TSB 1

The Space Between

By AmandaDoE

Chapter One: Prelude — Part One

Jack paused before he placed the file onto the table. This was going to take some getting used to. It had been five months since Ahriman had been defeated, and a year since Tori Gordon died. Whatever she was planning to save her husband worked, but did it really have to be at the cost of her own life?

Then came one year later. It was bad enough when the IUA was recovering from losing Tori as she was a prominent member of their agency, but when Janet was killed by Ahriman, who was in the form of her deceased husband, things haven't been the same. Jack had been addressed as the new leader of the Intergalactic Union Agency, but he had felt a burden in his job.

Startled, Jack sensed the Buzz. He looked around, expecting an immortal enemy of some sort.

"Knock, knock."

Jack paused and then he looked to see his first teacher, Vlad, "Well, what do we have here?"

"I have heard that you are now the leader of the Intergalactic Union Agency now," Vlad spoke up, "and I wanted to see how things are turning out for you."

Jack sighed as he looked down, "I wish I could say I'm all sunshine and rainbows about my new promotion."

"Why's that?" Vlad asked, "You'd always dreamt of being the leader, being a leader of anything and it's finally happening."

"True," Jack nodded, "but I…..I wish it was under better circumstances."

Vlad inhaled, acknowledging his student's doubt, "I get that the leader before you was a great leader."

"You don't know the circumstances on how I got here, do you?" Jack asked.

Vlad closed his mouth for a moment, taken aback by his outburst. He took a deep breath before inquiring, "It must have been something serious. Could you care to explain?"

Jack calmed down a little bit before he took a deep breath and answered, "Of course. We heard the alarm regarding an intruder. Janet was released from the hospital after a mental breakdown from losing her daughter and….she led the mission, and I was with her. Janet saw her husband, who passed away years ago. We all saw it clear as day. Janet thought it was her beloved husband, telling him how much she missed him and Tori. Ian then talked about how much Duncan MacLeod was to blame for Tori dying. We knew it was Ahriman as it is very doubtful that Ian Elisionne ever knew about MacLeod because he died when Tori was very young, and Tori didn't meet Duncan MacLeod until….six years ago. Ahriman then shot down Janet and killed her. She died in my arms, telling me to take charge of the IUA and even if MacLeod did take her daughter's head, she's no longer angry at him."

He took a deep breath after telling the story, "I've been a reluctant leader of the IUA ever since, for the past five months. I'm glad MacLeod and Richie eliminated Ahriman for good."

"I agree with your sentiments there," Vlad nodded in agreement, "This Ahriman must have been ruthless to not only cause two prominent deaths of IUA agents, but to disguise as those who have previously died."

"From what I've heard from Tori, the Defenders, MacLeod, Richie and even Dawson," Jack stated, "Ahriman can disguise himself as people who have died and when convenient for that demon, living people. He set up a trap for MacLeod and the death trap was meant for Richie, but Tori got him out of the way. Man, Richie was devastated. Janet was devastated. The Gordons, or MacLeod's friends haven't been quite the same since. I wish I had been there the moment Tori told me about this demon and the premonitions Rick and Katarina were having."

"I wish I could have been there too," Vlad spoke up, "but we can't change the past. We can't change what had happened."

Jack nodded, "I know. I know."

"What we can do now is take things one step at a time," Vlad advised his student, "Jack Banks, I know you will make a great leader. Lead the Intergalactic Union Agency to the best of your ability and keep the memories of Janet and Tori alive in your heart and mind. I know you can do it. You've shown yourself to be capable of stuff time and time again that you are capable of anything that you set your mind to, and you'll be capable to lead."

Jack smiled, "Thanks, Vlad."

"Happy to be of help," Vlad nodded, giving his student a comforting touch.

-The-Space-Between-

Paris

Flash studied the old pictures of his family. One image was with him, Dale, Ian and Janet. Then he saw the other picture, which was of himself, Dale, Tori, Rick and April at the beach. He smiled fondly of both of the pictures, yet with a bittersweet feeling. These pictures were good times, but he couldn't help but to think of those he had lost over the years.

First, he lost his brother in law, Ian all those years ago when Janet did some reckless shooting. That was when his niece Tori went to live with them. She was living with him, Dale, Rick and April until nearly seven years ago when she returned to her mother's custody.

Then six years ago, he had lost his beloved wife Dale. She was killed at the hands of his enemy Ming the Merciless on Mongo. Until a year and a half later, that was the most devastating loss in the Gordon Family.

