Unwayon III
"So you thought this was a good ideas?" Scully said with a frown on her face. Mulder was responsible for booking their travel arrangements and he decided that greyhound was the way to go.
"Oh yeah! Just look out the window. Isn't the scenery great? Neither of us would have been able to lean back and enjoy the view if we had driven. And flying takes away all the joy of traveling."
"Mulder, next time you go seeking for adventure, do it on your on time. We are already three days behind catching the suspect. This bus ride is only going to delay us more. Besides, the only reason the outdoors seems great to you is because you spend all your free time inside, in front of a computer. I, on the other hand, have a life. I live in the suburbs. I see natural beauty every day. This was NOT a good idea."
"Come on Scully. Stop and smell..."
"The roses??? Are you running a fever or something? Where have you taken Fox Mulder?"
chuckle chuckle
"I'm not sick. I just thought pulling some R&R on company time would be nice. Besides, I don't think our prep is going anywhere fast."
"And please, pray tell, just how do you know that?
"A hunch"
Groan- Scully
*********************
Today was the day he would 'accidentally' bump into Blair. He had been observing their route for the past two days looking for an opportunity to naturally run into his estranged son. Fortunately Blair usually made their lunch run without the sentinel. Methos' heart would be beating so fast that he knew James Ellison would be able to hear it a block away. He wasn't sure how he was going to carry out his introduction, but he knew he had to make contact. He hadn't seen little Blair since that fateful day when Blair was 15 months old. He knew Blair wouldn't recognize him, but in his heart he hoped his son would find some glimmer of familiarity, some small connection that would allow them to make a contact with each other. He wanted to be apart of his youngest son's life, one way or another.
**********************
"So he's in Cascade."
"Yes sir. Our sources faxed his image over earlier this morning. The local police haven't been able to locate him yet."
"And Fox Mulder?"
"For some unknown reason he's diverted himself. They are taking a greyhound bus down to Cascade. Our agents haven't been able to determine why yet.'
"Never mind that, Mulder's a crafty and unpredictable one. Concentrate on his capture."
"We are preparing to...."
"No, we can't get to close. The agency would be vulnerable to discovery. I want you to contact the Centre. Tell them we have a business opportunity for them."
"Sir, their success rate hasn't been that good since they lost their ace pretender."
"Well, if they want our continued protection and funding, they had better find way to deliver."
"I. want. David Murphy"
"Yes sir."
As his advisor, the cancer man, slinked away from his employer the man in black looked out across his window. For a time he foolishly played in the game, hoping to win the prize as the last remaining immortal. Then while traveling in Australia he learned of Methos, the oldest living immortal known to exist. He spent seven centuries of his life time searching out Methos. The man hid from the game so much it was hard to track him down the traditional headhunting way. The information age, with new global alliances and cut throat espionage gave him a new focus for obtaining power. He now had his own operatives in ever major world power's government singularly fulfilling his plans. But he still didn't have power over the immortals, or the security that he would be the only one. That man's quickening will insure my success in dominating this world > the man in black mused within himself. Long ago he stopped assigning himself names, he simply wore his trade mark outfit and limited his physical contact to a few trusted advisors. The cancer man was a relatively new staffer and one of the few immortals he ever allowed into his circle of power, but the risk was worth it because since his arrival the man in black's power over the U.S.'s federal bureau had increased threefold. I will find out what Fox Mulder is up to later. Right now I need to concentrate on capturing Methos. Nothing must stand in my way.>
******************************
Thud
"Please forgive me, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was headed."
"Hey man, that's all right. are you okay. I smacked into you pretty hard."
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. .... Hey aren't you Blair Sandburg?"
"....yes....."
"When I was in grad school I read a couple of your papers. My degree is in ancient civilizations. That's not too different from the study of tribal communities. Ummm, I'm sorry to hear about you dissertation. Man, if someone published some of my private memories without permission..."
"Look, the story was a fake, okay? I wrote it as a joke since I wasn't able to find a real sentinel. And no, I don't know where one may be at today."
