Reunions

by Persephone

Chapter One

Glenfinnan, on the shores of Loch Shiel, Scotland 1998

"Some day, huh?" General William Damon said, affectionately squeezing his son's arm.

"You can say that again," Megabyte said, "I don't know what was worse the cold or your singing."

"I'm a great singer," Damon said good-naturedly, "You just don't have any taste."

"Yes, I do." Megabyte punctuated his statement with a light punch to the arm. His father pretended to wince then mock-twisted Megabyte's arm back. A mini-wrestling match ensued. Damon lost footing and slipped to the ground, Megabyte pinning him down.

"You're getting slow, old man," Megabyte teased.

"You think so?"

"I know so," Megabyte said smugly.

Then his father deftly flipped him off, the redhead falling back on the grassy bank of the loch. His father's head loomed over him.

"Give it up, Junior or I'll do the most horrible thing I can think of."

"Oh yeah and what is that? And don't call me that."

Damon flexed his hands, grinning openly.

Megabyte started skittering back. "Oh no. Don't you dare."

His father grabbed him before he could get too far and began tickling him unmercifully. Megabyte guffawed even as he tried to escape. It was pure luck that finally enabled him to wriggle free.

Exhausted, both of them collapsed near their fishing poles. Sporadically, one of them would burst into a fit of laughter.

Damon watched his son fondly. "Yep, it sure has been some day."

*****

Megabyte was whistling as he and his Dad headed back to their inn. Darkness had crept up on them and left them scrabbling to get their fishing gear.

He was glad his father had actually come through on one of his promises. A father and son thing that Damon usually never had time for but somehow it had come about anyway. If today was any indication of the rest of their trip together, he couldn't wait for tomorrow.

"So what are we up for tomorrow?" Megabyte asked, looking towards the inn with undisguised longing. True, he was from Vermont and he was used to cold weather but Scotland on a normal day made Vermont seem like a day in Georgia.

Damon followed his son's gaze, patting his son's shoulder. "Bear up, Megabyte. We're almost there and as soon as we get in, Rachel will have supper ready for us. And you can work on trying to say two coherent words in a row to her ."

Megabyte felt his face grow warm. He'd been here for less than two days and his Dad had already found something new to tease him about. It would have been easier to rail back if it hadn't been true. Rachel MacLeod, the proprietor of the inn, was one of the most attractive women he'd ever seen. She also had a mind like a steel trap. For some reason, every time he tried to say anything to her it came out twisted or completely stupid. He had a feeling she put up with him out of politeness more than anything else, like the old credo 'The Customer is Always Right'. What was worse, his Dad and most of the locals found the whole situation amusing.

Any retort he might have given was cut off by the shattering sound of a gun. His father tensed, military-training rising to the forefront. Megabyte peered into the darkness. Everything seemed normal.

"Could've been a hunter out on the moor," Megabyte guessed weakly. Somehow he had the feeling that they weren't going to be that lucky.

"No. It was too loud for that," Damon noiselessly put down his share of the gear, removing his gun from the holster concealed beneath his leather jacket.

"Hey, I thought you were on vacation," Megabyte protested.

"Shh. I am. That's why I brought the smaller revolver. Stay here."

"No way. I'm--"

"Don't argue, Marmaduke. Stay here," Damon admonished sternly.

Damon padded off silently, working his way around the stone edifice. Megabyte hesitated for only a moment then began following. His Dad was going to kill him but what else was new?

Trailing his father, Megabyte skirted past the stone storage house, to find his Dad crouched by a stone wall. Damon turned as Megabyte crawled over to him. Even in the blackness, Megabyte could tell he was in a lot of trouble for this.

"Why don't you ever listen to me?" hissed Damon.

Megabyte shrugged and peered over the fence. Another shot rang out. He ducked thinking that someone had seen him. The pressure of his Dad's hand on his shoulder and the shake of his head reassured him. Cautiously, he took a second look.

In an adjoining field, two figures were engaged in a deadly dance. One had a gun, which he repeatedly fired at the other. Staggering, the other figure retreated back holding a sword aloft.

A sword. An immortal. The Game.

All three of these things raced instantaneously through Megabyte's mind. This is wrong, he thought. He knew from what Richie had told them that immortals fought with swords not with guns. Someone's not playing by the rules, he thought.

"He doesn't stand a chance," Damon said, coming to the same conclusion.

Indeed, he proved to be all too correct. Another shot flew and the man with the gun removed a large ax from his trenchcoat. By this time, his opponent had fallen to the ground and was now trying to crawl away. Beside him, Damon tensed as if ready to jump into the fray. Megabyte grabbed his arm, "We can't interfere. Remember what Richie said."

"I'm not going to stand around and watch this happen," Damon argued.

But in the end, that was exactly what he did.

Before Damon had moved an inch, the ax was raised and descended. Megabyte felt the bile rising in the back of his throat. It was all he could do to hold down his lunch.

Then he noticed something that caused him to momentarily forget the need to retch. No quickening, no lightning, no anything. The night was as calm as ever without so much as a hint of a disturbance.

"He wasn't one of them," Damon whispered, "He--"

Damon slumped forward. In alarm, Megabyte pivoted around to see a gun descending towards his head, feeling the sickening thud as it connected. Oblivion whirled before him, threatening to claim him.

