Chapter 21
Max stood out on the mountainside, shielding his eyes from the glaring sun as the wind kicked up high. Beside him stood Michael and Jim Valenti and a little further off to his left Lauren Davis, her cameraman and Max’s parents. All seven people had their eyes turned expectantly towards the sky. All seven people were waiting with bated breaths. Yet, as Max anticipated the moment when his entire life would change, he replayed that morning’s events over in his mind, reveling in those last few hours of normalcy.
He awoke from a dreamless sleep. There had been no nightmares about Antar, no cryptic messages from beyond. His sleep had been boneless, content and indescribably peaceful. When he opened his eyes that morning, however, Max knew the exact reason that was. Max knew deep down in his core that Antar was gone and Larek was dead. Sorrow and determination making his heart heavy, Max had rolled from his bed.
He felt only a slight disorientation when he realized it wasn’t his room back home. It had been two days since he and Michael had gotten a place together and Max was still dealing with the lingering weirdness. Shaking off the last clinging vestiges of sleep, he stumbled into Michael’s bedroom and shook his snoring friend awake. “Michael. Michael,” he said with low insistence, “It’s time.”
Michael rolled over, disgruntled and unsettled. “Do you know I only just fell asleep an hour ago?” he demanded crossly as he flipped back the covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, “God! I feel like a basket case.”
“Well, I slept like the dead,” Max replied dryly. There was an extended pause before he added, “I think Antar’s gone, Michael.”
His friend surprised him by agreeing. “Me, too,” Michael said, “Don’t ask me how I know…it’s just a sense I’m getting.”
“You don’t have to explain,” Max whispered.
“So I don’t guess there’s any reason to swing by the UFO Center this morning, is there?” Michael wondered grimly, “Larek won’t be there.” Max nodded in mournful agreement. “What a way to start this day.”
“You’re telling me,” Max muttered, “As if I didn’t have enough on my mind with the landing. Now there’s Larek’s death, not to mention the fact Liz is confronting her ex-boyfriend today.”
“Yeah…I’ve been meaning to ask…how do you feel about that?” Michael asked lightly, yanking on a crumpled pair of jeans, “I think I’d be flipping if Maria was meeting with her ex.”
“I trust Liz,” Max replied quietly, “She just went to set the guy straight on a few things. That’s all. The fewer complications we have, the better.”
“Whatever you say, your majesty,” Michael tossed back glibly, “I’m gonna go hit the shower so we can get this convoluted day started.”
After he was gone Max let his controlled façade drop and he shuffled into the kitchen for some breakfast. However, by the time he’d finished preparing himself a bowl of cereal Max found he didn’t have much on an appetite. Before he’d thought it out completely he was snatching up the phone and dialing Liz, despite the early morning hour. After several rings she finally answered her cell phone with a sleepy, “Hello.”
“Hey, Liz,” he whispered, his spirits lifting with just the sound of her voice, “I’m sorry to wake you.”
“Forget about it,” she said with gruff cheerfulness, “I couldn’t think of a better wake up call, Max. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
“So I don’t need to ask why you’re calling me at eight o’clock in the morning, do I?” she deduced softly, instinctively reading him even though they weren’t face to face or even in the same state, “Are you scared?”
“Sometimes yes, sometimes no,” Max answered honestly, “I really wish you were here with me right now. You make me strong, Liz. I can face anything when I’m with you.”
“I feel the same,” she said, “But I know you’re going to be fine, Max. If anyone can pull this off it’s you.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he replied, “I’ll let you go back to sleep now. I know you’ve got a long day ahead of you, too.”
“Okay,” she agreed, not completely managing to stifle her sleepy yawn, “You take care and call me as soon as you get a chance. I love you, Max.”
“I love you, too.”
When he hung up with her Max felt infinitely better. Michael had been half right when he charged Max with having misgivings about Liz meeting with David McKee, but their brief conversation managed to put his unease to rest. Even with thousands of miles separating them Liz still provided him the same comfort and support that she had when she’d been at his side. He only wished he could tell her exactly how much she meant to him, face to face.
Max was still reflecting on his earlier conversation with Liz when a loud noise not unlike the revving engines of a Lear jet sounded overhead. As the dirt and wind kicked up wildly Max could see the first ship coming into view over the ridge of the mountain. Beside him, Lauren Davis and her cameraman gasped audibly, but Max hardly paid them a glance.
The ship was massive, an elliptical, silver disk cutting across the sky. Max was left awed by the sight, speechless. Just as the first vessel cleared the top of the mountain another followed behind it, as equally impressive as the first.
“How the hell did Larek ever to get those things off the planet without being caught?” Michael muttered to himself.
“He was phenomenal,” Max said in response to the rhetorical question, “He was a phenomenal person and I wish I could have known him better.”
“Are those things gonna have enough room to land,” the cameraman shouted over the ensuing wind and noise.
“We sure hope so,” Max said, stepping forward as the ships came closer.
“Ed, get the shot!” Lauren ordered her cameraman, “I don’t want to miss a second of this footage!”
As she and Ed scrambled into place Philip and Diane anxiously approached their son. “Max, I can hardly believe this is happening,” his father fretted, “You know you can’t go back now.”
Max regarded his father solemnly. “I know,” he whispered evenly, “And I’m ready…for whatever comes.”
His mother hugged him hard, her eyes smarting with tears. “We’re going to see you through this,” she vowed thickly, “No matter what. You won’t be alone.”
“What about Isabel?” Philip asked worriedly, “I hardly think Kyle Valenti is going to be enough protection for her when this breaks over the media.”
“Kyle will take care of her,” Jim reassured them, “Have faith in Max. He knows what he’s doing.”
Just then Lauren Davis commanded their attention as she addressed her viewing public. “This is Lauren Davis with KTWZ News and what you are seeing right now is not a hoax!” she announced into her microphone, “In less than five minutes you will have your first view of an alien life form. Right now I’m standing about 30 miles outside Roswell just beneath Vasquez Rock.
“As you can see,” she continued as her cameraman cut to the sky, “There are three ships, rather large and moving at an incredible speed. Ladies and gentlemen of the viewing public we now have irrefutable proof that life exists outside our planet. And at the heart of this stunning occurrence is one teenaged boy named Max Evans.” Without warning she swung the mike around to Max and thrust it into his face. “Max, what can you tell us about what’s happening right now?”
Definitely put on the spot but undaunted, Max made the effort to answer her question. “They’re called Antarians,” he explained, “And their planet no longer exists. They’re refugees with nowhere else to go…and they’re my people.”
“They’re your people,” Lauren echoed, voicing the question she imagined the viewing public was asking themselves at that second, “But how can that be? You look completely human.”
“But I’m not. My race is very advanced and they managed to perfect human genetic cloning,” Max answered, “I am a hybrid of my race and yours.”
“So you’re only half-alien?” Davis asked, though she already knew the answer. But for the sake of those watching she tried to ask the questions that would be foremost on their minds. “How did you get here?”
“My ship crash landed here in the New Mexican desert over fifty years ago in 1947.”
“Are you alleging that the 47 Crash was real?”
“I’m not alleging anything,” Max replied flatly, “It was real.”
“And how do we know this just isn’t the product of a deluded mind?” Davis screamed over the deafening noise, “How do we know you’re not crazy?”
Max swept a hand behind him, where the first of the ships was beginning to lower to the ground. “The proof is right there!” he shouted back, turning on his heel to greet the first of the ships.
“Holy nuts, this is really happening!” Michael uttered beside him. He leveled his friend with a fortifying look. “Are you ready for this, Maxwell?”
“As ready as I’m going to get,” Max replied grimly just as the first ship settled into a smooth landing.
********************
“Do you want to go downstairs and watch the television?” Kyle asked tentatively as Isabel continued to stare moodily out her dorm room window. Her profile was forlorn as she looked out across the courtyard, her chin rested against the tops of her knees. The sunlight glinted off her hair; casting the strands with a thick, honey hue.
“No, thank you,” she replied laconically, “I’m sure when we hear the screams of terror we’ll know it’s done.” She didn’t even glance in Kyle’s direction when she answered him. Physically she was in the room with him, but mentally Isabel was someplace else entirely. She had put up a wall, making nearly impossible to discern what was going on inside her head.
Undaunted by her indifferent attitude, however, Kyle pressed on. “How are your powers doing now?” he queried, hovering just above her. With everything inside him he wanted to comfort her because, on some level, he was feeling some of her same fear but judging from her present mood she’d most like reject the gesture. “Is everything still heightened for you?”
Isabel smiled over the question; her first since he’d arrived that afternoon. “I know you washed with Lever 2000 soap this morning,” she said, “And I’m thinking you’re wearing Polo cologne right now. That’s definitely what it smells like.” She twisted a wry glance his way. “You’re also starting to get a zit right along your hairline. Am I right?”
Impressed, Kyle self-consciously fingered the beginning blemish, merely a vague sore spot at the moment. “Not bad, Evans,” he praised softly, but the smile faded from his blue eyes all too quickly. “Are you still mad at me?”
Isabel turned back towards the window. “I can’t talk about that right now, Kyle.”
“You’re not talking about anything at all,” he charged, perching himself on the edge of her bed, “I just don’t want it festering between us.”
“It’s not festering,” she argued dully.
“Maria seems to think we sought each other out for the comfort aspect,” he forged on bravely, “You know…because I know your secret and you know mine.”
Isabel huffed in vexation, pinning him with a peeved glare. “You told Maria!” she cried, “Great! Now the whole world will know.”
“Yeah, I’m expecting your brother to zap me to kingdom come any day now,” he mumbled acerbically.
“You’d deserve it,” was Isabel’s haughty response.
“Come on, Is!” Kyle cajoled, “You can’t just hold everything inside this way.”
“What do you want me to do, Kyle?” she demanded calmly, “Throw some kind of tantrum? Break into a million pieces? Cry? I’m afraid you’ll have a long wait. I’m Isabel Evans,” she finished arrogantly, flipping her hair over her shoulder, “and I don’t cry.”
“Crying doesn’t make you weak, Isabel,” he told her, “Being afraid doesn’t make you weak. You need to let it out…whatever you’re feeling.”
“I don’t know what I’m feeling!” she laughed sardonically, “As we speak aliens are landing on the planet! Do you know what this means? In a matter of minutes everybody is going to know what I am, Kyle.”
“You sound like you’re ashamed,” he surmised in surprise.
Isabel looked up at him in unconcealed anguish. “I just want to be normal,” she whispered painfully, “Is that so much to ask for?” She hugged her knees, rocking back and forth in silent agony. “I wish none of this was happening.”
“Did you ever try telling Max how you felt?”
“What good would it have done?” she muttered caustically, “He was going to do what he thought he had to no matter what I said. He is the king, after all,” she finished almost bitterly. “I couldn’t ask him to compromise an entire race of people just for my comfort.” She pinned Kyle with an infuriated look. “I’m not that selfish.”
“I’m not saying that you are,” Kyle assured her, “But your people are going to be here any minute and you’re going to have to deal with your feelings about them being on this planet. You are their queen.”
“I’m no queen!” Isabel retorted. Maybe if she denied it loud enough and long enough it wouldn’t be true. But Kyle wasn’t going to let her off the hook so easily.
“Tess is dead and, if that phone call you got from Max this morning is any indication, most likely your mother as well,” he reminded her gently, “So that leaves you, Isabel.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” she cried mournfully, “I don’t want the responsibility! Do you understand? I didn’t ask for it!”
“Neither did Max,” Kyle reminded her quietly. He almost wished he hadn’t said anything at all when he spied her guilty wince. “Look, you know I was the biggest dissenter in this whole ‘let’s bring ‘em to earth’ scheme,” he sighed wearily, “But what I think doesn’t matter anymore. They are coming. This whole race of people to a strange planet and the only connection they have to anything is through you, Max and Michael. They’re going to need you all, Isabel. We’re going to need you because this isn’t going to be easy…not for any of us.”
Walking the Road (CC / Adult) (COMPLETE)
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Deejonaise
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Deejonaise
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2002 12:48 am
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You want to know something weird? I know you all have been waiting and waiting for this moment for so long and now I'm terrified that this chapter might fall short your expectations. I really, really hope it's worth all the wait to you.
Chapter 22
“You didn’t have to buy us lunch,” Liz said as David pushed a handful of twenties into their waitress’ hand, “You’ve done enough already.”
“Don’t sweat it,” he murmured dismissively, “I wanted to do it. Besides I saw the way Maria was salivating over those sticky buns. My heart went out to her.”
“Hey,” Maria yelped, whacking him playfully on the shoulder, “I was NOT salivating. By the way…how much did you just tip our waitress?”
“I don’t know…maybe twenty or thirty,” David replied as if leaving a tip that large was the most natural thing in the world, “Why?”
Maria rolled her eyes. “She barely even refilled our glasses,” she griped, “I have got to wait on you sometime in the near future.”
Liz and David exchanged an uneasy glance filled with tension. “I don’t think that will be happening any time soon,” he replied carefully, “Probably this will be the last time you ever see me.”
“Well, that just blows!” Maria exclaimed suddenly. Two pairs of startled eyes ricocheted to her face. “So you had a one night stand and now things are painful and awkward,” she went on glibly, “So what! You two almost had a kid together. That’s got to count for something, right? Can’t you still be friends?” Beneath the table Liz pressed the heel of her shoe hard into Maria’s delicate toes. “Owie, owie, ow…Liz!” The two girls traded quelling glares.
“I think it’s probably best this way,” David murmured, “Come on. I’ll take you both back to the bus station.”
As the three young people slid from the booth a late breaking bulletin via CNN flashed across the small television located in the upper right side corner of the small café. David hardly seemed to notice as he shrugged back into his jacket but both Maria and Liz’s gazes remained glued to the set. Liz’s heart froze mid-beat as she recognized that the moment she’d been dreading for the better part of the day had come.
“At this time we have received confirmation that the footage you are about to see is not a hoax. I repeat this is not a hoax,” the commentator said. A moment later a shaky picture on three, large alien crafts bounced onto the screen as they descended from the sky. The entire café went quiet except for someone off to Liz’s left who gasped audibly. “At approximately 11:15 this morning, Mountain Standard Time, three UFO’s, for lack of a better term, cleared the New Mexican skyline…”
David’s mouth fell open in shock. “What in hell…” he breathed, “Is this for real?”
“It is not yet clear exactly what is happening at this time,” the commentator continued, “Various reports have come out of Roswell that these ships house alien refugees but nothing has been confirmed. In the meantime, our newsrooms are being flooded with calls about other potential sightings. As of yet the sightings have only occurred in Roswell, New Mexico.”
“Roswell?” David parroted in dismay, rounding a startled look on Liz and Maria, “That’s your home town!”
“It has just been brought to my attention that we have a videotaped interview,” the commentator said, “Apparently, this will help to shed light on this unexpected visitation.” A moment later the screen went black and both Maria and Liz simultaneously held their breaths in anticipation for what would happen next. They didn’t have an incredibly long wait as Max’s face suddenly filled the screen.
“To the American people,” he began formally, “I am sure by this time that many of you are shocked and dismayed by what is happening but I am here to reassure you. My name is Max Evans, but on my home planet of Antar I was known as Zan. I am an alien. Fifty-five years ago I crash-landed on your planet in the New Mexican desert.
“Since then I’ve learned what it means be human and I’ve have come to think of this planet as my home. These beings who come to you today are my people and they come in peace. They mean you no harm. They are refugees from a dying planet and they need your help. Please open your arms to them. Let them learn from you as I have learned from you. Please make them your people as I have made you mine. Please let them make the earth their home, as it has been my home all this time. You are our only hope for survival.”
Abruptly, the commentator’s face filled the screen once more. “Again that was a taped interview with one Max Evans,” he reiterated, “We have confirmation that he does exist and is currently at the landing sight. We are told that in a few minutes we will be able to bring you live coverage of this history making event.” Around them the patrons of the café were beginning to panic.
“Is this a fucking joke?” one asked incredulously.
“I knew that crash in New Mexico wasn’t a myth!” someone else uttered.
“The government knew about this the entire time,” yet another grumbled.
“I wonder what’s going to happen to us now.”
The soft sounds of weeping began to fill the tiny café and some people began to pray. Liz felt twisted with a sense of guilt and irony. She suspected this was the moment her boyfriend was born for but she hated that so many people had to be terrorized to see the moment come to fruition. As she registered the ranging expression of fear and despair, Liz fell back with a small, panicked gasp. Her entire body was shaking and that was before she lifted her eyes and found David staring at her in open horror.
“That was the guy,” he realized in a whisper, “The one who came to see you in the hospital that day.”
“David, calm down,” Liz warned him evenly.
“You want me to calm down?” he hissed incredulously, “Aliens have just landed on the planet and your friend is claiming to be one of them. Does this not freak you out in the slightest?” It was then that he became fully aware of the unsurprised expressions on both Liz and Maria’s faces. “Oh good God,” he uttered, falling back a step, “You knew…” And then his eyes widened as yet another realization dawned on him. “Evans. Evans! That’s your boyfriend?”
“Shh,” Liz scolded sharply, “David, this is not the time to freak out.”
“Either he’s not human or he’s crazy,” David said in an underbreath, “Which one is it?”
“There’s just no easy response to that question,” Maria hedged.
“Try me!” David barked shortly.
However, both Liz and Maria were spared from any further explanations when the anchorperson’s voice suddenly sounded through the café once more. “Ladies and gentlemen we now have live footage from the scene. Please stand by.”
When a picture of the New Mexican desert wobbled onto the screen the first thing they saw was a dark-haired woman speaking softly into the camera. “As you can see the ships’ engines have died down to a low hum,” she recited, “See how they just barely hover above the ground.” Appropriately, her cameraman cut to where she indicated, zooming in to where the large, silver disks were, indeed, hovering above ground. A moment later the camera swung back to her face.
“As of yet there has been no contact between the ships and Max Evans,” she continued, “But we are expecting that any mom--,” Her comment was suddenly cut off as a loud whooshing noise filled the screen. Seconds later the reporter’s voice broke excitedly over the air. “Oh my God! They’re opening! They’re opening! Get the shot!”
The entire café held a collective breath as a tiny compartment located in one of the ships slowly began to crack open, spilling forth an ethereal green light. Just to the left of the screen Liz could see Max waiting and clenching his hands reflexively. The entire world seemed to have slowed into long, lethargic scenes.
Liz could see a woman two booths down shielding her daughter’s eyes from the television. There was a man who intended to set his coffee cup on the table but dropped it into his lap instead. He hardly noticed. There was the cashier who absently stepped away from her open drawer of cash and no one seemed to care. They all had their eyes glued to the television screen as the door crept open further and further.
Maria blindly groped for Liz’s hand and both girls gulped loudly as they prepared themselves to see for the first time what their boyfriends’ alien counterparts looked like. When the footpath finally lowered completely to the ground the sound echoed through the café like a death knell. Not a sound could be heard besides the television set, not even breathing. Everyone waited, horrified and fascinated, anticipating the moment when life on earth collided with life from another word.
After what seemed like ages a figure finally emerged from the unearthly green light and billowing dust. As it descended the walkway Liz could see that the being was uncommonly small with an excessively large head and torso with arms that seemed much too long for being of such diminutive size. But only when the figure came fully into the light did she recoil.
“Oh God,” she heard Maria utter hoarsely.
Oh God was right. The skin of the being was green and almost scaly in appearance. However, as the cameraman zoomed in more closely Liz realized that the markings weren’t scales at all, but symbols. She remembered seeing those same symbols in Riverdog’s cave. They were seemingly tattooed over all the visible skin, the rest was cloaked behind a silver colored shroud that shimmered and danced in the sunlight as the being floated ever closer to Max. Large, black eyes glowed brightly as it fully took in its surroundings and then, abruptly, it fell to one knee before Max, bowing its head reverently.
“The being appears to be paying some sort of homage,” the reporter whispered in commentary, “The kind of respect that’s due a king.”
Her words seemed to snap Liz back to herself, filling her with a sense of panicked urgency. “We have to go,” she told Maria, “We need to get to Isabel.”
“Wait a minute!” David cried, starting after them, “How are you supposed to get there without a car?”
“Stay out of this, David!” Liz ordered shortly.
“I can’t,” he retorted, “Not when I can see that you’re in it up to your neck! So are you going to let me help you or not?”
********************
Max was shaking all over when Diadne bowed to him. He had known it was her almost the instant she emerged from the ship. The flashes she’d sent him had been jumbled and frenzied. Max had quickly assessed her fear and sought to ease it as best he could. He could tell that his human appearance repulsed her as well, nearly as much as her alien appearance repulsed him.
When she first emerged from the ship and he had taken in the full onslaught of her appearance he couldn’t quite suppress his reactive flinch. Beside him Michael swore under his breath. His parents had fallen back with horrified gasps. Only Jim had remained stoic, standing firmly alongside Max as Diadne approached him.
As she came closer he noticed the raised markings on her skin and recognized them as the ones from Riverdog’s cave. A shiver passed through Max and he set his jaw hard against blacking out. He didn’t know if Diadne sensed his unease somehow but when she straightened her body began to glow and stretch, changing shape right before his very eyes. Though Max was fully aware of his people’s shapeshifting ability he still could not help but marvel over the phenomenon. Of course, he, Michael, Valenti and his parents had expected the change, but the reporter Lauren Davis began openly freaking out.
When Diadne stood before Max fully formed she resembled a girl of no more than fifteen, with a plucky, gamin face, bright red hair and freckles across the bridge of her nose. Only her bright blue eyes danced with a wisdom far beyond her youthful appearance. He wondered vaguely why she had chosen that particular form and almost immediately the picture of a human book flashed in his mind. Pippi Longstockings. Max laughed to himself. She had mirrored her form after Pippi Longstockings. “I approve,” he said, answering the silent question in Diadne’s eyes.
“Can she speak any English?” Michael asked anxiously, “Can she even speak at all?”
“Can she even speak at all?” Diadne mimicked with perfect inflection.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Jim Valenti breathed in amazement.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Diadne parroted.
“She’s a quick learner,” Max remarked to Michael, “I wonder if they’re all like this.” Diadne sent him a flash then of the near two hundred soldiers on her ship alone and Max understood what she was telling them. They would learn and quickly. They would adapt. It was how they survived.
Behind him, Max could hear Lauren Davis firing out rapid commentary but he paid her very little attention. Max knew that at that very moment his every move was being broadcast to the entire world. It was at least a way to ensure the general public that he, they weren’t dangerous.
He was just about to experiment with sending his own flashes of thought to Diadne when, from the corner of his eyes, he spied two other beings descending down out of the ship. They were much like Diadne in appearance; only Max noted they were a few inches taller and the green hue of their skin somewhat darker. In contrast to Diadne’s shimmering shroud, however, the two wore metallic colored jumpers. Max didn’t need a flash to figure out that the two beings were male.
As Diadne had before them the two beings prostrated themselves before Max. In his mind a series of pictures flashed before his eyes, nearly indecipherable because the two aliens were projecting at the same time. Only one thing made an impression on Max, an odd shaped diamond symbol with cross points on each corner. The image blinked to life in his mind again and again. Max realized instinctively that the symbol was their family crest and their names were Kadon and Razba.
Max couldn’t help but feel the entire moment was a bit dreamlike and strange as a whole new range of senses overwhelmed him. It was as if the haze of his memory was finally being cleared away as the gate to his past was finally unlocked. In a vague haze Max noted that the swirl pattern of symbols decorating their skin weren’t random at all as he’d first supposed. The marks were unique to each Antarian, distinctive and no two beings shared them. The symbols were like fingerprints, Max surmised. Their entire body was like one gigantic fingerprint.
He was still marveling over that realization when the two figures rose to their feet. They then turned to Michael. Max expected them to bow to him as well or something as equally respective, but they did something altogether unexpected. His large eyes sparkling almost, the first alien lifted one, tapered, three fingered hand and brushed it almost lovingly across Michael’s cheek. Michael flinched in reaction and sent Max a panicked glance but Max could only shrug. He didn’t know what was going on either.
The second alien, sensing that Michael was distraught, curved his fingers around Michael’s shoulder and not even a second later Michael’s panicked features went slack. “Hey, what are they doing to him?” Max demanded, stepping forward with a frown of concern only to have Diadne block his path. With her eyes she told him to trust her and Max found himself inexplicably compelled to do so.
He, Valenti, his parents, Lauren Davis and her cameraman all watched Michael fall into an almost trancelike state. For several seconds Michael and the two aliens seemed to be suspended in their own world. When he finally came out of it Michael appeared shaken and tears were shimmering in his usually inscrutable brown eyes.
“Michael, who are they?” Max asked on the edge of astonishment.
Michael looked at him, his throat working with such spasmodic violence that he could hardly push up the words but somehow he managed. “They’re my brothers, Maxwell,” he choked in wonder, “This is my family.”
Chapter 22
“You didn’t have to buy us lunch,” Liz said as David pushed a handful of twenties into their waitress’ hand, “You’ve done enough already.”
“Don’t sweat it,” he murmured dismissively, “I wanted to do it. Besides I saw the way Maria was salivating over those sticky buns. My heart went out to her.”
“Hey,” Maria yelped, whacking him playfully on the shoulder, “I was NOT salivating. By the way…how much did you just tip our waitress?”
“I don’t know…maybe twenty or thirty,” David replied as if leaving a tip that large was the most natural thing in the world, “Why?”
Maria rolled her eyes. “She barely even refilled our glasses,” she griped, “I have got to wait on you sometime in the near future.”
Liz and David exchanged an uneasy glance filled with tension. “I don’t think that will be happening any time soon,” he replied carefully, “Probably this will be the last time you ever see me.”
“Well, that just blows!” Maria exclaimed suddenly. Two pairs of startled eyes ricocheted to her face. “So you had a one night stand and now things are painful and awkward,” she went on glibly, “So what! You two almost had a kid together. That’s got to count for something, right? Can’t you still be friends?” Beneath the table Liz pressed the heel of her shoe hard into Maria’s delicate toes. “Owie, owie, ow…Liz!” The two girls traded quelling glares.
“I think it’s probably best this way,” David murmured, “Come on. I’ll take you both back to the bus station.”
As the three young people slid from the booth a late breaking bulletin via CNN flashed across the small television located in the upper right side corner of the small café. David hardly seemed to notice as he shrugged back into his jacket but both Maria and Liz’s gazes remained glued to the set. Liz’s heart froze mid-beat as she recognized that the moment she’d been dreading for the better part of the day had come.
“At this time we have received confirmation that the footage you are about to see is not a hoax. I repeat this is not a hoax,” the commentator said. A moment later a shaky picture on three, large alien crafts bounced onto the screen as they descended from the sky. The entire café went quiet except for someone off to Liz’s left who gasped audibly. “At approximately 11:15 this morning, Mountain Standard Time, three UFO’s, for lack of a better term, cleared the New Mexican skyline…”
David’s mouth fell open in shock. “What in hell…” he breathed, “Is this for real?”
“It is not yet clear exactly what is happening at this time,” the commentator continued, “Various reports have come out of Roswell that these ships house alien refugees but nothing has been confirmed. In the meantime, our newsrooms are being flooded with calls about other potential sightings. As of yet the sightings have only occurred in Roswell, New Mexico.”
“Roswell?” David parroted in dismay, rounding a startled look on Liz and Maria, “That’s your home town!”
“It has just been brought to my attention that we have a videotaped interview,” the commentator said, “Apparently, this will help to shed light on this unexpected visitation.” A moment later the screen went black and both Maria and Liz simultaneously held their breaths in anticipation for what would happen next. They didn’t have an incredibly long wait as Max’s face suddenly filled the screen.
“To the American people,” he began formally, “I am sure by this time that many of you are shocked and dismayed by what is happening but I am here to reassure you. My name is Max Evans, but on my home planet of Antar I was known as Zan. I am an alien. Fifty-five years ago I crash-landed on your planet in the New Mexican desert.
“Since then I’ve learned what it means be human and I’ve have come to think of this planet as my home. These beings who come to you today are my people and they come in peace. They mean you no harm. They are refugees from a dying planet and they need your help. Please open your arms to them. Let them learn from you as I have learned from you. Please make them your people as I have made you mine. Please let them make the earth their home, as it has been my home all this time. You are our only hope for survival.”
Abruptly, the commentator’s face filled the screen once more. “Again that was a taped interview with one Max Evans,” he reiterated, “We have confirmation that he does exist and is currently at the landing sight. We are told that in a few minutes we will be able to bring you live coverage of this history making event.” Around them the patrons of the café were beginning to panic.
“Is this a fucking joke?” one asked incredulously.
“I knew that crash in New Mexico wasn’t a myth!” someone else uttered.
“The government knew about this the entire time,” yet another grumbled.
“I wonder what’s going to happen to us now.”
The soft sounds of weeping began to fill the tiny café and some people began to pray. Liz felt twisted with a sense of guilt and irony. She suspected this was the moment her boyfriend was born for but she hated that so many people had to be terrorized to see the moment come to fruition. As she registered the ranging expression of fear and despair, Liz fell back with a small, panicked gasp. Her entire body was shaking and that was before she lifted her eyes and found David staring at her in open horror.
“That was the guy,” he realized in a whisper, “The one who came to see you in the hospital that day.”
“David, calm down,” Liz warned him evenly.
“You want me to calm down?” he hissed incredulously, “Aliens have just landed on the planet and your friend is claiming to be one of them. Does this not freak you out in the slightest?” It was then that he became fully aware of the unsurprised expressions on both Liz and Maria’s faces. “Oh good God,” he uttered, falling back a step, “You knew…” And then his eyes widened as yet another realization dawned on him. “Evans. Evans! That’s your boyfriend?”
“Shh,” Liz scolded sharply, “David, this is not the time to freak out.”
“Either he’s not human or he’s crazy,” David said in an underbreath, “Which one is it?”
“There’s just no easy response to that question,” Maria hedged.
“Try me!” David barked shortly.
However, both Liz and Maria were spared from any further explanations when the anchorperson’s voice suddenly sounded through the café once more. “Ladies and gentlemen we now have live footage from the scene. Please stand by.”
When a picture of the New Mexican desert wobbled onto the screen the first thing they saw was a dark-haired woman speaking softly into the camera. “As you can see the ships’ engines have died down to a low hum,” she recited, “See how they just barely hover above the ground.” Appropriately, her cameraman cut to where she indicated, zooming in to where the large, silver disks were, indeed, hovering above ground. A moment later the camera swung back to her face.
