I do not own Buffy and Co.; she and everyone else from the show belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB Network. Gabriel Knight, Grace Nakamura, Shadow Hunter, etc. all belong to Serria Online. Some aspects of this story were taken from the Image-Wildstorm comic known as WetWorks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location: Los Angeles, California – LAX
28 year-old Shadow Hunter Gabriel Knight stepped out of the airline terminal and into the airport. He had dirty-blonde hair that hung down to his shoulders and was wearing a white T-shirt, dark blue jeans, black boots, and a black trench coat over it all. Knight came from a bloodline that for centuries had defended mortals from the forces of darkness. Male members in the Ritter family (later the name was changed to Knight when his family came to America) could become, through the proper training and ceremonies, a Shadow Hunter. A Shadow Hunter’s duty was to hunt, stop and kill any and all creatures of evil, regardless of where they were. Their duty was so strong that it to precedence over family and because of that, the Knights had very little emotional baggage to deal with during their long lifetimes. Shadow Hunters, besides having the knowledge needed to fight and skills, also gained a healing factor which could heal wounds, mend broken bones, and re-grow limbs and organs within mere minutes. This healing factor also recognized the pattern of aging as an attack against the body so the aging process in Shadow Hunters is slowed down dramatically. They could usually live up to two centuries or more that is if they didn’t somehow get killed in their line of work.
Knight grabbed his luggage and flipped open his cellular phone. “Grace—this is Gabriel, status report on the Hell-Mouth?”
Grace Nakamura, Knight’s long-time best friend and working partner knew all about his secret. Truth was she wanted to become more than friends but was deathly afraid to let Knight know about her true feelings for her. “According to status reports and, believe it or not, the Internet, it’s on the verge of opening real soon. We got here just in time Gabe.”
Knight whistled for a taxi and got in. “Why now? I thought that Slayer kid was handling the situation, so why am I here?”
“Because she can’t handle it all by herself, and because the vampire population in… in… “ Grace said as Knight could audibly hear her punching keys on her computer at their US home base in New Orleans, “… in Sunnydale. You need to help her because if those blood-suckers get their way, it’ll literally be Hell on Earth.”
“I hate it when you’re right Nakamura, you know that?” Knight chuckled.
Grace smiled. “Of course dear, oh and try not to cause too much property damage okay? We’re supposed to try and be stealthy.”
“Moi?” Knight said, feigning ignorance. “Since when have I ever been anything but subtle?”
“Right…” Grace laughed. “Look, I’ll page you later when I get more information okay? Bye Gabe and be careful.”
Knight flipped his phone closed and put it away and turned his attention to the driver. “Sunnydale—step on it.”
“Sir, that’s not close, it’ll cost a lot to get there, are you sure?” the cabbie asked.
“Yes I’m sure, and the faster you get the more I’ll add to your fee as a bonus,” Knight scowled. “Now go!”
“Yes sir!” the cabbie said enthusiastically and put the pedal to the metal.
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – High School
“No, you’re not a coward… you’re just, well, not a fighter,” Xander Harris said, trying to console his distraught girlfriend. “Look, everyone has a purpose.”
“Well what’s mine?” Cordelia Chase asked. “I mean, I never thought I’d be friends with you guys and stuff and especially not dating you—no offense—but ever since Angel turned bad I’ve felt kind of useless. I mean Buffy fights, Willow researches, Giles instructs, you assist Buffy in fighting, and what do I do?”
Xander tried to think for a moment. Unfortunately, she was right; she really didn’t do anything to add to the Slayerettes night job. “You helped us fight the Order of Teraca, remember?”
“Ewww… how could I forget a guy who could turn into gross worms,” Cordelia shuddered.
“Look, school will be over in about two hours… or so,” Xander said, shaking his watch. “Damn thing… battery’s dead. Figures.”
Cordelia chuckled. “Well… let’s make the best of this and we’ll talk about this later at the Bronze, deal?”
“Deal,” Xander nodded, getting up from his lunch table. “Hey Cordy—you seen any of the others around?”
“I think…” Cordelia said, looking around. “Oh, over there, see? I think, if I remember correctly—don’t say anything Harris if you know what’s good for you—Willow wanted to talk to Buffy alone. Female stuff.”
“All right, well, I’ll see you later Cordy,” Xander said, hugging her and giving her a kiss which she gladly returned. “Oh and let’s find a new closet ok? I think Snyder’s on to us.”
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – Warehouse
“Why warehouses?” Spike mused while rolling around in his wheel chair. “Why not condo’s or at least a nice little apartment—something with running water and maybe a television or a radio.”
“Spike… you talk to much you know that?” Angelus scolded. “We need to eliminate the Slayer and all you’re talking about is entertainment?”
“Well I don’t bloody well see you doing anything except annoying her,” Spike retorted. “Why don’t you just stop the idiotic theatrics and kill the bitch already? Save us all a world of trouble.”
“Spike… Angel…?” Dru called out to ‘her’ boys. Dru was a beautiful woman who was driven insane by Angelus over a century ago and had the uncanny knack to predict the future in certain circumstances. “I see a vision… trouble… someone in the shadows…”
“Probably a bloody raccoon…” Spike seethed. “Sweetheart, tell daddy what you see okay? Tell me in detail.”
“A man… with a long family history of killing people like us is coming here…” Dru spoke softly. “He wants… to kill us and he’s much more vicious than the Slayer.”
“Well why not?” Spike sighed. “Maybe we should hang a sigh out saying ‘Come one come all and try to screw with the vampire population!’”
Angelus stepped forward and ignored Spike’s rants. “Can you find out his name? And what did you mean by ‘more vicious?’ Is he just that or really much more of a threat?”
Dru would’ve answered but her visions had become so strong she almost passed out as Angelus caught her. “Here you go honey… lie down for a while…”
“Well this was informative,” Spike snapped. “We got a God damned male-version of a Slayer coming here, not to mention having to deal with the Slayer and her little team of pricks.”
“Don’t worry so much,” Angelus smiled. “There’s only one way into Sunnydale and that’s by car so if he arrives at night, we’ll have a little welcoming party for him.”
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – The Bronze
Buffy Summers, this generation’s Slayer, sat at her booth in the only club in Sunnydale. One of her best friends, Willow Rosenberg, would’ve normally been someone pleasant to talk to but at the moment she was totally mesmerized by her boyfriend, Oz, who was the lead guitarist on stage. Xander was busy dancing with Cordelia and since Giles, her Watcher, was anything but a party kind of a guy, she was basically left all alone.
“Willow,” Buffy said, trying to get her friend’s attention. “Willow!”
“What? Oh sorry Buffy, I didn’t hear you,” Willow apologized.
“So I noticed,” Buffy said. “Look, I’m going patrolling—you and the rest of the Scooby Gang hang tight here and if I’m not back in three to four hours, come looking for me, got it?”
Willow nodded. “I know the drill Buffy, don’t worry. Just be careful.”
“Aren’t I always?” Buffy joked and walked out of the club.
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – Edge of Town
The cabbie had refused to go any further into the town of Sunnydale due to the paranormal stories he’d heard about the place. Because of this, Shadow Hunter Gabriel Knight was dropped off at the border of the city and was forced to walk his way in. Not a good way to come into a vampire-infested city, especially at night, he thought.
“Hey, buddy,” a voice called out from behind the shadows. “Got any spare food?”
“Oh wait, I think he is the spare food,” another voice chimed in.
Two figures walked into view, both with their ‘game faces’ on and vampiric snarling. “Cute,” Knight commented, “ever think of trying a moisturizer? They can do wonders these days.”
The two vampires charged Knight as he steadied himself into a battle stance. This is going to be a long night, he thought, a very long night.
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – Graveyard
“Yuck…” Buffy said quietly as she wiped some gunk off the bottom of her boots. “Figures, I buy a new pair of shoes and I step in gum; it never fails.”
“How about something that comes out a bit easier?” Angelus said, jumping down from a tree near Buffy. “Blood for instance; oh sure it stains a little bit but use some Clorox and it’ll be as good as new.”
“Are you here to fight or to annoy me?” Buffy snapped. “If it’s to fight, I’m ready.”
“Buffy Buffy Buffy…” Angelus started, “why is it always about violence? I don’t want to fight you.”
Buffy raised an eyebrow and then noticed she was slowly being surrounded by a small contingent of vampires in a circular formation. “Now they on the other hand,” Angelus said, gesturing to his comrades, “they want to rip your heart out and punt kick you head. What can I say, they’re a violent bunch. Get her.”
