Chapter 11

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Wesley was able to sneak into Wolfram and Hart, his tattoos made him invisible to their security cameras. He reached the basement, and if Fred's intel was correct the codes would unleash the "fail-safe." Whatever it was, Wesley had no delusions about surviving this. He did feel bad about the collateral damage, but Wolfram and Hart was institutionalized evil. A secretary might not be murdering people every day, but they helped make it possible ith their own work. For better or worse, this had to be done. Wesley entered the codes, and then Angel arrived. He was too late, and the senior partners never told Eve or any of them how to disarm this.

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Angel: Hello Wesley.

Wesley: Angel, you're a little late.

Angel: Yeah, I'm usually faster.

Wesley: It happens.

Angel: Let me see if I understand this, you came here to unleash this little monster, and kill us all.

Wesley: That about sums it up.

Angel: Not enough time to evacuate the building. You really going to let all of these people die?

Wesley: They made their choices, and so did you. You have about two minutes to make your peace.

Angel: Do you really think I can't make that two minutes hurt?

Wesley: I have no doubt that you can. But all I have to do is hold out.

Angel: You told Fred to stay away, you lied and said you could make it out in time.

Wesley: What's your point?

Angel: We found Fred, in the building. I couldn't evacuate her now if I wanted to.

Wesley: You're bluffing.

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Angel then handed Welsey a walkie, and heard Fred's voice.

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Wesley: Fred?

Fred: Yeah, I'm here.

Angel: Stop the countdown, or Fred dies too.

Fred: Don't! Wesley you said this was neccessary, you were willing to die to stop them. If you really believe this is neccessary, don't stop.

Angel: "Battle not with monsters lest ye become a monster. And if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." You wouldn't take the deal because you knew it would corrupt you. It looks like battling us has corrupted you, willing to kill a lot of people, the woman you love. I'm giving you one chance to walk away. Turn off the countdown, and I let you and Fred walk away.

Wesley: How do I know you'll keep your word?

Angel: You don't. But either you stop the countdown and maybe I let you both live. Or you don't, and we all die. Either way, are you willing to kill all of thos people?

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Wesley thought he was willing to do this, even to die himself. But perhaps Fred was just the last straw, for better or worse he disarmed the countdown.