Chapter 49
In a village just a few miles from the Cape of good hope In Africa:
"Are you guys sure about this? Rona asked. You were Prisoners yesterday. Shouldn't you guys rest up some before taking on this new venture?" Rona asked in concern.
"Nah, we're fine and the sooner we get this done the better. We got our slayers to what passes for civilization around here. Right now the four of us need to find a way to get the word to the rest of the council that were still alive. That earthquake took out any and all communications for miles so that just leaves hoofing it to someplace with a phone that works." Faith said.
"What if you don't find one or there's another earthquake?" Rona asked.
"Then we'll dive our jeep all the way to the Congo if we have to." She replied.
Rona looked at them with a wince. "Are you sure it's a wise idea to be wearing the dead Guerilla's uniforms?"
"I'm just hoping it will get us past the other Guerilla's without incident, provided there are white women Guerilla's out here."
"Maybe I should take Jenny's place and come with you." Rona suggested.
"Nah, you're the only one strong willed enough to back up Andrew when the girls here get rowdy." Faith explained.
"You know back in Sunny hell I would never have thought of sharing leadership with Andrew of all people, but he's really come into his own. You should have seen him with the planning of you rescue. He did good." Rona said.
"Yeah, he's been surprising me left and right since the plane went down. He got all serious and S*#T, it was really quite impressive. I would never have thought he had it in him, but then I haven't seen let alone worked with him in a while." Faith said.
"Yeah me nether," Rona replied before turning to Queen Mousette. "Anyway, one of the elders here said that you don't have to worry about being a witch here. They would like you to stay and help the other slayers protect their village."
"Thank them for me, but my place at this moment is on Faith's mission to get word to the council. I may be needed for battle and guidance." Queen said.
"But you're not wearing a uniform. Won't that make the four of you look suspicions?" Rona wondered.
Queen shrugged and announced. "I refuse to wear the coverings of my enemy, so I will be acting as Faith's prisoner."
"That should work, but why Sara and Jenny?"
"Safety in numbers and of all the girls I've worked with among the ones we brought with us I've worked with these two the longest and the most, present company excluded because as we already said your needed here." Faith replied.
"Yeah, but you usually work alone." Rona said
"Precisely, you should be happy I'm taking anyone at all." Faith replied.
"Yeah, Africa wouldn't know what hit it if we left you to your own devices." Rona said.
"Damn straight." Faith agreed.
"How long do you think you'll be gone?" Rona wondered.
"We were figuring that out last night. If this were a trip across America and we kept to the speed limit it would take us at the longest fifty-one hours but then Queen said that because of the military road blocks, the rough unpaved dirt roads animals jumping out in front of us and what not it could take three time as long." Faith explained.
"Perhaps four to five, I had forgotten to take into account the earthquake that has happened and the possibility of more as we go." Queen announced.
"So I guess I'll just figure you'll get there in around eleven days baring incident and we all know incidents are sure to happen where slayers are concerned." Rona groaned the last part.
"Maybe we'll find a working phone before then." Sara said without conviction.
"We can but hope." Faith said also without conviction.
"Well, the villagers packed you enough food for a few days but then you're on your own." Rona announced.
"That may not last even that long. We may need it as a bribe to cross the military checkpoints." Queen announced.
"Yeah, Africa is really beginning to sound like a fun place, to live, work and play for the whole family." Rona said with sarcasm.
"It will be after they get a load of us, right girls." Faith said.
"Right." Queen said with conviction and the other two girls cheered.
"And on that note we're off. See you in a few weeks." Faith said.
"If we don't get word from you guys in two weeks we'll send out another group." Rona said with concern and hoped nothing would happen to them that they would need to send anyone else."
"And with that Faith and the others left the village in their won military jeep and headed north to the D.R.O. C."
/Scene Break/
At the SGC in Colorado in a briefing room that president Hays and General O'Neill were using to see if there was anything undone that they still needed to do Samantha Carter ran into the room Sirs It's time. It's happening. It's the main event. We were just informed though the website that there was a temperature spike last night, enough to start melting the mantel in California. The tectonic plates are sliding into the ocean.
"Last night!" O'Neill said in shock in unison with Hays who growled it in anger.
"Yes sorry sirs, for whatever reason they just updated the website just a moment ago." Carter explained.
"Dammit, Washington should have called us with the information by now." Hayes yelled.
"Sir, I believe that they might have updated the information on the website only after informing the president. And now many of the communication lines are down." She informed.
Sighing in disgust Henry Hayes president of the shadow government turned to O'Neill his second in command and said." General it's time. Beam up to the Hammond and start beaming procedures of personnel. Sam has the Daedalus been recording everything that's happened so far?"
"Yes sir, they've been recording for months I'm sure they didn't miss pieces of the west coast sliding into the Pacific Ocean."
"Good god, is it that bad already?" Henry asked in shock.
"Yes sir." Sam confirmed.
"Sir, I believe it's time you beam up to the Hammond as well." General O'Neill stated.
"Agreed, Sam your coming with us to start the procedure we talked about. Get your team ready." Henry commanded.
"Yes sir." She replied.
With that everyone left for the transport areas.
/Scene Break/
It was the beginning of the morning when an announcement blared over the intercom of the Guardian Council Academy in Ohio.
"Emergency, emergency, Magical emergency in the temporary quarters of Willow Rosenberg. Magical explosion detected. Notifying emergency magical response team and on sight heads Buffy Summers, and Rupert Giles. Again, magical emergency, magical explosion detected. Everyone else is to keep clear in case of magical fallout."
As Buffy and Giles rushed to the scene they found Willow coming out of her room with a cut on her forehead and smoke coming out of her room.
"Willow what happened." Buffy asked.
"I was giving my morning offing of a drop of water to my earth alter when it exploded."
"How or maybe I should say why did that happen? It isn't because of WR&H is it?" Buffy asked trying not to let Giles know what she was referring to.
