Date written: Wed 27 Aug 2003

Author: Starway Man

E-mail: theop@kew.hotkey.net.au

Disclaimer: The Angel/Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar, Kuzui, WB and UPN; no copyright infringement is intended, and not one red cent is being earned from this story.

Rating: R

Warnings: Some violence and language are present. Plus there are spoilers present for seasons 1-7 of BtVS and 1-4 of Angel.

Main characters: Angel, Drusilla, Xander

Setting: Takes place initially after season 3 of BtVS/ before season 1 of Angel, then in seasons 4 and 1; ends up in an AU season 5/ season 2.

Pairings: Conventional: Willow/Tara, Buffy/Riley and implied Cordelia/Doyle. Unconventional: Anya/Giles and mentioned Dawn/Kevin. Unrequited feelings: Cordelia/Xander, Drusilla/Wesley, Faith/Angel, Lindsey/Darla and Spike/Buffy.

Acknowledgments: Thanks to www.buffyworld.com for episode transcripts used in some parts of this fic. Ditto lots of other Buffy/Angel sites, for various bits of information. Also to Nodakskip and Vegakeep for some helpful suggestions, and hints.

Classification: Angel-Buffy Crossover, Action-Adventure, Angst, Alternate Universe

Summary: Wo-Pang tells the Ra-tet of its upcoming demise, they hatch a desperate plan to survive, and the life of Xander Harris is never the same again.

Title: Visions and Pawns

~~~~~~

D: “Maybe that’s your power.”

X: “What?”

D: “Seeing. Knowing.”

X: “Maybe it is.”

(Dawn Summers and Xander Harris, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER)

“Los Angeles. You see it at night and it shines like a beacon. People are drawn to it. People and other things.”

(Angel, ANGEL)

“I am the master of my fate/ I am the captain of my soul.”

(William Ernest Henley, 1875)

~~~~~~

Part I: Plans Within Plans

Los Angeles, California. Summer, 1999

Night time in the City of Angels. The alley cat moved soundlessly through the streets of the metropolis, perfectly at home in the sweltering gloom that surrounded it. The creature was unhurried; its eyes scanned the darkness, moving fluidly as it searched for its evening meal.

Then all of a sudden, the feline stopped; the hackles at the back of its neck rose, as it arched back and hissed at what lay before it. Then the animal turned around, and bolted away as fast as it could travel.

The spires of the Wolfram & Hart law offices stood proudly in the humid smog of the city. But the outward glittering façade could not hide the stench of evil that permeated its bricks and mortar, as well as the souls of the inhabitants that dwelled within it – even at this late hour.

At that moment a shaman of the Order of the Kun-Sun-Dai arrived at the place, looking mostly like some sort of ninja out of a Chinese kung-fu movie. However Wo-Pang, as his name was known, was neither a figure of fun or in any way interested in starring on the big screen.

The man simply walked straight in through the front door, went up to the night watchman and announced, “I am Wo-Pang. I am expected, at this time.”

The attendant never looked up from his monitors. “Elevator 6, straight down and to your left.”

The dark mystic departed immediately, without saying ‘thank you’ or anything asinine like that. He just went to the lift, hit the door control, went in and waited. Without any effort on his part, the machine then started moving upwards.

Wo-Pang waited, outwardly perfectly calm. All of a sudden, a huge white button appeared at the top of the floor level selection menu; and without hesitation, the guy immediately punched it.

The small chamber dissolved into nothing but white light, and when his vision cleared the shaman found himself in the White Room. An otherworldly interdimensional space, that existed within the law firm.

And a fearsome collection of people – if you could call them that – awaited him there.

First, there was the evil creature that wore the shape of a human little girl, named Mesektet. She was the link between the demonic Senior Partners of the firm, and the “earthly contingent” of Wolfram & Hart. Even though, that was just her day job; as more importantly, she was also a member of the Ra-tet, one of the five symbolic manifestations or ‘Totems’ of the ancient sun god, Ra.

Next to her stood the Totem named Mr. Ashet, who looked like a tall, dignified African male. And beside him stood the one known as Manjet, even though off-hours he preferred to go by “Manny”; a scruffy-looking Caucasian male. Beside him stood Ma’at, a white magic shamaness and another member of the order. And last but not least stood Semkhet, a fearsome-looking skinless saber-toothed tiger.

Manny looked around in amusement, as he quickly glanced at his peers and then at their guest. “Been a long time, since we had this kinda family reunion,” he remarked to no one in particular.

Semkhet growled a reply, that everyone except Wo-Pang instantly understood. “I agree,” Ashet remarked acidly. “It definitely has not been long enough.”

Ma’at shook her head, the good woman despairing of the duo ever changing. “Why must you two always be so negative?”

Manjet grinned. “Must come with the territory.”

Ashet scowled. “This, from someone who has such a prodigious collection of human pornography as yourself?”

Mesektet, in many ways the most senior of them despite her appearance, silenced the bickering. “Well. We have a guest here, family members. So – manners, please. You contacted me, Wo-Pang of the Kun-Sun-Dai. Foolish of you, but then your words intrigued me. The Ra-tet is gathered, as you requested. What is it you have to say, before you get squashed like a bug?”

Wo-Pang looked at the five faces, whose expressions ranged from politeness to amusement, anticipation, anger and indifference. And his reply was as noncommittal as if they were just discussing the weather.

