"How long until we reach the Motor Lodge." Hannibal asks Murdock.
"About 3 minutes Colonel. Where do I land?"
"If the courtyard is clear, then there." Hannibal replies as the helicopter suddenly lurches. Hannibal looks out the side door and suddenly a claw rakes his chest, cutting deeply. He staggers back and BA grabs his M-60 and looks down. An ugly thing was hanging onto the runners and slowly climbing up. He points his machine gun down and holding the barrel less than a foot away, clamps down on the trigger. The demon screams as the fifty round belt is quickly punched into its face. It lets go and drops from the helicopter.
BA turns back and asks. "Faceman, how's Hannibal?"
"Not good BA. I hope they have more than one doctor there."
"Murdock, can you get us there faster?" BA screams out.
"ETA one minute BA. I'm going to land her right in front of that guy waiting for us." Murdock yells out. The helicopter lands hard, but in one piece and the A-Team watches as various people run to the helicopter. One, a red headed woman, asks. "Has he lost much blood?"
"We don't think so. But check on Hannibal." BA shouts and points to Hannibal, lying prone in the helicopter.
The woman moves to Hannibal and after examining him for a second, sadly shakes her head. "I can't do anything for him. I'm sorry." Then she rushes back to Joe and looks at his wound. "I can help him. Get him over to a room." Scully yells. Duncan McLeod, Methos and Richie Ryan gently carry their friend to a room.
As the Immortals take Joe away, a large creature lands next to the helicopter. It looks over the assembled Warriors and speaks in a voice tinged with a hiss. "I want those five mortals. Leave them to me and I will let the rest of you live." As it finishes, the only sounds heard on the windswept courtyard are the sounds of safeties being released and swords being removed from their sheaves. The demon watches as the mortals face it without flinching.
It watches as a single mortal comes forward to challenge it. "The only way you're going to get to those men is over our dead bodies. I challenge you Demon." Steve St. Wolf cries as he rips out Demon Slayer and attacks the Demon. Everyone watches as the battle begins. St. Wolf moves towards the Demon at a dead run and jumps up and slices at its wing. He quickly passes it and lands on his feet. He turns around and the Demon turns around and looks at him and then it laughs. "Is that the best you can do mortal?" It asks. Steve gives it a devil may care grin and points to its left wing. The Demon moves the wing forward to assess the damage and the wing promptly falls off. The monster roars in pain and suddenly rushes Steve.
Steve ducks down and dodges on the monster's left side and cuts a deep furrow into its side. The Demon roars again and quickly turns around seeking the mortal that had hurt it. As it turns around it feels a pain in its leg and suddenly the leg collapses. The Demon looks up and sees the mortal who has defeated it. It raises its head and asks. "What are you?"
Steve looks down on the demon and as he raises his sword for the killing blow, tells him. "I'm the man who defeated you." And with that, he swings his sword and cuts off the Demon's head.
Steve, breathing deeply, looks around and orders. "Jack, I want sentries posted on each side of the Motor Lodge." Gerber details several of his men to the task. "Cody, Mack, detail a roving patrol outside and inside the courtyard as well as the back lot. Lennox, re-enforce the guards in the back lot." Orders are snapped out and men and women move to take their places.
Bushido leans over and asks. "Major, what the hell just happened?"
"Cherokee killed a Demon. Anything else, Bushido?"
"Yeah, those poems you asked me about earlier, they were about a pair of magical swords. Is Cherokee using the one they called Demon Slayer?"
"Yes he is." Gerber simply replies.
"Who's carrying its mate? The one they call Vampire Slayer."
"You remember the girl driving the Blazer?" Bushido nods silently. "She is."
"Damn, she couldn't be over eighteen. Why them?"
"Because they are the best. Any other questions?"
"No Sir. Thanks for telling me." Bushido replies as he thinks. < Ancestor. Father is going to have a fit when he finds out that the Slayer swords have resurfaced. >
Frank looks to his brother George and quietly asks. "Think we should ask Mr. St. Wolf for a security deposit?"
George looks out at the amassed group of fighters and the Demon's body and quietly replies. "I'm more worried about cleaning up the mess."
Peter Caine looks at the corpse of the monster that had threatened them and shudders. < Damn and I thought the Shambalah masters were good. I've got to tell Pop about this guy. >
Kermit nudges his partner and asks. "What would your father make of this Pete?"
"He'd say, 'That for every evil there is a champion of good who will defeat it'."
"You're hanging around with him too much. You're beginning to sound like him."
"Like who?" Nash asks.
"Pete's father is a Shoalin priest. Pete was also raised in a Buddhist temple and trained to become a priest like his father." Kermit explains.
Nash grins and asks. "So why'd you become a cop?"
"Because I was good at it. Being a priest isn't what I wanted to be. My father respects the choices I made for my life." Pete replies.
"He sounds like a good man. So, what do you think of our little mission?"
"I think that if I didn't help, then I'd be betraying everything that I believe in." Peter replies with a determined tone in his voice.
"Good to know Bubba. Now I'm going over to the planning session with Scarlet and Tommy. Then we go."
The telephone rings in the Mayor's office and the Mayor picks it up. "What now?" He asks.
"Sir, this is Williamson. I'm overseeing the surveillance at the Motor Lodge."
"What happened?"
"A demon of the eighth circle of hell landed in the courtyard and demanded five people who had just landed a helicopter in there. The group already at the Motor Lodge refused to give them up and they challenged the demon."
"How many dead?" The Mayor asks with glee.
"One. The Demon was killed in less than two minutes by a single man with a sword." Williamson nervously replies.
The Mayor stares at the wall, digesting the information. A full minute later he asks. "What is being done to the body?"
"A pair of priests are performing the ritual of destruction on the body."
"Damn. What else is there?"
"They're posting sentries and have started a roving patrol, we're going to have to leave or they'll find us." Williamson replies.
"Get out of there. If they find you and your men, then we're all dead."
"Understood Sir. We're leaving right now."
After Williamson hangs up the Mayor walks over to his memo pad and scratches out his previous memo about Williamson. < Can't kill him for being thorough. >
Wally watches the fight in fascination and thinks to himself. < Shit, no wonder Coyote said those motorcycle gang members were lucky. > He turns back to the men being defended and realized that one of them was dying. He walks over and asks. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yeah, can you get me a drink of water. My throat is dry." The dying man mutters.
Wally turns to go get the water, then it hits him. < Am I an idiot or what? > He rips open his travel bag and hands the woman the bottle. She looks up at him and mouths 'Thanks'. She quickly opens the bottle and gives the man a sip. As he takes the first sip, the magic of Avalon starts to work and his wounds begin to heal. Amy tries to take away the bottle, but Hannibal's hands close on it and he drinks deeply. As his four friends watch, Hannibal's wounds start to disappear before their eyes. As half the bottle is consumed, Hannibal rips it away and looks up at Wally and asks. "I take it this isn't regular water?"
Wally grins. "No Sir. It's water from the fountain of youth, if you can believe it."
Hannibal's mouth splits into a grin as he tells Wally. "After today, I'll believe anything. What the hell happened to that thing that tried to kill me?"
"Wanderer took it out." Wally replies with a grin.
"It's dead?" Hannibal asks, surprised. "How many people got hurt taking it down?"
"Yep, about as dead as anything is when you cut its head off and no one got hurt doing it." Wally replies as Hannibal gets up and the team follows him to where the body was lying. They watch as two men, obviously priests were working around the body and muttering phrases in Latin.
"Who took it down?" Hannibal asks.
Wally points over to Steve and tells Hannibal. "That's Wanderer, he took out that ugly thing by himself."
Hannibal watches as the man calls out orders and people move to follow them. After he finishes, Hannibal grins and remarks. "Isn't that the guy from Buster's last night?"
"Yeah and from the looks of things, he's called in some backup." Murdock remarks, looking at the large number of people present.
"Well, we might as well introduce ourselves." Hannibal replies as he leads his teammates walk up to Steve and introduce themselves. "Hello, I'm Hannibal Smith and these are my friends, Templeton Peck, BA Baracus, H.M. Murdock and Amy Allen. We're the A-Team. Thanks for taking that thing out."
Steve grins and holds out his hand to Col. Smith, who takes it. As they shake, Steve comments. "You're the A-Team? A pleasure Colonel Smith. Your reputation and that of your men, proceeds you Sir." Then Steve looks at the four men and realizes that he had seen them before and where. "So how was dinner last night?" Steve asks with a grin.
"Fine. Thanks for paying for it. But getting back to what just happened. What just happened?"
"You pissed off a Demon. It followed you here and I killed it. Anything else?" Steve asks.
Hannibal looks at the young looking man and shudders. < God, what the hell have we walked into? > "No, I guess that's about it. Thanks for taking it out. Our guns only pissed it off."
"You mind answering a few questions for me?" Steve asks.
"Sure, not a problem." Hannibal replies with a grin.
Before Steve can ask any questions, Hannibal sees the red headed doctor walk up. She goes directly to Steve and tells him. "Steve, it doesn't look good for Joe. The wounds deep and it looks like the artery is going to break."
"Can we move him to a hospital?"
"No. If we move him, the artery will definitely break and we'll lose him." Scully replies.
"Give him a drink of this." Hannibal tells Scully, holding out the water bottle.
Scully turns around and is about to tell the man where to go, when she notices his shirt front. "Shouldn't you be dead?" She asks, not really surprised.
"Yeah, but Wally here gave me this stuff and it fixed me right up." Hannibal replies with a grin.
Scully takes the bottle, sniffs it and takes a taste. "It's just water."
"No Dana, it's water from the fountain of youth. Let Joe drink it and it'll heal his wounds as well as knock a few years off him." Steve replies with a grin.
"You know Mulder's right. Every time we come out here, we get more mysteries to solve than what we started out with." Scully replies with a grin as she takes the bottle to Joe.
Steve turns back to the five people in front of him and asks. "Now if you don't mind. I want to know where you got Joe from and what we're going to be facing."
"We rescued Joe from the Forum, where the Watchers are holding their meeting. There are more of these things back there as well as vampires." Hannibal replies.
Steve quickly pulls out his cell phone. "Robert, Steve here. Get Jenny on the line." Jenny quickly gets on line and Steve orders. "Jenny listen to me. The Watchers are at the Great Western Forum. Have Willow get the schematics for it and print them out on the big plan printer. Get Frohike to move the Key Hole satellite over it and give us a reading on where the warm bodies are.
"Show Robert, Byers and Langley where the six SPAS-15s and two Barret M-82s are, and have them pull them out. I'm sending Xander and Oz to pick them up. Also pull out the following ammunition, two hundred rounds of fifty caliber, two thousand 308, one thousand 223, five hundred shotgun slugs and six belts each for the M-60s and Stoner's."
"What kind of ammunition?" Jenny asks.
"The enchanted silver bullets."
"You're going up against Demons?"
"Yeah and it's going to be a bad one." Steve replies grimly as he hangs up. Then he calls out. "Xander, Oz, get back to the house and pick up the stuff that I asked for." Xander and Oz break for his van and quickly leave. After they leave, Steve makes another call. "John, this is Steve. We've found out that the next target is the Forum."
"The Forum? What the hell are the vampires doing there?" John Randall asks.
"A group called the Society of Watchers was holding a meeting there and the vampires attacked. Several people were able to escape and they got in contact with us."
"You sure it's not a false call?"
Steve looks down at the Demon's head and replies. "Oh, I'm pretty sure it's not a false lead, John. Take my word for it." Hannibal and everybody within ear shot crack grins as Steve confirms the target with Captain Randall.
"All right. If you're positive, I'll shift all of the units from Buster's to the Forum. How long before you get on the road?"
"Give us about thirty minutes. I want to go over the Forum's plans and get some intel from the people who were there." Steve then turns to the five strangers in front of him and asks. "Would you mind joining us for a planning session? I want to get as much information as possible from you before we begin the assault."
Hannibal looks at the expectant faces and pulls out a cigar and lights up. "Only if you include us in it."
"You guys up to it?" Steve asks, looking doubtful.
Wally hands each of the men a full bottle of water and Hannibal grins. "We will be. Give us a couple of minutes."
Steve grins and calls Jenny back, but Robert picks up. "Robert, tell Jenny to make it nine belts of ammo for the M-60s."
BA turns to Hannibal and slyly remarks. "Hannibal, is this guy related to you?"
"Not to my knowledge BA. Why?"
"Because he has the same warped grin that you have when you're about to go into action." BA replies with a sly grin.
Hannibal laughs and then turns to his friends, lifting his bottle. "Drink up my friends." And with that the team drinks down the bottles. A few minutes later, Hannibal remarks. "God, you all look so young."
Face walks up to a window and touches his face. "Hannibal, I look like I'm twenty again." Face then turns to Wally and asks. "How long will this last?"
"According to Mr. St. Wolf. Thirty days."
"Good, that'll give us enough time to do those two missions that came up." Hannibal remarks.
"What sort of missions?" Wally asks, curious.
"Interested in joining us?" Hannibal asks with a grin.
"Why not? I'm young again for thirty days, so why not do some good with it?" Wally remarks as they head to the tables to go over the battle plans.
A breathless Joe Tanaka rushes to SAC Daniels office. Daniels looks up and asks. "Any news?"
"Yes sir. They're shifting all of the units to the Forum. According to the radio reports, the cultists have taken over a meeting of some historical group called the Society of Watchers." Tanaka reports.
