Winds of Apocalypse: The Gathering Storm (BtVS\DotD x-over)

[IceWing]

I can't believe I'm doing this... I should know better.... *chuckles* I'd ask what is wrong with me, but I'm sure I'll have a nice list shortly *laugh*

Anyway, here goes.... Let me know what you all think of it. There is more finished by the way, so major changes to the plot will likely be ignored. And yes, I know that this is NOT what you want to do. But, this is a response to a challenge on another subset of the internet I write in. Book One is actually finished and has been for a couple of years now. Book two is heavily outlined, and is going to have a lot more 'edu-tainment' in it.

Again, this story in no way endorses nor advocates what happens herein. It's a response for a challenge which included a crossover with Dawn of the Dead. It's kinda hard to have that without, well, you know...

I don't own anything herein, except for original characters.

IceWing

Wind of Apocalypse - The Gathering Storm (Prologue):
Location: Somewhere on I-77 in Cleveland

Buffy sat staring out the window of the bus, staring over the tops of the other cars as the bus slowly made its way through the gridlock traffic.

Another apocalypse prevented. ‘How many does this make now?’ she wondered idly. ‘Eight? Nine?’ Lifting her head away from the glass, she turned and looked towards Xander, who was currently listening to one of the Baby Slayers recap her actions in the prior night’s battle against the latest group that thought it would be great fun to open the Hellmouth wide. “Hey Xander,” she called.

The young man looked up, his eyes meeting her’s, even if only one was capable of sight. “Yeah Buff-ster?”

“What does last night’s count bring the total Apocalypse counter to?”

Xander paused for a moment, ticking off the events of the past few years in his head. “Umm, are we counting the Master as an Apocalypse or not?”

“Nah, personal death issue. Not the world.”

“Ten maybe?” Xander thought for a moment. “Yeah, I’m going to go with ten. Hey, we broke the double digits! Sweet!”

Buffy nodded and resumed her observation out the window. Ten Apocalypses down. And now, a trip to the Mall to celebrate. Well, the Mall and a couple of other stores. But those were Xander stores. Things like plywood, two times fours, windows. They had the horse trailer that they used for large body disposal and supply runs hooked to the back of the former greyhound bus and were planning on bringing it back to the campus filled to the brim with supplies, food and more importantly, clothes.

“Oh crap,” said Robin as he hit the brakes. “Sorry about that guys, looks like there was a wreck a couple hundred yards ahead. Looks like a couple of cars hit each other and then a semi jack knifed across the road. We need to get another two hundred yards before I can get to the off ramp to cross over to get to the mall. Shouldn’t take too long if people stop being lookey-loues.”

Most of the group moaned and bitched for a moment.

“Well, it could be worse,” said Giles as he took a look out the windshield. “You girls wanted to be at the mall before it opened so you could get all the Pre-Labor Day sales. So we’re just catching the edge of rush hour. Another 30 minutes or so and we should be ready for the massive debt you’re all going to inflict on us. Or at least we'll be in the parking lot... Should be empty since the stores AT the mall won't be open for another hour after we arrive.”

From outside the bus, all could hear the sounds of horns honking occasionally. “Stupid bastards,” muttered Faith. “They think honking is gonna clear the road faster. Whata buncha morons.”

A few moments later, the bus had managed to advance a solid twenty feet. The horns were still being honked outside the bus. Most of the teens and young adults were debating on what stores to hit in what order as the DVD they had been watching on the overhead monitors came to an end.

As she was looking for the next Passions DVD, Willow flipped the input to the satellite dish that Andrew had rigged up for the bus soon after its purchase. Almost immediately the signal was decrypted and the pirated signal was set to CNN.

The reporter who was currently on camera seemed more than a little shaken as she spoke. “Rioting has now been confirmed in not only Las Vegas, New York, but has now spread to Dallas, Miami and Los Angeles. Conflicting reports are indicating that the rioters are...”

“Damn what’s got her so panicked?” asked Rona as she looked at the monitor.

The honking outside the bus got louder, going from individual horns being hit to a continuous disharmony which enveloped the bus.

From the back of the bus, Andrew spoke up, his eyes fixed solidly outside. "Um, guys... I think we should start to move now..."

"Andrew, we're stuck in traffic, we can't move..." Yelled Robin from the driver’s seat.

“Yeah, keep it down. We’re trying to figure out what’s going down on the news.”

Before Andrew could respond, Xander spoke up. "Well, its either we move, or the Mongol sized horde of zombies outside are going to open the bus like a can of sardines," said the one eyed carpenter. "So for once, I think we should LISTEN to the dweeb."

End Prologue

[skarface]

HA!


Sorry. I didn't realize that your maze of acronyms was about Buffy. Should be interesting, although I know nothing of her universe. I can't wait 'til she tries some grapple/kick move and gets eaten.

[IceWing]

Here's the next bit... I've also been working on revising the outline for book two (Blood and Thunder)

Chapter One

Almost as one, the people on the bus pressed their faces against the windows, looking out over the chaos which had descended on them.

People were scrambling out of their cars, or trying to at least, and attempting to run away from the horde of creatures moving up the interstate. Many were able to outrun the dead, but not all. Doors being opened at the wrong time, people trying to get others out of their way, sometimes just bad luck. No matter the cause, if somebody went down, they weren’t likely to get back up.

Or at least not with a heartbeat intact.

Precious seconds passed as even the season veterans of Sunnydale and the Cleveland Hellmouth were stunned at what they saw. At then, the bus was surrounded by an intermixed mob of the living and the dead. Only the screams could tell them apart.

“Somebody open the door!” yelled one of the younger Slayers. “We’ve got to help those people.”

Giles’ voice stopped Robin before the former principal could open the front door. “The bus is already surrounded,” he pointed out. “Leaping into the fray from this position, all you will do is fall before you have a chance to strike them down. Not to mention that this is supposed to be a shopping trip, not a patrol.”

“There’s a difference?” muttered Xander from his position near the rear of the bus, watching as more innocents were pulled down. His hands were clenched, as he watched the carnage. Not to mention the fact that the first victims were already back on their feet, adding to the strength of the horde.

From the front, Giles continued. “All we have with us is the emergency kit, and its located in the luggage compartment underneath the bus.” He looked at the door, where several zombies were banging on the reinforced panels. “I wouldn’t advise anyone going outside to get it at the moment.” Taking a moment to assess the situation, Giles turned to Robin, who was looking in horror over the scene before them all. “Robin, you need to get us off this road and out of this slaughterhouse. Now…”

“There’s a wreck up there,” said Robin as he tried to respond. “The people, we can’t just leave them…”

Giles put a hand on his shoulder leaned down and spoke in a harsh, low tone into the former principal’s ear. “If you do not get us off this road right now, then those undead are going to disable this vehicle and then there’s nothing we will be able to do except see how many of them it takes to kill us all. Now move it!” The sound of Ripper beginning to emerge was enough to motivate the son of a Slayer to turn the wheel and hit the accelerator.

The massive vehicle lurched forward, clipping the back end of the Nissan Sentra that was ahead of it. The car was pushed forward like a toy, the back corner crumpling slightly as the customized bus moved out of the line of traffic and onto the shoulder. With a little correction, the bus was moving straight again and plowed ahead. At first, the zombies, not to mention the dying humans, were pushed out of the way, but once Robin got some speed up, the living and dying alike were ground under the massive wheels. In less than a minute, the bus was ahead of the bulk of the horde, and kept moving.

On the overhead monitor, CNN had switched to a live press conference. From the sign behind the podium, it seemed like it was from the CDC in Atlanta. A senior official was talking about how the recently dead have somehow become reanimated and were displaying homicidal behavior. All citizens were advised to stay in their homes. This disease, it is being classified as a viral pathogen at this time, is extremely contagious and seems to be transferred via fluidic contact.

“Great,” muttered Rona. “Just being bit by the dead can kill you. Now there’s something different even for us.”

Giles pointed out of the window at a man being pursued by a half dozen of the zombies. “Robin, see if you can’t smash those buggers. Faith!” he yelled over his shoulder, “Come up here and grab this bloke as we drive past.”

Faith was on her feet and shifted from the seat to the well by the door. “Don’t let those things bite my ass, Sherwood,” she said as she waited for the bus to close with the man in need of rescue.

Robin aimed the corner of the bus at the undead and eased up on the accelerator just a touch. “Don’t want to knock them into the guy,” he said as he noted Giles’ questioning look.

The honking of the bus's horn startled everyone on the bus, save Robin. Even the guy running looked back, just in time to notice the bus coming up behind him. Or, more accurately, the bus that was knocking five of the six zombies to the ground, where they remained until the bus’s right side tires reduced them to a paste.

“Missed one,” said Faith with a smirk.

“Be nice,” retorted Robin as he swung the bus back to the left, clipping the last zombie and sending it spinning away, its legs broken like twigs. “I wanted to go for the spare.” The dark skinned man hit the door release, just as he came even with the running man.

“Need a lift slick?” asked Faith as she leaned out the door of the bus, one hand on the railing inside the door. With her free hand she grabbed him by both his belt and the waist of his jeans, lifted him smoothly and swung him inside.

“Exact change only,” quipped the Boston native as she moved back towards her seat, past the rescuee.

“Oh god,” said the man, as he realized what had just happened. “I… You… Holy god…”

“Yeah,” said Faith with a smirk. “I get that a lot…”

“Umm, before you pass out, can you get behind the yellow line. In fact, take a seat. .” Giles gently moved the man towards an open seat. “Willow, Kennedy. Make sure he’s ok.”

With the rescue done, the attention turned back to the vehicles which had been honking as the bus slowed down. A line of over a dozen cars and trucks had followed the lead of the trailer pulling bus and were following the path cut up the shoulder and onto the off-ramp.

As the bus went up the inclined ramp, the view from the windows expanded as they cleared the top of the concrete noise barriers which flanked both sides of the interstate. It was like a trough, with hundreds of the undead slowly working their way down the road. Past where they had been, it was all clear, due to the fact that the wreck had plugged up the highway and the area past was empty of both vehicles and undead.

Off to the right of the interstate, the Slayers and their support team could see pillars of smoke and flame rising up from a primarily residential area. Although there weren’t a lot of them, the zombies were in that area as well, but they were far fewer, at least, so far.

“Jesus,” said Tammy as she looked in horror out the back window.

All who turned to look could see what caused her to speak. A zombie was hanging, half in and half out of the driver’s side window of a cargo truck. In helpless silence, they watched as the driver tried to push the zombie out, but a spray of blood from inside the cab covered the windshield from within as a crimson curtain that hid the man’s last seconds of life.

In his thrashing around, the driver must have slammed down the gas pedal, causing the truck to leap forward just as it swung slightly to the right. It impacted the rail, causing it to spin, knocking its load of propane gas cylinders loose from the straps which had been securing them in the open bed of the truck. The driver of the SUV following behind slammed on the brakes, but between the speed they were all driving at, the short distance between the vehicles and the zombie paste making the road a bit slick, there just wasn’t time to stop.

The front end of the massive Suburban hit one of the tanks as it rolled off the bed of the truck, catching it right between the sharp metal edge of the truck and the still moving Chevy.

As they watched, the Slayers could see, in perfect detail, the look of terror on the middle aged mom’s face, her kid beside her in the passenger seat, as she watched the end of her life play out before her. And then, it a wave of fire, both the look on her face and her life itself were wiped away as if they had never been.

