All characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyrighted to Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company. I've taken the idea for the Unseelie Court from the TGS. Characters and concepts from Star Trek are property of Paramount and created by Gene Roddenberry. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder. All original characters are the property of SN.
Note: I'm disregarding the events of the "Goliath Chronicles", with the exception of "The Journey" because I do not wish to use the rest of the "Goliath Chronicles" as canon to my story. Also, I am altering large sections of the Star Trek storyline, especially concerning events like WWIII and the Eugenics Wars, which without the Cold War as a backdrop probably wouldn't happen the way Roddenberry wrote them, if at all. This story takes place one week after "Bigger Problems".
Hostile Negotiations
By SN/TVfan
Email: Sam_Nary
Macbeth's Mansion
Griff and Octavia were the last to finish their patrol over London, and it appeared that the night sky was beginning to lighten. They found Arthur waiting patiently on the roof.
"Any luck?" Arthur asked.
"Well," Griff sighed, "We stopped a few petty street crimes, but we found no signs of any member of the Illuminati. I've begun to think that we won't get the chance to have our little negotiation until they find us."
Arthur sighed as he let both gargoyles pass and go inside.
"I had hoped we would find some sign of them sooner or later," Arthur sighed, "As much trouble as they have put us through, we are going to need their help when Britain's Greatest Hour of Need begins."
"We still don't know when that will be," Octavia reminded the Once and Future King, "And we have heard no major announcement of Khan's activities in China. So the 'war' in the East hasn't fully begun yet. That at least gives us time."
"Unfortunately, I do know how much time we have," Arthur replied, "And Merlin is uncertain. All we can say is soon, which means we must be ready."
"We will be ready," Griff answered confidently, "No doubt of that."
Arthur gave a weak smile.
"Thank you, Griff," Arthur answered.
"We'll try again tomorrow night," Griff answered, "Perhaps we'll have more success."
"Perhaps," Arthur sighed.
Arthur then moved toward a stairway that would lead him further down toward the ground floor, while Griff and Octavia walked toward the clan's sleeping room.
"I worry about him," Octavia commented, "His dedication to protecting this island rivals or even surpasses a gargoyle's instinct to protect."
"Is that bad?" Griff asked, "I've never heard of a gargoyle being in trouble for wanting to protect something."
"Remember how Julia and I have said that the Legionnaire was responsible for educating and helping to raise the hatchlings in the Roman Order?" Octavia asked.
Griff nodded.
"One of his most important lessons to hatchlings in the Roman Order was that one must not take their job too seriously," Octavia explained.
"Their job?" Griff asked.
"As we all know gargoyles are driven to protect something," Octavia continued, "Usually a city or a castle, depending on where the Order had settled. The Romans understood that and made the Roman Order an official part of their 'police' service. They provided the order with training for apprehending criminals, escaped slaves, and other minor problems without killing them, and defending the city from foreign invaders through any means necessary. The defense of the city became an important job for the Roman Order, both because of a gargoyle's instinct and the responsibilities that the Romans placed on it."
"That still doesn't explain how someone protection too seriously," Griff commented.
Octavia looked down, "Some members of the Roman Order at times took their mission to protect Rome so seriously that they would go into bouts of depression when something happened that they could not control, such as a murderer escaping them because they only came across him fairly close to dawn and had to return to the city's walls or to the Forum. Even a minor thief who escaped them or crimes committed during the day were enough to cause bouts of depression among these Order members."
"But they couldn't have done anything if the crimes or attacks happened during the day," Griff answered, "And even if your clan was strong during the Roman days, there had to have been things that they couldn't have stopped. I mean, I tried my best to help the RAF, but I was only one gargoyle, and I can't glide as fast as even the slow moving bombers that the Nazis sent. I had to essentially wait and dive on an airplane that got close. And I don't think my actions did all that much to prevent the Nazis from keeping up their attacks, and according to the history books, it would appear that I wasn't truly required by Britain to defend it. The allies won the war."
"Not all gargoyles are identical," Octavia reminded him, "Your original clan resembles mythical creatures, unicorns, sphinxes, griffons, etcetera. Scottish gargoyles resemble biblical demons. Roman gargoyles resemble eagles. If gargoyles are different from each other in appearance, why should their mindset be identical?"
Griff gave a sigh, knowing full well that she was right.
