Disclaimer: I do not own Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
Also, finally saw The Batman, and it was mostly great. Though I could do without some of the slow-mo shots, they increased the movie's length beyond what was necessary. Seeing Batman's detective side was nice, and outside of some issues (minor and major both), it was well-made. Plus they referenced something from the comics that really intrigued when I'd first read it in the comics.
While I hate comics Batman nowadays due to how horribly he is written with the Bat-God wank (not to mention how abusive he gets), this movie got him right and reminded me why I enjoy the character when he's written well. The Batmen I like nowadays are West's version, Keaton's version, Bale's version, Pattinson's version, DCAU version, The Batman version and Arkhamverse version (Except Arkham Knight).
Comics Batman, not a fan nowadays. Affleck's Batman had a good concept and good actor but horrible writing.
Anyways, I'd recommend this film, my rating is 8.5/10. Good look at the characters and Gotham City.
Guest: Thanks for the review. I've thought about doing it for Smallville but 10 Seasons, all of them having 20 or more episodes that are around 42 minutes each, now that's just too long. With this show I only barely made it through.
Chapter 112- Conviction
The Scoobies sat back on the couch as Buffy muttered. "And now the final year is here at last."
"With them working for their greatest enemies", Willow added as Buffy picked up the remote and turned on the recording.
A young woman walked through an alley when a Vampire jumped out at her. She screamed and Angel heard from the rooftop, leaping around as the woman begged the Vamp who grabbed her, and Angel grabbed a rope, jumping off and swinging like Spider-Man. He then kicked the Vamp on the face, knocking him down before doing a backflip as he touched down, his black leather coat bellowing like Batman's cape as he sauntered to the Vampire. "Doesn't sound like the lady's interested. Maybe you're coming off as too needy."
"They always do", Buffy rolled her eyes as the rest chuckled.
"He was Spider-Man and Batman both at this point", Xander said, the laughter increasing a little.
"Well, good for the girl", Dawn shrugged.
The Vamp flipped up as Angel blocked and dodged 2 kicks, then blocked some punches before decking him, and ducked to avoid a punch, before being kicked back, then kicked the Vamp back before decking his face twice and in a spin motion, kicked him back but the Vamp flipped back up. Angel dodged, then grabbing his arm, decked his face before spinning and kneeing him down. The Vamp tried to sweep his feet from under him but Angel leapt to avoid and tossed him into some trash cans before using a stake to dust him.
"And there goes another one", Willow shrugged. "They should stop haunting the alleys of LA at this point."
"So far it doesn't look too different", Dawn commented.
"Well, we've only been in for a minute", Tara pointed out to her.
The woman was confused as Angel said. "Look, don't try. Just get yourself home and stay out of dark alleys. You'll be all right." He walked off as she asked. "But…..who are you?" Angel replied. "It doesn't matter." Then cars screeched as armed men in suits arrived as one of them gave info to the rest and more cars pulled up, headlights pointed at Angel as people arrived. Angel was confused as Agent Hauser introduced himself, while the lawyer said there was a tracking monitor in his lapel. A notary gave the woman a contract to confirm she'd been saved by Angel, CEO and President of Wolfram and Hart, and Angel was pushed towards the girl for some pictures.
"Okay, I take it all back", Dawn said finally.
"So now he cannot go out and do his job like he used to", Giles commented. "Downside of taking the deal, it seems."
"CEO and President, never thought I'd see either of those terms used on Angel", Buffy quipped, still weirded out by that. "Well, the girl is even more confused."
"I don't think she's gonna like it this way now", Willow sighed. "Angel isn't the Dark Avenger who saves people and disappears into alleys anymore. Not his fault, it is just what it is."
"Well, the people still do need one", Tara pointed out.
"But who?" Xander wondered. "Only Angel can be that."
The lawyer revealed that the Vampire worked for one of his clients but it was first week. The woman signed the documents while asking Angel if he'd done this for publicity, but he said he helped the helpless, though it sounded silly now, and the lawyer asked if Angel wanted his car, or any refreshments, while Angel looked at all the people in disbelief.
"I don't think even he foresaw the entire thing when he took the deal", Tara said. "Because unless you work at the firm, you cannot know the full extent of their resources."
"So now he is CEO and President, he must make his moves much more carefully now", Willow pointed out to the rest.
"Without being corrupted", Giles added.
"He won't be, I know it", Buffy said firmly, hoping she was right.
"So, help the helpless while trying to stay on the Senior Partners' good side, good luck with that", Dawn wished him luck.
"Yeah, sounds like a hard job", Xander sighed.
In a school, a boy called Matt talked with his friend, who'd gotten a 'Punisher' comic, and Matt asked if he'd one about X-Men as they reached the class and there the teacher handed Matt his paper, telling him he'd done good as they sat down for the class.
"Oh yeah, Punisher is so awesome", Xander said. "And X-Men, they are revolutionary, and apparently, real."
"Here he goes again", Willow said as the rest chuckled.
"Why are we seeing a bunch of kids though?" Dawn wondered.
"This can only mean they have a part to play, and that means nothing good", Buffy said as they all gulped now.
