San Francisco

Xander and Spike entered the lounge area and made their way toward the bar.

"You did too," Xander said stubbornly.

"Did not. It wasn't my fault."

The vampire's tone was full of humor and it was really starting to piss Xander off. Xander stopped, causing Spike to bump into his back as he peered around at the patrons.

"Lilah, is that you? No? Didn't think so," he said to the potted tree in the nearby corner.

"Oi, you're deliriously funny, pet, a real card you are."

"Nope, not there either. Now, where could you be baby?" Xander ignored Spike and scratched his head in thought. All he needed was a light bulb flashing over his head when his face lit up and Xander snapped his fingers. "Oh, I know! You're on your way to where-ever it is you've got Angel, with us so not following because Spike couldn't stay focused."

Spike shook his head and pushed past Xander to snag an empty barstool. Xander leaned on the bar-top next to him.

"This is your fault. You let her get away."

"*We* let her get away, pet."

"No, *you*," Xander glared. The vampire smirked back.

"Yeah, well it was worth it," Spike leered, "don't ya think, pet?"

"Let's see," Xander raised his hands and did the balancing scales thing; "kissing Spike... following Lilah, kissing Spike..." he arched an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that one, it sounds more fun," Spike grinned and licked his lips.

"More fun maybe, but not more important. Did I just say that?"

Spike's eyes were dancing now. "Soo, you had fun kissing me huh?"

"I was *not* kissing you, *you* were *kissing me*, dick-head," Xander snapped. Where the hell was the bartender? He needed a drink right about now, something strong.

"Yeah, but you were kissing back," Spike reminded. Xander shoved him away when Spike leaned close and made kissing motions in Xander's direction. "Give us another, luv?"

"No! Knock it off, *William*," Xander jerked away. Spike laughed softly and turned to the bartender as the man finally stopped in front of them.

"Beer, mate," Spike placed his order.

"We so don't have time for beer, we should be out trying to find Angel or Lilah, or..." Xander complained rubbing at his right hand. It had started itching again when he'd pushed the vampire way. "Bourbon and coke," Xander placed his order, surprising Spike by not ordering beer. The vampire didn't comment but he did raise an eyebrow and frown in question. Xander ignored him.

"We'll *find* Peaches, don't worry, Xander. We just can't leave yet, we're not finished here."

"What else is there?" Xander demanded. He stopped rubbing his hand and reached for his drink. He swore under his breath when the straw dug into his cheek.

"The LA wankers are on their way up, might as well wait for them." Spike finished his beer then left Xander in the bar while he went to find an area that allowed the use of cellular phones. He called Giles and let him know that Lilah was in the city but he has lost her scent. Giles reassured him that Wesley and Gunn had been successful with planting the tracking devices, and were en-route even now. He gave Spike their flight information and they rang off with the promise to touch bases again soon.

~~~~~

~~~~~

Xander sat at the bar lost in thought. The peaceful silence in his mind continued to soothe and comfort him, while his hand continued to throb. The sound of a nasal voice, mid-way between gushing and drawling flamboyance, broke him from his peaceful drifting.

"Pardon me, but is anybody sitting here?" the man indicated the empty barstool on Xander's left. Xander looked over at the empty stool and then up at the man, who looked to be in his late 40's early 50's - someone's grand-pa on holiday vacation, and slightly resembled the father of the Sheen acting duo.

~San Francisco is weird~

"No," he finally responded, turning back toward his half empty glass. The man grinned expansively and perched on the barstool.

"You have the most exquisite eyebrows."

"Um, thanks, I think," Xander said and looked away feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

"What, because of my eyebrows?"

The man chuckled and waved his arm to attract the bartender. "Bar keep, ye-yes, I'll have a Bombay sapphire gimlet, and what are you drinking?"

"Bourbon and coke."

"Ahh, bourbon and coke, the very drank Tallulah cried out for from her death-bed."

The bartender brought their drinks and Xander made a point of taking the straw out and placing it on the napkin before raising his glass in a toast to the purchaser. "Thanks."

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear," the man gush-drawled as he watched Xander remove the straw.

"What?"

"You're straight," the man explained.

Xander smirked, "My eyebrows, right?"

"No honey, only a straight man would drink directly from the glass and not sip through the straw," the old queen explained.

Spike had seen enough, he waltzed over to the bar and settled next to Xander. "Ready, pet," he asked, his voice full of innuendo. His blue eyes flickered over the old man and Spike nodded before putting a proprietary hand on the boy's shoulder.

