Disclaimer and copyright: Buffy belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy
Inc., and Warner Bros.
Logan/Wolverine belongs to Marvel.
Kai belongs to Kaylee, and you don't mess with her.
No one is making any money, so don't sue, please.

Ok, that's out of the way.  This is my first and was written for fun,
not accuracy, so please be kind.  This would not be possible without the
collaborative efforts of Kaylee and Shera.
Much credit goes to them.

If you happen to like it, let me know.  Please do not archive without my
permission, though.
If you don't happen to like it, have a nice day and read something
else.  :-)

_________________________________

X-Slayer
Chapter 8

Lord Beavis continued to talk to them, but he was standing now, slowly
levitating into the air and turning around with his arms crossed.  He
had changed into a classic black cape with matching outfit, and was now
wearing his game face.  Although the face was one to freeze the blood,
he still had a classy look to him.  ‘Funny how someone trying to kill
you can still impress you,’ thought Buffy, figuring she was in for
another one of those long-winded "you're gonna die" speeches.  She was
not prepared for all that really was about to happen, however.

"You two!" yelled the levitating vampire in a commanding voice to Kai
and Logan.  "You think you are so smart!  Did you not believe I knew who
you were?  Did you not know you were voluntarily entering the Master's
domain?"

His voice had been raised and continued to carry clearly to his
attentive audience, locking them into place.  "As you have suspected all
along, Wolverine, I have gained all you have feared, and more."  His
pronunciation of Logan's code name was spit out harshly, with heavy
sarcasm.  He now smiled a wicked smile, his lips curling over long
fangs.  Placing a hand over his heart, he lightly stated, "Don't worry,
my children, I promise to honor my knowledge and use it wisely."

He laughed quietly and began to float towards the frozen trio.  His left
arm swept out to point at Buffy, "Young slayer!"  Noticing the startled
expression on her face he gave her a weary smile.  "Yes, I do know who
you are.  You are quite infamous among my peers, you know.  The previous
master you put down was quite a sudden shock to us all.  I must humbly
tell you that he was quite inferior stock, compared to me, of course."
His smile now turned into a leer as his arms folded back across his
chest.  "You aren't exactly in good form, anyway.  Having just killed
your true love while looking into his eyes will hinder your abilities
until you die, which won't be long at all, so don't worry about your
weakness."

His forward motion stopped about twenty feet away, just slightly off the
ground.  "I am curious, though.  Might I be so bold as to ask a
question?"  Seeing neither nodding nor shaking of the heads, he decided
to push on.  "It is a bit of an embarrassment, but as you can see by my
torn sleeve here, someone else is here in the castle and is bothering
me. Would any of you, perchance, have the slightest idea who the other
sword-carrying lunatic running amuck in my castle is?"

He looked at them as inquisitively as anyone whose face is a bit
puckered up can, awaiting an answer.  He saw the three look at each
other in puzzlement and shake their heads in the negative that they had
not the slightest clue.  "Oh, well," he sighed.  "I imagined you might
be clueless.  It’s too bad, really.  I do so hate mysteries."

He smiled at them again and said, "Good-bye then.  It has at least been
interesting, but I must get back to my genetic research.  So many genes
to splice, so little time."

Lord Beavis said this so light-heartedly that the three never saw him
come at them.  He launched himself straight at Logan, hitting him and
knocking him over thirty feet into a solid wall.  Kai swung her leg at
him to knock him down and he grabbed her leg and threw her at least ten
feet, so that she landed face down on the floor with a fleshy slap.

With Logan and Kai dazed, he turned to Buffy.  "What a waste, really.
You won't be able to play with my new mutant powers very long, being
that you are a mere human.  We will just have to make the best of it."
So saying, he launched himself at Buffy.

Her hand went to the sword on her back and it came out with a silent
hiss as she crouched.  The vampire was sailing over her head as the
sword came out, and before she could reach up to strike he dropped his
hand and hammered at her shoulder on the way by.  The blow stunned her,
and she dropped the sword.  Her left arm was alternating between fire
and numbness, and both were scaring her to death.

"There, there, little slayer.  Uncle Beavis will make it all better."
The vampire slowly closed the distance to Buffy, arms outstretched like
he was trying to pick up a baby.

Buffy's right hand was clamped to her left shoulder, and she could not
get it to let go to find the sword.  The pain and his voice had seemed
to pause her locomotive functions.

He was reaching out to touch her hair when a heavy object intersected
its flight path right into the vampire's midsection.  "Don't ya think
yer a bit old to be playin' with teenagers?" said Logan as he knocked
the vampire down, landing on top of him.  Logan's right hand came up
empty, and went down fully armed to cut a swath across the vampire’s
chest.  The opened chest barely bled and started to heal immediately.
Logan stared just long enough to get knocked back off, but not as far as
before.

