Disclaimers: Babylon 5 and Highlander are not mine. I'm just using the basis to write some interesting ideas down.

Notes: 1. This takes places just after Phoenix Rising (S5 Ep12).

This story is a Crossover with Highlander. The Game has been over for 50 years, revealed as a false feeling brought on by some compounds in the atmosphere (Vorlon tampering). // … // indicates telepathic conversation italics are thoughts

Chapter 1 - Recruitment

Zack sighed and leaned against a wall in his quarters. Great, just great, he thought sarcastically. Bester was gone again and the telepaths off the station. Captain Lochley needs to be told about me. The strain of the past few days taking its toll, he walked across the room and slumped into the couch. Glancing at the door to make sure it had closed, he raised his hand.

At the kitchenette a few meters away, a glass slid off a shelf and hovered about a half metre off the floor. At the same time, a bottle of beer slid out of the suddenly open door to the fridge and settled next to the glass. As the fridge door swung shut, the bottle cap twisted off and glided into the disposal unit. The open bottle and the glass then glided over towards Zack, coming to a stop on the coffee table in front of him.

As Zack lowered his arm, he chuckled and reaching out poured the beer into the glass.

* * * * * * * *

Lyta lay on her bed, tears running down her cheeks to be absorb by the pillow she was crying into. Byron was dead, the Corps must fall, she thought.

* * * * * * *

As Captain Lochley walked into the station's morgue she stopped short. The soft, intermittent buzz that assailed her mind a complete shock. She walked forward, feeling the buzz get stronger and stronger as she passed cryo-tube after cryo-tube. All empty she saw. Finally she stopped, only a single tube in front of her as she confirmed to herself that this was were the buzz was coming from, halfway between latent and active, frozen forever. I wonder if Zack knows, she thought in shock as she read the screen on the tube, the name jumping out at her. Marcus Cole.

Straightening, she activated her link.

"Lochley to Security."

"Yes, Captain?" replied the security duty tech.

"Where's Chief Allen? Nevermind … get him to meet me in the morgue. Lochley out."

This was going to be difficult.

* * * * * * *

Zack Allen's quarters

Deeedup. Zack almost groaned as his link sounded.

"Yeah, what?" his annoyance audible in his rough reply.

"Sorry, Chief." Came the voice of the duty tech, "Captain wants to see you in the morgue."

"Where?" was his stunned reply.

"The morgue, Chief"

"Okay, okay," he almost sullenly, setting his half-finished beer on the table. "I'm on my way."

Zack staggered to his feet, and muttering to himself headed for the morgue.

* * * * * * * *

B5 morgue, 10 minutes later.

Lochley turned towards the door as she felt Zack approach. I'm so glad the Game is over. Now we can tell who is approaching, she thought.

Zack saw the Captain as the door slid open, she was smiling, leaning against the back of the room.

"Zack, do you feel it?" she asked just as soon as the door had closed behind him.

"Feel what, Captain?" Zack replied, a look of puzzlement covering his face.

"The latent buzz," she replied, a frown replacing the smile.

"Sorry, Captain," he said with an inward chuckle, "my other skills seem to cancel that one out." And then he mentally cursed himself. Not the way to bring that up.

"Zack, who taught you?" she asked with a puzzled look, "and what other skills?"

Zack winced at the tone of the second question and replied, "I don't name him, and I'll tell you later." Great move Zack, annoy a superior officer and an older immortal at once, brilliant.

Lochley studied him for a moment, I'll get that story later, she thought, and then said, "The one in this tube," indicating the one in front of her, "is a latent."

"So," Zack replied, his rough voice devoid of emotion, "we open it, get him out and train him."

At his response, she wordlessly pointed to the screen set on the tube where the name was displayed. Zack rolled his eyes at her dramatics, then stood frozen as his mind processed the name on the screen.

"Shit, Marcus!" he said after the shock wore off.

"Exactly," came her knife-edged reply, "Now. Who. Trained. You?"

Zack hesitated, then with a sigh replied, "These days he goes by the name Adam Dawson."

He watched in shock as the Captain, the oh-so formal Captain, closed her eyes as a slight smile formed on her face and she whispered a name that not many knew, "Methos."

Zack cleared his throat and said, "I take it you know him, Captain."

Lochley opened her eyes and glancing at the grin Zack was struggling to control, replied. "Yes, Get him here, would you please."

"Yes, Captain," Zack turned to leave then a sudden thought hit him and he turned back to face her. "Uh … what do I do if he says no?"

"Tell him…" Zack watched as a smile transformed her face, "Cassandra needs him here."

Zack nodded and left the Captain with her memories.

* * * * * * * *

B5 Customs, 3 days later

The man known currently as Adam Dawson was lost in thought as he moved with the line of people. Zack knows I dislike space travel, why does he want ME here? For that matter, why does Cassandra need me here? And when did Zack meet her? Does she… All these questions and more were running through Methos' mind as he followed the line to customs. As he came through customs he felt the buzz of another immortal, Zack he thought with annoyance. As he moved into the station proper, he felt a tap on the shoulder.

