Paladin Project 11 – Eagle’s Nest

“Hello lover.”

Angel jolted as he heard a familiar voice behind him.  Turning he saw the vampire he’d staked over a year ago.  “Darla,” he managed to croak.

The First changed to Drusilla.  The insane vampire giggled.  “Hello daddy.”

The apparition changed again, to Spike.  His grand-childe snarled at him.  “You bloody bastard!  I had a soul you know, but you didn’t bloody give a -.”

“Oh shut up Spike,” Angel had managed to compose himself but the First’s next change to Buffy shook him again.  “Sorry about that Angel but you know how William gets.  He never liked you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he replied with a casualness he didn’t feel, “the feelings entirely mutual.  I assume you have a reason to be here?”  His tone remained steady, betraying none of his inner turmoil at being confronted by the demon who’d tried to first get him kill Buffy and then commit suicide. 

The blonde shook her head.  “You should have stood up for me when Xander attacked me,” his ex smiled.  “But don’t worry Angel, I forgive you,” her smile widened.  “I could always forgive you anything – even mass-murder.”

He winced at the reminder but managed to keep his face blank.  “Why are you here?” he pressed.

“To warn you.”

He raised an eyebrow.  “Threats from an incorporeal being.  I’m not exactly shaking with fear.”

The First tutted.  “Angel, Angel.  You weren’t listening now were you?  I said warn not threaten.  Xander will turn on you.  You’re just a vampire after all.”

He shook his head.  “Xander wouldn’t, he’s the loyal sort.”

“Loyal?”  Buffy\First laughed.  “Just over a month ago he was heading to LA to kill you with a sniper rifle.  If you hadn’t been ensoulled...”

Angel laughed and shook his head.  “You’ve no idea do you?  I’d much rather die than kill any of my friends.  I trust Xander with something far more than my continued existence, that of my friends’.  Now get out.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Blade cast his companion a furtive glance.  He was still uncomfortable with the ensoulled vampire but the vampire’s plan of the super-powered amongst them covering patrols while Xander and the others were gone made sense.  Still, he didn’t like him, he’d spent too many years, lost too many friends, hunting them to easily trust one.

As if sensing his disdain the vampire turned to him.  “You don’t like me much do you?”

Blade bristled at the thin grain of amusement he heard in the vampire’s voice.  “Not much no,” he replied flatly, staring the vampire dead in the eye.

Angel shrugged and smiled.  “Don’t blame you.  I am one of history’s most feared vampires after all,” the vampire paused and turned to face him, his eyes suddenly grim.  “Angelus has done things that haunt my nightmares and stain my soul but what I Angel will never do is harm my friends.  And Xander is my best friend.”

Satisfied by the sincerity he heard in the vampire’s voice he nodded.  “Fine, then let’s get this patrol over with.”  Even as he agreed he decided that he might work with the vampire out of respect for Xander but he’d never turn his back on him.  He didn’t trust anybody’s judgement that much.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Draven leapt from rooftop to rooftop, glorying in being out of reach of the oblivious humanity on the crowded streets below.  Even before his death he’d been a loner, preferring to split his time between Shelley and his music rather than waste it in rock ‘n’ roll parties.

Suddenly he stopped and smiled.  Beneath him he could hear the sound of a group of men planning a bank robbery.  He wasn’t in Sunnydale to deal with criminals.  “On the other hand,” he smiled slowly as his face shifted into his white mask, “it doesn’t hurt to keep my hand in.”  He felt a weight land on his shoulder and turned to look into the dark eyes of his spirit guide.  “Relax,” he grinned, “just going to have a little fun.”  The bird let out a disapproving caw before flying away, he chuckled, “kill-joy.”

After glancing down into the alley three storeys below he stepped off the building edge, his legs bent to take the inevitable landing impact.  The air whistled around him as he plummeted stone-like to the ground.  At the last second one of the men looked up, his mouth opening in shock even as his foot slammed into the thug’s mouth, sending teeth flying in a torrent of blood, and sending his head snapping backwards, his neck breaking with the impact.

Before the man had hit the ground, Eric was on the other two.  One of the hoods lunged at him, his arm shooting up, gun in hand.  Eric’s hand snapped out, grabbing hold of the gun-man’s wrist and squeezing, the bones snapping like a dry twig.  Sensing the other man coming up behind him, he spun round, and punched out with his free hand, sending his fist slamming through the left side of his chest even as he yanked with his other arm tearing the other man’s arm off his shoulder.  Blood spurted out of the gaping wound, spraying out all over the alley, covering Eric in his viscera.  Grabbing the man’s head he twisted violently ripping it from the shoulders.  Even as he tossed the man’s head to the ground, he saw a trio of armed men appear at the mouth of the alley and hear a door open to his right and the sound of footsteps.  “A trap.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Blade glanced towards Angel.  “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a woman screaming in that warehouse,” the vampire nodded towards a shadowy building in the distance.

It was a change for him to be working with someone with better senses than him.  “You realise that it could be a trap,” he commented as he loosened his guns. 

“Can’t take that chance,” the vampire started towards the warehouse.

Blade nodded in approval, maybe there was something to Angel after all.  “Let’s get this done then.”  He allowed Angel to lead the way, leaving it to the vampire to force the locked sliding door open.  He glanced across at the vampire; he’d been able to hear the screaming since they’d reached the doors, the tortured sound chilling his blood.  “How many?”

“Four, five heartbeats towards the back.”

Damn, it was a trap.  Reaching into his twin holsters, he drew his guns.  “Get your guns ready,” his eyes widened as the vampire pulled out a pair of stakes.  “No guns?”

“Don’t use them.”

Sighing, he passed one of his pistols over.  The vampire looked embarrassed.  “What’s wrong now?”

“I’ve never used modern guns.”

He bit back the urge to curse.  “Sorry but I left my flintlocks at home.”  After quickly showing the vampire how to use the gun he said.  “You ready?” the vampire nodded.  “Let’s get this over with.”

“Oh shit.”  They’d found the woman – or at least the tape recording of her screams.  If there was a woman she was long dead, Blade glanced towards his companion.  “Let’s get out of here before -.”

Suddenly a wall of boxes towards the back of the warehouse was knocked over to reveal a line of five gunmen.  Blade let out a grunt as Angel threw himself into him, knocking them both behind some near-by boxes and away from the bullets tearing through the air where they’d been stood.  “Thanks,” Blade gasped as the gunmen changed their aim to send bullets peppering the air above them, “any idea what to do next?”

“Wait until they run out of bullets?”

“I’ve got a better idea,” he explained his plan in a few terse sentences.

The vampire’s face grew incredulous.  “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“There might be more of them, we can’t afford to wait,” he pointed out.

After a second Angel sighed and nodded.  “Fine.  On three. One, two, three!”

On ‘three’ Angel burst from their cover, rolling to the right, firing at their attackers as he went.  As soon as the five men turned to fire at the vampire, Blade surged to his feet and began firing.  He put three of the gunmen down before the remaining pair started to turn towards him only for Angel to blow their heads off.

Blade turned to thank the vampire only to see Angel lying on the ground his face twisted in pain.  Surprised at the concern he felt, Blade made his way over to the vampire, his movements hurried but still graceful.  “You shot, Angel?”

After a second the vampire rose, shaking his head, his face even paler than usual.  “No they missed.  It’s just,” the vampire paused, “it’s just been a long time since I killed humans,” he replied, his eyes haunted.

Blade was once again surprised, this time by the sympathy he felt.  “They were trying to kill us,” he gruffly pointed out, “they made their choice.”  Killing humans had never worried him; to him evil was evil and needed eradicating.

“I know but -.”

Whatever the vampire had been about to say was lost in the crackling into life of the radio attached to his belt.  “Hello,” it was the vampire’s friend Gunn, his voice tight but control.  “Eagle’s Nest is under attack.  Repeat, we’re under attack -.”  The radio went dead.

