Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 20:13:45 -0500 Reply-To: LGreeneyes@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Laura Schomberg First Time Out Part 8 by Laura F. Schomberg WARNING: This part contains language that some people might consider offensive. It is definitely not appropriate for children. But, then again, that is a decision that is best left up to parents. A nearby restaurant 6:23 pm The men had finished eating their meal about 10 minutes ago. Now they sat patiently waiting on Ellie who was only about half finished with her meal. "Sorry," Ellie said. "I never was a fast eater." Adam chuckled. "That's true. I still don't see how you even managed to grow up during a time when people fought over food." Ellie shrugged. "I never said I couldn't grab food as fast as the next person." "Where did you grow up?" Joe asked. "I think I'll keep that my secret. I've always been surprised that I managed to grow up at all too. But not because I eat slow." "Why then?" "Because, Richie, I was the only person in my village who didn't have brown eyes. Most of the people thought I was sent by demons and the rest thought I was good luck. The ones who thought I was a demon wanted me dead." "Nice," Duncan said. "Tell me about it. But luckily for me the man who raised me as his own was the son of the village leader. Gave me some protection. Until he died." "What happened then?" Richie asked. "I'd rather not talk about that," Ellie said. She put down her fork and reached for the napkin on her lap to wipe her lips. She placed the napkin over the remaining food on her plate before pushing back from the table. "Ready?" "We haven't paid for the meal yet?" Duncan pointed out. "Then Richie and I will meet you there." "I still think we should all go in Duncan's car," Adam said. "And leave Richie's bike here? Nonsense. Besides, I like his bike. It's the closest thing to a horse we have. Now if I can just get him to let me drive it again," she added, looking at Richie. Richie looked uncomfortable about being pulled back into the argument between Adam and Ellie. It had started back at Duncan's loft when Ellie refused to ride to the restaurant in the car. Adam had claimed that everyone would be better off if they got there together but Ellie still insisted on taking Richie's bike. She had claimed then, like now, that she wanted to take his bike because it was similar to a horse but Richie felt she had another reason for not wanting to go with the others. She simply didn't want to be with Adam. "Will you wear a helmet?" Ellie shook her head no. "Then you better let me drive," Richie said as he got up from the table. ***************************************************************** ********** On the highway 6:50 pm Duncan drove down the highway in the early twilight. Joe sat in the front passenger seat while Adam sat in the back seat. No one was talking when suddenly Duncan and Adam felt the presence of at least one other Immortal. "We must be catching up to them," Duncan said. Joe was the first to spot Richie's bike on the side of the road. It was parked next to a police car. They were hard to miss since the squad car's blue lights were flashing. Richie and Ellie were standing next to the squad car talking to the police officer. They looked up at Duncan's car as it passed. "Should we stop?" "No, Joe. They can take care of themselves." "Richie's driving?" Adam asked. "Could be," Duncan replied. ***************************************************************** ********** Joe's house 7:15 pm Richie's bike turned into the oak covered driveway and pulled up next to Duncan's car. Richie and Ellie climbed off the bike and headed up to the two-story Victorian house. Duncan opened the door just as they arrived. "Well." "Well, what?" "Your driving get you another ticket?" "No," Ellie answered for Richie. "He pulled us over because I wasn't wearing a helmet." "How much was the ticket?" "Not a dime. He was a very nice man. Gave me a warning." "You were lucky." Ellie grinned as she walked past Duncan into the house. Richie followed her in, shrugging as he passed Duncan. "In the living room." Richie led the way to the sunken living room. Joe and Adam rose out of their seats as they entered. "What happened?" Joe asked. "Just got a warning for not wearing a helmet. That's all." Ellie and Richie sat down on the sofa. Joe, Adam, and Duncan sat in the chairs that faced the sofa. The silence became uncomfortable as everyone looked at each other. "This is ridiculous," Ellie finally said. "I told you we didn't all need to come here." "I'm just doing my job. Besides, it's my place. I want to see what happens to it." "Don't worry. I'll try to take this outside. Anyway, I'll pay for any damages." "With what? You've been