Chapter 13

Spike knew that he was taking a huge risk by going to see Batman. If a vampire spotted him--- not even necessarily one in Nicholae's army--- he was as good as dust. But he also knew that it had to be done. Considering what Robson had demanded of him two days ago, he was not going to be able to move forward if he didn't make contact with the men in tights that were trying to run Gotham City.

He had managed to buy some time from this colonel in Nicholae's army by saying that he was a lot more subtle when he carried out his business, whether it was killing a Slayer or turning a superhero.

"Going straight at these guys is a sure way to get yourself staked," he had told Robson. "You've got to take a scientific approach to handling your problems." He had paused then. "That's something that your boss obviously knows very well. You've got to take time."

It had been a big risk to take but Robson clearly agreed with this school of thought. "But you don't take forever at it," Robson had countered. "The boss is patient, but not that patient. When he gives an order he wants it carried out. He wants it done right, but he wants it done." He then handed out a deadline: one week from tonight, along with the proviso that someone from the gang monitored him.

Fortunately, Spike had managed to convince Robson that Nestor would be more than suitable for the job at hand. There was clearly some doubt about this, but Spike had managed to reassure the hierarchy that he was comfortable working with Nestor and that he would insure success.

In point of fact, Spike had selected the Southern-fried vamp because he considered him the least likely to impede him in his overall plan. Nestor's innate faith in Spike, combined with his mule-headed stupidity would guarantee him a free hand to do whatever he needed to in order to pull this off.

Spike didn't intend to play him for a complete fool. His first actions had been what he would have done when he had been evil to take out a major threat. He had gone to a couple of places where Nightwing protected the tired and poor of Gotham (which, not at all coincidentally, were only a few blocks away from Robson's headquarters) and watched how the young crime-fighter handled the vampire menace. Then tonight, he told Nestor to get a high-powered video camera and film Nightwing fighting a vampire. He had then gotten a message to Andrew warning Faith to take cover for the next few days. (He was pretty sure that Nicholae knew the Slayer was here, but he wanted to maintain the deception as long as he possibly could.) He had then told Nestor that he was going to do some 'scouting' of the other crime fighters in Gotham --- "We're going to be tackling the Men in Black pretty soon after we deal with this Nancy Boy", he had told Nestor, "and I'd like to see how one bat handles another."

Like many of his lies, this one had a grain of truth in it. Spike did need to see how Batman could handle the ranks of the undead--- with any luck, he was going to be fighting alongside the man in the near future, and he needed to see if he really could handle the vamps.

Well, he had seen it and there were some things he didn't like. Things that might get the Batman killed. But he would work up to that.

"You did a pretty good job of killing those vamps," Spike said, choosing his words deliberately "but there are some flaws in your technique that you've really got to get a handle on before you tackle the big bad."

For a microsecond, when Spike had said 'killed', he thought that the Batman flinched. It was so small a thing that even someone who picked up on the smallest details would have missed it completely.

To his credit, Batman's gaze remained completely neutral. "Who are you to give advice on handling vampires?" he said coldly.

Spike intended to hold off revealing what he was for as long as possible. "I'm just someone who's had a bit of experience handling these creeps," Spike said just as coolly.

"Really?" said Batman skeptically. "It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you're a vampire yourself?"

Apparently, 'that long' had been five minutes. "And how do you know I'm one?"

"Your color's all wrong; it's just above freezing, you're not even showing a sign that you're cold, and, finally, you've been standing there five minutes and you haven't taken a single breath."

"Impressive," Spike admitted. "Guess you are as smart as everyone says you are."

"And since you're a vampire," Batman carried on "why shouldn't I end your existence, too?"

"Fancy words, 'ending my existence', " Spike said coolly. "Half the vampire hunters I know would have used the word 'kill' by now." He fixed Batman with a gaze. "Any reason you haven't?

Batman could go head to head with Buster Keaton for stoicism. "Gotham City is infested with the undead and you're bringing up semantics?" he managed coolly.

"It ain't semantics, Bat." Now Spike was openly speaking disdainfully. "This comes down to the absolute essence of what you're doing. This is ugly death and you need to be able to face ---"

Suddenly Batman had him by the lapels and was right in his face. "You still haven't answered my question." Batman was practically snarling now.

