Nikki is out back of the older girls' barracks, dressed in a pair of sweat pants and a tank top, performing a strenuous Kata.

Haley: Sweet.

Haley says with a smile as she sees an envelope with her name sitting on the table in the barracks. She hardly ever gets mail, unlike the other girls. Grabbing the letter she doesn't look at it further as she heads up the stairs, to her bed to read it in comfort.

Nikki 's arms and face are beaded with perspiration as it is a warm Spring afternoon.

Haley curls up onto her bed and then actually looks at envelope. Reading the return address, Haley feels herself pale.

Haley: The Probation Department?

Haley whispers.

Nikki: Uh! Uh!

Nikki grunts with each jab and kick.

Haley: What??

Haley mutters and tears the envelope open, and pulls the piece of paper out and starts to read it.

Nikki: Uh! Uh! Uh!

Nikki jabs at the air, using every muscle. But her concentration is broken when a picture of Methos comes into her head just as she is attempting a side kick. She loses her balance and timing and staggers a few steps.

Nikki: Damn!

Nikki swears and shakes her head.

Haley starts shaking her head.

Haley: No, no, no. They can't do that!

Haley whispers.

Nikki: Moving on, Flynn. Moving on.

Nikki resets her stance so she can start again.

Nikki: Do it until you get it right.

Nikki says aloud and exhales slowly.....calming her mind

Haley suppresses tears as she hears some of the other girls starting up the stairs. Getting up, she heads down, needing to get somewhere more private, so she could let the tears come.

Nikki begins again....slowly at first then picking up speed.

Haley comes down stairs and sees several of the other girls hanging out in the kitchen and can hear others in the rec room and living room. Giving the girls a smile and a wave, Haley quickly darts outside, before allowing the tears to come. The letter crumpled in her hand.

Nikki hears the back door of the barracks slam shut. Then she hears the unmistakable sound of someone crying. She stops and looks in the direction of the sound. Picking her towel up off of the ground, she shakes it out and wipes the sweat from her face and walks in the direction of the sound.

Haley walks just far enough until she knows shes out of immediate site of the barracks and then sinks down to the ground, her back against a tree, and pulls her knees up to her chest, crying.

Nikki sees the shadow of someone sitting behind a tree and she walks quietly closer. When she realizes it's Haley she moves faster and drops to her knees next to the girl.

Nikki: Haley? Honey? What's wrong?

Nikki asks softly...placing her hand on Haley's shoulder.

Haley: They're gonna make me go back to my dad!

Haley sobs into her knees.

Nikki puts her arm around Haley's shoulders and gently pulls her closer.

Nikki: Who's they?

Nikki asks, her voice soft and calm.

Haley: Them. Probation Department.

Haley cries turning into Nikki's support.

Nikki realizes she's not going to get much of an answer from Haley as upset as she is so she puts her other arm around the girl and holds her close to her. She gently caresses Haley's back in slow circles.

Nikki: Shhhh.....calm down, Sweety. Shhhh.

Nikki whispers and gently rocks back and forth.

Haley: I can't! I can't go back to my dad. I won't!

Haley sobs.

Nikki: OK, baby. OK Shhhh It'll be OK

Nikki whispers, consolingly. Then she notices the crumpled up paper in Haley's hand and she is able to make out the letter head as being the Probation Department. She gently removes the letter from Haley's hand and, as she continues to gently rock the girl and caress her back, Nikki reads the letter.

Nikki: OK Shhhh....it's OK Shhhh.....calm down, sweety. Calm down.

Nikki whispers after she has finished reading the letter.

Haley slowly calms down, to simply crying, from sobbing.

Nikki: Shhhh.....baby. It'll be OK You're not going back to live with him. I'll do whatever it takes to keep that from happening. Shhhhh.

Nikki whispers and thinks to herself..."even if it means we both disappear for a while."

Haley: I can't! I won't. I'd rather die. Or go back to jail.

Haley says, eyes still streaming.

Nikki: Nobody's going to jail.

Nikki says and uses her towel to wipe Haley's tear stained face.

Nikki: And you are not going back to someplace you don't feel safe.

Nikki adds with conviction.

Haley: How can you be so sure?

Haley asks, twisting slightly to look Nikki in the face.

Nikki smiles at Haley.

Nikki: Have I let you down yet?

Nikki asks, quirking an eyebrow questioningly as she wipes Haley's tears with the towel.

Haley slowly shakes her head.

Haley: No....

Haley says cautiously.

Nikki places her fingers under Haley's chin and lifts it up so she is looking directly into Haley's eyes.

Nikki: Do you trust me?

Nikki asks softly.

Haley: Yes.

Haley replies simply, without hesitation.

Nikki: The trust me when I tell you this.....

Nikki waves the letter.

Nikki: ....is NOT going to happen.

Nikki says confidently.

Haley nods her head after a long moment.

Haley: Okay.

Haley whispers.

Nikki: I will call my judge friend and see what our options are.

Nikki lifts Haley's face up again.

Nikki: I know you're scared. But I promise we'll fix this. One way or the other.

Nikki says then a thought comes to mind.

Nikki: But....just in case....I want you to pack a bag.....without anyone knowing what you're doing and stash it under your bed. Hopefully we won't need it...but just in case....it's better to be prepared.

Nikki says, seriously.