"What about Wolfram and Hart?" Giles asked annoyed that Buffy and Willow were trying to keep something from him.
"No but I…I think it may be starting." Willow announced ignoring Giles question. "I think the main event is happening right now. But Buffy the spells I set up at the California school were seventy percent earth magic those demons have probably been released by now."
"Wait a moment. What demons?" Giles asked.
"I wouldn't worry about them. Dawn said coming around the corner. "The main event has started. California is literally being sucked into the ocean." Dawn announced with a shaky voice. She was scared and you could see it in her wide eyes. "Guys I just watched Santa Barbra go down. All those people just… gone."
"Alright everyone try your best to keep calm and take your places. We've been preparing for this for a long time. We should be ready to take this on." She said to Giles, Willow and Dawn. "Dawn, notify the Sunnydale slayers, the PTB groups and Hermione. Actually notify Hermione first. We'll need her immediately. Lastly notify Xander and Harry to expect incoming. Giles, make sure everyone in the building has their bug-out bags and get them to the gym."
"Buffy, because of the holiday most of our slayers went home to their families. We only have a small fraction of slayer on hand and those slayers family's came here." Giles reminded her.
"Right, they're all coming with us and I don't want any arguments. The decision is final." Buffy commanded.
Giles didn't even find it in himself to argue. Now that they were in the thick of things he wondered why they had so many meeting on the subject. It was obvious as it's always been. Save who you can.
"Willow, there's no time for breakfast grab a few power bars and some juice boxes. This is going to be a long day. We're going to get one of your beaded bags and pack this place up. That should give Hermione enough time to get here. Then were going to the other schools in America and do the same." Buffy continued.
"Right." Willow said a bit relived that the decision was made to take everyone she looked to Giles and was surprised he didn't argue. She ran back into her room to retrieve the things she would need and then get started on packing up the G.C.
"Dawn, let's get to the situation room so you can show Giles and I what's happening while we wait for Willow to get done. When did this start?" Buffy asked.
Dawn had her phone to her ear as she tried to contact Hermione but moved off in the direction of the situation room. "There was a spike in the temperatures of the core about six hours ago." She explained.
"And we're just being told this now?" Giles asked.
"The government just updated their data to the secure web site half an hour ago. I think the spike caught even them by surprise." Dawn explained.
"Well, in case there are any other delays in information I want you to get yourself the G.C. England's situation room and set up a command post there. I'll feel better if you're away from the mess here as it seems that this is where it's starting. I just wish we could have gotten the situation room in Africa set up so I wouldn't worry about you I'm out there." Buffy said.
Once they entered the situation room Buffy and Giles stopped dead in their tracks as they were shocked to see what was on the screens in front of them. They watched as a land mass tipped into the ocean.
"Was that Santa Barbra?" Giles asked.
"No sir." One of the Sunnydale slayers announced with tears in her eyes. "Santa Barbra sank just like that five minutes ago. What you're seeing is part of Monterey."
"Oh god." Buffy whispered.
/Scene Break/
In downtown Los Angeles the owner of the Hyperion hotel Nina Ash was trying to get anyone's attention as the panic in the hotel was nearly a physically tangible thing. Everyone running to and fro mostly out the door. What they didn't realize was that there was enough magic in the building to keep it from crashing down around them for a time. It was actually safer inside the building than out and probably be the last building standing in the end. Just then four of the overnight guests came seeking Nina out.
"Nina what's happening? What's all the commotion? I mean it can't be the quakes there have been tremors for weeks and the governor just said last night that they would soon stop."
"Luke, that was last night. The governor just died about ten minutes ago when the capital building came down on him on national TV. He just announced that the worst was over. Then the news report shifted to Santa Barbra sinking into the ocean and that was only the first city."
"Oh my God." The women named Gabriela said next to Luke.
"Holy tar-nation! This sounds like a real apocalypse. Did the Guardian Council drop the ball on this one or what?" The tall blond haired man who had his arm around Gabriela asked.
"Not everything is about hell-mouths Bo; this is a natural disaster that they couldn't prevent even if they knew about it." Nina insisted.
"Well, I guess this is it. At least Daisy is safe building that new Guardian Council School."
By this time the hotel was nearly empty.
"That's just it Luke, they aren't just building a school. Their building a city and I have a magical device to get us there and out of harm's way but I can't get anyone to listen to me they're out of their minds with panic." Nina explained.
Just then a teen aged girl walked in covered in blood and gave a blood curdling scream. "Aunt Nina!"
Wide eyed, Nina ran to the front door.
"Amanda, what happened? What are you doing here? Are you hurt?" She asked.
"No but mom…mommy died. I couldn't save her she was crushed when a truck came smashing through our living room then the room caught fire. I couldn't get to her. People were running and screaming and no one would help and she died." Amanda explained.
"I'm so sorry honey but there's nothing we can do for her. All we can do is save ourselves and we're getting out of here right now." Nina said pulling Amanda into the circle.
"We need to wait for Kevin he's the one who brought me here." Amanda said.
Just then Kevin Grevera a local cop slash vampire hunter ran through the door.
"Nina, I saw your niece walking down the street in a daze and brought her here because it was closer than her own house. Listen, we got to get out of here the whole city is coming down. I have a truck parked outside." He said.
"We'll never make it out of the city in time by road, Kevin. I have a magical device that will take us all to safety in seconds. We all need to touch this bracelet."
"We can't all grab hold of this small bangle." Gabriela announced worriedly. Take my brother-in-law and husband. I'll stay behind.
"Gabriela Duke, you will not be the one sacrificing yourself, at least not alone. As your husband we'll see the end together." Bo announced.
Nina looked at them in disgust. Yes, it was a beautiful sentiment but it was needless and time was wasting. "Guys, everyone's going. All you need to do is touch it with one finger when I say the password."
With that everyone did exactly that and Nina activated the portkey. Seconds later the Hyperion collapsed.
/Scene Break/
In orbit on board the Hammond O'Neill came into the briefing room to meet with President Hayes.
