Something To Atone For. BtVS/AtS, Doyle SI.

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 69: Sharing The Burden​

Walking into the kitchen for breakfast makes me freeze in confusion. Dennis is sipping a cup of oil heated up as if it's coffee and Darla has done the same with the sheep blood. But it takes me more than a handful of seconds to recognize Angel with her adjusted look.

My eyes are locked onto now raven black hair before they roam onto the complete lack of colour in her wardrobe. Gone is any of the red that made her fit in with her new friends at the Sunset Club, replaced with a full commitment to the goth look.

It takes me a few seconds to get my mouth in motion and the croaky voice reveals how little sleep I got. "... New look?"

"Can't play pretend anymore." Angel's grim words are accompanied by a face filled with self disgust. "Better if I'm just honest with myself about how terrible the world is." That explains the new style.

I'm not sure exactly what happened to her in the show's timeline. But I know she was supposed to end up a lot happier than this. Just one more person I made things worse for.

"Jonathon and Marcie finally smartened up. I wouldn't blame you for wanting to leave too." Mary would probably let you stay with her.

Of course I just blurt the words out without any real thought and mistake the expression of terror on Angel's face for fear of staying. "You could have gone back to a normal life and I never even asked what you wanted."

"You don't want me to stay?" Buried under miles of my own grief, I miss the very obvious hurt in her voice.

"Not really." I want you to have a long and happy life, something people aren't going to get around me and my stupid ideas.

A gasp escapes Angel as she tries blinking away tears I once again misconstrue as ones of relief. "... Oh."

The only sound in the now deathly quiet kitchen comes when the microwave beeps. Darla ignores our tense mood to retrieve her warmed mug and only says something after draining most of it in a single gulp.

"You do know how that sounded, right?" The vampire's emerald eyes shine with sympathy as they settle on the teen beside her.

Scowling at her, I have no problem hissing out my growing self hatred. "Like I'm a trouble magnet and she's safer anywhere I'm not."

"Uh..." Dennis starts to speak only to hesitate when three sets of intense eyes swivel towards him. "That's not really what I heard."

"It sounded more like you just don't want me around." Voicing her own fears makes me turn to see Angel's tear streaked face.

Guilt surges through me. "Well that's because I don't think before I open my mouth sometimes."

"Really?" The way her voice is shaking clearly shows me this is a make or break moment in our relationship.

"I'm terrified of losing any of you." I know how ironic this sounds. "That's why I don't want you anywhere near me."

A cough behind me is followed by Fred's snort of frustration. "Well that's just stupid. You've given us all plenty of chances to walk away and we keep rejecting them."

"When are you going to let us help?" Angel loses the shakiness in her voice and replaces it with some of Fred's borrowed willpower.

"You're right." As hard as it is to admit it, I need help. "So does anyone have any ideas for dealing with our problem?"

It shocks me when Darla turns out to be the first one with a suggestion. "Whatever you do, better get started before Xander spills everything to the Master. Luke and Colin will be coming after you in force once he spills his guts."

"My plan A was to make a robot blow up in the Master's face..." Glancing over at Dennis guiltily, I make it clear the plan has changed. "But that was before I knew how you worked. Isn't really going to work now."

"What was plan B?" Fred starts loading her plate with french toast that I know is about to be drowned in syrup.

I know she's not going to like my answer and it comes out barely above a squeak. "... Use the lightning gauntlet."

"The one that doesn't ever come off?" She doesn't even look at me when she asks, just lets the disappointed tone do all the work.

Lowering my eyes in shame, I see no reason to keep my plans quiet anymore. "Jenny's already working on that part for me."

"And how's it coming?" Fred finally turns her scowl onto me directly.

Letting out a tired sigh, I reveal the many failures. "... Terribly."

"You need to thin the ranks first, if you're really dumb enough to attack the Master that is." Grim faced but with eyes full of hatred directed at someone besides me, Darla keeps giving out the good ideas. "Best if you start with Fork and then take out the Three. That would leave you with mostly minions in the lair."

She fills us in on the amputee vampire and his current lack of favour before moving on to details of the trio of warriors. Eventually filling us in on Luke and her most likely replacement Colin, Darla seems even more invested in this than I am.

"Once his capable help has been cut off, we can attack right after sunset." Eager to pay back the one truly responsible for her cursed existence, Darla is practically vibrating. "Feeding time is when he has the least protection and your only chance."

"I'll have Willow and Warren help me make some combat modifications to Dennis." Fred's eyes narrow in thought as her mind races with possibilities. "Hope you don't mind plugging your nose."

Not sure what she has planned, I never the less commit to whatever it is. "I'll pick up some swim masks just to be safe."

Once we have the beginnings of a plan, Darla frowns as a stray thought hits her. "Did you warn Xander's parents?"

"Nope." And I really don't plan on it, not with what I know of them.

"What about telling his friends that he would probably come for them as soon as he rises?" Shit!

Worry makes me surge to my feet. "How long does that usually take?"

"Sunset the next day. Which means last night is the earliest the demon could have risen." Her words chill me as I hand Angel the phone, asking her to call Willow to avoid any awkwardness with parents who may or may not be home.

When the phone rings for the first time and I don't hear a voice on the other side, my heart starts to plummet. It picks up speed when the second ring is just as unanswered. But it turns into a skydive when the third ring sounds.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 70: Conversation With A Dead Person​

The fourth ring is ended halfway through and a familiar voice greets Angel's hello. But it's not Willow or even one of her parents who answers.

Vampire Xander's cocky good morning has me shaking with anxiety. What did he do to Willow!

