DCH 37
Defenders Chronicles: Highlander
By AmandaDoE
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Star-Crossed
Duncan entered the airport as he made it to Paris without incident. He knew it was only a matter of time before Kalas would show his face, and he would have to face him. He stepped towards the escalator and descended down.
Suddenly, he sensed the Buzz. Was Kalas here so soon?
Duncan looked around and saw Fitzcairn on the escalator behind him, smoking his pipe.
"Now there's a sight for sore eyes," Fitz declared.
"Fitzcairn!" Duncan greeted his friend as they shook hands, "It's good to see you."
"The Alpha's over here," Fitz replied, "Just had it tuned."
"I was afraid of that," Duncan said.
"So, what brings you to Paris?" Fitz asked.
"Change of scenery," Duncan answered.
"Come on. You've seen the sights," Fitz replied as they made it down the escalator and walked towards Fitz's Alpha Romeo, "What happened?"
"I died." Duncan stated as the two men made it to the destined vehicle.
"Yeah, been there, done that," Fitz replied, "It's never fun."
Fitz opened the trunk of his Alpha Romeo, and Duncan put his bag inside.
"It's not like it never happened before," Fitz stated before he asked, "What happened?"
"A friend saw me die," Duncan answered.
"Oh. A woman, I take it," Fitz replied, "That's a good enough reason, right?"
"Right," Duncan nodded before he and Fitz got in the Alpha Romeo, and Fitz drove away.
"Takes a bit longer on the, uh, on the back roads," Fitz said as he was weaving in and out of traffic on the 2 – lane road, narrowly missing oncoming cars, "but you get to look around."
Duncan looked on as Fitz passed another car, and they managed to talk in spite of Fitz driving insanely.
"Great having you back, Mac," Fitz told his friend, "We can really paint the town."
"Yeah, just like old times," Duncan replied.
"Just about."
"You never stay in one place too long," Duncan stated before he asked, "What keeps you here?"
"Paris?" Fitz answered, "Well, good history, good resturants..."
"What's her name?" Duncan asked as he could tell there was a woman in his friend's life.
"Naomi. Naomi Camdessus," Fitz answered, "It shows that much, huh?"
"Well, after three hundred and fifty years, Fitz, you're an open book," Duncan declared.
"She's wonderful," Fitz gushed, "Beautiful, intelligent, a work of art."
"Sounds like she should be in a museum," Duncan replied before he grabbed onto the door and braced himself as Fitz passed another vehicle and almost hit an oncoming car.
"I met her at Le Cordon Bleu," Fitz said, not bothered by his own driving at all.
"You're learning to cook?" Duncan asked.
"Don't be so silly," Fitz answered before he laughed and said, "No, I teach. I'm also writing a cookbook."
Duncan laughed in response.
"What's so funny?" Fitz asked, "Come on."
"You writing a cookbook," Duncan replied, "I remember when you couldn't read or write."
"Well, neither could you," Fitz interjected before a car zoomed up behind them and honked, "I was always a slow learner."
"Yeah, but you were two hundred years old."
"What the..." Fitz stated as a car sped up behind them and bumped into them. The car pulled up alongside them and waved to hit the side of Fitz's car, trying to run him off the road.
"Is he a friend of yours?" Fitz asked.
Duncan looked on as the two cars continued playing bumper – cars, until Fitz's car flipped over and skidded to a stop upside.
"Oh, dear," Fitz groaned.
"Fitzcairn," Duncan stated.
"Welcome to Paris, MacLeod," Fitz told his friend.
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Duncan looked on as he and Fitz were able to take a taxi to the barge. With the exception of the car trouble that just happened, he felt as if everything was going as planned.
"So the guy was a lousy driver," Fitz said as the taxi pulled to a stop.
"Lousy driver? He was trying to kill you," Duncan replied before they got out of the taxi and Fitz paid the driver, "Come on, Fitz, what'd you do and who'd you do it to?"
"Me? Why me?" Fitz interjected, "You're the one with enemies on every continent."
"Yeah, but that was no immortal running us off the road," Duncan told him.
