Chronicles of Wanderer

Title: Immortal Kombat

Copyright April 2001

Author: Mike Weyer

E-mail Address: SWERJ321@msn.com

Category: Crossover

Rating: PG-13 - Violence and some minor Foul Language

Spoilers: A few, but who cares?

Keywords: X-Files/Highlander/Buffy the Vampire Slayer Crossover with a few guest stars.

Summary:This story takes place sometime in 1999 the date will be determined later. Hope you enjoy.

Okay, folks, rights and properties and I'll try to keep it simple:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all characters owned by Fox.
The X-Files and all characters owned by Fox.
Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog and all characters owned by Saban Productions.
Mortal Kombat and all characters owned by Midway.
Steven St. Wolf created by Steve Pantovich.
Shaw Hunter created by Tim Knight.
Robin Goodfellow, Liam Danahure and Callieway Burton are mine.
Invaulable thanks to Tim Knight, whose dialogue suggestions helped make this so much better.
Now that I've got all that out of the way, let's dance.

Immortal Kombat

Part 1: Wherein an evil is freed, an old friend drops by and the Slayerettes get knee-high in shit

Ireland
Two nights ago

The skies above the mountain flashed and rumbled, lightning illuminating the region for miles, as if nature itself was taking offense at what lay below. Which might very well have been the case. Situated at the base of a mighty green hill was a stone tablet, covered in runes of a language
long unspoken, a large circular symbol on the surface. Before it stood a woman dressed in flowing robes, the wind whipping through her dark curly hair as she held a large wooden staff high above her head. She was attractive, but hard, her eyes covered by a strange mark like a mask. She spoke loudly, a chant in an ancient tongue, her voice managing to carry over the storm. The stick in her hands glowed, a hum cutting through the air and a bright circle of light surrounding her.

The storm seemed to build as her chant came to a height and a bolt of green energy came from the ground to strike her staff. Spinning it in her hands, the woman aimed the staff at the tablet and concentrated. A blast of energy came out and struck the tablet dead center, causing a massive explosion. The dust slowly cleared as a figure emerged.

He was a small man, his hair thin in the forehead but flowing behind him. He wore a strange dark blue robe and his fingernails were nearly half a foot long on each finger. His face was extremely unattractive, his hooked nose framing wide eyes that carried a dark energy, a mixture of power and madness. A dangerous combination.

He glanced at the woman and shook his head. "It's about time," he said in a strange, high- pitched voice. "I was expecting you centuries ago."

"As Shakespeare said, 'the fault lies not in the stars but in ourselves,'" the woman answered in a light Irish accent as she lowered her staff.

"Who's Shakespeare?"

"You've got a lot of catching up to do, Mider," the woman said.

"Then, by all means, Maeve, let's begin," the man replied with an evil smile. There was a flash of light and then they were gone, the broken tablet the only sign of their presence. The storm died down, but only briefly. Another, greater storm was set to begin half the world away.

*****

Washington D.C. Last night

One of the easiest decisions Fox Mulder and Dana Scully had made when they got married was where they were going to live. Mulder had no problem moving out of his small, cramped apartment and into Scully's more spacious home. Given Mulder's lack of personal items, there wasn't much to move and the space was more than enough for the two to set up a home of their own. The two had gotten along wonderfully together, their love the kind that just doesn't come every day. It allowed them to lean on one another when they needed help. Such as now.

The two came through the door in a quiet mood. If one looked closely, they could see traces of dirt and blood on their clothing, as well as marks that looked like the two had been struck by lightning. Their mood was just as bad. Scully dropped her coat on the couch, her sword leaning against it. Mulder threw his onto a seat, sword and all. He sat down on the couch and sighed, looking at his wife. "Are you okay?"

"We never knew their names, Mulder," Scully said, shaking her head. "We just killed two people and we never knew their names."

"It's happened before," Mulder said. "To both of us."

"But it's such a waste," Scully said. "There's no Game, no Prize, there's no reason for us to fight anymore."

"You can't expect the word to have gotten out to every Immortal," Mulder said. "And there are probably a lot of them who won't believe it, either because it's so out there or because they've been in the Game so long they don't know what else to do."

"I still wish we could have talked to them, tried to explain it."

"We did," Mulder said. "We gave them a chance. Told them if we let them go, they'd promise not to take anyone else's head for a century, then try and pass that along to someone else. They didn't want it," Mulder said, rubbing at the hole in his shirt. "We had to fight."

"Like it was at all fair," Scully said, shaking her head. "I'm an Amazon, you've got that boost from Robin, it was over in minutes." She looked down at the floor. "I still wish we'd known their names."

Before Mulder could reply, a banging sound came from the kitchen. Both were instantly on their feet, hands going to their guns as they moved forward. They leaned against the wall on either side of the kitchen doorway, guns up and ready. They looked at each other and nodded. Boosted by their years of training, they swept into the room, guns up and pointed at the man standing by the open refrigerator door. "Hold it right there," Mulder said, his gun steady.

"Not the best greeting, Mulder," the man said as he stood up, munching on an apple. "I'd say married life's made you a little more on edge."

"Krychek," Mulder muttered, gripping the gun. "You can't imagine how much killing you is going to brighten my day."

The renegade agent glanced over at Scully. "You're going to try to make him an honest man, Dana? My heart goes out to you."

"I'd prefer it on a silver platter," Scully replied, her voice and grip tight.

Krychek glanced at her, then at Mulder, and shook his head. "I hope the two of you never plan on having kids."

"What do you want, Krychek?" Mulder said, his pistol aimed at the head of Krychek, who seemed quite nonchalant about it.

"I've got some info I think you might be interested in," Krychek said as he carefully stepped away from the fridge, still munching on the apple. "Rumor has it you two are part of something called Section Seven. That true?"

"You can't expect us to tell you anything," Mulder said. "And don't forget who's got the guns here."

"Believe me, I'm aware," Krychek said. "Anyway, word has it some doctor's coming into California who's got some info. Some real scary info. I'm not sure who it is or what he's got but it's big and I think it might interest you and your friends."

"Why are you telling us this?" Mulder said.

"Let's just say I've got an interest in you two finding out more about this guy," Krychek shrugged. "I let you find him, saves me some work. You'd be amazed how pressed for time I am these days."

"My heart bleeds," Mulder said.

"Where in California?" Scully asked, even though she already expected the answer.

"Some dump town called Sunnydale. He's supposed to be in tomorrow night if you want to meet him."

Mulder and Scully looked at one another for a moment, then Mulder reached out and grabbed Krychek by the throat. "I'm giving you one free chance," he said through gritted teeth. "Come back again and it's the last time."

"Sheesh, what are you so hot about?" Krychek said, finishing the apple. "I didn't even get invited to the wedding."

"Out," Mulder said, poking his gun into Krychek's throat for emphasis. Snickering, the renegade walked out and shut the door behind him. In the apartment, he could already hear Mulder and Scully moving about, making arrangements to pack. "Call the airport and get us a fast flight," Mulder said. He and his wife both looked up to see Tigger, their Spirit Guardian in the form of a cat, pad into the room, evidently having just woken up from a nap. <Hey. What's going on here?>

Mulder looked at the Spirit who had just let a known enemy waltz into their apartment and not noticed it and rolled his eyes. "I knew we should have asked for a dog."

Outside the apartment, Krychek walked away, a laugh on his lips and if anyone had watched him go, they might have noticed the way his body seemed to blur, then shift into a totally different configuration. Had they, a lot of trouble and quite a few deaths could have been avoided. But no one did. And the chaos began to unfold.

*****

Sunnydale Tonight

The law of averages is bound to catch up to people sooner or later. It's simply the way the universe works. According to all the rules of fate and destiny, it had to happen sooner or later that the team of people known as "The Slayerettes" were gathered together in the library of Sunnydale High School, without a major crisis to battle. At least, not yet.

They were an eclectic group to say the least: Buffy Summers, the Immortal Vampire Slayer; Steven St. Wolf, the Immortal Demon Hunter known as the Wanderer; Jenny Calender, a gypsy; Rupert Giles, the librarian and Buffy's Watcher; Willow Rosenberg; Xander Harris; Cordelia Chase; the guitarist known as Oz; Amy Madison; Shawukay Redarrow, a half-elven warrior from another dimension known as Shaw Hunter; and Robin Goodfellow, late of the Faery Kingdom, now a resident of the human realm. Cordelia was an Amazon, as were Willow, Amy and Jenny, who also happened to be witches. Before being stripped of his powers and forced to live as a human, Robin had imbued Giles, Xander and Oz with abilities to match those of their mates. As a warrior from another dimension, Shaw was on the same par as any of them. With such an interesting group, one might expect some wonderfully insightful conversation. The actual result?

"I still do not understand," Shaw said. "How does the phrase 'master of your domain' identify a certain television show?"

"I'd let Xander explain, but then I'd be contributing to the corruption of a minor," Robin said as he picked up the dice and rolled it in his hands onto the board lying on the table.

"Um, Robin, she's over fifty years old," Amy said.

"At my age, I consider everyone a minor," Robin said.

"Didn't hear you complaining about it last night."

Whether by accident or design, Amy had perfectly timed her remark for when Giles was taking a sip of his tea. The result was a spit take worthy of Jerry Lewis that splattered the occupants on the other side of the table.

"Thanks a lot, Giles, I just got this outfit broken in," Cordelia said as she wiped at her blouse.

"Yeah, she had to replace one from last night," Xander smirked as he wiped his face with a handy handkerchief.

"I know that problem," Oz said, thinking of his werewolf nature.

"Same here," Willow said, thinking of something else.

"How did we get on this topic and when can we stop?" Steve remarked.

Moving his marker a few places, Robin nodded. "British history. This should be fun."

"Now wait a minute, this isn't fair!" Cordelia said. "He's lived through most of it, of course he'll know the answer."

"Just how old are you, anyway?" Jenny asked as Giles reached through the pile of question cards stacked on the board.

Robin looked up. "You know, it's been so long, I'm honestly trying to remember." He bit his lip and concentrated. "Jeez, I don't know, fifty, fifty-five thousand years?"

All movement stopped as everyone stared at him. "Fifty-five thousand years?" Buffy said softly.

"That's a rough guess. I'm still getting used to your calendar so I may be off a few millennia. Besides, it kind of blurs around the time the aliens leave the planet," Robin shrugged.

Oz leaned towards Amy. "He is kidding, right?"

"I can never tell," Amy whispered back.

Giles shook his head and flicked a card up. "All right, are you two ready?"

"Fifty-five thousand years?" Amy said, staring at Robin. "You never said that."

"Well, it never came up before."

"I think the fact you're older than the entire combined population of Sunnydale should have been mentioned before now."

"Can we talk about this later?" Robin muttered before nodding at Giles.

"Who was the king of England during the Scottish rebellion by William Wallace?"

"Edward the Longshanks," a heavy Irish brogue cut through the air. "He was a hell of a lot nastier than the movie gave him credit for." Everyone turned to see a strange figure step into the library. He was about Shaw's height, with a mop of unruly red hair and a handsome, yet mischievous face, highlighted by a large nose and an engaging smile. He wore a light green tunic and brown pants and looked for all the world like he had just stepped out of Sherwood Forest. Behind him, hanging in the doorway, was a nondescript Oriental man with large glasses and a simple suit. "God bless all here!" the man announced, sweeping his hands outward.

"Who the hell are you?" Buffy asked.

"Actually, the correct response is 'And God bless you as well,' but I'll excuse it this time," the man answered. He glanced about at the group, his eyes coming a rest on Shaw. "Well," he said in a softer tone. "An elven. My feelings about this group have gone up a notch."

Shaw's eyes narrowed as she stared at the newcomer. "Your aura is familiar," she stated. "But I don't think I like it."

"Please, we've just met. It takes hours before people realize they don't like me."

"Um, if I may ask, who are you and why are you here?" Giles said. The man wasn't giving off an aura of menace but the group was on its guard, save for Robin, who still gazed at the board as if the game was still going.

"I'm looking for someone called Robin Goodfellow," the man said. "I understand he lives in this neighborhood."

"The faery?" Robin said, still facing away.

"No, the Robin Goodfellow I'm looking for is a miserable, conniving, no-good, swindling piece of dragon droppings."

Everyone looked at Robin who slowly pushed his chair away from the table and stood up. He turned to face the stranger, his face harder than usual. "I'm sorry, would you care to amend that remark?"

"I would, but there's ladies present."

