DCH 55
Defenders Chronicles: Highlander
By AmandaDoE
Chapter Fifty-Five: Darkest Before The Dawn
Duncan heard her phone ring, and he answered it, "Hello?"
"Hello, Duncan MacLeod."
Duncan was surprised upon hearing the familiar voice as it was a voice he thought he'd never hear from again, "Jim Coltec? I can't believe it. Are you in town?"
"Mac," Coltec replied, "if I was in town, I'd be at your place with my feet up, watching golf. I'm calling from my truck."
"Oh, you need directions, Jim?" Duncan asked, "Sounds like you're lost."
"Funny," Coltec replied, "You know Indians don't get lost. I'm going to stop in town for some take out. How about we meet at Arlen Ridge?"
"Sounds good to me," Duncan replied, "Tanyano mani – oh. Travel well, Jim."
"I always do," Jim told him.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
"So this guy's a real medicine man, huh?" Richie asked as he, Tori and Duncan were walking along the trial by the river of Arlen Ridge.
"Holy man," Duncan answered, "Coltec's a Hayoka. His job was protecting his tribe from evil by absorbing it before it got to them."
"A spiritual SCUD missile," Tori noted.
"What happened to his tribe?" Richie asked.
"He couldn't protect him from famine," Duncan answered as they grouped towards a ledge, "or drought, or the white man. They died off, all of them – everyone but him."
"That's rough," Richie replied.
"I can't imagine what he had to go through," Tori added.
"Yeah, but Coltec believed he had a purpose," Duncan stated as the three resumed the walk, "so he turned himself outward and became Hayoka for the world."
"Sounds pretty ambitious," Richie replied.
"He has a spiritual power that connects him to people and things," Duncan explained, "I've never seen anything like it."
"Mac, you make it sound as if the guy can do real magic," Richie said before he and Tori followed Duncan along the trial through the woods, "I always figured you for a nuts and bolts kind of guy."
"And now?"
"Now we're not so sure," Tori shook her head, "In all my years as an IUA agent…...I've seen things that have blown my mind."
"As a kid, I was very cynical," Richie chimed in, "If I couldn't see it and I couldn't feel it, it wasn't real. Certainly if anybody had ever told me that Immortals exist….."
"You would have thought they were crazy," Duncan added in.
"Exactly," Richie nodded before continuing, "I find myself intrigued with even more stuff that I have been discovering that is out there: us immortals, aliens from Mongo, other planets, witches casting spells. I even saw the cover of a tabloid."
"I seen witches," Duncan stated, "but I've lived for four hundred years. I've never seen a werewolf, an elf, or a vampire."
"My uncle and the rest of the Defenders have," Tori spoke up, "Sort of. It was some creep who was stalking Jedda, and turned all the Defenders into animals based on their personalities except for the Phantom, of course."
"Well, we don't see everything," Duncan replied, "Mind you, I did hear that there was a troll that lived under a bridge around here somewhere."
"What?" Tori quipped as Duncan looked over the railing of the trial walkway.
"Oh, very funny," Richie retorted before he followed Tori and Duncan onto the wooden walkway, "but you believe in Coltec. You believe he can do real magic."
"I believe there are some things that defy any logical explanation, yes," Duncan answered, "I also believe there is power in faith and will."
"You're not wrong there," Tori nodded in agreement.
"You still didn't answer my question," Richie inquired, "Do you believe Coltec can do real magic?"
"Maybe you should ask him," Duncan answered.
"Maybe we should," Tori crossed her arms as she and the men followed the walkway to the wooden bridge over the river.
"Oh, Mac," Richie retorted, "couldn't you have met this guy in a bar or something?"
"What's the matter?" Duncan interjected, "don't you like the fresh air? Isn't it beautiful? I mean, look. Look at that."
He pointed at the river. Richie and Tori glanced at the river.
"It is pretty," Tori noted.
Duncan grabbed Richie as if he were going to toss him over the rail.
"Whoa!" Richie exclaimed, "What are you doing?!"
He shared a laugh with Tori, "Don't do that!"
"What's the matter?" Duncan asked, "Don't you like heights?"
"I love heights," Richie answered, "We had these things all over the East Side when I was a kid."
"Is that a fact?" Tori quipped.
"Yeah," Richie nodded. He turned sharply, jumpy as Duncan crossed over to the railing behind him, "What are you doing?"
"Come on, Mac!" Tori exclaimed.
Duncan leaned on the railing, "I think we should spend more time out here."
"Yeah, well, I think we should spend more time on the other side," Richie suggested.
"Agreed," Tori chimed in.
The three sensed the Buzz. Coltec appeared at the far end of the bridge. Richie walked towards him, with Tori right behind him.
"Hey, you must be Jim Coltec," Richie greeted Coltec, "I'm Richie Ryan, and this is my girlfriend Tori Gordon. We're friends of Mac's."
"Is that a fact?" Coltec replied before he punched Richie in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. He then drawn his sword. Coltec eyed Tori with lust as she was aiding her boyfriend, "I plan to have some fun with you, pretty lady."
"Is he always a creep?!" Tori asked.
Duncan rushed forward, "Jim, it's me. Stop. It's Duncan MacLeod."
Coltec stalked forward, "I know."
He attacked Duncan, who in turn defended himself, "What's wrong with you, man? Are you out of your mind?"
He flipped Coltec over the bridge railing, into the river.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
"Are you okay?" Richie asked Tori as they followed Duncan down the stairs to the river.
"I'll live," Tori answered, "I'm fine."
"I don't know what the hell we're coming down here for," Richie told Duncan, "especially after what that bastard did."
"What was that all about?!" Tori asked.
"Not Jim," Duncan answered, "It doesn't figure, none of it."
"Mac, the guy tried to hit on Tori," Richie stressed, "and he tried to take your scalp from just below the chin. What's to figure?"
"He's a friend," Duncan answered.
"Yeah," Tori retorted, "sure, and if you hadn't given him a flying lesson….."
"We'd be missing our heads by now," Richie added, "Are you sure it was him?"
Duncan found the medicine pouch in the rocks at the river's edge, "It's him."
