Date: Sun, 10 Sep 1995 00:47:14 -0400 Reply-To: GrinnyP@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Carol Ann Liddiard Subject: "Origins" Chapter 6, part 2 . . . and the rest of chapter 6 . . . -------------------- Berri Egoitza, @9,400 BCE The small figure huddled somewhat pathetically across the hall. Song noticed detachedly that she could no longer feel its life force, merely an 'echo', a vague sensation that raised the hairs on the back of her neck if she got close enough. She understood as she continued to stare out the window that she was in some sort of shock, that it was protecting her from reality as the insidious disease wreaked its damage on her system. She also knew that if she had to face reality again -- to feel her senses slowly closing off, sealing her within her own mind -- that she might go mad. As she gazed out the window, an unexpected touch made her flinch. "Song?" "I am sorry, my mate," she said mechanically. "I did not hear your approach." "I should never have allowed you to do this, my love," came his choked reply as he rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. "How does the experiment progress?" She asked in the same empty tones, never looking away from the view of the cliffs. He sighed, tears standing in his eyes. "One of the test subjects has suffered a complete mental breakdown. The others, well, they're pretty close to the edge." "I meant is it working?" her reply came a few moments later, as if his words had to travel an unimaginable distance to reach her. "Yes, it is working." He paused, trying to find the right words. "Wise One says we _underestimated_," the bitterness was evident in his emphasis of the word, "the effect that losing their mental abilities would have on people. _Underestimated_!" He blinked back more tears. "Is it time, then, for the tests?" In a rage Baretasun swung Song around and forced her to look at him. "Why do you do this? Do you think I didn't feel what was happening to you through our link?" The first sign of genuine emotion crossed her face since she had infected herself. She raised a hand to his beloved face and caressed his cheek. "I'm sorry, my love. I'm not trying to shield this from you, of all people. I just know that this is my only way of coping without going mad." He cupped her hand against her face and brushed her palm with a kiss. "I know, my life, and I'm not angry with you. It's just hard to see you go through this and not be able to offer any comfort." She smiled and placed her other hand on his cheek. "I understand, and it will be over soon. Is it time?" He rested his forehead against hers and sighed. "Yes, it is time." They stood together for a moment, savoring the closeness, then walked hand in hand through the doorway to face the waiting council. --------------------- Washington State, 1995 Duncan paused before the double doors to catch his breath when he realized he could sense another immortal on the other side. he wondered as he pondered what to do. Finding no answers, he knocked on the door. "Who's there?" yelled a familiar voice. The Highlander relaxed imperceptibly. "Mike, it's me, Duncan MacLeod. I've come to get you out." The door opened so suddenly Duncan nearly fell into the arms of the man who had yanked it open. "Thank God," he breathed as he took in the sight of the armed immortal, "We haven't been able to get through to the rest of the security forces. Mike -- Joe's regular bartender -- glanced back into the room. "Don't shoot, he's friendly," he directed to some unseen person, then hastily ushered Duncan into the room. "Have you seen Joe? He left the meeting in a huff right before the attack started." "Yes, we ran into Joe on our way into the building," Duncan mentioned distractedly as he scanned the room for the immortal he was feeling. His eyes lit upon a familiar dark-haired visage sending him a mischievous smile. "He's with Richie," he muttered as the young man stepped forward, hand extended. "Hi, I'm Adam Pierson. I believe we met in Paris." "Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod," was his reply as he automatically shook hands. It was all he could do to restrain himself from yelling "Methos!" at the top of his lungs. Mike tugged his arm to recapture his attention. "MacLeod, is it safe to leave?" "Safer than staying." His reply came out a little harsher than he intended. "Your security guys are losing, and if you don't get out soon you'll find yourselves on the receiving end of an unpleasant surprise." He glanced around the room, making eye contact with all of the Watcher leaders to hammer his point home. "We've got to get out now. You," he pointed at Methos, "you come with me. The rest of you follow us. Mike, you and the security guard bring up the rear. Are you ready to move out?" There were a few grumbles but in quick order the Watcher leadership fell into line. 