========================================================================= Date: Sat, 9 Mar 1996 01:08:54 -0800 Reply-To: Selma McCrory Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Selma McCrory Subject: With Human Blood, 3/6 X-To: tpfict@xmission.com Thank you to those additional folk who let me know that someone was actually reading this. I guess I don't have to privately loop to three people, after all... Next part will be posted Monday or Tuesday, depending on circumstance. Back parts can be retrieved through either my page or the TPFICT archives (see part 0 for addresses) comments to smccrory@calweb.com . ------------------------------- With Human Blood and Human Tears by Selma McCrory copyright 1996 part 3 Lisa watched as Greer got up and opened the door. "Adam, what are you doing here? And why are you using the ?" "I didn't have any choice." "You know that you're welcome to pop in anytime. You don't have to use the door." "This time, I did." Whatever Adam was going to add, he stopped when he saw Lisa. A big smile broke out on his face and he went over to hug Lisa. "Lisa! What are you doing here? I haven't seen you for ages!" "Well, I was in the area, and Greer invited me in," Lisa said hesitantly. "She hasn't gone to see anyone yet, she just got here, but I'm glad she decided to visit." "She needs to do that more often," he replied. "Well, I bet Megabyte would like to see her," Greer replied jovially. "But we were just catching up, comparing notes, that sort of thing." Adam nodded. "I'm certainly lucky to drop in at this time." Greer replied, "Well, I'm happy to be hosting this impromptu get-together here. Should I call the others? Ring them, I mean." "I'll call them," Lisa replied. She looked at Adam expectantly. "Or you can, if you want." "Go ahead," Adam said. Lisa frowned; Adam would normally be the one to call, since he knew everyone. But she relented, figuring that she could use the practice anyway. *Hey, everyone! This is Lisa. We seem to have a get-together at Greer's place.* She got some questioning inquiries back from two people she was familiar with. Kevin answered with a startled, *Lisa!*, while Megabyte answered with a *where have you been?* *I've been busy. Pop by and see what's up.* Obviously, it didn't take more than that. Megabyte popped in almost instantly, followed by Kevin. Two other girls popped in a few minutes later, prompting Greer to speak up. "You're supposed to be on vacation. You didn't have to come all the way back to England." "Mum is asleep. I was going to bed but I heard the call." Adam shook off his lethargy and jumped up, interposing himself between Lisa and the two newcomers. "This is Ami," he said, indicating the young woman who had just spoken. "And this is Jade. This is Lisa, she's one of us." *Are you the one that Megabyte is continually grumbling about?* Jade asked her quietly. *Probably.* "Who doesn't hang around her kind very much," Greer said from nearby. "We noticed," Megabyte said. Greer raised her eyebrows. "Just because enjoy your powers doesn't mean everyone has to," she said. "Greer's right," Adam interjected. "If Lisa wants to ignore her powers, she's got every right." Megabyte glared at Adam. Lisa watched as the entire room tensed. Then suddenly, a noise broke the silence. Michael came in, looking surprised. "A party that I wasn't invited to?" "An impromptu one, may I say," Greer said thoughtfully. "Lisa came over from the States and I thought we needed a get-together." "Well, let me get some music," Michael said, apparently oblivious to the tension in the room. "I'll get some of my tapes," Jade volunteered, and vanished. "I really need to go," Ami said. "It was pleasant meeting you, Lisa." Lisa smiled. Just before Ami popped out, she heard, *Behave yourself, Megabyte.* *Thanks a lot, Ami. Adam? Are you going to tell me what to do, too? Adam?* *If he doesn't want to respond, he won't respond,* Kevin said, joining the conversation. *Now everyone's ganging up against me. Adam? Where are you?* Greer looked around and cleared her throat. "Out loud, *please* folks? Some of us aren't telepaths, you know." Megabyte grumbled something unintelligible. "Here we are," Jade said, popping back in. "A bit of music." Michael took a look at the tapes. "Van Halen, Deep Blue Something, Byron Lucifer, Hootie and the Blowfish, Ace of Base..." Greer groaned. "I I could stand most of those." "Well, I'm kind of in the mood for some Byron Lucifer," Megabyte said. "Who's Byron Lucifer?" Lisa asked. "He's a singer who Megabyte and Jade are quite fond of," Adam replied. "I'd heard the stage blew up before the concert," Greer said. "Well, somewhat," Megabyte said. "I take it that was part of your last adventure? Well, in that case, I think I can quite tolerate some of his music." * * * The party was over. Or at least, most everyone had left. Michael was writing, Greer was sitting in a chair, Lisa had spread out her sleeping