~ ~ ~ Games of Cats and Mice ~ ~ ~
Character tags: Joe Dawson, Methos "Adam Pierson", Duncan MacLeod, Cassandra, Kronos "Melvin Koren' 'Core", Original Characters,
Other tags: Episode tag: S05 E12 "Comes a Horseman", Episode tag: S05 E12 "Revelations", Cannon disabled character, Watcher politics, The Messenger (mentioned), Roland Kantos (mentioned), Quickening Powers, Quickening Tricks, Cassandra is complicated, Methos is a manipulative bastard, Joe is biased, Rape, Torture, Slave training, NOT BDSM, mutilation, mind powers, Sean Burns (mentioned), Episode tag: S04 E04 "Leader of The Pack" (Flashback), Episode tag: S04 E03 "Brothers in Arms" (mentioned), Watcher as religion, Watcher history, Methos is not nice, Branding, Joe is also manipulative,
Work notes:
Comes a Horseman from Joe Dawson's POV.
He, or the other Watchers, aren't in the canon episode much; this explores what Joe and the other Watchers did, and learned, during the episode
It's written with the assumption that you have seen the episode, recently.
I am European, to me the Euro minutes will always be canon, but this time it took some thinking to get the time-lines to link up with my twist on things. Especially since the backdrops seem to be completely randomly day or night. I hope I got it right in the end.
Please read any warnings attached to specific chapters: Canon level of violence is to be expected. Anything beyond that I will warn before the relevant Chapter. If I have missed anything; please tell me and I will add warnings and tags.
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Waiting
Chapter summary: Methos and Duncan were supposed to go to Joe's after leaving the set of Wheel of History.
Between these:
H-H-H-H-H
I put connections and thoughts Joe makes and has simultaneously or in parallel with ongoing events. This indicates there is no loss in time between the conversation or event above and below.
H-H-H-H-H
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I'm opening the bar, expecting Adam to come and gloat about that game show he did this morning. Actually, I've been expecting him and Duncan for a couple of hours now. Thought they would be here already when I came in late in this afternoon.
Around 11:45 PM, when I've just finished the early set, I'm seriously beginning to worry about them.
Duncan won't call me if something happens. I'm not sure if it's that he thinks someone else will tell me, or that he's so focused on whatever it is. But Methos will usually let me know if something happens, he has always respected my position as Duncan's Watcher. Especially when he's with Duncan, since I can't set someone else on following Duncan then.
I get a phone call in my office, Watcher business most likely then. I take the phone with some trepidation. "Joe's Blues Bar, Joe Dawson speaking."
"Hi Joe, sorry I didn't show tonight." It's Methos, but I don't get time to be relieved before he continues. "Has Duncan, or Toy, called you?"
"Who?" There's a rare tension in his clipped voice that has me answering seriously. "No, either way. No one 's called."
"Ok. I don't have time to talk." Muffled traffic in the background, I think he might be driving, I know he has a private cell phone. "Toy's the leader of a Watcher Spec-op's Team, he'll probably call to warn you tonight. Will you promise me to let them take over, at least when Duncan leaves Seacouver, if not right away. Please, Joe?"
Methos is dead serious, and Special Operations Teams are only called in when Immortals are considered too dangerous to Watch, but too active in The Game to be left entirely unwatched.
"Who's in town? Someone I know about?" Someone that Duncan has a history with, is what I'm asking, but Methos knows that.
"Both the Immortals trailing 'the other Methos' has arrived."
He doesn't need to say anything more, I did my homework when the 'other Methos', named The Messenger in his Chronicles, was in town. Both the Immortal following The Messenger, and the one following her, has a history with Duncan. Even if only one of them is on unfriendly terms with him, both are on the "Dangerous! Get out of there immediately." list for Watchers.
They're both aware of the Watchers, and known to torture and kill both Watchers and Immortals.
The Messenger's "tail's tail" was unidentified until I recognized his description. Melvin Koren's scar is quite a characteristic feature. He's unwatched, among the few considered too dangerous for even a Special Operations Team to follow. He's also not a headhunter, I assume there would be a different approach if he was.
I'm not surprised by the news. We've been expecting them since The Messenger came into town. Hell! I expected them to be here weeks ago. Cassandra was reported to be only a couple of days behind him.
