HIGHLANDER - SON OF LIBERTY FILE TWO

Disclaimers in Part One

PART THREE - BATHED IN WHITE FIRE

New York
December 27th 1999

Thomas looked at his reflection in the blade. His Claymore sword. He had been given the weapon almost one hundred twenty years ago by his teacher.

Arcturus. He looked up to the old warrior, wanted to be him. He wasn't a philosopher or poet. Fighting was the one thing, the only thing he was good at. He fought to make sure no one else had too. And fought because the thrill of the struggle gave life to him. These days, he would be called an adrenaline junky. Now, it seemed as though he had come to New York kill him.

Tom brought the blade down to the ground of the roof. The midday sun warmed his body as the cold wind blew. He had celebrated Christmas with Mariko and her family. Strained was putting it mildly.

He wanted to focus on winning her fathers approval. But there where just too many distractions vying for his attention. It didn't help things with the father when it looked like Thomas wasn't even paying attention.

Thomas could feel it in his bones. Something bad was going to happen. And soon. The wind and traffic below where the only noise. So when his cell phone went off, he naturally jumped ten feet. After calming down, he pulled the phone from his coat and sighed. "Hello?"

"Tom? Is that you?"

He sighed and smiled as the voice of Mariko came through the small phone. "Yeah, it's me. I'm surprised your father is even letting you talk to me. I must have seemed rude."

"I'm starting to think that nothing you do will get him to smile," Mariko responded with a giggle. "You don't need to worry. Nothing he does can keep us apart."

"Are you just calling to confirm that?" asked Tom with a hint of mischief in his voice.

"No," admitted Mariko. "I need to get out of this hotel room, and now. Are you free?"

Tom sighed. "Yeah, I have nothing planed. I'm yours for the day."

"Wonderful," came her excited voice from the phone. "Meet me at the caf near the school."

"Absolutely," Tom said. "I'll be there in ten minutes. I love you."

"I love you," she said in her quiet, sweet voice. Tom hit the power button on his phone and put it back in his jacket.

This was it. He had been debating whether or not to tell her for weeks. In his life, he had only told a handful of mortal souls the truth of what he was. He had trusted, loved all of them like family. Some more the family.

Mariko had crossed the line from friendship and family. He trusted her, loved her. If anyone deserved to know the truth, she did.

That, and she needed to know for her own sake. She had yet to awaken to her own Immortality. She would need to know what was happening to her before it did. And to give her the choice. He summoned his conviction and stepped downstairs to get ready to meet her.

~~~~~

Waiting had paid off. Lars watched as his new target stepped out from the local bar. He hadn't bothered with getting the name. What was the point. Very soon, he was going to be very dead.

Lars realized as he felt the Buzz that his target knew he was there. The Immortal looked from side to side, trying to figure where it was coming from. Time to corner his prey.

~~~~~

Thomas smiled wide as he and Mariko stepped out of the caf. Dinner had been delicious, and the coffee wasn't bitter. Tom had never developed a taste for the stuff in the first place.

Mariko smiled as she hugged him. The cold night air made getting up close both pleasant and needed. "A wonderful night," she purred in his ear. "This is what my dad wants to stop. Can you imagine?"

Tom smiled into her eyes before drawing her into a kiss. "I can't even begin to imagine." He took a deep breath as they got across a busy street. "Mariko. I...I want, need, to tell you something. It's important that you listen."

Mariko now seemed nervous. "Will, you never have to worry. But, what is it?"

"Mariko, my name isn't William Donaldson. It's Thomas Davidson."

She blinked. Her mind reached a conclusion immediately. "Are you in the witness relocation program or something?"

Tom grinned. "Something like that. Has your father ever told you about his work?"

"He just said he did research for an international organization," she said as they turned a corner.

"Well, he was telling the truth," said Thomas with a sigh. "You see, your father..."

Thomas stopped. He felt the twisting of his gut and the static in the back of his throat. The Buzz.

"Will...Tom, are you ok?" asked Mariko. Tom turned to her as he looked from one end of the street to the other.

"Mariko. I have to take care of something. Stay right here."

Mariko grabbed his arm as he started to move. "Go? Where? What is going on?"

He took her hand off his arm and drew her into a deep kiss. As their lips parted, he looked into her eyes. "I promise I'll come back. Wait for me."

She nodded as he started a run to where is gut was pointing him. Mariko watched as he disappeared around a corner. She took a deep breath and took off after him.

~~~~~

Holden didn't like this one bit. He had planed to get a few drinks with friends and then get some well earned sleep. Instead, as he started the walk home, he gets a stomach ache that had nothing to do with the scotch.

He preferred to avoid a fight until her had sobered up. He had been chased into an old railroad depot. Abandoned trains, storage tanks and warehouses produced a maze. Holden looked in all directions but saw nothing.

"Great. Now I just have to hope that I can find my way out."

"I'm afraid that isn't going to happen."

Holden turned around to find his pursuer. He had his dark hair cut close, and his face seemed to show his arrogance. He smiled as he stepped forward producing a well crafted blade. "Now, why don't we just go the easy way with this."

Holden cursed as he drew his sword from his coat. "Try it."

The other smiled as he took a step forward.

"LARS!!!"

Both Holden and his challenger turned to look at who just shouted. Thomas stood in the frame of two large storage tanks. He had his Claymore drawn and pointed at the man.

"Lars! This is between us. And this time, you don't have holy ground to hide on," Tom said as he took a slow walk to him. "We finish this now, tonight."

Lars smiled and turned to Holden. "Hold it right there. I'll be back for you." He turned back to Tom and the two walked away.

~~~~~

The two finally stopped in an open warehouse. They silently walked around each other in circles, getting a feel for their arena. And for each other.

"You don't know how long I've been waiting for this," Lars said with a hissing breath. He brought his sword to the battle position.

Tom brought his blade forward, pointing right at Lars. "In a way, as long as I have. Time for you to face judgement for your crimes."