The vampires attacked and Buffy performed flips, punches, and kicks to the best of her ability. She even succeeded in taking down a fair number of the more inept vampires, however she eventually began to tire and due to the sheer numbers of her opposition, started getting herself beaten to a pulp. Buffy felt blood pour from her nose—broken she thought—and felt like her mid-section had gotten pulverized. She fell to the ground and tried her best not to show her pain, however she soon started to choke on her own tears and blood. “I’m really sorry Buffy, but well, we’re enemies and you’re been killing an awful lot of us lately, so…” Angelus said, “I need to kill you. Business you understand, nothing personal.”
“Is this a private party or can anyone join?” a stern voice called out. The vampires, including Angelus, turned to see how had said that. Buffy also tried to look but her vision was too cloudy from her beating and she found it took all her strength to remain conscious.
“Who are you and do you realize that you’ve just shortened your life-span considerably?” Angelus seethed.
Gabriel Knight crossed his arms and merely smiled at the pompous vampire. “No, not really, and to you? To you I’m the boogey man.”
“Get him!” Angelus ordered and quickly turned back to Buffy. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you… you’re dying right after ‘John Wayne’ here buys the farm.”
The first vampire threw a punch aimed right at Knight’s face, which he caught with little effort. Knight squeezed the vampire’s hand until the bone and tissue popped and snapped apart like peanut brittle. The vampire screamed, holding his bloodied appendage in his other hand. “Next time don’t try and hit me—moron.”
As other vampires attacked, Knight expertly sidestepped, dodged, punched, kicked, and staked the vampires. He was beginning to get bored when one vampire pulled out a switchblade and snapped the blade up. “All right… I don’t know who or what you are human but you’re mine!”
Knight smiled and unsheathed his katana, and held it in a battle stance. “Nice knife—mind if I use one as well?” In one clean swipe, the vampire’s head of cleaved off his body and it turned to ashes, joining his friends.
Angelus looked down at Buffy and then back at Knight and frowned. “This isn’t going as planned… next time you’re dead Slayer.” He kicked Buffy hard in the stomach and them ran off at top speed.
Knight sheathed his katana and watched as the last vampire, probably the leader he thought, ran away. He knew he could’ve followed him but the girl was hurt and needed medical attention. “Can you walk?” he asked.
Buffy, still groggy in her state of confusion and pain, didn’t respond right away. “Y-yes I can…”
“Okay good, we need to get you to a hospital.”
“No, no hospital—help me to the school library.”
Knight was about to argue and then decided he’d better not. This girl was the Slayer and maybe the library was her base of operation. A strange location for a headquarters but then again, not an entirely obvious one. “Okay… lead the way.”
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – High School Library
“Well Mr. Knight we are very grateful for your assistance,” Giles said. “If not for your timely intervention Buffy might have died.”
“Her name is Buffy?” Knight asked. “The Slayer’s name is Buffy? Now I know we’re atop the Hell-Mouth.”
Buffy didn’t hear the conversation herself because she was inside Giles’ office resting with an icepack and a few compresses. Xander, Willow, and Cordelia had been called by Giles when Knight brought Buffy so they wanted to help her but knew she needed to be left alone. “So who are you?” Willow asked.
“Me?”
“No Giles,” Xander snapped sarcastically. “We’ve suspected he might have an alternate personality; personally I’m banking on Gene Simmons.”
Knight rolled his eyes. “If you must know I am part of a tradition in the males of my family since almost the beginning of time. We are known as Shadow Hunters. Think of us as a Slayer, only more powerful, male and goes through one lineage.”
“So why are you here now?” Cordelia asked. “Why not when Buffy was fighting the Master or during that horrible Order of Teraca ordeal?”
“I was busy,” Knight answered. “Werewolves were tearing up the countryside in Germany last year so I was needed there. Besides that fact my family’s castle needed some repair.”
“What makes you more powerful than Buffy?” Giles asked. “I mean I’ve heard of the Shadow Hunters before in some writings but they were much more secretive about themselves and their abilities than the Slayers were.”
“Besides having all senses, strength, and agility increased,” Knight said, “we’re imbued with a healing factor. Basically we can heal anything except a severed head.”
“Sounds very Highlander-ish,” Xander smirked. “There aren’t really immortals like them… right?”
“Of course not, although the healing factor does dramatically slow down the aging process” Knight said. “And the Highlander series was probably thought up by someone who knew a member of my family.”
Buffy got up from couch and took a long hard look at Knight. “Thanks for your help, but I didn’t need it.”
“Right… next time you check your pulse just remember, without me you’d have been dead,” Knight said calmly.
“Buffy perhaps we should calm down a bit…?” Giles suggested.
“How do we know this guy isn’t a vampire?” Buffy shouted. “Just because he helped me? Angel helped me at one time too and some of those vamps are damn good actors!”
Before anyone could say anything, Buffy flung a punch at Knight. The hit caught him off guard and sent him reeling into a bookcase. “Okay that’s it… I save your life and you act like a bitch,” Knight snapped angrily. “Maybe your friends will put up with bullshit like that but I won’t.”
Buffy pulled out a stake. “Looks like you’re ready to fight—good.”
In response to Buffy’s action, Knight withdrew a katana. Willow gasped when she saw the razor-sharp blade. “Ready when you are Slayer.”
“Is it just me or did everyone turn freaking nuts tonight!?” Cordelia yelled. “Buffy, he saved your life and Mr. Knight… she’s a bit agitated and doesn’t really trust you yet, I mean… we don’t know you.”
“Now I have seen everything,” Giles commented on Cordelia’s speech. “When she begins speaking logically it’s a sure sign of the apocalypse.”
“Come on Buff,” Xander protested, “it’s Xand—remember your friend? We’re all friends here so stop this.”
“Why are you here?” Buffy asked.
Knight nearly chuckled thinking of the ‘what is your quest’ line from a Monty Python movie but kept a straight face. “I’m here because Grace—my assistant—came across some information that the Werewolf Nation and the Vampire Consortium are about to have an all-out-last-one-standing-wins war between each other. And guess where the battlefield is? That’s right boys and girls—the Hell-Mouth.”
Giles’ eyes widened at the news. “They’re early… this wasn’t prophesied to happen for another twenty years. Are you sure both factions are gearing up for war?”
“Plans change,” Knight said matter-of-factly, “and yes, they’re preparing for war which means we had better do the same or this whole city is toast.”
“I guess this means I shouldn’t try to stake you huh?” Buffy said sheepishly. “Look… I’m sorry I accused you of being a vampire it’s just a lot of shit has happened to me in the last few months and I’ve been on edge ever since.”
“I know how it is Buffy, don’t worry, no harm done,” Knight said and then smiled. “You’re stake wouldn’t have killed me anyway; healing factor remember?”
“Okay, research party guys!” Willow chimed in. “I’ll look up stuff on the Internet; Giles could you, Xander and Cordy look up info in your books?”
“Will, you really need to see Oz more…” Xander sighed. “Research party… yay!”
Giles smiled. “Sure Willow, although I must say I never thought I’d see the day when I was taking orders from you.”
“Is that good or bad?” Willow asked.
“I’m not quite sure to tell you the truth,” Giles answered, “but you’d make a damn fine Watcher.”
“Okay people, let’s get started,” Buffy said. “We have a lot of work to do and if Mr. Knight—“
“Gabriel or Gabe will do.”
Buffy nodded and continued. “And if Gabriel is right then we’d better be ready or we’re causalities of war.”
* * *
Location: San Diego, California – Secret HQ of the Werewolf Nation
Armand Waering, the werewolf king and lord of the Werewolf Nation sat atop his throne. “Tonight my subjects… we will take the Hell-Mouth for ourselves and cleanse the world of those vicious beasts known as vampires. The Vampire Consortium will fall; we will become the rulers of this planet and we do this tonight!”
His loyal followers, hundreds of werewolves, cheered and howled at their master’s speech. One werewolf stepped though. “My Lord, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course,” Waering said. “Now tell me, what is your question?”
“My liege, I want to know what do we do with the Slayer?” the werewolf asked. “She resides in Sunnydale, our battlefield and she will try and stop us.”
“Let her,” Waering said passively. “She’ll be more concerned with the local vampires the Vampire Consortium. She might even welcome our help in exterminating them… that is until we rip her delicate little fleshy throat out.”
More cheers were heard at the thought of killing a Slayer. Waering then stood and gestured to them to be silent. “We do have one problem however, aside from the vampires… and this is the Shadow Hunter. He decimated our European faction in Germany last year. He is to be dealt with using extreme caution.”
“My Lord?” the same young werewolf called out. “I know of a werewolf with little control over his power and who is friends with the Slayer.”
“Really?” Waering mused. Because of the good news he didn’t bother to scold the werewolf for speaking out of turn. “Tell me more… can we use him? Can we control him and make him do our bidding?”