"Well, you know the French," Fitz replied, "They hate Italian cars."
"MacLeod!" Maurice greeted his friend as he was waiting for them on the deck of the barge. He joined the two men on the quay, "What took you so long? Lunch was ready over an hour ago!"
"Well, well, a little car trouble," Duncan replied before proceeding with the introductions, "Uh, Maurice, this is Fitzcairn, an old friend."
"Hello," Maurice greeted Fitz as they shook hands.
"This is Maurice," Duncan introduced his neighbor to his friend, "Maurice is...Maurice."
"You're Scottish?" Maurice asked.
"English, actually," Fitz answered as he removed his pipe.
"Really? It doesn't show," Maurice replied before telling Duncan, "You should have called. The veal is ice cold."
"Oh, thanks Maurice," Duncan replied, "but you didn't have to go through all that trouble."
"Well if you have some greens," Fitz spoke up, "maybe a little Parmesan..."
"A little vinegar," Maurice replied, "A kind of carpaccio. Brilliant. You're sure you're English?"
"All my life," Fitz declared.
"Thanks for getting the barge back, Maurice," Duncan told his neighbor, "but uh, I don't know how you did it."
"An astute business state," Maurice replied, "And the fact that money was no object."
"Who said money was no object?" Duncan asked.
"It's a very expensive city," Maurice answered, "They insisted on a small profit. I've got a job managing my brother in law's restaurant. Responsibilities, worries—you can't imagine. Bon appetit!"
With that, he left the area.
"What's he mean, am I sure I'm English?" Fitz retorted.
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"Must have been hundreds," Fitz stated as he and Duncan walked down the boulevard by the canal, "no thousands of women in my life. I never realized how lonely I am until I met Naomi."
"I'm happy you found her, Fitz," Duncan replied.
"No, I mean it. It's like I've been running around, half blind, half empty for eight hundred years," Fitz continued before he asked, "Do you ever get lonely, Duncan?"
"Sometimes."
"Tessa. Yeah, I must admit, I've been thinking about it a lot lately too," Fitz told his friend, "Losing Naomi, that is. This, uh, woman who saw you die, what's she like?"
"Her name's Anne," Duncan answered, "She's bright, compassionate, a lot of fun."
"Mean a lot to you?" Fitz asked.
"Yeah," Duncan answered.
"Do you love her?"
"Wait a minute," Duncan proceeded to ask, "What's all this interest all of a sudden in my love life?"
"I'm just trying to make conversation," Fitz answered before he asked again, "Do you love her?"
"It doesn't matter now," Duncan insisted.
"Have you told her?"
"Fitz, I made a choice. Did you tell Naomi?" Duncan asked.
"No, not yet," Fitz answered, "but – I'm just waiting for the right moment. Why don't you tell her?"
"It's over and done," Duncan insisted.
"Oh, oh, I get it," Fitz retorted, "the great Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod is not allowed to change his mind."
"Leave it alone, Fitz, all right?" Duncan stressed.
"Are you always this stubborn?" Fitz asked.
"Are you always this annoying?" Duncan retorted.
"Of course," Fitz answered, "it's part of my personality."
He paused before he told his friend, "Look, I just want you to be as happy as I am."
"Nobody could be as happy as you are," Duncan replied.
"But I would have told her," Fitz stated, "Well, what have you got to lose? Do you love her?"
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"I'm telling you, Naomi's not like any other woman I've ever known," Fitz said as he was now dressed in a chef's attire and walking at Le Cordon Bleu with Duncan in tow, "She's caring, intelligent, beautiful. Everything a man could ever want."
"Then, uh, what's she doing with you?" Duncan asked.
"No, I mean it, Mac," Fitz insisted, "She's the one."
"Hugh Fitzcairn settling down," Duncan stated before he asked, "What'll the women of the world have to look forward to?"
"Boredom," Fitz answered, "but that's their problem. I'm off the market."
He looked to see Naomi arguing with another man.
"It's that English bastard," the man stated.
