I don't own anything from Mutant Enemy or the Angel franchise or anything like that.
An hour later they had fond nothing in Kira's address book. Just a bunch of eighteen year olds with no clue to Kira's whereabouts. They'd even tried Jamie, who'd been concerned, but hadn't a clue as to the witch's location. Finally they came across an initialed name: K. Angel dialed the number.
"Detective Lockley speaking." For a moment Angel stared at the phone dumbfounded. "Hello?" Kate said. "It this a prank?" Angel replied, "Kate?" Kate's voice turned to surprise. "Angel? How did you get this number?" Kate sounded how Angel felt.
"Kira," he said. "I got it from Kira. She's missing." On the other end Kate's blood ran cold. She hadn't seen Angel in years but in the last month she'd developed a soft spot for Kira. "I'll be right there."
Twenty minutes later Kate Lockley entered the Hyperion. Angel walked over to greet her and there was an awkward moment as if they might hug. They chose not to and shook hands. Everyone else waved in greeting or said "Hi." Oz walked over to Kate.
"Do you know anything that could help?" he asked. Kate shook her head. "You Oz?" she asked. He nodded. "Kira told me about you. Sadly I don't know where she is. I do want to help, though." Angel nodded.
"Kira didn't leave us many clues," he said. "Except for this book." He held it out for her to see. She took it and slowly turned the pages. "Most of the people in there are teenagers or occult supply stores," Wesley said. "You were the first number in a whole new section." Kate stopped him.
"Did you guys see this address below mine?" she asked. Angel shook his head. "It says SOS," Connor said looking at it. "We should check it out. Angel, Kate, and Wesley left the Hyperion in search of the location. It was a newly built apartment complex. Angel and Wesley looked at each other and then at the site. It was where their first office had been before it had been destroyed so long ago. The door was open and the walked up to the apartment listed in the book. Angel knocked hesitantly, and then looked shocked as the door opened. It was opened by Cordelia Chase.
Under the rickety old post office was a stone platform with a bowl on top. Doyle took out a lighter and lit the contents of the bowl saying, "We beseech access to the knowing ones." Immediately a portal opened, filling the room with blue light.
"They'll let you in," Doyle said. "You'd best go." Kira entered warily. Immediately she was in a room filled with cold light and white marble. The Oracles looked like the Greek gods of old, but gold.
"Lower being," the male said, "have you a gift?" Kira thought for a moment, then tossed a jade dragon from around her neck. "What do you wish to learn?" asked the female. "Why am I here?" was Kira's answer. "Yes," said the female. "You are out of your time."
"And I want to know why." The male smirked at her. "You ask the wrong questions," he said. "Go" The female stopped him. "There is one of this time who is gone in yours." Kira looked confused. The female continued. "His sacrifice alters the timeline wrongly." Kira's look turned to puzzled realization.
"Doyle." The female did not answer, but spoke again. "The messenger must not make his sacrifice. The timeline must be changed. You have been chosen because only you can correct the wroing." Kira was dumbfounded.
"You want me to prevent Doyle's death?" The Oracle nodded. "How?"
"That is for you to decide for yourself."
Doyle looked up as Kira was thrust out of the portal. He caught the younger girl as she reeled backward on her feet.
"Well?" he asked. "Find what you needed?"
"Cordy?"
Angel was frozen in shock. Cordelia seemed only slightly less surprised to see them. "Come in," she said and they did. She motioned for them to sit down and they did rather shakily, for even Kate had learned of Cordelia's death. Cordelia sat on a chair facing the sofa, once occupied by Kira, now by Angel, Wesley, and Kate.
"So," she said. "So…I think I owe you an explanation."
"Hell yeah you do," Angel said. "Look," Cordelia said, "I'm sorry. I never meant for you to know I was here, okay? I'm supposed to be dead." Angel was dazed.
"Cordy, we buried you a month ago." Cordelia looked as if she was searching for the right words.
"I'm tired," she said. " The Powers gave me a time to go and I'm taking it. I just can't go on like this. That's why Kira was sent to you." Wesley stopped her. "But she's missing." He said. Now it was Cordelia's turn to look surprised. "What?" And then the vision hit her.
She saw Kira disappear in 2004 and reappear in 1999. She saw Doyle, alive and well, for the first time in years. She saw Kira's visit to the Oracles. When she saw the look on Kira's face she knew.
"Oh God."
Back at Angel Investigations Kira sat down in the office. "I'm supposed to change time," she said. "I've been sent to save a man's life." Angel looked confused. "Anything more specific?" Kira shook her head. "I can tell you one thing," she said. "I lied." Doyle looked at her sympathetically and Cordelia gave her a "Duh" look.
"I'm not an independent demon fighter," Kira said. "I work for Angel Investigations." Apparently no one had expected that. "Y' mean," Doyle said in a rather odd voice," "Y' mean y' work wit' us?" Kira nodded. "And this man," Angel questioned, "is someone we fail to save?" Nod. "And how are we supposed to believe you?" Cordelia asked.
"'Cause she's got nothin' to lose," Doyle answered. For the second time that day Kira told her story, this time adding her employment to Angel and her conversation with the Oracles, leaving Doyle out entirely. Angel decided that Kira would need a place to stay and Cordelia offered her place. Doyle, somewhat gallantly, offered to take the couch, both to guard the girls and because he was on the run from someone.