"Whoa, I'm not looking for a sentinel. Anyone with half a brain recognized that you didn't authorize the publishing of your novel. Although it was creative. Anyway, I really respect your work. Would you mind having lunch with me? Maybe you could give me some research pointers?"
"Oh...uh...sorry if I came on too strong. It's just...well.. never mind. And, um, I don't know what kind of pointers you could get from me."
"A lot. My papers are usually so dry and lifeless. I know the stories, but I stink at communicating them. Every one of your papers kept me attentive to the very end. You're got quite a knack for sharing people's history. Besides, it looks like I smushed your lunch anyway. Let me buy you another?"
"Well, all right. I don't have to be back at the station for another forty-five minutes."
"Station?"
"Yeah, I'm a police officer."
"Cool, hey weren't you writing a paper on police subcultures or something?"
"Sort of, how did you know that?"
"Well a friend of mine in the anthropology department......."
***************************
"Come on Scully,... row,row, row your boat gently down the stream....."
"Mulder, have you been sampling the confiscated drug products again?"
"Scully, you have got to learn how to have fun and loosen up a bit."
"I will as so as my partner transfer request gets answered."
smile
"Come on, tell me you haven't had simple fun like this in a long time. I know that secretly your over there enjoying yourself."
"Mulder, a long exhaustive road trip on a greyhound bus has NEVER been 'simple fun', in any ones' book."
"It has in mine. We didn't get to travel much. But when it was time to ride the bus to grandmom's...."
"I'm glad your enjoying your trip down memory lane. Now when are you going to tell me why we are ridding the bus?"
pause
(hushed tone) "We're being followed."
"And why do you think that?"
"I had the lone gunmen do some backup research for me. All of our transmissions to headquarters are being intercepted before they reach Skinner. Someone out there want to know exactly what we are doing. I though that by riding the bus, we would make it impossible for them to inconspicuously follows"
"Why do you think they're spying on us?"
"The gunman said that the transmission of David Murphy' police artist sketch was delayed for the longest period of time. And of course the letters sent to Skinner don't look like anyone has ever opened them; so we can't tell for sure how long they've been held or even whose taking them. All I know is that this makes my alien theory more and more plausible."
"Oh Mulder......"
"But on a more pleasant note... Row, Row Row your boat...."
**********************
Lyle hung up the phone with a small smile of satisfaction on his lips. Despite the Blue Cove operation's continued failure to capture their estranged pretender and his young clone, the triumvirate was still willing to give this new assignment to him. Lyle had spent enough time and money trying to ingratiate himself upon the board and he was glad that it finally worked. First, he was able to get rid of his psuedo-father Mr. Parker. He really enjoyed the shocked expression on Parker's face when he realized that his 'son' was behind his expulsion. Ms. Parker, his dear sweet twin sister, was still a minor problem though. Several times he attempted to erase her, but all his attempts failed. In a way he was glad, she was the only real family he had. But Lyle didn't need family. He didn't need anything, except his freedom. And that he intended to keep by remaining a loyal player in the sinister Centre's games. Poor Jarod. He could have been a player too, oh well.> Any ways, the job came directly from the man in black, as Lyle's sources uncovered. The man in black was a serious weight, not just in the Centre, but all over the world. Rumor had it that he had been alive for two hundred years. Although Lyle thought that was only the foolish musing of small scale operatives, he didn't quite doubt its possibility. The same figure has commanded the precursor agency to the Centre, over fifty years ago.
Who is this David Murphy>? Lyle pondered to himself. The man was somewhat ordinary looking, jet black hair, a rather petite frame for a male, and a definitely Anglo-Saxon nose. Why is he so important to The Man? > Again he wondered. His orders were concise. Got to a city called Cascade in the north-west USA, capture David Murphy and immediately set up a rendezvous with the Man himself. Apparently the usually misanthropic man in black was going to leave his Canadian fortress to meet up with Mr. Murphy personally. He didn't want to risk Murphy's possible escape during an extended transport. Whatever Murphy had, the man in black was in an extreme hurry to get it. Yes,> thought Lyle, if I succeed swiftly in this job, the triumvirate will never look upon me as just another one of their little experiments. I will gain their respect, and maybe... more that just that > Lyle again smiled to himself. Nothing would prevent him in achieving his objectives; the whole city of Cascade would be plowed down if anyone tried to stop him.
