Chapter 109

Within the Dream

Carl Robinson gripped his sword in his hand and grimaced as he circled his opponent. Carl was taller… more powerfully built… but this one was older. And if he was older… then he had a great deal of experience.

The man moved swiftly… fluidly… with a grace belied by his older face. He'd evidently died later in life the first time. His pale blue eyes coldly regarded Carl without emotion. His sword swiveled in a back and forth motion that was mesmerizing.

His opponent thrust forward. Carl blocked and pushed him off. They circled again… both focused on the movements of the other. Again his opponent's sword began its hypnotizing movements. Carl blinked and shook his head to clear it… in that blink… his opponent's sword slashed down on him drawing blood.

Carl backed away ignoring the pain and the gash on his arm. His opponent smiled… then began to circle… waiting… not pushing his advantage.

His arm slowly healed… it still hurt… but the bleeding lessened… and finally stopped as the gash scabbed over. Soon… even that would fade.

He was once more in the arena. The stands were empty… yet Carl still felt that others were watching. Again and again they brought him here. Again and again he came to himself in this place… and each time… the arena became more real… until nothing remained but it… and his need to survive. How many had he killed? He no longer remembered. At first he'd been hesitant… but as this nightmare of an existence had continued… he'd found it easier and easier to kill the other immortal and end the nightmare.

Somewhere in dreams… he was rewarded. He'd find himself making love to female immortals who stared at him with uncomprehending eyes and fear. Then he'd take them as his just reward… and they'd fade into darkness. He'd sleep… and then the arena appeared again… and he'd face a new challenger.

This was the game, as it should be played! One on one! With nothing to interfere. Match followed match… female followed female. Death and sex were all there was to life! All that there needed to be.

Today would be no different. His arm healed… Carl attacked… swinging strongly one way and the other. His powerful stroke pushed the smaller man back… back… back. Then the other pivoted about and slammed his blade down once more on Carl's newly healed arm. A second stroke slashed across his back.

Once more his opponent backed away… letting him heal. Carl snarled as he rose and turned to face him. "Who are you?"

The other smiled darkly. "I am Kage… young one. I have slain older and better men than you. You are an amusement only. Your skills are laughable!"

Carl lunged at the laughing immortal, his sword positioned to thrust into the other.

But Kage had moved. From behind Carl he sliced again. Carl's knees buckled… his arms dropped to his sides. The hilt of his sword he held laxly in one hand. He leaned forward and grunted at the searing pain.

"Did you really think you were that good? Did you really think you'd win?" Kage's voice taunted.

Carl noted the man's shadow on the bloodied sand of the arena. He'd raised his sword and was ready for the final blow.

"It's the end for you… and a new beginning… for me!"

-----

Watcher Compound

Wilderman grinned as the indicators rose. "He's taken him!"

Above on the catwalk, Rawlins held his breath. If this worked… if they'd finally caught it… then he and his people could share in this immortality that seemed wasted on these self-destructive fools! Once they understood it… once they quantified it and dissected it… then… they could reproduce it at will.

"Men need never die again," Rawlins thought "at least those who serve me." Already he could see the kingdom he'd set up. Already he could see his immortal army spreading out across the face of the world… bringing the world to its knees… that it might adore Henry Rawlins… its savior. It might take centuries… but it would happen… and he would live forever.

The two specimens yet lived… physically… but one would sleep… and the other would be tested and probed until they had the answers. And then… Rawlins let his gaze move toward the drugged form of number 47. "When I am ready… you and I will meet within the dream… and I will take what you have… and I will emerge immortal." His facial expression was one of greed and anticipation. He felt himself harden at the thought… aware that the bite and sutures burned… but he'd finally hardened again.

Henry Rawlins stood straight and turned to his lieutenant. "Fetch me again, once Dr. Wilderman is ready for the next phase, Mr. Chang." He was ready for another turn with the delectable Dr. Romney… and this time… things would go better. He leered in anticipation.

-----

Franco-Swiss Border

Duncan pulled the Land Rover off to the side of the road at a scenic overlook. Gazing at the mountains about him… he reveled for a moment in the glow of the early dawn as it tinged the snowcaps rose and gold. These mountains were far higher than the ones of his native Scotland. They were desolate and craggy… but there was a beauty here that he'd always found enticing.