"Can you put your brother on?" He dismisses all of Angel's questions with a single one of his own. "I really think it's best if I talk to someone who matters and we both know that's not you."

"Ignore him." Grabbing the phone from her shocked fingers, I growl my response to the demon I'm just going to think of as Vander in my head from now on. Save me a lot of time.

"Before you freak out..." The smug voice starts off as soon as he can hear me breathing. "Willow's fine, if a lot stupider than I ever thought she was. She let me inside after promising Jenny had figured something out with the curse and just never told you."

The phone gets pressed against a chest with a still beating heart as proof someone is alive on the other end. The frantic pace lets me know it's not a willing person and my fists tighten.

"We had a wonderful night together..." Dread fills me at the implication and Vander revels in it before eventually deciding to clarify. "Told her exactly what I did to my parents while you lot ran around Restfield. Didn't think she'd puke so fast." He snorts darkly. "Barely had time to get the gag off before she choked."

"What do you want?" Not wanting to hear anymore, I growl into the phone with a promise of pain.

He hums softly in thought and makes me wait for his demands. "What anyone wants. The right to exist."

"Not really making that more likely right now." If anything happens to Willow, I'll tear your head off with my bare hands.

"I just needed to make sure you listened to me." The mockery is gone from Vander's tone and I can detect a hint of desperation.

He can't hurt Willow as long as I keep him talking. "Have something important to say? Because I'm all ears."

Ted and Fred are already gearing up and they slip out the front door while Vander reveals his true plan. "You can see the future and shove souls in vampires. I'm not dumb enough to go against that kind of power unless you make me."

"I know you can't curse me unless I make it personal, so this is me letting you know that I could have." The words are delivered without any audible threat and just come out as pure facts.

"Message received." I feel the plastic crack in grip as I try to control my temper. "Now let Willow go."

A few dark chuckles greet my demand. "That all depends on if you're too stubborn to make a deal with little old Lex."

"What kind of deal?" Against my better judgment I ask for details.

"You want the Master gone and I really don't like following orders!" Sudden rage fills Vander's voice and I have to pull the phone away from my ear while he yells. "I get you to him and you let me take over."

"Not going to just let you prey on whoever you want." That's non negotiable.

A snort is his first response, quickly followed by smug words that seem to have an answer for everything. "I know a place full of willing donors who would just love to ease my newfound loneliness."

"Why would I agree to what is obviously a trap?" I let out a snort of derision. "Luke and Colin going to be waiting for us with the Three?"

"Luke's missing and the Master thinks you're responsible," chuckles Vander with a hint of his own curiosity. "Are you?"

"Don't usually ask your kind for a name before I take them out." Still thrown off by his strange cordiality, my response lacks it's usual wit and I settle for another crude threat. Who could have taken out that massive thug?

He doesn't get mad and lets out another amused laugh. "You don't have to worry about Colin either. I took care of him when he tried to make me kneel."

"So it's just Nest and the Three..." That doesn't actually sound impossible.

"Don't forget about forty minions." The reminder finally makes me smirk.


Darla's information fills me with confidence and I share it with Vander. "Got that part covered already."

"I'll help Darla and Dennis take care of the Three Stooges." The offer almost makes me drop the phone in shock. "I mean if you actually think you can take care of the Master by yourself that is."

"Let me talk to Willow first." I can't decide until I know that's her heartbeat.

"Fine," Vander growls out in response and I can hear him struggling with something on the other end. "Just make it quick."

"Doyle!" Dropping the mister for the first time, Willow's voice isn't as scared as I feared. Doesn't sound like she's hurt either.

"Are you alright Willow?"

She thankfully soothes my greatest fears with her answer. "He didn't do anything to hurt me, just wanted to talk about his plans."

"What kind of plans?" Fred and Dennis should be about halfway to her house by now, just need to keep Willow talking a bit longer.

The phone changes hands after a very brief struggle and Vander's growl answers me once more. "Enough questions, I need an answer before I have to hurt whoever you sent here."

"You betray us and-" My warning gets cut off.

Vander proves that skull indeed has brain cells that he just chose to use on jokes most of the time. "And one of the witches will probably hate me enough to cast that curse."

He knows me too well. "... If I say yes?"

"I let Willow leave with the ride you sent." The vampire's tone is light enough that it almost hides the menace.

"And if I say no?" What's the worst case scenario here?

"I turn Willow and kill whoever gets out of the car." His voice doesn't raise or even sound any crueller. "Call one of the other minions and tell them to care of Jenny and Amy before they have a chance to do any magic. Then try and kill you before you get a vision."

The matter of fact way he lays out his plan is more chilling than if it was screamed with hatred and it's what makes me agree. "Okay."

 

[Blacksheep]

Fascinating. I wonder if vampire Xander can earn a soul

 

[Flightless Man]

Fascinating. I wonder if vampire Xander can earn a soul

Click to shrink...

He'd have to want one first.

 

[Blacksheep]

He is being shockingly reasonable for a vampire considering he's evil, if that makes sense

 

[RichardWhereat]

He is being shockingly reasonable for a vampire considering he's evil, if that makes sense

Click to shrink...

Especially for a fresh turned fledge, but the vampe woke in a body that knew a lot of information, and wants to survive.

At this point the only way back is to curse Xander, mohra blood him, and then give him the willow special.

 

[ptbptb]

Intelligent sociopaths can reason their way to being acceptable members of society. A combination of "you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar[citation required] and the threat of punishment for lawbreaking.

Well, it's more complicated than that, but it's true that most people who don't naturally have the same facility with empathy and don't 'get' social norms cause no particular trouble.