"Marcus, recall Willie and Jacob from Ms. Parker's team. And retrieve Roupere and Phil from their little project in Bosnia. I want the top sweeper team assembled and ready to fly out by tomorrow afternoon. Understood?"
***************************
Blair walked into the bull pen whistling. He just had the best lunch ever, since his expulsion from the university. It felt good to be able to talk to someone about intellectual issues without seeing either a look of boredom or repulsion. Jim tried, but Blair knew he could care less if the ancient ruins of Laos were hand carved from the hillside or made of play-do and ceramic. He made plans to meet up with David after work. David had gotten two free tickets to a concerto performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons and offered one of the tickets to Blair. His original date canceled at the last minute but he still wanted to go. Blair couldn't believe his fortune. First he meets the first academic that didn't immediately assume that he was a worthless fraud and had the most stimulating conversation on ancient ruins since his early expedition days. Then, to top if all off, he gets invited to the symphony performance. Seattle's orchestra would be performing and they were renowned as on of the best in the country. Blair knew each ticket cost a minimum of two hundred dollars and each intermission was catered by Fasion's, one of Washington's premiere restaurants. Blair couldn't believe his good fortune.
"So what's got you walking on cloud nine, Chief? Did Rachel finally agree to go out with you?"
"Not yet, but after the luck I've had following me today, ten bucks says that she will."
"Oh yeah? Well,.. your on"
Yes, today was a ...good.... day. Next Saturday he and Rachel were going on a picnic lunch in at the park.
***************************
"Wake up Scully, we're here. The wonder world of Cascade. Did you know this city's got one of the highest arrest rates in the country? They have their fair share of violent and disastrous crimes, but somehow their police department manages to resolve them swiftly."
"Really, then why would a possible ax murder come here to hid out?"
"Sword Scully, the killer used a sword. Anyway, like I said I have a hunch that he's not planning to leave here any time soon. He must be looking for someone or something. Whatever the reason, its important enough to risk capture by the police force. I need to go make a few phone calls. See if you can commandeer a cabbie. I'm sure no one would resist you when they see you waving in that outfit."
"Mulder,... need I remind you that I carry a gun and do have a license to kill without provocation?"
***************************
Methos was going over to Blair's apartment this evening. The sentinel finally got a date with some waitress named Linda so Blair invited him over. He was very glad because he wasn't sure he could hide his identity from the sentinel. He knew of one guardian in the past who said that he could see his quickening energy rising from his skin. Methos never questioned the man. He didn't think he was the one who caused him to become a guardian but the old guardian's daughter looked very familiar to a pregnant woman that he had meet long before the guardian's birth date. Methos marveled a how enthralled Blair was when he told him stories of ancient times. His attention was very flattering; Methos attempted to compliment Blair equally in return. Methos was very proud of his son, and the sentinel. The city of Cascade was one of the most violent yet well protected one in the whole north east. As Methos readied himself to knock on the door his mind drifted off to remember the date he first meet Blair's mom, Naomi.
*****
It was 1970. Eleven years had past since Methos had been in cascade. Unfortunately he hadn't been able to return sooner to produce a companion for the Ellision child. Methos was glad to have read several other newspaper articles on the child. Apparently he was a bit of a local star and was succeeding in numerous junior league sports. It didn't seem like, from the reports he collected, the boy had discovered his unique abilities. Methos knew of sentinels who managed to bury their gifts deep into their minds until they finally found their companion. Methos was glad little Jimmie Elllision seemed to be like them, and not like those other sentinels who lived years of life in pain and confusion without a guardian to comfort them.
It was the first sunny day after a three week period of rain and drizzle. He took the opportunity to enjoy the warm day at Cascade's park. He found an empty out of the way spot underneath a tree where he could gaze at the lake. Without trying he had placed himself in the perfect spot to meet up with his next wife.