Fitz walked up behind the man, cleared his throat loudly, and looked around Naomi and the man, "Didn't know you were busy."
"You can always leave," the man told him, "It's obvious you're not wanted here."
"Sorry, old chum," Fitz replied, "I think you've got it the wrong way around."
"I'm not your chum, you arrogant ass," the man replied before he tried to punch him in the face. Fitz dodged and pushed the man against a table.
"Stop it!" Naomi exclaimed.
"I am not your English Bastard," Fitz replied.
"This is absurd," Naomi stated as the man reached for a knife.
Duncan grabbed the man's arm, "No."
Fitz charged the man and they fought.
"Stop them, please!" Naomi exclaimed.
"I'm trying," Duncan replied as he tried to pry the two men apart, "All right, enough! Enough, both of you!"
"This isn't over," the man told Fitz.
"Anytime, old chum," Fitz replied as the man left, "anytime."
Duncan stared pointedly at Fitz, rubbing his jaw, "Ow."
"I'm sorry! It wasn't my fault," Fitz apologized before he asked Naomi, "Are you okay? Are you okay?"
He hugged her.
"Ahem," Duncan got his friend's attention.
"Oh, sorry," Fitz apologized before introducing his friend to his lover, "Duncan, Naomi. Naomi, Duncan."
"I've heard a lot about you," Duncan replied as he shook Naomi's hand.
"Consider the source," Naomi replied before apologizing, "Sorry about Patrick."
Fitz signaled Duncan with his eyes and a slight head movement and Duncan left them alone for a few minutes.
"Fitz," Naomi said as she kissed him, "I have a class to teach."
She left the area.
"More's the pity," Fitz replied before meeting up with Duncan a few minutes later.
"First you get run off the road, and then you're punching somebody out," Duncan demanded, "What is this all about?"
"If people insist on getting in the way of love," Fitz answered, "what am I supposed to do about it?"
"I suppose a cold shower is out of the question."
"Completely."
Both immortal men reflected on Verona, Italy in 1637 where Fitz was involved in a forbidden romance with a woman named Arianna.
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"We're Paris bound once again," Tori declared as she and Richie arrived at the area as she was holding hands with her boyfriend.
"Paris...the most romantic country in the world," Richie stated.
"One of the most romantic countries," Tori corrected him before they shared a kiss, "Man, this is romantic."
"Tori Gordon," Richie told his girlfriend, holding her waist, "you are the most wonderful, intelligent and beautiful woman I ever laid eyes on. You have helped me through some traumatizing ordeals which I had to go through this year, and I couldn't be more grateful for it."
"I'm glad I could be there for you," Tori replied, "I told you I wasn't going to leave you. No matter how hard it gets, I'm going to be there by your side."
"My therapy sessions are going to be handed over to Dr. Burns," Richie inquired her.
"That's good." Tori nodded, "Since you transferred to Paris."
"Right."
"It'll be great when Mac sees us again," Tori stated.
"You can say that again," Richie replied. They walked over to the barge, "Let's consider this a surprise."
"Surprise, surprise."
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Duncan looked over at Fitz as they were having lunch at the outdoor cafe by the canal.
"I wouldn't worry about Patrick," he told his friend, "What can he do to you?"
"It's not my life I'm worried about," Fitz replied, "It's...it's my life. It's always dangerous being the center of someone else's attention."
"What's he going to find out?" Duncan asked.
"Well, the young fellow I paid for fix my credentials on the school computer had to, um," Fitz explained, "Well, he had to leave the county in a hurry. He never finished. Well, you know what it's like when you create a new identity. Records, information...degrees."
"You lied to get the job?" Duncan asked.
"One could say that, yes," Fitz answered.
"Well one has," Duncan replied, "What is "one" going to do about it?"
"Ask one oldest friends for help?"
Duncan laughed before answering, "No."
"You know how I am with computers," Fitz argued.
"Fitz, you're supposed to keep up," Duncan interjected.
"I'm a romantic, not a bloody technician," Fitz replied.
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"What is taking you so long?" Fitz asked as Duncan was looking through the files on the computer at the restaurant's office, "You should have found it by now."