Daniels grins as he gets up from his desk. "Good! Get an assault team ready and put the helicopter on stand by."
"Yes Sir."
"Have you heard from either Spooky or Kowalski?"
"No Sir. Mulder and Scully have their phones turned off and I tried Kowalski's home, but she's not there. I also tried her three cons, but none of them are home either."
"Too bad. Looks like I'll get the press coverage this time." Daniels replies with a grin.
Steve, Buffy and the team leaders gather together at the tables and Steve begins the questions. "Why were you gentlemen at the Forum?"
"Amy asked us to help her rescue Joe Dawson. Can I ask a question?"
Steve narrows his eyes and replies. "Only if I can answer it."
"Amy explained what the Watchers watch. I take it that all of you here are familiar with the subject matter?"
"No, not all of us." Steve replies evenly.
"All right. That's not a problem." Hannibal replies with a grin.
"Good. Now how did you get to Joe?"
"Joe was being kept in one of the luxury boxes, so we accessed the rear corridor from the roof and used it to get to the box without being seen." Then Hannibal details the short battle that took place after Joe's rescue and the subsequent flight.
"How many demons and vampires did you see?"
"We only saw two demons. The winged one you took out and this huge ugly thing. The number of vampires I can't tell you because, they were too far away to see."
"Where are they keeping the Watchers?"
"It looks like their keeping them seated in the seats right by court side. I saw that they have the exits blocked off."
"All right. We'll have one of our people do a thermal scan of the place using the Key Hole satellite. That'll give us a good estimation of the distribution of everybody."
"You have access to a Key Hole satellite? Who the hell are you people?" Hannibal asks.
"Just your usual covert operations group." Steve replies with a grin.
"Who's your boss? What agency do you work for? The CIA, NSA, FBI?"
"My boss is Merlin and our little group is called Section Seven." Steve replies with a grin.
"The real Merlin?" Murdock chokes out in awe.
"Is there any other?" Arthur replies with a grin.
"Well no, no one else really comes to mind." Murdock replies as Scully walks up to the planning session.
"Steve, Joe wants to come out and talk to you." Scully tells him.
"Is he all right?"
"Whatever is in this bottle fixed him right up. I've never seen anything like it." Scully replies with a mischievous grin.
"All right bring him out here. If he bitches about being carried, remind him that he was the one who wanted to talk."
Scully gives Steve a grin and leaves. A few minutes later a cursing Joe Dawson is carried over to the table by his friends Duncan and Adam, as he sits down, he glares at the assemble fighters and cracks a grin. "So you're having one of your little hunting parties and decided not to invite me?"
Steve cracks a grin. "Sorry Joe. We tried to call you, but no one was home."
"I hope you're taping everything." Joe asks, looking directly at Giles.
"Joe, when have I ever failed in my duty?" Giles asks.
"Good. Now, what are we going to do about this mess?" Joe asks Steve.
"Simple Joe, we're going in and killing all of the Demons and vampires. We'll save as many of your people as possible. But you know I can't guarantee anything."
"I know Steve. And I appreciate that you went to all of this trouble to help us." Joe looks around and he asks. "Can I ask a question?"
"Sure Joe, go right ahead." Steve replies with a grin.
"Where the hell did you get all of these people from?"
"Oh, here and there. Made a few phone calls, called in a few favors. The usual."
"Good. Now what are we going to do about the situation at the Forum?"
Before Steve can reply, Xander comes back and hands Steve a sheet of blue prints and a color overlay of the Forum. Steve spreads the overlay prints before the assembled commanders and asks. "Joe, can you show us where the vampires were holding the hostages?"
Joe points out the court side seats. "They're being held at court side. The vampires have all of the exits blocked off and are probably patrolling the upper levels as well because of our escape."
Steve looks over the prints for a minute and overlays the color satellite feed and he looks over the plans a second time. He then asks Joe. "Joe, are the luxury boxes built against the roof or are they separate?"
"From what I saw, the roof is right above them. Why?"
"Here's how we do it. Airwolf will head straight over to the Forum and take out any hostiles that are on the roof. These will probably be demons, since vampires can't come out in the daylight, so use the 20 mm guns on them. Shoot so that the bullets will hit the rear and upper quarters of the stadium." String and Sin Jin Hawke nod and leave.
Steve then turns to Frank. "Frank, I want you and Xander to take the two M-82s and set up sniper nests in these two luxury boxes." Steve points to two boxes almost directly opposite each other. "You'll cut through the roof and drop down an start to take out the demons with the fifty calibers. The location of the boxes gives your teams overlapping cover fire. The support and guard teams will also work security for the snipers as well as take over the upper walk ways. The teams that are going with you and Xander will be the Rangers, the A-Team, the Storm Shadow Clan, their friends, Christine's group and Giles' people. Colonel Smith and Cody will command the individual units.
"After the sniper nests are set up and working, the rest of us will attack. Section Seven will be the first wave. We'll be followed by Able Team, Phoenix Force, the Blue Berets, the Zombies and anyone else I failed to mention as the second wave. The second wave's duty will be securing and sweeping our backs. Making sure that nothing can get to us without warning. Kendra, you'll be with the sweeper teams. Your job is to locate and help exterminate any vampires that we missed. Lennox, since your men are armed with laser rifles, you'll be our tactical reserve. Arthur, you, Grif and Mike Night Wolf are with Section Seven. Any question?"
Hannibal Smith looks over the plans. "Nice and simple. What about the demons?"
"Each unit will be issued several magazines of enchanted silver bullets. These will be used exclusively against the demons. They are to be shot into the demon's heads or hearts. Wooden bullets will be used against the vampires, heart shots only. If someone claims to be a non combatant, spray them with holy water. If they don't steam, they're human. If they do steam, shoot them in the heart with a wooden bullet. No prisoners people. We neither want them, nor do we have a place to hold them. The mission code name is Havoc, no quarter."
The team leaders break up and go to their respective units. Steve watches as they gather together to board the dozen large vans. The Blue Berets, Lennox MacDuff, the Hawkes and the A-Team use their own transports. Steve turns to a nervous Buffy and asks. "Are you ready for this?" Buffy quietly approaches Steve and gives him a hug. Steve returns it and kisses her on the head while he quietly tells her. "We're gonna get through this my love."
Buffy looks up at him. "I know. It's just that I've never had so many people helping before. I'm worried some of them could die."
"Buffy, everyone here is ready to fight to the death to protect humanity. They understand the risks and are willing to face them."
"I know, but it feels so strange leading an army like this. Never in my wildest dreams could I have believed it possible to be doing something like this." Buffy replies with a trace of awe in her voice.
The vampires watch the monitors as the large number of police cars surround the building. One of them hisses. "Tell Katherine that the police are here."
The vampire rushes off and quickly approaches her queen. As the female bows before her, Katherine throws away the body of the Watcher she had just finished draining. Several Captive Watchers are forced to drag the body away. Several of them cry at the sight of one of their own murdered so early in life. As they get clear of Katherine's court, one of the demons grabs up the body and begins to eat it. The Watchers look on in disgust as Katherine laughs at them. She then looks down at her subject and asks. "What is it?"
"Majesty, the police are here and in force. Thomas has transferred the camera feed to the monitors." The vampire tells her and points up.
Katherine looks up and smiles. Several of the Watchers whisper that help has arrived, but Katherine quickly puts down any hopes. She turns to several of the demons, who are eating some of the dead Watchers and orders. "Go outside and kill a few dozen of those puny mortals."
The demons grin and quickly head outside to kill a few mortals. Their leader, a demon of the sixth level, quietly hums and licks it's bloody maw. "Thank you my queen." It tells Katherine before it heads outside as well.
John Randall is checking the perimeter that the police have set at the Forum. He watches as the police cars form a tight circle and the men and women stand their ground. He turns to Tracy and asks. "Do we have an ETA on our friends' arrival?"
"Forty minutes, John."
"How many are we expecting?"
"Well over a hundred hunters." Tracy replies with a grin. "They called in reinforcements."
Randall grins. < It's nice dealing with pros. > "Good. I like working with these people." Randall replies as his cell phone rings. "Randall here."
'John, this is Steve St. Wolf. Listen to me. Put your people on high alert. The vampires are not the only things you have to worry about."
A chill goes up Randall's back as he asks. "What else could there be?"
"A few demons." Steve replies evenly.
"Demons? Steve demons are only myths." Randall begins as several of the doors to the Forum open up and several ugly, misshapen creatures boil out and attack his police officers. The Zombies, standing guard, immediately open fire with their weapons. The monsters are forced back, but they regain their balance and they start to slowly move forward, through the fire. Randall looks on as he speaks with Steve. "Steve, how quickly can you get help here?"
Sin Jin and Stringfellow Hawke watch as the LAPD tries to cut down the demons emerging from the Forum. String turns to his brother. "Think Steve will mind if we cut these guys down?"
"Nope." Sin Jin replies as he banks Airwolf down and just above the front line of firing LAPD and String cuts loose with the 20 mm auto canons. The front row of demons is literally cut in half. The second row of demons quickly crawl back into the Forum, seriously wounded.
Randall looks up at the nearly silent helicopter that has saved his people and quietly asks Steve. "Steve, do you happen to have an attack helicopter?"
"I guess the Hawke brothers made it over there." Steve replies.
"You could say that. They cut the first row of monsters in half and hurt the rest seriously enough to force them back into the Forum." < Shit! Who the hell are these people? > Randall thinks to himself as he watches the helicopter take a patrol position over the Forum.
Randall turns to Tracy, who is staring at the helicopter and comments. "Well, you gotta love a group that has all these weapons."
Tracy looks at her boss and asks. "You ever wonder what would have happened if we didn't get any help from Steve and his people?"
"I don't ever want to contemplate such a situation." Randall replies while a shiver goes down his back. < Just the thought's going to give me nightmares. > Randall thinks to himself.
Tony Dabrowski looks up at the helicopter that had saved his people and grins. < Damn, these people have some wicked toys. >
Pat Kelly looks up and grins. < Damn, talk about making it in the nick of time. >
Katherine watches as the half dozen demons surge out and the police valiantly tries to stop them. She begins to giggle at the futility of it. "See how your mighty police force stands up against us." She calls out to the Watchers. They watch silently as a large helicopter lowers itself into view and cuts the demons to shreds. Katherine watches as the demons are torn apart and she loses her smile. "What in Satan's name just happened?"
"It looks like the demons got cut apart." A vampire replies near her. Katherine reaches out and rips his heart out with her bare hands. The vampire quickly crumbs to dust. The Watchers watch dumbfounded as a ray of hope shines into their situation.
Buster leans over and quietly whispers to Greg. "You think Joe made it to his friends?"
"Yeah. Do you think they stand a chance?"
"From the way they've started, I'd say they have very good chance." Buster replies just before a vampire hits him from behind.
"No talking!" The vampire orders as Buster gets up.
Stringfellow calls Steve on his phone. "Steve, String here. Just waxed a few uglies. We'll continue patrol until you reach here."
"Thanks String. John Randall just told me what happened. Good job, old friend."
"Not a problem."
"Tell me you got that Jack." Mike Cleary asks.
"Got it in living color Mike. Man, what the hell were those things?" Jack Getz asks as he looks through his camera.
"I don't know. But that attack chopper sure put them down real fast. Did you see any markings on it?"
"Not a one, Mike. Who the hell are they?"
"I heard rumors of a covert operations group helping the LAPD. This proves it. Can you say Pulitzer, Jack?"
"I'm afraid that you're a bit premature in that assumption." A stern voice replies from behind the news crew.
Both men turn and Mike angrily asks. "Who the hell are you?!"
"FBI Special Agent Simon. I'm afraid that I'll have to confiscate the tape, camera and your news van."
"Like hell you will!" Clearly angrily states. "What about our first amendment rights?"
"Certainly." Agent Simon replies. "You have the right to die here while we destroy your equipment or you could be smart and let us erase everything and escort you away. Take your pick."
"Let me see your badge again." Mike Clearly orders. The FBI agent just shrugs and cold cocks him with his service automatic.
Simon then turns to the camera man. "Are you going to get hit as well?"
"No way man." Jack replies as he hands over his camera and steps back. Simon just nods and runs a small compact magnet over everything. Jack watches in fascination and finally asks. "Who are you people?"
"You don't want to know son. Just leave it at that." Simon replies as two more agents come forward and load the reporter into the news van. One of them gets behind the steering wheel and motions Jack to the passenger seat.
Simon opens up his communicator and contacts his boss. "Central, this is Simon. We're securing the target area. Six demons just attacked the LAPD surrounding the Forum."
"How many dead?" Horace Gordon asks. < Father I hope you know what you're doing. >
"No one human, Sir. Three of the six demons got cut to ribbons by an advanced combat helicopter of unknown origin and design. The rest of the demons, all of them seriously wounded, have retreated back to the Forum. The helicopter now has taken a patrolling pattern around the Forum as we speak."
The silence on the communicator could be sliced with a knife. Finally Gordon asks. "I take it that Section Seven is making another foray against the vampires and demons."
"Yes Sir. Cell traffic confirms that Section Seven troops will be here in less than forty minutes to take out the vampires and the demons."
"Good! Give them whatever support you can. Call me if anything goes wrong. Gordon out."