He then started to explain, "It was the summer of 1872, and finally I was at peace. The white world had sickened me with its bigotry, its hatred, its wars, its empires. I'd left them all behind. I'd been living with the Sioux for about three years, and I was soon to take a Sioux woman, Little Deer, for my wife, and and adopt her son, Kahani. They were everything I ever cared about, everything I ever wanted. Kern destroyed it all. He was a scalp hunter back then. He brought the soldiers to our camp. They slaughtered my people, Little Deer….even Kahani. They spared no one. After that, the only thing I wanted was revenge. I tracked Kern for weeks, then months, hunting him like I would an animal, but it was me who was becoming the animal. Winter was in the air, but all I could smell was blood. The longer it took, the more my hate grew, and hate was all I had. Coltec met me, and pulled the evil out of me and to himself."
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Richie and Tori looked on in surprise as Duncan finished telling about how he met Coltec.
"Blackness lifted," Duncan stated, "The pain was gone. Somehow, he'd taken it."
"So, you believe it, Mac?" Tori asked.
"That he really saved you like that?" Richie added.
"I know it," Duncan answered, "So it doesn't make sense. Jim Coltec's a holy man."
"And in Steveston today, the senseless murder which has stunned this small community," the news announced on TV. Richie and Tori walked over to the TV to watch the news report, "We caution that the scenes captured by the Chinese restaurant video cameras may shock viewers. Much of the tape was erased by electrical damage, but the assailant's face is clearly visible."
"Oh my God," Tori muttered, watching the news report. Richie looked over at Duncan, who joined the couple in front of the TV.
"Police are appealing to anyone with information about the killing to come forward," the TV screen shown a black and white image of Coltec holding a gun, and firing it.
"There's your holy man, Mac," Richie stated, "Guy's a stone-cold killer."
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
"I don't get it," Joe stated upon hearing Duncan filling him in about the recent situation, "Coltec is as close as an immortal gets to being a saint. As far as we know, he has not taken a head in years."
"Try yesterday," Richie replied.
"When he called me, he sounded fine," Duncan informed the group, "It was like old times."
"You think he tried to set you up?" Joe asked.
"I don't know," Duncan answered.
"We do, Mac," Tori chimed in.
"Yeah, Mac," Richie added, "The guy got you out there and tried to whack you. What the hell is that all about?"
"It's not Coltec's style," Duncan stressed, "I've seen him take heads in the past, and he – he didn't get made. He – he was calm."
"No? Well, then he does one hell of a good imitation," Richie stated.
"That summons it up," Tori replied.
"What do you know about Dark Quickenings?" Duncan suddenly asked Joe.
"Come on," Joe replied, "You're reaching, MacLeod."
"Dark Quickening?" Tori quipped.
"Reaching what?" Richie added before asking, "Somebody mind filling us in here, please?"
"When we take an immortal's head," Duncan answered, "we take their energy, their power, their strength."
"Right," Richie acknowledged.
"We do know that part," Tori added.
"In a Dark Quickening," Duncan explained, "if you take in too much evil, you – you overload."
"You become evil yourself?" Richie asked.
"There's no proof," Joe answered.
"How much is too much, Mac?" Tori asked.
"No one knows," Duncan answered.
"That's because no one's seen it happen," Joe interjected, "It's a myth."
"Something's changed him," Duncan stated.
"Whatever it was, Mac, he tried to kill us," Tori stated.
"Does it matter how he got to be that way?" Richie asked.
"It matters to me," Duncan answered before reflecting on an interaction with Coltec at Greenwich Village in 1958.
"Well, that sounds like Coltec," Joe stated.
"What have you heard, Dawson?" Tori asked.
Joe sighed before he answered, "You know, this is not an exact science, MacLeod, okay? I mean, maybe somebody got their wires crossed."
"If it's about Coltec, I need to know," Duncan insisted.
"All right," Joe relented, "We had two reports. One of the Watchers saw the robbery, and he saw Coltec and Kant going at it."
"Well, we both know who won," Duncan replied, "What's the other report?"
"Someone thought they saw Kant on the East side after the fight," Joe stated.
"But Kant was already dead," Richie replied.
"Yeah. It turns out Coltec was wearing Kant's jacket," Joe stated, "but that does not prove a thing."
"I have to know more about Kant," Duncan insisted, "because that's who's inside Coltec."
"Look, I'm already breaking the rules," Joe stated.
"Then break them some more," Duncan replied before quoting, "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto."
"No, I guess we aren't. Harry Kant, a real sociopath," Joe explained, "You look up scum in the dictionary, there's probably a picture of him. Thief. Murderer. Not the kind of guy you want to run into, extremely dangerous. He killed ten immortals in the past five years – that we know about. He took what he wanted, and he'd kill to get it. This guy just likes to kill. The last we knew, he was hanging out down on Water Street."
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Duncan looked on after his battle with Coltec at the alley near Stavros' Bar to where they had to knock him out. He ended up tying up Coltec near a campfire in the wilderness on holy ground.
"You didn't have to drag me out here to take my head," Coltec told him, "You could have killed me in that alley."
"That's not the way I do things," Duncan replied.
"No? Just wait. You're wasting your time here," Coltec retorted, "We could be out taking heads, hitting banks…..doing what comes naturally."
"That's Kant talking," Duncan replied.
"It's me, MacLeod," Coltec insisted, "It always has been. Just one big ol lake of badness."
"You're a hayoka," Duncan argued as he stood up, "but you'd reach your limit. You saw that coming, that's why you stopped taking heads years ago."
"Now white man speaks with forked tongue," Coltec stood up as well.
"Then you ran into Kant," Duncan continued, "and it was too much. Do you remember? The cup overflowed. That was Kent. You became what you fought."
"As we all will become in time," Coltec replied.
"I don't believe that," Duncan argued.
"You don't want to, but there's a fine line out there," Coltec stated, "and hell is waiting on the other side, and you know it, MacLeod. That's why you are trying so hard. You look at me, and you see your future."
"Not if I can help it," Duncan replied.
"Really," Coltec asked, "and just tell me how you plan to pull this off, pass a peace pipe around?"
Duncan held out the medicine bag, "The same as you did."
Coltec laughed, "You, a Hayota, and what makes you think that you've got the stuff?"
"Because I had a good teacher," Duncan answered.
"Superstitious crap," Coltec replied, "Forget it, MacLeod, this is the real me."
Duncan grabbed Coltec's head between his hands.
"No!" Coltec shouted. He tried to twist away but Duncan won't let go. Coltec twisted his hands in the ropes then Coltec collapsed and Duncan fell to the side.
"Jim?" Duncan called out. He bent close and Coltec threw dirt in his face, then kicked his legs out from under him.
