DISCLAIMER: Highlander belongs to DP. No money is being exchanged. --------------- THE UKRAINE Kronos and I are riding horses to meet up with Silas. Yeah, I know, here I am wishing that there was a damn road so we could take a car, instead of riding a horse in the middle of nowhere. “I’ve been spending too much time in the cities,” I stated. This is not what I had planned. I won’t be able to sit for a few days. “Two days on an airplane and another two on a horse. I hope you’re not wasting my time,” he informed me. Wouldn’t you like to know, Kronos. Trust me, I like my head right where it is, thank-you. Try the smart ass approach. “I thought you enjoyed my company.” “Even for you Methos, my patience has limits.” Well, at least he’s being nice about it. I don’t even want to tell him that I am not enjoying this either. I told him I would give him the Horsemen, and still he doubts me. Does he think that I would cross him? Well I would and have, but timing is everything. I wasn’t the planner for nothing. I always have an ulterior motive. That’s what I’m good at. “Ah, this is the place. I’m telling you Kronos, he’s here. Would I lie to you?” Okay, open-ended question. “Have you ever done anything else?” Okay, so you know me better than I thought you did. As I told Joe once, 'Why would I tell the truth?' “This is what I’ve dreamt of for the last two thousand years. The four of us reunited,” he continues. I take a look at him wondering, not for the first time, what I had gotten myself into? Two thousand years you’ve dreamed of this, and here I thought that *I* didn’t have a life. He is downright obsessive. “Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'dream team'.” “It’ll be like the old days. Better. Whatever we want, we have.” Okay, I’ll bite. I look over at him, leaning in a little. “Or else we take.” If I have learned anything in the thousand years I rode with him, is that Kronos must be kept happy. Give him what he wants, whether it be items or words. A happy Kronos is a safe Methos. “That’s the spirit.” It still works. Thank whatever god is there, if any. Then I hear someone cutting wood. I hope it’s Silas. I don’t even want to think that there could be another Immortal out here. I’ll let Kronos handle it if it is someone else. Live, grow stronger, fight another day. “It’s Silas.” Let’s hope it is, I thought. “It’s been over a thousand years, he may not remember us.” As much as I loved Silas like a little brother, he was few sandwiches shy of a picnic. I liked Silas, and I don’t think that he’s changed in a thousand years. He was the one that I would’ve wanted to still have around. He was my friend, and the only one of us who actually showed some compassion. Alright, so it was for the animals; but that was more than the rest of us. “He’ll remember. What we were, you don’t forget.” Don’t I know it. I have tried for over a thousand years to forget, and it hasn’t worked for me. “And if he doesn’t want to come with us?” Please come with us Silas, I don’t want to put up with a pissed off Kronos. He would most likely kill the both of us, and that is not on my schedule of things to do. “He’ll come.” We feel each other. Kronos and I get off of the damned horses and walk over to where Silas is. As we reach the tree, we get a good look at him. He hasn’t changed at all. Oh wait, what is he doing? I see the ax heading right toward Kronos and myself, so I flinch. Just what I would need, to survive Kronos only to die by Silas’ hands. Silas stands there and laughs. Okay, my fears are gone. He remembers us. “I guess he remembers.” Kronos echoes my thoughts. Silas begins to walk toward us, so I move to meet him. “Brothers!” He picks me up and gives me one of his destructive bear hugs. It’s always amazed me that I could breathe after that. “Good to see you too, Silas.” And I mean that. “We ride?” Silas was always like a little kid, but he was a good person to have in battle. “We ride,” I answer him, holding out my hand in our traditional way. Silas grips my arm. Kronos walks up and adds his piece of the square. “Come, we have much to do.” Now all we need is Caspian to complete the square, and that is our next stop. Granted, this one will be a little harder than Silas was. All right, so I would like to leave Caspian right where he is, but as I said before a happy Kronos is. . . ---------------------------------------------------- BUCHAREST, ROMANIA We arrive in Bucharest and head over to where Caspian is being held. It figures that he would be in an insane asylum; somehow it fits him. Unfortunately, I was drafted to try and get this idiot out. Great, thanks Kronos. The Doctor, Dr. Cernavoda, was not really wanting to go along with what we wanted. I wish he knew what happens when you piss Kronos off. The man has a death wish and he doesn’t even know it yet. “This is a highly irregular request. It’ll take weeks, perhaps months,” he told me. I stood on the other side of the counter with Silas and Kronos. Silas is sharpening his knife. Great, I wonder if this man thinks that we should be here. Not what I had planned to do today. “Well, we’d like him now,” I said, hoping to talk some sense into this man. "We have procedures, gentleman. Patience is a virtue.” I look over at Kronos as if to ask him what to do next. “I'm afraid my hands are tied." Evidently this man has no clue. I mean really, here are three men standing around him, and he’s not realizing it a bit is he? What is he thinking, if anything at all? Kronos walks up to the man, and throws an envelope on his table. “Then perhaps this could help you to untie them. Twenty-five thousand dollars, U. S. Now it seems to me, Doctor, that you have a procedual choice to make. Forget your impectable paperwork. I give you 25 thousand dollars and you give me Caspari. Or you keep Caspari and lose... everything." Dr. Cernavoda nods and tucks the envelope away. Bright Boy, he’s learning. He leads us down to the cellar where Caspian, or should I say Caspari, is being held. The hallway was dark and smoky, just like many the other asylums in this part of the world. Wonderful place if I do say so myself. It looks like some of the places that I was at during the Dark Ages. Dreadful places, perfect for a jerk like Caspian. As we follow the doctor down to the cell, he begins to ask questions. Silas and I are right behind the dear doctor and Kronos. “What are you going to do with Caspari?” Like we are really going to tell you that. "Rehabilitate him," Kronos answers. Simple is good. I did teach you something after all, didn’t I Kronos? “You’re serious. You can’t be serious?” The Doctor doesn’t believe us. This does not bode well. “Why? What did he do?” As if I don’t know. Boy, that was a wonderful question, old man. “Nobody knows how many people he killed.” And knowing Caspian, you will never find out. “They found parts in his basement, his garden . . . in his freezer." Sounds like something he would do. Hide the evidence, that’s a new one. He was always into cannibalism; me on the other hand...well, we won't get into that one. Silas finally decides to speak up. “Why didn’t they execute him?” Good question, my friend. “In a less progressive age, men like him would’ve been, but today we are more humane.” I couldn’t agree more. Don’t I wish we were still in a less progressive age right now, but unfortunately, you can’t kill him by normal societies means. We continue walking down a corridor as a patient comes towards us. As the man reaches us he looks in fear at Kronos. And they say that insane people don’t know. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that this man knew. "He's here, the dark man is here!! It's you." You got that right, and if I were you, I’d ask the doctors kill me before we do it for him. If I know Kronos he’ll want to take over the world. “He's harmless, he's been saying that for 30 years." "One day he may be right," Kronos answered. I have to agree with him. This man is right. "And one day Romania will be a superpower." Well one out of two isn’t bad. The man is right, but Romania, a superpower? Who knows, it could happen. We continue to walk toward the cell when we feel him. “I don’t know what you want him for but believe me, this one is better off dead.” Damn, he’s actually alive. I mean I knew, but I still would’ve liked him dead. "I don't know what you want him for, but believe me, this one is better off dead." There’s still a chance to rectify that mistake. I look around the area. Oh yeah, definitely been in a place like this before. Dark, wet, dirty, the smell of piss and death all around. Just the kind of place that Caspian would like. For me, it just brings back memories of a less wanted time. "Very humane!" We reach the door and Kronos almost can’t wait. I’m amazed he’s being so civil. “Open the door.” The doctor opens the cell and Kronos gets his first glance at Caspian in almost a thousand years. I hear Caspian howl, like he was a dumb wolf or something. Silas and I follow the doctor in. Caspian hasn’t changed a bit. “Are you sure you wouldn’t consider another candidate?” Another candidate, are you insane? I wish we could, but I don’t think that you will live long enough to find out just why Kronos wants him. “Unchain him,” Kronos orders. Of course the doctor is not really sure about all of this, and I wouldn’t blame him. “I think we should call security.” Kronos pulls out his sword, and strikes the chains holding Caspian. Great, here we go, I think as Caspian moves toward the doctor and puts his hands around the man's throat. “Get him off me.” Kronos has that smile on his face once again. Well, he’s happy. “Why?” As the doctor takes his last breath, I turn away from them. I can’t stand this anymore. I wish that Kronos had listened to me when I said I wasn’t like this anymore, but no. I haven’t killed a man in cold blood in quite some time. “Stop,” Caspian yells at me. Evidently he forgot who he was talking to. I turn toward him, confused. What? He bends down and picks up a cockroach. He should’ve let me step on it, I hate bugs. “They are better alive.” "Bon appetit." Disgusting. Of course I’ve done the same on occasion. You take what you can get. It still doesn’t mean that I like it. Kronos walks up to Caspain, "Come Caspian, I have bigger game for you outside." As the others begin to filter out of the cell, I put my plan to work. Granted, this is all betting on the fact that he will come. Knowing him, he will. I reach into my pocket and pull out a small matchbook, let it fall tothe ground. Next move is yours. ---------------------------------------------------- ABANDONED SUBMARINE BASE, BORDEAUX, FRANCE Well, I can say that Kronos knows how to pick them. Caspian is off in the corner doing something; what I don’t really care, Kronos is doing something as well. I don’t even know where he is. That isn’t good. At least I can work on finishing this book, since it's quiet. “Methos!” That didn’t last long. “Hey Methos.” Silas walks up the stairs to where I am. “What the hell is this place?” I sit there still trying to finish the damn chapter. Doesn’t anyone else here appreciate great literature? “This is Kronos’ idea of Camelot.” Does Silas even know what Camelot is? Silas moves to sit down next to me, I try not to pay attention, because if I do, I will never get this book done. “So where are the stables?” I shake my head. “The horses?” Once again I shake my head no. “How do we ride?” Oh Silas, still stuck in the old days, aren’t you? “Where have you been for the past two thousand years, idiot?” Caspian demands from his little corner. “Living in the woods?” Well yeah. “Do you think we can just mount up and gallop down Broadway?” Silas looks at Caspain; those two never did like each other. “We can do whatever we please.” Caspian is looking at something. What, I don’t know and frankly I don’t care. “Four guys on horseback, wild masks; they’ll think we’re in a circus.” “They won’t think that for long, will they?” “We’re having a friend for dinner.” He’s got a rat, how disgusting. “Tell me what’s best with a rodent, red or white?” If Silas was smart he would know that all Caspain is trying to do is get him started. “You eat him, I eat you.” “You’re crazy. You should’ve been in the madhouse instead of me.” Can we take a vote on that? I look between the two wondering who’s going to draw their sword first. “You keep talking, I’ll want your head.” I hear their swords being drawn. Ah, just like the old days. I knew there was a reason why I left them. Kronos walks in to see the two men, swords drawn. “Put them down.” Oh Kronos, trying to be the mediator once again. One of these days it won’t work. “Do it now.” All I wanted to do was read my book; why don’t you all just leave? “We never raise a blade against each other. Isn’t that right, Methos?” What? Oh, I was asked something. There goes my leisure time. “You said it,” I answer looking up at him. Now maybe I can finish this chapter. “We are the Four Horsemen. No band of men has ever been more cruel or more feared. Remember that?” I look up to see the others beginning to form our signature hand grip. Might as well add mine to it. I stand to complete the square. Kronos had a point...there was no one who could match us in our days. I just wonder if it is still true now. ---------------------------------------------------- ABANDONED SUBMARINE BASE, BORDEAUX, FRANCE, HALLWAY We are being lead down the hallway by Kronos. I wonder what he has in mind. Finally, we will find out what this big plan of his is. “Silas, my brother, why would we ride with sword and ax when today, there are weapons of unimaginable power?” Kronos asked Silas. Of course Silas had a dumbfounded look on his face. I look over at Silas trying not to feel