The first 18 Previous Chapters of 'Wolf-Man Xan' can be found at the website,
Author's Notes: There are a lot of Highlander characters mentioned. Of course I don't own them, and I can't remember most of them off hand. So please bear with the generic bad immortal/good immortal characterization.
WH Teams Across Central Sunnydale, 6:25 PM Pacific Standard Time
WH Team One raced from their vehicles and charged through the front door of Rupert Giles' apartment. People always laughed at the old movies where a bucket of water was placed in a fashion as to cover the door entrant below. Ironically, it was Xander Harris who'd quietly rigged the 'mega-wet vamp-repeller' system of several buckets up top along the roof edge as well as the one inside the door. Holy water buckets were pulled down through tiny holes allowing piano wire proper access. Six vampires outside and three forcing the door suffered nasty burns and created a great deal of noise, throwing off the timing of the remaining mercs and undead. Five uneasy minutes later, finding no one at home, the team set a timer for ten minutes and drove away, the sun setting at last. The body of the landlord was left at the curb, drained.
WH Team Two split into front and rear raiding forces, stormed Hondo Harris' House, the vampires spreading out along both porches and securing the perimeter of the veteran's home while three-men stormed through doors kicked in by the vampires. The vampires on the porches picked up furniture and tossed it through windows and doors, the overall destruction starting up the irrigation, lawn sprinkler and porch misting systems of the household, all rigged with a few hundred gallons of holy water and a few sprinklers with a fair amount of petrol. A timer started counting down. The three-man teams met little immediate resistance, and it seemed no one was home. The teams heard the screams of the vampires as the undead were drenched in the burning water. Stumbling out, pushing each other aside, the twelve vampires fought through to the porch steps, rear or front, and began an attempt to run through the walkway sprinklers when two things happened: Canisters dropped in every room of the house, leaking a foggy gas, and off the porch roofs small flaming bottles rolled off and ignited the petrol spraying and floating atop the water.
WH Team Three strikes into Angel's apartment from the hallway and windows.. Four crossbows at chest level shoot toward the front door as a holy water misting line sprays in the hallway and interior ten feet of room for a minute before shutting off. Three vampires dust, surprisingly, and a bolt renders another out of the fight as the holy water burns it. Small trip netting on the windows sends two crossbow bolts toward each of the openings, piercing the body armor of two mercenaries and killing them within a minute from clear-through upper abdomen hits. The vampires race exit the building and its holy water as the four mercenaries charge in and spread out in expectation of finding their comrades, not noticing the digital clock above the door counting down fast until two of them come back out of the back of the apartment.
WH Team Four surrounds and the humans charge into the Summers House. As Joyce Summers would not have agreed to the changes, only the irrigation and sprinkler systems outside spray from the tank of holy water, causing pain and disruption to the vampiric element of the force. The unit carefully recons the place, finds nothing of discernible value except two diaries, and the order is given to rig the place with timed explosives at one hour and with door triggers, before the WH team leaves for the High School secondary objective.
WH Team Five crashes into the Rosenberg home and similarly experiences holy water sprinklers before placing charges and leaving. Except that a passing police car notes license plates for later reference.
WH Team Six enters The Bronze, beginning a careful survey of the premises for any of their primary targets. Reporting back a negative, they start walking to their vehicles as a wave of magic sweeps through the establishment. The twelve vampires screamed in agony and dust at that moment.
WH Team Seven undertakes the raid on Alexander Harris' house in the same manner as the elder Harris place. Sprinklers and misters turn on, as do the other defenses, but the entryways slam down including a second steel door, trapping the humans in front and rear foyers as pepper and sleeping gas floods the chambers. Vamps go crazy on the porches, and tear each other up trying to escape, but the flames ignite them from the lit petrol and by the time they escape fluid attack, they've turned to dust. The drivers report back to Team Nine, but the response is broken up and gunfire can be heard.
WH Team Eight approached the high school premises from the relatively quiet football bleachers side, avoiding the general chaos of trick-or-treaters, parents, student escorts and other possible problems, has managed to approach within fifty feet of the back entrance into the library as they spot another Ops team preparing to enter when their vampires scream and turn to dust.
"Withdraw," the team leader hisses, "Now!"
Spike's Army Deploys and Begins, 6:27 PM-6:35PM
Spike' teams greeted the city at each of its ten highway exits with the dropping off of gangs of ten former gang members and telling them to 'have a good time and burn everything you want between here and the high school, but be there by nine.'
