========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 18:31:32 -0800 Reply-To: Rachel Smith Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Rachel Smith Subject: Beginnings 1/1 (VERY REVISED REPOST) Richie Ryan and Mike the Bartender aren't my own. The characters of Hannah and Kayla Chamberlain and Maxwell Pierce are. WARNING: Profanity Okay, I posted this way back when in October or November, I can't remember. Since then I've been going back over it and taking out all the icky parts and adding some stuff. I know I reposted the second part already, but this is both parts in one after the revisions and I'd really, really, really appreciate some comments or constructive critism. I promise I won't repost it again and there won't be another sequel and all that kind of stuff. Anyway, on with the show! * * * * * * * * Please note: this takes place between the third and fourth seasons of Highlander, so it kind of disregards anything beyond Finale 2. * * * * * * * * Beginnings by Rachel Smith Kayla Chamberlin looked out the window. It wasn't looking very good. It wasn't looking very pleasant. It was all around a yucky day. She sighed. Nope, it wasn't very nice out. This was not how she envisioned spending her Saturday. She was about to look depressingly toward something. Anything. Anything to get her mind off the complete lack of anything interesting within miles of her when she heard a musical voice from the kitchen. "We're outta milk. Could you run to the store and get some, please?" Kayla eyed the gloomy weather outside. Incredulous, she murmured, "In *that* weather?!" She added a few choice expletives to the end of her remark, but not loud enough for her mother to hear. She replied louder, "OK," with a sigh. On the way out the door she grabbed her key and some money. She crossed the street and ran in the direction of the store. No sense in getting more wet then she absolutely had to. She came to a really busy street. She stood under a tree to avoid getting wet until the street *finally* looked safe to cross. She glanced to the left quickly before sprinting toward the other side. Unfortunately she didn't see the car speeding at her on the right. BOOM! ****** "Ohhhhhhh....." Kayla heard a low moaning sound. "Ohhh..." There it was again. After a few minutes she realized *she* was making the sound. Freezing cold and disoriented she mumbled, "I don' wanna geddup, yet. Jus' a few more minutes please." She closed her eyes and tried to fall back asleep, but it was much too cold. It was so dark. She reached over to the left to turn on the light, but to her surprise, all she felt was cloth, like a sheet , and outside of that, hardness. She felt like she was in a long box. After a lot of thinking she finally remembered running to the store, but not quite getting there. She saw a car coming. Too late. She came to the conclusion that she must be in a coffin, which did not bode well for her future. For one insane second, she thought calmly *These are the things Movies of the Week are made of.* She almost screamed, but she calmed down enough to realize she was naked. People don't get buried without clothes. ****** Meanwhile, Dr Anne Lindsey was wracking her brain trying to remember where she had seen the latest arrival before. The poor girl didn't have a chance. She got hit by a speeding car on a slick road. Dr Lindsey tried to save her but... She went down to the cafeteria to eat dinner pondering the mystery girl. Right in the middle of eating her salad it hit her. When she was in Paris, Duncan had pointed her out as someone who would be an Immortal. Then how did she get here in Seacouver? Anne wondered. She must have been vacationing. Anne raced to the morgue. The girl must be scared out of her mind! It would be a terrible feeling to wake up in the morgue. ****** Kayla was so annoyed. It was dark. She was cold. She didn't know where she was, and she was scared. She moaned loudly in frustration. ****** Anne looked frantically through the many body drawers in the morgue. She opened and shut some of them quickly searching for the girl. Finally she heard a loud moan coming from a drawer. She rushed over and opened it. She pulled back the sheet and.... "AHHHH---!" The girls scream was cut short as Anne clamped her hand down on the girls mouth. "Shhhhhhhhhh" Kayla looked around in shock. A *vaguely* familiar face stared at her. She gave Kayla an ugly green smock and motioned for her to put it on. She did so, feeling somewhat self-concious despite her fear and confusion. The woman grabbed