Date:         Fri, 18 Mar 1994 08:37:14 -0800
Reply-To:     Highlander TV show stories <HLFIC-L@PSUVM.BITNET>
Sender:       Highlander TV show stories <HLFIC-L@PSUVM.BITNET>
From:         Selma McCrory <94smccro@ULTRIX.UOR.EDU>
Subject:      (Repost) fanfic: _Change of Perspective_, 4/4

A Change of Perspective
by Selma McCrory
Copyright 1993
part 4 (Conclusion)

        "But you did kill him."
        "I killed him as part of the Game. I was challenged by him, and I won.
That is the reality," he said as he drove his fist into his other palm to
emphasize the point.
        Greer shook her head.
        "Now I have to play the card that I was given. I told her that you would
be dead if she pursued her vengeance. Now I am forced to do so."
        Greer whipped out her sword. Leland smiled.
        "I wasn't about to suggest that you stand there and let me lop off your
head. Much as I enjoy Quickenings, I prefer to savor them after a fight. I
like to keep up my skills," he said thoughtfully. "Too bad I never really
got back into wars after Culloden in 1746. Who knows, I could have ended
the American Revolution. Of course, I had some problems at the time. And
these modern wars aren't much fun."
        He took his sword out from under his jacket and held it at the ready.
He bowed to her, and then swung. She was surprised by the bow, and almost
brought her sword up too late.
        She blocked the blow, and came back with her own attack to his side.
He blocked it effortlessly. He then managed to connect with her left arm. The
pain was ricocheting through her body, but she gritted her teeth to block it.
She was not entirely successful.
        Several times they circled each other. Leland definitely had the
advantage, as he used maneuvers that she had seen, but had never known how to
counter. She knew that she was slowing down from the pain, but she would
rather live with the pain than stop fighting and be dead.
        A wild thought occurred to her as Leland slashed at her. She managed
to parry, and took aim at his sword arm. She didn't manage to hurt him
much, but he was slightly distracted. While he was inactive, she whacked him
in the head with the flat part of her blade. He reeled, and while he was
off balance, she pushed him over. He lost control of his sword, and she
kicked it away. He looked up, obviously in pain.
        "Well, I haven't seen that kind of inventiveness in a long time." he
said, grim but trying to laugh. He tried to get his sword by reaching out,
but she blocked him. He attempted to get up. She maneuvered behind him and
kicked him again as he grabbed his sword. The resulting reflex caused him to
cut himself in the arm. He dropped the sword again and grabbed his arm. He
looked up at Greer.
        "Go on. I obviously have gotten rusty. And it will be my final piece of
satisfaction, that she wasn't the one who finally defeated me."
        She had raised her sword for the killing blow, but stopped. _Why am I
doing this?_ she thought. _I don't want to kill him: that's Alberta's job!_
        He sighed, apparently irritated by her hesitation. "I ask this of
you. As a last request. Otherwise, I will get up and make sure you are dead."
        As she trembled, he stuck his neck out. Greer, left without any
choice, swung. His lifeless body fell down, and Greer felt like she was going
to throw her lunch up.
        After a moment, she didn't have to worry about that. Leland's body
glowed white, and wispy tendrils reached out to her, striking her. She felt
as if something had exploded within her body. It was sizzlingly painful, and
yet she felt more joyful, more powerful than ever. She felt as if knowledge
and wisdom were using power tools to engrave themselves in her forever. She
fell down, because she had lost all care for her balance. Even as she struck
the ground, it was made warmly inviting and dizzyingly painful.
        Then the sensation passed. She longed for the moment to go on
forever, but it was gone. Her sword had fallen to the side, so she reached
out and grabbed it. She used it to lever herself to her knees, for her recent
experience had left her rather groggy.
        She looked up, and saw movement at the corner of her eye.
        She turned over to a copse of trees, and was momentarily startled
when she saw Robert. _Of course he'd be here,_ she thought. _Why couldn't I
remember that Leland was being observed?_
        Robert had a stunned expression on his face, followed by one of
fright. She held out a hand in a silent plea, but he stepped backwards and
then streaked away from her, out of her sight. She suddenly found herself
bawling. She sat there for quite a few minutes before collecting herself. She
knew that she had a lot to do.
* * *
