Summary- Angel loses his soul due to the contract with Wolfram and Hart. Lilah warns Wesley, and he, Fred and Knox escape from Angelus. Gunn has been possessed by the panther in the White Room. Robin Wood is offered a job at Barrington High, near Sunnydale, and the others decide that a new Watcher's Council is needed. Oz is sent to deal with Gunn. They decide that Lindsey may know how to destroy the contracts, and resolve to contact him. Drusilla visits Angelus, and he rejects her. A military group appears, and Buffy blackmails their general into meeting her. Angry and lonely Drusilla finds Connor and takes him to the warlock who originally altered his memories. Spike appears out of a portal intended to produce a Tarok-Han as a human, but exhibits superhuman strength in escaping from the disappointed cultists. The warlock requires an object from Connor's old life, and Drusilla goes to the Hyperion to get it. Buffy meets the general, who tells her that they are trying to create supersoldiers to fight Suvolte Demons (As You Were), who are becoming inexplicably smarter. Riley Finn is dead, and his wife Sam has gone on a vengeance mission against them. She says that someone may be controlling them, and takes him back to Willow. AI follow Drusilla, and try and fail to prevent her from restoring Connor. He runs away, and Drusilla follows him and tells him how Angelus abandoned her. They find themselves in harmony. Spike's reaction to his resurrection is to get very drunk, and is picked up by a Wolfram and Hart lawyer, and taken to see Angelus. Giles comes to LA to ask Wesley to be part of the new Council. He refuses, but tells him what has happened with Angelus and Drusilla. Drusilla has restored Connor's memories, but not their memories of him. Giles calls the new Watcher's Council, and is told that Buffy and Willow have gone to Belize in a helicopter with weapons, spell ingredients and the troll hammer. Lindsey arrives in LA. Connor and Drusilla launch an attack against Wolfram and Hart. Drusilla senses and rescues Spike, and Connor and Angelus fight. He nearly kills Angelus, but in the end Drusilla saves him by throwing Angelus out of the window. He takes his contract and one other thing, after having a conversation with the First. Angelus has the Order of Taraka sent after them both, and tells them to find Sahjhan. Lindsey tells them that the contracts are spells in physical form but he does not know exactly how to destroy them, and decides to call Gwen to retrieve them. Angelus finds and releases Sahjhan, then convinces him to try to kill Connor. Wesley and Fred go to collect Cordelia from hospital, but find that she has been taken by the thing Drusilla awoke (Connor). Gwen arrives and agrees to help them, and removes LISA. Angelus is contacted by the Order f Taraka, and he tells them to kill all his enemies, not just Dru and Connor, then leaves in a helicopter. In Belize, Buffy, Willow and Sam arrive at the lair of the creature controlling the Suvoltes, where it is sending them away by plane. Willow is telepathically attacked by the creature, and Buffy and Sam attack at once. Professor Walsh intends to find Buffy and Willow's power sources, and tap them. A person called the Master appears in Barrington. Buffy encounters Angelus in Belize. They fight, and he saves the Suvolte controller and flies away. Willow's magic doesn't seem to work on him. A Tarakan assassin attacks the Hyperion, killing the Slayer Giles brought. Spike appears at the Hyperion. Buffy calls and informs them about Angelus, saying she is returning home. Spike tells them that he has a place where they will be safer from the Tarakans, Drusilla's lair, and they agree to join him. Gunn, completely possessed, warns Angelus that he had better strike soon or he will be replaced. The Master attends the school Halloween party, and tries to kidnap Dawn. The student she is with, Jared, turns out to be a demonic servant of his, and prevents Amanda from interfering while he fights Faith. He beats and hospitalises her, but Buffy arrives back and he runs. At the Watcher's Headquarters a warlock attacks and steals the Scythe. Willow says she isn't sure she can beat him, and can't find him. Amanda suggests that he was trying to kidnap Dawn in an attempt to draw Buffy into one-on-one combat. Buffy orders that Dawn be guarded. Wood discovers that the press in Barrington aren't as gullible as those in Sunnydale. Jared claims that they can't kill him, because he appears human. Spike delivers AI and associates to Drusilla, then leaves to see Buffy. The Master tries to make Xander accept Anya's death, and says that when the time comes he will be on his side. Sahjhan leaves to kill Connor. Buffy meets the Master in a demon bar, who offers to fight to avoid their conflict killing lots of Slayers. They fight and she defeats him easily. It turns out to have been Jared, magically disguised, making sure she isn't at the Council building. The Master sets his warlock to attack the Watcher's Council. He fights Willow, and when she appears to be beating him, kills Kennedy, and uses some of her blood to power him. Her eyes turn black and she beats him easily. She tries to kill him, but he manages