"Dust in the Wind"

Author: David
Email: cameraman_dc@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, it does not belong to me. I am in no way associated with the WB, the UPN, Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, Gregory Widen, Davis/Panzer Productions, or Rysher Entertainment.
Summary: The world of Aliens and the world of Immortals are about to collide. (x-over w/ Highlander)
Category: Crossover
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action/violence. (Don't worry, nothing too graphic.)
Feedback : Go For It!

Chapter 1

Crashdown Cafe
October 6, 2000
5:00 PM

Richie walked into the cafe after a long day of riding his bike. He had promised Mac he would deliver an antique sword to an "old" friend of his. Of course this delivery included him driving all the way from Seacouver to El Paso. Richie didn't mind though, he loved the open road, and now he was heading back.

He had never been to Roswell, and decided to give it a look. The moment he rode into town he knew he would like this place. Almost everything in town was alien related, include the cafe he was in now. The thing that caught his attention most was the large UFO replica above the cafe. He just had to stop inside and see what it was like.

Richie took a seat on a stool at the counter, and brushed some dust off his leather jacket. He noticed a cute little blonde walking towards him from behind the counter.

"Hello and welcome to the crashdown cafe," the cute little blonde said pen and pad in hand. "May I take your order?"

"Nothing really, I've been driving all day," Richie said. "I just thought I'd come in and rest for a moment."

"Okay," the cute little blonde said. "Just let me know if you need anything."

As Richie watched the cute little blonde walking away, swaggering her hips he began to feel a bit parched. He could definitely go for something to drink and at the same time start a conversation with the cute little blonde.

But before Richie could say anything he sensed the presence of an immortal nearby. He quickly looked from left to right. Then he noticed that this feeling was weaker, not as strong as the average immortal. Richie knew it could only mean one thing, he was sensing someone that would become immortal.

Richie then felt it coming from behind him.

Richie looked over his shoulder to the booth where he noticed two kids sitting across from each other. The first one was a tall young man, kind of wiry and gangly. The other was an equally tall voluptuous blonde that looked like she could pose for MAXIM magazine. Richie found himself wondering if the two of them were a couple. They certainly didn't seem like they were each other's type. But he could tell by the way the boy was staring at the girl that there was some kind of attraction between the two of them.

Richie kept wondering which one of the two was immortal, it had to be one of them. But which one? He was broken out of his thoughts as a someone approached their table. The two teens stopped their conversation and the blonde looked at the newcomer in awe. Richie laughed to himself as the boy quickly reached his hand out to shake. Poor kid, he didn't realize he didn't stand a chance against the older guy. After a moment the stranger left the cafe.

Richie noticed a heavy silence fall upon the two teens. Soon afterwards the blonde got up from her seat in the booth and left. The kid stayed in his seat, drinking his orange soda. It was then that Richie knew it was the kid he could sense would become immortal. Richie left his stool at the counter and walked over the young man.

"Mind if I join you?" Richie asked gesturing to the empty seat.

The boy was hesitant for a moment before responding.

"Not at all," the kid said shrugging his shoulders.

Richie sat down, extended his hand across the table, and introduced himself to the young man.

"The name's Richie Ryan," Richie said. "You?"

The boy shook the hand, told Richie his name, and went back to drinking his soda.

"So is she your girlfriend?" Richie asked nodding his head in the direction the blonde left.

"I don't know," the kid responded.

Richie had seen that look before, he had seen it on Duncan's face a hundred times. It was the look of heartbreak. The look of loving someone and not having that love returned. It was the look Duncan had when Tessa died, it was the look he had when Anne left him, and most recently when Amanda no longer spoke to him. Amanda had told Duncan that she need some time to think. Richie thought that was funny considering Duncan and Amanda had known each other for close to three hundred years.

Richie turned his attention back to the young man. Over the next half hour the two talked about sports, music, and practically everything else. As it turned out the kid liked to play dodge ball, and in his spare time he played lead bass in a band. Of course the kid made sure to change the subject, whenever they came to discussing girls.

For some reason Richie liked the kid, he saw something in him that he rarely saw in anyone else. He just couldn't put his finger on it. But then he looked the kid in the eye, and saw what it was. Contentment. He believed that the kid was quite content with his life in general, but there was something missing. There was something that he wanted. Something that either he couldn't have or didn't want him.

Richie knew there was something he had to do. He decided to bring the conversation to a close and get started on his plan.

"Well it was nice meeting you," Richie said shaking the kid's hand.

"It was nice meeting you too," the kid said. "May we can meet again someday?"

"I'm sure we will," Richie said under his breath.

"Say is there a pay phone around here?" Richie asked as he stood up, stretching his back.

"Yeah it's near the back," the kid said. "you can't miss it."

"Thanks," Richie said heading towards the back.

Richie made his way to the back, doing his best to avoid bumping into customers. As he finally made it to the phone, he reached into his pocked and withdrew the change he needed. Richie put his money into the phone and dialed the number of an old friend.

After a few rings the phone was answered.

"Hello, Joe Dawson speaking," Joe said over the phone.

"Hey Joe it's Richie," Richie said into the receiver.

"Richie, where you at?" Joe asked.

"Roswell," Richie said.

"As in the place where that ship supposedly crashed?" Joe asked.

"That's the one," Richie said with a smile on his face.

"So have you met any little green men?" Joe asked jokingly.

"Nope," Richie said casting a glance towards the kid. "But I did meet someone I think the watchers might be interested in."

"An immortal?" Joe asked, his voice becoming serious.

"Not yet," Richie replied. "I need a favor."

"What?" Joe asked.

"I need you to put one of your watchers on him," Richie said.

Richie could hear Joe sigh over the phone. Richie knew that Joe's status among the watchers was strained due to their involvement in the past.

"Listen Joe I sat down and had a little chat with the kid," Richie said. "He's a good kid, and he doesn't know what's coming. All I'm asking is that when the kid dies let me know, he's gonna need someone to help him."

"Alright Richie I will," Joe replied.

"You know Richie I always considered you lucky," Joe said. "You had the great Duncan Macleod there to teach you."

"Yeah," Richie said. "I've always thought I was lucky too. If it weren't for Duncan, I don't know what would have happened to me. That's why I want to be there for this kid, to make sure he can make it."

"So does this kid have a name?" Joe asked.

"Alex Whitman," Richie said.

TBC...