"Sir, all procedures to collect designated personnel have finished." O'Neill reported.
"Are they all accounted for?" Hayes asked.
"No sir. Several scientists and their families and some military types never made it. We were too late. They were in California at the time." O'Neill explained.
"Damn, how many is that."
"Over two hundred sir, do you need an exact number? I can check." O'Neill asked
"No, that won't be necessary we have other things to worry about."
Just then an announcement came over the intercom.
"Red alert, unidentified ship entering earth's atmosphere command staff to the bridge."
"Case in point." Hayes said.
O'Neill and the President left the briefing room heading for the bridge. Once there O'Neill yelled 'report.'
"Sir, a ship of unknown origin entered the atmosphere a few moments ago and is headed for the west coast of the United States."
"Why now?" Hays said aloud to no one in particular.
The man at the helm simply stated. "Unknown sir, should we pursue?"
"No… let's find out what its goal is first."
Almost all of the onboard sensors were concentrated on the small UFO as it came down in the middle of Palmdale and where it hovered for a few seconds before flying off toward L.A.
"What's it doing now?" Henry asked
"It's using its sensors. It's looking for something. Sir it just stopped over a residential sector and is beaming something or maybe someone up."
"Do you think it could be our rainbow bandits?" Hayes asked O'Neill.
"I really couldn't say sir but I do want a definitive answer as to if what they are beaming up are humans."
"Yes sir." The helmsmen said. "Sir the ship is moving toward another residential sector and is again beaming something up."
"Residential sectors don't fit with modes-operandi of the bandits." O'Neill said.
"True." Hayes replied.
"Sir, they're moving again. This time to New York and again they beamed something up from Manhattan. Sir we have confirmed that they have beamed several persons into their ship and they are now headed out of the atmosphere."
"That's it, get a tracker lock on them and open a channel." Henry barked.
"We've got them sir, opening a channel." The helmsmen said.
"To the vessel that just left earth's atmosphere. This is President Henry Hayes of the earth ship Hammond. You have violated earth's air space and illegally beamed several of our citizens into your ship. I don't know where you come from but we call that kidnapping. Identify yourself and your intentions."
It was then that a picture of a man with curly blond hair with his arm wrapped around a woman with long black hair came onto the screen.
"Umm..Hello? Is this really President Hayes?"
"Yes it is who's asking?"
"Oh ah, sorry sir my name is Ralph Hinkly and this is my wife Pam. Even under the circumstances it's still an honor to speak with you. I even voted for you…I mean, that is to say…umm the pilot of this ship doesn't mean any harm to anyone. They just wanted to save us."
"Well, I thank you for the vote Mr. Hinkly but am I to understand you are not the captain or pilot as you put it?"
"No sir, they wanted me to talk to you because they don't have a ship to ship translation matrix. They have a translator earpiece I'm using at the moment."
"And just how do you know that they mean you no harm Mr. Hinkly."
"Umm. Well I've known them for years and have been their champion for a small number of them."
"Their champion?" Henry asked.
"Yes sir. Years ago they gave me a suit that gave me certain abilities that I was able to use to help people. They partnered me up with an F.B.I. agent named Bill Maxwell and together we made a difference putting away many terrorist both foreign and domestic. Bill Maxwell died a few years ago and their newest champion died a few moments ago. We were however, able to save her daughter as well as my estranged son from my previous marriage. He was in New York." Ralph explained.
"I'm sorry for your loss but why would they do that? What interest do they have in earth?"
"They told me once that their planet was much like ours. They showed me what was left of it. It was power struggles like ours that put an end to it. Being the last of their kind they took it upon themselves to protect us from ourselves until we could overcome those struggles."
"Just how long have they been operating without our knowledge Mr. Hinkly?" O'Neill asked.
There was an odd noise that Ralph seemed to be listening to before he turned back to the President and told him. "Since the nineteen twenties sir."
"I see, and what was their plan in beaming you aboard their ship."
There was more noise and Ralph relayed what the pilot said.
"They had two options ready for us. The first was that they were going to wait out the quakes and send us back when it was over. They were going to leave us with supplies if need be. Second would be to stay with them. They basically saved us as a thank you for our previous service." Ralph explained.
"I see, would your host be opposed to a diplomatic boarding party to open a dialog." Hayes asked.
Ralph listened to more noise before relaying that it would be acceptable.
"Incidentally can I ask what species your hosts are?" O'Neill asked.
After more noise Hinkly turned back to the president and O'Neill and simply said 'Furling.'
/Scene Break/
Buffy Willow and Hermione had just sent the last of the slayers from Brazil to Africa when Buffy's phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and answered it with tears in her voice.
"Buffy? What happened? Are you alright?" Dawn asked in concern on the other end.
"I'm okay. But we just had a massive earthquake here. None of us were hurt thanks to Willow and Hermione but we just watched that beautiful huge Christ Redeemer Statue fall."
"That was the icon of Brazil…" Dawn said to no one. "Buffy you've got to hurry; the super volcano in Yellowstone just blew up. We expect volcanic ash will completely cover the United States in a few hours. If you're caught in it, it will burn your lungs and you'll suffocate."
Just then Willow grabbed Buffy's elbow. She looked at her friend only to see the shocked look on her face. She then looked to where Willow was looking. "oh no! She exclaimed in a whine.
"What is it?" Dawn asked in worry.
"There is a giant tidal wave and it's headed for the city below us. All those people, they're going to die." Buffy said.
"Buffy you need to keep it together. You can't help them. You know that. There are others who are counting on you. Please Buffy, you need to keep your head in the game. You were supposed to have prepared yourself for this. Be strong." Dawn urged.
Buffy quickly pulled herself together and said. "Your right, I need to keep it together, and Dawn, let's not call it a game anymore."
"You're right sorry." Dawn replied.
"Our next stop is Boston. I'm sending Willow to you to pick up Tru While Hermione takes me there. We'll meet each other in front of the morgue Tru works at and then find her Brother. So tell her to get ready."