"Where I come from, there's only one way to respond to a comment like that," Robin said, moving forward.

"Great, I just had the place cleaned," Giles muttered, shaking his head.

"You need help, Rob?" Xander called out.

"No, I've got this one to myself," Robin replied as he walked forward and stood a few feet away from the newcomer. They stared at one another for a long moment, then Robin lashed his foot out, planting it in front of him. He slowly began to tap it against the floor, sweeping it back as he did. His other foot began to tap as well, keeping up an interesting rythym as he pulled his leg back. He put his hands on his hips and stared at the Irishman as he stopped.

The stranger suddenly launched into a series of taps, his arms straight at his sides, his gaze never leaving Robin's as he danced, turning his body and moving about in the odd, straight-armed manner. He stopped and stared at Robin who immediately went back into his taps, his arms more lively.

"Okay, this may be more civilized than dueling but it's starting to freak me out," Xander remarked as the group watched the two men dance, their movements becoming faster, their taps sounding throughout the library as they circled each other, their feet performing steps with a speed unimaginable to any dancer.

The two suddenly stopped, facing each other. They began a series of hand movements, slapping their own thighs, knees, chests and shoulders. The stranger reached out with his arm and Robin clasped it with his own, then let the stranger clasp his other hand. Hooked together, the two began to spin, their feet tapping on the ground as they did. They picked up speed as they spun, their feet a blur of motion. The two became a blur themselves as they spun faster and faster in a tight circle, the floor under their feet actually smoking as they spun about. The two let go and spun away from each other, a trail of flame following them as they came to a stop. They both leaped forward and did a final tap before halting, their faces inches away.

"Usually, a routine like that is followed by a PBS pledge," Buffy said.

The two stared at one another for a long moment, neither even breathing hard, as the flames died and the floor seemed to instantly cool. "You've gotten better," the stranger said.

"I've been practicing," Robin replied. The two held the gaze for a moment before breaking out into laughter and falling into each other's arms, sharing a massive embrace. "Gods, it's great to see you again!" Robin yelled. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"And miss a chance to see you in human form unprepared? No way," the stranger said. Robin broke the hug off and turned to the others. "Guys, I want you to meet my oldest friend, the man who's shared more good times and good drinks than anyone in the Outer Realms. Liam Devlin O'Shaunesgy Patrick Dillion O'Hara Paddywick McHale Thornton Danahure."

"Okay, were you named after the whiskey or was the whiskey named after you?" Xander had to ask.

"So, this is what you look like human," Liam said, looking Robin up and down. "It's better than I expected."

"Wait, if he's human, what are you?" Willow asked.

In answer, Liam brushed back his hair, revealing a pair of pointed ears.. "A leprechaun, lass. Home to the Emerald Isle."

"Aren't you supposed to be like two feet high?" Cordelia asked.

"It's hard to be inconspicuous at that height," Liam answered.

"Oh, yeah, you really blend in with that outfit," Xander said, rolling his eyes.

"So you and Robin are friends?" Amy said. "I thought faeries and leprechauns didn't get along very well."

Robin rolled his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you people? Nothing, and I mean NOTHING in that crappy NBC 'Magical Legend of the Leprechauns' mini-series is true."

"Oh, you should have heard the howls in the Kingdom when that aired," Liam announced.

"You watch TV?" Jenny asked.

"Please. We're magical, we're not backward."

"So, what brings you into town?" Robin asked.

"I wish it was just old times, but it's not," Liam said. He motioned towards the man in the door. "This is Professor Taki Horiyto, from Japan."

"Horiyto?" Giles said. "I've heard of you often. Your reputation among the Watchers is immense."

"Thank you," the professor said in a slightly accented voice. "I am sorry it has to be under such circumstances."

"What circumstances and I am so sorry I asked that now," Xander commented.

Liam took a deep breath and looked at Robin. "Mider's free."

Robin's face instantly went white. Literally. It was a unique sight that surprised everyone, even Amy, as the fairy stared at his friend. "When?"

"Two nights ago. You did feel it, didn't you?"

"A tremor. I'm not as connected to the Kingdom as I once was. How did he get out?"

"Maeve."

Robin's pallor intensified and his eyes widened. "Maeve's alive? And Mider's free?

They're together?"

"That's the idea."

"Oh, Gods preserve us all," Robin said, turning and rubbing his hands along his face.

"Um, a bulletin here would be nice," Buffy said, staring at the two.

Robin glanced over to Liam. "Go ahead. It's your nation and you always were the better story-teller."

Liam smiled and stepped forward, facing the group. "All right, here's the short version. Over a thousand years ago, the area you now know as Ireland was divided into different kingdoms. One of these was the peaceful land of Kells, ruled by the wise King Conchobar. The other nation was Temra, ruled by the evil Maeve. She believed that the island was hers by right, that only she could rule it. And in her greed, she did all but sell her soul to Mider, Dark Lord of the Fairy Lands. A being who believed that the Dark Arts carried the true power and was banished for it. He lusted over the kingdom known as Tir Na Nog, the entrance to which happened to be in Kells. With so much to gain, the two became allies, Mider boosting Maeve's natural magical abilities, allowing her to wield power to control monstrous creatures and use them in her war against Kells. However, there was a prophecy."

"You know, just once, it would be great to go through ONE crisis without hearing that word," Cordelia muttered.

"The prophecy foretold of a great warrior named Dragenta," Liam said. "A warrior who would save Kells in her time of need and bring peace to the land. A scroll indicating where Dragenta could be found was owned by Cathbad, a friendly Druid who worked with the King. The King decided to allow one of his subjects to begin a quest to find Dragenta. He was Rohan, a brave young man abandoned as a child and raised by Cathbad. He went on the quest with his friend, Angus, a trouble-maker and thief but with a good heart. Along the way, they came across Ivar, the prince of a far-away land who had come to Kells to find a chalice stolen from his kingdom. The trio were joined by Princess Deirdre, Conchobar's somewhat headstrong daughter who joined them in their quest which took them to the kingdom of Tir Na Nog.

"There, they met with Fin Varra, ruler of Tir Na Nog, who put them through a series of tests to see if they were worthy of such an honor of defending their land. They succeeded and he told them that the key to finding Dragenta was taming the dragon Pyre. And the key to taming Pyre was to gain four sets of armor that would allow them to become the Mystic Knights. To help them gain their armor and defend Kells from Maeve's assaults, Fin Varra gave them each a powerful weapon. Rohan already possessed the Sword of Kells. Diedre was given the Whirlwind Crossbow. Ivar, the Barbed Trident. And Angus received the Terra Mace. With these weapons, they were able to fight back Maeve's attacks and began their quest.

"With the aid of a faery named Aideen, the Knights began their quest. One by one, they defeated powerful guardians to gain their Armor: Rhoan, Fire; Deidre, Air; Ivar, Water; Angus, Earth. With their armor in place, the Knights managed to tame the dragon Pyre and gained another ally in their quest to battle Maeve and her chief general, Torc, who, as it turns out, was the man who stole the chalice Ivar sought. It was Pyre who revealed the truth that Rhoan himself was Dragenta, a fact that didn't sit too well with him.

"In the meantime, Maeve stepped up her attacks, with Mider's help and found an unexpected ally in the form of Garrett, an arrogant, brash Prince who intended to marry Diedre but alienated her and everyone else he came in contact with. Spurned by Diedre, he left Kells and fell under a spell of Maeve's, who used him to fight the Knights. But he broke the spell and, upon getting over his arrogance, became the Mystic Knight of Forest.

"It was during a period Garett was away that the war between Kells and Temra reached a critical point-----"

"Excuse me," Xander spoke up, raising his hand. "This is the *short* version, right?"

Rolling his eyes, Liam went on. "Maeve found herself a creature named Lugad, a half- human, half God only knows what, that soon began to lead the Temra army to victory. Lugad was blessed with a mark, one identical to the one Rhoan had, the one that identified him as Dragenta. It seemed Lugad and Rhoan were brothers."

"Really?" Buffy asked. "Who was the mom?"

"A question Rhoan himself asked, that was answered when Maeve revealed she bore the same mark."

"His own mother was his enemy?" Giles asked.

"Very Vader," Oz put in.

"Anyway, to make a long story short-----"

"Too late," Cordelia muttered.

"Maeve made one final all or nothing assault and actually conquered the castle of Kells," Liam went on. "But Rhoan found and fought her. He freed the Knights and they defeated Maeve and apparently extinguished her powers. She was banished from Kells for life.. Mider was eventually ambushed by a triad composing of Fin Varra, Oberon and Angus McAllistar, Lord of the Leprechauns, who imprisoned him in a mystical fortress with no escape."

"Only he's escaped," Amy offered.

"Yes, he has," Liam said. "Somehow, Maeve survived all these centuries and somehow she got the power to break him out. And with the two of them loose, there's no telling what will happen."

"Although we can safely rule out a game of touch football," Robin announced.

"That is why I am here," Horiyto said, stepping forward. "I have reason to believe that Maeve and Mider may come to this town."

"Why?" Giles asked.

"Giles, this is Sunnydale," Xander pointed out. "If it's evil, powerful and wants world domination, it shows up here."

"Be that as it may, there's something in town that could help Mider out," Liam announced. "It's why I'm here and since the prof has some info, I decided to check things out. I owed Fin Varra a favor anyway."

"What does Mider want here?" Steve asked.

In answer, Horiyto pulled a photo from his jacket and laid it on the table. "He wants this." The photo showed a strange octagon-shaped tablet that appeared to be made out of jade. A strange pattern covered it, a spiral-like design ending in a bright green center. "The Eye of Jurmoni," Horiyto announced. "Lost somewhere in China centuries ago, it can open a small portal to other-dimensional energy fields. Should Mider and Maeve get ahold of it and use it correctly, they will replenish their powers to such a point that they will become serious threats to the world."

"So, we have to find this thing and get it out town fast," Steve said, rubbing his cheek.

"Oh, yeah, that worked so well when we tried it with the Judge's arm," Xander muttered.

"Wait a minute," Buffy said, examining the photo. "I know where this is!"

"You do?" Jenny said, surprised.

"Yeah! It's at my mom's shop. Steve and I were helping her get that big shipment in last week and this was one of them. She's actually got in the window display."

"That's a lucky break," Steve said. "All we have to do is grab it and bring it over here."

"I've already made arrangements to get it to a safe place," Liam announced. "Somewhere Mider and Maeve will never find it. We just need to get a hold of it."

"We'll handle it," Steve said as he and Buffy rose from their seats. "Liam, you want to come with?"

"A pleasure," the leprechaun said, slapping a hand on Robin's shoulder. "Gives us a chance to catch up on old times."

"Then I'm coming with too," Amy said, standing up. "I want to hear some of these stories."

"Okay, I'm staying here then," Robin said. Liam chuckled and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back.

"I wish to attend as well," Shaw said as she rose. "I do not believe I have ever met one of your kind before."

"Oh, trust me, lass, if you had, you'd remember," Liam smirked.

Shaw slowly moved forward until she was inches away from Liam and gave him her best glare. "Do not call me lass again if you value having all your bones intact."

While the glare and the tone of her voice would make anyone quake in fear, Liam simply smiled more and raised his eyebrows. "Ah, now I see why Robin speaks so highly of you." Shaw's eyes widened in surprise. "He does?" She glanced over at Robin, who just shrugged shyly.

"Oh, yes. It takes a lot to impress him, believe me, but you've more than done the job. He's never met anyone like you before. Well, except for your cousin, of course," Liam said, shooting a grin at Amy. The two women looked at each other, then at Robin, who was covering his face with his hands. "Strength and honor in Shaw and one hell of a body for Amy. All in all, two people who make him feel more alive than he's ever felt before. Makes me envious of him for a change."

Robin lowered his hand and gave Liam a glare that said "I'm gonna get you for this." He weakly smiled at Shaw and Amy and immediately began making a beeline for the door. Steve chuckled as Buffy shook her head. "I know it's wrong, but I get such a kick seeing him squirm."

"Maybe we should try hearing what Amy and Shaw are going to say to him when they're alone," Steve replied.

Joyce Summers' antique and crafts shop was nestled in the middle of the main street of Sunnydale, the only street in the town that boasted more than five businesses. It was a small shop but popular, the contents drawing interest from residents wanting to give their homes a little class. Unfortunately, the sometimes mystical history of some of her artifacts drew unwanted attention and Joyce had more than once had to clean up from a ransacking demon.

