Stevenson Hall
Tara's dorm room
Just as she was about to give up on this last tome Tara's eyes fell on the description of the spell. At once the weariness fell from her like a shirt and Tara looked at the spell more carefully.
"This could be it! This could be what Buffy needs to defeat Adam!" Tara said excitedly.
Tara grabbed the cell phone off of the table and dialed Mr. Giles' phone number. Six rings later Tara heard a sleepy, "Hello?"
"Mr. Giles, it's Tara! I think I found what we need, it was in the Tome of Aurelious the Blind...
Giles pushed the sleep from his mind to focus on what Tara was telling him, "How soon can you be here Tara?" Giles asked with the first flush of optimism he'd felt in days.
"I can be there in about 15 minutes Mr. Giles." Tara said as she slid the books into a large backpack.
"Good. Then I'll see you shortly."
Glancing down Tara looked at the page the book was open to, "And so it shall pass that the signs will be seen, but not seen. And thus shall the Lion enter the house..." Tara dismissed the rest, closing the book and stuffing it with the other in her bag and zipping it shut.
4 Hours Later…Willow looked at Buffy, "Do you know what's going on at this meeting Giles called?" she asked.
"No I don't. He was all secrety with me about it. How did the groveling go with Tara?" Buffy teased Willow.
"Sufficiently well enough Miss 'I live vicariously through my best friend'." Willow replied and stuck her tongue out at Buffy.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Buffy replied.
A serious look came on Willow's face as she stopped walking. "I'm serious Buffy. Ever since you found out Riley was a commando, you've been 'dateless Buffy'..."
Buffy stopped and walked back to Willow, "I just need a break Willow...I've been wondering if I've been looking in the wrong places anyway. Besides if I can't tease my best friend about her sex-life, then what's the world coming to!" Buffy said with a broad grin.
Willow linked her arm with Buffy's, "Well come on then..." Willow said as she started walking.
"One question then Will, are girls all that different anyway when it comes to sex?"
Willow's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Well, not having an encyclopedia for experience, I would say yes. But that's just me, why? Are you thinking of someone in particular?" Willow asked now very curious at the direction this conversation was going in.
Buffy blushed suddenly, "Uh no! Nope! No one!"
"I see..." Anything further was forestalled as they reached Giles' house and Buffy knocked on the door.
Methinks the Slayer doth protest too much! Willow thought slyly.
15 minutes later…
"So what you're telling us then Tara, is that this spell you found can give me the boost I need to defeat Adam by joining us? Does this mean I'm gonna have Xander-type thoughts in my head?" Buffy asked as she looked at Xander with a little grin on her face.
"It wouldn't hurt you any!" Xander retorted.
"And this is from someone who's dated a mummy-girl, almost munched by the his preying-mantis teacher and is now dating a former vengeance demon? Gee thanks Xan, I think I'll keep any future beau's to the living and breathing unlike someone who's name starts with Xander Lavalle Harris..." Buffy said with a large grin.
"Thank you for that visual Buffy. Now can we get back to the discussion at hand." Giles interjected before his 'children' got any further out of hand.
"Sorry," came the chorused reply from Xander and Buffy.
"Tar, what do we need for this spell?" Willow interjected before those two could start again.
"Not a lot. The supplies are pretty minimal; a twice-blessed Tarot deck, a gourd and some incense..."
Buffy turned to face Tara, "What'll happen to you when the cast the spell?"
"Well according to the Tome we'll be in a trance-like state and we won't be able to move." Tara answered.
"Okay, but you'll be able to do this spell from a distance, where it's safe...right?" Buffy pressed as the details of her dream came back to her.
Tara shook her head, "No, we'd have to be someplace nearby, inside the Initiative complex."
"Then we need to find another way then. This is too dangerous." Buffy said as she stood up.
"Buffy, this is it. This is what we need to defeat Adam, you tell us that we need to find another way. There is none." Giles said.
"We've all seen the signs that Adam is gathering his forces and will act soon. We have to stop him before he gets his plan in motion because it may be too late to act by then..." Looking at Buffy sternly. "What is it that you know Buffy?" Giles asked.
"Nothing." Buffy lied. "I just have a bad feeling about it is all."
"Are you sure Buffy?" Giles asked concerned.
"Yeah, I just don't like the idea of you guys trapped in there without any backup..."
"Hey, I've got an idea. Why can't Faith guard us while you face Adam, this way you won't have to worry about us." Tara said pleased.
"No, I still don't like it." Buffy replied guardedly.
Willow frowned, suspicious of Buffy's odd behaviour. But Giles spoke up first, "I know you don't like the idea of having us in such close proximity to a raging battle, I can assure you that with Faith watching over us we'll be fine Buffy."
"I'm gonna get some air, it feels stuffy in here," Buffy said without any preamble and walked out of Giles' house.
"She merely needs to accept this is the only way and she'll be fine," said Giles.
