All Creatures Great and Small.
Directors Edition
Chapter 7

Colonel O'Neill melted into the chair, for the last few days himself and his team had researched everything they could on demons, Hellmouths and magic. Carter gave up understanding it all and just spent her days muttering how impossible this all was. Teal'c and Danny were ravaging through the books at the Summers' home on all the different things that were going to go bump in the night. Meanwhile Jack had read everything the government knew, including the super-classified NID reports detailing captures and experiments they did around Sunnydale.

Four other SG teams were in town, scattered throughout the hot spots including the high school and university campus. Each had more radio equipment that the Alpha site and all were in constant contact with his team. SG1 was located in the Summers residence and was quickly setting it up as a command centre. Waiting for the others that were being collected from across the world.

There was a hiss of static from under the pile of half read reports. The ones that had made him sick just reading. 'Colonel Jack, Buffy here. We're just coming into town, be there in a few.' Jack shoved the pile as far away as he could picked up his radio from underneath it all.

Finding the button he asked 'So did everything go alright?'

'On this end? Yep, yours?' She was far too happy. Californians.

'Lets say this wasn't the first time the air force has needed a criminal to help.' He danced around why though.

'Good. Tidy up before we get there.' he looked up to Daniel who had overheard what the woman had said

'Oh' he looked around at the books and used pizza boxes. 'This could be a problem.'

Faith got out of the police car and followed B into her home. The sports car pulled up just after and spoke up; 'I'm going on a recon round the town, you coming Prowl?'

The police car revved its engine, 'I've got your back sir.' and the two driver-less cars drove off

On the way there the older Slayer had told her about everything that happened including Joyce's death and that a top secret government team were currently bunked at her home. Faith never thought that Buffy's mothers death would effect her. Sure she knew she'd feel bad but there was something more. The woman died without giving her a chance to apologise... No that was selfish, but true.

Inside the house were the four people that Buffy had described. 'Hi. The way B tells it you guys pulled the strings that got me out.' They were all on edge and the big black guy was fingering a dark green gun like thing that was strapped to his hip.

'Yes Miss Wilkins we are.' The grey haired Colonel replied.

'Then I'll need another favour. When this is done I want to go back. No questions asked, no community service just left alone and out of the way. Alright.'

'I don't understand, you want to go back to jail?' The dude with the gold emblem on his head relaxed as the others military guys looked confused.

'I need to pay for my crimes. I'll save the world but I'm too dangerous to be left out here. Oh and please don't call me "Miss Wilkins" The Mayor adopted me because of what I did. I don't want that name anymore, it's just Faith now.

After a short pause B changed the subject. 'Any word from Xand or Dawn?'

'Sunburst called in a bit ago, said the was some trouble in L.A. and it might take some time to sort out.'

'Who's Sunburst?'

'Dawn's new nickname. She thinks it sounds cool.'

'Right… Sunburst? I think I'll stick with "Rugrat".'

Angel was shivering. Almost a month down there, freezing under an ocean of water, had left him hungry and very cold. He honestly thought he'd lose his mind, and was almost convinced he had when the robot came to drag him back to dry land. After Dawn explained who she was and both her and Wes had heated up some pigs blood for him he had told them they were heading for the hotel and his son. There was a long talk overdue between the two of them.

Dawnie had an idea and told both men to wait and see what it was. Angel realised what "it" was when they got close to the hotel and she sped the damn truck up. The truck lifted from the ground as it hit the curb... There was an almighty crash...

Rolling out of the cab and into the demolished lobby Angel and Wes scrambled to their feet and they watched as harmless, little, Dawnie flew into Conner like an avenging angel. She knocked him out with a single flying punch that shattered his jaw. If Angel's son was human his skull would have been pulped by the blow. With one hand the dreadnought tossed the teenager to his father while caching Gunn's hubcap axe mid swing with the other. She spun on one foot, round-housing the former gang member to Wesley.

Fred had got to the weapons cabinet and one of the loaded crossbow's. She fired in perfect symmetry with Dawn's laser pistol. The bolt was vaporised mid air, the lance of light punched through the bow, shattering it in a hail of splinters. Still the pulse continued, Fred bounced of the cabinet, hitting her head she was out of it before she hit the floor.

'Stun setting.' She called over her shoulder, heading for Fred. Dawn picked the Texan off the ground like she weighted nothing and carried her back to the truck. Throwing the three unconscious defenders into the truck she opened her face plates. Angel had seen Buffy use the same "Don't mess with me" expression. 'Help me get the weapons. Next stop Sunnydale.'

Angel wasn't going to leave just yet, there was something he had to do. 'Dawn, I know you think this is important, it probably is but I have to find Cordy. I need to know if Conner had anything...' the sentence was finished with a fist travelling at something like 30-mph connecting with his chin.

Wesley looked at the juggernaut woman in front of him 'Anything else?' she asked with an edge sharp enough to cut his head off. The cab revved on its own and he decided not to press the issue. 'Urm w... which weapons do you need?'

Faith watched as the two giant metal men gently landed in B's garden. 'The cars turn into those things?'

'Yes and no, they're the Dinobots. While the cars do become man shaped robots these guys, who are a sub group of the Autobots, can become metal dinosaurs.' The cute archaeologist explained. She spared a moment to size him up; good build, smart and good looking. Boy, she'd been in the joint too long.

