FIC: Slayer Wars (4/?)
Las Vegas, America West One
Kate crouched down beside the target building, its shadow enveloping her. Her .38 Police Special was already drawn, resting in her slightly sweaty palm. The building she was outside was curiously bland, surrounded by the strip's glitzy casinos, night clubs, hotels, and strip joints. She supposed tourists passing by en-route to their next oasis of fun assumed it was some mundane every-day place of business.
She however knew better. The office was the west coast headquarters for the Tarakan Order, the place where its assassins got their assignments and where contractors posted jobs. And now it was apparently where the murderers would die.
Kate had been stunned when she'd received her orders three days ago. Judging from the way the attack was scheduled to take place at an exact time, she guessed that simultaneous assaults were being launched across the globe, something that worried her. Yes, she hated the vast majority of demons with an almost fiery passion. But the Council's newly hawkish approach risked a backlash that could engulf them all.
Forcing aside her concerns, she glanced across at her team of Angel and Connor, her deputy in Pike with Illyria and Gunn at the back of the building. "Any last thoughts, Angel?"
"Yes," the vampire's eyes flickered golden in the darkness, "this is a very bad idea."
"Yeah." Kate nodded. "I hear you." Her watch beeped, signalling zero hour. "Go!" She screamed into her mouth-piece.
Her two companions surged upright at the beep, moving at an indistinguishable blur. Angel's first kick smashed through the bullet-proof window and then they were inside.
Oklahoma, America East One
Justine's blood pounded with excitement as she crept through the undergrowth and towards the ranch, Colleen and Shannon gliding effortlessly behind. Colleen and Shannon, Justine shook her head.
She'd always thought of herself as tough, but that notion had been debunked the first time she'd met and sparred with one of the Slayers. And she hadn't even met the legendary Buffy or the seductively deadly Faith
But her initial awe had turned to deep dissatisfaction in just a few months as she'd learnt about the world's demonic landscape beyond vampires. With all the Slayers they now had she couldn't understand why they weren't doing more to wipe the monsters off the planet.
But she was only an assistant team leader. She had little influence with the Ruling Board. For some reason though, policy had changed, a fact she rejoiced in.
"Wait," Colleen placed a hand on her shoulder, the beautiful brunette looking up at her, "the rest of the way's got no undergrowth. Me and Shan would best going the rest of the way on our own. You can rush in once we attack."
Justine scowled as she conceded the point with a curt nod. Stealth, another thing Slayers did far better than humans.
Hong Kong, Asia One
"US. Marine Corps, US. Navy SEAL, twice decorated. You have an impressive record for one so young Captain Finlay."
Riley, now head Watcher of Asia One, looked around the luxurious twentieth floor penthouse suite complete with ceremonial weapons hanging off the rug-covered walls. The suite overlooked much of the city's booming business district, but very little of it could be seen thanks to the thick smog.
Riley returned his gaze to his host, a six feet tall scrawny red-eyed creature with two pairs of exceptionally densely muscled arms sat behind a desk. Riley smiled and nodded. "Thank you."
"What puzzles me through is why such a dedicated soldier who has faithfully served his government for ten years would want to switch his loyalties to our order?"
Riley smiled as his watch beeped. "I haven't," he explained. "I just used the excuse of an interview to get inside your offices so I could disable your security system. That beeping was the signal my team are inside."
"Why you!" The demon flung the desk separating them aside and started to advance on him."
Nairobi, Africa One
Xander wiped at his forehead, the sweat he rubbed away replaced almost instantly by the day's blistering heat. His clothes stuck to his body like a second skin. After almost four years in Africa, he still wasn't used to the extremes in weather. Of course, he looked towards his wife, there were some people who looked good, make that unbelievable, with their clothes plastered to them.
Faith's pony-tail rested on her shoulders, the sheen of sweat making her face gleam. Her sleeveless black gym shirt clung to her, revealing her high chest's heavenly curves in addition to three inches of toned stomach. Her denim shorts likewise clung to her butt while displaying her long, tanned legs.
