Breaking Free (36/many?)
Feb. 4th, 2007 09:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stillroseTitle: Breaking Free (36/many?)
Fandom: BTVS; Spike/Xander
Warnings: Slash, AU, Sci-fi, kink
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Lt. “Xander” Harris and Captain William the Bloody have both suffered and lost in the on going war between the Biogens and Council. Now, Xander finds himself a prisoner of Captain William the Bloody (aka Spike). What will be Xander’s fate?
Previous parts here.
As always: Feedback make my heart go pitter-patter.
It's not what everyone hoped for this chap.....the storm clouds are gathering.
MANY HEARTFELT THANKS to slashpuppy for the excellent beta work!!! I really need to learn to wait for her FB before posting. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
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This time the succession of kicks punctuating the voice’s last four words were aimed at Spike’s face.
Why’s it always in the bloody face? Spike briefly wondered before he once again surrendered into unconsciousness.
***
Xander paced outside the Snyder’s bridge. Riley was reporting into Buffy, again, before Xander would finally have a chance to talk with her and Willow. Xander hissed and felt the ball of writhing emotions well up. For a moment, Xander’s vision started to tilt “golden.”
Careful, Xan-man, Xander silently admonished, showing off the ‘new and improved’ Xander features won’t do Spike any good other than get him a new roommate and it’s well known the guest accommodations suck.
Xander took a deep breath. His emotions were high and conflicted. On the one hand he was anxious to talk withWillow
Yet Xander was terrified. Spike was alone, unarmed and thoroughly in enemy territory. Worse then enemy territory, Xander thought, he’s in Council custody under Riley’s command.
“Fuck!” Xander muttered as he continued his pacing. How long does it take for Riley to make a second report?
Riley had reported in immediately once he had brought Xander and Spike aboard. Xander flinched at the memories of Spike’s beaten and bloodied face. I helped in that! Xander bit the inside of his cheek to keep from crying. I hurt Spike!
Then Xander clenched his fists and thought: He’s probably in worse shape now! Xander knew what happened to captured Biogens. Hell at one time he might have been all on board the brutal train. Back when I believed the Council lies, Xander thought.
Some part of Xander desperately wanted to believe that Riley wasn’t another victim of the same propaganda, but Xander knew better. He’d already seen the look in Riley’s eye when he’d kicked Spike.
Riley would have never fallen for Caleb’s line, Xander thought and for the first time that thought didn’t bring a flush of shame to Xander’s face. Xander snorted.
I may have been a naïve fool to trust Caleb, Xander thought, but I wasn’t a fellow sadist. Better to be a one-eyed freak than a heartless bastard!
For a moment Xander briefly smiled as he could almost hear Spike’s voice calling him a “daft git” at Xander’s near moment of inner rambling profundity.
“Spike,” Xander closed his eyes and barely whispered, “Hang on you bossy blond menace.”
Xander opened his eyes and resumed pacing again. What the hell is taking so long? He wondered.
During Riley’s first report Xander had been given a cursory examination by the ship’s doctor. Xander had refused anything more then a check of vital signs, insisting he only wanted to be examined by his doctor, Tara Maclay. Xander had known it would piss Riley off, but for the first time Xander wasn’t afraid of invoking his Council connections to get what he wanted.
“I’m only going through the humiliation of thorough exam once,” Xander had argued, “and I want it to be done not only by a friend but by the best.”
No one would argue that not only was Dr. Maclay one of the best physicians she was also a close friend of Xander’s being married to the Council’s chief Cyber-mageWillow
Being sent on his way had meant being escorted to a small cabin where Xander had been allowed to shower and change into a provided Council uniform. Xander had taken a few minutes before leaving his cabin to study his reflection in the small mirror.
The uniformed Xander in the mirror had long hair, a sharper edge to his features and a more confident stance then the one before Xander had met Spike. Xander looked out of place. The Council soldier image didn’t fit him anymore.
Xander had tugged at the collar of his uniform and itched to strip it off and throw it away along with the useless eye-patch. However, he knew he had to play the role now for Spike.
Xander had taken a small comfort in noting that his hair was longer than regulation. Not going to cut it, Xander vowed. Gonna let Spike gloat and stroke this shaggy mop to his arrogant heart’s content once we’re safely together again.
Then Xander had smiled and exited his cabin. He’d ordered his “escorts” to take him to the bridge. Of course that had to be cleared by Riley and of course that hadn’t been exactly a well received “request” but it turned out that Riley really had no choice as Buffy had asked to speak with Xander as soon as he was ready.
So now Xander was ready and pacing outside the bridge while Riley filed another report. Once again Xander felt his vision blur and his face “itched.” Once again Xander took another deep breath.
“Harris!” Riley’s voice boomed as the bridge doors flew open. Xander jumped.
“The Prime Regent is ready to speak with you,” Riley said.
Jerk, Xander thought as he nodded and fought the urge to roll his eyes as he entered the bridge. Riley pointed at a chair in front of the communication console.