She was closing up for the night, preparing to lock the five deadbolts, set the alarm and make sure the Latin saying to keep vampires out was intact. She was a bit nervous, given that Sherlock, her Sprit Guardian in the form of a dog, wasn't around for once. Somehow, he'd managed to talk her into going out of town with Randi and Brian Jessup as well as Ulric when he took a biref vacation. She figured a few days from having to clean the rugs of fur would do them both good but she was a bit nervous being by herself for the first time in a while. The door ringing surprised her and she looked up to see Buffy, Steve, Robin, Amy, Liam and Shaw enter.

It had taken Joyce a while to adjust to her daughter's status as a Slayer and an Immortal and even longer to get used to her odd choice of companions. At first, like most people when they first heard, she'd been horrified at the idea of Buffy dating an older man. But Joyce saw that Buffy truly loved him and he loved her and she wasn't about to step on her daughter's happiness. It taken her a while also to accept the idea that her friends were a mix of Amazons, witches, a werewolf and seveal men empowered to an Amazon-like level by a faery from Shakespeare

Dealing with vampires was one thing. Other-dimensional beings like Shaw and Robin still made her a little nervous and Joyce wasn't quite sure how to deal with them. Robin was beginning to grow on her, up to a reasonable point, but Joyce felt she wasn't quite near to Shaw as she liked. So, a visit like this let her know something was up.

"Hey, Mom," Buffy said, giving her mother a quick hug.

"Hi, honey," Joyce said. "What's going on?"

"Joyce, we need that jade thing you got last week," Steve said. "Trust me, it's not the kind of thing you want here."

"Let me guess, it's the Key to Hell?" Joyce said, only half-kidding just in case she was actually right.

"Actually, that's in the hands of someone else," Liam announced, smirking at Joyce.

"Liam Devlin O'Shaunesgy Patrick Dillion O'Hara Paddywick McHale Thornton Danahure of the Leprchaun Glens, at your service, my lady."

"Um, hello," was all Joyce could say as Liam bent over and kissed her hand. He smiled. "I see beauty runs in the Summers family quite well."

"Thank you," Joyce said, touched in spite of herself.

Robin grabbed Liam by the arm and yanked him back. "I think we've got more important things to do than romance?"

Liam stared at Robin as if insulted. "Laddie, to me, nothing is more important than romance."

Robin rolled his eyes. "Liam, I think the woman has more in mind for her future than becoming the 276th ex-Mrs. Danahure."

"Actually, it'd be the 277th," Liam shrugged. "I got divorced, married and divorced since the last time you saw me."

Robin stared at him. "I last saw you nine months ago." Liam nodded. "How do you do it?"

"Genetics, laddie, genetics," Liam smirked at him as Joyce quickly moved over to her window display. She reached over and pulled out an artifact that matched the photo the group had seen. "Here," she announced. "If it saves me another break-in, you're more than welcome to it. I've got enough problems just living in this town without adding this to them."

"Living on the Mouth of Hell does seem bothersome," Liam said. "Why do people do it?"

"Well, you can't beat the real estate prices," Robin shrugged. "Where else can I get a swank apartment for only $500 a month?"

"This looks kind of quiet for a artifact of power," Buffy said, turning the Eye around in her hands.

"Blarney Stone isn't much to look at either, lass," Liam said. "You'd never know it's all that holds the entire island of Great Britain together."

With the exception of Robin, everyone stared at him with strange looks. "Right, let's just forget I said that," Liam said, turning away.

Amy looked at Robin. "Is that true?"

"I plead the fifth," Robin said.

"You're not an American citizen. In fact, you're not even an Earth citizen."

"Nitpicker."

"Well, we'd better get this back to the prof," Buffy said, handing the artifact over to Steve. "Nice for us to have a quick, easy one for a change."

"Well, I'm not quite ready to leave just yet," Liam announced. "Me and Robin still have some catching up to do and I'd like to see all the interesting sights of Sunnydale."

"That's five minutes, then what?" Buffy said.

"Well, you do whatever you need to, hon," Joyce said, moving towards the door. "I have to get home." She was moving towards the door when she stopped. "Oh, Amy, I think you left something at the house the other night when you and Willow were doing something I'd rather not know about."

"The herbs or the newts or the toad's eyes?" Amy asked in dead seriousness.

"I'd rather have you figure it out," Joyce said. "And quickly."

Amy glanced over at Steve and Buffy. "You guys can run the Eye back to the library. I'll just get the stuff and be back as soon as I can. You coming, Rob?"

"Why not?" Robin shrugged. "Always a pleasure to see the Summers residence. And Liam still wants to talk old times."

"Then I shall come as well," Shaw said. "I still wish to hear more of Liam's kind."

"I think you can't stand being far away from me," Liam grinned.

Amy leaned in towards Robin. "Should I smack him or let Shaw do it?"

"Better if neither of you do it," Robin answered. "It'll just encourage him."

"Nice place," Liam said, as the group made their way up towards The Summers home. "I expect Eddie Haskell to pop up any minute."

"In this town, it's more likely to be Eddie Munster," Robin answered. He paused as he looked at the door. "Joyce, with the undead population of this town, I really think locks are appropriate."

"I've got plenty of incantations keeping demons and vampires out," Joyce answered.

"Wait, what brought this up?"

"The fact that your door's open," Robin said, motioning with his head to the front door, which was indeed a few inches ajar.

"Did Ulric bring Sherlock back early?" Amy asked.

"No," Shaw said. "If Ulric had returned early, he would have mentioned it to me."

"Better get those incantations updated," Amy said, slowly pushing the door open. The group moved inside slowly, Shaw's hand going towards her ever-present Feasellityar, ready to move at the slightest provocation. It was silent inside, the sort of silence Robin, Amy and Shaw were used to. The kind that just cries out for danger.

A sudden shuffling came from behind them and Shaw instinctively lashed out, her sword slashing outward until it met flesh. A gasp of pain drew the attention of the others and they spun around to see Dana Scully standing before her, Shaw's blade sticking right through her body.

"Scully?" Amy said.

"Hello," Scully gurgled, blood forming on her lips. Shaw pulled her sword out and let the agent fall to her knees. Scully glared at her moments before her eyes rolled up and she fell forward onto the floor, dead. "Sorry," Shaw said softly. She turned towards Amy. "Is this the point at which an Earth person would say, 'oops?'"

"Something like that," Amy replied.

"Shaw!" Joyce cried out. "Do you know how hard it is to get blood of the carpet? Believe me, I've tried. It never comes out completly."

"I keep telling you to check out that cleaner I mentioned," Robin said.

"Robin, they only make that in another dimension," Amy pointed out.

"And well worth the trip, I might add."

There was a bundle of movement and Mulder was there, his pistol drawn and aimed at the group. "What happened?" he asked as he knelt by his wife.

"She came up behind me, I reacted on instinct," Shaw said, putting her sword to her side.

"And they accuse me of an itchy trigger finger," Mulder muttered as he turned Scully over onto her back. He glanced up at the group and shook his head. "This isn't the greeting we were expecting."

"Hey, you're the ones breaking and entering," Robin said. "What happened to waiting around for somebody?"

"We weren't breaking when we entered," Mulder said, holding Scully's head up. "The door was already open." Before he could elaborate, Scully's body shuddered, a cough coming from her as she came back to life. She opened her eyes and adjusted to her surroundings, trying to understand what had happened to her. Her eyes focused on Shaw and glared at her. "I can't believe you did that."

"I did not know it was you," Shaw said.

"Well, then, I'd hate to be on your enemies list," Liam said. "What do you do to the people you don't know and like?"

"You may find out," Shaw answered darkly.

Scully groaned as Mulder helped her to her feet. "New friend?" she said, moving her head towards Liam.

"Liam Devlin O'Shaunnesgy Patrick Dillion O'Hara Paddywick McHale Thornton Danahure of the Leprechaun Glens," Liam's lengthy introduction went as he nodded at the two.

"Man, I'd hate to have to print your stationary," Mulder said, shaking his head.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Amy asked.

"We were told something was coming into Sunnydale we should know about," Scully said. "Some professor was bringing it in."

"The Eye?" Liam said, furrowing his brow. "You're here for the Eye?"

"We don't know about any Eye or what this thing is," Mulder said. "Just that it was important that we should get it."

"Did it ever occur to you to call first?" Robin asked. "Etiquette's nice, you know?"

"We tried to call," Scully said. "From Washington, the airplane and the airport. We couldn't get through for some reason."

"And we figured it'd be easier to check here first in case you guys were doing another one of your split-up routines," Mulder put in.

"Well, thank you for coming and leaving blood all over my floor," Joyce said. "Remind me to have Buffy return the favor if she's ever in Washington."

"I think you've got bigger messes than that," Mulder said, motioning towards the living room. Confused, the group walked over and saw a body lying on the rug. It appeared to have been beaten, the nose broken, lip bloodied and at least one limb broken. However, the face was instantly recognizable. "My god," Robin said. "Horiyto."

"Is he dead?" Joyce said, thrown by the sight of a body in her living room.

"If he's not, this is the worst case of jet lag I've ever seen," Liam put in as he looked over the body.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Amy asked, scratching her head. "Why would he come over here if he knew we were getting the Eye?"

"You know this guy?" Mulder said.

"Horiyto," Robin answered. "He's the professor who told us about the Eye of Jurmoni, the artifact you were told about. What happened?"

"That's what I was trying to figure out," Scully said, leaning by the body. "It's strange. He's been beaten, but not nearly bad enough to cause death. His body seems intact, no visible wounds, no outward signs of poison. It's as if his entire body just shut down for some reason."

"This doesn't make sense," Amy said. "Why didn't he just wait at the library with the rest of the guys?"

"Wait, you saw this man today?" Scully said, her face suddenly alarmed as she looked up at Amy.

"Yeah, we left him there barely an hour ago."

"That's not possible," Scully said. "I'd need a more detailed autopsy to tell for sure, but in my opinion, this man joined his ancestors, oh....I'd say at least four hours ago."

The group exchanged glances, thrown by this information. Robin leaned down to the body, looking over it. "Great, another Hellmouth moment!" Amy muttered.

"An hour in town and I've already met the walking dead," Liam said, glancing at his watch. "Great trip so far, eh, Rob?" Robin didn't answer, he was staring intently at the body.

"Rob?"

Robin looked up, his face grave. "Tell me this isn't what I think it is," he said. Liam moved over and looked down to where Robin was pointing. A section of Horiyto's shirt was open, revealing a bizarre burn mark in the center of the chest. A mark that greatly resembled a human hand. Liam's eyes went wide as he stared at it. "You're not going to tell me that's not what I think it is, are you?" Robin said as he stared at his friend's reaction.

"Soul drain," Liam muttered.

"Excuse me?" Scully asked.

"Someone pulled this man's soul right out of his body," Liam said. "That's why it shut down like that. No soul, nothing for the body to keep maintaining."

"Like when a vampire is made?" Shaw said.

"Yeah, but then, the demon is transferred into the body. Here, there's nothing, just an empty shell." Robin bit his lip in thought. "Liam, did you contact Horiyto?"

"No, he met up with me when I was in Sunnydale."

"And who told you to go to Sunnydale?"

"When Mider broke out, Fin Varra approached me and told me I should come here to intercept the Eye."

"Wait a minute, Fin Varra left Tir Na Nog?" Robin asked. "And he went to you instead of McAllistar?"

"Seemed a little strange, but I figured it was all right." Liam watched Robin and then his eyes widened in understanding. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"No, I'm thinking what I'm thinking. But I think you think you're thinking what I'm thinking."

"What do you think I think you're thinking?"

"I think that you think that I think that you think that that wasn't Fin Varra who came to see you."

"That's exactly what I was thinking."

"Ah, so you were thinking what you thought I thought you thought I was thinking."

"I think so. So, what do you think?"

"I think you two had better stop this before I run out of here screaming," Joyce announced. "What the hell are you two talking about?"

"Someone impersonated Fin Varra to get me here and killed Horiyto and took his place," Liam announced. "The question is who."

"Someone who sucks out souls," Robin said, thinking. He and Liam looked at one another with pale faces. "Oh dear Lord," the said in unison. They immediately leapt to their feet and began running towards the door. Sharing confused looks, Amy, Shaw, Mulder, Scully and Joyce followed them. "Where are we going?" Amy yelled.

"To the library before it's too late," Robin said.

"How bad is this likely to get?" Mulder said.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being World War III?" Robin paused to consider it. "Twenty- seven point....six."

