Original of the Species 2B: The Mayor and the Saiyan: Wilkins Chapter Fourteen, a Buffy: The Vampire Slayer + Dragon Ball Z Crossover fanfic

Chapter 14

'Graduation Day I - 'Until the End of the World'

AN: We're finally nearing the end of our little tour de force. It took me way longer then I had planned to get to this. I've wasted more time then I should, I've lost more time thanks to my new job. Things changed progressively from what I had originally planned. But we're finally nearing the end. And to think this whole part was just supposed to be only filler until we got to the real thing, the Cell Games. Go figure, right?

Sunnydale.

He was back in fucking Sunnydale.

The scene of his crimes.

The scene of his failures.

The scene of his mistakes.

God how he hated the place.

The many vamps and demons that infested the place.

But above all the nauseating stench that was the Hellmouth.

The moment Belmovekk and Xander touched down in Sunnydale, Xander fell on his hands and knees and began to retch violently.

"Are you okay, young man?" Belmovekk asked concerned. Xander held up a hand to signal he was doing okay. But then he retched again.

"I take it this is your first return after a prolonged absence?" Belmovekk asked, an amused grin on his face.

"It's been a while," Xander moaned after he had finished, "How can you stand it?"

The Hellmouth assaulted his every senses with the gentle care of a serial rapist. He practically had to shut down his chi sense completely lest he threw up the remainder of his stomach's content.

"Tis but a bad smell," Belmovekk shrugged, "you will get used to it."

He was downplaying it of course. It had taken him most of a year to be able to ignore noticing the Hellmouth after he returned from a prolonged absence. And after a particular prolonged absence he still felt ill at ease for a few hours. His conscience finally getting the better of him Belmovekk patted Xander on the back.

"It will pass, I promise. And if it is any comfort to you, young man, you are not the only one. And I have seen many people react worse."

"Not much of a consolation right now, Big Guy," Xander said as he wiped his mouth clean and got up. He felt still ill at ease, like something still wanted to get out of the wrong exit. But he felt confident enough that by now the worst was behind him.

As he finally felt he could stop concentrating on his innards and start looking around he saw three soldiers staring at him.

"You've landed us in the army base?" Xander said accusingly towards Belmovekk. Who shrugged and then turned to the soldiers.

"Tell the commanders I have returned," he said. One of the soldiers saluted and he walked away.

"Do you need help, sir?" one of the other soldiers asked Xander, but Xander shook his head.

"No thanks," he said wearily.

"That will be all, soldiers," Belmovekk said and gestured for the other two to leave. They saluted and did as they were told.

"Some big changes took place in the time I was gone," Xander said as he stared after the two soldiers dressed in blue uniform, "since when did the army base become your personal fiefdom?"

"When the US Air Force took over the place," the Saiyan said and took Xander by the shoulder, "Come, I will take you to the house of healing. We must not deprive the good doctor of an opportunity to examine you."

"Why?" Xander asked as he let himself be taken by the Saiyan, "I told you already, Shimrod gave me a senzu, I am fine."

"It is not the senzu that I doubt," Belmovekk said as they walked up to the base's infirmary, "it's that magician's other conclusion that I wish to verify."

The base infirmary was staffed by a single older but still very attractive red haired woman. Judging from the look of exasperation she shot at Belmovekk as soon as he got in Xander could judge that by now she probably knew him better then she cared for. That look quickly changed as she saw the Saiyan brought in someone she didn't recognize. That look quickly returned once she learned what it was he wanted of her.

"A full genetic examination?" she yelped, her voice going up an octave, "You've got to be kidding!"

"Why is it that you always assume I am in jest, good doctor?" Belmovekk said with an injured look on his face, "Do you not do such work on a regular basis for Warleader Hammond?"

Doctor Janet Frasier gestured around her infirmary, which was anything but state of the art.

"Have you seen this place?" she said agitated, "The Pentagon may have put a new notice on the base gate saying it's now an Air Force base, it's still the same basic 'good for mending broken bones only' army infirmary it used to be. I can't do a full genetic examination in here, even if I wanted too."

Belmovekk gave her an odd look.

"Did you not genetically examine that sample I gave you a month ago?" he asked her deadpan, "nor do you not always take records of everybody participating in the program?"

She threw her hands up in despair in response.

"We were still at Vandenberg at the time," she said dejected, "as you may have noticed this place isn't quite the same. As for my notes, they're for when I get back to the SGC "

Belmovekk looked at her pensively, then at Xander who had watched the proceedings with thinly veiled amusement, and then back at Doctor Frasier.

"Then take whatever data you can collect on him," he finally said, "and send me a report once you are able to do something with that data."

"That I can do," Janet sighed and opened a drawer to take out a pair of rubber gloves. But before she could them on, Belmovekk stopped her.

"Until you return to the service of Warleader Hammond you are still sworn to me," he said dead serious, "as your warleader I order you that this examination and its results be kept a secret from Warleader Hammond, those under his command and to his superiors. It should be known only to me and you."

"Fine," she said as she pulled her shoulder free, "I do know how to take orders, sir."

The word sir came out somewhat vitriolic.

"Now if you excuse me, I have an examination to attend too," she said gesturing for Xander to take a seat on the dreaded examination bench, "and after that I tend in my resignation."

Belmovekk was taken aback by that little bombshell.

"I am sorry to hear that, Doctor Frasier," he said crestfallen, "Please do not think I had it in for you. I do value your hard work, Doctor Frasier. And I did enjoy our arguments as well. You never backed away from your opinion, which is a quality I value in my subordinates."

"Oh, while you will give me grey hair before my time it's got nothing to do with you," Janet replied, "I just received a call from the SGC. SG1 just returned and one of them is sick."

She suddenly stopped with what she was doing and looked away, unable to speak for a moment.

"It's Daniel," she said, her voice choking, "he's received a massive doses of radiation. He's dying."

Doctor Frasier gave Xander the full physical, then she entered her data on her laptop, stowed away the last of her samples and said a hurried goodbye. It wasn't the most comfortable exam Xander had had. It was obvious that on the one hand she was worried about her dying friend, which was understandable. On the other hand some of her less then gentle bedside ministrations seemed to stem from a barely contained annoyance with Belmovekk, who watched the whole proceedings with detached interest. Especially when she had Xander lower his pants and reveal his four inch long tail. As she held a ruler to his tail while the Saiyan watched on Xander felt like he could sink through the floor in shame.

Grateful once it finally was over Belmovekk and Frasier left him to his own devices so he could get dressed again. Once he was finished he left the base infirmary and stepped outside. Only to be greeted by two men wearing black wooly hats. They both bowed slightly as they looked at him with reverence. While one was colored, the other more Caucasian looking.

"Are you he who is known as 'the Xandman'?" the longest of the two asked in a tone like he was addressing Tom Cruise or something.

Oops.

Xander sucked in some air and bit his lip. Now it all made sense. The formal stance, the out of town feel, the wooly hats. To bad his senses were still overwhelmed by the Hellmouth or he could have sensed they were different as well.

"Lemme guess," he said, "you're friends of Murray, right?"

Even though he was Army to the bone and the Chair Force sucked ass, in many ways Riley preferred the more primitive surroundings he had enjoyed of Vandenberg AFB over the Sunnydale army base. Okay, ex-army base by now, but besides a new sign and different uniforms the place was still army through and through. But for what they were doing Vandenberg offered excellent training grounds and few distractions. That is if they weren't pulled on some crazy hunt for some killer robot. Whereas Sunnydale offered few training grounds and infinite distractions. Not the least of which was the base bar.

It surprised Riley greatly to learn that a relatively small base like Sunnydale had such a large recreational facility. The bar was large and well stocked and even had regular stripper nights, with exotic dancers being brought in. It was like they didn't want the troops to leave the base and go into town for entertainment themselves. And now that he knew the truth Riley understood why. It was built right next to a dimensional gate to various hell dimensions.

Their teacher had explained this to them when he had brought them here from Vandenberg. Or better yet, he had brought in a middle aged high school librarian of English origin to give them the facts of life. The truths this Rupert Giles had revealed to them were earth shattering, if it weren't for the facts of life chat that the Air Force had given him previously about aliens being real. After you had one life shattering epiphany, the next one doesn't seem so earth shattering any more. Aliens, demons, what's the difference really?

It was only then that Riley finally understood the importance of the oath he had given to Belmovekk, to his Satiya. That sneaky bastard! He thought the oath was just meant so Belmovekk would remain secret, his knowledge and skills only for the initiated. All the while he was covering things up even the Air Force didn't know and using them as his own little private army if need be. No wonder he had handpicked everybody while placing overpowering emphasis on loyalty first. Balls of Saiyan steel indeed!

But for now Belmovekk wasn't really on Riley's mind. As he nursed a beer in the base bar he was more focused on somebody else. Their most recent arrival, one Xander Harris. Their glorious leader had left for the moment, offering to take their doctor back to the SGC. Apparently there was an emergency there, a friend in need. Her sudden absence had caused quite a stir in their little group. Not only had she been with them from day one, looking out for them when their glorious teacher was running them into the ground and then some, she was also quite the looker and the only woman in the group. So naturally a few crushes had developed. Even now Riley could see a few of those crushed souls nursing their drinks.

But none so much as this Xander Harris.

Riley had heard stories of this Xander from some of the Jaffa. Apparently he had made quite an impression on Teal'c, the free Jaffa hero. Teal'c had already left their group, with duty calling him back to the SGC, but not before expressing his regret that he would miss his opportunity to see the one he called 'the Xandman'.

'The Xandman' always came across as a very annoying cocky guy in Teal'c stories, but either Teal'c had embroidered his story, or something terrible had happened to him, because Xander Harris looked anything but cocky. Broody was more like it.

Riley didn't like broody. He'd rather have cocky then broody. While cocky guys were annoying in many ways, they also had the self confidence to pull off things and rally the troops. Whereas broody guys tended to over think things, tended to think of things that couldn't be changed and be given over to self doubt. And out of all the people on the base, this broody self-absorbed Xander Harris had been put in charge as his deputy by Belmovekk.

Still, for now he would follow the orders of his Satiya. Belmovekk was erratic, not prone to explain his actions, but the guy knew how to teach. With many of his strange actions, absurd behavior and seeming whims paying off later in the training program. As long as his absence was short he would suffer this newcomer. But make no mistake, if he felt that the group was in danger from ineffectual leadership he would step in and take over. He knew his fellow Jaffa suffered from awestruck hero worship when it came to their Satiya, Riley Finn was still above all a soldier. And soldiers were members of a team, not individual warriors.

"So, what do you think, sir?" a voice asked beside. Riley didn't have to look around to know it was Sergeant Burns, a trusted and decorated fellow army puke from 10th Mountain that had more or less become his right hand man in the human group.

"Wait and see, sarge," Riley replied without taking his eyes off of Xander, "Wait and see."

"I don't like him, sir," Burns said back, "Snakeheads seem smitten by him but I don't like him. He's a civvie."

"Now now, sarge," Riley said, for the first time glancing at Burns, "you know the rules. Can't question the word of God. And stop calling the Jaffa Snakeheads."

"All in good fun, sir, all in good fun," Burns said grinning, "I'm sure they call us something behind our backs as well."

"Tau'ri weaklings, like they always do?" Riley said as he took a swig from his beer bottle.

"I'm pretty sure they reserve that for when they know we can hear them," Burns said deadpan, "the real insults they save for their own language."

"Then I'll guess we'll never know," Riley chuckled.

"Oh, don't be so sure about that, sir," Burns said smirking, "I know this Free Jaffa who has developed a taste for bourbon. I've got this bottle stashed away that I'm saving and on our last day I'll introduce him to it and then he'll sing like a bird. Mark my words."

The doors to the bar opened and Belmovekk stepped in, back from the SGC.

"Look at him," Burns said in a mixture of awe and disgust, "the bugger went to Colorado Springs and back again and he's not even sweating."

"You're just jealous," Riley said as he patted the good sergeant on his back, then he hopped off his bar stool, "time to hear what fun God has in store for us now."

Riley walked up to Belmovekk and wanted to say something but the Saiyan waved dismissively.

"Later, commander," he said as walked past Riley and went straight to Xander. He whispered something in the teen's ear, then the both of them left, leaving behind a dumbstruck Riley.

"It shows you your place in the greater scheme of things, doesn't it, sir?" Burns said amused.

It was fast approaching midnight when with dreaded heart Xander touched down on the front lawn of 1630 Revello Drive, just after Belmovekk. Seeing that the teen was a little apprehensive Belmovekk turned around and gestured Xander to come in.

"Come," he said comfortingly, "they will be pleased to see your return."

"Will they?" Xander said apprehensively, "I did walk out on them. Left them when they needed me."

Belmovekk shrugged.

"You had your own path to follow. Just like Buffy had to follow hers after she had to kill Angel. Space and time are curved however so eventually you return back to where you started. What matters is that you are back again to help your friends."

"They have you," Xander said pointing to the Saiyan, "And if the shit really hits the fan you could always call in Goku and his merry band. What can I offer?"

Belmovekk walked over to Xander and took him by the shoulder.

"Words of comfort? A jest that lifts the spirit? An ear that listens? A shoulder to cry on? You are part of this group, my young friend, and most certainly not the least. You are the heart, my young friend, and what is a body without its heart?"

Then the Saiyan gently pushed Xander towards the door and one step at a time Xander began walking . As he stepped onto the porch it was like he stepped through what felt like an invisible membrane.

"What the…." Xander exclaimed in surprise.

"A precaution," Belmovekk said behind him, "sometimes the walls have ears. Especially in this town. Wilkins is not to be trifled with."

The walk to the door, those few steps, felt like the longest walk to Xander's life. Next came the longest second as Belmovekk pulled out a set of keys and opened the door. Then he gestured for Xander to walk inside. Xander took a deep swallow and then made his body move again.

Inside the place looked just like he remembered it, the stairs that went up, to the right the dining room, to the left the living room.

"Home sweet hell," he mumbled softly, then he turned to the left and walked into the living room, where he found Willow and Oz lying together on the floor in a pair of sleeping bags. As he walked in they looked up in surprise. Well, Willow's eyes looked huge, Oz, merely raised an eyebrow.

"Hi, honey, I'm home," Xander said as he put his sword and large carrier bag down.

"XANDER! OHMIGODYOURBACK! HISISSOCOOLWEVEMISSEDYOUMUCH!"

She didn't even bother to get out of the sleeping bag, Willow just jumped up, sleeping bag and all, hopping over towards Xander to fall around his neck.

"We missed you, Xan," Willow said, crying in his neck, then she whispered softly, "I missed you."

For a moment Xander didn't know what to do, as this wasn't what he had been expecting. Then his body reacted for him and he put his arms around Willow. As he held the weeping girl he looked sheepishly at Oz, who had unzipped himself from his sleeping bag and gave him a cool grin.

"Ditto," was all Oz said.

"Xander, is that you?" another voice said, coming from the dining room. Then Giles and Angel walked into the living room. Upon seeing Xander even Giles began to smile from ear to ear.

"Good God, Xander, it is you," Giles said, with just a hint of an audible choke in his voice.

"Good to see you too, G-man," Xander said, giving Giles a smile in return. Meanwhile Angel folded his arms across his chest and shook his head in dejection.

"Aw crap, there goes the neighborhood," Angel said disapprovingly. Xander didn't care and winked at the souled vampire.

"Your feelings betray you, old man," Xander replied in his best Darth Vader impression. Angel sighed deeply in response.

"Great," he muttered as he rolled his eyes, "the walking Star Wars encyclopedia is back."

"You're just jealous," Xander winked.

The next to come greet him was Joyce, carrying little Dawnie, and Xander readily greeted the woman whom he considered his real mother above his own.

"Why didn't you call?" she asked, both accusingly and relieved, "Would it have killed you to just pick up the phone and tell us you were alright?"

Before Xander could reply little Dawnie, looking quite angry herself, reached out with her small arm and hit Xander on the arm. To his surprise it actually hurt like hell and he almost buckled as he winced in pain.

"Aaahh," Xander groaned as he reached for his arm.

"See," Joyce continued, "even Dawnie disapproves."

"Don't tell me you're letting a toddler slap you around, Harris," Angel said teasingly and Xander shot him an angry look as he rubbed his injured arm.

"She hits harder then you, crypt fiend. That would make, let's see, even toddlers stronger then your weak centuries old ass by now."

"Are you two done comparing your penis size?" Oz interjected calmly. Xander shrugged.

"As far as him's concerned it's veni, vidi, vici a long time ago," Xander said and looked around, "so, where's the Buffster?"

"She's upstairs, Xan," Willow said, "she won't come down. Not since…."

"….not since Faith tore her a new one," Xander said, completing the sentence, "I heard, the Big Guy filled me on what happened."

"I wouldn't put it that bluntly but that's basically what happened," Oz said, with just a hint of smugness thrown in for good measure. Willow shot him a quick glance, but he just stood there like he had not a care in the world.

"it would seem many interesting things have happened here," Xander said as he noticed the quick interaction between the two.

"I imagine you could tell some interesting tales yourself," Giles said in reply. Xander nodded.

"I can but I won't," he said and pointed towards Belmovekk standing by the front door, "I'll leave that to him. I'll only tell my story to one person. And she's not here. Now if you excuse me, I have to go see her."

Xander walked past the group back to the hallway, past Belmovekk who gave him an encouraging pat on his shoulder and then up the stairs as the group watched him leave.

"Something's wrong," Angel said somewhat concerned, "this is not the Xander I knew. Did you hear those insults? His heart just wasn't in them."

All eyes turned to Belmovekk.

"Belmo, what happened to him?" Willow asked worried. The Saiyan looked aside to avoid their gazes and scratched the back of his head.

"Pfff," he sighed lost for words, "where to start?"

Above Xander stood in front of the door to Buffy's bedroom, his hand hovering above the door handle. Two times already he had tried to open the door and each time he had withdrawn his hand.

"This is nuts," he said disapprovingly to himself, "it's just a friggin' door for god sakes!"

Xander put his hand on the door handle and tried to open it. And then withdrew his hand again and turned around.

"Why are you such a wuss?" he said again disapprovingly to himself as he began to pace, "It's just Buffy."

But she's not just Buffy, a little voice filled with self-doubt said, she's the spitting image of the girl that left you and is even now boning Bizarro Big Guy in Bizarro-World. A girl for which you traveled through hell and back.

"Shut up!" Xander said angrily, "Buffy's nothing like her. Whatever happened between me and her has nothing to do with Buffy."

Then why so apprehensive?

"I don't know," Xander said, pacing back and fro between the stairs and a meter from Buffy's bedroom door, "it's just….."

… that you abandoned her when she needed you the most? That because you weren't there Faith crossed over to the Dark Side? That you weren't there for them both? That you walked out on your friends on some wild goose chase for somebody who clearly wasted no time shacking up with somebody else?

"Shut up!" Xander said angry, only barely refraining from punching through a wall, "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut …."

"You do realize talking to yourself ain't a good sign, but arguing with yourself, that's a sure sign of the Creepy," a voice said behind Xander.

It was Buffy, standing in her PJ's in the door opening. She looked unkempt, her long blonde hair a mess, no make up.

And yet somehow, to a Xander who had chased a similar image for months, she looked beautiful.

"I, uh," Xander stammered lost for words.

"It's okay," Buffy said and beckoned him to follow her back into her room, "I guess we'll both not be gracing the cover of Sanity Fair any time soon."

Feeling like a dick Xander followed her inside and closed the door behind him.

"Welcome to my little Denial-Land," Buffy said as she gestured around her room, "the view is crappy, the food's whatever Mom brings in, the bathroom's around the corner and no matter how much you try once the Twins wake up there's no ignoring them. But everything else I can pretty much ignore in here."

"With enough denial any time becomes me time," Xander chuckled softly.

"Exactly," Buffy said as she fluffed the pillow on her bed and sat down on her bed, sitting up straight with her back against the wall, "So, why did it take you so long to come?"

