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Coercion 34 Die Another Day
It was a demon with many folds of loose skin, like a
wrinkly dog. Xander knew Spike played poker with a demon if this kind, but this
one was taller and heavier. A sudden howling noise behind him made Xander turn.
More of the creatures came out of the bushes toward the escaping one. Xander glanced at Spike, who wore a broad smile.
“It’s the shopkeeper, Jerry. Glad he’s out.” Joy was short lived as a broad figure in green stepped
out behind the demon who was shuffling toward his family, raised a gun, and
shot. “No!” Spike cried, hefting his sword and heading
for the soldier, who turned at the sound. Xander couldn’t be too surprised at who it was. “That
was Jerry! Damn you, you shot Jerry!” Spike turned on Riley and moved toward
him. Xander knew Spike wasn’t going to attack Riley, as much as he apparently
wanted to, because his chip was not going off.
Riley turned his gun on Spike, then lowered it.
“Hostile 17. Where have you been hiding out?” “Under your bloody noses, mate. We don’t
appreciate what you’ve been up to.” Spike got in Riley’s face, but it was
all bluster. Xander watched, ready to do what he could. Adrenaline
went through him as he watched Riley’s expression change from annoyed to smug.
The world went slow-motion for Xander. He didn’t know what the soldier was
reaching for on his belt, but he knew it wouldn’t be good for Spike. He was imoving
as Riley touched a beeper-like device on his belt and Spike clutched his head,
reeling away in pain. His attention was on the vampire, so he didn’t see
Xander until he tackled him, knocking his gun flying. It didn’t take much for
the trained fighter to throw off the construction worker, but when he got to his
knees, he found himself at the wrong end of his gun. Oz held the weapon steady.
Xander took in the situation and scrambled to Spike’s side. The vampire was curled on his side, arms up around his
head. “Spike! Can you hear me?” “It’s… not… stopping…” Spike managed. Xander got to his feet and stood over Riley where he
knelt, hands on his head as Oz had ordered. “Make it stop. Tell me how to make
it stop.” “17. He’s got one of the early chips. They
sometimes get locked on.” Riley said, not taking his eyes from Oz. “Turn it off!” Xander shouted, glancing back at
Spike. Spasms shook his body, and as he rolled over Xander could see blood
trickling from his nose. “On my belt, you can try, but I tell you it’s
stuck on.” Xander snatched the device from Riley’s belt and
pushed the obvious button on it. No change. A rheostat-like knob was the only
other feature. It was apparently set on full. Xander turned it down and tried
the button again with no effect. “How do we deactivate the chip?” Oz asked coldly. “I don’t know. I’m not privy to that
information.” Oz held the gun up higher. “Let me hear your best
theories.” “What do you care? He’s a vampire.” “He’s my friend.” Oz growled, his face shifted,
hair grew from his cheeks like muttonchops, and his eyes grew black. “And
I’m a werewolf. You would chip me if you could. Talk.” Riley hesitated for half a minute, earning a growl
from Oz. “An electro-magnetic pulse.” “Like a bulk tape eraser?” “That could work. May take one stronger, like the
cranes they use to lift cars.” “You sure about this, mister?” “Again, I’m not privy, but it’s the best theory.
I’m thinking his chip’s got no shielding, either.” Oz stepped back from Riley, but didn’t lower the
gun. “Get up and run away. Buffy argued for your amnesty, so go.” “Buffy’s dead! Walsh told me before this all went
down.” Xander heard the anguish in Riley’s voice, and glanced up from where
he held Spike. Riley’s trained composure was finally shaken. In different circumstances,
Xander would have liked to have him as a friend. And Buffy apparently loved him. “No, she’s not.” Xander took Spike’s radio
from his belt and tossed it to him. “When the static clears, identify yourself
as Mr. Green. Now get the fuck away from us!” Riley did as he was told. Once he was well away, Oz
lowered the gun and took a good look around. Creatures, demons, and humans of
all kinds were moving as rapidly as they could from the center of the
Initiative. Distantly, he could hear gunfire and fights. The smell of fear was
everywhere. Oz shook himself. When he knelt beside Xander, he was his normal,
unassuming self again. “How is he?” “It’s bad, Oz.” Spike was alternately comatose
or moaning in pain. “Let’s get him in the van. I know where we need to
take him.” They wrestled Spike’s body to the van, Xander sitting in the back
and holding Spike’s head on his lap. Oz locked the doors and made his way
through campus. Along the way, he passed several news vans and a couple of
fights. He keyed the radio, but all was still static. “Where’d you learn to handle a gun, Oz?” Xander
asked to distract himself from the trickle of blood that was now coming from
Spike’s ear. “I don’t know how.” “You looked pretty confident back there, my man.” “I learned a lot in Tibet.” He drove a couple of
more blocks. “We’re close. So, I get why Willow’s Mr. Red. Why is Tara Mr.
