Unwayon: part two
"Methos, in all your years on this planet have you ever contributed one positive thing?" MacLeod snarled as he continued to dry his dripping hair.
"Just because I helped perpetuate the 'revenge is sweet' rally cry, you accuse me of over five thousand years of corruption?"
"Uh-huh"
sigh
"when you two finish fussing at each other maybe you could show off your 'years of wisdom and well honed skills' and help me catch lunch." Joe said to his friends while silently laughing at MacLeod's drenched state. Going fishing with these two was much more fun that with his less than jovial watcher buddies. I guess living a long life helps you develop a good sense of humor>
Seacour
"well Mulder, where do we begin on this dusty ole goose chase of yours" Scully chided as she walked into Mulder's hotel room through their adjoining doors.
"I've already contacted the local police and requested that you perform an autopsy on the most recent beheading victim. I told them that we were in no way seeking to interfere or usurp their jurisdiction on this case. I said the MO related to another investigation we were pursuing and we just wanted to see if they related."
"And they believed you?"
"I'm not sure but since they didn't get a call from the Bureau redirecting control of the investigation I think they are a little a ease with our presence than most locals. They even gave us a tip on a local business man who has been called in several times on suspicion of involvement. His name is Ducan MacLeod; however, he's never been linked directly to any of the murders. The locals don't have anything on him to bring him in for questioning."
"And you plan to just walk up to him and expect him to answer questions from a federal agent? He probably knows he's under no legal obligation to answer any of them without an official warrant"
"If he truly has nothing to hide, then I don't think he should have any objections. Besides who can resist me when I say please?"
groan- by Scully
"Where are we going to meet up with him?"
"The locals say MacLeod hangs out at a popular bar named 'Joe's'. The owner Joe Dawson has also been considered with suspicion on these cases but the locals doubt that Mr. Dawson was involved. "
"Why?"
"Mr. Dawson has two artificial legs. The scuff marks found at most homicide sites suggest that the victim and the perpetrator were engaged in some kind of high motion maneuvers prior to the victim's death. The local forensics team went so far to say that the foot movement resembled some kind of sparring match like boxing..... or fencing."
" Mulder, don't start using circumstantial evidence to support your far fetched theories...."
"Its NOT circumstantial. The forensics team confirmed that some type of fighting match occurred, they just couldn't confirm what type it was exactly. But considering that the victims head was cut off by a very sharp blade, it stand to reason logically that it was a fencing match."
"okay, I will agree that your argument is somewhat plausible"
"good, " Mulder then whispered under his breathe 'I wonder if their swords work something like a lifesaver'
"MULDER!!!"
smile - Mulder
******************
Ring, ring ringring rrrrriiiiinnnngrrrrriiiinggg ringringringringring rirrriiirrrriiiinnnnnnnnnnnngg
"MacLeod, do you now how close to death you are?"
"How did you know it was me?"
"NO ONE, and I mean No One but you would dare to call me at this hour."
"I don't get it? It's only 11 o'clock at nigh. I though you always sleep in"
"Just because I get up late doesn't mean that I don't go to bed early. Now, what do you want?"
pause "There could be some trouble. The feds are investigating Fabian's death."
"Oh man, oh man.... why did that jerk have to catch me taking a midnight stroll." Methos mused and why was I out taking a midnight stroll in the first place, moron> "humph"
"Do they have any thing to connect me to him? And how did you find this out?"
"Two feds just showed up a Joe's not to long ago. They claimed that their visit was unofficial, but I know the police probably gave them my name. Thankfully I have a rock solid alibi."
"Yeah, you were out of town and that's why that head hunter jumped me. Why didn't the watchers clean up the mess?"
"You' re the one whose invisible to the watchers and Joe said that Fabian tripped up his watcher in Montreal last week. They had been trying to track him down ever since."
"Well, I don't have a record here, I think."
"No, but your name will appear in the police file as a close associate of mine."
silence
"I'll see you in about a month or two."
"Where are you going? If you try to leave the country now the feds will surely find out and suspect you."
"Naw, I've hidden myself quite well from many a law enforcer in my time. I'm an expert."
"So where are you going?"
"Not to far, but not to close either. I've got an old persona I can dredge up. Besides I've been wanting to revisit this little town for years... I've got an... investment there I want to check up on"
"Okay, but please be careful and call."
"Yes, mommy" smile
Cascade
Methos slowly walked through the city park gazing at the lake. What had possessed him to come here of all places? You know why you wanted to come back. Fabian was just an excuse. You want to see him and make sure everything is alright> Methos nodded his head to himself. About a year and a half ago he had seen his picture on a Washington state new broadcast. He had declared himself a fraud before everyone. When Methos heard the report his heart sank within him. He never meant to cause any problems, but of course he had. It was an accident, but he knew that creating a guardian-guide pair in the middle of a U.S. city could be very problematic.
