Set during 'Graduation Part 2'
The three immortals of various ages exited Xander's car as they looked around the surroundings with different degrees of grim expressions on their faces. "This is hopeless," Xander commented to his teacher Methos with a frustrated tone.
"Don't give up so easily," Methos replied.
"I'm not giving up, but this is stupid we are just driving around in the mad hope we might feel a buzz which would mean it would be Josiah and his crew," the young immortal commented which both of the far older immortal both had to admit that he was right. They had been driving around for the past hour well aware that this was just a time-wasting exercise given to them by Josiah. With Cordelia being held prisoner by Josiah's group the other immortals had been forced to look for her meaning they could not focus on researching on the Mayor's ascension. In the same way Buffy, the slayer was distracted by Faith's poisoning Angel and therefore more concerned about saving him, the immortals were having to devote their time to looking for Cordelia.
"Are you sure he won't hurt her?" Duncan asked quietly to Methos who shook his head which was hardly the most convincing answer that Methos had ever given someone. "What do you know of this Josiah?"
"He is desperate, eager to have his name up in lights and go down in history," Methos replied recalling his limited interaction with the immortal. "He is trying to become the next Kronos."
Macleod nodded as he walked around the car slowly thinking. "I'm guessing he isn't advertising that he is desperate but rather walking around like he has already won?"
"Oh yeah! He has a big time Bond villain thing working for him," Xander commented recalling his own encounter with the evil immortal.
Macleod nodded having dealt with a few immortals like that over the centuries. "So, then he wants to see us struggle," Macleod said thinking out loud. "He wants us to be driving around the town in circles wasting time, he wants us to think he has won, and we are beaten."
"That's a great opinion but I don't see how it gets us Cordy back," Xander said to the Scotsman. "In a town full of sewers, empty warehouses and dusty caves he could be anywhere!"
Something flickered in immortal known as 'the Champion', Macleod's features sharpened at Xander's last comment. "Bond villains never hid out at sewers," he said quietly before adding. "Maybe caves but even those the villains always had them looking swish and stylish. Kronos may have stuck to the sewers but that's because he didn't care about how he was perceived as long as it was fear. He just wanted to watch the world burn but this one wants to go down in history, so he cares about his appearance!"
"Meaning?" Xander said clueless.
"Meaning he won't be in any of those places you just mentioned!" Macleod said with conviction. "Methos fire up that laptop with the Watcher files! I want to get an idea of places where Josiah has stayed in! Not countries nor cities but description of the style of places he slept in!"
"You really are quite bright despite what we might say behind your back," Methos commented with a sly grin as he dug out his laptop and started typing to bring up the information. Duncan ignored that dig and studied the details before him. He was looking for a common theme and he saw it; the immortal Josiah enjoyed the finer things in life and was used to living in mansions and estates. "He likes the highlife," Methos commented nodding to the highlander.
"Too much for a man who wants to bring about the next apocalypse," Duncan snorted causing Methos to agree. No doubt it was possibly why Kronos grew tired of Josiah, the younger immortal lacking the total conviction and dedication to carry out Krono's goals and missions. This man was only doing it prove himself in the eyes of his former teacher/master in Methos's opinion. "There be too many luxury mansions in such a small town," Macleod said snapping Methos back into the present.
"Hardly any," Xander told the immortal. "In fact, the biggest and best would be the Chase mansion that Cordelia lives in." He stopped as he saw the two immortals looking at him. "What? What is it?"
"When they called saying that they had Cordelia… we thought it was a kidnapping," Methos said slowly as he considered the events in his head.
"But what if it was more of a hostage situation," Duncan continued finishing Metho's train of thought. "They are staying at the girl's house!"
"What?!" Xander bellowed. "That's a super jump!"
"You told me yourself the girl's family are broke, but she mentioned to you something about her dad managing to sell the house fast to cover some expenses," Methos countered to the teenager. "I think I have an idea of who would buy such a place."
