The closer they got to the center of town the more Tor could feel the pull of the Thirdspace creatures. He forced himself to stay on task, no way was he going to be possessed a second time! The group paused near the mass of humans surrounding something, all of whom seemed very focused on it, to the exclusion of everything else.
"I can't see anything." Heidi said. "But I sure as Hell feel something."
"Same here." Tor said grimly. "Alright people, remember our orders, knock them out, do not kill if at all possible. These people aren't in control of themselves, but you've seen the movie, the creatures on the other side of that portal made them attack other people in an attempt to get and keep the gate open, they may do that here too. We preserve life where possible and sometimes that means our enemies lives. Right now, these people are an unwilling enemy that believes they're willing. Follow me in, let's get Jenny to where she can do the most good." He took his staff in hand and moved into the crowd, striking out with knockout blows.
"Thank all the gods out there that there appear to be no children caught up in this." Heidi said, as she struck out with her own weapon and knocked out a woman and moved on.
"Makes you wonder what they're experiencing right now." Cordelia murmured. "I hope none of them go wandering during this and where are the vampires? It's the middle of the night and there are no vampires taking advantage of this situation, at least none that we've seen."
"Giles says a vampire's mind can't be read by telepathy at a distance." Tor answered. "Xander can sense their minds from a distance, but needs contact to read one. These creatures telepathic abilities may work differently and affect vampires in a different way. Maybe enough to make the vampires want to avoid this area, instead of being drawn to it."
"Which is a good thing because we don't need anything else to deal with right now." Jenny said, reaching out with her magical senses and probing the Magic as the fighters neared the center of the mass of humans. By the time all the fighters had converged on the center of the mass a few hundred humans were unconscious.
"40,000 or so people in this town." Heidi commented as Jenny directed people to where they should stand. "Maybe 15,000 or so of them children, leaving 25,000 adults. There are maybe 10,000 here, not everyone has been effected, not yet."
"We saw that in the movie too." Tor reminded her. "Some people succumbed very quickly, others managed to keep them out entirely. But that was with limited exposure, who knows what might happen if this goes on much longer? I can feel them trying to get into my mind and I've got blocks and protections in place. I suspect Xander's right and they're delaying a take over of our minds, but only delaying it. We need to get this done now!"
"Stay calm." Jenny reminded him. "Focus and recite the protection spell, I'll do the rest. Cordelia, give me your hand." Cordelia reached out and grasped Jenny's hand tight.
"Enemies, fly and fall...Circling arms raise a wall!"
Tor nodded and concentrated. 'We are Anla'Shok, we choose to do that which frightens us.' He thought. 'I fear the take over of my mind as much as Heidi or Xander does. I am Anla'Shok, I choose to face what frightens me!' He recited the spell again and felt the Power rise and push against the Magic being aimed towards them. "We will hold the line!" He ordered, praying Xander got here soon.
Xander and Rory stopped outside Sunnydale, miles from the base and began putting together the parts of the bomb, arranging everything so it would cause the most damage, with the stolen bomb in the middle of the arrangement. Once they were done they climbed back into the cab of the truck and continued on toward the center of the town.
"Something's happening!" One the girls yelled. "Look, the air is rippling!"
"It's coming though!" Tor yelled. "But it's not open yet! Hold the line! We can't let them activate it! Xander's on the way, hold the line!"
"Enemies fly and fall...Circling arms raise a wall!'
The voices of nearly a hundred Anla'Shok warriors, none older than eighteen and one technopagan, rose up and combined to make a wall of power around them.
"We will hold the line!"
Xander could hear them in his mind as he and Rory approached.
"I need a clear path, Xander. I can't just drive over these people."
"I'll clear the way, you follow. Be careful, Rory, if those things figure out what we've got back there, they'll make these people attack us. They'll be trying to kill us."
"I understand, let's get this done. If you believe in any god, maybe you should start praying."
"I believe and I have been. Janus will be with us."
Xander began clearing a path, he'd knock out someone and move them to the side, out of the way. 'Damn, these people are really focused. Is it because of the Thirdspace creatures or because of the Magic they're working or some combination? It's like they don't even see us.' He pressed on as Rory drove slowly behind him. He could see his people and kept moving to get to them.
"It's Xander!" Cordelia exclaimed. "He made it!"
"I'll open a door." Jenny responded and Xander, with Rory driving the truck behind him, walked though it. Jenny quickly closed the door behind them.
"Now what?" Tor asked. "We're on the inside of a force field with a bomb."
"Now you lead them out and reverse the force field." Xander answered. "Take Rory with you. I'll set it and follow you out. Go!"
A/N Force field spell from Buffy wiki.