From Chapter 8:
Switch perspective to Spike approaching Angel’s office. As he barges through the door, he sees Angel looking irritated, hands on his desk, shaking his head. Wesley has just finished telling him about the pregnancy. Spike doesn’t wait for either of them to speak.
Spike: “Something really freaky is going on. I think it has something to do with Deth and me.”
Angel just snaps back at him.
Angel: “Do you have to do EVERYTHING I do? Seriously, everything? You really need to get your own life because this is getting ridiculous.”
Spike: [totally confused, annoyed at the attack] “What?”
After a cautionary look from Wesley, Angel lets out a deep sigh and glances up at the ceiling like he does when he’s annoyed.
Angel: [grouchy, petulant] “Nevermind.”
***
Chapter 9
Scene 1: Angel’s office. A few minutes later...
Angel: [sarcastic, annoyed tone] “Congratulations, Spike. You knocked up demon girl. Perfect timing, too—just when things are starting to cook again.”
Angel is referring to a recent increase in demonic activity around town, keeping everyone at W&H on their toes. Gunn walks in, catching just the last part of Angel’s comment.”
Gunn: “Looks like we’re officially out of the lull and headin’ full throttle into the storm.”
He tosses a file folder on Angel’s desk.
Gunn: “We’re getting calls from all sides—law suits, territory disputes, massive trafficking of idols, charms and demonic artifacts. Nothin’ really out there, but it’s like everyone’s makin’ up for lost time.”
Spike: [to Wes] “Does she know?”
Wesley: “She’s knows it’s a possibility. In fact, all we have a the moment is Illyria’s assertion.”
Gunn: “Assertion about what?”
Angel: “Deth’s pregnant.”
Gunn: [reflexive smile, optimism] “Yeah? That’s Gr...[glancing at Spike, he’s struck by the reality of the situation and his smile disappears]...surprising, and probably not...[not finishing] Man, I never know how to react around here.”
Spike: [matter of fact] “It’s mine.”
Gunn: “Yeah? Congratulations. [The smile is back for an instant, but then quickly disappears.] Or not. I’m guessing y’all’ve already covered the ‘that’s impossible’ part of this discussion, right?”
Spike: [to everyone] “Like I said before, word’s out. The whole bloody bar seemed to know.”
Angel: “That can’t be good.”
Gunn: “Impossible pregnancies rarely are.”
Wesley: [to Spike] “What was the context—did you get a feel for their reaction?”
Spike: “Oh they were happy as Larry, for sure. All but lifted me up on their bloody shoulders.”
Wesley: [curious frown] “Interesting.”
Angel: [more concerned now] “I’m getting a bad feeling about this. Well, more bad. [correcting himself] Worse. [to Wes] I think you’d better tell us what you know.”
Wesley: “I don’t want to sound alarmist, but this pregnancy could be of great significance. Based on the information I’ve been able to gather so far, it is likely neither a random nor accidental event.”
Spike: [a touch defensive] “What do you mean?”
Wesley: “I have plenty of research left to do, but I believe we must consider everything that has happened in the past few months—maybe years—to be related to Deth’s condition. The references to Novaszi uniformly involve discussions of a new era—the coming of a new age. The name itself is based on demonic roots meaning ‘new life’.”
Angel: [running his hand over his face, as one would do if exhausted] “Aw, Jesus. So you’re telling me that the quiet, pleasant, if slightly odd girl that you talked me into hiring is actually the bringer of the next apocalypse?”
Gunn: “She’s been sitting here, under our noses the whole time we’ve been bustin’ our asses chasing down every other crumb down the apocalyptic trail-of-horrors. Damn.”
Spike: [frowning, skeptical] “Maybe. But you can’t think she knows about any of this.”
Wesley: [shrugging] “We can’t say for sure. We have given her almost full access around here.”
Angel: “The perfect vantage point.”
Gunn: “She’s got names, contact info—she sat in on most of our negotiations with just about every demon clan around the city. Who knows what she could do with all that.”
Spike: “You’re serious? Come on. Did you see her face when Dr. Whatshisface let the cat out of the bag downstairs?”
Wesley: “She’s not exactly easy to read.”
This is met with agreement from everyone.
Spike: [frustrated] “’s cause you never look at her.”
Though in truth, he’s feeling a bit guilty because he hadn’t bothered to look for her expression when she heard the news either—he was too caught up in his own anger.
Angel: [skeptical] “Like you’re such a good judge of character.”
Spike: “Bloody well right I am.”
Angel actually finds himself backing off of his knee jerk antagonistic response—Spike always has been annoyingly perceptive.
