Champions All
by W/T4Eva
Under Siege
[reviews]
Angel Investigations were in the lobby of the Hyperion hotel debating what to do about Angelus.
"What are we waiting for?" asked Connor. "Why aren't we going after him?
"No need," replied Wesley, "he'll be back."
"How do you know?" asked Fred.
"We're the ones he wants to hurt. The people closest to Angel," explained Cordelia.
"I say we dust him before he gets the chance," stated Connor forcibly.
"That's just the kind of reckless thinking that allowed Angelus to double back on us," said Wesley. "From now on we all stay close."
"And do what? If Angelus is coming back for us, we can't just be waiting for him to drop by. We need to do something. Board up the windows, make it safe somehow," said Fred, speaking quickly. "Don't you think?" she continued more slowly looking around at everybody.
"Won't make a difference," said Gunn. "If he wants in nothing's gonna stop him."
"Cordy, why didn't it work? The spell to bring Angel's soul back, did we do something wrong?" asked Fred.
Cordelia shrugged. "I don't know," she said.
"Yeah and how did you get so fooled Lorne?" asked Gunn. "Reading Angelus wrong like that. You were so sure he was Angel."
"Don't put this on him," said Cordelia. "I'm the one who let Angelus out. It's my fault."
"Wow, I must have been in jail too long, my hearing's going. Did I actually hear Queen C say those three little words: "It's my fault?"" asked Faith. Faith, with Kennedy beside her was stood in the entrance to the hotel. "I never thought I'd live that long."
Everybody got to their feet. Gunn, Fred, Lorne and Connor did not recognize the new arrivals but clearly they knew Cordelia. The four of them looked to Cordelia for an introduction.
"As if thing's weren't bad enough," said Cordelia. "We now have psycho slayer come to visit. Get fed up with the redemption thing Faith? Come to kill a few more humans or do a little more betrayal? I assume you broke out of jail."
"Break out or die inside," said Faith. "Not ready to die yet."
"Could somebody...?" asked Fred.
"This is Faith the vampire slayer," said Wesley. "Last seen three years ago serving a long sentence for murder."
"And this is Kennedy the vampire slayer," said Faith.
"Did something happen to Buffy?" asked Cordelia alarmed.
"No," said Faith, "or not as far as I know. Kennedy will explain."
"I was chosen about eighteen months ago," explained Kennedy. "I was told that Buffy had been killed but I was told later she was alive. My watcher couldn't figure it out."
"Willow brought her back," said Cordelia.
"Back, as in back from the dead back?" asked Kennedy
"Uh huh", replied Cordelia nodding.
"CPR again?" asked Faith.
"No, we understand she successfully completed a resurrection spell a few months after Buffy died," explained Wesley.
"Seems I was right not to go straight to Sunnydale," said Faith. "Willow sounds like one scary witch these days."
Faith then introduced Wesley to Kennedy as her former watcher, "who she betrayed," added Cordelia. Cordelia was introduced as a school friend of Buffy's who had helped Buffy in Sunnydale.
"I don't know the rest of them," explained Faith.
Wesley introduced Gunn, Fred, Lorne and Connor to Faith and Kennedy. Naturally Faith was surprised to meet a son of Angel and this lead to a full explanation of Connor's background.
Wesley asked what Faith had meant about dying in prison and she explained. Kennedy explained about the killing of her watcher. The watcher had previously told her that in an emergency she should go to Sunnydale to join up with Buffy or to go see Faith. She had arrived in LA on her way to Sunnydale when she had learnt of another slayer in town.
"Jaw, jaw, jaw," said Connor. "You guys aren't going to do anything about Angelus are you? Well I am."
Connor started to leave the hotel but Faith moved very fast and pinned him to the wall before he got two paces. Everybody who had not seen a slayer in action before was suitably impressed.
"You're going to wait here until we decide what we going to do about Angelus." said Faith giving Connor the stare. Connor was startled by Faith's speed and strength. He had heard about slayers but the actuality was much more impressive that the stories.
