Eleven
Twenty Three O Five: 1
by Josie_h
Notes
He was being charged with: Loitering; possession of lethal weapon; killing wildlife; grievous harm to wildlife; desecration of burial place; illegal possession of artifact of antiquity; urban terrorism; theft; breaking and entering; resisting arrest. And the list apparently went on…
Xander he was relieved to see his lawyer Gordon striding confidently down the hall at the beginning of his hearing, the lawyer utterly confident that his client would not spend time in jail.
It was insane! Of all the Scoobies, he was the one they had picked up, and it looked well and truly like he might even get a jail term… OK Faith got life… but…. He couldn’t go to jail… surely??… He was simply doing his job! But it wasn’t …. Sunnydale, it was Cleveland where they noticed things like folks with axes! He’d drifted for five years after Sunnydale became Sunnyhole, and had been in Cleveland now for a year.
He was a respected project manager in the construction industry by day and a Watcher by night. Now it seemed now he was also to become a convicted criminal.
…………….
Xander had been on a regular patrol with his charges, admittedly Tracy was a little flakey, but Talia was an excellent slayer.
They had been told that the golf course that ran by the Cleveland Hopkins Airport was infested by Ixxeth demons. Being largely nocturnal, and quite slow, they were not normally a problem, but of recent times the domestic cat sized demons had been lying in the shadows in the ‘rough’ (trees) and dropping onto unsuspecting golfers. Their bite was not generally fatal but the effects were dire for any golfer with a heart condition or on vaso-dilating medication as their saliva contained huge quantities of salicylic acid, the equivalent of ten aspirin injected in a single bite.
The raid was successful. The demons were mostly slain and a very few were fleeing. But the outcome was disastrous.
Xander had twisted his ankle badly and was limping back to the car, bloodied from the fight and axe over his shoulder but smiling as he followed the girls and they recounted their antics. The girls were fortunately some way ahead when a booming voice yelled “Drop your weapon and on the ground, Sir.” The girls looked back to see what was going on, then simply ran as they had always been instructed to do.
Xander was lying in the dirt, spread-eagled. One policeman took Xander’s axe while the other kept the gun leveled on him. The officers cuffed him and pushed him into the rear of the wagon before searching for and finding evidence of the ‘massacre of native animals’.
The initial questioning went for almost two hours. The officers were polite, bored even, compared to their rather forthright nature out in the field and Xander relaxed a little. Xander accidentally said the word ‘demons’ a couple of times, and at some stage agreed that he did not think it was unusual to take an axe with him if wandering a golf course at night. Reviewing the taped conversation during their first break, the police officers both agreed that a psychiatrist should be called before they released him.
A pretty young woman in a designer suit rather than police uniform, entered the interrogation space armed with coffee and bagels. She introduced herself as Cherie and explained that the arresting officers were on a break so she had been sent to chat to him as there were some concerns regards his mental state.
“So what they think I’m crazy?”
“Well you must admit, wandering around a golf course in the middle of the night with an axe is a little unusual.”
“I guess you have a point.”
Xander was on his guard but her manner was easy and Xander slowly relaxed. She talked more initially. Bemoaning the awful hours she kept, chatting easily regards her studies and her brother who had just been given a big promotion in a law firm in Colombus, adding that she occasionally did consulting work for them. She casually asked where he had been born and a little about growing up and school, and seemed genuinely sad when he mentioned Sunnydale’s demise and the death of his estranged fiancé. And so the conversation went on, Xander later realizing that he eventually did the majority of the talking.
“Is there anyone who could give you a character reference… ?”
“Just the guys from work I guess… but um…”
“How about people you knew back in Sunnydale? Do you still keep in contact?”
“Yeah um but two of them live in the UK now and Buffy and Dawn are in Italy… but um I’m sure Willow would… Willow Rosenburg, and um Rupert Giles…”
“Well I’m sure they will be able to do a phone hook up or something, what about legal representation?”
“Um no… I really don’t have anyone…”
“Tell you what… why don’t I talk to my brother… Wolfram and Hart have an office here in Cleveland too.”
Cherie finally looked at the time, appeared shocked, apologized and left him to sit for a minute or so before his original arresting officers returned.
She was true to her word and contacted her brother. She outlined his case and sent him Xander’s details. The following day, to her astonishment, Gordon agreed to take the case himself.
