Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for Tori Gordon and Jack Banks! Highlander belongs to Davis/Panzer as well as Rysher Entertainment. Defenders of the Earth belongs to Marvel, King Features Entertainment and Hearst Entertainment.
"They are Immortal. From the dawn of time, they came; moving silently through the centuries, living many secret lives, struggling to reach the time of the Gathering, when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known they exist, except for a group of people known as the Watchers, a secret organization of men and women who observe and record Immortals but never interfere. I'm one of those Watchers. Holy Ground is their only refuge, In the end, there can be only one."
(cue "Princes of the Universe")
Starring
Jack Turpin
Kehli O' Byrne
Adrian Paul
Ellie Cornell
Stan Kirsch
Philip Akin
and
Jim Byrnes as Joe Dawson
("Princes of the Universe" ends)
Eye For An Eye
Guest Starring
Sheena Easton
Tori and Richie were eating lunch together at in Owen's penthouse. It had been a couple of weeks since Tessa's death and things have been hard. Richie was trying to adjust to his new life as an Immortal as his first death happened the same night Tessa died.
Then there was the funeral. The Defenders found out about Tessa's death, and they attended the funeral with Tori, Richie and the MacLeods. The Defenders, Tori, Richie and the MacLeods also did their best to comfort Allan Rothwood, who was devastated in losing his friend months after losing his son. They also did their best to comfort Tessa's family, who were also devastated by her loss.
While the Noëls were doing their best to cope with the death the best they could, Allan failed to cope. Days after the funeral, Allan was found dead at the chateau. It was discovered that he had drunk himself to death, unable to handle losing his childhood friend months after losing his son.
Shortly afterward, Allan was buried next to Tessa.
Tears fell down Tori's eyes. Her heart bled for Allan. It was sad that he never had a chance to recover. She had wished there was something she could have done. She wished she could have found a way to prevent Tessa from dying. If only…
"Tori?" Richie called out.
Tori turned and saw Richie, who looked at her with concern, "Are you okay?"
"Just thinking," answered Tori.
"About what?" that was a dumb question.
"I'm glad you're still here, Rich," Tori spoke up after a pause of silence. "I…I just have been thinking about Tessa."
"I know."
"I've also been thinking about the aftermath and the funeral." Tori explained further. "I saw Allan. He was devastated. My uncle and the others did what they could to comfort him. We did too. It wasn't enough though. Days after the funeral, Allan was found in his chateau, dead from alcohol poisoning."
She wiped tears away before she continued, "I keep thinking that I could've done something to prevent all of this. I mean, Greta saw that Tessa was in danger. I should've grilled her for the details of the vision. Maybe if I had, Tessa would still be alive, Allan would still be alive…I…"
"Tori, it wasn't your fault," Owen said as he entered the room, overhearing the conversation, "It was Wolf who caused all this. That Hunter put Tessa in the crosshairs. You had no way of knowing what would have happened. Even if you did get information from Greta, the outcome wouldn't have changed."
"Owen's right, Tor," agreed Richie. "You might be a genius, but you can't prevent everything from happening the way it has."
There was a pause of silence as Owen, Richie and Tori glanced at each other.
"Are you okay?" Tori asked, trying to change the conversation.
"I guess," answered Richie as he looked hesitant, "I mean, it's a lot to take in given everything that's happened besides Tessa dying. I'm now...Immortal, like you, like Duncan and Owen."
"It's a lot to take in," Owen stated as he and Tori sat by him and Tori gave him an assuring hug.
"But don't worry. You know the old saying, it's always darkest before dawn," advised Tori.
"The thing is," Richie stated, "Mac and Owen knew that I was Immortal the whole time."
She hugged him for comfort again, "No matter what happens, I intend to stay by your side."
"I wonder if Mac is going to be my teacher now that I'm Immortal," Richie spoke up.
"I wouldn't doubt it," agreed Owen. "I'll help too."
Tori then added, "I overheard him talking about training you when you became Immortal once, but I didn't think anything of it at the time."
Richie looked at them for a moment.
"Richie," Tori assured him. "Hang in there. It'll be okay."
"Are you guys ready?" asked Duncan as he walked over to the doorway.
Richie and Tori looked at each other for a moment before looking at Duncan.
"We're moving to the dojo," Duncan told the two, "We should get our stuff from here."
Richie and Tori glared at each other. Tori remembered that Duncan had sold the antique shop and ended up buying Charlie's dojo.
"Well," Owen declared, "We should get going."
Owen had been allowing a beard to go, and his hair was getting a mess in it. Duncan was doing the same as well. This was due to both of them realizing they had no girls in their lives. Duncan led Owen into the dojo to show him around.
"Hey MacLeod, you the new owner?" called Charlie.
"That's right," Duncan replied.
"Why'd you buy this place?"
"Because it was for sale."
"Well, I'll just pack up my office, all right?"
"I wanted you to run it for me."
"Do I get a raise?"
"Don't push it, Charlie."
"Who'd ya bring this time?" Charlie asked, glancing at Owen.
"I'm Owen MacLeod, the son," replied Owen. "And you are?"
"Charles DeSalvo, but my friends call me Charlie," Charlie introduced himself. "I used to be the owner of DeSalvo's Martial Arts until your old man here bought it."
"Hey, Charlie, there's no hot water again!" called a man from the back.
"Hey, a new heater is going to cost you four-fifty," he warned Duncan before walking to the source of the voice. "I'm coming!"
Just then, Richie and Tori showed up, carrying cardboard boxes.
"Hey, guys, you hungry? I'm hungry," he asked his pals.
"Oh, what's new?" replied Duncan.
"Not much, really," Tori quipped, "We should get a bite to eat though."
"She's right. Let's go. I'm buying," Richie chimed in.
"I could use some food in my system," Owen agreed.
"Alright."
Outside the British Consulate, a dark sedan pulled up to the curb in front of the consulate. Inside were three shaggy haired men and a grimace-faced redheaded woman. She was known as the Irish terrorist, Annie Devlin. A second dark sedan parked in front of the first. The driver, who was also a guard got out and stood by the consulate entrance.
"On schedule?" asked Tommy Harrigan from the front passenger seat of first sedan as he watched the consulate entrance.
"Dead on schedule," Devlin replied, from the backseat.
"No relish," said a customer on a street near the consulate.
"Mmm, that's sweet," said Richie, as he paid a hot dog vendor before taking his hot dog. "Thanks, Rico. Take care."
Owen had his own, simply with ketchup, but Duncan did not seem in the mood.
Richie took a bite of his hot dog before stating, "Mmm. Rico's chilidogs - ain't nothing on Earth like them."
"I have to agree," Tori nodded with a smile, enjoying her hotdog, also with only ketchup.
"Hard to find a favorite kind of flavor," admitted Owen.
"It's a good thing you're one of us. You might actually recover from that stuff," Duncan joked.
Richie offered his hot dog to Duncan, who shook his head, declining the offer.
"You sure?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"Dad, you should eat," warned Owen.
Sensing tension, Richie spoke up, "I remember Tessa loved these things."
Duncan did not reply.
"Mac, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything."
"She was part of our lives, Richie. Never pretend she wasn't," he advised.
"We know, and we don't," Tori replied. "It's just so weird. I had no memory of my dad, so I wouldn't know of that, but I knew Tessa for over a year, and it's weird."
"Yeah. I keep waking up every morning…" Richie started to say.
"Expecting her to be there?" Owen cut in.
"Yeah."