“As of yet there has been no contact between the ships and Max Evans,” she continued, “But we are expecting that any mom--,” Her comment was suddenly cut off as a loud whooshing noise filled the screen. Seconds later the reporter’s voice broke excitedly over the air. “Oh my God! They’re opening! They’re opening! Get the shot!”
The entire café held a collective breath as a tiny compartment located in one of the ships slowly began to crack open, spilling forth an ethereal green light. Just to the left of the screen Liz could see Max waiting and clenching his hands reflexively. The entire world seemed to have slowed into long, lethargic scenes.
Liz could see a woman two booths down shielding her daughter’s eyes from the television. There was a man who intended to set his coffee cup on the table but dropped it into his lap instead. He hardly noticed. There was the cashier who absently stepped away from her open drawer of cash and no one seemed to care. They all had their eyes glued to the television screen as the door crept open further and further.
Maria blindly groped for Liz’s hand and both girls gulped loudly as they prepared themselves to see for the first time what their boyfriends’ alien counterparts looked like. When the footpath finally lowered completely to the ground the sound echoed through the café like a death knell. Not a sound could be heard besides the television set, not even breathing. Everyone waited, horrified and fascinated, anticipating the moment when life on earth collided with life from another word.
After what seemed like ages a figure finally emerged from the unearthly green light and billowing dust. As it descended the walkway Liz could see that the being was uncommonly small with an excessively large head and torso with arms that seemed much too long for being of such diminutive size. But only when the figure came fully into the light did she recoil.
“Oh God,” she heard Maria utter hoarsely.
Oh God was right. The skin of the being was green and almost scaly in appearance. However, as the cameraman zoomed in more closely Liz realized that the markings weren’t scales at all, but symbols. She remembered seeing those same symbols in Riverdog’s cave. They were seemingly tattooed over all the visible skin, the rest was cloaked behind a silver colored shroud that shimmered and danced in the sunlight as the being floated ever closer to Max. Large, black eyes glowed brightly as it fully took in its surroundings and then, abruptly, it fell to one knee before Max, bowing its head reverently.
“The being appears to be paying some sort of homage,” the reporter whispered in commentary, “The kind of respect that’s due a king.”
Her words seemed to snap Liz back to herself, filling her with a sense of panicked urgency. “We have to go,” she told Maria, “We need to get to Isabel.”
“Wait a minute!” David cried, starting after them, “How are you supposed to get there without a car?”
“Stay out of this, David!” Liz ordered shortly.
“I can’t,” he retorted, “Not when I can see that you’re in it up to your neck! So are you going to let me help you or not?”
********************
Max was shaking all over when Diadne bowed to him. He had known it was her almost the instant she emerged from the ship. The flashes she’d sent him had been jumbled and frenzied. Max had quickly assessed her fear and sought to ease it as best he could. He could tell that his human appearance repulsed her as well, nearly as much as her alien appearance repulsed him.
When she first emerged from the ship and he had taken in the full onslaught of her appearance he couldn’t quite suppress his reactive flinch. Beside him Michael swore under his breath. His parents had fallen back with horrified gasps. Only Jim had remained stoic, standing firmly alongside Max as Diadne approached him.
As she came closer he noticed the raised markings on her skin and recognized them as the ones from Riverdog’s cave. A shiver passed through Max and he set his jaw hard against blacking out. He didn’t know if Diadne sensed his unease somehow but when she straightened her body began to glow and stretch, changing shape right before his very eyes. Though Max was fully aware of his people’s shapeshifting ability he still could not help but marvel over the phenomenon. Of course, he, Michael, Valenti and his parents had expected the change, but the reporter Lauren Davis began openly freaking out.
When Diadne stood before Max fully formed she resembled a girl of no more than fifteen, with a plucky, gamin face, bright red hair and freckles across the bridge of her nose. Only her bright blue eyes danced with a wisdom far beyond her youthful appearance. He wondered vaguely why she had chosen that particular form and almost immediately the picture of a human book flashed in his mind. Pippi Longstockings. Max laughed to himself. She had mirrored her form after Pippi Longstockings. “I approve,” he said, answering the silent question in Diadne’s eyes.
“Can she speak any English?” Michael asked anxiously, “Can she even speak at all?”
“Can she even speak at all?” Diadne mimicked with perfect inflection.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Jim Valenti breathed in amazement.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Diadne parroted.
“She’s a quick learner,” Max remarked to Michael, “I wonder if they’re all like this.” Diadne sent him a flash then of the near two hundred soldiers on her ship alone and Max understood what she was telling them. They would learn and quickly. They would adapt. It was how they survived.
Behind him, Max could hear Lauren Davis firing out rapid commentary but he paid her very little attention. Max knew that at that very moment his every move was being broadcast to the entire world. It was at least a way to ensure the general public that he, they weren’t dangerous.
He was just about to experiment with sending his own flashes of thought to Diadne when, from the corner of his eyes, he spied two other beings descending down out of the ship. They were much like Diadne in appearance; only Max noted they were a few inches taller and the green hue of their skin somewhat darker. In contrast to Diadne’s shimmering shroud, however, the two wore metallic colored jumpers. Max didn’t need a flash to figure out that the two beings were male.
As Diadne had before them the two beings prostrated themselves before Max. In his mind a series of pictures flashed before his eyes, nearly indecipherable because the two aliens were projecting at the same time. Only one thing made an impression on Max, an odd shaped diamond symbol with cross points on each corner. The image blinked to life in his mind again and again. Max realized instinctively that the symbol was their family crest and their names were Kadon and Razba.
Max couldn’t help but feel the entire moment was a bit dreamlike and strange as a whole new range of senses overwhelmed him. It was as if the haze of his memory was finally being cleared away as the gate to his past was finally unlocked. In a vague haze Max noted that the swirl pattern of symbols decorating their skin weren’t random at all as he’d first supposed. The marks were unique to each Antarian, distinctive and no two beings shared them. The symbols were like fingerprints, Max surmised. Their entire body was like one gigantic fingerprint.
He was still marveling over that realization when the two figures rose to their feet. They then turned to Michael. Max expected them to bow to him as well or something as equally respective, but they did something altogether unexpected. His large eyes sparkling almost, the first alien lifted one, tapered, three fingered hand and brushed it almost lovingly across Michael’s cheek. Michael flinched in reaction and sent Max a panicked glance but Max could only shrug. He didn’t know what was going on either.
The second alien, sensing that Michael was distraught, curved his fingers around Michael’s shoulder and not even a second later Michael’s panicked features went slack. “Hey, what are they doing to him?” Max demanded, stepping forward with a frown of concern only to have Diadne block his path. With her eyes she told him to trust her and Max found himself inexplicably compelled to do so.
He, Valenti, his parents, Lauren Davis and her cameraman all watched Michael fall into an almost trancelike state. For several seconds Michael and the two aliens seemed to be suspended in their own world. When he finally came out of it Michael appeared shaken and tears were shimmering in his usually inscrutable brown eyes.
“Michael, who are they?” Max asked on the edge of astonishment.
Michael looked at him, his throat working with such spasmodic violence that he could hardly push up the words but somehow he managed. “They’re my brothers, Maxwell,” he choked in wonder, “This is my family.”
Last edited by Deejonaise on Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:12 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Deejonaise
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- Posts: 385
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Oh wow! You guys have just totally blown me away with the feedback. I didn't expect it at all. This is the third time today that I've tried to reply but I can never come up with the right thing to say. I know thank you isn't sufficient but I'll say it anyway. Thank you.
Josse and Lelle, although I'm not Swedish I did have Diadne mirror herself after Pippi Longstockings for a reason. It was definitely intentional and, besides that, Pippi Longstockings is my childhood hero.
Okay, so I've kept you all waiting long enough. Here's the next part.
Chapter 23
Isabel did her best to shut out the reverberating sounds of screaming, slamming doors and pitiable keening leaking in beneath her dorm room door but it was near impossible. Try as she did to be impervious to it all, reality kept reasserting itself again and again. Even her own roommate had burst into their room not long before, hastily packed a bag and then hauled out of there for the airport like hell’s demons were on her heels. The entire time Isabel never budged from her perch near the window and Kyle never stopped watching her.
“They’re already starting to panic,” she observed with amused detachment, “And this is just the first three ships.” She twisted Kyle a mocking glance. “What will they do when the rest come?”
Kyle scratched his head, somewhat alarmed by her incomprehensible mood. “I’m sure by that time everyone will be used to them,” he murmured absently. He paced the room in an anxious circle. “Don’t you want to know what’s happening at all?” he asked her.
Isabel stiffly shook her head. “But you can go,” she invited indifferently, “You don’t have to miss anything on my account. The frenzied running and screaming is telling me all I need to know.”
“And what’s that?” Kyle asked softly, coming to kneel before her.
“They fear us,” she whispered, “And because they do…my existence on this planet will never be the same again.” Isabel rolled her eyes heavenward, calmly blinking back her tears. “My life is pretty much over.”
“It’s not over,” Kyle disputed, brushing her cheek with the back of his knuckles, “Isabel, it’s not. A new life is just beginning…for you and me. Now let’s go downstairs and see it unfold,” he urged, taking hold of her hand and gently pulling Isabel to her feet, “We’ll do it together.”
By the time they made it downstairs to the television room most of the students had cleared out. In fact the entire building seemed strangely empty of people, although a few still clung tenaciously to the screen in morbid fascination. “I wonder if they’re here to take over the world,” Isabel heard someone mutter and she was hard pressed not to roll her eyes in exasperation.
“What did we miss?” Kyle asked casually as he and Isabel claimed a spot right in the middle of things. Appropriate since they were right in the middle of things. They folded down together on the floor directly in front of the television, their hands clasped.
A guy nearest the television set shot him an incredulous glance. “Are you kidding me?” he yelped, “Aliens just landed on the fucking planet, dude!”
That was an understatement. On the screen both Isabel and Kyle could see that one ship had already opened and its occupants were beginning to disembark. The remaining two ships were only just beginning to open their doors. As Isabel watched the strange beings file out into straight, seemingly unending rows of twenty and a repulsed grimace flashed over her features.
By no means had she expected a human form. She had prepared herself for that likelihood right after she, Michael, Max and Tess had activated the communicators. Truthfully, she’d had her first glimpse when they used the healing stones to bring Nasedo back. Still, she hadn’t expected the reality to be so stark. She hadn’t expected her people to be, in reality, little green men.
“Are they like you imagined?” Kyle asked in a tentative whisper.
She glimpsed the mild disgust on his face and it caused her to cringe all the more. Was that what he saw when he looked at her? A short, green freak? Would others see the same when they learned the truth? Isabel felt sickened by the prospect. She wished fervently that she could crawl into a hole and just stay there until it all blew over.
After an awkward moment, Isabel managed to swallow past her speechlessness to answer Kyle’s question. “Not at all,” she croaked.
Deliberately, she turned her gaze back to the screen and watched her brother interact with the beings with a near effortless grace, as if he’d been born among them. He touched their faces and hands with reverent joy. She had never seen him that way. It was the first time she could remember him behaving like a natural born leader. He connected with them and wept openly as he did. Isabel was mildly aghast by the sight. “How can he do that?” she muttered, “How can he just…embrace them that way?”
“Cuz he’s one of ‘em, too,” a girl off to her right provided helpfully, having completely misinterpreted the reason for Isabel’s question, “See his people cloned human and alien DNA together and he’s the end result.” She shrugged. “He’s like their alien king, but he’s human, too. Actually…I think he’s sorta hot…” She flinched a little in reaction to Kyle and Isabel’s simultaneous, disgusted glares and tacked on in a stammer, “f…for an alien.”
Both Kyle and Isabel exchanged “oh brother” glances and returned their eyes to the screen. Kyle carefully studied the reactions of his father and friends. Both Max and Michael seemed oddly overjoyed and overwhelmed by the event. His father stood aside, hat in hand and watching with wistful look ghosting his eyes. Philip and Diane Evans appeared appalled and fascinated all at once and the reporter…well, Lauren Davis was so speechless she could hardly provide adequate commentary.
Frankly, Kyle didn’t know how he felt about the situation. This whole time he had been dreading it, avidly opposing the moment but now that it had arrived and he saw the Antarians with his own eyes all he could feel was pity. They were a people scattered and broken, clinging obstinately to a past that no longer existed. They had no planet and only the remnant of the royal house they had once known. They were an alien people on an alien planet, Kyle realized sadly, and they were utterly alone.
Kyle was just about to begin counting alien heads to see if he could get a clear estimate of how many had landed today when the glimpse of an unfamiliar, red-haired girl caught his attention. She appeared young and fresh-faced and oddly out of place. He, Max, and Michael had gone over the plan a hundred times amongst themselves and never was any fifteen-year-old girl mentioned. Kyle frowned, leaning in closer to the screen as he wracked his brain trying to place her. Finally he asked no one in particular, “Who is that?”
“That’s one of the aliens,” someone provided glibly, “She shifted into another form right on the screen. It was the most incredible, scariest thing I’ve ever seen. Man, I’d swear this was a movie. It just doesn’t seem real at all.”
“I wonder if we’re going to go to war now,” someone else murmured, “Maybe they’re here to destroy the planet.”
“If they are,” yet another person answered grimly, “We don’t have a prayer.”
Kyle appraised Isabel with a careful, sideways glance. “Maybe we should leave now,” he whispered, “Things are getting a little intense.”
“Maybe,” Isabel agreed.
They had barely pushed to their feet before Maria and Liz came bursting in upon them from nowhere with all the impetus of an F5 tornado. “Thank God, you’re okay!” Maria cried, clasping Kyle in an unexpected embrace that almost made him topple over, “When you wouldn’t answer your cell phone we didn’t know what to think!”
“My cell phone’s in Roswell,” Kyle explained wryly, “I left in a hurry this morning and I forgot.” He smiled at Maria, a bit nonplussed by the brother-sister connection between them even though their parents weren’t yet married. He then turned his attention to an anxious Liz and pulled her close for a hug. “How are you hanging in?” he asked in a whisper.
“I’m on the edge of hysteria,” Liz replied, barely returning his hug, “Isabel, why didn’t you answer your phone? We’ve been calling you all afternoon, too.”
“My phone is turned off,” Isabel said, making no apology for that fact either.
“But we agreed to keep them on, remember?” Maria reminded her irritably, “How are we supposed to communicate during this fiasco otherwise?”
“Have you been watching the television?” Liz asked fretfully, “Don’t you realize what’s happening?”
“Believe me…we’ve seen enough to know that aliens have landed,” Kyle replied with his usual dry wit, “And to know that things are about to get pretty twisted around here.”
“That’s one hell of an understatement,” David McKee interjected as he strode purposefully into the room.
Kyle’s brows snapped together in disapproval and disbelief. “What is he doing here?” he ground out. For the moment, no one seemed to notice the muted exchange between David and Isabel.
“He brought us here,” Maria replied tartly, “And we would have never made it without him. The streets are jammed packed with totally ridiculous traffic.”
“Everyone’s panicking,” Liz said quietly, “It’s a complete zoo.”
“Well, we knew it would be like this, right?” Isabel queried coldly, “I don’t know why everyone’s acting so shocked and freaked out now.” And then she frowned as something more pertinent occurred to her. “What are you doing here anyway?” she asked Liz, “Aren’t you supposed to be in Boston?”
“I had to meet with David today,” Liz replied, “We had some unfinished business between us.” She slid a look over in David’s direction. “But now that’s done.”
“So why is he still here then?” Isabel demanded rudely.
“Maybe because we can’t get anywhere in the city without him,” Maria hissed scathingly, “None of us have cars, remember? Public transportation is a wash. David is our only means of getting around the city!”
“Wait a minute!” David protested irately, “Wait! I never agreed to be anyone’s chauffeur!”
“Fine. Then leave,” Isabel ordered with almost no hesitation.
“No problem,” David tossed back, “You’re doing me a favor anyway. I’m outta here. Take care of yourself, Liz.”
As he stalked away Maria sent Isabel a penetrating glare. “Do you see what you did?” she scolded indignantly, “He was going to be our only way out of here! Now how are we supposed to get to the airport? I’m going after him to see if I can smooth things over.”
After she was gone Isabel leveled Liz with a puzzled frown. “What is she talking about? Why are you trying to get to the airport? Where are we supposed to be going?”
Liz reluctantly ripped her gaze from the television set to answer Isabel’s question. “I have a feeling,” she whispered direly, “A very bad feeling that things are about to go very, very wrong.”
“Did you have another premonition?” Kyle asked worriedly.
“It’s not that…I just know we can’t stay here, Isabel,” she replied as if that fact were the most logical conclusion, “It will only be a matter of time before the media figures out who we are and swarms this place.”
“Didn’t we know that was going to happen from the very beginning?” Isabel queried haughtily, “I’m not about to go scurrying for the hills now.”
“Isabel, we don’t know what’s going to happen!” Liz cried, “We need to take some precautions!”
“My brother knew that when he concocted this disaster!” Isabel bit out, her resentment finally bubbling over in an acid tide, “Now let him live with the damned consequences!”
“I can’t believe you’re being such a…such a…”
“Such a what?” Isabel cut in coldly, “A bitch? Sorry Liz, it’s what I do.”
“Not when your brother needs you!” Liz fired in an unexpected explosion of rage, “So get your head out of your ass and stop feeling sorry for yourself and start thinking about what’s best for all of us!”
Isabel couldn’t say anything. She was so surprised by Liz’s angry outburst that all she could do was stand there and stutter stupidly. Kyle chuckled at the sight. “Who the hell needs motivational speaking when you’re around, Liz?” he commended dryly, applauding her, “Someone needed to give it to her straight today.” For his trouble, Isabel rewarded him with a withering glare.
However, much of their exchange escaped Liz’s notice. She had already been sucked back into the real life drama unfolding on the television screen. Liz was marveling over how calm and collected Max seemed when suddenly the camera swung around, revealing a veritable procession of dark colored sedans racing towards the scene. Liz didn’t have to see the license plates on the back of the vehicles to know exactly who the newest visitors were and why they had come. Liz knew them all too well as did Max. Especially Max.
“Oh God, no,” she uttered in trembling terror, “It’s the Special Unit.”
Josse and Lelle, although I'm not Swedish I did have Diadne mirror herself after Pippi Longstockings for a reason. It was definitely intentional and, besides that, Pippi Longstockings is my childhood hero.
Okay, so I've kept you all waiting long enough. Here's the next part.
Chapter 23
Isabel did her best to shut out the reverberating sounds of screaming, slamming doors and pitiable keening leaking in beneath her dorm room door but it was near impossible. Try as she did to be impervious to it all, reality kept reasserting itself again and again. Even her own roommate had burst into their room not long before, hastily packed a bag and then hauled out of there for the airport like hell’s demons were on her heels. The entire time Isabel never budged from her perch near the window and Kyle never stopped watching her.
“They’re already starting to panic,” she observed with amused detachment, “And this is just the first three ships.” She twisted Kyle a mocking glance. “What will they do when the rest come?”
Kyle scratched his head, somewhat alarmed by her incomprehensible mood. “I’m sure by that time everyone will be used to them,” he murmured absently. He paced the room in an anxious circle. “Don’t you want to know what’s happening at all?” he asked her.
Isabel stiffly shook her head. “But you can go,” she invited indifferently, “You don’t have to miss anything on my account. The frenzied running and screaming is telling me all I need to know.”
“And what’s that?” Kyle asked softly, coming to kneel before her.
“They fear us,” she whispered, “And because they do…my existence on this planet will never be the same again.” Isabel rolled her eyes heavenward, calmly blinking back her tears. “My life is pretty much over.”
“It’s not over,” Kyle disputed, brushing her cheek with the back of his knuckles, “Isabel, it’s not. A new life is just beginning…for you and me. Now let’s go downstairs and see it unfold,” he urged, taking hold of her hand and gently pulling Isabel to her feet, “We’ll do it together.”
By the time they made it downstairs to the television room most of the students had cleared out. In fact the entire building seemed strangely empty of people, although a few still clung tenaciously to the screen in morbid fascination. “I wonder if they’re here to take over the world,” Isabel heard someone mutter and she was hard pressed not to roll her eyes in exasperation.
“What did we miss?” Kyle asked casually as he and Isabel claimed a spot right in the middle of things. Appropriate since they were right in the middle of things. They folded down together on the floor directly in front of the television, their hands clasped.
A guy nearest the television set shot him an incredulous glance. “Are you kidding me?” he yelped, “Aliens just landed on the fucking planet, dude!”
That was an understatement. On the screen both Isabel and Kyle could see that one ship had already opened and its occupants were beginning to disembark. The remaining two ships were only just beginning to open their doors. As Isabel watched the strange beings file out into straight, seemingly unending rows of twenty and a repulsed grimace flashed over her features.
By no means had she expected a human form. She had prepared herself for that likelihood right after she, Michael, Max and Tess had activated the communicators. Truthfully, she’d had her first glimpse when they used the healing stones to bring Nasedo back. Still, she hadn’t expected the reality to be so stark. She hadn’t expected her people to be, in reality, little green men.
“Are they like you imagined?” Kyle asked in a tentative whisper.
She glimpsed the mild disgust on his face and it caused her to cringe all the more. Was that what he saw when he looked at her? A short, green freak? Would others see the same when they learned the truth? Isabel felt sickened by the prospect. She wished fervently that she could crawl into a hole and just stay there until it all blew over.
After an awkward moment, Isabel managed to swallow past her speechlessness to answer Kyle’s question. “Not at all,” she croaked.
Deliberately, she turned her gaze back to the screen and watched her brother interact with the beings with a near effortless grace, as if he’d been born among them. He touched their faces and hands with reverent joy. She had never seen him that way. It was the first time she could remember him behaving like a natural born leader. He connected with them and wept openly as he did. Isabel was mildly aghast by the sight. “How can he do that?” she muttered, “How can he just…embrace them that way?”
“Cuz he’s one of ‘em, too,” a girl off to her right provided helpfully, having completely misinterpreted the reason for Isabel’s question, “See his people cloned human and alien DNA together and he’s the end result.” She shrugged. “He’s like their alien king, but he’s human, too. Actually…I think he’s sorta hot…” She flinched a little in reaction to Kyle and Isabel’s simultaneous, disgusted glares and tacked on in a stammer, “f…for an alien.”
Both Kyle and Isabel exchanged “oh brother” glances and returned their eyes to the screen. Kyle carefully studied the reactions of his father and friends. Both Max and Michael seemed oddly overjoyed and overwhelmed by the event. His father stood aside, hat in hand and watching with wistful look ghosting his eyes. Philip and Diane Evans appeared appalled and fascinated all at once and the reporter…well, Lauren Davis was so speechless she could hardly provide adequate commentary.
Frankly, Kyle didn’t know how he felt about the situation. This whole time he had been dreading it, avidly opposing the moment but now that it had arrived and he saw the Antarians with his own eyes all he could feel was pity. They were a people scattered and broken, clinging obstinately to a past that no longer existed. They had no planet and only the remnant of the royal house they had once known. They were an alien people on an alien planet, Kyle realized sadly, and they were utterly alone.
Kyle was just about to begin counting alien heads to see if he could get a clear estimate of how many had landed today when the glimpse of an unfamiliar, red-haired girl caught his attention. She appeared young and fresh-faced and oddly out of place. He, Max, and Michael had gone over the plan a hundred times amongst themselves and never was any fifteen-year-old girl mentioned. Kyle frowned, leaning in closer to the screen as he wracked his brain trying to place her. Finally he asked no one in particular, “Who is that?”
“That’s one of the aliens,” someone provided glibly, “She shifted into another form right on the screen. It was the most incredible, scariest thing I’ve ever seen. Man, I’d swear this was a movie. It just doesn’t seem real at all.”
“I wonder if we’re going to go to war now,” someone else murmured, “Maybe they’re here to destroy the planet.”
“If they are,” yet another person answered grimly, “We don’t have a prayer.”
Kyle appraised Isabel with a careful, sideways glance. “Maybe we should leave now,” he whispered, “Things are getting a little intense.”
“Maybe,” Isabel agreed.
They had barely pushed to their feet before Maria and Liz came bursting in upon them from nowhere with all the impetus of an F5 tornado. “Thank God, you’re okay!” Maria cried, clasping Kyle in an unexpected embrace that almost made him topple over, “When you wouldn’t answer your cell phone we didn’t know what to think!”
“My cell phone’s in Roswell,” Kyle explained wryly, “I left in a hurry this morning and I forgot.” He smiled at Maria, a bit nonplussed by the brother-sister connection between them even though their parents weren’t yet married. He then turned his attention to an anxious Liz and pulled her close for a hug. “How are you hanging in?” he asked in a whisper.
“I’m on the edge of hysteria,” Liz replied, barely returning his hug, “Isabel, why didn’t you answer your phone? We’ve been calling you all afternoon, too.”
“My phone is turned off,” Isabel said, making no apology for that fact either.
“But we agreed to keep them on, remember?” Maria reminded her irritably, “How are we supposed to communicate during this fiasco otherwise?”
“Have you been watching the television?” Liz asked fretfully, “Don’t you realize what’s happening?”
“Believe me…we’ve seen enough to know that aliens have landed,” Kyle replied with his usual dry wit, “And to know that things are about to get pretty twisted around here.”
“That’s one hell of an understatement,” David McKee interjected as he strode purposefully into the room.
Kyle’s brows snapped together in disapproval and disbelief. “What is he doing here?” he ground out. For the moment, no one seemed to notice the muted exchange between David and Isabel.
“He brought us here,” Maria replied tartly, “And we would have never made it without him. The streets are jammed packed with totally ridiculous traffic.”
“Everyone’s panicking,” Liz said quietly, “It’s a complete zoo.”
“Well, we knew it would be like this, right?” Isabel queried coldly, “I don’t know why everyone’s acting so shocked and freaked out now.” And then she frowned as something more pertinent occurred to her. “What are you doing here anyway?” she asked Liz, “Aren’t you supposed to be in Boston?”
“I had to meet with David today,” Liz replied, “We had some unfinished business between us.” She slid a look over in David’s direction. “But now that’s done.”
“So why is he still here then?” Isabel demanded rudely.
“Maybe because we can’t get anywhere in the city without him,” Maria hissed scathingly, “None of us have cars, remember? Public transportation is a wash. David is our only means of getting around the city!”
“Wait a minute!” David protested irately, “Wait! I never agreed to be anyone’s chauffeur!”
“Fine. Then leave,” Isabel ordered with almost no hesitation.
“No problem,” David tossed back, “You’re doing me a favor anyway. I’m outta here. Take care of yourself, Liz.”
As he stalked away Maria sent Isabel a penetrating glare. “Do you see what you did?” she scolded indignantly, “He was going to be our only way out of here! Now how are we supposed to get to the airport? I’m going after him to see if I can smooth things over.”
After she was gone Isabel leveled Liz with a puzzled frown. “What is she talking about? Why are you trying to get to the airport? Where are we supposed to be going?”
Liz reluctantly ripped her gaze from the television set to answer Isabel’s question. “I have a feeling,” she whispered direly, “A very bad feeling that things are about to go very, very wrong.”
“Did you have another premonition?” Kyle asked worriedly.
“It’s not that…I just know we can’t stay here, Isabel,” she replied as if that fact were the most logical conclusion, “It will only be a matter of time before the media figures out who we are and swarms this place.”
“Didn’t we know that was going to happen from the very beginning?” Isabel queried haughtily, “I’m not about to go scurrying for the hills now.”
“Isabel, we don’t know what’s going to happen!” Liz cried, “We need to take some precautions!”
“My brother knew that when he concocted this disaster!” Isabel bit out, her resentment finally bubbling over in an acid tide, “Now let him live with the damned consequences!”
“I can’t believe you’re being such a…such a…”
“Such a what?” Isabel cut in coldly, “A bitch? Sorry Liz, it’s what I do.”
“Not when your brother needs you!” Liz fired in an unexpected explosion of rage, “So get your head out of your ass and stop feeling sorry for yourself and start thinking about what’s best for all of us!”
Isabel couldn’t say anything. She was so surprised by Liz’s angry outburst that all she could do was stand there and stutter stupidly. Kyle chuckled at the sight. “Who the hell needs motivational speaking when you’re around, Liz?” he commended dryly, applauding her, “Someone needed to give it to her straight today.” For his trouble, Isabel rewarded him with a withering glare.
However, much of their exchange escaped Liz’s notice. She had already been sucked back into the real life drama unfolding on the television screen. Liz was marveling over how calm and collected Max seemed when suddenly the camera swung around, revealing a veritable procession of dark colored sedans racing towards the scene. Liz didn’t have to see the license plates on the back of the vehicles to know exactly who the newest visitors were and why they had come. Liz knew them all too well as did Max. Especially Max.
“Oh God, no,” she uttered in trembling terror, “It’s the Special Unit.”
-
Deejonaise
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I hate to keep you guys waiting with all the nail biting and everything, lol. Itzstacie gave me the go ahead so here it is.
Chapter 24
“We’re about to start rocking and rolling, Maxwell,” Michael warned in an underbreath as a myriad of cars began pulling up along the landing site.
Already several other reporters from rivaling news stations had arrived to vie for this history-making story. Both Max and Michael had known it would only be a matter of time before government officials began showing up as well. Quaking with fear but firm with resolve, the two young men swerved around to face this newest onslaught.
As the first two agents exited their vehicle and began their approach Diadne took a protective stance in front of Max and Michael, her expression feral. She appeared weak and diminutive, nothing more than a slip of a girl but Max had every reason to suspect she was deadly. Her eyes held the battle worn knowledge of a soldier. Though she had the outward appearance of a fifteen year old her life experience was quadruple that. Max didn’t doubt for a moment if the agents made one wrong move against him that she wouldn’t hesitate in killing them. He wanted to do everything in his power to prevent that from happening.
“Max Evans!” one of the agents called out as he flashed his badge, hardly sparing a glance to the tiny girl in front of him, “We need you to come with us.”