Xander scratched the back of his head.

"I, uh, I…it's a long story," he said hesitantly, "I was sorta…. off planet."

Buffy raised an eyebrow and gave him a frowning look, one that the other Buffy had done so often it sent a shiver of pain down his back.

"Firstly, sit," she said and patted her bed, "I don't bite. Secondly, I'm not talking about your travels down the gold brick road. I'm talking about you being in town for most of the day and only now finally coming here."

"You… you knew?" Xander stammered flabbergasted, upon which she shook her head frowning.

"Have you forgotten, silly?" she said tapping her forehead, "you taught me, remember?"

Xander balled one hand into a fist in front of his head and then thumped his head on it.

"Chi sense," he said thumping, "I should have known."

"Granted, it's not as good here in Sunnydale thanks to the Hellmouth but still," Buffy shrugged, "I could still sense you and Belmo coming in."

Xander sat down on her bed near her feet and then let himself fall backwards until he looked up at the ceiling.

"For somebody in denial you still keep a big eye on what's going on outside," he sighed.

"Well, it's not like the both of you are that hard to miss," Buffy replied, "so what kept you?"

"I was, uh, detained," Xander said, "the Big Guy had me take the anal probe at the army base."

"Ah," Buffy nodded, "Belmo and his little toy soldiers."

Xander turned his head towards Buffy's.

"Did you see them?"

"Nah," she said shaking her head, "he brought them in afterwards."

Xander now turned his whole body so he could face her.

"I take it afterwards refers to your asskicking by Faith," he said, suppressing an urge to grin. In response Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"You heard about it?" she asked.

"Well, if you keep holed up inside here, is it any surprise I get to hear everything before you?" Xander smiled.

Buffy nodded and looked away.

"Did he gloat?" she asked.

"Who?" Xander asked surprised.

"Oz," Buffy replied, her gaze fixing on Xander again, "did he gloat? I could see it in his eyes. The accusation, the gloating, the blame."

"I wouldn't go quite that far," Xander said and held up a hand with his thumb and index finger just millimeters away from each other, "he managed to contain it to the bare minimum."

"I see," Buffy said sullenly, then she looked away again, out of the window, "not that he's not right though. They all think that I hide here because Faith kicked my ass and I can't cope with that."

She stopped talking and bit her lip. Xander gave her a moment before speaking.

"But you're not hiding in here because Faith tore you a new one, did you Buff," he finally said.

She nodded.

"You always knew me better then anyone else, Xan," she said, "It's like you have this gift to see through everything."

"I wouldn't go that far," Xander said disparagingly about himself, "after all, Ferucca had me fooled quite well."

"Who's Ferucca?" Buffy asked, but Xander waved dismissively.

"Crazy Saiyan chick," he said. Then he stood up and walked to her closet, opened it and began to pull out clothes which he threw towards her on the bed.

"What are you doing, Xan?" she asked surprised.

"We both have guilty consciousness, Buff" Xander said as he stopped throwing clothes on her bed and began to look for shoes, "and they weigh heavy on our minds. So get dressed, we're going."

"What the hell do you think we're going?" Buffy protested incredulously, "I'm not going anywhere!"

"How on Earth can you walk in these?," Xander said as he briefly examined a pair of high heels, then he spotted a pair of sensible trainers, "Ah, these are better. A guilty consciousness is a funny thing, Buff. It turns us into our friendly neighborhood crypt fiend downstairs. And I for one don't relish the both us sharing broodfest 2000 up here. So we are going to do the smart thing instead."

Xander threw the trainers on Buffy's bed and then turned towards Buffy.

"I'm not going to be like Angel. Hell, Buff, we're not going to be like Angel. We're not going to sit and brood for a century doing nothing while Rome burns around us. We're going to go to the Gravity Gym and do something constructive with our guilt. I don't know about you Buff, but I haven't had a good spar in a long, long time."

Buffy looked at Xander incredulously, then the clothes strewn across her bed, then towards her door.

"I don't want to go outside," she finally said, "not past them. Not as they look at me. Judging me."

"Who says anything about leaving through the front door?" Xander grinned and pointed to her window, "I thought you were intimately familiar with your preferred way of sneaking about?"

Buffy again looked at Xander incredulously, then at the clothes on her bed. Then to her surprise she found herself reaching for a pair of trousers.

"Ahum," she coughed, then made a circling around gesture with her hand, "some privacy please?"

"No need to be prudish, Buff," Xander said as he turned around, "nothing I've seen before a thousand times already."

"I bet you and her did," Buffy snorted unimpressed., "but I'm not her so you keep looking at that wall, mister!"

"I'm looking at it right now, aren't I?" Xander protested.

"I can't believe you're talking me into this," Buffy muttered as she started to get dressed, "All the others fail yet you talk me out of my room in no time. How come? Curse you and your evil debating skills, Xander!"

"You're like me now, Buff," Xander replied, "the others may think you did nothing wrong, but we know better. We both did terrible things. Things that keep us awake at night. We both have to live with the consequences of our actions, so I'm not here to sugarcoat things for you. Because of you Faith betrayed us. It's that simple."

Buffy stopped dressing and bit her lip. She wanted to say something but before she could Xander continued.

"You're lucky though in one respect," he said, with so much regret it made Buffy apprehensive.

"What's that?"

"At least unlike me your mistake can still be fixed."

As Belmovekk told Xander's story to an increasingly horrified audience Oz suddenly looked upwards, then outside.

"The poor guy," Joyce sat horrified sitting next to the Saiyan. Even Angel standing in the opening to the hallway didn't say anything as Belmovekk continued. Still looking outside Oz did want to say something when he felt Willow squeeze his hand and take hold of his arm with her other hand. Squeezing back Willow took that as her cue to put her head on his shoulder. Upon which Oz shrugged mentally. Whatever he had to say could wait. After all, by now he had a pretty good idea where they were going.

It had been a long time since Xander stepped in the gravity gym. Yet nothing seemed to have changed as Buffy switched on the lights.

"Meow?"

As the lights went on Max the cat became visible perched on top of Darth Vader, the black training dummy.

"Yup, nothing has changed here," Xander sighed as he took stock of the gravity gym.

"Meow," the cat mewed, then she jumped off Darth Vader, stretched herself, then walked up towards Xander and rubbed its head and shoulders along his legs, all the while purring loudly.

"Someone's glad to see you," Buffy smiled as she saw Max greet Xander

"I seem to have that effect on women," Xander smiled as he scratched the cat behind its ears, much to its delight.

"You wish," Buffy snorted as she reached out and took the cat in her hands, "I know a certain girl, her names beginning with a C, who thinks otherwise. Come on Max, you know the drill."

"Meow!" the cat protested as Buffy dumped her outside the gravity gym, then quickly closed the door before she could slip inside again.

"Oh God," Xander moaned as Buffy engaged the gym's safeties, "Cordelia. Don't tell me she's still angry with me."

"You'd wish," Buffy chuckled as she activated the gym's power, "you know Cordelia. She makes the Godfather look kind and forgiving. And he killed his own brother Fredo, remember?"

"I'm doomed!" Xander moaned as gravity pressure began to take hold of him.

"You'll live," Buffy said unsympathetic to Xander's plight, "after all, she's just a girl while you're now stronger then me. At least, that was before you left."

Xander stopped moaning, then he began to grin and walked backwards to the other side of the gym.

"Well, let's find out, shall we?" he grinned and began to raise his power.

Buffy walked backwards to the other side and began to raise her power as well.

"I have to warn you though, I've been training my ass off before it happened."

"And what a shapely ass it is, Buff," Xander smirked, "now show me what you got, I hu…."

Buffy stopped what she was doing and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"So help me that nosey green God, Xander, if you're going to say I hunger for a true challenge one more time then Cordelia's going to be the least of your problems."

"Had fun?"

As Xander left the gravity gym he found Oz and Angel waiting there, with Oz greeting him in his usual stoic idiom.

"Yeah, I did actually," Xander smiled, wiping the sweat of his face, "we fought, we talked and then we fought some more. We had fun."

"Fun?" Angel yelped, his voice going up an octave, "We were watching through the window. You wiped the floor with her."

Xander shrugged and smiled some more.

"Yeah, it turns out I'm still stronger," he said casually, then his smile turned into a smirk, "but she'll get there. She's made great progress. I think she's way past the 10.000."

"14.326 actually," Oz said casually as he used the scouter that was in his left hand to tap against his leg.

"Whatever," Xander shrugged again, "I stopped keeping tabs long ago. It's just numbers."

"You clocked somewhere around 21.000 yourself," Oz said stoically.

"Just numbers," Xander waved dismissively. Then something hard hit him on the back of the head.

WHACK!

"AUW!" Xander yelped and turned around to face a beaten up but irate Buffy .

"Xander, you backstabbin' bastard!" she yelled angry, "if you could have beaten me up any time, then why did you hold back!"

Xander rubbed the back of his head.

"Excuse me for thinking the object of a spar was not for the stronger to just use the weakest as a punching bag."

Oh, only if looks could kill right there and there. Then Buffy turned around and ran fuming up the stairs to Belmovekk's old apartment.

"AAAAAHHHHH," Buffy yelled frustrated as she stamped her feet up the stairs.

"Hear, hear," Oz said smug as he watched Buffy disappear. Then Angel turned to Xander.

"Harris, you idiot!" he said holding up his hands in exasperation, "Did they kill your last brain cell in that Tanjecterly place? Whatever happened to subtle?"

"Xander and subtle?" Oz sniggered. Angel wanted to retort but changed his mind at the last moment. Instead he walked towards the stairs.

"I don't know if I should hurt you or thank you, Harris," he said over his shoulder, "but at least you got her out of her room. And for that at least you have my gratitude."

Oz and Xander watched Angel disappear into Belmovekk's old apartment.

"And there he goes again," Oz said shaking his head in disapproval, "and he still claims he's going to leave Sunnydale after its all over."

Xander wanted to say something, then he looked at Oz in shock.

"The crypt fiend's leaving town?" he asked surprised.

"Yeah," Oz shrugged, "said something about maybe it was time for the both of them to realize it was over. And that leaving town would be the best for them."

"Well I'll be damned," Xander said shaking his head, "and they say there are no more miracles left in this world."

Oz leaned over conspiratorially.

"To be honest Will thinks it's because Angel thinks they've become way to chummy again and he fears one careless moment would return the bogeyman again."

Xander looked back at Oz eyes wide open.

"And they say there are no more miracles left in this world," he muttered, then he looked upstairs, "poor Buffy."

Oz snorted.

"Pfff, as far as I'm concerned she got what she's got co…." he said then Xander grabbed him by his ear, "Auw!"

"Alright, that does it," Xander said as he dragged Oz into the gravity gym and closed the door behind him, "no wonder she hid in her room for all that time. I've had it with you and your smug self-satisfaction."

"What's gotten into you?" Oz yelped as Xander released him and he put his hand to his ear, "Oh God, please don't tell me you've gotten back to being her knight in shining armor again?"

"No, not her knight," Xander said shaking his head, "I leave that to our crypt fiend upstairs. But she needs a friend. Now more then ever."

"And what about Faith?" Oz yelled angry as he pointed towards where city hall was, "Where were her friends when they all turned on her? Where were you?

"Faith made her own choice," Xander said offhand, "No matter how crap she was treated by Buffy, and believe me, she knows! Or did you think she hid in her room just because somebody wiped the floor with her? She's Buffy. You kick the living shit out of her and let her live, she'll come back to make you regret it! She's our Goku! But no matter how badly Buffy, or Willow or prince Charming were with Faith, nobody forced her to side with the local Dark Lord of the Sith."

"Are you kidding?" Oz exploded, "Do you have any idea how she was treated? Your precious Buffy treated her like shit. She should have looked out after her, not rag her all the time. And you? You were supposed to be look after her as well. But you left her. You left us all!"

Xander folded his arms across his chest.

"Oh, I know," he said slowly but calmly, "and if Faith and Buffy aren't bad enough for me there's a certain girl in El Paso whose far worse off then either of them thanks to me. You think you can throw blame at me, Daniel Osbourne? I have to live with consequences of far worse things for the rest of my life. There's nothing you can't say to me that I haven't said to myself already."

That shut Oz up. Xander unfolded his arms and put one arm on Oz's shoulder.

"Now the question you should be asking yourself is this, Oz. Do you want to be right or do you want to help fix things? We can either do the blame thing or we can end this madness."

Xander held out his other hand towards Oz.

"Nobody's talking about forgiving anybody but we should stop playing the blame game. I need you, Oz, Buffy needs you, we need you. But most importantly, Faith needs you. Please?"

Oz held out for so long that for one moment Xander feared he might not take it. But finally the young guitarist took his hand.

"Do you have a plan?" he asked as they shook hands.

"Of course I do," Xander grinned as he reached for the gravity gym door and opened it, "we go to the Doublemeat. I'm famished!"

"This is your brilliant plan? Enter City Hall in the middle of the night?"

Surprise and not a considerable amount of sarcasm tainted Oz's reaction as he, Xander, Buffy and Angel stood across the road from Sunnydale city hall. Xander finished his last Doublemeat special and threw the wrapper in one of the many waste bins that littered Sunnydale. He may be an evil Sith lord, but at least Wilkins was a tidy one.

"Yup," Xander said swallowing the last bit of burger.

"So you're just gonna waltz in there and have a chat with Faith?" Angel said incredulously. Xander nodded in response.

"Can't fix the problem unless I understand the problem first," he said resolutely, "and the problem's in there."

Then he turned towards Oz and looked questioningly.

"She is in there, right? I mean, this is Sunnydale and I'm still not quite used to the Hellmouth but I should be able to sense her, right?"

Oz shrugged.

"Dunno," he replied, "Will thinks it's a magical thing. And…."

"… and since Palpatine Wilkins is a Dark Lord of the Sith it doesn't take Perry Mason to get it," Xander said nodding.

"I… I'm not going in there," Buffy stammered as she took an involuntary step backwards. Just standing this close to the town hall was enough for her to become jittery.

"Can't run from your sins forever, Buff," Xander said without looking at the trembling Slayer, "the sooner you confront them, the better."

Buffy didn't respond but she did shoot an angry glare at Xander. They had talked about this extensively in the gravity gym. She had told Xander of her failure with Faith, Xander had told her his failures. In order to help her deal with hers he had promised her that he would make sure that no one would rag her on her failure. But he also understood that she wanted some form of punishment. But just not from anyone who had been there at the time. So he made sure to drop the occasional comment. Well, maybe the last part they hadn't talked about. But it was something Xander instinctively understood. For he himself also craved some form of punishment for his failures.

Buffy seemed to get the hint and stopped glaring, but Angel, Buffy's black knight in shining armor hadn't and came to her rescue.

"Are you now also starting, Harris?" he said as he came to Buffy's defense.

"No," Xander said as he stood behind Buffy and took hold of her shoulders, "but she has to face Faith at some point. And this is as good a time as any."

"Can't we go home first and get Belmo?" Buffy whimpered as Xander began to push her across the street.

"We're just going in to have a chat, Buff," Xander said steadfast, "nothing fancy. It will be good for you. Before you turn into Crypt Fiend over here and start listening to tunes of pain. Music like John Tesh."

Buffy glanced a dirty look over her shoulder.

"That's low, Xander," she said coldly. In response Xander pushed her on.

"Then face your demons," he smiled, "or should I say, a leather clad demoness?"

"At least you got the leather part right," Buffy said as she allowed herself to be lead towards City Hall, with Oz and Angel in attendance. She continued to put up some resistance. But not as much as Xander had thought. So maybe she was ready to face her demons after all.

"Halt!"

A large security guard blocked the entrance to City Hall.

"Sorry kids, you cannot go in," he said sternly as he held up his hand, "we're closed. You can come back tomorrow morning."

Normally Xander wouldn't let himself be stopped by what seemed like a glorified mall cop. And neither would Buffy. But now she took his refusal as a cue to look hopeful over her shoulder towards him. But he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Xander took in the security guard. The rent-a-cop looked human, nor did he feel like a vamp or demon. Hell, he didn't feel anything. Not even Buffy and the others, so he must be inside the dampening field. And the Big Guy had said that Wilkins had holed himself up in City Hall, at all times surrounded by lots of humans, unknowingly serving as human shields or else the Saiyan had obliterated the Darth Vader wannabe a long time ago.

Suddenly Xander noticed that there were some lights on the 2nd floor.

"If you're closed then why are the lights still on?" he asked as he pointed towards the lights.

"Uh….," the rent-a-cop stammered, "the mayor…., he's working late."

"Excellent," Xander smiled, "then this is an most excellent opportunity for me to meet my elected town leader."

He wanted to push Buffy on but the rent-a-cop stepped in their way again.

"Look buddy , you can't see the mayor," rent-a-cop said shaking his head.

"Why not?" Xander asked deadpan, "Is he not my elected town official? Do I not as a voter have the right to see my democratically elected leader?"

"You need to make an appointment first," rent-a-cop said equally deadpan, "you can call the mayor's office at 09:00 to 10:00 to make an appointment."

"What kind of stupid times are those?" Xander said pretending to whine, "I go to bed at that time. I'm up, his mayorship's up now. Why can't we go in now?"

"You can call the mayor's office at 09:00 to 10:00 to make an appointment," rent-a-cop said again deadpan.

Xander sighed.

"Look, I don't really need to see his mayorship. If I can talk to one of his assistants that would be okay as well. I hear he's got this new young hot assistant. Maybe you've seen her, brunette, bit of a cleavage, pendant for leather clothes?"

"You can call the mayor's office at 09:00 to 10:00 to make an appointment," rent-a-cop droned on.

Xander wanted to say something, then he rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Oh forget it," he said and waved his arm towards rent-a-cop and used his chi to send him crashing against the wall. Knocked out rent-a-cop fell on the ground unconscious.

"Xander?" Buffy said aghast as she gave him a shocked look, "H-how could you?"

He had forgotten how much she had wrapped herself up in the mythos of humanity's defender. He on the other hand had seen the more seedier sides of humanity and knew there was little difference between humans and demons at times. Which she should have known as well as she spent a summer slumming it up in LA.

Before he could say anything Oz spoke up.

"He'll do alright," the young guitarist shrugged casually and stepped past him. Xander also now shrugged and followed Oz inside, only to stop in the door's entrance and turn around.

"You commin' Buff?" he asked as he extended a hand.

Buffy wanted to say something when she felt Angel pushing her along.

"Just go with it, Buffy," Angel said in a slight soothing voice, "All the annoying guard will have is a big head ache in the morning."

With one last look at the crumpled rent-a-cop Buffy allowed herself to be taken into City Hall. Contrary to what Xander was thinking Buffy wasn't upset with him knocking down a human. She knew humans weren't perfect. It was the sheer casualness with which he had done it however that worried her. It was so unlike the Xander she had known before his 'roadtrip'.

She didn't get much time to ponder Xander's new behavior as they were beset by another thin blue line wannabe inside City Hall.

"HALT!" he screamed as he emerged from a hallway with his gun drawn.

"Ah, just the guy I was looking for," Xander smiled amiably, "Sortish. I see that there's a phone hanging on that wall over there. Could you be so kind as to call your boss, the Dark Lord of the Sith? Or as you call him, Darth Wilkins?"

The security guard looked oddly at Xander, then at the others.

"Is he serious?" rent-a-cop two asked flabbergasted.

"Unfortunately he is," Angel said as he closed his eyes and shook his head dejected.

"You can't just walk in here in the middle of the night and expect to see the mayor," rent-a-cop two said still staring down the barrel of his gun. In response Xander began to glare.

"Look nametag person," he said coolly, "your next answer better well be 'sure I'll pick up that phone and call my Sith Lord' and not 'you can call the mayor's office at 09:00 to 10:00 to make an appointment'."