"Some members of the Roman Order took their job very seriously," Octavia continued, "And that they had to stop or prevent every possible crime from occurring, and when crimes did occur they believed that they had failed and became depressed over it. Not all members were like that, but a few where."
"You think that Arthur is taking this too seriously?" Griff questioned.
"I fear there is the possibility that he is," Octavia answered, "Did you not hear the defeated tone of his voice? He sounded as if all of Britain had been conquered when we simply said that we hadn't been able to contact an Illuminati agent."
"It's just that the things are a lot more complicated then they were, even in the forties," Griff answered, "I'm sure Arthur will recover."
"I hope you're right," Octavia answered weakly, "I hope you're right."
Elsewhere
"What do you mean we must continue training?" Lucius growled sounding very agitated.
"One of the Illuminati Council leaders has come to oversee the actions taking place against Pendragon and his allies," Agent Anglo answered, "He finds that you and your followers are too sloppy to last long against the experienced warriors that are allied with Pendragon. He wants to make sure you are ready."
"I am ready," Lucius growled, letting electricity sparkle between his fingers, "And I want to take out Pendragon as soon as possible."
"The Council wishes that Pendragon be taken down as swiftly as possible as well," Agent Anglo began to answer.
"Then why won't you let me go and kill him?!" Lucius roared, "We're supposed to be partners!"
"One is that the Council does not feel that the present time is well suited to engaging Pendragon," Anglo answered, "Partially from his past escapes from the Council's plans and partially because they do not feel your followers are sufficiently trained to deal with a gargoyle who has glided into battle against the best the German Luftwaffe of the 1940s had to offer, two Roman gargoyles trained by man whom the Council has not been able to fully identify other then through rumors from captured superhuman beings, an immortal Scotsman who has lived since the eleventh century and fought in multiple wars, including both World Wars, the most powerful wizard that literature has been written about, and the 'Once and Future King' of all Britain, armed with Excalibur. They would cut you and your followers to pieces."
Lucius stared across Anglo's desk with a visible look of anger on his face. Anglo slowly, and almost hesitantly continued, knowing that if the mutate decided to electrocute him, he wouldn't have time to reach for his gun.
"As for your comments on us being partners, that is another thing the Council is disappointed in," Anglo continued.
"What?" Lucius growled, "Your Council 'ok's' the alliance and now their disappointed that you made the alliance?"
"Not with the alliance," Anglo answered, "Your behavior. They believe you are treating us as mere lackeys."
"But I must show a strong front!" Lucius urged.
"Maybe so," Anglo responded, "But ALLIES do not, at least not openly, treat each other with such disrespect. I have even received reports from the trainers that you are not particularly respectful to them when they find obvious flaws in your or your follower's manner of combat."
"My bargain was with you," Lucius answered, "Why should I be respectful to those that are YOUR lackeys?"
"Because the Illuminati is not an organization run by petty thugs," Anglo answered, "It has survived as an organization by attracting and subverting the smartest and most devious members of society. We do not treat our own as if they were mere errand boys."
Lucius was silent a few moments before he argued back, "So I need to suck-up to you in order for your Council to approve of the alliance."
"Well, they would like that," Anglo restrained himself from chuckling, "But they would settle for you treating my followers like equals."
Lucius got up slowly, an angry growl on his face.
"Kill me, and the alliance is immediately over, and your little group will be killed in retaliation," Anglo said quickly as he slid back, hoping he could dodge any electric blast that came his way.
"I'll go back to the training grounds, then," Lucius growled, "But make no mistake, I do not like this arrangement where I am the slave."
Anglo then watched as Lucius stormed out of Anglo's office. The Illuminati member sighed heavily with relief as the door shut. Six then came in through another door.
"He will have to learn to like the arrangement if he wishes to live long after Pendragon is dead," Six commented in a very cold sounding voice.
"Maybe, but do I have to be the first Illuminati member he electrocutes before he is killed?" Anglo questioned, "He looked ready to attack at every single point of that meeting."
"Calm yourself, if he had made any direct move against you, he would have been teleported to a much more secure facility," Six answered.
"You can do that?" Anglo asked.
"I'm not as strong as the Mage or even One in sorcery, but I am capable of a simple transportation spell," Six answered.
"Of course, sir," Anglo answered.
