Chapter 24 Be the Last Standing
A/N: Four more chapters to go…what's going to happen in four more chapters? I don't know let's find out. Enjoy.
I am the last man stand survivor
I am the last man home.
I'll be the last man stand survivor
I'll be the last man home.
I am the last man stand survivor
I am the last man home.
I'll be the last man stand survivor
I'll be the last man home.
You're all alone sitting in the corner,
You've got a killer stare.
Who's messing round with you in the corner?
He better say his prayers.
You found yourself a new sensation
But baby it's a jungle out there
The one's you counted on are all but gone
Baby it's a jungle out there.
I am the last man stand survivor
I'll be the last man home.
I am the last man stand survivor
I'll be the last man home.
I wish you would try and look
a little more excited,
Let me stay, let me cause I'm coming anyway
I am the last man stand survivor
I'll be the last man home.
I am the last man stand survivor
I'll be the last man home.
I am the last man stand survivor
I'll be the last man home.
I am the last man stand survivor
I'll be the last man home.
You found yourself a new sensation
But baby it's a jungle out there
The one's you counted on are all but gone
Baby it's a jungle out there.
Last Man Standing by People in Planes
The town was for the most part empty. The people had all but left. To Angel as he walked the lonely streets he felt a moment hit him. This is what the town was like in is dream. There was nothing around; there was no person in sight. The undead have not risen yet but L.A. was beginning to falter. And a few moments played over and over in his head.
One moment was as he is about to turn onto a familiar street is or was a horde of zombies ready to attack and feed. Angel stood at the corner of the street and remained there for a moment. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath. It was just a dream and the walking dead haven't arrived yet. Angel turned the corner and saw nothing, just emptiness. The other moment that was playing in his head is the conversation with Wesley and most likely his last conversion.
'The team gathered around the dining table as they listened in from L.A. with Wes and his crew on the other line.
"You sure there's no way out?" Angel asked. He wanted them out of there.
"Everything is blocked and…they're shooting people in the streets." Wes answered.
"More cities are being affected, the sickness is spreading." Giles confirmed.
"So what's next?" Xander asked looking around because he didn't want to leave them there.
"If they can't find a cure or something to at least slow it down…"Wes' voice trailed off. "We managed to intercept a message and…The City of Angels will be completely sanitized in a hundred and twenty hours." Angel then slammed down his fist to the table.
"Damnit!" The slayer yelled and a few of the team members looked around not understanding.
"What does that mean?" Anya asked.
"They're going to bomb the city," Buffy answered. Cordelia gasped in horror, how and why would that be done? "It's in hopes to keep the infection from spreading."
"It's already spreading, this super flu, more places will follow behind L.A." Giles sounded defeated. In five days Angel will lose more of his people and that idea was something he couldn't wrap his head around.
"Angel," It was Victoria's voice. He and Victoria still don't know a whole lot about one another but they were slayers across a huge timeline. They, like Angel and Faith, shared a connection and Angel wanted to get to know a sister slayer even more. "We're not getting out, we're going to try and save as many people as possible." The A-Team stood around the table listening. Dawn wiped a tear away. "But you…you have to stop this." Angel stood there listening to the words. And right now it was time to be honest.
"I don't know how." Angel answered and no one in his team was quick to question him because they didn't even know.
"I think you do." Victoria's voice was calm. "You've been a slayer for seven years. You've stopped things like this before. It's what you do."
"Angel," It was Gunn's voice. "If this doesn't go our way…we're going to fight until the end here…it's what we do and…it's been an honor fighting with you."
"Angel and company," Now Lorne was on the line. "If only you guys could come and do one last Karaoke session," Angel managed a small smile but it disappeared before anyone could notice. "Don't blame yourselves for this, you guys just keep fighting the good fight even when the roof starts to come down."
"Angel," Wes was back on the line. "I know in the beginning when you first started you didn't believe in yourself, Giles likes to write in detail." Angel was standing there trying with every ounce of his being not to cry. "And who knows…maybe you still don't quite believe in yourself…but that doesn't mean we don't believe in you."
There was a long silent pause because what can you say? When you know this will be the last time you hear the voices of your friends, what do you say? "Kick some ass."'