“Damn it!” the vampire morphed into his demonic face giving Blade an uncomfortable reminder of his true nature and fearful reputation.  Angel started towards the doors only for it to slide open revealing a half a dozen gunmen.  Cursing, Blade dropped his hand to the gun he’d just holstered even as Angel’s own empty gun clattered to the ground and the vampire drew his sword from within his jacket.  A split-second later Angel dived into the gunmen, his sword flashing left and right, tearing limbs from bodies and heads from shoulders even as he twisted out of the way of their bullets.  Finally the last gunmen fell to the ground, his head rolling away from him. 

Blade shuddered as the blood-drenched vampire turned towards him.  “Well he got over his human-killing phobia quickly,” he muttered before raising his voice, “why didn’t you do it with the others?” he nodded towards the five men at the back of the warehouse.

“They were too far away, by the time I cleared their barricade, they’d have had me,” the vampire replied.  “So are we going?”

“Let’s.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Draven looked around the viscera soaked alley, the blood dripping down the walls and the bodies of his attackers littering the ground.  He’d been sickened – not by what he’d done, he’d gotten use to dispensing punishment to street scum, but by the images he’d gotten of their misdeeds.  Even by the standards of the lowlifes he dealt with they were despicable.

His musings were cut off by an explosion of static from his radio.  He listened to the message and then began running.  He had to get back to base and fast.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Gunn kept shifting his gaze from the command room monitor he was supposed to be watching to the impassive man sat beside him.  He couldn’t believe it; he was sat next to an alien.  He was surprised at his amazement, he’d met vampires, seers, Slayers, mages, and demons but this alien had thrown him.  He suspected it was how human the man looked that was confusing him, hell they could almost be brothers.

The alien turned towards him.  “I sense you have questions?”

“Only about a thousand,” he muttered under his breath.  After a second organising he spoke.  “If you don’t mind?”  The alien nodded.  “Where are you from?”

“A planet called Chulak.  I was raised there after my father was killed for failing the Goa’uld Cronus.”

“Goa’uld?  They’re those aliens we remember as Egyptian gods right?”

“Indeed.”  Teal’c nodded.  “Master Bra’tac trained me to be a Jaffa and brought me to the attention of Goa’uld Apophis.  I rose quickly in my lord’s favour and soon became First Prime, but all the time Master Bra’tac was whispering in my ear that the Goa’uld were not gods but I never truly believed him until I was ordered to kill a friend of mine, Va’lar.  Instead I banished Va’lar to a small village.  When Apophis did not discover my trick I began to believe he was not a god and started to work in the resistance with Bra’tac.”

“So how come you came to Earth?”

“In ’97 I met Colonel O’Neill.  In my hundred years,” Gunn blinked, hundred years – he wouldn’t have believed the man was thirty-five years old, “I have never believed anyone who said they could stop Apophis.  O’Neill was my prisoner and yet,” there was a note of wonder in the alien’s previously impassive voice, “I believed him and helped him escape.  Since then I have fought beside the Tau’ri to end the System Lords’ rule.”

“Tau’ri, that’s humans right?” Gunn was reeling at the story he’d heard. 

The alien opened his mouth to speak only for his companion’s eyes to widen imperceptibly as he pointed at the monitor.  “What’s that?”

“Damn it,” Gunn stared at the figures climbing over the grounds’ wall.  He hit the general emergency button.  Nothing happened. “Shit!”  Grabbing his walkie-talkie he began to talk into it.  “Eagle’s Nest is under attack.  Repeat, we’re under attack -.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Ready yet?”

Hans Axel let out a breath at the tech’s nod.  His plan was coming to fruition, Angel, Blade and Draven were occupied, if not dead, due to the traps he’d set.  With the house’s internal security compromised his troops could go in, wipe out the Project’s back-up troops and deal with an isolated Demonsbane upon his return. Smiling to himself, he turned his walkie-talkie on.  “Troops we’re a go.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Eagle’s Nest is under attack.  Repeat, we’re under attack -.”

Alarmed, Xander glanced across at Wesley.  “How far out from Sunnydale would you say we were?”

“Twenty-five  minutes,” came the Watcher’s terse reply.

Xander shook his head, too long.  “Make it in fifthteen.”

The Paladin Project 12 – Battle At Eagle’s Nest

“Three, two, one!”

The charge set to the mansion’s double doors exploded, flinging the doors inwards and down the mansion’s hallway.  “Entry has been forced.  Entering now!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Hurry girls,” Giles ordered as he encouraged the potentials and Dawn towards the basement gym, forcing his voice to remain clam even as he exchanged worried glances with Carter and Wood.  What the bloody hell was going on?  From what he had seen on the security monitors before taking charge of the potentials it appeared that their attackers were human than rather demonic in nature, perhaps even military trained.

Seeing the door at the end of the corridor open he raised his shotgun only to relax when he recognised the pale-faced figure rushing towards them as Andrew.  “Mr. Giles-.”

“Andrew!” he interrupted stress making his voice harsh.  “Get your bloody arse over here!”  A grateful look on his face, the geek started towards them only for the doors behind him to swing open again and a pair of armed men to enter the corridor.  “Get down!”

Even as the nerd dropped down to the ground, Giles and Wood raised their shotguns and fired.  The twin booms of their weapons filled the air, their buckshot tearing through the two intruders.  The two gunmen were lifted off their feet and sent crashing to the ground, a combination of their blood and guts splattering the walls.  Giles turned to a pale-faced and shaking Dawn, his stony expression giving no clue to his inner turmoil – he’d killed humans again.  “Dawn get the others inside,” the dazed girl just stared at him, “Dawn move!” as the girl jumped into action, he turned his attention back to the men lying dead in the corridor.  Quelling his distaste he walked towards the bodies, stopping at a still quivering Andrew he growled out an order.  “Join the others.”

Once the nerd had climbed to his feet and rushed past him, he continued over to the bodies, his shotgun held ready in case of further intruders.  He nodded towards the far door, indicating that Carter and Wood should cover him before crouching over the nearest body to search for any identifying marks.  “Oh bollocks.”

“What’s up?” asked Wood.

He pointed to a tattoo of a blazing devil on one of the men’s right bicep.  “See that?  That’s the insignia of Satan’s Soldiers.”

“Who?”

Giles glanced up at the principal, surprised that his companion hadn’t heard of the notorious group.  “They’re a band of mercenaries pulled from the world’s elite forces.  They work exclusively in the occult field and were originally formed -,” realising he was going into one of his ‘boreathons’ as he’d heard Xander call his lectures in far-off more innocent days he rose.  “Let’s get into the gym and guard the others.”  Whatever happened he’d protect the girls with his dying breath.  That was all he could do, he owed it to his duty as a Watcher.  More than that he owed it to himself as a man.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

“Losing your temper does little to help the situation Jack.”

Crow stared with disbelief at his companion.  “Jim old buddy,” he said sarcastically. “we’re pinned down behind a kitchen table armed only with automatics facing five men with sub-machine guns, I’m just fucking venting.  I don’t suppose you’ve got any bright ideas!”

“Just one.”  Bond’s confidence appeared unruffled by the bullets peppering their makeshift barricade.

“Care to share?”  Crow roared back at the secret agent.  Why couldn’t he have been trapped in here with anyone but the limey?  Bond was a good man in a fight and full of entertaining stories to boot but he was also a Grade A pain in the ass.

“See that oven over there?” the Englishman pointed towards the far corner.  “If we shoot the gas mains it’ll cause an explosion that will wipe them out.  There’s just one problem.”

“What’s that?” he had to yell to be heard over the booming artillery.

“The explosion will probably kill us too.”

“Only a tiny drawback then,” Crow growled sarcastically.  All the fucking vampires he’d killed only to go out at the hands of some ordinary thugs.  God it was humiliating.

