Exposure

Exposure

By Adrian Tepes

Rating: PG-13 to R.

Summary: The actions of Champions bring changes across the world and to one man in particular. This is his story.

Disclaimer: All properties, characters, etc… are copyright of their respective owners. I make no profit off this and am writing for my own amusement and enjoyment.

Takes place during the S8 comics and follows/replaces/adds on to the series canon from there.

Author's Note: Special thanks to everyone who helped me with this story. You know who you are. I couldn't have done it without you. You may archive just tell me where ie, shoot me a link.

Timeline: Takes place during S8 comics Issue #6, "No Future for you Part 3"

Chapter Five: People With No Name.

Jakob Bean smiled as he watched his last customer of the day depart. Under normal circumstances, he would have remained open until sunset, but today was far from normal. He flipped the 'Closed' sign on his shop door, locked the door and closed the shop as he did each every night. Finished with his duties, he retreated through the door behind his counter. Behind that door lay a hallway with stairs at one end and a door at the other. The stairs led up towards the apartment above the shop where he lived but that wasn't where he was headed.

Muttering a language that had gone unheard for eons, he waved his hand before the door. A set of sigils and glyphs encircling the doorframe glowed then faded, granting him entrance. Bean opened the door and began descending the staircase into the darkness below. Originally this building's cellar had been rather simple, if large. Now the cellar was anything but simple and he had enlarged it further to suit his own purposes. Step by step he descended further into the darkness, past the original cellar into chambers of his own crafting. Here, the architecture no longer resembled the world above, but rather a world of long ago.

At last, he came to the end of the stairs, a lengthy corridor that held a single door on one side and many other doors on the opposite side. Bean opened the solitary door, and stepped inside a dark room. With a few muttered words, candles were lit illuminating the room even as they cast shadows within it. From a chest he withdrew a black disc and squeezed it tightly. As the warmth spread through his hand, he began speaking.

"I have the key orb in my possession now."

There was a long pause and a voice answered him, "Excellent. I assume you still want the map?"

"Of course, the orb is of little use without it."

"Sending now." As the voice stopped, a letter shimmered into being in front of Bell. He grabbed it and eagerly opened it. A cursory examination confirmed it held the information he wanted. "Yes this is it. A map to return the land to my people."

"As we agreed."

"Yes, as we agreed." Jakob conceded, "Everything is going according to plan."

"Even the destruction of another one of your pets?"

Bean paused before answering, "Ephialtes's demise was unfortunate but not unforeseen. He and his brother were strong, unthinking loyal brutes. Their siblings hold much more promise."

"They better fulfill that promise soon as per our agreement."

"They will. I've already seen to that."

"The Slayer and her friends?"

Bean examined the crystal sphere he held, "I have an idea for them too."

In a parking garage, a game of hide and go seek was being played out. Two men and a woman were fleeing for their lives. One of the men was limping from a leg wound. The other two tried to help him as best they could. As they reached the stairs, the injured man's leg buckled and he crashed to the ground.

"Go. Get out of here" he implored the other two.

"No way. We've gotten this far, we're not leaving you behind" the other man, a youthful looking blonde replied.

The woman shook her head, "Remember what you said back at the crossroads. Either we all get out or none of his get out. Come on Gary don't give up on us now."

"Linda," Gary managed to get out before a noise reached the trio. He quickly made a decision, "There is no time. Run, now. I'll stall them for as long as I can."

"Gary, please…"

"Linda, I'm sorry I won't be able to fulfill my promise to you. Go."

Linda nodded as the other man grabbed her and they fled. The couple disappeared around the corner as their pursuers rounded into view. A group of burly men none older then their late forties, upon seeing the prone form of Gary lying on the ground, moved with unnatural speed to surround him. Their leader addressed the fallen man, "Well where are they Gary? Where are Linda and Paul?"

"Fuck you Silas."

Silas gestured and two of his underlings manhandled Gary into standing between them. As soon as they were finished, Silas moved to stand in front of him, then backhanded him. "Quit being stubborn. This all could have been done quietly without anyone getting hurt. Now because of you, lots of people are going to get hurt."

Gary's response was to spit on his face. "I'll never help you."

Silas turned as he wiped his face, then smiled. "Oh but you're going to help us. You, Linda, and Paul are all going to help us. You may not think so but soon you will."

Gary struggled to free himself, intent on one last act of defiance. "You go to hell."

Silas's face changed to a more demonic looking one, "Home sweet home. For me and you."

"And next thing I know, all of my tools are trashed" Xander paused, "and I've told them over and over about not touching my tools."

"Aye lad, you truly have a saint's patience to deal with that lot," the older man replied. "Give us a fortnight or two and I'll have most of the stuff on your list ordered and on its way here."

"Thanks Mr. Fitzgerald." Xander was truly grateful to get everything that had been destroyed replaced, even if he had to lie somewhat about what had broken it.

"It's no bother. You'd best be running along before your little lady friends break anything else."

Xander thanked him again and left the shop. His top priority after the last attack had been finding replacements for everything that had gotten trashed. Luckily for him, there were several small towns that had what he needed. After seeing to his tools, Xander's next stop was seeing about getting a replacement for Buffy's destroyed 4x4. Or at least that's where he was headed before a young woman literally ran into him and knocked them both to the ground.