"Me too. I heard Lynn's taking it hard. Tessa could've been a great mom."
"Very much so," Tori added, "It's been a week, and I haven't felt that weird feeling since Aunt Dale's death."
"Get used to it. It won't be the last time it happens to you," advised Duncan.
"When does it start getting easier?" Richie asked.
Duncan sighed, "It doesn't."
He then led the way, with Tori and the boys following after him.
Back outside the British Consulate, Harrigan handed Devlin a semi-automatic gun. Next to her, Mick, a goon with a mane, screwed a silencer on his own firearm.
"Right. He'll be out any minute now," Devlin said as they watched the guard checking his watch.
"So Rich, how does it feel being part of the family?" asked Owen as they continued to walk.
"I keep waiting to feel different, like somebody's going to tell me how to be, what to do," Richie explained.
"I felt the changes after I first became Immortal," Tori stated. "It's just weird."
"What were you expecting, a set of instructions?" asked Duncan.
"Well, Mac, even Superman had-"
"You're not Superman, Richie."
"In his defense Dad," cut in Owen, "You're like Batman, Connor's like Superman, I'm like Damian Wayne, Tori here is like Barbara Gordon and he's like Dick Grayson. Even before he became Immortal."
"And Amanda's like Catwoman?" Tori asked.
"Exactly!"
Duncan prepared to speak again, but suddenly, all four stopped walking as they sensed a buzz. They looked around and could not see anyone so far.
"There's an Immortal nearby," Richie realized. "I can feel it."
"Me too," Tori replied, "It's called a buzz."
"Let's go to work," said Owen, leading the way and quickly finishing his hot dog.
Tori followed suit.
"Smile, you fat bastard," said Devlin, ginning smugly as the British Ambassador and his female secretary exited the building.
"Good morning, Ambassador," greeted the guard.
"Yes, it is a good morning," the ambassador agreed, before turning to his secretary. "Ah, please...I think the first meeting-"
Devlin nodded to Mick, who got out of the car and walked toward the ambassador. Duncan snuck through the building's pillars, before seeing Mick raise the firearm. Acting quickly, he charged the goon and grabbed his arm, wrestling for control. Mick shot the air blindly, causing people to scatter.
Devlin saw Mick struggling with Duncan, "Tommy, take the ambassador!"
Harrigan got out of the car with a silenced firearm. Duncan was still fighting with Mick and Owen ran over to help, getting the gun from him. Mick tried to fight the MacLeods, but they worked together in beating him up. Tori and Richie hurried over and blocked Harrigan's path.
"Richie, be careful!" Tori called out.
"Excuse me, mister," he said in a stupid tone, "You a mustard and kraut kinda guy? Personally, I like chili cheese."
He then threw his hot dog right in Harrigan's face, then punched him in the stomach. Harrigan kicked him in the stomach and kicked him down, but Richie responded by kicking him in the knee, knocking him off his feet. Seeing Harrigan go down, Devlin ran up with the semi-automatic. Owen had kicked Mick away, just in time to see her take aim. Richie grabbed at the gun, resulting in her pulling the trigger and wildly unleashing stray bullets. Owen got down to protect himself as the bullets bounced off the sedan and in the air.
"Stop!" Owen yelled as the bullets continued to fire. "Stop! STOP!"
But all the windows were destroyed by the gunfire before Devlin finally stopped firing. That was when she realized what had happened.
"No!" she whimpered quietly.
Owen saw it too and ran up to Harrigan's lifeless body.
"What did you do?!" he yelled at Devlin, who dropped the gun.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" she screamed in anguish and she fell by Harrigan's side. "No, Tommy! No!"
Neal, the terrorist driver pulled up in his group's car.
"Taigh solais," Devlin called to him. "Taigh solais!"
"Come on! Come on, hurry!" Neal urged Mick.
Devlin grabbed Harrigan's firearm and attempted to aim it at Richie, but Duncan ran over and pulled it out of her hands. Mick ran to Neal, got in on the passenger side and the car sped away. Duncan and Devlin both froze as they seemed to recognize each other. Just then police cars pulled up to the area and Duncan backed off.
"Out of the way, please. Excuse me," they each said before cuffing Devlin.
"Mr. Ambassador, are you okay, sir?" asked the guard.
"Yes, thank you," the ambassador answered.
Devlin looked over her shoulder at Richie as she was led away, "You're a dead man."
Owen stood next to Richie as they both glared at Devlin being taken away. Duncan picked up a golden ring that was lying on the sidewalk, and looked at it.
"Richie, you need to be more careful next time," Owen advised. "Your move could've resulted in others being shot."
"He's right," added Tori. "You acted pretty reckless."
"Easy, Tor," Richie replied. "The ambassador is safe, and that's all that matters."
"For now," corrected Owen.
"She strike you as the sincere type?"
"Let's just say I warned the bitch."
"I was afraid of that."
"I was staring right down the barrel of that creep's gun. I can't believe it!" Richie boasted as he walked with Duncan, Tori and Owen back into the dojo. "Mac, right down the barrel, and I didn't even blink. Is that how it feels every time?"
He entered the elevator with Duncan, Tori and Owen.
"No…" Duncan responded as he closed gate. "Only when you're a damn fool."
Richie spoke again as the elevator rose, "What's eating you?"
"That was Mac – 10, Richie," Tori answered, "Forty-five rounds every second and a half. Do you know how many people could have been killed?"
"Thank you," muttered Duncan.
"Yeah, but nobody was," Richie argued.
"Because you got lucky. What if she'd hit you?"
"Mac, I can't die."
"But if you die in public, you have to leave the country," Owen chimed in as Duncan lifted gate and they entered the loft. "You can't just use attack as your plan. You take fifty slugs in the chest, and you survive. How do you explain that?"
"As it was, a man died. And he's not coming back," Duncan added.
"He deserved it," retorted Richie, which both Tori and Owen actually agreed with.
"Did he?" Duncan barked. "Did you have a good look at his soul?"
"Ok, if anyone is responsible for that terrorist's death though, it's her," insisted Owen.
"Who is she?" Richie asked.
"Ann Elizabeth Deane. She always sees herself as a pure individual who can do no wrong. Now she'll be coming for you. You'd better start learning the Game, and I mean now."
"Fine. You teach me."
Richie landed on the mat, with Owen standing above him. Tori watched from a close, but safe distance.
"Come on, get up! Get up!" Duncan ordered, as Richie got back up.
"Get off the mat."
Richie raised his fists and tried to do a right jab, but Owen swiftly blocked him.
"Try it again," he encouraged.
So Richie tried again, with a right jab and left hook. Then he did another jab, but Owen blocked them all and flipped him down a second time.
"Aah!" groaned Richie as he grabbed his head.
"Get up," Duncan ordered again.
Richie stood again and tried a combination of jabs and hooks, but Owen knocked him onto mat the again.
"Come on! Get up!"
Richie stood again.
"And again. Come here," said Owen.
He blocked another jab and flipped Richie onto the mat. And he did it over, and over, and over, and over again.
"Get up," ordered Duncan, slapping Richie in the face to make him focus.
He got back up but a jab got him yanked to the ground.
"Come on," encouraged Owen.
Richie tried a high kick on Owen, but it was dodged and he ended up on his rear.
"Come on. Try and take me," Owen insisted.
Richie yelled and charged, only for Owen to catch him and throw him down again.
"You're gonna have to do better than that. Come on. Once again. At least you got the yell right."
Richie got up and walked away, "No more. I'm finished."