"If you left me alone, maybe I would," Duncan replied.
"Maybe I can help," Fitz offered as he looked over Duncan's shoulder at the computer screen.
"Check the hallway," Duncan told his friend.
"I already have," Fitz replied before telling him, "I've told you, the guard makes his rounds every three hours. He's not due back for another thirty minutes."
He reached for the keyboard, "What about this one?"
"Don't," Duncan stopped him.
The two men heard footsteps and whistling, and hid under the desk as the security guard opened the office door, shined a flashlight around and then closed the door.
Fitz stood back up, "So I was wrong."
He sighed before telling Duncan, who got back to his seat, "Used to be, you found a gravestone, took a dead man's name, forged a few letters, and bingo. Now you have to be a bloody scientist."
"Well, that wouldn't be you, wouldn't it?" Duncan asked.
Fitz moved to the mini fridge and opened the door, spilling light into the office, "Hey, you hungry? Got some sausage, olives, a bit of cheese. I could put together an antipasto in nothing flat."
"Will you shut the refrigerator door?" Duncan asked. Fitz complied, and came back to the desk, holding a paper plate full of food and the computer beeped, "Got it."
Duncan read the screen, "Five years at Le Cirque in New York? Chef at The Connaught in London..."
He laughed in disbelief before asking, "What else do you want?"
"Well, I did rather enjoy my stay at Number Ten Downing Street," Fitz answered.
"Well, why stop at the Prime Minister?" Duncan asked, "How about the queen?"
"Nah...never cared much for royalty," Fitz answered before asking, "What about a US governor or something?"
"Oh no, not a governor," Duncan answered, "Maybe the president."
"Brilliant," Fitz replied, "Yes, chef to Harry Truman."
"Truman died forty years ago, Fitz."
"Well, whatever."
"Fitz, you've got more credentials here than most of the chefs in Paris," Duncan stated, "Why do you need more?"
Duncan leaned forward, waiting, "Pardon?"
His friend remained silent, "Fitz."
"Well, I told Naomi some things," Fitz confessed.
"You got me to break in here to impress your girlfriend?" Duncan asked.
"Look, if you don't want to help, then don't," Fitz replied.
Duncan waved towards the computer, "Be my guest."
Fitz looked at the computer, "After all, how difficult could it be?"
He sat at the desk, clicked the mouse button, and the screen changed, "Oh."
Duncan returned from the mini fridge, "Get up. Let me do it."
He sat at the desk.
"You're a fine friend, Duncan MacLeod," Fitz stated.
Duncan handed him the food from the fridge, "Hold that."
"I'll owe you till the day I die," Fitz declared. He looked at the food on his plate, "What is this you're eating?"
"I don't know," Duncan answered, "I want you to promise me you'll learn to use a computer."
"I learned to read, didn't I?" Fitz asked.
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Fitz woke up hearing the phone ring. He answered the phone, "Fitzcairn here, and it better be bloody important."
"It is to you," a raspy voice said on the other end on the phone, "I'd start packing my bags."
"Who is this?" Fitz asked.
"Just a good citizen who knows your life here is over," the voice answered.
"What are you talking about?" Fitz asked.
"The records are so easy to fake, aren't they?" the voice asked before he continued, "You know what you are. Soon everyone will know, even Naomi."
"Who is this?" Fitz asked. The voice on the other end hung up.
Fitz hurried to Le Cordon Bleu, and entered the office. He went to the desk, and looked at the computer screen, realizing what was going on, "Oh no."
Fitz looked over to see Patrick sitting in a chair, facing away from him, "Patrick. Look, surely we can sit down and discuss this sensibly. Patrick..."
He moved over to Patrick's chair, "We are civilized people."
Fitz then grabbed Patrick's shoulder, "Patrick, for God's sake!"
Patrick fell sideways, and Fitz realized he was dead, "Oh no."
A few moments later, Fitz tried to get the computer to work, "Come on, damn you, work!"
He tapped at the keyboards, "How do I erase this? Come on, work, just once, please. I promise I'll take night classes. Stupid machine."
