Part 4:
The Watchers' headquarters seemed to Jake more like the entrance to some high priced retreat for the incredible rich, and not one for a secrete organization. Jake's reaction to the being her was one a child might feel after being called to the principals office. You just felt like you should run and hide, but these guys hide for a living sometimes right out in the open. That thought made Jake remember why he had come here. Jake could only smile at the irony of his previous thought then reprimanded himself for loosing focus. 'You're not good enough to be day dreaming like this when you need to make sure nothing goes wrong,' the stiffness in his ribs was a painful physical reminder of that.
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Joshua relaxed as he entered the headquarters. He had worked her for 12 years before he met Horton, and to face the ugly truth that this was more then just academic research. At the time he had admired the Watchers and their security now as he lead his captor in he could only feel contempt. The fools, Joshua thought, the god damn fools. How can they let those abominations live when they know what will happen in the end.
Despite the fact that he was being held at gunpoint a part of him wanted to help this punk. Of course he wasn't sure why this kid wanted to get into Watcher Central, and so he decided to help this kid while trying to learn as much about him as he could then report it back to Horton. The kid was raw, but he definitely had potential.
As they moved forward Joshua remembered that he had to sign in, and started heading for a woman sitting behind an old wooden desk. The kid moved up next to him, and without losing the smile he had on his face whispered, "What are you doing?"
"You can't just walk into the archives," Joshua replied, "You have to sign in."
The kid just nodded his head, and they continued forward. The female watcher whose name he couldn't for the life of him remember didn't immediately acknowledge their presence, but after a minute she looked up.
"What can I do for you two?" She asked in a sweet voice.
"Just some routine research," Joshua had thought about the kid's story, and was surprised at how good a lie it could be.
"Anything we should be worried about?"
"Nah, just noticed something interesting and wanted to check it out," Joshua's tone was even, but on the inside his thoughts where directed on the kid.
"Okay, but don't take to long we have had an unusual number of requests for information recently."
"Thank you." Joshua said as he flashed a warm smile to the woman, and headed off to the archives.
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As soon as they were out of earshot Jake quickened his pace so that he was walking side by side with Joshua.
"Has anyone ever told you that you are a beautiful liar?"
Joshua turned his head, and smiled sarcastically as he answered, "Has anyone ever told you that you hit like a girl?"
Jake simply continued walking as Joshua laughed behind him. He is so lucky I don't have anything remotely resembling a comeback to that, or he would be in so much trouble, Jake thought. Okay, that is about the dumbest thing I remember myself thinking.
"So Josh how much farther till the archive?"
"Last door on the right, and at some point are you going to tell me your name?" At this Jake laughed, and then turned to face the watcher.
"You should have asked before you tried to kill me."
Joshua just shook his head, and Jake resumed his course to archive. Alright, he thought, Joshua isn't acting up. I have managed to get inside Watcher HQ without being detected and nothing can possible get in my way now, Jake thought as he reached the door. When the door opened suddenly, and the two men came face to face with an aging American with a cane who was just leaving the archive.
At that moment Jake's thoughts went, it's Joe Dawson, Oh shit it's Joe Dawson! I really really need to work on my planning skills.
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Joe had spent the better part of the morning in a meeting with other top Watcher officials about a recent series of Immortal deaths that couldn't be connected to any immortal. On top of that he really needed to drop off some of the Chronicles he had been writing on Duncan Macleod. After almost a century out of the game Duncan seemed to be making up for lost time, and the 400 year old Scot had been really busy lately.
Because of the rash of mysterious deaths all watchers had received notices to maintain close watch on their charges, and Joe was really starting to feel his age. This meant that when he nearly bumped into the two young men outside of the many archive he was not in the best of moods. "You two need to watch where you're going!" Joe barked out before he could calm himself, but he recovered quickly and decided to just explain. "Sorry, too many long nights recently."
The older of the two smiled graciously, and said something about it being alright. The younger man seemed barely out of high school, and not usually the type of person recruited by the watchers immediate set off warning bells in Joe's head.
"You seem a little young for a watcher? What's your name?"
