A Tangled Web Part 5: How Much Is Too Much?

by ordinaryguy2

Battle lines are being drawn against the Borg once again as they invade the multiverse. This time we see heroes from Babylon 5/Crusade, Smallville, Highlander, Touched By An Angel, Brimstone, X-Files, Pretender and many more. Including a number of characters from law enforcement & detective shows.

11. Chapter 11

A TANGLED WEB PART 5: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

By Charlie Nelson

AuThOr'S NoTeS

There are a lot of characters here. I will have a list of them at the end of the chapter in order of appearance. You can also look them up on the Internet Movie Datebase or Google them.

Chapter 11

ROSEMONT CONVENTION CENTER

HALL ON THE MAIN FLOOR

Broots had been helping Chloe Sullivan and Thomas Magnum set Clark Kent up in a chair, when he noticed those arguing in the background suddenly go silent. Looking over his shoulder, he saw that Remington Steele, Kenny and even Connor MacLeod were all still and fearful.

It was Remington that broke the silence. "Did someone just…?"

Connor tilted his head as if trying to hear something. "Damn right they did," he said with a terrible tone of melancholy.

"But there used to be a church on this site!" exclaimed Kenny. The younger appearing Immortal had the inert form of K-9 under one arm and fiercely clenching his machete with his free hand. "It's still considered holy ground! I could feel it as soon as I got here! No one is supposed to-"

"Evidently someone still did," Connor coldly cut him off.

Remington looked down both ends of the hall. One end led back the fight on the staircase with the Borg and the other end led further into the center. "We have to get out of here."

The drone of Joe Dawson interrupted. "You're talking about a quickening?"

Connor nodded.

"What's a 'quickening'?" asked Broots, who had now come over to see what all the excitement was about.

"We must leave," said the drone. "I have detected a massive buildup of energy in the basement level of this facility."

"How do I get down there?" Connor asked the drone, in a manner both urgent and demanding.

Remington put a staying hand on Connor's shoulder. "If it was Duncan down there, then he is beyond your help. But a quickening on holy ground… I heard about Pompeii. We really need to get out of here."

"Pompeii?! What are you talking about?" Broots asked with growing concern.

"Grab everyone and follow me," instructed the Joe Dawson drone. His four drone companions turned toward the far end of the hall. "They have been sent to try contain the blast," he said as way of explanation as he led the group to one of the smaller auditoriums.

"Blast?!" Broots cried out loud. "What blast?"

Kenny kicked Broots in the shin hard to get his attention. "Do you want to keep asking stupid questions until the blast ends your sorry existence or do you want to try get out of here?"

Broots hobbled along in pain, but quickly followed after the drone. Thomas Magnum was already helping Chloe Sullivan get Clark Kent back on his feet. Lana Lang tried arguing against moving Clark but once she saw she wasn't being heeded she followed along ceasing her voiced frustrations.

"Clark, can you get us out of here?" Chloe asked.

"He's having enough problems standing right now, miss," commented Magnum. "Even so, we'll all do our best to get everyone out of here."

"Clark?" Chloe asked again.

Clark nodded wearily. "Just get me next to an outside wall. I'll make the hole for us."

"Not necessary," interjected the Joe Dawson drone. The drone raised its main weapon on its left arm and sent out a beam of dark green energy that radiated on the far wall for three seconds before leaving a hole six feet wide and six feet high. "There is your egress. Go quickly."

Kenny and Broots were the first to step out into the night air. They could see the lights of city sparkling in the distance. Also, they could make out a few black ops in the distance pointing weapons toward them. They didn't hesitate but continued on out trying not to appear dangerous.

Broots looked down at Kenny who was carrying the metal dog, K-9. "Hey, what happened to your machete?"

Kenny just smiled. Not exactly an innocent smile, but a happy one just the same. "Man, I don't know what you're talking about?"

Broots shook his head in disbelief to all that had happened. "I don't know what's going on at all anymore."

"It's probably better that way," Kenny responded.

When they got near the black ops, Remington explained that a massive bomb was about to explode and that they needed to clear the area. The drones filing out caused more problems though with their hands up over their heads it was genuinely accepted that they were surrendering much to everyone's relief. Joe Dawson had led a group of twelve drones out when everyone began feeling the ground shake.

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SECOND FLOOR OF CONVENTION CENTER

"We need to leave this building," Detective Jim Ellison, the group's current drone guide suddenly spoke up.

"I thought that was what we are doing," Helen Tasker said.

"Energies are being released below us that if you remain here you will not survive."

"What kind of energies?" asked Lennie Briscoe.

"Electrical for the most part, also temporal and quantum. Some of the energy is unlike any the Borg have ever come across." The drone went still as it appeared to be concentrating. Its massive weapon arm moved slowly back and forth in a similar manner to that of someone using a handheld metal detector. "Fascinating."

Briscoe looked to the back of the line of people following them. Somewhere back there Lee Stetson had gone to check on something or other. Briscoe hadn't wanted to leave Helen alone to deal with the drone leading them so had reluctantly stepped forward to help her out even though it seems now that she was quite capable on her own. "Hey, Inspector Gadget. I thought you said we had to get out of here."

Just then, Helen let out a shriek as she felt the floor move beneath her feet. The Ellison drone managed to keep her from falling but Briscoe had to steady himself against the wall. Others that were behind them also were trying to keep their footing.

"Did you hear that?" Helen asked.

"Heard it?" exclaimed Briscoe. "I sure felt it!"

"No, I think I heard my name called."

"The caller is coming up behind us," the drone simply said.

"But-" Any questions she had left her as she saw her husband pushed past Rick and A.J Simon and one of his black ops team members. "Harry!"

"Helen!" Harry Tasker swooped his wife up in a bear hug and planted a big kiss on her. "I thought we agreed on no more aircraft crashes," he chided her.

"We agreed that YOU wouldn't be in any more aircraft crashes. We didn't say anything about me." Helen smiled flirtingly.

"Lee said you were fine but it's good to see that for myself."

"How did you get in here?" she asked.

"Wouldn't a better question be how do we get out of here?" Briscoe asked snidely.

"We go down the main staircase and out the front door," said a new drone they had come up to. "I find that that is usually the best way."

"I like it," said Harry. "And just who are you? What is going on here? Lee mentioned something about a faction group helping everyone escape." He paused for a moment as recognition began to set in. "And aren't you the spokesman for you group, Brainiac?"

"Too many questions for right now," said Lex Luthor. "But I'd be happy to answer all of your questions once everyone is safely outside."

"I've been wanting to do just that all night," commented Briscoe.

Another tremor going through the building stilled Harry's initial questions. He, his wife, and everyone else followed Lex and his drones to the main staircase. There they met up with more of Lex's drones that had been fighting Dverl's drones on the staircase. What remained of Dverl's drones could be seen spasming out of control as arcs of energy seemed to spill over them charring flesh and fusing metal.

"Dverl is no longer a threat. He dies along with his drones," Lex said to answer their unasked questions. "Dverl had been connected to a power source that he could not contain. Or that would not allow him to contain it." Without further explanation, Lex and the drones headed down first and cleared the path.

One of Dverl's drones twitching on the steps exploded without warning, killing a drone next to Lex and almost pushing the 'Brainiac' over the railing. Harry, Briscoe and the Ellison drone steadied Lex and kept him from falling over.

"Things are a little more volatile than I had assessed," Lex said. "If we are to survive, we must exit immediately." The ruler of the remaining drones continued down the stairs as if nothing had happened. The drone of Ellison similarly followed.

"Well, you're welcome," snapped Briscoe.

"Easy," said Helen calmingly. "We aren't out of this yet.

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LATER…

The small newborn volcano spit forth another volley of bright magma into the air catching it in its mouth and then sent it heavenwards yet again. At its base it was only six thousand feet wide and covered or crushed all building and vehicles near it. Fires burned uncontrollably in various building up to a half a mile away from the young volcano. Fire trucks from throughout the Seacouver area struggled to get set up and help get the situation under control; many of the water pipe in the area had been destroyed so that the firefighters had to seek alternate water sources. Police aided people fleeing their homes and trying to keep traffic moving. Emergency triages were set up but fortunately did not have as many wounded victims to deal with as they had originally anticipated. And yet for all the destruction it had caused, the eruption itself had been very mild.

In a small church near the Space Needle, other activities were underway. One activity in particular had the riveted attention of a man not born on this world. The techno-mage Galen watched carefully, with as much curiosity as concern, as the latest Borg leader, who alternated between being called Lex Luthor and 'Brainiac', attached various tubes to Dureena Nafeel's nonresponding form. "That will remove the nanite devices," Galen said in observation. "But what about the damage to the body they will leave behind?"

Lex continued his administrations to Dureena. "The nanites are being instructed to mend the biological damage done to Dureena's body as they exit her body." As chief Borg drone, Lex did not stand out from any of the other drones, as he had the same pale complexion, wore the same black leather-like body suit, and bore the same mechanized grafts throughout his body; however, he was the only one to express emotions on his face. Currently he was showing surprise. "The nanites are not responding."

"Are they harming her?" Galen asked with concern. Clark Kent, Mark Gordon and Guinan, who had all been chatting quietly nearby while Lex worked now all stepped closer.

"This requires a closer look." So saying, Lex raised his modified right arm over the reclining form of Dureena. Two devices on his arm moved in a rapid motion and then stopped suddenly. "My command to the nano-probes was over-ridden," in monotone.