As he spoke those words rent-a-cop two, despite having his gun trained on the teen, couldn't help but flinch as he got a distinct bad vibe. And nobody who worked in City Hall for a long period couldn't help but notice that when somebody gave off a bad vibe it was probably a good idea to let somebody higher deal with it.

"I'll uh, um… "rent-a-cop two said as he slowly, without taking his eyes off of Xander, began to walk towards the wall mounted phone, "I, uh, I…."

"No need, Larry," a new voice suddenly said and all eyes turned to the newcomers. It was Mayor Wilkins and Faith.

"Mayor Wilkins," rent-a-cop two said, "I…um…"

Wilkins signaled rent-a-cop two to lower his gun.

"Easy, Larry," he said gently but authoritatively, "It's okay. You did a good job but we will see these people."

"If you say so, mayor," rent-a-cop two said as he shouldered his gun. He wanted to say something else but Wilkins made a small gesture that left little to the imagination and rent-a cop two buggered off. With rent-a-cop two gone Wilkins turned to the Scoobies.

"So what brings you four to my humble little abode? Please don't tell me that you're going to resort to violence again, I just had the place re-decorated from the last time."

"No need to worry, Boss," Faith sneered, "B. knows she's way out of my league now, don't you, B?"

Buffy couldn't help but flinch at Faith's remark. It wasn't the words. She had heard much worse over the years from countless posturing baddies. It was the sheer venom and hatred with which Faith said those words. Faith really hated her. And she was the cause of that hatred.

"There won't be any fighting," Xander interjected, "we're just here to talk. Talk with you Faith."

"Talk?" Faith snorted incredulously, "Don't you think it's a little late for talking?"

"No harm in hearing us either," Xander countered. Before Faith could reply Wilkins took her shoulder and lowered his head until he was next to her ear.

"Maybe you should hear them out, young lady," he said dead serious. Faith turned her head and looked Wilkins straight in the face.

"You're gotta be kidding me, boss?" she said shocked, "Why should I hear what they have to say?"

Wilkins smiled that creepy smile of him and gave her shoulders an encouraging squeeze.

"Don't do it for me, do it for yourself," he smiled, "for closure."

Faith looked away for a moment, then she sighed.

"That's my girl," Wilkins smiled proudly, "then he pointed towards the end of the corridor, "If you need me I'll be over there."

"What do you want?" Faith asked after Wilkins had withdrawn himself.

"As you may have noticed I was back and I town and I thought I say hi," Xander said amiably, "you know, do the whole polite thing."

"Consider hi to have been said," Faith said as she folded her arms across her chest, "Nice of you to drop by but don't let the door hit you on the way out. Will you be going now? Preferably out of Sunnydale again? "

Xander shook his head.

"You know I can't do that," he said.

"Fine," Faith said defiantly, "then stay and die here with your friends. Whatever happened on your wild goose chase after that other Buffy by the way? Did you find her or did you give up and decide to settle for second best after all."

When she said second best Faith nodded towards Buffy.

"No, I found her," Xander sighed then he shrugged, "Kinda. Sortish."

"Oh," Faith said, her eyes brows raised in surprise, "you mean you actually found a way to cross dimensions? How?"

Xander snorted and nodded towards Wilkins.

"Let's just say I'm not going to enter into details while Darth Wilkins is listening. With all due respect Faith but I don't trust your new boss."

"Who, him?" Faith smiled and waved towards Wilkins, "he's not so bad once you get to know him. Unlike some who I could mention."

"We may have treated you badly but we're not evil," Xander countered.

"Evil, Schmevil," Faith replied offhand.

"They told me you killed a man, is that true?" Xander asked. In response Faith briefly looked away.

"A girl's gotta do what girl's gotta do," was her eventual answer.

"That don't make it right," Xander said.

"Wake up, Xander," Faith said as she gestured around herself, "we're not like everybody else. The rules don't apply to us. We can do whatever we want. And don't be like B. over there and play morals with me. We saw you coming. You swatted that security guard away like he was nothing. So don't talk to me about what's right. If you believed what you were saying you wouldn't have done what you did."

"She got you there, dude," Oz said with thin veiled amusement. Faith stepped forward and patted Xander on his shoulder and then turned around.

"It all comes down to where you want to be when the jig's up, Xander. And I'm not going to be on the losing side when the mayor ascends. You won't be able to stop him. He's been planning this for over a century. He's been playing you all since B. first came to this town, letting you do his dirty work for him. If you want my advice, leave town. Take your precious B. with you, hell, take them all with you. Some fights you can win, some you loose. This one you'll loose"

"Or stay," Wilkins said as he came forward and smiled that creepy smile of his, "it will be…..spectacular."

"We'll stop you," Buffy said defiantly.

"Whatever, B.," Faith said dismissively as she and Wilkins walked away, "whatever. Nice seeing you again, Little Brother, be sure to take Red for a long vacation. A very long vacation"

Buffy wanted to shout some more after Faith but Xander took her and walked away towards the exit.

"Posturing's for bad guys, Buff," he said, "while I applaud that your fire has returned we're done here."

"But I…., " Buffy protested, "I…., let me at least wipe that smirk off her face."

"Not here, not now," Xander replied and led them out of the City Hall entrance.

"I still don't see how she even thinks Wilkins and her have a chance to beat us," Angel said once they were outside, "I mean, so Faith can beat Buffy, or maybe Harris here. What chance do they think that they have against Belmovekk. Or any of the other Saiyans for that matter?"

Buffy halted for a moment and looked back at City Hall behind them.

"It's been my experience that baddies who are that smug are either stupid or they have something up their sleeves."

"She's right," Xander said, "if this guy's been playing us for years then he probably also found a way to overcome a Super Saiyan. After all, your evil twin Angelus did."

"The Judge," Angel echoed, "but there was only one Judge. What else can you counter a Super Saiyan with?"

"I'm sure with Faith giving him all the details he's discovered something," Xander said pensive.

It just had got to be the world's greatest cock and bull story Riley Finn had ever heard in his life. Oh on his arrival here he had heard an even greater story, the whole Earth being older and inhabited by demons shit. That he could buy seeing they were introduced to a few of them. Who seemed to be quite nice fellows actually. Just odd looking.

But that the mayor of Sunnydale was some century old warlock hell intent on achieving something called 'Ascension' and equally intent on creating a bloodbath in the process was something else. Riley may not have been very political, he couldn't even remember the last time he voted, but come on, surely somebody must have noticed the same guy was running for office for over a century. I mean, there were some politicians who occupied the same position for what seemed like forever (Strom Thurmond came to mind), but at least they aged normally.

And then there was the Slayer. The Librarian had last told them of the mystical warrior created to fight all the things that went bump in the night. But now he had met her. And if the world's survival depended on her, then God help us. He'd never had the displeasure to meet such a stuck up spoiled brat before. Well, there were a few stuck up army brats he knew who thought the sun had shone from their asses just because daddy was a high ranking general. But unfortunately they couldn't kick his ass in more ways then he could count.

And naturally she just had to be drop dead gorgeous.

Harris was there as well, sitting by her side as the Librarian and what looked like his younger assistant (also British) gave a briefing.

"I don't understand," Rue Paul spoke up, "if this man is so dangerous, why has he not been dealt with?"

Librarian Junior looked at Librarian and spoke up.

"There is still much we don't know yet," Wesley said as he took a step forward to face the soldiers, most of which were from a different world. Things had changed considerably these last months. After the whole Faith debacle he had more or less fallen from grace as leader of the group. Or should he say, he was no longer tolerated as leader by the group while Giles re-asserting himself as the real leader. It didn't help that Buffy's so-called stepfather turned out to be an alien of incredible power himself. Who gave him a choice. Buckle up, or be buckled under.

At first he had been resentful. He contemplated calling Quentin Travers back in London many times to tell him of what really went on in Sunnydale. But as Giles took over after a time it suddenly dawned on Wesley. Not only wasn't he well liked, nobody had ever actually taken him serious. That realization had hurt even more. Because it had also dawned upon him that not even Quentin Travers had taken him serious. It was clear that Travers suspected something was up in Sunnydale. That was why he had pressed Wesley into finding out more about Belmovekk. But he hadn't told Wesley anything about why he had wanted to know more about Buffy's so called stepdad. Which meant that even Quentin Travers, head of the International Watchers Council, didn't take him serious. Hell, the only reason he was here was to probably set him up so Quentin could stick it to his father and known rival on the Council.

After that realization Wesley had vowed to prove at least to this little group that he was more then just some fop, parachuted in from Britain. He probably still had a long way to go but at least he thought they were beginning to take him serious. He was opposed to bringing in Belmovekk's army trainees. But if they thought they could be of some use he was going to do his bit. So he continued.

"But we know this. Mayor Wilkins cannot be harmed physically. He really can regenerate from physical harm. We do not know how great a damage he can recover from, but it must be considerable."

Wesley glanced briefly at the Saiyan before continuing.

"We know that he wants to ascend into something and that he has been planning for this for a long time and that his ascension will be accompanied by much bloodshed. I am told that our mutual friend might create a large enough attack that could obliterate Mayor Wilkins. But it would also destroy Sunnydale City Hall and most of the residential areas around it, causing massive civilian casualties. He is at all times making sure that he is surrounded by large numbers of innocent bystanders. He controls the town's apparatus and police department. There is no way we can attack him directly."

"I see," Rue Paul acknowledged. Now First Ma'el rose.

"This Ascension thing," he said, "do you know when it will happen?"

"We think it will take place in five days time," Giles said, "around the time the final class of the local high school will graduate, as Mayor Wilkins is scheduled to give a speech at the ceremony. Which is the only public ceremony he will be performing for the coming days.

"This is getting rich," Sergeant Burns muttered next to Riley.

Then another of Belmovekk's trainees, a soldier from Earth, stood up.

"Can I say something?" he asked, waiting patiently for the Saiyan to give a nod, "why don't we call in the authorities? Let the Pentagon clean up this mess for us?"

"Fucking A!" another soldier said out in support, "send in the cavalry! 1st battalion 5th Cavalry rules!"

Wesley looked at Giles. Not sure what to say and he could see Buffy facepalm her forehead and sigh deeply.

"We will not call in the authorities," Belmovekk called out, "and that is final."

Damn, Riley thought, game over, their God had spoken. Probably didn't want to have Washington learn the full truth of what went on in his little fiefdom. Still, he wouldn't be a good leader of his own men if he didn't point out at least some errors in their battle plan. Or lack of it.

"Excuse me, Satiya," Riley said standing up, "I can think of a few good reasons to call in Washington. We may have to go up against good honest people that have nothing to do with this…., this monster. If we call in Washington they could at least take away his control over the police department. Or order the townspeople evacuated. And then we could deal with him. At the very least call the SGC and ask them to send that major, the one with a thousand authorizations."

The Librarian took off his glasses and began to fumble with it as he spoke up.

"We, um, think the mayor has, uh, amassed a small army of demons that, um, may have, um, received training in certain, um, Saiyan martial arts. We think that, uh, that if we were to evacuate the town he, um, would unleash them on the citizens."

"This just keeps on getting richer," Sergeant Burns again muttered in disgust.

"All the more reason to call in the authorities so the citizens of Sunnydale can be evacuated," Riley continued, "as soldiers its our first imperative to protect the people from harm."

"A noble sentiment," First Ma'el echoed, "Priya teaches us that…"

"Get it in your thick skull, Captain Cardboard," the Slayer brat spoke up interrupting Ma'el, "we're not going to call in Washington, we're not going to call in the cavalry and we're most certainly not going to call in for Major Asshole."

Riley wanted to call her something most ungentlemanlike, then he remembered his Saiyan teacher was shacking up with her mother and that anything most ungentlemanlike would probably not go well with his Satiya. So he looked towards Belmovekk for moral support. Or at least a sign that common sense hadn't completely evaporated from the room.

"You heard her, commander," was all he got. Defeated he sat down.

"As long as it does not involve calling for official reinforcements I am open to suggestions," Belmovekk said to his men. No one at first said anything until a British lieutenant spoke up.

"Maybe we should approach like a siege," he said, "I've studied Roman warfare extensively and when Caesar besieged the Gauls at Alesia he steadfastly created a complete series of forts and lines to cut them off from any reinforcements coming in from elsewhere."

"Go on," Belmovekk said interested and the British lieutenant continued.

"If we can't act against this mayor directly, we should act against what we can act first. Since he can draw upon the local demons for reinforcements and intelligence we should tackle that support first."

"I like where this is going," the Harris kid said approvingly, "Let's empty this place of demons. Do what we should have done years ago."

Blondie the Slayer looked at the Harris kid with a raised eyebrow.

"I see you're back at worshipping at the church of 'Kill Demon, Kill'. I thought you had converted to 'Demons ain't so bad, people are worse'?"

"That don't matter Buff," the Harris kid said, "the point is, the snitch system has been compromised and used against us. You should have declared Edict violation months ago and swept the town clean. You still can."

"But we think Mayor Wilkins keeps his demon forces underground," Librarian objected, "There are myriad places to hide an army underneath..

"Yeah but at least we'll get rid of all the spying eyes in town," Blondie countered, then she turned to Belmovekk, "don't you think so, Belmo?"

Belmo? Riley and Sergeant Burns couldn't help but look at each other and suppress an onset of the giggles. The mere thought of anyone calling their 'revered' teacher by that name in his face and not having to suffer a million kinds of brutal deaths on the training grounds, followed by months of latrine duty, was enough to almost give them mad convulsions of laughter. And judging from the odd snigger coming from behind them they weren't the only ones. Strangely enough the Jaffa seemed unaffected. Then again, no one had ever been able to catch them of any sign of having a sense of humor.

The Saiyan shot a quick annoyed glance at his human contingent, then he spoke at Buffy.

"Getting rid of unwanted spies is always a good idea. And I must express my thanks for undermining my authority with my men, young lady."

"You're welcome, Belmo," Buffy smiled in her most airheaded Californian cheerleader smile, causing another bout of sniggers to erupt amongst the human soldiers. Which abruptly stopped once Belmovekk glanced a deathglare at his troops.

"In fact," he said glaring hard, "I think this would an excellent opportunity for the men to have some field training. Why not take the boys with you? You shall have the command."

"Oh, daddy, you do know how to spoil a girl," Buffy said, playing her role of airheaded Californian cheerleader for all that it was worth as she jumped up towards the Saiyan and began to hug and kiss him.

Seeing the man who had made their lives a living hell for the past months humiliated like this would have been freaking hilarious to Riley Finn, if it weren't the little detail that of all people it was Blondie who now had been put in charge. In shock Riley arose and screamed.

"Nooooo!"

"Boss, boss!"

Faith's voice entered Mayor Wilkins' office just a fraction before she did.

"Boss, B., she's..," Faith panted but Wilkins, who was standing in front of the window held up his hand.

"I know," he said calmly, "they're moving against our intelligence network. "

"Moving?" Faith said almost snorting, "they're slaughtering almost every demon in town. And all the others are fleeing like rats. It's like a friggin' exodus out there. They've even entered some of the tunnels."

"Our troops will be safe," Wilkins said confidently.

"You sure, Boss?" Faith asked not so sure as her boss, "I mean they're not all that deep."

Wilkins turned around and smiled confidently.

"Everything goes exactly as I planned," he said and walked towards a wooden cabinet, the one that Faith knew held much of his magic paraphernalia, "They were bound to make this move. It only surprises me how long they've waited. There will be losses, but I've planned for that as well. Which is why all the good troops are hidden deeper. Let them think they've delivered us a mortal blow."

Wilkins opened his cabinet doors and reached inside and took out a small crystal bottle. About the size of those miniature bottles you found in hotel minibars.

"Now that they've made their move it is time we make ours," Wilkins smiled and walked over to Faith to give her the small crystal bottle, "go see our friend and tell him we say hi, young lady."

Every time he said that to her Faith couldn't help but feel a little warm inside. Sure, that Saiyan said the same thing to Buffy, his Buffy, all the time. He had never said it to her. Making clear where her place was in the pecking order. She knew there were times B. said she hated being called like that, but mostly she knew deep down B. loved it. Faith on the other hand loved it every time Wilkins said it to her. Sure he was evil. And most under his command would probably not survive the coming ascension. But not her. Somehow she knew she occupied a special place in Wilkins' heart. After all, what father would turn against his own daughter?

"Gee, boss," Faith said as she wiped a strand of hair from her face looking at the bottle, "don't you think it's a little early to be using this? I mean, what if…."

She didn't have to finish her sentence. They had discussed alternate scenarios ad nauseum and every action called forth an equally opposite reaction.

Wilkins didn't immediately reply, instead he sat down behind his desk and swiveled his chair 90 degrees away towards a wall with the map of Sunnydale on it, all the while tapping an arm rest with his hand. Damn Xander and his obsession with all things science fiction! For he reminded her just like the Emperor sitting in his throne on the Death Star, all confident in his plan. He even sounded like it.

"Don't you worry, young lady," he said confidently, "everything is going exactly as I have foreseen."

Joyce Summers stopped for one moment and looked around her house. It used to be just their home, hers and Buffy's. Simpler times.

But simpler times hadn't always been happy times. Buffy's hidden Slayer vocation, the events of the Hellmouth, the constant denial, they all conspired to make 1630 Revello Drive not a happy home. Then things changed as a new man stepped into her life, into their lives really. And then she got pregnant, learned the truth about her daughter, the town she lived in and the new man in her life. It should have been enough to completely ruin her life.

Yet strangely it didn't. With no more need for her daughter to hide what she was doing there was room for the both of them to grow into a completely new relationship. And since she learned the truth about Sunnydale not only did a lot more things start to make sense, she also seemed to have become immune to any onset of mass denial that seemed to grip this town after yet another disaster had been averted.

Her alien fiancé, well, that was still a strange relationship. It had started as a one time fling, ships in the night, and it ended up getting her pregnant. Belmo, having spend more then 4 millennia on a pre-industrial planet, naturally felt obligated to do the right thing. To Joyce this wasn't a basis for a relationship, it was after all no longer the 1950's. And the guy was 4000 years old and immortal. Unless he'd run into death himself he'd outlast her, also not a good foundation to a healthy relationship.

But the Saiyan lug had grown on her and now she couldn't imagine her life without him. Truth be told he sometimes knew how to drive her mad. And there were the long periods of where he was off on business of his own. Just like Hank used to do. And there was his alcohol problem. She was fairly certain Belmo was sober now, but who knew what could happen in the future. 4000 years was a long time for bad habits to form which even a lifetime with her couldn't change. After all, there was no chance in hell it was going to last 4000 years as well.

Then again if occasional drunken depression was his only major failing she should count herself lucky. It certainly was a step up over her previous choice in men, A murderous robot with control issues and a two timing husband who had long ago ceased living up to any of his responsibilities. And while Belmo was often away for even longer periods then Hank was, at least with him Joyce was 100% certain that he wasn't up some younger woman's skirt. Or that he would forsake his family. The man had waited 4000 years to have a family. He'd die first then walk away from one.

With the Summers household getting more and more crowded it finally began to feel like a real home. Even more so when more and more of their friends for all intents and purposes began to live there as well, Belmo and Giles deeming the Library compromised as a base of operations as they couldn't be certain that Mayor Wilkins (and to think she had once voted for him) had no means to keep an eye on them there. And then Belmo brought back their one of their missing members, Xander. She felt sorry for his sad tale, yet his return felt like her family was finally becoming complete again.

But still not quite. There was still one person missing as Joyce lingered in front of a framed picture which she picked up and held to her heart. was how they called her now, but to Joyce she was just Buffy, like her other daughter. She may be in some dark distorted alternate reality, but she was still her daughter as far as Joyce was concerned and she still hoped that one day she would return. Even if she had cross over and get her back herself.

"We must go," Belmo's voice said, rousing her from her memories and she turned around. Her Saiyan fiancé looked at her dead serious as he held the twins in his arms. Could it be even more ironic, now that her little family was made complete with Xander's return, that not even her own home was deemed safe from that crazy mayor? That the decision had been made to withdraw to the Army, no Air Force base?. While her daughter and her friends were even now ransacking through Sunnydale, looking for demons, Belmo and the two Watchers were helping her leave her home.

