Chapter 1
[Priory of Sainte-Marie, near Lausanne, Switzerland]
Lilah Morgan, an attorney with the Wolfram & Hart law firm, walked slowly on the cobblestone floor. She ducked her head in contemplation as the pair of nuns strolled past her.
It was awkward – descending stairs in the full habit of a sister of St. Marie. She was here for neither redemption, nor salvation. Quite the opposite, actually.
The medieval priory was built in the 12th century as a hostel for weary pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. Over the centuries it served its purpose for Crusaders, Renaissance princes and Napoleon's armies.
She could care less about its historical significance. Except for one artifact. An ancient manuscript ... a gift of thanks from the Templar Knights. Hidden in its texts were instructions. Wolfram & Hart wanted those instructions.
The Templars were monks. Fighting monks who battled the followers of Allah throughout the Crusades. During their campaigns, they discovered many wonders. Among them, the location of the Ark of the Covenant.
It'll be evening prayers, soon, Lilah worried. I must leave before then. She quietly slipped the old scroll into her wide sleeves.
She was soon at the main courtyard. The exit is close. Suddenly, she stopped.
"Sister?" Lilah turned around and gasped. The Mother Superior!!
Je m'excuse. Lilah replied in French. I left my book in the meadow!
The Mother Superior frowned. "Hurry up and get it, my child. Vite!"
I take it she wants me to hurry up. No need to tell me twice. She dashed past the main gates and down the hill. She tossed aside her nun's habit and ran to a nearby clearing. A Vespa scooter waited for her.
I have to make the rendezvous in Venice by tomorrow. The firm's Special Projects crisis team was already there, awaiting the next phase of the operation.
With this scroll, Lilah smiled, the firm will have what it wants. And they will have no choice but to make me a Senior Partner. Her Vespa sped down the road. The firm would be making history very soon.
[Barcelona, Spain]
Amy Madison strolled through the bazaar. There were plenty of clothes, beads, necklaces and handicrafts for sale. She had saved the United Kingdom from a vile plot to overthrow the government and dethrone the Queen. Backpacking through Europe was the reward she gave herself. I nearly died after all!
A green hand clutched her shoulder. Amy spun around to confront the would- be assailant.
"Easy, kid. We're on the same side!" It was Lorne, the demon friend of Angel and Wesley.
Amy burst out in laughter. Lorne was wearing a neon purple sweatshirt with 'Cirque du Soleil' splashed across the front in rainbow colours.
"Laugh it up, rat girl! I have to wear this thing so people will think I'm part of the touring company. Y'know, horns ... green skin."
Amy regained her composure. "Sorry. So you were the one who delivered that lily to Buffy!"
"And she still has it, so you can put your mind to rest," Lorne replied.
"How's Wesley? Did he patch things up with Angel?"
Lorne scratched his head. "It's an armistice of sorts. That's why I'm here actually. Since there's this brou-haha between Wes and Angel, they asked me instead to take on a mission for them."
Amy's eyes lit up. "Mission? Not another Watcher's Council conspiracy!"
A few market-goers glanced suspiciously at Lorne, who waved passively at them. "Well, not exactly. Do the words 'Ark of the Covenant' mean anything to you?"
Amy's jaw dropped. "You're out to find it?"
"Yeah. Unfortunately, the baddies at Wolfram & Hart got a head start. They've sent one of their attorneys, Lilah Morgan, to find it. We can't let that happen!"
"We?"
"Look, I'm not a Slayer or a vampire with a soul. I'm just a guy who wants to keep the forces of darkness at bay. That – and perhaps launch my own Vegas show. Wesley tells me you saved the day in England. I'm asking you to help me save the world now."
"Save the world? Umm, sure. I'm an American in Spain with no timetable, right?!"
"Cool." Lorne handed her a Eurail pass. "Gather your things. We've got a trip to the land of cuckoo clocks, yodelling and finely crafted watches. It's Switzerland, baby, and you and me gotta find this Ark before Wolfram & Hart do." He pulled her arm towards the train station.
"Wait," Amy stopped. "Can we stop for ice cream? It's really hot out here!!"
Lorne rolled his eyes. "The dairy cravings, right." He handed her some coins. "Get me a Passion Fruit Twist sundae. And don't scrimp on the peanuts!" Amy sprinted to the ice cream parlour.
