{"id":4380,"date":"2015-07-07T20:05:07","date_gmt":"2015-07-07T19:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=4380"},"modified":"2015-07-07T21:13:03","modified_gmt":"2015-07-07T20:13:03","slug":"timeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/07\/timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Timeline. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Title:<\/strong> Timeline<\/b>
\nAuthor:<\/strong> Liam<\/b>
\nPosted:<\/strong> 2002
\nRating:<\/strong> PG-13.
\nSummary:<\/strong> In 2003, a time shifter fails to kill Cordelia, who is pregnant with Angel\u2019s child. When the shifter escapes to 1998 Sunnydale, Angel must follow to ensure Cordelia\u2019s survival.
\nDisclaimer:<\/strong> Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.
\nDistribution:\u00a0<\/strong>Fine, just ask.
\nFeedback:<\/strong>\u00a0Would be good.<\/p>\n

\n

Teaser:<\/b><\/p>\n

Everything had gone to hell. It wasn\u2019t supposed to be a difficult mission. She had spent years training for situations like this. This mission was to be the biggest of her career. And what happened when the time had finally arrived?<\/p>\n

It had all gone to hell.<\/p>\n

Allison Beasley had fucked up royally. But she had a chance to make everything right. A chance to fix her mistake. A chance to change the course of history. A chance to remove the threat of the future.<\/p>\n

But she couldn\u2019t do it here.<\/p>\n

In the darkened Los Angeles alleyway, the dark haired, fair skinned assassin went to make her escape. Coming to a screeching halt, the woman took deep ragged breaths to get some oxygen into her tired body. The vampire gave a hell of a chase. That didn\u2019t leave her with much time.<\/p>\n

Pulling her backpack from her shoulders, Allison removed a palm pilot looking device from it. She began to furiously punch buttons on the device, trying to get the thing to work faster. Her head snapped back as she heard the vampire\u2019s shouts of anger.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, you piece of shit!\u201d She wished she had more time for the device to fire up. She needed to go back to the 1980\u2019s, but she wouldn\u2019t be able to do that. She had to settle for this.<\/p>\n

Allison pressed hard on the \u2018Enter\u2019 button. The coordinates registered into the computer. The device activated.<\/p>\n

Sharp crackles of electrical energy began to flow in the atmosphere. A cold wind ripped through the alley as the electricity centered at a spot a couple feet above the ground. A sharp crack sounded as a vortex was ripped in the fabric of time. In moments, a hole about six feet in diameter had formed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Allison\u2019s head whipped around to see the vampire and his son racing towards her. Allison tried to stuff the palm pilot into her backpack, but she didn\u2019t notice she missed. The pilot dropped to the concrete street.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop!\u201d the vampire yelled angrily.<\/p>\n

Allison ignored the demon. Instead, she plunged headfirst into the vortex. Another crack resounded in the alley, and with a snap much like a rubber band, the vortex was sealed. The electricity died, the wind all but ceased.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell was that?\u201d Connor asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d a very pissed off Angel answered. The vampire spotted the palm pilot on the ground. Picking it up, he read the screen.<\/p>\n

VORTEX COMPLETE
\nTARGET DATE:
\nSEPTEMBER 19, 1998
\nACQUIRED<\/p>\n

TARGET DESTINATION:
\nSUNNYDALE, CA
\nACQUIRED<\/p>\n

\u201cDad!\u201d Connor said, trying to get Angel\u2019s attention. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel stared at the spot where the vortex had been. \u201cTrouble,\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n

\n

Part 1<\/b><\/p>\n

Hyperion Hotel<\/strong>
\n Los Angeles, California<\/strong>
\n October 16, 2003<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Hyperion was alive with activity as the members of Angel Investigations tried to figure out the course of action that needed to be taken. To say the least, things had been hectic since the 8th.<\/p>\n

That was when the woman had arrived. Cordelia had admonished Angel in a teasing manner when she had first arrived. \u201cPick your tongue off the floor,\u201d she had said. The attractive woman with the black hair and fair skin and come into the office saying she needed help.<\/p>\n

She introduced herself as Allison. She explained that her sister had gone missing a few days earlier. Allison commented on how quiet it was in the office. Angel smiled and said for the moment it was just he and Cordelia, his girlfriend. When Allison congratulated them on Cordelia\u2019s pregnancy, Angel beamed with pride. Before his head got too big, Cordelia redirected the conversation back to business.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Allison had said. \u201cI have a picture of my sister, I hope that helps you.\u201d Reaching into her purse, the woman pulled out a pistol. Angel\u2019s protective instincts went into overload. With a burst of vampire speed, he slapped the gun away when the woman tried to level it at Cordelia.<\/p>\n

Angel tried to subdue the woman, but she was an amazing fighter. When Allison escaped, Angel didn\u2019t try to give chase. He was more concerned about his family.<\/p>\n

Since that day, they discovered a few things about the woman. Rather, they discovered a few things that she knew. She referred to the baby as the \u2018Men-clar\u2019. Nobody knew what the hell that meant, but Wesley and Lorne had been working near around the clock to find out. They also discovered some more bad news.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do we have on the palm pilot?\u201d Angel asked.<\/p>\n