"Hey you, are you mediating ? Can I watch?"
Methos looked up to a very young looking strawberry blonde woman. She was very appealing to his eyes. Her forwardness was a bit striking to Methos but this was the end of the 60's revolution.
"Sure, would you like to learn?"
"Of course, I'm always looking for new ways to center myself and keep my mind in harmony with the earth. What's your name? I haven't seen you here in the park before."
"David.... David Blair."
*****
Methos' unplanned trip down memory lane put a smile in his eyes that remained when Blair opened the door to the loft. Methos was impressed by the place's decor and said so the Blair.
"Oh, its nothing. Just a combination of my collection of artifacts and Jim's fashion sense. You wouldn't think by looking at him that he had any sense of style." Blair said as he lead Methos to the kitchen. "But,.." as he held up Jim's floral apron, "he doesn't always show it."
smile.
"So how long have you two been working together? It hasn't been that long since you left the university."
"Well, like your friend Taylor told you, I was gathering data for my thesis on the police sub-culture when I started working with Jim. We turned out to make a good team when it comes down to catching criminals. In fact, our arrest record is the best one in the state."
"Really? That's impressive."
Blair didn't know what made him bring up his arrest record to David. But there was something about him that made Blair want him to think highly of him. Almost like when he first met Jim's dad. Of course, that meeting didn't go very well, at all. But for some reason David stirred up the same feeling in him.
"We've got some pretty cool music selections in the living room. You want to go pick out something?"
"Sure, is your cd cabinet near the television?"
"Yeah, right next to it on the right. I've got some last minute things to prepare before dinner."
Methos walked into the living room and then over toward the entertainment center. Next ot the tv, on the other side, was a shelf filled with photo albums and pictures. Methos looked over his shoulder to make sure he wouldn't be caught. The first album was probably designated for vacation trip pictures because it contained lots of photographs of Jim and Blair goofing off. Most of the scenes were in outdoor, wood-ies locations. Methos smiled. The boy probably inherited his mother's love for the outdoors. I personally was very glad when man started building big cities > The next album held pictures from Jim's childhood. Methos found several of the same newspaper articles on little Jimmie that he had collected upon returning to Cascade almost thirty years ago. His copies had gotten lost in time so he was glad someone had maintained copies. The next photo album was a plain brown book covered with glued on dried leaves. Methos had to sit down after he opened ti the first page. These were Blair's childhood momentos. As he looked at the pictures of his baby boy growing up tears began to swell up in his eyes. The pictures were all of Blair when he was about two years old and older. Methos realized that Naomi probably never had showed the boy their family pictures together. He almost wished that she had. Then, even though it would mean explaining his immortality, Methos could re-establish his place in Blair's life quickly instead of the round about way he was taking now. Methos decided to put the album back on the shelf. His eyes were foggy and it was getting harder to hold back the tears of sadness. It wouldn't do for Blair to find me crying over his childhood album. How would I explain that? Another time, maybe, I'll get to look through the pictures. > Methos walked over to the cd case. He smiled when he found a copy of Edward Griegg's In the hall of the mountain king on the shelf. It was on undoubtably his favorite classical piece. Methos preferred music that made his heart beat and his feet tap than the usually slow, maudlin musical scores that had been written throughout time.
"Great man, that is my favorite classical piece. Jim likes more of the subtle, put you to sleep stuff. But I picked out all the faster paced stuff. I've got a superb collection of tribal chants in my bed room. I'll go get them for you."
Methos smiled inwardly again. Yep, that's MY boy. >
**********************
Slam!!!!!
"Just when were you going to tell me that you reassigned two of my best sweepers? How dare you step in and challenge my team management without confirming with me first. I had a lead on Jarod in Southern California yesterday morning. But could I catch him? No, two of my sweepers weren't present. Gone. and what was the explanation? They were recalled by Mr. Lyle. What is going on, and I. want. to . know. now !"