'Adam' silently joined Duncan at the door. "I guess you have a few questions for me, then?" Duncan ignored him as he checked to see if everyone was prepared to go. He nodded as he saw Mike and the unknown Watcher guard efficiently move into position, then turned his attention to the rest of the group. "Okay everyone, follow us. Stay low and move fast, and we'll be out of here before you know it. Ready?" He watched them nod their heads in assent. "Good, let's go." Sword gripped firmly, he moved out into the corridor, followed by Methos. --------------------- Carol reached the computer in the basement with a sigh of relief that she hadn't met any resistance. It was hard for her to injure someone deliberately when she could sense their pain. Now from the battle feelings of hatred, fear, pain, loathing, and many other dark thoughts battered at her mental shields. She struggled to filter them out as she tried to keep track of all the people in the building. Suddenly she caught a hint of Adam's amusement. She smiled and sat down at the keyboard to access the computer. Her fingers flew across the keys as she made use of the passwords lifted from Joe's mind the night before. Soon the file she was seeking came up on the screen. she thought to herself as she relayed the information mentally to Methos. He sent back a tolerant amusement and she cut off the communication in disgust. Fighting for calm, she sat at the keyboard idly calling up files and storing the information away using her eidetic memory. When she was calm, and had learned all she needed to know, she sat up and began pulling equipment out of her duffel bag. Along with the equipment came several bricks of a soft, clay-like material. She busied herself attaching the stuff to the computer and the cabinet where the backup data was stored. She then began to wire the electronic equipment to the material, linking everything together. she thought to herself. *Adam, sweetie, I've rigged the basement. I'll wait as long as I can but you need to hurry and get everyone out.* She smiled again as she felt his assent and settled in to wait for the mercenaries fast approaching her position. ---------------------- Berri Egoitza, @9,400 BCE Song stood calmly in front of the assembled council, Baretasun at her side. She already knew what they were going to confirm with this test. "I am ready, elders of my tribe." The head of the council nodded to one of Wise One's helpers who hovered at the edge of the room. The man stepped forward, a primitive flint knife in his hand. He paused in front of Song, waiting. She nodded at him and braced herself. Agony exploded in her mind as he plunged the knife deep into her upper chest. Stripped of her abilities she was unable to contain the pain and momentarily passed out. When she came to, she was lying on the floor in Baretasun's arms, bleeding profusely. She smiled at him through tears and said weakly, "I guess this means it works." He hugged her closer, trying to stop the bleeding. "How can you joke about this?" he asked. He looked up at Wise One who was monitoring the proceedings. "Isn't this proof enough? Can you help her now?" Wise One nodded and knelt beside the injured woman. "Indeed, it does work. Her accelerated healing abilities are gone, as are most of her mental abilities." He gently touched Song's forehead and sent her back into oblivion to escape the pain. Under his hands the bleeding finally began to stop, and the wound to heal rapidly. With the process complete he, stood up and faced the council. "Well, members of the council, it works. Mother help us all." The Seer could stand it no longer and rushed to the side of her favorite pupil. "Wise One, will you be able to reverse the process?" "Yes Seer, I have devised a way to cure it. I have also devised a method of preventing it from infecting healthy people." He pressed a crystal into Baretasun's hands and paused, looking at the fragile young woman. "She is very brave." The young man never looked up from his wife. "Indeed, she is. May we go now?" Wise One nodded and Baretasun gently picked up Song and strode out of the council room, the Seer hovering close behind. After they left, the Council Leader spoke up. "We need to begin distributing this, 'antidote?'," he looked at Wise One for confirmation of the new word. "We need to get it to the people immediately." "I agree," the Healer replied. "We should begin with the children." Uncharacteristically for him, he hesitated over his next words. "Have you decided to release it, then?" "It will be as you say," spoke the Council Leader sadly. "Mother help us all, indeed." --------------------- Washington State, 1995 Duncan checked the stairwell for intruders. When he didn't find any, he signaled the rest of the group to follow him as he and Methos plunged down the stairs. In a voice pitched not to carry, he asked the older immortal, "So, when are you going to tell me your part in this?" Methos stopped short behind him on the next landing as he checked once again for Hunters. "Where do you want me to begin?" "You could start with what you're doing here," Duncan replied. "For beginners, I'm here to give a report on the clean-up of the whole mess surrounding Kalas. Lucky for you they only know me as Adam Pierson, Methos researcher. Joe never did pass on certain 'information' in his report." Duncan's head swiveled around and he gave Methos an incredulous look. Before he could say what he was thinking the group caught up with them. With no more than a fulminating glance, he moved down the next flight of stairs, Methos keeping pace. When they were out of earshot he pulled 'Adam' close and muttered, "What do you mean, lucky?" "It wasn't exactly discreet of you to tell Joe