Searching

More waiting, and searching. A bridge chapter, getting everyone in positions.

~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~

O ~ Day 1 ~ O

I didn't bother to go home yesterday. I probably won't until it's time to pack. That reminds me I haven't told the others that Methos asked me not to follow "when" Duncan leaves town.

I have coffee and paperwork for breakfast. A flagged report from Johanna, our Watcher at the Police, catches my interest first.

The police got a call yesterday evening, from a Fredir Bondar in Ukraine. He was frantic, because his boyfriend, Adam Pierson, hadn't boarded the plane like he was supposed to. Normally they wouldn't care this early, but it was a calm night, and they felt sorry for the man, stranded at the other side of the world without any other possibilities.

Early this morning Adam Pierson's car was found outside the University. The driver's door open, but otherwise untouched. The police have seized the car and started an investigation.

When I listen to the tape of "Fredir's" call, I've difficulties not laughing. I recognize Methos voice easily, despite the thick accent, and he knows Johanna would flag his name for me.

I fill Toy in on the details of Methos' first call, and request. Then show him the report, and tell him Pierson called it in himself, telling him. "Yes, Pierson is well aware we have a Watcher at the police station. They usually have lunch once a week, since they are the backbone of Seacouver's research team." To be honest, I'm actually a little surprised Johanna didn't recognize Methos voice.

Toy gets hold of someone in Ukraine. All airports will be Watched within hours, and they'll keep it up for three days, then we'll have to reevaluate.

We don't have anyone well placed at Seacouver Airport, and I don't suggest we get anyone there either. I know Methos has access to a private jet, and contacts for other arrangements. Besides, it's just a short drive to Canada. I doubt Methos will go there unless he wants to be seen. He knows we have several Watchers employed at Vancouver international airport.

~ O ~

Sarah with Steven, Willie and Tara remain in Seacouver with me. Toy, with Adam, Andrea, and Mateo, leaves for Ukraine in the afternoon.

I hear nothing from Duncan in the whole day. In the evening, Sarah reports that he and Cassandra been cruising around Seacouver, apparently looking for Kronos and Methos.

I know Duncan has an absolutely ridiculous ability to find Immortals that way. But since I doubt that they're still in Seacouver, it's hardly surprising they found nothing.

I hate waiting, and I'm very grateful for my ability to sleep on command that night.

~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~O ~

Day 2 ~ O

Around noon next day, Duncan calls me saying he's coming over with Cassandra. She seems far more balanced now, even if she still quite obsessed. But so is Duncan.

We don't mention our disagreement about Methos, and focus on brainstorming what they might be up to. Cassandra insists it's a disaster that they have found each other.

I carefully do not mention that "Adam Pierson" has known where Kronos is for, at least, a couple of years.

When it's time for the bar to open, Duncan and Cassandra return to the loft, with the intention of reaching out to their Immortal contacts.

I do go home when we close that night after all. Might as well wait in comfort.

~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~

O ~ Day 3 ~ O

No one wakes me. I get a nice breakfast, do some household chores before going to the bar early afternoon. Nothing but the usual business.

Duncan takes Cassandra too see all Immortals in the area, at least all he knows about.

And isn't it nice of him to give us that list?

I learn that Toy has warned Watchers in the whole Eastern Europe. No specifics; because Admin still refuses to allow information about Kronos to be spread. But the Old Family network spreads the warning fairly well, anyways.

I really, really, hate waiting. But at least I can sleep in my own bed.

~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~

O ~ Day 4 ~ O

Sarah calls to inform me Methos and Kronos were spotted in Ukraine.

They bought a pair of motorcycles and hit the road. Then bought horses just outside the Carpathian National Nature Park. The locals said it would be impossible to follow them in there without being discovered, they weren't even sure they had succeeded as it was.

We found and lost them again. That night we brainstorm on teleconference, an interesting experience.

