Date: Sun, 19 Mar 1995 21:33:00 +0200 Reply-To: Marina Bailey Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Marina Bailey Organization: CDS OnLine BBS, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA Subject: Prophecy Fulfilled, 1 of 3 I attempted to post this story when, unknown to me, the international link was down. I am informed that the story did NOT reach this list previously, so here it is. ****************************************************************** This is a pure, unadulterated wish-fulfillment story about Richie. You have been warned. :) It contains a very tame sex scene, a non-gory beheading and some discussion of reproductive functions. ****************************************************************** PROPHECY FULFILLED By Marina Bailey. The dojo was empty at this time of night, but Richie Ryan was still there. Not working out, mind you, but working. He had invoices to write and books to balance. What amazed him was, he was actually quite good at it. So that time he'd spent as an antique store clerk hadn't been wasted after all. He heard footsteps, and looked up to see who it was, since it wasn't Duncan. It was a woman - 23 or so, he guessed, with long red hair and a frightened expression on her face. Richie stepped out of the office. Probably someone looking for Duncan. The women were always looking for Duncan. "May I help you?" "I'm looking for Duncan MacLeod," she said. 'What a surprise,' thought Richie, but what he said was, "He isn't here at the moment, but you're welcome to wait. I'm Richie, by the way. I'm a friend of his." She nodded. "I'm Kathryn Warner. Will he be back tonight?" "Yeah, I think so. Can you tell me what the problem is, or are you two old friends?" "No, I... someone... told me about him. Said that he was the best chance to help me." "Help you?" "Yeah, with..." She smiled, sighed. "Well, maybe I'd better wait and talk to him." Richie felt another Immortal enter the dojo. "Now's your chance," he said, indicating. Kathryn turned, to find Duncan strolling in. "Hey, Mac." "Richie." "This woman was looking for you. She..." "I'm Kathryn Warner. Someone... a museum curator... told me about you." "You want me to help you with something?" "Yeah, if you are what he said you are." "And a museum curator told you about me? Which museum?" "Paris. Marcus Constantine." She looked at Richie. "Maybe we could talk in private?" This kind of problem had cropped up before, Duncan thought, assuming that this was another Jill trying to get away from an Immortal who loved her. But in that case, he'd need Richie, because he couldn't look after her all by himself. "It's okay," he said. "Richie knows." "Oh." Once they were seated in the dojo, Duncan asked Kathryn to explain, thinking he'd heard it all before. "Do you know the legend about the one woman who will 'preserve the Immortal seed'?" was the first thing she said. Richie looked at Duncan, puzzled; Duncan was looking at the woman, just as puzzled. "No, I don't believe I have." "I was told that only a few Immortals knew of it. It isn't something they tell each other." "What is it?" asked Richie, at the same time as Duncan, who asked, "How did you find out?" "An Immortal... Marcus Constantine? He told me about it when I ran away from England to escape Daniel Cole." Duncan had heard of Daniel Cole - a relatively old Immortal compared with himself - but he had never met him. The man apparently avoided other Immortals and concentrated on mortals - especially mortal women. "Why?" Duncan asked. "When I tell you the legend, you'll know. It's more a rumour than a legend. It tells of the time of the Gathering, when the Immortals will be forced to fight each other for the Prize." Duncan and Richie both nodded. "The Gathering is here," said Duncan. "But we don't know how long it will take - ten years, or a hundred. All we know is - " "There can be only one," she finished. "Yes." "This legend has been known among the old Immortals. Marcus told me. They don't tell the new ones." "Why not?" "Because... let me try again. During the time of the Gathering, a mortal woman will be born who will - " "Preserve the Immortal seed?" asked Richie. "Exactly. Marcus told me that means that this will be the only mortal woman - ever - who will be able to provide an Immortal with true immortality - children." Duncan stood up, laughed a harsh laugh. "That's a dream if I ever heard one. Immortals can't have children." "Except with this one woman born during the time of the Gathering," Kathryn said. "I'm assuming that you think it's you?" She shook her head. "Daniel Cole thinks it's me. He's been following me for four years now. I've changed my name, my hair colour, my accent, everything. He always finds me." Duncan and Richie looked at each other. Common sense told them both that it was nonsense. Surely Duncan, in 400 years, would have come across this particular rumour. But another part of them hoped... what if it was true? Duncan walked back and sat facing the woman. "I'll give Constantine a call. I'll try to find out everything I can about this, okay? You can stay here tonight." Kathryn sat up straight then. "I'm not her," she said. Duncan smiled. "I didn't think you were. But you'll be safer here." "Thank you." "So, Marcus, you're telling me that there is such a legend?" asked MacLeod. Marcus Constantine was still in Paris, and he had been the one to figure out why Cole was so interested in a young woman named Kathryn Warner. "That legend has been around longer than I have, MacLeod. But that's all it is - a legend. No one knows where it started." "Why haven't I heard this legend before?" "Probably because the Immortals who do know keep it to themselves, some of us because we think it's nonsense and want to protect the mortal women, and others because they want to get to the chosen woman first." "Why does Cole think Kathryn is the one?" "Something about the signs of her birth." "There're signs, too?" "Yes. 