This part hasn't been beta'd. I'm trying to finish this story so I can work on a different one that I'm actually interested in writing.
Sorry, guys. I'm struggling to finish this because I've grown to hate it. We're getting there though. Winding down to an end. I've already started a new one but I'm not going to start posting until I'm almost finished.
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http://gentle-breeze.always-faithful.net
The Joni Mitchell song referenced is Both Sides Now.
from Part 93
“Josh.” Madison’s mother greeted him coolly.
“I need to see Madison.” He exclaimed.
“What happened, Josh?” She asked sharply.
Josh opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He just shook his head sadly. “Please, I need to talk to her.” The woman eyed him warily. “Please.” He begged once more. She must have taken pity on him, with his red rimmed eyes, and turned to call her daughter downstairs.
Madison appeared at the door within seconds. “Oh, Josh.” She exclaimed, pulling him into her arms, ignoring her mother. “Look at you.” She whispered, brushing her thumbs under his eyes.
“Can we talk?”
She nodded. “Of course.” She waved to her mom to let her know she was leaving and shut the door behind her. “Let’s go for a walk.” He simply nodded in reply.
Part 94
Josh started speaking immediately before she could say anything. “I’m sorry, Maddy. I had no right to yell at you like that. You were right. Before we go any further I need to get tested.”
Madison waited for his short rant to finish before contradicting him. “No, Josh. I’m the one who needs to apologize.” Her eyes fell to the ground in shame. “This is really hard for you. I knew it would be and it makes sense that it is.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I should have had more patience.”
“No, really, this is all…” He stopped speaking when she chuckled. He turned to find her smiling face. “What?”
“How about we just agree to disagree about this?” She suggested.
He smiled, pulling on the hand he was holding he wrapped an arm around her. “I’ll call the doctor’s office tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.” She turned her face into his chest. “The sooner you get this done the sooner I can have my way with you.” Her whisper was barely audible.
He chuckled. “I can’t wait.” The hesitance in his voice was obvious, but only to her.
She pulled back to look at him directly. “What’s wrong, J?”
The corner of his mouth tipped up in the semblance of a smile. It amazed him how well she knew him in the few months they’d known each other. “You caught me.” He paused, struggling to get the next words out. “Will you come with me? Sitting in the waiting room alone may just kill me.”
She stopped walking and brought her right hand up to cup his face. “Of course I will.” Her hand slid down to cover his heart. “Just let me know when and where and I’ll be there.”
Max drove the car down the old highway. Across the open desert it was easy to see all the celebratory bonfires that other seniors were having. It wasn’t uncommon for kids to hang out there but no one ever went towards their rock. It was too far down the highway and too far out into the desert. Most of their peers didn’t bother.
He led the string of cars off the road and across the desert, stopping under the over hang of the rock where they, too, were planning a party in celebration. Graduation was over. They were all finished with high school and had no problems leaving it behind.
Everyone took an armful of wood out of the trunk of Max and Liz’s car. Josh grabbed the CD player they’d brought and the mixes they’d burned for the occasion, while Michael and Maria grabbed the cooler. The fire was roaring in minutes, as they all got comfortable on the hard desert floor.
Max studied his friends, one couple at a time. Kyle and Tess were sitting to the right of him and Liz. The two were growing closer daily but were very private with their relationship and he had no idea where they were. Either way, he was happy for the wife he had in a previous life.
Next to them were his twin and Alex. At some point in the past few days the couple seemed to have broken through a dam that had been keeping them at arms reach from each other. Max wasn’t sure exactly what had caused the new movement but he felt nothing but joy for his sister.
Across from Max and Liz were Josh and Madison. The two baffled him. They were so perfect for each other; made for each, really. She was pivotal in Josh’s recovery and he brought her out of her shell. They were, now, two completely different people than they were just a few months ago when they’d met.
Between his best friend and himself were Michael and Maria. His second in command was staring blankly at the fire, obviously deep in thought. Even though his complete concentration was focused inside his head he was still quite aware of the girl in his arms.
Max sighed, causing Liz, who was propped against his chest, to look up at him. “What is it, Hon?”
