DISCLAIMER: Connor MacLeod and the concept of Immortality used here (plus any other Immortal characters not referred to in the disclaimer) are the property of Davis/Panzer. The Legacy also belongs to its own creators.
Victoria, Justin, Kane, Von, Earth, and any other bit players belong to me, so please ask if they start talking to you, too!
The Gaelic Rebellion (and most of the other world events mentioned past the year 2000) are the creation of Lisa K. She is also the writer of Gen. Maeve Wallace/Sarah MacGreggor. Jim O’Leary and Bryan Cutler belong to Jen A. Fiona belongs to Heidi M. All are used with permission, and you can check out their other (wonderful) stories using the links below:
This is rated PG-13 for language (I can’t help it, Von’s got a mouth on him! And Victoria hangs around him too much!).
Part 1
San Francisco, 2070
“…Whoa, and listen to this one from the London House – war has officially been declared on England by both Scotland and Wales. They’re already calling it the Gaelic Rebellion…no major battles so far, but some riots in Edinburg.” Justin looked up from the mass of reports that had come in from the European Legacy Houses the last time the lines to the east had been up with a look of intense surprise evident on his face.
“Wow,” Victoria DiThon Kestral breathed softly as she stared across the dinner table at her best friend, Justin Le Faye.
He gazed back with wide eyes. “It had to happen sooner or later. I was kind of expecting it.”
Victoria shrugged. “Yeah, but I just expected later rather than sooner.” She speared a piece of lettuce from her salad and chewed thoughtfully.
Justin shoved his empty plate and the stack of reports away and leaned back in his chair, bottle of beer in hand. He studied his lifelong friend thoughtfully. “You know, I’ve been in contact with Duncan MacLeod off and on for the past few years. He knew this was going to happen and invited me over to join the fun.”
“Fun? Tell me again how many wars you’ve been in, Jus’?” Victoria asked in an exasperated tone. “I should call Bryan; I think your head needs to be checked.”
“I’m serious, Toria – I want to help them. We’re both self-proclaimed Jacobites even though we missed the past two rebellions, and Wales is our own country! How can you not want to help?”
She raised both hands in self-defense. “Hey, I never said I didn’t want to help. I just don’t see the point in getting involved. What good would we do anyway?”
“I think you had the right idea during World War Two, actually,” Justin replied immediately. He sounded as if he’d thought this over more than once. Knowing how he liked to dwell on things, Victoria figured he had. “And I’m a better assassin than you are. You’re the better spy. We make the perfect team, you know that.”
Her face grew slightly pale. “Don’t even talk to me about World War Two. This is nothing like that. You haven’t disappeared on me, for one thing.”
“Well, I’m not going to go join the enemy this time, either. I highly doubt the Japanese are going to have a stake in the Gaelic Rebellion. I can’t even get into the islands anymore, remember?” he pointed out, running a hand through his blond hair. Japan had reverted back to its isolationist past, and with his classic European looks, Justin had had a hard time even visiting ten years ago.
“Well, this is more like the old United States of America’s Civil War anyway,” Victoria said. “You ran off to join the Union army and left me – a mere ‘teenage’ girl – in charge of the plantation in Virginia. The slaves all ran off after you-“
“Because you told them to,” Justin interrupted pointedly.
“And a battle rolled right over the place,” she continued. “I barely escaped in one piece.”
“So you headed for Missouri and became nicely caught up in the guerilla warfare going on over there,” he said. “I heard rumors about a gang who managed to wreck quite a lot of havoc on slave owners in the southeast corner of the state led by a mysterious young woman.”
Both apparent teenagers stared at each other. Justin merely looked thoughtful, but Victoria’s eyes were slightly narrowed as she wondered what stunt he was planning to pull now.
“Did Bryan put you up to this?” Victoria asked, her voice suddenly grown cold, though she sincerely doubted it. “Because if he or Jim did…” She left the implied threat hanging.
Shaking his head, it was all Justin could do not to smile. As if Victoria would ever harm her two heroes. The other two Immortals who also made San Francisco a part-time residence had been their friends for years. The four Immortals had spent many an enjoyable evening at one of the two couple’s houses trading stories about the past. A few had involved the two “adult” Immortals’ involvements in previous Scottish uprisings.
“No, Bryan and Jim did not put me up to this. You know they have a thing about dragging friends into wars. They’ve been dragged themselves too often to even consider it,” Justin assured her. “No, I came up with this idea all on my own, though I have discussed some of the events going on in Europe and Great Britain with them when we get word about it.” At that the two lapsed back into silence.
“What about all the Freeman riots?” Victoria finally asked. She paused. “I think that’s at least part of the reason you want to go to Britain. You never got involved, not once. I was always the one in the wrong place at the wrong time on Legacy business. Like getting caught up at the House in Seacouver for an entire year after you left,” she added bitterly. Late 2003 and early 2004 had not been good – it had been one disaster piled on top of another, it seemed.
Justin shrugged. “Whether it is or not, I just…I need to help. I don’t understand it, but you know as well as I do what happens when I ignore these feelings of mine.”