~Cor, this friggin city is one freaky place. San Francisco, bleedin poof capitol~

~~~~~

~~~~~

The first thing Wesley had done upon arrival in San Francisco was to march up to Spike and hold out his hand. The vampire had grinned and reached into his back pocket to retrieve the platinum credit card, which he returned under the amused eyes of Gunn and Xander, and an angry Wes. They rented a Range Rover and left the airport.

Xander turned away from the window and the spectacular view of the shoreline running along highway 101. Now they were cruising away from the airport and headed back into San Francisco with Gunn behind the wheel bobbing his head to a song on the radio. Wesley sat in the front passenger seat gazing out the window and Spike and Xander sat in the backseats.

Spike wondered what was going on inside Xander's head. He was curious about the place Xander went when he was in that *else-where* state of awareness. He wanted to know what Xander saw, but more than anything, Spike wanted to know what the mortal was thinking about as he worried at the mark on his hand.

Every time Xander pressed his thumb between the two punctures, Spike's dick twitched. Every time Xander caressed the ball of his thumb directly over, first one and then the other hole, Spike's erection pulsed. The sensation was exquisite torture, but the vampire didn't know how much he could endure. The third time Xander raised his hand to his lips and absently swiped the twin beads of blood away with his tongue, the vampire sub-vocalized a growl.

Surprise at his demon's reaction to Xander's reaction rippled through Spike. Xander's body language changed, his scent changed, charging up with arousal that yearned toward Spike, making it difficult for him to keep his hands still, where they rested in his lap covering his bulging groin under the leather bomber. It was as if Xander had heard the sound, making Spike remember the other times Xander had displayed such uncanny hearing ability.

:{'That is making me so hungry, pet,'}: Spike sub-vocalized, testing his theory about Xander's hearing.

:{'We already had this conversation. No happy-meal on feet'}: Xander responded as he turned back to take in the view. The moon was a quarter full and reflected off the inky waters creating a perfect postcard picture of San Francisco marine life by night. There were sails dotting the dark sea as yachts and houseboats cut through the soft waves for a late night cruise. :{'Told you Wes was going to be pissed about his credit card.'}:

:{'S'not like he's gonna kick my ass, now is it, pet? Besides, you weren't complaining when we were getting you a new wardrobe, so shut it.'}:

Xander sub-vocalized a snicker and went back to listening to his quiet. He could feel himself drifting into sharper clarity as Spike shifted and muttered beside him.

Gunn dropped his bright gaze from the rear-view mirror and looked over at Wes. The demon hunter had his head tilted to the side, as if he were straining to hear something. He looked up as Gunn made a small signal for his attention.

"What the hell was that about?" Gunn mouthed the words at his friend and Wesley shrugged, giving Gunn that look that said they would discuss it later.

~~~~~

~~~~~

Cordelia stepped away from the triple-section mirror where she had been admiring her reflection and turned to face the shimmering air as the window appeared. She grinned when she saw her favorite entertainment sitting on the other side, staring out the window at the bright lights around them. Not able to resist the impulse, the spirit reached out and delivered a smart smack upside the blonde head.

"Oi FUCK!!! Not you again," Spike's startled voice filled the vehicle, dropping from the surprised yelp into a groan of self-pity. Wesley and Xander both turned to stare at the vampire. Gunn kept flashing useless glances in the rearview mirror while gripping the steering wheel. Spike's impromptu conversations with their deceased friend were really starting to fuck with him. It was hard enough having had to deal with feeling utterly helpless while he watched Cordy suffer and agonizing death, but this not being allowed to rest in peace was the shits. Was there no mercy in the universe? Hadn't she suffered enough? When the hell were the PTB going to fucking just give her a break and let her rest already?!!!

:{'Hey Billy-boy, watch that attitude or else,'}: Cordelia glowered all higher-being brightly, impressed with this new trick. Being a higher-being wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be after the last vision she'd been allowed. She was learning some really neat tricks, although on the downside, there was nobody around to impress with them. Oh well, that was life.

"Or else what?" Spike demanded. The pain in the ass vision had left the huge downtown mall and was currently perusing the sportswear department of Sak's Fifth Avenue, several blocks away. She was decked out in a sky-blue jogging suit with bright white trimming and matching cross-trainers and boy did she look radiant.

:{'Wonder if I have any blasting powers yet, how would you like to get zapped, fang jr.?'}: she asked him sweetly.

"Blasting powers? Please, you're dead not a super-hero," Spike said sarcastically.

