*****
The lab-coated techs rolled the large medical bed down the hallway toward the holding cells, both men studiously ignoring the unconscious form strapped to the white bed. When they reached the proscribed cell they stopped and one turned to the other.
"We just going to leave him like this?"
The second one shrugged, "Walsh's orders."
"No, no... I mean with the dope running into him... kinda screws the baseline for the tests don't it?"
The second one considered the question, "Yeah... probably.... what the hell, take it out. It's not like he's gonna wake up for hours anyway... 24 to 48 hours if the field reports on the transition are accurate." He finished with a grin.
"Right."
They slipped the long needle out of the prisoner's arm and detached the elevated IV from the bed. A moment later, under the guard's supervision, they rolled the bed into the cell and left the helpless figure alone with the cells sole other occupant.
*****
Riley stepped off the elevator and made his way to the security console, checking around for anyone watching before he went in. He figured that the first place to check would be the security camera's for the holding cells and began cycling through the ones he knew should be empty.
He slipped through over half the pens when the door opening startled him into flicking the monitors off and turning around. When he saw who had come in he relaxed slightly. "Christ Forest, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
Forest grinned, "Of course. I want your job, didn't you know?"
"Wiseass." Riley growled under his breath.
"You know it, boss." Forest kept grinning ear to ear, "Why you in here anyway?"
Riley had turned back to the monitors. "I'm just checking the status of the holding cells."
Forest stepped closer, dropping his grin, "Don't give me that, Boss. You don't get this jumpy for no reason."
Riley sighed, and kept flicking through the security monitors. "Harris went missing. Buffy and her friends seem to think he's in here somewhere."
"What?" Forest leaned in, his voice concerned. "What the hell would he be in here for?"
"I don't know." Riley said tersely, "But remember last night? Graham said that the goon squad went out in full gear."
"Holy shit." Forest whispered, "You don't seriously believe...?"
Riley didn't answer.
"No way." Forest objected, "Walsh wouldn't do anything *that* dumb would she?"
Riley just shook his head and pointed to the monitor. Forest looked closer and watched as a female HST approached one very unconscious, not to mention tied up, Alexander Harris.
"Oh shit." Forest said.
Riley just growled as he left the security room at a dead run.
*****
Elanthielle grabbed the sliver of light the second she saw it. It wasn't much, but it was coming from Xander, and that was all she needed. When she slipped into his mind there was nothing there that she could see. None of the nightmares, desolate landscapes, or monsters that plagued him over the run of months that she had known the young man.
Nothing but the oddly fuzzy light that seemed to permeate everywhere. She muddled through for several precious instants of time, looking for anything she could recognize and use.
*****
"Ewww!"
The two lab-coated technicians stopped as they were leaving and looked at each other in confusion.
"What?"
The vampire behind the screen turned to look at them, a strange look of distaste twisting her human features. "I said 'Ewww'. I'm not touching him."
The two technicians looked at each other, still confused. "Why?"
"He's loser-boy Harris. I do have some standards you know."
"Is she serious?" The first asked the second.
He shrugged, "I don't know."
"Some of these things seem to be faulty conversions..."
"Maybe it's the original personality?"
"You call *that* a personality?"
Finally they turned back to her and lied through their teeth. "Turn him and we'll let you go free."
The vampire thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Deal. But bring me some good blood to wash the taste out, k?"
*****
"Alexander!"
Xander floated in a strange place, with barely any sense of 'self' at all. He did, however hear the far off call, and the voiced sounded familiar.
"Alexander!"
It was closer now but still faint, as if being heard through a think fog. He could tell it was coming, but not from where... or whom.
"Alexander! Thank God!" Elanthielle exclaimed as she spotted his drifting form, "I finally found you."
Xander blinked. Or he thought he did... It didn't seem to make a lot of difference in here. Pretty white light with my eyes open... Pretty white light with my eyes shut.... Pretty.
"Alexander! Listen to me!" She was shaking him now, as much as one can shake a non-corporeal dream essence a any rate.
"Leave me 'lone... nice here."
Elanthielle ignored him, instead using his proximity to lock herself back into his, badly muddled, mental process. "And I thought it was chaotic in here before." She muttered as she got to work.
"Who'r you!?" He demanded belligerently as she held his face tightly.
"Shhhh...." Elanthielle whispered, "Just a few more seconds and I'll have the process started."
"What prcesss?" He slurred his words drunkenly as his eyes widened and the sight of her hit him. "Yrrr pruty... nice eyes......"
Smiling, she shook her head and focused on her task. "Thank you, Xander. Now be quiet."
"K..." He smiled goofily and let his head droop to one side.
******
"That's it!" Phoebe said, "I'm going back!"
She was mildly surprised and grateful when not only her sisters but the Slayer rose from the table to join her. It was the other side that interjected their words 'of rational thought'. That phrase was driving her insane. She didn't *want* to be rational about this.
"We'll give Finn the time we promised him." Parker said firmly.
"Oh yeah?" Piper answered when Phoebe didn't, "And if he's in on it? He could be preparing defenses right now."
Buffy glared at the witch and opened her mouth to object, but then just sat down. Riley was really mad at Xander... could he?