Lars just sneered as he lunged forward in a stab. Thomas saw it and swatted the blade away, bringing a backhanded fist to Lars's face. The Nazi was thrown back a few steps as he grabbed his nose. Blood flowed into his hands as Tom brought himself back into position. With his blade ready, he charged at Lars.

~~~~~

Holden pondered if he'd actually see his friend again. He stepped around and looked to the large building that housed the battle between Thomas and the Nazi Immortal. He felt the power from that other immortal and knew this wasn't going to be an easy fight.

Absently Holden took the unlit cigarette from his mouth and looked at it as he shrugged. Putting the cigarette carefully into his pocket Holden caught a glimpse of movement in the shadows across the street.

'Another Immortal? Couldn't be.' Stepping back deeper into the shadows Holden watched.

'Mariko, what the hell is she doing here.' As the words crossed his mind he watched her slip into one of the larger doors on the front of the building.

Checking his blade, Holden swung his coat over the sheath to make sure it was free before he started for the warehouse at a slow run. As he neared the front of the building he could hear the sound of steel on steel from Tom and the other immortal. Shaking his head he slipped into the same door Mariko had just entered.

The warehouse was darker then Holden had thought it would be, but his eyes were used to the dark. Just ahead he could see Mariko crouched near a door, shaking slightly. Slowly Holden approached her, she didn't seem to notice his arrival until he kicked a piece of loose concrete in her direction.

Jumping Mariko twirled around, a small bent piece of pipe in her hand. "Yo.. you.... what are you doing here?".

A slight grin creeping on his face as Holden looked Mariko up and down, "I might ask you the same. Now put that down before you hurt yourself."

Dropping the pipe to the ground Mariko fell to her knees. "What are they doing? What is going on?"

Walking around her Holden looked through the door where she had been to see Tom and the other immortal set in fierce combat. "There are things you've yet to learn. This is your first lesson about Tom and I." Holden looked at Mariko whom was looking up at him with wide eyes.

But her attention was grabbed as the fight between Tom and Lars began to pick up. One blow after another was blocked or out stepped. The clash of steel on steel echoed in the old warehouse as they fought. No quarter given or asked.

Tom clashed the blade of Lars' sword to his own and drew them face to face. He gave a grin to his challenger. "I have to admit. You are a lot better then I thought you'd be."

"I should be," he said as he broke the hold and began to dance around again. "We did have the same teacher. Arcturus is very good at what he does."

"What I don't understand is why he would take in the slime of humanity," Tom said as they struck at each other again.

This time, Tom had over estimated his lunge. He spun to far, and Lars was quick to take advantage of it. He swung his own sword around and slashed his back.

Tom cried out in pain as blood flew from the wound to splatter onto the ground. But, it wasn't a deep cut. Tom turned back to his opponent, now more determined then ever to see the bastard pay.

Mariko turned to Holden. "How...? I saw him get cut!"

Holden pushed back his hair which was wet from the light rain outside, "Well, you'll learn more later but the easiest thing I can think to say now is that pain is but a ghost of an emotion when you are a few hundred years old." Leaning against the doorframe, Holden looked in at the fight then back to Mariko. "Well, Tom is a tad bit younger.."

The fight between Tom and Lars continued as they pasted simple battle and entered fury. Then, Tom saw the opening he had been looking for. With a low slash of his Claymore, he devastated Lars behind the leg.

The Nazi howled in pain as he fell to his knees. Tom spun the Claymore in his hands and stepped behind Lars. "Time to pay, you bastard," he breathed as he brought his blade up for the kill.

"TOM!! What are you doing!"

The voice had caught both of there attention. They turned to see Mariko, standing up with a look of shock in her eyes.

"Mariko?" Tom breathed as he lowered his guard.

Bad move. Lars took the opening for all it was worth. He took his blade and shoved it backwards, landing in Toms gut. Tom shouted out and backed away. After gathering himself, he turned to see Lars again on his feet. The two raised their blades, and began the dance again.

Mariko looked at Holden. "What was happening?!?"

Holden looked away from the fight and back to Mariko, "I suggest you keep your mouth shut for the remainder. That could have cost Tom his life." Watching the fight Holden wondered just how powerful the nazi was. "Tom knows what he is doing. If you can't handle it I suggest you wait outside. Things have been mild so far." As he watched the fight Holden checked his blade again just incase.

"But he was going to cut his head off! I know Tom! He wouldn't do that! What is going on?"

Holden pushed himself away from the doorframe and walked slowly over to Mariko. Crouching down Holden leaned in close, the shadows played off his face, his age made more apparent. "There is very little you know about Tom. This is a game. A very, very sick game, but it is a game we are forced to play weather we like it or not."

Looking over his shoulder Holden watched as Tom struck the Nazi across the arm leaving a deep gash. "Believe me, Tom doesn't do this for pleasure. He does it to stay alive. It could just as easily be me over there right now."

Lars grinned as they continued to duel. He sneered at Tom. "You know, I think you're afraid of me."

"That is laughable!" shouted Tom as he blocked a stab at his heart. "Why should I be afraid of you? You don't have an operating table and straps to hide behind now!"

"Ah, but I did gut you like a fish. I remember you crying like a baby as I showed you through those mirrors."

Tom shouted out and slashed down with his sword. One bang after another as they threw more and more power into the fight.

Then, Lars made a fatal error.

He slashed down and missed. Tom slammed his foot on the blade and it dropped out of the Nazi's hands. Tom carried his momentum and knocked Lars back.

Lars looked up to Tom as he pointed his blade at the Nazi's neck. "I thought you where the one who said we had to be above revenge."

"This isn't revenge," Tom whispered. He brought his blade up and slashed down with the last of his strength.

A clean cut that ended Lars Reicher.

Tom sighed as the body dropped to the ground.

"This is justice."

Mariko put a hand over her mouth and gasped with wide eyes as Tom committed the execution move. But nothing could prepare her for what was about to happen.

Tom stood in the warehouse as lightning began to dance over the floor. He held his arms out as the lighting surged over and through his body. Sparks flashed from the frame of the building and what sounded like fireworks fired off from all directions. Tom held his sword over his head as the lighting started to form a cage over his body.

This was a powerful Quickening.

Mariko looked to Holden. "What...What is this?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Looking from the Quickening to Mariko, Holden replied simply. "The Quickening."

She blinked. "What...what is the 'Quickening'?" She turned back as Tom began to scream from the pain.

"Our opponents memories and experiences become ours. We learn from their mistakes. It is simply the prize we immortals receive when we take a head."

Even from as far away as he was Holden could feel the Quickening. He had experienced many first hand and just about as many second hand This was the first that felt this way. Not just power, but it felt of anger and hate. "This Quickening will not be a pleasant one for our friend."

Tom seemed to be fighting for breath as the lightning slowed and then stopped. The fire and sparks continued intermittently. Tom just fell down to the ground and was silent before he began to weep.

Mariko got up and looked at his prone form.

Holden watched Mariko rise then placed a hand on her arm, "It's best to let him be for the moment."

"But...but," Mariko looked at him. "What happened?"

"It was (sniff) what I was trying to tell you," said Tom from the ground. He sat up and they could see the sorrow on his face. "Holden and I...We are Immortal."

Mariko blinked. "What?"

Holden looked at Tom and responded, "Mariko, I am over fifteen-hundred years old. And Tom is over two hundred years old."

"He's right," said Tom as he stood up. "I was born in 1760."

Tom turned to Holden. "He...he took such pleasure in death and pain. It was so evil. And I saw through his eyes as he did it." He clutched his face and began to cry again.

Mariko looked between the two of them. "...How are you...this?"

Holden seemed ready to answer as best he could when the sound of sirens filled the air.

"I think it's time to leave," said Tom