Zack smiled as his teacher spun around in shock and said, "Captain wants to see you."

Methos rolled his eyes at his former students dramatic statement and muttering about the arrogance of youth, followed him to the transport tube.

* * * * * * * *

Captain's Office, 5 minutes later

Methos stopped in shock at the sight of the woman behind the desk. "Cassandra?!?" he asked incredulous.

"Hello, old man." Came her reply. She got up from her chair and walked around the desk. Leaning back against it, she smiled at his shocked expression and said, "Hello, love. Welcome to Babylon 5."

That statement shook him from his stupor, stepping forward he placed a hand to her forehead. Stopped and then moving back said, "No fever. Are you feeling all right Cassandra? I could have sworn you called me `love'?"

Looking at his puzzled face she began to chuckle and that soon grew to full-born laughter. Throwing her arms around him, she kissing him soundly. After a few seconds he pushed her away and, with a slight smile, said, "Not to seem unappreciative, but what brought that on? Last time I saw you, you wanted me dead."

Leaning back against the desk again, she smiled.

"Let's just say that I re-evaluated my feelings and your actions. Now, we," indicating Zack and herself, "have a problem."

"I see. And you thought of me, I'm touched."

Methos watched as Cassandra bristled at his sarcasm. Then, to his surprise, she relaxed, and replied.

"Actually, I merely wanted a teacher. And as mine is dead," Methos winced internally as she gave him a glare, "I asked Zack if he could name his."

"So you need a teacher," his face was bland, but she could tell he was puzzled, "Why didn't you do it? Zack could have." His tone was telling, he was getting annoyed.

"Neither Zack nor I wish to resign, and our problem has to leave the station." She answered exasperatedly. Why can't he act his age she wondered.

Sighing he sat down, "Does this problem have a name? And does he or she really need training now that the Game is over?"

Joining him, Cassandra and Zack sat down.

"Do you know the name Marcus Cole?" Cassandra inquired.

Methos looked at her, "He's your frozen latent?" he asked. At her nod, he looked across at Zack for confirmation. At his nod, Methos sprawled backwards into the chair.

"Well, Are you going to do it?" Zack inquired. His gravelly voice slicing through the silence like a PPG shot.

"I'm thinking it over kid, relax."

"Okay, I'll…" his voice trailed off as all three felt the mental scream of an immortal.

Zack was the first to recover, and with a shake of his head, asked, "Anybody know who that was?"

"Amanda," came the answer from Methos and Cassandra simultaneously. Methos continued, "Last I heard she was on Mars. Psi-Corps?" he directed the question to Cassandra.

"Maybe, I'll call Bester," she said as she got up.

"You really think Bester will tell you anything after last week," retorted Zack.

She stopped short, "Okay, then we unfreeze Marcus. Methos gets him and our local immortal security men to Mars. Yes, including you, Zack," she answered his unspoken question. Turning to Methos, she asked, "Any suggestions?"

"Yes, any local telepaths we can trust? With the exception of Zack here…" he stopped at the look of shock on Cassandra's face, and turning to Zack caught his wince before it faded off his face. "You didn't tell her." It was a statement but Zack nodded anyway. "It doesn't matter, an answer please."

Cassandra looked at Zack and queried, "Lyta?"

Zack grimaced, "Well, she hates the Corps. And until recently I would have said a definite yes. Now, I don't know."

Cassandra frowned, "Byron screwed with her head didn't he?"

Zack nodded and whispered something under his breath that she couldn't hear. Clearing his throat, he said, "I can still ask."

"Do so," replied Methos, " In the meantime, the Captain and I will go get the popsicle out of storage."

Zack stopped halfway to the door, and instead of continuing, pulled a pen from a pocket and wrote a series of letters and numbers on a piece of paper. Holding it out, he said, "You'll need this," at their puzzled look, he continued, "It's the security code to turn off the cameras in the morgue and surrounding corridors."

Cassandra smiled, " Thank you, Zack."

With that he turned and left to find Lyta.

Methos turned to Cassandra and said, "Well, Captain. Let's do this."

Cassandra grinned at his sarcasm, "Very well, Adam. And you can call me Liz, in private."

Methos smiled, bowed and said, " After you, my dear." Indicating the door with a sweep of his arm. Straightening, he frowned and turning to her as she started for the door, said, "Did you want to contact MacLeod?"

"Why?"

"To tell him the calvary was coming."

She stopped short of the door but did not turn to face him. "Let's get Mr Cole out of the morgue first," she said with a low voice, and then continued out the door.

He looked after her with a frown, and then with a shrug his face resumed its' customary non-expression and followed.

* * * * * * * *

10 minutes later

After retrieving Marcus, they made their way to the room Cassandra had reserved for Methos in Red 5. The explanations began…

* * * * * * * *

The Zocalo

Zack looked around, and spotting Lyta talking to someone moved towards her. Approaching the table he cleared his throat to attract her attention. Lyta looked up and Zack saw an expression of what he would call shock cross her face, followed by a mask that barely hid the anger that seemed to radiate out of her eyes.

"What do you want, Zack?"

