Episode 10, Fading Away
Written by Greg D’Angelo

Scene 1:

Ilyria stands before some wierd plants, and in the background we see Angel and Connor with the strange man. "It seems I will never regain my power over time, but I can hear your voices again." She walks through a forest like place, and all the plants reach out and touch her as she passes by. They are almost joyous to hear her words.

The man starts to walk, and the 2 heroes follow him. "Wait," says Connor. "Who are you?" "I am Shaktus, messenger of The powers." "The powers that be," Angel says somewhat suprised. "They sent you to tell us a warning? Who would be mad that we defeated Wolfram And Hart?" the man looks back to Angel with a sly smile and says "like you don’t know!"

"Of course we know they have alot of employes, and they will be disappointed to lose their evil jobs," says Connor. The man just shakes his head. Angel moves toward him, thinking of grabbing him, but he moves away. You truly don’t understand, do you? You mortal types have such a limited perception." "Perception of what?" Angel asks demandingly. "All I hear is the ranting of an old man on speed." The old man just laughs. He laughs not wickedly but in a light manner. "OK," Connor says trying to take control. "Why not just tell us what is going on?" "Oh I will. That is in fact why I was sent here," says Shaktus. "The ones that you have just angered so are The Powers That Be!"

*Opening Credits*

Scene 2:

"That’s not possible," says Angel. Shaktus just laughs some more. "This man is insane," says Connor. We should go!" "Yes, you shall go," says Shaktus. "Go to The Powers and beg forgiveness for your meddling. Angel looks ready to kill the guy, while Connor just shakes his head, and signals the guy is insane. Shaktus who has his back to Connor turns and says "I am not insane!" "This doesn’t make sense. The Powers picked me as their champion to fight evil, why would they be angry at me for completing the mission?"

Shaktus grabs Angel by the shirt. "When did they ever tell you to kill them?" Angel tries to push him away, but cannot. "Did they ever tell you that the war needed to be won? You yourself said that maybe they weren’t meant to be beaten but fought. That was your own words, and you were right!" "Speaking of The Powers telling me what to do, when did they ever tell me anything? All they ever did was sit on their asses, and give cryptic messages."

"Arogant fool!" states Shaktus as he throws Angel a few feet away. Angel immediately springs back onto his feet, and Connor moves in. Shaktus looks at Connor, and hen back to Angel. He moves backward, almost as if he was floating. "It is not my place to deliver devine justice, only the message. He puts his hand out, and a road semingly paved of gold appears. "Follow the path to your new destiny," he says and fades.

Scene 3:

"Do we?" asks Connor. Angel nods & begins walking down the path. The two walk for a while, and it feels forever. "Are we going the right way?" "I don’t know," Angel replies. "Is this a trap then?" "Maybe." A flowing light appears around them, and a familair voice is heard. "Stop where you are!" Connor & Angel look at each other. "Who goes there?" asks Connor. "A friend," says the voice as the light begins to form a person. It takes the shape of Cordelia.

"Hi guys." "C - Cordelia!" says Connor in shock. "Are you really Cordy?" asks Asks Angel "Of course I am, duh!" "You don’t smell like Cordy." "Duh, my body is gone. I’m all spirit now." "So how do we know?" "You have to trust me," she says, putting a hand on each of them. "I do," says Connor. "So do I," adds Angel.

"Good, now I need you to listen to me." "Another message?" asks Connor a bit disturbed. "Of course, you are with The Powers now," says Angel. "Yes, but it’s not like that. "so why are you here now then?" asks Angel. "I’m here to beg you not to do, what I know you’re going to do."

"We’re going to do what we have to do!" says Angel, half proud & half stuck in the loop. "No, there is always a choice," Cordy replies. "And I’m asking you to make the right one." "What do you mean?" asks Connor. "You can’t do it, it’s not possible." "What?" asks both Connor & Angel. "Don’t give me that Angel. I know you to well, you think to go kill The Powers. Just like you did to the senior partners. Which almost got you kill, if not for your demon friend!" Cordy replies, and she sounds a bit disgusted when she says the words ‘demon friend.’