Angel walked the grey and quiet streets replaying those moments. Once the line went dead the group stood there in for a moment in complete silence and unbelief. Buffy broke the stillness by reaching out to Angel and held him. The team gathered together well what was left of them. Angel, Buffy, Giles, Willow, Xander, Cordelia, Anya and Dawn all hugged each other because that's all they could do. Spike stood in the shadows with nothing to add along with Michael.
Angel looked up to the Sunnydale Catholic Church. He walked up the steps and into the empty and dark church. A few candles were still burning, probably prayers. Angel walked down the aisle to the Alter and stood before it seeing the crucified Christ hanging in the back. Come to think of it he's never prayed to God or to a god of any kind. Before Buffy was turned she prayed all the time and in the recent years she began to find her beliefs again.
Angel never understood God. If he was so merciful then why did Buffy grow up like she did? If this God was loving why did he take his mother who never did a wrong thing in her life? Why was there pain? Why was there suffering? Why was there death?
"I've never done this," Angel stood before the quiet Alter. "And to be honest I never had the time or the point to do it." Angel stood there looking to such a holy relic that so many people believe in. "I guess when all this happens…it's not going to matter…it'll become a story like everything else." Angel stood there in a moment of silences. "Maybe all that will matter is just a few stood up against many. That's what's going to be the most important. And…I'm just going to ask one thing…please keep my family safe that's all I'm asking. If you choose to do nothing, to not listen…then the Hell with you too."
Angel then took a step back and left the church. Once outside he faced in the direction of the factory. So many things have gone down in that factory and like the school it needed to be brought to the ground. Angel headed down the steps and his walky went off.
"Nothing," It was Xander's voice. The team was out looking around the barren town. They were making sure it was just them now and everyone was out. It was time to regroup and think about the next step.
Angel, Buffy, Giles, Dawn, Willow, Xander, Cordelia, Anya, Faith, Spike and Michael were down at the basement of the mansion as to stay away from the potentials. Once they have a plan then they will tell the others. The potentials seem to have a hard time understanding when discussing an idea you don't keep countering the situation. It's hard to plan anything with them. The goal is to get to the factory and search the place. The group wanted to brainstorm on what could actually be there but they have no clues to tell them.
"I'll break the silence," Spike spoke up while lighting up a cigarette. "How's everyone's day going?" He asked and the room was silent until Buffy laughed a little and then looked around as no one else was laughing. Buffy cleared her throat trying to get serious. But her laugh always caused Angel to either laugh or smile so he smiled and it created a chain reaction. The group either managed a smile to break through or a small chuckle to be heard. It was needed. But it started to get quiet again.
"Jesus," Faith muttered knowing what everyone was thinking. They had their minds set on Wes and L.A. knowing they could do nothing for him. It hurt Angel because that's another Watcher, another vampire who is trying to do good in this horrible world, a demon hunter trying to make this place safer and a demon much like Doyle trying to make the right choices, they're going to die and they can't do anything about it.
The streets of L.A. were a place of looting and violence now. There was no way out and you were stuck there. Some people locked themselves in their homes hoping to ride this out. Others were taking their chances and living life to the fullest if that's what you want to call it. Some were trying to escape only to be gunned down. During the day it was the citizens of the city trying to make it but at night this was a buffet for vampires and demons alike.
The hotel that housed Pryce-Investigations was now around the clock. They couldn't save everyone that called for help. What they needed was to get out themselves even if the chances were slim to none. Victoria came walking taking off her jacket and Wes looked up.
"You think it'll make it?" Wes asked and the vampire stood there.
"We can pray it does." She answered and Wes nodded as he turned back to the maps he had laid out. Lorne and Gunn walked in together as they gathered around the table. "So, what do we got?" The map had markings drawn on it of where the points to get out of town were blocked, where the Beast was going to rise, Wolfram and Hart and possible sewer exits.
Like Angel in Sunnydale this team wanted to go out with a bang even if it meant they go out with it. There was one thing they can do to help Angel out and have the last laugh, take out Wolfram and Hart. This group has accepted their fate so it was time to make the most of it.
