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Chapter -18- Quest for the Grail

July 10, 1999 - 2:30pm EST Miami, Florida ...

Chance reached for a heavy suitcase. He drew it from the baggage claim conveyer belt with a grunt. Chance turned to Karla and smiled. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Letting me carry the bag. I like that you're treating me like a man."

"You're going to carry my bags for me, who am I to refuse? Be as manly as you feel you need to be, babe." She drew a pair of white sunglasses from the cleavage of her blouse and pushed them up her nose. "Let's roll."

"I have a question," he said as they made their way through the baggage claim area. "Back in June, you said you might need my help to do a job in Vegas. You said you'd need to, uh, 'secure' something aggressively. We never did that."

"I sure did," Karla said with a chuckle. "I left an hour early for my dress fitting. Didn't you listen?"

"You never said anything about it."

"I mean listen with that big frontal lobe of yours."

Chance rubbed his forehead with his free hand, pulling her wheeled-luggage with his right. "Uh, Karla, you were excited about the dresses, full of energy, and I had Peri's jumbled thoughts to decipher. I had no idea you were going to do it. I thought I was supposed to be at your side the whole time?"

"You were hiding in plain sight with Tamamo and Peri. But, yes, I got it. Sorry, babe."

"Yeah, it's okay," he said in a semi-dejected tone.

Karla grinned at him. "Why, babe? Were you looking forward to it? Sorry if it turned out pretty anticlimactic."

"Yeah, I was looking forward to it. I like being your teammate, actually."

The succubus offered a bright smile. "Don't be so disappointed. When I first met you, the idea of doing what I did for cash was a big deal. You were highly against it, so I never brought it up again after that."

"I suppose you're right. I guess I got a lot of my personality back recently, huh?"

Karla reached for his free hand and smiled. "You've always had personality, babe."

"Thanks." He closed his fingers around her hand. As they walked towards the main exit, his fingers interlaced with hers. "Peri is outside. It's easy to find her. She's like a klaxon that cuts through a jumbled room of thoughts. It's actually helpful, tuning in on her weirdness to block out everyone else."

"Yeah? Like listening to rock music on headphones in a crowded area?"

"Yeah, exactly." He paused. Chance ran his thumb over Karla's knuckles and added, "Methos is here."

"He is?" Karla arched her brows.

"Yeah. So is Mr. Carrington." Chance released her hand. He quickened his step and opened the door for her.

Karla paused and eyed him. "You know the door next to this one is automatic right? You're pulling bags. We were holding hands. You don't have to hold every door just because it's there, babe."

"You're so liberal," he replied with a smile.

"I'm a girl, and you're a boy. I like that you're doing it. It's just that I'm so used to doing everything for myself..." She shrugged. "I guess it's just that ... you know? I mean, I've lived my life empowered." A wry grin found her lips. She added, "But I'm not as liberal as you might think. I grew up in a different time, babe. Back then, being liberal meant saying 'fuck the government,' and now a days, being liberal means doing whatever the government says to get their financial support. Sorry I'm rambling; I love when a man wants to carry my bags and open the door for me."

"Well, now I want you to relax and enjoy life while trusting me to make things comfortable to you." He side-nodded in gesture for her to go through the door. "Ladies first."

Karla chuckled with a shake of her head and walked through with several other random people.

Chance followed her out.

Up ahead, the couple saw Methos and Peri together, having a conversation. Nathan stood several feet away, arms folded and facing the courtesy shuttle busses.

The succubus grinned at her youthful boyfriend. "You were so shy before you got all your memories back."

"Unsure. Overwhelmed. But that doesn't mean I didn't like holding a door for you when given the opportunity. And I'm not sure my memories had anything to do with it, Karla."

"Oh yeah? So this is a new thing?"

"I think I got protective over you after..." he trailed off and licked his lips. Chance leaned close and spoke a single word into her ear. "Ethan."

"...Oh." Karla nodded decisively. "That makes sense, actually. Not many people ever get to see a weak side of me. All your vulnerabilities were cute. Mine was ... well, you got to see me lying on the floor crying. Curled in a ball if I remember correctly."

"Yeah, it was hard to watch. I like treating you like a lady. It makes you smile. You tilt your chin up and walk with confidence when I hold the door for you. It's nice to see you happy."

"You are a sweet boy." She took his hand again and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You are a sweet man, Chance."

"I love you."

Karla smiled on the outside. But on the inside, it was more. She adored his words, and the sentiment behind them. Her chest tightened up and her eyes itched with the threat of tears. She swallowed down the tightness that crept up her throat.

He felt the emotion she experienced. Chance smiled in silent reply.

Peri turned from Methos and announced, "Look at the freaking love birds! They look happy as hell! See what I meant?" Something nearby distracted Peri. She turned away from the group.

Further down near a line of taxicabs, two Federal officers had a foreign man in handcuffs. They walked the perpetrator by, headed towards their cruiser. The officers pushed the man into the back of their police car.

Peri shrugged and turned back to the group. "Sure feels like we must be in Miami. Say! If an illegal immigrant and a child molester were fighting with each other, would that be called 'Alien Vs. Predator?' Just sayin'."

Karla blinked and tilted her head with a look of confusion.

Meanwhile, Nathan laughed and turned back towards the group. "Okay that one was funny as hell."

The succubus gave Chance's hand a squeeze. They mutually released one another's hands.

Karla fixed an errant lock of hair. "Alien like the movie with Sigourney Weaver? And Predator as in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie? Why would they fight each other?"

"Because it's a classic," Nathanial said with a shake of his head. He turned back towards the line of courtesy busses and folded his arms again.

Peri sighed as if irritated. "It's a Dark Horse comic, Karla. It's been out for years. But they _should_make it a movie. I think it would be awesome."

"Didn't they already?" asked Chance. He glanced over at Nathan, briefly, and then back at the two women and shrugged. "Maybe I'm wrong. Sorry. I must have, uh, misunderstood when Mr. Carrington said it was a classic."

"Stay out of my head, kid."

"Right, sorry." Chance cleared his throat. "So, what brings all of you out here?"

