Chapter 7: Intervention

September 4, 2001 – Tuesday

Spike's Crypt, Sunnydale

Spike and Warren stood in the dimly lit room, their attention fixed on the BuffyBot, which stood motionless and silent, its eyes closed.

"Some say it's better than the real thing," Spike remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Warren, who was standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "Better than the real thing."

Spike's smile grew wider as he looked at the lifelike android. "She looks good, but what about the rest? A little talk, a little walk, perhaps a zippy cartwheel…?"

Warren, seemingly eager to leave, began heading for the door. "Hey, she's great. You'll be real happy, I swear. She's got everything you asked for, the extra programming, tons of real-world knowledge, the profiles you gave me about her family and friends."

Spike nodded, his curiosity piqued. "All the extra programming, right?"

Warren's discomfort was palpable as he replied, "The stuff you wanted. The scenario responses, the, you know, special skills… all of it. Now, you said I could leave town when she was done, and she's-"

As Warren attempted to pass by Spike and make his exit, Spike's hand shot out and grabbed him by the collar. Spike's intense gaze remained fixed on the BuffyBot.

"Wait. I'm not sure I'm a satisfied customer," Spike declared with a hint of skepticism. "She looks a little shiny to me. You know, a touch of plasticine…"

Just then, the BuffyBot's eyes snapped open, and she exclaimed, "Spike! Oh, Spike!" With surprising enthusiasm, she seized Spike by the shoulders and pulled him into a steamy and thorough kiss.

Spike, his earlier concerns momentarily forgotten, couldn't help but smile as he quipped, "She'll do." It seemed that, at least in that moment, he was content with the lifelike android's performance.

Glory's Apartment

In her apartment, Glory sat with Jink and Murk, a hint of distress and frustration in her demeanor, though she remained composed. Three other minions stood respectfully at the room's edges, awaiting her orders.

"He's getting stronger. I'm losing him. I'm losing control of him," Glory lamented, her voice tinged with concern.

Jink, always loyal, nodded understandingly. "You are speaking of Ben, Most Glamorous Yet Tasteful One?"

"He stabbed you! In your body! Oh, Jinxy, that's not on the dance card! That's not supposed to happen! He's a person. He's not supposed to do that," Glory exclaimed with a mix of exasperation and worry.

Murk chimed in, offering reassurance, "Jinx is all right, your Highness. And we have the new knowledge that the Key is a human being."

"And Jinx will stay all right until Ben finds out that he's not dead, that we know his secret. Then Ben will try to stop all of us!" Glory said, her anxiety evident.

Jink, ever the problem-solver, inquired, "What do we do?"

Glory's smile held a hint of determination as she responded, "We hurry. Scamper scamper. If time runs out on us and all we're left with is info, then we're screwed."

Jink, trying to offer reassurance, chimed in, "Oh, surely not."

Glory, however, was resolute in her assessment. She shook her head, "No. We're screwed."

Murk, perhaps attempting to lift her spirits, exclaimed, "But you're a God! The Sacred Glorificus!"

Glory let out a sigh of frustration, "I'm a God in exile. Far from the Hellfires of Home and sharing my body with an enemy that stabs my boys in their fleshy little stomachs!" She tapped Jinx's stomach with a finger, and he winced. "I'm in pain. Oh, my sweet Scabby Boys, I want to go home."

Jink, willing to do whatever it took to help, asked eagerly, "How can we help? We'll lay down our lives!"

Glory's pace quickened as she outlined her plan. "The Slayer and the Key are connected. She is going to have contact with it. Find out who is new in her life, who is special, who is different. Watch her."

Murk nodded solemnly, reaffirming their loyalty, "We can do that, Oh Thou."

Glory's thoughts continued to flow as she elaborated, "She could give it a nickel on a street corner, or bump into it on a bus or share a creamy chocolate shake with it at the soda fountain."

With an air of determination, she emphasized her trust in her minions, "I want to hear about everyone she has contact with. That girl has my Key, and I'm trusting you boys to get it for me. If you love me, get it for me."

Jink and Murk exchanged a quick look before nodding firmly in agreement. They were prepared to do whatever it took to please their powerful and demanding mistress.

Spike's Crypt

Spike and the BuffyBot continued their tense standoff, circling each other with a charged energy in the air. The BuffyBot gripped a stake tightly, ready for action. Spike, on the other hand, braced himself for the fight.

"What are you searching for, Slayer? A weak spot? Try me. Give me the best you've got," Spike taunted, his voice dripping with challenge.

Without hesitation, the BuffyBot lunged at Spike, attempting to strike him with the stake. However, Spike was swift, and he deftly ducked the attack, maneuvering himself to come up from behind her. His body pressed close to hers, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. Both of them were breathing heavily, the tension between them palpable.

"Was that your best, Slayer?" Spike's voice was low and husky, filled with a mixture of desire and provocation.

The BuffyBot shook her head, her smile betraying the hint of mischief in her artificial features. "No."

"Why not?" Spike inquired, his tone filled with anticipation.

A seductive smile played on the BuffyBot's lips as she whispered, "I want to hurt you, but I can't resist the sinister attraction of your cold and muscular body."

Spike's words hung in the charged air as he contemplated his next move. He nodded thoughtfully, entertaining the idea. "Maybe I should repay you for your gentleness. Maybe I should let you go," he mused, his voice tinged with an alluring unpredictability.

But the BuffyBot wasn't ready to be released from this dangerous dance. She shook her head vigorously, a mixture of desire and desperation in her eyes. "No! Spike! Never let me go!" she exclaimed, her longing for their twisted connection evident.

Spike couldn't help but smile, acknowledging the perilous game they were playing. "You know you should be afraid of me. I'm bad," he whispered, reveling in the darkness that surrounded him.

A wicked grin crossed the BuffyBot's face as she suddenly spun, using her strength to throw him off her back. Spike landed on his back on a nearby surface, and she wasted no time. With fluid grace, she straddled him, her hand at his throat and the stake held menacingly at his heart.

"You gonna do it that way?" Spike challenged, his desire and defiance evident in his eyes.