Nikki: Understand?

Haley nods her head slowly.

Haley: Yes.

Haley says.

Haley: Nikki?

Haley asks softly.

Haley: Why do you believe me? About my dad? About... wh-what he's like?

Haley asks.

Nikki: Because I trust you.

Nikki says simply and smiles reassuringly at Haley.

Haley: Why? Nobody else does?

Haley asks.

Nikki: Haven't you learned by now that I'm not like everyone else?

Nikki asks and winks at Haley.

Haley: That's a good point.

Haley says, with a weak chuckle.

Nikki: That's my girl.

Nikki says with a nod and a smile.

Nikki: Now....you go wash your face and do what I said. I'll hang on to this....

Nikki waves the letter.

Nikki: ....and we'll just keep this between us.....OK?

Nikki playfully flips the end of Haley's nose.

Haley nods slowly.

Haley: Alright.

Haley grins slightly.

Nikki gets to her feet and holds out her hand to Haley.

Nikki: It'll be OK, baby. I promise.

Nikki says reassuringly.

Haley puts her hand in Nikki's and lets Nikki pull her to her feet.

Haley: Thank you.

Haley says softly, both for the hand up and the promise.

Nikki: No need to thank me. That's what friends are for.

Nikki says with a smile. She playfully pats Haley on the butt.

Nikki: Now get. I have some thinking to do.

Nikki says with a snicker.

Haley: Alright

Haley says, with smile heading back towards the barracks.

Craig parks his SUV in the parking area above the private beach he and David have been coming to work out. He gets out of his car and grabs his sword out of the floor of the back seat and also grabs a long leather case. He carries both down to the beach and sets everything down on a large boulder. He begins doing a few stretches while he waits for David.

David parks his car near Craig's still looking through the rearview mirror, he was sure he'd lost that PI a few crossroads ago but he wants to be absolutely sure. He waits for a while inside his car, but since he sees nothing, he exits and moves to the trunk to get his gym bag and an ice chest with bottles of water. He locks both door and begins to walk down the path on the way to the beach.

Craig feels the buzz of another Immortal and stops what he is doing to look at the path leading down to the beach...hoping it is David.

David finally gets down to the beach and walks to the place they usually meet, he can tell Craig is already there since he'd felt his buzz, at least he hopes it's his buzz.

Craig smiles when he sees David and picks up the towel that is draped on the rock where his sword is leaning and wipes sweat from his face.

[Craig] Everything good at the office?

Craig asks David since he had left the office early to run an errand before meeting David here.

David drops the things he was carrying near Craig's stuff, while he nods.

[David] Yes, everything is under control I think. Sorry I'm late, had to make a detour. That guy is still following me.

David says making a face at that, if he didn't know it was a waste of time he'd talk to that guy, but he was being paid to do a job so he'd never give up on that.

[Craig] You still haven't figured out what he wants?

Craig asks as he fishes a bottle of water out of the ice chest, opens it and takes a long drink.

[David] I assume that headhunter hired him, he was waiting for me yesterday when I left the agency.

David shrugs, he was getting used to that by now.

[David] Didn't have to shoot him this time.

[Craig] Then maybe it's time you put things on your terms instead of his.

Craig says as he puts the cap back on the bottle of water and sets it on top of the large rock.

[David] I just wish he'd go away or something.

David shakes his head with a sigh, he knows he's not going to be that lucky.

[Craig] Well it is obvious that that's not going to happen so you aren't going to be able to avoid the inevitable for long.

Craig says looking at David seriously.

[Craig] Wouldn't it be better if you were controlling things rather than him?

Craig asks David. He knows that the answer to his question should be "yes" but he wants to see if David does.

[David] Yes, but that means...

David looks at Craig disbelievingly.

[David] You want me to challenge him?

Craig is in the process of picking up the leather case and setting it on the top of the rock, but he stops what he is doing and looks at David...frowning.

[Craig] It doesn't matter what I want you to do, Bradford. You're an adult. You are capable of making your own decisions.

Craig says and looks at the case in his hand and wonders if it is too soon to have brought it.

[Craig] I know that if it were me....I'd rather be the one calling the shots and would make that happen. But that's me.

[David] Yeah I know, but it's a bad idea to **** your own teacher, not to mention your boss.

Craig goes ahead and sets the case on the rock but doesn't open it.

David chuckles amused, while he thinks that sometimes doing what you feel like ends up costing you in the long run.

[Craig] Why would I be pissed off?

Craig asks and quirks an eyebrow questioningly.

[David] I was surprised that's all, I thought you'd tell me the opposite thing.

David shrugs a little.

[Craig] No, David. You were hoping I would tell you what to do so you wouldn't have to think for yourself. If I were to tell you to run away it would take the responsibility of the decision out of your hands.

Craig folds his arms across his chest.

[Craig] It makes me wonder who did your thinking for you all of these years.

Craig says, shaking his head. He walks over to the open area where he had been doing his stretches and starts doing a few more.

[David] Yeah, you're right, ever since I became an Immortal, I sort of... lost confidence?

David nods in agreement.

[David] Well this was a little hard to swallow in the beginning, people living forever? I kept thinking why me? Don't feel special to be granted this.

[Craig] Nobody said you were special. None of us are. It's just the way things are. But we've been over this a million times already and it's time to get down to business. I suggest you get warmed up.

