Date:         Mon, 12 Feb 1996 02:38:16 EST
Reply-To:     Janine Shahinian <72557.627@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Sender:       Highlander TV show stories <HLFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>
From:         Janine Shahinian <72557.627@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      Destiny - Part 5/5

        DESTINY (Part 5/5)
        (c) Janine Shahinian
        72557.627@compuserve.com

No Warning needed: The kiddies won't notice anything unless they teach
them Freud in middle school. ;-)

**********

        As Duncan approached the last flight of stairs to the P5 parking
level, he suddenly knew that he was getting closer to at least one other
Immortal. He carefully looked around the stairway door before emerging,
but refrained from drawing his sword. He would be in enough trouble as
it was if a cop spotted him.

        He went up to one of the elevator doors and forcibly pushed it
open. There, below him, was the smashed elevator.

        "Richie?"

        "Mac! Thank God! We're coming out."

        Duncan wedged a trash can in front of one door to hold it open.
Richie helped Vicky to climb out of the hatch and then pulled himself up
as Duncan pulled Vicky out of the elevator shaft. "Does she know?"
Duncan quietly asked Richie once they were together.

        "Well, I guess you could say she got the crash course. We didn't
actually have time to start in on the rule book."

        "You'll have time for that later. You have to get out. The place
is swarming with cops." Duncan turned to Vicky and gave her a comforting
touch on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

        "I guess so."

        Duncan smiled sympathetically and then returned to the business
at hand. "Find the back way out of here. Don't let the cops see you." He
handed his keys to Richie. "My car is just around the corner on
Columbia. I'll meet you back at my place."

        "Where are *you* going?" asked Richie.

        "To find Carson."

        "Mac, I don't think he had anything to do with this. I think I
sensed one of us following Vicky over here."

        "What do you mean you 'think'?"

        "I mean I had just started to be able to sense Vicky, too. But
she was already outside and I don't know who I sensed. It was quick,
like someone driving by, but it was strong."

        "Well, if it's the same guy who killed her parents, my guess is
he'll go after Carson like he did with Blackwell." Richie nodded. "Get
going."

        Duncan headed up the stairs for the long climb up to the 45th
floor. Richie and Vicky slowly made their way up through the parking
levels, taking refuge behind parked cars whenever they heard someone
coming.

        The gate at the entrance was closed, blocking all cars from
going in or out. Richie noticed that the adjacent security station had a
door on both sides and was currently unattended. The two slipped in from
the parking side and exited into the alley behind the Viva Tower. There,
they picked up their pace and headed towards Columbia.

**********

        Duncan managed to get to the 45th floor without encountering
anyone. Most likely, the evacuation process had been completed. The bomb
squad could now go in and do their work. Remembering the suite number
from Carson's business card, Duncan walked swiftly down the hall and
into the outer reception area.

        "Carson?" called Duncan. He went over to the door by the sitting
area and cautiously entered.

        Carson stood up from behind the desk and pointed a gun at
Duncan. "You bastard!" His voice was filled with hate. "I know who you
are. You're not going to get away with it this time!" He fired and
Duncan dove behind an armchair.

        "Paul!" Duncan called out, "I thought *you* were behind this."

        "Don't lie to me you son-of-a-bitch! You were after Vicky from
the start." He fired again, aiming through the chair and just missing
Duncan.

        "Put the gun down, Paul. I'm telling you, it's not me. And if
it's not you, then someone could be after her right now."

        "You're all killers. Why should I believe *you*?"

        Duncan emerged from behind the chair and spoke calmly. "Is that
what you believe?" He walked closer to Paul. "Then go ahead and kill me.
And after you kill me, go out and kill Vicky, too. We're not all evil,
Paul."

        "Is she....?"

        Duncan nodded. "She died when the elevator fell."

        "No, that can't be...." Paul lowered the gun as he struggled to
accept what he had heard.

        "You love her, don't you?"

        "No. No, I can't!"

        "You *can't* or you don't? We're not monsters, Paul. Vicky is
still the same beautiful person she was yesterday. And she needs you,
now, more than ever."