Willow looked over at Tara as they walked back to the dorm. "I'm worried about Buffy Tara. Something else is going on here,"
Nodding in agreement, "I know. When Buffy was upset I was looking at her aura and it seemed off somehow. I'm not sure though..."
Her eyebrows scrunched together, "You mean like with Dracula and the mind control he had over her?" Willow asked.
"No, it was different. Buffy wasn't under anyone's control. But her aura was off as if someone had tried to do something and failed,"
Frowning, Willow took out her keys and unlocked the door to Tara's dorm room, "She's still hiding something though. I know it."
"I think so too, but it's not like we can just go up to her and tell her we know she's hiding something..." Tara said.
Tara looked over at Willow with a worried look on her face, "Will, if we think someone's been trying to play with Buffy's head and the way she's been acting why don't we go talk to Mr. Giles?" Tara asked.
Shaking her head, "Because that's not an option Tara. We need to do this on our own this time. If we fail, Buffy will die..." A hard look came into Willow's eyes at the idea of losing her friend. "And that...is not an option!"
Tara sighed mentally at Willow's stubborn streak when it came to Buffy. "Okay. I found some interesting comments in this book..." Tara said as she opened her backpack and pulled out a black, leather book.
8 Hours Later…Willow leaned back and rested her head in Tara's lap. Looking up at her lover Willow saw that she was sound asleep, exhausted from searching for any more information that might help them and Buffy before it was too late.
Shifting her head, Willow noticed a book buried under a pile of papers Hmmm? I don't remember seeing that book earlier... With that thought Willow reached over and pulled the book free from its paper prison.
Willow's need for rest slipped away under her enthusiasm that this book might have what they were looking for. Willow opened the book and started reading...
At the mid-point of the book, Willow paused, tired from re-reading the same passage over and over again. Putting the book down Willow started to nudge Tara while calling her name. "Tara. Tara! You need to get up honey." Willow said urgently.
After several hard nudges Willow saw Tara move and open her eyes groggily. "Will hon. I love you but if you don't leave me alone I'll turn you into a frog." With that Tara rolled over and went back to sleep.
Willow nudged her lover's still form again. "You say that now, but how am I gonna wash your back in the shower? Now I need you to get up Tara, this is serious!"
"Uggh! Fine!" Tara grumbled and rolled over, throwing the blanket off of her as she swung her feet over the edge of the bed.
Willow moved the book in her hands in front of Tara's face "Here. Look at this!"
Tara started reading the section Willow pointed to; "And at the beginning of the second millennium so shall it pass that that (unreadable) shall be judged by those that they have betrayed. Wow!" Tara said as she leaned back.
Willow handed Tara a notepad filled with notes, "Here. Read this. This was from an older part I just finished working on. I think it has to do with Buffy..."
"…and so shall Strife destroy the Balance and if it is not restored then truly Hell shall come to the Valley of the Sun."
"Are you sure about this Willow? I mean it's pretty vague, even for a prophecy."
"I'm pretty sure. Look at this part, the Valley of the Sun and Strife, I think that means Adam...What doesn't make sense is the part about the Slayer facing a Choice. A choice in what?" Willow said with a frown.
Sunnydale Hospital
Room 212
Buffy stood next to Faith's bed. "Hey Faith. You're looking better." Buffy said smiling.
"Hey B. I should be up and out of here by tomorrow. What's up though?"
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked as she frowned, annoyed she was that transparent.
"You're not the only Slayer in town B. I've seen you die in my dreams..."
"I'm not planning on dying anytime soon Faith." Buffy said quickly.
Faith grabbed Buffy's hand, "That's not what I meant and you know it B."
Her shoulders slumped, "I know. I know what'll happen to all of you if I don't make the right choice though."
"We all know what could happen B. It's part of the package,"
"No! I've seen exactly what'll happen when we go into the Initiative base Faith and there's only one way to make sure it doesn't happen..." Buffy trailed off.
"Don't you go running off and try to face Adam by yourself B! That will get you killed!" Fear choked Faith from saying anything more. I can't lose you so soon B. I haven't even told you how I feel,
Shaking her head, "No I'm not out to commit suicide Faith. But I want your promise you'll keep an eye on the gang after the fight's over though." Buffy asked cryptically.
"Wha...?"
"I won't be around afterwards and I can't explain it now. I need you to trust me though, please?" Buffy pleaded.
"Why aren't you going to be around B? What's going on?" Faith asked, fear in her voice.
"I can't tell you, except that it'll be okay Faith. But you have to promise you won't go and talk to Giles or anyone else about this conversation...ever!"
"B, what the hell are you talking about? Why can't I talk to Giles or Red?"
"If you do I'll be dead and so will everyone else. The Council will make sure of that, that's why you can't say anything." Seeing the doubtful look on Faith's face.
"Faith, I know this seems crazy, but it's really not. When this is all over and Adam's dead, ask Willow about Sierra. That ought to clear things up as far as the Council is concerned."