Craig says almost coldly. He turns his back to David and stretches the muscles in his legs.

David rolls his eyes before he starts to move to warm up, apparently he managed to get Craig mad at him without even wanting to.

As Craig does a few more stretches with his back to David he reviews the last several months that David has been his student. A month ago David lacked, not only the skill to beat Craig in a serious sparring session but the confidence as well. But during the last month he had seen David grow and change. He had become more confident with each session and had actually beaten Craig the last 5 times they had sparred. That is why he had figured it was time for David to have his own sword and had gone out and had one made just for him. Now he wonders if he had rushed it and had made the wrong call about David's progress. With David....it seemed that they took two steps forward and one step back. At least that's how it had started out. He thought things had changed. Had he been blind? Did he miss something? Was he that bad of a teacher? Craig shakes his head. "Now he's got you second guessing yourself," he thinks to himself. He stops stretching and walks over to the rock and takes a drink from his water bottle.

David moves to his gym bag and takes a towel to clean the sweat, then he moves to get a bottle of water and takes a sip.

[Craig] HERE!

Craig shouts and tosses the practice sword to David.

David manages to catch the practice sword in the air with his right hand, still keeping the water bottle in his left.

[David] And no, you didn't make me drop anything this time.

David chuckles amused, Craig had done it so many times, he wasn't falling for it anymore.

Craig picks up his own sword and charges at David...slashing his sword from right to left at shoulder height.

David raises his sword to block Craig's move, dropping the water bottle to hold the hilt of the sword with both hands.

[David] Spoke to soon, right? Shouldn't you say en guarde or something?

David teases while he pushes him back with his sword.

[Craig] You talk too much, Bradford.

Craig snaps and slashes his blade aiming it for David's head.

Craig continues to slash and slice at David...giving him little time in between attacks.

[David] And someone is in a really bad mood today.

David points out as he keeps blocking Craig, realizing he doesn't even need to think about it anymore.

Craig batters at David...pushing him backwards with every attack until he has forced him across the beach to the rocky cliff wall. With one final move he manages to swirl his blade around David's and with one quick upward stroke, dislodges David's sword from his grasp and sending it flying a few feet away. He quickly brings his own blade up and...as he shoves David back against the rock wall...he lays the blade of his sword against David's throat.

[Craig] In order to be in any kind of mood you have to feel something and if you're feeling something during a battle for your life....you're letting your emotions interfere and you'll lose.

Craig hisses...his face only inches from David's.

[Craig] You're too busy trying to be cute and come up with cute little quips. That's why you're in the position you are now.

Craig adds and lets go of David. He turns and walks away.

[Craig] You need to decide if you want to be a comedian or a fighter. Which one do you think will keep your head attached to your shoulders?

Craig asks without turning to look back at David.

David takes a deep breath, Craig had a point in there, this wasn't a game despite the name it carried and he'd never behaved like this when he was working.

[David] Fine. Point taken.

David nods before he moves to get his sword back.

Craig walks silently over to the rock and picks up his bottle of water, uncaps it and takes a big drink....keeping his back to David the whole time.

David gets his sword and moves to the water bottle he had to drop to defend himself without saying a word. Surprisingly Craig keeps his back turned to him, that upsets David a lot, his teacher thinks he's a wimp just because he refuses to take these lessons too seriously? David attacks him without thinking.

Craig sees David's shadow on the sand and whirls around...blocking David's blade with his.

[Craig] You suddenly decide to grow a pair, Bradford?

Craig says, tauntingly as he counter attacks with a thrust aimed at David's chest.

[David] You talk too much, Bower, you know that?

David answers blocking Craig again and moving to counter attack, his teacher's attitude today was beginning to **** him off and he really wants to win against him.

Craig blocks David's blade and parries with a slash which connects with David's side.

David blocks him again, then slashes and parries a few consecutive times until he gets to Craig's side and slips his leg behind Craig's to trip him.

Craig stumbles backward...losing his balance and falling on his ass.

David swirls his blade around Craig's and gives an upward thrust to disarm him at the same time. He stands over him and puts the tip of his sword on Craig's throat.

[David] Yield?

David asks looking at him coldly, his face void of emotion.

Craig looks up at David and forces himself to not show his satisfaction. He puts the tip of his finger on the tip of David's blade and moves it away from his throat.

[Craig] Yield.

Craig says and rolls out from under David. He gets to his feet and brushes sand off of his clothes.

[Craig] By the way...

Craig says as he starts walking toward the rock where his bottle of water is.

[Craig] Your sweat pants have a hole in the crotch.

Craig says as he picks up his bottle of water and takes a long drink.

David shakes his head at the remark, still too upset to joke about it, he just couldn't switch moods that easily.

[David] I realize you're my friend, my boss and my teacher, but I'm not going to take that **** even from you, get it?

David grumbles as he moves to get his bottle of water, keeping Craig in sight, just in case after what he did.

Craig picks up his towel and wipes sweat from his face as he steps away from the rock.

[Craig] Open the case.

Craig says simply and takes another drink of his water.

David frowns looking down at the case, he'd noticed it when he arrived but forgot all about it in the meantime. He bends over to pick it up and opens it slowly.



David gasps in surprise when he sees what's inside.

[David] Craig, I...

