Let It Burn... Falling

Author: Kay Drake
Disclaimer: Joss is the man. I own nothing. Except.. maybe Caden and Tryna. So hey, wanna buy 'em? Give me a ring :)
Setup: Post-unaired S5 premiere. Spike has returned, as a vampire with a soul. Only Angel remembers Connor. Cordelia is is in a coma. Oh, and I've never written a fic before...
Rating: R for violoence and language
Summary: Well duh. Read the story - then you'll know what happens.
NOTE - In montages/voiceovers - the dialogue or lyrics are heard of the scene immediately below it.

Act III

CADEN
Really?? Heh, then how is it we're safe for five years, but 12 hours after meeting you, she's kidnapped?!

Caden turns away and moves towards a makeshift chest next to the couch. She's stopped by the sound of Angel's cellphone.

JAREB
Tell the bitch that if she wants to see her runt again she knows what she needs to do. Details of the exchange will be sent to your office.

Jareb turns to a the as-yet-unseen corner of the office room, where Tryna, bound and gagged sits in a chair, frightened as hell and crying. Jareb creeps up to her, a twisted look of excitement on his face.

Jareb and Ubel move to the office door, past four guards, as he leaves the room he mutters under his breath-

Lilah is standing next to the window and staring out at LA. Angel enters and takes in her prescence.

LILAH
Now Angel, before you kill me... again, you have to know that this wasn't a plot against you.
(muttering)
As much as I'd love that to be true.

ANGEL
Heh, I'm racking my brain as to how you could ever think that I wouldn't trust you...

LILAH
These people are crazy.
(off his look)
...More than usual, I mean. They'll do anything to get what they want.

LILAH
He's after. Just Jareb. But Ubel's a different story. He wants to make a trade.

LILAH
Oh, he doesn't. He'll be prepared for any scenario.
(Angel shoots her a look and she hands him a file folder)
These are the details we received from the ransom call. The time, place, conditions of an exchange meeeting are all inside..
(pause)
I don't think you understand just how good your old friend is. Even we've hired the girl... You know, before she went all mother-goose.
But she's got a trick up her sleave, Angel. And whatever it is? It's valuble.

LILAH
We're not sure. But from one corpse to another? Trust me when I say that its worth dying for.

ANGEL
(this stirs anger and frustration that was already there to begin with)
I want them dropped as clients, Lilah. Now.

ANGEL
(stops and looks at her in surprise... and then tries to cover)
Well.. good.

LILAH
(she nods for a moment, then-)
We're on the same side now Angel. You have to start accepting that.

He only stares at her, unblinking, before turning around and leaving the room. Lilah sighs as he exits...

CUT TO: Int. Angel's Penthouse - later. Angel's told the gang about his convo with Lilah

This raises heads. Mostly curious looks from Wesley and Fred... a suspicous one from Angel.

CADEN
Hiding?! I've known you for like ten hours? Did I miss the daily "Confessional" hour?

Angel merely glares, and there's a small standoff between the two. Finally, breaking the building tension...

WESLEY
(sincerely)
Caden, if you want us to help you, we need to know what we're up against.

CADEN
(shoots him a glare, but relents. Sighing she blurts)
Its Zenan. I have it. They want it.

LORNE
Oh! I had that in New Orleans once. Greeeaat dish. A little on the spicey side but --

CADEN
(incredulous)
It's not a food, Kermit. It's a weapon.
(Blank looks from all.)
"Zenan syrum"? Oh god, tell me you've heard of it...
(huh?)
You! What's your name.. Fred? You gotta know it. You're the sciencey one!

CADEN
I can't believe this. It's the friggin' skeleton key to mass murder and you people have never even heard the name drop? I thought you were the "protectors"!. Ya know, the heroes! Heroes that work for a massive evil all-knowledgable corporation!

GUNN
Okay! We get it. We suck. Now can you please tell us what you're blabbering on about?

FRED
No... why? Why another one? I mean, if you ask me, we've got enough killer diseases as it is...

CADEN
"Zenan" isn't just a bioweapon. It's the worst thing out there. Think.. ebola. Except, you know.. 12x worse.

This raises a few eyebrows, and from those who really understand what it means - a dropped jaw or two. After a pause while the gang takes this in...

ANGEL
I don't get it. Why would they create a something like that.. It would work too fast. Kill everyone...

WESLEY
No, Angel's right. If this "Zenan" is similar to Ebola, than the contagion rate would be too high. It would spread much too quickly to be contained. Killing not only the targets, but the perpetrators.

