Now you know... centuries in the future, Angel is resurrected as a human (hence the Shanshu prophecy is fulfilled) and struggles to cope in a new and strange world. Other Jossverse characters will later make an appearance.
The story was written (or, at least, I started writing it) between Buffy Seasons 6 and 7. I've made no attempt to reconcile this story with the show, and this universe diverges from the Jossverse at that time.
Angel:
Okay, so here's where I am. I'm in an office building, quite nicely furnished. There's even a wooden table, which I've been told is quite expensive nowadays. As far as I can tell, I've been dead for, oh, several hundred years. Well I've been dead for longer, but it was several hundred years ago that I was staked – by Spike of all people. I don't really blame him. I'm a human, which is great – really – but my situation would be a whole lot better if these damn lawyers – a new version of Wolfram and Hart, if my guess is correct – would tell me what was going on. And why, of all people, they decided to raise me. All they've done so far is try to make me feel at home by isolating me in a room with items from the twentieth century. There's a CD player in the corner with one CD that keeps playing over and over. I wish I'd bothered to learn how to use them when I was still, well, undead. Then I might be able to turn the damn thing off. I swear I'm going to rip it off the wall if it starts over again.
There are two people talking just on the other side of the door. It's probably two of the lawyers that raised me – that sycophantic boy, Gene, and his whore, Simone. Maybe now I'll get some answers.
"Did you see the way he reacted? Took it all in his stride. Someone with that much willpower must be the one." They don't realise I can hear them.
"I keep telling you, it's not right. There's something about him… it just doesn't fit."
"Look, it'll be fine. We've got everything we need to get started, and once we're done you'll see I'm right." The door opens and I sit in the bean bag chair they've provided for me, silently cursing the man who invented it and pretending to be engrossed in the fascinating music.
"Angel? How are you?" I look up, a false smile on my face.
"Oh, I'm great. Being summoned in a cage and locked in a room for hours on end just makes me feel all warm inside. Not the blood flow thing, really."
"Sorry about that. I hope we provided enough entertainment to keep you amused?"
"Oh yeah, I'm a huge fan of technopop." The sarcasm is evidently lost on them. They both sit down on the desk.
"Good. Now I suppose you have questions? We'll be happy to answer them for you."
"Yeah, I've got a question. What the hell am I doing here?"
"There's a war going on, Angel, and ever since the End of Days…" So that's happened already huh? Guess I missed it "…our side's been losing."
"Our side?"
"Yes. The forces of darkness."
"Oh, of course. Continue."
"We need a Champion, Angel. We need someone to unite the minions of the First, to restore the balance. Frankly, we need you."
"Me? What do you know about me, anyway?"
"Well, the records of our predecessor, the so-called Wolfram & Hart" – thought so – "were largely lost during the End of Days. We've had to piece information together from other sources since then. We do know that in your brief time on the planet – 200 years we believe – you were more feared than any other vampire, almost more than any other demon. And you've killed a number of Slayers as well. So strong as well as ruthless." Slayers? When did I ever…?
"What Slayers… exactly… do you think I killed?"
"Uh, there was a Slayer in the Boxer Rebellion, China - no record of her name. The others were in California: Kendra, Buffy, Faith. All reported to have died by your hand." Now I know just how much information they've got… next to nothing. The other side of nothing, in fact. Spike killed the Slayer in the Boxer Rebellion. Drusilla killed Kendra. Buffy was very much alive when I was staked – I wonder what happened to her. And Faith… suddenly I remember. Yes, I remember Faith. Newly out of prison, expecting a welcoming face. Instead she found me, and before she knew what was happening, I drank her dry. Oh god… Then off to Sunnydale to seek out Buffy. Oh god… What did I do?
"So this is how I'm remembered, is it? As the Scourge of Europe?"
"Yes. Why? Is there something wrong?" How can I tell these people? They're the enemy, aren't they? Best to play along. Just for now.
"No… nothing's wrong." Suddenly they both get to their feet. I clamber off the bean bag chair.
"Good, because we've made arrangements." Now I'm nervous. What happened when Darla was brought back? They wouldn't…
"Arrangements?"
"To restore your power." Of course they would. I have to get out of here, get away from these people. And I have to do it very fast.
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Gene:
Just after I helped raise this awesome monster, I was on the most amazing high. The most vicious creature to have ever existed, according to some sources. Then I met him. I expected coldness, true, but the brooding took me by surprise. He's closed off, detached from everyone in our small office. Perhaps it's the weight of the soul now that he's human. I've heard that can be hard.
Well, if that's the case, we'll soon fix it. We've brought one of our clients in for a special favour. As soon as Jericho is done, we'll have the Scourge of Europe back again. And then the world will burn.
Still… his detachment worries me.
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Jericho:
I'm an old vampire, by modern standards, almost three hundred years old now. I was at the End of Days, I saw a lot of powerful vampires go to their deaths. But I have something they don't. I have a life outside of vampirism. I'm a part of the mortal world. So I've stayed alive by hiding, and these boys at BC&N have helped me blend. Now they want my help to turn an ancient vampire back into the killing machine he once was, to lead our 'people' into the world and crush the rest of the forces of good. I have misgivings about it, I don't mind telling you. But they've got a contract that they're so fond of waving in my face. They've done my dirty work, so now I have to do theirs. Still, I'm not comfortable with killing. It's so much easier to blend in when you don't leave a trail of bodies, and even though they tell me he won't be missed, I hesitate.
They have some people lead me to his room. Shit, there's actual wood in here. This guy must be important. I mean, I'm here, aren't I? I can smell the guy's fear. That's understandable - I'm just about to kill him. But there's something else as well, a musky odour I haven't smelt in a long time. This guy has honour, has nobility. And honour isn't just something you wake up with. Could this guy have been an honourable man even as a vampire? He's something else.
I lean in – they haven't even restrained him. Suddenly he bolts. Crap he's fast. He spins around, shatters the wooden table with a single blow and grabs a shard. Holding it high, he charges me aiming for the heart, but this time I'm ready for him. I catch his arm, aiming the improvised stake into the air. He's obviously done this before. Interesting. I cannot suppress a smile. Why does he resist so?
Just as I think I've won, and bend down to drink, he surprises me again. His fist piles into my chest and I fly backwards into the wall. As his figure disappears out of the door, all I can do is laugh. There's a new player in town. And I'm going to enjoy the challenge.
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Angel:
Okay, I know I haven't been human for quite some time, but I'm pretty certain that last time I couldn't destroy a heavy wooden table just by touching it, or throw a vampire across a room. What's happening to me?
No, no time to think, no time to just stand and watch this vampire pick himself up and try to bite me again. No, I have to get out of this building now before they realise what I've done and try to catch me. So I run, and I run and I run.
In seconds, I'm out of the building, which is surprising because I've just run down about a hundred flights of stairs, but I keep running. I have to get as far away from these lawyers as I can. So I keep running until I can't run any more.