Angel: [more respectful] “You know her better than any of us. What do you think? Honestly. Shagging aside.” [He couldn’t stop himself from throwing that one in.]
Spike: [Pleased to be getting some credit. Without skipping a beat.] “She’s just a girl. She has no idea.”
There is a brief silence in the room as his words settle in. Spike knew before uttering the words that the first of his statements was not entirely true. He hadn’t decided on the second, but he’s careful to not let the others see even a hint of doubt.
Angel: [nodding] “Ok. So we work on the assumption that she doesn’t know anything. Wesley, get back to the books. I want a full report yesterday. Gunn, get on the phone with some of the clients Deth has interacted the most with—see if they know anything.”
Gunn: “I’m on it”
He leaves the room.
Wesley: “Angel, could I speak with you a moment?”
Wes walks over to Angel and says something quietly.
Angel: “In the meantime, I think it makes sense to keep Deth here for observation. At least until we know more. Spike, I need to know that we’re on the same page with this. It’s best for everyone if she stays here. You get that, right?”
Spike: [narrowing his eyes, brisling slightly] “Sure. Whatever you say, boss.”
Angel keeps a steady expression, despite Spike’s tone.
Angel: “Good.”
Spike: “Good.”
Wesley: “Spike, can I ask that you hold off visiting Deth for a couple of hours. I’d like to work through a couple more references before I bring her up to speed on the situation. And I may have some questions for you.”
Spike just nods. In truth, he had already decided to hold off seeing her. He needed some time to think.
**
Scene 2: Wesley’s office.
A couple of hours had turned into 24. Wesley is rummaging around his office with the nervous enthusiasm he used to feel when researching a mystery—a feeling that had recently eluded him. He has just summoned Spike and is awaiting his arrival.
Spike walks through the door.
Wesley: “Spike. Thanks for getting here so quickly.”
Spike notices the slight tremor in Wesley’s hands.
Spike: “Feeling alright, Perce? You look a bit shaky—time for a drink, maybe.”
Wesley: [self consciously steadying his hands] “Yes, well, can’t risk the alcohol interfering with my memory. There’s a powerful spell on all of these texts that makes them impossible to duplicate or even transcribe the information therein. [pointing to his head] I have to keep it all up here.”
Spike: “Good luck with that. [a bit of serious concern/empathy] The shakes will go in a day or two.”
Wesley just nods.
Wesley: “I want to show you something.”
He indicates a television screen in front of his desk. He points a remote control at it and it begins playing.
Wesley: “It’s the surveillance tapes from the Halloween Party.”
Spike frowns as he looks at the images—all black and white and somewhat grainy. He smiles when he catches a glimpse of Deth walking by the camera, all decked out, on her way in to the party. Ah, that was a good night. He wonders if there’s a tape of them in Angel’s office—he wouldn’t mind reviewing that one.
Wesley pauses the DVD and rewinds to stop at the image of Deth with her back to the camera.
Wesley: “Those markings on her back—are they tattoos?”
Spike: “Henna. Temporary.”
Wesley: “Did she tell you what they mean?”
Spike: [searching his memory---his focus that evening was not on conversation] “Think she said she’d just made it up—maybe saw it in a dream or something. Don’t remember exactly.”
Wesley shows him a drawing in a book with the exact same pattern.
Wesley: “Fertility symbols—a combination of various demon glyphs to promote conception.”
Spike: [shrugging] “She must’ve seen the picture here and it stuck in her mind—had a dream about it.”
Wesley: “Perhaps. A bit of a coincidence.”
Spike: [pointed, challenging] “Yeah, I guess so.”
Angel walks through the door.
Angel: “You have something for me?”
Wesley: “I’ve made some progress, yes. “
Angel: “Let’s have it.”
Wesley: “I’m still working on the significance of all this, but I have some insight into the details of the pregnancy at least. The Novaszi is a human female who has the ability to breed with demons—to create a hybrid—an entirely new being. It is unclear how or why, but there are prophesies in at least twenty different demonic texts of the existence of such a being.”
Spike: “Is she the only one?”
Wesley: “From what I understand, there is only one. But I have found hints that there may have been others in the past.”
Angel: “So where are the hybrids?”
Wesley: “It would seem that there are none. And once one is produced, there will be no more Novaszi.”
Spike: “So I guess this is kind of a big deal.”
Wesley: “It’s fascinating to find such congruence from such a diversity of sources. I’m beginning to suspect that this is part of an ancient religion of sorts that crosses typical species barriers. In any event, this pregnancy is of great significance and the offspring considered a messiah of sorts.”
Angel: “A messiah?”
