This was first archive on fanfiction.net way back in 2002. I found this story while cleaning out some old flopppies and discovered I never got around to posting the completed version on line, sorry!
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I have been motivated to write this story because of the abundance of
great fanfic on the web. One really good story, Michelle Martin's
Witness, is really worth searching out. Secondly, I love crossover
stories; they allow the great character ideas of multiply talented authors
to be combined into fables found nowhere else, except the web. So here
goes (and I appreciate the criticism). The characters utilized DO NOT
belong to me, nor did I have the creative genus to concoct them in the
first place. This fic is strictly written out of appreciation of having
such well developed characters that their stories surpass the limits of
commercial television production. If anyone knows the formal names of the
production companies who own these characters, please give them my best.
Also, if there are any historical and geographical inaccuracies, well
email. I've decided to take the lazy approach and claim poetic license.
Below is a crossover tale involving mostly Highlander and the
X-files, the two most popular fanfic topics on the web. And, the rating is PG
UNWAYON
I. part one
He walked alone on the dusty road headed back to his village with his head
held down. He had lived such a pleasant life the past 15 years there and
was terribly sorry to see it end. But, alas, his wife's once raven colored
hair had begun to lose its glimmer and fade into a distant silvery shadow
and her limp from advance aging had become almost debilitating; he knew it
wouldn't be long before his "death" would pull him away from the home he
loved so much. He loved Onca, as much as he had loved his other 58 wives
but time was not his ally. It was his nemesis, his dark shadow, his
never-ending companion. It was, in the end, his only companion.
Fortunately, there seemed to be few on his kind on this new continent he
found. He had stowed away as a hired guard on a prison ship headed for a
place called Queensland. It was a beautiful place, tranquil and
unblemished. He wondered why prisoners and other societal outcasts had the
benefit of relocating here. Although, he knew, the others didn't see it as
a haven. There were no cities, no towns, nothing of substance that
reminded the comfort loving europeans of their beloved homelands. But to
him, it was one of the first spots to remind him of his early days. His
idlic days of youth before his awareness of immortality, before the years
of loneliness and isolation had eaten at his soul, before the madness of
the horseman. Yes, this place was paradise and here he could be free.
Onca's people were more than friendly, and they didn't question his unusual
healing abilities. They accepted him as a protector and teacher in the
village. Peshon had even honored him by giving his Onca what he couldn't
give her, a son. He reflected on the insemination ritual performed so many
years ago as he watched the current tribal elder, Fathon- his son, teach
the younger men the way of taming the sea serpents and harvesting their
eggs. It hadn't been a shame for him to request help in rearing a family;
nor did his wife object to his decision. Onca was more than happy to simply
be his wife but she complied with his order. It had surprised him
that Peshon, one of the most respected men in the tribe at the time accepted
his request. Peshon reminded him of how he had cured his father of the
dreaded white man's plague for which he would be forever grateful. It
had been a good life, so good that he had forgotten the evils of the world
and the truths of his nature for so many years. Until.....
Many more englishmen and other europeans began streaming into paradise as
the settlers built town and cities and ports. He warned the tribe of white
man's ways so they were well prepared for their encroachment. In fact all
had gone well until he saw him. Benjamin Guiture is the name he carried
these days; he knew him as another foolish headhunter who believed the
rumors of a great prize to the last immortal on earth.
His "brothers", the horsemen, had made up the story as a way of determining
who would lead their party. Their game had become a rally cry for the purposeless
immortals who roamed the earth.* He believed that they were part of a
fallen race, who had long ago either forgotten or were striped of
understanding about why and what they were. That was his theory. He didn't
know for sure where immortals originated but he knew that the game was just
that, an empty game that he wanted no part of.
He pitied Benjamin Guiture, and those like him because he understood their steadfast
belief. It was all they had to dull the pain of loneliness and of lives lived too long. He
wasn't going to burst their bubble, but he didn't want any part of their'game' either.
He had to leave. The tribe would be in more danger from one immortal trying to flush
out a possible trophy than from the "civilizing" of their homeland. But he didn't have a
chance to exit quietly...
Shortly after settling down in the middle meeting place to share with the
elders the day's discoveries, the young lad Mishak, assigned the task of guarding
the village women, came running towards the elders and frantically led them
to the washing pond. He nearly buckled over from both dread and pain as he
felt the immortal signature as he approached the beach.
"I am Benjamin Guiture and I'm here for your head. Show yourself or I will kill
one of these sniffling mortal females each minute I wait" the head man bellowed.
The women had taken the laundry to the village stream and no one was aware
that it had already been staked out until they were ambushed. Guiture had
hired several unscrupulous white men to help him pin down the women. Upon
hearing Guiture's challenge he had no other choice but race back to the
village and retrieve his sword from its protected hiding place underneath
their hut. Before he had the chance to properly greet the interloper and
request a more private battlefield he heard on of the maidens cry out
"Grand papa!!" Onsa had cried out to him using the affectionate term he had
taught his progeny. Although if she had been his natural offspring he would
have been her great grandfather, she like the others all called him by the
same name. She had gone with her mother to earn how to do the wash. She ws
beginning to near the time of betrothal and her parents were trying to
prepare her. He could have fallen over stricken in pain at her yell because
Guiture simultaneously heard the call of affection and aimed his rifle
straight at her forehead.
"So this mortal damme considers you to be her grandpa? How touching. Draw
your sword or she will surely die first."
He inhaled a strong gust of air.He had been afraid this day would come which
is why he had begun resharpening his skills. However, at this moment, looking
into the eyes of Onsa and intothe faces of the entire village that had gathered at
the river, he almostforgot how to even lift the hilt.
"I am... Methos and I have no quarrel with you. Leave us in peace."
"PEACE? What has peace to do with us?" the immortal droned derisively.
"You will fight me or they will die, starting with your precious 'granddaughter'."
"Promise me that if I fail and you take my head that the tribe will not be harmed"
Methos asked him, pleaded with his eyes.
"What did I have to do with mortals? What do we have to do with mortals. They
mean nothing to me, just hindrances and annoyances. I will not harm them after I
take your head. But you better try to put up a fight. Its been a long time since I had
a sparring partner." he sneered.
With that statement he knew Guiture would not keep his word and would
slaughter the entire tribe in his absence. With strong conviction and
resolved he lifted his chest and head and ran into battle. In his mind he
was no loner Unwayon, the ever bright star, but Death, the name he had
arrogantly claimed so many years before. Guiture had no idea how swift his
death would come.
The entire village fell to their faces as they witnessed to power of
Guiture's quickening. Guiture had taken many heads in his day and
consequently released a powerful surge at his demise. The europeans in the
distant towns even felt the tremors of Guiture's death, coupled by the
reception of the quickening by such an old immortal. The hired guns fled,
leaving both their guns and horses in fear. When Unwayon reopened his eyes
he saw a more terrifying sight than the gun pointed at Onsa's head. The
tribe, his family were looking upon him as if he were a god, some sort of
powerful creature that had come from above.
"I ... I have no powers, I am not magic" he protested in the tribe's language,
vainly trying to undo the damage a single quickening had done. It was no use.
He would have to leave or else condemn the tribe to vain worship. With tears
in his eyes, he stoleaway from the village that evening. Although no one had
forbade him to come, the tribal community was having a private meeting
concerning the recently exposed deity in their mist.
1998
"Mulder? What are you digging up now, or should I even ask?" Scully looked
down humorously at her brilliant yet misguided partner.
Mulder had come to the office earlier than usually today. He had received an
email for an oldarcheological buddy of his down in Australia. Apparently they
had justfound some old tribal paintings that confirmed a local superstition held by
both native Caucasian and Aborigines alike.
"I know we are researching some old unresolved x-files but don't you think
that a century's old myth is a bit too much?" she inquired after perusing
the case file copy handed to her by Mulder.
"Don't you see Scully? A beheading, the release of enough energy to cause
earth tremors across the countryside? If this isn't an x-file then I don't
know what one is" he stated emphatically.
"Well, have fun trying to interview some of the first hand witnesses. And
don't forget to explain to Skinner the national importance of such an
ancient case to the United States when you go ask him for funding" Scully
retorted, a bit more smugly than usual.
"I don't have to, we're already on the case" Mulder smiled.
"WHAT?"
"Take a look at this other file" Mulder pointed out. "In the past few years
there has been a rash of unresolved Joe/Jane doe beheading, all around the
global. Interpol doesn't even have a clue at whose behind them. Also, any
suspects located have either turned up dead or beheaded themselves.
Recently there was a beheading outside of Seattle somewhat near where the
President was making yet another plea of money. Of course the U.S. justice
department is embarrassed to report to all the international media that they
had no leads or suspects."
"But how does this relate to this century's old tribal legion?" Scully
inquired.
"Because many of the beheading site also suffered from either mild or
massive electrical damage. We even have multiple eye witness reports of
seeing lighting in the middle of clear night skies, from all around the
world. Something paranormal is going on here and that's why Skinner has
assigned the case to us." Then Mulder said with a coy smile "He said if
anyone can close this case, its us."
"He did not say that."
"Well, maybe not with those words, but I could tell from his eyes that's
what he meant."
"So where do we begin the investigation? Australia?"
"No, unfortunately. My contact is sending me photographs and lithographs of
all the paintings and carvings found at their dig sites. He's also sending
me audios of all the colloquial testimonies collected. He has even found
the name of the mythical creature encircled in light that's drawn in the
middle of that picture." Mulder pointed.
" What / Who was he?"
"The Un-wa-yone, the one who shines forever as the stars..... Don't you
think their reference to the stars is kind of interesting?"
"Only to someone who sees aliens lurking beneath every unturned stone" Scully
groaned. "So, where ARE we headed then?"
"To the site of the president's last begging stand, Seacouver."
**********************************************
Pound, pound, pound..." GO Away!"
Pound, pound ,... '"Leave me alone highlander before I get up and cut off
your head!" Methos growled from behind the door.
"Come on Methos, we both promised Joe we would go fishing with him this
morning and now its time to go!!!!", MacLeod retorted through the door.
"No, YOU promised him that YOU would go fishing with him this morning. I
said that I MIGHT show up at your camp sometime after ONE P.M." Methos
stressed, while trying to keep his head flat against the couch pillow.
"Come on Methos, Joe doesn't ask much"
Why, he though, why do I have such early rising idiots as friends? Methos
pondered to himself. He reminiscence about his time with the Pesquna. Now
they were my kind of people. They never got before the full sun was in the
sky. Hmmm, even though their enemies used that custom to slaughter them all in the
early morning hour, there's still a lot of merit to their way of
thinking. Methos mused to himself.
"I hope you know that I brought along a tape player and a cassette of that
Lawrence Welch music you love so much.... to be played a top volume until
your door is opened and you are ready to go."
Oh yes, Ducan's going to be spitting out river water, Methos plotted
silently to himself.
*p.s. the reference Methos makes about the game being devised by his
brother's is also NOT my original idea. There's a story, by Janeen
Groshsmeyer and Genevieve Clemens, housed in the highlander anthology that
sets up that idea. It was a REALLY good one; it's title is Just a Game.
It's worth looking for it- and I would like to thank it's authors for
writing it.
**********************************************************************
II part two
"Methos, in all your years on this planet have you ever contributed one
positive thing to humanity?" MacLeod snarled as he continued to dry his
dripping hair.
"Just because I helped perpetuate the 'revenge is sweet' rally cry, you
accuse me of over five thousand years of corruption?"
"Uh-huh"
sigh
"when you two finish fussing at each other maybe you could show off your
'years of wisdom and well honed skills' and help me catch lunch." Joe said
to his friends while silently laughing at MacLeod's drenched state. Going
fishing with these two was much more fun that than with his less than jovial
watcher buddies. I guess living a long life helps you develop a good
sense of humor
Seacour
"Well Mulder, where do we begin on this dusty ole goose chase of yours"
Scully chided as she walked into Mulder's hotel room through their
adjoining doors.
"I've already contacted the local police and requested that you perform an
autopsy on the most recent beheading victim. I told them that we were in no
way seeking to interfere or usurp their jurisdiction on this case. I said
the MO related to another investigation we were pursuing and we just wanted
to see if they related."
"And they believed you?"
"I'm not sure but since they didn't get a call from the Bureau redirecting
control of the investigation I think they're a little more at ease with our
presence than most locals. They even gave us a tip on a local business man
who has been called in several times on suspicion of involvement. His
name's Ducan MacLeod. He's never been linked directly to any of
the murders. The locals don't have anything on him to justify bringing him
in for questioning."
"And you plan to just walk up to him and expect him to answer questions
from a federal agent? He probably knows he's under no legal obligation to
answer any of them without an official warrant"
"If he truly has nothing to hide, then I don't think he should have any
objections. Besides who can resist me when I say please?"
groan- by Scully
"Where are we going to meet up with him?"
"The locals say MacLeod hangs out at a popular bar named 'Joe's'. The owner
Joe Dawson has also been considered with suspicion on these cases but the
locals doubt that Mr. Dawson was involved. "
"Why?"
"Mr. Dawson has two artificial legs. The scuff marks found at most homicide
sites suggest that the victim and the perpetrator were engaged in some kind
of high motion maneuvers prior to the victim's death. The local forensics
team went so far to say that the foot movement resembled some kind of
sparring match like boxing..... or fencing."
" Mulder, don't start using circumstantial evidence to support your far
fetched theories...."
"Its NOT circumstantial. The forensics team confirmed that some type of
fighting match occurred, they just couldn't confirm what type it was
exactly. But considering that the victims head was cut off by a very sharp
blade, it stand to reason logically that it was a fencing match."
"okay, I will agree that your argument is somewhat plausible"
"good, " Mulder then whispered under his breathe 'I wonder if their swords
work something like a lifesaver'
"MULDER!!!"
smile - Mulder
******************
Ring, ring ringring rrrrriiiiinnnngrrrrriiiinggg
ringringringringring rirrriiirrrriiiinnnnnnnnnnnngg
"MacLeod, do you now how close to death you are?"
"How did you know it was me?"
"NO ONE, and I mean No One but you would dare to call me at this hour."
"I don't get it? It's only 11 o'clock at nigh. I though you always sleep in"
"Just because I get up late doesn't mean that I don't go to bed early. Now,
what do you want?"
pause "There could be some trouble. The feds are investigating Fabian's
death."
"Oh man, oh man.... why did that jerk have to catch me taking a midnight
stroll." Methos mused and why was I out taking a midnight stroll in the
first place, hmmm moron "humph"
"Do they have any thing to connect me to him? And how did you find this out?"
"Two feds just showed up a Joe's not to long ago. They claimed that their
visit was unofficial, but I know the police probably gave them my name.
Thankfully I have a rock solid alibi."
"Yeah, you were out of town and that's why that head hunter jumped me. Why
didn't the watchers clean up the mess?"
"You' re the one whose invisible to the watchers and Joe said that Fabian
tripped up his watcher in Montreal last week. They had been trying to track
him down ever since."
"Well, I don't have a record here, I think."
"No, but your name will appear in the police file as a close associate of
mine."
silence
"I'll see you in about a month or two."
"Where are you going? If you try to leave the country now the feds will
surely find out and suspect you."
"Naw, I've hidden myself quite well from many a law enforcer in my time.
I'm an expert."
"So where are you going?"
"Not to far, but not to close either. I've got an old persona I can dredge
up. Besides I've been wanting to revisit this little town for years... I've
got an... investment there I want to check up on"
"Okay, but please be careful and call."
"Yes, mommy"
Cascade
Methos slowly walked through the city park gazing at the lake. What had
possessed him to come here of all places? You know why you wanted to come
back. Fabian was just an excuse. You want to see him and make sure
everything is alright Methos nodded his head to himself. About three
months ago he had seen his picture on a Washington state new broadcast. He
had declared himself a fraud before everyone. When Methos heard the report
his heart sank within him. He never meant to cause any problems, but of
course he had. It was an accident, but he knew that creating a
guardian-guide pair in the middle of a U.S. city would be very problematic.
*************************
Thirty-eight years ago
Methos had been in the cafe eating a quiet lunch when they came in.
Unfortunately, they selected the table on the other side of the partition.
Methos growled under his breathe as he listened to the couple's
not-so-silent argument.
"Grace, I don't know why you are so upset. This is excellent. Its about
time we started a family. My parents even asked me.."
"DON'T tell me we should do things just because your parents think its a
good idea. Your mother's not the one who will have to carry this child
around for eight more months. And speaking of time, who is going to be here
to help me? You are constantly running off to one out of town meeting after
another. You're never home !!!""
"Grace, please calm down. It's not good for the baby. You know why I always
volunteer to replace Mr. Giddings at those meetings. He's planning to
retire in about two more months and I will be in a prime position to
replace him."
"Oh yeah, my loving hubby, the opportunist"
"I didn't hear you complain when my hard work paid off with a pay raise
last year. I remember exactly how you gloated to Sherie Philip, 'most
people our age haven't amassed such a status as we have. I guess we're just
above average'. I didn't hear you complaining about the number of hours I
spent on the road then."
"That was different. You just don't know how often that woman talks
about her husband's success at his law firm. She even said she was was glad
to be above the middle class slump. I was just dishing it out back to
her.... Will, I just don't want to be stuck here pregnant and helpless
while you're half way across the country. What if something were to happen.
Who would be there to help me?"
"Grace, my parents are only..."
"Don't talk to me about your parents! You know what your mother thinks
about me. I will not be treated like a lowlife scum in my own house!!!"
"Grace, I have talked to my mother. I told her that if she ever treated you
again like she did last Thanksgiving...."
"Save it Will, I can see that this is a pointless conversation. You just
don't care... You're just glad I'm finally producing an Ellison heir to
carry on your family's precious name. I'm nothing more to you than a
breeding sow."
"Grace, how can you say that!!!"
With those final biting words the woman quickly left their table and
practically ran to the rest room. She would have made it if a waiter
pushing the buffet cart hadn't decided that moment to appeared....
WHAM!!!
The woman hit the food cart hard, very hard in the abdomen. She let out a
small yelp as she crumpled to the floor. Since Methos was relatively close
to her he ran over to check her status. She was bleeding. Methos could
see the blood sweeping through her floral yellow dress. On no he though
to himself, if she miscarries, I don't think she could live with herself
Without thinking Methos reached over to touch the woman's abdomen. Before
he could control it he felt the quickening energy escape his palm and
transfer into the woman.
what have I done!!! what have I done Methos backed away from the woman
in horror. By that time her husband had reached her and was cradling his wife's
head. The blood flowing from her body stopped spreading. Methos slowly
walked back to his table. He could fill his body alive with energy. why now!!!
This town is the worst place to put a guardian. How am I going to fix this?
As one of the oldest remaining immortals, Methos was aware
there were certain abilities he had that weren't shared by many others.
One was the ability to transfer of a portion of his quickening power. Eons
ago he had discovered the power accidentally while living with a small
nomadic tribe in present day Algeria. The wife of the man who had sponsored
him started to miscarry their baby. Methos, who fulfilled the role of
village healer was frantic about the situation and was desperate to save
the man's unborn child. While tending to the sicken mother he laid his
hands on her abdomen near were the baby's head laid. His sole thought at
the time was that the baby survive. He almost fainted in shock as he felt
his quickening energy pass from his hands. The woman's facial color almost
immediately cleared up with the transfer. Six months later, the woman had a
healthy baby boy. Methos tried to stay around the tribe as long as he could
to observe the child. He wondered if the child would become an immortal.
Instead the child seemed to posses strange sensory abilities that none of
the tribe elders could explain. As the child grew older, his abilities
began to overwhelm him. He would hid in a dark hut with several animal
hides wrapped around his head to block out the sounds. Methos cried
inwardly to himself regarding the boy's fate. It would have be better for
him to have been still born than to suffer a life like this one.
Eventually Methos had to leave the village as he was no longer able to
disguise his non aging face.
After three months of traveling south Methos was nearly ambushed by the
village protectors' of another tribe. Methos was surprised and intrigued to
find out that one of his assailants also had super sensory perceptions as
the boy did in the nomadic tribe. His tribal title translated as 'guardian'
and he was responsible for their protection. Even more amazing to Methos
was that the man was able to control his senses through the help of his
associate, the other guardian. The other man didn't have the same heighten
senses but he seemed more perceptive of natural forces. Methos had to
determine how these two were able to function so well with the intent of
taking the information back to the nomadic tribe. So he made a special
hunting trip into the Saharan region in search on a lion. He knew that if
he were to snare such a prey both the tribe's leaders and shaman would be
willing to share the secret of their guardians with him.
It was a fierce battle. Methos died at least twice from heat exhaustion and
once after being attacked by a lioness he was stalking. Fortune eventually
one out and he was able to slay a sleeping male. He fashioned a carrier out
of two tree trunks and dragged the lion carcass back to the tribe. When the
watchman saw his approach he immediately called for the elders to greet the
master hunter. Methos told the leaders his price for the complete lion
carcass, the story behind the guardians.
"Jakun, we can not reveal to this stranger the past of our protectors.
Their spirit guides may resent us and depart from Mesuz's mind. Then we
would be vulnerable to all enemies."
"Tikena, look at what this stranger had done. He may be as the Holtun that
gave life to Mesuz and Minkron. I have consulted with the ancients since
learning of his request. They have not forbidden me from sharing that
information from the stranger."
"Jakun, you are our shaman, and as such I will give you respect. But the
spirits only speak to the guardian; how would you know if they had
forbidden it or not?"
"Then we should ask them if they will permit the telling."
"Tikena's right, only the guardians will know if this stranger is clean
enough to hear the the telling. And it may well be that he is the same as
the Holtun. Look at him; he has killed and carried a full grown male lion
from the great abyss and there isn't a single scratch on him. Let us
consult the guardians."
That evening Methos' understanding of his kind changed radically. The
elders told him a story of a man who came staggering into their tribe
bleeding from the stomach. The area suffered greatly from random attacks
by raiders and the lone traveler had suffered a terrible assault. After the
man died, the village women came out to wash and prepare the body for
burial. One of the women was pregnant at the time but didn't know it. She
would become Mesuz's mother. As the women were carrying the man, he
revived. His head and hands were near the pregnant woman's womb and his
quickening energy shot through his hands into her body. The village though
the man was some type of god and held him in reverence, giving him the name
Holtun, meaning undying king.
The immortal, one of the more unscrupulous ones, took advance of his status
and required the service of a new village woman each night by convincing them
that he need the women's 'service' to maintain his power. Somehow, in a way
Methos has never been able tofigure out, the Holtun managed to impregnate one
of the women. Methos reasoned later that maybe his quickening knew that it had
to produce a companion for the first guardian. Methos didn't know. He told the
village shaman that immortals were always infertile and asked him if he had any
ideas on how the Holtun was able to procreate. The shaman, named Jakun,
suggested that the tribes' spirit guides enabled the Holtun to sire a
companion for the first guardian. Anyway, as the children aged the
villagers discovered that they were different from the other children.
Mesuz was able to see and hear things others could not. Plus by just
touching the ground he was able to feel when an army or band of men were
approaching, thus warning the tribe of the local marauders. At first the
villagers though that he was accursed (the Holtun was publicly beheaded by
another traveling immortal who was disgusted by his abuse of the village
women). Mesuz also thought he was accursed since he could not control the
intensity in which he received stimuli. Several times when trying to scout
out potential threats he would fall into a deep trance only to revive
several days later.
As Minkon grew older he became oddly obsessed with helping Mesuz. He told
the tribal leaders that the tribal guardian, the night owl, had commanded him to
help Mesuz control his abilities. Together they were able to; Minkon acted as an
anchor to Mesuz when his senses overwhelmed him thus preventing him from
falling into trances and improving his ability to watch over and warn the tribe
of approaching dangers.
Methos was fascinated with the tale. He had no idea that the immortal
quickening power could affect mortals. He thanked the tribe and hurriedly
traveled back to the site the nomads were previously positioned.
Unfortunately his trek back took a month longer than when he left. After he
traced the new dwelling of the tribe he found out that the boy had thrown
himself into a swiftly running river current. Apparently he had become so
enraptured by the flowing water's colors that he foolishly jumped into
them. Methos wept for two days after learning about the boy. Weeping was a
relatively new experience for him, after causing so many to weep when he
ran with the horseman. Now Methos seemed to feel everything more intensely.
He promised himself to be careful around mortals and to make sure any
mortal his quickening may alter had help to deal with the changes.
Now Methos was in trouble. It had been literally centuries since he caused
another guardian-guide pair. When he traveled in African and South American
villages he would create them as way of returning the kindness bestowed on
him by the tribe. There he had less trouble convincing the tribe that the
guardians were a good thing and that they offered protection to the tribe.
He didn't dare to consider creating a guardian pair in any of the western
European countries or in the U.S. The modern thinkers of those lands would
undoubtedly scoff at the guardian notion and make life miserably for them.
So what was he going to do?
maybe I didn't really share my quickening. It could have been just a
passing slip up and I'm just imaging the worst. Stop kidding your Methos,
You better go find a new wife quick to make a companion to the sentinal.
Methos made a mental note to go wife shopping the next day. But bad karma
won out. As Methos was scooping out the female population of the local
university, he felt the tale tell signs of another immortal. Methos had
hoped his challenger was also hiding out from the game. Instead the
immortal turned out to be a headhunter. Methos has to flee town that
evening since his swordmanship had seen much better days. He made a silent
promise to the unborn child to produce a companion child.
It took him over ten years before Methos could return to Cascade. The
immortal headhunter followed him as he left Washington, and Methos had to
hide out in an Egyptian mosque for five years until another immortal took
care of his shadow. The first immortal didn't know that he was the Methos,
but he was old enough to be able to tell that Methos' quickening energy was
ancient. After the headhunter was taken care of various mishaps and
misfortunes prevented Methos' return to the States. He was terrible afraid
for the child guardian he had created, but his hands were temporarily tied.
When he returned to Cascade the first thing he did was search out the Ellison
family. They weren't hard to locate as the eldest son, the future guardian, was
in the local news for discovering a murdered body. Given the stress the family
was undergoing at the time and the amount of police involvement
with the family due to the investigation, Methos thought it unwise to try
to approach the boy. He observed him from afar at the local elementary
school. He got a job as a substitute teacher so he could discreetly watch
the boy, whose was named James. Methos was relieved to discover that either
the boy's senses were dormant or that the boy was able to repress them
because his observations yielded nothing unusual about their family life.
With the exception of their chronically absent father, the boy's life
seemed ideal. Methos, however, hadn't forgotten his purpose of finding wife
number 59 to bare the companion.
It was at this point in his musings that Methos sat down on the park bench
closest to the water's edge. It was here that he meet her; a completely
random accident brought him face to face with both the mother of his child
and love of his life. Methos had had quite a few wives, and he loved them
all, but only a few made it to his life long love list. Naomi was one of
them.
*************************
"Good news Scully, we've got a lead." Mulder said to Scully as he was
hanging up the telephone in the hotel room they were using as an office. "A
couple reported seeing two men in the park on the night of the beheading.
They gave the locals descriptions of both the dead John Doe and the
probable assailant."
"Why haven't they come forward before now?"
"They didn't know there was a killing. You know how the locals have been
keeping these beheadings hush hush. I still haven't figured out how they
have kept the local news media out of it. Anyway it was a teenage couple
who had sneaked away form their homes to meet that night. They reported
that the younger of the two, the possible assailant, seemed very uncomfortable
and behaved like he wanted to get away from the other guy. But the dead John
Doe, according to the couple, grabbed his arm and lead him deeper into the park.
The couple only came in to report the incident after finding the yellow crime
scene tape in the park last night when they went to rendezvous with each other."
"humm, that's interesting. So do you think it was self defense?"
"I don't know. there was a fight and two sets of blood samples. If it was,
the other guy was prepared for it. That doesn't seem exactly like self
defense to me. And don't forget the murder weapon. How many victims run off
with their attacker's sword?"
"Alleged weapon"
"Scully, you examined that neck wound. What else could have done that?
Besides, guess what else the couple reported?"
"Should I ask?"
"They left early that evening because of an impending thunder storm."
"Wait a minute, it wasn't raining the night of the murder."
"I know. The teens reported seeing the sky fill up with lighting and they
hear the sound of trees being struck by lighting."
"Mulder, the testimony of two kids doesn't prove that the electrical damage
found at the murder scene had anything to do with John Doe's death."
"Come on Scully, those are just way too many coincidences."
"Maybe,...... so what are the locals doing with the teens' descriptions?"
"They have already sent out some investigators with copies of the artist's
rendering of the description. They are checking all transportation agencies
to see if the perp has left town. The locals have just finally gotten
around to calling us. They've had this information since 10 this morning."
"What!!! Don't they know that they are hindering a federal investigation by
doing that?"
"Scully, you know how locals are. They......"
Ring Ring
"Okay, great. Thank you Captain Taylor. We are packing our bags and heading
that way right now."
"Who was that?
"Captain Taylor. The midnight clerk at Amtrak recognized the picture. Our
perp bought a ticket in cash under the name David Murphy. He left town two
days ago."
"What was the destination?"
"Well the final destination is LA. But I don't think he went there. He's
just probable trying to keep us off track in case we become able to
identify him. The station had about five different schedules to select that
would take him to LA. Mr. Murphy picked one of the slowest and the most
expensive run."
"So how do we find out where he got off?"
"Fortunately for us most of the available selections travel through the
same pit stops, only varying in their departure times. The route he took is
the only one that has a stop in Cascade, Washington. I think we should head
down there."
"Good idea."
"Speaking of goood ideas..."
"MULDER!!!!!"
"Never mind."
*********************************************************************
III part three
"So you thought this was a good ideas?" Scully said with a frown on her
face. Mulder was responsible for booking their travel arrangements and he
decided that greyhound was the way to go.
"Oh yeah! Just look out the window. Isn't the scenery great? Neither of us
would have been able to lean back and enjoy the view if we had driven. And
flying takes away all the joy of traveling."
"Mulder, next time you go seeking for adventure, do it on your on time.
We're already three days behind catching the suspect. This bus ride is only
going to delay us more. Besides, the only reason the outdoors seems great
to you is because you spend all your free time inside, in front of a
computer. I, on the other hand, have a life. I live in the suburbs. I see
natural beauty every day. This was NOT a good idea."
"Come on Scully. Stop and smell..."
"The roses??? Are you running a fever or something? Where have you taken
Fox Mulder?"
chuckle chuckle
"I'm not sick. I just thought pulling some R&R on company time would be
nice. Besides, I don't think our prep is going anywhere fast."
"And please, pray tell, just how do you know that?
"A hunch"
Groan- Scully
*********************
Today was the day he would 'accidentally' bump into Blair. He had been
observing their route for the past two days looking for an opportunity to
naturally run into his estranged son. Fortunately Blair usually made their
lunch run without the sentinel. Methos' heart would be beating so fast that
he knew James Ellison would be able to hear it a block away. He wasn't sure
how he was going to carry out his introduction, but he knew he had to make
contact. He hadn't seen little Blair since that fateful day when Blair was
20 months old. He knew Blair wouldn't recognize him, but in his heart he
hoped his son would find some glimmer of familiarity, some small connection
that would allow them to make a contact with each other. He wanted to be
apart of his youngest son's life, one way or another.
*************************
"So he's in Cascade Washington?."
"Yes sir. Our sources faxed his image over earlier this morning. The local
police haven't been able to locate him yet."
"And Fox Mulder?"
"For some unknown reason he's diverted himself. They are taking a greyhound
bus down to Cascade. Our agents haven't been able to determine why yet.'
"Never mind that, Mulder's a crafty and unpredictable one. Concentrate on
his capture."
"We are preparing to...."
"No, we can't get to close. The agency would be vulnerable to discovery. I
want you to contact the Centre. Tell them we have a business opportunity
for them."
"Sir, their success rate hasn't been that good since they lost their ace
pretender."
"Well, if they want our continued protection and funding, they had better
find way to deliver."
"I. want. David Murphy"
"Yes sir."