"Understood Sir. Simon out."
Horace Gordon looks at his communicator and wonders aloud. "Who the fucking hell is Section Seven?"
Dimitri, standing nearby, comments. "Ever think that Merlin might have a few surprises up his sleeve?"
"No, this isn't his style. Merlin likes to fight with magic, not advanced weaponry."
"He did mention that the Wanderer was in LA. Maybe he's the one doing it."
Gordon quietly contemplates the idea and grins. "You might be right Dimitri. I think that Bureau 13 should pay the man a visit."
"Lets hope he survives this first, Sir." Dimitri replies.
Steve watches as the Forum comes into view. He looks down and sees the large number of police and grins. "Damn, looks like a cop convention down there."
"I wonder if any of the Brass is going to show up?" Mulder comments from his seat.
"I don't think any of those people want to be around. Especially if we lose and it all goes down the crapper." Steve replies seriously. He turns to Lennox MacDuff. "Lennox land us behind the police cars."
"Certainly Steve." The Scott accented voice replies and the pilot immediately banks the ship and lands quietly near the LAPD command post. The A-Team's helicopter lands next to them.
Various officers rush over and cover the two craft as the landing door of Lennox's ship opens up and Steve steps down. He looks at the officers and asks. "Is there a problem here officers?"
Randall rushes over and welcomes Steve. "Steve, damn am I glad to see you. Where're the rest of your people?"
"On their way here John. We didn't have enough aircraft for everybody." Steve replies as he shakes John's hand. The officers covering MacDuff's craft and the A-Team's helicopter immediately relax, realizing that these people were friends.
SAC Daniels nervously squirms in his seat as the helicopter approaches the Forum. He turns to Joe Tanaka and tells him. "When we get there, we're taking over. Buzz the Forum and show them cultists that the FBI's here and we're going to take them down." Then Daniels mutters to himself. "I will not have my career ruined by a pair of losers like Mulder and Scully." The six agents in the helicopter nod their heads in agreement.
As the helicopter draws near, the pilot points out. "Sir, I'm getting orders to leave the area. They just told me that I'd be shot down if I continue."
"Who the hell is giving those orders?"
The pilot touches his microphone and replies. "Sir, the man claims to be a member of group called Section Seven Black Operations."
"It's some nut playing a joke. Keep on going." Daniels replies as Airwolf suddenly fills the window in front of him. The FBI agents watch as the weapons systems emerge from the helicopter's body. "What the hell is that thing?" Daniels mutters in awe.
"Don't know Sir. But they're ordering us down behind the police lines and if we don't comply, they will shoot us down."
"Put us down by that strange bus." Daniels points to the aircraft owned by MacDuff.
Steve's cell phone rings as he talks to John. "St. Wolf, here."
"Steve, it's Sin Jin. There's a strange helicopter coming into the area. Want us to chase them away?"
"Yeah, we don't want any news copters coming in while we're working."
A few seconds later, Sin Jin comes back. "Steve, they've just identified themselves as FBI and they refuse to leave. What do you what done?"
"Force them to land here. We'll take care of them." Steve replies. He then turns to John and explains what's happening.
John curses for a second and then tells Steve, Buffy, Mulder and Scully. "It's that prick Daniels. No one else is that stupid. What do we do?"
"If he causes problems. Arrest him." Mulder simply replies. "The FBI has no jurisdiction in this case John. You have the right to kick them out and they have to follow your orders."
John gives Mulder a big grin as he turns to face an angry Daniels.
Daniels quietly seethes as the helicopter lands and he rushes out to confront the people in charge of Section Seven. < If they think they're going to steal my glory. Those bastards have another thing coming. > He marches over to the group of police and dark clothed people and demands. "Who the fucking hell are you people and what gives you the right to order the FBI around?"
Steve and John step forward and John quietly tells Daniels. "Agent Daniels, the LAPD no longer requires your services. Please take your men and leave this area immediately."
Daniels stands there, absorbing what has just been told to him. "Randall, if you think that I'm walking away from here. Then you're a stupider flat foot than I thought you were." Daniels snidely replies.
John starts forward to kick Daniels' ass when he feels a hand restraining him. Steve quietly tells John. "John, this idiot is baiting you. If you deck him, then he can arrest you and take over this operation."
John cools down and orders. "Dabrowski, if these men don't leave in one minute arrest them for obstruction and anything else you could think of. If they resist arrest, shoot them."
Tony Dabrowski steps forward and grins. "You mean like landing a helicopter illegally?"
John grins. "That'll do, for a start." Daniels looks on in anger as Tanaka begins to pull him away.
As Daniels is being pulled away, he spies Mulder and Scully and orders. "Then what are those two doing here?"
John looks over to Mulder and Scully and grins. "They're doing their job and not getting in the way."
"I am their superior and I demand to talk to them." Daniels shouts out.
Mulder and Scully step forward and listen as Daniels hisses out. "I will break the both of you for this. Do you hear me. I will see that you two are brought up on charges for your actions here."
Mulder and Scully just look at each other and grin. Mulder pulls out his phone and calls Skinner at home. "Sir, this is Mulder. Sorry to bother you at home, but Scully and I have a problem. SAC Daniels is making an ass of himself and not letting Scully and me do our jobs." Mulder listens for a moment and grins. Then he hands the phone over to Daniels. "AD Skinner wants to talk to you."
Daniels' face falls as he takes the phone with an unsteady hand. He puts it to his ear and asks. "Yes Sir?"
Daniels immediately removes the phone as Skinner is clearly heard to scream out. "WHAT THE FUCKING HELL ARE YOU THINKING? LEAVE MULDER AND SCULLY TO DO THEIR JOBS AND DON'T INTERFERE!!! AM I CLEAR?"
Daniels gently puts the phone back to his ear as he answers. "Yes Sir. Crystal clear. But Mulder and Scully are breaking every procedure and regulation that the FBI has. What about them?"
"Mulder and Scully are acting within their area of expertise. Do not. I Repeat. Do NOT interfere. What is going on here is beyond you. Now give me back to Mulder."
Daniels hands the phone back to Mulder and watches as Mulder listens to Skinner. Mulder's face cracks into a wider grin as he listens. Finally, Mulder hangs up the phone and puts it away. His face cracks into a truly evil grin as he tells Daniels. "Skinner just me told that if you continue to interfere in this operation, I can shoot you." Daniels stiffens. Mulder continues. "Don't worry I won't shoot you." Daniels begins to relax and some of his bluster starts to come back. Mulder grins. "I'll let Scully shoot you." Scully gives Daniels a hard glare and Daniels quickly walks off as the surrounding police start to laugh.
John Randall watches in appreciation and quietly remarks. "If you two ever loose your jobs with the FBI, I'll give you jobs in the LAPD."
"As what? Detectives?" Scully asks.
"No, FBI liaison." John replies with a grin as everyone else cracks up. The group quickly gets serious as they notice that the rest of their group has arrived.
The vans quickly move to the parking area around Macbeth's craft and the assembled fighters quickly move out and wait for orders. The team leaders look at the Forum through binoculars. After a few minutes, Steve asks. "John, any of your officers know the security layout at the Forum?"
"I don't know. Hold on a second." John replies as he picks up his radio. "This is Captain Randall. I need someone who knows the security layout of the Forum. Officers should report back on tact 4."
Randall switches over to tact 4 as a voice speaks out. "Sir, this is Jenkins. I worked security at the Forum last season. I know the layout inside and out."
"Get over to the command area immediately Jenkins." Randall orders.
A few minutes later a young patrol man rides his motorcycle to the command area and gets off. He approaches Randall and introduces himself. "I'm Phil Jenkins, Captain. What do you need to know?"
Randall points to Steve and orders. "Answer this man's questions." Officer Jenkins nods and waits for Steve to finish spreading the blueprints for the Forum on the car hood.
Steve points to the Forum and asks. "Are there any external cameras?"
"Yes Sir. There are camera clusters located various sports around the stadium and parking lot." Jenkins points out all of them.
"John, have your officers disable them immediately." Steve orders.
Randall nods to Dabrowski and he orders various officers to shoot down the camera clusters. After the cameras are taken out of operation, Steve begins to order the assault. "Frank, you and Xander are in charge of the sniping. Colonel Smith, you and Cody Rodgers are in charge of the security and attack forces. Get your teams together and get ready for the assault. Typhoon, Banzai and Monsoon, you will ferry the troops to the roof. The rest of us will get ready to take the Forum by storm."
Devil's Mound
Texas Foot Hills
1800 CST
Cordell Walker looks over the ridge to the place called the 'Devil's Mound' and shudders. He watches as a large group, dressed in robes of various colors, gathers to sacrifice the fifteen children that they're holding. He crawls over to Mike and asks. "Is that all of the children?"
The former hit man quietly counts the number of children and replies. "Yeah, that's all of them, including the Vasquez twins." Mike then turns to Caitlin and asks. "Are we going to hit them now?"
Caitlin checks her radio for a second and quietly talks into it. "All units, this is Bunny 1 are you ready?" All units answer back affirmative. Caitlin continues. "Remember the plan. The frontal assault will be launched first and then the rescue assault will take place. Assault begins in thirty seconds, on my mark. Mark" Caitlin then checks the gathering once more before the Thunder Bunnies, the Texas Rangers and three Green Beret A-Teams begin their assault.
Hector Minola watches as the preparations for the ceremony are completed. < Soon my dark lord, soon you will be among us. > He looks over the stone slab that he will use as a sacrificial alter and giggles joyfully. He quietly walks over to the black cloaked dark mage and asks. "My lord, how long before we can begin?"
The dark mage, roused out of his thoughts, glares at the nothing before him. He quickly settles down as he tells the dupe in a harsh whisper. "Soon, great priest. Soon." < You will die and I will be rid of you. >
Minola then gathers his dark blue ceremonial robes around himself as he walks over to where the children huddle together in fear. He joyfully tells them. "Fear not little ones. Your deaths will bring forward our glorious god. Your's is a great destiny." As he reaches down for the first child to be sacrificed, a rocket strikes the altar and destroys it along with the six cultists standing next to it.. He turns around watches as his followers begin to fall.
Chicago
1800 CST
Fraser and Ray, quietly move with the FBI Agents as they slowly approach the deserted south side warehouse that the Diablos were using as their base. Fraser quietly leans over and tells Ed. "Agent Alvarez, the Diablos appear to be aware of our approach."
"How?" Ed asks.
"I just saw one of their gang members in the window of that apartment to our left." Fraser subtlety points to a window and watches as the person in the window quickly disappears. "How?" A confused Fraser asks.
Ed grins and points at the A-team of Green Berets waving them on. "Always travel with the best, Constable."
Tunafish continues to the warehouse as the Diablos open fire. Ed immediately orders. "They know we're here people. Take them." With those orders the six A-teams break cover and rush the warehouse with Tunafish, Fraser and Ray in the lead.
Walker and Trivette lead the Texas Ranger contingent as they rush the cultists holding the children hostage. As the cultists begin to fight back with pistols and swords, the Rangers quickly cut them down with superior firepower. The Green Berets quickly attack the rear of the cultists and prevent them from using the children as hostages. As Major Keegan of the 7th Special Forces Group out of Fort Knox, kills the high priest, he orders his men to retreat with the children. Several of the cultists attempt an attack on the children, but the Green Berets cut them down without mercy.
While the cultists are being taken care of, the Thunder Bunnies attack the real threat. A black mage of the first circle. The demon mage quickly tries to cut the women down with various spells, but the anti-magick amulets they wear absorb the evil magick and gives them a chance to take him down. The Thunder Bunnies return the favor with massed firepower and the mage is hard pressed to stop all of the rounds aimed at him. As the cultists are taken down, the Rangers and Green Berets turn their attention to the black mage. Major Keegan orders one of his men to fire an anti-tank rocket at the mage. The mage, being distracted by the Thunder Bunnies, doesn't see the rocket coming for him until it's too late. As he hurriedly erects a barrier, most of the rocket's blast gets through to him and he falls, seriously wounded. The Thunder Bunnies rush up to him and quickly end his life. As the mage dies, he yells out. "You fools. This was only feint. The real attack is in Los Angeles." And with that his body collapses in onto itself as it dissolves away.
The Thunder Bunnies quickly spray the area with holy water and spread various magical dusts onto the area. As her partners clean up the mess left behind by the black mage, Caitlin calls in to her boss, Horace Gordon. "Sir, this is Bunny 1 reporting in."
"Report Caitlin."
"Sir, the children are rescued, the cultists have been taken out and we've also managed to kill off a black mage."
"Now give me the bad news, Caitlin."
"Yes Sir. Before the mage was destroyed he said that the true target was Los Angeles. Do you need us to head out there?"
"No, go on standby. The matter in Los Angeles is being handled. Gordon out."
Caitlin looks up as Walker approaches. "Any prisoners?" She asks.
"No, they all died in the fighting. So what happens now?"
"We clean up this mess and go home Cordell." A suddenly tired Caitlin replies. Cordell nods his head and begins to order the clean up.
