Angel is in his room, at the hotel, sketching a picture of the Beast. Lorne knocks on the door and enters, bringing a glass of blood. He offers that he microwaved it so it has that "fresh from the jugular taste."

Angel barely looks up, tells him to leave it on the table and goes back to sketching.

Lorne sets the glass down, looks at what Angel's drawing, notes it's a good likeness.|

Angel doesn't look up, just tells him to close the door on his way out.

Lorne reckons if Angel wants to play it that way, he's willing.

Angel doesn't know what he's talking about.

Lorne mocks Angel's desire to brood.

Angel answers that he's not brooding, he's doing research.

Lorne points out that everybody else is doing research on the Beast as well, including Wesley, downstairs.

Angel tells him he works better alone.

Lorne gets it. It's all about Angel. He was foolish enough to think it was about saving the world from ending. Lorne reminds him he's a "champion", he doesn't get time to indulge in personal stuff.

Angel says there's no information on the Beast. He fought it once and nearly got decapitated by it. It's killed hundreds of people, he couldn't save them. He notes it keeps showing up around Connor.

Lorne figures that's what this is about, Connor and his making moves on Cordelia.

Angel stands up and asks him what he's talking about.

Lorne tells him he knows about Connor and Cordelia, he picked up a "vibe", he can't explain it beyond that.

Angel tells him to get out as he walks away from him.

Lorne reminds him Connor will always be his son, no matter what happens, and that though he "may not find perfect happiness with Cordelia, there are other fish in the sea."

---

In an oil field, Gwen Raiden (introduced in "Ground State") meets with an African man, Mr. Ashet. She greets him and apologizes for his making such a long trip when she can't offer better news.

He asks if she's changed her mind.

Gwen tells him the amulets he wants are very valuable.

He explains they are extremely rare and powerful, protective amulets.

Gwen notes with all the apocalyptic events going on, she can understand why he'd want them but as much as she'd like the commission, she's decided it's a good time to take a vacation.

Ashet says she doesn't have any idea who he is or what recent events signify.

Gwen understands enough to realize now is a good time to take a trip to Tahiti.

He knows what she means, saying perhaps he won't kill her for --

Ashet's threat is interrupted by a large fist punching through his chest.

The Beast has arrived and driven its fist into Ashet's back, out the other side.

Gwen looks up at the Beast, startled. It backhands her, sending her flying several feet through the air then returns its attention to Ashet.

As Ashet's body falls, Gwen looks up to see a bright white light streaming from it.

The Beast reaches into Ashet's chest, pulls out a large metal wing and looks back at Gwen.

She gets up and pulls off her glove. An electrical charge crackles down her arm. She looks to where the Beast was standing but it's disappeared.

---

At the loft, Connor is sitting on the inside window ledge, staring out the open window.

Cordelia is sleeping on the floor. She awakens to the sound of blaring sirens. She asks if it's close.

Connor nods in response.

Cordelia notes it's happening more often. The night before, she dreamt she heard screaming.

Connor knows. He tells her it wasn't a dream, "things are falling apart out there."

Cordelia assures him it's not his fault.

Connor gets up from the window ledge, telling Cordelia they should go to the hotel later and talk to Angel. Maybe something has been discovered about the Beast.

Cordy tells him they would have called if they'd come up with anything. She thinks it's safer if they stay at the loft. She stretches stiffly, telling him if she'd known he wasn't going to take his turn in the bed, she might not have ended up with the neck ache.

Connor says he didn't want to sleep in it without her.

Cordelia mutters, "Oh, boy."

Connor tells her he heard that.

She's not surprised.

He says it's the "superhearing". He sarcastically wonders where he got that from.

Cordelia gets up and starts looking through a pile of clothes. She asks if Connor has seen -- , she turns and finds he's moved from the window ledge to standing in front of her.

He hands her the towel she was looking for. He quietly notes he has that "superspeed" thing and "superstrength" too.

Cordelia says they've been holed up in the loft for two days. She realizes things are a little tense.

Connor points out they've been stuck there because she won't let him go back to the hotel. He thinks he's not wanted there because everyone believes he's connected to the Beast, including Cordy. He thinks that's the reason she doesn't want to be with him.

Cordy tells him Angel knows they slept together, he's extremely upset with both of them, that's the reason Connor can't go back to the hotel.

Connor doesn't understand what they did wrong.

