From: martin@PROBLEM_WITH_INEWS_GATEWAY_FILE (Michele Martin)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.quantum-leap.creative
Subject: XOVER: The Witness part 23/26
Date: 3 May 1995 23:12:10 GMT
Organization: Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Message-Id: <3o92ka$i88@news.duke.edu>

scene 29 (keeps going and going and going....)

   Sam crouched next to the window, keeping his eyes on the windows above 
where he could see light coming through.  Any second now...there!  The 
light suddenly cut out.  He counted to ten under his breath, then used 
the rifle Nick had "liberated" from the guard to crash in the window.  No 
alarm sounded, but he was sure that the sound wouldn't have gone 
unnoticed.  He carefully but quickly climbed through, glad his eyes were 
adjusted to the dark from being outside.  He hoped that would allow him  
some advantage.  He reached into his coat pocket for his badge as he 
crept along the wall in the direction of the moniter room.  Suddenly he 
heard a voice up ahead.
  "Michaelson?  Peters? Williams?  Someone answer?  What's going on?" 
someone was speaking into a radio, probably trying to contact either the 
outside guards or the men in the moniter room.  Sam peeked around the 
corner.  He could make out two men, both armed with rifles.  Probably two 
of the interior guards.   Well, best take what advantage he had...
  "Freeze!  Metro Homicide!  Drop your weapons!" Sam shouted.  The two 
men whirled and raised their rifles, but hesitated when they saw that Sam 
had them covered and that he did, indeed have a badge.
  "I know what you're thinking--there're two of you and one of me.  But 
I've already called for reinforcements, and my partner is already inside 
as well." *I hope* "Killing a police officer on top of kidnapping of a 
material witness to a homicide investigation really would not look good." 
Sam knew he was partially bluffing.  If these people were really part of 
a powerful secret US government group, killing him wouldn't faze them in 
the slightest.  The guards kept their weapons pointed out him, apparantly 
uncertain of their next move.  Sam couldn't see their faces, so he was 
unsure of what they were thinking.
  "Uh oh, Sam.  Looks like you're caught in a stalemate...and there two 
more guards coming up behind you..no, don't turn around or they might 
fire. Listen, I'll go tell Scott to tell Nick to give you a hand down 
here.  Just don't do anything sudden.  I have the feeling these nozzles 
wouldn't hesitate to take you out," Al's voice sounded behind him.  Even 
with the unpleasant news Al had to tell him, Sam was reassured by his 
presence.  Then he heard punchec something into the handlink, and he knew 
Al was gone.  *Okay, I'm on my own for the next few minutes.  Al, you 
better hurry*  At that moment, he heard the click of a rifle being cocked 
behind him.
  "This is your only warning, sir.  Lower your weapon and place your 
hands on your head," said a voice behind him.  Sam carefully did as he 
was ordered.
   "Now, you better tell us exactly what's going on and the location of 
your partner and anyone else on the premises," continued the voice behind 
him as one of the guards in front of him reached for his rifle.
   "Uh, well...." Sam began.
   "Sam!  Get down!" Al's voice yelled.  Sam dove for the floor as the 
guards in front of him opened fire on something behind him. As he rolled 
over, Sam caught the glimpse of blurred motion as something knocked over 
the guards who had been behind him.  The blur resolved itself into the 
form of Nick, who casually tossed the "rear" guards aside as the other 
pair continued to fire.  All to no avail.  Nick growled, then jumped the 
other pair.  It was all over in a second.
  "You okay, Sam?" Nick asked as he helped Sam to his feet.
  "Yeah, I'm fine.  Wow, that was incredible!  Are _you_ okay?"
  "Well, I'll have to have Nat pull a few pieces of lead out, but other 
than that, I'm fine."
  "How's Scott?"
  "Oh, he's fine.  I left him with Fox, who's handcuffed.  And he's got 
that sphere of his out and, well, armed I guess you could say.  I think 
he'll be okay.  Shall we see how the pizza delivery is going?"
  Sam smiled as he and Nick picked their way past the unconscious guards 
toward the moniter room.

