CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:

Endgame…

Michael watched as the Mayor continued his ascension transformation into a demon. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye—before he saw it on his motion sensor—a large group of vampires were gathering—getting ready to move on him. He also noted that his motion sensors had another group of vampires, they appeared to be having a change of heart about this fight as it looked like they were trying to escape the battle using the far side of the school as cover.

"Junior… Detonate Alpha-Nine…" Michael ordered.

Michael heard the explosion and saw the red targets of the retreating group disappear or stop moving on his motion sensors. He turned and refocused on the closer and more immediate threats. He was transfixed as he saw the Mayor changing his form—going from human to demon. He already had an idea as to what the Mayor was transforming into, but it was still a sight that took his breath away as he tightened his grip on his MA5. Michael winced as another wave of pain surged through his body. The pain was growing. He looked down at his side and saw fresh blood seeping from his armor—the jump down from the roof had aggravated the bleeding again. The pain he was feeling suddenly surged with a burning feeling as the bio-foam injectors in his armor pumped bio-foam into his wound to stop this bleeding.

Michael had to focus through the pain and burning in his side and then Junior spoke up, "Warning Michael… Bio foam system has now been exhausted… I must urgently recommend seeking immediate medical treatment due to threat of internal and external bleeding and blood loss."

Michael pushed the pain aside as best he could and focused on what he needed to do, "Junior… Activate dead man switch protocol for all remaining demolition charges… If I go unconscious or my bio signs cease… Execute immediate command detonation of all charges…" he ordered.

"Understood Michael… Dead man switch is now active." responded the AI.

Michael saw that the Mayor was still occupied with his transformation that it would give him time to deal with the remaining vampires facing him. Those vampires that had decided to remain and fight were preparing to rush him. Michael took a long relaxing breath—it was getting harder to breath now and he had to concentrate harder to maintain his focus.

Just need to last a little bit longer, he thought as memories of places and people flashed through his mind.

The vampires rushed…

Even wounded, Michael's reflexes were still fast and he reacted quickly—moving sideways to his left—firing a long burst from his assault rifle. He kept glancing at his ammo counter as it ticked down. He was aiming his bursts for their heads—it may not kill all of them, but it would slow them down. He kept moving to his left using his speed to stay away from the vampires. Suddenly a small group of vampires broke off from the main group and tried to flank him. He didn't hesitate, in one fast smooth motion he grabbed, armed and tossed his last plasma grenade at that group of vampires. He stuck the plasma grenade stuck to one of the charging vampires at the front of the group. The vampire was surprised and vainly grabbed at the grenade trying to remove it from his chest. A big explosion tore through that group of vampires—either killing or knocking down the rest of the group. Michael rushed into the disoriented group—firing his MA5—moving quickly and changing magazines on the run as he kept firing rapid short bursts into those vampires that had survived the grenade blast.

Michael kept up his blindingly fast movements, but at the same time he could feel the pain in his side start to increase. He could feel his body start to slow down. His hand moved reflexively to his side and he glanced down at his hand and saw fresh blood—he was bleeding again.

Thoughts about pain and bleeding were suddenly pushed aside as he heard a tremendous roar behind him. He spun around and saw that the Mayor had completed his transformation. Michael was greeted by the sight of a huge hideous looking snake around 19 meters in length. This was the demon known as Olvikan.

Michael faced the demon as it roared again and he loaded his second last ammo magazine into his MA5. He kept trying to push the pain down as he could feel it increasing and the edges of his vision was starting to blur. Michael was finding it harder to concentrate as he found his mind starting to wander. His life was flashing before his eyes. He was back on New Constantinople—he could hear the screams and desperate cries for help along with the anger as the Covenant had swarmed over the defenses. He recalled the anger he'd felt that day and he'd killed hordes of Covenant troops. He'd had a death wish that day, but he had survived while others hadn't… He was at the Battle of the Hellmouth, when he'd thought that Faith had died and that feeling ripped at him again… The images of death and destruction were replaced by flashes of Faith and Adriana during happier times and those precious moments that they had together. Michael knew that the end game was beginning.