too sorry for him. “Weapons ready to plunge the earth into generations of darkness." I look around trying to figure out just what he had planned. Scratch that, what he wants me to plan. Somehow I always got stuck with that duty. What would’ve happened if, say, Caspian or Silas had made the plans. Scary thought. “if we choose. What more could we ask for? What better time for us to come together than in the Scientific age? Just think what men like us could do!. Men without conscience, without fear. Think of the destruction, the devastation, the death.” I take a look over to Caspian, who of course has a large smile on his face. He would like this. “A world of anarchy and madness. You think of that and dream.” Kronos leads us into a small room, filled with cages of monkeys, vials of whatever, and x-rays. Kronos has been busy over the years. This does not bode well. “The weapons of today are different, but it all comes down to the same thing. There are the conquerors and there are the conquered.” "You want to conquer the world with monkeys?" Oh great thinking Caspian. No wonder you never lead the Horsemen. Kronos walks up to a door. "Not with them." He types in a code on an access port, opening the vault. "With this." The vault opens, and we see a test tube full of a clear liquid. What is he planning? I stand between Kronos and Silas. Frankly, I want to stay as far away from Caspian as I can. “Glorious virus. AIDS, Eboli, and now mine. It doesn't have a name, and it doesn't have a cure. Tell me Caspian, were you in England when the plague struck? I was.” Caspian has this evil grin on his face. I would guess he was. “You have a plan?” Kronos looks at the vial, thinking. “I have a few thoughts. I have a few dollars, enough for a start. And we have Methos.” Oh great. “Now we have a plan.” I look over at Kronos, “What do you have in mind?” Kronos has a small smile on his face. This isn’t going to be good. “Once we rode out of the sun bringing death at the point of a sword. There was no man or no immortal who could stand before us. We were death on horseback. They called us the end of the world.” He reaches out and picks up the vial. I hope he doesn’t drop it. I continue to look at it, trying to figure out just what it really is. “Well gentlemen, I want to give them what they fear the most. The Apocalypse.” Here we go again. ---------------------------------------------------- ABANDONED SUBMARINE BASE, BORDEAUX, FRANCE We all sit around the round table; forgive the pun. As I said before, it’s Kronos’ idea of Camelot. I had just told them my plan, and now we see if they buy it. “A bomb with a virus in a fountain? How many do you think that will kill?” Kronos isn’t too happy, he turns away, not wanting to look at me. It’s time to convince them that this is the way to do it. “You've gone soft, Methos.” You finally figured that out? Bright boy. “I'm scared. Are you scared?” Oh, shut up Caspian. I look at the three men around me. “It’s a prelude.” I look directly at Caspian now. Hehad to open his mouth: well it’s payback time. “Have you read Aristotle Poetics? No of course not, you haven’t even seen Casablanca. What is the first rule of great drama?” I take a long pause, my own use of Great drama. Silas is confused, as always, and so is Caspian. Two down, one to go. “Start small and build.” Kronos turns at that. And Kronos makes three. Glad you see it my way, gentlemen. “A fountain to get their attention, then a public pool to kill a hundred. Then a stadium to kill ten thousand, then one drop of virus in the city water supply within a week.” Kronos finally sits down now very interested in the plan. “And then a country.” Now, let’s not get too hasty, Kronos. If I can keep as many people alive as I can, I will. “You want to own the world, you offer them a choice. The horsemen rule or they all die.” Kronos smiles. “The horsemen rule or the whole world dies.” I smile back at him. He’s finally got it. “It has a nice ring to it. I forgot how good you were, Methos.” But of course, Brother. That’s why I am the survivor. Glad that you remember. “We begin tonight.” ---------------------------------------------------- ABANDONED SUBMARINE BASE, BORDEAUX, FRANCE, LAB I walk into the laboratory to check on something, and there was Silas, feeding the animals. He always loved animals, even back then. He looks at me with a worried look on his face. “Methos, you look troubled.” Out of all of them, he was the only one I would call my friend. He knew me the best . “Just thinking.” I didn’t want to tell him what I was really doing there. “Ah, you were always good at that, aye. I guess after all these years you still are.” He continues to feed the monkeys. It’s kind of funny, to think that Silas, one of the Four Horsemen, could be so gentle. “I know.” I was always thinking. I thought about a great many things. Near the end, it was how to get rid of them, much the same as now. “It's not like the old days, is it?” Is he thinking the same thing I am? “What do you mean?” I want to hear what he has to say. Please Silas, join me and get rid of this. Let’s put an end to something that died a long time ago. Silas turns away from me, making me wonder what he had to say. “I don't like this killing from a distance. I like to feel the ax in my hands, look into my enemy's eyes before I strike.” Damn, “Soon enough,” I tell him. It is true, he will get what he wants soon enough. Especially now that I know I’m on my own on this. Silas looks at me. “You don't think the virus will work?” “It will work.” I step closer to him. There may still be a chance that I can talk him into helping me. “Silas, for two thousand years we have lived without this. We've lived without the blood, the fear, the power.” Does he understand what I’m saying? I’ve changed and I would like to think that he has too. Please tell me I’m the only one not living in the past. Silas grabs hold of my arms, “For two thousand years I have dreamed of the day that we would ride again!” I am truly alone now. The one person I thought might help, won’t. “Like you always said Methos, we live, we grow stronger, then we fight.” He used my own saying back at me. I turn to leave. “I'll see you later.” Before I could get too far I hear Silas. “Do you think he’ll let me have one? What is he talking about? I’m not in the mood for this anymore. “What?” “A monkey.” Silas turns back to the cages. “I like this one.” Silas, my friend, and still the little boy I knew so long ago. “I’ll ask him.” “Thank-you brother.” I have never been able to deny him anything, not when he gets that look. He is so much like a small child. Makes one wonder just what he was like before. . As I round the corner I pull out my cell phone. I had to be sure that I was alone. Can’t let anyone else know what I’m planning. I hear MacLeod pick up the phone. "Elysium church, thirty minutes. Come