:{'Hey, higher-being here, powers and all, glowing? And so what, you're dead too, so I bet it would hurt if I did,'}: she told him. Spike blinked. :{'Should we try it and find out? Or... I could always just go back to the first option and pull you in here and then leave your irritating ass stranded...'}:

"Cordy, luv, so glad you could stop by for a visit, I am," Spike quickly changed his tune. His smile was weak and sort of sickly as he tried to placate his personal torment. Cordelia was starting to scare him. He liked her better alive and powerless, not this smugly superior power-crazed entity. He didn't know how serious she was and he really didn't want to take the risk of finding out, so the best thing to do was play nice. Besides, the twisted bint came in handy when it came down to the information.

"Was there something new we should know about?" Wes prompted. He had a tablet and pen ready. Spike passed the question along.

:{'Yes there is, but first I want you to do me a favor.'}:

"Okay," the vampire agreed hesitantly.

:{'Tell Gunn and Wes that what happened was just one step on the path. It was destined that I would become a higher-being, we all have a part to play in this,'}:

Spike was surprisingly compassionate when he relayed the message and they all pretended not to notice the wetness in their eyes as they got down to the business at hand.

Xander was going to have to be the one to breach the enemy's perimeter, he was the only one Lilah didn't recognize by sight. Cordy went on to compliment Spike on his quick thinking in the airport with a wicked grin. A grin like that made him wonder about things.

:{'Keep you mind out of the gutter until later, like when I'm not around and forced to look,'}: she told him crisply and went on.

~Later?~

:{'Pay attention, fang-boy!'}:

Xander should go in as part of the night-time cleaning crew, they had access to almost everyplace in the building where Angel was being held. They needed to get access codes for the restricted areas, and it would definitely be *of the good*, if they had floor plans as well. Cordelia couldn't tell them which building it was, but she did say it looked like some kind of rocket; wings or something like that. Wesley wrote down all of this information as Spike repeated it. The last thing the shade told Spike, which he kept to himself, was that once they were inside of the building, to keep Xander with him at all times.

"Why?" he'd demanded. It was the look of worry and uncertainty in her eyes that made the vampire accept the simple, :{'I don't know,'}: without challenge.

:{'All I know is you and Xander have to stay together at all times William,'}:

Keeping the human with him went without saying, Xander needed to be protected, but it was the use of his given name that impressed this upon his mind without question or doubt. Cordelia had called him many names, a lot of them not worth repeating as far as Spike was concerned, but she had never called him William. Not that he could remember. Spike took her at her word.

~~~~~

~~~~~

Back at the hotel, the two investigators set up their equipment and started the task of tracking the movement of the little yellow blip on the laptop monitor that was the transmitter they'd planted on Lilah. Gunn produced wireless, micro-headset communication devices and hand-held devices that resembled palm pilots and were linked directly to the laptop creating a secure communication-web-net. They couldn't be too prepared or too safe at this point in the game.

Since Willow was their computer-hacking expert, the field-team called Sunnydale.

"We think we know which building they're holding Angel in, now we need blueprints and access codes."

Willow hacked into the cities Commission and Planning database and transmitted the needed plans for the Transamerica Pyramid building, as filed by Dinwiddie Construction Co. back in 1969 when the building was started and another set from 1972 when it had been completed. Getting the access codes for the building's security system was going to be a bit more complicated, since the system reset the codes based on random factors hourly, and you had to have a magnetic access card for the card-readers. The young witch promised to work on cracking the system with a decoder that would access the new codes minutes after they were set, and then transmit them to the laptop.

It looked like they had everything they needed at this point, so both teams called it a night with the promise to synchronize later the next day. With the last of the details taken care of they all went to bed, looking forward to the next night anxiously. All they had to do now was wait for the window of opportunity and the ball would be in action.

*****
Part 9:

18:45 San Francisco: December 9, 2002

Lilah walked into the large chamber followed by Carter Stevens, her assigned assistant and Nomac's first lieutenant. Two guards remain posted at the entrance of the room. Lilah looked around at the equipment lovingly as she approached the three tanks. There was a dark-haired figure floating naked and unconscious inside the center chamber. It looked like a man-sized vacuum tube. A cylinder of metal and thick glass filled with a swirling yellow/red fluid.

"Hello, baby, how is my Angel-fish today? Guess what? We're going to harvest you, Angel." Lilah tapped on the glass with a manicured nail and grinned, "bone marrow, organs, everything. Your tissue's too valuable to let go to waste, and soon, you'll have company."

Angel continued to float, oblivious to his surroundings and Lilah's gloating. She was truly enjoying seeing him helpless, but thought it would be really great if he were aware of her. She wanted him to raise his head and open those incredibly intense dark eyes and know that she was the reason he was there.

