Southern California in General, 6:45 PM
"This is CNN…
"We have reports of a massive earthquake striking Southern California, from Hearst Castle to San Clemente along all fault-lines at a possible 6.0 scale reading…"
"This is KTLA…
"The earthquake that struck moments ago has affected most of the electrical power and essential services. As possible, power will be re-routed to traffic lighting first. Residents are encouraged to remain indoors wherever they are and wait for resumption of power or at least daylight…"
"This is the BBC…
"Other quakes, registering 4.0-4.5 are being reported in Cleveland, the Oldavai Valley, Teheran, Pyongyang, Baghdad, Surrey and Tunguska. We'll have more as reports come in…"
WH Teams across Central Sunnydale, 6:45 PM
WH Team One determined that a communications breakdown existed, and fell back on plan protocols: head for the high school, secure the Hell Mouth until all teams have had a chance to rendezvous, then swing by the Mayor's Ball on the way out of Sunnydale. They turned their vehicles and began to force their way slowly through lessening traffic, but an amazing amount of demonic foot traffic.
The Rupert Giles apartment blew up at exactly 6:45:01 PM, starting a sizable fire threatening the area.
WH Team Two vampires ceased to exist, the mercenaries now asleep inside the Harris home. A last message warned off the drivers to this effect, calling for extraction. Unfortunately, emergency protocols due to communications failure with Team Nine clearly dictated termination of the operation. The drivers grabbed several satchels and made their way to different points of the property. Seeing one of their number unconscious near the window, the lead driver detonated a small charge around the window, hoping to rescue at least one man before the place went up in fifteen minutes.
WH Team Three: Angel's apartment exploded with surprising force, charges shaped so that the vast percentage of the explosive force shoots out into the street. Originally each room would have experienced minor destruction channeled outward and upward, but the ordnance on the mercenary team members assured that the real force was many times greater than planned, only four vampires made it back to the vehicles as residents began fleeing the smoke-filling and wall-teetering structure.
"I think they were expecting someone…" one of the four burnt vampires surviving the experience muttered as they drove away.
WH Team Four approached to within two blocks of the High School, swerving not fast enough as a large bus forces them and the other vehicles off the road as it sped pass them heading the other way.
"WH4 converging, will arrive in about ten minutes…"
WH Team Five about four blocks from High School, found the way blocked by an overturned and burning city bus surrounded by vampires.
WH Team Six raced to their vehicles, noting how different groups of costumes have suddenly become the very aggressive representations. Climbing into their vehicles, a group of archaically-dressed bodyguards are directed by a skirted individual in their direction.
"Crap!" one of the drivers complained as large ornate bazookas pointed in their direction, "I think somebody wants a lift."
WH Team Seven drivers make contact with Team Two and concur regarding the protocol. Alighting from the vehicles with heavy satchels, they spread out around the house, placing charges on the sealed doors in hopes of getting some of their teammates to safety.
WH Team Eight pauses momentarily before attempting a turnaround. Unfortunately, the Watchers had a different plan.
Fire Station #2, 6:45 PM (Spike's Vampires)
The vehicles of the station raced out into the street in response to a call when suddenly a large passenger bus rammed into the side of the main engine, moving ten feet and at least stunning the occupants if not worse. The other units quickly turned around to help their comrades when they noticed ten face-deformed humans exiting the bus and leaping to attack the injured on the ground.
As unit two slowed to avoid hitting its own, the paramedic unit driver floored his vehicle and aimed his truck at the door of the bus and the vampires nearby.
Phone Company, 6:48 PM, (Spike's Vampires)
"Hey Moon!" one of the vampires called out as they crashed through the back gate in the bus of fifteen undead, "Does this mean the boss will be changing phone plans?"
Sunnydale International Airport, 6:50 PM (Spike's Vampires)
The bus dropped off ten of its thirty occupants at the main terminal entrance. The airport, which served the entire section of coast, was viewed by Spike as a possible escape route for the Slayer, and he'd ordered that planes and fuel tanks be set afire and any humans found be killed to prevent an escape from happening.
