Title: Manifest Darkness
Episode 15
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 end nears for the many, for the few, and especially for one.
Feedback: Sovereign - xsovereignx@yahoo.com and Elizafan - elizfan568@yahoo.com
**
Raven watched as the few remaining technicians of the Project hooked and tested wires running from Cain's power source into the main coupling that would then go to the gate generator, producing their escape. She thought there was a bit of humor in the fact that the deadly killing machine was willingly walking into its own execution. This attempt wasn't going to work. She had personally made sure of it. However, there was already a good chance it wouldn't have worked even if she hadn't stacked the deck. However, she had to play this close to the vest.
She watched as the Empress was on the other side of Cain, looking around back and forth as she vehemently gestured to Kennedy, whose remaining Hunters along with the remaining Insurgency forces were trying to provide security for this last measure. Raven had heard tale that something had butchered forty some men in a single room. There was an undertone to the rumor that whatever the thing was, it had put a hurt on the Empress. However, since Raven had heard the rumor while in the company of other personnel, she was forced to put the deadly hand cannon to use again, and kill the "usurper" who told the tale. Raven felt even more of her die at that moment, but, still was going to play this out.
She had personally offed Colonel Miller, and Cain would be gone here in just a moment. It left her several more objects in her path to eradicating this evil empire. Of course, the final one would have to be the Empress herself. However, then it hit her that there was a part of her who liked being in power and liked being in power with this version of Faith. The freedom to indulge the wild animal impulses of lust and bloodlust. It curled her soul, and brought a mixed emotion to her mind. She realized then that when this was over, there was but one answer to the problem.
She walked over a step or two, and blankly watched the tech working on Cain hurriedly. She just watched, saying nothing, and keeping her expression blank.
The Empress gave the operation in front of her another once over before finally stopping her pacing, coming to a halt next to Raven. "I have to say, all this would be interesting if it wasn't so...boring." she said slyly. "It's taking forever and time is something we do not have. I can't stand waiting." she said, giving Raven a once over, a grin crossing her face. "Don't you agree?"
"We get it wrong and we all get to buy the farm Empress." Raven said in a monotone as she kept her eyes locked on what was happening with the coupling, instead of what was going on with Cain. "I really ain't looking forward to finishing up like that." she then looked at the Empress and smiled. "I'd be really pissed if something happened to you, don't know what I'd do if it happened, except kill everyone who had something to do with it."
"Well, aren't you just the sugary sweet thing today?" Faith said, bending down and planting a kiss on Raven's lips, lingering a bit longer than Raven wanted at the time, for her sole interest was Cain at the moment. Eventually, Faith broke it, not seeming to notice Raven's preoccupied mind.
"Remind me to reward you later." Faith said.
"Empress, if I may," Cain spoke up at last. "Could we possibly concentrate on this business at hand." Cain spoke, his utter detest for Raven leaking throughout his voice and demeanor.
"When this is over I am sure going to enjoy seeing you flat on your back and staring at the China blue sky." Raven replied. "However, he is right Empress. We should deal with our get away." Raven was interrupted when Amy arrived, and smug sneer on her face.
She gave a nod to Princess Raven, then addressed the Empress. "The enemies don't seem to be doing anything but contenting themselves with siege mentality tactics, your majesty. I don't think we have anything to worry about during the time it takes for us to be rid of this place."
"Good to hear. Should have pegged the goody goodies here to play it nice and safe like they do in every other word. It's sad really that we haven't come across at least SOME intelligent ones." the Empress said with a laugh and a smirk.
"The guy running the troopers is a clown named Finn. He's a softy and cant stand the thought of warfare." Raven commented, noting that Cain was well within ear shot. "How in the hell do you make a good soldier out of a farm boy hick is just as dumb as trying to make a killer out of a marshmallow. Which reminds me, who the hell let that medic get away?" again an unsaid accusation at Cain, all in the route of being a responsible leader of the forces of the Project.
"No one LET her get away. She snuck out during the chaos of the battle. No on could have kept track of her in that. No one." Cain spat back, defending himself in an indirect manner, but utterly lacking in the tact that Raven was showing in spades.
"Let it pass Cain. We're all trying for the same goal here." she leaned over and nuzzled the neck of the Empress on an impulse, and the sweet smell of the woman entered her nostrils, reminding her of a meadow of flowers she had once visited when she was a child with her father. She planted a small kiss on the Empress' cheek then took a step forward. "Alright everyone, load up cuz it's time for us to leave this place far behind."