"We did what we thought would make the world a better place," says Angel. "Plus they were trying to kill us," adds Connor. "I would expect this attitude from him, but you Connor?" "I don’t think I had much of a choice, I did what I did as always, to deal with the life I was given. I’m not saying it was the best choice, now or ever, but it got me through." Angel steps near his son, and adds to that "the one thing I can say, is that my son always did what he thought was right."

"Will you at least hear me out?" pleads Cordy. "No!" says Angel. "Wow, I didn’t expect that." Cordelia says a bit shocked. "He’s joking," says Connor. "Of course will listen. "No we won’t." Connor & Cordy both stait at Angel in shock. "You’re opinion is one sided, just as our is. You have no idea what it is like to be a human, to live on Earth now, with demon from Wolfram And Hart roaming the streets in search of us, that will kill anyone to get to us. You were once human, have you forgotten?"

"I did not!" she snaps back. "I have just learnt other ways of dealing with evil." What the sit on your ass & send someone else mind slipping head aches to do your job way?" says Angel somewhat pissed. "I see it’s been hard for you. You still miss me, and can’t understand why I left." "Oh I do! I do understand why you left, I just don’t any of the pay off." "How can you say that, remember when I told you where The Circle Of The Black Thorn was? Which, may I remind you, that you killed them all!" "Yes, and for what? The senior partners still had enough minions to send an army after us. An army that crippled Gunn, and char broiled Spike!" "You don’t even like Spike, and Gunn has a great life now. He’s making how much as a lawyer?" "Have you changed at all, you sound more like Cordelia in high school, and what about Wesley, did you forget he died in my stupid plan to take out The Black Thorn?" "There are always sacrifices." "Sacrifices? He was our friend!"

"Alright!" yells Connor. "This trip down memory lane is getting us no where. However, we will hear you out before we make a decision." "Wow," says Cordy quite suprised at Connor’s change of personality. "What did you do to him?" "I’ve had time to grow." "See, things do work out, even if they don’t acording to the plans we make in our mortal minds." "Don’t go there!" says Angel. "Are you saying you are not happy with te way things turned out, that you would change things." "Happy? Yes. Perefectly? No. And if your going to give me line about how The Powers couldn't see that Sahjhan was trying to kill my son, or couldn’t do anything then you’re a liar! But I know you won’t do that. The one thing you won’t do is lie! You’ll say the blunt truth, no matter how much it hurts." "You’re right there. We work in mysterious ways here." "So are you saying I was meant to grow up in Quor-toth?" "I don’t know," says Cordy. "I don’t know everything." "So what do you know?" asks Connor. "I do know that despite being raised in a bad place by man who lost his sense of good, you are still a good person. I also know that you can’t fight The Powers, they are what they are, and that is that. They will not kill you . . . if you do as they say." With that Cordy begins to fade. "Cordy," says Angel, reaching out. "Wait." "Trust me," she says as she fades completely.

Scene 4:

Connor & Angel just stair out in shock for a moment, then turn to each other. "Do we go on?" Connor asks. "Yeah, it’s our destiny." Says Angel. The two continue, but Angel stops. "Whatever happens," he says. "It’s going to be alright." Connor nods. "We can handle it," says Angel. "I know," replies Connor. The two then continue down the road of fate.

Scene 5:

The two are continuing down the road, and are a bit weary, as it goes on quite a while (like say forever). They see a house, not a big place, just a humble little hut. They both stop, and Connor asks "is this where we’re headed?" Angel shrugs, and replies "let’s find out."