CADEN
Nope. That's the beauty of "Zenan". It only kills people its programmed to.

CADEN
Is now. What I have is the roadmap. Way I understand it is you get someone's DNA code, plug it into this supervirus and...

LORNE
(trying to lighten the mood)
So, hey! Why the furrowed brows?? We got this what-chooa-thingy, so all's well.

CADEN
(somber, but made up her mind)
And don't think for a second that I won't hand it over.

CADEN
I can. And I will. Its the only leverage I got. That why I stole it in the first place, and they know it.
(pause)
She's my daughter. I'll be damned if I'm gonna let some toything for chem-nerds cost her her life. If that damn virus will get her back to me, then they can have it.

CADEN
(smirk)
And how do you propose you're going to do that? I'm the only one who knows where it is. (penetrating glare received) What... are you going to beat it out of me??

WESLEY
(rising to his feet)
Wait.. Caden. If they get ahold of this virus, and it can really do all that you say, with only a strand of hair they'll be able to target your daughter anyway. Using Zenan.

FRED You won't have a defense! A virus like that? All they have to do is put a few drops in the water supply. It'll get to you, and her, eventually.

CADEN
(this affect her)
I stole Zenan as a failsafe. A way to protect my daughter. Not get her killed.

GUNN
Okay. Maybe I'm relying a bit too much on my long-since-revised knowledge from "Outbreak" and "The Hot Zone", but what's to stop us from creating a cure?

FRED
(sigh)
Not with something like this. The basecode that makes a virus unique is tied to its genetic sequencing.Ya know, there are an infinite amount of codon patterns, which are usually uniform thruout each individual cell, but because this virus is based on a specified makeup, the mRNA and DNA strands will undoubtably undergo a conformational shift with each new version that's manufactured. Thus making it impossible to create an adaptable counteragent to the ever-mutating variations that arise from the general virus' phylogeny and physiology.

ANGEL
Okay. An antidote is out of the question then.... right?
(Fred nods)
Right. Then... we just need a way to make them think we're giving them the virus, get Tryna back, and get the hell out of there before they know what's up.

GUNN
There has to be something. Fred, can't you work some mojo and make 'em think--

CADEN
(rising to her feet)
God! Don't you get it?? Ever since I stole this thing, they've been plotting its return. Do you really believe that you'll come up with a scenario in eight hours that they haven't prepared for in five years?? You're not going to be able to blindside these people. The only way we have any hope is to play with fire.

CADEN
We pull the deal like he said.
(shoots down a look from Angel and Wesley by continuing..)
But we don't end there. We give Jareb Zenan. Once Tryna's safe, we take it back.

WESLEY
Maybe not but we're not exactly living in secrecy these days.. Chances are if they don't already know we're invovled, they soon will.

CADEN
(flustered)
We'll find a way.. a sudden attack, or some kind of.. barricade. I don't know! But we'll figure something out.
(pause)
I won't risk my little girl.

ANGEL
She's right.
(this stops and surprised Wesley, as well as the others)
We're not getting the girl back with trickery. We have to give them the real thing.

ANGEL
Once Tryna's on our side of the line, we get the vial back.
(pause - taking into account the worried looks)
Splitting up to attack them is only going to separate and weaken us. They lose Tryna, they lose their hostage. They lose their leverage. Caden, is the virus dangerous in its current form?

CADEN
(surprised he's working with her)
No.. it's just a bare makeup right now. It's only activated when a gene sequence is inserted...

WESLEY
That could work. If we can find a weapon that's precise enough to target the vial itself..

Angel's cut off by Caden opening her bag and tossing Angel a box. He opens it and rolls his eyes as he hold up the vial of liquid.

ANGEL
Alright.Gunn, Spike - take care of weapons. Fred, find out all you can on this Zenan in case something goes wrong. Caden, Wes and I will work on some kind of plan of attack.
(pause - everyone's nodded but no one moves)
..Now would be good.

The sound drowns out as we see a series of images, each fading into the next. Angel instructing everyone as a group, and then to one or two people alone, Caden going over facts, tactics, and attack patterns, Lorne getting a drink, Fred showing everyone devices that will most likely be used to verify the Zenan, and what kind of case it will be in, and then everyone separateing to their own tasks... Angel at his desk, Caden with hand-drawn maps that represent football-playbooks, Fred reading through reports on Zenan, Wesley fiddling with his arm harness, Spike and Gunn gathering and testing weapons.....

Wesley walks over to Angel, who's at the desk shuffling through papers. Wes comes close to Angel, lowering his voice as not to be overheard by the others.