“I believe so master,” the werewolf said. “We all know you can exude some kind of mind control over some werewolves and him being as mentally unstable as he is, it should be a piece of cake.”
“Excellent…” Waering said rubbing his hands together. “When we get to Sunnydale you make sure this happens my young friend and you’ve got yourself a promotion.”
“Yes sir!” the werewolf said, saluting. “As Darth Vader said… he will join us or die.”
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – Vampire Consortium
Maxwell Krieger was a very old vampire. He was transformed in the year 978 AD and had been many things to many people. He was a cruel man who delighted in the torment of others, he had been after all an influence in the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition and the rise of Nazi Germany. Being over a millennium old, Krieger realized that it was high time he grabbed power for himself and stopped screwing around. For twenty years he had been lord and master of the Vampire Consortium and for twenty year he bided his time and waited for the right opportunity to strike at their enemies, the Werewolf Nation. Soon… later tonight, it would be time. “My fellow vampires… lend me your fangs.”
The crowed chuckled lightly as Krieger continued. “It’s unfortunate my friends but the time for levity has passed. The Werewolf Nation, led by that abomination, Waering, is suiting up for war. They want the Hell-Mouth!”
The crowed booed and hiss and shouted obscene comments about werewolves and their mothers. Krieger smiled at their reaction to the news and continued his speech. “We must not allow this and since the vampires currently residing in Sunnydale—the place of the Hell-Mouth and our glorious battlefield—have done nothing to stop their nemesis the Slayer we have her to worry about as well. Due to this we will kill the Slayer, kill those worthless beings who dare to call themselves vampires and destroy the Werewolf Nation!”
The cries and cheers were louder than any Krieger could remember. Even Hitler’s speeches to the Third Reich, he recalled, didn’t get this reaction. “Soon my friends… soon… we will conquer this miserable mud ball of a planet and return it to it’s rightful rulers!”
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – High School Library
“Oh my God!” Willow shouted, nearly knocking over her chair as she shot up.
“What?” Buffy asked. “Will—what’s wrong?”
“Oz, he’s a werewolf!” Willow exclaimed. “Won’t he get in the middle of this war?”
“Yeah right, like the rest of us aren’t already?” Cordelia said quietly to Xander. “I don’t think it’s a formal party; flea powder and collar optional.”
“He might and if he does it will be unfortunate,” Knight said as he polished the blade of his katana. “I want you all to know that when this war goes down tonight I will kill every vampire and werewolf I can. That includes your boyfriend as well Miss Rosenberg.”
“Look mach-man,” Buffy snapped, “Oz happens to be our friend and he’d never hurt us.”
“Werewolves much like vampires lose control of their sense of right or wrong when they change,” Knight stated. “Furthermore… since the Werewolf Nation is involved, their leader will have a way to control the werewolves. It’ll be either by a speech or mind control; both very powerful and influential. So we wouldn’t be fighting Oz, your boyfriend, we’d be fighting just another vicious monster.”
“Yes, well… let’s try and keep an open mind shall we?” Giles suggested. “Perhaps if we could capture Oz and not kill him?”
“Fine by me, but you guys will have to deal with, I won’t,” Knight said. “Just one thing—when he turns, how are you going to be able to tell him apart from one of the other werewolves?”
Buffy and Willow stared at each other for a moment and then realized the Shadow Hunter was right. “Okay, I’ll go get him now then,” Buffy said. “We’ll bring him here, and we can lock him up in that cage over then and shackle his arms and legs together. Not very nice Willow, I know but it’s better than killing him.”
“No kidding,” Willow said. “Go get him Buffy okay? We’ll continue the research you need.”
“Roger that,” Buffy said and walked out of the library.
“You people aren’t ready for a war,” Knight said. “You have to be prepared to kill without remorse, without regret and most of all, without hesitation.”
“While that’s all very true Mr. Knight we would prefer to prevent a war before having to resort to fisticuffs,” Giles stated.
“Did he just say ‘fisticuffs?’” Knight questioned. “Why do I get all the weird cases?”
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – Oz’s House
Buffy pressed the doorbell button and waited. No answer, so she tried again and wait a few more minutes. “Okay, that’s it,” Buffy said, narrowing her eyes. She broke the lock and pushed the door open, making a mental note to pay for the lock later. “Oz…? Hello…?” Buffy recalled Willow telling her that Oz’s parents were gone on business so he had the house to himself. This was good and all however since Oz was not with his band at the moment and should be home, at least according to Willow. Buffy stopped short when she heard what sounded like a guttural growl from around the corner. “Oz?”
A werewolf sprang forward and forced Buffy to the floor. She delivered a hard kick to the beast’s snout and flipped herself upright. “Okay shaggy, werewolves may not be my specialty but I hope you enjoyed that free hit because you won’t get another one!”
Buffy dodged another blow and slammed a spin-kick into the werewolf’s back, and then grabbed it’s arm and flung it head-first into the wall. The werewolf shook its head and for a moment examined the indenture it made in the wall. It turned around and snarled with anger at Buffy. Before Buffy could strike another werewolf jumped into the battle but something was different—this werewolf viciously attacked the one that was engaging Buffy. Buffy figured that the werewolf that came to her aid must be Oz; only problem was she didn’t know how experienced a fighter the first werewolf was and she was afraid that Oz would get seriously injured.
“Die beasts!” Shadow Hunter Gabriel Knight yelled as he jumped into the middle of the room through the skylight. Buffy frowned. “Don’t you ever use a door?”
“Well… yeah but it’s so much more dramatic this way, don’t you think?” Knight said jokingly.
“We need to get rid of this werewolf!” Buffy said, getting back to the task at hand.
“No problem Buffy,” Knight smiled. He unsheathed his katana and got into a battle stance. “Werewolf flambé coming up!”
“No!” Buffy screamed, “one of them is Oz—don’t hurt him!”
Buffy’s cry broke Knights concentration and that gave the first werewolf ample time to attack Knight. The werewolf sunk his razor-sharp pencil-long fangs into Knight’s arm. Knight screamed in pain and yelled to Buffy, “get this asshole off me!”
Buffy grabbed the werewolf and threw him off Knight as he swung his katana and actually split the werewolf in half with one slice. “Die you son of a bitch…”
Buffy ran up to Knight and looked at his arm. “Oh my God… you need to get to a hospital; this is going to need stitches… jeeeezzz…”
“No, no hospital Buffy,” Knight refused. “Watch and learn.”
Buffy did as told and watched as Knight’s arm re-stitched itself together and mended it’s flesh back together as if it had never been injured within a minute. Buffy was in total awe. “Wow… now that is amazing, not even I heal that fast! Not even vampires heal that fast!”
“It’s a nice fringe benefit; because of it the werewolf’s venom won’t even effect me” Knight said as his katana began to glow brightly. Suddenly streaks of lightning shot out from the dead werewolf’s body and into the sword. “And as Queen would say… ‘Another one bites the dust’”
“What was that?” Buffy asked, her eyes still fixed upon the sword.
“My sword was made centuries ago by a samurai and given to a Shogun in ancient Japan,” Knight explained. “One of my ancestors received it as a gift for saving the Shogun’s empire and its special power, believe it or not, is to collect the souls of whoever it kills. The more souls it has stored up the more powerful it becomes.”
“That’s kind of… well… messed up in a way you know?” Buffy said. She turned to Oz, still in his werewolf form, and smiled lightly. “Thanks for the assist Oz but, I have to ask, can you control yourself in wolf-mode?”
“Yes Buffy, I think I can but the longer I stay like this the more difficult it gets to remain in control,” Oz said, his voice a series of deep growls and guttural sounds. “I think… maybe you should lock me up in my basement to be on the safe side.”
Buffy nodded and led Oz downstairs to the basement and chained him up. “Now be a good boy ok?”
“Yes mom,” Oz teased.
Buffy laughed and went back up to talk with Knight. “So anything else you want to tell me?”
“No, nothing you need to know anyway,” Knight replied. He kept people on a need-to-know basis and as far as he was concerned, Buffy didn’t need to know.
“Let’s jet, we need to get back to the library,” Buffy said.
Knight agreed and followed the Slayer to her home base of operations.
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – Warehouse
“Just who the hell do you think you are you stupid wanker?” Spike shouted in anger. “I’ve never heard of a Maxwell Krieger or a Vampire Consortium, not that I’d care either way.”
“You must care young one,” Krieger said, not allowing Spike’s temper tantrum to annoy him. “The Slayer, the Shadow Hunter and the Werewolf Nation is about to come down on us with their full might and to defeat our enemies we must be at full strength.”
