Chapter Fifteen:

"Report."

Stryker's voice rang out over the dashboard radio, a private frequency that could only be unscrambled by members of his elite forces. Logan and Creed had been sitting in the front of their standard issue black sedan for barely five minutes before their commander called for an update.

By now, Logan's initial report detailing the events at the train station had reached headquarters. Most men would have been more than a little concerned about the consequences of failing a mission, however, Logan's team was not comprised of 'most' men. They were the best, and were not intimidated by Stryker's verbal reprimands.

"Team two and three have been searching downtown for the taxi which McGee and her accomplice used to flee the scene," Logan explained calmly to his commander, "So far they have been unsuccessful in locating..."

"Accomplice...yes," Stryker repeated with some disbelief, "When I received your report, I thought perhaps that was a mistake. What did you mean by accomplice?"

"A young man in his early twenties intercepted McGee before we could detain her," Logan explained, ignoring the scathing tone in the other man's voice, "He seemed to have recognized her and purposely identified us to her in the crowd..."

"Gentleman, this young woman has been living on her own for nearly a decade," Stryker interrupted, "Every piece of information we've gathered from Systems Operations confirms that she had no living relatives and no known acquaintances, except at her prior place of employment, none of whom she had lingering contact with. So tell me, who exactly do you think this accomplice could be?"

"Maybe it's someone from River Mead," Creed answered with his rumbling voice, "Or another agent from that company...like Sforza..."

Stryker seemed to be considering this, but Logan began shaking his head.

"All the evidence we have indicates Sforza's involvement with McGee was done on his own," he replied, exchanging dark glances with Creed as they thought on their new opponent.

"Marko's interrogations of the Lot 23 boys also support that," Stryker said, "They also said Vincent Sforza was the only one aiding Charlie's escape from Rainbird..."

Both Logan and Creed straightened their shoulders and sat up respectfully at the sound of their mentor's name. John Rainbird had been one of top five assassins in the world until he began his obsession with the Lot projects. He had also trained the other four on the list of efficient hired killers, two of which were now searching for the object of Rainbird's obsession. Their slight shift in body language would have been the only respectful tribute he ever expected from his students.

"In any case," Stryker continued, "I want them found. Both of them. We'll worry about IDing the second target after McGee has been brought in for questioning. I want her found, gentlemen. And I want her brought here alive. At any cost. If her new friend gives you any trouble, then consider him expendable."

"Understood. Over and out," Logan replied and snapped the radio off before Stryker could say another word.

A deep frown crowned his face as Logan reached into his coat pocket for his phone. They had been sloppy at the train station. They had let McGee fall through their grasp with barely a fight. Logan had underestimated the young woman once. It would not happen again. He glanced over at Creed and nodded as he started the car and used his portable phone to call the other teams together.

The man who had earned the codename 'Sabretooth' was staring out into the passing night, cracking each knuckle on his large hands one at a time. A strange smile played on his face, a vicious gleam lighting his eyes as they began to hunt for the young Firestarter again. If there was one thing Creed lived for, it was the hunt. Not a quick grab and kill, but a real challenge in the urban jungle. He was secretly pleased that McGee had not been an easy catch, and he planned to be the one to hand her to Stryker in the end, even if it meant going against their team leader's orders.

On the dark streets of Chicago, three identical black sedans drove toward each other, regrouping before the games began again...

---------------------------

"Entirely unacceptable," Parks said angrily to the team of Watcher's around him and also to the assembly of Council members present via speakerphone.

"Please, just let me explain," Jay Malloy said, a request he had made repeatedly since meeting up with his associates again.

After his brief ride with Charlie, the loyal cabbie had driven him to the hotel where the Watchers were staying, commiserating with Jay the entire way about the loss of his 'girlfriend.' Jay had been politely amused by the man's teasing but inwardly had dreaded reuniting with the others. His current scolding had been unfortunately expected.

"Explain what?" Parks asked in a demeaning tone, "Explain why you neglected your post and the privilege of serving on this team to go gallivanting around Chicago?"

"Gallivanting, yeah, that's what I was doing," Jay replied with disgust as the lead Watcher continued.

"Each member of this team is responsible for the others," Parks said, glaring down at Jay for emphasis, "You were chosen for this team because the Elders believed you had the dependability and good judgment to..."

"Thank you, Edwin," a calm female voice, one of the referenced Elders, interrupted his rant, "I believe you have made your complaint quite clear. Jeremiah, if you have something to explain, now would be your chance to do so..."

Jay sat up in his chair and smiled broadly as Parks backed down from the argument.

