1997

Xander landed painfully headfirst on the ground. That had hurt. He shook off the cobwebs that threatened to form in his head and looked up to the one who had just punched him.

"Weak," Luke muttered looking down at Xander with a very unimpressed look. Despite only being undead for a few months Xander was well aware of who Luke was of course: he was the Master's First. He'd been the vessel who'd made the evil old vampire's ascension possible. He was also a right bastard. Luke was huge, ancient, and had never lost a fight according to other members of the Master's order.

"Thanks," Xander replied groaning but getting back to his feet rubbing his jaw in one hand.

"You are not worthy to even stand in the master's presence," Luke glared at Xander and backhanded him again causing Xander to fall back once again onto the floor. Despite being the very undead Xander felt pain, a rather lot of it thanks to Luke's fist. "Why must we waste our time with these children?" Luke asked turning back to the Master who watched from the background. The presence of so many fledglings annoyed Luke to no end. They were all young and cocky and they treated their gift of being sired as if it was all a game.

The Master came into Xander's view and once again the young vampire couldn't help but stare at the vampire's pale white skin and red eyes. Xander had heard it said that the Master had already lived past the "curse" of human features, becoming much more demonic in appearance than other vampires. He wondered if would be able to reach such an age. The Master smiled slightly, "they amuse me, Luke." He explained to his second in command. "For decades I have been trapped, buried and forgotten while they have grown and learnt so much." Yes, the humans had greatly improved on their technology at an impressive rate but still like all humans they processed their weaknesses. Silly petty squabbles over land and riches, their endless obsession with looks and their focus on their emotions. They hadn't changed themselves despite changing their surroundings.

"But the old ones they wait for us," Luke implored his leader. It had been the sole reason for their being here in the first place. In 1936, they had moved to the New World with the hopes of opening the Hellmouth located in Sunnydale and bringing about the end of the world by releasing the Old Ones.

"And will continue to wait for us while I explore the possibilities and wonders of this new land," the Master said stepping away from Luke and Xander and picking up two beer cans. Two identical cans, same brand, same beer, same taste but had come from different places… hmm an idea for another time perhaps. Turning back to face the two vampires he spoke up again. Both listened as Xander had quickly realised when the Master spoke you listened… otherwise you were beaten. "I wish to learn more of this place, this world and its people." Turning to look at Xander. "And ones like this can teach me."

"But Angelus lurks the streets," Luke warned the Master. "He killed Zachary and Claw he is a menace that needs to be stopped!" Luke said glaring at Darla who stood in the background knowing full well her feelings for the vampire she sired. Even after all these years she still clearly cared for that vampire. Her devoted act might work with the Master but not him.

"He will be dealt with soon enough," The Master promised eyeing Darla carefully for any sign of emotion. The blonde's jaw held firm and didn't give away any sign of feelings… which told the Master all he needed to know. "My children, everything they built we will use against them. And from the ashes of their brave new world… we'll build a better one!" The Master told his followers as Xander looked on impressed. Finally feeling like he belonged somewhere and was part of something. All his life he had been an outcast and the reject. Now here in amongst vampires he had found something to be part of.

XXXXXXXXX

Present Day

Faith was about halfway through the journey of storming away from Giles's house when she started to get the uneasy feeling that she was being watched. She heard footsteps crunching on the gravel behind her and whirled around. "Who's there?" she demanded, her voice sound fierce and strong.

The vampire Alexander stepped out of the shadows, holding up his hands. "Hey, chill I just came to see if you are okay." He had chased after Faith after she had left Giles's apartment not that easy as she had moved quickly away from Giles's apartment. Clearly eager to get away from Captain GI JOE. "I promise, I won't bite," he said putting his hands in his pockets. He wasn't worried about her physical state as she was after the slayer and therefore had the full Slayer package, which includes superior speed, strength, balance, and flexibility as well as accelerated healing. Innate expertise at all fighting styles and weapons. No, he was worried about her emotional state.

Faith's scowl almost turned into a smile for a moment but no sooner had the smile threaten to appear it dissolved into a carefully neutral expression. "So, what the hell is with the new grunts?" she demanded.

"They just turned up out of the blue," Alexander replied. From the look on Faith's face, Alexander thought the girl was about to protest, so he started talking quickly. "Not like we put an ad in the paper. They just turned up. Guess it was only the tie before the military got involved."

