Title: Manifest Darkness
Episode 10
Authors: Sovereign and Elizafan568
Rating: R - things get dark fast.
Notes: This story starts half way through season five of Angel in the episode "Damage". It goes AU from there with some cannon parts to it.
Summary: The inevitable clash is nigh, and when over, a new destiny will be written.
Feedback: Sovereign - xsovereignx@yahoo.com and
Elizafan - elizfaith568@yahoo.com
**
Empress Faith watched through the huge view screen that had dropped down from the ceiling in her throne room as her enemies approached the outer wreckage of Sunnydale. Hidden camera's had been st up everywhere and nothing was going to get by unseen. She took note of all the familiar faces in the charge. Ones she had killed easily in other worlds. "Here they come, at last."
Cain, Colonel Miller, Kennedy, Amy Madison, Raven, Jenny, and Griffith where all gathered together in the throne room with her, the empress royal guard surrounding them, dressed in full black armor, swords at their sides. "Your highness, are you sure you don't want me on the front line?" Cain asked, glaring at Raven before returning his gaze back to the empress.
"No, not this time. I do that and I won't see much if any action myself, and I'm all wound up. I want them to make it here, albeit not a full strength." Faith said as she noticed the opposing force approaching her first line. She gave Colonel Miller a nod and he got on his portable radio. "Alright, ambush north side spring now." he commanded into it.
Angel and Spike, leading a mixed until of Wolfram and Hart troopers, Initiative soldiers, and a few Renegades, stopped in mid stride when figures erupted from the wreckage on all sides. Some where Insurgence special ops, while others where demons of varying kinds. "Ambush! Halt and engage." Angel yelled as he and Spike vamped out for battle, swords in hands. All throughout the wreckage, more Special Ops and demons erupted and ambushed the mixed units on all sides. Fighting erupted everywhere.
"Invaders stopped at the North side." Cain announced, watching as Riley Finn and his group saw the ambush, and immediately stopped before reaching the wreckage on their side. Riley began pointing emphatically, and six men carrying long tubes knelt down, letting a heavy barrage intothe wreckage. The explosion sent debris and body parts soaring into the air.
Before anyone could say anything the monstrosity held up his hand. "I have anticipated this.. " He spoke into a CB radio attached to his belt. "East side defense line 2 engage." It was then they saw hidden bunkers open up from what seemed flat ground and disgorge troops and demons into the middle of the Eastern Charge.
"Take them out!" Riley growled as he let loose a barrage, and the fighting got bloody.
Buffy charged in through the West Side, Kennedy and Willow in toe along with a full contingent of Slayers and some Initiative troops. Faith saw Buffy through the monitor. "Leave the Western side open. B is mine. Divert its forces to the South. Amy, prepare Illyria's surprise." Faith commanded. Amy's eyes glowed and black magic swirled around her as she and her entire force of shaman began to chant a very old spell.
Faith, Illyria, Gunn, and Wes charged in from the South, the remaining Renegade and Wolfram and Hart troopers with them. Halfway to the complex, a portal opened in front of them, dropping a large, purple crystal that seemed to spark and old and painful memory in Illyria. "No. It cannot be. That cannot be here. It should no longer exist." She said in a tone that could be called shock as Faith gave her a what-the-hell look.
Before they knew what was happening, purple energy shot out for the crystal, striking Illyria and bringing her to her knees, screaming in pain. "My power...this shell...I can't..." She mumbled, unable to move as a contingent of troopers and demons charged forth from the complex. Scythe in hand, Faith charged. "Wes...Gunn...see what you can do about Illyria, the rest of us will handle these guys."
**
"You guys are about to lose." Raven announced simply as she looked at the fighting. "Buffy and Faith are about to turn that cute little game you just spun into a club to beat you over the head with." Raven was spinning words a mile a minute in her head. "There's something bad gonna happen here. I can smell it."
"Alright boys. Here comes B, so get ready, and remember, no one gets her but me. I don't care what you do with the rest." Empress Faith announced, removing her black robe to reveal a skin tight, black leather suit. Closer inspection, however, showed that it wasn't leather, but an odd armor made to look as if it were leather. Faith, dark make up and signature cleavage showing, was ready to kill Buffy...again.
