(Must Read: The Truth In Justice- First)
The Gathering Verdict
"Abominations are the unwanted offspring of a deity and some other being. Abominations are immortal, spiteful, destructive creatures of immense power."
Chapter One
Last week of June, 1999
This solitary man stood on the hill looking around with a steady gaze. The sudden breeze began whipping his coat around him as he turned up the collar. He could hear the birds crying out as they fed and sought refuge in the twilight.
The call of the Gathering brought Connor MacLeod back to Scotland to face the ghosts that still haunted the moors.
The spirit of Heather called to him as he searched for her resting place alongside his mentor Ramirez. He found the graves disturbed and the remains so carefully wrapped gone.
"My bonny Heather," he whispered, "Who has taken you?"
Only the outline ruins of the dry stone keep remained intact. Connor knelt down on one knee near the small rock wall and said aloud, "I will find you Heather."
After several days at the Sidlaw Hills, he stopped looking. The only information the locals said an archaeologist from London who had worked that area the year before.
]]]]]]]]]]][[[[[[[[[
Another week in Glasgow brought the four immortals no closer to their individual goals. Their time at the Hotel was full of discussions and strategy. Every day the gathering loomed closer and the thumbing of the call never ceased.
During supper, one evening at a nearby restaurant, the small group talked quietly until an argument began with the questionable outcome from a quickening.
Frank McFadden told Beth, "What you face is only a possible future."
Her grey eyes flashed with anger as she replied, "A future that will mean death for someone."
Sitting across from Beth, Duncan kept assuring her, "I will not let you die."
"Who can I kill Duncan?" She asked him, "Who will give me their head?"
Deahna McFadden interjected, "There are many histories about Ahriman not yet discovered."
Beth replied, "I am not mortal and this was never supposed to be my fate."
"Suppose it was your destiny?" Frank countered, "A challenge that no one else could face but you."
Looking into her eyes Duncan insisted, "We will see it through together whatever happens."
In a soothing tone, Frank told her, "You are strong enough to face those possibilities and survive."
Staring from one man's face to the other, back to Deahna, Beth spoke with quiet resolve, "My fate is what I make…and no one can help me."
She stood up to leave but Duncan held her back saying, "I need to talk to you."
"I'm done talking," she replied. Her face softened as his brown eyes implored her to listen.
She relented telling him, "I'm tired Duncan and I just want to rest."
Elizabeth Windsor left the restaurant walking quickly back to the hotel. Her senses were aware that she was alone and no one followed her. So far, it seemed no other immortals had arrived yet.
Duncan, Frank and Deahna talked until the late evening over an espresso about the gathering. Frank sketched out on paper ideas he wanted to put into play on that day. "There is more for you to do on your part Duncan, but this uncertainty with Beth is going to make the outcome just as uncertain."
Safe in their hotel room, Beth prepared for bed and waited for Duncan to join her. She thought about what it would take to find an immortal and fight him until she could take his head. As she visualized the final act, the one thing she could not bring herself to accomplish, the cut separating a head from its body.
She fell into a troubled sleep and in her dream, the demon prowled. It took her subconscious to a place of battle. An arena of its choice and commanded the followers to attack.
All the eyes glowed red and followed her movements like a mirror reflection.
The demon voice surrounded her as the minions moved closer and then away. It said, "You must strike at the head, when all are dead I will allow you to leave here."
With every step back, Beth blocked them with her sword and strength. Her heart burned with a fire of determination.
]]]]][[[[[
When Duncan found her in bed hours later, nothing gave him a clue to her internal struggle and the fight that was consuming her. He lay down and touched her softly stroking her light brown hair until he fell asleep. At once dream formed not by Ahriman but one of desperation…
Duncan saw the sun was going down as he stood on the shore of an ocean. He looked out over the water and watched a seagull dive and splash down after a fish.
He felt the wet sand under his bare feet and noticed he was wearing cargo shorts and a black tank top.
A giggle that came from behind caused him to turn around and look. Duncan saw a small child about six years' old standing there with soccer ball in his hands looking at him with a smile.
He was dressed in a white shirt and denim shorts and his bare feet were wet. His face had a hint of olive complexion with a few freckles.
Duncan smiled back and asked, "Where are your friends?"
The child looked puzzled then he shook his head and kicked the soccer ball to him.
Duncan came forward and caught the ball. Something about his smile was both familiar and haunting.
He felt a shiver go through him and knelt to look closely at the boy. He saw hazel-brown eyes staring back at him. The boy's brown hair blew in the ocean breeze. His face looked like… Placing the soccer ball on the sand, Duncan gently gripped the small shoulder asking him, "Who are you?"
The child smiled mischievously and answered, "I'm your son."
"You don't understand," MacLeod tried to explain, "Immortals can't have children."
In a sad tone the boy said, "All I know is that she doesn't want me." His hurt looking eyes tore at Duncan's heart.
Reasoning beyond years of a child, the boy explained, "Just because none before me have survived doesn't mean it can't happen."
