All Creatures Great and Small
Chapter 6
Directors Edition

Slowly all over the planet humans awoke to a world damaged buy the onslaught of Unicron's voice. Through her tenuous connection Willow felt them as they saw their homes devastated. Earthquakes ravaged countries, continents were in chaos and islands like Britain and even Australia were still being battered by the tides. While most of the major governments panicked the people, almost as one, repaired what was broken. Willow could feel their fear and grief as they grimly set about rebuilding. By some miracle there were only a few deaths and very few major injuries.

For days the world got on by, trying to fix itself. Everyone dealt with their own little part adding together as a whole. Willow and Giles spent a good two days repairing Giles' home and then they moved to the stables.
They were trying to get one of Giles's horses into it's home when it lashed out and kicked him to the floor. She was helping Giles up when Willow fell to her knees. Claws of dread pulled her down. Deep, deep down. Far beneath this dimension a great force gloated, a sickening sound full of barely disguised malice and glee. A darkness clutched the earth at her feet, the soft hay snapped like brittle twigs. 'Giles,' she gasped. The Watcher cradled her as she looked past the cracked glasses and into his eyes…

Xander rode on the back of the enormous silver dinosaur flexing his hands inside his new suit. They needed everyone they could find and Wills was one of those people. Grimlock flew over the Atlantic as super sonic speeds. They were so low that radar wouldn't detect them. Behind him Xander saw the disappearing coastline and the trail left by the two dinobots . With a thought he linked up with one of the many Autobot satellites still in orbit and started them searching for Westbury and his oldest friend.

'The Hellmouth? Are you sure Willow, it could have been a bad dream.' They were sitting in the study. Old books and papers lined the walls once again and Willow pulled her self up from the leather chair.

'No Giles. I felt it, it has teeth and it wants to start eating. When did I dream standing in a sables at 2 o'clock in the afternoon?' Willow asked as he started to clean his glasses, making numerous apologetic noises. Standing up he went for the phone. After a few grunts and a muttered curse he turned back to her.

'Worth a chance, the phones are still out. Whatever is happening could be the end of the world and we're stuck on the wrong side of the planet with no way back.'

By sunset the two of them had finished feeding the horses and they sat outside discussing what they could do. The coven was busy healing the mystical damage that they described as the death of a God, though some times they exaggerated. So a quick teleport spell was out of the question. Willow was in no shape to do that on her own. She had tried a couple of message spells, even using a scurrying mirror and vision portals but it was as if Buffy and the gang weren't home.

So now the two of them looked out at the land surrounding them. Some of the older trees were damaged but, as all living things, they would recover. With no way to contact or even find Buffy and the rest of the gang they were stuck in England, travel was just as out of the question as phones or E-mails. Willow was about to suggest going inside when the trees started moving.

Giles heard Willow gasp and saw her pointing at a small army coming from the trees. Most looked human and were wearing burlap brown habits, with them was a fair number of horned demons. Giles recognised them as Fyarl demons, something he had become over two years ago. As one, once they were out of cover, they charged.

Willow and Giles had barely enough time to close the door behind them before the attackers reached them. Bolting and barricading the door they tried to gather weapons but some of the humans came through the windows.

Their eyes were cut out with what looked like crude Greek letters, taking a swing with a hat stand Giles recognised them; 'Bringers!'

Xander saw what was happening in front of him and was glad Buffy had suggested they go in teams of two 'Swoop, Big Grim you two stop those little S.O.B's from getting in. I'll help inside.' Coming over the large house Xander stood up and jumped the 25 feet to the ground. Grimlock landed on the other side of the building, stomping several demons into mulch.

'Grimlock stomp S.O.B's!'

'Leader Grimlock. Stomp good!' Swoop dive bombed the army, wing mounted lasers sowing the ground with deep rivets.

Laughing Xander burst into the war zone. The room was quiet as everyone, who could, was looking at the two metal dinosaurs out the window as they stamped and bombed the hundred or so attackers. Willow and Giles were down and about to be dead. While they were distracted Xander activated his built in weapons.

A hatch above his left wrist opened to reveal two short barrels and his right flicked open into a crosspiece for a short sword. The sound attracted some attention, when Xander's energon blade charged up everyone noticed him.