"You thought you could save me?" Coltec stated as his hands were no longer bound, "That what I am could be drawn out? It's too powerful, MacLeod."
He looked around at the petroglyphs, "Next time we won't be on holy ground."
"Jim," Duncan called to his friend," Let me help you, Jim."
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
"Look, it's a theory, all right?" Joe told Tori and Richie, "It's like….it's like water on Mars. It has not been proven."
"Mac believes it," Richie replied.
"So what's new there?" Tori asked.
"He's been wrong before," Joe answered.
"Yes…..but is he this time?" Richie asked.
"Have another drink," Joe prepared to pour them another drink each.
"I'm all right," Richie declined.
"I'm fine too," Tori added.
"Well, good. I'll have one," Joe replied before pouring himself a drink.
"Joe, I'm so glad I've got something to look forward to," Richie said as he held Tori's hand.
"Me too," Tori added, "it's something to be grateful for."
"Have you ever seen It's a Wonderful Life?" Joe asked before he elaborated, "It's a – it's a Jimmy Stewart movie. It's about how this guy sees what would have happened if he hadn't lived."
"I hope this is going somewhere," Richie stated.
"So do I," Tori nodded.
"What I'm saying is," Joe stated, "don't jump to conclusions. Now, if these Dark Quickenings happen, they must be awful rare, because otherwise we would have had some records."
"A very valid point, Joe," Tori nodded in agreement, "We don't know these things exist until we see them, or if they are on record."
"So maybe they don't happen to everyone," Richie stated.
"Well, exactly," Joe replied, "I mean, think of all the bad guys you'd have to kill. What are the odds of living that long?"
Richie and Tori both gave him a look, prompting Joe to say, "I didn't exactly word that right."
"So, where's MacLeod?" Tori asked.
"How the hell should I know?" Joe interjected.
"You're his watcher, damn it," Richie chimed in, "It's your job."
Tori and Richie sensed the Buzz. Duncan entered the bar.
"You found Coltec?" Richie asked.
"Yes," Duncan answered before retracting his answer, "No."
"The Dark Quickening?" Tori asked.
"Coltec's become evil," Duncan answered, "As bad as the ones he killed, as bad as they come, even Ming the Merciless."
"Damn it," Joe replied.
"I have to stop him," Duncan replied.
"You really want to do that?" Joe asked, "I mean, think about it."
"I have," Duncan replied.
"He might be in another country by now," Joe replied.
"Then you find out which country, and you let me know," Duncan told Joe before he left.
Richie and Tori looked over at Joe.
"What the hell," Joe stated.
Tori added, "Like the man said, we're not in Kansas anymore."
"It's a hell of a theory," Richie chimed in.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Duncan found himself face to face with Coltec outside near a club, preparing himself for a duel.
"I wish there was another way, Jim," Duncan told his friend.
"What are you hoping for MacLeod?" Coltec asked as both men circled each other, "A guilty conscience? Remorse? Gone. No more weaknesses. No more Mr. Nice Guy."
"You were never weak," Duncan replied, "You were good. That was your strength."
"Let me tell you about strength. Real strength is evil," Coltec stated, with declaration in his voice, "It wins. You can't change me, MacLeod…..because I don't want to change."
"I know," Duncan replied.
"Then, let's go for it, man," Coltec stated, "My public's waiting."
He laughed before attacking Duncan, who ended up fighting back.
Duncan eventually drove Coltec to his knees, then he stepped back. Coltec swung his sword forward, trying to take advantage of Duncan's hesitation. Duncan ended up disarming him.
"Ah – see kookoe," Duncan spoke phonetically to Coltec in Sioux before saying, "Travel well, Jim."
Coltec flashed evil for the last time, as he had done before before Duncan took his head.
Then, Duncan screamed as felt the full force of the quickening. This was not like any other quickening he had felt before, as a matter of fact, he felt his thoughts changing.
"Evil is strength," Coltec's phantom said in a maniacal laughter.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Joe arrived at the area as Duncan and Coltec were dueling. He knew he was going to witness history in the making and he was about to report it as his duty as a watcher.
Duncan gained the upper hand and took Coltec's head.
Joe watched as Duncan took the Quickening. Fog surrounded him at first. The area flashed as lighting struck Duncan, and the ground behind him was set on fire. He noticed that Duncan was trying to resist something from the inside, probably from the power of Coltec's quickening.
After the Quickening ended, the sprinklers went off, putting out the fires that was set.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Joe looked on as Duncan was nursing a drink at a table, facing away from the bar. He wanted to see if Duncan had really changed after this duel.
Joe walked up to the bar and asked, "Lou, how long has he been sitting there?"
"Long enough," Lou answered as Duncan turned to look at them.
Joe sighed and walked towards Duncan, "MacLeod."
Duncan walked past him without saying anything and sat down besides a pretty blonde woman, "Hey."
"Hi," the woman replied.
"You mind if I sit down?" Duncan asked.
"I'm waiting for someone," the woman answered. Duncan proceeded to sit down, "Here I am."
"Oh, really?" the woman replied.
"Uh – huh."
"Well, I'm not looking for company," the woman told him as she took a sip of her wine.
"Oh yeah? Everybody's looking for company," Duncan replied, obviously hitting on the woman, "Why don't we have a coupl'a shots of tequila and talk about it?"
He grabbed a bottle of tequila from the bar stock as well as some glasses, "Hmm? Huh?"
"That's a bit fast," the woman stated.
"Oh, I like it fast," Duncan said as he poured glasses of tequila.
The woman laughed in response, "Are you always this confident?"
"Always," Duncan answered before he held up his shot glass, "Cheers."
The woman took a sip from her shot glass as did Duncan.
"Down all of it, otherwise it doesn't count," Duncan suggested. The woman did as suggested.
"That's it. Well," Duncan proceeded to make his advances towards the woman, "now that we know each other a little better, why don't we go back to your place and talk a little dirty?"
"I'd better go," the woman was feeling uncomfortable from this. She tried to leave, but Duncan grabbed her wrist, "I didn't say you could leave."
"Let go of me," the woman insisted, trying to escape his grasp.
"Now why is that, huh?" Duncan asked as he pawed her chest.
"Leave me alone."
"Now why is that, pretty?"
"Let go of me," the woman slapped Duncan.
Duncan chuckled in response, "You hit hard, huh?"
He backhanded the woman, causing her to fall to the floor, "Not as hard as I do."