~~~~~

A man with platinum blond hair watched silently as three persons exited the old train station and headed down the streets of New York. The man, Arcturus, watched through binoculars, careful to stay out of the range of the Buzz. He smiled lightly as Thomas, injured thou he may be, walked away from the fight with Lars. Personally, Arcturus never liked the Nazi. He fought out of hate and anger. His only goal seemed to be to bring death and pain. Not the way of the true warrior. But he bit back his lip as his former student disappeared down the street.

"I wish I could ask forgiveness for what will happen," he said quietly. "But I can't. I need you angry and hurt. I need you to fight."

~~~~~

The three stepped into Tom's apartment, it being the closest. After they where inside, Tom sat down and rubbed his head. Mariko looked around the room and hugged herself as she sat down on a couch.

Tom was the first to talk. "I guess I need to come clean with you. Immortals have walked the earth for thousands of years. We fight in The Game, thinning out our own numbers until there is only one. At least, that is what the legends say."

She took a deep breath as she turned to look at Holden. "And you are Immortal too?"

Holden looked up from the floor and leaned back in his seat, "Yes, I am one thousand five hundred and twenty-six years old." Looking at Mariko, Holden grinned, "But I don't look a day over twenty right?"

Tom laughed. "Where as I turned 241 three months ago."

Mariko looked between the two. "How did it happen? Serum, magic?"

Tom shook his head. "Wasn't necessary. We are born naturally immortal."

Mariko turned to Tom. "And you're Immortal, just so that you can kill other immortals."

Holden shook his head slightly, "I'd like to think otherwise, but that is the gist of it." Holden stretched his arms out wide, his elbows cracked loudly, "I've hid my immortality for as long as I can remember. If you know your Finnish history you might remember the name Yamir Tachois, that is just one of the many names I've held in the past." Looking over at Tom, Holden grinned. "I think when I met Tom I was using the name Duke Millington."

Tom laughed. "Yeah, we where lining up for hair cuts to join the RAF during World War II."

Holden leaned back again and let himself relax a bit, "I've tried to lead a good life, I consider my immortality a gift, and I try to use that gift to help people." Holden grinned, "I've been on vacation for the past forty years or so though."

Tom leaned forward. "There are Immortals that are over 3000 years old, who talk about the Roman and Greek empires like they where yesterday." His head dropped. "Then you have the guys like that Nazi, Lars. They only see the chance to kill without consequence." Tom got up and looked out the window. "I now carry that monsters memories and strength in my body. Not that I wanted too."

Mariko was silent for a moment before she stood up.

Tom was expecting her to leave but, instead she came up behind him and hugged him.

"I thought you'd run away," he said as he turned around to a full hug in front of the window.

Mariko put a hand on his heart. "Here is still the man I fell in love with. A man who loves me enough to trust with a secret like this." She leaned forward and kissed him.

Holden gave a grin. "I'm going to see myself out."

If Tom and Mariko heard him, they didn't show it.

"Yeah," Holden said to himself as he left the apartment and took the elevator down.

Mariko and Tom released each others lips and smiled into each others eyes. "I will love you forever," she whispered as they again touched lips.

~~~~~

Back on the streets, Holden smiled even in the light night rain. It was cold, but not so cold as to make it unpleasant. Just the right temperature to get under a warm blanket and sleep in. Then, as he passed a pay phone, it started to ring.

Stopping dead in his tracks Holden looked at the phone. 'Coincidence.' he thought idly. Looking around himself he noticed there wasn't a soul on the street, this was usually a fairly busy part of the city. Slowly Holden crept up to the phone and reached his hand out to the handle. The line was quiet for a second before a voice that was both subtle and powerful spoke.

"When your friend pulls himself out and realizes he's lost the one thing he was fighting for, tell him Arcturus said hi."

The line went dead.

~~~~~

Tom smiled as he held Mariko close. For the first time in so long, he felt complete peace. No secrets, no lies. She knew who he was and had accepted him still into her arms.

Mariko looked up into Tom's eyes and smiled. "You really where worried that I would run away."

"How can you tell?" he asked.

She stoked his check as she continued to look into his eyes. "Because. All of the lines of worry have disappeared."

Tom smiled as they kissed and just held each other. He then backed his head away to look her in the eyes.

"There is something else I have to tell you," he said in a whisper.

Mariko let the confusion come to the surface of her face. "What is it?"

Tom took a deep breath. He knew that this must be her own choice. If she chouse to live normal, mortal life, he would understand. The chance to grow old and have children was something that he often wished for himself. But, she would be the one to make the choice.

Then, he saw a blink out of the corner of his eye. He had spent time in the military and knew instantly what it was. Whether it was a plea, a prayer, or a refusal, Tom had time to utter one word. "No!"

~~~~~

Suddenly, the glass on every window shattered under an earthshaking bang. Holden himself was knocked down as he looked up to see Tom's apartment building. The entire floor that his apartment was on had just exploded.