"And the rest B? You're asking me to do nothing while you disappear or die or worse! I can't do that and I won't!"
Buffy took Faith's hands in her own, "No. I'm asking you to trust that I'm doing the only thing I can so that you live. Besides you said it yourself, it's part of the package, I've never asked you for anything before, but I'm asking you for this...To trust me and not to tell Giles."
Faith closed her eyes and let the tears drip down her face, "Alright. I promise I won't say anything to anyone..."
Faith felt herself pulled into a tight hug with Buffy, when it ended Buffy's face was only a few inches from her own.
"I'm sorry I never had the courage to say what I felt before Faith..." Faith heard Buffy say when Buffy suddenly swooped down and kissed her hard. Faith hesitated for a second from surprise before giving into the kiss and returning it with all her pent up passion for the blonde Slayer.
Buffy broke the kiss off reluctantly, "I've got to go. I'll see you at the entrance to the complex tomorrow Faith." With that Buffy was gone from the room and Faith was left with her thoughts...
Buffy pulled the long, black leather duster closed, shivering in the night air. I guess this is it then. The house should be about 10 minutes from here.
Stopping, Buffy looked at the hill in the distance and heard the lonely cry of a wolf. A voice from behind her startled her as she whirled around to see Gabrielle standing only a few feet away.
"Thinking or just enjoying the night air?"
Frowning, "Why are you here?" Buffy asked, annoyed at the interruption
A slight smile crossed Gabrielle's face, "I could ask you the same question...but I won't." Pirouetting, "Now, me? I'm just enjoying the beautiful night air."
Sighing, "Just go away Gabrielle. I want to be alone right now..."
"Sometimes that's when we need to not be alone because we really need someone to talk to or just listen. I've been told in the past that I'm a good listener..." Gabrielle glided forward stopping just in front of Buffy.
"Then maybe I didn't make myself clear 'Oh Great Listener'," Buffy said sarcastically. "Go away!"
Gabrielle's voice drifted out from behind her, "Very well, Slayer. But no-one is an island, especially you!"
With that Buffy saw that Gabrielle was gone, not even a whisper or leaf to show that she had ever been here.
"I know what Anya told me about these Bacchae, and after everything else Will found out about Xena, I dont know if I really believe it though. I'm still going to be a monster, but its either that or let everyone die and that's not a choice..." Standing back up with a fatalistic sense of determination Buffy started walking towards Xena's lair. Soon enough Buffy saw the house and slowed to a stop when she was only 10' feet from the front door. And for the second time tonight Buffy heard a voice behind her, "Are you looking for me Slayer?" came the deep, rumbling voice of Xena.
"Yes." Buffy replied evenly. "I'm here to accept your offer for help. If I don't everyone I love will die and I can't just let that happen,"
"But you're afraid though. Afraid of becoming the kind of thing you fight against, aren't you?" Xena said, not really asking.
In a voice almost too quiet to be heard, "Yes." Buffy replied.
"Good. Fear's a wonderful thing in many ways; it keeps us alive from doing the utterly stupid things that get others killed for our mistakes, it gets your body ready to fight when you need it, and it reminds us of what we can lose if we become arrogant and careless..." Xena took several steps towards the back of the house and stopped,
"Come with me Buffy." said Xena.
Buffy started walking forward towards Xena and fell in step as Xena started walking to the back yard. Both women walked over to a intricately carved, small wooden table, on it sat a plain, silver cup. Xena walked to the opposite side of the table from Buffy.
"I don't know what you've been told about me and it really doesn't matter. I'm not going to regale you with my history or try to convince you I'm really not a bad monster because my history's my business not yours and I am a monster. But I will tell you this though...
"Buffy, humans have the capacity to do more evil than any of the monsters you've faced. And I'd know; when I was human I lied, killed, murdered, tortured, plundered and enslaved my enemies all in the name of protecting my village from being attacked again."
"Why are you telling me this Xena?" Buffy asked.
"Because I want you to understand that this is still your choice; I want this and for reasons that I can't explain to you now."
Crossing her arms, "If you're so evil, then did you Turn Gabrielle into one of you? Why doesn't she hate you for what you did?" Buffy asked.
"Because Buffy, Gabrielle is the one that Turned me into a Bacchae, not the other way around."
Buffy froze in surprise, "But I thought you were their Queen, not her. She's so...so..." Buffy stopped unable to find the words she was looking for.
"Good, you mean? She is and maybe someday she'll tell you the story," Xena's voice turned hard, "but for now understand that I rule the Bacchae!"
"You have a choice now Slayer; accept my offer or leave. There is no middle ground in this."
"I need your help, so I'll accept your offer Xena." Xena pulled out a dagger from her side. "But know this, if you have lied to me in any way and my friends are hurt or killed. I will hunt you down and kill you." Buffy replied in a cold voice, her eyes hard with anger.