Spike continued to maintain his equilibrium. "And you still haven't answered mine. However," he said hurriedly as Batman pulled out his stake "…since this is your city and all, I'll go first. You shouldn't kill me because I'm Faith's friend."

"That's not exactly the best reference you could use." Batman spoke harshly but he eased his grip slightly

'And I have an idea what Nicholae's gang is going to do next."

Batman thought this over for a few long moments, then finally let go of Spike completely. "Start talking." he said in a quieter tone.

"I'm not close enough to know all the details but I do know this much" Spike gathered himself. "The big thing about this bloke is he believes in control. His thugs have control over the streets of Gotham; he's got a good grip on the underbelly of the city. And at the center of his plan, he wants control of you."

"No one is ever going to control me as long as I'm drawing breath."

"Funny," Spike said with a small smile. "I think that's exactly what he'd have to do to gain that control."

Ever since Batman had become aware of the threat in Gotham City, he had suspected that something like this might be at the center of the vampire's plan. Nevertheless, learning this was true still gave him a hell of a turn--- so to speak. "So the plan is making me a vampire." he said slowly.

Spike's smile had disappeared. "That's the bulk of it, yeah."

"Does he really think that he can just walk up to me and drain my blood?" Batman spoke almost casually.

Spike shook his head. "Like I said, I don't know all the details I know that these evil plans are never as simple as they sound."

"And as a vampire you know all about evil plans."

Spike shrugged. "I've heard my share of them. Couple of times I've even thought 'em up."

"Which brings up my next question: why should I trust you?"

"I told you whose side I was on." Spike said coolly.

"Yes, but you're still a vampire." Batman spoke just as calmly.

"Look mate" Spike started fishing around in the pockets of his duster for another cigarette "I know the impression that you've gotten of vampires over the past few weeks hasn't been positive, and even if it was better, you'd still have trouble believing me. "

"But?" Batman sounded almost placid--- like he had for most of their dialogue. Spike, however, knew how false a façade it was.

"But there are a few vampires who really on the side of truth, justice and----" Spike paused. "Wait, that's the other bloke." He shrugged and put a cig in his mouth. "Anyway, there are some of us who are good guys."

Batman clearly didn't believe him. "How many?"

"Two." Spike said honestly. " And you're talking with one of them."

"So you're a good vampire." Batman said doubtfully.

Spike lit his smoke. "None of us are absolutely good anymore than we are absolutely bad" he said as he took a drag. "You're not going to tell me that your soul is as pure as the driven snow, are you?"

Again for a fraction of a second Spike thought that he saw Batman flinch before he spoke. "None of us are without sin, William," he said in a positively glacial tone. "However, I'm relative certain that my sins do not involve the slaughter of women and children."

For an alarming second Spike was certain that the Bat had somehow managed to unearth his secret identity. Then he realized that Batman had far more likely that he had deduced his name through Faith and that he had simply assumed that Spike, like most vampires, had a long record of bloodshed behind him. He also realized that, cape and cowl aside, Batman was first and foremost a detective and any cop worth his salt was a good psychologist.

Regaining his poise, Spike fixed his look upon the Batman. "I won't pretend that my crimes weren't ugly," he said in a smooth tone. "Nor will I pretend that there hasn't always been and will always be a monster inside me."

"How does that make you better than any of the vamps I just took care of?"

"Because, unlike those vamps you just killed, I recognize the evil that I have done." Spike said with a hint of pain in his voice. "I regret every life that I took, every sin that I have committed. My desire for repentance and reprieve is genuine, and probably more real than three-quarters of the blokes you end up throwing in prison. More so," he tossed his half-finished cigarette on the ground, "because I know I can never get it."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm doomed, Bat." Spike used the nickname with a tinge of irony. "I could save a thousand lives, kill a thousand demons, doesn't make a difference. I am damned to the darkest part of the hottest hell for what I have done. There is not enough soap in the world to wash the blood off my hands."

Batman considered this with his usual stoicism. "Then why are you doing any of this?"

