The rain, which was once a mist on there faces was now falling in droplets. Conner Durham tugged on his trench coat, pulling it in closer around him. He took out a ball cap from his pocket and adorned it, then once again pulled his coat in closer. Remington Defoe adjusted the collar on his duster. Remington normally enjoyed the fresh smell of rain, but he wasn't in the mood to be happy.

 The two were silent as they walked down the street. Conner and Remington seemed lost in their thoughts. Many things had happened in the two months since their discovery... their change. Now they were alone, singled out by nature. No one would normally notice the state of being of the people they pass down the street. No one certainly noticed Conner and Remington as the walked down the streets of Seattle. They were set apart now more than ever. They were both very independent souls. But, life had a funny way of throwing them a curve, just when they thought they had it all figured out.

 Conner looked down at the ground most of time, while Remington was more aware of the surroundings. He took in every face, every sound. Like a feline about to pounce, his awareness was at its peak. Then it hit them. It was a whirring in their ears and a rush of adrenaline. If they didn't know better they might have thought that one of them was about to 'lose their lunch' as Conner had so eloquently put it. They both stopped dead in their steps. The other pedestrians had to push their way around them. It didn't matter to either, though. They were slowly becoming accustomed to what this new sensation meant.

 Alexi was going to teach them. Not only how too handle a sword, but how to survive. Teach them who to avoid, and who to trust, but that was no longer an option. Alexi had been killed by one of their own, an Immortal named Kairn. They narrowly escaped with their lives. They hoped they would be as lucky again should they run into Kairn once more.

 They slowed turned. Conner now began to scan the crowd, looking for anything. Remington motioned to Conner and they detoured into a nearby alley. They proceeded cautiously. To do so otherwise could mean certain death. The now stood back to back. Remington pulled back his duster and slipped his hand inside. He was ready. Conner fidgeted with his trench coat. He still wasn't used to carrying around a sword underneath it.

 "Show yourself," Remington called.

 "No answer," Conner said. "Maybe no one is here."

 "You know that isn't true," Remington corrected.

 "I know, but I can wish."

 A voice echoed through the alley and to their ears. "Save your wishes for something else. You just might need them some day," a man stepped out from a door exiting into the alley.

 "Is today the day we will need one?" Remington had drawn his sword and taken a defensive stance. Conner put on his best poker face and stood ready.

 "No, I am not here to fight you," said the man.

 "Good. I never'd put much faith in wishes anyhow."

 "Not me. I wish I knew what was going on," Conner quipped.

 "Come along. I will explain," The man invited them to step back inside the door from which he came.

 Conner took a half step when Remington blocked with his arm.

 "We're not going anywhere, yet. How do we know you won't try to kill us once inside."

 "You don't. But you have to trust someone, sometime."

 "How about you give us your sword, and then we will go in with you," Conner suggested.

 "You know I won't do that. I would be at your mercy. Alexi must have told you never to leave your sword for very long. To make it a part of you. It is what keeps you alive."

 Remington and Conner looked at him half shocked. Conner pulled his friend aside and whispered to him.

 "He knows Alexi! Maybe he is telling the truth. I think we should at least hear what he has to say."

 Remington had thoughts of his own. "There could be a whole room of people just waiting to kill us. What if he's a friend of Kairn's as well. For all we know he could work for Kairn. Sending him out here and asking us to come in. We would be at their mercy then. I don't think I like the sound of that."

 "So what are we going to do then. Just stand here and argue about it all day. He has a sword too and I really don't think we should keep him waiting," Even with Remington's distrusting expression, Conner pleaded with his friend. "Look I have enough faith in your ability to get us out of there, if need be."

 "Oh great. So I'm going to play rescue ranger now."

 The man stepped closer and cleared his throat. Remington waved his sword and urged him back.

 "Okay, we don't have many options. I don't like this, but I am going to go with him. I have a feeling about this. He could be able to help us Remington."

