Okay, by request of Shadid, (and very vital, thanks for the idea) I now have a chapter summary at the beginning to say what happened last. So last chapter

It was decided that Andrew needed to be found and the gang headed off in search of Karl.

Karl's past is revealed to us and showing his collaboration with the First, who now thinks that Andrew needs to be disposed of as he is too much of a threat.

But before that can happen, the gang burst in and ruin his ritual project. Gunn was badly bitten but saved by Spike reluctantly and Lindsey and Willow attempt to try and hold Karl. Lindsey eventually manages to weaken him so they can take him back to the hotel but has been knocked unconscious.

And Andrew receives his First vision although there seems to be something wrong with him. Cordelia works out about Andrew and if they can't kill him he will be left to die.

Dramatic, huh. Lol, well kept up the reviews people, I starve for feedback, just like any good author. I have now written the whole story. There is scoobie action coming with the potentials and Oz is making an appearance. Just be patient. Thank you by constant reviewers Shadid and Tariq and Imzadi. Thank you Zoe my beta reader.

Enough jabbering, on with the story.

Where do we go from here: INTERROGATION

The casualties seemed minimum. In fact, Angel was amazed with how much they got away. Returning to the Hyperion with their kidnap, the healing process was now in order. The vampire had got a good bite at Gunn's neck. It hurt a lot when he moved and all the way back, the blood didn't really stop flowing. He held up a bandaged cloth towards it, now practically soaked in red.

Fred took the bandage off and examined the wound and then got the medical kit. Willow anxiously looked on, seeing that the damage was not great but enough to make his neck hurt for a while.

Spike had taken Lindsey upstairs to one of the rooms. The ex-lawyer had still not woken up from his exhausting battle with Karl. It seemed that all that mystical energy had taken its toll on the younger man and both he and the vampire collapsed from the clashing of forces.

Faith looked up the stairs. "He'll wake up, right?"

Willow wrinkled her nose and nodded. "Yeah, he should do in no time. It's just a bout of tiredness. He'll sleep it off and be back to his—quiet self, I'm sure.

"Where have we put Karl?"

"Downstairs," Wesley replied quietly. "We're holding him in the steel cage we held Angelus in. Willow has put an enclosing spell on it so he shouldn't be able to use any his powers if they so happened to regenerate again. It makes it easier to interrogate."

Angel shook his head. "I don't want to interrogate him just yet," he said, walking across the other side of the room. He took his axe. "Not until Lindsey wakes up. I want more powerful protection."

Wesley looked at him. "You don't believe he's secure."

"He knew a lot of magic the last time I saw him," Spike said, coming back down the stairs. "Must 'ave been what—1980? But he—he advanced. Seriously."

Angel nodded. "I've never seen him use such magic and he could pull anything. I'm not putting anyone in danger down there because he has some kind of leftover trick up his sleeve."

"Why the axe then?" Faith demanded.

"We don't know if the remainders of those followers will come back. I mean, after Karl fell, most of them split but if any of them were true followers, they could come back. I suggest you all arm yourselves with something, even if it's a stake and watch out for anyone who decides to come."

There was silence for a moment. Wesley opened his mouth and then closed it. Then he took a deep breath. "What happened the last time you saw Karl?"

Prague 1980

Spike glared at the newcomer, annoyed at having been interrupted from a moment with Dru. The newcomer didn't seem that afraid by the stare, though. He was quite unfazed. This Karl differed to the slightly hysterical and nervous one that Angel had seen sixty years ago. As he came into view, Spike could sense he would like him less and less.

"Ooo," Drusilla said, standing up and walking up to the Spike. "This one is special."

Spike rolled his eyes. "So was the one before and so will be the next one."

Dru narrowed her eyes and purred at Karl. "Can't you see it, Spike? He's glowing. He's shimmering like little water droplets—all lying in the sun. You want to knock them out of the way."

"I fancy doing some knocking," Spike said. "Who're you, then?"

The newcomer smiled. "Karl."

Spike frowned. "Well, I was expecting some cheesy name like…well some comic hero stuff. You passed that one, mate. Now, what the hell are you doing here? Can't you see I'm doing something."