Amy turned and readied herself to do her part in the transportation, as the device was partially magic powered, and Amy was integral a part in this as Cain was, and thus needed to hook her own powers into the machine. "This should be interesting." she said to the Empress in a more casual fashion than the Empress had ever seen her do before beginning her part in the procedure.
The Empress smiled at Raven as a realization came over her. She cared for this girl....Raven, almost to the same degree she did her father, Richard Wilkins. She had thought that type of feeling was limited to only him. Anyone else was unneeded and would just be weak and pointless. But she was wrong, Raven had earned it too, albeit in a different way and manner. Part of the empress hated herself for letting this be, but she didn't care, for she knew Raven would be by her side always, just like her father would be. Their bond would remain forever. She had the father she always wanted, and now she had the significant other as well, She couldn't be happier than to enjoy the slaughter and torture of their enemies along side the two of them. How sweet it would be.
"You never cease to amaze me, baby. I'm lovin' ya more and more." she said with a sexy laugh. "Alright, let's see this thing get its crap together."
As Raven watched the machine power up, and everyone move towards the main coupling, she moved back towards Cain, and stood next to his large but now immobile frame. The coupling, as it became charged with energy from his batteries as well as from Amy's magical incantations, became increasingly loud. As it went on, it seemed the gate in front of all the troopers and suplies was beginning to glow, and that escape was theirs to be had. Raven picked this time to let Cain have a final wish. "Looks like its gonna work Cain, don't it?" she yelled a few inches from his ear as it was nearly impossible to hear otherwise.
"Yes, it does that indeed. You just remember, once this is over, you and I settle things. I won't give you an easy end, I promise you that, you little witch." Cain remarked without looking at Raven, instead steading his gaze on the opening gate before him.
"You won't be doing much of anything you stupid hunk of junk." she yelled into his ear, as she gently stroked the hair on his head, as if she cared for his comfort "I already made sure this little experiment is not going to work. All this is just to guarantee you are out of my way. But don't feel bad Riley..." she referred to him by his once human name. "You were right about me, and why I was here and now you can go to your grave, or junkyard as it might be, knowing that your last act on this world will be doing what you always should have been doing. Protecting innocents." she smiled at him, and stepped back, to watch his face with a glee that she had not possessed before joining the Project.
Cain began to struggle and yell at Raven...the Empress...at anyone he could to announce Raven's little revelation, but the whir of the device had become so loud, that no one could hear him. Everyone's attention was on the gate, not on him. As Cain struggled vainly for his very existence, he knew that he had been beaten. Raven had won. *Checkmate. Fucking checkmate, you bitch* he thought to himself as the glowing intensified and the noise volume increased.
She smiled mildly, then got up next to the Empress, and put her arm around the other woman's waist and put her head on her shoulder. It would be a few more moments before the device would malfunction, and when it did , Cain would be gone, and Raven would begin her plan to undo another top member of the Project, unless something came to change her mind or plan.
Suddenly, the readings on the devices hooked up to Cain and the gate begin to rise rapidly, going off the scale. Smoke began pouring out from the couplings and electric shocks shot up and down the wires, between Cain's body and the gate itself. Cain's body began to convulse and contort as he screamed in pain, unheard to anyone.
"What the hell is going on?" Kennedy exclaimed as small explosions began occurring throughout the room.
Raven saw a huge spark arc between the couple and the gate. She realized then and there that this could all be over. All she had to do was dive to the ground and when the massive spark came around again, it would use the Empress herself as a conductor and probably kill her. It was very simple, and would look very accidental. So why it was that Raven tackled Empress Faith to the ground, and thus saving her life mere moments before the large spark nailed the coupling from the gate and exploded, would be a mystery. Perhaps it was fate, but Ravens arm, the one she used to dragged the brunette despot to the ground, now sported a impressive piece of shrapnel sticking out of it.
"You okay Faith?" she asked, forgetting any semblance of proper title calling or formality.
Empress Faith looked at Raven, stunned. No one, not even her father, had risked their life to save hers, no had she ever expected them to, for she would never again have risked hers for anyone else. "I, um....yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Raven. Thank you, baby." Faith said, extremely out of character but luckily out of earshot of anyone else. Raven herself was stunned by the response but hid it well.
The explosions spread out, concentrating towards Cain as smoking began emanating from every spot on his body as he slowly cooked with millions of volts of electricity and magical energies. He let out one final scream before his body exploded in a shower of metal and flesh, showering over the entire area..
"Let's get you up." Raven said, getting up and offering a hand to the Empress. "An Empress should not be laying on the ground at the feet of her subject should she?" Raven reached back and plucked the small sliver of metal out of her arm, while still helping up her sovereign.