"He didn't know." Jarod said confidently.
"How can you be sure of that?" Piper demanded in her sister's place.
"I know people." He said, smiling mysteriously.
"I agree." Giles said calmly. "Riley isn't the type. We'd do best to give him the time we promised."
Phoebe was breathing heavily, and her sisters laid their hands on her shoulder's to bring her back to the table. Buffy reluctantly returned as well, smiling sadly at Phoebe when their eyes locked for a few seconds.
"We'll get him back." Buffy told her with full confidence.
We have to.
*****
Xander blearily opened his eyes, blinking continuously as he tried to clear them of the fog that seemed to surround his very soul. When they finally did he slowly began to make out a form leaning over his face. Slowly the blond hair came into focus, and then her face. He started in recognition and screamed.
"Harmony! Get away from me you, bloodsucking bitch!"
Harmony jumped back in shock when he yelled, shocked by the sudden movement from the unconscious form. She glared at him from behind her shock. "How did you know I was a vampire?" She demanded.
Xander shook his head, trying desperately to clear it, and looked at her in confusion. "You're a vampire?"
The blond ex-cheerleader growled and vamped out as she advanced on her helpless prey.
ELAN! He screamed through the mental fog.
*****
The two security guards were going over the confiscated equipment from the night before, whistling in appreciation as they took note of what their quarry had been carrying.
"Willya take a look at this?" The first one demanded, holding up an ancient Japanese short sword. The expert craftsmanship was obvious even to a laymen. From the gently curving blade with the chiseled tip, to the ornate ivory handle, the blade was a work of a master's hands.
The second grinned. "Forget about that kung fu bullshit, look at these Colts. Ivory handled, nickel plated... probably go for ten grand easy."
"Yeah." The first man agreed enthusiastically. "Poor bastard had some taste in weapons. But I wonder what this thing is?"
The second glanced to the small metal rod that was held up. "Piece 'a junk. Some half assed defense club or something."
"Yeah" The first agreed, tossing the cylinder into a box at the far end of the table and sweeping the sword around again in admiration. "Man, what this would do to those freaks in the cell block."
The second laughed at the image, "It slices, it dices... huh?"
"You know it."
Neither of them noticed a silver shimmer come form the box where they had tossed the cylinder. And neither of them noticed that the box was emptier by one item.
*****
Riley and Forest hit the detention block at a full run, ducking and dodging past security and scientists as they made their way to the cell the saw on the monitor. Uppermost in each of their minds was the fact that they would surely be too late.
When they finally reached the cell they both stopped in their tracks, involuntary laughter rising to their lips.
*****
Harmony was inches from his throat when Elan shimmered into existence in Xander's hand. He crooked the ancient weapon against the straps and table and willed it to activate, wincing when his wrist was jerked by the snap. His lower arm came free and he swept his arm around as much as he could, knocking the blond vampire solidly on top of the head.
"Ouch!" Harmony cursed as she jumped back. "Where the hell did you get that!?"
"None of your business!" Xander mumbled as loudly as he could through his dry mouth. "Stay away from me you... you... cheerleader!"
Harmony snarled and came at him again, only to catch the flailing tip of Elan across her face. "Ow! Stop doing that!"
Xander ignored her, and kept flailing the ancient weapon around with his one, partially, free hand.
*****
The two commandos stared at the incredibly strange scene before them, unable to completely fathom what was happening. A bound and, supposedly, helpless man was holding off a vampire with one partially free arm and a metal staff.
The vampire, for her part, seemed content to charge in time after time only to retreat from a minor hit and a string of curses from her intended 'victim'.
Riley finally shook himself clear of his laughter and tapped in the security code to the cell. As the glass slid open Harris looked at them with foggy eyes and cursed again.
"What? Didnja think I'd be able to hold off a vampsh with one arm behind my back? Gonna tie the other one up again?"
Forest held his blaster on the vampire while Riley started undoing the straps that held Harris down. "I had nothing to do with this, Harris. I don't like you. Doesn't mean I want you dead."
Harris looked at him suspiciously as he helped him out of the bed, "You know, bud... I do kinda like you... Jusht don trusht ya.... thash all..."
"Oh great." Riley muttered to Forest as they backed out of the cell and closed it again. "He's drunk or stoned or something..."
Harris popped his head up at that. "Yep." he said cheerfully. "Don worry tho... Purty lady fixing things... Her name's Elanth... Elanthi... hmmm... Elan! Yeah... She's helping me."
"Hallucinating too." Forest observed. "Wonder what they had him on?"
"I don't know." Riley said flatly, "but we have to get him out of here before his friends decide that time's up and storm this place."
"I heard that." Forest declared, "let's get a move on."
Harris popped his head up again, his eyes a little clearer this time. "No! Blond girl... find her."
"Blond girl?" Riley asked, incredulous. "You want to bring the vampire with us?"
"No!" Xander shook his head wildly, side to side. "Other blonde... down here somewhere... help her too..."
Riley and Forest looked at each other, "You know what he's talking about?"
Riley shook his head. "No, but if someone else was brought in, they should be along here."