How could she not? She definitely remembered a time in Wales, over two hundred and fifty years ago. The reason he kept growing older for another year after she had stopped. Then something else occurred to Victoria. “Speaking of the Legacy, we have obligations here, Justin. We’re the only two Legacy members available for the entire Free State of California. Just because things have been quiet for a few weeks doesn’t mean we won’t have a random demon pop out of the Hellmouth down in LA, or another outbreak of zombies like in that cemetery in Sacramento last year.”
“I know that. I’m going to ask Earth Borne for a leave of absence. You know only one Immortal is necessary per dangerous region by Legacy law. He’s only been nice about keeping us together,” Justin answered.
Victoria shook her head in defeat. “Fine,” she stated. “Since you seem to have all the answers. I’d almost expect the entire Rebellion to be over within a week of your arrival – but you’re not going.” She stood up from the table and stalked towards her bedroom before Justin could reply, leaving him to clean up dinner.
Part 2
San Francisco, 2070
Two days later, Victoria ran up the outside steps of the three story building where her and Justin’s apartment was located on the top floor. The spring in her step was obvious. Completely outshining it’s last semi-revival in the 1990s, swing was back, and she and Justin had been invited to a re-creation party that evening. The late 1940s and early 1950s had been one of the best times in her life, and she loved to dance.
Her routine weekly check of the two empty Legacy Houses on Angel Island had gone well. Though the traditional home of all Legacy members in the region, she and Justin had moved into the city when two people had died because they had not gotten to a poltergeist infested house soon enough. Their large, airy apartment suited the two much better anyway.
Luckily, the pseudo-Hellmouth on the island was behaving, and no random spirits had decided to make the place a new home. That much power in one place seemed to have an adverse affect when there were no humans in permanent residence. Of course, even if she and Justin had lived on Angel Island spirits still would have been a problem. Though Justin was slightly closer than Victoria, neither could be considered human in preternatural terms.
She unlocked the door and stepped into the main room, the brilliant light from the sunset streaming in through the floor to ceiling windows on the opposite side of the apartment. The presence of another Immortal swept through her, but she easily recognized Justin’s teal-blue aura. The first thing she noticed was that the small trunk they used as a coffee table was missing. So was the framed picture of she and Justin laughing together at the beach that usually held a place of honor on the mantle – it was one of Justin’s most prized possessions. Nothing else had been touched.
Victoria headed towards the bedrooms, a nagging suspicion in the back of her mind. With a cursory knock on the doorframe, she walked into Justin’s room to find him packing. After staring at him for a few moments, she asked, “What the bloody hell are you doing?” in a quiet voice. Part of her didn’t quite want to find out.
Justin finished placing his carefully wrapped backup sword into his weapon bag before looking up at her. The trunk, obviously full, sat open at the foot of his bed. His empty closet stood open. “I’m going to Great Britain. I need to go.”
“No,” Victoria whispered, shaking her head in denial. She turned and walked back out into the living room. Justin immediately jumped up to follow.
“Toria,” he started, placing a hand on her shoulder. She shrugged him off and went to stand by the windows. She stared silently out at the royal blue sky.
Suddenly, she whirled to face him. “Why? Why, Justin? You have no stake in this, yet you still go.” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I dreamt about it, two nights ago. You died, and I couldn’t save you.”
“What?” There was a distinct note of surprise in Justin’s voice. Victoria may have been telekinetic, but he was the one known for having precognitive dreams. In fact, it was rare for Victoria to even dream at all.
“You were in a room, and there were men in uniforms surrounding you. One of them had a sword…” She shrugged helplessly. “I could see it, but I couldn’t stop it. You don’t have to have a part in this war. Just let it be!”
Though he hated to do it, Justin drew his ace. Taking a deep breath, he said, “And what about you? 2006 – the year Arthur Freeman was assassinated. Did I say anything when you disappeared for two months without any word, and we were all worried sick? No. Do I know that you did it? Yes.”
“That’s not fucking fair,” Victoria snarled. Now Justin knew she was extremely pissed off – she rarely cursed that severely. “So you didn’t approve. But how many lives did I save by killing him? How many more riots and battles did I prevent?” By now she was yelling at him.
The two stood stock still for a few moments, eyes locked. Victoria didn’t react when both Immortals felt the presence of another of their kind, but Justin spun around at the sound of the opening door.
In the single day that the lines to Europe had been open, Bryan Cutler and James O’Leary received a mass of letters from friends, including one from Sarah MacGreggor. Both had been shocked by the revelation that she, going under the name Maeve Wallace, was rallying the Scots against the English. Knowing that Victoria and Justin had probably gotten word of the rebellion through the Legacy, and then remembering a conversation the two had had with Justin a few weeks before, Bryan decided it was pertinent to go see the younger Immortals. Jim hadn’t wanted to get involved – he didn’t think anything would happen – but he knew Bryan wouldn’t stop worrying until they checked on their friends.
And Bryan had been right. The two men heard the yelling out the open kitchen window while still halfway down the stairs. Expertly ignoring Bryan’s triumphant “I told you so” glare, Jim charged up the stairs with Bryan right on his heels.
