Disclaimer: See part 10 Other Info: See part 10
They all saw her body stiffen as she tilted her head back, eyes closed tight. When she finally spoke, there was very little control to the emotions that carried her words. "Andy Morales, my partner in LA." Nix repeated, then turned to face the men. "He just didn't listen. No better than you, Ellison. We'd just gotten off duty; he was dropping me at home. The front door was open, and Andy immediately wanted to go in. I'd gotten the buzz from the street and was in the process of scouting out the challenger when Andy rushed past me, kicked the door forward and ran in. He never had a chance. I still hear his screams in my nightmares."
The room was silent, the men caught up in the emotions of Dakota's story. Each of them knew the pain of losing a partner, as well as the horrid guilt it left, and more than one knew the weight of responsibility that fell on his or her shoulders after such an event.
Wetting her lips, Nik continued, feeling a sudden need to complete the confession. "He took a corner, fired a couple rounds, then yelled out for me. I advanced, but it was too late. Andy had taken a deep slice across his torso. I couldn't help him, and I almost didn't help myself. I had maybe 30 seconds before I was attacked. I didn't even bother with my blade, just pulled my weapon and emptied the clip. I think that's what surprised them the most when I quit." She finally looked at them, pain rimming her eyes, sympathy rimming theirs. "I left that case open, then I left the force and LA altogether."
Simon cleared his throat and spoke softly. "So when you figured out it was a trap, you immediately thought it was the same person..."
She shook her head. "No. Not the same person - he's not with us any longer - just the same situation. I knew I had the opportunity to avoid a horrible mistake, though. At least I THOUGHT I did..."
It was a lot of understanding a lot too late. He couldn't swear he'd have done anything differently had he known the story, but Jim hoped he might at least have trusted Nix with the situation more than he had. If he'd listened to her, maybe he'd at least have been there to watch over his own partner.
"You have to remember that YOU and Blair weren't even supposed to BE HERE! By some ill fortune, you showed up spouting off about the fact that Taolvik and I had a relationship. Well, let's set the record straight! We had a relationship for all of about a decade, and THAT was over two hundred years ago."
There was something brewing behind his eyes. The icebergs were melting, but quickly turning to storm clouds. "It was still something you should have told us."
"WHY?" she said, flailing her arms. "What difference would it have made? You think it's why he's after me now?" Dakota watched him nod. "NO, Jim. I'm not that great a catch that men chase me for two centuries after I break their hearts. Besides, Vik doesn't have a heart. That's why we broke up."
"Then what the HELL is so special about you?" Came Ellison's frustrated question, although his mind had provided several answers on its own.
"He wants my HEAD!" she said quickly. "And my Soul..." Without another word, Nixia turned and walked towards her weapons, retrieving her broad sword from the workbench. A quick glance over her shoulder told her Curious Jim had followed. The other men edged towards the pair, cautious to remain out of her sword path.
"A sword is a living thing." she said, raising the sword erect in front of her. "And all living things have a soul." So saying, she gracefully flipped the sword over in her hand and twisted the hilt. The tip of the handle, a large, round clear stone, came off in her hand, complete with mounting. Nixia handed the piece to the man, watching his eyes scan the gem. Seeing the rest of the interested faces, she turned the handle upside down and spilled out two other stones.
It took a moment, but understanding registered slowly in Jim's brain. He held up the amber-colored gem. "This is the stone from Elise's sword."
"Charles gave it to me just after the funeral. It's called the Soul of the Sun." Nix said, noting Methos' newfound attention.
"You little minx..." the oldest immortal commented. "You've had the Universe in your possession all this time."
Simon shook his head. "Universe? Wait a minute. You're telling me the stones AREN'T legend? They're REAL?"
"'Scuse me," Ellison said quietly. "But would someone like to buy me a clue here?" His mind fumbled for the information in the report, the sound of his own snapping fingers seemed to help it along. "Five stones, five swords..." He said absently.