to push her hand into Kennedy's blood, changing her hair and eyes to black and red. He reveals he works for Wolfram and Hart before she drains his power, kills him and is sucked through a portal. Dawn, with Xander and three Slayers escape through the sewers. They are intercepted by the real Master, who kidnaps Dawn and leaves the others unconscious. He tells Jared to go home, and Dawn that they were never after Buffy, it was her, because she is the Key. He starts to bleed her. A black ops group including Matthew Walsh contacts AI. The Master uses the Scythe, which is left on the ground afterwards, and Dawn's blood in a ritual to bring in a being from another world, leaving her to be rescued. As a result of this she gains the ability to see into other dimensions. The Master is Connor, and the ritual was to awaken Cordelia. Sahjhan comes to Buffy claiming to have been sent by the PTB, and offering to help her fight The Master. Willow talks to the demon which brought her through, which sends her to LA to try and cause chaos. Cordelia appears not to remember anything after Jasmine's conception. Sahjhan tells them the Master will try and leave town, and sends them to guard public transport. Willow attacks the Suvolte controller, causing it to lose control and creating enough chaos for Gwen to reach the contracts room. She takes the Angel file, but is distracted by the First for long enough for Angelus to get to her. She manages to escape with the file. Professor Walsh kidnaps the exhausted Willow in their flight. Angel says that Lindsey knows how to destroy the contracts, though he claims not to. Angel's contract is not in the file, it's empty apart from Jasmine's.
Road into Barrington-Day
(A van smashes into the back of a car, trying to knock it off the road. A side window in the van opens and a machine gun is held outside. Cut to close up of a purple skinned hand holding it wearing a Tarakan ring. Suddenly the car veers to the right and the brakes are put on. Spike half jumps and is half thrown through the windshield as the van slams into it. The demon holding the gun is slammed into the side of the window by the sudden stop and nearly drops the gun. Spike runs and jumps at the open window, and grabs hold of the demon inside. He pulls him halfway out and starts to choke him. The other door opens and another demon identical to the first leaps onto the roof of the van, then down at Spike. He knocks him to the floor, but Spike twists and throws him off. The other flows seemingly bonelessly to the ground and they stand and both circle around, trying to get behind him.)
Spike: You lot are only supposed to work alone.
Demons: (Speaking at the same time) I do.
(They both tilt their heads and smile, and attack simultaneously. They fight with perfect coordination, and Spike is quickly forced back across the sand. Spike kicks up sand into one's eye, and this blinds it and disorientates the other. He leaps at the unblinded one and scythes its legs out, then stamps on the back of its neck. It goes limp and the other screams and starts to thrash. He pulls out a knife and drives it into its skull. He stands and brushes sand off his coat.)
Spike: Determined bastards. Thought I lost them in Santa Monica.
(He walks back to his car and kicks at it glumly. It's obviously beyond repair. He starts to light a cigarette, then sighs in exasperation and throws it away.)
Spike: Bloody Powers. This is what you get for the ultimate sacrifice? Next time I'll let the bloody well let the world end.
(He sets off down the road.)
Drusilla's Lair-Day
Wesley: Well, because it would mean everyone would remember Jasmine and know that the supernatural exists. They would remember her love, her bliss. Suicide rates would skyrocket, paranoia and fear would overcome most of the population of earth, and the world would be plunged into chaos.
Giles: Alright, so we don't have the option of experimenting on this one.
Oz: We can look for Willow though.
Wesley: The problem is, we have no idea where they've taken her, and you can't rack her through the traffic.
Fred: Why'd he take her? He kept on saying he doesn't believe in magic.
Lindsey: But he's seen what she can do. Maybe trying to figure out how she does it.
Wesley: When they discover there's no way to tap it…
Oz: I've seen, actually, been, one of their experiments. We get to her before they start.
Government Base-Evening
Walsh: It's intriguing. X-rays have failed to find any implants, DNA scans indicate that you're entirely human, and your brain wave patterns are free from any anomalies that would indicate unusual mental abilities that would enable telepathy and telekinesis. It's a puzzle and no mistake. How do you do it?
Willow: It's magic. Like I told you the last time, and the time before that, and the time before that, okay? You can't put it in a syringe and inject yourself with it.
Walsh: Then why is it being controlled by the standard fields and injections?
Willow: It's not being controlled! I'm exhausted!
Walsh: Ah yes, all that sitting still with your eyes shut must have really worn you out.
Willow: I fought a mental duel with a four hundred year old demon with an entire race under its control. Of course it's tiring.