Cordelia answers they "hurt him, that's enough."

Cordelia has a vision of the Beast, speaking to someone. She can't make out to whom or what it's saying.

Connor asks her what she saw.

She answers she didn't see anything, she has to go see Angel.

As she's putting on her shoes, preparing to leave, Connor sarcastically asks if she isn't afraid he'll run off and join the demon while she's gone.

Cordy tells him she trusts him as she walks past him and heads out the door.

---

At the hotel, Gunn tells Fred he doesn't trust Connor. Fred doesn't think he has a reason for his suspicions, pointing out Connor hasn't done anything. Gunn reminds her Connor sent Angel to the bottom of the ocean.

Fred says the little girl in the white room was evil, she felt that.

Gunn remembers the girl saying, "The answer is among you." He's sure she was referring to Connor.

Fred isn't, offering it was probably just a last attempt to save herself by getting the Beast to go after them.

Gunn points out Connor has taken on the Beast twice and escaped with barely a scratch. He thinks that's plenty suspicious.

Wes enters the lobby from the back office and says most of them have gone against the Beast and they're still there.

Gunn answers that none of them were born in the precise spot the Beast arrived.

Fred repeats the "answer is among you" comment, adding she hates cryptic messages.

Wes offers his sources have informed him that the "earthly contingent" of Wolfram & Hart is cut off from the Senior Partners without the little girl, effectively neutralizing them.

He hands Fred a book, pointing out what he's discovered, that wasn't the girl's only purpose. The entity manifesting as the little girl was named Mesektet, one of five very powerful beings linked to Ra, the Sun God.

Fred hands the book to Gunn and notes that would make them "Totems, symbolic manifestations."

Wes confirms that, saying together the five form an order known as the Ra-tet.

Gunn slaps the closed book into Wesley's chest, noting he's never heard of them.

Wes says it's an ancient order whose origins have been a mystery since the beginning of time. Only the Totems know their true purpose.

Fred thinks Mesektet may have been killed for another reason. She enthusiastically offers to surf the 'net, see if she can come up with anything.

Gunn looks on, noticing the vibe going on between Fred and Wes, not liking it.

Fred goes behind the desk and starts to work on the computer. She asks Gunn to bring Angel up to speed.

Gunn doesn't think that's a good idea, Angel doesn't want to be bothered. He thinks they're chasing wild geese, reminding them of Mesektet's words, "The answer is among you."

Lorne arrives and tells the others the Beast killed someone else the night before, a female shaman who was very powerful but that didn't stop the Beast who tore her heart out of her chest.

Wes notes that was different from what it did to Mesektet, it pulled some kind of energy from her chest but the Beast didn't take her heart.

Fred finds something on the computer. She asks Lorne if he knows the latest victim's name. She asks if it was Ma'at.

Lorne confirms that's it.

Fred notes she was another member of the Ra-tet.

Gunn says it's killing them one by one.

Wes isn't sure they can make that assumption yet, pointing out the Beast has killed hundreds, thousands if those killed by the earthquakes and rain of fire are included. He doesn't think they have enough evidence to discount coincidence.

Fred agrees with Wes, pointing out that it's still coincidence statistically, "2 points make a line --"

Wes finishes her thought, "not a pattern."

That bit between Fred and Wes isn't lost on Gunn.

Cordelia enters the lobby, greets the others, then nervously tells them she has to talk to Angel. She heads upstairs.

Lorne watches.

Gunn figures the fact Cordelia is acting strangely is proof enough Connor can't be trusted.

---

In his room, Angel is surrounded by books and sketches of the Beast.

Cordy knocks on the door, he asks who it is.

She says she knows she doesn't need an invitation, but it's the courteous thing.

Angel tells her to leave.

She opens the door and comes in anyway.

Cordy points out that telling her to go away doesn't usually work. She takes a seat on the chair next to him.

He doesn't look at her. Neither of them say anything for a bit.

Cordelia breaks the silence, saying she doesn't know where to start.

Angel tosses the book he's been reading aside, gets up and suggests she leave and they not discuss it at all.

Cordy wonders if he's going to ask how Connor is doing.

Angel doesn't really want a "progress report."

Cordelia tells him Connor is afraid, afraid Angel believes he's somehow connected to the Beast.

Angel sorts through some papers, noting the demon does tend to show up where Connor is.

Cordelia sharply tells him they're a lot alike, both having "cornered the market on teenage snits." She suggests Angel stop being mad at her.