 "I don't like this at all," He faced the stranger. "Go on in. We'll follow you."

 "Good. I'm glad to see that you are trusting me now."

 "'Trusting' may be too strong of a word at this point in time." Remington added.

 As they stepped through the doorway they didn't see any other people, Immortals or otherwise. What they saw was a narrow hallway leading to an elevator. It took them to the top floor, and a very well furnished loft apartment.

 The stranger extended his hand, bidding them welcome into the his home. Conner stepped into an archives of history. Remington waited for his host to enter before he did. The loft-like apartment was filled with rich tones and warm glows. Conner strode across the room and examined an antique globe. He moved from one object to another, finding each more fascinating than the next. Paintings, rugs, statuettes, photos in frames that looked even older than what they held. All were present in this new place.

 "Whoa," Conner gasped.

 "I'll take that as a compliment. So what do you think? Remington is it? Your friend seems to be impressed.

 "I'm not as easily impressed by frill and fluff. And I don't like strangers to call me by my name."

 "Okay what would you like for me to call you?"

 "Skeptical, for the moment," Remington snapped.

 "If you wish," their new 'friend' said.

 "We don't even know what your name is, and you expect us to trust you."

 "Ah, yes. I did forget that didn't I. It has been so long, and the people I usually meet already know me. I am Joseph Walen. You can call me either Joseph, Joe, Walen. I don't mind. But I would most like you to call me friend."

 "We'll see."

 "Would either of you care for something to drink?" The man said motioning to a bar cabinet.

 "No thanks, Walen," Conner said politely. "I don't drink. I'm not 21 yet. Huh... I guess I never will be now."

 "Ah, 21. I remember that age. It was great. Women, the world at my feet, new challenges waiting wherever I was," Conner stood in awe as he listened to Walen's words.

 "Very nice," Remington barked.

 "Why do you distrust me so. I have told you that I am not after either of you. I say I am here to help you and yet you treat me as your enemy. Have I been wrong in searching for you."

 "You have been looking for us?"

 "Yes, in a sense. I knew of Alexi's fall and that he was on the trail of two new found Immortals. I then learned of you. I know what you two must be going through. It is all so new and different. Finding out that you are going to be around a lot longer than you expected. Finding out that there are others like you wanting to take your head. It must be strange. Please. Tell me a little bit about yourself?"

 Conner was about to open his mouth, but Remington shot him a glance. There was no answer from either of them.

 "Ah yes. Well I will start then. I was 34 when I died for the first time. I was a guide for priests on a religious expedition. They believed it to be a Divine Will. Fine people those missionaries were. Poor conversationalists, very pious. Hail this and thank that. I was unexperienced as a guide. I thought I knew of a river we could travel and knock a half a day of our travels. Well, we were one of the first in that part. The locals had not seen many outsiders, not to mention all the ornamental figures and what have you. They probably thought we were some sort of gods rather than His messengers. They became frightened of us and attacked. The boat went down. They locals captured us and bound our hands and feet. They planned to send us down the river form which we came. The weren't bad people. They were just scared. So back on the water we were put. This time on a small raft with our hands and legs bound. Not much for comfort or hospitality these ones were. We floated for quite some time. Nothing too spectacular. We had a good tan. But then came the roaring."

 "A lion?" Conner asked.

 "No. Rapids. Large ones. We knew we didn't stand a chance. I heard the priests saying their prayers. Hmph... I even said one. I guess someone was listening that day, because here I am."

 "You died?" Remington asked this time.

 "Yes... Remington. I guess you could say that. Once we hit the rapids most of them fell off the raft. I was still on with another priest, somehow. We hit the last series of rapids and the raft flipped over. The mission party all drowned, except for myself. I washed ashore some time later. My bonds had loosened enough by then and I was able to get free. I walked through the jungle for days till I came upon the camp from where we started. I told the others what happened. The said it was a miracle I survived. I was taken back to England and from then on my everything seemed different. I had a whole new outlook on life. I felt renewed. Then, came my first encounter.