The empress took note of the wound on Raven's arm. It wasn't severe, but is was fairly deep and oozing blood. Faith got to her feet and brought Raven's wound up to her lips, giving it a light kiss followed by a lick. Raven was disgusted by the act but at the same time, she found it sexy and enjoyable and almost...sweet in a sick way. "Don't worry, baby. I'll take care of that later." she said, wiping the little bit of blood off her lips and savoring the taste of Raven's life's blood. Indeed, as far as this Faith was concerned, she was in love with this girl.
**
Faith stood and looked out over the valley of what was once Sunnydale, looking down at the Project and its members moving about in a hurry. She could not make out what they were doing, but from the vantage point she was at, they looked like a army of ants who just had their colony stepped on. The suit moved around her body again, and she felt the power of the creation. She knew it was a borrowed power, and felt more then thought that once the battle was over, it would return to the ground from which it was first spilt on, and be no more then the cold congealing blood that it had started out as.
A tear came to her eye at that thought. Would this suit be the last time she would ever feel even slightly close to the now deceased Buffy Summers? True, there was a body, carefully preserved in the morgue of the makeshift camp, to be readied at some later date for burial, but it was just a body. Faith knew that what made Buffy who she was in no way was based on the tiny frame it had been contained in. The something was the spirit the bottle blonde had always had. It would not be forgotten, and Faith knew that little pieces of that spirit had dispersed among the Slayers alive now, and even the Renegades.
Her mind raced of individual thoughts of each of the warriors involved, those that might very well be dead come the end of the day, and another tear escaped her other eye. Samara, Angel, Siren, Willow, Xander, Spike, Raven... the names kept running through like a parade of nobles from old times. Each with a face, a memory attached. This was the time, she knew, that tried the true heart of any warrior. It would be easy if one only fought fixed fights, and then maybe one would live an entire life thinking they had actually done something worth while, but Faith knew that the true wars were ones where there were no winners, just the dead and the living left after. This would be such a war, and the though let yet another tear escape silently as she looked out over the valley.
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."
Illyria slowly walked up behind Faith, noticing her sad yet serious demeanor. "Faith, are you ready? Preparations seem to be complete and they are awaiting your command to attack." she said lowly, tilting her head in examination of the suit flowing over Faith's body. A living entity that still boggled even Illyria....and interested her to no end, just as Faith always had.
Faith snapped out of her reverie, blinking a couple of times to clear her eyes. "Yeah, alright." She turned to walk back into the command tent where the other leaders lurked in waiting. "Hey, Illyria, before we go in there, I gotta ask you something. Don't answer if you don't want but, well, did you ever have kids? Offspring of some kind?"
Illyria stopped in mid stride, thinking for a second. "I gave rise to several of the demonic races that you are familiar with, including the vampires, as well as several of the lesser Old Ones. Those few Old Ones I would consider my offspring. Why do you ask?" Illyria asked with a puzzled look on her face.
Faith met the God King's blue eyes with her own brown ones. "I think, when this is over, I might give it a try. Go out into the world and find a nice decent guy and have a couple of ankle biters of my own. The dog in the front yard with the white picket to boot, little house in the country somewhere. Something like that." "I'm not quite sure I understand, Faith. What makes you want such an existence? Why do you require a mate and offspring? What is the purpose of such?" Illyria asked, her face even more puzzled than before. Looking at Faith like a child would look at a parent upon asking on a those questions that only children seemed to ask.
Faith thought only a moment then replied. "To belong Illyria, to something larger than yourself, I think. Also, I also think it's a means of immortality. I know one day I will die, but, by leaving children behind on this Earth some part of me shall remain, and thus not be forgotten. You know what I mean?"
"I think I do. You wish to exist in some form forever, through your offspring. You wish to belong, to not stand out like you always have felt like you have. You wish to have a place in this world. That, I think I do understand. I wish I had a place to belong in this world, but my place is gone, dead and buried with my people. After this battle, I'm not....quite sure what I'll do." Illyria said, looking down at the ground.
"You'll find something. You're a God-King. Trust me, someone will catch on to your being here, maybe even the Powers themselves. They'll be scared to death of you." Faith let a little laugh out. Come on, let's get in the tent and finish this thing."
Illyria simply nodded and followed Faith into the tent. Faith stood at the head of the table, Illyria next to her. She took a moment and looked at each of the faces that were looking back at her. All past transgressions seems to be forgotten, or at least put aside for the moment. They all gave her looks both encouraging and acknowledging as she ran her gaze across them several times before speaking.