“All of you are going to die, very soon.”

~~~~~~

His words caused quite a furor, as the members of the Ra-tet were immortal – as long as they were not ritually murdered. Immediately the complacency disappeared, and the shaman was bombarded with questions.

Wo-Pang just knelt into his Zen meditation position, and again calmly waited until the barrage was over. Finally, Mesektet silently told the others to shut up, and the shaman was ready to explain.

“I do not know much,” the Oriental man said, as he cast some runes onto the floor of the room. “But I have foreseen some things concerning my own future, as regards a vampire with a soul...”

Semkhet roared, and Manjet agreed, “Yeah, whoever heard of a bloodsucker with a soul?”

“Be that as it may, behold what I have seen...” and with these words, Wo-Pang did the most horrible thing you can do to someone; he let the five into his mind, and see exactly how they were going to die.

They saw how a huge and nasty demon colloquially known as “The Beast” drained the life energy of Mesektet, right there in that very room. They also saw it later murder Ma’at, ripping out her heart. Mr. Ashet was next, as the Beast killed him near an oil field and took some sort of metal device from his body; then Semkhet was killed in a desert cave, after being eviscerated for his device first.

Finally, Manny witnessed his own demise as did the others; they saw how a nude, beautiful brunette woman took an axe to his head in a locked room, and later yanked out the blood-soaked orb he kept within there.

The telepathic communication was cut, and Wo-Pang then quietly started making further preparations. “That was in fact only a sample of the death I have foreseen,” he murmured, “The beast will kill thousands more, apart from yourselves...”

By this time, Ashet alone had recovered his equilibrium enough to regain his suspicious nature. “Why? Why warn us like this of our fate? What do you get out of it all?”

Again Wo-Pang showed no emotion when he replied, “The only other thing I know is, the beastmaster will manipulate and play me for a fool. I dislike being treated that way – by anyone.” Then the shaman muttered an incomprehensible spell, and his body turned into thousands of glittery yellow sparkles that quickly vanished from the room.

Manny yelped, “Hey, he’s gone-!”

Ma’at shivered. “Never mind that – the odds are, he’s already told us all he knows anyway. The question is, what now?”

Semkhet then let out what sounded like a low purr. The others looked at him, somewhat surprised. “An excellent question,” Ashet nodded. “Who was that human woman that killed him?”

Mesektet looked thoughtful, and gestured. Something like a miniature white dwarf star blazed for a moment, and then a pretty young woman appeared in the White Room. “Good evening,” she smiled, seemingly totally unfazed by what had just happened. “I’m Files and Records. How may I assist you?”

The evil creature sat on her chair, and sent a telepathic image of both The Beast and the female killer into her mind. “Who are they?” more than one of the Ra-tet demanded at the same time.

The eyes of the woman briefly started fluttering, as if they were some sort of high-speed camera shutters. “First subject is a rock-like demon known as “The Beast”, last seen in Prussia during 1789; banished from the mortal plane by the Svea priestesses, while talking to the vampire known as Angelus.”

“Who?” Ma’at asked at once.

The woman’s eyes fluttered some more, then became normal. “Angelus. Sired during 1753 in Galway, Ireland. Became known as the Scourge of Europe, along with his creator Darla and vampiric children Drusilla and Spike. Cursed in 1898 Romania with a human soul, by gypsies of the Kalderash clan-”

“WHAT?!” most of the Ra-tet yelled, remembering Wo-Pang’s warning.

Files and Records went on, ignoring the outburst, “Disappeared for approximately 99 years, then showed up in Sunnydale, California using the name ‘Angel’. Helped the vampire Slayer Buffy Summers from 1997 onwards. Recently departed the Hellmouth, and currently residing here in Los Angeles.”

“And the other one?” Manjet demanded.

There was another brief pause, as the female’s eyes again scanned her memory bank. “Second subject is known as Chase, Cordelia. Born in Sunnydale, California during 1981. Critically injured during November, 1998. One of a group of people helping the Slayer Buffy Summers, until May this year. Also currently residing here in Los Angeles.”

There was a short pause, until Ashet said simply, “The solution seems obvious to me. If she is the one who summons The Beast, we just kill her now and the problem is solved!”

Manjet looked rueful. “Yeah, sounds nice in theory, but ya know what? This whole situation stinks so much, it can’t be that simple. Can it?”

Before anyone could say anything, Files and Records stated calmly, “No. The relevant Power-That-Be will almost certainly just arrange to use another human vessel to eventually give birth to itself; you are all still scheduled for termination.”

The five Totems turned and stared at her. “How did you know that?” Mesektet asked for all of them.

The woman stared back, as if it should be obvious. “I’m Files and Records. That’s my job.”

Semkhet growled at her, and the Wolfram & Hart employee looked puzzled. “I’m unable to understand the basis of your speech patterns. Please clarify.”