alone." Then I hang up. The shorter the better. ---------------------------------------------------- ELYSIUM CHURCH, BORDEAUX, FRANCE MacLeod isn’t here yet so I sit down. Why? Why is this so hard? I know exactly what he will say. The great Boy Scout. Always judgmental. I sit down to wait for him. As I look down at my hands, I remember what they used to do. I have both killed and healed with these hands. One of these days I am going to have to find out just how Kronos found me. All I wanted was to be left alone. If it hadn’t been for Kalas, I would’ve still been a myth. I felt a presence, dreading this entire thing. Duncan walked into the church, “Well, I’m here.” I look up from my hands. “Yeah, thanks.” Duncan walks closer to me; I have a feeling I know how this will turn out. Why do you think I chose holy ground? He’d kill me for what I did to Cassandra, it’s the way he is. “Why'd you lie to me?” Oh please, come off it, MacLeod. “About what?” I’ve lied to you a lot. What else do you know? “About Cassandra. About who you were.” Here we go again. “I have been many things, MacLeod,” I breathe out. I’m too old for this. We have been friends for a few years, MacLeod. You should know me by now. “And who are you now?” I try to give him my best smug smile. “Why'd you think I didn't tell you? I knew how you'd react.” At least I’m still alive right now. I’m not as dumb as you think I am. “What I’ve done, you can't forgive. That's not in your nature. Will you accept it?” “Accept what? The friend that I trusted with my life slaughtered innocent people? For what?” He trusted me? “A few head of cattle? What are you going to tell me, Methos? That's how the world was?” I stand. “The world was how we made it!” “No, the world was how you CHOSE to make it. How you chose to slaughter her people and . . . burn her village.” I turn away, I don’t want to hear this. In all reality, I guess I don’t want to see his face when I tell him the rest of the story. I walk over to one of the stained-glass windows and look out. “And I chose to take her prisoner.” For some reason, this glass is a lot like me. Pieces of different colors, shades, coming together to make a picture. Individually, they are nothing. Ah, but together, it’s beautiful. If I hadn’t been what I was back then, then what would I be now? I’m not sure I want to know that answer. I can almost feel the dread coming from MacLeod. “And?” “There’s more.” ---------------------------------------------------- FLASHBACK BRONZE AGE The camp was busy, as it normally was when we returned. People were running around, trying to make sure that everything was just the way we liked it. We had just returned from another raid on a small village. We rode our horses into the center of camp and started to dismount. “Another day well spent, Methos,” Kronos stated with a smile. I dismount and look over to my tent. I see that Cassandra was watching me. “Come let’s celebrate. Divide our bounty.” I’m getting tired of all of this. “You can have my share and my time,” I informed him as I move my horse away. I make my way to my tent, and enter. Cassandra was there with a cup of water for me. I have trained her well. I strip off my cloak and sit down. Once there, I take a drink of the offered water. “It’s good,” I tell her. It was good; nice and cold, just the way I like it. “I cooled it in the river for you,” she tells me as she begins to wash my hands. “Yes,” I answer. She moves the cloth up to my face and starts to wipe the grime off of it. She was beautiful; if things were different then. . . I reach up my hand to her face, and began to lightly caress her. It’s been a long time since I’d been gentle to another person. I can barely remember those times. Kronos walks into my tent, and pulls an apple from my table. Cassandra and I move away from each other. “My compliments, brother. You taught well in everything, I see. It seems she keeps the best fruit for you.” “It's no different from the rest,” I tell him. What is he getting at? “Maybe it just tastes better in here. You've made quite a prize of her, haven’t you?” “She's no different from the others,” I inform him from my seat. I know that what I just said was a lie. I think I’ve known that for quite a while now. Cassandra isn’t at all like the others. I’m not sure just what she is, but she is definitely not like the others. “Except you seem to prefer her to all others. Why is that?” Kronos said, then looked directly at me. “You've grown attached.” “No,” I said, as I stand and move across the room. I know what’s going to happen. No matter how much I don’t want it to happen, I know that there is nothing that I can do about it. Can’t or won't, I’m not sure. “Good. I didn't think you'd make a mistake like that, brother. Because now it's time to share the spoils of war.” Kronos grabs a hold of Cassandra’s arm, she’s fighting him. Haven’t I taught her well enough to know that it’s not smart to cross Kronos? All I can do is just walk away. “No,” Cassandra pleads. I can’t hear her. I won’t hear her. “Well, she’s got a spirit in her. I like that, brother. Maybe when I’m finished I’ll let Caspian have her.” Kronos drags her out of the tent. I can still hear her still pleading with me. She’s asking me to help her, but how can I do that without crossing Kronos? He is my brother. I pick up an apple from the bowl and hold it in my hands. How can I stop hearing the pleas? I look down at my hand and notice that the apple is crushed. Why do I let this happen? Later that evening, I hear the screams coming from Kronos’ tent. Somehow, I couldn’t tear myself away from that spot. Suddenly, I hear Kronos scream. I look over to the tent, and see Cassandra run out and head into the desert. "I could have stopped her, but I didn't." ---------------------------------------------------- AT THE CEMETARY, OUTSIDE ELYSIUM CHURCH, BORDEAUX, FRANCE “She escaped across the wilderness. She must have died a dozen times from heat and thirst before she found a village that would take her in,” I continue to tell MacLeod. I don’t really care what he thinks about me anymore. I just want him to understand. I stop and turn to face him, “and I bet it was worth it just to get away from us.” “So what are you doing with Kronos now?” How can he ask that type of question. Haven’t I made myself clear enough? “Same as always, trying to survive,” I state calmly. A total contrast to what I was feeling on the inside. “And if you want Cassandra to live, you’ll get her as far away from here as you can.” Please, do as I ask. “Ha! And let Kronos go?” Damn, stubborn Scot. He turned away from me, so I begin to walk around him. He’s going to hear what I have to say, no matter what. Maybe I can get to his boyscout ethics and make him do as I ask. "You don't have a choice, MacLeod! You can't stop him. I can't stop him" I notice that my voice is rising with