Toy must be the leader of the team I worked with last time Cassandra connected with Duncan. I never met him, he was on vacation at that time. Or it's another Team.
The team, Sarah, refused my request for Cassandra's current Chronicles. Claiming "It's not relevant right now." Regardless, they were more than helpful with anything considering Duncan. Not even raising an eyebrow at the fact that I know him personally, even if our friendship was strained at the time.
Cassandra is in town again… Explains why Duncan didn't come tonight, and how Methos knew "the tails" are in town. Considering Cassandra and Koren are following "the other Methos" it's likely they would like to get their hands on the real one, explaining why Methos made himself scarce too.
I know nothing of Melvin Koren, except what's in Duncan's Chronicles. He had the "too dangerous to Watch" warning before Duncan's first encounter with him, and his Chronicles are locked. Duncan's Watcher at the time was denied access, even after retirement from active duty.
It strikes me that Adam has a far higher clearance than me, and better contacts among historians, researchers, too. Methos probably knows more about Koren and possibly Cassandra than I do. That's assuming he doesn't know them.
Neither has Methos ever gotten involved in my work before. Actually, he's always been incredibly respectful of my work, considering. Technically, Adam is currently part of the Seacouver Group. He dutifully hands in reports, as well as tells me personally, what Duncan is up to when they're out together. It usually matches somewhat.
Besides. No matter how much I prefer not to think about it, I owe Methos. He has gone out of his way to save my life and help me, more than once. Never asking anything for it, but that I keep to our initial agreement.
"Okay. I'll try to stay away from Duncan for a while. And promise to stay in Seacouver, or at least not follow him, if he leaves." I promise Methos, that has patiently waited for me.
"Thank you, Joe!" I can almost touch his relief. "And please say hello to Toy from me. Remind him that he still hasn't beaten me in either chess or poker. Will you?"
"Okay?" Chess I can believe, but Adam is worthless at poker… Methos probably isn't ...
"Good. Got to go, watch your back!" He hangs up before I can say anything more.
O ~ O ~ O ~ O ~ O
I sit in my office a little bit, allowing myself to be stunned for a moment.
Then I boot up the computer and turn to my private paper files, digging up those I made on Cassandra when she was here the last time, while the computer starts up.
I've got a synopsis of her Chronicles up until that time. Including everything I managed to get Duncan to tell me about his encounters.
According to Duncan; he met her for the first time when he was a boy, 1605-8 CE something. We did have a Watcher on Roland Kantos at that time, he was in Glenfinnan 1606 CE.
Back then Cassandra wasn't on our dangerous list, but we've no sightings of her between 1227 CE and 1648 CE. With no records of that encounter before, Research was thrilled to add the tidbit, it fits with other information.
Our earliest record of Cassandra is from 243 CE when she met a Watched Immortal.
The other Immortal was crazy and quite old. We had Watched her for more than 500 years and believed her to be, at least, twice that. She was mostly living in one or the other temple, going wherever they would take her in. Usually naming herself fool in the local language.
Crazy, but not entirely unable to survive, she somehow managed to convince every Immortal she met that her insanity would transfer to them with her Quickening. She would plead for them to take her head, end her misery. In all Immortal encounters we have recorded, she was dismissed as crazy, and they didn't want to risk becoming so themselves.
With Cassandra; the woman was unable to communicate properly, falling to the ground babbling without pause for an hour. Her Watcher dutifully wrote it all down, utter nonsense in several languages.
Cassandra sat by her and held her during this, then the woman suddenly stopped and stole a sword from one of the city guards that came to investigate. She somehow managed to take her own head with it, the Quickening went to Cassandra in public.
Fortunately, the guard witnessed, and Cassandra was considered blessed by the local god. She stayed as a Priestess for almost a century, before the country was conquered, and she had to disappear.
Roland Kantos was the first Student we know of. She has used some form of Sandra or Cassandra for all her known identities.
A note in Cassandras Chronicles says she was surprised the first time she had a vision, not long before the country was conquered. It's speculated that she got some of the strange powers she has displayed from the crazy woman.
