Disclaimer: All the characters from the "Magnificent Seven" TV series are property of Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide.
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When they were all together again, it was mutually decided that the artifact should be returned to the Indian village from which Catkin had originally stolen in. Tanner had every intention of making good on the promise to return the sacred relic even if a general consensus had not been made and Larabee was perfectly aware that Tanner was not above taking the object back himself. Chris could appreciate that because his Vin was no different. In any century, Vin Tanner was a man of principle and Chris Larabee whether now or a hundred years in the future would not have him any other way.
The relic, a curious construct of Anasazi design with turquoise stones in place of its eyes shimmered with refracted light as the sun bounced off its iridescent surface. Chris could well appreciate why the Indians had described it as being capable of having rays shooting out of its eyes. The artifact was a curiosity, nothing more, with no real value to anyone except the Indians who worshipped it as a sacred icon of their religion. What was more interest to the treasure hunters was the inscription in Spanish of the next clue.
"You're up Vin," Chris remarked as he handed the statue to the sharpshooter. After retrieving the statue, it was decided to put as much distance from them and Catkin, since the man might connect the appearance and disappearance of Chris in his saloon to the theft of the statue from his office. Taking a brief sojourn not too far from the Indian Village, the travelers decided this was as a good a time as any to change clothes and get some food, while perusing their latest clue in the search for Piedra.
"Okay," Vin said taking the statue in his hands as Casey slid next to the sharpshooter. They had both agreed to confer on the translation since the interpretation had to be precise. He examined it closely before speaking out the inscription.
In the realm of the Old People
Can the light of the Sun God
Find the Stygian Sea
And only the mind of cunning can swim its dark water
"That read right to you, Casey?" Vin asked, wrinkling his brow because the words were so cryptic and he hated puzzles of any kind. Vin was of the belief that if one could not say what they mean directly, one should not say anything at all.
"Yes," Casey nodded, just as confused. "That's what it looks like to me."
"So what does that mean?" Dunne exclaimed.
"Well let's take it apart," Larabee remarked, since the tactic seemed to have worked previously. "Old People, I would say that they are Indians right?" He glanced at anyone else who might have thought otherwise. No one disagreed but Tanner was way ahead of them because suddenly everything that he had spoken to the Indians when they had first learnt about the statue made perfect sense.
"I think I know what it means," Tanner announced and immediately cut short any further discussion.
"What?" Alexandra looked at her fiancée, aware that he seldom made such declarations unless he was absolutely certain about what he knew.
"The Indians said that when they put in its place of honor in the middle of the village, the evening sun would hit the statue and rays would shoot out of its eyes."
"The light of the Sun God," Ezra declared, in understanding of where Tanner was headed. "The beams of light must point the way to La Piedra."
"So, all we have to do is to replace the statue and wait for evening?" JD asked.
"More or less," Vin replied.
"Well then," Buck grinned, eager to resume their journey once again. "What are we waiting for?"
The statue was returned to the center of the village square, where a shrine of sorts had been fashioned out of stone for its permanent habitation. The Indians were more than thrilled to have the Sun God back in their midst and were utterly cooperative in allowing the treasure hunters to remain for the evening ritual where the Sun God would speak to them with his unearthly light.
As anticipated, Tanner had been absolutely correct in his interpretation of the clue. After they had replaced the statue and waited for the evening, the sun in its rapid descent behind the horizon shone, its last rays of the day into the turquoise eyes of the Sun God. The effect was startling: a powerful beam of energy shot out of the statues optics, harmless in itself but creating an iridescent line of sapphire which streaked past the boundaries of the small village and aimed directly towards the emerald colored hills in the distance.
There was no question that the Sun God had shown them the path for the next leg of their journey and after sharing a celebratory meal with the Indians for the return of their holy relic; they set off once again.
"I don't know about you, but this does not look promising," the Fox remarked.
Larabee could not blame the thief for that assertion considering that they were standing before the hill the Sun God had sent them, a distance they were able to cross in record time mostly because they were so enthused about solving the mystery of the Piedra. Despite the danger and trials they seemed to be facing, Larabee could not deny he felt the same rush of adrenaline as the rest of his companions as they inched closer and closer towards their goal. Still, the obstacle before them seemed impossible to traverse. Well, not impossible but pointless.
As instructed, when the Sun God's rays of light had directed them, the group had ridden towards the hill and found a fissure through the grass and foliage that led inside the earth. At first, the journey seemed straightforward enough with only one path to follow. However, they soon came to the banks of what appeared to be some kind of underground waterway. Because it was so dark, they could see almost nothing of its end and could not journey any further.
"I guess this is the Stygian Sea." Casey remarked, leaning over the edge of the water and wetting her fingertips. Her hand disappeared from view as soon as she broke its surface and it felt not at all like water but something thick and viscous that made her withdraw her fingers immediately and shudder.
"How far does it go?" Someone else asked and Larabee guessed it might have been Inez.
"I don't know," Chris shook his head and met the gaze of his counterpart, coming to the same conclusion that none of them would be going for a swim.
"Let's find out." Nathan remarked and picked up a pebble from the ground before flinging it as far as he could into the darkness. The sound of the pebble hitting the water made a splash in the distance and gave them some idea of how thick this wall of water was.
"Jesus," Vin exclaimed. "This thing could be huge."
"And I don't think it's water either." Alex added when she made the same examination that Casey did.
"What do you mean?" Ezra looked at her and then at the black pool in front of them.
"I think it's some kind of sludge." She answered.
"So we could not even swim across it, even if one of us was dumb enough to make the attempt?" Mary glanced at Vin with a hint of a smile.
"Why are you looking me?" The sharpshooter asked somewhat offended when the others stared at him with the same knowing expression.
"Well, let's see," Buck mused. "Hands up, anyone who is a danger freak." He returned.
"Mr. Wilmington," Standish suddenly spoke up. "If you would please remain silent for a moment, I am attempting to discern what that sound is."
Tanner, who had the sharpest hearing of them all, turned to the gambler immediately. "What sound?"
