Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 10:10:33 -0400 Reply-To: GrinnyP@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Carol Ann Liddiard Subject: "Origins" Chapter 1, part 1 "Origins" c. 1995 C.A. Liddiard Chapter 1 "In the beginning . . . " --------------------- Seattle, 1995 The smoke was thick at Joe's Place as a blues combo played a melancholy song. At the bar Duncan sat hunched over slowly twirling the glass of Laphroag. Watching the liquid swirl around he realized that the depression hovering for days had landed with a resounding thud. He sighed and took a sip of the rich scotch. he said to himself. He glanced around, idly checking out the other patrons of the club, all of them couples. Then he heard a soft voice next to him say, "Single malt please." Duncan glanced over at her. With a spark of interest, soft brown eyes slowly assessed the shapely legs, skipping over the gentle curves covered by a well cut jacket, to meet laughing green eyes set in a pixie face. Raised eyebrows and a knowing grin animated her face, and a dimple threatened to peek out. Duncan smiled sheepishly at her. The woman returned the smile with a wide one of her own. "See anything you like?" "Sorry, no offense meant. Let me buy your drink as an apology." She continued to smile. "No offense taken, and thanks," she offered her hand. "My name is Carol." Duncan brushed her knuckles with a kiss. "And I am Duncan MacLeod." Things were definitely looking up. --------------------- Egoitza, @11,000 BCE Wise One stared pensively at the walls of the hut where he had taken on the responsibility of senior Healer so long ago. Wise One understood that these disconnected thoughts covered a deeper apprehension. *You have nothing to fear, boy,* said the ever-present voice he lived with. Wise One smiled. If today's trial was a failure he knew his knowledge would live on. *How would you like to reside in another's head for a while, old man?* *Don't be ridiculous young man, you won't fail.* Entzule continued to refer to the Wise One as young man, despite his having passed his 40th summer. *Taught you everything I knew, didn't I?* the querulous voice demanded. *Yes, you did. Let us go put it to the test.* *Indeed, let us.* Wise One smiled and strode out to meet with the council, and destiny. --------------------- Seattle, 1995 "Okay, let me get this straight," Carol hiccuped and giggled, "you have a collection of antique weapons in there?" "That's right," Duncan said, "Want to come in and see?" He saw the amusement begin in her eyes. Then she giggled some more. Pretty soon she was laughing so hard she fell over in the convertible seat. Duncan smiled down at her, "And just *what* is so funny?" "I'm sorry, but am I imagining it or did you just invite me up to see your sword?" She dissolved helplessly into another fit of laughter. Duncan joined in as he tried to help her up, "I think you've had just a bit too much scotch." He got out of the car, walked around and opened the passenger door. "Come on in and I'll make you some coffee." She took his hand and stood up. "Don't worry, I'm not that drunk. What you said just struck me as funny, that's all." She made a terrific effort to control her amusement, coughing a little to disguise another laugh. "I'd love a cup of coffee." Arm in arm they walked into the Dojo, Carol's heels making a hollow sound against the wooden floor. he thought as he realized her head barely came up to his chest. Duncan steered towards a pool of light in the middle of the dark room. "This is where we train . . . ," he began when several things seemed to happen at once. Carol pushed Duncan out of the light as gunfire rang out. Falling to the floor in the darkness, Duncan saw her hit by several shots and drop in a graceless sprawl. He drew his sword and slipped deeper into the shadows, frantically scanning the room to pinpoint the location of the shooter. Rage threatened to break through as he saw Carol's body lying motionless in the light. He heard a small noise like a shoe scuffling quietly on the floor. Silently Duncan moved in the direction of the office, listening carefully for any vibration. As his eyes adjusted to the gloom he saw the faint outline of the man, sweeping his gun back and forth, trying to find a target. Duncan ran him through, watching with detached interest as the unknown man slid to the floor. As he walked toward Carol's body he never heard the second man creep up behind him. His first clue came when he felt the sting of the bullets and fell to the floor. Duncan strained to see the second gunman as his sight dimmed. The man's face contorted as he grabbed Duncan's sword and raised it overhead. He heard the man snarl, "Die MacLeod!" as everything went black. --------------------- Egoitza, @11,000 BCE The council watched in amazement as the heart so recently stilled began beating again. A faint crunching sound marked shattered bones knitting back together, torn skin fusing with no trace of a scar. Within minutes Wise One was struggling to stand, looking quite healthy for a man who had just jumped off a sheer cliff onto the jagged rocks below. Wise One climbed to where the council were observing. "You see, it is possible, although the training takes years to master." Lagun grabbed him in an enthusiastic hug. "You had me worried for a minute there." "What, worried that I couldn't accomplish what I said I would?" Wise One gave his friend an insufferable, albeit slightly relieved grin. "No, worried that you hadn't designated me your heir yet, you fool," Lagun said in an ascerbic tone. "Why in the world would I doubt you?" He shook his head and gave a long-suffering sigh. "Your next demonstration doesn't have to be quite so dramatic." "Don't worry, no more demonstrations. Now comes the hard part, creating this Change in the rest of the People." Wise One crossed his arms as he addressed the council. "I need to begin work immediately on the older members of the tribe." The council leader stepped forward. "Does this process cause any physical change? Can it be passed on to our children?" He nodded. "Yes, council leader, it involves permanently restructuring the central nervous system and the immune system. And no, I have not yet found a way for us to pass on this change to the children other than changing them after birth. Eventually, however, I will." He said the last in such a firm tone that no-one dared disagree. The Seer stepped forward and addressed the council. "Fellow zinegotzi (council members), I have some reservations. Although this ability is most miraculous I am _hesitant_ about the process itself. Learning to alter ourselves in this manner is strange enough, but changing our very