The intersections see vampires assaulting stopped drivers for their cars, some occupants killed as others are allowed to flee into the night as gas the vehicles are set to block ramps and be set to block any outside assistance. At three exits, the captured buses of vampires drive through gas pumps rapidly and continue on their way as those left behind begin their mayhem. Spike chortles with glee, and over the radios exhorts them on to the next targets.
Penn and the Bus Station, 6:29 PM
Penn and his 10 vampires cross the street in shadows to the bus station as ten other vampires jump off a bus and start wrecking and killing. Penn smiles and waves his new minions forward to join in.
Ethan's Costume Shoppe, 6:29 PM
Ethan dabs the blood from his left hand with his right middle finger again
and smears a cross onto his forehead, "Chaos. I remain, as ever, thy faithful, degenerate son." The magic sweeps across Sunnydale, triggering and awakening other magics.
The Master's Lair, 6:29 PM
Necromancer Hainsley and the Alterer Vail complete their work. They are holding the single work of magic ready for the chaos to be unleashed by Ethan Rayne, and on this point are not immediately disappointed.
The dust of the Aurelians on and in the bodies of twenty-six drained but not turned corpses dressed in old clothing stolen from Angleus and found in the caves, spasm and writhe throughout the chamber as Ethan's magic triggers and fuels their own. But magic is fickle, and in their moment of success the two Black Mages look at each other and their guards in concern. The demonic 'life' essence from each of the guards is drawn out and along with chaos, the Hell Mouth and their own magic, swirls into the Aurelian recreations as elsewhere…
…Sahjhan briefly opens and closes a series of dimensional portals in the boiler room of the High School, making possible if not causing what follows…
…the seventeen criminals and bikers costumed as the evil Immortals suddenly transform into them with their full quickenings.
…the whole section of coast shakes with a richter scale 6.0 earthquake that interrupts essential services in many areas.
…seventeen evil immortals are physically drawn from other realities and scattered throughout Sunnydale.
…Captain Holz' recruits transform completely into his ten best men from back in his own time.
…Angelus and Joseph Nest leap up and kill Hainsley and Vail at incredible speeds. Two Black Thorns are gone, and it is felt by others.
Archducal Mansion, 6:30 PM
"Two of the Black Thorn are dead in Sunnydale," Archduke Sebassis stated, almost shuddering as he uses his dormant abilities, "Necromancer Magnus Hainsley and Alterer Cyvus Vail are both dead. This is the sign of Holland Manners' perfidy."
"What of his bastard-brother, William Holland, who heads up their special projects and Circle matters?" his lieutenant replied.
"Both of them are the same problem," Sebassis continued, "Are our forces in position?"
The Hell Mouth forces will arrive around seven-thirty, My Lord," the lieutenant replied, "Some buses caused several blockages on the highway that had to be cleared first. We suspect Aurelian William the Bloody to be responsible."
"Attack in twenty minutes, everywhere, everything," Sebassis directed, heading for dinner.
SHS Parking Lot (Generally Speaking), 6:30 PM
The Three Horsemen show up between the football field and the main parking lot. They feel look at each other and nod that they all sense a great number of Immortals on school property, including three in the parking lot.
"We'll head away for now," Kronos orders, "Until we have a better idea of what we're doing here." They head away, but feel the pull of what just might be The Gathering.
The Costumed Kuyler, Kassim and O'Rourke come out of the transformation, letters in hand. Drawing swords, they back away until Kassim suggests they open the letters, which many across Sunnydale were doing.
Dear Immortal,
You have been transported to the beginning of what you know as the Gathering, and there are about four dozen of you throughout this town. Those with you are the ones most likely to be temporary allies. Who I am does not concern you, but know that we want to see the Macleods and their group wiped out. That is why you were brought together, as are others. The 'good guy' mustn't win.
Have a Good Night
Kassim turns to the other pair, noticing similar calculation, and began to sheath his weapon, "Gentlemen, a truce until we've eliminated the others?" They nodded and cast the letters to the ground as they examined their position.
Chronos and Eleven Jaffa, Outside the Football Field Lockers, 6:30 PM
Larry and the Jocks were heading over to where they'd parked their vehicles for easy over the curb access down the access road to the Bronze, when the wave of magic struck them, hair falling off the heads of the former athletes. Chronos looked around, his young Jaffa Primes gathered in the service of their god looking to him for direction in this disturbing and unexpected translocation.