Holden wide eyed looked up at the building then quickly covered his head as debris starting showering over him. Dirty, cut and bruised Holden stood and then started to run back towards the front of Tom's building. The wail of fire alarms ripped through Holden's skull as he ran up the stairwell.

Once reaching Tom's floor, Holden found it totally in shambles. The walls left standing were in horrid shape and everything was black, covered in soot. Pushing his way through the rubble Holden slowly worked his way towards Tom's apartment.As he stepped up to the door, he saw that it was the epicenter of the explosion. The door and walls had been blown out into the hallway.

The sight inside was horrid. Tom was a bloody heap in the middle of the floor. Mariko was under him. He had tried to shield her. Holden could see that she was gone. Tom wasn't moving as the walls burned. Holden made his way towards the two. Crouching down Holden checked Mariko's pulse first. Sighing Holden rolled Tom off the top of her and winced. Her back had been torn up badly. Slapping Tom's face lightly Holden tried to wake him.

Tom struggled a little. A lot of his body was covered in burns and shrapnel. Then his eyes fall on Mariko. He too checked her pulse. His face went white as he started to shake his head and started to weep. Holden tried to talk to Tom but he couldn't seem to get his attention. His hearing was wreaked from the explosion and he seemed oblivious to the fire around him. Holden just stayed crouched there, his hand laying lightly on Tom's shoulder.

Tom was now crying uncontrollably. He was holding Mariko's limp body in his arms when the sound of sirens is heard. Sirens that Tom could not hear. And even if he could, Holden wasn't sure if he could bring himself to leave.

Wrapping his arm around Tom Holden made him rise. Knowing Tom couldn't hear him he spoke anyway. "Tom, the cavalry is headed this way! It's time to leave!" Sighing at the scene laid out before him Holden ushered Tom towards the doorway.

Tom was struggling the entire time. He didn't want to leave Mariko behind. With how determined he was, it was only because he had just 'woke up' that Holden could keep him in a firm grasp. As the two exit the apartment the sirens were visible just down the street and a rather large crowd had gathered around the area. Many in the crowd gasped when they see Tom, quickly Holden pushed them through the crowd and, when everything was clear, slipped into an alley.

Tom was panting as he looked down at his palms. They were covered in blood. Mariko's blood. He looked up at the apartment building and just began crying before collapsing from exhaustion, grief and blood loss. For the second time that night, Tom died.

Leaning against the wall and then sliding down, Holden sat next to Tom without a word. The sound of light rain and distant thunder filled the alley, bringing with it cold. So cold.

~~~~~

It was the first image before him. He was surrounded by fire. He didn't know where he was. He couldn't see any walls or ceiling. Just blackness as far as his sight could travel. Fire was burning around him.

Then, he saw it. The flames parted to give him a sight that both encouraged him and frightened him, Mariko, dressed in a long flowing white robe. She had a blissful smile as she reached out with a hand. He raced to her but, his legs wouldn't work. He tried and tried, but he couldn't move. The flames swept back in to consume Mariko. He could do nothing, except scream.

~~~~~

New York
December 30th 1999

Tom sprung up from the bed as he carried his scream from sleep to the waking world. He looked from side to side as he began to calm down. He wasn't in his apartment. He seemed to be in a couch pull out bed. Then, the events from memory flashed through his head. The bomb. The fire. Mariko.

Tom tried to fight it, but he relinquished and held his face as he began to cry. She had had everything taken away from her. He life, her family. Even her choice. He took a moment and looked at his surroundings. The style of the place screamed Holden.

Sure enough, the man came through the doorway. "I heard you scream. Are you ok?"

Tom got up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He started to stand up but almost fell again. "I'm not ok, but healthy. How long have I been out?"

"A day and a half. You lost a whole lot of blood," said Holden as he gave Tom a glass of water. Tom took two gulps to finish off the tall glass.

"Mariko?" Tom asked.

Holden sighed. "They identified the body this morning. I don't think it will be too long before they go looking for you."

Tom sank his head. "I didn't see it coming. I should have been able to protect her. You can't love someone you can't protect."

Holden dropped himself to sit next to his friend. "Your Immortal, not infallible. You can't blame yourself for this."

"I promised her father that I could protect her," he whispered. "If I can't take the fall for this, who does?"

Holden poured from a pitcher another glass of water and handed it to Tom. "Well, I think it was a guy named Arcturus."