Jenny looked over at Raven, giving her the signal to start their plan. It was now or never. Cain started to follow Faith out as Raven approached him from behind, causing him to turn and face her. "What the hell do you want? The enemy is at our gates." he said, condescending as always.
"Maybe I just don't want you there you big failure. I mean, really, are your brain circuits rusty or did you forget that the last time you faced oh.. fifteen Renegade Slayers they made you look like a stupe?" She smiled widely. "Plus. I mean, what good are you really, you cut a good coat rack, but let's face it, The marshmallow has probably killed more people then you have."
Cain turned his head, seeing the Empress was almost out of sight, then turned back to Raven. "Listen you little bitch. I know what your up too and I plan on getting rid of you. So if you value your life, back off now or suffer agonizing death." He said, his face inches from hers.
She put her hand on the big 50 caliber desert eagle the Empress had given her. "You don't scare me you mismatched bag of dumb ass. I'm the Princess, means I outrank you. Means I should order your disassembly, ooh! You could be Riley Finn again, and oh how wonderful you were then, well, at least you could get laid and actually do your job back then, so maybe that would be an upgrade." Raven literally stuck her tongue out at the monstrosity and licked the tip of his nose.
Cain threw all caution to the wind, rage overtaking him completely. "That's its! DIE!!!' he yelled, swinging at Raven, who jumped back and dodged easily. "YOU WILL PAY!!!" He yelled, his arms transforming into Gatling guns, aimed at Raven. As he started to fire, he lost his balance, his arms flailing everywhere, his shots going wild, wrecking equipment and killing several guards. Faith heard the noise and rushed back while everyone started diving for cover.
"He tried to kill me again!" Raven screamed, as she dove behind a console for cover. She smirked as Jenny made a quiet exit out of the side door usually reserved for the Empress to make her own exits.
"What the hell are you doing, Cain!? Stop firing now!" Miller exclaimed from behind the Empress throne.
"I can't stop. I have no control over them." Cain yelled as he stumbled around the room, still firing shots everywhere as Faith reentered the chamber. She saw Cain stumbling around, firing wildly. Kennedy got a bullet in the arm as she dropped to the ground, gritting her teeth in pain.
Faith charged at Cain, but had to dodge away to avoid bullets. She ran around at speed quicker than the eye could follow as her anger grew at her throne rooms destruction. Finally, she made it behind Cain. "Time to say goodnight, Cain." She said, kicking him in the back of the head knocking him face down to the ground. She quickly leapt on his back, placing her hand in the small of his back, her eyes glowing. A stream of black energy went from her hand to his back and the firing stopped. Cain had been shut down.
Raven realized that her escape had been shut down with him. She hadn't been able to slip out like Jenny had. She could, once again, stall for time. She got up. "Son of a bitch!" she cleared leather with the large bore handgun, its size dwarfing her arm. "I'm gonna kill that freak." she leveled the gun right at its head.
Faith swatted the gun away, looking at glaring at Raven, not in anger, but in interest. "No. He's still useful, for now at least. Miller, get him to the shop and have a full check up and repair on the double. Jenny, take Kennedy down to the med lab and get her patched up. Jenny!" She yelled, looking around and finding the CMO gone. "That little bitch."
Griffin took note of the destroyed view screen and communications center, Jackson's dead body in the chair next to it. "We can't monitor the battle anymore, empress. Buffy and her group should be here soon. We better.." He said but stop, seeing the glare in Faith's eyes.
"Raven, go with the others. Follow Miller and keep everyone apart from Buffy from reaching this room. I want us to be alone when I kill her. Miller, launch the final phase and finish the attackers off. You know what to do. Make sure Illyria is eliminated." Millet saluted and charged out, followed by the injured Kennedy and Faith's Royal Guard carrying Cain for his repairs. Faith stood silent, waiting for the joy that she only felt when killing Buffy.
However, the final phase was supposed to go, one thing had changed. The apparent overwhelming odds the defenders had were now gone. The attackers had not broken through but in several points they were weakening. Buffy's team had emerged in the main area of the complex nearly unscathed. Raven saw this as chance to establish herself With Kennedy down and Cain offline, Jenny on the run and the Empress waiting, she had only Miller to deal with.