"I want another reading," he murmured softly to Ellie as he climbed out. She followed him quietly, standing and shivering in the cold air. Her lightweight jacket insufficient at this altitude. "Now that we have some altitude… I want to get an idea of whether we'll find him up or down… and how far."

Ellie nodded and closed her eyes… drawing once more deep within herself. She wavered slightly… as if losing once more the strength to manage this. Duncan watched Derrick unfold himself from the rear and climb out… his eyes filled with worry.

The boy reached to steady her.

Ellie's face relaxed in a warm smile and she leaned back against the boy… but Duncan knew she was no longer here. Almost regretfully she sobered and took a deep breath. Slowly one arm lifted and she pointed once more.

Duncan made certain the orientation was still the same… and then attempted to get the azimuth, quickly using his PPC to figure the angle of descent from where they were. He studied his findings as he listened to Derrick murmur softly into Ellie's ear that it wouldn't be much longer. Just to hold on. He met the boy's worried gaze.

"She's dying," the boy mouthed.

Duncan nodded. Every time he pushed her… she acceded to his wishes… and every time she seemed weaker… as if this were draining her of life. Each of them had lent something of themselves to her as they'd pushed on. Now… all were tired.

Duncan tapped the map as Amanda looked over his shoulder. She slipped hands under his jacket and shivered in the frosty morning air. "Are we getting any closer?"

"The readings match up closely with the location of Kage's transponder signal. We should make contact with Meyers' people in a few hours." Duncan folded the map and for a moment reveled in the feel of Amanda next to him.

As if she understood… she hugged him tightly from behind. "I love you!" she whispered.

Duncan chuckled and let his mind recall her lying next to him in the bed at that bed-and-breakfast. Her long lean body moving against his seductively in the bed and he yearned for her to be more than his occasional lover.

He grasped one of Amanda's hands and kissed her fingers, tempted to see once more if a spark would fly if he drew one of the patterns on her. Duncan sighed and shook his head as he eyed Ellie. She'd warned him against pursuing that course until the time was right. He couldn't afford the distraction! Especially now… seeing what this bonding had done to Ellie… and… his eyes took in Alisaunne still sitting in the Rover… her fingers moving lightly over the pages of Darius' journal as if by their very touch… she'd know more than she did now. Occasionally… the young woman shuddered as if attempting to throw off the touch of another… as if Nestor were reaching out to caress her. How much longer before she finally succumbed to his enticements? How much longer would the Ancient's quickening buoy her abilities to fight off the demon.

Duncan MacLeod knew he was running out of time!

"Time to go," he said reluctantly. He turned to give Amanda a quick kiss. "Later," he promised.

Amanda smiled curiously, as if wondering just what he meant.

Moments later, the Rover re-loaded… and Ellie curled sleeping in Derrick's arms… Duncan pulled once more onto the mountain road. He had miles to go… and no time to sleep… or dream. If he was to save them all… he needed to focus clearly on the here… and the now.

-----

Paris

Pierre Gautier glared at the shouting heads of the newly re-constituted Watcher Council… and understood in one of those clarifying moments that he sometimes had… just how Henry Rawlins had wrested the control of the organization into his hands… and those of his followers. He'd offered a calm soothing presence… a sense of order and decorum… freedom from arguments… freedom from responsibility. Rawlins had given the Council peace… and in return… they had slunk eagerly off to their other lives… weary of living vicariously through their immortals.

Glancing about the table at his friends… Pierre wondered for one moment if it wouldn't be easier to do as Rawlins had done… just take control and re-direct everything to suit his agenda. The old man sighed. "As hard as this is… as tiresome as this feuding is… there are reasons for it… so that nothing ever gets swept under the rug. No one should have too much control!" he thought.

"In the Americas," Brian Crane was explaining, "immortals attacked our people unnecessarily. We've lost over a dozen operatives in St. Louis and near Oakland. I have given orders that these at least… must die!"

There was another round of arguments and raised voices.

"Our library facility in Taranto was breached. While reports are sketchy as to what may have been going on there… it is evident immortals came in… and immortals left. No one was left alive. Many of the personnel there were literally torn limb from limb."