Before he could learn anything else, Dureena's arm came up and firmly pushed Lex's augmented arm away. "That's not very gentlemanly," she admonished. Then she sat up and opened her eyes. Her skin was still pulsed with the quicksilver-like veins created by the nanites giving her an eerie pallor, but otherwise seemed unchanged in appearance. Before anyone could stop her, she was on her feet.

"Amazing things, these nanites," she remarked as she examined her arms and the nanite-created gray veins.

"Dureena." Galen approached her carefully, making sure that she was truly in control of her faculties. "Dureena, are you…" his eyes checked over her form, looking for something to explain the sudden change in her. "What has happened to you?"

She gave a smile of reassurance to her tutor. "I am fine. Better than ever, actually."

Galen shot Lex a harsh glance. "Then let us proceed quickly to remove the nanites from your body before they decide to do anything else to you."

"No," she said, holding up a hand. "That will not be necessary."

Lex cocked his head to the side but said nothing; Galen was not so nonchalant. "You must not be of your right mind. The nanites must be controlling you."

"Quite the opposite, in fact," she spoke.

Clark, Mark and Lex stood in silent anticipation; not so could Guinan. "Listen to your teacher, the nano-probes have to be removed from your body. Nothing good will come from letting them stay inside your body even if you think that you have control over them."

"Listen to her," Galen said. The techno-mage was coming more and more to realize that he might have to fight his student in order to rid her body of the microscopic-technological devices that were evidently influencing her. "Guinan has history with the Borg and their constructs. The Borg mechanisms must be studied carefully before anyone can use them."

Dureena Nafeel held up a hand in defiance. "Do you think I learned nothing as your apprentice? I may not have asked for the nanites to tear through my body, but they did. And as I lay on the ground immobile, I eventually came to the conclusion that I should do something about my situation." She regarded the others that were listening as she continued. "I used the techno-mage connections in my mind to tap into the nano-probes in my body. To my surprise I found them waiting for instructions. Instructions that would never come since you managed to splinter the Borg Collective. So, with no alternative open to me at the time, I began learning how to communicate and control the nanites within my body."

"You… control the nanites?" Guinan stated in disbelief.

"It could be possible," Galen said. His left hand brought forth a crystal ball from his robes. He held the glass item between himself and his apprentice and then let go. The crystal ball stayed in the air as Galen seemed to examine it. "The nanites do seem to be responding to her. But I would like to examine further before accepting them as a non-hazard." For this last part he looked up into his apprentice's eyes for approval before continuing.

She sighed. "Very well," she concluded. From there she began explaining to her mentor some of the ideas she had for using the nanites with techno-mage technology. Galen nodded sagely from time to time to many of the ideas but for the most part he was focused on studying the interaction of the nanites on her physiology.

"Well," said Clark after a while. "I have a feeling that the rest of us have ceased to have existed as far as those two are concerned."

Mark Gordon grunted in acknowledgement. "Definitely a strong father/daughter relationship there. Whatever it is they are working on I'm sure that they can work it out. We should leave them alone."

The others agreed and left quietly out into the hall. Lex then led them toward the sanctuary, passing Oliver Sampson arguing with a number of the armed black operatives Harry Tasker had placed in and around the church. His companion, Sydney Bloom, and Pastor Powell were doing their best to mollify him. Upon seeing Lex coming toward them the armed men raised their weapons until Albert Gibson waved for them to let the drones and others pass unhindered. Clark stepped in front of his friend to help provide cover from any itchy trigger fingers. Tension muted even Oliver as the leader of the remnant of drones passed by them. Mark tisked, "Easy boys. The war is over and we're all good guys here."

Lex, a gentleman even as a drone, held the sanctuary door for Guinan and the others to pass. The gesture did nothing to influence the attitude of Guinan toward the Borg, however. "So, Brainiac, or Lex if you prefer, how long will it take you to revert the remaining drones?" With a gesture she pointed to one of the drones that Lex had cleaning and mending Roger Murtaugh's body reclining on a nearby pew. Another drone, the one that had formerly been Detective Jim Ellison was repairing two injured drones a few feet away. On the far end of the room Byers, Frohike and Murray Bozinsky huddled near the reclining but attentive Langly as the former drone Wade Welles gave a descriptive homily of how a drone was put together while putting up with many interrupting questions.

Closing the door behind him, Lex turned to face Guinan and the others. "And why should I give up any of my remaining drones?"

Guinan immediately swung up her phaser rifle only to have had it shot out of her hand by one of the drones Ellison had been treating.

"There is no need for hostilities," Lex said calmly, with a trace of a smile. "I do not plan to add anyone to the drones under my control. I just do not see the need to give up that for which I fought for."

"Lex," Clark said, stepping toward his friend, "what are you doing?"

"Keeping what is mine," he stated. "And I will fight for it if I have to." Lex made no threatening moves, but then with his connections to his other drones in the room, he didn't have to make any.

Across the room the Lone Gunmen, Murray and Wade Welles turned their attention toward the conflict. The Ellison drone already had Wade Welles covered with his weapon appendage arm. This did not deter Wade from proceeding forward. "There is no need for hostility," she stated frankly.

"The hell there isn't!" Guinan stated harshly. "Clark, stop your friend before anyone else gets hurt!" she commanded.

Clark hesitated. "I'd rather hear what he has to say first. He deserves to be heard."

"But what if that Grand Nagus Dverl has somehow taken control of him?" Mark asked.

"I don't think that the case," Clark answered.

"I agree," stated Wade Welles. "I am no longer part of the Collective, but I can tell that Lex's pattern of behavior differs greatly from that of Dverl. I estimate that there is only a 0.02743 percent chance that Lex is under Dverl's control or influence."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Lex replied.

"I think it's best if you just explain why we should let you keep the other drones," Guinan said through gritted teeth.

"Because it was only through my having the drones under my command absorb some of the excess energy from the quickening and using laser methods to relieve magma buildup while also cooling down the surface that kept the state of Washington from losing a majority of its coastal cities. Even now, forty-six drones are treating the newly formed volcano in order to keep from growing any further."

"The damage to the city is already irreversible," pointed out Frohike from just to the side of Wade. "Nobody's going to want to do much living near a new volcano, not to mention commerce."

"The I-5 highway linking up the cities along the coast is also going to have to be rerouted," Byers chipped in. "The Puget Sound will have to be investigated to see if the eruptions cause any sizable waves which would interfere with ferry travel and especially people living on the islands in the Sound."

"But you are forgetting about pollution, widespread fire throughout the area, and loss of life," added Murray.

Langly, unable to contribute in his weakened condition, just nodded in agreement.

"You are correct. This city is pretty much dead until it is proven that the volcano has gone dormant," admitted Lex. "But it would be worse if I stopped treating the volcano."

"Is that a threat?" demanded Guinan.

"Take it for what you will. If you take away my hands, then how can you expect me to help you?"

"Then what about after you are done doing whatever it is you are doing to that volcano out there?" piped in Mark. "Will you turn them over then?"

"They are mine," Lex stated. "I went through things you would never understand to piece together a small part of the Collective Mind for my drones and I to function on. I am not about to throw it all away now."

"Lex," Clark said, hoping to appeal to his friend. "What about their friends and families? What about them? I'm sure they don't want to remain as they are."

"A lot of people have died here tonight, Clark. A lot of people have lost loved ones. What is a few more?"

Clark was aghast and didn't know what to say to his friend.

"Lex," Mark said. "I know we have only just met. But we did get a chance to talk some." He waited for a moment, weighing what he was about to say. "I just have got to ask you, do you really want to prove yourself to your father so much that you would sacrifice the freedom of these people trapped as drones? Lex, you are so much better than Lionel Luthor. You know that, don't you?"

The young Luthor stood there silently for a moment. "You know how to get to the heart of the matter, Mark." The other drones in the room lowered their weapons at his silent command. "I can restore seventy-three drones to their previous unaltered selves-"

"Leaving you with twelve drones at your command," Guinan pointed out.

Lex eyed the hostile El-Aurian. "You've been more attentive than I thought."

"You have to be when around the Borg," she snapped back.

Clark stepped between them hoping to stop another argument before it had a chance to grow. "Lex, why are you trying to keep twelve drones for yourself? Don't they deserve their freedom, too?"

"It's not that simple, Clark." Lex walked around his friend and past Wade. At the table where the Ellison drone had been working on the two drones he turned back to the group. "Detective Jim Ellison," he said, indicating the taller, sturdier drone, "and Joe Dawson," he said referring to the still drone on the table, "can both be restored to their previous lives. I even plan to replace Dawson's legs so that he can walk again."

He turned to the last drone that had been covering the Lone Gunmen earlier. "Colt Seavers, however, cannot be restored."

"And why would that be?" Guinan said, sounding dubious.

"Because the power surge that the techno-mage Galen sent through the Collective fried his brain along with the brains of seven of the remaining drones."

"I can verify that," Wade said. She scanned the unresisting drone and then concurred with Lex's statement. "It is true. The brain damage done to this drone is irreversible, though the drone can still function within operating parameters."

"Who are the other drones?" inquired Clark.

"One drone I have helping with geographical monitoring. There are only fragments of memories left in the remnant of what remains of the Borg Collective that belong to Special Agent Dale Cooper. That said, you should probably have Agents Mulder and Scully look into Cooper's investigation at a town called Twin Peaks."

"Jonathan Hart is a drone I have monitoring the local area of the Puget Sound to see about damage to marine life and other threats due to the young volcano. He's a widowed millionaire who often played detective with his wife, Jennifer."