"What the hell are you doing?" Joe demanded as he walked over to him.
"Hey, the bitch hit me, man," Duncan replied.
"Hey, what are you nuts?!" Joe exclaimed before he grabbed Duncan's arm.
"Don't touch me," Duncan said before he punched Joe, who was knocked over to the bar.
He laughed before he sized up a bartender who moved towards him, "Wanna play?"
"It's all right. It's all right," Joe told the bartender, "Leave him alone. He had too much to drink."
Joe realized this wasn't Duncan acting this way, not the Duncan MacLeod he knew. This was indeed the Dark Quickening that was supposedly a myth, "Oh God."
"Nice bat," Duncan eyed the bartender's bat before he left.
"I'm all right. I'm all right," Joe assured the bartender, "It's just – carry on. Sorry."
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Tori looked on as Richie was practicing with his sword while talking to Jack on the laptop while listening to Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb".
"I don't know, Tori," Jack told her, "Coltec appeared to be a holy man, from what I heard, and the dark quickening that you two mentioned, it's a rare occurrence when an immortal is affected by the Dark Quickening."
"So it had happened?" Tori asked.
"Yeah," Jack answered, "According to IUA records, there had been only two instances of Dark Quickenings, and it didn't end well for one of them."
"What happened?" Richie asked.
"The first one had to be beheaded by one of our mortal agents," Jack answered, "it caused a lot of damage to property, but that dark quickening was gone."
"What about the other immortal?" Tori asked.
"They found some holy fountain," Jack answered, "and that immortal defeated their evil self in the holy fountain. Keep me updated if you get any further details."
"We will," Tori nodded before ending the call.
Tori and Richie both sensed the Buzz, and turned to see Duncan enter the dojo.
"Mac," Tori spoke up first.
"You okay?" Richie asked.
"Yeah," Duncan answered, "I'm fine."
"We were getting a little worried about you," Tori stated.
"You were?" Duncan asked, "Why?"
"Well, you found Coltec," Richie stated.
"Yeah," Duncan replied, "I found him."
"We know how much you like the guy," Tori stated.
"We're sorry," Richie added.
"You're sorry," Duncan glanced at the pair.
"Yeah, well," Richie said, "you did what you had to do, but I know how much you hated it."
"Hated it?" Duncan flashed an evil smile, "You're wrong."
He drawn out his katana and slashed Richie across the chest, "I loved it."
"Mac?" Tori glanced in shock.
Richie backed away, "What are you doing, Mac?"
"You're a smart little boy," Duncan stated, "Why don't you figure it out?"
He attacked again, prompting Richie to defend himself. Duncan gave Richie's leg a cut as he toyed with him. Tori gasped in shock and she prepared to get out her Tachi to fight.
"Aht! Aht! Aht!" Duncan grabbed Tori by her hair, making her drop her sword, "You know the rules, girl. Not two against one."
"Mac, what the hell are you doing?!" Richie exclaimed in more shock.
Ignoring him, Duncan eyed Tori with lust, "You have some nice honkers, and I'll have my fun with you, honkers and all, after I have taken your boyfriend's head."
"Leave her out of this!" Richie exclaimed, defending himself as Duncan resumed his duel with him.
Tori shook in a mix of anger and fear as she backed to a wall, grabbing a nearby railing.
"Whatever happened, Mac," Richie insisted, "we can work it out."
"Sorry," Duncan replied, "wrong number."
He attacked again, gave Richie's shoulder a cut before bowing mockingly. Then the two men fought before Duncan cut Richie again, smacked a kiss on top of his head, and finally disarmed him.
"Just tell me why," Richie pleaded in worry and asked, "The teacher kills the pupil? Is that what this is all about? Is it because there can be only one? Is that it?"
Duncan laughed before answering, "That's as good a reason as any."
"No!" Tori yelled in worry, unable to contain her worry any longer.
"Yes," Duncan smirked before he raised his sword, preparing to behead Richie. Suddenly, Duncan was shot multiple times before he fell to the ground, dead.
Tori followed Richie's glance and they saw Joe, who pulled the trigger. Then, she hurried to Richie's side and helped him up as Joe walked over to them.
"Are you two all right?" he asked them.
"Yeah," Richie answered.
"Thanks to you," Tori added.
"Aw, Joe, what the hell," Richie stated in disbelief, "He tried to kill me, and there was no telling what he was going to do to Tori afterwards."
"Just get out of here," Joe insisted, "both of you."
"You saw what he did, Joe," Richie glanced over at Duncan's body.
"He's right," Tori added, following her boyfriend's glance, "we have to help him."
"Don't you get it?" Joe stressed, "This is not MacLeod. Not the one we knew. This man is not your friend."
"Joe?!" Tori exclaimed in shock.
"Oh, Joe," Richie added.
"And when he comes to," Joe spoke up, overriding them both, "he'll take your head, Richie, and there's no telling what he will do to Tori before he does the same to her!"
Richie saw Tori close to hyperventilating. They both knew it was true as they picked up their swords.
"What about you?" Richie asked.
"Will he…." Tori started to ask.
"There's nothing in it for him," Joe answered, "I'm not immortal. No quickening."
To both Tori and Richie, they feel it was not to hope on as Joe himself wasn't convinced.
"Please, go," Joe insisted before Richie or Tori could object, "please!"
"Okay," Richie finally relented.
"Please."
"Damn it!" Richie exclaimed before he left.
Tori eyed Joe as she took a deep breath. She was relieved that Richie was okay, but she was now angry with Duncan, in fact she was shaking, but if this was this Dark Quickening they heard about, she wanted Joe to give the Highlander an important warning. She walked over to the Watcher.
"Tori?" Joe eyed her, slightly confused.
"If this happens to be the Dark Quickening you mentioned," Tori told him, "and he does come out of it somehow, you tell Duncan MacLeod if he ever pulls a stunt like that again, I won't hesitate next time. He goes. I won't hesitate to take him out, got it?"
Joe nodded, "Clear and loud, and don't worry, I'll tell him."
"Good," Tori nodded before turning to leave, joining Richie.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Duncan gasped, revived. He found himself tied up to a wooden frame with Joe standing close by. Duncan surged to his feet, trying to fight the ropes, like a caged animal. Joe was the one who caused him to cause his prey to get away. If it wasn't for him, that red headed kid would lose his head, and he would have had his way with his girlfriend before taking her head as well. That bastard. My plans were foiled because of him!