Cassandra has been Priestess, Healer, and similar much of the time. Married to mortals a few times, apparently mostly for practical or political reasons. Not forced, but neither for love, according to her Watchers.
There is much time missing in her Chronicles. But, up until a couple of years ago, she had no recorded Challenges, or Quickenings.
Other Watched Immortals are how she is mostly found, when alone she has a history of quickly losing her Watchers. Already 438 CE, there is a note that they suspect she is aware of being followed by Watchers, this is repeated throughout her Chronicles.
She has a long history of talking one or another male Immortal into handling it for her when the Challengers refused to stay away. She also used others, like she did Duncan, to kill her two later Students, when they eventually broke free of her and refused to do her bidding.
O ~ O ~ O ~ O ~ O
Immortals who, for whatever reason has chosen never to engage in Challenges asks, or manipulates others to help with those who refuses to respect this is quite common. But reading between the lines in her Chronicles, Cassandra tends to use mortals for dealing with things for her as well.
With no recorded Quickenings (at least not until recently), and a history of being a Healer, Priestess, and spending long periods in monasteries as a Nun. I find it interesting that almost none of Cassandra's Watchers have seemed to like her. Usually the peaceful Immortals are well-liked.
A couple of years ago Cassandra's behavior changed, radically. (I didn't get the current details when she showed up to enlist Duncan.) But the: "Dangerous! Get out of there immediately." warning isn't common, or to be taken lightly.
Besides, I wasn't fit to follow Duncan myself at that time. Dr. Kaia and Adam both told me straight out that I would lose upper body strength permanently if I wasn't very careful. That isn't something I can afford.
I finally got access to the details of Cassandra's change when The Messenger came to Seacouver.
It all started with Cassandra meeting one of The Messenger's disciples, she tortured and then killed the young Immortal. Then Cassandra grabbed the disciples Watcher, he was found tortured to death with his tongue and hands cut off.
After that; Cassandra left her current life. She started tracking down the rest of The Messenger's disciples, killing everyone she could find. Sometimes simply cutting down those who refused to arm themselves, or incapacitating then torturing them, before taking the head.
She used her Voice on and toyed with the few that defended themselves. Before she either killed them, or tortured them for more information on "Methos".
Suddenly, without any known reason she stopped her bloody hunt. She came to Seacouver and made Duncan kill Kantos. When her last known student was dead, Cassandra returned to her hunt.
These last years her confirmed kills are more than 50 Immortals. Most, but not all were disciples of The Messenger. Not a single ordinary Challenge, however. She takes no chances, her opponents are always incapacitated, or at least severely compromised before she comes within reach of them.
She also catches, interrogates, and maims every Watcher she can get hold of, irrelevant who they are assigned to. She has even napped a couple of Historians from their homes. Few survive, out of thirty-seven, only six have, so far. They all lost body parts before she simply left them to die. Only that another Watcher was near rescued any of them.
It seems most of the Watchers are immune to her Voice. This frustrates her immensely, and the current recommendation, if you do get caught, is to pretend it works on you. If you can.
The combination of these things is the reason for the Special Operations Team to be assigned to her. Since they took over she has only found one Watcher, none of the team.
...They're more than welcome to take over for now. I rather keep my life, and the remaining body parts I have! Thank you.
O ~ O ~ O ~ O ~ O
Cassandra was discovered 243… This makes her an old Immortal, more than 1750 years old. That could explain the unprecedented behavior she's currently showing. Somewhere between 1500 and 2000 most Immortals snap. They either go on a rampage or withdraw entirely from people.
Roland Kantos was in the same age-span himself, he was also becoming increasingly unstable. He had begun to actively headhunt in a way he had not done before.
Historians have suggested it's a phase, one that passes if you survive it. The ones closer to 2500 seem to be far more balanced, the few that are still around by then. There seems to be a similar phase around 300-600 years, a lot of Immortals lose their interest in living then.
As far as we know, there are no Immortals between 3500 and Methos. I've never dared ask Methos about being that much older than everyone else. But I know, from when he took Kristen's head, that he has a strict coping procedure about Quickenings.
If there is a phase. I bet it's an incredibly embarrassing memory, or possibly traumatic. I probably won't ask him about that either. For all that he's a good storyteller, it's rarely personal stories.