[Craig] You now have all of the tools you need to take care of your stalker. How you choose to use them is up to you. I've done all I can do.

Craig says and wipes the back of his neck with the towel.

David keeps looking at the sword for a while, until he manages to take his eyes away from it.

[David] Thank you.

David manages to say, incapable of saying anything else at the moment.

Craig begins to gather up his belongings.

[Craig] Don't be late in the morning. We have a meeting with the Seacouver Opera House about upgrading their security system.

Craig says as he checks the area to make sure he isn't forgetting anything. Then he starts walking towards the path that leads up to the parking area.

David nods absentmindedly as he reluctantly closes the case, he couldn't stop looking at his sword. Craig had a point, now he had the tools, question is what he's going to do next.

 Membership Agreement

 
By becoming a member of Highlander: The RPG I, [Jason Hixenbaugh] promise to abide by and uphold the regulations and guidelines in this membership agreement and of the community.

 
By becoming a member of this community:

 
•I, [Jason Hixenbaugh] realize that I must sign this membership agreement within one week (7 days) of joining Highlander: The RPG. If I do not sign the agreement within the seven (7) day time frame, my membership is subject to termination unless I give a valid reason (tragedy, emergency, computer availability issue, etc.). However, if I am able to send my full profile in, I realize that I am able to sign this agreement, and should do so before completing any other task.

 
By signing this agreement I am stating that I will familiarize myself with past Chronicles (and thereby familiarizing myself with the game's history) and the current characters in play and that I am agreeing to the following terms:

 
•I agree to complete the Profile template for my character and submit it and any required pictures for approval within seven (7) days of joining Highlander: The RPG.  If I cannot submit a Profile within the seven (7) day period I must contact the Moderators to request an extension.

 
•I agree that once my character's profile has been posted I will be given the link to the chat room (“key to the Sandbox”) and that I am not to give that link out to anyone.

 
•I agree that once my character's profile has been accepted it is my responsibility to create a story line to introduce my character (unless one the Moderators tell me otherwise)

 
•I realize that what I have contributed (character information, pictures, quotes and messages) belongs to me, and I [Jason Hixenbaugh] realize that I may request for these to be taken down upon my willing departure.

 
•I realize that if I am no longer interested in being a part of the community, that I am free to leave at any point with MOST (history, family arrangement, pictures and quotes) of the information that I have contributed.

 
•I realize that anything that the Moderator has created (anything marked with a copyright symbol including profile outlines, character descriptions and outlines, rules, dictionaries, quotes, character profiles and so on), belongs solely to them, and that I am not to remove it from this community.

 
•I realize that if I claim a cannon character that has been previously in play that I must abide by the character's history and relationships established by the previous player.

 
•I am to respect the rights, feelings, and wishes of others in the community.

 
•I realize that even though this is a game, there are real people behind the characters and screen who have feelings, that I must respect, and take into consideration at all times.

 
•I realize that if I do decide to invite a friend (as much as the Moderator is against this...) I am responsible for their actions, and I am not to complain if their membership is terminated, however; I have the right to discuss the situation with the Moderator. If I give the Moderator a hard time about the decision, I am also subject to membership termination.

 
•I realize that the Moderator has the right to change this agreement when she so chooses, and that I am to fill out the most recent copy of this membership agreement.

 
•I realize that though the Moderator reserves the right to change this agreement at anytime, I am allowed at least twenty four hours notice to read over the agreement before I sign.

 
•I realize that the rules will most likely not be changed, and that I am to abide by new and old rules for the duration of my stay on the community.

 
•I realize that if I need time away from the group and the game, and I am ABLE (barring injury, tragedy, travel without computer access, family change/emergency), I will let the Moderator know that I will not be present for a certain amount of time. I also realize that during this absence, my profile, pictures, quotes, and other things that I have contributed will remain safe unless I:
   
 

• Do not give notice that I am leaving. If this is the case, my material will be deleted in sixty (60) days. However; I am entitled to a week's notice before this occurs.
• Let the Moderator know that I would like the items that I have contributed to be taken down until my return.
• Am banned from the community. In the event that this happens, my material will NOT be returned to me.

•I realize that if I am banned, the ban is life long, and I will not be let back into the community under any circumstances.

 
I have agreed to these terms on [05/05/2012] at [11:58 PM], and will abide by, and uphold them for the duration of my stay on the community.

 
[Jason Hixenbaugh],  e-signature.

Jeffery is sitting across the street from the high school, waiting and watching.

Haley waves goodbye to her friends and the bus, with a sigh, she starts up the street, towards the center, for her weekly two hour meeting with her father. She really wished she was on the bus and on her way back to the ranch, then on away to meeting a with man she'd just assume never see again. Unfortunately, meeting him was a court order.

Jeffery sees Haley and waits until she's a ways down the street before he starts his car and begins to slowly follow her.

Haley kicks a rock on the sidewalk, ignoring the traffic around her. Dawdling and wishing she didn't have to do this. Every week, she dreads the visitation session with her father.

Haley: This sucks.

Haley mutters to herself, kicking the rock down the alley that is her usual short cut to the social worker's office.

Jeffery sees Haley turn into an alley and , knowing that there must be an exit to the alley speeds up and drives around the block. He pulls into the alley and parks his car behind a dumpster. He reaches into his glove compartment and takes out a wash cloth and a bottle and pours the liquid from the bottle onto the cloth.

