Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 17:43:13 MST Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Wendy Milner Subject: Raven's Child (4/4) Raven's Child (4/4) Wendy L. Milner Copyright 1994 by Wendy L. Milner All rights reserved. The sound of the clash of swords was distinct to anyone who had ever fought. Duncan first heard them, and then saw the figures on the beach. The battle was already joined, and he could not interfere, but he could wait around to see who would win. If this was Kono, Duncan could at least protect the family and possibly rid the island of the menace entirely. He parked the car and walked toward the beach, his own sword in his hand. Duncan stood in the shadows of the house. He was close enough to see the fight turn, but not close enough to identify the combatants. He would not, could not, interfere. He had to remain neutral until it was over. Only then could he decide if the fight would continue with him. The winner would be exhausted from the first fight and from the quickening. Normally, Duncan would not even stay to watch. But if one of these men was Kono, and that man won, Duncan knew he would have to stop the man before he killed again. Duncan would stay and watch and protect the family. Peripherally, Johnathan felt the presence of another person. At the moment, that other one offered no threat, and Johnathan was having enough trouble with the man with the sword. No matter the number of hits, the man refused to go down. Already his body was lined with blood and sweat, but it didn't show in any slowness of movement. Johnathan realized that injury would not be enough. The man would only stop when he was dead. And in thinking this, his aim corrected almost on its own, and Johnathan put the katana between the ribs and into the heart of his opponent. For a moment, the man stopped. "Finish it," the man said as he fell to his knees. Johnathan saw nothing to finish. The man was dead even as he spoke. He fell into the sand. Johnathan turned to find out who was standing by the house. Duncan held his sword up only to block any strike the other made on him. "I am Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod. If your name is not Kono, I have no fight with you." There was something very wrong here, he thought. "I am Johnathan Raven," Johnathan said. "If you do not kill him, he will come after you again," Duncan said stressing the will as an absolute. Johnathan looked at the body on the sand. "He's dead already." The closer Johnathan got, the more Duncan began to suspect. There was another immortal very close by, but it wasn't Johnathan Raven. A movement from the porch caught his eye. The boy came out of the house. Duncan had seen these two in the jeep. It was the boy who was the immortal. Perhaps too new to even know who he was. Out on the beach, Duncan saw a movement from the body. "Take the boy in the house," Duncan said. He would finish what was started here. Duncan stood fifteen feet from the body. The man woke with a start, cried out once in pain, then focused on Duncan. "I am Duncan MacLeod. Our fight is not with mortals." "Its with whoever I want to kill," the man said. He struggled to his feet and picked up his sword. Duncan gave him time to gather himself together. It would be a short fight, he thought, and not fair. Still, Duncan could not turn away and let this man take the immortal's Game into the world of the mortals. He waited now till the man took the first swing. Johnathan had a hard time believing what he saw. The man whose heart should have been sliced in two stood up and started fighting again. He was staggering a bit, but he was alive. At least for a short time he was. Johnathan watched as Duncan MacLeod blocked and countered, then attacked himself. The ivory handled katana swung around once and cut through the neck of the man. MacLeod backed up a step then stood over his victim. The ocean roared with the death. The waves crashed with ferociousness pulled from the dead fighter. A cloud seemed to rise from the dead one and covered MacLeod. Lightening came from a cloudless sky striking MacLeod's upraised sword. MacLeod was illuminated with the electric charge, generating his own lightening. Saint Elmo's fire dance around his body. Like a puppet, his body jerked and convulsed at the whim of the storm around him. The waves came higher. Water spouts errupted around him. The tide came rushing in. Then another crack of lightening that nearly blinded Johnathan. When he opened his eyes again, MacLeod was on his knees on the beach. The tide had returned to normal. The sky was clear. Only the body near MacLeod told of any violence. Weak from the quickening, Duncan pulled himself together. There was work to be done this night. He put his own sword away, and picked up the sword of Kono. A dingy was pulled up on the sand near the house. Duncan first dropped the sword in the small boat, and then dragged the body into it. He pushed the boat out into the water, and began rowing away from shore. Dumping bodies at sea was a good way to get rid of them. Even if this one washed up later, he would be gone. As he went into deeper water, he saw that the shore line was drifting sidewise to him. He pulled out a bit further, and then let the current carry him. Away from