"Finished?!" yelled Duncan. "What are you doing off the mat without your shoes?! Go on!"
He kicked the shoes toward Richie, "Get your shoes! You haven't even started to learn!"
"Learn what?!" Richie yelled back, grabbing a towel. "Fifty ways to land on my head? What are you doing this to me for? What the hell did I do?"
"What did he do? What did he do?" mumbled Duncan before turning to Richie and making him look at him. "She's coming for you, Richie, and she's only the first. You've got to be good. You've got to be ready."
"Aw, Mac, killing me isn't going to make me ready," retorted Richie as they walked into the office.
"Isn't it?"
"You know what I think? This isn't about me or her. It's about Tessa."
Owen facepalmed and Tori pursed her lips in response. They were not liking this.
"Tessa's got nothing to do with it," Duncan insisted.
"Bull, Mac," snapped Richie. "You can't get past it. I know. You've seen a lot of people die, but you had to be the hero. You sent us out to the car that night. You could've been there."
He glanced over at Tori, "At least Tori was there. She didn't know what to do as she hadn't been Immortal as long as you have!"
"Let it go, Richie."
"No. You look me in the eye, and you tell me you don't blame yourself for her death."
"I'm trying to protect you from Annie Devlin!" snapped Duncan, shoving Richie away.
"Annie Devlin's in jail! She can't hurt me!" Richie barked. "I'll see you around."
Richie stormed out of the office, while Owen went in.
"Working against him isn't going to prepare him for fights," he reminded.
Duncan then picked up Harrigan's ring and looks at it, thinking back to the safe house in 1919 Ireland.
"No, absolutely not," Owen snapped.
"But you both can fight," pleaded Deane. "Better than any man I've ever seen. With you on our side-"
"We're sorry, Annie," Duncan said kindly. "You put yourselves in danger for no reason."
"Damn it, how can you say no?"
"Because this isn't my fight or yours."
"Kerry's the man I love. His fight is my fight, and it should be yours. How can you turn away?"
"Experience. I know how these things end."
"It'll end in freedom."
"No, Lady," snapped Owen again. "It'll end in more death - and not just for some of you, or for some of them. I mean the men, women and children who get in the way of the crossfire. You stop this right now. People like Kerry over there only die once."
He was referring to Kerry Devlin, her mortal husband.
"Damn you and your father's stubborn hides, Owen. Well, at least have a drink with us," Deane insisted as she poured them both a glass of wine. "Right. To the cause?"
Duncan laughed, "No, Annie. To happiness."
Deane looked at Devlin, "Kerry."
Devlin looked to her and raised his glass. Owen merely did so in respect to his father. When Devlin looked out the window again, a gunshot fired through it window, hitting him and sending him onto the bed. The MacLeods took cover while Deane rushed to Devlin.
"Come on," Duncan urged Deane.
"No," sobbed Deane as she held onto Devlin's corpse.
"I fucking told you!" Owen snapped at her.
"Come on. Come on!" urged Duncan.
Deane removed Devlin's ring from his finger, before crawling with the MacLeods toward the door.
"Go!" encouraged Duncan as they finally reached the exit.
The next morning, the trio had reached the rocky coast.
"I can't run anymore," panted Deane.
"That's okay. I think we lost them," Duncan soothed.
"How much farther?"
"It's just over there."
"I tried to warn you what would happen to Kerry," said Owen.
"Don't worry," Deane panted. "He'll have his revenge."
"Come on," said Duncan before Owen could say anything else.
They carefully crossed the rocky shoreline to a small rowboat.
"Come on," Duncan repeated as he undid the ropes.
"No, MacLeod, you go on," replied Deane.
"Annie, you can't kill them all."
"I can try. Oh, why don't you stay? It'll be a beautiful war."
"Wars are never beautiful, Deane," Owen snapped. "Leave with us. This will never end."
"It will when we win. Or when there's no one left alive to fight."
Owen pulled out his sword and held it at the unarmed Deane's neck.
"Owen, don't!" said Duncan.
Reluctantly agreeing, Owen got close to Deane, "We'll be leaving now, but if I see you again and you're still killing, I'm coming for you."
He put his katana away and got into the boat. Duncan kissed Deane's hand before following.
"Good-bye, Annie," he said and he rowed the boat away.
Owen and Tori walked over to Richie, who was dressed in his street clothes, having left the locker room and picking up his backpack.
"Where are you going?" asked Duncan.
"My place, the zoo - anywhere there's no mat for you to dump me on," Richie answered.
"This isn't a good idea, Richie," Tori insisted.
"Yeah, you're not ready, dude," objected Owen.
"They have a point," Duncan agreed. "If you come in second to Annie, you'll die...forever."
"I'll take my chances."
Richie began to walk away, but Owen and Tori hurried over to catch up with him.
"You do realize my dad has a point," he said as the two walked down the streets.
"What do you mean?" asked Richie.
"Look, what you said about Tessa, that was kinda out of line. He's going through a tough patch after he lost her last week," Tori answered.
"It's just like when I ran through my separation from Lynn due to Horton." added Owen.
A pause of silence filled the three.
"We're all affected by her loss in our own ways," Owen continued.
"Owen's right," chimed in Tori. "And we think we should take a little walk for a while, and we'll return to the dojo, and hopefully, things will patch up between you and MacLeod."
Richie smiled, "You're right, you know. You BOTH are."
At that moment, Owen remembered when they talked about Richie's new Immortality.
"You three knew this whole time," said Richie. "Why didn't you warn me?"
"It wasn't our place," Tori answered. "Not mine, or the MacLeods."
"Yeah," added Owen. "You deserved a normal life. But your destiny was to join us."
"Well, now that I'm part of the 'club', why don't you guys train me?"
"Teach our tricks to someone who already knows too much about us? We'd be better off killing you, Richie."
"We've never been enemies. You can trust me."
Owen chuckled; he was only teasing.
"You'd be amazed with what the years can change. You're lucky, Richie and so is Tori. Most of us spend years confused and frightened before learning the full truth of our nature. You are one of the rare Immortals. An Immortal who enters the Game already understanding so much. The experience you lack, you can make up with knowledge. You WILL be formidable. Are you ready to start?"
Tori smiled.
Meanwhile, at the federal building interrogation room, Irish FBI Agent O'Hara and his partner Agent Rawls were interrogating Deane.
"We know all about you and your pals," said O'Hara. "You're an outlaw, even to your own. So, save yourself fifty years' hard time, and tell us where your people are."
"Go to hell," Deane retorted.
"Oh, that's original. So, what's your real name, missy? Your types have been using Annie Devlin for seventy-five years."
"I'm well-preserved."
"You're a disgrace to all of us, is what you are."
"And you're a pig who cares more about his own fat arse than his people."
"Hey, don't talk about my own people. How many of my people have you murdered?"
"Only the traitors."
"You'll be eighty years old and all used up before you see daylight again."
"Oh, I think I'll be seeing it sooner than that."
"Not unless you give us something damn interesting."
"You want something interesting?"
"For once in your life, do the right thing."
In response for his insults, Deane grabbed O'Hara, kneed him in the groin and ran to the nearby window. She broke through it and fell multiple stories to the concrete below, to a temporary death. The agents rushed over to the window and looked down at Deane's body.
"Why?" asked Rawls, seeing two onlookers rushing over to the body.
Across the city, as they were walking, Owen felt a tingle in his ear, coupled with a thud. Tori felt the same feeling. They both realized Deane had just abused her Immortality to escape. They decided to wait to tell Richie about it as they continued their walk. Tori in particular was trying her best to keep Richie from knowing that something was up, and luckily for her, it was working.