Walsh: I can see you're still not ready to cooperate. I do hope you realise you're not leaving here until you do. Put it on.
(Loud jarring noises sound and a series of bright, multi-coloured lights flash in the room, designed to prevent her from concentrating and wear down her resistance.)
Willow: Wait!
Walsh: That was fast. Off.
(The sound stops and the lights return to normal.)
Walsh: Yes?
Willow: I could try to teach you. I mean obviously you won't be any good at it, because you refuse to believe despite all evidence that magic's real, but if I can teach you how to float a pencil will you let me go?
Walsh: Alright, teach me what you do. Then I can analyse it. I'm guessing it's psychosomatic, but I'm willing to learn.
(He steps inside carrying a tranquilliser gun. The door closes after him automatically. He sits on the chair in front of her)
Willow: Do you have a pencil?
Walsh: Biro. I assume that will be alright with the Hecate?
Willow: Oh goddess, point MADE. You don't believe in this stuff.
Walsh: Fine, so what do I do, compose a prayer?
Willow: Just concentrate on the pen.
(She begins to shake. The pen rises into the air and starts to turn very slowly. A dart pulls its way out of the gun and rises into the air behind him.)
Walsh: I've seen this trick before. I'm interested in how you do these things, not what you can do.
Willow: I know.
(The pen drops and the dart shoots into a vein on his wrist. His eyes widen and he starts to rise. Willow just manages to stop him, and almost falls unconscious when he slumps. She falls back against the wall, gasping for breath. After a while she snaps her fingers in front of his eyes, which open, but are glazed over. He removes the straps attaching her to the wall, and she stands. They both walk to the door, which opens for him.)
Guard: Professor are you alright? Why is she out? (He pauses for a moment, then speaks.)
Walsh: She's uh, told us what we need, so she can go, and, and have a van brought round to the front. The project is terminated.
Guard: I don't actually have the authority to do that sir.
Walsh: Well then-
(Willow collapses. He reaches out and catches her.)
Guard: Should I call a med?
Walsh: No, no. Just help me get her to the door.
Guard: Yes sir.
(They both carry her outside.)
Walsh: And, to the car. I'll drive her back.
(The guard gives him a strange look, but lets it pass.)
Guard: Yes sir.
(They both stand still for a moment.)
Guard: Uh, sir, I don't actually know which one is yours
Walsh: Right, no, of course you don't. Well never mind, I'll take her from here myself. Back to your post.
Guard: Yes sir.
(The guard walks away, and looks back after a moment to see Professor Walsh still standing there. He shrugs and carries on.)
Walsh: Great. Car keys, car keys. Ah. Right, so now we just wander up and down with my unconscious body slung over my arm trying cars until we find the right one.
Warehouse-Night
Cordelia: Oh, right, and then, what? You decided to wake up the coma woman and mess around with her head?
Connor: No, I. I just . I wanted to know what you would've said. It doesn't matter now.
Cordelia: Is this still the, "I'm a foul abomination born of two vampires"? Cause I think we went over that-
Connor: It's not that. It's what I've done. What I've become. If you knew… You'd be. Repulsed.
Cordelia: What did you do?
Connor: I don't wanna talk about it. We, uh, we have to leave town as soon as possible. It's not safe here.
Cordelia: You said Buffy was here.
Connor: That's why it's not safe. She's pretty mad at me. Can you walk?
Cordelia: (Sliding her legs off the table and standing up) Of course I can walk. Why is she-
(Her knees buckle and she grabs hold of the table for support.)
Cordelia: Okay actually, no, I can't. Could you give me a hand here?
(He helps her back onto the table and she sits down.)
Cordelia: So why is she mad at you?
Connor: I don't wanna talk about it.
Cordelia: Obviously not in a share mode right now. So, do you have anything resembling a plan, or did it stop with me waking up?
Connor: Well, I was thinking I could get this destroyed, so that other people besides you and Dru would know who I was. I was gonna ask Keith, but I think he's kinda dead now, so I'm gonna ask Willow. And then I-we-I mean if uh. Well y'know. And I kill Angelus.
Cordelia: Connor-
(There's a knock at the door)
Connor: Oh.
Cordelia: What, who's that?
Connor: That'd be a vampire. I mentioned they kinda worshipped me right?
Cordelia: Yeah, I remember. Last time we met they tried to feed me to you. Not fun.
Connor: Right. Well they sorta wondered why I was bringing you with me, and uh…
Cordelia: Yes?
Connor: I told them you were a demon.
Cordelia: Well I am a half demon.
