A Devastating End (CC, Mature) Complete 1/12

[starcrazed]

Title: A Devastating End
Author: starcrazed
Disclaimer: The characters of "Roswell" belong to Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, WB, and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement is intended."
Category: CC M/M, M/L, I/J
Rating: Mature
AN WARNING: ANGST! Multiple character death.
Summary: Courtesy of Khivar, Earth is wiped clean of it’s Royal Antarian inhabitants. Will any of the Roswellians escape with their lives?

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Prologue

It was the dead of night as the men entered the small house. They blocked the exits and kept look out just in case.

It was a quiet neighborhood after all. They didn’t want to raise suspicion. The two men in charge prowled down the small hallway to the bedroom at the end. They opened the door soundlessly slipping inside.

In the middle of the room was a queen size bed. The figure sleeping in it was huddled in the middle, covered by a mountain of blankets and pillows.

The single window in the room allowed for a few rays of moonlight to filter in and illuminate the blonde hair sticking out.

“Are you sure this is her?”

“Yes, she has been the easiest to track, being more alien then the remaining three.”

The other man nodded reflectively in response and raised his arm.

At that moment the small woman shot up from her bed.

Fear briefly seeped into her sparkling blue gaze.

“Ava, it’s an honor to make you acquaintance. We’ve heard so much about you.”

She looked back and forth between the two. The fear gone and resigned acceptance filled her spirit.

“Can’t say the same for you.”

Trying to stall for time to warn the others she goaded them further.

“You Khivar’s lackeys? Did he send you to finish off the troublesome Queen? Couldn’t manage himself.”

The man closer to the bed reached out a hand and smacked her across the face. The noise echoed throughout the room.

“You shall not address his Majesty in such a tone.”

Ava didn’t hear the reprimand, nor did she notice the raised arm starting to glow. The slap had infused her with the furious anger she needed to fuel her powers to reach the others.

She managed to warn them to run and hide. They wouldn’t be able to fight without her. Not fight and win.

Ava screamed as the blast impacted her chest. Tears streamed down her face as she felt the other man touch her cheek and scorch her insides with his own energy.

She prayed the others couldn’t fell her pain. She hoped they wouldn’t be joining her soon.

Before Ava’s heart stopped she felt the reassurance of Isabel float across her mind that she got the message. Their gratitude and love went with her as she took her last breath and pasted away into the dark night.

TBC…

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AN: Thanks for reading so far!!! Should I continue?

[starcrazed]

Part 1

It was the anniversary of the Crashdown shooting.

The sun had barely risen in Boston, Massachusetts.

But still, in a two story home found a few blocks away from the Harvard campus, giggling could be heard, muffled slightly by the covers.

“MAX! What are you doing down there?”

“I thought it was quite obvious Mrs. Evans.”

Liz purred as he continued his delicate ministrations.

“Just because Michael and Maria took the kids, does not mean you can ravage me at all hours of the day.”

“That’s not what you said last night. Besides it’s the one of two times a year that we have the house to ourselves.”

She sighed contently, not really minding at all what Max was doing to her.

“Fine, Max, but I will get even.”

She heard him growl in anticipation and giggling filled the bedroom again.

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At the same time that Max Evans was taking advantage of his kid free home, Isabel Ramirez had just sent her children off to their Uncle and Aunts house. Once again baffled by the idea of still living out in that small town, so reminiscent of their Roswell days. It was a notion she couldn’t comprehend especially since moving to New York City eight years ago.

Jesse had left for work at his prestigious law firm at the same time Isabel left to get James and Lexi to the airport on time. After seeing them off, she too rushed to work at the fashion magazine for the day mentally preparing a romantic dinner for her self and Jesse later on in the evening.

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Michael and Maria had been surprisingly quick to settle in Rochester, Minnesota. A town only twice the size of Roswell.

They agreed fairly quickly for once due to Maria’s desire to raise a family in a safe small town away from all the hectic of the big cities her and Michael experienced in their brief stays in both L.A. and New York. Michael’s ever present paranoia finalized the decision. Even after all these years, trials of their youth and his own childhood with Hank still haunted him.

The paranoia had them settle away from big cities and further away from the others than either would have wished. It stemmed from his logic that first appeared right before the horrible Graduation ceremony; they might get some of them, but sure as hell wouldn’t take out all of them.

It was even earlier in Minnesota than it was in Boston or New York.

The entire Guerin household of seven was still slumbering; including the newest addition baby Mikayla, and all three visiting Evans.

Michael still had a few more hours of sleep before he had to get up and head over to the airport to pick up the Ramirez children. It was those extra hours of sleep he would be thankful for in the days that followed.

TBC…

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[starcrazed]

Part 2

By midday the giggling in the Boston home, the furious typing of computers at the New York law firm, and the flurry of activity at the fashion magazine were all silenced.

