The streets are screaming. People are fleeing in abject terror as Illyria, now in her primordial form and at the height of her powers, thrashes her way through city blocks. Angel looks on: this is what the Senior Partners wanted, he thinks. To take everything away from me. My vampirism. My friends. They’ve turned my friends into monsters that I have to put down. All part of their grand scheme to turn me into the end of all that is good and decent in the world.

Betta George, still in contact with the Old One, is projecting her thoughts out to the populace – he can’t shut her out. She wants to find the right time, a time when nothing exists anymore. She can’t stand these feelings – and she will take Hell apart to stop them. Groo and Spider’s teams do their best to keep people safe. Groo flies towards Illyria, hoping he can reach his former ally, but there’s no hope – Illyria eats him – and his horse – whole!

As Nina tries to guide civilians out of harm’s way, Wesley tells Angel to look around: Spike is unconscious; Lorne and the Furies stare up at the destruction raining down. Wesley closes his eyes… Fred really is gone. They have no choice but to end Illyria. The vampires that are left try to get in his way, but Angel fights through them. The Slayers join in – taking out as many as they can, clearing him a path.

The Senior Partners suddenly yell into his head: Stop. They tell him that he won’t die today. They, quite frankly, no longer have the resources to try all of this again. Angel questions what’s happening: he can’t see any alternative. Suddenly he time slips…

He find himself standing there again. Him, not Angelus, driven mad with bloodlust, after losing everything and everyone he ever loved. He stops and looks around at the blood and bones surrounding him. This is personal. Illyria wants him to see, and feel, the future. This is what he is fighting for? This is what comes of that damned Shanshu? He decides: he’s not going to fight for the prophecy – he’s going to fight in spite of it.

He yells Illyria’s name. Wesley, Connor and Spike are behind him. They’re with him. He tells them honestly and quickly what they need to do: they need to delay Illyria as long as they can. Spike is just as candid back: just so we’re clear, there’s no part of Fred in there, right? Angel says no, but it’s not worth the risk. He wants Wesley in front – that may become critical at a crucial time. Angel will take the lead, since the Wolfram & Hart demons won’t risk hurting him. He asks about the dragon, and Connor gives him the sad news. Angel takes a breath and simply says ‘cue the music’ as Team Angel advance on Illyria, mission in mind, determination on their faces.

Gunn stops them. Wait, he begs them. This is how this all works out. Angel doesn’t believe him and pulls him to one side, but it’s too late. Gunn uses his sword, enchanted with demon flame, to stab Connor through the chest. “You don’t tell me how it’s going to go!” he yells in defiance. “You’re weak! You’re nothing!” He turns to Connor and sneers. “And that’s for the window, kiddo.”

Angel looks on horrified. Wesley urges him not to do this. There’s not enough time. But Angel is glazing over – it doesn’t matter Wesley: the priorities just changed, he thinks. His world has just stopped. Gunn taunts him: what can Team Angel do now?

Angel sees red. He roars at Gunn and attacks him. Gunn jumps back, but is scratched as Angel’s axe hits his chest and blood spurts everywhere. One of Gunn’s lackeys jumps into the fray, but Spike punches him out. He tells Angel that they have work to do. Get on with it! Finish it!

As Gunn falls to the floor, he begs Angel to finish it. Angel considers his next move: don’t do it because it will save the world. Do it because he hurt your son. Become what they need, because, really, it is inside him. He can kill Gunn. He can kill Illyria. He’s not the hero. Or a champion. Not here. It’s none of them: not Wesley. Not Gunn. And it was never Fred – no matter how much Illyria wants it to be. He drops his weapon.

He looks over at Connor. Are you okay? Connor doesn’t need to be fussed over: go, he tells his father – if you have an idea, go save the world. Angel turns to Betta George. He asks him to go back into Illyria’s mind. Make her remember Fred. But not what she remembers: project Wesley’s memories in there. Spike’s too. Everything they’ve got. Overload her with Winifred Burkle.

Angel doesn’t see her fall: he’s too quick to run to his son. He cradles him in his arms. Angel tells him that he’s going to be fine, but Connor knows he’s lying. He makes a last request: no matter what happens, no matter what they throw at him next – he has to remember that he is a good man, vampire or not. Connor then slips away, quietly dying in Angel’s arms.