Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 11:13:01 -0400 Reply-To: GrinnyP@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Carol Ann Liddiard Subject: "Origins" Chapter 8, part 2 . . . and the rest of chapter 8 . . . ------------------- Shore of Lake Constance, @6,000 BCE First Son peered carefully around the large boulder he was hiding behind. There, in the meeting place specified by Lohitsu he could see the female stranger who called herself Abesti waiting patiently, curled in a ball like a sleeping child. The rising moon cast a strange glow over the flat area where she awaited, giving her an unearthly glow. Fatefully a shadow broke into the area of light. "Well, well, how did they know which one to send me?" Lohitsu licked his lips and smiled as his eyes traveled over her body. "Perhaps we should have some fun before I kill you." First Son shivered at the look in the evil man's eyes. Abesti moved so quickly that the motion was a blur. One minute Lohitsu towered over her prone figure, the next he was on his back and she was driving a small spear through his chest, pinning him to the ground. His hands grabbed at the wooden shaft, attempting to pull it out, but his strength failed before he was able to. First Son leaned farther out from behind the boulder as the small motions in the man's arms and legs slowly wound down and stopped. He watched her dispassionately nudge the still body with her toe before she turned to fetch the backpack she had been curled up on. She turned back to Lohitsu and First Son gasped when he realized that the man had begun to move again. "Let us see if you find this fun," Abesti said as she pulled something out of her pack. First Son looked in amazement at a stone axe of a design he had never seen before. The flint was three handbreadths across and shaped like a half moon. The flat straight edge was attached to two short wooden handles which in turn attached to a longer handle that ran parallel to the flat edge of the blade. She grasped the strange weapon with both hands and walked over to the still-prone man. He could see Lohitsu's movements become more and more frantic as she moved towards him. Abesti kicked once and a sickening crack marked the shattering of the large bone in Lohitsu's arm. He screamed in agony as a second kick disabled the other arm. A third kick caved in ribs and he stopped struggling. She stood over the body, pinning the hands down by the simple expedience of standing on them. "_Zabor_," she sneered as she dropped to her knees and swung the axe viciously. The young man was hard pressed not to lose his dinner as it took several swipes to remove Lohitsu's head from his body. Blood spurted, covering Abesti in gore as she stayed kneeling on the body. When the head was finally removed, she held out her hands and began a chant that he didn't understand, but called to him. First Son watched in awe as a beautiful light began to rise from the body and hover over the kneeling woman. Her chanting grew louder as more and more light coalesced, until the area they were in was lit up like day. When the chant finished she bowed her head and the wonderful radiance appeared to pour into her. First Son was so astonished at the display that he stumbled from his hiding place, trying to touch the swirling colors before they vanished. "I believe your father told you to stay close to the village tonight, young man," Abesti remarked mildly as she rose from the kneeling position. "You shouldn't have seen that." Lights still danced in front of his eyes and he could not make his feet move as she picked up her possessions and approached. "It was beautiful," he breathed. "Will he stay dead?" A smile broke across her face and First Son thought she was even more beautiful than the light, despite the rapidly drying blood that covered her from head to toe. "Yes, he will. Now you and the others may have your adulthood ceremony. What name shall you chose as an adult?" "I don't know," he replied miserably. "I was supposed to have a vision during my week away, but I saw nothing." Face burning at the confession, he feigned a sudden interest in his feet. "When the time comes, you will know." She laughed and he looked down at her animated features, his heart thudding in his chest. "Perhaps one day you will be called Mitozko Lehengizon." She threw a companionable arm around him as they walked away from the little plateau, although she had to nearly stand on her toes to do so. "Now, let's get you back home before your father begins to worry." Three nights later, during his ceremony, First Son realized that he had seen his vision after all. When the question came he replied with no hesitation, "I chose to be called Mitozko." --------------------- Washington State, 1995 "Just what did that mean?" Duncan asked, curious. Methos chuckled. "Centuries later I asked her that. You have to understand that I was the first immortal she had ever found that was born outside of her own people. And she has a strange sense of humor." Duncan raised his eyebrows questioningly and Methos laughed again. "She told me that in the years to come people would hear about me and how I couldn't die and think it all a story to be told around the campfire. Mitozko Lehengizon translates literally into 'mythical first man'." Duncan smiled as he heard his words to Joe months ago echoing in his head. "Methos doesn't exist," he had said. "The oldest immortal? He's a legend." A few minutes passed before Duncan spoke again. "But what about Carol's people? What happened to them?" "That," began Methos, "is a whole other story." --------------------- Berri Egoitza, @9,400 BCE Wise One looked at Baretasun and said aloud what they were both thinking. "All is lost." Baretasun nodded his agreement. "Is there nothing we can do?" Wise One got a faraway look in his eye. "There is one thing we can do, the only thing we can do. At least some might survive." "Is it possible to do?" Baretasun asked, mentally getting a glimpse of Wise One's plans. "We have to try," was the reply as Wise One focused his considerable mental energies on the volcano that was the heart of the island. *Song? You have to leave _now_!