He carefully opened the door with the extra key hidden under the mat and entered with Bryan close behind. Justin immediately relaxed when he saw them, but Victoria ignored their arrival. Instead, she was staring furiously at Justin, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.
Her best friend turned back towards her. “So what do you expect me to do, Victoria?” Now he too was getting angry, and it was evident in his voice. “Ignore what I believe? When has either of us ever done that? Never. And I’m not going to start now.”
Victoria stared at him, the pain and anger flashing in her eyes. In her heart, she knew that he would not stay. But who was she to not make a last ditch effort? She had only done this once before, and Justin twice – it wasn’t so much a try to get the other to give in, but to show that they cared. A close friend had once called it twisted logic. Of course, when was anything the two did considered normal?
She reached inside her coat with gray eyes never wavering from Justin’s blue ones and unsheathed her sword. Bryan and Jim glanced at each other automatically, each reminding the other that they could not interfere. Justin merely stood still, confident that she would never attack with a sword. But he still wondered what the hell she was doing – then he caught on and inwardly groaned. Victoria stalked smoothly forward until she was a mere few feet away from him. She dropped the sword at his feet onto the carpet where it landed with a dull thud and moved quickly back.
“I’m afraid, Justin,” she said softly. “Afraid that you’ll die. You’re listening to your feelings, and I’m listening to my heart. I can’t live without you, love.” A tear made its way down her face, mirroring the trail already on Justin’s cheek. “If you’re going to get yourself killed, you have to kill me first.”
And Justin gave the same answer that had been given each of the three times before. “No.”
Victoria leaned forward and gently kissed the cheek of her closest friend in the world, and then walked past the three men, out into the night.
Time seemed to stretch into forever, but only a few seconds actually passed. With a cry, Justin dropped to his knees and reached for Victoria's sword. He clutched the hilt like a lifeline and pressed it to his cheek. Tears streamed unheeded down his cheeks.
The two older Immortals glanced at each other. With a nod, Jim headed out the door after Victoria, and Bryan walked over to Justin. Crouching next to the apparent teenage boy, he placed a gentle hand on his shoulder in silent support.
After a few minutes of quiet sobbing, Justin pulled away from Bryan. “I shouldn’t have done it,” he said in a dull voice. “I shouldn’t have pressed her. We’ve both pulled this stunt before; you’d think after three times we would learn that it doesn’t work.”
Bryan stood and hauled a shaky Justin to his feet. The taller man still held onto Victoria’s sword. He gazed unseeing out the window for a few seconds, then shook himself slightly. “I have to go finish packing. My transport leaves in the morning.”
He turned away, and Bryan gently grabbed his arm. “Hey,” the older Immortal said quietly. “It’s not your fault, Justin. You’re doing what you have to do.”
Justin shrugged and sighed. “It doesn’t make me feel any better, but I do appreciate the effort, Bryan.” He held out Victoria’s sword, and Bryan took it. “Make sure she gets this, will you? It’d kind of suck if she got killed right now.” The other man nodded, and Justin headed slowly back towards his bedroom.
Jim did not really expect to find Victoria – she was a master at disappearing when she was angry. But there she was, sitting at the bottom step with knees drawn up to her chest and head resting on her arms. The older Immortal sat down silently next to her. Bryan might be the psychologist, but Jim knew that Victoria needed a friend more than a counselor right now. She hated being psychoanalyzed anyway.
“I don’t know what to do, Jim,” she finally whispered. “I desperately don’t want him to go, but I can’t stop him either.” Victoria wiped damp cheeks with the bottom of her sleeve. “He hasn’t been in a real, *human* war for almost a hundred years. Only Legacy stuff.”
Jim wrapped an arm around Victoria and pulled her closer to him. She gratefully rested her head on his shoulder. “I can’t promise that everything will be okay,” he said quietly, “but I do trust Justin’s ability to take care of himself. He’s one of the most capable Immortals I know of when it comes to getting himself out of trouble.”
“But he’s like me. Just as adept at getting himself *into* that trouble into the first place.” Sighing, Victoria pulled the unadorned silver ring off of her right thumb. In a way, it had been a gift from two of her favorite men – Bryan had crafted it and Justin had given it to her. It had been a gift from Justin that he had asked Bryan to make for the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the day they had first met. The inside was engraved with the words “Love Eternal.” She pressed it to her lips in a silent kiss and then placed it in Jim’s waiting hand.
“What should I tell him?” Jim asked quietly. He had seen the two Immortals fight before. Everything from simple arguments to screaming matches, and even an all out fistfight once. But this was the first time he had seen one ever leave the other.
Victoria pulled reluctantly away from her temporary support and rose to her feet. Looking down at her friend with sorrow in her eyes, she said, “Tell him…tell him that if he dies, so will I. And that I will always love him.”
At that, she disappeared into the darkness.
Part 3
Paris, 2071
“…And so Kane says to me, ‘Wait a second. If you die, can I have your car?’” Earth Borne, Head Precept of the Legacy, recounted to Victoria. She immediately burst out laughing.
“Hell, no!” Victoria managed to gasp out between laughs. “Former student or no, that gorgeous Mustang you drive is *so* mine!”