 Luckily, he was not after my head. He had sensed me and saw I carried no sword. He guessed I must be 'new'. He was a kind soul. His name was Causia Huff. I remember him well. He was my teacher, my friend, my confidante. It was a man like Kairn who killed Huff.

 Once Huff was dead I began searching for his killer. I didn't even know who exactly I was looking for. I followed the trail he left, across most of Europe and into Asia. I met some very interesting folks along the way. But those are tales for another time. When I caught up with the unknown killer, we were in China. I had chased him across an entire continent and wasn't going to lose him now. He led me down almost every street in Beijing. He was toying with me, beckoning me to follow, teasing me. But it was that same arrogant attitude that would be the death of him. He may have had decades of experience on me, but I had determination on my side. I cornered him in an abandoned street. He had to fight. But even in battle he toyed with me. I grew with rage, and used that rage to fight him. I struck him in his sword arm. Then again in his other arm. I thought I had him. He just looked at me and laughed. He knelt before me and taunted me to take his head. I asked his name for the gravestone. Isaiah Finley, he replied. He said I was weak. He said I couldn't do it because Huff hadn't taught me well. That was his finale. Huff meant a great deal to me as a mentor. I closed my eyes and swung. In that brief moment, with my eyes shut, I saw the missionaries. I saw Huff. They were all looking at me. The seemed to beg for redemption from me. I knew what I wanted to do. Finley thought he could get up in time. He was wrong...

 When I opened my eyes. It was over. The quickening now began. Never had I felt such... sensations. It was overwhelming. I bellowed from pain like I had never felt before. Once it had ended I was exhausted. I couldn't move. I only could sit there and look at Finley's headless corpse and think at what I had done. It was too much."

 "Whoa."

 "Very entertaining," Remington said unenthusiastically

 "Still, you don't trust me. What will it take?" Walen questioned.

 "Time," Remington answered.

 "Ah, but you both must be tired and hungry. Come. We will go get something to eat. You are hungry aren't you?

 "Yeah, I suppose I could eat." Remington said.

 "Count me in." Conner chirped.

 "Good, then what shall it be? I know. Do you boys like Italian?"

 "Do we? I could live and die in an Italian restaurant," he took a strange look from Remington. "Well you know what I mean." Conner said.

 Out the back door they went. They hopped in Walen's car and were off. An ominous figure came from around the corner and watched the car drive away down the street. He got into a blue sports car and followed.

 Once at the restaurant the conversation became a little lighter. Conner was easily talking to Walen now. He had made a new friend, one that he could trust. But Remington was not so easily won over.

 "And she never knew that you were watching her?" Conner asked.

 "Never. She was none the wiser. But her husband soon was, once I told him that his own wife was taking the money. I was certainly glad to clear my name from that mess. I never did like being involved in big business scandals.

 Conner laughed and looked Remington, who hadn't touched much of his food. He seemed to stare out the window most of the time.

 "Remy. Remington is everything okay? You seem... distant."

 "Yeah everything's is great. I just found out two months ago that I was immortal and that people are going to want try to kill me because of it. So here I sit talking to a guy who may or may not be trustworthy, and a plate full of manicotti sitting in front of me, which I can't find the stomach to eat it. Yeah I'm okay."

 "Oh. So long as it isn't something eating at you from inside," Conner quipped.

 Walen cracked a smile at Conner's sarcasm.

 "Do you miss your family Remington?" Walen asked genuinely

 "That's the crazy part. They don't even know anything is wrong."

 "I don't understand," Walen said hesitantly "You mean, they don't know you died."

 "To them we didn't die," Remington finished.

 "Huh," Walen looked at them puzzled.

 Conner now picked up the story. "Yeah, you see to them we were just on vacation, visiting friends down in Portland."

 "But you did 'die'?"

 "I guess you could say that." said Remington.

 "Explain," Walen coaxed.