        "An Immortal killed my father."

        "I see. Is that how Horton recruited you? So you could get
revenge?"

        "Horton?" Paul looked at Duncan in confusion. "Oh... I see. I
didn't wind up with Horton's group. I said I wanted to work as a lawyer
rather than follow some crazy Immortal around, so they let me take over
for Robert. Robert Blackwell," he quickly added, "he was...."

        "I know, " said Duncan. "Come on. We'd better get out of here. I
don't suppose you have a cane or something lying around here? We need an
excuse to get out of here quickly without a bunch of questions."

        "Yes! I've got a crutch from my last skiing accident."

        "Great. Get it and let's go."

**********

        Vicky and Richie walked briskly, but were stopped by the
sensation of an approaching Immortal. Vicky cringed as Richie looked
around, seeing no one. Finally, a man rounded the building at the corner
and entered the alley.

        Richie grabbed Vicky's hand and started running in the other
direction. He pointed ahead and shouted, "Over that fence!" Richie led
the way up the hood of a car, onto a dumpster and down the other side
with a jump. They ran behind the buildings, taking a short cut to
another alley which would lead Richie to his motorcycle.

        But the other Immortal had circled around. Richie felt him come
within range again, but was surprised when he stepped out from the side
instead of closing in from the rear. And this time, he came forward
holding a gun.

        "_Not_so_fast_" ordered the Immortal.

        Richie stopped in his tracks and took in his surroundings. A
cinderblock wall of a commercial building stood on one side of the
alley. Several old and abandoned factory buildings sat on the other
side. Vicky stood frozen just a step behind him and to the left, looking
over at him to see what she should do.

        Their attacker came around to face the two of them, smiling
devilishly. Looking as though he were in his early thirties, he stood
just an inch or two taller than Richie. With curly brown hair, a bushy
mustache and a bulbous nose, he could have passed for an obnoxious
talk-show host. But his beady, grey eyes reflected centuries of
callousness and indifference towards his fellow man: mortal and immortal
alike.  "This one is mine." The voice was cold, dark and sinister.

        "And who are you?" demanded Richie.

        "The name's Hannikel. And I'm the one who first spotted her
fourteen years ago."

        "You killed her parents and their lawyer."

        "Of course! Did you ever see one of our kind who had it so good?
We come from who knows where and have to take what we need. The mortals
despise us. She had to be shown how the rest of us live," Hannikel
growled. "This is *my* show. Now run along and leave her to me.
Otherwise, you're both dead."

        Richie kept both eyes on Hannikel and suddenly shouted, "Vicky!
Run!" Sure enough, Hannikel looked over to Vicky as she turned to run
and Richie used the moment to jump out at Hannikel. His gun went off,
the bullet hitting Richie in his left side. Richie channeled the pain
into a scream as he tackled Hannikel into the ground.

        Vicky looked back and saw that the gun had flown out of
Hannikel's hand as he was knocked backwards. She stopped running and
turned to watch. She wondered if she should retrieve the gun, but
decided that Richie would probably be better off is she stayed out of
the way.

        Richie rolled in the direction of the gun and picked it up.
Without aiming, he held his wounded side and waited for Hannikel to get
up. How simple it would be to just shoot him while he was down and take
his head, but the thought never occurred to Richie. Doing that would
make him a murderer, no better than the scum before him.

        Yet Hannikel had to die, to pay for all of his terrible deeds,
and Richie wanted nothing more than to be the one to wield the sentence
- or die trying. Hannikel had committed unforgivable evil by taking the
lives of innocent mortals and pulling Vicky into the Game with such a
hellist act. But Richie knew there was a reason why he was in that
elevator as well - in *that* place at *that* time. It had not been part
of Hannikel's scheme; it was fate. And now it was Richie's destiny to be
judge, jury and executioner.

