Convergence (CC,M/L,ADULT) [WIP]

[Caelan]

Chapter Nineteen:The Mourners

Rain taps gently on the café’s roof in almost rhythmic beat that would most certainly put me to sleep if not for my current situation.

I take a sip from a chipped cup, but the liquid’s warmth does nothing to untangle the tension coiled in my stomach. Whether it is anticipation, fear or excitement, I can’t tell. Yet, unfortunately for me, the source behind my symptoms is easily identifiable.

It presents itself in my not so subtle glances at my watch, or the numerous times I open my compact to reapply my lipstick.
Yet, not all the cosmetics in the world is enough to change my mud colored eyes to ocean blue or alter my straight hair to baby doll curls. “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” I mutter clicking my mirror shut and shoving it back into my satchel.

Needing to ground myself in the facts and not dreams that died years ago, I turn myself back to the neat, possibly feminine writing the case study Max has given me. Much of it reads like any other standard scientific account only this one was written by an alien.

Photos of negative stained viral diagrams like Rift Valley Fever, Spanish Influenza and some I don’t even recognize attest to their hope of finding a common evolutionary linkage on Earth or in their own galaxy that would enable them to make some assumptions concerning the method of infection. I flip through the case log to find no evidence of success in that arena.

Something freezes inside of me as I come upon its familiar viral structure. Towards the end, I would spend hours just looking at it trying to find something that countless others had missed as Sierra drifted in out of consciousness.

Sighing, I start to play with the warm medallion around my neck. The potent memory forms almost instantly.

Slowly, I open my eyes to mere slits. A harsh and stinging light pours in through the openings.
I wince before closing them quickly.

The emptiness wells up inside of me. Water squeezes out of my eyes. Two hands push me onto his lap. I loop my arms around his neck. He cradles me in the very same way the day I awoke to find my whole life altered.

“I‘m so sorry Liz.” He mummers over and over into my hair until my crying subsides.

“Brian,” I hiccup. “I was so certain that it would work that I could save her.”

“What would work? ”

I pull away and stare down at my hands. “I shouldn’t have been able to stop it.”

“No,” he covers my hands with his own. “You did everything humanly possible.”

“I’m not really interested in the human part right now.”

His liquid blue eyes widen. “I found you passed out on the morgue room floor. Was their a reason, you were in there?”

“I like morgues.” I try to lift myself up to escape, but I am stopped as he sits down on my legs. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t really think you understand the geo-politics of the situation. There‘s going to be questions about this, and it would help if I had some answers to give them.”

“Geo- politics? Questions?”

He shakes his head.

“A little girl died today from complications of AIDS but considering that three out of four people under the age of twenty five have it. No one cares. Is that geo-political enough for you? Does that answer your questions? If they have a problem with me losing my subjectivity, they can talk to me.” I push against him.

“What were you doing in the morgue?” He asks much softer.

“Comparing it to the other two morgues, I’ve been in. They had her in silver bag. My parents and Alex got a black one. I wonder…”

“Don’t shut me out right out now,” he interrupts cupping my cheeks. “You are so close to falling. It’s worse than it’s ever been, and there’s only so much I can do to stop it now.”

“Let me up.”

“Do you know what it felt like to find you passed out and have know idea why?” A haunted look replaces his annoyance. “The worst days of my life were when you were in that coma. They kept telling us that you weren’t going to wake up. If you didn’t wake up after twenty days, they were going to take you off life support. Out of all the people, you had to have a living will at twenty-one? I was nearly at my end trying to beg and steal and do anything I had to so, you would wake up again.”

I curl up into him no longer wanting to fight. “I’m sorry. What can I say? I’m a pain in the ass.”

“You’re my pain in the ass. I’d like to keep you around for as long as possible.” He presses his forehead against mine.

Something warms inside of me at his claim.

He slides the leather band up my wrist. “She gave you this?”

“Yes, right before she lost consciousness for the last time. She knew. I kept telling her that it was going to be okay. I failed her.”

“Sometimes, what we see are failures aren’t really failures, but we need distance from the situation in order to evaluate it correctly. To see, the changes that occur aren’t as catastrophic as we once feared. ”

“She’s dead. Distance isn’t going to change that.”

“Time might.”

“What does that mean?”

“I know this woman, kind of a kook. She was the black sheep in her family. They were all politicians, but all she wanted to do was study physics. Her father had no idea how to handle her, so being it was nearly fifty years ago he did what any father would do. He married her off.”

“What did she do?” I ask listening to his steady heart- beat.

“Divorced the guy and went to school,” he smiles, “and proceeded to marry many more times. She developed this theory about time that endings are just artificial constraints that the mind imposes on events to be able to process change. She believes that nothing really ends or begins. There is no past or present, so individuals can transcend their existence. Sierra’s gone, but parts of her will forever be weaved in around you because of the love you showed her. She was a door for so many things that I‘m just beginning to see.”

“No, she’s gone. She won’t ever get to grow up, fall in love, be a mother.”

“Not in the specific form you knew her, no.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

“I’m sorry. This isn’t the time for this. I’ve just spoken to someone tonight. It’s like everything I knew has just been titled on its axis. I know what I want,” his hand trails down my arm. “I had basically resigned myself to living without it, though it nearly killed me to do it. Now, it’s clear that I have it for a short while.” He holds me tighter. “Only to lose it again.”

I look at him cautiously. “Then what’s the problem?”

“Maybe if I don’t take it, I won’t lose it. It will be safe away from me, but then there‘s the other part of her theory. Certain events can‘t be disrupted. All the plotting, lying, and avoidance in the world can‘t stop certain elements from joining together or,” he sighs, “ breaking apart again.”

“Destiny,” I answer.

“Chaos.”

“Then what do you do?”

“I wish I knew.” He strokes my cheek.

I wipe my eyes. Having no doubt in my mind, who was in control during that moment. I should have seen it, or maybe I didn’t want to. A world where Max and I are something more raises too many questions that I don’t have the answers to.

Pressing my lips together, I turn myself back to the photograph.

Taken in a resolution unheard of on Earth, it shows me every detail right down to a three the individual nucleotide that killed her. I turn the photo over in favor at looking at the newest threat. Staring at Khivar’s virus, there seems to be nothing atypical about the structure. I easily pick out all of the necessary components of capsid, genetic material, protein core and envelope. After all, I had a brilliant teacher one who just happens not to be very happy with me at the moment.

I open the case log book to a particularly emotional passage from the writer. I close it several times debating if I should even read it until skimming down the passage I see the word meaglan.

15 March

Nessa welcomed three hundred more children and seven hundred more adults into her embrace this morning. The death count coming in from Nienas and Eran paints an even bleaker picture. We’re going about this the wrong way, but I am finding that my voice has very little weight here. It is my time spent on Earth that make my hypothesis easily discounted. I have become soft they say too easily influenced by human thought and procedure. Maybe, I’ve invited these criticisms through my dress and my natural habit of writing my results in English, but never did I invite comparisons to my sire, because that is all that he will ever be to me. Yet, they whisper that I am helping him, or I’m his spy. Is it no wonder that I pick Earth, a place I can be me and not the Scourge of Antar’s daughter, over the hysteria of these simple- minded individuals?

But if this continues, the home that I love will most certainly be decimated as well. My only hope is that the meaglan will soon rise while there is still time to fix this. I feel the whispers of her presence as does Seth. He needs her more now than ever. I know that any relationship with her will be contentious in the beginning because of my weakness over a man and his son I have no claim to...”

She wants Max and Seth. Lights flicker over my head. This is so not the time for this.

“…but I must find a way to overcome this. They are my family, and I will forever want what is best for them. Liz Parker is what is best for all of us. She is the only one that can fill in the gaps of my theory. My only hope is that our paths cross sooner than later. We will be able to find some common ground for the greater good. ”

I turn the log over feeling on edge by being addressed by a person I don’t even know. This impression only intensifies as the front door is pushed open causing the wind and rain to blow into the restaurant.
A burst of lightening illuminates Pierce in the doorway, but for a brief instant, a woman’s figure from my memory takes his place.

My pulse throbs at the base of my neck.

“A child should have a mother and father Liz and because of you he has neither. You’ve always had everything. Let’s see how you enjoy having nothing.”

I cover my ears.

“Something wrong Liz?” Like some lion seizing up his prey, he circles around me before taking his seat.

“No, Mr. Pierce.”

“Don’t you think we’re a little passed first names Liz. After all, you know the source of my pain as I know yours. ”

“I should be getting back to the briefing.”

“Why? When you were so eager to duck out of there, they’re only telling you what you already know.”

“Which is what?”

He lowers his voice, “that we’re under attack by an alien plague.”

“Aliens? I think you’ve watched too many episodes of the X-Files.”

“You see the crest?” He points to a small Mexican flag stationed on a countertop. “It’s derived from an Aztec legend. For years, the Aztec were a people without a home. They wandered all over Mexico. One day, their king had a vision. In this vision, he saw an eagle eating a snake atop of cactus. Mexico City was where this vision became a reality.”

“Does this story have a point?”

“The Aztec conquered much of Mexico. People who did not submit were executed. They were some of the fiercest fights known to man, but do you know what brought them down? Small pox and influenza, they killed more of them than any Spanish bullet. Historians theorize that Cortez would not have been nearly as successful in his conquest without them. They served as the first stage of their conquest, and it appears history is about to repeat itself.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My eyes flick to the front doorway.

“Do you ever wonder if your parents suffered? I wonder about that all the time with Danny.”

“It’s a common feeling to have when someone is taken from you abruptly.”

“I never got to look into my son’s eyes for the last time. Bones were all we had of him to mourn. They were barely identifiable.”

"I'm sorry that you had to come down and do this Ms. Parker. It's just that only family can claim the remains. If you just initial here, I can send them off to the funeral home for cremation."

"I want to see them."

"I beg you to reconsider. Their injuries--."

"I want to see them."

“Yet, I insisted on seeing my son. I had to.”

“To make some sense of what had happened.”

“Yes.”

“ You and I have suffered the same loss. I don’t see why we can’t help each other find the answers we need and punish the responsible parties.”

“Vengeance isn’t going to bring your son back. I can’t help you.”

“I’ve always held an interest in unexplained phenomena. To me, you’re the embodiment of that. You were admitted to the hospital by all accounts with massive brain trauma. Yet, in two weeks, you woke up with no lingering damage. Your parents were barely recognizable, but you sustained third degree burns to your stomach only.”

“A construction crew hit a natural gas line. I wasn’t as close to the explosion as they were,” I swallow.

“At first, you claimed your parents were not even in the restaurant.”

“Disorientation and memory loss is a common side effect of temporal lobe damage.”

“Or alien intrusion into one‘s mind.”

“The four inch scar etched into my scalp says otherwise.”

“Max Evans dissolved the bullet lodged in your stomach. It’s been eight years Liz, there’s no telling what he is capable of now.”

“Stop please.”