"Hey watch where you're going lady."

Seeing the panicked look on her face, Xander instantly regretted saying that. The woman nodded, "I'm sorry…I-", she swallowed trying to regain her composure, "I'm sorry, I was in a rush and I didn't see you."

As they stood up, Xander noted the rough state the woman's clothes and asked, "Are you all right? You look like you need help."

"Yes I'm f-" Her reply died as a man's scream rang out.

"Okay, that definitely wasn't normal. Listen, lady, you wait here. I'll be right back." Xander began walking in the direction of the scream when he felt the woman grab his arm.

"Don't. It's too dangerous," she cautioned him.

"Look, something's going on and I want to find out what." He tugged his arm free and continued walking. Rounding a corner, he stepped into an area that was heavily shaded and filled with overhangs. Judging by his surroundings, this area had been a thriving marketplace one. Now he guessed the only thing thriving was the rat and bug population.

"This is stupid. What I'm doing is stupid. I should just call Buf-". He nearly jumped as he felt someone touch him. Jerking his head around he saw it was the woman from earlier. "I, I couldn't watch you go back alone."

"Thanks. I'm Xander"

"Linda.'

"All right then Linda, what's going on? Why are you so freaked?"

At that moment several men ran into their view and stopped. The largest, a bald headed man that was easily taller then he was, grinned at them.

She just nodded and said, "Them."

"Ah, there you are. And how considerate of you to find us a snack." His face then changed revealing a more demonic visage.

"Yeah I could see how that would freak out anyone."

Buffy glanced down at the pile of mangled weapons that lay on the table. Each bore marks of heavy usage in combat against their newest demonic opponents. The blades were nicked, handles broken, and in some cases, the weapon itself was bent. She brought her gaze back up to the other people in the room. "Let's go through this again. These new heavily armored demons show up. Conventional slaying tools don't work. So you want to plug into the magic wall socket to ginzu our weapons up?"

Willow answered, "Well, not exactly. I think I can magically sharpen and enhance the blades on our normal weapons to the point where they can pierce and cut through these demons armors. Kind of like how the Scythe was made, only not as permanent."

Buffy raised an eyebrow at the mention of the weapon she wielded in the last days of Sunnydale. "The Scythe was unique Willow. The Guardian said it was made for me and waiting until I was ready. How can we duplicate that?"

"We can't. I don't know the first thing about how to forge a sword or anything. Maybe Xander does but I do know how to use a knife sharper."

"So you want to be a badass Wicca knife sharper."

"Yes," she beamed.

"Why would Mr. Harris," both girls turned to look at Renee, "I mean Xander, know how to forge a sword?"

"Well he's the tool guy," Buffy said. "Or he has been for the past few years."

"So," Satsu began, "he has a fixation with his equipment. He didn't name anything did he? "

"Only his tape measure and hammer." Willow answered, he called them "Mjolnir and Stretch."

Silence, then Satsu nodded, saying, "Okay, that's not strange at all."

"Well, they were gifts. From Anya," Willow admitted.

There was an awkward silence in the room after that before Buffy spoke again, "Where is he anyway?"

Renee answered, "He said he was going into town to replace the things he lost."

Xander cursed as he emerged from the stairwell still holding Linda's hand. He could be thousands of miles away from Sunnydale and still the Harris luck would hold. They had managed to elude their undead pursuers in the crowded and deserted back streets for a bit. They had ended up ducking inside a random building and dashing up the stairs. Now they were on the top floor of a five-story building where all the windows had been bricked in and boarded up. The only company, aside from the usual vermin, was the gang of vampires he was pretty certain that was coming to kill them.

Xander decided right then and there that his life was a constant state of suck, only interrupted by periods of slightly less suck. Scanning the hallway he and Linda found themselves in, he noted on their left was an open entranceway directly opposite was a pair of doors marking where an elevator would open. Quickly they ran inside the opening way and found themselves in a huge empty room. With his practiced eye, Xander could see the spots where the windows would be had they not been bricked up and closed off.

"Fabulous."

"I was just about to say something similar."

Xander turned to see the vampire he presumed was the leader, emerge from the darkened hallway. He guessed him to be half a head taller and broader then he was. Other vampires emerged from behind their leader and advanced upon them. Trapped in a closed off building with certain death approaching, Xander wondered what else could go wrong. He was answered when Linda bolted from his side heading for the leader. Before he realized what was going on, he felt his arms being pinned as vampires on other either side restrained him. The leader smirked, then turned to follow the fleeing woman.

"Bring him."

Xander was forcibly escorted from where he was to be nearer the entranceway where he could see the hallway. The leader stood across the way holding the woman up by her throat. "You've caused us quite a bit of trouble."

"Let her go."

The leader regarded him coldly, "Wait your turn boy. I'll be finished with her soon enough."

"Leave him alone. He isn't a part of this."

Xander felt the hair back of his neck stand up as he listened to Linda plead for his life.

