Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 13:35:58 EST Reply-To: "Diety of the editing labs (*snicker*)" Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: "Diety of the editing labs (*snicker*)" Subject: The Battle of Evermore, part six (enough of the reruns, er... reposts, now for new material... }:) ************************************************************************* ************************************************************************* ******************* H I G H L A N D E R ************************ ************************************************************************* ************ T H E B A T T L E O F E V E R M O R E ************* ************************************************************************* BY BRIAN PROCOPIO, BASED UPON THE FILM OF THE SAME NAME. COPYRIGHTED 1994, CHAOS PICTURES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. _______________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER SIX _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ "Oh well, the night is long, the beads of time pass slow... Tie-dyed are the sunrises, waiting for the Eastern glow..." _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ Brian strained his eyes, reading the small print along the current page of titles. Why not, he decided. He plinked in several quarters, selecting number 6302 from the jukebox. As he turned and walked back to the table, the distinctive sound of Billy Joel's "Captain Jack" started up, the piano helping to drown out the conversations of the few other couples in the back room of the restuarant. He smiled as he sat back down on the padded seat of the booth. "Can't resist the classics, hmm?" predicted Laurana as she grinned in return. "Yeah, well, they didn't have any Mozart so I had to settle for the only other big musical hit I've ever met," MacKenzie rolled his eyes in mock dis- gust at the musical selections. "showoff," she muttered as she slapped him lightly on the cheek, then turning her attention back to the menu. "Hmmm," she commented, "I was *so* in the mood for Italian tonight too..." Brian groaned again at the turn of events that had created the evening. He should have assumed that, in a seasonal vacation town, a restuarant could change ownership so quickly. Just six or so months ago he had dined here in "Alberto's Italian Restuarante," how was he to know that it would now have been transformed into "Jose's by the Sea," a quirky Mexican place with mock adobe walls painted a sickly green. He shrugged as he rose to his feet, reaching for his wallet. "What are you doing?" Laurana inquired, her eyebrows raising confusedly as Brian helped her to her feet, after which he threw a bill onto the table. "You wanted Italian, we'll get Italian, I know at least one other place in this town that can serve up a decent dish or two," he smirked, holding out her coat for her. _______________________________________________________________________________ Antonio reached out and tossed the quarters into the waiting plastic mesh basket, roaring forward as soon as the toll gate rose before him. The cold winter air rushed in through the open windows,arcing over his exposed arms, reminding him what it was like to really be alive. Aerosmith's "Back In the Saddle Again" blared through the measley speakers of the late-model Thunderbird as he turned onto the main north-south road of the island, slowing only to scan the numerous street signs as he passed them... _______________________________________________________________________________ "Villa Roma apartments, that's it" he murmured as he cruised slowly past it, eyeing the lighted windows in the small duplex in the back. He turned down the next block and pulled into the lot of a closed-up motel, his black ford blending in nicely with the rest of the junks parked there. He waited for several moments, making sure that no one was walking about that might see him, then opened his door and, in the cover of the early evening shadows, pulled his sword from its case in the backseat of his car, quickly and deftly slipping it underneath his trenchcoat. He jerked upwards suddenly, the buzz ringing through his head as another immortal approached. He pulled the weapon from his coat immediately as he strode towards the figure silloheted in the street lamp in the distance. "I am Justin Glantz," he announced as he stepped into the circle of light before him, "let me pass or taste the steel of my blade." _______________________________________________________________________________ "Damm it's cold!" Laruana cursed as the wind picked up again, threatening to send her paper plate racing across the dunes. MacKenzie bit into his slice of pizza again. After a moment he answered. "Hey, you wanted Italian..." The expertly aimed pizza crust bounced cleanly off of Brian's forehead, landing several feet away and half-burying itself in the sand. "Yes, but Mack- and-Manco's Pizza wasn't what I had in mind, Bri," she grinned impishly. MacKenzie's eyes narrowed in mock anger. "Watch it, Laur, by throwing food around here you're guaranteeing the continued existance of seagulls the world over!" The immortal female's eyes widened. "But I *like* seagulls," she pro- claimed innocently. "Yeah, but *they* like my *car*," Brian returned as he popped the last bit of crust into his mouth. "Men.." she sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I know, we're all alike, get used to it," he lectured, his hands gesturing to show he got the point. "Right," she smirked, "all testosterone and no brains, it's a wonder you survive without our intervention..." _______________________________________________________________________________ "Antonio DeViola," he replied curtly. "What reasons do you give as to why I should let you pass?" "I should think that your death