[KingofCretins]

Angel: After the Fall, Issue #1

Start of Chapter 1

The first image after the fall is of a city street in ruins. The sky is a shapeless gray, neither light nor dark, and buildings are cast in a sickly, bronze-ish light. A wrecked car shines its headlights on a demon, with long, thin legs and a tail, hands with huge claws and a mouth opened in a snarl. It’s facing a woman, whose back is against the wall of a building. She’s wearing shorts and a tank top and looks unkempt. In the broken plate glass window next to her, two men look out in fear of the demon.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: It all started with a girl. I joined a corporation that was, quite literally, evil incarnate. I thought I could channel their resources into something positive.

In the next image, we see the woman facing toward us, crouching in fear. Behind her, a figure with a broadsword, wearing a black leather coat has leapt into the view, and slashed the demon across its head and neck. Blood sprays away from it as it falls backwards.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: In an existence defined by bad choices, that was my worst. I didn’t change them. They changed me.

We see Angel in full view now, standing over the woman, whose kneeling behind him defensively. Demons like the first we saw are closing in around him as he stares them down. His broadsword is drawn, and he has a battleaxe slung over his back as well.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Then they killed her. That opened my eyes.

In close-up, we see Angel’s face, all grim determination, and another spray of blood where he has attacked another demon, out of view.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: I took a stand.

We see Angel pinned to the ground by three of the demons in the next image, one of them, clawing deeply into his chest with its claws, spraying blood out onto Angel’s shirt.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: That was a while ago. And ever since then…

The view reverses, and we look down at Angel, who appears calm, almost smiling. One of the demons turns around to look upward, surprised and afraid, while another one grunts with a *SNURT*.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: … I’ve been trying to make up for it. But I’m only one man.

In a wider view, we see what the demons were afraid of. A giant dragon is hovering in the air. It has three horns along its jaw-line on either side of its head, and glowing red eyes. Its talons grip a car. Its jaw is open and blasting out fire, which consumes several of the demons that had been attacking Angel, while the vampire himself is back up on his feet and attacking with his broadsword.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: One man with a very large dragon. He was part of the same organization. Two minutes into fighting him, I realized he was as misled as I was.

Next we see the woman Angel had rescued back on her feet, gesturing with exasperation as she walked toward the charred demon bits in the street. Angel is next to her, while the two mean inside the store window still look out.

WOMAN: What the hell is going on?

ANGEL: Everything’s fine. Resume your looting.

WOMAN: We weren’t looting! We were just stealing what we need to survive! Is that *looting*?

We see her standing next to Angel, taking a business card or something similar from him. Her two friends are out on the street with them now. We can see that the three people are dressed for the urban jungle – their normal clothes accented by bandages, small bags, headbands. In the background, the dragon hovers over the street, putting down the car it was carrying, possibly looking for stragglers.

ANGEL: Yes, it is. Take the car and go to this address. Don’t go home to get your things, don’t pick up your friends, just go.

WOMAN: Do you know what’s going on?


(NARRATION) ANGEL: Yes.

ANGEL: No.

Face to face in the next image, Angel and the woman both have their hands on what looks to be a makeshift axe, probably one the survivors had. They don’t look each other in the eye as Angel listens to her.

WOMAN: One minute, everything was fine, and then… (whispering) I don’t deserve this! I’m a good person! I’m a lawyer!

(NARRATION) ANGEL: All night. Hell, for the last few months, it’s the same song and dance.

We see Angel, climbing up onto the dragon, using its horns to climb up onto its neck. He gives his last instructions to the lawyer as she looks on.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Everyone wants to know what they could have possibly done wrong to be in this situation.

ANGEL: Go. Now.

LAWYER: Who should we say sent us?

The next image shows the dragon climbing into the sky from the street, up between the ruined buildings. He answers her over his shoulder as they leave.

ANGEL: You shouldn’t.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Each time, every time, I leave them in the dark.

We see the dragon flying against the sky. Behind it, both a sun and a moon are shining at the same time. Wherever they are, it isn’t earth as we know it anymore.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: I don’t tell them that they’re here because I took a stand. My friends stood with me.

A close-up of Angel shows his face bearing the weight of what he’s thinking about.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Wolfram & Hart sent an army. There were losses on both sides.