Kayla and dragged her out of the building and to a car. Kayla looked at the building and nearly fainted. It was a hospital. Now she knew where she had been sleeping. Confused and terrified Kayla started babbling. "Where are you taking me? Where are my clothes? Where am I? That was the morgue, wasn't it? I was in the morgue! But I'm not dead! I'm *not* dead!" she exclaimed almost stubbornly. Anne shushed the girl again, practically *throwing* her in the car. A remarkable feat from such a delicate woman. She got in the car as well, and started driving to her house. "I suppose you have some questions but I'm not really qualified to answer them. I'm Anne." "Kayla. Where are you taking me?" "I'm taking you to my house. I'll try to explain, when we get there, but I can't really." They spent the rest of the ride in silence. Finally they got there. Kayla took a seat on the sofa, still feeling uncomfortable in a loose, patient's dress. Suspicious, she said only, "Explain." "Wait a sec! I told you already I can't. I'll call somebody who might help." Anne searched her memory. She couldn't recall what she had to punch in to call Paris. It was too frustrating. Finally it came to her and she dialed Duncan MacLeod in Paris. After five rings he picked up. A groggy voice answered, "MacLeod." "Duncan." "Anne?" "Yes. Its me. Uhhhhh, look. Do you remember that girl in Paris who you said would be like you?" "Anne, its three in the morning!" Anne looked disparagingly at the phone. She'd forgotten about the time difference. Whoops. But Duncan wasn't concentrating on the important stuff. "Do you remember her?" she asked again. "Yes." "Well, she died." "Do you mean she *died* died? Or she just died temporarily?" "Temporarily." "Are you sure? She could have got hurt really badly, and recovered unusually quickly. "No Duncan. She was in the *morgue*!" "Oh. OK. So what do you want me to do about it?" "I don't know! She is scared and confused and I don't know what to tell her." "All right, all right. Call Richie. He can try explaining Immortality for once. And call Joe. He'll want to hear about it." "Joe? What does Joe have to do with anything? He's not one of you is he?" Anne had thought Joe might be an Immortal since he helped her understand about Duncan. "Who Joe? No of course not, but he'll want to hear about it. Trust me. I can't tell you any more." "You can't tell me any more," she repeated almost disbelievingly. Just when she'd thought she'd heard it all. "Where have I heard that one before?" Duncan didn't say anything. "Ok. Thank you." "No problem." Anne went back into the living room with some clothes. "Here put these on. They'll probably be a little big on you." She paused. "Would you like something to eat or drink?" "No I'm OK." "Ummm, some people are coming over. They'll explain everything. Anne went and got the phone. She called Richie. He said he'd be right over. Then she called Joe. "Joe's." "Hi, Joe? This is Anne." "Hi Anne. What's up?" "I think you should come over because, believe it or not I've got a brand new Immortal sitting in my living room, and I don't know what to do with her. I called Duncan and he said to call you. Would you mind telling me why he said to call you?" "I suppose you have a right to know. It's not like it's a secret." Then he reconsidered. "Well, actually it *is* a secret, but I'll tell you anyway. When I get to your house." "This business gets weirder and weirder." She stopped. She sighed. "OK. If you're not going to tell me on the phone..." "Goodbye, Anne." "'Bye." Joe Dawson left the bar in the capable hands of Mike the bartender as he left for Anne's house. He brought his camera along. He thought about what Anne said. "I've got a brand new Immortal sitting in my living room and I don't know what to do with her." Her. There weren't very many living female Immortals. Felicia, Amanda, Michelle, Cierdwen, Annie. There couldn't be many more. Joe was also thinking of asking Anne to become a Watcher. She fit the criteria: she knew about immortals and she wasn't squeamish besides many other redeeming qualities. ****** Richie Ryan arrived at Anne Lindsey's house with not much of an idea of what was going on. Anne said to hurry over to her house. He had nothing better to do, so he said he'd be right over. Just before he got to the house he felt the Buzz coming from inside. Curious and a little wary, he got his sword ready and knocked on the door. Anne answered the door, and invited him in. Richie noticed the Buzz was coming from a girl sitting on the couch. She couldn't be