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)
The Power of Three
Guest Starring
Markie Post
John Barrowman
William Katt
Piper Laurie
John Larroquette
Richie looked up as Tori walked into his apartment.
"Are you about ready?" she asked.
He stood up from his seat and smiled, "Of course."
They walked out of the apartment and made their way out of the building.
"So, I was talking with my mom recently," Tori spoke up.
"What did Slammin Janet have to say?" asked Richie.
"I'll tell you when we have our lunch. But it's something she's looking into once Duncan informs you that you have to go out on your own, and training with him is over."
Richie sighed nervously. He was not exactly looking forward to the time when Duncan told him that his training was over, and when he had to go out on his own.
Suddenly, they both sensed a buzz. The T-bird pulled up, and there was Duncan.
"Mac," Richie greeted his teacher.
"You guys going on a date?" Duncan could not help but smugly ask.
"It's not a romantic date, Mac," stated Tori, crossing her arms.
"Yeah," Richie added, "We're not boyfriend – girlfriend. What makes you think that?"
"Uh-huh, sure," Duncan nodded, unconvinced, "I recognize that you look you give Tori sometimes. Tori, you show it too."
"What?!" Richie and Tori exclaimed simultaneously.
"We're fond of each other," stated Tori.
"That's right, Mac," Richie added, "We like each other, but it's not love."
"Why should I believe either of you?" retorted Duncan, his smug look still there.
"Do you have somewhere to go?" Tori crossed her arms, annoyed.
"I have to meet Charlie at the dojo. I'll catch you love birds around."
With that he drove off.
"Come on, Mac!" Richie exclaimed, "We're not love birds!"
But Duncan was too far to hear.
"Let it go, Richie," Tori gently grabbed his arm, "We should head over to the café."
Richie sighed, annoyed. Then he took a deep breath and nodded, "Let's get going."
He put his helmet on, and Tori did the same before they got on his motorbike and drove off.
Tori sat in front of Richie after they got their drinks, and they were looking at the menu.
"So, what was it that your mother talked to you about?" Richie asked.
"She's noticed the work you helped me and MacLeod with lately has been quite impressive since she last saw you," answered Tori, "And after Duncan decides that your training with him is over, and it's time for you to go out on your own, she's thinking about making you a part of our agency."
Richie looked on in surprise, "How does she know..."
"Well," Tori glanced at him, "Mom has a feeling that it is a matter of time before that day comes. God forbid actually because I enjoy spending time with you guys. You, Owen, MacLeod, Charlie. You get the idea."
"Yeah, I think I get the idea."
"You two ready to place your orders?" the waitress asked as she walked over to their table.
"Yeah," answered Richie. "I believe we are."
"Of course we are," Tori added before they proceeded to place their orders.
Owen was riding his bike down the streets. Payne had just informed him about a trio of Hunters and the potential that the IUA might be involved in this case. If that were the case, then Owen knew which fellow Immortals he could enlist in helping him out with this new case.
Richie and Tori were enjoying their lunch when they sensed a buzz. They glanced around and they saw Owen entering the café and walk towards them.
"Hey, Owen." Richie greeted him.
"What's new?" asked Tori.
"I should be asking you the same thing," Owen smirked at the duo. "You two having a date?"
"Oh, Owen." Richie groaned. "Not you too!"
"Isn't it obvious? You two are having lunch together. You're having a date."
"It's not a date," argued Tori. "We are just talking IUA related business."
"Sure, you are."
"What brings you here anyway?"
"Well…"
Owen was cut off when the trio heard some beeping that was coming from Tori's tablet.
Tori answered it, "Yeah? What's going on, Mom?"
"Um, is Owen here?" inquired Janet.
Owen took the tablet from Tori, "Yes, he's here. What's up, Leader?"
"It's an IUA assignment you can help Tori and Richard. Hunters are involved."
"I know. I was told about these Hunters not too long ago."
"Good. Jack senses there's something unusual about one of the Hunters in particular."
"What do you mean?" Richie asked.
"Did Jack give out specific information on how unusual that Hunter was?" asked Owen.
"All he said was you'd sense it too when you came across those Hunters," Janet answered.
Owen, Richie and Tori glanced at each other, considering this.