Standish was not paying attention to the tracker as he strained to identify the noise that was coming towards them steadily. At first, he had thought it to be an aberration but on closer concentration, it became more defined and was almost certainly real. For a minute, he attempted to place what it was, approaching in the darkness, swishing fluid as it continued forward. Tanner's repeated questions had so far been ignored because Standish was trying hard to focus when suddenly the sound ceased.
By now, the concentration on his face told all the others that he was not pulling some elaborate ruse upon them, but truly believing that he was hearing something when the others could only hear empty silence.
"I can't hear it." Tanner looked up at Larabee bewildered, as Standish loomed closer to the shore, his features full of concentration.
"Its okay," Chris answered. "I don't think you're meant to hear it. I don't think any of us are." Chris faced his own Vin. "What did that clue say? Only the mind of the cunning?"
"Well that's Ezra," Larabee agreed.
"Then why can't I hear it?" Ezra asked.
"You're legal," the Fox replied. "Compared to him, you're a choir boy."
Ezra did not know whether that was a compliment or not, but he watched his counterpart staring into the darkness and knew something was happening even if he could not say what exactly.
Standish watched the ferry that was floating not too far from the shore, wondering why none of the others could see it. It was not as if a seven-foot behemoth, perched upon a black barge, wearing robes that looked not unlike the reaper's garment of choice could be easily missed. However, it appeared that he was the only one privy to the man or creature's presence and Standish swallowed, not liking that one bit at all.
Let's play a game.
The voice that spoke to him was raspy and old. It made Standish's hair stand on end just hearing it.
"Did you hear that?" Standish looked to his companions who wore confused expressions on their faces at his statement.
"Hear what, Ezra?" Julia asked. "We can't hear anything." Her emerald eyes showed her fear not just at the eeriness of it all, but also because she was afraid that this was one test he may not be able to pass if it meant traversing these dark depths.
"You mean you do not even see that vile creature in the barge?" Standish pointed.
The blank faces around him were answer enough.
"Ezra," Mary said suddenly. "We can't hear it. I think it's meant to be your part of the test. We can't see what you're seeing."
Let's play a game.
"What sort of game?" Standish returned, realising that there must be a reason the creature was so persistent in the question.
The oldest game.
"I'm afraid cards are my forte, Mister..." Standish said smoothly, trying to be glib to hide his fear.
I am a wolf, predatory hungry. What are you?
"I am a man." He answered not understanding.
"I am a wolf and I devour man. You lose.
"Wait! I understand," Standish cried out, finally comprehending what kind of game this was. "You did not explain the rules, surely I deserve another chance? After all, I sense you do not have opportunity for sport like this very often. Surely you would like a worthy opponent?"
There was silence and then an answer.
You begin.
Standish thought quickly because he had a feeling that he would only be able to use this argument against the creature once and once only. There had to be an angle he could play, a beginning he could use to make the creature follow the path and come to an ending to his benefit. He thought quickly, ignoring the others who were staring at him in confusion, wondering what he was talking about, but not daring to interfere. After what seemed like an eternity, he had it. If he succeeded, he would buy Josiah a drink when this was all over.
"I am the universe, creation itself. Life incarnate, beauty unparalleled. I am the living force of all that walks and breathes, I am life itself. " He stammered and prayed this was one gamble he would not lose.
I am entropy, the beast of destruction, chaos inspired, I am anti-life, the essence of Armageddon, I am misery and agony, I am the wound that makes all bleed.
There was a hint of smugness in his voice and Standish could tell the creature believed him trapped. Releasing a deep breath, he blinked once and gave his answer.
"I am hope."
There was no response for a few seconds and then finally a deep rumbling laughter seemed to fill the cavern and they could all hear it. It moved through the darkness like a physical presence and it reached deep into the soul with each aged chuckle.
You have beaten me. I will take you across.
The darkness surrounded the treasure seekers. Passage across the sludge was slow, as Charon—Casey's fitting name for their guide—propelled the barge across the river. The death-like figure loomed behind them, silent and foreboding. None of his human passengers made a sound, afraid to break the oppressive silence. Despite the chuckles that had filled the air as Charon admitted defeat, the grimly robed figure did not put them at ease. The humans were suddenly jarred when the barge hit the opposite bank. The men and women quickly scrambled off, grateful to be on land once more.
"How are we suppose to see... " Casey's whispered question was brought to an end when all around them, torches lit themselves.
The torches lit a single path through the darkness, forcing the ATF team and the peacekeepers to transverse the tunnel. And at the end, was literally the light at the end of the tunnel, but they were unprepared for what they would actually find at the end.
A cavern of gold.
Mountains of gold coins, statues, pottery, and weapons filled the cave. Chests overflowed with glittering gems and exquisite pieces of jewelry. And rising above the golden treasures, stood a magnificent gold statue of a dragon, its emerald eyes burned with the light of a hundred fires.
"Good Lord."
Larabee wasn't sure which Southerner had said it, but he was ready when Standish made a mad dash for the riches. The conman didn't even consider physically struggling with his leader, the man was taller, stronger, so he tried reasoning instead. "Mr. Larabee... "
"No." The one word rang with such tones of authority that Standish sighed with resignation.
To Larabee's left, Agent Ezra Standish had his arms full as well.
"C'mon, Ezra... I'll share with you." The Fox struggled within the circle of Ezra's arms, futilely lunging at the closest pile of gold.
"No."
The Fox finally ceased her struggles at his unyielding tone. "Damn choir boy."
Ezra grimly smiled. "If you insist, my dear, but a highly inaccurate description."
Buck grinned and slapped his partner on the shoulder. "But, Ez, you sing so purty!" The look the undercover agent threw his friend could have singed hair.
"Buck?"
"Ez?"
"Shut up."
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"What does the map say about this?" Alexandra leaned over a golden statue of a half-naked cherub, intently studying it, as she threw the question over her shoulder. Mary and Julia Pemberton stood shoulder to shoulder, staring at the leather map.
"According to this, 'the soul that died, has been reborn, shall see the light.'" Julia looked up, searching for any reaction to the riddle.
"Well, anybody see any light?" JD's voice echoed in the cavern as he, his twin, and Casey explored the mountains of gold.
"Nope."
"No."
"Not I."
"Me neither."
"You sure you're translating that right?" Chris asked, his eyes connecting with Mary's. It was strange for them to get this far in the hunt, only to be stopped now.