He looked down at her with a strange Mona Lisa like smile on his face. “It’s perfect, that’s what it is,” he whispered back, kissing her lightly. He cleared his throat and stood. “Ladies and Gentlemen,” Max started dramatically before turning serious, “I just wanted to say congratulations to everyone. It’s been an interesting journey, but looking around at us, I think this is a perfect ending.” he struggled, trying to find the right words. “And a perfect beginning. You all are so important to me, I can’t express how much. I am so proud of everyone for this seemingly impossible accomplishment.” He raised his can of soda. “To us.” He toasted. The group followed and they all took a drink as Max sat.
Josh stood and walked over to the silent CD player. “We have a little song, in tribute to this fantastic event. Either ignore the verses or think of high school as a female… or something… right ok, here we go.”
The strumming guitar was recognized by everyone, causing them to chuckle. They all stared at the fire, lost in their own thoughts or listening to the lyrics in silence. As the refrain of Tom Petty’s Free Falling kicked in everyone belted it out, laughing at the feeling it gave them all.
“What the hell is this?” Maria screeched, leaping for the radio as it switched to another unrecognizable song on the mix.
Michael caught her before she made it. “It’s not that damn milkshake song you’ve been playing on repeat, that’s enough for me.”
She smacked his arm. “I like that song!” She protested.
“Yeah, no one else does. Don’t you see how degrading that is?” Liz asked, laughing as she watched her friend’s limbs flailing in the air as she tried to escape her boyfriend’s arms.
“Kleenex Girl Wonder.” Max stated.
“What?” Alex asked, clearly confused as to what had just happened, his focus so much on Isabel that he missed most of the conversation.
“Maria asked what this is. It’s Kleenex Girl Wonder, Why I Write Such Good Songs.” Max replied. “The next one’s for you, Babe.” He stood, pulling Liz up to dance, spinning her into his arms. He chuckled at Liz’s dazed look from all the twirling.
Liz fell into his arms, smiling softly and the sweet beginning music. “Joni Mitchell?”
He nodded, “I know you love this song.”
“Yeah, but I was expecting Mason.” She admitted.
He shrugged. “Yeah, well, that’s next.”
She laid her face in his neck, inhaling deeply. “I hope we’ll always have moons and Junes and ferris wheels.”
He glanced around, seeing everyone up and dancing. “We will, Sweetheart, we will.” He stared out into the desert as they danced. The pure black of night shroaded the terrain. Off in the direction of the town, light from various other fires showed in the distance but they were like fireflies, flickering randomly. Their slow turn had him facing the rock. As he looked past it he felt a pull in his energy.
“Come on.” He whispered, pulling her behind him abruptly.
“Where are we going, Max?”
“I don’t know.” He replied, determined to get where he was going.
“Really, Max, we’ve done the sex in the desert thing. I don’t want to get all dirty again.” She teased. It was as if he didn’t hear her. He pulled her farther into the darkness. Liz looked over her shoulder and saw that none of the other couples noticed they’d left. “Max, Max stop!” She yelled, yanking back on the arm he held.
He stalled for a second. “We have to keep going.”
“Go where, Max?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head, trying to clear it. “Just… that way.” He pointed in the direction they’d been going.
“No, Max. I’m not going any further until you tell me…” She was interrupted by a faint beeping. “What’s that?”
He shook his head, moving in the direction of the sound. They were led around to the far side of the rock. On instinct Max waved his hand in front of the face, illuminating a hand print. He turned to look at his wife for help.
“Go ahead, Max.” She assured him.
He placed his hand on the lit surface until it triggered the rock door. Behind the slate was an orb that shone a blue light. The light eminated from a shape that Max recognized but he couldn’t place exactly where from. “It’s from Antar.”
“Take it.” Liz whispered. “We need to go show the others.”
“What the hell is that thing?” Michael had asked the question so many times that everyone else gave up giving any form of answer.
“It has to have a purpose, right?” Tess asked, rhetorically. “So, what are our options?”
“A weapon.” Isabel offered warily. “Like maybe some sort of bomb?”
Max sighed, shaking his head. “No, that doesn’t feel right.” He glanced to his left, meeting his wife’s eyes. She knew immediately that his words were simply to soothe the other’s worries.
“Maybe it’s a ship.” Michael guessed, getting doubtful looks from everyone. “I’m not hearing any better ideas.” He spat defensively.
“Maybe it’s a communication device.” Tess chipped in.
“You mean like a phone?” Maria asked, looking skeptically at the orb. She grinned, grabbing it from Max’s hand, bringing it to her ear. “Hello operator. Antar please. The royal castle. Thank you.”