Haley: Maybe Nikki will help me get out of this in the future.

Haley mutters, pondering the possibility.

Jeffery gets out of his car and waits until the girl passes the dumpster then steps out behind her and grabs her shoulder with one hand and places the cloth over her nose and mouth with the other.

Haley jumps in surprise when she's grabbed from behind and immediately tries to yell and fight her way out. As she's breathing in for the scream, a cloth is put over her mouth and she inhales a sickly sweet smelling vapor. Much to Haley's dismay the world quickly fades to darkness.

Jeffery wraps his arm around the girl to keep her from getting away until the chloroform takes effect then he scoops her up and carries her to his car. He dumps her in the back seat and uses plastic zip ties to tie her hands together behind her back and her ankles together. He gets into his car and leaves the alley.

Nikki is in her room in the girl's barracks, changing her clothes from her work clothes into something clean for chow.

Jeffery drives to an abandoned warehouse in the old abandoned shipyard and parks inside of the warehouse. He gets out and hauls the girl out of the back seat. He carries her over to a large pillar and ties her to it with rope. He takes out his cell phone and uses its camera to snap a picture of the girl. He walks over to a crate and sits down, taking out his cell phone and placing a call to the number he found out was Nikki's.

Haley groans slightly, slowly returning to consciousness and feeling lightheaded and nauseous.

Nikki 's cell phone rings and she picks it up off of the bed.

Nikki: Hello?

Nikki she says into the phone.

Jeffery: You don't know how hard I had to work to find out how to get in touch with you.

Jeffery says, keeping an eye on the girl who is waking up.

Haley groans again, and realizes that she's in a sitting position. She tries to lift her head and open her eyes, finding the second difficult to do and the former even harder. Her head, had never felt heavier.

Nikki: Who is this?

Nikki says demandingly.

Jeffery: You probably don't remember my name. But we had.....what you could call a moment....back in the 1800s.

Jeffery says with a cynical chuckle.

Nikki closes her eyes as she realizes who the caller is.

Nikki: What do you want?

Nikki asks, although she has a pretty good idea what the answer is.

Haley hears a man's voice she doesn't recognize and tries harder to lift her head. As she brings it up she realizes she's tied to... something

Jeffery: To finish what we started way back then.

Jeffery says simply.

Haley: Where am I?

Haley asks finally getting her head up, and looking around. Haley spots a man sitting on a crate a little ways from her.

Jeffery: And just in case you decide to blow me off....look at your phone.

Jeffery says and sends her the picture of Haley tied to the pillar.

Nikki looks at the screen of her phone and gasps when she sees the picture.

Jeffery: And by the way....just in case you're keeping a scrapbook....the name's Jefferey Kerby.

Jeffery says, laughing.

Haley moans slightly leaning her head back against whatever she was tied too as the world took a moment to spin.

Nikki: I only keep a scrapbook of the heads I take and, Kerby.....if you harm one hair on that girl's head I will make you suffer in ways you can't imagine before I take your head.

Nikki growls.

Jeffery: Meet me in the old tuna canning warehouse in the old shipyard.

Jeffery says, getting serious.

Nikki: I'm an hour outside of town so it'll take me awhile to get there. But I'll be there.

Nikki says. She has a death grip on her phone.

Jeffery: You've got an hour and a half. If you're not here by then you might as well plan your little friend here's funeral.

Jeffery says and hangs up. He looks over at the girl and grins.

Jeffery: Now. What should we do to entertain ourselves while we wait?

Jeffery asks, cynically

Haley blinks and looks down focusing on the man sitting across from her again.

Haley: What do you want with me?

Haley asks, trying to keep her voice from wavering, and trying to figure out what was going on.

Nikki hangs up and sits down on the edge of the bed. She is so mad she is shaking. Her first thought is to call Methos but then she realizes how silly that would be. She has been on her own...dealing with her life by herself long before she fell in love with him and she realizes that her needing to call him the first time a hurdle is placed in front of her is just another way that she has lost herself so she shakes off the inclination and says aloud, "besides....why worry him needlessly? I just take Kerby's head and Methos will never need to know." She takes a few slow calming breaths, gets up and grabs her duster. She wraps it around her sword, which she takes out from between the mattresses and walks out of the bedroom.

Jeffery: I don't want a thing from you, sweetheart. You're just bait.

Jeffery says getting up from then crate he's sitting on and looking at his watch.

Haley: Bait for what?

Haley asks, trying to keep herself and her voice calm, but not really succeeding in either attempt.

Jeffery hears the waver in the girl's voice and smiles.

Jeffery: Your friend, Nicayla. The sheriff of Forks. Or at least she was. You just better hope she shows.

Jeffery says and walks over to his car. He retrieves his sword from the trunk of his car and takes out a cloth and begins to polish the blade.

Haley: Forks? That just some small town south of here. Nikki doesn't live there. And she ain't a cop... and that's a sword. Why've you got a sword?

Haley asks her voice still wavering slightly, not that Haley heard it.

Nikki goes into the common room and calls Lauren over. "Haley's in trouble. I need to go get her. So do me a favor and you girls go on to chow and don't tell anyone I'm gone," she tells Lauren. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Remember...not a word to anyone." She doesn't wait for the girl to respond. She slips out the back door and sprints to her truck, getting and hauling ass for the city.