But the second they took a step forward at least twenty Antarian light shields went up in swift reaction. The agents fell back, not knowing what to make of the shimmering, green force field that unexpectedly separated them and Max Evans. Some drew their guns in reaction, which was a mistake because a telltale glowing had begun among the whole throng of Antarians. The desert air pulsed with the low hum of energy vibrating off their small bodies. At least one of the agents had the good sense to realize the phenomenon was not a good thing.
“Everybody just calm down,” he soothed his fellow officers, “This is a peaceful mission.” And then he turned to Max, his hands thrown up in a gesture of surrender. “We’re not here to harm you,” he said carefully, “We just need to ask you a few questions. That’s all. Ask your people to stand down, son.”
“Don’t trust them, Maxwell,” Michael warned quickly, “They sent like fifteen cars out here. There’s no way they’re just taking you away for a little chat. I say blast the hell out of them!”
“You can trust us,” the agent said again, suspecting that Michael was warning Max against that very idea, “I don’t think either one of us wants to see anybody get hurt.”
“Hah,” Michael snorted under his breath, “Don’t believe a word out of his lying mouth, Max!”
“What choice do I have, Michael? I don’t want a massacre on my hands,” Max whispered back. And then he ordered in a loud, clear tone projecting the thought with his mind even as he spoke aloud, “Stand down.” In unison all the Antarian troops pulled back their shields and stepped back within their ranks. Only Diadne dared to throw him a questioning glance over her shoulder. Her flashing reaction flittered through his mind in a dizzying blur.
“I know what I’m doing,” he reassured her quietly. But her eyes argued with him fervently, twitching over his face rapidly. “Trust me,” he whispered, “Trust me, please.”
Diadne swallowed and slowly nodded her head. “Trust,” she replied deliberately, “Diadne trust Zan.”
Max smiled at her. “Good,” he praised, “You’ll come with me when they take me.”
“This is a classified matter,” the agent interrupted as he and his partner moved to flank Max, “I’m afraid we’ll have to insist you come alone.”
“Like hell,” Philip Evans stated brusquely, “He’s going nowhere without his mother and I present. I’ll let you gentlemen know right now that I’m an attorney and if you violate so much as one of his civil rights I will have your asses for breakfast.”
“We only want to talk to him,” the agent said again, “But we won’t try and stop you if you insist on coming.”
“Jim…Michael, stay with the ships,” Max ordered as the federal agents led him over to the nearest car, “Don’t let anything happen to them.”
He didn’t struggle as they pressed him down into the seat though his parents put up the biggest fuss in all of mankind. However, Max had every confidence these agents wouldn’t hurt him. He could tell right off these weren’t officers of the Special Unit but the conventional ranks of the FBI. Max was also sure the high-ranking government officials were looking for answers and not payback. That was the sole reason Max was able to maintain his calm. Thankfully, his parents and Diadne followed suit and before long the four of them were squeezed quite uncomfortably in the back seat without any incident.
“Are you arresting him?” Philip demanded flatly when they were traveling on the road again, “To my knowledge he hasn’t broken any laws.”
“Maybe not technically,” the driving agent replied, “But he’s the reason an alien species just invaded the planet.” He twisted a brief glance over his shoulder at Max. “I think that requires some sort of explanation, don’t you?”
“And that’s all you want from him?” Diane Evans prodded shakily, “Just an explanation?”
“We can’t give you anymore information than we already have,” the passenger side agent interjected, “I’m afraid this is a classified matter, maam.”
“What information!” Philip fired out, “You haven’t told us a damned thing!”
The agent maintained his stoic silence and swiveled back around in his seat, thoroughly dismissing Philip’s question. The elder Evans growled in thwarted frustration. “Well can you, at least, tell us where you’re taking us right now?” Philip demanded querulously, not really expecting an answer and not receiving one either.
Hoping to soothe his father’s anxiety and perhaps his own, Max joked, “Area 51?”
However, in the front seat the two agents shot him a quelling look and they weren’t laughing. Max gulped. “I…I was just kidding about the Area 51 thing,” he stammered.
“Not everything is a joke, son,” the agent replied seriously.
Following that the remainder of the trip was made in near silence. While his parents murmured worriedly beside him, Max watched Diadne with open curiosity. She was a definite enigma. Despite her delicate appearance, she seemed incredibly tough and indifferent. Even now, her eyes rapidly scanned the passing terrain and Max knew instinctively that she was plotting the route for a possible escape. He had every confidence that she would die to protect him, a fact that both alarmed and fascinated Max. It felt strange to have that sort of loyalty paid to him.
He couldn’t help but feel sorry for Diadne in that moment. She was so concentrated on carrying out her duty that she probably had given little thought to the fact she’d never see her father again. Max wondered if she was missing him at that moment, if she was letting herself grieve.
Though communication between them was still pretty shaky Max tried to convey his sympathies to her anyway. He wasn’t as adept at projecting his thoughts as she was but he knew a much simpler method of demonstrating his sympathy. He patted her hand, a gesture that startled her so much she yanked away and pierced him with a wide stare of surprise. “I was just thinking of your father,” Max explained softly, “Larek…your father. He was very good to me, Diadne.”
She willed a series of images to tumble through his mind in response to his words, but there was one in particular that made a distinct impression. He saw the exact moment when Larek put his daughter on the ship, saw the way his fingers lingered on her face before the doors to the ship sealed close and they were separated forever. Diadne was burying the pain now in her fear that, if she didn’t, she’d be consumed by it.
“It’s okay,” Max whispered, “to be sad. It’s okay to let yourself miss him.” But the look she gave him clearly stated that she didn’t think it was okay. Though her features remained an inscrutable mask Max could still see the emotion playing riotously behind her eyes. “Whenever you’re ready,” he told her.
She appeared nonplussed by the invitation but then she opened her mouth and said rather haltingly, “Faa…ther?” And then she aimed a pointed look at Philip.
“Yes, he’s my father,” Max confirmed, “As Larek was yours. Larek is Diadne’s father.”
“Diadne’s father,” she echoed dutifully and clearly, “Larek…Diadne’s father. Jachin…Zan’s father.”
“Jachin?” Max parroted in a whisper. His heart skipped a little. So that was his father’s name, his Antarian father’s name. Larek had never mentioned it before seeing as he’d always insisted on being deliberately vague about Max’s birth parents. Perhaps because he had known that they were lost to Max and there was no need to let him yearn for something he would never know. “Yes, Jachin is my birth father,” Max explained patiently, “But Philip is my real father. He’s the one who raised me.”
Max then became aware that his parents were eavesdropping on their hushed conversation. He made eye contact with his father only to realize the elder man was very near to tears. “Is that how you really feel, Max?”
“Dad, I know we’ve had our differences these last few weeks,” Max replied, “And I know we’ll probably never completely agree about Liz, but I love you. You’re my father. You’re the one who taught me how to dunk a ball, how to clean out the gutters without hanging myself…” The two men traded a chuckle before Max continued on with reverent sobriety, “You taught me how to be a man. I never would have come this far without you.”
“What’s going to happen now, Max?” his mother asked in a furious whisper, “What do these people want from you?”
“Answers, most likely,” Max replied practically, “I don’t believe they’ll hurt me, Mom.”
“Max is right,” Philip agreed, “After that little display down at Vasquez Rock I think these guys are pretty aware that hurting Max will most likely provoke an interstellar war. They wouldn’t want to risk it.”
“I don’t like this,” Diane muttered, “You’re completely exposed right now. I don’t know if your father’s and my protection will be enough.”
“That’s why Diadne is here,” Max reassured her softly.
“But she’s just a little girl!” Diane burst out in near hysteria.
“Mom, she’s not,” he replied quietly, “You know she’s not.”
“But what can she really do?” his father asked in a hiss, “She can barely understand us and we definitely don’t understand her!”
“She understands more than you think,” Max told them, “And she knows what she’s doing. That’s why she was sent here in the first place…to protect me.” During the entire exchange Diadne remained quiet, her hands folded in her lap serenely, her intense blue gaze trained steadily on the agents up front.
********************
“We’re never going to be able to buy a ticket!” Maria cried anxiously when she glanced around the crowded airport, “This place is a nightmare! I’m going to go see if I can find out what’s going on.”
Maria’s departing words barely made an impact on Liz. She was numb inside, had been numb since she watched Max being led away by the feds. Her mind was swimming with a dozen different scenarios and all of them involving Max’s torture and subsequent death. Liz couldn’t shake the memories of the white room, the horrors she’d seen and felt when she connected with Max. He’d die if he had to endure something like that again. Moreover, so would she.
She didn’t realize she was weeping openly, sobbing really until Kyle took her into his arms and began stroking her back. “Oh God,” she gasped brokenly, “I shouldn’t have let him do this! I shouldn’t have let him do this!”
Shortly after watching Max being dragged away pandemonium had broken out among the three friends. On the edge of panic they had sought refuge in a deserted room so that Isabel could attempt a dreamwalk. She’d had no success, which was what they’d expected, since Max was wide awake. Desperate, Liz had tried to force a premonition but she only managed to accomplish giving herself a nosebleed and a pounding headache.
“Liz. Liz, you have to calm down,” Kyle soothed, “Max is going to be fine. He’s not alone. He has got his parents and an alien body guard with him.”
Liz shoved out of his arms, poised on a precipice of pure panic. “You saw how tiny she was!” she hissed irrationally, “How the hell is she supposed to protect him? A strong breeze could blow her over!”
“You know that hardly matters when it comes to our kind, Liz,” Isabel reminded her gently, “You’re the one who’s been saying this whole time that Max knows what he’s doing. Trust that.” She was worried about her brother as well, but clinging tenaciously to Kyle’s reasoning. Max wasn’t alone and, if she knew anything about her father, he wouldn’t let anything happen to Max, not as long as he had breath.
However, rather than comforting Liz, Isabel’s quiet words seemed to send her over the edge. Her pretty features crumpled into an anguished grimace and she collapsed into a nearby chair, weeping into her hands. When Kyle tried to step forward again, however, Isabel stopped him. “Let her cry it out,” she advised softly.
Kyle reluctantly nodded his agreement. “I guess I’ll go check on Maria,” he sighed, “See if she’s having any luck getting us out of here.”
As Kyle walked away Isabel caught sight of David, hovering behind a beam not far from where they stood. Before she’d really thought about it or even asked herself why she wanted to, Isabel was approaching him. “I thought you were leaving,” she said, startling him out of his hiding place.
David graced her with a sheepishly, befuddled frown. “I thought I was, too,” he murmured crossly. He slid a sideways glance in Liz’s direction where she sat weeping harshly. “She’s really in love with your brother, isn’t she?” he observed sadly.
Isabel nodded. “And you’re in love with her, huh,” she concluded knowingly.
David bit back a self-deprecating grin. “Fat lot of good it’s done me,” he muttered, finally tearing his gaze from Liz, “Unrequited love bites. If I could feel another way…believe me, I would.”
“We can’t choose who we love,” Isabel remarked sagely, “And Max and Liz…well, they’re something else entirely. I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people love as much or as hard as they do. Honestly, David…you never even had a chance with her.”
“I’m beginning to see that,” he uttered.
Isabel felt an inexplicable flash of pity for him in that second and much of her hostility from that afternoon began to fade. “Thank you for giving us a ride here,” she murmured, “You definitely seemed the take the fact you were chauffeuring aliens about town with remarkable aplomb.”
“Well, don’t delude yourself,” he laughed, “I was freaking out on the inside.” They shared a tentative laugh over his stilted joke. “I’m not going to stay long,” he reassured her when there was silence between them once more, “I just need to make sure you all get off okay considering what’s happening right now.”
Already the news reports were documenting cases of looting and widespread panic in some of the larger American cities. Public reaction to the alien visitors had been thus far mixed. Some were curious while still a greater number were terrified. The fact that David, practically a stranger to them, had such compassion and heart that he would linger just to make sure they got off safe touched Isabel deeply.
She offered him a sincere smile, her first since she’d mowed him down that day on the street. “You’re an amazing guy, David McKee,” she whispered, “I really wish I could’ve gotten to know you under better circumstances.”
“Me, too.”
Chapter 24
“We’re about to start rocking and rolling, Maxwell,” Michael warned in an underbreath as a myriad of cars began pulling up along the landing site.
Already several other reporters from rivaling news stations had arrived to vie for this history-making story. Both Max and Michael had known it would only be a matter of time before government officials began showing up as well. Quaking with fear but firm with resolve, the two young men swerved around to face this newest onslaught.
As the first two agents exited their vehicle and began their approach Diadne took a protective stance in front of Max and Michael, her expression feral. She appeared weak and diminutive, nothing more than a slip of a girl but Max had every reason to suspect she was deadly. Her eyes held the battle worn knowledge of a soldier. Though she had the outward appearance of a fifteen year old her life experience was quadruple that. Max didn’t doubt for a moment if the agents made one wrong move against him that she wouldn’t hesitate in killing them. He wanted to do everything in his power to prevent that from happening.
“Max Evans!” one of the agents called out as he flashed his badge, hardly sparing a glance to the tiny girl in front of him, “We need you to come with us.”
But the second they took a step forward at least twenty Antarian light shields went up in swift reaction. The agents fell back, not knowing what to make of the shimmering, green force field that unexpectedly separated them and Max Evans. Some drew their guns in reaction, which was a mistake because a telltale glowing had begun among the whole throng of Antarians. The desert air pulsed with the low hum of energy vibrating off their small bodies. At least one of the agents had the good sense to realize the phenomenon was not a good thing.
“Everybody just calm down,” he soothed his fellow officers, “This is a peaceful mission.” And then he turned to Max, his hands thrown up in a gesture of surrender. “We’re not here to harm you,” he said carefully, “We just need to ask you a few questions. That’s all. Ask your people to stand down, son.”
“Don’t trust them, Maxwell,” Michael warned quickly, “They sent like fifteen cars out here. There’s no way they’re just taking you away for a little chat. I say blast the hell out of them!”
“You can trust us,” the agent said again, suspecting that Michael was warning Max against that very idea, “I don’t think either one of us wants to see anybody get hurt.”
“Hah,” Michael snorted under his breath, “Don’t believe a word out of his lying mouth, Max!”
“What choice do I have, Michael? I don’t want a massacre on my hands,” Max whispered back. And then he ordered in a loud, clear tone projecting the thought with his mind even as he spoke aloud, “Stand down.” In unison all the Antarian troops pulled back their shields and stepped back within their ranks. Only Diadne dared to throw him a questioning glance over her shoulder. Her flashing reaction flittered through his mind in a dizzying blur.
“I know what I’m doing,” he reassured her quietly. But her eyes argued with him fervently, twitching over his face rapidly. “Trust me,” he whispered, “Trust me, please.”
Diadne swallowed and slowly nodded her head. “Trust,” she replied deliberately, “Diadne trust Zan.”
Max smiled at her. “Good,” he praised, “You’ll come with me when they take me.”
“This is a classified matter,” the agent interrupted as he and his partner moved to flank Max, “I’m afraid we’ll have to insist you come alone.”
“Like hell,” Philip Evans stated brusquely, “He’s going nowhere without his mother and I present. I’ll let you gentlemen know right now that I’m an attorney and if you violate so much as one of his civil rights I will have your asses for breakfast.”
“We only want to talk to him,” the agent said again, “But we won’t try and stop you if you insist on coming.”
“Jim…Michael, stay with the ships,” Max ordered as the federal agents led him over to the nearest car, “Don’t let anything happen to them.”
He didn’t struggle as they pressed him down into the seat though his parents put up the biggest fuss in all of mankind. However, Max had every confidence these agents wouldn’t hurt him. He could tell right off these weren’t officers of the Special Unit but the conventional ranks of the FBI. Max was also sure the high-ranking government officials were looking for answers and not payback. That was the sole reason Max was able to maintain his calm. Thankfully, his parents and Diadne followed suit and before long the four of them were squeezed quite uncomfortably in the back seat without any incident.
“Are you arresting him?” Philip demanded flatly when they were traveling on the road again, “To my knowledge he hasn’t broken any laws.”
“Maybe not technically,” the driving agent replied, “But he’s the reason an alien species just invaded the planet.” He twisted a brief glance over his shoulder at Max. “I think that requires some sort of explanation, don’t you?”
“And that’s all you want from him?” Diane Evans prodded shakily, “Just an explanation?”
“We can’t give you anymore information than we already have,” the passenger side agent interjected, “I’m afraid this is a classified matter, maam.”
“What information!” Philip fired out, “You haven’t told us a damned thing!”
The agent maintained his stoic silence and swiveled back around in his seat, thoroughly dismissing Philip’s question. The elder Evans growled in thwarted frustration. “Well can you, at least, tell us where you’re taking us right now?” Philip demanded querulously, not really expecting an answer and not receiving one either.
Hoping to soothe his father’s anxiety and perhaps his own, Max joked, “Area 51?”
However, in the front seat the two agents shot him a quelling look and they weren’t laughing. Max gulped. “I…I was just kidding about the Area 51 thing,” he stammered.
“Not everything is a joke, son,” the agent replied seriously.
Following that the remainder of the trip was made in near silence. While his parents murmured worriedly beside him, Max watched Diadne with open curiosity. She was a definite enigma. Despite her delicate appearance, she seemed incredibly tough and indifferent. Even now, her eyes rapidly scanned the passing terrain and Max knew instinctively that she was plotting the route for a possible escape. He had every confidence that she would die to protect him, a fact that both alarmed and fascinated Max. It felt strange to have that sort of loyalty paid to him.
He couldn’t help but feel sorry for Diadne in that moment. She was so concentrated on carrying out her duty that she probably had given little thought to the fact she’d never see her father again. Max wondered if she was missing him at that moment, if she was letting herself grieve.
Though communication between them was still pretty shaky Max tried to convey his sympathies to her anyway. He wasn’t as adept at projecting his thoughts as she was but he knew a much simpler method of demonstrating his sympathy. He patted her hand, a gesture that startled her so much she yanked away and pierced him with a wide stare of surprise. “I was just thinking of your father,” Max explained softly, “Larek…your father. He was very good to me, Diadne.”
She willed a series of images to tumble through his mind in response to his words, but there was one in particular that made a distinct impression. He saw the exact moment when Larek put his daughter on the ship, saw the way his fingers lingered on her face before the doors to the ship sealed close and they were separated forever. Diadne was burying the pain now in her fear that, if she didn’t, she’d be consumed by it.
“It’s okay,” Max whispered, “to be sad. It’s okay to let yourself miss him.” But the look she gave him clearly stated that she didn’t think it was okay. Though her features remained an inscrutable mask Max could still see the emotion playing riotously behind her eyes. “Whenever you’re ready,” he told her.
She appeared nonplussed by the invitation but then she opened her mouth and said rather haltingly, “Faa…ther?” And then she aimed a pointed look at Philip.
“Yes, he’s my father,” Max confirmed, “As Larek was yours. Larek is Diadne’s father.”
“Diadne’s father,” she echoed dutifully and clearly, “Larek…Diadne’s father. Jachin…Zan’s father.”
“Jachin?” Max parroted in a whisper. His heart skipped a little. So that was his father’s name, his Antarian father’s name. Larek had never mentioned it before seeing as he’d always insisted on being deliberately vague about Max’s birth parents. Perhaps because he had known that they were lost to Max and there was no need to let him yearn for something he would never know. “Yes, Jachin is my birth father,” Max explained patiently, “But Philip is my real father. He’s the one who raised me.”
Max then became aware that his parents were eavesdropping on their hushed conversation. He made eye contact with his father only to realize the elder man was very near to tears. “Is that how you really feel, Max?”
“Dad, I know we’ve had our differences these last few weeks,” Max replied, “And I know we’ll probably never completely agree about Liz, but I love you. You’re my father. You’re the one who taught me how to dunk a ball, how to clean out the gutters without hanging myself…” The two men traded a chuckle before Max continued on with reverent sobriety, “You taught me how to be a man. I never would have come this far without you.”
“What’s going to happen now, Max?” his mother asked in a furious whisper, “What do these people want from you?”
“Answers, most likely,” Max replied practically, “I don’t believe they’ll hurt me, Mom.”
“Max is right,” Philip agreed, “After that little display down at Vasquez Rock I think these guys are pretty aware that hurting Max will most likely provoke an interstellar war. They wouldn’t want to risk it.”
“I don’t like this,” Diane muttered, “You’re completely exposed right now. I don’t know if your father’s and my protection will be enough.”
“That’s why Diadne is here,” Max reassured her softly.
“But she’s just a little girl!” Diane burst out in near hysteria.
“Mom, she’s not,” he replied quietly, “You know she’s not.”
“But what can she really do?” his father asked in a hiss, “She can barely understand us and we definitely don’t understand her!”
“She understands more than you think,” Max told them, “And she knows what she’s doing. That’s why she was sent here in the first place…to protect me.” During the entire exchange Diadne remained quiet, her hands folded in her lap serenely, her intense blue gaze trained steadily on the agents up front.
********************
“We’re never going to be able to buy a ticket!” Maria cried anxiously when she glanced around the crowded airport, “This place is a nightmare! I’m going to go see if I can find out what’s going on.”
Maria’s departing words barely made an impact on Liz. She was numb inside, had been numb since she watched Max being led away by the feds. Her mind was swimming with a dozen different scenarios and all of them involving Max’s torture and subsequent death. Liz couldn’t shake the memories of the white room, the horrors she’d seen and felt when she connected with Max. He’d die if he had to endure something like that again. Moreover, so would she.
She didn’t realize she was weeping openly, sobbing really until Kyle took her into his arms and began stroking her back. “Oh God,” she gasped brokenly, “I shouldn’t have let him do this! I shouldn’t have let him do this!”
Shortly after watching Max being dragged away pandemonium had broken out among the three friends. On the edge of panic they had sought refuge in a deserted room so that Isabel could attempt a dreamwalk. She’d had no success, which was what they’d expected, since Max was wide awake. Desperate, Liz had tried to force a premonition but she only managed to accomplish giving herself a nosebleed and a pounding headache.
“Liz. Liz, you have to calm down,” Kyle soothed, “Max is going to be fine. He’s not alone. He has got his parents and an alien body guard with him.”
Liz shoved out of his arms, poised on a precipice of pure panic. “You saw how tiny she was!” she hissed irrationally, “How the hell is she supposed to protect him? A strong breeze could blow her over!”
“You know that hardly matters when it comes to our kind, Liz,” Isabel reminded her gently, “You’re the one who’s been saying this whole time that Max knows what he’s doing. Trust that.” She was worried about her brother as well, but clinging tenaciously to Kyle’s reasoning. Max wasn’t alone and, if she knew anything about her father, he wouldn’t let anything happen to Max, not as long as he had breath.
However, rather than comforting Liz, Isabel’s quiet words seemed to send her over the edge. Her pretty features crumpled into an anguished grimace and she collapsed into a nearby chair, weeping into her hands. When Kyle tried to step forward again, however, Isabel stopped him. “Let her cry it out,” she advised softly.
Kyle reluctantly nodded his agreement. “I guess I’ll go check on Maria,” he sighed, “See if she’s having any luck getting us out of here.”
As Kyle walked away Isabel caught sight of David, hovering behind a beam not far from where they stood. Before she’d really thought about it or even asked herself why she wanted to, Isabel was approaching him. “I thought you were leaving,” she said, startling him out of his hiding place.
David graced her with a sheepishly, befuddled frown. “I thought I was, too,” he murmured crossly. He slid a sideways glance in Liz’s direction where she sat weeping harshly. “She’s really in love with your brother, isn’t she?” he observed sadly.
Isabel nodded. “And you’re in love with her, huh,” she concluded knowingly.
David bit back a self-deprecating grin. “Fat lot of good it’s done me,” he muttered, finally tearing his gaze from Liz, “Unrequited love bites. If I could feel another way…believe me, I would.”
“We can’t choose who we love,” Isabel remarked sagely, “And Max and Liz…well, they’re something else entirely. I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people love as much or as hard as they do. Honestly, David…you never even had a chance with her.”
“I’m beginning to see that,” he uttered.
Isabel felt an inexplicable flash of pity for him in that second and much of her hostility from that afternoon began to fade. “Thank you for giving us a ride here,” she murmured, “You definitely seemed the take the fact you were chauffeuring aliens about town with remarkable aplomb.”
“Well, don’t delude yourself,” he laughed, “I was freaking out on the inside.” They shared a tentative laugh over his stilted joke. “I’m not going to stay long,” he reassured her when there was silence between them once more, “I just need to make sure you all get off okay considering what’s happening right now.”
Already the news reports were documenting cases of looting and widespread panic in some of the larger American cities. Public reaction to the alien visitors had been thus far mixed. Some were curious while still a greater number were terrified. The fact that David, practically a stranger to them, had such compassion and heart that he would linger just to make sure they got off safe touched Isabel deeply.
She offered him a sincere smile, her first since she’d mowed him down that day on the street. “You’re an amazing guy, David McKee,” she whispered, “I really wish I could’ve gotten to know you under better circumstances.”
“Me, too.”
-
Deejonaise
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2002 12:48 am
- Location: On my rusty dusty...
To help with Carol's withdrawal...
Chapter 25
Michael was hardly surprised when the feds began shooing off the associated press. He also was not surprised when Lauren Davis and her cameraman refused to be budged. They had been covering this story for nearly four hours now and no one was going to steal their thunder, not even the genuine, all authentic Federal Bureau of Investigations. Michael hung back and watched the spectacle they created without any real alarm. A formidable Antarian army surrounded him, not to mention he had the Roswell sheriff on his side. He dared someone to even look cross-eyed at him!
Max had been gone a little over an hour. Had it not been for the fact that his parents and Diadne had accompanied him Michael would probably be in a panic by now. But then he tried to think rationally. At this point the FBI had no cause to mistreat Max or even hold him prisoner. Michael seriously doubted the government would make such a stupid move, especially considering the fact there were over five hundred Antarians waiting in the desert ready to avenge Max if he came to harm. Michael had to believe he was safe. For the moment it was the only thing keeping him sane.
Presently, Michael sat in a small circle of Antarians as they partook in their afternoon meal. It looked to be an odd combination of leafy greens, berries and jerked meat. Michael watched them gobble it down with a mild grimace of disgust. However, a moment later Kadon was nudging Michael, generously offering him a taste.
He was still wrapping his mind around the idea of that as well. After spending most of his life as an orphan and a loner, Michael finally had a family and a protective one at that. From the bits and pieces he could glean from Kadon and Razba, he was the youngest son in the house of Suth, third cousins to the throne. Despite his youth and inexperience, however, Rath (as his brothers insisted on calling him) had risen above family expectation to become second in command to their beloved King Zan. He was something of a hero among his relatives, Michael realized, a source of enormous pride. The knowledge humbled Michael even as it filled up the empty space that had been apart of his heart for so long.
Michael smiled at Kadon now and shook his head in refusal to the offer of food. “Eh…no, thank you,” he refused politely, “I’m still full on that entire pot of coffee I had for breakfast.” Still Kadon insisted, his black eyes gleaming. He was of the mind that Michael’s human form was a sickly one.
Cowed by Kadon’s silent reprimand and unhidden concern, Michael relented. “Okay,” he agreed with a disgruntled sigh. He scrunched up his nose, closed his eyes and shoved in a handful of food. But he hardly encountered the bitter, salty tasted he’d expected but a perfect combination of spicy and sweet. He smiled at his brother in surprise. “It’s good.”
Kadon merely nodded, as if the realization was a foregone conclusion and continued on with his meal. Michael started to reach for more when a shadow suddenly loomed above his head. Michael tipped back his head, not surprised to find a federal agent standing above him.
“My name’s Agent Conrad,” he said gruffly, “You think I could have a moment alone with you, Mr. Guerin?” Every pair of Antarian eyes in Michael’s small group swung to the agent’s face and there was no mistaking the protective menace gleaming there. Agent Conrad gulped audibly. “Can you call off your dogs?”
Smirking a bit, Michael held up a hand. “I’ll be fine,” he said, simultaneously transmitting the thought along with his words. “Stay here and wait for me,” he instructed Kadon and Razba as he rolled to his feet, “Don’t let anyone come within five feet of this camp.” He didn’t know how much of that order they’d actually understood but he was fairly certain no one would get anywhere near the people.
“So Conrad,” Michael began when he and the agent had gained an adequate distance from the group, “What do you want?”
“My men have counted over eight hundred heads so far,” Conrad replied in a succinct whisper, “I’ve got two questions for you. Are there more? And, what are you planning to do with them all?”
“Yes to your first question,” Michael answered tersely, “As for your second…we were kinda hoping you guys could provide room and board for them until we figured that out.”
Agent Conrad burst out laughing but that laughter died abruptly when he recognized that Michael was being perfectly serious. “You’re out of your mind!” he charged in a furious hiss.
“Don’t act like it’s a problem for you,” Michael snorted, “We both know you’ve got the facilities to house them somewhere. Your office has known about my race for some time now. Don’t try to tell me they weren’t prepared for this day.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Agent Conrad denied.
“Liar!” Michael spat, “How can you stand there and deny it? The proof is all around you, man! Your secret is out and the whole world knows it. Aliens exist and the FBI has been covering up that fact all these years.”
“You’re talking about the Roswell crash of ’47?” Conrad queried.
“What?” Michael snorted derisively, “Are you going to tell me it was just a weather balloon, cuz I gotta tell you, buddy, I know better.”
“I’m as much in the dark as you are,” Conrad insisted, “I was dispatched here solely because of what occurred here this morning. I don’t have any other details than that.”
“You can shovel that line of bullshit somewhere else,” Michael told him, “Cuz I ain’t buying it.”
“None of us has any clue what’s happening right now,” Conrad pressed on, “We’re in the dark here, Guerin, and you’re the only one who can provide some answers!”
“Yeah, like what sort of answers?” Michael asked, playing along for a moment.
Conrad flicked a fearful, furtive glance over at the massive throng of aliens before them. “Are they hostile…dangerous?” he asked shakily, “Do they mean to harm us?”
“Would they be having a picnic lunch in the middle of the desert if that were the case?” Michael tossed back sardonically, “If anyone is in danger here it’s them!” He started to rant on further when Max’s cell phone suddenly trilled to life in his pocket. “Why are you guys just hovering around anyway?” he huffed as he stalked away to answer his call, “If you’re going to be here at least do something!” He flipped open the phone and barked out an exasperated hello.
“So it finally occurred to you to answer the friggin phone?”