essence to pass it on to the children is to tamper with the Mother's domain. I do not like it." Another council member said, "Seer, we all have much respect for your talents. Have you seen anything specific to tell us we should not spread this miracle among our people?" She looked out over the raging sea for a moment, collecting her thoughts. She had tried several times for a sign. In the end she had foreseen this meeting, but she could still not see into the suffocating darkness that crept ever closer. Finally she shook her head. "No, the mother has not sent me a specific vision. I am merely filled with a sense of trepidation, and my dreams are haunted by darkness. I cannot see what future this thing will bring. It is at times like this, when the Mother will send no sign, that I must rely on my own judgment. That judgment tells me this is not our chosen path." Wise One waited. When she said nothing else he addressed the assembled group. "You all know I have worked most of my life towards this goal. However, I will bow to the will of the council." Council leader said, "Seer, we cannot see as you can. But surely the Mother had a plan when she gave our people these talents and this place to live. Unless she gives a sign that she disapproves I say Wise One should begin." The Seer never turned from the sea. "If this is the course the council decides I will not oppose it." The council linked minds, debating. When the link was dissolved council leader gave the verdict. "Wise One, you have our permission. Once you have taught the rest of the council how to do this we will begin changing the people. It is a great thing you have done, and surely our descendants will remember this day as we remember the day First Mother led us here." Wise One nodded and said, "I shall begin immediately. No one of the People will ever again die far from home, with no-one to receive their quickening." Most still remembered the accident that claimed the lives of Wise One's family and understood this particular obsession. "Eventually every one of the people will become Changed," he said with a grim look on his face. "I swear it." --------------------- "Although I feel joy for the expectant mother, my feelings of apprehension regarding this newly created Changed is growing. I continue to fast, seeking to penetrate that deadly cloud that blocks the path of my sight, with little success. I cannot still my worries about tampering with the Mother's design for us. Yet, no matter what I say, the council continues to ignore my warnings. I think sometimes that this is some subtle punishment of the Mother, a punishment for our pride in thinking to alter the process that creates us. I know in my heart, however, that it is simply our own hubris that is sending our people hurtling recklessly down that dark path I glimpsed so long ago in my youth, when Wise One took over the mantle of lead healer. Even now it may be too late, we may have gone too far to turn back. I am discouraged, yet I continue to hope that the future will not be as bleak as the one that more and more dominates my dreams." _Reminiscences of The Seer_ --------------------- Egoitza, @10,900 BCE Oihalgile was grateful for the support of her mate and the erditzaile (midwives) during the birthing time. Having to quiet the child's distress during the long, difficult labor as well as keeping track of her and the baby's physical condition began to sap her strength around the tenth hour. The helping healers stepped in, mentally soothing the baby, lending their inner strength to the woman struggling through her first birth. One of the healers dabbed the perspiration from Oihalgile's brow, her physical touch momentarily soothing the woman as she helped take away the pain. *It will be very soon, mother-to-be.* *I know,* she struggled to answer, busy monitoring the baby's ever increasing bursts of mental distress. *I just wish this was over.* *Now, now, * came the calm thought from another of the helpers. *You are handling the pain well, and the baby is doing fine.* Oihalgile laid her head back, panting, trying to rest before the next contraction hit. *It's not the pain, I'm handling that all right. It's just that this child has the strongest thought patterns I have ever heard from a baby. Twice now she's almost overwhelmed me.* *It is true, she is broadcasting very loudly. Just think, she might be one of the strongest Talents yet born, besides being Changed.* Oihalgile felt Wise One's unique mental touch. She opened her eyes and saw him standing at the head of the bed, monitoring her labor. *Should you divide your attention like that?* *The day I cannot monitor a newborning baby and carry on a conversation at the same time is the day you call Lagun to receive my quickening.* He gave her a reassuring smile. *I don't see that happening any time soon.* Oihalgile's answering smile turned into a grimace as another, even more powerful contraction hit. Simultaneously, a burst of terror emanated from the still unborn child. *Goddess, did you feel that?* *I think everyone nearby felt that one. It won't be long now. The head is crowning. Now, young lady, you must push.* All around the village heads turned to where the birthing was taking place as a torrent of energy poured out of the hut. For a timeless moment every member of the tribe held their breath. "Did it work? Is she Changed?" she managed, too weak from the last mental blast to hold the connection. Wise One smiled as he held up the child. His mental probing had confirmed what they had been waiting to hear. "Yes, she is Changed. Meet your healthy new daughter." Oihalgile smiled broadly. She cuddled her precious bundle close as the healers finished their business with the umbilical cord and the afterbirth. She found the strength to Touch her daughter, to verify for herself the miracle. She felt her mate join her in the Touch, felt his awe as he, too, saw what Wise One had already seen. The first rays of dawn shone through the windows of the hut. Oihalgile smiled at her husband as he continued to look at their firstborn with amazement. "We shall name her 'Song of Joy in the Morning.'" A feeling of contentment suffused the village as all the People felt the good news. Spontaneous celebrations soon sprang up, drawing everyone away from their tasks as they began to honor the new beginning for the People. And in her hut, the Seer huddled in her furs as she felt the darkness creep closer. (to be continued) --------------------- As usual all questions/comments/criticisms/flames to me at liddiard@bs1.prc.com or GrinnyP@aol.com Carol Ann liddiard@bs1.prc.com GrinnyP@aol.com =========================================================================