He cuts her off, slams his hands down on the desk and asks, "How about you stop pretending to give a damn about my feelings?"

Cordy stands up and tells him she does care, she cares a lot, that's why she came over, to tell him to "get over it."

Angel is taken aback by that.

She explains that she had a vision of the Beast earlier.

Angel is still hung up on the "get over it" comment, caustically wondering why he never thought of that, it's so easy.

Cordelia reaches her hand out toward his face, he grabs her firmly by the wrist, stopping her from touching him. He glares at her as she tells him the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him but he has to deal with it and move on, they have more important things to worry about. She reminds him people need him, his son needs him.

Angel lets go of her wrist and asks her about the vision.

She says it was different from any she's had before. She felt she was "inside somebody else, listening to the demon talk" but she couldn't make out where this took place, or even when.

Angel asks, "Who was inside you?" He laughs sarcastically at the slip and rephrases the question, asking who she was inside.

Cordelia doesn't know, but she felt there was more that she wasn't getting, she was just touching the surface of it.

Angel asks what the demon said in her vision.

She doesn't know that either, she just saw the scene, didn't hear it.

Angel notes that isn't much to work with.

Cordelia figures it's something and proves the lines of communication with The Powers are still open. She offers that perhaps they'll send her another vision to clarify things.

Angel isn't convinced there's anybody "up there" watching.

Cordy says she was, but she's returned and he's going to have to deal with things. She reminds him things are falling apart, he's the leader, he needs to lead.

---

Everyone is gathered in the lobby. Angel tells them they've gotten a "wake-up call" from The Powers. Yes, they've been beaten and demoralized but it's time to go on the offensive. They're going to discover the demon's weaknesses, go after it and do it smartly. It's time to deal with the Beast.

Fred reluctantly offers everyone is behind Angel on this, but she doesn't know how they can be prepared to fight it when they can't find any information on it.

Lorne isn't sure the Beast even has any weaknesses they can exploit.

Angel points out everything has a vulnerability.

Gunn figures they're stalled until they discover exactly what the Beast's weakness might be because without any new leads, they have nothing to go on.

Angel turns to see Gwen standing on the landing. He greets her.

She greets him back with "long time, no hand-to-hand" as she walks into the lobby.

Cordelia looks at Gwen, then back to Angel.

Gwen looks at Gunn, noting she recognizes him.

Fred steps in front of Gunn, saying "That guy you killed? Yeah, that's him."

Gwen offers an insincere apology to Fred for punching her in the face during their last encounter, saying she does generally try to avoid physical contact. As she looks at Angel, she adds, "mostly."

Angel starts to introduce her to Cordelia.

Cordy, proving she can do the teenage snit thing as well as anybody, snidely tells Angel she knows. She saw it all from her perch on the higher plane.

Gwen realizes Cordelia is the woman Angel was looking for when they met the first time. She looks at Angel, noting "you must be so happy."

Angel says he is, shoots a side glance at Cordelia, then says he's not having a great week.

Gwen asks him what's going on, she wants to know if the world is about to end.

Angel, concerned, asks if something happened to her.

Gwen answers that she met with a client in the oil fields the night before. She found it strange because she'd done jobs for the guy for six years but this was the first time he wanted to meet directly with her.

Cordelia contemptuously remarks that though that may seem important to Gwen, they're dealing with more important things, matters of apocalyptic importance.

Gwen ignores Cordy and tells Angel that while she was talking to her client a large demon punched a hole in his chest. Gwen describes the demon; "horns, cloven feet, teeth ..."

Lorne steps out from the back office.

Gwen looks him over, notes his attire and says the one she saw "wasn't wearing lamé though."

Lorne says the evil ones can't really pull it off without it looking camp.

Wes asks if the demon removed anything from Gwen's client.

She says she didn't see, then looks at Angel and notes as the strangest person she knows, she figured he'd know what was happening.

Fred interrupts, bringing a book over to Gwen. She asks if her client was a "skinless saber-toothed tiger" or "made entirely of light."

Gwen mentions the light that streamed from the guy's chest. She asks how Fred knew.

Gunn observes that makes three and that should establish this is a pattern, not a coincidence.

Fred notes the Beast is killing the Ra-tet.

Gwen asks what that is.