"Let's have the full story then," Faith asked turning back to the group. "Why's Angelus free? What happened?"
Wesley, aided by Fred, explained the sequence of events including what they knew about the Beast and the darkness. Kennedy interrupted to ask more about Angel/Angelus. Connor sat and sulked.
"OK," said Faith. "Nobody's going to kill Angel. We're going to capture him and give him back his soul. Cordy, you contact Willow. She did it last time. She's the best person to do it again."
"Wes," Faith continued, "See what you can find out about these weird guys who are killing off potential slayers and watchers. Kennedy and I'll give you a description."
"Perhaps I should contact Giles and the Watchers' Council," suggested Wesley.
"Maybe," agreed Faith. "But hold off until you've seen what else you can find out first then we'll talk about it." I need to build up some credit with the good guys before anybody contacts Buffy, Giles or the Council Faith thought. She realised that Wesley might go ahead and contact them anyway but she'd just have to face up to that if it happened.
For his part Wesley knew very well why Faith didn't want to announce to Buffy and the Council that she was out. For his own reasons he agreed with her, at least for the time being. Buffy would not be pleased that they'd arranged for Angelus to return and the last thing they needed at the moment was another Council Special Ops team in LA. Still he thought, if necessary I could talk to them without saying anything about Faith.
"Gunn, these are your streets," continued Faith. "See if you can find out where this Beast is hanging out. As soon as we've dealt with Angelus we'll go after it."
"I'm on it," said Gunn getting up to leave.
"What are your orders for me oh mighty slayer?" asked Connor sarcastically.
"Do what Kennedy tells you to do," replied Faith. "If you think I'm cranky just see what happens when you wind her up. Kennedy, take care of security for this place. From the roof, to the sewers, to the front door. Angelus will be back. I want to be ready to trap him. Nets might be good."
"I'll get onto that safety spell," said Lorne. When Faith gave him a blank look he explained what he meant and she gave him the go ahead. "But be ready to nix it if it doesn't test out right. I don't want anything that'll stop a slayer fighting."
Fred coughed as she was the only one who had not been given an assignment. Wesley responded immediately.
"Fred's been researching the Beast. I think it best that she continue with that," he suggested.
"Sure," said Faith. "Got any food here? I've been slaying for hours and I'm hungry and....well hungry and hungry." She glanced at Cordelia who couldn't help smiling. She was the only other person who understood Faith's reference. Better days thought Cordelia. If only we hadn't grown any older. They all got up and set to work.
As Lorne went to pick up the phone Fred went past him. "So that's a slayer," he said to her, "gotta say, I'm impressed, glad she's on our side."
"Let's hope she stays on our side, this time," said Cordelia quietly to Wesley.
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Willow woke up and immediately looked for Tara. All day yesterday she'd kept a grip on Tara as if scared she was going to disappear again. Since they'd not left the hotel bedroom the whole day Willow's grip had been mainly combined with snuggles, kissing and other more energetic moments.
She's still here, SHE'S STILL HERE, thought Willow as she had done so many times before. I'm never going to get used to this she thought. Willow snuggled up close to Tara and quickly fell asleep again.
A couple of hours later Tara woke up and felt the call. She got out of bed and quickly dressed before leaning over and kissing Willow on the forehead, deliberately waking her up. "I've got a call," she explained. "I'll be back as soon as I can." With that Tara orbed away.
Willow felt bereft. Noooo! she thought but then pulled herself together. She won't be long. I've just got to get used to this. She'll be back soon. Leo and Tara had explained about the duties of a Whitelighter. It's like a job, we can't be together every minute of every day she thought although at the same time a part of her was mentally jumping up and down and asking why not, why not?
Willow decided to get up. It was lunchtime after all. The bed was suddenly much colder. She decided to get out her laptop and look at her e-mails.
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Tara arrived at where she had been summoned and was surprised to see Paige waiting for her. Tara looked about her, it looked like night time even though Tara knew it was about midday. Then she remembered. "Oh yes, you did say you'd be checking out the darkness in LA," said Tara. "Any luck?"
