"Max you cannot just walk into council and expect to receive a pardon and a chance to speak. They'll shoot you on sight and Cade will take your head."
"Then what should we do? Wait for ten, twenty years until the Commonwealth rains death on us?"
"Max-"
"Shut up Malcolm this is something I have to do."
"Why?!" Malcolm demanded.
"Because Malcolm, because I have to believe that our people are worth saving, I have to believe that when shown the truth they have the courage and strength to do what is necessary, if I show the council and the compound what is out there, if I tell them the truth and they still decide to lie down and take it then . . . then I don't know if its worth fighting to save them."
"You'll abandon them? Us?"
"I don't know Malcolm, honestly I don't. I loved them, each and every one of them. I loved them and gave everything to protect them and give them a life I could never have and they tried to kill me for it. What would you do Malcolm?"
"The council are meeting at noon, I can't keep you here, Lara is convinced you're a dangerous traitor."
"I'll be back at half past eleven; I'll meet you in the chamber."
"Max, watch yourself." Malcolm said with a slight tremble in his voice, Max nodded shortly and left silently.
"Malcolm? Come to bed." Lara called in the dark.
Max hurried back to Duncan and Cassandra, they regarded her in silence as she took the reigns of her horse from Cassandra and led the older immortals into the woods. She knew of a naturally hidden cove with a deep cave where they could leave the horses and gear. She silently led them along while running through the coming event in her mind.
"Max?" Cassandra asked breaking the silence.
"Yes Cassandra?" Max asked tiredly.
"What's the plan?"
"I will address the council alone tomorrow at noon. If they imprison me or . . . well give me an hour and come get me, I don't wanna die yet."
"That's stupid." Cassandra said in surprise.
"Look Cassandra I have to give those idiots a shot at being the people we once were, if they don't act then I'm not sure they're even worth saving. So just do this one thing for me, come for me at one." Max snapped and led the horses into the cave.
Cassandra looked at Duncan for support. He gave her a level blank stare and urged his horse further into the cave. Max released Cassandra's mount and began building a fire pit. As Cassandra and Duncan dismounted and began to unpack Cassandra braced Duncan.
"What is she on about? Going in there is a death sentence."
"The immortals in that compound are sheep, they sat and watched the council rot from the inside out, they turned on Methos, on me and finally on Max, anyone who thought for themselves or challenged the council overtly or otherwise. Why do you think Methos headed for the stars? He could have stayed down here and hidden, been completely invisible but he left Earth and went for the most dangerous place he could. She's right, if they won't fight for themselves then why should we fight for them?"
"That doesn't sound like you."
"It's been a bad couple of centuries." Duncan said caustically.
"Duncan I left my family and risked my life to come here, do not tell me that the man I knew and loved is gone. Why survive if we lose ourselves?"
"You don't get it Max is trying to find out if it's all ready too late."
"No Duncan these people whether they are the warriors we were forced to be or just normal people they're us, they're our people and we have to save them. We owe it to them."
"I have tried Cassandra, I barely got out of there with my life. They don't want to be saved, they want to be left alone to rot in their 'utopia'. What do we owe them? We built a world where they could be safe, have families and not ever pick up a sword unless they wanted to, and when we ask them to think for themselves they try to kill us."
"It isn't right to abandon them Duncan."
Mac ignored her and kept moving gear and setting up camp. She scowled and stepped in front of him.
"You have to go with her."
"They'll only arrest both of us."
"Then I'll go."
"Cassandra –"
"She's right another witness will be useful besides she can tell them firsthand whats happening up there." Max said standing up from the fire.
"Now stop bickering and get something cooking, we have a long day and will need rest, Duncan please take first watch, I'd like to work over my kit." Max said tiredly and crouched next to the fire she began cleaning her gear, oiling and sharpening, tightening and securing. Once satisfied she laid down while Duncan cooked. Cassandra watched the odd couple as Duncan prepared a warm meal.
Max in spite of her youth possessed an air of unquestioning command she assumed she would be obeyed, and was, even by a seasoned if disheartened Macleod. She wondered at the skill and power inherent in the smaller woman.
"Max?" Cassandra asked, Max sat up and looked over her shoulder at Cassandra.
"Yes?"
"Were you asleep?"
"Maybe."
"I want to teach you the voice, even a small understanding of it could help you tomorrow." Max sat up and threw off her hide cover. She sat cross legged facing Cassandra.