Methos turned to Karla and grinned. "The boy looks well, my dear, and so do you. Good work with Sinopa. You're almost finished. You can relax after you get the mirror."

"Calgon take me away," said Karla.

"I've always wondered where Calgon takes people," Peri replied with a smirk. "Hey! Look! Listen!" She lowered her voice, adding, "Let's talk about food."

Chance tilted his head. "Let's talk about how I'm not supposed to be anywhere near Mr. Carrington. The fate of the world and an epic paradox hang in the balance."

"What's that, smartass?" Nathan said over his shoulder. "I couldn't hear you over the epic sarcasm in your tone, kid."

"Everyone calm down," said Methos. A limo pulled up as if on cue. Methos opened the door and said, "Everyone inside. Chance, or should I call you Young Mr. Howard, do try and refrain from causing the world to end by reading the mind of the 'Great Anomaly.'"

"Christ, not that bullshit again," Nathan grumbled. He eased into the limo first. Peri and Karla went next.

Chance handed off Karla's bags to the driver, and give him five dollars, sensing the man hoped for a tip.

Methos grinned at Chance.

Chance slid into the limo. Methos followed the group inside the posh automobile.

The driver shut the back door and went around to the driver's seat.

Methos put up the privacy window leading to the front of the limo and folded his hands. "We need to continue on to our location quickly. The sooner we start working, the better. Believe it or not, the lot of you happen to be ahead of schedule for once. Elizabeth Báthory is on her way with the mirror. Jasper, her husband, is with the child - Laura. He's bringing the child in on a flight that arrives two hours after Báthory and the mirror arrive."

Karla nodded. "How does their schedule affect us?"

Methos folded his hands. His overly average appearance, and plainly pleasant clothing made him seem painfully ordinary. "If our intel is correct, we have a two-hour window to grab the mirror and leave the area. Báthory willll be a difficult obstacle but this is our best chance at taking the mirror back."

"You guys want to get there faster?" Karla grinned. She tensed up her body. Her hands, wrists and arms began to glow, followed by her shoulders and upper chest. Pink glyphs appeared just beneath the skin, as if muffled.

Methos glanced at Karla and abruptly looked away. "Karla, we're not going to go there in a flying limo, and I don't want you to teleport us unless you've had a great deal more practice with groups. So please ... stop."

Chance looked at Methos, eyes wide and brows furrowed. He glanced back at Karla, then at Methos a second time. "You recognize the glyphs on her arms and hands?"

"Of course I do. I've seen them every time she amps up like that."

"You're lying ... no offense." Chance folded his arms. "Care to explain?"

"Look, the truth is I've seen them before. I've been around a while and I've seen a lot of various writing styles. Doesn't mean I can read it. It looks like you need practice as well. Although, it does seem that you're getting better than the last time I saw you."

Carrington cleared his throat to distract the group. "Both of you shut up," said Nathan with a wry elderly-looking grin. Lines formed around his eyes and at the corner of his lips. "Let's talk shop. The lot of us could die. I've had a long life. If dying for a stupid mirror is my fate, well ... then to hell with it. But two of you are awfully young. Way too young to go dying. So let's keep our heads in the game."

No one spoke.

Nathanial continued. "We've all seen a lot of tough people. Ethan was a surprise - I thought he was supposed to be a friend. Justiciar St. Leonard showing up at Jing's place was even more of a surprise. But Vegas is the thing that bothers me the most."

"How so?" asked Karla.

"I'm telling you kids ... the EC is showing up in a lot of the same places as Sokolov's people. And between the two sides, we've lost Mike, we've lost Ethan; Sinopa is out of the picture for the moment ... it's a mess. Natalia Kincade won't let Kalen help us because she's afraid he'll end up like Niall - dust in the wind. So, yeah."

Chance glanced at Methos and tilted his head.

Methos reached for Chance's chin and turned the boy's gaze back towards Nathanial. "Don't look at me, young man. Nathan is the one speaking."

Karla arched her brows, looking between Methos and Chance. Her gaze cut back to Nathanial. "Anyhow. So, yeah, Kalen's a badass; I wish we had his help." Karla sighed. "Whose side is that Jasper guy on? He with the EC or Sokolov?"

Nathan shook his head. "Cunningham and his freaky wife are strictly playing for Sokolov. But they were side by side in Vegas. You guys attacked the train. Who responded to try and protect it? The Esoteric Council's henchmen. Where were Aris' forces? Nowhere to be found. I'm telling you right now, I don't trust Reinhardt. I've been saying that for ages. He's a dick head, and I don't trust him. He needs to take a hike."

Methos frowned. "Nathan, please. You're the hero of the EC because of Tunguska, but you aren't in a position of political authority anymore. You have no say about Reinhardt. We've been over this."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You guys will see one day. He and Aris are buddies. Trust me."

Chance frowned. "I believe Mr. Carrington."

Nathan shrugged. "Of course you do, kid. You telepathically sense that I know what the hell I'm talking about. Now. Let's talk about this mirror. I can't be this close to the kid for very long - I asked Tamamo to suppress a few important details so I'm safe being around the kid right now. But suppression doesn't last very long for me."

"What?" asked Karla, adding, "Why? And why would you submit yourself to that sort of nonsense?"

Chance sensed the answer from Nathan and turned to his girlfriend. "A low current to the hippocampus, generated by his body. The next time he uses his power, everything will come right back. Sometimes the suppression won't even last that long."

Nathan sighed. "I rest my case."

Chance turned to the old man, adding, "And for the record ... you don't have to talk about me in the third person when I'm sitting right here. If I were to die tomorrow, I'll want to know that someone I respect is out there to keep Karla safe. So can we have some mutual respect for each other?"

"Christ, kid. Chill out." Nathan ran his hands up over his short crew cut. The old man offered a wry grin to Peri. "Is he always this easy to offend?"

"Nope." Peri turned away, distracted. "Wow. A Mr. Softie Ice Cream truck. Look, guys." She put her palms on the windows, watching as the ice cream truck drove by the limo on the highway. "Man, I want ice cream."

The ice cream truck continued past the limo.

A moment later, a second ice cream truck drove by in the same lane, following the first from a distance.