The blast reached out, and ruptured more of the tanks, throwing others through the air. Like a fuel air explosive, it seemed as if the very air itself was burning for just a heartbeat, then it was gone.

But the damage had been done. Several of the tanks that blew had been rolling down the ramp when they detonated, and between the large chunks of concrete which they blew out, and the overpressure, a large section of the off-ramp began to crack, then shudder.

“Come on,” implored Jen, as she watched the cracks spread, then overtake first one then another car as their drivers tried to recover from the blast. “Hit the gas!”

The off-ramp started to fall, slowly at first, but then faster. The first car made it, but the second was just a second too slow, and despite having floored the accelerator, was not able to make it before the road shifted enough to prevent the car from making it. The impact onto the concrete stopped the car as if a god had pointed their hand and decried ‘stop’.

The driver wasn’t so lucky. With no seatbelt on, he went straight through the windshield, over the hood of the car and hit the very concrete which had prevented his escape in the first place.

As the off-ramp fell, his body vanished from sight.

“Oh god,” muttered Michelle, one of the Slayers who had been involved the Battle of against the First. “Its like Sunnydale all over again.”

“Yeah,” replied Nicole, another of the surviving Slayers of Sunnydale. “Except this time, we have to watch as others don’t make it out.”

On the TV, the CDC briefing continued. “As of this time, we have not been able to generate a cure. If you are bit, the site of the wound will become infected. The disease spreads extremely quickly within the body, but it will be terminal and… You’ll die and turn into one of the walking dead. The duration…” The speaker paused, trying to figure out just how to say what was coming next. “The time from infection till death is dependant on the proximity of the bite to a major blood vessel. Reanimation occurs within minutes of cessation of vitals.”

Giles looked at Robin. “Get us off the roads as fast as you can.”

From the back of the bus, Roger Wyndham-Pryce, one of the Watchers who had decided to come along for the day called out. “We’ve got a couple of vehicles following us.”

End Chapter One

[IceWing]

HA!

Sorry. I didn't realize that your maze of acronyms was about Buffy. Should be interesting, although I know nothing of her universe. I can't wait 'til she tries some grapple/kick move and gets eaten.

Well, to be fair, one on one, and assuming they're aware that a single bite can be deadly and that they need to crush the brain, a Slayer would have no problem dispatching a zombie. Heck, even with fast zombies, as long as they're maybe only dealing with 2-3 to one odds, I don't think it would be much of an issue, especially if the Slayer has some kind of appropriate weapon (i.e. not just a stake). The big problem with zombies is 1.) They're always waiting in the next shadow, and when you aren't paying attention, that's when they get you. And 2.) They don't always come at you in 3 to 1 odds... They prefer 300 to 1 odds.

Ice

[skarface]

Wow.

This is getting good!

[IceWing]

Wow.

This is getting good!

Well... *watches a tumbleweed blow past* at least SOMEBODY thinks so... *laugh*

Ice

[IceWing]

Chapter Two

“Pull in over there,” directed Xander as he stepped up from the back of the bus. Seeing the looks that both Giles and Robin gave him, he explained. “Look, right now, I don’t see any of those things. The middle of the mall parking lot gives us plenty of room to see any of them approaching. Plus, if we need to pull out, we can go just about any direction.”

Robin looked at Giles, who nodded. The bus pulled into the parking lot, the trailer bouncing over the curb.

From the back window, James O'Shaunasey spoke. “They’re pulling in after us,” said the Irish born Watcher, pointing at the Honda hybrid which was followed by a large Expedition.

“I hate being followed,” muttered Faith.

Suddenly, Andrew moved into the aisle, carrying a weighty duffle bag in each hand. “Got these from underneath. They should help.” He dropped both bags, then unzipped the first one and started handing out swords, maces and a couple of longbows to the Slayers.

“How the bloody hell did you get down into the luggage compartments?” asked Roger Wyndham-Pryce as he paused from punching numbers into his cell phone to look at the young man with a hint of confusion.

“Oh, I installed smuggling panels. Just like in the Falcon. Aren’t they cool?”

“You have got to be kidding me,” commented Nicole.

“Hey, give the dweeb a break,” retorted Kennedy, her hand wrapped around the handle of a mace. “And I cannot believe I just said that…”

Faith agreed as she slung a sword and scabbard over her shoulders and secured the straps. “At least now we’ve got some weapons in our hands. And me? I’d rather be armed against the hordes of zombies than not…”

“You can say that again,” said Rona as she made her way towards the front of the bus and out the door.

Once they had all disembarked, Giles instructed the Slayers to fan out, including a pair at each end of the bus to make sure nothing was able to sneak up on them. Once the perimeter was set up, everyone took a moment to look around.

The parking lot was empty. The roads almost completely deserted. Almost, but not completely. Every once in a while, a car would race by, as people tried to escape the dark fate that was descending on civilization. And, in the distance, only the Slayers could hear faint screams from the living, and the moans of the dead, intermixed.

“Man, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Mall this empty,” pronounced Buffy as she surveyed the lot and the two vehicles that were sitting not far from the bus. “Kinda weird.”

“Well,” said Xander looking at his watch. “It is only 9 a.m. The mall doesn’t open normally till 10, and, oh yeah, the hordes of zombies. Most people, they’re thinking this isn’t a prime shopping opportunity.”

All heads turned as the doors on first the Expedition, then the Honda, opened and the passengers emerged, albeit looking like they were ready to bolt at any given time.

Before the newcomers closed the distance, Roger moved close to Giles. “Rupert, I believe there may be another problem,” he said softly. “I have been trying to call the Institute, and every time I try and get through, the phone company informs me that my call cannot be completed at this time.”

Giles looked back at one of the former scions of the Watcher’s Council. “Keep trying to get through,” he said, not wanting to give up hope for the rest of their charges, friends and family. He looked out of the parking lot, and across the main street. Nothing. “Good,” he said, as he gestured to all those around him. “Gather around all of you, please. Girls, if you could keep an eye out, make sure we’re not blindsided.”

The Slayers shifted in their positions, weapons at hand, so they could both listen and observe. Also, at the mention of blindsided, Dawn shifted and took a couple of steps first one way, then another, in a seemingly chaotic pattern. But, when she stopped, she was standing to Xander’s left, to ensure he was covered.

“Alright, as some of you might know, we seem to have a problem in the form of a very large quantity of zombies. And, and this is different for those of us who have dealt with this kind of thing before, the problem seems fairly widespread, according to CNN of all places, and there doesn’t seem to be much we can do to prevent it, as, well, they’re already out eating people in broad daylight…”

“Who are you people?” asked the woman who had been in the hybrid car. “You know what’s going on? Did you have something to do with it?” The question came out half pleadingly, half accusatory.

Faith looked at the woman and rolled her eyes. “Man, talk about jumping to conclusions.” Then, a bit louder, she continued. “Lady, that’s just whacked, and I’ve spent four years trying to understand Californians.”

“On behalf of Californians, I’d like to say hey…” replied Xander. “Although, I’ve got to agree with you. Lady,” he said turning towards the blonde. “We learned about it on CNN. It’s called the Mee Dee Uh…”

“Umm, excuse me,” said man who had been driving the Expedition. “Do you think those… Things… Are they going to show up here as well?” Xander noticed that the man's jacket was unzipped and he kept his right hand near his waist

Giles removed his glasses and polished them with a cloth from his pocket. “If I might guess, this is a business area, not residential neighborhood. There are not a lot of people around to either eat or to become flesh eating demons in the first place. Plus, with the off ramp... closed... and the interstate as a whole jammed up, we should have at least a few minutes’ reprieve.”

Dawn spoke up. “Look, no matter what we’re going to do, we need to do it quick. Willow, how many people live in Cleveland?”

The red haired witch looked at her, not understanding where she was going with this. “I don’t know, about a half million maybe?”

“Ok, let’s say that half of them have become breathing impaired. That’s a quarter of a million zombies between us and home. And there are twenty,” she paused then added in the newcomers. “Twenty five of us. Personally, I’m thinking we can’t take out ten thousand zombies each. Let’s get out of sight for a little bit, let them disperse and then figure out where to go.”

“The military will clean up this mess. That’s what they’re good for, right?” chimed in the woman who had gotten out of the Honda Insight.

“Typical,” muttered the owner of the Expedition as he looked at her. “Lady, the military, God bless `em, they’re not going to ride in here and save your ass. We’re going to survive, we’ve got to do it ourselves.”

“The government will help us. That’s what our tax dollars are for!” she screamed back, panic in her voice

Xander rolled his eyes as he spoke up. “Ok, everybody calm down.” When nobody listened, he yelled for them all to shut up. “Good! Now, listen to me. Some of us, we’ve been there when the military tried to help with this kind of thing. Trust us, they didn’t do all that well the first time around. Secondly, assuming they had their shit together, do you know where the nearest military base is? There’s a couple in Pennsylvania. Here in Ohio, the ONLY military base is Wright Pat, and its by Dayton. That’s HOURS away. And, it doesn’t matter because its not an infantry base. It’s Air Force, sometimes that would mean mostly bombers and attack aircraft, but Wright Pat is primarily a logistics hub. And that’s not what we need. Well, we do, since logistics means supplies, but it doesn't matter since it's on the other end of the state... And whatever infantry they MIGHT be able to scrape together? They’re not only not configured for combat operations in the continental U.S., but they're pretty much going to be trained as MP's, at best... So, basically, we’re on our own.”

“And what makes you such an expert?” asked the woman.

“What’s your name, lady?”

“Maria,” she replied primly.

“Well Maria. I’m the expert because I went as a soldier for Halloween once.” Xander continued even as Dawn, Faith and Buffy all snickered. “That and I like to know where I’m going to need to go in case I need another anti-tank rocket. So, since we don’t have anyone on active duty here, my knowledge as to military reality is about all you’ve got. Now, as I was saying. Giles, we’re not going to be able to get back to campus, are we?”

Nicole interrupted. “We’ve got one coming, coming from around that Bob Evans.” She pointed at the undead which was about a hundred and fifty yards away.

“He sees us,” muttered Willow as the zombie turned towards them and began to run at them.

“Mine!” declared Rona as she pulled back the arrow in her bow and let it loose.

The wooden projectile flew across the distance in a fraction of a second and struck the zombie in the heart. The impact knocked what had once been a man, possibly a nurse or doctor, to the ground, the arrow straight through his chest and visible on both sides. But, a moment later, it lumbered back to its feet and began again to run at them.

“Not good…” called Rona as she nocked another arrow. “Any ideas?”

Dawn spoke up. “Umm, when we had a party one time, mom had this mask. Zombies came a running. Buffy stopped em though.”

All eyes turned to look at Buffy, or at least the eyes of those who know who Buffy was. The rest figured out a moment later when she spoke. “Umm, I took em down by shoving a shovel through their eyes.”

“Umm, guys, its getting closer and we’re fresh out of shovels,” called Rona as she watched the zombie close to under a hundred yards and continue its rapid approach.

“Arrow through the eyes maybe?”

“Oh, this is going to be a great fight if everything has to be killed by bursting eyeballs,” muttered Xander.

Dawn heard him and laid a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently.

