You Only Unlive Twice

by Spikesdeb

Chapter 9

“We’re approaching the outer marker, W.  Happy landing time!”  The pilot’s voice over the intercom spurred the travellers into action.  It had been ages since W and G had parachuted anywhere, and Buffy had only jumped a couple of times.  In fact, the only person not nervously fiddling with parachute straps and double-checking the harness was Harris.  He was leaning nonchalantly in the open doorway of the jet as it descended to optimum altitude for the drop. 

When the engine noise deepened, Xander flashed a bright smile at the rest of them and stepped out of the hatch.  G gave a silent ‘thumbs up’ signal and followed him.  Buffy turned to W to say she would go next but before she could do so, the red-head hugged her and launched herself out of the ‘plane to start her freefall.   

“Oh well, Buffy. Can’t miss the party,” she muttered as she tentatively peeked over the threshold before closing her eyes and leaping.  The wind rushing past her face buffeted her cheeks and the black jumpsuit she was wearing, tugging at the small rucksack strapped to her front.  The figures of G, W and Harris were below her as they proved that gravity was alive and well.  Checking the dial on her wrist, Buffy figured another 6 seconds and she could pull the ripcord.  She saw Xander’s parachute open, its black silk exotic against the clouds surrounding him.  Next G and then W, jerked up and away from her as she continued falling.  A final check, then she pulled the cord and joined them in the graceful spiralling towards the ocean. 

As the most experienced parachutist, Harris was toting the bulk of their equipment, including the ingenious dinghy that G had supplied from the beta testing suite back at the Magic Box.  It was minute and certainly didn’t look as though it would inflate to anything bigger than a beach ball. G had assured them however that they would be astounded when they saw it in action.  He rarely disappointed; the man was a genius with a gadget.   

They all splashed down safely, congregating around the rapidly inflating dinghy.  Or wait; it had been there a second ago…wow.  Buffy sank a little in the water as she forgot to swim, unable to believe what she was seeing … or not.  One minute – bright orange PVC or some such – next, a gap in the horizon where the dinghy should be.  Invisible?  G had an invisible dinghy?  Got to hand it to him – the man was a maestro, no mistake.  When brains were being issued, he’d got supersize.   

By the time she reached the vessel, the other participants in this crazy mission were already inside the covered dinghy and gleefully ridding themselves of their parachute gear to weight it down and dump overboard.  W had already retrieved a cheroot from god knew where and lit up and G was passing round a hipflask; Buffy doubted it contained buttermilk.  Didn’t stop her chugging a good swallow when it came her way, though.  She still gagged, still stuck her tongue out and went “bleaaargh” – she didn’t mix well with alcohol.  William always chuckled when she… 

W noticed the anguished expression on Buffy’s face and squeezed her arm in sympathy.   

“We’ll find him, Summerpenny.  I promise you that we are not leaving here without him.”  Her smile was gentle, her eyes earnest.  Buffy believed her.   

********************************

Spike snapped awake from dead asleep in 0.1 seconds, vampire senses on overload with information – gender, numbers, species.  He figured he had about two minutes to clear out of there.  And then the hunt would begin… 

Gathering his meagre kit together, he dropped the 20 feet to the floor and took off at a ground-eating run to disappear into the deep vegetation of the jungle.  He glanced back as he hurtled along the densely packed floor, dodging hanging vines and overloaded branches as he ran.  When he felt he’d put enough distance between himself and the immediate danger, he stopped, considering his options. 

He couldn’t run forever, he knew that.  And he was one against many – the odds weren’t good.  Nobody was coming to his rescue; he had to rely on his own resources.  This mission had always carried the highest risk; of all the times he’d donned Spike Blond’s persona, entered the lion’s den and come out the other side with the lion’s head under his arm, this time he wasn’t so sure it wouldn’t be the lion strutting about with a full belly.  Ordinarily, it wouldn’t bother him. Hell, he’d been alive forever…well, technically not alive…but he’d go with the analogy.  He held nothing back, threw everything into the pot – a gumbo of life as it were.  But now a hot, sexy, smart and sassy blonde had overturned his entire existence, and she meant more to him than success of the mission, world peace, instant happiness.  He would fight, fang and claw, to get back to his mate’s side.   