Duncan then looked solemn at the small face telling him, "If you are born your mother will die."
The boy looked back at him equally sad and simply said, "I know."
"With her I found some happiness and I don't want to lose her," said Duncan feeling his voice cracked with emotion.
The boy's sigh was quiet. Duncan leaned forward to hear him say, "I love her too."
The little boy reached out to Duncan's cheek touching a tear that had fallen. He told him, "I'm glad I could see you this one time father in case I don't make it."
Duncan could bear it no longer and held the boy to him in a tight embrace trying to decide what was right. The boy stepped back from him explaining, "I have to go now."
Taking the soccer back, he walked away from MacLeod kicking it up along the surf. The waves touched his bare feet and the tiny footprints washed away as he walked.
In the distance, they heard someone scream. The boy looked back to Duncan as the ocean, sand and sky began to fade.
]]]][[[[
Beth continued to block the sword attacks but she could not kill them. The demon mob seemed to multiply and the few became hundreds and her arms tired to the point of not caring. Her defenses fell as the many blades pierced her flesh and cut her head from her shoulders.
Sweat trickled down her face when Beth came fully conscious to her screams. She sat up gasping for air holding her stomach.
MacLeod sat up right behind her. Looking at her face he saw terror and asked her, "What just happened to you?"
"I was fighting for my life." She answered in a shaky voice.
He told her, "Beth, You cannot go on like this!"
"I know that!" she yelled in pain.
Pulling away and gaining control of her emotions, Beth got up and went into the washroom shutting the door and shutting him out so she could think.
Going after her to the door, he touched it and said, "What are these dreams doing to you?"
Sensing an immortal in the hallway, he heard Frank's voice asking if anything was wrong.
Duncan pulled on a robe, opened the door quietly. "I don't know," he answered, "She's had another nightmare."
Frank looked into Duncan's eyes questioning, "What about you?"
The younger man shook his head looking uncertain, "I'm not sure," he admitted. "I think I dreamt about my son."
"We really need to talk about that." Frank asked, "Can you both meet us for breakfast."
Nodding in agreement, he shut the door just as Beth came into the room and picked up her clothes. She started dressing not meeting his gaze.
Duncan sat down imploring, "I want to help you so please tell me what happened in your dream?"
She looked sharply at him and the vulnerability on her face told him enough.
"Frank wants us to meet him for breakfast." He told her.
"I really don't want to talk to him or Deahna," she said looking away as she continued to dress.
He asked her, "Why are you angry with him?" Standing up he took a hold of her arm.
"Of course I am!" she shouted, "You have no idea what I'm feeling!"
"Please tell me," he commanded her.
With anger pouring out she yelled, "I feel betrayed!" Her hand coved her mouth as a sob escaped.
Duncan held her shoulders saying, "He lied to us both."
He waited for Beth to gain her control back before saying, "Look at me." When she did, he asked her, "Tell me what the nightmare was about?"
She closed her eyes, breathed deep and slowly exhaled. She began to describe, "There was a closed in arena and I was surrounded by creatures striking at me with swords. Ahriman wanted me to kill them. I couldn't do it."
A revelation seemed to come to Beth when looking at Duncan. She made her decision. "I will die so if a quickening can cure me. I have to do it."
It sounded simple if that was all they considered. Nevertheless, Duncan could not forget the child who spoke to him and called him father.
"Beth I won't let you die," he told her again as he wrapped both arms around her as if to keep all the danger away.
Her body relaxed a little and she let him hold her. She wanted to believe him. She let out a sigh telling him, "Get dressed and I'll tell Frank about my dream."
Duncan smiled and kissed her. "That's my girl," he said quietly letting her go. Beth smiled back while picking up her coat and sword. She went out the door and shut it before he could say anything else.
Watcher Compound
France
Joe shook his head, "Forget it Egan I'm not talking to him."
"You will see Amy again," he promised. "It will be such a touching moment."
Joe threatened, "Egan, if it's the last thing I do I will see you die for this."
"Sorry Joe," Egan gloated, "but in your position I seriously doubt you will."
"Things will change," Joe said as an oath.
Egan chuckled at this, "Yes they can Joe and it can go both ways."
"However," he continued, "if you can get MacLeod to talk to you...confide in you...?" His question trailed off and he left it hanging.
He leaned down to say, "Then I'll be happy to let you have your precious daughter back."
Joe shook his head, "For the last time I won't help you!"
Egan accused him, "You betrayed your Watcher brothers and sisters for that immortal!"
He stood up tall and sneered, "Think about it Joe. You have no choice because he's not here to protect you." Turning to the door, he opened it to leave.
"Egan wait!" Pleaded Joe, "Let me see Amy!"
Without turning back, he gave a wicked smile knowing his trap for Joe Dawson succeeded and he would do anything he asked.
"I'll send for you in five minutes," he told him, "So be ready to ask Duncan MacLeod what I want to know."
The door slammed shut and the harsh sound echoed off the walls.
.