Chapter Five
Felicia glanced at the doorway as she stood outside the bar. Keogh stood right next to her. At first there was just silence at their area, but Felicia knew they would have to put their plan in motion before their targets left for their home for the night.
"So, do you understand what Ming wants us to do?" Felicia proceeded to ask.
"Yes," Keogh answered, "We capture Richie, Duncan MacLeod's ward or student and use him as bait after taking him to Ice Station Earth as our bait for MacLeod."
"Exactly," Felicia grinned and nodded.
"What about his little girlfriend?" Keogh asked.
"We leave her," Felicia answered, "She can leave MacLeod a message when we take little Richie. By the way, the girlfriend's name is Tori."
"I gotchu," Keogh replied, "So, when do we make our move?"
"Now."
-Beginning-of-a-New-Life-
Richie looked on as Joe handed him and Tori their drinks.
"Drinks on the house tonight," Joe stated.
"Aw, thanks," Tori blushed, giving out a small smile. Richie eyed her as he gave her a genuine smile, "So, what do you think?"
"I think it's going to work out great for him," Tori answered with a smile.
"Yeah," Richie nodded in agreement, "Joe's going to do great in his business."
Suddenly, they both sensed the Buzz. Richie quickly turned and he saw Felicia walk into the bar, and paled at not only seeing her, but another familiar face.
"Shit," Richie muttered.
"What is it?" Tori asked, worried.
"Felicia's here," Richie answered, "and she's not alone."
Tori followed her boyfriend's glance and saw both Felicia and David entering the bar.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Tori muttered.
"So do I," Richie replied, nodding in agreement. The couple eyed both Felicia and Keogh cautiously as they were doing the same.
"Richie," Felicia smiled, "it's been awhile. Nice to see you again."
"The pleasure's not mine," Richie replied, glaring at her, "and what are you doing here with this psychopath?!"
"Just mending his broken heart after MacLeod caused his girlfriend to die," Felicia stated.
"Jill," Tori whispered.
"Give me a break, David!" Richie exclaimed, "MacLeod was trying to help her get away from you!"
"In retrospect," Tori said as she eyed both Felicia and Keogh, "you two deserve each other."
"As you two deserve each other," Felicia retorted.
"How did you..." Richie started to ask.
"Is there a problem here?" Joe asked as he arrived at the area before he noticed what was going on, seeing a group of ice robots enter the bar, "Sorry I asked."
"They're bad news, Joe," Richie stated as the ice robots fired at random areas of the bar.
"What the hell's going on here?!" Joe demanded.
"Those are Ming's ice robots," Tori answered.
"Ming?!" Joe exclaimed, confused.
"Ming the Merciless," Richie answered, "Mac's encountered him before."
"Take him," Felicia told the leader of the ice robots.
Richie looked confused for a moment before feeling someone grab him from behind, causing him to yelp in response. He noticed the ice robots have grabbed him and were taking him away.
"Hey, let go of me!" Richie shouted as he was being carried away.
"Richie!" Tori cried out before one of the ice soldiers knocked her down to a nearby counter.
"Hey!" Joe shouted before another soldier knocked him next to her.
"Tori, get Mac!" Richie shouted as he was being carried away, "Get Mac!"
"I want the two of you to give Duncan MacLeod a message," Felicia told the pair, "Tell him Ming the Merciless will be waiting for him at Ice Station Earth. Tell him to go there if he wants little Richie back."
She turned and left the room.
"We gotta tell MacLeod," Tori told Joe, "They got Richie."
"Already on it," Joe replied as he got out his phone.
-Beginning-of-a-New-Life-
Duncan and Amanda hurried over to Joe's place upon hearing the frantic call Joe addressed. Upon hearing Tori crying on the phone, Duncan paled in worry. He was worried something happened to Richie.
They arrived to the bar to find Joe, Tori, and some other witnesses were talking to police as someone called the police during the scuffle.
"Long time no see, MacLeod."
Duncan glanced up before he turned around and faced Randi, the news reporter he thought he'd never see again.
"Yeah," Duncan quipped, "long time no see indeed."
"What do you know?" Randi quipped, "First day back on the job and I encounter you. What are the odds?"
"Yeah," Duncan nodded, "very strange."
"So," Randi eyed Amanda, "who's the lovely lady?"
"My name's Amanda," Amanda introduced herself.
"Ah, nice to meet you," Randi replied before the two women shook hands.
"I've ran into her a few times a couple of years back," Duncan stated.
"That we have," Randi nodded before introducing herself, "My name is Randi MacFarland."
"If you'll excuse us," Duncan stated.
"All right," Randi nodded before Duncan and Amanda hurried to where Joe and Tori were.
"I'm so sorry," Amanda hugged her student, "Felicia had to ruin your date, didn't she?"
"Keogh is with her," Tori replied as she wiped her tears away, "They're working with Ming."
"And those bastards ruined my opening night!" Joe exclaimed.
"So, ice robots were also present?" Duncan asked.
"Yes," Tori answered, "They're working with Ming."
"So, Felicia is not only working with Ming," Amanda added, "but with another immortal as well?"
"David Keogh?" Duncan chimed in.
"Yeah," Joe spoke up, "I swear, I never seen anything like it in all my years as a watcher."