"Yes, Mr. Larabee, we're sure." Mary's tone was dry and her eyes challenged him to gainsay her. She might have had mind-blowing sex with Chris Larabee, but she wasn't about to be cowed by him.
Larabee watched the curious exchange between Chris and Mary and shook his head with a smile. But the smile slowly slipped from his face. Before him stood a person he never thought he would ever see again. "Sarah?"
Throughout the cavern, Larabee's whisper was heard and all heads turned to the blonde man.
Larabee was unaware of the scrutiny, he only had eyes for his first wife. She was as he remembered—her brown hair curled about her shoulders and her eyes shone with the same loving light as when she had been alive.
"Sarah?"
She smiled gently. "Hello, Christopher."
"Wha—what?"
"I'm here to help, darling, to help you pass the test."
"The test?" Larabee's mind couldn't fully understand what she was saying. He only knew that his dead beloved wife was standing before him. So many words surged in his mind, begging to be said. Questions about Adam, pleas for forgiveness screamed to be voiced. But before he could ask them, Sarah spoke.
"Christopher, you must take this sword and kill the monster." Sarah held out a beautifully crafted gold sword, its handle and hilt encrusted with gems.
"What monster?" As if in a trance, Larabee walked forward, his hand extended, ready to take the sword his first wife offered.
"CHRISSSSSSSS!!!!!!!"
Larabee spun at the scream and watched with horrified eyes as the huge golden dragon statue sprung to life, grabbing Tanner and Mary in its tremendous claws. Gun smoke filled the air as the others fired their weapons at the beast, but it remained unaffected.
"Christopher, you must take the sword. It is the only weapon that will kill the monster." Sarah's voice jolted Larabee out of his frozen state and he quickly reached for the sword, only to have his arm stopped.
"No, Larabee, she lies."
Larabee looked to his right and hatred raged through his veins. Standing before him was the man that had killed his family... Fowler.
"Bastard," Larabee hissed the word. The man in front of Larabee was the same man he had seen commit suicide, walking into a burning barn. Sarah stood next to her murderer without flinching, staring at both her husband and killer with no expression. Fowler still gripped Larabee's arm, not feeling the locked muscles in the arm.
"She lies," Fowler repeated his words and then held out a golden chalice. Larabee could see the crimson liquid inside. "Take it and drink in faith."
"He lies, Chris." Sarah's voice floated about him as she stepped forward, offering the sword once more. "The wine is poisoned and your friends are dying." With the sword, she pointed to the tableau unfolding behind them. The dragon continued to attack, sending bodies flying, roaring in anger. On the ground, Larabee could see Tanner lying broken and bleeding. In a corner, Buck's lifeless body slumped over JD's mangled body.
"No." The anguished whisper tore from the depths of Larabee's soul.
"To save them, you must destroy the monster." The woman once again offered the sword.
"To save them, you must drink." The man once again offered the chalice.
Larabee realized that this was his test—he had to choose between an instrument of death and an instrument of peace. Larabee looked from one face to another—one belonging to his cherished first wife, the other belonging to the one that took away his family—and he knew what he had to do.
"I'm sorry, Sarah."
"Here."
Larabee looked up to Chris holding out a whiskey bottle. He simply nodded his thanks and took the bottle. "You saw her too."
It wasn't a question but Chris nodded anyway. He, too, had seen Sarah offering Larabee the sword, while a man offered him the gold chalice. He, too, had seen the dragon attack their friends... but it was all an illusion. Everyone was alive and unharmed, the attack seen only by Chris Larabee's green eyes.
When Larabee had chosen the chalice and drank of its contents, a blinding light filled the room and the cavern's floor rumbled, sending the occupants into oblivion. When they awoke, the travelers found themselves in a clearing with the moon shining down on them. Clutched in Larabee's hand was the gold chalice.
"Vin and Casey still translating it?"
Chris grabbed the bottle and drank before nodding. It was evident that his Western counterpart did not want to talk about the incident in the golden cavern and was stalling for time by making conversation... sort of. "Taking a while 'cause the writing's so faded." On the chalice had been a Spanish inscription and was believed to be the first part of the next clue. Silence reigned for a time, then Chris broke it, knowing that he had to at least make an attempt. The head shrinks kept telling him that talking about it always helped... "You want to talk about it?"
"No."
"Me neither." What did shrinks know anyway?
Larabee took another deep drought of the Red Eye whiskey, thankful that he had the foresight to send the three youngest of their party to buy more supplies while Catkin's saloon was being searched. He sent a sideways look at his twin and changed the subject. "You and Mary had sex, didn't you?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?" Chris shrugged, seeing no reason why he should keep it from his twin—after all, in this time Mary and he were married and expecting a child.
Larabee smirked. "Been there, done her."
Chris returned the smirk. "Yeah, me too."
Larabee glanced sideways. "Have fun?"
"Well, she damn killed me, but it was definitely worth it." Chris grinned as he took another long gulp of the whiskey.
"At least she didn't try to throw half her office at you before having her way with you." Chris had no idea what Larabee was talking about but the look shared by the two men was enough to send both into fits of laughter.
"And what are you boys laughing about?" Mary's voice broke through the bushes followed by her body.
"Nothing!" Both men chorused, working hard to control their laughter. Mary simply raised a sleek eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest, and was surprised when Chris held out his arm, pulling her to him. Their lips met in a passionate kiss.
"If you don't plan on sharing her, I suggest you stop, 'cause I'm missing my wife right now."
Chris and Mary broke their kiss with a laugh at Larabee's droll words. Mary leaned over and kissed the gunslinger's stubble-roughened cheek then grabbed both their hands. "C'mon, Vin and Casey are done."
Those who bring God,
Those who bring Death,
Within their Hearts, they hold the Final Answer.
Within the Final Catechism, lies the Stone of the Ages.
Casey looked up from the chalice, lines of confusion marring her smooth brow. "Any ideas?"
"Nope." JD passed her a plate of food, before settling down beside his girlfriend.
"Well, 'those who bring God' have to be missionaries or priests." Nathan said, nodding thanks to Dunne as he passed the healer a dinner plate.
"Yeah, but how many priests are in this area?" Alexandra spoke up from near the fire. "Let alone missionaries."