Suddenly the kitchen door flew open and Gunn and Teal’c stormed in, their MP5s blazing as they sent rounds tearing into their attackers.  “Alternatively,” Bond began firing at the men who had them pinned down.  A second later he joined the Englishman, “we could catch them in crossfire.”

“Yeah, I definitely like plan B better.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Whoee!  Look at these babes!  We struck lucky!”

Paige’s eyes hardened as she watched the quartet of gunmen advancing on her and her sisters.  “You think?  Piper!” On her shout her oldest sister froze the four soldiers.  Immediately she teleported the men out of the third floor window.  A second later she heard them scream as they hit the ground with a thud.  “Bet that hurt.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Connor waited patiently as the last of the four men entered the library, then, after a nod to Duncan, leapt to his feet, shouldering the bookcase they’d been hiding behind down on top of the lead two gunmen.  Even as the case fell he and Duncan leapt over it and towards the remaining gunmen.  Seeing his target’s gun raise he snapped out a kick to the hood’s arm catching him under the elbow and knocking the gun upwards, sending a hail of hot lead flying into the ceiling.  Before the man had a chance to right his aim Connor thrust the point of his sword at the man, skewering him through the heart.

The gunman’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth dropped open letting out a rattling gurgle before slumping to his knees.  As he pulled his blade out of the man’s chest the library door swung open revealing another gunman.

Realising the man was too far away to reach before he fired Connor flung his blade at the thug.  The blade flew true but even as it hit the gunman, he himself was hit in the chest by a torrent of bullets.  His last thought as he hit the ground, blood bubbling out of his mouth, was not again.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Ryback stepped out of the shadows, slamming his hand down in a chopping motion onto the intruder’s biceps causing the man’s gun-arm to jump upwards.  The man’s companion let out a shocked squawk and started to turn towards him but he kept the nearest gunman between them even as his other hand flicked out, snatching at the gunman’s pistol-wielding wrist and twisting.  The gunman screamed, dropping his weapon to the floor.

Ryback scooped up the falling gun, swaying away from a desperate right cross before shooting the man through the head.  As the man dropped to the ground the former U.S. Navy SEAL threw himself to the left, avoiding a hail of bullets from the second intruder as he himself sent a rain of lead into his rival’s chest.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

O’Neill stared through his sniper scope, taking a moment to grab a few calming breaths.  He estimated there were at least a hundred hostiles milling around the base’s grounds, darting from cover to cover.  He’d thinned their numbers some since climbing up onto the mansion’s flat roof but the house had already been breached.  He had no idea what happened to his fellow SG-1 members but a selfish part of him was glad that at least his son wasn’t here.  “But where the hell are Blade, Angel, and Draven?”  Their three best fighters all AWOL.

“I’d suggest,” his companion let out a shot taking the head off one of the interlopers, “they’d been waylaid.”

“Yeah,” O’Neill nodded at Castle’s comments, “that’s right Frank, keep raising my spirits.  Can’t imagine why you’ve got a reputation as a moody bastard.”

His comrade snorted in amusement.  “All right then, how’s this cheerfulness.  Your son’s here.”

O’Neill glanced through his scope and grimaced.  It seemed even that small comfort was gone.  “Be careful Xander,” he whispered.  He’d already buried one son he didn’t want to bury another.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“How long Wes?”  Xander asked through gritted teeth.  The Englishman had shown an unsuspected driving skill that would have placed him in good stead in the Indy 500 that meant they had made the trip in record time but had also shredded his nerves.  Whatever showdown they were charging into it couldn’t be as bad the journey they’d just endured.

“Two,” the 4 * 4 screeched around a corner taking the car mirror of a vehicle parked there, “maybe three minutes.”

Personally, given the way Wes was driving, he’d bet on less rather than more.  “Lara, Sydney, Wes, you all armed?” the trio replied in the affirmative.  “Faith you carrying?”

“Got a three pack Xand.”

Xander grounded his teeth together.  “Faith?”

“Just a pair of dag-, fuck Wes!  You nearly tipped us over!”

“Right, in that case you and Amanda stay in the car, look after Marsh-.”

“Fuck Xand I’m a Slayer not a baby-sitter!”

“Do as you’re told!”

“Five by five.”  He ignored both the brunette’s hurt tone and Wes’ angry glare as he braced himself for the impact with the mansion’s steel railed gates.  This was going to hurt.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Axel glared impotently at the radio transceiver before him.  Thanks to the hacking they’d gained access to the mansion and its grounds but reports from within the house indicated that the mercenaries’ progress had slowed to a standstill.  His head snapped round at the sound of the building’s gate being torn off their hinges and a black 4 * 4 hurtling through the gap.  A snarl escaped his lips.  “Demonsbane.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Wes, you, Lara and Syd head to the house!”  Xander flung himself out of the car, his foot flicking up to kick the bullet-proof door shut behind him as he hit the ground and rolled up onto one knee taking out a pair of gunmen advancing on them with two headshots.  Hearing the sound of gravel crunching to his right he turned his head his eyes widening at the huge beak-nosed man charging towards him.  Seeing the man’s trigger-finger whiten as it tightened Xander flung himself forward, twisting and firing as he did so. 

Both his and his attacker missed their targets although Xander’s last shot did hit the man’s mini-Uzi in the barrel, knocking the sub-machine gun out of his hand.  Cursing, Beaky reached for the automatic in his shoulder-holster.

Realsing he didn’t have time to re-load before his adversary drew his weapon, Xander surged to his feet and charged forward.  As his rival began to pull his gun out Xander launched himself into the air.  He crashed feet-first into his rival’s chest staggering him, knocking the man’s automatic flew into the air.   Xander’s hand snapped up to catch the gun but his opponent’s flew up and caught him in his elbow’s nerve clusters.

Xander howled as his entire right arm erupted in agony.  His limb flapping uselessly by his side he was helpless to prevent his adversary from butting him in the face, shattering his nose.  His assailant followed up with an overhand right but ignoring his pain Xander slid beneath the attack, driving his knee into the man’s groin.

The man’s eyes crossed and he stumbled backwards, wheezing for air, giving Xander the time he needed to shake some feeling back into his arm.  Xander raced forward but his opponent executed a sweep kick taking his legs away at the ankles sending him plummeting to the ground, knocking the air out of his body.  Rolling back to his feet Xander slid to the side of his rival’s charge driving an elbow into the man’s side.

His foe let out a grunt before spinning round and firing off an uppercut that caught him under the jaw.  Stars dancing before his eyes he was helpless to avoid a fist thundering into his throat sending his to his knees.

His eyes burning with tears and his lungs heaving he was powerless to prevent the man grabbing him in a chokehold from behind.  “NOOOO!” out of the corner of his blurred vision he saw Faith leap through the air, catching his attacker in the face with a spin kick knocking the man away from him.  “Leave him alone!” the Slayer ducked beneath a right hook before grabbing the man’s out-stretched arm and flinging him into the air.  Upon landing the man struggled to his feet and raced out of the grounds.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

 De Morte pursed his lips together in thought.  He’d been completing an observation of the Project’s base, scouting for weak points but now…  He saw no sign of either Blade or Angel, and Demonsbane himself had only arrived late in the battle.  And yet the rank and file Project members had managed to fight off a force perhaps six times their number.

Different tactics were called for.  Reaching into his jacket he pulled out his phone and dialled Lucis’ personal number.  After a few rings his master answered.  “Yes my lord,” he bowed his head in deference, “I apologise for disturbing you but I’m going to need more reinforcements.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Xand,” Faith hurried over to Xander and offered him her hand, “are you five by five?”

She took a step back at the anger in the man’s eyes.  “Damn it Faith!  I gave you an order!”

Faith’s eyes widened.  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.  “I just saved your life you ungrateful -.”