“The Regent has asked we clear the bridge while she interviews you,” Riley said with barely suppressed anger. Then with a quick gesture at his crew Riley left the bridge. His crew quickly followed.
Xander took a deep breath and stepped forward to slide into the chair.
***
“Xander!”Willow
“Xander,” Buffy’s breathless voice followed quickly behindWillow
“Wills,..Buf,” Xander said as he tried to focus past his blurred vision to see “his girls.”
“Xan, don’t cry,”Willow
“Cry?” Xander asked as he sniffled and brushed his hand over his right eye. “Who’s cryin? Just allergies here. Must be Riley’s cologne.”
Buffy laughed and wiped her own eyes.
“One ofWillow
“X..Xander, it’s good to s..s..see you,” whispered Tara who quickly appeared behindWillow
“Never better,” Xander answered.
“I am relieved to hear that, Xander,” the Watcher’s crisp and accented voice said as Giles appeared behind Buffy. “We all look forward to your quick and safe return.”
“Thanks, G-man,” Xander smoothly replied keeping the chill he felt twisting in his gut absent from his response. How could you be part of the lies? Xander thought. How could you hide the truth? How could you lie to US?
“How many times have I asked you not to call…,” Giles began and then paused to study Xander. “Are you ok?”
Xander flashed a smile. “I’m fine. Just a little overwhelmed, not too mention suffering from severe Cheesey Twists withdrawal.”
Once again Xander’s girls laughed. Giles took off his glasses and rubbed at the lenses with his handkerchief.
“W..we..well once I check you out,”Tara said, “I’ll be sure to au..authorize a chocolate and snack food filled w..welcome home p..p…party,”
“Right!” Buffy agreed. “No one goes home without eating major quantities of poundage inducing junk food!”
“Good Lord," Giles said as he reseated his glassed on his nose. “We might as well surrender now. None of the Regents will be left in fighting condition.”
Xander faked another smile.
“Don’t worry about that,” Buffy growled. “After what they did to Xander there won’t be any Biogens left to surrender to.”
“Buf…”
“No Xander!” Buffy cut him off. “What they did to you is unforgivable.”
What did they know? Xander wondered. What did their spies tell them?
“I’m alive, Buffy,” Xander said.
“Xander,”Willow
Xander hid a wince as he could almost feelWillow
“Wills, it wasn’t that b…”
“By your own admission you said you were tortured!”
This time Xander’s wince showed. He had said that he’d been tortured to Riley and no doubt the tinman had reported that to Buffy. Xander’s gut twisted more. He couldn’t talk with Buffy andWillow
This is going to have to be a face to face angst fest, Xander thought.
“X…Xander, are you a..all right?”Tara asked.
“I’m fine,” Xander sighed. “I just…Can we talk about all this when I get back?”
“Absolutely!”Willow
“I understand,” Buffy said, “but we do have to talk about one thing before then.”
“Sp..William the bloody?” Xander asked not missing Giles’s narrowed look at Xander’s near misstep.
Buffy nodded. “I understand that you want to bring him back here?”
“Yes,” Xander said.
“For…trial?”
Xander nodded.
“Xander, Biogens don’t get a trial. You know that,” Giles said.
“They’re things,” Buffy spat.
“Right,” Xander choked. “I just…well…Xan-man scrambled. It’s just that…Bloody is Angel’s right hand…”
“Which means I want to interrogate him,” Buffy said, “personally. Not give him a trial.”
Xander swallowed his fear and added,” Well then I think you’d better tell Riley.”
“I have.”
“Buf, you weren’t there when they captured him,” Xander said. “Bloody might not make it….”
“Xander,” Giles said, “Captain Finn has his orders.”
“And accidents happen!” Xander replied.
The Regent and her inner circle fell quiet for a moment. Then Buffy said, “What do you wanna do?”
“Put me in charge of the prisoner.”
Willow
“Xander, I’m..n..not s..sure that’s a g..good idea,” saidTara .
“She’s right, “Willow
I’m going to have to convince them I hate Spike! Xander thought. C’mon Xan-man, you can do this.
“Buffy,” Xander said in a tone of voice he’d only ever used when talking to the girls about Caleb, “trust me. I need to see he gets back to the ‘Dale. I want him to face you and Wills. And most of all, I want him to know I brought him to you.”
Once again Buffy and the others were silent. Then Giles sighed.
“All right, Xander,“ Buffy said. “I’ll tell Riley that you are in charge of Seventeen.”
Seventeen? Xander wondered and then realized it must be Spike’s prisoner designation.
“Thank you, Buffy,” Xander said. His girls smiled back.
I’ve convinced them, Xander thought. Now I’m going to have to convince Riley.
***
After Xander had finished his conversation with the girls he’d had the pleasure of “sending” Riley back into the bridge and once again Xander was left pacing outside the bridge while he waited for Riley to finish speaking with Buffy. However, it was almost worth it when Riley marched out of the bridge, his face purple with suppressed rage.
Buffy pulled rank on you big time, huh? Xander thought as he hid his smile.