*************************
Thirty-eight years ago
Methos had been in the cafe eating a quiet lunch when they came in. Unfortunately, they selected the table on the other side of the partition. Methos growled under his breathe as he listened to the couple's silent argument.
"Grace, I don't know why you are so upset. This is excellent. Its about time we started a family. My parents even asked me.."
"DON'T tell me we should do things just because your parents think its a good idea. Your mother's not the one who will have to carry this child around for eight more months. And speaking of time, who is going to be here to help me? You are constantly running off to one out of town meeting after another. You're never home !!!""
"Grace, please calm down. It's not good for the baby. You know why I always volunteer to replace Mr. Giddings at those meetings. He's planning to retire in about two more months and I will be in a prime position to replace him."
"Oh yeah, my loving hubby, the opportunist"
"I didn't hear you complain when my hard work paid off with a pay raise last year. I remember exactly how you gloated to Sherie Philip, 'most people our age haven't amassed such a status as we have. I guess we're just above average'. I didn't hear you complaining about the number of hours I spent on the road then."
"That was different. You just don't know how often that woman would talk about her husband's success at his law firm. She even said she was was glad to be above the middle class slump. I was just dishing it out back to her."
"Will, I just don't want to be stuck here pregnant and helpless while you are half way across the country. What if something were to happen. Who would be there to help me?
"Grace, my parents are only..."
"Don't talk to me about your parents. You know what your mother thinks about me. I will not be treated like a lowlife scum in my own house!!!"
"Grace, I have talked to my mother. I told her that if she ever treated you again like she did last Thanksgiving...."
"Save it Will, I can see that this is a pointless conversation. You just don't care... You're just glad I'm finally producing an Elison heir to carry on your family's precious name. I'm nothing more to you than a breeding sow."
"Grace, how can you say that!!!"
With those final biting words the woman quickly left their table and practically ran to the rest room. She would have made it if the waiter pushing the buffet cart had not appeared.
WHAM!!!
The woman hit the food cart hard, very hard in the abdomen. She let out a small yelp as she crumpled to the floor. Since Methos was relatively close to her he ran over to check her status. She was bleeding. Methos could see the blood sweeping through her floral yellow dress. On no> he though to himself, if she miscarries, I don't think she could live with herself> Without thinking Methos reached over to touch the woman's abdomen. Before he could control it he felt the quickening energy escape his palm and transfer into the woman. what have I done!!! what have I done> Methos backed away from the woman in horror. By that time her husband had reached her and was cradling his wife's head. The blood flowing from her body stopped spreading.
Methos slowly walked back to his table. He could fill his body alive with energy. why now!!! This town is the worst place to put a guardian. What am I going to do?> As one of the oldest remaining immortals, Methos was aware there were certain abilities he had, that weren't shared by many others. One was the ability to transfer of a portion of his quickening power. Eons ago he had discovered the power accidental while living with a small nomadic tribe in present day Algeria. The wife of the man who had sponsored him started to miscarry their baby. Methos, who fulfilled the role of village healer was frantic about the situation and was desperate to save the man's unborn child. While tending to the sicken mother he laid his hands on her abdomen near were the baby's head laid. His sole thought at the time was that the baby survive. He almost fainted in shock as he felt his quickening energy pass from his hands. The woman's facial color almost immediately cleared up with the transfer. Six months later, the woman had a healthy baby boy. Methos tried to stay around the tribe as long as he could to observe the child. He wondered if the child would become an immortal. Instead the child seemed to posses strange sensory abilities that none of the tribe elders could explain. As the child grew older, his abilities began to overwhelm him. He would hid in a dark hut with several animal hides wrapped around his head to block out the sounds. Methos cried inwardly to himself regarding the boy's fate. It would have be better for him to have been still born than to suffer a life like this one>. Eventually Methos had to leave the village as he was no longer able to disguise his non aging face.
After three months of travel south Methos was nearly ambushed by the village protector's of another tribe. Methos was surprised and intrigued to find out that one of his assailants also had super sensory perceptions as the boy did in the nomadic tribe. His tribal title translated as 'guardian' and he was responsible for their protection. Even more amazing to Methos was that the man was able to control his senses through the help of his associate, the other guardian. The other man didn't have the same heighten senses but he seemed more perceptive of natural forces. Methos had to determine how these two were able to function so well with the intent of taking the information back to the nomadic tribe. So he made a special hunting trip into the Saharan region in search on a lion. He knew that if he were to snare such a prey both the tribe's leaders and shaman would be willing to share the secret of their guardians with him.
