Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2003 10:03 pm
Part 21
“Now!” Khivar ordered his men to attack the group that was slowly making their way towards his hideout.
Shots flew every where, as Khivar’s minions seemed to rise up out of the ground in front of the rescuers. “Take cover!” Jordan yelled at the group. “I knew something was wrong. He was just waiting for us.” Jordan said to himself as the rest of the group dispersed and took cover.
“Take cover he says like we don’t know to take cover. There’s gun fire all around us and the man tells us to take cover. Does he think we’re freaking idiots!” Kyle was muttering to himself in between taking the occasional shot himself. “How do I get myself into this kind of predicament? I hate this alien crap.” Just then a flying elbow connected to his rib cage. “Tess! That hurt.”
“Well then I think you need to rephrase that last comment.” She smiled sweetly at the love of this life.
“What baby… You know I love you and I would do anything for you. Don’t you? You know I don’t hate ALL things alien, right?” Kyle’s eyebrows wiggled up and down and Tess giggled.
“I know… Let’s get this over so we can start the rest of our life together.” She concentrated on the scene in front of her. Men were hiding behind trees and well placed rocks. “They were prepared for us… They knew we were coming.” She mumbled to Kyle. She aimed and fired taking out the man that had his sights on Kyle.
Kyle and Tess were pinned behind a torn down wall of the old city. Michael and Maria were about ten feet to their left next to the corner of a brick building. Alex and Isabel were to the right neatly placed behind a stone monument and Jordan was working his way slowly to the building that Max and Liz were in.
Jordan stopped and pointed two fingers to his eyes and then fanned them out. He was telling the group to cover him. He was going in. They weren’t able to communicate to each other. Something was blocking them from the one thing that should have given them the edge against Khivar’s men, their connection to each other. Jordan’s journey was a slow one. Between shooting men, dodging incoming fire and trying to run from cover to cover; he slowly made his way to the edge of the building.
Alex and Isabel kept a constant fire on the field. The way it was going it was shaping up to be a stalemate. Everyone was neatly tucked away and no gunfire was going to penetrate their hiding spots. “This is going to take forever.”
Alex continued to scan the area in front of him seeming to ignore Isabel. “Alex are you listening to me? There’s no way we are going to get out of this.”
“Isabel. I always listen to you. I just don’t see the need to answer every time.” He took a side-glance at his lovely partner and smiled his one of kind Alex Whitman smiles.
“What are you looking at?” she asked him.
“We can’t communicate to one another. There’s something blocking us. I’m looking for a device that would enable Khivar to block our connection. It’s got to be around here somewhere.” Alex continued to look at everything that looked out of place and with one blast of the gun he was wielding he would destroy it and take it out of the equation.
“Michael you missed again. Even I have better aim than that. God, you really suck at this. And you call yourself a soldier?” Maria kept up a constant stream of comments hounding Michael and the more she hounded him the worse his aim got.
Finally Michael had had enough of Maria and alien weapons and threw the gun down. “Damn this thing.” He yelled just before he began shooting Khivar’s defenders with his power blasts.
“Now that’s my Space Boy. Go get ‘em Tiger.” Maria’s face was full of pride and ownership. Michael had come a long way since that day he killed Agent Pierce with his blast.
Gunfire ran rampant throughout the old Town Square as Khivar looked on with a smile on his face. It was all coming together just like he planned.
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The room had gone pitch black. There was nothing left of the red glow that was shining so brightly only seconds before. “Liz?” He didn’t know why he was calling for her. He had to act fast and calling for her was only wasting time. Max pulled himself off the floor, holding out his hand he created a soft blue glowing light and looked down into the peaceful expression on his beloved’s face. She knew that he would come. Her faith in him was boundless. It was greater than his faith in himself. She knew.
Max worked quickly to get the cuffs off. He made sure not to make the connection to Liz until the cuffs were completely off of her. Working quickly at her wrists and then moving to her ankles the cuffs clanked to the floor. “Hang on Liz. Hang on.” Max kept repeating his mantra as he moved from one cuff to the other. When the fourth and final cuff hit the floor with a loud clank the first breath of relief was released. Max scooped Liz up into his arms to get her off the cold metal table. Her body hung limp in his strong arms and she felt so fragile as he crushed her to his chest. There was no sign that she was still in the shell that he held. Her body heat was quickly diminishing and Max hurriedly sat them both down on the floor
He held her lifeless body in his lap and tried to make the connection he needed to heal her. Then it dawned on him. He had always connected with Liz while looking in her eyes. What if he wouldn’t be able to connect with her because he couldn’t see into her eyes? Max shook his head and started yelling.