Standing up and dusting himself off, the vampire looked at Logan.  "I
wasn't prevaricating.  I figure to improve myself even further tonight
by feeding on you.  Too bad I can't inherit the claws.  They would be
good for those leathernecks that make me think I am going to chip a
tooth."

Before he could hardly finish his witty commentary, Kai hit him from the
side with one of the most beautiful flying sidekicks she had ever
delivered.  Considering this is probably the strongest kick anyone can
deliver standing still, and that she had full motion going into
it, the sound of cracking ribs as her foot impacted and the dull
thudding sound as the vampire flew into a wall should not have surprised
anyone.  "Logan, he might talk a good fight, but the bum can get hurt.
See if you can smack up his mouth real good and maybe take out his
tongue.  I'm getting tired of that smart-mouthed fool."

Having a moment’s respite she turned to check on Buffy.  She appeared
all right, but was definitely showing signs of shell shock.  "Hang in
there, kiddo."  Kai winked at her and turned around to look at the
stunned vampire.  She and Logan started toward him together.  Glancing
his way, she caught Logan's eye and together they charged.

The vampire saw them coming, and was just able to leap out of their way
when they arrived at the wall.  Kai plowed into it losing her breath,
and Logan hit it with one hand while the other shot up at the escaping
mad vampire.  He still had his claws out as he made the grab, and
instead of grabbing the foot like he intended he got three claws deep in
the meaty part of the foot, and his pinkie claw took off a toe or two.

Logan felt a tug as the vampire's momentum took him back off this new
source of pain.  He turned quickly and almost overtook the vampire as he
landed on both feet and promptly dropped, mostly because of the pain and
lack of balancing digits.  He didn't seem to expect that.  "Don't get
many fun playmates up here, do ya, pal."  Logan leered at him and
backhanded him across the mouth.  Spitting two teeth out, the vampire
hissed at him and they both leapt at each other.

Kai could only watch as the battle turned deadly serious.  Both had the
full strength that only a mutant could have, and they both were leaders
in their class.  Each strove to throw the other, and both held on to
make sure they could stay close enough to do damage.  The blows were
vicious, and the deep, hollow thuds were enough to make both Kai and
Buffy flinch each time someone connected.

Logan had his claws retracted and was trying for the street fighter
approach -- raw violence.  Kai saw the look in his eyes and knew this
would get ugly.  Buffy also saw the look and wondered how eyes could
once be so kind and then be so wild.

The wild had indeed taken Logan.  He howled his freedom and got both
fists going.  The vampire was taking a tremendous beating, but the blows
would not cease his demonic life.  Logan didn't care; he just wanted to
do some damage.

"I'll crush yer mangy life right outta ya, and watch you get smashed
like the piss-ant you are."  Logan hissed this through bared teeth, each
syllable being accented by a smash to the vampire's face.  So far there
was quite a collection of ivory on the floor, but the fangs were still
in place.  Logan looked to be trying to change that without using his
special tools.

"Ffoool," spat the vampire, blood and smashed lips hindering his once
well-enunciated speech.  "Do not thffink I amm done yett!"

So saying, the demon's hand flashed behind his back and pulled a sword
out.  His motion continued on into a full strike, shoving it full length
into Logan's chest, the end dripping blood and coming out his back.
Logan's eyes went slack and the vampire pulled the blade from his
suddenly heavy opponent.  He raised the sword in an attempt to deal the
full death stroke, when a now strong voice cut through the sudden
silence.

"I don't think so, demon boy.  You haven't played with me yet.  And you
already know how I like to play with masters."  Buffy stood behind him,
sword raised to strike.  Down came the blade, the demon barely fast
enough to counter the blow that would have clove his shoulder in two.

"I resspectt your bravvery, ssslayer, but you musst die.  I don't need
you, you sssee."

"I won't take it personal, pasty-face.  Don’t worry, I won't miss you
either."

As Kai rushed to hold Logan, Buffy started the fight of her life.  She
had received rudimentary training in most weapons, including the sword,
but she was no master.  To watch her, though, one would not have known.
The sword seemed to glow as it cut and countered.  As the pace picked
up, Kai would have sworn she heard a faint singing in the room.

The sword moved in her hands, alive.  Buffy knew it in her heart, but
her mind kept telling her it wasn't so.  Go with it, she told her mind,
and get over it.  Having that settled, both mind and heart proceeded to
cut the demon out of this human shell.  Her blade would race down, being
countered by the opposing blade, and would instantly resume a blocking
stance to stop the counter strike.  She tried many avenues of attack and
realized the one she fought had had some time over the centuries to
practice.

Backing up a pace, she felt her ankle start to give as it encountered a
raised cobblestone.  'Not now!' screamed her mind to her body.  Tensing,
worrying that he had seen her flinch, she raised her guard against his
strike a half- second too late.  His blade crashed down on hers,
carrying hers down and allowing his to hit her left shoulder.