Shaking their heads the two commandos half dragged their drugged burden between them as they worked their way through the detention block.
*****
Walsh stared in disbelief as two of her best Agents aided a prisoner to escape.
"Riley..." She whispered, "What do you think your doing?"
Her anger grew as she watched them move, until finally she turned to the technicians behind her. "Sound the alarm! I want Riley and Forest detained and Harris back where he was!"
After her order, Walsh stormed out and left the technicians to look at each other with misgivings. No one noticed a quiet woman at the far terminal quietly lift a phone to her ear and dial a number from memory.
*****
They were halfway down the hall when the alarm went off.
"Oh great." Riley muttered, "There go our careers."
"Fuck it." Forest said, "I didn't sign up to kill people without cause."
Riley didn't answer, just kept shaking his head as they continued their shuffling walk down the hall.
Xander was starting to straighten out with each step as Elan slowly purged his system of the drugs. As the alarms reached past the ringing in his ears, he realized the trouble they were in. Can't you do this any faster, Elan?
Sure, but I'll probably fry some of your brain cells.
Xander snickered, drawing strange looks from the two commandos dragging him down the hall. No loss... Do it.
Alexander... I...
"I said, do it, Elan." Xander ordered in a remarkably clear voice. "Hit me!"
"Who are you talking t..." Riley cut off as Xander's body suddenly went stiff, as if he were being electrocuted. Then, a few seconds after he drooped into their arms as limp as well cooked pasta. "Whoa! What the hell was that?"
"I don't know man." Forest said, "Maybe they did more to him then we thought?"
A low voice came from the last person the expected to be capable of speech. "Hooo boy. That packs a punch." Xander shook them off and slowly straightened himself up, standing on his own power.
"What the?"
"No time." Xander said. "We have to find Tara."
"Who's Tara?" Forest asked, looking at Riley who just shook his head in confusion.
Xander never answered them, instead he palmed his silver 'defense baton' and strode down the halls as if he just woke up from a nice afternoon nap.
Both commandos stared at the weapon in confusion.
"Wasn't that...?"
"Yes."
"Then how...?"
"I don't know." Riley shook his head and followed Xander up the hall.
*****
Tara squirmed in her restraints, trying to get a hand free from the straightjacket she had been strapped into. She had woken up behind glass, like an animal on display, bound and gagged presumably so she couldn't cast a spell.
She had over heard what they planned to do to her when the last guard patrol came through and she shivered at the thought. Dissection? My father warned me what was waiting for me out here. Maybe I should have listened.
She was falling quickly into a depression when three more guards showed up outside her 'window'. She glared at them for a moment, until she recognized the lead one as the young man who saved her last night.
*****
"Unlock it." Xander ordered.
Riley waved his hands in frustration, "I can't. My codes have been locked out."
Xander didn't bother to wait for another try. "Cover your face."
He turned back on to the bulletproof glass partition and held Elan up perpendicular to the surface. He willed the ancient weapon to extend at full force, shattering a glass shield that was designed to take any bullet up to a small cannon round without cracking.
He stepped lightly over the remains of the glass and security wiring, immediately moving to the bound young witch. "Have you free in a jiff, Tara."
"Mmmmgfff..." She mumbled under her gag.
"Let's get that clear first," he said, unstrapping the gag and pulling it out of her mouth.
"Thank you." She said in relief as she sucked in a deep breath.
"No prob." Xander undid the buckles quickly, hustling her out of the cell as he worked. "We've got to keep moving though... the guards will be on us soon."
"Right." Riley said, leading the group back down the hall.
*****
The group was running along one corridor when they saw a group of guards rushing after them, weapons drawn and ready.
"Oookay." Xander said as they turned around. "Not that way."
"Duh." Forest said as they stepped up the pace, rushing back through the detention block.
The creatures in the cells began to bang on their electrified glass walls as they watched the 'prison break' in progress, alternately cheering the runners and hissing at the guards.
When they rushed around another corner, they came rapidly up on a dead end. Xander turned to Riley fast. "Phone." He demanded.
"What?"
"You have a phone?"
"Yes..."
"Give it to me! Now!"
Riley fished the small device out of his pocket and tossed it to Xander. Xander rapped in a series of numbers and waited as the thing slowly dialed through. "Come on... come on..."
Beside him his three companions shifted nervously as they heard the approaching sounds of footsteps.
"Yes! Buffy, I need to talk to Phoebe! NO! Not time for that, put her on NOW!" Xander yelled into the phone. He turned to Riley, exasperated. "For crying out loud... like I need her ripping me a new one for being kidnaped right now."
Riley commiserated silently, as far as he was concerned getting ripped into by Buffy at anytime was a really bad thing.
"Phoebe... I'm fine... no... could I... please list... PHOEBE! I need a lift really really bad here!" Xander finally yelled into the phone, then covered the mouth piece and mouthed the word 'women' to the two commandos. "Yes... yes... the spell was right on. Under Lowell House," He looked at Riley for confirmation and continued when the commando nodded. "That's right... ask him to hurry."
*****
The guards approached the corner nervously, edging around it slowly. When they finally stepped around there was nothing but a dissipating shimmer of light to greet them.
*****