Gotta teleport, he thought muzzily. But he was having a hard enough time trying to stave off the unconsciousness. There was no way he was going to be able to get up enough concentration to teleport anywhere.

/Adam, Jade, Ami .../ he groaned mentally.

The last thing he saw before he fell into the wave that rose up to meet him was the shape of a three-sided tattoo on his assailant's wrist.

Chapter Two

Somewhere in the South Pacific

Jade bit her lip as she watched her opponent make his move. One long-fingered hand confidently picked the weapon of his choice, moved it, then sat back in satisfaction.

She stared. Black Knight to White King in four.

Groaning, she wondered why she'd ever agreed to engage Adam in a game of chess. If Megabyte were here, he'd be having a long laugh at her folly, all the while saying 'I told you so.'

Well, at least I'm brave enough to try, she thought a bit savagely. Megabyte claimed he didn't like chess, that it was boring. The real truth was he knew just how good Adam was and had no intention of humiliating himself.

A glance revealed that Adam was patiently waiting for her to make her move. Her eyes flew over the board desperately. She tried to remember everything her cousin Davey had tried to teach her about the game. The basic game was easy enough but Adam was no novice. She was at a distinct disadvantage and they both knew it. He already had a number of her pieces. Every move she made, he countered and posed a more difficult one.

Adam, she was convinced, was a born strategist.

Time to choose.

A piece of advice Davey had given her suddenly sprang to mind, "If you come up against a better opponent and it looks like you may lose, try something unexpected. Chance can throw even the most skilled player off."

She let her hand alight on her last bishop and played her hand.

Then she closed her eyes and waited for him to say, "Checkmate."

But that never came.

She cracked one lid. He was staring at the board in consternation. Lines furrowed his brow as if he were trying very hard to figure out what she was up to. He moved his rook to counter her advance.

And left his king exposed.

With her own rook, she captured his piece, scrutinizing the board before she quietly announced, "Checkmate."

He had moved too many pieces forward trying to trap her king, she saw clearly now, leaving his own vulnerable.

Standing, he gave her a formal bow, "I yield. Great game. Who taught you how to play?" "My cousin Davey and believe me, it had little to do with skill and more to do with luck. You'll beat me next time," she said deprecatorily.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Want to try another game?" he asked face alight.

"No," she cried, letting herself fall back until the ceiling of the Ship came into view.

He chuckled lightly.

A sharp pain burst in her temples. She whimpered, clutching them and catching the ghost of a call.

/Adam, Jade, Ami..../ an image flashed far too fast for her to see.

"Megabyte," she whispered.

/Megabyte!/ Ami exclaimed. /What's happened? What's going on?/

"He's in trouble," Adam stood grimly, "Jade and I'll check it out."

/I'm coming, too./

/But your mother.../

/Mum will just have to understand./ Ami replied, a note of finality in her message.

"Fine. Come on then," Adam said on both levels.

Grateful that he wasn't leaving her behind, Jade quickly complied. She could feel him gathering his energy, creating a field even as she was. Sometimes she prolonged the action just feel the experience, the pressure building. But now was not the time.

There was a flash, then empty space.

*****

They materialized to find themselves outside of an inn. The village before them was merrily lit, down playing the violence they had sensed from their friend.

Jade shivered. It was freezing; she wished she'd remembered her coat. Ami touched her arm in concern. She smiled, rubbing her arms. Adam was warily stalking ahead of them. They followed silently, eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. Jade tried to reach Megabyte again. Nothing; just an empty place where he should have been.

Her throat tightened.

Some unknown instinct was driving them around the perimeter of the inn, further out past a storage house, coming to a halt by a stone fence. Something glittered in the moonlight. Adam knelt down and retrieved it. A gun.

"General Damon's?" Ami asked.

"I'd bet my life on it. But they're long gone."

"Who could have done this?" Ami demanded.

"And why?" Jade piped in.

"I don't know but I mean to find out," Adam said with implacable determination.

Chapter Three

How is it these things always happen to me, Damon mused gingerly rubbing his tender head. Better yet, how is it these things always happen when Megabyte's around?

At the thought, he looked over at his unconscious son. He lay half-sprawled across a dingy cot. There was a large bruise extending from his temple to part of his cheek that made Damon's temper burst into flames. He forced himself to be calm; there was no way he could get them out of here if he lost his temper and got himself killed. Had Megabyte been awake, it would have been simplicity itself to get out of this place. But Megabyte was not awake, hadn't been for some time. So long that a knot of fear settled in Damon's stomach.

He had no idea how long they had been here. His watch had rather surreptitiously vanished, probably removed by their captors. It was an old trick used by interrogators as a part of the softening up process of their prisoners. Make your captive feel disoriented, out of touch, throw them off. Which means we can be expecting a visit soon, he thought. His internal clock judged it to be morning, but early or late, he couldn't distinguish.

Damon got up, stretching his tingling legs. The confined cubicle didn't give a lot of room to stretch one's legs but he was restless, feeling that any movement was a triumph over sluggish inaction. Despite the nondescript, spartan accommodations they'd been given, Damon had a fairly good idea where they were. Or what type of building they were in at least.