"How are things doing in relation to the situation with Pendragon?" Six questioned.
"Nothing much out of his normal routine," Anglo answered, "His allies patrolled last night, although one or two teams were forced to take rather hasty action to avoid being spotted."
"What?" Six questioned, "Are you saying they were looking for a fight?"
"Whether or not they are fighting is not known," Anglo answered, "But they were definitely looking for Illuminati members."
"For what possible reason would they be looking for us, if not to fight then?" Six demanded.
"I do not know," Anglo whimpered.
Six then turned and looked at the wall where Anglo hand hung some pictures to make the place appear homier. After a few moments he returned his attention to Anglo.
"If Pendragon wants to find us," Six commented, "Then I propose we let him find us."
"Sir?" Anglo asked.
"Assign commando teams to take up positions in various parts of the city tonight," Six instructed, "When Pendragon or his allies come by their position, have them attack. We'll rid ourselves of our Medieval problem in one swift stroke."
"Of course sir," Anglo answered.
Macbeth's Mansion
The Illuminati were sat quietly in his cell, waiting for someone to come and feed him inside the cell that they had locked him in. He had tried various escape attempts, but found that the door and a layer of the wall, ceiling, and floor that was made out of silver, and he couldn't tunnel out of it. On top of this, the door itself was silver and the hinges were on the other side, and probably out of a metal that couldn't be broken easily and strengthened even further through magic. Finally the small opening that allowed food to be passed into his cell opened and he moved toward it.
He was met by an angry looking Rachel and no food.
"I didn't know I was being given conjugal visits," the Illuminati were grinned.
"I'm not here to 'visit' with you," Rachel answered, "I have some questions that I want YOU to answer."
The Illuminati werewolf was silent.
"Where is your boss's base at?" Rachel demanded.
"Which one?" the Illuminati were asked back, "I've been alive for almost a century. I've had multiple bosses."
"That one that sent you to York to attack me," Rachel growled, "Where is his base?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that," the Illuminati were replied, "Top secret."
"I won't allow you to be feed until you tell," Rachel growled back.
"Pendragon and Merlin wouldn't stand for that," the Illuminati were smirked, "They wouldn't condone anything that isn't 'chivalrous', even if it gains answers."
"They won't have to be involved if you tell me," Rachel said in a low voice, "Mostly since their current problems have been caused by your current boss."
"Why are you wanting to go out Illuminati hunting anyway?" the Illuminati were questioned, "They're only going to kill you when you show up. Pendragon and Merlin because they've decided they're against the Illuminati and you… because, well… let's just say I wasn't supposed to leave you alive to become a were, and if your idiot girlfriend…"
"That was my sister," Rachel growled.
"Whatever," the Illuminati were shrugged, "If your sister hadn't hit me over the head with her umbrella, I WOULD have killed you."
Rachel sighed and tried to restrain herself from growling at him.
"So, I ask again," the Illuminati were asked, "Why are you out Illuminati hunting?"
"Arthur and Merlin need to speak with your boss," Rachel answered, "Now where is his base?"
"I'm still not going to tell you anything," the Illuminati were answered, "Why should I? So they can go and attack him? Huh?"
"He hasn't made any attempt to rescue you," Rachel countered.
"Actually, if he comes for me, it would be to kill me," the Illuminati were answered, "but if I lead you to them, and they find out, I'm in for torture before death. So I'm keeping silent."
"I really hate you," Rachel growled and stormed away.
"Nice talking to you," the Illuminati were called after her, "Send Merlin down with breakfast!"
Upstairs Merlin, Macbeth, and Arthur were busy trying to figure out what to do next.
"I can't go around asking, even the students, if they have Illuminati contacts," Macbeth grumbled, "Even if I were successful, he or she would likely to only be a minor member, and I wouldn't know it until after they'd captured me."
"It was only a suggestion," Arthur answered back, "I know it isn't a good one, but the situation has to be growing desperate. Who knows what this Khan is doing right now."
"I don't believe we're quite at the point of desperation, yet," Merlin commented, "If we were, we would have seen Khan's announcement on the teley already. We just need to make contact with this Anglo person, or at least an Illuminatis who could get us in contact with him."
"The clan all seems to be willing to go out again tomorrow night," Arthur sighed, "But I feel that I'm overworking them on this. They also have the city to protect."