Before the younger man could answer the older of the two spoke, "I'm sorry sir it's my fault. He's a recruit, and he saw something he thought was unusual. He came to me, and convinced me so we decided to take a quick look in the archives."
Sounds reasonable, Joe thought, except for the fact that I don't believe a word of it, could just be my imagination to many late nights.
"Well good luck," Joe said as he walked past the two men.
"Same to you mister, Dawson," the younger man said as they slipped inside the archive. Joe continued down the hall, and despite himself couldn't help but feel there was something off that he had missed about the two men.
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Once inside the archive Jake breathed a sigh of relief, and muttered to himself about being stupid. The large room was filled with books, and Jake was sure that Joshua was dying to know what section of them he was going to be looking at. Okay should I tell him to find something, and then head to the computers? That's a thought, but will he buy it? Only one way to find out, he thought.
"I don't trust you, but I want to find this fast. I will go check out those computers over there to see if I can find a location while you do a direct search for all watchers in Eastern Europe during the 1750's, got it?"
"Why the 1750's if you don't mind me asking?" Joshua asked.
"I do mind, and don't forget I still have a gun." Joshua just nodded and head off toward where he remembered that section of books being. Jake turned, and headed for the computers.
This is too easy, Jake thought, which probably means all hell will be braking loose soon. So move your ass Jake.
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Joe was almost out of the door when it finally clicked in his head. I don't remember anyone mentioning any new recruits being in Paris, and plus that kid was really too young to be recruited anyway. Then he called me Dawson, but I never said my name and I never met him before. Joe whipped around and head to the front desk.
"I need to see the entry logs for today."
The female watcher seemed shocked by the suddenness of the request, and when she answered her voice stammered, "Oh course Mr. Dawson."
Scanning the log quickly he came across the most recent names and then turned back to the woman. "I need you to run a check on these names last to names, and I want you to do it now."
The woman was in shock at the tone, but she was able to gather herself quickly and activated her computer's search program.
"May I ask why you want this information?"
"I think we have a security breach."
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Joshua had spent 10 minutes searching through the old chronicles before his mind started saying that it was hopeless. His frustration reached the point where he started talking aloud to himself. "I mean he didn't even tell me what I was supposed to be looking for, how the hell am I supposed to find.I am such an idiot."
That little sneak he played me, and I didn't even realize it. I am going to rip his throat out. Joshua turned, and started running back towards the computers looking for the kid. But by the time he reached them the kid was gone. Not really thinking why Joshua started scanning the computer screens looking for clues as to what the kid had been looking for. On a computer in the back he noticed something. Methos chronicles, what was he looking for on the Methos chronicles? However, Joshua's chain of thought was interrupted as the he saw four men come charging into the archive. Three guards and the older watcher he had seen earlier. The guards had their weapons drawn, and where now aiming them at him.
"Don't move I have a couple of questions for you," the older watcher said as he walked up to Joshua. But Joshua wasn't listening his mind was off somewhere else. It seems, he thought, the kid has more potential then even I thought.
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Jake almost laughed as parked Joshua's car across the street from his destination. Despite the fact that his plan had worked better then he had even believed possible, Jake still felt an overwhelming sense of dread that he could not explain. Okay take a couple deep breaths, and then get out of the car. I really can't believe that it all worked out, he thought. Jake opened the driver's side door, and then crossed the side street quickly. His sense of anticipation, and fear mostly that in his attempt to avoid changing the future his actions already had.
But I've already started down this road, he thought, and it is far too late to turn back now without disrupting things further. So just get it over with. Jake took one last deep breath then head up the stairs toward the house he was seeking, and preceded to knock on the door. After several seconds the door opened, and man appeared.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Adam Pierson, I need your help to get out of Paris and France."
"I'm sorry I don't think I know you, and I don't just go around buying strangers airline tickets," Adam responded and moved to close the door.
"You close that door, and tomorrow morning the watchers find out who you are," Jake said as he moved closer to the door.
"They already know who I am," he answered.
Jake reached out, and grabbed his arm, "I some how don't believe that Methos."
