EHYEH-ASHER-EHYEH (I AM THAT I AM): An Elena Duran/Corazon Negro
Vi Moreau (vmoreau@directvinternet.com)
Sun, 22 Sep 2002 00:45:21 -0400
Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh (I am that I am) 13.1/34
Julio Cesar divad72@prodigy.net.mx
Vi Moreau vmoreau@directvinternet.com
"What about Lilitu's associates?" Heru-sa-aset asked Myrddin.
They had removed the dust covers and made themselves comfortable in the
Aztec's living room. The Druid placed his computer on his lap and opened it.
Myrddin fed the encapsulated data into his computer about Lilitu's previous
appearances through the centuries. Then he programmed the machine to search
and evaluate his files for those Headless Children powerful enough to stand
beside her.
After only a few moments, he sighed deeply. "Well, just as we expected, this
is not going to be easy." He took time to think, then ran his hands through
his long gray hair. "A first comprehensive scan turned up twenty-five
possible Immortals strong and ancient enough to join Lilitu. I've eliminated
those I felt would disagree with her evil... proclivities. The second run
eliminated those Immortals engaged in major feuds with each other-I doubt
that they'll stop trying to kill each other long enough to join anyone. That
left us with six possible names, and none of them are good news. They are
legendary figures of the past, just as we are. And as you well know, among
us, legends often are based on facts."
"Well?" Methos asked, sprawling comfortably on the couch he shared with
Zarach. "Give us the bad news."
"Cartiphilus, also known as Longinus. Vlad Tepes-"
"Dracula?" Methos murmured. "I didn't know he was still alive. Of course he
is," he said, annoyed.
"Gaius Caesar Germanicus, and his great-grandmother, Livia Drusilla."
"Caligula. Him I knew too," Methos said, happier now.
"Torquemada, Rasputin," Myrddin announced with admiration.
"Great!" Methos said loudly. "Pretty much what we expected. Lilitu is
playing her last card in this, isn't she? Those bastards are capable of
anything. On the bright side, at least we know she's not holding back
anymore."
"You call that the bright side?" Aylon inquired.
"You call what she's done in the past holding back?" Zarach asked.
Methos shrugged.
Heru-sa-aset thought for just few instants, then he announced, "With their
combined resources, they will prove to be formidable opponents."
"Now we must figure out their plan." Myrddin suggested, his eyes narrowing.
"Total annihilation, of course!" Methos responded, rising from his
comfortable position and walking nervously around the room.
"A siege, perhaps? Just like the old days?" Heru-sa-aset suggested as he
watched Methos pace.
"I think this is not going to be common siege, not as we've seen before,"
Myrddin explained. "They will know where to hit, and they will hit hard.
They must've been gathering intelligence for years."
"It sounds far too . organized for the Headless Children," Heru-sa-aset
said, looking at his hands.
"We're agreed. They have a leader, though," Methos suggested, moving near
the Egyptian Prince. "But something else is going on," he continued. "How
could they.? Where are they getting their coordination, the logistics, the
strategy?" He shook his head sternly.
"Mother is many things, but not a strategist, and certainly not a
micro-manager. She would simply give the orders and expect her minions to
find a way to carry them out-or else."
"Maybe Lilitu will join the attack this time, personally," Myrddin
suggested.
Zarach shook his head, and Heru-sa-aset's eyes narrowed as he said, "Never.
She will send her pawns to die for her. The only question is 'where'".
"Where," Methos repeated. Something wasn't right. Suddenly, his eyes opened
wide as the single word resounded inside his head. "Genocide! Not that it
hasn't happened before, without Immortal help, but-" He looked at Myrddin.
"Find in your data any strange, large-scale movements in the past few days."
Myrddin's fingers flew over the keyboard. "What am I looking for?"
"Large numbers of men-perhaps troops. And definitely, unusually large money
movements," Methos supplied anxiously.
Heru-sa-aset looked at him. "I see your point. What about the killings on
Holy Ground? What did the news report today?"
As he tapped the keys, Myrddin answered. "Tonight representatives of
one-hundred-eighty nations will meet in the United Nations to discuss those
events."
"Representatives and ambassadors?" Zarach asked as he moved to look over
Myrddin's shoulder.
"Yes," the Druid's fingers stopped as his gaze rose from the screen on his
lap. "Mother of God, that's the answer," he whispered as the realization hit
him. "They're going to attack there. One simple strike to erase the mayor
leaders of the world."
"And without proper leaders," Methos said, "the mortals will be stunned, in
chaos. There will be jockeying for power. Wars will be declared."
"Just as Lilitu planned, and in the end, she will reveal herself to
humankind as a new Goddess," Heru-sa-aset finished.
"The 'new' Goddess," Zarach said softly, almost to himself. "Her ultimate
ambition, from the beginning of time."
"Regardless of who heads their vanguard," Myrddin announced, "there will be
a Headless Children's army marching to New York, together or separately! We
must tell the others!"
At that moment, Connor entered the room, a large cardboard box in his hands.
Duncan was right behind him with a wooden box, and Elena and the Aztec
brought up the rear. They were all carrying something. "We're baaack,"
Connor announced. Tell us about what?"
As the others revealed their suspicions, Connor shook his head and closed
his fists. "New York is my town. It's already suffered enough from the
terrorist attacks at the turn of the century. No way I'm going to stand by
and let this happen. Let's fly."
"It's not so simple, Highlander," Zarach said. He gestured at the Aztec. "We
can't all go to New York City. Corazon Negro soon enough will be in the
Dream, fighting Lilitu there, and we cannot risk bringing him into a war
zone. During that time, he will be completely vulnerable, helpless. And he
can't be interrupted in his Dream."
"And Lilitu will know it," Methos interjected. "She'll surely send someone
against him. That will force us to split our forces, but we have no choice."
"It will force her to split her forces, too," Myrddin said softly.
"So?" Methos replied bitterly.
"We have to hide him, his physical body at least, from her. I'll stay with
him, of course," Elena stated. "If Lilitu's forces locate him, she won't
find him alone and unprotected."
Silence reigned in the room. The MacLeods looked at each other and nodded
softly. "Duncan and I have fought together before, back to back. We do well
that way. We'll stay with our Aztec friend here," Connor suggested.
"Lilitu's 'forces' won't get to him while we live."
Corazon Negro nodded. "I will be safe with these three," he said
confidently. Duncan spoke up. "I know just the place, near Seacouver." His
dark gaze met the Aztec's. "Remember, Corazon Negro? You showed me the place
centuries ago," he said and then looked at the others. "It's remote and a
well-kept secret, but Connor and I are familiar with every inch of those
woods. Elena, too. The whole island is Holy Ground, and we'll see them
coming." He put his hand on Corazon Negro's shoulder. "But if you have
another suggestion, 'whither thou goest,' mi amigo."
"The island will be fine," Corazon Negro announced, smiling.
Connor sighed unhappily. "I don't think so," he said, shaking his head.
"Lilitu has been killing Immortals on Holy Ground and destroying whole
cities in the process. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be on an
island as it sinks under the water!"
"Lilitu won't attack Corazon Negro personally," Zarach assured the Scots.
"She'll be too busy with the rest of us."
========