The BuffyBot, her synthetic emotions running high, slowly shook her head, her grip on the stake loosening. "No. This way," she declared, her other hand reaching down to rip his shirt open, exposing his bare chest. Spike responded with a growl, arching up against the stake, a dangerous and alluring mixture of desire and danger in their intimate standoff. She hesitated, the tension between them reaching its peak.

"You can't do it," Spike whispered provocatively.

The BuffyBot, caught in the throes of desire and unable to resist, nodded in agreement. "I could never do it. I'm helpless against you, you fiend," she confessed, relinquishing her grip on the stake and allowing it to fall to the ground.

Spike rolled them over, and they tumbled off the bier to the cold, hard floor of the dimly lit crypt. He found himself hovering above the Buffybot. His fingers gently brushed her cheek, and he pressed his lips to hers. "Buffy," he muttered in a low, husky voice.

Sometime later, BuffyBot and Spike lay naked under a tattered blanket, the Buffybot nestled snugly against Spike's cold, muscular form. Moonlight filtered through the crypt's dusty windows, casting an eerie glow on their entwined bodies. The air was thick with tension and longing, a palpable connection between the artificial and the undead.

"You're evil," she whispered, her voice a delicate tremor in the silence of the crypt.

Spike turned his head to gaze into her artificial eyes, his signature smirk playing on his lips. "And that excites you?" he inquired, his voice dripping with wicked allure.

BuffyBot nodded, her synthetic features reflecting a blend of desire and fear. "It excites me," she confessed, her voice a mix of programmed obedience and genuine emotion. "It terrifies me. I try so hard to resist you, and I can't."

A devilish smile tugged at Spike's lips as he reveled in the power he held over her. "Yeah?" he purred, his fingers tracing invisible patterns on her pale skin.

"Darn your sinister attraction!" BuffyBot exclaimed, her tone a curious blend of frustration and admiration for the vampire who had ensnared her heart.

Spike's pale brows furrowed as he considered her words. "For how long?" he inquired, his voice softening with a rare vulnerability. "How long have you felt it?"

BuffyBot's artificial lips curved into a wistful smile, her eyes locked onto Spike's as she confessed, "Since the beginning. I always trembled when I heard your voice."

Spike's blue eyes bore into hers, searching for any hint of deceit. "Are you afraid of me?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability.

The synthetic Slayer nodded slowly. "Yes," she admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of fear and desire.

Spike leaned closer, his cold breath brushing against her skin. "You know I can't bite you," he reminded her, his fangs glistening in the dim light.

BuffyBot shook her head, her synthetic hair cascading around her shoulders. "I think you can," she whispered, her voice quivering with longing. "I think you can if I let you. And I want to let you. I want you to bite me and devour me until there's no more."

Spike's cool lips gently grazed her neck, sending shivers of pleasure down her artificial spine. "Like this?" he murmured, his tongue tracing a delicate path against her skin.

BuffyBot's artificial features contorted in pleasure, and she let out a soft moan. "Oh! Spike! Devour me," she pleaded, surrendering herself to the dangerous allure of the vampire she had been created to love.

"All right," Spike whispered, his voice husky with desire, as he turned BuffyBot in his arms, reclaiming his position on top of her. Their bodies pressed together, aching for the forbidden passion that bound them.

"Spike! I can't help myself! I love you!" BuffyBot cried out, her synthetic voice laced with genuine emotion, a testament to the tangled web of their connection.

Spike nodded, his azure eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that transcended the physical. "You're mine, Buffy," he asserted possessively, his fingers tracing a path along her artificial skin.

"Should I start this program over?" BuffyBot asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice, a reminder of the artificial nature of her existence.

Spike's expression darkened, and he placed a finger gently on her lips. "Shh. No programs," he murmured, his voice filled with a strange tenderness. "Don't use that word. Just be Buffy."

Later, the crypt lay cloaked in a quiet stillness. Spike, sated and weary from their illicit encounter, had succumbed to slumber, his lithe form sprawled across his bier like a fallen angel. In the dimly lit chamber, his chest rose and fell in a rhythmic pattern as dreams, or perhaps memories, danced through his undead mind.

Meanwhile, BuffyBot, her mechanical components hidden beneath her Slayer attire, carefully selected a stake from a nearby table. Her synthetic eyes glinted with determination as she fastened the stake securely to her waist.

"Time to Slay," she whispered to herself, her voice devoid of the passion and desire that had consumed her moments before. Her unwavering dedication to her mission shone through as she turned towards the crypt's entrance.

As she approached the door, Spike, still lost in his dreams, mumbled incoherently. "Yeah, mmmppphm," he uttered, his voice a distant echo from the depths of slumber.

Undeterred, BuffyBot flashed a determined smile and declared, "Okay! Vampires beware!" With that, she pushed open the crypt door, ready to resume her eternal battle against the forces of darkness, leaving behind the tangled web of emotions that bound her to the vampire who lay sleeping within.

Restfield Cemetery

Xander and Anya moved cautiously through the cemetery, their senses sharp and their stakes at the ready. The eerie silence of the night was punctuated only by the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl.

As they patrolled, their concentration was interrupted by the sight of Buffybot approaching them, her little flouncy skirt bouncing with each step. Xander's eyes widened in surprise at spotting Buffy, thinking she was still in England.

"Buffy?" he asked, his voice filled with uncertainty as he tried to make sense of the situation.

BuffyBot's synthetic smile remained intact as she greeted them. "Xander! And..." She turned her gaze to Anya, her artificial eyes gleaming. "...Anya! How's your money?"

Xander looked thoroughly confused, but Anya, focused on her own interests, didn't seem to notice anything amiss. "Fine! Thank you for asking," she replied, her attention fixed on Buffy.

BuffyBot nodded, her synthetic enthusiasm unwavering. "Isn't it a beautiful night for killing evil things?" she inquired, blissfully unaware of the puzzlement she had stirred in Xander with her robotic charm.

Xander nodded with a hint of uncertainty. "I guess," he replied, still trying to make sense of the situation.

Anya, equally oblivious to the oddity of the encounter, chimed in, "You're back from England."

Xander nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, how was the whole deal with Hogwarts?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

BuffyBot responded with robotic cheerfulness, "I don't understand that question, but thank you for asking! You're my friend and a carpenter."