Orange?” “Tara. Terra cotta. Orange
color. And orange is close to red.” “Is that why I’m Mr. Pink?” “No. You have to have a Mr. Pink, and Spike
wouldn’t take it.” “We’re here.” Oz parked the van and came around
to the side door. He helped get the now completely limp Spike up and an arm
around his shoulders. “Good. Where’s here?” “KSDU. Campus radio. Coffey’s
been helping me with the contacts and the programs.” “Coffee? I don’t think caffeine will help
Spike.” Xander said as they wrestled Spike up the stairs and into the lobby. “Mike Coffey. DJ. There’s a big bulk tape eraser
here. Some big radio station donated it. They didn’t know that campus went
completely digital before they did. We mostly just play with it.” Oz pushed an
intercom button. “Coffey! It’s Oz.” “Hey, man! What’s with all the static?” “Gotta let us in. Serious. I’ll tell you all about
it later.” “Stand by.” There was a buzz and the elevator opened. The man who meet them was barrel-chested and
sharp-eyed, with a pony tail of black curly hair that would make any pirate
proud. “Hey! I didn’t say you could bring drunken friends in here!” “He’s not drunk. The programs, the e-mails, the
static, his condition, it’s all part of the same thing.” “He was a government captive?” Coffey said with
some awe. “Yeah. And the chip in his head’s now killing
him.” “Why bring him… Oh! The eraser! Might do it! Go
on!” “Thanks. Look, the static should end any minute now.
Let us deal with this.” “You owe me a story, man!” Oz led them to a little back room filled with music
promos, a microwave, and a massive bulk tape eraser on its own stand. “This
baby will do a whole box of tapes at once. You have to push a button and press a
foot pedal at the same time so you don’t accidentally set it off.” Xander
supported Spike’s weight, holding him close and Oz threw some boxes off it and
plugged it in. They muscled Spike into a chair and put his head up
onto the table. Oz indicated the foot petal Xander had to press as he pushed a
button. The machine hummed and Xander felt the hairs on his arm stand up. There
was no change at the first attempt. “It’s in the back of his head, I think.” Xander
said. With some maneuvering, they got Spike face up over the
magnet, the base of his skull against the table.
This time, when they pressed the switches, there was an almost buzz as
the magnet activated. Spike arched up, his eyes and mouth open wide. His
features flickered to demon, then settled as human. He drew in a deep breath and
went limp again. Oz helped Xander guide him down to the floorwhere Xander took
his lover’s head in his lap. “Spike? Please Spike. Wake up.” Oz knelt on Spike’s other side. “We know he’s
not dead, at least. No dust.” “Yeah, but what is he?” Xander looked up, tears in
his eyes. “Oz, what if he’s permanently like this? He’s as good as
dead.” Oz reached out and gentlytouched Spike’s face before
pulling his hand back. “I think it may be a healing thing.” “Yeah! I bet that’s it! I’ve read about that.”
Xander laid Spike down and dug out a pocketknife. Oz watched him curiously, understanding what he was
thinking. “You sure about this, Xander? We could get him back to your place,
first.” “He needs blood to recover and I want to stay near
the magnet, just in case,” Xander opened the knife, his hands trembling. Oz
calmly reached over and took the sharp little blade from him, meeting his eyes. “Calm down, Xander,” he said in a soothing tone.
“Take a minute. If Spike wakes up and you’re all jittery… Close your
eyes.” Xander wiped away his tears and did as his friend said. “Deep breath,
slowly. In. … Out. Let your worries lessen for a minute. We’re in no danger
here. Spike is stable. In. … Out. Relax, Xander. Keep your eyes closed. You
were telling me about the names.” “What? Oh. Mr. White, the mage, he’s an albino.” “I met him, he’s impressive.” “Buffy’s Mr. Gold, for her hair of course.”
Xander started stroking Spike’s hair without being aware of it.
“Giles was Mr. Gray, well, for his hair, and G for Giles, until he
argued for Silver. Cause he’s Buffy’s Watcher and they match. Spike insisted
on Mr. Black, actually.” “Why are you Mr. Brown, Xander?’ Xander smiled a bit while still calmly breathing.