"You would do welll to guard thhat shhoulderr.  You seemmm to havve
somme troublle withh it."  The demon tried to smile through pulped
lips.  The pieces of lip hanging across his fangs, as well as his
comments, irritated her.  Putting the sword in her weak hand, she
feinted with it and jumped into him.  Her right fist smacked into his
nose twice, causing his eyes to water, and thoroughly surprising him.

"Thanks for the advice.  You really should see a welder about your
face.  A blow torch would do you wonders."  Renewed by her suddenly
confused opponent, she charged, raining blows down on a weakening
defense.  Buffy wanted badly to finish him off, but her shoulder and
ankle would soon betray her.

"Do you ffeel wweaker yett?" asked the vampire.  "This blade is
centuries old, and is cursed.  Your mutant ffriend there is moments
ffrom death, for even histh powers cannot overcome the evil in this
bblade."

She knew that what he said was true as the pain in her shoulder was
burning into her chest.  She caught Kai's attention, at once seeing that
Kai had heard what the vampire had said and was gripping Logan even
tighter.  Buffy saw a look of veiled desperation in Kai’s eyes, and let
her know with a glance that she was about done for herself.  Kai nodded
silently, a suddenly hard, very determined look coming into her eyes.
Buffy knew the demon had not seen that look, for if he had he would be
very afraid.  Very afraid indeed.

"Well, pal, cursed or not, my blade is blessed."  The sword humming in
her hands, she blocked a downward strike from the vampire.  She raised
her hands to strike downwards in response, and decided to take advantage
of the vampire’s watering eyes.  ‘Quite nervy,’ she thought, ‘thinking a
vampire that is this evil would actually have tears to get in his way.
Oh well…tears happen.’

Watching him raise his block, she went into a full twist, bringing the
sword around with her body, gaining momentum as she swung it around. The
centrifugal force of her swing caused the sharp edge to bite deep into
his leg, continuing through and severing it at the knee.  Down he went,
screaming.  Down she went, screaming.

She had felt her ankle finally give out as the sword cut through his
knee.  Down she went on her left shoulder.  "Great," was her only
comment as the pain from both injuries caused her nerves to freeze up,
and the painful march continued on down her chest.

In front of her the vampire unclenched his eyes and saw the slayer down,
her eyes tightly shut.  "Behold the lammb bbeffore thhe slaughterr."  He
slowly levitated his broken body up in the air in a bloody sitting
position, bringing his sword up.

As the sword started to come up, he felt an arm of steel go around his
neck.  "Not so fast," came a soft voice deepened by pure, clean hate.
He froze as he felt the grip continue to tighten and his body lifted up
by his neck.

Kai lifted him up, the hate swelling her strength until she thought she
would just crush his skull.  ‘No,’ she thought, ‘this one will die
slowly.’  She stood tall, her back against the demon's back, with her
right arm coming up over her right shoulder to grip his neck.  His
weight was still heavy as she smiled and gave a little jump.  As she did
so she pulled her arm tight enough to draw his head back across her
shoulder.  As she came down from the jump, she tightened her arm and
shoulder muscles.  The solid impact of her feet on the floor caused the
vampire’s stretched neck to snap across her shoulder, severing the
vertebrae.

She stood there, the vampire hanging limp on her back, smiling at the
remembrance of her Sensei.  "Never try a reverse hang-man unless you
want the other to die.  You can’t practice it without death."  Well,
this wasn't practice, and she wanted the dead weight on her back to
really die.  Now for the main event.

Letting him fall on the floor, she came around to see in his eyes.  Yes,
he was very much alive…just paralyzed.  The hatred in those eyes would
normally have fazed her, but not now.  Her hatred burned brighter by
far, and he would have flinched from her gaze if he had control of his
body.

Not saying anything to him, she proceeded to walk over and pick up his
sword.  She twirled it in her hand, staring at the flashing blade, and
suddenly sent the flashing blade across the vampire's remaining leg,
severing it neatly.  His eyes clinched in pain, and he looked up at
her.  He saw two eyes smiling at him, deadly malice edged with honey,
and he wet himself.  He saw the look, and was very afraid.

Barely noticing the growing wet spot on the Lord Beavis' pants, Kai
moved up the body, the point of the sword cutting a trail up the
vampire’s chest.  She playfully moved it down to the solar plexus region
and began to twirl the blade, cutting it into his flesh.

"You stabbed Logan.  For his pain I make you suffer."  As she said this
her arm swept down, driving the blade through his chest and imbedding it
into the floor.  Needing both hands, she pulled the blade back out.  The
movement of his body upwards as the suction of the blade raised it was
the only movement she got out of the action.  But she saw the pain in
his eyes.  And it felt good.