At Wolfram and Hart, there was a letter in a cart addressed to Angel, and the elevator doors opened to reveal a confused Fred as Wesley arrived, and they talked about how confusing this whole thing was, including the fact they'd said 'yes' to running this place in like 3 minutes. Knox then arrived, offering to help Fred, and Wesley asked how long he'd been evil but he said he just mixed the potions and under Fred's guidance would probably save the world on a weekly basis. Fred then allowed Knox to help her, calling him 'Knoxy', and then Gunn threw Wesley a basketball which he caught while still holding his coffee mug, and Gunn said they'd to be even faster here, but Wesley said cricket was his game.
"Mine too actually", Giles said as all looked at him.
"It's like baseball, right?" Buffy asked.
"The only similarity is you need to hit a thrown ball with a bat", Giles told them. "Rest of it is very different."
"Gunn's right though, you have to think even faster here", Tara pointed out.
"And looks like Wesley has more competition", Dawn noted as the others sighed.
"Poor guy never gets a break", Willow muttered.
Wesley mockingly called Knox as 'Knoxy' and said it was unseemly adding 'y' to people's names, so Gunn quipped he'd have to call him 'Westle', and then led Wesley to the office he wanted, showing a view as well, and then they went to the adjoining office, and Wesley explained 'feng shui'. Gunn realized he'd second thoughts and he did too, especially since he could only hit stuff, and even if they could use this place for some good, it'd be a long time before they could be comfortable with it, and then Lorne was shown walking with a guy next to him who'd 3 binders, and he criticized most of them while happily talking on the phone.
"He seems comfortable", Buffy said lamely, not thinking he would be comfortable.
"Well, he does work for, as Knox puts it, 'morally neutral division'", Willow pointed out. "So he got the good stuff I guess."
"Considering what kind of place it is, I think there's a catch here too", Tara told them all.
The elevator doors opened as a confused Angel appeared, then walked out as Gunn called to him, and he revealed last night's incident as Wesley assured it wouldn't happen again. Angel buttoned his jacket. "We're turning this place inside out. If they wanna see how I handle running Wolfram & Hart, they're gonna find out. Everything must go..." Angel opened both doors and stopped abruptly. "Starting with that." A young woman was sitting cross-legged, and after some talk, she introduced herself as Eve, and then tossed Angel an apple to get the whole irony thing out of the way. She answered to the Senior Partners, and then explained many of their clients were evil, and so to keep the business running, they had to keep their clients happy, which meant letting them get away with stuff. Eve pointed out they'd been getting away for a long time, now they could stop the worst of it and find new solutions to old problems. Angel took a bite of the apple as she told him to go through the files.
"I already hate her", Dawn said, the others all in agreement.
"So, they're going to let bad people get away with stuff now?" Buffy asked, uncomfortable at the thought.
"It looks like they are", Willow told her.
"Unlike you, Angel thinks more in the long-term, so even if his methods seem horrible in the short-term, he thinks of the benefits they will have in the long-term", Tara explained Angel's mentality to Buffy.
"Still, bad people getting away with bad stuff", Buffy trailed off.
"Well, Angel has to deal with that", Willow sighed. "Considering what we know of him, he wouldn't want them to get away with it either."
"Difference in wanting and doing", Xander told them.
All of them went through the files till night, seeming exhausted as Gunn noted a Corbin Fries too, and his trial wasn't going well, to Angel's delight. Angel then wondered if he'd a secretary, and Wesley said someone might stomach working with the righteous, but Gunn called them opportunistic while Fred pointed out they'd to check the whole staff as well to see if any were plotting against them. Angel eventually told the others to rest.
"I'm betting they're having second thoughts now", Dawn commented. "Actually, even third and fourth thoughts by this point."
"So, they need to let bad guys get away with it, and worry about a staff that can turn on them", Buffy sighed. "Great."
"And they haven't finished going through the files", Willow muttered. "These were just the human clients."
"I'm sure some Demon clients would be even worse", Giles noted.
Gunn walked to his office when Eve spoke to him, saying dusting Vamps on the street with his loyal gang was simpler, as Gunn wondered if she was gonna jump out at people.
"Yeah, you just love sitting in other people's offices", Xander scoffed.
"Her position allows her to do stuff without any consequences", Willow noted. "But I really don't like her."
"Well, liaison to the Partners, nothing to like there", Buffy shrugged.
Gunn assured he wasn't backing out now, and so Eve gave him a business card before walking out as Wesley asked what she meant and he said a tailor since he wasn't dressed for success, and walked off while thinking of the black panther in the white room.
"I think this is much more than just a dress", Tara said, knowing there was something more.
"I am sure we will see what it is soon enough", Giles told them all.
Next day, Angel went through some papers and picked the envelope mailed to him before putting it aside without opening it, then pressed a button on the phone for a cup of coffee, but an automated phone menu voice said he'd reached 'ritual sacrifice' and for goats he'd to press one or say 'goats', so Angel tried a different button, and a woman's voice called herself Angel's new assistant while Angel said he was Angel, and then he asked for a cup of coffee or blood, then tried to hang up but got the previous line again, and hung up again, and looked at the phone, disgusted, before it rang again so he put it on speakerphone.
"Well, it's horrifying how normal that looked", Dawn commented with a cringe.
"I know right?" Xander asked her before realizing something. "That woman's voice….."