* Baretasun broadcast to his spouse. *Jump.* --------------------- The Seer leapt out of the boat the minute it was beached and looked back at the island. She could feel more and more deaths occurring as Sagu's soldiers worked their way through the male population. She turned around and found dozens of eyes on her as the children and even the other adults looked to her for guidance. she thought to herself in despair. "You won't have to worry about it much longer, Seer," a supercilious voice announced. The Seer whirled and saw Sagu himself striding towards her with one of his warriors. Her eyes widened as she sensed the warrior suffering from the disease that would no longer be their salvation. Frantically, she placed herself between the men and the small group on the beach. *Run!* she signaled to them. Thankfully, she felt them obey her as she prepared to meet her death. "How brave," he mocked as he drew closer. "I had planned to keep you alive but a little bird whispered to me that you no longer see, and a Seer that can no longer see is a liability I do not wish to have around." He raised a giant stone axe above his head as he reached her. "Say hello to the Mother for me." The Seer closed her eyes and prepared to meet the Mother. Contacting the Wise One to say good-bye, she caught a glimpse of what he was trying to do and suddenly the clouds that had obscured her vision for so long parted. She saw in her mind's eye the destruction of her people, and the rise of the new children. She saw them through the ages, leading many lives, fighting each other for their soul memories, too crippled by the disease Wise One had wrought to be able to access the memories. She saw more and more born into the world, and when enough were born far into the future, she saw them drawn to a far distant land where they fought to the last for the Prize. "What Prize is that, foolish woman?" The question brought Seer out of her vision and she realized that she had been speaking aloud. "The power and memories of all those Herrialdaketa who ever lived will enable the winner to cure themselves of the disease, of course," she said. Sagu paused, contemplating her words. "Why would they need to do that when we will have access to the antidote and the man who created it?" She gestured calmly toward the volcanic island as the earth began to shake. "That is why, you great fool," she spat as the volcano erupted. --------------------- Song stood at the edge of the cliff with her arms wrapped around her little brother, unwilling to move until Baretasun joined them. *You know that is not possible,* he sent gently. *You have to go now. Someone has to survive.* She felt his attention distracted by what Wise One was doing, then brought back to her. *It is done. Good-bye my love.* *Good-bye.* She gathered her brother and her courage and jumped. The superhot gasses from the first explosion seared the skin off her back as she plummeted towards the water. --------------------- The Seer and Sagu watched, transfixed, as the top of the mountain disappeared in a massive explosion. Superheated gasses poured out, burning instantly to ash every living thing on the island. The ground continued to rumble as the volcano tried to shake itself apart. Just before the shock wave knocked her down, the Seer saw in fascinated horror that the island appeared to be sinking. A second explosion was quickly followed by a third and a fourth as more of the mountain went up in smoke and ashes. The Seer lay on her side, dazed, and wondered why it looked like the water in the bay was receding. she realized as she saw a fifth explosion appear to cleave the island in two, She stared in mute fascination as the giant wave created by the earthquakes began to move towards the shore. A sudden shock had her stiffening as she received the quickening of one of the people in the village. she thought as she struggled to her knees. Her last thought was that she was seeing the end of the world as -- with a sixth and last explosion -- the island vaporized, the tsunami rushed towards the shore, and the quickenings of the thousands of dead slammed into the handful of living. --------------------- Washington State, 1995 Duncan shook his head at the tale Methos spun. "So most of Carol's people perished in the eruption. What about the evil army?" he asked. "Apparently their leader, the one Carol refers to as the Evil One, had left a small contingent of men on the mainland as a reserve. Also, two that were left at the boats where they landed on the island somehow survived." "She told you all of this when you first met?" Methos chuckled. "Oh, no, I had to drag most of it