*****

"One mystical artifact coming right up!" Buffy announced as she and Steve entered the library.

"That was mercifully quick," Giles said as he walked forward, the rest of the Slayerettes sitting at the table, Horiyto moving with him. The professor reached out and took the Eye from Buffy, turning it slowly in his hands. "Where are the others?" he asked, a strange tone of urgency in his voice.

"They went to make sure my mother got home. They'll be by soon."

"I suppose it makes no difference," Horiyto muttered, turning the Eye around.

"Well, it's about time we got an easy caper," Oz announced. "No fuss, no muss, it's over."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," a high-pitched voice said. The entire group spun around to see a strange little man with a balding head and huge fingernails alongside an attractive, but sinister-looking woman holding a staff highlighted by a large green gem. "Give us the Eye please," the man said, holding out his hand.

"Let me guess, Mider and Maeve?" Steve said as the entire group got into attack stances, save for Horiyto.

"That's Queen Maeve," the woman said, her eyes flashing with anger as her grip on the staff tightened.

"And Mider, soon to be King of Tir Na Nog," the fairy said. "Now, we happen to be in a rush, so just give us the Eye and we can get started."

"Kind of in a hurry, huh?" Xander said.

"I've spent the last thousand years inside a rock inside a mountain," Mider said. "Excuse me if I want to get my revenge out of the way quickly."

"There's no way you're getting ahold of that Eye," Steve said, his sword in his hands.

"Perhaps not," Mider said, scratching his chin. "Of course, I hardly need to, thanks to my colleague Mr. Tsung over there."

"Who the hell's Mr. Tsung?" Buffy asked, confused.

"That would be me," Horiyto's voice announced. The group turned to see him, an evil grin on his face. A blur began to cover his body and the grin turned out to be the only thing that remained. Where once had been an elderly scholar was now a younger, much more athletic man, his black hair slicked into a small ponytail, his eyes flashing with pure malovence. "Shang Tusung," he introduced himself. "It's only fair a person knows his or her's own executioner." With a sudden heave, he threw the Eye up into the air at the very center of the library. At the high point of its arc, both Maeve and Mider pointed, Mider with his fingers, Maeve with her staff, energy pouring from them in a bright green light, striking the Eye, freezing it in mid-air above the stunned Slayerettes.

"Spirits of Darkness, Demons of Night......" Maeve began.

"Energy of Evil, lend us your might...." Mider continued.

"By thy powers that our sacrifices shall seal...."

"The portal we wish now reveal."

The Eye spun about in the middle of the air, glowing in the magical energies of the two beings. Suddenly, a bolt of energy came from its jeweled center and struck through the floor of the library, penetrating right into the Hellmouth.

"Oh, bloody hell," Giles whispered.

The beam of energy grew, became larger and harder, a green fountain that continued to warp the floor, the wood breaking apart and a rumbling shaking the entire building. Without warning, a beam of fiery red energy flew out of the hole in the floor and to the Eye. The Eye began to spin faster as the energy poured around it, one wave coming up from the ceiling, the other flowing into the sky, piercing the ceiling and blasting into the night, creating a huge black cloud over the school.

Joyce's car ran into the cub, Joyce losing control at seeing the massive cloud flowing over the school. The car's occupants stared up in amazement, save for Liam and Robin, who wore matching expressions of horror. "Too late," Liam muttered. "Too late and now we're all fucked." The cloud began to form a massive circle and shapes began to appear out of it, some human, some not. The majority of them were clad in black ninja-like outfits, wielding incredible weapons. They began to fall all over Sunnydale, with several concentrating on the library.

The first figure to land was huge, almost seven feet tall. It appeared to be a female but instead of skin, scales covered her like a massive lizard's hide. A red bikini-like outfit covered her breasts and crotch and her hair was pulled into a long ponytail. What really got the attention of the Slayerettes was the fact that she had four incredibly powerful arms.

The moment she hit the ground, she was moving, her fists like jack hammers, hitting with incredible speed. In seconds, Oz and Willow were knocked out as the Slayerettes were forced to scatter. Xander and Cordelia tried to attack her, only to have the creature leap upwards and then land behind them, the impact of her jump shaking the floor beneath them. Giles and Jenny tried to attack her but had little chance. Two of her arms reared back and smacked them in their faces.

The other two grabbed hold of Xander and Cordelia and proceeded to smash their heads together, twice, then let their unconscious bodies fall to the ground.

Suddenly, another warrior was there. From the waist up, he appeared to be human, save for his muscular build and the large ram-like horns on his forehead. From the waist down, he had the body of an incredibly large and strong horse, his hooves smacking on the ground. From behind him, a large tail lashed out, ending in a pair of massive, razor-sharp pinchers. The tail raised up and a bolt of energy seared out of it, exploding on the ground before Giles and Jenny, knocking them back. The centaur spun about, his tail sailing forward and smacking Giles and Jenny, sending them flying across the library, hitting the wall hard. They both slid down, collapsing into limp piles.

Steve and Buffy would have joined their friends, but had their hands full with the ninjas currently filling the library. Their style of fighting was like nothing the two had ever seen and it was all they could do to keep themselves from being massacred.

Then he arrived.

He sailed down, flipping in the air and landing on his feet, raising himself to his full height. He was a large and incredibly powerful man dressed in red pants, with a chest protector apparently made out of bone on his torso. Bone-covered pads were on his knees and elbows, daggered gauntlets coverings his fists. His face was covered by a mask that seemed to be made out of the skull of a bizarre creature Steve had never seen before. He stared at the library, his eyes hidden by the mask, the air around him high with energy. And with evil.

He moved forward and faced Buffy and Steve, the ninjas clearing a path to him. He said nothing, simply looked them both up and down then held up his hand, palm-up and beckoned to them. Buffy and Steve shared a look, then launched forward. Steve lashed out with a fist towards the mask------and gasped in pain as he fingers smashed and his knuckles broke open. Buffy tried to kick his torso------only to have him grab her ankle and savagely twist it, the bone popping out of her skin.

The man moved forward like lightning, each hand closing around a throat.. He lifted both

Buffy and Steve high over his head, seemingly not showing any strain whatsoever at the feat.

"Shang Tsung," he called out, his voice echoing as if from a deep cavern. "Are these the Immortals?"

"They are, my Lord," the shape-shifting man said, bowing his head.

"Good." With no hesitation or much effort, the man easily snapped Buffy and Steve's necks, then let their lifeless bodies fall to the ground. He looked about the library and observed his fighters. "You have done well, Sheeva." The four-armed woman nodded. "And you, Motaro."

The Centaur bowed his head. The man glanced about. "Where are the others?"

"We'll have them soon, my Emperor," Tsung said.

"Be sure that you do." The man strode forward and looked up at the core of energy flowing out of the Hellmouth and into the sky. "The Earth was created in six days! So too shall it be destroyed! And on the seventh day, mankind will rest in peace! And in pieces! So speaks SHAO KHAN!"

*****

"By the Lady," Shaw whispered as she stepped out of the car, her eyes turned up at the darkening sky and the portal that now filled it. "Do you realize what that is?"

"Let me guess. Horrible. Am I close?" Amy said, her eyes frozen.

"An interdimensional portal," Shaw said. "A passage through dimensions. But I have never seen one this large before."

"We need to get out of here," Robin said. "We need to get out of here right now."

"Wait a minute, what about Buffy?" Joyce asked.

"And the others?" Amy put in.

"Trust me, Joyce, we're not going to help them if we get caught too!" Robin said as the group began piling back into the car. "We need to get out of town right now before it's too late."

"Too late for what?" Scully wanted to know.

"Too late for answering questions, lassie, so let's move it!" Liam pushed Joyce into the driver's seat and sat beside her. He turned the key and the engine flared to life. "Go. Now."

"I'm not going to leave my daughter behind-----" Joyce's outrage was cut off by a whistling sound and suddenly there was an explosion nearby. Looking up, the group saw a bizarre figure standing before them. It was humanoid and was dressed in ninja-like garb but with metallic coverings and his face was covered with a huge helmet, wires hanging from the back like deadlocks, seeming more machine than man. Its chest was open, showing a large compartment holding a missile, aimed right at the jeep. "Oh, hell," Joyce whispered as she put the jeep into reverse, spinning it around just as a missile blasted past them, exploding against a wall. Joyce put the car into gear and began to roar down the streets of Sunnydale as fast as she could.

*****

In his office in the largest building in Sunnydale, the Mayor glanced at the window at the display taking place, ninjas running through the town without mercy, sending the few people in view back. "Oh, dear," he said and walked towards a closet set near the office. Opening it, he reached in and pulled out a large scepter. "Darn it, I hate using this thing," he said, shaking his head. He pushed a dial and watched as the scepter emitted a large green glow that covered him completely. It was a real shame, the mayor thought before vanishing. This would have been such a nice night for bingo.

*****

As Joyce's jeep rushed down the streets of Sunnydale, the occupants could see the other- worldly army roaming through the streets. Ninjas were joined by Centaurus, galloping through the streets, carnage in their path. As Joyce swerved to avoid a fallen lightpost, they could see a group of vampires fighting with the ninjas. The ninjas showed absolutely no fear whatsoever and were taking the vampires out left and right. One vamp leapt on a ninja and bit him but got no reaction whatsoever. The ninja simply batted him away and beheaded him, a cloud of dust joining the pile on the ground.

A noise on the other side got their attention and the group looked as one towards the other side of the car where a black-skinned demon was being trashed by two centaurs. Each centaur grabbed an end of the demon and pulled, ripping it in half. "Okay, I'm officially freaked out now," Amy said.

Joyce turned her eyes back to the road just in time to see a flaming car come roaring towards them. Spinning the wheel, Joyce sent the jeep smashing into a lightpost, crumpling the front of the jeep. Scully cried out as her arm smacked the door, the occupants of the crowded back of the jeep rolling around each other. "Damn it!" Joyce yelled. "I just paid the premiums on this thing!"

"I hope you use the same insurance company for everything," Mulder said, motioning to where the burning car had crashed. Joyce looked at it and put her hands to her head. "My shop!" she cried, staring at the burning building.

Robin glanced back up at the sky and noticed how the portal was seeming to grow. "We need to get out of here now," he said. He turned towards Liam. "You got something?"

"I always do," the leprechaun replied. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a keychain and pointed it towards the street. "Spirits of the Glen, hear my call, my chariot bring to me before all fall." He pushed a button on the keychain and a beeping went out. A shimmering covered the air in the street before them and a shape formed itself. It solidified to form what appeared to be your typical van, albeit a bright green color. "All aboard who don't want to get slaughtered," Liam said, leading the group towards the van. They piled in, Liam behind the wheel as Robin climbed next to him, the rest scurrying into the back as Liam started the car.

He pulled out with tires squealing, spinning the van around as he slammed down on the accelerator and roared down the street. "Are you sure we can outrun these guys?" Mulder said, glancing back.

"Don't worry," Liam grinned. "I've had a few modifications put into this baby."

"Since when do you have a license?" Robin asked.

"I've been driving for quite a while now, I'll have you know."

"That's not what I asked you."

"I know."

"Oh my god, we're going to die," Joyce said, putting her face in her hands.

"Not if I can bloody help it," Liam replied, racing past a burning tree lying across the road.

Scully glanced out the window and saw a herd of centaurs racing towards them, gaining by the moment. "We've got company," she said, trying to ignore the fact that these were mythical creatures chasing her. "And they're gaining."

"Relax," Liam said. "We'll lose them."

"Perhaps you should tell them that," Shaw said, staring at the advancing Centaurs. "They do not appear to grasp the concept as well."

"You really need to relax, lass," Liam said,, reaching forward and pulling a CD seemingly from thin air and sliding it into the stereo. Immediately, a lively Irish jig blasted over the speakers and into their ears. Liam tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, bopping his head in time with the music as everyone stared at him in astonishment. Shaw took a moment to once again glance back, this time seeing that the Centaurs were nearly right behind the van. "I would suggest speeding up at this time."

"No back seat driving," Liam said, seemingly not at all concerned.

"Um, Liam old sport, I really think we need some quick maneuvering here," Robin put in.

Liam sighed and rolled his eyes. "Oh, all right." He reached forward and flicked a button on the dashboard. Instantly, the van began to metamorphisize, the center of the wheel becoming a giant radar screen, panels sliding around to reveal high tech equipment. Elongating from the sides of the van were platforms that soon formed themselves into wings. At the rear of the van, a panel swept back and a very large rocket-sized engine emerged. Billowing flame blasted out of it, engulfing the lead Centaur and knocking him back into the herd. The flame blasted the van forward, rushing down the street. Liam pulled back on the steering wheel and the van began to rise in the air, rushing up towards the night sky. "I told you I had some modifications put in," Liam said to the surprised looks of the others.