“Regent Buffy has ordered that you be in charge of Seventeen,” Riley said, his voice clipped and sharp.
Xander nodded.
“I suppose you would like to see the prisoner?”
“Yes.”
Riley leaned deep into Xander’s personal space and stared at his subordinate with high connections.
“This is still my ship, Lt. Harris. I’m responsible for the safety of every man and woman aboard. I don’t trust you. I think you’re compromised and until I think otherwise….”
“Just show me the prisoner,” Xander barked, his return gaze as penetrating as Riley’s.
Riley arched an eyebrow, “Not quite the donut boy you were, huh Harris?”
“You can definitely say I’m a changed man,” Xander smoothly replied keeping his human face firmly in place.
“What’s the fire to see Seventeen?” Riley asked.
“Payback’s a bitch,” Xander once again made his voice as hard as Riley’s.
Riley’s dry laugh surprised Xander.
“No, Harris,” Riley corrected, “Payback’s a virgin…a bitch is too easy.”
Xander swallowed his revulsion and nodded.
“Show me the prisoner,” Xander ordered.
***
Riley briefed Xander on the way to the Snyder’s brig.
“Sgt. Gates has been assigned to handle the prisoner,” Riley explained.
“Forrest?” Xander asked with a tremor of trepidation.
“Gates can the handle the situation,” Riley answered.
“Xander knew Sgt. Forrest Gates was Riley’s right hand man. Xander also knew Gates’s hatred for Biogens had once rivaled Xander’s.
“What has he done to secure Sp…Seventeen?” Xander asked.
Riley smiled, “You’ll see.”
Hang on, Spike! Xander thought as he feared for Spike’s condition. Hang on!
***
Specialist Graham Miller was standing at attention outside the brig’s door when Xander and Riley approached. Graham’s presence was a small comfort to Xander. While Specialist Miller was a loyal soldier and believed in the Council’s cause, Xander had never known him to be cruel. In fact, Xander had always seen Graham as a calm and sane man in the mix of hot headed tinmen like Riley and Forrest.
“Specialist Miller,” Xander acknowledged as he approached the guard.
Miller snapped to attention and saluted Xander. That’s another thing I like about him, Xander thought. He treats me like a Lieutenant and not the Regent’s donut boy.
“Sirs,” Miller said addressing both his senior ranking officers.
“Gates in there with the prisoner?” Riley asked.
“Yes sir!”
“Prisoner secure?” Riley asked.
Miller looked uncomfortable for a moment as if he’d remembered something unpleasant and then he responded, “Yes sir! I believe so sir.”
Once again Xander swallowed his fear and said, “I’d like to see the prisoner.”
Miller looked to Riley for authorization. Riley nodded. Miller turned and entered the code to open the brig door.
“Aren’t you going to inform him about the new or…” Xander began to ask.
Riley put a hand to Xander’s chest and turned sharply to face him.
“When and if you can convince me that placing you in charge of Seventeen won’t put my ship at risk,” Riley hissed.
Xander bit the inside of his cheek and nodded. Riley held Xander in place for a moment more before retreating and letting Xander enter the brig.
Before Xander could register how completely dark the brig was, he noted how disgusting it smelt. There was the smell of stale urine, old sweat, rancid blood, and adrenaline pumped from pain.
“Lights,” Xander gagged even as he kept himself from making the switch to his Biogen enhanced vision.
“Gates,” Riley ordered, “secure your self.”
“Yes sir,” Gates’s voice drifted from the darkness.
“Lights!” Riley ordered and then the brig was flooded with light. Forrest stood nearby with a set of night goggles in hand. However, Xander didn’t notice. Xander’s focus was firmly placed on the bloody and bruised huddle of flesh on the floor.
“S…SEVENTEEN!” Xander gasped.
At the sound of Xander’s voice Spike opened his swollen eyes. Blood tinged the white around his brilliant blue irises. Spike remained silent and motionless.
“The new chip is in place as ordered, sir,” Gates addressed Riley.
Xander dropped to his haunches and studied Spike further. Indeed he noticed a metallic ring embedded in the right side of Spike’s skull.
“Excellent,” Riley said.
“Is it functioning?” Xander asked keeping the dread from his voice.
“Yes sir!” Gates replied before pressing a button on a wrist device.
Spike’s body arched, convulsed and the usually arrogant Biogen let loose a broken scream.
“STOP!” Xander immediately ordered.
Gates looked to Riley. Riley nodded. Gates pressed another button and Spike’s was once again motionless and silent except for his labored breathing. Xander stood up and whirled around.
“Give me the wrist device!” Xander ordered.
Gates once again looked to Riley.
“Not until you prove me to me this isn’t a mistake,” Riley said.
“Captain Finn you have your orders from the Prime Regent herself,” Xander challenged.
“And I told you, Lieutenant Harris, I am not putting my ship and people at risk until I know placing you in charge of Seventeen isn’t a mistake!”
“No one wants to see Seventeen secure more than I,” Xander said, “and NO ONE wants to see him reach the ‘Dale alive more than I.”