“The littlest piece of information can help. Now is the time to band together against this threat, I’m not the enemy.”

“Not the enemy?” I rise up from my chair. “Do you think you’re the first one to try this divide and conqueror tactic with me? I fell for it when I was teenager and let me tell you she was a lot more convincing at it than you are.”

He grabs my wrist. “Max Evans is a murderer.”

“No, he isn’t.”

“I pity you Liz. You are just as foolish as you were all those years ago. Your empathy is your weakness.”

“Your ruthlessness is yours.”

“Passion has to go somewhere in the wake of someone else’s brutality.”

I leave him wiping his eye glasses and get as far as the outside of the bathroom doors before my shoulders start to shake. Needing some air, I continue down the hall and push open the back door.

I stand for a moment watching the droplets against the mud.

My skin feels hot and sticky. It wants to be wet.

I take a step forward, but I am pulled back into a hug by two small hands.

“What do you want?” I demand losing my temper.

My ghost for her part stands with her hands on her hips. The cotton fabric of her dress flutters in the wind while her child’s face-hardens into an expression that looks nothing like Sierra.

“I know you’re not her. Who are you?”

I am rewarded with a glimpse of someone else’s face before Sierra’s features return.

“STOP USING THE BODY OF SOMEONE I LOVE.”

Large tears fall down her cheeks.

“GO AWAY! I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU ANYMORE.” I push her as hard as I can until I am propelled out the door into the mud and rain.


“Little shit,” I grit against the pain burning in my back. “I’m never having kids.” Gingerly, I lift myself up to a sitting position and flinch at the large four- legged creature staring atop the roof at me.

A red light begins to illuminate my hands, but it all happens too late as the monster bares its teeth and then jumps.

A hand clamps over my mouth muffling my scream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bear with me guys, next chapter you will get some answers. Yeah!!!!!!!

[Caelan]

Howdy,

This is kind of a teaser to set up the next chapter so bare with me.

References and conversations to UC relationships do occur. Skip the ittalics if it grosses you out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Twenty: Conversations with Medea

The rain turns torrential as the monster’s paws touch down in the mud. Raindrops slide down its approaching feline body. Two eyes stained with an unmistakable taint of callousness set adrift in icy blue size me up before a red glow start to turn the straight hair along the head into yellow curls.

Eyes glued on her transformation, I struggle against the iron grip holding me here. My arms are pinned strategically behind my back while a steady pressure makes movement in my legs impossible. I move my neck slightly to catch a flash of a man’s shoulder. Pain fans out almost immediately.

Her laugh rings out in response. For me, the noise sounds very much like nails scrapping over a chalkboard.

The wind picks up around us as I find myself back in Tess Harding’s presence. Her curly hair is tied loosely in a ponytail. To my mild disappointment, time has not altered the curve of her waist and breasts leaving her much the same genetically engineered Barbie doll that first set foot in Roswell. Having gained the ability to walk upright, she looks every bit the human that I trusted to keep him safe. I know better now.

Throwing her head back, she opens her mouth to the falling water while I contemplate the possible fatality of the rain’s acidity.

“Rain is like lifeblood to people like us.” She answers still staring up at the droplets. “We will forever crave it.”

“Why?” I bite down on my bottom lip and frown.

“Water is the great equalizer. It grounds what is not centered and neither of us has been that for a long time.”

“Stop insinuating we have anything in common.”

Her hand shoots out and takes hold of my neck before lifting me up off the ground. “We have Max in common.”

My feet dangle helplessly. I can’t breathe. My nails sink into the skin of her hands.

“Let her go Tess,” a voice orders behind me.

I fall unceremoniously to the ground. Coughing, I scoot back. My heart freezes as I finally glimpse who is with her. Darkness has settled over the face that housed such gentleness and wisdom the night our relationship began. Traits he still wore in the moment it terminated.

“Why are fighting so hard for something that isn’t even real? You don’t love me Liz.”

“How could you say that to me?”

“Because you don’t, you can’t. I’m not him.”

“Don’t do this please.”

“I can’t ever be Max.”

“I don’t want him.”

“But you don’t want me either here lies our problem. It’s only natural we would have sought each other since, we were the only two people in town that would glow from time to time and suffered from alien jump your bones month, but I need more now than just being with someone who…”

“Is like you.”

“I’m not what you’re looking for and maybe Max wasn’t either, but you owe it to yourself not to settle for what it is safe. Please don’t cry. You’re going to be okay. You just don’t need me no matter how much I wish you did.”

“You were with her. You…cared for her.” Tess sputters out.

In the human brain, there is nothing more complex than perception. It revolves around hundreds of different stimuli barraging the brain simultaneously. While neurological processes strive for accuracy, information does get lost in recall from the name of your new neighbor to the exact time your family’s restaurant turned to rubble, but there are moments when the brain operates beyond its primordial construction.

Perfectly normal occurrences when you can sense someone reaching out to grab you again even though your back is turned. There are detailed scientific accounts of precognition in the face of a threat that can perfectly describe why you are able to throw her off by grasping on to her arm and pulling it hard while giving special care to placing the most pressure to designated points along her arm.

Yet, there is no explanation to explain away why a sometimes human girl from Roswell, New Mexico flips the sometimes Queen of Antar onto her back into the mud or the reappearance of the silver glove shimmering with red sparks on my left hand.

But when it comes to explaining my anger at the woman at my feet, I have no trouble because that is the only thing that seems real in this moment of impossibility. “Leave me the hell alone,” I tell her.

“Liz.”

“Stay out of this Kyle. What is it with you and every other man? What makes her so special that you would completely turn your back on Hannah for a woman whose son is even scared to death of her?”

Taking my opportunity to vent costs me, because I quickly find myself hurling through the air until the trunk of a tree stops me.

There is little time to process my injuries as her small but strong hands haul me up. “You don’t know a damned thing about Zan and me.”

“His name is Seth.”

“For the moment. Children have never been an interest of mine but men on the other hand.”

“Leave him alone,” I warn recalling Seth’s prediction.

“Or you’ll do what? Face it. You’re forever going to be the damsel in distress.” She looks out into the clearing. “But it doesn’t appear you have any knights lining up to rescue you. To give this to a human and a weak one at that,” her hand clasps my necklace but just as quickly lets go. Shaking it as if she has been burned, she stares hard at me. “Tell me Liz, how is mommy and daddy? Was there enough of them left to bury after I was done with them?”

A bolt of lightening explodes overhead.

She leans closer to me. “But I would have to say that my crowning achievement was bringing that over priced exercise in bad taste down to its foundation.” Claw like fingers grab my scarred stomach, “and witnessing my son remove any trace of his father in you from the record.”

I flinch.

“Tsk, Tsk am I sensing a little doubt on your end about Zan? It’s good to know how far you’ll pull an Angelina with my child.”

Without warning from my powers, her fist collides into my stomach. I sink to the ground too much is happening and not happening right now.

“Whenever you’re thinking about taking something again that does not belong to you, I want you to look at the rotten, mangled flesh my son left you with. The son I gave Max.”


Leaves sway overhead, but this time I choose not to ignore the memory the action brings forth giving full reign to the terrifying part that lives inside of me. The tingle signaling a birth of a blast starts in my hands.

“Max and I well always have a history together now and you will forever be a footnote.”

The power builds as Tess rambles on about the special night they shared in the observatory. She never sees the massive blast that knocks her on her ass. Off guard, she has no defense when I slam her head into the trunk.

Standing there, I admire the blood dripping down from her nose with satisfaction. The tell tale bulges begin in my palms.

“I was wondering when the real you would show up. I have no use for sniveling and unresponsive prey. You should have seen your face when I blew your father brains out all over you.”

I send a shock up her leg and watch as her body convulses. Something akin to pleasure surges to live inside.

Her body vanishes from my sight, the product of an obvious mind warp.

I whip around. Grabbing at the air, I am surprised when the warm skin of her arm becomes encaged in my grasp.

Her eyes widen.

A flick of her wrist sends me flying once again out into the clearing.

I land on my back with Kyle leaning over me, and the way my luck seems to be going I expect him to commence whaling on me shortly. Dragging my body up, he pushes me up against the wall.

“Is Maria okay?” He whispers. Dark lines circle underneath his eyes.

“Yes.”

“She says she killed my parents. Is that true?” I glance out into the forest expecting any second to see her charging out from the deep green pit.

“Yes.”

I’m going to kill her.

Something utterly alien blossoms inside of me. Dark and unruly, it serves as a potential door that once opened can never be closed again. A choice I ran from in Vietnam. I’m not running again. I am who I am:

Warts, scars, and all

“Look at me,” Kyle yanks me hard. “You’re not going down that path.”

“You’re not in a position to tell me what to do anymore. I’d prefer it if you would stay out of my head. I am not one of your criminals Kyle.”

“Not yet. There’s this energy around you. It’s beautiful. You give, and you help. You’re a healer.”

“I’m not a healer.”

“I’m not talking about the king dickweed. You’ve devoted so much of your life to seeing it flourish.”

“Now, I’m looking for a career change.”

“Do that and not only do you dishonor everything your parents ever taught you, you will screw yourself over and the world to while you’re at it.”

I roll my eyes. “You going to tell me its my job to save the world. I already did that. The world needs to get itself another girl.”

The ground begins to shake underneath us.

“Stop it Liz.”

“Why Kyle?”

“This isn’t who you are, and it’s exactly what they want. What do you think she’s doing in there? Reporting back to Khivar, giving him a catalogue of your powers and how to provoke you into acts of aggression. If you’re one of them, you’re much easier to control than if you’re one of us. You’ll be more likely to be seduced by what Khivar has to offer.”

“Kyle, you’re not making any sense.”

‘There’s just so much at stake.” One of his hand travels to my temple followed by the other.

My pulse kicks up several notches at the gesture. “What are you doing?” I am unable to move from his grasp.


Warmth curls across my forehead. Seductively, it presses up against my skin with soft whispered promises I crave, but every time I reach for them they are pulled masterfully out of my grasp.

“Are you in?” The bitch reappears at her side. “Khivar said she’s too strong to take this way. He couldn’t make any headway with her at Serena’s.”

“Khivar doesn’t understand her like I do. Power doesn’t appeal to her nor does wealth.”

“Then what does?”

“Family and friends, she’s lonely.”

Tess snorts. “She always was a weakling.”

“She has a heart unlike you.”

Tess’ face collapses. “I have a heart Kyle.” She says much softer.

“If you had a heart, you wouldn’t be holding the woman I love hostage.”

“You can’t love Hannah.”

“Why?” He demands harshly. “You think my world just stopped when you blasted off Earth pregnant with someone else’s kid.”

Her eyes blink rapidly as if trying to stop tears from falling, but I quickly reject the scenario due to the fact that I’m being held up against the wall while Kyle is doing something funky in my head.

He turns to her. “Are you happy Tess? All your plotting got you exactly what you wanted.”