Dakota nodded, then sat down slowly on the stool behind her. "A very, VERY long time ago, a series of meteors fell to Earth landing in what is now Siberia. I had been in the area for a while, training warriors for a band of nomadic people. A couple of the rocks landed close to our village, so I took a group of men to investigate. We retrieved several medium-size pieces and out of curiosity I cracked one open. The inside was peppered with odd-colored rough gems. When we cracked each of the others open, we found the same things. The contents brought great wealth to the tribe, and they were so pleased, they offered me the best of the lot. Five matching stones, what were the exact CORES - the SOULS - of the pieces we'd found. One perfect stone was cut from each of the rocks: Sapphire, Emerald, Opal, Topaz, and Diamond. We called them the pieces of the Universe - Sky, Earth, Moon, Sun, and the Great Unknown."
Methos nodded. "When the story reached me a couple decades later, it was by the grace of a traveling minstrel. Five stones, representing the five Souls of the Universe, had been sent to Earth to bring justice and truth to man from God. Five Souls had met five women, each a warrior of unfaltering strength - in their bodies as well as spirits. It was their charge to use their skills and swords to keep MEN on the right path."
"So," Jim said pensively. "You have three, here. Taolvik has the other two?"
Nix nodded. "I kept the Diamond and gave one each to my four BEST students, my best friends, mounted on their swords just like mine. It was understood that the one woman left should inherit all five stones. I foolishly told Vik about the stones when he asked me about mine. He was young, a new Immortal of only a few years, but he'd heard the stories as a child growing up in Russia... He kept asking questions about the women I'd given the stones. He became obsessed with the legends, with the women. When he attacked me in a drunken rage, he let his intentions be known. He wanted the stones - and our heads. Said that such power and treasure was wasted on women." Her raised eyebrow and longing look to her blade made the men think twice about commenting on that.
Simon shook his head. "So he followed the women through their lives, waiting until he had the perfect plan and opportunity for striking you all down. How'd you get the third stone?"
Connor stepped forward, having remained quiet through the entire story. "I gave it to her." The men looked at him. "I got it from Rowena, one of Nix's friends and the stone's keeper. We met on opposing sides of the Napoleonic war. She made me promise to return the sword to her teacher should I win. She was a formidable opponent, and while I donna relish taking a female's head, I've come to reconcile it in my soul. If she'd taken my head, I wouldn't have been around to take a certain someone else's."
At that comment, Methos, Nix, and Simon nodded to the man.
"That means that while two of the victims had stones, one of the women DIDN'T." Simon commented.
Nix nodded solemnly, then added to the thoughts. "He guessed wrong. Yes, she was one of my students, but she didn't have a stone. I figure he's not too happy about that. And Vik probably didn't have enough time to get Elise's sword after he killed her. Must have figured the police wouldn't normally be looking for a sword and he'd come back for it later."
"So." Ellison said, taking a deep breath. "This is Sandburg's ransom."
"That." Nixia said, meeting Jim's eyes. "And my head."
"One thing still bugs me." His mind had begun to process everything. In addition to the story of the stones, the facts surrounding Sandburg's abduction kept striking Jim in his gut. Nix was right. They WEREN'T supposed to be there, and abduction wasn't fitting with the rest of Taolvik's victims. It was a fine example of the Sandburg Magnetism - all it ever attracted was TROUBLE. When the partners had arrived at the apartment, they'd sensed Nix. *No,* Jim corrected himself. *We sensed an Immortal. Could have been one of them or both of them.* "Taolvik must have been waiting downstairs. Did you sense him when you came home?" Jim saw Nix shake her head as she put her sword back together. "You had your gun drawn when we walked up the steps, though. You sensed us?"
"I sensed someone." Nix nodded. "It could have been ALL of you if he timed it right."
It made sense to the detective. If Taolvik had kept just the right distance, then it was a possibility. But why wait around? "What was he gonna do after the place blew up?"