“I don’t doubt any of those things,” Riley said. “What I doubt is that you haven’t been compromised by your time with Seventeen and that your motives have less to do with Council loyalties and more to do with what’s best for Seventeen!”
Xander hissed in a rage he let show. “You know NOTHING about my motives, Finn!”
Xander spun around and faced Spike again. Spike’s eyes were still fixed on Xander.
The two lovers stared at each other. Please understand, Xander silently pleaded with his eye, please understand.
“Get him up and into the brig’s shower,” Xander barked, “and I’ll show you exactly what this thing means to me! I’ll give you the proof you want!”
Spike’s eyes widened a bit, but he still remained silent and motionless. Behind Xander, Finn and Gates shared a look. Then Finn nodded. Gates stepped around Xander and grabbed Spike by the back of the neck.
“UP!” Gates ordered as he dragged Spike onto his feet. “Move!”
Gates shoved Spike forward and to another set of doors. Gates swiped his hand over a panel and the doors slid open. He shoved Spike forward hard enough to send the Biogen stumbling into the cold and tiled room.
There was a toilet and sink to one side of the room while there was an open shower on there other side. Along the middle wall was a small bench.
“Strip!” Xander barked.
Spike finally showed some emotion by whirling around and snarling at Xander in game face. Gates punched Spike hard enough to send him to the floor.
“You heard him!” Gates barked.
“Harris,” Finn asked in confusion and surprise.
Xander turned his focus away from Spike and looked at Riley.
“I want my pound of flesh,” Xander replied letting all the hatred he felt for this situation ooze into every syllable. “An eye for an eye.”
Finn’s eyes narrowed. Xander laughed bitterly.
“Not literally, Captain,” Xander said as he stepped into the brig bathroom. “Seventeen, I won’t ask again. Strip!”
Spike stumbled to his feet and stared at Xander. Then slowly as if on automatic pilot he began to peel away his clothes. Xander swallowed bile and began to remove his own clothes.
“This chip will fire if he trie…,” Xander began to ask.
Gates licked his lips and smiled. “You can do whatever you want, sir. The chip will fire if he tries to fight back in anyway.”
Xander nodded. “Then get out. This is between S…Seventeen and I.”
Once again Gates looked past Xander and to Riley. Riley raised an eyebrow and then motioned with his chin for Gates to leave. Gates laughed and then winked at a now nude Spike. Spike snarled and Gates laughed again as he left the bathroom. The door closed behind him.
Xander finished stripping and put his folded clothes on the bench. He was left dressed only in his eye patch. Xander turned and looked at Spike who was still in game face.
“Get in the shower!” Xander ordered.
Spike just stared at Xander. Xander took a deep breath and then charged. He threw Spike’s body up against the wall of the shower and threw his arm over his chest pinning him to the wall.
“When I give you an order,” Xander barked, “I expect you to follow it…Seventeen!”
Spike tried to struggle but pain flared in his head. He snarled back at Xander, “Welcome home COUNCIL BOY!”
Xander hid his flinch and pressed his body full against Spike. Xander’s cock began to swell despite the circumstances. It was pressed against Spike and swelling with need was a natural response to such stimuli.
“Remember that first day aboard the DeSoto?” Xander asked. “Remember what you did and how you asked if I liked knowing what it was like to be a thing?”
Spike growled. Xander shoved him again.
“I understand now, Seventeen. You taught me well and now it’s my turn to teach you a few things so listen up!”
“Get off me!” Spike yelled.
Xander shoved again and tried to plead Spike with his eye. “LISTEN! There’s nothing you do here that isn’t watched. You have no hope! I’m in control and it’s time I teach you a few lessons! I won’t be Riley’s buttmonkey because I was yours! DO! YOU! UNDERSTAND?”
Xander’s breathing was labored and his grasp was strong, but he hoped his eye shone with his love and need for Spike to understand the situation. Spike finally stilled and looked at Xander. He really looked. One brown eye met a fierce yellow and for a moment there was silence.
Then Spike relaxed somewhat and his game face slid away. Slowly he smiled the cocky grin Xander had first learned to hate and then learned to desperately love.
“Ya think ya have the balls ta teach me something, boy?” Spike snarled.
Xander held back a smile of his own but tilted his hips forward to rub his groin rudely into Spike’s. “I’ve been told I have balls of brass!”
Spike snorted which sounded suspiciously like an aborted laugh. Then Spike looked deadly serious at Xander.
“Then go ahead, Council Boy. Show me what ya got!”
“I’ve got something to prove,” Xander snarled and tried to warn Spike.
“Go ahead, luv,” Spike taunted. ”Do your worst.”
Xander snarled. I don’t know if I can do this, Spike! Xander thought even as he roughly spun Spike around and slammed him back into the wall. This time Xander pressed his hard cock into the cleft of Spike’s ass.
“I intend to,” Xander growled.
Spike closed his eyes and swallowed his own fear and old memories. This is Xan! He silently reminded himself. This is my pet. Then Spike relaxed as much as he could allow.