It was a church, an old one at that. Though the cell was small, undistinguished by milky granite walls and lack of a window, there a thousand little things that confirmed his opinion. The sweep of the architecture, the location of an arch. It reminded him of a mission he once ran from the cellars of a church. That had been some time back, before he'd met Megabyte's mother. The church had been a pre-seventeenth century structure in the south of France. He remembered studying every nook and cranny of that place, sealing off any possible escape routes before luring his target in. Perhaps because the mission had been such a success, he'd retained the knowledge though he'd seldom used it. This place was not an exact replica of that old church but it was close.

He paced, a habit he'd acquired after observing Adam on various and sundry occasions. The thought brought a small smile to his face, followed on its tail by another. If he knew his son as well as he thought he did, then he knew that Megabyte had either managed to make a connection with them before he was knocked into unconsciousness or else the others had noticed something was amiss. On one hand, that was a comforting notion; it meant someone knew that they were in trouble and help couldn't be too far behind. On the other hand, it was also highly probable that his son's friends would try to come to his aid alone. A situation he was not comfortable with at all. He had no wish to see them come up against a group of individuals who could both kill and kidnap with such apparent ease.

His pensive musings and pacings were interrupted by the crack of the heavy wood door. A medium-sized, unremarkable man leveled a gun at him and beckoned him forward. Damon held his hands in plain view, not liking the cool, unconcerned manner in which his captor held the weapon. This one would shoot him with very little compunction and possibly Megabyte as well.

"Where are we going?" he asked as he passed out the door where another man had his gun trained on him.

"You're wanted," the first one said in a flat tone that didn't encourage further speech.

Damon cast one last look back at his son before the door closed behind him, hoping against hope that it would not be the last look at him that he ever got.

*****

Megabyte groaned. His first coherent thought was something along the lines of 'oh, my head.' His face was pressed against a piece of musty smelling canvas. He tried to pull himself up more to get away from the harsh rub of cloth than anything else. However, he sat up far too fast and flopped back down again as he passed out.

The next time he came to, his head hurt no less but he managed to cling to consciousness by teeth and toenails. He lay still, a queasy churning in his stomach threatening to erupt. The left side of his face felt puffy and hot. He moved a hand and touched it, wincing as he felt the size of the swollen lump on his face. Then a sudden realization sank in.

"Dad!" he jerked upright, immediately wishing he hadn't.

He leaned against the wall. From what he could see, it appeared he was in a small room of some kind. There was a large, heavy-looking door and no windows. Where..?

Those people. The ones who'd killed the Immortal; they must have brought him here. But why? Why hadn't they killed them when the opportunity had presented itself? It didn't make sense. Then again, a beheading of an Immortal with no quickening didn't make much sense either.

Where was his father? He had to find him and they had to get out of here before anything else happened. However, he wasn't sure if he could pull up enough concentration to teleport out of here. He was barely holding back a wave of nausea rising in his throat.

He should also contact the others. Adam was probably tearing his hair out with worry by now. Yet, he wasn't sure if he had enough strength to send a mental signal as well as teleport out of here.

So it came down to a choice. Call the others or handle this himself.

He closed his eyes. Adam was going to kill him when he found out. Energy surged and crackled around him like a protective cloak then he vanished.

Materializing just outside the door, he clutched the wall dizzily. Then he clambered forward, moving slowly and silently, never noticing an even more silent observer in the corner of the room. His ears didn't pick up the faint whir of a lens as it focused on him.

*****

"Well, well. How interesting. Focus on the boy and follow his progress," a rich voice purred.

"Shouldn't we stop him?"

"By no means. Let's see what else he can do."

*****

Megabyte was nervous. This whole scenario was wrong. Where were their captors? Why weren't there any guards around? He'd cased several rooms without any hindrance at all. That in itself made him suspicious. Maybe he'd spent too much time around his Dad but something didn't add up here.

If only he didn't feel so light-headed, so weak. He wanted to call the others but he had to find his Dad first. Besides this whole thing smelled of a set up and he wasn't going to lead the others in blindly.

He turned a corner. There was one more room next to a set of stairs. How long had he stumbled around blindly in this place? One last door. His heart pounded, what if his Dad wasn't here? What if the whole thing with the Immortal had been a ruse to attract his father's attention? After all, William Damon was a very influential person in certain circles. What if...

His hand gripped the door knob. It creaked as it slid open. He crept forward and found his father--

--with the nozzle of a gun pressed against his temple.

"Dad!"

"Megabyte, get out of here--" the General fell silent as the barrel was pushed harder into his skin.

"I wouldn't if I were you. Your little disappearing trick is quite impressive but it won't do your father any good. If you decide to leave, then so will he--in a much more permanent sense," said a pleasant, cultured voice originating from a leather swivel chair that was turned away from Megabyte.

"What do you want from us," Megabyte demanded.

"The question is," the chair turned around, "how much do you want to keep your father alive?"

The man in the chair stared at him, fanaticism burning in his ice-blue eyes. Short, spiky blond hair rested against a rugged, strong face, a face that looked like the proverbial cat who ate the equally proverbial canary.

"Who are you?"

The man smiled, leaning back in his chair. "Take a seat and we'll discuss how you can be of use to me. As long as you are, your father shouldn't have any worries but... If you disappoint me then Peter over there will just have to make matters unpleasant."

