Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 09:46:45 -0700 Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Nath Prachayaamorn Subject: A Watcher's Story (part 3 of 4) A Watcher's Story By Nath Prachayaamorn (part 3 of 4) It was all over the news. A hostage crisis at a Bay Area high school. James Horton was in San Francisco on personal business when he heard of the event on the news at his hotel. He was planning on visiting the Dolan's tomorrow. Horton knew he couldn't attack this immortal problem by himself. He had decided that they had to be dealt with a number of years ago. However, he never knew how to go about it. When the gathering began in 1985 with the death of the Kurgan, Horton knew that he had to go to extreme means to hunt down these abominations. He continued to watch the news as they gave the report on the number of people that they had confirmed were dead. The crisis apparently had concluded only minutes ago. The police weren't releasing names but when one of the hostages was interviewed, it confirmed Horton's worst fears. Rick Dolan was one of the dead. Horton wanted to recruit Rick. In fact he hoped that Rick would be an important part of his quest to rid this world of immortals. Rick had very strong ties to the Watchers through Dawson. Even though he was still young, he had proven he was responsible and reliable when he was given the task to watch one of "them". I'll have to get over to his parents and offer my condolences, thought Horton. But then, as the news replayed some scenes at the high school earlier today, Horton saw a familiar face walking through the crowd. It was Rick. Horton swore silently. The boy had become one of "them". This was indeed unexpected. However, wheels starting turning in his mind. He could use the boy to get the rest of the immortals. I guess Rick's going to play an even more important role than he expected. "Jack," called Horton. Another of his new followers emerged from the next room. "Yes, sir." "Get the car. We're going to visit some friends." smiled Horton. * * * Richard Dolan had nothing to live for. However, he had no choice but to live. "Immortality sucks!" Rick said. He had been walking for hours trying to comprehend all that had happened that day. Rick couldn't comprehend all the death he had seen. Especially Danny's death. She had meant everything to him yet he had let her down. If I only could have gotten in there maybe she would still be alive, thought Rick. But its too late now. She was dead and he was alive. "I don't deserve to live," exclaimed Rick. Yet he had too. Rick only had one wish. He wished that some immortal would find him and end his life. When Rick had completely tired out, he looked around and discovered that it was night time. He began walking home. As he approached his house, he saw that the house was dark. They're probably looking for him, he thought. They're probably worried sick over him. He knocked on the door of his home hoping someone was home. He had left the keys behind in his English class, the place where all of his problems had begun. The door was unlocked. Rick carefully stepped inside. His home was a mess. It was as if the house were hit by a tornado. "Yeah, right. Freak tornado touches down in the middle of California." said Rick. Then he saw the blood. "No..", he whispered, "not them too." Rick didn't rush in. He slowly walked into the kitchen and found he two bodies. Rick fell to his knees. He had no more tears and no more strength to mourn his parents. "I'm so sorry we couldn't save them, Rick." said a familiar voice. Rick turned around with eyes that Horton had never seen in the boy--the man before in their long friendship. Rick didn't seemed surprised by his presence. He was past that now. "What happened, James?" James Horton had been a friend to this young watcher for almost as long as Joe Dawson. He stood behind Rick very calmly in his trench coat, and standing next to him was another man Rick only knew as another watcher. "We believe it to be an immortal, who killed your parents." "But why?" "It was probably because of you." "Because of me?", asked Rick with a tinge of anger in his voice. "I know your immortal. The news has been going non-stop about the hostage crisis at your school. One of the hostages gave your name while she was being interviewed." answered Horton. "You still haven't told me why." "Some immortals like to hurt their enemies before they kill them." "Why would I become their enemy?" asked Rick. "You became their enemy when you 'died' earlier today. The immortals don't care about lives like we do." Now Rick had a focus for his hatred. From that day he began to hate immortals and thus hate himself for what he had become. Horton knew that he now would have a perfect weapon to fight other immortals. All he needs is to be trained, thought Horton. "C'mon Rick, we have to leave." * * * It had been four years before Horton began his crusade against immortals. During that time, James Horton had been able to get Rick Dolan trained by swordmasters from around the world. Rick was now a very accomplished swordsman. He could use a variety of swords and techniques. However, he mostly used a katana. Rick's skills were very impressive but Horton worried that they would be small obstacles for other immortals. Even though Rick had been trained by great swordmasters. Those swordmasters were still mortal. They didn't have the skills that other immortals have from centuries of experience. Horton knew that the best way for Rick to be able to get that experience was by getting a Quickening. Horton had begun hunting immortals. His men had just killed his third one, an immortal named Thackery, when the idea struck him. He came up with the perfect target. One whose death would bring fear to the immortals and more than enough experience to Rick. Richard Dolan and James Horton arrived in Berlin. They were here on "business", or so Horton had informed his brother-in-law. Horton planned on organizing his group to terminate two more targets in Paris. They would be a great challenge comparatively to the others they had dealt with before. As the two were driving towards Paris, Horton gave a briefing to Rick. "You'll find the files in the glove compartment, Rick." said Horton. Rick opened the compartment and saw a computer disk. He popped it into his laptop as Horton continued driving. "Our first target is an immortal named Darius. As you can see he's quite old." informed Horton. "Hmm. It says here that he's a priest. That's a funny occupation for an immortal." "Darius was a conqueror more than a millennium ago. He had led legions of barbarians to conquer the whole of Europe. He got to Paris and stopped." "Why's that?" asked Rick. "I don't know. But it doesn't really matter, he has something that we need." "We need something from an immortal?" said Rick with apparent hate in