“I could have handled him,” Xander snapped back as he pulled himself to his feet.  “Faith if I can’t trust you to follow my orders -.”

“Oh yeah Xman,” she snorted derisively, “you looked like you were handling him just fine.”

Xander’s eyes hardened and he stepped towards her.  Faith moved into a defensive stance, nobody got a free shot at her, but then an angry looking Angel was between them.  “Both of you calm down!” the vampire growled.  “For god’s sake Xander, I was coming over the wall when you were fighting that men.  You’d be dead if it hadn’t been for Faith,” her triumphant smirk faded when the vampire turned his furious glare on her.  “As for you Faith,” she squirmed at his disapproving tone, “what have I told you about losing your temper?  Now let’s get inside, while you’ve been squabbling our friends may have been injured.  Move it!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Axel staggered through Sunnydale’s darkened streets, his body screaming with pain and his stomach churning with shock.  He’d failed, he never failed.

And yet he’d been so close to getting Demonsbane if not for the Slayer….  A cruel smile flickered across his face at the memory of his fire.  Oh yeah, he was going to kill Demonsbane and after he did that he was going to take a few weeks adding that bitch to his list of conquests.  He’d never broken a Slayer before.  He’d gone about his mission the wrong way he saw that now.  He needed a small-scale team to target Demonsbane exclusively for elimination.

His planning was interrupted by the sound of a footfall behind him.  His heart crashing in his ribcage he spun around, mouth drying at the silver-haired goddess in the alleyway behind.  He grinned slowly, the Slayer could wait, he had a new bitch to train.  The woman’s eyes widened.  “God what’s happened to you?”

“Mugged,” he lied as he moved towards his next victim.

A small smile played on the woman’s lips.  “Let me take your pain away.”

“Oh yeah, and how would you do that?”

“By ending it!”  He shouted in shock when the woman morphed into a vampire.  His hand dropped to his holster only to curse as he remembered leaving his weapon in the grounds.  His curse turned into a pained gasp as the vampire slammed a fist into his eye, shattering his eye socket, lifting him off his feet, and sending him thundering into the wall behind, his head cracking into the wall behind knocking him senseless.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Sophia gazed down at the body lying at her feet.  She’d seen that battle at the mansion and watched Hans Axel’s retreat.  Remembering her first impression of the assassin in the bar she’d decided to take advantage of the moment and take him.  If nothing else he’d be useful in any battle with the Hunt.  Fangs bared, she lowered her head.  Time to feed.

The Paladin Project 13 – Holding Action

“How long is it going to take you to go through those books we retrieved from Wolfram & Hart?”  Xander asked, his fingers tapping impatiently on the bullet-scarred table of the conference room.  The battle for Eagle’s Nest had been long and bloody but thanks to a combination of luck and Leo’s healing skills they’d come through without using people.

“The texts are in a number of arcane languages including Saxony, Latin, Babylonian, ancient Egyptian, Assyrian, Mayan, and Sumerian, as well as some dialects that Fred,” the Watcher smiled at the shy scientist, “is endeavouring to work out a mathematical construct for.  It will be a period of 2 – 3 weeks before we have the books fully translated and all relevant information cross-referenced and collated.”

Xander sighed, as long as that?  “Okay,” (he) thought for a few seconds.  “G-Man, you, Wes, and Lara concentrate on translating.  Fred and Jonas you assist.  Major Carter, you, Marshall and Andrew focus on getting this place’s electronic defences on-line and the computer system more secure.  Wood,” the former principal raised an eyebrow, “I want you and Gunn to supervise Potential training.  Colonel O’Neill, I want you and Teal’c to go through the house fixing any problems or weaknesses with the physical defences.  The rest of us will patrol.  Blade, Angel, and myself will each lead a three man patrol with Draven,” he nodded to the Crow, “acting as roaming clean-up team.  We’ll attempt to keep normal demonic and the First’s activities under control.”

“Hey Xand,” it was Faith, “I could lead a patrol.”

“You’ll be assigned to either mine or Angel’s patrols.”  Best to keep her under the eye of himself and the man he trusted the most to control her.  Ignoring the Slayer’s hurt expression he turned to Piper.  “Piper, I want you and your sisters to look through the Book of Shadows-.”

“We’ve already done that,” Phoebe interrupted.

“Do it again.  And check the base’s magical defences while you’re at it, the attack might have damaged them.  If not see if you can improve them.  Any questions?”  When there were none Xander stood.  “Let’s get to it,” he hurried out of the room, anxious to have some time on his own, he hated the role circumstances had forced him into.  He was a foot soldier not a leader damn it!

“Xander, can I have a word?”

He stopped and turned at O’Neill’s voice behind him.  “Sure Colonel.”

“I didn’t want to say anything in front of the others but why are me and Teal’c assigned house-sitting duties?”

“Because,” Xander glanced down at the corridor’s carpet.  He considered a number of lies but decided the Colonel deserved the truth.  “Because I couldn’t bear to see you hurt.”

“Xander,” the soldier sighed, “I appreciate the sentiment but this is what I do -.”

“Colonel,” Xander struggled for the words for what he really wanted to say.  “You’re my father, the only proof I have that I’m not related to that worthless loser Anthony Harris.  I’m not going to see you hurt.”

O’Neill listened to him in silence before nodding.  “I’ll make you a deal.  First, you don’t try and cut me out of the showdown at the end,” the soldier waited for his nod before continuing, “and second once this is over we take some down time and get to know each other.”

“I’d like that,” Xander grinned, “I’ve heard stories about your fishing trips.  Can Murray come?”  Turning he started to walk away only to stop at a shout from O’Neill.

“Xander!  Don’t worry about Tony Harris you’ll never be a loser.”

He smiled slightly.  “Thanks Jac-, dad.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Angel,” he looked up at Wesley’s drawn face, “may I have a word with you?”

Angel hesitated before nodding.  There was still tension between them over Connor’s abduction but he couldn’t allow this to get in the way of their work.  “Sure.”

“I’d,” the former Watcher grabbed him by his elbow.  Apparently satisfied he wasn’t the First the Englishman released his grip, “prefer to do it in private.”

Angel raised an eyebrow.  “My room alright?” his former friend nodded.  “After you.”

“Xander’s behaviour towards Faith has been intolerable.  I have spoken to him about it and he has softened his stance slightly but still he runs a considerable risk of alienating her again.”

“You mean like you did when you were her Watcher?” he needled.

He was mildly disappointed when Wes didn’t react to his jibe.  “If anything his behaviour is worse.  I acted the way I did out of inexperience and was impersonal at worse.  But Xander,” the Watcher shook his head, “knows Faith’s history and yet he treats her like bloody rubbish!”

Angel was surprised by the raw fury in the Watcher’s tone.  “You really care about her don’t you?”

“Yes I bloody care,” Wesley looked up his face filled with guilt, “because of the way I treated her, that young lady was unable to trust you all.  Because of my actions she ended up in the Mayor’s clutches, spent eight months in a coma and three years in prison.”  The Watcher paused for a second before continuing.  “One of the things I admire most about you was the way you managed to reach her.  And I’m not going to allow that ignorant pillock to ruin your good work!”

Angel smiled, touched by the sincerity in the Englishman’s words.  “So how did this start?”

“The night we arrived in LA we, Xander, Faith, and I, cleared the air a little before heading out into the city,” the Watcher chuckled, “we ended up in O’Malleys, your local.  Faith arm-wrestled that big bastard Bryn O’Rourke down to the table when he objected to Lara and I being in an Irish pub.”  Wesley’s eyes darkened.  “And then the next morning it was a completely different Xander.  He was the same with the rest of us but with Faith,” the Englishman shook his head, “I was tempted to administer a horse-whipping.”  Angel chuckled.  Wesley scowled.  “What’s so bloody amusing?”

