Chapter 16

Jerusalem – Abi's office

Abi kept hanging to the phone for a few minutes after her father already hung up. She was worried and missed him. It wasn't until Ethaniel walked in and spoke that she finally put the receiver back in its place. She looked at him and asked, "I'm sorry E. Did you say something?"

"I asked if you're ok."

"I'm fine," she answered. "Anything you need?"

"No," he replied. "They will be ok. Ben is a great guy and if they encounter any problems he is quite capable of handling it."

Abi smiled. "I know," she said.

"You look tired," remarked her head of security. "Why don't you go get some rest while you still can? I'll call you if something happens."

"No thanks. I have a few reports and some paper work I need to get through. I don't think I can relax enough for sleep, so I might as well get some work done." She then turned her attention to the files on her desk.

"I'll be in the control room with the others," said Ethaniel leaving her office.

Abi started working on her files but tiredness overcame her, so she put her arms on the table deciding to rest her head for a while. A few minutes later all that was heard were her even breaths.

Control room

Ethaniel looked at his friends sitting around the control room, each at his station doing something or another. They were all a bit nervous, especially Mooli since this was his first real battle.

Red lights started flashing and Eric looked at the screen. "Silent alarm just went off in the basement," he said.

"I'll get Abi," informed Ethaniel.

Erik nodded in agreement.

Ethaniel walked in to get Abi and found her sleeping. He wondered for a minute if maybe he should let her sleep, but knew she would never forgive him if he does. However that decision was taken of his hands, since Abi immediately felt his presence and woke up.

"Are we under attack?" she asked.

"Yes. Silent alarm in the basement went on. The others are waiting for us"

"Then we better join them," she said picking up her gun and sword and followed him out.

"Eric, how many are there?" she asked.

"According to the heat sensor, just one person," he answered.

"Just one?" she wondered. "Ok, Ethaniel and I will take care of it. We'll call if we need backup," she said, then following Ethaniel headed down to the basement.

Basement

The basement was recently redecorated, so it was clean and bright lights illuminated what was once a dark and damp place. They looked around and saw the outside door was tempered with. Abi felt a tingling sensation, but didn't understand it. Ethaniel was standing behind her, when a man appeared from behind one of the new cabinets, his sword raised and pointing to Abi.

Ethaniel didn't think, he raised his knife and threw it at the man's direction. The other guy tried to dodge it, but it was too fast and penetrated his left shoulder. His sword fell and a cry of pain was sounded.

"Damn it," he said looking at Ethaniel. "You really didn't have to do that."

Abi looked at him and saw he was trying to cover up his wound. She didn't know why, but she felt this stranger is not a threat, and a small-amused look was on her face, one that made both Ethaniel and the other man look at her as if she'd lost her mind.

"What's so funny?" asked the dark haired man.

Abi didn't answer. She looked at him and asked in a semi harsh semi amused voice, "So who are you, and what are you doing breaking into my house?"

"Duncan Macleod," he said introducing himself. "I was following some old "friend" of mine, and noticed he's had this house under surveillance for a few days. Now I am no threat to you, but he can be a dangerous man, and I just wanted to get to what ever he wants before he does."

Abi was surprised at his honesty. "I'm Abigail Adler," she said, "And this house is part of the Luna foundation. We always have antiques and rare stuff here. Maybe that's what your guy is after."

"Nice to meet you," he said and reached his hand to her. As soon as her fingers closed around his, she was flooded with images and emotions. She held on to his hand, as the flashes continued, until eventually he had to pull it away from her. "Are you ok?" he asked seeing her eyes wide open. "You look as if you've seen a ghost," he said trying to lighten the situation.

"I'm fine," she eventually said, "I better take a look at your wound, and why don't we carry on this conversation upstairs."

"No need, it's ok," he said.

"It might get infected," she insisted, knowing well that the wound had probably healed by now.

"It's just a small scratch. No problem," he said, and as she was getting closer, he backed up.

Abi grabbed his hand. "What are you afraid of? We're just Antique dealers, but I do have basic knowledge in first aid."

"Antique dealers? Is that what the legacy call themselves these days?"

"You know about the legacy?" asked Abi, though she wasn't surprised.

"I've encountered you guys on several occasions," he said.

"In this century, or another?"

"What do you mean?" he pretended not to understand.

"Let's cut the bullshit, shall we? You know the legacy, I know you're immortal. Are we clear on things now?"

"How could you know?" he asked.

Abi smiled, "I heard of your kind. Met one before. He told me about a friend of his named Duncan Macleod, I remember his stories, though at times I thought you were a figment of his weird imagination, but the minute I touched you I was sure."

"She's psychic," explained Ethaniel.

"I see," he said, understanding now, why she couldn't let his hand go. She was obviously seeing things from his past when touching him.

Abi smiled and turned to face Ethaniel winking at him, then pushing him up the basement stairs. "Are you coming?" she asked Duncan, and quietly he followed the two upstairs.

At the control room, explaining to her other teammates about his presence, she turned to ask him, "So who is the person you are after, and why?

