Chapter 25 The Hand and the Weapon
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 A-Team sat at the table while the potentials were standing around the table. They were talking about what has happened in L.A. and the fact that the sickness has spread. They were talking in candle light as the power was now gone. Some of the potentials expressed their concerns on why they were still here in Sunnydale.
"I'm just saying, look at L.A." Kennedy stated.
"We're staying here, this is the source." Angel was clear on that but not everyone liked that idea.
"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 for 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. Michael seemed to have put her in her place for now.
"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.
"What are we going to learn or at least hope to learn?" Giles asked Angel.
"Anything we can, we're running out of time and I have no more ideas." Angel answered. "But it's the factory I know it."
"Angel we've been at that place over and over since like…year two of this." Xander jumped in. "We've seen nothing there that would need protection."
"Even as Elizabeth before it was burned down, I don't remember anything there." Buffy added.
"On the upper levels yes…basements?" Angel asked and that made sense.
"Ok, I'm down," Faith rose her hand. "We all can't just go in guns a blazing though."
"I know; I'm going alone." Angel spoke up and there was chatter as people were disagreeing with the slayer or the idea altogether. "Guys," He made them quiet down. "That's how it's going to be. But you all have a job to do. You all are going to the seal down at the school basement." That sparked everyone's interest. "Like you're going to act as if you're taking the place down."
"Catch a Bringer then?" Dawn asked.
"Keep Caleb from noticing you're at the factory." Cordelia added and Angel nodded.
"Alright," Michael stepped in. "It's an ok plan but there's potential room for error."
"I know but anyone got a better idea?" Angel asked looking around and no one spoke up. "Good, let's do it."
"No let's not," Kennedy spoke up. She wanted to say something to Angel. For her nothing was going right. But she hasn't been on the battle field long enough to realize nothing ever goes right. "Doyle's dead because you guys went there. Why do something like that again?" This could have been a valid point seven years ago. "We have no proof and none of us will do it." She wanted to take the reins but Giles was right, if you're going to be a general and lead you have to make the tough choices that no one else can. Angel has made those choices over and over; Kennedy has not. Angel stood up and looked directly at Kennedy.
"This isn't a game, people die all the time. Nothing ever goes as planned. But you will listen. I'm the leader whether I want it or not, I never asked for this. You're all potentials and until you become slayers you will listen. I'm not one of you." Angel was making this clear and more clear to Kennedy. He's has grown tired of her trying to undermined his authority. "What I say goes. I go first, I make the choices you follow. We work as team around here it's the only way to possibly survive." Angel never took his eyes off Kennedy. "You think you can do better?"
Kennedy wanted to say yes but deep down her inner voice said not to talk back. "Then leave, leave and see how far you get." Angel was challenging her and wanted to know what she might do. Kennedy stood up and left and she was hoping the potentials would follow but no one was. She continued out the doors of the mansion while everyone else stayed in their spots. "Alright, let's get to work."
Down below the factory is where the work was being done. Caleb stood there watching the Bringers work hard at a wall of stone. They were carving into it.
"Still," The First was talking to Caleb as it was in the form Angel. "Being blind they can work." Caleb nodded in agreement. "What makes you think this will work?"
"Have a little faith I say." Caleb answered looking to his master.
"You do realize what will happen if Angel or Faith finds this?" The First wanted to be sure Caleb understood.
"I do but they won't find it." Caleb assured his master as they continued to watch the Bringers carve into the rock.
Kennedy was walking by herself down the road leading towards the town. She knew she shouldn't be out her by herself though. While the town was empty of people it still had plenty of vampires, demons and of course Bringers around. She looked behind her thinking she might have heard something. There wasn't anything there as the night had settled in. Kennedy looked in the direction of the mansion and debated if she should go back. But that would be embarrassing to go back after what just happened.
But what was she going to find in town? Kennedy continued to walk down the road alone and while she might not be a slayer her gut instincts told her she was being watched. Of course she didn't bother to bring a weapon. Kennedy stood still listening for a moment. She turned around and backed away at the same time as a Bringer swung at her with a huge knife. Kennedy then tried to take her own swing at the Bringer and got a hit but it didn't phase the blind being. It swiped at Kennedy again and she felt a stinging pain go across her forearm. The Bringer then kicked her down to the road. Just then as the Bringer went to finish the job there was a roar of an engine. Kennedy saw the two headlights coming her way so she rolled quickly out of the way as the black Mustang hit the Bringer.