Again voices were raised as the regional coordinators began arguing.

Pierre winked at Marie and then cleared his voice. "Then none of you know about this new "Sanctuary Project" that Henry Rawlins had authorized?"

Immediately a hush fell over the room. Pierre watched the eyes of the others in the monitors. Those that shifted slightly were likely at least partially culpable in the capture of the missing immortals. He took mental notes as to their identities. He'd deal with them later… at least he knew who to trust… and who to watch.

"That project was deemed a fool's plan decades ago," Takamoto dismissed. "The immortals are to be watched and remembered when none of them remain. If the Gathering has come as has been widely speculated… then our memories of them and who they were become of prime importance. We cannot function if they know we are watching."

Pierre smiled thinly behind his upraised hand as it brushed over his upper lip. "Precise as always, my old friend," he thought. "You always could cut to the chase."

"May I speak?" Pierre shifted in the leather chair and opened his hands as if he were there at their request and not the other way around.

The heads of the council nodded their agreement and silence gripped the room.

"We cannot undo what has been done. Many have died on both sides if what Duncan MacLeod has told me is true. He believes immortals are being held by the Watchers… and he is determined to rescue them."

"What would keep him from decimating them as Jacob Kell did? After all… he took Kell's head! Perhaps he is becoming the kind of immortal Kell was. He's attacked us before?" That was Crane.

"Then you admit you know something of this?" suggested Pierre.

Crane blanched. His dark eyes darted back and forth. He licked his lips finally and nodded. "Rawlins assured me that the subjects were being held for study… to fill in the gaps of data in the old files."

"Against their will?" stormed Takamoto, slapping a palm on the table before him. "This is a travesty!"

Crane seemed to shrink in his chair… as if aware his days might be numbered. To Pierre, his next moves were like a rat on a sinking ship… seeking any way to survive.

"I only know I was asked to hold certain immortals until Rawlins sent his people to collect them. Rogue immortals began killing my people! I had every right to order them eliminated when found!"

Pierre leaned back in his chair… no longer amused. "What have you done Brian? Spill it man… what have you done?"

Brian pulled a folded handkerchief from his pocket and warily dabbed at his brow, obviously stalling for time. He could clearly see over the monitors in his office that everyone's attention was focused on him.

Finally he lowered his hand. "I have authorized extreme sanction against the immortals who attacked us. Even now, the noose tightens and it cannot be undone. Their fate no longer lies in my hands… but in the hands of those who hunt them."

At the gasp to his right, Pierre grasped the hand of Marie Chezlon, squeezing it to give her reassurance. "Then stand down Crane. Your passwords are revoked." Pierre nodded at Theresé who already was entering codes into the database.

Hands grasped Crane and pulled him from his chair. A few moments later a dark-skinned and thin dark-haired woman took his place. "For those who do not know me… I am Tamisha Bradley. I am assuming temporary control of our North American offices. It was recently reported to me that Crane authorized the deaths of several Watchers and their families who were found to have helped these so-called rogue immortals. From what I gather in listening today, it would seem they were not rogues… but were attempting to liberate their brethren from the new Sanctuaries and met with resistance. I am even now attempting to locate Crane's kill squad and tell them to stand down. I fear, however, this may be too little, too late."

"The main thing," Pierre added, "is that we stop this conflict before it gets out of hand. I am ordering that all immortals currently held in any facility you control be released. In the case of some of the more dangerous ones…" Pierre nodded at the Italian coordinator, I suggest you beat a hasty retreat. These people will not like what has happened to them."

"And our records and our secrecy?"

Pierre sighed. "Take what records you can. I have a feeling that because of this… too many immortals, who should not have learned of us, have. If we hope to salvage anything… we must assist MacLeod in finding Rawlins and in helping him rescue the main lot. If we fail… MacLeod has assured me that he will make certain each and every immortal still alive learns of us. He has kept our secret… now… we must help him or millennia's worth of information will be lost and more of us will die."

Pierre ended the meeting. The monitors were shut off. Slowly he picked up his cell phone and dialed Amy Meyers. "Tell Joseph… it's done," he said simply and shut it off. Now he had to gather a force… a trusted one from amongst people who were primarily scholars and historians… and arrange to fight a battle for the life and soul of this organization.