As his advisor, the cancer man, slinked away from his employer the man in
black looked out across his window. For a time he foolishly played in the
game, hoping to win the prize as the last remaining immortal. Then while
traveling in Australia he learned that Methos, the oldest living immortal
known to exist, was real and probably still alive. Thanks to Methos'
legendary status within one particular tribe he was able to obtain an image
copy of the ancient one. The older members of the tribe that claimed first
hand contact with the immortal retained an ancient artistic rendering of a
fateful battle between him and another immortal. The man in black used
this account, in conjunction with others across the globe to generate a
possible facial image of Methos. He then made sure all of his closes
operatives were familiar with the image copy. He had spent seven centuries
of his life time searching out Methos. The man hid from the game so much it
was hard to track him down the traditional headhunting way. The information
age, with new global alliances and cut throat espionage gave him a new
method for obtaining power. He now had his own operatives in ever major
world power's government singularly fulfilling his plans. But he still
didn't have power over the immortals, or the security that he would be the
only one.
That man's quickening will insure my success in dominating this
world the man in black mused within himself. Long ago he stopped
assigning himself names; he simply wore his trade mark outfit and limited
his physical contact to a few trusted advisors. The cancer man was a
relatively new staffer and one of the few immortals he ever allowed into
his circle of power, but the risk was worth it because since his arrival,
the man in black's power over the U.S.'s federal bureau had increased
threefold. I will find out what Fox Mulder is up to later. Right now I
need to concentrate on capturing Methos. Nothing must stand in my way.
******************************
Thud
"Please forgive me, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was headed."
"Hey man, that's all right. are you okay. I smacked into you pretty hard."
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. .... Hey aren't you Blair Sandburg?"
"....yes....."
"When I was in grad school I read a couple of your papers. My degree is in
ancient civilizations. That's not too different from the study of tribal
communities. Ummm, I'm sorry to hear about you dissertation. Man, if
someone published some of my private memories without permission..."
"Look man, the story was a fake, okay? I wrote it as a joke since I wasn't
able to find a real sentinel. And no, I don't know where one may be at
today."
"Whoa, I'm not looking for a sentinel. Anyone with half a brain recognized
that you didn't authorize the publishing of your novel. Although it was
creative. Anyway, I really respect your work. Would you mind having lunch
with me? Maybe you could give me some research pointers?"
"Oh...uh...sorry if I came on too strong. It's just...well.. never mind.
And, um, I don't know what kind of pointers you could get from me."
"A lot. My papers are usually so dry and lifeless. I know the stories, but
I stink at communicating them. Every one of your papers kept my attentive
to the very end. You're got quite a knack for sharing people's history.
Besides, it looks like I smushed your lunch anyway. Let me buy you
another?"
"Well, all right. I don't have to be back at the station for another
forty-five minutes."
"Station?"
"Yeah, ...I...I'm a police officer."
"Cool, hey weren't you writing a paper on police subcultures or something?"
"Sort of, how did you know that?"
"Well a friend of mine in the anthropology department......."
***************************
"Come on Scully,... row, row, row your boat gently down the stream....."
"Mulder, have you been sampling the confiscated drug products again?"
"Scully, you have got to learn how to have fun and loosen up a bit."
"I will as so as my partner transfer request gets answered."
"Come on, tell me you haven't had simple fun like this in a long time. I
know that secretly you're over there enjoying yourself."
"Mulder, (sigh) a long exhaustive road trip on a greyhound bus has NEVER
been 'simple fun', in any ones' book."
"It has in mine. We didn't get to travel much when I was a kid. But when it
was time to ride the bus to grandmom's...."
"I'm glad your enjoying your trip down memory lane. Now when are you going
to tell me why we are riding the bus?"
pause
(hushed tone) "We're being followed."
"And why do you think that?"
"I had the lone gunmen do some backup research for me. All of our
transmissions to headquarters are being intercepted before they reach
Skinner. Someone out there want to know exactly what we are doing. I though
that by riding the bus, we would make it impossible for them to
inconspicuously follows"
"Why do you think they're spying on us?"
"The gunman said that the transmission of David Murphy' police artist
sketch was delayed for the longest period of time. And of course the
letters sent to Skinner don't look like anyone has ever opened them; so we
can't tell for sure how long they've been held or even whose taking them.
All I know is that this makes my alien theory more and more plausible."
"Oh Mulder......"
"Yeah. But on a more pleasant note... Row, Row Row your boat...."
*************************
Lyle hung up the phone with a small smile of satisfaction on his lips.
Despite the Blue Cove operation's continued failure to capture their
estranged pretender and his young clone, the triumvirate was still willing
to give this new assignment to him. Lyle had spent enough time and money
trying to ingratiate himself upon the board and he was glad that it finally
worked. First, he was able to get rid of his psuedo-father Mr. Parker. He
really enjoyed the shocked expression on Parker's face when he realized
that his 'son' was behind his expulsion. Ms. Parker, his dear sweet twin
sister, was still a minor problem though. Several times he attempted to
erase her, but all his attempts failed. In a way he was glad, she was the
only real family he had. But Lyle didn't need family. He didn't need
anything, except his freedom. And that he intended to keep by remaining a
loyal player in the sinister Centre's games. Poor Jared. He could have
been a player too, oh well. Any ways, the job came directly from the man
in black, as Lyle's sources uncovered. The man in black was a serious
weight, not just in the Centre, but all over the world. Rumor had it that
he had been alive for over a hundred years. Although Lyle thought that was
only the foolish musing of small scale operatives, he didn't quite doubt
its possibility. The same figure has commanded the precursor agency to the
Centre, over fifty years ago.
Who is this David Murphy? Lyle pondered to himself. The man was somewhat
ordinary looking, jet black hair, a rather slender frame for a male, and a
definitely Anglo-Saxon nose. Why is he so important to The Man? Again
he wondered. His orders were concise. Go to a city called Cascade in the
north-west USA, capture David Murphy and immediately set up a rendezvous
with the Man himself. Apparently the usually misanthropic man in black was
going to leave his Canadian fortress to meet up with Mr. Murphy personally.
He didn't want to risk Murphy's possible escape during an extended
transport. Whatever Murphy had, the man in black was in an extreme hurry to
get it. Yes, thought Lyle, if I succeed swiftly in this job, the
triumvirate will never look upon me as just another one of their little
experiments. I will gain their respect, and maybe... more that just that
Lyle again smiled to himself. Nothing would prevent him in achieving his
objectives; the whole city of Cascade would be plowed down if anyone tried
to stop him.
"Marcus, recall Willie and Jacob from Ms. Parker's team. And retrieve
Roupere and Phil from their little project in Bosnia. I want the top
sweeper team assembled and ready to fly out by tomorrow afternoon.
Understood?"
***************************
Blair walked into the bull pen whistling. He just had the best lunch ever,
since his expulsion from the university. It felt good to be able to talk to
someone about intellectual issues without seeing either a look of boredom
or repulsion. Jim tried, but Blair knew he could care less if the ancient
ruins of Laos were hand carved from the hillside or made of play-do and
ceramic. He made plans to meet up with David after work. David had gotten
two free tickets to a concerto performance of Bach's Amadais des Gaules
and offered one of the tickets to Blair. His original date canceled at the
last minute but he still wanted to go. Blair couldn't believe his fortune.
First he meets the first academic that didn't immediately assume that he
was a worthless fraud and had the most stimulating conversation on ancient
ruins since his early expedition days. Then, to top if all off, he gets
invited to a symphony performance. Seattle's orchestra would be performing
and they were renowned as one of the best in the country. Blair knew each
ticket cost a minimum of two hundred dollars and each intermission was
catered by Fasion's, one of Washington's premiere restaurants. Blair
couldn't believe his good fortune.
"So what's got you walking on cloud nine, Chief? Did Rachel finally agree
to go out with you?"
"Not yet, but after the luck I've had following me today, ten bucks says
that she will."
"Oh yeah? Well,.. your on"
Yes, today was a ...good.... day. Next Saturday he and Rachel were going on
a picnic lunch in at the park.
***************************
"Wake up Scully, we're here. The wonderful world of Cascade. Did you know
this city's got one of the highest arrest rates in the country? They have
their fair share of violent and disastrous crimes, but somehow their police
department manages to resolve them swiftly."
"Really, then why would a possible ax murder come here to hid out?"
"Sword Scully, the killer used a sword. Anyway, like I said I have a hunch
that he's not planning to leave here any time soon. He must be looking for
someone or something. Whatever the reason, its important enough to risk
capture by the police force. I need to go make a few phone calls. See if
you can commandeer a cabbie. I'm sure no one would resist you when they see
you waving in that outfit."
"Mulder,... need I remind you that I carry a gun and do have a license to
kill without provocation?"
***************************
Methos was going over to Blair's apartment this evening. The sentinel
finally got a date with some waitress named Linda so Blair invited him
over. He was very glad because he wasn't sure he could hide his identity
from the sentinel. He knew of one guardian in the past who said that he
could see his quickening energy rising from his skin. Methos never
questioned the man. He didn't think he was the one who caused him to become
a guardian but the old guardian's daughter looked very familiar to a
pregnant woman that he had meet long before the guardian's birth date.
Methos marveled at how enthralled Blair was when he told him stories of
ancient times. His attention was very flattering; Methos attempted to
compliment Blair equally in return. Methos was very proud of his son, and
the sentinel. The city of Cascade was one of the most violent yet well
protected one in the whole north east. As Methos readied himself to knock
on the door his mind drifted off to remember the date he first meet Blair's
mom, Naomi.
********************
It was 1970. Eleven years had past since Methos had been in Cascade.
Unfortunately he hadn't been able to return sooner to produce a companion
for the Ellison child. Methos was glad to have read several other newspaper
articles on the child. Apparently he was a bit of a local star and was
succeeding in numerous junior league sports. It didn't seem like, from the
reports he collected, the boy had discovered his unique abilities. Methos
knew of sentinels who managed to bury their gifts deep into their minds
until they finally found their companion. Methos was glad little Jimmy
Ellison seemed to be like them, and not like those other sentinels who
lived years of life in pain and confusion without a guardian to comfort
them.
It was the first sunny day after a three week period of rain and drizzle.
He took the opportunity to enjoy the warm day at Cascade's park. He found
an empty out of the way spot underneath a tree where he could gaze at the
lake. Without trying he had placed himself in the perfect spot to meet up
with his next wife.
"Hey you, are you mediating ? Can I watch?"
Methos looked up to a very young looking strawberry blonde woman. She was
very appealing to his eyes. Her forwardness was a bit striking to Methos
but this was the end of the 60's revolution.
"Sure, would you like to learn?"
"Of course, I'm always looking for new ways to center myself and keep my
mind in harmony with the earth. What's your name? I haven't seen you here
in the park before."
"David.... David Blair."
**************************
Methos' unplanned trip down memory lane put a smile in his eyes that
remained when Blair opened the door to the loft. Methos was impressed by
the place's decor and said so the Blair.
"Oh, its nothing. Just a combination of my collection of artifacts and
Jim's fashion sense. You wouldn't think by looking at him that he had any
sense of style." Blair said as he lead Methos to the kitchen. "But,.." as
he held up Jim's floral apron, "he doesn't always show it."
smile.
"So how long have you two been working together? It hasn't been that long
since you left the university."
"Well, like your friend Taylor told you, I was gathering data for my thesis
on the police sub-culture when I started working with Jim. We turned out to
make a good team when it comes down to catching criminals. In fact, our
arrest record is the best one in the state."
"Really? That's impressive."
Blair didn't know what made him bring up his arrest record to David. But
there was something about him that made Blair want him to think highly of
him. Almost like when he first met Jim's dad. Of course, that meeting
didn't go very well, at all. But for some reason David stirred up the same
feeling in him.
"We've got some pretty cool music selections in the living room. You want
to go pick out something?"
"Sure, is your cd cabinet near the television?"
"Yeah, right next to it on the right. I've got some last minute things to
prepare before dinner."
Methos walked into the living room and then over toward the entertainment
center. Next ot the tv, on the other side, was a shelf filled with photo
albums and pictures. Methos looked over his shoulder to make sure he
wouldn't be caught. The first album was probably designated for vacation
trip pictures because it contained lots of photographs of Jim and Blair
goofing off. Most of the scenes were in outdoor, wood-ies locations. Methos
smiled. The boy probably inherited his mother's love for the outdoors. I
personally was very glad when man started building big cities The next
album held pictures from Jim's childhood. Methos found several of the same
newspaper articles on little Jimmy that he had collected upon returning to
Cascade almost thirty years ago. His copies had gotten lost in time so he
was glad someone had maintained copies. The next photo album was a plain
brown book covered with glued on dried leaves. Methos had to sit down after
he opened the first page. These were Blair's childhood momentos. As he
looked at the pictures of his baby boy growing up tears began to swell up
in his eyes. The pictures were all of Blair when he was about two years old
and older. Methos realized that Naomi probably never had showed the boy
their family pictures together. He almost wished that she had. Then, even
though it would mean explaining his immortality, Methos could re-establish
his place in Blair's life quickly instead of the round about way he was
taking now. Methos decided to put the album back on the shelf. His eyes
were foggy and it was getting harder to hold back the tears of sadness.
It wouldn't do for Blair to find me crying over his childhood album. How
would I explain that? Another time, maybe, I'll get to look through the
pictures. Methos walked over to the cd case. He smiled when he found a
copy of Edward Griegg's In the hall of the mountain king on the shelf. It
was on indubitably his favorite classical piece. Methos preferred music
that made his heart beat and his feet tap than the usually slow, maudlin
musical scores that had been written throughout time.
"Great man, that is my favorite classical piece. Jim likes more of the
subtle, put you to sleep stuff. But I picked out all the faster paced
stuff. I've got a superb collection of tribal chants in my bed room. I'll
go get them for you."
Methos smiled inwardly again. Yep, that's MY boy.
*************************
Slam!!!!!
"Just when were you going to tell me that you reassigned two of my best
sweepers? How dare you step in and challenge my team management without
confirming with me first. I had a lead on Jared in Southern California
yesterday morning. But could I catch him? No, two of my sweepers weren't
present. Gone. and what was the explanation? They were recalled by Mr.
Lyle. What is going on, and I. want. to . know. now !"
Lyle lifted his eyes up slowly from his desk. He had been expecting this
little outburst from dear sissy the minute he was informed of her return to
Centre grounds. How dare she presume to talk to him like that! But, sissy
still thinks she has power and clout here. She doesn't realize that she's
been completely phased out with the disappearance of 'daddy'. Oh well,
let's just try to keep the peace for expedience sake. "Calm down, Ms.
Parker. I had to recall Willie and Jacob. We got a new contract that has to
be handled right. I only 'borrowed' them temporary. Please forgive me, but
it was an emergency." Lyle batted his eyes and tried to give Ms. Parker his
best 'I really am sorry for killing your cat' look.
"Save it" snarled Ms. Parker. "And why haven't I hear anything about this
project?"
"Nothing should interfere with your attempts to catch Jared. Like you said,
you almost had him yesterday. You just keep handling our number one
priority and I'll handle the rest. Okay?"
"Hurmf.." grunted Parker as she turned on her heels to leave. "I will find
out what you are up to Lyle. Believe it."
And... so what? Lyle shook his head. Now what would be a nice saying
on Ms.Parker's tomb? Beloved sister and friend?
*************************
"So captain you can understand why we want to keep this on under raps. We
know that this prep, David Murphy couldn't be responsible for all of the
other similar deaths. But its the same M.O. If he was involved in the John
Doe slaying in Seacour, he might know what's going with the rest of the
deaths."
"No problem Agent. I'll have this photo graph discreetly passed along to
all the other department heads. They will personally explain the situation
to the right people on their teams."
"Good, we don't want to lose this one again."
"Mulder, are you going to tell me why you are so jumpy? You haven't been
able to sit still all day. even through our meetings with the local police
chief, you acted like you were late for a very important meeting. What's
going on behind the pictures?"
"The lone gunman notified me this morning that an unmarked aircraft landed
in a private Cascade airstrip Monday morning. They're..uhm...they're able to
monitor air traffic lines for the private air fleets. Apparently the
passengers were hired guns from a shadow group in Blue Cove that they have
been tracking. Its called the Centre and word has it that they are some
pretty nasty people. Remember when I said that we were being followed?
Well, our company's made it here already and have established themselves."
"Do we report this to the locals?"
"No, for all we know there may be plants in there already. No, trust no one
and stick close to me. Okay?"
"Okay. I hope you know what you're doing"
"Don't I always?"
"Hurmf"
*********************
Methos opened his hotel room door and quietly stepped into the room. His
diner with Blair had been wonderful and he was now so tired that he wanted
to go to sleep immediately. He creep into the room so that he would not
wake up sleep. Back in his days in the outback the Aborigines taught him
that if you came into the hut from a hard day's labor too loudly, that you
would wake up sleep and spend the rest of the night restless. Unconsciously
Methos kept their sayings. Yes, everything seemed to be going well as
planned. He would slowly create a solid friendship with his son. He hadn't
decided yet if he was going to reveal himself to him. At any rate, tonight
he was tired. Blair's cooking was the best he had ever tasted since Onca.
He wondered if that was what triggered his memory of those times. Back then
his lonely soul had found comfort. Now he wasn't as lonely but he was still
seeking comfort. Comfort from the memories of how he lost his youngest son
and his beloved Naomi....
********************
"Naomi, in you condition you should be taking it easy !!!!!" David fumed.
"Sit down and I'll clean up the living room."
"I am perfectly capably of taking care of my own messes. David Blair, you
are becoming more and more a fascist dictator as I grow closer to delivery
time. I AM A FREE SPIRIT and I will do what I Want To do!!!"
With that his very pregnant wife stormed out of their apartment's living
room.
That I know quite well. mused Methos sadly. Gone was the vibrant, fun
loving playmate he met over a year and a half ago. Methos had fallen for
Naomi at first sight. No other woman every had that much control over him,
without casting a spell, i.e. drugging him, first. But he willingly loved
her. Her energy and passion for life mesmerized the old man. After so many
centuries of travel, he was beyond jaded. Naomi rekindled his enthusiasm,
his zest for life unlike anyone else. He loved her so much. Twelve times he
begged her to marry him. He even bought her a diamond ring that was the
size of a small pearl for an engagement ring. Naomi, of course, promptly
sold it and gave the money to the homeless and street musicians in town.
Methos was furious but one look into her eyes melted away all of his anger.
The day she announced that she was ready to commit to a 'long-term
partnership' with him had been his happiest in centuries. He didn't even
complain when she insisted on keeping her maiden name and on having a guru
mystic perform the ceremony. He loved her. Unlike any of his other wives.
The only other time he had been this happy was his brief time in
Queensland. But now he was going to have what he could only get through a
surrogate that first time. A son, his own son. And Methos was going to
personally raise him. Of course, Methos hadn't forgot the reason it was
crucial for him to bear a child, the guardian needed a companion. But he
didn't care. The child would be the fruit of his love for Naomi.
Unfortunately, Naomi didn't take motherhood well. She was so young, only in
her early twenties. In the course of an hour her emotions would do
cartwheels olympians could only dream of accomplishing. Her antics
frightened Methos a little. He wasn't sure if it was a sign that something
was wrong with the pregnancy. The other wives that he had who produced
guide companions never acted as berserk as Naomi did. Only two more weeks
to go .
Three days later Naomi was gone. Gone. Without a trace. Methos searched the
streets desperately for his wife. The tears were so heavy in his eyes that
he had to keep a box on tissue in this car as he searched. No one had seen
or heard form her. Methos couldn't believe what was happening. Finally he
had found happiness and contentment and it was all taken away in a matter
of a few hour. Methos, although extremely wealth, had taken a teaching job
at Rainier University. When he returned home from class that day he took a deep
breathe before opening the door in preparation of Hurricane Naomi. He immediately
knew something was wrong when he walked inside. The house was quite.
Deathly quiet. Methos dropped his briefcase in front of the open door and
ran down the hall to the bedroom. Not there. Then he checked the bathroom.
Not there. There wasn't a note, no sign of where she had gone. Methos
opened the closet door and then fell down to his knees. The suitcase was
gone and so were some of Naomi's clothes. The three thousand dollars in
emergency money was also gone.
How could she? Methos' face was hot with anger. Then his face quickly paled
with fear. What if she's not in her right mind? She could be hurt. And the baby.
Methos' head began to swim.
Methos called the department dean and told him what had happened. The dean
tried to reassure him. "Your wife is one of the most head strong females
I've ever meet. She probably just wanted to go some where and mediate on
what her life as a mother might mean. She'll be back. I know she loves you
as much as you love her."
Ten days later Methos return to the apartment broken and worn out. He had
traveled to some of the nearby cities and towns just in case Naomi had left
Cascade. As he opened the door, much like the fateful day when she left,
Methos was immediately struck by a change. Lights were on, food was cooking
in the kitchen and ... and Methos could hear the sound of a baby wailing
form the bedroom. Methos ran to their bedroom and yanked open the door.
Naomi was sitting on the bed breast feeding their son. His son. "I know
you're mad... but.. the vibes... there were just so many negative vibes here.
I couldn't let our child be born in such an oppressive climate. We had to
leave." Methos couldn't speak. He collapsed on his knees in front of
Naomi. "His name is Blair, Blair Sandburg. I didn't give the doctor your
name because I was kind of out of it. They force all kinds of horrible
drugs down my throat and into my veins. My poor baby could have been hurt
from all those pollutants. Any ways, he may not have your last name, but he
is definitely part of you." Methos still couldn't speak. The tears that had
take regular residence in his eyes now pour like a waterfall. This time,
however, they were tears of pure joy and rhapsody. "David... I... I
honestly don't know what has come over me. I just keep feeling like you..
like someone would take my child away... like some would supplant my role
in his life and I...I couldn't let that happen. You understand, don't you?"
Methos lower lips dropped open as if he was now able to speak. No sound
passed through his lips. He loved Naomi, true enough and was overjoyed that
she had decided to return. But now, as he looked at his nursing child there
was a rock solid place in his heart filled with only one person, Blair
Sandburg.
***************************
The pillow cover on Methos' bed was cold and wet from the residual tears
shed by the old man as he remembered the first day he meet his son. A
second chance, that's all that I hope for. A second chance.
***************************
Lyle exited the Centre's plane in Cascade. The sweepers had already moved
into place, even planting several moles in the local police department.
Lyle came down to physically oversee the process and to set up a holding
site for the prisoners once captured. His interest was especially peaked
when he learned of an additional specimen also residing in Cascade. He
planned on keeping 'the gravy' portion of the Centre's seizure mission a
secret until he determined exactly how to exploit it. It won't be long
now. he said to himself with a confident smirk.
***************************************************************
IV part four
Methos was happy.... truly happy. Elated even. The past three weeks he had
grown closer to his son that he had ever expected. Blair accepted his
friendship completely and he never questioned Methos' intentions or
behavior. There were a few times this past week that he thought Blair might
be ready for him to tell him the truth.. but not yet. This evening Jim had
gone on a date with someone named Lisa, who worked in the robbery
department. Blair was oddly bubbly about Jim's date; he said he was worried
that a past relationship of Jim's had quleched the casanova in his partner.
Since Jim would be gone, Methos accepted a dinner invitation to dine with
Blair at the loft. Methos loved visiting his son's home. He was delighted
that Blair had found a happy, full life. Like the typical daddy he wanted
the best for his child: security, joy and contentment. Blair had found all
of that being the sentinel's companion. Methos wondered how telling Blair
the truth about his parentage would affect that relationship. Sure Blair
and Jim were bonded like the typical sentinel-guide blood brothers, but
there was more to their relationship than that. Even though Jim was only
eleven years older that Blair, he had take over the father figure role in
Blair's life. Methos would had been slightly envious of Jim's paternal
position in directing and guiding Blair, but he recognized the good in the
situation. Methos wished that he had been there to raise his son the way he
had intended, the way he had hope......
"I'm sorry Blair, what did you say? I guess I was off on a another field
assignment or something."
chuckle "Man, I don't know how you can get around being as absent-minded
as you are. I just asked if you wanted any more pla lard prig?"
"Thanks man, but I'm borderline explosion. I shouldn't have eaten so much.
Where did you learn to cook authentic Thai food?"
"Oh well, my mom and I moved around so much and she made friends so easily,
there aren't too many exotic foods that I don't no how to prepare. What did
you think of the tom yum koon soup?"
"Oh, now that was slamming! And you didn't use too much kaffir lime leaf.
The last time I had tom yum koon, all I could taste was the lime..... So
now I know why Jim has kept you around so long, no one else can cook that
good!"
Blair laughed, "Jim's not really into spicy favors, but he tries everything I whip
up in the kitchen. And, although he would never admit it, I think he really
like my dishes."
"Of course he would; by the way, I sure hope you have some spare
tupperware because not all that pad thai is going to make it into your
refrigerator."
*************************
Well, this looks good, if I do say so myself Lyle though as he made a
last inspection of the holding cell he planned to keep Jim Elision in while
he was away delivering David Murphy. Now all we need an enhanced
individual and his trusty sidekick to come and visit our new little inn. He
picked up his cell phone.
"Marcus, what's the eta on the Sandburg snatch? Good. Have the final plans
on my desk tomorrow for my review." Lyle smiled to himself again as he exited
the dark room. His reconnison teams had reported seeing Blair Sandburg with
their official target at multiple social engagements. Lyle determined that Sandburg
would be his key to snatching both men. Who would have though Ellison's
achilles heel would be the preverbal stone to catch two birds . I wonder what kind
of attractant he has to pull down a veteran ops man like Jim. Hmmm, maybe its
something we would replicate.... Lyle took his cell phone out of his jacket
pocket again. "Dr. Kim, glad your still up. Look get on the next plane to a
city called Cascade in Washington. Bring your extraction kit. I've got a
couple of test subjects coming in that you might enjoy. Call me as soon as
you've secured flight plans."
Blue Cove
"Yes sir, I'll be right there sir. Cascade, Washington. On the next flight
out. " Dr. Kim closed his cell phone. He looked down at his 'patient' lying
on the exam table. "Well Angelo, looks like we're going to have to finish
these test later. Go ahead, get up and return to your room." Angelo looked
up at the doctor with his customary blank stare. "Doctor go?" "Only for a
few days, my friend. Our man Lyle has a little assignment for me to
complete. I will be back." "Doctor go, Doctor come back." "That's right
Angelo, now lets get you back to your room." Angelo was more that ready to
go back to his cell. There was a certain free agent out there who need to
know about the Centre's new plans.
*************************
"Now Jim, that wasn't so bad now was it?"
"What? I thought the movie you picked would be good from the start"
"Not the movie, silly, our date."
"Lisa, a movie and dinner with you has never been anything but a nice
fantasy for me. Of course it wasn't bad, this has been great!"
"Okay then why haven't you asked me before?"
"Well,... I ...uhm... sort of"
"My, my when big strong men like you get tongue tide I know the sky's about
to fall."
laughter
"Anyway, now that I've made you blush, I'll change the subject to
something easier for you to handle. How is you department coming on the
Murphy case?"
"What Murphy case?"
"You know, the one that's brought those two tight lipped Feds down to
Cascade. What's your office's take on the prep? Right now the office pool
favors the idea that Murphy's the prime subject in an international drug
scheme. But when I saw his picture I knew he just has to be a run away
witness. You know, the kind that come forward and then chicken out. He's
got this 'flight' look about him."
"Really Lisa, what is this Murphy case your talking about? I've never heard
of it."
"Huh... well maybe that's why its been over four weeks since the Feds have
had all the other departments searching for this guy and yet we still don't
have a clue where he's hiding in Cascade. If major crimes had been
involved, the prep would have been caught the first week he landed here. I
wonder why the Feds didn't include you guys?"
"Who is this Murphy and what's the situation?"
"Well the Feds won't tell us why this Murphy guy is wanted. They're an odd
couple from the northwest, and man and a woman. I think the woman is a bit
ticked at the way the guy is handling the case. Anyway, our captain doesn't
even know what this David Murphy had done."
Jim have been continuing to eat his salad as he listened to Lisa describe
the case. Bad move, because as soon as she said the name 'David Murphy' the
lettuce leaf Jim was chewing went straight down his windpipe.
choke, cough, gag, cough, cough
"Jim are you ok? Jim"
"I'm.... all right.... I .. just ... what did .........did you say the
prep's name was again?"
"Here Jim, sit down and drink some water. slowly. Are you sure your okay?"
Jim nodded his head vigorously as he drank down the water and nodded his
head to Lisa, urging her to continue.
"Uh-un, not until you start breathing right..... okay, that's better.
Murphy, David Murphy."
"I'm sorry Lisa," Jim grabbed his coat so quickly he almost bumped into the
waiter caring dinner to another table.
"I'm sooo sorry, so very sorry. But I think, no, I know I need to be
leaving now. Ummm, I need to check on something at home. I'm really sorry
Lisa. I'll take care of dinner at the door. Stay as long as you like,
okay?"
"Um, sure, sure. Go ahead a take care of whatever you need to. You'll give
me a call later?"
"Yeah, right, okay...... Bye" Jim was already facing the hostess with his
credit card in hand when he last responded to Lisa. There was only on
thought on his mind as he raced to his truck. What has Sandburg gotten
himself into now?
Great, I finally get asked out by the dreamiest bachelor on the force and
I scare him away with shop talk. Way to go Lisa. And what's worst, I drove
him back home to that little Sandburg guy. Sigh. Maybe he will call me back?....
yeah right.
**********************************************
"Blair, Blair, Are you home, are you okay?" he yell after racung into the loft.
Jim's heart was beating so hard he could barely hear the regular ticking of his
guide's. Ever since the fountain incident with Alex, Jim had been terrified that
something horrible would happen to him. Why did I let Blair convince me that
a date was a good idea. If I had been here he would be safe.
"Hey... Jim? What's wrong man? I'm in the bathroom. How did your date with
Lisa go?"
"Chief!... Am I glad to see you. Is everything okay here?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't it? Ah, you didn't have another nightmarish premonition
did you?"
"No, .. but where is that David Murphy guy?"
"Oh, David.. He left about twenty minutes ago. Why, what's up?"
After performing a visual inspection of Blair's vital signs and the state
of the loft Jim walked over to the end table to pick up his cell phone.
Blair had convinced him to leave it at home so that his mind would be
focused on his date with Lisa. Now Jim was auto dialing Simon's, their
captain, home number.
"Nothing deep except that your new friend is wanted by the federal
government. According to Lisa all other departments have been on a four
week man hunt for him. By the way, do you know where he is staying? We need
to pick... 'Hello, Simon......Yes sir I know its late.....Yes sir I know
you didn't give me your home number to use it at eleven o'clock a
night..... Yes sir, this is an emergency...... Yes sir this is a very
gooood emergency....... Okay, I understand..... Have you been briefed on a
federal man hunt for a David Murphy?"
Blair had stopped listening to Jim after he reached Simon. His heart was
sinking fast within him. David, a wanted criminal? No, no it couldn't be.
There didn't seem to be a violent bone in the man's entire body. How could
this be happening? No, Jim has to be wrong. Blair didn't know how but he
trusted David, he trusted David as much as he trusted Jim. He has to
uncover the truth about these charges.
"What did Simon say?"
"He hasn't heard any thing about a Murphy case. He does know about two
federal agents working with several of the other departments but for some
reason they haven't contacted major crimes."
"Great, that means that David isn't accused of a major felony. Did Lisa
tell you why the feds want him?"
"No, apparently they are keeping a very tight lip on the whole issue. But
just because major crimes isn't involved doesn't meant your friend's not a
serious offender. We're not the only department in the police force you
know."
"If you knew David like I do, you wouldn't be questioning his integrity."
"Yeah,..hmm...and just why don't I know Murphy well? Don't you think its
pretty convenient that he is always too busy to meet me? And what about
tonight? You have invited him over for dinner at least ten times, if I
remember right. Yet he only decides to come after finding out that I won't
be there. Don't you think that's odd?"
"Okay, maybe a little. But maybe he finds you intimidating. He told me
that you gave him the third degree when he called last week. Why did you
question him so thoroughly anyway?"