Megabyte dropped down in to the offered chair, a cold sweat breaking out. His father's hazel eyes were unreadable, in sharp contrast with the man at the desk whose eyes were all but bursting into flames.

The man caught the direction of Megabyte's glance. "Don't worry, Peter's a professional. Your father is in the best of hands. Now tell me all about yourself. And I mean everything. If I sense you're lying or leaving anything out..."

"Then Dad's in a lot of trouble, got it," Megabyte muttered.

Another smile. "Clever boy."

Chapter Four

Catriona Fraser slowed to a halt just before she reached the Glenfinnan Inn. In front of the rustic building were two police cars. She frowned, pulling her car into an empty spot near them. As she got out of her vehicle, misty droplets sprinkled her face and hair. The sky was cloudy--not an uncommon occurrence in the Highlands and it had been raining off and on all day. It looked about ready to start up again. That, too, wasn't uncommon for the area.

A petite, red-haired woman stood in front of the inn, deep in conversation with one of the officers. Her green eyes were filled with concern and aggravation. Catriona slowed, wondering if it might be better to come back later.

It was too late for that however as the woman sighted her. She waved her over despite looks of displeasure from the officers. Cat mouthed, 'I can come back later.' The other woman shook her head insistently. Knowing that she was committed now, Cat stuck her hands in her pockets and trotted forward.

"Hello, cousin Rachel, I'm sorry ta interrupt ye," she apologized.

"Think nothin' o' it. If ye gentlemen dinna mind, I 'ave chores tha' must be attended ta. Come along, Cat," Rachel MacLeod said crisply.

"Bad time?" Cat asked as they walked away.

"Och, we've had a bit o' trouble 'ere. A couple o'tourists did nae return last night. And yon blockheads back there 'ave nothin' better ta do than harass me," Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Tourists?"

"Aye, a couple o' Americans. I dinna ken what happened ta them. I rather liked them, even if they were tourists," a shadow crossed her face.

Cat was about to ask who it was when a raucous roar met them as they stepped inside the inn. One of them, an older man, was shouting rather dramatically, "I tell ye it's the Viking, Canwulf has returned."

"Hogwash, Angus. Quit frightenin' the patrons," Rachel said as she strode towards the bar.

But Angus had found an audience and wasn't about to let it go. "What about the body, Rachel lass? They say its head was severed."

"What's this?" Cat asked with interest.

"They found a body in the field beyond the inn last night," Rachel said shortly.

"You did nae mention tha'."

"Nae, I didna. I didna wish ta frighten ye."

Cat let that pass. "Do they think the tourists had somethin' ta do with it?"

"That's one line o' thought but I dinna believe it. Not o' them. Now what is it ye'll be needin'?"

Pulling out a slip of paper, she began reeling off, "Missus Murray sent me after a bottle o' yer best whisky, some camphor for her cold, oh and some peppermint for her throat. She says it aches."

"She's been sayin' things like tha' for more than twenty years now. Always complain' about somethin' or other. 'Tis kind o' ye ta fetch this for her."

Catriona shrugged, "It's nae problem. I had nothin' better ta do today anyway."

Behind her, Angus was giving a vivid retelling of the legend of Canwulf. "...And then Duncan MacLeod came back from the dead and vanquished the Viking."

Though this story was an old one in Glenfinnan, his audience listened enraptured. Rachel muttered darkly, "Stuff and nonsense."

As the inn's proprietor went to gather the needed items from the backroom, Catriona turned, leaning against the bar as she listened to the sound of Scottish voices raised in excitement and laughter. It was good to be home after so long. To hear the roll of Scots brogues falling off the tongue. After her first month back, the precise near perfect English she'd practiced in London had slipped away, replaced by a brogue as thick as anyone here's.

Of course, Glenfinnan wasn't really her home. The Fraser family seat lay farther east, in Beauly, but she had no desire to see it. That would mean having to see her father again and once in the past four months had been enough. He'd been coldly furious with her for quitting the University, even more so when she told him that she intended go to Glenfinnan. She really didn't know why he protested; it wasn't like he was interested in what she did. No, she had long since learned that Cameron Fraser didn't care what she did so long as it didn't reflect badly on him. And that, she supposed, was why he'd gotten so angry about her departure from Cambridge. More than likely, he'd thought that the trip to Glenfinnan was little more than an attempt to make him look badly to his mother's kin, the MacLeods. It was best to let it go. Whatever relationship she might have had with her father long ago was long gone now. She'd gotten used to the frigid silences, the months without communication, the bitter sarcasm that laced their conversations. After a while, it stopped hurting. And if you keep repeating that over and over, she thought, maybe one day you'll believe it.

While Glenfinnan may not have been her ancestral home, it was her spiritual one. Once, long ago, in the dark days after the accident, an uncle of hers had brought her here. They'd stayed no more than a month but the memory of it shone through her memory like a beacon. Here, there were people who were interested in her, family like Rachel, who'd taken Cat into her care a few days after her arrival. Rachel was the only one here who knew of the circumstances of her arrival, though not all of it. As much as she trusted Rachel, she couldn't bring herself to recount to her the more fantastic details of the debacle in London, of herself.

