Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2003 11:25 am
Part 10
Michael had the pedal as far down as he could go. When he heard that Isabel was going to beat them to the cabin he didn’t like it. “Michael slow down.” Max said in his usual voice. It took Michael back ten years when Max said that phrase.
“I’m not going to slow down, Max. Not only do they have my wife and child but they have Liz as well and if we aren’t careful they may end up with Isabel and Trevor too.” Max didn’t know what to say. Michael was right. Things really had changed while he was gone.
“Umm. Guys. You might want to quit bickering about the speed and look what’s in front of us.” Kyle was leaning over the front seat once again. He was pointing out the front windshield at a white van that was getting closer and closer. “Do you think it could be Maria?” Kyle looked at Michael. He had given up on getting any answers from Max at the beginning of the ride.
“It could be. What do you think?” Michael looked at Max.
“You can’t tell?” Max asked with a raised eyebrow.
“What?” Michael asked. He had no idea what Max was referring to.
“You should be able to sense your son, Michael. Concentrate and search. You’ll know once you feel it.”
“I’m new at this kind of thing. My son’s just over eight hours old.” Michael reminded Max.
“Try. Concentrate.” Max watched as Michael did as he said.
Michael began smiling. “It’s them! It’s them.”
“Way to go.” Kyle clapped Michael on the shoulder and then looked back to Max. “What’s the plan?”
“Hang on… I’ll see if Trevor can cover us. We’ll need to stop the van and take it over
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“Charlie, we’ve got company. Coppers are at our six.” The driver of the white van said as he looked into the review mirror.
Charlie leaned forward so he could look into the side mirror. “Shit. Are you speeding?”
“No, I’m not speeding. I’m not an idiot.”
“Well if you ask me you both are idiots. I told you that you wouldn’t get away with this. I told you.” Maria piped in with a singsong voice.
“Shut up blondie if I wanted any shit from you I’d squeeze your head.” Charlie said as he looked at her with an evil look. “What are you going to do, Bryan?” He said as he turned and looked at the driver of the van.
“Act cool. Just act cool and so help me chick if you even make one peep I’ll kill that kid of yours while you watch.” Maria sat back and raised her hands in a defensive way showing that they weren’t going to get any trouble from her. She turned around and saw what the two were talking about but it wasn’t a cop car, it was Michael’s car. They did come to save her.
It was a bad idea to even have looked to see what the two idiots were so scared of because she was having a hard time keeping a smile off her face now. She didn’t know how they had done it but they did. Her and Alex were going to be saved. Chalk one up for the home team.
“Just pull over. This isn’t a very populated highway and so they are probably just doing a routine traffic stop.” Charlie tried to calm Bryan as to what to do.
“Okay, you’re right. Remember what I said about killing the kid.” Maria shook her head in understanding and the guy pulled over.
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“What the hell? They’re just pulling over.” Kyle said to the two that were sitting in the front seat.
“It’s Trevor. He’s creating a mind warp to make them believe that we are cops. We’re pulling them over for a routine traffic stop. Michael, how much control do you have over your powers?” Max asked as the cars slowed down. Better than when I left?”
Michael nodded his head before answering, “I’ve been practicing. Liz insisted on it.”
“Good, so you can take out the passenger without blowing up the van?” Max continued.
“Yeah, that would be no problem.”
“Good, then you go to the passenger side and take care of whoever’s there, I’ll take the driver. Whatever you do don’t look at Maria and your son. Act like a cop, you’re only interested in the passenger. As soon as the driver starts to reach for his wallet we act. As soon as we get rid of the kidnappers we can take care of Maria and your son.” Max was laying down the plan. Both Michael and Kyle were surprised at the efficiency of Max and his son.
“Kyle, keep your head down. I’m sure they never saw a patrol car with three troopers in it. Hopefully Michael and I can handle everything.”
“So, Trevor’s doing all this?” Kyle asked as he slid down in the seat.
“Yeah.” Max wasn’t going into details and it was killing Kyle.
“Some things never change.” He shook his head.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Max asked as the two vehicles came to a complete stop.
“It means that you’re still not one to give a lot of information. You just expect us to do as you say.” Kyle let the issue drop. It was useless in arguing with Max. He didn’t understand how things had changed while he was gone and it wasn’t the time right now to go into it with him. All that mattered was getting Maria and Alex back safe and unharmed.
Max and Michael got out of the vehicle at the same time. They both started forward towards the van as the plan required. As they approached the rear of the van Michael looked over at Max and whispered, “What do I do? Just hit him or what?”
“Whatever it takes. Just make sure he can’t turn towards Maria.” Max instructed.
“Thanks. I just didn’t want to mess it up.” Michael nodded his head and the two proceeded down each side of the van. As Michael reached his side he nodded at the passenger as he watched Max talking to the driver. As the driver started to reach into his hip pocket for his wallet the passenger sensed the movement and turned to look. Michael reached into the van and grabbed the passenger by the head and smashed it back against the door pillar. The passenger immediately slumped forward. Michael then looked over to see what was happening with Max and he saw that the driver was already out too. Michael wrenched open the side door of the van and the family of Michael Guerin was once again reunited.
“What took you so long?” Maria slapped Michael and then kissed him as she stepped out of the van.