        Hannikel sneered as he got to his feet, believing that Richie
was too fearful and inexperienced to use the gun. But his expression
changed as Richie tossed the gun down a grate and drew his sword. "I
didn't come for you, hot shot, and you don't want to mess with me," he
said, menacingly, as he reached for his own sword. "I've had scores of
heads, and I'll soon have yours as well if you don't stand aside and let
me take what is mine."

        Richie felt his anger rise and quickly forced it back down,
struggling to stay focused as he removed his jacket. "Sorry, but you're
*mine*," Richie declared and he readied his sword.

        Hannikel's eyes narrowed and he struck out with his blade.
Richie parried and beat Hannikel's sword back. Hannikel came back harder
and faster, but Richie blocked each swing, holding his ground. As
Hannikel came in close, Richie pivoted around with a kick to Hannikel's
back. Hannikel lurched forward but got in a cut to Richie's right side.
Richie arched his back and cried out but he didn't let the pain stop
him.

        With an effort, Richie readied himself again as Hannikel taunted
him. "It's my lucky day. Two for the price of one." Exploiting Richie's
open gash, Hannikel gleefully struck from above, forcing Richie to reach
up to block the blow. The pain and weakness on that side were too much
for Richie to overcome and he crumbled under the impact of Hannikel's
blade. Hannikel hit Richie's sword aside and swung to deliver the
killing blow.

        Richie rolled to his left and held his blade out, catching
Hannikel across his exposed middle. Hannikel staggered and backed away
and Richie followed in pursuit, pounding at Hannikel's guard. The two
swords met: inside, outside, again and again. It had become a dance of
death.

        Hannikel, bellowing in frustration and anger, gave a mighty
backhanded swing towards Richie's shoulder. Richie ducked, Hannikel's
sword arm went wide and Richie thrust his sword deep into Hannikel's
chest. Hannikel's eyes bulged out as he was gripped with pain and his
sword dropped from his hand. In one flowing motion, Richie pulled back
on his blade, spun it around and sliced through Hannikel's neck.

        Vicky watched the gruesome scene as Hannikel's head flew and
rolled in the air, the body and head thumping to the ground at different
moments. Richie had spun towards her, but his head and shoulders were
slumped. Vicky started to go to Richie, when a sight more awesome than
the fight, itself, made her stand transfixed.

        A ghostly form rose up out of Hannikel's body and slammed into
Richie with a force so powerful, it sent Vicky reeling backwards. Arcs
of light snapped and flipped from fallen foe to victor, causing Richie
to convulse and twitch with each incoming bolt of energy. The cataclysm
grew, as lightning exploded all around. Richie threw his arms wide,
screaming, his tattered and bloody shirt flapping in the onrush of sheer
power. With one last, spectacular report, the windows of the
surrounding, run-down buildings blew out in a shattering climax.

        The next moment, all was quiet. Richie collapsed to his knees
and gripped the earth. Vicky remained where she was, too overwhelmed to
move. As Richie struggled to get up, Vicky sank to the ground and put
her head on her knees.

**********

        Duncan and Paul emerged from the freight elevator at the back of
the Viva Tower and walked out onto the loading dock. A police officer
watched as Duncan supported Paul's right side, with Paul using a crutch
to support his left. Just then, flashes of lightning arced across the
sunny, afternoon sky and both Paul and Duncan looked up.

        "Vicky." "Richie." They spoke at once. The hobbling act was
forgotten as the two jumped down from the platform and raced through the
alley, leaving a baffled policeman behind them.

        Duncan found Richie first with Paul bringing up the rear.
"Where's Vicky?" Paul asked. Richie pointed and Paul ran over to her.

        Vicky was visibly shaken but managed to acknowledge Paul's
presence. "Don't tell me. You knew about all this, too," she scolded.

        "About them, yes. About you.... well... it's a long story." Paul
was at a loss and didn't know what to say or do.

        "I suppose *so*," said Vicky sourly.

        "C'mon. We have to go." Paul offered a hand to Vicky, who just
used it to get up but then let go.

        As Duncan retrieved Hannikel's sword bearing Richie's blood,
Richie commented over to Duncan, "I can't imagine what she's going
through."

