[KingofCretins]

Angel: After the Fall, Issue #12

Start of Chapter 12

The opening image is of the dragon in the sky, electricity coursing over its body as it writhes in pain. We hear Gwen’s voice, quiet and apologetic.

GWEN: (from out of the view) He never said it would be like this.

The view shifts, and we see Gwen standing with her shoulders slumped. She’s still quieting. However, her gloves are off, and lightning pours out of her and fills the air around the rooftop. Behind her, the dragon falls.

GWEN: It was all planned out. He saw how it all went down. I just had to nudge you in the right direction. And have back if it – oh God, if it came to this. This really has to happen, huh?

We see Connor and Spike facing Gwen. Connor looks disbelieving, Spike looks ready to fight, but doesn’t attack her.

CONNOR: I don’t understand, Gwen.

SPIKE: It’s called being betrayed by the one you love. Welcome brother, the club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays.

CONNOR: No.

We see Connor in close-up as the snow falls around him and more lightning flashes from Gwen.

CONNOR: I saved you! I saved your life and we slowly developed a bond and you said that you *loved me* and –

His face closes up, and he narrows his eyes.

CONNOR: – oh. You are good. So are you actually unable to touch me or was it some elaborate cover-up so you wouldn’t have to?

We see Gwen pulling one of her gloves back on as she pleads with Connor. Behind her, Spike tries to take advantage of her distraction. He vamps out and raises his sword to attack Gwen.

GWEN: Connor, I can’t touch *anybody! That’s what this is about*! He said he could make it all go away, but I *can’t* let you stop what *has* to happen –

SPIKE: See, boy, this what’s called “lying.” Best ignore it. I tried the other option, believing psychopaths for decades on end, but it doesn’t end well. What I’d do now is find your favorite sharp object and –

Gwen silences Spike’s suggestions by casually throwing her bare left hand out to her side, blasting him clear off the roof with a bolt of lightning. She never stops looking at Connor.

GWEN: Shut up, Spike.

Connor scowls as he turns his back on Gwen. She continues trying to explain, though.

GWEN: I love you, Connor. Wasn’t part of the original plan but there it is. He can make it go back to how it was. He’ll make it so I’ll be able to touch again but *I can’t let you near him*.

CONNOR: You’ve said.

GWEN: *Please, baby, don’t make me do this*!

In a close-up, Connor just looks over his shoulder to warn her away.

CONNOR: Don’t make me give Cordelia the okay to eat you.

We see Gwen in close-up, her face wrinkling in confusion.

GWEN: Cordelia? Who’s –

Gwen looks up as a puff of orange smoke appears next to her.

The view shifts, and we see she’s confronted by the dragon. It’s scales are smoking from her attack, but it hovers over her at the edge of the roof. The dragon is clearly unhappy.

In a close-up, Gwen smiles nervously. Angel’s voice takes us into the next scene.

GWEN: Good boy, good… Cordy?

ANGEL: (voiceover) “I jumped off a building.”

The scene changes, and as Angel continues, we see him standing, apparently uninjured.

ANGEL: Not quite a skyscraper, but not a one-story. Bottom line is, even if I was a vampire, it was a rash move made in the heat of the moment. Snapped my spine, legs, a wrist. Wesley was there, but he couldn’t help. He tried, but, I don’t know if you’re aware, he’s living-impaired, so… the dragon found me. Scooped me up. He tried to be gentle, wound up discloating my shoulder but that’s not so bad, considering.

Angel starts walking across the room toward whoever he’s talking to.

ANGEL: Found a century’s supply of neo-primitive healing salves and some incantations in Wolfram & Hart’s medicine cabinets. Used them all at once, it still took months to heal. Every second of that time was spent awake, and the pain… I’m not a stranger to pain but this, this was mind-numbing. To get through it without snapping I learned to focus on something else. I imagined you. I talked to you the entire time. I didn’t actively choose you. When I’m conscious it still hurts to say your name. But when I needed someone, there you were. I guess it makes sense, during my time in Los Angeles, you were that kept me sane.

In a closer view, we see Angel is leaning over to face a woman with long dark hair. He smiles at her.

ANGEL: The dragon guarded me night and day. Heard every rant, every one-sided conversation. And he thought I was talking to him. He thinks his name… is your name. Is that weird?

WOMAN: Completely.