The image he held in his head of his last view of her, sitting in W’s limousine, her eyes overflowing with unshed tears but still managing a beaming smile, urged him on.  The dream he’d had where he felt her tongue upon him, her heat engulfing his straining cock, only served to whip him into a frenzy of survival.  He would go home to her.  Nothing could keep them apart.  And strangely, as he made his mind up to veer left towards the coast, he did feel closer to her…as if she was nearer somehow.  Must be the lack of blood. 

***************************************

 Buffy smiled; she could feel him.  She’d had a momentary wiggins when they’d reached the shore and beached the miraculous inflatable; she’d thought that the nearer she was to him physically, the more intense the feelings would be.  All she’d felt though was a resignation, an acceptance of kismet.  It disturbed her; it wasn’t her William.  But then, just now, she’d sensed an upsurge in his emotions; it shone like a beacon, pulsed at her jugular.  Her lover was fighting, he wasn’t dust.  Her emotions swamped her and she cried, fat droplets running down her pale face. 

W cocked her head in silent question.  

“He’s okay, W.  He’s fighting.  We’re not too late.” 

The red head smiled in response, covering Buffy’s shaking hands with her own.  She didn’t need to say anything; the relief was plain in her eyes.  The Ice Bitch had melted so far as William was concerned and she was as determined as Buffy to bring him home. 

“G. Any news on the chip?  Can you get a fix?” 

“Sorry W.  There must be a dampening field around the island.  The communication device itself isn’t active but there’s still a residual trace that I should be able to pick up…but sorry, nothing.  It’s interesting, in any saline structure there’s always the…” 

“G, man.  Give it up.  We don’t need Spies-R-Us 101; twiddle a dial, plug in a meter or something.  Just find him.” 

Buffy shot the spy an incredulous look, as he sounded almost concerned.  Harris recovered quickly. 

“I mean, the sooner we get to his undead ass, the sooner I can start telling him what a piece of piss it was rescuing him, and then doubting his masculinity,” he blustered, “I have needs, you know.” 

Way to cover; Buffy gifted him with a small smile.  Maybe he wasn’t the ass he came across as.  Xander nodded in recognition of her gesture then turned to grab the kit and get ready to leave. 

“Come on, G?  Do we have him or not?”  W was pacing, cheroot in hand, looking for all the world as if she was striding about her office at HQ and not knee deep in jungle undergrowth.   

“Yes, yes…a moment…dammit, I had a blip but it’s gone now.” 

“Well, let’s head for the blip, see what we come across.  Agreed?” 

Buffy, W and G bowed to the more recent field experience of the one-eyed agent.  Letting him take the lead towards the area pinpointed by G, the quartet disappeared into the dark depths of the jungle. 

******************************

Kat Fellator lashed out at the inept and presently prostate form of the idiot tracker.  The whip uncurled, its tip singing as it sliced through the skin of the girl cowering at her feet.   

“You’ve lost him?” Crack!  “Find him again.” Crack!  “I owe him pain” Crack! “Would you rather I gave it to you?” 

The girl tried to back away, holding her bloodied hands in front of her face in a vain attempt to ward off the blows. 

“Miss Kat…I’m trying…please…don’t...” She stopped, her back hard up against a tree.  She cried out in pain as her hair was grabbed and pulled back to turn her face upwards. 

“Try harder!” Faith Layer spat, her eyes murderous. 

“Girls, girls…play nice.  There’ll be mayhem for all once we corner our quarry.” 

Suddenly the clearing seemed to shrink as the tall bulk of Master Bates stepped from the cover of the trees.   Four bronzed male slaves flanked him, each wearing nothing but a solemn expression and a leather posing-pouch.  They supported a large fringed canopy to shield his sensitive skin from the sun’s glare.  The pale features of the Head of S.T.A.K.E. were unreadable as he fixed his eyes on the cowering figure at Faith Layer’s feet, his arms cradling a fluffy white pussy that he stroked, rhythmically. 

“Leave.” 

The girl wasted no time, scrambling to her feet and running off into the bushes, casting a fearful glance over her shoulder as she disappeared. 