Many other sounds found around the world had become still too.

It was an insignificant day for most. Just another Wednesday, soon to be over melting into a Thursday. Thursday would have led to Friday bringing the weekend, which would eventually ended resulting in the start of a new week and at some point another Wednesday.

It was only those seven Roswellians and their children that realized this date so many years ago had only been the start of a new beginning.

Unfortunately what came on this seemingly normal Wednesday did not leave time for four of them to realize it would also be the start of the devastating end.

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Max and Liz were busy still in their bedroom celebrating another wonderful year of marriage, happiness, and love. They had no idea it was also their last. They had just returned from the kitchen where they had some brunch. If Max and Liz had taken five minutes longer they might have noticed the ship appear outside the window.

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Jesse’s back faced his office window and it was a busy day leaving no time for people watching on the busy streets below. If he had a spare minute to watch the citizen of the city scurrying about he may have seen the three ships gathering in the New York City air space before separating off, leaving only one behind.

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Isabel was outside for her own lunch break and when the shadow did pass over her she looked up noticing the three ships converge before flying off.

Dropping her food she stood in horror watching the last remaining ship. It was then that she remembered the feeling she got in the middle of the night when she woke from that horrible nightmare. A feeling she forgot during her hectic morning.

“Ava.”

The realization brought Isabel to her knees.

The few people passing by who weren’t too involved in their own problems, noticed the statuesque blonde kneeling on the filthy New York pavement.

Only a few managed an odd look before the ship attacked.

All over the world cities were decimated. L.A., San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, New York City, Washington D.C., Montreal, Toronto, Caracas, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Paris, Rome, Athens, Madrid, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Berlin, Warsaw, Cape Town, Istanbul, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta, Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney, all obliterated in an instant. In the same instant.

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Michael had not felt Ava’s attempt to warn them in the middle of the night.

But he could not fail to notice the abrupt end of his two lifelong friends. The part of his subconscious that noticed Max and Isabel on the first day of school screamed in abject pain when their beings were ripped from this life.

If Michael had not been submerged in his own pain as he tried to steer the car to the side of the road safely, he would have seen James and Lexi also flinching in loss at the same time he did.

Michael rested his head on the steering wheel breathing heavily. Tears streaming silently down his face. Finally, it was James’s choked up voice rising over Lexi’s sobs that had Michael putting the car in gear speeding to get home to the rest of his family.

“Uncle Michael, what are we going to do?”

Michael gulped as he met James’s eyes in the rear view mirror. Not prepared for the ache that rippled through him at seeing Isabel’s eyes starring back at him when Iz herself was gone.

Years of experience at the very thing they had to do next supplied Michael with the answer he provided his nephew. An answer he would repeat many times in the coming days.

“Survive. Now we fight to survive.”

TBC…

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Happy Holidays!!!

[starcrazed]

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Part 3

It was shortly after the men had left Ava’s small house that Kyle Valenti awoke with a start.

Unlike Isabel, he was unable to go back to sleep and forget the eerie feeling with a hectic morning. So he rolled out of bed and did his routine 15 push-ups before sitting on the edge of his bed trying to figure where the sense had come from.

An hour pasted as Kyle sat in his 35th floor condo, before he shook himself out of it and headed towards the shower.

By 6am, Kyle had a bag packed and his fishing tackle resting by the front door.

He picked up his phone and called Frank, the mechanic at the garage, to let him know he wouldn’t be in the rest of the week.

“Sure thing, Boss. You goin' fishing?”

“Probably.”

After a few more words were exchanged Kyle hung up and headed out the door.

If Kyle Valenti had known it would be the last time he saw his condo and most of his possessions, he might have packed more carefully. Perhaps taking his High school football jersey, his yearbook, photos from his father’s wedding, and the list of meeting places Michael had arranged for them a few years ago.

As it was though, Kyle like the rest of he world was just as clueless that fateful Wednesday and left his home without a second thought except to forget the horrible sense of doom that was in his gut.

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Around lunchtime, it was the radio that announced the attacks across the world.

Kyle unknowingly mimicked Michael’s action as he pulled his truck over to the side of the road. He gawked at the radio as it listed off all the cities that now lay in shambles.

His head dropped to the steering wheel as he heard the first proclamation about ships in the sky.

It was then that Kyle recalled the list of meeting places Michael had set up in case of emergencies. This sure qualified. It was a few minutes after that that Kyle remembered the date.

He cried then. For the loss of some of his closest friends who he knew with certainty were gone now. He cried in relief that all the kids were with Michael and Maria, who didn’t live anywhere near the wrecked cities. And he cried for hope. A hope, that he would find them in time.

As he cried the exhaustion of an early start and hours on the road overcame him and he fell into a restless slumber. It would be a few hours later as dream Kyle was hiding from a hovering space craft that a miniature Isabel with Jesse’s caramel eyes would appear in his dream.

