This is a Sentinel/Highlander crossover. sorry no Duncan, but definitly Methos. Gotta love Methos. Joe is also in it.
Email: stormwolf2000@hotmail.com
Adam Pierson smiled as he saw Joe Dawson limp out from the back room of his bar. Joe spotted the wiry immortal quickly, and returned the grin.
"Hey, Adam. Finally decided to grace us with your presence." Joe said as he placed a small box he had been carrying on the bar.
"Its good to see you to, Joe." Adam laughed.
"Yeah, yeah. So what have you been up to?"
"You know I bet that's the first time you've ever asked one of us that question. Kinda hard not to be able to look up the answer on the computer, isn't it." Adam Peirson, known to only a few as Methos, the oldest living immortal. A legend among immortals, considered not to even exist. Methos liked it that way, less chance of headhunters.
"You know, smartass. I have actually asked McCleod that question a few times."
"Have you heard from him lately?" Methos asked in all seriousness.
Joe shook his head.
"Why did you ask me to come, Joe? If it isn't about McCleod."
"Have you ever heard of an immortal named Tallos?"
"Actually, I've met him. I think it was almost two thousand years ago, I believe. What do you want to know."
"He's in Washington"
"D.C., or the state?"
"The state. Someplace called Cascade. He's teaching at the University there."
"I'll be sure to avoid Cascade, WA, then. Why this interest in Tallos. He's a fairly good fighter, if a bit flighty. Always has his nose in some obscure book, as I recall. But he's not your typical bookworm, either."
"The problem is, that as soon as he hit Cascade, the watcher following him quit sending reports."
"Do you think Tallos found your Watcher?"
"Maybe."
Joe looked at him then. Methos opened his mouth and shook his head, "Oh no, I am not going to Cascade. Do I look like McCleod to you. I am not your immortal boy scout, okay. Do you hear me Joe. Joe"
Sometime later, Adam Peirson sat in his window seat on the large 747 that was now flying toward Sea-Tac wondering how the hell he got talked into this.
Blair Sandburg looked up from reading one of many of his students essay tests when the light knock registered in his mind. Standing in the doorway was a tall man, around six foot nine, heavily built, with his long blonde hair pulled back in a tail, sporting a goatee. The man's green eyes looked at Blair with a hint of amusement.
"Can I help you?" Blair asked.
"Are you Dr. Sandburg?" The man asked in a deep voice.
"I'm Sandburg, but I'm not a Dr. yet." Blair answered suddenly feeling nervous wondering if this was the part were the huge guy drugs him, and takes him off to some hideout.
"I'm Dr. Hardge, Mr. Sandburg. I was hoping to meet you and discuss your discovery of the Temple in Peru. I'm very interested in becoming part of the expidition to study it."
Blair nearly sighed in relief. Just a colleague "Come on inside, Dr. Hardge. I would be happy to discuss it with you. Anything to get away from these essay tests. I thought I was teaching Anthro, but maybe I should seee about teaching some English classes and get these kids to learn their grammar."
Dr. Hardge laughed as he shut the door and took a seat.
"Come on, Chief. Answer the damn phone." Detective Jim Ellison muttered as he sat at his desk in the Major Crimes bullpen. The phone continued to ring, and Jim slammed his phone down with a snarl. He then picked it up and tried Blair's office phone. The ring on the other end continued for several rings.
The phone in the office continued to ring as books and papers flew everywhere. Dr. Hardge growled in frustration as he continued to search through Blair Sandburg's office. On the floor, lying unconscious, was Blair
"Where is it, Sandburg. What did you do with them?" The man muttered and he continued to search. He found Blair's ever present backpack, and pulled out the laptop. Booting the laptop up, Hardge's fingers flew across the keyboard. "Encrypted." The man snorted. More passes across the keyboard, and suddenly the screen was filled with Blair dissertation. "Gotcha" the man said.
