Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 09:47:48 -0700 Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Nath Prachayaamorn Subject: A Watcher's Story (part 4 of 4) A Watcher's Story by Nath Prachayaamorn (part 4 of 4) "Get me Pallin Wolf!" cried Richard Dolan. Immediately one of Horton's men handed him a phone. Rick knew the Pallin was a fool. He wouldn't be able to kill Macleod, but that was not what Rick wanted. "Ah, Pallin, I have a new target for you." "I'm not done with the one I already have." responded Wolf. "Quit playing games with him. The immortal your going to be after will be far more of a challenge--even with your night vision goggles." "Alright, who is it?" asked Pallin. "Duncan Macleod." "The Highlander?! I'll need all the information on him made available. I'm not exactly popular in the organization right now." "All the details will be open for you to access for the next three hours. That's the best I can do, Pallin. The organization still thinks I'm dead." Rick said. "That would be just fine. Oh, by the way, when are we going to get a chance to cross swords?" "In your dreams, Wolf. Get your jollies off of someone else. Just take care of Macleod if you can." Wolf sounded a little disappointed. "Don't worry about Macleod. He's as good as dead." Rick hung up the phone. He'll fail, thought Rick. But that's expected. Let Macleod hope for a while, make him think that he actually has a chance. Then I'll crush him. * * * Rick sat in a car near the house of Pallin Wolf. Next to him sat Jack, one of Horton's most trusted men. "Well, Jack, who did you get to do this job?" "He's just some addict I found out on the streets, just like you told me. This should look completely realistic. It should appear to be just another act of random violence." said Jack. "Good, but did you tell him not to hurt that Ryan kid? It's important that the kid not be touched." "I made that perfectly clear." "Well, for the junky's sake, he'd better remember that." responded Rick. Everything worked out as planned. These people were so predictable. Macleod found the house earlier than expected and Ryan showed up as well. Later, Rick observed someone trying to access Watcher files. The login seemed to be Pallin's. He must be dead, thought Rick. "Too bad Macleod, Pallin no longer has access," said Rick to his laptop computer. At the same time, Rick saw Tessa and Ryan coming out of the house. Rick could see from his binoculars that someone had gotten behind the two as they approached Macleod's car. Right on schedule, Rick thought. Then everything went wrong. As the assailant began shooting, Rick saw Ryan go down as well as Tessa. "Damn!" he cried. "Jack get us out of here!" ordered Rick. Jack did as he was told and drove the car away. Rick could imagine the Ryan kid getting up from his "fatal" wounds. Damn, now I'll have to go after both of them. Well, he might as well tell Horton about Ryan's awakening. This should make his day, thought Rick. As the two men approached the private hospital where James Horton was, Rick ordered Jack to stay in the car. He walked inside the hospital. When Rick entered Horton's room, he could see the man was awake and looking a little impatient. "Well what happened?" he asked. "Tessa Noel is dead." Rick answered. "Excellent. Let Macleod suffer for a while. I want him to want to die." smiled Horton. "You did very well today, Rick. Your plan worked flawlessly." "Not exactly, James. The Ryan kid, got "killed" as well." "So what?" "He's one of my kind. I suspected Ryan's potential, but I never got the chance to check him out. He was always hanging around Macleod." James Horton didn't say a thing. He just lied there in his hospital bed. Then he looked up at Rick. "It won't be a total loss. Macleod will still have to train the boy. It should take some time for him to be an affective opponent. Don't worry about it, Rick. However, I wouldn't entirely dismiss him either. We will have to keep a close eye on our Mr. Ryan." "So we're not going after them yet?" asked Rick. "No, Rick. I'm going to be released tomorrow. I'll let Macleod live a little while longer. I want him to suffer. In the mean time, I want to go after some of the other targets that we have located." * * * James Horton was dead. It had been almost a year since Rick had planned Tessa Noel's death. In that time, Horton had used another immortal against Macleod. An immortal named Xavier St. Cloud. Rick had met the immortal and found him distasteful. The man was definitely scum. And from