Manny looked annoyed. “Sheesh, sister, do we really gotta translate it here? He asked, why did you mention that this Cordelia Chase chick was critically injured last year? 'Cause I’m wondering – does this have anything to do with our current problems?”

“Affirmative.” The woman’s eyes started doing the camera shutter trick, but then something really odd happened – they froze, then went completely black, and Little Miss Files and Records actually staggered for once in her life.

“What’s wrong?” Ma’at asked at once.

The woman took a deep breath, as her eyes became human. “Nothing. My apologies. I did not anticipate encountering a wild card of this nature.”

“Wild card? What is this supposed to mean?” Ashet demanded.

Files and Records took another deep breath. “The term is used to denote Harris, Alexander Lavelle. Born in Sunnydale, California during 1981. Although this had not been originally destined to happen; no entry is to be found for said individual in the Akashic records...”

Now that fascinated the Ra-tet, as the text that predicted the fate of every human soul had been thought to be inviolate from the forces of good and evil alike.

The woman went on, “...and his existence is due to the direct intervention of the specific Power-That-Be, that has you all targeted for death and dismemberment during 2002. This, in fact, is an indirect result of the consequences of the wild card’s inherently unpredictable actions.”

“Explain yourself fully,” Mesektet demanded.

Files and Records did so, giving details about Cordelia Chase that had culminated in her coming to L.A. She then went on to give a comprehensive list of young Mr. Harris’s actions over the last 18 years...

This included saving the blonde Slayer’s life after the ancient vampire called the Master had bitten and drowned her during 1997, nullifying an inevitable prophecy. Being indirectly responsible for sending Angel to Hell during 1998, and possibly saving the world. Definitely saving it too, when the Hellmouth had opened earlier that year and a zombie’s bomb was about to go off and kill everyone...

“You don’t like him, do you?” Mesektet then asked, with a slight smile on her seemingly-young face.

“The firm’s files and records now require considerable updating and constant revision, thanks to the activities of the wild card,” Miss Files and Records replied, for once looking annoyed.

Manny chuckled. “So, this guy dated the girl that’s gonna kill me? Don’t know about the rest of you, but I hate him already...”

Ma’at shook her head. “A brave and resourceful young man. It is not his fault he has been manipulated by one of the Powers, for almost his entire life.”

“Is there anything else we need to know?” Ashet demanded, ignoring his two associates.

“Mr. Harris’s current location is Oxnard, California. He is scheduled to return home during the September of this year. But even that has an undefinably low probability, due to what he is,” Files and Records finished up smoothly.

When there was nothing more added, Mesektet gestured again and the woman disappeared. “We appear to have been the victims of a well-thought-out campaign,” the so-called Little Miss Muffet then casually remarked. “I must be getting old. Time was, something like this would have never escaped my notice during the planning stages...”

“So, what do we do?” Manjet asked, looking around.

“I’m not sure there’s anything we can do,” Ma’at interjected, and Semkhet made a noise of agreement.

“Your opinions are in error,” Ashet said coldly. “It is perfectly clear to me what must be done; fight fire with fire. Forewarned is forearmed; all we need do is use this pawn of our enemy to our own advantage, just as the Power attempted to use him against us.”

The others then stared, as they slowly got an idea what he meant. “You can’t be serious?!” Ma’at demanded.

“The spell is a relatively simple one,” Ashet replied stonily, looking at the group. “Ma’at can perform the magicks required, with Mesektet to provide the motive power. Semkhet, Manjet and I will direct the focus for the appropriate outcomes...”

“The rite to alter destiny like that will have repercussions!! For example, one of us will have to be sacrificed, in order for it to even work!” the decent-hearted shamaness shouted hotly.

“And if we don’t do it, all five of us will end up dead,” Ashet shot back. “Is that what you want?”

“Enough. As always, we settle this by vote,” Mesektet cut in. “The majority rules. Now all those in favor of the plan, say aye. Those opposed, nay. How say each and every one of you?”

“Aye,” said Ashet, of course.

“Aye,” said Mesektet, not surprisingly.

“Nay,” said Ma’at, unable to accept the idea of trying to accomplish good by doing evil.

“Nay,” growled Semkhet is his own language, somewhat to the surprise of the others.

They then all stared at Manny, who was the deciding vote. “I’m thinking, I’m thinking...” the neutral Totem, who was the potential of every human soul, muttered.

If he had said “Nay” – events would have played out just as the Power-That-Was eventually known as “Jasmine” intended. Well, that is, until a miracle child named Connor killed her and Angel inherited the L.A. branch of Wolfram & Hart...

But Manjet said “Aye” and after the Ra-tet – who had some serious juice up their sleeves, if need be – joined forces, a blinding light filled the White Room.

And thus the life of Xander Harris, more popularly known as the Zeppo or the White Knight, became the focus of an invisible but deadly war between the forces of light and darkness.