Jim turned his head away slightly at Blair's question. "Blair, I know that
your an official cop now and that you can take care of yourself, but...
I... I was worried. you know, your track record with people hasn't been
that great. You trust people way to easily. I just wanted to find out for
myself who this Murphy guy is"
"Thanks man, but I am well past high school. I may not be the best judge of
character, okay, I may be a terrible judge of character, but I chose you as
my best friend. Now that should shine some redeeming light. I can't explain
it but I know David is not guilt. I just know it."
"Chief, I think maybe your heart has clouded your eyes again. Where does
David live?"
Blair shook his head after hearing Jim's words and sat down with a slump.
"I'm not sure. I know that he is subletting a Rainier student's apartment
this summer, but I've never gone over there. He says the apartment kitchen
is real small so we have always met somewhere else for dinner."
"Interesting." Blair sighed. "Well, do you at least have his telephone
number?"
"Of course."
"Good, we can place a trace on him that way. Simon is contacting the feds.
We need to be at the station tomorrow morning around 7:30 for a meeting. I
guess you can hold off contacting Murphy until then. Chief, I don't think I
need to remind you not to warn Murphy... or do I?"
"NO..... no you don't." Blair quickly retreated to his bedroom and slammed
the door. A few minutes he heard a quiet tapping on the door. "I don't want
to talk about it anymore okay? Please, just go to bed Jim."
Jim slowly walked up the stairs to his bedroom. As he laid down on his bed
he heard Blair's soft response, "He's not guilt Jim. I know he's not."
Ihope your right, Chief. For your sake I hope your right.
***************************************************
The next morning 8:30
"Yes sir, they have decided to have Blair Sandburg contact Murphy in about
twenty minutes. They are suppose to meet up at the park and Sandburg is
going to bring him in. The department chief will have about ten officers
standing by to snag Murphy. How would you like us to proceed?"
Perfect Lyle thought to himself. He had been wondering how he was going
to tie Murphy and Ellison together and now the solution to that little
problem was just handled to him, gift wrapped.
"Listen closely. Have the van standing by and ready. As soon as you get a
clear shot at Sandburg after they try to bring in Murphy I want him taken
immediately. Understood?"
"Yes sir. Clean and sweet."
"Good" good Lyle thought to himself. He pressed the talk button again.
"Dr. Kim, eta on our donors four hours. Make sure your extraction lab is
set up."
***************************************************
"Jim, I hope you know how much I hate this. In fact, this make me deeply
sick to my stomach."
"Chief, there's nothing to argue about. You heard the feds. This guy is
either a witness or a murderer. The victim was beheaded! Of all the
grotesque ways to kill someone that takes the cake. Don't you want to know
which side of the table he's actual on? The guy fled the scene of a crime
and tried to cover up his tracks with fake bus tickets. You may not want to
believe it, but that sounds pretty incriminating to me."
"He was scared, wouldn't you be? The feds conceded that the witnesses said
David was trying to get away from the 'victim'. I think he saw a gruesome
slaying and tried to run away from the real assailants. Why can't you give
him the benefit of the doubt?"
"Chief... Blair...humph... there's no sense arguing about this now. We will
find out the truth as some as you bring Murphy in."
"I really hate this, especially lying to him."
"Chief.." Jim said with a strong warning tone, "you aren't going to warn
him are you? We agreed that you would bring him in. I don't have to tell
you what will happen if you try to change the plans."
"I know, I did swear to obey and protect the laws of the land. I will do my
duty as officer."
"Alright."
Mulder and Scully sat in the observation conference room after their
meeting with Chief Simon Banks. Mulder was unusually quiet about the whole
situation and Scully needed to know why.
"Okay Mulder, spill it? This whole investigation was your idea and now that
we have found the guy, your acting like the sky has just fallen. You did
want to catch David Murphy didn't you?"
"Of course Scully! I just didn't want to involve the major crimes
department. And of all the people to have access to Murphy it had to be the
Sandburg-Ellision team. I had hoped not to involve them in these affairs at
all. I should have imaged that this could happen from the start."
"Why didn't you want them involved? From the looks of thinks if we had
involved them in our search from the beginning, we could have detained
Murphy weeks ago. Mulder, I demand some answers now!"
Sigh "Okay, do you remember that I told you we weren't the only ones
seeking after Murphy?"
"Yes, but what does that have to do with these two detectives?"
"A couple of months age Blair Sandburg wrote a paper that was widely
publicized. Although he denied its truth, its obvious from his role in the
Cascade police department that his paper wasn't false. I'm afraid that the
people after Murphy won't stop with him. They will go after the
Sandburg-Ellison team. And then we'll have three missing persons."
"Mulder how can you be so sure about this?"
"Scully, trust me. You know my track record. I am right about the danger
involved."
"So what are we to do?"
"Nothing, we'll just ride it out and see what happens."
*********************************************************
Methos ran up to Blair sitting alone on the park bench. Blair had called
him earlier this morning and asked him to meet him in the park. Methos
recognized the concealed fear in Blair's voice. He wondered what had upset
his son so much. He placed his hand on Blair's shoulder when he reached
him.
"Blair, what's wrong?"
Blair was working hard to hold back his emotions. At the sound of David's
voice he wanted to to scream out that it was a trap and to help David get
way. At least half of him did anyway. The other half was seething with
anger, wondering if this man was a murder, if he again had been duped by an
untrustworthy person.
"Um, David, we need to talk."
"I can see that. What happened? Was it Jim? what's..."
"No, it has nothing to do with me. David... what did you do? You're wanted
by the feds."
Methos' stomach began to knot up inside him. oh no. how did they track me
down here? I thought they would be combing the streets of Tjuana by now.
Your getting old, old man. Oh man, what have they told Blair? "Blair,
I.... have you told anybody that you know how to reach me?"
"Yes, and the park is crawling with cops. I wanted to be the one who actual
brings you in. What happened that night David, did you kill that man?"
Jim could hear Blair's heart racing from his position in the bushes. He
shifted his hearing to detect Murphy's. Oh man he said to himself as
Murphy shook him head no in response to Blair's question. He's lying.
"Uhmm, Blair, that nigh,... it was crazy. I was..uhm... expecting to meet
up with an old colleague. He told me on the telephone that he was in some
major trouble and that I was the only one in the area he could trust.
I..uhm.. I barely got away when the other guys showed up. Blair, I just
ran. I don't know what...uhm...uhm... Bob was into but I sure didn't want
to be caught up in it with him. I really don't have much information on
why...Bob.. was being hunted..."
"Oh man, that's great! I mean.. that's terrible. I'm, I'm just glad that
your safe man." Blair's emotions flipped from depression and malice to
euphoria as he listened to David's story. He didn't even question the
obvious holes in it, he was so relieved to have his faith in Murphy
restored.
I'm going to to kill him though Jim to himself. First I let the feds
grill him, then I'm going to smash his face in; maybe even enlarge that
nose of his. How could he lie to Blair like that? He's just standing there
weaving a sticky web of fiction and Blair's been snared like an
unsuspecting bug. Jim's left jaw muscle began to twitch rapidly. They'd
better start walking over here now or I'm going to go drag his deceiving
butt over to lock up myself.
Simon could see the fury as it began to form itself on Jim's face. Now
what's got his shorts in a knot? "Jim, what is wrong with you? What do you
hear over there?"
Simon's question was the distraction Lyle needed to give his people the
order. Three of the Cascade PD officers closest to Blair and David had
already been quietly replaced by sweepers. He had also selected a park
bystander to be hit by a sniper in order to add confusion and prevent the
police from interrupting the snatch. He was observing Jim from a van
several yards away through a pair of high powered telescopic binoculars.
When Jim's posture changed he knew the detective was listen to something
and would be the perfect time to implement his plan. "Now!" he ordered
through the mic. The van he was traveling immediately drove away from the
premises to ensure that he wouldn't be anywhere near the crime scene in
case things didn't go down properly. He didn't have anything to worry
about...
POP! The shot came out of nowhere and fell a young mother pushing her child
on a nearby swing set. Both Jim and Simon immediately stopped talking and
turned toward the sound of the shot.
"What, what was that?" Blair asked Methos.
"I'm not sure.. but it sounded like a gun shot."
"Promise me that you will stay right here until I come back, okay."
"Blair!"
"Promise me, OKAY?" Methos was torn. Every survivor instinct in him was
screaming out, RUN!. It would be a prefect escape. He could be on a plane to
Florida in less that seven hours. He had already mapped out a quick escape
plan. But no, here his son was asking him to stay put. If he left now, the
damage done to their relationship might never be repaired. What are you
thinking man? he asked himself. Don't be an idiot, RUN. MacLeod got over
your past mistakes and so will Blair. Now go and explain it to him later.
But Methos couldn't move. It was rare for him to met any of his mortal
children, let alone to be given a chance to have a relationship with them.
No, he couldn't leave. All he would have to do is explain to Blair all
about immortality and all would be well. If he fled, it would take a long
time just to get Blair to speak to him again, if at all. Yep, I have
definitely gotten soft in my old age
"SWEAR to me man!"
"Okay already, I won't go anywhere until you get back."
"Great! I trust you man."
Sigh. While sitting down on a park bench, Methos look up to see two
solemned faced men dressed in police uniforms walking towards him. Okay,
now they don't look too friendly. Before Methos could arise to begin his
retreat from the approaching men, two other Cascade Police officers also
closed in on him from the left side. "Put down any weapons you may have and
hold your hands up where I can see them" said one of the real cops. The two
replacements gradually slipped away from Methos upon the arrival of the
other cops. Meanwhile, Simon and Jim had made over to the injured woman.
"This looks like a clean hit from the bullet's entry point, Simon. Whoever
fired at her wasn't aiming to kill" "Hmmm, that's strange. How is she
doing?" Jim knelt down on the ground in order to tended to the injured
woman and he set his full attention on scanning her vital signs for any
other injuries. At the same time Jim's attention was diverted the second
half of the extraction team snared Blair while on his way to the source of
the gun shot sound . "Officer Sandburg," said one of the sweepers, "your
partner... well he just fell down on the ground a few minutes ago and
stopped moving. No one knows what's wrong with him. We need your help."
Oh no though Blair, Jim must have had his hearing turned up when the
shot was fired. "I need you to take me to him now"
"No problem, sir" said the sweeper with a concealed smile. As they headed
off away from the crimescene a sky blue van abruptly stopped in front of them.
" Hey, what's this? Hey you, driver, get out the way!" Blair commanded.
"Sure Mr. Sandburg, anything you say." Those were the last words Blair heard
as a chloroform dipped rag was slapped up against his nose and mouth.
**********************************************
"What do you mean you didn't get Murphy!!" Lyle snarled at the two cowering
agents. "You were assigned to pick up the twerp after Sandburg left."
"Sir, two uniforms interrupted us and we weren't able..."
"Why didn't you just shoot them to get them out of the way. Murphy is THE
REASON why we're here in this stupid little town. Why would you let two
weak cops interfere with our plans!" Lyle was seething with anger.
"Sir" said one of the shaking agents "We figured our cover would be blown
and the whole mission could have been..."
"SHUT UP!!"
pop pop.
Lyle silenced the man with two direct gun shots into his heart. "Now," he
said to the other agent, "he doesn't have to worry about his precious cover
being blown. Do you have anything to add?"
The second agent was violently shaking. "nnnoo...nnn..ooo... sirrrr. Please
forgive me."
Lyle sadistically smiled. I love it when people fear me "Just get rid of
this corpse and don't let me see you face again until I call for you."
"Y..eeessss sirrr, riggght away. " The man practically flung the dead body
over his shoulder and fled the room as if he were being chased by a hungry
tiger.
Now, thought Lyle as he walked away from the scene and headed for the
cell Blair was chained in. it's time to see just how beloved Mr. Sandburg
is by the Cascade PD.
**********************************************
"WHERE. IS. BLAIR!!" Jim demanded of Murphy in the interrogation room.
After the ambulance arrived to help the fallen woman Jim began searching
for Blair. it didn't take him long to realize that Blair wasn't in the park
and that he had been taken relatively close to were Murphy had been
sitting. Methos himself was more than shaken up at the news that his son
had been taken but was retaining his emotions.
"Detective Elision, I already told you, I really don't know." he said in his calmest
voice. "I sat back down on the bench like Blair asked of me. I turned my head when
I saw the other officers approaching and I didn't see what happened next, I
swear."
"You must know more that you're telling me. I know you were lying to him
about the Seacover incident. If anything happens to him, I swear I'll..."
Jim's hand was stopped by Simon as he was reaching out to punch Methos'
face.
"DETECTIVE!, cool down and get. out. of. here now!"
"Captain, He's hiding something and whatever it is has injured Blair. I
need to.."
"I said GET OUT OF HERE NOW Jim! Do I need to have you removed?"
"No, no." Jim gave Methos the look of death as he exited the room. Methos'
face also visibly relaxed when Jim turned toward the door and he placed his
head on the table.
"Now,... one of my best detectives has possible been kidnapped and another
one of my men seems to think that you have something to do with it. Would
you mind explaining that to me?"
"Honestly captain, Blair is my friend. I would never jeopardize him. I
really don't know who could have taken him. I didn't think that I had any
enemies..."
"Here," finished Simon. Methos nodded his head as he quietly banged it on
the table for making such a foolish slip.
"So, are you going to tell me about these enemies of yours? Hmmm?
Specifically the one you beheaded in Seacover?"
Methos looked into Simon's face. Now how shall I handle this one? he
thought. Thankfully the sentinel was no longer in the room or his lie
wouldn't make it out of his mouth before Jim slammed his face against the
wall. "I didn't.. murder... anyone in Seacover. I... I ... was just in the
wrong place at the wrong time."
"Interesting word choice Mr. Murphy" said Mulder. He and Scully entered the
room after Jim was forcibly banished by Simon. "You chose the word 'murder'
very carefully. I believe the captain asked if you had beheaded anyone in
Seacover, not if you had murdered anyone." Scully looked at her partner,
impressed. Only Mulder would have detected something so subtle as that.
Although Murphy was trying to hid his shock at being caught so easily she
saw the look of amazement in his eyes when Mulder spoke.
"I don't know what you are taking about, err.. agent?"
"Mulder, Agent Mulder with the FBI."
"What? No first name?"
"I think the question should be what is your real name, Mr. Murphy."
Methos smiled within himself. Ahhh, this mortal has a bit of gumption. I
better tread carefully around him "My name," he said in his most innocuous
Adam Pierson voice, "is David Murphy. I only used false names at the bus
station for fear of being followed."
"And just who did you fear, Mr. Murphy? Who were you running from?'
"Yes," interrupted Simon. He could see a private tit-for-tac forming
between Mulder and Murphy and was determined to keep the investigation
open. "Who were you running from, and where would they have taken detective
Sandburg?"
"Sir," said Methos again with his disarming tone, "I really don't know. I
don't have any idea who would have taken Blair. But if you really think
that I have something to do with it, you have my absolute cooperation. As I
already said, Blair is one of my few friends here in the States and I want
him retrieved as much as anyone else."
"hmmm, so you say Mr. Murphy. At any rate, in keeping with American law, I
believe you are entitled to speak with a lawyer before we continue with
these questions. Am I not correct Captain Banks?"
Simon looked at the FBI agent as if he had suddenly started foaming at the
mouth. We were on a roll. He hadn't even responded to that little
confrontation. What. is. this. idiot. thinking?" "Uhmm,.. yeah.. right..
sure. We'll have a telephone brought to you right away. now if you'll
excuse us." Simon gave Mulder his most menacing 'I'm gonna kick you butt up
and down the bull pin' glare and visually motioned to the agents to follow
him to his office.
Methos himself had to struggle to keep his jaw from fall. What kind of
game is this.. of course.. he's going to tap into my phone conversation.
Man! I need to find out if there are any immortals in Cascade who like to
use mortals as pawns. If I call Joe its going to look like I'm up to
something. But if I don't... owww man. Okay, okay let me think...
Jim was already waiting for Simon and the feds in the captain's office. He
didn't care if the captain busted him down to meter maid but he was going
to demand to interrogate Murphy himself. He stopped pacing and faced the
door when he heard Simon's approaching footsteps.
"Not one word Elision! Keep your tongue shut for a few more minutes." Simon
growled as he opened his office door. After the agents entered the room he
slammed it shut and pounced on Mulder. "And just was that little display
about Agent Mulder? American law? This guy could be responsible for a
gruesome murder and your offering to protect his rights? You had him on the
defensive and then you gave him a comfortable escape. Just what were you
thinking?"
"Captain Banks, ... I know my statement seemed a little odd.."
"A Little Odd?...."
Mulder held up his hands in the classic time out position. "This guy's
smart, craftily even. We weren't going to get anything out of him in the
traditional fashion. I had to try to throw him off kilter a bit and this
seemed like the perfect method."
"Wait a minute," interjected Jim who had been quietly listening up to that
point, "am I hearing this right, you let this guy off the hot seat. My
partner has been taken by who knows and the only one who might know why is
sitting comfortably in the interrogation room! What is going on here?"
Scully was asking the same question quietly to herself, yea Fox she only
called him that privately when she couldn't figure out what he was up too
what were you thinking?
"Trust me on this detective. I know what I'm doing. Now all we need is to
ease drop on his telephone call and then we will know exactly who and what
he know."
"OOOhhhh," Scully smiled "so much for our sacred American law."
"Scully," Mulder smiled equally brightly at his partner, "you heard his
accent. He's not American." humf
*******************************************************
"Yes, I assure you sir Murphy will be delivered to you on time as I earlier
promised. In two days you will be able to pick him up. ..... No sir, we
don't physically have him yet but our baited trap in already being
set...... No, no sir. The Centre will not disappoint you." click
It had better not thought the man in black. He had expected the Centre's
lackey Mr. Lyle to delight him with news of an early retrieval. Instead, he
was cling to the pick up time established earlier. Slam!!
The man in black whacked his hand on the table. He had grown impatient. After
all these years of seeking he could finally taste Methos' quickening and he wanted
it NOW. He remembered when he first discovered that Methos the myth was indeed
not fiction. His research had taken him to a small town in Australia where
a tribal legend about an ageless man has persisted through many ages. The
man in black had no idea who the immortal was, but since he knew that the
key to success was to learn the tricks of other successful game players, he
traveled down there to find out more.
It was in the village of Dorkshire that he met an old man whose claimed to be a
direct descendant of the Unwayone. The man promised him, for a price, a detailed
recounting of the historical lore shrouding the man's true nature. And it was through
their private conference that he learned to true name of Unwayon, Methos. He was
astounded, delighted and a little disbelieving at the man's tale. The old
man assured him that the Unwayon had proclaimed himself as Methos, but of
course, the old man had no idea why the name was significant. Since the
tribal name given to him had been revered as the name of a demigod, over
time his family stopped telling outsiders that he had called himself by
some other name. At that moment the man in black had assumed his life's
purpose. He himself didn't have a distinct name; his early life as a mortal
was spent as a common Roman slave with only the moniker of 'boy' or 'you'.
He didn't care any more about his lack of identify after that moment in
Australia. His plan was to be forever know as 'Methos' slayer'.
***************************************************
Lyle caressed Blair's chin as he laid unconscious on the table. So just
what do they see in you Mr. Sandburg he asked himself. He turned away from
him in disgust. A scrawny little body and an almost effeminate bearing.
humph. No matter. I may never learn the secret power you have, but I shall
definitely try to reproduce it He looked over at Dr. Kim under the
sterilization hood he had installed in the warehouse. When this is over I
shall have much fun testing your and Mr. Elision's samples. Lyle continued
to smile to himself as he walked down the hallway and opened up his cell
phone. "Marcus, how is plan B shaping up?" "Good, make sure all the teams
are ready to greet Mr. Ellison at the rendezvous point." "Of course Ellison
is going to show up, we have his precious little partner and I doubt he's
going to endanger his life."
********************************************************
Methos paced in the interrogation room in front of the telephone placed on
the table ten minutes ago. He hadn't survived as long as he had without
being able to spot a trap when he saw one. Should I call.... to call or
not to call... that is the stupidest question I've ever had! He was
frustrated. He knew that one call to Joe could not only help him identify
the immortal behind Blair's abduction but would also send the MacLeod
calvery down here to spring him from jail. He had to call, he had
tooo....... but if he called and that annoying intuitive FBI agent was
listening.... he couldn't call, he couldn't risk it.... But what's life
without risk? he asked himself, long and comfortable he answered. "owww,
just do it!!" he yelled at himself. But just before his hand touched the
phone's receiver detective Ellison came burring into the room, slammed
Methos against the wall and yelled "I. want. some. answers. NOW!!!!"
Seven minutes earlier Ellison, Simon and the feds were half way
standing/sitting in Simon's office waiting to listen to Methos' call. Out
of no where Jim's cell phone began to ring. "Ellison!" he snarled . "Listen
closely detective. If you want your partner back safe and sound you will
deliver David Murphy to us tonight at eight o'clock at the Fisherman's
wharf. Come alone and we won't hurt Mr. Sandburg anymore. Bring backup, and
we shall have some fun with him." The phone hung up before Ellison could
utter a single sound. In the background Jim could hear Blair screaming in
agony as his captors lashed at his back with a leather rope entwined with
metal prongs. Lyle wanted to ensure Jim would comply with his demand. He
almost slumped to the floor after the caller hung up but fortunately
Mulder had noticed his facial expressions go from annoyance and hostility
to fear and distress during the phone conversation and quickly shoved an
office chair behind Elision to catch him before he fell.
"What happen?" Simon demanded. "Who was that Jim and what's going on?"
"They... they've got Blair. and they're torturing him. Simon, they're
slashing his back with a leather whip."
"Oh man, oh... what are are they're demands? Come on Jim, pull your self
together. What do they want?"
That's when a look of pure fury rolled over Jim's face darkening his eyes
until they became glacial blue. He immediately jumped out of the chair and
rushed to the office door. Jim was down the hallway before Simon had
recovered from his shock enough to follow him. Scully, being a quicker
thinker and probably the only one calm about the situation raced out behind
Jim to try to stop him from choking David Murphy to death.
"Ugh... y..our... choking me... st...st..stoop..please"
Jim was blinded by rage. His only thought was that somehow this man was
responsible for his guide's pain and he was going to make him stop. Methos,
not as physically large as Jim felt his larynx being squeezed tight beneath
Jim's grip. His throat already had a few lacerations that would being to
heal in five, four, three, two, one seconds...
"Owwwwww!" Jim jumped back from Murphy as what felt like a thousand volts
of electricity rushed into him through his fingertips. "What...what are
you?" He started back towards Murphy but was stopped by Agent Scully and
her pistol.
"Hold it right there detective." she said in a 'and don't try me' voice
and waved Jim away from Murphy with her gun. "Police brutality is a felony
offense." Scully turned to Murphy who was now on the floor covering this
throat. Methos was not necessarily trying to catch his breathe but he was
trying to conceal his rapidly healing wounds. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"How badly did he hurt you? Let me see, I'm a doctor."
Methos rubbed his hand around his throat. Although it was his most sensitive
area, it still healed with the speed only a five thousand plus year old man could
have. "I'm fine agent. Really. he merely knocked the wind out of me. See. I'm not
even hurt." Methos exposed his completely healed neck for Scully's
inspection.
"That's good... but that in no way excuses your actions detective Ellison. I will be
submitting a formal reprimand to your captain regarding this."
Jim didn't respond to her. He couldn't. His body was still tingling from the after
effects of the near electrocution. He looked over at Murphy standing close to Scully
who was supporting the nearly strangled man and saw a blue aura glowing around him.
"What that...."
"Alright Ellison, you mind telling me what caused you to coming running in
here like a drowning man towards air?" Simon demanded, cutting off Jim's
observation.
"He nearly choked Mr. Murphy to death, captain. I don't think detective
Ellison is fit for duty anymore, or at least he should be removed from this
case."
"Noooo, nnooo...please you can't" plead Jim. "I'm soorry, I. .. I went
crazy for a while. But Blair's captors demanded Murphy be swapped for him
and I.. I wanted to squeeze their identities out of him."
"Yeah, and squeeze you did. The way you were pressing against his neck, I'm
surprised there aren't any rips and tears."
yeah, I'm surprised too thought Mulder. He didn't want to voice his
observations publicly as Jim almost had but he noticed the blood stains on
Murphy's collar. Murphy tried to conceal his collar by nonchalantly
fiddling with it but he had accidentally exposed a small area of the collar
showing the blood stains.
Captain banks narrowed his eyes at Murphy upon hearing Jim's confession.
"What do you know about this Murphy." He quietly bellowed. "If this is some
scheme to get you out of jail..." "No Sir. I swear. I have no idea who took
Blair or why they might want me." Methos was silently praying to every
deity he ever believed in that Jim was not monitoring his heart beat as he
spoke. He knew Blair's captors had to be working for an immortal. but
which one?
Methos' prayer was not answered. Jim rose up from his seat with renewed
fury. "He's Lying Simon. He's lying so bad his guilty heart might as well
jump out of his chest." Jim lunged towards Methos with renewed energy
Mulder and Simon acted as physical barriers to prevent Jim from attacking
Murphy again.
Oh man Methos thought, shaking his head. What shall I do Now?
****************************************************************
V part five
"Excuse me," a fairly tall dark haired fortieths looking man choose that
moment to enter the interrogation room. "I'm looking for a.. Captain
Banks?"
"Yes, that's me. And just who are you?"
"Oh, my apologies, " he said as he held out his right hand to Captain
Banks. "I'm Jared, Jared Prince, with the NSA. I'm here to prevent the
possible abduction of an English national." Then Jared looked directly at
Methos. "A Mister David Murphy, I presume?"
Mulder studied the new arrival carefully. He tried to surmise from his
demeanor and appearance what role he would play in this matter. But
unfortunately, he couldn't seem to get past the man's mysterious aire.
Okay, now my day has gone from devastating to cataclysmic though Methos
who had retried as far into the wall as possible.
Mulder addressed the new agent first. "What does the NSA want with Mr.
Murphy, might I ask, and why weren't we informed of your arrival?" He was
livid. This was just like the government, keeping secrets from its own
people and tharwding the revelation of the truth.
"Uhm, may I see some id, please" Scully, the only clear-headed officer in
the room inquired.
"Oh, sure. Sorry. Uhm, anyway, Our sources..."
"Sources?"
"Uh, our intelligence identified present Centre activity in this area and
also that Mr. Murphy was the target. I've been sent here to investigate
those claims and prevent Mr. Murphy's detention by that group."
"The Centre, of course. I should have know by the snatch and grab tactics
in the park. I never expected to have to go head to toe with those
malcontents. So what do they want with you Murphy?" Mulder's eyes turned
towards Murphy.
Methos felt like he was on center stage and the spotlight was stuck shining
singularly on his position.
"Wait one minute. Hold it, I want to know exactly who this Centre is and
why they took my partner!" Jim's voice was gravely and strained. He had
been quietly clenching his teeth while the new fed made his 'proper'
introductions, but now he wanted some answers. "Tell me Murphy, want do you
have that got some organization out there trying to take you by any means
necessary. You've jeopardized my partner and I could care less if you own
the hope diamond." Jim stalked over to were Murphy was trying to hide.
"YOU... had better tell us what this 'Centre' wants and how I can get Blair
back."
Methos held out his hands in the classic 'I surrender' position. Scully
also came to his aide by moving to intercept Ellison.
"Please," Methos pleaded, looking directly into Jim's eyes, "I honestly
don't know who this 'Centre' is and I had no idea that any one knew I was
here in Cascade. I'm just as concerned about Blair's safety as you are."
"I doubt that," Ellison retorted derisively. He had scanned Murphy's vitals
and determined that in this instance the man wasn't overtly lying. "You
didn't answer my question Murphy. Why is this organization after you?"
Methos swallowed slowly.
"I maybe of some assistance with that question, detective" Jared stepped
into the inquisition. He didn't know exactly what the Centre's purpose for
taking Murphy was, but he was sure of both their agenda and their interest
in Blair Sandburg. "The Centre is on the surface an international health
relief organization protected by multiple countries, including our own.
However, underneath they're no different than the Nazis war scientists
under Hitler's regime. They specialize in human genetic modification. They
are constantly looking for persons with unique physical and intellectual
abilities that they can exploit. I'm not sure what about Murphy caught
their eye, but I think we all know why they would be interest in Mr.
Sandburg. Isn't that right detective?"
Simon jumped into the conversation to try to pull attention away from the
sentinel issue. "He's right Jim. Even though Blair publicly announced that
the novel he wrote about you was just a piece of fiction, there are still a
number of people out there who believe it was true." Banks attempted a
short laugh to emphasis his point. "Some people just want to believe in the
unfathomable and unprovable. Kind of like those UFO watchers, you know. Tsk
Tsk. Well, we need to start working on a game plan if we're going to pull
Sandburg out of this."
Scully looked over at Mulder while Banks was talking. Finally, a sensible
man. Maybe I should try regular police work for a while. At least I
wouldn't encounter so many wacky cases.
Mulder only smiled inwardly. He's really trying to downplay the sentinel
thing. Yep, I was right all along. Now how can we keep the Centre from
getting their hands on these two?
"How can we keep the Centre from succeeding?" Mulder asked out loud.
"I'm not sure. We must take their threat seriously. If Detective Ellison
shows up with the most minimum amount of backup, they won't hesitate to
take it out on Blair."
Jim sat down at the conference table and put his head in his hands. "We
can't let anything happen to Blair, Simon. I can't go in without...."
"Don't be foolish detective. You don't know these people. I do. If they
think they can get what they want from taking just a blood sample from you
they won't hesitate to shoot you down cold and sponge the sample from the
ground. Now I do have an idea on how to send you guys in without them
discovering your backup. Captain Banks, I'll need access to some very
expensive surveillance equipment. Do you think you can make the
arrangements?"
"Sure.... hum... just give me your list and I'll make the necessary calls."
Now that's weird thought Mulder Why would an NSA agent need the local
police to commandeer his equipment for him?
He kept his mouth shut about the anomaly, planning to discuss it with
Scully later on.
Methos began to breathe a little easier. This new agent had managed to draw
attention away from him for a while. Hopefully it would stay that way.
****************************
Three hours later, when it was nearly half past seven Jared announced that
he was done making the surveillance bugs. When he explained his plan to
Banks back in his office, everyone except Mulder was shocked and impressed
by his ingenuity. Mulder simply mused quietly about the situation. Now I
KNOW they didn't teach him that during training. This Jared Price guy acts
more like a magician than a g-man. And what's with his name? Prince? As in
the knight in shinning armor variety? Something's not adding up. They all
had remained pretty much sequestered in Banks' office while Jared worked on
his contraption. Agent Prince stated that the Centre's usually M.O. was to
infiltrate a target area with plants and bribes. he suggested that they not
reveal any of his plan to the regular work force, but only to the most
trusted officers. While waiting for Jared to finish, Scully decided to go
and check on Murphy who spent the time in a holding cell.
"Agent Scully, what a pleasant surprise. I'm glad I shall have the
opportunity to thank you personally for your intervention earlier. I was
frighten for my life!"
"No problem Mr. Murphy. That's our job. Detective Ellison was completely
inappropriate and out of line. His captain should consider reassigning
partnerships if Ellison is that attached to Detective Sandburg. Such blind
passion for one's partner can lead to mistakes in how cases are
investigated, not to mention the severe strain it puts on sensitive cases
like this one."
"Perhaps, but Blair told me that Jim's case resolution rate tripled since
they started working together. They make a great team."
"Believe me, the best partnerships need to be shaken up a bit from time to
time. It prevents coworkers from getting too personally attached; loss of
objectivity will wreck even the most honed team. It makes them too
dependent on each other to be effective, and thereby decreasing both
members abilities."
"Well, I don't know about that agent. But from what I've observed...."
"Mr. Murphy, this isn't exactly a social call. I'm here to take your
statement about the Seavcouer murder. Please tell exact what was your
relationship with the deceased and why did you try to evade us in the
first place."
