Who: Cordelia Chase, the PTB (open to Angel, Katara, and future!Peter) What: The PTB want to have a little chat with their Seer. When: Takes place following this scene. Where: The higher plane where the PTB reside; the Hyperion Hotel. Rating: TBD Status: In Progress (though can be considered complete as-is if a tag is lacking)
Cordelia was floating. It wasn't a strange sensation, really. She'd floated before, both in her body (well, technically she'd levitated then) and outside of it. Even the warm, white light that surrounded her wasn't a first. However, unlike the last time she'd ascended, this time she hadn't been given a choice. And for that reason, she was pissed.
"Okay," the brunette snapped, glancing around at the light with a scowl. "I don't know what's going on, but we had a deal. I help Angel. I stay alive. I get visions. Visions that do not kill me. Any of this ringing a bell?" If there had been a ground beneath her feet, she'd be tapping one of them against it.
For a moment, there wasn't a reply and she felt her anger spike. "Hello?!" she all but growled, the rest of whatever she'd been planning on saying stopping short as a being appeared in front of her.
It was shapeless. That was all Cordelia could tell before she had to shield her eyes, because it was bright, too. Far brighter than anything she'd ever seen before.
"What is going on?" she demanded. "Why am I here?"
"Your Champion has become human."
Cordelia waited for something more, something she didn't already know. When nothing else was offered, she sighed heavily. "Yes," she replied testily. "I know. He's also stepped down as the leader of our group. What does that have to do with anything?"
"Your Champion is to receive your visions."
Again, she waited. Again, nothing else was added. And again, Cordelia sighed heavily. "He does receive my visions," she stated. "As does everyone else in our group. Now, what is going on?"
There was a moment of silence, a moment when the entity seemed to be considering her words, and when it spoke again it was with a dozen or so voices, all speaking in unison.
"The Seer's Champion is to receive the visions and help those we decide. The Champion has lost his path. The Seer is no longer necessary."
Cordelia felt her stomach drop sharply. "What?!" she shrieked. "What do you mean, I'm no longer necessary? I'm plenty necessary! Angel hasn't lost anything… besides me! Now, you send me back right now. There is still tons of work to do and all of us are going to do it, not just him. Especially not now!"
Another moment of silence, and the voices spoke again.
"There are others with the gift of Sight. The Seer is meant for a Champion. The Champion has lost his-"
Having had enough, Cordelia cut them off. "He hasn't lost anything. He's human now. He's trying to adjust. Yes, I think he's taking it all a bit too hard, but that's just who he is." Pausing, she sighed. Some of the fight seemed to leave her.
"Look," she said after a second, "I know from up here it looks like Angel's giving up, but you have to trust me on this. He isn't. He still wants to help the helpless, he still wants to fight the good fight. He just needs people to help him do it. Just like before… only on a much bigger scale."
"The Champion will become a Champion once more." It was another statement, but Cordelia treated it like a question.
"He still is a Champion. And I'm his Seer. Now, send me back to him." She paused, then added a heartfelt, "Please."
The being seemed to brighten, then dulled slightly. Enough for Cordelia to look at it, finally. It's shape had taken on something resembling a human form, it's face turned toward her. "The Champion cannot quit. Must not quit, or the Seer becomes obsolete. He has been granted time to adjust, but nothing more. Tell him this, and tell those who now lead they are to continue to do so. The deal is made. The stake is your mortality."
Then the light was gone and Cordelia was falling at a rapid pace. She didn't even have time to scream, time to even draw in a breath to try, when she was slamming back into her body. Her back arched, her lungs sucked in a large amount of air, and her eyes snapped open.
"Okay," she said, throat raspy as she peered around, "that was not fun. At all."