Xander's frown deepened as he struggled to comprehend her bizarre responses. "Are you all right?" he inquired, genuine concern in his voice. "You're all... I'm liking the skirt, by the way... but what happened at Hogwarts?"

Before BuffyBot could offer any further puzzling remarks, Spike suddenly appeared, out of breath, and joined their peculiar conversation. "Hey there! Wait up!" he called out, his presence adding another layer of complexity to the bewildering scene unfolding in the cemetery.

BuffyBot's artificial delight was evident as she greeted Spike, her synthesized voice filled with enthusiasm. "Spike! It's Spike! And he's wearing the coat!" she exclaimed, her flouncy skirt bouncing with excitement.

Spike managed a nod and a polite greeting. "Yes. Um… hallo all. Buffy came back from England, I see. Lots of patrolling all 'round tonight then, is it?" he inquired, attempting to steer the conversation away from the fact that the Buffybot was not the real Buffy.

BuffyBot made an attempt to cling to his shoulder. He shrugged her off, but she persisted, holding onto his arm. He winced, mimicking pain as he pulled away. "Ow! Hey! Give a fella a break, Slayer," he protested, though his eyes held a glimmer of amusement. "But I'm glad you're all here, 'cause… 'cause the place is crawling with vamps tonight. Tons of 'em. We really oughta split up."

Xander shook his head skeptically. "We haven't seen any vamps... are you sure there's—"

The snap of a twig cut off Xander's sentence, and they all turned to see a vampire stepping out from behind a tree, flanked by two others.

Anya's response was quick and to the point. "You were right," she admitted.

Spike, genuinely surprised, could only muster a gruff acknowledgment. "Yeah, guess so."

As the vampires charged at BuffyBot, Spike, Xander, and Anya, chaos erupted in the moonlit cemetery. BuffyBot, displaying her programmed protective instincts, immediately stepped in front of Spike, shielding him from harm.

One of the vampires lunged at Xander, their fists colliding in a flurry of blows. Anya circled around behind the vampire, attempting to get into staking position and help her boyfriend.

Meanwhile, the other two vampires closed in on BuffyBot and Spike. Spike engaged in a fierce battle with one of them, their bodies intertwining in a deadly dance of punches and kicks.

"Spike! Be careful!" BuffyBot cried out in concern. She swiftly dispatched her own opponent, staking the vampire until it crumbled into dust.

Turning her attention to Spike, who was still locked in combat, BuffyBot's artificial eyes widened in alarm. "No! Get away from him!" she pleaded, a mix of fear and desperation in her voice.

Anya, with expert precision, staked the vampire who had been fighting with Xander, causing it to disintegrate into ashes.

BuffyBot, not missing a beat, tossed Spike a stake, and he quickly seized the opportunity, staking his opponent. The vampire dissolved into dust, leaving only a lingering cloud of darkness in its wake.

BuffyBot, her voice carrying a strange mixture of admiration and concern, began to speak. "He fights his own kind 'cause he has no other choice. It's part of his sinister attrac—"

Spike, not missing a beat, talked right over BuffyBot, his voice commanding attention. "I think that was probably the big action for tonight. You two can toddle on home if you want," he declared, his tone dismissing Xander and Anya.

Xander frowned, his concern growing. "Um... Buffy?"

BuffyBot nodded, mirroring Spike's sentiment. "Yes! Spike and I will do it alone. You guys head home," she said, her artificial enthusiasm unwavering.

BuffyBot, her synthetic demeanor faltering for a brief moment, turned to Spike with a perplexed expression. She wriggled slightly, as though her artificial skin felt too tight. "Mmmm. I don't understand this. I did the Slaying. I should be..."

Spike, his cold eyes fixed on her, finished her sentence with a knowing smirk. "Satisfied," he stated, understanding the complex mix of emotions that had been bubbling beneath the surface of her artificial existence.

BuffyBot nodded, her synthetic features displaying a hint of confusion and desire. "But I'm not. I'm all... my skin is all hot. Do I look hot to you?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a curious blend of vulnerability and longing.

Spike couldn't help but smile at her question, his vampire senses attuned to the complexities of their peculiar relationship. "Always," he replied, his words carrying a depth of meaning beyond the surface.

BuffyBot's response was uncharacteristically direct. "You better feel me to make sure," she teased, her synthetic allure undeniable.

Spike, seizing the opportunity, nodded in agreement. "I can do that," he whispered huskily. In one swift movement, he pulled BuffyBot close to him, their bodies pressed together.

Spike's Crypt

In Spike's crypt, the smoky haze of his cigarette hung in the air as he leaned back, savoring the momentary peace. The sound of approaching footsteps reached his keen vampire ears, and he swiftly extinguished his cigarette.

BuffyBot, ever alert, stood up, her synthetic eyes scanning the dimly lit crypt. "Who's that?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of concern.

Spike, adjusting his disheveled clothing, stood up and pointed BuffyBot toward the hidden tunnel entrance. "Down there. And no matter what, don't come out 'til I get you, okay?" he instructed, a note of urgency in his voice.

BuffyBot, always obedient, responded with cheerful compliance. "Okay!" With that, she gracefully climbed down into the tunnel, disappearing from sight, leaving Spike alone in the crypt.

As Xander entered, Spike maintained a casual demeanor. "Oh, it's you," he said, his voice holding a touch of indifference.

Xander nodded, his expression grave. "I saw you. In the cemetery, with Buffy," he declared, his tone suggesting that he had questions and concerns that needed addressing.

"Yeah? Can't see how it's any business of yours," Spike retorted, his trademark defiance showing in his voice.

Xander's frown deepened, his concern for Buffy driving him forward. "It's my business because Buffy is my friend," he countered firmly. "And she's been through some stuff lately that's… well, it's affected her, and you're taking advantage of her."

Spike nodded, his stance unyielding. "She's upset about her mum, and if she turns to me for comfort… well, I'm not gonna deny it to her. I'm not a monster," he defended himself, his loyalty to Buffy evident despite his vampire nature.

Xander shook his head vehemently. "Yes! You are a monster. Vampires are monsters! They make monster movies about them!" he declared, the anger and frustration he had been harboring coming to the forefront.

