Date: Mon, 28 Mar 1994 21:07:42 -0700 Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Michael Smith Subject: Treklander (ST:TNG/Highlander Crossover) Part 5 (There can be only one...These are the voyages...) T R E K L A N D E R Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III Part 5 At 1800 hours Ensign Cathaway entered Transporter Room 5. She was carrying a tote bag full of things she thought she might need planetside: spare uniforms, energy packs for her phaser, toiletries, her sword... MacLoud and his assistant were already waiting. That she knew before entering, thanks to her damnable Sense. She really hated being Immortal, but didn't know if she had the courage to end it. Besides, Adam wouldn't have approved... Commander Riker was also there, as well as Lt. Worf. She was about to step onto the transporter pad when she noticed that no one else was making a move in that direction. "Something wrong, sirs?" she asked, placing her bag on the pad and walking over. Riker cleared his throat. "The situation has escalated. The Captain has ordered that a qualified security detail be assigned--" "Despite my objections," MacLoud interrupted. `I'm sure you objected MacLoud,' Cathaway thought. `You want my Quick- ening to yourself with no witnesses!' "In any case," Riker continued, "the Captain has ordered Lt. Worf to accompany the three of you down. Good luck to you all." The four stepped onto the pad and Riker barked, "Energize". Cathaway felt the tingle of her atoms being converted to energy and sent to the planet's surface. As soon as Worf saw the surface of Clari III he pulled out his phaser and began scanning for potential targets. The beings on this planet were hostile creatures who might mistake him and those he was sworn to protect as enemies. MacMoud placed his hand on Worf's phaser arm and lowered it. "Calm down, Lieutenant. The last thing we need is for whoever's here to mistake us for the enemy by a display of weapons." Worf couldn't argue with MacLoud, because he was right; any display of hostile intent could causew them to become targets. But at the same time, MacLoud made him look bad to a subordinate. Worf settled on giving him a dirty look. "I'm going to have a look around. A representative of the Tyone faction was supposed to meet us here and take us to a neutral position where we'd meet with the Feuhl faction's representative. "I'll go with you Mac," his assistant said. "No Richard, you stay with Worf, in case our contact centers on our transporter signal. Ensign Cathaway, you come with me." Worf noticed Cathaway tense immediately, but she complied and grabbed her bag. As soon as they were out of sight and earshot from Worf, MacLoud turned to Cathaway. "Why are you afraid of me?" The question took Cathaway by surprise. She was expecting MacLoud to go for his sword and blame her beath on `hostile natives', not a direct question. "You...you're Immortal..." "You think all Immortals are cold-blooded killers? If I was, then Richard would've been dead long ago." "Richard is..." "You remember the picture in my quarters?" Cathaway nodded. "He was with her the day she died. He was Awakened that day. If I was such a cold-blooded killer, I would've taken his head the day I found out, while he was still adjusting to the change. Instead I nurtured him and tried to keep him safe until I felt he was ready to explore the limits of his new abilities. "I admit I've taken more than my share of Immortal lives, but never unless they deserved to die. You think Richie is my only Immortal friend? I've come close to killing a few friends, only to pull them back to reason before the final strike. One friend I DID kill, but only after he real- ized that he was a danger to everyone around him if he lived." "Why was he--" "He had a dark side that came out and killed those he felt close to. He had no memory of his dark side's actions; in fact, he thought that it was a different Immortal. When he realized that his enemy was himself, he begged me to take his life." "I'm sorry, MacLoud," Julia said. "It's just that I've run into three Immortals since my Awakening, and every one of them cared nothing but to take my head. Friends?" Julia extended her hand, which MacLoud took. Julia found herself looking into MacLoud's eyes. She wanted to turn away, but there was something captivating about him. She was entranced in his eyes, eyes that have seen an eon pass. They gazed at each other for what seemed like an eternity. The moment before their lips met her communicator switched on. *Worf to Cathaway* Julia composed herself and pressed her commbadge. "Cathaway here." "Prima Tu-Jar of the Tyones has arrived. Return to Base Camp immediat- ly." "On our way." Julia looked at MacLoud. "Perhaps another time...Duncan?" MacLoud grinned at her. "If it's one thing we have, it's time." =========================================================================