"I got here yesterday and it's been like this all the time," said Paige. "It's like the middle of the night all day. And it's not just the darkness, the city's crawling with vampires and demons. Whatever started all this is attracting all sorts of evil."
"So how can I help?" asked Tara thinking what can I do that Leo can't and why not ask your sisters?
"Leo and my sisters have to clean up some warlock activity in Oakland today so I thought of you," said Paige as if reading Tara's mind. "You're still a witch right? I thought we could do a tracking spell to home in on whatever's causing all this."
Tara realised that although born with a strong witch birthright Paige had not been a practicing witch for more than a couple of years and normally had her sisters and Leo for support. "We could do the 'Golden Arrow'" she suggested. "That should work. It's slow but it's reliable and it always works best when evil is strong and this looks to be very strong indeed."
"I've got a vanquishing spell all prepared for when we find it," said Paige, "what do you think?" she continued and handed over her written out copy of the spell.
Tara read the spell and smiled. "Do you do all your spells in rhyme?" she asked. "It's very good." Tara handed back the paper.
"You mean you don't," asked Paige surprised. "I was told you had to. All that time I spent searching for awful rhymes and I didn't even have to."
"You probably do have to," said Tara. "If that's what your sisters do, what your mother did, then it's probably necessary to get the most out of your gift. I'll try it myself when I do the tracking spell. It might make my spells more powerful."
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E-Mail
From: Dawn
To: Willow
Afraid I've got nothing more about Whitelighters but I've got very good news. Giles is back! He's staying with us for now. He brought three girls with him, all about my age or a little older. They're potential slayers. Apparently the First Evil has been sending some really weird guys all over the world killing potential slayers. Giles brought them here so Buffy could protect them. He says there are more on the way.
Giles says the First Evil blew up the Watchers' Council. They're all dead. You should be careful. The First Evil is incorporeal when it pretends to be a dead person but it's got all these bad guys working for it so be careful. Giles says it can pretend to be anybody who is dead or was dead at any time so it can pretend to be Buffy or Angel or anyone like that but it won't be corporeal.
Oh, Cordy phoned. She needs to contact you urgently. I gave her your e-mail address so you'll probably be hearing from her.
All the very best on your quest.
Love from everyone
Dawn
Another day at the office in good old Sunnydale thought Willow. Whilst reading the e-mail she had realised that this First Evil could probably pretend to be Tara. She'd just have to keep kissing her she decided, just to be sure it's the real Tara. She clicked on the other e-mail:
E-Mail
From: Cordelia
To: Willow
VERY URGENT
Dear Willow,
I never thought I'd find myself doing this all those years ago in computer geeks class but I'm now e-mail girl. Actually my friend Fred is making sure this goes through all right.
I tried to ring you but Dawn said you're on some sort of a quest. I'm sure it's important but so is this. Angelus is back. Angel's lost his soul, well somebody stole it actually.
Guess who else is back. Faith! She gave us some story about weird guys going around the world killing slayers and said she had to get out of prison. She hasn't changed, well she hasn't killed anybody yet but she's just like Buffy, giving orders to everybody to save Angel, as if we weren't going to do that anyway.
I was going to contact you even if she hadn't suggested it. You are the only person alive to give Angel his soul back and as I recall we didn't know where it was then either so I hope you can do it again.
Please come as soon as possible. Address and telephone number below.
See you soon
Cordelia
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E-Mail
From: Willow
To: Dawn
I read your last e-mail this morning. Good to know Giles is back. Thanks for all of the other information.
You wouldn't believe the things that have happened but it's not really suitable to put it in an e-mail. I'm happy and well and hope to see you soon. I've got to go see Cordy in LA to give some witchy help to a little problem that she has. I hope it won't take too long then I'll be able to spend some time back in Sunnydale.
All my love to everyone (give Giles my best wishes)
Willow
Willow had thought long and hard about whether to mention Tara in the e-mail or whether to telephone Dawn or Buffy but she found herself reluctant to do so. She wanted to show them Tara, not just include it in a short letter or call. They're going to be so surprised and happy she thought.