I know I avoid talking about Nam, even if it was a life-defining time for me. That almost everyone from that time is dead, or insane, doesn't help. Few people like talking about difficult memories.
I shake myself from my musings, just about to turn back to the computer, when the phone rings again. This time it's Sarah. She's the Watcher that was in charge last time Cassandra was here. I'm not terribly surprised.
She asks if she, and her team leader, can come over for an official meet and greet.
"As far as I know it should be. But right now, you probably know better than me." I admit.
They promise to be here in an hour or so. I inform her I've got a second set. But that they're welcome to use the office in the meantime.
The computer holds no new information for me. Disappointed I re-read the chapter in Duncan's Chronicle where he met Melvin Koren.
He comes across as nasty, but nothing special. He's only briefly mentioned in the information about Cassandra. A short description saying he's following Cassandra, and that he's dangerous to Watchers. Unidentified before I recognized him.
I still have no real clue as to why we kept Watchers on Immortals like the Kurgan, Grayson, Xavier, and so on, even Kalas and Cassandra, despite that they know of the Watchers, but not on Koren…
O ~ O ~ O ~ O ~ O
I've just begun my set when Sarah enters the bar with a man.
I assume he's Toy, since I don't recognize him. They make an interesting couple, and that's what they're pretending to be, or are. It's hard to tell.
They take a table, rather than going directly to my office. Both are dressed up, and apparently going enjoy themselves until I finish the set, taking the opportunity to eat.
Sarah is a beautiful muscular African woman. About 5'10", or 177 cm, as her file says. Wearing simple black trousers and a short-sleeved bright green boat-neck top. The gold chain and small gold studs in her ears, top of the impression of looking dressed up without any frills. Looking around with sharp eyes, Sarah looks like she could be an elite soldier of some kind, in both attitude and body posture.
Dressed in a good suit, and almost disappearing beside Sarah, Toy gives a timid impression as he pulls out the chair for her. The man is no more than 5'1" (~ 155 cm), slight build with dark olive complexion, and sharp triangular brown eyes, almost hidden behind thick glasses.
Had I been a little less used to watch for hidden strength, I would probably have missed the bounce in his steps, and mistaken the glance around the room for nervousness. Methos is better at hiding his strength, but not much, and he has far longer experience. To me, the man's entire being screams competence. I wouldn't want to play poker with him.
O ~ O ~ O ~ O ~ O
After the set, I head straight for the office.
My "office" is a fair bit larger than the actual bar, one of the reasons the Watchers were happy to sponsor it. The large office is just the beginning. After a visit from a group of Watcher employed craftsmen I have a number of secret spaces, including a couple of rooms and a second exit ending across the next block, under our local headquarters.
Not that "the Headquarter" is much more than a couple of apartments for visiting Watchers, and a minimal library, probably entirely occupied by the Special Operations Team at the moment.
Still, it's convenient, just as the fact that the office is on the same level as the bar, thereby sparing me from climbing stairs every time I have to get back here.
My guests follow within minutes. Sarah introduces Toy, and we get right down to business.
They confirm both Cassandra, and Koren are in town. And yes, Cassandra is staying with Duncan. They also tell me that they are not Watching Koren, only Cassandra. Then launch straight into a recap of the afternoon's events before I can ask them about that.
This morning Cassandra arrived in Seacouver. She was met at the airport by her P.I. She then rented a car and headed for the studio area on the outskirts of town. The Team assumed she was looking for a specific studio, the one the investigator had looked into the day before.
The team had kept an eye on it, so they knew that Duncan MacLeod was already inside, accompanying Pierson. Since Pierson is a Methos researcher, and Cassandra is following the fake Methos, they didn't think it was a coincidence. Pierson has been warned by text message and two of them were Watching the studio.
The others spread out to keep an eye on Cassandra. She scouted the area, slowly circling closer to the studio where Duncan MacLeod was. Suddenly, she stopped and looked around, clearly sensing another Immortal.
The team judged Duncan, still inside the studio, to be too far off and looked for a third Immortal. They spotted Koren about the same time as Cassandra did.
Cassandra was shocked to recognize him. With a raged wordless cry, she pulled her sword and thoughtlessly charged him, swinging the sword almost like a club. Laughingly Koren parried and disappeared into the mist that had appeared only moments before.