“Lexi?”

TBC…

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[starcrazed]

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Part 4

In the small town of Roswell, New Mexico as the TV and new crews showed clip after clip of tumbling buildings, raging fires, and death a group of strange newcomers entered the city limits.

They turned down Main Street headed towards the very place that had, ultimately set all this into action.

The Crashdown came into view and the man in the leading car seated in the passenger seat remarked coldly,

“They’re all there. Wonderful. Saves us the time of rounding them up.”

He was indeed correct. The very people he had come to find where sitting in the Café like that had done for the past ten years for lunch on Wednesdays. It just so happen that this Wednesday happened to be that special life altering one.

Jeff Parker was the first to notice the three dark cars pull up in front of his Café and then watched as the intimidating men in dark suits piled out one after the other. They entered the Crashdown stealthily as if none of the twenty of so patrons were gawking at them in wonderment.

Noting the other man’s distraction both Jim Valenti and Phillip Evans turned to see what had grabbed Jeff’s attention. All three were overcome by a sense of foreboding.

Taking in their husband’s stillness the wives turned to see the men glaring at the others in the Café until they all beat a hasty exit.

Not that it would matter much.

“Mr. and Mrs. Phillip and Dianne Evans?”

Phillip glared at them, “Who’s asking?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Jeff and Nancy Parker?”

Nancy’s voice shook as she tried to get an answer from the strange men,

“What is this all about?”

“And that must make you two, Jim and Amy Valenti.”

Jim was reaching for his gun wishing now that he had developed powers like Liz and Kyle had, not sure what was going on but nonetheless not liking it one bit.

For once Amy said nothing at all, instinctually knowing that she was lucky she was able to talk to Maria and her grandchildren the night before.

“We have a simple question for you all and then we will leave. Answer us and we shall not harm you.”

The tallest man dressed in all black stepped forward. His eyes, almost black, gazed deep into each of their faces.

“Where are your so called children?”

The tears started immediately from Nancy and Dianne.

“You’ve killed them already you bastards. Haven’t you? It was you that did that to our cities.” Amy stood up angrily no longer able or wanting to restrain herself. “What the hell do you want?”

“We’ve come for Zan, Vilandra, and Rath. We could not locate them like we did Ava.”

Jim took up despondently, “She’s right. You’ve already killed them. They lived in those cities you’ve ruined. They’re gone along with the largest section of human population, you’ve needlessly murdered.”

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

A doubtful look from the taller man before he questioned, “What cities where they in?”

“Why should we tell you anything?” Nancy screeched at them, “You’ve already killed my baby. Oh God Liz!”

Jeff pulled his wife to him shielding her as best he could.

Jim resignedly answered hoping to save their lives. “Boston and New York City.”

Pointing out the lie he knew it was he quickly responded, “Rath was not with Zan and Vilandra. Where was he?”

“We don’t know.”

A hand shot up and set a blast at Phillip killing him instantaneously.

Dianne gasped and dropped to her husband’s side cradling his dead body to her chest.

“You monster.”

“Let us try this again. Where is Rath?”

“Screw you.”

They were not perhaps the nicest or most eloquent as far as last words go, but Dianne was far beyond caring. Her family was dead. She wanted nothing more then to join them. As the energy blast hit her chest she was granted her last wish.

With both the Evans dead, Nancy and Amy were a mess. Jim stepped in front of them trying to protect them as best he could.

“We’ll die before we tell you anything.”

“Very well. It is a shame Nicholas is not longer available.”

The men turned and left the Crashdown.

Twenty minutes later as they crossed out of the city limits, Roswell became the first of a series of small towns to meet the same fate as the world’s larger cities.

TBC…

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[starcrazed]

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Part 5

Somehow as Michael pulled into his driveway he managed to pull Lexi from the car and carry her inside as she continued to sob.

He found an utterly demoralizing sight.

Max and Liz’s twins, Claudia and Charlie were clutching at each other as they cried. The oldest Jake was in a catatonic state not noticing Michael and Maria’s daughter, Maura sitting quietly in his lap holding his hand.

The panicked mother of five, was pacing back and forth with a wailing Mikayla held tightly in her arms. Michael could hear Maria muttering in her hair, “Shh. It’s okay Kayla, mommy’s here. Shh…”

Michael set Lexi on the couch and she pulled her knees to her chest folding into her self to hide from the horrible world. James sat next to her still in a state of shock. Mark and Matthew, ages ten and eight, each sat on either side of Lexi and James giving them hugs.

Michael looked around for his oldest not finding Mirabella anywhere.

“Bella!”

Mirabella was very much her father’s daughter. As Maria sat with the children trying to keep them calm, trying to remain calm herself when not knowing what was going on, Bella was upstairs packing the small duffle bags for each of them. A characteristic Michael had tried to instill in all his children. Be ready to go at any moment.