As Buffy and the others neared, Raven had a few moments to let Miller know just where he stood. "Screw this up and I ace you where you stand. Got that good and clear Colonel?" she jabbed him in the back with the gun for emphasis before turning to face the oncoming onslaught.
Miller knew that Raven was in control, at least for now so he didn't argue the point. "Yes ma'am." he simply said as he pulled out a small device from his belt. "Final Phase, now." he said, hitting the button. Outside, Illyria was still at the mercy of the strange crystal as Wes and Gunn tried to figure out how to disable.
Suddenly, the crystal started to vibrate, and waves of energy came off of it. "No..no...run...now." Illyria said. Wes and Gunn looked at each other and started to back away when a flash emulated from the crystal, freezing all of their forces in place. Wesley realized what was happening. Illyria's power had been turned against them. The Project forces took full advantage and started to decimate the forces of good. Soon, only a few Slayers, mostly Renegades, and the "generals", were left. The Initiative and Wolfram and Hart troopers were wiped out.
As the crystal seemed to power down, its energy spent, another portal opened and Illyria's eyes went wide at what emerged from it...Olvican. Illyria stumbled to her feet, the crystal spent for the moment, and gathered what power she had left. "I cannot...fight you...now." she said, staring up at the huge demonic snake. She gritted her teeth and opened portals for those who were still alive outside the complex, teleporting them to several miles away. As Illyria herself went though, she cursed Olvican and his trickery, and whispered an apology to Buffy's group, who was left all alone inside the complex, along with Faith, who had made it inside during the fighting. *Come back alive, my Vampire Slayer.* she thought as she disappeared, Olvican seemingly laughing in victory as he began to feed.
Faith watched as the huge snake fed on the corpses and not quite corpses of her fallen army. Illyria had evacuated, and Faith felt she would get hers in the end. For now, Her Buffy and a group of survivors were in no man's land. No where to run and no way to win. She watched as the group disappeared into the complex, opting to fight in cramped quarter rather than try their luck with the huge snake. Faith was not worried about the snake. She was unsure why, she just felt, as she watched the grizzly tableau, that she would be alright. However, when she saw Buffy enter the main complex alone, she got worried. Her evil self was probably amped up big time and she would need help. Faith however had to wait an entire ten minutes for the stupid snake to move away, and that time costed dearly
She turned the corner, entering the room from a side door, hearing the sounds of a struggle within, however, when she arrived she saw something that was beyond her belief. Buffy, friend, nemesis and counterpart hung limply by one slender arm wrapped around her neck, badly bruised and bleeding from seemingly everywhere.
"Buffy!" Faith screamed in horror, realizing the coup de tat was about to be delivered and she was too far away to do anything about it.
Empress Faith was tottaly lost in the bloodlust, oblivious to this world's Faith entering in on them. "Oh, this just gets better and better every time I do this, you know that B? Ever since that fight on the roof all those years ago, when I shoved you off and watched that truck run over you, nothing else comes close to this high. Any last words?" she asked, her voice low and menacing.
Buffy simply spat blood into her face. "Go to hell." she gasped.
"I am in hell, B...and I love it." she said, pulling out her dagger and stabbing it home into Buffy's gut, twisting it a full 360 before withdrawing. Buffy's final scream of pain echoes in the room as empress Faith licked the blade clean of Buffy's blood, then turned to face her broken counterpart, who was on her knees, tears flowing and Scythe in hand. "I believe you have something of mine, my dear double." she said as she walked slowly towards her.
Faith looked at Buffy's lifeless, bleeding body on the ground then at herself, or what she could have been, blood all over her hands and face, walking towards her, a sadistic grin on her face.
The true Faith of this reality, deep within the recesses of her mind, crossed some line that had never been touched before. Pain of a new reality surged through her body, sorrow filling her heart, rage encompassing her soul. There had always been this hope in her that one day, someday, the little blonde Slayer would forgive her, thus proving she was a truly good person. It was something she worked for everyday, but hid from the world everyday as well, and now something she might have been, that some part of her might still be, had just taken that light from the world.
The sadness and hurt, if such things could be heard by mortals, was a deafening scream across the heavens. In the perpetual light of good, high up above the many dimensions, The very Powers That Be fell before the shriek of pain. In their dark dank hell the senior partners wailed in agony as the soul ripping scream shredded through their dimensions. A fear grew in the heart of both living and non living things across the entire time space arena. However, on earth, in a rebuilt factory, things had become deathly quiet as a new tableau began.