“Why didn’t you think of this Liz? I can’t heal you because I can’t form a connection. I can’t, I can’t. Why didn’t you just wait for the others?” Max wailed. “We should have waited. I should have come down here and made you wait. You were scared. So scared and I left you alone. I should have stayed with you. I should have stayed.” Max began to sob and his body began to shake with every breath he took. Max stumbled to his feet with his precious burden cradled in his arms and began to ascend the stairs.
He no longer cared if Khivar caught him. He had nothing to live for. The one and only person that had ever held his heart, his soul and completed the person he was, was gone. Liz’s head lulled over his arm as he walked up the stairs and he shifted her petite weight a little so her head now rested on his shoulder. The door to the basement was still open from when he ran down the stairs to save her. He didn’t look around to see if anyone had come to the commotion he had stirred when he ran to her rescue.
Once out of the basement Max took a right and left the building that Liz had lived her last few moments in. Max was oblivious to the chaos that was surrounding him the minute he set foot into the real world. A war was going on and he didn’t even notice. Tears were streaming down his face and he just kept on walking. He didn’t care if he was shot; he didn’t care if he took another step to some destination unknown. He just didn’t care.
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After minutes of searching and destroying everything that looked out of place, Alex finally had no choice but to give up when he saw Max carrying Liz. The look on Max’s face saying it all. Something had gone terribly wrong and Max couldn’t save her. Alex directed his gunfire to help protect them. He tried once more to connect with Isabel who had moved to a better location to help keep Jordan safe. But was unable to. Looking to the others he realized that there was no need to contact them they were already moving into position to try to protect Max.
Max continued to walk away from Khivar’s lair and the others fell into place encasing him and Liz in a protective circle. Once the circle was complete and everyone joined hands they were able to create a protective shield around them.
The shield went up and the gunfire ricocheted off of it. “Max! I told you not to go near her.” Jordan was yelling at him. Max continued walking oblivious to what was being said to him.
“Max, are you ok?” His sister asked.
Still Max didn’t answer.
“Hey buddy. Can you hear me?” Alex said as he also attempted to make contact. The look that Isabel had on her face made scared him.
“Stop.” Jordan had a worried look on his face. “We have to stop and do the transfer quickly or she’s lost forever.”
“Out in the open Jordan? We have to get under some cover. How about that farmhouse over there?” Michael argued.
“No, Michael, it has to be done immediately. We can’t wait or Liz will definitely die.”
Max woke from his nightmare when he had heard that there was still may be some hope for Liz. “Jordan?” Max’s eyes were red from crying and his voice cracked with emotion.
“Max. You have to tell me what happened. How did you get the cuffs off of her?”
“I stayed up top like you told me. She was so scared Jordan I almost couldn’t stay away from her. She wanted me close by but when I told her I couldn't she began to think of ways to get the cuffs off. She came up with the idea that if she let the cuffs collect all of her energy that they would turn themselves off and then I could bring her back. She was right, when all of her energy was gone the force field shut down and I was able to get the cuffs off of her. She was right but she didn’t think far enough ahead. I can’t connect with her because I can’t look into her eyes. I’ve never made a connection with her unless I was looking into her eyes.” Max’s voice fell to a low whisper as if he was talking to himself but out loud.
“I’ve never seen anyone that could force their entire energy into the cuffs and force the machine to shutdown. She is absolutely amazing.” Jordan was talking out load but it was for himself more than anyone. Shaking himself out of his state of awe, he brusquely continued, “Ok this is what we are going to do. I’m not sure if it’s going to work or not but we’ll see. Max lay Liz down here and you lay beside her.”
“What are you going to do?” Tess was looking over her shoulder so that she could see what was going on. She still didn’t trust Jordan that much but she didn’t have much choice in the matter. Either Jordan could help Max bring Liz back or Liz was lost forever.
“Well.” He looked up at the group and was amazed that they were all looking at Max and Liz. The expressions that each one held was like the other. Concern. Deep concern. Jordan could understand why. Max was their leader and if Liz didn’t pull through then he wouldn’t survive for long. He shook his head to get rid of that thought. “Just like Liz had forced all the energy that she held inside we are going to force Max to force part of the energy that he is carrying into her.”