The Team, being in communication with each other, could then follow Cassandra as Koren played with her, from their higher point of view. She got more harried and desperate for each glimpse she got.
About that time; those Watching the Studio reported that Pierson and Duncan were exiting. Unaware, and joking, they were walking towards the guest's parking area. That way they were going to cross Koren's "playground".
Since Pierson was with Duncan they couldn't call him directly. Worried, they followed the events.
When Duncan stopped, presumably sensing an Immortal, Pierson also looked around worried. None of the two keeping an eye on them read lips, but says it appeared like Duncan and Pierson had a slight disagreement, before going separate ways.
Duncan continuing directly towards the "playground", and Pierson in the opposite direction.
Both Cassandra and Koren reacted to Duncan's Presence at the same time. Cassandra looking around, confused, almost panicked. Koren pausing with a smile. Then heading straight towards Duncan.
It was shadowed, and the mist, that spread over the entire area, was thickening around Koren as he stopped to wait for Duncan. None of the team had a visual of Koren when they saw each other.
They did have a good view of both Duncan and Cassandra the entire time, however.
Duncan paused and there were signs of surprise and recognition on his face. He pulled his sword.
Then Koren said with a loud voice. "Adios Highlander. Now you see me. Now you don't."
Duncan behaved as if that was just what happened, he began looking for Koren.
In the meantime, Cassandra was closing, with a combination of recklessness and caution. Showing no signs of hearing Koren, despite being very close.
A moment later one of the Team, the one with the best vantage of both, got company. Koren crouched next to him. A finger over his lips Koren smilingly watched as the other two Immortals closed on each other with drawn weapons.
Both were coming around a corner swinging the sword before looking, then froze in surprise when the blades clashed, and they saw each other.
"What are you doing here?" Duncan recovered quickly, placing himself in a none aggressive but defensive way.
"Trying to kill someone. What does it look like?" Cassandra sneered, looking around for Koren with wild eyes. Completely dismissing Duncan as a threat as soon as she recognized him.
"He's gone, come on." Duncan said.
To everyone's surprise, Duncan managed to get the rattled Cassandra with him to his place. Two of the team followed Cassandra and Duncan. They are at the loft now.
When they were out of sight, Koren grinned at the Watcher next to him. "And so, the glass is turned... See you around, pet." Then jumped effortlessly the 4m (~ 13') down to the ground, leaving in the other direction.
The Team gathered to compare notes in the Headquarters. And to try getting hold of Pierson.
O ~ O ~ O ~ O ~ O
A couple of hours later Pierson finally sent a message that he had gotten home, it also said he was leaving town. But he still wasn't answering his phone, and it had been turned off after that.
At this point, Toy is aggravated and worried. "Pierson" hasn't answered the phone or told them what safe-house he'll use.
"Adam asked me to remind you that you still haven't beaten him in either chess or poker. When he called earlier tonight." I tell them of Methos greeting.
Toy looks up with a surprised frown. Sarah is suddenly entirely unreadable, not that she has shown much before.
"Pierson called you? Tonight?" Toy drops the last pretense to be anything but a competent, dangerous, and currently very unhappy specialist. "Why?"
It's not often someone reaching halfway up my chest pings my instincts for danger, Toy succeeds without effort. "Perhaps to warn me, and make sure I didn't go over to Duncan's, when neither showed as I expected tonight?
He made a point of reminding me that even if Duncan and Cassandra are "friendly", she still likes to cut pieces off Watchers. I'd rather like to keep my remaining pieces, thank you…"
Well, he didn't exactly warn me, but he would've if I hadn't promised him to let the Team take over. I'm beginning to wonder exactly how much they do know, neither has commented on "Pierson" being in company with Duncan. Just as none of them cared about my friendship with Duncan the last time.
Also, whoever the poor bastard on the roof with Koren was, he kept his cool, despite getting a visit from an Immortal that has been "too dangerous to Watch" for centuries.
Still, they wouldn't call Pierson (I wonder why they keep calling him that when they seem perfectly willing to use first names on everyone else?) when he's with Duncan, because that would be interference.
