Highlander: The Convention
New York City, 1988
Duncan MacLeod grumbled as he weaved his way through the crowded auditorium. He had tickets to the Yankees-Twins game, but no, Tessa had to talk him in to going to this freak show called AppleCon 2. Instead of watching Kurby Puckett hitting home runs, he was weaving through a crowd of sweaty people dressed up as aliens, knights, or other strange creatures. It seemed like they were scurrying around, looking for the most over-priced souvenir to buy. It reminded him of an open-air bazaar in the Middle East.
Ahead of him, Duncan could see Tessa being pulled by a wide-eyed blond six year-old. "Come on Tessa! You gotta see it! You gotta see it!"
"Hold up! Hold up!" Cried Tessa as she struggled to slow her down. "Kelly," She said catching her breath. "We can't run in here!"
"How longer do we have to be here?" Sighed Duncan, as he wiped his brow.
Tessa jerked her head towards Duncan. "I don't know!" She snapped. "Duncan we promised the Knights that we would take Kelly."
"I know, but--" Duncan hushed his voice. "I didn't expect a bunch of over-grown kids drooling over-"
Kelly stopped walking and looked up impatiently. "Tessa? Duncan? You'll miss it!"
"Just a second Kelly!" Tessa snapped. She turned towards Duncan, her cold stare cutting through the thick humid air. "Duncan." She said, struggling to contain her annoyance. "The Knights are good friends of ours. Don't ruin this for Kelly, because you couldn't go to your...silly ball game!"
"It's not--" He interrupted himself when he saw Kelly's eyes water. "I'm sorry Kelly."
"You don't want to see it!" Cried Kelly. "You don't care!" Kelly busted into tears.
"Now look what you've done!" Frowned Tessa.
Duncan's anger faded as he looked down at Kelly. No game was worth hurting someone's feelings. "Kelly." He said kneeling next to her. "I'm sorry." He said. "I guess I should have had my nap before I came here." Kelly chuckled through her tears. "Come here." Duncan said as he opened his arms. After wiping her eyes, Kelly hugged him. "Now lets go see this Barney--"
"Barnaby the dragon." Corrected Kelly.
Duncan looked up at Tessa. Her frown had faded into a bittersweet smile. He could see the sadness reflected in her eyes. Duncan stood up. "Well," he said to Kelly, "my fair lady, take me to this dragon that terrorizing this fine convention."
Kelly giggled. "Barnaby is a nice dragon!"
"Hey!" Yelled a dealer. "Could you move away from the table?" Duncan nodded and they continued on their way.
"That was sweet Duncan." Said Tessa. He shrugged. She whispered into his ear. "I might even forgive you for the way you acted before."
"Well, you did ask me to give up two of the best tickets I've had this season." He said with hint of a sigh.
Tessa smiled seductive and leaned towards Duncan. "I'll make it up to you tonight." She whispered.
"Oooh." Duncan muttered.
"I'll make it worth 100 cons."
Duncan's eyes widened. "I can't wait."
Then he felt the buzz.
Damn, he thought. Of all the places to run into another immortal, he grumbled in his thoughts. He stopped walking.
"Duncan?" Tessa said, halting Kelly.
"You two go on. I have to see someone." He said blankly, as he looked around.
"You're not going to run off and watch the game on TV?"
Duncan chuckled nervously. "Don't worry." Then he looked at Kelly. "I'm sure Barnaby is more interesting than the game." Kelly smiled Duncan quickly walked away from Tessa and Kelly.
For the past five years he'd managed to keep Tessa safe from The Game. He even managed to avoid that rumble with Connor and The Kurgan (much to Connor's disappointment.) His thoughts raced as he looked around the crowded auditorium. Maybe he shouldn't have left Tessa and Kelly alone, he thought.
A familiar figure caught his attention, interrupting his thoughts. It was balding man who seemed to be in his early 40s. His long curly hair appeared dirty and uncared for. He was wearing torn black jeans and a British military dress jacket from World War I. He grinned, exposing his bright yellow teeth.
"Katana?" Duncan said, shocked by his sight..
Katana confidently strutted towards Duncan. "So, if it isn't Duncan."
"Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. I have no quarrel with you. I'm out of the game."
Katana laughed. "What a silly thing to say, considering that you won the prize."
"What are you talking about?
Katana pointed towards his eyes. "We have eyes MacLeod. Eyes that can see, even all the way from Zeist!"
Duncan tilted his head "Zeist? Look, you can have Atlantis, and the fleet, just leave me alone."
"Atlantis? You break into The Shield Corporation Generator just to talk about a mythical continent?" Quizzed Katana. "No, I'm much smarter than you take me to be."
"That would be a stretch."
"Silence!" Growled Katana. "You're here to take out The Shield. You thought that I came all this way to take the Prize and rule the universe because you haven't been doing a very good job of it! No! I came here to rule the Earth and then take the Prize from you! Then I will conquer Zeist then Conquer the universe! I have waited for 400 years to gain immortality, and now I have it."
"Katana." Duncan said, shaking his head. "Listen to yourself. How can you wait 400 years to become immortal? You don't look 400 years old."
Katana gave Duncan a bemused look.
