Chapter Nineteen

Watcher Compound, France

Joshua Gibbons carried the stack of reports to Egan Lasco for his review. Taking the pile from him, Egan began flipping through several until he found the one he wanted. Joshua waited with notepad in hand for further instructions.

Reading quietly for several minutes Egan threw the report across his desk in anger. Looking at Joshua he exclaimed, "No one knows where they are?"

"Mark Kalpak lost track of Duncan MacLeod when they split up and he followed Frank McFadden." Joshua explained.

"I want you to alert other watchers in the field to look out for Duncan MacLeod and Elizabeth Windsor." Egan ordered. "I need to question Deahna McFadden further. Have her moved to the interrogation room."

Joshua finished writing the orders and quickly left the office. Sitting and contemplating his next course of action, Egan felt an internal struggle between his plan, his one pure goal, and a strange influence.

Thirty minutes later, Egan made his way down to the basement floor as he approached the room; the guard stood aside and opened the door. Egan entered and motioned he wanted to be alone.

With a hard expression, Egan stood before the restrained immortal and demanded, "Why now this gathering?"

Deahna shook her head appearing not to understand. She told him, "I don't know what you mean. It's just a gathering."

Taking his .22 from his side pocket, Egan asked her, "What is the connection between the gathering and a Zoroastrian god of evil?"

"That is something I am forbidden to tell you about." Deahna tried to explain, "To speak of it is…madness."

"I've read the past report from 1998," answered Egan impatiently, "It says that a demon exists and I want to know if there is a connection."

For the first time since meeting him, Deahna saw fear in his eyes. Hiding her relief she answered, "We think there is a connection and that Ahriman may have triggered the gathering."

Holding the gun closer and clicking the trigger back Egan questioned, "The Grand Immortal knew this and he must have told you why."

Leaning back as far as the restraints allowed she considered her options and lied, "The gathering is triggered every five thousand years so Ahriman can battle to be the last one."

He heard her answer but questioned further, "What will it achieve?"

Controlling her emotions, she answered, "Supremacy to rule over all humanity. That is why you are its pawn."

He glared at her and said, "I am no demon's pawn."

Releasing the trigger with a click, Egan went to the door and opened it. He ordered the guard, "Keep her here until further notice."

"Egan!" she screamed, "It will kill you when it's through using you!"

He paused without turning around and said, "Not if I kill it first."

The door shut firmly and she heard the lock turn. To the empty chamber she said, "I would not place that bet."

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Alone that evening Joe made his rounds up and down the hallway feeling restless. Passing the many doors, he made a schematic in his mind of what lay behind each door. Checking one small office, the door finally opened. He went inside and shut it. Looking quickly around, he took out the folded papers and a little flashlight he had kept hidden.

Shinning the light at the fax machine, Joe went closer and touched the memory button searching for any number going to the Watcher head council. He found one he recognized and fed the papers into the holder, held his breath and pressed send.

A few minutes later, he peeked out the door and found the hallway empty. He pulled it open wide enough to wheel his chair clear of the door jam. Shutting it quietly, he went back towards his room with his heart racing and a big smile on his face.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Long after midnight, the meeting between Matthew Jameson, R. Kingsley and Ramon Marcos to discuss the impending gathering was just winding down. They analyzed the latest statistics on all the immortals still alive.

Riggo entered the room with the faxes in hand and a look on his face that got Matthew's attention and the meeting on hold.

"Sir you have to see this," he said handing over the papers sent by Joe Dawson.

After reading enough, Matthew turned to the others in the meeting and said, "This past week there were tell-tell signs that trouble was brewing and this is exactly what I was afraid of. A watcher leader in France has decided to make an army of Watchers."

They all spoke at once and Matthew waved his hand for quiet. Holding up a paper he continued, "This document proves Egan Lasco had some immortals killed on his orders and their finances stolen and put in the Watcher fund. No one else questioned where it came from, except me."

He went on the say, "This next document is a copy of orders to an elite special ops group here in the United States that has trained and carried out missions on Egan's behalf. You heard the news about the Maconochie family?"

Riggo nodded his head saying, "The news report said that it was too sophisticated for another crime boss but the military denied any involvement."

Kingsley stood up and spoke up passionately, "We must not go back to the time of James Horton and Jacob Galati where retribution became a war of blood for blood!"

Ramon said, "The Watcher and Immortal agreement signed by both is proof that we can work together with peace as our main goal."

Matthew replied, "After the gathering if the honorable immortals win we may yet retain that peace."

Kingsley interjected, "If the malevolent immortals win then we must prepare to go into hiding and find a way to preserve the history until a time when justice returns to the world."

Riggo alleged, "After a thousand years of darkness the civilization as we know it could end forever."

Kingsley again made his thoughts known, "We cannot intercede except to take Egan Lasco out of the equation."

Riggo countered with, "What if he is prepared for war."

Ramon asked, "If Lasco's interfering causes the evil immortals to have some advantage how can we know for sure?"

Matthew stated, "What we need is the analysis on this scenario until they have a possible outcome. Until that time is here and a conclusion is reached, I'm ordering an independent audit."

He indicated to Ramon Marcos, "Ramon, I would be grateful if you will head the research and please keep the details of this meeting private."

Ramon nodded in agreement. Kingsley asked, "Do you want me to do the audit?"

Matthew shook his head, "No, I can't have you going to France into certain danger. Riggo is going. Kingsley, What I'd like you to do is make a list of trustworthy watchers to head up a council to meet with the Tribunal on possible charges of Treason against Egan Lasco."

His second in command took the news rather well, saying, "So I'm going to go there and just knock on the door and say, "Hi Egan, I'm here see how you are commanding the chapter. Oh and by the way, can I look at your internal books?"

Matthew smiled and said, "Something like that." Calling Janis on the intercom, he made a request, "Draw up the orders for Mr. Riggo to make an appearance at the France Chapter with my authority." Signing off he said to the group, "This meeting is adjourned; everyone has their assignments so pack your bags well."

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