"I know," Joyce sighed wistfully, "it's just that…."

"… you do not wish to abandon your home now that it has finally become one," Belmo said, finishing her sentence, "we talked about it, Joyce, it is only temporary. Once it is over we will return and you will have the home you want."

"I know," she said as she picked up a framed picture, the one she had been looking at. She held it to her heart and looked at her Saiyan fiancé.

"Tell me that it's going to be alright. Tell me that we're going to get rid of that crazy mayor. Tell me that I will see my house again. Tell me that we will become a family. Tell me….. " Joyce bit her lip and looked away as she fought to keep down the tears. Why did she feel so damn emotional? It was just a tactical decision.

Belmo stepped forward and held out an arm so she could take over one of the twins. As he handed her Mayan he used his now free hand to take away the framed picture.

"B'y!" little Dawn said still in her father's arm as she saw who was on the picture.

"Yes, Buffy," Belmo said towards Dawn as he put the picture on top of a box full of personal stuff, then he turned towards Joyce, "It will be alright, Joyce. We will deal with the mayor. You will see your house again. We will become a family. And yes, you will see her again."

"How can you be so certain?" Joyce countered, "Xander looked for her for months and you said not even that super duper mage could get to her."

Now it was Belmo's turn to look uneasy.

"I, uh, um," he stammered and looked uncomfortable. Joyce's eyes opened in shock, then they narrowed in anger.

"You lied," she hissed softly, "you lied to us! You lied to me."

"Look, Joyce," Belmo said as he tried to allay Joyce before he felt he would be banished to the porch forever, "I was going to tell you, I felt that with the others…..it is kind of embarrassing."

"You lied," Joyce repeated herself, still angry, with Mayan in her arms beginning to look sad as she felt the anger that was inside her mother.

"I just wanted to spare Xander," Belmo quickly said, "some things are better left unspoken. After all, he did move heaven and earth to find her only to learn that she was sleeping with….."

Before he could finish Wesley entered the room.

"Just this box left and then….," he said and stopped as he felt there was some tension in the room, "Is this a bad time?"

"Get out!" Joyce yelled angrily and Belmo joined in as well

"Maybe it is best that you should leave, Wesley, this does not….." the Saiyan said somewhat annoyed as well before stopping and looking abruptly outside. Then he handed over little Dawn to Wesley and rushed past Wesley.

"Guard them with your life," he said sternly before disappearing outside.

"But how?" Wesley stammered flabbergasted as he held Dawn, then he looked at the infant who stared at him in that unfathomable way she always did when she saw him. Ignoring the child for a moment Wesley walked up to the window and looked outside and then he understood why the Saiyan had run off. Gulping visibly he then looked at Joyce Summers.

"We may have a problem."

As the Saiyan ran outside he was confronted with master Giles lying motionless on the ground next to Joyce's SUV. He wanted to kneel down next to him and check the Watcher for signs of life when a voice spoke up.

"Don't worry, Big B., he's just unconscious. I just gave him a light tap."

"Faith?" he said without looking around. Damn this wretched Hellmouth for muddying up his senses. Now he had only noticed Faith sneaking up on them when it had been to late.

Slowly he turned around and saw Faith standing on the other side of the lawn.

"Big B.," Faith said as she acknowledged him seeing her.

"It is not to late to undo what you have done," Belmovekk said as he took a step towards Faith while holding his hands up, trying to look non-threatening.

"I've made my choice," Faith shrugged, "so leave the pretty speeches for B. Maybe she'll listen to them now that you're practically her step dad."

Belmovekk pointed towards master Giles, lying unconsciously behind him.

"Is that what this is all about? You changed sides because I was not as much of a father to you like I was to Buffy?"

"Oh, I think you and the others made it pretty clear that I was just the understudy," Faith replied without blinking, "but don't worry, I found someone who accepted me for who I really am."

"You do know that he will discard you, like he did with countless others, young lady? Like Trick?"

Belmovekk's counter drew out Faith's first angry reaction.

"Shut up!" she yelled angry, "don't you ever call me like that again! You don't get to call me like that, not after what you did. Maybe B. lets you call her like that, but not me! Only he…."

Before Faith could finish her sentence Belmovekk used his superior speed to move faster then Faith could follow and re-appear like out of nowhere next to her. Then she was taken in an iron hold as he grabbed her arms.

"It was foolish of you to come here, Faith," Belmovekk said untouched, "never face a superior opponent where he can bring his advantages to bear. Nor leave the person you are protecting unguarded. Now I have you and the mayor is left vulnerable. Maybe I was not as good a Satiya to you as I was to Buffy, but you should have known better then this."

Instead of trying to wriggle herself free, Faith looked over her shoulder and began to smirk.

"Remember that rule you always quote, ad nauseum?" she smirked.

"Always keep something in reserve?" the Saiyan replied as he raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Exactly," Faith grinned, then she balled a fist and Belmovekk heard something break. Looking at that fist that was firmly in his grasp not far from his face Belmovekk saw it open and small glass shards dropped from it.

"Clever girl," he said appreciatively as he felt a sudden pain starting to develop in his chest.

"It is most unfortunate that Doctor Frasier has left us," First Ma'el sighed as he, Rue Paul and Riley waited outside the Air Force base infirmary.

"Indeed," Rue Paul echoed, "for a Tau'ri healer she was most capable."

First Ma'el turned towards Riley, who had joined them most recently.

"Is there any chance that she will return soon?" he asked, "or that General Hammond will send a replacement?"

Riley shook his head.

"Her friend is dying, she refuses to return," he said, "and they can't spare us a physician right now. At least not one who has been briefed and sworn to secrecy."

"If you are left with no options the unthinkable becomes your next course of action," First Ma'el said stoically, "unless our Satiya wishes to die we should send for a healer of quality. It no longer matters who."

"They already did, but it's going to cost us," Riley said somewhat uncertain, how was he going to explain the ways of Pentagon Black Ops to these aliens? Where secrecy mattered more then saving lives? Then the door opened to the infirmary and the Librarian Giles came out with the civilian doctor they had already brought with them. He didn't like it when they brought the man in, there would be hell to pay for it later if the Pentagon learned of it. But what could he do? After the rampage through this demon infested town it became pretty much clear that Belmovekk's civilians outclassed even the strongest of their three groups by so much it wasn't even funny.

"Master Giles," Rue Paul said deferential, "is there any word regarding the status of our Satiya?"

The Librarian looked at them, not sure what to say, then he turned to the civilian doctor first.

"Again, Henry, thanks again for coming," he said as he held out his hand towards the doctor and nodded.

"No problem, Rupert," the doctor replied as he shook Giles's hand, "sorry I couldn't be of more help."

As the doctor left Giles turned towards the three men.

"We know that whatever agent was used, it wasn't chemical," Giles said with heavy heart, "The doctor thinks it is some kind of viral agent. It just doesn't seem to match any virus or disease he knows off."

"With all due respect, Giles, but what does a local doctor know of little known diseases?" Riley interjected, "And a civilian as well. My superiors aren't going to be happy about it.

That little outburst earned him a scornful look from the Librarian.

"It so happens to be that before he took up a job at the local hospital Henry was a renowned researcher at the CDC," Giles said chiding, "the only reason he quit was so he could be near his only daughter again. And we just so happened to save her. To be frank I trust Henry far more then I do you and your men. Captain!"

Ma'el and Rue Paul gave him the 'how could you say something so stupid' look. And he probably was. But damn those two Jaffa. They didn't have his responsibilities.

"And now?" Ma'el asked Giles.

"Now you'll stand aside and let me do my job," Giles said as he walked past the trio, "while Henry may not recognize the disease there is a chance it's magical in nature. And if so there are still some options I can pursue."

As he left the three men looked at each other. Sensing that none of the other two was going to make a move, Riley decided to take the initiative and he stepped inside the base infirmary. Now that Riley had stepped inside the other two followed and they went to see their leader.

They had been in the full swing of their operation to cleanse Sunnydale of demons when the word had gotten in that an attack had been made against their Satiya. All units ceased their demon hunting operations and they all followed their Sunnydale locals, who led the groups, to a local address, soon identified as the Summers household where they found Blondie's mother and Librarian Junior desperately trying to revive an unconscious Belmovekk. They returned with their Satiya to the base and the long wait began to find out what had happened.

Inside the infirmary Belmovekk lay in a hospital bed, with Blondie's mother taking care of him while Blondie sat at his foot end, looking at their Satiya. She glanced over her shoulder for a moment, then she ignored them again.

"It's the three Stooges," she said contemptuously.

"We came to see our Satiya and Aldur's disciple," Ma'el said reverentially.

"Fine, now you've seen him," Blondie sneered, "don't you have an elsewhere to be? Shouldn't you be helping Xander and the others track down the remaining demons."

Riley rolled his eyes, getting annoyed with her behavior.

"Look princess, your friends and our men can finish the job without us, but you're not the only one who's down, okay? He meant something to us as well."

"Then go mean something over there," Blondie said unimpressed and waved towards the far side of the room. Riley wanted to really give her a piece of his mind when he saw Ma'el and Rue Paul actually move to the spot Blondie had indicated. He wanted to say something about it to them as well, but he changed his mind and fuming he positioned himself against the wall. Damn Jaffa! It never ceased him to amaze how with such a submissive culture they actually managed to revolt against those Goa'uld overlords of theirs. Probably only because his colleagues at the SGC were doing most of the asskicking and revolting for them.

Thinking like that helped him cool him down and pass the time. After several hours the door opened and Librarian Junior walked in, followed by Librarian.

"Rupert," Blondie's mother said surprised, "have you heard…..?"

Librarian looked at Librarian Junior and the both of them began to scratch the back of their heads in almost identical fashion.

"Joyce, Buffy," Librarian said tentatively. Blondie's mother clasped her mouth as she recognized the look. The one Riley himself had seen many times as a commanding officer had to go and tell a soldier's relatives that their lost one had been killed or grievously injured. Or was about to.

"The Council," Librarian Junior said somewhat hesitantly, "I um…., we received word back."

Blondie looked surprised.

"You mean that transportation spell actually worked," she said somewhat surprised.

Librarian Junior shrugged a little smug.

"Well, like I said, we can only use it for small items, and your friend was most helpful, but we did….:"

"Yeah, Wesley," Blondie interrupted, "so you managed to send a sample of Belmo's blood to the Council. Now before my hair grows grey of old age, what did they say? Do they have an antidote? Or a cure?"

Librarian Junior looked slightly taken aback and looked at Librarian.

"Well, um, uh, there's good news and bad news," Librarian said, "after careful tests on the blood sample we've provided they've ruled out that a poison, either magical, mystical or worldly has been used. It's most definitely a disease. Which they think has been magically altered to specifically target Belmovekk."

"That's good, isn't?" Blondie's mother spoke up hopeful as she looked at her daughter, "identifying a disease is the first step in curing it, right? They can help, can't they?"

But Blondie wasn't so optimistic.

"No, mom,:" she said coldly as she looked at the two men again, "because somehow I can imagine what those bastards said back."

Blondie's mother looked at the two men.

"Can they help or can't they?" she asked desperately. The two Librarians looked at each other uncomfortably.

"Um, uh, more like won't," Librarian eventually said.

"Told you it was a waste of time contacting the Tweed brigade," Blondie snorted loudly.

"I can't believe it," Blondie's mother exclaimed loudly, "why won't they help? Shouldn't they be leading the fight against monsters like the mayor?"

"Their exact words were 'It is not the Council's policy to cure non-humans'," Librarian Junior said.

"How, how did they find out Belmo….?" Blondie's mother gasped.

"I can only surmise that they must have inferred it from his blood sample," Librarian said looking at the ashen stricken Saiyan, subconsciously twisting uncomfortably in his bed.

"So what do we do now?" Blondie's mother asked dejected.

"We'll find a cure," Librarian said resolutely, "I've not even begun researching my own books."

"But can't you ask them again?" Blondie's mother asked.

"I tried, Mrs. Summers," Librarian Junior said, "but you must understand, we're talking about laws that existed longer then civilization."

Oh oh, wrong answer, Riley thought with barely containable glee as Blondie's mother slowly rose from Belmovekk's sickbed. If only looks could kill. And who knows, if she was Satiya's fiancée there was no telling as to what she could do.

"And I'm talking about watching my fiancé die, Wesley. I don't have a clue what you're talking about and I don't care."

"When did I become the bad guy," Librarian Junior exclaimed looking to Librarian and Blondie for support, "It's not like I made the decision."

"I think you became the bad guy the moment you walked into town," Blondie sniggered, but then she put her arm on her mother's shoulder, "he's right in one thing though mom, he's not the Council."

"Thank you, Buffy," Librarian Junior said, giving Blondie a courteous bow.

"He's just their buttboy," Blondie continued offhand as her mother sat down again.

"I can't believe you keep working for those people," her mother muttered angrily.

"You know what," Blondie said as she glanced at Librarian Junior again, "I thinking the same thing here. As far as I'm concerned they kiss my shiny heiny. I'm declaring Sunnydale a Watcher Council free zone."

The two Librarians looked at each other aghast.

"Buffy, is that wise?" Librarian said aghast, "we did go to an elaborate charade to keep the Council in the dark."

Blondie shrugged unimpressed and pointed to Belmovekk

"They're letting him die, Giles. They're letting my mother's fiancé die. They're letting our friend die. They're letting my…."

For a moment Blondie stopped and looked away before continuing.

"Despite his crazy stunts and his hair brained schemes, like with the Three Stooges over there, he's been more like a father to me then my own father. The one time the council could be of some use they turn their backs on us. As far as I'm concerned they no longer exist. And you can tell them that."

"You can't just turn your back on the Council," Librarian Junior spoke up in shock, "there will be consequences."

"They're welcome to try," Blondie said defiantly, "I'll leave a nice Watcher Council shaped crater where their headquarters used to be. Consider it my graduation."

Blondie put her arms defiantly on her sides and stared the two men down.

"So what's it going to be, are you with me?"

To Riley's surprise it was Librarian Junior who spoke first.

"I don't think it's wise to make enemies of the Council, but I'm with you, Buffy," he said. Even Librarian gave him an odd look.

"I'm with you as well, Buffy," Librarian quickly added.

"Good," Blondie said and turned around to sit down next to her mother again. She didn't really say it but Riley recognized a dismissal when he saw one.

"We'll be, um, hitting the books," Librarian said as he pulled Junior by the shoulders.

"You do that," Blondie replied, "and take the Three Stooges with you, will ya?"

Riley looked at the two Jaffa.

"Show's over, fellas," he said and turned towards the door.

"I did not get any of it," Rue Paul said flummoxed.

"The ways of the Tau'ri are as myriad as that of the Goa'uld," Ma'el said, offering yet another one of his fortune cookie wisdoms. The five of them made for the door when Junior halted and turned around towards Blondie.

"Buffy, you do realize this is exactly what Faith and the mayor intended?" he said, "Starting a feud with the Council is basically distracting us."

"Don't you worry," Blondie said without looking up, "Faith and I will be having a chat about what happened today. Sooner then she thinks."

Outside of the infirmary Librarian took of his glasses and pulled out a piece of cloth so he could polish them. In an almost identical maneuver Junior did the same with his glasses..

"I'm not bloody well going to call the Council and basically declare war on them," Librarian said nervously towards Junior.

"Me neither," Junior quickly added. Both men then feverishly polished their glasses for a while.

"Probably better to make such decisions when things have more or less cooled down," Librarian said like he had reached a decision.

"I full heartedly agree," Junior said in agreement, "clearer heads and all."

Then both men put on their glasses.

"Let's hit the books shall we?"

It was nearly daylight when Angel returned to the Air Force base with his own little entourage of the Saiyan's chosen men. It had been an interesting experience. In his long career Angel and his alter ego Angelus had worked with nearly every kind of demon that walked the Earth, but never with aliens from another planet. The Saiyan excluded of course.

He and the others had learned of what had happened to the Saiyan while on the hunt. After a brief congregation of all teams at 1630 Revello Drive Xander and Oz had decided to continue hunting for demons. Angel felt more hesitant, wanting to be near Buffy, comfort her in this time of need. But he had made a promise to the Saiyan, to be a team member, not just her lover.

Not that the last thing mattered much. He had made the decision that once this business with the mayor was over he was going to leave Sunnydale. Their relationship just wasn't working out and to continue as was would only cause more hurt. Better a clean break then the slow death of a thousand cuts. She didn't like it of course, and truth be told neither did he. Sometimes it took every ounce of his willpower to stay in his Crawford street mansion and not run over towards Buffy's place. If it weren't for that damned mayor he would have already left town long ago. It was why he had decided not to join the others at the Air Force base. Create some distance.

But no matter how much it hurt for them to be together and not be able to be together, Angel just couldn't stand aside and not give Buffy comfort in her and her mother's hour of need. If he couldn't be her lover, then he'd be her friend. With daylight approaching his role in the demon hunt came to an end anyway. He had fulfilled his duty to the group. Now it was time to fulfill his other duty.

From the base watch officer he learned Buffy and her mother were at the base infirmary so he hurriedly made in there before the sun arose. Inside he found the two Watchers and Willow hunched over huge stacks of books in the reception area with huge empty jugs of coffee intermixed. Like if they had anticipated his arrival the windows were blinded.

The three of them quickly filled him as to what had happened. The fact that the Council had refused to help didn't surprise Angel. After what Belmovekk had uncovered about the Council nothing surprised him any more about them. What did surprise Angel was how desperate Giles and the others must have been to actually turn to the Council for help. Things must be truly dire.

"Where's Buffy?" he asked and Willow pointed to the infirmary ward.

"They're in there."

Careful not to look to much like a worried lover instead of an concerned friend Angel knocked on the door of the infirmary ward. Only when no reply came did he open the door and peek inside. Inside the room was covered in darkness.

"Buffy?" he asked concerned, "Joyce?"

"Shhh," Buffy's voice whispered right next to him. Apparently she was leaning in the darkness right next to the door.

"Mom's finally fallen asleep," Buffy said, sounding very much tired herself.

"And Belmo?" Angel asked as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him so he could stand next to Buffy.

"Hanging on," Buffy replied, "he's a tough bastard."

"4000 years old tough bastard, so I've heard," Angel said trying to be cheerful.

"So he says," Buffy said without much cheer, "did they, um….?"

"No," Angel said shaking his head, "so far they've found nothing."

Buffy didn't respond. Instead she put her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"I miss you," she eventually said and Angel felt how she reached for his hand and took it. This was not a good thing, his brain knew this intellectually. He should disengage his hand and instead go for a more friendly hug. Instead his body reacted like it had a mind of its own and he squeezed her hand. Taking that as encouragement she moved her head from his shoulder and he felt her breath on his cheek.

It took every ounce of his free will but he managed to dodge the bullet by averting his head and take a step forward.

"So, um, ah, how about that crazy Saiyan huh?" Angel stammered nervously. It wasn't a real question and judging from the deafening silence behind him he didn't fool Buffy one bit.

Way to go Angel, you idiot! Couldn't keep yourself under control, moron! Just be glad Harris isn't here or he'd die laughing.

"Yup, crazy Saiyan alright," Buffy finally said coldly as she walked towards where the Saiyan's bed stood, her mother sleeping next to him."

"Buffy," Angel asked, "what are we going to do?"

Buffy looked at him.

"You mean us us or us in general?" she asked weary.

"Us us," Angel stammered, then he bit his lip, chided himself and corrected himself, "I mean us in general. What are we going to die if he dies?"

"He's not going to die," Buffy replied resolutely, "there will be no dying on my watch. Not today, not ever. And if he does die I'll just collect those magic balls of his and bring his sorry ass back so I can give him a piece of mind of him dying on us. On leaving us…. Again."

