The Incursion Chapter 5 (BTVS/DW)
Title: The Incursion
Author: rat_hospital
Characters: Ace, Faith, Willow, Giles, Xander, and the 7th Doctor
Rating: PG-13 for language and mild content
Summary: The time has come at last. They have waited for so long. The new Watchers Council will need all the help it can get. Luckily a young woman called Ace seems to know what’s happening but can she be trusted? And who exactly is Dr. McCrimmon? Buffy xOver
With thanks to my beta, idontlikegravy .
Previous Chapters: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four
Chapter Five: Nightfall
Willow shivered. It was strong in here, the power. Ancient and unearthly, it battered against her skin. She stumbled slightly, as her knees gave way.
“Maybe you should wait outside,” Kennedy said as she caught her easily.
“No.” Willow shook her head. “There’s no time. I have to know.” Kennedy frowned. Willow was more stubborn than the rest of them put together. There was n changing her mind, but Kennedy knew if their roles were reversed she’d be no less adamant. Kennedy peered around. She’d been in more crypts than she could count and at first glance this one seemed no different. Nothing whatsoever to distinguish it, and yet…Kennedy swallowed. The room was spinning around her. Barely noticeable at first, but growing faster and faster. She could feel something burrow beneath her skin, crawling through her veins, and in the distance wordless and soundless came a whisper, a siren call. Kennedy glanced at Vi’s dazed expression. There was something terribly wrong here, something that called to Slayers. Kennedy blinked, and for a moment the feeling passed, but only for a moment.
“You alright?” Willow asked
“Three by Five,” Faith answered.
“You feel it too?” Kennedy asked.
“Like it wants to crawl inside and never leave.”
“Interesting.” Willow frowned. “Seems Ace was telling the truth.”
“That’s not what you feel?”
“No. I just sense sheer power. It’s not paying any attention to me, whatever it is.”
“Lucky you,” Kennedy said. “I think Vi is getting the worst of it.” They all turned. The red haired Slayer was leaning against the wall, as if the marble was all that kept her standing. She looked the way the rest of them felt.
“Take her outside,” Willow ordered. “We can’t afford to let it get to her, or any of you.”
“What about you?” Kennedy asked.
“I think of all of us, I’m the safest.” Willowed forced herself to smile reassuringly, but Kennedy wasn’t fooled. She and Shannon practically carried Vi outside. Hopefully the open air would clear their heads, but Willow wasn’t hopeful. She glanced around. This was a family crypt, housing generations of Barons. She counted them. There were seven alcoves, but one of them did not just contain a body. Why here? Why now? None of this made any sense. It was a puzzle and most of the pieces were missing. In a corner Caridad sank to her knees. This place was not safe for Slayers.
***
Giles strained to hear. The door was slightly ajar, but he dared not get any closer for fear of being seen. He’d followed Doctor McCrimmon from the dinning hall. There was more to this Doctor than met the eye. Giles was sure of it. Whatever had happened at dinner, had clearly affected him more than anyone else. That meant he was very sensitive, or very powerful. Either way, the Doctor had managed to hide his talents in a castle full of the mystically inclined, and that did not bode well. Muffled mutterings came from the other side of the door and interrupted Giles’ thoughts.
“Come on you piece of junk,” the Doctor said. There was the sound of metal meeting wood, followed by an almost indignant beep. “Can you hear me?” The Doctor asked. Giles started.
“Loud and clear Professor,” a woman’s voice responded, partially distorted by static. Giles relaxed. He hadn’t been discovered.
“Don’t suppose you felt anything about ten minutes ago?”
“Well I had a wicked headache, but I hoped it might just be the plane. Guess not, huh?”
“No,” the Doctor said. “Nothing so mundane.”
“Time distortion,” the woman said. It was a statement.
“Very crude,” the Doctor confirmed. “Very nasty.”
“What’s it mean?” She sounded concerned.
“It means that our friends have made a move.”
“Any idea what?”
“Not yet, but time will tell. It always does.”
“Instructions?” The woman requested.