The Mustang was still on as Angel stepped out and Kennedy remained on the ground looking up. He leaned up against the open door looking to Kennedy.
"Thanks for being the bait, true team player." Angel stated and Kennedy wanted to get up and punch him but she knew she wouldn't get a hit. "We're a team ok, no more bull." Kennedy nodded and stood up looking at the Bringer on the ground.
"Oh great, that's great I think you killed it." Kennedy commented as Angel walked over to the body and checked it.
"I didn't kill him." Angel confirmed and Kennedy walked over to Angel to help put the Bringer into the trunk of the car and return it back to the mansion.
Kennedy was being patched up as Angel, Xander, Giles and Spike came up from the basement. The Bringer regained itself in the middle of them trying to tie it up so it took all of them to contain the Bringer. Not only that the cage that held Elizabeth was still down there in the basement and for good measure they placed the Bringer inside.
"Well the Bringer is dumb." Giles announced as they regrouped in the dining area. "No tongue."
"Now how do we make it talk?" Anya asked.
"There's a spell for that." Willow declared smiling. Willow pretty much had a spell for everything.
The potentials remained upstairs while the A-Team went to talk to the Bringer. Willow chanted her spell a few times and now it was time to see what happened. But the Bringer just sat there.
"It should have worked." Willow sounded nervous as everyone looked around to each other.
"We work as one to serve Him." Buffy spoke up and everyone looked to her. She was sitting there as if in a trance.
"How?" Angel asked knowing what was happening.
"We work as one to prepare for the end, the inevitable end." The Bringer answered through Buffy. "We are preparing for battle and for the end. We destroy the legacy of the slayer to ensure the way. We band beneath us, where nothing grows above or below. We follow our teacher Caleb." Angel remembered something about nothing grows above or below. The First has been at work for a very long time now. "We're not afraid of you Angel. And we will laugh as you all die." Angel heard enough and got up, walked to the cage, unlocked it, walked in and then snapped the Bringer's neck. That then released Buffy from the trance and she looked around.
"What just happened?" She asked and everyone looked to her. "Oh my god," Her eyes were huge as she was staring off in some other direction. Angel walked over to her as she sat there. "I saw it…the army." She then looked up to Angel. "They're ready to march." Buffy then looked to Angel. "It's not at the school, it's different, it's…like a cave the school is just dirt."
"It has to be the factory." Spike stated. "The basements of the factory have different walls that I remember it's like…something else was build there before. Didn't think anything of it at the time." Spike finished.
"What kind of walls?" Giles asked and Spike stood there thinking trying to remember.
"Old that much is for sure…" Spike never went into the under belly of the factory maybe just once or twice. "It was stone maybe even marble but not concrete."
"Marble?" Buffy asked and Angel could tell she was on to something and Spike nodded. "Angel, do you remember a very long time ago when we first met? And you wanted to save Jesse by going down into the Master's domain?" She asked and Angel nodded. "What did look it like when you first saw it?" Angel had to think about it for a moment.
"A church?" Angel asked because he wasn't sure and Buffy nodded.
"A church under the school?" Cordelia asked. "And under the factory?"
"No this makes sense." Michael jumped in and most of the team wanted him to explain how.
"It does," Giles confirmed with Michael.
"We all know churches are holy places," Michael started. "And this isn't the first time either but there are churches all around the world that were build and then buried."
"That seems like a waste of time." Dawn stated.
"It's believed the church was built to cleanse the evil or contain it. If ever opened however." Michael finished. "There's even a legend that there is a Byzantine church built in Kenya long before Christianity was ever introduced into the region. It's believed there was a Hell Mouth or a gateway to Hell from there. Is it not surprising to have a church built on the Hell Mouth?" Michael finished and it made sense now.
"Why under the factory?" Cordelia asked because the Hell Mouth made sense but the factory?
"Some thing is there for sure if what's true about a church under it." Giles answered. "If Caleb is guarding it then it's powerful for sure."
"Let's go check it out then." Angel stated.
"Angel, if church is built and buried like this it's something powerful that we might not understand." Michael warned the slayer.
"I just want to see it maybe even destroy it." Angel wanted to know what it was.
