The Truth about Lizzie (UC,MATURE) a/n 8-23-05 [WIP]

[beeeyaaatch]

[a/n: Hey guys, I'm sorry I didn't mention this earlier, but Granny is a nickname for the essence of the Granolith that Liz conversed with earlier.]

Ch. 32a

Liz's POV

I was sitting in the passenger seat of Maria's car with Michael driving. Max, Isabell, and Tess are in the jeep following us. They still have no idea what's going on, but they decided to tag along anyways. Michael keeps looking my way, trying to figure out what I'm thinking. Normally this intense staring would piss me off, but I understand it. I have completely closed myself off from him, literally. Well, at least he has a bit better idea of what's going on than everyone else.

We arrived at the site of the Pod Chamber, with the others following closely behind. We made our way inside and got to our destination.

"What are we doing here Liz? There's nothing here but that archaic artifact."

"That is what I'm heah tuh see. The Granolith is a livin' being. I'm gonna have a little chat, then you guys can have a turn. Aiight?"

"Are you alright? There's no one here."

I could only role my eyes at his stupidity.

"Max just sit tight, I'll be out in a sec."

I simply put my hand on the surface of the cone and watched as the others fell away. When a familiar form came into my periphery vision, I felt immediately less tense than I had been since I became stressed to the point of insanity. Granny seems to have a soothing effect on me.

[a/n: Sorry for the shortness, but don't worry this was just the first installment; a second part will be out later today, or tomorrow at the latest.]

[beeeyaaatch]

Ch. 32b

Hello Liz

"Hey Gran"

There was only silence in the cold, empty chamber.

"So, you been watchin' what's been goin' on?"

Yes

"and..."

And what?

"Don't ya got nothin' tuh say? Any words of advice, suggestions, helpful hints?"

Liz, you are mistaken. I can not interfere in the unfolding of time. You are on your own.

"Bull shit! What about before? What was that?"

I simply gave you a push in the right direction. You would have chosen this same path without my guidance.

"No, that ain't true. I was this close tuh saying 'fuck it' and runnin' back. Now I'm almost 'bout tuh run off. Tell me what tuh do like ya did before."

I see all, but I can not change what I see.

"Then what good are you? Youse some omnipotent bein', you know what's gonna happen yet you won't do nothin'. I need help, dey need help. Don't tell me ya ain't pickin' sides."

One moment, girl. I have been watching time play out for centuries, never able to change things, no matter how much I wanted to. No matter whose hands I would eventually fall into. I have stood by my vow of neutrality. I admit, like a common sports observor I have a team I am rooting for. And it is not those heartless clones. I wish that I could do more, but it is the price of my power. I can not alter the natural flow of time.

"So we're screwed then. Like before. They'll kill Michael and the others. Then me. And you'll go to Kivar who will harness your power and kill millions more. That sounds like fun."

I can not affect the balance. However, there was no balance to begin with. The battleground is not level, and the terms are unfair. Perhaps I could even the odds a bit.

"What? But I thought..."

Yes, well, I need to somehow justify upsetting the balance, and 'picking sides'.

At that she winked at me and I knew despite her complex rules of conduct and seeming indifference she would help us. This whole thing was not suddenly so impossible.

"Not to sound ungrateful or impatient, but what exactly can ya do to help?"

I can unlock their minds. Share my memories of their past lives and give them the knowledge to use their powers to their full extent. This was part of the reason I was sent down to Earth in the first place, though motives changed as time went on. That is the best I can do, and all I can offer.

"It's enough. Thanks a lot Granny."

Granny? Why do you keep calling me that?

"Well, Granny's short fer granolith, and ya kinda remind me of a grandmother. Or what I imagine one would be like. If I ever had one."

I like it.

We shared one last smile before I put my hand where it was and found the others looking at me anxciously.

"What happened Liz, I thought you were going to talk to the Granolith?" Max asked.

"I did, Michael youse next."

He looked unsure, but eventually he did it. Not because he thought there was something there, just to humor me.

I began to feel the headache I had forgotten about come back full force. I had pushed down the pain in order to focus on the task at hand. Now that it was back, I realized what it meant. Zan.