“Are you okay?” Michael asked as he pulled away to scan her for any injuries.
“Besides going crazy with worry. I’m okay. We are both okay.” Michael pulled her into his arms and caressed her as they both began to rock.
Kyle came running up to the van and climbed inside. After a moment he climbed out with baby Alex in his arms. “All’s good here. Baby is fine.” Kyle looked up with a strange look on his face. “Umm. I think he needs a changing. Maybe too much excitement and boy does it reek.” Kyle was holding the baby at arm’s length. “Someone take him, quick.” He held the baby out to Maria.
Maria held up her hand, “You change him Uncle Kyle.”
Kyle’s face took on a look of horror at the thought. “Ugh, no freaking way! I wouldn’t change a diaper if you paid me.”
“I’m not changing him. Michael.” She looked up at her husband.
“What? You’re expecting me to change a diaper after I just rescued you?”
“Yes.”
He knew that there was no point in arguing with her. Actually he would do anything for her knowing how close they were to loosing each other. “Fine. Give me Alex.” Kyle handed him the baby with a smile.
“Breaking him in early aren’t you?” Kyle asked Maria.
“Well…” Her sentence hung while her eyes moved from Kyle to behind him. There standing in the background was Max. “Max? Max Evans… is that you? Oh my god! I can’t believe it. Well I can believe it but look at you.” Maria ran to him as she pushed Kyle out of the way.
“Hey Maria.” He went to hug her but before he could she wound up and slapped him across his face.
“That’s for disappearing ten years ago! I swore I’d hit you for what we all went through.” She then reached up and although Max flinched a bit thinking she would hit him again, she grabbed him into a crushing hug. As she released him she said, “Welcome back Max.”
As Max looked down at her he noticed that she hadn’t changed that much. Well, if you don’t count marrying Michael and having a baby. “How are you feeling?” He looked down at her.
“I’m fine. Relieved. Tired. Should I continue? I can you know. Just ask these two. Not much has changed.” Max raised an eyebrow at her. “Well, maybe a lot has changed but some things never do.” She hugged him again. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too. Me too.”
“Look at you. You’re so young. Whatever it is you did I want to know your secret.”
“No you don’t. My secret is that time seems to slow down on Antar. What was only a year and a half for me was ten years for you. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to go back to stay young longer. I’ve missed out on too much as it is.” He pulled Maria to the side while Michael and Kyle were struggling with changing the baby’s diaper.
“How is she?” Max’s eyes were questioning just as much as he was verbally.
“Liz? Well, she’s good. Acting a little strange today but under the circumstances I can see why.” Maria squared her shoulders to face him. “I don’t want to lie to you. It was hard on her, on all of us but especially her. She was devastated when she couldn’t get a hold of you and she realized that you found the ship and you took off. I remember she had made this care package for you and I had teased her that you would be back before it even reached California. I think she had some idea that you wouldn’t be coming back that if you had the option of finding your son or choosing her that you chose him.”
“Isabel’s wedding came and as we stood up there with her Liz continued to look for you. She always looked for you in hopes that you come back. About a month after Isabel’s wedding and almost two months since anyone had heard from you she went to Jim and asked for help. They spent all summer searching and going over every step that you had taken.” Maria sat down on a large rock while Max continued to stand. Michael and Kyle were done with Alex and were standing off to the side while Maria continued to tell Max everything.
“Summer came and went and they were no closer. She went off to Harvard but not willingly. Things happened and she moved back here. She’s been here ever since.” Maria looked down at her feet.
“Look, I don’t mean to interrupt the old times but you guys do realize that Liz is being held by Khivar and Isabel and Trevor are basically at his back door.” Kyle stepped up. “So, what’s the plan?” Kyle looked to Max. He could see that it was hard to hear everything that Maria had told him about Liz because his eyes were filled with much regret and tears that were about to fall.
“Let’s get to Isabel and Trevor first and then I’ll tell everyone what we are going to do.” Everyone broke and moved to their vehicles. Max and Kyle pulled the two that they had knocked out from the van and started to drag them towards the back. As Kyle dragged the passenger passed Maria she let all the fear and frustration she had boil up inside her out. She took a step up to the guy and kicked him in the side as Kyle’s grip loosened and the guy started to fall to the ground Maria kicked him again, “That’s for threatening my son you bastard.”
Kyle started to step between Maria and the unconscious guard but before he could she gave him one last kick and turned towards Michael “Let’s get to Isabel.”
Kyle grabbed the guy and together Max and he put them in the back of the van while Michael grabbed the car seat and moved it to the car. There was no way that he was going to let Maria and his son out of his site any time soon.
The drive to the cabin seemed longer than it actually was. Isabel was pacing outside her truck while she waited. The minute the van and the car pulled to a stop Isabel ran to hug Max. “You got them! Oh thank goodness.” She turned to Maria. “I’m so glad you guys are safe.” She turned back to Max, “So what’s the plan?”
“Okay, this is what we are going to do.” Everyone huddled around Max and listened to what he had to say. “Kyle, Maria and the baby stay here. Michael, Isabel and I will take the van while Trevor mind warps Khivar and Liz. When we get close we’ll grab Liz and take down Khivar.”
“Sounds simple are you sure that it will work?” Kyle asked the first question.
