Disclaimer: Ok…I do not own the Watcher's therefore I do not own Highlander, I own only the people and the ideas that are not directly from the Highlander universe or recognizable from the Highlander Universe…With that said…I have a short explanation.
This was a quick idea that I had a while back and I finally sat down and got the first chapter written, I know there are a few stories about the watchers out there, but I hope mine is interesting. Basically the idea is the Watcher Academy and the process to becoming a Watcher.
However this will really only make sense if you've read my other Highlander fic, called "The Immortal Child" if you have not then some parts of this are not going to make sense. And for those of you who have read that story, this takes place in 1991, 11 years from where the fic currently is at the moment; but like I said this was an idea and I had to go with it while I had it.
This is the story of pre-watchers and how they become recognized Watchers, it also will give a Watcher's point of view of the immortals…If everyone likes this idea I will continue this, but as I said for confusion sake please try and read "Immortal Child" before reading this, if not you are gonna be asking yourself who one of the characters is and what his connection to the story is.
Thanks for putting up with the explanation, and I hope everyone enjoys this!
Jane rushed through the halls late for class as usual. She rounded the corner nearly taking out a fellow student as she ran past. Inside the lecture hall the professor was going through roll call,
"James Webber,"
"Here,"
"Jane Wilcox?" James, better known as Jim, looked around then down a few rows where Jane usually sat. His best friend, Will grinned and prodded his shoulder.
"Say Jim where's you're girlfriend?" Jim shrugged
"Running late…as usual."
"Yeah but she always manages to avoid getting in trouble, how the hell does she do it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about,"
"Yeah sure you don't,"
"Jane Wilcox?" the professor asked again, as Jane burst through the door.
"Sorry, Professor Davies I'm here…no…not late."
"Ah Ms. Wilcox, so nice of you to join us, I trust we're not interrupting your busy schedule?" Jane shook her head and headed to her seat. "Good"
"See avoided trouble again, I can't figure out how she does it." Jim shrugged
"Well now that Ms. Wilcox has decided to grace us with her presence we shall begin our latest lesson." He turned and wrote on the chalkboard: 'Adult responsibilities before Adulthood.' "Can anyone explain what I mean by this?"
"Easy immature immortals who think that the game is literally a game!" someone in the back said loudly.
"Mr. Brown answers like that will only keep you behind a desk. Now I ask you all once again?"
"Any immortal whose immortality was triggered before they turned 18?"
"Very good Ms. Wilcox very good indeed, now can anyone name a few of them? Only the ones still in the game if you please."
"Kenneth," a girl behind Jane answered
"Otherwise known as Kenny, been around since 1172 and the youngest looking of the immortals having died in 1182 when he was just ten years old yet a very old very evil ten year old at 800 years old now he didn't start off that way, in fact quite the contrary he was once a very good friend to Amanda and she possibly saw him as her own son and had things not gone the way they did, Kenny being what we can call evil may not have occurred. However does anyone know why we considerer Kenny evil?" Jim raised his hand
"Because he uses his innocence to con other immortals into believing he is little and helpless, they take him under their wings, let their guard down around him and when they least expect it he takes their head."
"Very well put Mr. Harrington," Davies said "Kenny believes that because of his small stature he wont stand a chance in actual combat, which may or may not be true. Very good there are still three others,"
"Theodore Butler," A girl named Michelle said.
"Ah yes, born in 1901, first death when he was just 17 his in an interesting story, took only three Quickenings before he resided himself to holy ground and was even a student of Darius for a time being, and is now in a little church in Spain. Two more,"
"Sarah Nelson." Will said
"Ms Nelson, just 15 when she died making her the third youngest looking; born in 1848 first death triggered in 1863 during the American Civil War." He paused after writing the last three names on the board, "And lastly?" Jane looked up and raised her hand, Davies nodded to her.
"Aaron MacLeod," she said clearly with a grin which Davies returned.
"Aaron MacLeod, now there is probably one of the most fascinating of the immortals. Can anyone tell me why?" At first there was only muttering everyone knew who Aaron was and why he was so important, but actual knowledge about him had only been heard by the students as they passed each other in the halls and no one wanted to give their answer only to find out it was only a rumor and get chastised for it. "Come on everyone, someone has to know something about the young MacLeod,"
"He's the second youngest looking immortal." A girl in front of Jane said
"Yes that is certainly true, but there is more to Aaron then just that factor. Tell me does anyone know what is so special about Aaron MacLeod?" when no one answered, Davies sighed "all right then let me ask this question what do we know about immortals we are watchers what do we know about them?"