Suddenly his wife's eyes snapped to him, ebony orbs bubbling with mocking humour. "Damn, you know how to leer."
Xander grinned. "I've won trophies."
"I know, seen 'em." Faith bumped her hip into his. "Just as long as you're leering at me and no-one else," she warned.
"Why would I look at sausages when I come home to steak every night?" Xander asked.
"You sayin' I'm a cow?" Faith's eyes narrowed.
"No, I'm saying steak's better than-."
Faith's throaty laugh interrupted him. "I get it. I get it. Ain't ya just the sweetest thing?"
"I think I'm gonna puke."
Faith looked over her shoulder and poked her tongue out. "Shut it sis."
"With you two, it's Valentine's Day every day," Dana taunted.
Xander shook his head. Faith as a role model. It was frightening just how naturally she'd taken to her role as Dana's mentor.
Faith snorted before turning her mocking gaze back to him. "Wipe away the drool, time's a ticking. We've got business to attend to."
Xander glanced across to the adjacent building and then to the rope running from their roof to the target. "I do not like this plan," Xander complained. "Why can't Harry and the others be doing this?"
"Don't be such a pussy," Faith snarked. "I really see Harry swinging down a rope."
"Okay, okay," Xander gave in with a grumble. He'd known and agreed with what Faith would say before she said it, but had felt compelled to air his problems with the plan.
Marseille, Europe West One
The white yacht sat in the exclusive dock, bobbing gently on the almost-still waters as it bathed serenely in the moonlight.
It would have been almost romantic but for the chattering loon sat beside her, piloting the speedboat as it motored towards the yacht. Buffy shot Andrew a vaguely disgusted look. Just how Giles had managed to convince her that Andrew would make a good second in command? Oh yeah, he'd sold her the line that Dawn would be safer in England, but that she'd need an assistant Watcher.
And then Andrew had turned up to plague her and the Immortal.
"Hush," she almost snapped before calming down. "Sorry, I'm just tense."
Andrew nodded sagely. "Even the greatest of heroes must -."
Once again she tuned out her prattling pilot as she stared at the yacht. It was the perfect cover for a Tarakan base. A playboy's yacht that could quickly mobilise and sail to either escape arrest or to another port to give out orders throughout Europe. She just bet it was registered in several countries under different name.
Buffy stiffened as their speedboat pulled up alongside the sleek yet hulking yacht. She eyed the two thickly-muscled guards ambling towards them. "Remember," she said through the corner of her mouth even as she beamed at the two thugs, "leave the talking to me."
Caracas, South America One
"I do not understand Miss Rosenberg's reluctance, is it not a warrior's duty to fight?" Groo asked.
"Preachin' to the choir, Groo," Kennedy distractedly replied as she watched the bar close and the last of the patrons leave. "I think Will's more into protecting innocents than killing demons."
"Are they not the same thing?" Groo queried.
Kennedy glanced at her companion. "They are to me, but Will…"
"Still, Miss Rosenberg is a wise and compassionate woman."
"Not to mention babealicious," Kennedy added.
She hid a grin at Groo's uncertain expression. He always looked like that when she used slang. It was one of the things she liked about the other-dimensional warrior. "Quite so."
Kennedy looked down as her watch beeped. "Time to get serious."
Las Vegas, America West One
The moment Angel and Connor stepped over the regional base's threshold, the office was bathed in yellow light. Doors to the left and right slid soundlessly open, and vampires swarmed in.
The first came at him with a leaping spin-kick that Angel caught in mid-air before flinging the demon up into the ceiling and staking it as it fell down. "Amateur."
A right hook took the smirk off Angel's face. Ducking under his close to seven feet tall and WWE-built attacker's follow-up heel-kick, Angel smashed a straight right into the giant bloodsucker's gut. A grunt was the monster's only response before hitting Angel with a backhanded slap to the head.
The force of the blow lifted him off his feet and threw him into a beverage machine stood at the far side of the room. Angel grunted as he crashed into the machine, the force of the impact shattering the vending machine's toughened glass front "Okay," he rolled to his feet and vamped out, "so you want to play hardball? Hardball it is."