Wesley: “I should mention that this is all only suggestive—it is the reverence with which this offspring is referred to in the texts that led me to use that term. Thus far, I have found no prophesy describing the actual significance or ultimate purpose of the being. Only that it’s existence may lead to some sort of grand unification. Or great chaos—the translation of that last bit was a bit tricky.”
Angel: [frustrated sigh] “If it’s such a big thing to so many demon cultures, then why have all the previous Novaszi failed?”
Wesley: “Demons aren’t typically high on the list of dating prospects for your average human girl. [with a hint of snerk] Present company excluded, of course. And few full blooded demons would have had any appeal whatsoever.”
Angel: “Sure, but since when is something like this left up to the girl? Not saying it’s right, but if it were that important and they knew who she was...”
Wesley: “Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention—the texts were all very clear on this point—the Novaszi must choose her mate. It is entirely deliberate. She cannot be forced. And even then, other conditions must be met.”
Spike: “Other conditions?”
Wesley: “This is where we may be in luck. It’s likely there is still be time to prevent it.”
Spike: [eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of challenge in his voice as he repeats Wesley’s words] “Prevent it.”
A look of concern passes between Wesley and Angel.
Angel: “Uh, demon messiah, grand chaos, new era—there aren’t many clearer ways to describe an apocalypse.”
Wesley: “Even the Apocalypse.”
Angel: “Last time I checked, Spike, you weren’t so keen on the ‘end of the world’ scenarios. Something about Happy meals and football...”
Spike: “I’m just saying we should think about this. Consider our options.”
Angel: “Wes, lets think about stopping it—what can we do?”
Wesley: “Not do, actually. In order for the pregnancy to take—to go to term—there must be a human sacrifice.”
Angel: [frowning] “That’s not going to be easy—even with all our manpower, we can’t keep our eye on every demon ritual in town. A single human sacrifice...”
Wesley: [interrupting] “It must be by Deth’s hand. We need only to prevent Deth from performing such a ritual. [with a small smile] Not such a daunting task, I’d say.”
Angel: [surprised/relieved] “That’s it? [pause] Kind of anti-climatic, but I’ll take it.”
Spike: “Yeah, um. Before you two girls pop your corks, there may be a small problem.”
Angel: “Why am I not surprised? [to Spike, annoyed] I bet it has something to do with you, doesn’t it?”
Spike: “What is your deal?!? You’ve got such a bloody chip on your shoulder about this whole thing—it’s not like I planned to knock her up. You heard the man, she picked me. I wouldn’t be such a bastard to you if the situation were reversed.”
Angel: “Yeah you would.”
Spike: “Well, yeah. But that’s just me. You’re the one that has the guilt complex that makes you try to be nice. Usually.”
Wesley: “Can we get back to the point? You mentioned a problem, Spike.”
Spike: “Yeah, well, remember that hullabaloo up in Chicago a while back?”
Angel: “You took the jet. Cost the company $15,000. Hamilton is still bugging me about that one.”
Spike: [a touch guilty] “Sorry, mate, but I was totally playing you. I flew out there to be with Deth. She’d gone to take care of some family business.”
Wesley: [guessing which ‘family’ she meant] “The Pastuyk?”
Spike nods.
Spike: “It was supposed to be a funeral ritual—supposed to be a pig.”
Wesley: “It was a boy.”
Spike: “They tricked her. Used some sort of spell to make her think...”
Angel: “Were you there?”
Spike: “No. I came the next day.”
Wesley: “So you didn’t actually see the sacrifice.”
Spike: [misunderstanding his implication] “She took me to the alter—I could smell the blood.”
Angel: “But you didn’t see her do it.”
Spike: [getting it] “She was devastated—practically catatonic. There’s no way she knew what she was doing.”
Did she?
Wesley: [not convinced] “Regardless, it appears our easy out is no longer an option. Perhaps its time we talked to Deth.”
Angel: [growing concern] “Let’s meet in my office in an hour. Spike, we’ll need your help convincing her to stay. We need to keep her close until we figure this out—decide what’s best.”
Spike: [dispassionate] “What’s best. Sure.”
Angel: “Will she listen to you?”
Spike: [without hesitation] “Yeah.”
He’s honestly not so sure...
Angel: “Good. Just back me up when the time comes.”
Spike: [thoughtful frown] “No worries.”
Angel: [detecting his concern] “If she’s close, we can protect her.”
Spike: “Whatever.”
Spike strolls out the door. Another concerned look passes between Wes and Angel.
Wesley: “You think he might make a run for it?”
Angel: “Not yet. He’s smart enough to understand what’s at stake.”
Wesley: “That’s what concerns me.”
Angel: “Maybe even smart enough to know he needs us to find out for sure.”