Fitz muttered, "Less romantic."
"Fitz, what are you doing?" Naomi asked as she entered the office, "Patrick called and told me you were here."
She looked over to see Patrick's dead body, "Oh God."
"Naomi, I didn't," Fitz insisted as he grabbed her, "I swear!"
"It wouldn't have mattered what he said," Naomi told him, "what he found out."
"You don't understand," Fitz stressed.
"Don't touch me," Naomi removed his hands from her.
"Naomi, I didn't kill him," Fitz said, "He was already dead!"
"It's down the hall to the left," a voice called from the distance.
"Naomi!" Fitz exclaimed as Naomi back away. He ran to a window and opened it.
"No, monsieur!" an officer called out as he entered the office.
"I'm sorry!" Fitz apologized as he climbed onto the window sill.
"Fitz, no!" Naomi cried.
Fitz jumped out of the office, and landed on a pile of cardboard boxes.
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Duncan glanced at Richie and Tori as they were watching a race motorcycle race on TV.
"Check this out," Richie stated, "That's me leaning into the turn."
"I could see you being a motor cross star," Tori stated.
"It's not bad," Duncan stated.
"For an amateur," Richie stated.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tori asked.
"Is that why you two are here?" Duncan asked.
"That's not the only reason," Richie answered, "but the trails start in two weeks."
"You really gonna go through with that?" Tori quipped.
"She's right," Duncan stated, "Racing is a pretty public life, Richie."
"I've got no history to hide, Mac," Richie replied, "I can race for five, maybe ten years before anybody begins to notice anything. This has got nothing to do with my Immortality. It's a real life. I have a shot at being the best at something."
"Then I guess you better go for it," Duncan replied.
"I suppose," Tori sighed, "Given everything you've been through this year, I'm just hoping you know what you're doing."
"I told my therapist," Richie said, "he said as long as I am focused, I should be okay."
All three of them sensed the Buzz.
"Expecting someone?" Richie asked.
Duncan stood up and called out, "Come in!"
Fitz entered the barge, prompting Duncan to ask, "Shouldn't you be chopping carrots or something?"
"I'm up to my ears in it, laddie," Fitz declared.
"The guy with the gun again?" Duncan asked.
"What's going on?" Tori asked.
"Nothing you should be concerned about," Duncan assured her.
"Much worse," Fitz told Duncan, "the police."
"Yeah, so, what else is new?" Duncan asked in response. Fitz proceeded to smoke on his pipe, "The police think that I murdered him, and Naomi does too. My life here is finished."
"That's not good," Tori replied.
"You can say that again," Richie nodded in agreement.
"I'm sorry," Duncan told his friend, "Tell me about the call."
"It was just a voice," Fitz answered, "telling me that they knew I was a fraud."
"What did it sound like?" Duncan asked.
"Does it matter?" Fitz asked in turn.
"It might," Duncan answered.
"It was cold," Fitz answered, "raspy, like gravel."
Duncan glanced at both Tori and Richie, seeing that the latter was taking deep breaths and the former was comforting him as all three of them realized who he was talking about.
"It's all right," Tori assured him.
"What's going on?" Fitz asked, confused.
"It's Kalas," Duncan answered.
"Is he one of us?" Fitz asked.
Duncan nodded, "He's setting you up."
"And that psycho psychologically tortured Richie," Tori chimed in with anger in her voice.
"Why?" Fitz asked, "I don't even know him."
"No, but you know me," Duncan replied, "That's good enough for Kalas."
The group heard tires squealing outside, and Duncan looked through the porthole at the police car driving onto the quay.
"You'd better get out of here," Tori told Fitz.
"Of course, lass," Fitz replied before he started towards the door.
"No, out the back," Duncan inquired his friend.
"He's right," Tori added, "Richie tried that and it got him arrested."
"Meet me in the tunnels under the Bastille," Duncan told his friend.
"Here," Fitz handed Duncan his pipe as the group heard the knock on the door, "Nineteenth century Meerschaum. Doesn't do well in water. Spoils the color."
