Illyria felt the shell sting once again as cold metal managed to pierce her armour. These lower beings were starting to annoy. She launched herself at the four in front, creating a domino effect as they stumbled backwards into one another. Spinning, her fist reduced another demon's skull to ruins.

The violence she inflicted was no longer providing a sufficient enough distraction to the obscure pain she felt from within this fragile shell. The surface memories of the one they called Fred had begun to invade her thoughts. She did not like it.

As she landed a roundhouse kick squarely in yet another demon's face, Illyria spun again and sent another body flying. It amused her that she was now placed within a circle of bodies, the demon blood and internal organs making the ground slick as it mixed with the rain. Illyria kept her balance easily, watching each enemy scramble over its fallen comrades as it attempted to attack.

One by one, she picked them off. From Fred's memories, a song passed through her mind and Illyria cocked her head to one side, wondering why ten green bottles were suddenly in her thoughts. The distraction gave the enormous demon barrelling through the crowd a split second to land a vicious blow. Illyria was floored, her eyes flaring with anger.

If only she had her full power, she would make this entire army fall to bended knee and worship her like so many before. Instead, she was left attempting to prevent the enormous axe from being buried in her head. She flipped to her feet, dodging blows as she tore the axe from the demon - complete with it's right arm - and swiftly decapitated it.

Illyria could no longer see Gunn nor Angel. Warriors both, she felt another pang deep in her gut. She had no grief left. Wesley had taken it all. She swung the axe and kept fighting. The distraction of the hordes from Hell was not much, but right then it was all she had.

oooOOOooo

Connor came to a sudden stop at least a block from where the battle seemed to be raging. Between him and his father were rows and rows of police cars, their occupants all surging forward in a misguided attempt to stop the legions of hell.

Knowing that he'd never get past them, Connor veered into a nearby alley. Jumping on top of a dumpster, he easily flung himself the ten feet up to the fire escape. Scrambling up the side of the ladders, he was soon on the roof.

Running along the building edge, Connor felt his heart racing as he sped toward the sounds of war. Passing the police charging forward to certain death below, the first real tinges of fear began to grip at his belly.

Finally, he was looking down at the alley. The scene was incredible, in the most horrific sense of the word.

Demons of all shapes and sizes were pouring out of a giant chasm in the ground, clawing over one another to surge down the tight confines of the alley. Growls, howls and screams emanated from below, accompanied by the foul stench of sulphur.

Connor gagged, frozen to the spot as he watched the Senior Partners' revenge spreading outwards. The police - despite their numbers and their guns - were no match for the army they were facing and were quickly overpowered. The demons charged over their bodies, like an ocean wave crashing on to the shore.

He knew they would never stop, they would never end, not unless…

Connor's eyes scanned the mayhem below, searching for some hint of his father. He could not seen anything through the haze of smoke and ash, coming from the fires littered around the scene.

He crouched on the edge of the building and dropped down on to the fire escape, pausing above the battle below. The fear was almost overwhelming him now and he swallowed hard, closing his eyes.

What the hell was he thinking? Yes, he could kind of remember the person he was before Angel let some guy do the mojo on his memories, but did he really think he could do this? This was deep blue hero stuff and he was just a kid.

Connor opened his eyes and surveyed the scene. He nodded to himself, knowing that he had to do something. Swallowing back the fear, he launched himself off the building and in to the fracas below, praying that he'd somehow get through it.

oooOOOooo

Buffy was leaning over Lorne, invading his space with her menacing glare.

"What do you mean we're too late?"

Lorne raised his hands in defence as he looked back up at the Slayer, understanding her pain.

"I mean, people have died for this Buffy. Ever thought of, I don't know, not shooting the messenger? Or running him through with a sword…"

Buffy shot him a withering look as she spun on her heel to face Willow.

"We've got to get to Los Angeles. Now. We have to stop this."

A frown creased Willow's features as she shook her heads.

"Buffy, no, I mean, I know what you want me to do, but I can't just teleport you there. It's really a one-Willow trip... Speaking of, how did you get here? If you were with Angel and everyone, how did you get here so fast?"

Behind her, Giles made a strange noise. The other three turned to look at him, eyebrows raised, but the Watcher no longer seemed with them. He was murmuring under his breath, seemingly having a conversation with himself. Buffy glanced at Willow but she could only return a fellow look of confusion. Lorne's voice pulled them back to the problem at hand.

"If I may? English over here is whipping up some major mystic woo woo to get you folks to the other side of the world, and that's great, seeing as it's the same message I got from the same old friend, but I need you to deliver a message for me."

Buffy frowned.

"You mean Giles is… What's the message and who's it for?"

"Angel."

Buffy's eyes widened.

"But you said we were too late."

"It is. Angel died. But there's someone watching over him. You of all people should know that no-one stays dead for long round here, especially those who are already dead in the first place. Does anyone else find that whole concept both confusing and a little weird, kinda like how they get the pimentos in the olives…"

He trailed off under the weight of both Buffy and Willow's stares.

"Just tell him Lindsey's gone, and I did what he asked. That and I came to help you. Oh, and that his signed copy of 'Songs for the Love Lorne' is in the mail to replace the other one that disappeared so mysteriously. But right now, you best get a listening cos the big guys about to help you out."

Giles' slammed his fist in to the table, a mixed expression of glee and confusion on his face. Willow's nose twitched.

"Lorne's right, he's working some big mojo."

She turned to ask the green guy what was going on but all that was left was an empty chair. Instead, Willow took a nervous step towards the former librarian.

"Giles? You ok?"

Buffy watched nervously as her former Watcher gesticulated wildy, his words jumbling together in the race to leave his lips. Suddenly, his eyes went wide and he swayed there a moment, letting out the longest sigh either girl had ever heard, before collapsing into the chair.

The girls rushed to his side, concern etched on their faces. Giles blinked rapidly and shakingly removed his glasses to polish. He focused on his two girls and smiled weakly.

"I know how we can get there. Oh, and Wesley says hello."