The next image reveals who Angel is talking to. It’s Cordelia Chase. She sits with her legs crossed casually on one of Gunn’s couches, resting her head against one hand. She looks at Angel with a look that suggests both amusement and sympathy.

CORDY: But understand I’d be disappointed if I came back and you had a boring story for me. “Hey Cordelia, guess what I’ve been up to. Lots and lots of Sudoku.” “Hey, Cordelia, guess who started a movie review blog.” Angel, you’re human and you’re tortured and you have a pet dragon that you accidentally named after me and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The view widens and Cordy stands and comes to Angel’s side, taking his hand in hers and putting her other hand on his shoulder.

ANGEL: Anyway, my point is, as good as it is to see you –

CORDY: – always find the negative in record time, you haven’t lost all your power –

ANGEL: – when I was healing, you were a hallucination. You weren’t here. You’re not *anywhere*. Unless you’re everywhere, I don’t know your current situation. Selfish of me to ask, how are you? And what are you? And are you here? You look great.

In close-up, Cordy smiles up at him fondly.

CORDY: You’re flustered. I’m making you flustered, it’s so cute. To answer your questions, no I’m not everywhere. I certainly can’t be here for any amount of time. A parlor trick a little while ago took it out of me until recently. And as for whether or not I’m literally standing before you, no, I’m not.

The view shifts, and we see Cordy and Angel from behind as she directs his attention to the floor.

CORDY: But to be fair, you’re not standing, either.

ANGEL: Oh, right, that.

The next image is of Angel’s own body laying on the floor. The sword is still stuck through his stomach, and his legs are turns awkwardly where they were broken. He’s in a pool of his own blood and clearly almost dead. Gunn is crouching over him, as if in mourning. The healthy Angel that’s talking is standing, looking down at himself.

CORDY: Yes, *that*. I’m not a fan of the dramatic –

ANGEL: Ha.

CORDY: – shush. But your reaction to your own death could be a bit bigger. Like, maybe a gasp? A sigh? Subtle **** of an eyebrow?

The spirit/non-corporeal Angel and Cordy turn to follow as Gunn drags the injured Angel down the hall. Angel’s body leaves a trail of blood.

ANGEL: I want to get up, I want to fight, but even if I could – I don’t know what I’d hit. Gunn has a right to be angry, even if he’s currently not expressing it in a healthy manner. People follow my lead and it always *without fail* ends the same way.

Cordy’s face turns very sober as we see her in close-up.

CORDY: Angel.

ANGEL: (from out of the view) Don’t try and change my mind, you’re the poster girl for what happens if you believe in me.

CORDY: *Angel*.

The view reverses, and we see a close-up of Angel as he reacts with surprise at what Cordy tells him.

ANGEL: Please, I’m not saying I’m going to give up, I just –

CORDY: *Angel*. I *am* saying that.

We see from between Angel and Cordy as Gunn pulls Angel’s body up to sit against the wall.

CORDY: I can’t usually come… here. I don’t do LA, and I certainly don’t do this sliver of L.A. I tried, believe me, the glimpses I’ve seen of you have broken my heart – but whatever Wolfram & Hart did, it’s keeping the good out. But I can come now, because you’re close.

Angel looks down as Cordy puts her palm on his chest.

CORDY: I’m here – and honey, I am so sorry – to make your passing easier.

The next image is of Gunn and two of his henchmen leaning over Angel’s body. Angel slumps against the wall, bleeding.

HENCHMAN #1: What’s happening to him?

GUNN: I – I don’t know. He’s supposed to be up and about and fanged and undead for the big finale. He’s supposed to be there when I win *and then he dies*.

We see the same view, but not from between Angel and Cordy as they face each other. Cordy glares at Angel changing the subject.

GUNN: The goddamn Powers-That-Be can’t be wrong.

ANGEL: (to Cordy) It’s not the Powers-That-Be. For one thing, you just said *good* can’t be here. And the visions would stop the moment someone tried to use them for evil.

CORDY: Stop it.

Cordy hugs Angel tightly and he returns it.

ANGEL: Stop what?

CORDY: Ignoring what I just told you. Death comes for you weekly, big guy, but this time it’s sticking.

We see Cordy in close-up as she caresses Angel’s cheek.

CORDY: And I know you’ve deduced I’m one of three things: another hallucination to get you through another painful experience, actual Cordy with intentions pure, or, super-scary but super-probable Wolfram & Hart manifestion that really wants to stick it in and twist it. Whatever door you pick, the song ends the same way.

