Chapter 9

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Joe Dawson had returned to Watcher's Headquarters in England. He didn't want to admit it, but it seemed likely that some of Horton's old followers were still active watchers. Joe spoke to his source, Gwendolyn Post. She had helped him find intel on this cult, even broke the rules for this. There were stories about what might happen if an evil immortal was the last one standing, none of it would end well for the world. Gwendolyn and Joe quietly went to the archive room, hoping to find something that Duncan and the others could use to stop them for good. But Connor, and maybe some of the others, didn't seem to trust any watchers at the moment. Perhaps that was the cult's plan, to sow mistrust amongst their enemies.

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Gwendolyn: So, the immortals don't trust you anymore?

Joe: I think Duncan does, and I like to think that Amanda and Methos do. But Connor definitely doesn't.

Gwendolyn: A pity, they might not trust our intel.

Joe: One thing I don't understand. If these rogue watchers slaughtered the immortals, and moved their bodies out of church grounds, why didn't the watchers suffer any casualties?

Gwendolyn: Perhaps their bodies were removed after.

Joe: Yeah, the only other explanation is that immortals killed each other on holy ground.

Gwendolyn: There have been many evil immortals, not one has ever killed on holy ground.

Joe: True. Do you know what happens to a quickening when an immortal loses their head?

Gwendolyn: It goes to whatever immortal killed them.

Joe: Close. Horton once murdered an immortal, in front of her beloved. The quickening went to her beloved, because he was the closest immortal to her physically. Usually, for obvious reasons, the one closest to them is the one that killed them.

Gwendolyn: What's your point?

Joe: If the watchers chopped one immortal's head off, their quickening goes to another. That should have woken them up, even if they used tranquilizer darts on them. I find it difficult to believe that they could slaughter 30 immortals with none of them waking up. One, sure, but not 30.

Gwendolyn: Then how do you explain it?

Joe: I don't know.

Gwendolyn: The only time immortals ever killed on holy ground, it caused a volcano to erupt.

Joe: So the legend goes. And noone has been too eager to test that theory. Do you think it's true, that the immortals were created by Evil to be used as soldiers in the final battle?

Gwendolyn: It's as good a theory as any. Do you believe in Hell Joe?

Joe: I think there are people who belong there. Nazies, slave traders, serial killers. But I don't think that low level drug users and turnstile jumpers deserve to be tortured for all eternity. I still don't get why anyone would worship Evil.

Gwendolyn: Because it's in their own best interest. Jacob and his followers believe that, if Evil wins the final battle, those who proved themselves will rule over the weak ones. Like you said Joe, nazies, slave traders, serial killers, they'll have dominion over the low level drug users and the turnstile jumpers.

Joe: And if Good wins the final battle?

Gwendolyn: The the evil ones get banished, to be reborn into the new world. A completely clean slate. So either way they win. Good's weakness is that it doesn't want anyone to suffer, not even evil ones.

Joe: You seem to know an awful lot about this cult.

Gwendolyn: It's our job to know. And at a certain point, you start to wonder if they're right.

Joe: You're a member of Jacob's cult?

Gwendolyn: Yes.

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Before Joe could call for help Gwendolyn pulled a gun on him.

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Gwendolyn: Jacob claims to be Cain, the first murderer in history. He was then blessed, or cursed, with immortality. I have my doubts, but he has done a lot. He was the one who made up that rule about immortals not allowed to kill on holy ground. So many immortals thought they'd be safe there, so many that he just snuck up on and took their heads before they knew what was happenning.

Joe: Why?

Gwendolyn: Because the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Jacob is right. The gathering has begun, and soon only one immortal will remain standing. I hope it's Jacob, but either way it is the end. The end of days, and Evil will win.

Joe: And how many will suffer in this new world? How many will be tormented just so you can have some power and luxury?

Gwendolyn: More than either of us could possibly count. I'm okay with that.

Joe: I'm not. I'd rather go down fighting than allow that to happen.

Gwendolyn: For that you'll probably get into Heaven. Where everyone is happy and it's very boring. I'll take my chances with the darkside.

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Gwendolyn then shot Joe, he passed out. Gwendolyn then quickly left. She had a plane to catch for America, and she didn't want to be in this building much longer. Joe survived the initial shooting, and woke up. He struggled to get his bearings, and he called Amy. If any watchers were allied with the cult, she had to be warned, she might be in danger as well.

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Amy: Joe?

Joe: Yeah. Gwendolyn Post, she was my source, but she betrayed me. We need to tell Duncan and the others, they can kill on holy ground. Jacob made up that rule to lure others into a trap.

Amy: They're walking into a trap right now, we need to warn them.

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As Joe struggled, he saw something. It was a bomb, with the countdown at just 54 seconds. Joe knew he couldn't get out in time, no doubt Gwendolyn and her allies placed bombs all over Watcher's Headquarters. This was the end, and they wanted to prove themselves.

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Joe: You have to warn them.

Amy: Why can't you?

Joe: I'm not going to make it. Warn them, and then get somewhere safe.

Amy: Dad, what are you saying?

Joe: I wasn't a father to you, not like you deserved. Please let me do this. Protect yourself, stay safe, and know that I love you.

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Amy started to say "I love you too." But before she could get it all the way out, she heard the explosion. He had never said it, but she knew. Joe Dawson, her father, was dead.