However, a fire began to form in her system toward the Irish terrorist.
Duncan sat sadly at a small desk in the loft, looking at a photo of himself and Tessa as well as the golden ring in his hand. He quickly put the ring in a jewelry box as Charlie exited the elevator.
"I don't know what it is," Charlie stated, "But it ain't doing you any good lookin' at it."
"You want something?" asked Duncan.
"Look, MacLeod, I've seen men chewed up before."
"Let me worry about that."
"Yeah, well, it ain't just about you man. It's Richie. Look, I know you're my boss, and maybe it's none of my business..."
"You're right. It's not."
"No. Yeah. But I'm going to tell you anyway. You gotta back off, man. You're laying into the kid too hard."
"Has to be done."
"Why? Because of that terrorist woman? Well, if that's what it is, you can stop worrying."
"Why?"
"It's all over the news. She took a header from the tenth floor of the federal building. She's dead, man."
But Duncan knew better. With this knowledge, he knew that Deane would be looking for Richie with the authorities off her tail.
A sign on the wall of the morgue read: 'Please Register Autopsied Cadavers With City Coroners Office' as a medical examiner put on a pair of latex gloves. He unzipped Deane's body bag, only for the ungrateful terrorist to grab him by the shirt and hit him in the face, knocking him out. She then grabbed a white lab coat to wear and quietly left the morgue.
Back at the dojo, Owen and Tori were sparring with each other as they were swinging kicks and punches at one another while Richie was lying on a bench, lifting weights. He lifted the weights up, lowered them and repeated two more times.
"How's it going?" came a familiar voice.
Richie sat the weights down as he noticed Duncan.
"Mac, hey, um...I, uh, we thought we'd work out a little."
Owen turned to his father and nodded. Tori followed suit.
"Good."
"Uh, listen...you were right," Richie began to apologize.
At same time, Duncan said, "I was wrong."
"Mac, I was wrong about what I said about Tessa. I'm sorry."
"Nah, you were right. I've just been losing a lot of people lately. I didn't want to lose you, too."
"Well, makes two of us. So, listen, tough guy…" he punched Duncan in the shoulder playfully, "Want to beat the hell out of me again?"
"I'll take it a little easier on you this time," answered the older Highlander.
"Good."
"Richie, look, um...Annie's escaped."
"Well, don't look so bummed. She'll be so busy hiding from the cops, she won't have time to come after me."
"The cops think she's dead."
"Then they won't be after her?"
Duncan shook his head.
"Then she'll be after Richie, won't she?" Tori asked.
"Yeah," answered Duncan.
"I'll get him a blade," Owen replied.
He hurried to find one, while Duncan walked toward the elevator. As he did, he passed a nearby boxer, who turned to watch him go. It was actually the Irish goon, Mick.
Tori watched at a proper distance at a hillside as Duncan and Owen were doing sword training with Richie. She sat down on a beach towel Indian style, watching the training.
Owen stood on the right of Richie on the hillside with his blade resting on his arm as he and Duncan were preparing to train the young Immortal in the way of the sword.
After the three stretched to their toes, Duncan instructed, "Okay, open your legs out in this stance here."
He stood with his legs apart and knees bent. Richie copied him.
"Use your muscles."
Duncan slapped his inner thigh to drive the point, "Sit down there."
Richie saw Owen doing it right and copied the best he could.
"Okay, take your blade in your right hand," Duncan instructed, "Into en garde position."
Duncan twirled his katana into the en garde position, as Owen did the same. Richie continued to copy their moves.
"Bend your legs," Duncan continued. "Now go for a parry here."
He raised his katana blade towards his left shoulder, then over his head and behind himself, "You're going to cut forward. Cut."
Duncan brought the blade around and down.
"Cut."
Richie repeated the move at the same time as Owen did.
"Parry."
Duncan held the blade over his head his right shoulder, "Cut."
He brought the blade around and down from the other direction, "Cut."
Richie repeated the move along with Owen.
"Lunge."
Duncan lunged forward with the left leg, extending his blade. Richie lunged along with Owen.
"Good job. Now stay there," Owen told his friend. "Stay there. Don't move a muscle."
He and Duncan began to inspect Richie's stance.
"When you have your weight there..." Duncan explained, stepping on the back of Richie's extended leg, bending the knee. "You're on the wrong foot, being off balance."
Duncan pulled Richie back up, then pulled on his extended sword blade, moving him forward.
"See how I pull you off balance? Straighten this leg. Straighten it. Straighten it."
Richie straightened his leg, with a little pointer from Owen.
"That's good," Duncan noted before he continued, "The lunge is here."
He demonstrated the lunge, "Good. Back again. Parry."
Duncan held the blade over his shoulder again, "Cut backwards."
He stepped backwards as he cut the blade forward. Richie tried to repeat the move, but his sword parried over the right shoulder instead of the left one.
"No, the other way," instructed Owen, moving him back into position. "From here."
He pulled his blade over his left shoulder, though Richie held his over his right shoulder.
"Here. No, your other one."
Richie switched positions.
"Cut backwards," Duncan instructed.
This time, Richie did it correctly.
Duncan continued the lesson with Owen being impressed. It seemed Richie was natural at this.
Soon, it was time to do the whole sequence quicker.
"Go!" Duncan ordered as he began the sequence, moving forward and moving the way he said, "Parry. Cut. Parry."
"Cut. Lunge. Good, and back."
He moved backward, "Parry, cut, parry, cut, lunge. Now go back to your parry position. Show me your parry."
Richie held his sword over his left shoulder, with Owen going to check.
"Okay. That's a little low. You're going to have to bring it up a little higher" he said. "Otherwise, you're going to get cut."
Owen reached for Richie's sword and moved it higher above his head.
"Don't bring it down here, cause it's not going to save you," he continued as he held Richie's blade too low, and tapped his own against Richie's neck. "You'll have this happen."
He raised the blade higher, and hit it with his katana, "Here, okay?"
"Okay," Richie acknowledged his teacher.
Owen stepped away as Richie tried the corrected form a few times.
"Same on the other side," Duncan instructed. "Just covering your neck."
The boys then began to fence, practicing the moves Duncan taught them both.
"That's good," Owen complemented as he and Richie traded strikes left, right and up. "Back. Good. Make sure you parry with the strong part of the blade. Attack."
He swung a right to left attack, and Richie blocked it.
"With the weaker part."
Richie moved his blade closer to the tip of Owen's katana.
"There. Good, and again. Same thing."
They started trading strikes again.
"Come on. Come on," encouraged Owen. "Come on. Come on."
Richie deflected more strikes before Owen stopped his blade at a thrust opening.
"Remember, it's gonna come at you anyway. It won't just happen."
"Low. High. Low. Low. High. Low. High," Owen instructed as he swung in directions that Richie moved to block. "Other side. Strokes here, here, here."
"Come on. Come on, come on," encouraged Owen as he deflected Richie's attacks. "On the parry, you parry here."
He demonstrated an upper parry, "Here."
Richie parried a downward strike, but did not fully parry a strike to his right.
"All right? Parry. Try it again."
Richie parried another downward strike, and this time, fully parried the strike to his right.
"Now the same thing again. Go. You first."
Now it was Duncan's turn to train.
"On your parry, you're not turning enough," he instructed as he demonstrated. "Turn the blade."
"Either way," checked Richie.
"Yes. Either way."