"But what about that second part? 'Those who bring death'... how does that fit in with missionaries and priests?" Tanner asked as he settled back with his fiancée and her dinner plate.
"So who brings death?" Mary looked up from her plate. "Criminals... ."
"Disease," Alex contributed.
"Monsters," Dunne piped up from Casey's other side. When he received strange looks from several of his friends, he spoke up in his own defense, "Hey, after that thing on the barge and those red wolves, I ain't gonna count out monsters."
"JD's right," Buck said as he settle down next to Inez, who scooted closer to Josiah's protective presence. Buck just grinned. "We can't count out the supernatural, I mean, we're not suppose to be here, but we are."
"Speaking of being here, if it's taking all of us, both the ATF team and the peacekeepers, to solve and pass these tests, how the hell did Rainer get La Piedra?" Inez asked, voicing the question that had been on her mind since the obstacle course in the underground cavern.
"Yeah, what are the odds that Rainer has an ex-missionary's son with him? Or someone good enough to get through that obstacle course?" Vin thought back to the cowpokes and hired guns he had seen back in Four Corners when he had gone with Larabee and his men to retrieve the wayward Southerner and his futuristic accomplice.
"Maybe... ," JD said with an expression of intense concentration on his young face. "What if, this was how he got it? What if this is a cycle that never ends?"
"Oh," Casey said. "I get it! What if we were suppose to travel back in time, meet up with our past selves, go on this treasure hunt, and find the La Piedra. Then Rainer gets his hand on it, passes it down through his family, and then we end up busting Julia when she tries to steal it and viola! The cycle starts all over again... it's like a theory of Einstein's right? The theory of parallel universes?"
"Actually, I think it was Spock who came up with it... or maybe it was Geordi and Data," JD answered his girlfriend. "But I think it was the theory of continuity. Of course, that happened because the warp core was going on the fritz and the Romulans had jumped the Enterprise. Picard ended up chunking the core into warbird, destroying the invasion fleet. And the only reason why they went back in time was because the Enterprises' dampening field somehow smashed into the cloaking field on the warbird. But they never met their doubles."
Out of the corner of his eye, Tanner saw Standish nodding and turned to him with a smirk. "Don't even pretend you understood that."
Standish had a mock expression of outraged indignation on his face. "Mr. Tanner, I resent the implication... "
Tanner rolled his eyes. "Save it, Ez."
"But you know, you have to wonder if there's more versions of us out there... further in the future, like in a Star Trek universe of some kind." Casey's fertile mind ran with all the possibilities. "Chris could be a starship captain, and Vin could be his first officer, or no! Buck could be his first officer, and maybe Vin could be a hotshot pilot... "
The ATF people exchanged speculative glances then shook their heads. "Naaaaaaah."
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"So, Chris, where did you learn to dance like that?" Nathan's causal question quickly brought everyone's attention to bear on both him and the ATF team leader.
"Yes, Chris, where ever did you learn to dance the flamenco?" The ATF's doctor slyly asked. Never in a million years, did Alex ever think that the irritating ATF agent could ever dance like that... but then again, she never thought she would kiss him either.
Chris, for his part, rolled his eyes. "Wonderin' how long it would take for one of y'all to ask. Didn't think it take this long."
"Well, sorrr-reee, cowboy, but between you having your way with our women and stealing a statue, we just didn't have the time to ask." From the tone of Vin's voice, Chris gathered that his best friend hadn't quite forgiven him yet for that little incident.
Chris grinned. "Buck," was the one word answer.
"Buck?" More than one voice chorused the same disbelieving word.
"Yeah, Buck." Chris grinned again as he took another swig from the whiskey bottle.
"What does Buck have anything to do with you learning the flamenco?" Mary twisted around to look Chris in the eye.
"Ask 'im," was the enigmatic answer.
Meanwhile, Buck had his elbows braced on his knees and shaking with silent laughter. It took a few moments for the big man to stop laughing long enough to tell the story. "Me and Chris, when we first meet up in college, were dying to meet girls... "
"No, Buck, you were dying to meet more girls. I was doing just fine on my own," Chris said, pointing at his oldest friend with the bottle.
Buck waved the truth of the statement away with a vague gesture. "Anyway, so I got this idea—dance classes."
"Dance classes?" Dunne asked, with confusion.
"Yeah, you see, I overheard this girl talking to her friend, saying that her dance class had nothing but a bunch of other girls in it. So I talked Chris... "
"More like dragged... "
"Into joining the class with me."
"Did it work?" Larabee grinned. It sounded like something Buck would do... in any century.
Buck smirked. "It worked better for Chris than it did for me... he was the star of the class."
"You can shut up now, Buck."
Across the fire, Buck could feel the Larabee glare hitting him full force. But the alcohol he had consumed had Buck throwing caution to the winds. "Yup, all those little girls just loved dancing with old 'Hips' Larabee."
"Hips Larabee?" Julia did not believe what she was hearing.
"Yup, just about drove those little girls crazy with those, and I quote, 'smooth, graceful, swinging hips' of his. Man, he had those girls lining up for dates... he... he had to get a date book just to... to keep them all straight!" Buck's laughter echoed through the clearing, his story sending everyone into snickers and gales of laughter.
"JD, move, so I can get off a clear shot." Chris' voice was so calm that JD didn't know whether or not to move. But just to be on the safe side...
Buck was saved from Chris's wrath by only one thing and that was Mary's soft whisper in Chris's ear. "Well, those lessons certainly paid off."
Chris grinned, his friend's embarrassing story forgotten.
"I got it!" Josiah's voice boomed through the camp, startling people out of their relaxed state.
Everyone was scattered around the blazing fire. Chris sat on the ground with Mary between his legs while Larabee sat next to his twin on a log. By now everyone was aware that something in the two wolverines' relationship had changed. While only Larabee knew exactly how much it had changed, no one was about to question the air of serenity that now cloaked Chris and Mary.
Both sharpshooters and female doctors sat in a row, boy-girl-boy-girl. The men's arms were wrapped around the women as they settled in for the night. Standish lay on the ground with his head in Julia's lap, while their twins sat close to each other on the log next to Larabee. Nathan and Josiah sat on the log adjacent to Larabee's. Casey sat near the fire in a JD Dunne sandwich. Both young men vied for the college student's attention... so far it was a tie.