“Then do it,” Spike ground out. “I promise ya…ya won’t hurt me. YOU can’t!”
Xander took a deep breath and then reached around Spike to flick on the shower cycle. Tears will get lost in the spray, Xander thought as he felt his eyes begin to water.
TBC in prt 37
slashpuppy for the excellent beta work!!! I really need to learn to wait for her FB before posting. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!____________________________________________________________
This time the succession of kicks punctuating the voice’s last four words were aimed at Spike’s face.
Why’s it always in the bloody face? Spike briefly wondered before he once again surrendered into unconsciousness.
***
Xander paced outside the Snyder’s bridge. Riley was reporting into Buffy, again, before Xander would finally have a chance to talk with her and Willow. Xander hissed and felt the ball of writhing emotions well up. For a moment, Xander’s vision started to tilt “golden.”
Careful, Xan-man, Xander silently admonished, showing off the ‘new and improved’ Xander features won’t do Spike any good other than get him a new roommate and it’s well known the guest accommodations suck.
Xander took a deep breath. His emotions were high and conflicted. On the one hand he was anxious to talk with
Yet Xander was terrified. Spike was alone, unarmed and thoroughly in enemy territory. Worse then enemy territory, Xander thought, he’s in Council custody under Riley’s command.
“Fuck!” Xander muttered as he continued his pacing. How long does it take for Riley to make a second report?
Riley had reported in immediately once he had brought Xander and Spike aboard. Xander flinched at the memories of Spike’s beaten and bloodied face. I helped in that! Xander bit the inside of his cheek to keep from crying. I hurt Spike!
Then Xander clenched his fists and thought: He’s probably in worse shape now! Xander knew what happened to captured Biogens. Hell at one time he might have been all on board the brutal train. Back when I believed the Council lies, Xander thought.
Some part of Xander desperately wanted to believe that Riley wasn’t another victim of the same propaganda, but Xander knew better. He’d already seen the look in Riley’s eye when he’d kicked Spike.
Riley would have never fallen for Caleb’s line, Xander thought and for the first time that thought didn’t bring a flush of shame to Xander’s face. Xander snorted.
I may have been a naïve fool to trust Caleb, Xander thought, but I wasn’t a fellow sadist. Better to be a one-eyed freak than a heartless bastard!
For a moment Xander briefly smiled as he could almost hear Spike’s voice calling him a “daft git” at Xander’s near moment of inner rambling profundity.
“Spike,” Xander closed his eyes and barely whispered, “Hang on you bossy blond menace.”
Xander opened his eyes and resumed pacing again. What the hell is taking so long? He wondered.
During Riley’s first report Xander had been given a cursory examination by the ship’s doctor. Xander had refused anything more then a check of vital signs, insisting he only wanted to be examined by his doctor, Tara Maclay. Xander had known it would piss Riley off, but for the first time Xander wasn’t afraid of invoking his Council connections to get what he wanted.
“I’m only going through the humiliation of thorough exam once,” Xander had argued, “and I want it to be done not only by a friend but by the best.”
No one would argue that not only was Dr. Maclay one of the best physicians she was also a close friend of Xander’s being married to the Council’s chief Cyber-mage
Being sent on his way had meant being escorted to a small cabin where Xander had been allowed to shower and change into a provided Council uniform. Xander had taken a few minutes before leaving his cabin to study his reflection in the small mirror.
The uniformed Xander in the mirror had long hair, a sharper edge to his features and a more confident stance then the one before Xander had met Spike. Xander looked out of place. The Council soldier image didn’t fit him anymore.
Xander had tugged at the collar of his uniform and itched to strip it off and throw it away along with the useless eye-patch. However, he knew he had to play the role now for Spike.
Xander had taken a small comfort in noting that his hair was longer than regulation. Not going to cut it, Xander vowed. Gonna let Spike gloat and stroke this shaggy mop to his arrogant heart’s content once we’re safely together again.
Then Xander had smiled and exited his cabin. He’d ordered his “escorts” to take him to the bridge. Of course that had to be cleared by Riley and of course that hadn’t been exactly a well received “request” but it turned out that Riley really had no choice as Buffy had asked to speak with Xander as soon as he was ready.
So now Xander was ready and pacing outside the bridge while Riley filed another report. Once again Xander felt his vision blur and his face “itched.” Once again Xander took another deep breath.
“Harris!” Riley’s voice boomed as the bridge doors flew open. Xander jumped.
“The Prime Regent is ready to speak with you,” Riley said.
Jerk, Xander thought as he nodded and fought the urge to roll his eyes as he entered the bridge. Riley pointed at a chair in front of the communication console.
“The Regent has asked we clear the bridge while she interviews you,” Riley said with barely suppressed anger. Then with a quick gesture at his crew Riley left the bridge. His crew quickly followed.
Xander took a deep breath and stepped forward to slide into the chair.
***
“Xander!”
“Xander,” Buffy’s breathless voice followed quickly behind
“Wills,..Buf,” Xander said as he tried to focus past his blurred vision to see “his girls.”
