Part 8:
Jake woke up screaming the nightmares had plagued him every night since he'd left Paris. They had seemed to replace the flashes as his source of answer, but unlike the flashes these dreams messages were never clear. They were horrific, disturbing, and left him questioning his sanity. Despite the pain and disorientation of the flashes they always gave him the answers he needed, but with these dreams he felt he had to struggle for answers and each one he gained just added more questions.
In the morning it was always the worst for him. He had spent a year living around people who could remember there entire lives rather then details about an immortal who died 200 years ago. His daily watch for Watchers and immortals left him exhausted, but at night he got no rest. The dreams left him feeling as if he were awake 24 hours a day, and yet in the morning he could barely remember anything about them. Waking up in Darius's church I was consumed by this overwhelming desire to run away, he thought. Now I am beginning to wonder if this was a mistake.
-----------------------
Daylight spilled into Joshua's cell as the door opened for the first time in months. This maybe my chance to escape, he thinks as he struggles to his feet preparing to make a run for the door when suddenly he feels something slam into his shoulder it is a dart. He pulls it from his skin just before he sinks to his knees, and is consumed by darkness.
-----------------------
Daniels turned to Kalas as they took Joshua from his cell and smiled. "I promise he is well worth the price you paid for him despite his condition."
"He had better be or I will return to deal with you," Kalas said as on his face a disturbing smile took shape.
"You needn't worry. I take care with my work, and I guaranty that this prisoner can give you information on a man who can lead you to Watchers, Methos, and anyone you wish revenge on. Including, but not limited to Duncan Macleod," Daniels watched the flicker of joy pass over the immortals eyes as Daniels mentioned Macleod. Daniels could only laugh. He would have found this information out anyway, Daniels thought. Unfortunately for him that by
Daniels walked away from Kalas their deal done, and his plan coming together. He smiled at how it was coming together. Kalas had moved off, and Daniels knew aid moved to give him some kind of report but Daniels interrupted him.
"Mankind is blessed with such observant people," he said with sarcasm, "so easy to manipulate and deceive even immortals. They don't see the subtle depths of what I'm doing and by the time the do it will be to later. There is only one who could stop me, but he is off hiding in the United States chasing a pipe dream of a normal life with no memory of what he unleashed on this world. But I am about to give him a little wake up call. You see its time we brought Jake back into the game."
-----------------------
After work one day Jake goes out with several work friends to a local bar where they toast the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. Jake smiled more then he drank and after awhile he decided he had enough so he told his friends that he was going to head home, and he'd see them tomorrow. He got up fast, and his head started spinning which was how he noticed the young couple that had just made its way into the bar. The girl didn't really make an impression on him, but her male friend did. Then for the first time in a year a searing pain started shooting through his skull. NO! NO! Not now, his mind screamed. Why am I having a flash now? I have to get out of here. Jake staggered the flash making him seem drunker then he was. So he didn't notice until too late that he was about to knock into someone. Then suddenly the pain of the flash ceased as he made body contact with the person whose drink spilled all over his coat. Jake didn't care about that only that for some reason the flash had been stopped, and a look of relief passed over his face before he turned to look at who he had bumped into. Well, Jake thought, I guess leaving before I bump into Richie Ryan so his watcher didn't get a look at me just went out the window. Why is it my plans never work out, and I have to wing it have way through on my.?
"Oh shit."
-----------------------
"Heh you need to watch where you're going," Richie said as he grabbed the guy who had just bumped into him. The guy had turned and started back away, but he only got a couple of steps before Richie caught him. The guy looked kind of drunk, and Richie had seen a lot of drunks in his life. The foster care system was filled with more then its fair share. Good decent people my ass, he thought quickly before turning his attention back to the moment.
The guy had a similar far off look in his for a second, but then it changed to one he had seen one of his old high school biology teacher used when studying something of interest. He really didn't like that even though it is technically true, he thought. Then before he knew he was doing it he grabbed the guy's right arm, and looked at the wrist for the watcher tattoo. No tattoo so just another drunk.
"I'm sorry just what the hell are you looking for?" his tone was as convincing, but there was something about the twinkle in his eye that hinted at something else almost approval.
"Look you don't have it so don't worry about it. Your drunk you bumped into me, and that is fine just stagger your lazy ass out the door and try to get home."
A hint of anger surged in the man's light blue eyes for a second then a sly smile crept onto his face. "Are you Richie? Richie Ryan?"
The use of his name shocked Richie, "How do you know my name?"