"Evan Earp is a drone that I have exploring damages and conducting repairs to the sewer. From his memories, he was helping out at a traveling carnival. His brother, Wyatt Earp III, is the bouncer and a part-time bounty hunter. Wyatt won a lottery for a few bounty hunters that were allowed to attend this conference. He brought his brother Evan with him. Both were assimilated into drones. Wyatt is now dead. Now I will protect Evan."

"Marshal Samuel Gerard is a drone I have currently clearing out a warehouse that was being used to house children that were being used for sex trafficking. Only two guards were still there as the rest had fled during the volcano eruption."

"California-raised Byrd Tatums is another bounty hunter that survives as a drone. I am currently having him stunning looters as he comes across them. He has also aided two different families with repairs to their vehicles so they could leave the city."

"New York Detective Mary Beth Lacey is monitoring all reactions of Mt. Rainier to the birth to this abruptly born volcano. So far there are very little changes."

"Sam Axe is a spy for the United States. Whatever mission he was undertaking, that information was lost in the breakdown of the Collective. He is currently helping to clear out a collapsed an animal shelter. Several of the animals are still alive and are being taken out. Nanites are being used to control the animals so that there will not be any attacks. The nanites will also repair most injuries."

"Sheriff Elroy Lobo suffered a head injury during the battle with Dverl's forces. I currently have him clearing out some photojournalists from the top of an unsound building where they were attempting to get pictures of the volcano and the damage it has caused."

"Detective Kenneth Hutchinson received his injury during the eruption. He has only recently been brought back into service. He is now helping with the injured before they can be evacuated. His partner, Detective Dave Starsky, however, can be restored. It may be small consequence, but the nano-probes that had started the drone process, did isolate and clear out the cancer that had been growing in his prostate. Starsky had begun treatment for it, but it is no longer necessary."

"Detective James Crockett had been one of Dverl's drones that had been taken out of service before the eruption. My drones recovered him and restored him to service. He is currently on guard duty holding prisoners for the military to claim. His partner, Detective Ricardo Tubbs, is clearing roads for emergency and military vehicles. Tubbs can be completely restored to normal life. One problem might be that Crockett's cousin, Nash Bridges, is trying to interact with the drone that is what remains of Crockett. From what Nash is saying, he and his partner, Joe Dominguez, had been out on the town buying something for their when everything happened at the convention."

"Nash is going to want his cousin back," Guinan stated pointedly.

"He's technically braindead," Lex answered back.

"Then they may want to bury him and put him to rest," she finalized.

Lex ignored her and continued. "The last drone can't be restored either. Robert McCall is a retired Intelligence Agent with an interesting history that I won't bore you with right now. Currently, I have him as part of the search effort I am making to either find more disabled drones or at least recover the technology in their bodies."

"You are quite the scavenger," Guinan snapped.

"Easy, ma'am," Mark Gordan stepped in. "It's clear you have a beef with Lex-"

"She has a beef with the Borg," interjected Lex. "The Borg assimilated her planet."

"Planet?" Frohike interrupted. "She's from another planet? I thought she was just from some futuristic sci-fiish reality of a parallel world!"

Dureena Nafeel gave a shake of her head. "Trust me, there are several alien species in this room."

Murray Bozinsky stood up, and predictably tripped backwards. Clark, using superspeed, came up behind him and caught him.

"Wha-, oh." Murray glanced behind him and saw Clark. "But you-you were over there!"

Byers stood next to Murray, but he was looking at Clark. "We overheard your name was Clark, and that the Borg came from a parallel universe, and some of the other people are from other parallel universes, but we didn't think you were that 'Clark'!"

Slightly embarrassed, Clark turned his head down and away. "I'm not him. Not the guy you are thinking of. Not yet anyway." He took a deep breath. "I've heard some of the stories about… Superman. I don't know if I can live up to that."

"I'm sure not going to live up to some other universes image of me," Lex added. "I don't want to be the bad guy."

Frohike managed to make the connection. "If he's Clark Kent," he said, jerking his thumb at Clark, "then that makes you Lex Luthor!" His eyes were wide now, and so were the other geeks in the room.

Despite being a drone, Lex rolled his good eye. "I'm refusing to go down that path. Take it as a 'I've seen the light' thing, because, seriously, we've talked to angels and the devil, literally. Mark here is kind of my spiritual guide, though he is himself a living human, he usually travels around with his angel friend, Jonathan."

Galen connected himself to the Internet and downloaded all the relevant data he could to try understand what everybody was referring to. While he did that everyone started to settle down.

"Well, Lex, what are you planning to do with the twelve drones?" Mark asked the question that everyone was wondering.

Lex gave them a crafty smile. "For the most part, I plan to take them home and start my own company. Lex Corp or possibly Brainiac, Inc. and give my father a real run for his money."

"Ah," Mark thought of a matter he wished to address. "Doesn't that sound a little vindictive to you? I mean, I'm supposed to be helping you find your path; get you on track with God and all that. Do you really think that the Big Guy would approve of something like that?"

Lex laughed which startled Guinan. "You really haven't met my father. By taking over his company I'd probably be doing more good and helping more people than you would realize. Especially if I keep people like the Kents around to keep me down to Earth."

Clark nodded his family's support. "You still have a problem, Lex."

"And what would that be?"

"Well, even if we went along with this, you don't exactly look like the typical businessman."

"And how about now?" Lex's form was highlighted briefly in light red before revealing Lex as he was before but sporting a suit and tie.

Clark gaped. "How?"

"Hologram technology," Wade answered.

"Exactly," Lex said. "And my twelve drones will likewise be hologramed. And they will help me get Earth started on a new age of technology."

"Ah, not to fast, Lex. The influx of advanced tech-"

"Relax, Clark. I have the insight of thousands of cultures and the impact that new technology has had on them. I plan to be very careful as to what I give to the public."

Mark slowly came up beside Guinan. In a low voice he asked her, "So what do you think?"

"It's a big mistake. He should be forced to revert to his normal self," she coolly stated.

Mark bit his lip. Lex and Clark continued their talk and were joined by Byers, Frohike, Langly and Murray Bozinsky who couldn't help wanting to check out the holographic projection. Murray also wanted to ask if Lex could help him rebuild the Roboz. "You may be right, Guinan. But at this point only time will tell."

Guinan nodded. "That's what I'm afraid of."

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Just outside the church, Sheriff Barney Fife followed Dominic Santini around Airwolf. The pilot mumbled in frustration as he checked on the tarps that they were using to cover the helicopter in order to protect it from volcanic ash. Already the ground had a two-inch thick layer of ash, which didn't seem to be slowing down on its accumulation. "If the ash gets in the intake valves, I'll kill myself," gripped the pilot.

"I just wanted to thank you again for taking me on that flight," Barney said. "Even if it scared the tar out of me."

"Yeah. Sorry about the fire fight. Didn't know we were going to be attacked like that." He pulled an edge of the tarp away to reveal a scorch mark on the side of Airwolf. "Never seen anything do anything remotely similar to that before." He quickly placed the tarp back in position.

"I thought Hawke said you could get home through this?"

"Yes, he did, and yes, Airwolf can get us home just fine." He grunted as he bent down and moved a rock on a lower section of the tarp to keep it from blowing loose. "But he's not the one that would be cleaning the valves and engine when we get home. I would be. So I say we stay right here for now."

"Dominic?" Barney asked.

"Yeah," he answered with his head under the tarp.

"Your friends are calling for you."

"Eh?" He stuck his head out. "What?" He looked over to where the sheriff was pointing. "Oh, yeah, I better go see what they want. Watch the tarp for me. I think the wind is picking up again. It does that a lot up in this area."

Dominic put a reassuring grasp on the handle of his sword that he had tucked under his jacket. He knew it was a silly gesture considering just who he was about to meet up with, but he couldn't help it. He just didn't feel safe.

Remington Steele had been off to the side of the group, turned off a cell phone and handed it back to Connor. "Thanks. Laura had been going out of her mind worrying about me."

Connor MacLeod nodded as he tucked the phone into an inner pocket of his trench coat. "You are meeting up with her?" he asked.

Remington nodded. "We're going to try go south and catch a plane in Portland. The Sea-Tac planes can't fly in this."

"Good luck with that," Santini volunteered. "I hear the roads are already jammed from people fleeing the area."

"We'll manage," Remington said. "I know a place we can get some motorcycles."

"Was it really Methos?" asked a young boy that Santini had been introduced as Kenny.

Connor's eyes narrowed. "Don't get any ideas." He reached over and put a protective hand on Duncan's shoulder. Duncan slumped in chair next to his clansman; his body was still recovering from the nanite and Borg components, the massive quickening, as well as from the volcano coming up underneath him. If Lex hadn't had the drones under his command pull Duncan out when he did, Duncan would have been ash. Currently, Duncan was struggling to keep a straw in his mouth as he worked on rehydrating himself with a large glass of ice water.

"Hey, I was just asking," Kenny said defensively.

"Hey, I have no problem taking your head just because you look like a kid." Connor's glare forced Kenny back.

"Why are you being so hard on me? What did I ever do to you?"

Duncan leaned down towards Kenny. "Let's just say that I don't like those that don't play fair."

"And is it fair that I'm stuck in this adolescent body and still have to face grown Immortals like you?"

"Life's not fair," stated the Scotsman. "But the Game has to be." He pointed out towards the volcano to emphasize his point. "Because the penalties are more than any of us wish to bear."

The group was silent for a brief moment until Santini spoke. "I realize I just walked into something here, but … what's with all the hostility?"

"It's the Gathering," Remington answered. "It's starting."

"That would explain why I feel a greater than normal need to challenge one of you," the pilot said, partially in jest but also in reflection. "I guess I joined the club just in time for the final rounds," he added, a little paler than when he arrived.