LOCATION: DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

And in the next image, we see the full scope of what’s happened. As Angel rides the dragon, below them spreads out what used to be recognizable as Los Angeles. Now, it’s corrupted and damaged, buildings looking ruined and half-melted. Some are wrapped in giant tentacles, as if they are growing demons. A huge set of open jaws emerges from the ground in one city block. Fires are popping up everywhere, and look to burn with no effort to stop them coming.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: And then Wolfram & Hart sent Los Angeles to hell.

We see a shot of Los Angeles at street level, people wandering through their ruined city, as Angel and the dragon soar by in the distance. Flame appears to appear at random around the city.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Oddly, it took the citizens a few hours to realize it wasn’t a temporary situation. They figured it out roughly minutes after the demons did.

Elsewhere, as the dragon flies overhead, we see another part of the city, a large blue demon wielding a huge bone is stalking through the street, throwing an abandoned car behind it.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: The more powerful creatures conquered and divided the town. Hunting any human that wasn’t going along with their game plan.

Next, we see the dragon arriving at its destination. It’s the Wolfram & Hart building. A huge hole is ripped into the wall in part, but the building looks largely intact – not changed in the way many of the others appeared to be.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: And Wolfram & Hart, always a fan of irony, in addition to torture, dropped me where it all began.

The next image is of Angel standing inside the building, the dragon having let him climb off through the hole into the interior.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: I abide for now.

ANGEL: Go to the parking garage, grab a few more cars for the night rounds. Leave the Viper.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Go against their rules, the punishment would be worse. Not sure how, but they’re Wolfram & Hart, they not only know of places worse than hell, they have timeshares there.

Next we see Angel in full view, walking through the corridor of Wolfram & Hart. He is still carrying his broadsword, and his shirt is stained bright red from the wound he took fighting the demons.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Place is kind of dead lately.

Before he can react, Angel is shoved face first from behind into a wall, cracking it as he hits, and dropping his broadsword. He has been shoved there by a red-skinned demon, similar to the ones Angel fought earlier, but much bigger and muscled. Behind him, yet another demon, blue skinned, watches, and speaks to Angel now that he has the vampire’s attention.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: But we do have the occasional walk-in.

BLUE DEMON: So, vampire. How was work?

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Burge. Lord of Downtown L.A. And his son. Moron offspring of the lord of Downtown L.A.

In a close-up, we see the red skinned demon right in Angel’s face, growling and slobbering down at him. Burge looks on as they talk.

BURGE: Slaughter lots of bad, bad monsters?

ANGEL: It’s not work when you love what you do. Always a pleasure, Burge.

SON OF BURGE: Let me flay the vampire and wear his skin as a spawning cloak.

We see Burge’s son effortlessly hoist Angel up with one hand, nearly to the ceiling. Angel doesn’t really struggle. Burge, for his part, is looking at various office equipment with a minion that came along.

BURGE: [i]One moment, boy. Angel, you kept your dark avenger roadshow out of my domain, yes?

ANGEL: Mostly.

SON OF BURGE: He murdered my men! Right in front of me –

ANGEL: So you were hidnnnnng –

SON OF BURGE: (squeezing Angel’s throat) *QUIET*!

VOICE: (from out of view) Is there a problem?

The view reverses and we see a man in a three piece suit and glasses standing in a doorway where he has just entered. It’s Wesley, astoundingly, looking like nothing so much than the studious Watcher he was in Season 3 of Buffy.

ANGEL: (quietly) Where… were… you…?

WESLEY: I was out. I’m back. I didn’t realize we were expecting company.

We see from behind Wesley, Burge’s son still has Angel held in the air by his throat.

SON OF BURGE: He took down my men.

ANGEL: They were trying to kill people. Right under my nose can’t help but notice your grip is getting tighter –

WESLEY: Now Angel, I’m sure they weren’t trying to *kill* the humans. They were trying to enslave them.

From a wider view, we see Burge has stepped up to Wesley. The demon is much taller, but Wesley is staring up at him, unconcerned. Burge’s minions surround him.

BURGE: I told you to keep your vampire on a leash, Wyndham-Pryce.

WESLEY: As the last official representative of this branch of Wolfram & Hart, I can assure you that we do not condone Angel’s actions in the least.

As they talk, we see Angel himself, looking angry as he’s still caught in the grip of Burge’s son.