Spike looked at the Batman as if he were a fool. "Because everything we do matters. I realize that now. I may not be able to redeem myself but I have to work for redemption regardless. Because good and evil are all that matters in the end. And good needs all the help it can get." He smiled slowly and painfully. "You know that too, don't you?"

For a flash--- Spike was beginning to realizes these flashes were the only ways Batman could allow himself to show any emotion--- he thought that he saw a look of empathy on the Caped Crusader's face. Then it was gone like all the others.

"Assuming that I accept what you say as true" said Batman reluctantly "how could someone like you help me."

He'd come a long way just to get right back where he started but Spike plowed ahead regardless. "For starters, you could accept the fact that you're dealing death."

Batman shook his head. "Let's be clear about one thing, Spike. "

There was a level of disdain in the use of his name that the blond vamp wouldn't have thought anyone beside Angel was capable of . "I am not killing these things. You can't kill something that's already dead."

"You can pretty up however much you'd like." Spike said. "You are still ending their existence. I don't care what culture or religion or whatever you belong to; that's death. And you've got to recognize that."

Batman was silent for a few moments. "Why? Because you say so?"

"No. So you understand what you're doing," Spike said patiently. "My kind doesn't have any room for gray. It's either black or white; kill or be killed. In order for a vampire slayer to survive, she has to understand that too. And if you don't accept that, your fancy technology and high-style martial arts won't stop them from snuffing you out."

"Five minutes ago you said that these vampires weren't going to kill me," Batman rejoined.

"I said that was Nicholae's plan, and it is. But someone who isn't as bright as him is going to take you on regardless and they can be just as relentless as he is." Spike thought for a second. "More, because they're such idiots."

"You're saying their stupidity makes them more dangerous?" Batman asked with a hint of bemusement.

"Aside from the ultra-nasties and crime bosses, how many truly intelligent criminals do you think there are in Gotham City?" Spike didn't bother to wait for an answer. "The dumb ones don't know how tough you really are so they keep trying to get you. And because their numbers are so large, one of them will eventually get lucky, " He turned to the left, looking to the horizon. "Quantity eventually triumphs over quality. That's lesson the second."

Batman gave no outward sign of it but Spike thought he sense the slightest sign of agreement. "And I suppose lesson the first is: Never forget you deal in death." the caped one said softly.

Spike nodded. "Very good. Almost poetic. You surprise me, Bat."

"Stop calling me that."

"What, Bat? Well, seeing as you're wearing that mask and you haven't offered me a real name I'm making do with what little I got."

A modest smile appeared on his face. "Unless of course, you'd like to open up and--- "

"Not a chance."

He sounded so pissed that Spike winced. "Crap, I thought only Slayers could sound that cold." He shrugged. "In any case, that's neither here nor there. The issue before you is simple: you understand that you are killing these vampires."

"I just said I did." Batman was beginning to sound impatient.

"Saying and doing are different things, Mr. Bat. So let me put it like this." Suddenly all the fun had disappeared from Spike's voice. "Do you understand that you have just killed eleven vampires?"

There was yet another pause. This one, however, lasted a lot longer than the others. Batman was still in the shadows so Spike could not see the expression on his face. He didn't think it would have been radically different from before in any case--- Spike was pretty sure Batman never smiled; it was part of the whole dark hero package--- but he was pretty sure that Batman was really considering what he said.

Finally, he stepped forward--- not into the light but enough so that Spike could see his eyes. 'I understand that I have finished killing something that was almost dead. They don't fit the biological definition of being alive but they are no longer alive in any form. That enough?"

Spike thought for a few seconds. "It'll do. Now that you've got this down, its time we move on to the next important issue: mainly what happens next in re our mutual foe."

"What do you know about Nicholae?" Batman sounded almost business-like.

"Like I said. I haven't met the bloke. Vamp has isolated himself completely from whatever it is his flunkies are doing. He's got a real good chain of command and right now I'm so far down it I still couldn't get anywhere near him."

"You haven't seen him." It wasn't a question.

"Not only have I not seen him I don't know anyone at my level who has seen him," Spike shook his head. "That's the weirdest part of this whole thing."

"I don't follow."

