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: Some of these chapters from this point forward, as well as a few chapters previously, are a retelling of selected episodes. For all other disclaimer, see chapter one!

Plot: (Set during "Bless the Child" and before "Unholy Alliance") Richie is initiated into the IUA, and Janet reflects on finding out her daughter is Immortal before planning to send Richie and Tori to the Defenders.

New on the Job

"I wasn't really surprised at what MacLeod did," Tori stated as she walked to the bed of their hotel room. A couple of days have passed since she and Richie had left MacLeod after Richie took his first Quickening because of the events with Mako and the mortal Laura Daniels, and they left Seacouver to make their way to Central City. They rode on Richie's motorcycle and they were currently in a hotel in Oregon.

"To be honest," Richie nodded, "neither was I."

He looked at her, "I mean, I had my expectations but I was kind of being unrealistic hoping for a job, friends, and a girl."

"When it comes to being Immortal," Tori stated, "there are many risks. We'll still have friends, and you'll find a girl, and you're about to have a job."

Richie sighed and smiled, "That's right. Your mom is going to allow me to become a part of the same agency you are working in, the Intergalatic Union Agency."

"That's right," Tori nodded gently tapping Richie's shoulder, "I'm sure it's going to be a learning experience for you, and it'll be a way to be out on your own like MacLeod wants."

"I'll be looking forward to it," Richie replied before asking, "When will I begin?"

"My mom informed me before we left Seacouver," Tori answered, "that you will be starting in Central City once we arrived."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Richie replied, "Let's get going to California."

"Hold on there, hot shot," Tori held his arm, "we should be getting some rest as its' been a long day, and first thing tomorrow, we'll make our way to Central City."

Richie relented, "You have a good point. Resting sounds like a plan."

Richie laid down on his bed while Tori was getting ready for bed as she would sleep on the bed as the hotel room had two beds. He was thinking on what he could expect when he joined the IUA, and wondered what he'd expect in an agency where supernatural and off world stuff were concerned.

It was going to be an interesting experience, and Richie Ryan would be willing to do what it took to help the team in his way.

-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-

Richie stood next to Tori in the room. He was looking over some of the files the IUA had to deal with over the years, including rogue witches, mad moguls, and aliens such as Ming the Merciless.

"I know Ming the Merciless," Richie stated, "He was there when that witch made me sleepwalk, and had Tessa under her control. He somehow knew MacLeod."

That sleepwalking ordeal still spooked him, even after he gotten past the phase where he thought he would sleepwalk again even after Ming and Cathleen were gone.

Richie took a deep breath before looking further at the files, and this time, they were of the recent exploits regarding Immortals, from the rogue Watchers, or the Hunters. He was surprised to learn about all the IUA knew about the Immortals, and was even more surprised about who took who's Quickenings in regards to the deceased Immortals, from Tori having her first Quickening after taking the head of Annie Delvin, to Richie having his first Quickening after taking Mako's head, which was a few days ago. There were even files all the way up to Wilshire Park, the first location of an Immortal sighting to the IUA, the first time Richie and Tori met.

"So, you got details on Immortals?" Richie looked on in surprise.

"Ever since I made the call for Containment for that call that night," Tori nodded, "and evidently, the IUA has got record of our exploits since then, even those they weren't involved in."

"You don't have to worry," Janet assured him, "this is classified information, and nobody outside the IUA or the Watchers will have access to information regarding these exploits. I trust the Immortal business is supposed to be secret for a reason."

Richie sighed with relief.

"Now, Richard, shall we begin with your training?"

-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-

Janet sighed as she entered her quarters. Today had been an eventful day. Richie had proven himself to have incredible potential to become one of their agents given how he demonstrated himself during training today. He had a little bit of an arrogant streak, but she was certain that would be straightened out, especially on Tori's watch.

Janet had found it hard to believe they were both Immortal as she had recently found out. On the other hand, she had suspicion that another one of her agents, Jack, was also Immortal based on everything she had found out based on her interaction with Duncan, Richie, and Tori shortly after Tori had her first Quickening after taking the head of Immortal Annie Delvin.

Jack walked into the room moments later, "You called for me, Leader?"

"I had my suspicion about you lately," Janet held her hands behind her back.

Jack looked confused, "What are you talking about?"

"You don't have to hide it from me any longer," Janet turned towards him, "of your Immortality."

Jack gulped. He appeared to be nervous as if the jig was up about something.

"You don't have to worry," Janet assured him, "You're not in trouble. Besides, we have two other Immortals in our agency as well, one of them being my daughter."

"Your daughter is immortal?" Jack asked, surprised.

"Yeah," Janet nodded, "I found out recently, and boy I was in for a shock."