"The voice is about manipulation, similar to aikido or tai chi you use the force and desire of your target against him. For example," Cassandra started and then cleared her throat and stared at Duncan.
"You are tired Duncan, your eyes are so heavy, your limbs like lead, you are tired Duncan Macleod, lie down." Max watched in fascination as the Scot all but collapsed next to the fire. She smirked and cracked a grin.
"Can you wake him up too?"
"It might be quicker to just shake him, do you want to learn?" Max nodded eagerly and shook Mac awake. The Scot was irritated but left them alone. He worried what Max might do with the voice but it was too important that she succeed with the council. So he let it be and kept preparing their meal. Once the stew was bubbling away he walked the perimeter and stood watch.
"Now you have to open yourself and understand your own power and motivation before you can use the voice on another. To use their weaknesses against them you must know your own. Understand?"
"I think so."
"Good, now relax and try it on me."
"Are you serious? Come on, like you can't defend against it?"
"Of course I can I can also tell when it is working at all."
Max nodded and breathed deeply. She closed her eyes and cleared her head.
"Okay, here goes, you will relax, you will relax and trust, you are safe among us and we are friends."
"Good, that was surprisingly strong you must know yourself very well." A shadow clouded Max's face. She didn't reply.
"Will it be good enough for the council?"
"Maybe, don't come on too strong, keep it subtle and speak from your heart."
"Okay I'm gonna catch a couple hours and hit the sack, wake me an hour before rendezvous, we'll head out."
Max didn't eat too tired from her practice with the Voice and too nervous about the council meeting to keep any down. She woke ten minutes before she needed to and strapped on her kit. Cassandra was ready and waiting.
"Mac come with us as far as you can and then grab a hidey hole where you can watch the compound, Cassandra you and I are going to have to be very sneaky to get into the compound, can you do sneaky?" The older woman nodded.
"Okay lets go."
They set out and moved rapidly, Cassandra found herself gasping for breath when Max finally split off from Duncan. The younger woman paused and allowed Cassandra to recover.
"This is the tricky bit. Follow me very very closely, do as I do and keep alert. If there's trouble we can't handle run Mac will need your help to get me out." Cassandra nodded wondering why she was so willing to take orders from a child a bare fraction of her own age. But she did to the letter.
Max wormed under the fence surrounding the compound, did a mental count and moved like an eel across an open area covered by cameras, thanks to her gymnastics the cameras missed her. Max motioned for Cassandra to freeze. She sidled up to a cinder block building and opened an access panel she swapped a few of the wires around and turned on a circuit breaker. The cameras stopped swiveling, Max frantically gestured at Cassandra to run across. The red headed obeyed and Max undid her wiring.
"I built in a few back doors when I designed the joint." Max whispered and headed further into the complex. She carefully peered around corners and down sidewalks before appearing leading Cassandra along as well. Finally she stopped at a plain entrance to the most impressive building.
"Council chambers." Max whispered and began picking the lock. The sound of boots interrupted her work she palmed the lock pick and pulled Cassandra into a small cove of trees. A security patrol of four armed guards cruised by, the sergeant was unfamiliar to Max which meant he was probably a new promotee, loyal to Gerard and not Max. Max cursed and waited tensely, if he spotted the scratches on the lock they were in trouble. Malcolm appeared from the same direction the patrol had come from.
"Sergeant I need you and your men, there have been reports of theft in the fields I need you to cover the gate so that team can do an extra sweep." Malcolm called.
"Sir is this order authorized?"
"I have the paperwork signed by Commander Gerard himself." Malcolm said handing the man a sheaf of papers. Max stifled a laugh and shook her head. Cassandra shared Max's amusement. When a fighting force required paperwork for every order and schedule change it was a very bad sign. They waited until the patrol had been gone for ten minutes and then emerged. Max made short work of the lock and let Cassandra in. She relocked the door and took a look around.
They had entered a maintenance hall, Max asked Cassandra to wait and began hunting around, the doors at either end were locked. She peered through the small windows set high in each. The halls beyond were dark and deserted. She paused and thought about the layout. She went back and got Cassandra.
"Okay the doors are locked and most of the building is deserted we still have plenty of time before the meeting, I'm gonna unlock one of the halls and find us a hidey hole until Malcolm shows up."
"Fine." Cassandra agreed. Max swallowed hard and nodded. She was terrified if they were caught now Cade could claim they were planning to assassinate the council or something equally insane and the cattle of the compound would likely believe him. She moved quietly carefully picking the lock and locking it behind them.