“Unchanged. You know what to do. Oh and Ace…”
“Yeah?”
“Watch your back,” the Doctor said darkly.
“You too Professor.”
Giles jumped out of sight, as the Doctor exited, and watched the little man as he disappeared down the corridor. He’d been right. Pieces of the puzzle were starting to emerge. Now at least he knew who the mysterious Ms. McShane was working for, and for some reason the knowledge wasn’t very comforting. Not very comforting at all.
***
Willow bit her lip in thought. The stones of the mausoleum had a long memory. It was tempting to just reach out with her magic and probe their secrets, but she dared not. Thus far the Power had paid her no heed, and Willow had no intention of drawing its attention until she was ready. She had a feeling the coming battle would take all the strength the fledgling Council could muster. The enemy did not seem to care about witches and Watchers, only Slayers, and that was potentially devastating, not only for the Council, but the whole world. Despite the attention Beech had paid Faith, however, he’d apparently been more interested in McShane, and Willow had followed suit. There was some sort of contest enfolding beneath the surface, just beyond her understanding. Willow sighed. She needed time. Time to unearth the players, and figure out their game, but events were moving too quickly. Caridad could barely stand, and Faith didn’t look much better.
“Will!” Kennedy’s shout came from outside. “Willow!”
“Coming.” Faith met Willow’s concerned eyes and nodded. They both had a bad feeling about this. The other Slayers followed in their wake, as they ran for the door. None of them noticed the swirls and patterns etched faintly into the marble, almost like clockwork. Time was running out…
There were hundreds of them marching through the graveyard. Willow instantly felt the wrongness within. They were not connected to the earth. Though flesh and blood they were as unnatural as any manmade machine, and they were coming closer in perfect military precision. In the starlight, their faces were hard too make out, but seemed sunken and crude, as if only half finished. Willow reached out with her magic, as the Coven had taught her, and touched their auras. Gasping she recoiled in shock.
“I-I don’t understand,” she said. “I’m only sensing 26 auras.”
“But there’s at least half a thousand of them,” Kennedy said.
“They’re sharing souls,” Willow said wonderingly.
“Very good, very good indeed.” The soldiers parted and a dark haired man emerged. “You must be Ms. Rosenberg.”
“Beech,” Faith said through gritted teeth.
“Ah Faith.” Beech smiled. “How’s your head?” Faith snarled. She would have charged him, if Willow hadn’t stopped her.
“What do you want?” Willow asked.
“I’d settle for an unlimited supply of rice pudding.” Beech shrugged.
“What are they?” Willow was in no mood for levity.
“Do you like them? Made them myself. Well that’s a slight exaggeration. I designed them any way.”
“What have you done to them?”
“Done? I’ve given them life. Manufactured soldiers, bio-engineered for increased strength, speed, and agility. Perhaps not quite as strong as a Slayer, but I have got an awful lot of them and there’s only twenty of you.”
“Is that a threat?” Willow asked dangerously. Her eyes began to blacken.
“Certainly not. It was an offer. You and your associates are free to go.” Beech smiled. “I have no desire to fight you, but if you remain, you will pay the price for your stubbornness. That, incidentally, was a threat.”
“We decline,” Willow said. Around her the Slayers steadied themselves. This close to the Crypt they felt weak.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Beech smiled almost boyishly. The Bions surged forward. From their sleeves shards of metal unfolded into swords. The greatest line of mystical warriors met the pinnacle of military science in a clash of metal. The Bions were fast, but not as fast. They were strong, but not as strong. In other circumstances, it would have been nothing more than a fairly challenging practice session, but there were so many of them.
Vi blocked a strike and sent the Bion sprawling with a well-aimed kick. It was a small victory, and she was starting to feel faint. She glanced around. The other Slayers didn’t look much better, and Willow seemed to be locked in a mystical staring contest with Beech. The adrenaline coursing through her system had given her a momentary gift of strength, but it was already fading. She sidestepped a vicious kick, but the Bion adjusted and caught her in the jaw. She stumbled back. The Bion pressed his advantage driving her to her knees. A savage blow sent her tumbling to the ground. She let out a muffled moan as her body screamed in protest. She struggled to rise, but her body refused to cooperate. Her stake slipped from her limp hands into the soft earth, and she was still.