"What are the names of the Hunters?" asked Tori.
"Allow me to show you," Janet answered. "Owen might already know, but I thought I'd tell you anyway."
An image of the first Hunter appeared on screen: a blonde man, nicely built.
"That's the first Hunter," explained Owen as he, Tori and Richie looked at the screen. " Frederick Collins. His friends call him Fred."
"He's the Hunter Jack had a strange feeling about," Janet spoke up. "One he said you'd sense when you three came across him."
"I see," nodded Tori.
Then the image of the second Hunter appeared: a female with dark, frizzy hair and looks crazy.
"Hunter #2: Marsha Sloan." Owen spoke up. "According to my associate, she's the Margaret White when it comes to those Hunters."
"Meaning that she's super religious?" asked Richie.
"Exactly!"
"Oh jeez," Tori muttered.
"It was bad at her household that it caused Child Services to step in and take her daughter out of her custody," Janet added in. "Collins and BJ broke her out of the mental ward that she was placed in three years ago."
"That's insane."
"She'll probably wish she was still at that ward when I get done with her," declared Owen.
"And here is the last of the three Hunters," Janet stated before the image changed to the third Hunter: this time it was of a middle-aged man, who was dressed as if he was wealthy.
"This is the pompous rich man," explained Owen. "The apparent leader of this trio of Hunters. Bill 'BJ' James. He's often addressed to his colleagues as BJ. Others simply address him as Mr. James. He's one of the wealthiest the Hunters. In fact, he's the owner of the Seattle branch of the Apple company."
"That's right," Janet replied as she appeared on screen again.
"Oh wow," muttered Richie. "What are the odds?"
"He owns a computer company," Tori chimed in.
"Where's their location? Their hideout?" inquired Owen.
"In Seattle," Janet answered. "I'm sending the address to Tori's tablet right now. Richard and my daughter will be assigned to help you out with this task, Owen."
"Sounds good to me."
"Agent Banks and Agent Carter will be present for back up along with a trio of other agents."
"Good precaution, Mom," replied Tori. "However, knowing how Owen's determined to take out all of the Hunters, it might not be necessary."
"Just like the others," Owen declared, "It'll be a piece of cake. But I love the company."
BJ walked into the office where Sloan and Collins were both waiting for them. Collins was looking through his tablet while Sloan was reading her bible.
"What's new on the agenda?" Collins asked as he placed his tablet down, eyeing BJ.
"Business as usual," answered BJ.
"That's good to hear," Collins smirked and nodded.
"I hear some Immortals might be coming our way REAL soon," BJ informed his fellow Hunters.
Sloan put down her bible, "More who are abominations to God?"
"Easy there, Marsha," Collins gently grasped her arm, annoyed by her peaching.
"One of those agent Immortals caught wind of what we were doing and so he must have contacted the rest of his kind for some backup," explained BJ. "So, with that being said, we'll have more Immortals to kill."
"How many Immortals have we taken out so far?" Collins asked.
"Over the course of three years since we started this hunt," BJ got out his files of the Immortals they took taken out. "We've killed only four Immortals, not many, but less to worry about."
He looked at the paper of the names of the Immortals they had killed and the year they were killed:
Addison Murray – 1991
Heather Martin – 1992
Samuel Wilkinson – 1992
Adrianne Harper – 1993
"Four less abominations to worry about," stated Sloan as she looked at the list along with the other Hunters.
"And we'll have more to eliminate REAL soon," BJ chimed in.
(Cue Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face")
"Oh, that'll be something to look forward to," Collins declared as he was unaware of the unusual fate that awaited him.
At the park in Seattle, Tori, Richie and Owen glanced around as they heard music playing on the nearby speakers of one of the park's shelters as they waited for the IUA agents that were coming to help them out.
"Where could they be?" asked Owen, losing patience.
"They should be coming anytime now," Tori answered.
The three Immortals sensed an incoming buzz.
"As if on cue," stated Richie.
Jack and Darren arrived at the scene with three other agents.
"Good to see you again, Jack," Owen greeted his friend.
"Likewise, Owen," Jack returned the greeting as he shook hands with the young Highlander, 'epic style'.
