========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 01:55:05 -1000 Reply-To: kevinm@PIXI.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Kevin Matsumoto Subject: Companionship a FK/HL Crossover pt 3/? Author's notes: Ok well, the inspiration for this story (or the blame for giving me the idea :>) can go to Perri Smith for her excellent (IMHO) stories "What's Past is Prologue and House of the Rising Sun" which go me thinking _Why_ would a Vampire and an Immortal stay together? Especially when each tends to drift apart from their own kind easily enough. Also to the writers of the Niamh series, The Forever Not story Revelations (The original inspiration for part of this story.). WARNING: This is my first attempt at creative writing since leaving college (Way to many years ago). So I apologize for rough syntax and grammatical faux paus that I have made. Minor violence alert: There is a swordfight scene in this chapter and I got a little more graphic than I intended. I don't think this is over the top but you couldn't show it on prime time either. MAJOR WARNING: The first part of the this story (Not the first chapter) ends with a major sappy hollywood cliche. Don't say I didn't warn you. Disclaimer: Nicholas Knight, Natalie Lambert and Company belong James Parriot and I guess now The SciFi Channel. Highlander and everything that goes with it belong to Rysher and USA Network. Aaron Grey and Thereas Ryan and this story are mine. No copyright infringement intended. Companionship by Kevin Matsumoto kevinm@pixi.com A Highlander/Forever Knight Crossover story Chapter 3 Coroner's Office Early Evening Nick entered Natalie's office making every effort not to sneak up on her. Nick mused. As he approached she turned and smiled. "Nick, I'm glad you're here. I have something for you." Nick already knew what was coming as Natalie thrust a glass tumbler filled with a pale pink liquid into his hands. "Drink" Nick managed to get about half of the glass down. Then he stopped and just barely managed to keep the blood substitute in his stomach. Natalie saw the look on his face and asked "Need's work? Huh" "I still say it might be better if it at least looked like the real thing." Natalie shook her head Nick took one more swallow of the liquid, just to appease her, then went over to where Natalie had placed the Sword that had been found at the murder scene 2 nights ago. Protecting his had with a glove, Nick picked up the sword and swung it back and forth a few times. _Something_ was wrong... Natalie looked at the frown on Nick's face and walked over "What is it?" Nick looked up from the blade he had been puzzling over and replied "This blade, the balance is wrong." "The balance?" Nick sighed. "There are basically two ways to balance any sword. The first was is to balance the blade to itself. These blades are called perfectly balanced and fit just about any hand." At Natalie's nod of understanding Nick continued. "The other way is to balance the blade to a specific bearer. These swords feel wrong in anyone else's hand." Natalie understood "So this blade was custom made for one specific person?" Nick nodded Now it was Natalie's turn to frown. "So if it was a duel this blade was either made for the person who killed Sinclair, or the perp was a exact physical match for the one the sword was meant for." Nick nodded then said "Either that or the person who killed Sinclair didn't really know anything about swords." Natalie shook her head. "The blade edge shows several nicks where it collided with a weapon of similar sharpness. The blade itself has been cared for and it was unlikely the nicks were more that a few hours old." Nick looked at the blade and asked "Nat, are you done with the testing on it?" "Sure, why?" "I might know someone who can tell me more about this blade." Small cottage, wooded area just outside of Toronto, Midnight. (Author's notes: I have never been to Canada and do not know whether there are homes in a wooded area outside of Toronto, so if I'm wrong my apologies.) "Takatasan?" Nick said quietly as he approached the entrance to the small cottage that Kiyoshi Takata lived in. Before becoming a vampire, Takata had been a swordsmith in Medieval Japan. "Nikusan" The burly oriental smiled as he opened the door. Nick had to smile at the sight of his friend. Takata belied all the stereotypes for an oriental. Nearly 5'11" and with broad shoulders he looked nothing like the small figure still seen in many cartoon rendering of the Japanese. Only the slanted eyes really made him stand out as an oriental. Nick bowed to his friend "I need your help" "Still playing the police officer, eh Nick?" Takata had long ago lost any accent he might have had, sounding more like a citizen of the US than an easterner. Nick unwrapped the Longsword from its protective canvas cocoon. Before he could warn Takata, the smith had seized the sword by the hilt and had given off a hiss of pain as his palm was seared by the holy relic within. Takata spent the rest of the night measuring the blade and jotting down notes on the laptop computer on his desk. Finally about two hours before dawn, he sighed and put down the blade. "Nick, whoever this blade was made for stood about 5'10" had an average reach for his height and unless he's one of us is definitely dead." Nick nodded "I figured that last part out for myself, what can you tell me about the sword." "Whoever made this blade was a genius to rival Muramasa. Its made in a way similar to the Japanese folding method. But the balance and grip are European in design. Very unusual most European blades of that period were forged out of one piece of steel. This one was closer to Damascus steel. But I can't quite figure out where it could have been made. There are no maker's marks, no stamps or engravings of any kind on the blade or hilt. I'm sorry Nick but that's all I can give you." Nick smiled as he got up to leave. "That's more than I had before." Abandoned Factory, Toronto Late Next Evening (Author's notes: see statement about cottage in the woods :) The two figures danced weaved as each attempted to break thru the others defenses. Flashing blades threw sparks as the two, parried and struck, each trying to inflict a fatal blow to the other. Finally one of them made a mistake, his blade came up just a little to far and a little to fast. Just enough to make blocking the cut across his abdomen impossible. The other smiled as her opponent slumped trying to stop the bleeding with his free hand. She watched as the other slid to one knee, eyes slightly blank from shock. Drawing back the sword she intoned "There can be only one." and brought the sword down in a two handed stroke. For one second the wounded man's eyes cleared and threw himself out of the way. The woman felt her blade strike the grating that made up the floor of walkway they were on. Then felt the terror as her sleeve caught on a jagged piece steel that had been broken during their fight. Before she could free herself, she saw the other's blade come down across her wrist, severing her hand. She watched dazed as her hand, still holding the sword, fell to the ground below. She simply stood there as the Cutlass removed her head from her body. From the outside it looked like a lightning storm had gone off inside the building. The deliver driver who was going by pulled over as every remaining piece of glass in the structure exploded outward, raining shards all over the roadway. Finally he went to the nearest pay phone and called the police. He didn't see the lone figure limp out of the building and begin to make a furtive dash to his car. "What happened!" Aaron turned in shock to see Theresa standing behind him. She took in his bloody clothes and the look on his face and nearly carried him to the car. Nearly forcing into the passenger's seat, she got in and drove the car off. "Aaron, Please tell me what happened?" Aaron sighed, "She almost got me, that's what happened. I overextended with this blade and she almost got me." Theresa's face was pale. "I thought you said you were used to that sword." "I am, but its not _my_ sword. I had the other for a good part of my life. I'm still not used to all the nuances in this thing" He said the final word with some disgust as pointed to the bloody weapon lying on the car floor. As he passed out, he didn't the notice decisive look that came over Theresa's face. end of chapter 3 Thanks to those who actually send me email praising this story. I'm writing as fast as I can but sometimes the scenes get away from me. As to the Identity of the Female Immortal? Well.. You get to Find out in the next chapter :) Any like I said in the beginning Comments can be made to kevinm@pixi.com, All comments welcome, constructive criticisms will be accepted with gratitude, Complements with stunned silence and Flames Grudgingly ignored.:>