“Xan, don’t cry,”
“Cry?” Xander asked as he sniffled and brushed his hand over his right eye. “Who’s cryin? Just allergies here. Must be Riley’s cologne.”
Buffy laughed and wiped her own eyes.
“One of
“X..Xander, it’s good to s..s..see you,” whispered Tara who quickly appeared behind
“Never better,” Xander answered.
“I am relieved to hear that, Xander,” the Watcher’s crisp and accented voice said as Giles appeared behind Buffy. “We all look forward to your quick and safe return.”
“Thanks, G-man,” Xander smoothly replied keeping the chill he felt twisting in his gut absent from his response. How could you be part of the lies? Xander thought. How could you hide the truth? How could you lie to US?
“How many times have I asked you not to call…,” Giles began and then paused to study Xander. “Are you ok?”
Xander flashed a smile. “I’m fine. Just a little overwhelmed, not too mention suffering from severe Cheesey Twists withdrawal.”
Once again Xander’s girls laughed. Giles took off his glasses and rubbed at the lenses with his handkerchief.
“W..we..well once I check you out,”
“Right!” Buffy agreed. “No one goes home without eating major quantities of poundage inducing junk food!”
“Good Lord," Giles said as he reseated his glassed on his nose. “We might as well surrender now. None of the Regents will be left in fighting condition.”
Xander faked another smile.
“Don’t worry about that,” Buffy growled. “After what they did to Xander there won’t be any Biogens left to surrender to.”
“Buf…”
“No Xander!” Buffy cut him off. “What they did to you is unforgivable.”
What did they know? Xander wondered. What did their spies tell them?
“I’m alive, Buffy,” Xander said.
“Xander,”
Xander hid a wince as he could almost feel
“Wills, it wasn’t that b…”
“By your own admission you said you were tortured!”
This time Xander’s wince showed. He had said that he’d been tortured to Riley and no doubt the tinman had reported that to Buffy. Xander’s gut twisted more. He couldn’t talk with Buffy and
This is going to have to be a face to face angst fest, Xander thought.
“X…Xander, are you a..all right?”
“I’m fine,” Xander sighed. “I just…Can we talk about all this when I get back?”
“Absolutely!”
“I understand,” Buffy said, “but we do have to talk about one thing before then.”
“Sp..William the bloody?” Xander asked not missing Giles’s narrowed look at Xander’s near misstep.
Buffy nodded. “I understand that you want to bring him back here?”
“Yes,” Xander said.
“For…trial?”
Xander nodded.
“Xander, Biogens don’t get a trial. You know that,” Giles said.
“They’re things,” Buffy spat.
“Right,” Xander choked. “I just…well…Xan-man scrambled. It’s just that…Bloody is Angel’s right hand…”
“Which means I want to interrogate him,” Buffy said, “personally. Not give him a trial.”
Xander swallowed his fear and added,” Well then I think you’d better tell Riley.”
“I have.”
“Buf, you weren’t there when they captured him,” Xander said. “Bloody might not make it….”
“Xander,” Giles said, “Captain Finn has his orders.”
“And accidents happen!” Xander replied.
The Regent and her inner circle fell quiet for a moment. Then Buffy said, “What do you wanna do?”
“Put me in charge of the prisoner.”
“Xander, I’m..n..not s..sure that’s a g..good idea,” said
“She’s right, “
I’m going to have to convince them I hate Spike! Xander thought. C’mon Xan-man, you can do this.
“Buffy,” Xander said in a tone of voice he’d only ever used when talking to the girls about Caleb, “trust me. I need to see he gets back to the ‘Dale. I want him to face you and Wills. And most of all, I want him to know I brought him to you.”
Once again Buffy and the others were silent. Then Giles sighed.
“All right, Xander,“ Buffy said. “I’ll tell Riley that you are in charge of Seventeen.”
Seventeen? Xander wondered and then realized it must be Spike’s prisoner designation.
“Thank you, Buffy,” Xander said. His girls smiled back.
I’ve convinced them, Xander thought. Now I’m going to have to convince Riley.
***
After Xander had finished his conversation with the girls he’d had the pleasure of “sending” Riley back into the bridge and once again Xander was left pacing outside the bridge while he waited for Riley to finish speaking with Buffy. However, it was almost worth it when Riley marched out of the bridge, his face purple with suppressed rage.
Buffy pulled rank on you big time, huh? Xander thought as he hid his smile.
“Regent Buffy has ordered that you be in charge of Seventeen,” Riley said, his voice clipped and sharp.
Xander nodded.
“I suppose you would like to see the prisoner?”
“Yes.”
Riley leaned deep into Xander’s personal space and stared at his subordinate with high connections.
“This is still my ship, Lt. Harris. I’m responsible for the safety of every man and woman aboard. I don’t trust you. I think you’re compromised and until I think otherwise….”
“Just show me the prisoner,” Xander barked, his return gaze as penetrating as Riley’s.
Riley arched an eyebrow, “Not quite the donut boy you were, huh Harris?”