every sentence. Okay, so he’s getting to me now. Does he honestly think that he’s that good? He evidently doesn’t know Kronos as well as I thought he did. "Nobody can!" "Yeah, four guys on horseback are gonna rule the world." It’s been done before. Hell, we did it for a thousand years. Okay, so it wasn’t the world, but it was close enough in those days. "The world doesn't change, not in five hundred years, not in five thousand. It's only the details that change.” Now you’re going to listen to me, I thought. MacLeod is going to understand what this means to the world. “Kronos didn't torch those villages for a few coins, he torched them to watch them burn. And now he'll have a nuclear bomb or a planeload of Napalm but the effect will be the same. The world living in fear of the Horsemen." "And you expect me just to let that happen? You should know me better than that!" That’s the problem, MacLeod, I do know you. I just wish that for once you had a survival instinct. One that told you to get as far away from here as possible; but then again, I’m counting on you playing along with me, MacLeod. I need your help. I can’t face them alone and win. “I came to warn you,” I state, stepping in closer to him. You have to understand, Highlander. “The first step towards Kronos’ brave new world will happen tonight.” This isn’t a game. “Where? When?” Ah, I peaked your interest, didn’t I? “At a fountain at the La Place de Quinconces.” I inform him. I’m not sure what he plans to do about it, but hey, might as well tell him the truth. Hopefully he’ll be the good boyscout and stop it, before it’s too late. “You set a bomb,” he said in disbelief, walking around me. Nope, guess he doesn’t know Kronos as well as I thought he did. Definitely not. “Do you know anything about Eboli, MacLeod?” I ask him, and I notice that he’s stopped dead in his tracks. “Well there are worse things in the world if you look.” I once again begin to circle him. “And Kronos looked. He’s bred a virus. No cure...it’s very exotic. He’s got cages of monkeys he’s been testing it on. He’s got enough to destroy half of Europe. Now, a little bit in a fountain will only kill a few. But it’s a start.” Do you understand now, MacLeod? “The water supply’s next.” “Bright Boy.” Yes, one point for the Highlander. “Let's go,” he says as he turns around. Is he crazy, I can’t go with him. “Oh, no, no, no. If I go up against him, I lose.” “Going with the winner?” You still don’t understand. I close my eyes for a second as an answer. How can I ever get through to you? Are you still as predictable as I think you are? “So why are you here, Methos? What game are you playing?” You don’t know me at all. I’m trying to save everyone. Granted, I’ll do anything to survive, even if it means playing with your head. You wouldn’t understand MacLeod. You don’t know how things are. You will never understand;at least I hope you never have to understand. No one should have to go through what I have in my lifetime. Just keep it simple, Methos. Tell him what you need to say and leave. Kronos will be wondering where you are if you don’t hurry. “It’s in the bottom fountain just above the waterline. White then black then red..” “Don't do this. You have a choice.” I have a choice. No, Highlander, I gave up that right when I first joined the Horsemen, and when I refused to take Kronos’ head all those years ago. I have no choices now. At least not until they are gone. Not until this is over. I have lived too long to want to commit suicide, which is exactly what I’ll be doing if I go up against him. All I can say to answer him is to look at my watch, “and you have 24 minutes.” MacLeod looks at me for just a moment and then runs off. Gods speed, my friend, and thank-you for being so predictable. ---------------------------------------------------- ABANDONED SUBMARINE BASE, BORDEAUX, FRANCE I walk back to the base and straight into Kronos’ little throne room. There is a fire pit in the middle, and he’s sitting in a chair eating a piece of chicken or something. He really likes to act like a god, doesn’t he? “Your bomb didn't go off. Not much of a plan, was it?” That was the plan, Kronos, I think. “Well, I’ll think of better,” I answer him. He doesn’t have to know the real reason. Now does he? “I'm sure you will, otherwise I'm going to have to improvise. By the way, where were you?” Okay think fast. You’ve had this all planned out on the way over here. Now what the hell was I going to say? “I was just...” “Warning your friend,” he stated, interrupting me. Kronos stands and moves closer to me. Great, now what Methos? “You didn’t really think that I wouldn’t know you’d tell MacLeod. Did you?” Where’s his sword? He’s got to have it close by, I know it. I’ve got to get out of this, as swiftly as possible. Hopefully with my head attached. “It's not like you think it is.” “It's exactly like I think, My dearest brother,” Oh shit, I’m dead. “That's what makes you my perfect right arm. We think alike. We always have.” I laugh, it’s the only thing I could do. “I doubt that, Kronos. No one thinks quite like you.” I tell him calmly. I’m dead. “Spoken like a true scholar. ." Kronos reaches into his pocket. What is he getting? A knife? Is this it? "Look at this." I look at a remote control. Damn, I didn’t plan on this. "All I have to do is punch in a few numbers, and a small vial explodes in the reservoir above Bordeaux. And then, well, you know what happens next, don't you?" I can say nothing. My senses are on fire. What have I done? All I can do is stare straight ahead, with a blank face. I’m good at those. "We all have our own little plans. I'm sure you won't disappoint me. Come with me. I have something else to show you." Kronos leads me toward the ledge, overlooking a cage in the basement. As I look closely, I can see Cassandra lying down on the floor, groaning. “She was asking about you. You knew exactly what you were doing when you sent MacLeod to that fountain, didn't you?” I thought I did. “So I did what you expected. I went and got Cassandra while she was unprotected. That was the plan, wasn't it?” That wasn’t the plan, none of this was. I close my eyes, and nod. I have to think. There is so much more at stake now. MacLeod will never trust me again, not with Cassandra here. I have to come up with another plan, and fast. “You see, I know you better than you do yourself,” Kronos continued. Okay, I’ll play along. “Which is why the plan was perfect.” “Your plans always are. You can't out-think me, Methos, and you can't out-fight me. And you sure as hell can't kill me,” he informs me, as if I don’t already know this. “You think so?” What the hell, I’ll play along. “You had your shot and you couldn't take it.” ---------------------------------------------------- SOMEWHERE IN ANCIENT GREECE. AROUND 1AD This is it, I’ve had it. This is the last man, Greek or otherwise