XXXXX
In the Chase mansion Josiah looked around the large room he was in and shook his head seemingly disappointed. He had stayed in some beautiful estates, luxury homes and he could tell that this mansion at its peak would have impressive particularly compared to the rest of this town but right now… "I mean I am aware of some cultures such as the Japanese being minimalist, but this place really was basic when I bought it," he commented to Cordelia Chase as she was tied to a chair as she was forced to listen. "I was at least expecting some silverware to be in the drawers but nothing."
"My Dad made a few mistakes in some of his accounts and his taxes," Cordelia grumbled but then remembered who she was talking. "But by all means free feel to head on over to nearest department store and pick up some furniture."
Josiah chuckled. "The problems with mortals, you only have one life whereas we have many to make mistakes." He paused for a moment reflecting on his many years of living in this world. "You have no idea of how many centuries are wasted in an immortal's life trying to build a better life. One learns to play the long game. I was a Count before I am became an immortal with my whole life planned for me by my parents then I died but reborn and then had to learn to survive by myself. Took time and effort but I learned and am now on the path to change history."
"The Mayor is going to change history not some immortal lackey," Cordelia pointed out causing Josiah to sneer at her.
"History is written by the victors little girl," the immortal told her before looking up as he felt the buzz telling him that an immortal was close by. Sure, enough entering the room was two in fact his brothers in arms the immortals Karios and Nort stepping into his view. Cordelia watched as this Josiah person strode over to them in the other side of the room, obviously he was the one in charge. He held himself with an air of dignity that had become cliché to her; he was a man who believed himself in control of everything… still he had bad shoes. "I trust we are ready for a fight gentleman?" Josiah asked the pair.
"I don't see why we couldn't simply wait until tomorrow?" Karios questioned Josiah. "A distraction I understand but battling with Methos before the mayor's ascension seems risky."
"It thins the ranks," Josiah smiled. "I want Methos's student killed with the old man watching. I want to him know that piece by piece his life is ending the reign of Kronos is beginning."
"We should just kill the girl then," Nort said gesturing to the tied-up Cordelia. "She has served her purpose as bait, Methos and her student must be on their way by now so let's just kill her and be done with it." The two other immortals looked to each other mulling over the decision before they heard a car coming up through the gates of the mansion.
"This is the place!" said Xander inside the car urgently as he drove up to the mansion. Methos couldn't help but be somewhat impressed by the Chase home. It was the largest in a neighbourhood of large, obviously expensive houses. He would have thought that a girl from this sort of background would attend private school, but he wasn't really familiar with the ins and outs of the American class system. The need to had never come up in his immortal lifetime. Xander drove up to the wide driveway and the immortals got up with each of their swords raised.
"Three?!" Josiah whispered in shock. "Why is there three of them? Who is the third person along with Methos and his student?!" The man's smoothness was replaced with a sense of panic, clearly this wasn't part of the plan.
"Is that who I think it is?" Nort said pushing forward past the man. Almost eager now the man was interested as he recognised the third man. He was someone who he had hope to encounter at some stage in his many lifetimes. He moved out of the room not waiting for Karios or Josiah. Moving downstairs he grinned as he saw Methos, Xander and what he hoped would be Duncan MacLeod.
"Nort!" Josiah hissed at the brutish immortal. "Do not engaged!" But Nort was too eager to for a fight to listen. He raced down the stairs bringing out his sword as he did so.
Duncan, Methos and Xander stopped when they saw Nort coming down the stairs grinning at them. "Duncan Macleod?" He asked causing the Highlander in question to step forward.
"Should I know you?" Duncan asked.
"No but I have heard of you," Nort informed him. "Quite the champion. Always wanted to take you on but never had the chance. But now though." He trailed and he rushed forward, and Duncan brought his sword up to defend himself. Very quickly the two immortals engaged in a struggle to overpower each other with their weapons. The attacks were simple, there are cuts and thrusts.
"And then there were two," Karios summarised watching Nort begin to do battle with the Highlander.
"Rubbish!" Josiah replied with a little uncertainly. "This is just a little foley! Nort will be finished with him in a matter of moments!"
"His defence is impressive," Karios stated nodding in Macleod's direction who being a skilled swordsman was deftly parring every attack thrown his way. "Macleod is so far proving his reputation is not unfounded." Josiah grimaced but said nothing motioning Karios to follow him and the two men began to leave.
