part 10

Interior: Hyperion Everyone stares at Angel as Xander repeats his question.

Xander: Angel, answer me. What's the real deal here?

Cordy: It doesn't concern you.

Xander: Really? That's funny, because look who's here. Something about this sure as hell concerns us or we wouldn't be here. Now we find out we wasted the trip because the PTB don't want us to save Buffy. And Angel here seems to know why or at least why this is all tied together. So why don't you back off and stop covering for him?

Cordy: Wait just a min...!

Willow: Okay guys! We get it. Now maybe this isn't the way any of us planned on spending our day but we're here. And we can't afford any secrets. (turns to Angel) Please. If there's something that you know, please tell us.

Angel: I'm really not sure if I know anything helpful.

Spike: That's a given.

Dawn: Spike shut up. (walks to stand between he and Angel and looks form one to the other) I don't care what is going on with you two. I don't care about anything except bringing Buffy home. We came all the way here and we've accomplished nothing. Buffy's still gone and now the only shot we had at finding her has just been taken away by the very people she left to help. (looks at Angel) Why is that?

Angel: I'm not sure.

Dawn: Stop it! You know something or we wouldn't all be here. So tell us what it is. If you ever cared about my sister at all, you'll tell us why we have to stand by and possibly allow her to die in some unknown dimension courtesy of your friend. Lorne: I think we call agree that Sajhan is no friend of Angel's. That demon is the cause of every problem we have right now. He brought Holtz into this time. He swore vengeance against Angel for reasons not even Angel is aware of. Angel: Alright. I'll tell you everything.

Cordy: Angel!

Angel: (Holds up a hand) I have to Cordy. (Looks at Willow, Dawn and Xander before finally stopping on Spike) The child Sajhan claimed to need Buffy's help to save.

Willow: So the child is real? Angel: (nods) Yes, he's real. (pauses unsure of how to say the words) Xander: What? Out with it.

Angel: (drops his head to look at his feet) He's my son.

A deathly silence falls over the room. No one speaks for a moment as the words seem to travel through the air for lasting effect.

Xander: Squeeze me? (looks at Willow and shakes his head as if trying to correct his hearing) What did he say?

Willow: Um...I think...

Angel: Buffy went after my son. He's the child that Sajhan is searching for.

Spike: (quietly) Bloody hell.

Dawn: How can you have a son? You're not alive. You're still dead right?

Angel: yes. I'm still...dead.

Gunn: It's undead to be exact.

Xander: Dead, undead. Either way, not supposed to be of the procreating. So...what...why...how?

Cordy: We've been working on that for a while now. But its not important. The fact is Angel has a son and that Sajhan guy brought Holtz here to destroy him.

Fred: Holtz took Connor a few days ago. He jumped into a portal that Sajhan created. As far as we knew, it was a portal into hell or something close to it.

Spike: So you're saying that the Slayer's in hell?

Dawn: Oh God. Angel: I don't know anything anymore. When Willow said that Buffy was told she was going to save a child, I didn't understand. Sajhan would never willingly allow my son to be spared. He wanted him dead more than anyone. That's why I don't understand.

Xander: (Still unmoving) Connor? Angel has a son. And his name is Connor? Cordy: Snap out of it Xander. We've moved on. You can work through the ramifications later.

Spike: I gotta tell you Angel. You've certainly pulled one out this time. How did you manage to...wait, who's the mother?

Angel: I really don't think that's important.

Xander: The mother? The woman who carried the spawn of Angel? Oh yeah, I'm sensing importance.

Dawn: Does Buffy know? Is that why she went so willingly?

Angel: No! How could she know?

Willow: Well she wasn't too keen on revealing the details of your reunion meeting earlier this year.

Gunn: Her too huh? What was it, some kind of pact?

Angel: I don't know about Darl...I didn't know when I saw Buffy.

Spike: Wait one bloody minute! You were about to say Darla! (walks to stand in front of Angel) Darla is the babe's mother?

Xander: Darla! Darla as in the sire you killed to save Buffy Darla? How is that even possible? What the hell is going on here?

Wes has been writing this whole time and finally stops to hand the paper to Fred.

Fred: Um excuse me guys, Wes needs to say something.

Angel is more than happy to turn away from the questions to listen as Fred reads the paper.

Wes/Fred: I know this is all overwhelming for those of you who haven't been privy to the goings on here in LA, but perhaps we can save the question and answer session for after we retrieve Buffy and Connor. I'm sure if given half the chance, the happenings in all our lives could keep us occupied for hours. But I must insist we stay focused here. The PTB don't want us searching out Buffy and we need to know why.

No one speaks when Fred is done and they all begin thinking on their own about what everything means.

Cut to White place Buffy and Connor now stand facing Holtz and Sajhan.

Sajhan never answered Buffy's question and they all stare at one another in silence contemplating their next move.

Holtz: My son.

Connor: Who are you speaking to? Buffy turns to see Connor in human form and seems unsure if he's even the same person. He returns her glare with an equally puzzled expression.

Woman: (VO) They have a purpose for each of you. Only for this time shall it become clear. Your time is brief in this place, you must make sure your intentions. They have given you a choice.

Buffy: Is somebody going to fill me in on the faceless voice?

Sajhan: She is who brought me to you. She works for Them.

Buffy: Of course she does. So what's with the clean cut on our friend here? (She points at Connor) And why isn't he trying to kill us?

Holtz: He's not a killer. He was only facing the demon side that he was cursed with by his creator.

Buffy: Okay. And for those of us without the cliff notes, what does that mean?

Woman: If you wish to know the truth, it will be revealed. However, seeing the truth will only bring more questions.

Buffy: (Staring up) Well since all I have is questions at the moment, maybe you could throw me a bone?

