Dear old Dad…

"Well?" Buffy crouched down below the edge of the warehouse roof, "How's it going?"

"Hard to tell." Willow squinted through the telescope she was holding, "The spells defiantly worked: I can feel it from here, and Faith seems to have them distracted."

"And the Ultimates?" Kennedy asked.

"They seem to be trying to contain Faith." Willow scanned the horizon, "No sign of Iron Man or Black Widow…"

"You really think that I'd attack my own daughter?" A voice asked. The three startled young women looked round to see Tony Stark sitting on the opposite side off the roof, his armor's helmet tucked under one arm, "You must be the friends she told me were in town."

"Hi." Buffy smiled, "I know how this must look…"

"Like your about to brake into the Triskelion to rescue your friend?" Stark smiled, "Faith told me everything. And don't worry; I'm not going to try and stop you."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I just want to keep an eye on things: I don't trust Fury not to vent some anger on Faith."

"In her current position, I don't think S.H.I.E.L.D. has anything that could hurt her."

"Yes, and interesting little spell: Natasha has promised to explain it to me later…."

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The seen on the helipad outside the Triskelion was utter pandemonium: the Ultimates, minus Iron Man and Black Widow, were attempting to stop Faith from entering the complex proper.

Faith, empowered by the binding spell to become the entity known as Unity, had already laid waist to three tanks, an APC and a helicopter. And that was before the field team arrived.

Captain America felt like his arm was gong to break as Faith hit his shield with the Troll Hammer, the clang it produced echoing across the open space.

Quicksilver tried, yet again, to get close enough to tackle Faith, but she always seemed to know what he was going to do before he knew it himself.

The Wasp was holding back, having already discovered that her wasps sting was of no use what so ever, and any attempt to get inside Faith's brain like she had the Hulks was equally useless.

One of the Giant Men tried to pin Faith to the ground with one hand, only to receive two broken fingers for his trouble.

Sniper fire started to rain down on Faith, but seemed to bounce harmlessly offer an invisible wall that surrounded her.

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"Alert all forces: I want everyone, even the reserve, here ASAP!" Fury sapped, "I will not have this organisation taken down by a teenager!"

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"Ok, time for us to go." Buffy stood, "You got a location on Xander?"

"Yes: the charm he's wearing is still emitting, so they've not taken it off of him." Willow nodded, "You know, I'm still kind of new to teleportation…"

"Willow, you're perhaps the most powerful Wicca on the planet." Kennedy kissed her lover on the forehead, "You just need a little self confidence: you know you can do this."

"Ok, but grab hold." Willow started to chant, and the air around them distorted.

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Unity was having fun: unlike the last time it had been called forth, its current host was more willing to engage in battle. And this time it was up against true warriors, who's defeat would add to Unity's own personal glory.

But the persistent voice of the host kept Unity from vanquishing its foes, forcing them to merely humiliate and distract them.

Unity smiled inwardly: this was almost as much fun as battle…

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Xander felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as a strange glow filled the air. The glow increased, before it suddenly died, leaving Buffy, Willow and Kennedy standing in the middle of the interrogation room.

"Nice entrance!" Xander smiled as Buffy smashed the restraints holding him down with her scythe, "What do you do for an encore?"

"Rescue the foolish young man and other such politically correct acts." Buffy checked the door, "Where's the lab?"

"The map Faith gave me shows it being two floors down." Xander grabbed an Issue-issue taser Kennedy offered him, "If the distraction is going to plan, there shouldn't be anyone between here and there."

"And Big Blond?" Kennedy asked.

"One mile, straight down." Xander grinned, then turned to Willow, "Think you can crack the security?"

"Just you watch me." The young Wicca smiled.

"Ok, Willow and Kennedy: you two go bust Thor out." Buffy nodded, "Xander and I will grab Mjolnir and the rest of his gear: something about the story S.H.I.E.L.D. are putting out about the big guy is setting off my Slayer Senses like the 4th of July."

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"Faith is quit the warrior." Black Widow watched the fight from a safe distance, "You must be so proud of her."

"I am." Stark smiled, "Oh believe me, I am."

TBC