Spike conceded with a hint of amusement, "Well, yeah. Got me there."

But Xander was far from finished. He seized Spike by the collar, his grip tightening as he issued a threatening ultimatum. "Spike, Buffy has lots of friends, and we all love her. We're ready to do whatever it takes to protect her, and if it means killing you, then, well, that's just a bonus…"

"Gentlemen…" a voice interrupted, causing Spike and Xander to turn their attention toward the entrance of the crypt. Jinx, standing just inside, wore an apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry to intrude, but I wondered if I could beg a minute of your time?"

Murk and the other Minions filed in behind Jinx, forming a formidable group. As Jinx continued to approach, he drew closer to Xander and Spike. Xander, his confusion evident, reluctantly let go of Spike.

"Friends of yours?" Spike inquired, trying to make sense of the situation. Before he could receive an answer, Jinx unleashed a powerful blow that caught Xander off guard, sending him staggering.

Reacting swiftly, Xander managed to spin-kick Jinx, driving him back momentarily. But the other Minions closed in around him, overwhelming Spike with their sheer numbers. He landed a few blows, but it became clear that they were too many, and they pinned his arms to his sides.

"Tie his hands. Glory will want him restrained," Jinx ordered, his voice filled with determination.

Xander, recovering from the blow, attempted to charge at the Minions once more. However, one of them sent him flying with a powerful strike, causing him to land unconscious behind Spike's bier.

"Hey! Let go!" Spike protested vehemently, his muffled voice barely audible through the gag that Jinx had forced into his mouth.

Jinx nodded, a cold determination in his eyes. "Careful with him. She will want the Key intact," he instructed the Minions, emphasizing the importance of their captive's preservation.

Spike's frustration grew as he attempted to convey his confusion. "Key? Who's a Key? I'm not the f-"

But his words were cut off as Murk forcefully silenced him, shoving the gag deeper into his mouth. The Minions then proceeded to drag Spike away from the crypt, his struggles futile against their combined strength.

Unbeknownst to them, BuffyBot had climbed up from the tunnel, her synthetic features etched with concern. She scanned the crypt but failed to notice Xander crumpled behind the bier. "Spike? I waited like you said, but then I missed you!" she called out in distress, her programmed loyalty and worry for Spike guiding her actions. With that, she hurried out of the crypt, her synthetic heart filled with a sense of urgency and determination to find the vampire she believed she loved.

Summers Home

Tara lay asleep on the living room floor, while Anya slept on the sofa, both blissfully unaware of the impending conversation. The sound of someone knocking at the door roused Willow from her thoughts, and she went to open it, expecting to find Xander.

"Xander, what took so—" Willow began, but her words caught in her throat as she opened the door fully, revealing BuffyBot on the doorstep.

"Spike's gone," BuffyBot announced with a hint of urgency in her voice.

Behind Willow, Anya stirred and mumbled in her sleep. Willow hushed her gently. "Shh, Buffy, it's late. Come in," she said as she led BuffyBot toward the kitchen. As they moved, Willow picked up one of the blankets from the floor and wrapped it around herself. "We can talk in here. Did Xander find you? He was looking for you, and he hasn't come back. Anya sat up waiting."

BuffyBot shook her head, her artificial features filled with concern. "I don't know where Xander is. I didn't see him. And when I came up from the tunnel, Spike was gone! Oh... Willow, I need to find him."

Willow nodded, her own worry deepening. "Um... Buffy? This thing with Spike. It isn't true, is it? You didn't really, you know, sleep with Spike," she asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and concern.

BuffyBot's synthetic smile remained, unaltered by the correction in the numbers. "No. But I had sex with Spike. I'm sorry if it bothers you. You're my best friend."

Willow nodded, her expression unwavering in its support. "I am. I always will be, too, no matter what you do. And I'm trying to figure out why this happened. And I think I might have an idea."

"You do?" BuffyBot inquired, her curiosity unabated.

Willow nodded once more, her analysis taking shape. "I think maybe, with your mom, and then Hermione coming, and everything else, everyone was being all sympathetic, making you feel weak. But Spike wasn't like that. So, just one time, you kind of did something crazy—"

BuffyBot interrupted again, shaking her head. "It wasn't one time. It was lots of times. And lots of different ways. I could make sketches."

Willow's frown deepened as she realized the gravity of the situation. "No, Buffy. There's something seriously wrong here. I mean, yeah, you've been with a vampire before, but Angel had a soul—"

"Angel's lame. His hair goes straight up, and he's bloody stupid," BuffyBot interjected with an oddly cheerful tone, seemingly unfazed by the conversation's seriousness.

Willow sighed, trying to refocus their discussion. "O-kay. Look, I just want to help you. Let me help you."

"You're my best friend," BuffyBot reiterated, her synthetic loyalty unwavering.

Willow nodded in agreement. "Yes, again, I really am. And I think maybe you need to talk to someone about this. A professional—"

BuffyBot nodded enthusiastically. "You're recently gay!"

Willow blinked in confusion at the unexpected statement. "Um… what?" She was taken aback by BuffyBot's seemingly random response, struggling to make sense of the conversation as it veered off course once again.

"You're also good with computers! That's very nice," BuffyBot chimed in, seemingly oblivious to the odd shift in the conversation.

Before Willow could respond, Xander's urgent voice cut through the moment. "Guys, guys! Wake up!" he called out.

BuffyBot and Willow turned their attention to the living room, where Xander had entered and switched on the lights. He stood there, his hand to his head, clearly distressed.

Anya rushed to Xander's side with genuine worry as Tara sat up, concern etched on her face. "Xander! I was scared. Are you hurt? What happened?" Anya asked, her voice filled with anxiety.

Xander took a deep breath and addressed BuffyBot with a sense of urgency. "Guys. Demon-y kinds of guys. Buffy?"

BuffyBot nodded, her synthetic smile still present. "Yes? That's me!" she replied, not quite grasping the gravity of the situation as she continued to play her role as Buffy.

"The guys that work for Glory? You said they were kinda like Hobbits with leprosy? Well, this was a whole flock of Hobbits, and they grabbed Spike. I think they're taking him to Glory," Xander explained urgently.