the house, he dumped the body and head overboard. For a moment it floated beside the boat. Abruptly, the body was pulled under. Duncan saw a tall fin crusing back at the boat. He rowed away from the blood and left the body to the sharks. Johnathan got David settled back in bed hours later. He stayed up himself until dawn when he began to drift into a troubled sleep. He prided himself on keeping his emotions under control at all times. He thought there was nothing that could intrude on his control. What he had seen this night, changed his mind. He didn't understand what had happened. That a man might come after David was plausible. That he would have to kill the man was also something that Johnathan was ready to except. But that the dead man should rise and fight another, and that a storm would rise around them, that was something out of a fairy tale. Arabian nights, Aladin, Sinbad and Odysseus, tales to tell to children, not tales to see yourself. Duncan found his way back to the house by following the shoreline. After sinking the dingy, he had swum ashore, and then started walking and thinking. He had learned through the centuries how to tell a person that they were immortal, but telling some one who was watching was more difficult. It would depend on how much this Raven knew already, and how involved he was with the boy. The easiest thing would be to remove the boy and tell Raven only enough to keep him from calling the police. Unfortunately, Duncan didn't think that Raven would cooperate with that. Johnathan woke with only an hours sleep when David came out and stood over him. "He's back," David said. Johnathan got up, picked up his katana and went outside. MacLeod was just coming to the porch. "You don't need that," Duncan said looking at the sword, "I haven't come to fight you." Duncan saw the boy inside the house watching them. "Bring out the boy." "He doesn't need," Johnathan started. "Yes he does. It concerns him more than you." Duncan sat down on the wooden bench. Johnathan went in, left his katana on the table and asked David to join them. David took a chair beside and slightly behind Johnathan. "What do you know about the boy?" Duncan asked Johnathan. "His name is David," Johnathan said. Duncan waited for more. The boy looked scared. "I have no intentions of hurting you David. I just need to know what you know. Then I'll answer the questions you haven't been able to ask anybody else." "David's been with me for over a year," Johnathan said. "And before that?" Duncan asked. David looked at the deck. Duncan saw enough pain in his face to know he didn't want to talk or even remember. Richie had talked about being shoved from one foster home to another. Richie had survived by being the tough guy and running away. It didn't look like this kid had been so lucky. "You're not alone," Duncan said, "There are other like you, David. Some have had it rough like you have. Others have been lucky and not gone through all the pain you have." "I'm not like other people," David said in almost a whisper. "I know that. Neither am I. The others are just like you and me. We are different from most men. We know each other, we can feel each other." Johnathan looked up at the last comment. David hadn't said anything about feeling the stranger, but he had known before Johnathan when the stranger came. David had known when MacLeod had approached. "I got cut and it just healed," David said almost looking at Duncan. "I know that. All your injuries will heal quickly," Duncan said. "I fell off a cliff and drowned." He looked at Duncan as if daring him to contract the statement. "But you didn't die. You can't die from a fall or being drowned," Duncan looked up at Johnathan, "Or from a sword through your heart. The only way you can die is having your head cut off." David looked down at the deck again. The words were beginning to register. This man knew about him, knew about the cuts and wounds that healed, knew about being drowned and not dying. There were other people like him. David could feel his presence. He knew this man was telling the truth somehow. Maybe just hoped. He just wondered if this man might try to take him away from Johnathan. "David, the next few years are going to be tough on you. Tougher than what you've been through already. The man who came for you tonight will not be the last. There will be others, and they will come for you, not Mr. Raven here." "I'll protect him myself," Johnathan said. "You don't know how," Duncan said to Johnathan, "He needs to learn from one of his own kind how to take care of himself." "From you I suppose," Johnathan said. He felt a touch on his arm. David's hand rested on him. "No. Not me. I have some one else in mind. He and his wife have plans to adopt a child. They could take in David, give him a home, and teach him what he needs to know to survive." "I can teach him to fight if need be," Johnathan said. "You can teach him to fight mortals. You cannot teach what you do not understand. He'll be fighting people who don't die from a cut, people who know that their life is on the line, people who have much more experience than Kono, and more years than you'll ever see. And besides fighting, he has to learn to live. I don't doubt that you'll make a good father, but David needs a