 

[Flightless Man]

He is being shockingly reasonable for a vampire considering he's evil, if that makes sense

Click to shrink...

My understanding of it/how it works in this story, is that the demon doesn't know anything about Earth until it arrives. The only info they have, is a strange connection to other vampires in the bloodline and whatever memories the body had.

Especially for a fresh turned fledge, but the vampe woke in a body that knew a lot of information, and wants to survive.

At this point the only way back is to curse Xander, mohra blood him, and then give him the willow special.

Click to shrink...

Most Vampires rise and are told/quickly think they're top of the food chain. Vander knows about quite a few demons who could dust him, and how even normal people can stake one with proper incentive. He knows as long as he doesn't personally antagonize the ghostbusters, they can't give him a soul.

Vander is going to do whatever he can to avoid that.

Intelligent sociopaths can reason their way to being acceptable members of society. A combination of "you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar[citation required] and the threat of punishment for lawbreaking.

Well, it's more complicated than that, but it's true that most people who don't naturally have the same facility with empathy and don't 'get' social norms cause no particular trouble.

Click to shrink...

That was the angle I wanted to approach. A sociopath who knows he isn't going to jail if he gets caught but dusted/cursed with a soul.

Vander just wants to exist and is willing to not be an open trouble maker for now if that's what it takes. He knows even if he takes over the Aurellians once the Master is dealt with, the town is still being run by the Mayor.

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 14: Not So Innocent Whistles​

Peering down at Sunnydale from his spot on Kingsman's Bluff, an incredibly smug balance demon was ready for the fireworks to really go off tonight. "Useless am I Doyle? Guides don't get involved for a reason and you're about to find out why you fool."

Boss lady isn't happy you got her back on the Powers' radar and it's high time you paid for daring to even speak her name. He let out a string of cackles that lasted far longer than humanly possible, all with a single hate filled breath.

"Angelus might be out of the cards now." His mocking words echoed over the city, only to be swallowed by the sky before reaching anyone ears down bellow. "But you've given us so many possible replacements. This is going to be so much fun."

His eyes peered through the street with perfect clarity and focused in on the small band of champions in the catacombs underneath. Led by the freshly turned Xander and the ensouled Darla, they managed to avoid running into any stragglers going out to feed.

Next he took a glance over at the first stages of what are sure to be an entire military installation. The tests performed on Luke haven't sunk through the brute's skull yet and have currently left the vampire twitching on the concrete floor beneath the university.

Whistler does grow interested when he sees a pair of her agents approaching the home of the Soviet scientist. "Hope that causes lots of drama when Doyle finds out what his girlfriend did."

He made sure to check in on the disgruntled Zookeeper and his plot for revenge. Even left the man a few clues to steer him in the right direction.

Not daring risk even glance at city hall for too long, Whistler instead settled for sending the mad seer a warning of what would happen if she arrived before recovering her strength. But this brief distraction was enough for Wilkins to find him.

A pulse of divination magic warned Whistler he needed to leave or risk fouling his Lady's plans. "Shame, I really wanted to see how many more kids he got killed."

With a final curse towards the century old warlock, Whistler vanished with the sound of a dog whistle. No humans heard it thankfully. But along with the canine population, a vast majority of the demons winced in pain.

The scenery around him was replaced at once by the Los Angeles skyline as Whistler stood on the roof of the Hyperion. His eyes still pointed down, widened at the sight of two sneaky Watchers."

"Well isn't that interesting..." He watched Gwendolyn Post and her attempt to sway the werewolf to her cause. "She's going to have her own little gang pretty soon."

Only a two floors above in his own office, Rutherford Sirk was on the phone with his contact at Wolfram and Hart. Promises of favours and great wealth was all it took to sway the Watcher, getting him to provide every bit of security on the hotel.

"Can't let that plan take off." Eyes narrowed at the idea of the law firm getting a win, Whistler already had a few ideas for how to meddle.

His gaze is soon pulled to the active Slayer and the hapless fool she 'chose' as her Watcher. Really wasn't hard to make sure he was the best option.

A smirk returned as he noticed the frosty attitude between the pair. "He actually told her about the test!"

"Naughty Giles." A few more giddy snorts sneak out of Whistler. "Travers isn't going to be happy with you. He almost had the Council crippled for his boss."

When he gets to the Inca princess and her guardian, Whistler's expression hardened. "How many messes did that damned Brachen leave me to clean up?"

Before his rage could grow enough for the balance demon to do something noticeable, he vanished with the sound a boiling kettle. This time reappearing all the way in Ohio, Whistler was able to relax at the sight of someone actually doing what he was told.

"At least someone is staying on task." He sighs in relief at the sight of Pike and Faith facing off with a vampire outside a truck stop. "Just has to keep collecting Potentials for us and we don't need to worry about them being lead astray with any of this nonsense Doyle's spouting off about them mattering."

Even though Liam was chased off by the pair a few days ago, the balance demon is extremely pleased to find the runaway teens aren't returning to a normal life. The two had nearly made it to Robin Wood and his distinct hatred of the Watchers Council, which finally let Whistler relax.

"Can't wait to get this face off." A final shrill whistle covered his disappearance as the human flesh began to melt away and reveal a silver carapace.

 

[ptbptb]

So, just read the latest chapter.

Thanks, I hate it.

To be more accurate, I hate Whistler. I take it he's working for Jasmine?

 

[Flightless Man]

To be more accurate, I hate Whistler. I take it he's working for Jasmine?

Click to shrink...

He is, or at least Skip is pretending to be him.

 

[ptbptb]

He is, or at least Skip is pretending to be him.

