Prologue
There was a little known fact about vampires that others took for granted sometimes.
Angel didn't.
It was that innate feeling, deep down, that something big was about to happen. Angel knew humans felt it too, they said so. They, however, would brush it off as a hunch, though, or think they were paranoid; dismiss it. But it was a one of those senses that was augmented in vampires; that couldn't be ignored. And so this is why, when Angel rose that morning, he knew something was different, something… big… was going to happen.
Going down to the lobby, the feeling grew and intensified, so when Gunn greeted him, Angel could hardly be blamed for the semi-growl that he responded with.
"Boy, you're grouchier than usual," Gunn grumbled, handing Fred the bowl of popcorn.
"It's only eight, Gunn, give him a chance to wake up," she admonished him, moving to make space for him on the couch.
Sitting down, he clarified, "Wake up? It's eight in the evening, Fred…"
"Eight in the evening for a vampire is like eight in the morning to us," she explained to him, patiently. "Besides, we've had a hard week, let him sleep in…"
Angel grumbled in agreement as he reached for the blood tucked away in the fridge. Popping some in the microwave, he looked over to where the two were sitting comfortably in front of the TV, watching some crime show.
Like there wasn't enough of that around here.
"Where's everyone?" he asked them.
"Wes and Cordy are in the office, finishing up the billing for our five-case marathon last week and God knows where Lorne is. He'll probably be here soon."
Angel nodded, but the feeling of trepidation grew worse and when the front door burst open and Lorne ran in, huffing and puffing, Angel knew he had been justified.
"Channel 11, now!!"
"Huh?" Fred asked as Lorne wrestled the remote from her hand and flipped the channel, climbing over the back of the couch and forcibly inserting himself between her and Gunn.
The crime show they were watching was soon replaced with a commercial that just ended and by the time Angel had come around behind them, joined by Wesley and Cordy, who hearing the noise, came out to see what happened, the promo for the upcoming show had started.
"What's going on - ?" said Cordy, just as Fred moaned, "Hey! We were watching - !" and Gunn yelled, "Hey, man!, Watch where you're putting - !", making Fred squeal in pain.
"All of you! Shut up! Watch!" Lorne cried, pointing at the screen.
No one was used to Lorne's harsher side so they watched the promo.
"Tonight… on FOX. This is American Idol as you've never seen it before! When Simon… Paula… and Randy get a little help from America's secret underground world of demons, will they be able to find the next great star? Watch as humans and non-humans alike compete for the chance to be America's next superstar! Prepare to expect the unexpected as our judges travel to Sunnydale, demon central, to bestow their opinions on eight hopefuls and for a surprise ending that will leave you… astounded! But only one can take top prize! All this and more on tonight's prime-time special… Sunnydale Idol! Next… on FOX!"
"That's…" Angel said as the images whizzed by.
"Buffy? Oh, yeah, Angelkins. And your friends, Willow, Xander and Giles. All of them. They're the eight contenders," replied Lorne.
"What is going on?" demanded Wesley.
Lorne turned in his seat and looked at him as he said, "I was talking to some old pals for mine and they told me how they had auditioned for this. They know it's my favorite show, after all. Then, I recognized some of the names that Cordy used to talk about and I ran over here as fast as I could."
"But why would they do this? On national TV?!" cried Cordy. "Don't they know how dangerous this is?"
Lorne shook his head. "Sweetums, this is FOX, okay? The same people who bring you Joe Millionaire and Man vs. Beast. It's all hype, no one believes it. Apparently, it's all 'staged'. Just a publicity stunt to drum up ratings for the real thing."
"So, it's all fake?" asked Gunn.
Lorne raised his brows. "Well..."
"Well, what, Lorne?" Angel interjected.
"Well... I don't know! I'm not exactly sure how they did this. I guess we watch the show, then call them in Sunnydale. How about that?"
Angel sighed. "Fair enough. Move over," he told Fred, who pushed Lorne aside so they could all squeeze onto the couch.
They all watched as the show started.