"Destroying Wolfram and Hart won't stop the end but at least we take out a post." Wes went on to explain. "We set up during the day, go in through the sewers." Wes then rolled out a stolen floor plan of the building. The employees of the building were gone but not the evil. This little group had a feeling that when the end comes Hart will be a commanding outpost for evil. They were also focused on where the Beast will rise as well because something more than just the Beast will come out of that spot. Blowing it up won't be effective but they can at least destroy a very important spot.
"We have the locations ready," Gunn jumped in. "Once the foundations crumble the whole building will follow."
"Right, now say we make it out of there alive and in one piece," Lorne started. "What about the location of the Beast?"
"I'll handle that." Victoria answered looking around. "Assuming we get out of Hart you guys get as many people to here," She pointed to a sewer. "I checked it out not long ago…we might save a few souls."
"And why do you get to fight the Beast?" Gunn asked.
"I'm a vampire." Victoria answered. "I'm the strongest here," She stated and Gunn was about to say something. "No ego male testosterone speech please." She cut Gunn off before he could go on. "I might not be able to kill the Beast and that's even if he rises from there but something will come out of there, I need to buy you guys time." It was her way of saying she wasn't going to get out of this town not alive. And to be honest she didn't want to leave this place not alive. Ever since Rick's death she has felt half dead herself. Her twin was gone and other than trying to keep the end from coming she has no other purpose. She wanted to die fighting just like her brother. Wes wanted to protest and say they all get out alive or they all stay and die but she won't allow it.
"I'll stay behind," Lorne spoke up and they looked to him. "Look at me," He stated. "There's not much out there for me regardless how this plays out. I'll stay and get as many hooligans out, you two," He looked to Gunn and Wes. "You lead the people out." The small team of four people stood around.
"Our last mission together." Wes sounded sad. They would go to Wolfram and Hart together but after that…for this little group it was over no matter what. This city was going to be bombed and it would wipe out everything at least on the surface. The least these four could do would be to make their last stand.
"What do you think is happening in Sunnydale?" Gunn asked because that's where it will end completely end. They all thought about Angel and the others.
"They're sitting at the table," Wes thought. "They're discussing what's next just like us." There was some comfort in that. "They will go down fighting just like us." Victoria smiled knowing that's what they were doing.
"We're not going to win this are we?" Lorne asked meaning not them but the world.
"I don't know," Wes was honest. "Us…we're not but…" Wes smiled a little thinking about Angel said to him before he came to L.A. "A slayer told me something once, raise a little Hell and kill as many vampires and demons as you can." That put a smile on everyone's faces although it wasn't Angel who said. Buffy said it to Angel once and Whistler said it to Buffy before she embarked on her path but it was a great code to live by. "Angel and Buffy are going to do just that, let's follow."
"Burn the house down while we're still in it?" Gunn asked. "I'm in." Wes nodded looking around his small team. It's always been a few against many and somehow a few and can tip the scale, well it was time for them really unbalance this.
58 Hours Until Sanitization
The weapons were packed in bags and the cars were loaded. Wes, Gunn and Lorne stood in the entrance way of the hotel near the doors while Victoria faced them. It was daylight so she couldn't travel with them to Wolfram and Hart.
"Alright, we'll meet in the basement of the building." Wes stated and Victoria nodded, she would be taking the sewers. He then looked to his watch noting how much time they really had left. "Ok, let's synchronize our watches…" Wes trailed off looking up seeing the other three holding up their wrists showing they had no watches. "Right, we'll just round up."
"Good idea." Victoria added and she grabbed her bags. "See you guys there, and don't take forever." She walked away. While she was going on foot she's very fast. The boys grabbed their things and headed out. Wes unlocked the car as they piled their weapons in and looked back to the hotel. He knew that he will never see this place again. Wes turned away and headed to the driver's side of the car and got in leaving this place for good.
The city was in chaos and Wes pulled the car over. There was no way to get to the Wolfram and Hart with the car so the team got out and went to the ally ways. No one noticed Lorne because they were too busy being lost and scared in their own world. Wes, Gunn and Lorne grabbed the weapons bags from the trunk of the car and went by foot. Wes checked his watch and they had an hour before sunset and that's when the real fun begins.