She turned around a kept walking towards… well just about anywhere. A part of her was grateful when he followed, though she was still angry, too. She was angry at the librarian for letting more people in the mix. She had just been getting used to the three of them. Herself, Alexander, and Giles and now that was over. She was somewhat miffed at what she had seen of Agent Finn. He look way too cocky and sure of himself. All vanilla and no kinks. She was mad at Alexander. He didn't seem to care if about the wannabe vampire killers in front just so long they didn't kill him before he did a little bit more of his precious darkness warrior act. But mostly Faith was mad at herself for caring about everything. She really wasn't in the mood for talking about this.

"Faith wait up," Alexander said following her. "It's not safe out here." Faith rolled her eyes. She knew what he meant. Out here in the dark with the vampires.

"I should have know you guys were going to sell out to anyone who walked into that place," she muttered darkly.

"Yeah, well sometimes good things happen when people walked though the door," Alexander said looking at her which made her feel uncomfortable. In fact, it made himself feel a bit uncomfortable. They were just partners in crime, weren't they? Just two soldiers fighting the impossible war. Sure, they shoot the breeze from time to time but there was also an underlining barrier. A wall not to open up and let the other in. They both looked around at the emptiness of the street which was a relief and calming from the usual chaos they were used to.

"So…," Faith began shifting her weight a little. "What do you think?" Faith asked him. He knew that it cost her to ask what he thought. If there was one thing, he had learnt about her was that honesty and loyalty was something that Faith valued. She came from a shadowed past and isn't inclined to easily let go of any personal details that might expose her. Alexander could relate to that.

"They hate me," Alexander shrugged without a care in the world. He couldn't keep track of the number of people who wanted him dead. Number of people who cared about him… he could count on one hand.

"So do you think they are going to kill you first chance they get?" Faith asked casually to which Alexander nodded and Faith frowned at that. Her interaction with Alexander: long patrols, sparring and just generally hanging out made her almost come to an easy alliance/friendship with the vampire. They looked out for each other and had saved each other's lives more than once. It helped that he was a vampire and not some useless human. She couldn't imagine patrolling with Alexander if he was just a regular guy. She was a slayer not some babysitter. The three of them, Giles, Alexander, and herself formed a team that she had gotten used to. It was a far cry from her life as a true-blue Bostonian, where she swam in quarries as a kid or boosting cars for joyrides on hot summer days to drive down Interstate 93.

Now some newcomers were threatening it.

"Look we can't do this on our own," Alexander sighed. "And if we want to blow this whole thing open and end this. Then we need some fire power which they can provide."

"Guess they can provide us with some human shields," Faith suggested, and Alexander snorted at the remark. Same old Faith.

"We don't have to trust them simply work with them," Alexander explained. Faith sighed but nodding agreeing and the pair turned around reluctantly heading back to Giles's apartment.

XXXXXX

1997

The Master smiled as he looked down at the helpless man brought before him. He was going to enjoy this. For too long now this one had been causing mischief and killing members of his ranks but now it would seem his luck had run out. "We meet face to face again… Angelus," the Master said. At the mention of his name Angel looked up at the pure white vampire before him just as smug and as proud as he recalled from their meeting all those years ago. The Master smiled at Angel knowing full well the vampire wished he was dead but alas he could do little to cause that given he was being held down by three of his minions with plenty more in the room… expect one. "Where is Luke?" The Master asked looking around for his most loyal follower.

"He killed Luke my lord," Willow whispered looking at Angel who was being held tightly by Xander and another two vampires. Luke was so powerful, stronger, and more agile than other vampires due to his advanced age so for Angel to manage to take him down before they overpowered him said something. Willow was very intrigued by him.

"We have him now my Master," Darla chose this moment to speak up. "He can be your right hand in this new world. A weapon. Your loyal servant." She said looking at Angel with eyes full of hope.

"Really?" The Master's voice was laced with scepticism. "You think you can bring him back into our fold?" He asked turning to Darla.

"Yes, my lord," Darla looking at Angel with grand designs. She would have him, and he would be hers. He would return to her. The great Angelus, her one true love. They would rule this world together. Always and together. They would see the world again. Experience all its pleasures and rewards just as they had done before.

