Ghost in the Machine

The following couple of weeks followed much the same pattern but for one change. Xander’s near obsessive turn out of work in an effort to complete all outstanding work prior to the need to focus on Spike’s carving. The gallery carrying his work was thrilled with the increased productivity and also (to Matti’s amazement) accepted some of Xander’s apprentice’s work on recommendation.

Willow and Yollanda met nightly to investigate possible spells and contact all known sources of information from their vast network of witches and magical sources. It was not an easy task, although they had managed to establish that electromagnetic fluctuations in the frequency range of MHz were known to be related to a few sources, including atmospheric noise (due to lightning), man-made composite noise, solar–terrestrial noise (resulting from the Sun–solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere–Earth's surface chain) or cosmic noise, and finally, the lithospheric effect, namely pre-seismic activity.(1)

It gave at least a few sources to follow up on according to Illyria’s lead.

For Xander, although the fortnight was somewhat frantic with his own work, there was a strange sense of purpose and… something more he couldn’t quite put his finger on. The conversations with Spike online each evening seemed to take on the easy banter of two old friends, not that Xander would admit to ever being truly friends in their Sunnydale days, but somehow now was different. In a sense they were both displaced, both with mixed histories, and certainly now with a commonality that neither expected.

Xander found himself shifting around in the workshop so the camera had a better view of the work, and after hours, sharing some of his Ghana experiences with the ex Vampire – those too emotionally charged to do with anyone who was… in the room. And through that learned ‘tit for tat’, some facts about Spike’s early life, and a few choice tidbits from vampire days that had him thinking, ‘If but for the grace of God go I’. And the feeling was, well seemed, somehow mutual.

Spike occasionally baited Xander, and Xander fell for it. Then there was the accompanied virtual smirk and a longer dialogue including history (as appropriate) on both parts plus… understanding. Every few conversations the pattern went in reverse. And through it all, a friendship seemed to be forming, a true friendship that Xander was both enamored, and terrified by, in equal measure, and for a plethora of reasons.

What if the spell didn’t work and the wood was fried by some cosmic lightening bolt or worse meant that Spike was trapped in the wooden form for eternity; what if his sculpture was inadequate and Spike was changed but stuck as some malformed invalid; what if Spike was beautifully formed, fully fledged etcetera but rejected Xander. In the end Xander did as Yollanda told all the new members of the coven… He focused on his centre, his truth, and trusted in his higher power… and truly prayed to… his truth… that all would work out.

………….
On the day before Willow was due to leave a large truck carrying a small fork lift and two large blocks of oak rolled into the coven carpark. Xander was on the spot momentarily and directed the unloading of the precious cargo.

The blocks were perfect. Pale and with but a few knots apparent on their surface.

Placed on the carefully prepared concrete block, meticulously leveled by Xander with Matti’s help, the enormity of the artisan’s task became even more apparent.

With Spike’s help, Xander had sourced hundreds of photos of the vampire, some screen grabs from Andrew’s ‘Day in the Life’ Sunnydale video, others from Willow, Dawn and Buffy (who were told Willow was putting together a visual history of their Sunnydale days). Xander (with Spike’s keen eye providing feedback on accuracy) had also made nearly fifty sketches and two small wooden mock ups planning out the most important sculpture of his career so far.

Matti was intrigued by all the fuss as Xander always seemed to simply come up with the more decorative pieces by what looked like instinct with a good measure of creative talent and experience, but when the blocks actually arrived, their sheer size explained all.

Matti had plenty of his own work to go on with but still assisted Xander in measuring up and marking the first rougher cuts planned for the pale wood. The most intricate carving was to be a male nude leaning back against the second block (which was to be a tree trunk, left knee bent, foot resting on the tree to “…hide me dangly bits at least a little from pryin’ eyes!”, and right arm stretched up, holding the tree trunk above the figure’s head. The head was tilted slightly as though staring upward at the stars but essentially the whole piece was to be one of relaxed contemplation.

It had been decided that the tree should stand separate to the figure, as both Xander and Willow were terrified that if any part of Spike was actually attached to either base or tree, the spell would result in permanent adhesion of said bit to Spike’s human flesh (hopefully) body. It would be no mean feat to balance the figure perfectly but the mockups had Xander determining the angles just so and he was confident it would work.

Willow was fascinated by the dedication, nearing obsession of Xander. She knew he and Spike had become closer but was still surprised by a few candid admissions by her long time friend, particularly when it came to Xander’s wishing he had realized his preferences earlier and seen the ‘whole of Spike’ while in Sunnydale. What didn’t phase her was Xander’s white hat, ‘all out’ attitude to saving a friend. Some things really never changed.