"Tru's right here and ready to go." Dawn announced.
"Then we'll talk to you afterwards. Keep safe until we get there."
"I love you Buffy." Dawn said.
"I love you too Dawn. And with that they hung up."
/Scene Break/
The Native American gathering in Texas was in full swing for several days now. For some reason they had the biggest turnout. Nearly three hundred people were there. Many were just spectators but a lot of them were Native Americans here to prove themselves.
Today Francis Gage and Sydney Cooke were babysitting Alex & Cordell Walkers three kids. The twin boys were five years old and wanted to investigate everything. Angela, their older sister, helped Francis and Sydney keep them out of harm's way.
At this time of day as it had been for the last several days different people from different tribes were sent individually to the center of the circle and told to tell them their story of their heritage, their beliefs, and their skills as a Native American. Today a woman from Pennsylvania entered the circle. There she sat on the provided stump and was given the talking stick. The drums in the background were being beaten more softly and everyone quieted to listen to her story.
"My name is Kristen. I am one sixteenth Lenape of the Munsee wolf clan. I also have some Susquehannock in my family tree but my father and I weren't able to find out much about how. My father never had the opportunity to grow up amongst his tribe or any tribe for that matter as he was so far removed from his heritage. But he wanted to know as much as he could and found the information through books, the internet and going to pow-wows.
We got a chance to stay with a practicing Native American tribe twice. The first time didn't work out so well. My father learned the old ways and taught them to me but doing them every day for the entire week we stayed there had been most grueling as we weren't use to it. But I learned a lot and took my lessons home and practiced them there. After some time practicing, my father and I took a few survival courses where I learned some valuable things. I didn't expect that I would be taught how to take apart, clean, put back together, and shoot several different kinds of firearms but I did. We later went back to the Native American tribe and this time we stayed for two weeks and we had a wonderful time proving to ourselves more than to anyone else, that we could do it comfortably.
Afterwards my father got in touch with an elder he met there to provide us with our Native American names. My father was given the name stealthy wolf. When it became my turn I said I wished for my name to be unique. The elder obliged and took me to a zoo I had never been to. He blindfolded me and told me they would guide me through the zoo and whenever I was ready I could take the blindfold off. The first animal I saw would be what I would be named after. So my Native American name is Running Zebra.
Two years ago my father died in a skydiving accident. I'm here not only for myself but to honor my father's memory. He lived in an old coalmining town and taught his daughter to hunt and fish in the old ways. I can make a bow and arrows and hunt with them too. He taught me how to skin and tan hides in the old ways and all kinds of other cool stuff. Some of which we learned together and never will forget. I am Native American. And I'm proud of it.
Thank you daddy." She shouted to the heavens.
Everyone clapped and there were some people wiping their eyes at the end.
Flat Snake turned to White Eagle and asked. "Do you think it's a sign? Her name is Running zebra and we're headed to Africa."
"Be it a sign or not we can use someone with her skills in our tribe. We should put her on the saved list." White Eagle replied.
"I couldn't agree more." Flat Snake replied.
"She is however, very lucky to have that name."
How so White Eagle? Flat Snake asked.
"Had she pulled the blindfold off at a different point in the zoo she could have ended up with a name such as scratching butt monkey." White Eagle said with a smile.
Flat snake laughed so hard he fell of his seat. Just then one of the other Cherokee in the know approached White Eagle with a grim expression and whispered in his ear. White Eagle was then infected with the same grim expression.
"What is it?" Flat snake asked.
"It's time. The main event has started. We must execute the plan. We may only have minutes." White Eagle explained.
"May I have your attention please?" Flat snake announced with a smile as to not give away that anything was wrong. "The Cherokee would like to introduce everyone to a new dance we will be labeling sacred. It is a special dance that will honor the living and the unfortunate dead and dying. The first to have the honor to dance will be the most accomplished of you all as well as their spouses and children. When your name is called please come into the circle and grab the rope with your left hand if available if not you can simply touch it in some way."
The names were called and nearly eighty people were called. Then White Eagle spoke again.
"We are also honored to have with us the heroes many times over Francis Gage and Sydney Cooke who we insist join us in the dance as well as the children they have with them as their parents, who couldn't be with us today are not only part of our tribe but are also our heroes. The children will stand in for them. Francis and Sydney please make sure that they hold onto the rope. If they do not wish to hold on to it please tie it to them. It is very important that all touch the rope for the sacred dance to be effective for the Great Spirit to bless us all."
As everyone was now in the circle to begin the dance, White Eagle saw the truck pulling up on the other side of the creek. Cordell and Alex got out of the truck as a dark cloud approaching from behind them coming from the north. They were about two hundred yards away and so White Eagle began walking toward them as the dance commenced. Cordell and Alex ran to White Eagle. He glanced to the west and saw in the distance a wall of water coming at them as well. He said nothing and kept calm as he continued walking to meet the Walkers. They met half way.
"White Eagle we need to get to our kids." Alex said excitedly. "There are natural disasters happening everywhere. California has sunk into the ocean and we just heard that Yellowstone just exploded."
At that point two things happened. The Walkers watched as their children and friends ascended into the air as they held onto a rope before disappearing in the sky, and then a hot cloud seemed to push them from behind. When the cloud cleared they were in the same field where the pow-wow was held but everyone seemed to disappear. And everything seemed to be vibrant.
"What just happened? Where are our children? Where did everybody go?" Alex nearly shouted.
"Relax Alex, your children are safe and alive but there is nothing you can do for them any longer." White Eagle explained.
"White Eagle, Are we where I think we are?" Cordell asked.
"Yes Washo, I'm afraid we are."
"What do you mean? We're at the Cherokee reservation. But what happened to our kids?" Alex asked as she began to panic even more.
"They were sent to someplace safe where they will live long lives as is their destiny, just as yours has come to an end."
"What? What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"Honey, I'm sorry but we're no longer among the living. I've only seen this place in vision quests and when I was near death. This is the afterlife." Cordell explained.