Angel leapt across the room, crashing feet first into the rival vampire's vault-sized chest. The force of their collision propelled the massive demon into the wall but still didn't leave his feet. "Unbelievable," Angel muttered as he ducked beneath a clubbing left and slapped aside an attempted knee to the face. Hooking his hands around the demon's leg, he twisted at the waist, hoping to accomplish with leverage what force alone couldn't.
The bigger vampire stumbled and growled, the sound like an avalanche's rumble, before stumbling into a chair. The moment his hand fell on the chair, the vampire lifted and threw it at Angel. Angel ducked the makeshift missile and leapt forward, tackling the demon around the waist. "Bad idea!" he grunted as pain exploded between his shoulder-blades when his opponent slammed his clasped fists there.
His gargantuan rival snatched a hold of his shoulders and flung him into the counter with enough force to shatter the wooden reception deck. Shaking the hurt away, Angel snatched up a splinter and thrust it up at his advancing rival.
The demon laughed as he kicked Angel's arm away before grabbing his throat and flinging Angel over the ruined counter. "Owww!" Angel grunted as the back of his head smashed into the ground, a half-second before the rest of his body made contact. "It's not the falling that hurts, it's the landing."
His attacker leaned over and grabbed a hold of his throat. Angel responded with a toe-kick that shattered the demon's jaw. The rampaging vampire roared, but didn't release his grip, instead he lifted and swung Angel into the wall behind with enough force to crack it.
Angel grunted before swinging his legs up, grapevining the man's arm and twisting. The demon howled as the room echoed to the sound of his arm breaking before dropping Angel to the ground. Landing in a crouch, Angel scooped up a piece of wood and slashed across the demon's throat. Even as the giant vampire exploded in dust, Connor spoke, tone mocking. "You're getting old, dad. I killed five, you got two."
Angel shot his son a wounded look. "Did you actually see how big he was?"
"When you two have quite finished, we've demons to kill," Kate snapped before smirking. "And for the record I got more than you too."
Oklahoma, America East One
The moment the two Slayers signalled her over, Justine hurried to the side of the house. As she reached the others, Shannon motioned her to hit the ground. Even as she complied, dust billowing up, the door exploded inwards thanks to an explosives charge.
Justine scrabbled to her feet a half-second after the Slayers. By the time she'd rushed through the doorway, the Slayers were already engulfed in battle.
"Ah." Pain exploded in Justine's scalp as a hand reached out and snatched her hair, pulling on it with incredible force. "A regular flame-haired pretty."
Ignoring her pain, Justine drove her elbow up into her attacker's face. The moment her assailant released his grip, Justine spun to face him.
The blood drained from her face as she recognised her assailant from Council files. "Lyle Gorch."
"That's me darlin'," the demon backhanded her to the ground. Swallowing her terror together with the blood in her mouth, Justine kicked out, catching the demon in his meaty thigh. Gorch laughed before again grabbing her by the hair, and yanking her back to her feet. "Fiesty, I like it."
Justine spat a mouthful of the blood remaining in her mouth into Gorch's eyes. "Ahhhh!" The now blinded demon stumbled backwards.
"Like this?" Justine challenged as she reached into her jacket, drew a stake and swung it at the demon's chest. The vampire blocked her attack on his elbow.
But not the stake she'd drawn with her other hand, swung under his defences, and into his heart. Justine smiled into the former western outlaw's shocked face. "Guess not."
Hong Kong, Asia One
"You madman!" The four-armed demon raged as it leapt at him. "Who do you think you are?"
"I think," Riley jumped out of way of the demon's charge, "I'm the head of the Council's Asian Operations!"
"Finn!" the demon hissed, forked tongue sliding over pointed teeth.
"Oh," Riley pulled out a broadsword off the wall. "You've heard of me," his voice faltered. When the demon reached into his obviously tailor-made suit and pulled out a quartet of knives, "it's good to be recognised. I think."
The demon came in fast, the blades a blur. And then Riley dropped to one knee, drew the polymer snub .32 he'd smuggled past the metal sensors in an ankle holsters, sighted, and shot. The demon's head disintegrated in a shower of blood and it slumped lifelessly to the ground. "Never bring a set of knives to a gunfight."