Then he glanced at Richie. "Good to see you doing better, Richie."
"Thanks," replied Richie. "Who are the other agents you have here?"
"Allow me to introduce you to them," Jack answered as he first glanced at Darren.
"Darren Carter."
"Nice to meet you," Darren greeted the Immortals.
Jack then glanced at the young black woman standing next to Darren, "Daphne Grace."
"Hi," Daphne waved at the group.
Jack then glanced at the man standing next to Daphne, "Henry Wallace."
Henry nodded, "Hello there. Great to finally meet some awesome Immortals. I've heard a lot about Immortals through the grapevine."
Jack grimaced before he glanced at the man standing next to Henry, "And finally, Alec Hall."
Hall nodded, acknowledging the group.
"So, you guys are the backup?" asked Owen.
"Yeah, we're the backup," Daphne answered.
"We're actually here to create a diversion," Hall spoke up. "You might be aware that Apple is a huge company. It'd be hard to eliminate the Hunters, especially with all the security, security cameras and everything."
"So, you've come to help us clean that mess up?" asked Richie.
"Exactly," Henry nodded.
"So, where do we begin?" asked Owen.
"At the Apple Headquarters here in Seattle," Darren answered.
"That's correct," Henry chimed in. "That's where BJ's working at for his cover while he takes out Immortals. Something he's been doing for the past three years."
"Oddly enough," added Daphne. "They've only eliminated four Immortals over the course of three years."
"So, when do we make our move?" Owen asked.
"Now," answered Jack.
("Eyes Without a Face" ends)
Joe heard a knock on the door. He opened it and Duncan was standing there. He welcomed the Highlander into the room.
"So, what brings you here?" asked Joe.
"I'm having some issue regarding my student and another Immortal," Duncan answered, "A small one at that."
"What do you mean some issue?" Joe asked as he walked over to the couch.
"Richie and Tori seem to be closer to each other. More than just an Immortal friendship, and I think they're more than just friends, but they're obviously denying it."
"It's obvious they're going to deny it, MacLeod," Joe stated as he looked at Duncan as he sat on the couch next to his Watcher, "Tori Gordon's been Immortal for over a year now, and Richie's a new Immortal. He's probably turning to her for some support outside of a teacher – student bonding."
"I never said they wouldn't deny it, Joe. I also never said he was looking for support either."
"Well, what did you expect them to say? Did you expect them to say, 'Oh, it's obvious, clear as day that we are both a couple'?"
Duncan tried to open his mouth a few times, which lead to a pause of silence.
"Listen," Joe sighed as he continued, "I don't know Richie that well, as he's a new Immortal, and I barely know Tori outside the IUA who locked up my brother-in-law before we first met. I'm just telling you what I know what goes on through a young person's mind."
"You were young once," stated Duncan.
"So were you."
"Point taken."
"Here's what I can tell you regarding both Richie and Tori," Joe proceeded to give Duncan some advice, "For the time being, let them be. If they want to be involved with each other in a romantic relationship, then they'll make it official. Just give them time."
"I will keep that in mind," nodded Duncan.
Owen, Richie and Tori led the agents to the building where the Hunters were hiding out at.
"So, what's the plan?" Richie asked.
"From what we know," explained Jack, "You, Tori and Owen will be the leads in taking out the Hunters. The rest of us will head to the front of the building, the main entrance where we will create our diversion so there won't be any interruptions when you guys take out the Hunters."
"Sounds like a plan," Owen nodded in agreement.
The Immortals and the agents arrived at the Apple Headquarters.
Moments later, Owen, Tori and Richie snuck their way to the back of the building while the IUA agents prepared to create their diversion.
As Tori, Owen and Richie made their way to the back of the building, Tori got out a small device which would disable all of the security cameras in the building.
Collins, BJ and Sloan glanced at the screen and saw the three Immortals before all of the screens suddenly started to blur.
"What the hell?!" exclaimed Collins as the monitors suddenly cut to static.
"All the security cameras are dead," BJ exclaimed. "How did they do that?!"
"It's the work of the devil!" shrieked Sloan.
"Cut that out! The Immortals might be entering the building!"
Collins stood up, "I'll go check it out."
"Yeah," Sloan quickly replied.
