Habeas Corpses
Part One
'A series of earthquakes and what authorities are now calling 'meteor showers' have ravaged the southland tonight, igniting fires and explosions throughout the L.A basin,' the newscaster's voice streamed out of the radio, as the women sat beside it and listened, tensely. Fred reached out and turned up the volume, before burying her face in her hands. Cordelia put her arm around her. 'As fire and rescue teams assess the ongoing threat, government officials are asking people to stay in their homes and off the street.'
The phone began to ring and Fred grabbed at it, 'this is Fred,' she blurted out - but then her face fell - as the voice at the other end was not Gunn's, but a woman's. 'Yes ma'am,' she said, 'Angel Inves - I know it is scary but - if she's only an hour late… I'm just saying maybe it's a bit too early to panic. A little fire falling from the sky doesn't necessarily mean the end of…'
There was the sound of the front door opening and she whirled around and dropped the phone. She ran across the lobby and flung her arms around Gunn, who was followed inside by Wes, Lorne, Groo and Doyle.
Kali also ran over to the men - over to Doyle. She cupped his face with her hands - looking at were the flames had singed his skin. He shook his head. He was OK - no need to fuss.
'I thought you were dead!' Fred was saying, her arms still wrapped tightly around her boyfriend, her voice sounded choked up - like she was trying not to cry. He hugged her back, holding her close. Wesley watched them - though he said nothing.
'I know, baby,' Gunn said to her, 'it's like the end of the world out there.'
'But you're all safe now,' Fred pulled back a little and looked at the rest of them. They all nodded their heads. They were exhausted; beaten, bloody, burned and singed - but they had got back to the hotel in one piece.
'Where's Angel?' Cordelia's voice cut through the reunion - and it was high pitched, wavering in panic. Her eyes were scared. She kept glancing around at the other men - as if they were maybe hiding him, or perhaps one of them might suddenly turn into the vampire and surprise her. But the men stayed themselves - and it seemed that they were not hiding their boss under their jackets. 'Where is he?'
'We got separated,' Gunn told her, still clinging to Fred, 'I'm sure he'll be here soon.'
'Separated how?' Cordelia did not sound reassured, 'what happened to him? Where did he go?'
'The Beast threw him off the building,' Wesley told her, 'just before he triggered the firework display. The landing might have hurt Angel, but he will be fine. He'll make his own way back.'
Through the fire? Through the flaming rain and sky of fire? He's a vampire - hello!'
'He'll be fine, Cordelia,' Doyle said to her, still standing close to Kali, 'he'll be here.'
'Yeah,' Gunn agreed, finally pulling away from Fred and staring around at everyone else, 'and in the meantime we need to regroup, think about getting back out there and mixing it up with that demony thing.'
'That's not what Angel would do,' Wesley said. He was sat one of the high stools, by the counter, slumped over - exhausted. But he looked straight into Gunn's eyes, as he spoke.
'Thanks for your opinion - and I don't remember asking.'
'Not that I'm taking sides,' Lorne said - he had gone to make himself a SeaBreeze and was now stirring it, 'but I'm not crazy about the idea of going back out there and facing off against the big, bad, possibly invincible thing that nearly killed us all before he ring mastered tonight's cirque du Flambe. I vote we lie low - wait for Angel - and then lie low some more.'
'Surely the blade of the Groosalug will be able to best this creature. We have a saying back in my homeland - grwpl snyg fleghnagh grwpl snyg urhfgedt Tarknah lmbtdd.'
'May your enemies taste your blade or may they taste your flesh in Tarknah,' Lorne translated for the others, 'cheery little saying for a cheery little people. But I don't think it applies here … That beastie tasted your blade, Groo, honey - it bounced right off of him.'
'Lorne's right - this thing, whatever it is - is bigger than all of us,' Wesley said, 'we've never faced anything like this before.'
'Is this what Lorne saw when he read Kali that time?' Fred asked, 'all the death and destruction and horror?'
'Could be, peanut,' Lorne told her, 'though I think tonight was just the tip of the iceberg - and we're the Titanic.'
'I knew it,' Kali's voice was soft and sad. She looked down at her feet. Doyle wrapped a comforting arm around her. 'This isn't your fault, Kali,' he told her, softly, 'whatever this is - we can figure it out.'
Fred was looking troubled. 'Charles - if this thing is really that big and bad, maybe we should wait for Angel. I mean if y'all couldn't stop him together …'
'So we just wait 'cause we don't know what Angel would or wouldn't do?'