Wesley: “But will he trust our conclusions? I’m not sure I would in his place.”
Angel: [Thinking for a moment—he *knows* what his reaction would be.] “We’ll do what we have to do.”
Wesley nods, continuing to look worried.
***
Scene 3: Angel’s office. Wes, Gunn, Lorne, Angel and Spike are hanging about. They’re waiting for Deth to be brought up from the infirmary.
Angel: “Has anyone seen Hamilton? You’d think he’d be breathing down my neck by now.”
Gunn: “His opinion could sure give us a clue what not to do.”
Lorne: [mumbling/giggling to himself] “Or what not to wear. <ha> I could kick myself for letting that one slip through my fingers.”
Angel: “He’s too smart for that—he knows we’d do the opposite of his recommendation.”
Gunn: “So we do what he says?”
Angel: [shaking his head] “He knows we don’t trust him. He could use that to play us.”
Gunn: “Back to opposite again. Man, I’m gettin’ dizzy.”
Lorne: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, never go in against a Sicilian, when *death* is on the line. I think we can assume here that both goblets are poisoned. Best to fake a migraine and order a glass of water.”
Gunn: “Say again?”
Spike: “Don’t listen to Hamilton, whatever.”
Lorne: “Bingo.”
Wesley: “Still, it would be useful to have some clue as to the reaction of the senior partners. Gunn, do you think you could get anything from your friendly feline?”
Gunn: “Sorry, I think that line of communication was closed for good when I gave up the lawyer mojo.”
The phone rings. Angel picks it up. We here him say, “Yeah, we’re ready. Send her in.”
Spike: “Do we really all need to be here?—Feels like an ambush.”
Lorne: “Or an intervention. Neither is a bag of kittens.”
Wesley: “She shouldn’t feel threatened—we’re all her friends.”
Spike lets out a skeptical huff.
Deth is escorted in by the same guy, Cameron, who had led her back to the infirmary before. Once inside, she roughly pulls her arm away from his grasp, obviously irritated by it. She looks tired—her eyes are rimmed in red. Her hair is stringy and tucked behind her ears. She’s wearing street clothes, though their lack of fit makes them look borrowed—her pants are unbuttoned, unable to fit around her growing waist and her t-shirt hugs her more tightly than her usual comfort level would allow. Angel asks Cameron to leave the room. Deth folds her arms and looks down, obviously uncomfortable to be the center of attention. She appears coolly angry.
She fights her urge to look at Spike—she is sure she will start crying again and doesn’t want to appear so out of control. She can’t understand why he hasn’t come to see her. A few seconds pass in silence before it becomes too much for her to bear.
Deth: “Could you all stop looking at me? [smaller voice, though still irritated] It’s not like you’ve never seen a demon pregnancy before. Happens all the time.”
Wesley: [scanning her face for some sign of malice] “What we are familiar with is akin to demon cleptoparasitism—the use of a human as an incubation chamber or food source for demon offspring. This, however, is entirely different.”
Deth: [her eyes flick upwards and over to Wesley] “You know that?”
Wesley: “Yes. [He decides not to elaborate.] Tell us, Deth, what you know of the term ‘Novaszi’.”
He is careful to not let his tone be too confrontational. In fact, he tries to sound as neutral as possible.
She frowns and starts to shake her head in defiant irritation at being asked about something she OBVIOUSLY knows nothing....but then the frown is wiped from her face and she closes her eyes. She exhales slowly and lets her shoulders drop as she lifts up her chin, drawing another breath.
Deth: [Surprised, but not surprised, as if something had just occurred to her that was then instantly obvious.] “It’s me.”
She looks around the room in a panic. All the muscles in her body tense. Her heart leaps into her throat and she feels herself lean towards the door, poised to run. But before she even takes a step, Angel steps forward and takes hold of her arm.
Angel: [more confrontational, but not overly so] “What do you want?”
His grip startles her out of her instinctual flight response. She turns to him, her expression now worried, tired. A hint of wetness is gathering in her eyes. Her answer is spontaneous and honest.
Deth: “I want to go home.”
Angel: [A bit shaken by her obvious emotion, his tone softens] “That’s not what I meant—what do you...”
Deth: [she doesn’t let him finish] “I know what you meant. [wiping her eye with the back of her hand] I know what you think. But that’s all I know.”
Wesley: “But you know you are the Novaszi. Tell us what that means.”
Deth shakes her head. She’s trying to find a way to explain, but it seems impossible. She sighs in frustration. She glances around the room. She closes her eyes the instant she catches a glimpse of Spike.
Deth: [slow, deliberate] “I know what I am. Just now. [pause] It makes sense. They all wanted me to choose them. That part’s over now. I don’t know what’s next. Honestly.”