*****

*****

"This is it everyone. Final com-unit check?"

"Good."

"Right."

"Yo."

"Sync palms... now."

They each pointed their hand-held units at the laptop and beam-synced then the gadgets vanished into pockets as they all exchanged one final glance.

"We're all clear on the plan then and everyone is ready?"

Two nods, one comment, "We get my sire, then all hell breaks loose... hold on to ya knickers, chaps, William the bloody is out for it."

*****
POV: Xander
*****

Xander adjusted his burgundy cap, holding it by the bib and re-shaping it into a curve, putting his brow and eyes into shadow. He slid the Clark Kent eye glasses on, adding a nerdy aspect to his disguise and plastered a blank grin on his face. He gripped the handle of his cart tightly and began to move, pushing the large basket on wheels ahead of him as he went up the ramp and into the building. The first guard led the cleaning crew down the narrow hall while the second remained at the door to assist the goofy straggler with his cart.

A pale hand snaked through the closing door and gripped the guard by the back of his shirt collar and jerked forcefully. There was a muffled *oomph* as his head made contact with the metal door frame. The door clicked shut on a harsh growl and a muffled yelp. Moments later there were faint sounds of something heavy being dragged away from the door.

Xander waited nervously, casting glances up the short hall, keeping an eye of the back of the last crew-member in the line as they passed into the building lobby. Sounds in his ear as the micro-com came to life with a softly accented London voice. "Xander, open the door now." Shivers tingled through him at the soft whisper, so intimately close. A flurry of movement as Spike squeezed past him and entered the building. Xander began down the hall to join the rest of the crew.

"Hey you, where's the other guard?"

The goof grinned stupidly as he approached. He proudly tapped the badge clipped to his left shirt pocket.

"Aww, shit, another dim-wit," the guard muttered as he walked away shaking his head.

"We got another trainee?"

"Looks that way."

"Wait... it's not on the work order..."

"Well he's here, what do we do?"

The group of men and women moved off to the side to confer on the situation. They were already under observation for previous infractions and didn't want to make things worse by calling the shift supervisor at home and asking about the mix up. No one wanted to take the time to train the new guy since it would slow them down. The consensus was to give him the easiest task. It took them five minutes to make the new trainee understand what they wanted him to do, by then they were glad to turn on their personal stereo systems, settle their headphones and clean the night away to their choice of music.

Ten minutes later Xander was pushing his cart into an elevator and pushing the button marked O.D. "I'm on the elevator and headed toward the Observation Deck," he murmured into his com-unit as the car began to rise.

"Gotcha," the reply came back.

"A Long hallway with some kind of desk in the middle. Turn-styles on either end, two guards posted behind it. Another pair at the far end of the hall, they're standing guard near a metal door, think it's the lift," Xander murmured as he pushed his cart into the hall and started towards the desk.

*****

*****

"Hey! Hey, you! Damn-it! Hey stupid, this area is restricted. You're not allowed here." Both guards had looked up at the sound of the elevator doors sliding open. The Observation Deck had been closed to the public sometime ago; the cleaning crew didn't normally come to this level so the two were immediately suspicious. Both men relaxed slightly when they realized they were dealing with an illegal immigrant with a very weak grasp of the English language. They decided to have a bit of fun.

"You just cool your jets, give me about ten minutes. I'll take little Pedro down the hall and show him how we recycle," the first guard whispered to his partner as Xander came closer.

The young man smiled his stupid smile and pointed at the cart. "Trainee," he said as he indicated the big red letters stenciled on the side of the cloth basket. The words read, RECYCLE - WHITE PAPER ONLY THIS CART. "Recycle," he stated proudly, pointing to the badge on his shirt - it read TRAINEE in big block letters. The second guard grinned back at his partner and winked as the man stepped out from behind the desk.

"I take white paper," Xander stated enthusiastically, "put een cart. You have paper meester?"

"Sure, sure, we got lots of paper. You come with me? I show you, okay?" the guard spoke imbecilic and Xander nodded and grinned back. The guard took his arm and ushered the immigrant back down the hall and around the corner. "Right in here, Pedro, I show you recycle."

"Recycle, yes, I take white paper only een cart."

"Right, right," the man said moving close and grabbing Xander's shoulder. A swift knee to the balls and a forearm across the throat and the guard went down. Xander grabbed the man's night stick and fell on him, clubbing him senseless. He ripped the handcuffs from the guard's belt and used them to secure the man's hands behind his back. He used the guard's belt to secure his legs at the ankle and then stuffed several wads of balled paper into the man's mouth before gagging him with his uniform tie. The key to the handcuffs was tossed into the cart and the trussed up guard stuffed into an empty closet.