They walk over to the hut, and Angel knocks. A hooded figure opens the door and says, "may I help you?" in an old female voice. "Sorry to bother you, but we’re looking for . . . The Powers That Be." "Of course you are, you’ll find nothing else on this path." "So, um, are you . . ." Angel begins, but doesn’t quite know how to finish the question. "You mean am I a Power," says the woman. Angel nods. "Oh no, but I was . . . I think, it’s been so long living here. Atleast it feels that way. I’ve not been here all my life, just recently. Before I was a traveler."

"Like us?" says Connor trying to make pleasant conversation. The woman smiles, she has a bright smile, which almost shines from under the hood. "Oh no, I was quite different then you young fellows." She walks over to her stove and asks, "would you like some tea."

"No thanks," says Angel, perhaps a bit to nervously. "We don’t want to impose, and must be going." "It’s alright, we can stay a few minutes," says Connor. The lady nods, and grabs the pot. She pours 3 cups, and brings them to the table. Angel & Connor are a bit suprised at how this old lady can manage it by herself, but do not say anything.

She sits, and they each take a cup. Connor puts the cup to his mouth, but stops to smell it, and then takes a sip. Angel sees, and smiles. He drinks his tea as well. "You don’t trust me?" says the lady. Angel and Connor both seem confused. "I saw you stop, not knowing to drink the tea or not. I would not poison you, it is not so often I get visitors."

"Where we come from, we have saying; never take things from strangers." says Angel. "In that you are right, in truth I did not expect you to join me for tea." "I’m sorry," says Connor. "But why do I feel that you are not letting us onto something." "Because I am holding back." because I do not know how you will react." "Trust us, we’re very accepting." says Angel. "Yeah, we’re strange people ourselves," adds Connor. "It’s not that," she begins. "It’s just . . . "she stops in the middle of her sentence, and risses. "It’s that we know each other," she says with a different voice, and one that is recognizable. She pulls back the head, and we see Jasmin. Angel & Connor are in shock, and stumble back, as they rise from their chairs.

Scene 6:

"See? That’s what I meant. You have nothing to fear from me." "So you’re not, going to kill us?" asks Angel tentatively. "Of course not, I have no desire to hurt you . . . not anymore. "And you expect us to what?" says Angel, not know what to say or do. "I expect you to do as you were going to. Go down the path of fate, and meet with the other Powers." "So you are a power," says Connor. "I was, but then I disobeyed them, and well, you know that story. So the others took away my full power & put me here, they are watching us right now." Connor seems somewhat nerved by the thought of being watched.

Jasmin looks at Angel, "I am truly sorry for what I did, I wish to thank you both for stopping me." "You ate people, and all you can say is sorry?!" says Angel. "Yes," replies Jasmin. "I can never take back what I’ve done. I can only sit here in my prison & contemplate it." "You don’t earn redemption by thought alone," says Angel.

"True," relies Jasmin, "but we cannot interact with humans on their world. The only way we can only sustain our form on that plain of existance, is to feed on human flesh." Connor & Angel are a bit shocked at her words, but also are somewhat unsuprised at her explainations. "I know I seem calm about the horrors to you humans, however it takes millenniums to become as one such as I have." "Why do you call us humans? I am not," says Angel. "Cause you both have the minds of humans, even with however different you’re bodies may be."

"Wait," says Connor. "are you saying my body isn’t human?" "Do you really wish to now these answers you seek?" "That I do." "Then let us sit down, and I shall reveal it to you."

They all sit, and Jasmin begins her tail. "Long ago, we who you know as ‘The Powers That Be,’ created the universe. What we really are is just that, we are powers, forces of nature. We are by your standards; gods. "So where do I fit into the plans of the gods?" "Well specifically, you were part of my plans . . . as well as part of his destiny." "The Shanshu?" sasy Angel. "Wait . . . you mean I was to become human by having a child?" "Yes and no." "While it is true that Connor was part of you destiny, he is not your Shanshu. Connor was made to bring me into your world. To put it simply, I made Connor. I took the best genetics that I saw in people, and put them in Darla’s womb. I then put a spell to give Connor the strength that his parents had, even though his body is that of a human."