The last word she spoke softly, almost inaudible. But Angel's superior vampire hearing picked it up. Just like his vampirically enhanced eye sight could see that she was wiping away a tear. Suddenly it all made sense. Her real father had walked out on her and her mother. And now her surrogate father was doing the same by dying. Made all the worse by his decision to leave as well.

"Don't worry, Buffy," Angel said trying to reassure her, "we'll find a way to cure him."

"You and which next door tweed army?" Buffy scoffed, then she shook her head, "no, this has gone on far enough. I'm going to do something."

She wanted to walk away towards the door when Angel reached out and took her arm.

"Buffy, what are you going to do?" he asked worried. He didn't like the way she said her last remark.

"What I should have done from the start," Buffy said resolutely as she pulled her arm free, "Find Faith and tear her a new one until she gives me the cure."

"You can't!" Angel said aghast as he again took her arm, "she'll kill you. Not even Harris could take her on."

"Xander will back me up," Buffy said, "if we work together, like with those androids, we can beat her."

"You'll get him killed as well," Angel countered, "let's get realistic here. With him gone no one can take Faith on. Faith's not some dumb robot who stands there while you and Xander do your thing. She'll kill Xander and let you live again just to rub it in."

"Do you have any better ideas?" Buffy said angry as she pulled her arm free again, "Cause I sure would like to hear something other then we'll take care of it Buffy. Trust the good doctor, Buffy, he knows. We should ask the Council for help, Buffy, they have nearly every known toxin or mystical disease on record. Have faith, Buffy, we'll look in our books until we come up with a cure, Buffy. You just wait, Buffy. Wait this, sit there that."

"I've had it with waiting and see my mother die a little every second together with him. If you have a good idea then I would really like to know, Angel, because I'm really, really done waiting! It's not like he's going to give us the answer this time."

She pointed at Belmovekk unconscious body. A little stunned by the strength of her helpless anger Angel wanted to say something but didn't. If all you have to offer is more of the same tired clichés, why bother?

And then it hit him.

"Alright, this is officially the most stupid idea ever!" Buffy complained as she held her hands over Belmovekk's head.

"No," Angel said as he stood beside her, one arm around her waist and the other on one of her arms, "this will work, mark my words."

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," Buffy said nervously, "I don't even know how this works."

"Look, he did it before, hell your 'evil' twin did it as well, so it can't be that hard," Angel said encouragingly, "just touch him and go with the flow."

"You don't understand," Buffy said jittery, "It's because he did it before that I know its wigfest 2000 in there."

Then she turned her head to look at him pleadingly.

"What if I run into that crazy hunchback again," she babbled, "or that god piece. Oh, please come with me, Angel."

Angel gave her a frown.

"Only a minute ago you were ready to get your ass kicked by Faith, but the mere idea of entering his mind and asking his subconscious what's wrong with him scares you to death?"

"Yeah, but I've been there and gotten the T-shirt," Buffy whimpered, "I'd rather get my ass kicked by Faith. Won't you come with me, please? Pretty please? With cherries on top?"

"He doesn't like me in there, Buffy," Angel said in a last ditch effort to change her mind but he knew he was facing a losing battle. From the moment he had suggested that maybe the key to unlocking the Saiyan's disease was by entering his subconscious mind he knew she'd only do it with him together. And the worst thing was that it seemed like a good idea at the time. The body instinctively knows what's wrong with itself. The bitch was in finding out what it was trying to tell. Henceforth his idea of Buffy entering the Saiyan's subconscious mind to find out. Although now faced with the same daunting prospect of actually doing it he didn't feel so sure anymore.

Of course once Buffy unleashed the full power of her pout Angel knew he could no longer resist. Re-assured by his presence Buffy finally placed her hands on the temples of Belmovekk's head and tried make the connection. His last thoughts before going in was that it was probably a good idea that they were breaking up. He'd pity the poor sod who would actually have to face the full power of her pout on a daily basis.

I heard that, came Buffy's angry thought.

Stupid telepathic link!

Then the world changed and instead Angel found himself and Buffy transported to a sunny small village, surrounded by hills and a ringing church bell in the distance.

"This is not quite how I imagined it to be," Angel said flabbergasted by the sudden transition to this strange place.

"You think you're wigged?" Buffy said as she eyed around the place, "I keep expecting for that crazy hunchback to show his ugly ass any moment."

Angel looked up and it finally dawned upon him that he was out in the open, in full view of the sun and he wasn't burning up. He looked up in the sky and for the first time in centuries he saw the sun. Then he also saw a street sign that said 'Rue de something' in French.

"We're in France?" Angel gasped surprised, "What the…."

Then came the sound of guns being fired and the whizzing noise of bullets flying directly over their head.

"Get down!" Angel yelled and threw Buffy to the ground, making sure that if any bullets were to hit them, he would be the one hit.

"Uh, Angel," Buffy's voice said slightly annoyed, "you do realize I've been bullet proof since Spike hired the order of Taraka on me, right?"

"Oops," Angel said sheepishly as he leaned up so Buffy could get out from underneath him. Then he looked around.

"Where the hell are we?"

The answer came in the form of an even larger gun being fired in what appeared to be the town's centre, soon followed by the sound of tank tracks whirling down a cobbled street.

"There!" Angel said and pointed to a street where a large grey green tank crossed over into a different street, adorned with a large black cross. Upon seeing the tank Angel's mouth nearly hit the floor.

"Nazi's?" he exclaimed surprised, "we're in World War Two France?"

Upon hearing Angel Buffy wrapped her arms around herself and began to pace.

"I told you this place was the wig made manifest," she said creeped out, then she stopped freaking out and her face lit up, "Now I get it! Come!"

Grabbing Angel by the shoulder Buffy sprinted down the street as more gunfire could be heard in the distance. This time small arms fire again.

"It doesn't make any sense," Angel moaned, "why are we in World War Two France? He wasn't even around at the time, or was he?"

"We're not in World War Two France, Angel," Buffy said as she paused for a moment to look around a corner, then she went into that street.

"We're not?" Angel said surprised as he followed her, "I could have sworn that that huge Tiger tank…."

"You're not in France, you're in a movie," Buffy said as she rounded another corner and pointed to another tank, somewhat smaller and greener, but this one adorned with a big white star, "you're in Kelly's Heroes."

"Kelly's what?" Angel asked as Buffy began to look around again, like she was looking for somebody.

"Mom got him this box full of videos, the Clint Eastwood collection. Somehow he doesn't fall asleep during Clint Eastwood movies so she thought he'd like them.

"I guess he did then," Angel replied as he examined the crippled Sherman tank, "Haven't seen one of those in working condition in a long while."

"I'm gonna rip off that Hunchback's cock if he appears to me as Oddball," Buffy said searching, then she stopped and it was her turn for her mouth to visit the floor, "you've got to be shittin' me."

In a garden, sitting on a comfy chair, dressed up in an Allied tanker's uniform with leather jacket, wearing a leather cap while wearing sunglasses sat Belmovekk, enjoying the sun.

With Buffy speechless it fell to Angel to make the pun.

"Hey, look at it from the bright side, at least there's no hunchback."

Getting out of her stupor Buffy started to walk towards Belmovekk.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she said accusingly. At first the Saiyan didn't take notice, then he casually looked at the both of them.

"I'm drinking some wine, eating some cheese and catching some rays" Belmovekk said relaxed as he reached for the glass of wine next to him. Except it wasn't Belmovekk's voice, as a strange harmonic overtone was added to his voice.

"That's not Belmovekk," Angel said. Buffy seemed to agree as she reached over and took away the man's sunglasses.

"Look you hunchbacked sonofabi…." she said, then she stopped as she saw his eyes. They glowed. Like in glow in the dark glow. Like there were some flashlights behind them. Then he grinned and he spoke again, again with the harmonic overtones.

"Hello, Buffy, so nice of you to drop by. I've been looking forward to this moment for a long time."

Giving glow in the dark Belmo a full scowl Buffy folded her arms across her chest.

"And who are you supposed to be?" she said disapproving, "And don't give me this shadow of a shadow crap or suddenly grow a hunchback or I'll kick your imaginary ass."

Glow in the dark Belmo shrugged, then he nipped from his wine and put the wineglass down.

"Although technically shadow of a shadow does cover it very well, that is not my true name. My true name is, well, I don't think you can pronounce it."

"Oh, you'll be surprised by what I can mispronounce," Buffy said defiantly.

"I know," Glow in the dark Belmo replied curt, "I see and hear many things."

"Then how about you see and hear me your name," Buffy replied equally curt back, "or I'll give you one myself and I don't think you'll like Glow in the dark Belmo."

"Glow in the dark Belmo, how droll," Glow in the dark Belmo chuckled, "While certainly amusing we can't have that on our conscience, can we? Fine, my name is, well, I'm known mostly as Amūn, although for a short while I carried the name Amūn-Ra."

As he spoke his name Glow in the dark Belmo keenly observed Buffy's face for a reaction, but she didn't even bat an eyelid.

"Funny," she eventually said, "I may have gotten a C in history but you don't look Egyptian to me. You're also missing the whole animal head thingy."

"Well, as a matter of fact the Egyptians modeled their measly gods on me and my brethren," Glow in the dark Belmo said smug, "and I had Belmo look me up in some encyclopedia and as it turned out they never put an animal's head on me. They did use my large feathered gold crown though, which was quite flattering that they still remembered."

Glow in the dark Belmo put his hands above his head to generally indicate where this supposed crown was supposed to be.

"Buffy, is this the God part?" Angel asked apprehensively.

"I don't think so," she said shaking her head, "He was, well, he looked the part. You know, old guy, long white hair. And he wasn't as smug as he is. I think I've seen this guy before. At least the glow in the dark eyes. But he wore these golden clothes like he came straight from a 70's roller disco show. Belmo called him an echo of an echo of how he used to look when that Goold was inside him."

"Goa'uld actually," Glow in the dark Belmo said correcting.

"Whatever," Buffy shrugged, then she cast an even greater death glare at Glow in the dark Belmo, "I always thought he glossed over Glow in the dark here way too quickly. And now it would seem I was right. You never really left, did ya, Amen?"

Amūn stood up and put his hands together in front of him.

"Please," he smiled in a slightly creepy way, "Amūn's the name."

"Whatever Amen," Buffy said dismissively, "Why are you still here?"

"No need to be hostile," the Goa'uld said cheerfully and went round Angel to stand between the both of them, putting his arms on Angel's and Buffy's shoulders, "we're all just friends here."

Buffy shook her shoulder free and stepped away.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't let Giles go full on Exorcist on your glow in the dark ass," she said in a highly annoyed tone of voice.

"Please, Buffy," Amūn said imploringly as he held out his free hand towards her, "I'm not the enemy, this is all that I am. No need to go as you say 'full on Exorcist' on me. We're all fighting the same enemy here."

"You know? I'm thinking you're just using Belmo's illness to take over," Buffy said, "I want you out! It's crowded enough in here as it is already."

The Goa'uld let out a loud snort.

"What, me take over him?" he said and pointed up in the sky, "You think it's easy to take over a Saiyan? Believe me, I've tried, look at what remains of me. I had to pump him full of drugs to keep him from rejecting me. Believe me or not, but I no longer have any interest in taking over your friend."

"Then what do you want?" Angel asked as he also disengaged himself from the Goa'uld's embrace.

"We have mutual objectives," the Goa'uld said as he returned to his table where he picked up his wineglass for another sip, "Let's just say that his enemy is also my enemy. And because of that I want him to survive just as much as you do."

The Goa'uld put down his wineglass and as soon as he did the scene changed. They were now on a large windswept plateau in a desert, with a sweltering heat clamping down on them. As Buffy looked around she saw a group of men standing behind them gathered around a crater. She recognized most of them immediately. Goku, Vegeta, Belmo, Yamcha, Piccolo, Bulma. And few others she hadn't seen yet. A long haired Saiyan looking child who was undoubtedly Gohan. The short one just had to be Krillin. The only guy alive with a worse dating record then Xander and those nerds she knew from High school combined. And a large bald man who would look pretty handsome if it weren't for a third eye stuck prominently on his forehead. Talk about ew, ew and ew! That had to be Tien.

Then Piccolo began to speak. He spoke of how on a certain date at a certain place two androids would come and begin a reign of terror that would lead to humanity's end.

"Goku will not be with us when we face those Androids," Piccolo said, "for he will die even before that. The mightiest Saiyan of our time will succumb to a simple heart disease for which there wasn't any cure yet at the time."

And there the scene froze, causing Buffy and Angel to look at the smug looking Goa'uld.

"There," he said smug, "Need I say more?"

"You're actually claiming Belmovekk's dying from this very same heart disease?" Angel said surprised as he pointed at the frozen Goku. The Goa'uld nodded smugly.

"Talk about irony," Buffy said as she began to walk around the frozen figures, halting to see Goku up close, "the very same disease that would end up killing Goku was created by the mayor to kill a Saiyan."

"No wonder there was no cure," Angel said as he joined Buffy, "how could there be. We don't even have it yet."

Suddenly the scene started again and Goku held up a small bottle full of pills.

"Except there is now, Piccolo," Goku said, "he gave it to us, remember?"

"Yes, Goku," Piccolo sighed annoyed at being interrupted by Goku, "future Saiyan gave you the cure for that disease."

The scene froze again and Buffy and Angel looked at each other.

"There is a cure," they said in unison, "Goku has the cure!"

Buffy jumped into Angel's arms and began to kiss him wildly.

"No need to thank me," Amūn said as he sat down in his comfy chair again and reached for his glass of wine on the table, both of which had now also materialized in this scene.

Buffy let go of Angel and turned towards the Goa'uld.

"This isn't over," she said pointing her index finger at him, "but let's say, for now you've proven your worth."

And with that both Buffy and Angel began to disappear as the telepathic connection was being severed. As they did Amūn brought two fingers to his head to give them a salute.

"Remember kids that the avatar of the Master shall save the day," he said to the disappearing twosome. Then he found himself alone amidst Goku's friends frozen in time. Amūn emptied his glass, put it down and looked to his right. Then he began to bark like a dog.

"Woof, woof! Now that's my other dog imitation."

Things weren't going well, Sergeant Burns thought as he watched the current shouting match going on in the base briefing room. And to think it all started relatively well.

He and the others had been scouring the town looking various creepy crawlies of the non-human persuasion. For once the rules of engagement had been relatively simple. If its human don't touch it unless they get in the way, in which case a little roughing up was allowed. If it's a demon on the harmless list, rough it up and give it a one way bus pass. If not on the friendly list, kill it. Hell, those were the best ROE's he'd had in his entire military career. He wished he had similar ROE's during his tours in Bosnia. Plus killing a demon was like a low calorie hit on the conscience. While killing humans could be tough, especially up close, Burns had discovered that killing a demon was actually quite satisfying.

Of course there was a certain knack to it Burns had learned. While some demons died extremely messy, vampires in particular made for clean kills, completely disappearing in a cloud of dust. Probably too clean as their local expert, the Harris kid, explained as he demonstrated what he called the 'pillage, then burn' technique. Stun 'm first so you can check them for valuables, only then kill them. The Harris kid also proved to be of enormous value in identifying the various demon species for the friendly list. All in all he had made quite a favorable impression. For a civvie he had the chops and he knew what he was doing. He now understood why the Jaffa thought so highly of him.

Around noon they had returned from what the Harris kid had euphemistically called operation Kill Demon Kill. It wasn't particularly original, but after serving in the army for years Burns had heard much worse names. Compared to the Harris kid originality had died in the Pentagon decades ago.

Upon return to the base they heard that there was no change in status regarding their Saiyan CO. Still dying with still no new doctor present. They were about ready to get some grub, hit the showers and then the sack when one of the Jaffa commanders came in to tell them to come to the briefing room.

When Burns arrived he found most of the trainees present, Belmovekk's Bastards as they had started to call themselves. Burns walked over to the captain.

"What's going on, sir?" he asked, "with all due respect, it's been a long night, we're hungry and we're tired."

"It's okay, sergeant," Captain Riley said as he gave Burns an encouraging pat, "I've asked the canteen to send us some food. Have a seat."

Burns didn't like having to wait for food and sleep, but hey, this was the army. Shit like this happened all the time. So he sat down in front of the other troops. The three commanders waited until the last of their 32 men had arrived. 10 Free Jaffa, 10 Sons of Priya Jaffa, 8 from the US armed forces, and one British, one French, one German and one Russian officer, all by the terms of what major Davis called the Stargate Oversight Treaty. Seeing that everyone was present and the briefing about to begin Burns rose and shouted.

"ATTENHUT!"

All the men rose and stood to attention. Including the Jaffa, although they did it more out of respect to their Tau'ri colleagues then respect for the chain of command.

"Be seated," Riley said and everybody sat down again, "I've talked this over with Firsts Ma'el and Ru'Pel and we've both come to the conclusion that we're in unchartered territory here. Our Satiya has fallen away and may most likely not even survive the coming days. That means we're more or less left on our own in a town where a hostile force is preparing to wreak havoc and devastation to the townspeople and who knows what else of the continental USA. As an officer of the US Army I'm honor bound to stop this from happening."

"Now it would so happen that our allies, the civilian group centered around Miss Summers are reluctant to send for outside help. Our Satiya agreed and by oath we had to heed to his decisions. But circumstances have changed now that our Satiya is dying. I think, and Firsts Ma'el and Ru'pel agree with me on this, that since our Satiya is unable to lead us, our previous duties now take precedence. We cannot allow this mayor to ascend to whatever it is that he's planning to do. We must contact the SGC and ask for help."

"But we strongly feel that this is a decision not to be taken likely," First Ma'el said as he stepped forward next to Riley, "The Disciple of Aldur has spoken out against bringing in the SGC. He clearly desired no outside interference. Since we are sworn to him we feel that we cannot make this decision for you. Therefore we must decide this together."

"We're going to vote?" a soldier said out behind Burns. Burns could hardly believe it himself. Democracy in the army? That truly was the end of it. Game over, man! He could see that the captain didn't like the idea, so it could only have come from the Jaffa. Especially those Sons of Priya idiots. Alright. Best to get it over with quickly.

"Alright, you heard the man. Who's in favor?" Burns said as he arose and turned around to face the troops. 12 hands rose without thinking into the air on the human side. Not surprisingly none rose from the Sons of Priya section. That left the Free Jaffa as tie breakers. Slowly a hand rose in the air, that made 13. Then another, 14. And another, 15. And finally came another, 16. They were now tied. Of the three commanders Riley had his hand in the air, with Ma'el clearly abstaining. Rue Paul looked at Riley, then Ma'el and realized he could cast the deciding vote.

"Don't," Ma'el said shaking his head.

"I have to," Rue Paul said and stuck his hand up, "This is not our world, nor our battle."

As soon as he did the remainder of the Free Jaffa followed. 22 in favor.

"Alright," Captain Riley nodded, "then we're in agreement. We're going to call in support."

"Zey're not going to like it though," the French officer said, "especially ze Slayer."

Captain Riley just shrugged.

"With all due respect to Miss Summers, I swore no oath to her," he said, "So if she doesn't like it she can kiss my..."

Before he could finish the door was kicked open and a man came running in with a large smoking towel draped over him, making for the darkest corner of the room.

"Coming through, coming through," came the voice of what could only be the only remaining legal demon left in town. The vampire ex of the object in question. Which could only mean that...

"She can kiss what, Captain Cardboard?"

Aw crap, Burns thought as Blondie the Terrible walked in, followed by her friends.

"Having a secret meeting, gents?" she said as she walked past the men towards Captain Riley, stopping defiantly in front of him, "well, captain, what's it gonna be?"

"With all due respect, Miss Summers, this is a military meeting," Riley said as he stood his ground, "and last time I checked you are not part of the US military."

"Neither are they," Buffy waved towards the Jaffa.

"We brought them here, they're subject to our rules," Riley said calmly, "You on the other hand are not."

"Oh, really?" the Slayer said, her voice going up an octave.