Wes answers it's a mystical order, "each Totem representing a stage of Ra's journey across the sky." He points out a diagram in the book Fred is holding, showing Gwen the Totems, explaining the one represents Gwen's client. Two others are already dead.

Cordelia says that leaves Manjet and Semkhet remaining the only survivors.

Fred hands the book off to Lorne, retrieves some papers from the top of the desk and says Manjet was rumored last seen in Belize a couple of years ago. Semkhet lives in a cave in Death Valley.

Angel figures they just need to find Semkhet and protect him.

Gwen shoots Angel an incredulous look.

Lorne looks at the illustration of the skinless saber-toothed tiger Semkhet, standing next to a child. He notes it appears Semkhet is pet to "the world's scariest six year old."

Cordy thinks it could be dangerous.

Angel says he'll take Gwen, who isn't all that thrilled about the prospect.

Cordy thinks it would be better if they all went.

Angel says they can handle it, they have the "superpower" thing. He'll catch Gwen up on what's happening on the drive out.

Cordy mentions it's a four hour drive both ways.

As Angel and Gwen head for the exit, Angel looks back and tells her, "I'm sure we'll find something to talk about."

---

Angel and Gwen climb down a rocky embankment, Angel below as Gwen climbs down after him. Angel's foot slips on some rocks, knocking them loose, creating a racket.

Gwen, annoyed, wonders if he missed the lesson on "stealth" in "superpower school."

Angel reaches the bottom of the embankment.

Gwen slips and falls, landing in Angel's arms.

They hold a look between them a moment. She says she did it intentionally.

He thinks that's pretty lame.

She wonders if it's lame if it's a lie or if it's the truth.

They continue looking at each other, the tension building, until a noise gets their attention. Angel sets Gwen down. They follow the sound into a cave.

Angel draws a sword.

Gwen thought they were there to protect this thing, not kill it.

Angel says they will, unless it's evil. In that case, they keep the Beast from killing it by doing the job themselves.

They work their way into the cave, finding it lit by candles. They discover eviscerated, scorched remains laying on the ground. Gwen notes protecting it no longer appears to be an option.

Angel examines the remains, noting the body was torn apart and partially burned. He's sure it's Semkhet and knows the Beast is killing the Totems, but still can't figure out why.

A mousy man in a hat and print shirt steps out of the shadows and says he knows why the Beast is killing the Totems, it's going to turn out the sun.

Angel points the sword at the guy and asks what he's doing there.

He answers, "Standing in the remains of my fallen brethren, trying not to have an anxiety attack." He moves toward them, Gwen backs away. He asks who they are.

Angel introduces himself and Gwen, then asks who the guy is.

He answers nervously that he's "Manjet, Sacred Guardian of the Shen, Keeper of the Orb of Ma'at and Devotee of Light." He prefers to be called Manny.

Angel looks Manny over and incredulously notes that he's the last Totem of the Ra-tet, not sure he believes it.

Gwen says they thought he was in Belize.

Manny explains he was, until he'd heard Mesektet (who he'd never been particularly fond of) got killed. That brought him back. Even though he didn't like her, she was still family.

Angel asks Manny if he was speaking metaphorically when he said the Beast wanted to "turn out the sun."

Manny answers he said exactly what he meant, the Beast wants to permanently end daylight by blotting out the sun.

Angel asks if this happens once the last Totem is killed, does the sun disappear?

Manny answers it doesn't disappear exactly and the Beast isn't just killing them, "There's props and a ritual and a chant and a thing and a ...." He sums up, saying it's not simple. He notes the members of the Ra-tet have their own power, he'd never been concerned before.

Angel knows he's worried now.

Manny admits that's true, considering he's the last survivor, he's not planning on reaching retirement.

Gwen asks what happens when the sun goes out.

Manny answers that Los Angeles turns into a haven for demons, then the darkness slowly spreads, eventually engulfing the world.

Angel knows they have to stop it.

Manny wishes him good luck on that as he starts to leave.

Angel stops him, asking where he's going.

Manny figures he doesn't have much time left before the Beast finds him. He'd like to spend it with his friends at a club they frequent. He looks at Gwen and offers to buy Angel a lap dance if he can watch.

Angel tells him to forget it, they'll protect him.

Manny thinks that's unlikely. Considering the Beast killed Mesektet, he doesn't reckon there's much Angel and Gwen could do to stop it.

Angel notes nobody else seems to be volunteering for the job.