Wilkins Water Company, 6:55 PM (Spike's Vampires)
Having dropped off ten vampires at an exit and another ten at the bus station, the bus crashed through the gates of their final target before joining Spike at the Hell Mouth.
"Why are we here again, Raul?" one of the gangbanger vamps asked as he loaded his cheap piece. "What's up with the water thing?"
"No water, no puttin' out fires, man," Raul replied, "No water workers, no fixing the water when we turn it off."
Summers House, 6:55 PM, (Spike's Vampires)
"Okay, blokes, looks like the lights are on," Spike smirked, "maybe the Slayer's at 'ome. You ten go 'round back and you ten head up front and knock on the door. If nobody answers, just throw furniture and whatever in through the windows to catch their attention."
Spike had four others start torches to burn the place down, and was leading them up to the front door as the place was trashed from outside.
"You two grab that couch and chuck it through the front door," Spike ordered, "As for you two, start burning the place. NO one gets away from here alive."
As the couch hit Spike felt himself being lifted up and thrown threw the air as the Summers House suddenly wasn't the easy target he'd planned.
Pacific Power, Wilkins Area Substation, 6:55PM (Spike's Vampires)
The remaining fifteen vampires watched as the driver drove over an through the guard shack at the plant. Ten others had been left to block an exit and another ten left to destroy a liquor store that charged Spike too much for a carton of smokes the last time he'd been in town.
Radio Hill, 6:52 PM, (Spike's Vampires)
Ten vampires braced as their crazy driver ran the bus into and through the control shack. Most of the area's communications passed through or were greatly boosted by the facility. Spike's orders were clear, no broadcasts. 'Easy enough,' the gang leader thought as he snapped the driver's neck in growing frustration at not being in on the real killing, "Everybody out. Kill anybody you find, and turn off anything you find, and burn everything you can. I want to be out of here in fifteen minutes."
He sighed as one of his minions tripped, fell on a cut power line and fried itself, "Fourteen minutes!"
Happy Meadow Liquors, 6:44 PM, (Spike's Vampires)
Ten vampires continued to wreck the interior of the store, thwarted that the cashier's cage prevented them from killing the clerk. Bottles shattered and some drunk from, the leader of the group laughed as he lit two bottles and soaked rags, hurling one all the way across the store, narrowly missing his minions, then waited as they backed out of the store. Throwing it at the cage, they walked away, this part of their mission over.
The Port of Sunnydale, 6:55 PM (Spike's Vampires)
Two buses with fifty vampires crashed through the gates into the closed dock area of the port, on a mission of seizing and possibly scuttling any freighters or other large craft. Knowing that the coast guard and others sometimes provided security for some of the shipments, supplies to the Armory and other important facilities, the large number of vampires was expected to overwhelm any regular opposition and perhaps turn a few officers in the bargain. Alarms sounded at the Police Station and the Coast Guard station across the inlet, but all were too busy at the moment to fully respond.
Penn and the Bus Station, 6:45 PM (Spike's Vampires)
Penn and his ten minions finished their early dinner, looking out as the bus station, now gutted, has bodies haphazardly strewn throughout. The other vampires, sated, had turned to destruction, and were breaking windows on buses managing to escape the insanity. The leader of the vampire gangbangers approached Penn, feeling the age of the older undead.
"We gotta go," she smirked, "But feel free to make yourselves at home." Penn looked at him in disgust.
'No style,' he thought, "Why are you so brazen in your depredations?"
"Huh?" the gang-vamp replied in confusion, causing Penn to sigh.
"Why are you attacking openly?" the old vampire asked.
"Oh, Spike's taking over the Hell Mouth tonight," the vampire replied, puffing itself up, "And we've been ordered to 'wreak havoc' on our way there."
"Ah, William," Penn grimaced, nodding, "And what word have you of Angelus?"
"The Great Poof?" the young vampire responded, "At the High School with the Slayer and the Hunters…until we kill them all"
"There're only ten of you here," Penn pointed out, wondering if Spike had lost hold of reality like Drusilla.