"Lyta, we need to talk," and shooting a glance at her companion, he emphasised, "Alone."

"We have nothing to talk about Zack. I suggest you leave." She could see the hurt at her words in his eyes, but his face remained impassive.

"I'm afraid I can't do that Lyta. We need to talk, today." He could understand her anger, at him, at the universe. But she needed to put it behind her, otherwise it would bury her soul.

"Or what, Zack?" Lyta felt slightly amused at his insistence, but didn't let it show.

"Or we may never speak again."

"Is that a threat Zack? If it is, it's a rather poor one." She mentally restrained herself from scanning to discover just what he meant by that statement.

"No threat, Lyta. Merely an unpleasant fact." He said, with a soft smile at the look of confusion that crossed her face as she digested his words.

"Your place, an hour." Lyta replied, with puzzlement warring with curiosity on her beautiful face. She turned back to her conversation. Zack nodded and left, not seeing Lyta's eyes fasten onto his back as he stepped into the transport tube. An unpleasant fact… an unpleasant fact… The phrase he had used running through her mind as the doors shut.

* * * * * * * *

Adam Dawson's Room, Red 5

"Well Zack, is she coming?" asked Methos, cleaning the blood from his hand with some cloth.

"I don't know yet. How are you, Marcus?" turning to the stunned looking ranger seated with a vacant expression on his face.

"Hmmm… Oh, Zack, are you one of these…" Marcus trailed off, acting as if he didn't say the word, it wouldn't be true.

Zack smiled, "Yes, I'm an Immortal. As are you."

Methos interrupted, "What do you mean `I don't know yet'? An answer would be appreciated."

Zack turned to Methos with a funny half-smile on his face. "She's meeting me at my place in 50 minutes. We are going to talk it over then."

"Perfect. Zack, get your guys that are going to your place, I'll get the Captain…"

* * * * * * * *

Zack's quarters, 50 minutes later

Lyta stepped out of the transport tube, turned left and headed for Zack's quarters. Her mind was whirling, a constant blitz of ideas, some contradicting others, in a blaze of worry and puzzlement. She stopped at his door and pressed the announcer.

"Zack, its Lyta."

The door slid open, Lyta stepped through and stopped suddenly, her mouth open. Her gaze travelled across the forms of four, no, five members of security, the Captain, sitting upright next to a man she had not seen before, to Zack, who looked extremely disgruntled.

"Zack," she said slowly, "I thought you said alone?"

"I did," he said sourly, "the old man," he indicated the man lounging next to the Captain, "overruled me."

So much for this talk being about Zack and me, she thought sadly. Clearing her throat, she turned her gaze back to the man seated next to the Captain.

"Well, What did you want Zack to discuss with me, Mr…?" she trailed off, wondering who this man was to tell Zack to do anything.

"Adam Dawson, Ms Alexander, and we need your help."

Zack cleared his throat. Lyta saw `Adam' glance at Zack and smile, she could tell he was amused and that Zack, after a sideways glance at him, was not happy.

"Really," she answered, directing an unblinking gaze at him, "with what? And how?"

"With our problem, and the how is by using your abilities to help conceal our movements," he paused, "from the Psi-Corps."

Lyta started, Zack could see her shock at the last part of his mentor's statement. She looked from one occupant of the room to another, seeing only determination, no fakery.

"What's in it for me?" she asked boldly.

"What do you want?" he replied, cocking an eyebrow.

"Money, lots of it, and a ship or three." Lyta replied with a smirk, maybe this would solve the problem the rogues had.

"Would ten million credits be sufficent?"

At his question, Lyta's eyebrows rose in shock. Ten million credits, she thought, what the hell do you want me to do that could be worth that much?

"And," he continued, "four long-range expedition-class vessels."

Lyta was stunned. "Who are you? And how do you have such resources?"

"Let's just say, we've been around for a while." He answered with a grin. "Well, what do you say?"

"Yes," Lyta replied, not thinking straight at the mention of the bonanza that this job could bring, "half the money in advance and you have a deal."

"Done, see Zack, that wasn't so difficult now was it?"

At his question, Lyta glanced at Zack, the disappointment on his face cut at her soul like a knife. Why does it hurt? She wondered. It's not like we're friends any more, she told herself. A voice cut through her thoughts.

"Now, Lyta, your credit account. Where do you want the 5 million deposited?"

It struck her with the force of a sledgehammer. She had just agreed to something unspecified. Made a deal without knowing all the details. Now she understood Zack's disappointment.

"Aha," Adam again interrupted the flow of her thoughts, "You have just realised you don't know what you agreed to." His smile was smug, so much so she wanted to wipe it off his face with her fist.

"Yes," Lyta replied to the non-question, controlling the urge to put him through a bulkhead, "So why don't you tell me?"

"You see Zack, she acts so mercenary but is really so moral."

At his statement, Lyta cast another quick look at Zack and saw his face in what she privately called his official mode, no emotion visible.

"Well," she said, "are you going to explain?"

The smile that lit Adam's face, shocked her to the core.

"Why, yes," he began, "you see…"