Then nearly five years later, Tori was dead. Duncan MacLeod had taken her head as he was hallucinating thanks to Ahriman, the demon that Ming had summoned to cripple him, the Defenders and Duncan MacLeod, who was the champion to defeat Ahriman. Tori's death created a devastating chain of events. Of course, he was angry with Duncan at first, but when he realized the severity of the demon's actions, he was more angry at Ming and Ahriman than anything. He also felt sympathy for Richie as he had lost his beloved wife shortly after losing his daughter Jenny. How much loss could one person endure?

Then a year later, his sister Janet was killed by the same demon who caused Tori's death. Now, things have never been the same for not only the Gordon Family, but also the Defenders, MacLeod, his friends and even the IUA.

The Defenders were trying to get by the best they could. With Ming in prison, pinned responsible for Tori's murder, things have been quite steady, with the occasion of dealing with radicals on Mongo, or some other threat.

"Are you okay, Flash?" Mandrake asked as he entered the room with Lothar in tow.

"Yeah," Flash turned around, facing his friend, "Just thinking about my family."

"It's understandable," Lothar spoke up.

"Yes," Mandrake added, "You lost your niece and sister in a matter of a year and a half, not to mention you lost your wife years prior."

"And my son is ruling the Netherworld with Jedda," Flash gave a small smile, "I know my family and our team hasn't been the same since everything has happened."

"How are they holding?" Mandrake asked.

"Abby and Sara are doing well," Flash answered, "They are doing the best that they can to keep things together in their work and lives, but it's hard to fathom as we're coping with our lives without Tori or Janet. We'd figure Tori…...well, we thought out of all of us, Tori would be the one who'd make it till the end. Abby's words, not mine."

"That's a relief," Lothar nodded.

"Yet, Abby was right about that statement," Mandrake replied, "Tori was one of the best."

"What about the IUA, you know, since Janet and Tori are both dead?" Mandrake inquired.

"Jack is now in charge of the IUA," Flash answered, "He's in doubt of his ability to lead, but I assured him that he would do just fine and Janet would have approved of him taking her place if Tori couldn't."

The men looked on in silence for a little while. They could recall Mandrake doing well with his family, the same with Lothar. The Phantom was spending time with Hadea as well as Jedda and Rick as they were now in the Netherworld. He was also bothered by the deaths as well, but he had his way of coping.

"What about April?" Mandrake asked, "How do you think she's taking this?"

Flash sighed, looking down, "I'm not sure. She's bothered by Tori's death especially. She is talking about hating Duncan for killing Tori. Otherwise, she's coping with the loss…...the same way she normally copes with losses, including her mother's death."

"You don't think she'll do anything rash, do you?" Lothar asked.

"I hope not," Flash shook his head, "Knowing April, she might seek retribution, but it's only a matter of time till we find out what she might do."

-The-Space-Between-

"It's been trying, hasn't it?" Amy inquired as she sat at the bar with her father and cousin.

"That would be an understatement," Joe answered as he took a sip of his drink, "It's been tough losing Tori, and it was awful that her mother was killed by Ahriman a year after he caused the death of her daughter."

"Ahriman seems to be twisted," Lynn stated before she took a sip of her drink, "What that demon did to you, Richie, MacLeod and the Defenders. It's haunting."

"It's good that you girls are here," Joe told his daughter and niece, "You two are family and I enjoy your company."

"Thanks, Dad," Amy nodded, smiling, "It's good to see you, all things considered."

"Thanks, Uncle Joe," Lynn replied, smiling, "I consider you more a father than my biological father ever would have been."

Joe glanced at her for a moment, touched by that statement. It was a bittersweet statement given everything that had happened. He was happy Lynn saw him as a father but yeah, James was her biological father. He couldn't blame her because he was a terrible person, and Lynn believed that not all immortals were evil. He was there when Lynn disowned her own father, and it was bittersweet that she still considered him family.

"How is Richie taking the loss?" Amy asked.

"He hasn't been the same since Tori died," Joe answered, "He moved his wife's body back to Seacouver from what MacLeod told me."

"How is MacLeod taking things?" Lynn asked, "You know, since he's the immortal you watch."

Joe glanced around awkwardly before he answered, "I wish I could say he's back with his sword, but his cousin is telling me otherwise."

"Connor?" Amy asked.

"Yes," Joe nodded, "Connor has been visiting Duncan to give him comfort and support."

"How's that going?" Lynn asked.

"It's going as you might expect from the MacLeods," Joe answered.

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