“Will that work? How will Max know what part to give Liz?” Michael was probably the most concerned not only was he losing his sister that he had just found out that he had but there was a possibility of losing his best friend as well.
“We are going to connect with them both to anchor him in his own body, and to provide him with the power he needs to make the transfer.” Jordan responded to Michael. He then turned to Max to tell him the rest of the plan. “I want you to think of yourself as healing someone but instead of someone else you will be healing yourself. Do you understand Max?”
“Not really but kind of.”
“Ok, I don’t have time for a long explanation so here’s the short one, you are carrying a part of Liz inside of you just like she was carrying a part of you inside of her. If you connect with that part of yourself that is actually her and then separate it from the other part that’s you, you will be able to see what I am talking about. Got it?”
“Ok… “ Max closed his eyes and search deep inside of him. He searched for the essence of Liz. He was amazed at how easily he was able to find it… It called to him. No. It sang. The glorious glow that was deep inside him nestled close to his heart was singing loud and was begging to be let loose. Max opened his eyes and smiled for the first time since Khivar had taken Liz hostage. “I see her. She’s beautiful.” He finished in a low awe-inspiring whisper.
“Good Max. We won’t have much time to do the transfer because we will have to lower the shield and connect with you to give you enough power to force Liz’s energy into her body. Ok.” Jordan looked at everyone. They understood what was being asked.
“How long will it take?” Isabel asked almost too quietly.
“Not long. Liz’s energy is calling to her body and once we nudge it a little it will flow into her rapidly. Everyone ready?” Everyone nodded their head.
“Wait, stop!” Max cried. “I can’t risk all of you. You can’t let the shield down they will kill all of you and I wont – we won’t do it.” Max was talking for both himself and Liz. He knew that she wouldn’t want the others to risk their lives just to save hers. “There has to be another way. Think of something else.”
“Can’t we take one hand and touch both Max and Liz and then keep the other one connected to the circle so we won’t break the connection and the shield can stay in place for the entire transfer?” Alex suggested.
“I don’t know but it’s worth a shot Alex. Ok… everyone put your right hand on Max and Liz. Some of you will have a hard time but if we move Max’s hands here and Liz’s hand here it just might work. Ok? That looks good.” Jordan fully concentrated on what was about to be attempted. He was making sure that everyone’s hands were in proper position and that they were all ready to try the impossible. It had never been done before but if anyone could merge their power and complete a transfer like this it would be this group of kids.
Max closed his eyes and went in search of Liz’s essence once more. “On the count of three everyone give what they can to Max. Max you then focus on wrapping up Liz’s essence and sending it to her. Will her to live. Give her the life you hold inside you. Make her sing so to speak.” Jordan was the one taking charge and everyone did as he said. Max concentrated on Liz’s essence as Jordan began to count.
“One –“
“Two –“
“Jordan!” Khivar yelled into the group.
“Oh my God!” Maria said in a shrill voice that made Jordan stop the count. Everyone looked up to see Khivar.
“I think you will want to take a look at what I have here. There’s someone here that wants to see you.” Khivar had been watching the scene unfold in front of him desperate for some way of stopping it. Lucky for him Kara had been coming to save her husband from the war that was raging here in the old city. Otherwise he wouldn’t be able to get to the others so easily. It never hurt to have an ace in the hole… never.
Jordan looked over his shoulder to see Khivar clutching Kara who looked like she had been crying for quite some time. He stood up and turned so he could face his old enemy. While looking at Khivar he made contact with the group. ‘When I say three drop the shield and do the transfer. Don’t worry about me. And don’t worry about Kara. Once the transfer is complete put the shield back up.’
’What about you? We can’t leave you out there. Khivar will kill you.’ Max sent his feelings to the group.
’I’m dead already. He has Kara. Not everyone can survive without their other half. You are special. He’ll kill her at least this way I will be with her. Just do it.’
’Ready?’ Jordan called out. “Ok Khivar. I will come see you. Just don’t hurt Kara.”
“What me? I wouldn’t do such a thing.” Khivar said sarcastically. “Besides I owe it all to her for getting the Royal family back to Antar and for delivering the Granolith back to its rightful place.” Kara began to struggle to free herself from Khivar’s grasp but his grip was like iron.
“Jordan I can’t let you do this.” Max was sitting up still holding onto Liz’s hand as if he were afraid of losing her for good.