“I agree,” Angelus said, stepping out of the shadows. “The enemy of our enemy is our friend, Spike… remember that.”
“His power resonates… so deeply…,” Dru said in her dream-like state. “I think we should help them Spike, after all, we any help is better than no help against that pitiful teenage girl.”
“I’m sorry Dru but I call the shots here,” Spike said, wheeling closer to Krieger. “You my egotistical vampire—you are in my playground now I say it’s time for you to go.”
No, if you will not join us then you will die,” Krieger said, as if his word was law. He grabbed Spike by the neck and lifted him out of his wheelchair and crushed his larynx, and then proceeded to withdraw his rapier. With the extremely sharp dueling sword, he cut off Spike’s head in once swift movement. As he sheathed the blade he looked around the warehouse at the rest of the vampires. “Anyone else with to fill his shoes?”
“What did he say his name was again?” a vampire asked.
“Krieger,” the vampire lord answered.
“All hail Lord Krieger!” the vampires chanted in unison, even Angelus and Dru. Krieger smiled—all was going according to his plan and soon, very soon, he would rule this world with an iron fist and a goblet full of fresh blood.
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – Outside the High School
The streets of Sunnydale shook as the Werewolf Nation’s army stormed into the city limits. They used archaic equipment: Chariots, horses, armor, bladed weapons, crossbows, and carriages. The equipment although old could still kill a human or a vampire and with it being controlled by a group of bloodthirsty war-crazy werewolves, it could only get worse. Their Warlord, Armand Wearing, raised his sword high into the air, preparing to order a charge. “Where are you Krieger!? We have a war tonight; our apocalypse, our ragnorok, our judgement day!”
An army equaling that of the Werewolf Nation’s rode up and lined in an old-fashioned German battle formation. “We are ready when you cowards are,” Krieger spoke.
“Then let the battle begin—charge!”
“Rip those furry mongrels apart—kill them all!”
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – High School Library
“Oh my God…” Giles muttered. He watched through a window as the titanic forces clashed in the middle of Sunnydale as if it were still the Middle Ages. “They’re going to destroy each other, and all of Sunnydale to do it too.”
“Well then it’s action-time folks,” Buffy said. “I guess it’s up to the Slayer again to save the world for total destruction.”
“Buffy, you can’t go out there,” Willow warned. “Those two armies are… well… more than what we’ve ever dealt with and I’m sure both of them would absolutely love to kill you. Last thing we need is for them to join forces and kill you and us.”
“Quite right Willow, quite right,” Giles commented approvingly. “No what we need is a plan.”
“Well… I could go down to the army base again and steal some rockets and bombs like I did with that Judge ordeal,” Xander said, throwing his hat into the ring.
“No, you are not going out there,” Cordelia ordered.
“Cordy but—“
“No buts Xander,” Cordelia said. “I won’t let you go out there and get yourself hurt, I know you and you’re way too heroic for your own good. If I have to tie you up to keep you safe then I will.”
“You know… under normal circumstances,” Xander smiled, “you tying me up would sound really good.”
Cordelia wanted to laugh at his joke and smack him at the same time. “I just don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Of all the times for Cordy to become protective…” Buffy muttered to herself. “Okay people—plan time, we need a plan, need something or we’re either blood-snacks or kibbles’n’ bits.”
“I say we go out there and assassinate their leaders,” Knight said calmly, as if wars like this were an everyday occurrence to him. “While you were chaining up Oz I got a page from Grace and she told me who’s in charge of both factions. I figure we kill the head honchos and their armies fall apart, at least for a little while so we can regroup.”
“Who is in charge?” Giles asked.
“According to Grace…” Knight said, thumbing through his atrociously written notes, “the Vampire Lord is Maxwell Krieger, a vampire over a thousand years old. The Werewolf King is some virtual unknown, at least to us anyway, named Armand Wearing.”
“Well… kill the leader, steal the flag, kill the fool with the ysalamiri, it all sounds good to me,” Xander joked. Cordelia in response gave him a light punch in his arm.
“Even though that was, well something other than English what Mr. Harris just said,” Giles began, “he is on the right track as is Mr. Knight.”
Willow was about to add something to the conversation when a severed werewolf’s arm flew through the window and smacking down on the floor, staining it with bright red arterial blood. “Okay that’s it, I’m out of here, good night folks, the Xand-man has left the building.”
“Xander…” Willow scolded.
“Look, I’m with Xander,” Cordelia said. “Fighting vampires is one thing; having body parts do aerial stunts is another."”
Buffy let out a snicker. “Well… they’re right. I think it’s time to just head out there and fight and well, if we die we die but it’s better to go out fighting than sitting here.”
“Do you really believe that?” Willow asked, turning off her computer after it locked up for no good reason.
“No… but it sounds good didn’t it?” Buffy said in a hushed tone. Willow nodded in response but remained quiet mentally cursing out the computer.
“Let’s go Buffy,” Knight said and then turned around to face the Slayerettes. “Listen, if we don’t come back then I want all of you to grab whatever items you need to survive, your family and get out of here. Go to another city, another state or another country; it doesn’t matter as long as you are far away from Sunnydale if we fail. Got it?”
They all nodded their silent agreement with solemn faces. “Good luck Buffy—you too Mr. Knight,” Giles said nervously.
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – Outside the High School
The war between the two factions looked like something right out of “Saving Private Ryan” and “Full Metal Jacket” combined, except instead of human soldiers there were werewolves and vampires fighting it out. Bloodshed and carnage reigned supreme as warriors from both sides attacked with ferocity unknown to the modern world for centuries. Buffy was so mesmerized by the scene that she forgot to duck an incoming arrow bolt. Fortunately Knight knocked her to the ground just as the deadly shaft passed where her head would have been and slammed harmlessly into the pavement. “Thanks Gabriel…”
“No problem,” Knight said. “Listen, here’s the plan—you go after Waering and I’ll take Krieger.”
Buffy dodged a punch from a vampire and slammed him down, twisted and staked him. “Wait… wouldn’t it make more sense for me to take the vampires? I am the Slayer after all.”
“That’s exactly why—excuse me,” Knight said and decapitated a werewolf. “Okay… if you take on the werewolves it’ll catch them by surprise; I’m almost positive the vampires have made arrangements to deal with you already.”
Buffy nodded her agreement. “Okay, sounds good Gabriel—just be careful ok?”
“Sure, you too Buffy,” Knight smirked. He gripped his katana’s handle and ran off to the vampire’s side of the battle. He knew he probably wouldn’t come out of this battle alive, or at least in any condition to work as a Shadow Hunter for weeks, even with his miraculous healing factor.
Up on top of his chariot, the Vampire Lord Maxwell Krieger smiled and bore his fangs. He saw the Shadow Hunter advancing through his troops, chopping them down as his magical sword absorbed their twisted souls. No matter; his soldiers were expendable. He wanted the Hell-Mouth and to do this he needed both the Shadow Hunter and the Slayer dead, and if the former hero wanted to commit suicide by charging after him then all the better for him. “My legions, let the Shadow Hunter pass, I wish to do battle with him!”
Krieger’s troops parted like the Red Sea and allowed Knight to go through unharmed. He saw Krieger and measured the man up. He was taller by at least half a foot and looked to be more muscular, as if that mattered since a vampire’s strength is greatly enhanced. “Hello mortal, I want you to know that I have a profound amount of respect for you and the Slayer, however you stand in the way of my goals and you kill my people. For those crimes you shall be exterminated. Prepare for your last few minutes on Earth mortal.”
Knight didn’t bother responding and blocked Krieger’s rapier thrust perfectly. The slashed and hacked and parried with each other for what seemed like forever. Their swordsman-ship skills were nearly even. Krieger ducked a slash and stabbed the point of his sword into Knight’s thigh. Knight gritted his teeth in pain and fought to keep his leg from buckling. Krieger pushed his advantage and whipped the blade across Knight’s chest. The result was a semi-deep gash, which emptied blood down his shirt—Knight winced at the pain but did his best to ignore it. “You were a fool to come here Shadow Hunter,” Krieger stated. “I originally wanted the Slayer but you’ll do for now… I’ll kill her later.”
Krieger bashed the hilt of his sword against Knight’s head knocking him to the ground. When he fell, Knight lost his grip on his katana and it clanged down to the pavement next to him. Knight reached for but before he could grab it, Krieger crushed his hand with his boot. Knight gritted his teeth as he felt bone and muscle tissue break. “You won’t be needing this anymore,” Krieger said, as he stooped down to pick up Knight’s katana. He examined the blade for a moment and then threw it away. Krieger looked down at Knight and noticed that his previous wounds had already healed, with the exception of his broken hand, which was well on its way. “No, this will not do…” Krieger head-butted Knight causing him to stagger backwards and then slammed his knee as hard as he could into the base of Knight’s spinal column. The result was a sound that was akin to a piece of wet celery snapping. Knight collapsed to the ground as his legs gave out. He didn’t have time to scream as the pain caused him to black out and fall unconscious.