Connor: I also didn't correct them when they assumed you were an evil demon who would lead us to victory. You used to be an actress, right?
Cordelia: Well, yeah. Though you should probably know, my best ever thing was a suntan lotion commercial the less said about the better.
(The door opens and three vampires walk in. They bow briskly, before looking at Cordelia, nonplussed.)
Vampire #1: This is it?
Connor: Appearances can be deceiving.
Vampire #1: That deceiving? Look at her. What's she meant to do? Set up a cheerleading routine so we can psyche out our enemies? I mean seriously, we follow you here, guard the damn thing, and it turns out we've summoned back HER?
Vampire #2: Now, you say you're the Miracle Child, but you sorta have to wonder at times like this. That warlock of yours can make people look like someone else, can't he? You knowwhat I think? I think, that-
Cordelia: You dare, to doubt my power, corpse?
(Connor glances back at her surprised.)
Cordelia: You think that because I appear human, I can't have power? Fool. N You don't look human.
Vampire #2: And I have power.
Cordelia: Oh do you? And yet I can destroy you with a touch.
(She grabs hold of one side of his hand and starts to glow. He screams momentarily before exploding into dust. She glares at them, blinding them.)
Cordelia: I woke, less than two hours ago. It will take time for my full strength to return. And then you're gonna see something. Now get out.
(They compete to get out of the door first.)
Connor: That was cool.
Cordelia: Yeah. Acting's kinda tiring. Which is odd, considering I've been sleeping for the past, what, how many months?
Connor: Well it's November.
Cordelia: Great. Just great. So about four. (I have no idea when season four ended, so I'm making it about July.)
Connor: Uh, I'll go get you some food. You haven't really been getting any since I took you out of the hospital.
Cordelia: If you bring me chicken soup you're dead.
Connor: Chocodiles?
Cordelia: That's good. Also something with nutrients.
Watcher's Council- Day
Xander: Rona? Could I have a word?
Rona: Sure. What is it?
Xander: Down here.
(He leads her to an empty corridor.)
Rona: What is it?
Xander: You're a Slayer, you know that, right?
Rona: Yeah, supernatural strength was a bit of a giveaway.
Xander: Ever considered acting like one?
Rona: What?
Xander: Willow, your WATCHER-
Rona: She's not my-
Xander: She's the only Watcher around. Faith wasn't there, Giles is in LA. She was in charge, and you ignored her. She told you to go with Dawn.
Rona: Yeah, Dawn Duty when we're being attacked.
Xander: Oh, right. So that's all being a Slayer's about. Killing things and never doing anything you don't want to do. Well, someone should probably have told Buffy about that more than six years ago, when she went off to face The Master.
Rona: Oh right. So being a Slayer is about getting yourself drowned.
Xander: It's about doing what needs to be done, no matter what the price is. And if that's looking after one of the people you're meant to be fighting for, then you do it.
Rona: Kennedy-
Xander: Is having what's left of her sent back to her parents in a closed coffin. But at least she argued. Once, you wouldn't even of been allowed to do that, but she refused, so Willow sent Hillary instead. You just didn't go. And the Master got his hands on Dawn.
Rona: And she's fine-
Xander: Oh, well that's good. I mean, there was I thinking you couldn't be bothered, but of course, you knew all along that he wasn't going to kill her. Or destroy the world. Because he could've. He could've broken down the barriers between every dimension there is, and unleashed Hell. And maybe it wouldn't of made a difference if you'd gone or not, but we'll never know now. Understand? Dawn could be dead, another one of us dead! So if you're going to be a Slayer, then learn to do what needs doing. Or get out.
(She stares at him.)
Rona: Or what?
Xander: Or get out. No one's keeping you here. If you don't want to be a part of this, then goodbye, good luck. Just don't ever do anything against us. Now, what's it gonna be? Stay here, be a Slayer, or are you gonna go and live whatever life you want?
Rona: I'll stay.
Xander: Okay, and you know who's in charge right now?
Rona: Buffy.
Xander: And if she tells you to do something-
Rona: Yeah yeah, I do it, no questions.
Xander: No. Ask questions. Argue, complain, challenge, try new things. If Buffy hadn't done that she'd be dead. Just don't ignore. See ya.
(She nods and walks away. Xander turns in the other direction and sees Buffy standing there.)
Xander: Why is it that even though we're living in a converted hotel that should have enough rooms for everybody, it's still impossible to have a private conversation?
Buffy: Maybe it's a butterside down thing. Anyway, I just caught the last bit.
Xander: Right. Well, y'know just…
Buffy: Doing what Watchers should be doing?
Xander: Huh? Oh. Sorry, kinda muscling in there.