The Ark's been hidden for thousands of years. I think it can wait a few minutes.
[Los Angeles]
Wesley picked up the phone. It was Angel.
"Did you hear from Lorne yet?"
Wesley adjusted his glasses. "He would have landed in Barcelona about an hour ago. I suspect he's going to link up with Amy first. Those were her last whereabouts."
"Shouldn't you call him. Maybe check up on him."
Wesley was becoming frustrated. Ever since Lorne left, Angel continued to pester him about updates.
"Lorne's a big boy. He'll let us know if something comes up."
Wesley heard some murmurs on the other line.
"Wes? Umm – Fred wants to talk to you."
"Look, Angel, we agreed to work on this Ark mission. We also agreed that our cooperation changes nothing between us. Tell Fred and the others I have nothing more to say to them. Don't call me again unless you have news from Lorne or Amy. Goodbye!"
Angel winced as Wesley slammed the receiver.
"Angel," Fred pleaded, "Don't you think maybe it's time to –"
"Fred, he doesn't want to talk about it," Gunn insisted. "Just let him be."
"You're right, guys," Angel snapped back, "I DON'T want to talk about it!" He stormed upstairs to his room.
Gunn shook his head. "The only reason he's talking to Wes right now is because of this whole Ark of the Covenant situation."
Fred pouted. "I know, but Wesley ... he didn't even want to say hi to me on the phone. He must be really mad."
"Fred, it's not up to us to fix things. Both of them were right – and wrong – in their own way."
"Well maybe it is up to us! We're their friends! So where do you stand, Gunn?" Fred challenged. "Do you think Angel's right to simply shun Wesley?!
"I can't blame Angel for being mad. Wes betrayed his son to –"
Fred glared at him. "I don't think I can deal with this right now! Wesley is our friend and you're content to just cast him aside like an old pair of shoes!!" She marched out the main entrance.
"It's not like that ..." Gunn was now alone in the lobby. Maybe she's right. By sticking with Angel, we have taken sides. Wesley has no one. No wonder he's pissed off.
[Priory of Sainte-Marie, near Lausanne, Switzerland]
Lilah Morgan, an attorney with the Wolfram & Hart law firm, walked slowly on the cobblestone floor. She ducked her head in contemplation as the pair of nuns strolled past her.
It was awkward – descending stairs in the full habit of a sister of St. Marie. She was here for neither redemption, nor salvation. Quite the opposite, actually.
The medieval priory was built in the 12th century as a hostel for weary pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. Over the centuries it served its purpose for Crusaders, Renaissance princes and Napoleon's armies.
She could care less about its historical significance. Except for one artifact. An ancient manuscript ... a gift of thanks from the Templar Knights. Hidden in its texts were instructions. Wolfram & Hart wanted those instructions.
The Templars were monks. Fighting monks who battled the followers of Allah throughout the Crusades. During their campaigns, they discovered many wonders. Among them, the location of the Ark of the Covenant.
It'll be evening prayers, soon, Lilah worried. I must leave before then. She quietly slipped the old scroll into her wide sleeves.
She was soon at the main courtyard. The exit is close. Suddenly, she stopped.
"Sister?" Lilah turned around and gasped. The Mother Superior!!
Je m'excuse. Lilah replied in French. I left my book in the meadow!
The Mother Superior frowned. "Hurry up and get it, my child. Vite!"
I take it she wants me to hurry up. No need to tell me twice. She dashed past the main gates and down the hill. She tossed aside her nun's habit and ran to a nearby clearing. A Vespa scooter waited for her.
I have to make the rendezvous in Venice by tomorrow. The firm's Special Projects crisis team was already there, awaiting the next phase of the operation.
With this scroll, Lilah smiled, the firm will have what it wants. And they will have no choice but to make me a Senior Partner. Her Vespa sped down the road. The firm would be making history very soon.
[Barcelona, Spain]
Amy Madison strolled through the bazaar. There were plenty of clothes, beads, necklaces and handicrafts for sale. She had saved the United Kingdom from a vile plot to overthrow the government and dethrone the Queen. Backpacking through Europe was the reward she gave herself. I nearly died after all!