"Alright. Riley, you're people are good?" she asked, receiving an affirmative nod. "Angel, Kennedy you got your people on the ground right?" again affirmation. Samara, the renegades?"
Samara smiled. "Yes ma'am. Renegades are where you wanted awaiting the go button." the young girl was runty and dwarfed standing next to Riley and Spike, but her heart was not to be questioned, since she was a warrior all the way through.
"Alright, me and Illyria will go down there, cause a few problems, and then give you a sign to go down there." she turned to Riley again. "You're little surprises packed and ready for delivery hero?"
Riley gave Faith a little salute. "Yes, ma'am. Mines are all set to block what they think will be their route of retreat and that extra special surprise should be more than enough to disable them. It's only got one shot, but that'll be more than enough for what we need." he said with a smile.
Faith smiled, finishing the quote she started outside on the ledge. "Then we shall fear no evil." she stood upright, holding in the fear and worry for these brave souls that were going down to what might be their last moments on earth. "Me and the God King will leave in one minute. Good hunting." she said ending the short meeting.
Illyria lead the way outside of the tent and to the edge of the cliff that lead down towards the remnants of Sunnydale ....towards the Project base....and into the Hell on Earth that the ensuing fight was sure to be. Illyria waved her hand and opened up a portal the size of her body. "This will take us to our position of attack. Faith, are you ready for battle?" she asked plainly.
"Yeah, I got a country house to get to." she said, then stepped into the doorway, vanishing into is multicolored light.
Illyria quickly followed and the two warriors found themselves just outside the Project base, adjacent to the damaged section of the base and seemingly unnoticed. "We are here, Faith. How do you wish to proceed? Stealth tactics or all out slaughter of the infidels?" Illyria asked, still quite plainly.
"Calm down King Richard. This ain't the crusades." she said. "Just take out who you can where you can and then see what happens from there." she watched a red haired woman with a rifle of some kind disappear into a door and close firmly behind her. From where the woman had come from looked to be an infirmary. I'll go for that, you head down to the way and see if you can find any of the weapons stores Siren said they had down there."
"Alright, Faith. I'll play it more carefully, but just for you, and just this one time." Illyria said with a slight smile that quickly disappeared as she made her way into the base, much more silent than one could imagine for a being such as herself.
Once inside, Illyria took a very deliberate pace in the direction of the weapons stores, not running but not walking either. She was being quite methodical and careful as she turned a corner and came upon two Insurgence guards. They saw her as she saw them, raising their weapons to fire upon the God King. They were much to slow, however, as Illyria moved towards them in a flash, grabbing one of the guards guns and delivering a swift upward kick, breaking both of his arms. As he hit the floor, she swung his weapon into the jaw of the other guard with such force that the gun butt exploded on impact, breaking his jaw and neck. He was dead before he hit the ground.
Slowly, Illyria approached the former guard on the ground. He started to beg but Illyria simply pressed her boot to his neck and crushed his wind pipe, silencing him. All of this transpired in less than five seconds. Illyria looked at the prone bodies with disdain before proceeding further into the base. *Those will only be the first in a long line of deaths cause by me here. And you, Olvican, will be the main course of it all*
Faith entered the infirmary and found exactly what she thought she would. There were wounded soldiers being patched up in a hurry, as well as doctors and nurses tending them. At one time, Faith would have simply tried to see how many were worth saving, of course, at one time countless people had not died trying to fight the very same soldiers who were now getting aid for their wounds. Faith thought hard and long for a moment. How does one kill what looked to be eight medical personnel and four soldiers without alerting anyone. She peeked in the room again, this time seeing a large button rigged to the wall on the near side. It was something obviously placed there, as this part of the factory had never had need of an alarm button for intruders.
She checked the far side of the room as best as she could from her vantage point, and saw there was no other door. These medics were literally pinned in the room. She grinned as the Scythe erupted from her right arm, reaching its full length in a mere couple of seconds. in her other hand she held a large Bowie knife. She gently pushed open the doors, buying for her as much time as possible. One nurse was a bit more alert than others, and she immediately went for the button. A moment later the Bowie knife had destroyed the wires connecting the button to whatever siren it had been connected to.
"Everyone stay real quiet and you all get to live..." she smiled gleefully at the fear filled expressions on their face. The suit jostled and moved about her body excitedly. "No one say a word and do what your told." She looked at the one wall she could not see from the door and saw there was a second door. Instantly she moved to it and looked through the small window in it. Body bags.
Assured it was secure, she immediately paid attention to the eight medical people. "You start shredding blankets and then start tying each other good and secure. Then get in this morgue of yours. Word one and You all get a serious death filled with a whole lot of pain."