'Would or wouldn't do what?' They all turned at the sound of his voice and saw Angel standing in the doorway. Cordelia ran to him and flung her arms around his neck, 'you're back!' He held her tightly, 'I'm back,' he winced with pain, 'a bit sore and tender, though…'
'Oh - right,' she backed off, looking abashed.
'It was a big fall - high building,' Angel explained, awkwardly.
'Right, but nothing broken?'
'Nothing but my pride. How's Connor?'
Cordelia told him that his son was fine, upstairs sleeping, he had not seen the flames falling from the sky. Angel nodded and began to limp towards the stairs, planning to check on his son. 'Wait - are you sure you don't need anything?' Cordelia called after him. 'Weapons check? Research? … an ice pack?'
'Let's just deal with this in the morning.'
'But …'
'In the morning…' he turned and looked at the rest of them. 'I feel like I've been hit by a tank. I hurt all over. The sky just rained fire and I really think this might be the end. So I wanna go and check on my son. I don't know what we can do about that Beast. Talking isn't going to achieve anything.'
He started to limp up the stairs again. The others watched him go - except for Kali, who, on hearing his words, pulled away from Doyle and made her way to the edge of the group, her head hung low. As she reached the doors, she pushed on the glass and went out into the courtyard. Doyle frowned, as he saw her disappear. But no one else noticed.
'I've never seen him this down after a fight,' Gunn said, still staring up the stairs to where Angel had disappeared from view.
'Nobody likes to lose,' Wesley told him, 'whatever the circumstances.' His own eyes were trained on Fred.
Kali heard the glass door open, behind her, and she twisted to look. It was Cordelia bringing her a cup of tea. 'How are you doing?' Cordelia asked, sitting down beside the demon woman. Kali just sighed - she took the mug from Cordy and smiled her thanks.
'You know,' Cordelia said, 'I hate to say this - but... Doyle's right. This isn't your fault, Kali. I know it feels that way, but this isn't happening because of you.'
'It's linked to me, though, part of me.'
'It's not a part of you. For all we know, you might be the one that's destined to stop all this. The only one that can.'
'You really think it could be that?'
There was a long pause, '...sure.' That made Kali chuckle, wryly, 'right - well, thanks for trying.'
...
Inside the lobby, Doyle narrowed his eyes as he watched Cordelia sit next to Kali and start talking to her. He didn't go out to find out what they were saying … but he stayed where he was and a kept an eye on them both.
...
Kali stared up at the night sky - the flames had stopped falling now - and held her warm drink close to her chest. 'So … what now? Angel doesn't know what to do … does he?'
'He's just sore - and grouchy from losing the fight. He'll come up with a plan,' Cordelia smiled at the thought of him, 'he's a champion.'
'What do you think he'll do?'
Cordelia wrinkled her brow and pursed her lips, as she considered the question. 'Maybe go back to Wolfram and Hart? They said this was not of their making but…'
'Who are Wolfram and Hart?'
So Cordelia explained about the evil law firm located in Downtown L.A - who serviced the needs of the Senior Partners and worked to usher in the apocalypse. 'Angel has somewhat of a chequered past with one of the attorneys there - Lilah Morgan. Doyle, too, for that matter. But if anyone knows what's going on - it's likely to be her.'
Kali nodded slowly, 'huh - and she'll be able to…' But she was cut off by a black clad figure suddenly appearing out of nowhere and jumping at the two of them, it's curved sword raised and gleaming in the moonlight. Kali shrieked, as the figure threw her to the ground. Then it turned on Cordelia. As a trained warrior - with cheerleader practice honed reflexes - she immediately kicked the figure in chest. It staggered backward but came at her again, and used its superior height and weight to force her to the floor. She struggled and cried out - twisting to stay away from the sharp blade, but the black cloaked figure was too strong. She screwed her eyes tight shut, in anticipation of the pain … but then the figure was hauled away from her. Doyle - in demon face - ragged her attacker from her, headbutted it - swung a hard right and then kept on hitting until the figure gave up and fled.
This time, Cordelia closed her eyes in relief. Doyle was breathing heavily from the exertion - great ragged, heavy gasps. Then she heard his voice, low and anxious, 'are you OK Princess? Did he hurt you?'
'I'm fine,' she sat up, 'I'm…' she trailed off, as she opened her eyes and saw her ex boyfriend crouched down beside Kali, staring at her in concern. Cordelia felt all the air leave her body - like she'd been punched in the gut. He wasn't talking to her … wasn't worrying about her. He was worrying about …
'I'm OK,' Kali said, letting him help her up. She looked shaken, but not badly injured, 'he didn't hurt me too badly. Just a few cuts and scrapes.' She smiled, shyly, at Doyle, 'nothing you can't patch up with your handy first aid kit.'