She'd come here to be alone but had found herself strangely not. And she was grateful for that. The past four months had been difficult; she'd learned more about herself in that short length of time than she had in the past eight years. While the future was far from certain, she found that it didn't matter. Coming here had enabled her to accept that she was more than just the sum of her flaws, that she was worth more than the guilt she'd heaped on herself. It was a lesson she learned anew everyday, not an easy lesson but she had to move on, to lay down the burden of guilt. The past couldn't be changed but the future could and would be if she had a say.

Rachel emerged from the back, passing a brown sack over the counter. "Anythin' else?"

"Nae, tha'll do it. My thanks ta ye, cousin."

"Is there nothin' I can do for ye?" Rachel asked.

"I'm fine but I do thank ye for the thought."

"Ye dinna come down ta the village as often o' late. And Walter has said he's seen ye riding into the hills alone. Are ye sure ye dinna wish ta talk?" Rachel pressed hesitantly.

Cat smiled, a real genuine smile. "I've been tryin' ta decide what I wish ta do about the future, tha's all."

"Ah," Rachel replied sagely, "If ye've need, I'm here ta talk ta whenever ye feel like it."

"I know and ye dinna know what a comfort tha' is."

Rachel crossed round the bar and gave her a hug. "Och, lassie. Ye've become as dear as me own sister," she considered that, "Dearer. Janet is such a prickly thin'."

Cat hugged her. A complete stranger might well have guessed they were sisters. They had the same red hair and fair coloring, MacLeod genes at work. Cat was taller though, six feet of slender, suppleness while Rachel was barely five seven. And then there were differences in the faces; both had high Viking cheekbones and an oval face. But Cat's nose was a shade longer and her gray eyes tended toward a feline slant. Rachel's were large and green, her nose more aquiline.

"I would have recognized ye as a Fraser even if I'd not known who ye were," Rachel had said once matter-of-factly, "What with those cat eyes and all that tallness. Frasers are always as tall as oaks."

"Come ta dinner soon. We'll have a nice, long talk," Rachel urged.

"It's a deal. I hope this mess clears up for ye soon," Cat replied.

"So do I. Well, ye'd better go or else Missus Murray will be wonderin' what's become o' ye."

After an exchange of farewells, Catriona headed for her car. It was only as she was pulling out that she realized that she had neglected to ask Rachel who the missing tourists were.

Chapter Five

It was flooding when they returned to Glenfinnan.

Actually it was only raining--very hard, fast rain that was coming down by the bucketsful. And it was dark, a gloomy, steel- gray that twisted what little light there was into a parody of itself. Thunder growled in the distance, an ominous sound heightening the ambiance of the scene which, Adam had to admit right now, had plenty.

"Well, we're in the right place," she unfurled the umbrella she'd insisted on carrying.

"What?" Adam ducked under the tent-like arch, grateful for any shield against the natural elements.

"It's raining, it's always raining in Scotland. I came here on holiday once with Mum. It rained almost the entire trip off and on. It's why I brought the umbrella," she said nonchalantly.

"I'm glad one of us was prepared. I've never seen so much rain in my life."

"Get used to it. If we spend any amount of time here this won't be the first storm we get caught in," Jade said dryly, "I think Ami had the right idea to duck out of this one."

That wasn't exactly true. Ami hadn't ducked out of anything; she'd been quite set on accompanying them. Until Sherri Jackson stepped in and put her foot down in refusal. At least temporarily; they had a bridal shower to attend, some cousin or other near relation. And Ami simply couldn't miss it, Mrs. Jackson had insisted. Personally, Adam thought that this was just an excuse to keep Ami out of trouble. He couldn't entirely fault her for that. On the other hand, Ami sounded about ready to step in front of a bus or anything else that would put her out of the misery of being subjected to a houseful of squealing relations.

"Where to, O Fearless Leader?" Jade asked impudently.

He raised an eyebrow. "I think you've been spending waaaaaay to much time around Megabyte."

"Haven't we all?" It was meant to fall under her earlier cheeky vein but didn't hit the mark.

"We'll find him." He assured her, taking the umbrella.

"Of course we will," she sounded so certain that he looked at her in surprise.

"He owes me twenty pounds from that last poker game we played together. There's no way I'm going to let him renege on a bet," she explained.

Adam stared at her and then burst out laughing. "Oh Jade. I do love you."

"Naturally."

Rolling his eyes, he lifted the umbrella a bit higher. "Ready to do a bit of snooping around?"

"Just try and stop me. I really wish this rain would stop," she complained.

The sky fell silent, rain ceasing just as her complaint left her mouth. She gaped then recovered, "Am I good or what?"

*****

"Ami Jackson, where do you think you're going?" An irate Sherri Jackson demanded.

"Out," Ami said shortly, her patience frayed by the worry. Thus far, there had been no word from the others and the empty- headed babblings of her younger cousins had nearly sent her up a wall. She had to get out of here; the others needed her.

"Oh no you don't, my girl. I'm not about to have you go gallivanting off on one of your adventures. What would I tell your cousin?"

"Whatever you like. Mum, I can't just sit here and do nothing."

"And you call being with your family doing nothing," Sherri crossed her arms, eyes dangerously glittering.