BJ nodded, "Go ahead and do that."
"I'll contact you for updates," promised Collins before he left the room.
In the storage room in the back of the headquarters, Owen, Tori and Richie looked around as they heard footsteps.
"Looks like they were expecting us," stated Owen.
"Looks like it," Richie quipped.
They looked up to see the blonde Collins arrive at the scene. He was armed with a revolver and a machete, not that it would matter.
Owen, Tori and Richie glanced at the Hunter. Then, they realized exactly what Jack was sensing.
"What's…" Richie started to ask.
"I sense it," whispered Owen. "He's a pre-Immortal. That means he will become Immortal once he has his first violent death."
"I don't know what you Immortal scums are chattering about, but are we going to fight, or not?" Collins asked.
"Ugh."
Owen pulled out his firearm and took aim.
"What the-?!" was all Collins could say before he was shot three times, at very vital spots.
He fell backwards and died instantly.
"Well, he's dead," Richie pointed out. "I gotta say that was WAY too easy."
"What'll happen when he finds out?" asked Tori.
"We'll find out in due time," Owen answered.
"Come on! Everybody out!" Jack shouted frantically as he and the other agents entered the main entrance of the Apple HQ building. "We have an emergency! This is not a drill!"
"What's going on?" a man asked.
"What emergency?" asked another man.
"There's a terrorist attacking a building!" Daphne answered.
"There's no time to explain," Darren calmly added. "We need everyone to evacuate the building at once."
"He is correct." Hall chimed in. "We'll take care of the terrorist right away!"
"And you are?" asked the receptionist.
Jack got out his ID badge, "We're a top government agency and this terrorist snuck into YOUR building. We need everyone in this place to evacuate at once."
Reluctantly, the receptionist nodded and turned on the alarm.
"Everyone exit the building in properly ordered fashion!" Henry instructed everyone in the building as they started to leave the building. "Do not panic! Everyone evacuate the building immediately!"
The agents appeared relieved that not only would the Immortals be able to deal with their task without any interruption, but there would not be any casualties they would have had to worry about.
Collins gasped, reviving from his first death. He looked around and he saw Owen, Tori and Richie glancing at him.
"What the hell?" Collins stated in shock, before looking at his wounds, now healed. "I'm alive. How…how is that even possible?"
"It's because you're Immortal," answered Owen. "Just like we are."
"What?! Oh man. If that's the case…oh man, oh man. I've been hunting and killing my own kind this whole time! How could I've not known this?"
"Those Hunters poisoned your mind," Tori spoke up next. "They were the ones who made you think all Immortals were bad."
"But you're not, are you?"
"Exactly." nodded Richie.
"Who are you people?"
"I'm Owen MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod," Owen introduced himself first.
"My name's Tori Gordon," Tori introduced herself next. "My agency the Intergalactic Union Agency, IUA for short, caught on to your fellow Hunters, hence that's why we are here."
"And my name is Richie Ryan," Richie introduced himself last.
"You must have Immortals working at this IUA," concluded Collins.
"Yeah, more than what you could imagine," Tori quipped. "One of them has agreed to be your teacher after all of this is over."
"Teacher?" asked Collins.
"Yes," Owen answered. "You'll need a teacher to show you how being an Immortal works. He's a good teacher at that. Trust me on that."
Collins looked conflicted by all of this. This was a lot for him to take in.
"What'll I do now?" he asked.
"That's up to you," Owen told the new Immortal. "You may have done bad things and killed innocent Immortals during your time as a Hunter, but you don't have to continue down the path of darkness. You don't have to be a dark Immortal. That is your choice. Fred Collins, you are Immortal now. You can be a ruthless cold-blooded killer, a dark Immortal, or you can live forever in the path of good, Light Immortal. Your choice."
Collins looked up, a changed man, "You're right. I've never had people try to stir me down the right path before. It'll be a new path for me, I'll admit."
"You'll get used to it just fine," Tori reassured him.
"I assume you guys want my help in killing my former teammates, right?"
"Yes," answered Owen. "These Hunters killed too many innocent Immortals, including my grandfather."
"Oh man," Collins replied. "I'm terribly sorry for what happened."