Willow could feel the earth answer her call. Deep from its very roots raw magic surged forth into her, but from Beech rose an answering power, alien and unsettling. This was not a duel of parlor tricks and spells, but sheer unadulterated power, and Willow was loosing. She had awaken an army, torn a friend from the clutches of death, and nearly destroyed the world. Any of these feats alone would have numbered her among the greater powers of the world, but the power in Beech was stronger. It attacked sideways, slipping through cracks that Willow never knew were there. Her shields and charms were giving way, inch by inch. No! She would not give up without a fight. Marshalling her strength she prepared for one final massive knockout blow, but Beech struck first. Willow went rigid, as Beech’s attack tore through her defenses striking her simultaneously on the astral plane, and collapsed to the ground.
“Willow!” Kennedy called. She charged to her girlfriends side, with Faith not far behind. “She’s alive,” Kennedy said taking her pulse. Faith sighed in relief.
“We have to get out of here or she won’t be much longer.” She nodded at Beech, who was striding towards them casually. Kennedy nodded. She didn’t think the rest of them could hold out either. “Let’s go!” Faith shouted. “Retreat!”
“Help me with her,” Kennedy said.
“Right.” Faith leaned down and took one of her arms. She and Kennedy half dragged, half carried Willow’s prone body away.
Beech watched them go. A few of the Bions started to follow them, but he held out his hand to stop them. “No,” he said. “We didn’t come here for them. Besides they’ll be back eventually. We got what we came for.” He knelt down at Vi’s side. “And what’s your name, little girl?” She mustered all her strength and spit in his face. He smiled. “There, there,” he said patting her clammy hand. “Don’t worry…Vi. It will all be over in a moment.” He smirked. “For you, any way, but for the others it hasn’t even begun.”
End Part One
Author: rat_hospital
Characters: Ace, Faith, Willow, Giles, Xander, and the 7th Doctor
Rating: PG-13 for language and mild content
Summary: The time has come at last. They have waited for so long. The new Watchers Council will need all the help it can get. Luckily a young woman called Ace seems to know what’s happening but can she be trusted? And who exactly is Dr. McCrimmon? Buffy xOver
With thanks to my beta, idontlikegravy .
Previous Chapters: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four
Chapter Five: Nightfall
Willow shivered. It was strong in here, the power. Ancient and unearthly, it battered against her skin. She stumbled slightly, as her knees gave way.
“Maybe you should wait outside,” Kennedy said as she caught her easily.
“No.” Willow shook her head. “There’s no time. I have to know.” Kennedy frowned. Willow was more stubborn than the rest of them put together. There was n changing her mind, but Kennedy knew if their roles were reversed she’d be no less adamant. Kennedy peered around. She’d been in more crypts than she could count and at first glance this one seemed no different. Nothing whatsoever to distinguish it, and yet…Kennedy swallowed. The room was spinning around her. Barely noticeable at first, but growing faster and faster. She could feel something burrow beneath her skin, crawling through her veins, and in the distance wordless and soundless came a whisper, a siren call. Kennedy glanced at Vi’s dazed expression. There was something terribly wrong here, something that called to Slayers. Kennedy blinked, and for a moment the feeling passed, but only for a moment.
“You alright?” Willow asked
“Three by Five,” Faith answered.
“You feel it too?” Kennedy asked.
“Like it wants to crawl inside and never leave.”
“Interesting.” Willow frowned. “Seems Ace was telling the truth.”
“That’s not what you feel?”
“No. I just sense sheer power. It’s not paying any attention to me, whatever it is.”
“Lucky you,” Kennedy said. “I think Vi is getting the worst of it.” They all turned. The red haired Slayer was leaning against the wall, as if the marble was all that kept her standing. She looked the way the rest of them felt.