The Watchers' headquarters seemed to Jake more like the entrance to some high priced retreat for the incredible rich, and not one for a secrete organization. Jake's reaction to the being her was one a child might feel after being called to the principals office. You just felt like you should run and hide, but these guys hide for a living sometimes right out in the open. That thought made Jake remember why he had come here. Jake could only smile at the irony of his previous thought then reprimanded himself for loosing focus. 'You're not good enough to be day dreaming like this when you need to make sure nothing goes wrong,' the stiffness in his ribs was a painful physical reminder of that.
-----------------------------
Joshua relaxed as he entered the headquarters. He had worked her for 12 years before he met Horton, and to face the ugly truth that this was more then just academic research. At the time he had admired the Watchers and their security now as he lead his captor in he could only feel contempt. The fools, Joshua thought, the god damn fools. How can they let those abominations live when they know what will happen in the end.
Despite the fact that he was being held at gunpoint a part of him wanted to help this punk. Of course he wasn't sure why this kid wanted to get into Watcher Central, and so he decided to help this kid while trying to learn as much about him as he could then report it back to Horton. The kid was raw, but he definitely had potential.
As they moved forward Joshua remembered that he had to sign in, and started heading for a woman sitting behind an old wooden desk. The kid moved up next to him, and without losing the smile he had on his face whispered, "What are you doing?"
"You can't just walk into the archives," Joshua replied, "You have to sign in."
The kid just nodded his head, and they continued forward. The female watcher whose name he couldn't for the life of him remember didn't immediately acknowledge their presence, but after a minute she looked up.
"What can I do for you two?" She asked in a sweet voice.
"Just some routine research," Joshua had thought about the kid's story, and was surprised at how good a lie it could be.
"Anything we should be worried about?"
"Nah, just noticed something interesting and wanted to check it out," Joshua's tone was even, but on the inside his thoughts where directed on the kid.
"Okay, but don't take to long we have had an unusual number of requests for information recently."
"Thank you." Joshua said as he flashed a warm smile to the woman, and headed off to the archives.
-----------------------------
As soon as they were out of earshot Jake quickened his pace so that he was walking side by side with Joshua.
"Has anyone ever told you that you are a beautiful liar?"
Joshua turned his head, and smiled sarcastically as he answered, "Has anyone ever told you that you hit like a girl?"
Jake simply continued walking as Joshua laughed behind him. He is so lucky I don't have anything remotely resembling a comeback to that, or he would be in so much trouble, Jake thought. Okay, that is about the dumbest thing I remember myself thinking.
"So Josh how much farther till the archive?"
"Last door on the right, and at some point are you going to tell me your name?" At this Jake laughed, and then turned to face the watcher.
"You should have asked before you tried to kill me."
Joshua just shook his head, and Jake resumed his course to archive. Alright, he thought, Joshua isn't acting up. I have managed to get inside Watcher HQ without being detected and nothing can possible get in my way now, Jake thought as he reached the door. When the door opened suddenly, and the two men came face to face with an aging American with a cane who was just leaving the archive.
At that moment Jake's thoughts went, it's Joe Dawson, Oh shit it's Joe Dawson! I really really need to work on my planning skills.
-----------------------------
Joe had spent the better part of the morning in a meeting with other top Watcher officials about a recent series of Immortal deaths that couldn't be connected to any immortal. On top of that he really needed to drop off some of the Chronicles he had been writing on Duncan Macleod. After almost a century out of the game Duncan seemed to be making up for lost time, and the 400 year old Scot had been really busy lately.
Because of the rash of mysterious deaths all watchers had received notices to maintain close watch on their charges, and Joe was really starting to feel his age. This meant that when he nearly bumped into the two young men outside of the many archive he was not in the best of moods. "You two need to watch where you're going!" Joe barked out before he could calm himself, but he recovered quickly and decided to just explain. "Sorry, too many long nights recently."
The older of the two smiled graciously, and said something about it being alright. The younger man seemed barely out of high school, and not usually the type of person recruited by the watchers immediate set off warning bells in Joe's head.
"You seem a little young for a watcher? What's your name?"