 Conner began, "We were heading back to Seattle and I decided to take a more scenic route home. Well, it was getting late and dark. As we sped along the road we came up over this hill and there was a car in our lane. I honked. I flashed my lights. I did what I could to get his attention. Finally, I had to swerve to miss 'em. We ended up crossing lanes, and we went off the road into the trees. The other car did the same on his side. I don't know how long we were out. I don't remember anything after that until I woke up in the hospital here in Seattle. Our families were there, and the doctors told us that were lucky to be alive. So everyone just counted the blessings and that was that. The doctors couldn't find much wrong with us so we were home by the next day. It was the fastest recovery from a car wreck they had every seen, we were told.

 I was just glad to be alive. It wasn't until Alexi found us that we knew what actually happened. He came to me while I was at work. I had felt that sick feeling then. Alexi found us later and began to tell us much about what had happened after the crash that we didn't remember. The strange thing was it seemed vaguely familiar, like in a dream, something not exactly real.

 He said we needed training. He told us what we were, and what it would mean to our lives. We needed to learn the ways of an Immortal. I was enthralled that it could possible be true. Remy went along with it all, but didn't truly believe until we met up with Kairn. By then it was too late for Alexi. We ran. We took our training swords and ran. When we thought we had lost Kairn. I went back to my parents and told them I would be out of town for a while. I took sometime off from work, but then decided to quit. If I was going to be Immortal, work could wait."

 "The King of Procrastination to the end." Remington now joked.

 "That's me," Conner said with a smile. "So since then we have just been wandering the city."

 "What about you? Remington, any family or anyone who is missing you right now?"

 "Yeah, and like Conner I told them that we would be out of town for a week or so..." Remington hesitated in saying much more. Walen picked up on it though.

 "There's more, isn't there?"

 "Yeah, I told my girlfriend, what happened."

 "What!" Conner exclaimed.

 "She thought I should be dead given what happened to us. That isn't the half of it. She caught me practicing with my sword. She became worried about me and followed me one day when I went to train with Alexi. She confronted me and I told her all about what happened."

 "Even Alexi."

 "Yep."

 "So she knows were Immortals?" Conner interrogated

 "No, just about me. It wasn't my place to tell your secret."

 "Well she might as well know. We're going to be around for a while."

 "You realize that you made a very risky decision by telling you girlfriend. What's her name?"

 "Samantha Pierce. We are going to get married in June."

 "Oh, gods. That's right. Now what?" Conner said. He wondered what this would mean for his best friend.

 "I still love her. I am going to marry her. She thinks I am crazy, but she is willing and open minded. She'll adapt. I hope."

 "Well I'm glad to see that you can trust someone Remington. Even if it isn't me."

 "I want to apologize to you. I am really stressed right now. It will take sometime to adjust. I still am not sure why you are so willing to help us."

 "I see a little bit of me in you both. I know what it was like my first time out. Your first teacher was killed too soon. You still need more training. I am that person to do it. So that someday when you come across Kairn you will be able to avenge Alexi's death, like I did Huff's death. But first before you go off fighting Kairn you boys need some better equipment. I can't have you out there fighting with trinkets. And I know just the place to find some real weapons."

 They looked at each other. A smile came across the faces of Conner and Remington.

 "Whoa."

 "You say that so often Conner. I'm beginning to think you know nothing else," Walen now joked as they entered the antique shop.

 "You get used to it," Remington said.

 Even Remington was impressed this time though. He had never seen a collection of swords so large. Walen stood in the middle of the shop and waved his arms around, gesturing to the numerous blades.

 "Hey, Joe. Long time, no see." The shopkeeper greeted them.

 "Too long Phil. I brought my nephews in for a look around. They are quite the sword buffs," Conner shot Remington a befuddled glance.

 "It must run in your family. Doesn't every one of your relatives have a sword by now?

 "Not quite. There are a few left." Walen just smiled back and forth from Phil to his 'nephews'.