“I am more to you than that.”

“No, my thoughts clearly put you in the sisterly category. I’m not itching for a reenactment of Flowers in the Attic.”

“But…”

“Do you want me to get into Liz’s head or not?”

“This is all your fault bitch.” Her hand flies to my stomach again, but Kyle stops her.

“Back off,” he warns. “Go over there until I’m done.”

“Fine,” she snarls. “You’ve got five minutes then we’re doing it my way.”

“Why can’t things just be simple like they used to be? We live our whole lives in these molds cut by chance whether it is cruel or prosperous. Never once do we let the marrow of our true selves out for fear that others will come by and lap it all away.” He slides a revolver out from his holster. “Our fellow alien friends are the worst about doing that. Khivar, Tess, and Nicholas, they run around plotting and scheming and they never understand why the end result leaves them hollow.”

“I’ve been invited to join their little club. Khivar thinks I can succeed where he’s failed with you. He doesn’t get it. Loyalty and love, they’re foreign concepts to them. Yet, they crave to be surrounded by it.” He cocks the pistol.


“Keep in mind that no matter how bad it looks, I will be okay. You will be to. You keep telling this to yourself even when things look to be at their worse. Tess isn’t going to let anything happen to me, and I plan to be around for a long time. You have to run now and not stop until you’re with someone that you can be safe with. Choose wisely because the whole galaxy will screw you over if given the chance, I refuse to be one of them. You’re going to run now and no longer feel concern for me.” His voice commands taking on the familiar quality of a suggestion.

I’m three feet away from him when I hear the gunshot and Tess’ scream merge into one ungodly sound.

Try as I might, I can’t stop nor turn around. I keep running past the café and plow through the brown stream that used to be the street.

Lightening illuminates the sky followed by a burst of thunder so intense that it rattles my very insides.

I make it to the hospital. Muddying up the white floors in the process of getting to our designated lab room, Lena is scribbling formulas on the whiteboard and humming to a Fugees’ song on her IPOD.

“I see you neglected to follow my suggestion about coming to the conference meeting.” She snipes with her back turned toward me. The marker drops from her hand when she turns. “Liz?”

“Please help me,” slips effortlessly from my lips.

And then she is around me, behind me, and surrounding me, never intrusive, she guides me to the chair.

Operating in full blown doctor mode, she softly explains everything before she does it because any medical student can tell you that an informed patient is a calm patient.

Only at this point, all the explanation in the world is going to do very little in putting me at ease.

I grab her arm as she pulls away from me. “Don’t leave me.” My voice sounds scared.

“I’m not. You see the refrigerator over there.” She points across the room. “There’s some ice in there. You’re face is about ten minutes from resembling a boxer’s.”

“You’re not leaving.” I repeat.

“No, I’m not leaving Liz.”

Satisfied, I let go of her arm noting the muddy handprint on her lab coat. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ll wash it.”

“Stains don’t come out. It will always be there no matter how hard you wash it.”

“Then I’ll get a new one.” Lena takes a seat by me and starts to dab some hydrogen peroxide onto a cotton ball. “This is just to clean up your face. I’m going to put some antiseptic cream on the cuts. They don’t look deep enough to warrant stitches. Are you having trouble breathing?”

Kyle is.

“Liz?”

“What?”

“Are you having trouble breathing?”

“A little.”

She pulls out a stethoscope from a drawer and slips it underneath my shirt. “Hmm,” she chews on her lip. “Is it okay if I lift up you shirt to look at your ribs?”

I nod watching for “the face,” which centers somewhere along the lines of horror and pity that everyone makes during the unveiling of Seth’s little side project.

She doesn’t make it. Her fingers press gently on my ribs while a familiar burst of warmth tickles my skin. Warmth I know very well.

“Any discomfort?”

“No.” Like, there should be any now.

She pulls my tank top back in place.

Turning around in the chair, I watch as she starts to place the supplies back in the proper areas noting a familiarity about her I just can’t place.

Finishing her task, she grabs a pencil and starts flipping it over her fingers before stabbing it into the tabletop. There’s a faraway glance in her eyes that Seth would definitely deem being on vacation.

Instinctively, my hand covers my stomach. He didn’t do this.

He couldn’t do this.

The door bursting open disrupts her vacation and my muddled thoughts.

“Parker, what the hell happened to you?”

“She was mugged.” Lena answers smoothly.

“You were mugged. Are you okay?” He cups my face.

“I’m fine Brian. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just blown everything off.”

“Just sit,” his voice softens. “Where have you been all morning?”

Sound sticks in my throat.

“She was meeting a contact of mine. I couldn’t make it, because Pierce needed me to speak with the mayor,” Lena inserts.

“Great Pierce is handing down directives. I’m going to have it out with that bastard.”

“I think that would be counterproductive.”

“How would you handle it Lena?”

“Give him the illusion that he is in control, he can open doors if he is willing that none of us can open on our own, keeping him in play is vital.”

“You’re right. You’re like this biomedical Carl Rove.”

Lena responds by stabbing her pencil again into the tabletop. “I know my way around politicians.”

“Parker stop fidgeting like a four year old and let me dry you off.”

“I don’t want to be dry ever.” I say heated before heading to the window. Brian looks at me once before continuing his conversation with the ever so affable and alluring Miss. Cruz.”

“I grew up with one but nothing has appeared to rub off from dear old dad.”

Lena looks up from murdering the table. “Your dad is a politician?”

“Yep, he’s a Congressman, and your family?”

She stabs the table hard. “There are bluebloods on my mother’s side while my father has a rather controlling demeanor. We’ve never been really close, since I was fostered away from him, not that I had ever wanted anything to do with him, or my mother’s family to begin with.”

“Fostered away, what is that?”

“I was adopted after my mother died. It’s a custom the taking in of children that aren’t biologically yours. My people believe that love should transcend blood. Sometimes in rare cases if the child is truly broken by events, it does. They can be fixed.”

“What do you mean by broken?” I ask.

“It’s just a figure of speech. I need to see about my cultures. I’ll just be in the next room Liz.” She explains before getting away as quickly from my question as she can.

“You obviously hit on something.” Brian says after she has closed the door.

I roll my head and enjoy the feel of the droplets sliding down my back. “Here I didn’t even think you’d notice, because you were too busy hitting on her.”

“What’s with you?”

I lick my wet lips. “Why does anything have to be up with me? Tell me,” I brush his thigh. “Is anything up with you?”

“You’re argumentative. You’re blowing off work. I’m sorry, but you’ve left me no choice. You’re manning the outpost.”

Casually, I shed my wet outer shirt.

His eyes remain glued to my very see through tank top. “Seducing me is not going to get you in the field. God, will you stop acting like you’re on drugs or something. We need to talk.”

“Talking is overrated.”

“Stop it Parker,” he removes my wandering hand from his chest. “I get jealous easily. I need to apologize about the whole Pierce and Max thing.”

“I’m cold.” I look down at my shoulder, “and wet.”

“Yes, you are. Would you like my coat again?”

“Yes, please.” Grateful, I cover myself up and settle down beside him.

“What’s going on?”

I lean my head on his shoulder. “I wish I knew. I just feel really strange right now.” I answer catching a boy, whose presence triggers a myriad of emotions, peeking in on us through a small window from the hall before sighing.

“What?”

“Why do things always have to be so complicated?”

Brian’s thumb brushes over mine. “Easy things are usually not worth pursuing.”

“My grandmother said something along the same lines once.” He presses his head to my stomach.

I thread my fingers through his hair.

“Parker.”

“Hmm.”

“Nothing,” he dismisses before bringing his lips down on to mine. It is only afterwards that I notice Seth is not the only person in the hall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle isn't dead.

[Caelan]

Howdy,
Thanks for all your bumps. I've been away from the board for a bit car shopping. It has a tendency to sort of take up your weekends, but I have found my new wheels so I'm baaaack!! Yipeee!! I swear I will not be doing this again for another ten years because it's such a hassel. But that is another story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Twenty One: Train wreck

“Apparently, the infected are prone to massive fantasies. There’s a woman, whose daughter has been dead for nearly ten years, who claims she’s actually alive but living in what can best be described as a parallel dimension. I guess what I resent most about this is the run around. Every briefing in Mexico City indicated that this facility was where the infected were being housed and now we get here, and they tell us they have been moved farther inland. Plus the sample, you looked at has vanished. One moment, it’s there and the next it isn’t. I’ve experienced government cover-ups, but this is entirely different. There is some kind of force that is actively thwarting any investigation on our part. ”

I glance back at the window to see Seth still there, but his father is noticeably absent. “There’s something I have to tell you.” I lift my head off Brian’s shoulder.

“Lay it on me Parker.”

“This is very hard for me. I should have told you sooner, but I was scared. I was so scared.” Inhale, “I’m not like normal people Brian.”

“I wouldn’t be coming around if you were normal. Who’s really normal anyway? Normal is boring.”

“Normal is safe.”

“Safe is boring.”

“I used to think that to. There was so much excitement in fooling the Sheriff and our parents. God, I was stupid. It all changed when he got caught, and we had to break him out.”

“Who got caught?” His voice changes noticeably.

“I’m not telling this right. It’s just kind of hard to know where to start.”

“Beginnings usually work.”

“I was sixteen, and I was working at my family’s restaurant. I had just gotten done
showing some tourists a picture of a baby doll I left out in the heat and saying it was an
alien.”

“That’s my Parker.”

"Two men got into a fight. One pulled out a gun. They were wrestling, and the gun went off. Everyone ducked, but I just didn't move. I couldn't and then I felt it. It was burning so much that I just wanted to close my eyes, and then I heard his voice. He put his hand on the wound and…" I pause feeling as if I was almost revealing something intimate between Max and me.

"And?"

"It gets complicated after that. He brought me back to live, or you could argue I came to life then only to be squashed by him at a later date.” I explain bitterly.

"Parker, you're not making any sense. Who is this 'he' we're talking about anyway?"

I take a deep breath preparing myself to try and say his name.

A small body bursting in through the door puts an end to my attempt.

"Could you help me? I've lost my daddy," Seth says oozing charm in the very same way his Aunt used to when she wanted something.

Brian looks to me hesitantly before falling victim to him. "Can you tell me what he looks like?"

"Well, he's stronger than you, taller than you, and he could probably beat you up if he wanted." Seth nods.

"Really," Brian smiles.

"He's very strong. People always listen to him."

"How about we go up front and see if we can find him?"

"How about you go up front?" Seth's voice turns hypnotic.

"Maybe, I should go up front," Brian answers.

"You've been in here much too long with Liz anyway."

"I've been in here much too long with Liz," he repeats.

"Seth, cut it out."

"Why? I'm not hurting him. He's going to ruin everything. If I have to be sneaky to help my sister, then I'm going to do it."

"Enough with your sister already." He scampers away from me before I can grab him. I try to rouse Brian instead. "Look at me honey."