Tom stopped himself from taking a drink from the glass. He moved his arms and legs, hearing the cracks as his joints set themselves. "I need a set of cloths. I'm going to go council myself."

~~~~~

The walk was unnerving. Every time a police car went by, he felt the need to turn away. Normally, he avoided the cops for a beheading, or to avoid being identified after death. Now, he just couldn't deal with them blaming him for Mariko's death. He could do that himself. Tom navigated his way until finally finding his way to the church.

One thing he had learned over the last two and a half centuries is that there are only three people you can trust with your secrets: your father, your lawyer, and your priest.

His dad was dead and the last lawyer he ran into came for his head, metaphorical, metaphysically and literally. That left just his priest.

He stepped past the lobby and into the main hall and immediately wished he hadn't. At the main alter were Mariko's parents, Katsuhiko and Choko, talking to the priest. Tom didn't know what they where talking about but could see that the priest nodded solemnly.

Tom was about to turn and leave when Mariko's parents seemed to finish up. They turned and walked down the way to the door. Tom stood statue still as they walked by. He could hear her mother weeping quietly as she past. He felt as her father's cold stare passed through him. And then they where gone.

Tom took a deep breath. He knew that Mariko's father blamed him. If he had broken off relation with her daughter, she would still be alive.

He took the long walk up to the priest, Mathew. Once close enough, the two greeted each other with a handshake and light hug. "My condolences," Mathew said quietly.

Tom sighed. "Thank you. If you don't find it improper, what where Mariko's parents here for?"

"Counseling," he said as he stepped back behind the altar. "And they wanted to make funeral arrangements."

"I'm not going to be welcome, am I?" Tom asked in a quiet voice.

Mathew looked down at the table. "Tom, I know how much Mariko meant to you. She told me how much you meant to her. Her parents are mad, confused, devastated. Give them a little time."

Tom nodded as Mathew picked up his bible and walked into the office close by. Tom stepped down from the altar back down to the lines of pews. He rubbed his eyes as fresh tears formed. Then, he took his hands from his eyes as he felt his gut twist. The Buzz. He held a hand in his coat to grad the handle to his Claymore sword as the Buzz got stronger and stronger. He stepped back to the altar and took his hand off his blade. Holy Ground.

He looked from side to side, try to place the source of when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around in a start and saw someone he least expected. Short, platinum blond hair, rich red lips, and eyes filled with life. Yet the experience of over a thousand years showed in those eyes. Tom uneasiness disappeared as he smiled back to her.

"Amanda. I never expected to see you here."

She gave a wide grin as she stepped over for a hug. "What? You didn't think I would live long enough for us to see each other again?"

"Not that. It's just that I was expecting to find my wallet gone before I noticed you," Tom said with a smile. "What brings you here to New York? Last I heard, you where in France."

"I was, for a while. Got a job working for an independent security agency, headed by a guy named Myers."

Tom gasped. "What's this? You're in a respectable line of work now?

She slapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Give a girl some credit."

He laughed. "You didn't answer my question. What are you doing in New York?"

"Come on. It's the millenium party. In New York."

"If the lights stay on," Tom muttered under his breath. "I can't believe you're excited over this. Weren't you around for the last one?"

Amanda sighed. "Back then, a horse was a parade. Besides, A friend of mine wanted to visit some old friends," she said, holding up her hands. "I just decided to tag along."

"Who is your friend?" Tom asked with a sly smile.

Amanda smiled right back. "Someone I met last time I was in New York. A cop named Nick Wolf."

Tom laughed. "You got a job AND are friends with a New York cop? And who was it I've know all this time, your evil twin?"

Amanda rolled her eyes. "You still can't let go of it, can you?"

"Why should I? I smuggle you out of Europe and in return you steal my pocket watch."

"Come on. It was a beautiful watch."

Tom glared at her. "I know, it was my dad's."

Amanda sighed. "You did get it back."

"Only after I held you up at sword point," Tom said with a sigh.

"Well, I'll make it up to you. When Nick finishes saying hi to his friends, we'll all go out on the town."

Toms smile melted away. "I don't feel much like celebrating right now."

Her smile dropped as she looked into his eyes. "What happened?"

"That bomb down town they have plastered all over the news? That was my apartment," Tom looked away. "It killed my girlfriend, Mariko."

Amanda blinked. "My god."

Tom nodded. "She was a 'sleeper'. But, I'm getting worried. She died two nights ago, but the corners office says she's still there."

He sighed as he looked down towards the door. "The thing is, her father blames me for it. He feels that is I had stayed away from her daughter, she would be alive now."

Amanda frowned. "I know about the girls you like, Tom. Fiercely independent. If you tried to cut ties with her without explaining yourself, she would hunt you down to get an answer."

"I guess," Tom said in a defeated voice. "It was Arcturus who set the bomb."

Amanda needed a second to adjust to that information. "Your old teacher?"

Tom nodded. "I don't know why he would do this. I just don't know."

Amanda sighed as the two of them sat down on a pew. "You're going to fight him, aren't you?"

"I don't know what else to do," Tom admitted. "I just hope I have enough to beat him."

Amanda released a deep breath as she put a hand on Toms shoulder. "Just remember. When you go into that fight, you can't look at him as your old teacher. You have to look at him as the enemy."

"I wish I didn't have to," Tom whispered. "I have to go get ready. I need to clean out my apartment and get what I need."

Amanda nodded. Then, she leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead. "Good luck."

Tom sighed as he got up. "Thank you." And with that, he walked out the door.

~~~~~

New York
December 31st 1999

Tom had walked for longer then he remembered. He had walked without a destination, and now he needed to figure exactly what he was to do.

As he passed an electronics store, the windows displayed brand new TV's. Tom had always found those odd. At first they seemed like nothing more then projectors in boxes. Now they had all these features. 'I am really dating myself,' he thought to himself.

The TV's in the window displayed Time Square live. The party for New Years Eve 2000 where getting started, with ten hours to go. Arcturus would hunt him down for the fight just before midnight. Tom knew it. He had to get ready.

~~~~~

Though technically still a crime scene, Tom's apartment had been mostly abandoned after the coroner and arson team had gone through it. They would be back to do forensics and the like tomorrow. Tom grimaced as he stepped up the charred staircase and passed the yellow strips to the blown out dwelling he had called home for so long. He climbed through the tapes covering what was left of the door and stepped in.

The walls where black as coal, the floor creaked something awful, and the stench of burned couch filled the air. Tom looked out to the shattered window in the main living room. He had spent many days and nights standing at that window, looking at the stars and the street. Many nights with Mariko.

He let his eyes drop. Then, he saw it. A note on the wall, held in place by the same kind of knife that had impaled his hands on the roof when all this started. There where no explanations, no regrets, nothing on the note. Except an address, with the words 'roof' written.

Tom sighed as he dropped the note and dagger. He stepped back to his bed room and opened the false back to the closet. He roamed through the coats in his protected store room and finally selected a dark long coat.

~~~~~

Tom removed the burned carpet in the center of the living room. The eagle mural he had drawn looked up at him with it's penetrating eyes as he kneeled down in front of the eagle. He took several deep breaths, each one stronger and more draw out then before. Then, on his last breath, he put his fist down with all his strength through the mural eagles heart.

The wood shattered and Tom pealed away until a long metal case was visible. Tom didn't even bother to take it out of its hole. He just opened it. He pulled out the eagles feather, holding it up to his face.