"My, my agent Scully. You are a persistent one. I've got nothing sinister
to hide. How shall I start...humm.. well... Bob, he was an old acquaintance
of mine. In fact, I hadn't heard from him in years until the night before
his death. He...uhm... he told me he had gotten into trouble with some very
dangerous people and needed a loan quickly. he was hiding from them, which
is why I went to meet him at night at the park..."
"Uh hun. And just why did he think he could just pop up out of no where and
'borrow' money from you? Would you care to explain that Sir?"
Uh oh. think fast old man. Let's try throwing her off track "Well, uhm...
you see... and please don't share any of this with Detective Ellison. He
distrusts me enough already. I meet.. Bob... back when I was studying at
Cambridge. I..uhm.. got into a little spat of trouble and Bob pulled me out
of it. If my parents had found out, needless to say I would've spent my
summer at our villa in Ghana. Dreadful place, you see. Any ways, I promised
Bob that anytime he want me to return the favor all the had to do was ask.
That evening, unfortunately, was the first time he asked."
"Uh hun. You do realize that this little 'story' of you gives you a
plausible motive for murder?"
"What! Oh no, you got it all wrong agent. Bob was my friend. When I was
younger, we were almost inseparable..." Oops
"Really? I examine the deceased and he appeared to be at least ten to
fifteen years your senior. How was it that you two were 'inseparable'
during your university years, yet you hadn't kept in touch with him in
about, what, four/five years?"
"Uhhhh... you know how it is agent. You make best friends, you grow up,
move on, that kind of thing."
"Uh hun... You didn't explain the age difference."
"O...see ...Bob, he was kind of a teaching fellow in the English
department...."
"Kind of?"
"Well yes. He offered afternoon tutoring sessions but he wasn't an official
instructor..."
"Go on"
"Well, I need a little help with my studies in Chauer, such a dry old chap
was he. Bob was great about helping me to understand the little twit.
Anyway, that was the start of the most unlikely friendship. Kind of like
Jim and Blair's, you know?"
"Uh hun... go on"
"Hummm, So I meet him a the park, as requested. He was foggily, nervous and
upset. So much so that I also became nervous. I told him I could have the
money for him in about a week. I didn't have access to that much on a quick
access bases and would have to wire my father's trust account in
London...."
"Uh hun.. and just how much was he asking for?"
"About twenty-five hundred pounds."
"Oh really? And you were willing to hand over that much money, without any
strings?"
"Well, sure. Bob had been a great friend, and it's just money..."
"Uh hun... so he didn't have any confidential information about you by
chance..."
"Oh NO agent Scully! You have to understand. Bob and I had been.... okay
old man, you're losing her here. Make this one believable. really close.
There wasn't anything we didn't share back then..cough (Methos cleared his
throat). There was no way I could possibly turn him down, not with our
history."
"Uh hun.... tell me Mr. Murphy, was this the first time 'Bob' had requested
money?"
Great old man. Not only have you lost your tough, but now you've
solidified a motive for murder. Think man!
Methos frowned and looked straight into Scully's eyes. "I see what you're
implying agent, but you are completely way off base. Bob had NEVER asked me
for money. Not during our entire friendship. In fact, I've had to borrow a
few quin from him a time or two when I've been strapped. Bob was an honest
man and I would have never harmed him"
Methos used his most sincere 'trust me, I just save a puppy from drowning
in a lake' look. He knew he could make himself look like a naive, innocent
grad student when he wanted to.
"Hmmm, okay. I apologize of any unkind suppositions. It's just that...."
"I know agent" Methos said while shaking his head sadly. "I'm the only lead
to his death."
Scully was suddenly struck by a realization. "Mr. Murphy, as plausible as
your 'story' may seem; it doesn't explain why you ran from Cascade and
tried to conceal your escape route."
Uh oh, swift one isn't she, "Well the next afternoon... when I came home
from visiting a friend.... I found my apartment door open. I knew Bob had
been brutally murdered but I had know idea who it was that assaulted him. I
was scared, frankly." Methos then put on his despair & fear face. "I didn't
know where to go and who was safe. So I did what I thought was the smartest
thing; I ran."
"Uh hun,... and why did you run to Cascade?"
"uhmm... because... cause I have a few friends in the graduate programs
here, so I figured that I could visit with them until the murderers could
be found."
"Uh hun,... by the way Mr. Murphy you haven't told us what 'Bob's' last
name was?)
This better be a good one "Oh, oops, sorry. Markus, Bob Markus."
"Uh hun,... hmmm." Scully rose up from her seat. "Thank you for the
deposition. You may still be questioned, of course, regarding Mr. Markus's
death, but I will record your denial of any involvement with his demise,
okay?"
"Sure, I understand,... and thank you agent Scully for your sensitivity in
this issue. " Methos took Scully's right hand into her and looked deeply
into her eyes. She Blushed. Methos thought within himself. Don't get
cocky, old man, But I think you've still got it, as he congratulated
himself on his performance. As Scully stood up to leave his cell, agent
Mulder popped his head through the doorway.
"Agent Price has finished with the tracking devices and now we've got only
an hour and a half to get everyone in place before the meet. Murphy. your
presence, of course, is required."
*************************************
Jared tried to convince Captain Banks and the others that they would
necessarily fail on this first attempt to recover Sandburg. Both the two
FBI agents and the major crimes unit scoffed at his seemingly overly
pessimistic out look.
"Look, I not doubting anybody's ability here. I'm just stating facts. I've
dealt with these people on a number of occasions and the current leader's
quite crafty. Our only sure chance of success is to ensue that plan B is
effectively carried out."
Ellison glared at agent Price. Who does this guy think he is telling us
that we can't do our job right. And his heart beat, there's something not
quite together with this guy. "So what do you want me to do? Just hand
myself over?"
"Oh no, they'd surely know our plans if you do that. No. Everyone must go
into this operation at top performance, giving everything you got to secure
Sandburg on the first try."
"What a minute," Mulder fumed, "If that's what you want, what was the point
of your big - the mission will fail- speech? First you tell us it won't
work, now you say give all effort to see that it does?"
"There's no confusion, Agent Mulder. When plan A fails, we must be ready to
immediately switch to plan B. Our window of opportunity will be pretty
small afterwards. But the success of plan B absolutely depends on
convincing the Centre that there IS NO plan B. If they suspect that we've
got a backup , then they're actions will be less predictable. Got it? Okay,
Detective Ellison, is the tracking devise too much of an irritant?"
Jim looked at Price with both appreciation for his concern and annoyance
for his coddling. The small transmitter tapped between his toes bothered
him worse than a half torn hang nail and he was almost desperate to find a
way to shield his senses from feeling it. "I'm fine, agent. now can we get
on with this. There's no telling what they've done to Blair by now."
************************************
Lyle ran his index finger down the right side jaw of an unconcoius Blair.
What is it about you, pip squeak? How do you manage to worm your way into
so many people's lives? "Hmmm, Dr. Kim, have you begun to analyses any of
the samples you've collected from this subject yet?"
"Uh, no sir. I've been busy setting up the quick extraction procedure you
requested for subject C and ...."
"Fine," Lyle waved his hand in a dismissive manner, "We'll have plenty of
time to analyze the samples once we're back at the Centre. Just make sure
your through with all three subjects doctor. If there's something there, I
want the ability to duplicate it without any variations. Understood?"
"Yes Sir!"
It was time for the pick up. Lyle rode with the attack helicopter to the
meeting site. He radioed to his operatives on the ground. "Willie, are the
lights in place?"
"Yes sir!"
"I want you personally to perform a perimeter check. ETA on targets is
twenty minutes and I assure you, if this little seizure fails, you won't be
returning to Blue Cove on a commercial flight. Do I make myself clear?"
Lyle smiled to himself as he heard the sweeper's sharp intact of breathe in
response to his treat. Lyle loved having the power to make people squirm.
After this mission, no one will doubt my accomplishments again.
*************************************
Jim and Methos pulled into the secluded parking lot at fifteen minutes to
eight as instructed. The sun had just finished setting and Jim's eyes were
still adjusting to the change in light. Jim turned towards Murphy and gave
him his coldest stare, "If you, in any way hinder this mission or if I find
out you were involved in this I promise I will disembowel you in less that
five minutes. Do I make myself clear, Murphy?"
Methos swallowed. Okay, so he's a little uptight. "Ji..Dectective
Ellison, Blair means more to me than you know. I would never let anything
happen to him."
Jim only looked a Murphy with more contempt, " But you already have, no
haven't you? Get out the car Murphy, its time to go."
Methos opted not to challenge Jim's assessment of him. His statement hurt,
but Methos knew arguing about it would only divide his attention. He
prepared himself to feel the tale tell signal of another immortal
approaching. He was more than nervous as the second car pulled up and there
wasn't any indication that there were immortal's in the cab.
At eight o'clock a dark colored sedan pulled into the meeting place. Jim
immediately focused his senses on detecting Blair's presence in the car.
Somehow Blair's heart beat and his unique smell were being muted. Jim
increased the dials of his senses to maximum wanting to find out his
friend's exact health condition. Two men in black suits exited the dark
sedan in front of Ellison and Methos. The first one yelled, "alright, exit
the car slowly with you hands up so I can see them."
Jim barely heard the man speaking because he had just zeroed in on Blair.
He could tell that Sandburg had been recently drugged because his vital
signs were registering in a faint, dulled stated. Methos tapped Jim on the
shoulder when he realized that other's commands hadn't registered to the
sentinel. "Ellison, Ellison! It's time to signal the team man. Wake up!"
Jim shook his head trying to clear away the partial zone out. He radioed
the backup team parked a 15 meters away behind a hill. "Captain, it's a go.
Send in the patrol chopper asap." Ellison and Methos opened their car doors
and very slowly began to empty the car. Jim again opened his senses wide to
listen for their approaching backup. As soon as he heard the helicopter
nearing about 4 meters he yelled, "We're moving no farther. Show us
Detective Sandburg NOW!"
"Of course Ellison," relied the faceless man. Jim threw open his senses as
soon as the second man opened up the sedan back seat to pull out Blair.
Suddenly tens of stadium floodlights popped on over head. Methos closed his
eyes and muttered "Oh limme!" Additionally, the thunder of what sounded
like an amplified recording of the Queen's symphony resounded in the park.
Jim crashed to his knees from the pain of the intense sensory attack. He
was so mollified that he was unable to hear to sound of every tire in the
back up teams cars blowing out after driving over concealed metal spikes 7
meters from the meeting site. The police copter was likewise neutralized
when another helicopter flew directly into their flight path and blinded
the pilots with search lights.
Methos immediately took on an attack stance and was able to knock down the
first approaching assailant. Three more jumped him from behind and one
stuck a needle into his neck. The ROG though to himself, awe man, after
all these years to be taken down like this? I must really be.... He didn't
have time to finish his thought before the drugs rushed through his system.
***********************************************
"YES! YES!" Lyle danced around his makeshift office in the warehouse after
ensuring the prisoners had been secured. There wasn't anyone else in the
room with him but still vocally expressed his euphoria. "I can't believe
this one worked. Alright! Call me a mistake, did they? Say I was unstable?
HA! I showed them. Not only have I gained the favor of the man in black,
but I've got fresh new DNA for a new pretender project. YES!"
Lyle grabbed his cell phone after the first ring. "WHAT!?"
"Uh,.. I apologize for disturbing you sir. I just wanted to report that
I've completed the sample extraction form subject B and am being the one on
subject C."
"Good doctor. I've already contacted our client. He should be here in the
next hour to retrieve his order. We haven't much time. He wants the entire
facility vacated upon his arrival."
"Understood, sir"
Now it's time to probe this Mr. Murphy for information. What could be so
important about him to draw the personal attention of the man in black?
***************************************************
Simon was the first one to jump out of the detained cars. Jared and the
rest of the team followed him. "@#%&." Banks swore. "Price, you knew they
would pull a stunt like that. Why didn't you warn us? And Jim, if he's
traumatized in any way because of your failure to disclose..."
"Pardon me sir, but we haven't got time for this. W must implement plan B
now. I suspect Murphy's buyer is headed for the storage site right now."
"And just how will we get there first?" Mulder asked with a frown. He
didn't like the way this Price guy worked. He was soloing too much and
Mulder never cared to be left in the dark.
"I have already triangulated their location from data received form the
tracking device I attached to both Jim and Murphy. There is an abandon
warehouse two kilometers from the meeting site. It's unregistered which is
why we didn't find it earlier on the area map. I suggest we reassemble the
team and head there now. I've already made maps of the area highlighting
the most obscure approaches."
"Well thank you very much for taking over the operation and assigning roles
with out even a hint of consultation with the locals!" Banks was fuming.
"Look captain, I understand your anger. But as I said, I Know these people.
To have informed you of my plan in advanced would have jeopardized it. If
you could retain your irritation momentarily. As I stated earlier, our
window is very small. I would be surprised if Murphy's buyer was already
there now. We need to stop talking and go NOW! There is an addition set of
cars stationed 11 meters away outside the meeting area perimeter waiting
for us. I made arrangements for them earlier. I suggest we start running."
Simon was livid, but he couldn't argue with Jared's assessment. He
immediately turned to his men and order them to race towards the awaiting
cars. Mulder was equally frustrated and bemused by Price. Before he began
to run he glanced over to Scully. She simply raised her shoulders and
signaled 'beats me' with her eyes. Mulder decided to stick closer to agent
Price.
**********************************************
Methos woke up in a cold, brightly lit room. He was strapped to a metal
chair with leather cords and was totally bereft of clothes. "Tsk, I hate
drugs." He spoke out loud to no one in particular.
"And why is that?" Lyle asked as he approached from behind.
Methos jumped slightly at the voice. He had expected to wake up to the
telltale feel of an immortal's presence if he were t wake up at all. The
mortal startled him.
"Who are you and just what do you want?" The ROG asked.
"Now, that's exactly what I would like to know from you Mr. Murphy." Lyle
pulled another chair and sat down in front of Methos. "I would like to know
what makes you so special that my client wants a private meeting with
you,..( he looked up and down Methos' naked form)..ahem... unarmed"
Methos smirked at the ignorant mortal, ah ha, I've got a bit of time
still "Just what are you asking, or should I say propositioning"
"Lyle stood up with a look of disgust. "I am the one holding all the cars
here, fella. I suggest you answer my inquiries," he said sternly.
"Oh, really?" Methos was laying on the pomp and sarcasm thick. I've got to
get rid of this twerp quick "I think... that Your Client... didn't feel
that you were important enough, no.... secure enough to be let in on our
little business. And now (Methos then looked Lyle up and down in a similar
fashion) that I see his courier for myself, I agree wit his assessment.
"I...I..." Lyle grabbed Methos by the neck, "you better tell me everything
n...."
"No, YOU better remove your fifthly paws off of me now. You well know if so
much as a hair leaves my body or a fingernail is chipped, your client will
have your butt in a meat grinder." Lyle reluctantly released Methos' neck.
"Now I suggest that you and your little troop of merrymen go run along home
before your client gets here. It could get real ugly if you don't" Methos
then gave Lyle a toned down version of his Death on a horseback glare.
"And, I strongly suggest that you immediately release detectives Ellison
and Sandburg."
Now Lyle puffed his chest back up, he's helpless and he knows it, he
though. "And just WHY is that?"
"Because when your client finds out that you jeopardized this meeting in
order to go after them; and trust me he will find out; you're going to wish
that your butt was all he wanted cut off." Methos looked straight into
Lyle's eyes with one of his most hateful and 'I mean business' stares. Lyle
swallowed hard.
"en...Enjoy your meeting," Lyle said with a biteless sneer as he made a
quick exit from the detention room. That man gives me the creeps He
immediately got on the telle, "doctor, what's the status on subject C's
samples?"
"Almost done sir. It's been a little hard completing the collection while
keeping him under. This man revives quicker than any one I've ever seen to
the ...."
"Tell me the details later" Lyle barked. "We have got to get both to those
subjects up and out of here in twenty minutes!"
After Lyle casually fled from the room, Methos shook he head with a
sardonic laugh. Good to see you still have it, old man. I was beginning to
wonder Next, Plan to get down to business, Methos began to work out of the
cords binding him. His hopes of a quick houdini escape were dashed as he
felt the metal link cord that ran on the upper side of his bounds.
"Crap" he muttered. His assailants used leather restraints to prevent and
type of bruising or tearing but their cords were fortified with metal for
security.
Now how I'm I going to get out of this? Think old guy, or you soon won't
be able to again
********************************************
Whew! Time for a little break; stretch your neck, grab a pop... whatever. I
would like to stop now, but since this story has been incomplete for OVER
ONE FULL YEAR, I shan't. Pity. ;-]
Jared, Mulder, and five other Cascade PD officers flew over in advance to
the warehouse. Mulder kept one eye on the flight and the other on Price. He
noticed that Price brought along a long duffle bag that he insisted on
holding during the entire trip.
He is not getting off this plane without my inspection of that bag. It
hadn't escaped Mulder's awareness that be bag's shape conformed perfectly
to either a large semi automatic weapon, or.. a sword. price had refused on
several occasions to identify the item stored inside. He would mysteriously
claim "NSA business, agent Mulder. You know how that is." Mulder's eyes
narrowed. Humf... so smug and pretentious that one. Who's to say he's not
really in on this thing with Murphy? Humf.. NSA my @#$&. This smells like
another cover up ot me.
Fortunately, for Methos, the Cascade team's copter made it to the warehouse
before the man in black. As the team began disembarking from the copter
Mulder made a wild grab for Price's bag. Jared yanked it out of his reach
just before he was able to touch the outer shell. "Agent! I could have your
shield for that! What about NSA business did you not understand."
Jared and Mulder faced each other outside the emptied craft. The rest of
the crew had already left to set up position for the ground team.
"I have some serious questions about your role here Price" Mulder
confronted Jared. "You have been displaying some very questionable actions.
I don't even think you're following NSA protocols. I want some answers now
Price before this goes any further. And don't give me any half answers, no
one is outside scrutiny."
Jared closed his eyes and took a deep breathe. before answering. "I' sorry
that you feel this way agent. I had hope that this would work out smoothly.
I hadn't factored in encountering and overly inquisitive federal agent."
"Well to bad your not going to get your way here Price. Now about my
answers."
"Yes, there's just one way to answer this scenario..." Jared looked Mulder
straight into his eyes before he set down the bag. Mulder's head dropped to
follow his motion. Jared's right fist quickly bent into a fist and he
plastered Mulder near his left temple. the agent fell to the ground like a
dead tree limb. "My apologizes"
Jared picked up the bag and ran towards the back of the building.
***************************************************
Simultaneously, Lyle had just confirmed that Ellison and Sandburg were
secured in one of the exiting Centre vehicles as the man in black's copter
landed. He gave orders for the vans to move out. Their trajectory was going
to place them right inside the blockage Banks had set up outside the
warehouse's camp. Lyle radioed Willie on the separate helicopter waiting
for him to board. "Be ready to sprint out of here as soon as I board!"
"Understood, sir"
The man in black stepped out of the aircraft. He was carrying a long black
case and had a dark hood draped over his head. Lyle extended his hand in
greeting but the man ignored it.
"He's inside." the man confirmed rhetorically.
"Sir, it has been a pleasure...."
"Get out of here now Mr. Lyle. I have already transmitted payment to both
the Centre's and your personal bank accounts. I want you and all of your
men out of here NOW. Do you understand me?"
Lyle nodded his head in wonderment. He was unable to see the man's face but
was certain that the voice uttering from under the cape was not that of an
old man but someone younger, maybe even younger than himself.
Without another moments hesitation Lyle ran and up into the helicopter and
order the pilot to go.
***************************************************
@#$% Methos swore to himself. he felt the other immortal's presence even
before he heard the craft's blades cutting the air. It's an old one. An
old one who's breaking the rules. The ROG shook his head again. His wrists
had already healed from the numerous cuts he had received while trying to
slide thorough the bands. May my wretched soul rest in piece he thought.
However, as if he was watching the dawning of the first day of his
existence, Methos stared open mouthed at the side window as it was forcibly
lifted up from the outside. Methos let out a huge sigh of relief.
Agent Price, what are you...no I don't care.... I am glad to see you. Get
me ot of this quickly, please!" Jared immediately ran across the room and
examined the tethers holding Methos. He easily discovered its weakness and
freed Methos. Mr. Murphy, a police team is positioned just beyond those
trees. I suggest you head off in the other direction."
"Wait, " Methos grabbed Jared's hand holding the duffle bag. "What's that?"
Jared frowned. "A friend of my recommended that I bring this 'just in
case'. he didn't explain it any more but I've learned to comply with
whatever he says.
Methos thought about the immortal approaching him. I could just leave,
scott free. But then that immortal would still be out there, on the loose.
Umf, I've been hanging around the boyscout way to long. "Listen, Jared, if
that's what I think it is, leave it. My business isn't done here. but I
suggest you better take off now. Whatever the outcome, this place is going
to be flattened like Nagasaki within the hour."
Jared nodded and headed back towards the window. "Hey, Jared... whoever you
are, thanks."
***************************************************
Next follows a really cool fight scene between Methos and the man in black.
I love well written fight scenes.. they're heart palpitating, eye straining
causing, on the edge of your seat sitting...etc. Unfortunately I can not
write a good fight scene. ^ ^
So here's where your- the reader if there are any- imagine shall join in
the story. I would welcome any story inserts of well written fight scenes
and even give the authoer (gasp) EQUAL billing on this magnificent work
(snicker,snicker) Any who, scene starts with bad guy opening door,
surprised that Methos' loose, includes some snide comment about Methos
gallantly protecting immortal society from rule breakers, and of course
finished with Methos blowing up half the town after decapitating bad guy.
Excessive amounts of blood spilt, but since blood stains lets keep it down
to a minimum, okay?
***************************************************
Mulder awoke just as the quickening's rumble began. He was less than 10
meters from the warehouse but, once realizing that the energy wave was
emitting from the warehouse he wisely decided to run in the opposite
direction. The first blow from the storm sent out a pulse that added 3
meters to Mulder's retreat.
THE NEXT DAY
Banks, Mulder, and Scully sat around the captain's desk that morning trying
to piece together the missing clues in resolving the case. Lyle's
helicopter had gotten away and the lower ranking sweepers caught by the
police were in unison refusing to provide the police with any information.
The Centre made sure it had control of all of its operatives via familial
threats or the such like in order to ensure absolute animosity in case
failure occurred. Mulder's contacts, i.e. the lone gunmen, confirmed that
Jared was not an NSA officer and all three of the law enforcement officers
were surprised by the reports of Jared's previous heroic deeds provided by
the gunmen.
"What I don't understand" said Scully, "is why someone with a M.O. like
Jared's would risk himself to help a cold blooded murder like Murphy."
"That is if he kills in cold blood." Mulder countered.
"Mulder, you saw the dead body found in the warehouse reckage. That kid
looked no more than twenty-five years old. How can you suggest it wasn't
cold blooded?"
"Pardon me, Agent Scully but your statement assumes two things- one that
Murphy really wasn't kidnapped but that this meeting was all a set up. In
which case, it definitely wouldn't make scenes that this Jared person would
help him. Second- that Murphy is the one who beheaded this man. For all we
know the story he gave you was right and the Centre was just trying to tie
up loose ends. Either way," and Banks threw his hands up in the air, "I
really have no idea about what happened here."
"your right, sir. I can't just make conclusions about Murphy's guilt. For
all we know, Jared was trying to protect and innocent from one of the
Centre's plots. What's also weird, and please don't share your explanation
Mulder, is how there was an explosion of that magnitude without any
residual plastics or radiation."
"Scully, my explanation is the only one that makes sense give the evidence
surrounding us."
"So, agent Mulder, you would have us believe that both Murphy and the
beheaded guy are part of some alien infiltration group that never ages but
would self- explode it ever beheaded?" Banks asked the fed incredulously.
"Doubt me all you want, but I tell you, its the only answer that makes
sense."
Scully shook her head sadly.
"But you know what?" Mulder said as soon as the realization struck,
"speaking of loose ends, Murphy seemed to be unusally interested in
Dectective Sandburg. After all, the Centre successfully used him as bait to
capture Murphy. Do either of you have any idea on that issue?"
"Actually agent," replied Banks, "I've wondered about that myself. How did
they know that Sandburg was connected to him in the first place?"
"Ahem, are you two forgetting that the kidnappers used Sandburg's
relationship with Ellison as the lure to get to Murphy. But I'm pretty sure
that they knew taking him would make Murphy all the more compliant."
"@#$&%, they must have plants all through the station!" Banks swore. "I'm
going to have to do a background check on every officer who would have had
contact with this case. Great. And just when two of my best officers are
out of commision..."
"Wait a minute!" Mulder stood up aburptly, "Why didn't I think about this
earlier. The Centre must have people working as office clerks throughout
police departments. That's how they intercepted our faxes on Murphy in the
first palce. You guys usually don't do background checks on clerks, you
even order them up on a temporary basis."
"That's right. All we need to do is track the source of our most recent
clerk temps that that shall lead us to the moles."
"Great," Mulder sighed as he sat back down, "at least one mystery was
solved. Scully, I still think we should pursue ..."
"Mulder! Don't even suggest we should follow up on that drunkerd's
testimony of seeing a blue halo surronding the explosion site. The man was
so inebriated he could barely hold his head up through our interview. Face
it, this one x-file is going to have to be shelved in the incomplete
folder."
Mulder shook his head at Scully. He knew there was more to the witness'
testimony, if only he had more concrete information. The truth is still
out there he thought to himself.
********************************************************
Jim had just left Blair's side five minutes ago to await Naomi's arrival in
the hospital lobby. After receiving Blair's earlier call, Naomi made
arrangements to return to Cascade to visit her son. She was panic-stricken
to learn of his attack and Jim was not looking forward to the scathing
greeting he expected to receive from her. Methos, disguised as an intern
had been watching Blair's door from across the hall. When he heard Jim ask
the nurse to keep an eye out while he went to receive Naomi he was
overjoyed by the opportunity. He knew he should have immediately left
Cascade after the near miss, but he couldn't go. He couldn't give up on the
opportunity to explain t his son, to see him and make amends one last time.
The sweepers had really beaten down Blair during his captivity. The bruises
and beatings he had received left him partially unconscious. That's why
when he first awoke, he though he was still dreaming....
# It was that wonderful dream he use to have as a child. Oh, Blair thought
to himself, it had been so long since he fantasized about that voice that
he believed he had completely forgotten it. It was the voice of his father,
or the one he hoped was his father. He was flying through the air; up and
down, up and down. he was laughing; his voice sounded light and merry.
Suddenly the motion stopped and he found himself completely wrapped in a
man's arms. The man's right hand was caressing his face. 'I love you
Blairybear, your dadda loves you so much.' Blair giggled. He felt so safe,
so protected. 'I'm so sorry all this happened Blairbear, I never wanted you
to get hurt.' Blair was confused. He had never heard and apology in his
dream before. 'Your dadda loves you sooo much!" Blair smiled again. Ahhh,
that's what he remembered. Huh? Blair felt a cold, wet drop of liquid fall
on his cheek. This also was new. Was it raining in the park? What's wrong?
What's wrong, Dadda? #
Just as Jim and Naomi neared Blair's door Jim heard his guide's heart beat
quicken. Something is disturbing Blair! Jim panicked. He also heard
another voice in the room with Blair. It was a male voice, speaking in
soothing, quiet tones, but some how it sounded familiar. Blair's heartbeat
increased. "Naomi, something's wrong with Blair!" Jim abruptly said as he
left her and went racing towards Blair's room.
" Wha...what are you doing here? Get your hands off of him!" Jim's eyes
were burning red. He pulled his gun on Methos. "MOVE, move over to the wall
and put you hands out were I can see them."
"Jim..." began Methos, "let me explain.."
"You can explain all you want, behind a cell wall." Jim barked.
Methos slowly backed towards the wall. Naomi finally caught up and ran up
to Jim when she saw that his gun was extended.
"Jim what's going on? What's happening to Bl..... oh my gods..." Naomi
looked up at the man Jim was holding at gun point. He looks just like.....
it couldn't be....
Before his brain kicked into gear Methos blurted out, "Naomi"
"Shut up" Jim commanded Methos, "Just shut up. Naomi, Naomi do you know
this perv"
"It can't be, it can't be you.... Your... your dead. I felt your pulse....
your face...." Naomi reached up an grabbed Methos' face. She held it in her
hands, twisting his face back and forth like a mannequin. Then she looked
into his eyes. "Oh gods, it is you! But how?," she gestured up and down his
torso, "how could it be?"
"Naomi, Naomi do you know this man?" Jim was deeply confused by Naomi's
response to Murphy.
Blair began to regain consciousness. He shook his head back and forth on
the pillow. Jim momentary forgot Murphy, who was still dumbstruck and
stationary before Naomi, and went to his friend's side. "Blair, Blair, its
me, its me Jim. What is it, chief?"
When Blair's eyes opened Jim swore he was looking into the innocent orbs of
an infant. Blair answered in a quiet voice, "Dadda, Dadda's crying. Why is
dadda crying?"
"What? What are you saying chief?"
"Da... Jim, jim" Blair clutched Jim's hand that was resting on his left
cheek. "Jim I remember my father's voice!" Blair tried to stand up but Jim
kept his guide from injuring himself.
"Naomi, I..I didn't mean for us to meet again this way. I wanted to tell
you.. but you ran away... I couldn't find you, I looked everywhere, but you
were gone..."
"Oh David!" Naomi clung to the one true love of her life. Unwiped tears
were streaming down her face.
"Mom? Mom what are you doing here? And why are you hugging... David?"
"Blair!" Naomi beamed. She grabbed Methos' hand and dragged him over to
Blair's bedside. Jim stood up and tried to push Murphy away. "Naomi, do you
know what you're doing? Do you know who that is?" Jim bellowed.
"Calm down Jim!" Naomi was still smiling. Gone was any confusion about
Methos' ageless appearance or of his bizarre arrival in her son's room.
Naomi felt nothing but joy and happiness. She lifted Blair's right hand and
placed it into Methos. Blair looked from the hand placement to David then
back again to his mother. Jim's jaw began to twitch furiously.
"Blair, may I introduce... oh this is silly. Honey.... this is David, David
Blair- your father."
Jim's mouth literally hit the floor.
***************************************************
Lyle frowned after he hung up the telephone. The Centre and its sister
agencies were in an uproar. The man in black, the cornerstone glue holding
together so many shadow agencies was dead. The official report was that he
was found dead in a warehouse outside Cascade, WA, beheaded. Lyle wasn't
adding any more information. The triumpherant knew he had a meeting with
the man, and from the 2 billion dollar deposit added to the Centre's
treasury they assumed the meeting had gone well. Lyle himself was nervous.
The man in black hadn't told many people about his deal with Lyle and he
was afraid he might be assigned the blame. All day people were stealthily
glancing at him and discreetly whispering behind his back.
This is the worst day of my soon to be over life Lyle though sadly to
himself. Just one day ago he had be rejoicing over his achievements; and
now, now he was afraid for his life. How did my life get so topsie turvy
Just as Lyle began flipping through his hidden journal of potential hide
out listings, his private cell phone line ran. He answered, jaded and
melancholy "Mr. Lyle here."
"Mr. Lyle", said a gravely voice, "I'm jut calling to let you know you
still have a friend. Just lay low for a few weeks and I'll take care of
everything from my end."
"Who..who is this?...what"
"Lyle, don't ask questions. Just follow my instructions. Alright?"
Lyle pondered the nameless voice on the other side. What did he have to
lose? He didn't feel comfortable about the caller but on the other hand the
man knew his private number. One a few very choice callers got his private
number.
"So were would you like me to lay low at?"
"Open your top left draw. you'll find tickets, hotel reservations and
travel cash. Don't even pack a suit case. Just go and after every thin has
calmed down again, I'll call you back."
Lyle opened his drawer and found the promised tickets. "Got it, I
understand. Tha...." Click
The cigarette man man looked up at his contact. "The last loose end had
been sealed. His contact merely nodded his head.
