From the dawn of time we came; moving silently down through the centuries, living many secret lives, struggling to reach the time of the Gathering; when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you... until now." Juan Ramirez

"In the beginning this was our belief, fight to the last for there can be only one. But as time unfolded and generations continue to be born it was realised that the one was revealed to be whom was deemed worthy to claim the power of the immortal source. My uncle Duncan Macleod was meant to be the one. But a new evil has risen from the shadows and a new battle will follow. I am Christopher Macleod son of John, grandson to the great warrior Connor and I am immortal and this my story; the rebooting of the gathering"

(2000)

In the Marrakesh desert a small village peacefully sat amidst the dune sea. Inside the village limits a young boy and his father sat around their dinner table, the boy was no older than 14 and had no knowledge of his potential but that would change as the winds of fate swirled and carried a storm of sand from beyond the dunes.

A stranger rode into to the village upon a camel with his face concealed in cloth his only identification was the pair of silver crosses embedded in the heels of his boots. A flash of grey glistened from the confines of his coat as he approached the door marked MacLeod's.

"Christopher eat your carrots" his father politely ordered.

The boy continued to roll and poke at his carrots leaning his head on his hand with a bored expression "I'm not hungry" he replied dropping his fork on the table and leaving the room.

"huh teenagers" the father sighed before he began gathering up their dishes all the while wondering if he was this much of pain to his father when he was Christopher's age "I should really call dad and apologise" he chuckled to himself as he slowly started washing the plates unaware that Christopher had slipped out through his bedroom window.

The house seemed quieter than it normally did, the empty halls felt chilled and haunting like death was lurking in the shadows waiting for his next victim. An eerie indescribable chill set in, the feeling of being watched clung to the hairs on the back of his neck "hello? Christopher?" he called. Nothing but emptiness and silence was his return being a cautious man ever since he was abducted by Kane a mad man hell bent on revenge against his father John quickly ran to a nearby desk and pulled a small pistol from the drawer and began making his way through the darkness of the house.

"That won't be necessary or useful dear boy" came a cold lifeless voice from the shadows.

John spun on his heels with the gun pointed at a man with slick blond hair dressed in a black trench coat "who are you?" he demanded.

The man stood unfazed even with a gun pointed at his face he stood completely calm with a wickedly evil grin cut into his face "you could say I'm an…old acquaintance of your adoptive father" he snickered. John tightened his grip on his pistol ignoring the sweat soaking inside his palms "Connor and I go back a ways, and I'm planning a surprise reunion" there was something sinister in his voice as he spoke. His words were like ice digging into John's soul this man scared him unlike any fear he ever felt before. "As for why I am here…I have a message for Connor" in a swift swing of his arm the stranger drew a sword from within his coat and cut John off at the neck. the momentum of the cut threw his head feet away from his body which toppled over the sofa and the stranger stowed his blade as if nothing happened and calmly walked over to light a candle "every soul you ever cared about I will take…and then when you are alone and begging for death I'll grant it to you" he cackled maniacally to himself before throwing the lit candle on the sofa letting it ignite and grow beyond control.

Christopher found his way to meet up with his friends shooting cans and bottles just in the desert, bullet after bullet was fired into the vast endless dune sea. Wasting time as teenagers tend to do none of them noticed the blazing flames glowing within the village they continued into the long hours of night fading with it.

The sun would rise the next day wisps of smoke glided over the sand ashes floated upon the winds as the remains of the Macleod homestead smoldered away. A crowd of people surrounded the area whispers of concern for John and his boy quickly arose. Several men scavenged through the charred foundation sifting through the remains until a headless body was discovered.

Christopher and his friends returned to the village to find the carnage and destruction that had befallen his home, a gut wrenching churning motion soon set in as the young teenager gazed upon the destruction he felt sick and the foul smell of burnt hair and flesh only worsened his state, he keeled over and started heaving into the sand the realisation had yet to sink that his father and home where gone forever.

It wasn't for another 30 minutes when he sat in his friend Kiera's house sipping on tea did Christopher finally come to terms with what happened he felt empty inside, shattered like a glass vase asking himself What if? "If I had only stayed maybe I could have done something and this wouldn't have happened" Christopher kept asking himself questions and scenarios about how if maybe he could have made a difference. So there he sat with his head in his hands distraught and lost in the comfort of his best friend's home with Kiera rubbing his shoulder trying to comfort him.

Miss Zegstrea hung up the phone and returned to the living room "Chris I just got off the phone with your grandpa, he's on the next plane out…you sure you don't want me to call your mother? She'll be petrified when she hears about this and hasn't heard from you" she told him.

Chris however kept his eyes fixed on the floor, if he didn't stay focused on one target he would be dizzy and the last thing he wanted to discuss was his mother especially right now. "She left a long time ago, she lost the right to know what happens to me" he coldly replied.

Miss Zegstrea recognised his tone and quickly eased off the subject despite John being adopted Christopher had taken on many of Connor MacLeod's traits including a certain testiness about certain topics. "Ok sweetie that's your decision. You kids get some rest though you've had a rough morning why don't you stay here and just process Connor should be here in roughly 10 hours. Do you need anything?" she asked as she gently rubbed his back before leaving the house leaving the two teens alone.