It was a fierce battle. Methos died at least twice from heat exhaustion and one after being attacked by a lioness he was stalking. Fortune eventual one out and he was able to slay a sleeping male. He fashioned a carrier out of two tree trunks and dragged the lion carcass back to the tribe. When the watchman saw his approach he immediately called for the elders to greet the master hunter. Methos told the leaders his price for the complete lion carcass, the story behind the guardians.
"Jakun, we can not reveal to this stranger the past of our protectors. Their spirit guides may resent us and depart from Mesuz's mind. Then we would be vulnerable to all enemies."
"Tikena, look at what this stranger had done. He may be as the Holtun that gave life to Mesuz and Minkron. I have consulted with the ancients since learning of his request. They have not forbidden me from sharing that information from the stranger."
"Jakun, you are our shaman, and as such I will give you respect. But the spirits only speak to the guardian; how would you know if they had forbidden it or not?"
"Then we should ask them if they will permit the telling."
"Tikena's right, only the guardians will now if this stranger is clean enough to hear the the telling. And it may well be that he is the same as the Holtun. Look at him; he has killed and carried a full grown male lion from the great abyss and there isn't a single scratch on him. Let us consult the guardians."
That evening Methos's understanding of his kind changed radically. The elders told him a story of a man who came staggering into their tribe bleeding from the stomach. The area suffered greatly from random attacks by raiders and the lone traveler had suffered a terrible assault. After the man died, the village women came out to wash and prepare the body for burial. One of the women was pregnant at the time but didn't know it. She would become Mesuz's mother. As the women were carrying the man, he revived. His head and hands were near the pregnant woman's womb and his quickening energy shot through his hands into her body. The village though the man was some type of god and held him in reverence, giving him the name Holtun, meaning undying king. The immortal, one of the more unscrupulous ones, took advance of his status and required the service of a new village woman each night by conviving them that he need the women's 'service' to maintain his power. Somehow, in a way Methos was never been able to figure out, the Holtun managed to impregnate one of the women. Methos reasoned later that maybe his quickening knew that it had to produce a companion for the first guardian. Methos didn't know. He told the village shaman that immortals were always infertile and asked him if he had any ideas on how the Holtun was able to procreate. The shaman, named Jakun, suggested that the tribes' spirit guides enabled the Holtun to sire a companion for the first guardian. Anyway, as the children aged the villagers discovered that they were different from the other children. Mesuz was able to see and hear things others could not. Plus by just touching the ground he was able to feel when an army or band of men were approaching, thus warning the tribe of the local marauders. At first the villagers though that he was accursed (the Holtun was publicly beheaded by another traveling immortal who was disgusted by his abuse of the village women). Mesuz also though he was accursed since he could not control the intensity in which he received stimuli. Several times when trying to scout out potential threats he would fall into a deep trance only to revive several days later. As Minkon grew older he became oddly obsessed with helping Mesuz. He told the tribal leaders that the tribal guardians, the night owls, had commanded him to help Mesuz control his abilities. Together they were able to; Minkon acted as an anchor to Mesuz when his sense overwhelmed him thus preventing him from falling in to trances and improving his ability to watch over and warn the tribe of approaching dangers. Methos was fascinated with the tale. He had no idea that the immortal quickening power could affect mortals. He thanked the tribe and hurriedly traveled back to the site the nomads were previously positioned. Unfortunately his trek back took a month longer than when he left. After he traced the new dwelling of the tribe he found out that the boy had thrown himself into a swiftly running river current. Apparently he had become so enraptured by the flowing water's colors that he foolishly jumped into them. Methos wept for two days after learning about the boy. Weeping was a relatively new experience for him, after causing so many to weep when he ran with the horseman. Now Methos seemed to feel everything more intensely. He promised himself to be careful around mortals and to make sure any mortal his quickening may alter had help to deal with the changes.
Now Methos was in trouble. It had been literally centuries since he caused another guardian-guide pair When he traveled in African and South American villages he would create them as way of returning the kindness bestowed on him by the tribe. There he had less trouble convincing the tribe that the guardians were a good thing and that they offered protection to the tribe. He didn't dare to consider creating a guardian pair in any of the western European countries or in the U.S. The modern thinkers of those lands would undoubtedly scoff at the guardian notion and make life miserably for them. So what was he going to do?
maybe I didn't really share my quickening. It could have been just a passing slip up and I'm just imaging the worst. Stop kidding your Methos, You better go find a new wife quick to make a companion to the sentinal.> Methos made a mental note to go wife shopping the next day. But Murphy's law won out. As Methos was scoping out the female population of the local university, he felt the tale tell signs of another immortal. Methos sure hoped his challenger was also hiding out from the game. Instead the immortal turned out to be a headhunter. Methos has to flee town that evening since his swordmanship had seen much better days. He made a silent promise to the unborn child to produce a companion child.