"Enough," the vampire said at last, "time for playing is over with." He looked at the woman then at the gap between the doors. Without any further warning, he flung the woman thru the doors into the open elevator shaft. She barely had time to scream as she disappeared from sight plunging down.

As the vampires paused to listen to her shrieks, he moved and wrenched himself free from their grasp. Xander quickly produced a cross from within his coat. That had the desired effect of backing the vampire gang members away from him. The leader watched this with a curious expression on his face, "There's more to you then meets the eye, isn't there, boy? I'll guess I'll take my time ripping that information out of your lungs."

Xander didn't respond as he removed the now familiar phone from around his waist. He spared a glance down at it and was gratified to see it was the red one. With a flick of his wrist, he flipped open the phone cover and started dialing.

"Calling for help, kid? What are you gonna tell them when they answer?"

He finished entering the code sequence then snapped the phone cover shut with another wrist flick. With a mental sigh, he lowered the cross as he positioned the phone over its slot in the belt. Xander looked the leader dead in the face as he spoke, "Henshin." and slid the phone home, completing the connection.

"Complete."

Red lines erupted from the belt and wrapped around his body then flared brighter obscuring his form from view. When the light died down, he was again encased in black and silver armor. The vampires were surprised, all save the leader, who merely said, "Neat trick. Get him."

The first vampire lunged forward and punched in the face, only to recoil backwards from the pain, nearly breaking his hand on the helmet. A second vampire stepped forward and threw two kicks at his midsection and chest. Both bounced harmlessly off him and left the vampire looking confused. Xander's reply was audible throughout the room, "My turn."

He punched the second vampire in the face and was doubly rewarded with the sound of bones breaking and it dropping to the ground. Another vampire charged in only to have its attack blocked and then be pummeled by Xander's rain of punches. Each strike was rewarded with the sound of bones breaking and the vampire groaning in pain. Afterward it was summarily tossed aside.

The first vampire, having recovered its courage grabbed him from behind and tried to bite him. That attempt was thwarted by the armor Xander now wore and he responded with a head-butt that stunned the creature. He then flung it over his shoulder. Xander then advanced on the final vampire who had remained by the wall, apparently too stunned to move. He reared back and threw a punch only to see the blood sucker duck out of the way at the last minute. He and it were surprised as his arm met the wall and then went thru it.

Behind him, he could hear the vampires quickly re-grouping to attack. With a grunt, he ripped his arm free from the wall, tearing a massive hole in it as he did so. The act surprised the monsters and gave them pause.

Xander used the time to remove a cylinder from around his waist with one hand. With the other, he removed a small part from the phone/buckle and then inserted it into a notch at the base of the cylinder. He was rewarded with a voice saying, "Ready." and then a long metallic rod emerged from the cylinder.

The vampire leader sensed the danger in the air, "Don't just stand there, idiots, Get him."

Xander flipped open the cover of the phone and pressed a button as the gang charged him.

"Exceed Charge."

A compact red light flowed upward through the various parts of the armor until it reached the weapon. There it entered the weapon and the blade lit up bright red. All this happened just as the first vampires closed within striking range.

Xander acted instantly, slashing the first one across the chest, then moving and cutting his way through all of them. When he emerged all of the vampires bore a burning red slash across their torso. They collectively groaned then exploded into ash.

The vampire leader had enough and was preparing to run but Xander was faster. He reared back with the weapon, then swung upwards, discharging energy from the blade into a mass that flashed across the ground to where the leader was. There, it encircled him and he floated upwards, unable to effectively resist or move. The leader felt himself being rotated around to face Xander again and realized his fate was sealed.

He grinned as he spoke, "All that and you still couldn't save her. The best part was you never could."

"What's your name, ugly?"

He laughed. "My name is Silas. Sired in the great cause of the 50's."

"That's nice. Let me ask you. Do you know what time it is?"

"What?"

"Find out for me."

With that Xander kicked Silas as hard as he could in the stomach and sent the vampire flying through one of the openings that had been a window. Silas yelled in surprise as he slammed into and through the wall emerging high in the air and into broad daylight.

By the time Xander had crossed over to the new opening, all that remained was the subtle traces of ash falling to earth. With a grunt he leapt down from the building to the street below. De-transforming, he glanced up at the sun as he made his way back to where he had left his vehicle. The first thing he planned on doing back at the castle was taking a long hot shower and in the hopes that it would get him clean..

Bean felt his patience growing thin. He had given Silas this assignment specifically because he knew the vampire leader would find it enjoyable and within his area of expertise. Now he was having second thoughts about trusting such a valuable task to such an individual. Bean could have used one of the options given to him by his partner but discounted those out of hand. He both disliked and distrusted the man, sensing such feelings were mutual.

The sound of footsteps broke through his musing and he focused on the room door. Here beneath the earth, only a handful of individuals had the location and means of entry. There was a pause, then the door opened to admit several parties into the room.

And for the first time in many years, Jakob Bell truly smiled

An evil smile filled with hate to be sure but it was also filled with accomplishment and confidence.

"Seems Silas wasn't as incompetent as I thought. Good. Now we can truly begin."

He received no answer from the owners of three sets of burning eyes that watched with obedience and devotion in their eyes.