"Sarah, see if we can get Joe signed on as our researcher." Toy decides, turning to me. "Pierson, and others, have good things to say about your research. Besides you're showing signs of self-preservation, rare in field-guys.
You know Duncan, and he seems to have more influence over Cassandra than we thought. We would appreciate your input, interested?"
Ok, I can call Methos "Pierson" too, just another alias. "Would that give me access to Koren's Chronicles?"
Toy makes a disgusted face. "No. But, you'll get the "Compendium" we've been handed. The actual Chronicles are locked tighter than Fort Knox. I keep trying to get hold of them. If I succeed. I promise you get to read them, after me and the Team."
Oh, shit! They are denied access? Talk about working with your hands tied! Sometimes I wonder if the headquarters are trying to get us killed. "I'll take that deal. Where do you want me to start?"
Toy turns to get confirmation from Sarah, then tells me. "With reading the compendium. It should be here in a couple of minutes; Adam is bringing it the other way." A wave at the secret door. "I assume you read Cassandra's current Chronicle when you got access?"
At least, that explains the "Pierson", they already have an "Adam" on the Team. "Yes."
"Then you know that Cassandra had no recorded Quickenings between the first that wasn't her choice, and when she started this hunt. As far as we know she's never actually fought in a proper Challenge. Something she has managed to avoid entirely throughout this hunt as well." Toy begins. I nod.
He continues. "So, before you ask. As far as we know: Cassandra has been entirely unaware of Koren following her until today. Her reaction was far more unbalanced and emotional than anything she's displayed this far in this hunt. Or any other time recorded in her Chronicles, for that matter.
There's no known connection between Cassandra and Methos. We had Pierson look at that when it became obvious that she was following The Messenger."
Damned! I wish I had thought of asking Methos that. I'm not sure I would've gotten any answers, but what he told them he found about that… I'll just assume it's pure lies until proven otherwise
"We also asked Research about Cassandra's powers. They say the "Voice" is some kind of hypnotic power. Cassandra seems unable to affect more than one person at the time, and for some reason most Watchers are immune. The theory on that is that it has to do with focus.
Others that have occasionally displayed immunity are healers, doctors, and nurses in modern terms. Also, soldiers, or guards on a mission, and similar. People that are strongly devoted to a purpose that goes against what she tries to make them do. They are usually more receptive if she asks for something within their purpose.
Cassandra also seems much more focused on using it on Immortals than Kantos was. We have no record of her failing to make an Immortal do her bidding in the short term. Some seem to be able to shake it off after a while, however.
One theory is that this might have led to her being weaker when dealing with mortals.
Kantos was able to affect several mortals at the same time and showed no real fatigue after doing so. Still, he never did manage to hold any Immortal for more than very short periods and was drained after each time. We also have several recorded instances where the targeted Immortal was entirely unaffected.
Only once did Kantos use the Voice on a Watcher. It didn't work, but the Watcher pretended it did, and Kantos didn't notice the difference. Neither of Cassandra's other known Students used it at all."
Someone at research has put some real thoughts into this. Toy continues without pause, determined to bring me up to speed as fast as possible. Even if it means repeating things that I just said I've read.
"She also seems to have a real power of prophecy. It surfaces rarely, and she tends to misinterpret or misrepresent her own predictions. It's unclear whether she does it consciously or not.
Prophecies that others have written down before she was aware… They all were frightfully accurate and uncommonly clear. They have also been consequently misplaced until it was too late to be of use.
Just before coming to Duncan the last time Cassandra did have an episode of some kind."
Most of this is in her Chronicles, but not put together that coherently, he's sparing me a lot of work. Making sure I won't waste time on things he already knows… Smart competent and focused, this will be interesting. I wish I knew what they know about Methos.
"About Koren and unusual powers. Possibly the mist and jump today can be counted. If so, it was the first sign of any power we have seen him using.
We spend a lot of our free time searching other Chronicles for him; this isn't approved by Admin. Thank you for pointing out his earlier involvement with Duncan by the way. It gave us a little bit more on him and an area to look at."