A green hand clutched her shoulder. Amy spun around to confront the would- be assailant.
"Easy, kid. We're on the same side!" It was Lorne, the demon friend of Angel and Wesley.
Amy burst out in laughter. Lorne was wearing a neon purple sweatshirt with 'Cirque du Soleil' splashed across the front in rainbow colours.
"Laugh it up, rat girl! I have to wear this thing so people will think I'm part of the touring company. Y'know, horns ... green skin."
Amy regained her composure. "Sorry. So you were the one who delivered that lily to Buffy!"
"And she still has it, so you can put your mind to rest," Lorne replied.
"How's Wesley? Did he patch things up with Angel?"
Lorne scratched his head. "It's an armistice of sorts. That's why I'm here actually. Since there's this brou-haha between Wes and Angel, they asked me instead to take on a mission for them."
Amy's eyes lit up. "Mission? Not another Watcher's Council conspiracy!"
A few market-goers glanced suspiciously at Lorne, who waved passively at them. "Well, not exactly. Do the words 'Ark of the Covenant' mean anything to you?"
Amy's jaw dropped. "You're out to find it?"
"Yeah. Unfortunately, the baddies at Wolfram & Hart got a head start. They've sent one of their attorneys, Lilah Morgan, to find it. We can't let that happen!"
"We?"
"Look, I'm not a Slayer or a vampire with a soul. I'm just a guy who wants to keep the forces of darkness at bay. That – and perhaps launch my own Vegas show. Wesley tells me you saved the day in England. I'm asking you to help me save the world now."
"Save the world? Umm, sure. I'm an American in Spain with no timetable, right?!"
"Cool." Lorne handed her a Eurail pass. "Gather your things. We've got a trip to the land of cuckoo clocks, yodelling and finely crafted watches. It's Switzerland, baby, and you and me gotta find this Ark before Wolfram & Hart do." He pulled her arm towards the train station.
"Wait," Amy stopped. "Can we stop for ice cream? It's really hot out here!!"
Lorne rolled his eyes. "The dairy cravings, right." He handed her some coins. "Get me a Passion Fruit Twist sundae. And don't scrimp on the peanuts!" Amy sprinted to the ice cream parlour.
The Ark's been hidden for thousands of years. I think it can wait a few minutes.
[Los Angeles]
Wesley picked up the phone. It was Angel.
"Did you hear from Lorne yet?"
Wesley adjusted his glasses. "He would have landed in Barcelona about an hour ago. I suspect he's going to link up with Amy first. Those were her last whereabouts."
"Shouldn't you call him. Maybe check up on him."
Wesley was becoming frustrated. Ever since Lorne left, Angel continued to pester him about updates.
"Lorne's a big boy. He'll let us know if something comes up."
Wesley heard some murmurs on the other line.
"Wes? Umm – Fred wants to talk to you."
"Look, Angel, we agreed to work on this Ark mission. We also agreed that our cooperation changes nothing between us. Tell Fred and the others I have nothing more to say to them. Don't call me again unless you have news from Lorne or Amy. Goodbye!"
Angel winced as Wesley slammed the receiver.
"Angel," Fred pleaded, "Don't you think maybe it's time to –"
"Fred, he doesn't want to talk about it," Gunn insisted. "Just let him be."
"You're right, guys," Angel snapped back, "I DON'T want to talk about it!" He stormed upstairs to his room.
Gunn shook his head. "The only reason he's talking to Wes right now is because of this whole Ark of the Covenant situation."
Fred pouted. "I know, but Wesley ... he didn't even want to say hi to me on the phone. He must be really mad."
"Fred, it's not up to us to fix things. Both of them were right – and wrong – in their own way."
"Well maybe it is up to us! We're their friends! So where do you stand, Gunn?" Fred challenged. "Do you think Angel's right to simply shun Wesley?!
"I can't blame Angel for being mad. Wes betrayed his son to –"
Fred glared at him. "I don't think I can deal with this right now! Wesley is our friend and you're content to just cast him aside like an old pair of shoes!!" She marched out the main entrance.
"It's not like that ..." Gunn was now alone in the lobby. Maybe she's right. By sticking with Angel, we have taken sides. Wesley has no one. No wonder he's pissed off.