"If we're caught remember you have to run, I'll do my best to keep them occupied but you have got to get back to Macleod." Cassandra nodded solemnly. She noticed the fear sweat beading on Max's upper lip and forehead. She gripped the younger woman's hand.
"Remember the Voice Max, and what you stand for, these people need us whether they realize it or not. Be strong for us if not them." Max nodded and gave Cassandra a grim smile. She led the red head deeper into the council chambers until they reached the main meeting room. Max hid Cassandra behind the decorative curtains lining the walls and went in search of Malcolm.
"Max!" Malcolm snapped. Max whirled ready to fight and relaxed when he was alone.
"Thanks for that thing with the guards." Max said moving closer to Malcolm. They were in the hallway outside the main chamber.
"This is insane." Malcolm grumbled.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, I'll introduce you like a regular speaker, I can't guarantee they won't cuff you and haul you out though."
"What about public access?"
"I've arranged for the meeting to be open to everyone, those huge front doors at the far end will be opened so the compound can gather and watch."
"Watch? What happened to participation?"
"Its too much work." Malcolm said coldly. Max ground her teeth and shook her head.
"Okay fine, we'll be there, and be ready. Thank you Malcolm."
"Max, if things go . . . wrong, then . . ."
"Cassandra and Mac will come for Aura Malcolm. Look even if Cade kills me this fight isn't over, if the compound refuses to fight then we'll find the renegades and the Betas this is the first skirmish of a war and we do not intend to loose."
"I'm sorry Max, I should have fought harder for you, I was a coward –"
"You have a family, something I have never really had, not like yours anyway, I forgive you Malcolm this will make up for it."
"No it won't but thank you." Malcolm said and gave her a brief fierce hug.
She reentered the chamber and changed Cassandra's hiding place.
"This is no good they're going to open this wall so the compound can watch the meeting it's our only chance to appeal to everyone, come on." She explained quickly. Cassandra followed wordlessly.
They hid under the main stage that individuals used to address the council at large. It was a wide impressive platform. Max felt panic threatening to overwhelm her as council members and security began to arrive. Then she heard Cade's distinctive voice.
"The only thing we have to worry about are the holdouts. Who can look at this magnificent facility and not know our greatness?" Cade said, Max strained but couldn't see through the curtain to see who Cade was speaking with.
"Believe me with the Betas behind us as well it is only a matter of time before the west coast is reclaimed and we can expand."
"You're certain Max has been neutralized?"
"Our last reports have her crossing the cascades with Macleod on some quest for the leader of the renegades."
"So she's gone?"
"Yes, I think its safe to say she is no longer an issue."
"What about her supporters?"
"Gerard is loyal to the compound not Holloway, Malcolm is afraid of us and loves his family, the security members are more interested in their duty and pleasing Gerard than causing trouble, I think it's safe to say things are progressing nicely."
Max tensed and fought the urge to lunge out and break Cade's neck. Threatening Malcolm's family was over the line. Cassandra rested a firm hand on Max's shoulder, the contact helped Max calm down. She closed her eyes and focused on being calm and remembering Cassandra's advice about the voice.
Finally Max heard Malcolm take the stage.
"I beg the Council's indulgence as I call an expert witness forward to testify regarding our security and future in the Commonwealth." The last bit created a stir. Max emerged from her hiding place with Cassandra behind her.
Max's heart was in her throat and her hands were shaking slightly from the rush of adrenaline coursing through her. She was still dressed in furs and skins and armed to the teeth, Cassandra's obviously off planet wardrobe also created a stir. The audience was full of immortals and pre-immortals. Nearly the entire compound was present, including Lara, Aura, and Gerard. Max nodded at the crowd in familiar recognition and casually took her place on the stage.
"This woman is a traitor condemned to death!" Cade screamed in rage.
"I approach under a banner of truce." Max said and slowly disarmed herself including her hidden blades. Cassandra felt a knife of fear in her belly, Max was truly opening herself up for assault.
"I am no enemy to our people. I assisted in the creation of this compound and insured its security. Cade engineered my arrest and would have me executed without a trial to further his own political agenda, but I'm not here about that. I don't care about clearing my name or saving my own life, I'm here for you, for every person standing in the audience, every immortal and pre-immortal on the planet Earth, whether renegade or compound, I'm here to ask you to listen. For the sake of your children and your own lives, cuff me and behead me here and now if you like but hear me out first." Max said firmly, her voice was steady but her heart was in her throat. She would fight like an animal if they tried to take her.