"Jaffa Kree!" Chronos called out, eyes lighting up as assessed the openness of position and felt beings of strength nearby. Pointing to one, "You for now are First Prime. Take two others and scout ahead. We will follow you to that large building over there." Moving off into the relative darkness, Chronos was disturbed to not find his ribbon device, only a healing device. 'The Tok'Ra no doubt, it stinks as one of their tricks. I will destroy this planet.'
The Good Jedi, 6:30 PM
Han drew out his blaster as the Jedi and Leia all cringed and fell to the ground from whatever was wrenching the Force and quaking the ground. Looking at the group next to him, we was confused at the olive-dressed local militia ignored them entirely and went chasing after a guy in really archaic looking armor that was sneaking around a building.
SG-1 Plus Friends, 6:30 PM
"Jaffa at one o'clock," Major Carter cried out, the mixed SGC personnel springing into action, "And I think I saw another one duck behind the building just before he did."
A man with Colonel's rank waved them forward expertly, reminding her of O'Neill.
Apophis and Eleven Jaffa, Outside of the Bronze, 6:30 PM
The twelve basketball players had just parked their vehicles and commented on some of the new arrivals that were standing in line to get into the club or like themselves just getting out of their vehicles when the magic swept over and transformed them. Twelve vampires of the WH team suddenly became the goa'uld essences within Apophis and his eleven Jaffa Primes. He looked very annoyed as he'd just been about to visit his consort when this happened.
The Sith Admiral and the Dark Jedi Captains, 6:30 PM
Warren was swearing about one of his light sabers being lost as the change hit. Grand Admiral Nerraw Sreem looked in contempt at his surroundings, noting his four Captains nearby steadying themselves as a massive distortion in and of the Force took place, and suddenly it passed even as the planet itself quaked and subsided.
"Captains, draw weapons," Sreem ordered, "I feel our Master and many others about this evening." And that's when they bumped into a tense situation.
Ramirez and the Immortal Beauties
"Alexander Harris, please come with us?" the Watcher team's leader ordered as his men surrounded the group, "We'd prefer no one came to harm." The man's tone actually inflected that he could care less.
"You do realize the penalty for kidnapping," the young policeman asked as the magic swept over the city.
The Earth heaved and settled, the Immortals instinctively reacting to the pointed weapons by attacking with hands and feet before drawing steel. Four assault rifles belched, several rounds causing grievous injury to the ladies and missing several uniformed men beyond.
Juan Ramirez d' Villalobos would not let these rude gendarme murder or otherwise depredate his girls. Confused that a goa'uld staff weapon and ribbon device were in one hand, we was astonished to find what might be a light saber on his hip. Slapping the staff into his other hand he concentrated a portion of his quickening into the serpent jewelry and fired a blast at two men approaching him, sending them and their weapons reeling into a brick wall ten feet behind them with sickening crunches.
The two women who felt like Ceirdwyn and Rebecca were downed from gunfire, but they and Cassandra apparently had fired off spells against the other opponents, only to draw the attention of Dark-Side Jedi. 'I guess this means the Sith and Goa'uld have somehow reopened the Chappa'ai. Damn,' he thought as he drew his light saber out and prepared to use his very rusty padawan skills of millennia past.
The Mature Immortals, 6:30 PM
The mixed magics swept over and through Buffy's group as they walked across the quad toward the library. Brenda Macleod felt five Immortals next to her as she recovered, three of them familiar…Darius and the Valincourts. Carefully she stood, calling out their names as she rose.
"Here, Brenda," Gina called out, "Though I don't think I'm…me…anymore." Others similarly stood in confusion, uncertain as to draw steel or flee.
"I'm Darius, Brenda," a monk-dressed man admitted, "Though this body seems in better overall shape than my own has been. Also, I agree, these are the Valincourts, I also know them through Duncan Macleod."
"I'm Grace Chandel, and I also know Duncan," a blonde Immortal looking in her late thirties introduced, "And I'm hoping that makes us not enemies?" They all nodded, including a youthful man standing in a swarthy manner.
"And I, senors y senoritas, am Otavio Ocone," he introduced also, "At your service. But from the gunfire and general shouting, I believe we should find cover."
The group as one looked around and headed away form where a bunch of girls had just wiped out a squad of soldiers, only to find themselves spectators of a three-way fight between guys with light sabers, really old Immortals and yet another squad of soldiers.
"That feels like Ramirez, but I thought the Kurgan had gotten him," Darius said, causing Brenda to flinch at remembrance of the beast, "I think we should help."