WESLEY
(concerned)
Angel, are you sure a full attack is the best way to go about this?

ANGEL
(This picks Angel's head up. He didn't even realize... and quickly tries to cover)
Her daughter. I meant... her daughter.

Angel rushes away, making plans and preparations. Wesley watches him for a moment, confusion and worry painted on his face. He sighs and concentrates on the upcoming "exchange", moving over to confer with Caden and Fred.

Caden sits quietly, rolling something small and silver in her hand. Spike walks by and pauses - noticing her alone. He tentatively moves and sits next to her, but she doens't look at him. He tries to think of what to say for a moment...

SPIKE
It's going to be okay you know.
(Caden looks at him in response to this, but says nothing)
This is what they (motions to the rest of the gang) do. You know. The hero-types.

She falls silent again and Spike looks at her. Trying to find a way to assure her or keep her company.... he settles for changing the topic.

CADEN
Hmm? Oh. It's a, uh..
(laughs to herself)
It's a wing.
(off Spike's confused raised eyebrow)
She has a thing with wings. Well, actually with things that fly. We went into a store one day and they had this machine that could carve any picture you wanted into stone. I bought two: One with a right wing, the other with the left. I kept one and gave her the other.

CADEN
(smiles)
It's a thing, okay? A good luck charm.
(a littler sadder)
Gives her something to hold on to when I'm not around.

Spike merely takes this in, and regards her somberly. After a moment Caden tries to shake away the bad thoughts and change the subject.

CADEN
Well, earlier. You said you didn't like him all that much. You two both being vamps with souls.. I figured there'd be a common bond.

SPIKE
(small scoff)
That's not the only thing we have in common...
(Caden gives him a "Well, spill.." look)
It's a long story.

SPIKE
(he looks at her for a moment, debating whether or not to share)
Alright, then. Short version? He's my sire. Well, really my sire's sire. He got his soul. Years went by. Met up with him when he had fallen for the slayer. Got sent to Hell.. him, not me. Then he came back. He left town, I stayed. Fell for the same gal myself. Got my soul. Died saving the world. And here we are.

Spike nods to Gunn over his shoulder, who's toting two duffel bags towards the exit. Then he turns back to Caden. He ponders the question for a second then then smiles...

Spike grins at her and follows Gunn. Caden watches him for a second and then stares at the stone still in her hand.

She swallows, puts the stone in her pocket and looks out the window to the nights sky. Somberly and lost in thought, she wanders outside through the balcony doors. Angel notices from his desk and, after a moment's hesitation, opens a desk drawer, taking out Caden's old knife. He looks at it, places it inside his jacket, and then moves to follow her.

Angel wasn't the only one watching Caden. Wesley saw her slip out onto the balcony too. He sighs and turns back to Fred's notes and maps...

FRED
I don't know. I mean, yea.. Caden's had her share of sin and Tryna hasn't had the easiest life, but they seem to be doing okay.
(pause)
You know. Except for the demons hunting them, killer viruses, and kidnappings...

WESLEY
(almost angry)
Tryna's innocent. She was dragged into this because her mother wasn't smart enough to let her go.

WESLEY
The intelligent thing would have been for Caden to give her up. Let her live away from all this... She says that she wants to protect her daughter, yet by keeping Tryna in her care, she's only damning her.

FRED
Cordelia's in a coma and Angel pretends it never happened. He just broods around like.. like.. he usually does anyway, but now... moreso.... A-and then he takes it all out Spike cuz, he fell for Angel's girl, 'cept she's not his girl anymore, but it doesn't matter, so then even with a soul, Spike's "evil".. And Gunn won't even talk about what happened between us or the professor!. I mean, at first I got it, cuz you know, a former power who eats people and takes over the world, well... that takes precedent. Then this whole Wolfram&Hart thing.. but its been months since that and he still can't look at me straight! And...

FRED
You! You and Lilah. You kept that so quiet, like sleeping with the enemy is worse than all the other bullhoggey we've put each other through.. and th-then she died!!! First Angelus killed her, which was bad enough, but noooo it was really our formerally saint-like-friend-turned-posessed-evil-master Cordelia! And you don't do anything! You don't say anything! You tighten your lips in that "Hey I'm british, look at me be stoic" way and just shut down.. which I'm not even sure you were ever not-shut-down to begin with...