*****
POV: Xander
*****

"What are you doing back here? Where's Pete?" the guard asked as the geeky immigrant came around the corner smiling foolishly.

"Need that diversion about now," Xander murmured as he placed his hands on the cart handle. The guard had risen and was moving from behind the desk. Activity at the other end of the hall and one of the armed guards there took off, leaving only one. "Still got a man at that end of the hall," he hissed into his com-unit.

"Cart," Xander crowed, as if it were the greatest word ever invented. They moved closer to each other and Xander gave the cart a hard shove, sending it into the unsuspecting man's mid-section.

"*Oomph*."

A pale form surged from the depths of the paper filled basket. A blur of black hit the guard, knocking him down, and hurtled on down the hall toward the lone guard. Xander dived on the downed guard, attacking viciously with the stolen night stick he'd tucked in the waistband of his pants at the small of his back.

He was just looking up as Spike hit the other guard before the man could get a shot off. The vampire snatched the rifle out of the man's hands and slammed the butt into the unprotected face. The sound of a sickening crunch and the brown eyes rolled up into the head as cartilage and splintered bone pierced the brain tissue, snuffing out a life. The dead guard folded to the floor with a dull thud.

Spike turned quickly to check on Xander who was dumping his bound guard into the cart. Spike hoisted his victim and carried him back toward Xander. He dumped the body unceremoniously into the cart. Xander took the proffered rifle and covered them as Spike pushed the cart back down the hall and around the corner. The bodies were added to the one already in the closet.

They quickly returned to the secured lift at the end of the hall. "We have the corridor. Have you got the code for this lift yet?"

"Transmitting it now."

Spike produced his hand-held and pointed it at the console mounted on the wall. He nodded the signal to Xander, and the young man inserted his stolen key-card. Several seconds ticked by. A bead of sweat trickled down Xander's back. The red light turned green. The silver door slid to the side and the two pushed the cart into the lift.

"This is it mate."

"Yeah," Xander replied quietly.

"Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this," Xander took a deep breath and met the intense blue gaze.

"Scared?"

"You suicidal?"

"Only in the mornings, pet," Spike grinned back.

*****

*****

An alarm starts buzzing. The lights above them flickered then went out. Emergency back systems came online, red lights blink on throughout the building. Guards responded to the security breach, hustling the cleaning crew back to the main floor and securing them in one area.

"Hey, where's that guy?"

"Which one?"

"The stupid guy, the one with the recycle cart." No-one had the answer. A guard spoke into his walkie-talkie. "We got a straggler lost in the building. Cleaning crew trainee, if you see this guy bring him to the command center on the first floor, the rest of his crew is here."

*****

*****

Two latex-clad, ninja-like intruders moved out of the shadows. They ran on all fours, racing upside down across the ceiling at break-neck speed. They dropped from the ceiling, somersaulting down to the floor and landing in cat-like stances. They are wearing metal goggles with pin prick openings. Both heads turn and survey the corridor lit by red, strobing emergency lights. They peer around a corner and see armed men rushing past.

*****

*****

Lilah hears the alarms and looks around quickly as the lights begin to flicker. She looks at the surveillance monitors located in a console. "Shit!"

Stevens moves to her side and takes a look at the bank of security monitors. The pictures break into static just as a figure rushes past.

*****

*****

The lift stopped and the door slid open on a long hallway. The area is eerily quiet, except for the steady, low-pitched HUM of machinery.

"We have to leave the cart."

"Are you in position?"

"Yeah, we found a door marked Eugenics, must be the lab or whatever."

"That's it. We're reading a Lilah-blip someplace on the other side of the wall."

"How do we get in there? There's no card-reader or anything..."

Inside of the Range Rover Gunn reviewed the building plan. There was a red dot on their printed copy marking Lilah's location. It corresponded to the blip on the monitor.

"There is a network of airways running over your location... Shit! Get out of that hallway now, I've got mass activity heading your way! Move!"

Spike looked up, scanning the ceiling. "Don't see any vents," he said, tone clipped.

"Here, in here," Xander whispered loudly and slipped into an office. Spike followed quickly.

"Nothing in this corridor... listen up! You, take some men and check the east side of the building. You and you, do the same thing with the south and north sides, go! The rest of you come with me. Check every room this is not a drill people we've been compromised!"