"We can't interrupt this can we?" Xander asked Methos while looking at Duncan and Nort trade blows. Nort, who looked like he had been ripped from a comic book: all muscle and strength was attacking the Scotsman hard with blows that probably would have sent Xander reeling. But Duncan was matching the man pushing them away from the hall and into the living room.
Methos nodded and then looked up to see Josiah at the top of the stairs. "Josiah," he seethed as he gripped his sword. He moved forward as Josiah and Karios made their escape back into the room they once were in.
"Get the girl!" Josiah ordered and Karios did so untying Cordelia but keep a sharp knife at her neck and holding her close as first Methos and then Xander appeared at the doorway.
"Cordy!" Xander yelled at seeing his ex-girlfriend who didn't say anything well aware the knife against her throat. "It's okay Cordelia we are here now!" He said causing her to roll her eyes a little. She was being held up with a knife at her throat, Xander standing looking panicked and scared across the other side of the room saying false positives was hardly comforting.
"Back up Methos and tell your student to do the same or else the girl dies," Josiah warned edging towards a door that lead to a fire escape and monitoring Karios to do the same with Cordelia.
"Josiah you really are patheric," Methos told the immortal. "Hiding behind a frightened girl while sneaking out the backdoor. Kronos would be ashamed of you no wonder he ditched you all those years ago. One of the four horsemen?" He laughed. "You are even capable of owning a dog let alone being one of them!"
"What about you Methos!? Bringing another immortal to the party? Afraid to do some actual swordplay?" Josiah threw back at the oldest immortal as the clashing of steel filled the air as all occupants in the room could hear the sounds of two immortals engaged in combat downstairs.
"No not just any immortal," Methos grinned at back at Josiah. "That is the famous Highlander downstairs, the boy scout who took down Kronos."
Josiah's hair stood up on his back. Since learning of his former teacher's passing, he was convinced it was Methos, Kronos former brother in arms who had taken Kronos's head but now he was learning that it was really Duncan Macleod. While he had never encountered the Highlander, he none the less was aware of the man's skill with the sword having learnt from some of the best. "Not one more step Methos!" he told the immortal as he warned him again to stay back. "I don't care if you have brought back Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez from the dead to challenge me! I will have my day Methos and you and your pupil with be just two more corpses I step over! If you follow us, then you will paint the roads in her blood!" He exited followed by Karios still holding Cordelia.
Xander moved to follow but was stopped by Methos. "We can't just leave her with them," the boy uttered to his teacher.
"We must as it's still a stalemate," Methos confirmed to his student. "They have her held hostage and will no doubt kill her if we follow. But don't worry we have given them a lot to think about tonight." He gently pulled Xander away from the where Josiah and Karios had escaped to the hall where from their vantage point they could see Duncan duel with Nort, the pair knocking over furniture and grunting as they clashed swords against each other. Macleod an experienced swordsman saw through his opponent's rash tactics and reacted quickly with a sharp slicing of his sword left Nort's torso shredded into a neat row of bloody ribbons causing Nort to cry out falling to the ground. Duncan kicked Nort's weapon away and raised his sword up with a grim expression before bringing it down taking Nort's head clean off.
Methos smiled as he watched the lighting sparks begin emerging from Nort's body signalling that a quickening was about to occur. "I told you he was good," he said to Xander who looked very impressed that Macleod had managed to take down such a foe like Nort.
XXXXXXXX
After that a phone call from Giles informed the immortals that Buffy the vampire slayer had been admitted to the hospital causing them to head over there. It would seem that in an effort to save Angel's undead life she offered her blood to cure him from the poison that was coursing in his veins and with great reluctance the vampire accepted. Such is his mood tonight Xander was unable to help but throw out a line about how easy it was for Angel to agree to such a decision. That lead to a scrolling from both Methos and the Highlander about sacrifice and being childish, but he didn't care as he was more concerned about saving Cordelia and making sure she was unharmed. He couldn't help but feel responsible as he being an immortal caused her a mortal to become involved in the bloodthirsty event that was known as the Game. Even as he was preparing for the Graduation ceremony that would most likely be a battle zone he was thinking about Cordelia and his curse of being immortal.