“Max there is nothing left to discuss. We all know what we are here for. I’ve always been here to protect Kayla and what better way for me to go than for my death to ensure that she lives. I love her as if she were my own sister and I would do anything to make sure that she lives. Now if you don’t tell them to drop the shield and let me go through to be with my wife I will kill myself right here and end all discussion. Please Max let me go. I promised you that if she ever interfered in saving Liz that you wouldn’t have to deal with her, I would. Please let me do it my way.” Jordan pleaded with Max with solemn looking eyes. Max could see that the man in front of him hated what he had to do but he wouldn’t want it any other way.
“Ok. On three.” Max finally conceded.
“Max are you crazy?… We can’t drop the shield to let him go. They’ll be waiting for us to do just that.” Tess was trying to talk some sense into him. He didn’t want to jeopardize the rest of the group but he was doing just that. “Letting Jordan out of the protection of the shield will put us all in harm’s way. Let's save Liz and then do it. If it will be like Jordan says the transfer will be complete and then we can return to the fight. Think about it…”
She was right. Max hadn’t thought about that. That’s why Khivar was waiting so patiently. He didn’t want Jordan; he wanted an open shot at the group. “She’s right. Let’s do the transfer and then if it’s possible save Kara. Any arguments?” Seeing that there were none but Jordan’s, Max laid back down next Liz… “Lets do this.”
“Ok… on the count of three.” One – Two – Three!” Max didn’t hear three but he felt the surge of energy from everyone as it flowed into him. There was Maria’s cool refreshing blue power accompanied by Michael’s strong and solid red. Alex’s cheerful orange and Isabel’s vibrant purple together it was the most energetic and soothing feeling that Max had felt. Next was Kyle’s pale yellow and Tess’ hot pink. Max felt the peace and trust that the two had found as one unit and had sent to him. He was smiling on the inside and as he looked for Liz’s essence, he found it glowing a rich amber color. He channeled all the combined power to it and watched in wonder as Liz mixed with it like she was rolling around and basking in all of its glory…
It was time. Max collected that part of himself that was Liz’s essence and sent it to where he was connected to her. The last thing he thought as he felt all the power drain from his body was that he hoped that it worked.
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“Now!” Khivar ordered his men to attack the group that was slowly making their way towards his hideout.
Shots flew every where, as Khivar’s minions seemed to rise up out of the ground in front of the rescuers. “Take cover!” Jordan yelled at the group. “I knew something was wrong. He was just waiting for us.” Jordan said to himself as the rest of the group dispersed and took cover.
“Take cover he says like we don’t know to take cover. There’s gun fire all around us and the man tells us to take cover. Does he think we’re freaking idiots!” Kyle was muttering to himself in between taking the occasional shot himself. “How do I get myself into this kind of predicament? I hate this alien crap.” Just then a flying elbow connected to his rib cage. “Tess! That hurt.”
“Well then I think you need to rephrase that last comment.” She smiled sweetly at the love of this life.
“What baby… You know I love you and I would do anything for you. Don’t you? You know I don’t hate ALL things alien, right?” Kyle’s eyebrows wiggled up and down and Tess giggled.
“I know… Let’s get this over so we can start the rest of our life together.” She concentrated on the scene in front of her. Men were hiding behind trees and well placed rocks. “They were prepared for us… They knew we were coming.” She mumbled to Kyle. She aimed and fired taking out the man that had his sights on Kyle.
Kyle and Tess were pinned behind a torn down wall of the old city. Michael and Maria were about ten feet to their left next to the corner of a brick building. Alex and Isabel were to the right neatly placed behind a stone monument and Jordan was working his way slowly to the building that Max and Liz were in.
Jordan stopped and pointed two fingers to his eyes and then fanned them out. He was telling the group to cover him. He was going in. They weren’t able to communicate to each other. Something was blocking them from the one thing that should have given them the edge against Khivar’s men, their connection to each other. Jordan’s journey was a slow one. Between shooting men, dodging incoming fire and trying to run from cover to cover; he slowly made his way to the edge of the building.
Alex and Isabel kept a constant fire on the field. The way it was going it was shaping up to be a stalemate. Everyone was neatly tucked away and no gunfire was going to penetrate their hiding spots. “This is going to take forever.”
Alex continued to scan the area in front of him seeming to ignore Isabel. “Alex are you listening to me? There’s no way we are going to get out of this.”