"Spike's raised an army of over three hundred of us," the gangbanger declared with self-importance, "And the town will bleed."
'After I kill Angelus, I'd better get the hell out of the States…these idiots are trying to bring us out into the open.'
The Master's Lair, 6:35 PM
The bodies of Hainsley and Vail lay drained on the floor of the chamber, the other Aurelians settling for the blood of the demonic guards to calm them down. Nest turns to Angelus and slams him into a wall, causing great pain. Nest towers over the troublesome vampire, shaking his head, strength and power restored, but body that of a spry human-looking three-hundred-year-old.
"This time, you will accept position as my right hand," The Master stated simply, "Or I will spend a century ending your unlife." Turning to the others, he waves Luke and Colin up to him.
"I've missed my boys," the evil being smiled, "Give Daddy a hug." They obeyed, and the old one nipped a sip from both of them in affection. "Now, Colin shall serve as Herald, and Luke shall stand at my left hand. It's good to have a family reunion…so let's head out to dinner."
Ethan's Shoppe, 6:35 PM
Sahjhan, portals in to the store, dressed as a corporeal version of himself so that he could enjoy the night properly. Sitting down next to Ethan in a room in which three walls were covered with different magical viewings throughout Sunnydale, he places a box on the table between his recliner and Ethan's.
"I brought snacks…" he says and they both laugh.
First Californian International Bank, 6:45 PM
The Costumed Kuyler, Kassim and O'Rourke determine that they are within the confines of a large banking institution. Kassim turns to his temporary allies and waits for suggestions.
"If you're a little low on cash, I could blow the vault while the two of you go find the security system and remove all traces of us?" O'Rourke suggested, "I 'appen to 'ave more than sufficient explosive for this." Kuyler looked over to Kassim.
"We need to cover up our unexpected presence, anyway," the Immortal conceded, "So letting him blow something up won't change things much."
Chronos and Eleven Jaffa, 6:45 PM
Chronos' scouts gathered back on the other side of the Cafeteria, reporting a number of small and unrelated combats taking place, the nearest being on a couple hundred feet away.
"Any sign of those responsible for inconveniencing me?" the false god demanded, to which he received head shakes, "Force open this building and we will start looking for information here."
"You heard our Lord, Chronos," the designated First Prime shouted, "Blast open this door."
The Good Jedi, 6:40 PM
Han continued to cover his group, noting that they'd either changed or been replaced with like-dressers. Looking at his own much younger and less-scarred hands, he felt the difference in his face.
"Any of you retired Jedi wanna tell me why we don't seem to be us any more?" Han/Oz sighed as the others began to recover, "And how we're in the midst of some backwater town instead of on the Falcon? And where's Chewie?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine, Han" Leia/Amber assured her now-shorter husband, as she heard sounds of fighting nearby, "As to rest, we'll find out soon enough, I imagine."
SG-1 Plus Friends, 6:45 PM
The SGC personnel slowly circled around the Jaffa force as it closed on the school building. Careful to avoid other hostile groups, they drew within ten feet when they heard the name of the goa'uld. Teal'c grimaced and raised his weapon, firing at the Jaffa in hopes of forcing his way through to his father's murderer. The Tau'ri had no idea of how dangerous this one System Lord could be if allowed to go unchecked for any length of time.
Jaffa blowing open the door turned and exchanged staff fire for bullets, the ricocheting off parts of armor mixing with outcries of pain on both sides as Chronos was thrown through the door by his First Prime.
Ferretti, Kowolsky and Daniel died as four Jaffa were eliminated and four wounded. Teal'c barged through the door after three other Jaffa and Chronos, about to fire again when a staff weapon blew off his hand along with the weapon itself. Teal'c/Zabuto's scream of rage and pain shattered the night.
Apophis and Eleven Jaffa, Outside of the Bronze, 6:45 PM
Apophis ordered four of his Jaffa forward toward the primitive human militia retreating from the fight across the street. "Stop them for questioning, I need to know which enemy is behind this affront." To the other seven, gesturing at the Cylons, "Destroy that machine monstrosity and bring me the human."