"What? How? When? When did we die? How? Why don't I remember feeling anything?"
"You've both died just a moment ago. It was as quick and as painless as the Great Spirit could make it for you. The volcanic ash cloud hit you. It still carried enough heat and poisonous gasses to kill you instantly. White Eagle explained.
Alex felt a calm settle upon her but she wasn't ready for it yet as she threw it off to ask. "White Eagle, where have you sent my children."
"You may watch over them as much as you like from here. I have sent them as well as your friends to Africa. You can be assured that they and the tribe will raise them well."
"You knew this was coming didn't you." Cordell accused.
"I did for some time now, Washo. White Eagle replied.
"Then why didn't you tell us. Why didn't you send us with our children?" Cordell asked.
"Because your time was over, your destiny in that life was complete. But the Great Spirit has informed me that he has yet more in store for the both of you here in the after world, Washo."
"I thought you taught me to be able to communicate with the Great Spirit on the level to hear its words you would have to be dead."
"Washo, I have been dead for over a year now. I only came back long enough to help the Great Spirit save the Cherokee."
/Scene Break/
Buffy and Hermione had been waiting for Willow and Tru in front of the morgue in Boston for nearly ten minutes. Chaos reigned supreme around them but the pair almost seemed to be the calm in the center of the storm as they waited. People were running past them. Some were looting storefronts as if they would be able to use the things they stole. People were seen carrying big screen TVs and pockets full of jewelry. Some people tried to hijack cars but that wasn't going to get them very far as the traffic was gridlocked. These people didn't understand that this was the end. They wouldn't have time to enjoy there ill-gotten booty nor was there anywhere to run. Some of the police only half tried to stop the looting and that only happened when the owner tried to stop the thieves so they wouldn't get hurt. The people of Boston were in panic because they don't experience earthquakes too often. Not like Californians who would just shrug and move on when it came to the point two earthquakes that this city had just experienced. Sure there was some damage. Some of it was even major. Down the street the corner of an older building broke away and fell into the street below killing two, injuring six and trapping a couple within their car. A second tremor began and this was slightly worse than the first. There was even more damage and Buffy and Hermione saw the destruction. The road began to split in front of them swallowing two cars drivers and passengers included. One of the taller buildings they could see in the distance fell with a resounding crash but other than that nothing within sight had any further damage. Hermione was a bit freaked about the ground under her feet swallowing her up but Buffy holding her hand calmed her. The very second it stopped Willow and Tru appeared.
"What took you so long?" Buffy groused.
"It's the earth magics." Willow huffed and puffed. "Usually I can bring them up easily enough but with the earth in turmoil it's like lifting a weight up the side of a cliff with a rope but it's intermittent. Sometimes it's easy sometimes it's almost too heavy." Willow explained.
"Damn, I wasn't counting on that." Buffy said.
"Is this going to be a problem?" Tru asked in concern. "Will we still be able to save my brother? Damn it, I'm still in mourning for my sister Faith, I don't want to lose my brother too. You promised me there wouldn't be a problem."
"Relax Tru, Hermione has already found him from the locator spell she left him with. We're headed there now. We were just waiting for you." Buffy said.
"Just hold on to my arm." Hermione said. "Will you be able to follow us Willow?"
"Yeah sure the magics seem to be easier here for some reason. It might have something to do with location. Hermione when this is over you're going to teach me how to apparate."
"Sure Willow, everyone hold on here we go."
They disappeared from one place and reappeared in another. At first they thought they were in an underground parking garage but soon realized they were under an overpass on the highway that seemed to be blocked at both ends. Then Tru heard her brother behind her. He was yelling for help as he was trapped in his car. The quake had shoved his car between two pillars so that nether door would open.
Buffy said. "We can break the windshield." but Hermione just said "Allow me" and began waving her wand. All the glass disappeared as well as the roof.
"Are you still stuck?" Hermione asked.
"Umm no. What happened to the roof, did I just black out?" He asked.
"Harrison?" Tru called.
"Tru? How the hell did you get here? Maybe I did black out or maybe I'm hallucinating but I don't remember hitting my head or anything." Harrison replied.
"Just relax, we came to help. Now get out of the car and come on we have to go." Tu commanded.
"Tru it's all over the news. Boston isn't the only place to have these quakes. It all over the country and this morning California sunk like Atlantis." He said climbing out of the car.
"Yeah, I had heard about that it was hard to miss." Tru said.
"Don't you get it? There may not be any place to go, nowhere safe at least." He said.
"You're wasting time just come with us." Buffy said.
"Who are you and who made you the boss?" Harrison asked.
"I did." Tru replied. "Now move you're freaking ass you damn bonehead. We're trying to save your life, so hurry the hell up."
Harrison was shocked to hear his sister talk like that so he figured he'd better listen without complaint.
"Should we restore his memories now or later?" Hermione Asked.
"He's alright let's just get out of here." Buffy said.
Just then they heard someone say 'help me' and Tru froze. When she realized she wasn't heading back to the beginning of the day she realized that it must be a living person who called out. Buffy simply continued on to get to a clear space to activate the portkey but Harrison stopped to hear where the voices came from.
"Hey, where are you going we need to get moving." Buffy said.
"Didn't you hear that? There's someone trapped in that car." Harrison said.
"We can't save everyone we come across. We need to get moving before there's another quake and the rest of this place comes down on us." Buffy said.
Just then they heard a baby cry. Then there wasn't any further argument. Everyone made their way to the car. The front of the car had a large antique cast iron stove of all things land on the hood. It had fallen off the truck in front of them. It had fallen it such a way that it had pushed the dash on the inside of the car onto the two adult women legs trapping them inside. The baby was crying but safe and protected in its car seat in the back of the car. The driver was semi-conscious and the other woman seemed to be fighting to regain consciousness as she moaned from her injuries. Their air bags had gone off so they may have lost consciousness due to the pain from their injuries.