BURGE: Well, good, because –

WESLEY: I can *also* assure you…

The view changes, and we’re looking from behind Burge toward Wesley. Behind him, the demon still holds Angel in the air. Burge’s minions are lined up silently behind them.

WESLEY: … Angel’s fate isn’t up to you. We kept him around, even after a fairly alarming indiscretion. So I’m thinking you should tell your steroid-ridden hellspawn to step down before he kills Angel and ruins things for the rest of us.

In close-up, we see Wesley’s face. He looks hard and inscrutable. It’s Burge who caves.

BURGE: He spends tonight inside. Let him think about what he’s done.

WESLEY: I’m also seriously considering taking away his TV privileges, believe-you-me.

We see Angel now is struggling against the grip he’s in, but not productively.

SON OF BURGE: Father, you’re not *seriously* considering listening to that nebbish, are you? This vampire is a murderer of innocent demon armies –

Next we see Burge, facing away and preparing to walk out a different hole in the building exterior. His minions are carrying out various office equipment. Burge has clearly gotten what he wants for the moment.

BURGE: Shut it, son. Not now. Angel kills one more of my men, Wolfram & Hart be damned, I’m coming back for his head as recompense. And/or that desk in the corner. That is one fine desk. It’s metal, and it’s sturdy. Let’s go, boy.

The next image is a wider look, and Burge’s son hasn’t gone anywhere, nor has he put down Angel. Wesley has moved around behind him, toward the hole in the building, like a host showing a guest the door. The metal desk Burge was admiring is visible in the foreground.

SON OF BURGE: I want. To wear. His skin.

WESLEY: Chase that rainbow another day, big boy. You heard your father. He said you’re not killing him today.

At last, Burge’s son lets Angel go. By flinging him across the room and into a desk, shattering small bottles. The demon whirls on Wesley, standing in front of the hole. Wesley doesn’t look at all armed.

SON OF BURGE: He did. But he didn’t say anything –

In a view of both of him, we see Burge’s son drive his fist forward at a charge. It goes effortlessly through Wesley’s chest – the man isn’t corporeal, it appears. Wesley looks down at the arm nonchalantly.

SON OF BURGE: *About Yo— ?!*

WESLEY: No, I guess he didn’t.

In the next image, we see that the demon’s momentum has carried him clean out the window, right through Wesley, and out of the building. Wesley has turned to look at Angel, who is sitting up slowly. He has pulled a wooden stake out and is holding as though he means to use it.

WESLEY: Guests are fun. What are you going to do with that?

ANGEL: I don’t even know why I carry one with me. Haven’t had to use one for months. Remember when vampires were our biggest problem?

WESLEY: Only when you went *bad*.

Back on his feet, Angel is holding his hand toward the wound on his chest, ignoring Wesley’s insult. Wesley faces him as they go over the evening’s events.

WESLEY: How were the rounds?

ANGEL: About a dozen. Maybe more.

WESLEY: I trust you sent them all to the same place?

ANGEL: I did.

WESLEY: I hope he has the room.

LOCATION: SANTA MONICA

From overhead in the new scene, we see the demonically ruined remnants of the amusement park at the Santa Monica pier. The ocean looks like it’s made of fire, with tentacles or flames poking out of it. Giant bones litter the roofs of buildings and the street. A convertible has pulled up outside a boarded up hotel, and three figures are visible standing in front of the entrance.

VOICE: I don’t care how handsome the dude was… and sure, he was kind of handsome… he rode off on a dragon.

We see a closer view – the three figures are the lawyer and her two friends from earlier, arriving where they were sent. She is still carrying the battleaxe, while the others appear unarmed.

LAWYER: He saved us from demons, Denny. And seriously, “kinda handsome”?

DENNY: I’m still not convinced he wasn’t setting us up to be eaten by bigger, meaner demons. And he had a big forehead.

When they step inside, we see what they see – a lobby full of people. Some human, some clearly demon, all looking back at them suspiciously. Several are wielding machetes or crossbows or axes.

LAWYER: Hi.

DENNY: (whispering) See? Our chances were better on the outside. *These* demons can assume human form.

LAWYER: So, yeah, we were –

Before she can finish, the people in the lobby have pulled every weapon they have and are pointing them at the group of new arrivals.

LAWYER: Oh.

In the next image, the overhead light above the three guests has come alive with electricity. It arcs out in bright white and encircles them, but does not shock.