very old. 15 or 16. "This is Kayla," Anne explained. "She, uhhh, died tonight." "Oh. I understand." Kayla turned pale. "What are you talking about?! I'm not dead!" She felt her pulse and breathed a mental sigh of relief. Still beating. "I'm alive." "Richie, I think you better explain." said Anne. "Ok. Kayla," he began. He was a little flustered. It had never come upon him to have to explain this sort of thing. He decided to just come out and say it. "You and I are Immortal." There. He was satisfied with that. He was glad he got it out. Kayla was looking at him skeptically, and a little expectantly. He stayed silent for a moment when it came to him. She was waiting for him to finish. Oh. So he continued, "Well, not exactly Immortal, but you will never get older. If you are injured then you will heal in a short amount of time, depending on how badly you were injured, and the part of your body that was hurt. The only way you will die is if somebody decapitates you." He let out a rush of breath. It wasn't that hard. Kayla got even paler, but said, "You mean to tell me the only way I'll die is if somebody cuts my head off? Am I supposed to believe that?" Richie answered, "I'll demonstrate. Anne, can you go get me a knife?" Anne nodded. "Thanks." Richie winced and shut his eyes as he slit his wrist open. Though she knew he would heal in a matter of minutes, her doctoring instinct was kicking in overtime. She would have done something had she not heard the knock on the door. With monumental self control, she left Richie and went to answer it. While Anne was out of the room, Kayla watched Richie in amazement. His wrist bled for a full 10 seconds, when there was a flash of blue light, and the cut was gone. "No scar," he said. "But how....?" Kayla's voice trailed off as a tall middle-aged man walked in the room. He carried a cane and had a limp. Joe saw that he had interrupted something. "Oh don't mind me," he said. He flashed Richie a look. "I'm just here to *Watch*." Kayla got downright scared after that. "Ok. I believe you now." Richie looked uncomfortable. "There's a couple more things I haven't told you about." Kayla did *not* like the sound of that. She fixed him with a dark look. "What?" "Did you notice before I came in you felt weird? Like you were tingling and your ears were buzzing? Sort of like when you are sitting and you stand up too fast, only more intense." "Yeah," she replied slowly. "Its called the Buzz. All Immortals feel it. You feel it...." "What do you mean `all Immortals'?" she interrupted. "There are more of us???" "Many more. Anyway, you feel that so you can, uhhh, get your sword and be ready to, ummm, fight." "Fight? Sword?" Kayla was quick, and she didn't like the direction that the conversation was taking. She shuddered at the thought even as she said: "You mean so I can be ready to cut off somebody's head, or have mine cut off." "Yeah," said Richie, not noticing her disgust. He'd become so accustomed to such things that it never occured to him they might not be so usual to somebody else. "And the very last Immortal alive wins the Prize. No one really knows what that is. Supposedly, the winner can rule the Earth because of the power that comes with the Prize. You're safe on Holy Ground. Like a church, a temple, a shrine, cemetery, or anything that is holy to somebody. There are some other rules of the Game, but you have a while to learn all of them." It was getting easier and easier describing that kind this kind of stuff. Richie smiled. It was almost kind of fun. "It's called the Game? My *life* is a game? Boy, does that make me feel good. My life is a game, with rules and everything. And I don't know how to fence. I can't live in a church forever." Kayla started to spaz. She didn't know how much longer she could hold down her stomach. Things weren't looking up. "Don't worry about it. You can live on Holy Ground with another one of us who will teach you how to fight," Richie concluded. "I think Joe would probably like to ask a few questions." "Can it wait?" Kayla snapped, finally losing her weak grip on normalcy. It was all she could do to keep from screaming hysterically or fainting or throwing up or something equally embarrassing. "You've just hit me with a big shocker! I need to think about this. Come back some other time!" "Look," Anne cut in. "I'm sure you're tired and would like to get some shuteye. Why don't you go upstairs, pick a bedroom and go to sleep. You will think better after a good nights rest." Kayla nodded resignedly. Her moment of freaking out