Xena's hand shot out and took Buffy's right hand, pulling it over the cup. In one swift move she sliced Buffy's palm open and let the blood drip into the cup for a minute before putting a cloth over the wound and letting Buffy's hand go.
"Good, then we understand each other Slayer. When you need me I will be there, simply hold my symbol in your hand and think of my name in your mind and I will hear you." Reaching down Xena grabbed the silver chalice and walked away, leaving Buffy standing alone in the darkness.
Lowell House
The Next Day…
Buffy looked at everyone gathered inside Lowell Hall. "Is everyone ready?" Buffy asked, not really expecting any answers. "Then lets get going," with that Buffy tossed the three coils of rope down the empty elevator shaft.
Waiting until everyone had started their descent, Buffy pulled out Xena's token out of her jacket pocket, Xena, now's the time that I need you. Come now! Putting the disc safely back in her pocket Buffy took hold of one of the ropes and started moving down the elevator shaft.
Standing at the bottom of the elevator shaft Buffy looked everyone over, "Faith, you ready? You have to make sure nothing gets past you to interrupt the spell or all this'll be for nothing..."
"I know B. You don't have to remind me." Faith replied tartly.
Chagrined, "Sorry Faith. I guess I'm just nervous." Buffy apologized.
Faith put her hand on Buffy's shoulder, "Just relax B. We all know what we a have to do and we're gonna do it and you're gonna kick Adams's butt back to the junk pile where he belongs."
Smiling Buffy pulled Faith into a quick hug and slid Xena's token into Faith's pocket. "Okay F. Let's do it then."
Faith got on one side of the elevator shaft door and Buffy the opposite side, both women pulled and slowly the door slip open about halfway before stopping. Faith moved through the door to the outside first. A moment later Faith stuck her head back in, "All's clear, so let's get moving."
Giles moved out first, followed by Willow, Tara, Xander and last out was Buffy.
Everyone stood still as they surveyed the carnage and destruction that lay before them. Breaking the silence Buffy whispered to Willow, "So Will, which way to 314?"
Willow pointed at a door across the massive room they stood in, Faith moved out front keeping an eye out for any demons, but all that she saw were the broken and rotted bodies of the dead.
Biting back the urge to vomit at the sickly sweet smell of corruption that rose from the bodies, Faith signaled for the rest to follow her.
As the group approached the door Willow had pointed to, Faith stopped to wait for B when she heard the loud howl of a wolf shatter the silence in the room.
Scanning the room quickly Faith saw a werewolf on the other side of the room. "Shit! B, run for it!" Faith yelled as she pulled the Tazer rifle off her back, courtesy of Xander's military scrounging skills and fired on the werewolf as it charged towards them.
The bolt caught the werewolf high in the chest, spinning it around and slowing it, but not stopping it. Backing up as she continued to fire bolt after bolt at the werewolf Faith reached the door and fired a final time before the werewolf collapsed at her feet, smoke rising from the charred body that shifted back into the form of a young woman about 16 years old.
"Jesus!" Faith uttered as she backed away from the body and closed the door numbly.
"B?" Faith said out loud. A piercing wailing split the air and red lights flashed turning the hallways a lurid red colour. "Shit, I think Adam knows we're here."
"Come on everyone let's move" Buffy's voice called out strongly.
Initiative Control Room.
ADAM reviewed the latest update on his conversion program, "Everything is running within acceptable time frame limits. But to complete the progress on the next 5 subjects I will need additional raw materials. This delay is not acceptable, however with this base placed well within the confines of the university I will have a wide range of raw materials to choose from.
ADAM opened the file on defensive repairs made to the base. "Another reason why demons will never take over this world, their inability to understand, repair and use modern technological devices. Gross damage repairs are at 75 completion, however the computer network is damaged as well as the internal cameras and weapons are offline. This will need to be corrected and with Mother's files there is a 84 probability I will have the workers able to repair the damage before the Slayer will attempt a frontal assault. Statistics show a 79 order of probability that the Slayer is attempting to assess my capabilities down here and will send a spy to investigate first. My files show the most likely for this is the vampire, Hostile 017 aka Spike."
"However the Slayer has shown some unusual behaviour lately that deviates from her known norms." ADAM issued orders to several demon underlings to have scouts placed nearby the few accessible areas to the base.
Ten minutes later a red light glared at ADAM from his Control Panel, flicking a switch under the red light. A camera turned on and flickered for several seconds before the image of the Slayer, Buffy Summers, and her friends glared back at ADAM as they walked through the main level of the complex.
ADAM accessed the base alarm system and set the base to "Intruder". Lights flashed and alarms blared as the surviving demons woke from their slumber and headed towards the location of the intruders...
Buffy and Faith kept the group between them as they fought their way down the corridors to the 3-1-4 area. For both Slayers the combat slowed them down to a crawl, even with Xander using the M-16 to help thin out the demons and the two Witches using magick to help out when it was needed, they had to use their magick sparingly since it would otherwise leave them drained and too tired to cast the Enjoining spell later.
