Date:         Sat, 20 Jul 1996 21:34:15 -0500

**I'm sure that there have been many attempts to revise "Last Knight."
Please know that I have read none of them and if this is similar in any
way to anyone elses, it is purly coincidental.  It was my intention to
keep the story as close to the television version as possible.**

JCR

Last Knight (revised)
Julie Randolph
Part 1


 Andona was sleeping.  Somewhere in the centuries she had been alive, she
had learned to sleep at night like the mortals, but it was alwas a
shallow sleep; intruded upon by nightmares and various memories that
spanned almost 10,000 years.  She slept a lot these days, staying awake
only hours at a time and once again feeling the need to sleep.  It hadn't
always been this way, the had been vibrant, but the death of her friend
Javier Vachon had taken the life out of her, the only star in her
neverending darkness was the young police detective, Tracy Vetter whom
she had met on the beach about a week before.
 Andona lay there, not really alseep, wishing for the hundreth time that
the sun would come up and allow her that deep, complete rest that
vampires fell into with the rising sun.  But it was hours away, and she
tossed and turned willing her body to relax for just an hour.  Being so
old had it's advantages, for it had made her powerful, but it also made
her mind like a live electric wire.  Attuned to the beings and people
around her all the time, without rest and without ceasing.  She rolled
over and groaned as a shot echoed through her mind.  And then another,
and then another.  There was finally silence and she sighed, beginning to
pass slowly back into the bonds of sleep.
 A picture flickered on the outside of her senses.  Nick turned, his eyes
glowing with anger and rage, but why?  The picture flickered again,
turning away from Nick to the object of his anger.  A man was lying
there, dead from what it looked like.  Nick's aura was all over him.  Why
would Nick, a man hwho had sworn off killing forever, be compelled to
take someones life?  What could possibly drive him to such extreme
circumstances?  Andona rolled over again, brushing the images away.  She
didn't want to know, let them deal with life on their own.  Hadn't she
lost enough for several lifetimes?  She just didn't want to know.  She
didn't want...the thought was cut off abruptly as Andona sat up in a
panic, screaming the name although she knew no one would hear her,"TRACY???"
 She got out of bed as quickly as she could, tripped on a show, hurled
expilicatives at no one in particular and finally managed to reach the
door without falling.  She stepped out and took off into the sky,
uncaring as to who saw her on this night.
 Onver the last couple of weeks, after Javier's death, Tracy had come to
her, wanting to know about his past, his life, everything that he was and
perhaps could have been had he been given a chance.  Anything at all that
Andona could tell her and in return, she was a reminder that although
Javier was gone, His memory would live forever in this young womans
heart, even long after the mortal body had turned to dust.  It comforted
her on nights when she didn't think she could stand to be alone again.
And now, something had happened...something terrible.
 When she got to the precinct, she stood on the outskirts watching
ambulances and police cars pull up.  A body wrapped up and covered in an
oxygen mask was wheeled out the door and Andona almost left cover to go
to her friend.  She paused, however, when Nick emerged from the station,
he felt her overwhelming presence and when their eyes locked for an
instant, Andona almost cried at the pain and guilt that was coursing
through him.  He walked unsteadily to his car and an instant later she
was there for him.  Holding him in her arms as she had done many times
before, being that guiding beacon in a world that seemed to have turned
its back on him.
 "What has happened?"
 He looked up into her dark eyes, trying to prevent the blood red tears
from streaming down his face,"It should have been me, he shot me, not her."
 Guilt raged through him as he explained.  Andona reached out with her
mind, touching his soul and sighed.  He was not telling her everything.
 "What else did she say?"
 "She saw me...she saw the real me and she told me that I could have
trusted her," he paused, taking a deep breath, "Why didn't I trust her,
Ann? WHY?"
 "She had Javier, she didn't need to know about you."
 "If she had known what I was she would have moved, or shot through me."
 "Don't you dare blame this on yourself.  Things happen, it is not our