“Yeah, but I’m his hero!” Earth retorted with a wide grin. They were relaxing on the back porch of the Head Precept’s private cottage on the Paris Legacy House estate, enjoying the afternoon sun and an excellent lunch. The two Immortals had not seen each other outside of a Legacy emergency for over fifteen years, and were busy catching up. Apparently Kane Nalamas, Victoria’s former student, had decided to follow in his personal hero Earth’s footsteps and become a specialized demon hunter for the Legacy. He and Earth had faced a Geredex demon recently, and Victoria found the whole story quite amusing.
“So where is Kane now?” Victoria asked. “I got a note right before I left San Francisco that said he was heading for Australia. Any clue why?”
“You know he’s obsessed with aliens and flying saucers and the rest of that strange unexplained stuff,” Earth replied with a roll of his eyes. “He wants to go check some things he’s heard of in Australia -- something about a big rock. He said he’d be back within the next two months, but that being already *five* months ago…”
“Yeah, we won’t hear from him for another year at the least.” She shrugged. “Well, all the Houses down there know him, and he’s got a key to the ranch. Our caretaker knows him too, so he’ll be alright,” Victoria said. “But seriously! I mean, I believe that life exists in other parts of the universe, but I highly doubt they’ve ever visited our little insignificant planet.”
“There’s enough strange things wandering around for me to have to worry about invading aliens from outer space,” Earth said. “Demons, ghosts, vampires…” he added with a wink at Victoria.
“Immortals,” she said with a returning wink. “But you just gotta love those vampires.”
“Yes, especially the Soulless.” The two laughed, for Victoria’s own form of vampirism was of the Soulless variety. Then Earth continued. “Speaking of heroes, you still hanging out with Cutler and O’Leary?”
Victoria shrugged. “We didn’t speak much after…after Justin left. I let them know I was heading for Europe, but no details.”
“Okay, so spill,” Earth said. “Why *did* Justin leave? And where is he now, exactly? I like to keep track of the members of the Legacy. Especially when they have such ties around the hearts of one of my closest friends.”
“I really don’t know, Earth,” she replied slowly. “He said he was heading for Great Britain to help out with the Gaelic Rebellion. I left that evening and spent the night at Angel Island. When I got back the next day, he was long gone. As for exactly why he left – like I have any clue. One of his feelings, that he just had to go.”
“Speaking as one who is subject to such premonitions himself,” Earth said quietly. “I can understand that. I also knew that you two were due for a fight this huge. When did you tell me your last one was? Right after World War Two?”
She nodded reluctantly. “He went to the ranch in Australia, and I hid out in Greece.” She gave a derisive snort of laughter. “The two of us are going to turn into another Bryan and Jim. Spectacular fights once every century or so. You really do need to meet them someday, Earth.”
The phone at Earth’s elbow suddenly rang, and Victoria gestured for him to pick it up. She knew he had been expecting an important call, and he nodded his thanks as he asked, “Hello? This is Earth.”
Victoria watched her friend as he spoke, studying his classically handsome face. Earth was right; he was one of her closest friends. Not because they knew each other extremely well, but because they understood each other. Both had mercenary exteriors and a confusing multitude of alliances with other Immortals, vampires, elves…a list that went on and on. It was a lifestyle many people couldn’t balance or even grasp. They had been mistaken for father and daughter more than once because of sheer personality, but with his black hair and brown eyes, Earth looked nothing like Victoria.
“Okay, I’ll let her know. Thanks, Beth.” Earth switched off the phone and looked up at Victoria. “Good news. My dear brother has decided that he’s sick of Edinburg, and wants to go back to civilization, and is, by the way, pissed at me for sticking him in such a barbaric place as his first solo Legacy assignment. So you get to take over the Edinburg House and he’ll be stationed in London. Emma Robbins, our current London operative, is willing to take over for the Free State of California.”
She heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Von,” she muttered. By some twist of fate, Earth had been adopted along with another pre-Immortal a little over fifteen hundred years ago, and the two still considered themselves brothers. Victoria had met Erik Ludwig von Strausse in St. Petersburg a few short years before the Russian Revolution, and the two had kept in touch ever since. She met Earth when she first joined the Legacy and he and Von had delighted in shocking her with the fact that they were brothers. She grinned at Earth. “Of course, now I owe both he and Emma. Wait, I know: California has been stable for a few years now, so I recommend sending over a full team. Especially since she’s not an Immortal.”
“Well, she is a werepanther – the really long-lived kind – but that’s still a good idea.” Earth wrote a note to himself in his ever-present notebook and glanced at his watch. “Ugh, I have a meeting in fifteen minutes. Anyway, I’ll book a transport for you to London to brief Emma afterwards. Then you can find your own way into enemy territory. I’ll arrange for your things still in San Francisco to be put into storage.”
“You don’t agree with the Rebellion, do you.” It was more of a statement than a question.
“Not really. But that might be because I was raised in the presence of the great king Arthur.” Earth grinned at her. “By the way, in Von’s last letter he asked me to tell you that your book Arthur and Avalon is being reprinted again in Germany. You’re still letting that madman handle your assets?”