Fred had been digging through dozens of Watcher Diaries and physics textbooks trying to unlock the secrets that the palm pilot held. The girl was exhausted; she had worked major overtime to find the answers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been able to dig through its database. It does appear to be a time travel device. It keeps a log of all movement. There are two listed. One from November 17, 2031 to October 8 of 2003. The second is October 15 to September 19, 1998.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we can use that to go back and find her,\u201d Angel stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t that simple,\u201d Fred told him. \u201cI\u2019ve been able to examine the energy cell that it uses. I have no idea what the thing runs on, but after examining the energy capacity levels and the frequency and distance between time jumps, I do know one thing. There is only enough energy for one person to have a round trip ticket to 1998.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPretty sure. That first jump, the one that brought her to this time, took most of the energy. If my calculations are right, one person can get to 1998 and get back to this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I go,\u201d Angel said quickly. \u201cI go back and stop her from hurting Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that such a wise choice?\u201d Wesley questioned. \u201cIn 1998 Sunnydale, Angel was present. What if he were to meet his past persona.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel wasn\u2019t in Sunnydale in September,\u201d Cordelia said softly.<\/p>\n

The gang paused as they thought about that. Realization hit them all at the same time. No, Angel certainly wasn\u2019t in Sunnydale then.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich would make Angel a great candidate to go back,\u201d Fred said. \u201cThe best thing that you could do would be go back and make contact with the Sunnydale crowd. What do you call them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Scoobies?\u201d Cordelia asked. \u201cWouldn\u2019t that seriously fuck things up if they knew about what was going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Fred said excitedly. \u201cThat\u2019s the great thing about time travel.\u201d Fred dug furiously around her desk and found her notepad. \u201cFrom studying Watcher Council experiences with time shifting entities, and drawing information from my physics books, I\u2019ve reached a conclusion: the universe is incredibly fickle. It absolutely hates change.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom everything I\u2019ve studied, the universe has failsafe after failsafe to ensure that the timeline isn\u2019t altered. You could go back and tell Buffy she would die against Glory, but it wouldn\u2019t change anything. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s mind erasing or what, but that isn\u2019t important.\u201d<\/p>\n

The AI gang gathered around as Fred explained it. Although none really understood the technical concepts, Fred managed to speak in a way even an 18th Century relic like Angel could understand.<\/p>\n

\u201cTime is a linear function. It travels in a straight line. So in that respect, think of time like a flowing river. We\u2019re all in the river, swimming downstream. But if we get out, run back upstream, and then hop back in, nothing happens. You don\u2019t change the river by doing that.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the way I figure it, the only way the timeline can be altered is if someone lives when they shouldn\u2019t, or if someone dies that shouldn\u2019t. Then the timeline is forced to alter itself. It\u2019s like building a dam midstream and digging a new river flowing a different direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, as long as Cordelia survives, the timeline is kept intact?\u201d Angel asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. If you go back and stop Allison, the timeline will remain constant up until the moment you jump backwards in time. When you return, only a few hours or days will have passed for us. At least I think so. I\u2019ll try to program a return date and destination into the computer. But going back to a previous point, there are a few catches.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course there are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike I said, the timeline is forced to alter itself if a person dies that shouldn\u2019t die, or if a person lives that shouldn\u2019t live. Which means, if you see a person about to get eaten by a vampire, you can\u2019t stop it. It might affect the timeline. You can\u2019t save the person just like you can\u2019t slay the vampire. Not if you want this timeline preserved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel nodded his head in understanding. He wouldn\u2019t do anything that might jeopardize Cordelia and the baby. \u201cDo you have any idea who may have manufactured the palm pilot?\u201d he asked, changing the topic.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeplace called Hereford Innovations. I haven\u2019t had a chance to do any digging on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t bother with it,\u201d Angel told her. \u201cYou just double check those calculations of yours. Someone else can look into Hereford Innovations. Connor? You feel like going for a ride?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Connor answered. \u201cWhere we going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to see your aunt.\u201d<\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

Lilah Morgan sat down with her glass of brandy on her plush leather couch. \u201cSo what is it that you want?\u201d Her voice didn\u2019t contain any of the usual snide undertones. Angel hadn\u2019t heard that tone directed at him in a long time. Except when they were in public.<\/p>\n

Angel sat down in the black leather chair across from Lilah. Connor sat next to him on the floor, sipping on an orange soda. Even though Lilah didn\u2019t admit it, she liked the little punk. Angel knew that too. Because she always seemed to have orange sodas whenever they came to visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d appreciate it if you looked something up for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lilah quirked her lips in a slight grin. \u201cYou\u2019d appreciate it? My, my, it must be big if you break out the civility.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody tried to kill Cordy,\u201d he explained to her.<\/p>\n