FRED
No! NO!!!! I spent five years in Pylea, Wesley! FIVE years cleaning up after animals and being treated like some... slave..ish... animal... Completely cut off from *anyone* I could talk to or be friends with.. and then you guys rescued me! It was amazing, like a fairytale... and my whole world came back... and now this?! It's the same thing! No one talks or trusts each other anymore! In Pylea all I wanted to do was get home. I missed my family. I missed my friends. I would have done *anything* if it meant seeing them again. Just... for a second. And now I'm staring at all of you, but you're not really there anyway you're just.. shells.. with these stone hearts and... and... At least she cares! Sure she messed up, but it's not like that's unique and shocking in our world!! All she wants to do is protect her little girl! At least in Pylea they were upfront with the not-caring!!
(sigh, finally getting ahold of herself)
It's not about what they put you through, Wesley... at least they cared enough to put you through it. That girl out there may be a killer but when she stares into that child's eyes all I see is a mom.
(turning away)
And that's all that matters.

Fred walks away as Wesley is just, well, stunned. He watches her for a second and then the truth of everything she's said hits him. Looking towards the garden where Caden and Angel are, Wesley sighs and moves over to the weapons cabinet. Gathering up what's necessary...

There's a brilliant full moon. Caden is sitting on a bench, alternatingly staring at the sky and the ground. Her face shows intense worry, and fear. Angel, sword in one hand, Caden's old knife in the other. He watches her for a moment and then approaches behind her. Caden senses him there and -

CADEN
She has this thing for flying. I mean, she loves planes and helicopters and birds and all that, but its more the mythical stuff. The dream of it, ya know?
Pegasus, dragons, and angels... Kind of ironic now, huh? I think it was Icarus that did it.

CADEN
Yea, I told her the story of Icarus and Daedalus once... years ago. She's asked for it every night since.
(imitating)
"Tell it again, Mommy! Tell it again!"
(pause, then - explaining)
Daedalus built wings of wax so that he and his son, Icarus, could escape the Minotaur Labryinth --

ANGEL
I know the myth. Icarus flew too high, the sun melted the wax... he fell to his death.

CADEN
Yea...
(looks back up at the sky - thoughtful)
I don't think she ever really paid attention to that part. She always got so caught up in the flying... I think she forgot about the fall.

CADEN
(teasing)
I bet you say that to all the murderers.
(pause)
My job was killing people. I thought I was living my life, but in reality... I was dying, wasn't I? Just using each day up, one by one, inching closer to death. That's not living.
(quietly)
I didn't live until she did.
(She takes the knife, and stares at it - remembering.)
Icarus. A lot of people blame him for falling. Flying too high... despite his father's warnings. They forget that Daedalus was the reason they were in the Labrynth in the first place. King Minos put him their as punishment. Icarus was free... he stayed with his father voluntarily. Heh... he loved him that much... So really, Icarus was just a victim of Daedalus' past sins.
(Then, looking up at him with sad but hopeful eyes... The following is hard for her to say)
Tryna's innocent, Angel. The only thing she ever did wrong have have me as a mother.
(Angel is silent as Caden continues in a desperate whisper)
I need her.

CUT TO: Wesley comes out into the garden and hesitates when he sees an obviously emotional scene. Angel and Caden turn and see him there-

CADEN
(rises, swallows and puts the knife in her belt, stealing herself)
Oh yea.

There's a silent tension in both vehicles as they head to the meeting place. Gunn is at the wheel in his jeep, looking grim but battle ready. Spike sits in the passenger's seat beside him, holding a knife and looking out the rain streaked window.. Cutting to the interior of Angel's cconvertible, top up, the camera pans to each individual. Fred looks nervous and has brought the same crossbow she used at the end of Act I. Wesley has his shotgun across his lap and a handgun in his hand. Caden clutches the small box holding Zenan. Angel grips the wheel a bit too tightly. The cars zoom past the camera as they exit the main street and disappear into a dark sideroad.

Overhead shot of a secluded dirt parking lot next to what appears to be an abandoned factory. There are two exits. One, a gravel road at the far end where three black cars are already parked. The other, the narrow side street that Angel's car pulls in from. Gunn's car is not seen.

They get out of the car, not showing any weapons. Caden still clutches the Zenan box. Caden and Angel exchange a look and then head for the empty no man's zone in the center of the parking lot. Only then people emerge from the opposing black cars. Three guards step out - hold Tryna. She's unhurt, unbound and ungagged. She sees her mother...

Caden tries to go to her, but Angel grabs her arm and shakes his head. Jareb and Ubel step out of the car. Ubel straightens his suit and they walk towards Angel and Caden. Each side's "gang" look on, intense.