“Maria!” Michael grabbed it from her. “What if it’s emitting radiation or something?”
“Let me see it.” Isabel requested trying to pull it from Michael’s hand.
“You can see it when I’m done looking at it.” He replied huffily.
“Grow up, Michael!” She snapped. Each of the held a side, trying to pry it from the other’s grasp.
“Geez, you two. What if it is a bomb?” Tess asked, trying to take it from the both of the them to stop the fight.
“This is ridiculous. Let go, all of you” Max said gravely. He reached into the middle of the group, wrapping a hand around the only part not covered by fingers. The second he touched the object the blue light shone again. All four aliens dropped the object immediately but the light continued.
The figure of a woman appeared before them. A hologram of sorts. “Hello, my children.” Her voice held an eerie echo. “If you have found this, you have found each other. For without all members, I would not be able to appear before you. I must make this brief. I am grateful that in your reincarnation you thought to include your memories, for the explanation would take much time.” She paused. The image glanced over her shoulder. When she continued to speak it was at a much faster pace. “At the point in time that you had yourself and the others recreated, my Zan, our world was at peace. However, with no heir to the throne and no proof that you are alive there on Earth, Kivar has taken over. Slavery has returned and our people are now animals to Kivar’s race. We need you to prove your existance. At that time Kivar and his people must leave. Until then, the forces must let him stay. I wait on bated breath for your return. Once this message is activated a ship will find you. I am sure you have made a home and a life on Earth. We will not keep you long, but please, my son, please return to us and free us.” The image looked over her shoulder again and then quickly reached for something making the hologram disappear. It reminded Max of Princess Leia’s message in the original Star Wars.
“Huh?” Michael’s simple response seemed to echo everyone’s thoughts.
“I’m thinking that my idea to add memory to the reincarnation didn’t work quite right.” Max quipped.
Isabel nodded, staring blankly at the orb. “I have no idea what she was talking about. If we were at peace… and nothing was wrong, why were we reincarnated? What did we all die of?”
“And what the hell are ‘the forces?’” Michael asked angrily. “Damn it, Max! Why didn’t your memory thing work?” He finished, obviously as frustrated with the vague message as everyone else.
“A ship is coming?” Liz asked quietly, looking up at her husband. “When?”
He shrugged, meeting her eyes. His expression showed panic. He didn’t know any more than anyone else. The wind picked up around them, throwing Liz’s hair up into his face. The sudden change in the weather irked him immediately. He pulled his wife closer to his side, looking around for any sign that would explain it. The other’s followed his lead, also sensing a change.
“King Zan?”
Max startled at the voice behind him. He turned quickly, pushing Liz behind him. A pair stood before him. There was nothing shocking about their appearance. No green skin or black eyes. The two appeared completely… human. “Yes.” He replied with a defensive tone.
“We’re here on order of the princess.” They bowed to him.
“The princess?”
They two looked at each other, clearly confused. “Yes, your mother. She’s sent for you.” The taller one replied. His dark hair was streaked with gray and his face showed signs of aging. His partner, though shorter and blonde, appeared about the same age. “Actually, she sent for you quite some time ago. We’ve been waiting for the signal.”
“Waiting where?” Liz asked, refusing to be forgotten.
The two eyed her suspiciously.
“This is my wife, Elizabeth.” Max explained, keeping his guard up.
The man seemed thrown by this but continued on. “We’ve been just outside Earth’s atmosphere.”
“For how long?” Liz asked incredulously, starting to catch on.
“In Earth time, about forty years.” The shorter one answer. “My name is Thomas and this is Brit.” The casual feel of the introduction lightened the entire mood of the conversation.
“My name is Max now.” Max started introductions, noticing the expression on the pair’s faces in seeing he and Tess with different people. They seemed almost happy about it. When he finished he went directly back to business. “So, you’re here to bring me to Antar?”
“Yes, sir. That’s our orders. It’s gotten worse in the past few weeks. They’ve started killing Antarians. Kivar has ordered a holocaust. He wants all reminants of our race exterminated.” Thomas’s voice was panicked.
Max looked down at his wife before speaking again. “When do we leave?”
Liz nodded, supporting his decision whole heartedly.
“At your earliest convinience, Sir.” Brit replied.
“How long will it take us to get there?” Liz inquired.
Thomas’s eyes saddened slightly. “I’m sorry, your majesty, but there is only room for the king.”