"Open up, MacLeod," a female voice instructed, "It's the police."
"It better not be that one cop," Tori muttered.
"Will you get outta here?" Duncan asked Fitz.
"Look after it," Fitz told him before he left out the back door.
"Open up!" the female officer shouted.
Duncan hid the pipe in the couch cushion, "Richie, Tori."
He pointed at the table before calling out, "Yeah, I'm coming."
Tori and Richie quickly got all of Fitz's belongings and tossed them out the window. They looked to see another female officer, not the one they encountered last time, enter the barge, "Where is he?"
"Who?" Duncan asked, playing dumb, "Search all you want, Inspector. It's a very small barge."
"Fitzcairn has other friends," Tori added, "What made you certain he'd come here?"
"We have informats," the officer answered.
Duncan stood up and got his coat on.
"I'm sorry," the officer informed him, "I can't let you go, Mr. MacLeod."
"Well, either arrest me, Inspector, or get out of my way," Duncan replied before glancing at Tori and Richie, "Tori, Richie, make sure the inspector gets all the help she needs."
"Sure," Richie replied before Duncan left.
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Richie yawned and stretched before he walked over to the officer, "Well, looks like it's going to be a very long day."
"Ever been in a romantic relationship?" Tori asked.
"There's no need for the stalling, Tori."
The group looked to see Janet, Jack and three other agents have entered the barge.
"What is this?!" the officer demanded.
"I am Janet Elisionne of the Intergalatic Union Agency," Janet informed her, "and I am here to inform you Hugh Fitzcairn is out of your hands. He's one of our wanted fugitives as well, and I believe we are the higher ups."
The officer sighed roughly, realizing the situation, "Clear out."
With that, the officer left along with the rest of the cops. Then, Richie looked at Janet and the agents in surprise.
"What's Fitz wanted for by the IUA for, Mom?" Tori asked.
"He's not," Janet answered, "I had to make that cover to get the authorities off Fitzcairn's case."
"What's the occasion, Leader?" Richie asked.
"I'm glad you asked, Richard," Janet answered before explaining, "The races that are going to happen in a couple of weeks. It is suspected that there is going to be some corruption that our forces will need to be involved for. Richard Ryan, I am going to be tasking you to be in the race team and investigate this corruption."
Richie smiled with glee. Tori looked confused, "Why would something inhuman want to corrupt the motor cross races?"
"That's what we are going to find out," Janet answered, "In the meantime, I want you to observe the Bastille."
"That's where MacLeod is going to meet Fitz at," Tori stated as her mother handed her a tablet.
"We are suspecting Kalas will be located there as well," Janet inquired, "You'll be able to place a tracking chip on Kalas for future sightings during the duel, in case the outcome turns out in his favor."
"Will he duel Mac?" Richie asked.
Janet shook her head, "Fitzcairn."
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Fitz sensed the Buzz, thinking Duncan had just arrived.
"You swim well," Kalas noted, "I almost lost you a mile back."
Fitz turned and drawn his sword, "Kalas."
"You know me," Kalas replied, "I suppose I should be flattered."
"You have taken away the best life I ever had," Fitz told him, "If you think I'm going to leave it there, you are mistaken."
"Oh, I do hope not," Kalas replied before the duel began.
"Fitzcairn!" Duncan called as he arrived at the tunnel.
"It's my fight, laddie," Fitz called out before the fight continued.
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Tori and Richie looked on in the tablet as they were watching Kalas and Fitz dueling it out. They looked hopeful with the duel at the start. The hope turned to dread as Kalas forced Fitz into a defenseless position.
"Go to hell," Fitz told Kalas. He dropped his sword and Kalas ran him through.
"Fitzcairn!" they heard Duncan shout in the video, and Kalas raised his sword, "No!"
Kalas immediately beheaded Fitz.
"No!" Tori screamed in horror, "No!"
Richie looked on in disbelief as Kalas took Fitz's quickening.
"I can't believe it," Richie muttered.
Tori saw Duncan and Kalas talking after the quickening ended, "You're not getting away. Not without a plan."