The man laughed, "Oh I know more about you then your name. How do I know it? Let's just say we have several mutual acquaintances."
Curious Richie asked, "Really who?"
-----------------------
Jake smiled turning away from Richie to head back to his date. He took the young woman's hand, and kissed it softly. Richie came up beside him, and repeated his question. Jake smiled before he spoke, "My sister."
Then before the young immortal could act Jake slugs Richie in the face with a solid left cross. Richie's date shocked by the sudden turn in events could only speak.
"Why the hell did you do that?"
Okay, I really shouldn't have had that second screwdriver cause now I just punched an immortal for no good reason. Okay God I really need your help right now, he thought. If I ever decide to tell anyone about this I can just imagine their face. I'm praying to God to give me a good lie. I really need to start thinking.No I need to stop whining because I need something good before she goes out of shock and Richie gets off the floor.
"Ahhh.My sister asked me to send him her regards and to say thank you," you started this by saying sister, he thought as he spoke.
The girl now stared at him confused, "Strange way to say thank you?"
Jake noticed a t-shit behind on the mirror behind the bar, and before he could think Jake said, "Well without him she would not have known the joy of Genital Crabs."
The girl slapped the now standing Richie while screaming, "You asshole!"
"Oh, I crack myself up," Jake stated as he watched the girl walk off and found himself unable to stop laughing which meant he didn't notice as Richie moved to a position right next to him.
"So Crabs, uh?"
Jake had just enough time to speak what he was thinking before Richie's first punch connected with Jakes face, "Shit!"
Richie really starts laying into Jake who's zero fighting skill, and inebriated state left him little more then a human punching bad. This did start a kind of chain reaction in the bar as several others decided to make use of the distraction Richie and Jake were causing to settle scores of their own. Soon an old fashioned bar brawl was raging.
Richie lands another hard right hook into Jakes face sending Jake once more to the floor. Thank God for alcohol, Jake thought, causing I am so happy that I don't have to feel this sober. Richie walked calmly over, and taunted him as he prepared to throw another punch.
"So who's the wise guy now?"
Now feeling the effects one too many hits to the head Jake mumbles, "Are we talking human or immortal?"
Jake's answer stops Richie for a second, and Jake seizes the opportunity to escape by kicking Richie in the stomach knocking the young immortal backward into an extremely overweight man. The man had just finished beating someone else up, and was now looking for someone new to pummel. Richie seemed like as good a choice as any, and he starts swinging at Richie. Jake takes the moment to disappearing into the chaos of the fight. Just before the sounds of police sirens make their way into the bar.
-----------------------
Richie blocked the bigger man's punch, and then drilled a roundhouse into the man's stomach sending him back. Shifting his balance just like Duncan taught him as the guy charged for him Richie tossed the guy into a table. Looking around to see if he could find any trace of the guy he had been fighting previously, and finding none he finally was able to hear the cop cars. Realizing he had better make a fast exit. No, Richie thought. I need to get the hell out of here. He moved through the chaos looking for a back exit which he found not a moment to soon as the cops burst through the front door.
As he broke into a dead run to try and get away from the Chicago PD he yelled out, "If I ever catch up to that punk again he is so dead."
-----------------------
Jake staggered away from the bar, and felt his body struggling to keep moving. His head was starting to spin. Oh shit not another flash, he thought but then he noticed he wasn't feeling the same old pain. No this wasn't a flash this was something different. Unfortunately that was his last conscious thought for awhile as everything suddenly went black. The police who were now storming the area saw him fall. The two beat cops ran over to Jake as his body started convulsing on the street.
"Shit, we got ourselves some jackass going into a grand mal seizure," the man called out to his partner.
"Around called for ambulances bar brawls are never injury free. Its ETA is about five minutes," the partner called back as he ran up, "And what the hell happened to his face?"
"Don't know but this kid needs to get to a hospital."
-----------------------
Jake looked up, and saw a bright light which burned his eyes. Jake felt his heart start racing as it realized he was once more in the middle of the nightmare that had plagued him since leaving Paris. The pitch black with only a bright light in the middle as if making him a target for anyone who wished, but he was unable to see anything in the black. Soon the laughter would start, and he would once more feel the panic set in as it always did.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Jake felt himself call out, but he could do nothing it was like he was a spectator in his own body.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
Then a mysterious Voice answered, "I am doing nothing. This is all of your own making."
"What? What do you mean this is all of my own making? Please tell me what is going on?" Jake pleaded knowing already what the answer would be.