“You’re the Watcher, think about it.  Why would anyone change over-night?”

Understanding dawned in his companion’s eyes.  “He’s under a spell!”

“Close but no cigar,” Angel stood, all jocularity leaving him.  “He’s had a visit from the First.  Thanks for filling me in Wes, I didn’t realise it was quite this bad.”

“No problem,” Wesley paused, “what do you intend to do?”

“Now,” Angel replied, “Xander gets a visit from me.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Xander have you got a minute?”

Xander glanced up from his notes.  “Sure Angel,” he noticed the vampire had an unusually intense expression, “always got time for you.  What do you want?”

The vampire shook his head.  “Not here, let’s go the gym and spar.  It’s been a long time since we trained together.  I want to see how much of Demonsbane is fact and how much is legend.”

“Okay,” Xander cast Angel a curious glance.  What was going on?  The vampire was definitely acting weird.

Five minutes later and they were in the deserted gymnasium.  Xander moved onto the sparring mats and began his stretches, his eyes fixed on his friend opposite.  “What did you want to speak about?” he pressed again.

“Spar first,” Angel was expressionless, “talk later.”

“Okay,” he began to circle the motionless vampire, waiting for his adversary to make the first move.  Seeing Angel’s eyes narrow he was ready when the vampire snapped out a left jab, grabbing the vampire’s arm at the wrist and elbow, he began to bend it against the joint only for his stomach to explode in pain when Angel slammed a right into his gut.  Releasing his grip on the vampire’s arm he back-pedalled quickly.  “Nice shot, you been mixing MaxiMuscle in your blood again?”

Angel didn’t reply, choosing instead to surge forward, leading with a karate chop that he blocked on his shoulder.  Ignoring the bruising impact he shot out a right uppercut that caught Angel on the chin, knocking him back a step.  Hoping to press his advantage he moved into a leg sweep, unfortunately Angel saw his attack coming.  Leaping gracefully over his attack the vampire moved and into a flawless crescent kick that caught him on the right side of his chest, lifted him off the ground, and threw him six foot back.

Grunting with pain and embarrassment at being unceremoniously dumped on his ass, Xander rolled to his feet.  “Shit Deadboy,” he joked, “what happened, did I steal your favourite jacket or steal your last can of hair gel?”  When the vampire continued to silently stalk him his eyes narrowed.  He didn’t know what Angel’s problem was but if that was the way he wanted it.  Time to kick it up a notch.

He lunged forward, accessing the Hyena inside him to speed up to inhuman levels, sliding beneath Angel’s attempt at a right cross, hooking the vampire’s arm at the shoulder and flinging him to the ground.  He went for a follow-up stomp but his friend kicked at his grounded foot, knocking him off-balance.

Angel took advantage of the lull in hostilities to leap back to his feet and cover the distance between them in a single leaping backfist.  The vampire’s fist caught him above his left eye, staggering him and opening a cut that leaked claret into the eyes.  “Shit Angel,” he blocked a knee to the gut, grabbing the knee underneath the joint and pulling it upwards before releasing, “what is your problem?”

The vampire back-flipped to land on his feet some eight feet away.  Xander charged forward, snapping an overhead right at the vampire.  The punch connected with a thud, wobbling his adversary, attempting to seize advantage Xander moved quickly forward only for Angel to steady himself, sidestep his charge, and connect with a hook kick to his back and an elbow to his left ear.

Stunned by the dual attack, Xander fell to one knee.  He instantly started to rise only to stop when Angel grabbed him in a chokehold from behind, his left arm wrapped around his throat and his right arm hooked around his right shoulder while one of the vampire’s knees pressed into his back, immobilising him.  His blood chilled as Angel spoke.  “While you were gone I had a visit from the First,” he struggled to rise but the vampire’s greater strength and superior leverage pinned him into position, “he told me that you’d turn on me, that I should kill you.”

Suddenly he was flying through the air, colliding with the far wall with a thudding impact, and sliding to the ground.  Groaning with pain, he forced himself to his feet.  “Fortunately for you I have the sense to ignore the First,” Angel stepped back, “unlike you with Faith.  Just what do you think you’re playing at?  You idiot, you can’t believe the First.  You’re meant to be our leader, she’s part of your team, don’t alienate her!”

“Is she a part of our team, is she really?” he wiped the blood dripping down from his forehead.  “Do you know the two times I’ve been hurt the most?  When Buffy, my hero, beat me half to death.  And when Faith, a girl I trust, had gone through the same sort of things as me, tried to kill me.  My idol and a girl I’d shared so much with, they both tried to kill me.  Can you imagine how hurt, humiliated, and helpless they made me feel?  How stupid I felt for I felt for trusting them?  The First might be lying but I can’t, I won’t, risk getting close and then being betrayed by a Slayer again!”

The Paladin Project 14 – Family Ties

Faith moved through Eagles Nest’s corridors, her set face giving no clue to her inner emotions.  She’d been heading into the gym for a workout, something to blow away the cobwebs when she’d heard Angel and Xander talking.  God, the pain she’d heard in his voice when he’d spoke about the night she’d nearly killed him.  In LA he’d made light of the incident but today she’d heard the unvarnished truth.  She’d caused him so much hurt, he could never love her, not the way in which she wanted. 

She stopped at her dorm door, reached out with a trembling had, and shoved it open.  Once inside she allowed her mask and tears to fall.  Wiping her eyes she made for her bed. 

“Oh pull yourself together girl.”

Her heart thumping she turned to face the slender raven-haired with severe features stood by the door.  “M…ma.”

The woman’s face twisted into an all-too familiar sneer.  “You cheap harlot.  You were a wilful child, then you grew into your sinful whore’s body, eager to fornicate with any man who’d look your way!”

“Maybe if I got some attention off you I wouldn’t have!”  Faith interrupted.  She wasn’t going to let this Jesus-freak put her down, not like she had for the first fifteen years of her life.

“Pay you attention?” the woman laughed, it was a harsh, bitter sound.  “Why would I want to do that?  Be reminded of my greatest disappointment?  It was bad enough having to have you in my house, much less spend any time with you, and be reminded of the demonspawn I gave birth to.”

Faith flinched as ever word of her mother’s struck home.  “That’s not true,” she whispered, “I’ve made mistakes -.”

“Made mistakes,” her mother snorted, “you ran away with that British woman, after I provided for you, you ungrateful hussy.  Then you became a murderer, even worked for another demon.  You’re a despicable creature.”

“No,” she shook her head, “that’s not true.  Angel thinks -.”

 

“Angel?” her mother laughed.  “Another demon, a vampire thinks you’re worthwhile.  Well that’s alright then, maybe you’re not the Jezebel I always thought you were!  As if a fine upstanding young man like Xander Harris could ever be interested in you!  You try and kill him, and then you expect him to love you?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Dawn grinned as she hurried down the women’s corridor.  She’d just finished archery training on the outside range, she loved training, the buzz she got everything.  She knew she’d never be a Slayer but after years of just being ignored by everybody having people take the time to train her made her feel so wanted.

Her smile slipped as she heard the muffled sound of sobbing coming from a near-by room.  Her brow furrowed in concentration she followed the sound to its source and stopped.  “Faith.”  Dawn found herself in a quandary.  On the one hand she really liked the dark Slayer, before she’d gone bad and since her return she’d been really cool to her.  On the other hand Faith’s legendary hot temper was even more volatile when she was in one of her moods.  Finally she smiled.  “A friend in need is a pain in the ass.”  After taking a breath she shoved the door open and walked into the room.  “Hi Faith.”

As soon as she entered the Slayer sprang off the bed, bolting into an upright position, wiping quickly at her eyes.  “Jeez Pip,” Faith blustered, “didn’t Joyce teach ya to knock?”