Rona pulled back the bow, aiming at the zombie’s right eye and let the shot fly. It was a solid shot, but the zombie was running and instead of hitting where she aimed, Rona’s shot missed its intended point by over an inch.

But, the arrow sticking through its forehead seemed to disagree with the zombie, and it stumbled and fell to the group like a marionette with its strings cut. Rona prepared another shot, but the zombie didn’t manage to rise again. “Well, apparently a head shot will do it,” she said proudly. “Now, as we were saying?”

Xander looked at the fallen zombie. “Um, I’m thinking we need to get out of the open till we can figure out what’s going on.”

The blonde Senior Slayer looked at her friend. “We should fight them,” she declared.

“Yeah, we should,” he replied. “But, did you see how many of them are on the interstate? We’d be swarmed and that’ll be all she wrote. Like Dawn said, we can’t take on all of them by ourselves. And, considering what we saw on the highway, I don’t think we’re going to make it back to the Institute, at least not till these things have had a chance to disperse a little bit. We need to get under cover, hole up, at least for a while.” He looked out over the empty surroundings and listened. “And given those moans are getting louder rather than softer, I’m thinking we don’t have a whole lot of time.”

“Any ideas where?” responded Buffy.

Xander looked to Giles, who looked around, then almost as one, the entire assemblage turned at looked at the Mall.

End chapter 2

[skarface]

Woo!


*cricket cricket*


Well, the two of us seem to be having a good time. I certainly like the story, and you do have 150-some views.

[IceWing]

Woo!


*cricket cricket*


Well, the two of us seem to be having a good time. I certainly like the story, and you do have 150-some views.

Yeah, but honestly, and don't take this the wrong way... you're the ONLY one responding... Now, I KNOW that the mall is a bad idea, and I wouldn't advocate it, but hell, at least some flames would be appreciated. I'm not even getting mocking and derision. It's meant as a fun read, although it will get both more educational and darker in book 2.

*sighs*

Oh well... You can't always make your audience happy. Just look at NBC *grin* I would say Fox, but they seem to take joy in pissing off the audience.

Ice

[Lurch]

Fine then, MOAR! I'm reading this and trying to remember who everyone is, as it's been a while since I've watched Buffy. It's good, and with a bunch of teenagers the mall makes for a logical goal.
MOAR writing, less angst about feedback.

[skarface]

MOAR




please

[IceWing]

*wipes a crocodile tear away...*

My first Moar Zombies.... I feel so... unclean...

Muhahahahahaha...ha...

I'll try and put a post together which includes a cast list.

Ice

Chapter 3

“Here?” Giles said in stunned disbelief.

Xander took a deep breath. “I can’t believe I’m saying I WANT to barricade myself in a bloody mall. Look, normally I'd tell you this place is about the worst POSSIBLE location to bunker down in. It's got too many entrances, is going to be a nightmare to secure with as few people as we have. If they DO get in, we're going to have a hell of time doing anything other than dying. There's no decent water supply, there's no real way to produce food in there. We'd be sitting smack dab in downtown zombieland. Plus, I guarantee you that a LOT of other people are going to be thinking hey, 'what a great place to hide', when in actuality, it's most likely a deathtrap. Some folks will say, 'There's all kinds of stuff in the mall', but, in reality, most of whats there is trash when it comes down to a survival situation. Most of whats here is mass market dross designed for consumption by rampant consumerism. Now, on the flip side, we're here already. We are NOT prepared to make a run for it, nor do we have supplies to try and do so. We try to make it home, we die. We try to get out of town right now, we die. We hide here, MAYBE we have a snowball's chance in Hell... ” He glanced towards Buffy and Dawn. “Unlike some people, twenty four hours mall access is not my idea of personal nirvana. More like a bloody nightmare.”

All of the group who had been in Sunnydale looked at him a bit strangely, causing Xander to replay what he had just said in his own mind. After a moment, comprehension dawned. “And now I’m sounding like a damn Brit to boot, no offense Giles.”

“None taken, you Yankee pillock,” replied the older man with a smile.

“Why here? Shouldn’t we at least try and get back to the Institute…” Buffy said, her voice trailing off near the end.

“We won’t make it back to the Institute. The roads are trashed, oh, and full of zombies,” retorted Dawn. She pointed at the hospital that was peeking over the top of the trees a half mile away. “Do you hear any more sirens from ambulances? We got here, there were sirens. No more sirens. Not good. Roads? Not Good! We need to figure out someplace else.”

“You’re just going to abandon our friends?” replied her sister.

“No Buffy, we’re not abandoning them,” said the former Key. “We CANNOT get to them. We’re forty five minutes away, and that was in the bus, with traffic moving. Now? The roads are filling up with abandoned vehicles, the undead are using the roads as an all you can eat buffet. That’s about as bad of an idea as Oz’s hummus offensive.”

“Willow, you can do something, right?” asked Buffy as she looked over at the young woman who had performed the Empowerment spell

The red head nodded, then closed her eyes and began to speak silently.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Her lips silently moving, Willow chanted the ritual words which helped her tap into the core of earthen magic the Coven in Devon had shown her. Her inner being, the core of what she was reached out, to embrace the Magic and to let it run through her.

But, as she metaphysically made contact, she could feel that something was out of kilter. As the connection opened, it was no longer a whisper telling her something was wrong, it was a tumult of voices, screaming at her as one.

The normally pure earth magics were no longer the shining white that she had always associated it with. Now, the power, although still as potent, was darkened somehow. Dirty.

An almost oily mystical residue was intermingled with it, and the touch of it was so abhorrent to her, that the young witch didn’t know what to do.

Almost as a reflex, she let her inner eye move to the dark sphere of power, of hate and rage, that she had tapped into during her murderous tracking of Warren.

The darkness which she had stepped away from was pulsing and growing as the anguish, fear and death of society rolled off of humanity in waves. She could hear it calling out to her, making her feel like a small scared child as the night, and all that it hid, closed in on her, ready to tear her limb from limb.

She tried to raise her mystical shields, instinctively reaching for the now tainted earth magic to supplement her inner power reserves.

But even as she did so, she could feel her own power being draw away as the connection was made. She tried to extend her shields to keep the earth magics from grounding out her own power, but the gradient was too large and her power was slipping out faster than she could protect herself.

Feeling both the darkness and the light both pulling at her, Willow slammed her magical connections shut. As her own walls came back up, protecting her and sealing her off from whatever had happened metaphysically, a bloodcurdling scream escaped her throat and then there was darkness.

** ** ** ** ** ** **

“Willow!” screamed Kennedy as she abandoned her position on the perimeter and ran to her girlfriend’s side as the redhead collapsed to the ground. “Are you okay baby?” she asked near hysterics as she fell to her knees and cradled Willow’s head in her lap.

After a moment, Willow moaned slightly and started to recover her wits. She looked up at the young woman who had helped her heal after losing Tara, tears were rolling down her face. “I tried…” A sob wracked her frame. “Oh goddess, I tried to touch the magic…” She tried to continue, but was unable to as tears ran down her face to begin soaking her blouse.

“shh…” whispered Kennedy, trying to put aside her own terror. “It’s going to be okay baby.”

“All that pain,” Willow managed to say. “All that death, screaming out.”

Xander grabbed Andrew from behind, jamming his hand over the younger man’s mouth. “Not the time,” he hissed before Warren’s former lackey could even speak.

“The white magic, the earth, it’s so tainted…. And the core of darkness…” The young woman who had come so close to cleansing the world looked up at Giles, even as Kennedy was holding her. “I can’t tap into either of them… It’s too much…” And with that, Willow melted into her girlfriend’s embrace as she felt the echoes of a civilization dying, one person at a time.

** ** ** ** ** ** **

Xander looked down at his the woman who he had grown up beside, and it almost killed him to see her in that much pain. But right now, they had to get to work if they were going to survive. “Kennedy, you’re on Willow duty for the moment. Make sure she’s ok.” The young man looked to Giles, as if wanting confirmation that he had the older man’s backing and support in organizing the group before continuing. As much as he cared for Willow, if they didn’t get a move on, they were all going to be a world of hurt.

A silent nod and a proud look from Giles were more than enough confirmation.

“Ok, we’re going to hole up in the Mall. We can’t make it back to the Institute. We’re here for the duration.”

The sound of an arrow being released turned everyone’s head to look at Arianna.

“Sorry,” she said. “I saw one and wanted to drop it before it got close.” The Italian girl pointed across the parking lot to the zombie which lay prostrate on the asphalt.

“Excellent shot,” commented Giles before motioning for Xander to continue.

“Anyway, we’re here for the duration. We need to secure the vehicles and then sweep the mall, securing the entrances, which will probably need reinforced, if the highway was any indication.” He chuckled ruefully. “It’s a good thing we’re at my favorite mall, cause without the Home Depot, this would be a lot tougher.” He looked at Giles. “Any thoughts?”

The Senior Watcher looked around. “We’re short on time, and as much as I’d like to get supplies from the stores across the way, I don’t believe we have time at this point. At least not to do so safely. We’re going to need food, water, and more weapons.”

Andrew chimed up, having gotten his mouth uncovered. “There’s a Biggs in there. Plenty of food, at least for a while, given the way the girls eat. Bottles of water too.”

“Ok, so that’s food and water taken care of.”

Roger spoke up. “Rupert, are you sure that’s going to be enough supplies? We have twenty people here right now, several of whom come to think of it, whose names I still do not know. As we do not know how long we are going to be here, should we not consider supplementing whatever supplies are inside?”

Giles looked to Jimmy O'Shaunasey, the only other Watcher who was present.

“Well, we don’t know how long we’ll have before there are too many of these damnable cadavers to safely dispatch from outside the walls of our fortress. But I for one think we should at least consider getting more supplies.”

Xander looked at the Watchers, and cut in. “Fine! Look, we don’t have time to debate it. We go, now, if we’re going to go. Robin, you’re driving. Start it up. Jimmy, you’re with me. Buffy, you lead the Slayers I’m leaving. Faith, with me. Pick six slayers.”

The Boston native looked at Xander for a heartbeat, then barked out names. “Rona, Nicole, Michelle, Anastasia, Vi, and… Tammy. You’re with me, mount up.”

The Slayers fell back to the bus, and boarded, keeping their weapons ready. Faith went up the steps behind them.

As the Slayers, vanished from sight, Xander turned to Giles. “Get to Home Depot. Park these cars,” he pointed at the Honda Accent and the Ford Expedition. “Park them in the garden area. Its got a cage around it, so we can lock it down. Leave it open, cause we may be coming back in a hurry.”

Behind them, Robin was turning the bus around, leaving the door open so Xander could jump onboard.

Xander continued to speak as he waited for Robin to bring the bus up alongside him. “Go to the back of the store, open the overhead door. Run it up, get all the plywood and wood inside. Heavier stuff first. They leave it outside cause its on skids. The zombies don’t need it, we do.” He turned and stepped up on the lowest step, then turned around, one hand on the handrail. “Oh, and get the propane tanks in from outside.” The young man looked at the figure who was the closest thing he had to a father. “Stay safe G-man. And be ready to slam the doors shut as soon as we’re back.”

And with that, Robin pressed down on the accelerator and the massive vehicle pulled across the parking lot, picking up speed as it went.

End Chapter 3

[skarface]

MOAR PLEASE

[Dr Jekell]

MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR

MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR

MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR-MOAR


Oh and in case I forgot:

MOAR

[walterde]

Woo!