"We won't be able to meet safely after this," Connor pointed out. "If we do…, there can be only one."

Remington felt a slight shudder go up his spine at the thought of having to face one of these people in a sword fight to the death. "That's very ominous of you," he retorted.

"How long?" Santini warily asked. "I mean, well, how long do you think it will take to… just one of us?"

Remington flipped a coin over his knuckles like some magicians would do. "Sooner than you'd like, longer than you'd expect. Who knows really? Probably a few years. Hopefully a couple decades. There are a surprising large number of us to bring together. My advice, if you want it, is try and appreciate the days you have while watching your back as well."

Santini snorted in amusement, but he agreed with the advice.

Connor just gave a good-natured grin. Trying to shake off the feeling that he would be experiencing his final death within the next few years, Santini turned and nodded to Duncan. "And what about your clansman? What do we do about him?"

Duncan's head jerked up unsteadily. "I'll … I'll be fine."

Connor nodded. "I'll take him to a place I know that is on holy ground. He should be safe there until he fully recovers." He ruffled the younger clansman's hair playfully. "He may yet win the Game."

Duncan just shrugged. "Or you might," he said weakly. "Regardless, like to see Joe… before we leave."

Connor shook his head while the others tried to look away from him. "'Fraid that's not possible. Joe has some recovering of his own to do," he said without going into further explanation.

"Are you going to be able to guard him… without…" Remington made a head chopping motion. "You know."

Connor glared at the man for his lack of tack. "It's on holy ground so should be safe. Besides, Duncan should be up to full strength in less than a week. We should be able to bear each other for that long." He looked pointedly at Kenny. "And any vermin that feel compelled to seek us out for battle can easily be handled by myself."

"Kenny," Duncan managed to say.

Kenny had been looking at the ground, the only safe place to look at while in this company. His every instinct told him to turn and flee, but the oldest child in the world fought it back and stepped slowly towards Duncan. "What?" he said defiantly.

"If you want," Duncan said, pausing to take a drink. "I could contact Amanda. You could have one last meeting with her. Before meeting with another Immortal becomes too dangerous."

"Duncan," Connor started to say with concern, but Kenny was already shaking his head.

"I don't think that's possible," Kenny answered back softly. Kenny couldn't believe this man was offering him a chance to reconnect with Amanda, his early mentor, who he had been separated from for centuries. His love, his child-like infatuation for Amanda, had only grown on a pedestal in her absence. Later finding her together with the perpetual Boy Scout, Duncan, Kenny had made another attempt on Duncan's life which caused Kenny to have to flee for his life after failing. Sure, she would have forgiven him especially after recent events. "The problem is I think I found a way out of the Game and I'm going to try it."

Duncan actually sat up in surprise, spilling his drink, although it was Dominic that found his voice to speak. "Mind telling the rest of us." He looked around at the rest of the Immortals in the group. "We all might want to try, too."

Kenny grimaced. "That's the problem. It wouldn't work if you come, too."

"Then go, Kenny," Duncan said. "And may you find the peace you seek."

Kenny's head dropped. "Thanks. And tell Amanda… Tell her that I think about her all the time." He went to leave but then turned back one last time to the healing Immortal. "Oh, uh, sorry for the car bomb." Then he was gone, running away down the street like any other young boy or girl.

They watched him go, the small figure shrinking in the distant, outlined slightly by the glow provided by the young volcano

"I should go and take him now," muttered Connor. "End it once and for all."

"No," Duncan said softly. "Give him his chance." The others parted after shaking each other's hands. Each had matters that they wanted to look into. And while they may have felt like they had forever to do so, now these Immortals suddenly felt how short their time could be.

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Monica watched Kenny run down the street. "This is an unusual turn of events," she said to her companion.

The tall, blond angel nodded. "Sometimes unusual people need unusual circumstances before they will consider changing their ways."

"Will Kenny really be able to leave the Game?"

"Yes," said Andrew. "I wish he could find peace, but I think he will be like my friend Methos; traipsing all over creation until he is thoroughly tired of this earthly existence."

"We don't know that Kenny has that much time," Monica stated with concern.

"You may have been appointed to watch over him for a time," he said to the younger angel. "But Kenny is no longer your concern. He is in God's hands now."

Monica nodded. "At least he has been provided with a chance."

"They all have. It's just up to him to choose."

"Do you know yet how Kenny plans to get out of the Game?" asked the female angel.

"No," admitted Andrew. "But he has always been very resourceful. Kenny has a good head on his shoulders, and he has always done well at keeping it there."

"Andrew, no more puns, please, you're killing me," Monica said with a chuckle.

Andrew looked out at where the volcano stood when the Rosemont Convention Center had stood just hours before. A sadness seemed to fill his eyes. "I know many of them go to a better place, but I miss some of them."

"You mean Methos?"

"Yes," he nodded. "After five thousand years, I'd grown rather accustomed to his presence. For all his aloofness, I liked him." Andrew traced a line through a layer of ash on a nearby fence. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Those that live by the sword die by the sword."

She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. The two angels stood there watching the morning sun touch the new volcano for the first time. In the distance sirens could be heard. A squirrel ran down a nearby oak tree to check out its new ash covered environment before racing back up to its nest. In the distance Monica and Andrew could see other angels going about their tasks. Soon they too parted to go about the business of their Lord.

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IN A CLASSROOM OF THE CHURCH

Dana Scully broke away from the kiss regretfully. "Mulder, we should talk about this."

Nuzzling her neck, Mulder inquired, "Yes?" before taking her earlobe between his lips and sucking gently.

With great reluctance, she pushed him back. "We really should talk about this. Skinner would have our hides if he knew we were getting involved."

Mulder shrugged as he sat back in his chair. "Most everyone else back at the Bureau already believes we are," responded Mulder, watching her as she leaned back on a hard metal chair.

"All these years of me tearing down your crazy theories… and you turn out to be right. I'm sorry for doubting you."

"Don't be," he said. "You were one of my catalysts. You challenged me. Made me search harder than ever for evidence to prove myself. I should be the one thanking you. In a way, you supported me even when you didn't believe in my theories."

"You worked well together."

Both federal agents jumped. Neither had heard anyone enter. As a matter of fact, Mulder was sure he had locked the door upon entering, and yet there stood Tess, the security guard from the Rosemont Center, right in front of the white board at the front of the room.

"What are you doing here, Tess?" asked Dana, more than a little embarrassed, having assumed that the woman had to have seen her and Mulder making out.

Ignoring the question, Tess began, "Big changes are coming and you two will play an essential part."

"And this would involve a security guard how exactly?" Mulder asked.

"I am more than a security guard," Tess answered. A light seemed to shine on her from above.

"You're an alien!" Mulder said excitedly.

"No, Fox Mulder. While I am an alien to this world, I am not an alien in the manner than you have been searching for."

"You… you're an angel," Dana said, speaking this realization out loud.

"Yes," Tess said. "And I've come here to let you in on a number of things, so pay attention."

Dana took Fox's hand as they sat and listened. Even the usually suspicious Mulder could not doubt the angelic presence before them.

"Normally, people don't get this much of a heads up on things. This Borg encounter has forced the revealing of your ominous little gray men. The technology taken from the fallen drones will enable the people of Earth to fight them off, as well as make contact with other alien races, some of which are already visiting your planet. You two will be the ones making those contacts."

"Tess, my sister…"

"Your sister is dead, Fox." Tess watched the tears well up in his eyes. "The clones of Samantha were used by the Smoking Man to mislead and confuse you. He wanted to goad you to frustration until he could turn you into a tool for his own use." Her tone lightened. "She is in a better place now. Let that ease your heart, at least."

Mulder said nothing, numbed by the experience. "At least I know now. That's something."

"You need to let it go so you can move forward," advised the angel. "You two will have a lot on your plates from here on out. Your expertise will be sought after. You need to find allies that you can teach and work with." She paused to look at the two mortals before her. "You two are good together."

Dana blushed and soon found Fox's hand in hers. "It's a little early yet to say we are together," she stated. "But I hope it does," she said, stealing a look at her partner. "But if it does get serious, he's getting rid of the porn," she said decisively.

Tess nodded. "It won't be easy for him. Pornography causes more problems for relationships than people like to admit."

Mulder bit his tongue. He had had discussions about his porn collection with some of the women who had come in and out of his life; most had been ambivalent. But he had never imagined having to defend his 'habit' before an angel. Perhaps it would be better to talk about this later. "So… you're an angel. Can you tell us what God is like?" he asked hoping he could change the subject.

"You start behaving and you might find out." The angel with the enigmatic smile then faded until only Mulder and Scully were left in the room.

"That was…"

"…out of this world," interrupted Mulder. "I don't think I've had an angelic x-file proved to me before."

Dana just laughed. Mulder leaned over and pulled her into a hug. He needed that contact just then. To find that after so many years of searching that his sister was actually dead… he felt both saddened and relived at the same time. Sad that he could never rescue her and glad that whatever torment she was undergoing was over.

It wasn't until they heard a quiet cough that they realized that they weren't alone again. There in the now open doorway stood Lennier trying to be obvious about his embarrassment. "Ah, I beg your pardons, Agent Mulder, Agent Scully. I've been asked by Agent Tasker to inquire if you would join him in a strategy meeting of great importance."

"Uh, it's Lennier, right?" Fox had introduced Dana to the Minbari earlier with much jubilance. While she could explain the bony protrusion on the back of Lennier's head as a result of a possible mutation, a closer biological exam of Lennier's physiology revealed he was not at all Human.