Owen nodded, "Now you understand why all these Hunters have to be taken out from the face of the Earth, just like their leader. They'll even kill mortals for simply being friends with them."
BJ and Sloan were sitting in the office, restlessly.
"I wonder what the hell is taking Collins so long to report back to us?" BJ inquired. "Do you think it'd take a long time for him to kill three simple Immortals?!"
"The devil must've gotten to Freddie!" exclaimed Sloan. "The devil must've claimed his soul, just like the others!"
"I highly doubt that, Marsha. With all due respect, of course."
Suddenly, the alarm turned off.
"What the hell?!" BJ exclaimed.
"The power of the devil!" exclaimed Sloan. "He's condemning the entire building to Hell!"
"Now, you're being ridiculous. It is just the alarm."
"ATTENTION ALL EMPLOYEES! THERE IS A TERRORIST IN THE BUILDING!" the voice on the intercom announced. "EVERYONE IS TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY!"
"What's that all about?" asked Sloan.
"Probably the work of those Immortals," BJ retorted.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
BJ answered it, "Fred, what took you so long?"
"Sorry for the delay," Collins answered on the other end of the phone. "But I have the Immortals right where you want them. I believe that you might want the honor of killing them yourselves."
"Sure. Where are they?"
"We're at the back of the building. Where the storage building is. We'll see you two there."
BJ hung up.
"Well?" Sloan asked.
"Fred wants to give us the honor of killing these Immortals ourselves," answered BJ. "He says he has them right where we want them."
"What are we waiting for?" Sloan replied as she got out a butcher knife. "It's time to wipe out these abominations of God."
"Yeah, yeah," BJ muttered as he got out his revolver.
The two Hunters were unaware of the surprise that was actually waiting for them.
At the storage room, Owen, Tori and Richie were on their knees, in position while Collins was standing.
"You understand the plan?" asked Owen.
"I sure do," Collins nodded. "Those bastards are gonna pay for what they did to those innocent Immortals, including your grandfather."
The Immortals heard footsteps coming their way.
"Looks like they're coming," alerted Tori.
Moments later, BJ and Sloan arrived at the room. BJ had his revolver and machete while Sloan held out a butcher knife. They were ready to eliminate the Immortals.
"Good work, Fred," commended BJ. "You have those Immortals right where we want them. Soon they'll be dead."
"I might as well be dead too," Collins replied, holding up his own revolver.
"What do you mean?"
"I hate to break it to you guys, but I'm Immortal too."
"What?!" BJ and Sloan exclaimed simultaneously.
"Yeah," Collins revealed his now healed injuries where he was shot.
This took both Hunters by surprise.
"That's impossible," muttered Sloan. "That's impossible."
"How could we have not seen it?" BJ stated in shock.
Suddenly, Sloan grabbed BJ's revolver and shot Collins dead to the ground.
"Yeah, and we weren't really at his mercy!" Owen announced as he, Richie and Tori stood back up.
"We set up the trap to lure you two monsters out here," Tori added.
Sloan gasped and muttered some sort of prayer upon glancing at Richie. The Immortals looked at each other, wondering what she was going on about.
"What's she saying?" Richie asked as he stepped towards the deranged Hunter.
"Hey, get back here!" ordered Owen.
Sloan grabbed Richie by the curls of his red hair, causing him to yell, "You remind me of that boy who turned my daughter against me! He and that teacher turned my daughter against me and had CPS take my daughter from me!"
"You've done that yourself!" Owen called out. "Trying to enforce terrible rules on your own flesh and blood and behaved like a holy roller with no life. It's no wonder you lost custody!"
Sloan stomped on Richie's back and forced him on his knees. She grabbed Richie's sword and prepared to behead him, "I WILL get my justice for my daughter for what the devil had done."
"No chance in hell that's happening BITCH!" Owen shouted before he fired twice at Sloan's torso, releasing Richie from her grasp.
Richie retrieved his rapier and got back on his feet.
Collins then gasped, reviving again, "Damn! I'll never get used to this."
He looked around the area and noticed something his new friends had yet to notice, "Guys, BJ took off."
The Immortals noticed that BJ was nowhere in sight.
"I'll help Collins deal with the crazy religious lady," Tori decided. "You two go after BJ."