"It sounded familiar, didn't it?" Willow agreed with a nod as she, Dawn, Buffy and Xander exchanged looks, then it hit them.
"Oh God no!" Buffy shook her head.
"What?" Tara asked.
"Is there a problem?" Giles asked too.
"Whole world of problem", Xander sighed with a groan.
"Biggest one ever", Dawn added.
Wesley told Angel they'd a situation, and then his secretary gave him a mug of blood, and he sipped the blood, before looking up to see Harmony. "Hey! Boss." "You're my secretary?" "Hello? Assistant!" She sighed indignantly.
"NO!" All six of them went together, not looking forward to her antics again.
"Why God why? What have we done to deserve this?" Xander now asked.
"This year is already worse than the previous ones", Dawn groaned.
"She's his secretary, couldn't have gotten a worse pick", Buffy sighed.
"How did she even get here?" Tara wondered.
"Well, however that was, it's horrifying", Willow said.
"Yes, she is going to disgrace books and computers again", Giles scoffed.
Angel asked why he shouldn't kill her so she agreed to be secretary, and he wondered why she was working here as she said she was a single undead gal trying to make it in the big city, and so she'd to start somewhere. They were all evil here and didn't judge, and had necro-tempered glass, in front of which she danced, plus a great medical plan too, and Vamps needed dental. Angel called it surreal as she begged to not threaten to fire her but he reminded he'd threatened to kill her.
"Please, do it right now", Giles begged. "I cannot take it."
"As much as I hate to agree with her though, she does have a point on the dental", Willow said and all looked at her. "Hey! You all know she's right about that."
"Yeah, sure", Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Why do we have to meet her again?" Xander wondered.
"The Universe hates us all", Dawn quipped.
"Well, as long as she isn't being outright evil, Angel can keep her", Tara said and got looks. "Just a suggestion."
Harmony then said she was like a superhero who could type really fast, if that was a superpower, and she held up her fist, saying the creatures of the night united. Angel was afraid if it was human blood in his mug but she assured it was pig's blood and she was off human blood now, and the secret ingredient that made it taste better was otter.
"The poor otter", Dawn said as they all groaned.
"Well, she didn't kill it, she only offered the blood", Tara pointed out and got looks again. "Come on, you all know that's true."
"Yeah, it is", Willow finally relented.
"Besides, we didn't mind Spike without a soul….much", Tara reminded. "Harmony is nowhere near that bad."
"But she's a lot more annoying", Buffy groaned.
"Well, I'd take annoying over evil", Tara shrugged.
"I would not", Giles muttered.
"I have no idea who'd be the worst nightmare", Xander sighed.
Wesley then entered, saying a case was becoming problematic, and greeted Harmony, surprising Angel as she revealed he'd picked her. "Well, I thought a familiar face would be just the thing in a place like this." Angel shook his head. "You turned evil a lot faster than I thought you would." Wesley retorted. "Nonsense."
"No, he's right, you're evil", Xander agreed.
"You turned the fastest, you disappoint me, Wesley", Giles muttered.
"So, they've got Wes, who's next?" Dawn wondered.
Harmony assured. "We're gonna get along great, boss. The whole gang. I mean, Cordy is gonna lose it when she finds out –" She noticed that Angel and Wesley were frowning. "I mean...you are gonna tell her you're okay with this, right? I mean, I know she was mad at me for trying to kill you all, but she wouldn't - I mean..." "I thought she knew." Wesley said. Angel revealed. "Cordy's sick. She's in a coma." Harmony was shocked. "Oh. God, I - I didn't... What happened? Is she gonna be OK?" Angel replied. "We don't know." Harmony was nearly in tears. "Cordy was my best friend, like... my whole life. She's my role model. How can she..." She breathed deeply, then was chipper again. "So, anyway, I really think you should not fire me, and Wes does, too."
"What the hell?" Buffy said, rolling her eyes. "That's all you have to say on your supposed best friend?"
"That too for her whole life, which would be true, since she got sired at graduation", Xander added.
"If she was human, you think she'd react more?" Willow asked.
"No, I think she will be the same", Giles said. "She was shallow then, she is shallow now."
"Maybe we should give her the benefit of the doubt", Tara said, and this time before she could get looks said. "Don't give me the looks."
"Okay, I'll try, I promise", Dawn promised, and Tara gave her a smile, ruffling her hair affectionately.
Wesley then asked Harmony to have the men in his office join them, and she walked off as he assured Angel they'd help Cordelia if there was a way, and Angel asked about the case, and Wesley said it was Corbin Fries, the lowest piece of pond scum he'd met in hours, and he'd get 20 years, but was threatening they help him.
"And they will help him?" Buffy asked, appalled.
"I don't think they have a choice there", Willow said.
"But they have to have one", Buffy said.
"Sometimes, there is only bad choice and less bad choice", Tara told her.
"Well, firm wouldn't go down if they just lose one client, right?" Xander asked.
"But he's threatening", Willow pointed out.
"How can he threaten them?" Giles asked.
"They are new to this, they're still getting the hang of it", Tara told them.
"Let's just see", Dawn sighed.