"From who?" Scully asked. "Q?"

"Yes. Just not the one you're thinking of."

"Oh my god," Joyce whispered. The others glanced out the windows and felt their jaws drop. A massive dome of pure blackness was forming over Sunnydale, reaching to the city limits before stopping, forming a solid dome over the entire town. "What the hell is that?" Amy asked.

Robin was tight-lipped, his eyes hard as he stared at the dome covering his home on the earthly plane. "Outworld's here."

*****

Part 2: Wherein explanations are made, an old flame returns and allies turn away.

The van came to a stop in the middle of the Nevada desert, pulling to the side of the deserted highway as the group piled out. Robin and Liam moved to the side, both looking panicked. Mulder, Scully, Amy, Joyce and Shaw stared at them in confusion. The two had been silent during the trip, which had actually only taken minutes, thanks to the powerful engines of Liam's special van. "Okay, this is bad, right?" Mulder said.

"Bad?" Robin turned towards him. "Bad? No, Mulder, this is beyond bad. This is completely beyond bad. This is so beyond bad the light from bad won't hit us for another two thousand years, that's how bad it is."

"Well, we should be around to see it," Mulder muttered.

"Don't bet on it, laddie," Liam shot back.

"What the hell was that?" Joyce wanted to know.

"Believe me, hell would probably be preferable to what's in Sunnydale now," Liam added.

"Outworld, lads and lassies. Outworld is here on Earth."

"What is Outworld?" Shaw spoke for them all.

Liam and Robin looked at each other and took deep breaths, preparing themselves. "Okay, here's the deal," Robin said, pacing as he spoke. "What you know as Earth is only one of a series of parallel worlds. There's the Fairy Kingdom, my home. There's the Leprechaun Glens, Liam's home. There's Shaw's home dimension and there are a lot more, all separated by dimensional barriers, making them what we call realms."

"Like the alternate timeline the guys went to?" Amy asked.

"What?" Liam frowned.

"A few months back, some people came here from an alternate reality where Buffy never went to Sunnydale," Robin explained. "There was that world's Buffy, that world's still-souled Angel and versions of Willow and Xander who were vampire lovers. The guys souled the vamps and then went to that reality."

"What!" Liam yelled.

"What?" Joyce yelled. "You went there? Buffy never told me she went there!"

"Joyce, you were already freaked out about that Buffy becoming a cold, uncaring, ill-tempered killer," Amy said. "Did you really want to know about the world she came from?"

"Well, you have a point," Joyce nodded.

"Wait a minute, you went to another reality?" Liam said. "Robin, ye let them do this? At least tell me you didn't let them interfere with their counterparts."

"Well, actually, Mulder and I went to our doubles, found out they had become Immortal without knowing it, shot them to prove it and tied them together in bed to let them know how much they loved each other," Scully answered, sending Liam into a fit.

"Mary Mother of God, Robbie, ye know how dangerous it is to do shit like that!"

"Hey, I agree with you and I told them," Robin said, his hands up in defense. "But I was outvoted and I only went with so I could keep them from going completely over the top on everything."

"Oh, lord, I can't believe you work with these ameteurs, Robbie," Liam said, rolling his eyes.

"Speaking as one who has traveled through several dimensions, I am no ameteur," Shaw said.

"That's different, lass," Liam said, his tone softening in a way that wasn't lost on Robin.

"Those are alternate realities and timelines. They're harder to break into because they're so delicate and hard to mess up. But places like the Faery Kingdom and the Glens and your home are one of a kind and that makes them dangerous.

"One of these realms is called Outworld," Robin announced. "A barren, desolate wasteland of a realm ruled by a creature named Shao Khan who decided, because he was an immortal sorcerer of near god-like power, he should crown himself Emperor. So naturally, he went about getting himself an empire. He began to conquer realm after realm, amassing an army of enslaved worlds before he finally turned his sights towards Earth about six hundred years ago."

"Hold up," Mulder said. "If this guy is so powerful, why didn't he just invade us six hundred years ago?"

"Crossing an interdimensional barrier isn't like jimmying open a lock, Mulder," Robin explained. "Entering another realm isn't that easy, especially if your intents are hostile. There are rules, set up by the Elder Gods, rules that Khan has to adhere by. There's only one way he can invade and that's through a sacred tournament known as Mortal Kombat."

"What's that?" Amy asked.

"Every generation, the greatest fighters in the realm Khan wants are chosen to compete in a tournament," Liam answered. "Some train their entire lives for this. Some have no idea what they're getting into until it's too late. They meet and fight, their realm against Outworld's best fighters. If that realm's champion wins, the realm is safe for another generation. If Khan's forces win, they secure one victory they need."

"How many do they need?" Joyce wanted to know.

"Ten straight victories in Mortal Kombat secures the realm for Khan to invade," Robin said. "The Elder Gods no doubt thought they were safe, since the idea of ten straight wins in a tournament like this was unheard of. But they underestimated Khan and his men, especially Shang Tsung."

"He's the guy you said killed Horiyto and took his place?" Amy said.

"And impersonated Krychek," Scully added.

"That's right," Liam nodded. "He's Khan's chief sorcerer and quite the fighter. His power comes from his ability to suck the souls out of mortal beings, adding their power to his own and giving him magical abilities. Including shape-shifting. With Tsung's fighting skills, Khan conquered several realms before Earth. Five hundred years ago, Tsung was defeated by a warrior named Kung Lao and fell out of favor with the Emperor. However, he got back in Khan's good graces when he brought a fighter to the next Kombat, a four-armed monster named Goro who defeated Kung Lao and proceeded to win the next eight tournaments over five centuries."

"These Gods put the fate of a realm into a contest?" Joyce asked in disbelief.

"Joyce, you don't cross the Elder Gods. These guys are the tops of the hierarchy. They're to Zeus what Zeus is to us. If they say something's this way, it's this way, no questions asked. And like I said, there's no way anyone could have predicted Outworld winning ten Mortal Kombats in a row."

"So the tenth tournament-----"

"Was held a few years ago," Robin interrupted Scully. "To make a long story short-----"

"Too late," Mulder muttered.

"Goro was defeated in combat, but Shang tried to take the fight to Outworld. Liu Kang, a Shaolin monk who happened to be Kung Lao's descendent, then defeated Tsung who was supposed to have been killed during the battle. That win meant that Earth was safe from Khan for at least another ten generations."

"So what the hell is he doing taking over Sunnydale?" Joyce asked.

"Bloody good question," Liam said. "You'd think the Elder Gods would have done something about it too."

"And why would he want us there?" Mulder said, motioning to himself and Scully.

"There is also the question of how Maeve and Mider fit into this," Shaw pointed out. "We need answers," Robin said. "And there's not too many people who can give them to us."

"Oracles?" Liam asked.

"Nah, I hate dealing with them. We don't have time for riddles."

"The Stygians?"

"I'd prefer not to have to avoid being someone's meal."

"I'm trying to think of who else we could contact."

"We need someone who not only knows what's happened but knows what may happen as well," Robin said, stroking his chin. He glanced up at Liam. "Can this thing get us to Ireland?"

"This thing could get us to the moon if I wanted to, laddie," Liam said. "Why? Who are you-----" His eyes widened as a thought struck him. "No," he said in a defiant voice.

"Liam-----"

"No, no, no bloody way, no bloody how, forget it," Liam said, waving his arms as he turned away.

"Liam, come on, she's the only one I know who can do it."

"Damn it, Robin, you know how I feel about her."

"I know, Liam, I'm not a fan myself. But we need her. We do."

"All right, all right," Liam said. "Dammit." He turned around and headed back towards the van, the others behind, exchanging looks of confusion. "Wait where are we going?" Mulder said.

"We're getting info from a lady Liam and I know," Robin replied.

"How well do you two know her?"

"I did her a couple of favors," Liam said as he moved to the driver's seat. "First one was I married her. Second was I divorced her."

*****

Under the massive black dome, what had once been a normal town was now something from another world. The buildings had been warped and shaped into bizarre structures, alien-like metals covering their surface. The high school was still there, but a black tower seemed to have risen from across it, extending towards the still-open portal. A cone of red energy blasted from the top of the library towards the sky, giving the sky a bizarre red and black color.

In the interior of the large circular room at the top of the tower, a massive structure that looked like a massive modern art piece, an odd blob that took up one wall. Inside it were the captured Slayerettes, each held fast within the strange prison. Their hands and feet were locked back, half-merged with the gray surface of the structure, the solid coating preventing them from moving at all. "Ah, all dressed up and no place to go," Mider said as he looked up at the captives. "Like the design? Built it myself. One has to do something to keep one's mind occupied over a thousand years."

"Always good to have hobbies," Steve said, trying to get his hand loose. His neck still hurt from where Khan had snapped it and having his head twisted at an angle by this thing wasn't helping.

"Oh, don't even bother struggling," Mider said. "It's specially designed to keep a solid lock on you, no matter what. So, if you're thinking of breaking an arm and slipping out, forget it. It will just adjust the grip and you'll end up with a rather painful souvenir."

"Jenny, can't you do something?" Giles said softly.

"I've been trying," Jenny said. "But I can't get together the energy or concentration for a spell."

"Yes, inhibiting magics is another side effect," Mider said. "Saves us time on guards and cells, you know."

"This stuff better not stain," Cordelia said. "This outfit's brand new."

"Ah, style over all else," Maeve said as she walked forward. "A girl after my own heart. Such a shame we can't be friends."

"I'm hurt," Cordelia answered.

Maeve smiled and raised her staff, sending a bolt of green energy out that blasted Cordelia's body with pain, causing her to scream.

"Never give me a straight line like that," Maeve said as she lowered the staff.

A sudden booming noise got their attention. They looked at the other end of the large chamber as the massive double doors opened and Shao Khan entered, a large battle axe held in his hands as he strode towards the throne set on the opposite side of the room. Behind him, Shang Tsung, dressed in a dark outfit with a long coat, Motaro and Sheeva followed, along with several ninja-clad guards, spears in hand.

"Inform the troops," Maeve announced. "Lord Vader has arrived!"

"Report," Khan's voice boomed as he sat on his throne.

"All civilians have been gathered into special camps, my Lord," Sheeva said. "The demons we have not destroyed appear to have gone underground, literally."

"They cannot leave the dome," Khan announced. "Leave them be for a while. Those creatures are too cowardly to oppose us. Tell all troops to keep an eye out for stragglers, human or otherwise and deal with them."

He turned towards his sorcerer. "Tsung, where are the escapees?"

"I'm working on it, my Lord," Tsung bowed.

"Work faster."

"With respect, my Lord, I'm still recovering energies from helping to attain the Eye and open the portal. I need time to renew my strength before I can try to find them."

"Make it fast," Khan said. He glanced at Maeve and Mider. "What of you two?"

"The spell will hold," Maeve announced. "So long as we help reinforce it, of course. But we do need to get the others as soon as possible."

"Then get on it," Khan said. "Time is short and I want to conquer this realm as quickly as possible."

"Patience is a virtue," Mider said. "Oh, wait, I forgot, you don't have any virtues. Neither do I, come to think of it."

"Excuse me," Giles called out. "I was curious, however, as to how the bunch of you managed to get together?"

"I was wondering that too," Steve said, glancing at Maeve. "You're not Immortal, how can you be alive?"

"Never underestimate the dark arts," Maeve said. "I was always connected to magic, even before I met Mider. I managed to hold onto some of that after my exile from Kells. Staying alive was easy, it was keeping my youth that created the need for sacrifices, literally and figuratively. I knew how I could free Mider, but I didn't have the power to do it and stay alive. I didn't know how exactly to work it, but I knew my chance would come. So, I reserved myself, wandering the Earth, seeking out sources of mystic energy to keep myself alive over the years. It was during a meditation a few months back that I made contact with Shang here."

"Yeah, you gave us the whole Outworld spiel already," Xander said. "You guys want to conquer but you can't until you win this Kombat thing, right?"

"Drastically under-explained, but accurate," Tsung said.

"Hey, don't take this the wrong way, but aren't you supposed to be dead?" Buffy asked.

