Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 11:01:42 EST Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Brian Macleod Subject: Behind Blue Eyes, part 8 ************************************************************************* *************************H I G H L A N D E R***************************** *****************B E H I N D B L U E E Y E S********************* ************************************************************************* BY BRIAN PROCOPIO, BASED ON THE FILM OF THE SAME NAME. COPYRIGHT 1994 CHAOS PICTURES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART EIGHT _________________________________________________________________________ With a twist of his hands, the soldier's neck snapped violently. He lowered the Nazi's body down to the ground slowly, being careful to make no more noise than necessary. He rolled behind the pillar a few feet ahead, a fresh layer of blackened dust and ashes clinging to his clothing as he rose. He checked around him, securing his position, securing his position. He reached out with all of his senses, the fires burning his eyes, the cordite stench stinging his windpipe, the tingling feeling of being alone deep into enemy lines on his flesh... He had passed through the Brandenburg Gate almost half an hour ago, his progress since then being measured in inches and feet. The blackened ruins of Berlin hovered about him, nearly deserted. The roaring crackle of fires surrounded him, their heat draining him, sapping him of his strength. "One last mission..." he muttered under his breath, his voice sounding stange, low, more gutteral than usual. He was almost there, he knew. Once his objectives were met he could end his life of war forever, Stalin had promised him that... He heard voices up ahead, followed by the firing of several guns. A loud rumbling shook plaster from the nearby walls, several chips bouncing off of his head. Tank, he decided, German origin. He crept forward under the cover of the noise until he reached a rocky outcropping overlooking the bunker. A whiff of kerosene hit his lungs, followed immediately after by a longer blast of the oderous chemical. Definately a fire, he decided. He withdrew a pair of binoculars he had stolen from a Nazi officer and scanned the clearing before the bunker, where several figures stood before the tank. The being emerging from the vehicle wore his hair cropped short beneath a German officer's cap which he promptly discarded. He was adorned in full military uniform, but upon closer inspection did not appear to be a native of the Deutschland. He walked over and clasped one of the others on the shoulder like a brother. This one was definately not German, his dark eyes and heavy brow giving evidence to that, along with his long black hair tied back in a ponytail. The third was shorter and younger than the previous two, with short curly black hair and a dark look on his face. The last carried a woman's body in his arms. She was.. no. With a flash he realized the flames pouring from the open door of the bunker.... the body of Eva Braun... the obvious facts that someone had beaten him to the furher's asassination... He rolled over in the dust, defeat washing over him for the first time in his life, the fatigue of this vital, most important mission draining all life from him... He rolled back over and smacked his head against the wall... It hurt, hard. David Macleod snapped his eyes open. It took several seconds for him to reorient himself to his surroundings... Basement, weights... Asleep... passed out doing situps... Marak again. To weak to push back his influence. The memories he had been relatively successful in blocking out to date, the images of a life filled with death, the faces of the figures by the fire.... He glanced at his watch, a little under seven hours to go until the confronta- tion with Gabriel Cole. ________________________________________________________________________ "No one knows what it's like, To be the bad man, To be the sad man, Behind blue eyes...." __________________________________________________________________________ The memories flowed unbidden now, three and a half centuries of recollections, three centuries of pain.... Brian MacKenzie closed his eyes and thought back to the Highlands again, Ashley... <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< "No, this is for you, my love..." he held the necklace before her eyes, watching the sparkle of reflected candlelight bouncing off of her face. He was breathless just watching her, her expressions of shock and utter joy playing through her whole being. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> He opened his eyes again, staring coldly into his blue eyes, trying to keep himself from going further, but feeling the unescapable yank back into the past... <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< He blinked in the bright late morning sun, his eyes scaanning the surrounding plains. It wasn't like Ashley to leave without warning, especially when she knew he'd be back early in the day. He leapt on his steed again and ushered the beast onto the path leading towards town a few miles away. He caught sight of a piece of fabric hooked on a branch about a mile into the path, and slapped the horse's flanks harder in an effort to garner more speed out of the animal, feeling for the first time actual fear over Ashley's safety. After another half of a mile he turned back to find the fabric, his mount steaming and foaming, becoming irritable at the tasks asked of it. He found the spot and climbed off the horse, reaching over and withdrawing his sword from the other side of the saddle... He found her about twenty yards into the growth, laying on her stomach. He knew... but couldn't accept... He flipped her over and cradled her head in his hands, her red hair playing about her in a flurry, mirrored just below by the deep red gash in her throat... He screamed until he was hoarse, his breath escaping his lungs in drawn out gasps... The necklace was gone... she was killed because of the dammed necklace, the symbol of his love... A senseless death of violence by simple thieves.... He held her long into the night, the leaves blowing about nearly covering them both, the only sounds the sobs issuing forth from MacKenzie and the rustling of the autumnal leaves... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ____________________________________________________________________________ "No one knows what it's like To feel these feelings Like I do And I blame you..." ____________________________________________________________________________ ..the tissue paper rustled as he removed the last bits of wrapping from the mysterious package. He withdrew the final layer from Cole's gift and held Ashley's necklace in his hands once more... Three centuries of rage and grief exploded as he tore the necklace apart, the impact of the precious stones echoing through the empty kitchen. He stood there unmoving, eyes closed... ___________________________________________________________________________ David's eyes adjusted to the interior of the dimly lit theater. He blinked several times as features began to become visible, the old stone stage, the high bleacher-type seats, the high-cut archways bordering the room. He made his way down to the stage, attempting to become familiar with the soon-to-be-battleground, examining the area for any items or features which he could exploit... The tell-tale buzz of an immortal bombarded him again, and he turned to see Gabriel Cole make his way down towards the orchestra pit. He withdrew his katana in preparation.... ___________________________________________________________________________ ..And checked the condition of his blade. Immaculate, as always. He replaced it its sheath. He straightened the bottom of his black gi as he knelt before the lit candle, it's flame playing off of the dark satin of the traditional uniform. He closed his eyes in meditation. He opened them again, the candle's light illuminating his blue eyes as he gazed into the fire. "I'm sorry, Ash, I have to do this. Even you would understand, I hope..." He softly blew out the candle, and darkness engulfed him. _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Ah, c'mon, you *knew* there was more of a plot twist than what happened *last* episode, didn't ya????? Anyway, hope you enjoyed, Behind Blue Eyes should be wrapping up in the next chapter or two at most. Thanks to any and all who gave me support, criticisms, and encouragement. Did anyone catch the mini-crossover to Jason Tippet's "Dark of Knight" saga?? Sorry, I just *really* enjoyed that one and thought some fanfic continuity would be a nice touch, thanks Jason. Beware, the third installent to the David Macleod/ Brian MacKenzie story begins soon!!! Join us here for "The Battle of Evermore" in a few!!!!! See ya then, Brian Macleod, aka Brian MacKenzie Macleod@vm.temple.edu =========================================================================