"So, that kind of - makes you . . . my mother." "By some standards; yes. But by others, I was just doing what a god might do." "Somehow I feel that is just the tip of the iceberg," says Angel. "You are right, to sum up the rest of this long story, the senior partners heard of what I was going to do, and tried to use Connor to get you to work for them. Remember all those things they did when Connor was a baby?" Angel nods. "Well just imagine if they had got their hands on him, would it be fair to say that you would have done anything they said to keep him safe?" "Hell yeah!" "And then when you realized what damage had been done to Connor’s mind with a childhood in hell, you did work for Wolfram And Hart to give him a new life." "You’re saying that was destined?" "It was part of the 'prophecies of Abersion.' About what side you would be on in the apocalypse. As it turns out you were a force for good, but you did work for the force of evil." "This is more insane then I ever knew," says Angel.

"Unfortunately for all of us, there was another force at work, that of a demon who was the last of his kind. For some reason, Connor was supposed to meet this demon and kill him." "Sahjhan," says Angel. "I did kill him," adds Connor. Jasmin nods, that you did. However, it did not have to happen. Sahjhan made it so." "Sounds like a greek tragedy," jokes Angel. "So had he not sent me to Quar-Toth, I would not have needed to kill him." "Yes, but he made an enemy of Angel when he tried to kill you Connor, so he became your enemy. Ironically, had he just came to you & asked you not to kill him, would you now have agreed?" "Connor nods. "The last point I need to tell you, is that it was Wolfram And Hart who told him what would happen. Using his time shifting ability, he was able to see that it was true; Connor would kill him. Though once he started to mess with things, the time & place changed. They played him for a fool, giving him a spell that could open a portal to Quar-Toth once. They told him that it would kill any human, but they lied." "Now it makes sense, it all makes sense." Angel says in shock at all he has heard. "Yeah," says Connor. "What we are is puppets." "That is true," replies Jasmin." We gods of both sides play people to our own ends & means, without any care for what it does to you."

The 3 sit there, holding their tea cups. Finally Angel gets up. "Shall we go, I want to give some Powers a piece of my mind. Connor nods, and risses. "Whatever happens . . . good luck." Angel turns to Jasmin, with a mixed look of confusion & gratitude, and says "thank you." Connor opens his mouth, but the words cannot come out. "You’re both welcome," she says. With that the two heroes turn and leave.

Scene 7:

Angel and Connor walk out of Jasmin’s hut. Angel looks a bit disturbed, while Connor seems serene. Angel begins to walk, and Connor runs up to him. "Hey, wait up." Angel turns to his companion. "It’s not easy top hear what we just did, but we needed to." "You needed to, what I just heard made everything that was worth while, everything that we’ve built seem like nothing." No," replies Connor. "What we heard on there means nothing. As far as I’m concerned you are my father, you’re the one who raised me . . . . or at least wanted to. Do you love me any less now?" Angel shakes his head. "Then all that’s changed is that I am like an adopted son, and not one by blood."

The two walk back down the road, and pretty soon come to a rocky area. Up ahead they see a ring of stones that is very similar to ‘Stone Henge,’ and instinctively walk towards it. They walk in the middle, and look around. "I feel something," says Connor. "This must be the place." Suddenly, the stones grow & seal them in. They move close together, and await whatever happens. Five of the stones start to shake, and familiar figures step out from them.

It’s The Powers, but they have the appearances of The Master, The Beast, Sahjhan, Darla and Buffy. "Welcome," says the one that looks like Darla. "Are you ready?" "Ready for what. "To fix your mistake," says the one that looks like The Beast. "Yes, we will give you a chance to rewrite today, when you foolishly killed our friends at Wolfram And Hart." says the one that looks like Sahjhan.