Genitally, Tom put the feather down and brought the other items out. A stone from the river and an arrow head. He pulled out a small satchel and opened it. He took a deep breath of the herbs and roots inside. He began to place a small amount of wood on the floor.

~~~~~

The small fire didn't do much to light the darkened living room or to provide warmth as the cold winter night air blew through the blasted walls. Tom sat with his legs crossed as the fire snapped quietly and peacefully. He focused his breath as he looked though his mind, inhaling the scent of the herbs. He needed everything for this fight, and was determined to bring everything to the surface. Faces, names, places all flashed through his mind. Then, through the maelstrom, a single cry filled his ears. He opened his eyes.

Sitting on the frame of the blown out window, and eagle looked into the room right at him. It just seemed to lock eyes with him. Their eyes held each other, speaking volumes to each other. Finally, the eagle gave one final cry out and bolted away into the twilight sky. Tom inhaled deeply as he stood up. He grabbed his long coat and sword and, stomping the small fire out, stepped out onto the streets.

~~~~~

From his view point, he could see all those getting ready to party the millenium away. He had to grin. This was, by far, the largest party he had seen. He wished he could join them.

Arcturus patted down the sleeve of his jacket as his breath misted in the cold night air. He took a beep breath as he felt his gut twist and his hairs stand on end. Arcturus grinned as he turned to see a figure step past the steam of the roof vent.

"Thomas Davidson," Arcturus said with a smile. "I was starting to wonder if you where going to show up."

Tom said nothing as he stepped forward, closer and closer to his old teacher.

"What?" Arcturus asked. "You're not going to say hello to your teacher?"

"I think we're past words by now, don't you think?" Tom sneered as he reached behind his coat. With a screech, he brought forth his Claymore sword.

Arcturus gave a small grin. He then reached to his side and drew his weapon. The blade looked down right menacing. A long blade, serrated at the base on both sides. The handle looked like carved silver, in the shape of sculls and tortured souls. The two orbited a central part of the roof. The rested there blades in their hands as they seemed to size each other up.

Then, the first move was made. Arcturus moved forward and gave two quick slashes, from left to right and back again. Tom stepped back and swatted the blows up and down, away from his body. Arcturus arched and eyebrow. "You certainly have improved. I remember when we would practice that move with the wooden swords and I could connect with your neck every time."

"Funny thing about immortality," Tom muttered as he brought the Sword of Light up. "To survive, you have to keep getting better."

And with that last word, Tom charged. The two blades connected and sparked with every blow. One attacked while the other blocked. After a flurry of blows, the two backed away from each other. Both pointed their swords at each other.

"This is very good," Arcturus said with a smile. "You haven't forgotten even one thing I taught you. But you realize that there is no way you can defeat me."

Tom sneered as he brought his weapon back up. "Hey, I was your number one student, wasn't I? You taught me your moves. And I have had 150 years to figure out how to beat them." Tom slashed the blade through the air in front of him and charged.

Arcturus grinned as the two blades connected again in the air. He strained with the effort, but pulled Tom by the blade closer to him. He carried Tom's momentum and flung him around.

"Guess that wasn't enough time," Arcturus called out.

Tom stumbled over the short guard and tumbled down a set of rain tiles and rolled over the edge.

Arcturus sighed as he walked along the rain tiles and looked over the edge. Tom was still hanging on, dangling twenty-five stories over a deserted alley, his left hand still holding his sword and his right hand on the ledge.

Tom looked up to see Arcturus looking down at him. He tried to let go but Arcturus saw it. He smashed his foot onto Tom's hand, catching him and preventing him from escaping.

"Now, now, young one. No easy way out," he said as he spun his blade in his hand. "And I was hoping for a better fight."

Tom's face looked up to his teacher. "You remember why I was your favorite student? You said I kept getting back up when I was knocked down!" With that, he arched his arm and brought the blade up. The sword slammed right into Arcturus's crotch, sending a scream of pain through the alley below. Tom took what strength he had in his left arm and arched back.

Arcturus fell forward, arms and legs flailing as he fell twenty-five stories and into a parked car. The roof caved in and the seats inside fell through the bottom of the car.

Tom, still holding onto the ledge with his sore right hand, climbed back up. He knew he could just as easily fall and be down quicker, but Arcturus would wake up before he did. He walked along the ledge and finally found a fire escape ladder.

"You just stay put," Tom muttered as he began the climb down. "This isn't over."

~~~~~

The lights from Time Square where enough to bring heat to the cold night, which helped the hundreds of people crowding in for the party of the millenium for the millenium. Among those where Amanda and Nick. After meeting with his friends for lunch, the two decided to attend the party.

"Well, I'll say this is a much better party then the last time," Amanda said with a smile as they walked along the streets.

Nick gave a smile. "New Years is always a big deal here. But now, we have the millenium. So long as the lights stay on."

"You're such a kill joy," Amanda said as he took an offered Champaign. She took another and handed it to the former New York cop. "When in Rome."

"Of course, you're speaking from experience," Nick said as he took a sip.

Amanda shook her head as they walked towards the millenium ball. Amanda took a look up at the count down. Only a few minutes left before the year 2000. Then, she felt something older then New York itself. The Buzz.

Nick recognized the look and posture of Amanda and got close so he could whisper. "Where?"

She turned from side to side. This was a strong one, probably from two immortals fighting.

"Oh, my god. Tom." Amanda took off running. Nick was right behind.

~~~~~

The fire escape ladder swung down from the final floor and unto the street level. Tom was quick to climb down and step into the long alley between buildings. Cars parked along the entire length, from people looking to get a good spot for the millenium.

Tom finally spotted it. The car that Arcturus had fallen into. He ran to it, drawing his sword again from the sheath on his back. He ran onto the hood of the car and swung his blade down to the collapsed hood, an indent in the shape of a man. Arcturus wasn't there.

"Bastard woke up faster then I thought," Tom said to himself as he looked up and down the alley. A lot of the lights weren't working, giving the long alley a shadowy look.

"Lots of places to hide," Tom said quietly as he stepped into the middle of the alley. "Arcturus! It's time to come out! Where on the street, you can't fall very far from this high."

The only replies were the sound of wind through a tunnel and the paper and trash it picked up. Then, the attack came again. Tom had time to move slightly to the side as Arcturus came charging out and lunged at his right side from behind. He was quick to spin around, but Tom was quicker. He brought his blade down and knocked the attack away.

The two once again where orbiting one another in the dark alley. "I have to give you credit," Arcturus grinned through the blood on his teeth. "I wasn't expecting that. Good show, boy."

"I'm not a boy," shouted Tom. "I hate it when people call me that!"

