Faith
OOC: This post is set 15 years in the post apocalyptic future. Everything is different now. There was a way and only small factions survived, and living in this world has turned into survival of the fittest. This group is ONLY Faith, her son with Zac - Walker, Rona, Gunn, Dani and Rahne. They're fighting a hopeless battle to try and save their world from crumbling completely.
IC:
Faith tiredly trained in solitude. She'd spent most of her time training, alone. Occasionally, she let Walker, her child with Zac, train with her. She'd lived fifteen years without Zac, to this day. Fifteen long years, and it still wasn't any easier. She clung hopelessly to her memories, her last moments with Zac, cradling his head in her lap, her fingers entwined with his, curling weakly together in a last desperate jope to bring him to life. The helpless feeling of watching the love of her life die in her arms. The way he'd died before he knew his son existed. Faith had vowed on that day that she would never forget him, and their son would grow up, knowing who his father was.
"Please don't die on me... I love you so much," Faith wept, tears falling upon Zac's face.
But memories and a last faded photograph were all she had left these days. And of course, Walker. He had the same twinkle in his eyes, the same cheeky smile with the same dimple in his cheek, just as his father had. Looking at her son was like seeing the Zac of the past. The way she'd left him. Nothing would spoil her memories.
"No, he would never be forgotten," she thought.
"Mom?" Walker's voice came through the door.
"Yeah?" Faith replied, pausing in her push ups.
The door opened and Walker stepped in. "We're ready, all assembled."
He sounded tired, Faith realised. He looked tired. Hell, she probably did too. It was a never ending battle, a fruitless fight to cling to their world. But it wasn't their world anymore, it belonged to all the creatures Faith had spend so much time fighting.
"Alright, I'll be right there," Faith replied. She got up from the floor and quickly stretched, then wiped herself off with a towel and followed Walker out to find the rest of the troops.
Funny, Faith couldn't remember the exact time when these people had stopped being her friends and started being 'the troops'.
"We go now, and we hope we're not too late." That was Faith's greeting. There was no time for pleasantires, this was war, and emotions got you killed. Walker, himself, was a liability, as Faith sacrificed everything for him. He was her one weakness. She wouldn't lose him the way she'd lost Zac.
"We've all seen the ground plans. And you should all know your positions. Rona, I want you with Gunn by the first door. Dani, you and Rahne in the hallway, and Walker and I will come in through the roof. Are we all clear?"
"What's the main mode of attack on this ritual?" Gunn spoke up.
"We distract them from opening the portal."
"What if they manage to open it?" Walker asked.
"Then we close it. There are only three of us who can do that, but let's hope it doesn't get to that. Now, we're all clear, so let's go."
Dani, Rahne and Rona
The team nodded & went in their seperate directions.
Dani walked over to the cage that Rahne was held in. Seven years ago, the love of Rahne's life, Doug Ramsey, was killed saving Vi. After that, Rahne lost all control & became feral.
Dani slowly opened the cage door, telling Rahne through the mental link they shared to calm down. Once close enough, Dani put a metal leash around the wolf's neck. She can't cut through metal. Unlike the rope's used before this one. Vi learnt that the hard way.
Dani turned around to see Rona walking toward's her.
"Why do we have to take the mutt Proudstar?" she asked bitterly, glaring at Rahne as the wolf growled back, "/It/ might compromise the mission!"
Dani stopped for a second at the mention of "Proudstar". Memories came flashing back of her dead husband, James Proudstar. He was killed defending the stronghold Emma Frost had created at her Academy. No one there survived.
"Well tough shit!" Dani finally said, snapping back to reality, "Faith said she's in the mission, so that means Rahne is coming along whether you like it or not Rona! Get over it!"
"Get over it?!" Rona yelled back, clenching her fists as she neared Dani. "Get over it?! That thing killed my best friend! How do you expect me to get over it?!"
"Like everyone else has had to!" Dani yelled back.
Rona was a nearly in Dani's face when Rahne jumped at her, making her jump back. Rahne growled at Rona, while the girl just glared down at her. The two had a deep hatred for each other.
Rona finally stopped the stand-off & walked back to the other side of them room, back to getting ready with Gunn.
A few minutes later the team was ready to leave.
Faith
Faith rubbed her eyes and put the Jackal into her back pocket. Years of fighting had taken it's toll on both her and her knife. The once shiny blade was now dull. She sighed and shrugged her jacket on, bending over to tie her shoes up when Walker approached her.
"You ok, mom?" he asked.
"Yeah, is everyone ready?"
"Ready, willing and able."
"Right then, let's roll."
Faith smiled reassuringly at her son, and pushed away the thoughts of how he looked like Zac. That was the past. Right now, she had to concentrate on the future. She led the troops out onto the street, and headed in the direction of the factory.
She hated this. Leading people into death. Hopefully things would end differently this time.
Rona and Dani
The rest of the team followed Faith down the street. Soon they were at the factory.
"Okay," Rona said when the group had stopped, "I understand the game plan & what we are stopping, but do we have any idea who or what we are up against & why?"
Dani just shrugged & looked at Faith.
Faith
Faith took a deep breath. "Demons... they have a Slayer, and they're going to use her blood to open a hell portal."
Gunn sighed. "Another Friday night?"
"Pretty much," Faith replied. She straighted up and looked to the roof. "You ready, Walker?"
"Yeah, let's do this." Walker started over for the side of the building.
Faith looked to the rest of the group. "Ok, you guys know you're places and positions. Stay safe."
"Catch ya on the flip side," Gunn said.
Dani and Rahne
Dani directed Rahne into the direction they were headed while Rona buddied up with Gunn & headed off toward's their destination.