Doyle lowered his brow, looking confused, 'why would I be carrying a first aid kit?' he asked. It was Kali's turn to look confused. 'You said…'
'I can patch you up,' Cordy offered, getting to her feet and trying to ignore the sick feeling in her stomach - as she watched Doyle care for another woman. 'If we just go inside - I can grab my stuff and …'
'What were you thinkin'?' Doyle rounded on her. She looked taken aback. 'Lettin' Kali stay out here, undefended! Don't you know how dangerous it is for her, right now?' he was yelling. 'You might not have noticed - Lord knows if it's not about your own precious self you don't give a damn - but fire rained from the sky tonight. And it's all wrapped up in Kali's destiny. She's the important one, here, and she's the one in danger. How can you be so stupid - lettin' her sit out all alone like this? What if I hadn'ta happened along?'
'Doyle, this isn't Cordy's fault. It isn't her job to babysit me,' Kali said, taking hold of his arm as she tried to talk him round. But he shook her off and continued to glare at Cordelia. 'This is so like you Cordelia, so selfish. Never thinkin' that anybody else matters.'
Cordelia's expression had run the gamut of emotions whilst Doyle had yelled at her. She had gone from confused - to hurt - and now she was mad. 'Don't talk to me like that!'
'Just get outta here,' he sounded disgusted with her. She quirked an eyebrow and made her voice hard and cold. 'Fine,' she said - and turned on her heel, leaving the two demons alone.
Kali was looking surprised - and more than a little dismayed at the way Doyle was acting. 'There was no need to go off like that,' she said. 'If anything - Cordelia helped me. That guy - whoever he was - didn't seem interested in getting to me until he had finished her off. And she was being nice to me, before,' she wrapped her arms around herself and held herself tight, looking suddenly very small and vulnerable, 'she probably won't be nice to me again, now. Not after the way you behaved towards her.'
Doyle took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes, 'look - I'm sorry, OK. I just … I just worry about y' is all - all this apocalypse stuff happenin' and us not knowin' how to protect y' from it… I guess it makes me crazy.' He reached out and placed a hand on her upper arm, gently stroking her skin. He smiled at her - a shy smile. She returned it, blushing. 'Well - I guess maybe I can live with making you crazy,' she told him.
'Yeah?' his smile deepened - his dimple coming into play, 'well, maybe I can live with you makin' me crazy too.'
'Well that's alright then.'
'Yeah…' There was a long moment where they looked into each other's eyes. Kali could feel her heart thumping erratically in her chest and the warmth of her blushes spreading across her skin. She held her breath, hoping he would kiss her … but a moment later he pulled away. 'You comin' back inside?'
'No,' she said to him, feeling that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach: disappointment, hope deflating. 'No … after tonight ... what happened. I just need some time alone. Get my head around this. Work out what it means.'
'It isn't safe for you to be alone.'
'I'll be fine.'
'No!' He reached out and this time gripped her arm, hard. The look of dismay came back to her face. She stared at him - and then tore herself from his grasp. 'You're hurting me. I'll just walk back to the motel - clear my head.'
'You can't' He reached out to grab her again, but she pushed him away. 'God - Doyle! What is your problem?' His breathing was heavy again - like he was working to control his temper. 'I'm sorry - OK? but …'
'I'll see you back at the motel,' she said, pulling herself away from him, with one last, disappointed glance, and walking off through the gates. Doyle stared after her - frustration plain on his face - as she disappeared down the street. Then he turned and followed Cordelia back inside the lobby.
Wesley had barely been home five minutes when there came a knock at the door. Lilah was at the other side, her expression was tense and worried - but slid into one of relief when she saw him. 'OK - I was just checking,' she told him.
'I'm alive.'
She came inside and wrapped her arms around him - holding him close, 'not by much, by the looks of things. I left you a couple of hundred messages.'
Wesley pulled away from her and went to close the door. 'Then you're alright?'
She was. She had slept at Wolfram and Hart - the safest place to be in the event of an apocalypse - but she had spent the night worried about him - out there, in the fire storm. The cuts and bruises on his face told her enough of the story for her to know her worry had not been misplaced. 'I bet I can make you feel better,' she smiled, leaning in to kiss him.