The yapping voice in his ear was too familiar. “Maria?”
“Michael?” Maria queried, equally confused, “Wait a minute. I just called Max.”
“I know,” Michael said, “I have his phone.”
“Where is he?” she fired back, “Do the feds still have him? Please, dear God, say no. Liz is totally freaking out over here and we can’t get on a plane to save our lives. They’ve canceled all the outgoing flights!”
“A plane?” Michael echoed, “You’re at the airport? Are you and Liz trying to come back to Roswell?”
“Me, Liz, Isabel and Kyle,” Maria clarified, “We’re all coming home. You need us, Spaceboy.”
“No. Stay put for now,” Michael advised, “I don’t know…but I get the feeling that something is about to go down and the further you guys are from Roswell the better. We’re surrounded by federal agents right now and no one’s making a move but that can change any minute.”
“Are things really weird down there?” she asked him, “We’re not getting any more live coverage here so the news anchors are filling time with convoluted theories and speculation. They think Max might be some kind of religious cult leader and this whole thing might be a hoax. Can it get any stranger?”
Michael threw a glance around him, taking in the three massive alien spaceships, the dense crowd of Antarians, the surrounding federal agents and beyond them an ever-growing crowd of onlookers. “Yeah,” he replied deliberately, “I definitely believe it could get a little stranger.”
“Have you heard anything at all about Max?”
Michael swallowed back his anxious sigh. “Not yet,” he answered, “But I have to believe he’s okay, you know. They wouldn’t be stupid and harm him. That would be more risk than benefit.”
“Maybe you should tell that to Liz,” Maria told him glumly, “None of us can get through to her. She’s a complete basket case.”
“Well, after what happened to Max in that white room I can understand how she would be worried and upset…so cut her some slack alright. If she needs to freak out then…just let her. Let her get it out.”
“How about you?” Maria asked quietly, “Do you need to freak out, too?”
Michael rasped out a humorless chuckle. “I need you, DeLuca,” he whispered, “I wish you could be here with me.”
“Me, too,” she whispered back.
“Which actually brings me to another point,” he said, “We’re going to have to arrange a time to talk with your mom sometime soon.”
“M…My mom?” Maria stammered.
“I think she might still be out there, Maria,” Michael clarified, “Of course she couldn’t get past the army of feds and I didn’t say anything about letting her through because I was a little scared. She looked ready to freak. I think Jim saw her, too. He’s hiding around here somewhere.”
“God,” Maria uttered, “She’s probably left me a hundred messages already. We’ve been using Liz’s phone all day so I haven’t even turned my phone on.” She released a serrated groan. “How upset did she look?” she queried tentatively.
“On a scale of one to ten, ten being the highest?”
“Tell me.”
“She looked about a fifteen,” Michael replied direly, “We’re going to be paying for this one for a long time to come, DeLuca.”
********************
Jeff Parker slammed his phone down into the cradle in pure frustration. “I got her voice mail again!” he sounded off angrily, “Who the hell could she be talking to all this time?”
“Jeff, calm down,” Nancy urged evenly, refusing to allow herself to become ruffled even under such intense circumstances, “I’m sure Liz is fine. She will call us when she can. It must be pure pandemonium on her end right now.”
“You think she knows Max was taken away?” her husband wondered anxiously.
“I’m fairly certain she does.”
The entire morning had been like a dash of cold water for them both. For the better part of it they had been glued to the television screen along with the rest of the nation as their daughter’s boyfriend made contact with his people for the first time. Watching Max interact with his people on screen, witnessing his warmth and compassion and wonder firsthand both Jeff and Nancy had been given a glimpse of what had compelled Liz to fall in love with him in the first place. By the time Max was dragged away by federal agents Nancy and Jeff had found themselves sympathizing with the boy they had previously alienated.
“I wouldn’t be in his place for all the world right now,” Jeff sighed wearily, “Can you imagine the kind of scrutiny he’ll be under now?”
Nancy sank down into the chair directly across from him. “And Liz by association,” she murmured, “God! She must be in hell right now.” And then she surged back to her feet and resumed her stance beside the window. “I can’t just sit here, you know. I feel like the whole world is changing around us but I’m just standing still.”
“It’s like a dream, isn’t it, Nance?”
She scoffed at that. “More like a nightmare.”
A sharp knock sounded at the front door and both Nancy and Jeff jumped in nervous reaction. They traded paranoid glances between each other and the front door, silently debating over whether they should answer it or not. “Who do you think it is?” Nancy ventured in a nervous whisper.
They learned the answer to that question a few seconds later when Amy DeLuca’s frantic voice sounded through their door. “Jeff! Nancy!” she cried, “For God’s sake! Somebody, please open the door!” She followed the plea with another round of pounding. “Please answer! Jeff! Nancy! I need to talk to you both right now!”
Just as she raised her fist again Jeff pulled open the door and Amy fell inside with a sobbing sigh of relief. “Have you been watching the news!” she croaked fretfully, “There are aliens in Roswell. Can you believe it? It’s like God is laughing at us or something.” She choked on a bubble of frenzied laughter. “And you know what else? My daughter’s boyfriend…he’s one of them.”
Quite understandably, Amy DeLuca expected some sort of outcry over that and she prepared herself for the onslaught of questions and disbelief but it never came. It dawned on her slowly that Jeff and Nancy only seemed stricken by her tearful revelation but not particularly surprised. Not surprised at all. She trilled a hysterical laugh. “You knew already! My friends… Unbelievable!”
“Only for a month or so,” Nancy revealed quietly, “Before that we were as much in the dark as you were.”
“Why didn’t you say something to me?” Amy sobbed, crumpling into the nearest chair, “My God! I don’t even know my own child! Maria has this whole other life…this whole other life I don’t even know about!” She stabbed her friends with wrathful eyes. “Is she really even visiting Liz in Boston or is that another lie?”
“She’s with Liz,” Jeff confirmed quietly, “They all wanted to be together when the news broke to the public.”
“All?”
Jeff ducked his eyes as he answered. “Kyle, Isabel, Liz and Maria.”
“Kyle,” Amy whispered bitterly, “I suppose that means Jim knew as well. Seems I was the only fool in this equation.”
“Amy, don’t say that,” Nancy protested regretfully, “We never wanted it this way.”
Amy ignored the explanation altogether, too angry and too hurt to give attention to her friend’s pain. “So they were expecting this then?” she whispered carefully.
“Yeah,” Jeff said, “Max has been planning this for months.”
“And you’re okay with that,” Amy asked slowly, “You’re okay with the idea that your daughter is dating an alien life form.”
“He’s human, too, Amy,” Nancy pointed out, surprising both herself and her husband, “It took a great deal of courage and compassion to do what he did today. He could have easily let them all die on that planet and washed his hands of the responsibility but he didn’t do that. Instead he put himself out there to preserve his race..” She stared down at her hands, clearing her throat several times before continuing. “He…they…Michael and he both…they’re very brave young men and I’m beginning to see that our daughters are very privileged to have them.”
“Well, that’s all fine and good and noble, Nancy,” Amy sniffled, tunneling all ten fingers through her hair with a frustrated groan, “But I can’t help but wonder what those ‘brave, young men’ have gotten our precious girls into.”
Michael was hardly surprised when the feds began shooing off the associated press. He also was not surprised when Lauren Davis and her cameraman refused to be budged. They had been covering this story for nearly four hours now and no one was going to steal their thunder, not even the genuine, all authentic Federal Bureau of Investigations. Michael hung back and watched the spectacle they created without any real alarm. A formidable Antarian army surrounded him, not to mention he had the Roswell sheriff on his side. He dared someone to even look cross-eyed at him!
Max had been gone a little over an hour. Had it not been for the fact that his parents and Diadne had accompanied him Michael would probably be in a panic by now. But then he tried to think rationally. At this point the FBI had no cause to mistreat Max or even hold him prisoner. Michael seriously doubted the government would make such a stupid move, especially considering the fact there were over five hundred Antarians waiting in the desert ready to avenge Max if he came to harm. Michael had to believe he was safe. For the moment it was the only thing keeping him sane.
Presently, Michael sat in a small circle of Antarians as they partook in their afternoon meal. It looked to be an odd combination of leafy greens, berries and jerked meat. Michael watched them gobble it down with a mild grimace of disgust. However, a moment later Kadon was nudging Michael, generously offering him a taste.
He was still wrapping his mind around the idea of that as well. After spending most of his life as an orphan and a loner, Michael finally had a family and a protective one at that. From the bits and pieces he could glean from Kadon and Razba, he was the youngest son in the house of Suth, third cousins to the throne. Despite his youth and inexperience, however, Rath (as his brothers insisted on calling him) had risen above family expectation to become second in command to their beloved King Zan. He was something of a hero among his relatives, Michael realized, a source of enormous pride. The knowledge humbled Michael even as it filled up the empty space that had been apart of his heart for so long.
Michael smiled at Kadon now and shook his head in refusal to the offer of food. “Eh…no, thank you,” he refused politely, “I’m still full on that entire pot of coffee I had for breakfast.” Still Kadon insisted, his black eyes gleaming. He was of the mind that Michael’s human form was a sickly one.
Cowed by Kadon’s silent reprimand and unhidden concern, Michael relented. “Okay,” he agreed with a disgruntled sigh. He scrunched up his nose, closed his eyes and shoved in a handful of food. But he hardly encountered the bitter, salty tasted he’d expected but a perfect combination of spicy and sweet. He smiled at his brother in surprise. “It’s good.”
Kadon merely nodded, as if the realization was a foregone conclusion and continued on with his meal. Michael started to reach for more when a shadow suddenly loomed above his head. Michael tipped back his head, not surprised to find a federal agent standing above him.
“My name’s Agent Conrad,” he said gruffly, “You think I could have a moment alone with you, Mr. Guerin?” Every pair of Antarian eyes in Michael’s small group swung to the agent’s face and there was no mistaking the protective menace gleaming there. Agent Conrad gulped audibly. “Can you call off your dogs?”
Smirking a bit, Michael held up a hand. “I’ll be fine,” he said, simultaneously transmitting the thought along with his words. “Stay here and wait for me,” he instructed Kadon and Razba as he rolled to his feet, “Don’t let anyone come within five feet of this camp.” He didn’t know how much of that order they’d actually understood but he was fairly certain no one would get anywhere near the people.
“So Conrad,” Michael began when he and the agent had gained an adequate distance from the group, “What do you want?”
“My men have counted over eight hundred heads so far,” Conrad replied in a succinct whisper, “I’ve got two questions for you. Are there more? And, what are you planning to do with them all?”
“Yes to your first question,” Michael answered tersely, “As for your second…we were kinda hoping you guys could provide room and board for them until we figured that out.”
Agent Conrad burst out laughing but that laughter died abruptly when he recognized that Michael was being perfectly serious. “You’re out of your mind!” he charged in a furious hiss.
“Don’t act like it’s a problem for you,” Michael snorted, “We both know you’ve got the facilities to house them somewhere. Your office has known about my race for some time now. Don’t try to tell me they weren’t prepared for this day.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Agent Conrad denied.
“Liar!” Michael spat, “How can you stand there and deny it? The proof is all around you, man! Your secret is out and the whole world knows it. Aliens exist and the FBI has been covering up that fact all these years.”
“You’re talking about the Roswell crash of ’47?” Conrad queried.
“What?” Michael snorted derisively, “Are you going to tell me it was just a weather balloon, cuz I gotta tell you, buddy, I know better.”
“I’m as much in the dark as you are,” Conrad insisted, “I was dispatched here solely because of what occurred here this morning. I don’t have any other details than that.”
“You can shovel that line of bullshit somewhere else,” Michael told him, “Cuz I ain’t buying it.”
“None of us has any clue what’s happening right now,” Conrad pressed on, “We’re in the dark here, Guerin, and you’re the only one who can provide some answers!”
“Yeah, like what sort of answers?” Michael asked, playing along for a moment.
Conrad flicked a fearful, furtive glance over at the massive throng of aliens before them. “Are they hostile…dangerous?” he asked shakily, “Do they mean to harm us?”
“Would they be having a picnic lunch in the middle of the desert if that were the case?” Michael tossed back sardonically, “If anyone is in danger here it’s them!” He started to rant on further when Max’s cell phone suddenly trilled to life in his pocket. “Why are you guys just hovering around anyway?” he huffed as he stalked away to answer his call, “If you’re going to be here at least do something!” He flipped open the phone and barked out an exasperated hello.
“So it finally occurred to you to answer the friggin phone?”
The yapping voice in his ear was too familiar. “Maria?”
“Michael?” Maria queried, equally confused, “Wait a minute. I just called Max.”
“I know,” Michael said, “I have his phone.”
“Where is he?” she fired back, “Do the feds still have him? Please, dear God, say no. Liz is totally freaking out over here and we can’t get on a plane to save our lives. They’ve canceled all the outgoing flights!”
“A plane?” Michael echoed, “You’re at the airport? Are you and Liz trying to come back to Roswell?”
“Me, Liz, Isabel and Kyle,” Maria clarified, “We’re all coming home. You need us, Spaceboy.”
“No. Stay put for now,” Michael advised, “I don’t know…but I get the feeling that something is about to go down and the further you guys are from Roswell the better. We’re surrounded by federal agents right now and no one’s making a move but that can change any minute.”
“Are things really weird down there?” she asked him, “We’re not getting any more live coverage here so the news anchors are filling time with convoluted theories and speculation. They think Max might be some kind of religious cult leader and this whole thing might be a hoax. Can it get any stranger?”
Michael threw a glance around him, taking in the three massive alien spaceships, the dense crowd of Antarians, the surrounding federal agents and beyond them an ever-growing crowd of onlookers. “Yeah,” he replied deliberately, “I definitely believe it could get a little stranger.”
“Have you heard anything at all about Max?”
Michael swallowed back his anxious sigh. “Not yet,” he answered, “But I have to believe he’s okay, you know. They wouldn’t be stupid and harm him. That would be more risk than benefit.”
“Maybe you should tell that to Liz,” Maria told him glumly, “None of us can get through to her. She’s a complete basket case.”
“Well, after what happened to Max in that white room I can understand how she would be worried and upset…so cut her some slack alright. If she needs to freak out then…just let her. Let her get it out.”
“How about you?” Maria asked quietly, “Do you need to freak out, too?”
Michael rasped out a humorless chuckle. “I need you, DeLuca,” he whispered, “I wish you could be here with me.”
“Me, too,” she whispered back.
“Which actually brings me to another point,” he said, “We’re going to have to arrange a time to talk with your mom sometime soon.”
“M…My mom?” Maria stammered.
“I think she might still be out there, Maria,” Michael clarified, “Of course she couldn’t get past the army of feds and I didn’t say anything about letting her through because I was a little scared. She looked ready to freak. I think Jim saw her, too. He’s hiding around here somewhere.”
“God,” Maria uttered, “She’s probably left me a hundred messages already. We’ve been using Liz’s phone all day so I haven’t even turned my phone on.” She released a serrated groan. “How upset did she look?” she queried tentatively.
“On a scale of one to ten, ten being the highest?”
“Tell me.”
“She looked about a fifteen,” Michael replied direly, “We’re going to be paying for this one for a long time to come, DeLuca.”
********************
Jeff Parker slammed his phone down into the cradle in pure frustration. “I got her voice mail again!” he sounded off angrily, “Who the hell could she be talking to all this time?”
“Jeff, calm down,” Nancy urged evenly, refusing to allow herself to become ruffled even under such intense circumstances, “I’m sure Liz is fine. She will call us when she can. It must be pure pandemonium on her end right now.”
“You think she knows Max was taken away?” her husband wondered anxiously.
“I’m fairly certain she does.”
The entire morning had been like a dash of cold water for them both. For the better part of it they had been glued to the television screen along with the rest of the nation as their daughter’s boyfriend made contact with his people for the first time. Watching Max interact with his people on screen, witnessing his warmth and compassion and wonder firsthand both Jeff and Nancy had been given a glimpse of what had compelled Liz to fall in love with him in the first place. By the time Max was dragged away by federal agents Nancy and Jeff had found themselves sympathizing with the boy they had previously alienated.
“I wouldn’t be in his place for all the world right now,” Jeff sighed wearily, “Can you imagine the kind of scrutiny he’ll be under now?”
Nancy sank down into the chair directly across from him. “And Liz by association,” she murmured, “God! She must be in hell right now.” And then she surged back to her feet and resumed her stance beside the window. “I can’t just sit here, you know. I feel like the whole world is changing around us but I’m just standing still.”
“It’s like a dream, isn’t it, Nance?”
She scoffed at that. “More like a nightmare.”
A sharp knock sounded at the front door and both Nancy and Jeff jumped in nervous reaction. They traded paranoid glances between each other and the front door, silently debating over whether they should answer it or not. “Who do you think it is?” Nancy ventured in a nervous whisper.
They learned the answer to that question a few seconds later when Amy DeLuca’s frantic voice sounded through their door. “Jeff! Nancy!” she cried, “For God’s sake! Somebody, please open the door!” She followed the plea with another round of pounding. “Please answer! Jeff! Nancy! I need to talk to you both right now!”
Just as she raised her fist again Jeff pulled open the door and Amy fell inside with a sobbing sigh of relief. “Have you been watching the news!” she croaked fretfully, “There are aliens in Roswell. Can you believe it? It’s like God is laughing at us or something.” She choked on a bubble of frenzied laughter. “And you know what else? My daughter’s boyfriend…he’s one of them.”
Quite understandably, Amy DeLuca expected some sort of outcry over that and she prepared herself for the onslaught of questions and disbelief but it never came. It dawned on her slowly that Jeff and Nancy only seemed stricken by her tearful revelation but not particularly surprised. Not surprised at all. She trilled a hysterical laugh. “You knew already! My friends… Unbelievable!”
“Only for a month or so,” Nancy revealed quietly, “Before that we were as much in the dark as you were.”
“Why didn’t you say something to me?” Amy sobbed, crumpling into the nearest chair, “My God! I don’t even know my own child! Maria has this whole other life…this whole other life I don’t even know about!” She stabbed her friends with wrathful eyes. “Is she really even visiting Liz in Boston or is that another lie?”
“She’s with Liz,” Jeff confirmed quietly, “They all wanted to be together when the news broke to the public.”
“All?”
Jeff ducked his eyes as he answered. “Kyle, Isabel, Liz and Maria.”
“Kyle,” Amy whispered bitterly, “I suppose that means Jim knew as well. Seems I was the only fool in this equation.”
“Amy, don’t say that,” Nancy protested regretfully, “We never wanted it this way.”
Amy ignored the explanation altogether, too angry and too hurt to give attention to her friend’s pain. “So they were expecting this then?” she whispered carefully.
“Yeah,” Jeff said, “Max has been planning this for months.”
“And you’re okay with that,” Amy asked slowly, “You’re okay with the idea that your daughter is dating an alien life form.”
“He’s human, too, Amy,” Nancy pointed out, surprising both herself and her husband, “It took a great deal of courage and compassion to do what he did today. He could have easily let them all die on that planet and washed his hands of the responsibility but he didn’t do that. Instead he put himself out there to preserve his race..” She stared down at her hands, clearing her throat several times before continuing. “He…they…Michael and he both…they’re very brave young men and I’m beginning to see that our daughters are very privileged to have them.”
“Well, that’s all fine and good and noble, Nancy,” Amy sniffled, tunneling all ten fingers through her hair with a frustrated groan, “But I can’t help but wonder what those ‘brave, young men’ have gotten our precious girls into.”
Last edited by Deejonaise on Wed Mar 17, 2004 3:32 pm, edited 3 times in total.
-
Deejonaise
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2002 12:48 am
- Location: On my rusty dusty...
I'm back...
Chapter 26
The examination room was tiny, cramped with bodies and slightly cold but Max hardly noticed. He pressed the cotton ball to the tiny needle prick in the juncture of his elbow and folded his arm around it as the nurse indicated. His parents hung about a few feet away during the entire ordeal, their expressions caught between dismay and frustrated anger. Every so often they would gasp or grimace over a particular procedure but his father was by far the more vocal of the two.
“Do you think you got enough?” Philip bit out sarcastically, nodding to the three vials of blood the nurse had taken, “Perhaps he should just slit open a wrist for you people.”
“Dad, please,” Max whispered in an effort to keep the peace, “She’s just doing her job.”
Fortunately, his nurse must have been accustomed to such abuse for she steadfastly ignored his father’s boorish comments. “Okay,” she said, withdrawing a very long Q-tip from her medical caddy, “Open wide for me, please. I’m going to have to swab the inside of your mouth for a DNA sample.” It was the sixth sample he’d given in a ten minute span, however, Max dutifully opened his mouth and allowed her to scrap the inside of his cheek for cells.
“Do you need a stool sample, too?” Philip snapped caustically.
“Dad,” Max groaned out in mortified reaction to his father’s crudeness.
Though he could understand the reason for his father’s hostility Max did not share it. Strangely enough, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of resentment over being poked and prodded. On some level Max found the ordeal surprisingly liberating. For the first time in his life he wasn’t hiding who he was. No longer did he have to fear exposure through everyday, routine tests such as these. He had been exposed. The ruse was up and he was finally free.
“Don’t worry about your father,” the nurse reassured him as she finished up her task, “I understand why he’s so edgy. I know you’re not here under the best of circumstances.” When she was done she dropped the sample into an airtight container and carefully placed it among the various other vials. Afterwards, she straightened and clasped her hands together. “Now I just need one more sample,” she said. However, Max’s answering groan was halted when she added, “From her.”
All gazes swung expectantly in Diadne’s direction. Up until that moment she had been like a shadow in the room, quiet and fleeting and very subtle. She was almost abnormally quiet but Max knew instinctively that she had been taking in every sight and sound. During his exam, he had felt the impressions of her emotions throughout the whole time. She had not liked the poking and prodding anymore than his father had but unlike Philip Evans she had remained respectfully silent. However, Max knew she was overwhelmed and afraid.
That fear manifested itself plainly when the nurse turned towards Diadne, her needle at the ready. For the first time Max witnessed a slip in the girl’s calm, controlled veneer to see the trembling, vulnerable being beneath. She was almost like a cornered animal, her eyes flashing dangerously as she backed up several, cautious steps. She looked poised somewhere between flight and attack and neither reaction would prove good.
“Maybe you shouldn’t pressure her,” Max advised the nurse softly, “She’s afraid of you. Are you sure that taking a blood sample from her is absolutely necessary?”
“The lab needs to do a comparison between your blood and hers,” the nurse explained, “We need to know blood components you have in common.” She looked back towards Diadne, who had now pressed herself into the wall. At the tips of her fingers a faint glowing had begun. “It’s just a tiny pinprick,” the nurse told Max, “She’ll hardly feel any pain.”
However, Max had not missed the glowing as the nurse had and he realized quite quickly what a precarious situation they were dealing with. “Will you let me do it?” he rushed out when she started to advance forward again.
The nurse threw him an exasperated glance. “Mr. Evans, this test has to be sterile,” she reasoned, “Besides that, you’re not qualified to draw blood. How would you even know how to find the vein? I couldn’t possibly allow it.”
“She won’t let you near her,” Max warned, “And I’m afraid if you try she’ll hurt you.” That stopped the nurse dead in her tracks. “Just tell me what I need to do and I’ll do it,” Max promised, “We’ll go through it step by step.”
The nurse glanced between Max’s pleading features and Diadne’s hard, steady stare. She could readily believe the alien girl would attack her if she tried to draw her blood and it was not a risk she was willing to take. “Okay,” she conceded with a shuddering sigh, “Pat the area clean with an alcohol wipe and have at it.”
She took a cautious step backward as Max beckoned Diadne over to his side. As she crossed the room Diadne kept her gaze trained on the nurse the entire time as if she were expecting some sort of sneak attack. Again Max was struck by her stealthy grace, her battle worn maturity. Now he could understand why Larek had believed her to be an asset. Diadne was no fool.
When she finally stood before him Max meticulously transmitted his instructions to her through a series of flashes. He realized that his method was disjointed and choppy but despite that Diadne seemed to understand his message. Gradually, her eyes lost their glazed look of panic and her rigid stance relaxed.
With calm detachment, Diadne held out her wrist to Max to be disinfected, ignoring the nurse’s protests over the chosen area. Then, once he had finished, Diadne lengthened the nail on her index finger and casually dragged it across her wrist, creating a tiny ribbon of bright green blood in its wake. Philip, Diane and the nurse gasped collectively, but Max merely collected the blood into the vial the nurse had provided with nonchalant efficiency. When they were done, Diadne passed a hand over her wrist and sealed the wound closed while Max passed the procured blood to the speechless nurse.
She stared in alternately between Diadne and the vial of swirling green blood in slack jawed amazement. “If I hadn’t seen that with my own eyes I would have never believed it,” she gasped. She had known since that morning that aliens had invaded their planet but that was the minute when the reality hit her. It was a moment before she remembered she had a job to do. “I…I’ll just get these samples to our lab,” she stammered, “Someone should be in later to talk with you about the results.”
“Now what?” Philip asked Max when the nurse left them alone, “I don’t understand what’s going on. We were told they were bringing you here because they wanted to ask you some questions but so far all they’ve done is stick and prick you for every body fluid imaginable. It’s a violation of your civil rights, Max, being held here without cause!”
“Dad, calm down,” Max soothed.
“No. Your father is right,” his mother interrupted before he could continue, “These people are looking out for their own interests, Max. They’re not concerned with yours at all. We should just leave.”
“Both of you just chill,” Max replied mildly, “I know why they’re taking all these blood samples and tests. This morning I made the public claim of being an alien. They want to make sure I am what I say I am. And it really hasn’t been so bad. Believe me, I’ve experienced worse.”
“I don’t like not knowing what’s going on,” Philip muttered.
“I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough,” Max murmured, shifting on the table and wincing when the tiny movement aggravated the tender spots on his body.
“Are you in any pain, sweetheart,” his mother asked solicitously. She was at his side in an instant, palming his face in motherly concern.
“Mom, I’m fine,” he said, shrugging her off with a smile, “I’m a little dizzy and fatigued from the blood loss. But other than that I really feel fine.” He reached out to grip his mother’s hand, noting that her concerned frown only deepened as he spoke. “Have I told either of you how glad I am that you’re here with me,” he whispered deferentially, “I couldn’t get through this otherwise.”
“You know we won’t let anything happen to you, Max,” his father vowed, clapping him firmly on the shoulder. “I know I’ve made no secret of the fact that this plan of yours doesn’t sit well with me. My uncertainty about it has only increased since this whole thing went down. I just don’t get a good feeling about any of this. We’re sequestered away in a secret military base, for crying out loud! This is big, son,” Philip finished direly, “Perhaps even bigger than you.” His fingers tightened reflexively on Max’s shoulder. “I just hope you’re not in over your head.”
Max scratched behind his ear thoughtfully and tipped a glance up at his father. “I hope so, too, Dad,” he replied wryly, “I don’t want to be wrong about this decision. But going public was really the only option I had left to me.”
“Still, I wish you had come to your mother and I first,” Philip insisted. He’d said so several times in the past few days but never had he meant the words more than at that very second.
“So do I,” Max whispered in hindsight, “But I can’t go back and change things now. I can only try to make better decisions in the future and I definitely need you guys there to help me.”
They waited for an hour thereafter. Diadne kept her post near the window, watching the goings on down in the courtyard below while simultaneously keeping an observant eye over her king. Diane and Philip grew restless and borrowed a stack of playing cards from the nurse, entertaining themselves with hands of gin rummy while they waited. And in the mist of all the uncertainty and disorder, Max curled up on the examination table and fell into an exhausted asleep. After the morning he’d endured it was little surprise he did.
Philip and Diane were on their fourth game of gin rummy when the door abruptly swished open. As they stumbled to their feet, two men, a smartly dressed federal agent and a uniformed officer swept inside. Philip quickly put away the cards and nudged his dozing son awake. It took several tries but Philip finally managed to rouse him.
Blearily assimilating that he had visitors, Max hastily swung upright and scrubbed the sleep from his eyes before extending a hand to first the agent and then the officer. “I’m Max Evans,” he greeted them with a broad yawn.
“Mr. Evans,” the elder agent acknowledged formally, “I trust we didn’t keep you waiting very long. I’m Special Agent Aaron Kesley. I’ll be the one questioning you this evening. As our session will probably run quite long, please let me know if, at any time, you need to stop.”
Max frowned over Kesley’s official tone. “Is it necessary for this to be so formal?” he wondered.
“I’m afraid so, Mr. Evans. Every word spoken here must be documented for our files,” Kesley said. He nodded towards the young, uniformed officer along side him. “Lieutenant William Pierce will keep the minutes for us.”
Those nine, innocent words caused Max’s blood to freeze in his veins. “Pierce?” Max parroted sharply, his gaze snapping over to the younger officer and slowly widening with horror.
For a moment Max thought his eyes were playing tricks on him or else he’d gone crazy. When he’d first shaken the man’s hand Max had still been groggy from sleep. He had barely spared him a glance. But now that his senses were sharpened with alertness Max noted for the first time how shockingly similar the lieutenant looked to his captor, his tormentor…Agent Daniel Pierce. Max blinked his eyes but the face before him remained unchanged. The same angular features, the same devilish smirk…the same ice-cold eyes…
“Is something wrong, Max?” Diane burst out anxiously, noting with alarm how quickly the color drained from her son’s face, “Do you need to lie down?”
“Mr. Evans, are you alright?” Kesley asked in concern, “Should I call the nurse?”
“I’m fine,” Max panted, unable to tear his eyes from the lieutenant’s face.
“You look ill,” Kesley observed, “Perhaps we should postpone the questioning for another time, sir.”
“No…it’s just…just the name Pierce,” Max wheezed, unable to cover over his terrified trembling, “I know that name. I…I mean…I’ve heard it before.”
“I assume you’re referring to Daniel Pierce,” Kesley ventured deliberately, “The so called FBI alien hunter?”
Max managed a jerky nod, but the lieutenant was the one to elaborate further. “Agent Daniel Pierce was my older brother,” Pierce confirmed, “and the irony in this situation isn’t lost on me.”