"Got what, Josiah?" Mary lifted her head from Chris's chest and studied the profiler.
"It's a mission that was abandoned by the Catholic missionaries and priests and then taken over by the Spanish army when they occupied this area," Josiah said with excitement. "And if my memory serves me, there's one near here."
"But how can you be so sure that's the right one? There's got to be several mission-forts in the area," Alex spoke up from within the circle of Vin's arms.
"You're right," Josiah said, deflated. His face was pensive as he tried to narrow down the possibilities. "Before the Church asked my father to go to China, we traveled this area a lot, studying the old missions. Alex is right, there are too many to be sure which is the right one."
"Josiah, where's the one you were talking about?" Larabee's question brought Josiah's surprised to the man's face.
"A few miles from here, why?"
"Well, we gotta start somewhere, sounds like a good place to me." Larabee's statement had everyone nodding his or her head. With the course action planned, Larabee watched as everyone settled in for the night. He would stay up and take first watch. For some reason, Larabee had this feeling that their state of grace was about to come to an end.
The fortress loomed before the Four Corners' contingent. Its walls old but standing against the test of time. Vines grew everywhere, their flowers blossoming, riots of color decorated the aged fortress. Wild flowers and trees were the permanent residents now, their life infusing a sense of vitality in the air. As the riders passed through the gates of the old mission, their awed silence spoke volumes of their reverence for the grand old palisade. The travelers guided their mounts to the center of the courtyard and dismounted. Without words, not wanting to break the surrounding serenity, they broke up into groups, searching for the next piece of the puzzle.
"There isn't a clue... Spanish or Latin here." Josiah's voice was disappointed. They had searched the place up and down, carefully turning over stones and moving plants aside, yet still nothing.
"It was worth a try, maybe the next one, Josiah." Dunne's youthful voice was the epitome of optimism.
"Well, why don't we break for lunch and then tackle this problem?" Inez's suggestion was meet with enthusiasm, but the preparations for lunch were cut short when Tanner's voice floated down from the fort's battlements.
"Ah, Chris, we've got a problem."
Both Larabee and Chris turned to see the tracker leaning over the battlement, spyglass in hand. What they didn't see, but Tanner did, was the huge number of riders heading towards the fortress. And from what the sharpshooter could see, they were in trouble.
Rainer had found them.
"Get those doors closed!"
"Vin, Buck, Josiah, get up there and cover us!"
"Get those horses ready!"
"And find us another way out of here!"
No one questioned any of the orders, regardless of which of the Chris Larabees gave it. Tanner reported at least thirty men and two wagons. From his viewpoint, he could make out the glistening metal of the heavily armed men. And they were gaining fast.
The two blonde men stood on the battlements, their minds working in complete accord as they devised and discarded battle plans. They both knew that there was no way that they could go out the same way they came in... they would only head straight into the advancing men's clutches. Below them, Nathan, Ezra and Dunne worked with the women to barricade the fortress doors while Standish and JD searched the fortress for another way out.
"Found it!" JD's excited voice rang through the mission as he and Standish quickly emerged from the bowels of the building.
"There is a passageway in the basement. It is wide enough to accommodate the horses and us as well. The entrance is not blocked but about ten feet into the passage there is an obstruction," Standish reported.
"But I climbed through it, all we need to do is move a bunch of rocks. It shouldn't take long, not if all of us pitch in." JD's words galvanized the two leaders. They both knew that Rainer's men were almost right on top of them.
Larabee spoke first. "All right, everybody but Vin and Buck get down there and dig."
"But what are you going to do?" Mary knew that the barricade she helped set up would not stand against an intense attack and that would leave her lover and the other men vulnerable.
The feral smile Chris exchanged with his twin had many of their friends shivering.
God help those poor bastards.
"We're almost done." Mary was breathless and covered with a fine film of dust as she reported to Chris.
"Same here," Chris said as he finished tying off a piece of thin cord.
"What is that?" Mary studied the contraption that Chris and Vin were working on.
Vin smirked. "Our welcome mat for Rainer. When he comes through those doors, he'll trip this line," he traced a fine line of thread that was stretched across the gateway. "And it'll set off this triggering lever and KA-BOOM! The entire doorway comes down on their heads."
"It will definitely slow Rainer's men down enough for us to get away," Chris said with a malicious gleam in his eyes.
Mary realized with alacrity something very important about her new lover and his friends. "You guys are fucking crazy."
Chris and Vin both grinned.
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As it was, the reality of the confrontation was very different from what the battle-hardened fighters were prepared for. Rainer was at their doorstep all right, but the situation was not exactly what anyone was expecting...
"... and if you do not hand over that map and La Piedra, I will be forced to order my men to blow this mission to kingdom come!" Rainer's voice died away on the wind.
A long silence followed his words.
"Do you hear me, Larabee?" Once again Rainer's voice boomed out.
Larabee, who was leaning against the battlement with his chin in his hand, didn't even bother stifling his yawn as he turned to his right and said in a loud voice, "Vin, wake up!"
Tanner stood up, stretching his long muscles and letting out a yawn of his own. "He done yammering yet?"
Buck added his two cents worth, "Damn, that's gotta be the longest 'I'm gonna get you' speech I've ever heard!"
Snickers from both sides of the fort walls further enraged Rainer. "Shoot them!"
"Work faster!" Chris barked as the eruption of gunfire indicated just how much trouble they were in since Rainier had not taken the bait and stormed the castle walls. The rest of the group was desperately trying to clear the obstruction of boulders and smaller rocks that blocked the passageway that was their only means of escape. He hurried up the steps leading from the pathway back into the main floor of the fort and peered upwards to see Larabee and Tanner firing into the thickest part of the invading force. However, Chris knew that two guns against thirty were not going to be much of a threat if those men decided to charge the place. While Chris could be certain of a great number of those thirty being taken down if they chose to trip the little surprise he had left them, he was mindful of the threat that Rainier had made to blow up the fort with them in it.