Jim Ellison peered through the darkness surrounding Rainier University, as he made his way to Hardgrove Hall. His enhanced vision allowed him to see color where normal humans saw grey. A man with all five enhanced senses, Jim Ellison was a sentinel, and right now he was hunting his guide. He walked into the building just as rain came pouring down from the dark Cascade sky. Moving quickly, he headed for Blair's office. He had seen the Volvo in the parking lot, so he knew Blair had not left the University. Opening his hearing he searched for the familiar heartbeat, and found nothing. His worry turning to fear, he broke into a run. Finding Blair's office ransacked was something he had expected, finding Blair gone was also expected. However, finding a blonde giant sitting on the edge of the desk was completely unexpected. Wondering how he missed the man's heartbeat on his sweep, he pointed his gun at the blonde man who sat calmly on the desk.
"Who are you. Where's Sandburg?" Jim asked in a tight angry voice.
"Patience, Sentinel. Your Guide is unharmed, and a guest of mine."
The use of the title made Jim flinch inside. Images of cold metal tables, needles, and surgical instruments filled his mind. He wondered if this man worked for the government, or a private party. If they had Sandburg, he would find out soon enough.
"Give me your gun, Sentinel, then you and I will walk out of here together to see your Guide. If I do not show up soon, my people will kill Mr. Sandburg." The man spoke calmly, and Jim focused in on the man's heartbeat and found it beating steadily with no sign of stress, or fear.
Taking a deep breathe, Jim handed over his 9mm S&W semi-automatic. The blonde giant took the weapon, and placed it in a briefcase. The giant then stood up, placed a firm hand on Jim's shoulder and steered the sentinel out of the building and into the rain filled night.
A black Jeep Grand Cherokee waited in the parking lot for them. Jim could hear two heartbeats coming from the jeep as the blonde giant with a calloused large hand still on Jim's left shoulder led the sentinel to it. Jim didn't like having the man's hand on his shoulder, but fear of what would happen to Blair if he fought back kept him docile. At least for now. A short man stepped out of the passenger side of the jeep, and walked quickly to the back of the vehicle. The man opened the back door, and Jim was steered toward the waiting man.
Inside the back of the jeep was a steel barred cage whose ceiling reached up to the bottom of the back windows. On top of the cage was an air mattress with a sleeping bag rolled on it. The short man unlocked the cage and swung the door open. The blonde man pushed Jim into the cage, and the door shut behind the sentinel with an ominous THUD. The short man re-padlocked the door, then shut the jeep's back door. Jim listened as the two men entered the jeep, and the doors slammed shut. Then the jeep drove away from the University, and out onto the streets of Cascade.
The cage was so small Jim was forced to lie down in it. There was an open sleeping bag in the cage with him, as well as a bottle of water. Trying to calm his heartbeat and breathing from the claustraphobia that threatened to overwhelm him, Jim took a drink of the water as his mouth had suddenly gone dry.
The drove for an hour according to Jim's watch. Though it was dark, the small pinpoints of light filtering in from the crack between the cage and the back door was enough for Jim's enhanced sight. The jeep pulled to a stop, but the engine was left running.
Suddenly, he heard it. A familiar heartbeat beating rapidly from fear. Straining outward, Jim could hear the three heartbeats of the men inside the jeep, and one other heartbeat with Blair's. The back door opened suddenly, and Jim looked at Blair's shocked face staring at him, with a dark colored man standing behind him. Jim watched Blair's adam's apple bob as the guide swallowed. Blair stepped forward and climbed on top of the cage onto the air mattress. The door was then shut again. Another door opened then shut, and Jim could hear all five heartbeats inside the jeep as it pulled away from the Motel Inn that they had held Sandburg at.
Jim lay curled up on his side in the metal cage listening to the steady breathing and heartbeat of his Guide who was directly above him. So far none of their captors had spoken a word. Instead that seemed intent on their silence as they continued to the drive to God knew where. Jim could tell by the road noises that they were on a paved highway, a lonely stretch of paved highway from the lack of other vehicles. They had been driving now for two hours since they had picked up Blair, and Jim was starting to wonder just how much farther they had to go. The small cage was cramped and confining, and Jim was already starting to feel his muscled and joints locking up on him. He would be hard pressed to move fast if he had too.
Jim had to admit that these men did not look like your basic government men. Two of them, including the blonde giant had long hair, and the black man who had been holding Sandburg had dreadlocks. Jim looked at his watch again. 2:00 am. These men would have several hours lead before Simon even realised that Jim and Blair were missing.