“I’m not sure, no. But I’m not about to sit here while she’s down there. If anyone else has an idea I’m willing to hear it.” Max looked around the group. When forced to look at him they opted to look away. “Okay, everyone ready?”
“Wait. What do we do if you guys get caught?” Maria looked at all of them. “Kyle and I are only human there’s no way that we can help you guys if you get caught.”
“She’s right.” Kyle added.
“If we get caught you guys go home. There’s not anything that you can do.” Turning to Isabel and Michael he continued, “If you want to back out tell me now, whatever your decision is I’m not leaving Liz down there.” Max walked to the van and hopped in. He started the van and waited.
Isabel opened the side door and crawled in. They looked at each other and smiled. “Are you sure?” Max asked.
“Yeah, I’m sure. There’s not anything that I wouldn’t do for Liz. Maria will tell Jesse if anything happens to me.” She yanked the door shut and settled herself in. “So, what’s the plan?”
The front passenger door opened and Kyle crawled in. “I’m going. Michael should stay here with Maria and Alex. I lifted the gun off the kidnapper’s so I can take out anyone that gets in my way.” Kyle looked back and wiggled his eyebrows at Isabel. “Sorry to interrupt. So, what’s the plan?”
Max explained the plan as best as he could. “We’ll drive down there and act like we are unloading Maria and the baby. Trevor will warp Khivar and Liz into believing that it really is them. Once Liz is close enough we’ll grab her and blast Khivar.” Everyone nodded and Max put the van in gear. “Here we go.”
Max maneuvered the van down the winding dirt road. “There she is.” Max pointed to where Liz was lying on the dock.
“Is she okay?” Isabel asked. As if Liz could hear her ask she sat up and looked at the van. She instantly got up from where she was sitting and started walking to where they would be parking.
“She looks like she’s okay.” Kyle stated.
Max stopped the van. “Okay, here we go. Isabel, wait for Kyle and I to get out and then we’ll open the door. Don’t move until we move. Remember to act like a prisoner, stay with us. I don’t want you falling into his hands.” Isabel nodded and waited for the guys to get out of the van. When the door swung open she stepped out and stood. Kyle shut the door and they waited. Liz was almost there but she was jogging now. Just a little bit farther.
“Maria!” She called out. Isabel’s heart broke at the pain that she heard in Liz’s voice.
“Just a little bit farther. Kyle be ready.” Max whispered under his breath. “Wait, wait.”
Liz was halfway there when Khivar reached out and grabbed her. “Damn.” Max said. “Everyone stay cool. Don’t do anything. Remember we wait.” Max could see Liz and Khivar argue. She definitely knew who he was and she didn’t like it. Max couldn’t help but feel a little bit relieved that he might have a chance to show Liz how sorry he was for leaving her and mend the rift between the two of them.
They made their way to the van. Khivar smiling as if nothing was wrong and Liz looking defeated. Max wanted so much to blast Khivar now but waited. Liz was too close and Max wasn’t sure he could hit Khivar and not her so they went with the plan. Wait. He hated it. She was so close, so close. Max could see her pain in her eyes. Liz felt sorry that Maria was mixed up in all of this. He watched the two girls hug and then break away. Kyle anxiously looked over at Max and Max gave the signal to wait. They didn’t know who else would be here. Surely Khivar wouldn’t be unguarded.
They followed Liz and Khivar into the cabin and then time seemed to accelerate so that the events that followed happened too quickly. Liz was saying something about leaving and Khivar asked if she really would have left. Max couldn’t believe that she was going to leave without telling anyone. How could she do that? And then he thought about it. It was exactly what he had done but for different reasons. She was going to leave so they all lived. He had left to get his son. By the time Max got his bearings it was too late. Isabel had been thrown across the room and was down. Liz was throwing punches at Khivar and he had blast her all before Kyle and Max could do anything.
Max screamed. “NO! And went in blasting.” He was too late. Khivar was in a rage and the cabin was on fire. Max turned to look for Kyle and he barely saw him across the room with Isabel. Max hit Khivar in the chest with a blast and he went down. He rushed to Liz’s side and grabbed her. She was unconscious. “Kyle! Grab Isabel and get out of here.” Max looked over at where Khivar was lying and didn’t bother doing anything else. Let him burn.
Max picked Liz up and carried her out into the open. As he laid her on the porch he tried to make a connection to check her for injuries. “Liz. Liz you have to look at me.” He didn’t know what to do. He looked up at the cabin and waited for Isabel and Kyle to come out. They had yet to emerge. “Kyle!” Max yelled. He heard nothing. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
He looked one more time at Liz and then stood up to go in and save the others. “Kyle… Isabel?” The smoke was too thick he couldn’t see anyone. He tried to clear a path by using his powers but it only made matters worse. “Kyle! Isabel!” Max made his way to the last place he had seen his sister and friend.
He found Kyle leaning over her still form. He looked up to Max. “She’s gone.” He was crying while wiping her hair away from her face. “She’s gone.” Max leaned down to pick her up but Kyle took offense to it. “No! I’ll do it.” Kyle picked Isabel up and followed Max out the door.