out of her centuries later. She's not one for explaining much." Duncan was still laughing at Methos' characterization of Carol when Richie arrived. "I gave the stuff to Mike like she asked me to," he said as he walked into the room. "Now what?" "Now we get some rest," Methos replied. "I'll show you where you can sleep tonight. Tomorrow, we'll be taking a private plane to Idaho." "That's where they are?" asked Duncan Methos nodded. "That's where they are, and where Joe is. Follow me." He led the immortals down a hallway to a couple of opulently furnished rooms. "Duncan, you can have this one, Richie, you're next door. There's a bathroom across the hall. If you need anything, Carol and I will be upstairs, and there's an intercom system." Duncan nodded and strode towards a table that held a telephone. "I'm just going to check my messages." He picked up the phone, dialed his number, and dialed his access code. Beep. "Mr. MacLeod, this is Prudential Securities, and we'd like to discuss with you a great investment opportunity . . ." Duncan hit the button that would take him to the next message. Dimly, he could hear Methos explaining the intercom system to Richie in the next room. Beep. "Duncan, it's Anne. I, um, I . . . know we didn't part on the best of terms but I really need to talk to you. Call me at home." he thought as he accessed the next message. Beep. "Mr. MacLeod, this is Rudy, you know, from Sears, and we were wondering if you would be interested in some custom cabinets . . ." Duncan sighed and forwarded through three more solicitation messages. He heard Richie and Methos enter the room as the next message played. Beep. "Duncan, it's Anne again. I wish you would call me. I think I'm being followed by someone, and I think it's one of your kind. I'm getting really nervous, please call." The distress in her voice was evident. "Mac, what's wrong," Richie asked at the look on Duncan's face. "Anne called, she thinks she's being stalked by an immortal," he replied. "I'm sorry Mac. I know you two didn't . . ." "Don't worry about it, Richie, I've gotten over it," he lied. By the look on Richie's face he didn't fool him for a minute. Duncan gritted his teeth and forwarded through two more sales calls. Beep. "Mr. MacLeod," a familiar voiced oozed over the phone. "I have just been making the acquaintance of your lovely friend, and I think she wants to say something to you." Horton's voice was replaced by Anne's. "Duncan, he broke in here while I was at the hospital. Please Duncan, he says he's going to hurt me and the baby unless you do what he says . . . " Duncan gripped the phone tightly as her voice cut off abruptly. "Now, Mr. MacLeod, maybe we can come to an agreement." Duncan listened for another minute and hung up. "MacLeod," Methos began tentatively. "What happened?" Duncan leaned forward and gripped the table to steady himself. "That was Horton." Both immortals started talking at once, asking questions. "He's taken Anne hostage." His announcement had the effect of a bucket of cold water. Into the sudden silence he continued, "He said that no harm would come to her as long as I don't come after him." "Even if you don't, Duncan, he'll probably kill her anyway." Methos voiced what they were all thinking. "I know, Methos, I know." --------------------- /Notes/ The Herrialdaketa were a peaceful people who thrived during the Paleolithic -- or "old stone" -- age. They never developed an advanced weapons technology. While they were still the Herri, when they first moved to their island, they had a history of being attacked by outside tribes. In their defense, they used the weapons that were also used for hunting, spears designed for thrusting, with crude flint tips. After the move to their first island home (Egoitza), the only weapons the Herrialdaketa needed were for hunting. Over time they developed finer flint and obsidian spear-points, and the atlatl (a spear launcher), but again, these were hunting weapons. By this time, the concept of using violence against other people was unthinkable. As time went on, and more and more of the tribe became vegetarians, even hunting weapon technology began to disappear. Because of this attitude the Herrialdaketa faced a unique dilemma when they realized that Sagu (see: Evil One) was breeding and training an army to fight them. Sagu not only trained his people to fight hand-to-hand and with weapons, he also spent time developing bladed weapons designed specifically to behead humans. He was responsible for the development of several different types of hand-axes, and a spear/axe hybrid that bore a remarkable resemblance to a pike design used during the middle-ages. However, as neither group ever developed a metals technology, these weapons were still flint or obsidian blades merged with wood or bone handles. The problem with these materials is that although they are very efficient when used on the fleshy parts of a body, they are not as efficient in cutting bone. The only way to kill one of the Herrialdaketa, beheading, was slow and messy, even with the "improved" weaponry. (to be continued in chapter 9) ---------------------- Wow! Blew the effects budget on that one. Wonder if I'll have enough to finish the story . . . As usual all questions/comments/criticisms/flames to me at liddiard@bs1.prc.com or GrinnyP@aol.com Carol Ann =========================================================================