Everyone seems completely on board with the thought that "Pierson" did intend for us to spot them. There is some uncomfortable speculation about why, but the consensus is that we will probably get more clues… eventually.

They are surprisingly open to my idea of cooperating with Duncan and Cassandra.

~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~

O ~ Day 5 ~ O

I take my laptop and go over to Duncan's. We spend most the day looking at Immortals for identification. It's late before we finally find anything.

Considering the number of names "similar to Caspian or Silas" in our database… Let's just say I'm very happy I put in Eastern Europe as another search criteria.

Duncan starts looking for tickets to Bucharest, and I return to the Bar with our new information.

Somehow Sarah conjures up tickets for Lyon, France, early tomorrow morning. I head home to pack after my last set. I'll try to get some sleep on the plane.

~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~

O ~ Day 5½-6 ~ O

We are picked up and driven to Headquarters.

Getting the report that Duncan and Cassandra are on their way to London, continuing to Bucharest tomorrow.

Someone did manage to get inside the asylum, but she couldn't find Caspian. "Caspari" isn't where he's supposed to be... We still keep an eye on the asylum, hoping for Kronos and Methos, and expecting Duncan and Cassandra.

Jet lag is hell.

~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~

O ~ Day 7 ~ O

And then we wait again…

Luckily, being at The Headquarters, at least allows me access to a number of Chronicles that I've wanted to catch up on. And Steven promises he'll try to get us some of the newly re-translated ancient Chronicles to read.

Sarah, with Willie and Tara, doesn't meet us for lunch. Steven and I get to read why in the reports.

They did spot Kronos and Methos, followed by a third man. A big Caucasian with a round face and short Mohawk. They walked right into the Asylum, and returned outside with "Caspari", within the hour.

The Immortals got in a large SUV and headed straight for the airport. The four of them got tickets for Bordeaux, France.

Toy has managed to get an unnamed French colleague to Bordeaux, in time to catch them at the airport and follow them. Sarah, with Willie and Tara, will take over when they get there.

Caspari's Doctor is found dead in the cellar. The asylum is currently being turned upside-down by various officials. It turns out that the lower levels were kept off the books. Not even Romania, that is often criticized for their treatment of prisoners, can allow something quite that bad, officially.

The Doctor was found less than three hours before Duncan and Cassandra made it there. They arrived at the asylum about when we learned where Kronos and the others are going, local spec-ops are keeping an eye on the pair for now.

We're calling the fourth person Silas, and assuming he's Immortal, for now. I'm NOT going to find Duncan and Cassandra to ask.

All we can do now is wait.

~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~ x ~ o ~

O ~ Day 8 ~ O

In the morning, we have a couple of reports to read.

The four Immortals were followed to an old submarine base from WWII. Kronos had keys and codes to one of the entrances. That part was bought in 1989, by a company that has several small submarines that they use for various marine research projects.

Duncan and Cassandra flew to Paris, staying the night at the barge. Driving south/southwest in the morning.

The gossip and speculation about how they found out is wild. I get several accusations thrown at me. Steven is kind enough to inform them it's impossible, we're sharing a room.

Ignoring the gossip, we dig into what Immortal contacts they could have had. At least it passes time, even if it doesn't give anything useful.

In the afternoon, Steven gets a call: Adam (our Adam, not Methos, I have to remind myself) was caught sneaking around by Kronos. He's alive and got out without life-threatening injuries, they are taking him to Paris.

We're a little confounded by the destination. If he needs a Watcher hospital, Lyon would have been closer.

Toy explains; "Pierson recommended Paris." And promises he will send all information he has after they've read it. Asking that we do the official report, once Adam has sent his journal.

We also learn that Duncan and Cassandra drove straight to Hotel De Sèze, in Bordeaux. After talking with the front-desk, they conferred, not agreeing, but taking a room at the hotel in the end. So far they haven't left the room.

I really, really, really, hate waiting. Maybe I shouldn't have become a Watcher, but usually I at least get to see the action…