No Place Like Home, chapter 18

[maryperk73703]

The Initiative

Chapter 18

The next night found the Immortal Guardians, their Companions, and all of their allies gathered near the U.C. Sunnydale campus. Serina, Willow, Tara, and Ethan Rayne stood to one side talking about the magic that needed to be used in the distraction.

Wesley and Jonathon had driven down from Los Angeles. Jonathon was on triage duty with Reggie, Dawn, and Joyce. The young man hadn’t been too happy about the assignment until Reggie started to tell him about some of the mysterious artifacts that were hidden within the Council of Watchers. Wesley was consulting with Buffy and Faith on the weaponry needed for an assault of this manner.

Spike rallied the demon allies at the edge of the group, not wanting to overwhelm the pulsers. The vampire was glad to see his old kitten poker buddy Clem.

“Spike, this is Ronald Jones.” Clem pointed to a humanoid demon wearing an Army uniform. “He’s a Uixa demon, and he wants to help us.”

Ronald bowed his head to Spike. “I am at your disposal, Guardian. I know a way in that will be undetected.”

“How do we know you’re not a plant? That you’re not here to undermine us.” Spike studied the other demon. He sent a silent message to Buffy asking her to look the demon over with her new found powers.

“I’ve seen what they do to the demons.” Ronald shuddered. “What they are doing is cruel.”

Spike tilted his head at Buffy’s seal of approval on the Uixa demon. “Glad to have you with us, Jones.”

“It’s time, folks.” Buffy heaved a crossbow in one hand. “Warriors in the front, magic users in the middle, and demons in the rear. Everybody have a weapon?”

The humans nodded in agreement as the demons gave a cheer of approval.

“Guide us, Ronald,” Spike said. “Go up front with my mate.” He pushed the Uixa demon towards Buffy.

The group was able to get inside the Initiative quite easily. It had been much easier with Ronald guiding them. Ethan was able to turn off the electricity leaving only the back up generators. Then, he made the soldiers see phantoms, causing pandemonium everywhere. The Immortal Guardians walked right into the Army’s most technologically advanced base and took over in under fifteen minutes.

Maggie Walsh was a prisoner in the office. Several demons kept watch over her while they waited for Spike and Buffy to arrive. She cringed in fear when one of the demons grinned toothily at her. Little did she know that kittens were Clem’s preferred choice of food.

“Professor, we warned you to get out of Sunnydale, didn’t we?” Buffy entered the room, followed by Spike. “Thankfully Adam wasn’t awakened yet, and we have destroyed him.”

“No! You can’t do that. He was to be my greatest work,” Maggie protested.

“Your greatest failure is more like it.” Buffy sat down in a chair across from Walsh. “Now what to do with you?”

“Let us have her,” one of the demons snarled. “She deserves nothing less than total torture like what she did to our family members.”

“That is tempting.” Buffy tapped her chin. “But that would make us no better than her really. Anyanka, come in here.”

“You wanted me, Buffy?” Anya popped into the room. “What do you need?”

“When we’re all free and clear, I wish for this facility to be filled up with concrete. Can you do that for me?” Buffy didn’t take her eyes off Maggie Walsh.

“Wish granted.” Anya’s demonic visage burst forth as she intoned the words.

“Has Angel been found?” Buffy asked.

“Yes, Cordelia is reading him the riot act as we speak,” Anya answered.

“Clem, you and your buddies make sure the demons are all free and clear. Anya, you take a Watcher with you. Make sure the soldiers are out.” Buffy directed the others in the room. “Spike and I will take care of Maggie here.”

Clem nodded his assent before he herded the demons out of the room. Anya popped out to find her Wesley.

“Now, Professor, I promise you won’t be the same after this.” Buffy stood up, and she moved over to the older woman. The Slayer put her hand out to touch the Professor on the head. A bright light flashed through the room. All the evil in Walsh’s heart was eradicated.

“Since when have you been able to do that?” Spike asked with curiosity.

“It just came to me,” Buffy answered. “Might come in handy. I’ll have to try it on Ethan next.” She let out a happy and free laugh.

“What have I done?” Maggie whispered. She put her hands on her face, and she allowed herself to be led from the room.

“Professor,” Riley called out. He took one look at Walsh’s face. He turned to Buffy, and he snarled, “What did you do to her?”

“Showed her the error of her ways, as I will show all of you!” Buffy raised her hands into the air. A bright light flashed through the whole facility, washing the evil intentions from humans and demons alike.

“Well, that was different,” Faith said softly. “I haven’t felt this good since… ever.”

“Speak for yourself,” Ethan muttered. “Now I have to start all over being evil. Do you know how much work it is to be evil?”

“Buck up, Rayne.” Giles clapped his old friend on the shoulder. “You can always stay here and help us do-gooders.”