who I am, now, was it?" Duncan had the grace to look embarrassed as Methos went on. "But it isn't me you have to worry about. When Carol found out you told him, it was all I could do to keep her from beheading you." Duncan swallowed a bit at the thought of that ancient immortal getting close enough to him to swing a sword. "I don't understand. Why would she be so mad?" Now Methos looked a trifle embarrassed. "You see, she's rather protective of me. Has been for six thousand years." "Six thousand . . . " he was interrupted again when the Watchers all crowded onto the landing. He opened the stairwell door and gestured Methos to follow him. A few steps away from the doorway, he started again. "You've known her for that long?" "MacLeod, I've known her since I was fourteen years old. Sometimes she treats me like I still *am*," He muttered half to himself. When they had confirmed the hall was clear, they signaled back to the waiting group. Together they made their way to the back loading dock. Once outside, Methos stopped, a faraway look in his eyes. He snapped back and said to Duncan, "She's rigged the entire basement to blow up if the Hunters try to get to the computers down there. We've got to warn the rest of the security guards to get out." "What's so important about those computers that she'll bring the whole building down to prevent them from being accessed?" Duncan asked impatiently. He wanted to find Joe and Richie. "For one thing that's where Joe keeps his private journals. He may not have told the rest of the Watchers who I am, but he would consider something like that history that shouldn't be lost. All of the Watcher leaders keep a private journal that can only be opened upon their death. If the Hunters get hold of that, they'll know how to track me down." Duncan looked grim as he strode over to where Mike and the rest of the group were huddled. "Mike, you've got to warn the rest of your men. The building's been rigged to blow." Mike nodded and scrambled over to the body of one of the security guards lying near the doors. He grabbed the fallen man's walkie-talkie and began issuing orders. "Good enough, 'Adam'?" he asked impatiently. "Now, can we go . . ." The lightning that denotes a quickening erupted from the area on the other side of the building. Duncan stood rooted to the spot as the storm seemed to go on forever. When it was done, he took off at a run, Methos right behind him. They rounded a section of the building in time to see Joe over at the road struggling with one of the Hunters. They switched direction and began running towards the fight when the unknown Hunter prevailed and forced Joe into the vehicle. The man turned and gave the immortals a mocking salute as he jumped in and the van took off. Duncan stopped in disbelief, all thoughts of Richie driven out of his head. He could vaguely hear Methos asking him questions, could hear the shouts from Mike and the others as they ran towards them. It was all background noise as he tried to assimilate what he had just seen. "Did you get a look at the plates?" asked an anxious Mike. Out of breath from the run he prodded the immortal. "Did you see who it was?" "It was Horton," came the flat reply. --------------------- /Notes/ The Wise One of the Herrialdaketa was faced with an enormous problem, how to 'neutralize' a powerful, hostile group of people without killing them outright, and without affecting mortals everywhere. The virus he eventually designed was coded to the unique DNA structure of the Herrialdaketa. It could not affect anyone who didn't posess that genetic code. An airborne pathogen, it could spread quickly and effectively among population groups. The damage the virus was 'programmed' to do was unique. It would attack the centers of the brain that regulated their mental abilities, neutralizing the healing ability first so that the damage could not be repaired. Using the power of their specialized brains, the disease would burn out first the healing abilities, then the systems that stopped their aging, then turn in on itself and destroy most of their inborn mental abilities such as telepathy, etc. To prevent the infected people from breeding more of their kind, the virus would also destroy the reproductive abilities of the carriers. After three days infection, the disease would find no more 'specialized' tissues to attack and would die off. Babies in the womb would be protected by their mother's immune systems, but within 24 hours of birth, they would be infected. When asking people to volunter for the disease tests, the Wise One misjudged the effect the loss of abilities would have on the subjects. The Herrialdaketa had lived with their talents for so long, they had no conception of what it would be like to no longer be able to 'feel' another's thoughts or to 'see' energy fields. Their use was so ingrained that the loss was similar to losing one or more major sensory organs, as if a normal human had become deaf and blind. (to be continued in chapter 7) --------------------- Wow, what a way to end a chapter. Who knew Mike was Richie's watcher? ::ducking and running:: As usual all questions/comments/criticisms/flames to me at liddiard@bs1.prc.com or GrinnyP@aol.com Carol Ann =========================================================================