"I have to get out of here!!! I have to get out! Fuck!"

I closed my eyes tight, though not so much because of the pain. If Zan saw through my eyes he could get some clue as to where we are. God, he could even get a clear view of the Granolith. I stumbled out of the pod chamber, feeling my way for fear of opening my eyes. There was a lot of stumbling, but finally I made it outside. When I opened my eyes I realized there was nowhere to hide. Nothing to block my view of the scenery. Shit. Shit. Find someplace to hide. Find someplace to hide.

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[beeeyaaatch]

Ch. 33

Michael's POV

"Where the Hell am I? And who are you?"

You are in the Granolith, and I am its voice.

"Why am I here?"

I wish to help you.

"The Granolith huh? What can you do? How can you help me?"

I have many uses. I can manipulate time and alter the future. I can travel billions of light years in seconds. I hold all knowledge, and see all that occurs in every timeline.

"Cool."

However, long ago I swore an oath of neutrality. I promised never to let my power get into the hands of those who would abuse it. There are those ambitious beings who seek to use my power for destruction, and those who start out with good intentions but are too soon corrupted. I can not interfere in the lives of mortals.

"So you have these phenomenol powers yet you refuse to use them? How the fuck can you help me if you won't get your hands dirty? I knew this was a waste of time, but Liz insisted."

Do you love her?

I had no idea how to answer so I kept silent and avoided eye contact.

Do you trust her?

I answered yes without hesitation.

Would you die for her?

I paused for one moment before nodding my head yes. She seemed pleased with my answer and continued.

Liz practically begged me to help you, but if you do not want my help...

"No wait. I'm sorry, I'm just a little on edge lately. How exactly can you help without breaking your vow."

There is no way around breaking my promise, I vowed not to let unworthy beings wield my power. But there are those who would use my power to create and maintain peace. These very rare individuals are pure of heart, willing to use the strength I embue them with to protect others. I believe Liz to be such a person. Worthy of my knowledge and wisdom.

"That's Liz all right. But what does that have to do with the rest of us?"

True, the Royal Four are impure, but... A war is coming. Whoever wins will gain control of me. I vowed my own neutrality, but I must be realistic. I will have to eventually choose a side. I believe you are the lesser of two evils. In this desperate time of war sometimes you have to compromise, cheat a little.

"Liz believes you, and that's good enough for me."

Now, you all must prepare. You haven't much time. Your enemies are coming soon, I have foreseen it. The exact outcome is unclear, the end has yet to be played out. But it will be bloody. This will be war. Your duplicates are very strong, their powers are more alien. They have very little human compassion and will not hesitate to kill you all. I will not interfere directly, but I can share knowledge. I will unlock your memories and the information regarding amplification and control of your powers. You can be as strong as they are if you embrace your past self as part of your personality. You will become Rath.

"No!"

I thought you wanted to win. Currently your powers are feeble and uncontrolled. your duplicates will slaughter you all mercilessly. If you do not do this you will be weak and helpless.

"Zan, Lonnie, Rath, and Ava are evil. You've seen what they can do. What they are capable of. I don't want to be like that. Rath is an idiot with no human decency. I can't be like him."

Your duplicate is a weak moron. He is both alien and human. He chose to be heartless. He chose to ignore his human side. You have thus far repressed your alien side. These were mistakes. You have both within you at all times. You must learn to balance these forces in order to reach your full potential. With self control you can be ten times stronger than that pea-brain wearing your face. Now, what's it going to be?

Why do decisions have to be so hard? Why can't the right answer ever be obvious. Why can't the choice be easy. Either way I risk everything. If I refuse and fight as I am now I will probably lose. As it is I have no control over my power which consists of blowing up rocks. If I take the offer I could become something I don't want to be. I could lose my humanity, my free will. And Liz. She might not like me anymore. Once I start to resemble the assholes that caused her pain and torment all her life she'll be disgusted. I could lose her before we even had a chance. But if the other set kill us, we have no chance at all. Either way this is risky. O well.

"Do whatever you have to do."