Lennier nodded politely to the female Federal Agent. Mulder just chuckled and took her hand, following as Lennier lead them down the hall. "I'm not giving up my collection," Mulder said in a hushed tone to his partner.

"Sure you are," she said with a flirting tone. "You just don't want to admit it to yourself yet."

Mulder felt a sinking feeling that she was right. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew that there was no other way she'd accept him. So it was bye-bye porno; hello relationship. Besides, it's one thing to argue with a woman you were in love with, it's quite another to disagree with an angel of God. Mulder shook his head and grinned. "I suddenly understand the saying, 'she has her hooks in you'."

"Would you rather be 'catch and release' because we can 'cut the line' right now?" she replied with other fishing colloquialisms.

A pained look crossed Mulder's face. Silently he mouthed 'no'. Gently he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply.

"I have not seen many Human relationships," commented Lennier, bringing back both Fox and Dana to the here and now. "Is yours typical for most Humans? If so, I have a number of questions I would like to ask you."

The two agents broke apart, startled by Lennier as well as their own behavior. "Nope. We're definitely not typical."

"A pity," Lennier said. "I was hoping you could explain a 'relationship' I once knew of." Before either of the agents could inquire about his statement, Lennier turned and continued down the hall. At the far end, he opened a door.

The room was obviously Pastor Powell's office as well as the church's boardroom for meetings. From the obvious architecture it was apparent that the room had been remodeled in recent years to expand its once narrow space to a much more spacious room. The center of the room had a large oval wooden table placed there. The pastor's desk and four large bookshelves occupied the far end of the room leaving a tight fit for the number of people already in the room.

Mulder, Scully and Lennier entered quietly but had obviously been waited for as Harry Tasker stood up to address the group. His wife, Helen, sat next to him and turned on a tape recorder sitting on the table so that everybody would know that the conversation was being taped. "You are probably all wondering why I called you here."

"To orchestrate a cover-up over all that happened here tonight," Mulder stated. Next to him Dana let out a tired sighed.

Lee Stetson, known by some in the group under the alias 'Scarecrow', locked eyes with the Federal Agent. "Here him out, Agent Mulder."

Garak stepped up briefly. "I think you should hear him out, Fox Mulder. You may be very surprised if you do."

"Thank you, Garak." Harry Tasker had taken a liking to the reptile humanoid. A short talk with the alien had helped him visualize a plan to turn this disastrous situation around. He had already consulted his immediate superiors and received their approval. Now it was a matter of recruiting the right people. "Yes, there will be some cover-up at first."

"You people did the same thing in Roswell, New Mexico. Hiding evidence of a UFO crash in Area 51 where-"

"I know nothing of Area 51, Agent Mulder, except for a few things mentioned in the tabloids. That type of information is what I am hoping that you and Agent Scully will be able to examine and confirm for me."

"Pardon my partner," Dana said, "but if I can keep my partner quiet long enough perhaps you could tell us what you want from us." She looked around the room at various people there. "I think we'd all like to know what is going on."

"The question that we are not alone has been answered," Harry said. "The associates of Mulder's cigarette-smoking-friend are coming forward with all kinds of evidence. Evidence that seems to indicate that we may be walking into the front lines of a secret war that most of mankind had not even been aware was being fought."

He held his hands up to get everyone to settle down. "Easy people, you'll get more information on this when I do. But we do have an ace in the hole. Though much was destroyed by the volcano, we still were able to recover some of the machinery of the Borg."

"And that's why you want us to keep the Borg attack quiet," Amanda King-Stetson asked rhetorically. "So that we can have time to figure out how the technology works."

"But the Borg have technology like even Steven Spielberg has never dreamed of," spoke a young blond woman.

"What Sydney is trying to say," said a curt man, "is that you will need people specialized in taking apart delicate pieces of machinery to understand how it works. And I have those people. Send the dead drones and whatever other machinery you were able to salvage with me and I will get you reports as to how it all works as soon as I can."

Harry shook his head at Oliver Sampson. "It's not going to happen, Sampson. You are only here as a courtesy to Sydney Bloom. She was hoping that you might want to join a more humane group. You know as well as I do that as soon as your superiors had the Borg technology that they would have no more use for this group or any other. They have their own plans for domination."

Oliver regarded Sydney coldly. The young blond woman merely hung her head. Harry nodded to his friend, Albert Gibson, who had Oliver rise to his feet and leave the room escorted by two more of Harry's men. Oliver said nothing as he was taken away; he did, however, take a moment to glare into the face of anyone who was willing to look him in the eye.

"I'm sorry for that," Sydney began. "He can be very-"

"You know as well as I do, Ms. Bloom, that he would have taken everything we had and would not have helped us at all."

"I understand the situation," Sydney said, sadness obvious on her face. "I pledge myself and my abilities to helping mankind, if that is what you want?"

"It's what we want from everyone," Helen said consolingly.

"Well," Dana said thoughtfully, "I know a couple of guys in the sanctuary you might want to consult on the technology. Byers, Frohike and Langly."

"Though they are not fans of government conspiracies or the military," added Mulder, who was rather surprised at Dana's recommendation.

"The Lone Gunmen," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "I've heard of them. Our daughter, who is also named Dana, gets their newsletter."

"If I explained it to them," Dana went on, "I think they would be willing to set aside their differences they have with people like you long enough to make this work."

"Conspiracy theorists are not the most trustworthy people to have working for you," pointed out Lee.

"They have Murray Bozinsky with them right now," she added.

"The 'Boz'? The robot specialist?" Harry looked at his wife. She shrugged her shoulders letting him know that it was his decision. "Talk with them. Let them know that this deal is for real. And that they have to keep it quiet. Though we may need them to put a few spins on a few controversies to mess with those that would work against us."

Dana nodded. Mulder just shook his head. He knew in the end both sides would come to him and his partner to gripe about each other but what could he do. "You might also want to try recruit those swordsmen that were going up against the Borg earlier. They were very impressive and fearless," Dana said.

"I'll look into it," Harry said noncommittally.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to volunteer my knowledge to the group," spoke up a large older man.

"I think we are only here as consultants," spoke up Garak, who seemed surprised by the older man. "Admiral Paris would not want us to get too involved."

"These people need more than a consultant that is only going to be here a few hours. They need someone who already has a working knowledge of the technology that the Borg works with or they won't be able to diddle." He stood up to his full height. "My name is Montgomery Scott. And I will give this group my allegiance if you will have me."

"But Commander Scott-" Garak began.

"No. I've been wandering around the Federation these last few years after getting free of the transporters that I had been trapped in for almost a century. And do you know what I found?" he said, pointing the question at Garak. "That I had been left behind. That I had become antiquated. That there was almost no place for me. Someone like me needs to be needed. And as an engineer I am needed here. I can advance their space program so fast that in five years they could have permanent habitats built on Mars as well as under the oceans." Having said his part he leaned back and crossed his arms, showing that his decision was final.

"Fine by me," Garak said. "But you get to be the one telling Admiral Paris that you're staying behind."

"I suppose you want me to offer Airwolf into the pot," Stringfellow Hawke said.

"Something like that. Actually, I was hoping that with this new technology that we could try boost Airwolf's capabilities. Eventually we will master the Borg technology enough to replace Airwolf and you can-"

"Replace Airwolf?!" stammered Stringfellow. "Airwolf is a one-of-a-kind vehicle. You just don't replace something like that."

"Perhaps Airwolf will always be necessary," Amanda King-Stetson said. "But we will still need a pilot to test out new technology we use on aircrafts."

"Can you recommend a pilot for technologically advanced aircraft?" Helen asked.

"I'm a pilot, and I'll test whatever you want me to test. I'm just saying that Airwolf is not going to be put out to pasture."

"Agreed," Harry Tasker said, and the two men shook on it. Harry turned to the man sitting next to Stringfellow. "And what about you?" Harry asked a very quiet Frank Parker. "Can we expect you and the mysterious Project: Backstep to join forces with us?"

Frank had been sitting in a corner resting his wounded shoulder contemplating everything. "It's not my call to make. But let me talk to my people. I think they will want to talk to your people."

"We need this to remain a secret," reminded Harry.

"Hey, my people are very good at keeping secrets. You still don't know what Project: Backstep actually is, do you?" he pointed out. "And you people make it a point to try to know everything."

"Talk to your people then." He handed him a piece of paper with a phone number on it. "Call me. I'd like to know what they could offer."

Frank turned gingerly to Stringfellow. "You think you can give me a lift down south?"

Stringfellow shrugged. "Depends on my co-pilot. He's really not liking all this volcanic ash and what it would do to Airwolf." The two men talked quietly to themselves yet kept an ear out to keep in touch with what was going on.

"And what can I offer this team?" Gil asked. Grissom leaned forward in anticipation as Harry let Lee Stetson take over.

"We have acquired at least two dead drones that are not Human. We were hoping that with your investigative skills that you could help us understand how the implants that the Borg used differ from those used on Humans, and thus start building a basis for studying alien lifeforms and understanding the environments they must had originated from."

"I am not specialized in forensics," Gil said reluctantly. "I could recommend some people if you'd like."

"No, you'd be the head man, at least for now. We want you to gather a team to work with. But you should know that the two subjects we want you to work on… well, one is partially intact and seems to be a nearly seven-foot tall, green insect-like alien."

Grissom's eyebrows rose. "I'm interested."

"The other cadaver is a five-foot seven feline humanoid."