The people of the mansion were leaving together and going into town but they would split off. Everyone was going to seal at the school Angel to the factory. It was risky to do this but it had to be done.
Angel pulled up about a block away from the factory and grabbed his crossbow and started to walk towards the building.
At the high school Buffy and Faith led everyone else to the basement of the school. They were going to act as if they were going to destroy the seal in hopes to bring Caleb forwards so Angel could do what he needed to do. The flashlights were on as they headed down into the dark. They chose to fight in broad daylight, why give evil a one up?
Angel had to be careful at the factory because this place had weak points and could cave in. Hopefully if and when the world ends this place will go with it. Angel had his little light on the crossbow on as he held it up ready to fire. He came up to a hole in the ground but he came prepared with some rope. You over pack for missions like these. Angel grabbed his rope and tied to a led pipe, slung his crossbow behind him and descended down into the dark.
At the school Buffy, the A-Team and the potentials gathered around the seal and looking at it and were going to attempt to destroy it. Although they knew axes, knives, swords and any kind of weapon really wasn't going to do much but they had to make it believable that they were going to destroy it.
Angel landed at the bottom and found a narrow cavern of some kind. He held up his crossbow with the little light and knew he was completely alone. Angel reached in his pocket and grabbed a small flare and lit it letting it fall to the ground, it was his breadcrumb to get back. The flares were curtsey of Riley. Angel moved slowly down the narrow way and turned a corner and there it was a church. He looked around the place and saw the marble. Spike must have seen the upside of the church from the basement when he was here.
Angel looked around in the dark and the church hadn't been touched. Just like Michael said it was built then buried. Angel moved through the place slowly ready to fight something. But something was missing. He's not a church going person at all but he's seen enough of them and they don't have raised tombs in the center. Angel took out a second flashlight while slinging the crossbow behind him and started to push the tomb's covering off of it. He didn't want to break it but if it did break then oh well. He managed to slide it and eased down enough so it was propped up on it's side. Angel looked in seeing a steep flight of stairs leading down.
As the potentials were trying to either break the seal or dig it up Buffy watched. Something was going to come down here sooner or later. She felt something though but it wasn't the Bringers or even Caleb. She knew who was coming.
"Guys!" Buffy yelled and that got everyone's attention. Buffy backed into the group and a man appeared to them. "Cruciate," The man smiled and nodded.
"And what might you be doing?" He asked but some how Buffy knew this was going to happen. Cruciate then turned around seeing Michael behind him. "You were cast out." Cruciate stated but Michael threw a punch to Cruciate. The demon could flee from the body if it needed to but not to day. Buffy grabbed the body and shoved him to the seal.
"Wasn't counting on this but I like it." Buffy added as she felt the man fighting against her. Buffy held Cruciate down as Giles took out a small Bible and began to read.
"You!" Cruciate yelled to Buffy.
"Yeah, me," Buffy smiled.
"Sending me back to Hell isn't going to stop the end." Cruciate warned.
"I know, but I just want to see what happens." Buffy didn't care as Giles went on.
Angel found the bottom of the stairs and he no longer needed a flashlight as there were torches all around him. Angel looked around and then saw a shadow and walked over to it. It was a statue and he recognized it from his dream. It was the Beast. He stared at it for a moment getting a slight chill. It's strange to know he faced this thing before and he might have to face it again. Angel took a step back and saw another narrow way with the torches leading into it. Angel held up his crossbow as he walked in and came into another room and saw something.
Down in the school basement Cruciate was fighting to stay in the man's body and not be cast back into the Hell. Giles and Michael continued to read the rite as Buffy held down her torturer on the seal. She had help though with Spike. This was unexpected but somehow they knew Cruciate would show because he was protecting the seal. It wasn't the final seal but it was probably the most important.
Angel walked up to the stone and saw what looked like an ax embed in the rock. Who ever was digging it had stopped because it looked like it was trying to be pulled from the rock. Angel walked to looking at the strange weapon. It was an ax but at the end of the handle there was stake. And he felt it calling to him. Angel reached out and grabbed it and lifted it out of the rock.
"I was hoping you weren't going to find it but then again I couldn't get it out myself." Angel turned around seeing Caleb standing there. "Now hand it over." Caleb demanded.