Tunafish, Fraser and Ray burst throw the doors of the warehouse and find themselves in the middle of a major battle. The six Green Beret A-Teams, under the command of Major Tex Ritter have already forced several breeches in the Diablos' defense perimeter. As the Bureau 13 agents and their Chicago PD allies move into the broil, one of the A-Teams checks in. "Tunafish, this is A-Team Texas Thunder. We have secured the children and are presently pinned down approximately 30 meters north of you. We need some fire support ASAP. Can you comply?" Before Eddie can reply, two of the A-Teams begin to fire support for their comrades. As George rushes forward and fires his Vulcan Chain gun in support, the men of Team Texas Thunder rush out carrying the children in their arms. Several of them stagger as they're hit, but they keep on going, using their bodies as shields, protecting the children.
Ray and Fraser watch on in muted astonishment as boxes and crates are quickly reduced to splinters by the rapid fire of the assault teams. Ray looks at his Berreta 92 and thinks to himself. < Man, what the hell was I thinking? These guys have me and Fraser beat by a freaking mile. >
Suddenly, several of the crates begin to gather and form a man shaped monster. As the monster forms. Raoul and Tina bark out. "Golem." And they begin to throw various spells at it. The black mage controlling the Golem quickly neutralizes their spells. Raoul and Tina quickly summon up more spells as the black mage creates more monsters to attack them. The rest of Tunafish opens fire with their weapons, giving the two wizards cover and forcing the black mage's monsters back, temporarily.
Overhead in the girders, a lone figure stands and watches as the battle takes place below her. < Krishna, what have I walked into? > Sita asks herself. < I come looking for the missing children and find a battle instead. > She watches as the warriors fighting below fight a valiant fight against the black mage. < If something isn't done soon. That evil bastard will win. > Sita thinks to herself as she moves into action. She drops down the forty feet to land just behind the black mage. As she rises up from her crouch the mage turns around, a spell of destruction on his lips. Before he can complete it, Sita reaches up and rips out his still beating heart. She holds it up to his face and tells him. "Remember me?" The mage looks blankly at the heart as Sita tells him. "You tried to kill me three hundred years ago and I swore to kill you if I ever found you." Then she drops the heart on the ground and steps on it. The mage looks at it and quickly dies.
Ed watches in amazement as a blur falls to the ground behind the black mage. As he looks on a small hand comes out of the back of the mage, holding his heart. As Tunafish and their allies look on, a short, blond haired woman drops the mage's still beating heart on the floor and steps on it.
"Ouch. That's gotta hurt." George comments as he holds his Vulcan ready.
"Who the hell?" Ed asks in shock. // Tell me you can read her Jess. //
// Sorry Ed. She's got some kind of mental block. // Jess replies as the young woman suddenly disappears.
"Tell me she teleported Raoul." Ed asks his senior wizard.
"Can't do it Kemosabe. No magic traces."
"If I may Agent Alvarez?" Fraser asks. Ed nods his head. "I think she jumped up onto the girders over head and escaped through one of the windows."
Raoul and Tina check on the mage and Raoul yells back. "Everything's Kosher. The black mage is dead with a capital D."
Ed turns on his communicator and calls Bureau 13 Headquarters. "This is Tunafish reporting in."
"What's the situation in Chicago, Alvarez?" Horace Gordon asks.
"The situation is clear, Sir. All targets have been taken out."
"Was there a black mage present?"
"Yes Sir. But he's dead as well."
"My congratulations to Raoul and Tina. They did a good job taking him out."
"Sir. They didn't do him. Someone else did." Then Ed tells him of the short blond woman. Then he asks. "Do you want us to go after her?"
"No. She sounds like she works for Section Seven. Let her go."
"Sir, who's Section Seven?"
"Beyond your security clearance, Ed."
< Is there such a thing? > Ed wonders to himself as he replies. "Understood, Sir. We'll clean up here and go on stand by."
"Good. We're still keeping an eye on the LA situation, so be ready to move out if they need help over there."
"Understood Sir. Over and out." Ed replies as he shuts down his communicator.
Outside, Sita sits and listens to Ed's conversation and wonders. < Who the hell is Section Seven? >. As Ed's report is completed, she moves off at an easy jog, jumping between buildings as she makes her way home.
Katherine watches as the cameras to the outside are taken out, soon all but three are gone and Katherine and her people watch in fascination as the mortals prepare for the coming battle. She turns to her general and asks. "I presume that they're going to be attacking us shortly?"
"Yes Majesty. These mortals will attack within the hour. I fear that these mortals may be more than we can handle." The vampire humbly replies as he watches the mortals check weapons and loads.
Katherine nods and turns to the vampire who was an Aztec priest and asks. "Can we raise Throlog in that time?"
"Raise him? Maybe. But control him? Never. He would seek to destroy us as well as the mortals." The priest nervously replies.
Katherine grins. < If it's the only way to kill the Slayer. > "Do it. I want Throlog here as soon as possible."
"Majesty, if we use one of the demons, then we can speed up the ritual to where Throlog can be brought back much sooner."
"How much faster?"
"Maybe an hour, two at most."
"Very well then." Katherine states and turns to the largest demon. "I need one of your fellow demons to bring back Throlog. Will any of them volunteer to do it?"
The large demon grins and grabs up the smallest and most wounded demon and tells Katherine. "Will this one do?"
Katherine looks over to the priest and he nods. She turns back to Dubrouz and smiles a cruel smile. "He'll do." Then she turns to the priest and orders. "Begin the ceremony." The priest immediately orders his assistants and the ceremony is started. Two of his assistants drag up a young woman and rip off her clothes and place her on the makeshift altar. She screams and begs for her life, but the vampires don't pay any attention. The priest raises his knife and the blade swings down.
Steve turns to the four helicopter pilots and orders. "Murdock, you, Typhoon, Banzai and Monsoon will take the first assault groups to the roof. How long will it take?"
"Give us ten minutes to get everyone up there. What about the attack chopper?"
"Airwolf will remain on patrol and bottle up any attempted breaches by the demons." Steve replies. As he turns to address the roof top assault teams, several officers approach with a large group of strangers. Three of the strangers detach themselves from the group and approach with the officers. Steve turns to them and asks. "What is it now?"
The two officers approach and introduce the three strangers. "Sir, these three men are NSA. The rest are Navy SEALs. They approached our road block and requested permission to enter. Our Sergeant ordered us to take them to you."
Steve nods and turns to the three men. "What does the NSA and Navy want here?"
One of the men steps forward and holds out his hand. "Hi, I'm Frank Parker, my two friends are Donovan and Ramsey. We're with the NSA." He then holds up his ID and continues. "I'm here to tell you that you missed several cameras and those things inside will know when you're coming."
"Where are these cameras?" Steve asks.
Parker goes to the blue prints and points out three camera clusters. Steve turns to Dabrowski and asks. "Sergeant, please lend me your binoculars." Tony hands them over and Steve looks over the wall pointed out by Parker. He looks for several seconds and orders. "John, I don't know how he knows, but he's right. Sergeant, take out those clusters immediately." Steve then turns back to the three men. "Thanks for telling us about those cameras. It could have cost us a lot of lives."
"Not a problem. Mind if we join in on this little party?" Parker asks.
"Look, thanks for the info about the cameras, but I don't know you people. Unless someone here knows you and can vouch for you, I'm sorry but we can't take the chance." Steve tells the three.
Donovan turns to Frank Iverson and asks. "Well Scully, are you going to vouch for your fellow SEALs or are you now a liar as well as a murderer?"
Frank turns red and softly replies. "I'll vouch for them Steve." He then turns to Donovan and tells him. "I never murdered Franzetti and I never lied on the stand either. If you have a problem with it Donovan, you can kiss my ass."
Donovan gets up in Frank's face and tells him. "I once considered you a friend Scully. Now I just consider you another butcher that I have to work with. When this is over, I'm coming after you and arresting you for Franzetti's murder."
"Hey anytime you want it Craig. I'll be more than happy to hand you your head." Frank angrily replies and moves towards the NSA agent. Donovan moves towards Frank and both look like they're about to kill each other.
Before either man can move in, their respective friends grab them and force some sense down their throats. "Frank! Get a fucking hold of yourself. This is definitely not the fucking time to settle old scores with this idiot."
"Craig, are you fucking crazy? This guy's got at least a hundred friends with him. What the hell has come over you?" Frank Parker asks.
"If I'd known that Frank Scully was involved with these people, then I wouldn't have come out here. That murdering bastard can die for all I care. I'm leaving and so are my SEAL teams.
Toby Green watches the scene unfold in front of him and turns to his two best friends. "Bob, Fred, do you see who I see?"
"Yeah, it's our old friend, the Jedi Knight." Fred Meyer replies softly, his thoughts going back to a cold November day in his hometown of Kansas City, eight years before.
"That means that something really bad is going down." Bob replies softly. < At least I can apologize to him for what I said eight years ago. >
Frank Parker grabs his oldest friend and tells him. "Craig, I've seen what happens here if these people fail. Believe me. It is not a pretty picture. I don't care what you have with this Scully guy. But it isn't important now."
"I agree with Parker on this one Donovan. Get over it and get the job done." Ramsey adds in.
"Yeah, you're both right. What Scully and I have can wait till later. The mission is important." Donovan replies and turns to Steve and tells him. "I'll work with you people, but Scully is mine after this is all done. That man was sentenced to thirty years in the brig and I'm going to put him back in there."
Steve, hearing Donovan's last statement, calmly walks up to him and tells him. "I don't care who the hell you are, but if you do something to affect this mission and endanger the lives of my people, then I will kill you on the spot. Am I understood?"
Donovan looks into Steve's brown eyes and quietly mutters. "Understood Sir. What I have with Scully can wait until later."
"Very good." Steve replies as he turns back to the meeting.
Donovan wipes his brow and looks at the back of the man who had just spoken with him. Ramsey, seeing Donovan's discomfort asks. "You look nervous Donovan. What'd he say to you?"
"It's not what he said, but how he said. That man would've killed me on the spot if I had said the wrong thing."
"No one's that cold Donovan." Ramsey replies.
"Cherokee can be." Jack Gerber quietly replies as he walks up to Ramsey and extends his hand. "Nice seeing you again Ramsey."
"Gerber, you know that guy?" Ramsey asks.
"Yeah, We served in the Green Berets together. Man was one of the best. No scratch that, he is the best. I did a dozen classified missions with him and he always brought us back If that Scully guy is with him, then you can bet your ass that man is one of the best."
"Then why is he defending Scully?" Donovan asks.
"Maybe because he believes that Scully's innocent. Cherokee's always been able to judge people pretty well. If this Scully guy really did murder someone, then he wouldn't be here with Cherokee, let alone staying in his home." Gerber replies as he turns back to the meeting.
Craig Donovan watches Gerber's back and silently wonders. < I wonder if Gerber's right? Maybe Scully didn't do it. He never really had anything against Franzetti. >
Katherine watches in glee as the two mortals are about to come to blows and she quietly seethes as she recognizes the Slayer's mate break apart the combative mortals. Suddenly the monitor loses the picture. Katherine turns to the nearest vampire and orders. "Find out what happened!" The vampire rushes off to the monitor room. As Katherine waits, she begins to pace and mutter. As she walks down the sideline, noting the fearful stares of the Watchers, she approaches one of her guards. The vampire carefully watches her as she approaches. As Katherine draws near, she reaches out and snaps his neck. She turns to the rest of the vampires standing there and tells them. "Do I have your attention?" The vampires around the arena nod their heads, too scared to speak. "Keep your eyes on your prisoners!! Or else!!"
Katherine continues to pace and check her guards and the layout of the arena, looking for any weak spots in her defense. As she completes the first circle. The female vampire returns from the video booth. As she bows before her queen, the vampire gasps out. "I spoke with Chris, Majesty. He says that the cameras were shot down."
Katherine turns to her court and asks. "How did they find out? Those cameras were hidden."
"Maybe someone told them?" One of her court offers. Katherine looks the male vampire up and down and gives him a grin. The male smiles back and puffs himself up, thinking. < She finally recognizes my brilliant nature. >
Katherine crooks a nail at him and the vampire moves forward, waiting for his reward. Katherine gently takes his hand and pulls him to her. As the male reaches for her, Katherine knees him in the groin and as he's doubled over, she rips his head off. She glares at her court, waiting for anymore witty comments. None are spoken. She then looks at the Watchers and muses. < These are the lucky ones. Their deaths will be relatively painless. The rest of humanity shall suffer. >
Katherine walks back to the kneeing female and tells her. "If you want to live. Kill Chris in the video room. He is of no more use to me." The female rushes off to do as she's told.
Steve turns to the roof assault teams. "Cody, Col. Smith I want you two to set up the sniper nests in the two opposing luxury boxes. After the snipers begin to hit the demons, I want you to try and take over the upper levels. This should effectively split their forces. When the bulk of us hit them, we should catch most of them on the stairs and upper benches. This should take approximately two minutes. At that time, Section Seven, the Zombies and the Stony Man Group will lead the assault on the main doors. We'll blow the doors away with LAAW rockets and rush inside. Anything moving gets shot. Major Gerber will lead the second wave. Kendra, you're with his troops. Commander Donovan, your SEALs are under his command, as well as any other groups or individuals not mentioned. John, you and your police are to guard the exits and prevent any escapes. Any questions?"
Donovan raises his hand and asks. "Why are you giving us different ammunition?"
"Because regular bullets won't kill what we're facing." Steve explains.
Donovan continues. "Why are we the second string?"
"Because my people have fought these thing before and they know what they're doing. Any more questions?" Steve looks pointedly at Donovan.
