Date: Tue, 7 Mar 1995 17:35:44 -600 Reply-To: Jason Tippitt Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Jason Tippitt Subject: "In the End..." (HL/Batman) Part II, Chapter 1 If one of the kind folks who've mentioned having the old files would be so kind as to forward them, I need all of the first story ("Dark of Knight") and the Prelude and Part I, Chapter 1 of this one. Thanks! JRT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. You can, however, break its legs and throw it in." --Mark Winburn, my buddy-n-pal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ And now... ************************************************************************ "I N T H E E N D . . . " ************************************************************************ A Highlander/Batman Crossover Jason R. Tippitt, 1994-95 Note: This occurs in a future somewhat similar to that portrayed in the graphic novel _The Dark Knight Returns_, by Frank Miller. There are some differences--Jason Todd , the Joker, and the Catwoman's being Immortals having been the most notable one so far. Caveat: Not the kindest, gentlest story ever written. Cursing, too. Part II: "Gothic" Chapter 1 ******* Water dripped a steady stacatto beat as Kenny and the two street soldiers made their way through the tunnels under Gotham. "Where are we going?" Kenny asked. "I'm not going a step farther until you give me some sort of answer." "You shouldn't be taking steps at all," Ollie said. The tall archer scratched his long moustache with his one hand. "You got shot in the knee, boy, how is it you're walking around, anyway?" "I'm Immortal." "Yeah, and I'm Dick Grayson," Robin responded. Kenny looked at the short, lean, tomboyish girl. "You *look* like a boy." "You sunuva--" Ollie grabbed Robin by the back of her head and smacked her forehead against Kenny's. She and Kenny both let out yelps of pain. "Okay, kids, am I going to have to do that again?" "I'm older than you family tree, Robin Hood," Kenny sneered. "I've been an Immortal for--" "Save it for someone who cares," Ollie interrupted. "I don't have much patience for the supernatural any more. Life's too short to spend worrying about hocus-pocus and magic rings and lassos and strange visitors from alien planets and the like." "Gosh, Ollie, don't act bitter," Carrie muttered. ******* Jason Todd slinked back into his townhouse and looked around. He felt a Buzz, but that didn't necessarily mean an attack. "Michelle, you here?" "Jason!" Michelle bounded into the room in a tennis outfit. "I just got back from the courts before you came home." Jason removed his cowl and cape. Worry showed on his boyish face. "I don't see your sword..." "I had it in my hand until I recognized your voice..." "Okay. It's bad enough you flaunt danger with modelling, but I don't want to see you walking around unarmed." Pulling his shirt off, he walked toward the bathroom. "How was the photo shoot this morning?" Michelle followed after him. "Okay...you're being awfully serious, Jason. You okay?" He shut the bathroom door in her face. "Just let me get a shower." "I was about to get one..." He opened the door. "Oh, sorry. I'll wait, then..." Michelle pushed him back into the bathroom, index finger pushed into the center of his chest. "You need to talk, I can tell." "No, I--" "You had to take another head, didn't you?" "Yeah." His eyes started to water. "It was someone I knew from back when I was Robin...it was Catwoman, Michelle...Fagin, the gang leader I've been chasing, he's one of us...he was going to rape her, he cut off her hands...and she asked me to..." He couldn't talk anymore. He sat down on the side of the bathtub, crying. Michelle sat beside him, put her arms around the young Batman, her protector. "Couldn't you have brought her here? Protected her like you're protecting me? There's safety in numbers..." "She wouldn't give me time to make the offer--it all happened so quickly...and there's another Immortal, someone with the Feds, he probably thinks I'm Bruce..." He looked up at her. "My God, Michelle, we're going to have to move. He could find us here...we have to leave New York...maybe go to Chicago or London... I'll start packing while you shower..." "Jason, have I ever told you you talk too much?" Michelle leaned over and kissed him. "We don't have time for this--" "I love you, Jason Todd. And I think you love me. You're right, we don't have time. So we can't waste any." She stood, pulled off her top. "Let's take that shower..." "I--" She wrapped her arms around the other Immortal, kissing his face and neck. "Jason, I don't want to die without having loved someone. And I think it's a pretty guess neither of us will be the last one. If we leave here, it'll be someone else in the next city. And what's eternal life if you never enjoy any of it?" Jason looked at Michelle. "Michelle, have I ever told you you talk too much?" He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. ******* =========================================================================