Each group had to go through two more blast doors before they could get to the main control room. But the Granolith, able to work through the Perimeter computer system and override it, opened them much faster.

Liz led her group into the main control room; as expected everyone was dead there. Then the Granolith spoke to her.

"Queen Elizabeth, the other group will breach the last door to the control room within the next few minutes."

Liz looked around at her people; she was very grateful for the extra time. There had been several discussions about how to go about taking down the immortals. The need to keep immortality a secret was understood; but preventing a nuclear attack was more important and they had all agreed. Luckily things had worked out as they had hoped.

"OK, everyone, get out your tasers."

These tasers were very much like the ones that the Military had used against the skins; much more powerful than anything anyone else had. It had been agreed that taking heads could not be done there; who knew what the effects of all the lightning and quickening released could have in such a confined area; it was possible it could set off Dead Hand.

Then Methos and everyone else began to feel the buzz of approaching Immortals.

Jerrold stopped dead; what was THIS? His men looked at him in shock. Grimly he told them.

"Get ready." They pulled out their swords as his assistant triggered an over ride on what was the door to the main control room. It opened and he led them in calmly.

To face Queen Elizabeth and other immortals waiting for him. His mouth dropped open in shock. She could not possibly be Immortal; pictures had been shown of her clearly pregnant. How could this be?

Liz looked at them calmly. "Your questions will never be answered."

Then she fired as did every other immortal; several of them had two tasers and targeted more than one of Jerrold's henchmen. Liz took him out. Seconds later they were all laying on the floor. The power of the tasers were estimated to be able to stop the heart; they were all most likely dead. If not they would be out for some time. Even Immortals cannot shrug off 100,000 volts.

Liz directed the rest of the immortals to gather them all closely together. Then they all were transported out by the Granolith. Leaving only Methos with Liz. He checked the computer systems; as expected they were all on standby. Liz questioned the Granolith.

"Dead Hand?"

"That is located in another room right next to the main control room. I will open the door now."

At the far end of the control room, a somewhat smaller door opened and Liz and Methos walked in. There was no one in there. Liz was curious.

"Why is it not manned?"

"The system was automatic; if the sensors detected what was considered by the computer to be nuclear explosions on Russian soil, it would automatically launch."

She looked around curiously; there were several consoles with blinking lights; but it certainly did not look like the Doomsday Machine it actually was. She took a deep breath.

"Where can we plant the charges?"

"I will direct you." They had brought demolition charges for just this purpose.

It did not take long. Then Liz looked around. "Granolith, open all the doors once you transport us out." Methos then set the charges for 5 minutes. Then they were taken away.

The Russian response force had just managed to force open the main door to the installation when suddenly the doors in front of them began to open. The commander was suspicious. Was this a trap? Then they heard an explosion from deep inside the mountain. He led them forward at a run.

Liz and Methos materialized back at the Granolith; Max was waiting for her.

"I am sorry, Liz. I should have acted sooner just like you and Michael wanted; I was so worried about Immortality being found out and the risk to you that I was just unable to make a decision."

Methos headed off to talk to the others while Liz hugged Max.

"I understand Max. One of the reasons I love you so much."

The Russians were able to keep the media from finding out about what happened at Perimeter; while the nuclear blast was explained straightforwardly by Max.

"They were a threat to Earth and to Us; it was decided that we could not wait and we took action. We will of course repair and pay for any damage done on Earth."

They had given some details; carefully tailored. The Theft of the shuttle was included. It was explained that the Aliens wanted to destroy Earth's capability of space travel; in order to have those planets for themselves. Since this was the Truth, if not the whole truth, it was generally accepted by most.

Needless to say President Medeyev replaced the Commander of the Russian Strategic Forces and made it plain that Dead Hand was NOT to be repaired.

Liz had told him and the others that those that had tried to start WW3 had been killed and they were taken and buried so that no one could ever identify them. President Medeyev had been told almost the whole story; just the immortal part was left out.

What to be done about the Immortals was a problem. Clearly they could not be allowed to go free; they would always be a threat. Liz held a meeting of her Immortals the next day. Jerrold and the others were being kept unconscious using powerful drugs; chained up and kept in a secured area deep in the Palace.

Liz looked around. "OK. What do we do with them?"

Methos was blunt. "Their crimes are clear; their intent as well. No need for a bogus trial. They are guilty. They must die – permanently."

No one disagreed. Liz sighed. "I agree. Now how do we do it."

Duncan was very calm. "I want nothing to do with any of their Quickenings."

One by one they all agreed. Liz nodded. "I agree as well." She then sat back and thought about it. She knew what had to be done; and it was up to her. She stood up and looked at them.

"This is my decision and no one else's. They will be executed. I will have a guillotine built and we will execute them one by one."

And one week later it was done. The head of the Antarian Security force made it clear they would do it. He had talked to Liz about it.

"Your Majesty, this is a job for us. To remove threats to the Royal Family. I know that you feel responsible; but this should be done by those that frankly could care less about these criminals."

Liz had talked to Max and the others; they had unanimously stated that Liz should not do it. She had sat there thinking; a pensive look on her face. Michael had put it plainly.

"Liz, there is no reason you should feel bad about this at all. It has to be done. And there is NO GOOD REASON you have to be involved."

In the end Liz stood there as each one was led to the guillotine and executed. She took each Quickening; that was her decision. So that it would always be with her; she would not be able to forget it.

The next day Liz sat in her office; the quickening had not been that strong; but they had all been very consistent. A more amoral group would be hard to find.

Then she felt something and looked around. She headed towards the room where the wall was that whoever or whatever it was kept sending messages to her. On it was this simple message:

"YOU DID WHAT HAD TO BE DONE. YOU HAVE DONE WELL, QUEEN ELIZABETH."

Elizabeth Claudia Parker Evans, Queen Elizabeth of the Antarian People, Immortal Warrior, sighed. What was next?

thumper1942Addicted Roswellian Posts: 167Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:37 am