Liz’s insides jolted when she was addressed as royalty. She righted herself quickly before responding. “I understand. How long will it take?”
“It takes just one Earth day. You highness,” he turned to address Max, “you won’t be gone from here much more than a week. Please,” he begged, “come back with us before everyone is gone.”
“I need to pack…” Max said, overwhelmed with this sudden invasion on their life.
“We have clothes for you, Sir. Your robes….” Thomas’s voice trailed off as he realized Max had no idea. “You don’t remember anything do you?”
“Very little.” Max admitted. “In the messagemy mother mentioned a plan to have our memories stay with us. It didn’t work entirely. I know I’m the King of Antar… or I was. Michael is my second, Isabel my sister and his wife, and Tess, my wife. Everything is else that we do remember is mixed up and makes no sense.”
“We have much to explain on the way.” Brit replied. “Are you ready, sir?”
“I… I need to say goodbye.” Max’s head spun. He hugged everyone, saying a quick goodbye before pulling Liz away. They kissed softly, resting their foreheads together.
“Go save them, Max.” She whispered.
“What about Josie?” He asked worriedly.
“She’ll understand. Hell, she probably already knew this would happen.” Liz joked.
“She could have warned us.” Max replied lightly. He paused, looking into his wife’s eyes. “Liz, what if…”
She brought a finger up to his lips, silencing him. “Don’t say it. I can’t bear to hear it. No negative thoughts, Ok?” He nodded. “I’ll see you in a few days, my love.”
“And we’ll have moons and Junes and ferris wheels.” Max replied, kissing her once more before returning to Thomas and Brit. “I’m ready.” The two nodded, turning to lead Max off to whereever their ship was.
“Wait a minute.” Maria interrupted their departure. “You two were flying around here for forty years?” They nodded. “So you have been home for forty years?” She asked incredulously.
“Actually, one week on Earth is equal to one day on Antar. So, technically, we’ve only been gone just over five years.”
“But, you’ve been here, so you’ve aged forty years, not five.” Liz pointed out.
They smiled sadly, nodding. “Our wives are in for quite a surprise.” Brit said before turning, obviously affected by this thought. The trio started walking and disappeared into thin air. Everyone stared in disbelief.
Maria broke the silence. “Forty years away from their wives. Can you imagine?”
The comment cut into the last of Liz’s strength she had to hold her tears back. She let out a small sob and prayed for her husband to return safely.
Max got himself comfortable in the small capsule they called a ship. His hands gripped the ends of the armrests and the vessel thrust from the ground, breaking through the gravity barrier at the edge of the atmosphere. The first thing he’d noticed was the lack of windows. When questioned the others simply laughed saying something about trusting instinct and computers over eyes.
“How did you stay in flight for forty years? Didn’t you run out of power?” His head was full of questions he needed answered.
“Long before you left an endless energy source was created.” Thomas replied vaguely.
“What was it?” Max inquired.
“We’re forbidden to tell you, Sir. The princess, your mother, says that if you plan to return to Earth you cannot be too exposed to the more advanced inventions that are not yet found there.” Brit explained.
Max nodded. It made some sort of sense, though he couldn’t imagine the money he’d gain from “inventing” and endless source of energy. “Why are we, Isabel, Michael, Tess, and I… why are we on Earth?”
Brit turned, giving Max a sort of simpathetic smile. “Well, centuries ago a group of rebels stood against your ancestor, King Aidan. He supported slavery at the time and legalized slave trade across planets in the system. Surprisingly, no one objected to the slavery. At the time it was a way of life, no one thought a thing of it; or very few did at least. It was very different from the slavery that took place where you come from. They were treated relatively well, given decent room and board, but they were not paid, and they did not belong to themselves. What the rebels were against was the trading. That’s what Aidan brought when he took over the throne. People were taken from their families and home without warning.
“The rebel party consisted of people from all classes. Somehow, no one really knows, they got a hold of the Earthian, a ship that had recently been completed. It was the first successful craft for long distance travel and had taken a decade to complete. One night they boarded and left. Not without some resistance of course, but, surprisingly, they escaped with few casualties.
“The group had no direction in mind. They didn’t really expect to get off of Antar at all. Aidan had a tracker on the vessel but without a second ship they had no way to follow.
“The rebels were lucky to find a planet that was not yet occupied by a life form with equal or superior intelligence. They called the planet ‘Earth’ after the ship that saved then from this place.