"That'll just have to be our best hope then," Merlin sighed, "Even if it is overworking the clan, they might be our only real hope of making some kind of contact with the Illuminati."
Arthur only sighed in response, "I only hope that this doesn't put them in danger."
That Night
Arthur sighed as he watched the gargoyles leave. Una and Leo were off to their shop while the rest patrolled. He felt somewhat depressed that he had to use the London clan so much to try and find out these things. True, Griff, Lancelot, and Gawain had become his newest knights, he felt that there was always more that he could and should do. He especially felt this way when he often quite literally led the charge in every battle that his kingdom fought during the Middle Ages. He also felt that the present mission was taking away from the London clan what had been their main mission before he had arrived in the present time, which was to protect London itself.
"You okay?" came Rachel's voice from the doorway.
Arthur turned to see her standing by the door wearing only the jumpsuit that she wore in wolf form. He glanced then to the full moon as it hung behind some scattered clouds.
"It's only just gotten to dusk," Rachel sighed, "I don't HAVE to change until midnight."
"You seem to ready a little early then," Arthur commented.
"I thought I'd help you out," Rachel said weakly.
"Hmm?" Arthur asked, sounding confused.
"Well, I said I'd be staying here until this business in dealing with Khan and Britain's Greatest Hour of Need," Rachel explained, "So I thought I'd help."
"There isn't much that can be done, I'm afraid," Arthur answered her, "As we agreed earlier, we need to make contact with the Illuminati, which we can't do until we find them."
"Give me a bit to change, and then we can go find them," Rachel said in a confident voice.
Arthur watched for a moment as Rachel closed her eyes, and when she opened them again they were already a bright yellow in color.
"I don't think you understand what I've been saying," Arthur answered, "Neither I nor Macbeth have any contacts with the Illuminati, and they seem to have always been opponents of Merlin from what I've heard. They aren't going to be that easy to find. Even the werewolf that we have locked up in the basement hasn't told us anything."
Rachel began to answer as her transformation continued. She had already gained a few inches in height and her coat of brown fur was beginning to appear. Her voice had a growling tone to it as Arthur watched her canine teeth begin to lengthen slightly but not to the point yet where her muzzle would need to form.
"That's the thing," Rachel managed to say, "He attacked us in a London park and he DOES have Illuminati connections. They werrrrrre his employerrrrrrs."
"But he hasn't told us where they were operating from," Arthur pointed out.
Rachel didn't immediately answer, as she had reached the point where she could make human speech as her feet finally finished lengthening so that she would stand in a stance similar to that of the gargoyles. She let out a few growls that gained volume as she began to approach her full size and as fur had thoroughly covered her.
"Rachel, you need to keep it down," Arthur warned as he heard noises from elsewhere, "We don't want alarm anyone."
She tried to muffle a roar as her muzzle grew out, but once her tail had grown out and began to wag behind her, she howled towards the full moon. She then panted heavily.
"I'm sorry," Rachel sighed, "But, now, we can go find the Illuminati. I visited the spot where the Illuminati were attacked us in the park. The exact spot. I can still smell his scent there. Chloe's too."
"But that was quite a while ago," Arthur said, "Surely the scents have dissipated by now."
"Yours has," Rachel answered, "Macbeth's has. The smell of his little hover sled has. But apparently the supernatural nature of gargoyles and werewolves prevents their scents from dissipating as fast. I could still smell the Illuminati were's and Chloe's. Both were fairly faint but I could still smell them."
"Can you follow the Illuminati were back to where he came from?" Arthur asked, almost sounding hopeful.
"I think so," Rachel nodded, "Although, if he walked along any busy street, we're in trouble, because since I've assumed my wolf form now, because of the full moon, I can't return to 'normal' until sunup."
"Thank you for helping with all of this," Arthur then said in a fairly calm voice.
"I said I'd help, so I'll help," Rachel answered, "It'll pay you all back for helping me out with this."
Arthur nodded, "We should get going then."
Over London
Leo and Una were silent as they landed on the roof of their shop. Both were glad to have it back and running again, but their ally's looming crisis was still heavy on their minds.
"Hopefully the others are able to find these Illuminati members," Leo commented quietly with some nervousness in his voice.
"More then likely, I believe they will come looking for us or for Merlin," Una answered.
