After Adam's defeat, the spoils of the 314 project are up for grabs. Spike & Willow find themselves at the centre of a web of intrigue.

Disclaimer: Any characters and locations from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel the Series are the property of Mutant Enemy

Chapter 14: In which it all goes horribly wrong.

The next few days passed unexceptionally. Spike went about his duties as usual, which now included patrolling the rapid turnover of residents in the bulging holding cells.

Now that he seemed to have Nat's full trust, he was also sent on a few personal forays for special subjects for testing. Sometimes he could do this alone, when the targets were ones that he could handle. Why the Company wanted demons he didn't know, but he was happy to oblige. Other times he was working with a few hand picked boys, which was pleasantly reminiscent of the days when he had been cock of the walk in Sunnydale. Besides, having largesse to dispense gave him the opportunity to build up some personal allegiances amongst his staff, which would be helpful if the present tension reached breaking point.

And the atmosphere was tense; there was no mistaking it, despite the fact that the word was that progress on the project was good. The boffins were working at full stretch, as were the techies if Willow's long hours were anything to go by. Plus the easygoing camaraderie that had typified the operation seemed to be evaporating. Spike rarely saw Nat, and when he did the older vampire seemed preoccupied with his own troubles. Of Rauk there was nothing to be seen, which contrasted to the early days of Spikes tenure when he had often been sighted loping around the corridors with cherubic smile for all and sundry.

Spike's own life was a great deal simpler now that Nat knew about Willow. He still met her in the less than salubrious surroundings of the semi-derelict Grotto, because changing would necessitate revealing the reasons why, but Spike no longer needed to worry about shaking off a tail when he went about his business on the Campus. The tension in the air was having its effect upon Willow as well, and Spike was having to spend more and more of their limited time together in reassuring her that things really were going to plan.

Curiously, since the unfortunate "bonus" incident, Willow had become more rather than less comfortable in Spike's company, perhaps believing that because he hadn't taken advantage of her on that occasion he was unlikely to try anything in less tempting circumstances. He didn't disabuse her of this belief and was surprised how much pleasure he derived from their comfortable rapport. When she was particularly tense he had taken to simply holding her and stroking her hair, whilst murmuring nonsensical things under his breath. This was another trick he had learnt from his days with Drusilla. It had always had a soothing effect on him as well as her, but he had never expected it to work that way with someone who wasn't Dru. Yet somehow when Willow lay so trustingly in his arms, with the hypnotic beat of her heart playing counterpoint to her breathing, he felt at peace in a way that he hadn't for too long.

Nat was quite right; he was getting softer by the day and would have to do something about it sooner or later. But for now the tension of work, plus the fact that he was playing so many sides against the middle that even he was beginning to lose track, meant that it was comforting to be able to simply slip back into the familiar role of protector. If it had the unexpected side effect of strengthening Willow's resolve, then all the better for him.

All too predictably, this brief time was turned out to be the calm before the storm. One night Spike checked in as usual, only to find that the non-human staff had been summoned en masse to a meeting, ostensibly to receive good news. Spike had his doubts about the latter. Indeed, there was an undercurrent of suspicion running through the snippets of conversation that he picked up as they all made their way to the pit in the central hall of the facility that had been the site of the vivisection beds when the military were running the show. It was here that they had undoubtedly inserted Spike's chip and the location always triggered off feelings of unease in him - feelings that were magnified that evening.

As they waited in untidy ranks, Rauk suddenly appeared on the edge of the pit above him, flanked by Nat and an unknown female. Spike eyed her up and down. She was a handsome piece and Spike was appreciative of the view from below which allowed him to see straight up her brief skirt. Not pretty. No, despite the soft brown hair that fell to her shoulders and the finely chiselled features, there was no sweetness or vulnerability about this one. The arrogance of her bearing reminded him of someone, though he was damned if he could remember who.

As he worried at the elusive memory, Rauk stepped forward and spoke, his voice booming out to fill the space, despite the lack of any apparent source of amplification.

"Thank you all for attending at such short notice. I've brought you here to give you some important news about our little endeavour. The project is a triumph - we have conquered death!"

There was a muted cheer from the assembled throng of vampires.

"The Company and I are appreciative of your important role in making this possible. But our work is not yet at an end, and you have a far more vital role to play in ensuring the success of the next stage...the antidote!"

The sound of confused muttering rose from the crowd around Spike, but to him it made perfect sense. You didn't risk giving immortality to the world's most dangerous men unless you had a method of taking it away again. He looked up and saw the same realisation dawning on Nat's face, a look that turned apprehensive when he, like Spike, saw and noted the supercilious smirk on the woman's face.

Smiling beatifically, Rauk continued, "We're well on out way to developing the antidote, but we need to test it. We've had some very good results from the subjects who have had the original drug which is just dandy but, as I said to myself, why simply stop at those to whom you've granted immortality? Wouldn't it be fun to find out what happens on those who already have it? Just think of the opportunities that might open up."

The muttering grew louder, but the run-of-the-mill Reculance vampire hadn't been chosen for his razor-like intellect. Spike on the other hand had a fairly good idea of what was coming next and, as discretely as possible, began to inch his way towards the nearest exit. As he did, Rauk's voice continued to echo around the subterranean chamber.

"Of course, I'm going to need some immortals to test it on and that's where you come in, my faithful employees."

As he spoke the doors to the pit slammed shut with an awful finality. Upon hearing the sound Nat suddenly sprang forward, his throat fangs emerging and burying themselves deep into Rauk's jugular. The effect was not that which might have been expected. Far from weakening, Rauk simply grimaced as if at a particularly nasty mosquito bite and grasped Nat by the neck, wrenching him away from his throat. Nat's fangs ripped bloody gouges in Rauk's suntanned skin but, even as Spike watched, these began to close up and heal. Rauk retained his grip on Nat's throat and, with preternatural strength, lifted and held him over the yawning drop.

"As I said, we have conquered death. Immortality is mine."

With that he released his hold on Nat and the vampire fell into the seething mass below. Then he turned on his heel, offered the woman his arm and the two of them disappeared from Spike's sight.

The mood of the mob was nasty and they converged as one on the recumbent figure, but found themselves thwarted as Spike interposed his body between them and their prey.

"You want him, you've got to go through me first."

Fortunately, some degree of loyalty and fear still clung to his and Nat's previous positions of authority and the mob stopped in its tracks. Suddenly a random figure from the rear yelled, "The scum betrayed us, he's going to pay."

"Don't be bloody stupid," Spike spat, "we've got to stick together if we're going to get out and Nat knows more about this place and what's been going on than anyone."

For a split second Spike's words held them motionless then someone bellowed, "Fuck that! " and with a roar they surged forward once more. But, before they could reach their goal, they were dropped in their tracks as one when the metal floor became live and enough electricity passed through their undead bodies to stun them into insensibility