would be enough, young one," Glantz re- plied as he brought his sword up. Antonio sunk down into a combat stance, not liking the challenge that would keep him from his assignment. "My quarrel is not with you, Glantz." Justin paused for a second, contemplating. "So be it, DeViola, we will settle this another time, however." He lowered his sword, replacing it once again in his coat. The younger immortal facing him turned and walked off, sword still in hand. "Another time, Justin," he called behind him as he turned the corner. He slowly turned and made his way around the corner behind him, heading parallel to Antonio's path but one block apart from him. At the next street, he turned again to find DeViola striding in his direction. They both stopped, eyeing each other up once more. He walked up to the immortal, making sure to stear well clear of his quarry's home to his left. As he drew within a few yards of Antonio the other warrior charged him suddenly. He lept back into a combat stance and grabbed Antonio's shirt, rolling back and with the other immortal, throwing him several feet away onto the pebbled lawn behind him. He arose and dove for the other's neck, trapping him as he interrogated him. "WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHO SENT YOU?" he commanded. His whispered tone still not hiding his rage. "Mac... Macleod," DeViola bit out angrily. "He's there," gesturing with his eyes at the apartment Cameron currently occupied. Glantz threw him to the dirt in disgust. "Damn," he muttered. "What the hell are you here for?" Antonio growled, his hand massaging his throat. "This is going to get complicated," Glantz began. "Allright, in a nut- shell, this *Macleod* whichever one he is, is harboring another immortal in there, Cameron. She's mine, you take care of Macleod yourself." "Fine," bit off Antonio, slinking off into the shadows... _______________________________________________________________________________ "Why did they all attack at once like that?" David asked as he twisted the knob on the thermostat up several notches. After a few seconds the dull sound of the heater kicking on was heard down below. Jenny Cameron sipped hesitantly at her mug of hot chocolate, testing its warmth. "We never knew," she replied. "At the time we thought that it was the Gathering finally catching up to us, but then again that was over two hundred years ago and we know now that wasn't what it was. Maybe we were all trying to force the Gathering upon us. So many of us were together in the plan. Duncan, Connor, Brian, Rebecca and Amanda, Fitz, good old Fitz, god there were so many of us coming together at once," she trailed off, the i- dentities of immortals past flashing across her weary face. David sat at the table across from her, pulling the top from another can of Pepsi. "Maybe one of the evil immortals learned of the plan somehow, decided that such a gathering of good immortals would be dangerous to the balance of the Game," he hypothesized, his brows furrowed in thought. "Possibly," she consented. "It was just so unnatural for evil immortals to work together like that. Eiree or something. After that attack, though, the whole plan fell apart quickly. Too many disparate personal--," she stopped, cut off suddenly as she looked towards the front of the house. "What is i--" began Macleod as he rose from the table, seconds before the buzz hit him too. "Damn," he exclaimed. "Wait here, Jenny." "No," she arose from the table, a fierce determination passing across her face. "This is my fight, I will not let someone else fight it again for me." "Like hell," commented Dave. "I'm coming out there with you at least." They made their way into the hallway, and David pulled his trenchcoat from the closet as he passed it. He pulled it tightly around him as he exited the house and a gust of wind buffeted him... _______________________________________________________________________________ ...kicking up a fine spray of sand against the coat. Laurana leaned her head onto his shoulder, snuggling a bit closer for extra warmth. The crashing of the surf echoed along the barren shoreline before them, drowning out all other noise but the soft rythmic sound of her breathing. He wasn't sure if he could actually hear it or just feel it where their bodies touched. He sighed audibly, his thoughts inside scrambling to find release. It felt so good to be held close again, to be loved, but... "What's wrong?" she whispered, sensing the change in emotions within him, the turmoil. "Nothing.. well, no. I... I'm just," his voice cracked a bit as he stammered out his words. "I'm just *afraid*, Laur, I just..." "Hey," she breathed quietly, "it's ok, I know. I'm here for you, Bri." "It's not that.. well it is that too," he corrected, the wind picking up again and tossing his black hair back from his forehead. "I've been holding on too tight for too long and I've, well I've lost the edge. I was just grabbing too long at it until I was past it and didn't realize it. The fight with Marak.. I should have died there, I only escaped because of blind luck..." "Shhhh..." she whispered as she ran her hand along his cheek, wiping away the moisture of his tears. "I *know*, I know... We all go through it every now and then, it's okay." "But I'm just afraid to... love again," he murmured silently, the waves nearly drowning him out. "To feel, to live, it all seems... Ah hell I think I'm falling in love with you, even though I know that's how I always felt about you, but I'm just too scared... The life we lead, the Gathering near, I don't want to lose you, Laur, and... I don't want to have to cause you pain when you lose me," he whispered, looking down into her brown eyes. "Mac, you're still the best damn swordsman this side of the Thames," she grinned. Her face softened