“Michael, she’s upstairs packing. What’s going on? Jake and the twins won’t say a word.”

Michael had always been very blunt. He wished now when he had to tell his wife that her best friend was dead that he had more practice with such sensitive things.

“Ria, they’re dead. Max and Iz. Liz and Jesse too.”

He went over to the TV and turned it on. Immediately the destruction was before them.

Maria gasped and almost fell to the floor before Michael caught her pulling her and Mikayla safely to his chest.

“Ria, I need you to get Lexi to calm down and dream-walk Kyle. I have to get us another vehicle.”

“Kyle? Kyle lives in Chicago. Wasn’t it…” She trailed off as the rubble of Chicago appeared on the television.

“We need to be sure. Kyle liked to travel a lot Maria. He may not have been there. I felt Max and Iz die, but I don’t have that same connection with Kyle. We need to be sure.”

Bella walked down the stairs with half of the bags weighing her down.

“Mark and Matthew can you go get the rest of the bags and load them all in the back of the car. I’m going to pack some food stuff.”

Michael smiled at his oldest before he turned determined and went into action.

He squatted in front of James knowing his next question would be a lot, but it would be a necessity if they wanted to survive for any length of time.

“James.”

He waited until Isabel’s eyes met his own.

“James, I need you to pull yourself together and do something for me. For all of us okay? You can fall apart afterwards I swear.”

James shook his head; his eyes gaining back a certain clarity that had been missing most of the car ride to the house.

“The computer’s in the den. I need you to hack in and destroy all records of us. Get rid of birth certificates, wedding certificates, immunization records, taxes, places of employment, and education backgrounds. Everything. For all the kids, Maria and myself, Kyle, Max and Liz, Ava, and your parents okay? The grandparents too.”

James slowly nodded.

It was lucky that he had taken a liking to computers after hearing many stories about Alex from Liz and Maria. Isabel too had shared with her children about the delightful Alex Whitman who had died to young.

Maria could spend hours talking Michael’s ear off about how much like Alex, James was. Isabel too, was proud of the fact because every time it was brought up her eyes danced with pride and a bit of sorrow. If Jesse ever found it hurtful that his only son was so similar to Isabel’s first love he never said a word. Michael believed Jesse was actually glad because in a way Alex’s qualities lived on and that gave Isabel some peace.

Michael went into the kitchen leaving Maria with the kids.

“Bella, leave that for Mark. We have to go get another car.”

As he spoke Michael moved the microwave from the wall and waved his hand in the spot behind it. The wall glowed, suddenly leaving a silver handprint in place.

Michael reached in and grabbed the emergency money box. Years of savings went into this box. Maria would give him a hard time commenting about the invention of banks, but his paranoia forced him to leave it on hand in case of emergencies such as this.

Bella silently followed her dad out the door. They ran into Mark and Matthew on the way.

“Mark can you finish getting some food together for your sister. Make sure everyone is ready to go when we get back. Probably a half hour.”

Mark nodded his spiky head. He was an exact replica of Michael with the exception of Maria’s green eyes.

“Dad, I want to help too!”

Michael looked down at Matt, “Can you watch Kayla for your mom?” Matthew smiled happy to be able to help.

Bella had climbed into the passenger seat of the SUV at this point and Michel jumped into the driver side pulling down the drive way as quickly as possible without breaking any laws.

TBC...

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[starcrazed]

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Part 6

Maria had managed to calm Lexi down enough to get her to dream-walk Kyle, but she still clutched the picture to her chest not being able to get in the first three tries.

“Aunt Ria, I’m not strong enough. He’s too far or awake and I can’t do it. M…mom would have been able to.” Lexi gulped as the tears started again.

“It’s okay Lex. You just have to keep trying. Can you do that for me?” Lexi nodded.

Maria had organized all the kids by now and they were all waiting impatiently for Michael and Bella to get back with the extra car.

James had wiped the system of any existence of any of them in a fairly short amount of time before returning to Lexi’s side supporting her as she tried to contact Uncle Kyle.

Jake too had snapped out of it and was now holding Maura as they waited for the cars.

When they pulled up in front of the house Mark pushed open the front door and the long line of children followed his lead. Maria was the last one out of the house locking the door behind her.

They all pulled to a stop in front of the two SUVs as Bella climbed out to of the silver Guerin one and Michael stepped out of the new black one.

“Maria, your in the our SUV. Bella go with your mom so you guys can switch off driving.” He also sent Bella with that car because her powers were very similar to his own, but no reason to tell everyone that and scare them. He and Bella had discussed it on the way to the car dealership.

“Take Matt, Lexi, and James with you. Ria you want to keep the baby seat in there or…”

“Yeah, I’ll take Kayla.”

Michael nodded,

“Okay that leaves everyone else with me in the black SUV. Everyone used the bathroom we’re not stopping for a while?”