Leo only sighed, "Then hopefully they're able to hold off the attack."
A gunshot then rang out from behind them, narrowly missing Leo's head and going through the roof entrance to the shop that he was preparing to open. Both gargoyles turned to see a group of men coming out of the shadows of a few other raised structures on the roof, that were there to keep prying eyes from noticing that gargoyles were coming and going from the shop. There were at least ten men total, all armed with submachine guns.
"You'd better worry about yourselves," the lead gunman warned and opened fire again.
Leo dove through the door itself to avoid the hail of bullets while Una leaped on top of the roof of the entrance to the shop. She spoke quietly in Latin and then swung one arm in a wide ark at the attacking gunmen. It generated a golden line of energy that rushed at them and destroyed the guns they were holding, but that was about it.
"I'm going to assume you work for the Illuminati," Una said in a calm voice.
"We are the Third Squad Commandos, yes," the leader answered, "And don't begin to think that because you've destroyed our guns that we have been beat."
"As much as I would like to beat some sense into you for shooting at my mate and me," Una answered slowly, "I'm afraid that further combat is unnecessary."
"Unnecessary?" the leader questioned, "You know of the Illuminati and oppose the will of the Council and further conflict is unnecessary? What kind of idiot do you take me for?!"
"One who will listen to reason," Leo spoke as he appeared in the doorway to the shop's roof entrance again.
The Illuminati commandos looked at each other for a few moments before looking back at the two gargoyles with some concern.
"Arthur and Merlin wish to speak with whoever is in a major role of authority for the Illuminati in England," Una spoke in as firm a voice as possible, "Of rather urgent matters."
"They wish to surrender?" the leader asked.
"No," Una answered, "They wish to speak with whoever is in charge."
"I'm afraid the Council will not accept any 'speech' from either Merlin or Pendragon, unless it is 'I give up, please kill me'," the leader answered.
"Then tell your Council that if they wish the Illuminati to survive into the next century, they will speak with Arthur and Merlin on the roof of this building tomorrow night and unarmed," Una spoke firmly and then spoke in Latin again.
Leo watched quietly as all ten Illuminati gunmen then dropped to the ground asleep. He also heard Una gasp for breath from the roof above him. He came out to see her jump to the roof beside him.
"Are you alright?" Leo asked.
"Only a little tired," Una answered, "These people have taken steps to protect themselves from magic. And it did take a little more to put ten grown men to sleep. You must take them away from here, and hurry. They will only be asleep for five minutes."
"Should we tell Arthur or Merlin?" Leo asked, "You do not look well."
"I will phone them while you remove these people from the shop," Una answered, "Do not worry, now go, and go quickly."
The Park
Rachel slowly moved on all fours following the path that the Illuminati were had taken when he had attacked Arthur and her in the same park after she had just been bitten. She moved quickly, but carefully as there were a few passers by and tried to keep her furry body, even the parts that her jumpsuit covered up hidden in the bushes or behind a tree trunk. Arthur followed close behind. She stopped suddenly as they approached the edge of the park.
"What is it?" Arthur asked, his hands going under his goat to grab the hilt of Excalibur.
"Remember what I told you when we left the mansion?" Rachel questioned, "That if he crossed a busy street, it would be difficult for me to follow?"
"Yes," Arthur nodded slowly.
Arthur looked at the street in about twenty feet ahead of them and not covered by trees. He then sighed.
"The trail leads across the street doesn't it?" Arthur spoke with some unease.
"More like along it," Rachel sighed and sat on her knees, and then pointed in a diagonal direction toward the street, "He went that way."
Arthur looked down the street and then at the heavy traffic that covered the street.
"And that street is almost always busy," Arthur sighed again in a defeated manner, "He must have shifted somewhere. And you can't shift back until dawn."
"I didn't realize that my scent and his scent is the same whether or not we're in our human or wolf forms. I assumed that our human and wolf forms had slightly different scents. I'm sorry."
"You sound like Griff did last night," Arthur answered, "It's not your fault that there are difficulties that you can't control. If anything, it's my fault for not doing enough."
Rachel turned to see Arthur looking rather depressed.
Half an Hour Later
They found both Merlin and Macbeth waiting for them when they made it back to the mansion.