"Hey," he looked up to see Buffy standing before him. He had been currently looking over plans of the school to work out where to place their forces that they had gathered. The soldier memories that he gained from Halloween meant that he was leading figure in the involvement in this battle. A far cry from the doughnut boy he had been reduced to at times in the past. "How are things going?"
"Good," Xander stated looking over his plans which were still a mess frankly. "The plans are coming over nicely we should be well organised before the attack." Buffy nodded but could tell that Xander was more concerned about Cordelia than the plans. With the Mayor was announced as the keynote speaker for graduation, it was clear that the Ascension would occur at some point during the ceremony. Methos, Giles and Wesley determined that the most likely scenario was that the mayor would feed off of the parents and students in attendance, fuelling his initial transformation. "We'll get her back Xander." She said trying to reassure him over his missing ex-girlfriend.
"Yeah," he laughed almost ruefully. "I would like to have that in writing." He was trying to avoid images of Cordelia's body dumped somewhere. All because of some stupid game.
"Methos has said that this guy has an ego the size of Bill Clinton so he will want the biggest audience he can find and that includes her. Believe me I know how these types of villains think," Buffy said trying to reassure her friend. No doubt this Josiah character held himself with an air of dignity that had become cliché to her; he was a man who believed himself in control of everything. She couldn't count the number of big bads she had killed who thought the same way without wearing open-toed shoes.
"I just wish… she wasn't involved in any of this," he said sighing closing his eyes. "Methos… he warned me that some immortals don't play by the rules. They don't target you; they target your friends or people that you care about. Anything to throw you off your game or mess with your head just for the sake of killing you. I dismissed it at first like 'hey what else is new!' but now it's just… not fair."
"Since when has the hellmouth ever been fair," Buffy said with a bitter tone taking a seat on the table next to him. Xander simply nodded aware that Buffy had more experience at the with bad luck on him. "Do you know how many times I wished that I had shunned you and Willow and told you to not get involved in slaying and my business here?"
"You might have given off the impression once or twice," Xander replied recalling when she warned him of his jumping into action when the Sisterhood of Jhe were trying to reopen the hellmouth.
Buffy grimaced slightly but didn't take the bait knowing he was harbouring some ill feelings on some of her decisions. "I thank to god that neither of you ever listened," Buffy confessed softly. Xander watched her and listened knowing that this was hard for her to admit. "I wouldn't be alive if either of you were not involved, and I mean both of you Xander. You brought me back to life, not Willow not Giles, not even Angel. Sure, I am protective of you and… sometimes dismissive," she lowered her head slightly feeling guilty before raising it. "But I have never forgotten that it is you that who saved me."
"Buff," Xander said slightly uneasy about this conversation. "I just did whatever they would have done in the same situation. I mean the face of all the madness and mayhem that the hellmouth throws at you; you are the one who has to be courageous and strong."
"Xander… half the time I am scared out of my mind and flying by the seat of my pants. I just hide it well," she confessed. "The point is I can't do this alone and right now I need you. And I need you focused on this," she said pointing to plans. "And nothing else."
"I just… can't focused on any of this," he said gesturing at the papers in front of him.
"Well, you are going to have to," the pair looked up and saw Methos walking up to them. "Your friend is right they need you and Josiah is someone cannot deal with. You're not in league Xander. If you faced him or Karios I have no doubt you will fight very bravely and die very quickly."
"But you're training," Xander began before being cut off by Methos.
"Xander you and I have argued about the fact that you have been trying to live in two worlds: this world with your friends and your world with the immortals," Methos stated. "Now I know I have repeatedly warned you that you cannot do both but right now I am offering you a temporary opportunity to make a choice. That world or our world. You cannot face either immortal and lead the students into battle so make a choice right here and now."
Xander looked at Methos and then back at Buffy who stare back at him with expression of hope. He silently nodded and went back to the plans. Buffy silently mouthed thank you to Methos who merely turned around and exited the room.
