Chapter Ten
"What am I going to do with you Methos?" Egan Lasco contemplated this question for a long time. At the moment his personal vendetta against Duncan MacLeod went deep.
He sat there thinking back to when he first became a watcher. The friends he made gave him a sense of security and family for the first time in his life.
A few years later, his best friend died trying to uncover and verify a rumor of an immortal older than Methos who at one time masqueraded in the Watcher organization as Adam Pierson.
A fact he painfully uncovered through cross checking of reports and notes left by Adam Pierson along with notes made by Dr. Amy Zoll. It did not take a genius to put the two together as the same person.
When Egan read the reports by Joe Dawson on Ahriman the Zoroastrian god of evil, he felt betrayed. He did not believe in this demon and for Dawson to request that the records remain sealed and preserved to last 1000 years was next to lying under oath.
Hitting the intercom he instructed, "I want the best two immortals working for us. I have a job for them."
He focused once again on the computer screen in front of him. He smiled knowing he would have his revenge on Dawson and MacLeod.
Soon his eyes half closed and an influence now pervaded the room causing certain memories to return.
Le Blues Bar
Duncan and Amanda walked in the front door and waved to Joe across the room.
He was trying to wave Duncan off but he saw them make their over through the crowd.
"I can understand now why you feel the way you do about quickenings and beheadings." He told her, "but you don't have to let it ruin your life."
"Nobody can imagine how vile another human can be and many times I wished I had died. Even now why I fight so hard to keep my head I do not know except that I don't want to die like that!"
Hearing the last part of her speech Duncan jumped to the only conclusion and said, "Nobody wants to die like that."
Elizabeth turned and stood up quickly and stumbled as Duncan caught her. She pushed away and staggered to the lavatory crying.
"What did I miss?" asked Duncan sitting down. Eger for a distraction, Amanda pulled up a chair to sit between both men.
They were at the back table farthest away from the other customers so Joe tried to relate to Duncan some of Beth's history without betraying the trust she had given him.
Twenty minutes passed before Beth came back to the table. Duncan stood up and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Amanda can I talk to you over by the bar?" he requested taking her hand.
"Of course Mac you can order me a drink," said Amanda winking at Joe as she stood up.
As they walked away Joe said, "That Amanda she's really something."
Feeling shy after making a fool of herself, she just sipped her water and tried not to think about it.
Joe touched Beth's arm to gain her attention he asked her, "Can I give you some fatherly advice?"
She nodded and replied, "I would appreciate it."
"The past can keep hurting or make you stronger." He said, "The only way you can know for sure is to let it go."
Privately at the bar, the two discussed other concerns. Amanda asked Duncan, "What am I going to do about Egan's request?"
He suggested, "You can play his game or keep running Amanda. Or you can turn and fight with your cunning mind."
"Running I can do cunning I can do." She turned to the bartender and ordered a Dry Martini.
"Bringing Egan Lasco to financial ruin would stop him," suggested Duncan. "Think about it Amanda who else could do it?"
Amanda could see that Duncan was dead serious and he was right. She replied, "I don't know where you get the idea I could ruin someone financially."
Duncan tapped his fingers on the bar reminiscing, "You have nearly brought me to that point on a few occasions."
She wrinkled her nose at him and commented, "You must be exaggerating."
"Now if you want to survive and you will if you play their game then stop Egan." He took her by the shoulders and looked intently at her drilling his words into her.
Nodding her head Amanda agreed, "I know you give me a lot of credit and I do have some tricks up my sleeve but I also have the feeling that this girl is more than just a passing interest."
He looked past her to the table where Joe and Beth were talking. Even from a distance, he could feel her uniqueness.
He admitted then, "I'm not sure why I have to do this other than it's something beyond me. Like when I fought Ahriman. It was something I had to do."
"Where does that leave me except to masquerade as some high price thief?" Amanda said glaring at him.
"You thought I had all the answers?" he asked her.
"Usually you do but this is bigger than the both of us." She admitted.
Duncan nodded and stated, "If it were just a social visit I would say I'm all yours but it's not and I can't."
Seeing her expression Duncan asked her, "Do you need any money to get started."
Leaning in closer she answered, "I'll need more than money." Then she questioned, "Do I need to get my own ride home?"
He nodded saying, "Maybe if you do not mind."