Oh yeah,” Dawn nodded, not at all thrown by the Slayer’s bravado, “’course she was always telling me I didn’t listen enough, so you know.  What’s up?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh yeah ‘cause bad ass bitches are always just bursting into tears for no good reason,” her tone hardened, “talk.”

The Slayer glared at her.  “How about I kick your nosy ass back into the corridor?”

Dawn didn’t flinch.  “How about I go and find Angel and tell him, oh and anybody I pass on the way about your blubbering?” she countered.

Faith paled at her threat.  “Y..you wouldn’t.”

“Try me,” she challenged.  Judging it was time to ease off on the pressure she sat down on the bed beside the older woman.  “So what’s the sitch?”

Faith smiled wanly at hearing her use one of the Slayer’s catchphrases.  “I had a visit from the First.”

“Oh,” Dawn paused for a second and winced.  Shortly after transferring her own loyalties to Xander she’d been visited by the First in the guise of her mother, berating her for choosing Xander over Buffy.  It had shaken her but she’d rather be on the side of right than blindly following family.  “What happened?”

“All my life I’ve figured I’d be alone.  First ‘cause my ma made it damn sure I knew how worthless was.”  Dawn heart ached at the matter-of-fact note in her friend’s voice.  “Then ‘cause I knew guys would look at me and say ‘Faith Walker,” Dawn blinked, she realised she’d never known Faith’s surname, “there’s one hot slut, she’ll do anything you want, but don’t get serious she’s not worth it.  And then I was a murderer, what decent guy would want me then?  And then I got out of prison and there was Xand,” Faith paused for a second.  “I never really noticed him first time I was in Sunnyd.”

“But you slept with him,” Dawn interjected.

“Me sleeping with a guy didn’t mean a lot back then trust me,” Faith replied, her tone bitter.  “He treated me way nicer than any guy I’d been with before – he was respectful, sweet, and polite, the sort of guy every girl wants but I knew he’d be repulsed by me eventually so I sort of ignored him.  Then he turns back up in Sunnyd and he’s this bad-ass capable of kicking your sis’ ass and giving orders to major-leaguers like Blade and Angel.  Then he give me a fucking pardon,” her friend patted her wallet instinctively, “and it’s like wow this hero gives enough of a shit to do this for me.”  Faith glanced down at the carpet.  “For the first time in my life a decent guy thinks I’m worth making an effort for.  Right that I started to fall for him.  But I knew I didn’t have a chance -.”

“Why not?”

The Slayer started at her softly asked question as if she’d forgotten she was there.  “Here’s a newsflash for you Dawn,” Faith’s crooked smile had none of its usual energy or warmth, “girls like me, from the wrong side of the tracks, we don’t end up with guys like Xand.  If they’re lucky they get knocked up by a grease monkey or a truckie by the name of Cletus who’s banging the local barmaid on the side.  If they’re not, they end up crack whores doing johns for $10 a pop.”

 Dawn winced at the grim picture drawn by her companion’s words.  “You’re better than that.”

“Whatever,” Faith shrugged.  “I never had your or B’s chances.  That’s the reason I hated your sis so much by the end, she had so much but was always pissing about what she hadn’t got.”

“You were talking about Xander,” Dawn interrupted, unwilling to allow the Slayer change the subject.

“Yeah,” Faith nodded.  “I figured Xman’s out of my league but maybe we could be buds maybe some day he’d notice me as more.  So I tried, I really did, and things were going pretty good, we were swapping jokes just like we did back in the day.  And then,” Faith’s face fell, “he just changed was like totally cold.  I hadn’t a clue what the fuck I’d done or how to fix it.  Then I went to the gym to take my frustrations out on the punch-bag.  I was just outside when I heard Xman arguing with Angel.  Angel was bawling him out for believing the First about me.  I was about to go and rip the prick’s head off when he starts talking back to Angel, telling him how scared and helpless I made him feel when I strangled him, how he’d felt a connection with me but how he could never completely trust me.  I knew then, I knew Xand could never love me.”

“Oh Faith I’m sorry.”

The Slayer didn’t appear to hear her muttered sympathy.  “I headed back to my room and when I got here my ma’s waiting here.”  Faith laughed harshly.  “You know the dumb bitch got knocked up with me when she was just sixteen, the first time she went all the way with a guy.  Her family turned her out and she turned into a regular Bible-Thumper.  Every fucking thing I did was a sin against god, any fucking excuse to hit me, lock me in the cupboard for a few hours, only thing I had to occupy me was the bible, toys were sinful.”  Dawn paled, no wonder Faith was such a mess.  “She told me what a useless slut I am and that’s where you came in.”

Dawn stared at her friend for a few seconds before coming to a decision.  Standing she grabbed hold of the Slayer’s hand.  “Come on we’re going to see Angel.”

Faith’s eyes widened.  “Uh, uh,” the Slayer shook her head, “no fucking way.”

“Then I’ll bring him here,” Dawn snapped right back, “and if anyone asks I’ll tell them you need Angel because you’re babbling like a baby.”

“You’re evil.”

Dawn grinned.  “The First’s got nothing on me.  Now move it.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Angel turned from discussing Xander with Wesley to the door as it opened to reveal Dawn herding a bemused and distressed looking Faith behind him.  “Dawn, have you heard of knocking!”

“You know Faith said much the same thing,” Dawn said calmly, “and what would you be doing alone in a room with Wes anyway?  Although,” a mischievous glint entered the teen’s eyes, “given that vampires are notoriously asexual and Wes went to English upper-class boarding schools-.”

“I say!”

Angel’s hid his amusement both at Wesley’s out-raged face and Dawn’s instinctive command of situation, reminding him of her sister without her accompanying immaturity.  His amusement died at the teen’s words.  “Wesley go and get Xander,” Faith flinched at the name, “it’s time we cleared the air.”

Once the Watcher had left Angel turned to Dawn.  “What’s this about?”

The teen didn’t look at him choosing instead to stare at Faith.  “Are you going to tell him or shall I?”

“Dawn,” Angel blinked at Faith’s almost whining tone.  Dawn raised an eyebrow, Faith pouted.  “Fine.”

Angel grew more and more angry as the brunette talked, her voice a lifeless monotone.  Finally she’d finished.  “Have you listened to nothing I’ve told you?” he scolded.  “You can’t define yourself by your past or what others think.  Define yourself by your actions.”

“My actions tell me I’m a murdering slut.”

“Oh bloody hell you dozy bint!” Angel glanced away from Faith to an angry-looking Wesley and a pale-faced Xander standing in the doorway.  “Your actions tell me a quite different story!  You were Chosen, one girl out of millions by a power beyond our understanding – doesn’t that mean anything to you?  During your time as a Slayer you have slain a number of Master Vampires, helped save the world from the Sisterhood of Jhe, and prevented Angelus from killing us all.  That’s quite a list of achievements for an apparently worthless tart.  Pull yourself together girl!”

“Faith,” the Slayer’s eyes flickered up towards Xander.  If Angel had been human he’d have held his breath as he waited for his friend to speak.  “What both Wesley and Angel said was right.  You’ve done a lot of good stuff in your life,” the man paused as if collecting his thoughts before crouching down in front of the brunette, “and the way I figure it if the First’s so set on pushing us apart that seems like a good reason for us to be friends.  I don’t want anything more than friendship, there’s too much history between us, but if you wanted I’d be honoured to have such a brave, strong-willed woman as my friend.”

There was a pause and then Faith nodded.  “I’d like us to be friends too.”

“Good,” Xander straightened.  “Then I better get back to work.”  After giving the Slayer a quick hug and whispering an apology in her ear, Xander walked out.

After a moment Dawn rose.  “I got Rocky Boxing yesterday, want to go a few rounds Faith.”

The Slayer stood, a smile playing on her full lips and something approaching her usual energy in her eyes.  “Sure Pip, on a PS2 is the only time you’ll last a few rounds against me.”