*cricket cricket*


Well, the two of us seem to be having a good time. I certainly like the story, and you do have 150-some views.

Yeah, but honestly, and don't take this the wrong way... you're the ONLY one responding... Now, I KNOW that the mall is a bad idea, and I wouldn't advocate it, but hell, at least some flames would be appreciated. I'm not even getting mocking and derision. It's meant as a fun read, although it will get both more educational and darker in book 2.

*sighs*

Oh well... You can't always make your audience happy. Just look at NBC *grin* I would say Fox, but they seem to take joy in pissing off the audience.

Ice

Ok, by my count myself included there are four people who are reading this. That makes a complete fireteam, and i'm on the machine gun. So now you can start cranking out some MOAR!!!!!

[IceWing]

Ok, by my count myself included there are four people who are reading this. That makes a complete fireteam, and i'm on the machine gun. So now you can start cranking out some MOAR!!!!!

Well, book one is actually completed... I do need to post some more though, as well as work on book 2 some more.

Ice

[Lurch]

I do need to post some more though...

Whatever gave you that idea?


Could it be the cries of MOAR!

[IceWing]

Chapter 4

Giles looked at those who were left, hoping that this course of action wasn’t a mistake. “Ok, we’ve got to get to Home Depot.

Maria stepped forward, hands on her hips. “And exactly why should we be listening to you?” she demanded.

The husband and wife who had been in the SUV, and who had been listening as they held onto each other, stepped quietly away from her. It was fairly obvious that they didn’t want to be associated with what was coming.

Before Giles could say anything, Dawn beat him to the punch. “You know what? You don’t have to listen to him.” The well dressed woman smirked at Giles, almost as if to say, ‘See, I don’t have to listen to you, you dinosaur.’ But Dawn continued speaking, causing the look to be wiped from her face. “You don’t have to listen to any of us, even though we do have all the weapons, whereas you? You’re unarmed. But we won’t force you to stay. Or to listen to us. You’re free to leave. But, if you do decide you don’t want to listen to us, and you want to get in your little car, can you do us a favor and try and get at least SOME of the zombies to follow you.”

A look of horror on her face, Maria shook her head. “N…no, it’s alright,” she stuttered. “I…I’ll stay.”

“Would there be any more questions?” asked Giles.

“Umm, Yeah. I have one,” asked the guy from the Expedition, cautiously raising his hand as he spoke. “What’s a Slayer?”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Xander took two steps up and was even with Robin. As soon as he was, he looked back at the Slayers and began to speak. “Ok ladies, here’s the drill. We’re going to be in an out of the store, in as quick as we can. You pair up. You keep your partner in sight at all times. Robin, as soon as we get out, turn it around…”

The bus hit a bad pothole as it exited the mall lot, causing Xander to lurch to the side, before catching himself on one of the uprights. The Slayers swayed to the movement, but not a single one had to even take a step to keep their balance.

“Turn it around, keep it running. As soon as you do, Jimmy, you get the trailer and the luggage compartments open on the side towards the store. Robin, you stay at the wheel, cause I don’t think those things are all that far off. Jim, you and Tammy, you load the stuff up as it comes out.”

As the bus came up on the intersection, Robin called out. “Wal-Mart or Meijer’s?”

Xander thought for a split second. “Super Wal-Mart.” As Robin took the bus straight, Xander continued speaking. “Honestly, I’d rather hit Meijer’s but it’s another three hundred yards. Frankly, I’m worried about us getting overrun as it is and the Wal-Mart has a better field of view.”

Robin nodded, running the light but with the streets empty, it wasn’t an issue.

“Ok. Faith, you, Nicole, Anastasia and Rona. You’re on food and water. As soon as we stop, three of you grab a bunch of carts, one of you stays ready to fight.” Xander looked at the Slayers, hoping that he wasn’t sending them to die. This whole plan sucked, but it would definitely improve their odds.

“That’s me,” declared Faith. “Fork over the bow.”

Rona quickly complied, also unslinging the quiver from her back. “I’ll need a weapon too,” she muttered.

Silently, Robin reached down and pulled a small hatchet from the underneath his seat, handing it to the young Slayer as the bus approached the front of the Wal-Mart.

Xander’s gaze stopped on the Dark Slayer. “Faith, make sure you guys grab all of the cans you can. Water, get the biggest containers first. As soon as you fill up a cart, get it back here to the bus so Robson and Tammy can load it in. Stews, soups, get the nutritious stuff first. Move fast, but be careful. Groceries are on the left when you get into the store.”

The bus rolled into the parking lot of the store.

“Michelle, Vi, you’re with me. We’re heading back to hardware and sporting goods. Camping supplies, knives, axes. Think like you’re going on a camping trip for a long time, grab everything you can.” As the carpenter finished, the two Slayers he had just mentioned both nodded their understanding.

The bus pulled up to the front of the store and Robin triggered the door.

“Ok, be careful girls…” said Xander.

The Slayers bounded down the steps onto the pavement, looking around to make sure it was clear. The lot was almost completely empty.

“Got three cars in the lot,” said Xander as he descended as well. “Might be zombies inside, so be careful. He glanced back inside the bus. “Keep it running guys,” and then he followed his girls into the store.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Slowly, the Ford Expedition and the Honda Accent crept through the parking lot.

Surrounding the two vehicles, the Slayers who remained behind, as well as Dawn and the three Watchers present, moved like a platoon of infantry protecting the armored vehicles they were assigned to. Vehicles which were protecting the civilians they had picked up and Willow, who was still gathering her wits.

“Zombie,” announced Buffy, pointing forward across the parking lot.

“See it,” responded Arianna, releasing an arrow a moment later. The sound of the corpse hitting the ground reached them a second later. “One up, one down,” she announced, a hint of pride at dropping the zombie with a single shot through the forehead.

“Good job,” added Buffy after a moment. She was still learning how to best be a leader instead of a dictator. But she was trying, so the girls were willing to give her a chance. “There it is,” she said, seeing the exterior entrance to the Home Depot. “Anybody see anything?” she asked, keeping her own eyes peeled for any more of the undead.

Nobody did, and the group kept moving forward until they stopped in front of the exterior garden area.

The heavy bars surrounded the paved over space like prison walls, but the double gate at the front was currently closed and the heavy deadbolt was also locked.

“Well, that sucks,” muttered Buffy as she tugged gently on the gates. “Well, I don’t see any keys, so I guess we go with the bigger hammer approach.”

“Hang on for a second,” said Dawn as she examined the lock carefully. “Yeah…” she said thoughtfully to herself, then turned and looked at her sister. “Bigger hammer approach isn’t going to leave much to relock, now is it?”

“Well, no…” admitted the older Summers girl. “But it’ll be open.”

“Look, it’s all clear right now, yes?” When her sister nodded, Dawn continued. “Give me two minutes. Odds are there’s a key in the office, and if there’s not, then I can pick it.”

“Pick it?” cried Buffy. “You don’t know how to pick locks…” she said, almost defiantly.

“Care to place a little bet on that?” asked Dawn. “Spike taught me. Wanted to make sure I knew how through a locked door if I needed to. Kinda fitting if you think about it,” the Key said with a grin.

Buffy looked at her in disbelief. “You… We need to have a little talk about what you are and are not allowed to learn from now on.”

“Uh huh.. .Sure… Eighteen now, remember? Anyway, I’m going to find that other key now,” Dawn said with a smirk and headed to the sliding doors which would allow her entrance to the hardware store.

“This is mom getting even with me, I just know it.” Buffy looked at the other Slayers who were watching the approaches to their part of the parking lot. “Kennedy, go with her, please…”

Kennedy glanced over at Willow, who had exited the Expedition along with the others who had been riding inside of it.

“I’m fine,” said the witch. “Just make it quick.”

Kennedy took the three steps needed to close the distance to Willow and gave her a quick kiss. And then she darted after Dawn, who was already to the entrance to the store, hand-axe at the ready.

Neither looked back as they stepped through the automatic doors and out of sight.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Xander watched his surroundings as he moved behind his girls. Faith and her group were right in front of them, but about to split to the left in order to hit the grocery area. “Hey Faith,” he said quietly.

The dark haired Slayer turned to look at him questioningly.

“Don’t get bit over a can of beans.”

Faith looked at him, mirth in her eyes. “Oh, you know me, X. They’re both good, but I prefer licking to biting any day.”

Xander shook his head. “Just be safe…”

The Boston native grinned. “Ain’t me you gotta worry about…” With an arrow notched, Faith called for her girls to hurry up and led them all towards the grocery section, checking each aisle as she passed it.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Dawn watched the silent aisles in front of her as Kennedy pronounced the management offices clear.

“Make it quick,” said Kennedy, as she came back through the doorway. “No bodies or blood in there, but the doors were unlocked so at least somebody was here this morning.”

Dawn nodded. “I’ll be in and out quick,” she said as she darted into the office.

“Sounds like my last boyfriend…” Kennedy muttered darkly. “And I do mean my LAST boyfriend.”

Dawn flipped through the keys on the walls, and within seconds had four sets of keys in her hand. “Ok, let’s go,” she said as she left the office and headed towards the automatic doors which led from the interior of the store to the garden area.

“Hang on,” demanded Kennedy as they reached the glass doors. “I’m going in first. If you go first and something happens to you, your sister will kill me.”

“Fine,” replied the Key, a little annoyed at everyone always feeling like she needed to be protected.

Kennedy moved into the sensor area and the doors quietly slid open in front of her. Looking left and right, she stepped forward, making sure she was aware of everything around her. “Clear,” she announced.

“Yeah, except for the dead guy right where I need to stand,” quipped Dawn as she pointed at the corpse with a massive head wound which was on the ground by the gate.

Buffy held up her sword, congealed blood and brain sticking to it, on the other side of the gate. “Kinda makes it easy when they just stand at the bars and keep reaching for you… Anyway, can you get this thing open already?”

Dawn rolled her eyes, fitted the key into the deadbolt and unlocked it. “Fine,” she said as she pushed the heavy gates open.

“Ladies,” said Giles as he looked over the Slayers who were present. “If you would be so kind as to pair off and do a quick sweep of the store, make sure there are no further zombies lurching about, then we can get to work.

“We’re on it, Giles,” Buffy replied. “Su Ying, you’re with me. We take the front of the store. Kennedy, you and Arianna, you take the back. We meet on the far side, then work back down the middle, then clear the bathrooms and break rooms. Any questions?”

The other three Slayers indicated that they understood and they prepared to move out.

“Please make it quick,” said Giles. “Without the bow, we shall be forced to let any zombies close to melee range.”

“We’ll be back before you know it, Giles,” said Buffy.

And with that, the Slayers moved out at a jog.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Several hundred yards away, in the depths of the Wal-Mart supercenter, the group Xander was leading was making a mad dash for the hardware section.

Of course, with two Slayers in his group, Xander wasn’t exactly leading the way in a literal sense. “Slow up, you two,” he called as the two pulled away from him, each pushing three carts, albeit all pushed into each other, to his one. “Not all of us are Slayers.”

The two skidded to a halt at their destination, letting go of their carts and readying their weapons.

“Just give us a second Xand,” said Vi as she went left and Michelle ducked right.

By the time Xander had reached the end of the hardware section and the start of the sporting goods, the two teens were back from their quick scout of the area.