Click to shrink...

Ah, I didn't know what Skip looked like. That explains a couple of things.

 

[Flightless Man]

Ah, I didn't know what Skip looked like. That explains a couple of things.

Click to shrink...

Someone on one of the other sites gave both possibilities, I'm just repeating them here so SV has the same theories to wrok with.

 

[ptbptb]

The thing about Skip is that I reflexively go "Whaaa? He can't turn up this early can he?" But he can jump through fudging time!

 

[Flightless Man]

The thing about Skip is that I reflexively go "Whaaa? He can't turn up this early can he?" But he can jump through fudging time!

Click to shrink...

If Whistler and Skip are the same person, it explains why we only had one appearance of Whistler in the show (two in the shows timeline).

If Skip is pretending to be Whistler, it's due to his temproal abilities and because Jasmine can send/hijack visions of the future. He'd be fully capable of interfering.

Or, it just could be that I decided Skip's species is what Balance demons look like and Skip/Whistler are still separate entities.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 71: Battle Preparations​

Fred and Willow have nearly finished with the battle modifications for an eager phantom and my anxiety grows with each new screw they put in. Pretty much everything is going to rest on you tonight, really hope you're up to it Dennis.

A thud from the basement has Jesse let out a roar of success that I can't find it in me to get mad about. Good on him, finally pinned Darla.

Darla is going through some last minute pointers with him and Angel. Which has thankfully given me enough time to pull Lorne off to the side.

"I know you aren't the warrior type." He snorts at the incredible understatement. "So I was hoping you could make sure the kids stay safe at the Sunset Club."

Catching on quick, my horned friend's voice loses most of it's humour. "Thought you made a deal?"

"I did, when Xander told his friends he didn't want to be a vampire." With no reason to keep it secret, I fill him in on my plan to make things difficult for the strangely cordial vampire.

"You're sure about this?" His hum of doubt does nothing to dissuade me.

"I can't bring anyone who smells human into the sewers. So I'm going to have Fred and the teens set an ambush of our own for Vander." If he's the one who returns to the surface once things are finished, I'm not just going to let him turn the club into a buffet.

"You have anymore friends to call before things get hairy?" His tone is odd and it almost seems like Lorne is waiting for a very specific answer.

Not sure I can provide it though. "Not calling anyone in LA for this."

"One a little bit closer to home." I can picture his smug face perfectly.

Holding in a groan makes my voice strained. "Jenny's already working on some welding goggles so I don't get hypnotized."

"Strike two."

"I literally only know one more person's phone number." Not sure why Russel would want to get involved in something this dangerous. "Guess I can ask him to help you spread the word around town." Might even get the Mayor to take care of the cleanup this way.

But when I do give the vice principal a call, his voice is strangely tense once I do fill him in. Knew he wasn't ready for this kind of thing yet.

"Harris is dead?" His voice doesn't seem shocked by the news.

"Was walking Amy home and they got jumped by a vampire." What is Lorne thinking? "Xander made it follow him so Amy could get inside safe." Russel hated the kid.

Silence lasts long enough that I almost think the call got dropped. "... He did?"

"Can you do me a favour?" Words out on me already, no reason to keep my head down.

His gruff 'of course' is almost instant and makes me relax a fraction of a percent. But even though I've already made up my mind, stress surges through my suddenly sweaty pours.

"I need you to let city hall know it's open season on Aurellians tonight." Wilkins should be able to thin out any of Vander's potential forces.

To my continued shock, Russel doesn't hesitate with his response. "Anything else I need to know?"

"If I don't come in to work tomorrow." My voice drops down to just above a whisper. "... I'm probably dead."

"Want my advice?" His voice holds just a hint of hilarity.

Letting him pull me into a brief moment of distraction, my lips curl upwards. "Long as it's free."

"Don't do that." The comment is as simple as I've been called many times in my life. "Hard enough to find a substitute who will actually show up. It's going to be impossible to replace you before summer."

"Better hope I have some unfinished business." Shouldn't take too long for Warren and Willow to finish a new robot. Might even be able to get the face to look sort of like my original one.

Awkward silence starts to grow until Russel throws me for yet another loop. "Good luck."

"You too." School's still not much safer than the sewers.

Hanging up, my eyes scan the assembled team. The Gauntlet of Myhnegon is in the unliving hands of Dennis as he demands answers from Warren.

"-nd if it doesn't come off?" He clutches his only recently acquired hands tightly. "You can really just make me a new arm?"

"We hack it off at the elbow and pop on a new one. No big deal at all." The nerdy boy is fully confident in his answer.

Sighing in relief, Dennis looks a whole lot more confident in the plan. "Okay, good. I was really just starting to get used to having hands again."

"Thanks for doing this." Can't regrow one of my arms. "Really wasn't looking forward to facing the Master myself."

"Fred would turn me into scrap if I let you do it." He visibly shudders at the stern look being directed at the back of his skull. "Rather fight the vampire than the person who knows exactly how I was put together."

She giggles nervously when a bunch of eyes swivel towards her. "I wouldn't do that unless you hurt him yourself. Would only change your voice modulator or something like that if you let him die on me."

"You can do that?" Dennis' eyebrows shoot all the way to his hairline.

"If I wanted to." The stern tone really doesn't match Fred's playful smirk.

Willow leans in to whisper and I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one who hears what is said. "I'd change it back after a few days. Don't worry Dennis."

"We start chanting at eight thirty sharp and between me and Amy..." A frowning Jenny looks up from the goggles she has finished with. "We can give you thirty minutes of silence. Any longer and we risk losing concentration." That would be bad.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 72: Snap to It​

The sudden whiff of sour milk is brief but almost enough to make me gag. Thankfully it seems to bother Darla and Vander nearly as much and I'm not alone in plugging my nose.