She placed her palm on my forehead, but I couldn't feel her skin. All I could feel was a kind of blinding electricity spreading through my brain. As the energy flowed, I felt my mind open. Memories I didn't know existed fluttered to the surface while formerly blocked sections of my brain came to life surging with power. There was so much new information that I suspected was not new at all. These were things forgotten I was just now remembering. A whole new world was opening up. The others have to experience this. It's like a part of me that was dead all this time was brought back to life. What a trip.

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[a/n: Next chapter is Liz and Zan.]

[beeeyaaatch]

Ch. 34

Liz's POV

I kept walking in what I assume is away from the granolith. My eyes are so tightly shut I can not see a single speck of light. Instead of hearing Zan whispering in my mind, I feel his presence behind my eyes. He is trying to pry my eyelids open. When I feel I am far enough away I drop to the ground. I bring my face centimeters above the sand and shield any possible peripheral vision. I can't take the chance that Zan may see where I am. They will find us eventually, no question, but I can prolongue my freedom. I need to buy us a few more days to prepare. I feel pressure in my nerves to open my eyes. Though I clench them shut so hard it stings Zan rips them open mentally. I expect to see tiny grains of sand, but all I see is black darkness. I move my hands in front of my face but I do not see them either. Either the whole world has gone pitch black or...

"Yo Liz, ya gone blind 'er somethin'?"

It was then I felt a tingle in the back of my brain and I recognized it as Tess. She followed me out of the Pod Chamber and mindwarped me to keep me from seeing anything. Good girl.

"Or somethin'."

"Ya'll nevah guess where we are."

"Wheah?"

"Hollywood, wese heah tuh see our no-good protectah."

"Why?"

"Don' give me that shit. You know why. We'll find that bastard Kal and get him tuh tell us what we want tuh know. Which shouldn't be any harder than gettin' info outta Nasedo. A little pain works like truth serum. When wese finished, we'll put 'im outta his misery. Aftah dat, it's a piece a cake. We find them, we kill dem. The end."

At the mention of Nasedo, Tess momentarily lost her concentration and the warp lifted. My entire world flashed like a light bulb exploding, then returned to darkness. Tess had regained her focus, thank goodness.

"What da hell was dat?"

"Ya think it's gonna be dat easy? We ain't givin' up widout a fight."

"Don' make me laugh. Foah humanized hybrids wit watahed-down powahs ain't any kind a threat. Wid luck we'll find da granolith in undah an hour and head back tuh New Yohk that night."

"Dat's yo problem Zan. You always undahestimate yer enemies. What about me, huh? Did ya ferget my place in all dis?"

"You? Youse just a human. A defiant human wid fantasies of rebellion, but a weak, powahless being none-the-less."

Powerless? He still doesn't know I have powers. I guess Lonnie really hasn't kept him in the loop. She's holding out on him, and probably Rath too. I can use this later.

"Dey're strongah than you think. And so am I."

"I don' give a shit about their hocus pocus. I will kill them all, except Michael. I'll torture him to death right in front of you. And by da end we will have da granolith in pur possession, and you..."

"What about me? You'll kill me? I get it already."

"Kill you? Not likely. I spent years tryin' tuh break you in right like a pair a worn out slippers the dog chewed. Or a blow-up doll wid all da anatomical parts. You're too valuable fer me tuh just throw away. I'm gonna take ya wit me back to Antar. You can be my domesticated wild beast. I almost got your spirit broke. I thought I already did, but den ya go and do somethin' like dis. Ya keep runnin' away, and we always find ya. It's da same as always. Only this time, you proved yahself a traitor. But tha's alright. in fact, if ya play nice and hand ovah da granolith I'll let yer little friends live."

I hesitated in responding. If he was telling the truth I could save them. Sure I'd have to give up my new-found freedom, but that was temporary anyway. But...

"I don't believe you'd keep yo woird."

"You're right. I'd kill 'em eithah way. But you gots a choice Liz. You can eithah be my slave or my concubine. You choose."

"I already chose, Zan. I'll kill myself 'afore I become yo property."