"Probably come head-hunting." replied the captain, seeing Jim's shocked expression. "It's not unusual for some of the 'brethren' to use tricks like that. It's not exactly against the rules, but it's very unethical. Course that doesn't matter to those on the wrong side. With the three of them incapacitated, he could've taken their heads easily and maybe muscled the stones out of Nix as well."
"So when we showed up here," came Jim's voice. "We moved up his time table." *YUP! Sandburg Magnetism...* "Now, what? We wait?"
As if on cue, a phone began to ring. The group searched the room, finally turning their attention to a hesitant Nixia. She pulled out her cell phone and spoke. "Dakota...Right... I want to talk to him. You need to learn to respect your elders... Yes, you moron, I'm being sarcastic. Just put Blair on." She saw Ellison shut his eyes tightly, his hands making their way to the back of his neck. "Blair, honey, you okay?" She smiled. "I know he's a terrible host, babe. But he knows better than to harm you... Yeah. We're okay here. I'm sure he knows. Okay..." There was a moment or so before Vik took the line again. "Where and when? Yeah, I'll bring the stones, for all the good it'll do you. I promise you this, Vik. You harm one hair on his head, and all four of these men will be after you. You crossed the line, rules don't apply to cheaters."
They waited anxiously as Nix closed the little cell phone.
"How cliche. Midnight at the quarry outside of town." Her face lifted to Simon. "Can you buy me that long?" Seeing the captain nod, she took a deep breath and turned to Jim. "You know he's okay. He'll stay that way - Vik's not that stupid. When we get there tonight, I want you to find Blair then get the hell out of there."
"And what about you?"
She didn't answer, just flipped the sword around in her hand and drove the point into the wooden floor, leaving it standing between them.
~~~~~ ~11:58 PM ~
"Gee, I really didn't need an entourage." Dakota said as she walked to the back of the Chevelle. "Maybe we should sell tickets?"
Three of the men chuckled. Ellison, however, was already scanning the area for his partner. Simon placed an anchoring hand on the Sentinel's back, knowing the chance of Jim zoning was always increased in the absence of his Shaman.
"Find him?" Banks asked, watching a smile form on his detective's face. "You want backup?"
"Only if you're it."
Nix smiled longingly at the two men, watching as they discussed their friend's rescue. She took a deep breath, clearing her mind of her sad thoughts. Turning her attention to her other friends, she found them staring intently at her, knowing smirks on their faces. "All right. So I'm kinda human... You'll take care of things here, Methos." She said with a nod, then grabbed his hand, passing her three gems into his keeping. Adjusting her coat, Nixia kissed the two men standing in front of her and quietly walked away.
"Okay, Dakota..." Jim said turning around quickly. His thoughts stopped. "Where'd she go?" He saw the two Immortals shrug. "Damn woman..." and without another word, he stomped off.
Flipping the stones around in his hand, Methos turned a broad smile to Connor. "Same old Nix. Don't know anyone else who can do that to a man..."
~~~~~
"What is it about my life that I ALWAYS end up in this kinda situation?" Blair stared at the timer, ticking down the minutes left in his life. He was speaking to himself or to God or to whomever would hear his last words. "Well, I guess I should make my last words count... What am I gonna say? How do those writers come up with those meaningful last words? I know. They aren't really staring a BOMB in the face..."
"You even whine when you THINK you're gonna die, Sandburg." Jim said as he opened the door to the field house.
"JIM, man. Am I ever glad to see you!"
"Yeah, Chief. There'll be plenty of time for talk after I get you out of here." Jim surveyed the interior of the small building. His partner was strapped into a desk chair, feet taped together with several wires exiting the adhesive cuff and leading to the box attached to the large chunk of C-4. Running his fingers over the tape and wires, Jim realized there was little more than Sandburg's ankles keeping the pressure plates together. *Thank God the kid isn't shaking or there'd be nothing left of him OR us.*
"What's going on, Ellison?"
"SIMON!"
"Dammit, Chief! HOLD STILL! I've almost got this figured out..."
~~~~~
"There are many things that go through your mind when you're facing death."