Manny ponders that a moment, then leans in toward Angel and asks if he thinks Gwen would give him [Manny] a lap dance.

---

Angel and Gwen arrive back at the hotel with Manny. Angel asks if there was any action from the Beast while they were away.

Gunn answers it's been quiet, they've been trying to find ways to kill it and points out, "there aren't any."

Fred and Wes come into the lobby from the back office. Fred looks at Manny, noting he doesn't look like Semkhet.

Manny tells her Semkhet got torn to shreds in the cave. He removes his hat and crassly comes onto Fred, asking if he could interest her in a "short, stocky orb keeper."

Angel steps up and introduces Manny, the last Totem of the Ra-tet.

Wes isn't quite convinced what he's looking at is a "being of supreme power."

Manny offers he's more impressive in his Armani.

Lorne asks what happened to the other one.

Gwen answers, "Somebody already ripped out the toy surprise."

Angel notes they've at least discovered the Beast's plan.

Gunn asks what that is.

Manny answers that it's to "Blot out the sun for all eternity." He asks Angel where the bathroom is.

Angel points it out.

Manny stops at the desk, retrieves several newspapers and heads for the bathroom.

Cordelia asks if Manny was kidding about the sun being blotted out.

Angel explains that there's a ritual using the members of the Ra-tet that "turns day into night, forever."

Wesley's response, "As far as evil plans go, it doesn't suck."

Angel figures they can stop it if they can keep Manny alive long enough to find a way to kill the Beast.

Fred wonders where they're going to hide him.

Angel thinks they can secure the hotel.

Gunn suggests hiding him in the kitchen meat locker.

Wes finds the idea of hiding the one thing that can keep the sun burning in the home of the only people they're sure the demon knows, absurd.

Gunn snaps back, asking if Wes has a better idea.

Wes thinks he can come up with one, given some time.

Gwen offers she knows a place.

Cordelia says that's fine, "as long as it's not some nondescript tenement downtown with discarded boxes in the stairwells and peeling plaster and ...."

---

Gwen leads Wes, Cordy, Angel, Manny and Gunn up the steps of a nondescript, rundown tenement building as Cordelia's comment from the hotel completes, " ... the faint odor of dead people!"

Angel reminds her she didn't have to come along.

She figures she's better off with him, in case she has another vision.

Gunn offers he'd rather be there than back at the hotel, buried in books.

Manny notes they can't find the Beast because it's too powerful.

Gunn wonders if the Ra-tet weren't supposed to be as well.

Manny explains he's the midday Totem and that's man, "the neutral Totem, the potential of every human soul."

Cordy asks if he's just a guy then

He says there's a bit more to him than that, for instance he's immortal unless he's ritually murdered.

Cordy scans the area and offers it's too bad they went with Gwen then because if he's going to be ritually murdered, it would probably be in a "hell hole" like that one.

Gwen places her hand over a panel and zaps it with an electrical charge. The door swings open revealing a large, lavishly appointed apartment.

She invites the others in, explaining her butler has already departed for Tahiti, so
they're alone. She'll get supplies from the kitchen later, if she can find it.

Angel tells Cordelia the Axis of Pythia he used to find her in the other realm was worth $33 million, he gave it back to Gwen when he was finished with it.

They follow Gwen as she opens the doors leading further into the apartment. She walks to the bookcase and pulls down a book. A wall panel slides to the side revealing a metal door.

She lays her hand on it and zaps it with an electrical charge, causing it to slide open revealing an austere panic room. She points out the walls are solid steel, twelve inches thick. The room also has its own ventilation system. She thinks Manny should be safe there.

He tells her he's not expecting any miracles as he steps inside.

Gwen asks Angel if they should take the first shift doing guard duty.

Cordelia thinks it makes more sense for her to pair with Angel and Gwen to pair with Gunn so the "mere mortals" will have someone supernatural to help if the Beast shows up.

Gunn agrees with that suggestion, though not fond of the thought of being electrocuted again. He wants to make sure Gwen keeps her hands to herself.

Angel tells them they'll take four hour shifts. He suggests they get as much rest as they can, it's going to be a long few days. He and Cordelia leave.

Manny peers out from the panic room and asks Gwen if the room has cable.

She slides the panel shut, locking him in the room.

---

Gwen and Gunn are on watch. She's telling him the story of her childhood. She realizes his attention is elsewhere.

Gunn says he was just thinking.