~~~~~~

South America. Summer, 1999

At that moment, the vampires Spike and Drusilla were in the midst of a heated argument.

It had all started with Dru leaving her boyfriend and childe for a Chaos demon, about a year before. Spike had gone to Sunnydale in order to get a love spell to win her back; but that had fallen through, so after he’d found her again William the Bloody had just tried to tie her up and torture her until she liked him again.

For a time, it had seemed to work; until the fickle Drusilla had gotten bored again, and was about to take up with a fungus demon.

And the long-suffering Spike would have just let her, except the spell of the Ra-tet kicked in and they both became boiling mad.

The bleached-blonde vamp yelled, “Look, Dru, I-I’m at the end of my bleedin’ tether! Understand? I don’t even know why I bother anymore!” He pointed at his sire, “This is all your fault, if ya want the truth. You’re the one to blame for all this!”

Drusilla purred dangerously, “Am I? And why’s that?”

Spike kept shouting, “Cor blimey, I 'ave to spell it out? If you hadn’t left me for that damn Chaos demon, I’d have never returned to bloody SunnyHell, tried to get you back and ended up standin’ here lookin’ like an absolute idiot right now!” He then reached out for the fungus demon and broke its neck, killing out of sheer frustration.

The dark-haired female vampire looked shocked for a moment. Then she growled, “Grrr! Bad dog!” Dru subsequently slashed at his face with her nails, raking three bloody scratches down Spike’s cheek. “You still taste like ashes! I’m gonna tell my Daddy on you, right after I find my Angel...” Then she flounced away childishly.

The 119-year-old British vampire groaned. “Great. Fine. Run away, then! Let the magnificent poof have you! See if I care!” he called out after her.

Spike then shouted to the heavens, “Gaaah! What the bleeding hell is wrong with my unlife? What in Satan’s name is it gonna take, for things to go right for me for once? And why do I let that bitch torture me like this?!”

~~~~~~

Part II: A Life Less Ordinary

Sunnydale, California. Late September, 1999

The blonde Slayer Buffy Summers had had a very Slay-heavy summer, but now that fall had arrived things were looking much better. Walking with her best friend, the redheaded amateur witch known as Willow Rosenberg, Buffy was finally starting to relax for the evening.

“So, heard anything from Xander lately?” the Chosen One asked.

“Nope, nada. Not even a postcard,” Willow said grumpily. “I mean, I know he said he was gonna do the whole Jack Kerouac thing and visit all 50 states...but he don’t write, he don’t call?”

Buffy laughed. “Well, he’ll be back eventually. And I’ll bet Xand’ll have lots of good stories to tell us about his travels! What with the whole Bohemian anti-establishment attitude he left with, back in August...”

The laughter echoed along the street, as Drusilla stepped out from behind the trees and stared at the departing duo, with her game face on.

The vampiress was not in a good mood. She had arrived back to the Hellmouth not long ago, and learned that her sire had left town – given how there was no trace of Angel anymore, at his old mansion. So she had decided to find the Slayer and get the information on where he was out of her, after a quick trip to the local snitch Willy had proven fruitless.

But just as she had been about to leap out and attack, Dru was reminded of the Slayer’s male friend, that she had once tried to turn while under the influence of a love spell...

A group of three masked commandos then came out of the shadows behind her. Two darts from a taser hit the 139-year-old creature in the back; the vampiress convulsed and then fell down, still conscious. The figures stepped forward, one having a coil of rope, another having a pistol and the third possessing a rifle. Quickly tying Drusilla up, they took her away – to a fate worse than staking.

~~~~~~

Underneath a fraternity house located within UC Sunnydale California, a demon-hunting outfit called the Initiative was busy setting up shop. The operation was still relatively new, but quickly getting organized; it basically consisted of military teams capturing vampires and demons for study, by the scientific personnel stationed at the base.

Their secret aim was weapons research, but the fact was that they had no idea what they were about to tangle with...

The person in charge, one Professor Maggie Walsh, started talking to one of her colleagues called Dr. Angleman. “What’s the latest?” the blonde, 40-year-old woman demanded, as they walked along one of the underground corridors.

“Alpha Team’s captured some more hostile sub-terrestrials. One of them’s atypical, she appears to be a British female...”

Walsh stopped, and turned to stare at the man. “How does that make her atypical?”

Angleman shrugged. “It’s not her nationality, but after she drank the blood and was fitted with the behavior-modification implant, she started ranting and raving. Initially we thought the chip had malfunctioned, but...”

“You should know better than to keep me waiting. Get on with it,” Walsh hissed in a low voice.

Her companion gulped. “Right. Well, she kept on talking about someone she called her “kitten”. The sub-T provided enough details to check it out though, and apparently the guy really does exist. High school graduate named Alexander Harris, last known address 17619 White Oak Drive in Sunnydale.”

Walsh narrowed her eyes. “Another HST?”

Angleman shrugged. “Doubtful. We have a name, a picture ID and history. He’s listed in the Sunnydale PD database as a troublemaker; something about gang members on PCP...”

“Have the residence staked out, and the man in question brought in as soon as possible. And use men that won’t care whether he’s a sub-T hostile or not.”

~~~~~~

Some days later, at the same time as Willow and Buffy were sitting around in a graveyard at night and chatting about what they were going to do when college started the next day, Xander Harris finally came home.

The guy had had the ultimate nightmare of a so-called road trip. Basically he’d gotten as far as Oxnard, and then the engine had literally fallen out of his car. He’d ended up washing dishes at ‘The Fabulous Ladies Night Club’ for about a month and a half, while trying to pay for the repairs; and one night when one of the male strippers had called in sick, he’d been bullied into going up on stage and making a complete fool of himself.

Luckily though Xander had finally managed to make enough dough to trade in the car for one that wasn’t entirely made of rust, and had now arrived back at his house to recuperate from all the humiliations he’d suffered lately.

But just when the youth was about to go through the front gate, three Initiative soldiers blasted him with a taser – and set about making his summer vacation look like an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii.

~~~~~~

In the classified area of the Initiative known as “314”, Xander had been strapped to a gurney and talking for hours under the influence of a truth serum. Professor Walsh and Dr. Angleman finally left the room after the boy had started repeating himself during his babbling, and decided to compare notes.