"Buffy," the older Librarian said as he stepped up to avert a confrontation, "maybe we should..."

She cut him off and glared menacingly at Captain Riley.

"You think you know it all, captain," she said condescending, with extra venom on the word captain, "think that because you killed a few demons in town you and your toy soldiers know better what to do then we do. We've been fighting these things long before you came along. And I'm telling you, calling for help is wrong. You'll only end up getting more people killed."

Riley raised his chin.

"I'm still a soldier in the United States army and as a soldier I have a duty to inform my superiors."

"You're an idiot," Blondie snorted.

"Buff, you're not helping here," the Harris kid interjected, "the 'you're so stupid' speech ain't gonna rouse the troops."

Blondie shot a brief annoyed look at the Harris Kid, then she turned around and stepped back.

"Look, Miss Summers, with all due respect…," Riley said but she interrupted him.

"Funny how they always say with all due respect just before they take a crap on you."

"With all due respect, Miss Summers, but you're still a kid," Riley replied coolly. Causing Burns to suck in some air. This was going to get ugly as Blondie slowly turned towards Riley.

"Listen up, Captain Cardboard," she said even cooler, and then the shouting really began.

And then came a loud bang, like somebody exploded a flashbang grenade. With the windows still vibrating all eyes turned to the source of the loud bang, which turned out to be Shortie, the short blonde kid of Blondie's gang.

"Enough," he yelled angry, "your tearing each other apart and he's laughing his ass off!"

The kid pointed towards Sunnydale City Hall.

"All you're doing right now is playing into his hands," the kid continued, "What are more soldiers going to do? Faith will slaughter them all! And your bosses may end up thinking that throwing a nuke on us is the only way to be sure. Do you want that on your conscience?"

"Oz is right," the Harris kid said, "we have to work together. We need you guys. Help us."

"But we have to call for help," Captain Riley said, "it's our duty as a soldier. With Belmovekk out that duty takes precedence again."

The Harris kid smiled and put his hands together in front of him.

"So let me get this straight," he said with a smile that was way to sly, "Because you swore an oath to the Big Guy that took precedence over your previous military oath?"

"Yes," Riley said and the Harris kid continued.

"But now that the Big Guy's out of the race your old oath takes over again?"

"Yes." Riley said and the Harris kid really began to look pleased with himself.

"And the oath you swore was a Saiyan oath?"

Riley nodded and the Harris kid really looked like he had reached smugfactor 9.

"Then you are screwed, captain. In Saiyan culture an oath sworn to the head of a Saiyan household automatically transfers to his successor. So you're now duty bound to follow that person."

"But no such person exists," Riley objected, then his shoulders dropped and he rolled his eyes, "You've got to be shitting me!"

The Harris kid went to stand behind Blondie and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Meet Buffy, adoptive daughter of house Movekk," he smirked. Blondie looked over her shoulder at the Harris kid.

"I'm so glad you're back," she smiled, then they high fived.

"I so hate my life right now," Riley muttered defeated, then the captain drew himself together and stood to attention, "So what are your orders, Miss Movekk?"

The sudden surrender by Captain Riley came as a surprise to Buffy. Just as Xander's sudden bombshell. Oh, did he look so ever full of himself right now. And she still wasn't sure if she liked it. Buffy Movekk. It just didn't roll right of her tongue. But it had swayed the argument so she'd better roll with it.

"Thank you, captain," she said trying to sound as gracious as possible, "As it so happens, contrary to what you're thinking we do have a plan."

With no more demons around town (except the ones they had stashed deep underground) Sunnydale felt so empty, Faith thought as she peered out of the window of Wilkins' office in City hall. They were also short on any information regarding B. and her friends. They had at least succeeded in that. And even though Wilkins was confident he could anticipate B.'s every move Faith wasn't so sure. Even though she hated her alter ego now with a passion she still had to admit B. was a dangerous opponent. Especially when cornered. And a cornered rat was a dangerous one. She might be able to pull a fast one.

And then there was the military connection. While Faith was confident she could take on most conventional forces the US military could deploy against them, she did know that the Saiyan had given them a spaceship powerful enough to lay waste to the planet. And then there were other means to take down a stronger opponent. She should know. She had used one on Big B.

Taking down Big B. however had opened a Pandora's box. She was fairly certain that while Big B. ran shotgun over his toy soldiers there was no way he was going to bring Wilkins to the attention of the US government. She was not so certain no one was going to alert the government in his absence. And it was still Ascension Day minus two.

"Why are you so worried, young lady?" Wilkins asked, as he looked up from working at his desk. Faith turned around and looked at her boss.

"Why aren't you, boss?" she asked in return, "Why aren't you worried they're going to call in the army?"

Wilkins gave a slight chuckle, then he returned his attention back to the work on his desk.

"I have faith in you, Faith. And I have faith in Buffy."

Faith shook her head.

"As Oz used to say, that's the kind of sense that's not."

Wilkins shrugged and reached for a new piece of paper.

"Speaking of your former partner, has he and his charming girlfriend already left town?" Wilkins asked casually.

"No," Faith said, sounding a little regretful.

"You do realize that if they don't leave they could die with the rest of this town, don't you?" Wilkins said.

"I know," Faith said as she returned her gaze to the outside world. When she had joined Wilkins' side she had made only condition. No direct harm was to befall Oz and Red. Not that she liked Red much, but she was his girl and because she mattered to him, she mattered to Faith as well. Of course if they were to break up all bets were off….

It worried her that Oz was still in town. He was the one person in Sunnydale who had always stood by her. Who had gotten in immense trouble over it with Red. And now they were at opposite sides of the fence. Stupid little brother and his obsession with that red-haired witch! He should have been at her side right now. He had his doubts about B. just as much as she had. At the very least he should have nabbed Red and buggered off. Preferably somewhere very far away. But now Ascension Day neared and he was still in town. She could only do so much to keep him alive on that day. And Sunnydale wasn't going to be a place you wanted to be in come that day. Not unless you were on the right side. There was a big chance his stubborn refusal to take Red and leave would him killed.

It hadn't been easy these past weeks either. Especially during the scuffle over the Box of Gavroc when Red had been caught red-handed in Wilkins' office. She had been traded for the box but Faith was damn sure that if Wilkins had learned Willow was a sorceress now, and not just a lowly witch like he still assumed, that he would never have traded her and sucked her dry for every bit of power she had. And then make a grab for the box. For those versed in black magic like Wilkins sorcerers seemed to be like heroin to a junkie. She may be powerful but she still was no match to her new boss. It wouldn't be pretty.

But he still didn't know she was a sorceress. Despite having made her choice Faith couldn't bring herself to betray Red because she knew it would crush Oz. But she couldn't let Red interfere either. The solution was elegant and simple. She just let it be known that the moment Willow used her powers against her or Wilkins, he would learn the truth and then they'd really be in a world of hurt. So far it seemed to be working as Wilkins, who was quite attuned to anyone using magic in Sunnydale hadn't noticed her, other then the odd minor spell.

Which brought her back to her current dilemma. If despite his best efforts he still didn't know Red was a sorceress, what else could he have missed?

As she worried Wilkins looked up and stopped working. He stood up and walked towards her until he stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"I told you, young lady," he said in his fatherly voice, the one he reserved for when he wanted to put her at ease, "I have absolute faith that you can handle any threat they can send on us."

"Even the government?" Faith asked looking over her shoulder.

"Especially the government," Wilkins smiled. And not his political smile. This was the smile he reserved for only a very few. The last person to see it had been his wife Edna Mae whom he had married when he had still been Wilkins the First. He had loved her dearly, even though she resented him for not aging like she did. He had told Faith he had stayed with her until the end though. Which came when he had to kill her because he could no longer explain why his wife was so much older then he was. Still didn't mean he stopped loving her though. To this day he still delivered a dozen roses, hand picked and bought by himself, on her grave on their wedding day.

Faith wasn't particularly re-assured by his confidence, but it did feel good that he trusted her so much. He then gave her a quick peck on the cheek and returned to his desk.

"And like I said I have absolute faith that Buffy Summers will be stubborn enough to resist calling for help from the government," he said calmly as he reseated himself, "and that her friends are loyal enough to indulge her on that."

"And Big B.'s toy soldiers?" Faith asked, "What's stopping them from calling for aid?"

Wilkins chortled again.

"Never underestimate the power of an oath made by people handpicked for their sense of honor and loyalty by a man who lives by it," he said before opening a new report.

"I hope you're right," Faith replied. Then she saw something shoot into the sky from the Air Force base, speeding like a rocket in a blaze of white chi.

"I think they just proved you wrong, boss," Faith said, "Someone just took off in an awful hurry. And I don't think they're going for a pizza delivery."

"Is that somebody flying towards the Pacific Ocean?" Wilkins asked without looking up.

"It looks that way," Faith said as she followed whoever it was for as long as she could with her senses. She had a pretty good idea who it was.

"Then everything still goes as I've foreseen."

"Let me get this straight," Captain Riley said in front of his gathered men in the Air Force base briefing room after Xander had left, "Your brilliant plan is to call in another Saiyan, who just so happens to own the cure for our Satiya's illness? You refuse to call in for help from the military, but another Saiyan…. That's your plan?"

"We're still working on it," Buffy pouted back. Riley wanted to say something, instead he hit his face with his hand and facepalmed himself. What on Earth had convinced him to actually accept that Harris kid's line of reasoning?

"Actually, I see many possibilities here," First Ma'el interjected, "if this other Saiyan has a cure we would get the Disciple of Aldur back."

"And double our strength," Rue Paul added, "I mean no disrespect to your fellow warriors, Captain Riley, but Satiya outclassed us by so far he was off the scale. This Goku could be of great use to us."

"Think about it sir," Sergeant Burns whispered in Riley's ears, "She'd no longer be in charge as well."

"Tempting," Riley said almost smiling.

"Hey, I heard that!" Buffy said angry.

"Good," Riley said back, "then I don't have to re…."

"Grub's here!" Burns yelled as he saw the doors open again and a cart full of food being wheeled in. Rubbing his hands in glee he winked at Riley.

"Permission to stuff our faces while you two continue to trade repressed sexual tensions, sir?"

Sergeant Burns didn't even await Riley's approval and made for the food cart, as did the rest of the men. Leaving Riley and Buffy to look at each other uncomfortably.

"He, uh, sometimes has this, um, crazy sense of humor," Riley stammered.

Buffy just eyed Riley wearily, before letting out a loud snort.

"Don't flatter yourself, Captain Cardboard, you're so not my type," she said coldly, "as far as I'm concerned you're just a military name-tag person."

"Thank God for that," Riley sighed relieved.

Meanwhile at the food cart the men were stuffing their faces and another food cart was being wheeled in by a cafeteria girl.

"Finally," Burns said as he bit into a chicken sandwich, "It won't win any stars but at least there's plenty of it. Keep it commin'."

As Burns and the others ate the first cart empty Giles, Wesley and the two Jaffa commanders came by, gripped in discussion.

"Look, Master Giles," Ru'pel said respectful, "it was not a matter of us not trusting you, but we are not of this world. In the matters that concern the Tau'ri we must defer to the Tau'ri's judgment. For instance, we know next to nothing what this Ascension means and why this leader Wilkins wants to ascend."

CLANG!

With a loud clang the cafeteria girl had dropped a tray full of sandwiches.

"Careful, love," Burns said as he hunched down to help her pick up the food, "we still have to eat those."

Instead of welcoming his help the cafeteria girl avoided everyone's gaze and gestured for Burns not to help her.

"No, please," she said, her voice almost trembling, "it's okay, I…"

"It's okay, love," Burns said as he handed her the tray, "nobody's mad at you. Accidents ha…."

"Good God," Librarian's voice said behind Burns, sounding pretty bewildered, "Anyanka?"

The Cafeteria girl froze and her face turned into a grimace as she realized that she had been recognized.

"Look, I'm not doing anything, just trying to earn a living," she stammered, looking like a deer caught in the headlights of a car going 100 miles an hour, "I'm no longer a vengeance demon, honest, you guys saw to that."

"You guys know her?" Riley asked as he worked himself to the front of the crowd.

"Oh, we do," Buffy said as she stepped to the front as well and gazed hard on Anya, who averted her face and looked downwards, "she's a former vengeance demon."

"She tricked me into opening some kind of temporal portal," Willow said accusingly, "If she's here it can only spell more trouble."

"What is a vengeance demon," Ma'el asked.

"Ever heard of the expression that you should be careful what you wish for, because you may get it?" Oz asked, "Well, they're the reason that you should be careful what you wish for. Cause they can make you have it."

"Vengeance demons prey upon those who have been hurt or aggrieved," Giles further explained, "once their victim makes a wish they use that wish to make it come true."

"That don't sound so bad?" Burns said puzzled.

"Think of it like this, GI Joe," Buffy said pointing at Anya, "She used to be the patron saint of scorned women. I'm sure a big boy like you has been around in the world. What if one of those women you've been with wishes for you to develop genital herpes, the clap, gonorrhea, followed by your dick falling off. Would you still think it ain't so bad?"

Burns's eyes lit up and he, together with some of the other men raised their hands towards Anya and energy balls began to develop.

"THE BITCH MUST DIE!" they yelled in unison Only to have step in front of them.

"Stand down, Romeos," she said, "she's human now. And there will be no killing of humans on my watch."

Burns didn't immediately reply, instead he looked at Riley.

"Stand down, sergeant," Riley said calmly, "that is an order. That goes for all of you."

As the energy attacks were re-absorbed Anya sighed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks," Anya said towards Buffy.

"I didn't do it for you," Buffy said coolly, "but Willow is right. You are trouble. Now go be trouble somewhere else."

"I see," Anya said downcast, then she turned around and walked towards the door. She had almost reached the door when she turned around.

"One thing though," she asked, "Did I hear correctly that somebody's planning an ascension?"

It took Xander three hours to reach a certain home in Sichuan province in China. It should have been a testament to his growing strength as a chi fighter. But his heart just wasn't quite in it. Oh sure, he enjoyed giving the army captain a metaphorical wedgie, but he was still surprised it had actually worked. Come on, his reasoning was flimsier then a size zero super model. There was no way in hell that a military officer would accept his reasoning. Buffy Movekk indeed! He strongly suspected that destiny had something to do with it. Both of them.

Still, Buffy Movekk, it should have been hilarious, his crowning achievement. Including the look on Buffy's face. And yet it didn't really amuse him. It would seem that he left behind his cheer in El Paso, together with a certain somebody.

Trying not to dwell on things that couldn't be helped and not really succeeding in finding other things to distract him Xander overflew the Philippines and then made over the South Chinese Seas where he made for Vietnam, then Laos, over Northern Myanmar before heading north towards Sichuan. Chinese radars weren't as advanced as the American radars in picking them up, but he did remember that more primitive Russian radar could also notice them. And he knew from history lesson that the Chinese copied most of their gear from the Russians. So it was better to be safe then sorry. This should have made his three hour journey even more impressive.

The final approach into Sichuan Xander could notice Goku's insanely huge chi guiding him in, like a massive beam of light that made the moon light up. It would seem Xander didn't have to worry about his Awesomeness not being home. And there was most definitely a tinge of that 80's reject as well. So it would seem Piccolo had ended his Mexican desert seclusion and joined the Simple One again.

Soon thereafter he encountered the dynamic duo. Or was it the truculent threesome since Goku's son Gohan was with them, as they awaited him in mid air.

"Hey, Xander," Goku said cheerfully as he held up an arm to greet Xander, "What brings you back here?"

"Pff," Piccolo snorted, "isn't it obvious? He only comes our way if something's wrong with Belmovekk. First he was depressed, then he got taken over by aliens. A thousand Yuan his too clever to be good sensei got himself in a world of hurt again?"

"Aw come on, Piccolo," Goku said incredulously, "surely it can't be that bad? I'm sure Xander's here to give us the invitation to Belmovekk's wedding, right."

"He can send you an invitation by mail, remember," Piccolo said curtly, "he doesn't need risking his sorry butt flying all the way from America. Especially with Belmovekk's army buddies being able to track him."

"Maybe he knows I don't have a letterbox," Goku replied deadpan.

"I….," Piccolo said, then he shook his head and hit his head with his hand so he could facepalm himself.

"Was it something I said, Piccolo?" Goku asked concerned.

"Look you guys," Xander interjected, "I'd like to be able to prove the old Pickle wrong, but unfortunately he's right."

"Ha! Told you!" Piccolo said triumphantly, then he turned towards Xander and glared, "Old Pickle?"

You know, they were right, Xander thought. Once you stared down an army of elite mooks in some far away dimension, lost and got tortured mercilessly, the people that once scared you no longer held fear for you.

"A mere sign of affection," Xander said equivocatory before turning to Goku again, "look, Goku, do you remember how Future Guy gave you that heart medicine?"

It took another round of facepalm and explanation by Piccolo before Goku finally understood what Xander meant.

"Yeah, I got still got that," he said, "Chichi keeps it in the medicine cabinet."

"Then can I have some?" Xander asked hopeful, "Cause that virus is currently throwing a hootenanny inside the Big Guy's heart, and it's chock full of hoot, with just a total absence of nanny."

"NO YOU'RE NOT TAKING THAT MEDICINE WITH YOU TO BELMOVEKK'S!"

Even at a safe distance Xander could hear Chichi's screeching voice as he and Piccolo stood outside the Son house. The Saiyan had said he would get the medicine from Chichi. It was the bravest thing Xander had seen anyone do.

"But Chichi," Goku's voice protested, "Belmovekk needs it or he dies."

"YOU NEED IT TOO, IDIOT! OR HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT YOU WILL DIE FROM IT AS WELL?"

"But he will die otherwise," Goku's voice countered.

"SCREW HIM! YOU'RE MY HUSBAND! AND WHAT IF YOU BRING THE DISEASE BACK AND GOHAN GETS IT?"

"But Chichi, Xander said that so far only Belmovekk has it, everyone else is okay. Even his children."

Some general obscenities followed that made Xander cringe as the discussion went on.

"Whatever possessed Goku to marry her," Xander said to Piccolo. Who looked pretty spooked as he said that.

"Careful," he said, "she might hear you."

"We're 200 feet away from their house," Xander said pointing to the Son house, "how could she possibly hear us?"

Piccolo facepalmed himself again, then rolled his eyes.

"And he grew up on a Hellmouth," Piccolo sighed, then he leaned over to Xander, "don't be so sure she can't hear you. She's Chichi, Goku's crazy wife. And in answer to your question, she fought with him to force him to marry her."

"Why am I not surprised," Xander said back, "poor guy."

Piccolo used his ears to triangulate where Chichi was before speaking.

"Well, if you think about it, who else would be stupid enough to put up with her?" he then chuckled, "Anyone else would have either run away, or killed her."

"Match made in heaven," Xander echoed, then he looked at the Son house again, "It's getting awfully quit in there though. Do you think…."

Piccolo triangulated again, then he shook his head.

"Nah, say what you will about that idiot, but once she's exhausted herself and he's truly got his mind set on something he manages to get his way."

"Goodie!"

It took another 15 minutes but then Goku emerged from his house holding up a small vial of pills.

"Got it," he said grinning.

"Great!" Xander said relieved, "Now if you could give it to me I'll be on my way. Unless you want to come along of course."

Xander said the last sentence hopeful. Before the Saiyan could answer a bag was thrown out of the door of the Son household and then loudly slammed shut.

"Unless our glorious leader wants to spend the night outside I don't think he has any other options," Piccolo smirked.

"Air Goku it is then?"

The last time Air Goku had brought Xander to just outside the house Belmovekk had been in. Expecting the same kind of accuracy Xander was surprised to say the least when this time Goku's instant transmission brought them to some forest instead.

"This isn't Sunnyhell," Xander said as he looked around. It seemed familiar somehow. Goku was equally surprised.

"This, this hasn't happened before?" he said flummoxed as he scratched the back of his head.

"Your wife finally hit you with one frying pan to many?" Piccolo said derisively.