Wesley: “You don’t blame us for needing to know.”
Deth shakes her head.
Wesley: “Perhaps you could sing a tune—let Lorne try to...”
Deth: “I can’t sing. [matter-of-fact, almost as if she’s thinking out loud] It wouldn’t matter anyway—you couldn’t trust him. He’s a demon. He’s biased.”
Lorne: “Rest assured, peanut, I’ll be the first to tell you not to quit your day job.”
Deth just frowns in frustration.
Wesley: “I guess we have ourselves a bit of a conundrum.”
Deth: [pleading] “Can’t I just go home? Come back tomorrow?”
Wesley: “I’m afraid that’s out of the question.”
Deth: “So I’m a prisoner.”
Angel: “No. Not exactly. We just need to know more about what’s going on before we can figure out what’s best.”
Deth: [frustrated] “You know more than I do.”
Spike: “Best leave her alone, let her get some rest. It’s obvious she doesn’t know anything.”
Annoyed glance from Angel.
Wesley: “I’m afraid it’s a bit more complicated than that. Deth, I’m going to work on the assumption that you’re being truthful with us. That you’re knowledge of the significance of all of this is either nonexistent or at least not readily accessible. When you’re rested, we’ll work together to gain some understanding of the situation. Perhaps you simply need to be prompted, as you were a few moments ago, with the appropriate terminology. In any event, do you agree to work with us on this?”
Deth nods.
Deth: “So I can go?”
Wesley: “Unfortunately, the doctors have given me some information this morning that would make your leaving terribly risky. As Illyria asserted, the being within you is a vampire of sorts. We only know what the doctors are able to observe at this point. As with a typical human fetus, the two of you are connected via an umbilical cord. The difference is that instead of nutrients being filtered out of your blood and into the fetal bloodstream, the blood is being consumed directly. It would appear that prior to our treatment, your bone marrow was ramping up appropriately to meet the new demands. Yes, you were anemic, but not to the point of causing any long-term damage. Of course, the doctors didn’t know any of this when they began treating you.”
Gunn: “This isn’t going anywhere good, is it?”
Wesley: “As the blood transfusions appeared to have such an instant effect, the doctors deemed it to be the right form of treatment and continued accordingly. But ultimately, the unnatural influx of blood has caused the fetus to grow more quickly. Its demands have already exceeded your body’s ability to meet them and there doesn’t seem to be a way to go back.”
Spike: “Nutshell version, without the apologies?”
Wesley: “We have inadvertently made it impossible for you to endure this pregnancy without a continuous influx of blood.”
Gunn: “And I’ll bet baby is on its way to being born a bit on the premature side, too.”
Wesley nods.
Lorne: “Ah, the miracles of modern science. Dizzying, isn’t it?”
Gunn: “If we weren’t evil, I’d say we’d be facing one killer lawsuit.”
Deth listens, patiently, her heart sinking with every word.
Wesley: [heartfelt] “I’m sorry.”
Deth: [calm, quiet] “I want to go home. I need to be alone. I can come back in a while.”
Angel: “We can’t let you do that.”
Deth: [looking up, letting her gaze meet Spike’s] “Spike? Please, we can just go.”
Spike: [cool, unemotional] “Best to stay. They can take care of you here.”
She looks crushed at his words.
Deth: [to Wes] “I’d like to lay down.”
Wesley: “Of course. We’ve made up a room for you upstairs—it should be more comfortable than the infirmary.”
She doesn’t respond.
They call in Cameron to escort her away. Once she’s gone.
Angel: “You think she’s telling the truth?”
Spike: “No question.”
Angel: “ Wes?”
Wesley: “Most likely. Still, she may know more than she realizes.”
Angel: “Let me know what you need to get to the bottom of this. Spike, thanks for backing me up.”
Spike: “Anything for the team. [to no one in particular] I’m going out for a smoke.”
They disperse.
***
Scene 4: Deth’s room upstairs.
The room is fitted out like a little studio apartment. It has the feel of one of those in-hospital birthing rooms where they try to decorate it like a bedroom to make expectant mothers feel more at home—and yet everything is kind of cheap and fake and way too floral. There is medical equipment tucked around here and there—behind a picture, under the bed, etc. Deth is lying on the bed in her clothes, apparently asleep and yet somehow looking incredibly uncomfortable. Spike comes to the door—there’s a security guard sitting outside who lets him pass. Spike closes the door behind him, but stays in the doorway, looking at Deth asleep on the bed. After a moment, she opens her eyes. They stay there in silence a moment, just looking at each other, expressionless. Spike is the first to speak.