“Oh, and he doesn’t have control over yours?” Victoria shot back. “He likes to play with money, especially when it’s not his own. And he always manages to turn a profit. Look at how much he’s made you in the past ten years alone with that one stock he found.” She had given Von control of her money when she became involved in World War Two. After he managed to nearly double her funds in the 1950s on the American stock market, she’d never quite gotten around to taking it back. Except for a nest egg of one million British pounds in a Swiss account, he had the codes for everything.
“By the way, I got around to finally reading your Masters thesis,” Earth said amiably in a sudden conversation twist. “Really, Toria, a degree in European mythology? That’s a far cry from Mathematics *and* English. And you managed to quote yourself so much that I’m surprised they didn’t call you up on plagiarism.”
“Well, when one has written four books on Arthurian legend, and then decides to write her thesis on it…even though I was going under a different name, I couldn’t help but use every means at my disposal.” She smiled innocently. “And I did use the proper quotation format.”
Earth shook his head in amusement. “Well, I need to get going. Duty calls and all that. We still on for dinner tonight?” He stood up and began loading dishes onto the tray.
She nodded and waved him away from the dishes. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of cleanup. I promised to help Beth with some research up at the House, but I’ll meet you back here at seven. And remember to wear a tie this time! I don’t want to get kicked out of there again – I love their desserts!”
Earth laughed as he headed off the porch and began to jog back down the path to the main House, tossing off a wave behind him.
Author’s Note: A big hug goes to Badb for the idea of Victoria quoting her own books – I think it’s hilarious. You’re now a member of the Paris Legacy House, Beth!
Part 4
London, 2072
“…At last known report by legitimate sources, General Maeve Wallace is at one of two locations: her main headquarters in Edinburg or en route to Inverness for a meeting with an Irish representative. As the Inverness meeting may be a guise, my recommendation is a mission to Edinburg by one operative.”
Justin printed out the report and signed the bottom. “Lieutenant Commander Maximillian A. Reed.” It had been awhile since he last used that particular alias, and it was one not easily recognized in Immortal circles. In fact, as far as he knew, only two Immortals would even know it was he. But he had absolutely no clue where Victoria was, and he doubted Cassandra was looking for him.
Standing, Justin placed the report into a special folder and straightened his uniform. It felt good to be back in this particular uniform, that of a British Naval officer. Specifically, one attached to the British Intelligence Agency, MI6. While World War One had not exactly been *fun*, it was one of the favorite times of his life.
He left his office and walked down the hallway, snapping a salute to two passing commanders. They both saluted distractedly back, and kept walking, deep in conversation.
The double agent smiled grimly to himself. One of the officers had been Commander Jordan, Agent 009. His last mission had just failed miserably, in part by the false information Justin had been feeding MI6.
At least nobody had died this time. The last mission sent because of Justin’s reports had caused three deaths – two of them civilians. He had called in sick and moped around his flat for four days, even resorting to calling Cassandra for moral support. She had not been around at the moment, but Justin had spent a good few hours trading depressing stories with her packmate, Johnny Utah. At least Utah’s wife Gwena hadn’t been there. She most likely knew about their separation, and he didn’t think he could face Victoria’s mother at the moment.
His secretary waved Justin into the captain’s office, and he stood at attention as the white-haired man finished jotting something on a notepad. Captain Kinley glanced up a Justin and waved a hand dismisively. “Relax, Reed. Grab a seat, in fact. I want to speak with you.”
Now *that* was a blast from the quite recent past…
“Relax, Justin. In fact, grab a seat. I need to speak with you,” Admiral Connor MacLeod of the Irish Republican Army Air Corps said, gesturing towards the sofa in the main room to the quarters he had been assigned to during his visit to Edinburg. Connor fixed the two men a drink and handed Justin his before taking a seat in the chair across from the couch.
“Thank you, sir,” Justin said quietly as he accepted the drink. Connor laughed his peculiar staccato laugh.
“No rank right now. I have a mission to discuss with you before I recommend it to Sarah, but it’s purely on a voluntary basis,” the older Immortal said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Didn’t you used to work for MI6?”
“British Intelligence?” Justin inquired. “Yeah, back in World War One. Why?”
“Well, Duncan and I had dinner together the last time we were in the same city, and we bounced some ideas around. He mentioned that the ones to know the most about the Rebellion would be MI-6,” Connor explained. “At the time, I just laughed and said, ‘If only we could get a spy to infiltrate the spies.’”
A smile began to spread on a Justin’s face. “That, sir, is an excellent idea. It was over a hundred years ago, but I’m sure I can pull it off.”
“Yes, sassenach that you are, they won’t suspect you at all,” Connor mused. “We can feed you false information for you to report, and you can tell us what they’ve assumed about our movements.”
“Sounds like a plan. We can go tell the good General Wallace together,” Justin replied, and the two men clinked glasses in salute.
Smiling inwardly, Justin did as directed. “Yes, sir,” he replied.