The boys made it to the end of the block and saw the law firm's building standing there. It was untouched by the mayhem of the city, which only made them believe it was evil. The guys quickly moved not knowing what could still be guarding this unholy place. They made it to a manhole as Wes and Gunn uncovered it and they shoved their bags in first and then followed suit behind one another. They grabbed their bags and headed north to the building. Victoria should be here or just behind them.
They climbed up the sewers and were now in the basement of the building.
"If I knew you guys were going to take this long I would have nuked the place myself." Victoria stated as she helped Gunn from the manhole.
"We got stuck in traffic." Wes answered as he climbed out behind Gunn and Lorne followed.
"I'm sensing a lot of evil stuff, we need to work fast." Victoria got their heads in the game and Lorne nodded in agreement to extra sinister vibe felt around the area. Everyone got their bags and headed out of the basement to lay out the bombs. The bombs they had wouldn't do enough damage on their own but if you have enough of them however. They only needed to lay enough of the first floor and the basement.
The building was empty as far as they could see and the sun was starting it's descent for the night. The small group pulled out their flashlights looking around.
"Alright, let's get started." Gunn informed and they reached for one bag that had a ton of home made bombs. They had planned places on where they would get put and each had a timer where they were synced up for detonation. Victoria and Lorne knew something was happening though to this place. Something was here though as they placed the bombs around.
Wes looked up seeing Victoria heading to the stairwell. They didn't have time for this but he knew curiosity would get him to. He got up and Gunn went to follow as did Lorne and they went up the stairwell following Victoria. They watched as Victoria got to her knees as she opened the door and held almost shut. They all wanted to see what was happening and got a glimpse of candlelight and hooded figures. A few of the figures on the outside of the circle were Bringers. The inner circle was what was left of the Black Thorn.
"Sometimes don't you wish Angel was here?" Lorne whispered and Victoria nodded. They could use the slayer right now. She then looked to the boys.
"We can take them out once and for all with a push of a button." She stated and the three boys smiled.
"One point to Team Pryce Investigations." Gunn was all for this. "How good is this?"
"Very." Wes answered and he looked around. "We take out the Black Torn…the First's commanding officers basically…defiantly a one up."
"Sounds like a unanimous vote." Lorne continued to look at whatever demonic thing was happening.
"Let's send these basters back to hell." Victoria declared and they all nodded and quietly headed back down the stairwell to finish what they needed to do.
The first level was finished along with the basement and were already heading for the sewers.
"If we kill not only Hart but the Circle…" Victoria looked to the boys as they stood in the sewer.
"We'll have the hugest targets on our backs." Gunn finished the statement.
"There's no way out of this city." Wes began. "We're going to die here anyways." That was the realization for these four. "Still, the four of us, an ex-Watcher, a demon hunter, a demon and a vampire with a soul took out one of the strongest evil footholds." They all had to smile at the accomplishments they have made despite their road was running out. The Circle probably had a way out of here but they're plans were about to change giving the group in Sunnydale the chance and the driving wind they would need.
Victoria, Wes, Gunn and Lorne looked on as Wes held out the remote detonator. Victoria reached out to hold it, Gunn and Lorne followed suit and they all pressed the button together. There was a puff of what looked liked to be air and then fire burst from the building and started to crumble. The four watched a mighty evil fall but it was far from over.
"We still have a job to do." Victoria reminded them and they all looked to one another. This was it, this was the final goodbye and like true people that care for one another they all started to hug each other. And each fought the lumps in their throats from climbing up to shed tears. Victoria and Lorne would head to where the Beast was said to rise to be sure nothing got out, nothing that was soulless or dead would leave the city. Wes and Gunn would start to gather what people were willing to follow and save as many lives as possible. The four stood together one last time as a team. A few against many that's what will be remembered in the end.
Wes and Gunn headed back to the car and the former Watcher saw Victoria and Lorne run in and different direction. Even if the Beast doesn't rise here in L.A. something will becoming out from the spot marked by the Eye of Fire. Until the bomb drops nothing dead was going to leave this town. Wes got into the car followed by Gunn and the drove off to find people who were willing to follow and get out of this place if it's possible.
Victoria and Lorne made it to South Rampart Boulevard and West Seventh Street knowing that was an important spot. Once there they would wait but they didn't have to wait long as something was already trying to break through the concrete.