“Take her outside,” Willow ordered. “We can’t afford to let it get to her, or any of you.”
“What about you?” Kennedy asked.
“I think of all of us, I’m the safest.” Willowed forced herself to smile reassuringly, but Kennedy wasn’t fooled. She and Shannon practically carried Vi outside. Hopefully the open air would clear their heads, but Willow wasn’t hopeful. She glanced around. This was a family crypt, housing generations of Barons. She counted them. There were seven alcoves, but one of them did not just contain a body. Why here? Why now? None of this made any sense. It was a puzzle and most of the pieces were missing. In a corner Caridad sank to her knees. This place was not safe for Slayers.
***
Giles strained to hear. The door was slightly ajar, but he dared not get any closer for fear of being seen. He’d followed Doctor McCrimmon from the dinning hall. There was more to this Doctor than met the eye. Giles was sure of it. Whatever had happened at dinner, had clearly affected him more than anyone else. That meant he was very sensitive, or very powerful. Either way, the Doctor had managed to hide his talents in a castle full of the mystically inclined, and that did not bode well. Muffled mutterings came from the other side of the door and interrupted Giles’ thoughts.
“Come on you piece of junk,” the Doctor said. There was the sound of metal meeting wood, followed by an almost indignant beep. “Can you hear me?” The Doctor asked. Giles started.
“Loud and clear Professor,” a woman’s voice responded, partially distorted by static. Giles relaxed. He hadn’t been discovered.
“Don’t suppose you felt anything about ten minutes ago?”
“Well I had a wicked headache, but I hoped it might just be the plane. Guess not, huh?”
“No,” the Doctor said. “Nothing so mundane.”
“Time distortion,” the woman said. It was a statement.
“Very crude,” the Doctor confirmed. “Very nasty.”
“What’s it mean?” She sounded concerned.
“It means that our friends have made a move.”
“Any idea what?”
“Not yet, but time will tell. It always does.”
“Instructions?” The woman requested.
“Unchanged. You know what to do. Oh and Ace…”
“Yeah?”
“Watch your back,” the Doctor said darkly.
“You too Professor.”
Giles jumped out of sight, as the Doctor exited, and watched the little man as he disappeared down the corridor. He’d been right. Pieces of the puzzle were starting to emerge. Now at least he knew who the mysterious Ms. McShane was working for, and for some reason the knowledge wasn’t very comforting. Not very comforting at all.
***
Willow bit her lip in thought. The stones of the mausoleum had a long memory. It was tempting to just reach out with her magic and probe their secrets, but she dared not. Thus far the Power had paid her no heed, and Willow had no intention of drawing its attention until she was ready. She had a feeling the coming battle would take all the strength the fledgling Council could muster. The enemy did not seem to care about witches and Watchers, only Slayers, and that was potentially devastating, not only for the Council, but the whole world. Despite the attention Beech had paid Faith, however, he’d apparently been more interested in McShane, and Willow had followed suit. There was some sort of contest enfolding beneath the surface, just beyond her understanding. Willow sighed. She needed time. Time to unearth the players, and figure out their game, but events were moving too quickly. Caridad could barely stand, and Faith didn’t look much better.
“Will!” Kennedy’s shout came from outside. “Willow!”
“Coming.” Faith met Willow’s concerned eyes and nodded. They both had a bad feeling about this. The other Slayers followed in their wake, as they ran for the door. None of them noticed the swirls and patterns etched faintly into the marble, almost like clockwork. Time was running out…
There were hundreds of them marching through the graveyard. Willow instantly felt the wrongness within. They were not connected to the earth. Though flesh and blood they were as unnatural as any manmade machine, and they were coming closer in perfect military precision. In the starlight, their faces were hard too make out, but seemed sunken and crude, as if only half finished. Willow reached out with her magic, as the Coven had taught her, and touched their auras. Gasping she recoiled in shock.
“I-I don’t understand,” she said. “I’m only sensing 26 auras.”
“But there’s at least half a thousand of them,” Kennedy said.