“Well, what do you think?” Walsh asked her colleague.

Angleman shrugged. “I don’t know how much of his story I’m willing to believe. There have been reports about a possible bogeyman amongst the HSTs, that match his description of this “Slayer” – but what the guy said about being possessed by a hyena? Being a real soldier for one night during Halloween? Stopping a bunch of zombies from blowing up his high school? Come on!”

The blonde who worked undercover as a psych professor nodded. “He’s obviously a liar or mistaken about that last one, as I’ve seen that high school with my own two eyes. It was obliterated a few months ago, due to a gas leak and not some whale-sized snake demon...yes, upon further consideration, I think we should disregard practically everything he said.”

“Right. So, what do we do about this Buffy Summers that Harris mentioned, that’s supposedly this Slayer?”

“Have her put under surveillance, just in case. Tell Agent Riley Finn to get close to her, but don’t tell him why; just that it’s a special assignment, and that he should report only to me about it.”

Angleman made a note on his clipboard. “And what about him?” the doctor gestured towards Xander.

Walsh smiled coldly. “We can’t just let him go and have the man start spreading stories about how he was abducted by a bunch of mad scientists, now, can we? He’s seen too much, so as far as I’m concerned we can pretty much do whatever we want with him. Set him up for a series of tests...”

The male researcher was slightly worried about that. “He may be crazy, but he’s still a U.S. citizen. Technically, we’re not allowed-”

He was silenced with a glare. “Set up plausible deniability. Postcards to friends and family, that sort of thing. And don’t ever question my orders again,” Walsh slitted her eyes, and wondered whether Angleman was worthy of his position as her assistant.

The guy just nodded though, concealing his emotions well. “As you wish...”

~~~~~~

Sunnydale, California. Late November, 1999

One night a few months later, Spike headed for town in his black 1959 Dodge DeSoto, and spied the ‘Welcome To Sunnydale’ sign. With a huge grin, the undead killer gunned the engine, pointed the vehicle straight at it and quickly slammed into the signpost with his car.

The vampire then got out, stared at the mess, then looked around and announced, “Yeah, now this is tradition!” With another grin, Spike then got back into his pride and joy and headed for the old mansion.

Later, the blonde demon had lost his happy smile. He had missed Drusilla, much more than he wanted to admit to himself; and after months of hearing nothing, Spike had finally swallowed his pride and come home in order to find her.

The problem was, there was no sign of Dru or her sire anywhere.

Making his way to Willy’s Alibi Room, Spike learned from the snitch/bartender that no one had seen Drusilla and Angel for months. And the platinum-blonde Englishman was just about to leave, when he heard a fellow vampire babbling excitedly...

“I’m telling you, it’s there! I saw it! There’s a whole bunch of soldier guys in town now, that abduct us for doing some sort of experiments. But that’s not the worst part – before I escaped, I had to listen to some nut job raving in the cell next door about the moon and the stars and whatnot...”

Spike froze. < Drusilla? Somebody’s kidnapped my sweet, sick, evil Dru? >

The former Master vamp of Sunnydale in the good old pre-Angelus days wasted no time in grabbing the loudmouth, and forcing his undead comrade to guide him to the hidden entrance of the Initiative from where he had escaped. And as thanks, Spike staked his fellow demon and cautiously made his way in to find his wayward sire.

Not that far but deep within the area known as the 314 project, Walsh and Angleman were conversing in low tones, despite the fact that Xander was completely out cold on the gurney in front of them. “What’s the next sample to be trialed?” Walsh said, looking down at her notes.

Angleman glanced up, “X-21. This one is a bit different than the others, actually; it’s a hormone-like compound, extracted from the non-hostile creature denoted as Species 57. Something that calls itself a “prescient demon”, as I recall,” he shrugged. Then the doctor looked excited, “It’s a long shot I know, but what if the creature really is that? Just imagine the implications this might have for the ADAM prototype...”

“Patience, doctor,” Walsh forced herself not to smile at her colleague’s enthusiasm, and also congratulating herself for not getting rid of him earlier in the year. “Let’s just see what happens first...”

Angleman nodded, calming down and putting on a pair of plastic earmuff protectors. Walsh saw this and asked, “What are you doing?”

Angleman shrugged, barely making out the words. “I think I’m starting to go deaf, having to listen to his screams whenever we do this. No harm in having some protection for once...”

Walsh looked at her watch and then said, “It’s time; the counteragent to the anaesthetic must have done its job by now. He’s clean of the drugs.” She gestured, “Do it...”

He nodded, and injected a sickly yellow solution into Xander’s IV drip. A few minutes later, all hell broke loose.

Xander went completely berserk, as his eyes snapped open and he became part-demon – thanks to the compound unexpectedly integrating itself into his DNA, all throughout his body. Thanks to his thrashing around, the restraints on his arms and legs were then snapped away, and the guy managed to get up to animalistically punch Walsh in the face – before Angleman grabbed a hand taser, and the prongs shocked the teenager back into unconsciousness.

“Well, I think it’s obvious we can cross this one off the list for the 314 project,” the scientist grunted, as he set the weapon down and tore off the earmuffs.

“Not necessarily,” Walsh disagreed, as despite the physical pain her brain was still firmly focused on the results just in. “The enhanced strength it engenders should prove very useful, once ADAM is up and running...”

Then she gestured dismissively, “Put him in a holding cell, till we get those restraints repaired. And get me some ice for my nose, will you?”

Angleman nodded, as he slowly started to drag Xander away.