But for once Ami wasn't going to back down. "Yes, in this case I do. Megabyte's in trouble. He could be hurt or ... Mum, I love you dearly but I can't just sit around, pretending to have a smashing time all the while my friend's life could be in danger. "

"Ami Michelle Jackson, don't you--"

"I'm sorry, Mum but I'm not a little kid anymore. Like it or not, I am going though I'd rather do it with your blessing."

Sherri Jackson stared at her. Ami felt guilty at the tears she suddenly saw in her mother's eyes. She hadn't meant to hurt her yet it seemed that was the only way to make her see. Lately, it seemed that she and her mother had been clashing more and more frequently. And each time Sherri tried to tighten the loosening maternal grip she had on Ami.

"My little girl. Sometimes I forget, you're not so little anymore," Mrs. Jackson embraced her, "Go on then, but please be careful."

"I will, Mum." Ami hugged her.

******

The Glenfinnan Inn was a rustic, solid-beamed place to which the word quaint seemed to be made for. It lay near the rocky shores of Loch Shiel. The rain had swollen the blue waters of the lake, making them choppy. They splashed against the shoreline, disturbing the nesting places of several local birds who were squawking indignantly over the whole affair. A breeze rustled the tall marsh grasses, the tall stalks moving in perfect concert.

Normally Adam would have been taken by such a scene. It was so tranquil, so soothing...

Or would have been had it not been for the police car sitting in the parking lot or the bits of yellow tape flashing from around back of the building. Just the sight of them confirmed one thing: trouble. Something that Megabyte had no doubt already stumbled across.

"This is where they were staying? Nice," Jade eyed the edifice in appreciation, "You know, if Megabyte had the General's good taste, his sense of humor might be excusable."

"I don't know that I'd go that far," Adam quirked.

It hadn't been hard to find the Inn again though they had purposefully teleported far away from it to avoid being seen. A good idea that had been too, judging from the looks of things.

"So do we go inside or snoop around back?" Jade asked.

"Don't you think it's going to look a bit odd having two strangers show up, sans any luggage and asking a lot of questions about two missing people?" He asked practically.

"You may have a point."

"Thank you."

"The back it is then."

They skirted around the cars, stringently avoiding the police car. It was easier than he'd supposed. One of the constables was engaged in a rather lively conversation with a flame-haired woman about half his size. Bits of the conversation floated on the wind.

"...I thought I told ye people this mornin' that I had nothin' more ta tell ye," the woman said.

"Ye did, ma'am, but the inspector, he feels that maybe ye might 'ave somethin' ta tell us, somethin' that ye might 'ave remembered."

"Ye mean ye want me ta tell ya that I thought those tourists murdered that man. Is that it?"

What man, Adam paused.

"No, ma'am. I--"

"Well, let me tell ye somethin'--" the woman began hotly.

Adam didn't catch what she meant to say because something else had grabbed his attention. Ami. She had suddenly popped into existence, near the fence. Jade scurried over to her as soon as she saw her. Taking his time, Adam strained to catch more of the conversation. He caught a snatch of it before he moved out of range.

"--if ye think I like findin' a decapitated body in the backyard then yer verra much mistaken."

Decapitated body... Oh no.

Adam began to think that Megabyte was in a lot more trouble than he'd initially suspected.

Chapter Six

"Ami," Jade called.

Lifting her eyes, Ami saw Jade then Adam winnowing their way towards her. She gave them a small wave.

"I thought you couldn't come," Jade said as she skidded to a halt.

"It's nice to see you, too, Jade," Ami reproved gently.

"You say that like you were expecting it to be otherwise," Jade said, feigning shock.

Now Ami had to smile. Over the last few months, the youngest of their group had begun asserting herself more and more often. She wasn't a wide-eyed kid anymore. Somewhere along the line, Jade had begun developing a rather wicked sense of humor that was at odds with her easygoing nature. Ami realized, unlike Adam who was still overly protective and Megabyte who refused to see her as anything more than a kid, that Jade could more than take care of herself.

"Be nice," Ami said.

"Yes, mother."

By that time, Adam had caught up to them. He gave Jade a stern look. Jade gave him a winsome one in return. He sighed, "She's incorrigible, you know that?"

"Mildly so," Ami agreed.

"Ami!" Jade protested, "You're supposed to be on my side."

"Who made up that rule?"

"I did. Just now," Jade said.

Feeling the knot of tension in her shoulders ease as she did so, Ami laughed.

"Don't encourage her," Adam said but he said it lightly, "What are you doing here? I thought--"

"Megabyte is my friend, too. I couldn't just sit around and not help," Ami interrupted him.

He nodded. "Well, we're glad to have you."

"Have you found out anything?"

"Not yet," Jade jumped in.

Then Ami noticed Adam's expression. Quietly, he said, "That's not exactly true."

He told them about the snatch of conversation he'd overheard. The day suddenly seemed to grow smaller, darker. There were chillbumps on her arms that had nothing to do with the cold. Decapitated bodies. Swords. She thought of Richie, of Maris Keillor, and what they'd learned of Immortals, their Game. Game. Such a deceptively simple designation for a power struggle that would have consequences for all mankind. How many times had she lain awake at night wondering, fearing? Then there was Richie and all the delightful little problems that he brought with him--like a mutual interest and attraction. Yet he'd left, wanting to protect her from other Immortals, from the game, and perhaps, just perhaps, himself.