that I will kill. Well unless it’s a choice between him and me. This is pointless. I can see Kronos rifle through another body not far from me. What have I done? How could I have waisted the past thousand years this way? I wonder what Kronos thinks about my idea. “Methos the scholar? That's a good one, brother.” Well I guess I have my answer. “I'm serious. It's what I want to do. Study and learn.” Can’t you understand this Kronos? Do I have to spell it out to you? “What for? What have you got to learn?” A lot it seems. I have been out of it for over a thousand years now. But how can I explain this to him? “Most everything, it seems. About the world. About myself. About who we are.” “I can tell you who we are.” Really? “Can you?” “I'm Kronos. I always have been, and I always will be. And you're just like me.” Not anymore my dearest brother. It’s time. “We are who we are, and that's more than enough.” “Not for me. Those who don't learn from their mistakes, repeat them.” “We don't make mistakes. We make history. Pour me another drink and have one yourself. You're getting too damned serious for your own good. You're turning into a Greek.” I reach over to pour both of us a cup of wine. I can get out of this, but do I really want to. Can I go through with it? What the hell. I open a small spot in my ring and dump in the potion. I hope this works. “Thank you,” I tell him as I hand him his wine. Drink it, Kronos. Please. Kronos drains his wine glass, and looks at me. “Just don't forget what you really are.” Like I could ever forget that. You seem to forget Kronos, I am a lot older than you. I think I know better than you what I am. “I never forget what I am. The more I learn, the more aware I become.” “Where do you think you are going,” he asks me as I stand, trying to walk away. This is getting tiresome. “That's what I've been trying to tell you. I'm finished riding with you.” “The hell you are! Sit down!” I continue to walk away. “Don't make me say it again.” “You don't need me.” “There are four Horsemen. There always will be.” “Find another to take my place.” “Impossible. We are four brothers. The blood we spill binds us; only blood can separate us.” Blood Brother, is that it. Well I guess I’m just going to have to let all of my blood drain out of me cause I don’t want it anymore. “Don't you understand, Methos? The only way to leave the Horsemen... is by leaving your head.” I shake my head. I don’t believe it, he really wants it to come to this? Why can’t he just let me go? “I was afraid you might see it that way.” Kronos stands and draws his sword. Why does it always come to this between us? Why can’t we just act like civilized people. “Fight me, and don't think you'll live to learn anything from it.” He wants to fight me, so be it. That is if it comes down to that. I draw my sword also, and take a couple of steps back. Kronos steps forward, trying to advance. Thank-goodness it’s starting to work. I can see him now start to waver. His arm drops, and I can tell that he has figured it all out, finally. “The wine...” “A little something I came across in my studies. That potion would kill most people. It will stop even you.” Kronos falls to the ground at my feet. Should I take his head? Can I take his head? He is right, we are brothers. We shared everything. What makes me any better than him. I can’t take his head. I just can’t. Not after everything that I’ve done right along side of him. LATER STILL IN ANCIENT GREECE AROUND 1 AD I wish that there was some better place for what I’m doing than this damned well. I had found the strongest hinges that are available for this stupid gate in all of Greece. I just hope they hold, at least until I dissappear. “Traitor! Coward! Fight me!” Great he’s awake. “Why would I do that? I've already beaten you.” Okay so it wasn’t a fair fight, but what can I say. I can’t remember a time when I did fight fairly. Sometimes it’s the only way to survive, and that’s what I plan on doing. “The hell you have! Your head is mine! Your life is mine!” Come and get it, Kronos, if you can. That is if you can ever get out of here. I’ll give him a reply though. Okay so it just happens to be me slamming this bolt completely in. Good-bye, Brother. Hope to never see you again. ---------------------------------------------------- ABANDONED SUBMARINE BASE, BORDEAUX, FRANCE I look down only to see Kronos toss a massive, ancient, rusted bolt down next to me. It’s the same one that I had put in that gate. I wonder how long it took him to get out of there? I think that my days are numbered. Where are you MacLeod? “So you had your thousand years of study, while I had a thousand years of crusts of bread flung to me by the priests you left.” He smiles at me. I hate that smile. “I wonder what your friend MacLeod thinks of you now though?” “You think I care?” Of course I care, but I also know that a part of me doesn’t. He’ll never be able to forgive me now. I only wish that he didn’t have this high opinion of me before. If he had only thought of me as a normal person, then maybe he would’ve understood. I also know that it’s not possible. No one can understand if they weren’t there. It was the time. What I had been through. I had told MacLeod that killing was all I knew and it wasn’t a lie. “You should. You lured him away. When he comes back and finds that someone stolen his woman. I mean if that... if that... if that was me I'd want you dead,” And you don’t anyway, Kronos. Please spare me. “Well then we should prepare for MacLeod to come here.” “Already thought of that.” Already thought of that. . . Oh no, don’t tell me that. . .“Did you send Caspian or Silas?” “Both.” Damn, they won’t fight fair. When and if MacLeod takes one of their heads, then the other will simply take his while he’s down. I know how they work. MacLeod is surely dead. I am finally alone. Alone with the memories. Well it was fun while it lasted. . . ---------------------------------------------------- ABANDONED SUBMARINE BASE, BORDEAUX, FRANCE, BASEMENT I sit down next to Cassandra’s cage. Hopefully I can make her understand. I don’t want her to die. And quite frankly if my plan is going to work, I’m going to need help. “You should eat,” I say. Her reply was to simply kick the food away. Boy, I’ve been here before. “This is familiar.” “I'm not your sorry little slave anymore. I know what I am now, what you are. You may have fooled MacLeod but you never fooled me.” She tell me as she gives me the most evil look I have ever seen from her. She has changed. I am glad that she had. I just wish that she hadn’t made this her life. A life filled with revenge is no life at all. Trust me, I know. That’s how I came to be with the Horsemen. Revenge. The others did as well, and unfortunately some of them still want revenge. At least in part. Their need for revenge had driven them mad, and now. . . Now, I