Gwen tells him she already apologized for killing him, she wonders what more he wants.

He says it's not that.

Gwen realizes it's the "English guy." She noticed the way Wes was looking at Fred. She notes it's helpful to a thief to be skilled in reading body language. Gwen is surprised by the turn of events, saying that just a few months earlier Fred "was willing to wear sackcloth and ashes for you." She asks when things changed.

Gunn doesn't want to talk about it.

Angel and Cordelia arrive to take over. Cordelia is carrying a cup. Angel is carrying a sword in one hand and a glass of liquid in the other. He asks about Manny.

Gunn says he's fine, they gave him some magazines a while ago to give him something to do.

Gwen points out the magazines were the "swimsuit edition". She smiles and figures Manny will be occupied for awhile. She offers to show Gunn where he can sleep. They leave as Angel and Cordelia take over baby-sitting Manny.

Cordelia takes a seat, offering that time alone could be good for them. She thinks they should talk.

Angel says nothing, just pulls up a stool, puts his feet on it then suggests they not. He takes a drink from the glass he's brought in.

Cordelia agrees that's probably best.

They each sit in separate chairs, not speaking.

---

Gwen shakes Angel awake as Gunn does the same for Cordelia.

Gwen wonders what Angel was thinking, falling asleep on guard duty.

Angel jumps up and opens the door to the panic room. The walls are splattered with blood. Angel knows the Beast was there.

---

Gwen, Cordelia and Gunn are in the living room, Angel is inside the panic room, examining the area.

Gwen wonders if one of Manny's powers was possessing a surfeit of "blood and guts", noting there's a lot more of that in the panic room than could come from a normal person.

Angel exits the room, telling the others it was the Beast, it was looking for something Manny had.

Gunn wonders how he knows that.

Angel holds up Manny's bloody hat, the top of which is torn off and notes the Beast "emptied out his head to find it."

Gwen remembers Manny said he was an orb keeper and offers that perhaps that's what the Beast was after.

Cordelia skeptically asks, "In his head?" Gwen snipes back, "Where do you keep yours?"

Angel notes that Gwen is right.

Cordy doesn't appreciate his support of her opinion.

Angel recalls Gwen saying that someone had removed "the toy surprise" from Semkhet.

Gwen doesn't admit to it.

Angel realizes the Beast is retrieving something from each of the Totems and that Gwen knew that. He asks what she's not telling him.

Gwen concedes that the Beast grabbed a "little metal boxy thing" out of her client.

Cordelia doesn't appreciate Gwen kept that information to herself.

Gwen says it could have been worth something, she didn't know, she panicked when she saw the Beast. She points out she's still a thief and doesn't generally share information.

Gunn asks if the Beast sought something in Semkhet as well.

Angel thinks it's possible.

Cordy agrees with that, noting what's impossible is that the Beast somehow found out where they were hiding, spiked the drinks they made for themselves, quietly snuck into the apartment on its heavy cloven feet, found the panic room and killed Manny without anyone being the wiser. She eyes Gwen suspiciously.

Gunn notes the killer may not have had cloven feet. He reminds them of Mesektet's comment, "The answer is among you." He doesn't figure he's the only one thinking Connor is the traitor in their midst.

Cordelia thinks he's being absurd, saying Connor didn't even know where they were.

Angel asks if she called him.

Cordelia can't believe Angel thinks Connor is responsible.

Gunn says Connor wouldn't need any information from Cordelia, he can track anybody, anywhere, when he wants to.

Angel knows Connor wasn't in the apartment, saying he'd be able to pick up his scent if he had been.

Gunn wonders how well that works considering he didn't pick up on Connor's blood mixed with his food supply when W&H had spiked it. ("Sleep Tight")

Gwen notes that it's impossible.

Cordelia snaps she thought she already said that.

Gwen remembers the security cameras and heads off to see if they picked up anything.

Cordelia, Angel and Gunn follow.

Angel stops and instructs Gunn to go call the hotel, tell the others what happened to Manny, give them the information about the Beast collecting things from its victims, and see if they can discover what they're for and how to keep the Beast from using them.

Gunn asks about Connor.

Angel tells him they'll look into that later, like any other lead. He tells Gunn to go then heads for the security area.

---

In the security room, Gwen is flipping switches, trying to get something on the monitors.

Angel enters. Cordy asks what's going on.