They exchanged a series of cuts and parries as Owen watched, pleased with the progress.
"And reverse, go," checked Duncan. "Come on, come on. See what you did? You also have the low angles."
He swung his sword around Richie's knees to drive the point.
"Same thing again."
Owen felt that he was right in thinking it was coming natural to Richie.
Duncan climbed up a small hill to Richie, "Okay, I'm gonna teach you Annie's favorite move. It's your best chance of stopping her. I want you to come for a lateral cut to my right shoulder."
Richie did just that, which Duncan deflected.
"There. Now, she'll come under your blade like this, bringing it back over this way, trapping your arm, and coming around for the fatal blow."
Duncan demonstrated just that.
"Okay? A little faster this time."
They repeated the sequence again, ending with Duncan's katana blade at Richie's neck. Owen knew the counter however.
"So, what happens if she does something else?" Richie asked.
"Goodnight, puppy," answered Duncan sarcastically. "There is a counter to it, though."
He got Richie into the trapped position.
"When she has you here like this, step back, okay? Ready? Go."
Richie stepped back and blocked Duncan's katana.
"Good. Now envelop the blade and disarm her."
Richie did just that.
"Then she's at your mercy. Try that again. Down from there. A little faster this time. Ready? Go!"
They did the sequence faster and Richie performed the counter and got Duncan at his mercy.
Owen watched with a grin as Richie and Duncan repeated the sequence over and over again. Duncan one time dodged the counter and tripped Richie for fun, making Owen laugh. But Richie had still managed to disarm Duncan and hold him a blade point.
"He's ready," he said to himself.
Tori watched in awe. She thought Deane did not stand a chance and Richie had it all in the bag.
At the Seacouver indoor shooting range, several citizens were practicing their gunman skills. One such citizen was relentlessly shooting a firearm at a target. The bullets hit the center multiple times. Placing the empty gun down, the citizen removed her headgear, revealing Lynn. She took a deep breath and exhaled.
"If those Hunters come after me, they'll be in for a surprise," she said.
But she said it to herself.
Meanwhile, at an Irish pub, Mick and Neal were drinking together.
"Thanks, Jake," said a waitress as she took a full beer glass from the bartender and placed it on tray.
"I never thought they'd get her," said Mick sadly. "She died a martyr to the cause. To Annie."
He and Neal raised their glasses, clinked them and drunk. Just then, Mick felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to a miracle.
"Mick. Neal," Deane greeted, hugging them both around their shoulders. "I didn't know you cared."
"Annie," said an astonished Mick.
"I thought I told you to meet me at the lighthouse."
"We waited," Neal explained, "But then we heard you were dead."
"Keep it down or we will be. Do you believe everything you read?"
"So how the hell DID you escape?"
"That doesn't matter. What does is the work we have to do."
"The ambassador?"
"Later. The kid first."
"We know where we can find him," said Mick.
All three grinned and clicked their drinks. But they had some surprises coming.
Back at the dojo, Owen observed Richie, who was using a hanging bag for a workout and punching it while Charlie was coaching him.
"Turn your hip," Charlie coached him, "Turn your hip. Both hands, one-two, one-two."
Richie followed his instructions.
"Yeah, that's it. One-two. Come on. A little harder. Both hands. Come on!"
Richie punched the bag and Charlie stated, "That's good. That's good. You and MacLeod work things out all right, man?"
"Close enough," answered Richie. "Charlie, I'm done."
"Come on. So soon?"
"I like it here, Charlie, but I got a new bike to pick up and a friend I haven't seen in a long time."
"Well, some advice, then, Richie."
"Talk to me. Stance? Shoulders? What?"
"Shower, man. Your friend will thank you for it."
"Thanks, Charlie," said Richie as they did a fist bump exchange. "Catch you later."
He turned and walked away.
Tori walked over to him and handed him a bracelet.
"What's this?" Richie asked.
"In case you run into Annie," Tori answered to where Charlie could not hear. "She can be anywhere in the city."
Richie placed the bracelet on his right wrist, under his jacket, "Thanks. I'll make note of it."
But Owen was watching with suspicion.
"You're not going alone," he said to himself.
"Thanks for the deal, Ron," said Richie as he received his bike from the shop. "Take it easy."
"Take care, Rich," said Ron, shaking his hand.
As Richie prepared the motorcycle, Mick slowly pulled up behind him in a sedan. Richie started the motorcycle and drove away from the shop.
"Richie, you got trouble at six o' clock!" Tori announced via communicator.
"Gotcha!" Richie replied as he drove away.
Then he noticed something and stopped to adjust something on the engine. Then, he heard a screech as he spotted the sedan. Acting quickly, he started the bike and raced away.
As he rode alone, Richie spotted Neal coming up on his right. The terrorists chased him in the sedans, herding him onto some stairs, allowing him to ride into the top floor of a nearby warehouse.
"This might be a trap," Tori stated, "Annie might be setting you up by you coming here. My advice for you is to be careful."
"Noted," Richie replied as he hurried up the stairs to the top floor of the warehouse.
Upon entering the top floor, Richie looked for an exit, before he sensed a buzz.
"Richie, behind you!" came Tori's voice.
"Glad you could make it," said a voice.
Before Richie could make a move, he was hit with a two-by-four. He failed to control his bike and after it moved him a few inches, he fell on his left side, leaving his leg injured in the process. However, despite the pain, he managed to stand up and turn around to face his attacker. It was Deane.
"What's the matter? Forget your sword?" he taunted.
Deane responded by pulling out her shortsword from behind her back.
"Sorry I asked."
"Don't worry. I will take your head," Deane assured him before she drove her sword point into the wooden floor below. "But first I'm gonna hurt you."
"What for?" Richie retorted. "For saving an old man's life?"
"We were executing an enemy."
"Richie, hurry!" Tori exclaimed, "She'll take your head!"
Deane began to step toward Richie, when suddenly, the two felt a buzz. Deane turned to look behind herself and saw Owen entering the warehouse, katana in hand.
"Don't flatter yourself, Deane," he said. "Ireland has been independent for the past seven decades. What you're doing then and now is murder. You were the one with the gun."
"And your friend interfered. A good man was killed."
"That 'good man' was a butcher, like you."
"His name is Tommy. He was my husband."
"Who you got killed just like Kerry Devlin. 'Oh, why don't you stay? It'll be a beautiful war.' You don't care about independence at all, you just care about war. Get with the FUCKING times, ANN! ELIZABETH! DEANE!"
"My name is ANNIE DEVLIN!"
Deane grabbed her sword and ran for Owen, who easily deflected her attack. As they fought, Richie kickstarted his bike, struggling a little to wake it up, before it sprung to life.
"Go, Richie!" yelled Owen.
Richie drove around Owen and Deane, up a small ramp and through the warehouse window. He landed on the streets outside, startling some drivers before racing back to the dojo.
Owen and Deane exchanged immense hits between each other, but Owen kept pulling away when Deane tried to use her favorite move on him. He was not going to fall for her trick. Soon, he spotted an opening and sliced her wrist, before tripping her and bringing her down.
"There can be only one!" he yelled.
Then a bullet hit his sword blade, sending it aside. Mick hurried in with Neal behind him, shooting firearms. Owen rushed for cover, retrieving his sword and retaliating with his own firearm. He managed to hit each goon in one of their limbs before fleeing to his own motorcycle and escaping to the dojo.
Tori hurried down the stairs to meet up with Richie, "That Irish bitch."