“Pardon?” Philip snapped in reaction, acutely aware of what had spooked Max so thoroughly and wanting to shield his son from any imminent danger, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Only that my brother disappeared shortly after his career was ruined for spending hard earned tax dollars hunting down bogus aliens,” Lieutenant Pierce replied, “He was made into a laughingstock and viewed as a fraud. I just think it’s strangely ironic that he was right after all.”
As Pierce made the last of that comment Max was given the distinct impression that the lieutenant was accusing him of something. He stared at Max hard, as if he could see right through him. Max tried not to squirm under his inspection. Of course, it was equally likely that Max’s own guilt and terror was playing tricks on him. He could barely look at the man because his resemblance to his brother was so dead on.
Sensing the alarm in her king, Diadne perked to alertness, her fathomless blue stare narrowing speculatively. Although she kept her place near the window, her stance was like that of a prowling cat ready to pounce if the situation warranted it. Her protective presence combined with his parents’ watchful alertness gave Max the courage to go on with the interview, despite the fear churning in his belly.
Firmly, shaking off the lingering memories of the white room and the horrors he’d endured there as well as the ghost who had unexpectedly evoked himself, Max forced himself to focus on the matter at hand. “I’m ready to answer your questions, Agent Kesley,” he stated bravely, “Whenever you want to begin.”
“Why don’t we take this into the conference room,” Kesley suggested, “We have a lot of ground to cover and I’m sure we’ll be more comfortable there.”
On wooden legs, Max followed the officers down the long, winding corridor with only the echoing clicks of their heels against the high glossed floor to break the monotonous silence. As the two men chatted quietly amongst themselves ahead of him, Max purposely let himself lag behind so that his father could fall into step alongside him.
“I talked it over with your mother, Max, and we decided that you don’t have to do this,” Philip whispered anxiously, “They don’t have any grounds to hold you here. None at all. So let’s just leave now.”
“I can’t run, Dad,” Max argued grimly, “They’ll think I have something to hide if I do.”
“You do have something to hide,” his father hissed in reminder, “What do you think they’ll do to you if they find out what really happened to the lieutenant’s brother, Max? This is a dangerous situation.”
“They won’t find out, Dad,” Max said, deliberately picking up the pace of his steps, “I’ll be careful. I promise.”
The examination room was tiny, cramped with bodies and slightly cold but Max hardly noticed. He pressed the cotton ball to the tiny needle prick in the juncture of his elbow and folded his arm around it as the nurse indicated. His parents hung about a few feet away during the entire ordeal, their expressions caught between dismay and frustrated anger. Every so often they would gasp or grimace over a particular procedure but his father was by far the more vocal of the two.
“Do you think you got enough?” Philip bit out sarcastically, nodding to the three vials of blood the nurse had taken, “Perhaps he should just slit open a wrist for you people.”
“Dad, please,” Max whispered in an effort to keep the peace, “She’s just doing her job.”
Fortunately, his nurse must have been accustomed to such abuse for she steadfastly ignored his father’s boorish comments. “Okay,” she said, withdrawing a very long Q-tip from her medical caddy, “Open wide for me, please. I’m going to have to swab the inside of your mouth for a DNA sample.” It was the sixth sample he’d given in a ten minute span, however, Max dutifully opened his mouth and allowed her to scrap the inside of his cheek for cells.
“Do you need a stool sample, too?” Philip snapped caustically.
“Dad,” Max groaned out in mortified reaction to his father’s crudeness.
Though he could understand the reason for his father’s hostility Max did not share it. Strangely enough, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of resentment over being poked and prodded. On some level Max found the ordeal surprisingly liberating. For the first time in his life he wasn’t hiding who he was. No longer did he have to fear exposure through everyday, routine tests such as these. He had been exposed. The ruse was up and he was finally free.
“Don’t worry about your father,” the nurse reassured him as she finished up her task, “I understand why he’s so edgy. I know you’re not here under the best of circumstances.” When she was done she dropped the sample into an airtight container and carefully placed it among the various other vials. Afterwards, she straightened and clasped her hands together. “Now I just need one more sample,” she said. However, Max’s answering groan was halted when she added, “From her.”
All gazes swung expectantly in Diadne’s direction. Up until that moment she had been like a shadow in the room, quiet and fleeting and very subtle. She was almost abnormally quiet but Max knew instinctively that she had been taking in every sight and sound. During his exam, he had felt the impressions of her emotions throughout the whole time. She had not liked the poking and prodding anymore than his father had but unlike Philip Evans she had remained respectfully silent. However, Max knew she was overwhelmed and afraid.
That fear manifested itself plainly when the nurse turned towards Diadne, her needle at the ready. For the first time Max witnessed a slip in the girl’s calm, controlled veneer to see the trembling, vulnerable being beneath. She was almost like a cornered animal, her eyes flashing dangerously as she backed up several, cautious steps. She looked poised somewhere between flight and attack and neither reaction would prove good.
“Maybe you shouldn’t pressure her,” Max advised the nurse softly, “She’s afraid of you. Are you sure that taking a blood sample from her is absolutely necessary?”
“The lab needs to do a comparison between your blood and hers,” the nurse explained, “We need to know blood components you have in common.” She looked back towards Diadne, who had now pressed herself into the wall. At the tips of her fingers a faint glowing had begun. “It’s just a tiny pinprick,” the nurse told Max, “She’ll hardly feel any pain.”
However, Max had not missed the glowing as the nurse had and he realized quite quickly what a precarious situation they were dealing with. “Will you let me do it?” he rushed out when she started to advance forward again.
The nurse threw him an exasperated glance. “Mr. Evans, this test has to be sterile,” she reasoned, “Besides that, you’re not qualified to draw blood. How would you even know how to find the vein? I couldn’t possibly allow it.”
“She won’t let you near her,” Max warned, “And I’m afraid if you try she’ll hurt you.” That stopped the nurse dead in her tracks. “Just tell me what I need to do and I’ll do it,” Max promised, “We’ll go through it step by step.”
The nurse glanced between Max’s pleading features and Diadne’s hard, steady stare. She could readily believe the alien girl would attack her if she tried to draw her blood and it was not a risk she was willing to take. “Okay,” she conceded with a shuddering sigh, “Pat the area clean with an alcohol wipe and have at it.”
She took a cautious step backward as Max beckoned Diadne over to his side. As she crossed the room Diadne kept her gaze trained on the nurse the entire time as if she were expecting some sort of sneak attack. Again Max was struck by her stealthy grace, her battle worn maturity. Now he could understand why Larek had believed her to be an asset. Diadne was no fool.
When she finally stood before him Max meticulously transmitted his instructions to her through a series of flashes. He realized that his method was disjointed and choppy but despite that Diadne seemed to understand his message. Gradually, her eyes lost their glazed look of panic and her rigid stance relaxed.
With calm detachment, Diadne held out her wrist to Max to be disinfected, ignoring the nurse’s protests over the chosen area. Then, once he had finished, Diadne lengthened the nail on her index finger and casually dragged it across her wrist, creating a tiny ribbon of bright green blood in its wake. Philip, Diane and the nurse gasped collectively, but Max merely collected the blood into the vial the nurse had provided with nonchalant efficiency. When they were done, Diadne passed a hand over her wrist and sealed the wound closed while Max passed the procured blood to the speechless nurse.
She stared in alternately between Diadne and the vial of swirling green blood in slack jawed amazement. “If I hadn’t seen that with my own eyes I would have never believed it,” she gasped. She had known since that morning that aliens had invaded their planet but that was the minute when the reality hit her. It was a moment before she remembered she had a job to do. “I…I’ll just get these samples to our lab,” she stammered, “Someone should be in later to talk with you about the results.”
“Now what?” Philip asked Max when the nurse left them alone, “I don’t understand what’s going on. We were told they were bringing you here because they wanted to ask you some questions but so far all they’ve done is stick and prick you for every body fluid imaginable. It’s a violation of your civil rights, Max, being held here without cause!”
“Dad, calm down,” Max soothed.
“No. Your father is right,” his mother interrupted before he could continue, “These people are looking out for their own interests, Max. They’re not concerned with yours at all. We should just leave.”
“Both of you just chill,” Max replied mildly, “I know why they’re taking all these blood samples and tests. This morning I made the public claim of being an alien. They want to make sure I am what I say I am. And it really hasn’t been so bad. Believe me, I’ve experienced worse.”
“I don’t like not knowing what’s going on,” Philip muttered.
“I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough,” Max murmured, shifting on the table and wincing when the tiny movement aggravated the tender spots on his body.
“Are you in any pain, sweetheart,” his mother asked solicitously. She was at his side in an instant, palming his face in motherly concern.
“Mom, I’m fine,” he said, shrugging her off with a smile, “I’m a little dizzy and fatigued from the blood loss. But other than that I really feel fine.” He reached out to grip his mother’s hand, noting that her concerned frown only deepened as he spoke. “Have I told either of you how glad I am that you’re here with me,” he whispered deferentially, “I couldn’t get through this otherwise.”
“You know we won’t let anything happen to you, Max,” his father vowed, clapping him firmly on the shoulder. “I know I’ve made no secret of the fact that this plan of yours doesn’t sit well with me. My uncertainty about it has only increased since this whole thing went down. I just don’t get a good feeling about any of this. We’re sequestered away in a secret military base, for crying out loud! This is big, son,” Philip finished direly, “Perhaps even bigger than you.” His fingers tightened reflexively on Max’s shoulder. “I just hope you’re not in over your head.”
Max scratched behind his ear thoughtfully and tipped a glance up at his father. “I hope so, too, Dad,” he replied wryly, “I don’t want to be wrong about this decision. But going public was really the only option I had left to me.”
“Still, I wish you had come to your mother and I first,” Philip insisted. He’d said so several times in the past few days but never had he meant the words more than at that very second.
“So do I,” Max whispered in hindsight, “But I can’t go back and change things now. I can only try to make better decisions in the future and I definitely need you guys there to help me.”
They waited for an hour thereafter. Diadne kept her post near the window, watching the goings on down in the courtyard below while simultaneously keeping an observant eye over her king. Diane and Philip grew restless and borrowed a stack of playing cards from the nurse, entertaining themselves with hands of gin rummy while they waited. And in the mist of all the uncertainty and disorder, Max curled up on the examination table and fell into an exhausted asleep. After the morning he’d endured it was little surprise he did.
Philip and Diane were on their fourth game of gin rummy when the door abruptly swished open. As they stumbled to their feet, two men, a smartly dressed federal agent and a uniformed officer swept inside. Philip quickly put away the cards and nudged his dozing son awake. It took several tries but Philip finally managed to rouse him.
Blearily assimilating that he had visitors, Max hastily swung upright and scrubbed the sleep from his eyes before extending a hand to first the agent and then the officer. “I’m Max Evans,” he greeted them with a broad yawn.
“Mr. Evans,” the elder agent acknowledged formally, “I trust we didn’t keep you waiting very long. I’m Special Agent Aaron Kesley. I’ll be the one questioning you this evening. As our session will probably run quite long, please let me know if, at any time, you need to stop.”
Max frowned over Kesley’s official tone. “Is it necessary for this to be so formal?” he wondered.
“I’m afraid so, Mr. Evans. Every word spoken here must be documented for our files,” Kesley said. He nodded towards the young, uniformed officer along side him. “Lieutenant William Pierce will keep the minutes for us.”
Those nine, innocent words caused Max’s blood to freeze in his veins. “Pierce?” Max parroted sharply, his gaze snapping over to the younger officer and slowly widening with horror.
For a moment Max thought his eyes were playing tricks on him or else he’d gone crazy. When he’d first shaken the man’s hand Max had still been groggy from sleep. He had barely spared him a glance. But now that his senses were sharpened with alertness Max noted for the first time how shockingly similar the lieutenant looked to his captor, his tormentor…Agent Daniel Pierce. Max blinked his eyes but the face before him remained unchanged. The same angular features, the same devilish smirk…the same ice-cold eyes…
“Is something wrong, Max?” Diane burst out anxiously, noting with alarm how quickly the color drained from her son’s face, “Do you need to lie down?”
“Mr. Evans, are you alright?” Kesley asked in concern, “Should I call the nurse?”
“I’m fine,” Max panted, unable to tear his eyes from the lieutenant’s face.
“You look ill,” Kesley observed, “Perhaps we should postpone the questioning for another time, sir.”
“No…it’s just…just the name Pierce,” Max wheezed, unable to cover over his terrified trembling, “I know that name. I…I mean…I’ve heard it before.”
“I assume you’re referring to Daniel Pierce,” Kesley ventured deliberately, “The so called FBI alien hunter?”
Max managed a jerky nod, but the lieutenant was the one to elaborate further. “Agent Daniel Pierce was my older brother,” Pierce confirmed, “and the irony in this situation isn’t lost on me.”
“Pardon?” Philip snapped in reaction, acutely aware of what had spooked Max so thoroughly and wanting to shield his son from any imminent danger, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Only that my brother disappeared shortly after his career was ruined for spending hard earned tax dollars hunting down bogus aliens,” Lieutenant Pierce replied, “He was made into a laughingstock and viewed as a fraud. I just think it’s strangely ironic that he was right after all.”
As Pierce made the last of that comment Max was given the distinct impression that the lieutenant was accusing him of something. He stared at Max hard, as if he could see right through him. Max tried not to squirm under his inspection. Of course, it was equally likely that Max’s own guilt and terror was playing tricks on him. He could barely look at the man because his resemblance to his brother was so dead on.
Sensing the alarm in her king, Diadne perked to alertness, her fathomless blue stare narrowing speculatively. Although she kept her place near the window, her stance was like that of a prowling cat ready to pounce if the situation warranted it. Her protective presence combined with his parents’ watchful alertness gave Max the courage to go on with the interview, despite the fear churning in his belly.
Firmly, shaking off the lingering memories of the white room and the horrors he’d endured there as well as the ghost who had unexpectedly evoked himself, Max forced himself to focus on the matter at hand. “I’m ready to answer your questions, Agent Kesley,” he stated bravely, “Whenever you want to begin.”
“Why don’t we take this into the conference room,” Kesley suggested, “We have a lot of ground to cover and I’m sure we’ll be more comfortable there.”
On wooden legs, Max followed the officers down the long, winding corridor with only the echoing clicks of their heels against the high glossed floor to break the monotonous silence. As the two men chatted quietly amongst themselves ahead of him, Max purposely let himself lag behind so that his father could fall into step alongside him.
“I talked it over with your mother, Max, and we decided that you don’t have to do this,” Philip whispered anxiously, “They don’t have any grounds to hold you here. None at all. So let’s just leave now.”
“I can’t run, Dad,” Max argued grimly, “They’ll think I have something to hide if I do.”
“You do have something to hide,” his father hissed in reminder, “What do you think they’ll do to you if they find out what really happened to the lieutenant’s brother, Max? This is a dangerous situation.”
“They won’t find out, Dad,” Max said, deliberately picking up the pace of his steps, “I’ll be careful. I promise.”
-
Deejonaise
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Just thought I'd get it over with...
...you can do that when you've written ahead to Chapter 42.
Chapter 27
“I bought you coffee. Two creams, two sugars.”
Liz tipped back her head and barely managed to stifle her answering groan of consternation when she saw David looming over her. It wasn’t that she was particularly unhappy to see him. She actually thought it was incredibly sweet that he had chosen to stay, but honestly she simply couldn’t deal with his presence right then. Agitation over the situation with Max was making her short-tempered and Liz lacked the patience to tread cautiously around David’s raw feelings. In the mood she was presently in she was likely to say something hurtful to him.
She rolled upright in her chair and reluctantly plucked the coffee from his fingers. “David,” she sighed, “As much I appreciate your giving us a ride to the airport and being so supportive I just think it would be better if you just…left.” She ducked her head in shame as her words echoed back in her ears. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings or anything but…I just can’t do this with you.”
Not surprisingly instead of leaving as she requested he plunked down beside her. This time Liz didn’t bother to stifle her groan of annoyance. However, David seemed unperturbed. It was evident he had something on his mind and he wasn’t going to leave until he’d said his peace.
“I just wanted you to know that I get it now,” he sighed after an uncomfortable beat of silence.
“Get what?” Liz demanded shortly.
His stormy gray eyes bored into her. “Why you can’t love me.”
“Oh David,” Liz moaned, throwing back her head in doleful exasperation, “Do we really have to do this again…because I just can’t right now.”
“Liz, this isn’t to put you on the spot,” he rushed to reassure her, “I just wanted you to know that I don’t expect anything from you.”
She stared at him in hopeful disbelief. “What are you saying to me, David?”
“I know you were making an effort to be my friend,” he replied carefully, “But I also know that I’m a particular part of your past that you’d rather forget.” His eyes challenged her to deny and she couldn’t so she stared down mutely at the styrofoam coffee cup in her hands. “I know that what you said in the coffee shop still stands and I wanted to reassure you,” he paused a moment to inhale a fortifying breath, “I wanted to reassure you that you wouldn’t have to worry about seeing me again after this. I mean…I’ll keep my distance.”
Liz felt dangerously close to tears. Her emotions were all over the place. Ten minutes ago she was so annoyed with him she practically told him to take a hike and now she was feeling like the wicked witch of the west. “David, I don’t know what to say to you,” she sniffled miserably, “You’ve been so good to me…”
“You’ve been good to me, too,” he returned gruffly, “So we’ll just call it even.”
Liz looked at him then and felt an inexplicable sorrow. For the first time she let herself wonder what it might have been like for them if she had accepted his marriage proposal seven months ago. Perhaps they could have been happy. Definitely they would have been raising their child together. Liz recognized that David had lost a great deal more than she had. She, at least, had Max to comfort her…but David had no one. He couldn’t even rely on her friendship anymore. Liz could finally see past that unaffected, cultured persona he presented to the desperately lonely person underneath.
And suddenly Liz felt compelled to make it right somehow, to heal the hurt she’d inadvertently caused him. She had never imagined that he would fall in love with her after that night. She had never imagined having the power to hurt him as much as she was now. The realization was both humbling and agonizing and Liz only wanted to soothe them both and end the pain.
“We were going to have a little girl,” she blurted softly. David’s gaze snapped to her face in startled confusion. “Don’t ask me how I knew,” she whispered, reading the silent question in his eyes, “Just trust me. We were going to have a girl.”
David made a small choking sound, rapidly blinking back his forming tears. “A girl,” he croaked hoarsely, “Wow.”
“She would have had your eyes,” Liz told him gently.
He expelled a serrated sigh of emotion. “I bet she would have been something,” he whispered, “I’ll just bet…”
********************
Agent Kesley leaned forward to fold his hands atop the lacquered tabletop with a fantastic sigh. “That’s quite a tale you told me, Max,” he remarked thoughtfully, “Quite a tale.”
“Every single word is true,” Max vowed. It was true he had left out some pertinent details, like his brief stint in the white room and the truth behind Daniel Pierce’s disappearance, but for the most part all the information he’d given Kesley was accurate.
“Oh, I believe you,” Kesley replied, tapping his chin thoughtfully, “The results from our lab work came back. You’re definitely not human…at least not 100% anyway.”
Max sagged a little. He had always known that as a fact and had never let him consider anything different but there had still been a part of him that hoped, perhaps unrealistically, that he wasn’t really an alien hybrid after all. However, with Kesley’s words, that foolish notion was dispelled.
“Which brings me to my next question,” Kesley said, unintentionally jarring Max from his musings, “What exactly is it that you want?”
“What do I want?” Max echoed blankly.
What did he want? Max had never really taken the time to consider that before. For the last few months he had been so preoccupied with making all the right decisions that he hadn’t stopped to consider what came next. The first of his people were here on the planet but they had no homes, no jobs, and no means of livelihood. Max could give them none of those things. He was a nineteen-year-old assistant manager at the local UFO museum. Not exactly an exalted position for an alien boy king.
“What do I want?” Max said again, “Assistance for my people, to start with.”
“Assistance?” Kesley prompted.
“They’ll need schooling,” Max replied without preamble, “And jobs and homes and, most of all, money. Lots of it.”
“And why should the American government help you with these things, Max?” Kesley wondered casually.
“Because you would benefit greatly from my people’s technology,” Max returned succinctly, “And because, if we wanted to, we could take what we needed by force. No one could stop us.”
Kesley’s brows shot up to the hairline at Max’s unspoken threat and even his parents pierced him with surprised stares. Only William Pierce remained impassive as he meticulously kept the meeting minutes. Max thoroughly ignored his presence for the most part because dwelling on it made him feel as if he was losing control.
The room was suspended in tension until Kesley asked with relative calm, “Is that what you’re planning to do?”
Max shook his head. “Earth is my home,” he insisted earnestly, “I want it to be a home for my people as well.”
“How do you propose we make that happen, Max?” Kesley demanded evenly, “They can’t speak the language. They don’t know our culture. There’s only so much I can do in this situation.”
“They’re very quick learners,” Diane Evans interjected abruptly, “When Max and Isabel came to us neither of them could read or speak a word of English. They learned in six days, Agent Kesley. Six days. I’m sure the others will learn just as quickly.”
Kesley fingered his chin once again. “I would have to discuss the matter with my superiors,” he said eventually, “But I’m sure something could be arranged.” However, before Max and his parents could breathe a sigh of relief Kesley added, “Of course the U.S. Government would have certain expectations in this deal as well.”
“What sort of expectations?” Philip Evans demanded guardedly.
“We would want full access to Antarian technology,” Kesley answered, “And we would want to hold Max here for insurance in that regard.”
“What?” Philip and Diane burst out simultaneously followed by Philip’s bellowed, “Like hell you will!”
“Why would I have to stay here?” Max asked anxiously, “I thought you said I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Technically, you smuggled illegal aliens into the country,” Kesley expounded with a smirk, “But that’s not the issue. Max, you are an alien king. My men reported to me what happened today out at Vasquez Rock. You’ve got hundreds of beings willing to kill for you at a moment’s notice…beings with powers we can’t even fathom.
“You were right when you said that you could easily take what you wanted,” Kesley continued thoughtfully, “You don’t think that fact has already occurred to us? You and your people could pose a serious danger to this country and, quite possibly, the entire world. We have to protect our own interests.”
“We’re not looking to start a war,” Max protested, “We only want peace and a place to live.”
“I’m afraid I can’t take your word for that, Max,” Kesley sighed regretfully, “If the U.S. Government is to help you then you have to help us. Until all your people have arrived on this planet and we have determined to our satisfaction that they pose no danger to us we will have to keep you in our custody.”
“B…But the last ships won’t arrive for another three months,” Philip sputtered, “You can’t do this!”
“We need insurance, Mr. Evans,” Lieutenant Pierce interjected, speaking aloud for the first time since the meeting began, “By your son’s own admission there are another 15 ships expected after the ones that arrived today. We’re talking about an estimate of about 15,000 or more beings who could easily take this country apart if they so chose.”
“But that possibility is far less likely if we’re holding your son during that time,” Kesley concluded, “Those are the only terms we will accept.”
“Are you talking about putting Max in prison?” Diane burst out in alarm.
“Of course not, Mrs. Evans,” Kesley soothed smoothly, “We would keep him in a safe house of sorts. He would be free to move about the grounds, free to have visitors, to make calls…whatever he wanted.”
“Just not free to leave,” Max surmised quietly. He belatedly realized that Kesley and his superiors had had this planned from the very beginning. The U.S. Government had always intended to avail themselves to the Antarian presence but they wanted Max’s cooperation first. They were covering their asses and they had expertly used Max’s need and vulnerability to get what they wanted.
Kesley didn’t even flinch in the face of Max’s resentful glare. “It won’t be forever,’ he said, “Just until we’re assured that the danger has passed.”
“And what if you never feel reassured?’ Max challenged.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Kesley said.
“Like hell!” Philip fired, abruptly rising to his feet, “No deal. We’ll find a way to make this work on our own. Max, Diane…let’s go!”
“How are you going to care for 15,000 people, Max?” Kesley asked calmly when the three Evans and their Antarian bodyguard headed for the door. Max paused mid-step. “You need us,” Kesley said, “Just as much as we need you.”
Max deliberately swung back around to face him. “And you promise it won’t be prison?”
“Max, don’t do this!” his father exclaimed, but Max held his hand up for silence.
“Do you swear it won’t be a prison?” he reiterated, shuddering when he thought back to the white room. He could never endure a hell like that again.
“You’ll be set up in an apartment,” Kesley promised, “There will be guards posted there and you won’t be allowed to leave the grounds but other than that you’ll be free to do what you want.”
“I have to think about it,” Max said, but then barked harshly when his parents started to protest, “Alone! Just give me some time to think.”
Philip, Diane, Lieutenant Pierce, and Agent Kesley filed out dutifully. Only Diadne refused to be budged and Max didn’t have the strength to argue with her. However, as Kesley passed him, Max snagged hold of the man’s sleeve. “I need to use your phone,” he said.
“It’s on the desk,” Kesley indicated, “Take all the time you need.”
********************
“Chica, are you okay?” Maria asked tenderly when she found Liz crying in the women’s bathroom.
Liz hurriedly swept at her wet cheeks, struggling to regain her composure. “Has there been any change?” she asked anxiously.
“No. The planes are still grounded.” Maria watched Liz splash cold water on her face but it did little to alleviate the red puffiness of her eyes. “I saw David leave,” she informed Liz softly, “You two done for good now?” Liz nodded. “Are you okay with that?”
In answer, Liz nibbled pensively at her lower lip. “I’m glad that it’s done but…I didn’t like hurting him.”
“Is that why you were crying just now?”
“Nope,” Liz answered, shaking her head, “I’m worried about Max. It’s been hours now and we haven’t heard from him.”
“Oh…Liz,” Maria breathed sympathetically.
“I just keep thinking what if I never see him again?”
Maria’s reply to Liz’s grief-stricken consideration was cut short when the sound of her ringing cell phone rent the air. Her heart leaping into her throat, Liz fumbled around in her back pocket for the phone and hastily clicked it on.
“I’m okay,” Max said the second she picked up.
“Thank God!” she cried, “When you didn’t call I started to think the worst. Where are you now?”
“I’m at some kind of army base,” he said, “They brought me here for questioning and it doesn’t look like I’ll be leaving any time soon.”
The peculiar inflection in his words caused the hairs at the base of her neck to prickle with apprehension. “Max?” Liz questioned anxiously, “What’s going on?”
“A lot of things,” he sighed vaguely, “Almost too many to tell you in one phone call but I promise you I will explain everything later, Liz. Right now it’s looking like I’m going to have to stay in federal custody for a while.”
Liz’s newly acquired relief was quickly replaced with an encompassing panic. “Federal custody?” she whispered carefully, “No. No! Don’t tell me that. They can’t, Max. They can’t do that to you again!” She set her jaw tight with determination. “I’m coming home on the first flight I can get.”
“No!” Max protested sharply, “Don’t do that, Liz! Please don’t come back here…not now. The situation is very delicate and I don’t want to involve you anymore than I already have. Besides…you only just started school and… We knew this was going to happen, okay. That’s no reason for you to come running back to Roswell.”
“You just told me the FBI won’t let you leave!” she cried hysterically, “What else do you expect me to do, Max?”
“They just want to be sure my people aren’t dangerous,” Max explained weakly, “It’s not like the white room. Look, I can’t give you any real details right now, Liz. They’re waiting for my answer.”
“Max, I don’t understand,” Liz sobbed fearfully, “What are you doing?”
“Just trust me,” he pleaded, “Please, Liz…please trust me. For now I need you to stay in Boston and let me handle this. I promise you that everything will work out. Liz, I swear it. I love you,” he rushed out breathlessly, “I love you so much. The only thing I can think about is seeing your beautiful face again and…I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens, okay? You just have to trust me. Can you do that, Liz? Can you trust me?”
It was a long time before she could answer and when she did she was weeping uncontrollably. “Y…Yes, Max,” she sobbed in agreement, even though it was the hardest thing in the world to do right then, “I trust you.”
Chapter 27
“I bought you coffee. Two creams, two sugars.”
Liz tipped back her head and barely managed to stifle her answering groan of consternation when she saw David looming over her. It wasn’t that she was particularly unhappy to see him. She actually thought it was incredibly sweet that he had chosen to stay, but honestly she simply couldn’t deal with his presence right then. Agitation over the situation with Max was making her short-tempered and Liz lacked the patience to tread cautiously around David’s raw feelings. In the mood she was presently in she was likely to say something hurtful to him.
She rolled upright in her chair and reluctantly plucked the coffee from his fingers. “David,” she sighed, “As much I appreciate your giving us a ride to the airport and being so supportive I just think it would be better if you just…left.” She ducked her head in shame as her words echoed back in her ears. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings or anything but…I just can’t do this with you.”
Not surprisingly instead of leaving as she requested he plunked down beside her. This time Liz didn’t bother to stifle her groan of annoyance. However, David seemed unperturbed. It was evident he had something on his mind and he wasn’t going to leave until he’d said his peace.
“I just wanted you to know that I get it now,” he sighed after an uncomfortable beat of silence.
“Get what?” Liz demanded shortly.
His stormy gray eyes bored into her. “Why you can’t love me.”
“Oh David,” Liz moaned, throwing back her head in doleful exasperation, “Do we really have to do this again…because I just can’t right now.”
“Liz, this isn’t to put you on the spot,” he rushed to reassure her, “I just wanted you to know that I don’t expect anything from you.”
She stared at him in hopeful disbelief. “What are you saying to me, David?”
“I know you were making an effort to be my friend,” he replied carefully, “But I also know that I’m a particular part of your past that you’d rather forget.” His eyes challenged her to deny and she couldn’t so she stared down mutely at the styrofoam coffee cup in her hands. “I know that what you said in the coffee shop still stands and I wanted to reassure you,” he paused a moment to inhale a fortifying breath, “I wanted to reassure you that you wouldn’t have to worry about seeing me again after this. I mean…I’ll keep my distance.”
Liz felt dangerously close to tears. Her emotions were all over the place. Ten minutes ago she was so annoyed with him she practically told him to take a hike and now she was feeling like the wicked witch of the west. “David, I don’t know what to say to you,” she sniffled miserably, “You’ve been so good to me…”
“You’ve been good to me, too,” he returned gruffly, “So we’ll just call it even.”