Jeffery: You mean your friend hasn't told you what she is....what we are?

Jeffery asks, stopping his polishing and looking over at the girl.

Haley: I don't know w-what you mean.

Haley stutters, and silently curses at herself for the stuttered.

Jeffery: Oh great. So I get to explain it all to you?

Jeffery rolls his eyes and sighs.

Jeffery: Or maybe I'll just kill you after I take her head then no explanation will be necessary.

Jeffery says, thoughtfully.

Haley: W-what'd I do?

Haley asks.

Jeffery: Just chalk it up to being at the wrong place at the wrong time, kid.

Jeffery says and returns to polishing his sword.


Nikki pulls into the old shipyard and drives through it looking for the warehouse. As she nears it she feels the buzz of an Immortal and she slows her truck.

Jeffery feels an Immortal buzz and tosses his rag in the trunk of his car and closes the lid. He looks back at the girl.

Jeffery: Well.....she did show.

Jeffery says with a sadistic grin.

Jeffery: Now you'll get to see the show of your life time.

Jeffery says and leans against the rear of his car, cradling his sword as though it were a baby.

Haley: Wh-what kind of show?

Haley asks nervously watching the sword.

Nikki parks her truck outside of the warehouse and grabs her sword. She walks into the warehouse and looks around. Seeing Haley, she smiles as she walks towards her. Then she sees Jeffery. She glares at him and looks back over at Haley.

Nikki: Are you alright?

Nikki asks Haley.

Haley nods her head.

Nikki: Let her go, Kerby.

Nikki growls at Jeffery.

Jeffery: No. I think I'd rather keep our captive audience. Just to make sure you don't cheat.

Jeffery answers without moving away from his car.

Nikki: I'm here. You don't need her anymore. There's no reason she needs to see this.

Nikki says, glaring at him.

Jeffery: All the same....I kinda like having an audience. So she stays.

Jeffery says and pushes away from his car.

Nikki is standing, facing Jeffery in an aggressive forward stance.  Her eyes are clear and full of fire. Her stare is hard and unmoving.

Jeffery: So I finally get what is owed me.  If I can’t take a little wisp of a thing like you I might as well quit.

Jeffery says tauntingly.

Nikki: Oh please don’t quit.  That’ll take all my fun away.

Nikki says, never taking her eyes from his face, and completely aware of the position of his blade through her peripheral vision.

Jeffery is starting to become angry at her taunting and begins to move his sword in small circles as if drawing circles around the tip of her blade.  He shifts his weight from side to side, attempting to keep her from knowing which foot he might lunge with which would put her off balance.

Nikki, instead of waiting for Jeffery to strike first, brings her sword above her head and with a swift circular motion, takes 2 steps forward, simultaneously arcing the sword downward then sideways making contact with first his left kneecap then his right, laying them open to the bone.

Jeffery isn’t prepared for the speed in which Nikki moves. By the time his sword is in place to parry her attack the damage has been done and he goes to the ground with a yelp of both surprise and pain.  She’s only severed the cartilage in one knee so he manages to come to a standing position
balancing on the lesser wounded leg.  But before standing up, he manages to reach under the bottom of his pant leg and and pull out a dagger with a 12” serrated blade which, once he is balanced, he throws at Nikki.

Nikki has just planted her feet in preparation for another attack when she’s knocked off her feet feeling a sharp pain in her right side.  She lands on her butt, her left hand instinctively going to the source of the pain, her right hand still gripping the hilt of her sword. She’s surprised when her hand comes in contact with the steel blade of the dagger, now embedded in her side.  She grits her teeth and grasps the dagger’s hilt and quickly pulls it out of her side letting out a shriek of pain as the serration tears her flesh.  Her head is reeling and the threat of unconsciousness darkens her vision, but just as she is about to give into the darkness she hears the sound of something dragging across the asphalt.

Jeffery sees Nikki’s down and acts fast.  Dragging his bad leg, he moves closer raising his sword to strike.  Her eyes are closed so he decides to forgo his usual torture and just take her head.  He swings his sword downward aiming for her neck.

Nikki opens her eyes just in time to catch the glint of Jeffery’s raised sword.  She reacts from both instinct and skill and raises her sword blocking the potentially fatal cut as her left hand, still holding the dagger that was in her side, thrusts the dagger upward and directly into Jeffery’s abdomen just below the sternum and lacerating his liver.  But as he staggers backward she retains her grip on the dagger so that it does not go down with Jeffery.  Instead the serrated blade rips a large hole that immediately begins gushing arterial blood.

Jeffery staggers backward, falling to the ground.  He loses his grip on his sword and it clatters loudly against the blacktop.  His hands grasp at his wound.  The front of his shirt is already drenched in bright red blood and he looks down at Nikki in disbelief, wondering where it had all gone so wrong, and how this little slip of a girl had gotten the better of him so fast.

Nikki is once again on her feet.  She drops the bloody dagger and kicks it about 8’ away.  She raises the sword she’s using above her head and stands at Jeffery’s feet, her own feet spread slightly apart, her weight perfectly balanced.  As she looks down at her surprised opponent and realizes that his position and where she is standing, although perfectly menacing, is the wrong angle to finish him off.  Her mind races reviewing her options.  Out of the corner of her eye she sees Jeffery’s sword lying on the ground, just out of his reach. In a slow circular motion, she lowers her sword to a low guard position, sidesteps to the sword on the ground and kicks it to Jeffery.