~~~~~~

Xander Harris woke up in an antiseptic white chamber, but nonetheless was sure he was in Hell.

The boy had lost track of how long he had been in here, wherever ‘here’ was. He also didn’t know why they were doing this to him, or even who ‘they’ were. All Xander did know, was that he had been wrong about demons always being the bad guys in the equation...

It seemed that some human individuals, who supposedly had a soul, could be a whole lot worse than any vampire he had ever met.

“Run and catch, run and catch, the lamb is caught in the blackberry patch...”

The young man froze. The voice coming from next door – he knew it. “Drusilla?”

The insane undead that was responsible for bringing him here was almost catatonic, but still managed to reply, “Kitten?”

Xander had never thought he would be so glad to ever hear the crazy female vampire’s voice in his life. Granted, she was evil, but at least she was something familiar... “Are you okay? Where the hell are we? How long have you-”

“Shh, kitten, can’t you feel it? Help’s on the way...”

And just then, Spike blasted his way into the containment area.

The male vamp had only had the vaguest of hints on how to find his creator; the smell of her was almost nonexistent, as Dru had been kept locked up in the special detention area for months. But then Spike could also almost feel where she was, the sire-childe bond linking them in a special, mystical way.

“DRU!!” William the Bloody hissed, as he saw her. “Bloody hell, what 'ave these wankers done to you?”

The female vampire did indeed look a mess; emaciated, worn, unable even to stand up on her own anymore. Spike snarled in rage, his bloodlust soaring, until he heard a vaguely familiar voice.

“Spike?”

The vampire looked at the cell next door, and squinted. “I know you, don’t I? Where-” Then the memory came back clearly, and Spike groaned. “Oh, balls, you’re the idiot Angelus offered to me back during that bloody Parent-Teacher Night! And Red’s sidekick during that thing with my sodding love spell...what the hell are you doin’ here?”

“How should I know? These bastards kidnapped me, then decided to use as some sorta lab rat...”

Spike just shrugged, as he didn’t care. He quickly smashed down the barrier separating him from his sire, and ignoring the alarms tried to get her up. “Come on, luv, we gotta get up and movin’...”

But it was obvious Dru didn’t have the strength for them to get outta there fast. Making a quick decision, Spike put her down and then quickly released Xander the same way.

The vampire was briefly surprised when he realized the guy didn’t smell like a human being anymore – and abandoning his original plan to feed the kid to his companion, quickly yelled, “You want out of here? Help me with Drusilla, whelp – I won’t be able to get us out, if I have to support her all by meself...”

And then, of course, Walsh and the commandos came in.

The ensuing fight was quick, ugly and brutal. The soldiers were well-trained, and had a pride and esprit de corps that was second to none in the U.S. armed services.

On the other hand, Spike and Xander were pissed and finally had a target upon which to vent their anger. And when you’re fighting for your life, not only is everything fair – but you’re always sure to have a higher motivation to win.

By luck or design the blaster bolts constantly missed, as the demi-human and soulless demon moved against their opponents; and soon enough, all the troops lay dead at their feet.

Xander glared at Walsh. “She’s the one in charge,” he said to his companion.

The psych professor babbled in fear, as she had never anticipated being at the mercy of her prisoners, “Don’t hurt me, or you’ll never get out of here alive...”

Spike just snapped her neck, much in the same way his grandsire Angelus had murdered the woman called Jenny Calendar, and went to gather up Drusilla. Xander went over to examine the corpse, just as William the Bloody snapped out, “Come on, you idiot! Gimme a hand 'ere...”

And that was when Riley Finn came in.

A tall, handsome-looking lad from Iowa, he was the Alpha Team leader of the Initiative – as well as masquerading as Walsh’s TA in her Psych 101 class. He was just in time to see the bodies, and Xander leave Maggie to help Spike drag Drusilla out of the cell block.

Riley got out his sidearm, and opened fire; one of the bullets hit Spike, but unluckily for the army man something like that couldn’t slow down a vampire for long.