The Bronze, Outside, 6:30 PM
Lord Sidious and Darth Maul stood at the edge of a wooded area that felt of death as the wave of Force distortion and earth quaking settled. The two reached out with their sense and were troubled by some of what they found, such as the weird pack of dark-side parasited humans in archaic reproduction armor and energy staff weapons further along the roadway, or the dozen reptilian cyborgs encased in chrome and black armor pouring a staggered suppressing fire against some blaster-armed human warriors in suede jackets. A black-clad human with a glowy-headed reptile cyborg chortled at the display.
The Fish Tank, 6:30 PM
The Emperor Palpatine and Lord Vader found themselves in extremely undesirable surroundings. Palpatine stood and from his extended hands threw purplish force-lightning across the establishment as Vader shoved aside the few human refuse that continued to inadvertently block the path to the door, "This way, My Master."
Across the Street from SHS, 6:30 PM
Captain Holz bumped into two men with swords that had appeared out of nowhere. They glared at him and both drew steel as the magic swept over the ten men with him. He began to draw his as they seemed more interested in each other and began to attack in earnest over who was really some one named Kalas. Stepping back to check on his men, he found that they were indeed his men as promised by the time demon and the chaos magician. A cold smile creased his face.
"I'm back, Angelus, and you will die at last by my hand."
SHS Library (Generally Speaking) 6:30 PM
Watcher Team Two, having infiltrated around the cafeteria building, notices the Chase target with a boy and a few teenage girls. The team leader watches as the boy removes his Darth Vader helmet and also notes there are currently no adults in the immediate vicinity. The team leader walks over to the group as the ground quakes, and as many are picking themselves up, he notices the target group has taken up very professional defensive positions around Chase and the boy, taking orders from her.
"Cordelia Chase," the team leader calls out as his men aim their weapons and move forward, "Your presence is ordered by the Watcher's Council for determination of if you are a Slayer. You will come with us."
"I do not know this Cordelia Chase," the girl denied flatly, "And you will step aside for us to pass immediately." She gives a secret sign to the others dressed similarly, in Court Dress/At-Ready. Blaster fire erupts from the kid in the Vader costume, wounding one of the jumpier team members and disarming him in the process. The Emperor's Hands spring into action, killing the entire Watcher's Team as submachine gun fire sprays through some of their own members before it makes it into Chase's apparent defenders. Two Hands (Dawn-Not-Summers and Lisa) lay bleeding to death on the ground, but not a Watcher team member remains. The Hands retreat to the Library door with a seemingly confused Lord Vader, some of the primitive slug-weapons in hand.
Watcher Team Three, having secured the parking lot, spots the WH Team moving in on the Library and intercepts on Wyndham-Price's orders, coming into range just as the enemy begins a charge at the back library entrance. Gunfire flashes as people scatter or find themselves a part of the expanding chaos.
Watcher Team One moves into the Library through the back entrance, careful not to alert anyone to their presence. In the main area they find two dead humans and a confused human in monk's attire checking them for pulses, and point their assault rifles at the man.
"What's going on my son?" the monk addresses the team leader in French-accented English, "I don't understand."
"Where's Harris and Chase, Father," the leader demands softly, "They're the only ones we're here for."
"I'm Brother Darius," the figure of Doyle corrected, "And I'm not sure of whom you speak as I've just regained my bearings after the Earth shook, only to find two apparently uninjured but dead humans next to me." The team member checking the bodies touched both with crosses without effect.
The team leader was about to say more when a blonde flash came up and over the library counter, grabbing him and throwing his weapon into the forehead of the nearest team member to render him unconscious.
"Padre, get behind the counter," the girl said, radiating strength, "I don't know who these men are, but they don't belong here." The man scurried to comply, reaching to make sure his gladius was still with him. "I'm Buffy by the way."
Gunfire outside the main and rear entrances surprises both sides
The Shelter Club, 6:30 PM
The Costumed Quince and Xavier find themselves drinking beer at the bar, opened envelopes in front of them, as the magic sweeps over them. Glancing quickly at each other, they carefully pick up the letters addressed to them. Quince turns to St. Cloud.
"If this is true, how about we wait here an hour or so, let the others tire themselves out, then kill everyone on sight," the Immortal suggests, "I'm not much for playing by the rules and whims of others."
"We kill all the others, and only turn on each other toward the end?" Xavier St. Cloud considered, and held up his glass in agreement, "I concur."
Police Station, 6:30 PM
Jonathan's group was approaching the Police station on foot to drop some stuff before heading to the Bronze for Halloween Party, when the magic made them other than they'd been.