Fries was then let in with his lawyer Desmond Keel, and Fries got to business, insulting his lawyer and calling him butt-munch, and then added prosecution had all they wanted. Angel pointed out he was guilty but Fries said when Holland was around, things wouldn't have gotten to trial, and he was an important investor, so he needed to be let off. Angel said he had no incentive, and Fries said he knew who Angel was, but didn't care, since they were his lawyers, and if they didn't keep him out of jail, they'd regret it. Keel added they couldn't get anyone killed and that the jury was tamper-proof since one of the DA's shamans had created mystical shield around them, and Wesley concluded they must win on the merits of the case.
"I believe there are none", Giles shook his head.
"So how will they win?" Willow wondered. "Not that I want them to, or I do, I am getting confused now."
"If they win, this guy is free to commit more crimes, if they don't, the people working with them won't be pleased", Tara pointed out how bad it was. "And they need to not let that happen. But knowing them, they wouldn't want to let him off either."
"And here I thought human justice was a thing", Buffy shook her head, now finally realizing in full just how naïve that mentality was.
"With firms like these, never", Dawn said.
"Just never thought Angel would run it", Xander said before adding. "Even if he doesn't want to do bad."
Fries finally said they should either get him off or he'd drop the bomb, and if a conviction was brought in, California would be gone, so the only people standing after he'd said the magic word would be those already dead. Harmony first called it a relief before seeing Angel's look and saying. "Hey!"
"Bomb", Buffy trailed off. "He has a bomb! Goddamn it!"
"So he came prepared so that they would help him get off", Dawn sighed.
"Now even if they don't want to, they must do it", Willow realized. "Well, he sure gave them incentive."
"Why do such bad people get away with stuff?" Xander wondered.
"Because they have the power", Giles said grimly.
"Now all we can do is trust in Angel and the rest", Tara told the rest. "That's it."
Lorne had all the employees gathered in front of him, and was going to have them sing to determine who was plotting against them, and one woman called Cindy started singing. Knox inquired about Lorne's powers with Fred and she explained those to him, and he said he'd sing right now so she could feel 100% safe, but she said it'd never happen in this lifetime. Fred then answered her phone while it was revealed she'd hung a Dixie Chicks poster on the wall, and then talked to the person on the other end.
"Morally neutral department or not, I don't think any of them are going to be comfortable working here", Tara told them all.
"And after Fries' threat, definitely not", Buffy added.
"Well, at least now they'll know who's with them and who's against them", Dawn pointed out the bright side.
Lorne and Fred later joined Angel and Wesley as it was revealed Angel had almost hit Fries, and decided they needed to find the bomb and disable it if the jury came up with a conviction, and it might have a mystical element due to Fries having said 'magic word'. Fred suggested it could be a virus like the Ebola, and then Wesley gave instructions to them all while Harmony said Gunn hadn't responded to her 3 pages, while Lorne wondered why she was here, and she revealed she'd the address of Spanky, a freelance mystic who showed up in Fries' file a few times, and he couldn't get by sewer this time.
"So, stopping the bomb, that's a good start", Buffy said. "That way he can't threaten them to let him off."
"But Eve did say Angel had to keep the business running", Willow reminded.
"Well, so far they haven't been able to do a thing with the power", Xander shook his head.
"Yes, the compromise seems to be a failure", Giles agreed.
"Well, we have only begun", Tara pointed out. "They can still get the hang of this."
"I hope they get it before this bomb is dropped", Dawn added.
Angel arrived at the basement garage that had sports cars from every decade, and loved them all before picking a yellow 70s era car.
"Okay, that's a good thing, I'm jealous now, Angel was right to take that deal", Xander said as all rolled their eyes at him.
"Well, have to agree on the cars, so nice and so many", Dawn smiled.
"If only they were owned by a company not evil", Buffy said.
Hauser arrived, saying he knew Angel wanted someone brought in, and it was his unit which did all that as it was tradition, but Angel said he'd handle it and then they could teach him about tradition. He sat in his car as Hauser and the other agents walked off.
"I think they still love their traditions a bit too much", Willow noted grimly.
"But Angel's there to bring the change", Dawn reminded.
"Just hope the bomb doesn't drop", Buffy said to them.
"We are", Tara nodded. "We just have to trust Angel and his team can handle this."
Angel later arrived at Spanky's apartment, and was let in, looking at a wall of paddle and whips, and they made comments on it.
Buffy and Tara both covered Dawn's eyes at the same time.
"What?" She asked, annoyed.
"That's too far", Tara said.
"Yeah, really far", Buffy nodded in agreement.
"Keep 'em covered till the scene ends", Willow added but Dawn lowered both their hands with an eye-roll.
Spanky then said he didn't spank men, it wasn't his thing, till Angel revealed he was here about Corbin Fries, though Spanky said he didn't discuss old jobs, before revealing he'd built Fries a mystical vessel where he could put anything he wanted, including a bomb. Angel asked where the vessel was, only for Spanky to put him in a chokehold. "You know what I'm doing now? I'm applying pressure to your windpipe. You'll pass out, and then I'll let Mr. Fries decide if he wants you to wake up again." Angel responded. "Do you know what I'm doing now? Not using my windpipe." Angel grabbed Spanky's forearm, and twisted it around until Angel was behind him, still twisting his arm.
"Bet you didn't see that coming", Xander said with a smirk.
"Nope, and now he's gonna regret it", Buffy added.
"Maybe he'll spank 'em", Willow said and got looks. "Ignore me."