'She who will preserve the Immortal seed will be born in an underground carriage in a far-away land, during the time of the Gathering.' It goes on like that. It tells the time of year - mid-summer - and that there will be an eclipse when she is born." "Can you interpret this? Did Cole?" "I think you'd better ask Kathryn Warner where she was born." "Anything else?" "Look after her, MacLeod. Cole will do anything to get hold of her." "I will." Duncan replaced the phone and went back to the lounge area. "Where were you born?" Kathryn looked away, flushing. "It's an embarrassing story. I was born in a subway train in New York." "In summer? During an eclipse?" "Yeah. That's why my mother couldn't get to a hospital. The power to the subway went off at about the same time, and we were stuck." "And Cole interprets that as being the sign that you are the woman he's looking for?" "Yes. He... we... He found me... four years ago. Apparently he'd been looking for me since he read the newspaper article about my birth. At first, I was flattered by his attention. He bought me clothes, pampered me, courted me. It was old-fashioned and quaint. I thought he was the last of the romantics. He asked me to marry him." "Did you sleep with him?" Duncan asked bluntly. There was no other way to get this kind of information. "No. I know it's old-fashioned, but I'd only known him for two weeks. When he asked me to marry him, I agreed. But then he started... pushing me. He wanted to run off and elope, I wanted to do it properly, with my family present. Then he started saying we could marry later, but he wanted me now. Something... I dunno... something struck me as funny. I refused." "What happened then?" asked Richie. "Did he rape you?" "No. We were in his flat... apartment... in London. He... I think he was going to, but someone came in just then, and challenged him." "An Immortal?" Kathryn nodded. "Yeah. Daniel cut his head off, of course, and then he told me everything. Well, not quite. He told me about Immortals. By then I was frightened of him, and I left. He followed me, but it was only when went to Paris that I met Marcus, and he told me about the legend. He told me to come here, that you and, quote 'the people you knew' would be able to help me." Duncan put his hand on her arm. "I'll try." Duncan stood in Joe's bar, explaining the situation. "Do you know about this legend?" Dawson shook his head. "I don't think it's in any of our chronicles, but it would explain a lot of rapes in areas where older Immortals have been." "Constantine told me the legend is believed by a lot of older Immortals. And this girl certainly fits the signs." MacLeod paused, wanting to ask, not sure how to. "Dawson..." "You want to know if we can find out if it's true." "Yeah." "I have a friend who is a doctor... we could run some tests. Want me to call?" "Yes. But Joe - the results are destroyed afterwards. This doesn't go in any chronicle you have." Joe nodded. "Fair enough. The person I'm thinking of is a fertility specialist. She'll want... all sorts of samples... from you, Kathryn Warner, maybe even Richie. You're prepared to do this?" Duncan nodded. He'd always wondered what stopped Immortals from having children when they were like mortal men in every other way. "I'm prepared, Joe. Even if all we do with the results is prove to Cole the legend is untrue." "Okay." Joe's doctor friend, Lynne - who turned out to be a smashing blonde with a killer smile - explained the situation to the group. "Now, I have some donated eggs which I used for this test. I'll need some from you for the next stage, Ms. Warner. Now, you'll find this fascinating. I took a semen sample from Mister MacLeod, and here's the result." She beckoned them over to the microscope. Duncan stared. "What am I looking at? What are those sparks?" The doctor snorted. "You've got me." "The Quickening?" asked Joe. "Could be. Whatever it is, it's that which prevents fertilisation. The sperm can't get anywhere near the egg. The energy pushes it away, but only when the egg is present. It's very, very odd." "And that's why Immortals can't have children?" "That's my guess." "What about female Immortals?" "I'd guess that the Quickening, you said? The Quickening would work from the egg, too, thus preventing fertilisation from the other side." "But, why can't two Immortals have children?" asked Joe. "I'd guess that this is very specific energy we have here. The Quickening, you call it. It is unique to every Immortal. The two Quickenings would repel each other." "That's why it hurts to absorb someone else's Quickening..." mused Richie. "Excuse me?" asked the doctor. "Uh... never mind." Richie glanced at Duncan, who didn't look too pleased with that remark. "Well, anyway, that's my theory. I'd like to extract some eggs from you now, Ms. Warner. Though, tomorrow would probably be better. Give the medication a chance to complete its work." Duncan took Kathryn by the arm. "We'll be back tomorrow, then." "I can't believe this, Mac!" said Richie when they were back at the dojo. "The Quickening is what does it? Why can't people who haven't become Immortal yet have kids?" "You still have the Quickening, Richie. It just hasn't been enhanced... activated... whatever you wanna call it... yet. I knew what you were the night you broke into the store. I sensed it." "Oh, yeah." Richie would never forget that night as long as he