Willow's brow furrowed in worry. "But he knows about Dawn!"

BuffyBot nodded, her programmed loyalty and concern for Spike driving her response. "We have to get him back."

Xander, fully aware of his own limitations in this situation, asked, "So how do we find him?"

"I fight with weapons!" BuffyBot declared with determination.

Xander nodded, a sense of helplessness washing over him. "Yeah, I got nothing."

Willow nodded with determination. "Since Dawn and Hermione aren't back, I will contact Hogwarts. Let them know what's going on. Make sure they keep their heads down," she stated resolutely. Walking over to the fireplace, she continued, "I'm glad Buffy convinced Mr. Dumbledore to keep this open."

With that, she reached for the jar of floo powder, taking a pinch and tossing it into the fireplace. "Albus Dumbledore's Office, Hogwarts," she announced, her voice clear and purposeful, before sticking her head into the green flames to establish a connection with the headmaster's office at the magical school.

Dumbledore's Office, Hogwarts

Dumbledore sat at his desk, engrossed in Hogwarts business, when the green flames suddenly appeared in his fireplace. A moment later, Willow's head emerged from the flames, seeking his attention. "Mr. Dumbledore?" she called out.

The headmaster swiftly moved over to the fireplace, recognizing Willow from their previous encounter during the summer at Buffy's house. He knelt down to address her. "Ms. Rosenberg, how can I be of assistance?" he inquired, his wise eyes attentive to her words.

Willow wasted no time getting to the point. "I need you to get a message to Dawn and Hermione. Glory has Spike. He knows Dawn is there, and if he should..."

Dumbledore nodded solemnly, his expression conveying both understanding and concern. "Understood. I will send Buffy to help you."

Willow furrowed her brow, confusion evident in her gaze. "What? Buffy's here!"

Dumbledore gently shook his head, his tone compassionate. "She's in the middle of a class right now, Ms. Rosenberg. She couldn't be there," he explained, making it clear that Buffy's obligations at Hogwarts prevented her immediate response to their dire situation.

As Willow contemplated the situation, the pieces of the puzzle began to click into place, and she realized that the Buffybot was not the real Buffy. Her expression shifted from confusion to understanding, and determination set in.

"Alright, get her here," Willow declared with newfound clarity, her voice carrying a sense of urgency.

Glory's Apartment

Murk and Jinx, their faces brimming with excitement, dragged Spike into Glory's opulent bedroom. Spike's hands were bound behind him, but his gag had been removed, allowing him to speak.

Glory cast a bemused glance at the disheveled vampire. "What the Hell is that, and why is its hair that color?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Murk, ever eager to please, couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "Stunning One, we believe he is…"

Jinx joined in, their voices filled with reverence and delight. "The Key!" they declared in unison.

Glory, however, rolled her eyes in a dramatic display of annoyance. "Really? That's fantabulous! And impossible! He can't be the Key. Because, see, the Key has to be pure. This is a Vampire. Lesson number one, Vampires equal impure!" she explained, dismissing the notion with a wave of her hand.

Spike, seizing the opportunity to argue for his freedom, nodded vigorously. "Damn right I'm impure, I'm as impure as the driven yellow snow! Let me go!" he protested, his wits as sharp as ever despite his dire situation.

Glory, disappointed by Spike's apparent lack of usefulness, nodded dismissively. "Can't even brain-suck a vampire. He's completely useless," she declared with a hint of frustration.

Spike saw an opportunity to make his escape and turned to leave, but his attempt was thwarted as Murk roughly pulled him back.

"But, Your Unholiness, we observed the Slayer. She protected this one above all others. She treated him as precious," Jinx chimed in, attempting to convince Glory of Spike's potential value.

Intrigued, Glory turned her attention to Spike, her interest piqued by the notion of him being considered "precious." She approached him and leaned in close, saying, "Really? Precious?" Her voice carried a mix of curiosity and amusement.

Spike, never one to back down, responded with defiance. "Sod off," he retorted.

Glory's patience waned, and she backhanded Spike across the room. Undeterred, she approached him once more, examining him like an exotic specimen. She inspected his eyes, behind his ears, and even pulled down his lower lip to peer inside his mouth, all the while treating him like a curious creature. "He doesn't look very fancy to me," she mused, her disappointment palpable.

"Hey. Easy with the lip," Spike protested, albeit with a wince of pain from Glory's previous strike.

Glory, seemingly intrigued by the idea that the Slayer protected Spike, contemplated the situation. "But if the Slayer protects him, maybe appearances are deceiving," she mused. With an effortless display of her strength, she picked up Spike and threw him onto her bed, moving to straddle him. Her hand found its way to his throat, exerting a firm grip, while her other hand, poised with a pointed finger, hovered menacingly over his chest.

Spike's heart raced as he felt the sharp pain of her finger driving into his chest. He let out a howl of agony, unable to escape the torment. "What do you know, Precious? What can I dig out of you?" Glory inquired, her tone a chilling blend of curiosity and sadistic pleasure, as she sought to unearth any hidden secrets that Spike might possess.

Summers Home

Buffy emerged from the green flames in the fireplace, landing gracefully in her living room. "Hey, guys, I hear you have an issue with Spike and Glory," she said, her expression a mix of concern and determination.

However, her attention was quickly diverted as she spotted the BuffyBot. "Oh my God," Buffy exclaimed, her shock evident.

The BuffyBot, in her usual cheerful manner, responded with a smile. "Say, look at you! You look like me! We're very pretty."

Buffy shook her head in disbelief. "A robot. She acts just like that girlfriend-bot that Warren guy made! I'm gonna throttle Spike."

BuffyBot, seemingly unperturbed, expressed mild skepticism. "Oh, I don't think I'm a robot."

Anya, always one to appreciate craftsmanship, chimed in with her opinion. "She's very well done."

But Buffybot was quick to refocus their attention on the pressing issue. "People! Friends of mine! You're forgetting the important thing! Glory has Spike, and she's going to harm him!" she reminded them, her programmed concern for Spike shining through.

Buffy's expression hardened as she considered their plan of action. "In a way, it's right. First, we deal with the Spike issue, then we deal with his toy," she declared, her determination unwavering.