can see that she will most likely end up the same way. For that I am sorry. “I wasn't trying to fool anyone.” I never did try to fool MacLeod. At least I didn’t think I was. “If MacLeod knew what you really are, he'd have taken your head long ago.” Most likely he would have. I just didn’t volunteer any information about who I really was. Being an enigma can have it’s privileges. “Well, he had his chance,” I say emphatically. “He didn't.” Granted, that was before he knew who I really was. All he knew was that I was Methos, the mythical oldest Immortal. If he did know then what he did now, would he have taken it? Would I have offered? I can’t think of that right now. I don’t want to commit suicide, I never have. I look at Cassandra, her eyes were filled with pain. “It wasn't all bad when we were together.” Was it? I didn’t think so. “I only served you because you forced me.” “Don't hate yourself.” Please don’t hate yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong. It was us. We did this to you. We were the evil ones, not you. I stand and move around the front of the cage, gripping the cage door. “Stockholm syndrome. It's like Patty Hearst. Hostages come to rely on their captors for food and for approval and they fall in love.” Oh yeah, reason with her. Why don’t you spout out more psychological babble while you're at it. How stupid of me. She laugh and just looks at me in disbelief. “I never loved you.” But I did you. At least as much as I could then. “You thought you did. You thought I would protect you. You forgot what I was!” She slams her fist against cage, trying to get at me. “I forgot nothing. I'll take your head with my bare hands, you and Kronos!” “I have seen what happens to people who go up against him. If we want to survive,” I begin as I look up toward the lookout point where Kronos had brought me in. I want to make sure that he isn’t there, listening. I don’t want him to know what I’m doing. For that matter, what am I doing? “We will keep him happy,” I finish. She has to understand that if she doesn’t listen then she will die. It’s that simple. I crossed Kronos once, and to say that it was a pleasant experience would be the biggest lie ever. “I didn't do it then, and I won't now. I'd rather die.” Damn it. “And then you'll die,” I tell her. I won’t lie to you, Cassandra. Not anymore. “And you can forget about MacLeod. MacLeod is dead.” As much as I hate to admit it, I know it has to be true. I can’t have her thinking that he’ll come in saving the day. He’s gone, it’s that simple. People die. Immortals die. And I had such hope for MacLeod. I guess I was wrong. I turn and walk back to where I was sitting before. We still had things to discuss, if only I knew what I was going to say. It was about an hour later, when I heard Kronos come down the stairs. He didn’t look happy. Silas was there. But what happened to Caspian? Not that I really care, but does that mean that MacLeod made it? I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Kronos answered it for me, though. “If MacLeod ever comes close, kill her!” “He's alive,” Cassandra asks, trying to stand. I can’t believe it. It can’t be. “Not for long,” Kronos answered. It can’t be. How could he be alive? I straighten; this is unbelievable. “You failed,” she stated looking directly at me. I didn’t fail, I didn’t want MacLeod killed. Things may actually work out. Kronos looks at me. “You come with me, my clever friend. You and I are going to poison a city.” As we walk off, I can hear Silas sharpening his ax. ---------------------------------------------------- ABANDONED SUBMARINE BASE, BORDEAUX, FRANCE Kronos and I are making our way into the main part of the building, when we feel MacLeod’s presence. Yes, he is alive. Kronos didn’t lie. We begin to make our way up the stairs toward him. “The three horsemen of the Apocalypse doesn't have the same ring, now does it, Kronos?” No it doesn’t. At least it was Caspian you killed, Even if I didn’t like him, a part of me was sad, since he was so much a part of who I was during that time. The other part, however, wished that you had killed Silas, that way I didn’t have to watch him die. I didn’t want Silas to die. But then again, if it came down to me and him, I would choose me. “What are you going to do now?” Good question. "You're not going to be around long enough to find out," Kronos said still making his way up the stairs. "Oh. We'll see about that," MacLeod states as he draws his sword. This is it, isn’t it? “Think of Cassandra,” Kronos begins, with his hands in front of him in warning. “Lay down you sword she lives. Fight, win or lose, she dies.” Not if I can help it, but am I ready to do this. These were my brothers, for better or for worse. “C’mon, MacLeod, your life for hers. What do you say?” Like he’ll lay down his life to you. “I think she'd rather be dead.” Kronos looks at me, “Tell Silas to finish her, and let her know it was MacLeod's decision.” I begin to run down the stairs. I have work to do myself. “Methos, don't do this,” MacLeod practically pleads with me. I take a glance at MacLeod, and smile. “Like you said, I go with the winner.” Then I run off. I don’t want to be anywhere near Kronos and MacLeod right now. I make my way back down to where Cassandra and Silas are, with my sword in hand. Can I do this? Silas looks at me, “MacLeod’s here?” “Yes,” I answer. I can’t do this. Silas makes his way toward the gate, and opens it. I stand there and watch as Silas drags her out. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. I begin to scream in my head. I can’t kill my brother. What is it that Kronos said; we never raise a blade against each other. But that was a long time ago, I’m not that person anymore. These are no longer my brothers, are they? Can I sacrifice them to save the world? If MacLeod survives Kronos, then will Silas take his head while he’s down? Yes, he would. I know he would. Who do I choose? MacLeod, or Silas? My oldest and best friend, my son of sorts, or my new life. The past, or the present. MacLeod, or Silas? I see Silas raise his ax above Cassandra’s neck, and I knew at that instant that I had my answer. I wanted to live. Live the life that I had chosen for myself. My new life. One that is far different from who I had been then. I raise my sword and point it at Silas’ chest. He looks at me in disbelief. “You're challenging me for the girl's head? Take it. She's yours, brother?” “I am not your brother.” For some reason, just that thought made me sick. How could I have ever been like that? Was I really that disgusting? Was I really that cruel? I’ve changed, Silas. It’s a shame that you didn’t as well. Now Silas is mad, I can see it in his eyes. “How can you do this? How can you go against what you are?” Against what I am? Don’t you understand, Silas? I’m not like that anymore. I’ve changed. But then again, I