"Be calm, Spike. Our guest is special. Our guest has power."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Power? Crystal ball power? Psychic power?" He looked at Karl for an explanation.

"Dark arts."

"Oh, the messy kind of power, then. The one that always winds up against you and you're the one that ends up killed—or staked. Don't like it. Now sod off."

Dru pouted at him. "Spike. I want to see the show. I want to see what he can do. He can paint fire in the sky, make them join the lovely stars. And then burn them out till there's a black hole. He can make blood in the cruellest ways, in the ways that we can't do."

Karl smiled. "Thank you, my dear. The compliments always welcome." He lifted her hand and kissed it slightly.

Dru giggled. "Look, a gentleman vampire." Spike growled. "Now, Spike, don't worry. We're going to have a massacre tonight. And a different massacre. Our guest can help us tear the flesh."

Karl lifted his hands and from it sad a tiny red flame. "All the power is yours, mate, just in my hands. He lifted the flame to Spike's arm and felt searing hot pain rift up his arm.

Spike screamed and pushed him away. "Fuck off, you bloody tosser. What d'yu think you're trying to do. If you think you're getting in with us, you got another thing coming. Take you magic and piss off 'cause we don't want it."

Karl stood up, his yellow eyes glowing. He clenched his fists. "Erimi per sancti dei mangus fueros." The air around them seemed to shake from the vibrations. The ground shook beneath them as well. Smoke and fire billowed up for a second, matching Karl's apparent anger. Then it died, leaving the smouldering remains on the floor of Spike's hideout.

"I searched far for you," he said, his eyes now returning to normal. "The great William the Bloody—Spike. I came bearing a gift and you pushed me away. I hope you're cursed but I hope you live long enough to see me triumph over your pathetic title." With that, he stomped out of the room.

"Oh…Oh," Dru moaned, walking away from Spike, taking two steps forward towards the door.

"Don't worry, pet. We're better off without him."

Dru shook her head. "He's a vampire. But he's not. He has the teeth, the evil and no soul. But he's no vampire."

"What do you mean, love?"

"He wasn't made a vampire. He was made magically."

* * * * *

Andrew opened his eyes and looked around. He was surrounded by darkness. Obviously it was dark outside and the large void in the warehouse didn't make it any better. Andrew was starving…and thirsty…and tired. He had hardly any energy left in him at all. The only thing he'd eaten or drank was the little amount of tea Conner had given him when he'd first arrived.

He laid his head back on the ground and waited. He waited for any kind of sound or sign. "La cucaracha," he said to himself lightly, to stop the constant silence through the warehouse. There seemed no sounds of cars anywhere. In the distance some dog was barking constantly.

"Conner?" he called faintly, sitting up this time. He coughed, a dry, raw cough from lack of fluids. There was no answer, though. "Conner!" he shouted even louder. But still there was no reply. Andrew pushed himself back against the wall tiredly and began to close his eyes.

Just as he did, though, he felt a sensation creeping into the back of his head. And as it came closer, his eyes snapped open wildly and his head flew back. Suddenly, his whole head seemed to be engulfed in pain. He put his hands up to his temples and kneeled forward in an effort for the pain to disappear.

Images flashed through his mind. Broken, fragmented flashes. Of a man, unconscious, being dragged away by what looked like a cult. Hooded men and one carrying a stick. In an instant, the vision ended, leaving Andrew gasping on the floor. He felt like throwing up but there was no one here. Instead, he collapsed on the ground, his head hurting, gasping and sobbing at the same time.

* * * * *

Gunn folded his arms and he leaned to the side towards Lindsey. "You look like crap," he said.

Lindsey smiled tiredly. "Thanks. I feel crap."

"You sure you're up for this."

Lindsey nodded. "I have to be. I came to do this stuff. If I can be used, may as well make the most of it." He walked forward towards the cage where Karl was sitting in the far corner. He had woken up now and glared at them through narrowed eyes. So far, he had not said a word.