“You can definitely say I’m a changed man,” Xander smoothly replied keeping his human face firmly in place.
“What’s the fire to see Seventeen?” Riley asked.
“Payback’s a bitch,” Xander once again made his voice as hard as Riley’s.
Riley’s dry laugh surprised Xander.
“No, Harris,” Riley corrected, “Payback’s a virgin…a bitch is too easy.”
Xander swallowed his revulsion and nodded.
“Show me the prisoner,” Xander ordered.
***
Riley briefed Xander on the way to the Snyder’s brig.
“Sgt. Gates has been assigned to handle the prisoner,” Riley explained.
“Forrest?” Xander asked with a tremor of trepidation.
“Gates can the handle the situation,” Riley answered.
“Xander knew Sgt. Forrest Gates was Riley’s right hand man. Xander also knew Gates’s hatred for Biogens had once rivaled Xander’s.
“What has he done to secure Sp…Seventeen?” Xander asked.
Riley smiled, “You’ll see.”
Hang on, Spike! Xander thought as he feared for Spike’s condition. Hang on!
***
Specialist Graham Miller was standing at attention outside the brig’s door when Xander and Riley approached. Graham’s presence was a small comfort to Xander. While Specialist Miller was a loyal soldier and believed in the Council’s cause, Xander had never known him to be cruel. In fact, Xander had always seen Graham as a calm and sane man in the mix of hot headed tinmen like Riley and Forrest.
“Specialist Miller,” Xander acknowledged as he approached the guard.
Miller snapped to attention and saluted Xander. That’s another thing I like about him, Xander thought. He treats me like a Lieutenant and not the Regent’s donut boy.
“Sirs,” Miller said addressing both his senior ranking officers.
“Gates in there with the prisoner?” Riley asked.
“Yes sir!”
“Prisoner secure?” Riley asked.
Miller looked uncomfortable for a moment as if he’d remembered something unpleasant and then he responded, “Yes sir! I believe so sir.”
Once again Xander swallowed his fear and said, “I’d like to see the prisoner.”
Miller looked to Riley for authorization. Riley nodded. Miller turned and entered the code to open the brig door.
“Aren’t you going to inform him about the new or…” Xander began to ask.
Riley put a hand to Xander’s chest and turned sharply to face him.
“When and if you can convince me that placing you in charge of Seventeen won’t put my ship at risk,” Riley hissed.
Xander bit the inside of his cheek and nodded. Riley held Xander in place for a moment more before retreating and letting Xander enter the brig.
Before Xander could register how completely dark the brig was, he noted how disgusting it smelt. There was the smell of stale urine, old sweat, rancid blood, and adrenaline pumped from pain.
“Lights,” Xander gagged even as he kept himself from making the switch to his Biogen enhanced vision.
“Gates,” Riley ordered, “secure your self.”
“Yes sir,” Gates’s voice drifted from the darkness.
“Lights!” Riley ordered and then the brig was flooded with light. Forrest stood nearby with a set of night goggles in hand. However, Xander didn’t notice. Xander’s focus was firmly placed on the bloody and bruised huddle of flesh on the floor.
“S…SEVENTEEN!” Xander gasped.
At the sound of Xander’s voice Spike opened his swollen eyes. Blood tinged the white around his brilliant blue irises. Spike remained silent and motionless.
“The new chip is in place as ordered, sir,” Gates addressed Riley.
Xander dropped to his haunches and studied Spike further. Indeed he noticed a metallic ring embedded in the right side of Spike’s skull.
“Excellent,” Riley said.
“Is it functioning?” Xander asked keeping the dread from his voice.
“Yes sir!” Gates replied before pressing a button on a wrist device.
Spike’s body arched, convulsed and the usually arrogant Biogen let loose a broken scream.
“STOP!” Xander immediately ordered.
Gates looked to Riley. Riley nodded. Gates pressed another button and Spike’s was once again motionless and silent except for his labored breathing. Xander stood up and whirled around.
“Give me the wrist device!” Xander ordered.
Gates once again looked to Riley.
“Not until you prove me to me this isn’t a mistake,” Riley said.
“Captain Finn you have your orders from the Prime Regent herself,” Xander challenged.
“And I told you, Lieutenant Harris, I am not putting my ship and people at risk until I know placing you in charge of Seventeen isn’t a mistake!”
“No one wants to see Seventeen secure more than I,” Xander said, “and NO ONE wants to see him reach the ‘Dale alive more than I.”
“I don’t doubt any of those things,” Riley said. “What I doubt is that you haven’t been compromised by your time with Seventeen and that your motives have less to do with Council loyalties and more to do with what’s best for Seventeen!”
Xander hissed in a rage he let show. “You know NOTHING about my motives, Finn!”
Xander spun around and faced Spike again. Spike’s eyes were still fixed on Xander.
The two lovers stared at each other. Please understand, Xander silently pleaded with his eye, please understand.
“Get him up and into the brig’s shower,” Xander barked, “and I’ll show you exactly what this thing means to me! I’ll give you the proof you want!”