a few memories Rick had obtained from Darius, he knew Xavier to be a ruthless thief that only kills for pleasure and profit. Rick wondered why Horton used another immortal to do his dirty work for him. Horton merely explained that Xavier was expendable. He wasn't entirely sure Xavier could finish Macleod. Little did Rick know that Horton was playing the two immortals off of one another. He had promised both that they would be the last immortal alive, that they would be the ones to receive the Prize. If Horton had succeeded in killing Macleod, both Rick and Xavier would have soon joined him. However, the plan failed. Horton's mercenaries were eliminated, Xavier was killed, and Horton himself was shot by his own brother-in-law. Rick was the one who dragged Horton out of the River. Lucky for Horton, he wore a kevlar vest. Afterwards, James Horton no longer acted like himself. He seemed obsessed with trying to kill Macleod. He even planned to kill Dawson as well. Rick couldn't really blame the man. After all his own brother tried to kill him. Rick always thought Joe of being a highly moral man. However with the attempt on Horton's life, Rick's opinion about his former friend was changed. Rick was wondering about James Horton. The man had become so unstable. He lived and breathed Duncan Macleod. He could think of little else. When he came up with the plan to drive Macleod insane with a Tessa look-alike, Rick realized how unbalanced Horton really was. "That is insane, James. Macleod will see through that instantly. What do you think your doing?" Rick asked. "I realize that he will see through it. However, he won't realize who is doing it and why until its too late. He'll play my game out until the very end. Macleod's so predictable that way." smiled Horton. "So predictable that you couldn't kill him the last time?" mocked Rick. Horton grew angry. "You think you can do any better. I made you, Dolan and I can break you!" "What's that supposed to mean? I've always been loyal to you, James. I've never really questioned your plans. But if you want to point out how inadequate" I am, let me remind you that it was my plan that succeeded in killing Tessa." "Get out!" Horton yelled. "I don't need help from the likes of you. In the future, after Macleod is dead, I would watch my back if I were you." said Horton with a deadly look in his eyes. After that, Rick left. He was contacted a month later about the how James Horton had died. Final instructions were left ordering Horton's remaining followers to follow Richard Dolan. However, it was obvious that none would follow someone they hated. Horton believed that Macleod's death was more crucial than killing the other immortals. He didn't care how it was done. Horton was willing to have his men commanded by what he believed to be an "abomination". It was his last wish to have Rick finish this fight. Rick remembered the heated argument they got into when they last saw one another. Rick knew Horton's feelings about immortals, they were similar to his own. He also remembered all the things Horton had done for him. If it wasn't for James Horton, Rick would be dead by now. So Horton wasn't a perfect man but Rick believed that he had been his friend. He decided to avenge his friend's death. * * * It wasn't hard finding Hugh Fitzcairn. He wasn't really a low-profile kind of person. Rick found the man in Toronto. From the Watcher files, Rick knew that every few decades, Fitzcairn would travel the world. Today, Rick found him in a museum. He was admiring a few women that were here for a special exhibit. Rick didn't care for art himself, but one of the sculptures seemed familiar to him somehow. He looked around and found that this was an exhibit of Tessa Noel's last works. "How appropriate." Rick whispered. Rick continued to follow Fitzcairn. Rick remained a safe distance away from the immortal. However, as Rick followed Fitzcairn into a crowded room, he lost him. Then he felt Fitzcairn's presence. He didn't want to look around. It might get his attention. Then he saw Fitzcairn run out of the museum. Rick immediately followed. Rick ran into the street after the immortal. He saw Fitzcairn duck inside a parking lot. Soon Rick lost sight of him. * * * He felt the presence of the immortal. Where was he, thought Fitz. He had ran out of the museum and was hoping to trap his stalker in an underground parking lot. Fitz hoped that there wouldn't be any people in it since it was so late. He guessed right. The lot was nearly empty except for a few runned