stealing for the past few days." Ellie's eyes turned hard as she looked at Joe. "I stole because I didn't have access to my money. NOT because I didn't have any money. I happen to be loaded." Joe didn't look relieved by Ellie's words. He sifted uncomfortably in his seat before standing and walking around the room. Ellie's eyes never left him. She understood how he felt but there wasn't much that she could do about his home. Whatever happened, happened. Surely someone who spent so much time watching Immortals would understand that Ellie couldn't control the aftermath of a Quickening. He stopped and turned back to Ellie. "When will he get here?" Ellie pursed her lips. "What time did you say Janek called?" "3:00 a.m., our time." "And exactly what time was he killed. Our time." "About two hours later." "That would make it 5:00 a.m. Therefore he wouldn't be able to get on a plane until 6:00. It's a fourteen hour flight from Tel Aviv to Seacover so that would put him in at about 10:00 p.m. How far is it from the airport?" "About 45 to 50 minutes." "He'll probably take a cab so that would put him here at 11:00." "Why do you think he'll take a cab?" Richie asked. Ellie turned to him before answering, "He doesn't know the area. And I doubt he cares about being caught." "What do we do until then?" "Got a deck of cards, Joe?" Duncan asked. ***************************************************************** ************* Joe's house 10:55 pm They had been playing poker for the last few hours. Joe turned out to be the best player of the group. He won most of the hands until about fifteen minutes before. At that point Adam started winning most of the hands. "You're distracted," Duncan told Joe. "What? No, no, I'm just off my game." "That's why you keep looking at the clock, right," Richie scoffed. Joe glared at Richie and was about to respond when he noticed the faraway look that entered his eyes. Joe turned to the other Immortals and saw that each had the same look. "Damn," he whispered under his breath. "Everyone stay here," Ellie said as she stood up. "This is my fight." Ellie didn't wait for an answer instead she turned and walked out of the room. It wasn't long before the other men heard the front door close. Richie looked at the others. "I don't know about you but I'm going out there." "You'll just distract her," Duncan replied. "How? She can already feel me. I just want to make sure that Hamman doesn't leave here alive." Adam turned on him, "You don't think she can take him?" "I don't know. Do you?" Adam didn't answer. He got up and headed out of the room. Richie looked from Duncan to Joe before getting up to follow Adam. Joe shrugged, "After all, I do have a job to do." Duncan stood and came over to help Joe up. They started for the front door. Ellie came out the front door in time to see Hamman exit the cab. It was the first time she had gotten a close look at him since the march. He didn't look like he had aged a day. She waited until he had turned to look at her before talking. "I've been expecting you." "Really," he said. He hadn't lost his German accent. "Let's take this in the backyard. More private," she said before turning and heading to the backyard. She knew she was taking a chance by turning her back on him. He could easily decide to try to take her head right then but Ellie didn't think he would. She remembered how much he enjoyed seeing the eyes of his victims as he killed them. Considering his activities the past few days, she didn't think he'd changed. Hamman started to follow Ellie when he saw Adam and Richie come out the front door. He stopped, trying to figure out what to do. "Hey," he shouted to Ellie. "This is just between us!" Ellie stopped. She looked back at Hamman and saw him point to the two Immortals at the door. "They WON'T get involved. No matter what happens. Right?" "Of course not," Adam answered. "Coming?" Ellie asked before turning back and passing through the gate into the backyard. Hamman looked at the men one more time before turning and following Ellie. When he got to the backyard he found that she had already drawn her sword. He didn't notice the knife that she had stuck into her waistband. Hamman drew his sword and started to advance. "Tell me something," Ellie said. "Why did you kill my friends?" Hamman barked out an evil laugh before answering. "The children I killed because they invaded my home. And because they wouldn't tell me where I could find you. It seems they didn't believe that you were still alive." Ellie took a deep breath before asking, "What about Janek?" "That old Jew," Hamman spat. "I was just finishing what was started at the camp. He knew all about me. Said he was at Stutthof. I didn't remember him. I figure he lived about 51 years longer then he should