The Voice just laughed, "You don't know what is going on after all this time? I had such hopes for you, but never mind you must choose now and choose quickly."
Jake spoke as if he had miss heard the voice, but he knew he hadn't. He just didn't understand what it wanted, "Choose? Choose what? I don't understand?"
The Voice simple repeated itself, "Choose."
Jake voice seemed to break like a little child confronted by his worst nightmare, "I don't know what you mean, choose what? How do you expect me to choose when I don't understand?"
Suddenly a shape launches out of the darkness its face cloaked in black laughing manically. In his hands he grips a sword which shines brightly in as it reflexes the bright light out into the pitch black. Jake shifts barely ducking the sword as it comes down at him. The swordsman remains silent his blade making the only sound as it slices through the air barely missing Jake.
Jake shouted at the figure, but knowing he would get no answer, "Why are you doing this? I don't understand what you want me to do?
The blade shot out slashing Jake's upper body leaving a trail of blood across his chest. The pain is strong and intense as Jake screams backpedaling to put distance between him and the swordsman to get time. The swordsman laughs again, and as Jake reels he sets himself. Before Jake knows it the he is on his knees with the swordsman holding his sword in position to make the killing blow. The swordsman waited, and suddenly the Voice echoed around him. "The moment of decision has arrived. How do you choose?"
Like always Jake's answers was a whimper, "Please stop."
The Voice's saddened reply filling him with dread, "You have chosen poorly."
Then the sword slices down, but just before it connects with his neck Jack wakes up to the face of a slightly overweight white EMT, "Heh, kid you don't worry seems you just had a seizure give people one hell of scare, but don't worry you're going to be alright."
Jake so just nodded at the man, but felt as if he had just woke up from a life and death situation. He couldn't remember, but he suddenly felt that he was running out of time. Time for what, Jake could only ask himself. A stray thought brought a small smile to his face as he asked himself, "Why can't I be some character in a story then I could just skip to the end to find out all the answers, and realize this is just the writer using a convenient plot device to fix some major glaring plot errors or set up the hero for what is coming causing he couldn't figure out how to fix his story any other way. Why do I think I have some great choice to make? What the hell is going on with me, and why won't it stop.
Jake woke up screaming the nightmares had plagued him every night since he'd left Paris. They had seemed to replace the flashes as his source of answer, but unlike the flashes these dreams messages were never clear. They were horrific, disturbing, and left him questioning his sanity. Despite the pain and disorientation of the flashes they always gave him the answers he needed, but with these dreams he felt he had to struggle for answers and each one he gained just added more questions.
In the morning it was always the worst for him. He had spent a year living around people who could remember there entire lives rather then details about an immortal who died 200 years ago. His daily watch for Watchers and immortals left him exhausted, but at night he got no rest. The dreams left him feeling as if he were awake 24 hours a day, and yet in the morning he could barely remember anything about them. Waking up in Darius's church I was consumed by this overwhelming desire to run away, he thought. Now I am beginning to wonder if this was a mistake.
-----------------------
Daylight spilled into Joshua's cell as the door opened for the first time in months. This maybe my chance to escape, he thinks as he struggles to his feet preparing to make a run for the door when suddenly he feels something slam into his shoulder it is a dart. He pulls it from his skin just before he sinks to his knees, and is consumed by darkness.
-----------------------
Daniels turned to Kalas as they took Joshua from his cell and smiled. "I promise he is well worth the price you paid for him despite his condition."
"He had better be or I will return to deal with you," Kalas said as on his face a disturbing smile took shape.
"You needn't worry. I take care with my work, and I guaranty that this prisoner can give you information on a man who can lead you to Watchers, Methos, and anyone you wish revenge on. Including, but not limited to Duncan Macleod," Daniels watched the flicker of joy pass over the immortals eyes as Daniels mentioned Macleod. Daniels could only laugh. He would have found this information out anyway, Daniels thought. Unfortunately for him that by
Daniels walked away from Kalas their deal done, and his plan coming together. He smiled at how it was coming together. Kalas had moved off, and Daniels knew aid moved to give him some kind of report but Daniels interrupted him.
"Mankind is blessed with such observant people," he said with sarcasm, "so easy to manipulate and deceive even immortals. They don't see the subtle depths of what I'm doing and by the time the do it will be to later. There is only one who could stop me, but he is off hiding in the United States chasing a pipe dream of a normal life with no memory of what he unleashed on this world. But I am about to give him a little wake up call. You see its time we brought Jake back into the game."