THE END
That's right folks! That's all I'm gonna write into this story. Whew! I'm
wiping the sweat from my forehead.
**************************************************************************
I have been motivated to write this story because of the abundance of
great fanfic on the web. One really good story, Michelle Martin's
Witness, is really worth searching out. Secondly, I love crossover
stories; they allow the great character ideas of multiply talented authors
to be combined into fables found nowhere else, except the web. So here
goes (and I appreciate the criticism). The characters utilized DO NOT
belong to me, nor did I have the creative genus to concoct them in the
first place. This fic is strictly written out of appreciation of having
such well developed characters that their stories surpass the limits of
commercial television production. If anyone knows the formal names of the
production companies who own these characters, please give them my best.
Also, if there are any historical and geographical inaccuracies, well
email. I've decided to take the lazy approach and claim poetic license.
Below is a crossover tale involving mostly Highlander and the
X-files, the two most popular fanfic topics on the web. And, the rating is PG
UNWAYON
I. part one
He walked alone on the dusty road headed back to his village with his head
held down. He had lived such a pleasant life the past 15 years there and
was terribly sorry to see it end. But, alas, his wife's once raven colored
hair had begun to lose its glimmer and fade into a distant silvery shadow
and her limp from advance aging had become almost debilitating; he knew it
wouldn't be long before his "death" would pull him away from the home he
loved so much. He loved Onca, as much as he had loved his other 58 wives
but time was not his ally. It was his nemesis, his dark shadow, his
never-ending companion. It was, in the end, his only companion.
Fortunately, there seemed to be few on his kind on this new continent he
found. He had stowed away as a hired guard on a prison ship headed for a
place called Queensland. It was a beautiful place, tranquil and
unblemished. He wondered why prisoners and other societal outcasts had the
benefit of relocating here. Although, he knew, the others didn't see it as
a haven. There were no cities, no towns, nothing of substance that
reminded the comfort loving europeans of their beloved homelands. But to
him, it was one of the first spots to remind him of his early days. His
idlic days of youth before his awareness of immortality, before the years
of loneliness and isolation had eaten at his soul, before the madness of
the horseman. Yes, this place was paradise and here he could be free.
Onca's people were more than friendly, and they didn't question his unusual
healing abilities. They accepted him as a protector and teacher in the
village. Peshon had even honored him by giving his Onca what he couldn't
give her, a son. He reflected on the insemination ritual performed so many
years ago as he watched the current tribal elder, Fathon- his son, teach
the younger men the way of taming the sea serpents and harvesting their
eggs. It hadn't been a shame for him to request help in rearing a family;
nor did his wife object to his decision. Onca was more than happy to simply
be his wife but she complied with his order. It had surprised him
that Peshon, one of the most respected men in the tribe at the time accepted
his request. Peshon reminded him of how he had cured his father of the
dreaded white man's plague for which he would be forever grateful. It
had been a good life, so good that he had forgotten the evils of the world
and the truths of his nature for so many years. Until.....
Many more englishmen and other europeans began streaming into paradise as
the settlers built town and cities and ports. He warned the tribe of white
man's ways so they were well prepared for their encroachment. In fact all
had gone well until he saw him. Benjamin Guiture is the name he carried
these days; he knew him as another foolish headhunter who believed the
rumors of a great prize to the last immortal on earth.
His "brothers", the horsemen, had made up the story as a way of determining
who would lead their party. Their game had become a rally cry for the purposeless
immortals who roamed the earth.* He believed that they were part of a
fallen race, who had long ago either forgotten or were striped of
understanding about why and what they were. That was his theory. He didn't
know for sure where immortals originated but he knew that the game was just
that, an empty game that he wanted no part of.
He pitied Benjamin Guiture, and those like him because he understood their steadfast
belief. It was all they had to dull the pain of loneliness and of lives lived too long. He
wasn't going to burst their bubble, but he didn't want any part of their'game' either.
He had to leave. The tribe would be in more danger from one immortal trying to flush
out a possible trophy than from the "civilizing" of their homeland. But he didn't have a
chance to exit quietly...
Shortly after settling down in the middle meeting place to share with the
elders the day's discoveries, the young lad Mishak, assigned the task of guarding
the village women, came running towards the elders and frantically led them
to the washing pond. He nearly buckled over from both dread and pain as he
felt the immortal signature as he approached the beach.
"I am Benjamin Guiture and I'm here for your head. Show yourself or I will kill
one of these sniffling mortal females each minute I wait" the head man bellowed.
The women had taken the laundry to the village stream and no one was aware
that it had already been staked out until they were ambushed. Guiture had
hired several unscrupulous white men to help him pin down the women. Upon
hearing Guiture's challenge he had no other choice but race back to the
village and retrieve his sword from its protected hiding place underneath
their hut. Before he had the chance to properly greet the interloper and
request a more private battlefield he heard on of the maidens cry out
"Grand papa!!" Onsa had cried out to him using the affectionate term he had
taught his progeny. Although if she had been his natural offspring he would
have been her great grandfather, she like the others all called him by the
same name. She had gone with her mother to earn how to do the wash. She ws
beginning to near the time of betrothal and her parents were trying to
prepare her. He could have fallen over stricken in pain at her yell because
Guiture simultaneously heard the call of affection and aimed his rifle
straight at her forehead.
"So this mortal damme considers you to be her grandpa? How touching. Draw
your sword or she will surely die first."
He inhaled a strong gust of air.He had been afraid this day would come which
is why he had begun resharpening his skills. However, at this moment, looking
into the eyes of Onsa and intothe faces of the entire village that had gathered at
the river, he almostforgot how to even lift the hilt.
"I am... Methos and I have no quarrel with you. Leave us in peace."
"PEACE? What has peace to do with us?" the immortal droned derisively.
"You will fight me or they will die, starting with your precious 'granddaughter'."
"Promise me that if I fail and you take my head that the tribe will not be harmed"
Methos asked him, pleaded with his eyes.
"What did I have to do with mortals? What do we have to do with mortals. They
mean nothing to me, just hindrances and annoyances. I will not harm them after I
take your head. But you better try to put up a fight. Its been a long time since I had
a sparring partner." he sneered.
With that statement he knew Guiture would not keep his word and would
slaughter the entire tribe in his absence. With strong conviction and
resolved he lifted his chest and head and ran into battle. In his mind he
was no loner Unwayon, the ever bright star, but Death, the name he had
arrogantly claimed so many years before. Guiture had no idea how swift his
death would come.
The entire village fell to their faces as they witnessed to power of
Guiture's quickening. Guiture had taken many heads in his day and
consequently released a powerful surge at his demise. The europeans in the
distant towns even felt the tremors of Guiture's death, coupled by the
reception of the quickening by such an old immortal. The hired guns fled,
leaving both their guns and horses in fear. When Unwayon reopened his eyes
he saw a more terrifying sight than the gun pointed at Onsa's head. The
tribe, his family were looking upon him as if he were a god, some sort of
powerful creature that had come from above.
"I ... I have no powers, I am not magic" he protested in the tribe's language,
vainly trying to undo the damage a single quickening had done. It was no use.
He would have to leave or else condemn the tribe to vain worship. With tears
in his eyes, he stoleaway from the village that evening. Although no one had
forbade him to come, the tribal community was having a private meeting
concerning the recently exposed deity in their mist.
1998
"Mulder? What are you digging up now, or should I even ask?" Scully looked
down humorously at her brilliant yet misguided partner.
Mulder had come to the office earlier than usually today. He had received an
email for an oldarcheological buddy of his down in Australia. Apparently they
had justfound some old tribal paintings that confirmed a local superstition held by
both native Caucasian and Aborigines alike.
"I know we are researching some old unresolved x-files but don't you think
that a century's old myth is a bit too much?" she inquired after perusing
the case file copy handed to her by Mulder.
"Don't you see Scully? A beheading, the release of enough energy to cause
earth tremors across the countryside? If this isn't an x-file then I don't
know what one is" he stated emphatically.
"Well, have fun trying to interview some of the first hand witnesses. And
don't forget to explain to Skinner the national importance of such an
ancient case to the United States when you go ask him for funding" Scully
retorted, a bit more smugly than usual.
"I don't have to, we're already on the case" Mulder smiled.
"WHAT?"
"Take a look at this other file" Mulder pointed out. "In the past few years
there has been a rash of unresolved Joe/Jane doe beheading, all around the
global. Interpol doesn't even have a clue at whose behind them. Also, any
suspects located have either turned up dead or beheaded themselves.
Recently there was a beheading outside of Seattle somewhat near where the
President was making yet another plea of money. Of course the U.S. justice
department is embarrassed to report to all the international media that they
had no leads or suspects."
"But how does this relate to this century's old tribal legion?" Scully
inquired.
"Because many of the beheading site also suffered from either mild or
massive electrical damage. We even have multiple eye witness reports of
seeing lighting in the middle of clear night skies, from all around the
world. Something paranormal is going on here and that's why Skinner has
assigned the case to us." Then Mulder said with a coy smile "He said if
anyone can close this case, its us."
"He did not say that."
"Well, maybe not with those words, but I could tell from his eyes that's
what he meant."
"So where do we begin the investigation? Australia?"
"No, unfortunately. My contact is sending me photographs and lithographs of
all the paintings and carvings found at their dig sites. He's also sending
me audios of all the colloquial testimonies collected. He has even found
the name of the mythical creature encircled in light that's drawn in the
middle of that picture." Mulder pointed.
" What / Who was he?"
"The Un-wa-yone, the one who shines forever as the stars..... Don't you
think their reference to the stars is kind of interesting?"
"Only to someone who sees aliens lurking beneath every unturned stone" Scully
groaned. "So, where ARE we headed then?"
"To the site of the president's last begging stand, Seacouver."
**********************************************
Pound, pound, pound..." GO Away!"
Pound, pound ,... '"Leave me alone highlander before I get up and cut off
your head!" Methos growled from behind the door.
"Come on Methos, we both promised Joe we would go fishing with him this
morning and now its time to go!!!!", MacLeod retorted through the door.
"No, YOU promised him that YOU would go fishing with him this morning. I
said that I MIGHT show up at your camp sometime after ONE P.M." Methos
stressed, while trying to keep his head flat against the couch pillow.
"Come on Methos, Joe doesn't ask much"
Why, he though, why do I have such early rising idiots as friends? Methos
pondered to himself. He reminiscence about his time with the Pesquna. Now
they were my kind of people. They never got before the full sun was in the
sky. Hmmm, even though their enemies used that custom to slaughter them all in the
early morning hour, there's still a lot of merit to their way of
thinking. Methos mused to himself.
"I hope you know that I brought along a tape player and a cassette of that
Lawrence Welch music you love so much.... to be played a top volume until
your door is opened and you are ready to go."
Oh yes, Ducan's going to be spitting out river water, Methos plotted
silently to himself.
*p.s. the reference Methos makes about the game being devised by his
brother's is also NOT my original idea. There's a story, by Janeen
Groshsmeyer and Genevieve Clemens, housed in the highlander anthology that
sets up that idea. It was a REALLY good one; it's title is Just a Game.
It's worth looking for it- and I would like to thank it's authors for
writing it.
**********************************************************************
II part two
"Methos, in all your years on this planet have you ever contributed one
positive thing to humanity?" MacLeod snarled as he continued to dry his
dripping hair.
"Just because I helped perpetuate the 'revenge is sweet' rally cry, you
accuse me of over five thousand years of corruption?"
"Uh-huh"
sigh
"when you two finish fussing at each other maybe you could show off your
'years of wisdom and well honed skills' and help me catch lunch." Joe said
to his friends while silently laughing at MacLeod's drenched state. Going
fishing with these two was much more fun that than with his less than jovial
watcher buddies. I guess living a long life helps you develop a good
sense of humor
Seacour
"Well Mulder, where do we begin on this dusty ole goose chase of yours"
Scully chided as she walked into Mulder's hotel room through their
adjoining doors.
"I've already contacted the local police and requested that you perform an
autopsy on the most recent beheading victim. I told them that we were in no
way seeking to interfere or usurp their jurisdiction on this case. I said
the MO related to another investigation we were pursuing and we just wanted
to see if they related."
"And they believed you?"
"I'm not sure but since they didn't get a call from the Bureau redirecting
control of the investigation I think they're a little more at ease with our
presence than most locals. They even gave us a tip on a local business man
who has been called in several times on suspicion of involvement. His
name's Ducan MacLeod. He's never been linked directly to any of
the murders. The locals don't have anything on him to justify bringing him
in for questioning."
"And you plan to just walk up to him and expect him to answer questions
from a federal agent? He probably knows he's under no legal obligation to
answer any of them without an official warrant"
"If he truly has nothing to hide, then I don't think he should have any
objections. Besides who can resist me when I say please?"
groan- by Scully
"Where are we going to meet up with him?"
"The locals say MacLeod hangs out at a popular bar named 'Joe's'. The owner
Joe Dawson has also been considered with suspicion on these cases but the
locals doubt that Mr. Dawson was involved. "
"Why?"
"Mr. Dawson has two artificial legs. The scuff marks found at most homicide
sites suggest that the victim and the perpetrator were engaged in some kind
of high motion maneuvers prior to the victim's death. The local forensics
team went so far to say that the foot movement resembled some kind of
sparring match like boxing..... or fencing."
" Mulder, don't start using circumstantial evidence to support your far
fetched theories...."
"Its NOT circumstantial. The forensics team confirmed that some type of
fighting match occurred, they just couldn't confirm what type it was
exactly. But considering that the victims head was cut off by a very sharp
blade, it stand to reason logically that it was a fencing match."
"okay, I will agree that your argument is somewhat plausible"
"good, " Mulder then whispered under his breathe 'I wonder if their swords
work something like a lifesaver'
"MULDER!!!"
smile - Mulder
******************
Ring, ring ringring rrrrriiiiinnnngrrrrriiiinggg
ringringringringring rirrriiirrrriiiinnnnnnnnnnnngg
"MacLeod, do you now how close to death you are?"
"How did you know it was me?"
"NO ONE, and I mean No One but you would dare to call me at this hour."
"I don't get it? It's only 11 o'clock at nigh. I though you always sleep in"
"Just because I get up late doesn't mean that I don't go to bed early. Now,
what do you want?"
pause "There could be some trouble. The feds are investigating Fabian's
death."
"Oh man, oh man.... why did that jerk have to catch me taking a midnight
stroll." Methos mused and why was I out taking a midnight stroll in the
first place, hmmm moron "humph"
"Do they have any thing to connect me to him? And how did you find this out?"
"Two feds just showed up a Joe's not to long ago. They claimed that their
visit was unofficial, but I know the police probably gave them my name.
Thankfully I have a rock solid alibi."
"Yeah, you were out of town and that's why that head hunter jumped me. Why
didn't the watchers clean up the mess?"
"You' re the one whose invisible to the watchers and Joe said that Fabian
tripped up his watcher in Montreal last week. They had been trying to track
him down ever since."
"Well, I don't have a record here, I think."
"No, but your name will appear in the police file as a close associate of
mine."
silence
"I'll see you in about a month or two."
"Where are you going? If you try to leave the country now the feds will
surely find out and suspect you."
"Naw, I've hidden myself quite well from many a law enforcer in my time.
I'm an expert."
"So where are you going?"
"Not to far, but not to close either. I've got an old persona I can dredge
up. Besides I've been wanting to revisit this little town for years... I've
got an... investment there I want to check up on"
"Okay, but please be careful and call."
"Yes, mommy"
Cascade
Methos slowly walked through the city park gazing at the lake. What had
possessed him to come here of all places? You know why you wanted to come
back. Fabian was just an excuse. You want to see him and make sure
everything is alright Methos nodded his head to himself. About three
months ago he had seen his picture on a Washington state new broadcast. He
had declared himself a fraud before everyone. When Methos heard the report
his heart sank within him. He never meant to cause any problems, but of
course he had. It was an accident, but he knew that creating a
guardian-guide pair in the middle of a U.S. city would be very problematic.
*************************
Thirty-eight years ago
Methos had been in the cafe eating a quiet lunch when they came in.
Unfortunately, they selected the table on the other side of the partition.
Methos growled under his breathe as he listened to the couple's
not-so-silent argument.
"Grace, I don't know why you are so upset. This is excellent. Its about
time we started a family. My parents even asked me.."
"DON'T tell me we should do things just because your parents think its a
good idea. Your mother's not the one who will have to carry this child
around for eight more months. And speaking of time, who is going to be here
to help me? You are constantly running off to one out of town meeting after
another. You're never home !!!""
"Grace, please calm down. It's not good for the baby. You know why I always
volunteer to replace Mr. Giddings at those meetings. He's planning to
retire in about two more months and I will be in a prime position to
replace him."
"Oh yeah, my loving hubby, the opportunist"
"I didn't hear you complain when my hard work paid off with a pay raise
last year. I remember exactly how you gloated to Sherie Philip, 'most
people our age haven't amassed such a status as we have. I guess we're just
above average'. I didn't hear you complaining about the number of hours I
spent on the road then."
"That was different. You just don't know how often that woman talks
about her husband's success at his law firm. She even said she was was glad
to be above the middle class slump. I was just dishing it out back to
her.... Will, I just don't want to be stuck here pregnant and helpless
while you're half way across the country. What if something were to happen.
Who would be there to help me?"
"Grace, my parents are only..."
"Don't talk to me about your parents! You know what your mother thinks
about me. I will not be treated like a lowlife scum in my own house!!!"
"Grace, I have talked to my mother. I told her that if she ever treated you
again like she did last Thanksgiving...."
"Save it Will, I can see that this is a pointless conversation. You just
don't care... You're just glad I'm finally producing an Ellison heir to
carry on your family's precious name. I'm nothing more to you than a
breeding sow."
"Grace, how can you say that!!!"
With those final biting words the woman quickly left their table and
practically ran to the rest room. She would have made it if a waiter
pushing the buffet cart hadn't decided that moment to appeared....
WHAM!!!
The woman hit the food cart hard, very hard in the abdomen. She let out a
small yelp as she crumpled to the floor. Since Methos was relatively close
to her he ran over to check her status. She was bleeding. Methos could
see the blood sweeping through her floral yellow dress. On no he though
to himself, if she miscarries, I don't think she could live with herself
Without thinking Methos reached over to touch the woman's abdomen. Before
he could control it he felt the quickening energy escape his palm and
transfer into the woman.
what have I done!!! what have I done Methos backed away from the woman
in horror. By that time her husband had reached her and was cradling his wife's
head. The blood flowing from her body stopped spreading. Methos slowly
walked back to his table. He could fill his body alive with energy. why now!!!
This town is the worst place to put a guardian. How am I going to fix this?
As one of the oldest remaining immortals, Methos was aware
there were certain abilities he had that weren't shared by many others.
One was the ability to transfer of a portion of his quickening power. Eons
ago he had discovered the power accidentally while living with a small
nomadic tribe in present day Algeria. The wife of the man who had sponsored
him started to miscarry their baby. Methos, who fulfilled the role of
village healer was frantic about the situation and was desperate to save
the man's unborn child. While tending to the sicken mother he laid his
hands on her abdomen near were the baby's head laid. His sole thought at
the time was that the baby survive. He almost fainted in shock as he felt
his quickening energy pass from his hands. The woman's facial color almost
immediately cleared up with the transfer. Six months later, the woman had a
healthy baby boy. Methos tried to stay around the tribe as long as he could
to observe the child. He wondered if the child would become an immortal.
Instead the child seemed to posses strange sensory abilities that none of
the tribe elders could explain. As the child grew older, his abilities
began to overwhelm him. He would hid in a dark hut with several animal
hides wrapped around his head to block out the sounds. Methos cried
inwardly to himself regarding the boy's fate. It would have be better for
him to have been still born than to suffer a life like this one.
Eventually Methos had to leave the village as he was no longer able to
disguise his non aging face.
After three months of traveling south Methos was nearly ambushed by the
village protectors' of another tribe. Methos was surprised and intrigued to
find out that one of his assailants also had super sensory perceptions as
the boy did in the nomadic tribe. His tribal title translated as 'guardian'
and he was responsible for their protection. Even more amazing to Methos
was that the man was able to control his senses through the help of his
associate, the other guardian. The other man didn't have the same heighten
senses but he seemed more perceptive of natural forces. Methos had to
determine how these two were able to function so well with the intent of
taking the information back to the nomadic tribe. So he made a special
hunting trip into the Saharan region in search on a lion. He knew that if
he were to snare such a prey both the tribe's leaders and shaman would be
willing to share the secret of their guardians with him.
It was a fierce battle. Methos died at least twice from heat exhaustion and
once after being attacked by a lioness he was stalking. Fortune eventually
one out and he was able to slay a sleeping male. He fashioned a carrier out
of two tree trunks and dragged the lion carcass back to the tribe. When the
watchman saw his approach he immediately called for the elders to greet the
master hunter. Methos told the leaders his price for the complete lion
carcass, the story behind the guardians.
"Jakun, we can not reveal to this stranger the past of our protectors.
Their spirit guides may resent us and depart from Mesuz's mind. Then we
would be vulnerable to all enemies."
"Tikena, look at what this stranger had done. He may be as the Holtun that
gave life to Mesuz and Minkron. I have consulted with the ancients since
learning of his request. They have not forbidden me from sharing that
information from the stranger."
"Jakun, you are our shaman, and as such I will give you respect. But the
spirits only speak to the guardian; how would you know if they had
forbidden it or not?"
"Then we should ask them if they will permit the telling."
"Tikena's right, only the guardians will know if this stranger is clean
enough to hear the the telling. And it may well be that he is the same as
the Holtun. Look at him; he has killed and carried a full grown male lion
from the great abyss and there isn't a single scratch on him. Let us
consult the guardians."
That evening Methos' understanding of his kind changed radically. The
elders told him a story of a man who came staggering into their tribe
bleeding from the stomach. The area suffered greatly from random attacks
by raiders and the lone traveler had suffered a terrible assault. After the
man died, the village women came out to wash and prepare the body for
burial. One of the women was pregnant at the time but didn't know it. She
would become Mesuz's mother. As the women were carrying the man, he
revived. His head and hands were near the pregnant woman's womb and his
quickening energy shot through his hands into her body. The village though
the man was some type of god and held him in reverence, giving him the name
Holtun, meaning undying king.
The immortal, one of the more unscrupulous ones, took advance of his status
and required the service of a new village woman each night by convincing them
that he need the women's 'service' to maintain his power. Somehow, in a way
Methos has never been able tofigure out, the Holtun managed to impregnate one
of the women. Methos reasoned later that maybe his quickening knew that it had
to produce a companion for the first guardian. Methos didn't know. He told the
village shaman that immortals were always infertile and asked him if he had any
ideas on how the Holtun was able to procreate. The shaman, named Jakun,
suggested that the tribes' spirit guides enabled the Holtun to sire a
companion for the first guardian. Anyway, as the children aged the
villagers discovered that they were different from the other children.
Mesuz was able to see and hear things others could not. Plus by just
touching the ground he was able to feel when an army or band of men were
approaching, thus warning the tribe of the local marauders. At first the
villagers though that he was accursed (the Holtun was publicly beheaded by
another traveling immortal who was disgusted by his abuse of the village
women). Mesuz also thought he was accursed since he could not control the
intensity in which he received stimuli. Several times when trying to scout
out potential threats he would fall into a deep trance only to revive
several days later.
As Minkon grew older he became oddly obsessed with helping Mesuz. He told
the tribal leaders that the tribal guardian, the night owl, had commanded him to
help Mesuz control his abilities. Together they were able to; Minkon acted as an
anchor to Mesuz when his senses overwhelmed him thus preventing him from
falling into trances and improving his ability to watch over and warn the tribe
of approaching dangers.
Methos was fascinated with the tale. He had no idea that the immortal
quickening power could affect mortals. He thanked the tribe and hurriedly
traveled back to the site the nomads were previously positioned.
Unfortunately his trek back took a month longer than when he left. After he
traced the new dwelling of the tribe he found out that the boy had thrown
himself into a swiftly running river current. Apparently he had become so
enraptured by the flowing water's colors that he foolishly jumped into
them. Methos wept for two days after learning about the boy. Weeping was a
relatively new experience for him, after causing so many to weep when he
ran with the horseman. Now Methos seemed to feel everything more intensely.
He promised himself to be careful around mortals and to make sure any
mortal his quickening may alter had help to deal with the changes.
Now Methos was in trouble. It had been literally centuries since he caused
another guardian-guide pair. When he traveled in African and South American
villages he would create them as way of returning the kindness bestowed on
him by the tribe. There he had less trouble convincing the tribe that the
guardians were a good thing and that they offered protection to the tribe.
He didn't dare to consider creating a guardian pair in any of the western
European countries or in the U.S. The modern thinkers of those lands would
undoubtedly scoff at the guardian notion and make life miserably for them.
So what was he going to do?
maybe I didn't really share my quickening. It could have been just a
passing slip up and I'm just imaging the worst. Stop kidding your Methos,
You better go find a new wife quick to make a companion to the sentinal.
Methos made a mental note to go wife shopping the next day. But bad karma
won out. As Methos was scooping out the female population of the local
university, he felt the tale tell signs of another immortal. Methos had
hoped his challenger was also hiding out from the game. Instead the
immortal turned out to be a headhunter. Methos has to flee town that
evening since his swordmanship had seen much better days. He made a silent
promise to the unborn child to produce a companion child.
It took him over ten years before Methos could return to Cascade. The
immortal headhunter followed him as he left Washington, and Methos had to
hide out in an Egyptian mosque for five years until another immortal took
care of his shadow. The first immortal didn't know that he was the Methos,
but he was old enough to be able to tell that Methos' quickening energy was
ancient. After the headhunter was taken care of various mishaps and
misfortunes prevented Methos' return to the States. He was terrible afraid
for the child guardian he had created, but his hands were temporarily tied.
When he returned to Cascade the first thing he did was search out the Ellison
family. They weren't hard to locate as the eldest son, the future guardian, was
in the local news for discovering a murdered body. Given the stress the family
was undergoing at the time and the amount of police involvement
with the family due to the investigation, Methos thought it unwise to try
to approach the boy. He observed him from afar at the local elementary
school. He got a job as a substitute teacher so he could discreetly watch
the boy, whose was named James. Methos was relieved to discover that either
the boy's senses were dormant or that the boy was able to repress them
because his observations yielded nothing unusual about their family life.
With the exception of their chronically absent father, the boy's life
seemed ideal. Methos, however, hadn't forgotten his purpose of finding wife
number 59 to bare the companion.
It was at this point in his musings that Methos sat down on the park bench
closest to the water's edge. It was here that he meet her; a completely
random accident brought him face to face with both the mother of his child
and love of his life. Methos had had quite a few wives, and he loved them
all, but only a few made it to his life long love list. Naomi was one of
them.
*************************
"Good news Scully, we've got a lead." Mulder said to Scully as he was
hanging up the telephone in the hotel room they were using as an office. "A
couple reported seeing two men in the park on the night of the beheading.
They gave the locals descriptions of both the dead John Doe and the
probable assailant."
"Why haven't they come forward before now?"
"They didn't know there was a killing. You know how the locals have been
keeping these beheadings hush hush. I still haven't figured out how they
have kept the local news media out of it. Anyway it was a teenage couple
who had sneaked away form their homes to meet that night. They reported
that the younger of the two, the possible assailant, seemed very uncomfortable
and behaved like he wanted to get away from the other guy. But the dead John
Doe, according to the couple, grabbed his arm and lead him deeper into the park.
The couple only came in to report the incident after finding the yellow crime
scene tape in the park last night when they went to rendezvous with each other."
"humm, that's interesting. So do you think it was self defense?"
"I don't know. there was a fight and two sets of blood samples. If it was,
the other guy was prepared for it. That doesn't seem exactly like self
defense to me. And don't forget the murder weapon. How many victims run off
with their attacker's sword?"
"Alleged weapon"
"Scully, you examined that neck wound. What else could have done that?
Besides, guess what else the couple reported?"
"Should I ask?"
"They left early that evening because of an impending thunder storm."
"Wait a minute, it wasn't raining the night of the murder."
"I know. The teens reported seeing the sky fill up with lighting and they
hear the sound of trees being struck by lighting."
"Mulder, the testimony of two kids doesn't prove that the electrical damage
found at the murder scene had anything to do with John Doe's death."
"Come on Scully, those are just way too many coincidences."
"Maybe,...... so what are the locals doing with the teens' descriptions?"
"They have already sent out some investigators with copies of the artist's
rendering of the description. They are checking all transportation agencies
to see if the perp has left town. The locals have just finally gotten
around to calling us. They've had this information since 10 this morning."
"What!!! Don't they know that they are hindering a federal investigation by
doing that?"
"Scully, you know how locals are. They......"
Ring Ring
"Okay, great. Thank you Captain Taylor. We are packing our bags and heading
that way right now."
"Who was that?
"Captain Taylor. The midnight clerk at Amtrak recognized the picture. Our
perp bought a ticket in cash under the name David Murphy. He left town two
days ago."
"What was the destination?"
"Well the final destination is LA. But I don't think he went there. He's
just probable trying to keep us off track in case we become able to
identify him. The station had about five different schedules to select that
would take him to LA. Mr. Murphy picked one of the slowest and the most
expensive run."
"So how do we find out where he got off?"
"Fortunately for us most of the available selections travel through the
same pit stops, only varying in their departure times. The route he took is
the only one that has a stop in Cascade, Washington. I think we should head
down there."
"Good idea."
"Speaking of goood ideas..."
"MULDER!!!!!"
"Never mind."
*********************************************************************
III part three
"So you thought this was a good ideas?" Scully said with a frown on her
face. Mulder was responsible for booking their travel arrangements and he
decided that greyhound was the way to go.
"Oh yeah! Just look out the window. Isn't the scenery great? Neither of us
would have been able to lean back and enjoy the view if we had driven. And
flying takes away all the joy of traveling."
"Mulder, next time you go seeking for adventure, do it on your on time.
We're already three days behind catching the suspect. This bus ride is only
going to delay us more. Besides, the only reason the outdoors seems great
to you is because you spend all your free time inside, in front of a
computer. I, on the other hand, have a life. I live in the suburbs. I see
natural beauty every day. This was NOT a good idea."
"Come on Scully. Stop and smell..."
"The roses??? Are you running a fever or something? Where have you taken
Fox Mulder?"
chuckle chuckle
"I'm not sick. I just thought pulling some R&R on company time would be
nice. Besides, I don't think our prep is going anywhere fast."
"And please, pray tell, just how do you know that?
"A hunch"
Groan- Scully
*********************
Today was the day he would 'accidentally' bump into Blair. He had been
observing their route for the past two days looking for an opportunity to
naturally run into his estranged son. Fortunately Blair usually made their
lunch run without the sentinel. Methos' heart would be beating so fast that
he knew James Ellison would be able to hear it a block away. He wasn't sure
how he was going to carry out his introduction, but he knew he had to make
contact. He hadn't seen little Blair since that fateful day when Blair was
20 months old. He knew Blair wouldn't recognize him, but in his heart he
hoped his son would find some glimmer of familiarity, some small connection
that would allow them to make a contact with each other. He wanted to be
apart of his youngest son's life, one way or another.
*************************
"So he's in Cascade Washington?."
"Yes sir. Our sources faxed his image over earlier this morning. The local
police haven't been able to locate him yet."
"And Fox Mulder?"
"For some unknown reason he's diverted himself. They are taking a greyhound
bus down to Cascade. Our agents haven't been able to determine why yet.'
"Never mind that, Mulder's a crafty and unpredictable one. Concentrate on
his capture."
"We are preparing to...."
"No, we can't get to close. The agency would be vulnerable to discovery. I
want you to contact the Centre. Tell them we have a business opportunity
for them."
"Sir, their success rate hasn't been that good since they lost their ace
pretender."
"Well, if they want our continued protection and funding, they had better
find way to deliver."
"I. want. David Murphy"
"Yes sir."