Lilah\u2019s amused expression disappeared instantly. \u201cIs she okay?\u201d she asked with genuine concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now she is. But for the past week, a time shifter named Allison Beasley has been trying to kill her. Last night, after one last failed attempt, Beasley jumped back in time to September 1998.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAllison Beasley? Strange name for a demon,\u201d Lilah said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s not a demon. I\u2019m pretty sure she\u2019s human.\u201d<\/p>\n

The glass stopped before it reached Lilah\u2019s lips. \u201cYou\u2019re shitting me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Just before she jumped through the portal, she dropped a palm pilot device. Fred analyzed it. She thinks that I can jump back to 1998 and stop Beasley from killing Cordelia. She also found out a manufacturer of the device. A Hereford Innovations. The device seems to have been made around the year 2031. You heard of it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t ring any bells, but I can look into it. But Angel, if it was created in 2031, it\u2019s plausible the people who created it haven\u2019t been born yet. Hereford Innovations might not even exist yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that,\u201d Angel said. \u201cBut you have channels. If this company does exist, I want to know all about it. Please Lilah, I need this. I need to keep my family safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lilah sighed and set her glass down. The damn vampire knew she wouldn\u2019t say no. She missed the days when she didn\u2019t have a conscience. \u201cFine. I\u2019ll do some digging tomorrow, see what I can turn up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Angel said. In amazing synchronization, Angel and Connor stood in unison, adjusted their leather jackets, and went to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel? Lilah called.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d The vampire turned back to see Lilah staring at the fireplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you do jump back, be careful, okay?\u201d Trying to recover from her tender moment, Lilah showed a flash of the old bitch. \u201cLord knows I wouldn\u2019t want you fucking up my existence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel smiled slightly. \u201cOh no, wouldn\u2019t want that.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Angel and son left, Lilah allowed a small grin to come across her face once more. \u201cWouldn\u2019t want anything to happen to your child either.\u201d Lilah shook her head in mock disgust. \u201cWhen the hell did I go so soft?\u201d<\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

The calculations had been checked and rechecked. One person, one roundtrip ticket to 1998 and back. Angel had no illusions about it. In the end, he would have to destroy a human life to ensure the survival of his family. And he had no problem with that. Because no one fucked with his family and expected to live.<\/p>\n

Cordelia gripped Angel in a strong, desperate hug, her swollen belly pressing against his own. Angel smiled as he reveled in her feel. Inhaling deeply, he put to memory the smell of her hair. Just in case, he told himself.<\/p>\n

Cordelia pulled back and held his cheeks in her hands. Tears moistened her beautiful hazel eyes. The love that shone for him almost blinded Angel. Never before could he have imagined that a woman could love him so completely, loved him the way that HIS Cordelia did.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want you to promise me,\u201d she said in a shaky voice. \u201cI want you to promise me that you\u2019ll come home. That you won\u2019t do something stupid.\u201d Choking out a laugh she said, \u201cBecause if you think that I\u2019m going to do the single mother bit, you\u2019ve got another thing coming, Buster.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise,\u201d Angel whispered as he leaned in for a kiss. The passion and love in that contact sent shockwaves through is body.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you,\u201d Cordelia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I love you,\u201d Angel said. He kissed her forehead lightly and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. \u201cI will return,\u201d he whispered. \u201cAnd when I do, you, me, and this little miracle inside you will live a long and happy life together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to hold you to that,\u201d Cordelia smiled slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hand in hand, the couple walked into the lobby. \u201cAre we ready?\u201d Wesley asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Angel said. The vampire slung a crossbow over his shoulder, and tucked a few knives into his belt. Slowly, he put on his leather duster. Giving a long, lingering glance at Cordelia, Angel spoke. \u201cOpen the vortex.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred pressed \u2018Enter\u2019 on the palm pilot. Energy crackled, and within moments, the vortex appeared in the center of the lobby. Fred quickly handed the palm pilot to Angel and hurried to give the final instructions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have the vortex opening on the night of September 18. When you need to return, press ‘File’, ‘Open’, then ‘Recall’. It should bring you back to a point in our near future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel nodded and took the palm pilot. He knew if he looked back to Cordelia he would lose his resolve. So Angel did the only thing he could do. He leapt into the vortex. As soon as the vampire disappeared, so did the vortex.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe safe,\u201d Cordelia whispered.<\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

Sunnydale, California<\/em>
\n Hartford Park<\/em>
\n September 18, 1998<\/em>
\n 10:14 PM<\/em><\/p>\n

Brian and his girlfriend Susie walked hand in hand along the bicycle trail. They were hurrying to get home. Neither was stupid. They knew bad shit happened in this town at night. Like this for instance.<\/p>\n

Electricity crackled near the fountain in the center of the park. The wind quickly whipped up around them, sending chills down both teenagers\u2019 spines. \u201cBrian?\u201d Susie asked fearfully. \u201cWhat is that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know!\u201d Brian cried. \u201cLet\u2019s get the hell out of here.\u201d Both teenagers took off running just before the vortex opened up. Angel dropped ungracefully onto the wet grass below.<\/p>\n

With a groan, the vampire pushed himself up into a sitting position. Looking around, only one thought came to his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cHome sweet Hell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part 2<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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