Spike: “I disabled the surveillance in this room—it’ll take a few minutes for them to figure it out. I want to know the truth. I won’t tell Vader, I’ll swear up and down to them that you’re telling the truth and do what I can to keep you safe, regardless. [as if to explain] There’s part of me in there. Not that I’m the paternal type, but it means something for sure. But I need to know—was this all part of the plan? You and me—everything? Can’t say that I like being played the fool, but I’d have to give credit where credit is due.”
Deth: [angry, bitter] “Fuck off.”
Her words are like a slap in the face. He wonders if he’s ever heard her swear before—he finds himself scanning his memory, letting his focus drift. No, he’s never heard such bitterness in her voice. He instantly knows she couldn’t be lying—couldn’t be anyone different. He’s not sure whether to be relieved or horrified.
Before he can say anything, she continues, despite her better judgment.
Deth: [choking on the words, still glaring at him] “Even for a second, how could you...”
Spike: “I’m sorry. Everything got kind of jumbled up. First you cheated on me, then you didn’t, but then instead you turn out to be some prophetic being set to ring in the next apocalypse with a little help from my stuff—didn’t know which was worse. Then you were ready to bolt in Angel’s office when you found out we knew your deal. And everyone is so bloody tense down there, talking about the end of the world and such. You’ve surprised me before—I read you better than anyone and I still have trouble sometimes. Guess I just got caught up in the frenzy.”
Deth: “First, if all I wanted was your ‘stuff’, do you honestly think I would have gone to all this trouble? It hasn’t exactly been a picnic. And frankly, it’s pretty easy to get in your pants. All I had to do was ask. And wouldn’t you run? This is still Wolfram and Hart, no matter who is in charge. And finally, if I am responsible for an apocalypse, it will be totally unintentional.”
Spike: “And that’s what matters, surely.”
He says this with a smidge of a wry smile. He gives her one of his looks—puppydog-ish, hoping for a bit of forgiveness. How can she resist? She loves how he can take a situation like this and instantly lighten the mood.
Deth: [a small smile] “Don’t call my Shirley.”
Spike: “That’s my girl.”
Deth: [forcing a frown] “I’m still mad.”
Spike: “I know.”
He starts to move towards the bed.
Deth: “It doesn’t have to be a bad thing, this. They’re afraid, but maybe they don’t have to be.”
Before Spike can respond, Angel comes barging through the door.
Angel: “Spike, what are you doing? Why did you mess with the cameras? I can revoke your access in a heartbeat”
Spike: “Would that be yours or mine? [beat] Don’t get your knickers in a twist. I was just looking for some privacy—enough for a quick shag. Didn’t want to give Officer McDoodle there a heart attack.”
Angel looks skeptical.
Spike: “On second thought, it might be fun to get something on film—for posterity’s sake and all that. What do you think, luv?
Angel shakes his head and looks toward Deth for some sort of confirmation.
Deth: [shrugs] “I’m pregnant, not dead.”
Angel: “This, right here, is what got us in to this mess in the first place. Spike, Out. Now.”
He starts to leave, annoyed. Deth calls out after him.
Deth: “Bring my pajamas?”
He turns around, giving her a smile with a nod on his way out.
A nurse is waiting outside the door with some more blood.
**
In Wesley’s office, sometime later. He’s just read a passage from a text and has closed his eyes in an attempt to commit it to memory. When he reopens them, the text is gone from the page. He’s not surprised and begins to call up another. Instead, a few large words appear in the middle of the page.
WILL YOU PROTECT HER?
Wesley: “From what? She’s done alright so far.”
THERE IS DANGER.
ARE YOU HER PROTECTOR?
Wesley: “I’m not sure.”
THERE IS KNOWLEDGE IN THIS TITLE
ARE YOU HER PROTECTOR?
Wesley: “Yes.”
ASK FOR THE MAGIC WORD
Wesley: “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Wesley: “I’ll bite. What’s the magic word?”
NOT HERE
Wesley: “Where then?”
NOT WHERE, WHO
Wesley: “Who?”
DUH
Wesley: “No need to be rude. I suppose you mean Deth.”
The page goes blank and Wesley continues his research.
**
Scene 5: Angel’s office, sometime later.
It’s just Wesley and Angel.
Angel: “You think she may be in danger?”
Wesley: “That’s what the text implied.”
Angel: “From who? We’re the good guys and we don’t have a plan yet.”
Wesley: “It would be unlikely for there to be complete agreement in the demon community as a whole. Perhaps there are factions, as there are in any religion.”
Angel: “Any chance that the doctors who first examined Deth might have already known who she was?”
Wesley: “Unlikely, but possible. Why do you ask?”