"Thank you, ma'am," Jay replied to the speakerphone with relief, before taking a deep breath and continuing, "The reason I separated from the Council team at the airport was because of something my second sight had shown me. There were a group of six men at a nearby terminal, and when I opened my inner eye, all I saw around them was blue..."

"Blue?" Parks interjected, "Oh, well, certainly a reason to..."

"Blue...yeah, blue," Jay shot back, "And as the Elders, and most of the members of this team know, for me blue is a pretty clear warning sign of danger. Call it a hunch or vision or whatever, I decided to follow some of those men into the city. We wound up at Union Station and the two guys I followed started targeting the person I believe is responsible for the destruction in River Mead..."

The rest of the present team exchanged surprised and doubtful glances as Jay went on with his explanation.

"Not a demon," he continued, "But a girl who can start fires. The girl named Charlie the apparition told me about. The reason our search turned east in the first place..."

"She said her name was Charlie?" the female Elder asked, an unease measure of concern in her voice, "She told you she could start fires?"

"Yes and no," Jay replied, "I asked her if her name was Charlie and I saw what she can do...with my own eyes, inner and outer. She stopped bullets in thin air and..."

"Bullets?" Rupert Giles suddenly chimed in with surprise, "When did bullets come into this?"

Jay glanced at him quickly, "The guys I followed started shooting at her. Well, at us by that point..."

"Good Lord," Giles said, folding his arms over his chest, "Why do you think they were after her?"

"I don't know but when we find her again, we can..." Jay began until a new voice cut him off.

"We won't be finding her again, Mr. Malloy," Travers spoke over firmly from his place with the Elders.

Jay's jaw dropped and he whirled back toward the phone, "What? Why?"

"Her name is Charlene McGee," Travers said, "And she is not of concern to the Council."

"But if you had seen what she can do," Jay pleaded, "She needs our help. That's what we do, right? Help?"

"Not in this case, Mr. Malloy," another male Elder agreed with Travers, "We are quite aware of her gifts. We have known about her existence for many years. But, you said it yourself... she is not a demon, and therefore, out of our jurisdiction."

"Whose jurisdiction is she in then?" Jay asked angrily at the unwavering Council.

"There are other organizations who handle cases like hers," the female Elder admitted with obvious reluctance, "The Council has maintained a clear boundary with them for a long time. If you are certain that Charlene McGee is the cause of the River Mead fires, then I'm afraid this mission is over."

"Are you certain, Jay?" Giles asked his friend, "Because if you weren't sure, we could always..."

"No," Jay replied, his face twisted in controlled anger, "I am certain. I'm not gonna sit here and lie about that. But, if she's 'out of our jurisdiction,' or whatever, then I guess there's... nothing else to say..."

"I'm glad you are being cooperative in this matter, Mr. Malloy," Travers replied, "Council law must be adhered to at all costs. I expect the River Mead matter will be attended to by the proper authorities. Begin preparations to head back to England..."

Travers was still speaking, but Jay did not hear him anymore. The hot fury raging in him made the rest of the world seem numb and gray. The word of the Elders was the final word to any Watcher... but that did not make it the right word. Jay was bound by that code, and he would not demean his own worth by lying for the sake of his own gains.

But what about Charlie? Was the Council really going to leave her to the mercy of those men looking for her? It did not make any sense. She was gifted, like many trained by the Watchers. Why was she different? How could he help her if he was about to be shipped back to Europe...?

Jay's eyes widened slightly, and he was suddenly aware of the world around him again. The Elders were giving final orders to Parks, and began to say their farewells.

"Mr. Travers?" Jay called out before they could disconnect from the line.

"Yes, Jeremiah," Travers replied wearily, expecting another argument.

Jay kept his voice calm and cheery, "I was wondering if I might have a few extra days here to visit my family... since the mission is ending early and all..."

There was a brief moment of silence as the Elders pondered his request. Giles, Parks and the others of their team gave him measuring looks, but the weight of their stares did not faze Jay in the least.

When Travers spoke again, he opened his remarks with a reluctant sigh.

"Very well, Mr. Malloy," he said, "There's no reason why you should not be allowed to stay. You have certainly earned some personal time and I'm sure your family would agree that a holiday with them is overdue. However, you would do well to remember your position in the Council if you are thinking about continuing your investigations into the River Mead incident."

Jay nodded in acknowledgement, mostly for the sake of his present audience, and his face was a mask of practiced indifference.

"Of course," Jay replied, "Understood completely. And thank you, Mr. Travers... and the rest of the Council Elders. Can't tell you how glad I am to have a little vacation..."

There were a few chuckles earned by Jay's casual humor. The only two present who did not look amused were Parks and Giles. The latter was smirking and shaking his head sadly, knowing full well that his friend was planning more than just a holiday to Nebraska.