Sensing her genuine love for Angelus and seeing the hope in her eyes the Master roared and backhanded Darla who cried out and fell to the ground. "Foolish child even now after all these years you want him back! This one who spoke so poorly to me those centuries ago! You have been blinded by love for far too long!" The Master roared as he stalked over to Darla who held her face where the elder vampire had struck her. Her cheek already swollen from such a powerful blow and spreading over her face. "I have grown tired of your laziness and obsession with disabled creature before me!"

The Master hit Darla again and she went flying into a wall. Angel couldn't help but push against his handlers seeing his sire be struck as despite all their history he still cared for her. Alas he was powerless to save her. The Master gripped Darla's blond hair roughly causing her to cry out. He had always been fond of Darla's ruthlessness and unpredictability, causing destruction and leaving countless death in her wake but this had gotten out of hand. "You have long been spoilt by my indulgence little girl but no more!" He dragged the woman across the floor as Darla cried out arms flailing around but no one dared go against the Master. The elder vampire held out his hand and one of his many servants handed him a stake. Raising the woman to her feet and looking directly at Angel who could do nothing. "Never forget you did this!" The Master told Angel and with that he pushed the stake into Darla's heart.

Her eyes went wide and all she could was to stare at Angel who stared back. They say sometimes life can just slow down and moments can drag on forever. That is what it was like for Angel watching Darla turn to dust little by little. She slowly crumbled into ash before his very eyes. He lowered his head at the fact that he was now truly alone here surrounded by those who want nothing more than to kill him. "Do it," Angel muttered knowing full well that the Master was holding the stake.

"No," came the Master's reply.

"Do it!" Angel called out in anger. "We both know you want to!"

"Oh yes it would please me to no end than to rid the world of you," The Master moved close to Angel talking in his head. "But I won't because it's what you want. It's what you desire. Death a way of escaping from the pain." Rising up the Master tossed away the stake. "Oh no I condemn you Angelus… to live," the Master smiled at him. "So that your thirst for revenge, your desire for death, your eternal suffering… will consume you!" His grotesque face was full of delight before it twisted into rage and with that the Master back handed Angelus leading to the vampire to fall to ground unconscious.

XXXXXXXXX

Present Day

"Here," Alexander pointed to the city plans of the factory on the table. "This is the best way in. It won't be so guarded as the other entrances."

"It's a long way from that entrance to the centre of the factory where you think the Master will be," Riley said leaning over Alexander and taking a good look at where the vampire hand pointed to.

"And it's awfully tight in there," Mason another soldier who sported a rather nasty looking cut on the side of his face spoke up eyeing Alexander with suspicion and hatred. "Good place to get stuck or even trap us," he said while sharpening a knife rather suggestively towards the vampire.

"Yeah, well that is why it won't be as heavily guarded as the other entrances," Alexander explained while rolling his eyes. These was really annoying. "Look if you want to go and knock on the front door then be my guest. I don't want to get trapped any more than you, so how about you get off my back okay?" Mason looked like he was about to say more but a look and a shake of the head from Riley stopped him, and the soldier went back to checking and cleaning his weapons.

"Can't your magic not get us inside the factory?" Faith asked Giles hopefully. "Or at least draw old bat face out into the open away from his followers?" She had seen the British man do some incredible things simply by waving his hands.

"For the thousand time no," Giles replied slightly frustrated at the girl. "Teleportation spells are very difficult to master and understanding of the black arts and require a great deal of energy. Anything could go wrong. One could end up in another country or worse inside a wall or worse still one's body could end up in several different places." Faith nodded and tried not to picture it.

"Magic," Riley muttered darkly shaking his head. "You people relay way too much on that stuff."

"It is simply a weapon in our arsenal agent Finn," Giles replied whilst he checked one of his books.

"Yeah, well so is this," Riley declared holding up a rather large machine gun. Faith couldn't help but look at it with a certain awe, it looked very deadly.

"Nice gun GI JOE but bullets don't kill vampires," Alexander replied unimpressed at Riley's showing off and at Faith's interest in the gun.

"Yeah, but they hurt like hell even if you are a bloodsucker," Riley fired back at the vampire and Faith rolled her eyes at the macho display in front of her. Boys will be boys. Riley looked at Faith and seemed to size her up before picking up a handgun and offering it to her. "Here take this."

Faith held the lightweight handgun admiring the cool feel of the metal in her hands. "You mean I really, finally gonna get to shoot someone?" she asked Riley almost grinning at the prospect.