After their nods he pulled Maria aside as they climbed into the cars, “Did Lexi reach Kyle?”

“No, she said he was too far or awake. She didn’t seem to think he was dead. Just momentarily unreachable. Michael where are we going to go? What are we going to do?”

Michael allowed for a moment of uncertainty to wash over his features allowing only Maria to see how scared he truly was.

“I don’t know where we’re going Ria. But we will survive. No body else gets to die. Not on my watch.”

Tears dropped from Maria’s eyes as she hugged Michael for all she was worth.

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Hesitantly Kyle called out to the transparent form,

“Lexi?”

She ran and leaped into his arms, crying in joy at being able to reach her uncle.

“Uncle Michael said go to Strom Lake, Iowa; then we can make plans there.”

Kyle gaped at the 13 year old before him trying to restrain his exasperation for when he met up with Michael.

“Plan for what?”

“Survival.”

Kyle was startled by the sudden glint that appeared in the girl’s eyes. It was a determination and cruelty he had not seen since high school during the Ice Queen's reign. The girl before him was sure as anything Isabel’s daughter. If the looks weren’t enough to convince a person that look of protectiveness about her family would be.

With that Kyle woke with a start as Lexi disappeared from his dream.

He started his car and turned it around heading for Iowa.

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Lexi woke up with a start looking around her surroundings. Looking for her mom. When she saw her aunt driving and her cousins all sitting in front of her she turned to her brother who was seated next to her in the very back.

“James.”

As the tears formed in her eyes, James pulled his younger sister into his arms and they cried for their parents.

For the loss they were too young to experience.

They cried for their innocence now lost for all time because of the wickedness and greed of a tyrant from another planet.

They cried for all that would never be because the next few days would continue to change their lives forever.

They cried because even though they did not yet know it, Lexi and James would continue to lose more loved ones, perhaps even each other.

TBC…

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[starcrazed]

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Part 7

At the same time the three car loads were headed towards Iowa, the men in the dark suits, with the dark eyes, and dark souls where reconvening.

“Sir there is no record of Zan, Vilandra, or Rath anywhere.”

The other man sighed, “I do hope you did not look under those names for them.”

“No, we did go by their human identities of Max Evans, Isabel Evans, and Michael Guerin. There was nothing sir.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Not since some articles concerning a ceremony back in 2002.”

“Oh yes, the batched graduation ceremony. It was a shame those air force types were unable to take care of our little problem. What did the article say?”

“After a power outage in the auditorium, four teens who were suppose to graduate had disappeared, the sister of one of those graduates was also reported missing.”

“I had heard they had human pets. I had assumed that was a joke. Oh, what a treat. Very well. I suppose we will have to contact Khivar so he can use the Granilith to locate their whereabouts.”

“Sir, no offense but why do we think they weren’t all lost in our attacks?”

“I have little doubt that both Zan and Vilandra are gone. Those humans were to devastated to be faking it. But Rath was much smarter than that. He would not have been in a large city, much to susceptible to attacks. Not necessarily just from aliens either. The Commander was always smart. He did after all train some of the best of us.”

“He could be anywhere then.”

“Yes, you better start looking then shouldn’t you?”

The other man nodded his head, leaving the taller man to peer at his data charts.

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As night fell on this particular Wednesday, the date that set off a chain of events that led to the end of the world in what would seem to be two lifetimes, Michael gazed out into the starry sky for the first time in a long while.

It had been a long time since Michael looked to the stars for anything.

As a child they were a sign of wonderment and awe.

As he grew older they became a place to direct all his questions, begging for some type of answer.

Later, the symbolized a home Michael would never know.

It wasn’t long before they represented nothing but hardship and difficulties for Michael and his family. Everything he was that came from those stars didn’t provide answers or a home. They led to a life filled with fear, pain, and death. A life no one should ever have to experience.

Michael found himself starring at the sky not in questioning or hope, but cursing them.

Mentally yelling and screaming at the blasted stars that did nothing, but hurt his loved ones.

That forced them to be holed up in this small dingy town waiting for Kyle.

The stars took away his brother and sister, his children’s aunts and uncles, and his nieces and nephews parents.

Emotions Michael had been forcing down since the drive back from the airport managed to escape. The sorrow was released as his cheeks became streaked with tear tracks. The anger found release in the exploding streetlights down the block.

“That can’t be a good start for your plan of survival, Michael.”

Michael spun around and was met with the grief ridden blue gaze of Kyle Valenti.

“Valenti.”

“Guerin.”

They smirked as they quickly embraced each other.

“Where are all the kiddies?”

“Sleeping. We got two rooms for all of us.”

“Are we really going to do this with ten kids?”

“What else can we do Kyle?”

“Contact their grandparents.”