"The only way they can die is by losing their head," Will said
"They can be good or bad, very few immortals are 100 good or bad. Kenny and Kurgan are prime examples of 100 bad while Darius and Theodore Butler are examples of 100 good." Michelle pointed out. Davies nodded, but those obviously weren't the answers he was looking for.
"No one knows where they came from," Davies whirled around to look at who had said that pointing at Steven who sat in front of Will spooking both boys a bit.
"AH HAH!" He exclaimed "that is it, no one knows where they came from," he repeated, "that is what makes Aaron so special, we know where he came from, he was not found by Duncan MacLeod and raised as his son, he was born to Rebecca McDonaldson and was fathered by Duncan MacLeod, what you have heard between each other is not a rumor. What makes Aaron MacLeod, so special so remarkable, is the fact that he is the only true child of an immortal. And he is to be part of our discussion for today." He paused and wrote 'Aaron MacLeod' on the board. "Can anyone tell me when Aaron was born?"
"1646," Will answered, Davies smiled and shook his head.
"True that year is very important time for Aaron, but that William is the year he experienced his first death. No Aaron was born December 8th 1634," he wrote the born and died years on the board.
"Can any of my mathematicians tell me some numbers here? How old was Aaron when became immortal?" Jane was good at math, but she didn't need to do any figuring to figure that out.
"12," She said "actually, 12 and half because he died in September and his birthday is in December. Davies nodded and wrote that under age of first death.
"Since Ms. Wilcox I know has studied the young MacLeod's file I will let her answer my next question, unless someone with exceptional math skills can beat her exceptional memory." He paused "how old is Aaron now?"
"357! Jane said beating everyone to the punch. Davies again nodded and wrote '1991' and under it 'equals 357.' Davies then put a finger to the side of his head and tapped it thoughtfully.
"Well now he three and a half centauries old, after Kenny he has lasted the longest of any child immortal in the game." He then turned and wrote the number twenty-six on the board. "Can anyone tell me what this number stands for?" A very timid boy in the front raised his hand
"How many times he has died?" Davies normally would have chastised a student for answering that kind of question wrong, but Luke was extremely shy and though he was very smart he often got his answers mixed up when answering them out loud.
"Sorry Luke no, by the time Aaron was forty-five he'd died at least that many times and now we're really not sure how many deaths he has exactly had, you need to remember how old the boy is and on that fact what he has done in the three and a half centauries he has been alive. For instance, Aaron technically served in the French and Indian war as what we would simple call today as a guerilla fighter a dangerous position for anyone, let alone a child, the American Revolution often as a drummer boy and a decoy whenever needed, the war of 1812, and the American Civil war and experienced the two world wars right on the front, living in Germany and England during the those times. Not to mention the uncountable deaths he must have faced as just a civilian, Aaron is not known for keeping his opinions to himself, I believe it is referred to as a MacLeod hotheadedness something that he along with his father and Connor all at times exhibit, it is also the same thing that resulted in his first death, his hotheaded manner added on with a adolescence lack of reasoning made him unable to see the consequences of taunting the soldiers. Though he is a good person, Aaron has a habit of opening his mouth before thinking. But that factor has I'm sure contributed to many of his deaths no one likes to hear that their wrong or hear someone else's opinions on something they feel strongly about especially when that thought is coming from a child, but freedom of speech is a right that Aaron excels at and gladly exercises leading him to trouble in less accepting areas. I'm sure even Aaron himself does not know the exact number. It's not exactly something one brags about or keeps score of for that matter. But I thank you for trying Luke, anyone else have any ideas?" a girl named Rebecca raised her hand just as timidly she was not AS shy as Luke, but she was just a freshmen and was in a class full of upperclassmen. "Yes Ms. Bennett?"
"How many heads he… he has taken?" Davies nodded grinning wide
"Wonderful Ms. Bennett, wonderful." Right in front of twenty-six he wrote 'number of Quickenings. "Yes believe it or not Aaron MacLeod has taken twenty-six heads. Now this is what makes Aaron different from Kenny, while Kenny waits until his opponents guard is down then unsuspectingly takes their head, Aaron waits until he is challenged then show his opponent that he may be smaller then them in stature, but he can fight and fight he does, many watchers have described it as he fights with the heart of a true warrior just as his father, grandfather, and the rest of his highland ancestors before him, including…Connor MacLeod." Davies signed shaking his head "got to love the watchers of the 17th and 18th centuries, what poets they were, especially when their poetry regarded the underdog coming out victorious in a fight. But they loved to compare Aaron and Connor, Aaron's style sometimes has a habit of reflecting both his father and Connor's, but there is a move that Aaron favors, especially when he is fighting larger and stronger opponents. This move was taught by Connor, Aaron holds back on the move until his opponent bears down against him forcing him to his knees, when he can no longer support the weight, Aaron ducks allowing the owner's sword to stab down at him, just in the nick of time he rolls out of the way as their sword plunges into the ground and during that split second Aaron wounds his opponent with a slice to the abdomen, bringing them to their knees."