Another hour passed in silence, silence for anyone but a sentinel. The roar of plane above them told Jim they were nearing an airport. From the sounds, he knew it was not a busy airport, so that ruled out Sea-Tac. He knew there were several private airports in Washington, so Jim realised they could be anywhere. The jeep came to a stop, and the engine was shut off. He heard shifting above him, and knew that Blair was climbing off the top of the cage. Doors opened, footsteps echoed in the night. A voice told Blair to follow him, Jim recognized the blonde haired giant's voice. Footsteps faded away as Blair's heartbeat moved away from the jeep. The back door opened and runway lights flooded in. The other three men in the vehicle along with a new guy began to pull the cage out of the jeep. They placed the cage on a conveyer belt that led into the cargo area of a small private jet.
From his position in the cage, Jim watched Blair walk up the steps with Blondie into the jet. His cage made it inside where several men pushed and pulled it to one side of the cargo bay. They quickly attached the cage to the wall with cables. Another man placed inside Jim's cage two more bottles of water, and a ziplock bag with two sandwiches inside. When they had finished securing all the cargo, the men climbed out using the conveyor belt, and the door to the cargo bay was shut and secured.
Jim was not looking forward to several more hours locked inside that cage, but didn't seem to have a choice in the matter. He reached out and found Blair's heartbeat above him again. He could detect ten other heartbeats on that plane. Some were above him, others were more forward, probably the pilots in the cockpit. He knew now that this was a private venture, not government. The images of cold metal tables, needles, and more cages did not leave his mind. Instead they seemed to shout for attention along with the strong feeling of being trapped.
Methos waited at the luggage carousel for his leather bag to pop up, as he warily watched the other people at the Cascade Airport. Before coming, Adam had decided on his cover. In his pocket was his PI liscence, and his knowledge of computers had put in his "cover" past as an ex-cop turned PI.
Having been a cop once in his more than five thousand years, he figured he could swing being an ex-cop. His leather bag fell into the carousel, and Methos grabbed the handle and headed for the car rental place to pick up the keys to his Expedition. Outside he found the dark green Expedition, and hopped inside. The first stop would be the police station to check on any John Does that might have turned up at the morgue or hospital. Then he supposed he would have to work with the local cops. The Watcher he was looking for was a young man of twenty-five, with short brown hair, and green eyes whose name was Jarrod Glasier. He hoped he didn't find the kid at the morgue, but he knew if Tallos had discovered the kid following him, he would have killed the kid.
At the police station, Methos showed his ID to the desk sargeant, and told the cop his story. When he described the kid, the sargeant gave him a strange look that Methos cuoldn't interpret, then the sargeant called someone named Captain Banks.
The cop explained the situation to Banks, and then turned to Methos. "Go up to the sixth floor to Major Crimes, and talk to Captain Banks."
Major Crimes. Wondering what the hell such an elite unit had to do with his missing Watcher, Methos did as he was told.
Captain Banks was an imposing man who looked vaguely familiar to him. Sensing no familiar buzz to the man, Methos shrugged off the feeling and shook hands with the Captain.
"Captain Banks, not to sound inconsiderate, but what does my missing persons case have to do with Major Crimes. I'm pretty sure the kid wasn't into drugs or anything of that nature?" Methos asked as he sat down.
"We believe we've found your missing person, Mr. Pierson." Banks answered handing Methos a few photographs. On the photos was Graiser, dead from two bullet holes in his chest.
"Damn." Methos whispered, "Its Graiser alright. I'm still not sure why I am talking to Major Crimes and not Homicide?"
"Mr. Pierson, I'm going to be frank. One of my best detectives, along with a civilian Observer have dissapeared."
Fighting the stupid urge to call the man Frank, Methos replied, "How is that relevant with the case, Captain Banks."
"The murder weapon happens to be the Detective's gun, and his prints are the only ones on them. My detective has an APB on him for questioning in regards to the murder."
"Oh" Was all Methos said as everything began to become clearer in his mind. What the hell does Tallos want with a detective and an Observor?
Methos got out of his Expedition at the University when the familiar feeling of another immortal hit him. Shutting the door of the truck, Methos placed a hand on the sword hidden in the folds of his long dark coat as he searched for the source of the "buzz". He spotted the immortal right away, and suppressed a grin as he recognized the dark haired immortal.