Just before they stepped out onto the porch of the cabin, Kyle was hit in the back by one of Khivar’s power blasts. Max turned around and instantly caught the two as Kyle staggered forward. Max had his hands full and there was no way he could defend himself. He staggered under the weight of the two limp bodies and got them out onto the porch, and out of Khivar’s line of sight. “Kyle! Kyle! Can you hear me?” Kyle was gone too. A blinding rage overtook Max and he staggered back inside after Khivar.
“So you’ve come back for more?” Khivar was staggering to keep his balance. The blow Max had hit him with should have been fatal but Khivar had been stronger than Max had thought.
“I’m going to kill you.” Max hissed with vengeance.
“And while you’re killing me who will be healing your precious Liz? Her life is slipping away as we speak. Who is more important? Oh, wait. I know. You’re going to kill me first. Right? Liz comes in second once again. That’s what I never really understood with you. You had this fabulous woman that would do anything for you. She would die for you and you threw her to the side as if she never existed. I was there for her through everything and she never wanted me like she wanted you.” Khivar raised his hand knowing that Max’s retaliation would end his life. “You can kill me but it won’t matter. Liz is still going to die. Your sister is already dead along with her friend. How many are going to die for your selfish acts? I always thought you were a pathetic king but it turns out your just like all the rest. It doesn’t matter who dies as long as you survive.” Khivar took a step with every word he said and by the time he had finished the distance between him and Max were mere feet.
“I don’t care what you think. Go to Hell!” Max raised his hand and blasted Khivar to the other side of the room. Max turned and immediately went to Liz’s side. She was still breathing but it was very laborious. “Liz… Liz… please you have to look at me.” Max began to sob. “LIZ!”
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Michael glanced down at his watch; “I don’t like it. They should have been back by now.” Michael looked to his right and took in Maria’s concerned expression that had taken up residence on her face.
“I know. I don’t like it either but it’s all we have. Max says that Trevor should be able to hold the warp long enough to get Liz out.” Michael and Maria both slid further back away from the crest of the hill.
“Do you have any idea what Max will do if Khivar hurts Liz? He’ll kill him.”
“And that’s a bad thing because?” Michael stated sarcastically.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. It would solve a lot of problems. It would be nice to have us all back and the enemy dead for once.”
“You can say that again.” Michael looked at his watch again, “Damn it, what’s taking so long.”
Maria chuckled before saying, “I wish Kyle was here. He would really get to see what waiting was like. What was that at the hospital about me waiting? Not easy is it? That’s what I would say to him. He was giving me such a hard time when we were waiting at the hospital and I wanted to leave because I just knew something was wrong.”
Michael glanced over to Maria ready with a biting response when all of the sudden they heard Liz scream. “What the…” Both Michael and Maria jumped to the crest of the hill and looked down at the cabin. They heard a series of explosions from inside and smoke started to billow out of the shattered windows.
“Fuck!” Michael got up from his crouching position and headed for the car. “Stay here. I’m going to go see what happened.”
“Michael, NO!” Maria stood up but it was too late he was already in the car and had it started. “I knew this plan wouldn’t work. I knew it! Please, please, please let everyone be okay. Please.” A lonely tear traveled down her cheek as she looked upon the chaos that was going on down below.
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Michael’s car crept closer to the cabin. It literally looked like a small war had been waged. He got out of the car and started for the house. The first thing he saw was Max leaning over Liz, crying. Michael continued scanning the remaining area and saw Isabel’s and Kyle’s bodies lying limp on the front porch. “Max!” He called out in a loud whisper. Max didn’t even flinch. “Max!” Still no answer. He was too engrossed with Liz’s condition to break away.
Michael moved cautiously to where Max was sitting on his knees cradling Liz’s broken body. “I can’t heal her. I can’t make the connection. She’s dying Michael. She’s dying.” Max looked up at his friend with tear stricken eyes. “They’re all dead. Isabel… Kyle…”
“What about Khivar?” Michael asked.
“Dead. Hopefully burning in Hell.” Max began to sob.
“Max, we have to get away from here I smell gas.” Michael reached for Max to pull him away from the burning building.
“It’s not fair. She shouldn’t have been in this position. I would do it so differently if I had the chance to do it all over again.” Max continued to try to connect with Liz, not seeming to hear what Michael was saying.
Michael grabbed Max and started to pull he and Liz away from the fire. “We have to get away Max. Now!”
Max started to stager to his feet with Liz in his arms. “I should have answered her call. I shouldn’t have gotten on that damn ship. I’ll never make her second best ever again. If only I could do it all over again.” Max kept on repeating it over and over again.
Michael finally got Max moving away from the building, Liz’s limp body in his arms. As they turned to the hill Michael looked up to see Maria racing down the hill to help, “Back! Stay back Maria, there’s gas leaking!” He screamed at her.
The house exploded and the blast launched Michael, Max and Liz into the air. “NO!” Michael heard Maria’s scream. “NO!” Michael tried to get up but he couldn’t. He had landed on a fence post and it was sticking through him. He turned his head just enough to see Max and Liz’s bodies, twisted in grotesque angles before everything faded to black.
Maria fell to her knees as she scanned the devastation all around her. She began to mumble, “Dead, they’re all dead.” She broke down in tears and cried for everyone she had lost. It was just her and Alex and Trevor now. What was she going to do? What was she to do? “They’re all dead.”