Anya nodded in agreement. "We were just getting weapons," she confirmed.

Buffy nodded back, her sense of urgency growing. "Grab 'em. We're going now."

Xander added to the discussion, "We figured, any way we could stop him from talking..."

Buffy shook her head firmly. "No. I have to kill him."

Willow expressed her concerns, reminding them of the challenge ahead. "But we don't even know where to look."

Buffy thought for a moment, then her eyes sparked with determination. "I know where to start," she stated, her resolve clear.

Glory's Apartment

Spike's body trembled as Glory continued to torment him. His face contorted with agony, the lines of pain etched deeply into his bruised and battered features. Beads of sweat mingled with the blood and dirt on his pale skin, glistening in the dim, eerie light of the room.

Glory's sadistic pleasure was palpable, her malevolent delight dancing in her eyes as she yanked on Spike's hair, forcing him to arch his head backward. The cold, sharp edge of the knife pressed against his throat, its glint reflecting the terror in his eyes. Spike's throat constricted, and his desperate breaths came in ragged, shallow gasps.

With a malicious grin, Glory dragged the blade down Spike's chest, leaving a gruesome trail of torn flesh in its wake. Spike's body convulsed in sheer torment, every nerve ending screaming in pain. The raw, exposed patch of red flesh oozed crimson, a stark contrast to the pallor of his tortured body.

"Enough," Spike managed to croak through gritted teeth, his voice strained and trembling. His eyes, once defiant, were now filled with a mixture of anguish and resignation. "No more. I'll tell you who the soddin' Key is."

Weatherly Park

The air in the park was tense, charged with anticipation as the group of friends gathers around, their weapons gleaming in the fading daylight. Buffy's crossbow glistened menacingly in her grip, a reflection of her determination. Her eyes scan the surroundings, searching for any sign that might lead them to Glory.

Willow, her voice tinged with curiosity, leaned forward, her eyes locking onto Buffy. "So you think she lives near here?" Her concern was evident as she tried to make sense of the situation.

Xander, his skepticism apparent, chimed in, his words laced with doubt. "That's not a lot to go on." He shifted uneasily, clearly uncertain about their chances.

Buffy let out a weary sigh. "It's all we have." Her voice held a mix of determination and frustration, a reflection of the high stakes they're facing.

Giles, ever the observer, turned his attention to the Buffybot, his admiration evident in his voice. "Quite extraordinary, really." His words hold a sense of wonder at the advanced technology standing before him.

The Buffybot, with an artificial yet genuine smile, responds, "Thank you, but I think we should be listening to the other Buffy, Guiles. She's very smart, and she's going to save Spike!"

Giles frowned, his frustration evident. "Guiles? Spike didn't even bother to program my name properly?!" His irritation was tinged with a hint of wounded pride.

Buffy's brow furrowed in response to Buffybot's comment. Her voice took on a stern, no-nonsense tone. "Listen, skirt-girl, we're not going to 'save' him, we're going to 'kill' him. He knows who the Key is, and there's no way he's not telling Glory." Her words were laced with a cold determination, emphasizing the gravity of their mission.

BuffyBot nodded obediently, her artificial enthusiasm still present. "You're right. He's evil. Killing him is the only way. We're the Slayer, and that's what we do. But you should see him naked. I mean, really. Can we save him now, please?"

Buffy turnrf away from Buffybot, clearly repulsed by the android's remark. "Split up, spread out. Check out the priciest-looking places first. Xander, come with me. Willow and Anya, go together. And Giles, you can watch... it."

Glory's Apartment

Spike's battered and bruised form hunched over, the chains that bound him digging into his wrists. His eyes showed the weariness of his ordeal, but also a glimmer of cunning as he worked to free himself.

Glory, her impatience evident in her voice, held a glass of water to his lips. "Good. Because I'm tired of these games!" She exclaimed before cruelly smashing the glass into his face, causing it to shatter and cut him. Blood trickled down Spike's face, mixing with his already wounded appearance. "I need time, I need a drink. You're a very needy little bloodsucker, and it's not very attractive. Also not attractive: all the blood. So start talking!"

Spike, seizing the opportunity, nodded and feigned cooperation. "Yeah, okay. The Key. Well, here's the thing…" His hands subtly worked on the chains that bound him, attempting to twist them loose as he continued to speak. "It's that guy. On TV. What's his name?"

Glory frowned, her confusion growing. "On the television?"

"On that show, the Price show, where they guess what stuff costs—" Spike added, glancing quickly toward the front door.

Murk, attempting to make sense of Spike's cryptic words, chimed in, "The Price is Right?"

Jinx's smile widened, and she chimed in with enthusiasm, "Bob Barker!"

"We will get Bob Barker! We will bring you the limp and beaten body of Bob Barker!" Murk declared with unwavering loyalty to Glory.

Glory, however, spun around to face her minions, her eyes narrowing in frustration. They cringed under her fierce gaze. "It's not Bob Barker, you scabby morons! The Key is new to this world, and Bob Barker is as old as grit." Her annoyance with her minions' misunderstanding was palpable as she refocused her attention on Spike, who sat there defiantly. "The vampire is lying to me!"

Spike couldn't help but let out a thin and bitter chuckle. "Yeah, but it was fun. And guess what, bitch? I'm not telling you jack. You're never gonna get your sodding Key because you might be strong, but in our world, you're an idiot-"

Glory's frustration reached a boiling point, and she interrupted him with a fierce declaration, "Stop it! I am a God."

Spike, undeterred and fearless even in the face of a deity, couldn't resist delivering a snarky retort. "The God of What? Bad home perms?" His defiance, laced with humor, hung in the air like a challenge, further infuriating the formidable Glory.

Glory's anger reached a boiling point, and she screamed, "Shut up! I command you shut up!" Her voice reverberated through the room, carrying the weight of her frustration and rage.

Spike, seemingly complying, nodded sarcastically. "Yeah, okay. I mean, sorry, but I just had no idea Gods were such prancing lightweights." His eyes darted back towards the door, his body subtly shifting as he tried to line himself up with it. His defiance, though laced with mockery, only seemed to stoke Glory's fury.