bag, and Adam was making the couch ready so that he could sleep on it later that night. Greer had been quite surprised to find out that Adam had wanted to sleep in London. He'd offered the use of his tent to Lisa, but she'd preferred to stay as well. Megabyte's sister was having a sleepover at their house with many of her friends, so there was no room for Adam. So, he was sleeping at Greer's flat tonight. Well, she mused, at least she would have some time to chat with him and try to find a suggestion on how to deal with his problem. Some of Jade's tapes still remained, and Michael had left the Ace of Base album on. It was less annoying than she thought it was, and besides, the volume was down low enough that she barely noticed it. "Are you okay?" she asked. Adam glanced up. "Hmm?" "Are you okay?" she repeated. "I think so," he said. Greer looked up and met Lisa's eyes. Lisa was stared hesitantly at Adam, clearly torn between asking and staying silent. "Lisa, could you run into the kitchen and work with the coffeemaker? It doesn't like me very much." "Well, it doesn't like me that much either, but I'll try," Lisa said. "Coffee or Tea?" "Tea for me, if you can manage it. Adam?" "Tea for me, also." "'Kay, two teas, one coffee." "Decaf, unless you want to be up half the night...and jet lag is bad enough as it is. By the way, you can ask Michael too." "Will do." After Lisa had left, Greer said, "Knowing our coffeemaker, it'll take her a while to make anything. I swear the thing only likes Michael." Adam managed a small smile. "So, why did you send Lisa so surreptitiously out of the room?" Greer stared down at the floor and gave him an embarrassed grin. "That obvious, eh? I got the idea that you wanted to talk to me." Adam sighed, and blinked. He moved his hands around, gripping the arms of the chair, and looking everyplace but straight at Greer. "I don't know how to phrase this..." Greer smiled, and folded her hands in her lap. "Well, try your best. I know some things are difficult to explain, so I'll just sit around until you can." Adam tapped his fingers together. Then he got up and paced around the room, trying to speak, opening his mouth and then closing it again. Greer waited patiently while he tried to get himself together. "Well," the young man finally said, blushing. "I seem to have lost my abilities." "That's impossible!" "So's me killing. But I managed fine." "You think it could be cosmic justice that you don't have your powers anymore?" "Could be." "So you can't teleport." "No. And I can't hear anyone. I'm as mindblind as you are." "This is impossible. This really is impossible." "Impossible or not, I'm not going 'home' tonight." "Wonderful. I take it you haven't told anyone but me about this?" "Nope. I don't know what to say to them." Greer sighed. One problem on top of the other. It made her wish she was observing a nice, simple beheading. Why were all of her problems lately labeled 'Adam'? "You'll have to tell them sometime. Especially since you're the leader." "Megabyte could handle that. Or Ami. Or Lisa, for that matter." "They could, I suppose, but everyone's used to you. Maybe Ami would do well, but I don't think Megabyte would. And Lisa would be most unhappy about it." "Lisa could handle it," Adam said, craning his head in Greer's direction. Greer nodded. "Possibly. She certainly picked a good time to visit didn't she?" Adam nodded. "It was a good time. If my loss is truly permanent, she'd be the next oldest." Greer sighed, turning the tape over in the player. "Well, where were we? You lost your powers, and are working on a successor without telling anyone that you've lost your powers. And how are you getting home without teleporting, by the way." "It's called an airplane, you know. We get air service in Australia," Adam said somewhat sarcastically. "But yes, I'll tell Lisa later on this evening. If she's still awake." "If she has that coffee, she certainly will be." "It occurred to me that all of you should have continual cases of jetlag, considering you go all over the place. How do you manage?" "We manage." Greer sighed. "Well, since you're a captive audience here, why don't I tell you a little problem I've been considering..." * * * "His name is Adam?" Adam said. He looked at the immortal, who for some reason was flushing. He gave her a comforting hug. "Probably not his real one. And we've got to get him out of the Watchers *fast*, before he causes any more damage!" "Why? You're an ex-Watcher..." "'Scuse me, you folks may work on the principle of 'be fruitful and multiply,' but we work on the principle of 'be fruitful and behead.' With the information he possibly has access to, he could surprise anyone he wants, know all their weaknesses, and so on! That's why I don't want access, just because I'd be tempted to do just that." Selma McCrory "Maybe what this world needs smccrory@calweb.com are more Selmas." selmamc@aol.com -Darien Lambert, Time Trax