  Mulder and Scully, by virtue of the element of surprise, managed to 
keep things under control even though they were technically outnumbered 
five to two.  The sudden power outage worked to their advantage since 
they'd been prepared for it.  One of the guards had attempted to go for 
his rifle, but Scully had blinded him with a suddenly materialized 
super-flashlight.  Immortals weren't the only ones who could hide large 
things in secret pockets of their trenchcoats.  They'd managed to herd 
everyone over to one side of the room when they heard the unexpected 
gunfire just outside the door.  Mulder and Scully exchanged worried 
glances, hoping that neither Sam, Duncan, or Scott had been the target.  
They knew better than to worry about Nick.  
  "Look, you know they'll never let you get away with this. We have 
connections in high places in the government," one of the guards said 
ominously.
  "Correction--you have friends in high places in the US government.  I 
think you may have a bit more difficulty with the Canadian government.  
We've already alerted both the Toronto police and the Royal Canadian 
Mounties of your presence here, and reinforcements should be arriving 
shortly. I really hope you don't cause some sort of international 
incident," replied Mulder.
  Before the guard could reply, the far door open.  Scully whirled to 
cover the entrance, then sighed in relief when she saw it was Nick and Sam.
  "Well, looks like you've got things under control here," remarked Nick.
  "What was that gunfire we just heard?" asked Scully.  "And where's Scott?"
  "Oh, some of the guards got a little carried away. Nick took care of 
them," replied Sam.
  "And I'm okay, Agent Scully.  Ran into a little trouble with two other 
guards on my way down the steps, but, well, I guess you can say they saw 
the light," said Scott as he entered the room with George Fox in tow.  
Fox looked extremely agitated and dismayed.
  "Well, by my count that takes care of everyone.  Now all we have to do 
is wait for the mop-up crew to arrive.  Though I don't relish trying to 
explain all this to Captain Cohen," commented Nick.
  "Why should you have to--you've put in a full day, er, night, and I think 
these people are perfectly capable of speaking for themselves.  I'm sure Mr. 
George Fox here has plenty to say," said Mulder.
   Fox just glowered at him in response.

scene 30
Outside
4:30 am  
   
  Paul watched Connor disappear into the woods, then turned back to the 
other Immortal called Hanson by the MacLeods and 'Cancerman' by Agent 
Mulder.  Hanson regarded him dispassionately for a few seconds before 
commenting:
  "You should not have interfered.  If MacLeod had killed me it would 
have made things alot easier for you.  Don't think I won't continue to 
hunt you down and eliminate the threat you represent to us."
  "But I'm not a threat.  I don't want to hurt anyone.  I first came to 
observe, and then to take care of my son.  After all these years, why is 
that so hard for you and George Fox to accept?  I never was a threat to 
your national security," Paul replied sadly.
  "National security may be George Fox's biggest concern, but it's one of 
the least of mine.  There are much more important things at stake.  I'm a 
player in more Games than the one you interfered with tonight--but that 
one in and of itself would be enough reason for me to wish to eliminate 
your kind.  Tell me, how much have you told Agent Mulder?"
  "Agent Mulder?" Paul replied tentatively.  He realized that it would 
not be a good idea to let this man know the extent to which Mulder was 
involved in the evening's events.  He sensed that this man was much more 
dangerous than George Fox, and not because he was Immortal.  
  "Yes, I'm sure he'd like to know _all_ about you and why you're here.  
He was assigned to investigate the case for which your offspring is a 
witness.  Perhaps he doesn't know about you?"
  "Why would I tell him?" Paul answered trying to mislead without 
outright lying.  He didn't like to lie, but he'd found that in dealing 
with humans it was sometimes necessary to disguise the truth.  
Especially in dealing with _this_ type of human.  
  "Why indeed.  I have found, however, that Agent Mulder has a disturbing 
knack of finding out things he'd be better off not knowing, though he has 
yet to become a _real_ threat.  Though he has no reason to expect aliens 
in the particular case he was sent here to investigate.  Still, I 
wouldn't underestimate Fox Mulder."
   Paul wondered if that last sentence was supposed to be addressed to 
him, or if Hanson was thinking out loud.  But he doubted that this was 
the kind of man who said anything that wasn't necessary.
  "So what will you do with me?" Hanson ask, casually pulling out a 
cigarette.  He lit it with a lighter taken from his suit jacket pocket, 
and began to smoke, all the while seeming utterly unconcerned about his 
fate. 
  "I could take you back to the house and wait for the rest of the police 
to arrive.  I think you and your men will have alot of explaining to do," 
replied Paul, although he doubted that this man would find the police to 
be much of an inconvenience.  The almost sneering smile that floated 
briefly across Hanson's face confirmed his suspicions.
  "Do you really think the police pose much of a threat to me?" Hanson 
asked.
  "No.  I think that you are a very dangerous person, Immortal. And The 
police have had enough problems with your kind for now.  So I will let you go.  
But I warn  you--I can be a dangerous person, too.  Do not attempt to harm 
me or my son again.  I don't want to hurt you or anyone on this planet, 
but I will do what I must to protect my family.  Even my patience has its 
limits," Paul intoned seriously.  He meant every word he said, and he 
could see that Hanson knew it by the brief look of concern that crossed 
his face.   Concentrating on the sphere in his hand, he caused it to glow 
brighter and brighter, almost to its maximum.  The sudden intense light 
blinded Hanson, long enough for Paul to disappear into the woods and 
begin to make his way back to the front of the house.  Back to his son, 
his wife, and his new-found friends.  
  