“Clear right,” announced Michelle a split second before Vi indicated that her side was empty as well.

“Don’t suppose pointing out the whole stay together thing is going to do much good, is it?” asked the carpenter. Seeing the only slightly repentant looks on their faces, Xander decided to not waste his time. “Ok, hardware. Grab nails, screws, all the batteries you can find, anything you think could be a weapon. Flashlights and lightbulbs for `em, lanterns and lamp oil.” He paused to think for a moment. “Rope and twine too. You find backpacks, grab the most expensive, dark colored ones... Beyond that, if you think it’s useful, grab it. Michelle, this row. Vi, next one over. I’m on the automotive aisle.”

The three people each immediately started moving, and within seconds, the sounds of merchandise being dumped into carts could be heard.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

As the Slayers ran a quick sweep of the store, Giles and the others stood by the gates. “Well, this is a fine mess,” he muttered.

“Ain’t that the truth,” replied the guy who had been driving the Expedition and who was now standing guard with a tire iron in his hand. “By the way,” he said as he extended his free hand. “Frank McCallahan, and my wife Lisa.”

Giles noted as he shook the offered hand that Frank had a faint Texan accent. “Rupert Giles, at your service. I’d say pleased to meet you, but given the current situation…”

“Oh, believe me, I understand.”

The Englishman who had once been the bane of the London Underworld looked over the area which was surrounded by the twenty foot high square steel bars. The inside of the bars had a heavy steel mesh welded in place, presumably to prevent theft by the simple method of sliding merchandise through the four inch gaps. Currently, the enclosed space was mostly filled with tables, which during the spring and summer, were covered with plants for sale. Now, as summer was nearing its end, the few plants which remained were all looking like they had seen better days. “We need to clear this area,” he said, almost conversationally. “If we’re going to get the vehicles in here, we need room to park them.”

“Especially that giant bus,” said Frank. “And I thought it cost a lot to fill up that monster’s gas tank,” he continued with a grin, pointing at his own truck.

Giles smiled slightly. “Ok, everyone,” he said in a louder voice. “We need to get the plants off to the side, by the store wall.” As he spoke, he pulled the gates closed and locked them. “We’ll keep the gates shut until the girls get back, but after we get the plants moved, we need to get the plywood and boards that make up these tables moved to the walls of the cage. Cinderblocks as well. That should give us more than enough room to get the vehicles in here.”

Almost immediately, all the people present began pitching in, moving the plants off and to the side. Then, as a table was cleared off, several of the others started reducing it to the boards and blocks and moving them to the other side of the enclosure.

“I can’t believe I’m being forced to move this stuff,” complained Maria.

“Lady, nobody’s forcing you to stay,” retorted Dawn as she moved a bush of some kind. “You’re free to walk out to your car and leave any time you want.”

“Help, help, I’m being oppressed…” chimed in Andrew as he moved a fern which seemed to be in need of water.

“Andrew, do shut up,” said Giles, lifting some of the cinderblocks.

“See the violence inherent in the system!” said the geek.

Dawn and Giles spoke as one. “Andrew, SHUT UP!”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

“Nicole, you and Anna” announced Faith as the four young women stopped in the aisle with the water. “You’re on carts, as soon as we fill them, run em out.”

Anastasia looked a bit uncomfortable at the directive. “Xander said pairs stick together and one of them should be ready to fight.”

“So, keep your sword in your hand then girl, we don’t got time to do it safe,” said Faith as she started yanking five gallon containers off the shelf and shoving them into the cart. Rona quickly followed suit and within seconds, the first two carts were filled to the top of the wire mesh. “Now, run to the bus, tell em to stack the whole carts in the trailer.” The Boston native slung two more containers on the bottom, then shoved the cart at Nicole, who took off running.

After a moment’s hesitation, Anastasia took the cart that Rona had filled and followed, cursing in Russian as she ran to the entrance.

Faith yelled out at the departing girls as she worked to fill the next cart with water. “Remember more carts!”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Buffy and her team returned to the garden area to see the entire group working to clear the area. “Come on girls,” she said as she stepped forward. “Time to help.”

As the four Slayers joined in, Buffy filled Giles in on what had happened. “Store’s clear,” she announced as she picked up four cinderblocks, one on each arm and one in each hand, and moved them to the side. “We found one in the back, it’s toast now.” She glanced over at Arianna, who had taken the zombie down effortlessly. “Doors to the mall are still locked. We locked the doors at the other end by the registers.” She dropped the cinderblocks to the ground, then yelled for one of the other Slayers to start tossing her cinder blocks. "It'll be faster than walking them over," Buffy added.

Three minutes later, with three Slayers throwing cinder blocks, and two catching, the area was cleared.

Giles looked over the now empty space and smiled. “Very good… Frank, Maria, if you would be so kind as to back your vehicles into the cage.”

The two, who had just watched the young women throwing cinder blocks over fifty yards as if they were golf balls, numbly handed over their keys.

Dawn reached into her pocket and pulled out three sets of keys, two of which she offered to Giles. “Found these in the office, Giles. They’re for the two load and go trucks in the parking lot.”

“Good thinking Dawn. We’ll pull those in as well. They go in the back and…” he paused. “Maria’s car is in the center of the rear section. One of the store’s trucks on either side. The Expedition is up front, in the corner. That should leave enough room to get the bus backed in.”

“I can drive one of them in,” offered Buffy hopefully.

End Chapter Four

[Loquinho]

My inner geek is dancing for joy, while my exterior attempts to remain stoic and roll my eyes. For reasons beyond my understanding, I've watched this entire series at least twice. Now, for it to be combined with an honest-to-goodness ZPAW? (sigh )

This may be the first time I've ever typed it, but MOAR!!

[Hammer31]

MOAR!!!!!! Or I shall post my own stories that are so bad that they will destroy your monitor and make you go blind! Muhahahaha!

great story!

[IceWing]

MOAR!!!!!! Or I shall post my own stories that are so bad that they will destroy your monitor and make you go blind! Muhahahaha!

great story!

Is that supposed to be a threat? I read fanfic. 90% of it is so bad that it destroys my monitor, makes me go blind, zeros out my hard drive and then power surges my entire home electrical system. Bring it on little man! *grin*

My question is, would you guys prefer moar story now? Then a longer hiatus while I finish the outline for book 2 (soon to be books 2-3 cause it's getting LONG... Book two is Blood and Thunder... I need a title for Book 3 still... Don't worry, I'll think of one... ) Or should I keep drabbling it out?

Ice

[Hammer31]

Challenge Accepted! Be on the look out for "We are from ZS, and we are here to help!" Coming soon to a posting near you.

[IceWing]

Chapter Five

“No, No, that’s ok Buffy,” said Giles hurriedly. “Dawn, give Roger the other set of keys. If you two could hurry back with the trucks, we can get them in place and get the other two vehicles safely inside.”

As the Giles unlocked the gate again and assigned Arianna to protect they as they got the trucks, Buffy was standing to the side with what could only be described as a pout on her face.

“I wanted to drive,” she said sullenly.

Giles looked over at the young woman who had gone through so much over the past few years. “I’m sorry Buffy, but,” he thought quickly. “I was hoping that you would be able to bring in the propane tanks from outside.

“Fine,” she said with a huff. “But I still wanted to drive the trucks inside.”

The girl who had once been expelled for burning down the Hemery High School Gym stepped outside of the gates and turned to the right. Seeing the two small locked cage which were full of canisters of propane for use in barbecues, she stalked over to them.

Once she had reached the first secured cabinet, the blonde Senior Slayer reached out and pulled on the doors. When the enclosure wouldn’t move, she let out an irritated snarl, and then grabbed the sides of the pierced steel cabinet and began to yank and twist on it.

A moment later, there was a sound of metal tearing as Buffy ripped the entire thing free from its base and dragged it towards the garden area, just as Dawn drove the truck past her and backed it into the cage.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

With all of the water, be it in five gallon, one gallon or smaller bottles, out to the trailer, Faith led her team down the food aisles. “Ok, canned goods,” she exclaimed. “Grab it all. Start with the meats, stews and soups,” she said to Rona. “Nicole, you too.” The two Slayers hurriedly filled their carts with as many cans as they could, following Faith’s instructions. “As soon as you’re full, go… finish up on this aisle, then go for the box dinners and such. Move it girls!”

Faith lead Anastasia over to the next aisle. “Juices,” she said, her eyes falling on the plastic jugs. “Grab those, get `em loaded,” ordered the Boston native as she took her cart and started filling it up with all of the pastas, spaghetti sauces, and because pastas was crap without it, all the Parmesan and Romano cheese she could see.

By the time the Boston and Russian natives were done, the other two girls had returned with empty carts. It was almost like a tag team, because as soon as they skidded to a stop, Faith and Anastasia took off for the entrance at a dead sprint.

“Figures,” muttered Faith as they rapidly approached the doors. “I get the cart with the bad wheel.” Bringing the carts to a stop in front of O'Shaunasey, Faith looked over the haul. “Doing good,” she announced. “Keep up the good job you two… We’ve got more to grab.”

Leading the way, Faith pushed her new cart ahead of her, trying to ignore the clicking of yet another bad wheel. “Sometimes I hate my luck,” she cursed.

As soon as she and Anastasia were back with Nicole and Rona, Faith assessed the situation. “Ok, grab the canned fruits and veggies, and anything else that catches your eye. Any smoked meats. Hell, all the meat. There’s fridges over there. Then all three of you, head back out front, get the bottles of water and the batteries from the checkout lines and then take all of it to the bus.”

“Where are you going?” asked Nicole.

“I’m going to check on Xander and his crew, make sure everything is five by five. Now go. We’re burning time here…”

As the three younger Slayers moved to follow her instructions, Faith turned around so she could grab a few extras and then check on her friends.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Xander stood at the edge of the hardware department, looking at the half dozen filled carts which were lined up in the center of the main aisle. Glancing down the rows, he could see that the shelves of the hardware section were just about completely picked clean of useful items, while plenty of useless gadgets were being left being. “Ok girls,” he said. “Time to move. We’re going to hit the sporting goods section, but I want you to focus on the camping stuff and that’s it.” He continued talking as they moved the thirty feet to the section he was instructing them to loot. “Remember, think like you’re going on a LONG camping trip.”

Hatchets, knives, sleeping bags, blankets and a couple of tents were tossed into carts, following by all of the fishing line and hooks, fire starters, cooking stoves and fuel. Backpacks were slung over shoulders and underneath the carts. If it looked at all useful, the looters took it. Xander grabbed boxes of arrows and put as many of them as he could on top of the cart before he realized any more and there was a good chance some would fall out

“Ok girls,” said Xander as he continued to put arrows and crossbow bolts into the next cart. “Start getting the carts out to the bus. Move quick, but safe.” With all the bolts in, he grabbed arrowheads as well, wondering idly why they didn’t come assembled.

“What about you?” asked Violet.

“Couple more things I’m going to get while you’re shuttling the carts outside. Now get moving, we’ve got over a dozen carts already filled and I’m going to probably fill two more.”

Neither one of the Slayers looked overly pleased at the prospect of leaving Xander unattended, but after a moment’s hesitation, both of them prepared to follow the instructions which had been given to them..