-----------------------
After work one day Jake goes out with several work friends to a local bar where they toast the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. Jake smiled more then he drank and after awhile he decided he had enough so he told his friends that he was going to head home, and he'd see them tomorrow. He got up fast, and his head started spinning which was how he noticed the young couple that had just made its way into the bar. The girl didn't really make an impression on him, but her male friend did. Then for the first time in a year a searing pain started shooting through his skull. NO! NO! Not now, his mind screamed. Why am I having a flash now? I have to get out of here. Jake staggered the flash making him seem drunker then he was. So he didn't notice until too late that he was about to knock into someone. Then suddenly the pain of the flash ceased as he made body contact with the person whose drink spilled all over his coat. Jake didn't care about that only that for some reason the flash had been stopped, and a look of relief passed over his face before he turned to look at who he had bumped into. Well, Jake thought, I guess leaving before I bump into Richie Ryan so his watcher didn't get a look at me just went out the window. Why is it my plans never work out, and I have to wing it have way through on my.?
"Oh shit."
-----------------------
"Heh you need to watch where you're going," Richie said as he grabbed the guy who had just bumped into him. The guy had turned and started back away, but he only got a couple of steps before Richie caught him. The guy looked kind of drunk, and Richie had seen a lot of drunks in his life. The foster care system was filled with more then its fair share. Good decent people my ass, he thought quickly before turning his attention back to the moment.
The guy had a similar far off look in his for a second, but then it changed to one he had seen one of his old high school biology teacher used when studying something of interest. He really didn't like that even though it is technically true, he thought. Then before he knew he was doing it he grabbed the guy's right arm, and looked at the wrist for the watcher tattoo. No tattoo so just another drunk.
"I'm sorry just what the hell are you looking for?" his tone was as convincing, but there was something about the twinkle in his eye that hinted at something else almost approval.
"Look you don't have it so don't worry about it. Your drunk you bumped into me, and that is fine just stagger your lazy ass out the door and try to get home."
A hint of anger surged in the man's light blue eyes for a second then a sly smile crept onto his face. "Are you Richie? Richie Ryan?"
The use of his name shocked Richie, "How do you know my name?"
The man laughed, "Oh I know more about you then your name. How do I know it? Let's just say we have several mutual acquaintances."
Curious Richie asked, "Really who?"
-----------------------
Jake smiled turning away from Richie to head back to his date. He took the young woman's hand, and kissed it softly. Richie came up beside him, and repeated his question. Jake smiled before he spoke, "My sister."
Then before the young immortal could act Jake slugs Richie in the face with a solid left cross. Richie's date shocked by the sudden turn in events could only speak.
"Why the hell did you do that?"
Okay, I really shouldn't have had that second screwdriver cause now I just punched an immortal for no good reason. Okay God I really need your help right now, he thought. If I ever decide to tell anyone about this I can just imagine their face. I'm praying to God to give me a good lie. I really need to start thinking.No I need to stop whining because I need something good before she goes out of shock and Richie gets off the floor.
"Ahhh.My sister asked me to send him her regards and to say thank you," you started this by saying sister, he thought as he spoke.
The girl now stared at him confused, "Strange way to say thank you?"
Jake noticed a t-shit behind on the mirror behind the bar, and before he could think Jake said, "Well without him she would not have known the joy of Genital Crabs."
The girl slapped the now standing Richie while screaming, "You asshole!"
"Oh, I crack myself up," Jake stated as he watched the girl walk off and found himself unable to stop laughing which meant he didn't notice as Richie moved to a position right next to him.
"So Crabs, uh?"
Jake had just enough time to speak what he was thinking before Richie's first punch connected with Jakes face, "Shit!"
Richie really starts laying into Jake who's zero fighting skill, and inebriated state left him little more then a human punching bad. This did start a kind of chain reaction in the bar as several others decided to make use of the distraction Richie and Jake were causing to settle scores of their own. Soon an old fashioned bar brawl was raging.
Richie lands another hard right hook into Jakes face sending Jake once more to the floor. Thank God for alcohol, Jake thought, causing I am so happy that I don't have to feel this sober. Richie walked calmly over, and taunted him as he prepared to throw another punch.
"So who's the wise guy now?"
Now feeling the effects one too many hits to the head Jake mumbles, "Are we talking human or immortal?"