Angel stopped Dawn as she followed Faith out of the room.  “You did good work today Dawn.”

If the teen’s answering smile had been a single watt brighter he’d have burst into flames.  “Thanks Angel.”

The Paladin Project 15 - Death Of The Death

De Morte nodded in satisfaction at the array of vampires before him. In addition to his own elite team of The Hunt, his master had sent twenty of The Crimson Guard, Lord Lucis' personal bodyguard, young and fanatically loyal vampires personally trained by him to serve their liege lord. It was from their ranks he chose the new members of The Hunt, when the candidate had the sufficient experience and power.

After collecting his thoughts he began to speak. "You've all been briefed about our mission objective - the destruction of the Paladin Project," he waited until the ripple of mutters going through his audience had dissipated before continuing. "At first the plan was to attack the Project at their base," he pointed to the photo on the projection screen and grimaced, "but we were beaten to it by the Satan's Soldiers who were repulsed at great loss to the mercenary unit."

Once again his audience began to mutter in shock. Eventually a vampire raised a hand. "Sir, who hired the Soldiers?"

"That it is unknown," De Morte replied with a shrug. "What is important is they failed and I decided it is inadvisable to repeat that tactic. As a result we're going to use a different plan. Each night the Project patrols Sunnydale, eliminating any demons or vampires they find. Blade leads one group, Angel one, and Demonsbane and Faith the other, with Eric Draven acting as a roaming trouble-shooter. My plan is that my troops will each take out the Project's super-powered members while on patrol with you," he nodded towards the Crimson Guard contingent, "while you will deal with the purely human people. You," he nodded to the room's final group, fourteen vampires press-ganged from the local population, "are tasked with eliminating Draven." Given the Crow's powers the fourteen vampires would be little more than cannon-fodder but they should delay Draven enough to allow them to deal with the Hunt's main targets. "We go tonight, any questions?"

        * * *

Faith sneaked a side glance at Xander. It was a week since their conversation about the past and the atmosphere between them had eased considerably. Still, whenever she was near him she got an aching, a longing for him to hold her, for him to joke with her in the easy manner he had back in the day. It was just too hard being around him, she was considering asking G if she could be moved away from him, to the secondary hellmouth in Cleveland after the current shit-storm was over. But that would mean she'd hardly ever see him, hear his voice. Fuck, she was like a junkie and he was her heroin.

She was brought out of her dilemma by a hissed whisper from the subject of her musings. "Faith, is there something up there?"

Faith stared into the darkness ahead, there was something, a vague shape. Suddenly uneasy she began to draw her sword. "I don't know Xand," she muttered in reply, "may-." She was cut off by a sound above her head. She looked up instinctively to see a shape leap off the top of the wall and onto her. "Xand!" she yelled.

        * * *

At his companion's shout Xander started towards her, his eyes widening as two other vampires dropped onto the ground surrounding the struggling Slayer. Growling protectively his hand snaked inside his jacket to pull out his Desert Eagle as he moved across the shadowy alley."Case! Frank! Cover me!" At the last instance he heard a footfall to his right, too indistinct for a normal ear to pick up. "Fuck!"

Spinning round he saw a seven foot tall giant who wouldn't have been out of place on the cover of 'MuscleMag International'. Even as he levelled his gun at the vampire, he sensed another three demonic presences behind him and heard the sound of Castle and Ryback engaged in a fire-fight. A fucking trap.

Cursing under his breath, he accessed the inner hyena, feeling a pair of hands grab his shoulders from behind, he backed-up quickly, driving his head into the creature's face, shattering bone and forcing a scream from his attacker. Hoping to seize the opportunity offered to him by the beast's loosening grip, Xander pulled away only for a bone-shuddering left hook from the giant vampire in front of him to knock him into the brick wall, his head connecting with a thudding impact. Dazed, he could only watch helplessly as the four vampires moved in.

        * * *

Angel stopped, his eyes flickering around him, his vampiric sense screaming. "Trouble," he muttered, he glanced to the MacLeods, relieved to see his companions had already drawn their swords.

"Oh more than just trouble Angelus," a tall, lithe brunette in a figure- hugging black catsuit stepped out of the shadows, flanked by a pair of hulking six footers. "Death." Even as Angel and his companions stepped forward to meet the challenge, he heard pained screams in the distance. The sultry goddess smiled. "Oh that would be my minions murdereing and butchering innocents."

Angel grimaced, recognising the trap set before him but unable to avoid it. "Dunc, Con, Amanda, go deal with them, I'll," his eyes bore holes into his adversary, causing her to momentarily step back before regaining her poise, "deal with them."

"Good luck," Connor said before hurrying away.

"Ah," the dark-haired beauty fluttered her long eye-lashes, "all alone Angelus. What are you to do?"

"Kill you," he replied in a low growl before charging forward to meet the trio and speaking into his throat mike. "Draven, it's Angel I'm at the main park. I need help now!"

        * * *

"I'll get right on it." Draven stared at the gang of vampires surrounding him and smiled. This was going to be fun.

Suddenly he exploded into action, his movements a blur as he assaulted the massed vampires, his fists punching through ribcages to pull out hearts, his kicks tearing heads off shoulders. His inhuman speed was so fast that even his demonic opponents struggled to touch him, and those who managed to punch or kick him found their attacks were shrugged off effortlessly. Finally the last vampire exploded into dust, his head pulled off his shoulders. For a second Eric just stood in the shadowy street, exulting in another battle won. Then he remembered Angel's call for assistance and cursed.

        * * *

"Shit!" Blade threw himself to his left as hot lead tore through the cold night and into the space where he'd be stood just a split-second earlier. He dared a peek over the trash receptacle he'd dived behind and cursed, his adversaries, three vampires had caught him in crossfire. He'd have to get assistance from his companions. His curses grew louder as his ears picked up the sound of a fire-fight behind him, indicating Bond and Crow had problems of their own. "So no help there then." Lifting his head over the rim of the garbage can he fired his two automatics. He only had limited ammo, if he didn't do something fast they'd have him. He grimaced; this was gonna hurt.

        * * *

Faith snarled fearfully at the three vampires stood over her, memories of when it was men rather than demons in that position assaulting her. Shoving aside her fear, she surged to her feet and did what she always did, channelling her hurt into fighting. She sidestepped a right-handed backfist from the vampire to her left only to catch a foot in her gut from the one to her front, doubling her up and knocking her into the alley wall behind.

Ignoring the pain in her stomach, she somersaulted backwards, planting her heels on the top of the wall and pushing off. Once in mid-air she cleared the heads of the three vampires, coming down to land behind them, her knees bent to take the impact. Twisting round she slid under a left hook, grabbed her attacker's arm at the wrist and pulled him towards her, stiff- arming him across the chest, sending him crashing to the ground. Eager to take her chance she stepped forward to stake the bastard but caught a thudding blow across her forehead from one of the other vampires, tearing open a cut over her left eye. "Fuck!" Blood blurring her vision she was helpless to avoid the leg sweep taking her legs from underneath her sending her plummeting back to the ground.
        * * *

Shaking the stars from his head, Xander finally managed to finish drawing his gun. He took a malicious delight from the distraught look on the vampires' faces before beginning to fire. His first pair of shots took the heads off two of his attackers but the third vampire managed to grabb his wrist and twisted, the sudden pain causing him to drop his gun. "Shit!" Xander shot out a foot, catching the vampire between the legs. Even as the vampire doubled up the other remaining vampire, the giant, shattered Xander's jaw with a thudding punch to the chin. Ignoring the blood foaming in his mouth, Xander stepped towards the still doubled-up vampire, driving his knee up into its face, sending it crashing to the ground.