“When you’ve got all these outside and loaded, if there’s time, get to the first aid section and grab everything you can. Bandages and the like first. Beyond that, anything that catches your eye, all the vitamins, then outside and guard the bus. Now go!”

As the girls raced down the aisle, the wheel on one of the carts shimmying back and forth madly, Xander turned around and moved to the back corner of the sporting goods section. His eye lit up like a kid in a candy store. “Jackpot!” he exclaimed.

A moment later, the sound of breaking glass could be heard throughout the nearby aisles.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Giles watched as Dawn carefully backed the Load-And-Go truck into the fenced in area. As the Ford truck cleared the gates, his eyes left the truck and he truly looked at the gates themselves for the first time. A faint look of displeasure appeared on his face as he contemplated the construction of the two hinged panels.

‘We’re not going to be able to pull those shut safely,’ he thought to himself. ‘If the zombies are following the bus back, they’ll be able to grab the mesh and keep them from shutting. No to mention the time to get the lock secured…’ His eyes moved to the sheets of plywood and boards which had until recently composed the tables for displaying plants on. “Kennedy,” he said as he looked over at the Slayer. “I need you to run and get me a drill,” he glanced around the ground by the walls, until he spotted an extension cord. “I need a corded drill, two of them, a box of the biggest masonry screws you can find. They’re blue. and a drill accessory kit, the kind with bits and other stuff in it. And two gate handles we can put a two by four through… And we need it fast!”

The New England native looked at him. “Drills, blue screws, bit kit, handles… Got it!” With that, the young woman took off like a bat out of hell.

Seeing the young woman take off, Giles looked down at the nearly decapitated zombie which Buffy had dispatched. “Frank, was it?” he asked of the man who was standing next to his wife near their vehicle. “Would you mind giving me a hand tossing this outside of our perimeter before Kennedy returns?

As the two men hauled the body to the nearby bushes and tossed it unceremoniously into the ditch, Roger pulled the second rental truck into the cage, backing it up to the complete rear of the cage, where he parked it in the corner away from the store. As he opened the door, he judged the distance from the door to the fence. “Yeah, eight feet should keep us clear,” he said to himself. Looking over to Dawn, he asked her if she’d left the keys in the ignition.

“Yep,” replied the brunette. “Figure if we need to haul ass, if the keys are elsewhere, better chance of something going wrong. Left the doors unlocked too,” she added as she shut the driver’s door on the truck.

Roger mirrored her actions, leaving the doors unlocked and the keys sitting on the dashboard.

Side by side, he and Dawn approached the gates. “You have everything under control, Rupert?” he asked, his eyes watching the outer area as Giles and Frank got back across the parking lot from dumping the twice dead body.

“Yes,” replied Giles as he pulled a roll of paper towels and a bottle of hand sanitizer from under the cash register and wiped his hands clean. “Quite. Kennedy has gone to get materials so we can fasten a barrier over the gates and should be returning shortly. If you would secure the rest of the materials, then we can be ready to sweep the rest of the mall when the other contingent returns.”

Roger nodded. “Very well,” he said to Giles, then called for Buffy and Su Ying to join him. Seconds later, the Watcher and two Slayers were moving down the aisles towards the lumber section.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

As they reached the door, Roger spotted the control box to the right hand side. After unfastening the bolts which secured the door from the inside overnight, the older man turned to Buffy. “Miss Summers, I will raise the door enough for you to look underneath, say about six inches. If you don’t see anything, I will raise it the rest of the way. Tell me to shut it, and I’ll shut it. Agreed?”

“Why do I have to be the one to get dirty?” muttered Buffy as she lowered herself to the ground, short sword still in hand. “Ok, ready,” she announced.

Roger hit the green button labeled open and held it down for the second needed for the door to raise seven inches. “How’s it look?” he asked.

After looking through the gap, Buffy replied. “Looks clear…”

“Go ahead and open it up, Rog,” ordered Buffy as she got back to her feet and dusted herself off. “Let’s get this stuff in as fast as we can.”

Moving almost as one, the two Slayers moved to the first pallet of plywood and began the process of shifting the materials back inside the building.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Kennedy barreled through the sliding doors, her right hand full of two drills, still in their boxes while her left was gripping the handle of a five gallon bucket.

“Here ya go Giles,” she said as she dropped the packages and bucket to the ground. Tearing open the first drill, she tossed the DeWalt to the Watcher.

The former Sunnydale librarian caught the heavy duty power tool and began to loosen the chock. “Ok,” he said to himself. “Metal bits…” With a glance, he noted the size of the screws that Kennedy had grabbed and plucked a drill bit from the kit. “Ok, Frank, Dawn. Give me a hand if you would please…” Plugging the cord into one of the three outlets on the end of the extension cord he had placed near the gate, Giles pressed the trigger on the drill and was happy to hear the electric whine as the bit began to spin. Ordering Andrew to get the other drill ready with a quarter inch socketed bit, the Englishman stepped up to the gate.

With Kennedy holding the swinging panel in place, Dawn and Frank got the sheet of plywood standing tall, then slid a couple of stones under the bottom to give them a bit of ground clearance. With both of them holding the four by eight foot panel against the steel, Giles drilled the first hole, then called for Andrew to switch drills with him.

Moving quickly, he got the first screw into the wood and metal, then tightened it down before switching drills again. After the first two screws were in place, he handed the second drill to Frank and the process sped up considerably. “Dawn, get the next piece ready.”

Within two minutes, the two men had the first piece of plywood fastened firmly in place with nearly twenty screws.

“Good work guys,” said Dawn as she held the plywood over the other gate. “But we’re going to have to move faster. Now stop slacking and get screwing,” order the Key as she grinned at what she had said.

Giles simply shook his head. “This is what I get for working with American teenagers.”

Working steadily, they got the second piece secured. “That should let us get the gates shut safely,” declared Giles as he figured where to put the handles to pull the gates shut with. “Now, we get these in place, and the other four to run a bar through.” He looked at the length of the fence running back on the side. “We need to move faster if we’re going to cover this whole thing.”

“We can’t get all this covered,” shrilled Maria. “We need to get inside. Plus, the grating will keep them out!”

“Madam,” stated Giles coldly. “Do shut up please. The mesh may keep them out, but they will still be able to see us and anticipate any action we make. So, we shall attempt to block their ability to see in here. We may get it all covered, we may not. But your caterwauling is not going to make it happen any faster either way. So, if in an emergency you want to be able to get to the vehicles without the undead reaching for you, I suggest you start to be useful. Kennedy, grab the same stuff again, more screws, no more handles and a couple more extension cords if you would please.”

“No worries G,” came the response before the well-to-do young lady ran inside the store again.

“I don’t know if I should blame Xander or Faith for that,” muttered Giles before turning back to the rest of the crowd. “Arianna, you continue to stand watch. Dawn, Frank and I will get the boards up, the rest of you get the boards in place for us… When Kennedy gets back, we can get this done even faster.”

“We’re all going to die,” bemoaned Maria.

“Shut up and help,” retorted Lisa. “Either that or walk right now…”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Six minutes after they had started, Su Ying and Buffy had finished moving all fifteen of the skids of lumber inside.

“Very good girls,” said Roger as he continued to stand watch. “Buffy, if you could be so kind to get that rack of gas cylinders for the forklifts. Better to have it than to need it,” he said sagely.

“Slayer, not a gopher,” came the muttered response, followed a moment later by the sound of tearing metal. “Su Ying, a hand?”

With the young Asian woman’s assistance, Buffy dragged the heavy load inside. “That’s it,” she said. “Close it up.”

Roger nodded as he pushed the black button marked ‘down’. Within seconds, the overhead door was closed again and Roger threw the bolts, making sure it couldn’t be opened from the outside.

“Ok. Shall we rejoin the others?” he asked.

“Let’s do a quick sweep of the store again,” suggested Buffy as she looked to Su Ying, who nodded her approval of the idea.

“Very well,” replied Roger. “A sweep it shall be.”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

With the last of the merchandise from the now broken glass cases and security cabinet loaded into the carts, Xander moved one aisle over, his eyes scanning the shelves for a few particulars. ‘Ah, there you are,’ he thought to himself and reached out when the sound of broken glass crunching reached his ears.

Moving as quietly as he could to the end of the aisle, Xander reached to his belt and grabbed a hold of the crowbar which he had hooked onto the belt. After adjusting his grip on the length of metal, the young man slowly made his way around the corner, and edged around the end cap display of fishing rods and reels.

As he stepped out, weapon at the ready, his eyes fell on a cart loaded with cases of baseballs and softballs. He stepped back slowly as his mind process the scene. ‘Looks like some employee was restocking the shelves… I wonder if…’

The feel of hot breath on his neck brought his rearward motion to an immediate stop… ‘Oh, shit…’ was all that he had time to process before moving.

Taking a quick step forward, Xander spun, lashing out with the crowbar at whatever was behind him.

The heavy crowbar was in mid-swing, the full force of Xander’s weight and motion driving it, when his eyes made it far enough around to see what had been behind him.

As the crowbar rocketed towards her, Faith simply leaned back, clearing of the arc of the weapon just barely missed the tip of her nose before slamming into the fishing rods, shattering the fiberglass tubes like twigs.

Xander’s face took on a look of horror as he realized what he had almost done. But, before he could say anything Faith spoke up, a faint grin on her face.

"Well, I expected a girly-scream for old time's sake. You're reflexes have improved. Either that or you’re just a hell of a lot jumpier.”

“Jesus Christ Faith…” said Xander shakily. “I could have killed you…”

Faith shrugged, half apologetically, half amused. “Maybe… But ya know what? Better to go with you knockin' my head in when I’m being dumb than those things out there getting me.” The Slayer motioned with her right hand, indicating the undead hordes which were overrunning everything.

Xander looked at Faith for a moment, obviously rolling over her words in his mind. But, instead of saying whatever it was he was considering, the young man simply shook his head and walked back to where he had been standing before. “Here, hold these,” he said as he grabbed a couple of items off the shelf and handed them to Faith. After grabbing a bunch of bottles, he walked out of aisle, followed a second later by Faith, who had dumped everything he’d handed her into her own cart.

Coming around the corner, Faith noticed the pair of shopping carts which were loaded with guns, ammo and more. “Geez X. What’s with all the firepower? Going to war or something?”

Xander looks at her in disbelief, then made the same gesture she had a moment earlier, indicating all of the zombies outside.

“Oh, yeah…” said Faith sheepishly. “Never mind…

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Out of the Wal-Mart, Tammy and Jimmy were loading the carts into the back of the trailer while Robin stood watch near the front of the bus.

“Ok, that’s all the food and water,” announced O'Shaunasey as he watched the young Slayer pick up a cart which was loaded to the top with cases of cans and set it on top of another fully loaded shopping cart as if it was a feather. “Still got some room left,” he noted out loud as Vi and Michelle came out of the store, each dragging two carts. “Where’s Xander?” he asked as he took one of the carts and maneuvered it toward the back of the trailer.

“Back in sporting goods,” answered Vi. “We got everything loaded and he wanted us to get it out here while he finished up.”

“How many carts were left?” asked Robin from his lookout position.

“Ten or so,” answered Rona. “Then he wanted us to hit the first aid section.”