somewhat. "And I've... I'm... oh, just shut up and kiss me, Bri!" she commanded as she took his face firmly in her hands and kissed him. After a moment he broke their contact and looked her in the eyes. He ran his hand through her hair, her skin so soft, so warm... "thank you," he whispered. He kissed her again, deeply. A cold fire burned in her lips, and oh did he want to be burned... _______________________________________________________________________________ She slammed her blade into his again, attempting to drive him back another foot. An empty trash can crashed down behind him, echoing loudly though the deserted alleyway behind the old hotel. She could feel her strength waning, even though a series of crosshatches lined Glantz stomach already, they did not seem to slow his attack any. She dove in at him, her point racing for his unbalanced chest. He swatted the blade away as he pivoted, but still lost his balance, catching himself on the wall beside him. She brought her blade up to his neck, pushing against his with all of her strength. "WHY?" she demanded, gritting her teeth as he pushed back at her, his feet scrambling for purchase on the smooth concrete below him. "You don't know?" he replied as he shoved, throwing her to the ground a few feet in front of him. "All this time and you've never figured it out?" he asked as he swung at her neck. She ducked and swung at his knees, which he barely avoided as he jumped back, giving her a chance to get to her feet once more. "Figure *what* out?" she inquired as she circled him. "You're one of them, the elder has chosen you..." _______________________________________________________________________________ "... for elimination from the Game," Antonio bit out as he parried Dave's attack again. David reversed his attack and clipped him on the shoulder, drawing blood a second time. "The elder?" Macleod responded as he ducked under Antonio's counter. "What the hell are you talking about?" "He is," Antonio sliced at the immortal's midsection, throwing himself slightly off balance with the attack. "The oldest o--- *OMPF*" he exclaimed as David spun his shoulder into him, driving him down to the sand below. This was rediculous, Macleod thought. He was no swordsman extrordinaire himself, but this whelp was hardly a challenge. He dove down, pinning the Italian's shoulder with the blade of his katana. He pulled it up and rose for the killing strike. Antonio growled as his right hand searched for his weapon... THERE! He brought it up to block Macleod's attack, but the force of the swing still knocked his blade back into his recently stabbed shoulder, and landed the edge of Macleod's sword along his cheek, sending a trickle of blood down his face. A yelp of pain escaped his lips as Macleod backed off a few feet. A sudden dread raced through David's form as he heard only silence. The sounds of the nearby battle between Cameron and her attacker strangely silent a mere two blocks away. "Leave!" he commanded his attacker as he struggled to his feet. "No.. no.. fight me..." Antonio pulled his sword up, swingly loosly at Macleod's form. David swiftly sidestepped it and drove his hilt into DeViola's face, sending it crashing down to the ground beneath him. "Come back when you've learned something," he muttered as he raced off into the darkness... _______________________________________________________________________________ ...of his eyes, bottomless pits straight into hell, that's what she thought they were, she decided as she looked up into them, his sword raised above his head, preparing to end her half-millenia of life once and for all. "At long last," he muttered, "the hunt has ended!" She breathed deep, preparing to accept her fate but still searching for anything she could use to escape, tricks, a hidden reserve of strength some- where in her already tapped form... Macleod was right, she was too weary for this battle, too weary for this life... "why?" she asked her executioner. "If there is indeed a God, or whatever diety you choose to belive in..." His sword raced down, seperating her head from her neck. "You can now ask him." The wind picked up, increasing to hurricane-force gale as the nearby litter and assorted debris began to swirl about, the screen doors of several of the nearby vacation homes opening and slamming in response. The lightning swirled about him, arcing about the alleyway, seeking out anything in its path as it engulfed him, carrying with it the memories, the experience, the soul of Jenny Cameron. He collapsed, spent, to the asphalt surface under his feet. _______________________________________________________________________________ He knew as soon as his feet hit the pavement, the loose covering of sand scattering about his racing feet. The lightning storms halted, the winds dying down as he approached. He heard the rattle of an automobile engine as he neared the scene of the battle, and saw the taillights of the escaping attacker. He bellowed in rage as he saw the body in the alleyway. His feet slipped out beneath him as he stumbled to the ground, the pain of failure ripping through his insides. After a while he rose to his feet, there was only one thing left to do, he knew, the return... _______________________________________________________________________________ ...to his mentor in failure. Antonio burned in rage, shame, and humilia- tion. He worked his shoulder muscles around, feeling the healing beginning already. Macleod would pay, he knew, Macleod would pay dearly. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ well, there goes another big chapter... Sorry about the mass reposts on the list, etc. But I hope everyone has whatever chapters they need now... e-mail with comments, Brian =========================================================================