They nodded and charged across the street, staff weapons readied.
Baltar and Lucifer were quite surprised when they found themselves under fire from non-Colonial humans.
"Centurion!" Baltar/Parker called out as Lucifer's sparkling headpiece blew up, "Defend me!" The chrome fighters shifted from the beginnings of an assault into the human gathering spot in favor of direct conflict with the new human threat.
Dark-Siders, Ramirez and the Immortals
Juan Ramirez d' Villalobos quickly calculated the situation. Two of his three apparent remaining 'companions' had swords drawn, the youngest with twin hand guns ready to fire. 'Light saber and ribbon device against light sabers and blasters are not good odds, even for Immortals.'
"Can I help you gentlemen?" he asked the newcomers, "We're in the midst of a disagreement."
The Grand Admiral stayed the hands of his captains with a gesture, arrogantly approaching the scene as a half-dozen others cautiously came up toward swordswomen and a pretender of little skill in the light saber.
"You will tell us where we are, peasants," the Dark Lord commanded, "OR face immediate death."
"I believe the unconscious men in black are the ones with the answers," Ramirez replied carefully, "Since I'm as uncertain as yourself in this matter but they seemed determined to apprehend us." The group of six Immortals, a couple of whom felt very familiar, came up, swords drawn but kept downward as not to actively provoked.
"You will presume nothing in regards to me," the evil officer stated simply, and reached up with a hand toward Ramirez, "And I believe that is mine." The light saber deactivated and flew abruptly and unexpectedly toward its master.
Lara Croft/Dawn Summers interpreted the action as an attack and opened up with both guns into the Dark Jedi, not aiming beyond the general vicinity. Ramirez surprised, reached out with his ribbon deviced- hand and as shots were fired used the ribbon device at full force against the leader.
Blasters fired as the Sith was thrown back into a wall next to members of the Watcher's team. One of the captains was felled by gunfire and Neferteri's sword to his head even as his blaster fired at point-blank range into her chest. Three blasters fired toward Lara, lancing her with painful and if human eventually mortal wounds, then melee ensued as seven swords attempted to make a difference against three light sabers. Within a minute, six swords were destroyed, and only Ramirez' ribbon device managed to hold back vengeance by the slightly wounded Imperials.
"Take your wounded leader and leave," Ramirez/Xander called to their opponents, "I'm keeping my light saber, but your master will live to reengage us later if it's his will." Both sides stood staring for a moment before two of the captains lifted Lord Sreem and shifted into the shadows of night.
"Well, that was an unfortunate encounter," Ramirez commented as he checked on Lara and Neferteri, "Brenda, Darius, is it really the two of you?"
"Yes it is, but how?" Darius asked, "I thought the Kurgan got you in Scotland?" Brenda and Ramirez both looked at Darius in confusion.
"That didn't happen, Darius," Brenda said, "He pushed the Kurgan into the river when he and Heather decided to grab some peat. And he was Connor's best man when you married me and Connor?"
"Different realities, then?" Lara muttered as the Witch-Immortals helped her and Neferteri to their feet. She looked at her damaged clothes, "And I'm Lara Croft by the way." This led to a round of introductions as the group made its way toward a building labeled 'Cafeteria' after retrieving weapons and dragging the Watcher team with them for questioning.
The Bronze, Outside, 6:45 PM
"These can wait until later," Lord Sidious told Darth Maul, "I feel another of comparable power we must eliminate before securing this world." They walked into the cemetery, the undead sensing them and giving them a wide clearance.
"Palaptine?" the Dark Lord whispered, "You've grown strong…"
The Fish Tank, 6:50 PM
The Emperor Palpatine and Lord Vader walked past a small battle in which the local human constabulary was being assaulted by alien riff-raff. Palapatine spared nary a glance, but with raised hand shot out a burst of force lightning into the mass of yellow eyes.