place, or humanities place to question them, it just is.  Let's go to the
hospital."  Ann stared at him for a moment, "I won't let her die, Nick."
 He looked dumbstruck,"You'd risk bringing her across?"
 "Yes."
 "Why?"
 "She gave me back Javier after he died, the least I can do is give her
back her life and let her choose."
 Nick stopped," Choose? What do you mean?"
 "Do you know if she wants to be a vampire?"
 He shook his head.
 "Neither do I, but I will not let her die without that choice.  If she
doesn't want this, I will kill her myself."
 "Can you do that."
 Andona looked right into his eyes, her own were cold,"Yes. I can."
 As they stood in Tracy's room, Andona could feel the blanket of deth
descending.  They didn't have much time.  She looked at Nick, a voice
resounded through his mind.
 *Get these people out of here*
 And although it was something he had never before attempted, he
concentrated and sent a thought back to her.
 *I am responsible, I should be doing this*
 The others in the room left on their own, allowing Nick some privacy.
Andona smiled at them and nodded, saying that she too would leave him in
peace momentairly.  As the last person cleared the door she looked at
him,"If that is what you wish."
 Nick moved forward toward Tracy and Andona pulled back into the
shadows.  He paused, his indecision obvious on his face and the pause was
just long enough for another woman Ann had never seen to walk into the
room.  Nick turned and the woman got a good look at what he had been
contemplating.  Ann assessed her, she didn't look particularly
frightened, what she did look, was pissed to Hell.
 "Why is it so easy to consider bringing her across and not bringing me?"
 Ann almost laughed.  She could actually answer that one.  Because you
never, never take blood from people you love.  You always lose control
and you always take too much.  The blood of a loved one is rich with
their passion for you, it is like melting chocolate, you want more, and
more, and more until it is all gone.  The headiness of love is perhaps
the most pure and beautiful blood a vampire can taste, which is why if
you truly love someone you do not take their blood.  Simple, easy.
 Nick looked back at tracy, sighed and pulled the other woman from the
room.  He was uncertain, but Ann was not.  She pulled all the masks and
dials off the young woman's ashen face and bit down, feeding on the life
the pulsed through her body until it was almost gone.  She stood up, her
teeth glistening with fresh blood in the pale moonlight that shone in
between the blinds, and bit into her wrist, letting the droplets fall
onto Tracy's lips, allowing her to pull the wrist dow so that she might
drink more fully.  A seizure wracked Tracy's body as Ann pulled away from
her, watching as her wrist healed in barely an instant.  the power Tracy
had just intaken was very possibly deadly, but that ws a chance Ann was
willing to take.  She didn't know if Tracy would live through the
transition, or if she owould want this life if she did, but she had to
give her a chance, she had to try.
 In the corner's office, Natalie Lambert was steming with anger.  Nick
looked guilty, but for some reason he was still reluctant to take her.
He knew the repercussions of such an act and knew that no matter what
happened, she would end up dead.  One of two ways, dead with him or dead
without him and he was beginning to feel that dead without him might be
better.  It was time to move on and he knew it.  There was one problem.
Natalie was a resistor,  perhaps Ann could make her forget, but she would
have to wipe her mind clean.  No memories of him at all.  And fool that
he was, he didn't want her to forget him, or the love they shared.  He
knew inside of him that if he left, she would be alone again and unable
to go on with her life for the memory of him.  What might she do if he
simply left?
 "Nat...I..."
 She turned to pin him with soft brown eyes full of accusation,"You what?"
 "I...need time to think, I'm going home."
 "Will you be there if I come looking for you?"
 He answered honestly. He could not deny what he felt anmore, it was too
much, even for him,"I don't know."
 She didn't speak, simply turned away and he was gone.  Her eyes filled
with tears, for she was not at all sure she would ever see him again, and
if that were so, she was not sure she could go on without him.
******************************************************************************
response, applause, presents, oreos and/or Geraint Wyn Davies home
address to randolph@tenet.edu

