2.22 Incumbent

Chase: "That makes me feel sooo much better about the plan."
Gabe: "What plan?"
Chase: "Exactly."

Sunday Morning.

Rachel bangs on Gabe's door, and a disheveled Gabe answers. She's tried to do a locator spell, but it blew up - and she's got the burns to prove it. She doesn't want to wake Chase, since she's been doing double duty saving the world and vigiling over Geoff. And that means that the two of them are the only ones left. They decide Curras might have some answers, so they head out.

At Geoff's place, morning light creeps in to the spare room, to find Geoff and Chase asleep. Together.

Chase wakes up. Nervously, she looks at his sleeping face, but he still seems out of it. She rests her head back next to his, and tentatively runs fingers through his hair. She leans in to give him a kiss, and he meets her halfway. She freezes up as he turns on top of her. She breaks the kiss, but he breathes "Wait."

"Geoff... I... oh, no..." She tries to extricate herself from him, but he holds her.

"What day is it?"

She pauses. "Sunday. You've been out for almost 36 hours."

He rests his head on her shoulder, drained or embarrassed. Likely both. "Thank god you stopped me."

"Thank us in a few hours when we're all dead and in hell with Belial instead of just dead. Well, maybe you and I would be there anyway, but..." She laughs a little, trying to joke.

He smiles sadly, bright blue eyes meeting her mismatched green and blue, and slides off of her. "Not you."

He gets out of the bed and looks around for a shirt. Finds one, starts to put it on. Chase watches him from the bed. "Are they going to forgive me?"

"Of course. How are you feeling?"

"I'll be fine. Not like I've never done this to myself before. Thanks for watching out for me."

"Well, yeah." She watches him continue on his clothing quest. "You know, you've got a little longer to rest before we meet."

He turns to see her smile. "I don't want 'sympathy' from you, Chase."

She looks down and bites her lip. "I was actually thinking we're going to die and get our souls munched for eternity so we might as well have a nice last morning." Smiles up at him.

He doesn't smile back. "We're not getting back together, are we."

Chase's smile falls, and she gets up. "Geoff. I-"

"Soul munching death?"

Chase looks at him, genuinely worried. "Big bad and no Raveena. And they have Stefan. And Deaver. Death and hell are looking pretty imminent."

Geoff takes a step towards the bed. "I can handle that." And he gently pushes her back down. She smiles as they kiss.

Deaver: "Last thing I remember, there was this woman ... and ... biting ... and ... it was bad."
Stefan: "How can that be bad?"

Deaver and Stefan groggily awake in a janitor's closet [no, it's not cliche, it's archetypal.] Yes, the door is locked, and Wow! there's a ventilation shaft! [ar-che-typ-al] The guys go for the ventilation shaft and... Stefan gets knocked on his butt by an electric shock. The shaft is wired. Deaver looks about in concentration.

At Curras, Rachel and Gabe are getting eyed by the crowd of demons, but getting no info until the meet a well dressed stranger who cordially explains to them that he is a member of the Cult of Set, and that their friends will play a role in the ritual. With the stares of the demony patrons increasing in ferocity, Gabe and Rachel decide to leave. As they get to the door, however, their exit is blocked by a very large demon.

Stefan: "Who is crawling in first?"
Deaver: [looks at Stefan in his skimpy underwear] "I AM."

Well, Deaver has a plan for getting them out, and it involves a spray bottle of chemicals, a mop handle, and both of them stripping down to their underwear. [PeanutGalleryDeaver, who is an electrical engineer, swears that this would actually work and clothing would stop it from working. The director is impressed, and a little frightened, by her cast's ability to solve the problems she throws at them by getting naked.] Deaver is, however, horrified to find that Stefan wears a leopard print thong, and INSISTS that Stefan follow him down the ventilation shaft, so he can avoid the view.

PeanutGalleryGabe: "Oedipus was right! Oedipus was right!"

On their way, they overhear a conversation happening in a nearby room. The half-demon leaders are discussing Devon's apparent ability to get up and leave, even though he's in a coma. They, too, are unsure of how this is possible. Isis takes a look at the ventilation shaft, and the boys hurry on, afraid that her mystical mojo has allowed her to sense them somehow.

Stefan: "A guy in leopard print underwear is ready for anything."

They find an exit into a hallway, and drop down... just as two demony types round the corner. Deaver uses his chemical spray bottle to blind one, while Stefan handily dispatches the other. The noise probably having attracted lots of attention, however, the boys look for a quick exit. Dead demon making a nice battering ram, they shatter the nearest window, and head out into the snow. In their underwear.

At Curras, Rachel and Gabe pause in front of tall, dark, and knobby. They attempt going around. No dice. Other threatening demons approach, and soon the pair finds themselves in a circle. Rachel lowers to fighting stance, but Gabe stands tall and orders everyone out of his way... or else! Laughter all around. Rachel rolls her eyes. The demons approach! Gabe grabs Rachels hand, yells "Freeze!" in Latin, and the whole bar halts movement. With a smile, Gabe escorts an [admit it Rach, the word is impressed. (Rachel) "Whatever."] Rachel out.

Deaver: "We kind of threw one of the dead bodies out of a window."
Chase: "That was subtle."