Nix stared into the darkness, the voice coming at her from all around as it bounced around the quarry walls.
Taolvik stared at her back, continuing the soliloquy he always recited before he killed. It was his ritual, his rite to them as the source of his continued life and power. "What will become of my work? What have I done with my life? Will anyone mourn me? Will anyone notice I'm GONE? Are you imagining the many things that will be said of you once I take your head? Have you planned your funeral, or are you willing to leave that to those who MAY miss you?"
She knew the ploy. Distract your opponent with talk of their mortality. Upset their balance by asking questions that make death seem so close. "Would you SHUT UP, already, and just fight?"
"Did you bring the stones?"
"Come find out..."
Nixia's sword came up as she heard Vik's steps approach more quickly. Blades met and screeched as they attacked each other repeatedly. Once the battle was engaged, Vik had trouble speaking other than curses and utterances of his hatred towards her. She had to admit, the man had certainly learned quite a bit over the last 200 years. He'd caught her in a spin, slicing her across the muscle of her upper right arm. As he'd stood there gloating, she'd switched her sword to her left hand and given him a good cut across his right thigh. In the course of several parries, the two had worked themselves into a light sweat.
*At the very least,* she thought. *I'll die fit. This is a good workout.*
~~~~~
"I think I've got it." Jim said as he carefully cut the last string of the duct tape on Blair's ankles. Using a pair of tweezers Simon had found in a first-aid kit, Jim held the pressure plates together with one hand while he twisted a rubber band on the other end to keep the tines together.
That taken care of, Simon set about removing Sandburg from the chair. Jim turned his attention to carefully removing the timer portion from the C-4.
It took forever...at least it seemed that way.
~~~~~
She felt the cold blade as it wedged its way into her flesh, deflected off the bone of her bottom rib, and slit her side open. It felt even worse when Vik drew the sword back across the wound, and it took all her resolve NOT to fall down. Instead, she tucked her right arm against the gash and stepped into his retreat. Her sudden burst of energy took him off guard, but proved to his advantage. He glanced her blow off with his sword, then let her momentum carry her past him. Vik watched her stumble over something and fall to one knee. It was his opportunity and he took it. Gathering his thoughts and energy, he gave her one or two seconds to take a breath, then advanced on her back. His victory assured, Vik took a moment or two to finish his ritual. "And as you wait for me to end it all, do you have any regrets? Any hopes or dreams yet unfulfilled?"
Nik heard him. Knew he was coming. Still, she didn't move from her crouch. *Jim, I hope that was enough time...*
~~~~~
"You're going to just leave her down there?" Blair nearly screamed.
Surprisingly, it was Simon's voice that answered the young man. "Club rules. It's not our place to interfere."
~~~~~
"I should thank you, Nixia. Not just for your head, but for the joy in taking what you have always held so dear. Your pride."
As his blade swept towards her, Nix ducked her head, then swung her sword over her right shoulder and blocked. Her follow through pushed his weapon off to his right as she twisted her body and brought the blade up. Without hesitation, Nixia plunged her sword through his mid-section. "It's not pride - it's integrity." she said with a vengeful twist of her blade. "Something you never quite learned..."
"I see," Taolvik said in an astonished breath. "That you've learned some things since we parted ways 200 years ago."
Watching as he fell to his knees, Nix mustered energy to respond as she yanked her sword from his body. Staring him in the eyes as she stood up, the woman gave him her most frigid regard and whispered viciously. "Not really. I just never taught you everything I know..." Raising her blade in both hands, Nix let it sweep down quickly. "A sword is a living thing..."
~~~~~
Jim paced a couple feet away. They'd arrived in time to see Nix fall to her knee, sending Ellison's heart into his throat. As they watched Nixia finish the fight, both Blair and Jim had ended up pacing the same patch of ground. Seeing her raised sword, Blair had taken a step towards the path that lead to the make-shift battlefield, but Methos' and Simon's crossed swords stopped him.
"It's not over, yet." Simon said quietly.