Buffy and Faith found themselves back to back with Giles, Willow, Tara and Xander behind them. Both Slayers had numerous cuts and slashes, their blood decorating their clothes along with the demon blood from the demons that they killed.
Buffy drew the silver short sword from the sheath on her back while Faith reloaded the two .45 automatic pistols with fresh clips.
"Damnit Xander, haven't you got that door open yet?" Buffy yelled as she ducked under the spiked arm of a yellow demon. Swinging the short sword in a hard slash downward, Buffy severed the arm at the elbow and blue blood gushed out of the arm as the demon screamed, holding its arm. Faith put the demon out of their misery with two bullets to its head that left very little skull attached to the neck.
"Hey this isn't a science you know!" Xander yelled back as he tried punching in a different code on the keypad.
"You want science B?" Faith answered with a smirk, "Hold the fort while an expert does this the right way!" Faith ran towards the door and shoved Xander out of the way. Dropping her backpack Faith pulled out 3 small bricks of a putty-like substance and put each small brick on the door by the hinges. Pushing everyone back and away from the door, Faith pulled out the small detonator, flipped the cover over the switch and pushed the switch up.
Three small explosions happened almost simultaneously, the C-4 charges blew the door off of its hinges and into the hallway beyond.
"Door's down B!" Faith yelled as she ushered Giles and the rest into the hallway that led to 3-1-4.
"About ti..." Buffy said as something slammed into her and knocked her to the ground, and started tearing into her back. Screaming, Buffy fought to throw the creature off her back. Buffy heard the thundering echoes of Faith's twin .45's and whatever it was fell off of her.
Faith ran over to Buffy, as she got close Faith could see Buffy's back was bloody and torn. Faith grabbed Buffy by the armpits and dragged her into the doorway. "Will! Seal the damn door, NOW!" Faith yelled as she saw a several demons charge towards the door.
Faith heard the two witches chant and a blue wall appeared in the doorway as the first demon ran headlong into it and found itself impaled on a wall of spikes. The demon behind it unable to stop its charge as it saw the fate of their leader slammed into the leader and suffered the same fate as the spikes grew in length.
Faith heard a wolf howl as a white blur slammed into one of the demon's on the other side of the door. Several more howls joined the first and Faith watched as several of the blurs manifested as pale skinned women and they tore into the demons with a savage glee. Within moments all that was left of the 10 demons were pieces, "Jesus!" Faith uttered.
One of the women, a tall brunette wearing some sort of leather armour with a metal design and a sword over her shoulder walked over to the magickal wall.
"I don't know you." The brunette said to Faith, "Where's Buffy?" she asked in a commanding voice.
Faith looked down at Buffy's pale face and saw her lips moving. After several tries Faith figured out what Buffy was trying to say, 'Xena'. Looking back at the brunette, "She's here. She keeps asking for Xena."
"That's me." Xena replied. "Is she hurt?" Xena asked as she masked her concern.
"Who are you?" Faith asked suspiciously.
"I know her, she called me for help. Now tell me if she's okay or not!"
"Not good enough." said Faith as she raised her .45 to point it at Xena, the wall suddenly flickered and disappeared.
Faith opened fire at Xena as the magical wall collapsed. To her surprise Faith never saw Xena move before a hard buffet knocked her backwards and several feet away.
Looking down, Xena saw Buffy was badly injured. Leaning close to Buffy's ear, "I see I'm late to the party you started here."
"Yeah," Buffy coughed. "Just a little. I don't think I'm going to be able to keep my end of my promise here..."
Sighing silently, "Yes you can. But it'll mean we have to start things earlier than I'd planned," Xena replied.
"But how and what about Faith?" Buffy asked grimacing as a wave of pain hit her.
Buffy saw Gabrielle move up to her, "I can heal most of the damage to your back, but to finish it you'll need to drink a mouthful of my blood."
Buffy's eyes widened in fear, "But..."
Gently shushing the Slayer, Gabrielle put her hand over Buffy's lips. "This isn't like a vampire, you won't change like that. But this will start the Change earlier than we'd planned on, but doing this will allow your body to heal completely..."
"Okay then,"
Gabrielle moved Buffy onto her side so she could see the damage to Buffy's back. Closing her eyes Gabrielle murmured words in language dead for thousands of years and a blue glow slowly spread over Buffy's back. When it faded away, most of the damage to her back was gone, repaired by the spell. Pulling back the sleeve on her left arm, Gabrielle made a cut on her arm and moved it to Buffy's lips, "Drink," Gabrielle felt Buffy's lips on the cut and start to drink the blood. A rush of emotions and images flooded her head, clearing moments later when Buffy stopped drinking and pulled away. Damn, I wasn't expecting that. That shouldn't have happened! If I concentrate I can sense her surface thoughts now!