DENNY: *Hey*! This is *so* much better than being on our own and *not* dying!

The view reverses, and we see a woman in red leather pants and what appears to be a leather bra and long red gloves standing in the middle of the electricity flowing around the group. Her dark hair falls lazily around her shoulders. There is no mistaking that this is Gwen Raiden.

GWEN: Chill out, hotshot. Just wanna see if you’re on the up-and-up.

The electricity vanishes, and we see the lawyer standing tensely. From the dark, behind her, we see a figure walking up to her.

VOICE: Their hearts are racing.

The voice belongs to a blond woman, dressed in bike shorts and a sports bra. She’s walked right up behind the female lawyer, sniffing at her shoulder. The lawyer looks dismayed at the closeness.

LAWYER: We’re not, I’m not… Oh..?

WOMAN: And their scents…

In a close-up, the blond woman slowly licks the lawyer’s cheek up her jawline. It’s not sexual, but more predatory. The lawyer looks at once appalled and scared.

In the next image, the blond woman appears to have gotten her composure back, and looks ashamed of what she did. The lawyer is holding her neck defensively.

WOMAN: Did I…?

LAWYER: She’s tenderizing me she’s tenderizing me she’s tenderizing me

WOMAN: No! it’s the sun/moon situation! They’re both out at once. Do you have any idea what that does to a werewolf?

LAWYER: Makes you hungry?!


WOMAN: No!

LAWYER: Makes you bi-curious?!

The view changes, and a new figure is in the room. A man with dark hair hanging against his neck, his back to us. Over either shoulder, we can see the blond woman and Gwen looking back to him approvingly, Gwen with her hand fixed to her hip. He is facing the new arrivals. Everyone in the room has their eyes on him.

MAN: Relax Nina, Gwen. Angel sent them.

GWEN: Are you sure?

When the view changes, we see from the new arrivals side of the room – the young man is standing in front of them, jeans and a jacket, very casual. Everyone has taken their place behind him, with Nina and Gwen to either side. It’s Connor, and he’s definitely in charge of this group.

CONNOR: Pretty sure. Their car came complete with optional side airbags, a Wolfram & Hart employee parking pass, and fairly large claw marks on the roof, like the hundreds we have in the back. Don’t be scared. I’m Connor. This is my family.

The scene changes, and we’re at the Wolfram & Hart building, looking up from its cracked marquee to the side of the damaged building.

ANGEL: Damn it…

Inside the building, we see Angel laying on a gurney, his shirt off, with what looks like a giant bug on his chest, clinging to where he was injured. He is pulling on it experimentally with his left hand. On the other side of the room, Wesley is facing the wall.

ANGEL: … This thing is supposed to heal me?

WESLEY: I think so. Do you feel it biting –

ANGEL: Do I feel “it”? This thing is alive?

The view reverses, and we see Wesley staring straight ahead, looking indifferent. Angel is behind him, still staring at his chest.

WESLEY: *Something* in the room should be. It’s not capable of emotion.

ANGEL: Oh, good. I’d hate to think, in addition to everything else, that I’m also bumming out the parasite. Don’t we have anything less…

WESLEY: … Repulsive? I’m afraid not.

The view moves around and we see both Angel and Wesley, Angel again picking at the parasite on his chest. Wesley is studying something on one of the shelves in front of him.

WESLEY: Our supplies are getting low. I’ll snoop around though, maybe something will turn up. If it was used to heal, mutate, murder, conjure or destroy, it’s somewhere within these walls.

ANGEL: Gotta hand it to them. Wolfram & Hart is prepared for anything. Most likely because they’re also the cause of it. So. You went out.

We see Angel finally toss the parasite away, apparently healed to his satisfaction. He and Wesley talk, although Wesley still doesn’t face him.

WESLEY: When?

ANGEL: When Burge was here. You said you went out.

WESLEY: I was watching you. Seeing what your next move would be.

In close-up, we see Angel as he’s buttoning his shirt back up over the rest of his wound. Behind him, Wesley has turned to face them, but the two still aren’t facing each other.

WESLEY: You went with “squirm,” which is an interesting choice.

ANGEL: Yeah, well. I take Burge’s son out, Burge and his men come after me. I take them out, every demon stuck on this side of the barrier comes to take their place, using the humans as shields, weapons, and projectiles.