"She's all yours," replied Owen as he led Richie out of the room.
Owen and Richie ran down the steps of the building, looking for BJ, who had the audacity to flee like a coward.
Tori and Collins squared off against Sloan, who despite her injuries, was struggling to stay awake.
"You try to kill Richie, and you think I'll be easy on you for that," Tori told Sloan.
"Wrong! You're done for!"
Sloan stabbed Tori in her stomach. Luckily, it was not a deep wound. Collins snuck behind Sloan and snatched the butcher knife from Sloan's hand. Then Collins slit Sloan's throat, causing blood to gush out of her neck.
"And you know something," Tori stated, holding her sword out. "If you had taken Richie's head, either myself, Collins or Owen would have taken his Quickening, so it wouldn't be wasted due to a psychopath like you!"
Without further hesitation, Tori plunged her blade into Sloan. Sloan tried screaming, but her breath had been driven out of her body from the stabs. Tori then stabbed her in her chest, back and even her hands.
Sloan continued gasping in pain until she breathed her last breath.
"Looks like she'll be going to Hell for what she's done," Tori stated.
"I can believe that," replied Collins. "One of the ten commandments happen to be Thou Shalt not kill."
"And one is don't take the Lord's name in vain."
Richie and Owen managed to find BJ in the basement of the Apple headquarters.
"You can't hide from us forever, you coward!" Owen called out.
BJ noticed the two boys entering the basement.
"I have to kill them," he muttered.
He got out his revolver and fired as much as he could.
Owen and Richie managed to dodge the bullets. BJ continued to fire until he ran out of bullets.
"Damn," BJ muttered as the Immortals walked over to the Hunter.
Richie pinned him down to the floor and swung a blow at BJ with a pipe, knocking him down to the floor.
"What the hell?!" exclaimed BJ.
"What the hell yourself," Owen replied as Richie handed him the pipe to him.
Richie was intending to allow Owen to take the honors in killing the rich bastard.
Owen continued to swing blow after blow with the iron pipe. The more he swung, the more blood that was gushing out of him. The blows continued until BJ was no longer able to stand and he was barely able to move.
Owen tossed the pipe aside before he got out his katana and placed the blade onto BJ's throat, preparing to deliver the killing blow.
"For Denton. For Marie. For Thackery. For Leo. For Batroc. For Jim. For Rudy. FOR DARIUS!"
Owen moved the blade and sliced through BJ's throat. He watched as BJ chocked on the blood and before he was finally dead.
Owen got out his phone, "Payne? We need some more messes to clean up."
"No questions, I'm afraid," Janet explained to the press and authorities. "Our agency is taking care of the ordeal and cleaning up the mess that was made. The owner of this wing of the Apple Headquarters, Bill James, known to many as BJ, had been harboring an insane woman for the past three years by the name of Marsha Sloan, who was considered a danger to others after years of abusing and tormenting her daughter Melinda Sloan. It's safe to say that society won't have to worry about her anymore as she had taken her own life."
Melinda watched the TV with her teacher Miss Gardener, who was her guardian.
"Why would an owner of an Apple company harbor my crazy egg donor for so long?" she asked.
"I have no idea, Melinda," Gardener shook her head. "I have no idea."
"No further questions," Janet stated, concluding the news press as she walked away.
She walked over to the IUA agents, who were talking with Collins, Tori, Richie and Owen.
"Good work, everyone," Janet complimented the group.
"Thank you, Leader," replied Henry. "We did our part and the Immortals took out the heavy load."
"And my associate is dealing with the bodies," Owen concluded.
"No one is asking questions," Janet informed the group. "They know BJ was killed in a freak accident and Sloan had taken her own life."
(Cue "Believe it or Not" by Joey Scarbury)
"Good riddance to bad rubbish," replied Collins.
"That's what I say exactly," Richie chimed in.
"Totally!" exclaimed Tori.
"What will you do now, Fred?" Daphne asked.
"I hear that I'm gonna be trained," answered Collins. "Another Immortal is going to be my teacher."
"That would be me," Jack stepped forward. "Great that you decided to turn from the Hunter path and decided to join us on the side of good."
"It's good that I'm going to be trained by someone with experience here."