"Well, get use to it," Arcturus said. "Because on the off chance you make it out of here, you will be called a boy by the world until your head is cut off. Of course, I can do that for you right now!" Arcturus shouted the last word as the two slammed their blades together.

Tom was hard pressed to defend himself. Arcturus had the size and muscle advantage. All Tom had going for him was speed. And at that moment, it wasn't enough.The first blow landed along his leg. Tom tried to keep it up and faltered. Arcturus then stepped forward in full fury, slamming his blade into Tom's chest. Tom could feel a lung collapse and the copper taste of blood in his mouth.

Arcturus slid his blade back out of Tom and looked down. "To bad, so sad."

~~~~~

Amanda ran at full tilt, following the growing feeling of the Buzz. She was definitely getting closer. Nick, however, was getting left behind. He had managed to fight past the crowd to try and catch Amanda, but she was just moving to fast. Nick could still hear the crowds at Time Square, but they where getting more distant by the second.

"Amanda, wait!" Nick called out when he spotted her running down a back street. "She is way too much trouble."

~~~~~

Arcturus shook his head as Tom grabbed a storm drain pipe with his right hand, while trying to bring up his sword in his left hand. "Like you said, I liked you because you never stayed down. But this is getting ridiculous."

"Bastard," Tom gasped out as he clawed up but fell back onto the street on his ass. "Why did you do it?"

Arcturus sighed. "I needed you angry. I knew you wouldn't fight unless you stopped seeing me as your old teacher."

"But, why Mariko? She had no stake in this?"

Arcturus looked down at his former student. "You came after me, didn't you?"

Tom spit out a tooth and blood onto the ground as Arcturus stepped around and back to him. He looked down at the broken man and sneered. "I was so hoping to get a better fight. But, that is the way of things." He brought his blade up for the final blow and swung down at Tom's neck.

But instead of hitting flesh and bone, the blade collided with steel. Arcturus was surprised at first but saw that Tom had risen his blade to block his blow. His grin disappeared, however, when he saw Tom's eyes. There was no light left in them. Nothing but darkness. Eyes that where now looking directly at him.

"You killed her, just to anger me," he half whispered as he stood back up. "You did this to get me to fight you. Well, you got your wish. I will KILL YOU!!!" Tom screamed as he charged at Arcturus.

One blow after another smashed the twin blades together. The two blades sent sound waves as they collided again and again. Thomas was now moving fast then ever, using everything he had. Nothing was held back, letting the blind rage and hate come forth. And along with that rage and hate came the need to see his one time teacher dead for all that he had done to him.

Arcturus swung one blow at Tom and slammed into a car roof, cutting down to the bottom of the window frame. Tom answered with a swing of his own. Arcturus leaned back and the blade smashed into a wall. Tom counter swung, and pulled himself away from the wall with his sword, just in time to parry another blow.

This time, Arcturus held them together and looked at Tom in the eyes. "For what it is worth, I'm sorry," he said. Tom searched his teachers face and saw something that he wasn't expecting.

Arcturus was honestly sorry.

Tom just sneered back. "Not sorry enough!" And pushed Arcturus away, continuing the battle.

Arcturus swung low again, intending to slash Tom's leg again. Tom was ready and held his blade low, arching up and carrying the blade away. He followed quickly with a slash of his own across Arcturus's chest. He then swung the blade in his hand down and landed a kick into the fresh wound. Arcturus stumbled back as Tom slammed three more kicks into the wound. Arcturus clutched his chest and dropped his own sword to the ground with a load clang.

Tom lowered his body and kicked up again. This time, the foot landed below the chin. Arcturus felt his head snap and his neck presented for all to see.

But it was a sight that wound only last for a second. Seeing the moment he had been fighting for, Tom spun completely around. His blade came forward and sliced the air as it came finally to Arcturus's neck.

The blade passed through without resistance as blood flew onto a nearby wall. Tom stopped and looked up to his former teacher. He had look in his eyes. Tom would only be able to place it when the battle was over.

He had a look of peace. His eyes closed as light began to serge from his slashed neck. He finally fell backwards onto the ground, his head separated from his body. Tom began to feel the distant rumble and steeled himself.

Tom stood in the alley as his heart raced and his blood caught fire. He held his arms out wide as he looked up to the sky. Then, it happened. He saw the lightning dance from the top of the buildings and serge down at him, shattering every window as it did. The rain of glass hit him at the same time as the lightning, and Tom screamed from the pain of both the glass shards and the Quickening that had now slammed into his body.

This was a Quickening like no other he had felt. His teacher had lived over 4000 years. Had seen countless battles, died so many times. And all of it was now going to Tom in a mater of a few seconds. Tom screamed as the lighting filled his lungs and heart, threatening to explode him from the inside out. As the lighting filled the alley, The nearby cars began to start and rev at full power. That didn't last too long, as the lightning quickly exploded the gas tanks. All of the cars around him exploded, turning the alleyway into a fire storm.

Tom was right in the eye. The firestorm, guided by energy, swirled around Tom. It formed a cyclone of Fire around his body. The energy of his teacher continued to explode around him. He could hear the rivets explode as the fire escapes and rain pipes feel from twenty-five stories up and onto the alley floor. The street lights exploded all around, sending fresh glass shards and sparks in every direction.

Tom couldn't see this, as his eyes where closed. It was taking everything he had left to ride this out. He felt the energy and fire curse through him, arching between his arms right over his head. Tom opened his eyes and saw that the fire had surlled together to form a ball of energy right over him. He only had a second to look.

The fireball exploded and knocked Tom back a good twenty feet, the shock wave rippling for several blocks. But the people in Times Square hardly noticed the bang. The clock had just rolled over. The Millenium had begun.

~~~~~

New York
January 1st 2000

Nick and Amanda had heard and felt the blast of energy, however. After catching up with Amanda, the two began to search for the battle site. The sound of the explosion had guided them to the alley way. It looked as though a bomb had hit it. Every car had been burned to a crisp. The walls had had the cement shattered. The metal fire escapes on all the buildings had been collapsed. Fires still burned all through the alley.

Nick winced when he found the first body. Headless. "Is this the work of your friend?" he asked as he looked at the damage. Amanda said nothing as she stepped further down the alley. She still felt the buzz. And near the end of the alley, she finally saw him. Tom's cloths where burned, cut and torn. He was out cold. But he was alive.

Amanda turned to Nick with a smile. "I need a hand here. We need to get out of here before they find out the bang wasn't a firework."