Karla grinned, "Aw, they're chasing each other."

Peri grinned in reply. In a faux narrator voice, she said, "And here we see a male ice cream truck chasing after its female companion in what mech-ologists believe to be some sort of territorial foreplay. Will the male prove himself worthy as a mate to the fleeing female? Or will she find a much stronger and better 'well-stocked' truck? Find out next time on 'Chronicles of an Ice Cream Truck 2: THIS TIME, I WANT FUDGE,' as narrated by Morgan Freeman."

Nathanial turned away, snickering softly again.

Karla blinked. "Freeman? Isn't he the guy from Driving Ms. Daisy? The driver guy?" She paused and thought for a moment. "Actually, wasn't he in Deep Impact as the president?"

"And Seven," said Nathan. "Have you heard his voice? He'd be a great narrator. If I were going to die of cancer, I'd want Freeman to be the one to tell me. If I had a book about my life, I'd want him to narrate it."

Methos rubbed his chin. "He was Casca in a piece about Julius Caesar."

"I must have missed that one," said Karla with a shrug. "I didn't think he was that famous."

"Look at his career," Nathan said, adding, "he_will be_ famous. He's already playing the president. At this rate, he'll be playing God in no time. Mark my words." Carrington cleared his throat. "Okay! On task you guys! The reason I brought up the EC and Sokolov is because they will be working together today."

"Really, now?" Methos tilted his head. "You know this for sure?"

"I do. Now, listen up. Aris has been working as a doctor for the Council. The Council wants to kill Chance," he paused and pointed to the boy. "You. See? You're not third person anymore. So don't get excited. Now. The EC is after our young telepath, here - why? Because Sokolov's report shows that he's telepathic. They've done no tests. They've only tried to kill you, kid. They're going on Aris' report."

"It's stupid that I don't even get to have a trial."

"Yeah," Karla muttered. "I know how that kangaroo court shit works. Humans used to have them to kill humans suspected of being suspernatural. Funny how it's the Specials who are doing that shit to you, now, baby boy."

Nathan cleared his throat expectantly. "Anyway, they'll be here looking for you, kid. You keep showing up at Sokolov's operations. So they're working with Doctor Doom, and that means we have to go through two groups to get to this goddamn mirror. I don't know how close the two are tied together, but it doesn't matter. They're teamed up, and it's us against them. We can't afford to be anyone's friend."

Peri thrust her hand towards the center of the group. "Us against the world on one, two, three! No? No 'go team'?" She lowered her hand and grinned. "I bet half of you think this is all about you. But you're all wrong. This is about all of us, as a group."

Chance grinned at Peri. "You're right. I stand corrected."

"Back on topic," Nathan said in a stern voice. "We have two wealthy, well trained groups on our asses. They want to kill us."

"This sucks," Karla said with a sigh. "I don't want anyone dying and we'll be going up against immortals with powers that are really impressive. I've got a lot of shit on my mind that has been thrown at me lately. Tamamo brought up my parents yesterday. Just a lot of..."

Nathan narrowed his eyes. "Get your head in the game, Karla. If you don't, your boyfriend will get himself killed. So stay frosty, kiddo. You got it?"

Karla nodded with a wan smile. "Good pep-talk, old man."

"Any time." Nathan replied with a paternal smile. "Now. We know that Chance's dad wanted to expose something bad in the EC. Maybe this is our opportunity to get the mirror back and expose the bullshit cancer growing in the Council. So let's all keep our eyes and ears open."

Peri leaned back in her seat. "The trucks are both getting off at the same exit. How romantic." She cleared her throat and added, "I practiced transforming last night while everyone was asleep. It took hours, a lot of showers, and two clogged drains. I went nuts on the protein breakfast this morning. I haven't slept yet. But I think I'm getting the hang of it."

Karla frowned. "You haven't slept?"

"Hell no."

"Why not, Peri?"

"Transforming is easy. Going back is the hard part. Karla, it was fun and all, but I don't want you getting me drunk anymore. I threw up for thirty minutes that night. SO!"

"You transformed several times?" asked Nathan. "Don't you werewolf types need some sort of fancy massage therapist the first few times you change back?"

"Yeah, I broke the law and tipped the lady a thousand bucks to stay quiet. She sat there with me while I switched back and forth. I'm sure she'll have nightmares for years, but she was a real trooper! So guess what, I got a massage after each transformation back to human. She helped me with the shower drain and all the fur, too. I told her five hundred, but I gave her a thousand. I charged it to Parker's room, heh. And that wasn't the cost to retain her! That was just the tip!"

Karla face-palmed.

Nathan shook his head with a sigh.

Methos groaned with an eye-roll. "Peri, you can't let Mundanes see you do that sort of thing."

"Money. Plus, she has no proof. And she knows she helped me through it, so whatever. Judge me, I don't care. I got good at it. I'm ready to help you guys play in the big leagues, now. It only cost one innocent soul to see me naked with-and-without fur. So whatever."

Chance shrugged. "Worth it. And if she blabs, you can eat her."

"Exactly!" Peri exclaimed. She reached over, and bumped her knuckles against his expecting fist. "That's what I'm talking about, Mark!"

"Okay, back to focusing," Nathan said. "We're all at the top of our game ... or at least the best we're GOING to be, now that I'm old, so let's do this."

"Right on, old timer." Peri grinned.

Nathan smirked at her. "Okay kids, let's talk about having a plan and a backup plan in place."

Methos frowned. "Actually, Nathan..."

Carrington rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know. I'm old, the kid hasn't had his powers very long, Peri is in the same boat, and Karla is nowhere near as powerful as she's eventually going to be. So, whatever."

Methos grimaced. "We're not prepared to go up against what you predicted, when we spoke yesterday."

Nathan scoffed. "Like we have a choice, Methos? Great to see you all so spirited before working together, guys." He narrowed his gaze, causing the wrinkles around his eyes to become more apparent. "If we could have planned for this before Mr. Howard's accident, before Karla and Gerald's mess-up in '73, and if someone shot Peri sooner, we'd be one hell of a team. Gee, in my next life, I'll make sure I put all those things together. Then we'd have Ethan Sandusky, and probably Mike Richter helping us. But goddammit, we don't have that luxury. I feel like I screwed up my one chance at making everything right." He turned to Chance and said, "Not one word. If you don't say it, there's no Earth-shattering drama. Are we square, kid?"