"Yeah, you'll totally love working with Jack," Owen stated with a grin.
"Jack is not only one of the best agents here, but he's one of the best Immortals too," added Tori.
"I haven't looked forward to having someone as a student of mine since I trained Alan," Jack stated.
"Who?" asked Owen.
"My brother."
"I see."
"We'll see you around," Jack waved to the group. "I got some teaching to do here with Fred."
"I'm definitely excited," Collins smirked before he told the three Immortals. "Thanks for your help."
"Thank you for YOUR help," replied Owen.
Jack and Collins then walked away and left the park, preparing for a new journey as teacher and pupil.
At a local dojo, Owen and Richie were sparring with Tori watching at the sidelines.
Owen swung downward and Richie retaliated with a right cut, both of which were deflected. They twirled their blades for a moment as they stared each other down and circled each other. Then Owen swung downward again, and Richie retaliated with a left cut, both of which were deflected again. Owen attempted to envelop Richie's blade.
"Practice," Owen pointed out as he gripped his katana with both hands.
The two connected their blade tips for a moment before swinging down, up, down, up, right and left.
"Pretty good," Owen complimented as he pressed.
"You should see me dance," retorted Richie as he enveloped Owen's blade.
"MY line!"
Owen pushed his blade free and charged again, but Richie easily dodged and deflected his next attacks.
"I thought you said practice," he said, locking blades again.
Owen pushed Richie back with his strikes before dodging another, trapping the blade under his own and disarming Richie by stepping on the sword.
"Good thing it wasn't for real," said Richie, catching his breath.
"Yeah, it was," Owen replied.
"Alright, my turn," said Tori, raising her sword.
"Alrighty then."
Owen swung downward, and Tori retaliated with a right cut, both of which were deflected. They twirled their blades for a moment as they stared each other down and circled each other. Then Tori swung downward this time and Owen retaliated with a left cut, both of which were deflected again. Tori attempted to envelop Owen's blade.
"Like you said, practice," Tori pointed out as she gripped her tachi with both hands.
The two connected their blade tips for a moment before swinging down, up, down, up, right and left.
"You're good too," Owen complimented as he pressed.
"You haven't seen anything yet," retorted Tori as he enveloped Owen's blade.
"Oh, I'll bet."
Owen pushed his blade free and charged again, but Tori easily dodged and deflected his next attacks.
"I thought you said practice," she said, locking blades again.
Owen pushed Tori back with his strikes before dodging another, slipping his leg under her own and tripping Tori, before knocking the sword away with his own.
"This was too easy," smirked Owen.
He held out his hand. Tori accepted and Owen helped her up.
"That was a great duel," Tori stated.
"I agree with you there," added Richie.
"You two did pretty well yourselves," Owen told his siblings.
"We should do this more often," suggested Tori.
"I agree with Tori there," Richie nodded.
"That sounds like a plan," agreed Owen. "In the meantime, I got more hunting that I need to do. Hunters that I need to take out."
"I understand," Richie nodded.
"So do I," Tori chimed in. "We'll be back in Seacouver."
"I'll see you guys soon," Owen promised as he turned and departed.
(Believe it or Not ends)
Tori and Richie were walking into their dojo together after returning to Seacouver.
"Well," Charlie quipped as he walked over to the pair, "How are the love birds doing today?"
"We're not love birds, Charlie," stated Richie.
"How come I see you guys holding hands?"
Tori and Richie noticed each other holding hands before they broke apart.
"My bad," Tori stated.
"It's all right," nodded Richie.
"I see how you guys are," Charlie stated, "I even notice you two looking at each other lately too."
"Really now?" Tori glanced at him.
"You guys have that smitten look, holding hands, and MacLeod said you guys had lunch at a cafe yesterday."
"I just had to talk to him about something important."
"And what's that?"
"Something regarding my mom and the IUA, a possible job opportunity for Richie in the foreseeable future."
"Oh, that's great, I hope you get whatever job it is you talked about."
"Me too. My mom is thinking about having him join the IUA."
"I hope it works out."
"Thanks," Richie replied before he announced, "Now, Tori and I are going to work out."
"Lover's Work out, huh?" teased Charlie.