She walked up to his head and looked down.  "You stabbed Logan.  For my
pain, you'll die."  His mouth opened into a soundless scream as the
blade took his head off.  The strength of the strike would have severed
an iron post had it been in the way.  She stared at the vampire's pieces
before her, her strength spent.  As she watched, smoke crawled across
the floor, and a scream echoed from the walls of the room, piercing her
mind with its pain.  The smoke cleared rapidly and the body was gone.
The scream echoed away into silence.  "Here's hoping a cursed blade
sends ya to hell twice as fast."  The blade clattered to the floor.

Without further thought, she moved once again to Logan.  Buffy limped
over to her as Kai held his head.  He was breathing, but roughly and
weakly.  A trickle of blood ran down his cheek.  Buffy thought she saw a
glistening in Kai's eyes.  Buffy felt her pain, for she knew this
feeling only too well.

Buffy's right arm went behind her back and pulled her sword.  She
lowered its point to Logan's chest where the point of the demon's dark
sword had been driven.

Kai looked at her to stop her, not knowing why she would do this, and
then they heard singing again.  The blade and Buffy began to glow and
Buffy's head went back as her eyes closed.  Logan's flesh closed under
the glowing blade and he opened his eyes in time to see Buffy fall
backwards onto her back.

Waiting a moment he said, "Ya just gonna let the poor girl lay there, or
play with m'hair all night?"

Kai didn't know whether to slap his face or kiss him, so she did both.
Of course the slap was gentle.  Didn't want to hurt the tough guy too
badly.

Buffy opened her eyes in a puzzled look as Kai helped her sit up.  "What
happened?"

"You put the sword on Logan's chest, I heard singing, you and it glowed,
and you fell down.  Hope that explains it."

"Yeah, sure.  I pull a magic sword to help Logan and can't even remember
it.  Great.  Did I miss anything else?"

"It appears so.  Your shoulder isn't bleeding anymore, and I'll bet your
ankle is back to normal."

Buffy flexed her ankle and felt no pain.  She looked at her shoulder and
all she could see was a sliced-up blouse.  She was a bit lost right
about now, but she felt no more pain in her chest from the sword.

"Thanks, kid.  Ya done good."  Logan smiled at her and stood up, pulling
her up with him.

"Let's get outta this joint before we do anything else we don't
understand," said Kai.

Logan started toward the former Lord's throne.  "Hey," said Kai.
"Whatcha think you're doin'?"

"That mutant wanna-be was some kind of genius.  Thought I might take a
look-see at his play room."

Buffy smiled at Kai's pretend frustration and followed Logan.  "He was
just about dead a few moments ago and now he wants to play.  How nice."
Kai might look frustrated, but happiness beamed from her face as she
said this.  Kai was definitely happy to still have Logan in the land of
the living.

Logan located a button on the underside of the throne's right arm.
Pushing it caused a wall panel to open behind him.  The three went
through into a room full of gadgets and gizmos.  They didn't touch any
of them since they didn't know what they were.  Looking around they saw
a car in the middle of the room.

Well, it sort of looked like a large car, or a very big mobile home.
Maybe a spaceship.  Yes, definitely a…well, they didn't know, so they
went up to it.

Logan pulled a recessed handle and a door hissed open.  He immediately
went inside.  The three looked around but missed the shadow that flicked
out of sight towards the back of the vehicle.  Kai and Logan stopped to
look at the instrumentation along the sides of the machine and all the
supplies.  Arms, food, basic survival gear.  Nice, but now would he get
this up those stairs?  They both smiled at each other and said the same
word:  "Genius."

Buffy instantly declared it "cool" as the door hissed shut behind her.
She wandered up onto the control deck in front and parked into one of
the extremely comfortable chairs in front.  Looking at the
instrumentation and armaments, she spun around her lush captain’s chair
and said, "Definitely the Winnebago from hell."

Logan and Kai followed her to the front to try out the chairs.  Kai took
the front with Buffy and Logan caught one of the two behind them.  He
figured a sit-down and short rest wouldn't hurt anyone, then worried he
might be having a stop-and-smell-the-roses attack since his brush with
mortality.

As they looked over the dials and gauges, Buffy spied a large red
display with a number on it.  1889 read clearly in large green LED’s,
with no reference to what it meant.  MPH, she hoped.  If she could just
get it out of here.  "Bet Lord Butthead really knew what he was doing.
Bet that red button gets us out of here."

Saying this she smiled and said, "What's one more little adventure?" as
her arm came down on the button.

All three turned as a tall dark stranger in a dark trench coat burst out
of the back of the vehicle yelling "DON'T!" with one arm outstretched
towards Buffy.  "NOOOOO..."

Her hand hit the button and time seemed to freeze.  Actually, it really
did.




Finé for now...