"Honey, did you just call him honey? That's gross."

"Fix him Seth, now."

"Nope," he skips around merrily like a mischievous wood nymph. "You and daddy both are going to be saying thank you to me later. I would really like a puppy. Daddy says we can't have it on Antar, because puppies only live on Earth. I guess the puppy could stay with you, and we could come visit it. But then you would be here and we would be there and that isn't going to work at all."

"SETH EVANS."

"Liz...," he mimics before pausing, "What's your last name anyway? Goodbye Malibu Ken," he waves as Brian slips out the door determined to follow out Seth’s suggestion. Seth throws his arms around my waist. “That was too easy. He must not be a very smart human. Can we go and get daddy now? He’s meeting with the man in the white coat, and I can’t understand anything they’re talking about.”

I try and disentangle his fingers from me. “Let go.”

“No.”

“ I mean it Seth.”

“Why?”

“I have to find Brian. He needs me.”

“Not him again,” he presses his head against my stomach and looks up at me with his big brown eyes and ridiculously long eye lashes. “Daddy needs you more.”

“I don’t care.” I slap at his hands trying to free myself.

“I’ll tell you a secret one you can’t tell anyone.”

“Stop using your powers on me and let me go.”

“I’m not using my powers. You don’t want to be let go because if you did you would have already done it by now. What are white bloody cells? Is it bad if you don’t have them anymore.”

“White blood cells?” I correct. “Seth, come on already. Yes,” I wiggle out of his grasp.

“I’m letting you go and see Brian, so you will help me.” He crosses his arm across his chest.

“No one lets me do anything.”

“I do.”

I roll my eyes, “come on.”

“I’m fine right here, thank you.”

“You’re going to fix Brian now come on.”

“Why?”

“Because,” I shove him toward the door.

“You are so bossy.”

“So, now I’m the bossy one? Walk, I’m not carrying you.”

“Are all ladies as frustrating as you are?”

“Are all little boys?”

“I am not little. I’m going to grow just you wait and see.” He says indignantly. “See, Brian isn’t anywhere. I’m getting tired Liz.” He whines.

“I don’t care.” Opening an office door, I peak into and find it empty. “Where could he be?”

“I think my daddy is dying.”

“What?” My head snaps out of the room.

“My dad is sick. He’s been that way ever since I can remember, but now I think he’s dying.”

“Stop conning me. That’s not even funny Seth.”

“I’m not trying to be funny. I’m being serious.”

“Right, your dad can’t get sick. That’s the absurdist thing I’ve ever head of.”

“Everyone gets sick Liz even us.”

“You’ve made a mistake.”

“I don’t make mistakes now do something.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know, but you’re supposed to do something to stop it. He did it for you and now he wears Nessa’s mark right here,” Seth touches his cheek.

I swallow. “I just need to find Brian.”

“Forget about Brian already.” He yanks my arm. “Daddy is this way. He had to go visit the man in the white coat, and they’re talking about things I don’t understand.”

“This doesn’t concern me.”

“YES, IT DOES.”

“Lower your voice, there are people here who we do not want to attract their attention.”

“I don’t care about the people. I care about my daddy.”

“Seth, where are you going? You can’t just wander around.”

“It’s not wandering if I know where I’m going. I need to hear the man in the white coat talk about daddy’s crazy brain cells.”

I press my lips together. “You said he didn’t have any white blood cells before.”

“I don’t know what he has that’s why I need you to explain it to me.”

“What has your dad told you about it?”

“That his head is hurt because of Khivar and that’s why we always have to talk with our mouths and not our minds like all the normal families do.”

“Can you talk with your mind with Tess?”

“Why would I want to do that?”

“Stupid question.”

“No, I want to know why you would ask something like that. How many times, do I have to tell you? I don’t like Tess.” He shakes his head. “You don’t believe me?”

“There’s a lot going on right now between Tess and me.”

“Is she the reason you’re so muddy and your face looks hurt?”

“Yes.”

“I want to show you something.” He lifts up his shirt.

My mouth falls open and my eyes start to immediately water. It’s settled. I’m going to find Tess Harding and rip her heart out.

He puts his shirt down quickly. “Why are your eyes doing that?”

“I’m crying.” I wipe away the stray tears.

“Why are you crying?” He fingers touch my check hesitantly before shooting back as he feels the water. “I really think you should stop doing that.”

“Did she do that to your stomach?”

He nods.

“When?”

“Don’t know.”

“Then how do you know she did it?”

“The sad lady told me. It used to burn a lot.”

“Like your skin was on fire.”

“Yep, how did you know that?”

“Hunch,” my hand creeps down to cover my own stomach. “Do you know why she did it?”

“Nope, now, will you come with me.”

“I have to find Brian first.”

“But I showed you my stomach, you’re supposed to feel sorry for me and go with me now.”

“I’ll go with you after I find Brian.”

He stomps his foot.

“You better stop trying to manipulate me. I’m going to help you get some answers and talk with your dad, but you need to let me do this first.”

“Okay,” he concedes a little too quickly for my liking. “Let’s go find the Barbie doll.”

“Why are you calling him that?”

“It’s what daddy calls him.”

“I wonder what he calls Tess.” I mumble as we turn the corner to find Brian sitting on a wooden bench mumbling about how he’s been spending too much time with me.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that Liz?” Seth snaps.

”Fix him.”

“Then we go to daddy?

“Yes, but first you need to promise that you never do anything like this again.”

“I will fix him, but I’m not making any promises. ” His eyes shift. “He’s just a human. It isn’t like he has any powers to do anything back to me.”

“So you’re in the habit of hurting people that are weaker than you?”

“No,” he answers hotly. “That’s something Tess would do. I’m not hurting him. I’m just distracting him.”

“I want you to stop distracting him then.”

“Then I want you to speak to daddy for a thriathon.”

“I don’t know what that means Seth.”

He thinks for a moment before thrusting his wrist in my face. “You have to stay with daddy and talk to him until my watch goes around once.”

“An hour.”

“An hour,” he repeats looking quite satisfied with himself. “You can’t fight with him either.”

I roll my eyes.

“I’m serious Liz. Daddy gets upset when he’s around you and then none of his words come out right.”

“It isn’t going to take me an hour for him to explain to me how he’s sick. Brian,” I reach out to try and stop him from getting up.

“Stay, human,” Seth orders as if he’s talking to dog, which Brian for his part obeys without question.

“Fix him now, or I’m going...”

“You’re going to do what?” He challenges.

“Tell your father.”

“But then you would have to leave Brian all by himself with me.”

I narrow my eyes, and red sparks shoot down my arms.

“You might not want do that with the people around.” Seth whispers. “Their attention could be bad.” He informs me repeating the same warning I just gave him minutes ago.

“Fine,” I concede too tired to fight with him anymore, ”but you’re on my list buddy.“

“I thought only Santa had a list. You will talk to daddy.” He presses.

“If you fix Brian and do nothing like this again.”

“I’m fixing him.” Seth announces while carefully omitting any promises on his future behavior toward Brian.

Almost immediately, the cloudiness in Brian’s eyes shift. “I don’t think your dad is around here.”

“He’s in there.” Seth points to a closed room. “Liz is going to take me, right Liz?”

“In a minute,” I answer. “Do you feel okay Brian?”

“Fine, now that we’ve been successful in reuniting families, I think it’s time to concentrate on the issue at hand.”

“Yeah, there’s something I need to tell you about that.”

“She will tell you all about it after she takes me to my dad.”

“If you know your dad is in there, what do you need her for?”

“What do you need her for out here?”

Brian shoots me a strange glance.

Ah Men. Aren’t they fun? “Just give me five minutes Brian.”

“You promised a hour Liz.”

I push Seth forward. “You are not being cool right now.”

“I wonder what he would do if I told him you were married to my dad?”

“I’m not married to your dad.”

“But you were in the before, I saw it.”

“So that doesn’t mean anything, it’s gone. I changed it.” A bad taste fills my mouth.

“And now you marry Brian more than sometimes,” he scoffs. You get very mad at him, because he gets the top of his shirt dirty with,” Seth stops and pronounces the word carefully, “lip—stick. It smells funny to you." He turns to me." You're so angry with him for messing up his shirt you throw it at him. Daddy and I, we never get our shirts dirty.”

“That’s enough,” I answer deciding to concentrate on the real and tangible as opposed to the abstract.

“I’m just trying to help.”

“Stop.” I stare at the door not sure if I can handle opening up the proverbial can of worms that awaits me on the other side.

“Open it.”

“You open it.”

“I’m a prince. Daddy is the only one I listen to, and my sister, because she’s the queen.”

“Where are meaglans in all of this?”

He answers by opening the door to Max and Seth’s man in the white coat otherwise known as Dr. Javier Barbosa. I stand in the presence of a Nobel Prize winner with my mouth completely open and possibly drooling for all that I know.

I’m aware of Max introducing us. I blabber something about how his paper was extraordinary while simultaneously working through all the possibilities his connection with Max could entail. He pats Seth once on the head before handing him a little trinket that Seth immediately recognizes as being from Mercedes.

Just like that, the legendary reclusive Barbosa removes his white coat, places his straw hat on his head and walks down the hall. My eyes find Brian who seems to be just as shocked as I am.

“I just can’t believe that happened, and I shook his hand. Mani is never going to believe this.” I whip out my cell phone and get a picture of the man’s back.

Max for his part seems to be operating on quite another emotion than star struck. He hauls Seth into the room and shuts the door. I turn the knob only to find it’s locked, so I knock and then resort to banging causing the people in the hall to stare, and Brian to join my side.

“What are you doing Parker?”

“Making a point, he can’t just shut me out when he wants to.”

“I’m not following. I’m assuming the scary guy is the boy’s father.”

“Do you hear that?” I yell against the door. “Even a person who doesn’t know you thinks, you’re scary.” I yank on the doorknob.

“Do you know him?”

“Yes,” I grit kicking the door in one last attempt to get it open.

“Care to elaborate?”

“NO, SHE DOES NOT,” Seth screams from the other side. “DO NOT TELL ME TO BE QUITE DADDY. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.”

“Um,” Brian stares at the door and then at me.

“Just a second, I promise. Seth is kind of excitable. He’s scared, because he thinks his dad is sick.” I whisper.

“You don’t think his dad is hurting him? He looked a little hard core.”

“No, Tess is the hard core one.”

“You can’t really break down the door.”

“No, I can’t.”

“But you can’t walk away either from them.”

I flinch.

“That’s Max, isn’t it? Pierce showed me a picture of him.”

“Yes.”

“Come with me.”

I stare at the door while my grandmother’s advise of following your heart despite the complications takes this moment to surface in my mind.

“Parker, the guy made you miserable.” Brian continues.

“He did,” I offer.

“It’s obvious he never cared for you if he has a kid with someone else.”

The light cuts over us and the smell of sulfur becomes almost unbearable. I hear the click of the lock as two muscular arms yank Brian and me into the room. Our backs smack up against the wall.