Months Ago

"What was that all about?" Janet asked. She was at her daughter's apartment, and she wanted answers upon finding out her own daughter was the one who took the Immortal Annie Delvin's head yesterday. Duncan and Richie were with them.

Duncan, Richie and Tori glanced at each other, not knowing how they were going to reveal the truth to her.

"What do you need to know?" Duncan asked, "Annie was Immortal, and she's now dead."

"I get that, Mister MacLeod," Janet scoffed, "but usually it's you who takes the head of the enemy Immortals. Instead, I find out my own daughter took her head."

"I admit to breaking the rules," Tori stated, "usually Immortal combat is one on one only, but if I didn't act, Annie would have taken Richie's head."

"Wait? You mean..." Janet started to ask. She stopped herself as a part of her didn't really want to know the answer.

"Richie is Immortal, Mom," Tori finally spoke up, "and so am I. We are Immortal, just like MacLeod."

Janet paced the room for a minute, trying to process everything. After a little bit, she looked back at the three.

"How long has this been going on?" Janet asked.

"Richie had only been Immortal recently the same night Tessa died," Tori answered, "and he's got some pretty cool training from MacLeod and he gained the upper hand against Annie and..."

"What about you?" Janet asked.

"I've been Immortal for over a year now," Tori reluctantly answered.

"When did that happen?"

"After Aunt Dale's funeral," Tori answered, shuddering over the memory of her first death, "some psycho shot and killed me, and that's what triggered my Immortality."

"I don't believe it," Janet protested, "it's just not possible."

Duncan, Richie and Tori only stared at her as if to tell her that it was true.

"It can't be possible," Janet continued, "I mean, how?"

"You want proof, Mom?" Tori finally grabbed a hand gun that was on the table, "Shoot at one of us."

Janet hesitated as she held the gun, "What is that going to prove?"

"It's going to prove that we are Immortal," Duncan answered, "Go ahead. Shoot at us."

Janet looked nervous. She couldn't make the same mistake she did all those years ago. She had caused her husband's death, but could she actually be the cause of her daughter's death? Or her friends for that matter?

Moments later, she fired the hand gun at random and hit Tori square in the torso. She instantly fell backwards to the ground, dead. Janet started sobbing, thinking she had killed her daughter. She barely noticed Richie and Duncan as they only looked on as if they knew what to expect.

A few minutes later, Tori gasped and was coughing. She slowly got up as she was revived.

"How is...how is that possible?" Janet asked.

"That's part of being immortal," Richie answered as he helped up Tori as her shot wound was healing, "and it's something I'm trying to get used to myself."

It took a minute for Janet to process everything. She took a deep breath before asking, "Well, have you ever tried to...not be Immortal?"

"That's not how that works," Duncan answered.

"So, with you being Immortal," Janet was now coming to terms with the situation, "you live forever, and you can never die?"

"There is one way," Duncan chimed in, "and that's if the immortal has their head chopped off."

"Decapitation," Janet nodded, acknowledging the situation, "and that leads to..."

"The winning Immortal takes the power and knowledge of the decapitated Immortal," Tori answered, "and that is called the Quickening."

The Present

Flash sighed as he heard a ring. He hurried over to the screen of Monitor and looked at the time at the digital clock nearby. It was 2:45 in the morning.

"Who could it be at this hour?" he asked.

"Incoming call from Janet Gordon," Dynak announced.

"Huh?" Flash looked up in surprise to see his sister on the screen, "Janet? What's going on, and why are you calling in this time?"

"Tori is going to be in Central City for awhile," Janet answered, "and our newest agent, Richard Ryan will be accompanying her."

"Tori's coming," Flash seemed surprised by this, "and you mean Richie Ryan, right?"

"Yes, obviously," Janet nodded, "Tori and Richie will be assigned to your team for the time being."

"What happened with Duncan MacLeod?" Flash asked.

"MacLeod had recently sent Richie to be out on his own," Janet answered, "and Richie is doing quite well for his training."

"So, they'll be moving in with us full time?" Flash asked.

"At least for now," Janet answered, "yes. Life of an Immortal is unpredictable, especially those who are IUA agents."

"So, you know too?"

"About Tori being Immortal," Janet answered again, "yeah. I knew after we took Annie Delvin's men into custody. You know too?"

"I knew after the events of Dale's funeral," Flash explained, "a crazy Immortal man nearly took Tori's head, and another Immortal by the name of Amanda came from out of nowhere and saved her and took the psycho's head."

"Over a year ago?" Janet asked, noting the story with Tori's Immortality matching what her brother just said.

"Exactly. When will we see Richie and Tori?"

"Within the next couple of days."

"Can't wait to see them then."