Unbeknown to Xander and official report went in with his case to the Wolfram and Hart lawyer reading:
Harris, Alexander Lavelle Age 39
The subject seems to exhibit the following multitude of issues:
Initial review reveals: Likely manic episodes, possibly violent; possible self mutilation; unresolved childhood issues; unresolved grief; possible suicidal tendencies.
In discussion with the subject it was apparent that the individual has suffered his delusional episodes for some time, onset seems to just after puberty, consistent with schizophrenic and manic depressive disorders. He has never been treated by a mental health professional.
Subject mentioned his ‘friends’ several times in the context of some sort of vigilante type activities. Further investigation may be appropriate following final diagnosis.
Recommendation:
Refer suspect to secure facility as repeat offence highly likely. Full psychiatric analysis and appropriate treatment.
The additional page of the report faxed to the experimental lab at Wolfram and Hart simply read: Sunnydale Hellmouth survivor. No known family in USA. Slayer associations, suspect active Watcher. Candidate for Project Turn.
Xander was very surprised when he was refused bail, but pleased to find that Cherie had come through and he was being represented by her brother… the hotshot lawyer. When he asked Gordon who was paying there were some hazy references to a private benefactor, and in the end he decided it must have been the watcher’s council.
Gordon Manners, Attorney, sat with Xander for almost an hour, explaining the seriousness of the charges, particularly in the light of current terrorist ‘paranoia’, and the animal rights movement. He advised pleading a temporary insanity case and using the ‘wonderful character references’ that had come through from his boss two work friends, a Mr Rupert Giles MEd (retired) and one Willow Rosenburg PhD. He needed to agree to the treatment, but how hard would that be? A month or three of ‘counseling and being a good boy’ and he would be free to go.
He signed the papers, his statements, the agreement to go ahead with Gordon’s recommendations, and another page that referred to “Recommended treatment at the West Colombus Private Medical Facility. Phases one and two expenses to be covered by costs funded by patient.”
"How much will that cost?"
“Oh… it’s one of our hospitals, so you can see here… we normally build it into the court costs…”
Seventeen thousand dollars seemed a lot, or a little, he wasn’t sure, but no cost would be charged if they lost… so he had nothing to lose… Xander, normally always so good at reading fine print, simply signed the page. Gordon beamed, “It’s not about the money, Mr Harris, Wolfram and Hart is committed to your future.”
………..
Three days later his case was heard quickly and in front of a magistrate only.
He was thrilled when the result was exactly as Gordon had predicted, he was not going to jail, instead he had his sentence suspended, on proviso that “Mr Harris is immediately transferred to West Columbus Private Medical Facility - special unit for assessment and treatment. Date of release for work/care program on doctor’s advice. Review in two months.”
As he left the courtroom, a large woman ushered him into the rear of a waiting car. As he sat he felt the jab of a needle in his thigh and his world went black.
……………..
He woke as he was wheeled into a hospital (?) in a chair. He couldn’t work out if he’d been injured… was he injured? His head felt fuzzy… he’d been in and out of fuzzy for hours.
He had another needle and then had to talk to so many … whoever they were (s)… They seemed nice and knew about Sunnydale and the Slayer and Angel… which was kind of weird… but he struggled to sort out what was going on. He’d been chatting to someone all about his home life then about vampires and the demons and Spike and the Slayer and saving the world and the hole that had been Sunnydale… it all seemed important and the man had smiled.
He blacked out again… must have hit a head stone when they were on patrol… he asked for Willow. Did they have a Math test in the morning? He wasn’t sure if he was due on site in the morning. Did Dawn know Spike was in the cellar of the school? Why hadn’t Giles come? His Mom would be angry if he didn’t check in after school… It was all so confusing.
He knew he’d slept for a while, and though initially he’d felt clear in his thoughts, increasingly he struggled to answer the next round of questions about demons and saving the world … But the man in the nice suit smiled at him at the end of the session and patted him on the arm, assuring him that they were going to help and make things much simpler for him.
He woke again as he was lifted onto a hospital gurney and strapped down. He panicked a little but his struggles came to naught as he was given yet another injection, this time of pre-med. He gave in to the lovely sensation of ‘floating’ and realized he was being wheeled somewhere. He watched the pretty lights, lots of pretty lights… “Count backwards from ten Mr Harris.” He tried but only got to nine…. Blessed black.
…………………..