The crowd grew animated as the security personnel on the stage moved in to cuff Max, the officers paused and stepped back. Max spotted Gerard speaking into his radio, no doubt ordering them to standby. She relaxed minutely and began focusing on the crowd and the council. If someone tried to assassinate her now it would work in her favor but it would still waste time. She moved to the center of the stage.
"Listen to me I have here a woman from Mars, she is not a member of the Commonwealth, she is not a Jackal, and not a human she is an immortal. Her name is Cassandra and she is almost as old as my friend Methos." She used the name deliberately bludgeoning the compound with the memory of the ancient's banishment.
"I know, no immortal has ever left the surface of the Earth since the Commonwealth formed but she did, she did the impossible, she made it past the Jackals, she had a family and a life on Mars, and now, she has given all of that up, risked her life to come back. To return to this deserted hell hole this war blasted planet for us. For you and your friends, your lovers and spouses, your children. She comes with a message, a warning, we are at war." Max said ominously and nodded toward Cassandra.
"My name is Cassandra, I was born before records were even kept. I have seen the world rise and become an astonishing civilization, I have seen that civilization crumble and burn before my eyes. I have lived in a time where all immortals were dangerous enemies and mortals were held at arm's reach for fear of involving them in the Game, I watched the Game revealed for what it was and learned with awe and amazement that this community had been created. A near magical place where immortals could live as mortals, with no fear from head hunters, free to raise children and have families, but everything you have built here is in danger."
"War is coming. The Commonwealth wants Earth back and to do that they need to eradicate all humanoid life from its surface, the Lost Ones, the Betas and us. You see the Commonwealth tells New Humanity that the Earth is sterile, the only things here are plants and animals, there is nothing human left, everything was wiped out during the wars and the evacuation, New Humanity believes that everyone who was initially denied access to the colony ships was carted off to work colonies where they live full and happy lives. To return to the Earth they need to perpetuate that lie. The Jackals and others like them are in control of the Commonwealth forces our days are numbered."
"Lies!" Cade called.
"This man lies to feed his own ambition and greed he uses you like toys, tosses your lives away like kindling in a fire! He dreams of an empire in his image, he will destroy us all!" Cassandra hissed to the crowd.
It was over kill but it worked, the crowd and even the council began to turn against Cade and in an eye blink he was gone, running through the crowd with a team of security agents after him. Max was heartened but didn't believe it would last Cade's coconspirator was still at large and the people were still more sheep than lions, only Cassandra's prod had gotten them moving.
"I ask you here, and now, are you sheep to be slaughtered or are you warriors? There was a time when even the least immortal was a dangerous force, you have to become that again, you must cast aside your petty pleasures and soft flesh, you must become what you once were or we are all lost. Put down you plowshares, pick up your pulse rifles and swords because war is at your door." Max snarled. The crowd shifted nervously.
"She's right." Malcolm declared stepping forward.
"Even during the Collapse we were stronger and fiercer than we are now. When Humanity was at its weakest we were still strong if we do not act now you may as well slit your own throats and save the Jackals the trouble." Malcolm snapped.
"What about our children? What right do we have to involve them in this?" Someone shouted.
"They are all ready involved fools or would you prefer to spare them this now and simply kill them when they're twenty-five? Is that more humane?" Malcolm demanded.
"You know why we initiate the change at that age!" One of the council members challenged.
"I refuse to do so; Aura can live a full natural life and die an old woman in her sleep if that is what she likes."
"You tell us we are at war and then decide to change our way of life and deprive us of soldiers?" The councilor challenged.
"Yes I do because the mandatory death is evil, it was inspired by Cade's megalomania, his desire to create a super race of fanatics dedicated to him, Aura will be a free person, allowed to decide the track of her life, if she decides to die at twenty-five then she can but I will not force her or any other child to make that decision." Malcolm said coldly. Other parents in the crowd added their agreement.
"I will train and I will fight to protect our people but part of that is protecting Aura." Malcolm finished.
The council and crowd erupted in debate. Max grinned at Cassandra. It was working, they were arguing, and bickering, they were debating and deciding, they were thinking for themselves and they were passionate. They were feeling.
"Do us a favor go find Mac so he doesn't charge in guns blazing. I'll stay here I have a feeling we have a great deal of work to do."