She pressed a blue button on the tablet and saw a small round object land on Kalas before he cut a nearby conduit, releasing clouds of steam as his cover of escape.
"As least the IUA got their tracker on Kalas," Richie stated, "Good work, Tor."
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Duncan knelt by Fitz's headless body. He reflected on the times he had with his fallen friend. He was going to miss Hugh Fitzcairn. Kalas was going to pay for this.
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Richie and Tori looked over at Duncan as he was holding Fitz's pipe, something he had left behind.
"It must be hard to lose a friend so close to you," Tori stated.
"We're sorry," Richie added, "I wish I'd known him better."
"Me too," Tori nodded in agreement.
"Fitz was a real pain in the ass," Duncan told them, "I'm gonna miss him."
"Kalas has a tracker on him now," Tori informed him, "so the IUA will be able to track down his every move."
"I'll be able to find him easier," Duncan stated.
Maurice entered through the back, humming and holding a folded tapestry. He noticed the couple, "Richie, Tori! I didn't know you two were in town."
"Hey, Maurice," Richie greeted him, "We just got in."
"Remember when you believed we'd be a couple?" Tori asked.
"Yeah," Maurice nodded.
"Well," Tori declared, "it's official. Richie and I are officially a couple."
"That's marvelous!" Maurice replied, hugging the couple, "Wonderful!"
He looked over at Duncan and said, "Uh, I borrowed this when you were gone. I thought..."
Maurice dropped the tapestry and turned back to Richie and Tori, "Wonderful! Friends together again. It will be just like old times, no?"
"No," Duncan muttered.
Richie glanced at him as Tori whispered something to Maurice, probably informing him about Fitz's death, or at least, the gist of it.
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Chapters
Tori Gordon, a teenage operative for the Intergalactic Union Agency, transfers to a branch in Washington State, where she becomes involved in a battle between supernatural forces.
While reflecting on personal matters, Tori witnesses a stunning occurrence.
Richie introduces Tori to his friends, Duncan and Tessa, who detail the secret affairs of immortals.
As Tori begins learning more about her true nature, a teacher offers assistance.
Tori informs the Defenders that she plans to help Duncan and his companions.
Tori and Richie continue bonding as the IUA works with Duncan.
Tori is given a new task by her mother Janet.
Duncan and the group encounter Tori's teacher, Amanda. Tori learns that Duncan and Amanda have history.
9: Two Families, One Adventure
The Defenders arrive in Paris, where they unite with Tori's team.
Tori tends to an ailing Richie.
The group gains allies while investigating a new matter.
The search for Horton begins.
An old friend of Tori's reveals a darker side. Janet becomes involved in the current operation.
Duncan is told to be wary of a dark prophesy.
The team is menaced by Annie Devlin, an old associate of Duncan's.
Duncan begins refining Tori's skills.
Richie and Tori continue bonding.
A new woman comes into Richie's life.
Janet takes steps to make Richie an IUA operative.
Tori and her allies confront a number of enemies in the city.
The teams head out for a day of fun.
Rick's capture leads to a compromising situation as LJ and the others attempt a rescue.
Lucy, a dangerous immortal, targets Richie. Tori intervenes.
The IUA investigates when one of the Phantom's acquaintances is victimized by an immortal.
Richie and Tori return to Paris to assist with the mission, which is complicated by police involvement.
Duncan meets a woman who bears a strong resemblance to Tessa.
27: Can't Help Falling In Love
Kern, a vindictive old associate, returns to challenge Duncan.
Duncan attempts to work with the unstable David Keogh.
Charlie prepares to depart.
The group meet a girl named Michelle, who has just discovered her immortal nature.
Tori and Richie attempt to care for a younger boy named Kenny.
Everyone prepares for a holiday.
A mysterious statue creates chaos.
Joe and the team find others in need of their help.
Jedda and Tori have an intimate conversation.
Kalas haunts Richie and the others.
Duncan prepares for battle with Kalas and finds a surprise.
Kalas searches for Methos.
Tori worries as Richie begins taking chances.