had passed as quickly as it started. She trudged up the steps to check out the rooms. Soon after Kayla went to sleep, Richie left, but Joe stayed. He explained about the Watcher group and asked if Anne would be interested. "It sounds great, but I am a doctor, and I can't be expected to follow an Immortal around all day." "You wouldn't have to," Joe responded. "It's just something you could keep in mind. Many of our people aren't even in the field. One young Watcher has been researching a mythical 5000 year old immortal for almost 10 years. There are various situations where you could help out especially since you work in a hospital." "Sounds easy enough. I think I'd like to." She smiled. "It'll be thrilling. You know a secret society and all." "There's just one thing." He showed her his wrist. "All Watchers have a tattoo like this. You'd have to get one too. Also, if you want you could also be a temp Watcher for when Immortals move here, but before they get permanent Watchers." "That's reasonable I guess." She made up her mind. "I'll do it." ****** Kayla lay in bed awake for a long time. She thought about what Richie told her. She was only fifteen. She wasn't ready for this. She couldn't just start *learning* to kill people. Of course, she thought sardonically, she'd have a few centuries to figure it out. She didn't have to learn it overnight. On the other hand, her whole life (she hoped) wouldn't be all kill or be killed. She could travel the world and see things that normal people couldn't see because they didn't have the time. She should enjoy what her long years could enable her to do. Kayla started getting tired, and finally drifted off to sleep, thinking of swordfights and such. ****** The next day was Sunday. Anne went to the tattoo parlor. When she got there and saw big men covered in elaborate tattoos, she began to have second thoughts. She stepped outside to a pay phone, and called Joe. He reassured her, that if he could get a tattoo, then so could she. She took a deep breath and walked in. She went straight to the "manager"-if you could call him that- and showed him a picture of what she wanted. He assured her he could do it, and it wouldn't hurt all too much. She closed her eyes, and gritted her teeth. Soon it was over, and Anne was a Watcher. Meanwhile, Kayla was stuck at Anne's house debating on whether or not to call her mother. Someone was probably out searching for her already. They would think she ran away if she called. How could she explain that she died? And then, in a couple more years, how could she explain why she wasn't getting any older. No, she finally decided. She should not call her mother. Kayla turned on the TV, but nothing was on. She flipped the channels for about two hours. She felt something akin to the boredom she'd felt before this whole adventure had begun. Kayla sat on the couch for a while. Suddenly she stood up. She had a familiar head rush, but then she felt IT. It was like when Richie came. What did he call it? The Buzz? She didn't care if it was him or not. She certainly did not want to get her head chopped off! She left through the back door, and did not stop running until Seacouver United Baptist Church came into view. She rushed inside and sat down at a pew. Much to her dismay, she felt the Buzz again. A man walked in the door, looked at her and sat down next to her. The Buzz seemed to be emanating from him. Kayla was nearly trembling in fear, but she didn't move because she knew she was safe where she was. The man gave a completely unkind smile. "Hey sweet thang," he drawled. "How'd you like to step outside for a moment? You can't hole up in this church forever." That made her mad. `Sweet thang'? "Is that a challenge, sweet thang?" she mimicked his southern inflection disdainfully, despite her fear. "No, darlin'," this guy was shameless. "I just can't see your pretty face in this darkness. I just wanna take a better look at you." Kayla bit her tongue. Her temper was trying to come out, but she held it in. She knew the guy had a sword. It was probably a very *sharp* sword. It was probably used for cutting off heads. It was probably going to cut off *her* head if she didn't shut her mouth. She almost went outside, but instead went to another pew. There was no way in hell she could outrun him, and she didn't want to see how good she was at swordfighting just yet. ****** Anne went directly to Joe's bar after getting her tattoo. She went up to the bar. "Where's Joe?" she asked the bartender. He nodded her toward the back room. She went