Kat and Faith immediately sidled up to him, taking up positions on either side, caressing his cool skin and murmuring compliments on his strength and masculinity, the size of his love muscle and the varied uses to which they’d like to put it.  The only way up in the evil organisation was to curry the boss’s favour; displease him and you might as well ring in the sizes for your coffin, amuse him and you’d be knee-deep in evil plots and arnica-covered bite marks. 

Few people met him; fewer still knew he was a vampire.  He didn’t advertise the fact as it meant he could use his enhanced senses to his advantage without letting them know he was doing so.  He wasn’t so pale that he couldn’t pass as human and as nobody would risk touching him without a direct invitation there wasn’t much chance of his secret being discovered inadvertently.  He knew from Faith Layer’s stay at MI13 that they had no idea of his undead status; he’d like it kept that way.  But the situation with Spike Blond had escalated and he needed to be taken care of.  Not to mention the history between the two of them; he was looking for payback – big time.   

The whole situation on the island had been engineered for the sole purpose of luring Blond into a situation he wouldn’t be able to worm his way out of.  He’d waited over a century for this chance; he wasn’t going to let him slip through his fingers this time.  His most vicious agents had failed to capture the younger vampire and had nearly been killed by him.  Master Bates shuddered, curling his lip in disgust at the weakness this showed.  To leave a victim alive…it was just…wrong.  Unless it was to tease and taunt, cause pain to their relatives.  That particular kink was kind of his trademark, being able to drain the victim just enough so that they’d still be clinging to life when discovered but without having any hope of recovery.  The thought of past kills brought a wistful snarl to his lips.   

Blond had even dared to mess with one such gift he’d left for him.  He was supposed to find his sister dying and then be lost in an agony of grief.  It was a masterpiece of evil.  But then he’d done the unexpected – he’d turned her.  Now why hadn’t he thought of that?  The agony was even worse, the pain even more acute.  The bastard had taken his idea and honed it to perfection.  Everything Spike Blond did took things just that one step further, made it just that little bit better.  He loathed the bleached blond vamp with all the venom his demon possessed.  And this was his master plan to rid the world of his despised presence once and for all. 

Disentangling himself from the fawning females, he led the way deeper into the jungle, concentrating his senses to track his errant grandchilde. 

*****************************

G was scanning as he led the way, closely followed by Harris.  W and Buffy brought up the rear, Buffy barely holding it together as she could sense she was drawing ever closer to her lover.  She was growing impatient with G’s progress.  He’d insisted on tracking Blond, putting every faith in his gadgets.   He was leading them in the right direction, her claiming mark itching and burning with every step she took after him.   The scanner he was using was only picking up the residual signature every now and then and he kept stopping and twiddling to realign the sensors.  When he stopped for the fourth time in ten minutes, she’d had enough.  She rushed forward to stand in front of him, her hands on her hips.   

“G, give it up.  This is taking forever.  Let me lead.  I can feel him.  We’re getting closer.  Just let me, okay?” 

G nodded; there didn’t seem much sense in having such an accurate gadget as Buffy Summerpenny and not using it to their advantage.  Buffy turned, her blonde ponytail flicking out behind her, and set off further into the jungle setting a furious pace.  She knew where she was heading – straight into the arms of her soulmate; the anticipation made her pick up the pace further leading a gasping and red-faced trio behind her. 

Suddenly, Buffy stopped dead, G crashing into the back of her.   

“What is it, Summerpenny?” W questioned. 

“He’s near” she hissed, “but he’s edgy.  Stay quiet.” 

The four of them started to inch forwards, taking up the ridiculous hunched position favoured by those trying to be furtive.  A shout to their left made them whip their heads round and stop, searching for the source of the noise.  It came again, louder, nearer.  Spooked, Harris grabbed hold of Buffy’s hand and dragged her towards an overhanging vine – she wrenched her hand from his, not wanting the contact but then hurtled forwards into the undergrowth, as the noise grew.  W and G scurried into the shelter too. 

The crashing and shouting seemed to be right by them but they didn’t dare risk a look. Buffy could sense that William was becoming anxious – they must be very close to him now.   

‘Hold on, baby – we’re here’ she tried to send to him across the link.  She felt him calm a little; maybe he felt her, maybe he knew they were coming to rescue him.  If anyone hurt him… 

The noise lessened as it moved away from them.  Buffy shrugged off the restraining hand of W and peeked out from beneath the leaves.  “They’re tracking him!  We’ve gotta move, now.” 