down cars. He could feel his hunter again. Fitz ran down into an elevator and headed towards the lowest level. As Fitz got out of the elevator, he could still feel the presence of the immortal. He saw the elevator next to the one he arrived in approaching his floor. It must be him, thought Fitz. Who is this person? As the elevator approached his floor, Fitz pulled out his rapier. Suddenly, the presence of the immortal was very strong as if it was next to him. Who ever it was, this immortal was very powerful. He saw the elevator stop one floor above his. He whirled around and saw the door to the stairs partly opened. He opened the door and stabbed a man behind it. The man immediately fell to the floor. Apparently dead or dying. Immortals don't fall that easily, thought Fitz. He could still feel the power of an immortal nearby. Fitz looked and suddenly saw why this man had fallen so quickly. There was a mark on the man's wrist. Fitz pulled back the man's sleeve to reveal a familiar Watcher tattoo. "Damn. I killed my watcher." said Fitz. He was probably assigned to me or the immortal chasing me. "I'm sorry, friend." Fitz said to the dying man. He had to get him to the hospital. He wasn't going to let this man die because of him. However, he had to deal with the immortal stalking him or they would both be dead. Fitz reentered the parking area hoping to find the immortal that was chasing him. Suddenly he saw a blade piercing through his chest. "Apology accepted," said a voice from behind him. The blade was then twisted to make him feel more pain. He cried out. Then the immortal pulled the blade out by slicing through one side of his body. Fitzcairn fell to his knees. The immortal walked around from behind. It was the Watcher that he thought he had killed. Fitz couldn't understand how an immortal could have gotten a tattoo, and was wondering that until the moment he died. "There can be only one!" cried Rick. Then a light seemed to appear out of no where shining upon Rick. The cars that were in the lot began to come alive. The energy of the Quickening was released into Rick's body. Everything that Hugh Fitzcairn ever was and ever hoped to be. Then came all the Quickening of all the immortals Fitzcairn had ever defeated. Rick screamed and windshields shattered on the cars surrounding him. Finally it was over. Rick fell to his knees next to the headless corpse. * * * Rick had arrived in Paris the next day. He had discovered that Macleod had sold his barge. Rick used several of Horton's old contacts to find that Macleod was staying at a hotel nearby preparing to leave for the U.S. Macleod had informed the Hotel that he was going to stay there a week. Rick had found that Richie Ryan was not staying with his friend. He had gone to Spain for some last minute relaxation. Good, thought Rick, that's one less immortal I'll have to deal with. Rick had found Fitzcairn's Quickening more easier to deal with than Darius'. He didn't hear any voices in his head. Rick just received a few flashes of memory now and again. However, he just couldn't get rid of the urge to smoke a pipe for some strange reason. One of Horton's contacts also had found Joe Dawson in Paris as well. That was an unexpected bonus for Rick. It would make this act of vengeance against Macleod that much easier. He located Dawson in another Hotel in another part of Paris. Rick decided it was time to visit his "old friend". * * * Joe Dawson was packing up to leave with Macleod. Macleod was the only reason he was in Paris in the first place. Joe Dawson had watched Macleod for over fifteen years. He knew the man pretty well, but he never met the immortal until this year. He liked Macleod. It felt good to finally talk to the guy instead of watching him. It was better for his health if he just approached him instead of lurking in the shadows. Joe remembered how he had been hit by Macleod during the incident with Nicholas Ward. His jaw never did feel the same again. Then there was a knock at the door. Joe opened the door and nearly had a heart attack. It was Richard Dolan. He was speechless. He had believed that he was dead for five years. Richard looked good for a dead man. He even had a smile on his face. "Hello Joe. Long time no see." smiled Rick. The door closed behind Rick as he entered. * * * The phone rang in Duncan Macleod's suite. "Hello Highlander." "Who is this?" asked the Scotsman. "A person that knows you very well. If you want to see your friend Joe Dawson alive again you'll come meet with me." "If you harm