"Rachel was able to track the Illuminati were's scent through the park," Arthur spoke, "But he entered the park through a rather busy street, that Rachel couldn't go near without being spotted."
"A good try and a brilliant idea," Merlin answered, "But Leo and Una have had better success."
"What?" Rachel and Arthur asked in unison.
"Apparently a squad of Illuminati commandos jumped them as they arrived at the shop," Macbeth answered, "Una used a minor spell to destroy their weapons and then let them know that we wish to speak with their leader and then knocked them out."
"She called us shortly after you two left," Merlin explained.
"Did they agree to a meeting?" Arthur asked.
"Una told me that they said to meet us on the roof of the shop tomorrow night," Merlin answered, "I suppose we'll know then."
Elsewhere
Six looked on as he listened to the report from the commando leader.
"The gargoyle said they want to talk?" Anglo asked from behind his desk.
"To me?" Six added from behind Agent Anglo.
"Yes," the commando leader answered, "And she seemed quite certain that the Illuminati would face destruction if you do not speak with Merlin and Pendragon."
"Merlin is powerful," Six spoke, "But he is delusional if he thinks he can just cast a spell and get rid of the Illuminati."
"The gargoyle did not say that Merlin would be the cause of the destruction," the commando leader informed his superiors.
"Yes, but he has been giving us the most trouble as of late," Anglo pointed out, "I doubt it would be anyone else."
"He and Pendragon are plotting something," Six muttered, and then spoke to the commander in a commanding fashion, "Keep your men ready. We will talk with them tomorrow night, but we will also be prepared to capture all of them as well."
"Yes, sir," the commando leader saluted.
The Next Night
"Are you sure we should all be waiting for them like this?" Chloe asked as the group stood on the roof of the shop waiting for the Illuminati to arrive.
"Yes, I told them to return unarmed," Una told them.
"They'll probably ignore the demand if it helps them capture us," Macbeth grumbled, "We'll have to prove to them that we are telling the truth."
"Unless you are surrendering, Macbeth, you will not be telling the truth in our eyes at all," a voice came above them
The group looked up to see all ten commandos from before, rearmed land inside the small circle that they had formed. They quickly aimed their weapons the surrounding gargoyles, humans, and werewolf.
"We only wish to talk," Merlin said trying to calm the situation.
"And talk we will," came a voice from inside the small circle of commandos.
A man in a red robe then appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. His face was obscured by a hood that he wore.
"Who are you?" Julia demanded.
"I am the sixth chair of the Illuminati Council's Inner Circle," Six answered, "You may call me Six."
"There was a brief moment of silence before Six began to speak again.
"Now, before you surrender and put yourselves in my custody," Six began, "What is it you wanted to plead?"
"We're pleading for nothing," Merlin answered, "We carry a warning and a request."
"A request?" Six managed to choke out, "You fight the Illuminati's will and you have a request?"
"It would be in your best interest to accept it," Macbeth said in a firm voice.
"You are a threat to Illuminati Council," Six answered, "I highly doubt that anything you say will be helpful to it."
"Even if we're going to warn you about someone who will destroy your entire order?" Rachel growled.
Six turned to the female were, standing more then seven feet tall.
"Your friend Merlin is that threat," Six answered.
"I'm afraid the threat is from within your own organization," Merlin answered, "Not from me."
Six looked at Merlin with a very disbelieving look on his face.
"In Tibet you have a facility that you operate, correct?" Merlin asked.
"How do you…?" Six began to demand.
"Is that correct?" Merlin asked again, more forcefully.
"Yes," Six answered.
"I have been trying to work to fulfill a prophecy that involves Arthur and what is Britain's Greatest Hour of Need," Merlin answered, "But because much of the information regarding that in this part of the world has been scattered, probably by your organization, Rachel Winters, here, and I made a quest to gain the information that is needed to figure out the prophecy."
"So you and your pet went on a little tour to continue to destroy the Illuminati," Six answered, "How is this important?"
"How does Britain's Greatest Hour of Need threaten the Illuminati?" Merlin questioned.
"Because if Pendragon saves Britain," Six answered, "Then several of the Mage's prophecies will be broken and his future altered."
"The Mage also prophesized that he'd live forever," Merlin answered, "Is he alive now?"
Six did not answer.