"Please, help us. Save the baby." The driver pleaded.
"Hermione can you magic the stove off the hood?" Buffy asked.
"No actually. Cast iron is difficult to magic at the best of times. It might ricochet off and hit something else and I might drop it if I tried levitating it. It would be like holding onto a greased pig."
"Alright, Willow can you do anything?"
"I'm sorry Buffy I've been trying to collect enough magic to make our next jump since we got here, but I still have that weight on a rope feeling."
"What the hell are you guys talking about? We need to help these women and you guys are standing here talking about what…Magic?" Harrison demanded.
"Alright then I guess it's up to me." Buffy said ignoring Harrison as she climbed up to man handle the stove. "And I just got this manicure."
"You won't be able to lift that even if all of us helped you." Harrison said.
Still ignoring him Buffy grabbed hold of the stove and not only picked it up but calmly tossed it to the side.
"What the hell?" Harrison said in disbelief.
"Sometime unbelievable strength comes from extreme circumstances." Tru said.
"Where did you get that line of bull?" Harrison said as he felt his sister was being condescending.
"Good god, will you people get you head out of you butts." Buffy yelled. "We got the world coming down around our ears and your worried how the girl with the superpowers works or where magic comes from. Stop asking questions and roll with it for now and help save these people damn it and that goes for the rest of you guys. We're running out of time here or did you forget about the cloud?"
"This coming from the girl worried about her manicure." Harrison mumbled.
"Do you really think it's smart to piss off the girl with the super powers? If she slapped you across the face your head could be rolling across the road." Tru explained.
Harrison smirked at his sister and then looked toward Buffy who was staring right back. Harrison exchanged his smirk for a look of panic as he moved to comfort the baby. "Hermione see if you can get rid of the dash, Willow see if you can get rid of the seats."
"Buffy I just said that my Wiccan magic won't work right." Willow explained.
"Willow, you have your wand don't you?" Buffy questioned.
"Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that." She said as she pulled out her oak wand and began waving it to banish the seats.
"How the…" Harrison began but thought better of it and went back to hushing and rocking the baby in his arms.
Tru stepped forward and realized something.
"Hey I know you, you're the one who took over the morgue when Davis died and I was away. Dr. Isles Right?"
"Umm yes. Dr. Maura Isles. T… Tru wasn't it?" She replied groggily.
"Tru Davies, yes. Who's your other passenger?"
"Detective Jane Rizzoli. We work together. The baby is her nephew T.J."
"We need to get out of here guys." Buffy said.
"I think it would be safer if the detective were conscious before we travel by portkey." Hermione said.
"I have some smelling salts in my purse. What's a portkey?" Maura asked.
As Maura dug out the smelling salt and waved it under Jane's nose Jane began to cough.
"Jeese Maura enough I'm awake already." Jane announced.
"How did you know it was me? You haven't even opened your eyes yet."
"Who else smells like smelling salts and formaldehyde?"
"I could." Tru said.
Jane opened an eye at the new voice and looked around at her surroundings.
"Where are we? Who are you people?" Jane asked groggily.
"They seem to be some form of magicians, possibly a circus act. I saw the small woman lift that cast iron stove off our hood and these two waved some sticks possibly wands and started to make the parts of the car that had us trapped disappear. I'd really like to know how that was done." Maura stated half out of it.
"We'll get you a pamphlet later right now we need to get out of her." Buffy said.
"Oh a pamphlet would be very helpful." Maura said and it was at that point that everyone realized just how out of it she was.
"Listen to me, Yellowstone exploded and the volcanic ash and poisonous gasses will be here sooner than you think." Buffy said.
"Oh right, I heard that on the radio right before the crash." Maura said
"Yeah." Jane agreed. "How long have we been out since they announced that?"
"It doesn't matter we're getting out of here right now." Buffy announced. "Hermione break out one of the portkeys , Tru tell everyone what they have to do."
Hermione pulled out a bit of rope and handed it to Tru.
"Everyone gather around please." Tru said and like tired zombies Jane, Maura and Harrison with the baby in his arms shuffled towards her.
"Please show me either your left or right arm." She said.
When everyone extended their arms Tru quickly wrapped the cord around each of their wrists before they could say anything. As groggy as they were they seemed to stare at it for a moment without question. Tru was told to do it this way because trying to explain would not only take too long but could also turn into rejection. And they so didn't have time to chase them down when they ran. Jane broke out of her daze when she saw Tru begin to wrap a bit of the cord around he nephews wrist.
"Hey, what is this all about? What kind of rescue is this? What are you doing to my nephew?"
Calmly Tru instantly thought of a convenient lie that even impressed the others.
"This cord is a tracking device that allows our friends to find us. For each time I make a loop around your wrist it tells my friends how many of us there are. She then turned to the others. Hermione if you'll please send the signal."
Hermione nodded and said the activation word sending everyone up in the air only to disappear.
"We'll need to remember that one." Willow said she told Buffy and Hermione.
"We still need to empty out the Pennsylvania station and the New York school. The station is very small and was only set up to make sure the seven gates of hell stayed closed. We should head there first because it will be quicker to pack up and send them on their way. Then after New York it's off to merry old England. Willow, can you get us there?"
"Yeah, it took a while to gather up enough magic but I can now. Hold on everyone."
When they did, they were gone just as an ominous cloud began darkening the horizon.
/Scene Break/
Cassandra Nightingale nee Russell had tears running down her face as she turned off the TV news. Her adopted kids looked up from the seat devastated.
"This isn't real is it mum?" Brandon Russell said
"I'm afraid so darling."
"Where's daddy? He should be here." Lori Russell said.
"I just called him. He's coming home from work right now. He should be here any minute."
Just then the front door opened and someone called out "Cassy? Cassy, are you here."
"Abigail? Abigail, in here. Where have you been? I've been trying to get in touch with you for so long."
"Abigail!" Lori ran to her and hugged her tight.
"I came as soon as I heard what was happening. I didn't want to be alone for this."