“Get this worthless piece of gutter trash up and bring him back to our base,” Krieger instructed his soldiers. “Go—return here when you have finished and make sure to chain him up well, we don’t want him escaping.”
Buffy meanwhile, using silver daggers given to her by Giles when they first found out Oz was a werewolf, was having better luck. The werewolves never encountered a Slayer before so they didn’t know how to respond and because of this, Buffy was pressing her advantage. She slashed, gashed, stabbed and sliced her opponent’s furry hides. She looked over her shoulder and saw the crumpled figure of Gabriel Knight getting dragged into a armored carriage by vampires. “Gabe!”
One of the werewolves took this distraction and used it to claw her back. Buffy fell and tightly shut her eyes to block out the pain. She looked up and saw the werewolf launch himself at her when another werewolf viciously attacked it. The two beasts claw and bit each other, until finally, one of them due to extensive wounds and profuse bleeding, collapsed and died. Buffy looked over at the werewolf and asked meekly, “Oz? Please tell me that’s you.”
“Don’t worry Buff, it’s me,” Oz growled. “We can’t fend off both sides with Gabriel down, we need to retreat.”
“If we retreat we’ll all die, it doesn’t matter which side wins because either we’re screwed!” Buffy countered.
“Better off fighting one army instead of two,” Oz said. “Come on—follow me.”
Buffy sighed, sheathed her daggers and ran after her hairy friend. “Wait a second, how did you get out of your basement?”
Oz smiled the best he could. “You might be good at killing vampires, but locking shackles is not your specialty; I got out and felt you could use some help from the sounds outside.”
“Well thanks,” Buffy said, “okay Oz, lead on.”
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – High School Parking Lot
Willow, Xander and Cordelia were all watching the battle from their so-called safe spot behind Cordelia’s car. They just wished they could have been closer to the battle or actually been able to help.
“Can’t we do anything?” Cordelia complained. “I feel so helpless.”
“We all do Cordy,” Xander sighed, wrapping his arm around her waist.
Just then a loud clanging sound resonated from her car and they all ducked. When they looked up they saw a sight they recognized immediately: Gabriel’s katana. “Hey isn’t that the sword that guy used?” Cordelia asked.
“Looks like it anyway,” Willow said, grabbing the weapon. “Heavier than I thought it’d be. This isn’t good.”
“Why?”
“Because if Knight lost his sword he probably got killed and that means Buffy and Oz are out there alone,” Willow told them. “Maybe they’re already dead as well.”
“Here give it to me,” Xander said. Willow handed him the sword and he swung it around a bit to get a feel for it.
“Do you know how to use that thing?” Cordelia asked, looking worriedly at her boyfriend.
“Well, not entirely, but I did receive some training in weapons and martial arts from Buffy and Giles,” Xander said. “Should be enough, right?”
“Well… I hope so,” Willow said, “I just wish I knew how Buffy and Oz were doing.”
“We’re doing okay,” Buffy said, running up to her friends. “Physically anyway.”
“Taking on both armies was too much for us,” Oz said.
“The best thing to do I guess is to let them kill each other, right?” Cordelia said.
“That’d be great,” Willow started, “if they wouldn’t tear apart Sunnydale in the process.”
“Wars always have a winner and a loser,” Xander said. “Either way we’re up shit’s creek, but at least we’ll only have to face one enemy.”
“Yeah, I guess… where did you get that?” Buffy asked, recognizing the sword Xander was carrying.
“This?” Xander replied. “It just flew over here and landed on Cordy’s car so we picked it up. Yeah we know, it’s Knight’s katana.”
“Okay, here’re the facts,” Buffy said, “we got two psychotic armies facing each other, Knight’s been captured and is possibly dead and on top of all of this, the whole town’s going to be destroyed and possibly get everyone killed in the process. Peachy.”
Police cars pulled up by the dozens and even several SWAT teams from LA appeared on the scene. “Took them long enough,” Oz growled.
“Okay, the cops got this area covered, I think we need to head home,” Willow said. Before anyone could voice his or her protest, she continued. “Our parents already must know about this, no matter ‘secretive’ the cops are trying to keep it. They’re bound to be worried and if we don’t show up tonight they’re going to go ballistic.”
“She’s right,” Buffy agreed. “Xander, you give the sword to Giles and then head home; everyone else, let’s get out of here.”
Xander nodded and did as told. The rest ran off, wanting to get away before being stopped by the police.
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – The High School (the next day)
“Everyone here?” Buffy asked, sitting down with her lunch. “Good. We have a lot to do.”
“I am in a state of shock,” Giles said. “Not that you or Oz or any of you are okay, I had assumed as much when Xander delivered that katana to me last night, but that this school and the majority of the town is still intact.”
“Actually… I was wondering the same thing,” Willow said. “And how do we know which side won? What if neither side won or there was a treaty?”
“Get real Will,” Buffy sighed. “Those two factions hate each other; the day they work together will be the same day Spike and I go out on a date.”
“Now there’s an interesting picture,” Xander commented. “Okay so let’s assume that either the Vampire Consortium or the Werewolf Nation has bitten the big one, and that Gabriel’s captured—where does this put us?”
“How do we know he isn’t dead?” Cordelia asked. “I mean, Buffy said she saw vampires dragging his body away but since when has that meant anything in this town? He could have been turned into a vampire himself and was just weak or perhaps he is dead.”
“She’s got a point,” Willow said reluctantly. “Even if the vampires did capture him, what if they lost the battle? I have a hard time understanding why the vampires would Gabriel alive let alone the werewolves.”
“All this speculation is getting us nowhere,” Giles said. “Since today is Friday I suggest that one of you, preferably Willow or Xander, hold a mock party of some kind so that we may all go and find out what happened to both armies and Mr. Knight.”
“I’ll do it,” Xander said, “my mom’s never home anyway.”
“Okay, then it’s a plan,” Buffy said. “Tonight we make our move.”
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – Vampire Consortium
Gabriel Knight was not having a pleasant day. He re-awoke sometime during the night with all of his injures healed and his spinal cord in the process of repairing itself. Unfortunately, he had no idea how the battle went, lost his weapon, and he was chained up against a brick wall inside a steel prison cell. He wondered why he was still alive, after all, in his mind his captors should have killed him; they had more than ample time to do it. “Well… how’s my favorite little prisoner doing?” a voice said.
“Krieger, I know that’s you,” Knight snapped. “Oh and by the way, I’m your only prisoner.”
“Yes, well that is a mere technicality,” Krieger said. “You know… it’s been years since I’ve fought a Shadow Hunter; I’d have to say at least two centuries, give or take a decade.”
“Oh, good, I’m glad one of us is happy,” Knight said sarcastically.
Knight saw another vampire step up beside Krieger and smile. “Hey Max, can I torture him? Been a long time since I tortured someone.”
“No, not yet,” Krieger said, “and don’t call me ‘Max,’ Angelus, is that clear?”
“As crystal sir,” Angelus said, still smiling. He turned his attention towards Knight and sized him up. “I want you to know that, thanks to you we get a double-victory.”
“What do you mean?” Knight asked, dreading the answer.
“What my young friend here is getting at, is that aside from defeating the Werewolf Nation,” Krieger boasted, “your capture will undoubtedly bring the Slayer here, and if she’s dead, and you soon after, the Hell-Mouth is ours.”
“I’d like to ask you a question Krieger,” Angelus said. “Could we…?”
“Hmmm? Oh yes, of course, be with you in a moment” Krieger acknowledged. He patronizingly patted Knight’s head and added, “be a good boy now, we wouldn’t to have to experience any unnecessary discomfort now would we?”
Away from the prison area, Krieger sat down in his office and pulled out a canter full of blood. “Drink?”
“No, no thank you sir,” Angelus said, taking a seat. “What I wanted to ask was: Why did we bring him here? Does he have any idea where we are? And if we wanted the Slayer, why didn’t we just remain in Sunnydale?”
“One question at a time dear boy,” Krieger said, pouring himself a glass full of blood. “We brought him here because this is our base, where we are at full power. No, he doesn’t, at least not from what I can tell and even if he could, he’s not going anywhere. We didn’t have a safe place to gather our strength during the day in Sunnydale as the Slayer and her friends knew all of your hideouts so she would have come during the day and I am usually very cranky during the day.”
“How will she find us then?” Angelus asked. “LA is one of the biggest cities in the US; finding one location isn’t going to be quick or easy.”