Faith
Faith scrambled up the side of the building easily and waited a few seconds while Walker struggled up. She extended her hand and pulled him up with ease.
"So..." Walker whispered.
Faith gestured for him to follow her. "Right, it's down there," she said, pointing down through the skylight.
"Now?" Walker asked.
"No time like the present."
Faith bent down and opened the skylight. She looked down and saw nothing, then jumped through, crouching as she landed. She rolled out of the way and got to her feet, just as Walker came jumping down. He got up and brushed himself off.
They stood in darkness for a while, letting their eyes adjust, then Faith led her son through the room and out into the hallway, when the lights came on.
"Oh shit," Faith said, looking around to see a large group of demons and vampires. And a girl tied to a chair.
Faith called out for reinforcements. "Rona, Gunn, Dani!"
Rahne, Dani and Rona
With that, Rahne ran into the room, no leash & started attacking the demons & vampires. Dani ran in after her, unleashing Psionic arrow's & dagger's at random demons. Next, Gunn & Rona came running in. Gunn fought the demons guarding the girl while Rona tried to release her but got punched out of the way.
Faith
Faith was concetrating on killing a group of demons when she spotted out of the corner of her eye, one of them grab the girl. She sliced the demon's head off, then headed over to stop the girl from being used to open the portal. She was caught by a pack of vampires, mutated from radiation, and a new fight ensued.
Walker, sensing his mother's trouble, ran over to help.
It was at that moment, that the girl was killed, and the ritual to open the portal began.
Rona and Dani
Rona saw the bright light & knew straight away what it was. "Aw crud!" she said. She figured it was now her turn to sacrifice herself, like Sam before her, and Rachel before him. She was ready to run to the portal & jump when she heard Dani scream. She turned to see Dani being impaled in the stomach by a demon. The battle had now taken a turn for the worse.
"Faith!" Rona screamed as Rahne ran towards Faith.
Faith
"Shit balls," Faith mumbled, then dodged Rahne.
She looked at the growing portal, and quickly kicked a few demons and vampires into it.
Walker looked at his mother and at Rona, then at the portal.
"Slayer's blood opens and closes it."
Well, he had Slayer's blood too, didn't he?
Rona and Rahne
"Yeah, I know!" Rona screamed, "I'll close it once I stop that feral bitch from getting Faith!"
Rahne meanwhile, was bouncing around trying to kill Faith & demons at the same time. A free-for-all Rona figured as she ran toward's Faith.
Faith
Faith dodged Rahne, kicking her occasionally, but more worried about the portal which was now pretty big.
"Mom!" Walker yelled.
"I know, it's open! I'll have to close it!" she yelled back.
"No, mom!"
"Walker, it's what I have to do!" Faith ducked under a vampire's punch and roundhouse kicked him away, then cut it's head off.
Rona and Rahne
"No!" Rona yelled, jumping to tackle Rahne, but missing due to Rahne's speed. "Neither of you will. You are both too important & powerful!"
She jumped back up only to find herself back on the ground again as Rahne jumped on top of her, holding her down. The wolf glared & growled at her. Rona just lay there looking the wolf in the eyes. Then suddenly Rahne semi-shifted back into wolf/human form & growled "Doug" but then lost control & shifted back into wolf form, ready to scratch the woman's face off.
Faith
"RONA!" Gunn yelled, and kicked Rahne off Rona. He helped Rona up.
"No, Rona, you can't! I'll do it, I'm older than you, and the world needs you!" Faith yelled as she continued fighting.
Meanwhile, Walker was slowly walking towards the portal, ready to jump in, unnoticed.
Rona
"No Faith! We need you to lead. Your the only one who can! I'm going whether you like it or not!" Rona yelled back at her, about to turn toward's the portal.
Faith and Paige
"No, I won't let you!" Faith yelled, and pulled her back swiftly.
Walker, still unnoticed jumped in, projecting his final thoughts to everyone in the room.
"I know what I have to do... Mom, I love you. Everyone... please don't fight over me, because I am already gone..." And with that, the portal closed.
Faith looked around in shock. She killed the remaining demons in a fit of rage, then looked around shocked, as Paige orbed down from the heavens.
"Paige?"
Time froze and Faith looked around in shock.
"Yes, it's me." Paige smiled. She was dressed in long white robes, as she had ascended to an angel years before. "I'm giving you a chance to take this away."
"How?"
"You have a choice to go back in time and let Rona jump into the portal, and continue living in this world, fighting for your lives... or..."
"Or?"
"Or I take you back to avoid this happening. The girl who pushed you out of the way... she wasn't meant to be there. If you decide to go back, you can avoid Zac ever dying."
Faith knew what this meant. If Zac didn't die, it meant she'd have kept fighting. The war wouldn't happen and most likely... Walker wouldn't be born.
"So I have to choose between my son and Zac?"
"Yes. And now."
"But I need more time, this isn't enough time!"
"I'm sorry."
"I..." Faith's mind was racing. "I choose Zac."
"As you wish."
Faith watched as time rewound and she was taken back to Las Vegas, the demon about to approach her.
"There is one catch," Paige said.
"What?"
"You will remember everything. Everything from the past years you have lived. And you will be the only one."
"That's... yeah, I can do that."
"Good luck," Paige whispered and orbed out.
Faith felt herself being drawn back to her body. She turned around quickly to see the demon, and punched it. She roundhouse kicked it to the ground, then jumped on it's back, attempting to snap it's neck. It threw her off and lifted her up, stabbing it's claws through her uterus. Faith screamed and weakly snapped it's neck, then fell to the ground, panting, watching the blood pour from her body. She cried out in pain again.