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Michael had the pedal as far down as he could go. When he heard that Isabel was going to beat them to the cabin he didn’t like it. “Michael slow down.” Max said in his usual voice. It took Michael back ten years when Max said that phrase.
“I’m not going to slow down, Max. Not only do they have my wife and child but they have Liz as well and if we aren’t careful they may end up with Isabel and Trevor too.” Max didn’t know what to say. Michael was right. Things really had changed while he was gone.
“Umm. Guys. You might want to quit bickering about the speed and look what’s in front of us.” Kyle was leaning over the front seat once again. He was pointing out the front windshield at a white van that was getting closer and closer. “Do you think it could be Maria?” Kyle looked at Michael. He had given up on getting any answers from Max at the beginning of the ride.
“It could be. What do you think?” Michael looked at Max.
“You can’t tell?” Max asked with a raised eyebrow.
“What?” Michael asked. He had no idea what Max was referring to.
“You should be able to sense your son, Michael. Concentrate and search. You’ll know once you feel it.”
“I’m new at this kind of thing. My son’s just over eight hours old.” Michael reminded Max.
“Try. Concentrate.” Max watched as Michael did as he said.
Michael began smiling. “It’s them! It’s them.”
“Way to go.” Kyle clapped Michael on the shoulder and then looked back to Max. “What’s the plan?”
“Hang on… I’ll see if Trevor can cover us. We’ll need to stop the van and take it over
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“Charlie, we’ve got company. Coppers are at our six.” The driver of the white van said as he looked into the review mirror.
Charlie leaned forward so he could look into the side mirror. “Shit. Are you speeding?”
“No, I’m not speeding. I’m not an idiot.”
“Well if you ask me you both are idiots. I told you that you wouldn’t get away with this. I told you.” Maria piped in with a singsong voice.
“Shut up blondie if I wanted any shit from you I’d squeeze your head.” Charlie said as he looked at her with an evil look. “What are you going to do, Bryan?” He said as he turned and looked at the driver of the van.
“Act cool. Just act cool and so help me chick if you even make one peep I’ll kill that kid of yours while you watch.” Maria sat back and raised her hands in a defensive way showing that they weren’t going to get any trouble from her. She turned around and saw what the two were talking about but it wasn’t a cop car, it was Michael’s car. They did come to save her.
It was a bad idea to even have looked to see what the two idiots were so scared of because she was having a hard time keeping a smile off her face now. She didn’t know how they had done it but they did. Her and Alex were going to be saved. Chalk one up for the home team.
“Just pull over. This isn’t a very populated highway and so they are probably just doing a routine traffic stop.” Charlie tried to calm Bryan as to what to do.
“Okay, you’re right. Remember what I said about killing the kid.” Maria shook her head in understanding and the guy pulled over.
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“What the hell? They’re just pulling over.” Kyle said to the two that were sitting in the front seat.
“It’s Trevor. He’s creating a mind warp to make them believe that we are cops. We’re pulling them over for a routine traffic stop. Michael, how much control do you have over your powers?” Max asked as the cars slowed down. Better than when I left?”
Michael nodded his head before answering, “I’ve been practicing. Liz insisted on it.”
“Good, so you can take out the passenger without blowing up the van?” Max continued.
“Yeah, that would be no problem.”
“Good, then you go to the passenger side and take care of whoever’s there, I’ll take the driver. Whatever you do don’t look at Maria and your son. Act like a cop, you’re only interested in the passenger. As soon as the driver starts to reach for his wallet we act. As soon as we get rid of the kidnappers we can take care of Maria and your son.” Max was laying down the plan. Both Michael and Kyle were surprised at the efficiency of Max and his son.
“Kyle, keep your head down. I’m sure they never saw a patrol car with three troopers in it. Hopefully Michael and I can handle everything.”
“So, Trevor’s doing all this?” Kyle asked as he slid down in the seat.
“Yeah.” Max wasn’t going into details and it was killing Kyle.
“Some things never change.” He shook his head.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Max asked as the two vehicles came to a complete stop.
“It means that you’re still not one to give a lot of information. You just expect us to do as you say.” Kyle let the issue drop. It was useless in arguing with Max. He didn’t understand how things had changed while he was gone and it wasn’t the time right now to go into it with him. All that mattered was getting Maria and Alex back safe and unharmed.
Max and Michael got out of the vehicle at the same time. They both started forward towards the van as the plan required. As they approached the rear of the van Michael looked over at Max and whispered, “What do I do? Just hit him or what?”
“Whatever it takes. Just make sure he can’t turn towards Maria.” Max instructed.
“Thanks. I just didn’t want to mess it up.” Michael nodded his head and the two proceeded down each side of the van. As Michael reached his side he nodded at the passenger as he watched Max talking to the driver. As the driver started to reach into his hip pocket for his wallet the passenger sensed the movement and turned to look. Michael reached into the van and grabbed the passenger by the head and smashed it back against the door pillar. The passenger immediately slumped forward. Michael then looked over to see what was happening with Max and he saw that the driver was already out too. Michael wrenched open the side door of the van and the family of Michael Guerin was once again reunited.
“What took you so long?” Maria slapped Michael and then kissed him as she stepped out of the van.
