- Phone rings. Phone rings. Phone .... -

"........... (m)....Hullo? Wha'.....? "

"Morning Niklas. I apologize if I woke you. This is Jere. A mutual friend felt you might need someone to talk to? I am at the Las Vegas Tongan Assembly Of God. It is due North of your present location. I shall be waiting."

-click-

Quick and to the point. That was how Jere operated. If she was serious about wanting to see him, his wait would be brief.

Niks blinked as she had barely registered that someone was actually talking to her much less that they were giving her instructions.? She groaned softly as she looked at the time; yeah, she was going to have to cut back on the late nights and get her ass back in gear for working again.? She wasn't usually the kind to hide from her problems, but lately, the whole "you're an Immortal" thing was really enough to keep her hiding under the covers.

She groaned again as she got out of bed; the groaning would probably continue until she was out the hotel's front doors, after getting a few quick instruction on how to get to this Tongan -? What did Tongan mean anyway? - Assembly of God type place.? Getting ready took 15 minutes tops, and unless the building was too far away for a quick walk, which meant she'd have to bum a ride, she opted for a quick stroll, nibbling on a cereal bar as she went.

"Next thing you know he'll tell me to drop and give him fifty."

She didn't hurry, but she got there soon enough - well, she wasn't dawdling anyway.? She paused to look at the building, her lips pursing before walking in.? For all she knew this could be some trick, right?

Save for the few that took care of the church, the only other person there was really easy to spot. He seemed to be studying the statues that graced either side of the main altar, his back turned to her, and his hands clasped behind his back as well. His voice nearly echoing inside the holy structure, as he spoke to her without turning around, and giving any indication she was there.

"Niklas. I hope the church was not too difficult to find? Most do not come here to seek out God, unless it in hopes of collecting a huge jackpot."As inside Brehn's office, Jere's tone never seemed to waver one way or the other. He was dressed more like a college professor, if they had a particular style, complete with glasses.


"Yes, it's funny.? There are wedding chapels galore, and even a few churches.? Everyone's here to score or something."? Niks gave a slight nod to the only other person in the place - well, other than Mr. Happy up at the front.? She approached, and came to settle into an examining stance - hey, she could do it too.

"Hm.? Ya know, I've only really been in a Church of Christ..I mean, I've seen the inside of some old cathedrals in Europe, but I've not been in too many so-called Houses of God.? Then again, if you wanna get technical, this is just building - the body is the temple, therefore the church, and the Christians make up the body of the church - the big c Church more than little c." She was babbling, but it wasn't as if it was completely stupid babble.

"Your knowledge from working inside libraries will benefit you much. Holy grounds. Churches. Sacred lands. Various religions. Learn them by memory. These places provide a safe haven for our kind."

Motioning for her to sit, Jere would sit beside her seconds later, that small but sincere smile lingering on his face. "I am pleased to see that Alexander's rather unusual way of explaining things did not scare you off. I shall do my best to fill in those gaps and hopefully create a clearer picture of the next phase of your new life."

Was this guy an Immortal, or a shrink??? Talk about bedside manners!!! There was zero body language that offered any ill will coming from him at all.

Niks settled down rather easily, somehow avoiding the usual curl up in a chair - this was a church building after all.? Plus curling up in a chair/pew seemed a little too forward for this meeting.

"The idea of sacred ground is amusing.? Can it be any sacred ground?? I mean, really, a Shaolin monastery works the same as ..well, this place?? A Native American burial ground versus a well..h..uhm..well, any place in Vegas?? I mean, certain casinos would be holy to some gamblers.? I'm not trying to be difficult, Jere.? I'm just...who made the rules?? Who decided it all?? Why's there even any of this to worry about?? What does it mean?"

That question actually got a laugh from the Immortal, his gaze settled upon the young pre-immie. "I'm afraid that if I were to tell you the complete history about Immortals, it would take .... Some time."

Looking about the church once again, a deep breath escaping him ... "Your question does hold merit though, and that's where your research skills will come in handy. As for who made the rules? I often pondered that myself. Just how many immortal were killed before rules were given, or did something happen upon holy ground that caused Immortals not to fight? Struck down by lightning or something to that effect?"

That smile was still there, and his answer was about as honest as he could make it. "I swear I spent nearly 50 years researching all those guidelines. To just blindly follow something just because another said it was the rule of thumb? Not very smart, hmm?"