Connor Macleod strolled over to Methos having recognized the ancient one from his one time meeting at Duncan's home. Wondering what the oldest immortal was doing in Cascade, Connor smiled as he approached.
Easing his hand of the hidden sword, Methos said, "Connor, what are you doing here?"
"Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing. I'm headhunting." Connor answered.
"Not me, I hope." Connor laughed that strange laugh of his. "No. A friend of mine in Brussels was murdered, and some of his research material was stolen."
"Sorry to hear that. An immortal killed him?" Methos found that strange, not strange that an immortal killed the man, but that he stole research material.
"Why would an immortal want some mortal's research material. He was mortal right."
"Yes, he was mortal. Like I said an old friend. The immortal was Tallos."
"Mmmm, Joe sent me here to find out what happened to one of their Watchers. Apparently this kid was Tallos' Watcher. He turned up dead with a couple of bullet holes in him."
"So in a sense we are both hunting Tallos." Connor summised. "Hey, you can have dibs on his head. Hell, I have no real interest in the entire thing now that I've found the Watcher."
"Have you ever heard of Sentinels?" Macleod asked out of the blue.
Methos tried to speak from a mouth suddenly gone dry, "Yes, I have. What does this have to do with Tallos."
"My friend in Brussels was a researcher. He came across an intersting theory concerning immortals and sentinels. Something about a heightened quickening. Never heard of it before. I didn't even know what a sentinel was until my friend explained it to me."
"So Tallos wants to experience a heightened quickening? Then why kill his Watcher, and frame some cop?" Methos was confused.
"You mean Ellison."
"How did..."
"My friend had a mutual acquaintance with a young student here named Blair Sandburg. He has apparently disapeared along with Ellison. Blair's dissertation was supposed to be about sentinels. That's why I came here, I figured this was were Tallos would end up next."
"You think that maybe Tallos believes that Ellison is a sentinel."
"Yeah, why else would an anthropologist hang around a cop except to study him." Macleod continued.
"Damn." Methos swore under his breath.
Macleod stared at him. "You know, Methos, I have the feeling that you know more than you let on."
"You could say that. You see that heightened quickening thing. Its for real. I've experienced it before. Several times in fact."
Macleod stared at the older immortal in disbelief."How? When?" Macleod asked.
"Duncan told you about my time with the Four Horsemen, didn't he."
"Uh, yeah. He did. But their dead."
"Yes. The enhanced quickening happened when I was with them." Methos looked around. "This isn't a good place to tell this story. Do you have a place to stay?" Methos asked.
"Yeah, a friend of mine is loaning me a house." Macleod quickly reached into his pocket for a business card and a pen. He wrote the address of the house on the back of the card and handed it to Methos.
"Here, meet me at this place tonight. I still have some diggin I need to do. I have to find out where Tallos has gone. If he has taken Sandburg and Ellison, is he planning on killing them?"
"No. He needs Ellison alive for the enhanced Quickening, and if Sandburg is Ellison's guide, Tallos will have to keep him alive as well. Sentinel will follow their Guides into death."
"So he won't kill them, there's something."
"Yeah, but Ellison will probably wish he was dead when this is over."
Macleod looked at Methos curiously, but decided it could wait until tonight. He nodded and replaced his pen in his jacket.
"Alright, I'll see you tonight. Bring something to eat. Chinese sounds good." Macleod said. Methos laughed.
Blair sat in his seat on the plane and tried to be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. Everytime he thought about his partner in the cage in the belly of the plane, he got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew that the man knew that Jim was a sentinel. He wasn't sure how he knew, but it only added to the sick feeling.
Jim had looked alright, other than angry about being in that small cage. He hoped they both manged to stay alright. He looked over at the blonde haired gaint who was sipping a glass of wine. Blair had been offered a plate of food, but had only managed to eat a few bites of the mixed vegetables. That sick feeling in his gut curbed his appetite.
The blonde giant laughed at something his cohorts said, then spoke, "Yes, a very good pet. Perhaps I should collar his lovely throat, but I think the cage will be enough for now."