"I don't understand," Goku said, I aimed for the highest power in Sunnydale. I should have gotten there instantly. It's like we were deflected or something."

"Careful Goku," Piccolo said making fun of the Saiyan, "you're using way too many difficult words."

Normally Goku took Piccolo's mockery in good spirit, but now he seemed short on it as he shot back a quick annoyed glance.

"This seems familiar somehow," Xander said as he examined the clearing they had appeared into, "it feels like I've been here before."

"We've gotta be close," Goku said as he began to walk towards the clearing's edge, "I can feel those powers, two large ones and lots of smaller ones."

"Not to mention the stench of that damn Hellmouth," Piccolo said as he sniffed the air, "we can't be that far away."

"I think we're in the Sunnydale Flats," Xander said and pointed to a part of the clearing, "this is where the Big Guy chased me and Buffy when he turned Ozaru."

Xander pretended to be an ape dragged his knuckles across the clearing.

"Mmmmm, Ozaru smash, Ozaru kill."

"Don't joke about such things," Piccolo said annoyed, "you don't know what you talk about, kid."

"Maybe I do?" Xander said and danced most apelike around Piccolo. Meanwhile Goku wandered off towards the edge of the clearing.

"It's like I bounced off something, a shield or something," Goku mused out loud then he stopped and touched something invisible, "What have we here?"

Piccolo came up next to Goku and touched the same invisible barrier Goku had touched.

"Hmm," Piccolo said after he felt up the barrier for a while, "this isn't chi."

"My thoughts exactly," Goku said.

"You think this is what's keeping us from the 'Dale?" Xander asked as he joined the two.

"Gotta be," Goku said, "I was aiming for the biggest power and it deflected me."

"You do realize the biggest power in Sunnydale right now is Faith, right?" Xander said, "and she's with that creep Wilkins in City Hall, supposedly some big ass mage with his own funny shield to hide behind."

"A mage huh," Piccolo mused as he poked the barrier some more, "that could explain this."

"I'm still sensing several powers in town, "Goku said to Xander, "do you want me to try again?"

"Normally I'd say hell no, barriers like this are bad," Xander said as he poked the barrier himself, feeling a spongy kind of resistance, "and I know a particular captain who will be pissed once he learns it's too late to bring in reinforcements. But we're in a hurry. Just don't aim for the biggest power though. As materializing next to Faith and the mayor would probably be bad, m'kay? Aim for the second highest, that'd be Buffy."

"If you say so," Goku said as he put two fingers on his forehead, "hang on."

Captain Riley was leading the men in a series of slow forms, akin to T'ai Chi. They had a lot on their mind lately and with their Satiya out of commission they had little to do but wait while their commanders discussed possible actions. And since the dawn of time commanders knew from bitter experience that idle troops were a ticking time bomb. Especially after the men had learned what Ascension truly meant. Since he felt he had little else to contribute to the discussion but wanting to put his hands around Blondie's neck Riley volunteered to keep the troops busy with exercise. Not only did it keep the men busy, it also helped to calm his own mind.

It therefore came as no surprise that when suddenly a big green giant, with a white turban, a white cape and the biggest shoulder pads since Dynasty, appeared out of nowhere just inches away from his swinging fist he was kinda surprised.

Even more when that giant reacted with lightning fast speed to take his hand and twist it in a very painful hold, causing Riley to fall to the ground.

"Watch where you're going with that hand, soldier boy," the green giant said curt, then he applied just a little extra pressure to a painful pressure point for good measure before letting go.

The pain had been excruciating and even though Riley didn't have the time to cry out in pain, yelp or cry out in any form, it left him gasping for air. As he did the cry went out behind him.

"DEMON!"

At least two dozen energy attacks were being charged before somebody stepped in front of the green giant.

"No! Don't! They're friends!"

It was the Harris kid.

"He has a funny way of showing it," Riley said as he stood up again, holding his now numb hand, "Stand down, people."

The two dozen energy attacks were re-absorbed.

"Who're these people, Piccolo?" a third guy dressed in a bright orange gi said. His hair looked even crazier then their Satiya. It could only be that other Saiyan Blondie had been talking about.

"It's gotta be that Saiyan's band of toy soldiers," the green giant replied to other Saiyan, "you know, the one he told us he was going to train."

"Oh," other Saiyan merely said, then he began to grin in childish enthusiasm, "maybe I could spar with them later, check them out."

Smack!

The green giant gave himself a huge facepalm.

"Was it something I said, Piccolo?" other Saiyan asked concerned. Instead the green giant turned to the Harris kid.

"It wouldn't be half so bad if he wasn't so damn predictable," the green giant sighed, "Let's get this over with, take us to see that boozy beggar. Let' s go, Goku."

The green giant then grabbed other Saiyan by his shoulder and dragged him along.

"But Piccolo...," the other Saiyan complained, but the green giant wouldn't have any of it.

"We have things to do, Goku," he said, you can play with the bell-boy's toy soldiers later."

As they went towards the infirmary Riley was left with a hand which throbbed with a dull pain.

"You know, sir, with friends like these, who needs enemies?" Sergeant Burns whispered to Riley, only to see the big green giant stop, look over his shoulder and smirk briefly, before continuing.

"Aw crap, sir," Burns muttered, "you think he heard that?"

Riley chuckled.

"With ears like that, how could he possibly not, sarge?"

Again they were all present in the base briefing room. Outside the sun had set so the Slayer's pet vampire was clearly feeling more at ease again. On a table in the center of the room they had placed a large map of Sunnydale and everybody was looking at the map intently. The Slayer and her friends at one end, on the other side the three commanders with an subordinate each. And with the latest arrivals in between.

"The scouts we've sent out confirmed what the Namek Piccolo and Mr. Harris have told us," Riley said as he used a long pointer to draw an imaginary line around Sunnydale, "a circular barrier now exists around Sunnydale. Its center appears to be Sunnydale City Hall and it extends about ten miles in every direction. In the air it appears to be dome shaped going up to about three miles. So far the only way through this barrier has proven to be Mr. Goku's unique ability to teleport. Any other means to get through has failed. Including radio signals. Although oddly enough radio and TV signals do seem to be able to come in."

"So we're cut off," Buffy said.

"It would appear so, Miss Summers," Riley said, "There's no way for us to call for help or even get any. We're on our own."

Buffy nodded, then she looked away.

"Just say it," she said, "I squandered away our last opportunity to call for help."

"I'm not saying anything, Miss Summers," Riley said remaining unmoved, "I'm just stating the facts."

"I can see it in your eyes," Buffy countered.

"I'm not responsible for what you think you see in my eyes," Riley replied just a little too eager to ring true.

"Enough," Xander said, "all this bickering is getting us nowhere. What's done is done. Our priority is now stopping that Ascension. What are we going to do?"

"You want to know about the Ascension?" Oz said and walked to a door, "Well, meet the only living person who's ever been to one."

Oz opened the door and in came a girl that Xander instantly recognized.

"Alright, what's Evil Girl doing here?" he said as Anya joined them, looking very much out of place. Then she stopped and shook as she saw Piccolo.

"You!" she hissed as she took a step backwards.

"Do I know you?" Piccolo said back.

"I'm so sorry, mighty Daimyo," Anya stammered as she looked down submissively, "if I had known that they were your men I wouldn't…."

"Who is she?" Piccolo said to Xander.

"Well, she used to be Anyanka, patron saint of scorned women and all-round evil vengeance bitch," Xander said, "but now she's just Anya. An obnoxious student from Sunnydale High."

"Anyanka huh," Piccolo said, then he eyed Anya and a vicious grin appeared on his face, "now I remember. Didn't I swore an oath to cut off your liver and feed it to you one piece at a time?"

"How deliciously Hannibal Lector of you," Xander said somewhat approvingly.

"Quit toying with her, you two," Buffy said, "she's the only person we know who knows from first hand experience what an Ascension means. Just tell them what you told us, Anya."

Anya took one more swallow as she looked nervously at Piccolo, then she told her tale.

"About eight hundred years ago in the Kastka Vallies above the Urals, there was a sorcerer there who achieved Ascension. Became the embodiment of the demon Lo-Hash. I was there cursing a shepherd who had been unfaithful. His wife had wished that all his sheep would lie with...

"Back to the chase please?" Buffy interjected.

"Sorry," Anya said nervously, "Lo-Hash was ... It-it decimated the village within hours. Maybe three people got out. I've seen some horrible things in my time. I've been the cause of most of them, actually, but this..."

"Ahem, I'm sorry, but Lo-Hash was a four-winged soul killer, am I right?" Wesley said, earning a nod from Giles. Burns leaned over towards Riley and whispered.

"I still don't know what bugs me out more, sir. The girl's story or the casualness with which he identifies that demon."

Meanwhile Wesley continued.

"Now I've given your story some thought and I suddenly remembered that they're not that fierce. Of all the demons that we've faced... "

"You've never seen a demon," Anya said deadpan.

"Hello, beg to differ," Xander said as he raised a hand, "approaching three years now."

"All the demons that walk the earth are tainted, are human hybrids like vampires," Anya continued, "The Ascension means that a human becomes pure demon. They're different."

That piqued Xander's interest.

"Different? How?

Anya looked upwards, like she was trying to remember the details.

"Well, for one thing, they're bigger," she finally said, "and deadlier. Those energy blast you guys do, well, they can do them too. And they can probably kick your ass as well."

"A true demon," Giles exclaimed as he reached for his glasses and a piece of cloth. This was the second time he had heard the story and it still bugged him out.

"He could lay waste to the entire town," Wesley mused as he also reached for his glasses."

It was always a bad sign if the experts were scared shitless, Riley thought. So he joined in.

"Let's assume we can't stop this Ascension business, let's assume worst case scenario," he said and pointed to Piccolo and Goku, "could they stop it? Assuming they're as strong as our Satiya?"

The two Watchers looked at each other.

"It would depend," Giles said, "the power of a true demon could be incalculable. Humanity only got a chance because they left this realm."

"We must know what kind of demon the mayor wants to Ascend into," Wesley added.

Buffy turned to Willow.

"Will read one of the Mayor's books of Ascension. Could you tell Anya about the rituals?"

"Maybe its best if I show you," Willow said and she held up a hand, "Show!"

A ghostly book appeared above Willow's hand, it then opened and pages could be seen.

"Cool," Xander said admiringly, "Well done, Wills. Just like the Big Guy."

Being able to see the pages Anya looked at them. Occasionally she asked for the pages to flip.

"It doesn't look like Lo-Hash," she eventually said, "some of the rituals are different."

"I wish that was a relief," Giles muttered not relieved at all. If it had been Lo-Hash they may have stood a chance knowing what to do.

"What about the spiders?" Buffy asked, "The Mayor had a box of spiders that he had to eat. The Box of... I want to say Grav-Locks?"

"Gavrock," Giles sighed tired.

"He eats spiders?" Burns whispered aghast.

"It doesn't ring a bell," Anya replied, "I'm sorry, I can't help you. Can I go now? Maybe if I catch a plane I can make it to the other end of the world in time."

"It won't do you no good, kiddo," Piccolo said with thin veiled amusement, "no one can leave town. He's erected a barrier around Sunnydale."

"No!" Anya said dejected as she deflated like a balloon, "Why didn't I leave as soon as you guys said Ascension?"

"I can still get out," Goku said looking around, "I can't sense Vegeta or Tien, but I still have a lock at Krillin."

"He's with that pervert Roshi," Piccolo said, "do you really want to drop off a vulnerable girl at the biggest sexual pervert this side of the Galaxy?"

"Hey, better a sexual pervert then dead," Anya said hopeful, then she quickly added, "how bad could it be?"

"Clearly you've never met Roshi," Piccolo snorted.

Snap, snap.

Buffy snapped her fingers in front of Anya's face.

"World to Anya, world to Anya," she said annoyed, "work now, freak later. There must be something that you can remember that would be helpful."

Anya looked really hopeless as she looked at Buffy.

"I've done what I could," she said dejected, "since you're all going to die I'd rather go with that big goofy guy. I mean, now that I'm human I take sexual perverts over dying any day."

"You still have time," Buffy said and pointed to the ghostly book still floating over Willow's hand, "but anything you remember, anything you can find, it could still make a world of difference to us."

Muttering about how much she was misunderstood Anya returned to watching the ghostly images of the Ascension book Willow was recreating with the two Watchers.

Meanwhile the rest began to discuss options.

"If the mayor is going to turn into a big scary demon shouldn't we be attacking him before?" Piccolo suggested and pointed towards City Hall on the map, "I've fought against four incarnations of Freeza and I can tell you from first hand experience, it doesn't get any easier the moment they transform."

"I agree with Pickles here," Buffy said, causing Piccolo to yet give himself another facepalm, "the sooner we attack, the better."

"What has stopped you before?" Goku asked, I mean you had Belmovekk and he's stronger then me."

"People, Faith and magic," Buffy replied and pointed to an imaginary circle around City Hall, "There are too many people in the vicinity of City Hall. And Faith's stronger then me now. And she's got the home court advantage. Once you're inside City Hall nothing goes like it should. It's hard to reach full power inside, you experience sudden drains leaving you vulnerable, you can't sense your opponent. Nor do the scouters work."

"So, blow it up from the outside," Piccolo shrugged, "problem solved."

Buffy put her hands on the table and leaned over towards Piccolo.

"I'd love to, Pickles, but it also acts as a shield. I'd need a Super Saiyan to give me enough, what was the word again?"

"Yield," Oz replied.

"She called you Pickles," Goku said sniggering to Piccolo, doing his best not to fall over and roll on the floor laughing.

"Tell the others and not even the Dragonballs can revive you," Piccolo growled angry.

If Piccolo thought threats would dissuade Goku he should have known better because it was enough to send the Saiyan rolling on the floor.

"Pickles! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"I'm glad my nicknames never cease to amuse you," Piccolo sighed, "be sure to count on my support when your wife chases you with yet another frying pan."

"You never helped anyway, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Piccolo sighed again and looked at Buffy.

"You just can't call anyone by their normal name, can't you?"

"Not my fault you guys have the weirdest names," Buffy shrugged deadpan, "ever thought of changing your name to William? You look like a Willy to me."

"Never mind," Piccolo muttered, "how much yield would you need to wipe City Hall of the map."

Buffy looked at Oz and Xander, then she grabbed the map and yanked it off the table.

"Hey," Riley protested and raced towards Buffy to stop her from crumbling the map, "It's our only one."

"Enough to wipe the whole town of the map," Buffy said as Riley took the map away from her.

"Point taken," Piccolo said as Riley spread the map on the table again.

"I have an idea," Xander said.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"How about we go after Faith instead?" Xander said. Buffy shook her head, as did Riley.

"What good would that do?" the army captain said, "She's not the problem, he is."

"Kid's got a point though," Piccolo quickly added and pointed to City Hall on the map, "as long as he's holed up in there he's hard to strike at. But if we nab the girl we throw a monkey wrench in his plans. It could force him out in the open."

"I see," Riley nodded. The Namek had a point. In fact he was the first of this strange group who actually seemed to have a sense of strategy and tactics. Who would have thought?

"The idea has some merit," Rue Paul concurred, "but how to execute such plan?"

"A strategic feint perhaps," First Ma'el suggested.

"They might suspect such a move," Rue Paul countered, "it is a shame we already acted against the demons here. It might have served as a good feint. After all, it did draw her out."

Ma'el snorted.

"And if I were a normal Jaffa I would do similar," he said disdainful, "luckily Amūn taught us better then that. He once had us execute a feint within a feint that completely…"

"Not again," Rue Paul said as he slapped his forehead to facepalm himself.

"Well, actually I was thinking of something a little simpler," Xander cut short, "why not use His Awesomeness here to teleport into City Hall and let him take Faith?"

"That's a good idea," Goku echoed, then he leaned over towards Piccolo and whispered, "who is His Awesomeness?"

"I think he means you, Goku," Piccolo grinned.

"Excuse me," Buffy said, "I detect a little flaw in the masterplan. What if the mayor doesn't go after Faith and stays put?"

Looks were exchanged.

"That is a possibility as well," First Ma'el agreed.

"But we would still deprive him of a crucial ally," Piccolo quickly pointed out, "even if he stays put it would derail his plans."

"Indeed," Riley echoed, "it might even give us a chance to assault City Hall directly. Faith plus that crazy magic field spelled trouble. Without her it may not be enough to stop us."

While Riley, Piccolo and the two Firsts discussed various strategies, Buffy took Xander aside.

"I don't think you're really trying to derail Wilkins," she said to him, "I think it's Faith you're really after."

Xander put his hands on the table and leaned on them.

"She deserves our help, Buff, we put her where she is."

Buffy put her hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Look, Xan, I'll be the first to admit that it's our fault. Mine in particular. But you saw her. You heard her. She's made her choice. She doesn't want to come back. And in the bigger picture this isn't about Faith any more. It's about him."

Xander slowly shook his head.

"No," he said, "all I saw was a girl desperately trying to convince herself that she hates us. That man got to her and is filling her head with lies."

"Who's desperately trying to convince himself now?" Buffy said, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze. Xander turned his head so he could look Buffy in the eyes.

"She's a Slayer, Buff. She's made to fight evil, not side with it."

"I think you should give her a chance," Goku said as he joined the two.

"Look, your Awesomeness," Buffy said as she put her hands together in front of her, "with all due respect, do I want Faith to rescind the Dark Side? Yes. But we don't have Luke Skywalker with us to bring her back. I mean, Oz tried, he really tried. But she choose to stay with him. And they were way closer then any of us, including Xander here."

Goku didn't immediately reply, instead he pointed towards Piccolo.

"See that guy?" he eventually said, "He was once my worst enemy. And I don't mean like a bitter rival. Krillin used to be a rival, Yamcha used to be a rival. Vegeta, well, he considers me his biggest rival these days. But Piccolo, he was created out of pure spite to destroy me. He only lived to see me die. And he tried. Believe me he tried. And then I defeated him and I had a choice. Kill him and remove a great threat to world and my greatest enemy. Or give him a chance and believe that he could redeem himself. And he ended up giving up his life to safe my son. So don't give up on your friend yet. She may surprise you."

Buffy and Xander looked at each other.

"You know, you're not as, um, intellectually challenged as you look," Buffy said impressed.

Goku's face lit up from ear to ear, then he turned towards Piccolo.

"Hey Piccolo, she thinks I'm smart!"

Before the Namek had a chance to reply the doors to the briefing room opened. At least a dozen and a half of Belmovekk's trainees came in exited.

"He's back!" one of them shouted jubilantly.

"Priya be praised!"

As the little parade halted near the table it parted and Joyce became visible, pushing forth a wheelchair. Inside, covered in a blanket sat Belmovekk. He looked pale as hell, and but a shadow of himself. But his eyes looked around, clearly sound of mind.

"It's a miracle," Joyce said, tears of joy streaming down her face, "he just woke up."

"So soon?" Piccolo said to Goku," I thought you said that according to that bottle's instruction he'd be out ten days?"

The Saiyan shrugged.

"Don't ask me," he said flabbergasted, "maybe it's not the same disease."

"I guess this means you're no longer General Buffy," Xander whispered towards Buffy.

Joyce wheeled Belmovekk to the table, from there he looked around the table. And noticed Anya.

What's she doing here?" the Saiyan said, his voice trembling.

"She's helping us," Giles said, glancing briefly at Anya, "She's…, she has once witnessed an Ascension."

Belmovekk didn't reply, instead he coughed and looked at Riley.

"So what are we going to do now?" he asked weakly.

Despite having spent months outside the US military as part of a semi-private army Riley stood to attention like he would with a superior officer as he gave a short situation report of what had happened. And then he presented his plan.

"We've come to the conclusion that the best way to deal with the situation is to take the offensive. We propose that the girl Faith be taken out as to lure out the mayor. Or at best leave him more vulnerable. Maybe even open to an all out direct assault."

"Who is we, Captain Finn?" Belmovekk asked.