"Sounds like it could be of the Caitian race to me," volunteered Scotty. "I worked with one on the Enterprise. M'ress was a beut'. Soft golden fur, feisty personality, she had a soft throaty purr when she talked and when she was very excited she would meow." A distant warm look crossed his eyes, and more than a few other men in the room also seemed taken with the description as well.

"Excuse me," Helen interrupted before her impatient looking husband could. "Perhaps Mr. Grissom could consult with you about the, uh, normal non-Borged physical aspects of a – um, 'cat person' are?" Scotty nodded his willingness. "And maybe he can identify the other alien corpse as well.

"I know someone who would like in on that project," said the man sitting across from Grissom. "Claire, you want in on this, right?"

Claire showed embarrassment but quickly agreed that she was intrigued by the challenge to de-borg some alien cadavers and try determining what it was like in their own environment. "I've already lost Darien, but as long as I can still keep tabs on Hobbes…," she told Tasker and Stetson. "Then, I will cope."

Tasker nodded. Hobbes had chosen to reveal his new abilities to Harry and Lee in order to get them to help him and Claire gain sanctuary from their former boss, Charles 'The Official' Borden. "You'll both be real assets to the group."

"You're darn right we will be," commented Hobbes. "Wish Darien had made this gig," he said in a more melancholy tone. "Going against alien invaders and taking on terrorist groups. He'd have been up for that."

Claire held Hobbes hand tightly. Hobbes slumped in his seat in exhaustion. "He just had some major surgery," Claire explained. "He should be fine if he just sits here quietly." She looked Hobbes in the eye and repeated the 'quietly' part to him.

"Mr. Tasker," a polite voice spoke up. "You seemed to have not addressed a very important part of these proceedings."

Everyone turned to Lennier, whose evidently nice Minbari robes had been ripped and dirtied in the melee with the Borg, he himself conducted himself humbly and courteously.

"And what is that?"

"An ambassador."

"To the gray men?" piped up Mulder. "They want to conquer us. They only talk to us when they want to get us to turn against each other."

"I do not mean to your adversaries," explained Lennier. "But there must be some other alien races out there that you can contact. Perhaps even build an alliance. I am sure that these gray aliens you describe must have enemies that are wary of their activities on your planet."

"You may have something there," Harry said. "I don't know who we'd get to represent Earth, though I can get people started looking for likely candidates." Mentally, Harry planned to put Lee and Amanda's name on that list of candidates. Better to have someone you know and trust at the most critical area than someone you don't know at all.

"Your ambassador will also need an aide," said Lennier. "I have worked for an ambassador before for many years. I am familiar with the problems and pitfalls of interacting with a foreign culture as well as the surprises that interacting with other species can bring. It would be my honor to help an Earth ambassador establish contact with other races. And hopefully allies as well."

Harry and Lee exchanged glances. "I thought you were returning to a parallel universe where you came from." Lee said.

The Minbari lowered his head. "There is nothing for me there. But here I can be of service. Possibly atone for past mistakes as well." He stared hard at Lee for a moment before looking away and shaking his head.

"Something wrong," Lee asked.

"Just an uncanny resemblance," the Minbari said. To himself, the resemblance Lee had to John Sheridan reassured him that he was definitely on the correct path of atonement.

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"The resemblance is uncanny," Bashir remarked with amazement.

"That's what I was trying to tell you," Tom said, brimming with pride at this discovery. He sat down on the picnic table under the pavilion. Nearby paramedics were putting the last of the bandages on some minor wounds. There had been few fatalities of people rushing away from the slowly rising volcano, but a number of injuries had occurred, especially by those fleeing on bicycles being hit by those fleeing in vehicles. Julian stepped right in using a park pavilion as a ready-made triage. By the time the ambulance paramedics arrived most of what they could do was organize the patients for the Starfleet doctor and be amazed at what he and his equipment could do. One ambulance driver even called a few of his fellow drivers to have their transport patients brought there. By the time the sun began to rise, Julian's patients coming in began to subside giving Tom a moment to pull the man aside.

"What's all this about?" an older dark-haired man with a speckling of gray asked. "Who exactly do we remind you of and why is it so important?"

"Actually, you don't resemble anyone I know, detective," Tom Paris answered. "But your wife, she has an exact likeness of my captain."

"Captain?" Kate Columbo repeated. She looked up and down at his spandex uniform. "Are you in the military or something?"

"Something like that. I come from an alternate future where Earth helped form a Federation of Planets. Our military is called Starfleet. It also doubles as an exploration and research group," he explained. "And your wife, Kate, resembles my Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager."

"Starship?" asked her husband.

"Are you saying that this Captain Janeway is a descendant of mine?"

"Um, no." Tom looked over to the doctor. "Care to try explaining it to them?"

Bashir looked up from the reading he had been taking. "Oh, yes, we're both from a parallel universe that is similar to yours but different. We are also from the twenty-fourth century so we are also from the future so you should not at all be related to Captain Janeway." He glanced down at his medical tricorder. "And yet you have the same retina patterns, thumb prints and bio-rhythm patterns."

"Well, what does that mean, doc?" asked Detective Columbo.

"I have no idea," he admitted. "But it is very fascinating."

"What about us then?" asked a gruff fellow that Bashir had brought along. "I suppose he and I also resemble someone from wherever it is that you are from?" he said referring to the fellow next to him.

"Yes, you do actually," the doctor said taking in the startling resemblance. "My Captain, actually. Captain Benjamin Sisko of Deep Space Nine, an orbiting space station over the planet Bajor. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were him now playing a part on the holodeck."

"A holo-what?" Det. Columbo asked.

"A stage. For acting on. Great special effects," Tom tried to explain.

"And I also look like someone you know?" asked T.J. Hooker.

"Ah…" Bashir looked to Tom for help in fielding this question.

"Not so much as know in person, sir, but know about," Tom said.

"And this great-looking person was also a captain of some spaceship, I assume?" inquired Hooker.

"At one time he was a captain. Captain James T. Kirk of the Enterprise. The most famous starship captain Starfleet ever had. Made Admiral. Then … well history gets a little complex after that, but general belief is that he died."

"And did these captain versions of us fight the Borg too?" demanded Hawk.

"Uh, just Captain Janeway, I believe," Tom said.

"Captain Sisko did, too, actually," Julian added. "It was before he was captain, or came to Deep Space Nine. It was how he lost his wife." He caught Tom's eyes. It was at Wolf 359."

"Excuse me. Pardon me," Det. Columbo said, stepping forward while scratching his head. "But what's the connection?"

"What do you mean?" asked Julian, grateful for the distraction.

"Well, my Kate and these two gentlemen seem to be impossibly similar to the people you know. There has to be a connection. That type of coincidence should be impossible for happenstance."

The group mulled this over for a time, yet none could come up with a reason for the similarities.

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Jarod padded the side of the ambulance as it pulled out. He managed to deliver yet another baby into the world at the wonder of it still amazed him. The mother was a young Hispanic woman whose contractions were brought on by the sudden stress of having to flee from a volcano in the middle of the night. While the labor had been hard and short, Jarod could not see any long-lasting consequences. Thomas Magnum, A.J. and Rick Simon had all helped out and ran for all the things that Jarod had asked them to get. The young mother's older brother had offered them all a drink and the guys had all gone with him up to his apartment to have at least one drink to sooth their nerves.

"Surprised you stuck around," said a voice over Jarod's shoulder. "I thought you'd be halfway to Portland by now."

"Hello, Catherine." Looking back, he saw that she had gotten her purse back, which meant that she had the gun inside available to her as well. "You should know by now that I can't leave people in need. I am the good guy after all."

"I'm not sure there are any good people anymore."

"Your mother was one," pointed out Jarod, wiping his hands on a discarded newspaper. Behind her in the distance, Jarod could see Broots animatedly describing his ordeal to Sydney. Neither Broots nor Sydney saw them, and they continued down a side street.

"Well at least they are all right," Catherine commented, seeing what had caught Jarod's attention.

"I'm glad you are all right, too."

"And now you just leave?" she said.

"Got to stay a step ahead of the big, bad Centre."

She stood still in contemplation. "Were you really coming back to save us?"

"Of course," he answered. "Haven't I come to your rescue before?"

"Why leave clues as to where we can next find you?" she asked, changing the subject. "Do you get a kick out of making fools of us?"

"As you look for me, you find out more of yourself and the Centre that you work for. I believe once you have a full understanding of everything that the Centre has done to your life that you won't be able to keep working for them."

"So you think that I should just abandon my father?"

"In many senses of the term he has already abandoned you." He held out his hand to her. "Come with me. We'll explore the world of Las Vegas. There is an Elvis convention next week. I want to try get the feel for why so many people feel the need to imitate him."

"And how would I explain that to the Centre?"

"Just say that you were trying to get more familiar with your subject." He kept his hand out to her and smiled.

Catherine continued giving him a cold look, then burst out laughing. "Why not. My brother was telling me that I need to loosen up though I'm sure this is not what he meant."

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The Doctor hurried down the sidewalk, K-9 tucked under one arm and his Companion Leela easily keeping pace with him. Leela looked warily at the empty streets and the shaded alleys that hid from the rising sun. Most people had already left for a safer area, but some stragglers were either reluctant to leave their homes or were looking for a chance to loot the homes of those that had. Leela had already strong-armed two street thugs trying to rob a middle-aged lady trying to load up her Volvo. The National Guard and Coast Guard were already setting up barricades in the area surrounding the volcano. Troops coming up from Fort Lewis Army Base and McChord Airforce Base in Tacoma just arriving in the outskirts of the city were trying to keep traffic moving smoothly out of the surrounding area.

"Doctor, how are the Kryptonian and his friends going to get home?" Leela asked.