“Isabel. I always listen to you. I just don’t see the need to answer every time.” He took a side-glance at his lovely partner and smiled his one of kind Alex Whitman smiles.
“What are you looking at?” she asked him.
“We can’t communicate to one another. There’s something blocking us. I’m looking for a device that would enable Khivar to block our connection. It’s got to be around here somewhere.” Alex continued to look at everything that looked out of place and with one blast of the gun he was wielding he would destroy it and take it out of the equation.
“Michael you missed again. Even I have better aim than that. God, you really suck at this. And you call yourself a soldier?” Maria kept up a constant stream of comments hounding Michael and the more she hounded him the worse his aim got.
Finally Michael had had enough of Maria and alien weapons and threw the gun down. “Damn this thing.” He yelled just before he began shooting Khivar’s defenders with his power blasts.
“Now that’s my Space Boy. Go get ‘em Tiger.” Maria’s face was full of pride and ownership. Michael had come a long way since that day he killed Agent Pierce with his blast.
Gunfire ran rampant throughout the old Town Square as Khivar looked on with a smile on his face. It was all coming together just like he planned.
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The room had gone pitch black. There was nothing left of the red glow that was shining so brightly only seconds before. “Liz?” He didn’t know why he was calling for her. He had to act fast and calling for her was only wasting time. Max pulled himself off the floor, holding out his hand he created a soft blue glowing light and looked down into the peaceful expression on his beloved’s face. She knew that he would come. Her faith in him was boundless. It was greater than his faith in himself. She knew.
Max worked quickly to get the cuffs off. He made sure not to make the connection to Liz until the cuffs were completely off of her. Working quickly at her wrists and then moving to her ankles the cuffs clanked to the floor. “Hang on Liz. Hang on.” Max kept repeating his mantra as he moved from one cuff to the other. When the fourth and final cuff hit the floor with a loud clank the first breath of relief was released. Max scooped Liz up into his arms to get her off the cold metal table. Her body hung limp in his strong arms and she felt so fragile as he crushed her to his chest. There was no sign that she was still in the shell that he held. Her body heat was quickly diminishing and Max hurriedly sat them both down on the floor
He held her lifeless body in his lap and tried to make the connection he needed to heal her. Then it dawned on him. He had always connected with Liz while looking in her eyes. What if he wouldn’t be able to connect with her because he couldn’t see into her eyes? Max shook his head and started yelling.
“Why didn’t you think of this Liz? I can’t heal you because I can’t form a connection. I can’t, I can’t. Why didn’t you just wait for the others?” Max wailed. “We should have waited. I should have come down here and made you wait. You were scared. So scared and I left you alone. I should have stayed with you. I should have stayed.” Max began to sob and his body began to shake with every breath he took. Max stumbled to his feet with his precious burden cradled in his arms and began to ascend the stairs.
He no longer cared if Khivar caught him. He had nothing to live for. The one and only person that had ever held his heart, his soul and completed the person he was, was gone. Liz’s head lulled over his arm as he walked up the stairs and he shifted her petite weight a little so her head now rested on his shoulder. The door to the basement was still open from when he ran down the stairs to save her. He didn’t look around to see if anyone had come to the commotion he had stirred when he ran to her rescue.
Once out of the basement Max took a right and left the building that Liz had lived her last few moments in. Max was oblivious to the chaos that was surrounding him the minute he set foot into the real world. A war was going on and he didn’t even notice. Tears were streaming down his face and he just kept on walking. He didn’t care if he was shot; he didn’t care if he took another step to some destination unknown. He just didn’t care.
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After minutes of searching and destroying everything that looked out of place, Alex finally had no choice but to give up when he saw Max carrying Liz. The look on Max’s face saying it all. Something had gone terribly wrong and Max couldn’t save her. Alex directed his gunfire to help protect them. He tried once more to connect with Isabel who had moved to a better location to help keep Jordan safe. But was unable to. Looking to the others he realized that there was no need to contact them they were already moving into position to try to protect Max.
Max continued to walk away from Khivar’s lair and the others fell into place encasing him and Liz in a protective circle. Once the circle was complete and everyone joined hands they were able to create a protective shield around them.
The shield went up and the gunfire ricocheted off of it. “Max! I told you not to go near her.” Jordan was yelling at him. Max continued walking oblivious to what was being said to him.
“Max, are you ok?” His sister asked.