"His name is Hans Muller, he is after a woman named Hanna and something she has."

"What ever Hanna had, is now in my possession," she said.

"Then it is you who is in danger," he said.

"It wouldn't be the first time," she replied.

"Like father like daughter," mumbled Macleod.

"You obviously had us checked, if you know who my father is."

"Derek Rayne, a great man, but a stubborn ass. And it seems so is his daughter."

Abi chuckled, "What made you decide to break in here tonight?" she wondered.

"They stopped the surveillance earlier, following some car that left from here. I figured it's a good a time as any to explore this place before they are back."

"They followed the car that left from here?" asked Abi, feeling her heart sink. She immediately reached for her cell phone dialing Ben's number. The phone kept ringing on and on. "He's not answering," whispered Abi. Standing up, she made up her mind, "Eti and Mooli, You stay here in case Ben calls and I'll keep in touch in case we need you later." She looked at Ethaniel and Eric, "We better get over to the safe house and see if everything is ok," she said.

"I thought the car was a distraction," said Macleod.

"No. My husband and children were in that car, so were my grandparents." She turned from him, "Let's go guys," she said.

"Wait, I'm coming with you," said Macleod.

Not saying a thing, she let him join them. Ethaniel drove them as fast as possible, to where Ben and the others were supposed to be. Abi didn't say she was sensing danger to them, thought Ethaniel, which is a good sign, but even Abi's visions are not always perfect or come when needed. They come when she least expects them.

"Is Muller an immortal like you?" she asked Macleod.

"I'm not sure."

"What do you mean? I thought you can sense each other," questioned Abi.

"We do, but, I don't know. I met the man during WWII, and I saw him again a while ago. He is immortal, but not like me. There is something unnatural about him, his immortality."

"If you know about the Legacy, then you know what we are up against."

"I know what the Legacy is all about," he answered.

Abi wanted to ask some more questions but the "We are being followed," remark Ethaniel made got her attention.

"Try to lose t. If you can't, then lead them to the old family graveyard." Abi tried dialing Ben again, but still got no answer.

Ethaniel tried to lose the car that was following them, but when he realized he couldn't, as Abi requested, he drove to the old private graveyard. As soon as he stopped the car, all four of them were out and waiting for the other car to arrive.

Portland

Derek and Kristin followed Nick as he entered the house from the hidden door. Looking around, they saw they were at the kitchen area. Two men were standing there holding swords and guns, and it looked as if they were trying to get inside the house unnoticed. Nick raised his gun and whispered, "The first man to move gets his head blown."

The two men froze on the spot. "Now turn around," ordered Nick, and so they did.

"Derek Rayne," said one of them, "I should have known."

"Nick, lower your gun," said Derek, "Hello old man," he said to the man who called him by name.

"Are you here for the same reason we are?" asked the "old man".

"I guess so. Guys I want you to meet an old friend of mine, Methos. These are my teammates Kristin Adams and Nick Boyle."

"Nice to meet you guys, but we haven't got a lot of time. Richie," he said to the young man who was standing next to him, "Lets move in."

"We'll be right behind you," said Derek.

"I had no doubt you will," answered Methos.

Jerusalem

Abi and Ethaniel took position, and hid in the bushes on each side of the gates, while Eric and Macleod stood in front of the car, their backs turned away from the gates.

The black van that was following them slowly entered the place. As soon as the car was inside the parameter, Abi pushed the remote she was holding and the gates closed behind them.

Five men jumped out of the van. Two went to check the gates and tried to push them, but found them locked tight. Two other men moved toward Eric and Macleod, who by now turned around to face them. "What the hell are you doing here? This is private property," said Eric.

The two men said nothing. They waited for the fifth man to join them. "Where are the woman and other man who were in the car with you?" he asked, then recognizing Macleod he said, "I might have known you would try to stop me, even here, so far away from home."

Abi and Ethaniel came out of their hiding place, and in a few seconds took control of the two men by the gates. The man talking to Macleod started laughing. "I don't need them to kill you all," he said. "Not even you, are a match for me," he said looking at the immortal.

Abi and Ethaniel came from behind, "Throw your guns on the ground," she ordered. The two did as ordered. Eric walked over and relieved Abi taking hold of the man she was standing behind. She moved closer to the man who she assumed was Hans Muller. There was a strong sense of evil coming from this man.

Macleod was about to raise his sword, when the man in front of them suddenly begun to change. His head grew and so did his body. In a minute all of his clothes were torn and an enormous beast was staring at them.

Abi moved back a little, trying to remember if she'd seen this thing before, and if she's aware of some way to eliminate it.

The beast started moving toward Macleod, instinctively he raised his sword to defend himself, but the thing just pulled the sword of his hands, and then grabbed him and threw him to the ground as if he was a ragged doll.

It then turned in Abi's direction; she started moving back trying to get away from it. Ethaniel took out his gun and a few shots were fired. The beast didn't seem to feel the bullets, even though Abi saw them hit it. It grabbed Abi by the neck and asked, "Now where is Hanna with my key and password?"