"And you need us for that why? I thought you were all powerful." "By your perspective we are," says the one which looks like Darla. "However, you are the worker, it is your job to do as we wish." "So you want us to go back, and stop ourselves from killing the wolf, the ram, & he hart?" asks Connor. "That’s the idea," says the one which looks like Buffy. "Angel is familiar with our time rewritting."

Scene 8:

"No, we will not change what happened!" Angel says with bravado. "If it means that much to you, then get off your lazy asses and do it yourselves. The Powers are outraged, and their faces show it. "Then die!" says The Power which looks like The Master. "No," says the one which looks like Buffy. "We shall kill his son, that will hurt more." She puts her hand out, and Connor begins to float. He puts his hands on his throat, as if to stop hands from choaking him.

Angel runs toward her, and hits one as he passes by. He gets to the Buffy shaped entity, and hits her in the face. It has no effect, but she drops Connor. Angel gets up, and runs in front of Connor. "Your fight is with me, leave my son out of this!" "Your son? You know well enough by now that he is not your son." "It’s a matter of perspective," says Connor.

The Powers slowly walk towards them, and they burst out too attack. Connor lays a few punches on The Master entity, but it is completely unphased. Angel tries a punch & kick combination on The Beast entity, but has the same luck as Connor. Both Powers wave their hands and the two go flying, and hit the stones. Both are in pain, and have nose bleeds, but get up.

Angel makes a vampire face, and turns into the green horned creature. He uses vampire speed and runs to the Sahjhan entity, and bites into it’s neck. However, it just vanishes, and reappears somewhere else.

Connor runs towards the Buffy entity, and makes like he is going to kick her, but spins around and punches the Darla one who falls. He drops down, and punches at her, but she vanishes. He gets up, and turns, just in time to block a punch from the one who looks like Buffy. He retaliates with his own punch to her face, but on contact she melts, and her face grabs his hand. She then grabs him and throws him back into the stone ring.

Angel stands looking at these beings of unstoppable power, he charges at one who looks like The Beast, but does a fake out, and jump kicks The Master look alike. Angel’s foot hits it in the chest, and he bounces off as if he hit a rubber wall.

The one who looks like Darla appears behind Angel, and grabs him. Some of the others punch him, and Connor runs over. He tries to pull Angel out of the brawl, but gets caught up in it. Together, they push their way out, and look really bad. "Really did you think you could fight us? "Says The Beast. "Give up, and we may let you live."

"If you wish us to live, then let us." says Angel. "But we are not working for you." "Why do you fight when you cannot win? asks the one which looks like Buffy. "As my son told the senior partners, we fight for freedom.""Where we come from, we believe one should live free or die." "And so you shall," says the Buffy entity. The Powers move in for the kill, and surrounding Angel & Connor.

Scene 9:

Both bear a concerned look, knowing the end is near, but they refuse to give in. Angel steps forward, and punches at Buffy. She blocks and delivers a back hand slap, that stuns him. He moves back in a daze, and bumps into The Master impersonator. It growls, and slowly moves for an attack. However Angel is faster, and does a headbutt. Which turns out a mistake, as Angel nearly passes out, and The Power is not affected at all. "This is your doing!" says The Power under th guise of The Maser. "The universe needs both good and evil. Now we are forced to play both roles!" "I beg to differ. We want a world free of evil!"

Connor stands waiting for the ones that look like The Beast & Sahjhan to attack him, but they don’t. "You’re waiting for me, why?" he asks, but recieves no answer. He looks over at Angel, and sees The master punching him. Angel manages to block a punch and retreats back to Connor’s side.

Angel sees how close The Beast & Sahjhan are, and runs over to attack. This time he is clever. He attacks, but knows their counters, and blocks them. Still, he can’t do any damage. "Dad," says Connor. Angel glances over at Connor, but turns back to see The Powers drawing near. He punches The Beast, and blocks it’s counter punch. Sahjhan kicks him, and he falls, and reverts to human form. Still, Angel is quickly back on his feet, and goes back to meet The Powers. Connor however, just stands there, as if he’s given up. Angel sees this and looks at his son concerned, as some Powers are near him. He turns and punches Sahjhan, who is unphased. "Dad! Stop . . . don’t fight anymore."