"No Sir." Donovan replies. < This guy is starting to piss me off worse than Scully. >
"Fine then. Cody, you and Col. Smith get your asses in gear. How many trips will it take for you get everyone up there?" Steve asks.
"Two trips, Sir. About eight minutes total time." Monsoon replies.
"Get started then. Lennox, detail one of your men to each unit. They can cut the holes quietly with their laser rifles."
"Aye Steve, it will be done." Lennox replies as he orders two of his men forward. The men salute and each one joins an assault party eager for the fight.
John 'Hannibal' Smith watches as his troops prepare to mount up and assault the things holding the Watchers hostage. He looks at the young faces and sadly shakes his head. Face watches his commander and comments. "Reminds you of Vietnam Hannibal?"
"Too much Face." Hannibal replies as he walks over to Giles and asks. "Why are these kids here? Shouldn't they be out at some mall having fun?"
"Colonel Smith, they're here because they want to be here." Giles softly replies.
Giles' reply surprises Hannibal and he asks. "Why are they doing it?"
"Col. Smith, if you haven't seen those monsters yourself. Would you have believed they existed?"
"No, I wouldn't have."
"Would you believe a teenager or a group of teenagers, when they say they've been attacked by a vampire?"
"No, I wouldn't." Hannibal softly replies. "So, why are they doing it?"
"Because no one else wants to. They've taken it upon themselves to be the world's unknown saviors. These 'children' have saved the world numerous times. They've been brave beyond words, Sir. They know that they'll never have a parade or their names engraved on a monument or have a chest full of medals. They also realize that they're only reward will probably be a grave somewhere, if they're lucky enough to have one. Yet they still go on. After all that they've been through, they'll still stand and fight the evil that seeks to destroy mankind. When La Rochefoucauld wrote those immortal words, 'True Bravery is Shown by Performing Without Witness, What One Might Be Capable of Doing Before the Whole World.' He spoke of these young men and women."
The A-Team and Wally listen in silence to Giles as he describes the bravery of his young charges and each man swears quietly to themselves that these young people would be protected, even if it meant giving up their own lives. Their sentiments are shared by Jarod and Miss Parker who are standing close by. Miss Parker looks over to the young people under Giles' care and quietly asks Jarod. "Jarod, I can't believe what I just heard from that man. How can those children be so brave? What kind of world are we living in when children have to protect it?"
Jarod gathers Miss Parker in his arms and quietly tells her. "I'm more afraid of the kind of world it would be like if there weren't people like them to protect it."
"Jarod, when this is over, I'm calling my father and quitting. Can we go somewhere and be alone?"
Jarod smooths her hair as he quietly replies. "Of course Andrea. Just the two of us from now on. The Centre can go rot in hell for all I care. I just want you with me."
"Good. Then we can leave after we finish here." Andrea murmurs into his shoulder. Their moment is interrupted by Bob Devlin as he orders. "Rangers board." The pair breaks apart and they board their helicopter for the coming assault.
Steve and Buffy watch as the helicopters lift their friends to the roof of the building. Buffy quietly asks. "Steve are you sure about sending them up there?"
"It's the safest place for them Buffy. They'll be out of the direct fighting and in an entrenched and very defensible area. Plus Monsoon, Typhoon and Banzai have orders to lift them off the roof if things get too much for them."
"Thanks for watching out for our friends." Buffy replies as she gives Steve a quick hug. Steve and Buffy share a moment of happiness, but its broken when Cassandra calls them over to lead the assault. Steve and Buffy review their forces and take the lead positions.
Frank Parker looks at the young man and woman as they stand at the head of their forces. He quietly mutters an old phrase from Lee's memoirs. "First to lead, first to command, first to charge and bring victory. But sadly, always the first to die."
Craig Donovan looks on in surprise. "I can't believe that he's actually going to do it."
Toby Green, standing next to Donovan, quietly replies. "Believe it Sir. That man is brave beyond description."
"How do you know he's brave, Seaman?" Donovan asks.
"I'll tell you later, Sir. Right now we have a battle to fight. And if this guy's leading the pack, be ready for a major fight."
Donovan nods his head as he waits for the signal to fight.
Frank watches as the man silently cuts away the roof with his laser rifle. Frank watches in fascination as the man does his job. He quietly asks. "Where the hell did your boss get these babies from?"
The man looks up from his work and grins. "He's friends with David Xanatos. These guns are his company's latest."
"I think Steve and I will need to pay Mr. Xanatos a visit after this is all over." Frank quietly mutters.
Macbeth's mercenary looks up and quietly asks. "How are you two going to get in and see Xanatos? He doesn't exactly have an open appointment book or a listed phone number."
"Don't worry. Steve and I already know David. Steve's going to be a little miffed that he was left of the loop for these particular party favors."
"You two are real pieces of work. No wonder Mr. MacDuff likes you." The mercenary replies with a grin as he finishes. The section of roof drops in and several members of the Rangers move in and spray the area with holy water. After a few seconds, Frank drops down and notices that the box was empty, he quietly calls up and the rest of the team lowers itself down and takes their positions.
On the other side of the Forum, Col. Smith quietly lowers himself and checks out the box that had held Joe Dawson. He quickly moves to the window and watches as several of the Watchers are coldly butchered on a makeshift altar and promises himself. < St. Wolf is right. These things die. Right here and as soon as fucking possible. > He then moves back to the opening and quietly calls up. "Everybody come down. The box is clear." As soon as he finishes, the Storm Shadows move in and secure the entrance to the box. The rest of the assault team quickly climbs down the collapsible ladder and takes their positions. Hannibal watches as Xander and Oz quickly set up a sniper nest.
Nash Bridges watches the pair in action and quietly mutters. "Those two kids have done this before." < I don't know whether to be proud of them or pissed off at St. Wolf for taking away their childhood. >
"Those two are good." Kermit replies with a practiced eye. "Almost no wasted motion, plus they're quiet as all hell."
Several minutes later, Xander calls out to Hannibal. "Col. Smith, we're set up and I've already targeted the largest demon. Oz has the vampire priest in his sights. We fire on your mark." Xander quietly replies as he and Oz bend to their scopes.
Hannibal grins and radios to Steve. "Kahuna, this Beta Team. We are set and green. I repeat. We are set and green."
Hannibal's grin spreads wider as Cody Rodgers calls back. "Kahuna, this Alpha Team, we are also set and green. I repeat. We are set and green."
"You are green to go Alpha and Beta Teams. I repeat, you are green to go. Two minute warning is in play in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go." Steve orders into his radio.
As the word 'go' dies on the radio, Hannibal looks up and orders. "Take them out, kid. Those things are gonna learn that humanity won't go quietly into the night." As he finishes, Xander and Oz let loose and Hannibal grins as he sees both bullets hit home. One taking out the large demon, the other, the vampire priest. Hannibal's grin spreads wider as he watches another demon slam itself into center court, minus a head.
Katherine paces the floor of the arena as she watches the priest completes his preparations by killing his fifth victim. As the sixth victim is placed on the table, a roar suddenly fills the Forum and Katherine looks up at her priest. He gives a stunned look as he turns to dust before his queen's eyes. Katherine turns to order the large demon. "Dubrouz, find the mortal responsible for that." Before she can make the turn, she's covered with gore as Dubrouz's head disappears in a cloud of gore. She looks at the gore covering her and watches in fascination as Dubrouz's body does a slow collapse to the floor. She looks around and sees another demon drop. She notices a flash in one of the luxury boxes and screams out. "There are mortals in the luxury boxes get them. I want those mortals dead!!" Most of the vampires stare in mute fascination at the demons' bodies. Katherine, seeing this, screams out. "NOW!!!" And points to the box occupied by Frank and the Rangers. A large number of vampires rush to the luxury box to do their queen's bidding. Katherine looks down on Dubrouz's body and kicks it as she screams. "How dare you die on me demon! You still had work to do."
Buster cringes at the roar of the two fifty caliber rifles. He watches in glee as two of the demons fall to the massive bullets. His heart soars as he watches the vampire priest disappear in a cloud of dust. < Looks like Joe made it to his friends. >
"I can't believe this. Who the hell is doing the shooting? And what kind of guns are they using?" Greg asks in awe as the two fifty calibers fire again, their combined roar signaling the death of two more demons.
Buster grins as he tells his friend. "Joe's friends. Who else could it be? Their using fifty caliber rifles. God, those things don't stand a fucking chance."
"What about us? If they fire into the vampires, their bullets will hit us down here." Bill cries out.
The vampires rush up the stairs to the luxury boxes. As they get near the entrances to the walk ways behind the boxes, the Rangers and Kowalski's group rise up and deals death from their weapons. The two groups fire repeatedly into the vampire's ranks. As the first wave is decimated, two demons move in to attack them. As they draw near, Jarod grabs up his SPAS 15 and sends two silver slugs into them. Both demons quickly fall over dead. Several vampires try to bring Jarod down, but Miss Parker, firing over Jarod's shoulder, cuts loose with her M-16 and kills them before they reach Jarod. Bob Devlin casts a quick glance at the pair and thinks to himself. < Damn, they're almost as good a team as St. Wolf and Summers. >
Hannibal looks over the battle being fought across the gym and orders. "Open fire on their backs. Let's let them know that we're here as well." His troops immediately open fire on the vampires attacking the Rangers.
As their rear ranks fall, one of the vampires looks back and yells out. "There are more mortals in the other luxury box. Get them!!" Many of the remaining vampires rush to the other box and their deaths. As they start to climb the stairs, the A-Team, the Storm Shadows, and their allies begin to pick out individual targets and kill them.
Steve watches the Forum as the seconds tick away. He looks over to Methos and orders. "Methos, show Jack and his crew your tatoo."
Methos' mouth splits a grin. < Good idea. > He thinks to himself as he walks over to Gerber's and Donovan's groups. As he approaches, Donovan asks. "What's up?"
Methos holds up his left forearm and shows them the tatoo there. "The people in the Forum all have this tattoo on their left forearms. Anyone showing such a tattoo is most probably an innocent hostage. Let them go."
"You got it." Jack Gerber replies and orders. "All of you men memorize that tattoo. Anyone wearing it is a friendly." The men quickly look over the Watcher tattoo and go back to waiting for the assault to begin.
Lennox MacDuff watches as the Section Seven people prepare for the coming assault and quietly tells Ian Carmichael. "Ian, you're in command of the boys. I'm joining Arthur and the rest of them."
"Is that wise Sir?"
"No, but when am I ever going to go into battle with a more worthy group of heroes?" MacDuff replies with a grin as he unwraps an ancient Scottish Claymore.
"Probably never again, Sir." Ian replies in a hushed voice and looks back at his men. The expressions on their faces show that they want to join the fight as well. "Mr. MacDuff, would it be possible for us to join in as well?"
MacDuff gives his men a grin. < Damn, I choose well when I choose these men. > His heart silently soars as he leads them to the front of the line and the leaders. He approaches Steve St. Wolf and asks. "Steve, would it be possible for my men and I to join in the main assault?"
Steve gives his friend a small grin and tells him. "Of course it is Lennox. You and your men can fight beside us."
MacDuff turns back to his men and issues orders. "You heard the man lads. Take your place behind me and the leaders. We're going in." MacDuff's men grin and check their primary and secondary weapons, eager for the fight. The men watch as Arthur walks up to his fellow king and welcomes him to the fight with a brotherly hug.
Steve checks his watch and sees that only thirty seconds remain before the assault begins. He turns to Mike Night Wolf. "Mike, you ready to howl?"
"Yep." Mike replies as he steps forward and lets loose a long howl. Everyone turns to watch him as he changes.
Donovan and Parker look on in shock as they watch one the Section Seven agents changes into a werewolf. Donovan turns to Parker and asks. "Frank, did you have any idea that one of them was that?"
"No Donovan, I wasn't familiar with that at all. Is he what I think he is?"
"Yes, he's a werewolf." Jack Gerber explains. "And he's on our side. So don't get any ideas about shooting him. Cherokee will not take it kindly if he's killed by one of you."
"Are there anymore surprises?" Frank Parker asks as another roar fills the air. He turns to see a large winged creature stand before the assembled troops and spread its wings to the sky. "What is that?"
"A gargoyle named Grif." Gerber replies with a grin as he tells the shocked SEALs. "Same rules apply. Both of them are friends."
"A gargoyle once saved my cousin's life in New York. I sure don't have a problem with it." A SEAL replies in awe. The rest of the SEALs relax with the knowledge that one of their own also confirmed the friendly nature of gargoyles.
At precisely two minutes Steve orders the men with the rockets to fire. All six fire their rockets at the same time. As the rockets strike the gates of the Forum, the Section Seven Warriors and their allies rush forward, ready for battle.
Katherine watches as her followers are quickly destroyed. She turns to the remaining demons and yells out. "Go and kill those mortals. I command it!!!"
"Listen vampire." One of the remaining demons sarcastically points out. "Those 'puny' mortals are killing us and your vampires. When we agreed to aid you, we were not told we would be facing such formidable foes."
"But they're just MORTALS!!" Katherine screams out.
"They are mortals who have managed to kill at least nine of us demons and how many vampires?" The demon asks as it points a taloned hand at Katherine's chest..
"I don't care. We will raise Throlog and kill all of them."