"Say that with a bit less awe, oh violent one," Alexander said in the background not really liking what he was seeing between Riley and Faith. He felt… jealous which was an uncomfortable feeling at the best of times but now even worse. He and Faith were just friends, right? Just two soldiers in arms and yet there was this feeling inside of him. God, he needed to shake this off.

Glaring again Alexander, Riley turned back towards Faith. "It's just to give you an extra advantage. From what I have heard I understand that slayers have the luxury of swords, stakes, and other medieval weaponry because they are so strong, they can kill anything with them. But hey doesn't hurt to have a little extra back up. You probably won't need it that much anyway. I'm expecting the numbers to drop when we attack. Most of the vampires will no doubt head to the hills.

"What are you expecting the vampires to run?" Faith asked in disbelief.

"Most vampires talk big, growl but end up looking scared when they stare down a barrel of a gun," Riley replied somewhat smugly. "Trust me when the shooting starts, they will be running."

"Don't be so sure," Alexander warned the taller man. "Some of those vampires are devoted members of his order who have vowed to die at his command. They will protect him with their lives."

Riley looked back unimpressed with this statement. "Then they will die cause at the end of the day no vampire can roundhouse a bullet." He glared some more before walking away leaving Alexander and Faith to exchange a look. Riley moved away but found Rupert Giles blocking his way.

"It's very simple… You're not there for us and I mean all of us…" the former watcher said glancing in Alexander's direction. "Then we are not there for you." The military man sized up the older man before finally nodding.

XXXXXXXX

Present Day

The Master stood silent as he watched the chaos unfold in front of him. It would seem that Giles and the white hats including the slayer and that traitor Xander were feeling bold today. Attacking him in his own factory, a factory that had taken months to get back into production. The white hats had even brought guns to this battle: humans and their love for guns and to think they call his kind monsters?! One or two fired at him but well that is what his minions are there for, to be a used as shields. Now the battle raged on, and the Master took a good hard look at the slayer as she battled against members of his order judging her technique and style. She was a wild, killing machine… well no issue he had killed many of those in his time. Sparing a quick glance at the Watcher, the older man lifted his hands and the whole group of vampires that were nearly upon them were pressed backwards by a powerful but invisible force. Magic the Master looked on with disgust the watcher would pay for using it in his presence.

Faith wasted no time as soon as the vampires were alerted to their presence and sprang forward as soon as she was within reach. She tackled into the biggest, driving her stake into his chest as she did so. Round and round they went, vamps throwing themselves at her and being kicked, punched, and staked so fast they barely had time to look startled before they blew away. This was her kind of party. There were at least a hundred vamps in the factory, but they could only come at her in threes and fours and after she'd dusted the first five or six, they were a lot less enthusiastic.

Alexander dusted another vamp. He spun around, punched another in the gut but was tackled by a short black vampire with enough momentum that he was knocked off balance and fell backwards onto the floor. Struggling to push off the growling little bloodsucker Alexander grabbed him and staked him in the heart. He looked up saw Faith was now some distance away from him and got up keen to get back to where she was fighting. He had to get close to Faith again to watch her back. Nearby Riley had gotten off a few shots but, in the melee, had lost his machine gun and been forced to go to hand-to-hand techniques. He caught the sight of one of his men dead on the ground with some vampire feasting on his neck. The battle was not going well, there was simply too many followers for them to cope even the watcher with his magic was struggling to hold back the Master's numbers. Even he had to agree that he had been too cocky and underestimated the vampire's numbers.

Faith dropped kicked a vampire out of her way and then she saw him the Master right in front of her. The ugly bastard was standing there, waiting for her. Gritting her teeth and raising the wooden stake she was very aware of his followers backing away from her leaving it just him and her. "Are you serious?" She froze for a second nervous at how casual the Master sounded then she tightened her grip and moved forward for the kill. "Guess so," he sighed. She screamed and drove the stake down, hoping to paralyze him with fear for the instant she needed to plunge the stake into his undead heart. Instead, his hand shot up, and caught her wrist as she tried to drive the stake down. His grip was far stronger than she had imagined, and suddenly she found herself being tossed headfirst in the air. She crashed against the wall with a heavy thump, losing her stake in the process. She rolled and got to her feet quickly. He stood across from her, his deep red eyes staring at her with complete focus. "This is all you are?" The Master said taunting her. "It's been my experience that the slayer possessed great strength, but with you there is no real power."