Blair became angry as he realised that they were talking about Jim. A pet! What did this man plan for the sentinel and guide. Fear began to twist at his stomach, and Blair tried not to let his overactive imagination come up with possible scenarios.
Methos knocked on the door to Connor's borrowed house. The door opened and connor motioned for Methos to come on in.
"What have you found out so far?" Methos asked.
"Tallos owns an island." Connor answered. "Jeez, and all I own is a small Victorian house and the surrounding countryside. I am so jealous." Methos intoned.
Connor laughed, "My guess is that's were he's heading."
"So how are you planning to get out there?"
"WE are going to take a boat. A big boat." Connor answered seating himself on the large sofa in the livingroom.
"WE? We are not doing anything. I am not going to risk my head for a couple of mortals."
"Your not going to risk your head, Methos. While I will fight Tallos, you can get the two mortals out of danger. And keep that Sentinel away when I take Tallos's head. I have a feeling that I really don't want to experience an enhanced Quickening." "You don't have to worry about that." Methos whispered, but Connor heard him.
"You were going to tell me about this enhanced quickening bit."
"Uh, yeah, I was. Um, where's your sword?"
Connor laughed, "Afraid I'll take your head after hearing the story?" "Quite frankly, yes." Methos answered.
"Don't worry. I know for a fact that this happened a long time ago, and that Duncan trusts you. And Duncan don't trust easily, so I guess I trust you too."
"Good, I think."
"Is it really that bad?" Connor asked concerned.
"You don't know the half of it." Methos stared at the horse painting on the wall as his mind flashed back to the memory. So long, long ago.
The Bronze Age
Silas pulled out his axe from the body of the woman he had just murdered. Around him the screams of the dying and soon to be dying filled the air. Behind him Kronos pulled a small long haired man who looked more like a woman across the withers of his horse.
Methos sat easily on his white stallion. The coat of the animal was splashed with blood, as was Methos's white cloak. His face was painted, and his long black hair fell past his shoulders. At his stallion's hooves lay a well built man wearing only a loincloth. The blow to the back of the man's head had not been fatal, and Methos waited until Kronos signalled for their return to camp.
Each of his brothers rode their horses back to camp leading a string of captives. As brothers they shared their bounty, which included captives.
Methos lead the loinclothed man whom he had knock out with a blow from his sword by a rope tied to the man's wrists. Methos noticed that the man would look with concern toward the small man that Kronos still had over the withers of his horse. Annoyed that his captive would turn his attention in that direction, Methos would pull on the rope until the man stumbled.
At the camp, the Horsemen's slaves came quickly to take the horses, and give them a good rub down. As always Silas would direct the slaves with his tongue and a whip on how to care for his precious horses. Methos pulled his captive along by the rope as he walked over to where Kronos held his captive. A slave handed Kronos a horn of wine, and Kronos poured it on the unconscious man who spluttered and came awake. Kronos laughed and took a drink of the wine, then handed the horn to Methos, who took a drink.
"Look at this one brother. He's almost as pretty as a woman." Kronos said grasping the man's chin and turning the face towards Methos. Methos looked at the nicely sculptured face and warm brown eyes.
"Yes, very pretty, brother. Are you going to play with him tonight, brother?" Methos asked.
"I think, so brother. Unless you want his pretty little ass tonight."
"You can have his ass brother. I'll take this one." Methos tugged on the rope.
The man began to struggle shouting in his language, but a blow from Methos's gauntleted hand drove him into the ground. The man in Kronos' arms began to struggle. Kronos slapped him to the ground. The young man fell onto his stomach, and Kronos taking another drink of his wine, began to undoe the tie of his breeches. He handed the horn back to Methos who took a drink and prepared to watch. The other man tried to struggle to get up, but Methos put a booted foot on the man's back, then continued to watch his brother.
Kronos stripped the young man's loincloth off, then kneeled over the man. Kronos' cock was already erect and large, and without benfit of any lubrication, he forced his cock inside the youn man, who cried out in pain.
Amazingly the man beneath Methos' foot began to struggle more, crying out toward the young man. Not understanding, Methos leaned over and hit the amn again knocking him unconscious.