He pulled away from her, 'this has to stop, Lilah. I can't do this anymore.'
She laughed. She had heard that a million times before - but it always ended the same way. The two of them. Broken furniture.
'It's over Lilah.'
She took a step back. 'You're serious?'
He was. After what he had experienced last night - he believed a day of reckoning was at hand.
'And you just reckon you'll toss in with the good guys?' She was getting annoyed now. She folded her arms across her chest and stared at him in disbelief. He looked back at her. 'I'm choosing a side,' he said, simply.
'And the girl of your dreams just happens to be on that side. Huh - what are the odds?'
'This isn't about Fred,' he told her, 'or anyone else for that matter. It's about right and wrong.' But that just made her laugh out loud. 'And you have such a clear grip on those concepts.'
'I've made mistakes.'
'Well, you're making a big one now.' Her voice was low and earnest - but then she shook her head and went for a more conciliatory tone. She wrapped her arms around his neck, again, tilted her head and made her voice seductive, suggestive, 'I could wear the glasses again.'
'Don't embarrass yourself.'
She pulled away from him, really hurting now. All that relief she had felt when she had seen he had survived the night had vanished - and hurt and disappointment reigned in its place. But Wesley was still talking. 'There is a line, Lilah, black and white. Good and evil.'
'Funny thing about black and white,' she was really struggling to keep the hurt out of her voice - struggling not to choke on it, 'you mix it together and you get grey.' She stared at him, looking into is face - her eyes hard, her voice likewise, 'and it doesn't matter how much white you try and put back in, you're never gonna get anything but grey. And I don't see your Texas gal-pal wearing that colour.' She went for the hurt - as she walked away from him - tried to make him feel some of what she was feeling: 'Come to think of it, she prefers black.' She let the door swing shut behind her.
An hour later, Lilah was back at her desk - furious - and channelling all that rage into her work. Gavin brought her a cup of coffee and meekly put it down on the desk, in front of her, as she yelled down the phone. 'Listen, Frank, I don't care if you have to lojack the damn thing…'
Gavin held up a sugar sachet, 'sugar?' he whispered to her. She glared at him and didn't answer. 'Find that Beast,' she snapped at Frank, 'or I swear to God I'll…' she didn't have a threat handy.
'Boil you alive,' Gavin whispered.
'Shut up!' she hissed at him. 'Boil. You. Alive,' she said into the phone, slowly. Then she hung up and sighed. 'How hard can it be to find a giant, horned thing?' she asked Gavin. She took a sip of the coffee he had brought her, grimaced and then threw it away, 'or a decent cup of coffee? Why are you still here?'
He took a report out of his briefcase and held it out to her. 'Intel confirms that it was the creature that triggered the pyrotechnics last night. They're just not sure why he did it.'
'I'll tell you why he did it.' She leaned back in her swivel chair and put her hands behind her head, 'because he can. It's the 800 lb gorilla - it can do whatever it wants. I get that. But, apart from charbroiling everything in sight, it doesn't seem to have an agenda. And that makes our job tricky.'
'What job?'
'The Senior Partners want us to try a cut a deal with it.'
'You mean … you aren't the ones controlling this thing?' A new voice cut into the conversation. Gavin and Lilah turned their heads to look. 'You really don't know what's going on?' A frail looking, lilac skinned, pink haired demoness was standing in the doorway - staring at them with overlarge, fearful eyes.
'What is this? Who are you?' Lilah found new depths of annoyance. 'How did you get in here?'
'My name is Kalimania,' Kali told her - looking between the two lawyers, 'and this Beast - whyever it's here … it's coming for me. I was told … I hoped you'd have answers.'
'Get security,' Lilah said to Gavin - having no time for this. Gavin pressed the button and a security guard appeared - ready to usher the demon woman away. 'No - please - this Beast - I saw him come out of the ground. From the very place I was first brought to in L.A. Lorne read me - said my destiny was all fire and torment and end of the world stuff. And then this giant monster erupts from the ground beneath my feet and makes the sky rain fire.'
Lilah held a hand out to the security guard, stopping him. 'The jolly green demon read you?' she asked. 'You know Angel?'
Kali nodded, 'Doyle took me to see them.'
The lawyer snorted in disgust, 'the half breed,' she muttered, contemptuously. 'But if the Powers That Be are involved - we could really be onto something here. Gavin grab her.'
But as the attorney moved to grab hold of Kali and take her prisoner - all the lights suddenly dimmed and the building began to shake. Kali looked around - anxious, 'it's here,' she said.