"Here, hold it." Angel tossed the axe to Caleb and Caleb caught it and Angel kicked him. Caleb lost control of the axe and Angel took it back from him. Caleb stood up but didn't move. He stood there as if something was caught his attention. What Angel didn't see was the First whispering to Caleb.
"You bastards!" Caleb yelled and started to run. Angel had to run after him but when he got to the other part of the church Caleb was gone. He had a feeling though that his group was in trouble. Angel would have to crawl out of this place and it would take sometime.
Cruciate let out a scream as if something was killing him and then he went quiet. But the school shook a little for a moment. Everyone looked around and looked down at the man as he was passed out.
"Did we do it?" Andrew asked and Buffy nodded slowly.
"I think so." But there was no time to celebrate. "We need to get out of here now." Everyone gathered up and a few of the potentials grabbed the limp man as they went to leave the basement.
Angel managed to get out of the factory and ran to his car but his run came to a stop. He looked at his car and someone not only keyed it but the windshield was smashed.
"What the hell?" He asked himself as he walked over to the car. There were not just key marks but dents too. Some one was kind enough to key a note on the car too. "Alright, I'm really pissed, it's on."
The team made it to the front doors but then stopped seeing some Bringers on their way. They started to back away but when they started to go a different direction they saw Caleb.
"What did you do to him?" Caleb asked and the team went down a hallway. They can fight off the Bringers but maybe not Caleb. They had to follow Dawn and Xander as these two knew they way through the school. They made it back to the front area hoping the Bringers were already gone but they turned down the hallway and saw the Bringers were already down the hall.
"I hope Angel is doing better than us." Xander muttered just then though a black Mustang crashed through the glass doors killing some of the Bringers and stopping the others. Angel backed out and the team ran through the doors as Angel swerved to face forwards. Buffy then saw the car and was in shocked.
"What happened to your car?" She asked because the damage done was not because he rammed it into the glass. The rest of the team ran to their cars and got in to get away.
"I have score to settle but right now we gotta go." Angel answered as Buffy and Dawn got in and everyone else got to their vehicles and took off. Buffy looked behind them seeing the Bringers running after them but they were getting smaller and smaller. It wasn't over though. Just then Dawn held up the axe that was in the backseat.
"What's this?" She asked.
Caleb stood there and saw the taillights disappear into the night.
"Don't worry," It was the First as he stood next to Caleb. "He'll come back with it." He assured Caleb.
"What about Cruciate?" Caleb asked looking to the First.
"He's back in Hell." The First sounded a little upset. "His work is done though well enough at least, we'll get by. Besides he was getting cocky, never get cocky." Caleb nodded trusting the First as they stood there for a moment longer. The fight was on for sure.
Three more chapters to go. I'll post the next one soon like in a day or so. While you wait here's a sneak peek. Hope you're enjoying this and once more thanks for the comments and reviews. You guys are awesome.
Chapter 26 Here We Are
Caleb was pacing back and forth while the First in Angel's form stood there watching him.
"You might be able to dig yourself into Hell if you keep pacing like that." The First commented and Caleb stopped pacing and glared at his master.
"He has the weapon." Caleb stated in some fear.
"Calm down." The First demanded as he was calm.
"I'm calm. You should see me when I get angry." Caleb stated and continued to pace again.
"He's powerful right now. And you're weak." The First went on and Caleb wasn't liking what he was hearing at all.
"You know, all of a sudden, I'm getting less calm." And he continued to pace.
"Face it." The First demanded and Caleb stopped pacing and faced his master.
"Ok, let's do it." And Caleb seemed to brace himself but the First continued to stand there.
"Are you sure you want this?" The First asked.
"I'm your true vessel, we merge and I can take onto the plains of the earth." Caleb explained.
"Once I give you the power not only will become a God, you can no longer be yourself." The First seemed to be giving him a chance to back away.
"Make me a God." Caleb answered and the First nodded and walked closer to Caleb. The preacher held his hands out, closing his eyes and was ready. The First then changed his form to its true demonic apparition of huge beast with two horns, glowing red eyes and long nails on its hands. It growled as it lunged to Caleb. "I am thy humble servant." He felt something hit him and he stopped breathing. Caleb fell to the ground and was out cold. He wasn't breathing as he laid there. Just then he took in a deep breath and sat up.
But he looked a little different. His eyes were black and he felt stronger. "And I am ready serve thee." His voice was deeper with a more ragged tone. Caleb stood up and was ready.