Liz looked at him then and felt an inexplicable sorrow. For the first time she let herself wonder what it might have been like for them if she had accepted his marriage proposal seven months ago. Perhaps they could have been happy. Definitely they would have been raising their child together. Liz recognized that David had lost a great deal more than she had. She, at least, had Max to comfort her…but David had no one. He couldn’t even rely on her friendship anymore. Liz could finally see past that unaffected, cultured persona he presented to the desperately lonely person underneath.
And suddenly Liz felt compelled to make it right somehow, to heal the hurt she’d inadvertently caused him. She had never imagined that he would fall in love with her after that night. She had never imagined having the power to hurt him as much as she was now. The realization was both humbling and agonizing and Liz only wanted to soothe them both and end the pain.
“We were going to have a little girl,” she blurted softly. David’s gaze snapped to her face in startled confusion. “Don’t ask me how I knew,” she whispered, reading the silent question in his eyes, “Just trust me. We were going to have a girl.”
David made a small choking sound, rapidly blinking back his forming tears. “A girl,” he croaked hoarsely, “Wow.”
“She would have had your eyes,” Liz told him gently.
He expelled a serrated sigh of emotion. “I bet she would have been something,” he whispered, “I’ll just bet…”
********************
Agent Kesley leaned forward to fold his hands atop the lacquered tabletop with a fantastic sigh. “That’s quite a tale you told me, Max,” he remarked thoughtfully, “Quite a tale.”
“Every single word is true,” Max vowed. It was true he had left out some pertinent details, like his brief stint in the white room and the truth behind Daniel Pierce’s disappearance, but for the most part all the information he’d given Kesley was accurate.
“Oh, I believe you,” Kesley replied, tapping his chin thoughtfully, “The results from our lab work came back. You’re definitely not human…at least not 100% anyway.”
Max sagged a little. He had always known that as a fact and had never let him consider anything different but there had still been a part of him that hoped, perhaps unrealistically, that he wasn’t really an alien hybrid after all. However, with Kesley’s words, that foolish notion was dispelled.
“Which brings me to my next question,” Kesley said, unintentionally jarring Max from his musings, “What exactly is it that you want?”
“What do I want?” Max echoed blankly.
What did he want? Max had never really taken the time to consider that before. For the last few months he had been so preoccupied with making all the right decisions that he hadn’t stopped to consider what came next. The first of his people were here on the planet but they had no homes, no jobs, and no means of livelihood. Max could give them none of those things. He was a nineteen-year-old assistant manager at the local UFO museum. Not exactly an exalted position for an alien boy king.
“What do I want?” Max said again, “Assistance for my people, to start with.”
“Assistance?” Kesley prompted.
“They’ll need schooling,” Max replied without preamble, “And jobs and homes and, most of all, money. Lots of it.”
“And why should the American government help you with these things, Max?” Kesley wondered casually.
“Because you would benefit greatly from my people’s technology,” Max returned succinctly, “And because, if we wanted to, we could take what we needed by force. No one could stop us.”
Kesley’s brows shot up to the hairline at Max’s unspoken threat and even his parents pierced him with surprised stares. Only William Pierce remained impassive as he meticulously kept the meeting minutes. Max thoroughly ignored his presence for the most part because dwelling on it made him feel as if he was losing control.
The room was suspended in tension until Kesley asked with relative calm, “Is that what you’re planning to do?”
Max shook his head. “Earth is my home,” he insisted earnestly, “I want it to be a home for my people as well.”
“How do you propose we make that happen, Max?” Kesley demanded evenly, “They can’t speak the language. They don’t know our culture. There’s only so much I can do in this situation.”
“They’re very quick learners,” Diane Evans interjected abruptly, “When Max and Isabel came to us neither of them could read or speak a word of English. They learned in six days, Agent Kesley. Six days. I’m sure the others will learn just as quickly.”
Kesley fingered his chin once again. “I would have to discuss the matter with my superiors,” he said eventually, “But I’m sure something could be arranged.” However, before Max and his parents could breathe a sigh of relief Kesley added, “Of course the U.S. Government would have certain expectations in this deal as well.”
“What sort of expectations?” Philip Evans demanded guardedly.
“We would want full access to Antarian technology,” Kesley answered, “And we would want to hold Max here for insurance in that regard.”
“What?” Philip and Diane burst out simultaneously followed by Philip’s bellowed, “Like hell you will!”
“Why would I have to stay here?” Max asked anxiously, “I thought you said I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Technically, you smuggled illegal aliens into the country,” Kesley expounded with a smirk, “But that’s not the issue. Max, you are an alien king. My men reported to me what happened today out at Vasquez Rock. You’ve got hundreds of beings willing to kill for you at a moment’s notice…beings with powers we can’t even fathom.
“You were right when you said that you could easily take what you wanted,” Kesley continued thoughtfully, “You don’t think that fact has already occurred to us? You and your people could pose a serious danger to this country and, quite possibly, the entire world. We have to protect our own interests.”
“We’re not looking to start a war,” Max protested, “We only want peace and a place to live.”
“I’m afraid I can’t take your word for that, Max,” Kesley sighed regretfully, “If the U.S. Government is to help you then you have to help us. Until all your people have arrived on this planet and we have determined to our satisfaction that they pose no danger to us we will have to keep you in our custody.”
“B…But the last ships won’t arrive for another three months,” Philip sputtered, “You can’t do this!”
“We need insurance, Mr. Evans,” Lieutenant Pierce interjected, speaking aloud for the first time since the meeting began, “By your son’s own admission there are another 15 ships expected after the ones that arrived today. We’re talking about an estimate of about 15,000 or more beings who could easily take this country apart if they so chose.”
“But that possibility is far less likely if we’re holding your son during that time,” Kesley concluded, “Those are the only terms we will accept.”
“Are you talking about putting Max in prison?” Diane burst out in alarm.
“Of course not, Mrs. Evans,” Kesley soothed smoothly, “We would keep him in a safe house of sorts. He would be free to move about the grounds, free to have visitors, to make calls…whatever he wanted.”
“Just not free to leave,” Max surmised quietly. He belatedly realized that Kesley and his superiors had had this planned from the very beginning. The U.S. Government had always intended to avail themselves to the Antarian presence but they wanted Max’s cooperation first. They were covering their asses and they had expertly used Max’s need and vulnerability to get what they wanted.
Kesley didn’t even flinch in the face of Max’s resentful glare. “It won’t be forever,’ he said, “Just until we’re assured that the danger has passed.”
“And what if you never feel reassured?’ Max challenged.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Kesley said.
“Like hell!” Philip fired, abruptly rising to his feet, “No deal. We’ll find a way to make this work on our own. Max, Diane…let’s go!”
“How are you going to care for 15,000 people, Max?” Kesley asked calmly when the three Evans and their Antarian bodyguard headed for the door. Max paused mid-step. “You need us,” Kesley said, “Just as much as we need you.”
Max deliberately swung back around to face him. “And you promise it won’t be prison?”
“Max, don’t do this!” his father exclaimed, but Max held his hand up for silence.
“Do you swear it won’t be a prison?” he reiterated, shuddering when he thought back to the white room. He could never endure a hell like that again.
“You’ll be set up in an apartment,” Kesley promised, “There will be guards posted there and you won’t be allowed to leave the grounds but other than that you’ll be free to do what you want.”
“I have to think about it,” Max said, but then barked harshly when his parents started to protest, “Alone! Just give me some time to think.”
Philip, Diane, Lieutenant Pierce, and Agent Kesley filed out dutifully. Only Diadne refused to be budged and Max didn’t have the strength to argue with her. However, as Kesley passed him, Max snagged hold of the man’s sleeve. “I need to use your phone,” he said.
“It’s on the desk,” Kesley indicated, “Take all the time you need.”
********************
“Chica, are you okay?” Maria asked tenderly when she found Liz crying in the women’s bathroom.
Liz hurriedly swept at her wet cheeks, struggling to regain her composure. “Has there been any change?” she asked anxiously.
“No. The planes are still grounded.” Maria watched Liz splash cold water on her face but it did little to alleviate the red puffiness of her eyes. “I saw David leave,” she informed Liz softly, “You two done for good now?” Liz nodded. “Are you okay with that?”
In answer, Liz nibbled pensively at her lower lip. “I’m glad that it’s done but…I didn’t like hurting him.”
“Is that why you were crying just now?”
“Nope,” Liz answered, shaking her head, “I’m worried about Max. It’s been hours now and we haven’t heard from him.”
“Oh…Liz,” Maria breathed sympathetically.
“I just keep thinking what if I never see him again?”
Maria’s reply to Liz’s grief-stricken consideration was cut short when the sound of her ringing cell phone rent the air. Her heart leaping into her throat, Liz fumbled around in her back pocket for the phone and hastily clicked it on.
“I’m okay,” Max said the second she picked up.
“Thank God!” she cried, “When you didn’t call I started to think the worst. Where are you now?”
“I’m at some kind of army base,” he said, “They brought me here for questioning and it doesn’t look like I’ll be leaving any time soon.”
The peculiar inflection in his words caused the hairs at the base of her neck to prickle with apprehension. “Max?” Liz questioned anxiously, “What’s going on?”
“A lot of things,” he sighed vaguely, “Almost too many to tell you in one phone call but I promise you I will explain everything later, Liz. Right now it’s looking like I’m going to have to stay in federal custody for a while.”
Liz’s newly acquired relief was quickly replaced with an encompassing panic. “Federal custody?” she whispered carefully, “No. No! Don’t tell me that. They can’t, Max. They can’t do that to you again!” She set her jaw tight with determination. “I’m coming home on the first flight I can get.”
“No!” Max protested sharply, “Don’t do that, Liz! Please don’t come back here…not now. The situation is very delicate and I don’t want to involve you anymore than I already have. Besides…you only just started school and… We knew this was going to happen, okay. That’s no reason for you to come running back to Roswell.”
“You just told me the FBI won’t let you leave!” she cried hysterically, “What else do you expect me to do, Max?”
“They just want to be sure my people aren’t dangerous,” Max explained weakly, “It’s not like the white room. Look, I can’t give you any real details right now, Liz. They’re waiting for my answer.”
“Max, I don’t understand,” Liz sobbed fearfully, “What are you doing?”
“Just trust me,” he pleaded, “Please, Liz…please trust me. For now I need you to stay in Boston and let me handle this. I promise you that everything will work out. Liz, I swear it. I love you,” he rushed out breathlessly, “I love you so much. The only thing I can think about is seeing your beautiful face again and…I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens, okay? You just have to trust me. Can you do that, Liz? Can you trust me?”
It was a long time before she could answer and when she did she was weeping uncontrollably. “Y…Yes, Max,” she sobbed in agreement, even though it was the hardest thing in the world to do right then, “I trust you.”
-
Deejonaise
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- Posts: 385
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Chapter 28
Max made a pivoting perusal of the plush two-bedroom apartment and thought it was a far cry from four white walls and a sterilized medical cot. These palatial digs were nothing at all like the room where Pierce had held him captive. But it was still a prison. Prettier and stylish and with far more amenities, but a prison just the same. It would also be his home for the next three months or more.
He sighed with the thought. His parents had insisted on staying with him but Max had desperately needed alone time. Not even Diadne had been allowed to remain. Max didn’t think he could deal with her watchful stare not to mention the complete awkwardness that was sure to come with sharing an apartment with her for three months. Alien or not she was still a girl and not his girlfriend. In the end, he decided it was best that Diadne stay with his parents while he did his time.
After his phone call to Liz, Max had weighed his options heavily before making his final decision. He had considered, albeit briefly, bluffing Kesley with the threat that he would take his people and their technology to other countries if necessary. He had even tried it. Kesley had laughed at him. The widespread panic they were seeing in America was just a glimmer of what was happening around the world. Oh, everyone was eager to get their hands on the technology but NO ONE was eager for the aliens. And besides that Max didn’t really want to go to a foreign country. At least, in America, things were familiar and Max knew what to expect. It wasn’t the sweetest deal but it seemed the most feasible right then.
At first glance Max could almost forget that he was being held against his will. The apartment was stocked with all the necessary elements for a proper bachelor pad. He had a large screen television complete with surround sound, dvd and stereo as well as a Playstation system with all the latest games. The refrigerator was supplied with plenty of food and the cupboards packed tight with a variety of snacks and soda. It was evident the feds had worked fast with the information Max had given them because he had quite a supply of Tabasco as well. Max had everything he could possibly want at his disposal…except his freedom.
Of course that fact was relative. Max knew he could easily walk out of there whenever he chose to and the two soldiers situated outside his door with their M-16’s would not stop him. In some sense he was there because he chose to be while really having no choice at all. It was a catch-22. He could leave but his refusal to cooperate with the federal government might easily spark an interstellar war and the only thing Max wanted for his people, what he sought after with almost covetous voracity, was peace. If he had to stay there to get it then he would.
However, Max knew the going would be hard. Three months of confined living was a grim prospect indeed. Sure Kesley had given him the option of seeing his family and friends whenever he liked, but Max was well aware that those visits were conditional and mired in rules and regulations.
Foremost, his family would always be escorted to the visitation site. No one would be allowed to know the exact location of Max’s safe house, thereby lessening the chance of riot among his people. Even Max didn’t know where he was. During the trip over he’d been blindfolded and sequestered away in a sound proof car. Any visitors he should have would be regularly checked for contraband and any other suspicious correspondence that the government might deem threatening before even being considered for the trip. Only after they had passed a rigorous and thorough search would his family and friends be able to see Max.
Max sank down onto the sofa as depression overwhelmed him. He supposed it could be worse. They might have forbidden him from seeing his family entirely. They might have drugged and tortured him just the way Pierce had. They might have killed him. Yet instead they had given him an apartment with access to anything he might fancy and the promise that they would help his people to their fullest capabilities. All Max had to do was stay.
Unfortunately, the execution proved to be a great deal more complicated than the consideration. He hadn’t even been there more than a few hours and already he was pathetically close to tears. Max leaned his head back against the top of the couch, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes of their own accord. He wanted to be strong and sure and commanding. The very things everyone expected him to be, but he couldn’t. Not now. Not when he was so unsure and frightened and lonely.
Cursing himself for being a useless crybaby, Max scrubbed his face clean of the self-pitying tears and flung himself from the sofa. What he needed was a long, hot shower to ease away the tension of the day so that he could put things in a better perspective. After everything that had happened that day he definitely needed to relax.
Max was half right. The shower did relax him and he did feel better once he was done, but his worries were just as numerous as before. Clad only in his pajama bottoms, Max started for the kitchen, hoping that a snack would help to calm him, when he caught sight of the phone. He gradually slowed to a halt.
He could call Liz, Max considered. However, a quick glance at the clock made him waver. Already it was 11:00 there in New Mexico and Liz was two hours ahead of him. Likely she’d be asleep by now but then again…likely she wouldn’t be. If he knew Liz she was probably lying awake at that very second torturing herself with worry.
With that last thought Max’s internal debate ended and he snatched up the phone and quickly punched in Liz’s number. The phone didn’t even ring one full time before she answered.
“Hey,” Max said in simple, breathy greeting, “I’m here.”
“Max,” Liz all but sobbed in relief, “Are you okay? My God! I’ve been going out of my mind!”
“Shh…calm down. They didn’t hurt me, Liz,” he reassured her softly, “In fact, things have gone pretty well considering…”
“What do they want from you, Max?” Liz whispered desolately.
“Apparently, they’re intimidated by my people,” Max sighed in explanation, “They want to be sure we’re not plotting to take over the world.” He meant the last part of that as a joke but it fell flat. Liz didn’t laugh and, truthfully, neither did he. “They tell me that I won’t have to stay here for long,” he told her, “just until they’re absolutely sure that my people come in peace.”
“And when will that be?” Liz asked glumly.
A pregnant pause ensued between them as Max rooted around mentally for the most delicate way to tell her. “They’re going to keep me here until after the final ships arrive,” he confessed finally.
“After the final ships?” she croaked, “That’s three months from now, Max! They…they can’t do that!”
“Liz, I’m letting them do that,” he whispered, “I don’t have any other choice…not if I want to help my people.”
“There has to be another way,” Liz hiccupped helplessly, “Other countries or…or something! If America can’t help you without conditions then I’m sure some other country would!”
“There’s not another way,” he denied, “We’d have the same problem in a foreign country, compounded by the fact that we’d be in a foreign country. I’ve thought it out and I think this is the best way.” He could hear her sniffling in response and the sound broke something inside him. “I guess you’re thinking I really screwed this up, huh?” he queried gruffly.
“No, Max. I don’t think that,” Liz protested, “I still believe that what you did today was the most amazing, selfless thing that anyone has ever done. Today…watching you on television, seeing the way you handled yourself…just reminded me of all the reasons I’m in love with you.”
Max sagged; unaware of how badly he’d needed to hear such an avowal until she made it. Gripping the phone hard, he sank down to the floor. “I miss you so much,” he uttered painfully, “You always know the right thing to say.”
“Are you alone right now?” she asked, “I mean…they’re not…”
“Liz, I swear it’s okay,” he vowed, “They’re not drugging me or subjecting me to endless tests. In fact, other than the guards outside the building, everything feels kinda normal.”
“Normal?” Liz laughed ironically, “After the morning you had? I’m surprised you can still recognize normal, Max.” He had to laugh over that, too. Not many people could out themselves to the world as a non-human, welcome an alien species to earth, be taken into federal custody and still deem the day normal. Welcome to his world. “So what was that like, Max?” she whispered, “How did it feel meeting your people for the first time?”
“I was…shocked,” he replied lamely, “They’re appearance…I didn’t expect it to be so stark. It threw me for a minute. Meeting Diadne was strange.”
“Yeah,” Liz said with a breathy hitch, “What was she like?”
“Alien,” Max replied without hesitation, “Very, very alien.”
He didn’t realize it but his blunt response filled Liz with resounding relief. “She freaked you out too, huh,” Liz murmured, remembering her own response to the first glimpse of alien life. His answer to that question was a muffled chuckle. “I’m sure you’ll get used to her,” she said lightly, “But, in the meantime, I want to tell you that I was really proud of you today, Max. You were so brave…”
“Not hardly,” he scoffed.
“Yes, you were,” she persisted, “I…I wish I could have been there with you. I should have been. Maybe then you wouldn’t be--,”
“Stop it,” he interrupted before she could finish her thought, “You’re where you’re supposed to be, Liz. Don’t you dare apologize for it! Not to me. Not to anyone.”
“I just hate to think of you locked away like some animal,” she wept softly, “It should have never had to come to that.”
“It’s not like they didn’t give me a choice, Liz,” he argued, “No one’s holding me here…not really. I can walk away anytime but if I do I’ll be selling my people into needless hardship.”
“So what happens to them now?”
“Well, as we speak they are being transported to a lodging facility,” Max said, “Kesley, he’s the guy in charge…well, he promised me that as long as I cooperated then they would be well taken care of.”
“And if you don’t cooperate?” Liz wondered.
“I’m on my own,” Max said, “And the government takes matters into their own hands. Even if I did try to seek the help of another country it would take an act of war to get there. My people could end up in camps or worse.” He shuddered at the thought. “At least this way they’ll have the opportunity to be matriculated into society and live normal lives and in the most peaceful way manageable.”
“And when is it your turn?”
“My turn to what?”
“Live a normal life?”
Again he laughed, soft and low. “I’ll get back to you on that one.” Max leaned back against the refrigerator, bringing his knees up against his chest. “So let’s not talk about me anymore,” he suggested on the spur, “Tell me how school’s going for you.”
“Well, it only just started so we’re still in that getting to know you stage,” Liz said, “So far my professors seem really great. I can tell this is going to be a demanding semester.”
“Oh, you’ll rise to the challenge,” Max declared with absolute confidence, “You always do. Nobody’s smarter than my girl.”
“I think you’re biased,” Liz murmured, “Sweet but biased.”
“Alright then so tell me about the other,” he queried, “Since you don’t have much to say about school.”
“The other?”
Max fell silent a beat, his mood veering towards the serious once more. “David,” he clarified evenly, “How did it go with him today?”
“Surprisingly well,” Liz replied, “He was hurt and confused and maybe a little betrayed but…I think he’s finally ready to let go.”
“Are you?” Max wondered tentatively.
“Max, it was never a love thing between David and me,” she explained patiently, “I thought he was a great guy with a good heart but he wasn’t…you. He wasn’t you, Max.”
Her reply made him groan aloud. “God, Liz,” he uttered, “One day maybe you can help me understand how you can possibly love me so much.”
“Watch CNN,” she replied tenderly, “And you’ll know exactly why I love you so much.” Inadvertently, her comment seemed to bring them both back round to reality. For a brief instant both had forgotten their circumstances as life made sense for what seemed like the first time in months. Yet the moment was over quickly and Liz was back to her state of frenetic worry. “So is that all that happened today?” she asked, “The feds didn’t rough you up and you’re just afraid to tell me, are you?”
“No, nothing like that,” Max hedged.
“But there’s something,” Liz surmised slowly, “I hear it in your voice.”
“It might not be anything at all,” he dismissed weakly, “Just a total coincidence--,”
“Max, just tell me!” Liz burst out.
“Pierce has a brother,” he blurted. He could tell the revelation hit her hard because she didn’t respond for a full thirty seconds. Even when she did react it wasn’t verbally, but with an odd, mewling sound of dread. “He’s a lieutenant stationed here at the base or wherever I am,” Max went on in a whisper, “He thinks Pierce disappeared because his career was ruined.”
“Does he seem like he suspects anything?” Liz asked fearfully.
“I’m not sure,” Max sighed, “Sometimes I feel like he’s accusing me of something but then…later I’m wondering if it was just my own paranoia. I mean, he’s been pretty good to me ever since I arrived. He showed me around and told me that if I needed anything I could feel free to call him. He seems nothing like his brother.”
“I don’t think you should trust him, Max,” Liz warned, “He might have an agenda. The very fact he’s aligned with the people holding you just proves he doesn’t have your best interests in mind. Keep your guard up.”
“I will,” he promised.
********************
About two miles away and situated in a small surveillance building complete with top of the line video monitors and listening equipment, William Pierce slipped a set of headphones from his ears after Max and Liz finished up the last of their bugged conversation, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow.
Max made a pivoting perusal of the plush two-bedroom apartment and thought it was a far cry from four white walls and a sterilized medical cot. These palatial digs were nothing at all like the room where Pierce had held him captive. But it was still a prison. Prettier and stylish and with far more amenities, but a prison just the same. It would also be his home for the next three months or more.
He sighed with the thought. His parents had insisted on staying with him but Max had desperately needed alone time. Not even Diadne had been allowed to remain. Max didn’t think he could deal with her watchful stare not to mention the complete awkwardness that was sure to come with sharing an apartment with her for three months. Alien or not she was still a girl and not his girlfriend. In the end, he decided it was best that Diadne stay with his parents while he did his time.
After his phone call to Liz, Max had weighed his options heavily before making his final decision. He had considered, albeit briefly, bluffing Kesley with the threat that he would take his people and their technology to other countries if necessary. He had even tried it. Kesley had laughed at him. The widespread panic they were seeing in America was just a glimmer of what was happening around the world. Oh, everyone was eager to get their hands on the technology but NO ONE was eager for the aliens. And besides that Max didn’t really want to go to a foreign country. At least, in America, things were familiar and Max knew what to expect. It wasn’t the sweetest deal but it seemed the most feasible right then.
At first glance Max could almost forget that he was being held against his will. The apartment was stocked with all the necessary elements for a proper bachelor pad. He had a large screen television complete with surround sound, dvd and stereo as well as a Playstation system with all the latest games. The refrigerator was supplied with plenty of food and the cupboards packed tight with a variety of snacks and soda. It was evident the feds had worked fast with the information Max had given them because he had quite a supply of Tabasco as well. Max had everything he could possibly want at his disposal…except his freedom.
Of course that fact was relative. Max knew he could easily walk out of there whenever he chose to and the two soldiers situated outside his door with their M-16’s would not stop him. In some sense he was there because he chose to be while really having no choice at all. It was a catch-22. He could leave but his refusal to cooperate with the federal government might easily spark an interstellar war and the only thing Max wanted for his people, what he sought after with almost covetous voracity, was peace. If he had to stay there to get it then he would.
However, Max knew the going would be hard. Three months of confined living was a grim prospect indeed. Sure Kesley had given him the option of seeing his family and friends whenever he liked, but Max was well aware that those visits were conditional and mired in rules and regulations.
Foremost, his family would always be escorted to the visitation site. No one would be allowed to know the exact location of Max’s safe house, thereby lessening the chance of riot among his people. Even Max didn’t know where he was. During the trip over he’d been blindfolded and sequestered away in a sound proof car. Any visitors he should have would be regularly checked for contraband and any other suspicious correspondence that the government might deem threatening before even being considered for the trip. Only after they had passed a rigorous and thorough search would his family and friends be able to see Max.
Max sank down onto the sofa as depression overwhelmed him. He supposed it could be worse. They might have forbidden him from seeing his family entirely. They might have drugged and tortured him just the way Pierce had. They might have killed him. Yet instead they had given him an apartment with access to anything he might fancy and the promise that they would help his people to their fullest capabilities. All Max had to do was stay.
Unfortunately, the execution proved to be a great deal more complicated than the consideration. He hadn’t even been there more than a few hours and already he was pathetically close to tears. Max leaned his head back against the top of the couch, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes of their own accord. He wanted to be strong and sure and commanding. The very things everyone expected him to be, but he couldn’t. Not now. Not when he was so unsure and frightened and lonely.
Cursing himself for being a useless crybaby, Max scrubbed his face clean of the self-pitying tears and flung himself from the sofa. What he needed was a long, hot shower to ease away the tension of the day so that he could put things in a better perspective. After everything that had happened that day he definitely needed to relax.
Max was half right. The shower did relax him and he did feel better once he was done, but his worries were just as numerous as before. Clad only in his pajama bottoms, Max started for the kitchen, hoping that a snack would help to calm him, when he caught sight of the phone. He gradually slowed to a halt.
He could call Liz, Max considered. However, a quick glance at the clock made him waver. Already it was 11:00 there in New Mexico and Liz was two hours ahead of him. Likely she’d be asleep by now but then again…likely she wouldn’t be. If he knew Liz she was probably lying awake at that very second torturing herself with worry.
With that last thought Max’s internal debate ended and he snatched up the phone and quickly punched in Liz’s number. The phone didn’t even ring one full time before she answered.
“Hey,” Max said in simple, breathy greeting, “I’m here.”
“Max,” Liz all but sobbed in relief, “Are you okay? My God! I’ve been going out of my mind!”
“Shh…calm down. They didn’t hurt me, Liz,” he reassured her softly, “In fact, things have gone pretty well considering…”
“What do they want from you, Max?” Liz whispered desolately.
“Apparently, they’re intimidated by my people,” Max sighed in explanation, “They want to be sure we’re not plotting to take over the world.” He meant the last part of that as a joke but it fell flat. Liz didn’t laugh and, truthfully, neither did he. “They tell me that I won’t have to stay here for long,” he told her, “just until they’re absolutely sure that my people come in peace.”
“And when will that be?” Liz asked glumly.
A pregnant pause ensued between them as Max rooted around mentally for the most delicate way to tell her. “They’re going to keep me here until after the final ships arrive,” he confessed finally.
“After the final ships?” she croaked, “That’s three months from now, Max! They…they can’t do that!”
“Liz, I’m letting them do that,” he whispered, “I don’t have any other choice…not if I want to help my people.”
“There has to be another way,” Liz hiccupped helplessly, “Other countries or…or something! If America can’t help you without conditions then I’m sure some other country would!”
“There’s not another way,” he denied, “We’d have the same problem in a foreign country, compounded by the fact that we’d be in a foreign country. I’ve thought it out and I think this is the best way.” He could hear her sniffling in response and the sound broke something inside him. “I guess you’re thinking I really screwed this up, huh?” he queried gruffly.
“No, Max. I don’t think that,” Liz protested, “I still believe that what you did today was the most amazing, selfless thing that anyone has ever done. Today…watching you on television, seeing the way you handled yourself…just reminded me of all the reasons I’m in love with you.”
Max sagged; unaware of how badly he’d needed to hear such an avowal until she made it. Gripping the phone hard, he sank down to the floor. “I miss you so much,” he uttered painfully, “You always know the right thing to say.”
“Are you alone right now?” she asked, “I mean…they’re not…”
“Liz, I swear it’s okay,” he vowed, “They’re not drugging me or subjecting me to endless tests. In fact, other than the guards outside the building, everything feels kinda normal.”
“Normal?” Liz laughed ironically, “After the morning you had? I’m surprised you can still recognize normal, Max.” He had to laugh over that, too. Not many people could out themselves to the world as a non-human, welcome an alien species to earth, be taken into federal custody and still deem the day normal. Welcome to his world. “So what was that like, Max?” she whispered, “How did it feel meeting your people for the first time?”
“I was…shocked,” he replied lamely, “They’re appearance…I didn’t expect it to be so stark. It threw me for a minute. Meeting Diadne was strange.”
“Yeah,” Liz said with a breathy hitch, “What was she like?”
“Alien,” Max replied without hesitation, “Very, very alien.”
He didn’t realize it but his blunt response filled Liz with resounding relief. “She freaked you out too, huh,” Liz murmured, remembering her own response to the first glimpse of alien life. His answer to that question was a muffled chuckle. “I’m sure you’ll get used to her,” she said lightly, “But, in the meantime, I want to tell you that I was really proud of you today, Max. You were so brave…”
“Not hardly,” he scoffed.
“Yes, you were,” she persisted, “I…I wish I could have been there with you. I should have been. Maybe then you wouldn’t be--,”
“Stop it,” he interrupted before she could finish her thought, “You’re where you’re supposed to be, Liz. Don’t you dare apologize for it! Not to me. Not to anyone.”
“I just hate to think of you locked away like some animal,” she wept softly, “It should have never had to come to that.”
“It’s not like they didn’t give me a choice, Liz,” he argued, “No one’s holding me here…not really. I can walk away anytime but if I do I’ll be selling my people into needless hardship.”
“So what happens to them now?”
“Well, as we speak they are being transported to a lodging facility,” Max said, “Kesley, he’s the guy in charge…well, he promised me that as long as I cooperated then they would be well taken care of.”
“And if you don’t cooperate?” Liz wondered.