mentor right now more than he needs a father." "I'll decide what he needs, not you," Johnathan said, "You don't even know David." "I know enough. His story, whatever it is, is not unique. Yeah, he's had it rough, foster homes, on the street, whatever. And for most kids, you could offer what they need. But David isn't like most kids and never will be. He needs to be amoung his own kind. People who understand that a gash in the arm hurts, but will disappear in an hour, yet will have to be covered if anyone else saw it. David is different, and he'll have to hide that difference from other people, or suffer from the curiosity of the media and the medical profession. It's not something you'll want to see." "David stays here," Johnathan with a note of finality, "Unless you plan to take him by force." A challenge. Duncan shook his head. He looked at David who had moved closer to Johnathan, almost hanging on him without touching him. "David, it's really up to you. There are those who can help you." "I'm staying here," David said. Duncan realized he wouldn't get any further talking now. He was too tired to think things through. "I'll call you tonight," he said. "There's nothing more to talk about," Johnathan said, "It's over." "It won't be over till David is dead," Duncan said, "Kono was the first, but not the last to come for David." "Why did he want to kill me?" David asked. Everyone had wanted to hurt him at one time or another, except Johnathan, but Kono had been the first stranger to come after him. "Because you are one of us," Duncan said. "Then you want to kill me too?" "No. Kono was evil. They will go after anyone's head." "Why?" "When you take an immortal's head, they die, and you receive all their power and all their being into yourself. It's called the Quickening. There are some immortals who hunt down others for their Quickening. There's other of us who only fight when challenged." "You challenged him," Johnathan said, "He didn't come after you." "He would have killed you. You did not know what he was. Our game is not for mortals." "You call killing a game?" Johnathan said. "A game with rules that we all follow. A game that David is in whether he wants to be or not. A game that will kill him if he doesn't learn the rules very soon. I know you want to protect him, but you can't. There will be others coming after him, and as good as you are, they will still get him. He can survive, if he is taught." "He stays here." Duncan stood up, feeling all of his 400 and some years. "Good night," he said, "I'll be in touch." After escorting MacLeod to the door, Johnathan looked over at David. "What do you say to breakfast?" A day filled with routine helped Johnathan think things through. He was being asked to believe in a fairy tale, immortals battling with swords, power traveling from the defeated one to the winner, death accompanied by lightening, and David in the middle of it. Johnathan knew that his sword strike had pierced the heart of his opponent, yet the man had gotten up and fought again. It wasn't possible, yet it had happened. If what MacLeod said was true, David was going to need a lot of help. Could Johnathan give that help? Sure he could teach him to use a sword and fight to defend himself, but was there really more that David would need to learn? He didn't know. David was relieved to stay home from school. For once he really wanted to be near Johnathan. He had witnessed the fight, saw Johnathan defend David against the stranger. David felt as if he belonged for the first time. Johnathan truely was willing to protect David against all comers. Johnathan wasn't going to hurt him in any way. And Johnathan wasn't going to let this other man take him away. The words the other man had said stayed with David. He was immortal. What did that mean, immortal? On TV it meant being blown up and getting up to fight some more. Superman was immortal, maybe, or was he just strong and could fly. Spiderman? The X-Men? Super heros, yes, but not immortal. The stranger had been hurt by Johnathan, and then got up to fight MacLeod. When MacLeod killed him there had been a storm unlike any David had ever seen before. What was it, the Quickening? Lightening flashing, striking MacLeod and being controlled by MacLeod. MacLeod was immortal, and so was David. There were others like them. David had never felt a part of any group. He'd never been a part of even a family. Would these others accept him? Would they hate him on sight like the stranger had and try to kill him? Why would they kill? What was their purpose? Sure lots of people just hit and hurt for no reason, but would a whole lot of people make up a killing game? There had to be something that drove them on. David wished that MacLeod would return so he could ask more questions. Duncan gave up trying to adjust to the time zone. He hung the Do Not Distrub sign on his door, called the operator and told her to hold all calls, closed the drapes, and went to sleep. Six hours later he felt better. The operator gave him the message that Matthew had called. "I'm sorry about last night," Matthew said when Duncan called him, "I guess I've just been feeling sorry for myself. This Kono has me on edge." "You don't have to worry about Kono anymore," Duncan said. "You? When? How?" Matthew was