As his advisor, the cancer man, slinked away from his employer the man in
black looked out across his window. For a time he foolishly played in the
game, hoping to win the prize as the last remaining immortal. Then while
traveling in Australia he learned that Methos, the oldest living immortal
known to exist, was real and probably still alive. Thanks to Methos'
legendary status within one particular tribe he was able to obtain an image
copy of the ancient one. The older members of the tribe that claimed first
hand contact with the immortal retained an ancient artistic rendering of a
fateful battle between him and another immortal. The man in black used
this account, in conjunction with others across the globe to generate a
possible facial image of Methos. He then made sure all of his closes
operatives were familiar with the image copy. He had spent seven centuries
of his life time searching out Methos. The man hid from the game so much it
was hard to track him down the traditional headhunting way. The information
age, with new global alliances and cut throat espionage gave him a new
method for obtaining power. He now had his own operatives in ever major
world power's government singularly fulfilling his plans. But he still
didn't have power over the immortals, or the security that he would be the
only one.
That man's quickening will insure my success in dominating this
world the man in black mused within himself. Long ago he stopped
assigning himself names; he simply wore his trade mark outfit and limited
his physical contact to a few trusted advisors. The cancer man was a
relatively new staffer and one of the few immortals he ever allowed into
his circle of power, but the risk was worth it because since his arrival,
the man in black's power over the U.S.'s federal bureau had increased
threefold. I will find out what Fox Mulder is up to later. Right now I
need to concentrate on capturing Methos. Nothing must stand in my way.
******************************
Thud
"Please forgive me, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was headed."
"Hey man, that's all right. are you okay. I smacked into you pretty hard."
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. .... Hey aren't you Blair Sandburg?"
"....yes....."
"When I was in grad school I read a couple of your papers. My degree is in
ancient civilizations. That's not too different from the study of tribal
communities. Ummm, I'm sorry to hear about you dissertation. Man, if
someone published some of my private memories without permission..."
"Look man, the story was a fake, okay? I wrote it as a joke since I wasn't
able to find a real sentinel. And no, I don't know where one may be at
today."
"Whoa, I'm not looking for a sentinel. Anyone with half a brain recognized
that you didn't authorize the publishing of your novel. Although it was
creative. Anyway, I really respect your work. Would you mind having lunch
with me? Maybe you could give me some research pointers?"
"Oh...uh...sorry if I came on too strong. It's just...well.. never mind.
And, um, I don't know what kind of pointers you could get from me."
"A lot. My papers are usually so dry and lifeless. I know the stories, but
I stink at communicating them. Every one of your papers kept my attentive
to the very end. You're got quite a knack for sharing people's history.
Besides, it looks like I smushed your lunch anyway. Let me buy you
another?"
"Well, all right. I don't have to be back at the station for another
forty-five minutes."
"Station?"
"Yeah, ...I...I'm a police officer."
"Cool, hey weren't you writing a paper on police subcultures or something?"
"Sort of, how did you know that?"
"Well a friend of mine in the anthropology department......."
***************************
"Come on Scully,... row, row, row your boat gently down the stream....."
"Mulder, have you been sampling the confiscated drug products again?"
"Scully, you have got to learn how to have fun and loosen up a bit."
"I will as so as my partner transfer request gets answered."
"Come on, tell me you haven't had simple fun like this in a long time. I
know that secretly you're over there enjoying yourself."
"Mulder, (sigh) a long exhaustive road trip on a greyhound bus has NEVER
been 'simple fun', in any ones' book."
"It has in mine. We didn't get to travel much when I was a kid. But when it
was time to ride the bus to grandmom's...."
"I'm glad your enjoying your trip down memory lane. Now when are you going
to tell me why we are riding the bus?"
pause
(hushed tone) "We're being followed."
"And why do you think that?"
"I had the lone gunmen do some backup research for me. All of our
transmissions to headquarters are being intercepted before they reach
Skinner. Someone out there want to know exactly what we are doing. I though
that by riding the bus, we would make it impossible for them to
inconspicuously follows"
"Why do you think they're spying on us?"
"The gunman said that the transmission of David Murphy' police artist
sketch was delayed for the longest period of time. And of course the
letters sent to Skinner don't look like anyone has ever opened them; so we
can't tell for sure how long they've been held or even whose taking them.
All I know is that this makes my alien theory more and more plausible."
"Oh Mulder......"
"Yeah. But on a more pleasant note... Row, Row Row your boat...."
*************************
Lyle hung up the phone with a small smile of satisfaction on his lips.
Despite the Blue Cove operation's continued failure to capture their
estranged pretender and his young clone, the triumvirate was still willing
to give this new assignment to him. Lyle had spent enough time and money
trying to ingratiate himself upon the board and he was glad that it finally
worked. First, he was able to get rid of his psuedo-father Mr. Parker. He
really enjoyed the shocked expression on Parker's face when he realized
that his 'son' was behind his expulsion. Ms. Parker, his dear sweet twin
sister, was still a minor problem though. Several times he attempted to
erase her, but all his attempts failed. In a way he was glad, she was the
only real family he had. But Lyle didn't need family. He didn't need
anything, except his freedom. And that he intended to keep by remaining a
loyal player in the sinister Centre's games. Poor Jared. He could have
been a player too, oh well. Any ways, the job came directly from the man
in black, as Lyle's sources uncovered. The man in black was a serious
weight, not just in the Centre, but all over the world. Rumor had it that
he had been alive for over a hundred years. Although Lyle thought that was
only the foolish musing of small scale operatives, he didn't quite doubt
its possibility. The same figure has commanded the precursor agency to the
Centre, over fifty years ago.
Who is this David Murphy? Lyle pondered to himself. The man was somewhat
ordinary looking, jet black hair, a rather slender frame for a male, and a
definitely Anglo-Saxon nose. Why is he so important to The Man? Again
he wondered. His orders were concise. Go to a city called Cascade in the
north-west USA, capture David Murphy and immediately set up a rendezvous
with the Man himself. Apparently the usually misanthropic man in black was
going to leave his Canadian fortress to meet up with Mr. Murphy personally.
He didn't want to risk Murphy's possible escape during an extended
transport. Whatever Murphy had, the man in black was in an extreme hurry to
get it. Yes, thought Lyle, if I succeed swiftly in this job, the
triumvirate will never look upon me as just another one of their little
experiments. I will gain their respect, and maybe... more that just that
Lyle again smiled to himself. Nothing would prevent him in achieving his
objectives; the whole city of Cascade would be plowed down if anyone tried
to stop him.
"Marcus, recall Willie and Jacob from Ms. Parker's team. And retrieve
Roupere and Phil from their little project in Bosnia. I want the top
sweeper team assembled and ready to fly out by tomorrow afternoon.
Understood?"
***************************
Blair walked into the bull pen whistling. He just had the best lunch ever,
since his expulsion from the university. It felt good to be able to talk to
someone about intellectual issues without seeing either a look of boredom
or repulsion. Jim tried, but Blair knew he could care less if the ancient
ruins of Laos were hand carved from the hillside or made of play-do and
ceramic. He made plans to meet up with David after work. David had gotten
two free tickets to a concerto performance of Bach's Amadais des Gaules
and offered one of the tickets to Blair. His original date canceled at the
last minute but he still wanted to go. Blair couldn't believe his fortune.
First he meets the first academic that didn't immediately assume that he
was a worthless fraud and had the most stimulating conversation on ancient
ruins since his early expedition days. Then, to top if all off, he gets
invited to a symphony performance. Seattle's orchestra would be performing
and they were renowned as one of the best in the country. Blair knew each
ticket cost a minimum of two hundred dollars and each intermission was
catered by Fasion's, one of Washington's premiere restaurants. Blair
couldn't believe his good fortune.
"So what's got you walking on cloud nine, Chief? Did Rachel finally agree
to go out with you?"
"Not yet, but after the luck I've had following me today, ten bucks says
that she will."
"Oh yeah? Well,.. your on"
Yes, today was a ...good.... day. Next Saturday he and Rachel were going on
a picnic lunch in at the park.
***************************
"Wake up Scully, we're here. The wonderful world of Cascade. Did you know
this city's got one of the highest arrest rates in the country? They have
their fair share of violent and disastrous crimes, but somehow their police
department manages to resolve them swiftly."
"Really, then why would a possible ax murder come here to hid out?"
"Sword Scully, the killer used a sword. Anyway, like I said I have a hunch
that he's not planning to leave here any time soon. He must be looking for
someone or something. Whatever the reason, its important enough to risk
capture by the police force. I need to go make a few phone calls. See if
you can commandeer a cabbie. I'm sure no one would resist you when they see
you waving in that outfit."
"Mulder,... need I remind you that I carry a gun and do have a license to
kill without provocation?"
***************************
Methos was going over to Blair's apartment this evening. The sentinel
finally got a date with some waitress named Linda so Blair invited him
over. He was very glad because he wasn't sure he could hide his identity
from the sentinel. He knew of one guardian in the past who said that he
could see his quickening energy rising from his skin. Methos never
questioned the man. He didn't think he was the one who caused him to become
a guardian but the old guardian's daughter looked very familiar to a
pregnant woman that he had meet long before the guardian's birth date.
Methos marveled at how enthralled Blair was when he told him stories of
ancient times. His attention was very flattering; Methos attempted to
compliment Blair equally in return. Methos was very proud of his son, and
the sentinel. The city of Cascade was one of the most violent yet well
protected one in the whole north east. As Methos readied himself to knock
on the door his mind drifted off to remember the date he first meet Blair's
mom, Naomi.
********************
It was 1970. Eleven years had past since Methos had been in Cascade.
Unfortunately he hadn't been able to return sooner to produce a companion
for the Ellison child. Methos was glad to have read several other newspaper
articles on the child. Apparently he was a bit of a local star and was
succeeding in numerous junior league sports. It didn't seem like, from the
reports he collected, the boy had discovered his unique abilities. Methos
knew of sentinels who managed to bury their gifts deep into their minds
until they finally found their companion. Methos was glad little Jimmy
Ellison seemed to be like them, and not like those other sentinels who
lived years of life in pain and confusion without a guardian to comfort
them.
It was the first sunny day after a three week period of rain and drizzle.
He took the opportunity to enjoy the warm day at Cascade's park. He found
an empty out of the way spot underneath a tree where he could gaze at the
lake. Without trying he had placed himself in the perfect spot to meet up
with his next wife.
"Hey you, are you mediating ? Can I watch?"
Methos looked up to a very young looking strawberry blonde woman. She was
very appealing to his eyes. Her forwardness was a bit striking to Methos
but this was the end of the 60's revolution.
"Sure, would you like to learn?"
"Of course, I'm always looking for new ways to center myself and keep my
mind in harmony with the earth. What's your name? I haven't seen you here
in the park before."
"David.... David Blair."
**************************
Methos' unplanned trip down memory lane put a smile in his eyes that
remained when Blair opened the door to the loft. Methos was impressed by
the place's decor and said so the Blair.
"Oh, its nothing. Just a combination of my collection of artifacts and
Jim's fashion sense. You wouldn't think by looking at him that he had any
sense of style." Blair said as he lead Methos to the kitchen. "But,.." as
he held up Jim's floral apron, "he doesn't always show it."
smile.
"So how long have you two been working together? It hasn't been that long
since you left the university."
"Well, like your friend Taylor told you, I was gathering data for my thesis
on the police sub-culture when I started working with Jim. We turned out to
make a good team when it comes down to catching criminals. In fact, our
arrest record is the best one in the state."
"Really? That's impressive."
Blair didn't know what made him bring up his arrest record to David. But
there was something about him that made Blair want him to think highly of
him. Almost like when he first met Jim's dad. Of course, that meeting
didn't go very well, at all. But for some reason David stirred up the same
feeling in him.
"We've got some pretty cool music selections in the living room. You want
to go pick out something?"
"Sure, is your cd cabinet near the television?"
"Yeah, right next to it on the right. I've got some last minute things to
prepare before dinner."
Methos walked into the living room and then over toward the entertainment
center. Next ot the tv, on the other side, was a shelf filled with photo
albums and pictures. Methos looked over his shoulder to make sure he
wouldn't be caught. The first album was probably designated for vacation
trip pictures because it contained lots of photographs of Jim and Blair
goofing off. Most of the scenes were in outdoor, wood-ies locations. Methos
smiled. The boy probably inherited his mother's love for the outdoors. I
personally was very glad when man started building big cities The next
album held pictures from Jim's childhood. Methos found several of the same
newspaper articles on little Jimmy that he had collected upon returning to
Cascade almost thirty years ago. His copies had gotten lost in time so he
was glad someone had maintained copies. The next photo album was a plain
brown book covered with glued on dried leaves. Methos had to sit down after
he opened the first page. These were Blair's childhood momentos. As he
looked at the pictures of his baby boy growing up tears began to swell up
in his eyes. The pictures were all of Blair when he was about two years old
and older. Methos realized that Naomi probably never had showed the boy
their family pictures together. He almost wished that she had. Then, even
though it would mean explaining his immortality, Methos could re-establish
his place in Blair's life quickly instead of the round about way he was
taking now. Methos decided to put the album back on the shelf. His eyes
were foggy and it was getting harder to hold back the tears of sadness.
It wouldn't do for Blair to find me crying over his childhood album. How
would I explain that? Another time, maybe, I'll get to look through the
pictures. Methos walked over to the cd case. He smiled when he found a
copy of Edward Griegg's In the hall of the mountain king on the shelf. It
was on indubitably his favorite classical piece. Methos preferred music
that made his heart beat and his feet tap than the usually slow, maudlin
musical scores that had been written throughout time.
"Great man, that is my favorite classical piece. Jim likes more of the
subtle, put you to sleep stuff. But I picked out all the faster paced
stuff. I've got a superb collection of tribal chants in my bed room. I'll
go get them for you."
Methos smiled inwardly again. Yep, that's MY boy.
*************************
Slam!!!!!
"Just when were you going to tell me that you reassigned two of my best
sweepers? How dare you step in and challenge my team management without
confirming with me first. I had a lead on Jared in Southern California
yesterday morning. But could I catch him? No, two of my sweepers weren't
present. Gone. and what was the explanation? They were recalled by Mr.
Lyle. What is going on, and I. want. to . know. now !"
Lyle lifted his eyes up slowly from his desk. He had been expecting this
little outburst from dear sissy the minute he was informed of her return to
Centre grounds. How dare she presume to talk to him like that! But, sissy
still thinks she has power and clout here. She doesn't realize that she's
been completely phased out with the disappearance of 'daddy'. Oh well,
let's just try to keep the peace for expedience sake. "Calm down, Ms.
Parker. I had to recall Willie and Jacob. We got a new contract that has to
be handled right. I only 'borrowed' them temporary. Please forgive me, but
it was an emergency." Lyle batted his eyes and tried to give Ms. Parker his
best 'I really am sorry for killing your cat' look.
"Save it" snarled Ms. Parker. "And why haven't I hear anything about this
project?"
"Nothing should interfere with your attempts to catch Jared. Like you said,
you almost had him yesterday. You just keep handling our number one
priority and I'll handle the rest. Okay?"
"Hurmf.." grunted Parker as she turned on her heels to leave. "I will find
out what you are up to Lyle. Believe it."
And... so what? Lyle shook his head. Now what would be a nice saying
on Ms.Parker's tomb? Beloved sister and friend?
*************************
"So captain you can understand why we want to keep this on under raps. We
know that this prep, David Murphy couldn't be responsible for all of the
other similar deaths. But its the same M.O. If he was involved in the John
Doe slaying in Seacour, he might know what's going with the rest of the
deaths."
"No problem Agent. I'll have this photo graph discreetly passed along to
all the other department heads. They will personally explain the situation
to the right people on their teams."
"Good, we don't want to lose this one again."
"Mulder, are you going to tell me why you are so jumpy? You haven't been
able to sit still all day. even through our meetings with the local police
chief, you acted like you were late for a very important meeting. What's
going on behind the pictures?"
"The lone gunman notified me this morning that an unmarked aircraft landed
in a private Cascade airstrip Monday morning. They're..uhm...they're able to
monitor air traffic lines for the private air fleets. Apparently the
passengers were hired guns from a shadow group in Blue Cove that they have
been tracking. Its called the Centre and word has it that they are some
pretty nasty people. Remember when I said that we were being followed?
Well, our company's made it here already and have established themselves."
"Do we report this to the locals?"
"No, for all we know there may be plants in there already. No, trust no one
and stick close to me. Okay?"
"Okay. I hope you know what you're doing"
"Don't I always?"
"Hurmf"
*********************
Methos opened his hotel room door and quietly stepped into the room. His
diner with Blair had been wonderful and he was now so tired that he wanted
to go to sleep immediately. He creep into the room so that he would not
wake up sleep. Back in his days in the outback the Aborigines taught him
that if you came into the hut from a hard day's labor too loudly, that you
would wake up sleep and spend the rest of the night restless. Unconsciously
Methos kept their sayings. Yes, everything seemed to be going well as
planned. He would slowly create a solid friendship with his son. He hadn't
decided yet if he was going to reveal himself to him. At any rate, tonight
he was tired. Blair's cooking was the best he had ever tasted since Onca.
He wondered if that was what triggered his memory of those times. Back then
his lonely soul had found comfort. Now he wasn't as lonely but he was still
seeking comfort. Comfort from the memories of how he lost his youngest son
and his beloved Naomi....
********************
"Naomi, in you condition you should be taking it easy !!!!!" David fumed.
"Sit down and I'll clean up the living room."
"I am perfectly capably of taking care of my own messes. David Blair, you
are becoming more and more a fascist dictator as I grow closer to delivery
time. I AM A FREE SPIRIT and I will do what I Want To do!!!"
With that his very pregnant wife stormed out of their apartment's living
room.
That I know quite well. mused Methos sadly. Gone was the vibrant, fun
loving playmate he met over a year and a half ago. Methos had fallen for
Naomi at first sight. No other woman every had that much control over him,
without casting a spell, i.e. drugging him, first. But he willingly loved
her. Her energy and passion for life mesmerized the old man. After so many
centuries of travel, he was beyond jaded. Naomi rekindled his enthusiasm,
his zest for life unlike anyone else. He loved her so much. Twelve times he
begged her to marry him. He even bought her a diamond ring that was the
size of a small pearl for an engagement ring. Naomi, of course, promptly
sold it and gave the money to the homeless and street musicians in town.
Methos was furious but one look into her eyes melted away all of his anger.
The day she announced that she was ready to commit to a 'long-term
partnership' with him had been his happiest in centuries. He didn't even
complain when she insisted on keeping her maiden name and on having a guru
mystic perform the ceremony. He loved her. Unlike any of his other wives.
The only other time he had been this happy was his brief time in
Queensland. But now he was going to have what he could only get through a
surrogate that first time. A son, his own son. And Methos was going to
personally raise him. Of course, Methos hadn't forgot the reason it was
crucial for him to bear a child, the guardian needed a companion. But he
didn't care. The child would be the fruit of his love for Naomi.
Unfortunately, Naomi didn't take motherhood well. She was so young, only in
her early twenties. In the course of an hour her emotions would do
cartwheels olympians could only dream of accomplishing. Her antics
frightened Methos a little. He wasn't sure if it was a sign that something
was wrong with the pregnancy. The other wives that he had who produced
guide companions never acted as berserk as Naomi did. Only two more weeks
to go .
Three days later Naomi was gone. Gone. Without a trace. Methos searched the
streets desperately for his wife. The tears were so heavy in his eyes that
he had to keep a box on tissue in this car as he searched. No one had seen
or heard form her. Methos couldn't believe what was happening. Finally he
had found happiness and contentment and it was all taken away in a matter
of a few hour. Methos, although extremely wealth, had taken a teaching job
at Rainier University. When he returned home from class that day he took a deep
breathe before opening the door in preparation of Hurricane Naomi. He immediately
knew something was wrong when he walked inside. The house was quite.
Deathly quiet. Methos dropped his briefcase in front of the open door and
ran down the hall to the bedroom. Not there. Then he checked the bathroom.
Not there. There wasn't a note, no sign of where she had gone. Methos
opened the closet door and then fell down to his knees. The suitcase was
gone and so were some of Naomi's clothes. The three thousand dollars in
emergency money was also gone.
How could she? Methos' face was hot with anger. Then his face quickly paled
with fear. What if she's not in her right mind? She could be hurt. And the baby.
Methos' head began to swim.
Methos called the department dean and told him what had happened. The dean
tried to reassure him. "Your wife is one of the most head strong females
I've ever meet. She probably just wanted to go some where and mediate on
what her life as a mother might mean. She'll be back. I know she loves you
as much as you love her."
Ten days later Methos return to the apartment broken and worn out. He had
traveled to some of the nearby cities and towns just in case Naomi had left
Cascade. As he opened the door, much like the fateful day when she left,
Methos was immediately struck by a change. Lights were on, food was cooking
in the kitchen and ... and Methos could hear the sound of a baby wailing
form the bedroom. Methos ran to their bedroom and yanked open the door.
Naomi was sitting on the bed breast feeding their son. His son. "I know
you're mad... but.. the vibes... there were just so many negative vibes here.
I couldn't let our child be born in such an oppressive climate. We had to
leave." Methos couldn't speak. He collapsed on his knees in front of
Naomi. "His name is Blair, Blair Sandburg. I didn't give the doctor your
name because I was kind of out of it. They force all kinds of horrible
drugs down my throat and into my veins. My poor baby could have been hurt
from all those pollutants. Any ways, he may not have your last name, but he
is definitely part of you." Methos still couldn't speak. The tears that had
take regular residence in his eyes now pour like a waterfall. This time,
however, they were tears of pure joy and rhapsody. "David... I... I
honestly don't know what has come over me. I just keep feeling like you..
like someone would take my child away... like some would supplant my role
in his life and I...I couldn't let that happen. You understand, don't you?"
Methos lower lips dropped open as if he was now able to speak. No sound
passed through his lips. He loved Naomi, true enough and was overjoyed that
she had decided to return. But now, as he looked at his nursing child there
was a rock solid place in his heart filled with only one person, Blair
Sandburg.
***************************
The pillow cover on Methos' bed was cold and wet from the residual tears
shed by the old man as he remembered the first day he meet his son. A
second chance, that's all that I hope for. A second chance.
***************************
Lyle exited the Centre's plane in Cascade. The sweepers had already moved
into place, even planting several moles in the local police department.
Lyle came down to physically oversee the process and to set up a holding
site for the prisoners once captured. His interest was especially peaked
when he learned of an additional specimen also residing in Cascade. He
planned on keeping 'the gravy' portion of the Centre's seizure mission a
secret until he determined exactly how to exploit it. It won't be long
now. he said to himself with a confident smirk.
***************************************************************
IV part four
Methos was happy.... truly happy. Elated even. The past three weeks he had
grown closer to his son that he had ever expected. Blair accepted his
friendship completely and he never questioned Methos' intentions or
behavior. There were a few times this past week that he thought Blair might
be ready for him to tell him the truth.. but not yet. This evening Jim had
gone on a date with someone named Lisa, who worked in the robbery
department. Blair was oddly bubbly about Jim's date; he said he was worried
that a past relationship of Jim's had quleched the casanova in his partner.
Since Jim would be gone, Methos accepted a dinner invitation to dine with
Blair at the loft. Methos loved visiting his son's home. He was delighted
that Blair had found a happy, full life. Like the typical daddy he wanted
the best for his child: security, joy and contentment. Blair had found all
of that being the sentinel's companion. Methos wondered how telling Blair
the truth about his parentage would affect that relationship. Sure Blair
and Jim were bonded like the typical sentinel-guide blood brothers, but
there was more to their relationship than that. Even though Jim was only
eleven years older that Blair, he had take over the father figure role in
Blair's life. Methos would had been slightly envious of Jim's paternal
position in directing and guiding Blair, but he recognized the good in the
situation. Methos wished that he had been there to raise his son the way he
had intended, the way he had hope......
"I'm sorry Blair, what did you say? I guess I was off on a another field
assignment or something."
chuckle "Man, I don't know how you can get around being as absent-minded
as you are. I just asked if you wanted any more pla lard prig?"
"Thanks man, but I'm borderline explosion. I shouldn't have eaten so much.
Where did you learn to cook authentic Thai food?"
"Oh well, my mom and I moved around so much and she made friends so easily,
there aren't too many exotic foods that I don't no how to prepare. What did
you think of the tom yum koon soup?"
"Oh, now that was slamming! And you didn't use too much kaffir lime leaf.
The last time I had tom yum koon, all I could taste was the lime..... So
now I know why Jim has kept you around so long, no one else can cook that
good!"
Blair laughed, "Jim's not really into spicy favors, but he tries everything I whip
up in the kitchen. And, although he would never admit it, I think he really
like my dishes."
"Of course he would; by the way, I sure hope you have some spare
tupperware because not all that pad thai is going to make it into your
refrigerator."
*************************
Well, this looks good, if I do say so myself Lyle though as he made a
last inspection of the holding cell he planned to keep Jim Elision in while
he was away delivering David Murphy. Now all we need an enhanced
individual and his trusty sidekick to come and visit our new little inn. He
picked up his cell phone.
"Marcus, what's the eta on the Sandburg snatch? Good. Have the final plans
on my desk tomorrow for my review." Lyle smiled to himself again as he exited
the dark room. His reconnison teams had reported seeing Blair Sandburg with
their official target at multiple social engagements. Lyle determined that Sandburg
would be his key to snatching both men. Who would have though Ellison's
achilles heel would be the preverbal stone to catch two birds . I wonder what kind
of attractant he has to pull down a veteran ops man like Jim. Hmmm, maybe its
something we would replicate.... Lyle took his cell phone out of his jacket
pocket again. "Dr. Kim, glad your still up. Look get on the next plane to a
city called Cascade in Washington. Bring your extraction kit. I've got a
couple of test subjects coming in that you might enjoy. Call me as soon as
you've secured flight plans."
Blue Cove
"Yes sir, I'll be right there sir. Cascade, Washington. On the next flight
out. " Dr. Kim closed his cell phone. He looked down at his 'patient' lying
on the exam table. "Well Angelo, looks like we're going to have to finish
these test later. Go ahead, get up and return to your room." Angelo looked
up at the doctor with his customary blank stare. "Doctor go?" "Only for a
few days, my friend. Our man Lyle has a little assignment for me to
complete. I will be back." "Doctor go, Doctor come back." "That's right
Angelo, now lets get you back to your room." Angelo was more that ready to
go back to his cell. There was a certain free agent out there who need to
know about the Centre's new plans.
*************************
"Now Jim, that wasn't so bad now was it?"
"What? I thought the movie you picked would be good from the start"
"Not the movie, silly, our date."
"Lisa, a movie and dinner with you has never been anything but a nice
fantasy for me. Of course it wasn't bad, this has been great!"
"Okay then why haven't you asked me before?"
"Well,... I ...uhm... sort of"
"My, my when big strong men like you get tongue tide I know the sky's about
to fall."
laughter
"Anyway, now that I've made you blush, I'll change the subject to
something easier for you to handle. How is you department coming on the
Murphy case?"
"What Murphy case?"
"You know, the one that's brought those two tight lipped Feds down to
Cascade. What's your office's take on the prep? Right now the office pool
favors the idea that Murphy's the prime subject in an international drug
scheme. But when I saw his picture I knew he just has to be a run away
witness. You know, the kind that come forward and then chicken out. He's
got this 'flight' look about him."
"Really Lisa, what is this Murphy case your talking about? I've never heard
of it."
"Huh... well maybe that's why its been over four weeks since the Feds have
had all the other departments searching for this guy and yet we still don't
have a clue where he's hiding in Cascade. If major crimes had been
involved, the prep would have been caught the first week he landed here. I
wonder why the Feds didn't include you guys?"
"Who is this Murphy and what's the situation?"
"Well the Feds won't tell us why this Murphy guy is wanted. They're an odd
couple from the northwest, and man and a woman. I think the woman is a bit
ticked at the way the guy is handling the case. Anyway, our captain doesn't
even know what this David Murphy had done."
Jim have been continuing to eat his salad as he listened to Lisa describe
the case. Bad move, because as soon as she said the name 'David Murphy' the
lettuce leaf Jim was chewing went straight down his windpipe.
choke, cough, gag, cough, cough
"Jim are you ok? Jim"
"I'm.... all right.... I .. just ... what did .........did you say the
prep's name was again?"
"Here Jim, sit down and drink some water. slowly. Are you sure your okay?"
Jim nodded his head vigorously as he drank down the water and nodded his
head to Lisa, urging her to continue.
"Uh-un, not until you start breathing right..... okay, that's better.
Murphy, David Murphy."
"I'm sorry Lisa," Jim grabbed his coat so quickly he almost bumped into the
waiter caring dinner to another table.
"I'm sooo sorry, so very sorry. But I think, no, I know I need to be
leaving now. Ummm, I need to check on something at home. I'm really sorry
Lisa. I'll take care of dinner at the door. Stay as long as you like,
okay?"
"Um, sure, sure. Go ahead a take care of whatever you need to. You'll give
me a call later?"
"Yeah, right, okay...... Bye" Jim was already facing the hostess with his
credit card in hand when he last responded to Lisa. There was only on
thought on his mind as he raced to his truck. What has Sandburg gotten
himself into now?
Great, I finally get asked out by the dreamiest bachelor on the force and
I scare him away with shop talk. Way to go Lisa. And what's worst, I drove
him back home to that little Sandburg guy. Sigh. Maybe he will call me back?....
yeah right.
**********************************************
"Blair, Blair, Are you home, are you okay?" he yell after racung into the loft.
Jim's heart was beating so hard he could barely hear the regular ticking of his
guide's. Ever since the fountain incident with Alex, Jim had been terrified that
something horrible would happen to him. Why did I let Blair convince me that
a date was a good idea. If I had been here he would be safe.
"Hey... Jim? What's wrong man? I'm in the bathroom. How did your date with
Lisa go?"
"Chief!... Am I glad to see you. Is everything okay here?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't it? Ah, you didn't have another nightmarish premonition
did you?"
"No, .. but where is that David Murphy guy?"
"Oh, David.. He left about twenty minutes ago. Why, what's up?"
After performing a visual inspection of Blair's vital signs and the state
of the loft Jim walked over to the end table to pick up his cell phone.
Blair had convinced him to leave it at home so that his mind would be
focused on his date with Lisa. Now Jim was auto dialing Simon's, their
captain, home number.
"Nothing deep except that your new friend is wanted by the federal
government. According to Lisa all other departments have been on a four
week man hunt for him. By the way, do you know where he is staying? We need
to pick... 'Hello, Simon......Yes sir I know its late.....Yes sir I know
you didn't give me your home number to use it at eleven o'clock a
night..... Yes sir, this is an emergency...... Yes sir this is a very
gooood emergency....... Okay, I understand..... Have you been briefed on a
federal man hunt for a David Murphy?"
Blair had stopped listening to Jim after he reached Simon. His heart was
sinking fast within him. David, a wanted criminal? No, no it couldn't be.
There didn't seem to be a violent bone in the man's entire body. How could
this be happening? No, Jim has to be wrong. Blair didn't know how but he
trusted David, he trusted David as much as he trusted Jim. He has to
uncover the truth about these charges.
"What did Simon say?"
"He hasn't heard any thing about a Murphy case. He does know about two
federal agents working with several of the other departments but for some
reason they haven't contacted major crimes."
"Great, that means that David isn't accused of a major felony. Did Lisa
tell you why the feds want him?"
"No, apparently they are keeping a very tight lip on the whole issue. But
just because major crimes isn't involved doesn't meant your friend's not a
serious offender. We're not the only department in the police force you
know."
"If you knew David like I do, you wouldn't be questioning his integrity."
"Yeah,..hmm...and just why don't I know Murphy well? Don't you think its
pretty convenient that he is always too busy to meet me? And what about
tonight? You have invited him over for dinner at least ten times, if I
remember right. Yet he only decides to come after finding out that I won't
be there. Don't you think that's odd?"
"Okay, maybe a little. But maybe he finds you intimidating. He told me
that you gave him the third degree when he called last week. Why did you
question him so thoroughly anyway?"
Jim turned his head away slightly at Blair's question. "Blair, I know that
your an official cop now and that you can take care of yourself, but...