“Buffy, we don’t know how many of them there are, what weapons they’re toting. We need to carry out some reconnaissance first before we…” 

“Xander!  There’s no time for all that.  I’m going to William.  He’s all alone, outnumbered.  He thinks there’s no escape.  He won’t give in but if there’s so many of them…I’m not waiting for your say so.  I’m going.  Come with me if you want, if you don’t…I’m going anyway.” 

She emerged from the hiding place and followed the trail of crushed vegetation, her throbbing neck testament to the fact that she was going in the right direction.  Despite her bravado she was beyond grateful to hear the sound of three sets of footfalls running behind her to catch up.  She flashed a quick, tight smile at them and carried on, her focus never shifting.  She needed to get to William. 

After a few minutes Buffy slowed, waving her arm to warn the others to keep quiet.  She was almost on William’s position, the mark on her neck burning hot in its intensity.  Crouching, she parted the fronds of the vegetation to peer between them.  What she saw chilled her to the marrow.  Faith Layer was tiptoeing forwards, her right hand gripping a scythe; there was another woman – clad in black PVC and oozing menace in her stance –martial arts sais clasped in each hand, throwing them into the air and twirling them in a chilling manner.  A tall man -- sticky-up dark hair, pale skin -- stood off to one side under a canopy supported by four obscenely underdressed males.  All of them were focused on a cavern entrance, almost obscured by greenery.  They’d found him.  Buffy could feel him.  He was trapped inside, no escape.  The only way out was to fight.  And he was getting ready to do just that. 

She surged forwards but was dragged back forcibly by a meaty hand. 

“Get your hands off me,” she hissed at the one-eyed agent.  He retained his grip.   

“Buffy, think!  We need to make a concerted attack – you go in like this, you’ll get killed and how will that help anyone?  Just wait, watch.  We’ll go – but when we have the advantage.” 

Eventually, she calmed.  She fixed him with a venomous stare – just because he was right, she didn’t have to like it. Nodding once, she returned to her vigil. 

“Master Bates?  What shall we do?” the woman in black PVC purred at him, flicking her knives expertly. 

“We wait, Kitty.  We wait.” 

Silence descended over the scene.  Buffy’s nerves were screaming at her to move, do something, her head bowed as she held herself tight, rocking.  G, W and Harris were deep in a frenzied conversation behind her, the words rolling over her unheeded.   

“Master Bates.  It must be him, Harris – that’s what she called him!” 

“I thought he’d be taller, didn’t you, G?” 

“What?  Oh, yes…I’m sure that’s right…but…what do we do?  Doubtless he’s sent for reinforcements, this area will be surrounded shortly.  I have a few tricks up my sleeve but…” 

Buffy was concentrating on her senses, willing her presence to be noted by William.  She closed her eyes, seeking out his essence.  Why was it so…unclear?  She was almost in touching distance; she should be able to almost talk to him through the link?  It was as if there were two vampires there…one essence stronger to her than the other but still… 

“Master Bates is a vampire.” 

“What was that, Summerpenny?” W enquired. 

“He’s a vampire; I can feel William but I can also sense another.  I don’t know why that is – I can’t usually – but I can feel him.  Maybe there’s some history between him and William?   Oh I don’t know!  But it helps us, right?” 

She turned scared green eyes on G.   

“Well, yes…I suppose it does.  At least we know that there are a number of ways to kill him.  And it explains the canopy.  But not the cat…” 

“What?” 

“Nothing…. just ignore me…. babbling.  Yes, as you say…we can make plans to deal with this new information.  I brought things to protect vampires more than to harm them… let me see what I can do…” 

G was off in a world of his own, tinkering and muttering under his breath.  W was dangling a cheroot between her fingers, not able to light it in case it alerted the bad guys to their presence.  Xander was as anxious to get into the fray as Summerpenny, but his training kept him levelled.   

There was a commotion by the cave mouth.  Buffy’s heart stilled as she saw William emerge from the darkness.  He flicked his eyes briefly in her direction.  He must sense that she was there!  Her entire body zinged with his nearness, her instinct telling her to run to his side, to be with him.  She made a guttural noise in her throat, almost a growl.  Despite the danger, her erogenous zones were going into overdrive.  If she got within a foot of him he’d melt with the heat her body was throwing off. 