“Kyle…”

Kyle’s desperation at the mere hopelessness of their situation faded at Michael’s tone.

“Tell me.”

“Roswell was…they annihilated it. Earlier today. It was on the news. All kinds of ideas about the aliens coming back in search for those lost in the Crash. Investigators started there since it was the lone town attacked. They said it was more strategic, more intentional. The cities, they believe, were just a show of power. Personally, I just think they started there because it’s smaller area to search out what caused it. They said it, the blast, originated at the center of town.”

“The Crashdown.”

“That’s what I figured, yeah.”

“Wednesday. The parents eat lunch at the Crashdown on Wednesdays.”

“Kyle, I’m sorry.”

Kyle turned his back on Michael looking up to the flickering stars that mocked them.

“Do you think it was this bad before?”

“What do you mean?”

“In the other timeline, the one that Future Max came back to ‘fix’ do you think it was bad like this.”

“Well, we’ve made it a lot longer than they did. And he never said anything about kids, so we have to assume that’s an added bonus this time around. As far as the destruction of cities, probably.”

Kyle added his own thoughts, “Only this time we don’t have the Granilith to go back and fix it. We don’t even know anyone named Serena who might have an idea that could help us." Hesitantly and regretfully he added, "I don’t think the kids are a bonus. More to lose this time around.”

“No. More to fight for.”

“Fight? Geez, Guerin you really are insane. Max, Iz, and you with the Granilith couldn’t stop this in that other timeline. You really think me, you, and a bunch of teenie boppers will pull it off?”

“Survival Kyle. It’s the strongest human instinct. Stronger than most, in my kids because of who they are. Because of who I am. It’s the only thing I knew for a long time Kyle. I’m not saying this world will ever be the same as we knew it, but I’ll be damned if I’m just gonna sit by and let those bastards kill off the rest of us. Not without one hell of a fight.”

Kyle sighed knowing he had already accepted this fact. More then that he firmly believed it. More than any Buddhist teaching he’d ever come across. He would lay his life on the line for what was left of his family. It wasn’t even a real question.

“I’m going to get some shut eye. Wake me up when we’re leaving in the morning. We could load all the duffels in my truck so there’s more space in the SUVs.”

Michael gave a slight nod of his head as Kyle wandered off to one of the rooms to find some floor space to sleep. Hearing the door shut, Michael turned back to the stars, for the first time wondering if there was anything beyond them and pondering how anything would be this cruel.

TBC…

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Happy New Year!!!

[starcrazed]

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Part 8

In the days that followed a second wave of major cities were destroyed. Munich, Milan, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Krakow, Naples, Geneva, Seville, Bordeaux, Algiers, Luxembourg, Winnipeg, Guadalajara, Havana, Denver, Miami, Philadelphia, Knoxville, Huston, Birmingham, Milwaukee, Phoenix. In all these cities no one survived.

All satellites were taken out.

Radio towers were demolished by the ships that still hung over head.

People who still lived in anything resembling a city fled.

All aircrafts were grounded that Wednesday. Airports around the world closed to the public on Thursday.

Major highways and toll-ways became overcrowded. Trains too, were filled to capacity as people in ever nation became mobile with the same goal as Michael: Survive.

The three-vehicle caravan of remaining hybrids and two earthlings avoided major interstates. They took back roads and long abandoned streets. Giving the smoldering cities a wide berth and the still standing, but empty ones even a wider berth.

They drove north and south, east then west. Sometimes going in a circle, always driving on new roads. By this time, Kyle’s truck stored the change of clothes for everyone. It also had all the toiletries and non-perishable foods. A few pots and pans had also found their way to the truck. Unknown to all but Kyle and Michael there were also two guns locked in the toolbox. Guns that would prove useless.

In the silver SUV there was a cooler for lunch meats, fruits, cheese, and other dairy. It was kept cold by the occasional touch of a hybrid. The last SUV had a few car games to keep the numerous children occupied, But it was more importantly where most of the kids slept since it was more spacious.

It was Monday afternoon when even Michael couldn’t bear another minute in the car. Most of the kids had been complaining since some point on Friday. Maria and Bella held out until Saturday evening, By Sunday morning Kyle too had caved for the need of a hot shower and real bed. The cramped spaces and alien showers just weren’t cutting it anymore.

So that afternoon Michael gave in to everyone else’s demand as his own need for alone time became to great to ignore.

If only he had waited until evening, at another town they might have missed the confrontation that forced them back to the road for the following ten hours with only bathroom breaks. Forced to transverse the dangerous highways occasionally in order to beat the evil men to find the last one they were looking for beside them.

It was pure chance that a group of men with their dark cars, with their dark suits and their dark eyes were in the town Michael decided to stop in.

Michael and Kyle took the truck ahead to make sure the town was safe enough for an overnight stay.

If they didn’t know any better they could have pretended they were in an abandoned ghost town.