Faith stood, glaring her hatred at the evil imperialistic clone of herself that had drowned a dream like a newborn kitten, simply for the pleasure of it. Mercy, humanity, all gone form the awful incarnation of her. The likeness only went to the physical, yet, reached far beyond it as well. This thing in front of her, the murderer of Buffy Summers, was everything that she had strode so desperately to get away from.
Clasping the scythe tightly, feeling a power surge form it as well as into it from her own body, Faith glared down her imperial counterpart. With an odd focused incoherency, Faith growled. "There will be no more."
Empress Faith looked at her counterpart, utter shock on her face. She felt something she hadn't felt in years, something she thought she was incapable of feeling, a hint of fear. She took a single step backwards and braced herself for a fight as she stared in awe at the scene in front of her. "What the hell is this? You can't be my counterpart, this doesn't make any fucking sense. Who the fuck are you?" She exclaimed, the though of yet another unknown factor causing her rage to grow, spoiling her moment of glee at the death of Buffy Summers.
Faith readied to speak when something surged form within the Scythe, making her wince in pain, shutting her eyes tight as they felt ready to launch free of their eye sockets. As she managed to look at her arm, she could see her arteries and veins glowing from within her arm in ominous red and blue glow. It traversed the entirety of her body, and the odd parts was, it even went into the Scythe. Faith could see her heart, glowing a soft red color, beating in her chest, and felt no fear or pain in and of the event itself.
"You have caused too much suffering. It's time you gave some back." Faith seethed. She was about to say more, do more, when she noticed that the cooling blood of Buffy Summers, by some force she was unaware of, was making its way across the floor, uphill, towards her, as if it were a single minded entity with only a single purpose.
The Empress looked in utter surprise as the blood moved across the floor and towards this thing that resembled her counterpart, but just couldn't be. The sight of Buffy's blood flowing across the floor excited and aroused her, but what it was doing killed the buzz at the same time. "I get it. You must be some kind of shape-shifting demon. One of holier-than-thou B's tricks no doubt. Well, nothing you do will make a difference. The bitch is dead and you'll be joining her soon." The Empress said as she licked her lips, savoring the taste of Buffy's blood still in her mouth. If it wasn't for the negative side effects, she thought she would enjoy being a vampire. The taste of blood was something she really enjoyed.
Faith ignored the rant, watching the blood as it came. She made no attempt to move, and was unaware that all around the camp, the blood of the dead Slayers, Initiative troops and a few Renegades had all started a bee line for her. Buffy's would get there first and when it finally touched her, it began to crawl up her leg, along her body, and finally to the Scythe, and there did something amazing.
The single bladed grew a twin, making it a battle axe. The spike at the top became twice as long, sharpened to a needle point at the tip, with sharp edges leading up to it. The axe blades became serrated, and the entire build of the handle grew thicker, several small spikes going across the length of it to deter anyone grabbing it other than at the handle. A handle that had now fused with its owner's hand.
A twinkle flashed in the Empress' eyes at the sight of the mutated Scythe and the sheer power emanating from it and its holder. "Such beautiful, anger and pain filled power. I must have it. Now, just hand it over and I promise I'll kill you nice and quick. Resist and I'll make it last for weeks." She said with a grin, her attention completely on the Scythe and the power it seemed to offer.
Faith looked up at the mouthy despot, her eyes, unbeknownst to her, had changed. The whites here now a deep crimson, the brown irises matched the darkest reaches of space, holding within an pupil of star white. Then the torrent of blood came though doors, windows , cracks and crevices. It charged over the floor, and immediately washed over the shocked Faith. It covered her body, moving fluidly over her curves and form. Soon, it had coalesced into a suit of living matter. Leaving Faith with red tinges in her hair, the blue one still present as she looked up at the ruler with a new sense of purpose. "You should run."
Empress Faith laughed out loud. "Oh my, you are full of yourself aren't you? Should expect no less from a lackey of B's. I fear no one, much less you. You don't have a chance in hell of even hurting me. You're the one that should run." She said, taking stance and tensing her body as her armor shifted with the movement.