Riley looked around himself.

"Well, me, Firsts Ma'el, Ru'pel and, um, the Namek Piccolo."

"I see," Belmovekk nodded, then he looked at Buffy and Xander, "do you agree?"

Xander first looked at Buffy, then he shook his head.

"We just want to get Faith," Xander said, "She's one of us. We failed her once, we owe it to her not to fail her again."

"I see," Belmovekk said, then he looked at Buffy, "and what do you think, young lady?"

Faith walked into her boss' office and found him seated behind his desk, behind a box she recognized as the box of Gavrock. Wilkins carefully lifted off the lid, reached inside and took out one of those gross spiders. Next he replaced the lid and held up the struggling spider by its legs, then he lowered the creature in his open mouth and chewed on it with gusto.

"You're wicked gross, boss," Faith said frowning. Still chewing Wilkins looked at her and chuckled. Then he swallowed.

"Well, you don't have to watch," he said as he reached inside the box for another spider, "Just, you know, go have a lie down, relax, take it easy. It's a big day tomorrow."

Faith shook her head in a bored manner.

"You gotta give me something to do. There's no way I'm sleeping. Don't you need anyone dead? Or maimed? I can settle for maimed."

"You little firecracker," Wilkins said approvingly as he bit the head off another spider.

Faith dropped onto the sofa that stood in the opposite corner and then put her feet on the glass table.

"My mom used to call me that when I was little. I was always running around," she said wistfully, then she sighed and looked away. As he chewed the last of the spider's legs Wilkins gave her a concerned look. Then she looked at him again.

"Tomorrow, at the Ascension and all that, am I going to get to fight? "

Wilkins nodded in response.

"Probably," he finally said, "until I ascend. They won't give up without a fight."

"So you'll still need me in there?"" Faith asked.

"Always," Wilkins smiled. Meanwhile Faith looked away and went deep down memory lane

"When I was a kid, a couple of miles outside of Boston there was this quarry. And all the kids used to swim there and jump off the rocks. And there was this one rock like forty feet up. I was the only one that would jump off it. All the older kids were too scared."

"Not you though," Wilkins said, upon which Faith shook her head.

"Naah. I could do it easy."

Wilkins chuckled and reached inside the box again.

"Get some rest," he said before taking out another angry protesting spider, "that's an order."

"Spoilsport!" Faith said as she got up and made for the door, "Good luck with your spiders there."

"Faith," Wilkins said just as she was about to leave his office.

"What, boss?," she said, halting in the door opening.

"While you relax, do keep an eye out. There is still an 89% chance that they're going to try something," Wilkins said.

"With your funnyshield up, boss?" Faith sniggered, then she walked out. The very idea! Ever since someone, most likely Xander, had left to get reinforcements City Hall had been in lock down mode. With the funnyshield gone from just funny to full shield mode as well. Not even a mouse could get in without them knowing. Still, the mayor was right in one respect, if she was B. she was going to try something at least to stop them. And knowing B. it could be either be a fully fledged assault to a boring lecture to her good nature.

She knew B.'s reinforcements had arrived. She sensed their arrival in Sunnydale. Two very large chi's, one of them a Saiyan. They had managed to pass through the outer barrier. She wasn't quite sure yet how, but she knew the outer barrier wasn't perfect. There were potential gaps, tunnels underground, it could be breached. It didn't matter really. The outer barrier wasn't in place to keep B.'s friends out, it served to keep Sunnydale's residents in. After all, what good's a human shield if it can be evacuated? And they served for such delicious crunchies too once your boss ascends. And the good part was that anyone who tried to leave and couldn't would just shrug it off as it was linked to what the mayor and B. called the Sunnydale effect.

Faith walked past a couple of vampires standing guard. Most of the guards now serving inside City Hall were vampires as they could pose for humans. Disgusting creatures, Faith thought, how on Earth could B. stand to be around her pet vamp?

"Evening, chief," one of the vampires said but Faith waved dismissively. By now they should have known that as far as she was concerned vamps shouldn't be seen. Let alone heard. She ignored the two vamps and made for the cafeteria. Maybe they still had something to eat.

Faith was almost there when suddenly she stopped and looked aside. Something was happening outside. Somebody was increasing their power, and increasing it rapidly. It grew to gargantuan levels, so it had to be the reinforcements B. had brought in. There was an alarm button at the end of the hallway she was in, just for such an emergency, better to sound the alarm.

She had almost reached the button when suddenly she halted as the two large powers disappeared.

"What the…." she exclaimed surprised then she heard a smoky voice growl in her ear.

"Hi, kid."

Wilkins had just finished the last of his box full of spiders and felt really powerful, ready to take on the world. And rip it apart of course. When suddenly the door of his office opened and someone came in. Or better yet, wheeled in.

"I have to admit, of all the people I expected to come in here you were the last one I'd expected," Wilkins said as Belmovekk's wheelchair came to a stop in front of his desk, "you also look better then I expected. Shouldn't you be dead by now?"

"I got better," the Saiyan merely replied.

"I bet you did," Wilkins said, "may I ask how? I've gone to a lot of trouble to tailor that virus especially for you. I'm more then usually certain that there is no cure for it."

"Is is the operative word here," Belmovekk said weakly, followed by a short cough, "no cure exists today. There will be one though in the future though."

"Don't tell me that time travel is part of your impressive arsenal?" Wilkins said, then his face lit up as he finally understood, "That guy from the future."

"Causality can be a bitch, mister mayor," Belmovekk chuckled weakly, "who would have thought that the virus you created ended up leaving the world vulnerable to the coming of the androids."

Wilkins couldn't help but chuckle with the Saiyan.

"It is sort of ironic, isn't it?" he said, then his face turned impending, "now I can guess from you sitting in a wheelchair that you're not quite recovered yet."

"I should not even be here, I should be in bed," the Saiyan said as he put both hands together in front of him, "But I have never liked spending time in the houses of healing. So I have come to offer you a deal."

"A deal?" Wilkins said curiously, "What kind of deal?"

"We have Faith," the Saiyan said bluntly. If the news hurt the mayor he didn't let it show. Instead he stood up and walked towards the window to look out.

"I see," Wilkins said, his voice sounding emotionlessly, "it would explain why you got in here in the first place."

The mayor turned around to face the Saiyan.

"I just finished eating a box load full of spiders. While they give me great power I'm sure you can imagine that eating vicious arachnids doesn't do wonders for one's mood. So give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now?"

"Maybe he has something to do with that?" Belmovekk said as he snapped his fingers. Next the door opened again and this time Goku came in. He was surrounded by a halo of white ghostly flames.

"I see," Wilkins said as Goku closed the door behind him.

"And in case you're wondering, yes, while your funny shield is having an effect he still has power to spare," Belmovekk quickly added, "maybe not enough to kill you, but enough to kill your guards.

"Just so you know, even if you do manage kill me you still will not save the people of Sunnydale," Wilkins said, "Upon news of my death a veritable army of demons will be unleashed on this town. And there are several containers with deadly gas hidden in this town as well. At the same time as my army erupts the gas will be released. Kill me and you sign the death warrant of every inhabitant of this town."

"I thought you would," Belmovekk nodded, "which is why I came here to offer you a deal."

"What?" Wilkins said back, "you want to trade Faith in exchange for me not ascending? No deal! I like the girl but everything in reason. I worked for more then a century towards this goal. Not even she's worth throwing away that kind of investment."

"I am sure she will be thrilled once she hears that," Belmovekk said as he turned his wheelchair to face Wilkins.

"She knows this," Wilkins shrugged, "I have been nothing but honest and upfront with her. Unlike you."

"Oh, but I did not come here to trade her back," Belmovekk said deadpan, "we want to keep her. We get to keep Faith, you get to ascend. Only after you ascend are all bets off again. That is the deal."

This time Wilkins did look surprised.

"Let me get this straight," he said incredulously, "in exchange for Faith, you and your friends step back, allowing me to ascend? Are you crazy?"

"I am the epitome of seriousness," the Saiyan replied and looked over his shoulder, "am I not, Goku?"

"You've got serious face all over you, Belmo" the other Saiyan smiled in a goofy grin.

"I see," Wilkins said flabbergasted, then he closed his eyes for a moment, "why would you even do such a thing?"

"Because despite her choice and our mistakes Faith is still one of us?" Belmovekk replied, "Because she deserves a shot at redemption? And because Goku here can't wait to find out your ascended form so he can test himself in battle against you."

"You've got to be kidding me," Wilkins said looking at the grinning other Saiyan, then his face turned serious again, "although it would be in character for him."

"So, do we have a deal?" Belmovekk asked. Wilkins looked at him, then at Goku again, before returning his gaze at Belmovekk again.

"No deal," he said stone-faced.

"May I know why?" Belmovekk asked. In response Wilkins pulled out a pen knife and stabbed his own hand with it. Then he pulled out the knife and held his hand up, the hole closing up until it was fully healed.

"I cannot be killed," Wilkins smiled, "Now I don't know how you got in but the dampening field should still be in effect. Neither of you can bring the kind of force to bear to kill me in here. Not even him. And even if you could it would destroy the town. The shield only stops incoming power, not outgoing power. And like I said before, there is the gas."

In response Belmovekk snapped his fingers again and Goku transformed into Super Saiyan, his white halo and hair changing to gold.

"Interesting," Wilkins said as he walked over to the transformed Saiyan, "I've heard many stories, seen the pictures, but never in person up close. How…."

"You use magic to create your funky shield," Belmovekk said as he rolled after Wilkins, "magic can also be used to overcome your funky shield. We have created a small bubble that allows us to negate your shield's effects."

It was a bluff. There was no spell. This was why Goku and Piccolo had powered up to their max, just so Goku would still have something left to go Super Saiyan. And in Super Saiyan the power drain seemed even more pronounced. Belmovekk could feel the power of his fellow Saiyan go down. They were lucky he had so much of it.

"I'm impressed," Wilkins said while he examined Goku up closely, "the eyes, they're indeed frightening to behold."

"Goku here can teleport," Belmovekk said, "if he wants too he could grab you, teleport to a deserted spot and obliterate every molecule of you. Regeneration only works as long as there is something that can regenerate. As for your gas, we will evacuate as many people as possible, but if need be, they are expendable. I am sure the US government will understand that losing a small town is preferable to having a true demon on the loose in its territory. After all, they are already covering up that they are engaged in an interstellar war, I am sure they can explain away your deadly gas as just another accident."

"I see," Wilkins nodded as he turned around to face Belmovekk, "then why not stop me now? Is she really worth that much to you?"

"Despite what she has done Faith is family," the Saiyan replied, "above all we Saiyans value family first and foremost."

Wilkins walked back to his desk and sat down.

"What will happen to her?" he asked.

"She will be taken care off for a while, but ultimately she will be free to go if she wishes," Belmovekk replied, "the deal is simple, Mayor Wilkins. Either we go to war now or we go to war later after you ascend. In the end it will be for the best for Faith though. If I read you correctly you do care for her as well. Would you not rather have it that she be safe and sound as you ascend? Chances are that when you ascend she would not have survived the coming mayhem."

He had a point there. He had grown fond of the girl these past months. And while he would sacrifice her in a heartbeat if the situation required so, part of him would like it very much if she were to survive.

"So what will it be, mister mayor?" the Saiyan asked.

"Deal," Wilkins said softly.

"Then I guess we will see each other again tomorrow," Belmovekk said and wheeled his wheelchair towards Goku

"Will you allow me to forward a message to her," Wilkins asked hesitantly.

"No," the Saiyan replied, "Be glad that she will live. It will be hard enough to undo the damage without having your last words ring in her mind."

"I see," Wilkins said sullen. Then the other Saiyan smiled and put his hand on Belmovekk's shoulder and brought the other to touch his own forehead.

"You should have taken me out when you had the chance though," Wilkins said after the two Saiyans, "Faith's a good girl, but she's not worth the suffering I will inflict on you, your friends and this town. You'll realize this once I'll eat your hearts."

The two Saiyans didn't reply. Instead they just vanished.

For a while Wilkins just sat behind his desk and stared at the wall. After a while he finally moved again and reached for his phone and dialed a number.

"It's me. Send someone below and bring him up."

A splitting headache greeted Faith as she woke up again. As an avid party girl she was no stranger to splitting headaches in the morning. And being the Slayer providing her with little compensation against such hangovers. But her habits did train her in recovering fairly quickly and the first thing that came to her mind was that the mayor was in danger. So she jumped up and looked around herself.

"Damn!"

She was no longer in the Sunnyhell City Hall.

She wasn't even in Sunnyhell any more.

By the looks of it she wasn't even in the same state any more. Hell, even the same country.

She was on top of a large rock, jutting straight out of the ground, surrounded on all sides by a sheer 300 feet drop. There were similar rocks around her and in the distance, towards the south judging by the sun, she could see a massive jungle, a green sea as far as the eye could see.

"Damn!" she said again. What did those idiots do to her?

Faith got up and extended her senses as best as her hangover allowed for. Even without her headache her chi sense had been limited at best. Like flight it had been mostly self taught. And then there had been the constant masking effect of the Hellmouth. But she had learned after the mayor had increased her power that her chi sense increased with her power. The more powerful she got, the greater her range became. Suddenly she could cover the whole of Southern California.

She now reached out with her senses in all directions. She thought she could cover far more ground now without the Hellmouth's interference but as far as her senses could reach she couldn't find anything. She tried to push out further but just couldn't.

"Damn!" Where the hell was she? Alright, time to get some bearings. She tried to jump into the air, see if she could find out where she was. But to her horror gravity was suddenly insurmountable. Worse, she fell flat on her ass and it actually hurt. It was like every bit of power had been stripped from her.

"Damn!"

This meant she was now stuck on this rocky outcrop of a few dozen square meters. Careful now that she had the powerlevel of a common yokel Faith edged towards the edge to peer down.

"Damn!"

That was some steep drop. And unlike that quarry from her youth there was no water at the bottom. It was going to be a bitch to climb down. That's if she wasn't going to die of thirst first as water seemed to be in short supply up here.

"Damn!" Faith loudly exclaimed as she sat down on a rock to think. She had always preferred to go in guns blazing, think on the fly rather then come up with an elaborate plan beforehand. But that was when she had the power that came with being the Slayer and chi training to back her up. Now she had none. It meant she had to do some stiff thinking first.

As she sat on the rock she noticed a Pokemon lunchbox lying on a different rock. She got up and went over to pick it up. She opened it and found some food and a bottle of water inside. Alright, now things looked a little better. She reached for the bottle to have a drink when she noticed that a letter lay at the bottom of the box. She sat down on the rock again, with the water bottle and the letter. First she took a big swig from the bottle to alleviate her thirst. Then she put the bottle down and opened the letter.

Hello Faith,

By now you are asking yourself where you are and why you are powerless. The last question is easy to answer. Master Giles still had some ampules of the Cruciamentum serum about. We've injected you with several shots and we think you will remain powerless for a day or two. Not enough to harm you but long enough for you to remain powerless to interfere in our battle against the mayor. As to where you are, I do not know exactly. Nor do I think it matters much.

It saddens me to say that we failed you, Faith. From the day you entered into our lives you should have been a member of our little family, but we did not. I should have been there for you, just as much as I was for Buffy, but I did not. For that I am truly sorry. We all are. And yes, so is Buffy, very much so. Our behavior was inexcusable. We will not bore you with various excuses, suffice to say that we are truly, deeply sorry.

This is why we decided to risk one last attempt to bring you back. Despite what you may think, we still think you are worth bringing back. It will cost us though, for we traded you with your former boss for a promise that we would allow him to ascend. Do not bother to return though to help him once your strength returns. By the time you read this the battle will be decided either way. Either he will be dead, or we will be. Either way he no longer has need off you.

If he survives the battle I leave you in the good care of my friend Piccolo. Unlike us he has no history with you and if you let him he can be a good friend and teacher to you, in more ways then I can recount. He can serve you far better then we ever could.

Know that if you want too you will always have a home with us again, Faith, but if you desire no more contact with us, we will have peace with that as well.

Be well,

Belmovekk

The letter was also signed by Buffy, Xander, Oz, Willow, Giles and Wesley. After reading it Faith only had one thing to say as she crumpled it.

"Damn!"

"You know, I miss her already."

Standing in his office Mayor Wilkins III (and II and I as well) peered out of the window of his town. His town! He had built it. He had founded the place in the 19th century, a small hamlet barely worth the name with it's only claim to fame a mission post and a US Army fort nearby. The Hellmouth was barely even active at the time. It's cousin in Cleveland way more active by comparison. He recognized its potential as the one place that suited his ambition.

By making it a place interesting enough for both people and demons to settle Sunnydale had been founded. Its human population a constant supply of blood and sacrifice for the vampires and demons, who with every human death by their hands contributed to the growth and increased activity of the Hellmouth. As it did Wilkins slowly gathered the means to achieve what he truly wanted, ascend to become a true demon and reap the powers that came from being such. But it had to be done slowly. He could have done it in the space of a normal human lifetime, 22 years if his calculations were correct. But the amount of constantly needed human sacrifice to empower the Hellmouth would have gone noticed. A death rate such not even his best spells could conceal if from both the authorities and Sunnydale's residents.

Best if it were done slowly. By spreading it out over a century the death rate could be kept low enough not to raise more suspicion then he could handle. And now the time was finally at hand. Powerful enemies had gathered. He had expected that. Unfortunately he didn't expect them to act in such a way as to consider retrieving the Dark Slayer more paramount then stopping him. He had expected a 82% chance that instead Faith would have died in defense of him. Or a 23% chance that she might succeed in stopping them. Never had the thought occurred that she might be the target instead.

In hindsight he could have known though. He had grown fond of the Dark Slayer in the short time that she was with him. Even developed fatherly feelings for her. He wondered, was that why he had consented so easily to the Saiyan's offer? Had let himself by clouded by his feelings? In a way it did feel good that she would be safe, that she would survive the coming storm.

He still needed a new lieutenant though, one who would rally the troops in the coming battle. The deal only specified immunity until the moment of Ascension. After that all bets were off.

So he turned around to see his visitor face to face.

It was Faith who finally filled him in on the missing pieces of his puzzle and who pointed him towards this particular possibility. She was such a clever girl.

"Can I offer you a drink?" he asked his visitor, "Coffee, tea, or something more stimulating?"

He gestured towards the cart which held his fine selection of alcoholic beverages. One of the advantages of living for as long as he had was that it provided you with the excellent opportunity to collect a fine selection of the best spirits you could find. Hell, it wasn't so much that he liked to drink, he rarely did, it was the fine art of collecting that gave the most pleasure. He was going to miss that once he was a true demon.

"No thanks," his visitor declined, "I'd rather have a beer."

It was as expected, which was why he had stocked a few cold ones, one of which he handed over to his visitor. Without a glass of course. Just as he had come to expect from him.

"Thanks!"

Wilkins poured himself a drink and sat down opposite his visitor to begin the talk for which he had brought his visitor from his hidden lair deep below.

"Let's get straight to the point shall we? I have need of a new head of security. And it just so happens that I think you fit the bill best."

His visitor took a swig from his bottle, then he looked at Wilkins with piercing eyes.

"I'm not sure," he said pensively, "I'm grateful for the hideout you've given me but I am on a mission. And so far I seem to be falling way and way further behind. When I came here it was under the promise that you'd keep me safe and would help me get what I wanted."

"It was also under the premise that you should earn your keep," Wilkins countered but his visitor shrugged.

"Compared to what you've got stashed down below I'm extremely low maintenance," the man said before taking another swig.

"Consider this your way of finally earning your keep," Wilkins said, putting down his own empty glass, "Besides, it also puts you in the best spot to get what you want. Your target is weakened and once I ascend not even his friends can protect him any more. Your mission could finally be completed."

Android #13 was in the middle of taking another swig when he heard Wilkins' words. He pondered them over for a moment, then he put down his bottle.

"Then I guess you have yourself a new lieutenant."