Xander had time only to turn his head, and get the briefest glimpse possible of the soldier in question before the door closed. A man who now wanted him, Spike and Dru dead more than anything.

~~~~~~

Somehow, the trio managed to get out of the Initiative – Spike left Xander to carry his sire, and relentlessly cleared the way of anyone who got in their path. Under other circumstances, the guy that had been the heart of the so-called Scooby gang would have been sickened by the carnage; but now, he felt only numb at all the death he witnessed.

As soon as they were out and headed for the streets of Sunnydale, the vampire whose look had been stolen by Billy Idol started to help carry Drusilla again. But just by being outside, Angel’s childe seemed to perk up somewhat, and finally was able to start walking under her own power.

Spike then ordered Xander, “Don’t even think about trying anything now that we’re out, ya understand me Droopy Boy? Or I’ll kill you – dead.”

Xander shrugged, it wasn’t like he’d been expecting gratitude or anything. < Oh yeah, a vamp is a vamp is a vamp... > “So what now? We could try going to Giles’ house...”

“Will you shut up?! And we’re not goin’ anywhere near your mates – odds are them nancy-boy soldiers already have 'em all under surveillance. Maybe even got their phones tapped! I’m-”

Then Spike stopped, and sniffed the night air. He then ran off, leaving Dru with Xander; and a few moments later returned with his hand clamped around the mouth of a struggling blonde girl.

A Wicca named Tara Maclay...

“What the hell are you doing?!” Xander asked, shocked. Then he mentally kicked himself, < Duh! What do you think they’re gonna do with her? Hey, wait a sec, why bother going to all the fuss? How come they haven’t already tried to feed, on your own finger-lickin’ tasty self? >

Spike bared Tara’s neck, as Drusilla came forward hungrily. “Come on, pet, time to eat up – get your strength back...”

“Oh, 'ow nice...” the former London native purred as she went into game face.

Just as Xander moved forward to stop her, the chip kicked in and the female vampire screamed in pain. Spike instantly dropped Tara, and went to check on his beloved. “Dru? Poodle, what’s wrong?”

Xander yelled to Tara, “RUN!!” And needless to say, she did so without looking back.

The undead couple ignored them. “Tin soldiers put a funny little knick-knack in my brain, my precious Spike. Can’t hunt! Can’t hurt! Can’t kill!” Drusilla screamed, clutching her head. “I can feel it. Little bit of...plastic, spider-webbin’ out nasty blue shocks if I get naughty...”

Xander figured it out. “They put some sort of anti-violence chip in her head?” The two British vamps looked at him, and he shrugged. “Just a thought...”

Spike started to rant about how he’d let Tara get away, and now he had to find someone else to feed to Dru. “So, I take it visiting the local blood bank is totally outta the question?” the former class clown then quipped as they started moving along, his humor defense mechanism surfacing for a moment.

“One more word out of you, ya dumb git, and I’ll rip your damn head off!!! I’m just sorry neither of us can feed on you...”

“Huh? Why’d ya say that?”

Spike was almost amused as he told the guy, “What, you still think you’re one o’ the nummy treats? I got news for you, chump, you don’t smell human no more! Whatever them bastards did to you, you’re safe now from anyone like Drusilla 'n me drinkin’ you dry. I mean, why’d ya think you’re still alive? I’m not gonna eat you, and I’m not exactly a vamp who’s picky about his Happy Meals! Not gonna subject Dru to whatever demon crap is in your blood now, either...”

“It’s true, kitten,” the former London girl spoke up, as they stopped and she stroked his cheek. “But don’t worry though, you’re still my brave White Knight...”

Spike growled in displeasure at seeing this, and Xander backed off, looking freaked and in denial. “No way. You’re both lying! Undead...liar guys!”

The male vamp just laughed, in true amusement. Then out of nowhere a fleet of military Humvees showed up, trying to locate the escaped trio.

“Bollocks!” the peroxide one shouted, spotting them. Spike then quickly located the nearest car, and smashed open a window. Xander stuffed Drusilla into the back seat, as her childe started to hot-wire the vehicle; Harris got behind the wheel as his companion lay on the floor and finally got the engine to catch, then the mortal drove off with the convoy hot on his heels.

Now normally, Xander was not what you’d call a reckless driver. In fact, there would one day be a girl who couldn’t drive, that would claim to be able to drive faster than he could! But here and now, the term ‘high speed car chase live on Fox’ definitely applied.

“Watch out for over there, ya stupid-!” Spike shouted at him, pointing at one of the trucks trying to sideswipe him.

The former prisoner reacted on instinct; slamming his foot down, he accelerated past the Humvee, then swerved violently – causing the car to slam against the other vehicle.

The military transport turned, and swiftly collided against a wall – whereupon it exploded, instantly killing its passengers.

This freaked Xander out even more, and not looking where he was going – it was too late for him to avoid smashing into a pole, despite the warning shouts from both his soulless passengers. The trio got out and Spike started shouting at the driver, “What the bloody hell is the matter with you? Are ya blind, or what?”

The headlights from the other Humvees hit them, as the escapees hid behind the wreck. William the Bloody then made a decision, “Look, Dru – we gotta split up. I’ll lead them away, and you get to somewhere safe, all right? I’ll find you...” Then he got up and ran off, with the soldiers right behind him.

Dru started to babble, as she started hearing the moon and the stars whispering to her, “Daddy. My Angel...I got to find 'im...”

Xander tried to resist rolling his eyes. “You think Dead Boy’s actually gonna help you? Not that I care, Dru, but the odds are he’s gonna stake you on sight!”

The dark-haired vampiress just looked at her companion, and the former geek suddenly had the nasty feeling he’d finally pushed his luck too far. But all that the female demon said was, “You’ve gotta come too, kitten, or the nasty soldiers will kill you...”

The only son of Anthony and Jessica Harris wasn’t sure if this was one of her psychic predictions, or just a general assessment after he’d gotten the people in the Humvee dead; but either way, Xander decided it would be a good idea to come back to town later when things had settled down, and allowed Dru to lead him away.

~~~~~~

Los Angeles, California. Late November, 1999

The one and only vampire with a soul known as Angel was talking to his messenger from the Powers-That-Be; a half-Brachen demon/half-Irish seer, named Allen Francis Doyle. They were at the safehouse of a bunch of half-demon refugees, and were talking about the past and the present.

