========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 11:32:12 -0500 Reply-To: JJSWBT@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Wendy Tillis Subject: Hidden Potential 2/22 Hidden Potential by: Wendy Tillis March, 1996 Standard disclaimers apply. Chapter 2 It was 9:00 in the morning. Duncan was in the dojo's office going over the books. He was losing money. The dojo had never turned a profit from what he could see. The building was old and the up-keep expensive. Duncan didn't really mind the loss - this venture represented a minuscule portion of his immense wealth but it was the idea of the thing. Anything worth doing was worth doing right. He looked over the figures again. He could raise the membership fees substantially but that would put them beyond the reach of most of his current members. That didn't seem fair. To attract new members he would have to remodel the dojo. The locker room and shower facilities were inadequate now, let alone for more people. He could open the place to aerobics classes or kiddie karate but that wouldn't sit well with his more serious members who looked at the dojo as a place to escape day-glow orange spandex. Not to mention the fact that more members meant more people around all the time and more chance of someone seeing something they shouldn't. No, a loss was better than discovery. Just then he heard familiar footsteps crossing the wooden floors outside the office. A particular heavy, stilted gait. He looked up to see Joe Dawson. Duncan wondered what brought Joe out so early in the day. Working at the bar until late usually meant Joe stayed in bed until late morning. Joe reached the open door of the office and knocked on the door frame. "Mind if I come in?" "No, Joe, good to see you. Have a seat." Joe eased himself into the chair in front of the desk. Duncan got up and came around to lean on the desk front. For a few moments they just looked at each other. Finally Joe spoke. " Have you seen the news this morning?" "No, something I should see? "A body disappeared from Seattle General last night." "Oh?" " Yeah. One of my people, Andy, is an EMT and he brought in this girl. Gunshot. She died on the way to the hospital and they couldn't revive her. 15 minutes later her body was gone. Andy says she walked away." " So - you think she was an Immortal? Its happened before. She'll probably just disappear - leave town. That's the way we operate. Was she anyone you know?" " No, she isn't in our record. But the fact that she's Immortal isn't the important thing." " It's not?" " No. She didn't just leave town. Seems the girl is back at her house acting like nothing happened. The press got ahold of the story and interviewed her this morning. She says she has no idea what happened. All she remembers is getting shot and then walking down the street in bloody clothes and a sheet. The press is calling it a miracle. They're talking about her going in for medical tests. Being on "Nightline" - lots of publicity." Duncan got up and paced the room. "So you think she is a new Immortal? That that was her first death and she has no idea what she is? Great. Just great. If she goes public whole world is going to find out there are Immortals out there. And if the press already have the story it is going to be hard to cover the whole incident up. " Joe stood up. " What are you going to do, Mac?" "I don't know. Go see her, I expect. Explain to her what happened and why she can't have those tests. Then I'll have to find someone to take care of her, train her. If she believes me." "What do you mean *if*?" " They don't always, you know. Some people just refuse to believe they are Immortal. Even when you show them - they just can't comprehend it. I've seen it happen before." " What do you do then? If they refuse to believe, won't accept training?" Duncan looked grim. "You kill them." Joe stood silently contemplating the brutal reality of those words. Duncan was silent also - lost in memories of another time. **************************************************** 1740 Cornwall Duncan's horse pounded along the South road to Plymouth. It was late and he was eager to arrive at the inn at Ashburton. He had been on the road for many days and looked forward to spending the night with his good friend Robert Whitcomb. He had known Robbie for over ten years. Robbie had been at Oxford for two years and had a keen mind but no money or family. Duncan had lent him the money to start the inn four years ago. Money well spent and promptly repaid. Duncan had stood up as Robbie's best man two years ago when he had married his sweetheart, Rachel. Yes, Robbie was a good friend and true. But even had he not been, Duncan would have stayed in touch, for Duncan knew something that Robbie did not. That Robbie was destined to one day to be Immortal. Duncan wanted to be near to help Robbie when the time came. As Duncan approached the village, he saw a knot of people gathered in front of the Inn. Duncan reined in and dismounted. On the edge of the crowd he spotted an acquaintance, John Wright. "John! What is this? Trouble at the Inn?" " MacLeod! It's been almost a year! Where have ye been man? But never mind that now, it's a black day you've come back to." " What's happened then?" Duncan had a sinking feeling - such a crowd could only mean very bad news. "Two days past, Squire Dornin came back from Buckfastleigh with a new stud. A great grey brute no man had ever ridden. Well, you know Robbie considers himself the finest horseman in the county and he bragged to the Squire that he could ride the beast. The Squire handed Robbie the reins without so much as a word. Robbie jumped up and he might have rode him too, if it weren't for Widow Martin's dog. Came yapping out of the doorway just as Robbie plunged past. That horse spooked like none I've ever seen. Robbie holding on with both hands and the horse twisting and turning like a fish on a line. Robbie finally came off down near the smithy. Hit the back of his head on the trough. He's been dying ever since. It's a sad thing and him so young." "Can I see him?" "I should think you could. Rachel is beside herself. I'm sure she would welcome your presence." Duncan pushed through the crowd into the inn. Most of the village seemed to be standing around. He pushed on through to the steps that ran upstairs near the bar. At the top of the steps, he turned then stopped at the doorway to Robbie and Rachel's room. Rachel was sitting next to the bed, holding Robbie's hand. Robbie was pale and his eyes were shut. "Rachel." She turned at the sound of her name, then stood up and came to him. He took her in his arms and hugged her gently. "Oh Duncan. I'm so glad you are here. They say he's dying. He can't be, Duncan. He promised we'd have a lifetime together. Two