Willow’s departure was marked by tears on her part and not a small amount of hugging and solemn promises. Spike had indeed come through with the funding for a trip that would take her first back to Brazil for a time then to three different regions of the world and associated meetings with the coven. She would be away for four months at least. Enough time for Xander to complete the sculpture it was hoped.

That evening Spike and Xander spoke as usual.

“So Red got away OK then?”

“She said she’ll be online as often as she can but yeah. Lots of ‘see you soon’ -s and a ‘tell Spike’ –s.”

“Hmmm, she’s a right sweetheart that one. So… Onward and upward at this end ehh?”

“Well yeah. I didn’t get much further than you saw via camera this morning. But I think it’s kind of important to get the tree done first.”

“You’re the expert mate. Just appreciate bein’ included as spectator.”

“So who’s Simon?”

“What?”

“Simon, mate. Bloke who keeps emailin’ you, lives in San Fran.? ”

“Just a friend. We knew each other in Africa.”

“*Knew* ehhh?”

“Well OK! Ex-first lover. Happy?”

“He an older bloke then?”

“Jealous much?”

“Only if you’re think I should be…”

“You fishing?”

“No need mate. Know you’ve only got eyes for me statue at this point.”

“Gahh Spike and could you be more self involved?”

“Kind of a vested interest in your work is all… Sorry if I offended.”

It was the first true apology from Spike that Xander could remember and realized that their relationship had shifted.

The conversation shifted to easier topics and Xander felt the ever increasing sense of loneliness when Spike finally signed off for the evening.
………….

Willow’s contact over the next three months was fleeting at best, though Spike seemed to be able to track her movements with relative ease (Xander belatedly realizing that her mobile was GPS enabled). All contact was lost however, in week fourteen when she headed for the upper regions of Tibet.

By that time, however, Xander’s rendering of Spike’s form had begun in earnest. He and Spike worked nightly on images of the core features, and in the process, their friendship grew to new heights of respect and understanding.

It had taken Xander all of Willow’s four months absence to complete the basic form. Power tools were replaced by fine incredibly sharp chisels and sand paper, as the clearly defined musculature of a beautiful male body was hewn. Taut stomach and legs had slowly took form, carefully carved buttocks and shapely calves and feet were soon joined to an exquisitely beautiful, muscular male back. Even Spike was stunned by Xander’s artistry and said as much (even if couched in terms of “… sanding that behind turn you on just a little Harris, cause gotta say… couldn’t blame ya.”)

As the day of Willow’s return loomed Xander still worried. Despite Spike’s reassurance that the planned facial features were ‘spot on’, it was one thing to draw from a photo and another to get the exact jawline and wistful look just right in three dimensions. One thing had been a relief though. Spike swore ‘on the grave of his mother’ that the knot in the wood that fell just on the right neck of the figure was in just the right place for his turning bite.

And so Xander completed the painstaking task of getting the face right on the morning of the week post Willow’s arrival.

His old friend had visited the workshop every afternoon following her return, and was entirely impressed by the amazing craftsmanship and care Xander had afforded the sculpture even though unfinished. It was truly a masterpiece. And as the face slowly emerged, lovingly coaxed from the wood over the ensuing week, Willow’s respect for Xander the Master Craftsman and artist was cemented.

The final facial features were accurate to the millimeter and the form… just perfect. And now it was Willow’s turn to step up.
………..

Willow and Yollanda were confident of transferring Spike’s essence to the sculpture, even without Illyria’s help. It was the part after that which had them all in a quandary.

Illyria’s insistence that there would be more electromagnetic energy needed than was normally available on Earth seemed to mean that they would have to be in situ when an event like an earthquake or solar flare occurred.

Nevertheless Spike was adamant that he should inhabit his form sooner rather than later. The thinking being that if he were to do so, they would then travel to the appropriate locale and with the extra boost from the magical energy from the appropriate coven, plus Illyria’s grasp of the intricacies of: a) being able to ‘bring down’ the W&H servers via a black market ‘botnet’ and b)the transformation/translation of her digital self, coinciding with the changing of Spike’s inanimate carbon form, to something beyond their current state.

As a direct consequence, on the eve of Xander’s completing the piece, a pentagram was drawn in odd coloured sand, and with the whole Berkshire coven present and computer beaming every second to Spike via webcam, the chanting began.

Spike felt an odd tug at first then a wrenching, ripping sensation as his whole essence tore from the digital realm and was transferred to the nude male statue in repose.