"No.? Not unless I've nothing else better to do with my time.? Seriously, I'm just trying to figure it all out.? When am I supposed to start worrying about all of this?? Now?? Or..some other time?"? Niks shifted a little to look at him, her knee actually now resting on the seat beside her, habit.

"Are they written rules?? Are they just passed down from..uhm..well, I don't suppose generation to generation would work?? And speaking of, sorta, generation and passing and all that.? I don't understand why Brehnic calls himself something other than Alexander?? Is Jere not your own name?? Do you hide behind other names or something?"?

Her arm was now on the back of the seat, hand up to support her leaning head. "And why doesn't the world know about all of this?? Other than they most of y'all would either be part of some awful experiment or dead or dying in some awful experiment?"? No, she wasn't quite yet ready to put herself in that whole group of Immortals.? It was still a little strange to think about.

"Written rules? More like memorized ones, Niklas. Passed down from mentor to student, from one Immortal to another, or to pre-immies like you. Those that live, spread the word. I guess you could call it a honor code for Immortals. "

The question about the names brought a more ... Thoughtful expression on his face, as he would turn to face her ...

"Back ... Then, my name was Running Grey Wolf. After my death, I traveled to different countries, and had to adapt to their culture as well. Jere Wulfsohng just came natural to me. As for Brehnic .... "

Pausing once again to expel another deep breath ... "I'm not sure if it's more a sign of the times, to create a new identity, since it would be impossible to live under a dead one ... This was Alexander's way of thinking. It was as Alexander that he died ... Brehnic is the Immortal. Many do this, often when they are killed in front of witnesses. Whether it was by accident or a botched attempt by another Immortal."

"So, do Immortals normally kill off others?? I mean, well, do they?? Well, they do, but just to kill them?? Why kill at all?? I don't.."? Her voice had shifted into that dangerous realm of coming to hysterics, but Niks took a deep breath and it passed.? She hated feeling this way.

"Sorry, I just.? This is...impossible.? I suppose I could accept being a fairy princess as easily as I can accept this idea that I'm something different.? I'm going to live forever?? Or going to live along time as long as someone doesn't kill me first?? And what's in it for any of you to let me know these things?"

Taking her hand into his, and holding it, Jere would tell Niklas about the legacy of the Gathering, and The Quickening. Her every question would be answered without a hint of annoyance, to ensure she was made full aware of what was to be. What could be.

Jere would tell Niklas about older Immortals, the young ones like Alexander, the and the pre-immies. He would tell her about his life, how he manage to avoid those confrontations, but was well versed enough to defend and protect himself enough to have a semblance of a normal life.

Niks nodded as he spoke, asking for this or that to be filled in.? It was all still much too strange to be real.? She didn't care if she was supposed to be part of it, but seriously, did they expect us to be okay with it just because they said to?

"Wow."? It wasn't overly enthusiastic, it was simply stunned.? Her head tilted forward, her eyes on her hand in his.? He felt real.? He didn't feel like he was so very old - well, not very old, but much older than he looked.? He just..

"What am I supposed to do?"? Her large brown eyes lifted into his, and for the moment she truly seemed lost and helpless.

"Live. I know with what you know, it seems impossible, but I am living proof that it can be done. Do you know I teach at various colleges across the world? It allows me to never stay in one place for long, and visit all the holy grounds without drawing attention to myself."

Giving her hand a tight squeeze, Jere would use his free hand to brush the hair back from her face. "You have a strong soul, Niklas Wright. A good head on your shoulders. You can live out your life as a mortal, if you so decide to. Immortals are no more in the lime light than a UFO sightings .... Or Elvis. I can teach you to protect yourself, to know the signs. There are many Immortals that live their lives without conflict, just like there are many pre-immies that go unaware of their true nature."

Sighing. Jere would squeeze her hand once again. "You have an advantage that may of us did not. You know of your legacy. Imagine dying, knowing you were going to join your family that has passed on before you ... Only to discover you are still alive. Denied what was rightfully owned to you. I cannot tell you that it gets easier Niklas. But you will not have to endure it alone."