“Are you okay?” Michael asked as he pulled away to scan her for any injuries.
“Besides going crazy with worry. I’m okay. We are both okay.” Michael pulled her into his arms and caressed her as they both began to rock.
Kyle came running up to the van and climbed inside. After a moment he climbed out with baby Alex in his arms. “All’s good here. Baby is fine.” Kyle looked up with a strange look on his face. “Umm. I think he needs a changing. Maybe too much excitement and boy does it reek.” Kyle was holding the baby at arm’s length. “Someone take him, quick.” He held the baby out to Maria.
Maria held up her hand, “You change him Uncle Kyle.”
Kyle’s face took on a look of horror at the thought. “Ugh, no freaking way! I wouldn’t change a diaper if you paid me.”
“I’m not changing him. Michael.” She looked up at her husband.
“What? You’re expecting me to change a diaper after I just rescued you?”
“Yes.”
He knew that there was no point in arguing with her. Actually he would do anything for her knowing how close they were to loosing each other. “Fine. Give me Alex.” Kyle handed him the baby with a smile.
“Breaking him in early aren’t you?” Kyle asked Maria.
“Well…” Her sentence hung while her eyes moved from Kyle to behind him. There standing in the background was Max. “Max? Max Evans… is that you? Oh my god! I can’t believe it. Well I can believe it but look at you.” Maria ran to him as she pushed Kyle out of the way.
“Hey Maria.” He went to hug her but before he could she wound up and slapped him across his face.
“That’s for disappearing ten years ago! I swore I’d hit you for what we all went through.” She then reached up and although Max flinched a bit thinking she would hit him again, she grabbed him into a crushing hug. As she released him she said, “Welcome back Max.”
As Max looked down at her he noticed that she hadn’t changed that much. Well, if you don’t count marrying Michael and having a baby. “How are you feeling?” He looked down at her.
“I’m fine. Relieved. Tired. Should I continue? I can you know. Just ask these two. Not much has changed.” Max raised an eyebrow at her. “Well, maybe a lot has changed but some things never do.” She hugged him again. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too. Me too.”
“Look at you. You’re so young. Whatever it is you did I want to know your secret.”
“No you don’t. My secret is that time seems to slow down on Antar. What was only a year and a half for me was ten years for you. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to go back to stay young longer. I’ve missed out on too much as it is.” He pulled Maria to the side while Michael and Kyle were struggling with changing the baby’s diaper.
“How is she?” Max’s eyes were questioning just as much as he was verbally.
“Liz? Well, she’s good. Acting a little strange today but under the circumstances I can see why.” Maria squared her shoulders to face him. “I don’t want to lie to you. It was hard on her, on all of us but especially her. She was devastated when she couldn’t get a hold of you and she realized that you found the ship and you took off. I remember she had made this care package for you and I had teased her that you would be back before it even reached California. I think she had some idea that you wouldn’t be coming back that if you had the option of finding your son or choosing her that you chose him.”
“Isabel’s wedding came and as we stood up there with her Liz continued to look for you. She always looked for you in hopes that you come back. About a month after Isabel’s wedding and almost two months since anyone had heard from you she went to Jim and asked for help. They spent all summer searching and going over every step that you had taken.” Maria sat down on a large rock while Max continued to stand. Michael and Kyle were done with Alex and were standing off to the side while Maria continued to tell Max everything.
“Summer came and went and they were no closer. She went off to Harvard but not willingly. Things happened and she moved back here. She’s been here ever since.” Maria looked down at her feet.
“Look, I don’t mean to interrupt the old times but you guys do realize that Liz is being held by Khivar and Isabel and Trevor are basically at his back door.” Kyle stepped up. “So, what’s the plan?” Kyle looked to Max. He could see that it was hard to hear everything that Maria had told him about Liz because his eyes were filled with much regret and tears that were about to fall.
“Let’s get to Isabel and Trevor first and then I’ll tell everyone what we are going to do.” Everyone broke and moved to their vehicles. Max and Kyle pulled the two that they had knocked out from the van and started to drag them towards the back. As Kyle dragged the passenger passed Maria she let all the fear and frustration she had boil up inside her out. She took a step up to the guy and kicked him in the side as Kyle’s grip loosened and the guy started to fall to the ground Maria kicked him again, “That’s for threatening my son you bastard.”
Kyle started to step between Maria and the unconscious guard but before he could she gave him one last kick and turned towards Michael “Let’s get to Isabel.”
Kyle grabbed the guy and together Max and he put them in the back of the van while Michael grabbed the car seat and moved it to the car. There was no way that he was going to let Maria and his son out of his site any time soon.
The drive to the cabin seemed longer than it actually was. Isabel was pacing outside her truck while she waited. The minute the van and the car pulled to a stop Isabel ran to hug Max. “You got them! Oh thank goodness.” She turned to Maria. “I’m so glad you guys are safe.” She turned back to Max, “So what’s the plan?”
“Okay, this is what we are going to do.” Everyone huddled around Max and listened to what he had to say. “Kyle, Maria and the baby stay here. Michael, Isabel and I will take the van while Trevor mind warps Khivar and Liz. When we get close we’ll grab Liz and take down Khivar.”
“Sounds simple are you sure that it will work?” Kyle asked the first question.