Kiera leaned up against his shoulder pulling him tightly to her "I'm so sorry Chris…I can't even imagine what you're going through" she whimpered

"Thank you Kiera to be honest having you and your mom take me in is a big help" Chris replied. He wasn't lying either he truly did appreciate their kindness and having a place to hide was far better than the idea of trying to sift through ashes to salvage something of his home and the warmth of a carrying homestead did help ease the pain. Kiera kissed his cheek and went to the fridge brining back a newly opened bottle of wine.

"This might help you feel better faster than tea" she said with a wink. They sat on the couch sipping on the wine eventually succumbing to their more repressed feelings for each-other Kiera pulled Chris up onto her his hand cradled her legs and flowed up to her face cupping her cheeks passionately kissing her while her nimble hands scratched and played with his hair. Kiera seemed to have found a way to help take Chris's mind off everything for the next several hours when a man with orangish brown hair brown hair and tanned windbreaker walked in escorted by Miss Zegstrea the man seemed no older than early 30s and at first impressions none would ever guess he was Christopher's grandfather Connor Macleod.

Chris embraced grandfather he hadn't seen Connor in two years and now they would reunite because of a tragedy "it's good to see you again Christopher I'm glad to see your safe" Connor said stepping back from his grandson with a relived smile, Connor was aware of the details from Miss Zegstrea and it was because of how his son was killed that he feared for Christopher's safety; Connor sensed something dormant inside his grandson something similar to himself and anyone unfamiliar with this sense could have mistaken the two and killed John. "I know this is hard for you it is for me to but if I'm right and I pray I am not you're still in danger here…Christopher I want to bring you home to New York to keep you safe, to teach you how to look after yourself" Connor finished.

Chris looked over his shoulder back into the kitchen where Kiera, her mother and sister where sitting down to dinner thinking to himself if he could just walk away after what they just expressed to each-other an emotion Connor easily saw through "you'd be endangering her and her family if you stayed. I know you care for her and that's why you need to leave with me you must leave her son" he warned "…god I'm starting to sound like that Spanish peacock" Connor laughed to himself. Chris looked back and forth to Kiera and Connor he didn't wish to leave and every fiber of his being told him to stay with her…except his heart. In his heart he knew Connor was right if he was being targeted he would be endangering her,

With a heavy heart Chris nodded "ok I'll go with you, but can I at least say good bye first?" he pleaded.

Connor nodded "it's best you do it before the funeral, that's one too many losses for one day" he told him.

The funeral was a beautiful ceremony where a lot of kind heart felt words were said about John Macleod. As the morning shifted to day people began parting Connor stood at the foot of his son's grave with a rose in hand saying his good byes while Chris walked Kiera back to her mother's car saying his own goodbyes choking on his own words with every syllable.

"it's not forever…just for now" he told her taking her hands in his looking her square in the eyes her big brown eyes locked in on his bright blue ones.

Kiera was sadden to say the least but weirdly it was almost as if she was at peace like she knew it was coming, "I never gave up on you, you know. Not really I knew if we ever did finally get to be with each other it wouldn't be forever…you're different Chris…I always knew you would leave just thought it would be later in life…" Kiera sniffled and smiled as she gave him a gentle peck on the cheek "maybe we'll see each other again but for now…I'll see you later" she sniffled as she ducked into the car and her mom drove away.

(2006)

The years passed by faster than one would assume Connor taught Chris methods of discipline and sword play to require focus and concentration 6 short years and Chris was learning his grandfather's code of Morales.

The now 22 year old was attending E.S.U as a history major, an interest he developed from living above an antique store. Connor raised Chris as if he were his own son and in 6 years Connor didn't seem to age a day until recently. Chris's uncle Duncan was visiting New York with Connor he had come from Paris so they spent the day wandering the city streets because it was reading week Chris was left to sleep in unknown to Connor he slept in awaking only to the sound of doorbell in the store.

Chris reached the bottom steps to see a much older woman looking over Connors desk at pictures "Connor are you home?" she called out.

Chris was about to speak when a massive fire ball exploded from the desk drawer the heat and massive force of the explosion destroyed everything within the apartment store the woman was consumed in fire as was Chris the last thing he could remember was an intense heat that had no rivalry short of the sun and the raining glass…then came the darkness he knew he was dead.

"Chris? Chris get up!" echoed a distant blurry voice as Chris slowly awoke in daze he could hear cackling of fire and the screaming of sirens as he finally came to he felt a pair of hands lift him to his feet "Chris get on your feet son" even dazed he knew his grandfather's voice "Duncan get him out of here! Get him safe!"

Chris felt himself being dragged through an alley way by another person and was tossed into the back seat of a car "wha...what's happening where am I?" he slurred "how am I not dead?"

"It's a long story Chris and I promise I will explain but right now we have to get you out of here before someone notices you're alive"

Chris rubbed his eyes and the hazy shadow cleared into the form of Duncan Macleod "Duncan?" he choked.

"I know this sounds crazy Chris but you're immortal you belong to a secret race of historical warriors you can't die. Son but there are dangers to what you are and in time when you're safe I'll explain everything" Duncan blurted.

"Immortal?" Chris groaned "as in there can be only one? I thought those were just stories dad told me at bedtime when I was a kid"

"Every story comes from somewhere Chris I'll help you learn what you are the same way Connor helped me"

"Where is grandpa?"

hey everyone hope you enjoyed the start to Highlander: the gathering rebooted as im sure you've noticed this takes place after the events of end game and soon the source but it does involve aspects of the original and the series.

ive been tinkering with this idea for a while now so please review comments are always welcome and suggestions on how to improve this story let me know what you think of it please