Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 09:03:05 -0400 Reply-To: Andrew Duty Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Andrew Duty Subject: War of Ages Part 2 Methos lowered his sword and took a step forward to get a better look at the man before him. A quiet pall fell over them like a veil. Finally Culo broke the silence. "So...what's it been two hundred?" "About that." "You look well. How have you been?" "Well, you know, still have my head." Methos answered not knowing what to think much less what to say,"How did you find me?" "It wasn't that hard.",he snickered "You aren't the only one with access to the Watchers files. I didn't know if you had rejoined the organization or not but after I found out about Kalas, I did a little digging. After I found out you were running the Methos investigation I pulled Adam Piersons file and made a most startling discovery. I have to admit you did a brilliant job of burying yourself. If it was this hard for me to hide yourself I doubt anyone else will find you again." "Well that was my intention.",he responded "I must say you were the last person I expected to see down here. It was like you vanished off the face of the earth. I was actually starting to think someone took that old head of yours." Culo laughed,"Well it wont be by one of these young pups that are littering the globe. If I'm meant to go it will damn sure be to someone that deserves it. If there is one thing Ive learned over the millennia its the art of subtlety. I doubt that there is anyone that is left who remembers me." "I remember you." "Yes. I knew you would. I could always count on you Methos but please put the sword down I really thought we could talk for a bit before we went for each others head." Methos lowered his sword tip to the ground. "Talk, about what?" "Well with a several thousand year relationship such as ours Im sure there is alot we have to catch up on. I've decided this personal little war of ours needs to be resolved once and for all. I would like to finish this once and for all...tonight." Culo took a step forward and reached into his jacket. Methos stepped back into a guard and raised back into the air the tip pointed towards Culo's throat. "Now, now.".Culo chided pulling a thin business card from his coat. "On the back you will find my home address. You shouldn't have any trouble finding it. Drop by around Nine." Culo handed him the card. Methos eyed it suspiciously then flipped it over and checked the address on the back. He dropped his guard and let Culo past him towards the front door. Culo opened it then halted a second and turned. "You know this is quite a lovely home but I was a little surprised by the location." "Why is that?",he asked "Well as I recall you always had a fondness for the beach." "Yes.....I did.",he said bitterly. =============================================================================== The Dawn of Time =========================================================================== ==== Methos pulled his net from the seas cold waters and flung it onto the rocky shore. It was a good catch more then enough for the day and next morning. He stepped up to the shore and flung the net over his shoulder. He then carefully maneuvered through the rocks onto the soft grasses of the hill near by. He started walking up the small hill and at its zenith stopped and looked down into the grotto where his home lied. It was a good home and he felt blessed to have found it. The caves entrance was difficult to see from the hills that led down to it. It was a large spacious cavern with enough room to store his furs and food as well as keep fires for warmth. The gentle breezes from the shore would blow through the caves mouth and blow the smoke the hole in the caverns roof. After much time he had adorned most of the walls with trophies of his hunt and pictures stained with the abundant berries of the woods near by. It was the perfect home....for two. A sudden shiver ran up through his body shooting up his spine collecting around his scalp. He looked down and could see the beautiful woman he had claimed as his mate. He stood and watched as she walked up to meet him. Her long windblown hair her thin subtle body bronzed gold by the sun. How bright her rich brown eyes lighted when she saw him and how the whiteness of her smile contrasted her tan skin. She rushed up and hugged him with all of her might. With his free arm he held her close never wanting to let her go. "Did the morning go well?",she asked. "It did!", he said briefly pulling back and holding up the net for Mya to see. "We have enough for two days if we are careful." Methos brought his arm around her shoulder and threw the net back around his shoulder. The two lovers walked slowly down the hill Mya's arms draped around his waist. He couldn't remember when he had been happier. He could still remember the first time they had found one another. His life had been complete ever since. He could hardly remember a time with out her. The pain of loneliness he had once felt had long since subsided. Still late at night faint memories of that time still haunted him. But those dark thoughts always left him when ever Mya was near. He loved her so much he could actually feel her when she was near and she told him she felt the same way. He had never realized it could be like this. He regretted that they never had children and the two had long given up the hopes of conceiving but that was all right. They all of eternity together. A cold chill ran through them as they reached the bottom of the hill near the mouth of the cave. The two lovers looked into each others eyes each seeing the confusion in the others. "It feels like when you have just returned from a hunt or your nets.",Mya said. A faint memory came to Methos as he looked around for the source of the feeling. His eyes finally came to rest at the top of the hill they had just descended. Over the hill a man appeared his features silhouetted by the sun. He couldn't quite make the figure out. It was definitely a man a very tall one. In one hand he carried a huge dark ax. The sudden appearance, strange feeling of uneasiness, and the distinct form of the ax jarred his memory. He had seen this man before long,long ago. He seemed to remember a village or camp that had been destroyed. Then it hit him this was the man that cut him so long ago. Amazement and fear hit him all at the same time. He had never thought he would find anyone that would stay as long as he would now there