"You're not alone Abigail. You have us." Cassy said.
Just then Jake Russell came in and was welcome by his family.
"Is everything ready?" He asked.
"Yes, but I still have never done this before so I'll need everyone to stand still."
"What's going on Cassy?" Abigail asked.
"Yeah mum, what are you going to do?"
"Some friends of ours warned us this could happen a few months ago and gave us the means to help ourselves." Cassandra took a bracelet from a beaded bag and temporarily placed it on her wrist as she put the open bag upon the floor.
"Well, I guess this is where you guys get to see some real magic." She raised her hands and everyone felt an energy build up around them.
"Cassy what's going on?" Abigail asked.
Just then everything suddenly lifted off the floor. Big and small items both began to rotate around the room. Everything from clothes to the couch guided itself into the beaded bag. The mouth of the bag resizing thing as it went.
Cassandra had always been powerful. She wasn't anywhere near Willow's power but unknown to even the covens she could really pack a wallop if she needed to. Unfortunately she was never able to handle it too well and tired quickly which is why she stuck to small unnoticeable spells like luck magic. With her power luck flourished all around her, enough to even help people who were nearest and dearest to her. As the house emptied and the last peace wiggled its way into the bag Cassandra collapsed.
"Mum!"
"Mum!"
"Cassy!
"Cassandra!" Her husband caught her before she could hurt herself.
"Is she going to be alright?" Abigail asked with worry as the Kid looked on in shock.
"She knew this could happen. Listen I need all of you to grab hold of the bracelet she put on her wrist. Lori, grab the beaded bag." Jake commanded.
Lori did so and everyone touched the bracelet. Jake said a little prayer before he said the word that would activate the portkey and they were gone.
/Scene Break/
In the Department of the Navy's Office of the Judge Advocate General Admiral Albert Jethro Chegwidden pondered what a good day he had, had yesterday when he was able to save his best two JAG lawyers from disappearing into this country's shadow government. After months of filing injunctions and calling in favors he felt triumphant when it had finally worked out. He had received documents to that effect and an hour later President Henry Hayes's personal attaché hand delivered Harmon Rabb's and Sarah MacKenzie's rejection forms. It seemed Hayes found some questionable background on both of the lawyer so all of his injunctions may not have been necessary after all. In any case they had made merry over it that night and many beers made their rounds. Today however was the total opposite of the good day he had the day before. He had awakened too early this morning with one of the worst hangovers he had ever suffered since a time when he was a much younger man. When he was finally able to function to some degree he made it into his office and found Hayes's personal attaché at his desk waiting for him. He knew instantly that this didn't bode well for him. The personal attaché then hand delivered to him a large manila envelope, once delivered the attaché left. When the admiral opened the envelope and began reading its contents he was pissed. He may have saved Rabb and MacKenzie but he was now losing Bud Roberts and Harriet Roberts Nee Sims effective immediately. Just as he finished reading the documents to make sure all the I's were dotted and T's were crossed Roberts and Roberts entered his office with their transfer papers in hand wondering what it was all about. The forms seemed to be iron clad so he had no choice but to tell them to pack their belongings but to remember that he was going to do everything in his power to get them back. It was two hours after they left that word of California's earthquakes had caused much of the land mass to sink into the ocean people and all. Two and a half hours later word of Yellowstone blowing up was reported next. At that point people were wondering if it wasn't a practical joke but it was on every TV and radio channel. He called his friends in the coast guard for confirmation only to find them reporting high waves and turbulent waters at sea.
Thinking of his two favorite but absent lawyers, he had figured that since the whole country was in gridlock that there was no reason for Bud and Harriet to be in any hurry to leave. He sent some men to invite them and their family back as he figured that if this really was the end of the world that they might want to be among friend. Only to find out that they and their belongings were gone. Their home had been completely cleaned out, as if movers had been there since yesterday. Of course Bud and Harriet would have mentioned that wouldn't they? The offices were glum as he tried to say goodbye to everyone with a toast of his best booze. Before he thought this whole thing was ridicules and told everyone to go home and be with their families if they have any and if not he hoped that they found someone to be with when the end happened. When everyone left he packed his briefcase took one last look at his offices and left the building.
/Scene Break/
In orbit, on board the Hammond in the transporter room to figures materialized. They were confused, breathless and a bit frightened.
"What in the hell is going on?" Bud Roberts exclaimed as he held his wife Harriet and looked out the massive viewing port that took up most of one wall. Outside they were able to see earth and some orbiting ships.
"Welcome to the Hammond. A spaceship built by the united governments of the world. Sorry for the abrupt transfer both on paper and physically. As you probably know my name is Henry Hayes and this is General Jack O'Neill. All your belongings have been beamed up as well as you children. You see, time was of the essence. If you aren't aware of it by now, the world is ending and we envisioned that we would need your services." President Hayes said.
As they looked on in disbelief Bud Roberts's eyes suddenly rolled up into his head as fainted to the floor, living his wife to stand there in shock.
"Well, I think that went well." O'Neill said with a bright smile to the President. When he turned back to the couple he found that Harriet was not amused. His smile instantly dropped.
/Scene Break/
A short time ago Catherine Willows was the Shift Supervisor of the Los Vegas Crime scene investigation team before being demoted to assistant Supervisor only to come to a crossroads in her life. She found herself needing to leave her job and her hometown of Los Vegas to start somewhere new. Fortunately enough she had two job offers. One was a possession in the FBI the other was to become the head of the Forensic science commission in Washington. At first she didn't know if she could leave the excitement of investigating crimes and so took the job with the FBI only to find out that not only was she to start out as the low woman on the totem pole including a pay cut but she realized that the whole purpose of starting over was to get away from that kind of work all together and so took what was supposed to be a cushy job in Washington where she would be the boss. Now she didn't know whether or not she was happy she decided upon this job because for the last few months she found herself in charge of packing up the buildings of the Forensic science commission and to shipped their contents to Arks of all things. She still couldn't believe what they had told her about the earth's crust melting but the proof had been on this morning's news when California sank into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. She guessed she was happy because she had a ticket onto the ark not only for herself but her daughter Lindsey. The only down side that made her sob at the end of the day were the friend she wasn't allowed to tell the secret to. They would all be dead while she lived on. How was she expected to live with herself after the event? Well, she couldn't think that way, she was doing this for Lindsey. She needed to survive to make sure Lindsey survived. In the end she could only pray for the souls of her friends.