  LaCroix perched unseen in one of the many treetops near the scene of 
the evening's activity...or in his case, entertainment.  So much was 
going on.  He wasn't sure exactly when and where he should intervene.  He 
was curious about many of the people with whom Nicholas was associating 
this evening.  And he wished to learn more of the things he'd heard 
discussed at the station earlier that evening.  At several points he was 
tempted to interrupt Nicholas himself and demand some explanations.  But he 
had the feeling that his wayward son would be less than cooperative, as he 
often was when involved in one of his oh-so-important cases.  So instead 
he watched.
  His attention had finally been drawn to the sword fight near the rear of 
the house.  He was sure this was somehow connected to the beheadings that 
had plagued the mortals of late and which had caused some minor concern 
to some in the community.  The beheadings that the late Gregory had 
seemed to know something about.  He knew that Gregory had not told him 
the truth about his interest in this matter.  Perhaps now he had the 
opportunity to find out more.  He watched the battle with interest--these 
mortals were both _very_ skilled fighters.  Almost too skilled for 
those with such brief lifespans.  There had been some mention of 
'Immortals' earier--perhaps these were some of those?  There was definitely 
something more to this than appeared on the surface.  He wondered what 
the final outcome would be. 
  Unfortunately he was prevented from finding out by the arrival of a 
third party.  LaCroix almost instantly realized that this was the one 
who had overpowered Gregory. The alien--he recognized him from the 
photographs he'd seen in the file he'd acquired.  The blue light that 
came from his hand radiated a power that LaCroix found both repellant, 
yet oddly attracting.  And very strong.  Yes indeed, it _was_ a force to be 
reckoned with.  And perhaps dealt with at some later time.  Even if 
this being did only wish to be left alone.  LaCroix was not entirely 
comfortable with the idea that there was something present on Earth 
that he might not be able to deal with.  Then again, the challenge 
this being represented might be refreshing.  He would have to think 
about that.  He was sure when he wanted to find this alien again he 
could get the information from Nicholas.  Willingly or unwillingly.
  He continued to watch and listen.  Apparantly the alien knew one of the 
combatants, whom he referred to as "Connor".  The other was knows as 
"Hanson".  Ah, this was interesting--Connor claimed to have known Hanson 
for over a century.  How could this be?  These were obviously not 
vampires.  He would have known instantly.  He listened even more 
closely.  Finally, the one called Connor prepared to leave.  As he did 
so, the alien addressed him as "Immortal".  So his suspicion had been 
correct.  These were not ordinary mortals.  He decided to find out more 
about these others.
  He launched himself from his perch and followed Connor as he made his 
way away from the house.  Alone.  Perfect.  He waited until they were a 
suitable distance away from the others before he made his move.  As 
Connor cleared the woods near a deserted street, LaCroix landed abruptly 
in front of him.  Connor slammed to a halt, eyes widening.  LaCroix 
smiled slowly before addressing the stunned man.
  "Greetings fellow immortal.  I believe we have much to discuss."
  

--
Michele Martin
martin@abacus.mc.duke.edu
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Evil Guest Immortal: "I have you now, MacLeod." <clang, clang>
Duncan MacLeod: "I admit it.  You're better than I am." <clang, clang>
EGI: "Then why are you smiling?" <clang, clang>
MacLeod: "Because I know something you don't know..." <clang, clang> 
"..._I_ am the star of this show." <clang, slash, whap!, thud, cool fx>
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