Doyle said, “When I got the visions for the first time, I thought I was having a stroke. I didn’t know what the images meant. But I had to know if what they showed me was a dream – or real. It wasn’t a dream," the man finished up, remembering the corpses he had found of the Brachen refugees who had died, because he hadn’t helped them.

Angel tried to supportive. “You couldn’t have known...”

Doyle dismissed the past, gesturing to the crowd of half-human Lister demons. “These people are going to need more than their mythic Promised One. The contractually-obligated 500 might be a start! You can't fight the Scourge, Angel...” referring to the army of pureblooded demons who had a big hate-on for the mixed heritage types, fanatics who hunted down and killed demon half-breeds like animals.

Angel looked around confidently. “It won’t come to that, because we’re going to get them out of here.”

All of a sudden a truck pulled up outside, and Xander and Drusilla jumped out. Angel saw them at the door and his jaw dropped to the floor, “Drusilla? Xander?”

The vampiress quickly threw herself into her sire’s arms, starting to weep uncontrollably. Angel was confused and just said, “What the heck are you two doing here? And, together?”

Xander scowled, “Yeah, good to see you too, Dead Boy...”

Doyle quickly picked up on the hostility. “Hi there. Name’s Doyle, man, good ta meetcha,” he said in his thick Irish brogue.

“Hey. Xander Harris...”

All of a sudden, Angel let Drusilla go as he came forward to sniff at Xander in amazement. “Xander? What the hell have you done to yourself? Why don’t you smell human now?”

The teenager didn’t deal well with Angel confirming Spike and Dru’s story, but unfortunately there was no time to coddle his feelings. “You should know we got problems, buddy boy,” Doyle quickly said to Xander, after his new acquaintance’s shouting and/or explanations had died down. “There’s a whole bunch o’ scary demons out there, that’s aimin’ to kill us all...”

Angel quickly filled both the newcomers on the situation with the half-breeds, and then looked outside at the truck they had arrived in. “That truck – it’s exactly what we need to move the refugees. How did you-?”

Xander shrugged. “It was the first available thing we could find...” Then he wilted under Angel’s disbelieving stare, “Fine, I had this...funny feeling I was gonna need it. Dru somehow knew where you were, and so now here we are...”

Angel looked deep in thought. “Doyle, you got your cell phone?”

The half-demon patted his pocket. “Yeah?”

“Good. Stay here with the truck, and wait for our signal. Xander, I want you and Dru to go down to the L.A. harbor; Pier 12, Slip 4, a ship called the Quintessa. Use my name; I know the captain. Tell him he’s gonna have passengers on this cargo trip. I’m gonna secure the documents needed, to get these people out of the country...”

Doyle frowned, “What about Cordy? Shouldn’t we get her in on the action?” Xander quickly whirled his head around at hearing that, surprised that his ex-girlfriend was also involved with these two.

Angel shook his head. “You heard her attitude towards demons the other day. And besides, we don’t need her now for something like this...”

~~~~~~

A short time later, after a series of almost-comic misadventures, the refugees were all aboard the ship. Unfortunately, the Scourge had also arrived, and managed to lock everyone in the hold – along with a bomb.

A beacon of death, whose light meant annihilation to any creature with any trace of human blood.

Doyle and Xander climbed onto a platform alongside Angel, who was staring at the giant, crystal-shaped light suspended in its metal frame. The half-Irishman asked, “What does that thing do?”

Having witnessed it in operation before arriving at the seagoing vessel, the vampire said solemnly, “Its light kills anything with human blood.”

Both his companions looked uneasy as Doyle muttered, “Well, it’s getting brighter and that doohickey – it’s fully armed, isn’t it?”

The Champion for the Powers-That-Be answered, “Almost. If I pull the cable, I think I can still shut it off...”

Doyle still didn’t get it. “How’re you gonna do that, without touching the light?”

Xander shook his head, understanding the plan before his companion. “Angel, that’s suicide!”

Doyle agreed, “There’s got to be another way...”

Angel looked at the terrified refugees and Drusilla below in the hold, then at his companions. “It’s all right.” The vampire then put a hand on Doyle’s shoulder, as if it say goodbye.

The half-demon messenger put his own hand on Angel’s arm, unable to let him do this. “The good fight, yeah? You never know until you’ve been tested. I get that now.” To Xander’s complete astonishment, Doyle then hauled back and hit Angel with a hard right to the chin, knocking him down into the cargo hold.

Then Doyle turned to Xander. “Please, tell Cordelia that I love her...” Overcome with emotion, he hugged his new friend, and a strange blue light seemed to envelop Xander’s body for a moment.

Doyle quickly morphed into his Brachen demon face and jumped for the weapon, as Angel started screaming, “Doyle! Doyle! Doyle! Doyle! NO!”

But it was too late; the young hero ignored him and quickly managed to deactivate the bomb, pulling the cable away just before he burned to ashes – and saving all of their lives in the process.

~~~~~~

The next day, Angel was in a sacred temple called 'The Gateway for Lost Souls', located underneath the local post office; and he was arguing with the two mystical beings in there he had met once before, called the Oracles.

The male Oracle said scathingly, “You try our patience. What is done...”

Angel interrupted, “Can not be undone, you keep saying that. But I need Doyle. You can fold time, you’ve done it before. Bring him back.”

The female Oracle stared at him. “To what end? To nullify his noble death? To leave his atonement unfulfilled?”

The black-clad vampire remained unmoved. “If it means he lives.”