"And how will you do that? Your high priest is dead and the mortals are destroying your host." The demon asks as an explosion is heard from the front of the building. The demon turns and points a claw at five of its fellow demons. "Go see what caused that large noise and take a few of the vampires with you." The five chosen demons rush out through one of the main exit, closely followed by forty vampires.
Steve, Buffy and Arthur are the first through the shattered doors. As they make their way to the interior of the Forum, five demons and a large number of vampires rush out. The lead demons see the trio's glowing blades and order the vampires to. "Strike those mortals down. They each carry one of the Nine Swords of Destiny!" The vampires rush to do his bidding and surround the trio.
The demons quickly move in to attack, but the three sword bearers hold their ground fighting a fierce defensive action. The demons and vampires are so intent on killing them, that they don't notice the rest of the Immortals moving in and striking down the vampires en masse. As the vampires are cleared out the demons find themselves surrounded by Immortal Warriors armed to take them down. The demons suddenly rush the circle, trying to break out, but they are shot down with silver bullets fired from various firearms and laser beams from MacDuff's men.
As the smoke clears, Steve turns around and orders. "Mack take your people and secure the north entrance. Casey, take your people and the Zombies and secure the south entrance. The rest of us go up the middle."
The groups break up and rush to their stations. Steve and Buffy lead their group and head directly to the court through the main entrance.
Katherine hears the fighting going on in the main lobby of the Forum and looks around her. Her army has been more than decimated, barely two hundred of her vampires are still standing. She looks around at the mortals she still holds and snarls. < I can't lose. I am Katherine Plantagenet. A queen of the Blood. No common Slayer can destroy me. >
As she glares at her vampires, one of the priest's assistants rushes forward and tells her. "Mistress. We are ready for the final sacrifice."
Katherine's head snaps around. "What are you waiting for fool? Bring Throlog through. Now!" Katherine's mouth splits into a feral smile as she slides out the obsidian dagger and calmly walks over to the largest remaining demon. < Soon my lord, soon. > She thinks to herself.
Jack Gerber leads his combined command through the blasted doors of the Forum and holds up his hand. He orders two of his men through to go on point. The girl assigned to his team just raises her eyebrow in a mocking manner and boldly walks in. As Jack tries to hold her back, she looks at him and sarcastically tells him. "The vampires are dead, we don't have anything to worry about."
"How can you be so sure?" Jack asks, curious.
"Simple, Buffy and I can sense them and I can tell you that there are no vampires within fifty feet of us." Kendra explains as she calmly goes inside.
Jack just shakes his head and follows. < Damn, what is it with Cherokee and all of these confident women? First Kathy, then that Buffy girl and now this Kendra. I will definitely have to talk to him about his taste in women. >
As they walk into the main lobby, Jack notices Kendra standing over a group of bodies. Jack rushes over, hoping it's none of Cherokee's people. As he draws near, he sees the green ichor oozing out of numerous bullet holes and slashes. One of his men looks at the faces of the monsters that he would be facing and promptly throws up. Frank Parker and Donovan walk up to the bodies and each looks at the other. Frank quietly asks. "What the hell are they?"
Kendra looks up from the bodies and explains. "They're demons of the sixth circle of hell. The dust on the floor is from the vampires that were killed with them."
The men look at the dust on the floor and on their boots and several gag. One of them asks. "How many vampires?"
"I think maybe thirty, maybe more." Kendra replies. < Buffy and I wouldn't have even lasted a minute here by ourselves. I guess having friends to help is a good thing. > She quietly thinks to herself.
Jack looks at his men and at the SEALs, noting the grim set of their features. He then asks Kendra. "What would these things have done if they got loose?"
"They would kill everything in their path. They consider humanity to be a source of food and would have killed and eaten as many people as possible."
Several of the SEALs look queasy and quickly swallow back whatever their stomachs had dredged up. Donovan looks down at the bodies and quietly asks. "Frank, was it because of these things that you were sent back?"
"Yeah. They had managed to get loose and bring more of them over. The world was at war with them and losing badly. These people are our best chance to stop them." Frank replies quietly.
Jack looks around and orders. "All right people we setup here. Chavez, I want you to set up a check point here and we'll pass through the non combatants. Make sure each one has that tattoo and check anyone without one with holy water. Custer, you and Sanchez are the fire team. Setup your rockets and be ready to use them. If anyone resists, shoot them down. I don't want a single vampire or demon getting out of here. Am I clear?"
John Randall watches as the Section Seven people move into the Forum and quietly asks himself. "God, please protect them. I have never seen such selfless bravery in so many people and this world will always have a need for them."
Tracy, overhearing Randall's quick prayer offers up. "Amen to that John. So what are we going to do? Stand around here with our thumbs up our asses or go and help?"
Randall gives her a big grin as he orders. "Dabrowski!!"
"Yes Captain?"
"I'm going in to support our friends. Anyone who wants to come can come. Volunteers only."
"Hell yes, Sir." Dabrowski replies with glee. He quickly calls on his radio. "Captain Randall wants some volunteers to go into the Forum and help. This mission is strictly voluntary. Perimeter guards are to remain in place. Anyone else can volunteer."
Ninety seconds after Dabrowski finishes his radio call, seventy three officers are standing at attention in front of Captain Randall. As he looks over them he tells them. "We're going in to help. There's going to be a lot of hurt people in there and we're going to get them out." Randall turns to the paramedics and asks. "Any of you willing to volunteer?"
Several of the paramedics look at each other and to a person, they all step forward. Their commander, a lieutenant, smiles with pride at their bravery and tells Randall. "Any time you're ready Captain, so are we."
"Good, then we move in now." Randall replies.
Hannibal quickly fires his M-16 into the face of the vampire attacking him. As his rifle locks open on an empty magazine, the vampire grins and charges. His charge is stopped by the double tapping of Kermit's 45. As the former mercenary looks for another target, Hannibal reloads his gun. Peter Caine walks up to him and asks. "Col. Smith, can we take the fight to them?"
"Not yet. We don't give up the high ground until the main assault begins." Hannibal orders as he snap shoots and dusts another vampire.
Mack quickly moves his people to the north side of the Forum. As they draw near to the court entrance, he radios Steve. "Steve this Stony Man Group, we are almost at the north entrance. What are your orders?"
"Mack, Casey, don't wait for anyone. Take out the vampires at the entrances and start getting those people out of there. Be ready for a fight. Alpha and Beta teams will give you fire support as you need it." Steve orders.
Mack quietly orders Able Team forward and the three commandos quickly move to the entrance and mow down the dozen vampires guarding it. As Able Team provides suppression fire, Phoenix Force and John Trent quickly moves in and takes out any remaining vampires. Mack quickly moves over to the cowering Watchers and orders. "Everyone get the hell out of here. Move quickly, but don't panic. Help any of you that are wounded or too weak to move. We'll take care of the vampires."
Melody Bishop watches as the vampires prepare to sacrifice one of the demons and shudders. < God. What is happening? > The sound of machine guns is heard off to her left. She turns around and watches as the vampires guarding the exit disappear in a cloud of dust. < What the hell?! > A group of heavily armed men then enters the arena. At their head was a familiar figure. < Oh my God! That's Mack Bolan. What's he doing here. > In answer to her silent question the men with him begin to take down the vampires with well placed shots and Melody hears Bolan order them to leave. She immediately gets up and quickly walks to the exit, passing the men now guarding it. < My God. It's Bolan's anti- terrorist group. What the hell are they doing here? > Melody asks herself as she rushes out and to freedom.
Casey Romaine's group slams into the vampires guarding the south entrance and quickly kills them with sword, gun and stake. As Casey leaves the south entrance, a vampire grabs him and sinks its fangs into his neck. The vampire takes a gulp of Casey's blood and screams an earth shattering scream as his body literally breaks apart.
Lida helps her husband up and they join the rest of their friends in the newly started battle. As Casey rushes to the battle he sees that Mike Hammer and his student Velda were fighting two vampires hand to hand in the middle of a group of hostage Watchers. Richard Blade was trading slashes with a vampire armed with a sword. Remo Williams was fighting a demon with his sword. Casey's son Joshua was fighting three vampires and beating them down. Gabrielle and Sonja had a demon on its knees as they quickly beat it down and cut it apart.
Casey and Lida approach the Watchers and order them to leave. The Watchers are surprised at the rescue, but they quickly move to the exits. As the Watchers move away from the fighting they notice a large group of men and women waiting for them, many of them wearing the uniforms of the LAPD.
Peter Caine looks down and sees the main assault begin. He turns to Hannibal and asks. "Can we take the fight to them now?"
Hannibal grins as he replies. "All units forward. Lets show these things what we're made of. No prisoners." With that, the A-Team, Storm Shadows and the Rangers begin the slow fight down to the court. Killing all the vampires in the upper levels on their way down.
John Randall walks into the Forum and approaches the Blue Berets and Navy SEALs. Jack Gerber notices him walking towards his group and asks. "Couldn't stay out of it, Captain Randall?"
"Nope. Neither could a lot of my people." Randall replies with a grin as the volunteers move in from the outside.
Randall and Vetter both grin as Jack orders. "Place your people with ours. We'll create a strong point here. I don't want any vampires sneaking out."
"Good, that'll also give the paramedics a chance to treat anyone who needs help." Randall replies as his people spread out.
A minute later, one of the scouts calls out. "We've got people coming in from the north. Be ready to receive the hostages."
A second later, one of the southern scouts reports. "Commander Donovan, we have more hostages coming in from the south."
The first group of Watchers look on in shock as the armed men cover them while the police and medics examine the wounded and quickly help the most seriously wounded from the Forum. The Watchers look at the pile of demon corpses and one of the Council members, Gerald Hastings, asks. "Who are you people? What happened in there?"
Randall walks up to the man and quietly tells him. "I'm Captain John Randall of the LAPD. We're here to rescue you and the rest of your group, Sir. My apologies for being abrupt, but we don't have the time to answer any questions at this time. So, please move forward and you'll be escorted out of here."
Hastings quietly moves forward and a medic checks him for a pulse. After the medic feels his blood flowing, Hastings is let through to the parking lot with a group of his fellow Watchers. Once outside, they find themselves escorted to a food truck for some coffee. At the coffee truck, Hastings meets his fellow council member, Anthony Watkins. They quickly move off and start to talk. Hastings comments. "Did you see who rescued us?"
"Yes, Mack Bolan and his anti-terrorist group. What the hell is going on here?" Watkins replies.
"I don't know, but Bolan wasn't the only Immortal there."
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw Gus Beiderman and his friend Glam there as well."
"Shit, do you think Joe Dawson got them here to help?"
"I don't know. But I definitely want to talk to Dawson after this is over."
The largest remaining demon turns to the main entrance as the vampires guarding it suddenly turn to dust. The two demons helping them reel back from the silver bullets fired into them. He watches as a third war party enters the arena eager for demon and vampire blood. He turns to Katherine and asks. "So what do we do now vampire?"
Katherine's reply is an obsidian dagger to its heart as she screams. "Throlog, by the blood of mortals and demons do I call you forth!"
Steve, Buffy and Arthur lead their group through the main entrance and quickly kill the dozen vampires and two demons guarding it. As they enter the arena, they watch as a vampire stabs a demon with a stone knife. A few seconds later, the entire arena begins to shake as a portal opens up and a thirty foot demon appears above the body of the slain demon. He looks around and sees the battle raging around him and he yells out in a large, booming voice. "I AM THROLOG. SHAKE AND GROVEL PUNY ONES FOR I AM DEATH INCARNATE."
Remo looks up from his battle with the demon that he's facing and sees Throlog appear in the arena. His second of distraction is more than enough for the demon that he's facing to move in and slam a fist into Remo's head, breaking his neck in the process. The demon moves forward to crush the mortal, but Gus Beiderman and his friend Glam move forward and quickly cut him down with silver bullets. As the demon falls, they move Remo off to the side to recover and they move on to fight three vampires headed towards them. As they move on, Gus comments. "Remind me never to complain about how boring Casca's parties can be."
"Why? And miss all this fun?" Glam replies as he cuts a vampire in half with his ax.
Gus beats down a vampire and heart shoots it with a wooden bullet as he replies. "Glam, were you dropped on the head as a child?"
"Several times. Why?"
"Oh, just curious." Gus replies as he shoots the last vampire down.
Stalker moves off from the three piles of dust and heads to where Gabrielle and Sonja are fighting a demon. As he approaches he catches tidbits of their conversation and grins. "Gods, these things haven't changed in three thousand years." Gabriel comments.
"These things were just as dumb when I started out and that was almost five thousand years ago." Sonja replies.
"Think Conan would have joined in on this little party?" Gabrielle asks.
"He and your old pal Xena would have been the first ones to knock on St. Wolf's door." Sonja grins in reply as the demon tries to smash her face in. She quickly ducks and the demon's arm goes flying over her head, literally. Sonja looks beside and sees Stalker with a sword covered in green slime. "Josh!" Sonja cries out with a smile. "Glad to see that you want to help your aunts."
Stalker gives them a shy grin as he replies. "Always glad to help you two. Have you seen Mom and Dad?"
"Yes, they're fighting in the center court with the rest of the Immortals." Sonja replies as she guts the demon with her sword. Suddenly the demon collapses as its head explodes. The three turn around and watch as a calm Martinez racks his shotgun's slide back. Sonja angrily asks. "What the hell was that for? We had him."