Buffy felt a renewed strength and vitality unlike anything else and started to stand up. "I feel better, stronger. More than when I first became the Slayer."
"Good," Gabrielle smiled pleased, "You better get going before your friends come back down this way then."
"What about Faith though? Is she gonna be okay?" Leaning closer to Gabrielle Buffy whispered, "She's important to me Gabrielle...She's..."
Buffy started to say more before she was interrupted, "I know. She'll be fine, you have my word on it, but you have to go now." Buffy heard Gabrielle say. Looking into Gabrielle's eyes, Buffy saw understanding and a little sadness.
"Okay. I'm gone." With that Buffy headed back down the hallway towards the room marked 3-1-4.
Turning Buffy ran down the corridor toward laboratory 3-1-4, moments later Buffy was closing the door to the lab behind her. "Is everyone okay in here?" Buffy asked
"Yes. Are you alright Buffy?" Giles asked.
"Yeah, we thought we heard screaming out there," said Willow as she walked over to Buffy looking at the torn clothing on her back.
"Oh that? Heh, never been better Will. Faith toasted the damn thing before I got hurt." Buffy replied.
Buffy noticed Xander and Tara looking at her skeptically. "Really...I'm fine guys and so's Faith. She's got herself parked in a good spot so that nothing's coming down here."
Buffy noticed Willow and Tara nod at each other, but the doubt on Xander's face never wavered. Well there's not much I can do about Xand right now. I've got bigger things to worry about. Buffy thought to herself.
Gabrielle watched as Buffy disappeared into the lab room. "You ready Xe?" Gabrielle asked out loud.
"Yes," came the short reply from behind her.
"Sharra, take Nakti and Lucius with you. Block all the entrances into this area except one."
Xena watched as Sharra nodded and collected the other Bacchae before disappearing. Looking down at Gabrielle, "What are you going to do with this one?" Xena asked, jerking her thumb towards the other Slayer, Faith.
A blonde eyebrow rose, "Why protect her of course."
Gabrielle felt the breeze from Xena's departure, reaching down Gabrielle grabbed Faith and moved her back a safe distance from the entrance into the hallway. At least if I run into any one that gets by I'll have room to fight.
Gabrielle heard Xe's battlecry and knew that the fight had begun in earnest. I want to be out there by Xe's side, but I can't risk letting one get past us... Gabrielle thought grimly. With that thought Gabrielle reached back drew her two Sai's from their sheaths on the small of her back.
"Is this going to be enough room for you to do the spell Tara?" Buffy asked, ignoring Xander's suspicious looks.
"Yes," Tara said as she directed Willow, Xander and Mr. Giles to getting the center of the room cleared out.
Within minutes Tara had the room setup how she wanted it and at the same time Buffy had searched and found the secret passageway.
"Tara, how long till the spell takes effect?" Buffy asked.
"About five minutes, give or take." Tara answered as she set the gourd down in the center of the circle.
"Once I'm in, barricade the door behind me." With that Buffy disappeared down the secret passageway to Adam.
Xander closed the secret door and moved some heavy, lab equipment in front of the door, blocking it. "Am I the only one that thinks there is something going on here?" Xander asked the group.
"Everything will be fine Xander as long as we do our part to assist Buffy." Giles replied. Giles walked over to the Circle where Willow and Tara had already seated themselves. "But we must hurry or else all this will be for nothing..."
"Fine." Xander grumbled. "I still think something weird is going on with Buffy," Xander said as she sat down across from the 2 Witches.
There is, I just wish I had time to talk to Buffy. Her aura was so bright with Energy it almost blinded me. It's almost like she's plugged into a power source she's radiating so much energy. Tara thought, worried about Buffy and what was going on.
Tara took out her piece of chalk and closed the Circle. "The power of the Slayer and all who wield it. Last to Ancient First. We invoke thee. Grant us thy domain of primal strength. Accept us and the powers we possess..." Tara intoned and Willow, Xander and Giles pick up, "Link us Mind and Heart with Spirit joined. Let the Hand encompass us. Do thy will!"
Xena paused for a moment to take in the battle swirling around her, most of the demons from the last rush were dead. Off to her left, Xena saw Nakti facing off against two demons. Her dusky, brown skin and curly, brown hair was a stark contrast to the bright red-skinned demons she faced. With a grin of satisfaction Xena saw Sharra move silently behind one of the two demons and with a blinding fast move, severed the achilles tendons on both legs of the closest one.
Screeching as it fell and Sharra was on top of it shoving her short sword though the demons skull with a savage thrust downward. As the other demon hesitated in surprise from the attack, Nakti shifted, her skin turned pale-white and claws grew on her hands. Parrying a clumsy swing from the demon, Nakti shattered the arm and raked her other hand across its' throat and blood sprayed across the room. Gurgling the demon fell clutching its throat and was dead in moments.