Kinley pushed the papers away and looked squarely at Justin. “Lieutenant Commander Maximillian A. Reed. Your friends call you Max, and you’ve been very secretive about your middle name. Mind if I ask why?”
With an embarrassed smile, Justin replied, “It’s the name of an old family friend. I haven’t seen him in awhile.” The captain gave him a speculative look. “It’s Asher,” Justin elaborated. “My middle name is Asher.”
The captain nodded slowly. “So what does the ‘M’ stand for?”
“Excuse me, sir?” Justin was rather confused by the direction this conversation was taking.
“The ‘M’ in your real name. Justin M. Le Faye.” Justin stared at him, his face grown cold. “Don’t look so surprised, Reed.” Kinley held up his wrist to display an old tattoo in the shape of the Watcher symbol. Justin relaxed, but only slightly. “I won’t blow your cover, don’t worry. But I felt it wise to approach you since I am sending you on a mission that might compromise your secret. I tried to get it reassigned to Lt. Commander Travis, but my commander felt you would be the better choice.”
“What is the mission then, Captain?” Justin asked slowly. Please let it not be to General Wallace, he thought fervently to himself. Being a double agent was hard enough. Being a triple agent would probably kill him if he were sent back to Scotland.
“British Intelligence has known about the secret society known as the Legacy for many years. We have reason to believe that it is on the side of the Scots, and we need someone to infiltrate their London base,” the captain explained. “Your involvement in the Legacy is not known to us, Le Faye, but as Lt. Commander Reed, you still have an explainable way in.”
Justin took a deep breath. “Yes, technically I am still a member to the Legacy, sir. But this is wartime, and the only Legacy member stationed at the London estate will be another…of my race.”
“Ah, I understand,” Kinley replied. “So, tell the Legacy you are no longer working for MI6, and tell MI6 what is going on within the Legacy. You will receive your orders in the next two days. I trust you can find your own way under cover, Lieutenant. Dismissed.”
Justin left the office, a worried expression on his face. At least Captain Kinley had not known that he actually *was* working for the Scots. Ooh boy, things are going to get complicated now…
Two weeks later, Justin arrived at the door to the old London Legacy estate. Earth Borne now knew everything, including the fact that Justin had uncontrollably turned triple agent, to a degree. Of course, that had amused the hell out of the older Immortal. It was not until Justin arrived at the door that he realized Earth had never told him the name of the London agent stationed in London.
When the door opened, Justin groaned inwardly. Erik von Strausse – one of Victoria’s few friends that he did not share. Von didn’t much care for him, and the feeling was mutual.
“Oh yeah, Earth said you’d be here today,” Von said with a dejected sigh. “Okay, here’s the deal: make yourself at home and stay the hell out of my way. You’re not Justin Le Faye; you’re Lt. Max Reed, codename Copper. That means you don’t help me, and you don’t get any Legacy work unless I get completely swamped. Any arguments and you’re out on your ass. Talk to Earth if you don’t like it.” At that, Von turned and walked back into the House, leaving Justin to get himself settled in.
A few weeks later, Justin was royally pissed off. Von would not talk to him, and he couldn’t do any Legacy work. And Earth wouldn’t help him out on that one. Even with his expert hacking skills, he could not access any of the computers in the control room because the holographic wall would not let him pass. He *knew* Von had had to get rid of one of those mysterious Internet spirits two days ago – and those were Justin’s specialty.
That evening, he walked into Von’s office and waited silently for the older Immortal to put down his book and acknowledge his presence. When Von finally looked up, Justin snarled, “What the hell is going on? Even if I am a spy, I can still work. You’re not even letting me-“
“I’m not letting you do what?” Von practically exploded, like a time bomb that had been waiting to go off, and startling Justin into taking a sudden step back. “I can’t stop you from doing anything. Nobody can stop you from doing anything you want, apparently. Not even the one woman on this planet who cares for you, you selfish bastard.”
Justin merely gaped at him, but now Von was on a roll. “You have no idea how hard it is, knowing where you are and not being able to tell her. She still thinks you’re going to die, and I’m almost tempted to take your damn head myself for what you’re putting my little sister through.”
That startled Justin back to his senses. “She is not your sister,” he immediately shot back.
“Oh? And who’s supposed to replace you?” By this time, Von had also stood, and both men stared at each other in hostility across the desk.
“Why do you care?” Justin asked insolently.
“Because you obviously don’t, son of a bitch that you are. Two hundred and fifty years together and you still don’t understand her.”
“And who are you to think that you do?”
Von stared at him, eyes narrowed. “Let me just say this. There are a lot of people pissed off at you right now. My brother and I are only two of them. Victoria has a lot of people who care about her, and the crap she’s going through hurts all of us.” The two men were silent for a few seconds.
“Where is she?” Justin asked.
“Do you promise to go back to her?”
“I won’t do that. Not for you.”
“Then I can’t tell you.” Von paused. “Take a piece of advice from an old man who has loved Victoria from the first day he laid eyes on her but knows he doesn’t stand a chance against the man who really has her heart. She is special…don’t ever forget that.”
Justin nodded slowly. “I’ve always known that.”