The image flashes white and a voice leads us into the next scene. It’s Fred’s voice.

FRED: (voiceover) No. No, this won’t do.

In the Hyperion, Wesley and Nina stand at the door of the office while Fred is tearing through a book called “Ancient Runes”, frantically researching. Nina is talking on a cellphone.

FRED: This won’t do at all! Nothing, nothing nothing nothing.

In a closer view, Nina turns to look at Fred while she waits on the phone. Wes continues watching Fred work.

NINA: What is she looking for?

WES: She’s confused by Gunn’s sudden re-appearance, so she’s doing what Fred would have done when she didn’t understand something. She has no idea what to look for but it’s making her feel better.

In close-up, Wesley keeps staring at Fred as he hopes for Nina to have information.

WES: Any luck getting through to Lorne –

The next image shows Wes raising his hand in front of him, and it’s transparent – he’s vanishing, like he did back in Chapter 4. Nina stares at his hand.

WES: The sooner we – oh my.

NINA: Wesley?!

Wesley vanishes, and Nina puts her hands on top of her head helplessly. Fred turns to face her.

FRED: Where did he go?

NINA: I don’t know.

The view reverses, and from behind Nina we see Fred smash her hands down through an office desk. Red color is moving back up Fred’s legs, though, and it’s clear – she’s changing back.

FRED: *You will*

It’s Illyria that turns back to face Nina. Her face is a cold stare. We see a timeslip, and Nina and Illyria are in a futuristic room, but Nina’s hair is red.

ILLYRIA: *Bring him*

Another timeslip shows us the room in the recent past, when there was a crib in it. Illyria walks across the room with the same cold stare, indifferent to the timeslips.

ILLYRIA: *Back*.

The timeslips end and Illyria is face to face with Nina.

We see Illyria grab Nina by the shirt in both hands and lift of her off the ground.

ILLYRIA: *I demand it*.

The view shifts, and Nina struggles in Illyria’s grip, but she can’t free herself.

NINA: I – I – I can’t –

ILLYRIA: Everyone comes back just to leave! Gunn, Angel, *Wesley again*! Stop testing me It’s annoying. *I don’t approve*!

NINA: I understand, and I’m right there with you.

ILLYRIA: I know you are. But I don’t care if you’re here. I want the ones I know. *Now*.

NINA: No, I mean. You missed him, and then he comes back… and now he’s gone again.

In a close-up, Nina lowers her head sadly.

NINA: I’ve been there.

The view reverses and we see Illyria looking almost disgusted that Nina is showing emotion to her.

ILLYRIA: I understand your rejection. You are inferior.

We see Illyria from behind as she drops Nina to the floor.

ILLYRIA: But I am Illyria.

We see Illyria walking away as Nina rolls over onto her stomach to get up.

ILLYRIA: I am a pure demon who ruled Vahla Ha’Nesh and I demand a certain amount of order.

Behind her, we see Nina get back up to her knees.

NINA: We don’t even know where he is –

Outside, we see the Hyperion from the outside, in the alley.

An instant later, the brick wall flies apart as Illyria punches through it with a *BABOOM*.

The view shifts, and we see Illyria looking out toward downtown, snow still falling around her. In the distance, she sees the dragon, and Gwen’s lightning.

ILLYRIA: Yes. We do.

In a new scene, we look down on Angel’s body, Gunn, and his henchmen.

GUNN: Let’s get ‘em to the street. He’s doing his best to hold on and I want him to have a front row –

Gunn is interrupted as Wesley materializes in front of him.

GUNN: – seat?

We see Gunn and Wesley face each other, surrounded by Gunn’s henchmen.

GUNN: Wesley.

WES: Charles.

GUNN: Vampire.

WES: Ghost.

GUNN: Sucks –

WES: – truly.

Wes reaches out and his hand passes through Gunn as his eyes widen in fear. Behind him, Cordy watches them.

CORDY: This is going to be ugly.

WES: Charles –

Wesley leans over Angel’s bruised and bleeding body.

WES: *What did you do*?

GUNN: (from out of the view) Always about him.

We see Gunn looking down as Wes reaches uselessly out to Angel.

GUNN: No “sorry you’re a vampire”, or “hey, how you *you* been since being sent to thell?” Never about me.

WES: Angel, hold on I’ll –

In close-up, we see Wes’ non-corporeal hand go through the hilt of the broadsword sticking out of Angel. Blood drips from Angel’s mouth.