Newspapers scattered on the sideways, blowing in the slight breeze. No cars where present on the streets. A few bicycles were lying sideways in the grass, hastily left behind in a child’s rush to get home.

Michael heard the cars before he saw them. He grabbed Kyle’s arm and pulled him around the corner into an alley with him.

Lucky for them, the cars stopped a few feet before reaching the alley. It seemed to be the center of the small town with numerous restaurants and Ma & Pa stores.

Kyle opened his mouth but Michael slapped his own hand across it so they would not be discovered.

“I don’t understand why we had to meet in this area Sir.”

“From this point we are going in two separate directions. You will take your group North to find Zan’s discarded son. We have reason to believe the others have headed west in hopes to find the shoddy protector.”

“The protector who lived in L.A.? I would think he would be no concern for us. And Khivar dismissed that child long ago because it was human.”

“Things change. Don’t question our orders we just follow them.”

“Do we kill the heir if we find him.”

“WHEN you find him. See if he knows anything about his family. Don't kill him. Khivar needs him.”

The other man having received his orders turned back to his car and drove off.

Another man stepped forward, “Do you think he will find the kid?”

“For his sake I hope he gets their before the Commander.”

“I thought you said the Commander was on his way to California?”

“That’s a guess. We still have no idea where they are or where they’re going. We just have to pray to the Holy Granilith we find them before we destroy the whole planet.”

The man gave a disbelieving snicker.

The apparent leader raised an eyebrow as his eyes flashed a dangerous glint.

The snickering man paled in slight fear. “It’s just, do you really think the Granilith will help us at this point. It was sent to protect them, it has yet to do anything useful for us beside bring the traitorous queen home. Since then it has fallen dead. The most powerful beings on our five planets have not gotten any responses from it.”

The leader conceded to point. It was after all completely true. “Let just hope the Commander does not find this out; he might be convinced he could turn this around otherwise.”

“Yeah but he would fail.”

“Of course he would, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t take a hell of a lot of us with him.”

The two men walked off getting back into their cars and turning west.

Michael had dropped his hand from Kyle’s mouth, which now hung gapping open with his eyes bulging from their sockets.

Kyle couldn’t find the words so he raised his hand and pointed a finger at Michael managing a questioning smirk.

“Shut up Valenti.”

“Seriously, they were talking about you…Commander?”

“Yeah. Max was King, Ava the Queen, Iz was the princess advisor, and I was the Second in Command. You know this.”

“Yeah, but those guys are horrified of you. And they don’t have the Granilith functioning for them!”

“Kyle those ideas brewing in your head stop now. We are on the defensive. We will at no point go on the offensive to take on these guys because they were right. I’d take a whole lot of them with me, but I wouldn’t survive it. Then all of you would be left without protection.”

“So we just keep running and hiding?”

“No, we go to New York and look for Zan.”

Michael turned back into the street headed back for the truck so they could get back to the others and let them know of the new game plan.

It was minutes before Kyle managed to pull his mouth shut for the second time and catch up with Michael.

TBC...

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Happy New Year!!!

[starcrazed]

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Part 9

For some reason Jason Alexander Parker knew in his bones that this day was important. The cities in flames confirmed what he instinctually felt his whole life. It was an ironic twist of fate that Tess’s son would end up with Liz’s last name.

At almost 20 years old, most in his life confused Jason. He did not understand why he was never sick, nor could he phantom why he could produce a blueish green transparent shield. Jason also found curious that sometimes things would happen with other people’s mind. They would act like something was there that really wasn’t or they would change their minds for no real reason that Jason understood. The most baffling were the dreams of jello like substance and a green sky with two moons.

Jason also had crystal clear memories of the desert. Not dreams or fantasies, but actual memories of the desert. This of course being closest to normal Jason found the most fascinating since he had never been to the desert. National Geographics was as close as he got to desert life. But all the same, he could close his eyes and see the sunset, he could picture the star filled sky, an experience yet to be had in Buffalo, New York. He could see catii and feel the dry desert air on his skin.

Jason shook his head clear of the random thoughts. His mind drifted away as he watched the TV broadcast cities in shambles. He laughed as a newscaster commented about the spaceship sited above the ruined cities.

It was as he was staring at the spacecraft on the TV that the flashes of memories hit him. They were not his own but they did not feel invasive as they flooded his mind.

~A boy who looked exactly like Jason with the exception of his eyes broke from some sort of incubation pod ~ A girl with blonde hair grabbed his hand as the boy with brown hair opened the cave wall, a shimmer of more blonde hair caught his attention and Jason watched as the other boy turned to the remaining incubation pod that had a girl with curly blonde hair in it.~ Instantly Jason knew that was his mother.~

Jason watched, as Max grew up afraid, as he fell in love with Liz Parker, and risked his own life to save hers. He saw Max form life long friendships based on trust for hiding a secret that could end all their lives. He laughed as he realized it was destroying not just those six lives now, but 6.6 billion people on Earth.