The demon lunged towards Michael and he reacted out of instinct using his augmented reflexes to leap out of the way as he fired a long burst from his MA5 into the side of the beast. The demon let out a hideous roar as rounds stuck home. Michael kept moving, keeping his distance as he fired another burst from his weapon. It became automatic for him—move…fire…repeat. He loaded his last magazine in his weapon. He knew that he was scoring hits on the demon as it roared as he hit it. He was causing damage, but he realized it wasn't enough damage to bring down the creature only with his MA5 and he was almost out of ammo. Michael dodged Olvikan again, firing one long burst—again hitting the creature—the ammo counter on his weapon displayed "00".

Well that's it… No ammo… No grenades, he thought as he dropped his assault rifle and drew his combat knife from his shoulder scabbard.

Michael stared at the demon and he could have sworn that the huge snake had a smile on its ugly face. He realized that the former Mayor thought that he now had the advantage over the Spartan as he would have to get in close in order to do any damage with his knife. Michael could see the overconfidence in the demon's eyes as it didn't think that he was much of a threat anymore facing off holding only a knife.

Even only now armed with a knife, Michael didn't waver in his resolve. He would fight for as long as he could—until the end. Michael tensed as he got ready and tried to anticipate the demon's move. He didn't have to wait long as the demon snake lunged at him again with its mouth open showing him its sharp teeth. Michael dodged the lunge and as he spun away from the demon, he slashed out with his combat knife and he got a feeling satisfaction as he felt his knife cut deep into the demon and it howled with rage and pain.

He ducked and rolled to dodge the tail of the demon snake as it swung at him. Another wave of excruciating pain hit Michael and he stumbled a bit. He staggered and quickly recovered to face the demon. He knew that he was now just running on adrenaline, but he also knew that he was running out of time.

Michael was distracted by his pain and so fixated on tracking the demon that he wasn't watching his motion sensors like he normally would. He almost missed seeing the rapidly approaching green target until it was almost upon him.

oOoOo

Faith sprinted faster than she had ever run before—she was running for Michael. She was carrying the staff that he had been looking for all this time. The firing had stopped, but she still heard the roaring. She entered the school courtyard area—she wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted her. The whole area looked like a scene out of hell. The buildings had been smashed and damaged by explosions. Small fires were burning scattered across the courtyard and inside some of the school buildings. Her heart jumped to her throat as she saw Michael. She saw him facing off against a huge ugly looking snake armed only with a knife. That's when she noticed that he seemed to moving slower and her eyes widened in shock and fear as she saw the all blood on the outside of his armor.

She saw the demon lunge at Michael. She saw him side step the demon's lunge and slash out with his knife. A predatory gleam came to her eye as she heard the demon roar as Michael's knife cut deep into the creature.

For a moment she thought that he had things in hand and was getting the upper hand, but that quickly changed in a blink of an eye as she saw Michael get hit by the huge demon's tail sending him flying across the courtyard slamming into the wall of a building.

"MICHAEL!" Faith screamed at seeing him down on the ground.

The demon that once been Mayor Wilkins, whipped its head around at hearing her scream and looked at her. The huge snake turned its body and started moving towards her…

oOoOo

Michael had been getting some good cuts in on the demon Olvikan. He could see the anger and frustration in the demon's face and he knew that he had pissed off the former Mayor. The demon lunged again and Michael side stepped and slashed again with his combat knife once again feeling the satisfaction as it dug deep into the demon, but this time he was too slow reacting and the demon's tail caught him full on. Michael felt like he'd gotten hit by a tank as the blow sent him flying through the air, only stopping when he slammed hard into the side of a building and fell to the ground. Michael fought to stay conscious, new pain flared through his body and he had more problems breathing—he could tell that he'd broken several of his ribs.

Through the haze of the pain, he had heard Faith's voice screaming his name. He concentrated—fighting through the pain and disorientation. His vision was going in and out of focus and it didn't help that his helmet display was flashing yellow and red warning lights. A voice in the back of Michael's mind was telling him to just stay on the ground and close his eyes, but he fought through that and somehow forced himself to his knees.