XXXXXXX
The sign of the eclipse signalled the mayor's transformation into what could only be described as a giant snake. Even from his vantage point Josiah was stood back slightly shocked at such a drastic change. In all his years and all his studies, he had never seen anything like it in his life. It truly was a day from the biblical times that he had read over the years. Not the first time he wished that his former teacher Kronos was here to see it. He could recall with perfect ease the day Kronos left him telling him he was nothing. He rode away on a black horse without a black glance. The others in the gang he and Kronos rode with did not understand why Kronos was restless and tough on them. What they failed to grasp was that their true leader of the four horsemen of apocalypse had always been Death and without his guidance Kronos did not know what to do. He would never admit it but without Methos's direction Kronos had none and couldn't simply sit still. Thus no one was ever good enough.
But now Josiah was part of the new world order on a day he almost never imagined that such a day like this would come. He watched as the students threw off their robes revealing primitive weapons and a group launched a flame thrower attack on the mayor's demon form to stop him. "Well organised," remarked Karios who stood alongside Josiah holding onto to Cordelia who was tied up.
"Mere children," Josiah fired back at the fellow immortal. "The mayor's vampire forces will deal with them with ease. Then he will lay waste to everyone and everything in this town!" Josiah said with relish almost picturing it.
"Including you?" The immortal looked over glared over to where Cordelia who glared right back at the immortal. They really should have but a gag on that cheerleader she was far too mouthy as a hostages go.
"The girl has a point," Karios offered looking at the battle scenes that were occurring before him. "Exactly how do you plan on killing the mayor now that he is in that form?" Josiah's was silent which told far more than he would have wanted. "My thoughts precisely," he turned to Cordelia and bowed sightly. "My lady it's been a pleasure good day to you both." He turned to move but was cut off by Josiah's sword to his neck.
"Not one more step Karios," the immortal threatened to the other man. "You are staying right here by my side."
"Your side is far becoming a place I no longer wish to be," Karios replied not fazed by sword against his neck. "In truth I just joined you to see if you could bring about the next apocalypse. I am alas a sucker for a good sales pitch but now I can see that this idea of yours is crumbling all around you. I certainly have no interest in becoming another dead follower of yours and besides I would be pointing that sword somewhere else," he motioned behind Josiah and the immortal turned to see Methos standing there. In all the confusion he hadn't spotted that the immortal had evented his range. "Good luck Josiah and goodbye." The immortal Karios moved away from Josiah who spun round to face Methos his sword held high.
"I am going to enjoy taking your head Methos," Josiah growled at the older immortal despite the loss of another man on his side. Cordelia's eyes darted between the two men as Methos edged forward towards the other man. "Careful!" Josiah told the other man wary of how the other man was moving towards him. "A swing from my sword and this little girl dies," he pointed out.
Methos's eyes narrowed well aware that Josiah was in range of Cordelia, and he was still some distance away from the immortal to engage with him. "Do you think Kronos would approve of any of this Josiah?" He asked the immortal before him. "You are hiding behind the mayor letting him do the dirty work while Kronos would have stood front and centre letting the world see who is the real power."
"Don't try and get in my head Methos," Josiah replied.
"You got tired of the killings didn't you Josiah?" Methos asked the man sizing him up. "The endless head taking and duels, but Kronos promised you true immortality. A chance to go down in history by changing the world order but he deemed you unworthy of such a prize, so he left you and have been chasing such a dream ever since." Mocked Methos trying to push the man's buttons into making a mistake or causing him to rush him.
Josiah's eyes blazed as Methos taunted him. After losing his noble birthright on account of his first death Josiah had wandered this earth fulfilling his duty as an immortal by challenging others and taking their heads. But all the time he seethed at the fact that his noble lands and riches which he would have attainted in the future were now robbed of him. The years dragged on with no end in sight but then Kronos had appeared and gave him a purpose and a way of finding and attaining power from fear and destruction. But then Kronos left… the immortal, the legend, an unstoppable force of power, a man who would ride with him and guide him for all of his life simply left him without a care in the world. Leaving Josiah once again with nothing but the killings, no purpose or future beyond the duels. "Methos you will drop your sword and then I take your head otherwise I will kill this girl and," he would have said more but the immortal was cut off by being hit by the body of Larry Blaisdell who had been thrown in the air by a swing of the Mayor's massive tail, snapping his neck upon impact of the creature's tail. Knocking him clean off his feet were he stood both Josiah and the body of Larry were launched backwards out of sight of Cordelia and Methos who looked on at display with shock and wonder.