"So we have a dead Immortal, two missing people who incidentally the local police think might have had something to do with this, and that strange flash that Megabyte sent us last night. That's not much to go on," Ami said.

"No, it isn't," Adam agreed, "Maybe if we knew what that symbol were, we might know more."

"Richie might know what it is," Jade posed.

Ami felt her heart shiver at the thought of seeing the young Immortal again. She couldn't deny that she'd thought, daydreamed was probably the better term, about it often. The thing was, when she was around Richie, the depth of her emotional response to him both startled and unsettled her. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to open that Pandora's box and take a peek in.

Adam was watching her and she gave him a weak smile. He was well aware of her feelings for Richie, she knew but he hadn't pressed her for details, knowing just how uncertain she was. He frowned at Jade, saying "Let's not involve Richie unless we have to. He's got enough problems without us contributing to them."

That was as much for her benefit as well as Richie's. Gratefully, she 'pathed /Thank you, Adam./

/No problem. If Jade had thought about it, she wouldn't have asked./ He 'pathed back.

/She could be right, you know. He might know./

/Yes, he might, but tell me--do you know where he's at right now?/

/No, I don't./

/Neither do I. I rather not start chasing after Richie with the General and Megabyte missing./ He broke off, "Jade, come back here."

The younger girl froze then twirled around a half-annoyed, half-embarrassed expression on her sunny face. She crossed her arms and tromped back over to them.

"And just where were you going?" he asked, lips twitching with laughter that Ami could empathize with.

"Well, you two were so busy with your conversation, I thought somebody had better do a little exploring or poor Megabyte will never get rescued."

"Don't be snippy," Ami told her.

"Oh, Ami, you're taking all the fun out of this," Jade poked her hands in her jacket.

"Behave."

The blond girl rolled her large blue eyes skyward.

"Let's look around before Jade bursts something," Adam placed a restraining hand on the blond's shoulders, "And do be cautious."

"Oh Adam, you know me," Jade protested.

"That's why I'm warning you. Let's try not to attract attention."

They started working their way around. Ami noticed that Adam kept an eye on Jade, who was beginning to stray farther and farther towards the marked-off field. Soon, however, he was too busy trying to construct a possible scenario, tracing Megabyte and the General's path until he reached the spot where they had found the gun. Hooking her hands through the belt rings of her jeans, Ami wandered around, feeling somewhat useless. There wasn't much to go on and whatever evidence they might have found had probably been removed by the killers or the police or more than likely both. She leaned against the rough wall of the shed, puzzling over the shape of the symbol again in her mind. It was important somehow, not just some random vanity. It meant something, though what that something was she had no idea. Over and over she turned it in her mind until--

"Hey, ye kids! What are ye doin' back 'ere?" barked a rough male voice.

Ami jumped then slid further in the shadows. From her vantage point, she could see a large blond policeman striding toward Adam as if the devil were right behind him. Jade's blond head popped up from where she had been leaning over in the grassy field. Her arm moved and she pushed something into her pocket.

/Ami, sit tight. I don't think he sees you./ Adam 'pathed.

/Got it./

"Officer, just what is it ye think yer doin' back 'ere," a female voice demanded.

A small red-haired woman marched forward towards the hapless officer, hands on hips, glaring at him. Maybe he was running from the devil, Ami restrained a giggle. From the expression on the woman's face, it was clear that if he didn't give her a satisfactory answer there was going to be one more body found out here.

"Nothin' ta worry ye, ma'am. Just a couple o' trespassers," he turned back to Adam, "Just what is it ye think yer doin', eh? And ye, little girl, come 'ere, right now."

/Little girl?!/ Jade squawked indignantly.

/Let it lie./ Adam 'pathed firmly.

"We--we were just looking around. We were curious," Adam replied.

The officer's eyes knit. Ami immediately jumped on the reason why: Adam's accent. He was clearly not from around here and that coupled with his poking around a murder scene... Ami shuddered. This was not good.

"I see. Curious. And just who are ye? Where did ye come from? Do ye no' ken that this is an official police crime scene," he demanded, eyes narrowing.

/Great. Another Inspector Platt./ Ami 'pathed.

What occurred next was one of the most incredible displays of acting ability Ami had ever seen.

Jade came up with the most winning and empty-headed expression Ami had ever seen. Sunlight seemed to stream through her guileless eyes and reflected it back with no competition from any internal workings.

"It was my fault. I'm sorry. Adam tried and tried to tell me that we shouldn't do this but it was soooooo fascinating. He never would have brought me here except I told him that I thought it might be incredibly," she paused, actually blushing, "erotic. You know all the danger hanging around here, it was just so ..."

She blushed again, prettily.

Two pairs of male eyes were staring at her. Adam in shock, which he quickly wiped off his face and the officer, who was staring at her in consternation.

"Oh, I see. He's yer..."

"Boyfriend, yes," Jade positively beamed, "Isn't he adorable?"

"Um, I'm sure he is, Miss but--"

"I said to my best friend Laura, 'Laura, isn't Adam just incredible?' All the girls in my class were positively drooling with envy when --"

"Miss--" Valiantly, the officer tried to continue but Jade kept prattling away, acting for all the world as if she were devoid of anything resembling a thought. She giggled, she flirted, she hung off Adam. Blushing and batting her eyes coquettishly, she bulldozed right over the increasingly bewildered officer. It was a virtuoso performance and Ami couldn't help but want to applaud.