“Bite your tongue, Ripper!”

Cordelia marched in, dragging behind her a reluctant Angel. “Can we get out of this hellhole? I feel a vision coming on, and my head already hurts.”

“Come here, Cordy,” Buffy said. “We have a way for the headaches to stop, if you agree.”

“Really? That would be great.” Cordelia went over to Spike and Buffy. She had an idea of what was about to happen. Dawn had been quite vocal about her change over to a Guardian companion. “It won’t hurt will it?”

Buffy laughed. “I don’t think so.” She and Spike took Cordelia’s hands, and they made the ex-cheerleader, now Seer into an Immortal Companion. Even though they really didn’t need to, the flash of light earlier had already done the trick. Buffy just wanted to show off.

“That’s just great,” Angel muttered. “Everybody’s getting to be immortal.”

“I’m not,” Faith said. “There is no way I want to guard a Hellmouth for eternity. I’m really happy being just a normal, ordinary Slayer.”

“As normal and ordinary as a Slayer can be anyway,” Buffy chortled. “Okay, everybody, move out. Anya has her orders, and it’s time for the post apocalypse party at our house.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Is everyone okay?” Dawn asked when Faith arrived at Spike and Buffy’s house first.

“It’s all five by five,” the dark haired Slayer answered. “B said something about a party.”

Dawn laughed. “Usually that just means munchies and movies. It’s a Scooby tradition.” She gestured towards the living room. “Already done.”

“Good deal. Slaying always makes me hungry and…”

“Do not finish that in front of my sister.” Buffy entered the house, followed closely by Spike. Behind them was the rest of the gang.

“I already know what she’s gonna say, Buffy.” Dawn stuck her tongue out at her sister. “I am seventeen, you know.”

“Oh, and that’s oh so grown up.” Buffy rolled her eyes. “No dreams this time, thank god. That was a direct result of the joining spell.”

“Missed that one, luv,” Spike replied. He stepped up behind Buffy, and he put his arms around her.

“You didn’t miss much.” Buffy chuckled. “The First Slayer wasn’t too happy, and she tried to kill Xander.”

“No big loss there,” Spike muttered into Buffy’s hair. He hadn’t like how Xander had treated the Slayer.

“No worry then,” Dawn spoke up. “Xander left town this morning. He came to tell me and mom goodbye.”

“Oh?” Buffy looked a bit saddened. “I guess he couldn’t accept me being with Spike after all.” She sighed.

“It’ll be okay, pet. There’s plenty of other Scoobies hangin’ around now.” Spike indicated the others standing around the room. Some of them had moved over to the munchies, and Willow had already put in a movie.

“Yeah, I guess so. Just you know, he was the one who saw things that others missed.” Buffy led Spike across the room to the couch. She pushed him down into the corner, and she curled up in his lap to watch Apocalypse Now.

”Where the bloody hell are we?” Spike looked around the desert scene.

“Oh god, not here again,” Buffy muttered. “If anyone tells me that death is my gift I’ll scream.”

“There’s an oasis or something over there.” Spike pointed across the desert. “We should hike on over there.”

“Guess dream you freckles.” Buffy smirked. “Come on. Last one to the trees is a rotten egg.”

Spike and Buffy crossed the desert to the trees. They found a beautiful fountain with cool, blue water tinkling quietly.

“Welcome to the Oasis.”

Spike and Buffy turned to find a beautiful woman standing behind them. She was dark-haired, and she wore a green toga type dress.

“I am Anqet. I have many names over many dimensions. I am the one that brought about the change in your Key.” The woman nodded sagely. “Her power is needed elsewhere, but you’ve changed her destiny.”

“There’s that word destiny again,” Spike grumbled.

“Yes, it is a big word, isn’t it? To know that Buffy was chosen to be your mate even before your great-great grandfather’s great-great grandfather was a glimmer in his father’s eye.” Anqet smiled gently at the irate vampire. “Are you unhappy with your mate?”

Spike looked at Buffy. He was happy to know that despite everything they were meant to be. “I suppose not,” he conceded.

“Now, I must tell you that the Hell-Gods are returning from their mission which they have accomplished. You must tell my cousin Ptolmony that he must seek out The One. She is his destiny. I can see it in the stars.”

“Have you been talkin’ to Dru?” Spike looked at the woman with suspicion.

“Ah, Drusilla. She was meant to be one of mine until Angelus got a hold of her. I am quite displeased with him, but one of your companions will keep him in check.” Anqet chuckled.

“So, I’m gonna be stuck with the big git for eternity?” Spike didn’t look very happy.

“Unfortunately, yes. However, there will be other places for him to protect. He won’t be at the Hellmouth with you.”

“Thank God. .