It was fifteen minuted before the last of the medical personnel stood before her, untied as he had been the one doing most of the tying of the other infirmary staff. Gagged and in the infirmary, they could not see or do anything about what happened next. Faith lashed out with the Scythe, beheading the man with one swoop. His eyes still blinked in shock as he was treated to the sight of his own headless corpse falling in front of him. The four patients were killed with similar blows, then pushed into the infirmary morgue where the remaining members could see the dead corpses on beds. Faith looked at the helpless people on the floor. They met her eyes, and all knew the end of this macabre play was about to come nigh.
Faith was about to leave the now silent room, but heard voices and ducked quietly back into the morgue that had just been turned into a charnel house. She waited by the door, hearing only two voices.
**
Several corridors and several dead guards later, Illyria found herself standing in the doorway of the Projects last weapons stash. The huge room was wall to wall weapons of all shapes, sizes, and magnitudes. Almost anything you could think of was here, plus more than a few weapons unknown to this realm. "This must be what the young Slayer informed us of." Illyria said as she pulled small and simple looking device out from a small portal to what could only be a pocket dimension of some sort. "And this will take care of it." She said as she hit a few buttons, arming the device.
Illyria walked to the center of the room and placed the device on the floor as it slowly started to countdown. "Five minutes and all these pitiful human weapons will be no more." Illyria said as she walked out of the rooms, closing the doors behind her and smashing the locking device so no one else could enter to attempt sabotage. Illyria rounded a couple of corner before being confronted with a face she did not recognize, but she knew who it was. "Such an unbecoming look for an Old One, Olvican." she said as Mayor Richard Wilkins stared back at her from the other end of the huge corridor.
"I would think the same would apply to you, your highness. Really, black leather and this fad hair color...I just don't get the kids of today. They are so wild, except for my girl Faith of course. She's a sweet and proper lady. The world would do well to have more kids like her, don't you agree?" He said with a smile.
**
Riley kept his eyes opened for the signal as he scanned the area for anything resembling the need to plunge into the fray. The radio crackled silently, no one was to use the frequency unless they saw something or the signal was released. Minutes passed like days and still Riley would not move his eyes from the binoculars. These people had taken Buffy Summers from the world. They had massacred his soldiers and his allies. They would be eradicated, even if he had to call down a nuke from the North American Tactical Strategies Command. It would be the last resort though. He was about to put down his binoculars for a moment to rub at his tired eyes when a sudden large blue light flashed across the area below. Instantly his radio cackled to life.
"Received unknown signal. Confirm we have a go command. Repeat, confirm we have a go command.."
Riley thought for only a moment before announcing back at the disembodied voice. "Attention all units. You have a go after fire. Fire mission, report status of weapon." he announced waiting for the report on his secret weapon.
The head of the weapons team responded,"Affirmative, sir. That is a go. Firing momentarily." he turned from his radio towards the firing team. "All right men. We have a go. Fire this bad boy and give those son's of bitch's what for." he said in a commanding tone as the scurried to their stations, preparing to fire the coalitions secret weapon.
A minute past and the weapon was ready. "Preparations are complete sir. We will fire on your command." an officer exclaimed.
Riley looked over at the place where the weapon would fire at, then turned his back. The flash on this baby was near blinding. "Advise all units to look away from ground zero. Advise all units look away from ground zero. Fire team, fire on my mark. Five, four, three, two, one..." Riley closed his eyes for good measure. "Mark!"
"Fire the damn thing. Light those bastards up." the fire team leader exclaimed. A nod of affirmation and the officers proceeded in performing the short process of firing the massive weapon, who's aim was directly on the Project base. It whirred to life and multicolored lights swirled around the barrel and along the power cables. The team wore protective glasses due to the extreme light that it discharged, more than capable of blinding any human or demon for that matter. The noise of the weapons charge dropped off for only a second before it reverberated back even stronger and the chamber let loose its payload onto the base. A blinding light ensued followed by a delayed explosion. A huge gust of wind was emanated from ground zero, knocking several to the ground.
Everywhere that was not directly hit with the blast were sprawled bodies. Half the base had met instant doom, and the rest were badly disorganized and disoriented. Riley turned and looked at the horror of his weapon's design, then picked up his radio again. "All units go .. take out the target." he announced and watched as all around the valley groups began to move forward. "Here we go." he said, finally picking up his own weapon and charging down with a group of initiative soldiers.