"What do you think we're going to see?" Lorne asked.
"Whatever lives in Hell I guess." Victoria answered because she didn't actually know. The two took a step back as something pushed it's way through. Victoria walked up to and stabbed it seeing what it could be. It was a demon of some kind that much was for sure. The demon fell through the crack but more were coming.
"Well Vicky," Lorne and her took some steps back as Hell's minions began to rise. "We're in trouble."
"Nothing dead leaves," Victoria stated the goal. "You can take the those on the left."
"We're not going to last ten minutes." Lorne added but yet he didn't sound nervous at all.
"Well, let's make it a memorable last ten minutes." Victoria looked to Lorne and the demon nodded. They were going to die either way but you might as well go down fighting.
Out in the outer parts of town Gunn and Wes have been rounding up people. But it wasn't easy though. Vampires and other demons that lived in the under bellies of the town have been showing up more and more. Some people were to afraid to leave their homes in fear of the sickness others the nightmare they could not explain. But a few people wanted to get out so they followed Wes and Gunn. As the group of twenty people stopped walking because Gunn spotted some trouble up the way Wes saw a young woman. She looked scared like them all but something was different about her.
"Hi," Wes greeted the woman and she smiled.
"Hey," She was polite and despite what was happening she was remaining calm.
"Wesley Windum Pryce," Wes introduced himself.
"Winifred Burkle, people call me Fred." She answered and Wes smiled and nodded. Gunn came to Wes to tell him the probably. Gunn whispered something to Wes and the former Watcher nodded.
"Fred," He looked to the woman he just met. "How well do you know this city?"
"Only lived here for like two years and it's bigger than the small city I lived in Texas. But I know a little." Fred answered.
"You know how to get to the south side from here?" Wes asked and she nodded. "Head that way, we'll behind you guys. Hopefully the sewer tunnels are still open, we can get out."
"Wes," Gunn sounded urgent and they looked to each other. "We need to move." Meaning it wasn't just time that was against them. While they wanted to save this small group of people they couldn't help think about Lorne and Victoria. They didn't know if the were dead or not. But then again in the next 48 hours it might not even matter.
Sunnydale
Angel stared at his watch holding it. He was watching the time tick knowing it was going to happen and he was completely helpless to stop it. This happened in his dream. Wes never made it out of L.A. It was happening in real life now; Wes wasn't going to make it out of L.A.
Angel stood up and walked outside as the one hundred and twenty hours were now down to the last two minutes. The sun had just set and he looked west to the direction of L.A. But he wasn't alone as Buffy stood next to him and one by one his team came out to join him. From the distance they were at they will see a flash of light and it will look like the sun is about to rise when the end happens.
Buffy took Angel's hand into hers squeezing it. They couldn't do anything a lot of lives were about to be lost. This was only the beginning though, they were witnessing the start of it all. Just then the flash happened and a bright orange light formed as though the sun was rising again. Dawn was already crying as Giles took her into his arms. Buffy stood there with tears and Angel was as still as ever. The city of lights, the city he grew up in, the city of Los Angeles was gone in a second and it took four good people with it. Buffy leaned in closer to Angel and he wrapped an arm around here. Four more soldiers down, their numbers were smaller now.
Two Days Later
Angel continued to look west seeing the small vapor linger over a once proud city. It wasn't enough to stop the end and more cities will fall to the same fate. More people will die just like that. The morning was cold and the air had the threat of rain in it.
"Angel!" A voice called out and he turned around seeing Cordelia standing there. "Vision!" She yelled and he ran to her and noticed she was holding something an envelope. "I had a vision early this morning," But her face didn't have the look of shock but she was smiling. "I found this," She handed it to Angel and it had some weight to it. "How they got it here…" She was still smiling. "Some one is still on our side." Angel opened the package and out fell a necklace. It was old and something that he knew was powerful. He looked inside the envelope again and pulled out a hand written note.
'Angel,
By the time you read this Victoria, Gunn, Lorne and myself will be gone. But we will not stop fighting. We're going to bring down Wolfram and Hart to be sure it's completely gone. We're going to try and get as many people out some how. We're going to do as much as we can and this is something that can help you. This amulet is something we managed to get from Wolfram and Hart, it holds a cleansing power. It is to be worn by a champion, a strong soul but more than human.