Nikki: Pick it up!

Nikki‘s voice is hard and terrifyingly emotionless, but her eyes are filled with an almost evil hatred.

Jeffery has never been intimidated by anyone before, much less a woman.  That is until now and this new feeling is unsettling.  His bloody hands reach for the sword she’s just kicked closer to him but he can’t reach it while laying on his back.  To reach the sword, to obey her command, he would have to roll onto his side which would mean taking his eyes off of Nikki and he doesn’t want to do that. He knows that, in time his wound will heal, but he’s also learned enough about the human anatomy to know that the liver holds 25% of the body’s blood supply and in the time this severe of a wound would heal, he could bleed to death.  He needs her Quickening to speed the healing process.

Nikki: I said…PICK…IT…UP.

Jeffery blinks in amazement at the tone of her voice.  It seems to resonate in his head and he is actually afraid for the first time in his life.  He relents and rolls onto his side, reaches for the sword, grasps its hilt in one hand and pulls himself up onto the one knee that has already begun to heal.  He’s weak from the amount of blood he’s already lost and is struggles to get balanced before trying to stand.

Nikki waits until Jeffery is on his one knee and using both hands to balance himself, then with the swiftness of a cheetah Nikki moves to his side, raises the sword in her hand high above her head and pauses in that position. A tiny smirk comes across her face.

Nikki: Debt paid in full.

Nikki brings her blade downward with such speed it almost hisses through the air.  It connects with the side of Jeffery’s neck, as he is turning his head to look at her, and the sound of his spine disintegrating from the force of the blade as it continues downward, echoes in her ears as does the
dull thud as his head drops to the ground and rolls a few inches away.  Instinctively, Nikki steps backward away from Jeffery’s body, her legs feeling weak and rubbery.  Suddenly the wind begins to pick up and the air becomes cold. A crash of thunder rumbles from a cloudless sky.  Then the sky grows darker as streaks of lightening swirl in the clouds that have appeared out of nowhere.

Nikki: ****!

Nikki drops to her knees in anticipation of what’s to come and uses her sword to brace herself.  A bolt of electricity slithers across the ground originating from the headless body of Jeffery Kerby and explodes into Nikki.  Bolts of lightening strike the ground around her.  Windows in the nearby
buildings explode and send shattered glass flying.  Nikki feels as though a hand is squeezing her to death.  Electrical bolts shoot out from her eyes and mouth as she opens it to scream from the intense pain. First she feels as if she’s on fire, then as if she’s submerged in a frozen lake.  It holds her in its grasp for what seems like hours, alternating its deliverance of intense pain and intense pleasure, but it’s actually only a few minutes (very few minutes because of the lack of power Jeffery had himself accumulated)  Then, as suddenly as it started it stops and Nikki slumps to the ground, exhausted.

Haley stares wide eyed at Nikki, half in shock, unable to believe what had just happened. The lightening, and... she killed him. Just killed him.

Nikki finally catches her breath and gets, shakily, to her feet. She goes over to Haley and uses her sword to cut the girl's bindings.

Nikki: Are you OK?

Nikki asks, her voice soft and consoling.

Haley continues to watch Nikki with wide eyes, and tugs at her bonds as Nikki approaches. As soon as Nikki cuts her free, Haley turns around, keeping Nikki in front of her, and scoots back, not sure what to think of Nikki anymore.

Nikki sees the fear in Haley's eyes. She lays her sword on the ground and holds out her hand to the girl.

Nikki: It's OK, Haley. You're safe. No one's going to hurt you.

Nikki says, reassuringly.

Haley: Y-you.... You j-just...

Haley stutters and looks from Nikki to the beheaded man, whose name she still didn't know, and then back to Nikki again.

Nikki closes her eyes and sighs. She's got a lot of explaining to do. Something no Immortal relishes. She opens her eyes again and looks at Haley.

Nikki: I know, sweety. I'll explain everything to you. But we need to get out of here before someone shows up to see what all of the fireworks was about.

Nikki says, calmly.

Nikki: You used to trust me. You can still. Please?

Nikki says, holding her hand out to Haley.

Haley hesitates for a long moment studying Nikki, before slowly putting her hand into Nikki's, not actually saying a word.

Nikki takes Haley's hand and pulls her to her feet. Putting her arm around the girl's shoulders, protectively, she grabs her sword and heads for her truck. Once inside she drives out of the old shipyard. She decides to go someplace where they can talk in privacy so she heads for one of her favorite spots on the beach. She pulls off the road and stops her truck then looks over at Haley.

Nikki: Let's go down by the water and I'll explain everything to you. OK?

Nikki asks, placing her hand gently over Haley's.

Haley nods slowly.

Haley: Alright.

Haley says in a voice just above a whisper.

Nikki gets out of her truck and waits for Haley then heads down to the small remote beach. She spots a couple of logs sitting next to each other and walks over to them, sitting down on one.

Nikki: Have a seat.

Nikki says, gesturing to the other log.

Haley trails behind Nikki, a little warily, and then sits as Nikki Gestures, on the log opposite her.