Suddenly everything became focused and very clear. He realized that Faith was here in the courtyard with him—he saw Olvikan turning to face her. Michael could feel his life and time slipping away, but he wasn't going to let this damned demon hurt or kill Faith. Somehow he pushed the pain aside and found some reserves of strength left. He pushed off from the ground sprinting towards Faith.

oOoOo

Faith saw the demon facing her and she got ready to move. She had the staff as a weapon, but she didn't want to lose or damage it as it was Michael's only hope of getting home. She tensed herself preparing to dodge the demon, but she didn't know how long she could keep it up. The demon lunged at her with its open mouth seeking to devour her. Everything seemed to slow down for her. She saw how the demon was lunging at her and she knew that she wouldn't be able to avoid the creature's mouth. She was staring at her death rushing at her when a large blur moved into her field of vision pulling her out of the way with the demon missing her by inches. Faith immediately recognized the blur as Michael as he pulled her to the ground to avoid the demon's swinging tail and he placed his armored body between her and the demon's tail. Faith saw the demon's tail swing over them again just missing them by inches.

She heard Michael say, "Stay behind me and get ready to run…"

"I'm not leaving you…" Faith said, but she stood behind Michael as he placed himself between Faith and the demon.

oOoOo

Michael needed to finish this battle, but with Faith here in the courtyard his options were limited. He'd lost his knife when he got hit by the demon. He kept himself between the demon and Faith as the creature circled the couple. He could read the demon's eyes, seeing the arrogance and over-confidence as it thought he was unarmed. Michael had one weapon left…

"Junior… Increase power amplification to armor bio-feedback systems… Disengage safety protocols..." he ordered the AI.

"Michael… Warning... Increasing power to those systems and disengaging safety protocols will exponentially increase chances of further physical injury from battle armor feedback." the AI responded.

"Spartan Sierra-113 command override! Implement command as instructed!"

"Override accepted. Transferring all available power to bio-feedback systems…" Junior replied.

The Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor system was already equipped with a system that would amplify the strength and force of the wearer. The normal strength output was a factor of five. By transferring power and disengaging the safety protocols, Michael had increased the power output to that system so that the strength output was now a factor of fifteen. The downside with this system was that at normal levels the force feedback could break or shatter normal bones. At these increased levels, even Michael's ceramic skeletal augmentation was no protection to this force increase, but he didn't care anymore. He knew that he didn't have much time left. He could feel his reserves of strength waning and he needed to protect Faith—that's all that mattered now.

"Faith… When the demon attacks... Run!" Michael said gasping for breath as his breathing became more labored.

He could see the demon smile as it slithered closer approaching them—getting ready to strike. Michael gathered his remaining strength and readied himself. He thought of his Faith and Adriana and it made what he had to face easy. A quick thought passed through his mind that maybe he would see them in the next life.

The demon snake lunged at them. Michael could only hope that Faith listened to him and she ran when the demon attacked. He saw the demon open its mouth to try and swallow him. Michael side-stepped to his left, but didn't jump clear—he needed to stay really close. He saw the snake get closer and he put all of his strength into a punch with his right hand. He struck the side of the head—just below the eye—of the demon channeling all the force of his battle armor into the blow. There was a huge crunching noise as his armored fist impacted against the tough skin of the demon. Olvikan's forward momentum actually stopped and he flew backwards from the force of Michael's blow.

As Michael struck the demon, he immediately felt the bio feedback force from his punch on his systems and body. He felt and heard bones crack and new and more intense pain immediately flared throughout his body, drowning out all his existing pain. He saw stars and he lost focus as his vision went grey. Somehow through some extreme act of will or luck, he remained conscious as this new pain fused with his existing pain and he felt like every nerve ending in his body was on fire. He felt himself falling to the ground as he could no longer keep himself standing as it felt like his body was shutting down. More system warning messages flashed across his helmet display.

oOoOo

Faith had prepared herself for the demon to strike. She didn't know what Michael had planned, but she trusted him with her life. She saw the demon lunge towards them to attack and she turned to run. She only ran a few steps, but then for some unknown reason she stopped and she had to turn around. She turned in time to see Michael side step and throw a punch at the demon—it was like looking at a scene out of mythology where Gods battled demons.