        "Neither can I," said Duncan. "Her whole world has turned upside
down in one day."

        Paul brought Vicky over to where Duncan and Richie were standing
and looked down on the severed head. "Hannikel. I should have guessed,"
said Paul.

        "You know him?" asked Richie.

        Paul just nodded and the four walked away.

**********

        Back in the loft, Duncan and Richie carried a cup of coffee in
each hand over to Paul and Vicky who were sitting on the couch. Paul sat
forward, elbows on his thighs, contemplating his mug. Vicky sat sideways
facing Paul with both feet on the couch, her knees forming a protective
wall in front of her.

        Paul and Vicky had not spoken the whole way back; the tension in
the room was so thick you could cut it with a sword. Finally Vicky
nudged Paul with her foot and asked, "So how is it that you're not like
me, yet I seem to be the last one to know what's going on?"

        Paul sprang up out of his seat and walked a few steps away, his
back to the group, feeling totally at odds with himself. <Rule Number
One: A Watcher and an Immortal can't be friends.> He shook his head and
asked, "How did I get into this?" Feeling trapped and cornered, he
looked sideways over to Duncan and said helplessly, "I took an *oath*."

        "Paul, " Duncan said soothingly, "the Watchers broke their own
rule by starting such a project. You weren't just Vicky's Watcher, you
were also her lawyer - and her *friend*. And in case it hadn't occurred
to you, you're not the first Watcher to become friends with an Immortal.
Your secret is safe with us, Paul. *Talk* to her."

        Paul sighed in resignation and found himself starting from the
beginning, addressing Duncan and Richie as Vicky listened. He told of
his father being killed when he was ten years old, being befriended by
the man who witnessed the murder and wondering why this man was nice
enough to help him go to college and get into law school.

        It was when he began looking for an internship that his
benefactor told him that an Immortal had killed his father and asked him
to join the Watchers, as a group of them were working to rid the world
of this evil. Paul agreed to join, but he still wanted to practice law.
That was when he began working with Robert Blackwell doing divorce and
family law - and assisting with the Origins Project.

        Robert was quite close to Cynthia and Alex from their college
days, Paul explained, and already handled much of their legal affairs.
He knew how much they wanted a child and when Vicky was found, he
thought it was a natural match. He even became Vicky's godfather.

        "After I joined his practice, it was like I became part of this
extended family. The Macmillans were really nice people. As Vicky grew,
we basically forgot about our initial interest in her. The Origins
Project didn't have much to do since the one boy in England was only ten
years older than Vicky, and we didn't find Michelle until 1977. So it
was easy to not think of them as possible Immortals.

        "But when Vicky was seventeen, we spotted Hannikel lurking
around the Macmillan's estate. He had always been a robber and murderer
since his Gypsy days in Germany during the late-eighteenth century, but
he was also known to go after brand new Immortals.

        "Robert didn't want to take any chances, so he tried to think of
a way to convince the Macmillans to get Vicky out of town. Knowing that
Cynthia and Alex hadn't told Vicky that she's adopted, he made up some
story about Vicky's natural father being in town to look for her. Then
he summoned the two of them to come to the office after hours so he
could talk with them. That's the night they were all killed."

        "As Vicky knows, I became her legal guardian. We both agreed
that she'd be safer if she left the city, so she took off early for
college."

        Paul considered his next words and finally turned to Vicky. "At
first I came out to visit because it was my responsibility to look after
you. Later... because I enjoyed being with you.

        "Then everything started happening at once. Horton and his men
started going after Immortals with a vengeance. You were still safe, but
they wanted me to stop associating with you. Of course.... I still did."
Paul smiled to himself.

        "Last year, though, when Michelle became Immortal, I no longer
knew what to think. I've been trying hard to deny it, but the truth
is.... I love you." Paul searched Vicky's eyes hoping desperately for a
sign of understanding, if not acceptance.

        Vicky lowered her eyes and shed a tear. Then turning her head
and burying her mouth in her hand, she struggled to keep the other tears
in check.