Lyle lifted his eyes up slowly from his desk. He had been expecting this little outburst from dear sissy the minute he was informed of her return to centre grounds. How dare she presume to talk to him like that! But, sissy still thinks she has a power and clout here. She doesn't realize that she's been completely phased out with the disappearance of 'daddy'. Oh well, let's just try to keep the peace for expedience sake. > "Calm down, Ms. Parker. I had to recall Willie and Jacob. We got a new contract that has to be handled right. I only 'borrowed' from them temporary. Please forgive me, but it was an emergency." Lyle batted his eyes and tried to give Ms. Parker his best 'I really am sorry for killing your cat' look.
"Save it" snarled Ms. Parker. "And why haven't I hear anything about this project?"
"Nothing should interfere with your attempts to catch Jarod. Like you said, you almost had him yesterday. You just keep handling our number one priority and I'll handle the rest. Okay?"
"Hurmp.." grunted Parker as she turned on her heels to leave. "I will find out what you are up to Lyle. Believe it."
And.. so? > Lyle shook his head. Now what would be a nice saying on Ms. Parker's tomb? Beloved sister and friend? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH>
**********************
"So captain you can understand why we want to keep this on under raps. We know that this prep, David Murphy couldn't be responsible for all of the other similar deaths. But its the same M.O. If he was involved in the John Doe slaying in Seacour, he might know what's going with the rest of the deaths."
"No problem Agent. I' ll have this photo graph discreetly passed along to all the other department heads. They will personally explain the situation to the right people on their teams."
"Good, we don't want to lose this one again."
"Mulder, are you going to tell me why you are so jumpy? You haven't been able to sit still all day. even through our meetings with the local police chief, you acted like you were late for a very important meeting. What's going on behind the pictures?"
"The lone gunman notified me this morning that an unmarked aircraft landed in a private Cascade airstrip this morning. They are able to monitor air traffic lines for the private air fleets. Apparently the passengers were hired guns from a shadow group in Blue Cove that they have been tracking. Its called the Centre and word has it that they are some pretty nasty people. Remember when I said that we were being followed? Well, our company's made it here already and established themselves; even before we could finish diner."
"Do we report this to the locals?"
"No, for all we know there may be plants in there already. No, trust no one and stick close to me. Okay?"
"Okay. I hope you know what you're doing"
"Don't I always?" smile
"Hrumf"
*********************
Methos opened his hotel room door and quietly stepped into the room. His diner with Blair had been wonderful and he was now so tired that he wanted to go to sleep immediately. He creep into the room so that he would not wake up sleep. Back in his days in the outback the Aborigines taught him that if you came into the hut from a hard days' labor too loudly, that you would wake up sleep and spend the rest of the night restless. Unconsciously Methos kept their sayings. Yes, everything seemed to be going well as planned. He would slowly create a solid friendship with his son. He hadn't decided yet if he was going to reveal himself to him. At any rate, tonight he was tired. Blair's cooking was the best he had ever tasted since Onca. He wondered if that was what triggered his memory of those times. Back then his lonely soul had found comfort. Now he wasn't as lonely but he was still seeking comfort. Comfort from the memories of how he lost his youngest son and his beloved Naomi....
******
"Naomi, in you condition you should be taking it easy !!!!!" David fumed. "Sit down and I'll clean up the living room."
"I am perfectly capably of taking care of my own messes. David Blair, you are becoming more and more a fascist dictator as I grow closer to delivery time. I AM A FREE SPIRIT and I will do what I Want To do!!!"
With that his very pregnant wife stormed out of their apartment's living room.