"And it works?" Steve asked "this move, I mean it seems that he's gotta calculate that pretty precisely to avoid gettin' hit himself."
"True, Aaron has mastered this move, it took him nearly a hundred years, but he managed it. The move counts on the opponent throwing all their weight on their sword against Aaron, it throws them off balance. I personally have never seen the move in action, but from what I've been told by those who have seen it, it is amazing to watch. In fact I would suggest speaking to Aaron's current Watcher, Helen Goldberg if you are interested, she has seen the move and has described it to us in great detail. The best example of this? Zachary Hampton, Boston fall of 1975. That fight is one that I'm sure Aaron will never forget."
"But Aaron didn't go in there to kill Hampton,"
"No, and that is why it haunts him, Zachary Hampton was ready to end it all, he didn't mean to use Aaron as Death's assistant…but it happened, but that move is a characteristic of Aaron MacLeod and since Connor taught it to him, it has never been used by another immortal, because it does not work with anyone that is not a child, or at least small and agile enough to accomplish the three key parts of the move all at once. It is the one move that Aaron has mastered that his father has not even though Aaron has used it in sparing matches with his father, countless times."
"Sir, this may seem like a really stupid question, but isn't he about the same size as Kenny? I mean the two of them are pretty much the same age, physically speaking two years apart, and Aaron's a pretty small twelve year old to begin with" Jim said "how is it that Aaron can fight and Kenny can't if they pretty much the same size, even if Aaron doesn't use that special move of his? Or is it just that Kenny is convinced he can't fight so it's all subconscious?" Davies grinned even wider then before
"That my boy is not a stupid question, on the contrary that is one of the most intelligent questions you have had all year." Jim ducked his head going red grinning "Now for the answer to that brilliant question." The class laughed and Jim joined them. "Now both boys were born during very dangerous times and in dangerous lands not very far from one another. For Kenny there was the constant threat of Norman invasions, invasions which resulted in his first death. Aaron on the other hand it was the occupation of Scotland by the English, which resulted in his first death, and the constant wars being raged throughout the country, some battles between Scots trying to reclaim their freedom from the English, which resulted in his separation from his father, and also the Clan wars. Both boys were raised knowing the dangers that surrounded them, how ever unlike the couple that took Kenny in, MacLeod felt that it would be safer if Aaron knew a little bit of swordsmanship.
"Not to mention MacLeod was a Chieftain's son and a warrior within his own clan, it was just second nature for him to begin to teach his son the same skills his father had taught him, he simply believed that Aaron would grow up to do as his father had done fight for whatever cause was out there. The threat of wars being raged and constant attacks was so much of a threat back then it was a daily occurrence, that was part of the reason historians believe that Scotland was unable to regain control of it's country, because the clans themselves could not come together and stand as a country. Believing that his son would grow up he was to grow to become a warrior a soldier for the Scottish cause, the thought never crossed MacLeod's mind that Aaron would for one thing be immortal like himself, and or have his immortality triggered at such a young age." He paused for a moment "now as far as Kenny is concerned, we don't know what might have happened had he not gotten separated from Amanda so early, I'm sure she would have taught him all that Rebecca had taught her if they'd had more time together. Aaron was with his father for nearly fifteen years after he became immortal, before they too became separated.
"That was fifteen extra years plus the twelve Aaron had lived as a mortal, that MacLeod had to teach Aaron how to handle a sword, the rules of the game, and to make sure his son stayed honorable, while Kenny only knew that bigger and stronger immortals would be after his head and he had to do whatever he must to survive, while Aaron also knew the same thing, knew that he was the underdog in a game meant strictly for adults, thanks to MacLeod's encouragement, Aaron also knew that he could be just as strong he just would have to work harder then his fellow immortals to survive." Davies paused again and looked around at the class. "Now it may seem to some of you that I am spending quite a lot of time on Kenny and Aaron and not on the other two why is that?"