his voice. "Yes. It seems our priest has gotten hold one of our Chronicles." Rick went pale. "If he has one of the Chronicles than surely he knows about us." "Yes, but he has never revealed anything." "To bad for him," smiled Rick. "Is the other one as old?" asked Rick as he continued with Darius' file. "No, but he's just as interesting... His name is Duncan Macleod. He has a kinsman named Connor. "Wait.. Isn't Connor Macleod the one who started the Gathering?" "Yes, he is," responded Horton. "I can't wait to take his head." smiled Rick. "No. He's not going to be the one. At least not the first one we let you get." "It can't be Darius." However, he looked at Horton. Damn it is, thought Rick. "But he's on holy ground. I can't kill him there." "I've arranged it so you won't have to. Don't worry. Its all being handled, and when it's over you'll have more power than you have imagined, Rick." For just a moment, Rick smiled. He hadn't smiled for a long time. However, the idea that he would get some measure of revenge pleased him. * * * By the time the two got into Paris, it seemed that Horton's men had gotten organized and were ready. "I've heard that there is another immortal in the area besides the two that we're hunting." mentioned Rick. "Yes. It seems that our men weren't as thorough as I had anticipated. Thackery had been almost too much for them in Dublin. They decided not to go after his friend--one Hugh Fitzcairn. He's also a friend of Macleod's," said Horton. "Could he be a problem?" "I don't think so. He doesn't have a clue about us. He shouldn't expect anything has gone wrong other than the fact that a few immortals have gone missing." It seems that the gathering is providing us with a little cover, thought Rick. He still worried as to how he would be able to get Darius' Quickening. Horton's men packed up their weapons and went to the car. Rick remain in the car until he was signaled. This would keep Darius from sensing him. Everything went exactly as planned. Horton and his men drove to the Church and went in. They called Rick in a moment later. When Rick entered the Church he was able to sense Darius. The experience was a little overwhelming. Darius was indeed a very powerful immortal. As he approached the monk, he saw that Horton's men were holding him. The priest just looked at Rick as he approached. The look seemed worse than the ability to sense him. "Why are you doing this?" he asked. Rick wouldn't respond with words. He pulled out his black hilt katana. "No Rick not here. We'll take him with us and find an appropriate place." said one of Horton's men. He smiled, "I think we'll mail his head to Macleod." At that moment a telephone rang. It was enough of a distraction for the old priest to get away from his captors. He sure doesn't move like a priest, thought Rick. Darius had moved so quickly two of the three men holding the priest were on the ground faster than they knew what hit them. However, as Darius tried to flee there was a loud bang. Rick could see some kind of dart hit the priest's back. It was Horton's stun gun. The immortal fell to his knees, immobilized. The people who were attempting to call the priest might investigate why he didn't respond. Rick would have to act quickly. "I guess we'll have to kill him earlier than we expected. Take him out to the alley behind the church. I think that should be far enough." said Rick. In the alley, Rick decapitated the two thousand year old immortal. The Quickening was beyond anything Rick had imagined. The energy surged through every part of his body. In fact, Rick actually was lifted into the air as the experience and raw power of the old immortal struck his body. After what had seemed like an eternity Rick fell to the ground. Horton and his men just stared at him. They didn't bother to help him up. After all he is one of "them". As for Rick, he didn't know what was up or down. His head just felt like someone had drove a van over it. It was hard to concentrate with so many images inside his mind. But there was something else, almost like a voice. [What does it feel like to be a killer?] It was so faint, Rick could barely hear it. He tried to push all the things that were flooding in his head away from his conscious thoughts. It was very difficult but soon the images and voice faded. Rick then tried to get up. * * * It was Horton's idea to put Darius' body back in the Church. He thought it would take away the sense of security that immortals had about holy ground. Once someone found the body, immortals would know that no place would be safe. Rick couldn't continue with Horton's plan. He would spend the next month recuperating from his experiences of that day. In his absence, he would later learn, things didn't turn out so well as planned. Horton, couldn't find the fifth Chronicle. Macleod and Fitzcairn had discovered the existence of the Watcher's, and all attempts to kill them had failed. Horton decided to regroup and return to the States. However, he had worse luck there than in Paris. Macleod had followed them back and almost killed Horton. If it wasn't for the fact that Joe Dawson helped Horton, he would have died. As Rick recovered, he began to test his newfound abilities. He could now defeat everyone of his teachers in combat. Whether it was armed or unarmed fighting no one could match his skill. Rick liked the fact that he could get the upper hand on the very people that had taught him. However, when Rick learned that Horton had failed to get Macleod and he was done with the Watchers, he took over what remained of Horton's group. There were just a few loyal men and even they couldn't not actually associate with Horton. Rick would have to be their middle man. If Horton was to continue his crusade, he would need access to the Watcher's files. As the weeks went by and Rick had reorganized Horton's group of renegades as Horton himself was recovering, he did not forget Duncan Macleod. The Highlander would be dealt with. I know the man inside and out. I taught.. I mean Darius taught him a thing or two, thought Rick. He knew the heart and mind of Duncan Macleod and he knew exactly how to hurt him. It would be through a woman named Tessa Noel. to be concluded...... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ][_______________________________________________________ O##########][______________________________________________________/ ][ Ramirez: "The Kurgen, he is the strongest of all the immortals. He's the perfect warrior. If he wins the prize, mortal man will suffer an eternity of darkness... " Connor: "How do you fight such a savage?" Ramirez: "With heart, faith, and steel. In the end, there can be only one." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nath Prachayaamorn nathprac@ocf.berkeley.edu nath@uclink2.berkeley.edu =========================================================================