For a change Giles wasn't unconscious, however Willow was. On his back he had a limited view of the rescuer as it strode into the fray. Whatever the metal contraption was it knew how to fight, if only barely. It's kicks and punched were sloppy but still able to floor a demon. Weapons bounced off it as what Giles could swear was a lightsabre cut through walls and people alike. When it had half a chance, it let rip with rapid firing pulses of orange light. Those demons that were smart enough to retreat were cut down in the slaughter outside. The Bringers on the other hand were fanatical to the point of idiocy, some charging the sword head on and others actually attacking the impossible metal beasts outside.

Giles got up and joined the robot at Willows side as the battle outside slowed down. It's face was silver but human looking and it wore a gold coloured helmet with yellow eye pieces. That colour scheme was continued all over. There was something about it that was familiar, but quite what he didn't know.

Faith looked around, she had "volunteered" with the rest of the inmates to repair the prison. Some of the girls had gotten out but not many, the guards had taken up shooting those that tried. They said they were trying to wound but they were killing more than anything else. They were such suck shots Faith believed them about not trying. Anyway she had no reason to escape.

It was the end of the day and she was taking a quick run around the exercise yard under the watchful eyes of the shotgun toting guards. An old 80's model sports car stopped just before the fence wall in front of her. Someone in a long black over coat got out and waved. Faith jogged up to them, a look around showed the guards were on a coffee break or something, no way her luck was that good. Faith was ready for a hit or worse, it wasn't the first time someone had paid for some "quality time", just the first Faith had the honour. The other person pulled down their hood. 'Hi Faith. Long time.'

'B? what you doing here? And like this.' Glancing around she saw that there was still no one watching. The blond's boy-toy must have pulled some serious strings to make this happen.

'Faith I've got an offer for you.'

'An offer? What can I do from inside jail? Beside ask stupid questions.' Buffy was hiding something beneath her oversized coat. Knowing their history either a knife or a body-swap thingy. The other Slayer looked bigger than before, and bulkier but not that much older.

'The end of the world is coming F, not that unusual really but we need help. I'm going to be too busy and we need another Slayer. Your name came up.'

'Must have been a real long list.' Faith muttered sarcastically. 'I failed B. I batted for the wrong team and almost scored a home run. I don't need to tell you what happened, we both know that I'm not fit to be the Slayer. You're out there, it's your job.'

'My job hasn't changed, nether has yours. You came here because you thought you had to. Hell, when you killed that guy you were so eaten up inside you lost everything. It was an accident. This is one way to make it right, the other is to be out there kicking demon ass. You've tried this now try the other. You in jail isn't helping anyone and I can't stop the legions of hell on my own.'

'Nice speech blondie.' She wanted it to be sarcastic but it came out kinda weak. The other woman had pushed every button and every doubt Faith had while in the joint. 'Where you learn to speak like that?'

Buffy sighed 'Little sis gave me something to think about a while ago.'

Faith didn't want to guess what that meant 'I'd love to help but I'm locked up in here. Even if I could get out I would just be hunted down and put right back.'

'Not if you crossed the state border. I have it on good authority that once your outside of California you won't be found, or looked for.'

'What?'

'Look I've already organised it. If we can get you out of the state the won't be a problem. Even if a warrant is issued, and that's a big if, we can meet up with the guys in Sunnydale and help you find some redemption.'

'If I can't find any I'm coming right back. Alright B but how do we me get out. This fence is too high to jump and the tops got more juice than the OJ factory.'

Buffy smiled. The Slayer reached out, she was wearing a space aged gauntlet. With only a twist she ripped the full wall of fencing from the ground. Without stopping she grabbed Faith with another space age arm and ran towards the car.

The car's doors opened in there own and the pair dived in. Somewhere the guards had woke up and were pelting the road with buck shot. 'Got the meeting but couldn't spring for a release?' Faith asked.

'Good guess.' Buffy tossed her long coat out of the window. She was wearing some sort of full body armour that matched the yellow and black of the gauntlets.