Faith just stood there in awe and shock as she saw Michael hit the Mayor on the side of the head. She heard the loud bone crunching noises as he punched the demon. Her eyes went wide as she saw the huge demon actually fly backwards from the force of Michael's blow to its head and crash to the ground. Her awe turned to horror as she saw Michael collapse to the ground and didn't move.

Faith didn't hesitate as she ran to Michael…

oOoOo

Michael found himself lying face down on the ground. Every part of his body was screaming in pain and he didn't know if he could move. His helmet display was a sea of yellow and red warning lights…

Junior spoke in an urgent tone, "Michael… Warning! Battle suit systems have been compromised… Bio feedback system has caused a system overload… Your suit will go into lockdown mode in less than 21 minutes… You have suffered critical injuries… Immediate medical attention is required!"

"Junior… Set countdown timer on all explosives… two minute delayed countdown on my mark…" Michael said through gritted teeth as he managed to focus through the pain for a moment.

"Understood Michael… On your mark…"

Michael was about to say the command when he felt someone trying to turn him over. He bit his lip hard and tasted blood in his mouth as he tried not to scream. It took several attempts, but he was finally on his back and he could see the sky. He then saw Faith's face…

oOoOo

Faith reached Michael's body. He was face down on the ground and he wasn't moving. She struggled to turn him over as he was so heavy in his battle armor. She was scared that she might be hurting him more, but she needed to get him on his back. She finally succeeded in rolling him over. She couldn't see through the visor of Michael's helmet to tell if he was alive or even conscious.

She placed both hands of each side of his helmet, "Michael… Can you hear me? Please say something..." she said trying and hoping to get a response from him, but she was fearful of the worse.

Faith's heart skipped a beat when she felt Michael turn his head and then he spoke, "Faith… I… I thought I told you to run."

She had tears running down her face, she couldn't see Michael's face, but she could tell from his voice that he was in bad shape. Faith laughed with her tears still running, "You know me… I was never one to play by the rules and listen."

Faith watched as Michael lifted his left arm slowly and brought it to her face and gently touched her. She looked at the wound on his torso and she knew it was bad as blood was seeping out.

She heard Michael's voice, "Faith… I need you to listen to me now… I need you to run as fast as you can away from here… I don't know if the Mayor is going to get up."

This caught Faith's attention and she looked over to where the demon snake had crashed into the ground… She saw that the tail of the demon snake was slowly moving.

"Michael… I'm not leaving you… I found the Staff of Uman! You can go home!" Faith replied pleading for Michael to stay with her and not do what he was planning to do.

"I was always home when I was with you…" Michael replied with a pain-filled voice.

A wave of anger and frustration flared through her. She wasn't going to give up and leave Michael behind. She moved to the top of Michael's body and tried to lift him by the shoulders to drag him to safety. She struggled just to lift him with her Slayer strength and she found she could barely drag his body due to his weight. She grimaced as she tried to drag the Spartan as she knew he was badly hurt and this probably wasn't helping. As she struggled to move Michael she kept glancing over at the demon snake.

oOoOo

Michael gritted his teeth in pain and his vision greyed out a couple of times as he felt Faith struggle to lift and drag his body. The pain in his body was intense and his brain was screaming at him to just close his eyes to make all the pain go away, but he knew that if he did that that all the explosives would go off. He knew what Faith was trying to do and that she wouldn't leave—she could be that stubborn. She didn't realize that she was not only putting her own life at risk but everyone else if Olvikan started moving again and was able to escape. Michael needed her to leave now while he was still able to stay conscious.

"Faith… You can't move me without help… I'm dying… You can't do anything for me. I have to set off all the explosives… I have to make sure that the Mayor can't escape…" Michael said between clenched teeth from all the pain he was suffering.

He felt myself being lowered to the ground and he saw Faith's face again.