"Guy could get a serious rope burn like that," Joe spoke up, pulling Duncan from his thoughts.
Duncan glared at Joe, "These ropes won't hold forever. You better run while you can – if you can!"
"I'm not ready to give up," Joe told him.
"There's nothing to give up except your life," Duncan replied.
"No," Joe stated, "There's a friend."
Duncan laughed and inhaled through his nose, "Smell that, Dawson? It's the smell of your own mortality, your own death. Now, why would I be friends with a dead man?"
"We go back a long way, you and I, MacLeod," Joe told him, "Now, maybe we don't want to admit it, but we owe each other."
"Speak for yourself."
"I am!" Joe stressed, "For both of us, and I know damn near everything about you, Duncan MacLeod. I know who you fought, who you killed, who you loved. I know it all."
"You know squat about me," Duncan exclaimed, "Squat! Squat! Got it?"
"I know your strength," Joe insisted, "I know your will. I know your goodness, and whatever monsters are in you now, I know you're still in there too."
"You're willing to give up your life for that?" Duncan asked before he taunted him, "Cause if you're not, you'd better use that sword right now and kill me. Cause if you don't, you're a dead man."
"Maybe you're right," Joe replied, "I can't just stand here."
"Go ahead, dead man. You got the will? You got the guts? Hmm?" Duncan taunted. Joe rested the katana against Duncan's neck. Duncan kissed it, "Hmmm. It's not easy, isn't it, Dawson? Is it? Taking somebody's head? Cutting their head off, hmmm?"
He thrusted his neck against the blade, "Come on. Come on."
Joe pulled the blade back to swing.
"Come on. Do it!" Duncan exclaimed. Joe cut the rope that was binding Duncan's hand, freeing him in the process.
Duncan grabbed the katana from Joe, "Wrong choice."
"Maybe so," Joe replied, "Maybe so."
Duncan stared at Joe, threatening him with his katana, then he was distracted by murmuring voices in his head, and left the dojo.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Richie turned around as Tori was hyperventilating and on her knees, "Tor?"
He knelt next to his girlfriend with concern, "Come here, Tor."
Slowly, Tori looked up and held Richie in her arms, accepting his embrace.
"I thought I lost you back there," Tori said, trying to keep herself together, "Mac almost took your head."
"I know, Tori," Richie comforted her, "I know, and what he done to you was sickening too."
"What….what are we going to do?" Tori asked as she caught her breath, "The thought of losing you was…..I don't even have the words. Do you think it was the Dark Quickening?"
"Possibly," Richie nodded, "We'll have to tell Jack when we collect ourselves."
"I agree with that," Tori gave out a small smile. She took a deep breath and asked, "What do you think we'll do now?"
"We talk to Joe," Richie nodded, "He'll know where we go from here."
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
"He was going to do it," Richie told Joe, "he was going to take my head."
"He probably would have done so had it not been for you," Tori added, "and Mac probably would have taken my head too after that. He was ruthless."
"You knew he couldn't help it," Joe tried assuring them.
Tori took a deep breath, trying to believe it. If this was a Dark Quickening as the myth had it, chances were Duncan was corrupted.
On the other hand, Richie shook his head, "If you weren't there, I'd be dead."
"But that wasn't Duncan MacLeod," Joe insisted.
"Then who the hell was it?" Richie interjected, "Where is he now?"
"Yeah Joe," Tori added, "where is MacLeod?"
"He's on a tramp steamer. He's halfway to Europe," Joe answered.
"Look, Richie, Tori," Joe glanced at his two immortal friends, "you guys might want to spend some time on holy ground. Sort all this out."
"Seriously?" Tori slightly scoffed.
"Sort this out," Richie rolled his eyes, "oh man, the guy I trusted..."
"We trusted," Tori added in.
"He tried to kill us," Richie continued.
"Richie," Joe began.
"No," Richie interrupted, "the reason doesn't matter. It was him. It was Duncan MacLeod. You know what's funny? All this time, I've been thinking all this whole 'There can be only one' thing, I'm thinking that's just talk. I'm thinking there's no way MacLeod would ever come for me, or Tori. I didn't believe it. I couldn't believe it."
"A part of me felt the same way," Tori nodded in agreement.
"Now," Richie looked right at Joe, "now we do."
He left the bar moments later. Tori had a plan in mind. She wasn't going to let Richie know just yet, or Joe for that matter.
She handed him a piece of paper.
"What's this?" Joe asked.
"My email," Tori answered, "if Duncan MacLeod does happen to come around, let me know. Maybe then, hopefully, I can bring Richie around."
"If there's anyone that can bring him around," Joe smiled as he accepted the paper, "I'm pretty certain that would be you."
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Sean was reading at his study. Over the year that he had Richie Ryan he given therapy to, he was making good progress. Duncan as well as his American therapist Dr. Watson had been keeping him updated on Richie's progress, and it had been a roller coaster ride to say the least. Whenever he got an update, Sean would give Duncan, or Watson advice on Richie's situation.
He heard his phone ring, pulling him from his thoughts. Sean went to answer it, "Sean Burns…..hello? Hello? Who is this?"
"Sean," a voice answered on the other end of the phone, "It's Duncan."
"Duncan? For the love of God. Are you in town?" Sean asked, "You've caught me in a lousy timing. I'm due in Paris tomorrow. Another damn conference to attend."
"Sean?"
Sean reflected on his time with Duncan during 1917 France. They had a good friendship.
"Is everything all right?" Sean asked Duncan, "Is Richie all right?"
"Richie's fine," Duncan answered, "He's left with his girlfriend."
"Then what is it?" Sean asked, "Are you all right?"
"No," Duncan answered before he said, "It can wait."
"Like hell," Sean replied before he asked, "Where are you?"
"I'll come to you tomorrow," Duncan told him, "There's something I need to take care of first."
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
"A Dark Quickening?" Methos asked as he was talking to Joe over the phone, "Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack," Joe answered, "I saw it firsthand myself. He took Coltec's Quickening, sexually harassed a woman, and tried to take Richie's head."
"Oh dear," Methos replied, "definitely not in MacLeod's character."
"I was wondering since you are in the area," Joe asked, "could you try and do something for him?"
"Like what?" Methos asked.
"Find a way to get that darkness, those monsters, out of MacLeod."
Methos sighed before he answered, "I'll be glad to help. You know that. I will try my very best to do what I can do help MacLeod."