There was a noise and Faith turned to see parts of the two giants shifted and grind together. One became some sort of bird while the other was definitely a T-Rex. For the first time in years she thanked her grandmothers choice of Jurassic Park on her birthday. Dashing the memory from her thoughts she watched one of their heads fall to the ground. Moments before hitting it unfolded like a piece of paper into another, smaller robot.

'Oh man that is SO cool!' An all too familiar voice answered. 'I could almost feel the wind through my hair. Hi Faith, everything five by five?'

'Xander?' She gasped as he rolled a shoulder and popped his neck.

'In the flesh, well in the steel. Ok so it's a Cybretronian alloy but its still me. God I'm babbling like Will and speaking of…' Faith looked passed the ecstatic Xander and saw Red and Giles stumbling out of the two metal dinosaurs backs.

For several seconds nothing happened as Red and Giles stumbled in front of her. Faith met their stairs with her own sorrow. A thousand apology's died in her mouth. 'You don't have to say anything. I know what you want so say. Lets pretend you've said it and we'll pretend to accept it.' Willow was the first to speak.

'I am so sorry, I'm not trying to pretend I really am sorry.'

'Good, I've been where you have recently so lets just call this quits here and now.' The pain in her eyes reminded Faith of herself in the mirror but there was something else, deeper and sadder than that.

'No I have to make it up to you and I hope I can.'

Dr Jackson stepped up at that point. 'Ah. Hello. I'm Doctor Daniel Jackson I work with the Air Force. We've sort of garrisoned the town and got most of the civilians out of here. As I understand it you're going to be our guy's experts while the Autobots finish their own war.'

'Doctor Jackson? I've read some of your work. It was a fascinating interoperation of the Goa'uld trans-dimensional invasion of ancient Egypt. But this isn't the time, my name is Doctor Rupert Giles and this is my friend, and sometime assistant, Willow Rosenburg. With the introductions over with lets move this inside.' Giles smiled before muttering 'Away from these infernal contraptions.'

Faith watched the younger man wince. 'Actually Dr Giles, the Dinobots aren't from Earth. In fact they are a race of living machines.' The Slayer wished she had a camera for the looks on Giles and Red's faces.

Dawn could feel her old body trembling inside her new skin. Buffy didn't know, no human did. Since her "real" flesh body was dying when the Autobots rebuilt her she could never return to who she was. Her sister, Xander, all the other companions could, one day, take off the armour, put aside the control helmets and live a normal life again. The Autobots could replace their heads with their originals, replace their guns with the thousands locked within The Ark. She was lost, Dawn was slowly fading away. In her place Sunburst grew. A transformer with some of the memories and abilities of Optimus Prime, thanks to the telepathic link through Primus, and the knowledge of a professional demon hunter/researcher because of her past life as the Slayer's sister. Sunburst had no place in the simple world of the mortal nor the complex life of the Slayer.

Do you really believe that? Optimus Prime whispered in her mind, he had sensed her unease through the psychic link.

How can you ask that? I can't return to that directionless girl of last week, Dawn Summers is dead and gone. I have no place on this world.

Nether do the Autobots or the Decepticons, you have a place on another world. Cybertron. Our home is yours for you are now an Autobot. Humans greatest advantage is your ability to evolve, to change as the occasion demands. We Cybertonians can't do that, I can learn to expand my programs but never change them. adapting yourselves so completely, even now your dead body is fusing with the Power-master shell more completely that anything we could accomplish alone. She could almost see him smile and warm feelings echoed down the link.

Dawn thought for a moment, trying to hide it from the friend.What the hell. I was never from this planet anyway. And I'm sure that I could visit if I get too nostalgic.

I'm just worried what Elita-1 will say when I tell her

Tell her what?

That I think of you as a daughter.

… Sunburst was speechless. A daughter. Yes he was a father to her, more than that bastard who married Joyce at least.

Do you mind that I think of you like that? Prime asked, concerned.

Sunburst shook her head No I am glad you think of me that way. Just don't expect me to call you Daddy.

Wesley jumped out of his skin when Prime laughed aloud. just in time to pull up next to her old home.

For three hours after they arrived Sunburst and Buffy laid out the plan. It was more or less simple:- hold Sunnydale against the demons, vampires and assorted monsters that wanted to destroy the world. The rest of the time was spent explaining what was going on with each others lives and how they should work together.

'One last thing before we go.' Sunburst led the Colonel, Faith and Wesley to the trailer. 'This will stay here, it's a mobile command base with just about everything you need. On board Autobot radio, an assault truck caller Roller, enough fire power to destroy a small ship and the weapons I "borrowed" from the Fang Gang.' She touched a concealed button on her wrist and the base unfolded. The three inspected the mobile command centre like kids at a candy store.

Faith played around with some of the conventional weapons but tossed them all to one side. At the back of the trailer, half buried under the weapons she found an ancient sword. It was a dull silver with age, the blade was made up of a tower of incredibly sharp tripods that spun in opposing directions. As the slayer experimented with the spinning blade the rest of the group watched her. Faith eventually smiled and performed a cartwheel off the side of the open base and walked back to the house.

O'Neill shrugged and started inspecting Roller while Wesley opened up the control cabin and poked around. 'If you have any troubles there are a hand full of instruction books slotted next to the screens.' Sunburst said.

While they and the rest of the "last, best, hope" as Xander called them, got organised. Jazz and Prowl pulled up. The two Dinobots transformed and Prime opened his doors.

No one noticed as Buffy, Xander and Sunburst got in and the small band of powerful Autobots left Sunnydale for Oregon and the first battle of the new war…

End Chapter 7