The next image shows Angel and Wesley, side by side, as Angel slips his coat back on. They appear to be on the ruined lobby floor of their offices in Wolfram & Hart’s better days. They begin to walk down the hall.

ANGEL: I wish I could have taken the lords down one-by-one as they popped up, but fighting wasn’t really an option. *Moving* wasn’t really an option. Your superiors saw to that.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Okay, that was low.

WESLEY: So now you’re saving small groups of civilians…

We see them walking in profile. The dragon appears to be sleeping off to one side of the large floor space. Wesley trails Angel by a few steps as they walk.

WESLEY: … And tossing them to your son.

ANGEL: Is that alright, Wesley? Is that keeping line with what Wolfram & Hart wants?

WESLEY: I don’t know.

ANGEL: Of course you don’t.

We see them walking from the end of a long corridor which is mostly intact, art still hanging from the wall.

ANGEL: I’m working on a way out of here. I just need the right firepower.

WESLEY: We’re not leaving. Trust me, I would like more than anything to be released from my contract. I would literally give anything to be able to move on. But that isn’t an option. So maybe you should figure out what you can do, here and now. And then take the slightest of *baby steps* to returning to what you were. Because if you don’t start trying to take control…

Wesley’s narration finishes as the scene changes, and we see a close-up of a glowing yellow orb, mounted inside the rib cage of a skeleton. The whole thing is inside some kind of blue goo.

WESLEY: (from previous scene) … The wrong person is going to.

MONSTER: COME ON, YOU SACKS OF MAN-BABIES!

LOCATION: WESTWOOD

We see the creature from a wider view. It’s a skeleton, wrapped in the blue goo, its eyes glowing red. To its left, several demons are sitting in the stands of a stadium. To its right, a large fish, a betta, is floating in mid-air, but changed to the monster’s make-shift throne. In front of and around the monster, five women, all clad in lingerie and apparently changed, lounge despondently.

MONSTER: YOU’RE ALL BREAKING MY STRIKE! I AM KR’PH, LORD OF WESTWOOD! DARK OVERSEER OF EVERYTHING WEST OF BEVERLY HILLS! THIS IS MY DOMAIN! YOU ARE MY MONGRELS! I HAVE CONVERTED UK-CA SPORTING FIELD INTO GREAT GLADIATOR ARENA!

A new image, from far above, confirms what Kr’ph says – the Rose Bowl has been taken over. It’s exteriors are largely demolished, and torches burn where the overhead lights used to be.

KR’PH: AND YET YOU WARRIORS STAND THERE AND STARE AT ME WITH MONGREL COCKED HEADS AND YOUR FIFTH DIGIT HOUSED IN YOUR SIT-DOWN SPOTS!

In a closer view, we see the “warriors” – several human men wearing almost no clothing, except for boots and the odd armor piece. They are armed with spears and short swords. They are of various ages, body types, and ethnicities.

MAN #1: “Warriors”? I was a cop.

MAN #2: I was a bouncer. That’s kinda like a warrior, I guess.

The next image shows Kr’ph in close-up, looking toward the floating Betta to his right from our view. The fish, insofar as it can make expressions, looks abashed at the orders its getting.

KR’PH: [i]SPLENDEN BEAST, BRAIN-YELL AT THE WARRIOR MONGRELS! MAKE THEM STAB!

BETTA: (telepathically) ”Brain-yell”? Dude, I am a telepath. But if you think I have the power to force anyone to do anything, let alone, you know, stab –

KR’PH: THE FISH WANTS POWER?

In response, Kr’ph’s eyes glow yellow, the same yellow as the orb in his chest. Next to him, the Betta’s eyes glow the same yellow, as though power is flowing from Kr’ph into the fish.

KR’PH: NOW YOU PLAY WITH POWER, YES?

BETTA: (telepathically) Whoa… what is… ? Whoa… man, does everyone hate you.

KR’PH: A GAGGLE OF MONGRELS DIE FOR EVERY SECOND YOU DON’T BRAIN-YELL.

In the next image, the “warriors” on the field of the Rose Bowl begin to fight each other. Apparently at the command of the Betta.

BETTA: (telepathically) Warriors… I need you… and I am so sorry… I need you to fight.

We see Kr’ph watching the battle with pleasure. The Betta floats beside him, managing to look concerned. Kr’ph’s apparent ‘love-slaves’ look around, the nearest one staring at the fish.