He was considering adding his own fire to theirs when he was reminded of what Larabee and he had decided prior to the outbreak of gunfire, that he needed to clear the obstruction while Larabee took care of the men outside and stalled for time. As much as Chris loathed admitting it, Larabee was right and he needed to stick to the plan. He was about to return to the others and help with the excavation when suddenly he had an idea. Thinking quickly, he remembered what JD had said about how they had come across La Piedra. There was no possible way that Rainier could get the rock unless the ATF team was destined to return in time and aid their western counterparts with its retrieval until it somehow fell into Rainier's hands and the cycle perpetuated itself. Suddenly, he not only knew what to do about their present situation; he also knew how to get home.
That's why the thing was flickering in his hand. It made perfect sense. It was shifting out of phase because of the decision that he had just reached at this moment. The future version of La Piedra was becoming unstuck in time with each divergence they took from the course of how things were supposed to go.
"Damn!" He said with a grin.
There was only one drawback and Chris gazed at Mary a long time before he came to the conclusion that there was no choice. He loved her. He knew that now. He knew it with such perfect clarity that it surprised him that he could feel so much about a woman he had known for less than a week. However, there was no future for them in this time. She had a son in their time, a son whose loss she would never recover. Chris knew exactly what it was like to lose a child. He would never wish that hell on Mary even if it meant erasing from existence everything that happened to them in this crazy adventure. However, his love for her would not alter even if this did not happen. Didn't Alex say that they were heading for that despite their childish behaviour before hand? Even if this situation had not proceeded their declaration of feelings for one another, Chris was confident that it would have happened still. Realising that made his decision easier to make.
Without delaying any longer, he ran up the steps leading to the battlements when Larabee and Tanner were launching their defense against Rainier and his men. Keeping his head down as bullets whizzed past his ear and struck the stone fortifications, sending splinter of rock and debris in all directions, Chris slid next to Larabee who was in the process of reloading when he saw his future counterpart.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He shouted over the sound of gunfire.
"I got an idea," Chris declared. "I know how to get that bastard out of our hair once and for all."
"How?" Larabee asked and noted that Tanner had shifted his gaze long enough from his shooting to take notice of Chris' statement.
"Give them La Piedra."
Larabee's eyes widened. "Are you out of your fucking mind!" The gunslinger roared. "I thought the whole point of this trip is because we didn't want him to get it!"
"I know that," Chris answered, understanding the man's confusion. Hell, if he had not thought it up himself, he would have had trouble understanding it too. "Look, the Piedra I got is from the future and I figured out why it keeps disappearing on me. I think its because time is unravelling. Some of it is going the way it's supposed to be, but what if we find La Piedra and destroy it?"
"You'll still have the one you came with!" Larabee declared, trying to get his mind around what Chris was saying.
"No, I won't because if it is destroyed in the past, it cannot have existed in the future for the Fox to steal, for us to arrest her and for me to make the wish that winds us all back here." Chris explained, hoping he was a little clearer all the time.
"You mean all this would never have happened?" Larabee asked, starting to understand what Chris was getting at. "So we give him the rock you've got and we keep looking for the one that the clues are leading us to and when we find it, we destroy it so what he was, won't exist either."
"You got it." Chris nodded. "It'll stall him long enough for us get that passageway clear and maybe he might not come after us if he thinks he's got the rock."
"All right," Larabee nodded as his eyes shifted towards the enemy lines and saw that they did not have much of a choice at this point. It was a good plan as any he would have come up with himself. Well in truth, he did sort of. "How do you want to do this?"
When the white flag was first sighted, Rainier could not believe it.
At first, he thought it was a trick because he had discovered that the thief who had stolen his property was also one of the men who rode in Chris Larabee's gang of lawmen. Lawmen, he snorted in derision, considering one of their number had absconded with his map and was now using it to find what was always his destiny to locate and possess. Rainier knew that La Piedra was meant to be his, he dreamt about it at night and knew it with every fiber of his being that he was meant to hold the Rock of Ages in his hand and call it his own. He would allow nothing to get in the way of the dream and was more than prepared to kill anyone who tried to stand in the way of that destiny.
"It's got to be trick," Sainsbury, one of the more reliable of his men, declared as they saw the flag being waved at them from behind the fort's walls.
"Cease fire!" Rainier shouted, curiosity getting the better of him.
As he made that order, the gunfire that was erupting around his ears and slowly tearing away at the fort, layer by layer as bullets shattered its stone surface with every shot that impacted against it. He did not think it was a trick because Larabee had to know that he was facing a great deal of firepower, not to mention larger numbers as well. In his efforts to track down the gunslinger and his party, Rainier had learnt that Larabee's number included a handful of women and was probably more incline to discuss the situation before blood was actually spilled.
Rainier was partial to discussion. In fact he would be very interested to hear what Larabee had to say before he shot the bastard.
Rainier walked to the front of the battle line he and his men had created once the shooting had paused and saw Larabee standing up so that he could make his play for life face to face. The gunslinger dropped the flag as he saw Rainier appear before him.
"Are you prepared to give us the map!" Rainier shouted out loud, opening the talks.
"Not so fast!" Larabee replied after a moment. "We got some talking to do."
The man had lit a cheroot and had started smoking it. If anything, the man was cool under fire, Rainier had to give him that much. He had a poker face that even rivalled that snake Standish who had orchestrated the theft of his map, Rainier was certain. "As far as I am concerned Mr. Larabee, we have very little to discuss. Either you give me the map or I see to it that all of you die right here and now."
"What guarantee do we have that you won't kill us anyway?" Larabee asked.
"You don't," Rainier retorted smugly. "I can blow up the fort and still get the map."
"You could do that," Larabee seemed to be smiling and immediately gave Rainier cause for concern. "It won't do you no good though. Map's worthless now."
"I'll be the judge of that," Rainier called out, certain that this was some kind of a ploy, but willing to play it out for a few minutes more before his patience ran dry.
"The map's worthless because the rock is here." the gunslinger said with a smile and then dipped into the folds of his black coat and produced something that glimmered in the light as he held it up in the air so that there could be no mistaking what it was.
The sunlight caught Piedra in all the facets on its top face and immediately deflected itself in rays of azure light that streaked in all directions. Rainier's mouth dropped open because he knew what it was immediately. He had seen it in his dreams for so many nights, until he was on more intimate footing with the rock in Larabee's hand. It was La Piedra de las Epocas!
