REGULAR CAST

• David Boreanaz as Angel
• James Marsters as Spike
• J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
• Amy Acker as Winifred ‘Fred’ Burkle
• Andy Hallett as Lorne
• Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce

GUEST CAST

• Sarah Thompson as Eve
• Jonathan M. Woodward as Knox
• Treva Etienne as Emil
• Roy Dotrice as Roger Wyndam-Pryce

SYNOPSIS

In a warehouse, Wesley meets a man about a weapons deal, with Fred on hand to demonstrate. The sale falls through due to lack of money, but chaos erupts when a henchman is struck in the neck with a grappling hook. Wesley rushes Fred to cover while battling the attackers. Angel crashes through a window, killing one, which releases electricity – it’s a cyborg. Wesley hears whimpering and finds Fred unconscious with a nasty wound.

Back at Wolfram & Hart, Angel berates Wesley for endangering Fred and keeping the operation from him. Still furious, Angel storms off, and Eve later points out his lingering distrust of Wesley due to the Connor incident. Fred visits Wesley, arm in a sling, as he apologizes for getting her hurt. Fred finds his words patronizing, rebuking him just as Wesley’s father, Roger, arrives. Wesley introduces them, and Fred quickly exits. Roger has been sent by former Watchers to evaluate Wesley for potential reinstatement. Wesley isn’t interested, and Roger dismisses the work he’s doing at Wolfram & Hart.

Wesley’s awkwardness surfaces as he bumps into his office door and a passing woman. He tries convincing Roger of their good deeds, but Lorne’s arrival with over-the-top compliments only adds to the embarrassment. The building hums with whispers about Roger’s presence, and soon Gunn introduces himself, delivering news – the cyborg from last night is in the lab. Wesley brings Roger along.

Fred explains the cyborg’s hybrid nature to Angel, but details remain scarce. Roger and Wesley arrive, and Roger recognizes Spike – recalling how Spike killed two of his men during an orphanage massacre in 1963. Angel introduces himself, but Roger is just as unimpressed with him. After Angel and Eve leave, Wesley examines the cyborg and accidentally triggers a self-destruct sequence. He evacuates the lab, urging Fred to leave, but Roger expertly disarms the bomb. Later, in Angel’s office, Fred and Wesley recount the incident. Angel hands Wesley new information – these cyborgs seem to be doing their work for them. Wesley agrees to dig deeper.

Roger entertains Fred with old stories of Wesley’s childhood, much to Wesley’s embarrassment. Needing Roger’s help, Wesley asks for his assistance, and they retreat to his office, leaving Fred behind. Roger probes Wesley about Fred, and Wesley divulges details about his last girlfriend – Roger assumes he’s being sarcastic. Wesley retrieves information from the source books, and Roger is both impressed and horrified by their accessibility. Wesley insists they’re secure, but Roger remains unconvinced.

On the roof, ninja cyborgs drop down. Meanwhile, Eve and Spike meet in the lift, where Spike senses Eve is hiding something. Suddenly, the power cuts. Gunn alerts Angel—security and communications are down. Moments later, cyborg ninjas storm the lobby. In Wesley’s office, Roger and Wesley face one of the cyborgs and secure the source books in the vault. Just as Wesley finishes, Roger knocks him out, steals his keys, and retrieves a staff with a crystal. Into a hidden transmitter, he murmurs: Phase one complete, begin phase two.

In the lobby, Angel and Gunn battle the cyborgs. Even Spike manages to help after intense concentration. Roger bumps into Fred, lying that Wesley is on the roof investigating something, and insists he must find Angel. Fred leads him to Angel. Meanwhile, Wesley regains consciousness and interrogates a cyborg, extracting crucial information.

Roger reaches Angel, reporting that Wesley is on the roof. But when they arrive, Wesley is nowhere to be found. Roger smirks and uses the staff to strip Angel of his free will. Afterward, he murmurs another command into his earpiece. Suddenly, Wesley bursts through the door, seizing the staff. Both draw guns.

Wesley threatens to drop the staff and destroy the crystal. Roger doubts he’ll do it. Fred appears, rushing to Angel’s side. Wesley tells her to leave, but she stays. Roger grabs Fred, pressing a gun to her. Without hesitation, Wesley fires multiple rounds into Roger, killing him. He drops his weapon and vomits – only for Roger’s body to spark and fry, revealing another cyborg.

Later that night, Angel regains his free will and reassures Wesley, though Wesley still grapples with the fact that he just killed his father. In his office, Fred visits him, deeply moved by his actions. She nearly tears up when Wesley says Roger would have hurt her. Knox arrives to take Fred home, leaving Wesley alone. He picks up the phone and calls home.

TRIVIA

CONTINUITY