"A few centuries of subsisting on souls and magical energies delayed my afterlife path," Tsung said. "I was blasted into a state of limbo. No body, no form, barely any consciousness at all. Not very pleasant, I can tell you. That was when I made contact with Maeve during her meditation. I told her how to get in touch with the Emperor and he managed to find a way to bring me back into a not-entirely state of life and enough power to impersonate Horiyto and that brings us to now."

"So, your plans for the future are what, exactly?" Giles shrugged.

"I want Kells," Maeve said, her face hard. "It's all I want, all I ever wanted. It is my birthright, my legacy, it belongs to me."

"Um, hate to break this to you, lady," Xander said. "But your kingdom's been gone for a few centuries now."

'The I'll rebuild it," Maeve said. "However long it takes, how many sacrifices are required, I will have my kingdom. And if the rest of this planet must suffer for that, so be it. It is a small price to pay for my destiny."

"Well, now I know you're mad, I just wanted to be sure," Giles shrugged.

"As soon as the others are gathered, our plans may begin," Tsung said. "Tapping into the Hellmouth will give us the opportunity to------"

"What are you doing?" Mider suddenly said.

"Hmm?" Tsung answered.

"You're telling them the plan. Didn't we already discuss this? Didn't we already decide not to tell them the plan? Really, how long have we been in this business? We should all know by now that we don't tell the heroes the plan. Yes, I understand that you're happy with the plan, you're proud of the plan, you want to share the plan with others, but send a message to a stranger, whisper it into a hole in the ground, tell one of the captives and kill them, but you don't tell them!"

"Man, this conversation sounds familiar for some reason," Oz said, shaking his head. Giles looked at Maeve, trying to speak calmly. "You honestly think you can trust these people? They'll just betray you as soon as your usefulness is over."

Maeve threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, please. I was practicing divide and conquer centuries before you were born. Don't even try to play that game." She moved forward and grinned at Giles. "Of course he plans to betray me. I'm expecting it. After all I'm planning to betray him."

"I know she plans to betray me," Khan announced. "She knows I plan to betray her. I know she knows. She knows I know."

"I know that he knows I know," Maeve continued. "He knows that I know that he knows."

"We're a very knowledgeable group," Tsung said with a smile.

"We have already discussed this," Khan announced. "We may fight one another eventually. We will no doubt war in the future for Earth. None of us are the type to share power or follow another. We do not trust one another but we do realize that together, our goals stand a much better chance of success. So for now, cooroperation is our only option."

"Yeah, well, your master plan's got a few flaws," Buffy said. "You haven't got us all."

"The others will get help," Steve announced. "You'll see."

"Sadly, I believe your friends will find contact via conventional means a bit----difficult," Tsung smiled. "And should they attempt another way, they will simply be announcing their presence and that will make it so much easier to find them."

"Find the escapees," Khan said in a dangerous voice. "Find them now." He glanced up at the structure. "If I'm going to destroy this realm, I should have as big an audience as possible."

*****

"Isn't this how 'The Blair Witch Project' started?" Mulder said. He, Scully, Amy, Shaw and Joyce were following Liam and Robin as they made their way through a massive forest somewhere in Ireland. All they could see in every direction were nothing but trees, brown bark rising up into a massive green canopy. The rising sun barely penetrated, shafts of light flowing into the pathway below as the group made their way to a destination only the fairies knew.

"Are you absolutely sure we're even in Ireland anymore?" Amy asked as the group moved forward through the trees.

"She enjoys her privacy," Robin shrugged, pushing some branches aside. "Made it hell coming here when she and Liam were together."

"What makes you think she can help us?" Shaw asked.

"She's a seer," Liam answered, his face tight. "She can see what may come."

"You mean what is to come," Scully said.

"No, what may come," Liam answered. "See, the future is unwritten, which is why time travel into it is impossible by scientific means. Can't go into something that doesn't exist yet. However, Callie can see the possibilities in the future, the ways it may take, the outcomes that may come. On rare occasions she may know something for sure but otherwise it's pretty vague."

"So if she knows the future, how come your marriage failed?" Scully answered.

"She doesn't know everything. Just some major things going around. This will count, believe me on that."

"So how soon until we can find her?" Mulder asked. In answer, Liam smiled and pulled aside a last branch to reveal a large open field in the midst of the forest. In the middle, seeming to come out of the ground itself, was a small cottage, a blanket of moss covering the roof. Before it lay a small garden, the flowers in full bloom and very evenly planned as well. "Martha Stewart meets the Hobbits," Amy said as the group walked into the field.

"I just hope she listens," Robin said.

"Why wouldn't she listen to me?" Liam asked.

"Maybe she still hates your guts for what you did to her in Madrid."

"Geez, I can't go anywhere without someone complaining about something! 'You stole Oberon's gold, Liam!' 'You tore up the original copy of the Declaration of Independence, Liam!' 'You scared Mrs. O'Leary's cow and started the Great Chicago Fire, Liam!' Bloody hell!"

"You are actually friends with this man?" Shaw asked.

"He grows on you," Robin shrugged. "There's more to him than meets the eye."

"I am quite happy with what my eye has already met," Shaw muttered.

Liam marched over to the front door of the home and pushed it open. "Callie?" He called out as he entered. "Callie, I know you're here! You're never anywhere else."

"Apparently, knocking isn't on his list of virtues," Joyce said as the others followed Liam inside.

"With the history these two have, I'm surprised he didn't kick down the door," Robin replied as the group made their way inside. It was quite the rural cottage, as natural on the inside as on the out. There was no furniture to speak of, shelves, chairs and tables seeming to rise out of the floor, dirt and grass comprising surfaces, bottle and vases covering nearly every inch of free space. The rest of the space was filled with candles that provided the sole illumination to the room. The home opened up from the doorway, looking into a massive circular level just below the doorway. Standing in the middle of it, surrounded by a row of tables, on a slightly raised platform, was a tall woman whose curly red hair reached nearly to the floor, her thin form clad in a green robe with golden embalms. She glanced up at the group, her lips curling into a slight smile, her brilliant green eyes highlighting her beautiful face. "About bloody time," she said in a light Irish accent. "I was expecting you a while ago."

"Folks, I'd like you to meet Callieway Burton, my 47th, 98th, 153rd and 211th ex-wife," Liam announced.

"Hi," Amy said. "I'm------"

"I know who you are and why you're here, Amy," Callie said. She glanced at Robin.

"Goodfellow. I see you're still on Oberon's bad side."

"I don't suppose you'll tell when I get off it?" Robin asked in an even tone.

"If I knew, I wouldn't say," Callie smiled. "So, I've already guessed why you came by, we'd best get down to brass tacks."

"Um, can you really-----"

"Yes, Joyce, I can. Or rather, I see various possibilities. As we get closer to what you would call the future and as various choices are made, those possibilities become whittled down to a few and finally, just the one. But it takes a while."

"So-----"

"No, Dana, I cannot tell you exactly what can come. I can tell you the possibilities you might take that could lead you down to the future."

"Is she-----"

"No need to ask Liam, Mulder, I always do talk like this."

"You get used to it," Liam shrugged.

Robin rolled his eyes. "Now I know why I threw a party every time you two got divorced." He looked at Callie. "Okay, Cal, fess up. We need to know-----"

"How Outworld has invaded, why the Elder Gods aren't doing anything, what part Maeve and Mider have to play in this, what plans they have, have I missed anything?"

"You are an incredibly arrogant woman," Shaw said.

"Takes one to know one," Callie replied with such a light and playful tone that Shaw was momentarily left speechless.

"Ah, that's the Callie I know and loved on and off," Liam said, grinning. "Always could put anyone in their place."

Shaw looked at him, then at Callie. "Why in the world would you marry this man four times?"

"Because he's one of the damn best incredibly unrelenting sex machines I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing in my life," Callie said in a tone that made it sound as if it should have been common knowledge.

"Wow," Amy whispered, turning to Shaw. "I think she just outdid you in the talking frank department."

"This woman is starting to piss me off," Scully muttered.

"Shh, don't ruin this," Mulder said. "Shaw is speechless and I want to enjoy it while I can."

Callie moved away from the group, heading to the raised portion of her floor, turning towards the group. "This is my big exposition moment, boys and girls. So if you're looking for action, you'd best seek elsewhere for a while." She reached over and uncorked a bottle, taking a swig from it. "First of all, the Elder Gods haven't reacted to this invasion because from their point of view there hasn't been an invasion."

"Gigantic portal, ninja army, massive destruction, interesting definition of no invasion these guys have," Mulder said.

"Maeve and Mider have used the Eye, combined with their magical energies, to form a link with Outworld and open it up with Earth."

"Wait a minute, Cal," Liam said. "You can't just open a link to another realm with the Eye itself. You'd need an anchor, another portal to pour the Eye's energies into and combine to create a link."

"The Hellmouth," Shaw said.

"In one, my dear," Callie said. "They are doing all but opening the Hellmouth wide in order to power the portal to Outworld. In effect, Sunnydale has become part of the Outworld, so the Elder Gods aren't going to be putting their noses into this. Rules, you know."

"What does Khan want?" Robin wanted to know.

"Earth of course."

"You know what I mean."

"Yes, yes I do. Well, here's the thing. The portal can't stay open forever and only extends the limit of the Hellmouth, in this case the limits of Sunnydale. However, they have a way to extend the spell, to open Outworld onto Earth totally. What is needed is, let me see....." She moved forward and waved her hand. A book floated from a shelf, opening before her, pages fluttering as Callie moved her fingers. "Ah, here it is. 'The energies of four who cannot die.....'"

"Me and Scully, Buffy and Steve," Mulder guessed.

"Two bound by skills and hearts."

"Wonderful, we're singled out for our love," Scully said.

"He couldn't pick guys who hate each other?" Mulder said.

"'Warriors pure, skills enhanced, by Gods and Eternals, not by chance.'"

"The Amazons and the guys I empowered," Robin nodded.

"And last, but certainly not least, 'The blood of two Eternals, jesters both, whose life force can bring destruction or hope."

"And guess who fits that bill," Liam said, glancing at Robin.

"And of course, that doesn't even mention the fact that three of the Amazons are witches. That will enhance the sacrifice," Callie explained. "It must happen sooner than later. Despite the energies of the Hellmouth, the portal won't stay open forever and if Khan is stuck in the Earth realm, the Elder Gods will step in. But if the sacrifice comes off, it will not only stabilize the portal to Outworld, it will allow Khan to merge the two realms. Hell on Earth is a benevolent description of what the result will be."

"So, what do Maeve and Mider get out of this?" Amy asked.

"For Maeve, what she's always wanted: Kells and its area to build her kingdom. For Mider, Khan has promised him enough power to conquer the throne of Tir Na Nog and become its ruler."

"Khan gets Earth, Tsung gets his life back as a reward, Maeve gets her kingdom, Mider gets Tir Na Nog and we all get the shaft," Liam summed up.

"Eloquent as always, Liam."

"So that's why Khan wanted us and Liam here," Mulder said. "So he could sacrifice us."

"Why us?" Scully asked. "Why not-----"

"He couldn't find them," Callie said. "You know Jarod and Parker. If they don't want to be found, no one will find them. So, lucky you two, you get to be the sacrifice."

"Can you tell us how he plans to do that?" Amy asked.

"Do you want to have nightmares every night for the rest of your life?" Callie asked.

"Um, no?"

"Then you don't want to know." Callie waved her hand and placed the book down on a table. "Needless to say, Khan and his allies are most interested in finding you all and I don't think I have to tell you what they'll do when you're in their hands."

"Lucky you, Shaw, you get to stay out of this one," Liam said.

"Oh, yes, she's lucky, as is Joyce" Callie said as she waved her hand again, causing a teapot to rise and pour into a cup. "They'll only be tortured, eviscerated and killed. Not necessarily in that order."

"Oh, god," Joyce said, rubbing her face.

"Actually, despite his bragging, Khan's not quite there yet," Callie said as she sipped at her tea. "But if he conquers Earth, he will be a step closer to challenging the Elder Gods. He'll lose, of course, but the war will no doubt lay waste to a few dozen realms first."

"You seem calm about it," Scully noted.

"My dear, I learned a very long time ago not to get involved in politics."

"Politics?" Scully's eyes widened. "We're talking about the fate of our realm here!"

"Oh, I'm sure you'll think of something," Callie said. "I hope it's one of the better options, of course."

"God, I forgot how much I hated dealing with her," Robin muttered.