Rainier recovered as best he could and saw his men similarly transfixed by the absolute magnificence of the sapphire that Larabee was brandishing so flagrantly like a carrot suspended over a stubborn mule. "Well, Mr. Larabee," he said clearing his throat. "Perhaps, we do have something to discuss after all."
"How are we doing?" Chris demanded as he hurried back to the passageway. A collection of large boulders and piles of rock and debris were lining the walls of the path, having been cleared away by the group.
"Almost there," Vin grunted as he and Buck loosened one large boulder that had taken considerable time to move. "This is the last one."
"Thank goodness," Standish remarked, wiping the sweat of his brow. "I am not made for this menial labor."
"Hey, I am going to need a full manicure after this!" Alex barked at him. "It's tough all over." The doctor's hands were covered in dirt and her hands did look more like a laborer's than that of a skilled surgeon which was probably why she was so disgruntled.
Chris turned to Ezra who was helping both JD's with the removal of the last of the smaller boulders while the women concentrated on clearing the passageway so that the horses would not be forced to side step any large piles of the unearthed blockage. "Ezra, get everyone saddled up. I want all of you gone first; Larabee, Tanner and I will be the last to follow. Get as far away as you can. We'll catch up. Who's got the map?" Chris asked once more.
"I do." Mary replied having heard the last part of Chris' instructions to Ezra and coming to the firm decision that she did not like it at all. Her eyes reflected her fear and she searched for something to say that would make him change his mind even if a part of her knew that this was how it had to be. "Chris, can't we all leave together?"
"No." Chris shook his head. "We've got a plan and it's a shaky one. I've got to give them back up if it doesn't work."
"Well, Mr. Larabee," Ezra spoke up. "I have to agree with the lady. I am not too enthused about riding away from this place without our complete number. Correct me if I am wrong, but are you not the person who said we needed to stick together on this endeavor?"
"I did." Chris glared at him knowing that speech would come back to haunt him later in Ezra's hands. "Look, we'll be okay," he said for the benefit of those who were now looking at him with concern, Mary in particular, as well as Alexandra whose lover was also in the line of fire.
"It's clear, Chris." Vin and Buck joined them and suddenly noticed the serious look on everybody's face although considering the situation; they could hardly be blamed for this. Vin looked around before asking. "What's going on?"
"Yeah," Buck caught the same thing. "Who died?"
"Great choice of words, Mr. Wilmington," Standish declared.
"Ezra." Chris looked at the gambler. "You heard me," he said pulling away from his friends. "Get going. We'll be right behind you."
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Chris returned to the top of the fort battlements as Larabee stood talking to Rainier across the space that existed between his men and the walls. The tracker's gun was poised to fire at the first sign of trouble. Getting into position next to the young man who was in all respects, his best friend, Chris could only hear silence and wondered what was going on and whether or not their gambit worked.
"What's happening?" He asked quietly.
"Rainier's thinking it over." Tanner responded in that typical laconic manner that showed no signs of tension in his voice. Chris always admired that he could do that with such ease even if all hell was breaking loose.
"He'll bite," Larabee remarked, noticing Chris' presence. "I can see him drooling from here."
"Good," Chris said pleased at that. "The obstruction is clear. Everyone's moving out now."
"So do we play this out?" Tanner asked. "Or do we hightail it out here now."
"No." Larabee shook his head in response. "Let him have the rock," the gunslinger replied, taking note of the gem in his hand and shrugged at the amount of discourse created by this glittery piece of jewelry. He could not see the point in it himself, although such things did not sway him. "I don't want him chasing us the rest of the way. We got enough troubles trying to work out what the clues mean without Rainier dogging our heels making things harder."
Chris could agree with that and in fact he did. "All right, let's hope he makes the exchange."
"He will." Larabee smiled like a man with utter confidence of that fact and Chris wondered if everyone he met was tempted to wipe that superior look of his face from time to time. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Chris heard Rainier's voice sing out.
"You got a deal, Larabee!"
Larabee kept his eyes trained on the man Rainier had sent to claim La Piedra, completely aware that this would be a double cross no matter how things went down. Rainier struck him about as trustworthy as a snake but with the others having taken the secret escape route of out the fort already, Rainier's double cross was not going to take place the way the man envisioned.
The rider crossed the distance quickly over the dry sand, reaching the wall of the fort soon enough until Larabee was looking down at him. The gunslinger cast his gaze upwards at the men that Rainier had flanking him in the distance and knew what was coming even if he showed no indication of it to the rest of his companions. However, he guessed his future version would have been aware of the man they were dealing with was a devil. And deals with the devil, more often or not, seldom went the way it was meant to.
"You got the rock?" The man looked up at him, chewing tobacco in his mouth and spitting it on the ground following his question.
"Yeah, I got it," Larabee replied and held it up for the man to see.
Even though it was meant for his master, the sparkle in his eyes indicated that he was just as happy to see La Piedra, as Rainier would be. "Well, drop it down here nice and easy now," The man ordered, practically salivating at the chance to hold such a piece of history—not to mention wealth in his hands.
Larabee nodded and glanced upwards, his eyes moving across the faces before him. He could see the anticipation in their eyes as they narrowed in preparation. Jaws tensed, muscles flexed and Larabee knew exactly what was about to happen. He glanced at Tanner and Chris who were crouched behind the wall with him, out of sight.
"The minute I let go, get to the horses," he ordered in a tone of voice Chris knew well enough from his own use that he was not to be argued with on this point.
"We ain't leaving you, pard," Tanner replied almost predictably.
"I ain't planning on staying but you'd best be ready to run," Larabee retorted and then dropped his gaze to the man in front of him.
"You ready for it?"
"Quit stalling and give it here!" The man barked, his eyes taking on that feverish look of hunger associated with the avarice that Larabee had seen every time Standish came into sight of a fortune. Larabee supposed that Standish would be pleased to hear that as far as the gunslinger was concerned, the gambler showed a great deal more class about his fetish than this bastard here.