“I’ve already seen to that,” Krieger answered. “Tonight she will find a message that I sent to Sunnydale under the guide of Knight’s assistant. Any other questions?”
“No sir, that about sums it up for me,” Angelus responded.
“Good, now run along, go mingle with the other vampires, make some friends,” Krieger suggested. As Angelus walked out, Krieger took a big swig of blood and smiled. “We’re having a party tonight, and I do so love parties.”
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – High School Library
Buffy slammed her books down one the main table in frustration. “Nothing, not one sign of Spike, Angelus, Dru or any of the Vampire Consortium, not to mention Gabriel.”
“Where are they?” Cordelia asked. “I mean they have to be around here somewhere right?”
Suddenly a sound emerged from one of the computers and Willow jumped to it. She started punching keys and after an e-mail message came up, she looked very surprise. “It’s from a Grace Nakamura; how she got my address is… well… I don’t know.”
Willow read the message and learned that Grace was Knight’s assistant and was his supreme researcher/info-gal/hacker. She had also sent a map to along with the exact location of where Knight was being held. Her explanation was that Knight’s beeper also acted like a homing beacon. She quickly printed up the map and handed it to Giles. As he read it over he was somewhat shocked. “This map is of a sector of Los Angeles, not Sunnydale. It’s a good thing you made up that story about having a party because it looks like we're going to have to travel there.”
“Cordy, you brought your car right?” Xander asked. She nodded an affirmation and he continued. “Well it has four seats, enough for Willow, Cordy, Buffy and me.”
“Sounds good to me,” Buffy said. “Anyone up for a road trip?”
Cordelia fidgeted with her car keys and sighed. “All right, but no eating or drinking while in there, got it?”
“Yes ma’am,” Buffy said, sending off a fake salute. “Let’s load it up people we have work to do.”
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – Outside Mansion
“Is this it?” Cordelia asked, pulling up into the circular driveway. “Not exactly the kind of place you’d expect to find a vampire.”
“Well given the fact that vampires are undead and thus unnatural, no one really expects to find a vampire anywhere,” Xander retorted.
“You just watch it buster,” Cordelia responded, turning around in her seat. “You keep this up and no more closet-time for you.”
At the sound of that threat—no more kissing, groping, getting closer to real honest-to-God sex—Xander shut his mouth faster than he’d ever done before. Willow laughed at his response to the threat and read the map again to make sure their coordinates were correct. “This is the place Buffy, the map says so.”
They climbed out of the car and armed themselves. Buffy had her silver daggers and a crossbow, Xander held Knight’s katana, and Willow and Cordelia both held crosses and stakes. “Everyone ready?” Buffy asked.
They all nodded. “Okay good,” Buffy said. “I just want you to know that aside from rescuing Gabriel, this is a total search-and-destroy mission; all vampires must die, but don’t try and attack Krieger—he’s mine.”
“Very melodramatic Buff,” Xander said, applauding. “No award though, but still very convincing.”
Buffy ignored Xander’s comment as they all slipped into the mansion. She knew this was a trap; there had be security cameras all around and numerous vampire guards just waiting to pounce. They all got into a military formation that Xander had taught them and scanned the area. “Looks clear so far,” Willow said.
“Welcome to my parlor said the spider to the fly,” Kriger’s voice boomed over an intercom unit.
“Oh very original,” Xander quipped.
“I’m sorry but I have a flair for the dramatic,” Krieger said. “Now as much as I’d enjoy some kind of one-on-one fight ordeal with a ridiculous amount of honor and what not, I really don’t have the patience for it so you’ll excuse me if I order my legions to kill you now. Attack.”
“Oh well at least he’s honest about it,” Buffy snapped, getting into a fighting stance.
Vampires stormed in with bladed weapons and longbows. It was obvious that while Krieger was an honor-less war-crazed bastard of a vampire, he didn’t believe in guns or weapons other than what was used during the Middle Ages. Willow and Cordelia ducked behind some furniture as Buffy and Xander started fighting. “It’s always us who have to fight isn’t it Buffy?” Xander commented.
“Yeah, it must be a curse or something,” Buffy said and then backed away to where the other two girls were. “You two go find Gabriel and break him out—go!”
They both nodded and ran off as Buffy gave them crossbow fire cover. “Come you undead sons of bitches, come and get me!”
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – Vampire Consortium Prison Room
Gabriel Knight, hanging there like a piece of meat in a butcher’s shop, heard the commotion outside his prison cell and wondered Buffy had come. He hoped she hadn’t; this was a trap laid out for her and is she did come then she walked right into it. When he heard the sound of a vampire dying near his cell he knew someone who wasn’t a vampire was close by. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw Willow and Cordelia run up, unlock his cell and unhook the shackles from his body. As he stepped down he tested his legs carefully. Good, he thought, my spinal column is repaired; took long enough. “Thanks girls but we don’t have time to procrastinate so where’s my sword and where’s Buffy?”
“Xander has your sword,” Cordelia answered, “and Buffy’s out in the mail hall right now fighting off vampires with him.”
“Are you okay?” Willow asked. “You like kind of beaten up.”
“Getting your ribs shattered, your jaw broken, stabbed several times and having your spinal cord torn will do that to you,” Knight said darkly. “Let’s go, it won’t be long before Buffy and Xander are overrun by vampires!”
Suddenly a vampire ran up and was about to attack Willow when Knight launched himself at the demon. He delivered a hard spin kick to the vampire’s jaw, and then several punches to its rib cage. As the vampire stumbled backwards from pain, Knight looked around the room for something he could use as a weapon. Cordelia, thinking fast, grabbed Krieger’s wooden letter-opener and threw it to Knight. He caught and before the vampire could lunge at him again, he stabbed it through the heart with the sharp wooden object. As it disappeared, Knight turned and smiled at Cordelia. “Thanks, that was a good move.”
“Welcome, but let’s get moving okay?” Cordelia urged. Truth be told she didn’t really care that much about Buffy as Xander had always had somewhat of a ‘crush’ on her, but her real concern was Xander himself. She knew he meant well and could fight, but these were undead creatures who supernatural strength and Xander was not a Slayer so he was in a lot of danger by pretending he was on the same level as Buffy.
“Right,” Knight said, sensing her concern. “This way, come on!”
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – Vampire Consortium
Buffy and Xander had killed off more than fifty vampires in the last thirty minutes through a combined team effort. They however, had received quite a few hits themselves. Cuts, scrapes, bruises and other lesser injuries adorned their faces and bodies as they continued fighting off the legions of the undead. “Stop!” a familiar voice ordered.
The vampires, along with Buffy and Xander, looked up at who had given the order from the balcony. It was Krieger’s new lieutenant, Angelus and he is readiness for battle was evident from the broadsword that hung from his hip. “The Slayer is mine and if anyone interferes, you die. This goes for all vampires and especially you Xander.”
Buffy tried to settle her nerves as Angelus jumped from and unsheathed his sword. Angelus at one time had been known as Angel, and was cursed by Gypsies. The curse brought back his soul and during Buffy’s time in Sunnydale they had become boyfriend and girlfriend. They even had sex, which was Buffy’s first time, unfortunately, unbeknownst to either of them, the curse’s one condition was that if Angelus was to have a single moment of true happiness, his demon’s soul would return and replace his human one. Buffy looked at Angelus and sighed. “I don’t have a sword; I can’t fight you like this.”
One of the vampires unsheathed his sword and handed it to Buffy, which to put it mildly, surprised the Hell out of her. She took it though without question and steadied herself. “Okay Angel,” she said, pronouncing his former name as if it were a foul word, “I’m ready when you are.”
Angelus smiled and looked around the room. “The rules of this game are this: Whoever is injured so badly that they can no longer stand to defend themselves will die. If it happens to me then she can shove a stake through my heart; if it happens to her, I remove her cute little head from her body. Any questions?” No one said a single word. “Good, begin!”
Angelus stepped forward with a classic thrust and nearly caught Buffy off guard. The result was a tear through her leather jacket. Buffy cursed herself for being so slow and stupid. She knew her chances against Angelus were slim—the man had been born over 200 years ago, when swords were still used in combat and training with them from childhood was almost commonplace. Being born in the 20th century, where swords were mainly used in movies or shown on display and guns were the weapons of choice, she knew she was at a large disadvantage but she had to play along. Her Slayer reflexes and strength would help even the score a bit and she had received some training with a sword from Giles, although it was probably nowhere near the amount Angelus had received while living. “Come on Buffy, I thought this was going to be a fun fight, make it interesting!”