"Damn it! I'm not leaving you! I Love You!" Faith said with tears streaming down her face.

Michael reached up with his good arm and touched her face. He saw how young and beautiful she looked. He saw the wildness and the love in her eyes—the darkness was fading away.

"I know… I've always and will always love you, but you need to go now… You have a second chance now… You can have the life you deserve…" he said softly as he felt his eyes get wet.

"Do this for me… Please Faith…" Michael said pleading as he wanted her to live.

Faith kept shaking her head as tears streamed down her face, but Michael saw her place the staff beside him on his my right side and slowly she stood up. He saw the sadness and heartbreak on her face as she moved slowly away from him. As she moved away, she would turn and look back towards him—almost like she was fighting a war inside herself about whether she should stay or leave.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally reached the edge of the courtyard. She stopped and turned and looked at him one last time. Michael could see her face clearly with his helmet optics and augmented vision—then she was gone. He saw her on his motion sensors as she quickly put distance between her and the school.

Michael's thoughts were interrupted as he heard a demon laugh…

"That was nice and touching… But in the end you will still die… They will all die… You still lose…" the demon that was formerly known as Mayor Richard Wilkins III slurred out taunting him.

For Michael it didn't matter what the demon said. Faith was still alive—he had saved her. His past self would be with her soon. He knew that his Faith and Adriana still existed… Even though he was going to die—lose—he would still win in the end where it mattered the most for him… I would still win… Even with all the pain Michael was in the thought nagged at him.

"Even when I win… I lose… Even when I lose… I win." he muttered.

Michael tried to move even as his body screamed not to. It hurt so much as the pain flared through his body. His eyes glanced at the countdown display on his helmet display for the time remaining before his battle armor went into lockdown mode. By some miracle he managed to roll on his side with only minimal screaming. His left hand reached out and finally grabbed on to the staff.

The next part is the hardest, Michael thought as he tried to prepare himself.

He pushed and struggled and somehow managed to get to his knees. His breathing was hard and ragged as he felt his heart pounding in his chest. He paused for a moment to let his vision come back into focus and he found strength to push himself to stand up as he bit his lip hard as he tried to scream. The pain in body flared and for a second he thought he was going to fall back down, but he managed to stay on his feet. He knew that it was his battle armor systems helping him stand as he knew that he had broken some major bones. He tried moving his right arm, but it hung uselessly by his side. It was hard to keep focus as his vision was blurring again and his breathing was becoming more rapid and difficult. He saw the demon Olvikan, lying on the ground about 25 meters from him. It was still alive, but it was obvious it was hurt as its right eye hung out of its socket—a result of Michael's devastating punch. The demon was still feeling the effects as it struggled to recover and move again. Michael knew he didn't have much time left.

Michael glanced again at his motion sensors—the green target that was Faith was getting further and further from him. He still had so much to say to her, but he knew that would be for his doppelganger to discover and do now. Michael blinked and tried to focus his eyes as he could have sworn that he saw his Faith and Adriana, standing by the demon looking at him and smiling. He realized that his pain was causing him to hallucinate, but he didn't care as it was good to see them. Michael took a tentative footstep—almost like the first time he had to learn how to walk again after his augmentation surgery. He took another hesitant step and then another and made his way slowly and painfully towards Olvikan holding the staff in his left hand using it to help him keep his balance and stay on his feet.

oOoOo

The former Mayor Richard Wilkins III now known as the demon Olvikan laid on the ground hurt and dazed. Thoughts raced through its dazed mind as it tried to gather its strength and focus.

Who would have thought that one man… an injured man at that… could have that much strength and force to strike down a demon with a single blow?

The demon tried to overcome the pain he was feeling and regain his focus and move, but the hit to his head had been a tremendous. He knew he was hurt as he couldn't see out of his right eye and the pain flared in his head and through his body from the numerous other wounds that he had suffered at the hands of this man. The demon struggled to rise, but fell back down to the ground. He could see out of his remaining good eye the bloody and obviously severely injured man get up and move slowly towards him. This man—Michael—had battled him and was defeating him. The demon shuddered as he knew fear as he looked upon someone that was stronger and more powerful than any other force he had known. The chill of mortality flowed through the former Mayor as the man moved slowly closer holding the staff. The only consolation that the former Mayor could take right now was that Michael would be dead soon. Olvikan had heard the man tell Faith about the explosives, if he could just find enough strength to move then there might be chance to get away before the explosives were set off.