Gwen answers she can't get anything, the tapes are blank, like the electricity was cut for a time. She needs to check the grid.

As Gwen is doing that, Cordelia pulls Angel aside and tells him he needs to talk to "him."

Angel says he already spoke with Gunn.

Cordelia snaps that she was talking about Connor and she knows he knew that so why push her buttons.

Angel answers coldly, "Maybe because it's nice to drive you crazy for a change."

She doesn't believe he really thinks Connor is behind what happened. She thinks there are more obvious suspects as she casts a glance toward Gwen.

Angel notes Connor is the only suspect that has a connection to the Beast.

Gwen announces she's discovered what happened to the electricity. The grid that covers the block her building is on was shut down ten minutes before Angel and Cordelia took over the watch.

Cordy asks what that means.

Gwen spells it out, somebody knew when they were going to take over the watch and they knew whose drinks to spike. She thinks it's an inside job.

Cordy snipes Gwen was inside at the time.

Angel tells them to knock it off, they need to focus on the Beast trying to blot out the sun. They'll have time for finger pointing later.

---

Angel, Gwen and Cordy arrive back at the hotel. Cordy and Gwen continue hissing at each other. Gwen says it wouldn't have happened if she'd been on watch.

Cordelia responds with, "Gosh no, because you're supertramp."

Angel walks up to Lorne at the desk and asks if he's come up with anything.

Lorne shows him the book he's looking at, pointing out the device the Beast needs has to be constructed. He explains that the three wing pieces needed for the device were in the Totems, the Beast kills them, it gets the parts.

Angel asks what the Beast got from the others.

Lorne notes it drained energy from the little girl and ripped the heart out of the shaman, but he doesn't know how it's going to use them.

Gwen looks at the illustration of the device in the book, notes the wings are made of metal and offers to melt them if she can get close enough. She figures that will slow the demon's plans.

Cordelia points out they don't even know if they can find it in time. The Beast has all the parts it needs and they don't have a clue where it's going to perform the ritual.

Gunn figures they need to find a way to get rid of the Beast, not just slow its plans.

Wes and Fred enter from the back office. Wes says they may have a plan.

Fred offers they've discovered a portal spell that might do the job.

Gunn doesn't like the sound of it.

Wes points out they've tried the usual weapons, nothing has worked.

Angel gets it. They keep the Beast busy long enough to maneuver it into the right position and maybe they can get rid of it by opening a portal.

Lorne adds perhaps they can send it back to where it came from.

Fred walks over to Gunn to talk to him privately. He says he thought they'd learned their lesson.

Fred tells him she and Wes have decided this is the only option.

Gunn understands that, but he still doesn't like it. He walks away from her and joins the others at the desk.

Angel notes they've got what they need to stop the ritual, time to head out and locate the Beast.

Cordelia is stopped by a vision. She sees a field, littered with corpses and the Beast, talking to someone.

Angel asks if she had another vision.

She answers that it's the same one she had before but she saw more of it this time. She saw a lot of dead and dying people, heard loud screaming.

Angel asks if she heard the demon.

She didn't but she says whoever it was talking to felt familiar to her, like someone she knows.

Angel thinks it's Connor.

Cordy suggests it's time to bring him into what's going on because he may be their best chance at finding the demon.

---

Connor answers a knock on the door and finds the Beast on the other side. It calmly greets him by name.

Connor makes a run, leaps up onto a pillar, kicks off of it, spinning around to kick the Beast in the face.

The Beast is unfazed by the attack.

Connor jumps at it for another try.

The Beast catches him by the leg in midair and slams him onto the floor. It retains its grip on his leg, yanking him off the floor, slamming him down on the other side of itself. It picks him up and throws him through the window of the loft.

Connor lands on the street below, in front of Angel's car which pulls to a stop to avoid hitting him.

Cordelia rushes to Connor as she, Gunn, Wes, Fred, Gwen and Angel pile out of the car.

Angel covers himself with a blanket to shield himself from the sun and, with Gunn's help, gets to the stairs, in a shaded area. He asks Connor what happened.

Connor tells him the Beast is in the loft.

Wes thinks perhaps it needs to do the ritual --

Gunn finishes the thought, "in the place where Connor lives."

Angel suggests they figure that out later. He asks Wes if he has what he needs.

He indicates he does.

Angel directs Gwen to go for whatever part of the device she can get her hands on, they need to keep the Beast from completing the ritual. He and Gunn will keep the Beast busy while Fred and Wes do the portal spell.