Shaking off his disbelief at the turn of events Methos quickly moved to Cordelia. "Get me out of these!" she commanded, and he did so slicing the ropes that held her. "God that guy could bang on about the apocalypse!" She huffed.
"Speaking of which you might want to join the battle," he replied handing her a stake.
"Oh yes because that is wonderfully safe!" She remarked eyeing the battlefield.
"They need you and he needs you," Methos replied nodding in the direction of the battle were no doubt Xander was. Cordelia considered for a moment but with inner strength that should be praised more often she ran off to where the other students battled. Methos himself turned around and gripped his sword tightly as he slowly moved in the direction where Josiah had been thrown to. He saw the body of the fallen student but saw no Josiah. The immortal had disappeared. Holding his sword up ready for any attack the immortal continued his search for his rival.
XXXXXX
Across the school ground on the football pitch Kairos made his way away from the battle zone not paying attention to the screams of terror and the roar of whatever the mayor had turned into. He stopped and frowned when he felt a buzz in his head warning him another an immortal was near. He looked around and noticed a larger man stepping out of the swords. "You're the one who calls himself the highlander," he correctly guessed.
Duncan Macleod sized up the immortal standing before him. "We haven't met… but there was a stories of a Greek man who matches your appearance who served in the Greek Legion during the Napoleonic Wars," he stated before adding. "There was talk he was a double agent whose information helped little Bonaparte claim a decisive victory at the Battle of Austerlitz."
Karios couldn't help but smile proudly. "Brilliant flanking manoeuvre by Napoleon. Fake weaknesses allowing the enemy to take Pratzen Heights. Meanwhile his main force was concealed in a dead ground opposite allowing his troops to attack and recapture the Pratzen Heights. From there he was able launch a decisive assault to the centre of the Allied army, cripple them, and encircle them from the rear. Sent what was left of your allied forces packing with their tail between their legs very quickly." Macleod's glare told the Greek man all he needed to know about his feelings on the matter. "Despite all the changes in warfare such as planes, computers, bombs etc they still study his strategies in the military, so I believe. Now that is immortality!"
"And I'm guessing you supplied the allied commanders and generals with all the details about how vulnerable his right flank would be knowing full well he had done it on purpose?" Macleod spat the words out like they were poison. Karios's triumph grin was all the conformation he needed. "A lot of men died that day."
"One doesn't join the army to enjoy a long and relaxing life Highlander," Karios scoffed.
"But one doesn't join it to be sent to the slaughter either!" Duncan growled back at the immortal. Karios merely raised his sword.
"Your friend decided to hunt me down," Karios told the Scotsman. "I never asked him to do so, and he choose to come after me."
"And you killed him!" Macleod spat out like it was poison.
"That I did," Karios merely shrugged. "I've killed a lot of people although truth be told I haven't taken a head in must be… 30 years. Can you say the same?" He asked knowing full well what the answer was as he had heard of Duncan Macleod's reputation.
Macleod gritted his teeth and looked away. "I've done with I have had to."
"Oh yes! I'm sure you can justify those kills. All those heads that you have taken." The Greek immortal continued following the grimacing Macleod. "In your head you are either the hero defeating evil, or you were left with no choice. But can you really Macleod can you honestly justify every single one?" Macleod didn't answer just merely pulled out his sword from coat and raised it himself eyeing Karios who merely smiled.
"I take it the fact that I am leaving the field of battle and therefore clearly ending my partnership with Josiah not going to sway you from letting me go?" Karios just had to ask but the only reply he received was a sword being raised which he blocked.
