This is the second of two chapters going up today. --elle

Chapter 58

Watcher Compound, about 3:00 a.m., local time

Rawlins stood on the catwalk and surveyed the layout below. Things had been set to rights once more. His beheading of the subject last night had wreaked havoc on the systems… blowing them all as the quickening was released and the survivor had strained within the restraints and flailed about as the quickening had roared.

The rest of the group had been knocked off their feet as if they'd been too close to a lightning strike. The smell of ozone had been everywhere. Attendants had rushed to put out flames.

"You fool!" Wilderman had screamed. "You've blown the entire system! It will be days before we recover."

"Hours," Rawlins had sneered. "You will be ready again in hours." He'd snapped fingers at his people to bring in the new equipment. Then he'd left, storming out of the lab and up the stairs. Even the elevator was out of commission for the moment so he'd commandeered Wilderman's office until he could leave. His continued presence had indeed worked miracles.

They were ready.

"We lost valuable data with that little stunt," Wilderman said from behind him. "On all of them!"

Rawlins straightened. "This is my little project. You will not contradict me again. We learned as much as we lost."

"What did we learn? The readings were meaningless."

"We learned that even unconsious… they can take the quickening of another… even if they had no hand in the death."

Wilderman snorted. "We knew that!"

"We suspected it… now we know it… There is a difference." His cell phone rang and he waved Wilderman off while he attended to Mischkov's call. Rawlins smiled… rather like a hunter knowing his prey is within his sight. "I will be waiting," he said and turned it off. Staring out over the landscape of his great plan he chuckled. "Wilderman… be ready. I should have some interesting new subjects for you by tomorrow… some very interesting ones."

He descended the stairs and moved over to the isolated cubicle containing number 47. Leaning over the lax figure he whispered into the immortal's ears. "I shall have him soon… and then we shall see what is going on in that ancient mind of yours. His will open it up… I'm certain of it."

The figure opened his eyes. Rawlins stepped back. The eyes closed.

"Sorry sir," Claire said adjusting the medication. "He's triple the dosage of the rest of them, but he's still fighting us. He's still resisting."

"He won't much longer. I have his partner… or will have shortly." Rawlins approached again and regarded the man. "You have no idea how very much I want to know your mind. Once we've finished with the others… they are unimportant. We'll have their memories recorded and we will see history through their eyes. But you… in you is likely a memory so old that even you are unaware of it. We need that one… we need to know how it is you are immortal… and how to reproduce that in others. You will tell us… my ancient friend… you will tell us. And once we know… we will take control of the game… and we will destroy the last of you. The prize will be for us… not you."

As if he'd heard and understood, number 47 turned his head… and the needles on the print out began to swing back and forth in increased activity. Rawlins lifted the print out and read the double line. He smiled. "Soon, my friend, it won't be long now."

-----

Paris

Eleanor shut the secret door and crossed thoughtfully to the sacred pool. She sat on the stones and closed her eyes.

Methos hovered near her for a moment… all too briefly… but she had the flash of a face… twisted in fear and envy. He wants to be as we are. Eleanor straightened, wondering if that was the face she needed to find. "If I find him… will I find you," she whispered. But Methos was no longer there… just the empty darkness.

She remained in the grove… her eyes closed and her mind focused. If he'd reached her once… he would again… and she would be ready. She opened her mind to the smallest thought… the smallest bit of recognition… but all was lost in a darkness that had no end.

-----

Avril Mischkov would have preferred another night at home… another night to cleanse his mind so that he might focus more clearly on the future. But it was not to be. There was much work to be done this night… many preparations to make. He'd had the Watcher Pryor released, and he'd instructed her to return to England and wait for Delano's return… or re-assignment. He did not have time to waste on her at the moment.

MacLeod had been sighted coming out of St. Julien Le Pauvre… a most fortuitous circumstance that Mischkov had only this very evening decided to put a man on the church full-time… as a result of Delano's words. Fortuitous indeed! With luck… they'd get him and his companions sometime later today. He made arrangements for his best people to be on the man.

"Don't move too soon and stay back," he'd passed the word to the retrieval squad only ten minutes ago. "We want all of them, but don't lose MacLeod… "

If he were lucky… Mischkov would soon have MacLeod, his two students, and possibly this mysterious immortal couple who haunted the old city of Paris. If Delano thought they were there… and that they were real… then they had to be… and he would find them.

His phone rang.

After listening to the voice on the other end, he grinned. "Keep me informed," he said in a clipped voice and shut it off. Leaning back in his chair… Mischkov swiveled and smirked over his steepled fingers. "Now that was a piece of luck," he laughed. "Oh yes… that was a piece of luck indeed."

There had been too many set-backs in recent days… too many immortals had begun to slip from their grasp. But things were about to change. They had them now. Not all of them… but they had them. "You can run… but you cannot hide forever… no… you cannot hide. There is no corner on the earth that you can hide from us… not any more."

He pulled up old satellite surveillance of the area in question and blew up the photos. He saw nothing unusual… nothing to interest him… but he studied the land… he studied the village… he studied it all. Pulling up some additional intelligence on the area, he read through it. Nodding his head thoughtfully… he smiled eagerly and wished he were there. This was going to be a major triumph! Rawlins would be truly pleased by this night's work… truly pleased.

-----

When she rose to get some water, Alisaunne realized Duncan was gone. She glanced behind her at Ian's sleeping form and grinned. He would never know.

Swiftly she pulled on some dark clothing from her bag and secured her weapons beneath her long dark coat. Grabbing a handful of cash, she stuffed it into one pocket… as well as some identity papers. She braided her hair behind her, tying it off and tucking the braid under her coat. With one final glance… she exited the room and headed swiftly to the elevator. Her fingers toyed with the dark glasses in her pocket, but at this time of night… wearing them would garner more attention than she wished… but the rainhat was another story. She pulled it over her head, letting its wide brim hide her face from the security cameras that she knew were in each elevator. She entered… looking down… not up… and quietly pushed the button for the main floor.

Exiting the elevator, she ducked out a side entrance to find herself at last on the streets of Paris… she was alone… and she could hunt the night if she chose.

Alisaunne strolled up the boulevard, passing the few pedestrians still abroad at this time of night. In the distance lights were everywhere… but it wasn't the lights she wanted… it was the darkness. Slipping into the shadows… the young immortal took a deep breath. Finally she was on her own! She did not need the others! She was immortal and trained to be the very best. She could handle anything.

-----

At first, Ian was uncertain what had awakened him. He listened but heard only the silence of the suite. And then he knew… the others were gone.

Climbing out of bed swiftly he threw open the door and raced into the main room. Both Duncan and Alisaunne were definitely gone. Worried, he was dressing and considering his cell phone when the door to the suite burst open.

Ian reached for his sword but felt the burning pain as three bullets swiftly entered his side. He dropped the phone and fell to one knee… focusing and trying to remain alert. He swung the katana before him only to be shot twice more.

Hands grabbed his arms… his blade was pulled from his hands.

"We got one."

"Suite's empty. The other one's not here," said a clipped voice.

"Damn… she musta slipped out. Put out an APB for her immediately."

Ian struggled in the arms and felt another shot enter him… this time… he surrendered to the darkness.