        Paul felt totally devastated. "I'm so sorry, Vicky. This is all
my fault. I was so concerned with MacLeod and Ryan, here, that I didn't
think to check whether anyone else might be after you. Perhaps I could
have...."

        "You did all you could, Paul," Duncan said. "I suppose it's just
our destiny to become Immortal." He gave both Paul and Vicky a
comforting look. "The important thing is that Vicky is alive. Now we
just have to help her get adjusted to her new life."

        Duncan turned and spoke to Vicky. "I have a friend in Paris. Her
name's Cierdwyn. You'll really like her; you're a lot like her in some
ways. She can teach you what you need to know..... You can even ask her
all about Bonnie Prince Charlie and the men of Glenmoriston; she was
there, too." He gave a smile.

        The thought that she wasn't so unique seemed to bring Vicky
around and she gave Duncan a little nod. "I'd like to meet her."

        Paul was greatly relieved to see that Vicky was in good hands
and walked over to Duncan to shake his hand. "I want to thank you for
helping Vicky through all this." He looked over to Richie. "You too,
Richie. I was so wrong about the two of you."

        Richie rose to stand next to Duncan. "No problem."

        Duncan shook Paul's hand and gave a comforting pat on his
shoulder. "Don't mention it," he said simply.  Then taking Paul's left
hand and indicating the tattoo, he said, "You'll have to make a
decision."

        Paul nodded and looked back at Vicky. "I'd quit the Watchers if
Vicky would have me. Otherwise, I might have to close up my practice and
become an active field agent." He winked back at Duncan.

        Vicky smirked at Paul and gave him a little push. "Oh, Paul, you
goof. Here all the time I thought *you* had a problem with *me*."

        "Ooo, touche," smiled Richie. "You're going to do great, Vicky."

        All doubts vanished and Paul took Vicky into his arms and they
embraced, Paul tenderly kissing Vicky's forehead. "Let me take you
home," he said.

        Duncan reached for a phone and said, "I'll call a cab for you."

        As the four moved to the elevator, Paul suddenly snapped his
fingers and turned to Duncan. "There's something I've been meaning to
ask... about Adam Pierson...."

        Duncan gave a quick glance to Richie and smiled smugly to Paul.
"As I said, you're not the first Watcher to become friends with an
Immortal."

        Vicky looked back and forth from Duncan and Richie and smiled
inwardly, pondering on all the other half-truths from the past few days.
She winked at Duncan and pulled Paul into the elevator, making their
exit. "I think this is where I came in," she grinned.

THE END

888888888

Author's Notes:

1)  The Umberto Al-Porto Ristorante is a real restaurant in Vancouver in
the same block as the building used for the dojo exterior shots. You can
make out part of the words in BLIND FAITH when the reporter approaches
Duncan outside the dojo. But, just like the "dojo" building, the real
entrance is from the opposite side on Water St.

2)  There really was a Gypsy robber and muderer who went by the name of
Hannikel (aka Jakob Reinhardt). He was hanged in 1787 along with three
other Gypsies. I revived him for the Highlander universe and added
everything else.

3)  And, as you might have guessed, Hugh Macmillan is an actual
historical figure as well. He was late in joining the Seven Men of
Glenmoriston, thereby becoming the eighth member. These men came to the
aid of the fleeing and defeated Young Pretender as he made his long and
circuitous escape from Scotland. While they only served Bonnie Prince
Charlie for one leg of his journey, they stayed for as long as they were
needed and only left after the Prince dismissed them.
     The names of all these men are known, but of their ultimate fates,
History has not recorded what became of either Gregor MacGregor or Hugh
Macmillan. So I was free to make that part up. :-)

4)  The [flashback] quotes are lifted right from various episodes. If
you're scratching your head in a couple of places, that's because you
haven't seen the wonderful Eurominutes of STUDIES IN LIGHT with Greg and
Richie. (The story makes references - some subtle and some not so subtle
- to 17 different episodes.  Can you list the episodes? :-) )

Janine Shahinian
72557.627@compuserve.com

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
end part 5/5 of Destiny
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