XXXXXXX
As Josiah moved quickly down a school corridor eager to catch Methos by surprise he noticed a fuse along the floor. Frowning he followed it keeping aware of Methos or anyone else that might jump out and attack him. He saw it led to the library where he peered inside. He saw that there was enough explosives in there that meant that the school wired to explode with a force that rivalled a volcanic eruption. This was their plan, the slayer's plan! It was to lead the mayor into a trap! He cursed and cut the fuse with his sword breaking apart the wire. "That's going to cost you," came Methos voice from behind him and he turned to see his rival there further down the hall.
"Going to cost them more," he sneered referring to the mortals battling outside. "You must have learned by now after all these years that they are doomed! Maybe not today or tomorrow but someday they will kill destroy themselves."
Methos sighed not having an argument against such an attack. He had lived and experienced so much but had seen that humanity had made the same mistakes over and over again across time. Despite all they had achieved and grown they were still savages but there was some good among them. Some that deserved a chance. "That maybe," Methos replied carefully. "But they should not be killed to satisfy another one's vanity," he pointedly remarked to Josiah.
"You know nothing!" fired back the other immortal.
"I know that this day isn't turning out the way you had hoped," Methos replied casually. "You have nothing Josiah, no one but yourself to blame for all of this… and I know that if Kronos was here, he would have attacked me by now instead of standing there." With a roar of anger Josiah attacks and the immortal pair engage a duel, carefully feeling each other out with their blades lighting quick against each other. They attacked and defended well both landing hits before slowly Josiah's warrior's thrusting attacks began to force Methos back down the hallway away from the library. The pair quickly felt their bodies become covered in sweat and blood as they slashed and parried at each other.
Across on the football field Macleod and Karios were locked in combat. The highlander had the advantage of size muscle lending his blows with power, but Karios was proving a nimble, agile, and experienced swordsman. The pair attacked each other as they made their way to stands were crowds would come and watch a football game. Karios found himself backing up onto the steps as the Highlander pushed him back but with a deft move, he lunged at the highlander in a determined counterattack. Duncan lost his footing stumbling onto a set of chairs as Karios pressed forward pushing his blade against Macleod's. The two men were level-headed staring at each as the metal grinded against each other before the Scotsman pushed the Greek man away. Duncan twirled his sword before settling into a fighting stance while Karios adjust his grip on his sword. They launched into another complex series of moves.
As both sets of immortals battled and duelled against each other the Scoobies and the slayer did their part in attacking the mayor and his forces. As her friends held back the mayor's vampire forces, Buffy herself stood in front of him getting his attention. "Hey!" She shouted at her enemy as held up Faith's knife in her right hand. "You remember this? I took it from Faith. Stuck it in her gut," she said taunting the large demon as she looks back at the knife and then back up at the mayor. "Just slid in her like she was butter," she added noting that the mayor or whatever he was now was now gnashing his teeth and growling. "You want to get it back from me dick?" With that question out of the way she turned and started running into the school with the mayor in pursuit.
Within the school Methos ducked narrowly avoided the blade slicing through the air toward his face. and parried the immortal's next attack as the pair now fought in the school cafeteria. Despite Methos' many years, despite his age and strength and power, even he knew that his opponent was the better swordsman. Even though anger was clouding Josiah's judgement, that fact was still the truth. So, when Josiah was able to disarm Methos with sharp trick he had learned many centuries ago from a fencing instructor in Spain. Methos's sword fell to the ground as he himself fell to his knees after Josiah sliced his stomach. Josiah grinned as he step forward menacingly towards a beaten Methos poking the elder immortal in his chest with the tip of his sword.
On grandstand Duncan Macleod reached across his body with his right hand, gripping the handle of his sword just below the guard, drawing it out, snapped it forward so it's pointing at Karios who waited for the next attack from the Highlander, then placed his left hand on the grip just below the right. It came as Duncan charges at the smaller man in a rapid motion at the last moment, Macleod drew his sword up over his head and snaps it down toward Karios. The man responded by bringing his own sword up, rotating it around sideways so to provide a roof above his head. The Macleod's blow bounces off this roof like rain, and then Karios sidesteps to let him go by and snaps the sword down toward his unprotected shoulder. But Macleod is moving too fast, and Karios's timing is off. The blade cuts behind and to the side of the immortal. Both men wheel to face each other, back up, get back into the stance. Neither moved from there spot simply standing staring at each other swords ready. A silent battle of the minds was taking place.