The car took off like a rocket, she glanced to the diver but there was no one there 'I guess we have a lot to talk about.' said Buffy as she put on a weird helmet.

Dawn had sat outside the Hyperon for almost two days now. There had been no sign of Angel or Cordy. It looked like a tallish dark skinned man and a pale, thin, girl were the only two to live there. Dawn ran over the plan once again, always watching the door for something other than the two she'd been following.

After he had returned Primus separated into Prime and herself. It took the Autobots time to get back and the others to recover. Once that had happened they met on the main bridge. That blond Major was jumping around looking at and into everything in sight, the Colonel was having to order her to stop every few minutes. Prime had asked Ironhide, the Ark's chief of security, and Prowl, his chief advisor, to join them. Dawn had asked for Blaster to be there, monitoring for any signals that might be important, and Jazz to help with his knowledge of Earth's cultures. She also suggested, quite firmly, that Buffy and Xander join them.

After Prime and Dawn had explained what The First was to both the Autobots and the USAF they then told them all what was coming. Dawn stared 'Old ones guys. You know vampires and the like are only shadows right, just about every demon still on Earth is, to some point, mixed with humans. True demons are worse. I've only seen one once, that guy was nothing compared to what is coming. The point is without the Autobots we are all bite sized snack food.'

'When did you see one?' Xander asked

'Back when me and Buffy were on that nut job's tower of Xander like construction.' She smiled sweetly at him.

'But they are also very powerful,' Prime got back to the point. 'Even our energy weapons might not be good enough. We will need to use basic close combat equipment or large scale artillery, anything less might not kill them out right. Demons are incredibly resilient so we need to cause massive damage in a short time frame.'

'Why don't we just nuke this "Hellmouth" and close it for good.' Colonel O'Neill asked.

'Wouldn't work. The Hellmouth could just absorb that much power and open even wider. Or worse, cracking open the very fabric of reality over an already unstable rift could force this universe to be born again. Another big bang, right on the doorstep to L.A. We have to be careful because high explosives won't work either, Sunnydale sits astride the weakest point of the San Andras fault line. "Boom, crack, what happened to the west coast?"' Dawn explained

'We Autobots have the best chance of stopping them but the Decepticons are sure to attack at the worst possible moment. We will have to divide our forces temporally.' Prime laid out the plan they came up with. 'The bulk of the Autobot army will stay here while myself, Sunburst, her two companions and a select handful of Autobots gather their allies and deposit them back in Sunnydale. Stargate Command puts the entire west coast on full alert, but try to keep it secret from the general public. A panic would not serve anyone. While that lot slows down The First we Autobots finish Megatron once and for all. We can't afford his interference. We recharge and head to Sunnydale with everyone we can, the wounded stay here and join us when and if they can.'

'Why hasn't this Megatron dude attack yet?' Xander asked.

Prime scratched his face plate at that point. 'He expects us to scatter, dividing our forces to help he planet. Then he'll take what he wants while our backs are turned. Right now he's most likely devising plans and trying to lull us into a false sense of security.'

'Back to the "plan" you're talking about a full scale war on two fronts, both of them long shots. You said it yourself, you haven't defeated the Decepticons in thousands of years.' Buffy was concerned, Dawn could tell from her voice so she answered;

'Buffy, with us three helping them the Decepticons don't have a chance, It's the only way and you know it. We will need everyone. Colonel I understand that with one word from you the President jumps. Can you arrange a full pardon for a murder charge?'

'I'm not sure about that Dawn. Faith is still dangerous.'

'No more dangerous than a lose cannon, Buffy. We need everything and every one we can find. If I knew where Spike was I'd bring him in too. Faith is as bad, and as good, as him. You gave Spike a chance and you still would. Do the same for her.'

'Ahem.' the greying colonel interrupted; 'This murder charge, is it real?'

Xander answered 'If you mean did she kill anyone. Yep. the first one was an accident though.'

'First one?' Doctor Jackson asked.

Dawn knew that it would be like getting blood out of a stone with her family dancing around the truth so laid it out for the SG team; 'She was hunting vampires, someone got in the way and Faith went loony from guilt. That's pretty much the "it".'

