Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 14:48:09 CST Reply-To: "sraghava@st1.clc.cc.il.us" Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: "sraghava@st1.clc.cc.il.us" Organization: College of Lake County Subject: Connections- Highlander Only. Part 2 of 3 X-cc: Nebojsa Barjaktarevic Connections Part 2 of 3 ==> A Highlander fanfic by Vatsan "Kinslayer" Raghavan part 2 of my story. All natural disclaimers apply. Sorry for the delay, part 2 took longer than it should have. Enjoy. -------------------* * *------------------------------------------ "Back, what do you mean back? You mean you haven't killed him yet?" "Sorry Macleod, I've been a little busy over the years. There are far too many of us to let myself be bothered by any one man of woman. Besides there was no hurry for me. If Jackson wanted my head, he could come and get it." "So why has he suddenly decided to come after you now?" By this time Macleod and Vijay were in Macleod's loft above the dojo. Vijay sat himself down on Macleod's chair and began to explain his predicament. Vijay took a deep, brooding sigh. "Because of all of Ramirez's 40 students, only 4 of us plus you and Jackson remain. So, since I am one of Ramirez's oldest and therefore best students, Jackson feels that he's finally ready to take me on. Those of us that haven't been killed by others, have been hunted down and slaughtered by Jackson . . ." At this point, Duncan interrupted, "Why have I been included on this list? Ramirez wasn't my Teacher, Connor was." "Irrelevant, the connection is close enough for him, and you're made a reputation for yourself. Besides I think you know why he hates you so much." "Yes, I suppose so." ------------------------* * *------------------------------------ => Paris, France. 1842 Darius's Church. Darius opened the door to the Cathedral as he sensed an Immortal's presence. He smiled as he recognized the "intruder." "Duncan, Duncan. Welcome to my humble abode. What brings you to my cathedral." "Just visiting and old friend and hoping to finally beat you at a game of chess. I've learned some new moves." Darius gave a big, hearty laugh and took Duncan into the back room where they settled in for a game of chess. Sometime later, with Darius twenty moves from checkmate and Duncan hoping to create a miniature coup and take both of Darius's knights and one of his castles, they both felt the Buzz of another Immortal. Duncan tensed and started to pull his sword out. Darius reached out with a calming hand. "No, Duncan, this is Holy Ground. We are all safe here." Duncan calmed down and waited for the other Immortal to enter the room. He gave a surprised gasp as he recognized the man who entered the holy room. "Jackson!!" "Hello, boy. Duncan's your name isn't it? Old One, I yearn for your head. Do you have the guts to face me in combat?" "If you wish to Challenge Darius, you must go through me, bastard son of a dog," exclaimed Duncan in immense anger. <> thought Duncan. "Please Duncan, there is hardly any reason to get upset. I do not plan to fight anyone, nor do I plan to leave my cathedral at a time not of my choosing. Now Alexander Bartholemew Jackson, if you would care to leave before Duncan, here, feels it necessary to throw you out." Jackson's eyes dilated as he stared surprised at Darius. > Jackson, quickly covered up his surprise, and projected a show of bravado. "If you had any guts Old Man, you would stop playing the chicken and face me now. But enough, I have other business here. Macleod I seek some acquintances of yours, one Brian, as well as your Teacher; Connor. Both Brian and Connor have made large reputations for themselves and I seek a worthy adversary. Do not attempt to suggest yourself, Macleod, you are not yet old enough." "I will tell you nothing of any of friends. You will have to fight me or leave this place. DECIDE NOW!!" "Macleod, you will speak or I will not kill you, but make you wish I had." A dangerous glint showed in Jackson's eye. "I've lived long enough to have enough practice with torture, Macleod. You may save yourself infinite pain and suffering by speaking a few words, Macleod." "NO! You fight me now or you leave, there are _NO_ other options. Decide now or leave!" At this point, Darius attempted to intervene. "Duncan, no. This is not necessary. Let Jackson leave, and let it be over with." "Enough Old Man. If he wishes to Challenge me, I have no objections to granting a final dying request." "I'm not the one who will be dying, Jackson." Both Duncan and Jackson walked calmly to an alley behind a building less than block from the church. "En garde, Macleod. You die now." "Shut up and fight." Duncan soon realized that he was overmatched in this fight. Jackson had a good deal more experience. Every move Macleod made, Jackson was two steps ahead." "I warned you, young one. You are not yet ready to face me, perhaps in a couple of centuries. But no matter, you die now." Macleod knew that he would need to try a technique that was risky in the extreme, but if successful, would give him the win. Jackson had probably not yet seen the move, it was less than twenty years old and taught to him by Brian, who had learned it from a great mortal swordsman from Japan. As Jackson came in for what he thought was the kill, Macleod took a 135 degree twist away from Jackson's sword, and literally chopped it in half with a full two-armed thrust. The momentum still carrying him forward, Jackson stopped a second later. Realizing the destroyed state of his sword, and sudden twist in the battle, Jackson threw down his sword and began backing away from Macleod, while at the same time pulling a loaded gun from his pocket. Before Macleod could react, he was shot in the ches, and fell back onto the wall, slowly dying. Jackson took this time to leave the scene before the use of the gun attracted unwanted attention. The last words Duncan heard were, "You will pay for this grave insult young one. You WILL PAY!!! Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!!!" Then Macleod died. And the maniacal laughter continued on into the night. -------------------* * *------------------------------------------ Macleod 'awoke' from his memory as Vijay called out to him. "Duncan, hellow Duncan. Are you there?" "Hmm, oh sorry, what do you want?" "Where's your bathroom? I need a long, hot shower. I'm absolutely exhausted." "End of the room, on your left." While Vijay took a shower, Macleod wondered why he was always the last resort as a problem fixer. <> he chuckled. <> he chided himself. <> "Because I care about your well-being, Highlander, " came Vijay's voice from the entrance to the bathroom. "What the... How did you ... That make no sense!" Vijay gave a big laugh. "Duncan, I've been around long enough to read facial expressions well enough to practically be a psychic. And the reason I haven't fought him for a while is because he wasn't after me before a year ago, when he killed Jeannette. . . " "You mean, Jeannette du Nichols. Ramirez's last student before Connor." "Aye, fire-haired Jeannette, with a temper as burning as her hair. The reason I'm here is that if he takes my head, I need you to kill him, Macleod. He's far too dangerous to be allowed to run around rampant." "Please Vijay, you're a better swordsman that he is." "Possibly, Macleod, perhaps I am, but I haven't seen him in nearly 100 years. I don't doubt that he's gotten better. No matter what ..." Suddenly the phone rang, Duncan looked at it in surprise, he wasn't expecting anyone to call him. "Hello, Hello, . . . Hello is anyone there???" A slow, maddening laugh, erupted from the phone. "Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha,Ha!! I'm after your head Macleod. Tell Shankar I'm coming for him first. Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!!" And the maniacal laughter continued on into the night. ------------------* * *------------------------------------------- ==>End of Part 2<== Hope you liked it. The story concludes tomorrow. Please send all comments, advice and suggestions to : Vatsan "Kinslayer" Raghavan sraghava@st1.clc.cc.il.us "What can I do to make you believe that I'm mortal?"-Q -"Die."-Worf --"Oh very funny, Worf. Eat any good books lately?"--Q. =========================================================================