        When Greer got back to her apartment, Alberta was waiting for her.
She shot a look at Greer's bloodstained clothes. "Leland? He found you? Is he
still alive?"
        "He won't be troubling anyone anymore," Greer said calmly. _Except
for me, and my peace of mind_, she thought.
        "I lost him. I kept looking for him, and I missed him. And he challenged
you, to keep from fighting me," Alberta said wistfully.
        Greer nodded, and frowned. "What's the matter?" Alberta asked.
        "He told me that you were out for revenge."
        "No, I wasn't." Alberta told her, then paused. She wrinkled her forehead
in thought. "Well, I was sort of out for revenge. After all, he killed
Silas. However, I hunted him for another reason. If him or someone like him
wins the Prize, I shudder to think of what will happen. The one who wins
the prize will probably be very, very powerful."
        "And that's why you were after him."
        "Yes."
        Greer sighed, looking at the lean woman with the tired and sunken
face. Then she went to her bedroom, and pulled her large suitcase from the
closet. Alberta followed her in, and watched her pull her clothes from the
same closet.
        "What are you doing?"
        "I'm packing," Greer said abruptly. "I was foolish and forgot that there
was a Watcher watching Leland. Now they will know that I am immortal. I have
to get away before they can track me."
        "Where will you go?" Alberta asked.
        "I don't know," Greer answered. "Somewhere a long way from here."
        Greer added a few odds and ends, including a few books. Then she
zipped up her suitcase and paused.
        "I remember hearing rumors that one of us, the Watchers that is, started
talking to an immortal. What was the fellow's name... oh, yes, Joseph
Dawson. Maybe, after I've lost them for a while, I can go to him." Greer
paused, trying to place the name. "I met him once. He runs an antique
bookstore in Seattle. I drank coffee in his office one time last year, when I
was tracking an immortal named Felicia Martins. Maybe I can see him again,
and we can catch up when I feel safer."
        Alberta came up and gave Greer a hug. "Do whatever you need to do.
Glad I don't have your problems. You need to remember that life in not all
that bad. Enjoy yourself. I know _I'll_ be finding some enjoyment," she
said, smiling at some fond memory. "In fact, there is this fellow I want to
see again. Haven't seen him since 1890. Wonder if he's busy?"
        Greer smiled briefly. She then bundled envelopes, stationery, and
stamps into the suitcase. Greer answered Alberta's unspoken question. "I
have to take care of something."
        Greer picked up the suitcase, and took it towards the front door. She
was going to open the door, but Alberta beat her to it. Greer smiled
gratefully as she maneuvered the suitcase out. After she locked her front
door, Alberta walked to her car. She waved, with a sad smile, got into the
car, and drove away. Greer watched her go. She smiled, and dumped her
suitcase into the back of her station wagon. She drove away from the
apartment building, and did not stop until she had reached the post office.
Once there, she wrote a letter:

                "Dear Michael,
                I'm sorry this has to end this way, but it does. No
                doubt by now, Robert has told you of the events in
                the park. I never meant to deceive you, but I had little
                choice. I am leaving our group. Obviously now I cannot
                remain. I would stay for dinner, but I have discovered
                that I cannot stand to be observed.
                Enclosed is the key to the apartment. You are welcome
                to keep anything you want, for I no longer care. Be assured
                that I love you, and would not do anything to harm you.
                I pray that someday we will be able to meet somewhere
                across the lines fate has decreed for us. Until then,
                we can only hope.
                                        love,
                                                Greer"

        She put the key in with the letter. She had already stamped and
addressed the envelope. She put it in the mailbox, where she thought she
heard it thump.
        After that, she drove away, not caring what direction she was going,
only that she was going towards the future.

***THE END***

Whew. It's done.
If you have comments, send them to me at the address below.
If you are missing parts, send me a note too (I know several people have
had difficulty).

Selma McCrory                   "Maybe what this world needs
94smccro@ultrix.uor.edu         are more Selmas."
saselmam@ultrix.uor.edu         -Time Trax
selmamc@aol.com
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