She knew she should not have cussed, but she did not care at the moment. Richie's well-being was her primary concern as he was on his way back here and Owen's behavior was affecting her as well. She glanced over at Charlie and Duncan, who were tightening bolts on a weight bench. Charlie looked up as Duncan watched the dojo entrance.
"You still worried about him?" Charlie asked before assuring him as well as noticing Tori, "Come on, you two, the woman's dead."
"Right," Duncan replied.
"She has goons though," added Tori before she and Duncan sensed a buzz.
Richie entered the dojo, limping.
Tori hurried to his side, "At least she didn't break my communicator this time."
His hand was damaged, and his bad leg was bloodied.
"What the hell happened to you?" asked Charlie.
"You were right, Charlie," Richie answered, holding his bad hand. "Should have taken that shower."
Duncan blocked Charlie from helping as he and Tori aided Richie, "No, that's all right. We'll take him."
"How'd you get here?" Charlie asked.
"I drove," answered Richie.
"It's all right," Duncan stated, "Adrenaline's a wonderful thing."
"We've got to have somebody to look at him," said Charlie.
"Nah, he's going to be all right."
"What the hell are you talking about?! We've got to get him to a hospital!"
"No doctor."
"You'd be amazed on how fast certain bodies heal," Tori told Charlie, trying to hide their Immortality.
"It looks worse than it is, Charlie," added Richie, "Besides, I think my insurance ran out."
The three hurried to the elevator.
"Fine," Charlie replied, "It's your funeral."
As the elevator rose, Tori could not help but to think, If only he knew.
Owen parked his bike in the dojo garage.
"That Irish bitch, I warned her," he mumbled.
He was in such a hurry, that he ran for the stairs and into the loft.
Owen found Duncan and Tori putting Richie on the couch so he could start healing.
"You got lucky this time, Richie," Duncan said.
"You call this lucky?" Richie asked, showing him his injury.
"Yeah, you still have your head. I know Annie. She missed you once. It won't happen again."
"Fine, you speed up my training."
"Not me," Duncan stated as he poured Richie a glass of water. "Charlie, Tori, and Owen."
"Me?" muttered Tori.
"Charlie? What are you going to do?" Richie asked before he took the water. "Thanks."
"If we wait here, it's her game. She sets the time and the place. I have to get to her first."
"How are you going to be able to find her, Dad?" asked Owen. "It's a fucking big city."
"I don't know."
"Actually, didn't she say something to one of her guys after the hit at the consulate?" Richie realized.
"Like what?" Tori asked.
"I can't remember."
"Think," Duncan urged his student.
"I can't remember. It was gibberish."
"Well, what did it sound like?" asked Owen.
"It sounded, uh... chuck... solace. Ah, must be wrong. Sounds like a baseball player."
"Taigh soluis?" Duncan asked.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's it. That's it."
"It's Gaelic," explained Tori.
"It means 'lighthouse'," Owen added.
At the lighthouse, the terrorist trio were making their way up to the building, then Deane suddenly sensed a buzz. She turned around the way she came.
"Go back to the car," she told the men. "Take a ride up the hill and wait for me."
"Come again?" asked Neal.
"I said, go back to the car and take a drive."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing I can't handle."
At the dock below the lighthouse, Duncan was facing the open water, his messy hair free and blowing in the wind. He turned to see Deane behind him, with her sword out.
"Are we enemies?" he asked.
"If it comes to it," answered Deane.
"Not by my choice."
"I couldn't have beaten you before, MacLeod. But now...I think I just might."
Duncan tapped the tip of the blade with his index finger.
"You might at that, but I guess it would be a shame to waste this."
He bent down and picked up a bottle of whiskey, "It's Irish. A hundred years old."
Deane lowered her sword. He knew her too well.
"Damn you, Duncan MacLeod," she responded, defeated.
"To happiness," he offered, holding bottle out but not letting her take it. "To happiness."
"To the cause?"
Duncan simply just stood in place.
"Alright, to happiness."
She took the bottle and chugged down a huge amount.
Back at the dojo, Owen, Tori and Charlie were training Richie.
Richie trained with Charlie first, doing boxing exercises. He was wearing a helmet and gloves for the exercises while Owen watched from the sidelines.
"Hey, I still don't believe it, man," stated Charlie.
"Like I said, I'm a fast healer, it was mostly bruises," Richie replied in between punches.
"So, Charlie," Owen spoke up, "How did you get into this business anyway?"
"It was love, man," answered Charlie. "My mom was black; my daddy was Italian. Trouble is, we lived in a tough 'hood, and the 'brothers' figured that I was Italian, so if they caught me, they used to do…"
He clipped Richie on the side of the head as he continued, "…that to me, you see? And for uh, similar reasons, the Italians figured I didn't belong, so they tried to do this..."
He clipped him again, "…or, uh, even..."
He swept Richie off his feet with his leg, "…so I got sick and tired of getting my butt kicked, if you know what I mean."
"I know how you feel," Tori stated. "A lot of people shunned me for my genius when I was a kid."
"Yeah, Charlie, I'm beginning to," replied Richie.
"Some people treated me poorly for my own 'unique' attributes," Owen chimed in.
"So, I joined the SEALS," Charlie continued.
"Travel? Huh?" asked Richie. "Meet exotic enemies?"
"Hey, I learned a trade, man."
"Yeah, yeah, right, right. I'm sure you did."
"Good point," Tori nodded.
Back at the lighthouse dock, Duncan and Deane's speeches were starting to slur, having almost drunk the entire bottle.
"Won't do you any good, you know," said Deane.
"What won't?" Duncan asked, taking another swig.
"Getting me drunk...acting sentimental about the old days."
"Why not?"
"Why not what?"
"Why not get sentimental about the old days?"
"Because I'm still going to kill Richie. And possibly Owen since he wants my head."
Duncan turned to glare at her.
"Why? It won't bring Tommy back. It won't bring anyone back. Nothing you do brings anyone back...once they're dead. Nothing."
Some tears began to fill Duncan's eyes as he thought about Tessa. Deane noticed and started to tear up herself.
"You lost someone, too, didn't you?" she asked.
He wiped one of her tears away before replying, "So we have something in common."
Deane pulled her hand away from Duncan's in a huff, not wanting to appear weak, but the alcohol was also hindering her judgment.
Owen was now training Richie in sword play again. But they were donning Kendo outfits and wielding shinai, the bamboo sword. Charlie and Tori watched from a close distance, but a safe distance so they would not get hit.
"I gotta say, Owen," Richie noted, "You're quite good."
"Thanks, dude," Owen replied as gained the upper hand against Richie and struck him on the head and sending him to the floor. "Been training since I was a kid."
"I too was training, but by my family," Tori chimed in.
"Your family," stated Charlie.
"She's the niece to the famous Flash Gordon," Richie noted with a grin.
"I know. You already told me when we first met. It's still impressive."
"Thanks," Tori smiled and nodded.
Charlie looked over at Richie, "And you, you're not bad yourself. A little rough around the edges, but you've got a real feel for it. Kind of reminds me of me."
"Thanks, Charlie," said Richie as he and Owen took off their masks. "I'd say we come from similar neighborhoods."
"Ain't nothing similar about us, man," Charlie replied, crossing his arms.
"He was a street punk before he met me and Dad," Owen retorted. "But he's reformed since then."
"I see."
"You think nobody else has their own problems?"
"Yeah, but mine comes from being unique, you know what I mean?" Charlie replied as Owen helped up Richie.
"I think I can empathize," Richie stated.
