Chapter Text
The ships claxons were still ringing and the crew was mostly holding to their battle stations. Passengers scrambled for whatever illusion of safety they could find on the tiny transport. Lt. Alexander “Xander” Harris, having neither a battle station nor any false illusions about the ship’s fate frantically kept working on overriding the security protocols on the main cargo container.
“C’mon Xan-man, just once try and remember something Willow tried to teach ya,” Xander muttered as he worked on the codes. He knew his Council access should allow him to reset the security protocols; but Xander wasn’t sure he remembered the correct sequence to input the codes. If he got the sequence wrong, the system would shut him out and his brilliant plan, his only plan, would be about has helpful as his left eye. Useless plan plus useless eye equals even less than useless Xander, he thought. Math’s as good as my eye.
“Harris. Zed – Beta – Alpha – Jesse,” Xander said into the voice panel.
“Security protocol override, Lt. Harris, member of Regent inner circle authorized,” the computer voice droned from the cargo container.
“Yes!” Xander’s shout was lost amidst screams and the sound of the general alarms signaling a hull breach. “Crap!
“I am sorry. I do not understand that imperative,” the security program responded.
“It wasn’t an impera…a command or anything,” Xander said. Wills I wish you were here! “Look I need you to lock out any unauthorized people from accessing the stuff inside.”
“Security override has been engaged. Please set parameters for new security protocols.”
Loud pops and more screams of terror indicated the fighting was no longer ship to ship but that The Snyder had been boarded.
“Can you lock it out so that…,” Xander paused. The container had weapons and medicine meant for Council strongholds. However, the Biogens would want them too. Hopefully bad enough they’d be willing to bargain. Who doesn’t like a good deal? Even Biogens, soulless, evil, and repulsive as they are, wouldn’t pass up the opportunity? Would they?
“…Program,” Xander continued. “Set for voice and bioscan authorization on Lt. Harris. If container is breached or an attempt is made to override program then auto destruct. Confirm.”
Hey, I only have my life to bet and right now that’s not worth much anyway.
“Confirm. Input voice and bioscan codes.”
“Voicescan – Willow,” Xander said and then stood before a small panel on the cargo container. A small beam of light came out and scanned Xander’s right eye; his only eye.
“Input complete. New security protocol parameters engaged.”
Xander sighed. First part of his plan was complete. Now to help with the fight! Xander thought as he reached for his sidearm.
“Oi! I wouldn’t do that if I were you mate,” a cool voice said from behind Xander.
Xander grew up all his life fighting Biogens. Even though he was a total human, not a Regent like Buffy or a Cyber-Mage like Willow, Xander swore he had a sixth sense when it came to knowing a Biogen when he came across one. It’s the absence of a soul, he thought bitterly. Still, Xander had lost enough to know he couldn’t take a Biogen. The most he could ever hope to be was back up. And in the end that hadn’t been good enough for Jesse.
Xander slowly raised his hands and turned around and then hissed. Standing armed before him was one of the most wanted Biogen’s in the galaxy; Captain William the Bloody. Bloody was the right hand to the leader of the Biogens, Angel. Xander had seen enough vidcaps of Bloody to know what he looked like.
Only a Biogen could have such perfectly chiseled cheeks, piercing blue eyes and lethal demeanor. OK, the hair though. The hair had to be faked, Xander thought and in the volatile mix of suppressed fear, self-pity, and the urge to fight he couldn’t help smiling just a little at realizing Captain Bloody bleached his hair.
“Something amusing, Patch?” Bloody purred as he stepped farther into the cargo bay followed closely by a well armed and built black man.
“Just wondering when, in between all of the murder and mayhem, Captain Bloody got in to see a stylist?” Xander responded. Wills, couldn’t you find some sort of chip or spell to disengage my mouth?
“Gunn,” Spike growled as he stepped well into Xander’s personal space. Xander couldn’t help but notice he had a couple of inches on the famous killer. “The Council must be gettin’ desperate if they are makin’ lieutenants out of the mentally infirm.”
Captain Bloody punctuated his comments by nearly puncturing Xander’s chest by using his fingers to stab at Xander’s insignia on his Council uniform. Xander grimaced. A Biogen could easily rip his heart out with his bare hands.
“You don’t need to be that smart to kill Biogens, shorty,” Xander said fixing his one eye firmly on the blonde’s blue. Mouth Xander! Mouth!
Bloody slipped into his enhanced face and struck Xander across the face. Xander felt his feet fly out from under him. Tuck and roll Xan. You’ve had enough practice at this, he thought briefly as he painfully landed on the floor.
While Xander struggled to get air back into his lungs he felt himself being hauled up by the front of his shirt. Then the world went into a fast forward blur as he was being shaken.
“Spike!” another voice shouted. “Spike we don’t have time for this. We need to get the cargo onboard the DeSoto and get out of here if we want to avoid a fighter. Riley had time to send off a distress signal before we took out communications.”
Once again Xander found himself making friends with the floor of the cargo bay.
“Right then,” Spike, aka Captain Bloody, said. “Shoot this pissant for me then.”
“You won’t get what you came for,” Xander quickly wheezed.
Spike held up a hand to the black man who was already aiming to fire.
“Wot?” Spike crouched down to look at Xander.
“Container’s set to autodestruct without the correct voicescan and bioscan. Anything you hoped to gain in there; you’ll lose.”
“And how does that involve you, wonder mouth?”
Xander gave a dry chuckle. “I’m the one with the codes.”
Spike arched an eyebrow. “You?”
“Me,” answered Xander.