'Urm… I could just about swing it, there might be some problems but if she is important to this he might bend the rules.' O'Neill said. 'Just promise she won't kill anyone.'

Buffy shook her head. 'She confessed and she went to prison looking for redemption. Can't promise for her, what I can do is tell you she's changed.' Dawn felt that was a rare moment on honesty on her sisters behalf.

'I'll see what I can do.'

'Thank you Jack, Prime fancy a trip to L.A.?' Dawn let her face plate drop so she could beam a smile at him.

'You are not going to see Faith. On that point I will not back down' Buffy growled

'Buffy you can be so pig headed! No, you get Faith. I'll get Angel. Xander gets Will and Giles. We all meet in Sunnydale in a week. After you two have your little upgrades.'

'Well little Dawnie seams to have really grown up hasn't she.' Xander asked Buffy.

'Must have been when I wasn't looking, I only turned around for a minute.'

'Sometimes that's all it takes.'

Dawn had no intention to get into another argument with her sister about the dangers of fighting for what was right. So as soon as Prime had worked out the final points with the Colonel and his General they had driven of to L.A. This was all shortly before Buffy and Xander came out of the labs.

Dawn was bored, If she didn't get a move on she would miss the deadline. The Decepticons could attack with in the next five seconds or five weeks and she was still sitting on her cyber-butt, waiting for Cap'n Forehead. She sent a quick telepathic message to Prime before she got out and walked to the front door. The big Autobot leader didn't like it but he agreed to her idea. She got from him a feeling of impatience and concern, was she so on edge because of him? Unlike Buffy and Xander she couldn't take off her suit so she settled for opening her face plates.

'Hello?' She asked as she opened the doors

'Can I help you Miss…' It was the tall black guy. He stopped talking when he came out of the office and saw her.

Dawn pointedly ignored the stare. 'Perhaps you can, this is Angel investigations?'

'Yes. If you have a problem we can... help.' He looked her up and down. The guy didn't know what to make of a Power-Master transformer in robot mode.

'Good. I'm looking for Angel, he isn't here is he?' The big man finally moved again as he came out from around the desk, 'If he isn't in can I talk to Cordy?'

His eye's narrowing the guy answered 'They both went missing about a month back, Do you know where they are?' he had less than subtly stood right next to a large cabinet full of weapons.

'If I knew where they were I would be talking to them now wouldn't I. Boy are you the one for smart questions.' She saw him shift his shoulders, ready to brake open the cabinet when he glanced up to the balcony. Dawn had the advantage of radar and infrared sensors linked directly into her brain, someone had jumped at her. Not blinking or even looking away she stepped backwards. A dirty-blond haired young man fell to her feet. Dawn kicked him up and held him still by the scruff of his neck, still looking at the black man who now held a baseball bat that had been sharpened into a stake. 'Lets start from the beginning. My name is Dawn Summers. You may have heard of my sister. Who are you you guys?'

'Charles Gunn, your sister is Buffy the Slayer?'

'Yep and who is this?' Dawn waved the boy like a rag doll

'That's Conner. He's Angel's son'

'Son? Well that's something.' Dawn was amazed, vampires shouldn't have children. Something Buffy and Angel would have to talk about. When they found him. Her train of thought was broken when her built in sensors told her someone had come up behind her. In a instant she tossed Conner into Charles and spin kicked the axe out of the woman's hands 'What is it with this place and attacking from behind?' Slowly she picked the thin woman up and tossed her into the other two. 'So, where's Wes, under the floor? Climbing the roof? Or is he behind the counter?' Silently she wondered if she could get way with this if wasn't enhanced five ways from Sunday.

Gunn scrambled to his feet before helping Fred to hers. Conner, for once missing his usual sneer, was up too. He was fumbling for a weapon, Gunn knocked the kids hand away.

This woman/thing would probably feed it back to them both, if she was going to be nasty that feeding would likely be up their ass. 'Wes doesn't work here anymore. Whatever you think you need him for you can forget it. Listen, whatever you want to talk about will have to wait.'

'Wait? You don't seem to understand what is happening. I need Champions, warriors and sidekicks. If I can't find the brooding one and the rest of the dysfunctional trio I'll have to do with the supporting act. Get what you need to stop an apocalypse and follow me.'