WES: – I won’t do anything. I *can’t* do anything –

Cordy and Angel’s spirit selves look on as Wesley’s frustration kicks in.

CORDY: Poor Wesley –

ANGEL: I know. He feels useless.

CORDY: I was talking more about the return to the Men’s Wearhouse wardrobe. But yeah, the useless thing, totally almost as or a little more than worse.

In close-up, Wes cries out in anger. Cordy watches from behind him.

WES: *Why did you bring me here if I’m not allowed to help*?!

As Cordy and Angel watch, Wes’ face suddenly changes into pain.

WES: *NAAAAAAAAAA* –

CORDY: That happen often?

ANGEL: No –

The view widens, and we see Wes lifted into the air by some other force. Yellow energy races around his body. He screams in pain, while Gunn and his henchmen back away. Cordy and Angel look on from the side. A voice fills Wesley’s head, a voice from Wolfram & Hart.

VOICE: *VERY WELL, WESLEY* receiving inter-office memo. PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

The light goes away and Wes drops to the floor in a crouch. Gunn tries to touch his back, but his fingers go right through him. Wesley’s clothes are smoking now.

GUNN: Wes –

WES: I –

Wesley is still bent over and smoke still coming off his clothes. Gunn stands up in surprise that Wes is still a ghost.

GUNN: Thought maybe they’d make you whole again.

WES: No.

GUNN: Can you explain the light show?

WES: I can explain a lot more than that.

We see a close-up of Wesley’s head from behind as he looks over to Angel’s body.

WES: They told me everything.

The view reverses, and Wesley straightens his tie as he turns to face Gunn.

WES: They never filed it.

GUNN: What?

WES: He signed it. It was as good as done.

We see a close-up of Angel and Cordy. Angel looks completely stunned, and Cordy watches him in disbelief.

WES: (from out of the view) But then everything went to hell.

ANGEL: The prophecy? But I’m not a vampire anymore. God help me, God help us all, I thought it was Spike. I dreamt it was Spike.

Wes rubs his chin, lost in thought. Gunn stands behind him, casually playing with the red object he used to strip the magic spells from Angel.

GUNN: Don’t let ‘em fill your head, Wes. I’ve see how this goes, the visions never even suggested –

WES: They filled *my* head, just like they filled *yours*. Any information the visions left out – was information Wolfram & Hart didn’t need you to know.

We see Gunn in close-up as Wesley faces him. Gunn holds up the red object to Wesley’s face.

GUNN: Since when does Wolfram & Hart have a say in the Powers-That-Be’s visions?

WES: You’re not getting, Charles. Or maybe you are, but you’re having trouble admitting it.

From behind, we see Gunn hold out the red object, trying to use it on Wes.

WES: We’re out of good’s reach. We’re in Wolfram & Hart’s backyard. They’re behind your delusions.

GUNN: *Enough*, Wesley. I’ve heard enough. I liked the old Wesley better. He had integrity – (quietly) and stubble, and mass – (to Wes) I don’t think I want you here anymore.

WES: That won’t work on me.

Gunn tosses the object away as Wesley keeps staring at him.

WES: Mutes magic, yes? Visions clued you in on its whereabout, I know. It’s not going to work now because they don’t want it to. A few minutes ago, you told me it was *always about Angel*. You were absolutely right.

The view reverses, and Gunn vamps out and drives his fist through Wesley in anger. Cordy and Angel watch curiously.

WES: *This wasn’t about you. None of it was*.

GUNN: Goddamn liar!

WES: We were all pawns.

Wes’ voice continues, and we see an image on the roof of Connor, Gwen, and the dragon fighting.

WES: (voiceover) Moved accordingly…

From down on the street, we see Illyria looking up at dragon beside the building.

WES: (voiceover) … and sacrificed when needed.

Illyria’s face shows a small bit of satisfaction as she recognizes her destination.

We see Wes in close-up against a black background.

WES: All so they could have Angel.

The view shifts to Angel and Cordy. Angel looks skeptical. Cordy’s expression is focused, though, riveted by what Wesley is saying.

ANGEL: “Have me”? Seriously, putting me under contract wasn’t enough?

CORDY: Shhhh, I’m trying to listen.

ANGEL: “You’re trying to listen”? You didn’t know about this?

CORDY: White hats don’t have a plant in the black hat offices. If we were that sneaky, we’d be, you know, grey hats.

