the story. Highlander II: The Quickening was released in 1991 and met with negative responses. A director's cut called Highlander II: Renegade Version was released in 1995, altering parts of the story. Both versions contradict parts of the original film. 1991 version – The film reveals that Connor MacLeod and Ramírez were originally born 500 years ago on the planet Zeist and were members of a revolution against the tyrant General Katana. Now depicted as a sorcerer-like figure, Ramírez declares MacLeod the leader of the revolution and then creates a bond between them both via "the ancient power of the Quickening," which he explains is magic. He later says not even death can break this bond. Katana captures the revolutionaries and the priests of Zeist exile them all to the planet Earth where they will become immortal. They can only end their ageless exile by battling each other until the last survivor wins the Prize. The victor may then choose to either return to Zeist or remain on Earth but now as a mortal. It is not explained how the trip to Earth makes someone from Zeist immortal nor why the priests and government of Zeist would choose to give revolutionaries this power instead of simply executing them as enemies of the state. It is said that although Connor won the Prize in 1985 by killing the Kurgan and now ages as a mortal, he has not yet actually declared his choice and thus still has the opportunity to decide to return to Zeist before he dies. Years after Connor wins the Prize, the ozone layer is destroyed by industrial pollution, causing the deaths of many (it is implied MacLeod's wife Brenda died as a result of this as well but this is not clear). The now-mortal Connor uses his considerable wealth to supervise the creation of the Shield, an energy barrier protecting Earth from solar radiation while the ozone layer can have time to heal. The barrier also hides the sun, stars, and sky from view, contributing to greater depression worldwide as well as a halt to space exploration. Eventually, the shield comes under the control of The Shield Corporation (TSC), which charges countries for protection from solar radiation. By 2024, Connor MacLeod is an old man and society has declined into widespread corruption and poverty. On Zeist, Katana decides to kill MacLeod rather than chance that the man