"Vampire." Spanky realized. Angel added. "Capital "V." And there's something else you should know about me." He pushed Spanky forward a bit, still holding his arm, then grabbed a cricket paddle from the wall, and swung it at Spanky, sending him across the room. "I have no problem spanking men."
"Did I get the will granting power again?" Willow wondered lamely.
"Well, we aren't ignoring you so no", Xander pointed out.
"Just find the bomb", Giles said grimly to them.
Gunn was in a badly decorated waiting room when a doctor arrived, but Gunn was a bit interested in Demi and Emilio breaking up till the doctor led him to the next room. Gunn looked at all the gadgets, getting nervous while the doctor knew he was in the white room, and the doctor eventually agreed to do this thing.
"What thing I wonder", Buffy commented.
"The conduit did say something to him", Willow said. "Now he's following it."
"Yes, he seemed quite determined right from the start, more than even the rest", Tara agreed. "Maybe he is doing something that will give him more to do than just hit things."
"I don't think he's just the muscle, but he believes it, so if it helps him not believe it, good thing", Dawn shrugged.
Fred and Knox were going through papers, and they noted a Lopez who'd been literally set on fire for working with Fries under the table.
"Who here is not surprised?" Xander asked and raised his hand, and the others did too instantly.
Knox said these guys specialized in disease scenarios and Fred accused his department of building them, but he said they'd neutralized those. Fred then picked a call, telling Angel they were dealing with a virus, and Angel said he knew where the bomb was. In classroom, Matthew was talking to a girl behind him but was reprimanded by the teacher, his surname revealed to be 'Fries', and a heartbeat like-thumping sound came from his chest.
Now the horror just increased.
"His own…son…." Dawn trailed off. "How sick is this guy?"
"Well, humanity never ceases to surprise", Xander scoffed.
"My God!" Buffy said, seeing once more how humans could be as bad as Demons, if not worse.
"So he is willing to sacrifice his own son to save his skin, I wonder why he even had one", Giles said in anger.
"Probably for this kind of scenario", Willow said grimly in disgust.
"At least they know where the bomb is though, now they can work on it", Tara pointed out the bright side to the rest, which they had to concede.
There were tubes attached on Gunn's chest as he was on a contraption, grunting and gasping as the doctor gave him a drink which he drank too fast, then was told the procedure wasn't finished so he told the doctor to carry on.
"Still interested to see what this is", Willow commented.
"If it can help with the Fries case, even better", Tara pointed out to the rest.
Wesley and Fred walked through the lobby, talking, and noting they didn't have much in their favor, and also noted that Angel was taking it personally. Fred said this place got to them.
"It's not this place, is it?" Buffy asked, and got nods.
"It's his son", Willow agreed with a sad nod. "He sacrificed his relationship with his son so his son could be happy."
"And now he's seeing a guy who is ready to sacrifice his son to save himself, not going to sit well with him", Tara noted, sadness in her voice.
"That's going to motivate him even more to stop the guy though", Dawn pointed out.
"We are all hoping it turns out well", Giles assured Dawn.
"Well, they're putting their minds to it", Xander muttered.
Eve told Angel she knew Fries putting the virus in his son hit him where it lived, and even mentioned Connor by name, but Angel said he didn't want that name passing through her lips. She pointed out he wouldn't last a week if all cases hit him this hard, but Angel told her to not speak to him unless she helped out, and she asked how he knew she wasn't.
"Well, if you consider snipping away at someone and taunting them help", Buffy scoffed angrily. "Don't you dare mention his son."
"As long as she has the power, she probably will do whatever she wants", Willow noted, just as angry as Buffy at the whole thing.
"I want someone to punch her, she deserves it", Dawn snarled. "And she has a punchable face. Even a slap would do."
She'd no idea that wish would come true later.
Everyone was hard at work in the lab, and then Fred arrived, eventually giving a speech. "Y'all are tired, I know. I just want you to understand that in a few hours a virus is gonna start spreading in this city that'll kill every person in it, and when blood starts streaming out of our noses, eye sockets, and fingernails, I'll have the intense satisfaction of knowing that I'm dying with the only people in the world that actually deserve it! Now, focus, people!" She walked upstairs to her office. "Work the damn problem!" She slammed the door. Knox shrugged. "You're the boss."
"Come on, give the girl an applause", Willow urged, and all of them did as asked, since she did deserve it.
"Now that's gonna get 'em to work", Buffy smirked.
"Or make them hate her more and plot her demise", Dawn pointed out lamely as all of them then cringed.
"Well, they can work the problem first, then plot her demise", Xander pointed out.
"Let's keep the demise talk out of it", Tara said, and all agreed with nods.
"I would very much like that", Giles agreed.
In the courtroom, Fries' trial was coming to a close as Lorne was incognito in the audience, and Keel was actually mocked by the judge for his baseless defense. Lorne walked out into the lobby, telling Angel of the situation, so he needed to isolate the kid, and Hauser and his men heard it all in a surveillance van. Angel decided to get to the school while Hauser told his agents they'd show the boss how a threat is contained, and they'd kill not just the kid, but anyone in 50 yards, including the other children and teachers. With that, they sped off in the van, cocking their guns.
"You bastards", Buffy snarled, enraged and disgusted, like the rest.