"Katana. Listen to me. You are a sick man. You went through the wars and they affected your mind. You need help. Let me try to--"
Katana pulled out a pencil and pointed at Duncan. Taped-on the end of it was a strip of paper with the word "laser" written on it. "You're trying to confuse me, but it won't work." He snapped his fingers and three men walked in front of Katana. All of them pointed their "laser" pencils at Duncan. "My TSC guards will deal with you, while I deal with your two woman strike team. Guards!" Katana then ran into the crowd.
One of "guards," a man in his early 40s, holding a sheet of paper, started to speak. "I am now going to read to you the judges ruling on my personal immobilizer. An--"
Duncan shoved him out of the way as the others looked on in shock. "Hey!" the man cried, "No touching! I'm telling the judges!" Duncan was too furious to care. He ran through the crowd, pushing and shoving, looking for Katana. If he reached Tessa--
A glimpse. Duncan looked again. He could see Katana in the next row, searching for Tessa. He hesitated for a second, looking at the table separating him from Katana. A few men were setting up a miniature landscape, and placing miniatures. He didn't care. Images of flashed of Kalas holding the scalps of his family in his hand, laughing. His family, slaughtered. He couldn't let it happen again. Duncan darted towards the table and dove over it, slamming into landscape, like a fallen titan. Battlemech and tank miniatures littered the air as Duncan crashed into the ground.
"Hey! What's the idea? Those cost money."
"Sue me!" Grunted Duncan before Katana kicked him in the face.
"It seem that I will have to deal with you myself, you meddling fool!" Katana reached into his jacket and pulled out his sword.
"Holy sh--" Someone yelled.
"You can't carry that!" Someone next to Katana yelled. "That's against the weapons policy."
Katana turned towards the man. "That's OK. I'm really a Jedi Knight--"
Duncan kicked Katana in the groin. He bent over in pain as Duncan rolled away. "The Force isn't with you." Duncan said deadpan as he pulled himself up.
"Someone call security" A woman frantically cried out.
"I am security! I secure the world from the deadly rays of the sun." Katana pointed his sword at Duncan. "And you can't stop me from turning off the shield!" Katana then ran towards the back stairwell. The crowd parted as he waved his sword.
Duncan watched him leave. He could let him go he thought. Maybe his twisted mind would make him forget about his insane hatred towards him.
"After the world has died, I'll be back for you!" Yelled Katana as he reached the door. The fire alarm went off as he opened the door.
Damn the game, thought Duncan. This is personal. Duncan ran towards the door, through the panicked crowd. When he reached the stairwell, he could barely hear ascending footsteps above. Duncan drew his sword, and charged up the stairs.
At the end of the stairs, Duncan could see the open roof door. Instinct took over as he slowly advanced outside. He stepped outside into the cool air. For a brief moment, he enjoyed the fresh air. The buzz returned. He looked around. Nothing. Cautiously he advanced.
Behind him, he heard a growing scream. Duncan raised his sword and spun around. Sparks flew as his sword barely connected against Katana's.
"This is for the prize!" Katana yelled as he parried Duncan's counter-attack. For countless minutes they fought each other, neither one gaining the advantage. Insanity obviously hadn't affected his fighting skill, Duncan thought.
"You grow tired!" Taunted Katana. He swung at Duncan's legs. "Soon you will fall before me." Duncan dodged his thrust. "Then I will have the prize!" Duncan's swing missed, hitting an antenna. "Then I will return to the distant past." He locked swords with Duncan. "And when I do, I will rule the universe for all eternity!" He laughed in Duncan's face.
Duncan angrily looked Katana in the eyes.
"Katana."
With a swift move of his sword, he disarmed Katana. Katana watched in horror as his sword fell off the roof.
"Shut up!" Said Duncan.
***
Tessa nervously watched as the firemen carried the body down the ladder. She could barely hear the police officers questioning witnesses over babbling of excited onlookers.
It had all happened so fast. The lights started flashing, then the sprinklers and alarms went off. In the panic, she was nearly separated from Kelly. But she got her out. Somehow she was able to calm her down without panicking herself.
Her thoughts turned to Duncan as she watched the body being wheeled into an ambulance. It had been over an hour and there was still no sign of him. Every since Duncan told her she was immortal, she had always assumed that nothing could harm him, but now--
She felt a tap on her back. She turned around. A tall man stood there wearing a costume that looked like it was literally thrown together at the last second. His face was covered in a wookee mask, which clashed with his Starfleet jacket and medieval skirt.
"You did promise to make this up to me tonight."
"Duncan!" Tessa exclaimed. She hugged him tightly. "You look ridiculous!" She sobbed.
Duncan hugged her back. "Where's Kelly?"
"Her mother picked her up."
Duncan released Tessa and placed his arm around Tessa. "We should get going."
Tessa wiped her eyes. "Why are you dressed up like that?" she said with a tearful laugh.
"I'll explain in the car."
Someday he would have to explain The Game to Tessa, Duncan thought. Or maybe he could find another way to keep Tessa safe from the others. Duncan kissed Tessa through his mask. Those were worries for another time, he told himself. For now his loved one were safe.
For now.