"Hey Mac," a somewhat familiar voice intoned wearily, "The next time you invite Fitz over, let's not drink as much, huh? My head feels like there's dozens of Immortals around, dancing on my head."
"Not my fault, lad," Fritz/Fitzcairn replied, getting up, "Hey, you feel like Ritchie, but who are you?" Fitz started to drew his sword, when he heard Mac's accented voice tell him to stop, "Hold, Fitz, I think we're not in the bodies we're supposed to be in, but I can feel you all from your quickenings. How 'bout you?" The other Immortals nodded warily, and introduced themselves, six of the good ones.
"I remember some of you being lost in the Game, but here we are," Duncan said, "Maybe we're all being given a second chance at life by whoever won, though I canna prove it." The others nodded, and Hayoka contributed.
"This place is permeated with evil," the shaman stated, "So it is more likely either a test by a Higher Power or we exist at the sufferance of an evil Immortal who won the Prize and has brought us back out of boredom."
"If so, let's agree not to fight each other," Reagan Cole asserted as she dew close to the much-shorter Duncan, "We can at least deny that pleasure." They all nodded, but a commotion from the building, including gunfire, drew their attention, as did a large cross-country bus that drove through two police cars and crashed up and into the main entrance of the police station.
The Gang of Five, Police Station Yard, 6:30 PM
Jacob Kell and his gang of four found themselves in the vehicle and vehicle impound yard of what seemed to be a municipal police station in America. Shouts and pointed weapons caused him to hold up his hands as two of his minions snuck around and slit their throats. On the very edge of his senses he was picking up a familiar quickening…that of the younger Macleod.
Disarming the two policemen, they are forced back away from the exit by a bus ramming through the gate and into the yard. Thirty humans with deformed faces, yellow eyes and fangs pour out, ten heading towards the Immortals and twenty into the rear of the station. Soon screams, shots and more of the same are heard from inside the station as the doors are ripped off with crowbars. The Immortals draw swords and sidearms, charging into the midst of the attackers.
City Hall, 6:30 PM
The Costumed Jacob Kell and his Gang show up next to City Hall, and can feel a strong Immortal essence in the vicinity. The evil leader turns to his minions, "Find this one; we'll get our information from him."
The Kurgan, meanwhile, landed in the midst of twenty vampires loyal to the Mayor who were inventorying a major cache of illicit materials, assets and valuables. The Kurgan draws and arcs his sword threw several necks before the undead creatures have gotten over their shock. One vampire picked up a cell phone and shouted for help as the others dropped what they were doing, grabbed whatever was on hand, and began to charge their surprise entertainment for the night.
The Kurgan sensed something wrong in these things he killed by decapitation and only wounded otherwise. He pressed toward a staircase, wiping out eight with many small wounds to himself as he felt the approach of five strong quickenings. Objects were thrown at him as he made his way halfway up the stairs toward the door, which opens with the arrival of Immortals.
Fire Station #4, 6:31 PM
The Costumed Kurgan possessed the luck of the 'real' one as he also found himself in the midst of ten vampires, a bus of them having rammed him through the opening door of a fire station. This Kurgan, enraged at their attack, pulls out a 45 and starts shooting vampires as they exit the bus after killing the human driver through the windshield.
Mayor's Ball, 6:30 PM
"General Chamberlain!" the Mayor greeted the ranking officer in the area, "And Mrs. Chamberlain, you look stunning, tonight. I'm very gad you could make it. I see your officers are with you?"
"Indeed, Mr. Mayor," the General agreed, waving at his men and the ladies they escorted, "May I present our double score of Blue and Gray…"
"Marvelous, General," the Mayor enthused as the magic swept through the town…
Midas looked over at the beautiful woman hanging on his arm, a stunning creature if ever there existed one. He reached over and grabbed a rose for her, watching with keen interest as she delighted in its turning to gold.
"What else can you turn to gold?" she asked, admiring the rose, "This is so beautiful." Her smile melted his heart, something that hadn't happened since his wife had passed on and his daughter married.
"Anything you'd like, my dear," the King replied, but noticed the sudden outbreak of fighting and general discord amongst other guests, "Anything you'd like. But things seem very unfriendly now," he gold-fingered a big vampire about to grab her, "So perhaps we should take a" touched a large demon "walk, hmm?" and touched a waiter about to spill a tray on them.
The Chases left a party with the warmest feelings of mutual appreciation they'd felt in many years.
Across Sunnydale, 6:31 PM
Many 'Immortals' read letters explaining The Gathering, and most began slowly heading in the direction of the High School…