*****
POV: Spike
*****

"Hurry," Xander urged, peering down at Spike. The vampire jumped upward and gripped the edge of the airway shaft. Xander grabbed his wrist and heaved. Spike scrambled into the shaft and pulled his feet up. Xander slid the cover into place. The door opened and they could see guards moving through the office conducting a swift search.

"Clean."

"Clear."

The scoobie team-mates pulled back from the venting as one of the guards stopped and looked up. Several moments later the door closed behind the last one into the hallway.

"Fuck that was close."

"We're in the shaft, which way?"

"Hold up, Wes, you got their locale yet?"

"Yes, they're in sector 90-R1140."

"Bet, beaming you the specs on the vent-works, follow the blinking line."

Wesley pushed the send button and the data began to scroll out on the palm-units.

"Okay, we're moving."

"That way, then we go left," Xander said, indicating the direction behind them after having checked his palm-unit. The two crawled quietly through the square, narrow tube. They saw several groups of guards running through the offices below.

"We've got company of the demon type in here; things are definitely not going of the good."

"You what?"

"Xander are you saying..."

"Yeah, he is, some of the fuckers are vamps," Spike confirmed."

"Shit, shit."

"Stay frosty, you're almost there."

*****

*****

"Okay, we can see the lab."

Xander and Spike removed the cover at the end of the airway and dropped down onto a narrow catwalk on the second level up. They peered down into the lab below and seeing a churning vat of blood before seeing anything else. They began moving cautiously toward the end of the catwalk. Below men begin to enter the lab from two directions. A door they hadn't seen before slid open and two vampires stepped through and faced them.

"Up there!" someone shouted as they noticed Spike and the vampire tear into each other. Several guards raised their weapons and took aim.

"NO! Hold your fire. If you hit the wrong thing..."

"Xander!" Spike yelled, but the mortal had already heard and was moving.

"On it!" he yelled back and opened fire on the group below.

"Hit the consoles!" Wes' voice cracked into his ear.

"Fuck!"

"Hold fire! Repeat! Do no.." A bullet tore through his head and the guard jerked back. His body spasmed, firing off his automatic rifle and spraying bullets into the air.

Xander dropped the rifle and pulled his crossbow from the harness on his back. He took swift careful aim and then sub-vocalized, :{Spike get down now,'}: the blonde bashed his opponent in the face and dropped as Xander pulled the trigger. The wooden arrow-stake slammed into the vamp and it burst into fire. Spike was instantly moving, diving forward to catch the disintegrating stake in mid-air and ram it into the second vampire.

"Stop him!!!"

Spike gripped the guard rail and looked at Xander.

"GO!!!"

*****
POV: Spike
*****

Spike vaulted over the rail and arced out into the air. Everything slip-streamed into slow motion then - the sound of gun shots - bullets ripping through the air - screams of pain as they tore into flesh. Xander swung his gun down. Squeezed the trigger and held. His roaring yell joined the sound of those below. Screams of pain as bullets sprayed down. Lilah looked up, met the blue-ringed gaze. Spike plummeted faster. Face twisted in pain and anger. His roars abruptly cut silent as he plunged into the churning vat and sank, disappearing beneath the churning slurry of crimson.

A moment passed. Time snapped back into focus and Xander began to move. He ran to the end of the catwalk and slid down the ladder. Dull thuds could be heard and eyes turned toward the aluminum vat as the side dented outward. Xander fired blindly as he hit the floor; bullets whizzed around, hitting circuitry, striking several canisters of combustible chemicals. The first explosion set off a chain reaction. In seconds, flames were licking across the laboratory floor. The metal buckled under the pounding from inside. Xander and Lilah locked eyes across the distance.

"Bitch!" Xander hollered

"Kill him!" She screamed.

Guards started to move forward. They stopped at the sound of metal giving under incredible stress. A fist burst through the vat. Blood began to gush out in a torrent as Spike gripped the edges of the hole and tore it wider. A spouting geyser of blood arced out, spitting Spike into the midst of the room, covered head-to-toe in crimson. Game-face. Majestic and glistening. A primordial god. He reared back his head and let loose a triumphal roar. Lilah's men hesitated. One look in Spike's blazing amber eyes revealed he'd tapped into a well-spring of fury even he never knew he had. Spike tore into the guards, unleashing a blizzard of martial arts kicks and blows.

"WHERE'S MY SIRE YOU FUCKING CUNT!" Spike roared at Lilah as he powered a right hook into the first guards face, then pivoted, launching a devastating spinning back-fist into the face of a second. At the same time, he ripped the second guard's security belt from his waist, twirled it around and blinded a third guard and captured the wrist of a fourth.