I find myself looking straight into Max’s dark, pained eyes. I look away and remind myself that damaged guys are not sexy and are by no means hot.

“Who the hell do you think…?” Brian begins but he never gets the words out as Max presses his fingers to the side of Brian’s neck. I watch Brian’s lips move, but no sound comes out.

A blast forms in my hand, but before I can use it. Max’s hard body traps me up against the wall and imprisons my hands in his own. Red and green sparks flow freely between us, and something else that is better left forgotten. Suddenly, I’m back between the deep fryer and a plate of Kielbasa being taken places that no human has a right to tread.

I close my eyes as the feeling only intensifies. Despite the fact that our hands are the only place where we touch, the warmth building inside of me is almost too much after years of nothing.

Ironically, it is Tess’ unearthly cat like shriek that breaks the spell. Dazed no more, I pull on my hands and am under no illusions of my own strength as Max decides to free me.

A quick glance across the room finds Seth peeking out from underneath a table.

Red energy courses down my arm in response to Seth’s obvious fear of Tess. “She isn’t getting anywhere near you again,” I promise.

Brian’s eyes widen in response. “I can explain.” I dip down to him and try and touch his cheek. He leans as far as he can away from me.

"You don’t have to worry. No one is going to hurt you. I wanted to tell you. I was just scared. I’m still me despite everything,” is all I get out before a sinister rumble vibrates below us causing the erlenmeyer flasks on the counters to tumble off and shatter onto the floor.

I stare at the carnage seeing Crashdown plates instead. A soft pressure on my shoulder puts an end to the memory. I shrug away from Max’s touch.

“The two of you need to move to the outer perimeter,” his highness commands pointing to the far wall.

“Stop ordering me around.”

“I’m not ordering you. I’m making a suggestion, but you’re willfully misunderstanding everything I say. In Africa, you watched as they sacrificed a gazelle, and you never said a word against it even though you thought it to be wrong. You accepted it, because you were a guest in their culture. I'm a king and even if the idea doesn't sit well with you, couldn't you try and accept it, because it is part of mine.”

“What I can’t accept is you keeping things from me? I know now about everything.” I annunciate. “I will never forgive you for it.”

“I guess you can just add it to your list of my many failures.”

“Stop fighting and start planning,” Seth advises from his spot beneath the table.

“The outer perimeter is strategically safer. The threat is going to be coming through this one.” Max explains pointing to the wall we are sitting against. “It is best to see any potential combatant coming at you instead of being blind sided by them, so again I request,” Max draws out the word with exaggeration, “that you move for your own safety.”

“Okay,” together Brian and I move.

“I told you daddy. Girls like it when you explain things to them.”

“Yeah, you told me Seth.”

Brian points to his mouth.

“Sorry, give him back his speech.”

“No,” Max states simply with his back to me.

“Why the hell not?”

“Dealing with you is more than enough for me right now.”

A blast starts to form but is abruptly snuffed out by a force other than me.

“Your powers are not in a position to challenge me.” Max offers never looking away from the door leaving me to wonder how he knew I was contemplating blasting him in the first place.

“So we’re just going to sit here and let whatever it is come and kill us. That’s just brilliant.”

“Patience is the key to trumping any enemy. Prison taught me that.” He answers pointedly.

“I’m just the lying bi—jerk,” I correct remembering Seth, “who put you there, right?”

“You said it not me.”

“Daddy,” Seth warns, “remember your promise.”

“At least, I’m not the only liar in the room.”

“Liz.”

“I had my reasons, which is a lot more than I can say for you.”

“Daddy.”

“They were my parents. You had no right.”

“STOP IT.” Seth takes a deep breath. “If you can’t say anything nice to each other than I don’t think you should be talking. There are bad things out there. We need to be fighting them.”

“I’m sorry Liz for being irritable.” Max grits out.

I glare at him like hell if he’s getting an apology out of me.

“You were being bad to Liz,” Seth whispers in my ear. “You should you say that you’re sorry to.”

“No.”

“You’re acting like a little kid.”

“Fine, I’m sorry to.”

“Okay,” Max answers.

“Good,” I respond.

“I’m very proud of both of you and maybe next time you won’t even need me to remind you to be nice.” Seth answers like some contented therapist, which is the last thing I decide he needs to be.

I pat his head as my eyes fall close. A queasy feeling stirs in my stomach.

“SHE IS STEALING MY BREATHS.” The same child’s voice from the bathroom screams at the top of her lungs.

I lunge forward covering my ears. I hiccup once before the contents of my stomach come spilling out into a wastebasket that Max has conveniently placed in front of me.

“HELP ME MOMMY PLEASE!!! I NEED YOU!!!”

I heave again as Max grabs my hair behind me.

“Make her shut up,” I breathe over the wastebasket, my eyes watering.

“Who Liz?” Max demands over my shoulder.

“The girl, she won’t stop screaming at me. She’s Sierra, but she’s not. Whoever she is isn’t really happy with me, because I told her to leave me alone. I’m must be really losing it if I’m interacting with people who aren’t even here.”

A window shatters over us. Large pieces of glass bounce harmlessly off of Max’s shield.

“I think she’s trying to kill me on top of it all.”

“Nope, she’s just scared and angry.” Seth explains crawling out from under the table. “She’s little and wants what she wants now. A green light begins to swirl around him as he stands up. “I told you to be patient. You said you were going to be good for me and making the lights go out is not nice.”

“Seth,” both Max and I call in unison with an equal amount of fear in our voices.

“Dad, Liz,” he takes a moment to glare at Brian before finally saying his name. “This is my sister and your daughter Liz.”

I open my mouth and proceed to vomit whatever is left inside of me into the wastebasket.

[Caelan]

I got a new Civic. It cleaned me out savings wise, but I don't have a car payment. Hopefully me and my new steed will be riding into the sunset for many years to come.

You're probably going to be a little confussed by this Let's just say hysteria is running rampant in alien land.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Chapter Twenty Two: An Uneasy Truce

“You don’t seem very happy about this Liz?” Seth asks as the green energy around him becomes erratic. “I told you I was going to make everything okay, and I am.” He asserts to the light.

“Could you possibly make everything okay by coming over here with me Seth?” Max carefully asks while I continue to stare at the show playing out in front of me.

The glow dims noticeably around Seth. “Of course daddy likes you, why would you say something like that? He’s just scared, since you’ve been going around doing naughty things like sounding like Tess outside. I told you that wasn’t going to help. How about you go get your mommy some water? She’s sick.”

Mommy? I frown finding its use in reference to describe my person to be a little unsettling.

“There are some bottles over there. I’ll help you find one.” Seth offers as the light obediently bobs off with him.

I lean over to Max. “What is going on?”

“You don’t think she’s dangerous? She doesn’t appear to be hurting him, right? The lights here are on a generator if I’m not mistaken so she couldn’t necessary make them go out on her own, which means we’ve got other problems.”

“Mommy, I can’t be anyone’s mommy. I have a good ten years of blowing seven hundred dollars on a pair of shoes left.”

“You’ve never blown seven hundred dollars on shoes.”

“It could happen.” I grab my stomach.

“You feeling sick again?”

“I think so. This is worse than when I had food poisoning.”

“Seth.”

He looks up from his search for water bottles. “They were supposed to be in here daddy. I saw them in my head, and they are always in here, not sometimes, but always.” He reiterates before frowning at the light. “I think you’re messing me up, because you’re there and here at the same time.”

“What is he talking about?”


“She’s folding present and future somehow. I’ve never really been able to understand exactly how it works.” Max answers. “Serena says it’s how Seth gets his visions, but he’s never been able to go as far and actually make himself noticeable in the timelines he sees.”

“It’s past and present,” Seth corrects. “This is her past daddy. It’s why she’s acting like a baby, because she’s not old here like she is there.”

“I think she needs to go back where she belongs Seth. The wrong people might notice this.”

“My sister doesn’t want to daddy. It’s scary there.”

“Why?”

“Tess.”

“Tess,” Max repeats.

“She’s hurting her and telling her lies about me now she thinks I’m not going to come and help her. I will always come help you, always,” Seth reiterates to the light, “because you’re my sister and I’m your helper.”

It takes more of me flowing into the wastebasket until one important fact finally dawns on me. I look up from the rim of the container at Max. “Seth is calling her his sister,” I say slowly. “I’m the mother. Does that mean we’re having child together?”

“No,” Max swallows. “Seth tell Liz what you think a sister means?”

“Why? She knows what it means. I’m using the word right.”

“You are and you aren’t in a sense.”

I look at both of them. “I’ve had just about enough of the patent Evans mystery. One of you needs to speak right now.”

“A sister is a very special person that not everyone has, but I know if I would have one I would take care of her and never let anything bad happen to her. I would love her very, very much.” Seth finishes as the light brightens around him. He smiles. “She said she loved me back. When you go away daddy, it isn’t as bad, because I still have her.”

A spasm crosses Max’s face. “Who picks your sister Seth?”

“You do daddy.”

“How do I do that?” His eyes close.

“You pick someone who is right, because I’m not.”

Max eyes spring open. “You are perfectly fine. There is not a single thing wrong with you.”

“It doesn’t make me sad anymore. Some things fit people more than others.” Seth nods. “You picks my sister, and she comes and lives with us. We’re a family. It is how is supposed to be, but I did it wrong daddy. I picked for you.”

“Adoption is a common Antarian practice. It is done for various reasons. Individuals might kidnap and take in the children of their enemies to raise and use in future revenge plots, or it might be done to link warring families together. In rare cases, it is done out of compassion. Larek took in Miranda, because she had no other place to go. A child who appears to carry a certain trait of leadership might find itself placed with a family involved in politics.”

“Even if what you say is true, you are not taking my kid not matter what special ability she supposedly is going to have.”

Emotion akin hurt spreads across his features. “There a lot of things you can accuse me of and most of them are true to some extent, but this is not one of them. I know what it is like to have your child taken from you, and I would not wish that on my worst enemy.” Max withdraws from my side.

I bite my down on my lip.

“She always belongs to you to daddy.” Seth inserts. “It’s just sometimes she belongs to you
sooner than in other times.”

Something flashes briefly in Max’s eyes before being ruthlessly squashed out. “Do we need to have the discussion about telling stories again Seth?”

“I’m not telling stories. Well, I sort of tell stories sometimes, but only for good reasons.”

Max looks away.

“But, I’m not telling stories now. I’m trying really hard to keep from telling stories period. I promise because telling stories is bad. I am going to be good.” He nods but his father is clearly not buying it. Staring at the door, Max appears completely oblivious to our conversation.

“What is this sometimes and always stuff?” I ask.

“Your baby is always special, and she’s always my sister. We’re always a family, but sometimes are family is very happy and sometimes it ‘s not.”

“Khivar showed me her. He showed her kill you.”

Max’s head snaps in my direction. “What do you mean she killed Seth?”