"They can just isolate the kid himself instead of killing everyone", Willow pointed out angrily.
"Or perhaps they are just sadists who love excuses", Giles shrugged, and no one could disagree there.
"Sounds right to me", Xander scoffed.
Angel hurried through some papers on his desk as Wesley told him how bad the situation was, and Angel was going to isolate the boy when Harmony arrived, saying the ops team had already left, and called for cleaners, which according to the girls meant 'big job' with lots of bodies, and they'd left 10 minutes ago. Wesley said Angel would never beat them on the streets, but he was still going to try when Harmony called out. "Um, boss?" Both asked simultaneously. "What?"
"Well, she was useful here", Tara pointed out to the rest.
"That depends on how fast Angel reaches", Buffy shrugged.
"So trial is going wrong, and kid can be killed, this just keeps getting better and better", Dawn said sarcastically.
The van was speeding as the class was still in session, Matt among the children, and Wesley sat beside Lorne in the courtroom, with Fries turning around to stare at them. Lorne wondered if Wesley had a plan and he opened his coat to give Lorne a glimpse inside.
"Yeah, lot of desperation going around here", Xander quipped.
"How is Angel going to reach before the team though?" Dawn wondered.
The agents ran into the classroom, putting on gas masks as they tossed a gas canister inside, but aside from Angel, the room was empty. "So it turns out, with this new deal and all, I own a helicopter." Hauser asked. "Where's the boy?" "You just missed everybody." Angel waved the smoke out of his face. "Oh, I probably don't wanna be breathing that."
"He has a helicopter", Buffy said, chuckling and shaking her head. "I didn't see that coming."
"On second thought, probably should have", Willow pointed out.
"So, he used a resource by them for good there", Tara pointed out to the rest. "And Harmony was clearly suggesting the helicopter, so, not the worst."
"Huh? Now that you put it that way, I can start getting behind this, and Harmony", Dawn told her. "Only start."
"Well, the agents are dead men", Xander smirked.
"He might just show them tradition", Giles realized.
Hauser snarled. "Kid's still a threat, which means you have him isolated, probably nearby." Angel quipped. "I can see why they made you the leader. Do I even have to start with how fired you all are?" Hauser chuckled and removed his mask. "That's not how it works." Angel realized. "Oh, right! Tradition. Why don't you show me how that's done?" Hauser agreed. "Thank you, sir. Take him out!"
"Well, now you've all gotten yourselves fired for trying to kill the boss", Dawn quipped and the others had some chuckles again.
"Or just killed", Xander shrugged.
The agents opened fire as Angel ran and ducked to avoid, then one drew a knife and walked to where he was hidden, only to be kicked on the face by a fully vamped out Angel. Angel then kicked another's gun out of his hands and ducking a blow, grabbed his hand, taking off his mask before taking him down. Another fired but he avoided, then kicked a desk, making two fall down, though one shot still got him on the shoulder. As one got up, Angel grabbed him in a chokehold as the one firing shot him instead and Angel threw him off, then leaping over the desk, kicked another back. He took out holy water but Angel kicked it out of his hand, then ducked a blow. The guy hit his face, and Angel used the wall to propel himself and spin kick him back. The agent spin kicked him but Angel ducked the next blow, grabbed his hand, disarmed him, then punched him into the wall twice. The agent grabbed his arm and pinned him to the table but Angel kicked him back, then twisted his arm and kicked him again before taking him out with 2 spin kicks, one to the face and one to the chest. Another roared but Angel pushed him out.
"Well, they're getting it", Xander quipped with a smirk.
"The trial is still on-going though", Giles pointed out as the atmosphere turned grim.
"How are they going to turn that around? Not that I want them to, since the guy deserves it, but the kid's in danger", Buffy said, still confused about the whole thing. Grey morality was a conflicting thing, and now she was getting an even bigger taste of it than before.
Wesley and Lorne watched the proceedings when someone in a fancy suit walked in with a briefcase, and it was Gunn. Keel ceded the floor to him as Gunn said the defense moved for a mistrial, and was understanding and using legal terms perfectly as well.
"Wait what?" Dawn asked in confusion. "He's a lawyer now? Where did he get his law degree? How did this happen? And he looks so good in a suit."
"That procedure, it did something to him", Tara realized. "And this is what it was."
"So, the procedure gave him legal knowledge?" Buffy wondered.
"Looks like it", Willow said. "So now he can do more than just be a muscle."
"In this case, getting a criminal off", Xander scoffed.
"Don't forget, a kid's in danger", Tara reminded, and he realized she had a point there.
"So now Charles shall save this criminal", Giles muttered in discontent, understanding why it had to happen but still not liking it.
Gunn said judges weren't allowed to carry on a trial concerning a business colleague or employee, and gave her a file, pointing out a stock in Oriental Bay Exports was owned by Loros, Incorporated, which was owned in turn by a consortium including the defendant that was Corbin Fries. The judge was shocked, since she couldn't have known, but Gunn said he did and he'd only been on the case for 6 hours. The judge quipped the defense was on thin ice which was melting as Gunn joked. "The defense submits it has learnt how to swim." The jury chuckled as Gunn retracted the statement with an apology.
"All right, that was a brilliant move", Giles noted, impressed. "He found out a connection and exploited it."