“I’m not sure, no. But I’m not about to sit here while she’s down there. If anyone else has an idea I’m willing to hear it.” Max looked around the group. When forced to look at him they opted to look away. “Okay, everyone ready?”
“Wait. What do we do if you guys get caught?” Maria looked at all of them. “Kyle and I are only human there’s no way that we can help you guys if you get caught.”
“She’s right.” Kyle added.
“If we get caught you guys go home. There’s not anything that you can do.” Turning to Isabel and Michael he continued, “If you want to back out tell me now, whatever your decision is I’m not leaving Liz down there.” Max walked to the van and hopped in. He started the van and waited.
Isabel opened the side door and crawled in. They looked at each other and smiled. “Are you sure?” Max asked.
“Yeah, I’m sure. There’s not anything that I wouldn’t do for Liz. Maria will tell Jesse if anything happens to me.” She yanked the door shut and settled herself in. “So, what’s the plan?”
The front passenger door opened and Kyle crawled in. “I’m going. Michael should stay here with Maria and Alex. I lifted the gun off the kidnapper’s so I can take out anyone that gets in my way.” Kyle looked back and wiggled his eyebrows at Isabel. “Sorry to interrupt. So, what’s the plan?”
Max explained the plan as best as he could. “We’ll drive down there and act like we are unloading Maria and the baby. Trevor will warp Khivar and Liz into believing that it really is them. Once Liz is close enough we’ll grab her and blast Khivar.” Everyone nodded and Max put the van in gear. “Here we go.”
Max maneuvered the van down the winding dirt road. “There she is.” Max pointed to where Liz was lying on the dock.
“Is she okay?” Isabel asked. As if Liz could hear her ask she sat up and looked at the van. She instantly got up from where she was sitting and started walking to where they would be parking.
“She looks like she’s okay.” Kyle stated.
Max stopped the van. “Okay, here we go. Isabel, wait for Kyle and I to get out and then we’ll open the door. Don’t move until we move. Remember to act like a prisoner, stay with us. I don’t want you falling into his hands.” Isabel nodded and waited for the guys to get out of the van. When the door swung open she stepped out and stood. Kyle shut the door and they waited. Liz was almost there but she was jogging now. Just a little bit farther.
“Maria!” She called out. Isabel’s heart broke at the pain that she heard in Liz’s voice.
“Just a little bit farther. Kyle be ready.” Max whispered under his breath. “Wait, wait.”
Liz was halfway there when Khivar reached out and grabbed her. “Damn.” Max said. “Everyone stay cool. Don’t do anything. Remember we wait.” Max could see Liz and Khivar argue. She definitely knew who he was and she didn’t like it. Max couldn’t help but feel a little bit relieved that he might have a chance to show Liz how sorry he was for leaving her and mend the rift between the two of them.
They made their way to the van. Khivar smiling as if nothing was wrong and Liz looking defeated. Max wanted so much to blast Khivar now but waited. Liz was too close and Max wasn’t sure he could hit Khivar and not her so they went with the plan. Wait. He hated it. She was so close, so close. Max could see her pain in her eyes. Liz felt sorry that Maria was mixed up in all of this. He watched the two girls hug and then break away. Kyle anxiously looked over at Max and Max gave the signal to wait. They didn’t know who else would be here. Surely Khivar wouldn’t be unguarded.
They followed Liz and Khivar into the cabin and then time seemed to accelerate so that the events that followed happened too quickly. Liz was saying something about leaving and Khivar asked if she really would have left. Max couldn’t believe that she was going to leave without telling anyone. How could she do that? And then he thought about it. It was exactly what he had done but for different reasons. She was going to leave so they all lived. He had left to get his son. By the time Max got his bearings it was too late. Isabel had been thrown across the room and was down. Liz was throwing punches at Khivar and he had blast her all before Kyle and Max could do anything.
Max screamed. “NO! And went in blasting.” He was too late. Khivar was in a rage and the cabin was on fire. Max turned to look for Kyle and he barely saw him across the room with Isabel. Max hit Khivar in the chest with a blast and he went down. He rushed to Liz’s side and grabbed her. She was unconscious. “Kyle! Grab Isabel and get out of here.” Max looked over at where Khivar was lying and didn’t bother doing anything else. Let him burn.
Max picked Liz up and carried her out into the open. As he laid her on the porch he tried to make a connection to check her for injuries. “Liz. Liz you have to look at me.” He didn’t know what to do. He looked up at the cabin and waited for Isabel and Kyle to come out. They had yet to emerge. “Kyle!” Max yelled. He heard nothing. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
He looked one more time at Liz and then stood up to go in and save the others. “Kyle… Isabel?” The smoke was too thick he couldn’t see anyone. He tried to clear a path by using his powers but it only made matters worse. “Kyle! Isabel!” Max made his way to the last place he had seen his sister and friend.
He found Kyle leaning over her still form. He looked up to Max. “She’s gone.” He was crying while wiping her hair away from her face. “She’s gone.” Max leaned down to pick her up but Kyle took offense to it. “No! I’ll do it.” Kyle picked Isabel up and followed Max out the door.
