Chapter Twelve

The two bodies floated on the ocean long after the smoking cruise ship disappeared into the horizon. A small fishing vessel made its way towards the pair. The captain shouted an order to his men and they tossed a net out far enough to catch the immortals.

Carl was holding onto Amanda as the net dragged them closer to the boat. He said, "Amanda, wake up, our ride is here."

Amanda came awake coughing up water. She finally spoke, "That was the stupidest thing anyone ever made me do."

Carl said, "Well we're free now and it will be reported back that you're dead."

She asked, "What about you?"

He answered, "Oh, I'm not dead. I'll contact them and say you died on the cruise but because of the fire the quickening made a hole in the ship and we got pulled through."

He said triumphantly, "See, no body."

Amanda asked next, "What about me?"

Carl just said, "You'll be disguised as someone else. Another immortal I found and recruited."

Amanda was not satisfied with his plan. She told him, "I've lost my sword, all my things and money and now I'm pretending to be someone else."

He told her, "Amanda you'll get it all back. I have access to watcher funds. Quiet now we're here."

The captain called down to them, "You are a hard man to find Mr. Robinson. It took me three hours so you owe me extra."

His men held the net beside the hull and waited for an answer.

Calling up to the captain he said, "Max, I owe you a big dept and I'll pay it when we reach the port. Until then we'll work as your hands."

Captain Maxim laughed and said, "Good enough bring them aboard."

They struggled to climb up the net and over the rails. Falling exhausted on the deck, Amanda looked at Carl and said, "This better work and I'm not scrubbing decks for fun."

Captain Maxim held out his hand to help her up. He said, "A beautiful woman doesn't scrub decks. She keeps me company."

Amanda pulled away from him and gave him a deathly stare. She said loud enough for all to hear. "Nobody, but nobody touches me."

Carl stood up by her side and added, "The deal was just picking me up and a partner. I'll pay for your time and food Max but the lady is off limits."

He asked, "Or what?

Carl replied, "Or she'll kill you while I watch." With that said, he added, "We'll need a change of clothes and some food right now."

The Captain said, "Barron, take them below and get them clothes from the extra locker."

Amanda tried to follow Carl but he pushed her ahead of him. She whispered back, "I hate you Carl Robinson. And if I didn't need your help I would have taken your head."

Carl just smiled and whispered back, "Thanks and you're welcome."

Watcher Compound

It was a very quiet and late evening at the château as Methos walked the dark hallway to the elevator. On the basement floor, he stopped in front of a locked door.

He commanded the guard, "Stand aside."

The guard stood at attention but did not move. Methos stepped closer, held up his security badge with a level one clearance and repeated his command, "Stand aside."

The guard relented and unlocked the door. Methos said a simple "Thank you." He walked in the small cell-like room shutting the door after him.

"Hello Deahna don't get up, I just need to see how you are."

She gestured briefly telling him, "As you can see, I'm not held in high regard." Her small room held one chair and a cot next to the window with bars on it.

Methos sat on her bed and told her, "Egan has an idea of sending his immortal army to the gathering and win."

Deahna looked at Methos with shock in her eyes saying, "He is delusional."

Methos agreed asking her, "Of course he is and I'm playing up that approach. What I want to know is what will happen if we go?"

Deahna leaned forward and took Methos hands in hers. She said, "When the time comes, Frank will direct the gathering and any immortal that enters that influence with the intent of doing battle, they will automatically align themselves."

Methos asked her, "If I have a group of immortals trained by me and we arrive at the gathering, will I be able to control them?"

Deahna answered, "It doesn't matter what the training is but what is in their heart. Methos, can you be certain of which side you will align with?"

Methos insisted, "I will stand with Duncan MacLeod."

"Will you?" asked Deahna. Giving him a hard look, she questioned him, "You rode with many evil men for what, a thousand years? Only two hundred years, give or take, have you been influenced by Duncan MacLeod."

She sighed and sat back in her small chair saying, "I'm afraid you won't have any control which side you eventually align with."

Methos confided to her, "Recently I've had a few nightmares."

Deahna asked, "What kind of nightmares?"

He quietly admitted, "Mostly about Kronos, Silas and Caspian. It's like they are trying to have power over me but I'm fighting it."

She shook her head sadly then commented, "That does not look good for you or Duncan. You would be a great asset for our side or theirs."

"No!" Methos said standing up with denial. He insisted, "I buried that person a long time ago and he no longer exists! I know what I am," he answered back. "I know which side I fight for."

Deahna replied, "For your sake I hope you are right."

Methos divulged to her, "Know this, when it is time to travel I will come for you."

After the torture by Egan's men, recently all she felt was despair. Methos' words gave her a small measure of hope.

She stood up before him and put her hand over his heart saying, "I believe your heart is good. But you could be severely tested to prove your soul worthy."

"What kind of test?" he asked her.

She sighed as her eyes looked into his measuring the strength of character. He appeared to be sincere and she wondered if it would be enough.

"A test like no other," she answered, "You will have to fight just to maintain your sanity."

Methos considered her warning, "Thanks for the information, Deahna." He said before turning around to the door opening it and leaving just as quickly as he had arrived. However, her words continued to haunt him for hours.

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