"Well, he's definitely loving the lawyer life now", Dawn shrugged. "He did what the previous lawyer couldn't."
"Still getting Fries off, but considering he put children in danger, they have no choice", Willow said sadly. "But yeah, Gunn did do great."
"So now he's not just muscle but also their legal expert, well, the team did need one since they know nothing about the law", Tara pointed out to the rest.
"It's like he has sold his soul", Buffy said, not liking it, even if she understood. "But I guess he had to, so he could do something with it, and it involves, well, a compromise."
"All of that said, the guy knows how to rock a suit", Xander quipped, and no one disagreed.
Gunn picked up a thick law book. "McCracken vs. The State of Maine,1954: Any financial dealings shall be deemed the responsibility of the interested party, regardless of number or function of employees unless said party has been judged mentally incapable." He put down the book. "Permission to approach. And furthermore, the strain on my client's several businesses has forced Oriental Bay Exports to shrink its holdings of late. If Mr. Fries is convicted, the interest your honor has in it would represent a controlling interest. I would prefer not to present the rest of our findings in front of the jury." The judge decided to see her counsel as Gunn turned and gave a smirk, and Fries smirked at Wesley and Lorne.
"Well, that went well", Buffy said lamely.
"So, they got the guy off on a technicality, can't believe that's what saving the day is this time", Willow said, since while she understood the whole thing, this was still a bit of a new territory for her.
She had asked Faith if she wanted to go help Angel again, and Faith had confessed she did, but she wasn't going to this time. She still understood why Angel was doing what he was doing, and she would even love to help him, but she had just gotten herself back on the right track.
So working for Wolfram and Hart, that would be a very slippery slope for her, no matter what her intentions were, and she couldn't risk being corrupted again after having just returned to the light.
In conclusion, she still loved and supported Angel, but this time she wasn't going to help him unless it was really, really dire. [1]
"Kid is saved though", Tara sighed before realizing. "But they will have to return him to this guy again, and that's bad."
"When did things get so complicated?" Dawn wondered, as everyone was horrified again.
"The moment they took the deal", Giles told them.
"Bet even they didn't think it would get this bad this fast", Xander sighed.
Angel ducked another agent's blow and kicked him down before spin kicking another away. He blocked the next one's blow and grabbing him, ran on the wall, kicking another down, before taking that one down too. The previous tried to kick but Angel ducked, then blocked his punch and head-butted him down twice. Angel was back in human face. "You know that won't kill me." Hauser shrugged. "It'll hurt. That part's fun." Angel snarled. "Agent Hauser, I'm honestly beginning to suspect that you're not part of the solution." Hauser taunted. "You really think you can solve the problem? Come into Wolfram and Hart and make everything right? Turn night into glorious day? You pathetic little fairy." Angel countered. "I'm not little." Hauser retorted. "That's exactly what you are. You're minuscule. A dust mote on the shelf of that great institution. Now, you think I'm just a trigger-happy jerk who follows orders, but I am something you will never be. I'm pure. I believe in evil. You and friends, you're conflicted. You're confused. We're not. That is why you are gonna lose, because we possess the most powerful thing in the world... conviction." Angel told him. "There is one thing more powerful than conviction. Just one. Mercy." Angel kicked Hauser in the chest, forcing the shotgun to point at Hauser's head. A gunshot sounded, and Hauser and his gun fell to the floor. A bloody splatter covered the wall where Hauser's head used to be. The head-butted agent, now unmasked asked. "What happened to mercy?" Angel walked out. "You just saw the last of it."
"Whoa!" Buffy said, startled by how Hauser had been killed, since she was still uncomfortable with the whole 'human lives' thing.
"Well, at least the real evil guy has been taken down, that's step one", Willow pointed out the bright side to the rest of them.
"They lack conviction", Tara wondered. "I think they do lack it, but they are going to need conviction."
"For what?" Xander asked.
"To actually make Wolfram and Hart what they want it to be, rather than what it is", Tara said to them all, now getting it at last.
"And is it easy?" Dawn wondered.
"No, it is the hardest thing ever, but if they have conviction, they will make progress", Tara explained to them.
"We will just have to see it", Giles sighed.
Eve stared at the bloody mark later, and much later, Harmony brought Eve water in Angel's office as she told them Gunn's mind had been enhanced with legal knowledge. Gunn assured he wasn't evil, he just got the knowledge in his head, and he knew that's all it was because the man in the white room was many things but not a liar. Eve said they needed a lawyer, and Gunn had the most unused potential. His degrees were all forged but he was the real deal. Gunn said he could even sing for Lorne, and Eve pointed out he'd saved the day without resorting to violence, then assured they'd make it work before walking out.
"Gunn saving the day without resorting to violence, that's a new one, isn't it?" Buffy asked the rest.
"So new I think I am dreaming", Dawn confessed to them all.
"But it ain't one, he is a lawyer now, and he got that guy off", Xander sighed. "And now they have to do more crap like that, it sucks."
"They don't like it either, but they have no choice since they took the deal", Willow told him.
Lorne pointed out what saving the day involved as Wesley assured he and Fred had enough time to disable the charm now, and Gunn added Fries had to dial down the criminal activity till trial came again, which he could draw out for months.