"They're staying. At least for a while."

"I don't understand. What do you mean?"

The Doctor sighed. "Lex is staying because he has to revert most of the drones back to their regular state. He is also currently keeping the volcano from erupting more than it has. With him holding all the cards, so to speak he talked Q into giving he and his friends a few weeks stay until they return home. For his part, Clark also wants to help. And since no one knows Clark here, he feels he can openly use his powers to aid people without compromising his secret identity."

Leela looked around at the ash-covered streets. "These people do need help. What of the girls?"

The Doctor shook his head. "They're helping where they can. Last I saw Clark had them watching over various children that had gotten separated from their parents." The Doctor pushed open the door to Sarah's Espresso and Snack Shack, which had remained as they had left it.

"I'm surprised no one returned to lockup," tisked the Doctor absently while digging through his pockets for the keys to the TARDIS. "Well, let us be off, shall we?"

"Do you have room for one more?"

Before the Doctor could respond, Leela stepped between the Doctor and the speaker. "Leela, who is …?" he started as he pushed his self-proclaimed bodyguard aside, before coming to a speechless halt. "Oh, what are you doing here?"

"Looking to hitch a ride with you," Kenny explained. The young Immortal was sitting in a booth next to where the TARDIS had materialized and had been eating a large helping of peach cobbler as he waited. "Leela says that you take on traveling companions from time to time. I was hoping you'd give me a try," he said in a quiet voice.

The Doctor knew full well that there was more to Kenny's wanting to go with the Doctor than to just travel. But on the other hand, Kenny had mentioned being nearly a thousand years old and it had been a long time since he had spent any real time with someone closer to his own age. "I accept. But there are certain rules you should know about the TARDIS," he began as he opened the TARDIS' door. "First of all, do not touch the console. Unless I instruct you to-" The door closed and shortly thereafter they faded from this particular universe.

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Author's (original) Notes

Finally, the close for this universe. Would have happened earlier if I hadn't had computer problems. My next story will begin shortly and be focused in Australia. Anyone want to guess as to the crossovers?

Now I have had a few comments about the endings of my stories. People wonder how I can just leave some of the characters at the end of my story starting something new and never writing about it. So let me allude to what will happen to the characters that I have been covering here.

Harry Tasker and Lee Stetson become the head of a new Earth Defense League. Aided by Montgomery Scott, they are soon equipped with hi-tech weaponry and become a force to be reasoned with. Scotty keeps his promise, and the League has not only built permanent bases on Mars, but also had six ships capable of warp two and an impressively formidable weapon display.

Lennier, partnered with Fox and Dana Mulder, spent three years researching before he established contact with another alien race. It was six years later that Lennier helped establish a Federation of Planets, a gathering of seven races to communicate their concerns about the little gray men's agenda and discussed a possible plan for an alliance. Within five months after that, Lennier was assassinated. Dana Mulder replaced Lennier as Earth's ambassador and was the one to unite the races against the invading gray men.

On the Earth front, Bobby Hobbes played key parts alongside James Bond and Ethan Hunt in taking down SPECTRE. The ultra-secret organization retaliated which resulted in the death of Claire Keeply which hit Bobby hard. Harry Tasker assigned the Lone Gunmen as part of Hobbes' team to watch out for him but that proved too conflicting to last. Dana Tasker was then reassigned to replace the Lone Gunmen. Bobby and Dana proved to be a good team, much to Harry's dismay as his daughter also developed a crush on Bobby, which was not mutual, thankfully, or Harry would have killed the man.

Gil Grissom picks most of his team to study and research. His was especially interested in data on alien physiology. Brainiac left him with a large database containing information on various sciences that would help Earth to jump a few grades and get a head start into space.

Sydney Bloom, with much help from Montgomery Scott, was able to create a rough version of a holo-deck by the time she turned sixty-five. Meanwhile, she had used her VR abilities to help people in various forms of therapy as well as the occasional 'intel' gathering for Scarecrow.

The Gathering took almost fifteen years to complete. Duncan MacLeod had one the Game and was presented with a choice. He never told anyone what else he could have chosen. But he was now mortal again and could father children. He married Sydney Bloom and had three daughters and a son. Later they adopted five kids, three dogs, cat, three squirrels and a wide number of fish.

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AuThOr'S NoTeS

The next book is A Tangled Web 6: Planet of the Borg Down Under

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Characters in order of appearance or mentioned in this chapter:

Broots (Jon Gries) – from the TV series Pretender (1996-2000)

Sullivan, Chloe (Allison Mack) – from the TV series Smallville (2001-2011)

Magnum, Thomas (Tom Selleck) – from the TV series Magnum P.I. (1980-1988)

Steele, Remington (Pierce Brosnan) – from the TV series Remington Steele (1982-1987)

Kenny (Myles Ferguson) – from the TV series Highlander (1994-1995)

MacLeod, Connor (Christopher Lambert) – from the movie Highlander (1986)

K-9 Mark I (voiced by John Leeson) – from the TV series Doctor Who (1977-?)

Dawson, Joe (Jim Byrnes) – from the TV series Highlander (1993-1998)

MacLeod, Duncan (Adrian Paul) – from the TV series Highlander (1992-1997)

Kent, Clark Jerome / Kal-El (Tom Welling) – from the TV series Smallville (2001-2011)

Lang, Lana (Kristin Kreuk) – from the TV series Smallville (2001-2009)

Ellison, Det. Jim (Richard Burgi) – from the TV series Sentinel (1996-1999)

Tasker, Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) – from the movie True Lies (1994)

Briscoe, Det. Leonard 'Lennie' (Jerry Orbach) – from the TV series Law & Order (1992-2004)

Stetson, Lee 'Scarecrow' (Bruce Boxleitner) – from the TV series Scarecrow & Mrs. King (1983-1987)

Simon, Rick (Gerald Raney) – from the TV series Simon & Simon (1981-1988)

Simon, A.J. (Jameson Parker) – from the TV series Simon & Simon (1981-1988)

Tasker, Harry (Arnold Schwarzenegger) – from the movie True Lies (1994)

Luthor, Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) – from the TV series Smallville (2001-2011)

Dverl – a Ferengi of my own creation

Galen (Peter Woodward) – from the TV series Crusade (1999)

Nafeel, Dureena (Carrie Dobro) – from the TV series Crusade (1999)

Gordon, Mark (Victor French) – from the TV series Highway to Heaven (1984-1989)

Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) – from the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation (1988-1993)

Gibson, Albert (Tom Arnold) – from the movie True Lies (1994)

Sampson, Oliver (Anthony Head) – from the TV series VR.5 (1995)

Murtaugh, Det. Roger (Danny Glover) – from the movie Lethal Weapon (1987)

Byers, John Fitzgerald (Bruce Harwood) – from the TV series X-Files (1994-2002), The Lone Gunmen (2001)

Frohike, Melvin (Tom Braidwood) – from the TV series X-Files (1994-2002), The Lone Gunmen (2001)

Bozinsky, Murray 'Boz' (Thom Bray) – from the TV series Riptide (1984-1986)

Langly, Richard 'Ringo' (Dean Haglund) – from the TV series X-Files (1994-2002), The Lone Gunmen (2001)

Welles, Wade (Sabrina Lloyd) – from the TV series Sliders (1995-1997)

Smith, Jonathan (Michael Landon) – from the TV series Highway to Heaven (1984-1989)

Luthor, Lionel (John Glover) – from the TV series Smallville (2001-2011) (mentioned only)

Seavers, Colt (Lee Majors) – from the TV series The Fall Guy (1981-1986)

Cooper, Special Agent Dale (Kyle MacLachlan) – from the TV series Twin Peaks (1989-1991) (mentioned only)

Hart, Jonathan (Robert Wagner) – from the TV series Hart to Hart (1979-1984) (mentioned only)

Hart, Jennifer (Stefanie Powers) – from the TV series Hart to Hart (1979-1984) (mentioned only)

Earp, Evan (Jim Varney) – from the TV series The Rousters (1983-1984) (mentioned only)

Earp III, Wyatt (Chad Everett) – from the TV series The Rousters (1983-1984) (mentioned only)

Gerard, Marshal Samuel (Tommy Lee Jones) – from the movie U.S. Marshals (1998) (mentioned only)

Tatums, Byrd (Kevin Sorbo) – from the TV series Psych 'Bounty Hunters!' (2007) (mentioned only)

Lacey, Mary Beth (Tyne Daly) – from the TV series Cagney & Lacey (1981-1988) (mentioned only)

Axe, Sam (Bruce Campbell) – from the TV series Burn Notice (2007-2013) (mentioned only)

Lobo, Sheriff Elroy P. (Claude Akins) – from the TV series The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979-1981) (mentioned only)

Hutchinson, Det. Kenneth 'Hutch' (David Soul) – from the TV series Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979) (mentioned only)

Starsky, Det. Dave (Paul Michael Glaser) – from the TV series Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979) (mentioned only)

Crockett, Det. James (Don Johnson) – from the TV series Miami Vice (1984-1989) (mentioned only)

Tubbs, Det. Ricardo (Philip Michael Thomas) – from the TV series Miami Vice (1984-1989) (mentioned only)

Bridges, Insp. Nash (Don Johnson) – from the TV series Nash Bridges (1996-2001) (mentioned only)

Dominguez, Insp. Joe (Cheech Marin) – from the TV series Nash Bridges (1996-2001) (mentioned only)

McCall, Robert (Edward Woodward) – from the TV series The Equalizer (1985-1989) (mentioned only)

Roboz – from the TV series Riptide (1984-1986) (mentioned only)