“Daddy.”

“Answer the question Liz.”

I glare at him.

“Daddy making your voice sound scary doesn’t make Antarians mad, but it makes humans mad.”

Max’s hands open in defeat in front of him. “You’re right. You always know the exact way to do things.”

“That’s why I’m supposed to be my sister’s helper.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t speak English much anymore except with Seth and interact with humans on an even irregular basis. You probably think I’m coming of as harsh.”

“No, you’ve been a regular Prince Charming these last couple of days with all the barking Klingon you’ve been sending my way.”

“You think Antarian sounds like Klingon? I’m sorry that a 5,000 year old language which is the basis for all other languages in the Whirl Wind Galaxy doesn’t live up to your standards.”

“It’s guttural like Klingon.” I backtrack believing in fact that maybe I’m a little biased against his culture. “I’m not saying it’s an ugly language.”

“But it’s not pretty?”

“I know. They’re driving me crazy to.” Seth pats the light in front of him. “It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay. You trust me, right?” Seth leans forward with a startling vulnerability etched into his face.

The knowledge that her slightest denial could sink him coupled with the memory of her cruelty sends me back over the basket while Max goes for a different approach. “One person’s opinion of you shouldn’t matter that much.”

“Then why are you upset that Liz doesn’t like you anymore daddy?” He smiles brightly at his father grinding his teeth.

“You can be good even without her.” Max gets through his clinched mouth.

“No, I can’t.”

“Enough with this bad, good debate, you’re good Seth. You’re dad is good. I’m good. We’re all good here.” I gesture. “What I need for someone to explain to me is how she is here?” I point to the light.

“I already told you. She’s scared of Tess, and you’re her mommy.”

“Seth, I don’t how to say this, so I’m just going to say this. I don’t have a daughter.”

“Of course not, now. “

“Then how is she here?”

“Because she’s there.”

“There would be where?”

The light bounces happily next to Seth. “You’re right. I love those books to. Daddy reads them to me all the time and does different voices with them. I’m sure he can read to you to.” Swirls of green dip down behind Seth, “don’t be that way.”

“I don’t mean to interrupt here.”

“She was just happy, because we rhymed. It reminded her of Dr. Seuss. She loves Dr. Seuss.”

“Those were your dad’s favorite to. We must have read all of them.”

“Just about,” Max says softly before deadpanning, “which is exactly how you wanted to spend your recess reading books three grades beneath your reading level.”

“I liked helping you.”

His eyes dart away from me in a gesture reminiscent from our lab partner days. I look back to Seth watching us. “I need you to explain this better for me.”

“It’s really easy. Anyone can see it. You love daddy. Daddy luv…”

“About your sister’s powers,” Max interrupts rubbing his temples.

“She asked me to explain. I was explaining.”

“Seth, please,” I stress.

“Now you’re being grumpy to Liz. Why do I always have to be with grumpy people?” He mumbles.

“Your powers Seth,” Max answers.

“No, I don’t feel like explaining anything more to you when all you two do,” he shakes a disgruntled index finger at both of us, “is ignore everything important I say. It is very frustrating. Everything could be really good if you would just listen to me.” Seth sighs causing the light to circle protectively around him. “I know,” he says continuing his one-way conversation with his sister. “I just wish you were here. You always understand even when they don’t.” His shoulders sag.

Max turns to me. “Is there anyway what he’s saying could be true?”

“She could be manipulating Einstein’s Twin Paradox theory, and this is all of form of time dilation.”

“Please elaborate for the kids in the class that didn’t even graduate high school.”

“You could go and get your GED if it’s bothering you that much.”

“It’s not bothering me.”

“Why do you sound so defensive about it?”

“I’m not defensive,” Max huffs. “Are you going to explain this to me or not?”

“You were busy doing other things. I know a lot of really intelligent people who didn’t finish school.”

“College Liz not high school.”

“Whatever,” I roll my eyes realizing that my thoughts will never make any headway when confronted with his stubbornness. “Physics was never my thing. It’s too theoretical. I like things that I can touch and see, so I’m probably not doing this justice. Einstein believed that time is relative. It speeds up or slows down depending how fast an object is moving in relation to another object.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Say you’re in your spaceship, you’re holding a clock. I’m on Earth holding another one, but I can see your clock. The faster you go. The slower your clock would move from my perspective, but from your perspective it would be behaving normally, but this is all just theoretical.”

“Totally lost on me,” Max says obviously frustrated in his inability to understand which in turn only feeds his skepticism. “Seth, how do you know that this isn’t some kind of trick?” Max offers gently. “There’s a lot people who would like to confuse you like that.”

Seth gasps as the light of his supposed sister is snuffed out. The transformation from hopelessness to anger washes over him quickly. His once defeated posture shakes with emotion. “Just because you got fooled by Tess doesn’t mean I’m going to get fooled by her.”

Max winces.

“You’re dad just doesn’t want you get to hurt.” I offer hoping to sidestep the obvious land mine that Seth seems intent on detonating.

“My sister is real.” Red wisps of power snake up Seth’s skinny arms. “She’s a better ruler than you’ll ever be.”

“When she’s not killing you and carrying out Khivar’s orders?” Max snipes before quickly clamping down on his mouth.

I step in between the two warring stubborn mules. “The two of you need to take a time out.”

“You never liked her. You send her away from us when she’s just a little girl. She’s all by herself for such a long time before I go and find her. Why do you do that?” Seth’s voice breaks.

Max stares at him. His face is blank, and his eyes are even blanker.

I tuck my hair behind my ear and sit down next to Seth. “Does your dad always send her away or just sometimes?”

“I don’t know.”

“If you don’t know, then how can your dad know?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“It must be very frustrating to see how things are going to be and wanting them to be that way and having to wait for everyone to catch up with you.”

“You have no idea.”

“You don’t see everything, right?”

“No.”

“So some things are a mystery to you?”

“I already said yes.” He replies testily.

“Now imagine everything being a mystery to you. Do you think it’s really fair to expect people to know why they do the things that they do when they haven’t even happened yet and may not happen at all?”

I see the figurative light bulb go off in his head, but sudden illumination is not enough to shine through his inherited stubbornness. “Fine, take his side and not mine.”

“I’m not taking anyone’s side.”

“Right, I need to think about this.” He announces like some teen trapped in the throes of adolescents before disappearing underneath a lab table.

“This is so much fun.” I start to shiver and within seconds a coat smelling distinctly of Max is draped over my shoulders. “This looks expensive. I’m wet and dirty.” I start to shrug it off.

“I’ll wash it. Take it please. You’re freezing.”

“Thanks,” my eyes fall close but are thrust open as Max yanks my body forward. “Just when you were starting to be nice,” I slur.

“You feel sleepy?”

“Yes.”

“Stay awake,” he commands tensely.

“I haven’t slept much lately.”

“The nightmares?”

“Waking up scared and alone is the worst part,” I close my eyes.

“Liz, I mean it.” Warm lips brush against my ear before blowing a tickling heat into it.

My eyes spring open. “I’m awake.”

“Good,” Max smirks. “Seth,” he calls starting to look underneath the desk but pauses.

“Let me do it.” I yawn lowering myself onto my belly. “Seth,” I pull on his arm but get no response. “This would definitely fall into the being bad category.” I get no response. Grabbing his pant leg, I start to slide him out from underneath the desk. “It looks like he’s sleeping, but I thought you guys didn’t do that.”

“We don’t. Brian’s out to.”

I push myself out quickly having forgotten about him entirely between Max and Seth. Pushing the thought quickly away, I take Brian in my arms. “Please wake up.”

“He’s okay for the moment.”

“ What’s is going on?”

“If I had to guess, I would say Grey’s brothers are here.”

“They’re infecting us?”

“No, they’re hunting for you.” Michael answers as his body followed by Sinon, Kathana, Sero and Talen materialize through the wall.

“Obviously, your word means nothing to you Max,” Sinon’s nasal voice immediately accuses upon his entry.

Max grabs Seth and places him in my lap. Bending down he kisses my check, “You do what you have to, but don’t let them take my son from you. He is the only good thing I have left in the world,” Max whispers into my ear before withdrawing.

I blink still reeling from the desolation in his words and the tender feeling of his lips on my skin.

Max stares at me hard looking for some reaction from me.

I respond only by squeezing the still sleeping Seth in my arms. My gloved hand plays nervously in his hair.

“It gives us no pleasure to do this, but you were warned as to what would occur.” Sero begins his vessel’s eyes darting around the room

“Spare me your rhetoric,” Max answers clearly unmoved. His attention moves to Michael. Their eyes engage in some sort of conversation unseen by the others.

“By the authority of the World Wind Galaxy,” Sero continues.

“You need unanimous consent,” Max interrupts. “Larek would never…”

“Your patron is no longer an issue,” Sinon answers. “Since the whereabouts of his dear daughter remain unknown, the people of Nausica have been made a protectorate of Mycenaie. We wouldn’t want any political unrest to spread, now would we?”

“What did you do Sinon?” Max’s asks in a deadly voice that sounds nothing like the boy I once knew. “Nausica is a democracy. You just can’t sweep in there and take over.”

“Things change. Continue with the reading Sero.”

“We have found Prince Seth Jeffrey Evans of Antar guilty of one count of time displacement punishable by an indefinite stay on the prison planet of Tantalus. “

Jeffrey. Max gave Seth my father’s name. I hold onto Seth tighter.

“Talen of Mycenaie will be made dual heir apparent to the House of Mycenaie and Antar,” Sero rattles.

“Father,” Talen begins but is shutdown by a scowl from dear old dad.

“Kathana, this is ridiculous. You of all should understand what is going on here. Is this worth breaking the alliance, so Sinon can elevate his son to a place he has no right to be? Seth is an accepted as a member of the royal family. When word reaches Antar of your decision, my people will demand we leave this union.” Max tries. “Everything we have worked to achieve will be over.”

The woman finds an interesting place on the floor to study. “My planet is being overrun with the virus. We must eliminate all possible avenues so order can be reinstated, and the virus will be contained.”

“You will never contain the virus unless you stop it at the source. Khivar has to be eliminated. I know you all are facing a terrifying prospect that we’re just starting to see here, but now is not the time for knee jerk responses.” I answer.

“Silence woman,” Sinon orders.

“Your son has been known to be a distablizer. Order will never be achieved unless he is put somewhere where he can’t upset things. The sickness is a result of the disharmony his powers create,” Kathana continues, “sending him away, will weaken the viral entities.”

“There is a scientific explanation for this. Working on an inoculation is the only possible solution. Someone is playing with their heads, aren’t they?” I ask.

“I’ve had about enough out of you,” Sinon answers as a blast leaves his hand but is easily blocked by Max’s shield.

“You are not taking my child and putting him on a prison planet.” Max bites.

“But don’t worry Max, your child will not be alone,” Sinon snipes. “The counsel also charges Liz Parker…”

“My name is Elizabeth,” I correct him. “You want me to spell it for you?