"The threat to the Illuminati and the force that will bring about Britain's Greatest Hour of need will come out of Tibet," Merlin explained slowly, "Out of your base as a matter of fact."
"The Tibet base is securing," Six answered confidently, "And the province, while experiencing some difficulties is in no danger."
"The base is secured by someone who aims to bring down both the world and the Illuminati," Rachel answered, "We're telling the truth."
"What are you talking about?" Six demanded, wanting to keep the Illuminati's superman project that was operating in Tibet secret.
"Your superman leader, Khan," Merlin answered, "He intends to betray you and take over the world."
"He's never done anything to indicate that," Six said with disbelief.
"He's a very intelligent man with excellent cover," Merlin answered, "You believe he is willingly serving you and is using that to his advantage. He is behind the insurgency in Tibet at this time."
"You lie!" Six accused.
"I'm only telling you what Rachel and I discovered when he briefly captured us," Merlin answered, "This present insurrection in China is only the beginning of his war against you and the rest of the world. His next move will be to say that the Illuminati exists and that they control the world."
"Even if he were to do that, no one would believe it," Six answered almost smugly, "While it is true that we rule the world, we do it secretly. The common man does not know we even exist."
"Khan probably has the evidence to make people believe," Merlin warned, "And in doing so, it will spread chaos throughout the globe. I will not deny the fact that I think the world would be better off without your organization, but to just destroy it in one fell swoop risks great danger. Danger that we can not defeat or prevent on our own. We need your help."
"Khan is the Illuminati's loyal servant," Six said firmly, "I will listen to your lies, no longer. Take them down."
The ten commandos surrounding Six raised their arms to fire, but soon found themselves in trouble. Macbeth drew his electric blaster and fired into the group of commandos, destroying three commando's weapons. Griff and Octavia dove forward, tackling two of them and forcing them to drop their guns. Arthur drew Excalibur and swung the enchanted sword quickly, cutting the gun of the commando in front of him in half. Chloe spun on one foot and swung her tail low, taking the feet out from under two more commandos, who managed to fire, but their bullets went harmlessly into the air. Rachel approached one slowly and grabbed a commando by his armor and lifted him into the air. The man looked frightened at the sight of her bared fangs.
"I don't smell any silver in your arsenal," Rachel growled in a threatening voice, although she was sure what she would do if he fought on.
Merlin knocked out the last gunman with a quick lightning spell and then joined the remaining gargoyles in converging on Six.
"I may be old, but I'm not an invalid," Merlin warned, "And you came under armed if you intended for this situation to be hostile."
Six was quiet for a moment, as if he was listening to something else and then began to speak slowly.
"I intended for you to surrender," Six answered, "I did not intend to be embroiled in a fight. You are insane if you believe you can take down the Illuminati by spreading these lies."
With that, Six and all the commandos vanished, leaving them alone on the roof.
"Well, that was spectacularly unsuccessful," Merlin grumbled.
"What do we do now?" Guinevere asked, "Why wouldn't he believe us? You all told the truth."
"I would think that our recent battles have convinced them that we are the Illuminati's enemy," Macbeth answered, "It's hard for people to trust someone they've been fighting for years and years. Even if they're truthful."
"As for what we should do, I think it would be best to simply begin preparing," Arthur answered, "Khan will eventually use some sort of paratrooper force to attack England and we must be ready to do what we can to resist his attack."
"And I believe I will need to be looking through my journals," Merlin sighed, "Find out how many of Britain's rulers were influenced by the Illuminati and how much."
The group slowly nodded and began walk away from the meeting area. The gargoyles moved to a spot where they could glide from. Merlin used his magic to lift himself into the air while Arthur, Rachel, and Macbeth got onto a hoversled to return to the mansion. No one seemed to be in the mood for doing much more that night.
"I'm afraid we only have hard times coming," Arthur said with a nervous voice.
Elsewhere
"They tried to say that we are going to bring ourselves down?" Anglo asked with disbelief.
"Yes," Six answered, "And told me their plans. Thankfully the second commando squad thoroughly searched their shop while the negotiations were held. They have nothing that can prove the Illuminati's existence."
"That's good," Anglo nodded, "Now all we need to do is focus on getting Lucius's group thoroughly trained."
"Hopefully he gets with the program," Six answered, "The last thing the Illuminati needs right now is an idiotic stooge."
The End