The sewers have already given way to century old brick tunnels and it's only the muffle spell that stops each step from echoing. Rage is the only reason I'm not shaking in fear as we creep towards our very possible deaths.

Dennis is the only one who doesn't have a grim expression. At least he's polite enough to have stopped grinning like fool.

The magic gauntlet on his arm occasionally lets of a spark of power and startles one of us. But that just reassures me it's still in working order. Really didn't want to find out it was out of juice at the last minute.

Fred really wasn't happy once I revealed what I needed the humans to do. But she did bring the teens and Jenny to the Sunset Club to make sure Vander actually asked for donors.

Not going to dust him until he does something actually evil. Just need to make sure he's really on the up and up before I let him take over the club. And I feel a whole better about it with the idea of the mayor doing some clean up.

Knowing the three have at the very least decades of practice on me, I didn't waste time by grabbing any of my real weapons. The red crowbar clutched tight in my hands will have to do.

Vander decided to follow my lead and ignore anything sharp. But he did accept the hairspray and chain with a cruel grin.

At least one of us actually knows how to wield a blade properly and that's why Darla is leading us ever downwards. With one of my shorter swords in her grip, she understandably seems even more terrified than her newly risen kin.

The goggles Jenny coated with... something magical, are tight on my head. But they're barely tinted and don't hamper my sight that bad.

When Darla freezes, the rest of us follow suit at once. With movement only starting when our guide is positive we're alone.

A quick glance at my watch lets me know we're running out of time and I hold my wrist up. But she dismisses my warning by holding up a hand with only three fingers.

Does she mean three minutes or three miles? Because we barely have enough time if it's the first.

Thankfully we reach the final fork not too much later and Vander breaks off to slip among the Three. Or this is when he betrays us and Dennis has to bring the whole cavern down on our heads.

The short trip through a side tunnel brings us out on a ledge where the stench of old blood is nearly overpowering. Checking the countdown has me holding up six fingers as can't help but overhear the Master greeting Vander.

"You return to me..." The tone is stiff with barely concealed fury. "I trust you have a good reason for your absence?"

Nest is actually a few inches shorter than his new minion. But her towers over Vander who has been forced to kneel in an inch deep puddle of blood.

A trio of vampires stand guard at the entrance Vander just came through. Judging by the swords, those are the Three.

With baited breath I watch the seconds pass, not daring to look away for even a second and miss the signal. Each minute brings us closer to the attack and I lower a finger as each one passes.

At the ten second mark, I start mouthing the countdown. 'Three...'

Vander's tenseness is noticed by Nest who pulls his minion's face up with a clawed hand. "What aren't you telling us Lex?"

The muffling spell ends just when Jenny said it would. Every sound the four of us made during the last half an hour echoes out in a single deafening bang.

The sound is so loud, it makes four of the five vampires below screech in agony. Hands clutch at their ears even as Xander endures it thanks to the beeswax in his own. Only reason mine aren't bleeding right now.

With the signal announced with deafening volume, all three of us waiting D's drop off the ledge to the complete shock of the Master.

"Darla?" It's clear Vander never told him she was still existing and the betrayal in Nest's voice makes me grin.

Her response is bitter and full of hatred that I can't even begin to imagine. But she doesn't lose track of the plan and is only trying to keep the Master distracted.

Vander and keep the Three more than just busy. The demon wearing my favourite student's face whips the hairspray out of his jacket pocket and turns it into a roaring flame with a flick of the lighter in his other hand.

The cloud only ends up containing the ash from one of the ancient warriors. Both of his fellows manage to avoid the blaze long enough for it to sputter out and they face us with live steel at the ready.

It soon becomes clear as I parry the frantic slashes from the foe I claimed that they aren't even as old as Liam. I'm both faster and stronger than my Third, actually snapping his sword in half somewhere around the twentieth block.

The time it takes me to stake the surprised vampire is enough for the final member of the Three to overpower the cocky Vander. The very chain that was only moments early his weapon, is now wrapped tightly around Vander's neck.

The reflex to breath is still fresh in Vander and he chokes feebly in his opponents grip. Before I even have a chance to stop myself, my body is already in motion.

The stake still in my tightening hand rises as I charge forward. The rage at everything that has gone wrong gives me a speed I wasn't aware I had.

Piercing the Third's heart by going up through the armpit, he joins his siblings as nothing but dust. The hacking coughs make me wonder what the long term effects could be and I make a mental note to get a family doctor.

"-n't believe this!" Shrieks the Master, making my gaze whip over to the real action. "You've betrayed me for the humans?"

Darla's answer is not nearly loud enough to be heard over the sudden 'KRAKOOM' of thunder. None of us are prepared for the blinding flash of blue that comes a mere instant later either.

The only thing I do know. The Master is no longer saying anything.

My hand shoots down with the same reflex that made me save Vander and is what turns out to be my downfall. Still barely able to see, I'm completely unable to stop him from spinning me around and gripping my head with a vice like grip.

"Looks like the robot ran out of gas..." Vander's tone is filled with snide mockery as he tilts my head towards Dennis.

My stomach drops when I blink a few times and can finally see the steaming pile of slag that the Left half of Dennis has become. Only one of his eyes is still recognizable as such and locks on to me as the light slowly flickers out.

"No one can stop me from taking over now." His voice becomes a growled promise of misery for everyone. "And if I'm not mistaken, you left all my friends waiting for me." He knows!