”Seth rouses in my arms. Sleepily, he opens his eyes. “You’re squeezing me too hard Liz. I can’t breathe.”

“The counsel also charges Liz Parker for crimes carried out against the cosmos and communicating numerous times with an additional destabilizing entity in the form of a girl child. Your sentence can be reduced if you give us the person in question behind the disturbance,” Sinon finishes quite proud of himself.

“How about no,” I answer as an icy cold sensation winds down my back letting me know I’m starting to schien

Seth shivers. “You’re making me and Brian schien to. We’re invisible for real. This is kind of cool.”


It is only then when the room erupts in light and chaos.

[Caelan]

I think it's my writing skills that are causing the confusion, which I apologize for. I have the idea, but I don't think I'm at the level where I communicate it clearly enough. The thing is to remember that each chapter tells the story. They are not stand alone. I know that my updating schedule makes that hard to keep every detail together. The first person structure also makes it hard, because you can never be exactly certain of the motives of the other characters.

I guess what I'm asking is where are you all most unclear and if that has already been addressed I'll try and point you in the right direction. I'm just happy that you all I've kept with for as long as you have.

So bring on your questions and I'll see what I can do about answering them.

[Caelan]

Howdy,
Thanks Michelle In Yonkers. You're an awesome feedbacker.

As for the questions:

Liz was in the hospital for what Tess did to her. The Vietnam incident is seperate and will be explained later.

It was Max who was worried sick about her when they were going to turn off the life support.

As for the daughter, her father will remain a heavily guarded secret. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! The story revolves around the idea of constants and variables. Liz's daughter is a constant as is the role that Max will play in her life. He in all sense will be her father while the biological father will be the result of the choices that both Liz and Max make.


And if I really told you what the answer, you'd all stop reading

Just keep in mind that I am a dreamer so things will be dreamy but realistic.

As for new parts, I have three. They work better if they're all read at the same time.

I should be posting the first of the three later tonight or tomorrow.

Adios

Hope you all had a wonderful New Year.

Horay for nice weather. It's so nice here, which is helping my January blues. I have some trouble with January.

[Caelan]

Chapter Twenty Three : Split!

Purple crashes into green making a low and throaty sound on impact. Crimson spirals off of purple. Their collision is no less dramatic in sight or sound.

I stand here watching colors splash across the room accompanied by their own unique sound that could be some scene from Fantasia come to life.

The ball of light that nearly takes my head off quickly reminds me of the beast behind this beauty.

“Liz, I think we should move.” Seth yanks my arm. “We may be invisible to them, but we can still get hit. Move human,” he commands to an obviously awake but non-cognizant Brian.

The three of us take up a spot behind a lab table peeking over the top. I can’t take my eyes off the blasts. “The light it’s just so beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Fighting is not beautiful Liz.” He folds him arms around his chest looking sternly at me like some old man. “Fighting is something that you only do when you can’t do anything else. Daddy and Michael could be hurt right now, and all you’re saying is looking at the pretty lights.”

I narrow my gaze. “Are they hurt? I can’t see through all the lights.

“They aren’t so pretty now, are they?”

“Are you trying to make a point?”

“I’ve just seen a lot of people get hurt and some die when I was little. I wanted to make them better, but daddy said it wasn’t my job to make them all better and if I tried it would kill me to.” He slouches against the desk.

“That must have been very hard for you, but he was right. Sometimes people just die despite everything you do. It hurts a lot, but it’s nobody’s fault.”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Stop looking at me human,” he orders Brian.

“Hey, he has a name.”

“I don’t like him.”

“I don’t care and stop using your powers on him.”

“If I didn’t use my powers on him, he would be running away or asking stupid questions.”

“What’s wrong with asking questions?”

“Nothing except if he’s the one asking them.”

“There you are. I thought you would be dead by now.”

At the sound of his unfamiliar voice, I grab Seth while my own whirling ball of color rockets from my hand straight forward to Talyn’s blonde head.

“Oh God,” I close my eyes horrified unable to stop what it is about to transpire.

“You can open your eyes.” Seth says.

“I just killed him. I just killed a kid. I’m terrible.”

“It’s not like he’s a nice kid or anything. He liked to trip me all the time until my sister got him good.”

“What happened to not fighting or hurting people?”

“I change my mind a lot. Open your eyes Liz, it’s okay I promise.”

Slowly, I open them.

Seth gives my gloved hand a comforting squeeze before pointing at Talyn crouching next to Brian. “See he’s not dead, I made the blast move at the last moment.”

“I could have blocked it.” Talyn answers clearly annoyed.

“No, you couldn’t have. She’s stronger than you are.”

“No, she isn’t. You don’t think my dad saw that, did you? I don’t want him to treat me like a baby like your dad does.”

“I am not a baby.”

I catch Seth to keep him from going over to Talyn. “This is not the time.”

“I’m not a baby,” Seth says again.

“No, you’re not,” I answer, “ignore him.”

“I’m trying,” Seth whispers, “to make my sister happy, but it’s hard. She keeps telling me that he’s going to be my best friend, but I don’t want to be Talyn’s friend.”

“It isn’t like I want to be your friend either. You’re nothing but a baby. Your dad lets you do anything you want. He’s always with you all the time, and you’re always talking together.” Talyn says as if it’s something bad. “Do you hear that? The fighting is finished, and my dad won. You two are going to prison.” He stands up from his spot. “Dad, I got them,” his voice rises clearly excited by the thought of the certain parental praise coming his way.

“Obviously your father hasn’t taught you to survey the area before giving yourself away to the enemy.” Michael answers.

Talyn’s bottom lip quivers.

I smile. “They won.”

“Of course, they won. No one beats daddy and Michael. It’s very strange that the others would try at all.”

Almost immediately, Max’s face appears over the table at us. “You two alright?”

I nod as he lifts Seth out of my arms.

“What are you doing daddy?” Seth demands.

“I want to make sure you’re not hurt.”

“I’m not a baby anymore. You don’t always have to worry about me.” Seth huffs clearly spurred on by Talyn’s words.

“Have you been bothering my son again?” Max asks the tone of his voice hovering two octaves below terrifying.

“No, sir,” Talyn answers his attention never leaving the prone figure of his father. “Is my dad…” he stutters unable to get the most vital word out.

“Dead,” Max says crisply.

“Yes, sir.”

“He should be, but I am not in the business of causing upheaval. Your father’s death would throw your planet into chaos.” Max’s burning eyes spear into the boy. “I only hope that when you ascend his throne, not mine, you will be a more cautious and thoughtful ruler.”

“We just want what is ours your highness.”

“The throne of Antar is not yours.”

“It’s my sister,” Seth adds. “You never get it. You sign the papers, because you learn there are better things than having the throne.”

Max frowns.

“I wasn’t aware that a heir had been born Sir.”

“I’m the one that asks the questions Talyn. You will do well to remember that along with your current position of alieon,” Max snaps causing the boy to stiffen.

“No, please.” His controlled demeanor gives way to that of a scared child.

“You should have thought about this before you accompanied your father on a treasonous mission. You’re old enough to know what this is.”

“My mom…”

“Will be notified,” Max interrupts. “I’m not someone to be trifled with.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Go to Michael.”

The boy obediently joins Michael who appears to be tending to Sinon.

“Daddy, I don’t know if this is a good idea making Talyn our alieon.” Seth says when Talyn is safely out of earshot. “You would be very upset if someone did that to me.”

“I would.”

“You would come and get me.”

“You bet I would,” he ruffles Seth’s hair, “but I was raised human.”

“So you’re raising me human?”

“Something like that. Sinon will respect this. Talyn has potential, but he will never reach along as he’s with his father.”

“My sister says he can be very good and will never get lost. He’s the son you should have had.” Seth muses.

“No,” Max grabs Seth by the shoulder. “I would be very unhappy if that person over there was my son. He is spoiled, rude, and arrogant. Everyday, my pride in you grows larger. It fills my heart. You’re going to be better man than I’ll ever be.”

“Okay.”

“This is a political thing, I need to keep an eye on Talyn, so you and Liz will be safe.”

I try and step away fearing that I’m intruding but am stopped by Max reaching for me. “You don’t have to run…hide I mean,” Max says quickly, “every time we get mushy.”

“We get mushy a lot.” Seth explains dropping his head.

“I don’t want to be in the way.” I answer biting my bottom lip.

“You’re never in the way,” Max turns my chin away from watching Talyn stare at his father.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“I’ve made Talyn an alieon.”

“Which means what exactly?”

“Can you go watch Talyn for me Seth?”

“If you want me to go so you can talk to Liz about things, you don’t want me to know about you should just say so instead of pretending.”

“Can you go, so I can talk to Liz?”

“Sure, see how easy it is.”

Max turns to me. “Talyn is coming with us.”

“So you’re taking him hostage when you just got done telling me you would never take a child away from your worst enemy.”

“That was before, his father tried to launch a coup and send Seth and you off to Tantalus. I need leverage to keep Sinon in line. Talyn’s it.”

“You can’t do this. A child needs their family.”

“Because Sinon is such a caring father.”

“You said it yourself that your raising Seth as a human father raises a human son. Sinon is raising his son as an alien would. Does it look wrong to us? Yes, but that doesn’t mean we need to be passing judgment on it.”

“I’m not passing judgment on it. This is so like you. I’m trying to protect you, and you’re kicking me in the teeth for it.”

“Protecting me from a ten year old.”

“I’m twelve ma’ am.” We both turn to Talyn who looks uncomfortably away.

“I stand corrected. He’s twelve. You should feel proud of yourself.”

“I don’t mean to keep him forever,” Max whispers, “just until I can get the rest of them to back off you and Seth. I’m not that much of an ogre, but this works only if I can get everyone to believe that I am.”

“You do that a lot pretend to be people you’re not to elicit a certain response, don’t you?”

“It’s the nature of politics to pretend.”

“Stop pretending with me.”

“I’m trying, but I do it with everybody. The biggest threat is not messed with.”

“I’m not trying to mess with you.”

“But everyone else is, hence these charges.”

“Which is for what?”

“Biology loves variation. Society does not. You and Seth are about as variant as it gets. I was enough to balance him out, but I can’t physically balance the two of you out. I’m only one person.”

“Now you’re explaining at warp speed, and I’m not following.”

“They think you’re Seth’s meaglan, and the two of you together are making them uneasy. It ridiculous how at the first sign of trouble everyone’s rationality goes right out the door, and they start buying into ancient myths.”

“Nessa said that I would be meaglan to the King of Antar.”

“She would like to see Seth be a king of Antar.”

“But everyone seems to agree that wouldn’t be a very good idea.”

