FIC: Ravages Of Hell (27/?)

"Buffy's dead," Faith looked around the hushed room as she gave her report. "It was a sniper, Angel caught him," Faith paused, not even wanting to think about the mess her enraged idol had made of the sharpshooter, "just a hired gun, nothing supernatural about him."

"Then we've lost." It was a pale-faced Giles who broke the silence that followed her report.

"W…we've got the tridents," a teary-eyed Willow weakly protested. "There must be something -."

"Don't you understand?" Even she jumped at Giles' sudden roar. "It was ordained that only the three champions – Buffy, Faith, and Angel could wield the tridents. Without them we're doomed!"

Satan supped at his wine, watching the scene unfolding before him with barely uncontrollable glee. "Game, set, and match to me, I think." He'd particularly enjoy the vampire, the only escapee ever from his realm, and the raven-haired Slayer, such delicious guilt.

"I would beg to differ."

Eyes widening, he spun to face the figure, a grey-bearded man with kindly eyes and dressed in an executive suit that completely failed to conceal his chubby body. "You'd dare to come here!" he hissed, outrage burning through every bone as he rose from his seat. "Why I'll-."

"Oh please," his most unwelcome guest chuckled. "Not on my worst day and your best, why don't you sit back down?"

Legs rubbery from shock, he obeyed. "Ha," he forced a laugh. "You've lost your battle. I will take your most blessed, prized possession and tear through it, make it my new home."

"Will you indeed?" his guest's eyes hardened to something more unyielding than steel. "Perhaps I will not allow it."

"The balance -."

"I created the universe's balance," the intruder responded, his tone as equable. "I can change it."

"My legions-."

"Your legions are numerous, but so are mine, vastly out-numbering yours. I will fight you for earth."

Satan forced another laugh. "In such a battle, earth will be devastated."

"Yes," his guest nodded, "and so will your army and your power over them. The question you have to ask yourself what you prize more – your vengeance or your power."

"You threw me out!" he raged.

"I've no time for your childish tantrums," the interloper calmly responded. "Do you wish to hear my proposal?" Too angry to speak, Satan simply nodded. "The prophecy calls for three champions. I will call a substitute out of those in," his guest nodded towards the scene Satan had previously been watching with such relish, "that room. Then we will let events play out as they will. My champions against whatever forces you call to bear."

Satan licked his lips, mulling over his guest's words. Finally he shook his head. "That is unacceptable," he paused a second before continuing, "but perhaps if you chose a replacement from Summers' original three companions."

For the briefest second, his former ruler looked uncertain. Then he nodded. "Very well, but first I feel I should ask for advice." Satan opened his mouth to protest when his guest clicked his fingers and a portal of light appeared in the wall opposite. Satan clamped his mouth shut. What was the use?

In seconds, a statuesque brunette clad in a knee-length, figure-hugging hauberk had walked through the portal and into his domain, stopping just inside the entrance. The brunette sniffed and shook her head. "Um, I know you're just the lord of the Underworld and haven't got much to work with, but have you ever heard of interior decorating? A lick of paint on the walls, a few rugs on the floor, you could do something!"

Satan gritted his teeth as his rage grew. "Who is she?"

The bearded man smiled beatifically. "My newest warrior angel, the first in a generation. Miss Cordelia Chase."

Satan's dark mood got even blacker. "I've heard of her."

The admittedly beautiful brunette smirked. "Of course you have."

"Cordelia," the bearded man looked like he was having the time of his very long life, "I wish you to pick a champion out of Miss. Rosenberg, Mr. Giles, and Mr. Harris."

"Um," Cordelia looked briefly thoughtful and then broke out into a brilliant smile, "that's easy. Doofus might not have Giles' smarts or Rosenberg's mojo, but he's got the heart. Xander all the way."

The bearded man stared at the warrior angel. "You're sure?" The brunette beauty nodded. "Then," his unwelcome guest pointed towards the scene, "go and tell him."

"Oh, I can't wait for this."

The moment the enticing beauty had disappeared; Satan turned his gaze back to his former master. "I trust this concludes our business?" he seethed. "That you can go now?"

His guest chuckled. "You know how to make one feel welcome, Lucy." A flash of light enveloped the bearded figure. "Farewell my son, remember I forgive you your trespasses even if you will not."

Satan stared balefully at the spot where the interloper had been stood. "Sanctimonious bastard!"

Xander stared around the room through red, puffy eyes, his already hollow stomach tightening as he realised something indefinable had happened. He was half out of his seat when he heard a familiar and surprising voice behind him. "Not loving the pirate look, Zeppo."

Heart thundering, Xander spun around to face the speaker. "H…how?"

The beauty shot him a radiant smile. "The big guy upstairs made me an angel."

"The selection process must be really lax," Xander muttered.

"Doofus," the former cheerleader retorted.