Jake's answer stops Richie for a second, and Jake seizes the opportunity to escape by kicking Richie in the stomach knocking the young immortal backward into an extremely overweight man. The man had just finished beating someone else up, and was now looking for someone new to pummel. Richie seemed like as good a choice as any, and he starts swinging at Richie. Jake takes the moment to disappearing into the chaos of the fight. Just before the sounds of police sirens make their way into the bar.
-----------------------
Richie blocked the bigger man's punch, and then drilled a roundhouse into the man's stomach sending him back. Shifting his balance just like Duncan taught him as the guy charged for him Richie tossed the guy into a table. Looking around to see if he could find any trace of the guy he had been fighting previously, and finding none he finally was able to hear the cop cars. Realizing he had better make a fast exit. No, Richie thought. I need to get the hell out of here. He moved through the chaos looking for a back exit which he found not a moment to soon as the cops burst through the front door.
As he broke into a dead run to try and get away from the Chicago PD he yelled out, "If I ever catch up to that punk again he is so dead."
-----------------------
Jake staggered away from the bar, and felt his body struggling to keep moving. His head was starting to spin. Oh shit not another flash, he thought but then he noticed he wasn't feeling the same old pain. No this wasn't a flash this was something different. Unfortunately that was his last conscious thought for awhile as everything suddenly went black. The police who were now storming the area saw him fall. The two beat cops ran over to Jake as his body started convulsing on the street.
"Shit, we got ourselves some jackass going into a grand mal seizure," the man called out to his partner.
"Around called for ambulances bar brawls are never injury free. Its ETA is about five minutes," the partner called back as he ran up, "And what the hell happened to his face?"
"Don't know but this kid needs to get to a hospital."
-----------------------
Jake looked up, and saw a bright light which burned his eyes. Jake felt his heart start racing as it realized he was once more in the middle of the nightmare that had plagued him since leaving Paris. The pitch black with only a bright light in the middle as if making him a target for anyone who wished, but he was unable to see anything in the black. Soon the laughter would start, and he would once more feel the panic set in as it always did.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Jake felt himself call out, but he could do nothing it was like he was a spectator in his own body.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
Then a mysterious Voice answered, "I am doing nothing. This is all of your own making."
"What? What do you mean this is all of my own making? Please tell me what is going on?" Jake pleaded knowing already what the answer would be.
The Voice just laughed, "You don't know what is going on after all this time? I had such hopes for you, but never mind you must choose now and choose quickly."
Jake spoke as if he had miss heard the voice, but he knew he hadn't. He just didn't understand what it wanted, "Choose? Choose what? I don't understand?"
The Voice simple repeated itself, "Choose."
Jake voice seemed to break like a little child confronted by his worst nightmare, "I don't know what you mean, choose what? How do you expect me to choose when I don't understand?"
Suddenly a shape launches out of the darkness its face cloaked in black laughing manically. In his hands he grips a sword which shines brightly in as it reflexes the bright light out into the pitch black. Jake shifts barely ducking the sword as it comes down at him. The swordsman remains silent his blade making the only sound as it slices through the air barely missing Jake.
Jake shouted at the figure, but knowing he would get no answer, "Why are you doing this? I don't understand what you want me to do?
The blade shot out slashing Jake's upper body leaving a trail of blood across his chest. The pain is strong and intense as Jake screams backpedaling to put distance between him and the swordsman to get time. The swordsman laughs again, and as Jake reels he sets himself. Before Jake knows it the he is on his knees with the swordsman holding his sword in position to make the killing blow. The swordsman waited, and suddenly the Voice echoed around him. "The moment of decision has arrived. How do you choose?"
Like always Jake's answers was a whimper, "Please stop."
The Voice's saddened reply filling him with dread, "You have chosen poorly."
Then the sword slices down, but just before it connects with his neck Jack wakes up to the face of a slightly overweight white EMT, "Heh, kid you don't worry seems you just had a seizure give people one hell of scare, but don't worry you're going to be alright."
Jake so just nodded at the man, but felt as if he had just woke up from a life and death situation. He couldn't remember, but he suddenly felt that he was running out of time. Time for what, Jake could only ask himself. A stray thought brought a small smile to his face as he asked himself, "Why can't I be some character in a story then I could just skip to the end to find out all the answers, and realize this is just the writer using a convenient plot device to fix some major glaring plot errors or set up the hero for what is coming causing he couldn't figure out how to fix his story any other way. Why do I think I have some great choice to make? What the hell is going on with me, and why won't it stop.