Spike's next moment of awareness consisted of bright lights and pain. His nerve endings felt as if they were on fire, but the worst pain was in his head. A headache like he had never experienced as either human or vampire beat behind his closed eyelids.

Lying corpse still, Spike sampled the surrounding area with hearing and smell. Nothing. There were no humans or demons nearby. In fact, the air had a peculiarly sterile smell to it.

Opening his eyes, he found that he was in a plain white room that appeared to consist of only three walls. Getting on his feet he cautiously approached the open area only to realize that it was glass. Placing his hands before him, he felt an electrical charge pass through him. What the fuck kind of place was he in? Well, it didn't really matter he decided, because he had no intention of staying here very long.

***

"What do you mean Hostile 17 escaped?" a very angry Maggie Walsh snapped at her subordinate. "He had the chip implanted didn't he?"

"Yes, ma'am," the nervous doctor answered. Maggie Walsh on a tear was not a pleasant sight to see. "But it hasn't been 24 hours since it was done. The chip hasn't had time to map all of his neural pathways yet. However it should be completed within the next 2 hours. He'll be unable to hurt anyone without severe cephalalgia after that."

"Well that's just wonderful, gentlemen," came the sarcastic reply. "Let's just hope that he doesn't decide to kill someone in the meantime, shall we?"

The doctors that had brought the news to their superior glanced at each other anxiously. They had never had an HST escape before, and Hostile 17 had done so with an embarrassing ease leaving not a few broken bones and bruises in his wake. They would definitely have to revise their security measures after this.

Maggie turned away to face the young commandos who had just reported for duty. "Gentlemen, we have an escaped HST. Track him down and bring him back. Use lethal force only if necessary. The creature has been implanted with the chip so he is a valuable research animal."

Snapping salutes, Agent Riley Finn and his team turned to suit up and begin the search.

***

Spike scrolled down the list of students until he found the one he was searching for. "Buffy Summers - Stevenson Hall - Room 214"

"There you are, cutie. Know you'll be upset to see me, luv, but can't be helped." Shutting off the computer, Spike made his way to Buffy's dormitory.

***

Willow was wallowing in a sea of depression. Since Oz had left, she had been virtually unable to function. Her classes were even suffering; something that had never happened before. Tonight she had tried to join in the fun at the frat house party, but seeing everyone enjoying themselves, hearing the tape of Oz's band playing, watching guys and girls connect, had been too much for her and she had fled to the sanctuary of her dorm room.

When the knock came at her door, she issued an invitation to come in automatically, assuming that it was one of her dorm mates. She was therefore totally unprepared for who entered the room.

"Spike!" she yelped jumping up from her bed. "What...what are you doing here? You'd better go 'cause Buffy will be here any minute and she'll stake you and..."

"Calm down, Red. I'm here to see Buffy. You say she'll be back soon?"

Willow's heart was pounding. She didn't know when or if Buffy would be back tonight. Would he kill her when he found out she had lied? As Spike roamed around the room looking everything over, Willow decided to try and escape. When the opportunity presented itself, she ran as fast as she could towards the door. Of course, she wasn't fast enough and Spike caught her after just a few steps. Throwing her back on her bed, he loomed over her, a scowl on his handsome face.

"Look, Red, I just said I'm here to see Buffy. I won't hurt you unless you push it, okay?"

Mouth dry, Willow nodded her head. Spike continued his examination of the room, picking up books, knickknacks and stopping in front of the tiny refrigerator. Spying a bag of chips laying on top, he grabbed it up and then plopped down on Buffy's bed. Opening the bag up he helped himself, paying no attention to the crumbs that started to litter the bedspread.

Willow eyes opened wide. "You eat people food?" she asked astounded.

"Well, yeah," Spike answered. Holding up the bag he added, "Barbeque innit? Like spicy stuff."

"But I thought vampires only ate blood," Willow continued. "Angel never..."

"God," Spike snorted in disgust, shaking his head. "Believe it or not, Red, Angelus is not the bloody template upon which all vampires were formed. He's one soddin' poof. Nothin' more."

Willow decided to shut up after that. Apparently Angel was a sore spot with the younger vampire. Eyes down and entwined fingers twisting nervously, Willow concentrated on making herself as small and invisible as possible. Maybe Spike would forget she was there.

Quiet ensued broken only by the sound of Spike's munching. Willow therefore started when Spike suddenly threw the bag against the wall and jumped up ranting, "Where the hell is she?! I thought you said she'd be here any minute."

Willow gulped as she looked into the face of the impatient vampire. "Uh, I may have exaggerated how soon she'll be back. She's at a frat party and..."

"A party!? You've got big trouble in this town and the Slayer's out partying?"

"What trouble, Spike? Everything's been pretty normal around here. You know, demon roommates, werewolf sluts who steal boyfriends, psych professors who are real bitches..." Willow was on a roll and hardly noticed the irritated look on Spike's face. When she finally did, she wound down. "Uh, anyway there hasn't been anything unusual going on."

"Yeah, well what about the secret lab that's right under this soddin' university? What about all the demons that are being captured and held, including poor innocent vampires that were just mindin' their own business? What about that, Red?"

Willow just stared at him.

"Don't know nothin' about it do you?" Spike asked triumphantly. "Thought you Scoobies and that Watcher with his big brain knew all about what was goin' on 'round here. Looks like you've all been layin' down on the job."

It was at that point that the lights went out.