Before the younger man could answer the older of the two spoke, "I'm sorry sir it's my fault. He's a recruit, and he saw something he thought was unusual. He came to me, and convinced me so we decided to take a quick look in the archives."
Sounds reasonable, Joe thought, except for the fact that I don't believe a word of it, could just be my imagination to many late nights.
"Well good luck," Joe said as he walked past the two men.
"Same to you mister, Dawson," the younger man said as they slipped inside the archive. Joe continued down the hall, and despite himself couldn't help but feel there was something off that he had missed about the two men.
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Once inside the archive Jake breathed a sigh of relief, and muttered to himself about being stupid. The large room was filled with books, and Jake was sure that Joshua was dying to know what section of them he was going to be looking at. Okay should I tell him to find something, and then head to the computers? That's a thought, but will he buy it? Only one way to find out, he thought.
"I don't trust you, but I want to find this fast. I will go check out those computers over there to see if I can find a location while you do a direct search for all watchers in Eastern Europe during the 1750's, got it?"
"Why the 1750's if you don't mind me asking?" Joshua asked.
"I do mind, and don't forget I still have a gun." Joshua just nodded and head off toward where he remembered that section of books being. Jake turned, and headed for the computers.
This is too easy, Jake thought, which probably means all hell will be braking loose soon. So move your ass Jake.
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Joe was almost out of the door when it finally clicked in his head. I don't remember anyone mentioning any new recruits being in Paris, and plus that kid was really too young to be recruited anyway. Then he called me Dawson, but I never said my name and I never met him before. Joe whipped around and head to the front desk.
"I need to see the entry logs for today."
The female watcher seemed shocked by the suddenness of the request, and when she answered her voice stammered, "Oh course Mr. Dawson."
Scanning the log quickly he came across the most recent names and then turned back to the woman. "I need you to run a check on these names last to names, and I want you to do it now."
The woman was in shock at the tone, but she was able to gather herself quickly and activated her computer's search program.
"May I ask why you want this information?"
"I think we have a security breach."
-----------------------------
Joshua had spent 10 minutes searching through the old chronicles before his mind started saying that it was hopeless. His frustration reached the point where he started talking aloud to himself. "I mean he didn't even tell me what I was supposed to be looking for, how the hell am I supposed to find.I am such an idiot."
That little sneak he played me, and I didn't even realize it. I am going to rip his throat out. Joshua turned, and started running back towards the computers looking for the kid. But by the time he reached them the kid was gone. Not really thinking why Joshua started scanning the computer screens looking for clues as to what the kid had been looking for. On a computer in the back he noticed something. Methos chronicles, what was he looking for on the Methos chronicles? However, Joshua's chain of thought was interrupted as the he saw four men come charging into the archive. Three guards and the older watcher he had seen earlier. The guards had their weapons drawn, and where now aiming them at him.
"Don't move I have a couple of questions for you," the older watcher said as he walked up to Joshua. But Joshua wasn't listening his mind was off somewhere else. It seems, he thought, the kid has more potential then even I thought.
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Jake almost laughed as parked Joshua's car across the street from his destination. Despite the fact that his plan had worked better then he had even believed possible, Jake still felt an overwhelming sense of dread that he could not explain. Okay take a couple deep breaths, and then get out of the car. I really can't believe that it all worked out, he thought. Jake opened the driver's side door, and then crossed the side street quickly. His sense of anticipation, and fear mostly that in his attempt to avoid changing the future his actions already had.
But I've already started down this road, he thought, and it is far too late to turn back now without disrupting things further. So just get it over with. Jake took one last deep breath then head up the stairs toward the house he was seeking, and preceded to knock on the door. After several seconds the door opened, and man appeared.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Adam Pierson, I need your help to get out of Paris and France."
"I'm sorry I don't think I know you, and I don't just go around buying strangers airline tickets," Adam responded and moved to close the door.
"You close that door, and tomorrow morning the watchers find out who you are," Jake said as he moved closer to the door.
"They already know who I am," he answered.
Jake reached out, and grabbed his arm, "I some how don't believe that Methos."