“No, you’re too close to see it,” Von responded amiably. Justin slowly began to think that his head would be safe from the antique broadsword on display behind the desk. “The problem is, you’re both special. Like those two Highlanders, or something.”
Sighing, the younger Immortal said, “So I should just go.”
Von gave a short nod. “Yeah, I think that would be a good idea.”
Justin turned without a word and walked out of the office, already composing a resignation letter to Captain Kinley. It was time to get out of this damn war. Who knew, maybe Admiral MacLeod had need of another pilot.
Part 5
York, 2073
The city was bustling, to say the least.
The war was finally over. Scotland and Wales had won their independence, as had Northern Ireland. Part of it was in thanks to the rest of Ireland, which had joined the battles three months before a decisive victory at York. But Victoria knew that this didn’t necessarily mean the war was completely over. There was still a treaty to pound out, argue over, and sign by all sides. At least an armistice had already been agreed on. Hopefully, things would not erupt back into bloodshed.
Victoria had left Edinburg for York the instant she heard the elating news. Though a Jacobite, she never played an active role in the Rebellion. Her hands had been full keeping track of the many minor demons and such who were attracted to the areas of violence. In the past few months alone, it felt like she had crossed the country at least a dozen times, careful not to get in the way of the armed forces. But now was a time for celebration, and she wanted to hear the speeches the leaders of the army would make in person. It wasn’t often that she had the chance to be this near history in the making.
She easily slipped through the crowd of cheering people, huddling inside her coat. November this year was *cold*. By circling around through back alleys she was able to emerge back into the square near the stage. She commandeered a seat on top of a parked van and set her senses alert for any signs of danger. It wouldn’t do for any assassinations to take place during the victory speeches. Bad for morale and all that…
Gazing around at the mass of tartan, she caught a glimpse of another lone figure hanging onto a lamppost. The woman looked oddly familiar, but before Victoria could study her closer, a thundering cheer roared from the crowd.
There was Rob MacGreggor, general of the Scottish Lowland Army. Victoria cheered along with the people, but for a slightly different reason. Richie Ryan was a friend, and she was inordinately proud of the rather young Immortal for his successful involvement in the Rebellion. The two MacLeods were also on the platform, of course. Victoria would have been severely shocked if they hadn’t been. And the Druidess Fiona, one of her teacher Methos’ close friends. She had definitely come through in the end, leading the rest of Ireland.
The sad news of General Maeve Wallace’s death struck Victoria as she heard it in Richie’s speech. She’d been out of the loop for the past few days. But that’s when she realized why the woman on the lamppost was so familiar. She grinned and wished Sarah MacGreggor a mental congratulations, then cheered along as Connor MacLeod took the microphone.
But she started in surprise when Connor moved out of the way. There he was. Lurking quietly at the edge of the platform dressed in a pilot’s uniform. So that’s where he had gone after leaving London. Von hadn’t been able to tell her.
As if sensing her gaze, Justin turned his head slowly towards the van. Their eyes met over the sea of people and both of them froze.
Then a group of Irish soldiers had the same idea as Victoria and crowded onto the van with her. Released from the pressure of Justin’s eyes, Victoria jumped to the ground and ran unseeing into the nearest alley.
She crashed headlong into someone as she ran around the corner and both of them fell to the ground. When Victoria looked up, she saw a man lunge towards the dropped sniper rifle. Acting on instinct and extremely practiced reflexes she drew her gun and snarled at him to back off. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to pull up the weapon in time, the assassin immediately halted.
Imagined scenes flashed through Victoria’s mind. The assassin shooting Justin and the other Immortals on the stage. All of them waking up and their Immortality discovered. And finally to the dream she had just before Justin left San Francisco. Him kneeling in a room surrounded by men with a sword…
She screamed in rage and lunged towards the would-be assassin as the sound of cheering was again heard from the square.
A few hours later into the evening, a military patrol heard a feeble cry from the alleyway. When they investigated, they found a concussed man tied up with a note stuck to his chest. His rifle lay harmlessly nearby, empty of ammunition.
“This man tried to kill General Rob MacGreggor, among others,” Victoria had hastily scrawled on the piece of paper. “The war’s over, but you might not want to get too lax.” It was signed with her oldest codename, for lack of anything better and since it seemed especially appropriate – “Victory.”
Part 6
Australia, 2076
The ranch in Australia’s Northern Territory looked as it always did. Quiet, peaceful, and utterly beautiful. From the Daly River that bordered the western edge of the property to the surrounding ranches, there was a sense of home that did not come with the other places Justin owned. Only the forest in Wales they called Avalon was closer. While all the other places he and Victoria could call home in the world were owned separately (he still had the place in Paris), Full Circle Ranch belonged to both of them.
He jumped off the back of the aging truck and grabbed his two bags. With a wave and a smile to the rancher he’d hitched a ride from town from, Justin started walking up the familiar drive. Soon the complex came into view. Originally starting life as a simple house, barn, and miles of fencing, the ranch had grown enormously in the past two hundred years. The old house was gone, replaced by a sprawling estate. It was built in the shape of a cross, with Justin and Victoria’s private wing, the caretaker’s wing, the common rooms, and extra guestrooms. Beyond it were the barns, stables, separate kitchen building, and acres of fields for the cattle and horses. The architecture within and without was an eclectic mixture of Victorian English, colonial American, and elegant Japanese, not to mention all the Aborigine artwork the current caretaker’s wife collected.
