Chapter Fourteen: A Plan?
It was ten minutes later when he had finally calmed down enough to finish the story. Amanda, Joe and Connor were still trapped there like a rabbit in headlights, unsure whether to leave now and escape this madness with some ignorance or to stay and see it through, enthralled and disgusted at the same time.
"Afterwards. I hated myself, still do hate myself. I..I thought it would be a relief to know that it wasn't really me, wasn't my fault. But it isn't. It's just making me grieve more. Grief for the world as it was then, the terror and pain, for the people I killed for him, for my lost self, and now grief for Duncan MacLeod. If Ahriman destroys him, he may be lost forever. Ahriman may have gotten stronger and probably wants revenge on me for escaping him. Already he has several of the Watchers under his control! He knows Duncan's my friend and that will only make it worse for Duncan, and for me. Oh, Amanda, I don't
think I could survive seeing Duncan under Ahriman's control! It would completely destroy him, and it would destroy me as well to see it happening! Oh Gods, we have to stop this. I don't know how but we have to stop this!"
With this last prophetic and horrifying speech, Methos, looking every inch a 5000 year-old, sank back into the chair, trembling.
Again, no one moved, no one uttered a word, all hoping that maybe if they didn't respond to Methos the whole thing would go away, or he would say it was all a big joke. As if wanting to break the terrible stillness, Joe's cane cluttered to the floor with a crash.
"My God", Joe whispered.
"This is just incredible", muttered Connor, while Amanda just went to hold Methos as he tried to stop shaking.
"No wonder you repressed your memories. I...God, what can I say?"
"Don't say anything Joe, I know. Just, just say you'll help".
"Help? Of course, if I can. You do have a plan then?"
"No", Methos laughed, but it was forced, "but I'm sure one will come to me".
"What can we do? I mean, in all seriousness, what on Earth can we do against this thing?" asked Connor.
"You believe me?" Methos asked him, a little surprised at the youngest
Immortal's sudden action.
"Well, either you're a great story-teller, completely insane, or it's the truth. You may not be who I thought you were, but you are my friend, and I believe you".
"Thanks, Connor, at least one MacLeod still trusts me".
"Old Man, no-one trusts you", grinned Joe, breaking the tension slightly, "but we are your friends and we can't let you try and deal with this on your own".
"So, now we know what we're dealing with, we know how it's defeated, all we need now is...", remarked Amanda.
"Duncan!" Connor declared.
"It's no use", Methos said.
"Of course it is. I'll go see him. It's why Joe called me here anyway", replied Connor, who seemed to be returning to normal now he had something positive to do.
"Maybe I should go with you...?" Methos suggested. Joe and Amanda just shook their heads.
"He'll be fine. Let Connor go and try to talk to him. You know he refuses to talk to any of us", reminded Amanda.
As plans were made, Joe returned to what he did second-best, and poured some drinks. This time, even Methos needed something stronger than beer!
It was ten minutes later when he had finally calmed down enough to finish the story. Amanda, Joe and Connor were still trapped there like a rabbit in headlights, unsure whether to leave now and escape this madness with some ignorance or to stay and see it through, enthralled and disgusted at the same time.
"Afterwards. I hated myself, still do hate myself. I..I thought it would be a relief to know that it wasn't really me, wasn't my fault. But it isn't. It's just making me grieve more. Grief for the world as it was then, the terror and pain, for the people I killed for him, for my lost self, and now grief for Duncan MacLeod. If Ahriman destroys him, he may be lost forever. Ahriman may have gotten stronger and probably wants revenge on me for escaping him. Already he has several of the Watchers under his control! He knows Duncan's my friend and that will only make it worse for Duncan, and for me. Oh, Amanda, I don't
think I could survive seeing Duncan under Ahriman's control! It would completely destroy him, and it would destroy me as well to see it happening! Oh Gods, we have to stop this. I don't know how but we have to stop this!"
With this last prophetic and horrifying speech, Methos, looking every inch a 5000 year-old, sank back into the chair, trembling.
Again, no one moved, no one uttered a word, all hoping that maybe if they didn't respond to Methos the whole thing would go away, or he would say it was all a big joke. As if wanting to break the terrible stillness, Joe's cane cluttered to the floor with a crash.
"My God", Joe whispered.
"This is just incredible", muttered Connor, while Amanda just went to hold Methos as he tried to stop shaking.
"No wonder you repressed your memories. I...God, what can I say?"
"Don't say anything Joe, I know. Just, just say you'll help".
"Help? Of course, if I can. You do have a plan then?"
"No", Methos laughed, but it was forced, "but I'm sure one will come to me".
"What can we do? I mean, in all seriousness, what on Earth can we do against this thing?" asked Connor.
"You believe me?" Methos asked him, a little surprised at the youngest
Immortal's sudden action.
"Well, either you're a great story-teller, completely insane, or it's the truth. You may not be who I thought you were, but you are my friend, and I believe you".
"Thanks, Connor, at least one MacLeod still trusts me".
"Old Man, no-one trusts you", grinned Joe, breaking the tension slightly, "but we are your friends and we can't let you try and deal with this on your own".
"So, now we know what we're dealing with, we know how it's defeated, all we need now is...", remarked Amanda.
"Duncan!" Connor declared.
"It's no use", Methos said.
"Of course it is. I'll go see him. It's why Joe called me here anyway", replied Connor, who seemed to be returning to normal now he had something positive to do.
"Maybe I should go with you...?" Methos suggested. Joe and Amanda just shook their heads.
"He'll be fine. Let Connor go and try to talk to him. You know he refuses to talk to any of us", reminded Amanda.
As plans were made, Joe returned to what he did second-best, and poured some drinks. This time, even Methos needed something stronger than beer!