His head throbbed, he tried to reach up to feel… bandages? His eye? No, he blinked when he couldn’t reach, he knew it wasn’t to do with his left eye, it was still missing. The doctors must have his patch, he worried where they had put it, the nurse noted his distress, pushed a dial one notch higher then… black.
He struggled to rouse again. He needed to lift his hand up. He finally coordinated lifting up and leaning forward and managed to touch his own skull. There was a decidedly soft spot on the side of the bandage.
It was only much later that he found they had cut into his skull in two places. He felt other parts too were painful. He didn’t feel very well. His insides were on fire, starting with his rectum. What had they done??!
He began to panic then couldn’t seem to control his emotions at all, so gave in and simply cried. His uncontrolled sobs and flood of tears alerted a male nurse who dialed up his medication yet again.
**Oh blessed black.**
………………
“Morning Mr Harris."
Xander blinked and turned his head so his good eye could focus on the source of the voice.
Xander’s mouth would not make the words he wanted and there was no real sound, “Hmmm, th…..ztfffff….”
An attractive very young resident was smiling at him. He noted her perfect teeth, and couldn’t think why that might be important, then descended into confusion again. Tears began to flow… so he focused on her voice.
“You’ve been with us now for five days, Mr Harris. Your surgery was yesterday, T.h.u.r.s.d.a.y. You are scheduled for trials today. Today is F.r.i.d.a.y. It was a complete success. You should be ready for phase two by the beginning of next week, and allocation to a carer in three to five weeks’ time.”
Xander really had no idea what the doctor was talking about… or what had they done? What was phase two? He couldn’t seem to make words and knew something awful was happening. The young doctor saw the tears and noted something on his chart.
Finally he was able to get his tongue to cooperate a little, “Wha??? T…hmmm… thhhh… th..ohhh… ppfff??” But his larynx was constricted so there was only able to end in a tiny whimper sound… He arched off the bed a little and tears flowed liberally. He wondered if Willow knew where he was, if he could just ask for a phone. He tried again but only managed, “Pfffflllt… thhh” and another small whimper.
“See you tomorrow then.” The young woman patted his arm, replaced the clipboard at the end of his bed, and left him to sob silently.
A nurse entered some two hours later, changed the bottle on the catheter, pushed the covers over him again and gave him his pain medication and his anti depressant through the extra tube on his drip…
**Ohhh… here comes black…. Here it is... Blessed black.**
…………………..
It must have been morning. The orderly pushed Xander up to sitting. He still felt utterly dopey. A nurse slowly removed a catheter from his penis and by the feel of his rear, he finally worked out that someone had cleaned him from the inside out. He felt oddly… violated, but couldn’t quite make the words translate from his brain to his mouth. His limbs were utterly relaxed and out of his control it seemed.
After a gentle bed bath, Xander was rolled onto his side and was just beginning to come up with a comment, when they manhandled him onto another trolley strapped him down again, then transferred him to the test lab.
They took his vital signs then discussed him as though he wasn’t there, but he understood. He was one of four cases that morning, but they were pleased with the progress and looking forward to “Phase Two” of the process. He could not work out their excitement over his being ex Sunnydale.
They had apparently embedded two implants in his brain. In combination, they were capable of producing intense pleasure or pain. By engaging the pleasure aspect, it would be possible to reward the subject for good behavior. They simply needed to determine the amplitude and frequency best suited to the individual. They had not anticipated the affect on speech, however it was not considered to be a permanent problem. The doctors wandered out of his earshot before he could discern any more.
………………….
The following day, still groggy and confused, Xander struggled with the orderly who was trying to move him, until they accessed his chip for pain. His world exploded and he arched off the bed and tore at the sheet under him as they dialed it up a second time. He was still whimpering with the after effects as they strapped him compliant to the trolley and wheeled him to the test lab.
They experimented with the pain dial again after his arrival in the lab, determining parameters, and taking notes until Xander simply sobbed silently. Then they dialed the man up ‘pleasure’.
Initially it was arousing then wonderful, then bordered on painful as his brain shot messages of arousal and bliss beyond measure through his system, finally he arched off the bed. It seemed his prostate was being stimulated directly but noone was touching him… He was impossibly aroused again but he was strapped down so there was nothing he could do but cry out.