Buffy brought her sword down hard against his and proceeded with some awkward slashes and thrusts, all of which no damage to him or his weapon. Angelus smirked. “I see Obi-Giles has not training you very well…”
Buffy’s eyes narrowed and she surprised him with a sidekick to his midsection. He was caught off guard and nearly lost his footing as he was thrown backwards. He smiled and licked his fangs in anticipation. He charged her and brought his sword around in a complicated slashing maneuver taught to him years ago by a Japanese vampire that had once been a Samurai. The effect was his blade ripped across Buffy’s right arm and caused a nice gash that proceeded to protrude blood. Buffy grimaced and grabbed her arm. She knew she was in deep trouble now—as a right-handed person she needed her right arm to be in good condition but now due to it’s injured state she was at an even bigger loss than before.
Buffy moved sideways and rammed the point of the blade into Angelus’ midsection. Angelus, surprised, coughed up some blood and staggered to the left. He smiled an impossibly annoying grin. “Good, you’re learning, but you’re not a Jedi yet.”
During the fight, Knight, Willow and Cordelia ran up to Xander and were shocked to see the duel. “There’s now way she can beat him in swordplay,” Knight said. “He’s had more training, that’s evident from his stance.”
Xander, having true idea how to use a sword very effectively, just nodded. “Yeah, he good arm’s already been hit bad, take a look.”
They did and Willow frowned. “This isn’t good. If Buffy dies tonight what’s to keep these guys from taking over the Hell-Mouth?”
“I don’t mean to sound superficial or like I don’t care about all of that, but,” Cordelia started, “did anyone realize that if she falls, we’re next?”
“Oh, by the way, I believe this is yours?” Xander said, handing Knight his katana. “It’s pretty cool how that thing absorbs souls and all.”
“Yes it is and thank you,” Knight said, taking the blade and sheathing it. “Now all we have to do is hope that Buffy wins this match and then find Krieger.”
Angelus overheard the conversation and in the midst of blocking a poorly made slash, he turned towards Knight. “He’s in his war-room, that’s in the next section of the mansion and he’s waiting for you!”
Knight nodded. “Good; the rest of you stay here and make sure Buffy stays alive, I’m going after Krieger.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Willow asked. “You’re the only one here who can really use a sword and Krieger, no offense, kicked your butt last time.”
“True, but we learn from out mistakes,” Knight countered. “And if Buffy can’t take of this herself then she’s a pretty weak Slayer.”
Knight ran off to where Angelus had instructed him to go as the Slayerettes watched the ensuing battle between Slayer and former-lover-turned-evil-vampire.
“Hey, someone’s missing,” Xander pointed out.
“Yeah, where’s Dru?” Willow asked, looking around.
“No idea,” Cordelia said. “Xander? You want to look for her?”
“Yep,” he responded. “Will, you stay here with Buffy—Cordy, let’s go find that ‘wasically wampire!’”
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – War Room
The war room was called that because it looked a lot like the war room at NORAD, which, as one would expect from someone who’s life-span has been as great as Krieger’s, had seen. He liked computers a lot as they made so many mundane tasks easier, although he found them to be frustrating at times, especially when his IP wouldn’t connect. That wasn’t his concern tonight however, he was ready for the final showdown between him and that upstart, Gabriel Knight. He had his centuries old armor and weaponry on him; if he had been mounted atop a horse he would’ve looked like a knight from the medieval era come alive out of a history book. He stood fast as the doors to the room were kicked down and Shadow Hunter Gabriel Knight walked in, katana in hand.
“I know you would come to me Knight,” Krieger said. “I allowed you to escape as well as send a false message to the Slayer and her cohorts to get her to come here. As my lieutenant told you before, why not get two for the price of one?”
“Great, what do you want, an award?” Knight snapped. “Nah… bet you already have quite a few of those. You enjoy killing don’t you?”
“Well actually I enjoy the fine arts more but due to my predatory nature and hatred of people who want to stick a stake through my heart or cut off my head…” Krieger mused, “I’d have to say… yes.”
“Enough talk,” Knight seethed, “time to die your immortal demon-spawn!”
“Oh I like that one, I’ll have to remember it,” Krieger said as they began their swordfight. Swords clanged against each other as swordsman whose skill was unmatched by anyone else in the world, fought for their very lives and their own personal agendas. Steel cut flesh on both sides and blood stained their blades and clothing; they soon found that in terms of swordmanship, they were evenly matched.
“You fight well mortal,” Krieger said, breathing heavily. “The blood of your Shadow Hunter ancestors must run strong.”
“It does, and you’ll forgive me if I don’t compliment you,” Knight seethed. In truth however it was so much as his blood but what happens when a member of his family became a Shadow Hunter all the knowledge and skills from the previous Shadow Hunters are passed to the current one.
For each swipe, slash, thrust, parry and block, the other countered. Each swordsman thought the same thing: This is going to take a long time.
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – Vampire Consortium
Buffy felt her back hit up against the wall and she knew the swordfight was going to end soon but unless she did something she’d be the one to lose. Buffy ducked an attack that would have cleaved her head off and brought her sword down between Angelus’ right shoulder and neck area. He yelled in pain as the deep wound caused blood to gush out and down his arm. “Good one Buffy, didn’t think you had it in you.”
“I’m full of surprises,” Buffy said. She then snap-kicked him in the face and shot her blade into his stomach until the point came out through his back. Buffy then ripped it out of the wound leaving a gaping hole the size of a quarter. Angelus screamed once again and grabbed his side. His wounds would heal faster than that of a normal human’s but it would still take time and while the loss of blood wouldn’t matter much, the pain did. “How am I doing for a novice o’great warrior?”
Angelus gave off a feral growl and lunged himself at Buffy. She was ready for this maneuver, as she’d seen it a hundred times when vampires get angry. So in response she adjusted her position and made as if she was going to block. Due to the way the attack was made, instead of blocking another blade, the soft flesh of Angelus’ throat fell on top of the edge, which cut in deep. “Got you, you bastard!”
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – War Room
Krieger moved forward and head butt Knight making the Shadow Hunter stagger back in pain and surprise. “So much for clean swordplay huh?”
“One must use whatever is at their disposal Shadow Hunter,” Krieger told the younger man. “I did not live this long by playing so fairly that I may lose.”
“Of course not, silly me,” Knight said and delivered two quick spin-kicks to Krieger’s head. He then dropped down low and performed a sweep-kick knocking the vampire lord down. “Guess that means I can cheat too.”
“The ends justify the means my mortal friend, the ends justify the means,” Krieger instructed. “I’d love to sit and debate philosophy with you but unfortunately it is within our natural callings to kill one another so I’m afraid you must die now.”
“Pity,” Knight responded, blocking a swipe. “I was beginning to enjoy the conversation.” He was fighting off the urge to yell, ‘there can be only one’ which he assumed would be wasted on his undead foe anyway; what were the chances his enemy would be a fan of Highlander anyway?
* * *
Location: Upstairs
“Oh Dru…” Xander called out softly, “here girl, I got a nice juicy blood engorged neck for you…”
“Oh that’s just gross,” Cordelia complained. “Besides, she’s not Lassie; calling her like a dog’s not going to work.”
“No, but it certainly gets annoying after a while,” Dru said, leaping down from the rafters. She got into a battle stance that both Xander and Cordelia had rarely seen on the usually non-combative woman. “You came here to hurt my Angel… and my Max, I can’t let that happen so I have to kill you. No hard feelings?”
“Oh yeah, she’s a loon,” Xander said quickly and threw a cross up in her face. “See this? This is a cross for the uninitiated. It means, to be blunt, ‘stay away foul creature of the night.’”
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Can you get any cornier?”
“Hey this kind of thing always worked for Peter Cushing,” Xander pointed out.
To both the Slayerettes’ surprise, Dru calmly reached forward and grabbed the cross, and then tossed it, ignoring the searing pain it must have caused while burning her hand. “Close, but no cigar.” Dru lunged forward smashing Xander through the wall to one of the rooms, dropping his crossbow from the shock of the hit. Xander got up quickly however and punched the vampire woman hard in the ribs. She gritted her teeth and delivered an elbow-punch to the side of his head, sending him careening to the floor.
During the fight, Cordelia just stared and watched, feeling helpless yet again. That is, until her eyes met Xander’s fallen crossbow. She picked the moderately heavy long-range weapon up and tested its weight in her arms. She looked up again to see Xander up on his feet once more fighting Dru, and despite his best efforts, which were hurting her, she was winning. After picking up a knife and slashing Dru’s face she became enraged and protruded her fangs in an outwardly hostile gesture. Xander prepared himself for another charge but was stunned in surprise when she suddenly kicked him in the groin, sending him down for the count.
Cordelia saw this and got very pissed off. “Hey, bitch!”