She raises the box. Jareb does not avert his gaze from Caden - He's never been this close to her before. Ubel motions to a guard, and Angel watches, making sure no surprises are coming. The man approaches with an eyedropped and small almost-palmpilot-like device. They open the vial, take a drop and put it on the screen. There's a moment before the device beaps and the man nods to Ubel. It's authentic.

Caden's eyes go wide as she and Angel realize what's happening. Jareb raises his hand, a motion to the guard holding Tryna, who take out a knife. Suddenly Spike catches his arm.

And here comes the battle. Everyone, on both sides, reveal hidden weapons and charge.

FADE IN: To flashback from end of Act II - Int. Tryna's bedroom, Caden's putting her to bed

CUT TO: Caden - charging. She's battling two men.. .deflecting their some of their blows, getting knocked around with others..

V.O. CADEN
He was an inventor. One day the queen came to him and asked him to help make her a disguise so that she could cheat on the king.

CUT TO: Spike and Gunn fighting with the guards who hold Tryna. One of them is still holding her, but without a weapon. Spike and Gunn are trying to reach her... meeting much resistance in the process.

CUT TO: Jareb and Ubel - fighting.. kinda. Mostly protected by guards. Ubel is holding the Zenan box and worried about keeping it safe. Jareb is trying to get to Tryna.

V.O. CADEN
As a punishment he made Daedalus build an elaborate maze and banished him inside with a horrible monster.

CUT TO: Angel and Wesley, doing much the same as Caden... Wesley is holding his own, but gets knocked down by an unseen attacker. Angel is taking out his opponents without horrible effort. He sees Wes go down and knocks out the guy who hit him... and in the process gets tasered in the back.

CUT TO: Jareb - still struggling through running guards and several fights, heading for Tryna and keeping a weary eye on Caden.

V.O. CADEN
That's right. The minotaur. Well Daedalus' son, Icarus, stayed with his father, not because he had to but because he loved him sooo much.

V.O. CADEN
Icarus convinced his dad to build them some wings so they could fly out of the labyrinth and away from the kingdom forever.

CUT TO: A series of quicker shots - between each member of the fang gan. Angel doing his thang, quite well. Gunn doing his - not so well. Wesley invoking the power of the oh-so-cool arm harness. Fred keeping the car running and Lorne watching... and of course having a drink. Caden getting closer and closer to Tryna.

V.O. CADEN
Daedalus, being such a great inventor, built the wings and attached them to him and Icarus with wax.

CUT TO: The guard who holds Tryna. Spike knocks him out from behind and then looks triumphantly at Tryna. He goes to grab her.... but gets harshly hit out of the way by an unseen figure.

V.O. CADEN
Yes. They flew away... over the great ocean.
(more solemn)
Daedalus tried to protect his son.

CUT TO: The man who pushed Spike away from Tryna - Jareb. With a knife. He comes up behind Tryna and grabs her as she screams.

CUT TO: Caden, at the sound of her daughter's cries, turns and her face shifts to horror.

V.O. CADEN
When his father was sleeping, Icarus soared up. He just wanted to fly a little bit higher... He wanted to have a little more fun.

In slow-mo, Caden yells and unheard, "Noooo!" and desperately runs towards Tryna and Jareb.

CUT TO: Jareb grabs Tryna with his left hand and pulls her around so he's behind her. With his right hand he brings up the knife and brutally slits her throat... allowing her to fall to the ground...

FADE IN: Back to flashback - Int. Tryna's bedroom, Caden's curled next to her in bed, stroking her hair.

FADE IN: To current - Caden screaming as she looks on. Her and the FG run towards where the men were and Tryna is...

V.O. CADEN
Daedalus was the one being punished. Icarus was innocent.... it was his dad's fault that they needed to run away in the first place.

CUT TO: The FG try to stop Jareb and his men, but they're already in the cars, and driving away. Caden freezes, standing over Tryna's unmoving and bloodied body. Angel pushes past her and kneels down to Tryna.. looking futiley for a pulse. His face says that she's dead, first shakeing his head to the FG then a sad look at Caden.

FADE IN: Back to flashback - Int. Tryna's bedroom, Caden kisses her daughter forehead sweetly

FADE IN: To current - High-angle side shot of Caden stunned. Her face simply blank, her body limp.

CUT TO: Angle from behind on the knife clutched in Caden's hand. As she goes limp it clattters to the pavement and she sinks to her knees on the ground beside her fallen daughter.

Slow pull-back on the the scene.. Everyone stunned as the rain continues to fall, mixing with blood.