Her response was to spring at him, unleashing a vicious combination of strikes that should have shattered his nose, snapped his femur, and crushed his lungs. He deflected every blow with an easy, smooth motion that looked almost lazy. He surged forward, slamming his elbow into her solar plexus. She staggered back, gasping for air.

Alexander had jumped onto a large wooden box for a better view to search for Faith. He kicked a vampire coming up to him in the chin, hard enough to snap his neck and send him tumbling into the others. He saw her struggling against the Master. Sheer rage roared through him when he saw her struggling. Mine! His demon roared inside him, but he knew it was no use. Even with a clear path in front of him he knew he would never get there in time. "Giles!" He called out desperate. "We need to get out of here!"

The older man grimaced as he fired an energy bolt at a vampire who had been far too close for comfort. He looked in the direction that Alexander had called and saw how grim the situation was. There was no way any of them could get to Faith, but Giles would be damned if he was about to let this girl die. "Finn!" Giles yelled at the man next to him who had staked some female vampire. "Cover me!" Giles yelled and Riley reach around his back producing a small handgun and beginning to frantically fire at the vampires to warn them off as Giles dropped to the ground closing his eyes and beginning to cast a spell. He also prayed he could do this in time.

The Master continued to taunt Faith. "You are weak. You're nothing. You could not even defeat me," Faith is too freaked out to think straight as she lashed out at him with a wild backhanded blow. He caught her by the wrist and spun her violently towards him. Suddenly she was in his grip, his arm crushing her windpipe as he effectively immobilized her. Faith tried to gasp in pain and terror as his crushing grip tightened around her throat. She struggled to free herself, but he had her arms locked to her sides and she could find no leverage to escape. This was it; this was how she was going to die! She had been right all along. Coming here was a death sentence! Despite what Giles and Alexander said and promised she was going to die at the hands of this monster.

Alexander's eyes grew desperate as he saw Faith trapped in the Master's grip he jumped down crashing into a few vampires and swung a punch at the nearest one. He simply had to get to her. Giles moved his hand almost sketching an ancient design in thin air as he finished his spell and said the final words. The wind picked up in the room almost as if there was a hurricane busting in from outside. Windows shattered and vampires were thrown to the ground at the sheer force of the wind. Giles, Faith, Alexander, and Riley all seemed to turn to dust and be taken by the gusts of wind that had blown in. They were carried to safety by the storm and its gale. Almost as soon as it had started it was finished and the Master and his followers looked around startled.

"Teleportation," the Master muttered to himself. "Very smart," he said while looking at his hands. He had the slayer in his grasp. A few more moments and he would have killed her. The white hats were learning so it was time to consult some ancient texts and books. They had been a fly in his ear long enough and he would rid his world of them.

The strong violent winds travelled across the town finally landing in an open park. A dust cloud came, and figures were formed in the centre of the park. Alexander, Riley, Giles, and the slayer were formed from the dust hovering for a half-second in mid-air before plummeting to the grass. Muttering an painful sigh and breathing deeply Riley looked at Giles in shock. "What the hell was that?!" he asked in shock looking more than a little green like he was going to throw up any second.

"Teleportation spell," Giles muttered tiredly and in somewhat pain. It was a very dangerous and powerful spell that had required a lot of his energy.

"Magic?" Riley replied in disgust. These people depended too much on that stuff.

Noticing Riley's rejection and frustration at his answer Giles fired a shot. "It saved your life, didn't it?" He gritted his teeth as he felt like he had run a marathon twice over.

Alexander ignored the pair as he turned to where Faith lay, and he shifted back in shock. "Giles!" He yelled and the watcher and the soldier both turned to look at what Alexander was staring at. There instead of Faith was a small blonde girl looking around disoriented.

"What the hell?" Buffy Summers said looking around confused as to where she was.

XXXXXX

The strong violent winds travelled across the town finally landing in an open park. A dust cloud came, and a lone figure were formed in the centre of the park. Faith vampire the slayer was formed from the dust hovering for a half-second in mid-air before plummeting to the grass. "Fuck!" she moaned painfully as she landed headfirst in some grass. Rubbing her neck where the Master had gripped her so tightly, she rolled over about to give Alexander a piece of her mind for leaving her at the hands of the Master but instead she saw no one. "Giles? Riley? Alexander?" She called out but there was no one she was on her own.

Where were they and where was she now?