Xander's mouth opened in an insult and then closed. There were more important things to discuss. "Why are you here?"

All at once the curvy beauty's face sobered. "A new champion had to be chosen to help Angel," Cordelia sighed fondly, "and Faith," the cheerleader scowled, "represent earth. You were chosen."

"Me? You've got to be kidding!" Xander exploded. "There's Connor, Groo, Kennedy, and Willow, and I was chosen! Which idiot's idea was that?"

"Mine." Xander clamped his mouth shut. Much as he'd grown to love Cordelia, he'd never learnt to talk to her. "I was given a choice, you, Willow, or Giles. Not much of a choice but I chose you."

"Why?" Xander managed to gasp.

"When I died," Cordelia smiled sadly. "I was able to see everything that happened in your life. I saw you force Angel to help you in the Master's tunnels. I saw you stop Angelus outside Buffy's hospital room. I saw you stop the zombies. I saw you save the world from Willow. I saw you sacrifice yourself to save Kennedy. You've made your mistakes, but there's no Ripper or Dark Willow in your past, you were the best, the only choice."

"But-."

"No buts," Cordelia scolded. "I thought you'd learnt years ago not to argue with me when I'm in this mood." The cheerleader glanced towards Angel. "And if anyone doubts I came here. If anyone has any doubts tell Giles that you know Ethan Rayne was the one who named him Ripper and tell Angel he's welcome for the tip on the Black Thorn and that I love him." Xander gaped at his ex. Before he had chance to comment she'd disappeared.

He looked around to see everyone was now out of their trance and busy arguing, oblivious to what had just happening. Swallowing his self-doubt, Xander spoke up. "I have a solution." When no-one appeared to take any notice, he tried again, raising his voice to a bellow. "I HAVE A SOLUTION!"

Everyone's head snapped towards him. "Apparently I've been selected to represent our side as the third trident bearer," he shrugged at the room's collective gasp. "Hey, it wasn't my idea, blame Cordelia."

"Cordelia!" Angel and Connor reached their feet at roughly the same instant.

"Apparently she's an angel now," Xander hurried on before anyone could speak. "Yeah, not my first choice either. But apparently she knew that Ethan was the one who named you 'Ripper'," he looked from the open-mouthed Council head to the ensoulled vampire, "and she said to say you're welcome for the tip on the Black Thorn." There was no way he was telling Deadboy the second titbit.

Giles' mouth opened and shut. "W…why you?"

"Don't know, didn't ask," Xander lied. There was no need for anyone else to know Cordelia's reasoning, any explanation from him would only sound like boasting anyway. "The question is what do we do next?"

"Quite," Giles shook himself. "The Deeper Well, everything's happening at the Deeper Well." The Watcher nodded. "We'll have to stop Satan's forces getting to our trio of champions before they secure the Deeper Well. We'll split the Slayers into three units. Kennedy, Groo, and Connor you'll have joint control of Alpha unit on the right flank, Rona and Vi you'll have joint control of Beta unit on the left flank, I'll take control of Charlie unit at the point. Riley, I want you and Willow in command of a reserve at the very mouth of the Deeper Well, reinforced with all of our mortal troops."

"I've got a spell I want to research beforehand, a big one," Willow commented.

"Fine," Giles nodded. "I suggest everyone get as much rest as possible. We will have a hard night tonight." Giles looked around, eyes suddenly sad. "I'm sure some of us won't return. I'd just like to say it's been an honour and a pleasure to know each and every one of you. I'll give you all your assignments before leaving tonight."

Faith licked her lips as she stared at the door before her. She raised a hand to knock on the door then stopped when she realised knocking would only give the room's occupant opportunity to tell her to get bent. After a count of three, she shoved the door open and walked in. "Hey, X, you about?"

The one-eyed man stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist and all his lovely torso muscles displayed. "Faith, good to see your manners are just the same as ever."

Resisting an urge to lick her lips for quite a different reason than just before, she spoke again. "Congrats with being chosen for this, Cor couldn't have made a better choice, I know how ballsy you are-."

"Faith is this going anywhere?" the distinctly unfriendly-looking Californian snapped. "Only I want to go to bed before we set out on this little jaunt tonight. Alone."

Faith ignored both the man's tone and implied insult. Plenty of men had said a lot worse to her with a lot less cause. "I was just gonna say I'll have your back in this fight no matter what."

"Great," Xander looked less than unimpressed. "Look Faith, I'm not here to bond with you. I'm here to complete this mission and then leave."

Faith resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. Not this bullshit again, she had to swallow X's contempt because she'd earned it but this leaving crap was just gonna hurt him. "In case you ain't noticed B's just died. Red, G, and Pip will need you more than ever now-."

"They haven't needed me for years." Xander shook his head. "And if I wanted someone's advice which I don't, I wouldn't ask you. You know where the door is, use it."