“Gunn!” Spike said.
“I’m on it,” the black man, apparently Gunn, said. “I’ll get the Captain down here.” Gunn then left the bay leaving Spike and Xander alone.
“If you’re lying to save your useless life, whelp, I promise your death will be one for the Nets.”
“Yeah. I know. Death and pain. The only creative talents Biogens have!” Xander sneered.
Spike once again grabbed Xander and hauled him up. This time he didn’t shake him. He pulled Xander close so they were face to face; their breaths entwining.
“You think you know about pain and death, Council boy?” Spike asked in a lethal whisper.
“Leaned everything I know from Biogens,” Xander coolly responded wishing he had two eyes again just so he could give an equal stare back at Spike.
Spike snarled and shoved Xander back against the cargo container.
“Hear he is, Captain,” Gunn said as he came back in to the cargo bay. This time he was marching Captain Riley in front of him.
“Lt. Harris!” Riley barked when he saw Xander leaning against the cargo container. “What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in the passenger area with the other non-essentials!”
Xander tried to hide his wince. At least let the enemy think I’m of some use, Xander thought.
“Riley,” Spike interrupted. “Boy here seems to think that cargo container is set for an autodestruct. I want you to open it for me.”
“What?” Riley sputtered as Gunn shoved him over next to Xander. “Harris what have you done?”
“Riley?” Spike asked.
“It’s Captain Riley!”
“It’s only Captain if you have a ship,” Spike growled. “And you don’t have a ship. I on the other hand have two; yours and mine. Now open the bleedin’ cargo container!”
“Council protocol strictly forbid…”
“Deadmen don’t care about Council protocol,” Spike growled.
“I’m not going to give you…”
“How many crewmen and passengers have to die before you open the cargo container?”
“Riley. Gamma – Sigma – Xi- Walsh,” Riley said into the voice panel.
“I am sorry. You are unauthorized to access this container. Security protocols engaged,” the computer voice droned.
Xander didn’t hide his smile. Riley couldn’t hide his shock or anger.
“Harris! What the fuck have you done?” Riley yelled.
“Made you bleedin’ irrelevant,” Spike answered as he grabbed Riley by the throat and began to squeeze.
For the briefest of moments Xander was tempted to not interfere. It wouldn’t be his fault if Captain Riley was killed by Captain Bloody. But Xander was one of the good guys and more importantly Riley was human.
“You kill him or anyone else on this ship and you might as well kiss the cargo goodbye,” Xander said quietly.
Spike eased his grip on Riley’s throat. Riley gulped in some air.
“You think you’d last boy if I really wanted to get information out of you?”
“No,” Xander answered calmly. “I know it. Now let Captain Riley go.”
Spike released Riley, who fell to the floor, and stared at the young lieutenant in front of him. The boy, well man really, was a couple of inches taller than Spike. He had wide shoulders and a long lean build that indicated a strong frame. His hair was thick and dark. Over his left eye was a patch. The lieutenant’s right eye though was what held Spike attention. It was a rich chocolate brown and it blazed with passion. This man didn’t just have passion for the fight; he had passion for living and for his cause.
Spike suddenly began to find this Council officer rather fascinating. “I believe you, whelp. What are your terms?”
Xander suppressed a sigh.
“The Snyder, her passengers and her crew go free. You get the cargo.”
“Harris!” Riley tried to wheeze. Gunn pointed his gun at the prone captain.
“So you just going to hand all those lovely weapons and medicines over ta me?”
“If you spare this ship and all souls onboard.”
Spike smiled. “Agreed. Open the container.”
Xander laughed. “You think I’m just going to take a Biogen’s word?”
Once again Xander found himself face to face with an angry Spike. “You are sorely trying my very limited patience, boy!”
“I only transmit the voicecodes when the DeSoto is safely out of range.”
“And the bioscan, boy? How do you propose to handle that?”
Xander shuddered. I can do this, he thought.
“Take what you need,” Xander answered in a small voice. It won’t be the first time I’ve been mutilated by a Biogen.
In the two centuries since Spike had become self-aware, and in the century of fighting for Biogen freedom, Spike had seen a lot. He was rarely surprised. Yet, this young Council officer was making it a habit.
“And how do I know I can trust your word, Council boy?” Spike finally replied.
Xander hitched a breath in surprise and stared back into Spike’s blue eyes.
“Counter offer mate. I take you and the cargo container back aboard the DeSoto. When we get out of range you open the cargo. If you’ve lied to me or have tricked me I will let you live long enough to watch me hunt down the wreck of this ship and kill every man, woman and child aboard. I might even attack a Council outpost in your honor. Do I make myself clear?”
There was no mistaking the menace and the promise in Spike’s voice. There was a reason he was called, Captain William the Bloody. Early in the Biogen wars, before the Council had called forth the Regents, Biogens like Spike had killed every natural human they had ever served. Whole families had been killed.
Xander nodded. Wills, Xander thought, I’m sorry I never got to say good-bye. I hope you understand. The Council may think I’m a soldier in name only; but you know otherwise.
“And if you double-cross me,” Xander answered just as deadly. “I promise I will find a way to make you hurt more than you ever thought it was possible to hurt.”
For just a moment Spike stood silent then laughed, “You’re too late, mate. You’re way too late.”
Spike’s laughter scared Xander more than anything Spike had done or said yet. As sudden as Spike’s laughter had come; it went.
“Gunn, tell Fred we’re bringing the container over intact. And let my first mate know we got company,” Spike ordered. Xander had a brief moment to note Spike raising his arm again and then Xander’s world went black.
TBC