"We're not lovers!" Tori exclaimed.
"Sure," Charlie muttered as they walked away from view, "Not lovers yet."
Charlie gave out a small smile as he walked away. There was something about them and the MacLeods that he could not exactly put his finger on, but he was determined to find out someday.
"That's crazy," Amanda stated as she watched the news with Lynn.
"Some people are just evil," Lynn chimed in. "With someone like BJ, owning that Apple Headquarters, it's really not surprising."
"I agree with you there."
"At least BJ is no more and the same with that woman. She abused her child and was like Margaret White. She could've been like my father."
The two women remained silent for a moment, not knowing what else they could have said about this situation.
"When are you gonna reunite with Owen?" inquired Amanda.
"I don't know," Lynn shook her head.
Amanda scooted over to Lynn along the couch and placed her arm around her shoulders.
"You should go and see him." she suggested as Lynn sighed. "I know you miss him, and he misses you. Go and see him. Honey, life's too short…even for us."
Amanda gently laid Lynn's head on her shoulder. Lynn closed her eyes, considering it all.
(Cue "Princes of the Universe")
Featuring
Elizabeth Gracen as Amanda Darieux
Co – Starring
Roger Howarth as Darren Carter
Holly Marie Combs as Melinda Sloan
Dee Wallace as Miss Gardener
Aayliah as Daphne Grace
Mark Hamill as Henry Wallace
Robert Beltran as Peter Hall
Author's Note: I had to switch roles for Robert Beltran and Kate Mulgrew. Taylor Scott was originally male as he was in the story "The Space Between" and it was set during Season 6 in my original Earth N canon while Hall was female in the same story. In Earth N1, Robert Beltran is Alec Hall while Kate Mulgrew is going to be Taylor Scott as she is the watcher of a new immortal you will meet later in this book. They along with Daphne and Henry will be featured in Book six, but that doesn't mean you won't see them again until then, just like William Chan.
Another fact here, my original fan casting for Daphne Grace was Freema Agyeman of Doctor Who fame as David Tennant and John Barrowman are. However, unlike Tennant and Barrowman, Freema Agyeman didn't start acting until 2001, hence I had to recast Daphne Grace and I figured the singer Aayliah would be perfect for this role. Grace is younger than a lot of the IUA agents, so there's that.
Mark Hamill also starred in the original Star Wars trilogy along with Carrie Fisher (who was already featured in this book) and Harrison Ford (who has been fan casted for an interesting character). That's an interesting fact you should know.
This is not the last you will see of these IUA Agents so no chronicles for them yet.
John Larroquette also starred in Night Court along with Markie Post (Janet) and Harry Anderson (who was featured in the previous book and will appear again later in this book). So as of now, we have the Night Court Trio featured in one point or another in this series. Yay. As far the other cast members, Marsha Warfield and Karen Austin will have roles later on in this book, so we have almost all of the cast members of the sitcom having roles in this series one way or another. Richard Moll (who played Slan Quince in the first episode of this series "The Gathering") portrayed Bull on that sitcom. Charles Robinson (Mac Robinson) might be considered for a role in the future. I'm not sure yet, only time will tell. I'll have to think of something.
I wanted to have William Katt included in something. He's known for Tommy Ross in the original 1976 movie Carrie (the same movie Piper Laurie is in), and he was the lead role in the television series The Greatest American Hero (a show I had the honor of started watching recently). Glad to have had the honor of fan casting Katt for this character. This is not the last you'll see of Fred Collins, so no chronicle for him yet.
This chapter is dedicated to the loving memory of Piper Laurie, who portrayed the hunter Sloan in this chapter. She was best known for her roles in the original movie adaptation of Carrie (alongside William Katt, who's also in this chapter), as well as her roles in The Hustler, Children of a Lesser God, the mini series The Thorn Birds and her role as Catherine Martell in the television series Twin Peaks. After being unwell for some time, Piper Laurie passed away on 14 October 2023 at the age of 91. She lived a long life and she will be missed. RIP Piper Laurie.
The next few chapters are bound to be a wild ride and it'll lead to Tori and Richie's intertwined destinies while Owen has a destiny of his own. That'll be something to look forward to. Till then, catch you on the flip side!