The former Mayor knew that the end game was in play. The demon struggled to move and the man moved closer holding the staff…

oOoOo

Pain flared through his body with every step Michael took closer to the demon. His whole body was screaming in pain. As he got closer he could see the look in the demon's one remaining good eye—it knew that the end was near. Michael knew he was going to die, but he knew he was still going to win in the end. The more he thought about it, the funnier it sounded. Somehow Michael started laughing. The pain stabbed his body as he laughed, but he didn't care anymore. He could see the confused look on the demon's face.

"What's so funny?" the demon managed slur out as it struggled to recover.

"I understand it now…" Michael managed to mutter out between his laughing and pain.

"Understand what?" the demon said still badly slurring. Michael could feel its eye burn through his helmet visor to meet his eyes.

"Even when I lose… I win…" Michael said suddenly feeling very tired.

"Junior execute two minute countdown…" Michael said making sure that the former Mayor heard the command as well.

"Command executed… Countdown commencing Michael…" replied the AI.

The demon tried to move to desperately get out of the area. Michael had somehow made it to be standing beside the demon. He looked at the staff and at the demon and fighting through the pain lifted the staff and drove the point end hard through the body of the snake impaling it to the ground so it couldn't get away. The demon let out a huge roar of pain and struggled to move, but it was pinned in place.

Michael saw the struggling demon and he felt his body fail. He knew that his injuries were bad—fatal—and he had pushed his body past its breaking point. He collapsed across the body of the demon snake and slide down next to its body. He knew that he was going to die soon and everything seemed to slow down. He watched as the demolition timer counted down on his helmet display. His helmet display was still filled with warning and caution lights, but he wanted all the noise and lights to go away.

As he felt his strength and life fade away, he had only one thought playing through his head.

Even when you lose… You win…

With that thought repeating in his mind, he somehow dug deep and found some remaining reservoirs of strength left and he struggled through his exhaustion and pain and the greyness around his vision that was now turning black. He managed to push his body up and slide up the body of the demon. He saw the top of the Staff of Uman with its crystal sticking out of the demon snake's body. His vision was now fading as he reached for the crystal—it felt so far away. He missed with his first couple of attempts, but he finally managed to grab a hold of it with his good hand and he snapped it off like the Quasit demon priest had done back in that temple which seemed so long ago now.

Everything seemed to glow and Michael had time for one last thought.

"Even when you lose… You win…" he muttered as his strength gave out and he slide back down to the ground.

As his vision faded, everything around him suddenly went white and then there was nothing…

oOoOo

Faith made it back to the safe zone. She had cried as she ran all the way back there. She felt guilty for having given up and left Michael behind, but he had been right. She saw Buffy, Giles and the others approach her as she got closer. They could tell by her face and that she was alone, where Michael was and what had happened.

Faith stood there looking at the group as she couldn't bear to turn around to look back to where she'd left Michael. Her sad eyes met Buffy's eyes. Buffy could see and feel Faith's pain and loss.

"I'm so sorry Faith… Michael was a good man." Buffy tried to say. Even as she said the words, they seemed hollow and insufficient to describe the type of man Michael had been. Buffy moved closer and hugged Faith.

A huge roar echoed across the sky and everyone turned anxiously towards the direction of the high school, worried that the Mayor was alive and getting away. They didn't see or hear anything else until they all saw a bright light.

"What the hell is that?" Xander said pointing back at the high school.

Everyone witnessed a bright glowing light coming from the high school that seemed to get brighter for a few seconds, flared to even a greater brightness and then it was gone.

It was only seconds later and before anyone else could say anything about the light, that the high school was consumed in a huge explosion destroying everything as Faith, Buffy and the others watched in awe…