BETTA: (telepathically) Kr’ph, I’m picking up more voices. Not just your slaves, or warriors. Someone’s coming. And their minds… are screaming.

KR’PH: HA! THEY ARE SCARED BECAUSE THEY KNOW I AM KR’PH!

The next image shows us from across the field, a group of men moving toward the demon and his warriors. They are all wearing hooded sweatshirts and carrying weapons.

BETTA: (telepathically) They’re not sreaming because they’re scared.

We see Kr’ph’s face in close-up. His skeletal expression still looks slightly panicked as he hears the Betta’s thoughts.

BETTA: (telepathically) They guys are *angry*.

The next image shows the Betta being hit in the face with a small bag thrown toward it from out of the view. It appears to knock the fish out where it float. Kr’ph looks at the unconscious fish in alarm.

KR’PH: FISH?

We see Kr’ph’s demon henchmen rush onto the field in front of Kr’ph’s throne to meet the attackers. The ‘love-slaves’ look for cover.

MINION: Protect Kr’ph!

KR’PH: MY LIFE FOR YOURS! *MY LIFE FOR YOURS*

We see the men and the monsters fight, with the men getting the better of it. One of the captive ‘warriors’ looks on at the fight.

MINION: Defend Kr’ph! Defend our lord!

VOICE: (from out of the view) Gotta admire their loyalty.

In an extreme close-up, we see an axe chop into the neck of one of Kr’ph’s minions, it’s blood spraying out.

VOICE: (from out of the view) Their fighting style? Not so much.

We see Kr’ph leaning over the arm of his throne, one of his ‘love slaves’ ducking away from him. He is trying to rouse the unconscious Betta.

KR’PH: LAZY FISH! WAKE UP AND YELL AT THEIR HEADS TO GO! FIGHT WELL, GUARDS! YOUR LOVE FOR ME IS UNBOUNDFUL!

In the next image, despite Kr’ph’s attempts at motivation, his minions are being wiped out. Arrows take one of the minions in the eye, chest, and shoulder.

KR’PH: …

Another image shows one of Kr’ph’s minions heads sliced clean off its head and Kr’ph pleads in voice-over.

KR’PH: WHOEVER THIS IS, I AM ANGERED BUT NOT TURNING A BACKSIDE TO BARGAINING!

Another image of one of the hooded figures cutting through Kr’ph’s minions.

KR’PH: YOU ARE MIGHTY AND NOBLE MONGRELS! A HANDSHAKING CAN HAPPEN! TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT! I CAN HELP YOU GET IT!

When the view changes, we see the men in the hoodies have run out of obstacles between them and Kr’ph. The demon holds its hand up in protest. The man in front is black, has a scar under his eye, and is holding an axe ready to attack. One of the men behind him identifies him when he speaks.

MAN: You hear that, Gunn? Man wants to help us get what we want.

GUNN: Oh, I know he can.

In profile, we see Gunn punch forward, straight through the goo of Kr’ph’s “skin”, and grab the yellow orb in his chest. Kr’ph’s face snarls, but his skeleton is already falling apart and he makes no sound as he falls.

GUNN: He’s just not going to be the biggest fan of *how*.

From overhead, we see Gunn raise the orb triumphantly, the others with him raising their fists in victory.

GUNN: We got it! One fight, one lord down! Chalk that up to a win for *Team Gunn*!

A wider view shows Gunn standing along with the five men fighting beside him. They are standing over the bodies of Kr’ph’s minions. Behind them, the captive “warriors” look on, impressed.

MAN #1: Wait, dude. Did you just say “Team Gunn”?

GUNN: You may have been together before I joined, but I trained you. Plus I coordinated the outfits.

MAN #2: You made us wear these.

The view reverses, and we see that Gunn is looking at the unconscious Betta. Behind the fish, he also takes notice of the five ‘love slaves’ huddled together in a mix of confusion and relief.

GUNN: Can we hash this out later? Wrap up the fish. Make sure he stays out until we get back. One second…

We see Gunn, smiling, having gone up to one of the rescued ‘love slaves’, hold her chin up gently with his thumb. She smiles back with more than mere gratitude.

GUNN: Hey, it’s okay. You’re fine now. Think of the last couple months as a bad dream. That’s all they were. I tell you what, though. You play your cards right and this dream could suddenly turn downright erotic.