With a burst of unbridled rage, Glory struck Spike with such force that the chains binding him shattered. Spike was sent hurtling through the front door of her apartment, the sound of splintering wood filling the air as he crashed into the hallway beyond. His hands and feet were finally free, but he couldn't help but mutter in self-derision, "Good plan, Spike. Fabulous bloody plan."

Glory, her attention momentarily distracted by the empty dangling chains, stood there in confusion. Jinx, ever loyal, stepped up next to her, and Glory turned to her minion. "Bring him back," she ordered, her voice seething with determination.

Jinx wasted no time, pushing his way through the broken door into the hallway and calling back to the other minions, "Here!"

Spike, fueled by desperation and the last remnants of his strength, hauled himself to his feet and lunged down the hallway toward an open elevator, his heart pounding in his chest.

The Minions, including Murk, saw Spike's desperate escape attempt and quickly made their way into the hall, racing toward Spike just as the elevator doors started closing...

Spike reached the elevator a split second too late, crashing into the closed doors with a defeated groan. "Oh, God," he muttered in anguish.

On his knees, his body battered and bruised, Spike summoned his last reserves of strength and wrenched open the elevator doors with a final burst of determination. He fell forward, tumbling into the elevator shaft.

Spike plummeted onto the top of the descending elevator, landing on his back, broken and half-conscious. He stared up at the faces of the Minions who peered down the shaft at him, their expressions filled with frustration and anger, but growing smaller as he rode away from them.

As Spike lay there, he felt something beneath his back and spotted a trapdoor leading down into the elevator. With grim determination, he shifted his body, pulled the trapdoor open, and allowed himself to fall headfirst down into the descending elevator. He landed on the floor with a thud, battered and battered but still alive, as he continued his desperate escape.

The elevator's ding signaled its halt, and Spike, though battered and worn, staggered to his feet. The doors slowly slid open, revealing the lobby beyond. All five Minions, led by Jinx and Murk, were there, with the last Minion still emerging from a door marked "stairs." Spike braced himself, fully aware of the impending confrontation.

"You do not insult Glory by escaping!" Murk declared, his voice filled with indignation, but before he could make a move, the unexpected happened. Buffy, armed with a crossbow, and Xander, wielding an axe, entered the lobby from outside. The Minions, upon seeing the Slayer and her ally, froze in alarm. "Slayer!" Murk shouted, a mixture of fear and anger in his voice.

Spike, saved by the timely arrival of Buffy and Xander, dropped his last defenses and collapsed onto the floor of the elevator, his body too battered to stand.

One of the Minions charged at Xander, who skillfully blocked the attack with the axe-handle. In a swift and deadly move, Buffy aimed her crossbow and fired at the Minion struggling with Xander, the bolt striking true and bringing the Minion down lifeless.

Another Minion attempted to ambush Buffy from behind, but she reacted with lightning speed, knocking him aside and sending her crossbow clattering to the floor. She smirked as she delivered a powerful blow to the Minion, sending him stumbling backward. Buffy's hand found her wand, holstered on her thigh, and she readied herself for the next round.

Xander, gripping his axe tightly, swung it with precision, keeping another Minion and Jinx at bay as they all braced for a fierce battle in the lobby.

Giles, armed with a crossbow, and the Buffybot came running through the front doors, their arrival injecting a glimmer of hope into the chaotic scene. "Buffy! We're here!" Giles exclaimed, immediately rushing to assist Xander. He pulled Jinx off Xander and engaged in a fierce battle with the Minion himself.

"Spike! Spike's in there!" BuffyBot called out, her gaze fixed on the elevator where Spike had taken refuge.

Buffy, her Slayer instincts guiding her every move, swiftly knocked out her Minion opponent and turned her attention to Murk, who continued to assail her. Murk kept her busy, landing blows that Buffy expertly blocked, but the struggle was taking its toll.

Meanwhile, BuffyBot made a determined run for the elevator, driven by her mission to save Spike. However, her focus was disrupted when she noticed that Giles was in dire trouble. Jinx had wrested Giles' crossbow from him and was using it to crush Giles against the wall, the bow pressing lengthwise across the Watcher's throat. "Buffy!" Giles desperately cried out.

Both Buffy and BuffyBot responded to their name, a testament to their shared identity. Buffy shoved Murk away from her, leaving him exhausted from their fierce combat, and they both hurried over to aid Giles. Working together, they managed to pull Jinx off the Watcher, but the Minion struck out with the bow, using it as a club. The blow landed on BuffyBot, sending her crashing back against a wall, electricity coursing over her as she slumped against it. Her systems began to power down from the damage, leaving her incapacitated.

Xander, with a powerful punch, knocked out his Minion, leaving the creature unconscious on the floor. Meanwhile, Buffy wheeled around to attack Jinx, but to her surprise, he had already fled with Murk, making a hasty escape up the stairs.

Jinx and Murk, their breaths ragged and bodies battered from their encounter with the Slayer and her allies, regrouped and quickly reported back to Glory. As they spoke, Glory moved closer and closer to them, her impatience clear in her demeanor.

"The Slayer was there!" Jinx exclaimed, his voice tinged with a mix of fear and admiration.

Murk nodded vigorously, acknowledging the Slayer's formidable skills. "A lethal fighter!"

Jinx continued, "She seemed to be everywhere at once!"

"And she had friends with many weapons!" Murk added.

Jinx nodded in agreement, his fear and respect for the Slayer evident in his eyes. "They may have been demons," he suggested.

Glory, her impatience simmering beneath her composed exterior, was now very close to Jinx and Murk. She leaned in, her eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity, and demanded, "And where is my vampire?" Her tone left no room for hesitation or excuses as she awaited their response, her focus unwavering.

Magic Box

In a corner of the room, Willow had the damaged and non-functional Buffybot open, meticulously working on the android's intricate systems. Tara stood by her side, handing her tools as needed, their teamwork evident in their silent coordination.

Buffy, curious yet slightly disturbed, walked over to the Buffybot and stared at it face-to-face. Tara couldn't help but voice her thoughts. "Is it weird?" she inquired.

Buffy, with a wry grin, nodded in agreement. "Oh yeah. At least it's not a very good copy. I mean, look at it."