"Fuck! Fuck!"

"Xander! What's going on!!!?"

Xander tossed the empty rifle aside and charged forward. He dived to the floor and rolled forward, surging to his feet with another rifle in his hands and spraying bullets into Lilah's men as he ran. He splashed into the slick blood and slipped, his feet shooting out from under him and spinning him across the slick expanse. Spike knocked two vampires onto their asses with a foot sweep. Then he was up again, slamming the bridge of a fifth guards nose into his brain with a palm heel strike. A snap kick, an overhand elbow strike, followed by a knee stamp shattering the man's knee cap. An upward block, a jab, a cross, a shin kick aimed at a vamp's quadriceps. Overhand punches, rising punches, parallel punches, spinning rear elbows, deep kicks, on and on in an orgy of violence.

*****
POV: Lilah
*****

"Get out of the way," Lilah screamed shoving past several guards trying to shove their way through the door at once. Screams and horrible sounds filled the air. Spike dropped into a crouch, causing the pair of vampires to fire their weapons at one another. He clawed his way toward the dark haired woman and was pulled back by another vampire.

Stevens manually activated a series of hydraulic lock-down latches. The doors of the eastern, northern, and western corridors sealed, lock-down latches clamping down. The remaining guards turned and ran to the western door and slipped out as it slid down, severing a pair of legs as the latches clamped into place. Spike turned and spotted Stevens across the room and rushed towards him with inhuman speed. Panicked, Stevens turned towards the secret elevator. Lilah stood waiting inside. Stevens started towards the elevator escape. Lilah dispassionately pressed the "CLOSE DOOR" button.

"What are you doing?!!" Stevens screamed, rushing towards the closing elevator doors and beating his fist against them. Behind him, Spike started laughing, a terrible rending sound. Stevens turned to glance quickly over his shoulder and in an eye-blink Spike was on him, slamming his hand over Stevens' face and crushing it. Lilah slid a security card through a reader and punched in a code. A thin spray of blood sliced across the forearm of her white blouse. She looked at the elevator doors and saw blood seeping through the vertical door seal. The doors shuddered violently as Spike dismembered Carter Stevens on the other side while the car slid into a swift descent. Lilah retreated to the far corner of the elevator breathing a sigh of relief.

*****
POV: Spike
*****

"SIRE!" Spike screamed looking around frantically. "Xander!" came next and Spike started forward. Xander struggled to his feet.

"I'm okay," his voice was angry and shaky.

"You sure?" Spike questioned. Xander nodded and Spike spun back toward the faint glow emitting from behind an area sectioned off with canvas tarps. Spike tore one of the tarps down, revealing three large tanks. The first and last were empty, a man was suspended in the center tank, bobbing weightlessly in a sea of yellow/red plasma, his dark hair floating around his lifeless face.

"NO!!" Spike screamed in anguish, beating his fist against the cylinder. "ANGEL! SIRE!" he beat the words against the glass trying to shatter it with his rage and desire to free Angel from his prison.

"Xander! What's happening?!!"

*****
POV: Xander
*****

The fighting started. The hyena-spirit yammered; the soldier-spirit bellowed, both fighting for control. Xander spiraled down into the chaos. He stumbled blindly across the room, crashing into things as the war within his body escalated to new heights and ferocity.

Spike spun away from the tank and grabbed Xander. "Xander! Pet, what is it, what?!" Spike was instantly in his human face, his concern for the mortal pulling him from his rage. He held Xander at arms length and stared into the distanced face, recognizing the look from that time in the airport. Some instinct took over and Spike called his name again, softer this time, "Xander." He pulled the blood soaked human against him and sealed his lips over Xander's, cutting of the gasping sounds with a kiss.

The jolt from before shocked through them, sending them both reeling away from each other with the intensity. The energy coursed through Xander. It spun him apart and together. He felt as if he were being smelted, like metal fired until it melted. His awareness flowed into a pool of bright luminosity, forged and cooled. His eyes shuttered open and he looked out from that else-where distance. Everything in his sight shimmered in washes of amber. His mind was silent and Xander felt whole and serene in the calm.

Spike regained his balance and darted a look at Xander. His mouth fell open at the sight. Xander was glowing softly. Amber motes of energy swirled and pulsed in the air around him. It burned the air with ozone as he moved across the blood-slick floor to stand before the tank. He raised a hand and hit the glass.

"Xander, pet, we already tried that. Luv, it was..."