**
Raven had been insistent that the wound on her arm was nothing, but the Empress would have nothing of it. She insisted on taking her to the infirmary herself. She would not see her princess, much less her lover in any type of discomfort. "Just quite squirming, baby. Just gonna get this thing seen to and then I'll treat you to a little desert before we try to figure out what the hell went wrong in there." The Empress said as she walked side by side with Raven, her arm around the smaller woman's waist as they entered to find it empty save some blood and a body missing its head. Before they could respond, a bright flash filled the room. The empress shut her eyes before any damage was done. Raven, however, was not so lucky. She instantly went blind and screamed out in pain.
"What the hell was that!? Raven, baby, are you okay?" The Empress asked concerned, not noticing Faith coming out of her hiding spot in a far corner of the room. The Empress was to intent on Raven to notice.
"I can't see!" she cried, holding her hands to her eyes and squirming on the ground. It burned. God that flash had actually burned. The image of the Empress smiling at her, then FLASH! Her eyes gave out waves of agony and she could do little more than hold her hands to her damaged eyes and wiggle on the floor. "Oh God they burn Empress. They burn!" she was able to choke through the agony, unable to do much more than that however.
The Empress dropped to the floor next her, cradling the girl in an almost motherly fashion but at the same time in a fashion that lovers would do. "It's okay, baby. It's gonna be okay. I'm here. Whoever did this will pay, I'll make sure of that." She said, kissing Raven's forehead and caressing her hair.
"I'm sure you will." Came a voice that was the Empress' exact duplicate. It was that way, since the owner was her exact duplicate. Faith the Vampire Slayer now looked down at herself, cradling a fallen and obviously pain stricken Raven Raines on the floor. She laughed. "You really know how to put on an act don't you honey?" The suit on Faith began to move in a frenzied fashion, as if it would just tear off her at any moment and do the killing itself. The Scythe reached out to its full length, both edges now gleaming in the fading light of the flash. Faith could hear the cries of the souls whose blood had made the unholy apparel scream out for their justice, and in that moment Faith felt like a god.
The Empress looked up at the, as she saw it, tainted and weak version of herself. She then gave Raven a kiss on the lips and one on the forehead. "One second, baby. Let me take care of this wannabe and I'll be back." she said as she stood up. "You might think you know me, you bitch, but you don't. I have no doubt that this is your doing. Hurting my baby like this. Destroying my base and ruining our plans. You will pay for it all ten fold. You have no idea what I'm feeling. For Raven and, in contrast, for you." she said, ripping off her black robe and revealing her skin tight, black leather outfit. She started coldly at her other.
The stare was returned, in a hungry, vile manner. "I don't care about that, or that little traitor there on the ground. You killed Buffy, now. I'm going to kill you. The rest is just bonus laughs for me. You wanna be evil. I'll show you what that's all about." she brought the Scythe up to her face, letting the light glean off it. "When I hack you into little pieces."
The Empress pulled out her fabled dagger. She flicked her wrist and a shimmer of light as it increased in size and length to a full sword, but with the same shape and build as the dagger. "That's my line, you weakling." she said as she seemed to vanish in a flash, appearing to Faith's right with such speed that it caught Faith off guard and she was just barely able to block it, but the force of the blow cause her to stumble. The Empress followed with an elbow to the chest, sending Faith across the room towards the far wall, but she stopped herself before hitting it. "You caught me by surprise last time, but never again."
"Never again. Good choice of words." Faith said as she stalked towards the dark and vile version of herself. With lightning speed she swung the Scythe at the other woman's head, which the Empress easily dodged, then moved quickly in and caught the despotic ruler with a forearm in the face. The blow made the other stumble only a couple of steps, and end them both up right where they had started. "There is not part of this I am not going to enjoy."
"Just what I was thinking." The Empress replied as she charged forward at top speed. Faith did the same and they met in the center of the room, their weapons connected with a loud clang. Their power sending out waves of wind and energy in all directions. The very ground itself started to shakes as the two super powers met in a clash for dominance. They stared coldly into each others eyes. Neither giving an inch or backing down. "Well, I guess you aren't all that bad after all. I mean, you are me after all." The empress remarked as they separated, only to return as the sword fight began. Each swing quickly and decisively, meeting each other blow for blow. Blocking and countering and striking. It was truly a sight to behold.
During a break, Faith responded with the same comment. "And you're me." Faith knew that should be a clue, but the killing mist was too much in either ones eyes to allow for clear thinking. They were evenly matched and would continue to be that way until they collapsed in exhaustion. If, that was, things were left uninterrupted.