He noticed the sky turning dark, "However, I don't think he'll be showing himself until morning. It's getting late here in Paris."
"I know," Joe replied, "He's probably sleeping around with some woman he laid his eyes on."
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Methos made his way to where Duncan could be. He had to find him and get this evil out of him. He didn't know how, but he sure as hell was going to try. He pulled up his Volvo station wagon, and peered up at the house where MacLeod was probably staying at.
He heard screaming, "Yep. MacLeod is probably causing trouble."
Moments later, Methos heard some gunshots. He sensed the Buzz and he watched as Duncan stumbled down the stairs from the house he was spending the night at.
A man chased out, yelling, "Bastard!"
Methos reacted with surprise. The man ended up shooting Duncan again, who then ended up falling down besides the Volvo.
"Come back here! I will kill you!" the man shouted again.
Methos reached across, and opened the passenger door for Duncan, "Get in!"
"I'll kill you, you bastard!" the man shouted from the distance.
"What do you want, a written invitation?" Methos asked as Duncan just started at him.
Duncan got into the Volvo as he was being shot at. Methos then sped away as the man sped away, "Come back here!"
As Methos drove away, Duncan slumped against him, dead.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Duncan gasped as he revived and found himself at a chapel.
"Good morning," Methos greeted him, "Feeling any better?"
Duncan jumped to his feet, kicked over a tall candlestick, and turned to Methos, "What do you think?"
He grabbed at his chest, groaning as he wasn't fully healed yet.
"I think maybe you got what you deserved," Methos stated.
"You and your watcher friends," Duncan retorted, before he chuckled, "Dawson's becoming a real pain in the ass."
"Yes, well, I'll pass along that line," Methos replied.
"You do that!" Duncan shouted, "Why the hell did you come?"
"To help you," Methos answered calmly.
"I don't need help," Duncan insisted as he picked up a candle.
Methos eyed Duncan, noticing the blood and his haggard look, "Tried looking in a mirror lately?"
"Yes," Duncan answered, "and I like what I saw."
"Duncan, I know what happened," Methos stressed, "First Coltec, now you. This is a Dark Quickening. This is not who you are."
Duncan set the candlestick down, "No? Maybe it's who I should be."
He slid over to face Methos, "What you see is what you get."
"You can fight this," Methos insisted, "I can help you if you let me."
Duncan grabbed a candelabrum from a stand, and pointed it at Methos, "Yeah? Why would you want to do that?"
Methos backed away, "Because of who you are. You're too important to lose!"
Duncan stared at the candle flames for a moment, then threw the candelabrum aside, "I'm not lost."
"MacLeod," Methos moved closer, "This could be your last chance to be saved."
"There's just one problem," Duncan replied. He turned suddenly and swung katana against Methos' neck, "I don't want to be saved."
"You can't do this," Methos stated with a quite whimper.
"No?" Duncan asked before he lifted his katana.
"This is holy ground!" Methos shouted before telling him, "Whatever evil is inside you, you cannot do this."
Duncan shoved Methos away and left the chapel.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Duncan drove up in the Mercedes he stolen, honking his horn.
Sean stepped out of the Chateau, walking over to him, "Duncan, how are you? It's been too long. I called Paris, canceled all of my appointments until further notice, appointments I can always get. Good friends are a little harder to come by."
Sean looked at Duncan, "You look like hell. What is it?"
Duncan stepped out of the car, looking hesitant, "Maybe this isn't a good idea."
"Duncan, if there's a problem," Sean insisted, "whatever it is – I'm here."
"I know," Duncan replied.
They reflected on their time together 1917 Paris during World War I.
"It doesn't take a psychoanalyst to see that something's bothering you," Burns stated.
Duncan was feeling conflict as the Dark Quickening was taking a toll over him.
"Psychoanalyst?" Duncan replied, "Can it work for immortals?"
"I supposed," Sean answered, "but we're so much more complex than mortals. Upon our page so much more is written, but our core is similar; We're formed by the same experiences."
"But they kill to survive," Duncan replied.
"No, they don't."
"What about….Quickenings?" Duncan asked, "If we had…..one too many?"
"Could evil overwhelm the good?" Sean answered, "I spent years thinking about it. The truth is…..I don't know."
Duncan replied coldly as he felt evil flashing over him, "I do."
"I see," Sean replied.
"And when it happens…..which one is real?" Duncan asked, "The immortal you are, or the one you've become?"
"I could fight you, Duncan, but you're better," Sean explained to him, "I know it and so do you, but you're here because you want me to help you. Now, I can't do that without my head."
"That's too bad," Duncan replied before he drawn his katana.
"MacLeod, no!" Methos yelled as he ran towards them, "Don't do it!"
"You can't interfere!" Duncan told him.
Methos skidded to a halt, knowing he was right. Regarding of the situation, immortal duels were one on one only, no background interference.
Sean backed away, "Duncan, it's not too late. What you were, what you love…..it's still waiting for you."
Duncan advanced towards him, "There's nothing waiting for me."
Methos circled around, "Don't do this, MacLeod."
"Those aren't your memories, Duncan," Sean told his friend, "The hate doesn't belong to you. The voices aren't yours. Don't listen to them."
Duncan hesitated as he was feeling inner conflict.
"You're lost in there, but I can help you. I can lead you back," Sean continued, "Your core is still good. You are still Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod."
He held out his hand, "Now, come."
Duncan stared at the hand for a little bit, still conflicted. He slowly reached for Sean's hand before he finally declared, "Not anymore."
He grabbed Sean's hand, pulled him forward and then beheaded him.
"No!" Methos backed away into a nearby tree.
As the Quickening proceeded, Duncan screamed, taking the full force of the quickening. Methos was hit by a few bolts, but the Mercedes remained intact.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Methos watched as Duncan took Sean's quickening after beheading him. He looked on in anguish before the quickening ended.
He stepped forward after the quickening ended, "Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I can't save you."
Methos grabbed Duncan's katana away as Duncan lunged for it, "I've known a lot of us in five thousand years, MacLeod. Of them all, you were the best I'd seen."
Duncan got up to his feet, "I still am."
"No, you're not," Methos replied, "and I think I have to kill you."
Duncan stalked towards him, "Then I hope you like what you see because you kill me, you become me. You become what I am."
Methos backed away, "Maybe not. Maybe there's more room inside me."
"You'll kill, Methos," Duncan insisted, "You'll do exactly as I did. You'll kill a friend, a lover. You will go mad. Do you know what evil is? Dark, soulless evil. Imagine it. Live it!"