 "Go ahead you two. Pick something out. Money is no worry."

 "Wh- No I am not going to say it this time."

 "Should we be proud of you for that, Conner?" Remington retorted.

 Walen was glad to finally see Remington joking.

 They could have spent all day in there. So much history. So much of the past could be seen in those blades. Philip McPherson walked beside the boys, giving them a brief history of each blade. Remington listened intently to his tales. But the decisions had been made. Remington had chosen fine katana with carved dragons on the handle, and a set of shurikens to go with it. Conner found a British antique. Something modeled from the Crusades no doubt. Carved vines of ivy were intertwined around the hilt and handle. A matching dagger hung beside it. Both were very happy with their selections. Even Phil was surprised at what taste Walen's 'nephews' had.

 Once back at the loft Walen showed the boys where they would be sleeping. It was a tastefully decorated room with a set of twin beds. A narrow door led onto a balcony which over looked a small square down below.

 "I had this set up a few days ago, after I heard about Piotr Alexi." Walen gestured to the two beds. "I thought you might need a place to stay for a while. I hope everything's okay for both of you. Tomorrow you can pick up some of your belongings, if you need. Now that you have both have swords, practice will also begin tomorrow."

 "Thanks Walen," Conner said, "For everything."

 Walen smiled, nodded, and left the room, shutting the door behind him. Conner plopped down on the bed closest to the balcony doors. Remington began studying the room. He made his way to the balcony and opened it. Stepping out onto the balcony, he took in all the surroundings. Conner came up behind him and joined him on the balcony.

 "Penny for your thoughts," Conner probed.

 "Huh. Oh. It is still so crazy to me,"

 "Even after a two months? This is our life now. We have to accept it. Change is good."

 "Change is bad. Besides, we should be dead. We should be buried six feet under right now. None of this should be happening."

 "Oh, you're sorry your alive. You are sorry that we didn't die in that car crash. You'll excuse me if I'm not so troubled by that fact."

 "I know. But what about our families. Your family would be worried sick if they knew that we weren't actually visiting friends in Tacoma. Samantha thinks I'm crazy. What if she decides to call off the wedding? What about the wedding? How can we get married now? I can't drag her into a life like this. My family couldn't handle anything of this scale. It is all just so much." Remington sat down with his legs over the balcony's edge.

 "Maybe we should have died." Conner joined him in his position.

 "Huh," Remington said confused.

 "Well then we wouldn't have these problems. It would be all too clear then. They would have buried, what they though to be us, and we could move on. Sadly, but we could at least move on. Don't you see we have too much of a connection with the past."

 "So now your saying we should what? Go kill ourselves so or family and friends think we are dead."

 "No, no. We just need to find a way to make peace with it all."

 "Thank you, Gandhi. So you what do you suggest?"

 "I don't know. I'll talk to Walen tomorrow and see if he'll hold off sword practice for a day or so. We can go back to everyone and tell them...

 "Tell them what. 'Oh we're immortal now and have people trying to chop off our heads. Have a nice day.'"

 "I wasn't suggesting we tell them all of that, just what we had too. I think I can convince my family to let me move out. I will tell them I am moving in with you for a while. That would work. You can tell you parents the same thing. We aren't lying. Since Sam already knows the most about all this, then maybe she can move in too. It would be fine then."

 "Let me think about it," Remington now turned and faced back inside.

 "You do that. I'm not looking forward to what this new life means. But I'm looking forward to living a little."

 "Yeah. I guess."

 "Look. Why don't we just get some sleep and think about it in the morning." Conner made his way back inside. He pulled back the top sheet and crawled underneath.

 "That's probably best." Remington began to do the same.

 "Rem."

 "Yeah, Conn."

 "I'm glad you didn't die."

 "I'm glad you didn't die either."

 "You know, forever would be along time without me wouldn't it?"

 Remington chuckled, shut the balcony door, and turned out the light.

 "Good night Conn."

 "Good night Remington."

---

PART 2