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Gunn drove in silence, looking through the window at the pouring rain. Just what we need he thought. At least it seems to be keeping most of the vampires indoors. He pulled up to the curb and looked through the nearside window. A woman left the shelter of the nearby building and quickly crossed the sidewalk to get in the front passenger seat.
"Miss me?" asked Gwen as she did up her seat belt.
"Yeah, of course," said Gunn convincing nobody. He received a dirty look from Gwen in return. Why do I bother she thought?
Gunn pulled away from the curb. He had done a lot of visiting and ringing around over the past couple of days and Gwen was the only one to say she might know where the Beast was. Nobody else had seen it or at least nobody admitted to seeing it. He hadn't mentioned Angelus as he didn't want to advertise what had happened. Mostly he got no reply. Hope they've just skipped town he thought. There must have been a lot of casualties in the last few days.
"You're sure he's down there?" Gunn asked breaking the awkward silence in the car.
Gwen shrugged. "All I know is he was in that warehouse two days ago. He could be anywhere now. Why are you looking for him anyway? You all got your butts kicked the last time you saw him and that was before Angel changed sides."
"We've got help, a lot of help," said Gunn without explaining further. "Anyway how did you hear about Angel?"
"It's all over town," she said. "I hear things, that's why you called me remember."
"I didn't expect you to be there. I thought you were leaving," answered Gunn.
"I was," replied Gwen, "but then I figured this being LA there was going to be a lot of looting. I plan on being a looter not a lootee."
A few minutes later Gunn pulled up across the road and down the street from the warehouse in question. "That the one?" he asked. Gwen nodded.
Gunn sat in silence looking at the warehouse. "So what do we do if it's here, ask for its autograph?" Gwen asked.
Suddenly the side window was smashed and a hand reached into the car to pull Gwen out. Gunn immediately leapt out of the car and found himself in a fight for his life with two vampires. Great he thought, but at least it's stopped raining.
Gwen managed to remove her glove as she was being pulled out of the car. The fight quickly ended after that as she shocked the vampire holding her and then shot electric bolts into the two others attacking Gunn. All three vampires lay on the ground. They were all conscious but their bodies were out of their control as they lay there twitching.
Gwen fed electricity into the first vampire until it turned to dust. She then did the same to a second. She was about to do the same to a third when Gunn stopped her. "Let's see what he's got to say first." he suggested, intending to see what the vampire knew about the Beast and Angelus.
"No time," replied Gwen, "into the car quick." Gunn looked up to see that the Beast had come out of the warehouse and was now coming towards them.
Gunn started the car and had just decided to risk driving straight on into the Beast when it stopped about fifty yards away. "Who are they?" asked Gwen.
Two women were standing in the road about ten yards in front of the Beast. "Where did they come from?" asked Gunn. He put the car in reverse and slowly backed it down the street to give him a little more room in case the Beast started coming again.
"You shouldn't be here," said Tara to the Beast. "This is not your world."
The beast put his head back and laughed. "My place is where my master sends me. No-one else can send me away."
"Oh really," said Paige, "do you want to take a bet on that?" Paige unfolded a piece of paper and began reciting her banishment spell. The Beast realised what she was doing and leapt forward at her. He ran straight through her as she orbed away and reappeared ten yards behind him where she immediately started reciting the spell again.
The frustrated Beast turned to attack Tara but she also orbed away to once more stand next to Paige. Paige finished her spell but it had no effect. "I was afraid of that," she said. "Power of one not enough for this beastie."
"We'd better talk to your sisters," said Tara. Paige and Tara orbed away. The Beast looked around but did not see the two women anymore. He did however see Gunn and Gwen sat in their car down the street.
"Go," shouted Gwen but Gunn didn't need to be told. He swung the car around and quickly had it up to top speed. A quick look in the mirror showed that the Beast was not following.
"Was that your new help?" asked Gwen, "because the light show was pretty impressive but it did nothing to the Beast."