"It was so kind of you to get rid of any of my kin who might have stood in my way." Vander is smug with victory as his grip on my head tightens no matter how hard I struggle. "Say hello to Xander for me."

With that final mocking goodbye, his demonic strength suddenly twists my neck the opposite way I was straining. The crack echoes in my ears and is instantly followed by pain almost as bad as the snakebites.

My last coherent though it disgust when Vander drops me like yesterday's trash. My face splashing down in the same puddle of blood he was forced to kneel in.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 73: Angel​

"You have the directions?" Not even five seconds after the bomb shelter door slammed shut, Fred's determined expression turned towards me.

"She promised to mark the forks with chalk." Nodding stiffly, it's impossible to ignore the anticipation at being able to finally start repaying Allen.

"Also said anything dairy would cover our smell the best." Disgust soaks through Jesse's voice as he stares at the containers of spoiled yogourt being put on the counter by Diego. "Really hope she wasn't just screwing with us."
"We really get to help do magic?" Clutching his blue cape around himself tightly, Diego's eyes are filled with excitement.

Once the appropriate number of candles have been handed out to the club goers, Jenny motions for Amy to take her place at the head of the second circle. "If we want to keep the second group hidden, we're going to need the help with the chanting."

"It was nice of them to leave the good weapons." Holding up an incredibly well made wood axe, Jesse looks a little to eager to use it. "Don't feel completely helpless now."

Knowing her stun gun isn't going to be enough this time, Fred grabs a shorter sword for herself. "You sure about this Lorne?"

"I may not like violence. But it would just break my heart if Fred lost her hunk and I didn't even lift a finger to help." The charming radio host looks at the dagger he's chosen with clear distaste.

Revelling in the complete lack of disgust in any of the teens' eyes, Clem is more than happy to help. "I can get us through the sewers just fine. But I've never been brave enough to really explore the catacombs."

Once the well wishes are exchanged between incredibly nervous teens, Fred leads our group out of the club. Jesse and Willow are of course with us and flank me with a lot less joking than I'm used to from them.

The alley above the club isn't as empty as it usually is though and I'm more than a little surprised too find my vice principal waiting for us with a quickly forming expression of disgust. "You all smell terrible."

"Price of being a hero I'm afraid." Lorne is the one who breaks our groups awkward silence with one of his cheeky remarks. "You willing to pay it?"

Something about Snyder is off and it takes a few seconds to realize what's different. He actually looks decent tonight.

"I looked at the possible replacements we have on file. I'm not letting Allen die tonight." The normally crooked teeth are just a little bit straighter and the usual sneer even looks more like a confident smile.

From the shadows behind him, an even more surprising trio emerged. Two of them have expressions of guilt ridden shame. But Warren just gives a cheeky wave.

"He called my house..." Jonathon admits with far more gratitude than I've ever heard directed towards Snyder. "Told me I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I just stuck my head in the sand and let my friends die."

"People like us don't get very many chances at having friends," explains Snyder when our stunned expressions return to him. "Didn't want him turning out like me."

Marcie is quick to voice her own reason for being here tonight. "My biggest fear is being invisible. Can't believe I was about to treat all of you like that."

"I'm just as shocked as the rest of you," Warren admits with a nervous chuckle. "I was just going to give you these." He hands a pair of night vision goggles to Willow and it's very easy to see how red his cheeks are. "I didn't have time to take them apart yet."

"Don't have time for this..." Growls Fred as she points to the dumpster. "You want to come, get something to cover your scent."

Horrified at the order, Snyder is the first one to follow it. He grumbles the entire time and swears us to silence or face a lifetime of detention. But the vice principal does cover himself in some of the foulest trash he can find.

It doesn't take long to get the other three coated in their own rancid perfume and soon after the whole lot of us lose our voices. It takes a few seconds of charades to explain the plan and calm down the four who decided to join us. But once it's done, Clem can finally lead us down into the sewers.

He knows shortcuts through them that Darla never seems to have learned and before too long brings us to tunnels of incredibly old brick. Has to be a hundred years old.

Each step makes my skin crawl and not just with the desire to shower off the filth. This is where vampires really live? The club really should think about switching to werewolves.

The muffling spell ends before we make it to the action. A deafening boom lifts up a cloud of century old dust, quickly followed by the sound of clanging metal.

"Move!" Roars a frantic Fred, making the lot of us follow Clem at a sprint.

Desperation fuels me as my legs pump with effort. Each step brings us closer to the action and soon a rage filled roar can also be heard. That's not a voice I recognize, hope that's a good sign.

The tunnel comes out on a ledge about the fighting and my heart plummets at the sight before us. The only two people still standing are both vampires, with Darla doing her best to rip off Xander's head.

It's not going as well as it should. What appears to be a broken arm is really stopping her from taking control of the fight.

Sparks at the far side of the room draw my eyes to Dennis next. Or what's left of him.

His left arm is completely gone. Only some melted steel at his shoulder shows where the limb used to be.

But Fred's anguished shriek is what makes me see the worst of it all. Face down in a puddle lays a motionless Allen.

"No!" She's the first one off the ledge.

She's only a few seconds ahead of the rest of us though. With each of us rushing to where we can be the most help.

Jesse and Snyder seem to be in a race to join the fight itself. I don't have to worry about Dennis either, the smartest among us going right to the robot's side.

By the time I reach Allen, he's already been rolled over by a desperate Fred. "He's not breathing!"

"Get out of the way." It's clear she's too distraught to do proper CPR and I have to shove her.

I know I'm doing it right when I feel at least one rib crack and get lost in the rhythm. I'm so relieved when he starts to cough, I completely ignore the bile on his face.