Buffy: Actually that was meant to be an offer, but what with the vagueness an' all.
Xander: Me? Come on.
Buffy: I'm serious. I mean I'd have to ask Willow and Giles. But if you're interested.
Xander: Not much on the watching, what with the whole…
(He taps his eye patch.)
Buffy: Just think about it okay.
Xander: Okay. Oh, you should probably know that the weird Master guy says I'm going to be on his side, sooner or later.
Buffy: Yeah, and the First said I'd be fighting Dawn. I mean she kicked me in the shins, but that's about as far as it went.
(There's a knock on the door. She goes to it, and grabs the crossbow concealed behind it. She puts on her best "I'm a blond" smile, and opens the door.)
Spike: Hello love.
Buffy: Oh, great. You're still around.
(She tries to shut the door, and he sticks his foot in, wedging it open. She stares at his boot, then back up at his face, then looks at his boot again.)
Buffy: Huh. Huh? Wha- but. Huh? Invitation. Solid.
Spike: I'm human.
Buffy: And still wearing the Christmas tree ornament.
Spike: Can't seem to get the bloody thing off.
Buffy: Oh. Right. So, uh, HOW?
Spike: Not really sure. Reborn from the ashes. I'm a phoenix.
Buffy: Come in.
(They walk a little way into the hallway and lean against opposite sides of the wall, staring at each other.)
Buffy: So, how've things been going for you?
Spike: Not that bad. Got kidnapped, met Dru, played the host to a bunch of the pouf's old sidekicks, then came to see you. And spent a lot longer than I expected being chased around by Tarakan assassins. You remember them?
Buffy: Yeah, it was a vivid experience, what with the ice rink, and the gun happy one, and me putting you in a wheelchair.
Spike: (Nods) Good times.
Buffy: They were a lot less complicated.
Spike: So, how's the whole Slayer thing working out?
Buffy: Well, unfortunately, the general opinion seems to be that I'm still the Slayer, and the rest are just girls with superpowers. Which is a pity, but I'm dealing.
Spike: Always do. Sooner or later.
Buffy: I guess. There's some evil thing in town.
Spike: Oh. What's it like?
Buffy: Teenage. Sneaky. Pale, thin, girly looking, really doesn't seem very threatening. Apparently it's going to end the world.
Spike: Who told you that?
Buffy: You remember Whistler? Well of course not, you were on the other side at the time. Except not. Anyway, same sort of thing.
Spike: And as I haven't got a bloody clue who Whistler is, I'll know exactly what you're talking about.
Buffy: Demon, sent down help prevent apocalypse, goes by the name of Sahjhan.
Spike: Sahjhan?
Buffy: Uh-uh.
Spike: What else did he tell you about him? What's his name?
Buffy: As far as we can tell, just called the Master. Anyway, child of the Tro-Clon, escaped from Quor-Toth, that's about all we know. Anyway, it brought forth some kind of demon. We'll deal with it. About what I said.
Spike: About what I said.
Buffy: I did mean it.
Spike: I was lying.
(They look at each other for a while.)
Buffy: Up the stairs, third door on the left.
Watcher's Council-Day
Dawn: Y'know, I never really thanked you for the whole-
(Makes an incomprehensible flapping movement with one hand.)
Andrew: Pancakes? Dice throwing?
Dawn: Oven tray.
Andrew: That's easy, you've just got to get the temperature right.
Dawn: I meant hitting the incredibly powerful guy floating in midair with it.
Andrew: Oh that. You don't have to thank me.
Dawn: Didn't he kill Kennedy by touching her lightly on the forehead? I'm not sure Willow would've recovered fast enough to stop him getting me.
Andrew: He did anyway. Seems like I can only manage to accomplish anything when it doesn't make a difference.
Dawn: It did.
Andrew: Yeah, he cut your wrist open a few minutes later than he would've.
Dawn: Well, not to that, no. But I would kinda prefer to be taken prisoner by the creepy teenager than by the baby sacrificing warlock who looked like he'd torture you to death for the fun of it.
Andrew: Come on I'm useless. I messed up being evil, and I'm too cowardly to be any good at being good.
Dawn: I think it just takes practice. I mean like the first few times I saw a demon or a vampire… okay, until I was sixteen, I like totally freaked. All the screaming and the crying and the "Put a hand on me and my sister's gonna kill you" stuff, but you get used to it.
Andrew: Okay. So, uh, what are other dimensions like?
Okay, fairly pointless chapter, but we all have them from time to time, right? Anyway, Tariq, trying to lose assassins is why he's taken so long. Please review!!!!