“They’re sharing souls,” Willow said wonderingly.
“Very good, very good indeed.” The soldiers parted and a dark haired man emerged. “You must be Ms. Rosenberg.”
“Beech,” Faith said through gritted teeth.
“Ah Faith.” Beech smiled. “How’s your head?” Faith snarled. She would have charged him, if Willow hadn’t stopped her.
“What do you want?” Willow asked.
“I’d settle for an unlimited supply of rice pudding.” Beech shrugged.
“What are they?” Willow was in no mood for levity.
“Do you like them? Made them myself. Well that’s a slight exaggeration. I designed them any way.”
“What have you done to them?”
“Done? I’ve given them life. Manufactured soldiers, bio-engineered for increased strength, speed, and agility. Perhaps not quite as strong as a Slayer, but I have got an awful lot of them and there’s only twenty of you.”
“Is that a threat?” Willow asked dangerously. Her eyes began to blacken.
“Certainly not. It was an offer. You and your associates are free to go.” Beech smiled. “I have no desire to fight you, but if you remain, you will pay the price for your stubbornness. That, incidentally, was a threat.”
“We decline,” Willow said. Around her the Slayers steadied themselves. This close to the Crypt they felt weak.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Beech smiled almost boyishly. The Bions surged forward. From their sleeves shards of metal unfolded into swords. The greatest line of mystical warriors met the pinnacle of military science in a clash of metal. The Bions were fast, but not as fast. They were strong, but not as strong. In other circumstances, it would have been nothing more than a fairly challenging practice session, but there were so many of them.
Vi blocked a strike and sent the Bion sprawling with a well-aimed kick. It was a small victory, and she was starting to feel faint. She glanced around. The other Slayers didn’t look much better, and Willow seemed to be locked in a mystical staring contest with Beech. The adrenaline coursing through her system had given her a momentary gift of strength, but it was already fading. She sidestepped a vicious kick, but the Bion adjusted and caught her in the jaw. She stumbled back. The Bion pressed his advantage driving her to her knees. A savage blow sent her tumbling to the ground. She let out a muffled moan as her body screamed in protest. She struggled to rise, but her body refused to cooperate. Her stake slipped from her limp hands into the soft earth, and she was still.
Willow could feel the earth answer her call. Deep from its very roots raw magic surged forth into her, but from Beech rose an answering power, alien and unsettling. This was not a duel of parlor tricks and spells, but sheer unadulterated power, and Willow was loosing. She had awaken an army, torn a friend from the clutches of death, and nearly destroyed the world. Any of these feats alone would have numbered her among the greater powers of the world, but the power in Beech was stronger. It attacked sideways, slipping through cracks that Willow never knew were there. Her shields and charms were giving way, inch by inch. No! She would not give up without a fight. Marshalling her strength she prepared for one final massive knockout blow, but Beech struck first. Willow went rigid, as Beech’s attack tore through her defenses striking her simultaneously on the astral plane, and collapsed to the ground.
“Willow!” Kennedy called. She charged to her girlfriends side, with Faith not far behind. “She’s alive,” Kennedy said taking her pulse. Faith sighed in relief.
“We have to get out of here or she won’t be much longer.” She nodded at Beech, who was striding towards them casually. Kennedy nodded. She didn’t think the rest of them could hold out either. “Let’s go!” Faith shouted. “Retreat!”
“Help me with her,” Kennedy said.
“Right.” Faith leaned down and took one of her arms. She and Kennedy half dragged, half carried Willow’s prone body away.
Beech watched them go. A few of the Bions started to follow them, but he held out his hand to stop them. “No,” he said. “We didn’t come here for them. Besides they’ll be back eventually. We got what we came for.” He knelt down at Vi’s side. “And what’s your name, little girl?” She mustered all her strength and spit in his face. He smiled. “There, there,” he said patting her clammy hand. “Don’t worry…Vi. It will all be over in a moment.” He smirked. “For you, any way, but for the others it hasn’t even begun.”
End Part One