Kronos' thrusts were becoming harder and harder, and the man's cries were becoming louder. Methos laughed and took another drink of the wine. When Kronos filled the man's ass with his seed, he withdrew, and stood up. Taking the horn from Methos, he drew in another long drink, then handed it back. He laced up his breeches, then picked up the young man by his hair and dragged him over to his tent.
Methos reached down and grabbed the unconscious man by his tied wrists and dragged him to his tent.
When the man regained consciousness, Methos finished off the wine and deer haunch he had been eating. He had already stripped the man of his loincloth, and had him tied down. Using the greese from his meal, he lubricated his own cock, and sheathed himself fully inside the man's body. With deep thrusts at an angle designed to hurt, and not give pleasure, Methos raped his captive.
A shout from Kronos awoke Methos. Getting up from where he had been laying over the man he had raped, Methos stood and got dressed.
Walking outside he found Kronos and Silas dragging toward them another man. Methos recognized him as one of the immortal slaves that they kept for fun.
"He was caught trying to run away. He was stealing your horse Methos. I thought perhaps, brother, that you might enjoy taking his head." Kronos said.
"It would be my pleasure, brother." Methos said. with that he brought up his sword, and with one downward stroke he cut off the immortal's head. His brothers had already stepped far back from them, as the quickening began to rise from the dead body. However, instead of streaking toward Methos, it caught the man Methos had raped who had been trying to sneak out of the tent during th commotion. The Four Horsemen watched in surprise as the Quickening seemed to absorb itself into the man whose piercing screams made some of the other slaves press hands to their ears. The man jerked as if having a seizure. The quickening then lashed out from the man toward Methos. The quickening was brighter than it had been as it enveloped Methos. Methos screamed in pure ecstacy as the Quickening held him in its grip.
When it was done, Methos fell to his knees. Kronos went over to the other man, and found the mortal to still be living.
"How is this possible. That Quickening was more powerful than it should have been coming from an immortal that is less than a year old?" Kronos said as he went to help his brother to stand.
"I'm not sure, brother." Methos said gasping, "All I know is that it was powerful. It felt more real than any others I have ever experienced. What is he to do that to a Quickening?"
"I will find out." Kronos stood and walked quickly to his tent. He came out dragging the young man with him. At the sight of the other man, the one in Kronos' grasp stopped struggling.
"What is he?" Kronos growled at the young man. When he didn't answer, Kronos shook him like a dog shakes a rat. "What is he. tell us or I will torture him."
"He is a Sentinel." The young man answered as tears fell down his face.
"What is a Sentinel?" Methos asked.
The young man explained. The Four Horsemen listened intently.
Connor looked at Methos, his eyes widened in shock. Methos took a drink of the glass of water that Connor had brought him saying nothing as the Highlander sought to gather the information in his head.
Jim Ellison opened his eyes slowly and looked around the badly lit room. The last thing he remembered was the plane landing, and a man he didn't recognize inside the cargo area with a syringe. That and the bad taste in his mouth told him he had been drugged.
He found himself alone, and his first thought was to Sandburg's location. A quick search with his hearing found Blair's familiar heartbeat, strong and steady not far from him. Probably in a nother cell, he thought. A quick assessment of himself showed him to be nude, wearing only an iron collar with a chain padlocked to it and to the far wall. His sensitive hearing caught the sound of footsteps echoing through the halls. Another sound made Jim realise that they were dragging something heavy.
The door opened to admit the large blonde giant. He walked in and leaned against the wall next to the door as two of his men dragged into the room another man. The goons sat the unconscious prisoner down, and shackled the man's wrists to the floor. The goons then left the room. Jim used his hearing to assess the unconscious man's condition only to discover the lack of a heartbeat, or breathing. Why would they shackle a dead man. Jim thought. Suddenly his hearing heard a heartbeat coming from the "dead" man, and Jim's eyes widened when the "dead" man took a deep shuddering breath.
"Welcome back to the living, Janos." The blonde man said.
The man, Janos, looked angrily at the blonde giant. "What the fuck is your problem, Tallos. You fucking shoot me, then bring me here. Your breaking the rules!" Janos looked over at Jim. "And why the hell is this mortal present. Another rule your breaking!"
"I broke those rules for a little experiment, Janos. Your a scientist, you must understand the need to experiment." Tallos answered.