Faith, the red suit moving and shifting of its own accord, moved toward her counterpart with no fear. She carried the air of one who expected to win, and seemed to know it. "The suffering you have caused.." Her voice came out in an echoed fashion, as if four people spoke at once. "...will be repaid." The Scythe turned almost liquid, then molded itself onto her arm, making it seem as if it were never there at all. "We are here to see to that."
"You know what? I'm sick of your mouth and your high and mighty air. You're really pissing me off." The Empress spat at the being in front of her and then seemingly disappeared. She sped around the room at full speed, making circles around Faith, completely assured that she was unseen due to her speed as no one had ever been able to keep up with her. She stopped behind her counterpart and charged her with blinding speed from behind, coming at her with a right hook. Just as she reached her, she was hit square in the face by Faith's fist, sending her flying backwards into the wall, causing it to collapse with a loud crash.
"You were not listening." Faith turned her red/black eyes toward the fallen ruler. "Your days are over, and the pain will end." Faith began to march with a purpose at her, almost becoming a light jog.
Shaking out the cobwebs, Empress Faith slowly got to her feet. She wasn't really hurt, more angry at the idea of someone matching her power and treating her with such utter disrespect that really bothered her. "I don't know who or what you are but no one does that to me. NO ONE!!!" She screamed, again charging at Faith with lighting speed. He swung at her again, but Faith dodged it and hit the Empress hard in the gut. The armor took most of the force, causing it to crack and the empress to double over. Faith followed with a kick to the face, sending her flying back into the same heap.
Pulling herself up slowly again, she looked up at the figure resembling herself approaching her, and something clicked in her. Something she couldn't seem to control...Fear. She was completely taken surprise by this thing and it was at least as strong and fast as her, if not more so. The fear overtook her as she got to her feet and started to back away as a fresh contingent of Insurgence troops came running into the room. "Kill her...Kill her now!!!" She commanded as she fled the rooms with her signature speed while the troops took point and opened fire at Faith.
Faith watched as the soldiers began to fire away, noting the direction the other self had taken during the flight. She then turned her attention to the soldiers. The bullets began to fly, and the slaughter began in earnest.
**
Samara and Jill had gathered together the Renegades separately from the rest of what remained of the coalition. They had held a quick service for a few of their fellow Slayers that had died in the battle but knew now was not the time for grief. Samara knew that their best bet at this point was a quick counterattack. It'd be the last thing they would expect at this point but she knew the rest of the coalition would disagree so she decided it best to keep it to herself and hers for now.
Jill marched up to Samara, having the entire group gathered together. "Well, everyone is here, ready to hear your plan. So, whatcha got for us anyways? I hope it's good news cause we could really use some about now."
"We get the blue girl to warp us back. We go for mass destruction. If we don't those freaks are gonna gather up and take us out Jill. We gotta cripple their ability to do anything. I mean we smash comps, kill anything that moves and most of all, see about cutting them off from reenforcements." the girl thought quietly for a moment. "I did not like the way they just threw troops at us, like they had a number that wasn't gonna run out soon. We gotta stop that. Oh, and not die while we do it." Samara furled her brow, when in the hell did she become Jill's right hand?
Jill thought for a second. "That sounds like it could be a one way mission. Still, your right. I think we make this optional though, considering how dangerous it is." Jill said, turning to the group. "So, everyone heard the plan. So, you guys up for it or what?" she asked loudly.
Everyone single one of the girls nodded in agreement. "We're with you Samara, all the way. You lead and we'll follow." Justice said, for once being behind Samara 100 percent.
"I Miss Raven." the small girl whispered to Jill, then headed over to where Illyria sat, half looking like she was stunned. Chaos reigned supreme as Riley was yelling into a radio set, the scooby gang rushed about tending to wounded and the few Wolfram and Hart troopers were trying to set up a perimeter guard.
Samara stopped and kneeled down so she could get right in the God King's view. "Illyria right? I'm Samara. I need your help."
Illyria turned her head toward Samara and tilted it. "You're one of the so-called Renegade Slayers, are you not? What is it you need from me? I'm still very...busy." She said plainly.
Samara knew better than to offend this creature. Samara recognized power, and even a weakened Illyria was still a symbol of power. However, Samara also looked after people, allies included and her nature overrode her senses for a moment and she felt bad for Illyria. Unsure why exactly, but she did. "I'm second in command of the Renegades. We need your help Illyria, cuz, even ...busy, you are so way more powerful then we are."