Angel looks confused, but does as Connor says. "So this is it then, we really can’t win?" "No," says Connor. "They can’t kill us, they can’t even hurt us at all. They can only make us think that they hurt us." Angel turns and looks at Connor, and sees he has no damages on his face. The damage on Angel’s face just disappears, and he touches his face, not in doubt but to feel it.

"How did you . . ." he asks Connor. "It’s not me, it’s them. They're incorporeal, and can't touch us." "So they can’t do anything?" "No, not without our help.." "Damn you," says the one which looks like Darla." And damn that fool of us who made you." Connor just smiles & nods.

"That’s why they need us so much," says Connor. "Because they can’t do anything . . . except illusions. "What about Jasmin?" "That’s why she had to become human, otherwise she’d have been a powerless ghost."

"So what do we do now?" asks Angel. "Now? Now we go home and we stop believing in them. Our gods only have power over us if we let them. Angel pats his son on the back, and we see The Powers That Be fading away.

"How did you know?" "I’m not sure, but I dreamt it once. I suppose I am connected to them, and somehow knew there weakness." "Wait, connected. You’re one of them, aren’t you?" "Well, not exactly. I have only some of their abilities & knowledge, but that is why I had the dream." Angel gives a sigh of relief.

"So, are you ready to go home." "I feel like I’ve been waiting to long," replies Connor. They both smile, and Connor puts out his hands. The stone ring around them glows, the ground they stand on turns into a portal, and they fall in.

Scene 10:

Connor & Angel are back on Earth. However something is wrong, the ground is shaking, and people on the street look confused & scared. "What? What is happening. I thought we went to make the world better?" "We did," says Connor. "The world is changing to adjust to a new life without gods, of both evil & good."

Scene 11:

We see a picture of a church, and the cross disappears. Inside, the pastor is on the floor crying. We see a synagogue, where the star of David melts away. The Rabbi’s jaw drops. Inside a courtroom, a man sits doing paper work. He looks up & sees his plague of the 10 commandments crumbling. In a dark room with a pentagram on the floor, a man is ready to sacrifice a goat, but the pentagram disappears. Some young girls in their wiccan coven are reading a book, and they see the words go away. Some people are in a Hindu temple, and are praying before a statue with many arms. It begins to crack, then the whole thing exploads. The shocked people all turn & cover up in fear, but the fragments fade to nothing before making contact.

Scene 12:

"Did we do what’s right?" asks Angel. "Yeah, I think people are strong enough to take care for themselves. It’s time they moved on. "Still, it won’t be easy. I wish there was something I could do to help them." "I don't think we can, this is something they each must deal with in their own way."

"Oh my god," says Angel. "Your what?" jokes Connor. Angel chuckles. "I was so in shock about the change, that I didn’t even notice the sun is coming out. Connor puts a hand on Angel’s chest. "And you’re hearts beating as well." "I’m - I’m alive - and human." "Of course, without gods there is no such thing as magic and vampires or demons."

We see some images of vampires in other places being instantly dusted, even though they are inside. And some demons are shown melting into green, black & yellow oozes.

"I would have thought . . ." Angel begins but stops, and just looks up at the sky. "You thought you would just fade away with the rest of the demons?" Angel turns back, and nods. "You have a human soul, and as long as you hold onto that, you can live as one. Of course the down side is both of us no longer have super strength, nor will any of the slayers." "No, that’s not a bad thing." Angel replies. "We no longer need those powers."

"You know what you said about wanting to help people?" "Yeah." "Well that might be a good idea, people will need some guidance in these tough new times." Angel nods, and replies "that sounds like alot of work, we’d best get started." Both our heroes smile, and walk off to face the wondrous new world.

-The End?-

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