years. What kind of lifetime is that?" And with that she broke down in tears. Duncan just stood there and held her until her crying stopped. "How long has it been since you had a bite to eat, Rachel? Why don't you go down and get something while I sit with him? I'll call you if there is any change." Rachel straightened her apron and hair and went out of the room. Duncan went over and sat in her chair. He looked at Robbie. He looked very bad. His breathing was slow and sounded painful. He wouldn't last long. Duncan carefully lifted his head and felt for the injury. It was a small bump - most of the damage must be internal. Poor Robbie. Duncan had hoped he would have a full life here with Rachel before he "died" and had to leave forever. Rachel returned and together they sat vigil. A few hours, later in the middle of the night, Robbie gave a shuttering sigh and died. Rachel was fast asleep and did not hear it. Duncan sat forward expectantly. A few minutes later, Robbie's eyes snapped open and he sat up. Rachel awoke at the movement, screamed and fainted. Robbie looked confused. "Rachel? Duncan? What are you doing here? What happened? Rachel, Rachel?" He climbed out of bed and went to her. The people waiting below had heard her scream and feared the end had come. They arrived at Robbie' s room expecting to find a corpse but instead finding an apparently healthy Robbie standing in his nightshirt. "It's a miracle!" "Yes, a miracle" "Devil's work if you ask me" " I remember the same thing happening over in Newton Abbey when my father was a boy" The voices blended together into a babble of surprise and excitement and fear. Duncan shooed the people back down the stairs and out of the inn. Then he went back up to Robbie and Rachel. They were still in each other's arms, overwhelmed by this sudden recovery. Duncan knew that he should take Robbie aside right then and explain what had actually occurred but he didn't have the heart to beak up the tender scene. Soon enough the two lovers would have to be parted - it didn't have to be tonight. Duncan backed out of the door and shut it behind him. The next morning Duncan came downstairs to find Robbie dressed and serving breakfast as if nothing had happened. A few of the village men stood about whispering darkly. Robbie looked odd as Duncan approached and Duncan knew that Robbie was "sensing" him for the first time. Robbie wiped his hand across his brow and came over to Duncan. " Duncan. I'm glad to see you. I was feeling fine but just now I had the strangest sensation. I still do. Almost like a ringing in my ears - only different. I don't know how to explain it. I guess one can't take such a bump on the head and not expect some aftereffects." " You don't have to explain, Robbie. I understand. Better than you know. Is there someplace we can talk, Robbie? Someplace private?" Robbie clearly didn't understand but was willing to play along. "Why don't we take a walk? I feel stiff from having being abed for so long. I need to feel the sun on my face again. There's no one will hear us talk as we stroll." They left the Inn and started to walk through the village. At first, when there was still a chance that the villagers might hear, Duncan concentrated on how Robbie was feeling, what he remembered of the accident and of waking last night. Then, as they left the village behind, Duncan explained to Robbie what had happened. That he was Immortal now. That Duncan was too. That he would never age from this day forward. That he would heal from all injuries save losing his head. That he could never have children. About the "Buzz". And about the Game. Three hours later Duncan had told Robbie everything he needed to know. Robbie was stunned. But more than that, he refused to believe it. " I'm sorry Duncan, but I just cannot accept what you say as true." " Robbie. I showed you how I could heal. How *you* could heal." Duncan had in the end resorted to cutting both their palms with his knife to prove his point. "You canna deny what you saw." " I can deny that it means what you say it means. That I have to hide what I am, wander the world alone, and live forever in fear of men who would kill me for this lightning storm, this Quickening. I cannot believe it, I will not. I'm an educated man, Duncan. If I am different now, it must be for a logical reason. A reason which may be discovered in time. Study - that is what this problem requires. Once I understand it, perhaps there is a way to share this gift with our fellow man. I *will* find a way to share it. Rachel shall have it. I'll go to London, Paris, somewhere they will know what to make of this." "Robbie, no! You canna tell anyone what you are, about what you can do. What we are, you and I, must be a secret. Men will hunt us like jackals if they knew of this. Please, Robbie. You must promise never to reveal what you are to mortals, not even to Rachel. And especially not to the doctors! You must not!" "Duncan, you have been a good friend. But enough. I will not leave Rachel, my property, my friends. When we get back to the village, I shall ride out to Squire Dornin's . He is a learned man with powerful friends, perhaps he will know what has happened to me. If not, he will know to whom I should go. I think it best that you, Duncan, ride on your way. I thank you for all your help but I will not listen to anymore of this talk of Gatherings and Quickenings." Robbie turned and walked away. They had come more than three miles from the village. Duncan didn't know what to do. Eventually Robbie would have to accept what he was - time would give him no choice. But how much harm might he do before then? He could not be allowed to tell anyone what he was, to allow himself to be studied. Duncan watched Robbie walk away and suddenly, sadly, he *did* know what he must do. "Robbie, wait." Robbie slowed, then stopped. Duncan came up to him. He drew his sword and raised it to strike. Robbie didn't even try to run. "What are you doing, Duncan? I'm your friend." " I know. I'm sorry." And he swung the blade, taking Robbie's head. As the Quickening hit, Duncan sank to his knees in the dusty road and cried. ********************************************** " You killed him?" " I thought I had to, Joe. I couldn't think of any other way. I was young and I panicked. Now - I think, maybe if I'd stayed and talked to him longer, I might have convinced him to leave quietly." " You can't beat yourself up over things that happened 250 years ago." "I can't? I used to think that living so long my memories would fade. But they don't. I can see Robbie as clearly today as I could then. The look of his face just before I took his head." Joe waited a moment, then asked: "But you'll go see the girl? You'll take care of this?" " Yes Joe, I'll take care of it. Who else?"