"Won't I?"? Niks' free hand took his other, so that now she was holding both his hands. "Jere, unless I find someone who is willing to put up with my ..aaaah..rear for the rest of my life, however long that may be, I'm going to be alone.? You can teach me, Brehn can teach me.? I can learn, but I have lived most of my life alone - even when I lived with my family.? I'm different.? I've always been a little strange, I know this.? And I don't think I could put myself through loving someone who won't be around for all of my life.? I don't see how anyone could do that.? I guess you learn eventually, but..uhm, yeah, you weren't really talking about that were you?"? There was a hint of a blush. "Sorry.? I've been watching too much Lifetime and We.? And maybe Oxygen somewhere in there.? It's smarter to stick with the Sci-fi Channel sometimes I think.? Right, okay...uhm..."

Niks stopped talking for a moment to just look around; she knew why she was fighting of this so hard - she didn't want to think of a world in which she lived forever, always alone, always running.? That's what the name changes said.? There wasn't anything such as roots, not that she ever felt firmly rooted anywhere.

"I'm sorry.?? I get it, but I don't.? I'm not...I'm no Xena.? I'm not even a Gabrielle."

Jere would smile once again, before holding up his index finger. "You need not be alone, Niklas. There is no rule that forbids Immortals from getting married. There have been many that have found solace in that, finding a true life mate. Do not be embarrassed in asking questions you are not sure about. Was it only over a day ago that you were here for a job? Quite a bit to take in, I'm sure. There's that small part of you that hopes this is all some sort of bad dream, brought on by something you ate."

Sitting closer to the troubled pre-immie, Jere put his arm around her, that smile still evident. "Well, I would hope you are something more than a fictional character. And for the record? I was quite disappointed upon meeting the Lone Ranger and Tonto." Nodding with a small frown right then.

Niks paused for a moment, a gear certainly shifted so that she could look up at him.

"You met Lone Ranger and Tonto?!?? Really?? I'm sure they weren't as exciting as they seem on tv, but still.? Lone Ranger and Tonto!? Did you meet Silver?? Or did they have a bunch of them?? Uhm...I like tv."? She looked away from a moment, wondering just what kind of Immortal she'd be, what with her affinity towards pop culture.

"Seriously though.? I don't plan on getting married or anything.? I have to deal with this in general.? Then..uhm..then I might try and figure out the rest of it, yes?"? Her lips pursed as she felt the growl before she heard it.? Yes, that was exactly what she wanted to hear in an empty building.

"I was .... Offered a small role. And yes, there were several Silvers. And I could not have put it any better myself. If you ever need to talk to me ..." He'd pull back far enough to reach into his pocket and press a coin inside her hand. Upon closer viewing, it was a rare Indian coin.

"Take that to any church and present it to the pastor/deacon/priest there. I will be here through the weekend if you have need to talk more. Alexander has my number if you ever need my assistance, or someone to vent to. Now there is one thing you must do for me."

"I'll try."? Niks looked up at him, and she meant it.? Some people usually say those words, believing they'd fail, but Niks usually meant them.? She was a little spitfire when she wanted to be, and she would try.? Not because Jere asked her, but she knew that sometimes that was all she could do - was try.

"What is it?"

"Eat something." Spoken with a straight face, the somber facade would soon be shattered by thunderous laughter which echoed like thunder inside those church walls. Jere would hug the young pre-immie, before letting her go to reflect on what was said, as well dealing with a slight case of hunger.

Niks blinked, then laughed, her own voice dancing through his. "How very droll."? She laughed a little more before standing, brushing out her hastily thrown on pants. "Yes, I'll eat.? And any church will be able to reach you?"? She held the coin up, brow raised. "I don't think that's possible."

"Neither is returning from the dead." A wink offered, before pushing his glasses back into place. "The Lord indeed works in mysterious ways. Safe Travels be with you always, Niklas."

"You too, Jere."? Niks smiled, shaking her head.? Yes, Jere had eased some worries, and yes, she would figure it all out.? There was a shake of her finger at him as if she were warning him or telling him he was a bad boy, but the smile...well, he had lightened something inside, even if she wasn't sure what it was.? She'd probably be back to the confused and moppy in a few hours, but for now, she was okay.

"Thanks, Jere.? I'll see you round."? The almost pixie like female gave him a quick wink before offering a wave and a bouncing step out.? She didn't want to say "good bye" and she didn't want to have to do some awkward parting.? So, she just left with a smile.