"Okay." Larabee nodded and without warning threw the rock over the man's head. La Piedra sailed through the air and landed some distance away. The gem had barely hit the dirt when gunfire erupted loudly and the riders started charging towards the main entrance of the fort. Larabee dropped to his knees immediately and rolled off the narrow ledge that ran between the wall and the interior of the fort in his attempt to escape the murderous hail of bullets tearing through the place. He tumbled off the edge and landed badly on his side from the lengthy drop. He heard ribs crack upon impact and wondered how many more he was going to suffer by the day's end.
Groaning in pain, he struggled to his feet and heard the pounding of hooves coming towards him. For a moment, he thought the riders had already reached the gates, but as he had a chance to focus, he saw Tanner and Chris riding hard towards him, his black gelding in tow. Larabee took uneasy steps towards them, trying to close the distance but every step created a fresh jolt of pain until he was gasping by the time they got to him.
"Chris!" Tanner shouted recognizing the grimace of discomfort on his face to be indicative of him being in extreme pain.
The tracker started to dismount, but Larabee stopped him as he went to his horse and started to pull himself into the saddle. "I'm all right," he grunted. "We don't got the time. They're coming."
"I knew he would." Vin swore under his breath. "Double crossing son of a bitch."
"You said it," Chris agreed wholeheartedly. "Good thing is, he's in for one hell of a surprise when he comes through those doors." He said with a smile, remembering the little trap that he and the rest of the ATF team had set before Rainier had put the proverbial kybosh on that particular scenario. Well, he hated to see good munitions go to waste, even if he was not going to be present to witness it.
"You think we can quit jawing and get the hell out of here?" Larabee snapped as he clutched his side and waited impatiently for them to get going. The pounding of horses approaching was getting loud and in his present state, Larabee was not exactly in the best state to face those numbers.
Chris rolled his eyes and looked at Tanner. "I'm probably a little bit biased," he remarked as they started riding down the passageway to join the rest of their party. "You know, I had no idea I could be such an ornery bastard."
Tanner looked at him with a straight face. "According to your Vin, he's a big old pussy cat compared to you when you get going."
"Well," Chris said with a scowl. "I was looking for someone to go undercover at that male stripper club assignment, guess I don't have to look no more."
The passageway took them underground for some ways, but not even the distance or the walls of earth around them could mask the sound of the tremendous explosion that roared when Rainier and his men finally breached the doors of the mission. The sound filled the corridor in the dark, dislodging bits of earth that rained down on their heads from the violent tremor and the shock wave that followed. There was a brief instance when Chris worried that the entire chamber was going to collapse around their ears, but the tunnel remained intact as the fury of the blast eventually diminished into nothingness.
Even though it was dark in the tunnel, there was enough illumination for Chris to see the pain in Larabee's face as they rode through the dark corridor towards freedom. A pinprick of light in the distance indicated that they were not going to be lost in the darkness and the end was nearing. Chris was glad mostly because the light at the end of the tunnel not only meant the success of their escape, but also the healers that would be present to take care of Larabee's injury.
"How you doing there, pard?" Chris asked Larabee as they continued to ride. The concern on the tracker's face was also evident even though he said nothing about it.
"I'm fine," Larabee grunted, even though riding like this was causing him a great deal of pain, but he would rather die than admit his discomfort and slow everyone down.
"Sure you are." Chris deadpanned, not believing him for a second. "Just hang in there, we're almost out of here. "
Larabee did not respond and merely nodded gratefully.
In a matter of minutes, they were out in daylight again. The underground passageway had emptied into the lush green surroundings of a river embankment. As soon as they emerged into the sunshine, Chris saw the others waiting, contrary to his orders for them to keep going and knew that there was no way that the group—whatever time they originated from—would abandon their comrades.
"Alex! Nathan!" Chris called out as soon as their horses came to a stop. "We need help here!"
The three healers immediately hurried forward, perhaps expecting the worse and while Chris did not envy his western counterpart as they converged upon him, at least he knew that the man would be well looked after. Chris climbed off his horse and was immediately greeted by Mary who embraced him, not caring who saw them because she was still new to this idea of having a man in her life who was in constant danger while she was forced to wait behind.
"Are you okay?" She asked, needing to hear it even though the evidence of it was clear enough to see.
"I'm fine." Chris regarded Larabee who was glowering at the healers who were trying to take a look at him. The man was on the verge of exploding and becoming very aggravated if Chris was any judge of the expression forming on his face.
"Hey people," Chris called out feeling the need to rescue his duplicate copy. "Too many cooks?"
Realising that the ATF team leader was right, Alexandra and Nathan withdrew, allowing Alex to tend to Larabee since of the three she was the most qualified with up-to-date medical techniques. Larabee seemed a little happier at that, but not by much as Alex argued with him to lose the coat and remove his shirt.
"Rainier?" Vin asked as he approached Chris.
"Hopefully a stain." Chris said with a smile. "Our little surprise went off with a bang so to speak." He flashed Mary a cocky grin, which no one missed and Buck being Buck simply had to comment upon it.
"Is it me or have things here become a might more peaceful lately?" He stared at them with a look of sarcasm.
"Actually I thought I heard the mating call of wolverines somewhere." Ezra joined in much to the amusement of the others who were trying not to laugh as Mary turned bright red and Chris gave the ATF agent a scathing glare. Secretly deciding that Vin might be having company when he received his assignment to the strip club.
"Oh that settles it." The Fox winked at her best friend. "She's blushing. That definitely means sex."
"Julia!" Mary exclaimed. "In that case, I won't be forced to reveal that you get turned on by men with a badge," the blond said with a smirk.
"Really? 'Cause I have a badge." Buck turned to her with a smile as the Fox scowled at Mary.
"Hey Buck," Vin had to add. "I wouldn't. Ezra's ain't that good of a shot. He may not hit you in the ass."
"I have a spot he could aim for," Inez retorted with a sarcastic smirk and made all the men wince instinctively.
"You know something, Mr. Tanner," Standish said to the tracker as he watched their future selves indulging in juvenile bickering. "I am so glad we are far more civilized."
"You said it," Tanner drawled just as Larabee's roar filled the air.
"Goddamnit, woman! If you don't leave me the hell alone, I'm gonna stake to you the ground and let the buzzards peck you to death!"
"Well, at least some of us are more civilized," Standish sighed as Dunne giggled and Tanner smirked.
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