Still Max didn’t answer.
“Hey buddy. Can you hear me?” Alex said as he also attempted to make contact. The look that Isabel had on her face made scared him.
“Stop.” Jordan had a worried look on his face. “We have to stop and do the transfer quickly or she’s lost forever.”
“Out in the open Jordan? We have to get under some cover. How about that farmhouse over there?” Michael argued.
“No, Michael, it has to be done immediately. We can’t wait or Liz will definitely die.”
Max woke from his nightmare when he had heard that there was still may be some hope for Liz. “Jordan?” Max’s eyes were red from crying and his voice cracked with emotion.
“Max. You have to tell me what happened. How did you get the cuffs off of her?”
“I stayed up top like you told me. She was so scared Jordan I almost couldn’t stay away from her. She wanted me close by but when I told her I couldn't she began to think of ways to get the cuffs off. She came up with the idea that if she let the cuffs collect all of her energy that they would turn themselves off and then I could bring her back. She was right, when all of her energy was gone the force field shut down and I was able to get the cuffs off of her. She was right but she didn’t think far enough ahead. I can’t connect with her because I can’t look into her eyes. I’ve never made a connection with her unless I was looking into her eyes.” Max’s voice fell to a low whisper as if he was talking to himself but out loud.
“I’ve never seen anyone that could force their entire energy into the cuffs and force the machine to shutdown. She is absolutely amazing.” Jordan was talking out load but it was for himself more than anyone. Shaking himself out of his state of awe, he brusquely continued, “Ok this is what we are going to do. I’m not sure if it’s going to work or not but we’ll see. Max lay Liz down here and you lay beside her.”
“What are you going to do?” Tess was looking over her shoulder so that she could see what was going on. She still didn’t trust Jordan that much but she didn’t have much choice in the matter. Either Jordan could help Max bring Liz back or Liz was lost forever.
“Well.” He looked up at the group and was amazed that they were all looking at Max and Liz. The expressions that each one held was like the other. Concern. Deep concern. Jordan could understand why. Max was their leader and if Liz didn’t pull through then he wouldn’t survive for long. He shook his head to get rid of that thought. “Just like Liz had forced all the energy that she held inside we are going to force Max to force part of the energy that he is carrying into her.”
“Will that work? How will Max know what part to give Liz?” Michael was probably the most concerned not only was he losing his sister that he had just found out that he had but there was a possibility of losing his best friend as well.
“We are going to connect with them both to anchor him in his own body, and to provide him with the power he needs to make the transfer.” Jordan responded to Michael. He then turned to Max to tell him the rest of the plan. “I want you to think of yourself as healing someone but instead of someone else you will be healing yourself. Do you understand Max?”
“Not really but kind of.”
“Ok, I don’t have time for a long explanation so here’s the short one, you are carrying a part of Liz inside of you just like she was carrying a part of you inside of her. If you connect with that part of yourself that is actually her and then separate it from the other part that’s you, you will be able to see what I am talking about. Got it?”
“Ok… “ Max closed his eyes and search deep inside of him. He searched for the essence of Liz. He was amazed at how easily he was able to find it… It called to him. No. It sang. The glorious glow that was deep inside him nestled close to his heart was singing loud and was begging to be let loose. Max opened his eyes and smiled for the first time since Khivar had taken Liz hostage. “I see her. She’s beautiful.” He finished in a low awe-inspiring whisper.
“Good Max. We won’t have much time to do the transfer because we will have to lower the shield and connect with you to give you enough power to force Liz’s energy into her body. Ok.” Jordan looked at everyone. They understood what was being asked.
“How long will it take?” Isabel asked almost too quietly.
“Not long. Liz’s energy is calling to her body and once we nudge it a little it will flow into her rapidly. Everyone ready?” Everyone nodded their head.
“Wait, stop!” Max cried. “I can’t risk all of you. You can’t let the shield down they will kill all of you and I wont – we won’t do it.” Max was talking for both himself and Liz. He knew that she wouldn’t want the others to risk their lives just to save hers. “There has to be another way. Think of something else.”
“Can’t we take one hand and touch both Max and Liz and then keep the other one connected to the circle so we won’t break the connection and the shield can stay in place for the entire transfer?” Alex suggested.