At first, she pouted and then haughtily said, "Yes but then I'm not helpless."
Duncan watched her go over to the band area to join in some dancing and he knew she would be all right.
Amanda was like an immortal cat with a few thousand lives. She always landed on her feet and had every male in the region wanting her.
He made his way back to Joe's table and sat down with a thoughtful expression. To Joe he requested, "Keep an eye on her for me?"
Joe told him, "I always do," turning to Beth he asked her, "Have you had enough tonight?"
She nodded looking a little sleepy and replied, "I think so. I'll call for a car."
MacLeod suggested, "Let's get some fresh air and then I'll take you back to your hotel."
Thinking it over she turned to Joe and said, "I'm glad we talked even though it was difficult."
He patted her hand and said, "If there's anything I can do for you let me know."
She promised and then looking at Duncan, she asked him, "Free escort and a taxi? Sure why not."
"Don't get into trouble," he told them, "I'm getting too old."
Duncan said, "Thanks for the support Joe," as he helped Beth to her feet, "We'll be fine."
The two walked through the crowd passing Amanda with a quick good-bye they were out the door in minutes.
Amanda came over to sit with Joe. She commented, "I don't think Mac knows what he's really in for."
He agreed, "Nobody ever really does Amanda. If we did then it wouldn't be a mystery."
She leaned forward and whispered, "Joe, I need your help."
Hearing her tone he asked, "What can I help you with?"
"Find out where I stand on Egan's list and I'll do the rest," she said standing up to leave.
Amanda left the bar right after MacLeod and saw which way the couple was going. Resisting the urge to follow them she went to the waiting taxi.
Joe stood up slowly with his cane always by his side and limped to the back room opening the door and another figure now occupied the couch. He shut and locked the door. Keeping the room dark, Joe asked the first question.
He wanted to know, "What's going to happen next?"
The voice answered, "Egan is giving orders to systematically take out every immortal in the area he can't subvert but only a handful has joined."
"Why? What does he want them to do?"
The voice answered, "To be his henchmen, bodyguards, essentially his bondsman but it hasn't been that easy, last question."
He asked, "Can anyone get close enough to kill him?"
The voice chuckled long and quietly before answering. "If you were a fly you could get close but even then I wouldn't give you any odds. He is too well protected."
Joe nodded to himself and left the room. Closing the door, he knew the informant would go back into hiding.
Watcher compound
"Amy you are my protégée. I'm teaching you everything you wanted to know." Egan said with impatience.
"I know Egan. Your personal interest means a lot. I just don't know if I can do everything you want." She said taking his hands in hers.
His dark eyes met her blue ones in a test of wills. She looked away first and he knew he won.
"Amy you will work at the computer until I get Darken Enterprises in a takeover bid." He caressed her face with a gentleness showing he controlled her.
"But the hours that will take..." She began.
"Quiet! Don't whine to my face." Egan pulled her to him in a tight embrace. "You want to be with me? Don't you?"
Amy nodded slowly, "I have no choice do I?"
He chuckled softly, "You handled Morgan Walker so I think you can handle me."
Her blue eyes began to tear up as he kissed her roughly taking her backwards to the bed behind them. She let him knowing his control was complete.
Afterwards when Egan was asleep Amy got up and put on a robe. She sat at the computer and went to work on Darken Enterprises.
Amy thought about Joe as she worked and she was hoping MacLeod could keep him from getting involved in this conspiracy. Her request was to send him a message, "Please Get out Now." She did all she could to get Egan the money without disposing of immortals.
Remembering the night of taking her Watcher Oath, she still believed it with all her heart. She knew they were interfering but Egan's alternative was worse.
Outside of Paris
In a modest country home with a small garden Frank McFadden's eyes lost their focus as he listened to a summons only the oldest immortal could hear. A hum a soft ringing it kept changing as it went through him.
It grew in intensity as it went continuously into him as if a presence or essence was actually there. A wail began deep inside him as he fought its control. He stumbled to his room and fell across the bed. His wife was there in a moment by his side holding his head and feeling the call as it emanated through him.
He cried out, "There Can Not Be Only One!"
When the possession subsided and he felt in control again, Frank told his wife Deahna, "A gathering call! But who has the power to trigger its command?"
Deahna said without a doubt, "Soon all the immortals will hear it and some will go insane with confusion and fear." She intoned, "They will all fight to become the last one."
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