"Rebel scum," he said to Vader, "We'll deal with them later."
Across the Street from SHS, 6:45 PM
Captain Holz and his men noted the fighting, especially near the Library, to which he pointed.
"That's where we'll find the beast," he told them, "but we'll wait a few minutes for these others to kill each other off before we make our move."
SHS Library 6:45 PM
Watcher Team Three opens fire on the suddenly-reduced hostile force, making its own effort to reach the Library to facilitate extractions of targets. Three enemy go down, but the reactions of the others suffices to kill the Watcher Team One man holding the door, as well as grievously wound two of the nearest Team Three members. Grenades fly from both sides, restraint lost as men moved to avoid death but inflict it on others.
"My Lord Vader, I am Mara Jade," Cordelia/Mara Jade informed her apparent superior. "These others seem also to be Hands, what are your orders?"
"Secure this building, and we'll determine a course of action then," replied Devon/Anakin Skywalker, surprised at his apparent health and youthfulness, 'The Emperor's Hands, I do not wish to draw on the Force so soon after I've regained myself. I will see this through before I take action.'
Watcher Team One was reduced to one active team member and its captured leader in the hands of Buffy Summers/Darla. Darius had cautiously moved behind the counter and temporary safety as the doors came crashing down and he watched as three young women and a boy forced their way into the room. The commando in the room turned and fired, the boy in black raising his hand and deflecting the entire stream of projectiles as two of the girls raised blasters and ended him.
'Buffy' thumped the team leader unconscious and raised pulled Darius/Doyle after her as they fled up into the stacks and hopefully escape.
Mara Jade directed her Hands to check the floored people, and bar the Library door. She quickly checked the immediate vicinity as Anakin removed unnecessary parts of equipment and set them aside.
"Orders, My Lord," Mara asked, seeing that the Hands were competently securing the site.
"Determine our location, then the location of the nearest star port," Anakin replied, as though to an equal, "From there we'll send a message and call for an escort to wherever we need go." Jade checked her surprise at his relaxed attitude as Vader was famed for wielding fear rather than assurance to achieve maximal results.
'You need not fear me for now, Hand," the Sith Lord replied to her shock, "Fear is a tool, and you and the other Hands are competent beyond my normal minions. Your flexibility in capability allows you some flexibility in achieving my objectives."
"Yes, My Lord," Jade intoned, redirecting her attention to the apparently alive civilians on the floor.
'Buffy' led the monk to the rear exit of the Library only to find two groups of commandos fighting it out for control of the doorway itself. Pressing a finger to her lips, she pointed further into the book stacks. Darius grabbed the weapons and ammo from the dead gunman, and 'the Slayer' took knives and his night goggles before leading him into hiding.
Watcher's Main Vehicle, 6:49 PM
"Well, Reginald," Clayton intoned, "Your simple forced extraction seems to have turned into a battle. I especially like the assault weapons fire and screaming."
"I'm in charge, Your Grace," Wyndham-Price snap, "You will kindly remember that and remain silent until we have more information."
The Shelter Club, 6:43 PM
The power flickered off, then the generator kicked-in. The two Immortals found better seating against a wall and continued to wait.
Police Station, 6:43 PM
Vampires, numbering maybe twenty or thirty, seemed to pour off the bus, some with modern weaponry. Shots and screams of mortals, Duncan turned to his comrades, Fitz, Simmons and Ritchie drawing steel with him, and the women right after. He noticed they all had wooden stakes.
'Monsters, vampires, these seem to be," Duncan stated, "But as we know, removing a head always kills. So if you can't stake 'em, do what we know. Let's go friends."
They all nodded, and behind him charged forward, swords and stakes in hand, Grace stopping to check on the injured police as the others launched themselves into the unsuspecting vampires.
The Gang of Five, Police Station Yard, 6:45 PM
Jacob Kell and his gang of four open up with firearms, dusting four and wounding eight before the enraged vampires leap on the Immortals from all directions. Slash and hack, stab and parry, slash and decapitate, only the latter having real effect beyond the moment, in twelve minutes of fighting these master swordsmen engage fifteen of the apparent vampires and only now begin to exact a murderous toll for all the damage they themselves have suffered, no time by either side to attempt the use of firearms in the crowded space.