~~~~~

New York
January 4th 2000

Three days. Tom had to keep rolling it in his head. The Quickening from his old teacher had put him out cold for three days. He sighed as he rubbed his eyes with his fingers. He looked down at his half eaten steak and then back to Amanda. She had long since finished her meal and was now taking small bites out of a VERY rich chocolate cake. She stopped her eating to look at Tom. "Come on. I paid for this. Enjoy it."

Tom swallowed hard, trying to get the lump in his throat to go away. No mater how hard he tried, it was till there. "I have no appetite. I'm sorry."

"You won the battle," she said as she looked him in the eyes.

"And what did I win?" Tom asked a little loud. The others in the restaurant turned to there table but then turned away when nothing else loud came up. Tom leaned forward to Amanda. "What did that fight get me? Mariko is still gone. And to win that fight, I had to release something I never, ever wanted too. I had to tap into all of the dark souls that I had taken. I had to use their hate, their fear, and their rage. I don't know if I could have stopped them if the Quickening hadn't knocked me out."

Amanda looked down at the table and then back to Tom. "What are you saying? Your saying that, looking back, you wanted to loss?"

Tom shook his head. "No, Arcturus had to pay for what he did. All that I'm saying is that, I couldn't protect and save the one I loved. And to avenge her death, I had to become the thing I hated most." He leaned back into his chair and looked down at the steak. He took a massive chunk and held it up. "And, I have no idea what I'm going to do now."

"Well, that is the thing," Amanda said as she took another bite of her cake. "I asked you to meet me here so you could meet someone. He helped Nick when he felt let down by the New York police. And got him a new job."

Tom finished the bite of stake. "And who might this be?"

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," came a gruff voice from behind Tom. He turned around to see a tall guy looking back down at him. Behind him was Nick Wolf. "You must be the guy they where telling me about. Name's Burt Myers," he said, extending his hand to Tom. Slightly confused, Tom took the hand and gave a firm shake to him.

"You weren't interrupting. I was just getting to talking about you," Amanda said with a smile.

Tom looked to Amanda and then back to Myers. "What's this all about?

Myers and Nick took the two seats left. Myers sat next to Amanda, across from Tom. Nick took the seat neck to Tom. Myers pointed to Amanda. "Amanda wanted me to meet you for a possible job."

Tom blinked. "A job? What kind of job?

"Working private security, Private investigation, things of that nature," Myers said as he pointed to Amanda. "She and Nick tell me you would be a good guy to bring on."

"I know most of your stuff was destroyed in that fire. This is your chance to start over," Amanda said with a reassuring smile.

"And it's good work," Nick said. "I enjoy it most of the time."

Tom looked at the three of them, a little overwhelmed. "God, I don't know what to say."

"You could say 'Yes, I'll take this job'," said Amanda.

Tom took a deep breath and looked at Amanda again before turning to Myers. "Looks like you've got a new employ to train."

Myers took the hand in another firm grip. "Great. Meet me at my office tomorrow. They can tell you where." Myers then got up from the table. "I'll see the two of you later. Pleasure as always," he said through a grin as he stepped away.

Tom just looked down at his steak. "A real job. Haven't had that in a long time."

"And it will do wonders for your character," Nick said with a smile. "Look what it did for Amanda."

"Hey!" Amanda snapped.

~~~~~

New York
January 8th 2000

Tom looked down at the burned floors of his old apartment. Only three days ago, they had determined through finger prints that the headless body found on new years was the same one who had planted the bomb. The cops just seemed to let the fact that he was found headless go, writing it off as a vigilante attack.

Tom took one last look at the silent living room. He looked into the devastated kitchen. To the now empty cabinets. To the pictures, now burned away. Then, his eyes fell onto the shattered window. He stepped up to it and looked down at the busy streets. They said the millenium would bring about a change, a sweeping change. But from here, it all looked the same.

After taking a deep breath of the air, Tom looked out to the sky and the setting sun. The clouds had colors ranging from deep purple to light pink, with beams of sunlight shining through. He looked deep into the clouds and saw a sight that set his mind somewhat at ease. The mighty eagle. The symbol of strength in his life. His guide. His teacher.

Tom looked over the apartment as the sun set and cast it into darkness. Ever since Tom had awoken from his fight with Arcturus, he had waited here. Every day, he would come late in the afternoon and stay until long past sunset.

Mariko still had not come back here, as Tom had hopped she would. As the lights of the late night city cast a glow into his old home, he gave a long sigh. He picked himself up from the floor and retacted the note on the door. He looked over the apartment one more time before walking down the dark, quiet hall.

~~~~~

New York
January 14th 2000

Tom stepped into his bedroom after another day of paper work. This new job had sounded exciting, but this Myers guy obviously thought that he was too young to be doing field work. If only he knew that Tom was older then him by a factor of eight. Still, it was a good job. Good money, and he had an apartment at the operations building, practically rent free.

He sat down on the bed and took off his boots, giving a long sigh as he removed them. He curled his toes as he took a look at the boxes he still hadn't unpacked. Realizing that, now having looked at them, he was going to have to get them done. Most of the items where old pictures, a couple of nick knacks.

But Tom stopped when he reached a polished wood box. He pulled it out and looked at it. "I'd almost forgot about you," he said in a quiet tone as he opened the box.

Inside was a crystal rose, sapphire and gleaming in the early evening sun. Mariko had given this to him for Christmas, just before she died. He had put it away until he could find just the right place for it.

He took around the room and found a windowsill. He stuck the stem end of the crystal rose into the display box and set it so that the evening sun shown through, giving light to the glass flower.

He watched as the sun passed over the horizon, bringing every shade of color to the gift. Watching the beauty, he sighed as he stepped away to his bed. After watching the jewel rose shine through the light, he picked up his coat and walked out. Back to his old apartment He didn't care how long it would take. For her, he would wait forever.

THE END