back to see him. Joe was at a desk mucking about with important-looking papers. She stuck her wrist out for him to see. "Cool, huh?" she asked. "Very nice. Where did you get it done?" "Ummm, I don't remember. It was called something like `Wild Snake's Tattoos and Body Piercing.'" Joe looked shocked and amused. "It is called Wild Cobra's. And you went *there*? Some of the Immortals my guys Watch are afraid to go there! Most Watchers get it done by someone more mellow." Anne cringed. "Well its done now so don't worry about it. I'm going to go check up on Kayla." She started to leave. "Wait," said Joe. "Speaking of Kayla. What are you going to do with her? You can't keep her here. Especially since her family is here. Besides that, she is an Immortal. She has to learn to fight. And you, a pregnant mortal who can't fence, are hardly the best teacher." "I haven't really thought of that. I suppose I could send her to live with Duncan." "You could, but female Immortals usually have female teachers. You might consider asking Duncan about Amanda, or Cierdwen. They are both strong female Immortals. Of course, both of them are in Paris. I think. And Amanda has a student already. Call MacLeod and ask him tonight." "Thats a good idea. I think I will." She was afraid to think about her next phone bill. ****** The standoff continued in the church. The man sat on one side of the church, and Kayla sat on the other side. He attempted a little small talk to induce her to leave holy ground, introducing himself as Maxwell Pierce, but when all he got in return was a stony glare, he gave it up. Anyone else who came in to the church, seemed to feel the tension, and left quickly. Kayla was scared to leave even though she knew Pierce could scarcely behead her in public. He would get her anyway. Somehow. Paranoia just seemed to suit her at the moment and she was content to be still in her pew and try to hold down her rebellious stomach. ****** Anne Lindsey went back to her house with her brand new tattoo. She unlocked the door and went inside. Kayla was not in the living room, so Anne decided to check upstairs to make sure she was all right. She was not in the bedrooms or the bathroom, and Anne started to get panicky. She picked up the phone to call the police when she realized the police were probably already looking for her. Her mother had probably called them when Kayla had left and didn't come back. Gee. Thats helpful. She couldn't call the police. Instead she called Richie. Maybe he picked her up to teach her some stuff or something. Of course, there was no answer. What a time for him to be out. Anne didn't know what to do next. She called Joe's. Yesssss. Somebody picked up. "Joe's." Nooooo. It was Mike the bartender. "Is Joe there?" Anne inquired hopefully. "Naaaa, sorry. He left early for the evening. Is there something I can do for you?" "Thanks anyway. 'Bye." She hung up. Anne tried to calm down and think rationally. "If I were her, where would I go?" she asked herself. "Her house?" but Anne didn't know where Kayla's house was. "A friends house?" Friends? Anne hardly knew *Kayla* much less her life story. She thought about what Richie said only the night before. The night before. To Anne it seemed like a lifetime. In one night she became a Watcher. In one night, she found an Immortal. Of course, now the Immortal was lost, so Anne knew she better haul-ass over the city until she found her. ****** "I've been watching you for a long time." Kayla thought about the eyes she always thought she saw in dark alley ways walking home from school. Never at home though. She always felt safe at home. Maybe she hadn't just been paranoid. Maybe she didn't imagine things. This crazy Immortal has been following her for years. Ha! If only her shrink could be here now. Overactive imagination my ass! Kayla thought. When Kayla didn't answer, Pierce continued, "Don't you even care? When I tell other people this they usually bitch and rave about privacy or faint or something. Why are you just sitting there?' "Do you do this a lot?" she asked. He didn't respond. She didn't think it was worth it to ask again. Kayla sighed and looked around the church. She couldn't fall asleep, obviously, so she decided to look around. Sure, HE would probably follow, but who cares anyway. He'd been doing it for years. What's one more time? Her mood was swinging double-time, like PMS on a bad day. She couldn't seem to decide between paranoia, plain old fear, boredom, and a rather comical state of mind. She was almost confused with herself. Up