 

[oakes]

Didnt his neck got broken? I don't think CPR is gonna fix that, unless Brachen demons don't die of broken necks.

 

[Flightless Man]

Didnt his neck got broken? I don't think CPR is gonna fix that, unless Brachen demons don't die of broken necks.

Click to shrink...

Brachen can survive a snapped neck with it just being sore. In the show, Angel snaps Doyles neck as part of a plan to infiltrate the Scourge and Doyle wakes up about an hour later. The issue was the puddle he was facedown in.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 74: Fred​

Relief surges through me when Allen starts coughing and I lose track of everything else in the cavern. Both the fight between the vampires and the desperate attempt to keep Dennis online are forgotten.

But the one thing I can't ignore, is the knowledge that this isn't the last time it's going to happen. Allen's not going to stop this.

"Angel?" Groaning with pain as he struggles to sit up, Allen's eyes dart back and forth between the two of us with growing confusion. "Fred? What are you doing down here?"

"Seems like you're not the only one who can see the future..." My tone is mixed with equal parts relief and frustration. "Because I told you this was going to happen."

His face contorts in shame as he doesn't deny the claim. "You did."

"Going to let us help out for real now?" Angel tries to cut through the strange tension. "Or should we start cutting you out of the real plans?"

Doesn't matter if he does. None of Allen's plans are actually long term.

Green hands grip the side of his face before twisting to the left with a chilling crack. "That's going to hurt for days." Not as much as my heart will.

"Did the plan work?" When she realizes I'm not going to say anything, Angel asks about the Master with a worried voice.

"Really hope so..." The infuriating hunk reveals he's just as in the dark. "Because I really don't think we get another shot at hitting Nest with lightning."

All three sets of eyes turn towards Dennis and his still smoking body. At least a third of his body melted away or as horribly misshapen by the intense heat and I know it's going to be nearly impossible to fix. Good thing Warren and Willow are working on a back up already.

"Hand me the hack saw!" An incredibly focused redhead holds out her hand for the demanded tool. "And get the jumper cables ready."

"What are you doing to me?" Terrified at the sudden amputation, Dennis is unable to anything but demand answers.

"All your systems are shutting down..." Through grit teeth, Willow fills in the terrified phantom. "We need to connect your back up power to the car battery Warren brought."

"Don't worry Dennis. You'll be walking around again by the new year," Promises Warren with a nearly concealed grimace. "You even get to pick what you look like this time."

Gotta give him credit for just giving up his sexbot so easily. But considering how much time he's been spending with Willow, maybe he's lost interest in that aspect of robotics.

That seems to do the trick in calming down the terrified Dennis. "... You'll make me look handsome?"

"Just like Doogie Howser," Willow consoles the head in her hands.

A roar of frustration diverts my attention to the fight between the vampires just in time to watch Jesse pull his weapon out of the side of his best friend's body.

Russel tries to follow it up by leaping on his most hated student's back. But Vander kicks the axe wielder into him, sending both student and vice principal to the ground in a heap.

About to pounce on the fallen pair, it's only a sudden whistle that seems to change the snarling Vander's mind. "This isn't over!"

With a final snarl of rage, the vampire flees into one of the many tunnels surrounding the central cavern. Lets see if you still feel that way after I tell Maggie about you.

"Glad the rumours are true." Clutching what looks like a broken arm, Darla still seems to be the best off of the three we came to rescue. "Wasn't really sure if you could survive that."

"Think the lesson's going to stick this time?" Lorne stares down at Allen with a scornful expression. "Or do you need to almost die a few more times first?"

Closing his eyes in the face of such blunt truth, Allen seems to actually realize his mistake. Too little, too late.

"Not like the kids are going to listen to me anymore. I'll be lucky if they even listen to my ideas for a while." He accepts Lorne's help up and winces in pain.

Darla coughs to get our attention, tension creasing her brow as she glances between the various passageways. "We should get up to the surface. It's not just my bloodline that calls the catacombs home."

"But Xander..." Not happy with letting his best friend's body just get away, Jesse doesn't know who to glare at. "We can't just let him go!"

"He's a freshly turned vampire. Lex is going to be obsessed with all of you." Darla uses the name the vampire chose for himself instead of the mocking title Allen provided. "You'll all have plenty of chances to face him again."

"Oh..." Terrified at the knowledge he can enter her home anytime, Willow is pale as a sheet. "That's not good."

Allen flushes with guilt. "You can stay at house until Jenny has a chance to rescind his invitation."

With a little more urging from Darla, we do finally start making our way back to the surface. Lost in my own tumultuos thoughts, I don't pay much attention to the conversations around me.

No matter how much I care about Allen or he about me, the mission is always going to come first for him. It's not a future with me he's planning for... just the next emergency.

No one wants to go home after we reunite with the others at the Sunset Club. So we end up bring the entire team back to the house for celebratory cartoons.

Savoring the moment, I curl up against Allen's undamaged side and just enjoy 'Yogi Bear's First Christmas'. But when Angel pops the second tape in, I let him know we need to talk.

Thankfully he doesn't make a joke about the phrase and just follows me into the kitchen with a grim expression. "What's up?"

"What's the most important thing to you?" This is the last chance to convince me I'm wrong.

Without any hesitation, Allen proves he's the man I fell in love with. "Keeping my students safe."

"That's what I was afraid of." I don't need to be the first thing he thinks about. "Which is why this is so hard." But I know I'm just going to be a distraction to his destiny and it's time I started working on my own. "We can't be together anymore Allen, I can't keep seeing you like that. You're going to leave me all alone."