Angel: “Just something Deth mentioned to me upstairs. Made me wonder if the unexpected effect of the blood transfusions wasn’t entirely unexpected.”
Wesley: “You think they did it on purpose to keep her here?”
Angel: “Keep her under their control.”
Wesley: “Our control, you mean.”
Angel: “Maybe. I’d like to see the personnel files on all the doctors who currently work in the infirmary.”
Wesley: “I’ll ask Harmony on my way out.”
But before Wesley leaves, the lights go out. There is a great rumbling, almost like a small earthquake.
Angel: “What the?” He hits the intercom button “Harmony, what’s going on?”
Harmony: (via the intercom) “Uh, the lights just went out.”
Angel: “I can see that. Why did they go out?”
Harmony: “Got me, boss.
Wesley: “We should check on Deth.”
They quickly leave the office and head up to check on Deth. They find her safe and sound, playing cards with Spike. While they’re up there, the phone rings. Deth picks it up, then quickly hands it to Angel.
Deth: “It’s for you.”
Angel: “Yeah?”
Gunn: “I think you’d better get down here.”
Angel: “What’s up?”
Gunn: “Well, all the power in the building is out, with the exception of the phones and the elevators. Security reports the complete malfunction of all surveillance and weaponry. Looks like we’re completely defenseless.”
Angel: “How is that possible? It was never this easy to shut down Wolfram and Hart when we were the good guys.”
Gunn: “Yeah, that’s not even the weirdest part. You’ve got to see this.”
Angel and Wesley quickly head back downstairs. They find a robed demon whispering something into Harmony’s ear.
On seeing Angel.
Harmony: “So, um, they don’t actually have an appointment, but....”
Just then, the elevator opens and a team of about ten demons disperse out, as if to ‘secure’ the area. They ceremoniously remove all flashlights and any illumination brighter than a candle. Once they’ve accomplished this, they spread some sort of oil on the rug between the elevator and Harmony’s desk. One of them runs back to the elevator. In a moment, a very large demon slithers from the open doors. He looks like a giant slug with gills—like a cross between a slug and a hellbender (= giant salamander) [author’s note: think a cross between Jabba the Hutt and Rigel from Farscape], though he is draped in brightly colored, bejeweled robes. He has one servant/minion who sits on his shoulder, periodically ladling water out of a bejeweled container and pouring it under the collar of his robe, presumably to keep his “gills” moist. Surrounded by his minions, each now holding a dim candle to light the path, he approaches Angel.
Wesley whispers in Angel’s ear.
Wesley: “This is fascinating—he’s a Nektos demon. Extremely rare. No one has seen one for centuries. They’re semi-aquatic.”
That’s all he has time for before the demon is “standing” in front of them.
ND: [deep, booming, gravely voice; his mouth drips when he talks] “Novaszi.”
Angel: “Uh...”
One of the minions has been whispering in Harmony’s ear again. As soon as it pulls away from her ear:
Harmony: “Get out! [the minion nods; Harmony turns to Angel to explain] “They’re here to see Deth.”
Angel: “Yeah, we got that.”
Harmony: “His name is Nektriton and he’s some sort of overlord or king or something—REALLY important. He’s come from like WAY on the other side of...somewhere.”
Angel: “What does he want with her?”
Harmony: “I think it said something about a gift.”
Nektriton: “We honor Novaszi.”
And with that, he turns to go back in the elevator. It is obvious that he knows the way already. Angel, Wesley and Gunn follow along, too dumbstruck and curious to do anything else. They all arrive in Deth’s room. The Nektriton slithers up to the bed and bows a greeting. Deth waves back, looking mildly freaked. He then grunts loudly and two minions march in carrying a large, heavy chest. They place it near the foot of the bed. Nektriton barks another order and the minions open it, revealing that it is stuffed full of gold coins.
Spike: [impressed] “Shit.”
Nektriton: “So Novaszi’s baby have freedom from poverty.”
The phone rings again. Deth picks it up and hands it to Angel.
Harmony [via the phone]: “Yeah, uh, there’s someone else here to see Deth. Should I send them up?”
Angel: “Them? [sigh] Sure, why not. [under his breath] Ghost of Christmas past, maybe?”
A few minutes later, a large-bodied, stocky demon enters the room with two servants by his side. He is wearing some sort of well crafted body armor. Bejeweled, of course.
“I am Hephos, leader of the Rentok clan, ruler of the Stroyit. I bring a gift to Novaszi, that her offspring will have freedom from fear.”
One of his servants hands him a pouch. He turns it upside down into his hand and holds up a ring.
Hephos: “The ring of Amarrah.”