/Scene Break/
Buffy Hermione and Willow finished their mission in America barely keeping ahead of the volcanic ash cloud which had lost its heat and poisonous gas as it moved closer to the east coast. By this time President Thomas Wilson gave his last address to the American people. As he started speaking Psalms 23 he is cut off the air waves. The American people then begin to panic. Buffy, Willow and Hermione heard the screams of the over one million New Yorkers outside the walls of the now empty New York branch of the Guardian Council school and knew they had finished in America just in time. They looked out the window and saw so many cops that had been trying to maintain the peace. With the president's announcement the dam had broken. They no longer tried. Many of the police were now moving as one with the crowds crying out at the injustice of life.
From their vantage point they were able to see the tidal wave rolling in heading for the city and the crowds below. Buffy told her friends that they didn't need to see this so they each grabbed the one portkey to England they had and disappeared.
As many of the crowd ran from the approaching wave many of the police moved to meet it. Among some of them were Detective Ed Green, Detective Rey Curtis, Detective John Munch, Detective Odafin Tutuola, Detective Robert Goren, Detective Alexandra Eames. Knowing that today was most likely to be their last, Detective Olivia Benson had told her partner Detective Elliot Stabler to go home to his family and that she would cover for him. This was an opportunity he was not going to ignore and thanked her from the bottom of his heart. It gave him the time to share feeling of his love among family before the end. Detective Danny Reagan and his brother a beat cop Jamie Reagan hug each other as they cried and prayed for their family's souls because they knew they would never be able to make it back to them in time. Their last words were whispers of goodbye to said family among themselves. The band of brothers all faced and met their deaths with dignity as the wave quickly passed the statue of liberty and just as quickly washed over them with killing them with immense force before they could drowned. A city that took hundreds of years to build and stood for generation fell to nature in seconds. The hustle and bustle of a teaming metropolis was quieted by natures oceans leaving behind a watery grave in its place and like a sand castle there was nothing to indicate that it was ever there. The only sound heard now was the lapping of the waves.
/Scene Break/
In the Washington Navy Yard in the building that housed NCIS, Leon James Vance director of NCIS approached two of his best agents Tony DiNozzo and Tim McGee.
"DiNozzo, where's Gibbs?"
"Um sir, he left hours ago when the second disaster at Yellowstone happened. He decided he didn't want to be here dying where he worked and would rather go out working on his boat and drinking a bottle of rotgut whisky he was saving for a special occasion."
"Rotgut Whisky for a special occasion, yeah that sounds like Gibbs." Leon said with a smirk.
"You're not mad?" McGee asked.
"Mad? Hell, I'm surprised you two are still here. I planned on leaving myself. I need to be with my family. It's not like anyone is going to do anything about it. What about you two. Don't you two want to get home?"
"For what sir? There's no one, nothing to go home to, for either of us. I just wish we had some of that rotgut whisky to… I don't know… celebrate with?" Tony replied.
"Yeah some celebration." Leon commented.
"I don't know about rotgut whisky but I have some rather finely aged Scotch I'm willing to share." A new voice said as Dr. Donald (Ducky) Mallard approached them from the elevator.
"Ducky. You should have gone long ago. What are you still doing here?" Leon asked.
"Probably for the same reasons you're here. With my mother gone there's no one to go home to." He replied.
"Well, where's Palmer?" Tony asked.
"He actually has someone to go home to. So, that just leaves us. Director, won't you join us for a drink before you go?" Ducky asked.
"Depends, How old is that scotch again?" Vance said with a smile.
"It would have seen it's thirty third year next month if we had that long." Ducky replied.
"It's close enough. Let's try it out." Leon said.
As Ducky filled the paper cups he brought from the water cooler Tony asked a question that had been bothering him.
"So Director, I was wondering if you could tell us where you sent Ziva and what kind of mission she's on."
"I'm not supposed to tell you about the mission but I bet you can guess it by her location. She's in Africa."
Tony Tim and Ducky looked like they were slapped in the face with a fish.
"You sent her back to the Horn of Africa?" Tim said shocked and a little angry.
"It wasn't my decision and she volunteered. She said she wanted to help the military disassemble the rest of the terrorist cells there with the information she had. I believe it was something she needed to get out of her system. I told her she wasn't allowed to get into combat, she reluctantly gave her word." Leon explained.
"Of course she did." Tony said.
"Has there been any word about the ship Miss Sciuto is on?" Vance asked.
"No sir. The timing of her pleasure cruise couldn't be worse." Tim said.
"How did she end up on the cruse again?" Vance asked.
"Abby and the nuns of her bowling league won the cruse when they won the bowling championship. She wasn't going to go at first but Gibbs talked her into it after telling her that it would be a good way to connect with her brother she just found out she had, if she brought him along."
"Gentlemen, I propose a toast, to our lives, our careers, and our friendship. All of which were well spent." Ducky toasted.
Everyone raised their cups in toast before drinking. When their cups were empty Ducky refilled them. Just then they heard a rumble that was turning into a roar. They ran to the window only to witness the biggest wave headed for them and carrying several aircraft carriers along with it. Realizing there was nowhere to run Ducky decided to break the silence.
"Gentlemen it was an honor to have known each of you." He said in the face of his own death before emptying his cup.
Knowing they only had seconds to live Tim and Tony swallowed the contents of their cup as well. Vance realized he was too late to see his wife and children for the last time.
A.N. About six chapters left.
A.N. Reviews can make a story better