"Nothing to do with me," he said. "Never seen 'em before. Nice to know some of the good guys are coming out and not just the demons and vampires."
"If they are good guys," said Gwen. "They haven't done much good yet."
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Anya got out of her car in front of the Summers house. She deliberately avoided teleporting everywhere now. In fact she'd decided not to use any demon powers at all unless she really had to. I wonder how long that'll last she thought. Suddenly she laughed out loud. I'm just like Willow she thought, giving up my power because it's bad for me.
In truth Anya hadn't given up anything any more than Willow had in the long run. She still had both amulets hidden on her person, as well as fake amulets to deceive anybody looking for them. She didn't dare leave herself helpless, not in this town. She reached the front door and rang the bell.
Dawn opened the door. "Anya, come in," said Dawn ushering Anya inside. "Xander's not here, he's probably at home."
"I'm here to see you," said Anya. "You left me a message." The message had been from Dawn on the answer phone and asked that she contact Buffy or Dawn. It had sounded urgent and Anya was a little miffed that Dawn seemed to have forgotten all about it.
"Oh yes, of course," said Dawn. She led the way from the hallway into the front room. There were two young women already there eating sandwiches and watching TV. Dawn introduced Anya to Vi and Annabelle.
Dawn explained about the potentials and what was happening and about how the Watchers' Council had been blown up. She had hoped that Anya or Amy might be able to carry out some witchcraft to protect the Summers house from something similar.
"I'm not a witch Dawn," said Anya. "I'm a demon."
Vi and Annabelle jumped up in alarm. Dawn quickly explained that Anya was basically human and was a friend, a friendly demon. "She's been helping us for years," she said.
"I know you're a demon," said Dawn. "But you know lots and lots about magic. Amy's done a protection spell. Could you have a look at it? I'd like to trust Amy but I'd feel better if you checked out what she's done." Dawn handed Anya a sheet of paper giving details of the spell that Amy had carried out.
"I've also sent details in an e-mail to Willow but I don't know when she'll be able to reply," said Dawn.
Anya, as usual, responded to the flattery. Dawn knew her well. Anya agreed to look through the spell before she left. "You said Giles is back?" she asked. "Where is he?"
"He said he was going to look through the Magic Box, he wanted to..." Dawn stopped as the front door bell rang and went to answer it. It was Giles.
Anya was pleased to see Giles and gave him a hug. "You're looking a lot better than the last time I saw you," she said. Giles had left Sunnydale a few days after the events following Tara's death. He had not fully recovered then from the effects of the big fight with Willow. Now he had.
Anya and Giles went into the kitchen and brought each other up to date. Anya explained about her deal with Amy and suggested that the three of them become equal partners, one third each. Giles agreed to think about it after he'd spoken to Amy.
Annabelle rushed into the kitchen followed by Vi. "There's one of those ugly old vampires outside," she said. "It's just like the one in your book Mr Giles, you know, like the one Buffy killed."
"It's just the same as the other one." said Vi from behind her.
Giles jumped up and went into the front room. Dawn already had the weapons chest open and gave Giles an axe. She gave Vi a sword and Annabelle a crossbow and two bolts. She picked out another crossbow for herself.
By now everybody was clustered around the windows.
"What'll we do without Buffy?" asked Annabelle who sounded very worried.
"What's it doing?" asked Vi.
"It seems to be waiting for something," said Giles. "Remember, it's a vampire. It can't come in without an invitation."
"That sort of vampire can," said Anya seeing it for the first time. She'd never seen a Turok-Han before but she knew what it was and she knew a few things about it.
"What'll do we do," asked Dawn. "It might be waiting to attack Buffy when she gets back."
"Buffy can handle it," said Vi. "She killed the other one OK."
"Exactly," said Giles. "But it seems it's got help this time." As he spoke the others noticed what he was referring to, six Bringers had joined the Turok-Han outside. "Dawn, check out the back. Vi, watch the stairs in case any of them get in up there."
"They're coming in, they're coming in," screamed Annabelle.