It took him over ten years later before Methos could return to Cascade. The immortal headhunter followed him as he left Washington, and Methos had to hide out in an Egyptian mosque for five years until another immortal took care of his shadow. The first immortal didn't know that he was the Methos, but he was old enough to be able to tell that Methos's quickening energy was ancient. After the headhunter was taken care of various mishaps and misfortunes prevented Methos's return to the States. He was terrible afraid for the child guardian he had created, but his hands were temporarily tied. When he returned to first thing he did was search out the Elison family. They weren't hard to locate as the eldest son, the future guardian, was in the local news for discovering a murdered body. Given the stress the family was undergoing at the time and probable the amount of police involvement with the family due to the investigation, Methos thought it unwise to try to approach the boy. He observed him from afar at the local elementary school. He got a job as a substitute teacher so he could discreetly watch the boy, who was named James. Methos was relieved to discover that either the boy's senses were dormant or that the boy was able to repress them because his observations yielded nothing unusual about their family life. With the exception of their chronically absent father, the boy's life seemed ideal. Methos, however, hadn't forgotten his purpose of finding wife number 67 to bare the companion.
It was at this point in his musings that Methos sat down on the park bench closest to the water's edge. It was here that he meet her; a completely random accident brought him face to face with both the mother of his child and love of his life. Methos had had quite a few wives, and he loved them all, but only a few made it to his life long love list. Naomi was one of them.
**************************
"Good news Scully, we've got a lead." Mulder said to Scully as he was hanging up the telephone in the hotel room they were using as an office. "A couple reported seeing to men in the park on the night of the beheading. They gave the locals descriptions of both the dead John doe and the probable assailant."
"Why haven't they come forward before now?"
"They didn't know there was a killing. You know how the locals have been keeping these beheadings hush hush. I still haven't figured out how they have kept the local news media out of it. Anyway it was a teenage couple who had sneaked away form their homes to meet that night. They reported that the younger of the two, the possible assailant, seemed very uncomfortable and behaved like he wanted to get away from the other guy. But the dead John Doe, according to the couple, grabbed his arm and lead him deeper into the park. The couple only came in to report the incident after finding the yellow crime scene tape in the park last night when they went to rendezvous with each other."
"humm, that's interesting. So do you think it was self defense?"
"I don't know. there was a fight and two sets of blood samples. If it was, the other guy was prepared for it. That doesn't seem exactly like self defense to me. And don't forget the murder weapon. How many victims run off with their attacker's sword?"
"Alleged weapon"
"Scully, you examined that neck wound. what else would have done that? Besides, guess what else the couple reported?"
"Should I ask?"
"They left early that evening because of an impending thunder storm."
"Wait a minute, it wasn't raining the night of the murder."
"I know. The teens reported seeing the sky fill up with lighting and they hear the sound of trees being struck by lighting."
"Mulder, the testimony of two kids doesn't prove that the electrical damage found at the murder scene had anything to do with John Doe's death."
"Come on Scully, those are just way too many coincidences."
"Maybe,...... so what are the locals doing with the teens' descriptions?"
"They have already sent out some investigators with copies of the artist's rendering of the description. They are checking all transportation agencies to see if the perp has left town. The locals have just finally gotten around to calling us. They've had this information since 10 this morning."
"What!!! Don't they know that they are hindering a federal investigation by doing that?"
"Scully, you know how locals are. They......"
Ring Ring
"Okay, great. Thank you Captain Taylor. We are packing our bags and heading that way right now."
"Who was that?
"Captain Taylor. The midnight clerk at Amtrak recognized the picture. Our perp bought a ticket in cash under the name David Murphy. He left town two days ago."
"What was the destination?"
"Well the final destination is LA. But I don't think he went there. He's just probable trying to keep us off track in case we become able to identify him. The station had about five different schedules to select that would take him to LA. Mr. Murphy picked on of the slowest ones and the most expensive run."
"So how do we find out where he got off?"
"Fortunately for us most of the available selections travel through the same pit stops, only varying in their departure times. The route he took is the only one that has a stop in Cascade, Washington. I think we should head down there."
"Good idea."
"Speaking of goood ideas..."
"MULDER!!!!!"
"Never mind. :( "