The flashed provided him with shocking answers to questions he had asked his whole life, but at the same time those answers terrified him and led to more questions. He now had a better understanding of what was going on with his world and it caused more fear than he had granted it only moments ago.

Jason knew he was in trouble. That whoever was attacking Earth would not stop until he was dead, until they were all dead. Unconsciously Jason rubbed at his heart, an ache had formed there hours ago when the cities were first destroyed. How was he to know that his Mother had long ago died? He had no way of knowing that only this morning his father and step-mother were taken from him before he even knew them. Jason even if he knew where Isabel had been had no way to know that she was the only one who might have been able to locate him off of the memory of what he looked like as a baby, but she too had died.

In the last few months of his teenage years Jason was unaware of the fact that he had ten cousins out there as well as two uncles and an aunt. Family members by blood alone. The only family he now had left. They were forgetful of Jason’s own existence until their close encounter with the men with dark eyes. Jason thought for a long time what he should do. First he made plans and backup plans. In the end though he listened to his heart. He packed a duffle bag and waited. He trusted that he would know when it was time to seek them out. He knew in his heart that they would come for him because after all some how he knew in the first place they never really wanted to leave him.

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Ten hours later and some 600 miles Kyle lead the caravan into New York state. As they passed the Welcome to New York sign Kyle pulled over his truck quickly followed by Michael and Bella who was currently driving as Maria slept. At some point they had become aware of the fact that most highways were now either deserted or only had a few stragglers left on them. It made the decison to travel on them easier.

“New York is a pretty big state Michael. We don’t even know if baby Zan stayed here.”

Kyle looked over at the groggy Maria, “Ria, I think we may have to stop calling the kid baby Zan. He’s what 20 now?”

Maria sighed, “Has it really been that long?”

Kyle nodded his head solemnly. Michael reached out and pulled Maria into his protective embrace. The kids waited in the car as the guidelines they had established.

“How are we going to find him?”

“We’ll probably have to use the kids. Between Max’s kids and Lexi they should be able to get a more specific location as long as he is still in New York. Anywhere else is probably to much for the kids energy.”

It was a few hours before Lexi was able to establish a small spark of recognition with the help of Claudia. Lucky for them, Jason had inherited Tess's mental powers. And although he was far less developed then Tess or even his young cousins he was strong enough to notice their attempts to contact him. He opened his mind to them allowing Lexi to easily get into his mind as if he was reaching out for her.

"Hi." It was a hesitant welcome. Lexi looked up at the young man with her jaw dropping open she held Claudia to her side as renewed tears dropped from Claudia's eyes.

"Is she okay?" Lexi looked down at Claudia then back up nodding.

Pulling herself together so quickly her own mother would be surprised she answered.

"Yes. It's just you look like... her dad. Everything about you, but your eyes, are identical to Uncle Max."

Seeming to remember his manners Jason stuck his hand out for Lexi to shake. "I'm Jason. Jason Parker." Lexi again stared at her new found cousin in wonderment.

"I'm Lexi, your cousin.And this is Claudia, your half-sister. Where are you? We're coming to get you before the men in dark suits find you."

"Your like 14 years old and she's what? Eight?"

"Nine and a half." It was the first words she spoke but they were pronounced with a strength Jason marveled at. "Sorry, but still..."

Claudia huffed at him, "We're not coming by ourselves silly. All the cousins are coming with Aunt Maria and Uncle Michael and Uncle Kyle."

Jason nodded as if that meant anything to him, "Buffalo, New York. I'm in Buffalo." He blinked and the two girls were gone waking up slowly in the back of the SUV Michael was driving.

"You okay?" Lexi smiled at James and nodded her head.

"Unlce Michael, he's in Buffalo, New York. Jason's in Buffalo"

Michael looked back at his niece in the rear view mirror. "Are you sure it was him Lex?"

She nodded, "He looked like... he looked exactly like Uncle Max."

Michael cringed at the sharp intake of breath from Jake and Charlie. Michael just got onto the highway and checked to make sure Maria and Kyle where following him still.

Jake and Charlie turned onto Lexie and Claudia for answers hounding each other in ways similar to how Max used to get on his case.

It briefly made Michael smile.

Then the worry overcame the happy memory and he hoped he was doing the right thing. If Michael had the power of premonition like Liz did or even like Charlie, he would have known that going to rescue Jason was a price higher than he would want to pay. If he had known he may have reconsidered risking the lives of his family for an unknown member of his family. Weeks later Maria would still be trying to convince him that even if he had known he would have gone, because Jason was Max's son and Max would have done nothing less if it was Michael's son. As painful as it was for both of them, knowingly ignoring Jason was something he couldn't do because of who he was.

TBC...

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