"Nice to see you again, Karl," Angel said, walking over to where Lindsey was standing. "Sorry about the accommodation but you'll get used to it. I spent some time in here as well."

Karl growled loudly and lunged towards him. Lindsey held out his hand and Karl felt himself struck, being propelled into the other side of the wall. He breathed heavily. "You were better soulless, Angelus. You too, Spike. Look at you, all gone soft, and pathetic. All for the good, ey? You abandon what you are, pretending that it's not you."

"Oh, I know it's me," Angel said. "I can just control it. Now, my friend here, possesses a very special kind of power…"

Karl nodded. "I know," he murmured. "Calatine. I spent years looking for it myself."

Lindsey smiled. "Good, so you know the damage it can do." He knelt down and looked through the bars menacingly. He pointed to his hand. "I've had this for about a year. I've grown accustomed to it and although I don't know everything, I can cause some serious damage. If you don't answer Angel's questions, I'll char grill you just for starters."

Karl simply glared again.

"I'm going to make this simple, Karl," Angel said. "You are somehow connected to the First. You've been bringing all these vampires from the surrounding areas. Why? What's the First's plan?"

Karl looked away. "Bite me."

Spike screwed up his face. "Err, no thanks. You're a disgrace to all vampires. You couldn't become one the normal way so you lost your soul through magic. That's not proper vampire."

Karl laughed and it echoed round the basement. It was a strange high pitched laugh, the kind that came from a hysterical mental person. Angel looked over Wesley, who simply shrugged. Spike frowned at what he said being laughed at. He was being completely serious. "I'm a disgrace? I'm a disgrace. Yet who has the more supporters? Who is more powerful?"

"Who's the one in the cage," Faith snapped.

Karl's laughed dimmed down to a chuckle. "So what? I still own my power. Your little boy here does not have enough power to take it away from me. The dark arts are very strong, I'll have you know." Karl shook his head in disappointment. "You should have taken up on the First's offer when he gave it to you. You turned down the opportunity of a lifetime. I've never felt so occupied, so needed since working for the First."

"What were you doing? Bringing in the demons as the First's army?"

"Something like that."

"Karl!" Angel looked at Lindsey who let lose a flame into the cage. Karl jumped back in surprise, half expecting his coat to be on fire. A horrible smell of singed hair was smelt and Karl looked around. The little fireball had erupted in front of him. Now angry, he lifted both his hands, chanted something in Latin and let lose his own spell. Except when it reached the bars of the cage, it bounced back and hit him, sending him sprawling again.

"You'll have to thank Willow for that spell," Wesley said, still holding the tranquilizer gun.

"Witches," Karl muttered, spitting out blood.

"Karl, you have two options," Angel said. "Either you can tell us what is going on around the First and we can let you live, outside a protection spell. Or, if you don't, we'll go elsewhere for our information and kill you. It would be such a shame to have died when barely one hundred years old. And magic is so much more painful than a stake through the heart."

There was a pause. Karl contemplated his options. He sat back and stared thoughtfully into the space. "I have no idea what the First's plans are on a whole…"

"Kill him," Spike growled.

"…But, I worked for him to make him stronger. Our cult brought in sacrifices, each week, something greater. In the end, it was going to be you, Angel. The First feeds off the energy and becomes stronger and will eventually enter the world at its strongest form, capable of causing destruction itself instead of simply harbouring bodies."

"Why are the vampires coming here?" Faith demanded.

"It's a reward," Karl answered. "I was doing good work for the First. It was going to give LA as the vampire ground once all the humans had died in it. Then he would continue with the rest of the world, including the Slayer. LA has a large population to satisfy its needs."

"That's all you know?" Angel said.

"Just about. Oh and the First has an ally," Karl answered, absently looking at his nails. "I have no idea who it is."

"Must be that evil from QuorToth."

"And it has a threat. I had an assignment to kill a boy by the name of Andrew. The First was very insistent that I killed him. It seemed no one else was able to it. He has the Sight, particular power from the Powers that Be. He has an extra power of looking into people. A rare gift."

Willow's mouth dropped open. "Oh my God, Andrew?" she said in disbelief. "He has the visions? Who would've thought. Angel, we need to find him." She glared at Karl. "Where is he?"

