four barrelled shotgun Reggie had left when he went through the portal. The young man dove, grunting in pain as his injured shoulder hit the hard floor he quickly grabbed the shotgun as the Sphere flew toward him at fast speeds. Xander pointed and pulled the trigger. The two slugs and two shells of 00 buck shot flew out of the four barrels. The sphere exloded with a loud boom, that seemed to drown out the sound of the large shotgun. Xander breathed a sigh of relief as he fell back flat on the floor, the shotgun falling out of his hands.
"Everyone alright?" Angel asked as he stood and moved both his arms with a slight wince.
"Yes." Wesley grunted out as he stood.
"As alright as you can expect." Xander said as he sat up with a groan., "Let's not do this. Ever again."
"Deal." Wesley said as he held out a hand and helped the young man to his feet.
"Reggie and Mike?" Angel asked as the trio began to gather the weapons on the floor.
"They did it. Closed the gateways. It's finally over."
"I cannot believe we accomplished it." Wesley said with a slight smile.
"Join the club Brit boy." Xander said with a laugh. Wesley looked at him quickly., "Hey you earned a Nickname, be happy." Wesley laughed slightly in response.
"What now Xander?"
"Sleep." Xander answered Angels question with a shrug.
"I meant what are you going to do?"
"Go back to Sunnyhell, get a job I guess." Xander said as they walked from the Mosaleum and quickly got in the stolen GTX., "Wes, you feel like driving the Cuda. Don't wanna leave it here."
"Yeah. I'll follow you to the motel." Wesley said as he walked to the muscle car and quickly got in starting it up.
"I got a job offer for you." Angel said as Xander started the GTX and pulled from the parking lot.
"Yeah?"
"I have contacts all over the world. And at times, they have, trouble." Angel said with a shrug.
"So, what like a traveling demonic troubleshooter?"
"Yeah. I thought you might jump on it. Plus, I've got contacts, could get you the paperwork you need for Tim, and the cars."
"What kinda salary we talkin here Angel?"
"We'll talk more later. Let's just relax and get back to L.A."
"Sounds like a hell of an idea Deadboy."
"Shut up Xander."
END.
THE CHASE.