Going Under

Episode 2.16

Teaser

While searching for Drusilla, Spike is jumped in the utility tunnels by a gang of demons. He fights them off. Unbeknownst to Spike, they are puppets for the Enash Cabal.

Act One

Connor has a heart-to-heart with Tammy Pitts during a guard shift. She feels trapped not just by the convent walls, but the psychic abilities that have made her of interest to Wolfram and Hart. There is no escape for her as long as they are after her. Connor tells her that his unusual birth and abilities have put him on the radar of powerful demonic forces as well.

An employee of Wolfram and Hart reports to Jason Guelph that Gunn has taken the copy of the Nyazian Scroll gifted to Faith by the Nyazians to Rupert Giles in England, where it is being translated. Guelph decides to go after Gunn to find out what he learns.

Connor returns to Caritas where he has been staying since he lost access to Angel's old apartment. His life is in shambles now, and he has little interest in Aiden's investigations, finding his father's stolen weapons, or continuing to see Alix.

Aiden has stepped up the research in a number of areas, aided by a potion he discovered in a book in the Slayer Council library. The magic store proprietor who sold him the ingredients told Wolfram and Hart about it, and they are surreptitiously feeding Aiden information that will aid the Slayers in advancing their own agenda.

Act Two

K'shan tells Illyria that killing Connor will prevent any use of the Nyazian Dagger in foiling the Gathering's plans to tear down the interdimensional walls between Earth and the demon dimensions. He also tells her about the demon attacks, and worries they are Gathering soldiers calling attention to themselves. She orders K'shan to send any demons that are not happy with her after their enemies.

Willis tracks down Drusilla and informs her that the Gathering has no love for vampires, and wants Connor dead. Rogue members of the Enash Cabal debate their plans for going after the Gathering. Unbeknownst to them, they are being stalked by those same enemies. 

Connor goes to Tracy's to get his art portfolio. They look at it together and discuss his future plans. He tells her he wants to pursue his art. He is done with fighting and demons. They share an emotional moment together as the memories of his past overwhelm him.

At that same moment, the Anunnaki's prison dimension begins to self-destruct.

The Slayer Deb waits impatiently for Connor to arrive for his shift at the convent, but he doesn't show up. She leaves anyway, and Tammy Pitts escapes.

Act Three

Travis of the Guardians of Light comes to Faith to tell her his organization intends to kill Tammy Pitts to prevent her capture by Wolfram and Hart. Faith immediately heads out to protect her, only to discover she is not at the convent. Tammy is at her house, packing some things. As she exits, she is attacked by Drusilla. Before Faith can rescue her, the Wolfram and Hart Black Ops team arrives as well and disables Drusilla. The Guardians of Light arrive next. There is chaos as each tries to get to Tammy first. The Black Ops soldiers overwhelm Faith and try to take Tammy away. Faith recovers, but her only option, as Tammy now realizes herself, is to kill Tammy. Faith does. Spike uses the chaos to steal away with Drusilla.

Spike takes Drusilla to the basement where he, she, and Darla once hid, and imprisons her there. He tells her of his plans to re-ensoul her.

Connor enjoys dinner at Tracy's. Across the street, Alix witnesses them kissing. The Anunnaki dimension continues to self-destruct, to Willis' delight.

Guelph informs Lilah that Faith will not be killed for protecting Tammy Pitts, because they are counting on her to stop the Gathering. Meanwhile, K'shan works on a way to neutralize the Slayers so they can't interfere with the Gathering's plans.

Act Four

Aiden informs Faith that the Gathering are planning to tear down all walls between Earth and the demon dimensions. He also shows her evidence that one of their scholars is a plant from the Enash Cabal. Faith decides to have it out with them once and for all, and goes with Spike to their penthouse. There, she finds them slaughtered.

Willis congratulates Professor Roth on successfully bringing Connor under the Anunnaki's control. Once her spell to subdue him is complete, she will be free of her pact with them. His manner is off for someone there to tell him about the neutralization of a single enemy, however, and after he leaves, she is suspicious. We learn the reason for Willis' excitement when Giles and Gunn complete their translation of the Nyazian Scroll. The Anunnaki gain power through corruption--the more heroic the victim, the more power they get. And Connor has a destiny that, if thwarted, will give them significant power.

Faith broods about the events of the day while on the phone with Aiden. Just then, an earthquake hits L.A. Fires break out all over Southern California, and the sky begins to rain blood. It puts everyone, even Willis who supposedly caused it, on the alert.

Episode 2.17 summary