Bloody bastards! Maybe it would've been better to let MacLeod cut his way through the top echelon of the Watchers after all…
Toy is waiting for a reaction. I'm not getting into Watcher politics at this time. I've no idea where Toy stands. "I wonder what would've been most terrifying. A single Immortal, going berserk at Cassandras orders. Or an army of mortals, at Kantos. At least she solved one of the issues for us. Do you think Koren will solve the other?"
Toy gives a surprised laugh, shaking his head. "Unfortunately, he has shown absolutely no interest in doing so before. And we suspect he's been watching her almost from the beginning of her hunt. Possibly from when she first met and captured The Messenger's disciple." He must have seen the question in my face, and pauses.
I elaborate. "Why did you start calling him The Messenger?" I discussed it with Methos, but we didn't reach any conclusions. Not that we didn't have a lot of fun speculating!
"We grew tired of calling him "the other Methos", we soon started calling him "The Imposter". But it was pointed out that has negative connotations, so we changed it to The Messenger." Toy explains with a wry smile, adding. "At least in our official reports."
That makes sense, not sure I care for the name change. The Imposter works for me, I can't be neutral anyway. But that's a personal aversion to The Messenger for almost getting Richie killed. I'm so glad Richie isn't in town anymore! But Watcher rules actually forbid nicknames with negative connotations on Immortals, so I guess they didn't have much choice.
Toy forges on. "Cassandra was just done interrogating, and taking the Quickening, of Samuel Gardner. The first disciple she came across. It was about two weeks after she found him. When someone, that we now suspect was Koren, got sighted.
A temporary, Helen Nielsen, was assigned to help Samuels Watcher, James Polanski, during this. Helen remained to Watch the remote cabin when Cassandra left with Samuel's body. While waiting, Helen spotted an unknown male sneaking out of the cabin, just minutes before Cassandra returned.
This was noted in her report. She recognized Cassandra's new prisoner as James. Helen called in for help told them where she hid her last report, including a good description of the male. Before attempting to rescue James on her own.
When help arrived four hours later: The cabin was empty, and there were no traces of Cassandra or the Watchers.
The description of the unknown male in that last report could be Koren. There are more suspected sightings of an unknown male fitting the description of Koren. Nothing confirmed until we were finally called in, about five months ago."
"Why weren't you assigned earlier?" I remember wondering that when reading it the first time.
"Because it wasn't until seven months ago anyone got away alive and reported back.
Spec-ops was called in by various local coordinators on several of the individual cases, usually too late. But with only a young, inexperienced, Watcher assigned to The Messenger, and Pierson on personal leave, the connection slipped under the radar for far too long.
No one was temporarily assigned to the Methos Chronicles since it's an "Inactive Chronicle". Cassandra took young Immortals, who were not active in The Game. Some weren't even noticed as missing, before we took over.
As you know, the Watchers she caught were often not even theirs."
I nod, what a mess.
A sound from the secret door, a man in black sweats enters, with a portfolio in his hands.
"Perfect timing. Joe, meet Adam. Our best lip-reader, for English, and the twice unlucky man to share roof with Koren." Toy introduces him.
"Twice? I thought once sounded bad enough." I take his hand.
"Yeah, I need to learn not to go for the best spots, they tend to become crowded." The average-looking brown-haired man chuckles with a sarcastic gleam in his eyes.
"A pleasure, tell me more." I demand.
Adam glances at Toy and Sarah, they both nod minutely.
"This isn't in any official reports, Admin would pee their panties and kill us all if they knew.
About three months ago we were Watching Cassandra torture…" Adam firmly refuses to cushion his words. "…One of the Disciples. She'd just gotten started, and she usually takes two to five days.
I had settled in on a rooftop with a good view when, suddenly out of nowhere, Koren joined me on the roof. It was nerve-wracking but relatively civil for the next three days.
Not a word was uttered between us. He would come by, look a while, then leave again. I'll tell you more when you've read this." He says, holding up the portfolio.
I take it. "Thank you. I'll remember to ask."
Toy is grinning. "We've another meeting with Koren unrecorded. We'll tell you that one too, later." He promises.
I nod and we say good night, Toy, and Sarah leave with Adam through the secret door.
I reflect that Admin needs to get their act together before the entire Watchers fall apart.
When people become afraid to write honest reports, and lack even the most basic information on the dangers they are being sent into… It can only go wrong. More wrong.