"Empathize. Huh!"
Back at the lighthouse dock, the alcohol was staring to take its toll. The two were stumbling around as they continued their argument.
"I want to know one thing - what did you think, that I'd come back to Dublin?" Duncan snapped.
"You abandoned me," accused Deane.
"I never abandoned you, Annie."
"You abandoned the cause!"
"I never had your cause!"
"No, you just had your own."
Duncan threw the bottle aside in anger, "It wasn't your cause either, Annie."
"Liar!"
"How many boys did you send to their deaths? Hmm? How many? How about Kerry and Tommy? How many more?"
"Damn it, MacLeod," Deane snarled, grabbing her sword. "Come on."
"Annie, I'm warning you."
"Come on. Fight. That's it. Come on. Fight, damn it!"
Duncan pushed the blade away before quietly replying, "No."
"Live forever? But I feel so dead inside. Are you dead inside, MacLeod? Are you dead, or are you alive?"
Deane reached up and stroked Duncan's jawline. Then, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips, both under the effects of the alcohol. Instantly, she draped her arm around his neck as he moved her over from the edge. They laid down on the ground as they continued kissing. After pausing for a few seconds, she unbuttoned and removed his shirt as he loosened her vest.
The next morning, Deane walked over to Duncan, his hair back in his ponytail.
"It never happened," she said.
"Funny," teased Duncan. "Seemed real enough to me."
"Don't start with me, MacLeod. You know what I mean. It was an accident."
"Maybe we should have had that accident years ago."
"We would have? Didn't you know that?"
Duncan nodded, "If I would have joined you."
"Well, it doesn't matter now. I know what I am and what I have to do."
Duncan held her hand, "You don't have to do anything. Last night we-"
"Last night we were drunk."
Duncan released her hand, "Is that all it was?"
"It really doesn't matter, MacLeod. It's a blood debt. You know that," said Deane. "Richie's life for Tommy's. I have no choice. If Owen tries to interfere, I'll do the same to him."
"Then neither will I," Duncan replied, grabbing his coat. "If you come after Richie or my son, you'll have to go through me."
Duncan turned and began to walk away.
"MacLeod?" Deane spoke up, "It really was a grand night."
Duncan simply nodded as Deane watched him leave.
At the dojo, Tori and the boys saw Duncan sitting on a bench with his hand against his forehead.
"You found her," Richie deduced as he took a seat on the bench next to the older Highlander while the younger one sat down on his other side.
"By the lighthouse, yeah," replied Duncan.
"So, you were gone the whole night. You fought, right?" Tori asked.
"Not exactly."
"Not exactly? What do you mean, 'not exactly'?" Richie asked in turn.
Suddenly, Owen facepalmed, "Oh my God, you fucked her."
"What?! How?! Why?!"
"Richie, volume," scolded Duncan quietly. "Don't ask me to explain, but she's coming for you and possibly you too, Owen. I want you both to get out of the city until she gives up."
"I don't believe this," groaned Richie, standing up. "What have I been busting my butt for?"
"To learn to survive and not get slaughtered."
"Not get slaughtered? Look, Mac, maybe you couldn't face her, but I can."
"That goes double for me!" exclaimed Tori.
"TRIPLE for me," Owen added. "I warned her eighty years ago, and she ignored me."
"This isn't about guts, you three," said Duncan standing up. "She wants Richie's head, and I can't kill her. Don't you understand?"
"I understand that I'm supposed to face an Immortal, and you want me to cut out and run," Richie retorted.
"I want you to live. All three of you."
"Richie needs to learn to be independent, we can't protect him forever," insisted Owen.
"Owen's right, you know." Tori added.
"Hey, Richie, you training today or what, man?" said Charlie hurrying up.
"Yeah, yeah, Charlie. I'll be there in one second," the boy replied before turning to Duncan. "All right, we'll go."
Owen nodded.
"I'll tell Charlie we're leaving," said the older Highlander.
"No, that's okay," Richie replied. "I'll do it myself, and Owen and Tori will be with me."
Duncan got in the elevator while Owen went into the office and took a katana off its wall rack. He walked back and handed it to Richie.
"You really want to go with me?" the boy asked.
"I sure do," Tori nodded.
"I need to see her die myself," explained Owen.
Richie sighed before saying, "Well, Annie is my fight. Got it?"
"Clear and loud," Tori replied.
"Loud and clear, but if she wins, I go for it." Owen replied in turn.
Later, Duncan exited the elevator with a duffle bag. He looked around but could not find his kids.
"Charlie, where's Tori, Richie and Owen?" he asked.
"They just left," answered Charlie.
"Where did they go?"
"I don't know. They just blew past me, all right?"
Duncan then saw the sword missing from the wall rack in the office. Charlie saw it too.
"Damn," cursed Duncan as he headed for the door.
"MacLeod? MacLeod, what the hell's going on?" Charlie demanded.
"Watch my bag."
He tossed his duffle bag at Charlie and hurried out the door. Charlie sighed as he watched Duncan hurry away.
Richie found himself approaching the lighthouse with Owen and Tori in tow.
"Take care of her," Owen told Richie. "Tori and I deal with the goons."
With that, Owen and Tori went in the opposite direction while Richie continued on the lighthouse. Upon arriving, he saw Deane standing at the top. She made her way down to him, exiting the lighthouse.
"Where's MacLeod?" she demanded.
"Neither one are here," replied Richie. "It's just you and me."
"Good. Then you've saved me a lot of trouble."
"Maybe not."
Richie pulled out the katana and got into a defensive one-handed stance. Deane held up her shortsword in kind. The two posed for a moment before Deane lunged at Richie. He enveloped her blade to defend himself. Then she began jabbing at him, while he was able to deflect the jabs. His beheading strike was dodged by her, and she punched him the face as he defended himself. Richie regained his footing as he backed down the steps.
"Somebody's been teaching you," Deane pointed out as she followed after him.
"You can learn a lot from watching television," retorted the ex-punk.
He then deflected a downward strike and trapped her blade against a railing using his own. She grabbed his face with her free hand.
"Tommy wasn't afraid to die," Deane challenged. "Are you?"
"Damn right," retorted Richie.
Deane then shoved him backwards and he stumbled down the steps as she followed. He continued to deflect her attacks as he reached the bottom of the steps.
"Mostly I'm just pissed," he said, dodging a beheading strike before being kicked back.
"So am I!"
Mick and Neal laid in a heap in the woods as their empty guns were thrown onto their bodies.
"Thanks for the extra ammunition," Owen told the corpses as he slipped the bullets into his pockets. "For the world."
"I think they'd prefer death over IUA prison," Tori smirked. "Glad I don't have to waste a phone call with these clowns."
"Let's go help Richie."
Richie scooted back a little before he stood back up and deflected two jabs. He sidestepped along with the block causing Deane to run into the railing.
"You're better than I thought," she noted as she continued to jab.
"I'm not done yet!" exclaimed Richie, pressing his advantage and pinning her to the railing.
"Wrong!"
Deane then turned him around and pushed him over the railing. She then jumped down after him, but he retrieved his katana and reengaged. Deane managed to get inside Richie's guard and slice his chest. But Richie fought the pain and moved her down the slope. Then he changed to two hands as he pursued her down the rocks.
Finally, Richie took the higher ground as he traded strikes with Deane. While the fighting continued, Duncan arrived at the scene, but Owen had also returned and managed to sneak closer to where the fight was, with his own katana at his side. Finally, Deane made her move. She enveloped Richie's blade and trapped it on the side. But remembering his training, Richie pulled back as she swung and blocked the kill strike. Then he enveloped the blade and disarmed her, sending the shortsword into the water. He then rested his blade at her neck.