"Because Butler's only taken what three heads and is now permanently on Holy Ground and Sarah hasn't been seen since the Korean War?" A girl name Crystal guessed.
"True, true, but not the real reason." When no one else raised their hands or submitted an answer Davies sighed. "I cannot believe none of you can see it, we spend so much time on Aaron and Kenny because look at them, so different yet so much alike." Davies turned to the board and started to erase the information on Aaron "I do hope everyone has copied this by now." After he erased everything, Davies wrote 'Aaron' on one side and 'Kenny' on the other. "Now can anyone give me things that Kenny and Aaron have in common aside from the fact that both are older then we are and are immortal if you please?" No one spoke for a few minutes; finally, Will raised his hand.
"No one really takes them serious in the game, but both of them have outlasted A LOT of immortals a lot of extremely strong and old immortals, and a lot of those losses were at their own hands because they were underestimated. Even though one cheats and the other actually fights, they were completely taken too lightly by their fellow immortals" Davies smiled and nodded
"Excellent William, excellent." He paused for a moment "Imagine for a moment that you all are immortal and you are say about 25 at the prime of any life, you're an excellent swordsmen or women you've taken a few heads even though you've only been immortal for about a year or so. Suddenly your next challenge is this four foot six inch tall twelve year old who probably weighs the same amount as your Labrador Retriever wielding a 2 foot long short sword which looks more like a dagger to you then a sword compared to yours, while you the older looking stronger immortal carry a 4 foot long broadsword. What would be your first reaction to this?" many laughed, especially about the lab part. "Honestly, what would you're reaction be people?"
"I'd probably be like, this isn't even a challenge why bother?" James said
"Evil as it sounds, most would probably say easy pickings." Will said Davies nodded
"Both answers are correct and therein is the problem,"
"For Aaron and Kenny?" Crystal asked
"No for their fellow immortals, take Aaron for example, as I said before he waits to be challenged, but when he is challenged the challenger believes lady luck is on his side and this will be an easy quickening. Everyone who has challenged Aaron has challenged him based on these simple assumptions and calculation that this is a child therefore easily disposed of, now look at the facts they are dead and Aaron is still here." He paused "on the other hand, the same is true for Kenny, immortals see a child immortal, feel for him, and most, especially the good hearted ones, feel the need to take this child and protect him from other immortals. While Aaron tends to make it perfectly clear that he is capable of taking care of himself and only takes help when he desperately needs it, Kenny uses the idea of his inability to take care of himself to his advantage. There is your next similarity,"
"What sir?" James asked
"Both boys are aware of their handicap so to speak, and use it to their advantage." The classes look of confusion told Davies that that point wasn't hitting them at least not yet. "Immortals see Aaron and see him as an easy quickening, so they attack not using full strength, after all why waste that strength on something so small, with this kind of overconfidence, mistakes are easily made, mistakes that cost the immortal his life. Immortals see Kenny and let their guard down by seeing him as harmless and weak, with this they are not seeing the broader picture, and as a result lose their head. Different tactics, different values, same use of the fact that everyone believes they are easy pickings and harmless." Davies chuckled a little bit "Aaron may be a good person, but he is anything, but harmless and he knows this, this gives him a tiny fraction of similarity to Kenny. Understand now?" Now the class began nodding slowly and Davies knew he had gotten them. "Now then…I want for next Friday three pages minimum paper comparing and contrasting Kenny and Aaron, I want research done on this people, and that doesn't include your notes, talk to watchers, read the chronicles, that is research that is what we do, we are historians and we are researchers, I want a work cited page included on your sources. I want to be sure that you are researching the material and not just getting it from each other. Any questions?"
"Can we interview their watchers?" Jane asked, Davies rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment pondering this idea,
"If you can get a hold of them, Helen Goldberg is in Seacouver right now, but I can give you the number to Juniper Street Books, Joe Dawson is at that bookstore, as the Northwest coordinator he's in charge out there, he'll be able to put you in touch with Helen, with Aaron living with his father and Ms. Noel, there really hasn't been much activity on him and for the first time in a long time we do not have to go all about the globe searching for the boy." Davies finished as the class chuckled
"What about Kenny's?" Will spoke up
"Marcy Wolengard might be a little more difficult to get in touch with, Kenny's been on the move lately and keeping track of him is getting rather difficult we had wind of him back in '74 after he had killed Beth Ross and took off, that was the last time anyone has heard about the boy…in a way that's probably a good thing."