Anne arrives.
41: The Exorcism of Richie Ryan
Richie requires assistance in getting back to normal.
The Defenders step in to assist with Kalas, and to help prevent the truth about Duncan's kind from leaking.
Duncan prepares to confront Kalas.
Duncan embarks on a private journey to Scotland. Jedda and Tori spar before an audience.
45: Walking On Shattered Glass
Duncan tries to intervene as Charlie clashes with Cord.
The current situation reminds Tori of a well-known scenario.
Amanda and Richie follow Duncan on a journey in secret, and end up defending themselves from a horde of ice robots.
The friends see Kenny again. Duncan suspects that a certain immortal is pursuing the child.
Seacouver is targeted by an ambitious supernatural woman named Sierra.
Duncan, Tori, and Richie investigate a matter from Duncan's past alongside the police.
The group is challenged by a charismatic new antagonist, Kamir.
The spellcaster Kristin Gilles arrives and pursues Richie. Mandrake offers assistance in thwarting her.
Duncan and his friends attempt to aid a pianist.
Anne and Jack participate in the latest endeavor.
Duncan falls under a dark influence temporarily.
Methos and the others reflect.
The exploits of Flash and his famed allies from Mongo are chronicled. Meanwhile, Zorelda reemerges.
The team members engage in sparring and storytelling during downtime.
The groups attempt to rescue Joe, who has been lured into a trap.
As tensions rise and truths are revealed, the team bands together in their effort to help Joe.
Richie makes a monumental decision.
As Tori and Richie prepare for the big day, opposing forces on Mongo makes plans of their own.
Katarina and Castra attempt to unite with the Defenders before Zorelda makes her move.
Zorelda arrives on Earth.
65: Setting Up The Rescue Mission
The groups outline their rescue effort.
Zorelda begins enacting her plan for Richie.
67: Mongo Showdown — Part One
Methos and Duncan engage in action on Mongo.
68: Mongo Showdown — Part Two
As the battle continues, Tori confronts Zorelda.
The group deals with the repercussions of their adventure and return to Earth.
Duncan's ally, Cassandra, relays a vision.
Tori and Richie encounter a cult. Duncan pursues Clay.
The Ryans foster a mysterious child who bears a resemblance to Tori.
Amanda and Maurice return as a new enigma arises.
Amanda engages in more questionable activity.
The group tries helping a woman who might be stalked by an old acquaintance of Duncan's.
76: All That Glitters Is Not Golden
Richie seeks to assist a childhood friend who's dealing with legal issues.
The Ryans encounter an apparent impostor, who also approaches Hadea.
An adversary known as Kronos targets Tori, seeking to exploit her intellect.
Richie and Duncan move to counter Kronos.
80: The Ransom of Richard Redstone
The Ryans depart for an undercover mission overseas.
The group make new acquaintances while pursuing a lead tied to a mysterious dancing event.
The enigmatic Keane arrives, wreaking havoc on several people's lives.
Duncan deals with a mischievous adversary named Byron. Jedda and Rick prepare for parenthood. Both Katarina and Jedda sense danger ahead.
Ming and Octon turn to a new ally.
Duncan is haunted.
The shape-shifter initiates a confrontation.
Ming shifts his focus to an isolated girl.
The Defenders unite with Tori's friends in an effort to stop Ahriman.
A climactic battle occurs as the Defenders clash with Ming, while Tori and Richie attempt to aid their friends.
90: Aftermath: The World Changes Forever
Everyone is affected by the recent events, which will have lasting repercussions.
Richie copes. Duncan travels overseas.
Joe, Amanda, and Duncan continue to hunt the enemy.
April locates Richie and provides an update on the current situation.
Richie is confronted by the opponent again.
Joe leads the investigation as everyone bands together.
The final clash begins.
Duncan makes a crucial discovery.
The key element to the plan is obtained.
The team proceeds with their endeavor.
100: The Last Stand — Part One
The group discovers that only one person can assist Duncan.
101: The Last Stand — Part Two
The battle reaches a conclusion.
Series finale.
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