James thought for a moment then spoke. “Ok, Rona, you and Nicole get back in there and grab the rest of the carts. Michelle, you go with them. Vi? I believe you have some medical training so you and Anastasia get the first aid supplies.” As the girls he had named off raced into the store, James then looked at Tammy, who had never stopped loading the carts into the back of the trailer, pushing them in as tightly as she could, and then stacking them as well, so that there were two carts in the footprint of one. “Excellent work Tammy. As soon as you get those last two in, can you see about breaking that cage open so we can get the propane tanks onboard as well?”

“Sure thing boss,” came the response.

“Anything Robin?”

“Quiet as a grave,” responded the son of a Slayer as his eyes continued to sweep the empty parking lot.

The Irishman couldn’t help but chuckle. “That bad eh?”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Within the time that it took to get the next two panels up, Giles, Frank and Dawn had figured out the best way to work as a team. Once the sheet of plywood was standing against the metal tubes which comprised the fence, Dawn and Frank would hold the panel in place long enough for Giles, who was perched atop a wheeled step stool which had been near the bags of topsoil, to pre-drill the upper edge of the plywood and the metal underneath. Then, as Giles steps down, Dawn would hold the panel in place while Frank used the second drill to get the blue masonry screws in place. By the time he was done with that, Giles who had been steadily working down one side of the plywood, would finish up and move to the center area of the wood, continuing to drill. Then, as Frank attached the sides of the plywood firmly to the steel, Dawn would move the steps, no longer needed since Frank could reach the remaining holes while on solid ground. When she had the stool moved to the next section of fence, the Key would then take the sheet of plywood which was fed to her from the inside of the cage and position it to be against the edge of the previous sheet, leaving no gap between the two. Usually, as she had everything positioned, Giles and Frank were done with the screws and moved to her side.

By the time that Roger, Buffy and Su Ying got back, the Watcher, the Key and Frank had gotten the entire front side of the cage covered with plywood and were on the second panel on the side. Meanwhile, Maria, Andrew, Lisa and Willow were positioning additional wood and materials to speed the process a bit more.

As he waited for Frank to finish with the last section, Giles looked over the still uncovered section of fence which went back a good seventy feet. “Buffy,” he called out. “Take Dawn’s place. Roger and Su Ying, follow Dawn’s lead and work on the next panel.”

Dawn nodded and grabbed the drill which Andrew had already prepared as a backup. “Su Ying, hold the board, Roger, you’ve got more mass. Do exactly what Giles is doing.”

The sound of drills biting into metal, and the occasional order or encouragement were all that could be heard, as every one of the workers knew that they were up against the clock and there was no way they could know how much or how little time they had left.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Moments after Michelle and Nicole came out with the last of the carts from the sporting goods area, Faith and Xander emerged from the store.

“Armory carts go in the passenger compartment,” declared Xander as he pointed at both of the carts he had been pushing, as well as the first of three carts Faith had manhandled out of the store. “Everything else, trailer or underneath.”

“Come on Tammy,” said Faith as she grabbed her front cart and moved it towards the steps. “This things gonna be a bear.”

As the red headed Slayer approached, she couldn’t help but notice that the entire cart was loaded with boxes of ammunition. And the other two carts were practically overflowing with even more arrows, bolts, crossbows and compound bows as well as what looked to be every firearm that had been in the store.

“On three,” said Faith, before beginning to count.

As one, the two Slayers lifted the load and moved it up the steps. Once it was on the bus, Tammy quickly moved it to the back.

“I say, that’s quite the arsenal,” commented O'Shaunasey. “But I’ve gotta ask, Xander. Did ya really need ta bring every car battery in the store?”

“Oh, that reminds me,” replied Xander as he looked at the Slayers standing around. “Nicole, grab a cart, get all the batteries, lighters and snacks from the checkout line. Batteries first.”

“On it!”

“Sorry,” said Xander absently as he watched the young woman rush back into the store. “Car batteries, that’s right. Yeah, it was. I don’t have any idea how long the power is going to stay on, do you? Trust me, it’s a good thing I grabbed those batteries and some other stuff as well.”

James mulled over that. “Very well. Is there anything else we need from in there?”

Xander nodded as he peered into the trailer. “Yeah, I’m sure there is, but we’re not going to worry about it. We got the important stuff and anything else…” he shrugged. “Damn, good thing we didn’t put this all on the plastic,” he commented. “You guys did a bang up job loading this up.” The one eyed carpenter reached out and grabbed the cargo net which was hanging at the right side of the opening. Pulling it across, he attached the webbing to the hooks on the other side of the trailer, tugging on it to make sure it was secure. “Ok, let’s get the ramp up,” he said as he stepped clear and bent down.

Faith took the other side and as one, they easily lifted it up.

While the dark haired Slayer kept it from falling, Xander moved the latches into place, securing the trailer. “Ok, good to go. As soon as the girls get back, everything else goes underneath or inside.”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

“Looking good,” said Dawn as she stepped down from the stepstool Andrew had brought out. “Looks like we’re about two thirds of the way down the line,” she announced. “And with the back wall covered to prevent theft, we should be fine.”

“Maybe another seven sheets?” called out Giles as he drilled another hole.

“Sounds right,” replied Frank. Looking over at where Buffy was moving another sheet into place next to him. “Remember, try and make them flush. They line up smooth, there’s nothing for those things to grab onto. Last thing we need is them tearing this stuff loose…”

“Gonna need another extension cord here soon,” yelled Dawn as she continued her work.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

The first aid section, a staple area for the residents of the Institute for Advanced Nocturnal Seismic Detection and Response, was currently being picked over for useful supplies by Anastasia and Vi.

“Glad you came with us today,” said Anastasia as she scooped all the gauze into her cart. “Going through all this without a medic, not of the good.”

“Yeah, me too, otherwise I would have stayed on campus and we’ve got no clue what’s going on there.” Violet was grabbing all of the creams and antiseptic lotions she could find, making sure that she grabbed everything. No telling when they’d be able to get more supplies after they holed up. “Damn, I was always glad I took the advanced course, but I didn’t think I’d ever be the only medic around.”

“Better one than none,” retorted the Russian Slayer. “I am thinking that is everything.”

“Yeah,” said Vi as she finished knocking all the hydrogen peroxide into the cart. “Of course, considering what the bites do, I’m not sure there’s any real point to any of this stuff.”

As they each pushed their loaded carts out of the aisles and towards the door, Vi suddenly stopped in her tracks. “Hang on for a minute,” she exclaimed as she looked at the signs overhead, then raced down the aisle.

“What is it?” Anastasia asked, her eyes sweeping the surrounding area for any threats.

“Eyedrops,” responded Vi absently as she shoveled all of the store’s supply of the various solutions into her cart. “Xander’s going to need them and I guarantee you he’s not thinking about himself right now.” After making sure she actually did have all of them, the young woman spoke again. Ok, NOW we can go.”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Once Violet and Anastasia had returned and were loading their supplies underneath the bus, the Californian Carpenter and the Irish Policeman turned Watcher did a quick headcount.

“Everybody’s back but Nicole and Rona,” commented Xander just as Nicole exited the store, her cart loaded with items looted from near the registers. “Nicole? You see Rona in there?”

“Yeah,” she responded as she shoved her cart to the waiting Vi and Ana. “She was grabbing some more stuff. Said she just needed a minute.”

Faith’s voice broke into the conversation. “I hate to say it, but I don’t know that we’ve got another minute.” Everyone turned towards the Boston native, and then looked to where she was pointing…

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Inside, Rona was racing through the women’s athletic section, grabbing socks, sweats and items and throwing them in the cart. “Warm and functional,” she muttered to herself. “Not gonna be warm much longer and we’re not ready for the cold…”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Looking to where Faith was pointing, the group saw the empty building which sat across a field from the back of the discount store. And as they watched, Xander, James and the others saw a large group of undead, curling around the edge of the building which was about two hundred yards beyond the back of the Wal-Mart.

“Time to go boys and girls,” announced Faith as she readied an arrow. “They ain’t stopping, and once they pass the Wal-Mart, the mall’s the next stop!”

“Girls, thirty seconds seconds to get carts in and lock it down,” said the Belfast native.

Vi and Anastasia simply lifted one edge of the cart and poured the majority of the contents into the luggage compartment. As soon at the cart had yielded the bulk of its contents, they tossed it aside and repeated the process on the cart Nicole had brought out.

“Lock it down,” said Faith as she moved closer to the doorway. “Rona, get your ass back here NOW!” she yelled into the store.

“Oh shit,” said Robin as he dropped his hand onto the gearshift. “I think they heard you…”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Rona’s head jerked up from the rack of jackets she was in front of when she heard Faith yell for her. Turning to grab the cart, the Slayer heard a sound that was out of place and her head tracked towards it.

“Shit,” she muttered as she noticed the two zombies who had somehow made it between her and the front of the store and were now advancing on her from their position about twenty feet away.

Grabbing the broadsword which she had set in the child seat portion of the basket, Rona leapt towards the two zombies.

The first, a middle aged man clad in now blood soaked pajamas, didn’t even stand a chance. Her sword moved in a blur, cutting through his head between his eyes and jaw. The sharp edge, powered by Slayer strength, cleaved through the animated tissue and the bone beneath, destroying the brainstem and putting the creature down once and for all.

As she recovered from the swing, the second zombie, a larger figure who seemed to have spent too much time in the gym while he had been alive, advanced on Rona.

Seeing her opponent closing on her, Rona tried to move back, bringing her blade back for another strike, but in the process, forgot to account for her surroundings.

Her hand struck the edge of a clothes rack with considerable force, causing her hand to spasm and the sword, spun from her hand, coming to rest by the back wheel of her cart.

Not letting herself stop, Rona dropped close to the ground, and unleashed a spinning sweep which took the zombie’s legs out from underneath it. As it was falling, the Slayer continued her spin, coming up to grab one of the freestanding racks by the rod which led from the base. Single-handedly, she brought it up, spinning it as she did so, and then brought the base crashing down on the zombie’s skull, smashing it like a watermelon in a Gallagher routine.

“I hate zombies,” she muttered as she crouched down to grab the hilt of her blade, her free hand on the pushbar of her shopping cart.

Straightening up, she heard more moans and turned to see about a dozen more zombies not more than fifty feet away, running towards her.

“Oh hell…” she said then turned and sprinted towards the front of the store, sword in hand as the undead chased after her.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Faith was slowly but steadily shooting across the field, the arrows flying as straight as a laser beam, as one after another, the approaching zombies were dispatched.

“Come on folks,” she announced. “We need to load up…”

“Almost done, Faith,” announced Xander as he worked his way from the front of the bus, shutting the luggage compartments and ensuring that they were secure.

“No time, X. We gotta go now,” she responded.

“Just a couple more,” said Xander, as he closed the next compartment.

“No Time,” Faith yelled as she nocked, pulled and released another arrow in one smooth, fluid movement. “Girls! Get Cyclops on the bus! Now!”

Anastasia moved to Xander he closed the second to last compartment. “Sorry Xander,” she said.

“Just let me…” he protested as he moved to close the last compartment.

But the Russian Slayer had her instructions and before he could even touch the door, Anastasia had picked Xander up and carried him to the front of the bus. “Now on you go,” she said. “Or I carry you up myself. Miss Faith being mad at me for you being hurt, I no need.”

Xander knew the young woman was upset, because her accent was thickening up considerably. “Fine,” he as he took the steps two at a time and moved back to give the others space to fit in.