him, your a dead man." "That's fine, I've been a dead man before." He told Macleod to meet him at Darius' church. Rick thought it would be a perfect place to settle old debts and make the Highlander suffer before he killed him. This was actually getting entertaining for Rick, he hadn't been entertained in a long time. Macleod entered the church and felt the immortal. He began to worry for his friend. He could feel how powerful his enemy was. Macleod looked around the church but could not find anyone. However, he still felt an immortal's presence. "Where are you?" Two people came out of the confessional. One of the men was Joe Dawson. The other had a katana drawn and held it against Dawson's neck. "Let him go," Macleod said, "You can't challenge me here." "I'm going to fight you here, Macleod. I'm only here for introductions. My name is Richard Dolan, and I want your head." "You let him go and I'll give you a shot at it." challenged Macleod. "It's not going to be as simple as that, Macleod. You don't know me, but I do know you." Rick didn't bother with Dawson anymore and let him go. "However, I believe your familiar with my work." Macleod checked to see if Dawson was injured. He appeared fine. Macleod then approached Dolan. Rick had sat down and pulled out a file. He gave it to Macleod. "What's this?" asked Macleod. "Just a few samples of my work," smiled Rick. Inside were two pictures. One was a distant picture of Tessa getting shot and another was a picture of Hugh Fitzcairn's head. The Highlander drew his sword and was ready to cut down his opponent. "Are we forgetting that we're on holy ground?" The Highlander stopped. "Good. I see your familiar with the rules. You see, I wanted you to know who had done these things. I can't have you discover the death of your friend and wonder who killed him or continue to believe that Tessa's death was simply an act of random violence." "Why are you doing this?" "Simple. Revenge. You see, I was a very close friend of James Horton." Rick stopped to look at Macleod's skeptical face. "You don't look like you believe me. It's absolutely true. He helped me become the immortal you see today. You see, I'm not really an old immortal. In fact, I've only had two Quickenings in my entire life. One from your friend and of course one from Darius." Dolan smiled. Macleod was in disbelief. All this time he had thought that Horton had killed Darius and that Tessa died because someone wanted money from her. Now that he knew that it was because of this man, Macleod flew into a rage. He grabbed Dolan and threw him out the Church and into the very alley where Rick had killed Darius. Rick was quick to recover and soon was attacking with his katana. The Highlander was very good. Especially with the Quickening of Greyson. This would indeed be an even match. The battle seemed to last forever. If Dolan had cut Macleod, Macleod would eventually do the same to Dolan. The battle was getting nowhere. Then, Rick tried to open up more knowledge from the back of his mind. The area where he had forced most of Darius' memories away a year ago. Rick then seem to surge with new strength. He ducked, as Macleod swung for his head. Macleod had made a mistake. He left himself momentarily open. Rick practically disemboweled Macleod. The Highlander fell to his knees. Rick pulled back his katana for the final blow. "There can be only one!" cried Dolan. That was when the voice returned. [What does it feel like to be a killer?] Rick tried to force the voice away. Rick began to swing the katana. [How would Danny feel about all this?] Rick stopped in mid swing. He put his hand on his head trying to force those thoughts back. "Nooo!" he cried. Macleod saw the opening and took it. He sliced opened Dolan's chest. Rick was barely able to block the next attack coming for his head. No matter how hard he tried, Rick couldn't be rid of that voice. That voice, he finally recognized, was the voice of Darius. Now it was just a test of endurance as the two immortals battled one another. Macleod was more seriously injured but Dolan had a harder time concentrating on the fight. It eventually came down to one moment, where both were open to attack and they both took their opportunities. One man fell. His story ended. Then came the lightning. THE END ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ][_______________________________________________________ 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 =========================================================================