“I’m on my own,” Max said, “And the government takes matters into their own hands. Even if I did try to seek the help of another country it would take an act of war to get there. My people could end up in camps or worse.” He shuddered at the thought. “At least this way they’ll have the opportunity to be matriculated into society and live normal lives and in the most peaceful way manageable.”
“And when is it your turn?”
“My turn to what?”
“Live a normal life?”
Again he laughed, soft and low. “I’ll get back to you on that one.” Max leaned back against the refrigerator, bringing his knees up against his chest. “So let’s not talk about me anymore,” he suggested on the spur, “Tell me how school’s going for you.”
“Well, it only just started so we’re still in that getting to know you stage,” Liz said, “So far my professors seem really great. I can tell this is going to be a demanding semester.”
“Oh, you’ll rise to the challenge,” Max declared with absolute confidence, “You always do. Nobody’s smarter than my girl.”
“I think you’re biased,” Liz murmured, “Sweet but biased.”
“Alright then so tell me about the other,” he queried, “Since you don’t have much to say about school.”
“The other?”
Max fell silent a beat, his mood veering towards the serious once more. “David,” he clarified evenly, “How did it go with him today?”
“Surprisingly well,” Liz replied, “He was hurt and confused and maybe a little betrayed but…I think he’s finally ready to let go.”
“Are you?” Max wondered tentatively.
“Max, it was never a love thing between David and me,” she explained patiently, “I thought he was a great guy with a good heart but he wasn’t…you. He wasn’t you, Max.”
Her reply made him groan aloud. “God, Liz,” he uttered, “One day maybe you can help me understand how you can possibly love me so much.”
“Watch CNN,” she replied tenderly, “And you’ll know exactly why I love you so much.” Inadvertently, her comment seemed to bring them both back round to reality. For a brief instant both had forgotten their circumstances as life made sense for what seemed like the first time in months. Yet the moment was over quickly and Liz was back to her state of frenetic worry. “So is that all that happened today?” she asked, “The feds didn’t rough you up and you’re just afraid to tell me, are you?”
“No, nothing like that,” Max hedged.
“But there’s something,” Liz surmised slowly, “I hear it in your voice.”
“It might not be anything at all,” he dismissed weakly, “Just a total coincidence--,”
“Max, just tell me!” Liz burst out.
“Pierce has a brother,” he blurted. He could tell the revelation hit her hard because she didn’t respond for a full thirty seconds. Even when she did react it wasn’t verbally, but with an odd, mewling sound of dread. “He’s a lieutenant stationed here at the base or wherever I am,” Max went on in a whisper, “He thinks Pierce disappeared because his career was ruined.”
“Does he seem like he suspects anything?” Liz asked fearfully.
“I’m not sure,” Max sighed, “Sometimes I feel like he’s accusing me of something but then…later I’m wondering if it was just my own paranoia. I mean, he’s been pretty good to me ever since I arrived. He showed me around and told me that if I needed anything I could feel free to call him. He seems nothing like his brother.”
“I don’t think you should trust him, Max,” Liz warned, “He might have an agenda. The very fact he’s aligned with the people holding you just proves he doesn’t have your best interests in mind. Keep your guard up.”
“I will,” he promised.
********************
About two miles away and situated in a small surveillance building complete with top of the line video monitors and listening equipment, William Pierce slipped a set of headphones from his ears after Max and Liz finished up the last of their bugged conversation, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow.
Last edited by Deejonaise on Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Deejonaise
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Chapter 29
“You’re on the air with Richie Jones. What’s your name and what’s your Sound Off about this alien situation? Are you nay or yea for integration?”
“My name is Darlene Glut, from Roswell, New Mexico and I, for one, am infuriated by this whole mess,” the radio caller said, “As if it’s not enough that the government hid their existence from us all these years now they’re shoving them down our throats by pushing them into our neighborhoods and schools and giving them our goddamned jobs! What the hell is that?”
Michael groaned as the strains of the radio show persistently dragged him from the peaceful comfort of sleep. Eventually the angry commentary managed to seep into his brain despite his efforts to drown it out and he reached out a blind hand to slap it into silence. However, his abrupt movement jarred Maria from her boneless slumber. She stretched across his chest like a drowsy cat, dragging her lips in a nibbling kiss across his erect nipple.
“Don’t take it personal,” she murmured into his hot skin, knowing instinctively that he lay there stewing. She didn’t have to hazard a glance at him at all. “They don’t know anything about you, Michael.”
“Yeah, but they talk like they do,” he grumbled absently as she kissed her way down his torso. He grabbed hold of her hair just as she reached his navel and tilted back her head so he could see her eyes. “Don’t get started,” he warned softly, “You know I have to leave in a little while, DeLuca.” But his protest was half-hearted, his body already beginning to stir with arousal.
“I can give you a proper send-off, can’t I?” Maria challenged with a wicked grin, before disappearing beneath the covers. A moment later he was engulfed by the silky wet vortex of her mouth. Michael turned his face into the pillows to muffle his hoarse cries of pleasure. When it was over he gradually drifted down from his euphoric high, unsnarling his fingers from the tangled bed sheets. “Feel better?” she whispered when she emerged a few seconds later.
“Hmm,” he grunted contentedly, “I could definitely go back to sleep now.”
“Ahh, but you can’t,” she moaned in disappointment as she rolled from the bed, “You have to go and see Max today and I…I must continue on in the epic adventure of kissing my mother’s ass.” She scooped up his shirt from the floor and slipped it over her head. “Besides we don’t wanna linger in here too long,” she declared dryly, “Kadon and Razba might decide to barge in again like last time.”
Only three weeks had commenced since the history making alien landing and Maria’s life was nearly unrecognizable. She spent time with Michael when she could, which wasn’t very often between his daily meetings with Max and his weekly flights out of state. As the Antarians were slowly being integrated into society Michael’s presence was necessitated at each occurrence.
Society as a whole was not taking kindly to its newest members. While there were some who were indifferent to the Antarian invasion others actively opposed the change. They feared what they did not know. Worse still, the Antarians were just as fearful of humans.
Tensions had been incredibly high since Max had been taken into custody. Most Americans felt that doing so was necessary and a safeguard and most Antarians felt it was an indignity and an insult. The President had even addressed the nation, with the assurance that he had matters well in hand but his speech had done little to curb people’s suspicion. Consequently, Michael and Jim Valenti alternately spent their time reassuring the American people that they had nothing to fear and soothing the Antarians offended sensibilities.
And if matters in the outside world weren’t tense enough for Maria the situation at home wasn’t any easier. Living with Antarians was a major adjustment. Michael’s brothers had no concept of privacy. Already they had seen Maria naked twice, once when she and Michael were making love and another when she was in the shower. She might have been able to overlook that fact if the two didn’t look so disconcertingly like Michael.
Not surprisingly, Kadon and Razba chose to mirror their human forms after their half human brother. They had the same height, same build, and same unruly dark hair. The same incredible brown eyes. It was like being in the presence of triplets only Maria knew better. For the sake of Maria’s sanity they made subtle changes with their eye color and height but the similarities were still enough to throw Maria off time and again.
Kadon and Razba were also not very big talkers. For the first time Maria considered Michael’s laconic nature might not have sprung up from his human side at all. It was their uncommon silence that made Maria insecure over how they were receiving her. She couldn’t tell if they liked her or not. They were polite and cordial (at least as much as two non-speaking people could be, but there was something just beneath the surface that made Maria suspect that they disapproved of her.
She had asked Michael about it a dozen times already but he swore that Kadon and Razba had nothing against her. Seemingly, they didn’t either. Both “men” had appointed themselves her unspoken bodyguards and Maria rarely went anywhere without their accompaniment. Still, she couldn’t shake her feeling…
“So what time does your flight leave?” she asked, fumbling through his drawers for underwear.
Michael lay on the bed, just barely conscious. Eyes closed, he answered her with a broad yawn, “Two-thirty. Don’t worry. I’ll be back home in time for you to take me to the airport.”
Maria was about to admonish him for trying to do too much all at once and cutting it close when she came across an open pack of Marlboros hidden beneath a mound his of underwear. Tight-lipped, Maria ripped the pack from their hiding place and whirled to face Michael.
“What are these?” she demanded tersely.
His eyes snapped open at her irate tone. When he saw her standing there with his cigarettes, her pretty features pink with fury, Michael scrambled upright in the bed, clutching the sheets to his naked torso. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d ever seen her so incensed and Michael was rightly intimidated. Guilty and exposed, however, Michael unwisely took a defensive attitude. “You were going through my stuff?” he cried.
“I was looking for a pair of panties,” Maria flung back, “And don’t you dare try and turn this around on me! I thought you were done with these, Michael!”
“It’s not that easy, okay!” Michael retorted, “I’ve been under a ton of stress lately!”
Truthfully, Michael had been an emotional wreck in the last few weeks. He finally had some idea what it must be like for Max on a daily basis. Michael could have never imagined the pressure and scrutiny Max lived under until everyone began turning to him for answers. Isabel had called him crying nearly every day since Max was imprisoned, expecting him to know how to alleviate the situation. His people were in a state of mass panic and, of course, he was supposed to know how to make it all better. Factor in also, his full-time job, juggling family life with two brothers who had no idea what it meant to be human, smoothing over his soon to be mother’s in law ruffled feathers, and making time for a demanding fiancée it was little wonder Michael needed a cigarette every now and then to unwind.
He was desperately trying to keep it together, to be the leader everyone expected. To be the leader Max had been and still was, but it was too much. He simply couldn’t handle the pressure anymore. Now he could appreciate Max’s role as king. Now he could respect it. And now he knew for a certainty that he didn’t want it.
However, Maria’s blatant disappointment in him now just seemed like the last straw. His shame as well as the incredible burden he’d been carrying for weeks now caused Michael to slump with defeat, abruptly deflating of his fight. “I know you’re angry and you have every right to be,” he sighed dejectedly, “I promised you I would quit and I haven’t but… I’m trying to cope with what’s going on the best way I know how.”
Maria was moved by his crushed tone to sink down beside him on the bed. “There are better ways to do that than tarring your lungs, Michael,” she whispered, crumpling the pack in her fist. Michael groaned in protest but Maria was unmoved. “That is a totally disgusting habit and it’s over as of now,” she declared evenly, chucking the ruined cigarettes into the nearby garbage, “You don’t need them.”
“You’ll be eating those words a week from now when I’m crazy from the stress and snapping your head off because of it,” Michael predicted dryly.
“Anything is better than what you’ve been doing.”
Michael snorted. “Famous last words.”
“Couldn’t you try talking to me for a change?” Maria wondered gently. His wounded gaze drifted to her face and Maria smiled at him crookedly. “I can be a good listener,” she said, “At least…when I shut up long enough to hear what’s being said.” He laughed a little at that and she squeezed his thigh reassuringly. “You’re always keeping everything so bottled up, Spaceboy, and it’s just not a good thing to do. Why don’t you try letting it out for a change?”
“I’m supposed to be strong,” Michael mumbled, “Everyone expects it.”
“Who’s everyone?” Maria queried with a frown.
“Isabel, Kyle, you and Liz,” he sighed, “And Max…especially Max. While he’s in custody he’s expecting me to handle everything just the way he would and… I’m just not that capable, DeLuca, or that thorough.”
“Have you talked to Max about it?”
“What can I say?” Michael lamented in frustration, “I’m all he has to depend on and I want to be that person. Max has given me this tremendous responsibility and I don’t want to let him down.”
“I don’t think Max is expecting perfection,” Maria considered gently, “After all, you’ve been doing this less than a month. He’s had tons more practice.”
“But he wasn’t anymore ready for it than I am now,” Michael reasoned, “It just hit me all of a sudden, you know. All this time Isabel and I have been looking to him as our undeclared leader…not just since we set off the orbs but as far back as the pods. He’s been our keeper, Maria, but he never asked for it. He never asked for the responsibility. It was just suddenly his.”
“And now you’re just beginning to get a taste of that?” Maria concluded with gentle understanding.
Michael shook his head in chagrined disbelief. “It’s fucking unbelievable,” he hissed in a whisper, “I mean we’ve met with the President of the United States! The fucking President, Maria! He flew in from D.C. just to see us…two kids from Roswell, New Mexico! And Max was totally cool, like this complete diplomat or something. You’d think he talked to the President everyday. And me? Well…I was sweating like a pig and couldn’t string two words together to save my life.”
“You shouldn’t compare yourself to Max,” Maria advised him, cradling his face in her hands, “You both are two different people. I thought it was decided long ago that you were the warrior in this outfit, babe, not the peacemaker.”
Michael was surprised to discover that his brief talk with Maria had served to alleviate much of his self-doubt. Until that very second he hadn’t even realized that most of his stress had been stemming from his unconscious comparison of himself to Max. He was no king. He never had been. But he could be one hell of a second in command.
“You’re right,” he whispered to Maria, feathering his fingers through her hair as he angled her face for his kiss, “You are a pretty good listener when you shut your mouth.”
********************
“You rang?” Kyle greeted lightly when Mrs. Evans yanked open her front door with a grateful sigh.
“Thank God you could make it!” she breathed expansively, taking hold of his arm and ushering him into the house, “I didn’t know who else to call with Max in…well…you know and Michael leaving soon…so…”
Kyle held out a hand to calm her wild stammering. “Just tell me how I can help, Mrs. Evans,” he invited patiently.
“She’s having target practice in the backyard!” Diane cried in exasperation, “The neighbors are threatening to call the authorities.”
“She?”
“Diadne,” Diane sighed crossly, “She’s completely out of control. Max entrusted Philip and I with her care while he’s away but, honestly, she’s simply impossible! She won’t listen to a word we tell her.” She lowered her tone to a disgruntled mumble. “I don’t really think she cares for humans very much.”
“Max is human,” Kyle pointed out.
“Not in her eyes,” Diane replied, “Anyway, I understand that she’s worried about Max and getting restless…we all are…but this recent behavior, her total disregard for Philip and me… I just don’t know what to do with her.”
Kyle scratched behind his ear thoughtfully. “I don’t know if I’m the best person to handle this, Mrs. Evans,” he hedged, “What about my dad or…or…my dad?” He’d had very little to do with Diadne in the past few weeks. Mostly he’d been traveling back and forth between Roswell and D.C. with his father crusading for the Antarian cause. What limited contact he did have had not been pleasant. Diane Evans wasn’t far off the mark in her assumption that Diadne did not care for humans.
“Yeah, I think we should call my dad,” Kyle said eagerly.
“You,” Diane insisted, shoving him towards the patio, “Max appointed you as one of his advisors for a reason! Now go out there and make her behave!” With that she pushed him through the sliding door and then shut it behind him.
At the rustling sound to her rear Diadne paused in her task of shooting various winged insects out of the sky and pivoted to face Kyle. Her bright red hair was tied back from her girlish features in a loose ponytail, the hairstyle emphasizing her high cheekbones and the smattering of freckles across them. But when Kyle looked at her he didn’t see some fresh, freckled faced girl but a four foot tall alien with cold, fathomless eyes. Diadne made it difficult to think of her as anything but. Kyle sometimes wondered if she went out of her way to stress her alien personality, just to create a stark contrast between his species and hers.
Diadne raked him with cold blue eyes as he approached. “Human,” she greeted stoically.
“Antarian,” he replied with equal terseness, “Mrs. Evans called me over to deal with you. You’re scaring her neighbors.”
“Foolish humans,” Diadne sniffed disdainfully, her expression void of even a trace of remorse, “I am not targeting them so why should they be in fear? Look,” she continued, pointing towards the ground to indicate the rather disgusting pile of dead flies, fireflies, mosquitoes and beetles she’d amassed, “I have killed only these annoying creatures. The humans should thank me.”
Great, Kyle thought sarcastically, the Antarian solution to pest control!
In a relatively short time Diadne had learned to speak the English language so well it was as if she’d been a native of the country all her life. It was an accomplishment Zan had commended her for and Diadne was glad to have pleased him in that regard, however she felt no personal satisfaction in the achievement. She felt no kinship with this planet or its strange, unjust ways. She missed her own home with a fierceness she hadn’t known she existed… a home that no longer existed. It was difficult not to feel resentment towards the humans over that fact, even if it was unreasonable.
“I doubt anyone is going to thank you for terrorizing them,” Kyle pointed out dryly, “This is a residential area, Diadne! Are you trying to make people fear your people more than they already do?”
“I did not aim at them,” she reasoned hotly.
“People live in this area!” Kyle emphasized again, “The next time you want to practice do it in the desert!”
“How can I be prepared to protect my king if I do not train,” she challenged, “I do not know of this desert of which you speak.”
“Try asking somebody! Duh!”
Diadne picked up quite easily on the fact that he was mocking her and she narrowed her eyes in arrogant rebellion. “I am under no obligation to listen to you,” she declared, raking him with a sneering once-over, “You are not my king.”
“Thank God for small favors,” Kyle muttered under his breath and then louder he added, “It’s true I’m not your king, but Max is trusting me to keep his people safe. Much as it galls me, that includes you. So you can like it or lump it!”
Diadne stabbed him with a hateful glare. “I do not like you, human!”
“The feeling is more than mutual, Antarian!” Kyle spat in return, “What the hell were you thinking carrying on target practice now anyway?”
Jaw knotted tightly, Diadne replied with an unexpected burst of anger; “They hold Zan with no valid charges! Your President says that he should view it as a safeguard…as time for the American people to adjust to our presence and come to trust us but that is a lie! Zan is a prisoner in your government yet he has broken no laws! This goes against your very own Constitution, which I have read. You make the laws but you do not follow them. I do not understand why these injustices are being manufactured against my people!”
“Lashing out isn’t helping Max either,” Kyle told her, “You’re just adding fuel to the rumors that are already circulating about you people.”
Sensing the unspoken contempt in his words, Diadne once again she lifted her chin to a haughty angle. “You do not know about what you speak,” she spat, “You know nothing of what my people suffer on this despicable planet! You have no idea what it is like to be an alien in a strange land, human.” She drew herself up tall and straight, pinning him with a look that could have driven nails. “Do not presume to tell me what to do,” she ordered, “When you understand the hardships my people have suffered then perhaps I will entertain the nonsense you speak. However, until that day, I wish to have no further words with you.”
“My pleasure,” Kyle grunted as she swept past him. It was only when she left that he noticed the green, crackling energy flowing over his fingertips.
“You’re on the air with Richie Jones. What’s your name and what’s your Sound Off about this alien situation? Are you nay or yea for integration?”
“My name is Darlene Glut, from Roswell, New Mexico and I, for one, am infuriated by this whole mess,” the radio caller said, “As if it’s not enough that the government hid their existence from us all these years now they’re shoving them down our throats by pushing them into our neighborhoods and schools and giving them our goddamned jobs! What the hell is that?”
Michael groaned as the strains of the radio show persistently dragged him from the peaceful comfort of sleep. Eventually the angry commentary managed to seep into his brain despite his efforts to drown it out and he reached out a blind hand to slap it into silence. However, his abrupt movement jarred Maria from her boneless slumber. She stretched across his chest like a drowsy cat, dragging her lips in a nibbling kiss across his erect nipple.
“Don’t take it personal,” she murmured into his hot skin, knowing instinctively that he lay there stewing. She didn’t have to hazard a glance at him at all. “They don’t know anything about you, Michael.”
“Yeah, but they talk like they do,” he grumbled absently as she kissed her way down his torso. He grabbed hold of her hair just as she reached his navel and tilted back her head so he could see her eyes. “Don’t get started,” he warned softly, “You know I have to leave in a little while, DeLuca.” But his protest was half-hearted, his body already beginning to stir with arousal.
“I can give you a proper send-off, can’t I?” Maria challenged with a wicked grin, before disappearing beneath the covers. A moment later he was engulfed by the silky wet vortex of her mouth. Michael turned his face into the pillows to muffle his hoarse cries of pleasure. When it was over he gradually drifted down from his euphoric high, unsnarling his fingers from the tangled bed sheets. “Feel better?” she whispered when she emerged a few seconds later.
“Hmm,” he grunted contentedly, “I could definitely go back to sleep now.”
“Ahh, but you can’t,” she moaned in disappointment as she rolled from the bed, “You have to go and see Max today and I…I must continue on in the epic adventure of kissing my mother’s ass.” She scooped up his shirt from the floor and slipped it over her head. “Besides we don’t wanna linger in here too long,” she declared dryly, “Kadon and Razba might decide to barge in again like last time.”
Only three weeks had commenced since the history making alien landing and Maria’s life was nearly unrecognizable. She spent time with Michael when she could, which wasn’t very often between his daily meetings with Max and his weekly flights out of state. As the Antarians were slowly being integrated into society Michael’s presence was necessitated at each occurrence.
Society as a whole was not taking kindly to its newest members. While there were some who were indifferent to the Antarian invasion others actively opposed the change. They feared what they did not know. Worse still, the Antarians were just as fearful of humans.
Tensions had been incredibly high since Max had been taken into custody. Most Americans felt that doing so was necessary and a safeguard and most Antarians felt it was an indignity and an insult. The President had even addressed the nation, with the assurance that he had matters well in hand but his speech had done little to curb people’s suspicion. Consequently, Michael and Jim Valenti alternately spent their time reassuring the American people that they had nothing to fear and soothing the Antarians offended sensibilities.
And if matters in the outside world weren’t tense enough for Maria the situation at home wasn’t any easier. Living with Antarians was a major adjustment. Michael’s brothers had no concept of privacy. Already they had seen Maria naked twice, once when she and Michael were making love and another when she was in the shower. She might have been able to overlook that fact if the two didn’t look so disconcertingly like Michael.
Not surprisingly, Kadon and Razba chose to mirror their human forms after their half human brother. They had the same height, same build, and same unruly dark hair. The same incredible brown eyes. It was like being in the presence of triplets only Maria knew better. For the sake of Maria’s sanity they made subtle changes with their eye color and height but the similarities were still enough to throw Maria off time and again.
Kadon and Razba were also not very big talkers. For the first time Maria considered Michael’s laconic nature might not have sprung up from his human side at all. It was their uncommon silence that made Maria insecure over how they were receiving her. She couldn’t tell if they liked her or not. They were polite and cordial (at least as much as two non-speaking people could be, but there was something just beneath the surface that made Maria suspect that they disapproved of her.
She had asked Michael about it a dozen times already but he swore that Kadon and Razba had nothing against her. Seemingly, they didn’t either. Both “men” had appointed themselves her unspoken bodyguards and Maria rarely went anywhere without their accompaniment. Still, she couldn’t shake her feeling…
“So what time does your flight leave?” she asked, fumbling through his drawers for underwear.
Michael lay on the bed, just barely conscious. Eyes closed, he answered her with a broad yawn, “Two-thirty. Don’t worry. I’ll be back home in time for you to take me to the airport.”
Maria was about to admonish him for trying to do too much all at once and cutting it close when she came across an open pack of Marlboros hidden beneath a mound his of underwear. Tight-lipped, Maria ripped the pack from their hiding place and whirled to face Michael.
“What are these?” she demanded tersely.
His eyes snapped open at her irate tone. When he saw her standing there with his cigarettes, her pretty features pink with fury, Michael scrambled upright in the bed, clutching the sheets to his naked torso. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d ever seen her so incensed and Michael was rightly intimidated. Guilty and exposed, however, Michael unwisely took a defensive attitude. “You were going through my stuff?” he cried.
“I was looking for a pair of panties,” Maria flung back, “And don’t you dare try and turn this around on me! I thought you were done with these, Michael!”
“It’s not that easy, okay!” Michael retorted, “I’ve been under a ton of stress lately!”
Truthfully, Michael had been an emotional wreck in the last few weeks. He finally had some idea what it must be like for Max on a daily basis. Michael could have never imagined the pressure and scrutiny Max lived under until everyone began turning to him for answers. Isabel had called him crying nearly every day since Max was imprisoned, expecting him to know how to alleviate the situation. His people were in a state of mass panic and, of course, he was supposed to know how to make it all better. Factor in also, his full-time job, juggling family life with two brothers who had no idea what it meant to be human, smoothing over his soon to be mother’s in law ruffled feathers, and making time for a demanding fiancée it was little wonder Michael needed a cigarette every now and then to unwind.
He was desperately trying to keep it together, to be the leader everyone expected. To be the leader Max had been and still was, but it was too much. He simply couldn’t handle the pressure anymore. Now he could appreciate Max’s role as king. Now he could respect it. And now he knew for a certainty that he didn’t want it.
However, Maria’s blatant disappointment in him now just seemed like the last straw. His shame as well as the incredible burden he’d been carrying for weeks now caused Michael to slump with defeat, abruptly deflating of his fight. “I know you’re angry and you have every right to be,” he sighed dejectedly, “I promised you I would quit and I haven’t but… I’m trying to cope with what’s going on the best way I know how.”
Maria was moved by his crushed tone to sink down beside him on the bed. “There are better ways to do that than tarring your lungs, Michael,” she whispered, crumpling the pack in her fist. Michael groaned in protest but Maria was unmoved. “That is a totally disgusting habit and it’s over as of now,” she declared evenly, chucking the ruined cigarettes into the nearby garbage, “You don’t need them.”
“You’ll be eating those words a week from now when I’m crazy from the stress and snapping your head off because of it,” Michael predicted dryly.
“Anything is better than what you’ve been doing.”
Michael snorted. “Famous last words.”
“Couldn’t you try talking to me for a change?” Maria wondered gently. His wounded gaze drifted to her face and Maria smiled at him crookedly. “I can be a good listener,” she said, “At least…when I shut up long enough to hear what’s being said.” He laughed a little at that and she squeezed his thigh reassuringly. “You’re always keeping everything so bottled up, Spaceboy, and it’s just not a good thing to do. Why don’t you try letting it out for a change?”
“I’m supposed to be strong,” Michael mumbled, “Everyone expects it.”
“Who’s everyone?” Maria queried with a frown.
“Isabel, Kyle, you and Liz,” he sighed, “And Max…especially Max. While he’s in custody he’s expecting me to handle everything just the way he would and… I’m just not that capable, DeLuca, or that thorough.”
“Have you talked to Max about it?”
“What can I say?” Michael lamented in frustration, “I’m all he has to depend on and I want to be that person. Max has given me this tremendous responsibility and I don’t want to let him down.”
“I don’t think Max is expecting perfection,” Maria considered gently, “After all, you’ve been doing this less than a month. He’s had tons more practice.”
“But he wasn’t anymore ready for it than I am now,” Michael reasoned, “It just hit me all of a sudden, you know. All this time Isabel and I have been looking to him as our undeclared leader…not just since we set off the orbs but as far back as the pods. He’s been our keeper, Maria, but he never asked for it. He never asked for the responsibility. It was just suddenly his.”
“And now you’re just beginning to get a taste of that?” Maria concluded with gentle understanding.
Michael shook his head in chagrined disbelief. “It’s fucking unbelievable,” he hissed in a whisper, “I mean we’ve met with the President of the United States! The fucking President, Maria! He flew in from D.C. just to see us…two kids from Roswell, New Mexico! And Max was totally cool, like this complete diplomat or something. You’d think he talked to the President everyday. And me? Well…I was sweating like a pig and couldn’t string two words together to save my life.”
“You shouldn’t compare yourself to Max,” Maria advised him, cradling his face in her hands, “You both are two different people. I thought it was decided long ago that you were the warrior in this outfit, babe, not the peacemaker.”
Michael was surprised to discover that his brief talk with Maria had served to alleviate much of his self-doubt. Until that very second he hadn’t even realized that most of his stress had been stemming from his unconscious comparison of himself to Max. He was no king. He never had been. But he could be one hell of a second in command.
“You’re right,” he whispered to Maria, feathering his fingers through her hair as he angled her face for his kiss, “You are a pretty good listener when you shut your mouth.”
********************
“You rang?” Kyle greeted lightly when Mrs. Evans yanked open her front door with a grateful sigh.
“Thank God you could make it!” she breathed expansively, taking hold of his arm and ushering him into the house, “I didn’t know who else to call with Max in…well…you know and Michael leaving soon…so…”
Kyle held out a hand to calm her wild stammering. “Just tell me how I can help, Mrs. Evans,” he invited patiently.
“She’s having target practice in the backyard!” Diane cried in exasperation, “The neighbors are threatening to call the authorities.”
“She?”
“Diadne,” Diane sighed crossly, “She’s completely out of control. Max entrusted Philip and I with her care while he’s away but, honestly, she’s simply impossible! She won’t listen to a word we tell her.” She lowered her tone to a disgruntled mumble. “I don’t really think she cares for humans very much.”
“Max is human,” Kyle pointed out.
“Not in her eyes,” Diane replied, “Anyway, I understand that she’s worried about Max and getting restless…we all are…but this recent behavior, her total disregard for Philip and me… I just don’t know what to do with her.”
Kyle scratched behind his ear thoughtfully. “I don’t know if I’m the best person to handle this, Mrs. Evans,” he hedged, “What about my dad or…or…my dad?” He’d had very little to do with Diadne in the past few weeks. Mostly he’d been traveling back and forth between Roswell and D.C. with his father crusading for the Antarian cause. What limited contact he did have had not been pleasant. Diane Evans wasn’t far off the mark in her assumption that Diadne did not care for humans.
“Yeah, I think we should call my dad,” Kyle said eagerly.
“You,” Diane insisted, shoving him towards the patio, “Max appointed you as one of his advisors for a reason! Now go out there and make her behave!” With that she pushed him through the sliding door and then shut it behind him.
At the rustling sound to her rear Diadne paused in her task of shooting various winged insects out of the sky and pivoted to face Kyle. Her bright red hair was tied back from her girlish features in a loose ponytail, the hairstyle emphasizing her high cheekbones and the smattering of freckles across them. But when Kyle looked at her he didn’t see some fresh, freckled faced girl but a four foot tall alien with cold, fathomless eyes. Diadne made it difficult to think of her as anything but. Kyle sometimes wondered if she went out of her way to stress her alien personality, just to create a stark contrast between his species and hers.
Diadne raked him with cold blue eyes as he approached. “Human,” she greeted stoically.
“Antarian,” he replied with equal terseness, “Mrs. Evans called me over to deal with you. You’re scaring her neighbors.”
“Foolish humans,” Diadne sniffed disdainfully, her expression void of even a trace of remorse, “I am not targeting them so why should they be in fear? Look,” she continued, pointing towards the ground to indicate the rather disgusting pile of dead flies, fireflies, mosquitoes and beetles she’d amassed, “I have killed only these annoying creatures. The humans should thank me.”