Xander shifted his stance, bracing his feet, one slightly in front of the other. He raised both fists and squeezed them together. The amber energy swirled up his arms and pulsed around his fists as he brought them hard against the glass. Cracks spider-webbed out from his fists as the energy was released, the glass shattered with a horrible sound. The thick blood and fluids washed out over him as Angel's limp body tumbled partly down, suspended by wires and medical leads. Xander wrapped his glowing hand around the wires and Angel fell into his arms and he cradled the naked vampire as they sank to the floor. He stared down into the lifeless face. "Oh fuck, what did they do to you?"

Angel's eyes abruptly snapped open, flaring briefly with amber/gold before slipping shut again.

*****

*****

It was another fire fight as the staggered out of the elevator on the mezzanine with Angel's limp body between them.

"We need some help in here!"

"Hold on, we're moving," Wes told them as Gunn threw the SUV into gear and swerved away from the curb. The Range Rover raced down the block and barreled through the intersection. Gunn spun the wheel hard and the car swerved to the left and toward the glass-plated lobby of the building.

"What are you doing!!?"

"Where are you guys?"

We're stuck on the mezzanine! Hurry!"

"Gunn! What, watch out!"

""Get Down!"

Wes braced himself and ducked down as the nose of the vehicle struck the thick glass and hurtled into the lobby. Chunks of shattered safety glass from the building and the windshield hailed across their faces as the Range Rover spun across the slick surface of the shellacked brick red floor. Gunn slammed his hand on the release for his seatbelt and tumbled out. He scrambled to his feet with a rifle in one hand and a crossbow in the other. Both men raced toward the elevator and jabbed the button furiously.

"Keep the engine running, be ready to burn that mutha when you see the doors open again," Gunn said as he stepped into the elevator and hit the MEZZ button.

*****

*****

A figure clad in black latex appeared out of no-where and blocked their path. Spike shoved Angel's weight on Xander and lunged forward. The new opponent cart wheeled away. In the blink of an eye, there was a second ninja-spook launching himself at Spike, hand-springing off the floor, then kicking him in the mid-section. Spike flew back and crashed into the wall and the ninja-spook pressed forward, unsheathing a sword. Spike surged up and rushed forward, morphing into game-face, roaring. Gunn flinched at the sound of blood in Spike's voice as his elevator opened and he raced out onto the mezzanine and stopped at Xander's side.

The ninja blocked Spike's punch, trapping his forearm and pivoted to plant a boot in Spike's ribcage. Spike howled as the two of them unleash a flurry of kicks, blocks, and punches. The ninja got Spike in a back-choke and the blonde twisted free, throwing the ninja over his shoulder. The ninja hit the floor and dived into a series of cartwheels, springing back off the wall and flying at Spike. Spike ducked beneath a kick, and then trapped the black-booted foot, giving it a savage twist. He followed with a backhand blow so strong that it knocked the ninja to his knees. The black gloved hand shot back, reaching for a short sword. In a heartbeat, the sword flashed out toward Spike's throat.

*****
POV: Xander
*****

"Here, take him! Get Angel out!" Xander yelled. He could feel another surge of energy burn through his mind. He stepped away from Gunn who stumbled back into the open elevator car staring in shock. Xander's hands started glowing and his eyes turned amber as he charged toward Spike.

"Spike!" he yelled and raised his glowing hands. The metal goggles spun in Xander's direction and Spike slammed a blow to the chest as he fell back. The blast of power shot from Xander's hand and arced toward the fighter Spike was dodging away from. A flash and the bolt was deflected up into the ceiling.

A third black-clad figure stood several feet in front of Xander with a drawn sword. He deflected the next blast Xander released and spun toward the mortal. He raised the sword over his head for a down-slash and leapt into the air. Xander's next blast slammed into the ninja and spun him into the stone wall.

"Stop!!!!!"

Spike and the first Ninja halted their renewed attack. Xander checked the blast he had been about to slam out. The second ninja quickly spoke again, "We didn't come here to fight. We came to help."

Spike looked back to the first black-clad figure as he moved to Xander's side. The slender ninja sheathed her sword and the third climbed to his feet and sheathed his at his back.

"Take off your Halloween faces, then ya fuckin wankers," Spike demanded. The trio removed their masks. The first is a male Sufi Muslim. The second is a young woman with emerald eyes and strong, darkly exotic features. The third and tallest is male, Asian descent with strong, glowering features. All three are pure-blood vampires.

"My name is Asad. This is Nyssa, this is Snow. We represent the Shadow Cabinet, the ruling body of the Vampire Nation. They sent us to help; they want to meet with you."

*****