Justin heard a door slam somewhere within, then excited yelling. The caretaker’s two youngest children came running towards him, both shouting “Uncle Jus’, Uncle Jus’!” The security cameras at the gate had obviously noted his arrival. He dropped his bags and caught Lizra and Jon into a big hug. He was surprised the seven and five year olds still remembered him from his two month long visit the summer before.
“Hey, little guys,” he laughed. “Help me bring my stuff in the house, will you? I’ve got presents for later.” The two squealed in happiness and each grabbed a bag. “No peeking!” Justin called as they ran back into the house.
He heard laughing and turned towards the porch. There stood Kane Nalamas, Victoria’s former student. He jumped off the steps and came towards the older man. “Uncle Jus’!” he parodied before also pulling him into a hug. “Long time, no see, man; I was in Melbourne when you were here last year. How’ve you been?”
“Better,” Justin admitted. “Things have been hectic. Thought I’d come down and relax, get back into the horse business for a few years. Why are you here?” Then he noticed that Kane’s left arm was bound tightly to his side over his old T-shirt. “And what happened?”
Kane gave a one shouldered shrug. “Melbourne House came across a massive nest of sub-demons a few months ago. My arm and side got pretty gnawed on.” Justin winced in sympathy, but Kane waved him away. “It wasn’t my right arm, and I should regain full use of it. At least it doesn’t hurt anymore.” One of the hazards of becoming Immortal so young was a very odd healing factor. Some injuries took a slower time to heal than they would on an “adult” Immortal, but it was more than made up for in other ways. Kane’s pyrokinesis, for instance… “Yeah, meanwhile I’m just hiding out down here.”
The two men headed into the house and towards the bar that ran across the back of the living room. The temperatures in the Northern Territory being what they were, a small refrigerator was always stocked with water and other drinks. It was only early November, but Justin was parched from his ride out to the ranch in the hot wind. Kane leaned across the bar and accepted his own glass with a nod of thanks.
“You just missed David and Ellie,” the younger Immortal said after taking a sip. “They went over to the Iverson’s and took Jason with them. I’m babysitting Lizra and Jon.” He paused for a few seconds, studying Justin silently. “You’re not the only one who appeared down here recently to relax, though.”
Justin froze and slowly placed his glass on the bar. His hand started shaking slightly, much to his dismay. “She’s here?” he asked quietly. Kane nodded. He closed his eyes in defeat. “She laid a false trail. I tracked her to Cairo and was all set to leave her be. Damn.”
Kane gave a small smile. “Just shows how much you two really belong together. She’s out by the river fields.” He placed his empty glass in the sink behind the bar and headed for the caretaker’s wing, shouting that Jon and Lizra had better not be making too much of a mess.
Ten minutes later, Justin was riding bareback on one of his prize Arabians towards the Daly River. He was both terrified and elated at the prospect of seeing Victoria again. Part of his mind was telling him to turn around and run away while he still had the chance, but he steadfastly ignored it.
And there she was, perched on a fence and watching two foals play together in the fading sun. Justin nudged the horse to a stop and climbed off. Ground tethering her, he fed her the carrots he had grabbed from the stable in an effort to delay the inevitable. She whickered softly into his hand, and he patted her neck fondly. Then he turned and approached Victoria.
She knew he was there, of course. She hadn’t turned around to identify him, but with her ability to see auras, there was no need. He leaned against the fence, facing the opposite direction. In a silent acknowledgement of his presence, Victoria swung her legs over the fence until they both were gazing silently at the dimming sky and appearing stars, the sunset warming their backs.
Justin pulled a simple silver ring out of his pocket and clutched it in his hand. The silver chain on his neck felt oddly light without it hanging there as it had for the past six years. “Love eternal,” he mouthed silently, then gently picked up Victoria’s hand and replaced the ring on her thumb.
With a cry she jumped off the fence and wrapped her arms around Justin’s neck, burying her face in his shoulder. “I missed you,” she whispered into the side of his neck. “Oh, I missed you so much. I was so scared.” He merely held her silently; relishing the familiar and comforting feel of her body close to his.
Reluctantly, Victoria pulled away. She raised her hand swiftly, then closed it in a tight fist. Justin immediately knew he had just been a thought away from a harsh slap on the face. “But why in the nine circles of hell did you do it?” she asked, a look of anguish clear on her face. “Its MI6, Justin! I’m a better spy than you are, and you know it. What gave you the bright idea to play double agent? And then trying to spy on the Legacy, of all things-!”
Justin reached up a gentle hand to cup her face as she spoke, and then leaned in to kiss her. She immediately fell silent and returned the kiss passionately. Then Victoria pulled away and gazed deeply into his eyes. “I love you. You know that, right?”
He nodded once. “I never forgot. Because I will always love you, too.”
~finis~
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This page was last updated: 2.21.5 ~jlg~