Great, Kyle thought sarcastically, the Antarian solution to pest control!
In a relatively short time Diadne had learned to speak the English language so well it was as if she’d been a native of the country all her life. It was an accomplishment Zan had commended her for and Diadne was glad to have pleased him in that regard, however she felt no personal satisfaction in the achievement. She felt no kinship with this planet or its strange, unjust ways. She missed her own home with a fierceness she hadn’t known she existed… a home that no longer existed. It was difficult not to feel resentment towards the humans over that fact, even if it was unreasonable.
“I doubt anyone is going to thank you for terrorizing them,” Kyle pointed out dryly, “This is a residential area, Diadne! Are you trying to make people fear your people more than they already do?”
“I did not aim at them,” she reasoned hotly.
“People live in this area!” Kyle emphasized again, “The next time you want to practice do it in the desert!”
“How can I be prepared to protect my king if I do not train,” she challenged, “I do not know of this desert of which you speak.”
“Try asking somebody! Duh!”
Diadne picked up quite easily on the fact that he was mocking her and she narrowed her eyes in arrogant rebellion. “I am under no obligation to listen to you,” she declared, raking him with a sneering once-over, “You are not my king.”
“Thank God for small favors,” Kyle muttered under his breath and then louder he added, “It’s true I’m not your king, but Max is trusting me to keep his people safe. Much as it galls me, that includes you. So you can like it or lump it!”
Diadne stabbed him with a hateful glare. “I do not like you, human!”
“The feeling is more than mutual, Antarian!” Kyle spat in return, “What the hell were you thinking carrying on target practice now anyway?”
Jaw knotted tightly, Diadne replied with an unexpected burst of anger; “They hold Zan with no valid charges! Your President says that he should view it as a safeguard…as time for the American people to adjust to our presence and come to trust us but that is a lie! Zan is a prisoner in your government yet he has broken no laws! This goes against your very own Constitution, which I have read. You make the laws but you do not follow them. I do not understand why these injustices are being manufactured against my people!”
“Lashing out isn’t helping Max either,” Kyle told her, “You’re just adding fuel to the rumors that are already circulating about you people.”
Sensing the unspoken contempt in his words, Diadne once again she lifted her chin to a haughty angle. “You do not know about what you speak,” she spat, “You know nothing of what my people suffer on this despicable planet! You have no idea what it is like to be an alien in a strange land, human.” She drew herself up tall and straight, pinning him with a look that could have driven nails. “Do not presume to tell me what to do,” she ordered, “When you understand the hardships my people have suffered then perhaps I will entertain the nonsense you speak. However, until that day, I wish to have no further words with you.”
“My pleasure,” Kyle grunted as she swept past him. It was only when she left that he noticed the green, crackling energy flowing over his fingertips.
Last edited by Deejonaise on Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:29 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Deejonaise
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Well, Stacie okay'd this chapter so here it is. I will make myself scarce now.
Chapter 30
Max jostled his knee and glanced at the living room clock yet another time. Michael was already half an hour late. He was anxious for an update from the outside and with Liz in class Max had no one to distract him while he waited. Probably even if she had been available he might hesitate to call her. He had phoned her every day since coming to this place and Max couldn’t help but wonder if he was making a nuisance of himself.
Of course she would say that she didn’t mind and Max was sure on some level that she didn’t. However, he knew he was distracting her from her studies with his constant phone calls. Still he couldn’t help it. Liz, his family and friends were his link to the outside world. Without them he felt much like he was wrapped in a cocoon with no particular sense of time or urgency. While the soldiers stationed to watch him had been good and cordial and eager to make themselves available they weren’t as keen on keeping him in the know.
He looked at the clock once more, wondering if Michael had decided to forgo their meeting since he had an afternoon flight out to D.C., when the front door opened abruptly and one of his guards announced Michael’s arrival.
“Bet you feel like a king playing court,” Michael teased ironically as he breezed inside and found Max lounging on the sofa waiting for him, “I hope all of this pampered treatment isn’t going to your head, Maxwell.”
“I’m keeping perspective somehow,” Max returned with a humorless smile, “What kept you?”
“An insatiable, leggy blond,” Michael answered with a satisfied grin, “It’s good to be loved.” He plopped down into the recliner adjacent to Max. “So what’s on the agenda today?”
Max didn’t want to begrudge his friend’s happiness, but it was difficult not to feel a stab of envy with Michael’s words. Michael and Maria’s closeness only seemed to make the distance between him and Liz more acute. However, rather than allowing himself to sink into a funk over that, Max focused on the things he could change or, at least, control. “Well, I’ve been watching the news lately…” he began tentatively.
“And you know there’s a general outcry against our people being on this planet,” Michael concluded flatly, “But then, didn’t we expect something like that to happen?”
“I hadn’t imagined it would be so fierce,” Max whispered, “People are picketing, Michael…about everything…even me.”
“Apparently the some of the American people aren’t so keen on a teenager being held without cause,” Michael remarked, “Don’t sweat it. It’s our ace in the hole. They’re definitely not going to mistreat you with the public scrutiny being what it is. And the very fact Kesley and his people have been so open about what they’re doing goes a long way in convincing me that he might actually uphold his end of the bargain. Either that or he’s covering his ass.” Michael shrugged at the thought. “Either way works for me.”
“And the rest of it,” Max prodded, “All the protesting…what about that?”
“Well considering the fact that the first Antarian was just accepted into the space program and after only two weeks of training I can get why,” Michael recounted, “The government is tripping all over itself to use whatever resources we have, but the general public wants to flip us a great, big ‘fuck you!’”
“Succinctly put as always, Michael,” Max replied sardonically, “Are we in danger?”
“Right now emotions are pretty high,” Michael replied, “It wouldn’t hurt to be on guard against attacks. We don’t exactly have a fan club at the moment. Kesley offered us bodyguards but, of course, I refused.”
Max digested that rather stoically. Again, the development was not something unexpected but he was disappointed all the same. “Maybe it would be a good idea to send our own guards up to New Haven and Boston for Isabel and Liz now that the first wave has gone through the school,” he considered. He’d wanted to do that for some time now but with tensions being so high, Max had thought it better to wait until the people had humanized somewhat.
“Already on it,” Michael said, “Kadon is leaving for New Haven this afternoon, but Razba is staying to look after Maria while I’m away.”
“What about Liz?”
“I thought you’d probably want to handpick Liz’s guard yourself,” Michael replied, “Kyle and Diadne are supposed to be here later with a list of potentials.”
Max was surprised by Michael’s uncharacteristic thoroughness. “You’ve taken care of everything,” he commended.
“Learned from the master,” Michael replied, his admiration for Max evident in his tone, “I never realized what a tough road you had until I tried walking in your shoes, Maxwell. I can now say with unmitigated certainty that I am glad not to be you.”
“Gee thanks, Michael,” Max uttered with a dry laugh. Unfortunately, as was the usual these days, Max’s good humor was short lived as his thoughts were once again redirected to their ongoing problems. “Did the most recent group of ships land all right?” he asked anxiously.
“Without a hitch.”
“I saw it on television,” Max said, the weirdness he felt over watching such a thing second hand evident on his face, “I think that it was a bigger media circus than the last time. I was hoping that interest would have died down by now.”
“Doubtful,” Michael sighed, “Besides that first time the news people didn’t have a heads up but this last time everybody knew what was coming and they were prepared.”
“It’s still crazy,” Max muttered.
“You won’t hear any dissent from me on that score,” Michael replied, “Do you know they’re actually putting them through alien immigration now? Our little Antarian bunch are becoming genuine American citizens.”
Max balked at the idea. “You’re kidding?”
“Giving em new names and everything,” Michael clarified, “It’s all a part of the government’s humanization efforts. They want our people to feel like they’re truly home.” He didn’t bother to mask his sarcasm when stating the last of that. “Whatever,” he snorted, “Do you know how they’re choosing forms for them?”
“No. How?”
“Romance novels,” Michael scoffed ironically, “I guess because the characters are so well described or some crap like that… Anyway, we’re gonna have a race of tall, dark pretty boys and busty blonde chicks running around. Yippie!”
Max tried not to snicker over Michael’s evident consternation. “Okay,” he said, “Other than those very valid complaints, what else is happening? What’s going on with the school?”
Kesley and his superiors had made Max a myriad of promises when he first signed the agreement to be taken into custody, however, a small part of him still wondered if they would actually keep up their end of the deal. He knew that a double-cross would not work in their favor but then they might decide that it was worth the risk. Maybe they thought Max would hesitate to attack if provoked. Maybe they didn’t know him as well as they thought they did.
“The school’s good,” Michael replied, recapturing Max’s drifting attention, “The feds really went all out for us this time. I’m impressed. Top of the line computers, books and anything else we want access to. Of course they’re getting a fair tradeoff with our technology. Ford is already working on a design for a collision proof car. As far as industry is concerned,” Michael finished mordantly, “we’re gold, Maxwell. They love us. We’re going to make America buckets of money.”
The acknowledgement obviously didn’t give Max any satisfaction. His expression remained as grim as ever. “What about the rest of it?” he asked tentatively, “Isabel…and my parents? They never tell me what’s really going on so I’m counting on you to give it to me straight, Michael.”
“Your parents are taking all the scrutiny pretty well,” he replied, “Your dad’s a total bulldog with the reporters. They don’t intimidate him. Isabel’s another story. She’s getting mobbed everywhere she goes and she’s a little pissed that her anonymous lifestyle at Yale has been shot to hell. Her roommate is even campaigning for a new room over it,” Michael finished dourly, “Things are looking pretty bad.”
“She never says a word,” Max muttered in a bleak whisper.
“That’s because she loves you, Maxwell,” Michael supplied, “She doesn’t want you to feel bad. You’re already dealing with enough as it is.”
“They don’t hurt me here, Michael,” Max argued, “It’s nothing like the white room at all. I’m not a lab rat. The situation is pretty cushy for me all things considered.”
“Except for bugged telephone lines,” Michael interjected, “I could bring you a cell.”
“Well, they don’t know that I know about that yet, Michael,” Max replied with a smirk, “With supersonic hearing it’s hard to miss that little click the phone does every time I make a call.” His smirk widened. “Is it wrong for me to play with them a little? I say just enough to get them hot and bothered and then…” Max made a fizzling sound with his tongue. “Nothing. I just wish I could see the looks on their faces.” He laughed over his own deception but Michael didn’t seem to share in his amusement.
“That nonchalant bullshit might fly with everybody else, Maxwell, but it’s not going to wash with me,” Michael replied in a throbbing whisper, “Don’t pretend that being here under William Pierce’s scrutiny isn’t killing you a piece at a time.”
That was a continuing point of debate between them. The moment Michael learned that Pierce had a brother and that brother was the head officer charged with keeping Max under observation he’d made his feelings clear in curt terms. “Get the hell out of dodge,” he’d told Max without hesitation. However, Max was the more methodical of the two. He didn’t want to make a rash decision based solely on his feelings of unease. So far Lieutenant Pierce hadn’t given Max a reason to believe he might be a threat so Max decided he would act accordingly. Nevertheless, Max couldn’t help but be intimidated by the soldier’s presence.
“I’m playing it cool,” Max told his friend, “Lieutenant Pierce hasn’t done or said anything I could construe as threatening.”
“That doesn’t mean you should trust him either,” Michael advised.
“I’m not!” Max retorted, “I didn’t just suddenly become an idiot, Michael! But if I start acting all nervous and panicky then Pierce is going to think I’m hiding something. Just because his brother was a sadist alien hunter doesn’t mean that he’s one, too.”
Michael snorted. “That’s naive even for you, Maxwell,” he whispered in admonishment, “You think it’s a coincidence that guy was put in charge. They suspect something and they’re just trying to break you. This nonsense about wanting to make sure there’s no danger is just a front.”
“You don’t know that,” Max retorted, “Besides there’s nothing to suspect. We didn’t do anything wrong and, as long as we maintain that, we’ll be fine.”
On the other side of the military base where Max’s safe house was located Lieutenant William Pierce tapped his mouth pensively and wondered, not for the first time, just how much the two teenagers knew about his brother’s disappearance.
********************
“He’s weird,” Amy DeLuca muttered under her breath as she and her daughter sliced onions for an omelet, “Why did he have to come anyway?”
“Michael doesn’t like me to travel alone,” Maria explained simply. However, she noticed her mother’s continued mistrustful glances over her shoulder despite the reassurance. “Mom, he’s harmless.”
“He looks like Michael,” her mother mumbled, “That’s throwing me off. It’s creepy.”
“He doesn’t look exactly like Michael,” Maria replied dryly, “His eyes are blue and his nose is smaller.” Her mother’s expression didn’t alter one iota. Maria sighed. “Razba is fine, Mom. Weird and abnormally quiet but fine.”
Maria laughed inwardly over her own bravado. Her mother didn’t have the slightest clue how absolutely petrified she felt right then. Not even a month ago she had made the statement to Michael that she wanted to be known in the world. She got her wish.
Her face was splashed across the evening news on a nightly basis. If she didn’t have reporters clamoring for an interview at every turn then she had strange people following her around in the supermarket. Some people were awed by the idea of her and even asked for her autograph on occasion. Others were curiosity seekers, avidly interested in a detailed description of lovemaking with an alien. The majority, however, were outright mean, hurling epithets and insults her way whenever she walked down the street.
Maria supposed she could understand the uproar. People felt threatened…for their jobs, their homes, and their very society. Already Antarians were beginning to make incredible strides and they hadn’t even been on the planet a month. There was even rumored talk that Antarians would soon put the hospital out of business with their healing abilities. Doctors and nurses around the country were up in arms. Everyone was beginning to panic and no one could really agree whether the Antarian influence on society was a blessing or a barrier.
Yet, Maria wasn’t only worried about the external changes to her world. The internal ones were getting pretty scary as well. Something was definitely going on with Michael… That morning while they showered she’d encountered a ridge of jutting flesh just above her shoulder. Her first thought was that he’d cut himself somehow, but the wound felt rather large. However, when she turned him around for closer inspection Maria learned it wasn’t a cut at all, but it looked more like a brand.
She’d traced her fingers over the angular scar, recognizing it instantly as one of the alien symbols from his world. It looked rather like an elongated diamond with cross points at each corner. “Who did this to you?” she had whispered in near horror.
“Did what?” he’d asked, apparently unaware of the mark on his back.
Michael had been just as surprised to learn of the scar’s presence, as Maria had been to discover it. Oddly enough however, Michael hadn’t seemed overly bothered by the fact he’d been apparently branded. He acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world and, with some casual statement about asking Max; he’d dismissed it completely. Totally un-Michael like. Maria was rightly concerned.
“Mom?” she ventured, watching as Amy sautéed onions in a pan of sizzling butter, “Does Michael seem…different to you lately?”
“Different how?” Amy queried, “As opposed to being an alien from outer space you mean?”
“He was always an alien, Mom,” Maria replied with a roll of her eyes, “I mean his personality. Does he seem…I don’t know…changed or something?”
“I don’t know,” Amy replied, “What do you think?”
“Nothing,” Maria mumbled.
“Obviously you think something otherwise you would have never brought it up,” Amy considered, “Now tell me. We’ve had enough secrets between us, don’t you think?”
Her mother’s invitation was tempting and with Liz being so preoccupied these days the need to sound off was strong. “Okay,” she conceded finally, “Will you promise to listen without totally freaking out on me?”
“You’re engaged to an alien,” Amy deadpanned as she reached up to click off the stove, “I make no promises.”
“Okay, here’s the thing,” Maria relented, “Lately I get this feeling that Michael is changing…on the inside.”
“Changing how?”
“Just small things,” Maria said, “His senses are sharper and his movements…the way he walks is…is fluid.” She groped for the right words, feeling that she wasn’t conveying herself as adequately as she could. “I don’t know,” she huffed in frustration, “It’s like he’s gliding sometimes…like a cat’s movements…almost predatory.” Maria shook her head dismissively. “Forget it,” she said, “I’m working myself up over nothing. Michael is Michael and that’s all there is.”
“I’ve noticed what you mean,” Amy whispered as Maria made a production of scrubbing down the counter. At her mother’s words, however, Maria froze.
“You have?”
“I think he’s beginning to act like them,” her mother confessed, hitching her chin towards Razba where he hovered in the hall. A shudder passed through Maria, an occurrence that did not escape Amy’s notice. She leveled her daughter with a penetrating look. “Is that a bad thing, Maria?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” she whispered, her trained on Razba’s passionless features as she spoke, “But I’ll definitely let you know when I do.”
Chapter 30
Max jostled his knee and glanced at the living room clock yet another time. Michael was already half an hour late. He was anxious for an update from the outside and with Liz in class Max had no one to distract him while he waited. Probably even if she had been available he might hesitate to call her. He had phoned her every day since coming to this place and Max couldn’t help but wonder if he was making a nuisance of himself.
Of course she would say that she didn’t mind and Max was sure on some level that she didn’t. However, he knew he was distracting her from her studies with his constant phone calls. Still he couldn’t help it. Liz, his family and friends were his link to the outside world. Without them he felt much like he was wrapped in a cocoon with no particular sense of time or urgency. While the soldiers stationed to watch him had been good and cordial and eager to make themselves available they weren’t as keen on keeping him in the know.
He looked at the clock once more, wondering if Michael had decided to forgo their meeting since he had an afternoon flight out to D.C., when the front door opened abruptly and one of his guards announced Michael’s arrival.
“Bet you feel like a king playing court,” Michael teased ironically as he breezed inside and found Max lounging on the sofa waiting for him, “I hope all of this pampered treatment isn’t going to your head, Maxwell.”
“I’m keeping perspective somehow,” Max returned with a humorless smile, “What kept you?”
“An insatiable, leggy blond,” Michael answered with a satisfied grin, “It’s good to be loved.” He plopped down into the recliner adjacent to Max. “So what’s on the agenda today?”
Max didn’t want to begrudge his friend’s happiness, but it was difficult not to feel a stab of envy with Michael’s words. Michael and Maria’s closeness only seemed to make the distance between him and Liz more acute. However, rather than allowing himself to sink into a funk over that, Max focused on the things he could change or, at least, control. “Well, I’ve been watching the news lately…” he began tentatively.
“And you know there’s a general outcry against our people being on this planet,” Michael concluded flatly, “But then, didn’t we expect something like that to happen?”
“I hadn’t imagined it would be so fierce,” Max whispered, “People are picketing, Michael…about everything…even me.”
“Apparently the some of the American people aren’t so keen on a teenager being held without cause,” Michael remarked, “Don’t sweat it. It’s our ace in the hole. They’re definitely not going to mistreat you with the public scrutiny being what it is. And the very fact Kesley and his people have been so open about what they’re doing goes a long way in convincing me that he might actually uphold his end of the bargain. Either that or he’s covering his ass.” Michael shrugged at the thought. “Either way works for me.”
“And the rest of it,” Max prodded, “All the protesting…what about that?”
“Well considering the fact that the first Antarian was just accepted into the space program and after only two weeks of training I can get why,” Michael recounted, “The government is tripping all over itself to use whatever resources we have, but the general public wants to flip us a great, big ‘fuck you!’”
“Succinctly put as always, Michael,” Max replied sardonically, “Are we in danger?”
“Right now emotions are pretty high,” Michael replied, “It wouldn’t hurt to be on guard against attacks. We don’t exactly have a fan club at the moment. Kesley offered us bodyguards but, of course, I refused.”
Max digested that rather stoically. Again, the development was not something unexpected but he was disappointed all the same. “Maybe it would be a good idea to send our own guards up to New Haven and Boston for Isabel and Liz now that the first wave has gone through the school,” he considered. He’d wanted to do that for some time now but with tensions being so high, Max had thought it better to wait until the people had humanized somewhat.
“Already on it,” Michael said, “Kadon is leaving for New Haven this afternoon, but Razba is staying to look after Maria while I’m away.”
“What about Liz?”
“I thought you’d probably want to handpick Liz’s guard yourself,” Michael replied, “Kyle and Diadne are supposed to be here later with a list of potentials.”
Max was surprised by Michael’s uncharacteristic thoroughness. “You’ve taken care of everything,” he commended.
“Learned from the master,” Michael replied, his admiration for Max evident in his tone, “I never realized what a tough road you had until I tried walking in your shoes, Maxwell. I can now say with unmitigated certainty that I am glad not to be you.”
“Gee thanks, Michael,” Max uttered with a dry laugh. Unfortunately, as was the usual these days, Max’s good humor was short lived as his thoughts were once again redirected to their ongoing problems. “Did the most recent group of ships land all right?” he asked anxiously.
“Without a hitch.”
“I saw it on television,” Max said, the weirdness he felt over watching such a thing second hand evident on his face, “I think that it was a bigger media circus than the last time. I was hoping that interest would have died down by now.”
“Doubtful,” Michael sighed, “Besides that first time the news people didn’t have a heads up but this last time everybody knew what was coming and they were prepared.”
“It’s still crazy,” Max muttered.
“You won’t hear any dissent from me on that score,” Michael replied, “Do you know they’re actually putting them through alien immigration now? Our little Antarian bunch are becoming genuine American citizens.”
Max balked at the idea. “You’re kidding?”
“Giving em new names and everything,” Michael clarified, “It’s all a part of the government’s humanization efforts. They want our people to feel like they’re truly home.” He didn’t bother to mask his sarcasm when stating the last of that. “Whatever,” he snorted, “Do you know how they’re choosing forms for them?”
“No. How?”
“Romance novels,” Michael scoffed ironically, “I guess because the characters are so well described or some crap like that… Anyway, we’re gonna have a race of tall, dark pretty boys and busty blonde chicks running around. Yippie!”
Max tried not to snicker over Michael’s evident consternation. “Okay,” he said, “Other than those very valid complaints, what else is happening? What’s going on with the school?”
Kesley and his superiors had made Max a myriad of promises when he first signed the agreement to be taken into custody, however, a small part of him still wondered if they would actually keep up their end of the deal. He knew that a double-cross would not work in their favor but then they might decide that it was worth the risk. Maybe they thought Max would hesitate to attack if provoked. Maybe they didn’t know him as well as they thought they did.
“The school’s good,” Michael replied, recapturing Max’s drifting attention, “The feds really went all out for us this time. I’m impressed. Top of the line computers, books and anything else we want access to. Of course they’re getting a fair tradeoff with our technology. Ford is already working on a design for a collision proof car. As far as industry is concerned,” Michael finished mordantly, “we’re gold, Maxwell. They love us. We’re going to make America buckets of money.”
The acknowledgement obviously didn’t give Max any satisfaction. His expression remained as grim as ever. “What about the rest of it?” he asked tentatively, “Isabel…and my parents? They never tell me what’s really going on so I’m counting on you to give it to me straight, Michael.”
“Your parents are taking all the scrutiny pretty well,” he replied, “Your dad’s a total bulldog with the reporters. They don’t intimidate him. Isabel’s another story. She’s getting mobbed everywhere she goes and she’s a little pissed that her anonymous lifestyle at Yale has been shot to hell. Her roommate is even campaigning for a new room over it,” Michael finished dourly, “Things are looking pretty bad.”
“She never says a word,” Max muttered in a bleak whisper.
“That’s because she loves you, Maxwell,” Michael supplied, “She doesn’t want you to feel bad. You’re already dealing with enough as it is.”
“They don’t hurt me here, Michael,” Max argued, “It’s nothing like the white room at all. I’m not a lab rat. The situation is pretty cushy for me all things considered.”
“Except for bugged telephone lines,” Michael interjected, “I could bring you a cell.”
“Well, they don’t know that I know about that yet, Michael,” Max replied with a smirk, “With supersonic hearing it’s hard to miss that little click the phone does every time I make a call.” His smirk widened. “Is it wrong for me to play with them a little? I say just enough to get them hot and bothered and then…” Max made a fizzling sound with his tongue. “Nothing. I just wish I could see the looks on their faces.” He laughed over his own deception but Michael didn’t seem to share in his amusement.
“That nonchalant bullshit might fly with everybody else, Maxwell, but it’s not going to wash with me,” Michael replied in a throbbing whisper, “Don’t pretend that being here under William Pierce’s scrutiny isn’t killing you a piece at a time.”
That was a continuing point of debate between them. The moment Michael learned that Pierce had a brother and that brother was the head officer charged with keeping Max under observation he’d made his feelings clear in curt terms. “Get the hell out of dodge,” he’d told Max without hesitation. However, Max was the more methodical of the two. He didn’t want to make a rash decision based solely on his feelings of unease. So far Lieutenant Pierce hadn’t given Max a reason to believe he might be a threat so Max decided he would act accordingly. Nevertheless, Max couldn’t help but be intimidated by the soldier’s presence.
“I’m playing it cool,” Max told his friend, “Lieutenant Pierce hasn’t done or said anything I could construe as threatening.”
“That doesn’t mean you should trust him either,” Michael advised.
“I’m not!” Max retorted, “I didn’t just suddenly become an idiot, Michael! But if I start acting all nervous and panicky then Pierce is going to think I’m hiding something. Just because his brother was a sadist alien hunter doesn’t mean that he’s one, too.”
Michael snorted. “That’s naive even for you, Maxwell,” he whispered in admonishment, “You think it’s a coincidence that guy was put in charge. They suspect something and they’re just trying to break you. This nonsense about wanting to make sure there’s no danger is just a front.”
“You don’t know that,” Max retorted, “Besides there’s nothing to suspect. We didn’t do anything wrong and, as long as we maintain that, we’ll be fine.”
On the other side of the military base where Max’s safe house was located Lieutenant William Pierce tapped his mouth pensively and wondered, not for the first time, just how much the two teenagers knew about his brother’s disappearance.
********************
“He’s weird,” Amy DeLuca muttered under her breath as she and her daughter sliced onions for an omelet, “Why did he have to come anyway?”
“Michael doesn’t like me to travel alone,” Maria explained simply. However, she noticed her mother’s continued mistrustful glances over her shoulder despite the reassurance. “Mom, he’s harmless.”
“He looks like Michael,” her mother mumbled, “That’s throwing me off. It’s creepy.”
“He doesn’t look exactly like Michael,” Maria replied dryly, “His eyes are blue and his nose is smaller.” Her mother’s expression didn’t alter one iota. Maria sighed. “Razba is fine, Mom. Weird and abnormally quiet but fine.”
Maria laughed inwardly over her own bravado. Her mother didn’t have the slightest clue how absolutely petrified she felt right then. Not even a month ago she had made the statement to Michael that she wanted to be known in the world. She got her wish.
Her face was splashed across the evening news on a nightly basis. If she didn’t have reporters clamoring for an interview at every turn then she had strange people following her around in the supermarket. Some people were awed by the idea of her and even asked for her autograph on occasion. Others were curiosity seekers, avidly interested in a detailed description of lovemaking with an alien. The majority, however, were outright mean, hurling epithets and insults her way whenever she walked down the street.
Maria supposed she could understand the uproar. People felt threatened…for their jobs, their homes, and their very society. Already Antarians were beginning to make incredible strides and they hadn’t even been on the planet a month. There was even rumored talk that Antarians would soon put the hospital out of business with their healing abilities. Doctors and nurses around the country were up in arms. Everyone was beginning to panic and no one could really agree whether the Antarian influence on society was a blessing or a barrier.
Yet, Maria wasn’t only worried about the external changes to her world. The internal ones were getting pretty scary as well. Something was definitely going on with Michael… That morning while they showered she’d encountered a ridge of jutting flesh just above her shoulder. Her first thought was that he’d cut himself somehow, but the wound felt rather large. However, when she turned him around for closer inspection Maria learned it wasn’t a cut at all, but it looked more like a brand.
She’d traced her fingers over the angular scar, recognizing it instantly as one of the alien symbols from his world. It looked rather like an elongated diamond with cross points at each corner. “Who did this to you?” she had whispered in near horror.
“Did what?” he’d asked, apparently unaware of the mark on his back.
Michael had been just as surprised to learn of the scar’s presence, as Maria had been to discover it. Oddly enough however, Michael hadn’t seemed overly bothered by the fact he’d been apparently branded. He acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world and, with some casual statement about asking Max; he’d dismissed it completely. Totally un-Michael like. Maria was rightly concerned.
“Mom?” she ventured, watching as Amy sautéed onions in a pan of sizzling butter, “Does Michael seem…different to you lately?”
“Different how?” Amy queried, “As opposed to being an alien from outer space you mean?”
“He was always an alien, Mom,” Maria replied with a roll of her eyes, “I mean his personality. Does he seem…I don’t know…changed or something?”
“I don’t know,” Amy replied, “What do you think?”
“Nothing,” Maria mumbled.
“Obviously you think something otherwise you would have never brought it up,” Amy considered, “Now tell me. We’ve had enough secrets between us, don’t you think?”
Her mother’s invitation was tempting and with Liz being so preoccupied these days the need to sound off was strong. “Okay,” she conceded finally, “Will you promise to listen without totally freaking out on me?”
“You’re engaged to an alien,” Amy deadpanned as she reached up to click off the stove, “I make no promises.”
“Okay, here’s the thing,” Maria relented, “Lately I get this feeling that Michael is changing…on the inside.”
“Changing how?”
“Just small things,” Maria said, “His senses are sharper and his movements…the way he walks is…is fluid.” She groped for the right words, feeling that she wasn’t conveying herself as adequately as she could. “I don’t know,” she huffed in frustration, “It’s like he’s gliding sometimes…like a cat’s movements…almost predatory.” Maria shook her head dismissively. “Forget it,” she said, “I’m working myself up over nothing. Michael is Michael and that’s all there is.”
“I’ve noticed what you mean,” Amy whispered as Maria made a production of scrubbing down the counter. At her mother’s words, however, Maria froze.
“You have?”
“I think he’s beginning to act like them,” her mother confessed, hitching her chin towards Razba where he hovered in the hall. A shudder passed through Maria, an occurrence that did not escape Amy’s notice. She leveled her daughter with a penetrating look. “Is that a bad thing, Maria?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” she whispered, her trained on Razba’s passionless features as she spoke, “But I’ll definitely let you know when I do.”
Last edited by Deejonaise on Tue Mar 23, 2004 3:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.