Back at the library. After stealing the requiste Hawaiian shirts, Stefan and Deaver meet everyone back at the library. Geoff enters sheepishly and offers to help, if they'll let him. It being the end of the world and all that, they're happy to let by gones be by gones. Everyone takes a seat. Raveena's empty place seems emptier than usual, and the gang has a disheartened moment, but Deaver comes through with the chin-up speech.

Deaver: "Hi, Geoff - we're in a situation where the world is about to end, and we have no plan. Have a seat!"

Research ensues, and they find: (1) Gabe may have something to help deal with Raswundi time warping madness, (2) the half-demons are likely to employ a sun blocking spell - apparently a tradition when calling uber-devils from the depths - and that would be mucho good, as Bannon and crew could then help, and (3) as usual, the whole stop ritual before it happens thing applies.

Deaver [re: saving the world]: "Hey! We're going for three ..."
Chase: "Eh-heh ..."

Showdown at the courtyard behind City Hall.

City Hall backs up to the river, and has a large and lovely courtyard for ceremonies of this nature. No, the children returning from trips to DC ceremonies, not the Belial calling kind. A stage has been set up by the river, facing City Hall. Children and parents fill the courtyard, and a crowd of adults has gathered across the river to watch.

The ceremony starts when Devon - yes, Devon - takes the stage and begins a rousing speech about American values and the pride of patriotism and Washington DC and etc. It's a good speech, but it's somehow... lacking in Devon's usual charismatic panache. Looking around, Gabe notices Trisha and Simone in the back of the crowd. Simone's holding a paper and Trisha is reading it and chanting. Gabe goes mind-meldy on her, and suddenly Devon is reciting Henry VIII. [Didn't know Gabe was so well read!] He motions to the others what's going on, and Chase makes her way back to the pair. With an angry "Get out of my head!" Trisha zaps Gabe, and the speech returns to normal.

Until Chase gets there. She grins wickedly at Simone and asks what they're doing. Simone rolls her eyes, but otherwise ignores her. Chase grabs the speech and rips it in half. Simone gets snippy, Devon starts using phrases like "'Cause the constitution's, like really important and stuff" and after a few heated words, Chase clocks Simone. Simone goes out cold. Trisha lets Devon fall to the stage to yell at Chase. A voice resounds from the stage, encouraging everyone to stay calm - Seth. Two half demons join him, dumping icky ritual supplies on stage. A cold wind blows in from one side, and a cry arises from the the other as time goes wonky.

Mid courtyard, Isis chants. A robed figure near her watches and waits.

Demon guards pour out of City Hall, and water demons emerge from the water. Seth leads a chant to Belial as Arachne and others help.

Trisha and Chase glare at each other... then both turn and attack the demon guards.

Gabe chants his spell to help neutralize Kronos' effects (the time guy), and Stefan moves to attack.

Since Isis is taking too long, a hand shoots out of the robes, and, while on fire, helps her complete the spell. The sun blocks, Bannon pulls off his hood, and The Alumni join the fray.

Stefan beheads Kronos.

Gabe telekinetically takes out the stage. Icky spell components go flying.

Bannon snaps Isis' neck.

Seth casts a lethal spell at Gabe, and starts to send it, just as Stefan beheads him from behind (it's a beheading sort of afternoon for him). And after much chaos and fighting, the demons are defeated. The Alumni goes underground, and the sun comes out from behind it's clouds.

Curras. Lorne sings a happy, friendshippy song, glad to have things back to as normal as McKennit gets. The gang hangs out, drinking [first one's on the house]. Chase and Geoff are somewhat strained but jovial with each other. Bannon approaches, with an amused smile for the somewhat tacky location.

After a polite thank you for their involvement, and a polite reminder that their temporary Pax Romana is officially over, he tells them he has a little gathering to get to, and leaves. The gang gives each other a "weird..." look. Bannon's evil, but he's interesting and very proper and particularly useful in a big fight. Noticing her eager smile, Stefan asks Rachel to dance. She leaps up to accept and they take the floor. With a bit of a wistful smile, Gabe tells Chase that he's glad to see her happy again.

PeanutGalleryGabe [summarizing the final scene]: "Bannon's going to kill us all..."

Bannon's "little gathering." Bannon sits, a glass of red in front of him. He rises and raises the glass. At his left, LIlith giggles. "I'm sorry I didn't get you your birthday present." Bannon smiles indulgently at her, and she hops up and leaves. Another vamp sits at his right, sipping. Bannon scans around, contentedly before beginning.

"It is good to see so many familiar faces have returned before the closing of the barrier. Ladies and gentlemen, a new era is coming. From here we plan a new future, unencumbered by old enemies and old truces. Welcome home."

Lilith returns with a cake and sets it in front of him. It reads "666" and is lit with a baker's dozen candles. (Bannon) "Lilith, my dear, you are too kind." She claps, and the lights go out, dimming the room to the glow from the head table. (Lilith) "Happy death day, father." Pan around to Bannon's perspective, where we see the number is really 999.

(Bannon)"To one more year."

He raises his glass in toast. Pan up to see the toast answered by twenty-five... fifty... one hundred... one hundred and -

The candles go out.

THE END.

(Looking back at this from the year 2026, I can say that in our 20s, it's clear our characters would basically take any excuse to get naked and/or laid. Which... makes a lot of sense, actually.)