"Gods willing." Cassandra said, she squeezed the younger woman's hand and headed away. As she reached the exit of the chamber there was a scream. Cassandra looked back toward the stage. A security officer was straddling Max. Max was lying prone on her back, her hands at her sides a pool of blood was flowing across the stage. The security guard was hunched forward.
A shot rang out and the security officer's body bucked but he didn't move. Another shot rang out followed by a volley from several of the various officers in the chamber. The combined impacts were enough to fling his arms up and back and roll him off of Max, a massive blade protruded from her throat.
"Oh fuck." Malcolm cried and darted toward the stage. He knocked two people over on the way up and dropped to his knees next to Max. Her neck was half severed he gasped in horror and pulled the blade free; he forced the severed flesh together with his hands and began praying.
"Come on God just this once help us out." He growled, unheeded tears crawled down his face. Cassandra arrived and gasped in horror; she put a hand on Malcolm's shoulder and looked away covering her face. The guard temporarily dead was cuffed and shackled and frog marched out of the room. Gerard arrived and knelt opposite Malcolm.
"She should be healing." Gerard said and began feeling her for other injuries.
"How did he bring her down so quickly?" Cassandra asked.
"Help me flip her over." Gerard asked, Malcolm steadied her head as Gerard and Cassandra moved her onto her side. A broken blade glittered in a bloody hole in her clothing. Gerard gripped it and jerked it free. It was a slim stiletto, broken off in her heart. They laid her down and waited. Finally the pale blue light of her quickening began to crawl over the severed meat and bone slowly knitting the damaged flesh back together.
Malcolm let out a relieved sob. Gerard remained grimly focused as did Cassandra. Cassandra knew that neck wounds rarely healed correctly Macleod's enemy Kalas had suffered a shallow throat wound and lost his beautiful voice, reverting to a ground glass growl. They simply wouldn't know until she healed and woke up. Finally after what felt like an eternity but was probably less than a minute her chest rose and fell and heart began to beat again.
"Thank god for that." Malcolm sighed and picked her up. The crowd had fallen silent as soon as the scream that announced Max's attack had split the air. Now there was a murmur and a slow hiss as the crowd returned to its senses. They had watched as their messiah arrived braving the wrath of their leader and his forces and announced terrible things, and then watched as she was struck down, martyred before their eyes. If Cade had intended to end her power over the compound by killing her he had badly miscalculated. Of course if he had meant to martyr her for some obscure reason he had succeeded admirably.
They carried her to the infirmary and began cleaning her up. The medic on duty attached her to monitors and started an IV to replace the fluids she'd bled out. They waited as her rough clothing was cut away and the blood was sponged off her pale white skin. She was breathing easily and her pulse was strong. Cassandra waited tensely as the medic cleaned Max's throat. There was a wire thin scar but no other marks.
"Max?" Cassandra called. Max remained sleeping or unconscious. Malcolm and Gerard returned to the chamber to keep the peace and presumably deal with the would be assassin.
As Cassandra returned Macleod arrived expecting trouble. The chamber was alive with debate and speculation. Cassandra took the stage and shouted down the crowd.
"Max is fine! She's alive, she's in the infirmary." Cassandra said and then stepped down and allowed Malcolm to take over. Malcolm recommended breaking for a meal and starting again in a more organized manner. Duncan fought through the roiling crowd and met Cassandra.
"She was attacked –" She started to say Duncan grabbed her arm and started toward the infirmary.
"She's alive Duncan but, her neck was half severed."
"Has she woken up?"
"No." He kept going, his grip painful on her wrist but she remained quiet; the bruise would heal after all.
Max slept on oblivious. Duncan sat next to her ignoring the protests of the techs. Max's stats were stable and strong but she slept on.
"How did he get her?" He asked. Cassandra described the wounds, Mac nodded.
"Stabbed in the heart from behind and then stabbed in the throat." He sighed.
"Duncan there was nothing you could have done. If you had been here it might have been you who was attacked and you could have died. She is alive we will just have to wait and see about the rest."
"Where is Cade?"
"Fled, Gerard might know more."
"Fine that's where I'll be." The rage in his voice was frightening.
"Duncan be sensible now is not the time to charge after a vendetta." He left without replying. Cassandra sighed and took Duncan's seat next to Max. She took the younger woman's hand and began to sing an ancient song of healing, strength, and peace.
A/N see Shattered