Disclaimer:
Highlander the Series, Highlander the Raven, and their respective characters belong to Rysher Entertainment and whoever else owns the series. I own nothing, save any original characters you may see, my car, and my cats. Please don't sue me; my cats aren't worth that much.
Author's notes:
This story takes place maybe a few months after the end of Highlander the Raven. I would appreciate any helpful and constructive reviews of this piece of writing. Any and all mistakes, pertaining to the characters, timeline, historical accuracy, etc. are mine. Any that you may find I chalk up to artistic license and/or creating an AU.
A Lesson in Living
Chapter One
Stand up, hook up
Shuffle to the door
Look out worldHere comes the Toragor Police Corps!
A running cadence ran through his mind as he punished himself during his morning run. He has learned a variation of the old Airborne jody call from his days back in the police academy. It helped him focus more on his breathing, helping his stamina, rather than the grueling run before him.
As he ran, he chose to ignore the other pedestrians in the park. He did not want to see their happy, carefree faces. It did not matter if the actual looks on their faces were strained or even if they looked like dog vomit. They did not have the troubles that he did. Therefore, the people in the park were happy in his mind. They were not trapped in the hell that was his life. They did not have to worry about someone coming around to wack his head off with a sword. Damn Amanda to hell and back, he silently swore.
He had hoped that the run would help him work off some of his anger, but instead, it only added fuel to his fire. He blamed Amanda for what his life had become. She had taken away his chance at a normal life, or at least the chance to die as a normal person would. Instead of letting things go, she decided to play God and ruin everything.
As he was internally bitching about Amanda, focusing his anger on her, he ignored his surroundings. Because he was so deep in thought, he was taken by surprise when he felt an intense buzzing feeling in his head, warning him of another Immortal presence. He had remembered Amanda and Liam describing it to him, so he was able to recognize it now for what it was.
Nick was brought to an abrupt halt, causing an inexperienced person on roller-blades that was following too close to almost crash into him. He looked around wildly; searching for the Immortal causing his head to feel like it was ready to explode.
Almost immediately he picked out a guy that looked like a charter member of Hell's Angels. He was tall and broad shouldered. His hair on top of his head was cropped so short he looked almost bald. His beard and mustache, dirty blond in color, needed trimming framed a perpetual scowl. The leather pants and vest completed his look.
Nick, while never one to back down from any sort of challenge, was immediately searching for an out. He was defenseless and without a weapon of his own.
"My name is Jon Colbert and I want your head," he intoned, his voice deep.
"Yeah, well, I don't think so asshole," Nick replied and took off running for his truck. He wove in and out of the park patrons, doing his damnedest to get back to his vehicle.
He made it back to his truck, unfortunately parked in a semi-isolated lot. Colbert was right behind him, surprisingly fast for such a large guy. He yanked open the driver's side door and started fishing around under the seat for a weapon.
Finding it, he pulled out his Glock-17 that he kept hidden for emergencies. "I am not a part of this," he said, angry that he was being sucked into this stupid Game.
"You're Immortal young one, of course you're a part of this. Guns are against the rules," he laughed. "Don't worry, I'll make it quick. You won't feel a thing."
Presently, both Colbert and Nick felt the arrival of another Immortal. A powerful buzz overtook their senses.
"Get out of here Colbert. Wolfe is off limits for now," came a low and deadly voice, with a precise English accent.
"A challenge has been made. You can't interfere," Colbert snarled.
"And he is under my protection. Any challenge to him is a challenge to me. Do you want to risk it," the stranger replied, projecting his personal ki, letting the younger Immortal that it would not be wise to cross him.
"You can't interfere," Colbert insisted, though he looked a little uncertain.
"And you are in the middle of a park in the middle of the day. How are you going to explain a lightening storm to the soccer-moms here?" he coolly replied. "I am sure, you'll get a chance at Wolfe sooner or later. That is if someone doesn't get you first."
Colbert looked as if he was going to have an aneurysm; he was so pissed, but wise enough to recognize what the newly arrived Immortal was saying. "One day, you won't have your guardian angel to protect you," he spat and then quickly left.
"Well that was close," the stranger said, letting out a deep breath.
Nick, who had not relaxed his stance, turned his gun towards his savior. "I didn't need your help. I was fine."
"Yeah, sure. Your adversary was right. Guns are generally not to be used when facing other Immortals. The rules and all," he said, grinning at Nick.
"Screw the rules. I am not a part of this," Nick insisted though he relaxed his stance slightly.
The other Immortal sighed. "I was afraid of this," he said and shot Nick in the heart with his own gun, with a silencer attached, to minimize attention. "Damn you Amanda," he grumbled and shoved Nick's dead body into the cab of the truck.