Chance held his hands up and kept quiet.

"Good, kid. I don't want you to die. You slept for months. You could have been practicing that whole time if you weren't in that bullshit accident. You know what a rogue wave is?"

Methos frowned, jumping into the conversation. "It's chaos theory. A perfect pattern of waves and under-current waves eventually create a rogue wave that is off time, and created with intense power. Why do you ask, Nathan?"

"Because I wanted that to happen and it didn't. Nevermind. It's complicated. I just wanted things to go right. I saw how things play out. You all know that. YiaYia and another seer have confirmed a lot of what I've been saying for a while now. I wanted things to change. I don't want anyone here to die. And if I'd made enough changes then the stuff I saw wouldn't have started happening just as I'd seen it all. And you know what? Everything I saw...? It all sucks. But the important part is, I die with my boots on."

Karla blinked. "Wait, you die soon?"

"Hell no." Nathan grinned. "Not for a long time. But it still eventually happens."

"Everyone eventually dies," said Methos. "It's mathematical. The variables are what help us predicted when or how, but the end is always..."

"Shut up," Nathan said.

Everyone froze.

Nathan offered a wry grin to Methos. "You're how old again? Yeah. So knock it off. I'm talking about the rest of us."

They eyed each other. Both grinned.

Seeing Methos take the joke in good stride put everyone else at ease.

"I don't wanna die," Karla said with a nervous chuckle. "I'll be happy to live until the next 'Big Bang' or the 'Big Collapse,' or 'Crunch' or ... whatever."

"That's still dying," Peri said with a smirk. "I think Revelation or Ragnarök comes first."

Nathan gave Karla a playful shove on the shoulder. "You ain't goin' anywhere, beautiful."

"You're sure?" Karla frowned. "I always figured I was going to die any day, for over two hundred years I was just waiting for death. But now that I know I've got my father's longevitiy ... I just don't want to die, now."

Nathan reached up and pushed some of her hair forward, over her face. He grinned and said, "I never see you die in the future I that I witnessed. So you can hush, too. The rest of us are expendable."

"God you guys are in a mood this afternoon," said Peri. "Mark, what does freakin' Ian Malcolm think our chances are?"

Chance glanced at Methos and cleared his throat. He turned back to the rest of the group. "Considering whatever it is that Mr. Methos has considered about the rest of us, he thinks we'll get the mirror. He's confident that he'll live through this. He's confident Mr. Carrington will live through this. And, now, he feels confident Karla will live through this. The more he thinks about it, the more he feels like we all have a chance."

Methos smirked. "I'm putting emotion ahead of my math. It doesn't happen often."

Peri brought her hand to her chin in a faux 'Thinker' pose. "Ah, very interesting. And what does the old man think about our chances?"

"Uh," Chance licked his lips and frowned. "He's too emotional to read. He hides it well. I can't tell if he's hyped up or in mourning. He's just, you know, hard to read."

Peri nodded, "Mm-hmm, yes, yes, and what does Karla think about our chances?"

Chance glanced at his girlfriend and took her hand, interlacing his fingers with her own. "She, uh, thinks nothing can stop us now that we have Mr. Carrington's help."

"Ah, yes, I see. And what does Peri Darkhean think?" asked Peri.

Chance blinked in confusion. "Uh ... Pop Tarts are ... rad?"

"Fuck yes!" She beamed and pulled one from her pocket. Peri opened the package, creating a crinkling sound. "It was a bit harder to find these over in the United Kingdom. Although not impossible. Still, I'm glad I'm back in the states." She opened the foil pouch and examined it. "Brown Sugar Cinnamon. I picked this one at random. You know what this means?"

Chance frowned, reciting her active thoughts "This is a good flavor, so we're going to survive today."

"Ye-yuh! So how about that?" She stuffed the pop tart in her mouth and leaned back in the cushy leather seat. "I hope the driver doesn't die. I like this car."

Methos frowned. He glanced at the others. "Karla, Marcus, you guys are acting like this is par for the course. Is it?"

"The girl likes her pop tarts," Karla said with a shrug. "I wish I was zanier in life." She turned to Peri and said, "You're my hero, sister."

Peri nodded firmly. "You're my sister, hero."

"Good deal." Karla reached over with her free hand, knuckled closed.

Peri reached up with her free hand and brushed her knuckles against Karla's. "Blow that shit up, girl."

Karla grinned. She opened her fist, drew her hand back, and created a fake explosion sound that mirrored Peri's own.

Nathan panned his eyes towards Methos and, in a snide tone, said, "And then God said, 'Let there be two of them.' Then He looked down at His work and wondered, 'What have I done?'"

"God help us," Methos replied.

Chance rubbed his forehead. "I think you girls are giving me a headache."

"A headache?" Karla frowned. "You really have a headache?"

"Yeah, it came on strong all of a sudden." Chance offered a wan smile and rubbed at his temples with both hands. "Too much goofiness in one car, I guess."

Chaos. Sudden, blinding chaos that came from a random direction - everything was dark. The smell of smoke wafted through the inside of the limo.

Chance sat up on his elbows and looked around but the confusion he sensed was as blinding as the darkness. He patted his surroundings but couldn't find any of the seats, only random legs, arms, and someone's hair.

He followed the floor to the far side of the limo but didn't feel the seat cushions. Chance reached up. His hand touched soft leather above his head. "We're upside-down," he blurted out. "How did we get upside...? I didn't sense an attacker. I didn't sense anxiety from the driver, like an accident would cause."

"Calm down," said a voice. "You're in shock, kid. Calm down and take a deep breath."

Chance took a breath, followed by a second one. His head cleared. He crawled towards Karla and touched her.

Karla Chintzy lay in silence, unconscious.

Nearby, Nathan Carrington sprawled out, grumbling softly. "Bullshit. This is goddamn bullshit."

Methos propped himself up on an elbow, using his free hand to check himself for injury. "Is everyone okay?"