"So he's not human, no one's perfect."--The Lunatic Cafe
******************************************************************************

** I actually wrote this story long ago, just havn't had the time to
share it with you guys.  Hope you're enjoying it.  i promise to finish it
before I leave and not leave you hanging. **

JCR

Last Knight (revised)
Julie Randolph
Part 2


 Nick landed outside Andona's home.  He heard groaning from inside,"Ann?"
 The door opened and Ann waved him inside from the other room, he stepped
in and the door closed behind him, seemingly of its own volition.
 Ann had laid Tracy out on her bed.
 "Move quietly, Nick, noise is making her head hurt."  Ann was
whispering, but Tracy groaned anyway and put her hands up to her face.
She wasn't sure if it was possible for her to feel any worse than she
did now.  Nick grabbed Ann by the arm and pulled her from the room,
closing the door.
 "How's she doing?"
 Ann shrugged,"Hard to tell.  She's alive...if she can calm the power
that is now a part of her, she will be okay.  I think she just needs
rest.  I gave her a sedative, that should help for now."
 Nick smiled,"For a vampire, that's not going to work."
 Andona raised an eyebrow,"I gave her a 'vampire' sedative, Nick."
 "Oh."
 "So...who was that beautiful woman at the hospital.  The one that looked
ready to rip your heart out."
 "Natalie." Even as he said the name, Andona could sense the pain it
caused him.  She probed gently into his mind.
 "She wants you to bring her across, and you cannot, but you aren't sure
why."
 He nods.
 "Well, have a seat and I'll tell you why."
 "I can't.  The hospital is going to report Tracy missing and she will go
to my loft.  I have to be there when she comes."
 Andona thought about this for a moment,"She's going to think you did this."
 "No, she knows I was with her, but she will think that I know who did."
 "You do know...can you lie to her?"
 He sighs, "No."
 "My God, you really are in love with this woman aren't you?"
 His face fell, his mind lapsed into a freefall of turmoil,"Oh, Ann, help
me please."
 "I'm sorry, Nick, this is a decision you must make on your own.  I must
go back to my child now.  Just remember this..." he paused by the
door,"Should you make such a decision, love, pure, unconditional,
unadulterated love is like candy.  If you take her, you will find
yourself wanting more, until you are unable to stop.  Remember this in
your mind, for once she is gone, no one, not even me, can bring her back."
 Nick reached out, placing a hand on her strong, muscular shoulder.  He
could never get over the fact that this person before him was powerful
beyone even his own imagination.  She looked so young, so innocent and
yet, in her eyes one could always see the wisdom of her many years upon
this earth and over the time he had known her, he had learned to take her
at her word.
 "I will remember, thank you."
 "My pleasure, now get out.  I have things to do."  The voice was stern,
but the smil lighting her eyes proved that she was not angry.  The eyes
reached her lips and she smiled.  Nick smiled back and left.
 Ann returned to the bedroom, watching over her sleeping child.  She
looked at her soft features and felt something tug at her heart.  She did
not want this woman to die, she wanted her to live.  And she wanted her
to want to live.  Ann had not had a child in a very long time and
something inside her, something she could not quite place, was leaking
away, leaving her calm and happy.  She smiled as she realized what it
was.  The lonliness was gone, and if Tracy wanted to share eternity with
her, she would never have to be alone again.  Thoughts trikled through
her conscience.  Teaching her, being there for her, showing her how to
hunt, showing her how to take pleasure in a man without killing
him...Andona could show her everything.  Andona's only regret was that
she would not have that chance with Javier, but there would be others and
the young woman would soon realize that the evil she believed to infest
vampires, really infests us all.
**********************************
 Natalie was sitting on his couch when he returned to his loft.  She
stood and faced him,"Tracy Vetter dissappeared from the hospital 20