"You're deluded," Methos retorted.
"What you see is what you get," Duncan replied. He eyed Methos as they circled each other, "I hope your soul is ready for me."
"Well," Methos stated, "we'll see."
Duncan laughed, "Go ahead. Take my head. Kill me. Go on."
As Methos pulled the katana back, Duncan rushed him and knocked him over a wall. Methos landed on his back on the other side.
"Fool!" Duncan exclaimed.
"I'm too old for this," Methos said to himself.
Duncan picked up his katana, looked over a wall at Methos, then he walked quickly back to the Mercedes and drove away.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Duncan entered a chapel after trashing his barge. He saw Sean when he passed a nearby man and he also saw Darius. Those were his friends and they were both dead.
Duncan walked to the front, knocking over some chairs along the way. While under the influence of this dark quickening, he had sexually harassed several women, including Tori, he had just beheaded Sean, one of his closest friends, and he nearly beheaded Richie.
"What have I become?!" Duncan shouted. He knelt, "Everything I was is gone. People I loved, things I cared about….."
He cried, "I killed a friend."
He fell forward to the floor, "I can't exist like this!"
Duncan rolled over onto his back, and looked up at a stained glass window, "Help me. If you can't help me…..stop me."
He had no idea how long he was kneeling when he heard a familiar voice, "I was hoping I'd find you here."
"Leave me alone," Duncan replied harshly.
"With God, or with your demons?" Methos asked.
Duncan stood up and faced him, "Look at me. See me as I am, not as I was, or as you want me to be."
He turned away, "I will kill you."
"You might," Methos replied.
"I don't want to," Duncan said.
"And that is your salvation."
"There is no salvation for me."
"Why? Because you're alone?" Methos asked, "Because it's just you against all that evil? You're not alone. Not out here."
He rested his palm against Duncan's chest, "And not in there."
Duncan took a quick step back, out of reach.
"Why are you in a church, MacLeod?" Methos asked before telling him, "Why did you come? Because Sean Burns is with you. His goodness is a part of you. Feel him. Take his strength and yours and come with me."
Duncan looked at him for a moment, then bent to pick up his katana.
"Might be better if I keep it," Methos suggested. Duncan looked at him, picked up his katana, looked at Methos again and then tossed it back at him.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Duncan looked on as Methos parked his Volvo at a Holy spring.
"Right. We're here," Methos announced. They both got out of the car.
"There's a holy spring here. It's been lost since the seventh century," Methos explained before he took a bag out of the car, and dropped it on the ground, "Nobody seems to know about it. There are indeed those who says its magic."
Duncan turned suddenly and punched him in the face, "I can't do this."
"Fight it. Fight it like you fought every other evil thing in your life," Methos stressed to his friend, "because that is what you're up against."
He reached into the back seat of the Volvo, "Remember who you are."
Methos held up Ian MacLeod, Duncan's father's claymore wrapped in Duncan's tartan, "Remember this."
Duncan heard Ian. He heard his father's voice say to him, "I raised you to lead this clan, and to bear this sword after me."
"It belongs in your hand," Methos insisted, "Take it."
Duncan then heard Mary. He heard his mother's voice say to him, "Take it. Take it, I say!"
Duncan took the sword from Methos.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Duncan walked through the woods, carrying the sword and a coil of a climbing rope with Methos following him. Duncan knelt besides a track lined hole in the ground.
He rappeled down through the hole into an underground structure. He looked around and found the spring. When he touched the tip of the claymore to the water, it glowed a bright phosphorescent green. Duncan stepped down into the pool and the surface of the water shimmering. He stood in the middle of the pool, the water waist high, and held the sword up in front of him, looking down at his reflection in the water.
Duncan opened his eyes to see his evil self standing in the brick archway of the underground structure.
"Here's Duncan!" Evil Duncan declared in a sing song tune before he declared, "Yes, it's me, but this time, I'm here to stay."
He twirled his katana and attacked. Duncan defended himself with the claymore. Evil Duncan stabbed at his good self, "Oh, that must hurt."
He laughed before the two Duncans continued their fight. Evil Duncan cut his good counterpart across the back and told him as they were parrying throughout the cavern, "Give up. We're one. Inseparable. You can't kill what you've become."
The fight continued.
"Give up, Dunkie," Evil Duncan stated before he swung his katana at his good counterpart's head.
"Oh," Duncan ducked but he ended up getting cut on the cheek.
"Oops," Evil Duncan replied before he bowed, "Thank you."
He looked at the katana blade, "Ah. Blood on there again."
He flicked the blade.
Duncan opened his eyes, still in the pool, "I'm sorry, Sean."
Sean appeared as a reflection in the water, "For what? It wasn't you who killed me. Fight him, MacLeod. Defeat him."
"I can't!" Duncan exclaimed.
"There is more that is noble in you then there is evil in all those you have destroyed," Sean told his friend, "Summon all you are, all you've been, all who've loved you."
Duncan found himself back in the battle in his mind, in his dream.
"Come on, Dunkie," Evil Duncan told him, "You know you've already lost. Kill me, kill yourself."
They continued fighting.
"It'll be the end of everything," Evil Duncan continued.
"Just you," Duncan told him, "Just you."
"Ah, suit yourself," Evil Duncan replied as the two Duncans continued their fight, "Oh, you can't drive me out. I know your thoughts."
"Then you know who I am," Duncan replied.
Evil Duncan badly stabbed his good counterpart, "You're nothing."
He swung his katana for the final blow, but Duncan blocked it.
"No! I am Duncan Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod," Duncan declared. He swung the claymore and beheaded his evil counterpart.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Methos cautiously approached the pool with Duncan's katana held behind his back.
"MacLeod?" he called out.
Duncan looked up at him from the pool, "It's over."
"Then I think this is yours," Methos replied before he held out his katana.
"Yeah," Duncan answered, "Yeah."
Methos laughed in relief, "Ohh."
Duncan held out his hand, "Here."
Methos pulled him out of the pool. Duncan was back to his normal self.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Duncan and Methos entered the barge, expecting a mess where the former trashed it earlier. Instead, they saw Rachel MacLeod, descendant to Duncan's clan, straightening up the barge.
"Rachel?" Duncan noticed her presence as he entered the barge, followed by Methos.
"I hope you don't mind," Rachel informed him, "I was just picking up."