Elsewhere Buffy opened the door and ran in as behind her the mayor barrelled down the door and some of the surrounding wall as he pursued her. Buffy kept running towards the library while the mayor teared through the school like a freight train. She ran faster through a winding, twisty path that had him completely caught in the school's infrastructure by the time she burst into the library. Still, she did not stop for a moment as she vaulted over a banister looking back to see the mayor crashing into the large space. Mayor looked around the library and saw the barrels of diesel fuel and bags of fertilizer stacked everywhere. Buffy just started running again before jumping out of a window with the mayor's growls coming from behind her. She also could make out his own voice stating, "well, gosh!" highlighting how shocked he was. She raced to where Giles was crouched his fingers tight around a plunger. He didn't say anything merely pressed down… but nothing happened. The pair exchanged fearful glances as they realised something was wrong.
At the same time Josiah was savouring the moment. "You are wrong Methos," Josiah spat at him with much hate and anger. "There is one thing I will look back on with much pride and that is killing you."
Methos didn't doubt the man as he stared at the man whose eyes were burning with fury. Fear coursed through Methos. He felt suddenly alone and very aware that he was beaten. So much of his life had involved with countless experiences that fed his endless thirst for knowledge, but this was the real-now. This was his death hanging by a thread… so time to act he merely nodded, and then pushed himself into Josiah's blade, piercing his own heart. Josiah's eyes widen in shock and Methos gasped with the feel of it, but he pulled himself forward anyway, the sword shoving between his ribs, past his heart, and out his back. He groaned and drove himself towards the other immortal, who stood aghast at the actions of Methos. He tried to wrench his sword free, but Methos held on with his left hand, yanking Josiah closer. Metho's right hand slid down, shakily picking up his sword that lay on the ground as he felt his life force slipping away and struggled to keep his eyes open. He grinned a little, and a hysterical bark of laughter escaped his lips as he stared into the eyes of his opponent Josiah Maskiroft. He surged forward again, plunging Josiah's sword down to the hilt. He shuddered in the absolute pain of it and grimaced as he looked up towards Josiah who was frozen in surprise at Metho's act and the intensity of his gaze. "Wha-what?" Josiah stuttered.
"Didn't Kronos ever tell you to watch where you point that thing," Methos gasped, twitching in pain. "You might hurt someone." He swung the sword at the other immortal's neck.
Josiah registered the swing only a moment before the blade sliced into his neck, severing his head from his shoulders. His face was frozen in an expression of horror and shock as his head bounced across the floor. He was Josiah Maskiroft, one of the most feared immortals to ever live. He had killed over a hundred immortals in single combat, followed his teacher's lessons and scarified much for his vision but yet it was not enough. Never enough.
It was his last thought.
Methos cried out in pain as he fell to his knees, dropping Josiah's sword as used both hands to try and pull free the sword from his chest. Mist came from Josiah's body, swirling with power that grew with every moment as it moved from Josiah's corpse and floated towards the body of Methos as he stared upwards, the last vestiges of life draining away from him. The lights in the hallway exploded with the first hit of lighting as more bolts stuck the walls and then Methos's body. His body arched with the blasts of power as he cried out. The cut fuse connecting the library to Giles's trigger flared and then ignites. The fuse lights up as a flame and high school blew up into flames with both the oldest immortal on record and the snake like mayor inside it.
At the explosion both Duncan and Karios heard the deafening sound and then felt the fireball as flames engulfed the building with bolts of lighting that suggested a quickening was taking place there was as well. Unable to help himself Karios's eyes flickered to the sight of the explosion which was all the advantage that Macleod needed. He launched himself again making another attack at Karios who distracted didn't have as much time to react but still raised his Duncan's swipe to this head. Instead at the last second Duncan swung at Karios side causing the man to collapse to the grounds crying out. He looked up to Duncan's sword coming straight for his head. It falls to the floor, does a half-roll, and comes to rest staring straight up at the stars in the sky.
Duncan closed his eyes preparing himself to receive Karios's quickening having avenged Pyotr's honour.
The battle was truly over.