"We're alive," Chance said with a grunt.

Peri pushed the privacy window out of its track and stuck her head up into the front of the limo. "I hate when I'm right." She wiggled forward a bit more, opened the glove box and withdrew a first aid kit. "I don't think band aids are going to fix the driver, guys. He's not as pretty as he used to be." A pause, then, "No ring on his finger. Probably for the best." She backtracked, crawling on her elbows, and returned to the main section of the limousine.

Nathan grimaced, immediately angry. "That was some cowardly bullshit if you ask me. There's no way we got hit that damn hard on a highway unless it was intentional. Methos, do we play dead, or do we blast the doors off and jump out swinging for the fences?"

Methos leaned back with a grunt. "This is exactly why I'm a better General than a soldier. Marcus, Chance - whatever you want to be called now - do you still have the headache?"

"Who cares about a stupid headache?" Peri exclaimed.

"I do!" Methos snapped in an angry tone. "They were blocking his ability somehow, and it manifested by causing a headache! The brain doesn't have pain receptors, so it's something that affected him in a way that caused pressure elsewhere in the skull."

"Enough," Nathan snapped. "We don't need technical jargon, Methos. You're obviously in shock, too. Calm down and think."

Methos continued where he left off, despite the interruption. "...And only Chance was affected, so it was obviously a coordinated attack from someone who wants us at a disadvantage."

"I think we were hit," said Peri. "Maybe by powers; maybe we were hit by another car."

"My head still hurts," Chance said. "I don't know how many are out there, or if the attacker survived the collision."

Nathan sighed. "For all we know, they hit us with abilities, not a car." He opened his hand, but instead of illuminating the limo, the old man paused. "Dammit. You guys smell that? I think the fuel line is ruptured."

"I smell it," said Peri.

Nathan muttered under his breath. He shifted his weight and sat up. The old man closed his hands into fists and kept them clenched as a reminder to himself not to use his lightning ability. "I don't want to spark off the gasoline vapors. Peri, did you see any light up in the front, kid?"

"We're upside down in a ditch or something," said Peri, adding, "There is only enough light coming in through the driver's side window to see that the driver didn't make it. I could see grass through the window. I don't hear anything out there. Nobody is talking. Hell, I don't even hear cars stopping. Just traffic passing up on the road. It's faint. We might have rolled pretty far from traffic."

"Wait, what?" asked Chance. "If we were knocked into the grass between the north and southbound lanes..."

"No," Peri interrupted. "I'd hear that. We were knocked to the right, because we're away from traffic. We're in one of those water ditches on the side of the road, used to control flooding during hurricane season."

Methos sighed in frustration. "Be glad the last big storm to come through here was at least a month ago. Else we'd be drowning right now. This is technically hurricane season."

"Is Karla okay?" asked Nathan.

"She's out cold," Chance said with a sigh. "She must have hit her head on the roof when we flipped. She's breathing okay, but I don't know anything else."

Nathan crawled towards Chance's voice. "Guide my hand to her neck. I need to feel and check if her collarbone or spine is broken."

Chance found the old man's right hand and guided it to Karla's adjacent body until finding her chin. "Okay, just ... God I hope she's okay."

"She'll be fine," said Nathanial, "Now be quiet for a minute." Carrington felt her neckline, followed by her collarbone. He reached down and checked her ribs.

No one spoke.

Nathan reached around Karla's torso and trailed his fingers up her spine. He checked her shoulders, each arm, and her wrists. Lastly, he reached down and checked her legs, knees and ankles. "She's in good shape. I don't know about her head. The good news is, we haven't been attacked again."

"That's surprising," said Peri, "Most people hit you again when you're down to make sure you stay down. Unless they're toying with us."

Chance rubbed his temples furiously. "Headache isn't going away." He closed his hands into fists, using his wrists to rub the side of his head. He curled his fingers tightly into his palms and clenched. "God dammit. If they want me, they can come for me. They don't need to attack the rest of you."

"Kid, do you even know what we're up against?" asked the old man.

"With all due respect, Mr. Carrington, I have seen people wind up fused together. I have seen proud men, deserving of a meaningful death, killed too soon over nothing. I have seen monster creatures in glass tubes, walls of fire, people with bullets in their head, people with their skin burned off ... I have seen creepy books wrapped in human skin. I have seen foxes turn into people and talk to me. I have seen a woman turn into a wolf and rip a person into pieces."

Nathan sighed. "Jesus, kid, enough..."

"No, Mr. Carrington. I'm the one who's had enough. I'm sick of the attacks. Everyone is getting hurt or killed because nobody likes my ability. My father was killed. My girlfriend felt like she betrayed you by letting your German friend die. If this stupid Council wants me dead..."

"Shut up, kid," Nathan said in a gruff tone. "Stop being theatrical."

Chance gawked in surprise.

The old man crawled along the siding of the limo's interior. He found a rear door and pulled on its handle but it didn't budge.

"Sorry, Maybe I'm in still in shock." Chance rubbed his face with his palms.

"You think?" Nathanial scooted around, rolled onto his back, put his feet on the door, and gave it a swift double-footed kick.

The limos door held.

Nathan kicked the door again. "Peri, get your damn clothes off and transform."

"Well damn, old man. I knew seniors don't beat around the bush but that's a whole new level of blunt, Sparky."

"You'll need your clothes intact afterwards. So get naked and get in your damn 'sports mascot' suit."

"Hah. Funny - you old smart ass." Peri moved to up near the front of the limo. She took off her clothes by the broken privacy window. "I can't see the light in the driver's side window anymore. It's totally pitch black out there now. Geeze, I hope they're not burying us in dirt or something. I don't hear a backhoe out there, but if I wanted to take out a bunch of people, that's how I'd do it. Flip them into a ditch and bury them."

Nathanial grimaced. "You could be right. They wouldn't need a backhoe, just certain abilities. Everyone stay calm. I need you all to slow your breathing just in case Peri's hunch is right. We'd use up all our oxygen in a couple of minutes at this rate. Peri, get your ass naked and transform already."