were two! It was different with the dark stranger though he was brutal. He knew that they could stand the pain but he could not bear to see Mya suffer it. "Go in the cave and get my spear!",he ordered. "But Metho....." "Now!", he yelled. Mya snapped back in total surprise. In all the time they had been together Methos had never raised his voice to her. She was so shocked she immediately fell silent and rushed to obey his command. Methos rushed back up and halted half way up the hill standing ground between the stranger and his home. Mya had just returned with the spear as the man stopped right in front of Methos. He could see him clearly now. A giant of a man dressed in the carcasses of dead animals. Bone necklaces were draped around his neck with a shocking addition of human ears. He looked stronger than before his arms like oak tree limbs. The ax seemed worn by time, the obsidian flaked and cracked. The bone handle appeared to have been replaced but the new one had yellowed and chipped. He looked long into Methos and Mya's eyes then spoke. "I have felt this before." "I am Methos and this is my mate Mya". The man just stood there staring then finally spoke. "I am Culo.....and I know you." "We have met before.",he stated holding his ground. "No. I am the only one that goes on. I killed you." "You are wrong. We are like you and we both go on." "No!",Culo responded his anger growing,"I am the only one that goes on. THE ONLY ONE." Methos could see fury in Culo's eyes he pushed Mya back and as Culo raised his ax plunged the spear deep into his rib cage. Culo howled in pain dropping the ax with his right hand and backhanding Methos with is left. Methos fell to the ground his spear breaking with a snap. He could see Culo pulling at the split wood jutting out from his ribs but all he managed to do was break the shaft leaving the spear tip buried deeply with in. Culo roared with rage. Methos had never fought one so strong he had fought bears with less strength. Culo swung the ax off the ground and down on Methos's position. He tried to roll away from it but still caught a severe gash across his side. The cut was deep and painful. The sight of Culo jumping closer froze Methos to his spot. All he could do is watch as Culo lifted his ax high to deliver another blow. Suddenly, Mya was behind him beating his back with a heavy stone. Culo turned and punched her square in the stomach. Methos tried to rise but the pain was overwhelming. Culo raised the ax high and swung it down hard on Mya. She screamed a shrill high pitched scream as she caught the blow full force. Again he pulled the ax up and brought it down. Mya raised her arm to shield her self only to see it cleaved away. "There is only one!",he screamed chopping away "I am the only one!" Methos joined the screaming. He lifted himself to his knees ,the wound already starting to knit itself together, and began crawling towards them. Finally Culo had worked his way up to her head. With a mighty swing he brought the ax down through her neck and into the stone below shattering obsidian flakes everywhere. Culo tore the Ax back up from the ground and turned. "Now you!" Methos couldn't believe what he had seen she wasn't moving. He couldn't feel her! Panic set in ,the first real panic he had ever experienced. He fell onto his back and began pushing himself back with his feet and hands. Behind them a light wind blew up from the grotto. A glow began to emanate from Mya's body. Methos stopped frozen to the spot. The body began to levitate and the sight held Methos spell-bound. Culo caught up to Methos and was about to cut him again but his puzzled look made Culo turn to see what he was looking at. Culo's face turned pale white. Lightning began to crackle around the body. Culo ran over Methos up the hill in mindless panic like a horse scarred by fire. Suddenly a lightning strike lashed out from the body into Culo. Culo lurched back from the shock then froze like he was rooted to the spot. He turned as lightning tore into him again hitting him squarely in the chest. Slowly his arms raised as more and more energy was unleashed into him. Finally standing at his full height Culo screamed as loudly as his lungs would allow. The sound was deafening as thunderstrike touched down around them. Then, just as soon as it started, the noise and lightning vanished. The body fell to the ground with a thud and Culo dropped to his knees. Methos could not understand what he had seen. Culo slowly rose and smiled a large toothy smile. " I want more." All reason had left Methos at that morning. Deep animal escape instincts took over and Methos was running as fast as he possibly could. He ran down the hills ridge up a near by path. He ran into the woods by the sea and never looked back. He ran well after he could no longer feel Culo near him. He ran through bushes and undergrowth he ran until his heart felt like it would burst from his chest. He ran until his legs fell out from under him. He collapsed into a ditch by an old tree and began burying himself in the leaves collected there. Once covered he pulled his knees close to his chest and held them firmly. Tears rolled down his face until he could no longer see. His nose ran until he could no longer breath through it. After all of this time he understood. Mya didn't leave she died! He could die to! All of this time he thought he would live forever now he knew it was all a lie. He understood why people cried now as those they loved were buried in the earth. He understood the fear the carried of death from the hunts of from each other. He knew the fear of not knowing what lie beyond this life. What if there was nothing? "I don't want to die! I don't want to die!",he kept repeating to himself. All the time he thought it foolish to worship the gods or nature but now he was afraid of his fate. For days he lay there until hunger and thirst forced him from his leaf burrow. As he dug himself out he had realized how much he was thinking about himself and how little he thought of Mya. She was gone and he would never see her again. The thought was almost unbearable. What if there was something beyond this earth? What if the only way for them to be together again was for him to die? He didn't know. For the first time he could remember these questions bothered him and he vowed never to rest until found his answers. ============================================================================ =========================================================================