"Experiment? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Now, now Janos. Your just one of my lab rats. I don't explain experiments to lab rats."
During the exchange, Jim had sat with his bare back against the wall watching and listening to the two men, confusion obvious. Mortal, rules, experiments? What the hell are these guys talking about?
Suddenly Talos stepped towards Jim, going around the helpless immortal. Jim looked at him with anger in his icy blue eyes, but a cold fear swept through him as Tallos began to unbuckle his belt. Terrified of what was about to happen Jim made one last effort to fight back. He swept out with his legs, only for Tallos to avoid them deftly. The blonde giant struck out with a massive fist against Jim's cheek. The sentinel fell to the ground, dazed from the blow. A hand grabbed the iron collar, and raised Jim's head.
Tallos leaned close to Jim's ear and whispered, "Are you forgetting your guide, sentinel. I will punish him if you don't cooperate."
Jim swallowed, then nodded. Tallos smiled and grinded Jim's damaged cheek into the cold hard floor, then released the collar. Jim stayed on the floor, breathing heavily through the pain and fear. He closed his eyes, but his hearing caught the sound of a zipper opening. The soft clicks seemed to echo in his ears, and the smell of male arousal filled his nostrils. Pain ripped into his body as Talos thrust his fully erect, unlubricated cock into Jim's ass. An agonized scream erupted from Jim's throat as Talos began to thrust in and out. He could hear the shouts of the other man telling Talos that he was sick and demented. The body above Jim shuddered as he released his semen deep inside Jim's body.
In his cell, alone, Blair Sandburg heard Jim's cries of pain echo through the once silent hallway. The young guide curled up into a ball, and began to cry softly.
Tallos pulled his now limp cock from the sentinel's ass, then stood up from the shivering detective. tallos pulled his pants back up and rezipped and buttoned his jeans. Tallos then stepped outside the room and came back inside carrying a broadsword in his left hand.
Jim watched in horror as Tallos swung the broadsword, and severed Janos' head from his body. Nostrils flared, he smelled the familiar scent of ozone, and the hair on his arms prickled as if charged. A blue mist swept out of the hole in the body's newest orifice, as blue lightening began to spark around the room. The prickling intesified to the point of pain, as the lightening surged from the body to Jim. As the first bolt struck, Jim cried out in pain. His senses felt like they were on fire. His eyes saw nothing but blue light, his skin felt only the pain of electricity. The smell of ozone filled his nostrils, the crackling his ears. He could not even hear himself scream.
Tallos watched in fascination as the Quickening enveloped the sentinel. Amazing. The quickening seem to grow in strength and intensity as it surged through the sentinel's body. Suddenly it arced from the sentinel to Tallos. The immortal screamed in pure ecstacy. The Quickening felt like none he had ever had before. Powerful, and seductive, the blue lightening was absorbed into the immortal's body, enhanced by the power of the sentinel.
When it was done, Tallos fell to his knee panting. He looked over at the sentinel, who lay unconscious, his body twitching as if in the throes of a seizure. He smiled. The experiment had been a success.
The boat had brought them silently to the island. Dressed in black fatiques, Methos and Connor waded to shore, swords strapped to their backs. They could see the lights from the large mansion. They were to far away for them to feel Tallos' presence.
Quietly and quickly the two immortals made their way tot he mansion, silently killing the guards that stood between them and their goal. They could not afford to keep the guards alive.
When they stepped through the balcony's sliding glass windows the presence of another immortal made itself felt. Ignoring the strange pressure that filled their heads, Methos and Connor made their way into the room. They killed other guards, and took one prisoner. Their questions led them to a hidden door, and a stairwell leading down into a dungeon type area. From a door, Tallos stepped out into the hall, broadsword held before him.
"I am Tallos, son of Nilan." Tallos said.
"I am Connor Mcleod of the Clan Mcleod. I challenge you." Connor said drawing his kitana. Methos stepped aside, as the two combatants squared off. The clanging of metal upon metal, and the flash of swords occupied Connor's attention. Methos made his way down the hall knowing that Connor could take Tallos. If he didn't win, however, Methos would take Tallos' head. He went into the room that Tallos came out of, and stoppped short. An immortals' swiftly decaying body lay near the entrance. Standing in a defensive pose near the back wall was a nude man whose height and bulk made him look impressive. A bleeding bruise marred his cheek, and blood flowed down his thighs, but all of that heightened the man's appearance as dangerous.