"Jesus. Alright already, I'm working on it." She kicked off her shoes off, her socks, and she unfastened her pants. "I'd rather be driving one of those ice cream trucks right about now."

"Peri..."

She spoke over Nathan while stripping down in the dark. "My pop tart lied to me. It was supposed to be a good-damn-day. I'll never look at 'Brown Cinnamon Sugar' the same way. For now on, I'm a S'mores girl."

Methos crawled to the rear door across from Nathan and gave a tug on the handle. "Miss Darkhean, if you help us safely out of here, I will make sure you have a lifetime supply of S'mores Pop Tarts. Jon Parker isn't the only man with money."

"I'm workin' on it, hold on," she grumbled, fumbling with her bra strap. "You know, 1992 was a good year. Star Fox came out for the Super Nintendo. Pop Tarts released the S'mores flavor. The Summer Olympics allowed NBA players to compete. George Bush ralphed in the lap of the Japanese Prime Minister on television. Canada had their first female astronaut." Peri wiggled out of her panties. "The Cold War was officially over, Jeffrey Dahmer got life in prison, Euro Disney opened in France..."

Nathan sighed. "Yeah, isn't that the year of the L.A. riots? Oh, and Hurricane Andrew. It wasn't that great of a year."

Peri carefully dislodged where her bra clasp caught in her hair. "We made fun of Ross Perot's ears in '92."

Nathanial's voice became stern. "Hurry the hell up before we run out of air or whatever else could happen."

"She's deflecting in the face of anxiety," Chance snapped. "Let her talk, Nathan. You're sending her into unknown territory. This is how she's coping."

Nathan sighed. "Fine."

Peri cut back in. "Clinton won as President that year."

"I'm a Libertarian," Nathan murmured under his breath. "Just hurry up."

Peri added, "Did I mention Star Fox and S'mores pop tarts? First black woman few into space. Cartoon Network was invented."

Nathan gave another swift kick on the door, trying to open it. "Goddamn it."

Peri continued. "Church of England allowed women to become priests."

Karla groaned softly. "Christ, my head."

"Karla," Chance said, relief in his voice.

Karla looked around but couldn't see in the dark. "Jesus. I have one hell of a headache." She rubbed her face with her palms. "What are you guys arguing about?"

Nathan gave another double-footed kick to the rear door of the limo. "Whether or not 1992 sucked while we figure out a way out of this bullshit."

Karla groaned softly, bringing her hands to her temples. "Evander Holyfield was beat, and the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series. I say it sucked. Elizabeth the Second didn't like it either."

"Aw, but Aladdin came out," Peri protested. Her voice began to change, becoming darker and grittier.

"Operation Condor," Karla muttered, rubbing her forehead. "We can argue all day. The Davis Cup win does not excuse the Blue Jays beating my Athletics and then going on to beat the Braves in the series. Oakland should've gone to the series that year." Karla rubbed her forehead again, with a soft groan. "I think face planted into something. Are we on the ceiling?"

"Yeah," said Chance.

"Jesus, we flipped over? Did anyone see what the hell hit us? I didn't see anything." Karla rubbed the back of her neck. "I feel like we got sucker punched by Toronto. Then I wake up to you guys talking about '92."

"Christ," Nathan grumbled. In a sarcastic tone, he added, "Tell us how much you hate the Blue Jays, Karla."

"They stole Jose Canseco last year. I hate them almost as much as the Yankees. I smell gas. I'm going to amp up and use my palms to light up the inside of the car."

"Not yet," said Peri in mid-transformation. "Give me a moment. I need to do it slowly."

Karla rubbed her face. "They won again in '93. Damn Jays. You know what they did recently? They gave Rodger Clemens to the Yankees - now watch those New York ass-hats win the goddamn series this year."

Methos sighed. "I need all of you focused. I need to live through this to make sure the council and Falcon's people stay away from things that would create issues for the rest of the world. Do you understand? Focus, everyone."

Karla continued to rub the back of her neck. "Hey, you guys started the bickering. I'm just mad about the American League. You just watch, the goddamn Yankees will win the series with Rodger Clemens. I'd bet Chance's virginity on it, but I finally took it."

Chance hid his face in his palm, regardless of the darkness.

Nathan kicked the rear door again with both feet. "Then bet money on it, dammit ... anyway who cares? Get over here and do your glowing hand thing. I want to see your head. I need to see if you've got a concussion. You were unconscious for several minutes."

"My head is fine, I just banged it."

Nathan gave the rear door another kick. "I need to see your eyes, Karla. Knowing baseball statistics doesn't mean shit."

"I know more than stats - I know history, too."

"Yeah, yeah. I know, you love the goddamn Athletics. It doesn't mean shit."

"They were the Philly A's from five years before I met you until 1954. Then they moved to Kansas City, then to Oakland in '68. I still know what day of the week it is - it's the 10th. Can you chill out now?"

Methos gave another tug at the opposite rear door. He climbed towards Peri. "You see what you have started, now?"

"Whatever," Peri muttered. "I still say 1992 was a good year. S'mores pop tarts and Star Fox. Period."

Karla chuckled. "That game came out in '93."

"What?" Peri froze. "Are you serious?"

"The comic came out in the Nintendo magazine in 1992, but the game came out in 1993, Peri." Karla turned to Nathan, in the dark, and said, "See? I'm sharp. I got all my marbles."

"The memory of my childhood was a lie," Peri said.

"Childhood?" Karla laughed. "It was seven years ago."

"I'm still a child," Peri retorted with a laugh. The more she spoke, the deeper and throatier her voice became.

Chance rubbed his face. "Everyone please shut up. I still have a headache."

"Pardon?"

Chance, his voice stern, fed off the building frustration between Methos and Nathan. He was still unable to use the full depths of his ability. "You guys are bickering because it's an outlet, I get it. But if we really are being buried or something, we're using up our air talking about baseball and video games. Can we just stop?"

Karla sighed. "You're right, Chance." She moved towards Nathan and touched the door. It blasted outwards, off its hinges, but there was only darkness beyond.

Silence.

Karla tensed her body and put her glowing palm towards the doorway, expecting to see dirt. Instead, she saw nothing. "What the hell is going on out there?"