"How old was she?" James asked, behind the group of three, the rest of the class was packing up and heading out for another class; like his girlfriend, James found the idea of kid immortals interesting, being kind of on the small side himself and being picked on for it as a young kid, it was kind of cool to hear about two kids who were surviving their permanent adolescence and permanent smallness. "Sir?" Davies sighed and took off his glasses cleaning them on a handkerchief,
"Mrs. Ross was forty five getting ready to celebrate her forty-sixth birthday which would've been a week after her death, she was mortal, wife to an immortal by the name of Dallman Ross, the couple took Kenny in and treated him like the son they would never have, in return he killed her, because she stopped him from killing her husband." The three teens exchanged a nervous look. "Kenny took off after that, rumor has it he's somewhere in the US but no one is sure where, Marcy has been trying to track him for seven years now, after his previous watcher retired." Davies paused once more and put his glasses back on "I would suggest getting in touch with Helen however, we graduated together, she's been Aaron's watcher since the early 70s and is very helpful, Joe Dawson might not be a bad idea either."
"Why?" Will asked
"He is Duncan MacLeod's watcher,"
"Aaron's father?"
"The one and the same, if anyone knows more about Aaron MacLeod then Helen Goldberg it's probably Joe Dawson." The three teens nodded thanks and headed out of the lecture hall into the slightly crowded hall.
"I knew Kenny was kinda nutsie and evil, but to go as far as killing a mortal in cold blood like that? Man…" Will said hiking his bag up over his shoulder and looking at his friends.
"Yeah I know," Jim agreed with a nod, "I mean I know they gotta survive by however they can, but that's pretty out there, killin' the guy's wife just 'cause she got in the way of Kenny killin' her husband? Damn..."
"You know what would be really wicked to see?" Will exclaimed in his heavy Bostonian accent, Will had a short attention span, except on subjects that really interested him, it was pretty much a known fact that he would make a lousy chronicler or researcher like James wanted to be, but he would make a good field agent because he would be able to keep up with whoever he was assigned to…easily.
"What?" Jane dared venture to ask
"A fight 'tween Kenny and Aaron! That would so rock!" Jane shook her head as Jim grinned wide
"No it wouldn't Will,"
"Aw come on Jane why not? The two most infamous kid immortals of all time going head to head in a fight, it be like…like…Superman versus Wolverine, two indestructible Super Heroes going at it in a fight to the death!" Jane's frown became even more noticeable
"That would be horrible to see, they are not superheroes Will; they are people, despite how old they really are, Kenny and Aaron are kids!"
"Yeah kids that carry swords and cut peoples head's off" Jim chimed in "and besides Janie," he put his arm around her shoulders comforting her "they'd never be in fight with one another anyways, there's no way Kenny would ever challenge someone no matter how close to his size they were and he wouldn't fight 'em, and Aaron wouldn't face Kenny unless he was provoked and even then Kenny would probably just find a way to weasel himself out of the situation, before Aaron could attack." Jane nodded and leaned into Jim's comforting hug.
"It still be interesting to see…in the name of history of course." Jim and Jane rolled their eyes at Will.
"Dude just drop it," Jim replied
"Fine…after you two answer me one question…"
"Oi…ok what?"
"Hypothetically, if Aaron and Kenny were to fight each other…who do you think would win?" Appalled that he was still going on the idea of the two boy's fighting each other, Jane shook her head angrily; Jim however thought this over carefully.
"Are we talking an actual fight not a guerrilla type fight?"
"I'm talking about a full out swords clashing, face to face kinda thing…who would win…I'm completely serious on this!"
"Neither…" Jane said "because it will and would never happen,"
"Aaron," Jim said looking at her "Aaron hands down, Kenny may be older then him, but Aaron's had more experience actually fighting, Kenny's only experienced with sneak attacks and quick beheadings, in an actual fight he's useless."
"That's all I wanted to know" Will said softly, offering Jane an apologetic smile, which at first she didn't return, but prodding in the ribs by Jim changed that. "Say you two love birds in the mood for lunch?" they nodded "good 'cause I'm starving and we still have an hour 'fore Professor Goode's incredibly long and boring lecture on the founding of the Watchers and how they came to be…" he finished in a dry and dragged out voice, imitating very well their least favorite Professor, who taught the History of the Watchers and their purpose. Jane, Jim, and Will all laughed at Will's impression as they headed towards the dinning hall of 'Watcher's Academy' as it was jokingly called throughout the school.
So good, bad? No comment? Need to see more before making any comments? Just let me know…Please no flames, only reviews and constructive criticism allowed. Thanks guys and hope you enjoyed this!
(bows)
Sharpsnout