minutes ago.  You know where she is, don't you?"
 "Yes." It was all he said, but it was enough.
 "Did LaCroix bring her across, Nick?"
 "No, Nat, LaCroix had nothing to do with it."
 "Who did it then?"
 "Does it matter?  She's alive."
 "Yes, it matters, I want to see her."
 "I don't think that's a good idea."
 "Why?"
 He sighed,"Because, I know what you're thinking and it won't work. Ann
would never bring you across.  Even if you asked her."
 "Why?" Natalie was rapidly beginning to bore of this converstaion, but
Nick put a cork on it with his next words.
 "Because she knows that I love you."
 Natalie turned,"Do you?"
 "Yes.  You may not believe or understand this, but I do love you, that
is why I'm leaving."
 Her anger faded away as she began to understand, bit by bit, what he was
telling her.  He tensed as he felt her hand touch the middle of his back.
 "Nick."
 He turned, looking into her eyes and seeing only the love, the love
thathad given him hope, and given him promise for the last six years.
For now he realized that it was never the search for a cure that had made
him stay here so long, it was this woman and his love for her that had
made him stay.  She gave him something he could never achieve on his own;
hope and happiness.
 And now, he stood here and prepared to leave her.  Suddenly he realized
that he could not do it, he could not leave her, not ever.  If she wanted
this, if she really wanted him, he had to do everything in his power to
see that she got what she wanted.
 She smiled as she watched the thoughts war inside his mind,"Nick, I'm
not afraid of death, or of an eternity in darkness, as long as I get to
spend it with you.  All I'm asking is for you to make love to me."
 Nick almost sighed.  Why was this happening to him?  Hadn't LaCroix
warned him about this very thing.  Never get involved with mortal love,
you willonly destroy itin the end.  Once she came across, she might love
him for a while, but eternity is a consept that humans cannot
understand.  Eternity is a long, long time and eventually she would want
change as Janette had, and then what would he have?  Another woman he had
brought across in the throes of passion who hated him?  He wasn't sure he
could deal with that.  But the, love wasnt really about him, was it?
Love was about the other person and what would be best for them.  If she
came across they might spen several centuries in each other arms, and
then she would find someone else, but she would never have to be alone
again.  Her hands were on his face and he grasped them between his own.
 "I'm afraid of what might happen."
 She shook her head,"I'm not.  I trust you Nick.  I always have."
 He looked down at her hands and when she looked up to stare into her
beautiful face once again, his eyes had turned the amber of desire.
 "Whatever happens, we'll be together."
 "Forever."
 He leaned forward and kissed her softly, reveling in the feelings of
finality this was producing.  Something he had wanted for so very long,
and both of them had known it would eventually come down to this.
 Natalie looked into his yellow eyes, caught between fear and love.  She
wanted this, of that she had no doubt, she had always wanted this and yet
now that the moment was here she couldn't help the fear that bubbled to
the surface.  Nick pulled her hair to one side, his sharp razor teeth
glinting in the light.  He leaned toward her, slowly, gently, trying to
be as calm as he coud, sensing her fear.  His teeth brushed her neck, she
gasped and then it was all sensation.  A whole world of love cam tumbling
into him at once, he could bury himself in that emotion, get lost in it
forever.  Andona's words came back to him,"It is the purest blood you
will ever know.  Don't take too much."  the wave subsided and he lay
Natalie gently on the floor, her heartbeat slipped slowly out of his mind.
 "Now all we have to do is turn out the lights and lock the door on the
way out."
 Nick paused, unable to hear her heart beating,"I've taken too much.  I
couldn't stop.  I couldn't control myself.  Dear God, I've taken too much."
*****************************************************************************
response, quips, quotes, definitions of "irony" and/or Geraint Wyn Davies
home address to randolph@tenet.edu