"Well, that's kind of a good thing", Tara pointed out. "If trial is drawn out, at least Fries won't be committing crimes."
"Yes, but he will still escape justice", Giles sighed.
"Yeah, that's the downside of it", Tara agreed sadly, and the rest shared those sentiments.
Fred wondered. "Is this gonna be our lives now? Fighting our own employees, our own clients? Are we really gonna do any good?" Angel rubbed his chin. "Yes, we are. We're gonna change things. We came to Wolfram and Hart because it's a powerful weapon, and we'll figure out how to wield it." Wesley added. "Or kill ourselves with it."
"There's a chance that can happen, but I hope it doesn't come to that", Willow wished, and that made everyone grimmer.
And they didn't even know that Fred and Wesley had been lost in the battle against the firm, while the rest had almost died and only Angel's plan had saved them at last.
Fred flatly quipped. "Yay, team." "No, sooner or later they'll tip their hand, and we'll find out why they really brought us here." Angel picked up the envelope from his desk. "Meanwhile, we do the work...our way, one thing at a time." He ripped open the envelope. "We deal..." an amulet fell out of the envelope, "with whatever comes next."
Buffy's eyes widened as she immediately recognized the amulet. "Oh boy! That….."
She trailed off, the amulet bringing the back the image of Spike's hand burning up as Dawn noticed and grasped her hand. "What's the matter, Buffy?"
"The amulet…" She was lost for words. "It was the same one…."
Immediately, the amulet activated. A black whirlwind erupted from it, causing papers on Angel's desk to stir. The ashen whirlwind started to glow with flecks of orange as something began to materialize inside it. A man's skeletal form appeared, then it gradually filled out until it was complete. The wind faded and Spike was standing there, screaming and grunting, in the middle of the office, right where the amulet fell. "Aah!" He doubled over in pain, panting, glaring ferociously.
Buffy's hand went to her mouth in shock, not having expected that of all things. Spike, the one with a soul, the one she loved, he was back.
"Tell me I'm dreaming", Buffy begged the rest, her voice now turning hoarse as she barely held back tears. "Tell me this isn't real. Please."
"It is, Buffy", Tara assured her. "It is real."
"Oh my God!" Buffy said, finally letting the tears out as Giles hugged her, trying to comfort her.
Wesley softly asked. "Spike?" Angel angrily snarled. "Spike." Harmony stuck her head through the office door, smiling. "Blondie bear?" The screen went black.
"It is Spike", Willow noted, her eyes narrowed.
"Uh, you okay?" Dawn asked as Buffy finally let herself stop, wiping her tears, then took deep breaths to control herself.
"The amulet, it is the one Angel gave me, obviously, and Spike wore it when he sacrificed himself", Buffy told them all. "And now he is here."
"You think someone had something to do with that?" Xander now wondered.
"The amulet was mailed to Angel so I am sure of it", Tara pointed out.
"Spike", Buffy trailed off again. "He is….he is alive!"
"Yay", Xander said sarcastically, only to get looks from Willow and Tara that shut him up. While he liked Angel now, he still didn't get Spike or what Buffy saw in him, and neither did Giles.
"I can't believe it", Buffy muttered to herself, feeling happy for the first time since her breakup with Faith. "But that means, he has been alive for the whole month, and he didn't'….."
"Maybe there is a reason for it", Tara suggested to her. "And we should watch more to find out."
"You okay to watch more, right?" Willow asked kindly.
"No, but I have to", Buffy said, as she picked up the remote to continue.
Well, this was something. Outside of the Season 1 premiere, this is the best premiere for the show easily. And it showed the new status quo perfectly.
Also, Joss is even more evil than we thought. Corbin Fries was named after his nephew, and he wasn't amused at being that guy's namesake.
Plus, the fight choreography in this Season is really, really good, even better than last Season, which also had some great fight choreography.
[1] I've seen some people wonder why Faith didn't help out Angel with this, since she most likely would due to her bond with him, and I think this is why- she still loves and supports Angel no matter what he does, she will never give up on him, but in this instance, she decided not to help him because she has just gotten her redemption, she has finally come back to the light, and working at Wolfram and Hart would be a slippery slope for her, so I don't think she wants to risk being corrupted so soon after her redemption.
And SPIKE! YAY! While Spike and Faith aren't my most favorite characters in the Buffyverse (that's Willow, while Spike and Faith come 3rd and 7th respectively), they are definitely the coolest ones. They just have the cool factor on them, I just love it. And Spike brought much needed levity and humor into this show after one and a half really dark and depressing Seasons. His banter with Angel is perfect (as long as it's not over Buffy, because Angel loves Cordelia), and just hilarious in general.
Wouldn't mind a spin-off involving them team up, no romance though, but just a team-up. Actually, I wouldn't mind a Spike/Faith romance, since they had some fun attraction and interactions in Buffy 7x18, and so a romance can be developed much later, but it's not very high in my romance priorities.
But well, Angel's and Spike's feud is gonna be both amusing and hurtful for the Scoobies, especially Buffy, to witness. And Ensouled Spike is Buffy's true love (you can't change my mind, so don't try), not Angel, and Angel's true love is Cordelia, not Buffy, so now Buffy is gonna be even more emotionally invested in these recordings than before.
Anyway, hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter. Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!