"Vamps aren't mafia dons, Bat. They don't care if they get caught robbing the orphanage and flying to Tahiti. Good vamp wants everybody to know that he is in charge; that means showing everybody what a bad-ass you are." Spike shook his head. "You don't do that; you got no cred with your own crew; let alone the rest of the streets."

"Yet this Nicholae is still inspiring fear and loyalty."

"I'll say. No one even makes jokes about trying to double cross the bastard." Spike shook his head in memory. "It's like they're afraid he'll come out of the shadows and rip their lungs out."

Batman thought about this. "Where do you think you are in their organization?"

"Right now, one step removed from lickspittle," Spike said. "Even the guy that I report to only meets with Nicholae occasionally. Most of the time, he just talks with someone on the phone and passes on instruction from someone else."

"So how do you know that your orders are coming from the king vamp?" asked Batman.

For the first time Spike looked at Batman with dismay. "He can't carry out his mission by himself. He makes sure that every man-jack of us knows what the plan is. Otherwise, it would be just chaos." Spike brushed his hair back. "And the Prince likes order."

Batman considered this for several seconds. "Granting all this is true" he asked in a somewhat louder voice, " what part of his plan are you supposed to be carrying out? Taking care of me?"

"Yes, but indirectly. "

"How so?"

"I'm supposed to be handling you by committing as so callous and vicious it would draw some kind of reaction even from your stoicism."

Batman considered this. "Who do they want you to kill?" he asked frankly.

"Your friend the Nightwing." Spike was just as frank.

Now there definitely was a reaction; Spike was almost sure he had seen Batman wince. But like everything else about the man, it was gone nearly instantaneously. "When does he expect it done?"

"By the end of the week. Only he doesn't just want the Nightwing killed. He wants him turned also."

"He tends to turn all of this cities crime fighters into vampires?" Batman spoke with the slightest sound of curiosity in his voice.

"It's brilliant in its own way. Besides" Spike said wryly "a good number of the criminals of Gotham think the whole lot of you are something inhuman already."

"Forgive me if I don't find that amusing."

"Yeah, cause you're just a barrel of laughs normally. Look" said Spike "I've really enjoyed this conversation but I really do have to get moving."

"Why? Sunrise isn't for another four hours."

"Uh, right, but the people I work for expect me back in one." said Spike condescendingly. "In any case I didn't come to shoot the breeze. I came to tell you about what they want me to do and how I want to handle it."

"How do you intend to get around turning my friend?" Batman asked.

"Well, I've done some brainstorming and this is how I want to work it out." Spike then explained what he had in mind and what he wanted the parties concerned to do. "Is this possible?"

"What makes you so sure I would have the technology to do what you want?" Batman asked calmly.

Spike pointed at the Bat's waist. "That belt you're wearing has all kinds of nifty gadgets in it. My guess is you know more than your share about modern technology."

"You're not wrong." said Batman reluctantly.

"Answer the question."

Batman thought for a few seconds. " I believe that what your asking for is doable and I believe that I can do it. However, it will take some time to set things in motion."

"Well, we don't have a lot of that. I have four days left before they want to see ---" Spike trailed off "---results. Is that enough time?"

"It should be. But we have to get started now."

"Whoa, whoa." Spike put up his hands. "You want to arrange it with black and blue, do it on your own time. I can't afford to be seen with the forces of good any more that I already have been."

"So you're just going to leave the heavy lifting part of your plan to me." Batman sounded truly contemptuous now

"Hey, my arse is on the line here too, and they'd have a lot easier time taking me out of the picture than they would getting rid of you." Spike thought for a moment. "Though it would be a bit closer than it would seem."

Batman took a deep breath and turned back towards the Batmobile. "How will I be able to get in contact with you?" he said calmly.

"You won't." said Spike. "I'll be using backchannels. I'll contact you through Andrew. He'll handle the rest."

"You're not exactly winning me over that you're on the side of good here. There are at least a hundred ways that this can backfire."

There was no response to his statement. Batman turned around and found that Spike had disappeared into the night.

And even though what he had learned about Nicholae's operation didn't comfort him, that he didn't trust really trust the man he'd talked with, and that the problem he had described would cause him no end of troubles, a ghost of a smile crossed his face.

"So that's what it feels like." he said, bemused.