Conner never did have any sense, he was up close and stareing her in the face.'We're looking for my dad and if you think we're going anywhere with you, think again.'

With one arm she pushed him the good ten foot into the wall 'Listen up kid, I don't give a damn about your dad. If he's lost we can do without his oversized forehead but I came here to get help saving the world and by Primus I will get some. Even if I have to I'll drag you all the way to Sunnydale, strapped to Prime's rear wheels.'

To say Dawn was acting wouldn't be quite true. Inside she was scared out of her mind. With no Angel the chance of failing had just risen quite a bit. Near hopeless had become totally pointless. Fortunately if this guy could jump the good 15 foot off the balcony and survive without a scratch they might have the strength they need, if not the brains or experience.

Charles stepped in 'We can't just leave. We have to find Angel and Cordy. As much as we want to help we can't. Sorry.'

Dawn clenched the handle of her hip mounted pistol but refrained from blasting a hole in him. 'Fine. Save the world or save Angel. You chose Angel. Indulge me, were does Wes live these days?'

The thin woman went to the desk and scribbled something down. 'Here, tell him I said hi' her Texan accent and slightly insane smile caused Dawn to twitch.

'Thanks.' she started to walk out just before the door she turned around again, looking at the two men pointing crossbows at her. It was only fair, she had her pistol drawn and aimed at them the same time. 'If you happen to find soul-boy or Queen C tell them to call.' Switching her face plates back up she lowered the gun and left for Prime and Wesley.

Willow slowly woke up. Blinking it took her brain a moment to catch up with what she was seeing; 'Xander!' Willow was so happy to see her friend that she didn't notice anything other than his face. Trying to hug him she found out why she couldn't see his hair. 'What happened to you?' she flicked a finger to the armour plated chest.

'Long story Will. We need your help, the Hellmouth is about to open, me and the others are going to be a little busy. We need you an the G-man to guard it until we can get there.'

'Xander, what could be more important than Hell on Earth?' Willow sat up and looked around. Giles was holding a glass in one hand and a bottle in the other. He spent his time looking from the window to the glass as he refilled it. The window was covered by something big and silver there was a single red oval in the top corner.

'Oh just the enslavement of mankind and the rampage of another army of evil. Same old same old.' While Xander joked Giles went looking for another bottle. 'Come on, you ready to save the world again?'

'Sure, it's what I live for. Giles what is wrong with you?'

'I'm hoping that if I can get drunk I won't see what's outside or at least remember it that well.'

'Why' she looked at the window again the grey thing had moved. 'What the...?

'Come on guys lets go.' Xander lightly tapped her arm and grinned. Willow watched as a steel mask slid up over his face. Willow followed him to the door with Giles and his fresh bottle. Outside were two dinosaurs. One was obviously a T-rex and the other was some sort of Taranadon. 'That's Grimlock and the other is Swoop. Both of them have seats mounted in their backs so you can hitch a ride. Get in.'

Willow snatched the bottle from Giles and took a swig. 'Xander, if we ride in them what about you.' Willow looked a Giles. Ride in them? Another swig.
'Don't worry I get a drivers seat.'

'You Xander's friends. Xander's friends are Grimlock's friends. Grimlock friend to you?'

Willow didn't expect a dinosaur to have the best vocabulary but that was stretching it. After yet another swig she responded. 'Yes I think we can become friends.'

'Red hair girl nice to Grimlock. Grimlock think we need to go back soon. Friends get inside me and Swoop. We take you to sunny place quickly.'

Giles was able to take the bottle off her and gab a quick drink before putting it down 'Then my big friends we better be off.'

Faith looked at Buffy. They had changed cars about an hour ago, while the sports car Buffy had called Jazz had set a new land speed record in getting the hell out of there they had jumped into another self driving car. This one looked like a police car and they were on their way to the Hellmouth. 'Let me get this straight. The first big bad evil is trying to raise a whole army of full blooded demons. It's my job to stop help stop them while you and your new car buddies go stop their enemies from taking advantage of the chaos of this last week.'

