Preface: After my character's initial debut in Sailor Moon Defenders, I tried finding out how I can expand the character's growth a bit more. It took a couple of years, but eventually, I ended up coming up with this story.
For context: This story coincides with the Defenders of the Earth series. Inspired by Marzena's story "Defenders of the Earth: This is Their Story", I created these chapters which would be set during certain points of the series, and the Defenders will be making at least one appearance during the story, hence the crossover.
Disclaimer: This chapter has been co-written by James5. If you read the scene on Tumblr, you'd notice I have put some alterations so you can see what is going on and to blend in with the plot. For other disclaimer, see chapter one!
Plot: (Episode: set between "The Sea Witch" and "Revenge is Sweet"; and before "Hall of Wisdom") Tori and Richie have a bonding adventure while helping out Duncan MacLeod after they take part of a meeting with Duncan and Tessa regarding her situation.
Swift Action
Tori was walking down the streets in Seacouver. It had been a couple of weeks since she had first became immortal. Things have been unusually quiet. She had expected to run across an immortal or Duncan but that had yet to happen, which didn't really make sense.
Today, out of the clear blue, Tori had gotten a text message from Richie saying that Mac wanted to meet with her. Maybe things would take an interesting turn. Maybe he knew she was immortal. Who was she kidding? Of course, Duncan knew, at least he would know upon sensing her with this thing that Amanda described as the Buzz. The Buzz was something that happened when an immortal sensed another immortal. Tori couldn't help but to wonder if Duncan always knew if she was immortal before the changes.
Tori perked up as she was sensing something, "This must be the Buzz Amanda told me about."
A car pulled up and she saw Duncan and Richie. The former looked up at her, "We need to talk."
"Yeah," Tori nodded, "I think we do."
She got in the car with her friends before Duncan drove to the antique store and met up with Tessa at the loft.
"So, what's going on?" Tessa proceeded to ask.
"It's time to have a meeting with our new ally, Tori," Duncan stated.
"Ally?!" Richie and Tessa exclaimed in unison.
"It's okay," Tori assured the two, "I already know about MacLeod and immortals. As a matter of fact, I am one."
"You're immortal now?" Richie asked.
"Yeah," Tori nodded, "it happened after my aunt Dale's funeral, and that's where I met my first teacher, who saved me from being beheaded by the guy who caused my first death."
"Yikes," Richie muttered.
"We're just glad you're okay," Tessa told her.
"Thanks," Tori nodded, "you need to know that there's more to me than just your average immortal."
"What do you mean?" Tessa asked.
"You're related to Flash Gordon, is that right?" Richie asked, "his niece?"
"That's what I told you when we first met," Tori answered, "with that, I work at a place called the Intergalatic Union Agency or IUA for short, and I'm good with technology and computers."
Duncan, Tessa, and Richie looked at her in surprise.
"Yeah," she elaborated further, "like my cousins, I know a great deal of creating inventions, and I know a great deal about the assembly and functionality of weapons, and vehicles, particularly, combat vehicles."
Duncan looked amazed by this. Tessa was surprised at the skills she had, and Richie was impressed, especially when Tori was demonstrating a bit of her technology skills.
Perhaps, with everything Duncan MacLeod was in need of, perhaps, Tori could be of use and help him out.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Richie took a seat beside Tori's stool, watching as she slipped a thin headpiece on. Tessa had been taken and Duncan was on his way to rescue her, and Duncan had Tori to track down Tessa's captors, and if needed, Richie were to help her out.
"So let me make sure I've got everything right..." He was amazed by the skill she'd displayed - and maybe just a little bit irked as well. "You hacked your way into traffic cameras, tracked the villains to their secret lair...and now you're gonna hack into their camera too?"
Tori frowned a tad. "They don't have a camera set up in there."
"Ah!" he uttered, triumphantly. "So even Slick Vic knows defeat at times."
Tori stroked her temple. She stared at the ceiling. "You keep talking to me like you hope that I'll fail - as though you think I'm utterly perfect or something."
Richie squirmed a bit. "I didn't say that."
"When I was a girl, little kids resented me for being 'too smart.' You seem to have the same maturity as some of them."
Richie turned away, regretting his words. He tended to speak before he thought sometimes. "Listen...Tor..."
"Hold on." She paused. "I've locked in on their signal."
"I thought you said they didn't have a camera in there."
"We can't watch the guys, but we can still hear them."
He folded his arms. "And how, exactly, are we going to do that?"
"Via the device that I planted on one." Tori moved back and sat the headpiece down. "I'm putting their discussion on speakerphone."
Within a few seconds, Richie could hear all the targets talking.
"Der MacLeod-Pfad führt nach Thailand," one of them said.
Richie scowled a little. "I don't speak Italian."
"It's actually German."
"I don't speak that either."
"No problem. I do."
He flinched in surprise.
"They said that the trail leads to Thailand." She stood.
"So let's smash 'em now."
"Hold on, hotshot..." She settled his wrist. "We might want to see where they lead us first. That way, we may nail the rest of their crew. I'm going to give my mother a call."
"And inform MacLeod as well," Richie added in.
"Right," Tori nodded.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Tori stood with Richie right across from her mother. She'd had a grim feeling that this wouldn't go well. Now she could tell she was right about that.
Janet cupped her hands just on top of her desk, scowling as she studied Richie's lax demeanor. His head was to the side. A hand was in his pocket. He wasn't honoring the formalities.
Tori heaved a chuckle, then leaned toward her friend. "Arms held straight. Chin held high."
"Right!" he muttered, adjusting himself.
Janet made a nod. "I wanted to commend both of you on your work."
"Thanks, Jammin' Janet," he said with a smile.
Tori closed her eyes, stroking her brow.
"You will address me as 'leader,' Richard, even when you aren't really working for me."
He cleared his throat. "Sorry. Leader."
Tori looked aside.
"I'll say it with honor," Richie continued. "I've heard a whole lot of good things about you.
"Unfortunately, I can't report the same."
Richie squirmed a bit.
"But I certainly hope that will change in time," Janet revealed, "especially if you plan to socialize with my daughter."
Tori took a breath. "Are we all done now?"
Janet stared a moment. "You both are dismissed."
Tori turned to leave. Richie followed her.