I... I was worried. you know, your track record with people hasn't been
that great. You trust people way to easily. I just wanted to find out for
myself who this Murphy guy is"
"Thanks man, but I am well past high school. I may not be the best judge of
character, okay, I may be a terrible judge of character, but I chose you as
my best friend. Now that should shine some redeeming light. I can't explain
it but I know David is not guilt. I just know it."
"Chief, I think maybe your heart has clouded your eyes again. Where does
David live?"
Blair shook his head after hearing Jim's words and sat down with a slump.
"I'm not sure. I know that he is subletting a Rainier student's apartment
this summer, but I've never gone over there. He says the apartment kitchen
is real small so we have always met somewhere else for dinner."
"Interesting." Blair sighed. "Well, do you at least have his telephone
number?"
"Of course."
"Good, we can place a trace on him that way. Simon is contacting the feds.
We need to be at the station tomorrow morning around 7:30 for a meeting. I
guess you can hold off contacting Murphy until then. Chief, I don't think I
need to remind you not to warn Murphy... or do I?"
"NO..... no you don't." Blair quickly retreated to his bedroom and slammed
the door. A few minutes he heard a quiet tapping on the door. "I don't want
to talk about it anymore okay? Please, just go to bed Jim."
Jim slowly walked up the stairs to his bedroom. As he laid down on his bed
he heard Blair's soft response, "He's not guilt Jim. I know he's not."
Ihope your right, Chief. For your sake I hope your right.
***************************************************
The next morning 8:30
"Yes sir, they have decided to have Blair Sandburg contact Murphy in about
twenty minutes. They are suppose to meet up at the park and Sandburg is
going to bring him in. The department chief will have about ten officers
standing by to snag Murphy. How would you like us to proceed?"
Perfect Lyle thought to himself. He had been wondering how he was going
to tie Murphy and Ellison together and now the solution to that little
problem was just handled to him, gift wrapped.
"Listen closely. Have the van standing by and ready. As soon as you get a
clear shot at Sandburg after they try to bring in Murphy I want him taken
immediately. Understood?"
"Yes sir. Clean and sweet."
"Good" good Lyle thought to himself. He pressed the talk button again.
"Dr. Kim, eta on our donors four hours. Make sure your extraction lab is
set up."
***************************************************
"Jim, I hope you know how much I hate this. In fact, this make me deeply
sick to my stomach."
"Chief, there's nothing to argue about. You heard the feds. This guy is
either a witness or a murderer. The victim was beheaded! Of all the
grotesque ways to kill someone that takes the cake. Don't you want to know
which side of the table he's actual on? The guy fled the scene of a crime
and tried to cover up his tracks with fake bus tickets. You may not want to
believe it, but that sounds pretty incriminating to me."
"He was scared, wouldn't you be? The feds conceded that the witnesses said
David was trying to get away from the 'victim'. I think he saw a gruesome
slaying and tried to run away from the real assailants. Why can't you give
him the benefit of the doubt?"
"Chief... Blair...humph... there's no sense arguing about this now. We will
find out the truth as some as you bring Murphy in."
"I really hate this, especially lying to him."
"Chief.." Jim said with a strong warning tone, "you aren't going to warn
him are you? We agreed that you would bring him in. I don't have to tell
you what will happen if you try to change the plans."
"I know, I did swear to obey and protect the laws of the land. I will do my
duty as officer."
"Alright."
Mulder and Scully sat in the observation conference room after their
meeting with Chief Simon Banks. Mulder was unusually quiet about the whole
situation and Scully needed to know why.
"Okay Mulder, spill it? This whole investigation was your idea and now that
we have found the guy, your acting like the sky has just fallen. You did
want to catch David Murphy didn't you?"
"Of course Scully! I just didn't want to involve the major crimes
department. And of all the people to have access to Murphy it had to be the
Sandburg-Ellision team. I had hoped not to involve them in these affairs at
all. I should have imaged that this could happen from the start."
"Why didn't you want them involved? From the looks of thinks if we had
involved them in our search from the beginning, we could have detained
Murphy weeks ago. Mulder, I demand some answers now!"
Sigh "Okay, do you remember that I told you we weren't the only ones
seeking after Murphy?"
"Yes, but what does that have to do with these two detectives?"
"A couple of months age Blair Sandburg wrote a paper that was widely
publicized. Although he denied its truth, its obvious from his role in the
Cascade police department that his paper wasn't false. I'm afraid that the
people after Murphy won't stop with him. They will go after the
Sandburg-Ellison team. And then we'll have three missing persons."
"Mulder how can you be so sure about this?"
"Scully, trust me. You know my track record. I am right about the danger
involved."
"So what are we to do?"
"Nothing, we'll just ride it out and see what happens."
*********************************************************
Methos ran up to Blair sitting alone on the park bench. Blair had called
him earlier this morning and asked him to meet him in the park. Methos
recognized the concealed fear in Blair's voice. He wondered what had upset
his son so much. He placed his hand on Blair's shoulder when he reached
him.
"Blair, what's wrong?"
Blair was working hard to hold back his emotions. At the sound of David's
voice he wanted to to scream out that it was a trap and to help David get
way. At least half of him did anyway. The other half was seething with
anger, wondering if this man was a murder, if he again had been duped by an
untrustworthy person.
"Um, David, we need to talk."
"I can see that. What happened? Was it Jim? what's..."
"No, it has nothing to do with me. David... what did you do? You're wanted
by the feds."
Methos' stomach began to knot up inside him. oh no. how did they track me
down here? I thought they would be combing the streets of Tjuana by now.
Your getting old, old man. Oh man, what have they told Blair? "Blair,
I.... have you told anybody that you know how to reach me?"
"Yes, and the park is crawling with cops. I wanted to be the one who actual
brings you in. What happened that night David, did you kill that man?"
Jim could hear Blair's heart racing from his position in the bushes. He
shifted his hearing to detect Murphy's. Oh man he said to himself as
Murphy shook him head no in response to Blair's question. He's lying.
"Uhmm, Blair, that nigh,... it was crazy. I was..uhm... expecting to meet
up with an old colleague. He told me on the telephone that he was in some
major trouble and that I was the only one in the area he could trust.
I..uhm.. I barely got away when the other guys showed up. Blair, I just
ran. I don't know what...uhm...uhm... Bob was into but I sure didn't want
to be caught up in it with him. I really don't have much information on
why...Bob.. was being hunted..."
"Oh man, that's great! I mean.. that's terrible. I'm, I'm just glad that
your safe man." Blair's emotions flipped from depression and malice to
euphoria as he listened to David's story. He didn't even question the
obvious holes in it, he was so relieved to have his faith in Murphy
restored.
I'm going to to kill him though Jim to himself. First I let the feds
grill him, then I'm going to smash his face in; maybe even enlarge that
nose of his. How could he lie to Blair like that? He's just standing there
weaving a sticky web of fiction and Blair's been snared like an
unsuspecting bug. Jim's left jaw muscle began to twitch rapidly. They'd
better start walking over here now or I'm going to go drag his deceiving
butt over to lock up myself.
Simon could see the fury as it began to form itself on Jim's face. Now
what's got his shorts in a knot? "Jim, what is wrong with you? What do you
hear over there?"
Simon's question was the distraction Lyle needed to give his people the
order. Three of the Cascade PD officers closest to Blair and David had
already been quietly replaced by sweepers. He had also selected a park
bystander to be hit by a sniper in order to add confusion and prevent the
police from interrupting the snatch. He was observing Jim from a van
several yards away through a pair of high powered telescopic binoculars.
When Jim's posture changed he knew the detective was listen to something
and would be the perfect time to implement his plan. "Now!" he ordered
through the mic. The van he was traveling immediately drove away from the
premises to ensure that he wouldn't be anywhere near the crime scene in
case things didn't go down properly. He didn't have anything to worry
about...
POP! The shot came out of nowhere and fell a young mother pushing her child
on a nearby swing set. Both Jim and Simon immediately stopped talking and
turned toward the sound of the shot.
"What, what was that?" Blair asked Methos.
"I'm not sure.. but it sounded like a gun shot."
"Promise me that you will stay right here until I come back, okay."
"Blair!"
"Promise me, OKAY?" Methos was torn. Every survivor instinct in him was
screaming out, RUN!. It would be a prefect escape. He could be on a plane to
Florida in less that seven hours. He had already mapped out a quick escape
plan. But no, here his son was asking him to stay put. If he left now, the
damage done to their relationship might never be repaired. What are you
thinking man? he asked himself. Don't be an idiot, RUN. MacLeod got over
your past mistakes and so will Blair. Now go and explain it to him later.
But Methos couldn't move. It was rare for him to met any of his mortal
children, let alone to be given a chance to have a relationship with them.
No, he couldn't leave. All he would have to do is explain to Blair all
about immortality and all would be well. If he fled, it would take a long
time just to get Blair to speak to him again, if at all. Yep, I have
definitely gotten soft in my old age
"SWEAR to me man!"
"Okay already, I won't go anywhere until you get back."
"Great! I trust you man."
Sigh. While sitting down on a park bench, Methos look up to see two
solemned faced men dressed in police uniforms walking towards him. Okay,
now they don't look too friendly. Before Methos could arise to begin his
retreat from the approaching men, two other Cascade Police officers also
closed in on him from the left side. "Put down any weapons you may have and
hold your hands up where I can see them" said one of the real cops. The two
replacements gradually slipped away from Methos upon the arrival of the
other cops. Meanwhile, Simon and Jim had made over to the injured woman.
"This looks like a clean hit from the bullet's entry point, Simon. Whoever
fired at her wasn't aiming to kill" "Hmmm, that's strange. How is she
doing?" Jim knelt down on the ground in order to tended to the injured
woman and he set his full attention on scanning her vital signs for any
other injuries. At the same time Jim's attention was diverted the second
half of the extraction team snared Blair while on his way to the source of
the gun shot sound . "Officer Sandburg," said one of the sweepers, "your
partner... well he just fell down on the ground a few minutes ago and
stopped moving. No one knows what's wrong with him. We need your help."
Oh no though Blair, Jim must have had his hearing turned up when the
shot was fired. "I need you to take me to him now"
"No problem, sir" said the sweeper with a concealed smile. As they headed
off away from the crimescene a sky blue van abruptly stopped in front of them.
" Hey, what's this? Hey you, driver, get out the way!" Blair commanded.
"Sure Mr. Sandburg, anything you say." Those were the last words Blair heard
as a chloroform dipped rag was slapped up against his nose and mouth.
**********************************************
"What do you mean you didn't get Murphy!!" Lyle snarled at the two cowering
agents. "You were assigned to pick up the twerp after Sandburg left."
"Sir, two uniforms interrupted us and we weren't able..."
"Why didn't you just shoot them to get them out of the way. Murphy is THE
REASON why we're here in this stupid little town. Why would you let two
weak cops interfere with our plans!" Lyle was seething with anger.
"Sir" said one of the shaking agents "We figured our cover would be blown
and the whole mission could have been..."
"SHUT UP!!"
pop pop.
Lyle silenced the man with two direct gun shots into his heart. "Now," he
said to the other agent, "he doesn't have to worry about his precious cover
being blown. Do you have anything to add?"
The second agent was violently shaking. "nnnoo...nnn..ooo... sirrrr. Please
forgive me."
Lyle sadistically smiled. I love it when people fear me "Just get rid of
this corpse and don't let me see you face again until I call for you."
"Y..eeessss sirrr, riggght away. " The man practically flung the dead body
over his shoulder and fled the room as if he were being chased by a hungry
tiger.
Now, thought Lyle as he walked away from the scene and headed for the
cell Blair was chained in. it's time to see just how beloved Mr. Sandburg
is by the Cascade PD.
**********************************************
"WHERE. IS. BLAIR!!" Jim demanded of Murphy in the interrogation room.
After the ambulance arrived to help the fallen woman Jim began searching
for Blair. it didn't take him long to realize that Blair wasn't in the park
and that he had been taken relatively close to were Murphy had been
sitting. Methos himself was more than shaken up at the news that his son
had been taken but was retaining his emotions.
"Detective Elision, I already told you, I really don't know." he said in his calmest
voice. "I sat back down on the bench like Blair asked of me. I turned my head when
I saw the other officers approaching and I didn't see what happened next, I
swear."
"You must know more that you're telling me. I know you were lying to him
about the Seacover incident. If anything happens to him, I swear I'll..."
Jim's hand was stopped by Simon as he was reaching out to punch Methos'
face.
"DETECTIVE!, cool down and get. out. of. here now!"
"Captain, He's hiding something and whatever it is has injured Blair. I
need to.."
"I said GET OUT OF HERE NOW Jim! Do I need to have you removed?"
"No, no." Jim gave Methos the look of death as he exited the room. Methos'
face also visibly relaxed when Jim turned toward the door and he placed his
head on the table.
"Now,... one of my best detectives has possible been kidnapped and another
one of my men seems to think that you have something to do with it. Would
you mind explaining that to me?"
"Honestly captain, Blair is my friend. I would never jeopardize him. I
really don't know who could have taken him. I didn't think that I had any
enemies..."
"Here," finished Simon. Methos nodded his head as he quietly banged it on
the table for making such a foolish slip.
"So, are you going to tell me about these enemies of yours? Hmmm?
Specifically the one you beheaded in Seacover?"
Methos looked into Simon's face. Now how shall I handle this one? he
thought. Thankfully the sentinel was no longer in the room or his lie
wouldn't make it out of his mouth before Jim slammed his face against the
wall. "I didn't.. murder... anyone in Seacover. I... I ... was just in the
wrong place at the wrong time."
"Interesting word choice Mr. Murphy" said Mulder. He and Scully entered the
room after Jim was forcibly banished by Simon. "You chose the word 'murder'
very carefully. I believe the captain asked if you had beheaded anyone in
Seacover, not if you had murdered anyone." Scully looked at her partner,
impressed. Only Mulder would have detected something so subtle as that.
Although Murphy was trying to hid his shock at being caught so easily she
saw the look of amazement in his eyes when Mulder spoke.
"I don't know what you are taking about, err.. agent?"
"Mulder, Agent Mulder with the FBI."
"What? No first name?"
"I think the question should be what is your real name, Mr. Murphy."
Methos smiled within himself. Ahhh, this mortal has a bit of gumption. I
better tread carefully around him "My name," he said in his most innocuous
Adam Pierson voice, "is David Murphy. I only used false names at the bus
station for fear of being followed."
"And just who did you fear, Mr. Murphy? Who were you running from?'
"Yes," interrupted Simon. He could see a private tit-for-tac forming
between Mulder and Murphy and was determined to keep the investigation
open. "Who were you running from, and where would they have taken detective
Sandburg?"
"Sir," said Methos again with his disarming tone, "I really don't know. I
don't have any idea who would have taken Blair. But if you really think
that I have something to do with it, you have my absolute cooperation. As I
already said, Blair is one of my few friends here in the States and I want
him retrieved as much as anyone else."
"hmmm, so you say Mr. Murphy. At any rate, in keeping with American law, I
believe you are entitled to speak with a lawyer before we continue with
these questions. Am I not correct Captain Banks?"
Simon looked at the FBI agent as if he had suddenly started foaming at the
mouth. We were on a roll. He hadn't even responded to that little
confrontation. What. is. this. idiot. thinking?" "Uhmm,.. yeah.. right..
sure. We'll have a telephone brought to you right away. now if you'll
excuse us." Simon gave Mulder his most menacing 'I'm gonna kick you butt up
and down the bull pin' glare and visually motioned to the agents to follow
him to his office.
Methos himself had to struggle to keep his jaw from fall. What kind of
game is this.. of course.. he's going to tap into my phone conversation.
Man! I need to find out if there are any immortals in Cascade who like to
use mortals as pawns. If I call Joe its going to look like I'm up to
something. But if I don't... owww man. Okay, okay let me think...
Jim was already waiting for Simon and the feds in the captain's office. He
didn't care if the captain busted him down to meter maid but he was going
to demand to interrogate Murphy himself. He stopped pacing and faced the
door when he heard Simon's approaching footsteps.
"Not one word Elision! Keep your tongue shut for a few more minutes." Simon
growled as he opened his office door. After the agents entered the room he
slammed it shut and pounced on Mulder. "And just was that little display
about Agent Mulder? American law? This guy could be responsible for a
gruesome murder and your offering to protect his rights? You had him on the
defensive and then you gave him a comfortable escape. Just what were you
thinking?"
"Captain Banks, ... I know my statement seemed a little odd.."
"A Little Odd?...."
Mulder held up his hands in the classic time out position. "This guy's
smart, craftily even. We weren't going to get anything out of him in the
traditional fashion. I had to try to throw him off kilter a bit and this
seemed like the perfect method."
"Wait a minute," interjected Jim who had been quietly listening up to that
point, "am I hearing this right, you let this guy off the hot seat. My
partner has been taken by who knows and the only one who might know why is
sitting comfortably in the interrogation room! What is going on here?"
Scully was asking the same question quietly to herself, yea Fox she only
called him that privately when she couldn't figure out what he was up too
what were you thinking?
"Trust me on this detective. I know what I'm doing. Now all we need is to
ease drop on his telephone call and then we will know exactly who and what
he know."
"OOOhhhh," Scully smiled "so much for our sacred American law."
"Scully," Mulder smiled equally brightly at his partner, "you heard his
accent. He's not American." humf
*******************************************************
"Yes, I assure you sir Murphy will be delivered to you on time as I earlier
promised. In two days you will be able to pick him up. ..... No sir, we
don't physically have him yet but our baited trap in already being
set...... No, no sir. The Centre will not disappoint you." click
It had better not thought the man in black. He had expected the Centre's
lackey Mr. Lyle to delight him with news of an early retrieval. Instead, he
was cling to the pick up time established earlier. Slam!!
The man in black whacked his hand on the table. He had grown impatient. After
all these years of seeking he could finally taste Methos' quickening and he wanted
it NOW. He remembered when he first discovered that Methos the myth was indeed
not fiction. His research had taken him to a small town in Australia where
a tribal legend about an ageless man has persisted through many ages. The
man in black had no idea who the immortal was, but since he knew that the
key to success was to learn the tricks of other successful game players, he
traveled down there to find out more.
It was in the village of Dorkshire that he met an old man whose claimed to be a
direct descendant of the Unwayone. The man promised him, for a price, a detailed
recounting of the historical lore shrouding the man's true nature. And it was through
their private conference that he learned to true name of Unwayon, Methos. He was
astounded, delighted and a little disbelieving at the man's tale. The old
man assured him that the Unwayon had proclaimed himself as Methos, but of
course, the old man had no idea why the name was significant. Since the
tribal name given to him had been revered as the name of a demigod, over
time his family stopped telling outsiders that he had called himself by
some other name. At that moment the man in black had assumed his life's
purpose. He himself didn't have a distinct name; his early life as a mortal
was spent as a common Roman slave with only the moniker of 'boy' or 'you'.
He didn't care any more about his lack of identify after that moment in
Australia. His plan was to be forever know as 'Methos' slayer'.
***************************************************
Lyle caressed Blair's chin as he laid unconscious on the table. So just
what do they see in you Mr. Sandburg he asked himself. He turned away from
him in disgust. A scrawny little body and an almost effeminate bearing.
humph. No matter. I may never learn the secret power you have, but I shall
definitely try to reproduce it He looked over at Dr. Kim under the
sterilization hood he had installed in the warehouse. When this is over I
shall have much fun testing your and Mr. Elision's samples. Lyle continued
to smile to himself as he walked down the hallway and opened up his cell
phone. "Marcus, how is plan B shaping up?" "Good, make sure all the teams
are ready to greet Mr. Ellison at the rendezvous point." "Of course Ellison
is going to show up, we have his precious little partner and I doubt he's
going to endanger his life."
********************************************************
Methos paced in the interrogation room in front of the telephone placed on
the table ten minutes ago. He hadn't survived as long as he had without
being able to spot a trap when he saw one. Should I call.... to call or
not to call... that is the stupidest question I've ever had! He was
frustrated. He knew that one call to Joe could not only help him identify
the immortal behind Blair's abduction but would also send the MacLeod
calvery down here to spring him from jail. He had to call, he had
tooo....... but if he called and that annoying intuitive FBI agent was
listening.... he couldn't call, he couldn't risk it.... But what's life
without risk? he asked himself, long and comfortable he answered. "owww,
just do it!!" he yelled at himself. But just before his hand touched the
phone's receiver detective Ellison came burring into the room, slammed
Methos against the wall and yelled "I. want. some. answers. NOW!!!!"
Seven minutes earlier Ellison, Simon and the feds were half way
standing/sitting in Simon's office waiting to listen to Methos' call. Out
of no where Jim's cell phone began to ring. "Ellison!" he snarled . "Listen
closely detective. If you want your partner back safe and sound you will
deliver David Murphy to us tonight at eight o'clock at the Fisherman's
wharf. Come alone and we won't hurt Mr. Sandburg anymore. Bring backup, and
we shall have some fun with him." The phone hung up before Ellison could
utter a single sound. In the background Jim could hear Blair screaming in
agony as his captors lashed at his back with a leather rope entwined with
metal prongs. Lyle wanted to ensure Jim would comply with his demand. He
almost slumped to the floor after the caller hung up but fortunately
Mulder had noticed his facial expressions go from annoyance and hostility
to fear and distress during the phone conversation and quickly shoved an
office chair behind Elision to catch him before he fell.
"What happen?" Simon demanded. "Who was that Jim and what's going on?"
"They... they've got Blair. and they're torturing him. Simon, they're
slashing his back with a leather whip."
"Oh man, oh... what are are they're demands? Come on Jim, pull your self
together. What do they want?"
That's when a look of pure fury rolled over Jim's face darkening his eyes
until they became glacial blue. He immediately jumped out of the chair and
rushed to the office door. Jim was down the hallway before Simon had
recovered from his shock enough to follow him. Scully, being a quicker
thinker and probably the only one calm about the situation raced out behind
Jim to try to stop him from choking David Murphy to death.
"Ugh... y..our... choking me... st...st..stoop..please"
Jim was blinded by rage. His only thought was that somehow this man was
responsible for his guide's pain and he was going to make him stop. Methos,
not as physically large as Jim felt his larynx being squeezed tight beneath
Jim's grip. His throat already had a few lacerations that would being to
heal in five, four, three, two, one seconds...
"Owwwwww!" Jim jumped back from Murphy as what felt like a thousand volts
of electricity rushed into him through his fingertips. "What...what are
you?" He started back towards Murphy but was stopped by Agent Scully and
her pistol.
"Hold it right there detective." she said in a 'and don't try me' voice
and waved Jim away from Murphy with her gun. "Police brutality is a felony
offense." Scully turned to Murphy who was now on the floor covering this
throat. Methos was not necessarily trying to catch his breathe but he was
trying to conceal his rapidly healing wounds. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"How badly did he hurt you? Let me see, I'm a doctor."
Methos rubbed his hand around his throat. Although it was his most sensitive
area, it still healed with the speed only a five thousand plus year old man could
have. "I'm fine agent. Really. he merely knocked the wind out of me. See. I'm not
even hurt." Methos exposed his completely healed neck for Scully's
inspection.
"That's good... but that in no way excuses your actions detective Ellison. I will be
submitting a formal reprimand to your captain regarding this."
Jim didn't respond to her. He couldn't. His body was still tingling from the after
effects of the near electrocution. He looked over at Murphy standing close to Scully
who was supporting the nearly strangled man and saw a blue aura glowing around him.
"What that...."
"Alright Ellison, you mind telling me what caused you to coming running in
here like a drowning man towards air?" Simon demanded, cutting off Jim's
observation.
"He nearly choked Mr. Murphy to death, captain. I don't think detective
Ellison is fit for duty anymore, or at least he should be removed from this
case."
"Noooo, nnooo...please you can't" plead Jim. "I'm soorry, I. .. I went
crazy for a while. But Blair's captors demanded Murphy be swapped for him
and I.. I wanted to squeeze their identities out of him."
"Yeah, and squeeze you did. The way you were pressing against his neck, I'm
surprised there aren't any rips and tears."
yeah, I'm surprised too thought Mulder. He didn't want to voice his
observations publicly as Jim almost had but he noticed the blood stains on
Murphy's collar. Murphy tried to conceal his collar by nonchalantly
fiddling with it but he had accidentally exposed a small area of the collar
showing the blood stains.
Captain banks narrowed his eyes at Murphy upon hearing Jim's confession.
"What do you know about this Murphy." He quietly bellowed. "If this is some
scheme to get you out of jail..." "No Sir. I swear. I have no idea who took
Blair or why they might want me." Methos was silently praying to every
deity he ever believed in that Jim was not monitoring his heart beat as he
spoke. He knew Blair's captors had to be working for an immortal. but
which one?
Methos' prayer was not answered. Jim rose up from his seat with renewed
fury. "He's Lying Simon. He's lying so bad his guilty heart might as well
jump out of his chest." Jim lunged towards Methos with renewed energy
Mulder and Simon acted as physical barriers to prevent Jim from attacking
Murphy again.
Oh man Methos thought, shaking his head. What shall I do Now?
****************************************************************
V part five
"Excuse me," a fairly tall dark haired fortieths looking man choose that
moment to enter the interrogation room. "I'm looking for a.. Captain
Banks?"
"Yes, that's me. And just who are you?"
"Oh, my apologies, " he said as he held out his right hand to Captain
Banks. "I'm Jared, Jared Prince, with the NSA. I'm here to prevent the
possible abduction of an English national." Then Jared looked directly at
Methos. "A Mister David Murphy, I presume?"
Mulder studied the new arrival carefully. He tried to surmise from his
demeanor and appearance what role he would play in this matter. But
unfortunately, he couldn't seem to get past the man's mysterious aire.
Okay, now my day has gone from devastating to cataclysmic though Methos
who had retried as far into the wall as possible.
Mulder addressed the new agent first. "What does the NSA want with Mr.
Murphy, might I ask, and why weren't we informed of your arrival?" He was
livid. This was just like the government, keeping secrets from its own
people and tharwding the revelation of the truth.
"Uhm, may I see some id, please" Scully, the only clear-headed officer in
the room inquired.
"Oh, sure. Sorry. Uhm, anyway, Our sources..."
"Sources?"
"Uh, our intelligence identified present Centre activity in this area and
also that Mr. Murphy was the target. I've been sent here to investigate
those claims and prevent Mr. Murphy's detention by that group."
"The Centre, of course. I should have know by the snatch and grab tactics
in the park. I never expected to have to go head to toe with those
malcontents. So what do they want with you Murphy?" Mulder's eyes turned
towards Murphy.
Methos felt like he was on center stage and the spotlight was stuck shining
singularly on his position.
"Wait one minute. Hold it, I want to know exactly who this Centre is and
why they took my partner!" Jim's voice was gravely and strained. He had
been quietly clenching his teeth while the new fed made his 'proper'
introductions, but now he wanted some answers. "Tell me Murphy, want do you
have that got some organization out there trying to take you by any means
necessary. You've jeopardized my partner and I could care less if you own
the hope diamond." Jim stalked over to were Murphy was trying to hide.
"YOU... had better tell us what this 'Centre' wants and how I can get Blair
back."
Methos held out his hands in the classic 'I surrender' position. Scully
also came to his aide by moving to intercept Ellison.
"Please," Methos pleaded, looking directly into Jim's eyes, "I honestly
don't know who this 'Centre' is and I had no idea that any one knew I was
here in Cascade. I'm just as concerned about Blair's safety as you are."
"I doubt that," Ellison retorted derisively. He had scanned Murphy's vitals
and determined that in this instance the man wasn't overtly lying. "You
didn't answer my question Murphy. Why is this organization after you?"
Methos swallowed slowly.
"I maybe of some assistance with that question, detective" Jared stepped
into the inquisition. He didn't know exactly what the Centre's purpose for
taking Murphy was, but he was sure of both their agenda and their interest
in Blair Sandburg. "The Centre is on the surface an international health
relief organization protected by multiple countries, including our own.
However, underneath they're no different than the Nazis war scientists
under Hitler's regime. They specialize in human genetic modification. They
are constantly looking for persons with unique physical and intellectual
abilities that they can exploit. I'm not sure what about Murphy caught
their eye, but I think we all know why they would be interest in Mr.
Sandburg. Isn't that right detective?"
Simon jumped into the conversation to try to pull attention away from the
sentinel issue. "He's right Jim. Even though Blair publicly announced that
the novel he wrote about you was just a piece of fiction, there are still a
number of people out there who believe it was true." Banks attempted a
short laugh to emphasis his point. "Some people just want to believe in the
unfathomable and unprovable. Kind of like those UFO watchers, you know. Tsk
Tsk. Well, we need to start working on a game plan if we're going to pull
Sandburg out of this."
Scully looked over at Mulder while Banks was talking. Finally, a sensible
man. Maybe I should try regular police work for a while. At least I
wouldn't encounter so many wacky cases.
Mulder only smiled inwardly. He's really trying to downplay the sentinel
thing. Yep, I was right all along. Now how can we keep the Centre from
getting their hands on these two?
"How can we keep the Centre from succeeding?" Mulder asked out loud.
"I'm not sure. We must take their threat seriously. If Detective Ellison
shows up with the most minimum amount of backup, they won't hesitate to
take it out on Blair."
Jim sat down at the conference table and put his head in his hands. "We
can't let anything happen to Blair, Simon. I can't go in without...."
"Don't be foolish detective. You don't know these people. I do. If they
think they can get what they want from taking just a blood sample from you
they won't hesitate to shoot you down cold and sponge the sample from the
ground. Now I do have an idea on how to send you guys in without them
discovering your backup. Captain Banks, I'll need access to some very
expensive surveillance equipment. Do you think you can make the
arrangements?"
"Sure.... hum... just give me your list and I'll make the necessary calls."
Now that's weird thought Mulder Why would an NSA agent need the local
police to commandeer his equipment for him?
He kept his mouth shut about the anomaly, planning to discuss it with
Scully later on.
Methos began to breathe a little easier. This new agent had managed to draw
attention away from him for a while. Hopefully it would stay that way.
****************************
Three hours later, when it was nearly half past seven Jared announced that
he was done making the surveillance bugs. When he explained his plan to
Banks back in his office, everyone except Mulder was shocked and impressed
by his ingenuity. Mulder simply mused quietly about the situation. Now I
KNOW they didn't teach him that during training. This Jared Price guy acts
more like a magician than a g-man. And what's with his name? Prince? As in
the knight in shinning armor variety? Something's not adding up. They all
had remained pretty much sequestered in Banks' office while Jared worked on
his contraption. Agent Prince stated that the Centre's usually M.O. was to
infiltrate a target area with plants and bribes. he suggested that they not
reveal any of his plan to the regular work force, but only to the most
trusted officers. While waiting for Jared to finish, Scully decided to go
and check on Murphy who spent the time in a holding cell.
"Agent Scully, what a pleasant surprise. I'm glad I shall have the
opportunity to thank you personally for your intervention earlier. I was
frighten for my life!"
"No problem Mr. Murphy. That's our job. Detective Ellison was completely
inappropriate and out of line. His captain should consider reassigning
partnerships if Ellison is that attached to Detective Sandburg. Such blind
passion for one's partner can lead to mistakes in how cases are
investigated, not to mention the severe strain it puts on sensitive cases
like this one."
"Perhaps, but Blair told me that Jim's case resolution rate tripled since
they started working together. They make a great team."
"Believe me, the best partnerships need to be shaken up a bit from time to
time. It prevents coworkers from getting too personally attached; loss of
objectivity will wreck even the most honed team. It makes them too
dependent on each other to be effective, and thereby decreasing both
members abilities."
"Well, I don't know about that agent. But from what I've observed...."
"Mr. Murphy, this isn't exactly a social call. I'm here to take your
statement about the Seavcouer murder. Please tell exact what was your
relationship with the deceased and why did you try to evade us in the
first place."