That I know quite well. > mused Methos sadly. Gone was the vibrant, fun loving playmate he met over a year and a half ago. Methos had fallen for Naomi at first sight. No other woman every had that much control over him, without casting a spell, i.e. drugging him, first. But he willingly loved her. Her energy and passion for life mesmerized the old man. After so many centuries of travel, he was beyond jaded. Naomi rekindled his enthusiasm, his zest for life unlike anyone else. He loved her so much. Twelve times he begged her to marry him. He even bought her a diamond ring that was the size of a small pearl for an engagement ring. Naomi, of course, promptly sold it and gave the money to the homeless and street musicians in town. Methos was furious but one look into her eyes melted away all of his anger. The day she announced that she was ready to commit to a 'long-term partnership' with him had been his happiest in centuries. He didn't even complain when she insisted on keeping her maiden name and on having a guru mystic perform the ceremony. He loved her. Unlike any of his other wives. The only other time he had been this happy was his brief time in Queensland. But now he was going to have what he could only get through a surrogate that first time. A son, his own son. And Methos was going to personally raise him. Of course, Methos hadn't forgot the reason it was crucial for him to bear a child, the guardian needed a companion. But he didn't care. The child would be the fruit of his love for Naomi. Unfortunately, Naomi didn't take motherhood well. She was so young, only in her early twenties. In the course of an hour her emotions would do cartwheels olympians could only dream of accomplishing. Her antics frightened Methos a little. He wasn't sure if it was a sign that something was wrong with the pregnancy. The other wives that he had who produced guide companions never acted as berserk as Naomi did. Only two more weeks to go >.
Three days later Naomi was gone. Gone. Without a trace. Methos searched the streets desperately for his wife. The tears were so heavy in his eyes that he had to keep a box on tissue in this car as he searched. No one had seen or hear form her. Methos couldn't believe what was happening. Finally he had found happiness and contentment and it was all taken away in a matter of a few hour. Methos, although extremely wealth, had taken a teaching job a Rainier. When he returned home from class that day he took a deep breathe before opening the door in preparation of Hurricane Naomi. He immediately knew something was wrong when he walked inside. The house was quite. Deathly quiet. Methos dropped his briefcase in front of the open door and ran down the hall to the bedroom. Not there. Then he checked the bathroom. Not there. there wasn't a note, no sign of where she had gone. Methos opened the closet door and then fell down to his knees. The suitcase was gone and so were some of Naomi's clothes. The three thousand dollars in emergency money was also gone. How could she? > Methos' face was hot with anger. Then his face quickly paled with fear. What if she's not in her right mind? She could be hurt. And the baby.> Methos' head began to swim. Methos called the department dean and told him what had happened. The dean tried to reassure him. "Your wife is one of the most head strong females I've ever meet. She probably just wanted to go some where and mediate on what her life as a mother might mean. She'll be back. I know she loves you as much as you love her."
Ten days later Methos return to the apartment broken and worn out. He had traveled to some of the nearby cities and towns just in case Naomi had left Cascade. As he open the door, much like the fateful day when she left, Methos was immediately struck by a change. Lights were on, food was cooking in the kitchen and ... and Methos could hear the sound of a baby wailing form the bedroom. Methos ran to their bedroom and yanked open the door. Naomi was sitting on the bed breast feeding their son. His son. "I know your mad... but.. the vibes... there were just so many negative vibes here. I couldn't let our child be born in such an oppressive climate. We had to leave." Methos couldn't speak. He collapsed on his knees in front of Naomi. "His name is Blair, Blair Sandburg. I didn't give the doctor your name because I was kind of out of it. They force all kinds of horrible drugs down my throat and into my veins. My poor baby could have been hurt from all those pollutants. Any ways, he may not have your last name, but he is definitely part of you." Methos still couldn't speak. The tears that had take regular residence in his eyes now pour like a waterfall. This time, however, they were tears of pure joy and rhapsody. "David... I... I honestly don't know what has come over me. I just keep feeling like you.. like someone would take my child away... like some would supplant my role in his life and I...I couldn't let that happen. You understand, don't you?" Methos lower lips dropped open as if he was now able to speak. No sound passed through his lips. he loved Naomi, true enough and was overjoyed that she had decided to return. But now, as he looked at his nursing child there was a rock solid place in his heart filled with only one person, Blair Sandburg.
******
The pillow cover on Methos' bed was cold and wet from the residual tears shed by the old man as he remembered the first day he meet his son. A second chance, that's all that I hope for. A second chance. >
***************************
Lyle exited the Centre's plane in Cascade. The sweepers had already moved into place, even planting several moles in the local police department. Lyle came down to physically over see the process and to set up a holding site for the prisoner once captured. It won't be long now. > he said to himself with a confident smirk.