“I don’t know but it’s worth a shot Alex. Ok… everyone put your right hand on Max and Liz. Some of you will have a hard time but if we move Max’s hands here and Liz’s hand here it just might work. Ok? That looks good.” Jordan fully concentrated on what was about to be attempted. He was making sure that everyone’s hands were in proper position and that they were all ready to try the impossible. It had never been done before but if anyone could merge their power and complete a transfer like this it would be this group of kids.
Max closed his eyes and went in search of Liz’s essence once more. “On the count of three everyone give what they can to Max. Max you then focus on wrapping up Liz’s essence and sending it to her. Will her to live. Give her the life you hold inside you. Make her sing so to speak.” Jordan was the one taking charge and everyone did as he said. Max concentrated on Liz’s essence as Jordan began to count.
“One –“
“Two –“
“Jordan!” Khivar yelled into the group.
“Oh my God!” Maria said in a shrill voice that made Jordan stop the count. Everyone looked up to see Khivar.
“I think you will want to take a look at what I have here. There’s someone here that wants to see you.” Khivar had been watching the scene unfold in front of him desperate for some way of stopping it. Lucky for him Kara had been coming to save her husband from the war that was raging here in the old city. Otherwise he wouldn’t be able to get to the others so easily. It never hurt to have an ace in the hole… never.
Jordan looked over his shoulder to see Khivar clutching Kara who looked like she had been crying for quite some time. He stood up and turned so he could face his old enemy. While looking at Khivar he made contact with the group. ‘When I say three drop the shield and do the transfer. Don’t worry about me. And don’t worry about Kara. Once the transfer is complete put the shield back up.’
’What about you? We can’t leave you out there. Khivar will kill you.’ Max sent his feelings to the group.
’I’m dead already. He has Kara. Not everyone can survive without their other half. You are special. He’ll kill her at least this way I will be with her. Just do it.’
’Ready?’ Jordan called out. “Ok Khivar. I will come see you. Just don’t hurt Kara.”
“What me? I wouldn’t do such a thing.” Khivar said sarcastically. “Besides I owe it all to her for getting the Royal family back to Antar and for delivering the Granolith back to its rightful place.” Kara began to struggle to free herself from Khivar’s grasp but his grip was like iron.
“Jordan I can’t let you do this.” Max was sitting up still holding onto Liz’s hand as if he were afraid of losing her for good.
“Max there is nothing left to discuss. We all know what we are here for. I’ve always been here to protect Kayla and what better way for me to go than for my death to ensure that she lives. I love her as if she were my own sister and I would do anything to make sure that she lives. Now if you don’t tell them to drop the shield and let me go through to be with my wife I will kill myself right here and end all discussion. Please Max let me go. I promised you that if she ever interfered in saving Liz that you wouldn’t have to deal with her, I would. Please let me do it my way.” Jordan pleaded with Max with solemn looking eyes. Max could see that the man in front of him hated what he had to do but he wouldn’t want it any other way.
“Ok. On three.” Max finally conceded.
“Max are you crazy?… We can’t drop the shield to let him go. They’ll be waiting for us to do just that.” Tess was trying to talk some sense into him. He didn’t want to jeopardize the rest of the group but he was doing just that. “Letting Jordan out of the protection of the shield will put us all in harm’s way. Let's save Liz and then do it. If it will be like Jordan says the transfer will be complete and then we can return to the fight. Think about it…”
She was right. Max hadn’t thought about that. That’s why Khivar was waiting so patiently. He didn’t want Jordan; he wanted an open shot at the group. “She’s right. Let’s do the transfer and then if it’s possible save Kara. Any arguments?” Seeing that there were none but Jordan’s, Max laid back down next Liz… “Lets do this.”
“Ok… on the count of three.” One – Two – Three!” Max didn’t hear three but he felt the surge of energy from everyone as it flowed into him. There was Maria’s cool refreshing blue power accompanied by Michael’s strong and solid red. Alex’s cheerful orange and Isabel’s vibrant purple together it was the most energetic and soothing feeling that Max had felt. Next was Kyle’s pale yellow and Tess’ hot pink. Max felt the peace and trust that the two had found as one unit and had sent to him. He was smiling on the inside and as he looked for Liz’s essence, he found it glowing a rich amber color. He channeled all the combined power to it and watched in wonder as Liz mixed with it like she was rolling around and basking in all of its glory…
It was time. Max collected that part of himself that was Liz’s essence and sent it to where he was connected to her. The last thing he thought as he felt all the power drain from his body was that he hoped that it worked.
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