"Fuck! Fine. Be dat way. But you'll nevah be free a me. I won't allow you tuh off yaself. You will belong tuh me forevah. I can't let ya go Liz. Sometimes I want tuh strangle ya tuh death wit my own hands, and sometimes I think I love ya."

He loves me? He can't love me. He can't love anything but power and himself. He only thinks he does. He is twisted. Maybe in his own warped mind control and fear are part of love. He treats me like this because he really cares about me. Damn he's fucked up.

"If you force me, I will only hate you more. I've always hated you, but I won' bother tuh hide it. When you look in my eyes you will see nothin' but loathin' and disgust. You will not be able to eat for feah I have poisoned yo food. You won' sleep 'cause at any moment I could slit yer throat. You will nevah know peace, and I will manipulate yer insane obsession with me tuh drive you crazy."

"Your hatred makes it all da more fun. Seein' your anger and utter helplessness while I make you my pet will bring me great joy. Den watchin' as your free will and your individuality fade I will know victory. Breaking your spirit will be my greatest conquest. You have fire still, I can't wait to watch it burn into nothingness."

"That won' happen. I won't admit defeat. I wouldn' give you da satisfaction of takin' my strenth away. I won't let ya take away my identity and personality."

"I'm suah you'll fight. It's no fun if ya give in easy. But make no mistake, you will crack. I'll beat ya till you scream, and humiliate you in ev'ry way possible. When I'm through, there won't be a Liz left in your empty shell."

"Yer wrong. No mattah what ya do I won't scream. I won't cringe or flinch when ya hit me. I won't move or cry so when you touch me it'll be like fuckin' a corpse. After a while, I won' be fully alive. The part a me you killed will be free. I won' give you da response you're looking foh. I won't react. You'll grow bored of playing wit me."

"True, but when I'm done I'll give you tuh Rath. Then when he's used you all up, he'll pass you on. I believe Nicholas expressed a keen interest in you. He's been somewhat infatuated since that night."

"Shut up!"

"He said the pitiful noises ya made was like music to 'is ears. He wants anotha' go. I owe him dat much afta' doing me that favor. I guess da sight a blood is a turn on fer him."

"You didn't. You couldn't. Even you ain't capable a such cruelty."

"I ain't got no problem hurtin' ya sweets, as long as I can fix ya after."

"I know ya like hurtin' me, ya get some sorta sick pleasure outta it. But... You wouldn't hurt your own"

I couldn't finish. It was still too painful to mention.

"Please! I don't give a fuck about some bastard kid from a pathetic human bitch. I can't have some illegitimate heir wanderin' around now could I?"

I screamed. I screamed with all the pain and frustration that still floated around inside me. Pain I knew would never go away.

"Ha ha. I knew I could make ya scream. Maybe I can't beat such an entertainin' reaction outta ya, but there are other ways. Dere's all sorts a torture, and I could enact every last one on you. Well, have a nice day. See ya Liz."

I felt Zan's presence leave my mind, followed by Tess realeasing me from her mindwarp. I sat still, frozen. Not capable of movement or speech. I could not deal with all this shit right now. Too many things all at once. How can I live knowing what I know. I wish I didn't. I wish I could go back. I don't want to know this. O God! How could he? I felt my eyeballs moisten and thought detachedly how odd it was to cry. I didn't know I still could.

"Liz, are you ok?"

"Sure Tess. Go back inside with the others, you need your turn with the Granolith." I answered emotionlessly.

"Are you sure your ok?"

"Yeah"

She left to give me space. Obviously I wasn't okay, but there was nothing she could do. Nothing anyone could do. Earlier this morning I was praying for Khivar to kill them all. Now I hope he lets Zan live. I want to kill him with my own bear hands. True this isn't civilized, isn't right. Maybe I won't be able to live with myself as a murderer for the rest of my life. It's not fair, the punishment doesn't exactly fit the crime. This is not justice. But who gives a shit!?! I want him to suffer as he has made me suffer. I want him to feel helpless for once. Justice is overrated, I want revenge for what he has taken from me.

[beeeyaaatch]

Well, I know it has been a long time since I updated, but I will soon. I will come out with the next chapter within the next few days. Sorry for my lateness.