have. Obviously someone didn't do their job very well. He died begging for his life like the dog he was." Ellie stiffened at Hamman's words. She forced herself to take several deep breaths. There were more questions she needed to ask. "Tell me about Ricardo Matos." Hamman took a quick step back. Obviously he hadn't expected anyone to know about that particular Immortal. "Hageman found him. He said that since I existed others had to as well. He found Matos and forced him to teach me. Hageman also wanted to know how to make people immortal. Matos claimed that you couldn't do it." "He was telling the truth." "Maybe, maybe not. He did tell me how we could be killed. I tried it out. He was right." Ellie glanced to Hamman's left and saw Richie and Adam watching the two Immortals. Just behind them she saw Duncan and Joe coming into the yard. Hamman noticed where her eyes went and turned quickly. "Nein. Back off!" "Don't worry. They won't interfere." "Who are you? You don't look familiar to me." "You mean you don't remember shooting me in the head?" Hamman shook his head. "During the march. You killed me and then raped and murdered the child with me." "Da. I remember her. Can you believe that that Jewish whore was still a virgin?! And least that is what she claimed. But we both know that that was not true. A Jewish bitch at that age could not possibly be a virgin." Ellie's hand tightened on her sword. She was desperately trying to get her anger under control. Rage wouldn't help her tonight. Hamman grinned. "I wasn't the only one who had her." "What? Did you need help to hold down a small child? Or was your penis too small to even enter that child?" Hamman's grin faded. Hate filled his eyes as he raised his sword and charged at Ellie. Ellie raised her sword and blocked his blow before using her arms to push him back. Hamman stumbled but managed to maintain his balance. He charged at her again. This time she simply stepped back out of his way slicing him across his chest as he went past. "This will be too easy." Hamman bellowed as he came back towards Ellie. She backed up quickly but this time Hamman was able to keep up with her movements. He started attacking Ellie, forcing her back even further. His height and strength seemed to be helping him as he swung at Ellie again and again. Ellie was forced to spend all her energy blocking Hamman's sword. Hamman swung at Ellie and struck her across her sword arm. Her sword fell to the ground out of her senseless fingers. She heard Richie yell and turned only long enough to see him straining in Adam's grasp. Quickly she stepped away from the advancing Hamman as he raised his sword in preparation for the killing blow. Ellie hesitated and then dropped to the ground as Hamman swung. She rolled into Hamman knocking his feet out from under him and sending him to the ground. Quickly she got to her feet and went over to grab her sword. As she turned back toward Hamman she pulled the knife out of her waistband. Hamman had regained his feet. He rushed at Ellie when he noticed that she seemed to be having trouble holding her sword in her injured arm. Ellie ducked under his arm and slammed her knife into his chest. She quickly stepped back as Hamman fell to his knees. He was surprised to see her easily raise her sword. "How?" "I heal very quickly," she answered. "Did Matos tell you that there could be only one?" "Nein," he gasped as he pulled the knife out of his chest. "Too bad. Because there can be only one," she said before bringing her sword down and cleanly severing Hamman's head. Ellie stood still, waiting for Hamman's Quickening. She watched as it left his body before slamming into her. The force of Hamman's Quickening forced a scream from Ellie's lips. Her body convulsed. Lightening lashed out of thin air and struck several trees, felling one. It slammed to the ground in front of the four men. Duncan grabbed Joe pulling him out of harm's way. Slowly the Quickening eased off, leaving Ellie on her knees gasping for breath. Adam let go of Richie. He ran over to Ellie and helped her to her feet. She leaned against him for support and they walked back towards Joe's house. "Sorry about your yard, Joe," Ellie said as she surveyed the damage. "Don't worry about it. I never did like that tree." "Joe, why don't you and Ellie go inside," Duncan said. We'll take care of Hamman." "I can help," Joe replied, indignant. "I know you can. But it is your house. You know where you keep your drinks." Joe considered what Duncan said before heading back into his house. "What do you drink?" he asked over his shoulder. "The strongest thing you have," Ellie answered, following him inside. "Straight up, no ice." End of part 8 =========================================================================