"Is there anything you can tell us that is even remotely useful?" Shaw asked.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you much," Callie said. "I see the future, I don't try to influence it. There's too many factors involved in this for me to try and I'd hate to add to them."

"One of those factors is my daughter," Joyce said in a tight voice. "I don't want to hear you say you know what's coming but you're not going to tell us, give us something. Please."

Callie put down her cup and moved forward, her face impassive. "Joyce, believe me when I say that I know what it's like to lose a child and I wouldn't wish it on anyone."

"Don't tell me....." Amy began.

"Hey, don't look at me, lassie. Nothing ever came out of our marriages."

"You ain't just whistling Dixie, pal," Robin said.

Callie took a deep breath and glanced about. "I can tell you this much. Head to the nearest town and you'll find the allies you need. That's all I can say."

"Can or will?" Scully said.

"Can," Callie said. "If I say more, I could destabilize the possibilities and believe me, you don't want the good ones being rubbed out by mistake."

"So, that's it?" Mulder said. "That's all you can tell us?"

"That and a piece of advice. 'Don't worry about the future. Sooner or later it's the past.'"

"Who said that, Shakespeare?"

"No. Meat Loaf. 'Everything Louder Than Everything Else,' track eight off of 'Bat Out of Hell II.'"

"Educational as ever, Cal," Liam smiled. "Let's get out of here." He and Robin immediately turned and began walking towards the exit, the other slowly following. "Shaw!" she suddenly cried out. The elven warrior turned and stared at her as Callie slowly stepped down towards her, smiling. She reached out to stroke Shaw's hair and didn't seem to mind when the half-elven moved back. "Don't let your past experiences harden your heart, Shaw. Don't fight what you feel."

"What are you talking about?" Shaw asked, her face tied in confusion.

Callie nodded slightly towards Liam. "He's a good man, underneath all that bragdicco. You could make him better. And he could make you more whole. Don't be afraid of disgracing the memory. Don't be afraid of losing another. For once, just let yourself go and try to enjoy it." She smiled and began to walk away.

Shaw glanced at her, then at the others in bafflement, then back at Callie. "Wait. Is this something that will happen or something that may happen?"

Callie smiled and twirled her hair a bit. It swept around her and suddenly seemed to grow, covering her body before vanishing, taking Callie with it.

"Next show at 10:30," Mulder announced.

"Wasn't she great, folks, let's give her a hand!" Robin said, applauding.

"Now I know how Hiedo felt when I played 'she who knows what is to come,'" Shaw muttered under her breath as she followed the group towards the exit. Amy came up to her, moving quietly by her side and opening her mouth. "I do not wish to discuss it, Amy," Shaw said in a tone that made it clear the conversation was closed.

Robin walked by his friend and saw him grinning. "What are you happy about? We got nothing out of this."

"Not true," Liam pointed out. "We know what Outworld's doing, we know what they need of us and we know where to go for help. Plus, we have an incredibly important piece of information."

"What?"

Liam smiled wider. "I've got a green light with Shaw."

"Oh, gods," Robin said, rolling his eyes. "Thanks a lot, Callie, like he needed the encouragement."

*****

The early morning sun was beginning to rise higher as the van drove through the quiet streets of the small town. Like most Irish towns, the buildings were spaced tightly together with the same sort of old-world architecture, the modern signs and shingles doing little to hurt the postcard-perfect Irish setting. Mulder and Scully half expected to see sheep walking down the streets.

"Hope this is what Callie meant," Robin said. "Of course, she could have been telling us about another town in the completely opposite direction."

"Hey, Callie may be off when it comes to the relationships, but she's always been straight about her predictions," Liam said as he brought the van to a stop. "She says help's here, it's here. We just have to look for it. And if there's one thing I can tell you with absolute certainty, it's that if you want to find out the goings on in an Irish town, there's only one place to go."

He nodded his head towards the small pub set on the corner of the street, the brown doors welcoming visitors, not there were many this early in the day. "So, what are we supposed to do, go in and ask if there are any super-powered warriors who can help us defeat an inter-dimensional invasion?" Mulder asked.

"Direct approach works, but I'd prefer something else," Liam said. He turned and looked towards Amy. "You're an Amazon, right?"

"Yeah."

"I think it's time you put an overdue call in to the boss lady."

"You want me to call in Artemis?" Amy said.

"Why not? Haven't seen Arty in a while. She still hot stuff?"

Amy stared at him, not believing anyone could talk about Artemis that way. Well, except for Robin. "I think we'd better talk to her in private," Robin put in. He glanced towards the others. "Why don't you guys go in, get some drinks and wait for us." He looked towards Mulder and Scully. "You guys have cell phones? Wait, who am I talking to? I need you to-----"

"Get on the horn to everyone we can get ahold of," Scully said.

"And tell them we need them and we need them now," Mulder finished.

Robin nodded and the group piled out of the van. "God, it's cold," Joyce said, rubbing her arms. "I should have brought a sweater."

"Let me," Liam said. He waved his arms and the air around Joyce's shoulders shifted, yarn flowing out of nowhere and forming a bright green sweater around her. "Thank you," she said, slightly taken aback.

"Show-off," Robin muttered.

"Hey, got it, flaunt it, laddie. You taught me that."

"That was before I got stuck into the 'can't use magic unless it's to fight evil' bit."

"Sucks to be you," Liam grinned, pointing his clicker back towards the van. He hit the button and instantly the van vanished as quickly as it had first appeared. "Man, you save a ton on parking," Mulder smiled.

"Let's find someplace quiet to talk to Arty," Liam said as he, Robin and Amy walked down the street, leaving the others to head into the pub.

A small bell rang on the door as they answered. The place was deserted, chairs lying before bare wooden tables, the paneling and decoration making it look like it hadn't been changed a bit since it had been built some seventy-five years earlier. A long bar took up one entire end of the pub, bottles covering every inch behind it. Above the bar hung a large broadsword that looked quite old. But Mulder and Scully weren't interested in the decor, they were interested in the figure behind it. They had felt the sensation of another Immortal immediately upon entering and the figure behind the bar was looking at them with an expression that told them he was it.

He was a powerful-looking man, his eyes showing quite a few centuries behind them. He had dark hair with a receding hairline, a strange scar highlighting his forehead. His thick beard and mustache gave him a powerful face and even dressed in a loose shirt and jeans, he looked ready to strike if the situation called for it. He watched the group closely, eyes peering in suspicion at Mulder and Scully. "Morning," he said, his accent clear in his gravely voice.

"We just want some drinks," Mulder said. "Nothing else."

"No problem," the man nodded. "Aid, customers!"

"What, this early?" A young woman came out from the kitchen area. She was small, smaller than Amy, with a bouncy step, curly blond hair flowing around her, her pretty face carrying a large smile. She was wearing an attractive dress that somehow seemed big on her. "Haven't even got the grill on yet!"

"We don't need much," Scully said. "Just a place to wait for our friends."

"Hey, no problem, I can have that sucker on in no time," the woman called Aid said. "Just give me your orders and I can get going."

"Give us a minute," Mulder said as the group sat down at a table. Mulder picked up one of the menus and flipped through it. He glanced up to see Shaw staring at the woman called Aid, eyes peered. "What is it?"

"There is something about that woman," Shaw said. "I cannot see what exactly, but she is not what she seems."

"Well, she fits right in on this trip," Scully said as she took the menu from Mulder. They all looked up as Shaw suddenly stood up. "Where are you going?"

"I wish to join the others," Shaw said. "I want to know what they are trying to plan."

"Are you sure-----"

"I am joining them," Shaw said abruptly, walking off. The two agents looked at her, then at Joyce, who just shrugged. "She gets restless a lot. Makes it hell on movie nights."

Near the bar, the woman had joined the man behind the bar, who was still staring at the two Immortals. "There going to be a fight?" she asked in a light Irish accent.

"I can't tell yet," the man said as he watched Shaw leave. "What'd you make of them?"

"Aside from the two Immortals? That woman is odd. She's got an aura, it looks so familiar, but I can't quite place it."

"Interesting," Torc said. "Better get the grill ready, love. We're opening business sooner than usual today."

Nodding, Aid walked towards the small kitchen, shutting the door behind her. She turned towards the stoves and ovens and waved her hands. Instantly, fire swept out as the devices came alive, pots and pans floating off the shelves and heading towards the flames. Watching the odd set-up, the woman smiled and shook her head. God, it was great to be her.

*****

"Lady Goddess, I call upon you. Please come. Lady Goddess, please come. Lady Goddess-----"

"For Christ's sake, Arty, get yer bony ass out here already!"

"LIAM!"

The Amazon, the fairy and the leprechaun were standing in a small clearing just past the town, Amy kneeling on the ground as she attempted to summon her Goddess. Robin glanced behind to see Shaw coming towards them. "You okay?"

"Why would I not be?"

"I know how you feel about cities. Irish towns may not be huge with skyscrapers but they can still overwhelm you."

"I am in control," Shaw said evenly.

Before Robin could press the point, a flash of light heralded the entrance of Artemis, Greek Goddess of the Hunt, a bow held in one hand, her armor gleaming as she looked towards the others. "Liam," she said in a hard tone. "I was afraid you might be here."

"What, no hug?" Liam said, rasing and eyebrow.

"Maybe. Followed by a dagger to your heart."

"They used to date," Robin said in explanation.

Amy took a moment to shake that off, then turned her attention towards Artemis. "Lady Goddess, you must know what has happened. We're facing incredible power here on a scale we can't handle. We need your intervention immediately. If you can get into Sunnydale and free the others-----"

"I can't help," Artemis interrupted.

Amy stared at her. "What?"

"I can't help you," Artemis repeated.

Liam put his little finger into one pointed ear and shook it. "Funny, being human hasn't effected my hearing before now."

Artemis took a breath. "Khan has been consolidating his power for a while now. He's been planning this for some time and he's ready for an invasion. He's powerful, much more powerful than you could imagine, powerful enough to invade some of the Eternal Realms. What's more, he realizes how connected Earth is to other realms, including Olympus. Zeus could see his power growing and sent a team of ambassadors to meet Khan. The head of the chief negotiator came back an hour later with a message. To boil it down into human terms, stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Robin said. "You're telling me Zeus has struck a deal with Khan?"

"He doesn't interfere in Khan's plans, Khan won't interfere with Olympus," Artemis nodded. "Zeus feels that giving Khan what he wants now is better than a long, bitter war between the two that will devastate both our lands."

"Funny, that's the exact same thing Chamberlain said about Hitler," Liam muttered.

Amy shook her head, trying to accept this. "You won't help us?"

"It's not that I won't, I can't," Artemis said. "Amy, believe me, I would give anything to fight with you right now. I feel your pain and the pain of the others captured. But Zeus has made his decree and I cannot go against it. I'm seriously bending his rules now just talking to you."

"Always Daddy's little girl," Robin snorted.

Artemis glared at him. "I'm not the only one who feels this way. Almost every one of the Gods has an interest in Earth. But you don't know what Zeus is like right now. Hera's terrified of him, and believe me, that's saying something. Ares, of all people, tried to talk him out of it and Zeus blasted him in the crotch with a lightning bolt and sent him flying halfway across Olympus."

"You would not happen to have that on video tape by any chance, would you?" Shaw asked. "Not that it was as original as what *I* had planned for him......"

"So, you're not going to help?" Liam said.

"I can't," Artemis stressed. She suddenly looked around, as if hearing something. "I have to go. Zeus is approaching and I can't let him catch me." She looked towards the shocked Amy. "I am so sorry. All I can offer you is my prayers and my good wishes. Tell the others that." A flash of light and she was gone, leaving the four staring in surprise at the blank spot before them.

"Gods," Liam said, shaking his head. "I hate dealing with them."

"I can't believe she's not going to help," Amy said in shock.

"You've never seen Zeus when he's mad," Robin said. "Push him too far and Khan is the least of our worries."

"Are you standing up for her?" Amy said.

"Hey, we may not be bosom buddies but she's caught in a tight spot," Robin said. "At least we can do something. All she can do is watch and hope for the best."

"Which appears the only course of action for any us," Shaw said. "I cannot imagine who else we can call upon for help."

"Forget my people," Liam said. "We only fight if we're pushed, we try not to get involved."

"Better lovers than fighters?" Shaw said sardonically.

"You'd better believe it, lass," Liam said, ginning.

"Perhaps I should try the Lady," Shaw said, fingering her pendant.

"I don't know if Millie is going to be as much help as Artemis," Robin shrugged.