Spike’s eyes widened a bit, but he still remained silent and motionless. Behind Xander, Finn and Gates shared a look. Then Finn nodded. Gates stepped around Xander and grabbed Spike by the back of the neck.
“UP!” Gates ordered as he dragged Spike onto his feet. “Move!”
Gates shoved Spike forward and to another set of doors. Gates swiped his hand over a panel and the doors slid open. He shoved Spike forward hard enough to send the Biogen stumbling into the cold and tiled room.
There was a toilet and sink to one side of the room while there was an open shower on there other side. Along the middle wall was a small bench.
“Strip!” Xander barked.
Spike finally showed some emotion by whirling around and snarling at Xander in game face. Gates punched Spike hard enough to send him to the floor.
“You heard him!” Gates barked.
“Harris,” Finn asked in confusion and surprise.
Xander turned his focus away from Spike and looked at Riley.
“I want my pound of flesh,” Xander replied letting all the hatred he felt for this situation ooze into every syllable. “An eye for an eye.”
Finn’s eyes narrowed. Xander laughed bitterly.
“Not literally, Captain,” Xander said as he stepped into the brig bathroom. “Seventeen, I won’t ask again. Strip!”
Spike stumbled to his feet and stared at Xander. Then slowly as if on automatic pilot he began to peel away his clothes. Xander swallowed bile and began to remove his own clothes.
“This chip will fire if he trie…,” Xander began to ask.
Gates licked his lips and smiled. “You can do whatever you want, sir. The chip will fire if he tries to fight back in anyway.”
Xander nodded. “Then get out. This is between S…Seventeen and I.”
Once again Gates looked past Xander and to Riley. Riley raised an eyebrow and then motioned with his chin for Gates to leave. Gates laughed and then winked at a now nude Spike. Spike snarled and Gates laughed again as he left the bathroom. The door closed behind him.
Xander finished stripping and put his folded clothes on the bench. He was left dressed only in his eye patch. Xander turned and looked at Spike who was still in game face.
“Get in the shower!” Xander ordered.
Spike just stared at Xander. Xander took a deep breath and then charged. He threw Spike’s body up against the wall of the shower and threw his arm over his chest pinning him to the wall.
“When I give you an order,” Xander barked, “I expect you to follow it…Seventeen!”
Spike tried to struggle but pain flared in his head. He snarled back at Xander, “Welcome home COUNCIL BOY!”
Xander hid his flinch and pressed his body full against Spike. Xander’s cock began to swell despite the circumstances. It was pressed against Spike and swelling with need was a natural response to such stimuli.
“Remember that first day aboard the DeSoto?” Xander asked. “Remember what you did and how you asked if I liked knowing what it was like to be a thing?”
Spike growled. Xander shoved him again.
“I understand now, Seventeen. You taught me well and now it’s my turn to teach you a few things so listen up!”
“Get off me!” Spike yelled.
Xander shoved again and tried to plead Spike with his eye. “LISTEN! There’s nothing you do here that isn’t watched. You have no hope! I’m in control and it’s time I teach you a few lessons! I won’t be Riley’s buttmonkey because I was yours! DO! YOU! UNDERSTAND?”
Xander’s breathing was labored and his grasp was strong, but he hoped his eye shone with his love and need for Spike to understand the situation. Spike finally stilled and looked at Xander. He really looked. One brown eye met a fierce yellow and for a moment there was silence.
Then Spike relaxed somewhat and his game face slid away. Slowly he smiled the cocky grin Xander had first learned to hate and then learned to desperately love.
“Ya think ya have the balls ta teach me something, boy?” Spike snarled.
Xander held back a smile of his own but tilted his hips forward to rub his groin rudely into Spike’s. “I’ve been told I have balls of brass!”
Spike snorted which sounded suspiciously like an aborted laugh. Then Spike looked deadly serious at Xander.
“Then go ahead, Council Boy. Show me what ya got!”
“I’ve got something to prove,” Xander snarled and tried to warn Spike.
“Go ahead, luv,” Spike taunted. ”Do your worst.”
Xander snarled. I don’t know if I can do this, Spike! Xander thought even as he roughly spun Spike around and slammed him back into the wall. This time Xander pressed his hard cock into the cleft of Spike’s ass.
“I intend to,” Xander growled.
Spike closed his eyes and swallowed his own fear and old memories. This is Xan! He silently reminded himself. This is my pet. Then Spike relaxed as much as he could allow.
“Then do it,” Spike ground out. “I promise ya…ya won’t hurt me. YOU can’t!”
Xander took a deep breath and then reached around Spike to flick on the shower cycle. Tears will get lost in the spray, Xander thought as he felt his eyes begin to water.
TBC in prt 37
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Date: 2007-02-05 04:07 pm (UTC)Shakatany
eeek! Ok... I know I'm bad...
Date: 2007-02-05 04:34 pm (UTC)sr
Re: eeek! Ok... I know I'm bad...
Date: 2007-02-05 04:41 pm (UTC)Shakatany