"So he's not human, no one's perfect."--The Lunatic Cafe
*****************************************************************************

**Well, I think this is going to do it.  I have no idea what I'm going to
do for the rest of the week...God I'm bored. Keep the dream alive.**

JCR


Last Knight (revised)
Julie Randolph
Part 3

 "Don't be ridiculious Nicholas," LaCroix had wandered up behind him to
stare down at the woman lying on the floor," She is lying on the brink,
as you once did.  Make a decision, let her die or bring her across, only
you can decide."
(We'll just skip all that crap about faith)
 "This is the life she wanted, LaCroix.  An eternity with me."
 "Then it would seem that the choice is already made."
 Nick looked down at her pure innocence one last time and bit into his
wrist, letting the blood flow down his arm and drip onto her lips.  She
came out of it faster than anyone he or LaCroix had ever seen.  She
gripped his arm unsteadily for a moment, let him go and opened golden
eyes to look upon him with the same love she had only moments before
expressed.  She stood and saw LaCroix watching her with amusement.  The
gold of her eyes shimmered and died, returning to their normal brown.
 "LaCroix."
 "Natalie."
 "Are you here to interfere."
 He laughed, "My dear, had I wished to interfere, I wouldhave done it
several minutes ago.  No, you must stay with us now, you are one of us."
 Natalie looked at Nick , smiled and kissed him tenderly,"Forever."
 All he could manage was a smile, his heart overcome by the joy of this
love. A love he was not sure he deserved.
 Natalie stepped backward and looked at them both,"We should probably get
Tracy too."
 LaCroix looked absolutely dumbfounded,"My, my Nicholas, we have been
busy this evening."
 "I didn't do it LaCroix." Nick shook his head.
 "Then who?  Not Andona?"
 "If we are to leave, should we not invite them to come with us?"
 LaCroix sighed, looked at his son and his newly inherited daughter with
their arms around one another and shook his head,"Oh by all means, one
big happy family."
 Tracy had come around much more slowly than than Natalie and a nasty
headache went along with it. Ann walked into the room carrying a stake.
 "Ann?  How did I get here?"
 Ann cleared her throat,"You were badly injured.  I couldn't let you die
so I brought you here."
 Tracy looked confused,"Okay, how about an easier question.  Why are you
carrying a stake?"
 "I Made this decision for you without your concent.  You would have died
n the hospital, and if you do not wish this, I will allow you to die
right here."
 Tracy touched her neck, but the wounds had healed.  Ann was too old for
the wounds to last very long.
 "You made me a vampire?"
 Ann nodded,"Yes.  I'm sorry, I didn't know any other way to help you."
 Tracy struggled to her feet and swayed slightly as the room began to
spin around her.  A sharp pain echoed through her body and she gasped,
grabbing the bedpost for support.
 Ann handed her a bottle,"Drink slowly...it will make the pain go away."
 She drank and with that first tast came a thousand other sensations, not
one of which she could properly identify.  The memories that were not
her own, the passion of life that was so strong, the images...she gulped
and her addiction was born.
 Andona grabbed the bottle and pulled it away,"Slowly or you'll make
yourself sick."
 "Where will I go?  I don't know any other vampires besides Javier," she
paused, "Nick..."
 "What about him?"
 "He's a vampire like you..." she stopped as the truth slowly dripped
into her conscious thought,"and me."
 She turned to head for the door, but Ann stopped her,"he will come to
us, Tracy.  You have just absorbed a great deal of power, my power, and
it will take a while to get used to it.  But you have time...you have
forever if you want it."
 Tracy nodded and Ann smiled,"I want to live Ann, like this or as a
mortal it makes no difference. I love my life."
 "What about your parents?"
 "I'll tell them I'm moving?  I mean, I can't stay here, can I?"
 "No."
 "Do you think Nick will come with me?"
 "I don't know, but I will always be there."
 "You're going to watch over me?"
 "For eternity if you like."
 They both turned in surprise with there was a knock on the door.  True
to her word, outside stood the shining face of Nick Knight, behind him,
the almost as radient face of Natalie Lambert and a sullen looking Lucien
LaCroix. 'Oh well, Ann thought, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.'
 "Come on in."
 Nick stepped in and was immediatley pinned with a nastly look from his
partner," You could have told me."
 "You had Vachon, you didn't need me."
 she was not angry, that much he could tell and she finally closed the
gap between them and hugged him tight,"Partners?"
 "For eternity."
 Natalie looked over at LaCroix who just shrugged,"Well, this is just
beautiful."
 Andona laughed, looking at the very pleased and happy faces of Nick and
Natalie,"Well, it seems as if love does conquer all, dosen't it?"
 The pair nodded and Tracy stared in awe at Nat,"You're not..."
 "I am."
 they smiled at each other and LaCroix had the vague impression that he
was going to be sick,"I hate to break this up, but my children, we really
should be going...sometime before we all get arrested would be best."
 "Where are we going?" Tracy looked to her master and Andona shrugged," I
don't know, but it looks as if we've just inherited a family."
 Tracy squinted at them and smiled,"Looks that way.  So LaCroix, you seem
to be the father figure here, where are we going?"
 LaCroix crossed the room in two steps, putting an arm around tracy and
smiling for perhaps the first time that night.
 "Anywhere we want, young Tracy, anywhere we want."

No applause please, just throw money.
*****************************************************************************
response, blah, blah, blah to randolph@tenet.edu

"So he's not human, no one's perfect."-The Lunatic Cafe
*****************************************************************************