lived. "Look, chill, your insurance will cover it. I'll pay for the window. It's over." And Duncan: "It's over when I cut off your head!" Then swordfights. Connor MacLeod. Seeing the Quickening for the first time. He'd been totally fascinated, and he still was. He wondered if he'd ever get over that fascination. He was in the Game now, but he was still shocked by it all. Why hadn't Duncan said anything? He wanted to ask, but he knew why. He would have gotten himself killed prematurely, and then probably been killed permanently in the Game. As he pondered this, Kathryn came out of the bathroom. "What do you think they'll find?" she asked Duncan. "I'm not sure," said Duncan. "I don't see why you would be any different to every other woman who's ever lived." "If I'm not, maybe we could convince Daniel that he's wrong." Duncan nodded, not really feeling positive. A lot of Immortals were obsessive and irrational. "We'll try." "This is amazing!" said the doctor. "Have a look at this!" Kathryn looked into the microscope. "What is it?" "It's *absorbing* the Quickening! I can't believe this!" Duncan had a look. "You're right. How is that possible?" The doctor laughed. "I don't know what the Quickening is, and you want to know how this is possible?" "Well, DOES this make Kathryn different?" "Yes. I would theorise that the absorbtion of the Quickening would make it possible for fertilisation to take place. It hasn't yet, but give it an hour or so..." "Not in a petri dish," said Kathryn. "Not with my bodily fluids," said Duncan. "Cole was right!" said Dawson. "Holy cow!" said Richie. Joe's bar was closed. MacLeod, Dawson, Richie and Kathryn sat round a table, stunned. "The legend's true. I can't believe it." That was Richie. "It may be true, but we won't find out unless Kathryn falls in love with another Immortal." Trust Duncan to be practical. Kathryn looked away. "If Daniel had found me... he... we..." "Yeah. You would've gone down in Immortal history." "Human history, too," said Joe. "What am I going to do? I can't let him find me. He scares me. I don't want to be seen as a... a breeder of some sort." She started to cry. "It's okay," said Duncan quietly. "Look, if Cole finds you, you go away again. I'll deal with him." Kathryn covered her face with her hands. "How did this happen?" "It must have something to do with the location of your birth, that's all I can think of." Joe was the sensible one as far as this went. Duncan laughed. "If Immortals themselves don't know where they came from or why they're Immortal, why would you? You were foretold in the legend, you were born. That's it. You probably wouldn't get any answers even if you looked for them." Just then, the phone rang. Joe went to answer it, but was right back. "Mac, it's for you." Duncan took the phone, but was back in half a minute. "That was Lou at the dojo. He said someone came looking for me." "Cole?" asked Richie. "Daniel?" asked Kathryn. "Tall, black hair, odd coloured eyes." "That's him. I have to get away from here, but I'm scared to go alone." "Richie." That was all Duncan had to say. The young Immortal knew immediately that he got the job. "Gotcha." He grabbed Kathryn's hand. "Come on." Cole banged open the door of the bar. Duncan was already standing, katana in hand. "I'm Daniel Cole," said the man. Dawson had disappeared into the back with the request, "Not in here, okay?" the minute Mac had sensed another Immortal. "I'm Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod." "Where is she?" "Who?" "Kathryn." "I don't know." Duncan put a typical 'You idiot, you'll never find her' tone to his voice. "I don't want to fight you. Tell me where she is, and we can stop this right here." "She doesn't want to be with you, and she doesn't want to participate in Immortal affairs. Leave her alone." "She has to participate! She was born to participate! I found her, so I get to be the one!" "What one?" "The Immortal who has descendants." Duncan knew it was true, but he had to lie to protect Kathryn. Not to mention Richie. "It's only a legend, Cole. A legend. There are a few which aren't true, you know." "And some are true." "Maybe. But she doesn't want you. And I won't help you get her." "So be it." Cole attacked, but when they crossed swords Duncan pushed him out the back door of the bar, into the alley. "All right. There can be only one," the highlander said. Cole nodded. "There can be only one." The fight was a short one, because Cole had spent most of his Immortal life looking for the woman in the legend. Duncan's fighting skills were far superior. He parried every sword thrust easily, and when Cole made a particularly reckless move, he took the opportunity and slashed him across the midriff. Cole sank to his knees. "I guess... I won't be getting either form of immortality," he said. "It was your choice," replied Duncan, raising his sword... Only to hear voices at the end of the alley. Two people had walked into the alley, having an argument. They looked at the goings-on, and one of them screamed. Duncan lowered the sword. "Next time." "I'll find her, MacLeod." "You can try." - Marina. \\ "I don't care about their different thoughts; ||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> // // different thoughts are good for me." || R I C H I E >> \\ \\ - Tanita Tikaram; Twist in my Sobriety ||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> // //======tmar@cds.Alt.ZA=======Marina Bailey======|| \\ \\=============Chief Flag Waver and Defender of Richie==============// ... YKYSW: you fail to operate a lighter because it's upside-down. --- Blue Wave/RA v2.12 [NR] =========================================================================