"We don't have time to play with the small fry. The vampires have brought in the heavy hitter." Martinez replies.
"What, in the Gods' names, are you talking about?" Gabrielle asks.
"Look at center court." Martinez replies as he hurries towards the large demon, leaving the three Immortals looking on in awe.
"Crom, he's a big one." Sonja replies in awe as she begins to move to center court, quickly followed by Stalker and Gabrielle.
Throlog looks down at the battles raging before him and he smiles. < Good, these little demons have brought me some food. > He thinks to himself as he reaches down and picks up some unlucky Watchers and swallows them whole. Suddenly, he feels pain and he roars out. "WHO DARES TO STRIKE AT ME?"
Frank looks on in disbelief as Throlog materializes in front of him. "Shit, he's a big one." Frank mutters to himself.
"That's an understatement." Amy mutters next to him as she lifts her rifle and quickly starts to fire silver bullets into Throlog's head. Frank quickly follows suit with the M-82 and fires the last five bullets in his ten round magazine into Throlog's heart.
As he ejects the magazine, he orders Billy to reload it. Billy passes him a full magazine and promptly takes the empty one and begins to shove in ammunition. Frank rips through the second magazine and complains. "My shoulder is going to be worth shit tomorrow."
"Just keep hitting that thing with every ounce of silver that we have." Amy orders while she continues to fire.
Xander and Oz watch as Throlog starts to turn to attack Frank's luxury box. As the demon turns its head away, Xander lets loose with his M-82 and rips another ten rounds into the back of Throlog's head. The demon roars its anger again. "PUNY MORTALS, FOR THIS I SHALL KILL YOU ALL SLOWLY!!"
Remo's body rises jerkily from where it lays. A vampire seeing the easy target rushes over and grabs Remo's throat. Suddenly Remo's hand reaches out and tears off the vampire's head. As the dust falls, Remo's body rises on unseen strings and it calls out. "I AM SHIVA, THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS. I HAVE BEEN CALLED INTO THE BODY OF THE NIGHT TIGER RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE MASTER OF SINANJU."
"Hey Remo, you all right?" Richard Blade asks as he approaches his old friend.
Remo turns to face Richard Blade and looks at him with dead eyes. Richard draws up short at the sight of the third eye in Remo's forehead. As looks at his old friend, a vampire sneaks up behind him and attacks. As the pair struggle on the ground, Remo easily walks over and grabs the vampire and destroys it. As Richard looks up, he again asks. "Remo, are you all right?"
Sensing only concern for his friend, Shiva replies. "YOUR FRIEND IS FINE MORTAL." Then asks. "WHY HAVE I BEEN CALLED HERE?"
"Who are you? What are you?"
"I AM THE LORD SHIVA. THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS. THIS MAN IS MY AVATAR ON THIS MORTAL PLANE. WHY HAVE I BEEN SUMMONED?"
"Because of him." Richard replies in awe and points to Throlog, staggering under the continuous fire storm aimed at him.
The being inside Remo takes a look at the battle and turns to it. As he approaches Throlog, a demon attempts to stop him. His third eye opens and a purple beam destroys it in mid air. Richard follows and protects his friend's back while thinking. < Remo, we are definitely going to have a talk about this later. >
Bureau 13 Headquarters
Location unknown
Horace Gordon looks up from his reports as Dimitri rushes in. "What now?" He asks.
"Two disturbances happened in Los Angeles, Sir. One of them a level 11, the other a level 12." Dimitri reports.
Horace Gordon's hands crush the reports that he's holding as he asks. "Do we know the nature of the disturbances?"
"Yes Sir. The level 11 was a demon of the first circle entering the mortal world."
Gordon's face loses its color as he asks. "And the level 12?"
"That was Shiva's Avatar awakening."
"Where is Shiva's Avatar?"
"In the Great Western Forum with the demon." Dimitri replies in a hushed voice.
Horace Gordon picks up his communicator and orders. "Simon, I don't care how you do it, but get into the Forum and give me a situation report."
"Understood Sir." Simon replies.
Buffy, Steve and Arthur move forward and quickly strike at the monster in front of them. While Steve calls out to a challenge to the demon. "Throlog. Return to hell immediately or be destroyed!!" Buffy and Arthur move to hamstring him from behind.
Throlog notices Steve and Demon Slayer and laughs. "PUNY MORTAL FOOL. THAT BLADE MAY SCARE LESSER DEMONS. BUT I AM THROLOG, A DEMON OF THE FIRST CIRCLE. PREPARE TO DIE." And with that Throlog moves quickly and attempts to grab up Steve. Steve jumps out of the way and fires off his Glock 21's entire magazine into Throlog's hand. The demon roars out in pain as he attempts to slam his fist into Steve.
As Throlog's fist almost connects with Steve, his feet buckle, the rear tendons slashed by Buffy and Arthur. As Throlog falls, a screaming gargoyle launches itself onto him from the top of the entrance. Grif lands on the demon's back and begins to claw away its flesh, heedless of the bullets and laser beams flying around him. Meanwhile the Immortals, armed with silver bullets, continue to fire into Throlog and Macbeth's men fire their laser's into the demon's knees, causing him to fall down.
Throlog crashes down and lashes out at the warriors firing into him. He knocks a few of the Immortals into the stands, but as soon as their wounds heal, they rise up to fight again. Throlog looks on as the three sword bearers cut into him and drain him of his power. He attempts to grab a few of the mortals to consume them and regain some power, but they all keep out of his reach and continue to fire into him. Throlog watches in hate as the mortals continue to fight the vampires as well as the few remaining minor demons. He calls out to Katherine and tells her. "VAMPIRE BITCH. YOU ARE THE CAUSE OF THIS. I WILL SEE YOU IN HELL AND THEN I WILL TORTURE YOU FOR ETERNITY FOR THIS DEFEAT."
Remo walks up to the body of the prone demon lord and commands. "ALL OF YOU STAND BACK. THIS DEMON IS MINE TO DESTROY." And with a wave of his hand all of the warriors attacking the demon, are forced back, their weapons, unable to fire. Grif is lifted bodily from the back of Throlog and deposited gently into the seats a hundred feet away.
The battle dies as the assembled beings watch in pure fascination as the man calling himself Shiva approaches the prone demon. Throlog, seeing a meal approach him, reaches out to Capture the foolish man. As his hand grabs at Remo, Remo calmly strikes out with his hand and Throlog's arm breaks. The sound is heard throughout the arena. Shiva looks at Throlog and tells him. "YOUR KIND IS NOT WANTED ON THIS WORLD DEMON. I AM HERE TO SEND YOU BACK TO HELL."
"WHO DARES TO COMMAND THROLOG?"
"I, SHIVA, DARE, DEMON" Shiva replies in an ominous voice.
"SO MORTAL LOVER. YOU SHOW YOURSELF." Throlog hisses out.
"AYE DEMON. I FEAR NOTHING FROM MY CHILDREN. BUT YOU AND YOUR KIND SHOULD. FOR THEY HAVE OUTGROWN YOUR KIND'S DECEPTION THAT HAD NEARLY CAUSED THEIR DOWNFALL." Shiva replies.
The Immortals watch on in fascination as the being known as Shiva speaks. All of them suddenly realizing that the Game was something more that a mere dark joke. It was a deception to kill them all and leave the world defenseless to the demons' onslaught. Many of the Immortals present suddenly feel as though a weight had been lifted from their bodies and each looks at the other and realizes that there stood his or her's brother or sister and that they were meant to fight together and not each other.
Shiva looks upon the assembled Immortals and tells them. "YES, IT IS TRUE. YOU ARE MEANT TO BE HUMANITY'S GUARDIANS."
"Why us? Why were we chosen for this?" Duncan MacLeod asks.
"WHEN THE DEMON'S WERE DRIVEN FROM THE EARTH, A BARGAIN WAS STRUCK. TO PREVENT FURTHER WAR AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EARTH AND HUMANITY, WE GODS AGREED NOT TO INTERFERE DIRECTLY WITH HUMANITY. THE DEMONS AGREED TO THE SAME. BUT THEY THEN CREATED THE VAMPIRES IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIRST SUBJUGATE, THEN DESTROY HUMANITY. WE GODS, IN DEFENSE OF HUMANITY, CREATED YOU IMMORTALS TO DEFEND AND PROTECT HUMANITY. YOUR PURPOSE WAS TO GROW UP AS HUMANS, LEARN WHAT TRUE HUMANITY WAS. AND WHEN YOU DIED, TO BECOME ITS PROTECTORS. A FEW OF YOU WERE ALSO CHOSEN TO BE OUR AVATARS." Shiva explains.
The Immortals and their allies look on, dumbfounded at this revelation.
Katherine looks on and watches in horror as the Immortals learn of their true calling. She calls over her last vampires and starts to issue orders. "This can't be allowed to happen. We must kill all of them as quickly as possible. Especially that bitch Slayer and her mate. They must die above all others." Her vampires nod their heads in agreement and turn to attack the occupied Immortals.
Buster and his two friends look on in shock. Buster quietly asks Greg and Bill. "Did you two just hear that?"
"I did and so did a lot of other Watchers, Buster. Who would have thought it?" Greg replies in awe.
Nash and his crew look on in pure confusion. He turns to Scarlet and asks. "Scarlet is what that guy saying true? Are some of these people Immortal?"
"Yes Nash. It's true. Most of Section Seven is Immortal. Do you have a problem helping them?"
"Nope. Just want to know where I stand." Nash replies.
"Pete, what do you make of this?" Kermit asks his friend.
Peter Caine smiles openly as he replies. "Nothing. I need to talk to my father about this." < Pop said that there was a balance to everything. Nice to see that it's true. >
Methos looks on in shock and quietly thinks to himself. < What the hell is happening here? > He looks over to Duncan and his kinsman and watches as both men openly grin, accepting their new role. < Damn the boy scouts are happy. This bodes ill for my partying. >
Throlog attempts to kill Shiva again by grabbing at him with his good hand. The demon suddenly screams as its other arm is broken. Shiva looks at the demon and tells him. "THROLOG, I SEND YOU BACK TO HELL FOR ETERNITY." And with that, a purple beam shoots out of Shiva's third eye and bathes the demon in a lavender light. Throlog lets out one last scream as the lavender light bathes him and his body disappears. After the lavender light dies out, Remo collapses to the court. The Immortals rush over to their fallen friend and gently pick him up and several of his friends carry him to safety. The rest of the Immortals watch in wonder as he's carried from the arena floor.
Bureau 13 Headquarters
Location unknown
Horace Gordon hears his communicator beep and he picks it up. "Gordon here, report."
"Simon here, Sir. I'm in the Forum and have a report."
"What happened?"
"Section Seven has managed to contain the problem Sir."
"What about the level 11 and 12 disturbances?"
"Gone Sir. The level 11 disturbance has been banished back to Hell by the level 12 and the level 12 left of its own volition. The Section Seven agents are now cleaning house with the remaining vampires and minor demons."
"How are they doing?"
"Sir, I would have no problems working with these people. They certainly know their business."
"Good. Keep an eye on them and I'll want a complete report when this mess is finished. Gordon out." Gordon replies and shuts down the communicator. He turns to Dimitri, who's standing next to his desk, and tells him. "I will definitely be paying a visit to the Wanderer when this mess is cleaned up. You can bet on it!!"
"You sure he'll survive the experience, Sir?" Dimitri asks with a grin. Gordon gives him a glare and Dimitri rushes off to do something else. As Dimitri leaves Gordon chuckles and a smile pulls up the corners of his mouth as he thinks < Steve certainly pulled this one out the fire. I've got to talk to Dad about letting me hire him once in a while. >
Katherine sees that the Slayer's forces are distracted and she orders. "Attack them now! Kill the Slayer and her mate. I want those two dead most." At her orders, the surviving 150+ vampires and three remaining demons attack the distracted Immortals. As they rush forward, a few of the Immortals and mortals fall before their onslaught, but the Immortals and their allies regroup almost instantly and start to fight back aggressively.
The wounded mortals are taken to the edge of the fighting, where the Watchers wait to take them away. The wounded Immortals merely wait for their wounds to heal before they go back to the fighting. Several hundred Watchers remain to watch the battle to its conclusion. As they watch in awe, the Immortals put fact to Shiva's words as they fight in the defense of humanity.
Michael Night Wolf, in full wolf mode, wrecks unholy havoc among the undead vampires. He rips into them with glee and watches as they turn to dust after he rips out their hearts. Grif follows his lead and shows the vampires that his claws could be used for more than just helping him climb up the sides of buildings.
The MacLeods fight side by side with their friends and start to sweep the vampires into a tight knot. As the vampires are forced together, the A-Team, Rangers, Zombies, Storm Shadows and their friends begin to fire into their midst. Quickly the vampires begin to look for escape and few of them make it to the tunnels under the stands. Most do not make it as they are picked off by the vigilant warriors. As the battle breaks down into single combats, Buffy and Steve bear the brunt of the attacking vampires. As Steve cuts a vampire down, he comments to his partner. "I think the vampires are pissed at us in particular."
Buffy gives him a grin as she stakes a vampire. "What makes you say that?"
"Oh just that several of them are screaming 'Get the Slayer and her mate.' Think they know something we don't?" Steve replies with a grin.
"What? That we're responsible for them losing?"