Nathanial rolled back onto his hands and knees and moved towards the empty doorway. He took a deep breath then said, "I smell fresh air. It's not dirt out there, and the gasoline smell isn't being contained around the car. But I don't see anything."

Peri sniffed. "Yeah, that's fresh air coming from out there. Why can't we see dirt? Karla, can you make your hands brighter?"

In a gruff tone, Nathan said, "I can only think of one thing that could cause darkness like this."

Karla sighed and slumped back a bit. "Great," she muttered. "I preferred you as the one to mitigate for me, Nathan."

Rather suddenly an enormous animal head came between Karla and Nathan. Peri's face and eyes glowed in the dark pink illumination of Karla's palm.

Peri opened her muzzle. Rows of teeth glistened in the soft lighting. "What's with the void out there?"

Karla flinched and leaned away. "Still gotta get used to that."

"Yeah? What?" the werewolf asked.

Karla shifted her weight on her hip and elbow. "A werewolf face coming up over my shoulder. Kind of weird, Peri."

"Pfft, whatever succubus. You haven't lived until you've shagged a shag carpet." Peri paused. Her ears laid back atop of her head. "No, that's not meant to be a pickup line. I'm not into chicks. I'm just saying, don't knock it until you've tried it."

"Really?" Nathan muttered. "How the hell did you get sex out of peering over our shoulders, kid?"

Peri laughed. "Typically, that's the only reason a werewolf would peer over your shoulder, guys. Because he's behind you. Duh." Peri turned to Karla, adding, "Don't make that sour face. Werewolves are legendary in the sack."

"Yeah," Karla trailed off, brows furrowed. "I'll, uh, put that on my bucket list."

"You do that." Peri climbed between Karla and Nathan. She headed out of the car into the darkness. "Are we having an eclipse or something?" The werewolf looked around. She lifted her head straight up. She turned back to the car, squinting at Karla's glowing palms in the doorway. "I can't see anything out here, you guys."

Nathanial climbed out of the car, followed by Karla and Methos. The old man sniffed at the air with a frown. "Still can't use my abilities with the damn car leaking gas."

No one replied.

Nathan grimaced. "C'mon, Kincade. Stop wasting time. I know it's you."

Methos folded his hands to mask the fact he felt fidgety. He ran his right thumb over the inside of his left ring finger and pursed his lips together. "Nathan, she is a lady. Mind your manners - say please."

Nathanial ground his molars together. "Please. Please, because it smells like gas down here."

The sky opened up, allowing the group to see blue above them. The smell of gas lessened.

A woman stepped through the wall of black that surrounded the group. She had rich brown eyes and long jet-black hair. She stood a little taller than Karla with a fancy designer dress.

The woman's sash around her waist was decorated with an ornate mirror hanging from the end. She wore matching cloth gloves to her elbows.

The woman approached Nathanial. They clasped one another's biceps and kissed each other's cheek as if rehearsed. She turned to Methos and they shared a chaste kiss, but on the lips. "Gentleman."

"Mrs. Kincade," said Nathan.

Methos offered the woman a smile. "Mrs. Kincade," he repeated.

Mrs. Kincade turned to Karla and held her right hand out, palm down.

Karla rolled her eyes and turned to the woman. She curtsied and kissed the woman's hand. The succubus gestured first to Peri and said, "This is Peri Lynn Darkhean of clan Darken." Karla dropped her hand to her side and lifted her other, gesturing towards Chance. "This is Marcus 'Chance' Howard, son of Daniel Howard."

As an afterthought, Karla added, "We are closing in on the mirror."

The woman nodded to Karla. "Excellent, my dear." She turned to Chance and curtsied, slightly. "I am Natalia Loupe-Kincade. Wife of Niall," she said, pronouncing the name to sound like, 'Neil,' "and sister of Councilman Donovan Loupe. So, my dear boy, you are the famous telepath, yes?"

Karla nudged Chance discretely.

"Yes, ma'am," said Chance, perceiving the meaning of Karla's nudge. He offered a gentlemanly bow. "Chance Howard - I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Kincade. We were attacked."

"Mm, yes." Natalia nodded. "By a celebrity, no less. The famous so-called lesbian vampire, Camilla. I witnessed the accident. My limousine followed yours since the airport." Natalia nodded to Chance, adding, "Please excuse me, young man." She turned about to Peri and curtsied. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Peri Lynn. I knew your parents. Noble warriors, and cultural historians - I've heard your brother is in Australia. I am pleased you could be part of our little 'adventure' as it were."

Peri eyed the pale woman for a moment. The werewolf cracked a sly grin. She spit into her padded palm and thrust the paw out, towards Natalia. "Put'er there, Natty."

Natalia folded her gloved hands. "Oh, my dear, shaking hands is for men. Women curtsy and hug. Men and women kiss. One cheek for an acquaintance; two for old friends."

"You kissed Methos on the lips."

"Indeed, Ms. Darken. You are perceptive."

"Also, I can't curtsey. I'm naked," Peri replied. "I don't have a dress to do that stuff. I'd bend my knees but you might have noticed my knees and ankles are designed to be bent all the time. I'm not kissing your cheek. I'm pretty sure you don't want slobber on your face, so..." Peri kept her hand outstretched.

Natalia, wishing to impart etiquette, took Peri's paw by her enormous padded digits, and kissed the top of the werewolf's paw. "It is a pleasure to meet you, young lady."

"Aw shucks," Peri said with a grin and a faux southern accent similar to the one used by her brother. "She done kissed muh hand, y'all."

Natalia released Peri's large paw. "Mm, yes, well..." Natalia stepped back and gestured with a delicate movement of her right hand. "The people who attacked - they're out there on the side of the road, waiting for us."

Nathan rubbed his chin. "If Báthory is into girls, why did she marry Jasper Cunningham?"

Natalia tilted her head, somewhat, and said, "It is an arrangement. They have a child. She feeds off women exclusively. Truth be told, she had several children in her mortal years. What is one more? She is not a true vampire."

Methos frowned. "How so, Natalia?"

Natalia offered Methos a wry smile. "Although she has vampiric sleep cycles, she is _not_undead. Such makes her different than myself."