Angel: “That’s a fake—I destroyed it.”
Spike: [turning to Angel with a look of contempt, snarky] “Of course you did.”
Hephos: “We labored long and hard and invoked the darkest of magic to forge another.”
He hands the ring to Deth.
Deth doesn't know what to say, so she softly smiles and nods. In response to this mild acknowledgement, the skin of the demon's face turns from brown to a pale purple color. He steps back with a please bounced and grins sheepishly, keeping his head down. His two servants give each other a subdued "low-five".
Gunn: “This is too weird, ya’ll. Anyone else getting a feeling of deja-vous?”
Wesley: “Your eminences, may I ask how you knew Novaszi was here?”
Nektriton: “We follow beacon.”
Gunn: “A beacon. Wait, like a star? Why is this sounding so familiar?”
Hephos: “No, the beacon—the one that’s shining from the roof of your building. You know, like Batman.”
Angel: “There’s a beacon?? [he picks up the phone] Harmony, can you trot outside and tell me if you see...Yeah? Well if you saw it on your way in to work this evening, why didn’t you say something? Right. Well, I don’t really care if it’s pretty. [He shakes his head and hangs up the phone] Gunn, could you make sure that beacon gets shut off as soon as we’re done here?”
Gunn: [looking a bit dazed] “Sure thing.”
After a few moments, the demon groups leave and quickly disappear. The lights come back on and the crew is left by themselves in Deth’s room. Angel, Wesley and Gunn remove themselves to the corner of the room, leaving Spike and Deth to look over their new gifts.
Gunn: “So guys. You gettin’ the Christmas vibe like I am?”
Angel: “What, like the three ghosts and Scrooge?”
Gunn: “What is it with you and Scrooge? Naw, man. Pregnant lady, beacon in the sky, kings bearing gifts. We’re really only missing a donkey and some hay.”
Wesley: “It is a bit of a funny coincidence.”
Gunn: “That would be funny, strange—funny, right? ‘Cause I’m not laughin’.”
Angel: [trying to be dismissive] “There were only two kings. And one didn’t even refer to himself as a king at all.”
Gunn: “Ok, that’s denial.”
Wesley: “Let’s try to be logical, shall we? The similarities are surely coincidental. And as Angel said, there were only two kings.”
The phone rings again. Deth just waits for Angel to pick it up this time.
Angel: [annoyed] “Yeah.”
Harmony: “There’s a UPS guy here—he’s got a package for Deth. Can I send him up?”
Angel: “Can’t you just sign for it?”
Harmony: “He says he needs Deth to sign.”
Angel: “Fine. Send him up.”
They all exchange a look. The UPS guy (complete with brown outfit) sprints up to the door, carrying a medium sized box. He impatiently waits for Deth to sign and then trots off. They walk over to the bed and put the box on the floor. Gunn opens it and pulls out what looks like a large flask. He opens it and takes a sniff.
Gunn: “Water. I think.”
Spike takes the flask and confirms.
Wesley: “There’s a note.”
Angel: “Who’s it from?”
Wesley: [scanning the piece of paper] “King Rekka of Teenamon, Africa.”
Angel: [surprised] “Human?”
Wesley nods.
Wesley: “He apologizes for not being able to come in person. His country is in the midst of a civil war, which makes traveling difficult. Regardless of the outcome, he assures her—Novaszi—that the deed will be valid.”
Gunn: “Deed?”
Wesley: [holding up a separate piece of paper] “Water rights to a river that runs through his kingdom.”
Spike: “What she need a river for?”
Wesley: “It says she need only utter this chant over the river water and her child shall have freedom from hunger.”
He hands the paper to Deth. She reads the chant aloud, over the flask, then hands it to Spike. He sniffs the top.
Spike: “It’s blood.”
Angel leans over and smells it. Then takes a taste.
Angel: “Human blood.”
Spike: “That’s a neat little trick.”
Wesley: “Rivers of blood. Not exactly considered a welcome omen.”
Gunn: “Three kings. Freedom from poverty, fear and hunger. Looks like the kid is set up.”
A look of concern passes between them.
Angel: “I’d better have a look downstairs—make sure things are back on track after the power failure.”
Gunn: “I’ll find out where the beacon is coming from and shut it off.”
Wesley: “I’ve got some more research to do.”
Angel: “We’ll meet up in the morning. Everyone could use a bit of rest.”
They all leave rather abruptly.
Spike turns to Deth.
Spike: “They’re totally freaking out about this.”
Deth: “Are you sure we should stay? I don’t feel safe here.”
Spike: “We need them at the moment. And they do want to do the right thing.”
Deth: [not convinced] “Yeah.”
End Scene
Tbc....