In answer to the questioning faces, Simon could only point to the lone standing figure.
The electricity in the air made them all tingle. Arcs of blue shot across the sky, targeting the area at Nik's feet and exploding bits of rock all around the quarry's basin. Eerie howls and screeches sounded from everywhere, echoes of the Quickening bouncing off the stone walls. A swirling static whirled around the lone figure, forcing her down. The raw power in the air washed over the group on the hill. There were a few more explosions and fierce flashes before the ground began to settle. When the glowing sky and explosive air ceased to spark, the men made their way down the slope to their friend.
Leaning on her sword, Nixia pulled herself up from her knees. For all his horrid living, Taolvik's death was more powerful than she'd expected, and the force had dropped her much too easily. She felt hands gingerly helping her to her feet and chanced a glance up. Staring at the five wonderful men in her life, Nik smiled and let their concern give her the inner peace and strength to stand on her own and walk back to her car.
Connor and Methos flanked her, lacing arms around her back to help support her. "You took a pretty good hit, kid." The Scot commented, warranting an unamused glare from her. "Must be feeling better if you can spare the energy for THAT look."
"Well," she replied, stopping at the top of the hill. "He did something I wasn't expecting. He put up an honorable fight. Tricks were his specialty..." Noting the five concerned faces, Nixia poked the nearest men in the stomach. Connor and Blair rewarded her with smiles. "He was NO Kurgan, though..."
While the four Immortals shared a strained chuckle, Blair just stared, his mouth falling open a bit in shock. Jim's attention had been on retrieving the blanket from his truck, but immediately diverted as he heard his partner's heart skipping beats. "Hey, Chief." he said, stepping up quickly behind his friend. "What's wrong?"
Blair just stared and took a couple steps forward, coming to stand in front of the foursome. "Did you say KURGAN?" The four stared at the bouncing young man. "You DID! Oh MAN! I can't believe it."
"What's a Kurgan, Chief?"
Connor had every intention of answering, but was cut off by a rather animated anthropologist. "They were a race of warriors in ancient Russia. Nasty, cruel, and ruthless - feared on the battlefield, though. It was said they went into battle without helmets because their skulls were so thick they wouldn't break! Their skulls WERE thick, so thick they reduced the size of the brain! Skilled warriors, but stuuuuuuupid. Kinda like the original playground bullies..."
Methos laughed, while Simon just shook his head, but Connor leaned against the Chevelle and gave Sandburg a cool stare. "You know quite a bit. Why?"
Taken aback by the pointed and rather stern question, Blair took a second longer to stutter through his answer. "I uh kinda um... In my research, my studies, you know. I uh came across some history on them. I uh thought they might be, uh, related somehow..."
Jim cocked his head sideways, settling a reassuring hand on his partner's shoulder. "Related? To ME?" He saw the kid nod. "Well, were they any relation?"
"Not a chance." Blair said with a wide smile. "Kurgans were great muscle, but not great minds, and nothing to do with senses. True, they had a genetic difference, but it didn't affect anything more than their inbreeding."
"So THAT's what happened..." Connor said with a smile. "I think the genetic thing must have manifested in their faces. UGLY suckers. Especially up close..." He chuckled then promised the eager young man a full recounting of his experiences some other night. "Right now, Nix has a couple bottles of wine left at her place..."
"Speaking of MY place." Dakota said quietly as she stretched out her healing muscles. "We'd best be getting there, then. Right, Jim?"
Hearing the sirens on their way, the Sentinel nodded briefly, then helped the woman stand. He smiled as she briefly grasped his hand and squeezed.
Nixia took a couple tentative steps trying not to wobble so much. She pulled it off fairly well. Driving was a different matter altogether, and Nik realized quickly that she was going to be riding in the passenger's seat on the way back to her place. So, she handed her keys to the only person she trusted behind the wheel of her baby. Blair, being the gentleman he was, held the car door for her, receiving a genuine smile. She felt the engine kick to life, letting her head fall back and closing her eyes as Blair drove off.
~~~~~