"What the hell does Millie have to do with this?" Liam said, confused.

Robin stared at him in amazement. "What, you think the unicorn pendant is for show?"

Liam looked at the pendant, then at Robin, then at Shaw. "You're a damn Harper?"

"I am," Shaw said.

"Well, you get more fascinating all the time," Liam shrugged. "But, no, Millie's a bit out of her league here."

"Oberon is out too," Robin said. "Which leaves one more possibility." He raised his face up towards the sky and called out. "Raiden! I know you can hear me, Raiden! We need to talk and we need to talk now!"

"Ah, calling in the professionals?" Liam asked.

"He cares a hell of a lot more about Earth than Olympus does," Robin shrugged. "Raiden, come on! Show yourself!"

From out of the bright morning sky, a rumble of thunder sounded. A cloud suddenly passed over the sun, seemingly out of nowhere to darken the town. Lightning flashed through the sky, bolts of electricity ripping through the air. A bolt came down and struck the ground before the foursome, solidifying into the form of a man.

He was tall, with long white hair flowing behind him. He wore a bright white fighting outfit, a suit that seemed to glow as he stepped forward. His eyes crackled with energy, like the lightning he had stepped out of and had Mulder and Scully been present, they, like Shaw, would have been struck by his uncanny resemblance to Connor Macleod.

"Robin," Shaw said softly. "Please do not tell me Connor took one too many Quickenings."

"Shaw, Amy, allow me to introduce Raiden, God of Thunder and Lightning, Protector of the Realm of Earth," Robin said. He turned towards the god. "Raiden, we need your help."

"I was thinking you weren't calling me for a social dinner," Raiden said in a gravely, accented voice that literally boomed with authority. "This is a very delicate situation, Robin."

"Now don't you start," Robin said. "Come on, this is what you were sworn to, to protect Earth from Outworld. I think this falls under the definition of protection."

"You're forgetting, my powers are dictated by my staying on Earth," Raiden said. "Should I enter Outworld, which is what Sunnydale is now, I would be powerless and that's not the help you need."

"But you can't just stay on the sidelines," Robin said. "You have to do something!"

"The Elder Gods won't acknowledge what Khan's done," Raiden said calmly. "How am I to fight that?"

"You can try," Robin said. "Dammit, Raiden, you can't just leave us to die here!"

"I don't want that either," Raiden said. "But my options are limited."

"But you have options," Liam said. "And that's a hell of a lot more than what we've got."

Shaw walked forward towards Raiden. "My friends are in danger," she said in a flat tone. "My home is threatened. And my kin has been targeted for a sacrifice. I will not have you stand here, with all your obvious power and not even attempt to aid us."

"Um, Shaw, let me remind you, this guy is quite capable of frying us all where we stand," Liam said calmly.

Raiden smiled. "I can see why Millie likes you so much. And Arty too."

"Does no one call her Artemis?" Amy muttered under her breath.

"We're a tight enough club to have nicknames," Raiden replied.

"What's yours? Sparky?" Amy asked.

Raiden's eyes clouded slightly with lightning, glowing in the air before them. "Don't push me, my dear, unless you want to know what it's like to be a light socket."

Robin quickly stepped in before things could get out of hand. "Raiden, there has to be something you can do. You can't just turn your back on us, no matter what the rules say."

"The rules are in place for a reason, Goodfellow. I can't just arbitrily break them whenever I feel like it."

"Why not? You're a god, remember? That's what you guys do best. Come on, Khan's broken the rules, why can't you?"

"Because then we become just like him. And that is something we simply will not ever become. The day we do is the day Khan deserves to win."

"That's it," Amy said, throwing her hands up. "We're getting nowhere with this guy."

"Oh, yeah, and calling Artemis was a stroke of brilliance," Liam said sarcastically.

"Hey, it was your idea!"

"Olympus isn't bad for minor things," Raiden said. "But when it comes to the big threats, you should call the professionals."

Shaw leaned towards Robin. "I would call him arrogant, but he is omnipotent."

"Not totally, but that's another story," Robin said before turning back to Raiden. "So, it's going to be just us?"

"Yes," Raiden nodded. "A small group of fighters against the entire realm of Outworld and all the fighters that go with it, the fate of Earth in your hands!" He let out a laugh, then quickly sobered. "Sorry."

"So, you're not going to help us at all?" Robin asked. "Not even going to tell us where we can get help?"

Raiden cracked his neck and smiled at him. "I'll think about it," he said and in a bolt of lightning, he was gone.

"Great," Liam muttered. "Just bloody great. It's down to just us right now."

"We are so dead," Amy muttered, putting her head in her hands.

"Well, it could be worse."

"Don't say that!"

"Oh, come on! Things are not going to just magically get worse, just because I said they wouldn't!"

"You haven't been in Sunnydale too long."

*****

"We should be home right now," Scully said, rubbing her face as she, Mulder and Joyce waited for their drinks. "Having breakfast in bed."

"Actually, it's still night in Washington," Mulder pointed out.

"Then we'd be having something else in bed. I miss our bed. Hell, I miss a cheap motel."

"We always have fun at cheap motels."

"You two have fun at long red lights," Joyce said sourly, rubbing at her eyes. "Sorry, it's been a rough night."

"Worried about Buffy?" Scully asked gently.

"When you have kids, you'll understand how much they can weigh on your mind," Joyce said. She noticed the look the two Immortals gave one another. "Oh. Sorry."

"It's okay," Scully muttered. "It's something we've had to deal with over time."

"At least Shaw and Amy are together," Joyce said. "If Amy was caught, I don't know how Shaw would react."

"They've gotten closer, then?" Mulder asked.

"Something happened in New York last year. None of them like to talk about it much, but from what I gather, they've reached a deeper understanding towards each other, bonded a bit."

"You like her, don't you?" Scully asked.

Joyce glanced at her and nodded. "Yes, I do. Funny, isn't it? Two girls I treat as daughters, and neither of them are really mine." Joyce stirred the straw inside her glass as she thought. "Shaw's never really had a mother. Her grandparents raised her, but it just isn't the same. And she's been through so much in her life, things I can barely grasp. It's been rough on her. I just want to help her."

"Noble of you," Mulder said, sipping at his beer.

"Yes, well, I'd prefer not having to be here. Buffy never wanted me involved in all this."

"Better that you're here and not in Sunnydale," Scully pointed out. "These guys strike me as the kind who'd enjoy torturing you, knowing it would hurt Buffy. Here, you'll be safe."

"I wouldn't bet on it," Robin announced as he, Liam, Amy and Shaw came up to the table.

He collapsed into a chair and shook his head. "We're in trouble, guys. We're in serious trouble."

"We could have told you that ourselves," Mulder said. "What did Artemis say?"

"She can't help us," Amy said, her voice still holding disbelief.

"What?"

"She says Zeus is trying to stay out of Khan's way and he's forbidden her from aiding us in any way. She wants to help us but can't."

"Always said she was trouble," Mulder muttered, grunting as Scully elbowed him in the ribs.

"We struck out with Raiden, the protector of Earth as well," Robin said. "So, it's down to us humans now."

"So the gods have given up on us," Mulder announced. "No chance of sitting this one out with a beer and ball game then, huh?"

"Just us and whoever else we can get."

"Well, that brings us to our bad news," Scully sighed. "We can't reach anyone."

Now it was Robin's turn to stare. "What?"

"We've tried every number we have," Mulder said. "The Ghostbusters, Frank, Merlin, Melissa, Bureau 13, Larry on the road trip with the baseball team, everyone. We can't get through to anybody."

"I sense the shape-shifting hand of Shang in this," Liam said.

"So, things won't get worse, huh?" Amy said sarcastically, glancing at Liam.

"Why don't you guys just call on them with your powers?" Scully asked Liam and Robin.

"We can do that," Robin said calmly. "We can also teleport ourselves directly into Outworld's dungeons, which is what will happen if we use our magics. Mider will have a fix on us in five seconds and Outworld will be on us in twenty." Robin put his head in his hands. "We're screwed."

"All right, we've got hot plates coming through!" The waitress came forward, her arms laden with a tray of plates with breakfast foods over them. "Let's see, eggs, bacon, toast, pretty much what you need to start your day----" Her voice suddenly stopped as she glanced at the new occupants. "Robin?" As the fairy glanced up in surprise, the waitress turned towards Liam, a smile on her face. "Liam? Is that you?"

The two exchanged a glance, then turned back towards her, both staring in confusion. They seemed to be looking at something beyond her face and apparently found it, judging by the wide-eyed expressions that came over both of them. "Aideen?" They both asked in surprise.

The waitress laughed and put her tray down as Robin and Liam stood up. Robin moved forward and hugged the woman, laughing as she kissed his cheek. Liam picked her up and spun her about in a huge hug, the sounds of laughter filling the empty pub. The bartender stared at the strange scene, the scar on his forehead burrowing as he peered in the same confusion the humans had.

"Oh, my god, what are you doing here?" Robin asked as Liam let the woman down.

"What am I doing here, what are you two doing here? Robbie, since when have you been a human?"

"Almost a year now."

"Finally pushed old Obe too far, huh?"

"Not exactly," Robin said as he turned to the group. "Oh, Aid, this is Mulder, Scully, Amy, Shaw and Joyce. Guys, this is Aideen Jaspern of Tir Na Nog, an old friend of ours."

"How old?" Shaw asked.

"Oh, thirty thousand years or so," Liam said. "Gods, you look great, lassie! Haven't heard from you in, oh, lord, it must be almost five hundred years now. Where have you been?"

"Here and there," Aideen shrugged as she pulled a chair up to the table and sat down. "So, what brings you lunatics here?"

"We're in trouble, Aid," Robin sighed. "Big trouble."

"Lord, what've you two done now," Aideen smiled.

"Maeve's alive and she's busted out Mider."

The smile vanished from Aideen's face, her complexion instantly going as white as Robin's had earlier. "Oh, gods help us all," she whispered. She sat back, sighing as she ran a hand through her face. "What else?"

"What makes you think it's something else?" Shaw asked.

"Because I've known these two long enough to know when something's bigger than just those two maniacs."

"They've hooked up with Shao Khan," Liam explained. "And they've opened a portal to Outworld here on Earth."

"Where?"

"The Hellmouth."

"Oh, no." Aideen held a mouth to her hand. "Is there anything we can do?"

"We tried talking to Artemis------"

"Cause they're Amazons, right?" Aideen asked, motioning towards Scully and Amy.

"Wait a minute, how'd you know that?" Amy asked.

"Auras are a dead giveaway. I'm human but I'm not mortal, I still retain all my powers."

"Powers from what?" Mulder asked.

"From being a fairy, of course. Now back to business. You tried Arty?"

"She can't help. Zeus has put a restriction on all the gods from interfering. Raiden can't help either and we're having no luck getting anyone else. We're screwed, Aid, and we're screwed royally."

"I can help." Everyone glanced up to see the Immortal bartender striding forward, his face hard. "I know a lot about Maeve."

"How so?" Mulder asked, his eyes peered in suspicion.

The man sighed and put his bar towel down on the table. "I used to be her head general."

Everyone except Aideen glanced at one another and back at him, with slightly hostile looks. "Not the most sterling recommendation," Scully pointed out.

"I know who we can get to help us," the man announced. "People who know all about dealing with Maeve."

Aideen's eyes widened. "Torc, are you serious? Them? You want to contact them?"

"Aye, lass. They're the only ones who can help."

"Who?" Shaw asked. "Who are you going to call?"

"The Knights," Torc answered. "The Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog."

"Oh, please," Amy said. "Those guys have been dead for almost 1400 years now!"

"They did die 1400 years ago," Torc answered. "But they're still around."

The others stared as the former general began to tell his tale.

*****

Part 3: Wherein pasts are revealed, schemes are set and forces are recruited.

The Kingdom of Kells
What is now known as Northern Ireland
624 A.D.

"We're going to die."

"Will you quit being so bloody negative? Try being positive for a change!"

"All right. I'm positive we're going to die."

The announcement didn't really surprise any of the five people standing on one side of the massive field. On the other side were nearly a fifty savage-looking fighters, clad in makeshift armor and shields in hand, ready for battle, storming closer with every moment, blood in their eye.

"We are going to die," Ivar repeated. He was handsome man with dark skin, a small beard and mustache covering his face. He was dressed in the blue robes of his homeland, the royal crest on his helmet indicating his status as royalty. In one hand, he clutched a large pointed trident, trying to gauge the odds.

"