Our time is over but we hope this can help. We are hoping for the best in this. We will make our final stand and somehow in same when you make yours we will have stood together.
Keep fighting Angel.
Wesley Windum-Pryce'
Angel finished the letter looking to the amulet and then back up to Cordelia.
"First off Buffy, Dawn, Willow and myself have nothing that goes with that. It was a crazy vision though." Cordelia started to explain and Angel nodded. "I saw…I saw this is the sewer but I some thing else. I saw the entire Circle of the Black Thorn just go up in flames."
"They destroyed the Circle." Angel whispered now knowing what Wes did, what happened in L.A. The Circle would have gotten out by magic but Wes and his team stopped that, they kept a powerful force from ever leaving a place. Their losses were not a loss at all.
"So now what?" Cordelia asked because really now what? He then held up the amulet. Something lit a spark in him. And in an instant the winds felt like they were changing.
"A few against many." Angel muttered.
"What?" Cordelia asked not getting it and Angel looked up to her with a smile.
"We got a war win." Angel answered and the new Seer smiled as they headed for the mansion in a run. The days were numbered Angel could feel it, it was time to call the two minute warning, the gloves were now officially off. It was time to make the final moves.
Oh here it goes. What's going to happen now? What are you guys expecting in these last few chapters? The end is nigh people. Hope you're all enjoying it despite what has happened like Doyle and now Wes and his team. What's next? Got an itsy bitsy sneak peek of the next chapter for you guys. Thanks for reading, commenting and following. You readers are the best.
Chapter 25 The Hand and the Weapon
"L.A. was wiped off the face of the earth, we're the final people here and you want to stay?" Rona was trying to make a point.
"Yeah I want to stay." Angel answered.
"Why? Death is knocking on our door. If this is where it's going to happen why stay?" Rona asked.
"Because people died for this!" Angel stood up looking around. "Wes, Gunn, Victoria and Lorne are dead and they made sure one evil died with them. Doyle died fro this! I'm not running because that would be a rather piss poor to repay them. You're potential slayers, you carry a legacy and a legend…suck it up and act like it. We're staying because if this evil gets out then we're all dead. We need to try." Angel then sat down.
"Alright," Buffy tried to be a little happier. "So how about this, what do we know?" She asked.
"Uh well, we basically know that we're the last humans in Sunnydale." Xander answered.
"And all the evil in town wants us dead." A potential answered.
"I don't want to die." Another potential spoke up.
"Don't worry it's far more likely live longer to see your friends die first then you die." Anya assured them but that wasn't very reassuring at all.
"We do know something is at the factory." Dawn spoke up. "We were attacked there and it's being guarded."
"What about the seal down in the basement?" Kennedy asked. "I mean what if that's the last seal and if we keep it from opening?"
"It's an idea but I'm siding with Angel something else is being guarded." Michael spoke up looking to Angel. Kennedy didn't seem that happy. "You have a problem?" She shot a look to Michael. "Well, when you become a slayer and stopped the world from ending over a dozen times and outlive all other slayers by five years you can lead this team. Not to mention tame two of the most powerful vampires." Kennedy didn't say anything.
"Let's go over what's here now that the people have left." Faith jumped in.
"The First," Dawn started to list. "But we can't touch it."
"The great reverend that hates us all." Xander listed. "Can't touch him at this point."
"The super vampires." Cordelia added.
"The Bringers." Faith jumped in. "They might be our weakest link."
"You…want to attack the Bringers…?" Giles asked not understanding.
"Or we could kidnap one?" Faith added and there was a collective sigh of uneasiness.
"And what hold it ransomed?" Cordelia's sass came out.
"Yeah, I'll start gathering magazine's ripping the letters out." Xander was jumping in on this. "Dear mister First. If you want your Bringer back well you won't be deprived because you got like a million of them." Xander put that in perspective. Xander then looked up seeing Angel's look.
"You're an asshole sometimes." Angel stated and Xander smiled a little. "But it's actually a good idea." Faith was a little surprised. "We get one and we make it talk."
"How?" Anya asked and then Angel looked to Willow.
"I can get it to sing." She stated.