“The group decided to leave as much of Antar behind as they could. They wanted everyone equal. Since not everyone’s gifts were the same it was decided no one would use them. Over the years, because of lack of use, the gifts became dormant. People forgot about them while in the process of starting their new lives.
“On Antar, Aidan was arrogant enough to believe that they wouldn’t survive without his leadership, so he assumed they all died. Once he died his son, Ephremus, who was primarily raised by his loving, just mother took over the throne. He banned slavery all together. By this time another long distance ship was built and in use. Some of the family members of the original rebel group wanted permission to take the ship and find their relatives. Permission was granted as long as a group of soldiers went with to report back to the royal family.
“When they arrived on Earth the family members were saddened to find that all of the original group had passed due to the fact that time went faster on that planet. The fourth dimension reared its ugly head. Your Einstein knew what he was talking. Everyone then decided to return to Antar without telling any of the people of Earth that they had even visited.
“The soldiers reported of the lack of gifts and how the people had split into their own countries. Different groups went as far as creating their own languages. It hurt Ephremus, who had hoped that the rebels would find happiness. He was told of wars and separation, and of slavery.
“The first thing Ephremus did was to pass a law that stated the women could also rule, leaving his wife, Macelynn, in charge if he should die before having any children. He then rounded up Antar’s best scientists and started them on a project. It was to create a way that he could be reborn on Earth so he could bring order to the planet and rule there. He knew that the planet’s leader would have to grow there and know every custom for them to accept him.
The project took longer than he hoped and by the time it was completed his son Alexander was on the throne.”
“Me.” Max stated off handedly, still listening intently.
“Zan was just as fair but he wasn’t as,” he hesitated, “evenly tempered. Because he could not choose a wife one was chosen for him. Her name was Ava and neither was happy with the marriage, which did not make life for the Royal family easy. Once Zan heard of the project’s completion, plans were made immediately for him, his second, his sister, and his wife to be the subjects. Zan knew it would take more than just himself to take over an entire planet. So, they were all given a painless death and sent to Earth to be reborn.”
“I am Zan.” Max stated, causing the man to nod. “Michael is Rath. Isabel is Volandra. Tess is Ava. We are the only ones besides my daughter, Jo Beth.”
“You have a daughter?” The man asked, clearly shocked.
“Yes, I do. And my wife is due in January.”
The man beamed. “That’s wonderful! You’re Jo Beth, she’s special.” Max nodded. “Good, that is the sign of the next ruler. Zan was the same, as were all previous Kings.”
“She knows things about this place that none of us do. And we were the ones that lived here before. Why is that?”
“It was all part of the plan. You were to all have the knowledge and it was programmed that your children would to, in case you all died before the project was completed. As we have found, part of the experiment didn’t work quite right.”
“She told us that we would be having a child every two and a half years.”
The man nodded. “Yes, that’s the way the royal family is. The number of children varies, but they are always two and a half years apart. It is something that was encoded into the family’s genes centuries ago. They wanted the children closer together but the woman’s body needs at least a year to readjust to itself again before another pregnancy can take place.”
“But what exactly is the purpose?”
“In case you die of course.” Brit said as if it were obvious. He continued when he saw the shocked look on Max’s face. “You have no way of knowing when you’re going to die, Max. It could be tomorrow for all you know. A war could start and you all would be in danger. Jo Beth could die at the same time or soon after. Then your next child would rule, or your wife until that child is ready. It’s a back up system in a way.” Max nodded. “And if something should happen to your children, even after you have stopped having them, it could start again, to replace those lost.”
“So we have no say in how many or when?” Max questioned angrily.
“I’m afraid not.” Brit replied, fear in his eyes and the fury in Max’s.
“Can this gene anomaly be reversed?”
The man looked at Max, surprised. “No one has ever tried but I’m sure with the technology… it could be done. For you and Liz, however, it is too late. It has to be done before birth to the next ruler’s children.”
“So Jo Beth will have the same… restrictions… but her children will not?”
“Assuming they can change it by then.”
“I want someone working on that immediately. It may work on this planet, but being forced to have children doesn’t cut it on Earth.” Max snapped.
The man smiled. “That is exactly why you were created to grow there.”
I lost it in the move. Silly me. Anyways, here's the link to the first 85 parts for those of you who haven't read it. 
