Date: Fri, 23 Sep 1994 16:12:45 +0000 Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Pat Organization: University College Dublin Subject: The Challenge: Face of the Enemy (Part 2A) ***************************************** _The Challenge: Face of the Enemy._ ***************************************** Part 2 (A). HL/The Flash Crossover. by Amanda Hill. *I wasn't going to give up on this fight, but still, I knew. My chances weren't promising. Calem has two centuries experience more than I. And he has used that time to fight. And win. He is one of those who seeks the Quickening above all else. He hungers for the power. One of those that lives for the challenge of being the only one. And he won't stop. Not while his head is on his shoulders. For the last three and a half centuries I have ran from him. Knowing that he was constantly searching. Following. But I always managed to stay ahead. Until now. Now he is here forcing me to leave this life behind as he did when we first met. Only this time, I don't know if I'll ever start a new one...*. [Flashback] I was packing up several bottles of assorted chemicals when Tina cautioned me yet again. "You will be careful with those, won't you? It won't do Starlabs' reputation any good if you're found dead in your apartment of chemical asphyxiation." I turned around to her. "I don't think I have to worry too much about that. I'll have the work completed and the results back to you before you even miss these couple of tubes." Tina shook her head. If you weren't such a good lab technician I'd be *very* worried. Okay, Allan. But be careful!" I saluted. "Yes Sir, Doctor McGee, Sir!" I had been working with Tina in Starlabs for the last six months. She was one of the best and most dedicated scientists I had ever met. And one with a bit of life outside of the lab. I'm sure she thought of me as a little reckless at times, but I often got the impression that that was nothing new to her. Central City was a great place. Full of great street Art and almost comic-book character. And I enjoyed nothing more than watching Tina and Barry together. Barry worked in the police forensic lab. They often helped one another out. They were best of friends. And much more. Barry walked in and headed straight for the last doughnut. "McGee pushing you `round again, Allan." Tina hit him on the back of the head with a ream of computer print out. "As always, Allen. And that was my Boston Creme you just demolished." Barry looked from the empty plate to me in mock embarrassment. "Oops. I thought you left it for me. Here. Have some fried rice instead." With that he took out a large parcel of Chinese food from under his jacket. As the three of us ate I picked up the paper. I turned to page four where the by now regular article on The Flash's latest rescues and good deeds could usually be found. "This guy doesn't stop for a second, does he? He crossed the city in less than two minutes last night!" Barry glanced briefly at the page. "I'm sure the owners of the house being burgled were quite happy to have him there so fast." Tina waved towards the article. "I'm sure they were. But from the looks of things, this Flash could do with slowing down before he burns out and is no use to anyone. Metabolisms are dangerous things to be taking chances with." I could never be sure, but I always sensed an undercurrent whenever Barry and Tina talked about Central City's greatest hero. Someone was coming. I quickly stood up and looked around for a weapon. My sword was in my car. Out of reach. I had hoped that I'd never need it here. I was already moving within reach of the fire extinguisher when Tina asked what was wrong. I waved her into silence and whispered was she expecting anyone. Before she had a chance to answer, the door opened. A face slowly appeared around the door. My muscles relaxed as I began to smile and ran towards the tall brown haired man now standing with arms open. "Wow, Aleanna. Take it easy!" He put my feet back on the ground and whispered, "You know I never liked snapping my ribs back together." "Careful. You're beginning to show your age. How's the throat?" He laughed as I turned towards Tina and Barry who were by now on their feet. "Christine McGee, Barry Allen, this is an old friend of mine, Phillippe Picard." When we got back to my apartment, Phillippe looked around and nodded his approval. "Nice place you have here, Allan. You've done well for yourself. What's more, I don't think I've ever seen you quite this happy before." He smiled. "It suits you." I began to arrange the bottles of chemicals on my desk. "Yeah, well someone helped me find a new perspective on live." "Ah yes, I heard you ran into the Highlander recently." It always amazed me how he found out about such things. I knew I'd never get a straight answer if I asked him just where he heard that. Instead I just said, "Recently? It's been almost four years since I met Duncan. Unless you mean Connor. Who I haven't met at all." Phillippe shrugged. "Four years is recent when you're two hundred and seventy one years old. Even if you're ninety five, I'd imagine. Still not used to thinking in terms of eternity, are you?" "Hope I never do get used to it. Wouldn't want to lose track of time