stumbling and shut up before making a complete idiot of himself. "Came on him by chance. I did find a situation that could use your help though. Kono was after a young boy, immortal. The boy needs some help. He looks to be about ten. He's scared." "Why not you?" "I'm not ready to take on another student. Richie is more than I can handle right now. I was thinking about how you said that Lorane wanted kids. You could take this boy in. It would look natural to the outside world." "There's more to it than that, and you know it," Matthew said, "I'm not sure what Lorane would say anyway." "I'm going to go see him again tonight. Will you come?" "Sure. I owe you that at least." David looked up from his school books. Johnathan might have let him stay home from school, but that didn't mean that David didn't have to study. "He's back," David said. Johnathan opened the front door before Duncan had a chance to knock. "This is a friend of mine," Duncan said, "Matthew Collins." It was awkward for a second. Johnathan let them in, but it was clear he was not happy they were there. "I don't know what you think you can say to change my mind," Johnathan said. "I'm not here to change your mind," Duncan said, "It's up to David to decide." "I want to stay here," David said. But he hesitated. It wasn't like he wanted them to go away. He had his questions and MacLeod had said he would answer them. Only David wasn't sure how to go about asking. He didn't have any practice trusting adults. "I can understand that," Matthew said, "You have a nice home here." He looked over the living room admiringly. "You have some one who cares about you, treats you well, makes sure you keep up with school work." He nodded to the books on the table. "If I were you, I'd want to stay where I was comfortable too." David wait for the inevitable 'but'. "Of course," Matthew went on, "There was the guy who came after you last night. I'm sure you have questions about that. I would. And you can't ask Mr. Raven about that, can you? He doesn't know any more than you do. You can't ask him who you are, where you came from, what you are, or any of the thousand questions you need to ask. He doesn't know the answers. Only one of your own kind can help you through this. I know it's hard to accept that. It's hard to grow up fast, to make changes, to admit that you are different from others. I can help you through these times. You can come and stay with me and my wife, be part of our family. I assure you that we will take care of you. You won't be cut off from Mr. Raven. You can come back and visit all you like." David had heard promises like that before. He didn't believe them now. "I want to live here," he said. Now the fighting would start, he thought. He thought that Johnathan was stronger and would allow him to stay. He prayed that it was so. "No one is going to force you," Matthew said, "I certainly have no desire to have a rebellious youngster around the house. I'd rather you come on your own and be happy with your decision." Here is comes, David thought. "At a minimum, you need to know the rules we live by," Matthew said. "They could save your life. If you have to run, run to holy ground. You'll be safe there from any immortal. Also know that if an immortal attacks you, no other immortal will stop the fight. You will be on your own. We always fight one on one. There are no exceptions. All immortals follow these rules. Do not tell your friends. They will not understand. You would only bring hardship on yourself by telling anyone." Matthew reached into his pocket and brought out a business card. He handed the card to David. "You can call me at any time. Today, tomorrow, or a hundred years from now." Matthew stood up to leave. Duncan reluctantly followed suit. "Why did you leave just then?" Duncan asked when they were outside. "Nothing I would have said could have changed their minds," Matthew said. "I've seen others like him. He just isn't ready. Trying to force the issue would have only made things worse. In time he'll come around." "If he lives that long," Duncan said. David looked at the card and then at Johnathan. David wanted to ask a question but was still fearful of the response he might get. Would Johnathan be jealous if David said he wanted to talk to this guy? Johnathan had never gotten violent with him, but would he now? "If I just wanted to talk," David asked hesitantly, "I want to stay here. I just want to ask some things." "They haven't left yet," Johnathan said. Letting go was the best way to keep David near by. It wasn't just David that had come to need Johnathan. Johnathan could feel an emptiness starting inside himself as he watched David go to the door and leave. -- Wendy \|/ /\ -O- /**\ /|\ /****\ /\ / \ /**\ Here there be dragons / /\ / \ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\/\ /\ / / \ / \ / \/\/ \/ \ /\/ \/\ /\ /\/ / / \/ \ / / \/ /\ \ / \ \ / \/ / / \/ \/ \ / \ \ / / \/ \/\ \ / \ / / \ __/__/_______/___/__\___\__________________________________________________ Wendy Milner HPDesk: wendy_milner@hp4000 Hewlett-Packard Co. e-mail: wendy@fc.hp.com Mail Stop 102 Telnet: 229-2182 3404 E. Harmony Rd. Phone: (303) 229-2182 Fort Collins, CO, 80525 FAX: 229-4292 =========================================================================