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 15: Friends Filled In​

Nestled on the couch under a pile of blankets, Tara could only let out a huff of annoyance when the phone rang and forced her out of the cocoon. It was early enough that the good cartoons hadn't even started yet and the witch in training knew it must be important.

Both Buffy and Alonna pretended to sleep through it all. At least that was the plan before Tara let out a startled gasp.

Only hearing their host's side of the conversation had both of her friends too curious to remain 'asleep'. With Tara's expression enough to chill the good mood, it soon becomes clear why.

"What do you mean Angel?" Tara's voice lost any of it's usual warmth and stammered out the last few words. "He almost died?"

"Who did?" Prodded a frowning Alonna as she realized the Slayer's hearing is a lot better.

"Allen..." Pale in the face, Buffy refused to believe the words. "But how? He can see the future?"

Quick to grab her friend's hand to stop it from going to her mouth, Alonna stopped her from chewing on the fresh nail polish. "Not like he can watch six billion movies everyday. Lots of stuff can still surprise the guy."

Once the call was over, Tara did her best to explain the details of such a terrible night. She filled the other two girls in on how one of his students was turned and the attack on the Master's lair.

"I Don't think Giles is going to be as excited about the robots anymore." She winced at the thought of the friendly phantom being trapped in a useless shell. "Dennis needs a new body already."

"No offence. But Dennis is already dead." Allona awkwardly pointed out. "I wanna know what happened to Pinhead."

Having wanted to avoid any specific details, Tara goes pale with concern for her crush. "... His neck got broken and he was found face down in a puddle."

"Well shit..." The blunt response slipped out of a guilty Alonna. "Probably would have been better off if he did just kick the bucket last night."

Horror filled both of the blondes as they turned on the blunt speaker as one, Buffy's response only beating out Tara's by a half second. "How can you even say something like that?"

"That's not what I meant!" Shame filled Alonna's voice as she realized her mistake. "It's just...." Her eyes had a hard time meeting either of her friends'. "He's not really going to be walking away from a broken neck."

Anguished at the idea of what Allen sacrificed for her, Buffy still hadn't noticed the part about his breakup. "... Oh."

"If he really feels what goes on in those visions," The Slayer gasped with guilt ridden understanding. "That's going to be a living hell for him."

"Guess that explains why the vampire didn't know either..." Tara mumbled out awkwardly.

"Know what?" Frowned Alonna.

Her lack of grief finally explained, Tara clarifies exactly what she was told. "Brachen can actually walk away from a broken neck. He's just going to be sore for a few days."

Relief surged through Buffy at the news and the feeling wasn't something Alonna was immune to either. All three girls had different reasons to owe the half demon. But none of them wanted him to suffer.

"Well now that he's taken care of that stupid prophecy..." Relief rushed through Buffy and she didn't even bother keeping the grin from her face. "He's just going to have to deal with having to patrol with me."

"Giles isn't trying to convince you to go solo once you move?" Alonna knew that Gwendolyn and Sirk both had rather outdated ideas. With Merrick back in England, it's just Wesley and Lydia who don't piss me off each night.

"He told Post that if her ideas had any merit, she would be the one assigned to the Slayer right now." Smirked Buffy as she revealed her Watcher wasn't going to cramp her style in the slightest. "She hasn't talked to him in four days and I don't think Giles minds."

A growl of annoyance escaped Alonna's lips. "Really wish he'd tell her to leave my brother alone. Charles actually seems to listen the guy."

"She can't be that bad, can she?" Tara didn't want to make any waves. But hadn't really spent much time around the Watcher focused on artifact recovery and didn't have a proper opinion.

"Post seems to think she's already been chosen to take over once you move." Pursed lips made Alonna look like she was ready to commit murder. "But Wesley said the four of them are splitting the responsibility. So I'm not really sure what's going through her head."

Buffy was elated to have a topic to switch to that wouldn't leave her so red in the face. "Wesley said?"

"When was this?" Quick to join in on the teasing, Tara was quite happy to shift the topic away from Buffy's interest in older men.

"When I was trying to make him see the goods were up for grabs." Alonna grumbled bitterly as she glanced down at her pyjama clad body. "But for as smart as he seems to be with some things, the guys clueless in pretty much every other way."

"Sure he's not just terrified of your brother?" Teased a smirking Buffy as she threw a pillow at friend's head. "I know even I get wiggie when he hasn't had his coffee."

"It's the eyes, so intense." Agreed a grinning Tara, quickly being forced to duck the pillow thrown at her in response.

When her friends finally got up for the morning and stretched, it would have taken more strength than Tara had to look away. They're both beautiful and I'm just plain old Tara. No wonder Buffy never looks at me like that.

"Can't really blame you for waiting anymore." Alonna pulled a fresh shirt from her bag and this time Tara really did turn around. "How do you just get over a guy who died for you?"

 

[RichardWhereat]

So, guess now that Allen is single, a few girls are going to take a run at him. Or he'll be spending some serious time with Rus.

Or both..

But I wonder how Fred's cousin is going to take it. If the initiative takes down Lex.

 

[Flightless Man]

I don't want to burn out, so from now on I'm just going to do 5 chapters a week. Monday to Friday so I can keep a schedule.

Edit: I meant starting next monday. I'm taking a week off.

 

[TheatrclBarristr]

Getting defensive at my own tone, Willy throws up his hands in an attempt to ward me off. "Hey now, I made them hit me the first few times. But they keep coming back and you know how much I lick money."

Click to shrink...

LOL! Now I'm imagining Willy licking his money like a cat cleaning its fur each night after he closes.