and overstay my welcome somewhere, would I?" He chuckled. "Never one for moving about more than is necessary, were you? Okay. Tell me everything that's happened in the last few lifetimes." We spent half the night catching up on everything. It was approaching 3am when I could wait no longer. I had to ask the one question I dreaded most. "So, Phillippe. It's great seeing you again and all. But what *really* brings you here?" He sighed. "I hate doing this. I hate getting you involved. Especially now. But neither of us may have a choice." I was growing impatient. "Dammit, Phillippe. Get on with it." "Okay. You remember Jorg? I met him in Belgium a few weeks ago. He was being pursued. Before he was killed he told me how Calem had gone after two of his students to strike at and anger him. It worked. Jorg sought revenge and let his emotions dull his defences. That's how Calem plays. He strikes at those a person most cares about. He hungers for power. He seeks those as old as himself and would consider those much younger not worth the hunt. Just a convenient means to an end. He..." I reached for a nearby cushion. "Hang on a minute here. Are you trying to tell me that this guy is after me? Not because he wants my Quickening, but because he wants yours and killing me would flush you out? You can't be serious." "You know the Game is the one thing I never joke about. And don't think he's not interested in your Quickening. It's just worth more to him if you live longer and get a little more experience. He's dangerous. Don't ever doubt that. Just.., stay out of the way. If he comes for you he'll find me first. That way he has no need of you. Just keep an eye out for him in the next century or so." Phillippe stood up as if the conversation was over. "You're not going to fight him are you?" He sat down again. "Listen to me Allan. I have to. He won't stop till I do. And I don't want you getting caught in the crossfire. Yes, he's strong. More practised. But hell, I've been holding a sword almost as long as he has. I'll take my chances." He kissed me goodnight and walked to the spare bedroom. When he was out of earshot I whispered, "Just don't lose." I was checking the experiment running at home just before leaving for the lab, when I first felt it. It was a strange sensation of sickness -something almost alien to me. Yet it was deeper than that. Phillippe had gone out shopping and I was due in Starlabs in ten minutes. There was nothing I could do but drive to the lab and hope it was nothing. By the time I drove through the gates, the feeling was stronger. Not as bad as a Quickening, but at the same time, much worse. The first thing Tina noticed when I walked in, was my distracted air. But even with her medical degree, I doubted very much that there was anything she could do to help. I told her that I was a little tired from talking to Phillippe all night. It was probably the truth after all. Barry called into the lab after lunch. Immediately I knew that something was wrong. His mood was far more sullen than was the norm for him, his greeting was less than enthusiastic, and he didn't look like he had just run a marathon as he normally did. He took me by the arm and said he needed to talk to me, nodded towards Tina, and led me outside. We walked to the park a block away. When we could hear ourselves above the traffic he turned towards me. "I have something to tell you and neither of us are going to enjoy it." I hoped. Hoped that it wasn't what I feared it was. Hoped my apartment had been broken into, hoped my tyres had been slashed. Anything but what I knew he was about to tell me. "I guessed that much from your face. Just say it Barry." He gulped. "A homicide was reported this morning. I'm afraid it's Phillippe." I couldn't say anything for a while. When Barry put his hand on my shoulder I asked what had happened. I already knew, but I had to ask for Barry's sake more than my own. "The most unusual thing I've seen in quite some time. We've studied the scene and it looks like a sword fight took place. Phillippe was decapitated by a very old sword." He looked at me. "Did Phillippe own a sword?" Phillippe had always said never to give away any more information about us than was necessary. It didn't matter whether Phillippe had a sword or not. This was one homicide that the police would never solve. I shook my head. "The metal fragments we found, were old. We think they originated from New Zealand some three hundred years ago. I'm sorry to be asking you this at such a time but you're the best we have when it comes to swords. Can you tell me anything about it?" I knew Barry wasn't accusing me. He knew of my interest in swords and was merely being a good police officer. But I couldn't help notice the brief look of disbelief in his eyes when I said that I could tell him no more than he had found out already. Just that it must have been well kept to be sharp enough to remove someone's head. He asked did I know if anyone would want to kill Phillippe. I could hardly say `Yeah, quite a few actually' so I just shook my head. He soon gave up, told me to go home, and said he'd explain to Tina. End of Part 2 (A). =========================================================================