“It suits me. I’m nothing amazing.” Oz took his friend’s hand and made a small cut on
the meat of the palm. Xander sucked in a breath and looked down as Oz opened
Spike’s mouth and guided his hand down. “I’d have to argue with you about
that.” They both breathlessly watched the thin rivulet of
blood as it flowed into Spike’s mouth. A minute passed, then two. Oz was ready
to talk Xander into stopping, when Spike’s mouth closed, he swallowed, and a
long-fingered hand suddenly grabbed Xander’s wrist, bringing his hand closer.
When his eyes opened, Xander didn’t see the human blue he’d hoped for, but
the gold of the demon. Fangs flashed and Spike’s head suddenly rocked to
one side as Oz punched him. A snarling visage whipped around to meet Oz’s calm
brown eyes. “Stop that.” Oz said calmly. “Let your friend go.” Spike blinked and he switched his attention to Xander.
Demon melted to concerned human as his eyes darted from Xander’s pained smile
to the bleeding hand he grasped tightly in his own. He let go, quickly.
“Xander. Xander. I’m sorry. What?…” He clutched his head, frowning. “It’s okay, Spike.” Xander grabbed a roll of
paper towels from the counter and pressed some into his palm. “Does your head
hurt?” “Like I’m coming down from a three week drunk.
What the bloody hell happened? Why were you feeding me?” “Long story. Can you walk?” “I… Maybe with help. Where are we?” Xander and Oz’s radios gave twin bursts of static.
Giles’s voice followed. “Report in. All colors report in!” “Mr. Gold, here. I’m fine.” Came Buffy voice.
Worry had been that she’d loose the radio as she inevitably did all technology
while on patrol. “Misters Red, Orange and White all fine. We’re
leaving position A.” Oz keyed his radio. “Misters Pink, Brown, and Black
all accounted for.” “Well done, all. This is Mr. Sliver, be careful all.
Later as planned.” Before they could turn off the radio, there came
another signal. “Mr. Green is fine, too. Thanks, Mr. Gold.” “Ri.. Mr. Green!” Came Buffy’s excited voice.
Silence. “Mr. Green?” “Let it go, Gold,” Giles said. “There’s time
later.” “Right.” This time the radios stayed silent. As they left, Coffey excitedly waved to Oz from the
booth as he talked over the airwaves. All phone lines were blinking. He pointed
to Spike who was now mostly supporting his own weight, and Oz gave him a thumbs
up. Coffey made one back, then made a drinking motion which was met with an okay
sign. They had to detour around several news vans and army
vehicles, but they made it back to Xander’s apartment well before the sun came
up. Xander made Spike comfortable in bed and brought him a
heated mug of human blood. They still had a bag on hand from the night before. “What happened, Pet? I wasn’t thinking things that
would set of the chip. Much.” “He had some kind of remote control. He said yours
was an older chip and probably got stuck on.” Xander wiped dried blood from
his lover’s face and neck with a warm cloth. “Why a radio station? “The tape eraser. It, uh, messed up the signal and
made it stop.” “But that could happen again?’ Spike asked
worriedly. “I don’t know, Spike. I don’t know.” “I guess we’ll never know, now that they’ve been
taken down,” Spike said sadly. Xander took the mug and set it aside. “There’s
always the freedom of information act. And Willow’s hacking at their system
right now. You say sleep will help?” “Yeah. May even sleep the whole day around, way I
feel.” Xander leaned over and kissed his forehead. “You do
what you need. I’m going out later to meet with the Scoobies, that all
right?” “Of course it is. I’ll be fine. Probably wake up
hungry and horny.” “There’s more blood in the fridge and as for the
other… I’m sure we can work something out.” “Can you find out if Jerry’s okay? His kind’s
hard to kill, but that was a clean hit.” “I’ll do what I can. Sleep now.” Xander stood to go, but Spike stopped him at the door.
“Say, Pet. Was I imaging things or did I see Wolfie with a gun in
Cornbread’s face?” “You sure did.” “I owe that boy something good for that.” Spike
smiled and pulled up the covers. Xander went into the living room to find Oz eating a
sandwich. “I hope you don’t mind.” “As long as you left some for me.” Xander made a sandwich as Oz watched. “Does he know
it probably killed the chip for good?” Xander sighed. “No. I didn’t tell him. And I dread
it when he finds out.” “We don’t know for sure…” “Yes, we do. We both feel it, don’t we?” Xander
said, meeting Oz’s eyes. Oz nodded and silently finished his sandwich.
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