Xander spun to face the giant blood-sucker. Catching a right hook intended to take his head off on his shoulder, Xander butted the vampire in the face. "Argh!" the vampire stumbled backwards, his eyes dazed with pain. Before the monster had a chance to recover Xander caught him with an bone- breaking overhand right to the nose and a knee to the groin, further rocking the monster. His heart pounding with jubilation, Xander drew his stake and charged towards the vampire.

Xander cursed as his right foot was grabbed by the vampire he'd previously knocked to the floor. Off balance, he was barely able to sidestep a knife- thrust from the giant and unable to avoid a backfist that shattered his nose. Tears of pain blinding him, he stumbled shoulder-first into the wall. Sensing the vampire to his right charging at him, Xander waited until the last second then drew his stake and slammed it into the left side of its chest. Even as he turned his attention back to the other vampire, he was rocked by a chop to the right side of his neck and a rib-cracking punch to the gut. Swearing at the pain raging through his body he was unable to keep hold of his stake.

The vampire rushed in but Xander sidestepped its charge and caught it with a knifehand across the throat. Growling in pain the giant attempted to grab his outstretched arm but he managed to pull away and drove an elbow into the demon's jaw. The vampire let out a pained squawk before stumbling backwards. Eager to follow-up Xander caught the monster with a side-kick to the stomach, his blow connecting with a satisfying crack. Seizing advantage of the opportunity offered to him by the vampire's distress he scooped up his stake but as he straightened a hand grabbed him by the throat and flung him into a collection of trash-cans at the far end of the alley, the back of his head smashing onto the road. Dazed and beaten beyond the point of endurance he could only watch as the mountainous vampire approached his crumpled body.

        * * * Knowing he'd only get one chance to put his plan into action, Blade waited until he judged the time was right before moving. Grabbing hold of the rim of the steel trashcan he was hiding behind he flung it to his left, the force of his throw sending the bin soaring into the night. At the same time he dived to his right, firing as he went.

His first shot took the leftmost vampire in his head as his attacker peeked over the car he'd been hiding behind to look at the trashcan, a split- second later the vampire exploded into dust. Ignoring the pain as rounds from the other two shuddered into him he raised his gun and fired into the engine of the car the vampire pair where hiding behind. The last thing Blade saw before lapsing into unconsciousness was the car exploding into flames, the last thing he heard was the screaming of the vampires as they died.

        * * *

Angel winced as the female vampire's blade sliced into his shoulder, ripping open a bloody furrow. Ignoring the pain he moved backwards, warily watching the vampires opposing him. He'd slain one of them, but with the odds of two to one and injured it didn't look good, especially when you considered the age and power of the vampires facing him.

"Angelus," the raven-haired goddess shook her head, a mocking expression on her beautiful face. "What has happened to you? Vampires the world all over used to talk about you in terms of reverence. And now what? You're a pathetic dogsbody to our food. How the mighty have fallen."

Angel raised an eyebrow. "Eric, you ready?"

The Crow laughed, his white mask showing. The two vampires began to spin to face Draven but before they'd finished their turn, the Crow was amongst them, his fists slamming into the chests, cracking ribs on way to pulling out their hearts. A split-second later and the vampires exploded into dust.

Angel smiled down at the dust piles. "I might be pathetic, but I'm still here."

        * * *

Even as Faith hit the hard gravel she was moving, rolling from side to side and shielding her head from stomps and kicks from her attackers. Seeing an opening she snatched at one of the vampires' ankles and pulled, jerking the bone against the grain. There was a crack from the ankle as it broke and a scream from the vampire as he fell.

As soon as the vampire hit the ground she was on him. Steeling herself against the punches and kicks reigning down on her she slammed her stake into the beast's heart. As her other two rivals stumbled back in shock, Faith rolled onto her back before flipping upright between them.

After a half-second's hesitation the two vampires charged her. Instantly Faith dropped into a forward roll coming up in front of the wall and ran up it before launching herself into a backwards somersault to land behind her stunned rivals. Even as they turned to face her she thrust her stake left and right, slaying the two vampires. Faith spun round to see how Xander was doing. Her mouth dropped open at the massive vampire advancing on her friend, he had to stand seven foot tall and weighed 320 easy. "Fuck." Rushing forward she placed herself between the gigantic demon and her friend.

"Back off Godzilla," she warned. God, she hoped she sounded more confident than she felt. Her face where the other vampires had beaten her was misshapen agony and her entire body was aching from the pummelling she'd taken while on the ground. But no matter what, there was no fucking way this bastard was going to lay another hand on Xan.

        * * * De Morte stared at the Slayer, caught in a quandary. In his seven hundred years of existence he'd killed five Slayers, but he'd always been fresh and the Slayer exhausted, worn down by his minions, this one was exhausted but so was he - could he take her? All thoughts of fighting fled when Demonsbane stumbled up to stand beside the Slayer, his expression dazed yet determined. Worse still was the sight of the two battered humans finishing off the Crimson Guard members sent to delay them. "There'll be other days," he muttered before turning and fleeing into the night.

        * * * The instant the big bastard melted into the shadows Xander let out a gasp of pain. Cursing, Faith spun round and caught her friend as he crumpled to the ground. Pushing aside her own feelings of delight at finally being able to hold Xander in her arms, she looked down with concern at Xander's battered face. "Damn Xand, he really fucked you up," muttering a silent promise to hunt down the gargantuan vampire who'd done this to her bud she turned back to Ryback and Castle. "Patrol's cancelled boys, we need to get Xman back to Leo." She could do with the angel's healing hands herself. She hid a smile. It didn't hurt that he was a hottie too.

        * * *

De Morte's head reeled as he staggered through Sunnydale's dark streets. He'd failed, but he'd been so close. If not that for the Slayer bitch he'd have snapped Demonsbane's neck. But he had to admit that Demonsbane was tough, far tougher than any human he'd ever faced before.

His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar smell reaching his nostrils. He pulled up, his eyes warily searching the surrounding shadows even as he spit out blood. "Sophia?" he growled.

"Here dear," Lord Lucis' favourite toy stepped out of the darkness ahead of her, the sneer she always wore when not in their master's presence in place.

"What are you doing here?" De Morte asked, his stomach clenching in fear. He might be his master's chief enforcer but Sophia held an unchallenged position as Lucis' chosen assassin. Sophia was centuries younger than him but had the powers and abilities of a Slayer to add her vampiric abilities, if it came to a fight he didn't know who'd win - especially considering his injuries.

"Why," the former Slayer purred, her movements as seductively slinky as they'd always been as she approached him. "Couldn't I have just missed your touch, you beating, whipping me as our master watched?" The woman's eyes hardened. "Or could it be that our master sent me to watch you in case you failed."

De Morte swallowed. "If you joined forces with me Demonsbane wouldn't have a chance."

"Um, let me think," the woman shifted into her demonic face, "no. Hans."

Too late De Morte registered the demonic presence behind him. Cursing he spun round to face the interloper, saw the crossbow arrow flying towards his chest and put an arm across to block it. The arrow thudded into his thickly-muscled forearm. De Morte's eyes widened in shock as pain coursed through his body, the arrow shouldn't have hurt that much! Distracted by the agony exploding in his body he didn't register the second arrow until it flew into his left thigh, sending him crashing down on one knee. Suddenly he heard Sophia's ice-cold voice in his ear and felt her hands around her neck. "Tips dipped in holy water, has quite a kick to it doesn't it?" the silver-haired goddess twisted her hands breaking his neck before releasing him, allowing him to fall to the ground. He stared up helplessly at the gloating woman stood above him. "Dear De Morte, all the members of the Hunt dead, the Crimson Guard decimated, and I, I have my Axel," the vampire who'd shot him moved into view, "as well as some Master vampires looking to join the Clans. The Project are unimportant, Lord Lucis has made a mistake, he's getting old, senile - a new leader is needed - me. Axel, kill him."

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