by the front of the church was a stage with two pulpits and an area for the choir. An organ was to the extreme left, by a door. Kayla went up to the door, opened it, but did not cross the threshold, because she didn't know if the Sunday School part of the church constituted Holy Ground. Of course, Pierce probably did not know as well and would not take his chances killing her there. On the other hand, she did not want to take any chances either. In the back of the church was two coat rooms and restrooms. She could go to the bathroom, and leave through the window, but she didn't know if she wanted to leave. She sighed loudly. Pierce looked at her (again). She sat back down in her pew. It was going to be a long night. ****** Anne was methodically searching the neighborhood. It wasn't very easy considering she didn't have a picture of Kayla. Finally someone remembered her. She walked in the direction the woman steered her in. Her church was near here, Anne thought absently. The idea hit her almost like a physical blow. Of *course!* The church. It was holy ground. Kayla would go there. Anne crossed her fingers just in case. Right turn, straight, left turn. The church should be right around the corner. Anne moaned in despair. It wasn't. Please God, she thought, I promise I'd go church more, if I knew where it was. She asked the next guy she saw on the street. It was only a block down. She nearly started to sob in relief. Anne turned the corner. Ahhhh. There it was. She rushed inside. A familiar head poked above the seats. Kayla was glaring at a man in the other isle of pews. "Kayla?" "Anne!" Kayla wasn't so worried anymore. Anne would think of some way to get out of this. And she wasn't Immortal, so she could leave. You could *feel* the tension disintegrate. In fact, things were almost beginning to take on a comical view. Anne went over to Kayla. They started whispering. "What is going on? Why didn't you stay at my house?" "See that guy over there?" Anne nodded. "He was following me. He is Immortal, so I ran all the way here, 'cause I knew I'd be safe." "That was smart." "Yeah. His name is Maxwell Pierce. He said he has been following me since I was little." "Wow. That's scary!" "I always thought I was paranoid or screwy or something. This actually takes a load off my mind. How many people who could swear they were being followed, but then find out that they really *were* being followed?" "Do you think he will kill you if you leave?" "I think so. I don't know. He didn't say it in so many words. In fact, he didn't say it in any words. But he was acting creepy and he isn't leaving, so I'm just gonna stay here til he leaves." "Thats a g--" Anne stopped as Kayla flinched "What?" Anne was concerned. "I think," she stopped for a second. "Yeah. There is another one here." "Another one?" Anne had a blank look on her face. "You don't mean another Immortal, do you?" "Yes, I do." Pierce looked up at the door. He unsheathed his sword, and walked out. Kayla got up as well. She said a little prayer, (Well, she *was* in a church!) and she walked to the door behind Pierce. Without leaving the building, Kayla looked out the door. MUCH to her surprise, she saw the Buzz was coming from... her mother? No way! Was it possible? Was it hereditary? Who the hell cares?! "MOM!!!" "Kayla??" Hannah's face brightened almost to the point of sunshine. "Mom! HELP!" Pierce could do nothing to Kayla because she was on Holy Ground. He was arrogant and thought for sure he could beat some *female*. He followed Kayla's mom into the alley behind the church. Kayla looked helplessly from the window. "On guard." Hannah's face darkened almost immediately. How dare he hurt her baby like that? Well, he was going to pay. Thrust. Kick. Parry. Riposte. Pierce was stronger, but he count on his opponent's quickness and agility. Soon the fight was complete, and the quickening began. Kayla was dangerously close to losing whatever she'd eaten during the day. It was bad enough, her stomach churning out of nervousness, but a headless body was just plain gross. She forced her eyes back into their sockets and shut her mouth before she'd start to drool. It was especially difficult during the quickening, while the headless body in question began to spew forth sparks and lightening. To Hannah, the quickening seemed longer then the actual fight. But what a rush! And her baby girl was back. What a great day. Finish ****** Be sure and tell me what you think! (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!) --Rachel janier@ix.netcom.com