"Who are you?" The man growled. Methos knew that the man was Detective Ellison.
Knowing what the man had gone through, Methos kept his tone level, "My name is unimportant. If I free you, can you find your guide and leave this place?"
"After I kill someone." The sentinel answered simply.
"Tallos is being taken care of by a friend of mine. I would think your guide's welfare would be more improtant than revenge."
Jim lowered his head and nodded. Blair's life was definitly more improtant than revenge. He kneeled down.
Methos stepped foward, and broke the chain as close to the collar as he dared using his sword. The sentinel stood, and moved past Methos and the body out into the hallway. He saw Tallos sword fighting with another man. He appeared to be losing the battle. Jim nodded in satisfaction, then followed the familiar heartbeat to a cell three doors down. Methos had followed him. Jim opened the door, and found Sandburg fully dressed, his left wrist shackled to the wall. the Guide looked up at Jim's entrance, and gasped in surprise. Jim quickly moved toward Blair. Methos stepped inside. then suddenly the sounds of lightening and explosions filled the room, and Jim knew that one of the two fighters was dead. He didn't know which one.
Methos exhaled in relief. If Tallos had won, the Quickening would have struck down the sentinel. Therefore he knew Connor had won. When the explosions from the Quickening died down, Methos walked toward the sentinel and guide. Using his sword, he broke the chain to the guides shackle. Once free the guide reached out with his hand to touch the sentinel, who flinched.
Methos turned around as Connor walked into the cell looking a bit haggard, but seemed steady on his feet. In his hand was a ring of keys. Methos smiled at Connor's lopsided grin.
Jim Ellison stood on the beach of the island now dressed in dark fatigues. Beside him was his guide, Blair Sandburg who had a hand of the sentinel's back. A few feet away stood the two immortals, Connor and Methos. Connor had explained to them about immortals, and Methos had explained why Tallos had kidnapped them. It had all seemed a bit weird. Okay, very weird. Jim amended silently. After everything Jim had seen and experienced, he wasn't about to scoff. Methos had told him about the dead Watcher, and Jim's gun being the murder weapon. He had assured Jim that the Watchers would deal with it, and that the sentinel's name would be cleared by the time they returned to Cascade. Staring at the two immortals, Jim wondered if he was going back to Cascade.
"Jim, what's wrong?" Blair asked. He had been shocked to discover that his friend had been raped not more than a few hours ago. Blair was more worried about that than any of the immortal business. He figured that he could be elated about it later.
"Just wondering what those two are planning." Jim said.
"What do you mean?"
"Enhanced quickenings. The game and this idea that there can be only one. A prize. The Quickenings hold power, Chief. The more power, the better off you are. Just wondering if they planning to do as Tallos had done."
"Oh, shit." It had not occurred to Blair that they might have to worry that their rescuers had only rescued them to keep the sentinel and guide for themselves.
Connor and Methos strolled over to Jim and Blair. Jim looked at them suspiciously.
"Are you ready to go?" Methos asked.
"To where?" Jim asked.
Methos looked confused, "to Cascade." He answered wondering if the sentinel was suffering from shock.
"Is that really where we are going?" Jim asked.
Connor seemed to understand, "Yes, we will take you to Cascade. You are free to go by yourselves. We are not interested in enhanced quickenings. The price is too high."
"Is it? What do you care for mortals. We all just die after all." Blair said.
"The candle that burns brightest, burns quickest. Mortals may live short lives, but there lives are ones that truly matter." Methos answered. "A sentinel cannot be a sentinel without a tribe to protect. You can hardly protect the tribe in captivity."
Jim nodded, believing them. Trusting them. Methos smiled.
"Good. Now let's get back to civilization."
The four men waded out to the anchored boat. Connor started the engine and took the wheel as he turned the boat toward the mainland. Seated on the deck, Jim pulled Blair into a hug, his senses filled up with the essence that was "Blair", and felt his guide return the healing embrace.
Alright, that is definitly it, the end, all she wrote. Sorry it took so long. Hope you enjoyed it.
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