'You and anyone else we can gather up. When we finish with the Decepticons we can pull your asses out of the fire.'

'So what's with the Bond cars B?'

'What is a bond car and why does she insist in calling you B?' Faith looked for the speaker.

'So instead of Bond cars we have rejects from Knight rider. That's comforting.'

'Faith. Prowl is an Autobot, this police car mode is only camouflage.'

'You mean that these cars are really people? Now I know how they plan to fight demons, hit and run.'

'Not really earthling, but you will find out.'

'EARTHLING?'

Prime pulled up outside the apartment blocks just in time for Dawn to see Wesley almost drag a young woman into the boot of his car and lock her in. Still shaking from her confrontation at the hotel she decided her best course of action was to follow him.

Wesley kept an eye on the rear view mirror. That big truck was following him, he couldn't get a good view of the driver but it wasn't anyone he knew. They were too bulky and squared off. For a few minutes he debated whether to confront them or just see what they want. Deciding that he could do both he pulled up and waved to the truck to stop. Strapping a small pistol to his left wrist and picking up his pump action 12 gauge Wesley got out to have a talk with the other driver.

Dawn was new at this, and sitting inside a ten wheeled transport lorry so she wasn't surprised that Wesley noticed. She was surprised at the big gun and haggard appearance of the former watcher.

'Who ever you are, I don't like being followed. The only reason I haven't blown holes in that cab is that you were so bad at following me I don't think you're a threat. Get out.'

'All right Wes you got me' Dawn slipped out, past the door. Not even stopping he shot her in the gut.

Nothing happened

Nothing continued to happen, Wes fired another round, this time into her face.

'This could get real boring, real fast. Try that again and I will brake it over your limy head, got that?'

'What the hell are you?'

'My name is D…, Sunburst. I was Dawn Summers, Do you remember the name?'

Wes finally pointed the shotgun away. 'Buffy's younger sister? "The Rugrat"?'

'Who called me that? Never mind. The First Evil is trying to open Sunnydale's Hellmouth. Charles, Angel's son and that thin Texan, who says "hi" by the way, told me that Angel and Cordy are more important. Now before I head back down there and drag what's left of them home with me what do you say?'

'The First? You mean the original evil don't you. You're crazy if you think you can stop something like that. No I can't help, no one can. The only thing we can do is hope, you've got to be wrong.'

'Wesley I've seen it. The First has only to force the door and thousands of demons can and will come pouring out. It is possible to stop them if we make a united stand. What else is there to do, other than lock some girl in your trunk and drive around L.A.'

Wes had a sly smile 'Nothing. By the way can you see this scar.' He pointed to the large ugly knife cut just missing his wind pipe. 'That bitch I have back there cut me, later she, and Conner, sent Angel to the bottom of the sea in a welded filing cabinet. After I pick him up I'll Gunn and Fred and let them handle it. Then I can commit suicide by helping you lot. Now if you excuse me.'

'Hang on, his own son sank him to the bottom of the ocean. Right. We find him tonight, I turn Conner into hamburger and we're in Sunnydale by tomorrow afternoon. Lets get started.'

It took them a surprisingly short time to find Angel. After Janice had guided them to the right beach Sunburst had used some sort of super high-tech Sonar and GPS system to pin point where Angel was. 'Wes you think what to do with her while I drive Roller out there and pick him up'

'What's roller.'

'Who's Roller you should be asking. One moment.' She climbed to the roof of the trailer and dropped through a hatch. Wesley was having trouble thinking of this tall, invulnerable person as the shy little girl who he had met briefly four or five years ago. If she looked like this what about Buffy and Giles. What had been happening on the Hellmouth while he was playing P.I.

The back of the trailer opened and a small six wheeled jeep came out. Sunburst nodded her head and drove the jeep into the sea.

It took her quarter of an hour to get back. By then he had set Janice free. Advising her that if she thought of telling any one she would be dead long before anything happened to him. Sunburst came out of the sea ahead of the jeep that was following her like a puppy. She stood on the beach head for a moment while the jeeps built in laser flash dried her. Wesley did try to move the coffin but had little luck, she just ripped the metal apart like paper and laughed.

End chapter 6