"Do it," Deane urged Richie. "Do it! I would."
Richie lifted his sword to swing, but then, in a burst of anger, he raised both of his arms and yelled, "NOOOOOO!"
He turned and stormed off up the hill a little.
"You're a fool, you know," snarled Deane. "I'll come for you."
"No, you won't," said Owen, walking up to her.
"He killed Tommy."
"No," a voice came from behind.
Deane turned and came face to face with Tori.
"You were holding the gun AND you put him in the crosshairs," Tori snapped. "You killed him. Not Richie. YOU."
Then, Tori swung her sword. The sound of a loud splash entered Richie's ears as he turned and was shocked at the sight of Deane's headless corpse tumbling down the hill and into the water. He looked up again and saw Tori glaring down the slope. The boys both glanced at Tori as Richie looked at her in shock and Owen gave an approving glance. Tori gave an apologetic shrug.
Suddenly, thunder started booming in the area as Richie and Owen stood back. Tori held her sword up high as Deane's Quickening energy transferred from her body to her own. Then a lightning bolt hit Tori. She screamed as bolts flew in all directions and caused splashing explosions. The lighting was so big that it caused damage to the rocks and railings. It was far away from the lighthouse, so the building did not take damage. Richie still looked shocked, and Owen looked on with approval, while Duncan shook his head with disappointment as the Quickening ended, brining Tori to her knees.
"Should've got with the times, bitch," Owen said to himself as he walked over to Tori, talking about Deane.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Duncan exclaimed, glaring at Tori.
They were back in the loft and had immediately started arguing. Tori and Owen were on the same side though.
"Oh, cut the shit Dad, she was gonna take Richie's head!" snapped Owen. "Death was the only way Deane could ever have been separated from The Cause and she was a lost cause!"
"And besides, we already lost Tessa!" Tori added. "I wasn't about to lose someone else close to me, at least not so soon!"
"You may have been Immortal for only a year, Tori but you still know the Rules, no outside interference and the duel is supposed to be one on one only!"
"GET WITH THE FUCKING TIMES DAD! That fight wasn't about the Game, just like your fight with Blaine and Sun weren't about the Game!" Owen exclaimed.
"Yeah, didn't Amanda and Jack interfere in those duels?" asked Tori.
Duncan opened his mouth, trying to make another argument, but he knew Owen and Tori were both right about that. Amanda did interfere in his fight with Blaine, but that fight was NOT about the Game. He noted that both Owen and Tori were similar to her some extent. Jack was not similar to either of them, but the fight with Sun was ALSO not about the Game either.
Duncan sighed before telling Tori, "Don't you ever pull a stunt like that again."
"I hear you," Tori nodded.
"Good."
"Say what you want, but I'm not fucking making promises, old man," retorted Owen.
Before Duncan could start arguing even further, Richie arrived at the loft and cut the argument short.
"How are you doing?" Duncan asked him.
"Fine. Perfect," answered Richie. "I'm alive, aren't I?"
"Thanks to Tori." Owen chimed in.
"But you don't look too happy about it." Duncan added.
"If it wasn't for Tori, she probably would've had my head. That was what I was supposed to do, right?"
"Sometimes."
"I couldn't do it. I thought I could, but I couldn't. Tori did though, I bet Owen would have too, and I nearly lost my head. Maybe I'm not cut out for this."
"You're still who you are, Richie. You don't change when you become Immortal. You just live longer, hopefully."
"Oh, boy. I've got a lot to learn."
"But we still have a lot to teach you," said Owen happily.
"Definitely." Tori nodded in agreement.
"And you still have time," Duncan replied before he opened a nearby sword case, and removed a clamshell rapier and offered it to Richie. "Take good care of it."
Richie accepted the sword and looked it over in awe.
"Live with it. Make it a part of you. Might be the only friend you have."
The two then clasped hands. Owen vowed to continue to help Richie train as he continued his war against the Hunters.
Tori prepared the bed for the night.
"Hey Tori," Richie glanced at her, causing her to turn and see she had left the door open. "Got a minute?"
"Sure," Tori smiled and nodded.
He walked into the room with a grocery bag.
"I wanted to say thanks for having my back the whole time," Richie told her. "Even when I got arrogant. You didn't have to do that."
"Richie, I'm glad to have your back. You're my friend."
"Best friend?"
"Yeah."
Richie sat down on the bed next to Tori.
"How are you enjoying your new sword?" she asked.
"I'm enjoying it quite well," answered Richie as he glanced at the bag.
"What's in the bag?" Tori asked, following his glance.
"Oh, your mom told me you liked the Care Bears."
He handed her the bag.
"For me?" Tori looked surprised.
Richie nodded. She opened the bag, and it was a small plush of a pink Care Bear.
She smiled upon seeing the gift, "Oh my gosh. I love it. I think I'll put it on my desk."
"I'm glad you like it," Richie replied.
Tori walked over to the desk and placed the Care Bear on the desk.
"Cute," Tori glanced at the present before she walked back to the bed and sat next to Richie.
Owen walked over to the doorway of the room to get his gloves, when he saw Richie and Tori sleeping together, cuddling.
He gave a small smile. A part of him figured they would one day become a couple, like when he was with Lynn, like when his dad was with Tessa or Amanda. Well, Owen knew should not compare them to those relationships, but if they ever were to be romantically involved, he thought their romance would be long term.
Owen was also thinking, when the time came for Richie to go out on his own, he would hope Tori would help him out and be the rock that he was needing. Richie was still reckless, and Tori had her moments; so did he and his dad definitely having their own flaws. After all, nobody is perfect.
What will Owen do now? Well, I am sure you know what he is going to do.
(horizontal line)
(Cue Princes of the Universe)
Featuring
Andrew A. Kavadas as Mick
Callum Keith Rennie as Neal
Eric Schneider as O'Hara
Terry Arrowsmith as Rawls
Kris Keeler as Tommy Harrigan
Brian Furlong as Kerry Devlin
(Princes of the Universe ends)
Author's Note: Richie's journey has truly begun. He might not have taken a head yet, but he will eventually.
We didn't know what Owen would bring to the table during "The Zone", so he will be back doing his hunt during the said episode/chapter as I believe Tori and Richie might be able to help in Earth N1's version of "The Zone".
However, Callum Keith Rennie, who played Neal, will return as Tyler King.
Fun Fact: While Ann Elizabeth Deane is Irish, the actress who played her, Sheena Easton, is actually Scottish, and another of the pop stars that served as guest on the series. She is the seventh one, behind Joan Jett, Vanity, Roland Gift, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Martin Kemp and Roger Daltrey. And while the characters Felicia Martins and Alfred Cahill have not appeared in this story, they are a part of this timeline. So the events that played out with them still happened. Felicia hasn't appeared yet, but she will in the near future, so stay tuned for that. It'll be a REAL treat.
Roland Cain wanted Deane to live past here and appear again in Book 6, but even if Tori didn't whack Deane, Owen would have taken her out. Regardless, it still retcons Highlander: Scotland the Brave, published in 1996, where she was duped by another Immortal, James Douglas. Regardless, Douglas is still going to be used in the future, so Deane's sister Briget will be taking her place.
From what it has been discovered, Ireland had been independent from Britain since 1922.
Well, till next time, catch you on the flip side!