"My, my agent Scully. You are a persistent one. I've got nothing sinister
to hide. How shall I start...humm.. well... Bob, he was an old acquaintance
of mine. In fact, I hadn't heard from him in years until the night before
his death. He...uhm... he told me he had gotten into trouble with some very
dangerous people and needed a loan quickly. he was hiding from them, which
is why I went to meet him at night at the park..."
"Uh hun. And just why did he think he could just pop up out of no where and
'borrow' money from you? Would you care to explain that Sir?"
Uh oh. think fast old man. Let's try throwing her off track "Well, uhm...
you see... and please don't share any of this with Detective Ellison. He
distrusts me enough already. I meet.. Bob... back when I was studying at
Cambridge. I..uhm.. got into a little spat of trouble and Bob pulled me out
of it. If my parents had found out, needless to say I would've spent my
summer at our villa in Ghana. Dreadful place, you see. Any ways, I promised
Bob that anytime he want me to return the favor all the had to do was ask.
That evening, unfortunately, was the first time he asked."
"Uh hun. You do realize that this little 'story' of you gives you a
plausible motive for murder?"
"What! Oh no, you got it all wrong agent. Bob was my friend. When I was
younger, we were almost inseparable..." Oops
"Really? I examine the deceased and he appeared to be at least ten to
fifteen years your senior. How was it that you two were 'inseparable'
during your university years, yet you hadn't kept in touch with him in
about, what, four/five years?"
"Uhhhh... you know how it is agent. You make best friends, you grow up,
move on, that kind of thing."
"Uh hun... You didn't explain the age difference."
"O...see ...Bob, he was kind of a teaching fellow in the English
department...."
"Kind of?"
"Well yes. He offered afternoon tutoring sessions but he wasn't an official
instructor..."
"Go on"
"Well, I need a little help with my studies in Chauer, such a dry old chap
was he. Bob was great about helping me to understand the little twit.
Anyway, that was the start of the most unlikely friendship. Kind of like
Jim and Blair's, you know?"
"Uh hun... go on"
"Hummm, So I meet him a the park, as requested. He was foggily, nervous and
upset. So much so that I also became nervous. I told him I could have the
money for him in about a week. I didn't have access to that much on a quick
access bases and would have to wire my father's trust account in
London...."
"Uh hun.. and just how much was he asking for?"
"About twenty-five hundred pounds."
"Oh really? And you were willing to hand over that much money, without any
strings?"
"Well, sure. Bob had been a great friend, and it's just money..."
"Uh hun... so he didn't have any confidential information about you by
chance..."
"Oh NO agent Scully! You have to understand. Bob and I had been.... okay
old man, you're losing her here. Make this one believable. really close.
There wasn't anything we didn't share back then..cough (Methos cleared his
throat). There was no way I could possibly turn him down, not with our
history."
"Uh hun.... tell me Mr. Murphy, was this the first time 'Bob' had requested
money?"
Great old man. Not only have you lost your tough, but now you've
solidified a motive for murder. Think man!
Methos frowned and looked straight into Scully's eyes. "I see what you're
implying agent, but you are completely way off base. Bob had NEVER asked me
for money. Not during our entire friendship. In fact, I've had to borrow a
few quin from him a time or two when I've been strapped. Bob was an honest
man and I would have never harmed him"
Methos used his most sincere 'trust me, I just save a puppy from drowning
in a lake' look. He knew he could make himself look like a naive, innocent
grad student when he wanted to.
"Hmmm, okay. I apologize of any unkind suppositions. It's just that...."
"I know agent" Methos said while shaking his head sadly. "I'm the only lead
to his death."
Scully was suddenly struck by a realization. "Mr. Murphy, as plausible as
your 'story' may seem; it doesn't explain why you ran from Cascade and
tried to conceal your escape route."
Uh oh, swift one isn't she, "Well the next afternoon... when I came home
from visiting a friend.... I found my apartment door open. I knew Bob had
been brutally murdered but I had know idea who it was that assaulted him. I
was scared, frankly." Methos then put on his despair & fear face. "I didn't
know where to go and who was safe. So I did what I thought was the smartest
thing; I ran."
"Uh hun,... and why did you run to Cascade?"
"uhmm... because... cause I have a few friends in the graduate programs
here, so I figured that I could visit with them until the murderers could
be found."
"Uh hun,... by the way Mr. Murphy you haven't told us what 'Bob's' last
name was?)
This better be a good one "Oh, oops, sorry. Markus, Bob Markus."
"Uh hun,... hmmm." Scully rose up from her seat. "Thank you for the
deposition. You may still be questioned, of course, regarding Mr. Markus's
death, but I will record your denial of any involvement with his demise,
okay?"
"Sure, I understand,... and thank you agent Scully for your sensitivity in
this issue. " Methos took Scully's right hand into her and looked deeply
into her eyes. She Blushed. Methos thought within himself. Don't get
cocky, old man, But I think you've still got it, as he congratulated
himself on his performance. As Scully stood up to leave his cell, agent
Mulder popped his head through the doorway.
"Agent Price has finished with the tracking devices and now we've got only
an hour and a half to get everyone in place before the meet. Murphy. your
presence, of course, is required."
*************************************
Jared tried to convince Captain Banks and the others that they would
necessarily fail on this first attempt to recover Sandburg. Both the two
FBI agents and the major crimes unit scoffed at his seemingly overly
pessimistic out look.
"Look, I not doubting anybody's ability here. I'm just stating facts. I've
dealt with these people on a number of occasions and the current leader's
quite crafty. Our only sure chance of success is to ensue that plan B is
effectively carried out."
Ellison glared at agent Price. Who does this guy think he is telling us
that we can't do our job right. And his heart beat, there's something not
quite together with this guy. "So what do you want me to do? Just hand
myself over?"
"Oh no, they'd surely know our plans if you do that. No. Everyone must go
into this operation at top performance, giving everything you got to secure
Sandburg on the first try."
"What a minute," Mulder fumed, "If that's what you want, what was the point
of your big - the mission will fail- speech? First you tell us it won't
work, now you say give all effort to see that it does?"
"There's no confusion, Agent Mulder. When plan A fails, we must be ready to
immediately switch to plan B. Our window of opportunity will be pretty
small afterwards. But the success of plan B absolutely depends on
convincing the Centre that there IS NO plan B. If they suspect that we've
got a backup , then they're actions will be less predictable. Got it? Okay,
Detective Ellison, is the tracking devise too much of an irritant?"
Jim looked at Price with both appreciation for his concern and annoyance
for his coddling. The small transmitter tapped between his toes bothered
him worse than a half torn hang nail and he was almost desperate to find a
way to shield his senses from feeling it. "I'm fine, agent. now can we get
on with this. There's no telling what they've done to Blair by now."
************************************
Lyle ran his index finger down the right side jaw of an unconcoius Blair.
What is it about you, pip squeak? How do you manage to worm your way into
so many people's lives? "Hmmm, Dr. Kim, have you begun to analyses any of
the samples you've collected from this subject yet?"
"Uh, no sir. I've been busy setting up the quick extraction procedure you
requested for subject C and ...."
"Fine," Lyle waved his hand in a dismissive manner, "We'll have plenty of
time to analyze the samples once we're back at the Centre. Just make sure
your through with all three subjects doctor. If there's something there, I
want the ability to duplicate it without any variations. Understood?"
"Yes Sir!"
It was time for the pick up. Lyle rode with the attack helicopter to the
meeting site. He radioed to his operatives on the ground. "Willie, are the
lights in place?"
"Yes sir!"
"I want you personally to perform a perimeter check. ETA on targets is
twenty minutes and I assure you, if this little seizure fails, you won't be
returning to Blue Cove on a commercial flight. Do I make myself clear?"
Lyle smiled to himself as he heard the sweeper's sharp intact of breathe in
response to his treat. Lyle loved having the power to make people squirm.
After this mission, no one will doubt my accomplishments again.
*************************************
Jim and Methos pulled into the secluded parking lot at fifteen minutes to
eight as instructed. The sun had just finished setting and Jim's eyes were
still adjusting to the change in light. Jim turned towards Murphy and gave
him his coldest stare, "If you, in any way hinder this mission or if I find
out you were involved in this I promise I will disembowel you in less that
five minutes. Do I make myself clear, Murphy?"
Methos swallowed. Okay, so he's a little uptight. "Ji..Dectective
Ellison, Blair means more to me than you know. I would never let anything
happen to him."
Jim only looked a Murphy with more contempt, " But you already have, no
haven't you? Get out the car Murphy, its time to go."
Methos opted not to challenge Jim's assessment of him. His statement hurt,
but Methos knew arguing about it would only divide his attention. He
prepared himself to feel the tale tell signal of another immortal
approaching. He was more than nervous as the second car pulled up and there
wasn't any indication that there were immortal's in the cab.
At eight o'clock a dark colored sedan pulled into the meeting place. Jim
immediately focused his senses on detecting Blair's presence in the car.
Somehow Blair's heart beat and his unique smell were being muted. Jim
increased the dials of his senses to maximum wanting to find out his
friend's exact health condition. Two men in black suits exited the dark
sedan in front of Ellison and Methos. The first one yelled, "alright, exit
the car slowly with you hands up so I can see them."
Jim barely heard the man speaking because he had just zeroed in on Blair.
He could tell that Sandburg had been recently drugged because his vital
signs were registering in a faint, dulled stated. Methos tapped Jim on the
shoulder when he realized that other's commands hadn't registered to the
sentinel. "Ellison, Ellison! It's time to signal the team man. Wake up!"
Jim shook his head trying to clear away the partial zone out. He radioed
the backup team parked a 15 meters away behind a hill. "Captain, it's a go.
Send in the patrol chopper asap." Ellison and Methos opened their car doors
and very slowly began to empty the car. Jim again opened his senses wide to
listen for their approaching backup. As soon as he heard the helicopter
nearing about 4 meters he yelled, "We're moving no farther. Show us
Detective Sandburg NOW!"
"Of course Ellison," relied the faceless man. Jim threw open his senses as
soon as the second man opened up the sedan back seat to pull out Blair.
Suddenly tens of stadium floodlights popped on over head. Methos closed his
eyes and muttered "Oh limme!" Additionally, the thunder of what sounded
like an amplified recording of the Queen's symphony resounded in the park.
Jim crashed to his knees from the pain of the intense sensory attack. He
was so mollified that he was unable to hear to sound of every tire in the
back up teams cars blowing out after driving over concealed metal spikes 7
meters from the meeting site. The police copter was likewise neutralized
when another helicopter flew directly into their flight path and blinded
the pilots with search lights.
Methos immediately took on an attack stance and was able to knock down the
first approaching assailant. Three more jumped him from behind and one
stuck a needle into his neck. The ROG though to himself, awe man, after
all these years to be taken down like this? I must really be.... He didn't
have time to finish his thought before the drugs rushed through his system.
***********************************************
"YES! YES!" Lyle danced around his makeshift office in the warehouse after
ensuring the prisoners had been secured. There wasn't anyone else in the
room with him but still vocally expressed his euphoria. "I can't believe
this one worked. Alright! Call me a mistake, did they? Say I was unstable?
HA! I showed them. Not only have I gained the favor of the man in black,
but I've got fresh new DNA for a new pretender project. YES!"
Lyle grabbed his cell phone after the first ring. "WHAT!?"
"Uh,.. I apologize for disturbing you sir. I just wanted to report that
I've completed the sample extraction form subject B and am being the one on
subject C."
"Good doctor. I've already contacted our client. He should be here in the
next hour to retrieve his order. We haven't much time. He wants the entire
facility vacated upon his arrival."
"Understood, sir"
Now it's time to probe this Mr. Murphy for information. What could be so
important about him to draw the personal attention of the man in black?
***************************************************
Simon was the first one to jump out of the detained cars. Jared and the
rest of the team followed him. "@#%&." Banks swore. "Price, you knew they
would pull a stunt like that. Why didn't you warn us? And Jim, if he's
traumatized in any way because of your failure to disclose..."
"Pardon me sir, but we haven't got time for this. W must implement plan B
now. I suspect Murphy's buyer is headed for the storage site right now."
"And just how will we get there first?" Mulder asked with a frown. He
didn't like the way this Price guy worked. He was soloing too much and
Mulder never cared to be left in the dark.
"I have already triangulated their location from data received form the
tracking device I attached to both Jim and Murphy. There is an abandon
warehouse two kilometers from the meeting site. It's unregistered which is
why we didn't find it earlier on the area map. I suggest we reassemble the
team and head there now. I've already made maps of the area highlighting
the most obscure approaches."
"Well thank you very much for taking over the operation and assigning roles
with out even a hint of consultation with the locals!" Banks was fuming.
"Look captain, I understand your anger. But as I said, I Know these people.
To have informed you of my plan in advanced would have jeopardized it. If
you could retain your irritation momentarily. As I stated earlier, our
window is very small. I would be surprised if Murphy's buyer was already
there now. We need to stop talking and go NOW! There is an addition set of
cars stationed 11 meters away outside the meeting area perimeter waiting
for us. I made arrangements for them earlier. I suggest we start running."
Simon was livid, but he couldn't argue with Jared's assessment. He
immediately turned to his men and order them to race towards the awaiting
cars. Mulder was equally frustrated and bemused by Price. Before he began
to run he glanced over to Scully. She simply raised her shoulders and
signaled 'beats me' with her eyes. Mulder decided to stick closer to agent
Price.
**********************************************
Methos woke up in a cold, brightly lit room. He was strapped to a metal
chair with leather cords and was totally bereft of clothes. "Tsk, I hate
drugs." He spoke out loud to no one in particular.
"And why is that?" Lyle asked as he approached from behind.
Methos jumped slightly at the voice. He had expected to wake up to the
telltale feel of an immortal's presence if he were t wake up at all. The
mortal startled him.
"Who are you and just what do you want?" The ROG asked.
"Now, that's exactly what I would like to know from you Mr. Murphy." Lyle
pulled another chair and sat down in front of Methos. "I would like to know
what makes you so special that my client wants a private meeting with
you,..( he looked up and down Methos' naked form)..ahem... unarmed"
Methos smirked at the ignorant mortal, ah ha, I've got a bit of time
still "Just what are you asking, or should I say propositioning"
"Lyle stood up with a look of disgust. "I am the one holding all the cars
here, fella. I suggest you answer my inquiries," he said sternly.
"Oh, really?" Methos was laying on the pomp and sarcasm thick. I've got to
get rid of this twerp quick "I think... that Your Client... didn't feel
that you were important enough, no.... secure enough to be let in on our
little business. And now (Methos then looked Lyle up and down in a similar
fashion) that I see his courier for myself, I agree wit his assessment.
"I...I..." Lyle grabbed Methos by the neck, "you better tell me everything
n...."
"No, YOU better remove your fifthly paws off of me now. You well know if so
much as a hair leaves my body or a fingernail is chipped, your client will
have your butt in a meat grinder." Lyle reluctantly released Methos' neck.
"Now I suggest that you and your little troop of merrymen go run along home
before your client gets here. It could get real ugly if you don't" Methos
then gave Lyle a toned down version of his Death on a horseback glare.
"And, I strongly suggest that you immediately release detectives Ellison
and Sandburg."
Now Lyle puffed his chest back up, he's helpless and he knows it, he
though. "And just WHY is that?"
"Because when your client finds out that you jeopardized this meeting in
order to go after them; and trust me he will find out; you're going to wish
that your butt was all he wanted cut off." Methos looked straight into
Lyle's eyes with one of his most hateful and 'I mean business' stares. Lyle
swallowed hard.
"en...Enjoy your meeting," Lyle said with a biteless sneer as he made a
quick exit from the detention room. That man gives me the creeps He
immediately got on the telle, "doctor, what's the status on subject C's
samples?"
"Almost done sir. It's been a little hard completing the collection while
keeping him under. This man revives quicker than any one I've ever seen to
the ...."
"Tell me the details later" Lyle barked. "We have got to get both to those
subjects up and out of here in twenty minutes!"
After Lyle casually fled from the room, Methos shook he head with a
sardonic laugh. Good to see you still have it, old man. I was beginning to
wonder Next, Plan to get down to business, Methos began to work out of the
cords binding him. His hopes of a quick houdini escape were dashed as he
felt the metal link cord that ran on the upper side of his bounds.
"Crap" he muttered. His assailants used leather restraints to prevent and
type of bruising or tearing but their cords were fortified with metal for
security.
Now how I'm I going to get out of this? Think old guy, or you soon won't
be able to again
********************************************
Whew! Time for a little break; stretch your neck, grab a pop... whatever. I
would like to stop now, but since this story has been incomplete for OVER
ONE FULL YEAR, I shan't. Pity. ;-]
Jared, Mulder, and five other Cascade PD officers flew over in advance to
the warehouse. Mulder kept one eye on the flight and the other on Price. He
noticed that Price brought along a long duffle bag that he insisted on
holding during the entire trip.
He is not getting off this plane without my inspection of that bag. It
hadn't escaped Mulder's awareness that be bag's shape conformed perfectly
to either a large semi automatic weapon, or.. a sword. price had refused on
several occasions to identify the item stored inside. He would mysteriously
claim "NSA business, agent Mulder. You know how that is." Mulder's eyes
narrowed. Humf... so smug and pretentious that one. Who's to say he's not
really in on this thing with Murphy? Humf.. NSA my @#$&. This smells like
another cover up ot me.
Fortunately, for Methos, the Cascade team's copter made it to the warehouse
before the man in black. As the team began disembarking from the copter
Mulder made a wild grab for Price's bag. Jared yanked it out of his reach
just before he was able to touch the outer shell. "Agent! I could have your
shield for that! What about NSA business did you not understand."
Jared and Mulder faced each other outside the emptied craft. The rest of
the crew had already left to set up position for the ground team.
"I have some serious questions about your role here Price" Mulder
confronted Jared. "You have been displaying some very questionable actions.
I don't even think you're following NSA protocols. I want some answers now
Price before this goes any further. And don't give me any half answers, no
one is outside scrutiny."
Jared closed his eyes and took a deep breathe. before answering. "I' sorry
that you feel this way agent. I had hope that this would work out smoothly.
I hadn't factored in encountering and overly inquisitive federal agent."
"Well to bad your not going to get your way here Price. Now about my
answers."
"Yes, there's just one way to answer this scenario..." Jared looked Mulder
straight into his eyes before he set down the bag. Mulder's head dropped to
follow his motion. Jared's right fist quickly bent into a fist and he
plastered Mulder near his left temple. the agent fell to the ground like a
dead tree limb. "My apologizes"
Jared picked up the bag and ran towards the back of the building.
***************************************************
Simultaneously, Lyle had just confirmed that Ellison and Sandburg were
secured in one of the exiting Centre vehicles as the man in black's copter
landed. He gave orders for the vans to move out. Their trajectory was going
to place them right inside the blockage Banks had set up outside the
warehouse's camp. Lyle radioed Willie on the separate helicopter waiting
for him to board. "Be ready to sprint out of here as soon as I board!"
"Understood, sir"
The man in black stepped out of the aircraft. He was carrying a long black
case and had a dark hood draped over his head. Lyle extended his hand in
greeting but the man ignored it.
"He's inside." the man confirmed rhetorically.
"Sir, it has been a pleasure...."
"Get out of here now Mr. Lyle. I have already transmitted payment to both
the Centre's and your personal bank accounts. I want you and all of your
men out of here NOW. Do you understand me?"
Lyle nodded his head in wonderment. He was unable to see the man's face but
was certain that the voice uttering from under the cape was not that of an
old man but someone younger, maybe even younger than himself.
Without another moments hesitation Lyle ran and up into the helicopter and
order the pilot to go.
***************************************************
@#$% Methos swore to himself. he felt the other immortal's presence even
before he heard the craft's blades cutting the air. It's an old one. An
old one who's breaking the rules. The ROG shook his head again. His wrists
had already healed from the numerous cuts he had received while trying to
slide thorough the bands. May my wretched soul rest in piece he thought.
However, as if he was watching the dawning of the first day of his
existence, Methos stared open mouthed at the side window as it was forcibly
lifted up from the outside. Methos let out a huge sigh of relief.
Agent Price, what are you...no I don't care.... I am glad to see you. Get
me ot of this quickly, please!" Jared immediately ran across the room and
examined the tethers holding Methos. He easily discovered its weakness and
freed Methos. Mr. Murphy, a police team is positioned just beyond those
trees. I suggest you head off in the other direction."
"Wait, " Methos grabbed Jared's hand holding the duffle bag. "What's that?"
Jared frowned. "A friend of my recommended that I bring this 'just in
case'. he didn't explain it any more but I've learned to comply with
whatever he says.
Methos thought about the immortal approaching him. I could just leave,
scott free. But then that immortal would still be out there, on the loose.
Umf, I've been hanging around the boyscout way to long. "Listen, Jared, if
that's what I think it is, leave it. My business isn't done here. but I
suggest you better take off now. Whatever the outcome, this place is going
to be flattened like Nagasaki within the hour."
Jared nodded and headed back towards the window. "Hey, Jared... whoever you
are, thanks."
***************************************************
Next follows a really cool fight scene between Methos and the man in black.
I love well written fight scenes.. they're heart palpitating, eye straining
causing, on the edge of your seat sitting...etc. Unfortunately I can not
write a good fight scene. ^ ^
So here's where your- the reader if there are any- imagine shall join in
the story. I would welcome any story inserts of well written fight scenes
and even give the authoer (gasp) EQUAL billing on this magnificent work
(snicker,snicker) Any who, scene starts with bad guy opening door,
surprised that Methos' loose, includes some snide comment about Methos
gallantly protecting immortal society from rule breakers, and of course
finished with Methos blowing up half the town after decapitating bad guy.
Excessive amounts of blood spilt, but since blood stains lets keep it down
to a minimum, okay?
***************************************************
Mulder awoke just as the quickening's rumble began. He was less than 10
meters from the warehouse but, once realizing that the energy wave was
emitting from the warehouse he wisely decided to run in the opposite
direction. The first blow from the storm sent out a pulse that added 3
meters to Mulder's retreat.
THE NEXT DAY
Banks, Mulder, and Scully sat around the captain's desk that morning trying
to piece together the missing clues in resolving the case. Lyle's
helicopter had gotten away and the lower ranking sweepers caught by the
police were in unison refusing to provide the police with any information.
The Centre made sure it had control of all of its operatives via familial
threats or the such like in order to ensure absolute animosity in case
failure occurred. Mulder's contacts, i.e. the lone gunmen, confirmed that
Jared was not an NSA officer and all three of the law enforcement officers
were surprised by the reports of Jared's previous heroic deeds provided by
the gunmen.
"What I don't understand" said Scully, "is why someone with a M.O. like
Jared's would risk himself to help a cold blooded murder like Murphy."
"That is if he kills in cold blood." Mulder countered.
"Mulder, you saw the dead body found in the warehouse reckage. That kid
looked no more than twenty-five years old. How can you suggest it wasn't
cold blooded?"
"Pardon me, Agent Scully but your statement assumes two things- one that
Murphy really wasn't kidnapped but that this meeting was all a set up. In
which case, it definitely wouldn't make scenes that this Jared person would
help him. Second- that Murphy is the one who beheaded this man. For all we
know the story he gave you was right and the Centre was just trying to tie
up loose ends. Either way," and Banks threw his hands up in the air, "I
really have no idea about what happened here."
"your right, sir. I can't just make conclusions about Murphy's guilt. For
all we know, Jared was trying to protect and innocent from one of the
Centre's plots. What's also weird, and please don't share your explanation
Mulder, is how there was an explosion of that magnitude without any
residual plastics or radiation."
"Scully, my explanation is the only one that makes sense give the evidence
surrounding us."
"So, agent Mulder, you would have us believe that both Murphy and the
beheaded guy are part of some alien infiltration group that never ages but
would self- explode it ever beheaded?" Banks asked the fed incredulously.
"Doubt me all you want, but I tell you, its the only answer that makes
sense."
Scully shook her head sadly.
"But you know what?" Mulder said as soon as the realization struck,
"speaking of loose ends, Murphy seemed to be unusally interested in
Dectective Sandburg. After all, the Centre successfully used him as bait to
capture Murphy. Do either of you have any idea on that issue?"
"Actually agent," replied Banks, "I've wondered about that myself. How did
they know that Sandburg was connected to him in the first place?"
"Ahem, are you two forgetting that the kidnappers used Sandburg's
relationship with Ellison as the lure to get to Murphy. But I'm pretty sure
that they knew taking him would make Murphy all the more compliant."
"@#$&%, they must have plants all through the station!" Banks swore. "I'm
going to have to do a background check on every officer who would have had
contact with this case. Great. And just when two of my best officers are
out of commision..."
"Wait a minute!" Mulder stood up aburptly, "Why didn't I think about this
earlier. The Centre must have people working as office clerks throughout
police departments. That's how they intercepted our faxes on Murphy in the
first palce. You guys usually don't do background checks on clerks, you
even order them up on a temporary basis."
"That's right. All we need to do is track the source of our most recent
clerk temps that that shall lead us to the moles."
"Great," Mulder sighed as he sat back down, "at least one mystery was
solved. Scully, I still think we should pursue ..."
"Mulder! Don't even suggest we should follow up on that drunkerd's
testimony of seeing a blue halo surronding the explosion site. The man was
so inebriated he could barely hold his head up through our interview. Face
it, this one x-file is going to have to be shelved in the incomplete
folder."
Mulder shook his head at Scully. He knew there was more to the witness'
testimony, if only he had more concrete information. The truth is still
out there he thought to himself.
********************************************************
Jim had just left Blair's side five minutes ago to await Naomi's arrival in
the hospital lobby. After receiving Blair's earlier call, Naomi made
arrangements to return to Cascade to visit her son. She was panic-stricken
to learn of his attack and Jim was not looking forward to the scathing
greeting he expected to receive from her. Methos, disguised as an intern
had been watching Blair's door from across the hall. When he heard Jim ask
the nurse to keep an eye out while he went to receive Naomi he was
overjoyed by the opportunity. He knew he should have immediately left
Cascade after the near miss, but he couldn't go. He couldn't give up on the
opportunity to explain t his son, to see him and make amends one last time.
The sweepers had really beaten down Blair during his captivity. The bruises
and beatings he had received left him partially unconscious. That's why
when he first awoke, he though he was still dreaming....
# It was that wonderful dream he use to have as a child. Oh, Blair thought
to himself, it had been so long since he fantasized about that voice that
he believed he had completely forgotten it. It was the voice of his father,
or the one he hoped was his father. He was flying through the air; up and
down, up and down. he was laughing; his voice sounded light and merry.
Suddenly the motion stopped and he found himself completely wrapped in a
man's arms. The man's right hand was caressing his face. 'I love you
Blairybear, your dadda loves you so much.' Blair giggled. He felt so safe,
so protected. 'I'm so sorry all this happened Blairbear, I never wanted you
to get hurt.' Blair was confused. He had never heard and apology in his
dream before. 'Your dadda loves you sooo much!" Blair smiled again. Ahhh,
that's what he remembered. Huh? Blair felt a cold, wet drop of liquid fall
on his cheek. This also was new. Was it raining in the park? What's wrong?
What's wrong, Dadda? #
Just as Jim and Naomi neared Blair's door Jim heard his guide's heart beat
quicken. Something is disturbing Blair! Jim panicked. He also heard
another voice in the room with Blair. It was a male voice, speaking in
soothing, quiet tones, but some how it sounded familiar. Blair's heartbeat
increased. "Naomi, something's wrong with Blair!" Jim abruptly said as he
left her and went racing towards Blair's room.
" Wha...what are you doing here? Get your hands off of him!" Jim's eyes
were burning red. He pulled his gun on Methos. "MOVE, move over to the wall
and put you hands out were I can see them."
"Jim..." began Methos, "let me explain.."
"You can explain all you want, behind a cell wall." Jim barked.
Methos slowly backed towards the wall. Naomi finally caught up and ran up
to Jim when she saw that his gun was extended.
"Jim what's going on? What's happening to Bl..... oh my gods..." Naomi
looked up at the man Jim was holding at gun point. He looks just like.....
it couldn't be....
Before his brain kicked into gear Methos blurted out, "Naomi"
"Shut up" Jim commanded Methos, "Just shut up. Naomi, Naomi do you know
this perv"
"It can't be, it can't be you.... Your... your dead. I felt your pulse....
your face...." Naomi reached up an grabbed Methos' face. She held it in her
hands, twisting his face back and forth like a mannequin. Then she looked
into his eyes. "Oh gods, it is you! But how?," she gestured up and down his
torso, "how could it be?"
"Naomi, Naomi do you know this man?" Jim was deeply confused by Naomi's
response to Murphy.
Blair began to regain consciousness. He shook his head back and forth on
the pillow. Jim momentary forgot Murphy, who was still dumbstruck and
stationary before Naomi, and went to his friend's side. "Blair, Blair, its
me, its me Jim. What is it, chief?"
When Blair's eyes opened Jim swore he was looking into the innocent orbs of
an infant. Blair answered in a quiet voice, "Dadda, Dadda's crying. Why is
dadda crying?"
"What? What are you saying chief?"
"Da... Jim, jim" Blair clutched Jim's hand that was resting on his left
cheek. "Jim I remember my father's voice!" Blair tried to stand up but Jim
kept his guide from injuring himself.
"Naomi, I..I didn't mean for us to meet again this way. I wanted to tell
you.. but you ran away... I couldn't find you, I looked everywhere, but you
were gone..."
"Oh David!" Naomi clung to the one true love of her life. Unwiped tears
were streaming down her face.
"Mom? Mom what are you doing here? And why are you hugging... David?"
"Blair!" Naomi beamed. She grabbed Methos' hand and dragged him over to
Blair's bedside. Jim stood up and tried to push Murphy away. "Naomi, do you
know what you're doing? Do you know who that is?" Jim bellowed.
"Calm down Jim!" Naomi was still smiling. Gone was any confusion about
Methos' ageless appearance or of his bizarre arrival in her son's room.
Naomi felt nothing but joy and happiness. She lifted Blair's right hand and
placed it into Methos. Blair looked from the hand placement to David then
back again to his mother. Jim's jaw began to twitch furiously.
"Blair, may I introduce... oh this is silly. Honey.... this is David, David
Blair- your father."
Jim's mouth literally hit the floor.
***************************************************
Lyle frowned after he hung up the telephone. The Centre and its sister
agencies were in an uproar. The man in black, the cornerstone glue holding
together so many shadow agencies was dead. The official report was that he
was found dead in a warehouse outside Cascade, WA, beheaded. Lyle wasn't
adding any more information. The triumpherant knew he had a meeting with
the man, and from the 2 billion dollar deposit added to the Centre's
treasury they assumed the meeting had gone well. Lyle himself was nervous.
The man in black hadn't told many people about his deal with Lyle and he
was afraid he might be assigned the blame. All day people were stealthily
glancing at him and discreetly whispering behind his back.
This is the worst day of my soon to be over life Lyle though sadly to
himself. Just one day ago he had be rejoicing over his achievements; and
now, now he was afraid for his life. How did my life get so topsie turvy
Just as Lyle began flipping through his hidden journal of potential hide
out listings, his private cell phone line ran. He answered, jaded and
melancholy "Mr. Lyle here."
"Mr. Lyle", said a gravely voice, "I'm jut calling to let you know you
still have a friend. Just lay low for a few weeks and I'll take care of
everything from my end."
"Who..who is this?...what"
"Lyle, don't ask questions. Just follow my instructions. Alright?"
Lyle pondered the nameless voice on the other side. What did he have to
lose? He didn't feel comfortable about the caller but on the other hand the
man knew his private number. One a few very choice callers got his private
number.
"So were would you like me to lay low at?"
"Open your top left draw. you'll find tickets, hotel reservations and
travel cash. Don't even pack a suit case. Just go and after every thin has
calmed down again, I'll call you back."
Lyle opened his drawer and found the promised tickets. "Got it, I
understand. Tha...." Click
The cigarette man man looked up at his contact. "The last loose end had
been sealed. His contact merely nodded his head.
THE END
That's right folks! That's all I'm gonna write into this story. Whew! I'm
wiping the sweat from my forehead.