"I've encountered Ming the Merciless two years ago in Paris," Duncan explained, "Maybe he wants to work with Felicia and David for his own reasons and they've probably kidnapped Richie as bait for me."
"That'd best summon it," Amanda quipped.
"Mind if I ask," Joe asked as he eyed Amanda, "but who's this lovely lady?"
"Uh, Joe, I want you to meet Amanda," Duncan introduced the watcher to the infamous immortal, "Amanda, Joe Dawson."
"The Amanda?" Joe asked before eyeing Amanda, "You know, I've heard an awful lot about you."
"I'll bet you have," Amanda replied, "I hear you're one of those guys who likes to watch."
"It's clinical," Joe stated, "for history. We don't get involved."
"Since Ming is involved," Tori said, "I might have to call the Defenders to help us."
"I have to agree with you," Duncan nodded.
"I'll let my uncle know what's going on," Tori informed the group.
"Yeah," Duncan nodded.
"Go for it," Joe added.
"They'll be capable of helping us," Amanda added.
-Beginning-of-a-New-Life-
Flash was watching the screens on Monitor, the usual Monitor duty, and it was his turn.
"Tori Gordon is calling," Dynak announced.
"Tori?" Flash replied before accepting the call, "Hello, Tori. Long time no see."
"Likewise," Tori replied before explaining herself, "but this is not a social call. Two immortals MacLeod knows are working with Ming the Merciless, and kidnapped Richie during our date."
"Richie?!" Flash exclaimed in surprise.
"They want revenge on Duncan MacLeod," Tori explained further, "I have no clue why he wants to work with them."
Suddenly, Ming appeared on screen, "It's about power! That is what drives us to defeat you!"
"Ming!" Flash exclaimed. He decided to let Ming talk because this could be important.
-Beginning-of-a-New-Life-
"Ming!" Duncan exclaimed harshly upon seeing Ming's face again.
"That's Ming?!" Joe exclaimed in surprise.
Ming chuckled before declaring, "We meet again, Duncan MacLeod."
"Listen to me carefully, you son of a bitch," Duncan eyed him in a harsh and angry tone, "If anything...if anything happens to Richie..."
"Wait, don't tell us," Felicia retorted as she appeared on screen, "we're dead, right?"
"That goes double for you," Duncan glared at her, "I warned you not to cross my path again."
"We haven't crossed paths yet," Keogh chimed in.
"Triple for you," Duncan snarled at him.
"The Defenders of the Earth are to bring you to Ice Station Earth, Highlander," Ming told him.
"Where's Richie?!" Duncan demanded.
"Don't worry," Ming assured him, "I'll let you talk to him."
He turned to his left, smirking, "Here, someone wants to talk to you."
Richie appeared on the screen. Duncan's heart worried for him, seeing the fear in his face.
"Mac," Richie muttered in fear.
"Richie!" Tori exclaimed in worry.
"Tori," Richie glanced at his girlfriend.
"Richie, are you all right?" Duncan asked.
"I'm fine, but it's cold though," Richie answered, before speaking in desperation, "Mac, don't come! Ming, David, and Felicia have a trap set up for you."
"But of course, it's a trap," Felicia smirked at her prisoner.
"Not that it'll matter though," Keogh added.
The screen turned off, leaving the group on the call with Flash.
"Richie!" Tori cried out in worry.
Amanda grasped her student by the shoulders and assured her, "Don't worry. We'll get Richie back."
"The Defenders are on their way," Flash informed the group before the call ended.
-Beginning-of-a-New-Life-
Felicia glanced over at Richie as he was struggling against the grasps of the ice soldiers.
"That worked out well," she quipped.
"I agree with you there," David smirked and nodded.
They kissed while eyeing Richie, who looked unfazed.
"It'll only be a matter of time before the Defenders show up with Duncan MacLeod," Ming stated before he eyed Garax and instructed, "Take the prisoner to his cell."
"You won't win!" Richie shouted as he was being taken away to his cell, "MacLeod stopped all three of you before, and he'll stop you again!"
Felicia and Keogh both smirked, holding each other's hands before they walked towards Ming.
"Say?" Felicia eyed her boss, "Do you have some, um, boredom killers I could...you know, regarding Richie?"
"What are you implying?" Ming asked.
"You know, something I can use to..." Felicia eyed away before eyeing Ming again, "you know, to have a little fun with the prisoner while we wait for MacLeod."
Ming paused as he eyed her, realizing what she was implying. Keogh also realized what she was implying too.
"Are you sure about that?" Keogh asked.
"Do you even know what I'm talking about?" Felicia scoffed.
"Yeah, I do," Keogh nodded.
"You're still my main squeeze," Felicia gently touched his chest, "but I'm wanting to give Richie a taste of the past. We had history you know."
"You sure I'm still yours?" Keogh asked.
"Sure, I'm sure," Felicia nodded, continuing to caress his chest. Seconds later, they shared a passionate kiss.
"Oh, I get the idea, Felicia," Ming replied before announcing, "I shall set up his drink and the drugged drink will be administered to him."
"Wait, what makes you think he'll accept the drink?" Keogh asked.
"You do have a point, David," Ming replied before instructions were given out, "We shall get the drug ready, and you, Felicia, will know what to do."
Felicia smirked with satisfaction and anticipation.
"You seem excited," Keogh stated.
"You have no idea," Felicia smirked, "It'll also be a way to hurt Duncan MacLeod too."