CHAPTER 8 - IN STASIS
Logan drove Willow to Joshua's house. When they arrived on the front porch, Logan introduced her to Max.
"There is someone I want you to meet, Ms Rosenberg." Said Max. "But I want to warn you, he looks…different."
"Don't worry about me, Max." Replied Willow warmly. "I have seen many unusual things in my life. In fact, I can't wait to meet him. He sounds wonderful."
They entered the house and Joshua stood there waiting to greet her. Joshua was also a transgenic. The very first in fact. He was made from canine DNA and possessed distinctly dog like features, including long dog hair, big dog ears and dog teeth. He was nervous as he usually got a negative reaction from humans.
To everyone's surprise, Willow greeted Joshua warmly without a hint of fear or surprise.
"Oh, he's so cute." Said Willow playfully.
"You don't seem too shocked." Said Logan.
"I have seen all sorts of demons in my lifetime. There is very little that can shock me now." Replied Willow as she turned again to Joshua.
"But Joshua's just a cute little doggy. Aren't you Joshua." Said Willow in a silly voice, patting Joshua affectionately on the head. Joshua bowed his head shyly and wagged his tail in his trousers. He had never received such a positive reaction from a human before. He was now Willow's friend for life.
"Besides." Continued Willow, stroking Joshua's head. "I used to have a boyfriend who was a werewolf." She said, referring to Oz.
"But you wouldn't harm anyone, would you, you gorgeous big furry lump." Joshua almost purred as Willow playfully pulled his canine ears."
Logan and Max looked at each other, bewildered. Willow turned to face Max and Logan.
"Well, we all have a lot to talk about and not much time."
"Where would you like to start?" Asked Max.
"Why don't you tell me about Manticorp and the transgenics. And then I will tell you about Spike, the slayer and Sunnydale.
Willow listened intently as Max and Logan took turns to talk about the transgenics. Max talked about her escape from Manticorp and her attempt to find her fellow transgenic in the years that followed. Then she moved on to recent history and explained how she had destroyed Manticorp and how many transgenics were now living as fugitives in Seattle trying to avoid capture by Agent White and the authorities.
It was then Willow's turn to recount the events of the five years that she knew Buffy in Sunnydale, until Buffy's death in the battle against Glory. She explained everything, and talked freely about vampires, the slayers, the Watchers' Council, demons and witchcraft. As she spoke, Max and Logan listened intently.
"So Spike helped you defeat this Glory?" Asked Max. "He was good then."
Willow shook her head.
"No, not really. The chip in his head would not allow him to kill humans. By helping us fight demons, he was able to satisfy his innate vampiric blood lust. By killing demons and other vampires."
"So what happened to him afterwards?" asked Max.
"He became very agitated after Buffy's death." Replied Willow. With Spike's help, we managed to kill or drive out the remainder of the demons and vampires left in Sunnydale. But when there was no one left to fight, he became frustrated and started to attacked people, despite the pain the chip caused him. We had to restrain and imprison him. Eventually we decided to put him into an induced sleep with the help of magic and computer technology. "
"How long was he there?" Asked logan.
"Until 2008, when the terrorists let off the bomb. It short circuited the computer equipment and Spike's chip. In the chaos of these days he escaped from Sunnydale. We have been hunting him ever since. As you have discovered, he is a very savage killer, but can also be very elusive."
"Do you know what he dreamt of when he was in stasis?" Asked logan.
Willow smiled.
"Yes. We created program to allow us to see his dreams." She explained. "Spike used to be a poet when he was alive and his imagination is strong. He created an extraordinary world populated with weird characters and demons. In his dream he even had a sexual affair with Buffy."
Max screwed up her face.
"That sounds totally perverse." She said.
Willow smiled and nodded.
"I know. But the whole world he created was perverse. At one point he dreamt that everyone was singing and dancing. It was completely bizarre."
"Did he dream of you?" asked Max.
Willow smiled again thoughtfully.
"Yes. At one time he dreamt that I was an all powerful evil witch, bent on destroying the world." She laughed. "Can you believe such a thing?!"
For a reason they did not understand, Max, Logan and Joshua all felt a shiver go down their spines and they looked at each other nervously. Then they all laughed politely. Then for a moment there was silence.
Willow realised that she may have given too much away. These were highly intelligent people.
"Shall we go and see your vampire friend." She said hastily.
All four went down to the basement where Cindy was chained to a wall.
"I presume she has not fed on a human, yet?" Asked Willow.
"No." Responded Max. "Joshua was the first person she encountered. "He looks harmless, but is extremely strong. He managed to overpower her."
Joshua looked down ashamed.
"Joshua hurt Cindy. Joshua is sorry."
Max went to him and hugged him.
"There was nothing else you could do. You did the right thing."
Willow stood in front of Cindy. Cindy looked at her with her vamp eyes and flicked out her tongue grotesquely. "Come here sweety pie and Original Cindy will ride your skinny ass. I know what you like." Cindy flicked her tongue out again.
Max blushed at how grotesque her friend had become.
"Is Cindy a lesbian?" Asked Willow, frowning. Max was a bit taken aback by the blunt question.
"Yes. How did you know?"
"I once met another lesbian vampire many years ago. She reminds me of her." Willow answered remembering the sado-erotic behaviour of vamp-Willow.
"Is there any way we can help her?" Asked Max as the two walked back to the living room.
"Yes." Willow said. "I can turn her back into a human if we can capture her sire. That means we must capture Spike alive."
"But he could be anywhere." Replied Max. "He may not even be in Seattle."
"Yes. Spike could leave town at any moment. Especially if he knows we are looking for him. We will have to move fast."
"How can we find him?" Asked Max.
"Normally, I would use a vampire location spell. But in this mystical void, the spell would be ineffective, even with my power." Answered Willow. She hesitated thoughtfully a moment and then said.
"There is another way. But it is risky."
"Let's hear it." Said Max. "We have no choice."