Dru turned around as Cordelia continued doing what she did best: Talk. “Yeah you—you’re nothing more than a tramp, a little whore; I bet you’re Krieger’s plaything and when he’s done with you he’ll toss you away like all the other used ‘good’s’ he’s thrown out before.”
Those insults, which Dru was not accustomed to, infuriated her and she ran towards Cordelia. But Cordelia was ready for this and pressed the trigger on the crossbow, letting fly a wooden bolt. The bolt slammed into Dru’s chest who howled with both surprise and pain. As the female vampire collapsed to the ground, she snarled and her body dissipated. “Hasta la vista bitch,” Cordelia smirked, hoisting her crossbow up.
Xander got up and shook his head in amazement. “I didn’t know you had it in you Cordy—great job!”
“Thanks, I guess I’d have to learn something from hanging around you guys,” Cordelia said. She then kissed Xander and looked him over. “Are you okay? Nothing serious I mean?”
Xander blinked in response. He wasn’t use to Cordelia being so nice and caring; usually they traded insults with each other but now she was actually showing real concern for him. “No, I’m fine… thanks.”
“Come on then,” Cordelia urged, “let’s see how Buffy’s holding up.”
Xander grabbed Cordelia’s hand and they ran downstairs to where the fight between Buffy and Angelus was still taking place.
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – Vampire Consortium
Angelus stumbled backwards, his voice garbled from the flow of blood streaming out. Angelus had learned how to deal with pain in his travels however neck injures were always the worse and caused the most pain. He doubled over and collapsed to the ground in front of the Slayer. “Angelus… I’m sorry, I know that somewhere, deep inside you there is the good man I knew once as Angel, but as you’ve told me so many times, he’s dead.”
Angelus merely looked up at her while she spoke his eyes full of contempt. Buffy saw this but chose to ignore it as she raised her sword. “You challenged me to a swordfight Angelus, and as you said, it was to death, well I’m sorry, but you lost.”
Buffy swung the blade down as hard as she could and closed her eyes, not wanting to see herself decapitate her former lover. She heard the telltale sound of his body dissipating and she shuddered, wondering if she could ever truly get over what had happened between them. “It’s over…”
“No, it’s not Buffy,” Willow said, shakily. She pushed up beside Buffy and pulled out the cross the Slayer had given her. “Take a look around, we’re surrounded by vampires and it looks like they want a little ‘eye for an eye.’”
Buffy turned around and adjusted her fighting stance. “Don’t worry Will, we’ll get out of this, no problem.” Although Buffy looked brave and determined, the truth of the matter was she was scared shitless. She gulped hard and prepared for another long hard bloody battle.
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – War Room
Krieger grunted hard and grit his teeth from the pain. Knight had plunged his katana deep into his undead flesh and it hurt like Hell. As the blade was pulled out, blood flowed freely. “I hope you’re getting something out of this because these are your last few moments alive.”
The vampire lord slammed his sword down hard onto Knight’s katana. The Shadow Hunter’s sword blocked the hit but the vampire’s strength would, in time, overcome him in the long run. Kreiger grabbed Knight and threw him against a wall. As Knight recomposed himself, Krieger withdrew a dagger and threw it. The dagger dug through Knight’s left arm and pinned it to the wall. He yelled in pain and but didn’t keep his eyes off his enemy. “It’s been fun Shadow Hunter; rarely do I get a chance to match sword skills with an equal, but your time is up.”
Krieger ran at Knight, sword above his head, and prepared to slash downward in an effort to split Knight’s skull in two. “You forgot something Krieger.”
“Oh and what might that be?”
“This!” Knight shouted as he threw his katana at Krieger. Knight’s katana, being of magical origin and a sword that stole souls to add to its own power, could kill a vampire just like any normal sword could kill a human. The katana ripped through Krieger’s chest and lacerated his heart. In an instant, the vampire lord who had ruled for over a millennium knew his death was at hand. “Have a nice time in the after-life you sadistic bloodsucking asshole.”
Krieger fell to the ground and dissipated before hitting the ground. All that was left was Krieger’s rapier, which he dropped before being impaled. Knight bent down and retrieved the French sword and snapped it in two over his knee. Knight then picked up his own katana and sheathed it. He sighed. “Good guys 1, evil 0.”
Knight when over to Krieger’s desk and broke open a drawer. Inside it was a control panel, which could trigger the base’s self-destruct mechanism. He tried keying in a few combinations, none of which worked of course and then sliced it open. He easily hot-wired the panel and set the base to blow up in five minutes.
He smiled briefly and then ran to meet up with the other kids and the Slayer, hoping that they had been able to fend for themselves and that Buffy was still alive.
* * *
Location: Los Angeles, California – Vampire Consortium
The vampires had attacked Buffy and Willow just as Xander and Cordelia came back. They entered the fray as well to help get Buffy and Willow out in one piece but it looked like doing that would turn out to be considerably tougher than first imagined. Buffy craned her neck and looked over her shoulder to see several vampires cut down as if they were rag dolls by Knight wading through the dead bodies and undead attackers.
“We need to get out of here!” Knight yelled to the Slayerettes. “This place is going to blow! We need to move now!”
“That’s a great idea, any idea how though?” Buffy asked, staking another vampire.
“Xander, Willow, cut those curtains down now!” Knight ordered. Both, confused about the instructions, did as told and remove the curtains. As soon as morning sunlight came pouring in that caught on faster than Knight could heal.
The sunlight burned the vampires and the majority of them blow up in an incinerated ball of flame. The remaining vampires crumbled for safety in other rooms, leaving the main empty save for Buffy, Knight and the Slayerettes. “Let’s go, now we’ve only got two minutes!”
The whole team ran out as fast as they could and jumped behind a series of hedges and bushes for cover. They made it just in time as too as the entire mansion exploded, sending pieces of it flying for miles. “Scratch a bunch of bloodsuckers,” Cordelia said.
Buffy leaned up against a tree and sighed. “Let’s go home folks…”
* * *
Location: Sunnydale, California – High School Library
“So that’s what happened,” Buffy told Giles, finishing up her story. “Angel, Dru, and Krieger are all dead.”
“Yeah, they’ve all gone to that blood bank in the sky,” Xander mused.
“For once I wish we could talk about something else besides vampires, werewolves, demons, and other weird shit,” Cordelia whined. “I mean, every once in a while it’d be nice to be normal, you know?”
“No kidding,” Willow agreed. “But it comes with the territory: Slayer, Slayerettes, Hell-Mouth, etc.”
Gabriel Knight hung up the phone and sat down at their table. “Grace is sending a car this way. Anyway… I want to thank you for helping me deal with the war and dispatching Krieger.”
“Hey, no problem Gabe,” Buffy said. “It was nice to have someone else in my position helping me for once, I mean besides Kendra of course.”
“Kendra?”
“Yeah, she’s another Slayer,” Willow answered. She saw his face and knew he was about to ask how two Slayers existed at one time. “Don’t ask, it’s too complicated.”
“Anyway, it was great working with you Gabriel,” Buffy smiled. “And hey… we killed off a bunch of human-mosquitoes—as Xander would put it—and got rid of Angel and Dru.”
“Nice working with you as well Buffy,” Knight replied and then turned to the rest of them. “It was nice working with all of you. It’s difficult when you have to face overwhelming odds by yourself.”
Buffy cracked up. “Tell me about it.”
“Here’s my number incase you ever need me,” Knight said, writing down the digits on a piece of paper. He handed it to Giles and said, “remember, I owe you guys one so don’t hesitate to call.”
Giles took the piece of paper, folded it and put it into his pocket. “I assure you Mr. Knight that should be require your services we will notify you.”
“Well, it’s time to get going,” Knight said, standing up and walking towards the door. “I’ll see you all around—keep your necks out of trouble.”
“Here? Are you kidding?” Cordelia replied.
“I’ll protect you,” Xander said, wrapping his arm around his girlfriend.
“I feel so safe now,” Cordelia smirked in response.
Buffy ignored the couple and waved goodbye. “You take care too Gabe! Try and keep from charging into vampire armies by yourself!”
Shadow Hunter Gabriel Knight left the high school and waited for the car to arrive. Shortly after he arrived at the stop a limo pulled up and the driver’s side window rolled down. “Gabriel Knight?”
“Yes, that’s me,” Knight said.
The driver stepped out and opened the door for Knight to step in. He did and relaxed himself as the driver took off and drove to Los Angeles’ LAX. He could have stayed in LA instead of coming back with Buffy and her friends to Sunnydale but he wanted to say goodbye and give Giles his number. They were good, for kids, he thought. He knew one thing however—he was going to see a lot of them again, he just wished he knew when.
THE END
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