"That is true. What is it you need, young slayer? Make it quick. I need to recover my strength so I can fight. I must save my Slayer. I must save Faith...I am...very...concerned for her." Illyria said, struggling with the words and these new emotions she was feeling.
"We can help each other then. We wanna go back there, smash those mothers a good one while they think they won, and try to get Faith back. We might be renegades, but she's a Slayer, and we always watch ours." Samara gave Illyria a grin. "Plus, I mean, your Illyria right? This ain't a problem for you cuz you kick ass right?"
"Kick ass?" Illyria said questionably. "No matter. Yes, I will send you back. I believe I have enough power to do as such." Illyria waved her arm, opening a portal back to the Insurgence complex. "Go now and return my Slayer to me. Be quick for my power is weak."
"Thanks" the girl shined a bright smile and waved to her companions. They charged in, Jill leading the way. "We'll find a way back. Promise." with that the girl disappeared into the portal.
"Where we at? Looks like the command center." Samara asked as he reached back and checked for her gun. She watched as a wall crumbled from the inside, then heard more fighting. "Serious fight in there. Faith maybe?"
"Who else could it be? Shouldn't we go help her?" Jill said as she headed towards the source of the noise.
"No stupid!" Samara snatched her and pulled her down as a group of soldiers went into the building, and someone came blurring out. "Too late for whoever is in there, that many gunshots. We should swing wide left and catch them by surprise when that group comes out, maybe take over the command center, then thrash it."
"Oh, right. That's why your in charge. You're the one with the brains. Left it is then." Jill said with a smile. How she stayed so cheery at even the darkest of times was beyond the rest of the groups comprehension.
"Well, whatever we do, we better do it fast. Standing around is only going to get us dead and I wanna bash some heads." Justice exclaimed as she clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. The urge to fight nearly uncontrollable.
Samara nodded, then waved them to split into two groups. "Jill, you sneak over tot he right, see if you can get into the command center without getting shot. It's kill or be killed here people so if you gotta, then just do it. Justice and me are gonna head to the left and see what just hotfooted out of there so damned fast."
Samara shook her head. "Damn it, scratch that. I'm gonna get every one chilled. I ain't a damned leader. I'm just a kid." she grunted into the pile of rocks covering them.
Jill put her hand on Samara's shoulder and looked into her eyes. "I don't see a kid around here. I see a very smart and capable young woman who is doing a hella of a better job leading this group than anyone else here could do. The plan sounds good to me and you have our confidence. You just gotta believe in yourself is all."
"Yeah, besides, if you don't do it, guess I'll just have to kick your ass and take over myself." Justice said making a fist and wearing a smirk on her face.
"You're too stupid to lead." Samara smiled back, feeling a bit better, though still burdened by her age. She didn't mean to be so smart. "Groups of five. Quickly from here to the next building around the back, then left of the command center. I think these stoops actually went back to work. Now, every other group go right, that way we stagger. Mission is death and destruction, what we bring best. Let's move this." Samara got up and quickly darted over to eh next building.
Jill and Justice gave her a wink and got to the plan, glad they had a someone smarter than themselves to lead, although they would never admit that to anyone. The groups made it into position with no trouble at all. It seemed the entire base was oblivious to their presence...too busy making repairs and such to notice them. Extremely overconfident really.
Justice and Samara's group reached a four way split in the hall when they heard footsteps coming down on of the hallways. They quickly took cover behind some rubble and waited for whoever it was to reveal themselves. *We'll she give this bastard a surprise* Justice thought as she slammed her fist into her palm, ready to crack some skulls.
Samara noted the walk of this person was very focused. As if someone had somewhere to be and that was the single most important thing in their life. She looked over at Justice and nodded slightly. Samara tensed her being, knowing that there needed to be the utmost surprise here and efficiency. The step drew nearer, and just as they were about to come around the corner, they stopped.
Mere feet away, this person had stopped to do something. The suspense was driving the little band of five insane. Unable to move, unable to peer around the corner, the group waited very stressfully. Finally there was one more step and Samara cleared leather with the gun, shoving it right into the nose of Colonel Miller. "Hi."
T... B... C...