"Uh, no," Duncan asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Your friend said you were in trouble," Rachel answered, "and that you needed your sword, so I gave it to him. He's a convincing lad."
"He's a persistent one too," Duncan added in.
"And then I started thinking," Rachel explained, "When I was in danger, and the MacLeod clan needed you, you helped us. I thought it was my turn."
She looked at him, "You are in trouble, aren't you?"
"Uh, not anymore," Duncan answered.
"Oh. I guess I can go then," Rachel replied.
"Well, n – n – You…." Duncan tried to say.
After an awkward pause, Rachel then said, "Or I can stay, if you like."
Duncan smiled, "Yeah. I'd like that."
"Listen," Methos spoke up, "I'd love to stay and chat, but Alexa's waiting for me in Athens. Uh….you kids be good now."
As he turned to go, Duncan placed a hand on his arm; a shared moment.
"Thanks, Adam," Duncan told his friend.
"No problem," Methos replied, "It's no big deal."
He smiled at Duncan and left the barge.
"Good friend you have there," Rachel said.
"Yeah, one of the best," Duncan replied.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Seattle
Tori looked over and she saw Richie with his new haircut. It was a nice clean cut look compared to his boyish looks he used to have.
"What do you think?" Richie asked.
"Oh, man," Tori answered as she held him in a loving embrace and played his hair with her fingers, "It's a nice haircut. I love it."
"Glad you think so," Richie smiled at her before they shared a kiss.
Tori heard a ping on her laptop. She walked over to the laptop and saw an email from Joe.
Tori,
Good news. Duncan MacLeod overcame the Dark Quickening. He is no longer the evil creep you and Richie encountered but I understand if you two need time and distance away from him.
- Joe Dawson
Tori smiled and sighed with relief. Everything turned out to be okay. Whenever they saw MacLeod again, he would be back to the Duncan MacLeod that they've come to know. Joe was right that they needed time and distance from Mac right now, and that was what Richie and Tori were going to do.
She heard another ping on her laptop. This time, it was an email from Methos, albeit under his alias of Adam Pierson.
Victoria,
Hello there. Hope you and Richie are doing well. I hope Joe had told you that MacLeod is no longer under the influence of the Dark Quickening. You can thank me for that.
Anyway, Alexa and I are going to take a trip to the Bahamas next through a cruise, and she suggested it but we thought it would be nice if you and Richie joined us in a double date on this cruise.
Given everything that had happened, I understand if you decline my offer.
- Methos aka Adam Pierson
"What email did you get?" Richie asked.
Tori looked over at him, "Joe let me know that Duncan is no longer under the dark quickening influence."
"That's good," Richie nodded, not really wanting to talk about him right now.
"And Methos wants us to go on a double date cruise," Tori added in.
"What?!" Richie exclaimed in surprise.
"He said Alexa offered the idea," Tori answered, "and Methos asked if we could go on a double date with him and Alexa in a cruise to the Bahamas."
"When?" Richie asked, "That does sound like a good idea."
"I'll ask him when the cruise is," Tori answered, "and let him know we're heavily considering it."
"I'm all for a cruise myself," Richie smiled, "We could use a break."
"I agree," Tori said as she proceeded to reply to Methos' email.
---------
Author's Commentary:
Duncan and Methos entered the barge, expecting a mess where the former trashed it earlier. Instead, they saw Rachel MacLeod, descendant to Duncan's clan, straightening up the barge.
"Rachel?" Duncan noticed her presence as he entered the barge, followed by Methos.
"I hope you don't mind," Rachel informed him, "I was just picking up."
"Uh, no," Duncan asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Your friend said you were in trouble," Rachel answered, "and that you needed your sword, so I gave it to him. He's a convincing lad."
"He's a persistent one too," Duncan added in.
"And then I started thinking," Rachel explained, "When I was in danger, and the MacLeod clan needed you, you helped us. I thought it was my turn."
She looked at him, "You are in trouble, aren't you?"
"Uh, not anymore," Duncan answered.
"Oh. I guess I can go then," Rachel replied.
"Well, n – n – You…." Duncan tried to say.
After an awkward pause, Rachel then said, "Or I can stay, if you like."
Duncan smiled, "Yeah. I'd like that."
"Listen," Methos spoke up, "I'd love to stay and chat, but Alexa's waiting for me in Athens. Uh….you kids be good now."
As he turned to go, Duncan placed a hand on his arm; a shared moment.
"Thanks, Adam," Duncan told his friend.
"No problem," Methos replied, "It's no big deal."
He smiled at Duncan and left the barge.
"Good friend you have there," Rachel said.
"Yeah, one of the best," Duncan replied.
Let me introduce you to Rachel MacLeod for a moment. She is Duncan MacLeod's descendant as well as the descendant to his clan, the Clan MacLeod. She is not to be mistaken for Rachel Walker, who is the half sister of Jedda Walker who will be in future Earth N stories. Let's get that cleared.
Tori looked over and she saw Richie with his new haircut. It was a nice clean cut look compared to his boyish looks he used to have.
"What do you think?" Richie asked.
"Oh, man," Tori answered as she held him in a loving embrace and played his hair with her fingers, "It's a nice haircut. I love it."
"Glad you think so," Richie smiled at her before they shared a kiss.
Tori heard a ping on her laptop. She walked over to the laptop and saw an email from Joe.
This scene was added to show Richie's new haircut which he would be shown to have in Season 5 as well as the rest of the Season 4 arc, as he will in the Season 5 arc.
"What email did you get?" Richie asked.
Tori looked over at him, "Joe let me know that Duncan is no longer under the dark quickening influence."
"That's good," Richie nodded, not really wanting to talk about him right now.
"And Methos wants us to go on a double date cruise," Tori added in.
"What?!" Richie exclaimed in surprise.
"He said Alexa offered the idea," Tori answered, "and Methos asked if we could go on a double date with him and Alexa in a cruise to the Bahamas."
"When?" Richie asked, "That does sound like a good idea."
"I'll ask him when the cruise is," Tori answered, "and let him know we're heavily considering it."
"I'm all for a cruise myself," Richie smiled, "We could use a break."
"I agree," Tori nodded as she proceeded to reply to Methos' email.
This is a teaser for the next chapter or two in which Richie and Tori are going on a double date with Methos and Alexa on a lovely cruise to the Bahamas while taking a break away from MacLeod, at least for a little bit.
---------
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.
Comments
Post a Comment