Eleven more vampires, forcing open the building, run in and the undead packing guns begin firing them as they charge madly at the police personnel. A dozen die before security measures start to slow the attack from the rear of the building only to hear that the front is also under attack.
City Hall, 6:46 PM
The Costumed Jacob Kell and his Gang press through the door, 'Faith' firing into the chest of the Kurgan and then into the other combatants, quickly followed by the others as Kell draws his sword. Immortals leap over and into the beasts as their master severs the head of the Kurgan. The lightning forms, shocks the building. The confined nature of the area ensures very little loss as Kell is slammed up into the ceiling as the light show vaporizes the vampires and hurls the other Immortals into the walls.
Fire Station #4, 6:46 PM
The Costumed Kurgan listened as the screams died down. Standing in a pool of blood not his own, the last vampire dusted, his wounds began to slowly heal as the real Xavier St. Cloud entered the station, sword drawn. Four firemen knowing they were better off not knowing, loaded four of their dead and six badly wounded as they started up all three vehicles and raced for the hospital.
Fire Station #1, 6:48 PM
The doors of the station open in response to a few emergency calls reaching them, when a bus plows into the fronts of the two main vehicles, slamming back both massive units and the humans aboard. Stunned, a few of the remaining station personnel and the paramedics start to move as around ten vampires force their way through the doors.
Man's best friend turns out to be loyal as a dalmatian leaps forward and tears the throat out of the vamp leader, just enough to dust it before another vamp fires a revolver into it repeatedly. The firemen snap out of their shock and pick up axes as one of their number activates the water hose as artillery.
Mayor's Ball, 6:50 PM
"General Chamberlain!" the Mayor called out just before something rendered him unconscious.
The gathered Union and Confederate officers looked around in confusion, drawing sidearms as much against each other as against the strange goings-on. The named leader turned to a young man, a Negro and Captain by his rank and possibly his aide, and gestured to the front door.
"Captain, take five men and secure the door. Lieutenant, take five men and secure those stairs and the immediate rear to the building," he ordered. Noting a Confederate Colonel, he gestured at the man. "Colonel, have five of your men watch over the ladies protection and direct the rest to assist my…eight in establishing control over this mayhem."
The Colonel/Riley Finn, realizing that as the war was over and the ladies needed protection, as a true gentleman could do naught but comply, "You heard the General, let's get to it."
WH Team Nine successfully turned back the attack by pirates of all things, killing ten of the fifty, but losing six of his vampires in the process while two of his men were savaged by a pair of Callistos chased by a pair of Xenas. Ordering his men to tend to them, he was about to contact the field leaders when a throat cleared.
"Sir, you will please order your men to stand down," a Confederate Captain directed him, six men with revolvers adding force to his statement.
"I'll need to call them and let them know…" he said carefully radio microphone in hand. Receiving a nod, he continued, keying it, "Delta Nine stand down," giving the code to rendezvous, central unit captured and that situation needs to be changed.
"Sir, are you ready to be driven home?" a concerned servant near a strange rumbling carriage without animals tied to it asked as Midas and his prospective companion approached from the craziness ensuing inside.
"Yes, I am," Midas replied, only briefly wondering why he understood the strange language the servant spoke, "Things are a bit difficult inside."
Los Angeles and the Archducal Mansion, 6:50PM
"My Lord, the attack has begun…"
Wolfram and Hart Conference Room, 6:51 PM
"Sirs," an administrative assistant called out as she interrupted the meeting, "The building seems to be under attack by hundreds of demons; the lobby's been overrun." Holland Manners turned back to his client.
"I'm sorry for the interruption, Miss Glorificus," the lawyer smiled at her, "You may drain her a little on the way out if you'd like. Leave something, good help is hard to get when a nuisance attack is underway. Now, you were saying something about The Key?"