"No, that they think we're married." Steve replies with a grin as a vampire launches itself into him. Steve quickly sidesteps and slams a stake into its undead heart.
Buffy steps away from the fight and gives Steve a smack on the back of his head.
"What the hell was that for?" Steve asks as he cuts down another vampire.
"For being an idiot." Buffy tells him in a huff. < If he doesn't see it. Then I'm not going to tell him. > She thinks to herself as she kicks a vampire in its stomach and decapitates it as it falls to its knees in pain.
"Are we a little pissed?" A grinning Steve asks.
Buffy doesn't say a word as she cuts a vampire in half with her sword. "What makes you say that?"
"Just that you're putting quite a hurting on the vampires." Steve replies as Buffy slams her sword into the face a female vampire. The vampire disappears in a cloud of dust as Vampire Slayer's magic destroys it.
The men of Able Team watch in amazement as the Immortals fight the vampires with sword and stake. Carl Lyons turns to his two partners and mutters. "I have got to learn how to use a sword."
Gadgets looks up from the battle and asks. "Why Ironman?"
"Because I don't want to be left out of the fun next time." Carl replies with an evil grin.
Gadgets and Politician just shake their heads ruefully as they protect the remaining Watchers.
Several of the Watchers within earshot look at each and one asks quietly. "Is that guy nuts?" The other Watchers near him just shake their heads and continue to watch the battle unfold.
John Trent moves easily with the rest of the sword wielding Immortals and grins to himself. < Damn. Now this is how slaying should be. Too bad Celia couldn't be here to see it. > He quickly moves in and guts one vampire, while staking another. He quickly brings his sword back and cuts off the wounded vampire's head, before he moves on to another.
The men of Phoenix Force watch as their sometime partner lays into the vampires. Calvin James just shakes his head and comments. "Think John knows what he's doing?"
David McCarter watches as the Phoenix Force ninja dusts another vampire and grins. "John's definitely enjoying himself, Cal. But I think Mack's the better swordsman of the two."
"Compared to some of these guys, that's not saying much." Gary Manning replies in awe as he watches some of the world's greatest swordsmen and women fight.
Katherine looks around her and watches as her vampire host quickly disappears. She turns to her general and tells him. "Gunther, I may die here today, but the Slayer and her mate also die. They have caused all this to fail."
Her general looks at her and then he bows. After he bows, he turns around and yells out. "Isolate the Slayer and her mate. Your Queen wishes to kill her personally." And with those orders, the vampires split apart and close around Buffy and Steve.
Buffy and Steve look at each other as the vampires split apart and place them in a wide circle. They look around and find themselves in a open area, facing a female and male vampire. The female vampire calls out to the pair and tells them. "I am Katherine Plantagenet. This." She points to the male vampire. "Is my general, Gunther, former prince of the Holy Roman Empire. We challenge you two to single combat.
Steve and Buffy look at each other and grin. As Katherine and her general raise their swords, the Slayer and the Wanderer rush them and bring the fight to them. The two vampires barely raise their swords in defense as the two Immortals' charge forces them back. As Katherine fiercely defends herself, she realizes < Great Satan! No Slayer that I've ever faced has been this good with a sword. > As she's forced back against the wall, she notices the Slayer's mate disarms Gunther and swiftly stabs him in the gut. As he falls, clenching his stomach with both hands, Katherine watches as the Slayer's mate decapitates him. She barely turns back in time to defend herself from Buffy's onslaught. Katherine looks at the girl who couldn't be over eighteen and asks. "Who taught you how to use a sword, girl?"
Buffy grins as she slams the vampire with a savage kick to her side. "My honey did. Why do you want to know?"
"Because he taught you well. No one human or vampire has ever stood against me for more than a minute in close to nine hundred years." Katherine replies with a savage grin as she forces Buffy back and on the defense. As the two spar, several vampires attempt to attack Buffy from behind, but Steve quickly takes them out.
The rest of the Immortals, led by Mulder, Scully, Casey, Mack and Duncan are cleaning house and killing all of the vampires in the arena. Mulder and Scully lead a group of Immortals to breach the circle of vampires surrounding Buffy and Steve. As the vampires fall back, they notice Steve cutting down vampires from behind, further weakening the circle. Suddenly, several dozen of the vampires make an escape towards the main exit. A dozen of them make it through the swords and rifles of the Warriors. The vampires, led by a vampire named Michael grin as they rush past the Immortals and towards the night. The vampires' smiles broaden as they notice that the Immortals don't bother to follow them.
Major Gerber looks on the main entrance to the arena as the girl called Kendra quietly tells him. "A dozen vampires are coming this way. Get your men back and I'll fight them.
Jack puts a restraining hand on her shoulder and quietly tells her. "You will do no such thing." Then he turns and quietly orders. "First and second squads, block the entrance. Anything that comes out is a hostile. Take them out." Two dozen men ready their rifles and point them at the entrance. They wait a few seconds and dozen vampires spill out it, their game faces on.
Michael looks at the entrance and grins. < Good. We're free. Now I'll become the Master vampire of Los Angeles. > As his group approaches the entrance they see a large number of mortals standing there, blocking their escape. Michael puts on his game face and quietly orders the vampires with him to kill the mortals. His vampires grin and follow him out to attack the mortals in the funny uniforms. As they leave the entrance the mortals fire on the vampires and Michael grins. < Bullets won't stop us. > He rushes forward first, eager for the kill as numerous wooden bullets find his heart.
Kendra watches in awe as the soldiers quickly kill off the vampires attacking them. She looks around and only sees grim determination in the faces around her. She looks at the man holding her arm and asks. "How did you kill them?"
"Your friends gave us a special ammunition that kills vampires. Glad to see that it works." Gerber replies while watching the entrance. "Anymore coming out?"
"No, I don't sense anymore." Kendra tells him.
"Good." Gerber replies, then orders. "First and second squad, move back and replace magazines. Third squad move in and cover the entrance."
Frank Parker and his partner Donovan watch as the Blue Berets coldly cut down the vampires with massed firepower. Donovan watches as the vampires become dust before his very eyes and he shudders. He turns to Frank and asks. "What the hell kind of ammunition are they using?"
"I don't know Donovan, but whatever it is, it sure works."
One of the SEALs speaks up. "Sir, I took one of the rounds issued me apart. It's wood. Plain old wood." He tells them in a hushed voice, tinged with awe and wonder. "What were those things?"
"They were vampires, Phil." Toby Green replies quietly. "I knew when I saw that guy again that we'd be in for some strange shit."
Donovan, hearing Toby's comment asks. "Who are you talking about Sailor?"
"The guy leading this group, Sir. I met him eight years ago in my home town. He rescued me and fourteen of my friends from a group of monsters that looked a lot like those bodies over there, except they were smaller." Toby nods his head toward the demons.
"How many of them did he take out?" Frank Parker asks in awe.
"I think he killed twenty of those things that night." Toby replies in a hushed voice.
"No one human could possibly be that good." Donovan replies in awe. "Who is this guy?"
"His name was Carson Jamieson." Jack Gerber tells Donovan.
Donovan looks at the Major and asks. "You know him, Major?"
"He was a Green Beret, once upon a time. Now he's something else." Gerber quietly replies to the three SEALs.
"What is he now?" Frank Parker asks.
"I don't really know. But I do know that he's in there fighting to protect humanity from those things." Jack points to the demons. "To me, that means a lot."
Donovan looks at the piles of ash in front of him and quietly wonders to himself about his old comrade, Frank Scully and what he was doing with such a group. < If these people accept Frank without hesitation. He can't be a callous murderer. I'm really beginning to wonder if Frank did murder Franzetti. >
Katherine forces Buffy back with a complex attack. Buffy slowly moves back, checking each step, making sure she doesn't trip over anything. As Katherine's attack redoubles, Buffy feels a pain in her side. Katherine coos. "First blood to me Slayer." The vampire queen calls out as she licks her blade. "You taste good Slayer. I think that I'll keep you alive for a while."
Buffy reply is to attack her with a sweeping attack that forces Katherine back a step. Katherine does her best to block every attack, but Buffy makes it through and cuts a shallow line across her stomach. As she draws back, Buffy remarks. "Guess you're not as good as you thought you were."
Katherine quickly loses her temper and renews her attack. Buffy holds her ground, trading blow for blow, blocking stabs and slashes with her sword and striking back with either sword or stake.
Fox Mulder watches as the last vampire facing him turns to dust. He looks around him and doesn't see another vampire within easy striking distance. He then turns to the fight between Buffy and the vampire queen and grins. < Damn, Buffy's good. > He looks around him again and notices that there were no more vampires standing, except the one fighting Buffy. He turns to Scully and comments. "Shall we watch? Or should we just take her out?"
"Buffy would never forgive us if we did that." Scully replies.
Mack Bolan and his people watch as the young girl called Buffy fights with the vampire queen. Barbara Price looks on, not believing her eyes. "My God. That girl is incredible."
"Now you can see why she's survived this long fighting against vampires." Mack tells her.
"My aunt was never this good. Who the hell trained her?"
"Her Watcher initially, then Steve took over. This is the end result." Mack replies as Buffy scores another hit on Katherine.
Katherine steps back from the Slayer and looks at the girl with a measure of grudging respect. "You are good, Slayer. But I've got nine hundred years of experience behind me. Prepare to die!" Katherine yells out as she rushes Buffy with her sword extended and striking as quick as a cobra.
Buffy sees the lunge coming and does the only thing she can do. She falls back and twists her body to the side. She moves her sword parallel to Katherine's body and cuts her open with a disemboweling slash to the stomach. As Katherine begins to feel the pain in her gut, she turns around and attempts to cut Buffy open with a back slash. Buffy's response is a block that knocks Katherine's sword from her hands. Katherine looks around her for help, but she only sees the Slayer's allies standing in a circle around her. She looks up at the Slayer who is just standing there, breathing hard. Katherine's eyes don't waver as she tells Buffy. "End it. I am defeated."
Buffy looks around her and sees her friends standing there, waiting for her to end the battle and Katherine. She looks at Steve, who gives her a small smile and raises his sword in salute to her. The rest of the Immortals also raise their swords, giving Buffy their salutes. She looks around her and sees the other Warriors raise their weapons in honor of her victory. She turns back to Katherine as Katherine tells her. "You've won Slayer. In more ways than one. Let me give you a bit of advice before I go."
"Go ahead." Buffy tells her. Suspicious of her motives.
"Lead them well. You've earned a good army here. They'll serve you with their lives, if need be." Katherine tells her as she exposes her chest for the final blow. "Make it quick and clean, Slayer."
Buffy nods and stabs with Vampire Slayer. Katherine almost instantly turns to dust as the blade enters her.
Above the battle, an apprentice to the black mages silently seethes as he contemplates his fate upon delivering the grim news. He quickly utters a teleportation spell and vanishes from his hiding place. Unknown to him, another watcher utters a quick spell. A few minutes later the other watcher disappears as well.
Agent Simon watches the people below him lift their weapons to the young girl and grins. < Damn, looks like we have some competition. Oh well, I hope they bring their own food at the next annual picnic. Now I have to report in. > Agent Simon touches a bracelet and he teleports away.
Buffy slowly walks over to Steve and hugs him as the rest of their friends let out a massed cheer. Buffy and Steve grin as they hold each, realizing that the battle was won.
In the lobby. Jack and his people hear the cheering and grin. "Looks like we won." His men and the rest, allow themselves to relax. Gerber then looks over the people at his strong point and orders. "Until we hear otherwise, everyone stays at alert. No exceptions." The Blue Berets, Navy SEALs and the LAPD immediately snap back to fully alert.
Steve looks around at the assembled fighters and orders. "I want a hard target search people. Check everything and everyone dead or supposedly dead. I want this place searched from top to bottom. No exceptions. Mack." Steve calls out. Mack looks his way. "I want your people on guard duty at the exits to the arena." Mack turns and orders his people to assume the posts. "Sniper teams remain in place until further notice. The rest break up into teams of three to six and begin searching the dead and all areas starting with the arena, then we move on to the rest of the complex." The teams break up and begin their search. Buffy and Steve watch as the search teams work.
As the teams work their way across the arena, Buffy tells Steve. "Steve, let me get Kendra and the two of us can speed this search up."
"Okay Buffy. But call out to Jack before you leave the exit. He tends to have an itchy trigger finger. Also tell him to remain in place until further notice." Steve replies as Buffy goes to get Kendra.
One of the Blue Berets guarding the entrance calls back to Gerber. "Sir, someone is approaching." The guard team immediately snaps rifles to shoulder and covers the entrance. The Navy SEALs and LAPD cover the flanks with their weapons, ready for anything.
As Buffy approaches the entrance she notices the guns pointed at her and calls out. "Major Gerber. I'm coming out."
"Identify yourself." Gerber snaps out.
"I'm Buffy." Buffy replies as she slowly exits under the watchful eye of the Blue Berets.
"Relax men, she's a friendly." Chavez orders.
Buffy watches as the men lower their weapons, slightly. As she walks out, Major Gerber asks. "What's the situation?"
"We won." Buffy replies as the Blue Berets and Navy SEALs relax and grin. "Now we're doing a search. We need to make sure none of the vampires or demons got away. I need Kendra to help with that."
"Does Cherokee have any orders for us?" Gerber asks.
"You and your men are to stay in place until the search is completed."
"Good. Any more hostages coming out?"