A loud BANG catches her attention and Xena sees one of the barricades shift. "Lucius, go block that door over there!" Xena yells as she moves to engage the next wave of demons that charge into the room. Yelling her battlecry, Xena grins wildly as she cuts down two of the demons with her sword before they realize she was even there.
Surrounded by a myriad of demons, vampires and other demons, Xena's blade flashes as it weaves its deadly dance severing limbs and driving them backwards from the sheer ferocity of her attacks.
The fight became a blur of images for Xena; a snarling vampire, the flash of claws and the spray of blood, fur and bone. It wasn't all at once, but slowly Xena noticed that there were no more enemies to fight, the only ones left near her were the dead and dying.
Lowering her blade Xena looked down and saw the blade was covered to the hilt with blood and viscera. Frowning Xena reached down and pulled a camo jacket free, its user no longer needing it and used it to wipe her sword and hilt clean before she wiped her hands and face.
A soft cry to her left caught her attention and Xena saw Lucius lying on the floor. Running Xena reached his side in moments. There lay the former gladiator in a pool of his own blood, his right leg was missing from the knee down and Xena saw he'd been shot several times and gutted. Hiding a grimace, "You've looked better you know."
Coughing, "Yes..." cough "I have..." cough, cough "Several of them got past me Domina."
Kneeling Xena took Lucius' hand in her own, "You'll be okay Lucius. We're not that easy to kill you know." Cursing herself as she knew she was lying.
"No Domina. Not this time." cough "Since you came to me and freed me I have willingly followed you and I regret nothing." cough cough "But I ask you to release me from my vow of service to you and let me pass to be judged by the Gods."
Putting her free hand on the top of his head gently ruffling his black hair. "Are you sure about this Lucius?" Xena asked.
cough "Yes Domina I am sure. The Prophecy is nearing and she is the Chosen. It is my time now..." cough cough "…and I am tired, so very tired."
Closing her eyes Xena recited the ritual words, "Lucius Gaius Antoninus, I release you from your Vow of Service. You have served me well, go in peace..." Xena opened her eyes biting back the pain and tears of loss.
Buffy ran down the corridor and arrived at the control room. Inside she could see Adam standing and looking at a row of monitors that showed Xena and some others fighting. "Fun, isn't it?"
"I do appreciate violence." Adam said as he turned around.
"Good." Buffy said as she charged Adam and leapt into the air launching a series of kicks to his head. A hard blow to her midsection and Buffy flew backwards landing on the floor.
Pulling out a deck of worn Tarot cards Tara took the first card from the top of the deck handing it to Willow who places it in front of her and speaks, "Spiritus...Spirit."
Bouncing back to her feet Buffy moved into a combat crouch as Adam closed with her and the skewer-spear in his arm popped out of its sheath. Dodging a sudden lunge, Buffy avoided the skewer and grabbed it and Adam's arm slamming the skewer over knee breaking it.
"Broke your arm," Buffy quipped.
Buffy never sees Adam's other arm shoot out until it is too late has he grabs her by the throat and lifts her up off the ground. Gasping for breath Buffy struggles when she feels a wave of electricity wash over her again and then again. Stunned by the electric shock Buffy is limp as Adam throws her into the wall of computers behind her.
Drawing the next card Tara hands it to Xander who places it in front of him, "Animus…Heart."
Pushing herself up Buffy slowly stands up and sees Adam moving towards her. Pushing aside the pain, Buffy closes with Adam. Launching a high side kick to Adam's head Buffy sees Adam's head snap back slightly and follows up with a roundhouse punch and backhand with all her strength. Only to see Adam step back slightly before launching his own attacks at her.
After only a few minutes Buffy can feel herself tiring from just parrying the unbelievable powerful blows from Adam. I can't keep this up much longer. Tara better come through with that spell soon.
A third card is pulled out, "Sophus...Mind," Giles says as he placed the third card in front of him.
With that thought Buffy misses a punch that catches her in the head and the follow-up backhand that knocks her down. Spitting blood out of her mouth Buffy stood up again, "Batteries running low?"
Unconcerned as he looks down at his right arm and a panel on his metal gauntlet unlocks and slides open. A metal device slides out of the gauntlet, covering his clawed hand, and from that, a long six-barrel minigun springs out.
Buffy's eyes pop out in surprise.
"I've been upgrading," and Adam starts firing as Buffy runs and dodges.
Tara pulls out a fourth card, "Magus...Mage," and placed it in front of her. Pulling out a last card with a picture of a hand, "And Manus...The Hand," She places it in the center of the circle.
Swinging his long gun arm towards Buffy hears the rounds just barely trailing her and vaults over a control panel that shudders from the multiple impacts of the rounds from the minigun.
Tara, Willow, Giles and Xander are all holding hands in a circle, "We implore thee. Bring us to the vessel. Take us...NOW!" Tara yells out loud as the room spins.
ADAM fires a grenade at the control panel as Buffy arches her back as she feels a sudden rush of power hit and course through her.