Nairobi, Africa One
"Whoo! Whoo!" Faith whooped and hollered as she slid down the line, wind whistling in her hair. She hit the windows sneakers-first. The bullet-proof glass exploded inward under Slayer-power. The three men sat lounging around a table leapt to their feet at her entrance, the cards they'd been playing dropping to the beer-stained carpet as they grabbed for their guns.
"Ahhhh!" Faith titled her head to one side hurt look on her face. "You're not pleased," she launched herself off the rope and into a drop-kick, knocking the nearest man into the far wall," to see me." The second one threw a left hook that she caught on her right elbow before upper-cutting him. Bone cracked under the blow and blood exploded out of the man's mouth as he flipped head over heels over the couch.
Faith spun around to deal with the third only to find Dana stood over his body, eyes sparkling. "That was fun!"
"I'm surrounded by mad-women."
"We've all got problems." Faith smirked at her husband stood by the window. "I'm married to a Grade A pain in the ass!"
"Bummer," Dana giggled.
Faith winked at her fellow Slayer. Xander on the other hand let out a long-suffering sigh. "Can we get to business?"
Marseille, Europe West One
"Mon jolie," the man's eyes roamed over her body as he strode towards to the yacht's gold railing, "you cannot be here."
Buffy assumed a guileless expression. "But I'm expected for a party on 'The White Princess'."
"Mon jolie," the man looked towards his two companions as he relaxed his grip on the sub-machine gun holstered under his armpit, "this is 'The White Prince'."
"Silly me!" Buffy smiled disarmingly and threw her hands up. The moment her hands were level with the ship's railing, she grabbed hold of it and flipped into a handstand, kicking the nearest thug square in the face.
Blood sprayed out of the man's face, splattering Andrew and their speedboat, as he crashed to the ground with splintering impact. Buffy landed in a crouch before the other two hoods. Even as their eyes widened in shock, Buffy sprang back into the air, spin-kicking the two men in the head.
"What's going on?" Buffy twisted at the waist as she landed. Her heart dropped as she saw a straggly-bearded man coming onto the deck, a rising shotgun in his hands. Fifteen feet between her and the gunman, she was done for.
And then Andrew crashed into the man, knocking both of them to the ground. The man elbowed Andrew in the chest, knocking him off. Sulphurous curses polluting the sky, the thug reached for his shotgun.
"Sorry." Buffy shook her head as she stamped on the man's hand, shattering bone. "I don't like this dress with bullet holes." The man looked up in time to catch a fist to the face. Buffy smiled as she grabbed Andrew under the arms and pulled to his feet. "Nice save."
Caracas, South America One
Kennedy leaned on Groo, his arm around her shoulder as she played the drunk girl-friend. "They're vampires," she murmured into Groo's ear as they crossed the poorly-lit street. Groo's nod was the only confirmation he'd heard.
"Listen love," growled the bigger of the two, an apparent Cockney standing around six feet tall and weighing 300 lbs, his arms and legs like tree-trunks, "this is a private club."
"We wanna," Kennedy belched, she liked to get into character, and poked the demon in his barrel-sized chest, "party!"
The demon growled, deep set eyes hardening. "I won't tell you again," the bulky vampire loomed over her, "bugger -, oof!"
Her foot caught the vampire full in the nuts. Even in the street lamp's light, Kennedy saw the already pale-skinned vampire grey. Yet despite his obvious pain, the demon still managed to smash an overhand right into her left temple.
Blood erupted like a faucet. Ignoring her own pain, Kennedy smashed a left hook into her rival's bulbous belly. The demon roared and back-handed her across the face. Head ringing and legs wobbly, Kennedy dropped to one knee and drove an uppercut into the demon's crotch.
The demon gasped and fell onto its knees. Kennedy looked into its pained eyes as she shoved her stake home. "Well," Kennedy wiped the blood off her face and grinned at Groo, the other demon slain by her companion, "that was fun. Now, let's get down to business."