Fife, Sherriff Barney (Don Knotts) – from the TV series The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)

Santini, Dominic (Ernest Borgnine) – from the TV series Airwolf (1984-1986)

Holt, Laura (Stephanie Zimbalist) – from the TV series Remington Steele (1982-1987) (mentioned only)

Pierson, Adam / Methos (Peter Wingfield) – from the TV series Highlander (1995-1998) (mentioned only)

Darieux, Amanda (Elizabeth Gracen) – from the TV series Highlander (1993-1998), Highlander: The Raven (1998-1999) (mentioned only)

Monica (Roma Downey) – from the TV series Touched by an Angel (1994-2003)

Andrew (John Dye) – from the TV series Touched by an Angel (1994-2003)

Scully, Dana (Gillian Anderson) – from the TV series X-Files (1993-2002)

Mulder, Fox (David Duchovny) – from the TV series X-Files (1993-2002)

Skinner, Walter (Mitch Pileggi) – from the TV series X-Files (1994-2002) (mentioned only)

Tess (Della Reese) – from the TV series Touched by an Angel (1994-2003)

Mulder, Samantha – from the TV series X-Files (1993-2002) (mentioned only)

The Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) – from the TV series The X-Files (1993-2002) (mentioned only)

Lennier (Bill Mumy) – from the TV series Babylon 5 (1994-1998)

Powell, Pastor – one of my own characters

Garak, Elim (Andrew Robinson) – from the TV series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)

King-Stetson, Mrs. Amanda (Kate Jackson) – from the TV series Scarecrow & Mrs. King (1983-1987)

Bloom, Sydney (Lori Singer) – from the TV series VR.5 (1995)

Tasker, Dana (Eliza Dushku) – from the movie True Lies (1994) (mentioned only)

Scott, Cdr. Montgomery 'Scotty' (James Doohan) – from the TV series Star Trek (1966-1969)

Paris, Adm. Owen (Richard Herd) – from the TV series Star Trek: Voyager (1999-2001) (mentioned only)

Hawke, Stringfellow (Jan-Michael Vincent) – from the TV series Airwolf (1984-1986)

Parker, Lt. Frank (Jonathan LaPaglia) – from the TV series Seven Days (1998-2001)

Grissom, Gil (William Petersen) – from the TV series C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-2009)

M'ress (voiced by Majel Barrett) – from the cartoon show Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974) (mentioned only)

Keeply, Claire 'The Keeper' (Shannon Kenny) – from the TV series The Invisible Man (2000-2002)

Fawkes, Darien (Vincent Ventresca) – from the TV series The Invisible Man (2000-2002) (mentioned only)

Hobbes, Agent Robert 'Bobby' (Paul Ben-Victor) – from the TV series The Invisible Man (2000-2002)

Borden, Charles 'The Official'(Eddie Jones) – from the TV series The Invisible Man (2000-2002) (mentioned only)

Bashir, Dr. Julian (Siddig El Fadil) – from the TV series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)

Paris, Lt. Tom (Robert Duncan McNeill) – from the TV series Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)

Columbo, Lt. (Peter Falk) – from the TV movies Columbo (1968-2003)

Columbo, Mrs. Kate (Kate Melgrew) – from the TV movie Kate Loves a Mystery (1979)

Janeway, Capt. Kathryn (Kate Mulgrew) – from the TV series Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001) (mentioned only)

Hawk (Avery Brooks) – from the TV series Spenser: For Hire (1985-1988), A Man Called Hawk (1989)

Sisko, Capt. Benjamin (Avery Brooks) – from the TV series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999) (mentioned only)

Hooker, T.J. (William Shatner) – from the TV series T.J. Hooker (1982-1986)

Kirk, Capt. James (William Shatner) – from the TV series Star Trek (1966-1969) (mentioned only)

Jarod (Michael T. Weiss) – from the TV series Pretender (1996-2000)

Parker, Catherine (Andrea Parker) – from the TV series Pretender (1996-2000)

Sydney (Patrick Bauchau) – from the TV series Pretender (1996-2000)

Doctor, The 4th (Tom Baker) – from the TV series Doctor Who (1974-1981)

Leela (Louise Jameson) – from the TV series Doctor Who (1977-1978)

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MOVIES & TV SHOWS IN THIS STORY

21 Jump Street (1987-1992)

Airwolf (1984-1986)

Alice (1976-1985)

The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)

The Avengers (1961-1968) (mentioned only)

Babylon 5 (1998)

Baretta (1975-1978) (mentioned only)

Barnaby Jones (1973-1980) (mentioned only)

Barney Miller (1975-1982)

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Brimstone (1998-1999)

Burn Notice (2007-2013) (mentioned only)

C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation

Cagney & Lacey (1981-1988) (mentioned only)

Cannon (1971-1976) (mentioned only)

CHiPs (1977-1986)

Columbo (1968-2003)

Crusade (1999)

Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001)

Die Hard (1988) (mentioned only)

Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)

Doctor Who (1974-1981)

The Equalizer (1985-1989)

The Fall Guy (1981-1986)

Forever Knight (1995-1996) (mentioned only)

Frasier (1993-2004)

Hardcastle & McCormick (1983-1986)

Hart to Hart (1979-1984) (mentioned only)

Hawaii Five-0 (mentioned only)

Highlander (1992-1997)

Highlander: The Raven (1998-1999) (mentioned only)

Highway to Heaven (1984-1989)

The Invisible Man (2000-2002)

Ironside (1967-1975) (mentioned only)

James Bond (mentioned only)

Kate Loves a Mystery (1979)

Knight Rider (1982-1986) (mentioned only)

Kojak (1973-1978)

Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1984-1985)

Law & Order (1992-2004)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-2013)

Lethal Weapon (1987)

The Lone Gunmen (2001)

MacGyver (1985-1992)

Magnum P.I. (1980-1988)

A Man Called Hawk (1989)

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968) (mentioned only)

Miami Vice (1984-1989) (mentioned only)

Millennium (1996-1997)

The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979-1981) (mentioned only)

Mission: Impossible (1996) (mentioned only)

Moonlighting (1985-1989)

Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)

Nash Bridges (1996-2001) (mentioned only)

NYPD Blue (1993-2005)

Police Woman (1974-1978)

Pretender (1996-2000)

Psych 'Bounty Hunters!' (2007) (mentioned only)

Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983)

Remington Steele (1982-1987)

Riptide (1984-1986)

The Rockford Files (1974-1980)

The Rousters (1983-1984) (mentioned only)

Scarecrow & Mrs. King (1983-1987)

Sentinel (1996-1999)

Seven Days (1998-2001)

The Silencers (1966) (mentioned only)

Silk Stockings (1991-1999)

Simon & Simon (1981-1988)

Sliders (1995-2000)

Smallville (2001-2011)

South Park (1997-?) (mentioned only)

Spenser: For Hire (1985-1988)

Star Trek (1967-1969)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974) (mentioned only)

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)

Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979) (mentioned only)

The Streets of San Francisco (1972-1977) (mentioned only)

Supernatural (2005-2020) (mentioned only)

T.J. Hooker (1982-1986)

Touched by an Angel (1994-2003)

True Lies (1994)

Twin Peaks (1989-1991) (mentioned only)

U.S. Marshals (1998) (mentioned only)

VR.5 (1995)

Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001)

Wolf Lake (2001-2002) (mentioned only)

X-Files (1993-2002)

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CHARACTERS WHO BECAME DRONES IN THIS STORY

Stan Wojciehowicz - Barney Miller (1975-1982)

Det. Axel Foley - Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Det. William 'Billy' Rosewood Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Sam Axe - Burn Notice (2007-2013)

Det. Mary Beth Lacey - Cagney & Lacey (1981-1988)

Officer Francis Llewellyn 'Ponch' Poncherello - CHiPs (1977-1986)

Dr. Mark Sloan - Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001)

Arnold Jackson-Drummond - Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)

Robert McCall - The Equalizer (1985-1989)

Colt Seavers - The Fall Guy (1981-1986)

Judge Milton C. 'Hardcase' Hardcastle - Hardcastle & McCormick (1983-1986)

Jonathan Hart - Hart to Hart (1979-1984)

Duncan MacLeod - Highlander (1992-1997)

Joe Dawson - Highlander (1992-1997)

Det. Olivia Benson - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-2002)

Det. Martin Riggs - Lethal Weapon (1987)

Det. Roger Murtaugh - Lethal Weapon (1987)

Richard 'Ringo' Langly - The Lone Gunmen (2001)

Det. James Crockett - Miami Vice (1984-1989)

Frank Black - Millennium(1996-1997)

Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo - The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979-1981)

David Addison - Moonlighting (1985-1989)

Maddie Hayes Moonlighting (1985-1989)

Det. Andy Sipowicz - NYPD Blue (1993-2005)

Suzanne 'Pepper' Anderson - Police Woman (1974-1978)

Byrd Tatums - Psych 'Bounty Hunters!' (2007)

Dr. Quincy - Quincy (1976-1983)

Jim Rockford - The Rockford Files (1974-1980)

Evan Earp - The Rousters (1983-1984)

Blair Sandburg - Sentinel (1996-1999)

Det. Jim Ellison - Sentinel (1996-1999)

Sgt. Chris Lorenzo - Silk Stalkings (1991-1999)

Spenser - Spenser: For Hire (1985-1988)

Det. Kenneth 'Hutch' Hutchinson - Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979)

Special Agent Dale Cooper - Twin Peaks (1989-1991)

Marshal Samuel Gerard - U.S. Marshals (1998)

Ranger Cordell Walker - Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001)