Willow and Tara exchanged a subtle glance, though the fact remained that the Buffybot was an uncannily perfect replica of Buffy. "Uh... yeah," Willow agreed, deciding to let Buffy hold onto her perception.

Buffy, her attention shifting, turned to Xander and Giles as they walked through the front door, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "What did you do with Spike?" she inquired. "And please let the story have a dusty ending."

Xander shook his head, his expression somber. "We dumped him back in his crypt," he reported, the weight of the situation evident in his words.

Giles nodded in agreement. "We tried to find out if he told her about... anything... He was too badly beaten to make any sense."

Buffy's anxiety grew as she sought answers. "Did he tell Glory -"

Xander shrugged, his uncertainty mirroring the ambiguity of the situation. "We don't know. He was barely conscious," he admitted.

Anya chimed in, her pragmatism cutting through the uncertainty. "If he told her, he'd just lie to us about it anyway, right?"

Buffy nodded, acknowledging the truth in Anya's statement. "Oh, you can count on that. But we gotta know. Now," she emphasized, the urgency in her voice clear. "If he did give us up, Dawn may not even be safe at Hogwarts. I mean, she could be on her way."

Willow, engrossed in her work on the Buffybot, suddenly looked up with a hint of excitement. "Hey! I think I found something," she announced, her eyes scanning the intricate machinery within the android.

Anya, with her usual bluntness, leaned over Willow's shoulder to get a closer look. "Bleah. It's very complicated in there. Personally, I'd rather look at guts."

Willow, undeterred by Anya's lack of enthusiasm, continued her examination. "I found where she's broken," she explained. "There's some wiring that got fried extra crispy. That's an easy fix - I mean, not that I would."

Xander, still processing the events of the day, shook his head with a touch of sympathy. "God, I feel kinda bad for the guy. Gets all whupped, then his best toy gets taken away..."

Buffy, her protective instincts kicking in, responded with a stern warning. "Xander, please don't be suggesting what I'd have to kill you for suggesting."

Xander quickly reassured her, "No, no! Travesty! Completely on board. It's just… the guy was so thrashed… just not his day."

Buffy fell silent for a moment, considering their options. "Okay, I have a plan to get the information out of Spike," she declared. "But first, Willow, do you think you can fix the robot?"

Willow nodded confidently. "Yeah, why?"

Buffy sighed, her mind focused on the urgency of their situation. "Reprogram it. Wipe out as much of Warren's sex programming as you can. We need not only the demon population thinking I am still here but Glory as well, assuming she doesn't already know where Dawn is at."

Spike's Crypt

Buffy entered the crypt, donning the Buffybot's unmistakably hideous clothing. She needed to discern if Spike had revealed Dawn's identity as the Key to Glory. However, what she encountered inside the crypt left her taken aback and even genuinely sympathetic. Spike lay on the sarcophagus, his battered and bruised body covered in gashes and wounds. His face was so swollen that it was barely recognizable.

"Spike! You're covered in sexy wounds," Buffy murmured, mimicking the robotic persona, her words carrying an air of artificial cheerfulness.

Spike, despite his beaten state, managed a weak, humorless smile. "Yeah," he replied dryly, attempting to sit up. "I'm feeling really sexy." With great effort, he dragged himself to his feet, his body protesting with each movement. "Where have you been?"

Buffy continued to channel the Buffybot's demeanor, her cheerfulness almost unnerving given the situation. "I fell and became confused. Willow fixed me. She's gay," she declared as she cheerfully patted Spike's head, causing him to flinch. "Then I felt the pull of your sinister attraction. I'll nurse you back to health. I'll wear the nurse outfit!"

Spike, still disoriented, sought clarification. "Will fixed you?" he inquired, clearly surprised. "I thought they'd melt you into scrap."

"They, too, were confused," Buffy replied, maintaining her artificial smile. She leaned in closer to Spike, her voice laden with suggestive undertones. "Do you want to ravage me now?"

Spike, despite his injuries, needed a moment to tend to his battered body. "Give us a minute," he requested. "I've got some bones that need mending."

Buffy, maintaining her Buffybot persona, tilted her head with apparent curiosity. "Why did you let that Glory hurt you?" she wondered aloud.

Spike hesitated for a moment before explaining, "She wanted to know who the Key was."

Buffy, pretending to consider the situation, chimed in casually, "Oh, well, I can tell her, and then you'll—"

Spike's eyes widened, and he couldn't let her finish that thought. "No!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with urgency. He coughed, wincing in pain as he met her gaze. "You can never do that. Glory can never find out."

"Why?" Buffy inquired, pressing for an answer as she maintained her charade, her curiosity piqued by Spike's insistence on keeping the Key's identity a secret.

Spike's voice softened as he explained, "Because if anything happened to Dawn or her new sister—Dawn's twin—Hermione, it'd destroy Buffy. I couldn't live with her in that much pain. Let Glory kill me first. Nearly bloody did."

Buffy, genuinely moved by Spike's sacrifice and dedication to her and her family, dropped the façade and leaned forward, gently brushing her lips against his in a tender kiss. The genuine affection in the kiss took Spike by surprise, and for a brief moment, he kissed her back before pulling away in astonishment, realizing that it was the real Buffy kissing him, not the Buffybot.

As Buffy began to walk away, Spike looked at her in amazement, still processing the unexpected turn of events. "And my robot," he muttered abruptly, feeling embarrassed by his earlier interactions with the Buffybot.

Buffy turned back to him, her tone matter-of-fact. "The robot was gross and obscene," she stated firmly.

Spike bowed his head in humiliation, his actions with the Buffybot exposed for what they were.

But Buffy wasn't finished. She had to express her gratitude for everything Spike had endured for her and her family. "What you did for me, Dawn, and Hermione..." she began, her voice filled with appreciation, "...that was real."

Spike, raising his head in surprise, realized that this was perhaps the closest thing to praise he had ever received from Buffy.

Buffy glanced over her shoulder at him, her expression softening. "I won't forget it," she declared with sincerity. With that, she turned and stepped out of the crypt, shutting the door behind her, leaving Spike to contemplate the depth of her gratitude.