“Okay, you got me...” Blond gawked when he saw who was standing beneath the canopy.  “Bloody hell!  You might have warned me it was a fancy dress do, you big poofter.  How can I compete with the Sheik of Araby look?” 

“William…or should I say, Spike Blond…as I live and breathe…well, not really.  Welcome to my island.  I hope you’ve found your stay here enjoyable, especially as it’s the last thing you’ll ever experience.  I believe you’ve met my colleagues.” 

“Yes…I should have remembered your taste in slappers…didn’t fancy staying around for dessert…” 

“You bastard! I’ll make you pay for what you did to me!” 

Kat rushed at him, only stilling when her master shouted, “No!” 

She whirled at him, a dervish in black PVC, spiked heels and razor sharp nails at the ready together with her sharp, sharp knives. 

“But you promised,” she pouted, entwining herself around the heavy browed vampire, licking up the side of his cheek as she snaked her gloved hand inside his shirt. 

“And you’ll have your fun, but later…when I’ve got the information I want from Mr Blond.  Then you can do what you want with his carcass.  So long as it’s painful…and I can watch.” 

“I always like painful…” she nipped at his earlobe, biting down hard enough to draw blood.  Master Bates grabbed his protégé to him ravaging her mouth with his, his fangs descending as he tasted his blood on her tongue.  He stopped, abruptly, as he felt a sharp rap on his shoulder. 

“Much as this scene has certain attractions…. can we fight now?” 

The larger vampire growled, deep within his chest, knocking Kat away from him with the back of his hand in his haste to claw at the blonde upstart. 

The two otherworldly creatures fell to the floor in a flash of fang and claw; Master Bates’ skin beginning to sizzle as the sun’s rays hit them.  Spike voiced a silent thank you to G for his ingenious membrane as his grandsire struggled to escape into the haven of the shade.  It gave him an advantage.  He wasn’t going to let it go to waste. 

He pinned his opponent to the floor, delighting in the fear scooting across the darker male’s face as his hand caught fire.  The fluffy white feline had leapt from the Master’s arms as he was shoved backwards, scurrying away into the undergrowth with a hiss.  It would be only seconds before the monster that had sentenced his beloved sister to a life of darkness would go up in flames, writhing in agony.  Shakespeare was right – revenge is a dish best served cold.  Or maybe in this case – hot. 

His rejoicing was cut short however when his head snapped back, the pointed boot of Kat Fellator connecting with his temple.  The searing pain shot through his head and he momentarily slumped forwards.  Kat grabbed his shoulders hauling him off her mentor and throwing him to the floor.  As he hit the deck he was immediately enveloped in a seething mass of enraged female flesh, Faith Layer biting and clawing at him as she spat out words of hate. 

Master Bates rose to his feet, scurrying back into the shade of the canopy and extinguishing his burning hand by smothering it against the body of one of the slaves.   

“You will pay for that disrespect, Childe!” he roared.  “Kat, Faith…restrain him.  I grow tired of his disobedience.” 

Kat cackled, leaping towards the maelstrom of limbs where Faith and Spike were attempting to overthrow the other.  Eventually, the combination of the two hellcats was too much for the prone vampire and he was at their mercy.  He was racking his brain, seeking a way out, his arms pinned to his sides as Kat once again straddled his hips, wriggling against him, her ever-present sais glinting in the sun and Faith repeatedly punching his face.   

The sunlight was blotted out by the hefty figure of Master Bates, shaded by his canopy.  The brooding pillock looked just as he remembered him, except that he was now cradling the newly found spitting and hissing white cat that had obviously had an altercation with some greenery. 

“Enough!  I want to see his eyes, see his surrender.” 

The two panting women stilled their assault, bowing to their Master’s will in all things.  Two sets of eyes glittered with madness as they waited for the signal to rip their victim apart. 

“So, William.  It’s come to this.  And we could have done so much more, bathed in the blood of innocents, feasted on their fear.  But you had to rebel, had to empathise with your victims.  Do you think I don’t know about the children you allowed to live, the families you took pity on?  You are pathetic, to think that my issue sired one such as you.  You’re beneath me.  You will tell me what I want to know, the inner workings of MI13, the codes, the agents.  You will tell me what I want to know or you will die.” 