“Everybody get in!” yelled Robin as he dropped the bus into gear and eased off on the brakes.

With no additional power applied, the bus began to roll forward at a crawl.

With the zombies now in the middle of the field as they ran, Faith continued her slow, steady fire, taking down a zombie with each shot. And then, as her hand reached up to the quiver, her finger found nothing. “I’m dry!” she yelled and began to move towards the steps of the bus, just as Rona came bursting through the doors, knocking them off of the tracks and open as if for emergency exit.

“Go! Go! Go!” screamed Rona as she moved for the bus.

Faith yelled for Robin to floor it as she jumped up onto the steps and moved to the second step to give Rona space to get onboard as well. “Come on Ro!” yelled the girl from Beantown.

The younger Slayer looked over her shoulder, trying to see where the zombies were that had pursued her from the store. A completely natural thing to do, but given her all out sprint, not the wisest choice. As she crossed the curb, her stride expected the ground to be approximately six inches higher than it was.

The Slayers onboard the bus watched in horror as Rona stumbled and mistepped, her ankle twisting beneath her, just as the zombies came into sight at the store entrance.

She rolled with the fall, and tried to come to her feet to get to the front of the bus, but her ankle wouldn’t bear the weight. Rona’s eyes darted to the side and she saw the zombies spilling out the door and knew she couldn’t get to the stairs in time.

“Go!” she screamed as she pulled herself a foot to the side and rolled into the open luggage compartment.

“FLOOR IT WOOD!!” screamed Faith as she saw Rona disappear from sight.

The son of Nikki Woods, mashed his foot down on the accelerator.

As the bus began to accelerate, Rona reached up and grabbed the luggage door, yanking it down just as the zombies’ hands reached for her. Adrenaline fueling her already considerable power, the young Slayer yanked down the panel with such force that several of the zombie’s arms and hands, instead of being forced out of the way, were brought down with the door, and as it slammed shut, were actually severed from the upper arms of the undead.

“Let’s go Robin,” said Faith as a zombie reached for the handrail on the steps. Faith’s foot snapped out and connected with the zombie’s forehead.

It’s skull caved in, the undead housewife fell backwards, tumbling into several other of the creatures, giving Faith time to get the door closed.

With the bus pulling away, most of the former humans gave chase, being left behind as the massive diesel engine accelerated the bus away and by the time it made it from the parking lot, Robin had already opened the gap to fifty meters and continued to pull away.

But, in the dispersing cloud of diesel smoke, one zombie stared at its elbows, almost as if it was trying to figure out what had happened to its hands and forearms.

“Well, that was bracing,” said Jimmy as the rest let out a collective sigh.

And then, from beneath, all on the bus could hear Rona pounding on the top of the luggage compartment. “Somebody get me the hell out of here! I think these hands are still moving…”

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

End Chapter 5

[IceWing]

Chapter 6

Frank looked over the work they had done so far, getting the sheets of plywood in place almost the entire length of the outdoor cage of the Home Depot. “Pretty good work for such a hurry,” he said, mostly to himself. His eyes drifted upwards to the top of the plywood barrier. “Damn, I wish we had enough time to get another row in place…. Eight foot, these things might be able to pull themselves up…”

From her position at the next board over, Dawn spoke up as she continued drilling. “Even if they manage to stand on top of these, there’s what? Another 12 foot of fence before they can get to the top. Anyway, if these are like the other zombies we dealt with, they’re not all that bright… or coordinated…”

“Hope you’re right…” said the Texan.

“Ok, last section to go,” announced Giles as he looked at the three foot section which was still bare. “We’re going to have to trim this one…”

“To hell with that,” said Buffy. “Get it in place, screw it down and we cut the extra bit off. You guys are so worried about getting it done, we hack it off with swords if we have to. It won’t be pretty, but it’ll work.”

Kennedy looked across the parking lot… “Guys, what ever you’re going to do, I’d do it fast… I think I hear them pulling out and those moans are louder to boot…”

All the banter stopped as the work crew poured into hammering out what little they had left to do, knowing that their time was just about at an end.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

The massive vehicle lurched as Robin took it over the curb of the parking lot at forty-seven miles an hour.

“Everything ok back there?” he yelled as he cut the wheel to turn the bus. “I thought I felt something jerk pretty heavy…”

Nicole turned from her position near the rear windows of the bus. “Trailer’s still attached… We didn’t lose it… And the zombies are way back there, but don’t slow down.”

“Yeah,” came Rona’s muffled voice from beneath. “And try not to beat me to death while you’re at it.”

“There they are,” said Faith, pointing out the windshield of the bus as they approached the Home Depot.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

“There they are,” said Frank, pointing as the bus came around the corner of the mall. “Everybody get out of the way…” he said as he eyed the approaching motorcoach. “That thing’s going to be a tight fit.”

As the vehicle rolled to a halt, Giles spoke up. “The trailer came free of the hitch. The only thing holding it in place are the chains.”

“That’s going to make it a bitch go guide in,” said Frank. “It’ll be faster to get it loose and wheel it in there by hand.”

Xander came bounding down from the bus, most of the girls following behind him. “Fine, great,” he said as he interupted Giles train of thought. “The zombies aren’t far behind us,” he said as he moved to the back of the bus. “More action, less talk…” The carpenter leaned down and tried to loosen the quick link that held the chains together. “Shit! They’re jammed…” he said in disgust.

“Somebody toss me a blade!” ordered Faith as she stepped up behind Xander.

A moment later, courtesy of Ariana, Faith had an axe in hand. “Out of the way, X,” she said. As soon as he was clear of the chains, Faith brought the heavy battleaxe down on the chains, snapping them in one shot. “There, now girls, let’s this thing in so Robin can back that beast in!”

Within second, a half dozen Slayers were positioned around the horse trailer, and with seemingly no effort at all, had it rolling back through the gates and to the back of the enclosure.

“Damn,” said Frank with a chuckle as he looked at his wife. “Wish we’d had these girls helping out at the ranch…”

“Ok,” announced Buffy as she came around the corner of the fence brushing plywood chips from her arms. “We’re good on the end. And everybody’s up here now from out back.”

Once the Slayers had cleared the trailer through the gate, Robin gunned the engine, moving the bus far enough ahead so he would be able to back it into the gate.

As the former Sunnydale High principal backed the bus up, Frank stood behind it, waving him back and motioning corrections as needed. “Man, this is going to be close,” he said, seconds before the rear of the bus passed through the gate with inches to spare on each side. The Texan noticed the bus was drifting to one side and motioned for Robin to correct, but his directions came too late and there was a grinding sound as the bus scraped against the steel for a couple of seconds before Robin was able to correct the angle.

The bus clear of the gates, Xander turned to Dawn. “We need to get the exterior doors of the store locked down tight. Take the keys, get everything locked down and double checked before those things get too close. If you can find `em, get the security gates down as well. Try and stay out of sight. In fact, anything you can block the doors with, do it. Those things can’t see us they might keep on going…”

“You got it, Xan,” said the young woman as she took off, fishing the keys from her pocket.

“Kennedy, Nicole.. Go with her… Move!” commanded Faith.

The two Slayers took off on Dawn’s heels.

From his position to the side, Andrew suddenly perked up… “I’ve got an idea!” he exclaimed. “You two,” he said as he grabbed Zach, who had been picked up running down the road, and Lisa, Frank’s wife, and ran inside, dragging them behind.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

O'Shaunasey turned to Giles. “Rupert, have you taken a headcount? Everybody inside the gates?”

As Giles took count, remembering to include those who had just ran inside, the massive diesel engine of the bus rumbled to silence. A moment later, Robin stepped down from the bus.

“I count everybody but Rona… Has anyone seen her?” said Giles.

“I’ll get her,” said Faith moving to the back of the bus. Within seconds, she had popped open the last luggage compartment and helped the young woman out. “Sorry about that,” the dark haired Slayer apologized. Offering her shoulder for some of Rona’s weight, Faith led her back to the doors leading inside the Home Depot.

“Ok, that’s everybody,” said Giles as he moved to the gates. “Buffy, if you would give me a hand?”

Together, the two escapee’s from Sunnydale pulled the gates closed. “The key?” inquired Giles as the gates were closed, but not yet fastened.

“Dawn’s got them,” pointed out Xander as he moved up, a length of two by six in hand. Moving quickly, he slid the piece of lumber through the upper handles, effectively barring the gate. Then leaning down, he pivoted the steel drop shafts into the holes in the concrete and slid them down. “Ok, somebody grab me that other piece of two by four,” he said quietly as the moans began to get even louder.

Moving quietly, Giles picked up the indicated piece of wood and handed it to Xander, who as gingerly as possible, moved it into place.

As he looked over his shoulder, the carpenter couldn’t help but notice that every one of the Slayers was tense, their hands curled tightly around the weapons they held ready. With a motion, he got Giles’ attention, then gestured to the Slayers. After the older man had glanced around at them, Xander leaned in close. “They can sense the zombies somehow… Something to take note of, in case…”

Giles nodded. “Indeed, but right now, I’d feel a little bit better if we had that gate locked as well.”

Xander agreed and slipped through the doors after motioning everybody else through.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Just inside of the sliding glass doors, all of the refugees assembled, with Dawn and the two Slayers who had accompanied her coming up last.

“Far end doors are locked and all the outside security gates are down,” reported the young woman. “We dragged a display screen in front of the entry way at the far end as well, so they can’t see us.”

“Key for the gate outside?” asked Xander as he extended his hand.

Dawn quickly flipped through the ring, and then offered it to Xander, held by a single brass key. “That’s it,” she said… “Sorry, I should have left it here…”

“No worries Dawn,” replied the founder of the Scoobies. “I’ll be right back…” He quickly moved through the glass doors, the sounds of the moaning undead becoming louder as the sliding doors opened. A moment later, he had returned, and looked at the keys. “Need to find a place to leave these so we don’t loose them.”

“How about on checkout counter by the gates?” offered Andrew as he and the two others he had grabbed emerged from the returns area by the entrance.

“Sounds good,” said Frank as the entire group turned to look at the young man, who was standing there with an extremely proud look on his face even before the Texan acknowledged his idea.

“And why do you look like you just did something sneaky?” asked Buffy as she began to advance on the young man.

Andrew responded by gesturing behind him before he spoke. “I figured if they can’t see us, they might go away. So we grabbed a bunch of cans of spray paints and went to work on the windows…”

The group collectively noticed the windows, as well as the sliding doors, which had been blacked out, or at least fogged over, with quick application of spray paint. The dozen or so empty cans, which lay empty on the ground, showed how much paint it had taken to cover the windows which were on the other side of the security grating.

“Quick thinking Andrew,” commented Giles. “Very quick thinking indeed.”

“Yeah, that shall keep those things from seeing us as we remove all of the gear from the trailer and bus,” added Roger.

“Actually, we’re going to leave everything loaded for the time being,” corrected Giles. “Our immediate priority is to sweep the mall, make sure that all of the entrances are secure and that none of the undead have made it inside. Leaving the vehicles loaded will allow us to keep supplies with us if this position turns out to be untenable.”

The bulk of those present nodded, while the Slayers just shifted the grip on their weapons.

“Everybody ready?” asked Giles.

“Oh, joy…” said Xander as he hefted one of the shotguns which had been liberated during his looting of Wal-Mart. “Mall Crawl…”