Woman: Very well. Look to the one who brought you.

Buffy looks at Sajhan who seems to have realized what is about to happen and begins backing up.

Sajhan: (Calls out to woman) No! This wasn't part of the plan! I don't want this!

Woman: When will you learn? What you want is not of concern to Them. The chosen path can not be deviated from. If she is to save him, she must know from whom and what she is saving him from.

Sajhan: I chose my own destiny to prevent this. I gave myself to them to stop this!

Woman: No. You gave yourself to prevent the future. This is the past. If you do not alter the past in Their way, the future will be lost. The child, and the slayer will be lost. Is this what you wish?

Sajhan drops his head and his shoulders slump defeatedly.

Holtz: What is the meaning of this? Why is the one who brought me to kill the child now seeking out the salvation of the same? What have They planned for my son?

Buffy: You know what? I'm not in the mood for all this. I did what They asked. I came to find the boy. But They sent this (points at Connor) in his place. Now I've battled to the death and have nothing to show for it. Woman: You only have yet to see what there is to show. Look to him, the one who brought you here. Look to him for the answer.

Buffy looks again at Sajhan and he closes his eyes so as not to face her when it happens. Without a sound, Sajhan becomes the one he was before the change. Buffy's eyes widen as she sees the man before her and what he holds in his hands. She begins to back away and shake her head furiously.

Buffy: No. What are They doing? No, this isn't true.

Holtz: It can't be. I did not join forces with this. I did not allow this to bring me to my son. Woman: Your time here is done. You have served your purpose. You thought you knew what true vengeance was, but you only brought vengeance to him. You made him the one thing you believed impossible. A son for that world where pain is every day and with every one. Your quest was to make the demon suffer. And you did ten fold. Your place is no longer here.

With that statement before Holtz can respond he looks to his son one last time before disappearing before the three sets of eyes.

Buffy: (To Sajhan) Where did you come from?

Sajhan: From long after you are aware of. I had no choice when They came to me. I sacrificed to make it undone.

Buffy: Sacrifice? You're speaking to me of sacrifice?

Woman: His is not comparable to the one you will make.

Buffy: (Looks at the child in Sajhan's hands) And this is him. This is who you did this for?

Sajhan: Yes. Not only for him, but yes.

Buffy: And do I get to find out who he is?

Woman: In time, it will be revealed. But only if you ensure his correct path. You must take him.

Buffy: Take him where?

Woman: To his time. He has one more course to travel with his new knowledge.

Buffy: And is this path back in Sunnydale? Do I get to go home?

Woman: Your home is where ever the Chosen one takes you. You must watch over him for a time and then take him to his day. Take him back to his father. His rightful father.

Buffy: (looks at Sajhan) And he will be there?

Woman: You mustn't tell him of your travels. He can never know that you crossed paths with this one. Buffy looks at Sajhan knowing that he is the secret she must keep.

Sajhan: I didn't know.

Woman: The one who brought you here can not go back. He must be ended now.

Buffy: What? No! I won't do it! It's too much to ask!

Sajhan: I knew this was the end of my journey when I took it on. Though I didn't expect to end it with you.

Buffy: And you won't! I'm not doing it!

Woman: If you wish to go home, back to your time and your world without a doomed fate for yourself and those you love, you will do what must be done.

Buffy begins to cry as a weapon appears in her hands. She drops it to the floor and steps away. Sajhan crosses the space between them and holds out the infant for her to take.

Woman: This is not what They chose! She must be the one to end him!

Sajhan: (Bends to pick up the sword as Buffy's tears fall on the child) He is all that matters. I began my journey to ensure his end. I end mine to ensure his beginning.

Buffy struggles to understand what it means but before she can accept it, Sajhan raises the sword with both hands and pushes it with all his strength through his chest.

Buffy screams out and drops to her knees as Connor begins to wail from within her protecting arms. Sajhan collapses onto the floor as blood seeps from his wound. Woman: The infant becomes a man, The beast became the infant, the infant now becomes the man again to do his duty. You must watch over him until the time comes to take him home. Your world is moving on although much slower. You can't hold on to this time. It is past. He is done as They chose him to be.

Buffy: (Sobbing) I don't understand. I don't want to be here anymore. I don't want to help Them anymore! They only want to hurt me! I've suffered enough. WE have suffered enough!

Woman: The emotions that you allow to entangle your life are the cause of your pain. Nothing else is to blame.

Without warning, Buffy is pulled yet again into another portal. This time Connor is pulled from her arms and she watches him change into the same man that fell into Pylea once before. She is kept from him and can only watch as he hits the ground in the middle of the village.

As he stands and sees the inhabitants going about their daily lives, instead of battles from within, he seems to know what he's searching for. He strides to the boy that he reached for once before. This time, instead of anger or destruction being his intent, it is only the preordained path.

Boy: (as Connor grabs his arm) Who are you? Please! Don't hurt me!

Connor: Calm yourself boy. I'm here to help you. You will be a great leader for your people. Your life's purpose will be a noble one. I am here to teach you.

Boy: Teach me what? I'm just a boy. I'm not ready for educating.

Connor: What you are ready for is unknown to you. But I will show you. I will train you in the ways of ancient and future warriors. I will stay until you are ready for what you must do. I'll endow you with skills and knowledge and the legend.

Boy: Legend?

Connor: Yes. Your destiny is only possible through my own. It will only be a legend to you. But when the time comes, years after I am gone, you will remember what I taught you. And you will know what must be done. They sent me to you. Your path is the path They have chosen. Your name is the Groosalug and I am your master.

Buffy watches more confused than ever. Not knowing what to make of why They brought her here with this boy. With his boy.