Just before they stepped out onto the porch of the cabin, Kyle was hit in the back by one of Khivar’s power blasts. Max turned around and instantly caught the two as Kyle staggered forward. Max had his hands full and there was no way he could defend himself. He staggered under the weight of the two limp bodies and got them out onto the porch, and out of Khivar’s line of sight. “Kyle! Kyle! Can you hear me?” Kyle was gone too. A blinding rage overtook Max and he staggered back inside after Khivar.
“So you’ve come back for more?” Khivar was staggering to keep his balance. The blow Max had hit him with should have been fatal but Khivar had been stronger than Max had thought.
“I’m going to kill you.” Max hissed with vengeance.
“And while you’re killing me who will be healing your precious Liz? Her life is slipping away as we speak. Who is more important? Oh, wait. I know. You’re going to kill me first. Right? Liz comes in second once again. That’s what I never really understood with you. You had this fabulous woman that would do anything for you. She would die for you and you threw her to the side as if she never existed. I was there for her through everything and she never wanted me like she wanted you.” Khivar raised his hand knowing that Max’s retaliation would end his life. “You can kill me but it won’t matter. Liz is still going to die. Your sister is already dead along with her friend. How many are going to die for your selfish acts? I always thought you were a pathetic king but it turns out your just like all the rest. It doesn’t matter who dies as long as you survive.” Khivar took a step with every word he said and by the time he had finished the distance between him and Max were mere feet.
“I don’t care what you think. Go to Hell!” Max raised his hand and blasted Khivar to the other side of the room. Max turned and immediately went to Liz’s side. She was still breathing but it was very laborious. “Liz… Liz… please you have to look at me.” Max began to sob. “LIZ!”
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Michael glanced down at his watch; “I don’t like it. They should have been back by now.” Michael looked to his right and took in Maria’s concerned expression that had taken up residence on her face.
“I know. I don’t like it either but it’s all we have. Max says that Trevor should be able to hold the warp long enough to get Liz out.” Michael and Maria both slid further back away from the crest of the hill.
“Do you have any idea what Max will do if Khivar hurts Liz? He’ll kill him.”
“And that’s a bad thing because?” Michael stated sarcastically.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. It would solve a lot of problems. It would be nice to have us all back and the enemy dead for once.”
“You can say that again.” Michael looked at his watch again, “Damn it, what’s taking so long.”
Maria chuckled before saying, “I wish Kyle was here. He would really get to see what waiting was like. What was that at the hospital about me waiting? Not easy is it? That’s what I would say to him. He was giving me such a hard time when we were waiting at the hospital and I wanted to leave because I just knew something was wrong.”
Michael glanced over to Maria ready with a biting response when all of the sudden they heard Liz scream. “What the…” Both Michael and Maria jumped to the crest of the hill and looked down at the cabin. They heard a series of explosions from inside and smoke started to billow out of the shattered windows.
“Fuck!” Michael got up from his crouching position and headed for the car. “Stay here. I’m going to go see what happened.”
“Michael, NO!” Maria stood up but it was too late he was already in the car and had it started. “I knew this plan wouldn’t work. I knew it! Please, please, please let everyone be okay. Please.” A lonely tear traveled down her cheek as she looked upon the chaos that was going on down below.
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Michael’s car crept closer to the cabin. It literally looked like a small war had been waged. He got out of the car and started for the house. The first thing he saw was Max leaning over Liz, crying. Michael continued scanning the remaining area and saw Isabel’s and Kyle’s bodies lying limp on the front porch. “Max!” He called out in a loud whisper. Max didn’t even flinch. “Max!” Still no answer. He was too engrossed with Liz’s condition to break away.
Michael moved cautiously to where Max was sitting on his knees cradling Liz’s broken body. “I can’t heal her. I can’t make the connection. She’s dying Michael. She’s dying.” Max looked up at his friend with tear stricken eyes. “They’re all dead. Isabel… Kyle…”
“What about Khivar?” Michael asked.
“Dead. Hopefully burning in Hell.” Max began to sob.
“Max, we have to get away from here I smell gas.” Michael reached for Max to pull him away from the burning building.
“It’s not fair. She shouldn’t have been in this position. I would do it so differently if I had the chance to do it all over again.” Max continued to try to connect with Liz, not seeming to hear what Michael was saying.
Michael grabbed Max and started to pull he and Liz away from the fire. “We have to get away Max. Now!”
Max started to stager to his feet with Liz in his arms. “I should have answered her call. I shouldn’t have gotten on that damn ship. I’ll never make her second best ever again. If only I could do it all over again.” Max kept on repeating it over and over again.
Michael finally got Max moving away from the building, Liz’s limp body in his arms. As they turned to the hill Michael looked up to see Maria racing down the hill to help, “Back! Stay back Maria, there’s gas leaking!” He screamed at her.
The house exploded and the blast launched Michael, Max and Liz into the air. “NO!” Michael heard Maria’s scream. “NO!” Michael tried to get up but he couldn’t. He had landed on a fence post and it was sticking through him. He turned his head just enough to see Max and Liz’s bodies, twisted in grotesque angles before everything faded to black.
Maria fell to her knees as she scanned the devastation all around her. She began to mumble, “Dead, they’re all dead.” She broke down in tears and cried for everyone she had lost. It was just her and Alex and Trevor now. What was she going to do? What was she to do? “They’re all dead.”
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