"She nearly killed us," Karla said. "Where is she? Let's go get our mirror back."

Natalia turned to Karla and offered a glance - a single raised brow.

Karla saw the look and froze.

Natalia reached a hand up and guided a bit of Karla's bangs back from the succubus' face. "Let us not be hasty, my dear. The lady-like thing to do, at this time, is to recover and check ourselves for injury. There is no use rushing into a battle unprepared. They think they have succeeded. Momentarily, they will send people to search for survivors."

Peri scrunched her large brows, causing the pelt of fur over her face to contort lightly. "You want us to wait for them to come to us?"

The pale vampire nodded. "Indeed. It is easier to defend due to our proximity near the tree line," said Natalia. She turned to Methos. "Is that accurate?"

"It is," he said. "What brings you here, Natalia?"

The vampire glanced off to the side, briefly, and then a frown marred her delicate feminine visage.

Methos frowned. "I did not mean to imply that I feel anything less than pleased to see you again."

A hint of a smile tugged at the corner Natalia's lips. "When we have retrieved my mirror, I will depart with it. I confess that it was my fault it was taken by the Esoteric Council. I erred in my judgment on how to handle the Councilmen. It will not happen again."

Chance cleared his throat and shook his head. "I don't think that 'clouded judgment' was really your fault."

"Who _are_you anyhow?" asked Peri.

Natalia turned back to the large werewolf. "My husband was, for a time, the leader of the Esoteric Community. We watched democracy and studied its hierarchy. Ultimately, we chose to guide the Esoteric Community into mirroring the structure of proper democracy."

Peri scoffed. "Sudden changes are never good. That's best left for revolutions and crap. You need to make changes gradually, else you have chaos."

Natalia nodded. "During the transition, a man decided he wanted to run things himself, and gained support amongst some members of the community. That man started a war and, in the end, he killed my husband."

"That's the way to go," Peri said. "Sorry for your loss, but it's true."

Natalia shook her head. "It did not happen on a battlefield like the other warriors. This man murdered my husband like a coward. He blindsided Niall with dirty tactics, and trickery. Nathan, here, arrived just in time to see the injustice."

Nathan frowned. "I brought Natalia the news."

Natalia nodded, offering a smile of respect towards the old man. "Yes, Nathan was a true friend to Niall. He helped me to gather support in order to fight back against the man that struck down my husband."

Peri frowned. "Damn. That's ... damn, lady. I'm sorry. I know what it's like to be a widow. It sucks."

"Indeed, I strongly dislike it." Natalia frowned. "The lot of you were blindsided with similar tactics today. I will not stand for such cowardice."

Chance frowned. "That's annoying."

"Pardon?" Natalia tilted her head again.

"No, not you," he said defensively. "I just heard the word 'Masopic,' from everyone but Peri at the same time. It's thundering from several people all at once, overlapping. I'm sorry if the name causes emotional upset, but if you put the man's name on an alter or pedestal, you're giving the guy power over you. Wouldn't it be better to spit his name in vain than to treat it with reverence?"

Karla swallowed and reached for Chance. She put her hands over his mouth and thought the words, 'we can kiss a half-million bucks goodbye. She is called Mistress Natalia for a reason. She expects to be treated with respect and dignity and...'

Natalia gently brushed Karla's hand from the boy's mouth. "I appreciate you showing me respect, Karla. Respect given is respect earned."

"My pleasure," Karla murmured softly.

Natalia smiled, gave Karla's hand a gentle squeeze, and released it. "However, young Mr. Howard is correct. I should not have a stigma regarding the man's name, nor should I treat his name with any matter of regard. It would be better to hold Niall's name in reverence and not cringe over Masopic's deed."

Methos rubbed his chin. "Natalia, that is the first time I've heard you say the man's name - at least since 1908."

"It's the first time I've said it since Niall was taken from me." She turned back to Chance and asked, "Is there anything else I should do to change my life for the better? My dear young man, you're the telepath. You are able to see what burdens me from a fresh perspective."

Nathan frowned. "Are we really going to talk our problems out while we wait for those yuppies to attack us?"

Methos frowned. "Carrington..."

"Yeah, yeah..."

"Please, continue," Natalia said to Chance.

Chance swallowed, feeling put on the spot. "Uhm. You should reach out to your brother and make up. You're lucky that you still have family to talk to. I'm told my family is dead and I can barely remember what they were like. Now, before we get into that can of worms..."

Natalia nodded. "Go on, young man."

Chance licked his lips. "You guys need to know that the guys who rammed us found a way through the other black wall of ... black ... stuff."

Natalia grimaced. She turned away from the highway. The vampire lifted her hands and opened a section in the black shell around the overturned limo.

Chance nodded to Karla. "I think you're up."

Natalia turned to Karla. "Ms. Chintzy, I understand you have been practicing your secondary ability?"

"Yeah, lately I've been ... I mean," Karla nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

"Is it possible to teleport us safely into the woods without fusing us to a tree? If so, I will keep this barrier over the limo. When they breach it, they will find only the abandoned vehicle."

"The driver didn't make it," Peri said. "They'll find him, too."

"Very well." Natalia turned back to Karla. "Just focus yourself. Ethan Sandusky was self-taught. He managed without a teacher, and you are far more capable than he."

Karla looked up at the tree line. "I'm just..."

"I believe in you," Natalia said.

"I'm not sure it's such a good idea," Karla murmured. "Trees? This is very dangerous."

Chance turned to her and put his hand into hers. "Send the driver, first. Then send us, together. Then just remember where everyone else is standing. After that, bring the rest of the group, one at a time. Then send the driver back. You can do it."

Karla looked around at everyone. She licked her lips with apprehension. She nodded with a sigh and said, "Stay very still, okay everyone? Hands at your sides. Don't move." The succubus moved around to the front of the limo and paused.

A moment later, the driver appeared adjacent to the limo, standing. His body crumpled to the ground. Karla nodded to the group. "I found a safe spot. Stand by. Do _not_move." She and Chance disappeared together.

A moment later, each of the group disappeared, one by one.

---

Next Chapter: https://www.sofurry.com/view/724257