The scene changes, and we’re back at Wolfram & Hart. Angel is placing his broad sword back up in his armory.

The next image shows him across the room, turning as he hears a voice – Burge’s son – yelling from outside.

SON OF BURGE: Six for six! Six for six!

We see Angel looking down from the office building through a hole in the exterior wall. He’s staring down at the street, where Burge’s son and 5 other demons have rounded up a bunch of humans and have them circled.

SON OF BURGE: Angel killed six of my men! I kill six of his humans!

(NARRATION) ANGEL: I was told not to leave the building. Not one step.

Elsewhere, as Angel’s narration continues, we see Wesley in close-up, again looking hard, unreadable.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: I was also told that everything I was doing is wrong. A friend said it, face to transparent face.

We see Wesley, silhouetted in a bright doorway, about to step through. Angel’s narration continues.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Thing is…

And we see Wesley, standing inside what appears to be the White Room, it’s superstructure barely visible in the blinding light.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: … Everything’s different. And I don’t know who told him to say it.

Down on the street, Burge’s son is about to strike the first of the captive humans. His henchmen look on.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: But…

Then we see the metal desk Burge had liked drop out of the sky near Burge’s son, alarming him with a *KLLLANG*.

SON OF BURGE: What—?

(NARRATION) ANGEL: … It doesn’t mean he was wrong.

From behind, we see Burge’s son looking up to the building, seeing Angel’s outline standing a few floors up looking back down at him. The humans, forgotten, escape.

SON OF BURGE: What the hell was *that*?

In close-up, we see Angel staring back down. He’s smiling, only a bit.

ANGEL: Recompense.

The view reverses, and Burge’s son launches himself up on his wings to charge Angel, furious. His henchmen look on from the street.

SON OF BURGE: My father told you! *My father told you*!

And from the demon’s point of view, we see Angel getting closer as he flies at him. The vampire reaches into his coat as he answers.

ANGEL: I know. Not allowed to leave the building.

In close-up, Angel hurls the stake he’s been carrying straight ahead, toward the charging demon.

From the street, we see the henchmen react in surprise to the *SQUITCH* sound the stake makes.

In the next image, Burge’s son drops out of the air to the street.

A close-up reveals that the stake went right into his eye, killing him. The stake is still sticking out, and Burge’s son’s tongue hangs out of his mouth. The demon henchmen look furious, shouting up at Angel in outrage.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Well. Can’t take that back. Good. It all begins with a stake to the eye.

HENCHMAN: You have declared war, vampire!

As Angel looks down, the demons begin to leave, still making threats. One of the henchmen grabs the metal desk to take back to Burge.

HENCHMEN: You have no idea what you have done!

ANGEL: I’ve declared war, you just said.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Of course, this might be exactly what Wolfram & Hart wants.

The scene changes, but Angel’s narration continues. We see “Team Gunn” standing in the Rose Bowl. They appear to be drawing on the wall at the base of the stands, characters appearing to be drawn in blood. Their hands look almost like claws.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: That’s fine.

The next image shows the “warriors”. They are dead, staring at nothing in a pile on the ground. Between two of Gunn’s people, still drawing on the wall, we see a tunnel into the stadium, to one of the locker rooms, from when the stadium still had teams playing there.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Let them think they’re in charge.

The next image follows the tunnel, approaching a turn at the end of the first hallway. A voice yells in surprise and fear from out of sight around the corner.

VOICE: *AAAAAAAARH?*

As Angel’s narration continues, we see the end of that hallway. The “love slaves” are piled up on the floor of the corridor. Four of them are clearly dead, and the floor is almost awash in their blood. The 5th one is still trapped in a man’s arms, screaming, but fading, dying. She’s being drained by a vampire.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Wolfram & Hart has taken away everything I had. Everyone I cared about.

LOVE-SLAVE: (quietly) Aaaaarh—

(NARRATION) ANGEL: Everything I was.

The last image is of Gunn, pushing the dead love-slave’s head away from him like she’s a broken toy. Which she may be, to him – he is a vampire, and stares up with his full game face on and his mouth open in a snarl, yellow eyes ablaze.

(NARRATION) ANGEL: But that’s how I’m going to win. They think they’ve changed me.

TO BE CONTINUED…

End of Chapter 1