Nikki: OK. I'm going to warn you. What I'm about to tell you is going to be hard for you to believe. But I swear it's true. It's also very very important that it is kept secret. You can't tell anyone....none of your friends. OK?

Nikki asks and goes to lean forward but the pain in her abdomen from her injury stops her and she places her hand over the wound, wishing it would hurry up and heal.

Haley: B-but you just killed a guy!

Haley says not sure that’s a secret she wants to keep.

Nikki: I know. And you're scared. I understand that. But you have to promise me that you won't breathe a word of what I'm about to tell you to anyone. Please, Haley? You can still trust me. I'm the same person you have been trusting all along.

Nikki says pleadingly.

Haley: A-are you gonna kill me, too?

Haley whispers.

Nikki looks at Haley surprised.

Nikki: No, baby. No.

Nikki reaches out and takes Haley's hands.

Nikki: I swear on St. Patrick. I would never do anything to hurt you. Ever.

Nikki says with conviction.

Haley flinches slightly when Nikki takes her hand, but then, finally nods.

Haley: I promise.

Haley says her voice still a whisper.

A sharp pain in Nikki's side makes her wince and let go of Haley's hands and grab her abdomen. She sits up a little straighter to relieve the pressure on her healing wound.

Haley: You need a doctor.

Haley says softly.

Nikki shakes her head.

Nikki: No. I'll be alright.

Nikki says, smiling, thankfully, at Haley.

Nikki: First of all....yes. I killed a man tonight. But he wasn't an ordinary man. If I hadn't taken his head, he would have taken mine. It's....what we do. We being the others like him. Like me.

Nikki says to begin her explanation.

Haley doesn't take her eyes off of Nikki.

Nikki: You see, Haley. He was an Immortal. I am an Immortal. Along with many others.

Nikki says and gives it time for what she has just said to sink in with Haley.

Haley: H-how can you, could he be immortal if... if he's dead?

Haley asks.

Nikki: The only way we can die is for someone to take our head.

Nikki answers Haley.

Haley: W-w-why?

Haley stutters.

Nikki shrugs.

Nikki: I don't know when it started or who made us what we are or why. But whoever it was that made us and set the rules of our existence set one that says that at some point....only one of us will survive and win the Prize. But that Immortal has to survive all of the other Immortals trying to take his or her head.

Nikki says and rotates her arm to stretch out the muscle that had been injured during the fight but has now healed.

Haley notices that the stomach wound that Nikki had was gone.

Haley: Why'd he want me? Am-am I?

Haley asks not sure how to phrase the question.

Nikki shakes her head.

Nikki: No. You're a regular mortal human being. Kerby wanted you because he saw us together the other day when we were having lunch with my judge friend and he wanted to use you for bait to make sure I faced him.

Nikki says in answer to Haley's question.

Nikki: You see.....each time one of us takes the head of an Immortal the knowledge and power of the one killed is transferred into the victor. The Prize is that the one surviving Immortal will have gained the power and knowledge of all Immortals. That's why we fight.

Nikki explains.

Haley: Then why did he say he was just gonna kill me?

Haley asks.

Nikki: Because he was a sadistic bastard. Unfortunately there are Immortals who want to win the Prize so bad that they will do anything to win. There are also those who see themselves as gods because of their immortality and they see it as a license to do whatever they want to whomever they want because they don't believe there will be consequences for their actions.

Nikki answers.

Haley: H-how old are you? He-he said you were a cop?

Haley asks, feeling that she needed to ask, say something, but not being able to come up with anything better.

Nikki: I'll be 177 in June.

Nikki answers.

Nikki: When Kerby and I met I was the sheriff of a little town called Forks. So yeah, I was a cop. Back then.

Nikki says with a shrug.

Haley: Back when?

Haley asks, not quite able to wrap her head around 177 years old.

Nikki: Late 1800s.

Nikki says simply.

Nikki: He challenged me and we were in the middle of the battle when we got interrupted and had to stop. I guess he held a grudge about that like it was my fault we got interrupted

Nikki adds with a shrug.

Nikki: Personally I could care less about the Prize. I avoid fighting as much as possible because I don't like killing anything. But when I do fight it's because I don't want to lose my head and because I don't want someone like Kerby winning. I mean can you imagine how a person like that would be with all the power and knowledge of all the Immortals killed? He would rule the world and not in a nice way. That's why I fight, Haley. That's why I killed him. If I hadn't he would have killed me and probably you.

Nikki says and looks at Haley.

Haley nods.

Haley: OK. So now what?

Haley asks.

Nikki looks at Haley a bit surprised at how quickly the girl accepted it all. "That was easier than I thought," she thinks to herself.

Nikki: Well....now we go back to the ranch.....I sneak in and change my clothes so there aren't any questions about all of the blood....you go upstairs and make up some story, because I told Lauren that you were in trouble and I needed to come get you....and you do your homework. And you remember your promise. You never say anything to anyone. If word ever got out about me and the others like me....we would become guinea pigs for all sort of scientific experiments.

Nikki says, still watching Haley closely.

Haley: 'Kay.

Haley says softly and nods.

Nikki gets up and holds out her hand to Haley.

Nikki: So do you want MacDonald's or Taco Bell for dinner?

Haley: Wendy's?

Haley asks hesitantly, naming the restaurant she prefers

Nikki: Wendy's it is.

Nikki says with a nod.