Karl shrugged. "Some warehouse. And one other thing. The First will come looking for me now. I need protection. And if you want to kill it. I think I may know someone that can help you."

Angel walked back. "Tell us."

"I want the protection."

"We have a witch and the power of Calatine. Now tell us."

"It's in another dimension called Lamithra. It can be opened from any book. An old widow demon lives there, she knows about the First. It might come in useful."

They abandoned Karl in the cage downstairs and went up the lobby. Willow sat down on the banquet. "Andrew has the visions. I can't believe it. He ran away from Sunnydale with the knife. He must have been drawn here somehow, probably by the Powers that Be. Angel, he's in great danger."

Angel frowned. "I thought you didn't particularly like this guy."

Willow sighed. "Andrew's…reformed. Once you'll see him, you understand. He's technically incapable of hurting anyone but the First messed with his mind and made him kill his best friend. Buffy says that Dawn found out from Andrew that the reason he left was because the First was messing with him. We need to find him."

"If we find Andrew, then we could also get a link to Cordy and Conner, considering they're connected to this other evil." Angel thought for a moment. "Fred, Willow, I want you to take supplies, you're going to go to this other dimension Karl was talking about."

Fred's eyes widened. "Angel, you can't be serious. We don't even know if this place is true. Or what he's saying is true."

Angel shook his head. "I believe him this time. Take all the magic supplies you need and go there. The rest of you follow me. We're going to raid these old warehouses and find Andrew before the First does."

They headed out with their weapons and there was silence in the lobby. Fred and Willow looked at each other with their eyebrows raised. Angel seemed final about his decision, there was no turning back. "Oh well," Willow said. "Better do as the boss says. I have a list of things that are useful for inter-dimension travel. Maybe we could use them. And certain spells."

Fred nodded silently and Willow understood her concern. She was equally as worried. "Don't worry, kids," Lorne said coming up to them. "I know you're a little worried but I have faith in you. We need to do this, though. It's our only hope of finding out about this big bad spirit thing."

* * * * *

Karl sat in his little cage, looking around. He could do no magic. Karl hated it when he couldn't do magic, even if it was small things like moving stars or twisting metal. It was now his past time. Some people liked to draw, some people liked to read, Karl preferred doing his magic, reading the ancient dark arts and practising them. But now he had no books and no ability.

He walked up and went to the bar and touched it lightly. What seemed like thousands upon thousands of electrical volts passed through him in that instant but he pulled his hands away. Obviously this was not going to be much use.

"Fuck it," he muttered under his breath.

"Yeah, I would've said the same thing."

Karl turned around. There she was. Karl swallowed slightly, knowing that this time would've come eventually. "Serpentine," he said. He marvelled at the extreme likeness, just as he did with his former wife. It was like looking at the live twin.

"But it's not you. Welcome, First, to my humble surroundings."

Serpentine walked towards the cage. "I am not amused," she told him. "Did you think that I would not hear, or even notice? I can see everything and I paid particular attention to you after Angel came in. I must admit, sugar, I'm a bit disappointed in you right. You girlfriend died whilst you tried to get away. You didn't look after her well."

Karl knew if he reached out to touch her he'd be electrocuted but that his hand would also pass right through her. "I know. And I'm so sorry." He snapped out of it and shook his head. This was not Serpentine. "I know why you are here. I can offer no explanation, no apology."

Serpentine nodded. "Good. I didn't want an explanation or apology because I know all of your reasons. You became weak. It's a shame, I was disappointed. I thought I could put my trust in you."

Karl backed away. "I didn't tell them everything."

"You told them about Lamithra. That alone is enough to destroy me and my ally. You would rather side with the forces of goodness than continue you dark roots. That's just a sign of weakness and I don't do weakness."

Karl felt the wall against his back. "I didn't tell them everything. I can still do the job if you help me out of here. I know where Angel is going. We can get to the boy before Angel does."

Serpentine shook her head. "Too late, sugar." Karl's muffled screams were not heard above in the lobby.