/Remind me never, ever to underestimate what Jade's capable of ./ Adam 'pathed.

The flame-haired woman was watching the proceedings with more than a hint of amusement. "It sounds ta me, Officer Sinclair, that this is more o' a case o' overactive hormones than actual malice."

"Yes, yes. I think so ta but still I should--"

"I'll tell ye what. This is my property, I'll take care o' the matter. Make sure they never do anythin' like this again," the woman said.

"Well--" Hope of getting away battled with duty on the blond officer's face.

"Go on and tell 'im, girl. Promise that ye'll ne'er do anythin' like this again," advised the woman.

" Oh I promise," Jade simpered at him, "I had no idea--"

"I'll bet. Yes, thank ye, Miss. I'll leave this in yer capable hands, Miss MacLeod," Officer Sinclair all but ran from them.

MacLeod? Ami thought. That name sounded vaguely familiar. Wasn't that--Oh yes, now she remembered. Richie had mentioned his mentor and friend's name to her a few times, Duncan MacLeod. So this woman was a MacLeod as well. They must be distantly related, she reasoned.

Miss MacLeod watched the officer leave and then turned back to Adam and Jade, who was still simpering. "Och, do knock it off, girl. Ye may 'ave fooled the good officer but do ye no' think that's wearin' a bit thin?"

"You knew then?" Jade asked.

"Aye, I used ta be a lawyer. Got rather good at reading faces. Ye've got talent; an actress, are ye?"

"I wish."

"So since I saved ye both from a fate worse than death, which incidentally would 'ave been a car ride with the good Sinclair, do ye mind tellin' me what ye were doin' back 'ere and who ye are?"

"You saved us? I'll have you know--" Jade began hotly.

"Jade, rope it in," Adam admonished and she subsided grumbling, "We're looking for information about a friend of ours. Maybe you can help us..?"

"Rachel."

"I'm Adam and this is Jade. A friend of ours has gone missing."

"General Damon and 'is son, ye mean?"

"You know them?"

"Aye, I should. They were stayin' at my inn."

"This place is yours? Wow, being in law really does pay well," Jade said.

"Blunt, is she no'?" Rachel laughed.

"Yes," Adam fixed Jade with a look, "It's a habit I've been trying to break her of. She backslides from time to time."

"Adam!"

Rachel shook her head good-humoredly, "Come along and we'll talk for a bit."

/Adam, should I ..?/ Ami took a hesitant step in their direction.

/No, stay there. I'm not sure if I trust her yet. She's a good bit sharper than Sinclair. Why don't you poke around back here for awhile, see if you can find anything. You shouldn't be interrupted now./ Adam 'pathed.

/Right/

*****

They were in the inn for a good two hours before they emerged. Ami was lounging around the lake, throwing bread crumb to water fowl. She had long since finished combing the field, had gotten bored, and even managed a trip into town. Adam appeared apologetic as he approached her.

"Sorry. I tried to get out of there as fast as I could but--"

"--Rachel was interrogating us," Jade interjected.

"She was nearly as good as Jade's performance back there."

"I'm sorry I missed it," Ami replied, an edge present in her voice.

"Let me make it up to you. I'll buy dinner," Adam offered.

"Great! I'm starving," Jade whooped.

"Yeah, I'll bet. I'm sure all that acting took a lot out of you," Adam said blandly.

"It did. That's hard work, you know," Jade informed him.

"Dinner sounds fine," Ami said, throwing another handful of crumbs in the lake.

There was a granite-faced, two-story restaurant just across the lake that Ami had been dying to try. The heavenly smells wafting across the water were making her stomach growl audibly. She looked at it longingly.

Adam followed her gaze, chuckling, "There it is then. Come along, Madame Bernhard."

Jade didn't even dignify that with a reply.

A fine mist began settling as they walked around the curve of the shore. It was times like these that made Ami truly appreciate being a Tomorrow Person. Being part of a group that understood you, accepted you. Before she'd met Adam and Megabyte, she'd always been an outsider but now...now she belonged. No matter where she went or what she did, she would never be alone again.

Tot-a-lot, tot-a-lot pounded the sound of hooves against gravel. A black horse broke out of the nearby woods, the sound of laughter floating from the saddle. It was a narrow path, their path, that the animal was galloping down. The pounding of hooves slowed, loud nickerings of protest sounding from the horse. They were cantering now and Ami moved over so that the rider could past when the animal was brought to a halt. For some reason, she glanced over at Adam. He was dead pale. She let her gaze shift back to the rider.

The rider was a girl about Adam's age. Her long fiery man of hair spilled down from the nape of her neck, where it was secured by a clip, past her shoulders. Two gray eyes, strangely feline in quality, were staring out of an oval face that was no less pale than Adam's, save for two burning spots suddenly appearing on her cheeks.

What is going on here? Ami wondered.

"Cat! Oh my--It is you!" Jade shrieked with delight.

Cat? Suddenly, Ami had a good idea of why Adam was so pale.

"I'll be damned," said the rider in astonishment.