ADAM sees the control panel explode and steps forward to inspect the wreckage for the Slayer's body when ADAM sees the Slayer stand up. She seems to be unharmed and her eyes are glowing a yellow-red. Suddenly ADAM's sensors register an enormous power level that is off the scale and is coming from the Slayer.
Moving his gun arm ADAM opens fire with DPU rounds, depleted uranium, only to see them bounce off like water a foot in front of the Slayer who is chanting softly.
"You can't last forever." ADAM says as he switches to HE ammo rounds for the minigun. Yet the bullets continue to bounce off the force field in front of the Slayer.
"We can. We are forever." Comes the voice of Unity. "Sha me-en-den. Gesh-toog me-en-den. Zee me-en-den.
Oo-khush-ta me-ool-lee-a ba-ab-tum-mu-de-en." Unity chants softly as ADAM continues to fire at her.
"Interesting," ADAM says as he launches a grenade at the Slayer.
Unity raises her hand and chants, "Im-a-sheng-ab," and the grenade changes into a white dove that flies away.
"Very interesting." ADAM says, concerned now for the first time.
Unity gestures once again and this time the minigun retracts into ADAM's arm and Unity moves out from behind the shattered control panel.
ADAM looks down in consternation at his arm, Why does it not respond? All systems are functioning normally. ADAM wonders briefly before noticing the Slayer is moving towards him.
ADAM launches his attacks on the Slayer only to see her dodge and weave avoiding his attacks with ease. Suddenly the Slayer grabs and holds both his arms with one of hers as she slams her fist into the metal side of his head three times and ADAM feels himself picked up and thrown across the room.
ADAM quickly moves to his feet, stunned by the sudden change in the Slayer's abilities and power levels that are off the charts. "But how can you..."
Buffy, Tara, Willow, Giles and Xander speak as one... "You could never hope to grasp the source of our power,"
Running at ADAM Unity launches herself up and lands a series of kicks to ADAM's chest that throw him backwards into the wall. As Unity lands her hand lashes out and punches through the armour in his chest...Shoving her hand deeper, Unity suddenly rips her hand out of ADAM's chest holding a glowing green cylinder that has something that may be part of ADAM's spine attached to it. "But yours is right here..."
Those are the last words ADAM hears before his systems shut down and he collapses. Opening her hand the cylinder starts to rise and Unity murmurs several words. A small black hole appears in the air above the cylinder which moves into the hole and disappears. The hole collapses in on itself, disappearing.
Faith ran into the room to see the cylinder float up from Buffy's hand and disappear into 'something'. When Faith sees Buffy's eyes are now orange-red, "B, are you okay?" Faith asks but Buffy doesn't reply.
Turning her head towards her Faith sees Buffy's eyes turn back to normal and start to collapse. In a blink of an eye, Faith had caught Buffy in her arms before she could fall to the ground. Finally Faith saw recognition in B's eyes, "Do you always crash parties like this?" Faith asks with a smirk.
Willow, Tara, Giles and Xander all collapse.
"Wow,"
"That was…"
"intense..." Willow finished.
Buffy felt Faith's arm holding her up as they walked into 3-1-4, only to be rushed by Willow, Tara and Xander and caught in a large, group hug.
"Thanks. All of you." Buffy says as she looks at each of them. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Xander steps back from the group, "Well we couldn't let you face mix-n-match in there alone, now could we?" Xander says with a broad smile. "Plus! I got to be Buffy for a while or in Buffy!"
Xander says as a slap hits him on the back of his head, turning Xander sees Anya has entered the room and is behind him now with a dark look on her face. "You are not becoming orgasm buddies with Buffy, Xander! I do not share!"
Buffy grimaces, "Well that was an image I could have lived without. How about you guys?" Buffy asks out loud.
Willow and Tara nod and Faith looks darkly at the back of Xander's head for several seconds before masking her feelings.
Buffy felt her knees weaken and Faith grab her, holding her upright. "Let's go home guys, I don't know about you but I'm bushed."
As the group exits the room they see Spike standing at the entrance to the corridor up ahead.
Willow walks up to Spike who seems to be swaying slightly on his feet and touches his back, "Spike? You okay?"
Shaking his head, "Uh, yeah Red. All good here. So Adam's all history now?"
"Yep. Looks like you were busy in here. How'd you take care of them all?" Willow asks as she sees the dead demons that fill the room.
Puffing his chest out, "Well you know us vampires Red. We're a lot tougher than you'd be thinkin' we are!"
"Yeah...right!" Faith says sarcastically.
"Come on B. Let's go home, cause I don't know about you but I'm bushed."
"Anyone who wants to leave town the next time an evil, cyborg demon comes to town and wants to destroy the world raise your hand." Xander asks as they all walk back to the exit.
Everyone's hand goes up except for Spike's who gets evil glares, "Hey! I haven't had this much fun since Budapest!"
End Chapter 11