The next image shows Angel and Cordy holding hands as they listen to Wesley, who is crouching over Angel’s body on the floor. Around them, the background is full of images of things that have happened in Hell-A – the demon holding Connor up by the shirt in “First Night”, Spike hugging Fred.

WES: It started the second we arrived and it hasn’t let up. There were times that we all figured we were in our own persona hell, but that wasn’t the case. *We were all players in Angel’s*. The Los Angeles branch of Wolfram & Hart threw everything they could at him. Loved ones put into mortal danger simply because they knew him. Others playing hero to those Angel couldn’t save. Fallen comrades-in-arms chained to his side. Breaking him so he can’t be what he *has to be* to help.

Gunn points his finger into Wesley’s face. He is furious at what Wesley is suggesting.

GUNN: Why did my gang get the visions *long before* Los Angeles went to hell?!

WES: This has long been part of the plan. Even before they sent the town to hall, the wheels were turning. It was in the works the moment you became important to him, The specifics of how it went down may have been changed, but the end result was always going to be the same… you were always going to be a vampire, and he was always going to have to –

As Wes talks, Gunn reaches down and grabs the sword sticking out of Angel’s chest.

From a wider view, Gunn rips the blade free, jerking Angel’s body away from the wall.

GUNN: *Wrong*, Wesley. This is another test. They’re really getting up there in my head but it’s fine. *It’s fine*.

From behind Angel’s head, we look up at Gunn’s face. He’s furious, raising the sword back over his head and ready to cleave Angel in half. Wes watches from behind him.

WES: Charles, stop.

GUNN: *I’m the vampire*. I’m going to shanshu. Vampire with a soul, vampire *with* soul, prophecy translations always get muddled over generations. Hell, you almost killed the kid because of a game of telephone gone sixty-three kinds of screwed. And now I’m not supposed to believe my visions because your visions are saying something different?

In a close-up, Gunn’s face drops – he’s beginning to doubt.

WES: (from out of the view) Make no mistake. *The Shanshu prophecy is about Angel*.

Gunn drops to a crouch next to Angel, leaning on the sword like a cane. Wesley stands over them both.

WES: He wouldn’t be worth all this trouble if it wasn’t. He’s the vampire with a soul that will play a key role in the apocalypse. He will be rewarded with humanity for his troubles.

From behind “spirit” Angel and Cordy, we see Gunn stand up again, looking down at Angel’s body as Wes keeps talking.

ANGEL: But I can’t do that if I’m stuck like this. Certainly can’t do that if Gunn lops my head off. Can’t *one good guy* be corporal in this room?

WES: It’s not you, Charles. The visions helped manipulate you into doing what was needed. They were true, every single one of them, but your interpretation is what’s currently making Wolfram & Hart reconsider your part in all of this.

The view shifts and Angel turns and takes Cordy’s shoulders in his hands.

ANGEL: Cordy, I love you but I can’t leave now. I’m… needed. This isn’t over –

In a close-up, we see Wesley has crouched next to Angel’s body. He places his hand on Angel’s forehead.

WES: Speaking of visions. The Senior Partners have been kind enough to force me to deliver one last vision. For Angel’s eyes only. Your part in the apocalypse. *The Shanshu prophecy carred out, right before your eyes. It is written. It has been witnessed. It is inevitable*. (quietly) I’m sorry, my friend.

The next image spans two pages. Angel stands triumphant amidst his enemies… but not a hero. He is a vampire again, and blood is streaming from his mouth. His left hand is covered in blood. He holds a blood-drenched sword in his right hand. His hair is a mess, his clothes are torn from fighting. He is standing on bodies of human beings. There are human heads on pikes around him, demons in the backgroung, and the city of Los Angeles burns in the distance behind him.

And right away we see Angel’s face in close-up as he comes out of it. He’s crying. Cordy’s hands shake his shoulders.

CORDY: Angel? *Angel*?

Angel stands up straight again, but his eyes are wide. Cordy keeps holding him.

ANGEL: (quietly) I… uh –

CORDY: What did you see?

The view widens out as Angel continues to stare off.

ANGEL: Cordelia?

The last image is of Angel staring away, and Cordy still facing him, trying to get him to answer. In the foreground, Wesley and Gunn crouch over Angel’s body. Gunn’s eyes are wide in disbelief.

ANGEL: I’m ready to go.

End of Chapter 12