“You expect me to talk?” 

“No, Mr Blond…I expect you to die.  I just thought it might prolong the moment a little if you had false hope…Still, you being dust works for me.  Drusilla will mourn you; she’ll kick against me for a year or two.  But she’ll soon be back in my bed, as she always was.” 

“Angelus.  Still in love with the sound of your own voice, you always were a pontificating git.  Get on with it, you pillock.  And what’s with the Master Bates?  You do know that makes you a tosser, don’t you?  And your pussy stinks.” 

The Head of S.T.A.K.E. snarled as he bent down to kiss the fluffy head of the white cat.  Insane, deadly and insane.  With a nod of his head he gave his consent for his female tag team to take his grandchilde apart.   

Kat giggled as she sliced into his left forearm with her knife, the blood flowing freely onto the dusty ground. She dipped her PVC covered fingers into the liquid then brought them to her mouth to lick the tips.  Faith keened, wanting a taste too, so the fingers were dipped again then brought up to the double agent’s avid mouth to be sucked inside and licked clean.   

If Spike hadn’t been in such a precarious position, and had it been a lifetime ago, he would have found that sight rather titillating.  His grandsire’s growl told him that at least one vampire liked what he saw. 

A tingle at his neck drew his attention towards the edge of the clearing.  There it was again, the sensation that Buffy was near.  But she couldn’t be… 

Then there she was…bowling towards him, her blonde hair flaring out behind her as she sprinted with murderous intent towards the prone figure of her lover, snarling and screaming like a banshee. 

“Buffy! Wait!” Xander Harris was pounding the ground after her, his attempts to restrain her having failed when she felt the pain of the knife cutting into William’s pale flesh.  G and W followed soon after, the gadget meister toting a large sack, no doubt full of handy toys. 

Spike was glorying in the sight of his golden girl as she drew ever nearer, the mark at his neck throbbing more with every step she took.  And there was Harris…and G and…W?  What the fuck?   

Strength surged through him and with a roar he bucked his hips throwing Kat Fellator off him and knocking Faith over as she did so. He leapt to his feet, immediately battle ready, vamping out to enhance his reaction time.  Thankfully, the sky was darkening so he wouldn’t have to worry about how long the thin sliver of membrane protecting him from a fiery ball of death was going to hold up. 

Buffy reached his side, throwing her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips.  She kissed his face: his lumpies, his lips, his eyes, his chin.  As he opened his mouth to speak, she thrust her tongue inside to lap at his fangs, the coolness meeting her heated and eager exploration but failing to quench it.  Eventually, William drew back his head, reluctant to leave the nectar of her kiss but having more pressing matters at hand.  As it was, he wasn’t sure he could bend from the waist, his cock pressing up against the waistband of his pants as it recognised home and wanted in. 

“Buffy,” he groaned, “My love…missed you so much… but I need to take care of things before I can take care of things…shouldn’t take long.” 

“You got it.  And I’m here to help, we all are.” 

She slid down his body, her scorching crotch brushing against his tortured erection and causing him to moan.  She caught his eyes and flashed him a bright smile, raising an eyebrow in unconscious imitation of his trademark look. 

Without further words, the two blondes turned, back to back, and dared the combined forces of S.T.A.K.E to take them on.  As one, they reached out their hands, Spike’s left, Buffy’s right, and gestured their enemy to bring it on. 

An enraged Kat and Faith rushed them, screaming abuse as Master Bates was busily radioing back to base for assistance.  G and W sank to the ground to search his bag of tricks as the battle commenced. 

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So, the reunion…hope you liked it.  Next up…battling and smoochies………. 

CUT TO:  Silhouette of naked dancing girl, twirling sais and doing cartwheels; as she spins across the screen another naked girl – no sais, a whip – does the same from the other side. 

Spike Blond voiceover:  “Ladies…….here we are now………entertain us.” 

Wild banshee shrieks as the two rush towards the camera – stopped dead with karate kicks and chops from another girl.  As their bodies fall limply to the floor, female voiceover…

“Honey………I’m hoooome!”   

Dooo – doooo –dooooooooooooooooo; doo – doo – dooooooooooooooooooo……………

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