"Face it, you can't win here. I just wish my baby's sight would come back in time to see me skin you alive. Oh well, maybe I can make her a nice coast out of it. I'm sure she'd like that." The Empress said before charging again, only this time, as she approached, she leapt into the air only inches from Faith and came down from above with a strike that Faith only barely blocked. The force of the blow forced her to her knees and caused the ground beneath her to crumble slightly. The Empress landed on her feet in front of Faith and gave her a kick to the face, drawing blood from her nose and lip. She went for another that Faith rolled backwards away from, hopping to her feet and slashing out with the Scythe, slicing into the flesh on the Empress' upper thigh.
The Empress let out a yelp of pain before backing off. Blood oozed from the wound and down her leg but she payed it no real mind.
Raven's eyes began to regain focus, and the pain seemed to ebb. She blinked then ferociously to try to get back some capacity of sight, but the tactics did not work, and it would just take time to come back. She was dizzy and felt a bit nauseous, but other wise was fine. She could hear the sounds of metal on metal weapons, and could here the Empress' voice arguing with..with herself? *Oh crap.* Raven thought as she realized why it would sound like that. Alas, she was helpless with only about 20 percent of her vision, and thus could do little but hope her eyes would clear up soon.
Faith lurched to sideways as she encircled the other girl, hiding the fact that the blocked blow had caused her some kind of lower back injury. It was a hell of a time, but Faith believed she had just felt the twinge of a crushed disc in her back. She couldn't let that show though, and continued with her sideways gait around the other version of herself. She swung overhead, the other girl blocked. The Empress took a shot at her legs, which Faith neatly hopped over. She tried a lunging stab, the Empress dodged it, then returned the favor, for which Faith batted away the sword with the Scythe. It was becoming a stalemate rather quickly. "You can't win. Even now your little army is getting its damned head caved in. Why not just give it up. I'll make it painless for you." Faith hissed angrily.
"So what if it falls? I can always rebuild it. Besides, my father and I are more than enough to take care of all your little lame friends with ease. I see death in your future, not mine." The Empress spat back as she switched to her left hand and took an over handed, thrusting stance. "Here's a little something I picked on one of the many worlds we've destroyed." she exclaimed as she charged forward, her feet were a blur and at the last moment, she thrust the blade forward. Faith sidestepped just barely, but caught part of the thrust across her stomach. Blood spat forth. Faith swung the Scythe at the Empress' head, who jumped back, only to find a deep gash across her cheek. The blood trickled down towards her mouth and she licked it off. "You will pay for that. You will pay!" she screamed.
Raven's eyes cleared enough to see that Faith and the Empress were fighting it out, and that Faith had just taken a wound that might very well be the beginning of the end. Raven knew the cut to the Empress' face was superficial, but the wound to Faith's stomach would make her slow just enough to ger her killed. The conflict in Raven's head was simple. Finish the mission and aid Faith in killing the Empress, or, Save the Empress and try to convince her to give it up hopefully someday retrieving her from the way she had chosen. Raven had no idea why this was even a conflict. She did not care about the Project, or the others in it. She didn't even know why she cared about the Empress. The woman made her feel dirty and unnatural. She also made her feel important and free to do as she wished.
No one on the other side would truly know how far Raven had to plunge from grace to come to her decision, but she did come to one in that fateful moment. She knew that from now on, she could never go back to the way life had been. She could not lead the Renegades, nor save the Project leader. She could do nothing but watch as life, and its semblances, faded into black and white, then faded until only one thing remained in her mind. She drew carefully the large handgun that had been given her by the Empress and took aim, she was, however, too slow. The events of the next ten seconds would make up her mind for her.
Faith found herself slammed against the wall, causing it to crack. She was barely able to keep hold of the Scythe as the empress pummeled away at her body. A series of lighting past punches and kicks to all corners of Faith's body, driving her into the wall like a hammer would drive a nail into wood. The Empress paused for a second only to quickly catch Faith off guard with and elbow to her chest, right in the blue spot, causing Faith to spit out blood onto the Empress' face, who licked it off in kind.
Faith was slumped against the wall, supported by only it and the drive of the living suit she wore. The Empress took her sword and put it to Faith's throat. "Too bad this has to end cause it's been so much fun. But, all good things...." she said as she brought the blade down the length of Faith's front, making a long deep cut from her upper chest, between her breasts, down to her belly button. She gritted through the pain as seem to resign herself to death as the Empress toyed with her.
"I think I'll finish you off with the little move from before." the Empress gloated as she took a step back and got back into stance. Faith closed her eyes, awaiting her death when suddenly, all sound dropped out and a single voice could be heard inside her head.
*Don't give up, Faith. Not yet. It's not your time. You can win. You can save the world. I believe in you. Just remember, our first meeting with Raven. That is the key. You can win, I know it.* the voice said, soft and sweet.