Less than ten minutes later, Xander lay on the table, sobbing and silently mouthing his appeals to stop. Untouched, he had come all over himself twice then had a dry orgasm, before they were satisfied the ‘calibration of the remote’ was correct. The two doctors chatted over their subject, excited at the prospect of comparing the results after Phase Two.
Xander simply cried pitifully, ignored as his heart rate gradually slowed from its near life threatening high.
Returning to his shared room after the session he was injected again and Xander felt himself slip … Ohh blessed black!
…………..
The patient awoke in his bed. Every inch of his being ached. He lay still and was conscious enough to note the doctor pushing a syringe of fluid into his veins via the apparently permanent attachment to his lower arm.
His head buzzed a little, but at least he seemed to be able to think a little more clearly. It was one of the doctors talking at him again… but now he understood the words.
“Ahhh, Mr Harris. Welcome back to us. I’m happy to say that today we begin Phase Two of your treatment, after which I am sure you will feel much different and will heal far more quickly. You would like that I’m sure!”
Xander tried to form words but in the end, simply gave up. Whatever had been done to him, whatever drugs he was currently filled with, simply removed the ability to connect thoughts and words to the muscle actions. He huffed, looked sad, then began to cry. The doctor frowned a little at this response, then patted him on the arm and let the anesthetic do the rest while he directed orderly to shift Xander onto a waiting trolley and fixed the custom designed restraints.
The unconscious human was then wheeled to a secure room and positioned next to a second figure.
…………
Spike and Illyria had been the sole survivors of the Black Thorn assault three years previously. They had disappeared off everyone’s radar for a time, but Wolfram and Hart eventually tracked them down. The Senior partners seemed to have many friends and long memories.
The Colombus branch had its own set of underground cells – just like the LA branch. They were eventually able to convince Illyria to slide to another dimension where she would return to her original form, but Spike refused to cut a deal and miscalculated their level of malice toward him. He was dropped by a taser and woken up in a completely paralyzed state in a ‘personal’ vault.
That had been six months ago. But they had plans for him so he was fed daily via a permanent feeding tube and had been taken out of his space once to be rechipped, with the latest technology.
………
He’d been removed from his ‘box’ and placed on a hospital trolley still utterly inert.
His feeding tube was still in and he could feel restraints on his arms and legs which made little sense as he was utterly unable to move anyway.
Pushed into the specially prepared room with its own observation glass, he was positioned beside a second prone figure, he was just able to make out a doctor pushing a needle into the neck of the other individual. A tube was then attached to his feeder and the other end to the man’s neck. Spike could say nothing, and lay horrified as the other’s life blood flowed directly into his stomach and another technician took almost a pint of the vampire’s from a restrained wrist.
Spike could hear the human’s heart beginning to falter.
The technicians pushed a feeding tube down Xander’s throat and emptied the container of Spike’s blood directly into his stomach just before he took his final breath.
All the tubes were then removed, excess equipment cleared away and the men in white left the room.
Spike simply stared at the ceiling. These people had just made him a Childe… he was a Sire…. And he hadn’t even seen man’s face yet. Why would they do such a thing?
………
“The procedure is complete Sir. It really was most fortunate we were able to convince Mr Harris to agree to phase two… Lord knows I wouldn’t do it.” The doctor saw the wicked gleam in Gordon Manners’ eyes, “He did agree… didn’t he?”
“Oh he signed off on all the procedures.”
“Wow?!”
“Yes indeed… wow.”
Gordon was to get a huge bonus if the project succeeded. His father Holland would be proud. He had been successful in extracting at least a little payback from Angelus childe, and there was more fun on the way. Gordon was his father's son and looked forward to a *long* career with his current employers.
……
Spike felt his Childe wake after two days of lying in the dark next to the corpse… He felt his body respond to him for the first time in close on six and a half months, he snapped his restraints easily, and sought out the source of the bloodlink that was screaming for his attendance.
He found the man quickly, spent a moment to recognize the individual, whispered “Oh God. What have they done?” then gave in to the instinctive drive. He stripped the man’s hospital gown from him and tore away his own. Lying gently on top of the slowly awakening fledge, he opened his wrist and let the newly made vampire drink again as he sunk his own fangs into the offered neck. As he pulled away and Xander fell back into his normal human features Spike's voice hitched... "Oh Bloody Hell... Harris? Talk to me… Childe."
Their observers noted, "Successful turning confirmed at eleven twenty three and five seconds day three of Phase Two".