Gunn retrieves weapons from the car and brings them along.

Angel looks back at Cordy, who's kneeling in the street over Connor. He tells her to "keep him safe."

Connor calls after Angel.

Angel tells him it's okay now, he's there. He directs the others to head for the loft.

---

In the loft, the Beast sets a clear orb on top of the metal wings. It blows on it, releasing the dark energy it drew from the little girl. The energy fills the orb, turning it black. The demon sets the device down onto the floor, in the middle of a symbol that's been drawn there. It begins to whisper a chant as it squeezes the Shaman's heart over the orb, dropping blood onto it.

Angel and the others enter the apartment. Fred notes the ritual has begun.

In the street below, Connor has managed to get up. He clutches his side, telling Cordy he should be in the loft helping.

She tells him not to worry about it. She's sure the others will handle it.

In the loft, Gunn and Angel are taking turns getting beaten down by the Beast as Wes and Fred, each holding a book, chant the portal spell and Gwen tries to get her hands on the device.

The Beast sees Gwen make a dash for the device, picks up a piece of furniture and hits her with it, knocking her down and knocking the device over, sending the orb rolling across the floor.

Angel starts to urge Gwen not to let the Beast get the orb, but it rolls across the floor and comes to a stop at the Beast's feet. The demon retrieves it and puts it back in its place.

On the street, Cordelia has another vision. She hears the Beast this time say, "You are a worthy adversary."

In the loft, the Beast continues the ritual.

Wes points out the portal appearance as the area behind the Beast begins to shimmer and shift.

Angel assures Wes he sees it. He tells the others to get ready as the Beast continues chanting the ritual.

Connor asks Cordelia what it's like when one passes out.

She asks what he's talking about.

He wonders if things get dimmer, as he leans against the car for support.

Cordelia supposes so. They both look up at the sky and realize why things are getting dim. The sun is being enveloped in darkness.

Angel and Gunn rush the Beast, forcing it into the portal. The Beast disappears.

A visibly relieved Gwen asks if they did it.

The sky continues to darken. Cordelia has another vision. She sees the Beast, hears it saying, "Our strength is useless divided."

In the loft, Angel and company stare at the spot where the Beast disappeared. Fred wonders why it's still getting dark.

The Beast reappears behind them, reminding Angel it told him once they didn't have to be enemies.

Flash to Cordy's vision of the Beast and Angelus on a battlefield. The Beast asks Angelus to join it.

In the loft, the Beast addresses Angel as Angelus. It retrieves the orb from the device, swallows it, tells Angel they'll meet again then leaps out the window and disappears.

Wes notes the sun has been completely blotted out.

---

As Angel, Gwen, Fred, Wes and Gunn leave the building, Cordy tells Angel they need to talk, she's figured it out.

A dejected Angel says he already knows, the Beast knows him.

Cordy says it knows Angelus. She asks if she's right. She explains she saw it while the others were in the loft, it wasn't a vision, it was a memory.

Gwen asks how that works.

Cordy reminds Angel she'd told him when she was a "higher being" she'd relived everything he'd done as Angelus. Her memory has been a bit fuzzy since she returned but she figures The Powers gave it a push. She says she saw him, a long time ago, standing with the Beast in a field of bodies.

An angry Connor asks if Angel knew the Beast and didn't tell them about it.

Angel denies that. He doesn't see how he couldn't remember something like that if it had happened and he doesn't.

Gunn repeats the words of the little girl, "The answer is among you." He thinks it was never about Connor, it was about Angel.

The others are quick to jump on that bandwagon.

Angel gets defensive, reiterating his belief that he'd remember if he'd encountered it before.

Cordy wonders if he'd remember like he remembered falling asleep before Manny was killed.

Gwen reminds him she thought it was an inside job.

Angel wants to know what that means.

Wes tells Angel it means he's under suspicion. He thinks if Cordy is right, the possibility exists that the Beast has some kind of power over Angel that makes him do things and stops him from remembering.

Cordy points out the Beast has a plan and she thinks the rain of fire, neutralizing W&H, and blocking out the sun were just the prelude to something bigger.

Angel assures them he can't help them, he doesn't know what the plan is.

Wes figures Angelus may have the answers and bringing him back is what they need to do to get them.

Angel's expression does not indicate enthusiasm for that plan.

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