*Buffy* Faith thought to herself as she recognized the voice and knew its meaning. Feeling a last rush of strength, Faith knew what to do. She could win this after all.
"Die, my weakling other. Your death shall mark my victory." she exclaimed as she lunged forward. In a flash, Faith parried the blow, causing the Empress sword to get stuck in the wall and her chest and stomach to be completely outstretched and exposed. Faith took her chance and slashed forth with the Scythe, screaming as she did so. The blade met flesh as it carved a bloody path across the Empress' stomach, cutting deep and gashing organs. The Empress screamed in pain as she fell back wards, hitting the ground with a sickening thud. Blood oozed from her wound and began to pool on the floor as she clutched at it to no avail. She could feel her strength...her life slipping away. She stared up at the ceiling silently cursing it all, before looking over towards Raven, her dark princess.
Raven stood agape at what had just transpired. Even though the large Desert Eagle filled her left fist, she felt helpless, dirty and more vile that even the Empress. She now had a secret, and she would have to keep it to herself for the rest of her life. She had made a choice, and was bound to it, no matter that the fight was over. She kept the gun trained on Faith, while looking down at the fallen Empress.
Faith fell back against the wall, the suit hurriedly seeming to try to stop her wound from bleeding. "Raven, it's you're call now. Who do you want to be?" she said to the odd eyed woman, who seemed to age right before her eyes. Faith wearily slumped against the wall, miraculously able to remain on her feet.
Raven kept the gun on the Slayer as she walked down to the gasping Empress. A quick glance told Raven it was over for the Project leader. She lowered the gun quietly, answering Faith in hollow tones. "I'm Raven Raines. As I always am. Now get out of here, it's over."
Faith nodded her head, and nearly had to drag herself out of the door. Raven did not watch as she scooped the Empress' head and upper body into her lap. Her once fine brown hair now dirty and matted with blood. Her confidence wiped clear of her face, and now wearing the expression of a person who was certain of their own demise. Raven's eyes filled with tears. She could have never known this was her reward for her sacrifice. She met the dark brown eyes, so many questions in them, so damned few answers. "Shhhh Shhhh.. it wont hurt much longer Faith, not much longer." she said gently rocking back and forth.
"Raven I'm.....I'm sorry I couldn't.....couldn't stop them for you. Give you everything I.....I never had. I'm sorry, baby. I.....I loved you. You know that....right?" she said, coughing up blood and grunting in pain as her life slowly and painfully slipped away. "I never thought....it'd end like this but....I'm glad that....glad that you're here....with me..." the Empress said weakly as her vision slowly started to blur and the pain seem to intensify that much more.
"Always here." Raven replied, stroking the fallen woman's ashen face. Tears erupted from the odd colored eyes. "You're.. you're dying Faith. I.. I can't help." Raven was still conflicted, but these last moments were going to be peaceful even if the rest of this woman's life wasn't. "I won't forget you. I'll bury you someplace.. nice." She said as the sobs racked her and she was unable to speak further.
The Empress weakly reached up to Raven's face, caressing the side of it. "It's okay, baby. It's....okay. You know I...I hate to see you....sad." she said, wiping a tear from Raven's face and bringing it to her lips. "Just make sure you don't......you don't die. Maybe someday you....you can be.....where you are supposed to....where you want to....even though it's not with....not with me." she said weakly as her arm dropped, no longer possessing the strength to move as her eyes started to glaze over. "Raven....I'm cold. Could you......could you warm me up please?" she asked as the pool of blood surrounded them both now.
Raven, tears falling freely, nodded her head and gently placed her lips on the dying girls face. "I'll be okay. I can take care of myself. You'll see. I promise." she held the girl close, as if to protect her from her last moment. She knew she could not as she heard the fallen woman's breathing become quicker and shallower. Even now she fought to live, despite it being a lost fight. Finally Raven spoke the words she thought might make the Empress Faith's passing easier. "It's okay Faith, you go on up ahead and I'll see you around the next bend."
The Empress smiled as a tear rolled down her own face, the first in many lifetimes. With a last breath, her body went limp as her head fell silently to the side. Her life had been brought to a close. She was gone. This young woman, who's life had been full of nothing but death and destruction. Who had brought nothing but pain and suffering to those around her and had never known anything but that, died in the arms of, what to her, was her loved one...her soul mate. She died in tears and maybe, just maybe in those last moments, her conscience may have finally returned. Now, it was too late to ever know. Her tumultuous life had ended, in the arms of Raven Raines.