guess you don’t. “You don't know anything about me.” Truer words were never spoken. We begin to fight. It is one of the hardest fights that I have ever been in. Ax against sword, parry against thrust. We both moving in this little dance, and I soon realized that we were making our way up to where I heard another fight. Was it MacLeod and Kronos? I didn’t know, and I didn’t have time to notice. Silently I cursed myself for training Silas as well as I did. He is strong, but I am faster. He is leaving himself open for an attack. Now if I can only get to it. I’m on the defense, for now, I hope. I didn’t see what I tripped over but the next thing I knew I was down on the ground. “Methos,” I hear Kronos yell. Time seemed to stop. He knows that I’ve betrayed him. If I can survive Silas, and MacLeod loses, then I’m dead. I will die thousands of times, I will once again be his slave. I couldn’t think about that. I couldn’t let myself be taken down that path again. I grab my sword again, and block the downward swing of Silas’ ax. Suddenly, he made the mistake I had been looking for. As he swung his ax, he over-extended himself. I’m sorry, Silas, but it’s for the best. Those days are over. I bring down my sword, severing his head from his body. Quickly I look over to where MacLeod is and I can faintly make out that he too had won. Now it’s was time to wait. Wait for the quickening take hold of me. I can see it all so clearly. Everything. From the first moment I had met Silas, to the end of the Horsemen. His entire life flashed before my eyes, as the explosions began to consume the building. Suddenly, things take on a different turn. I can see Kronos’ life, and strangely enough, MacLeod’s. What is going on? What is this? I have never in my life had heard of something like this before. A double quickening? Shared experiences, shared quickening with another living immortal. This can't be happening. Can he understand me now? Does he want to know? I get struck down by lightning, which wouldn’t be the first time, and collapse. This can’t be happening. With the quickening over I finally realize what I’ve done. I look over to Silas, and see his headless body. The tears are trying to make their way from my eyes. Should I stop them? Do I really care anymore? I just killed my brother. My family. As evil as they were, they were the only family I really had. I decide to just let the tears fall, it was time to mourn. “I killed Silas. I liked Silas,” I cry. How could I have killed, Silas. Young, innocent, Silas. What have I done? I didn’t even notice anything else around me really as I just stay there, letting all the pain escape me, but I can feel Cassandra behind me. She was there, wanting to take my head. Do it, please. End it all. How can I live with what I’ve done? “And now I’m supposed to forgive you,” I barely hear her say. I can hardly make out what was being said between Cassandra, and MacLeod. I’m not really sure that I want to know. Do I want to die, was the question of the hour. What did MacLeod think of me now? “Cassandra.” “You want him to live?” “Yes, I want him to live, Cassandra! I want him to live!” All I could really make out was MacLeod stating that he wanted me to live. Why? Why would he want me to live, knowing what I was? I continue to let the sorrow take control, as I hear metal hitting the ground, and footsteps moving away. The chapter of the Horsemen was finally over. But can I really let go, after all this time? ---------------------------------------------------- AT THE CEMETARY, OUTSIDE ELYSIUM CHURCH, BORDEAUX, FRANCE It was morning, and I met MacLeod back in the cemetery. He had asked me to meet him there after Cassandra left. What did he want to know, that he didn’t already? Reluctantly, I agreed. Maybe I owe it to him, I’m not sure. We stand there for what seems like forever, neither one saying a word. MacLeod was the first to speak, “But you had to know that Kronos would come for you one day.” I had hoped that he wouldn’t. Why do you think that I hadn’t taken a head in over two hundred years until I met you? Why do you think that I ensured that Methos had remained a myth? Do you think I go around looking for trouble? “I tried not to think about it.” “You could have killed him. Why didn't you?” “I wanted to!” Don’t you understand yet? Do you honestly think that I liked what I was, what Kronos had done? I was different, back then. I needed what they had to offer, and I accepted it with open arms. When I had come to the realization that I had changed, I wanted to kill him. “But we were brothers in arms and blood and everything except birth. And if I judged him worthy to die then I judged myself the same way,” I finish my thought out loud, hoping he would understand. Duncan turns away from me. I don’t blame him one bit really. I wouldn’t want to hang around me, either. Not knowing what you now know. “And I wanted to live,” I say as I begin to walk away. “I still do.” I wanted to change. I wanted to be who I was now. To do that, I had to live. “Kronos was right. You set the whole thing up, didn't you?” he asks me as I begin to move away. I slowed then stopped altogether. “What'd you mean?” I sigh. Maybe he’s beginning to understand after all. “You knew that he'd come after Cassandra and you let him because you knew I'd come after her. You couldn't kill him but you hoped I could.” Yes, he does understand. I turn toward him, and look him directly in the face. “Maybe." And maybe I have taught you something after all. Once again I turn and walk away. I knew what was coming and I wasn’t sure I wanted to answer that question, let alone how I would answer it. “Maybe.” I make my way down the stairs and into the grass field. “Methos.” I stop and turn to look at him. Here it comes. “What about Cassandra?” What about Cassandra? That was a good question. How could I tell him what was going through my mind on that subject? What did he think about what I had done? I know he will never forgive me, but will he understand? Can he live with that fact? I give him the only answer that I could come up with, “One of a thousand regrets, MacLeod. One of a thousand regrets.” I couldn’t take anymore, and I just turned and walked away. I wanted to get as far away from here as possible. I don’t want to deal with his holier than thou attitude, nor his hatred of me. I know he doesn’t want any part of me anymore. I have to remember who I am, now. I can’t allow myself to fall back into that slump that I was in back in those days. I can’t afford to. I can’t lose myself. I continue to walk in the opposite direction than MacLeod, grateful for the break. It was time for me to move on. Finally I can try to let go. I have to first be able to say good-bye to them, and those times. It’s time to grieve, it’s time to mourn. It’s time to live. But most importantly, it’s time to let go. THE END