“It wouldn’t.” He pulls me down behind the lab desk and takes out a device from his pocket. “It keeps people in the room from hearing us. I am not going to fathom what these people are thinking, because it’s pure fantasy crafted by apocalyptic nuts. Someone must have seen you and Seth aligning at the club. From their perspective, this means he’s waking up with you, and they believe it could be a potentially negative thing. Coupled with the visitor we’ve just received that I’m sure the empaths sensed, I imagine they are a lot of upset individuals right now. The person behind it has created quite a political crisis for me. Our people are into balance, and things are by no means balanced at the moment if they’re buying into this.”

“You don’t believe the presence was true?”

“What? That’s your daughter. For arguments sake, I’m not going to pursue it with Seth, but I’ve been fooled before along these same lines. I can’t wait to find the person who has decided to move onto my son.”

“I’ve seen Sierra while I’ve been here.”

“Our people often see the dead among us. You’re mourning her. It’s just your powers manifesting themselves.”

“She’s real. When I was lost in Vietnam, she showed me how to find the UN Soldiers that were looking for me.”

“What really happened out there?”

“I found out exactly what I’m capable of.”

“Whatever you did, you did it because your life was being threatened.”

“That’s one way of looking at it. I still don’t understand. What did we do that is so wrong?”

“Time is not something you should be messing around with in their eyes, because in the end it will always seek to right itself.”

“But Seth has visions.”

“Seth is the first seerer to be born in years. It makes the other government heads uneasy. They scorn him in public. Yet, Kathana, Sinon and Sero are all secretly trying to get him to come to their court when he’s older while openly questioning my monopoly of his powers.”

“You’re his father.”

“If I wanted to, I could use his power to rule over the whole galaxy. That’s how potent he can be if I was to direct him in the right place. The others want him, but they don’t want anyone else to have them. Getting rid of him is the politically sensible thing to do and you right along with him since you have dominion over him.”

“Dominion?”

“Haven’t you notice, how he can’t stand to be away from you. He’ll do anything to win your approval.”

“Considering all we do is fight, no.”

“He likes to bicker, but in the end he always does what you want him to do within reason.”

“I don’t see that.”

“You should have seen him when I came to at the club. He was floating around and wouldn’t come down. He even read me the riot act in three different languages. His tutors seem to be doing their jobs.” Max grins.

“At least he comes by his determination naturally. He sticks to his guns no matter what happens.”

Max’s smile falters.

“I was talking about you.” I say quickly. “I really was,” hating the blonde specter that always seems to hover around our conversations.

Max pats my knee. “It’s okay. You and Seth are what you are. The good thing is that you don’t abuse whatever is forming between the two of you.”

“But my daughter could?”

“Your daughter is a non entity in this.”

“Did you see his face when he thought she might not trust him back?”

“He’s lonely and being surrounded by only adults and very few children who actually accept him doesn’t help matters.”

“Your denial of this isn’t going to help.”

“How can you even consider that you have a daughter who is somehow communicating with us from the future when there is no concrete proof? I would think the scientist in you would be completely against this idea.”

“I feel it here,” I cover my heart, “like there’s someone missing.” The feeling in my chest tightens, “which means Tess has to go if she’s going to be hurting her.” A red spark falls from my fingers.

“We don’t know what he say is actually going to happen. This is a trick.”

“Then you didn’t hear her laughing at the club?”

“I will admit that I heard laughing, but I will not admit that was her. I just need time to find out who is doing this.”

“It doesn’t matter. I want Tess dead.”

“You’re not a murderer.”

“Like you are?” An awkward silence ensues.

“I do what is necessary and eliminating Tess is long over necessary.” Max finally answers.

“Why didn’t you tell me about my parents? Was that not necessary?”

He presses his lips together into a thin line, “to protect you, to keep you safe, to lessen your hurt. She took so much away from you. I didn’t want you to be poisoned by it. Thinking your misfortune is a random act of fate is so much easier to handle than knowing someone was actually behind it. You were so lost when you woke up. I couldn’t burden you with the truth and when you started to get better by some miracle I couldn’t tell you then. I knew you needed to know, but I didn’t want to hurt you any more than you had been.”

“Did they suffer?” I shake my head. “I’m ready to hear the details, yet.”

He tucks a strand behind my hair. My eyes fall close at the touch of his fingers along my cheek.

“Don’t go to sleep,” he whispers softly.

“I’m not. I’m just remembering. It wasn’t all bad. Was it?” My lids open to his darkened gaze.

“No.”

“Do you regret being with me?”

“Liz,” he croaks.

“Answer me please,” I plead. “If I hadn’t been here, things might have worked out with you and Tess.”

“Things would have never worked out between us.” He says fiercely. “I don’t regret being with you for a minute. I never will for as long as I live. You gave me my son back.”

“What do you mean?’

A sing song whistle sounds causing Max to look up.

“Answer the question.”

“This isn’t a good time. Duck your head,” Max says in response. His arms grow tight around me as we both slide backwards out underneath the desk’s opening to where the rest of the group waits.

“I’m all for you two making up but did you have to do it right now,” Michael snipes obviously frustrated.

“Things are going to run a lot more smoothly if Liz is in on this.” Max answers.

“It takes a life and death situation for you to finally take my advise. That’s brilliant Maxwell.”

“What’s with the whistle?” I ask.

“Miranda telling us that trouble is coming.” Michael answers.

“Miranda’s here?”

“We think. We don’t know, because Maxwell decided to piss her off, by not listening to her. He seems to have that trouble where his women are involved.”

His women.

“So she’s around here somewhere. We just can’t tell, because she’s doing that chameleon thing, she does when his highness gets her panties in a twist.

“Can we not do this right now?” Max starts to rub his temples.

“Headache?” Michael asks while his annoyed brotherly persona changes drastically to that of the concerned friend. “Did Javier give you something for it?”

“Yes, along with giving me the great pearl of wisdom that I needed to take the stress out of my life.”

“Miranda has been telling you that for years.”

Miranda. I fold my arms around my chest not enjoying her repeated mention.

“Just don’t tell her he said that or she’ll never let me live it down.”

“Can we get stop chit chatting or do I need to remind you that there things out there trying to get us?” I snap.

“You’re right Maxwell. She’s a lot testier than she used to be.”

I glare at Max.

“I didn’t say that.” Max swallows.

“That’s funny. You said that like thirty minutes ago along with it obviously being a sign of sexual frustration.”

“WHAT?” My checks redden.

“Drop it Michael, right now.” Max demands with one hand over Seth’s ear and the other over Talyn’s.

“I’m not sexually frustrated. I’m so satisfied. I’m getting all the sex I want. In fact, I’m getting too much.”

“Interesting how you’re asserting this to Max and not me.”

“Go to hell Michael.”

“Three words Liz, kiss my…”

“Will you two start behaving like adults? I would like to keep Seth a child for as long as possible.”

The heat from Michael’s barbs drains away causing me to feel quite foolish. “I was just trying to make a point. I’m sorry for being inappropriate.”

“I’m sorry to Father Maxwell even though it’s not like either can hear us with you blocking it out like that.”

“The day you have children Michael I swear,” Max begins before two whistles interrupt him.

“Okay, kids, we’re going above them.” Standing up on one of the tables, Michael removes a square particleboard from the ceiling. Hanging from the frame, he pulls himself up into the exceptionally small space before hoisting Seth and Talen up. Their small heads bob back and forth into view as they struggle to be the only one to look down at us. Michael shoves both of them out of way as he reaches down for my hand.

“Take Brian first.”

“Come up here human,” Seth orders, which Brian obediently follows.

“Will you be able to handle being up there?” I ask Max cautiously.

“Why wouldn’t I be able to?” His hand shakes only minutely as he finishes setting out three rocks around Sinon, Kathana and Sero’s bodies.

“We could try going out into the hallway?”

“Going out there isn’t an option especially with the kids.”

“I know about your phobia. I think it might come into play if we’re up in shafts.”

His head snaps in my direction. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s not anything to be embarrassed about. I hate thunder.” I admit. “I’m scared to death of it.”

“Get with the others Liz.”

“You first.”

“There isn’t time to waste for you to be difficult.”

“There isn’t time to waste for you to be playing with rocks either.”

“We have discovered that Grey’s brothers hunt by seeking out warm blooded prey. The blocks mask body heat. I want my fellow alliance leaders to have a better chance than they were willing to give you and Seth. Eventually, they’ll wake up and have to figure out how to get out on their own.”

“What about Kathana and Sero’s vessels? They won’t care what happens to them.”

“The number of vessels a mind can actually inhabit are limited. Once, you find one you’re in the business of taking care of the person.”

“What makes a relationship work?”

“Likeness in the person’s make up, Larek found Brody to be appealing, because both had suffered from the prospect of losing a child. You wouldn’t be fishing as to why I picked Brian, are you?”

“Why did you pick him? The two of you are about as different as they come.”

“If you say so,” he answers.

“What is that supposed to mean? Just for once, I wish you would answer a question. It’s like pulling teeth just to have a conversation with you.” I say as I am knocked to the floor and am in the process of sliding away when Max grabs on to me by my arm. My eyes shoot down to the red tentacle wrapped around my thigh. “GET IT OFF,” I scream.

“I can’t without hurting you.”

“THEN HURT ME,” I continue to shriek watching the muscles in Max’s arm shake with the effort of holding me.

I hear Michael land on the lab table.

Max turns to him. “Take them and leave.”

I kick against the creature while being vaguely aware of the debate going on behind me, which centers around Michael telling Max he’s crazy, and Seth begging Michael to do anything to help his daddy and Liz. Then there is nothing.

Max settles down behind me and grabs my waist.

I stare over my shoulder at the closed ceiling. “Michael left us.” My voice trembles.

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” I whisper truly surprised by my answer.

“Thank you, you won’t regret this time. It’s about to get a little weird from here on out.”

“I can do weird just get this off of me. I can’t feel my leg.” An acid smoke rises from my pant leg. “It’s eating through the fabric.”

“Remember, I’m right behind you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” Another red tentacle touches Max’s leg briefly before jumping away as if had been burned.

“It doesn’t like you.”

“I suppose he doesn’t. Duck your head so you don’t hit it on the floor. It’s going to look like at first that you might crash through the wall, but you’ll pass through it. I won’t lose your trail. I can smell you.”

“Smell me? What are you talking about?”

“This is the only way to get them to release you. I’m right behind you.” He says again before letting go. His stoic face is the last thing I see as my body materializes through the wall.

[Caelan]

Questions:



Who is Miranda?

Miranda is Serena's grandaughter who made her the rap cd, and she is Larek's adopted daughter. She was also married to Larek and Yvonne's---the nurse from Summer of 47 who vanished, son, Seth, who Khivar killed. Seth Evans is named for him.


Is Max Sick?

~From Chapter 11~

He presses on my forehead.

“Stop that. It hurts,” I wince.

“I can’t heal it, daddy could if he wasn‘t sick.”

“What do you mean your dad is sick?”

“Drink.”

I take a sip.

“Khivar made him sick. He made Grey do it, but Grey didn’t want to do it. He had to.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope this helps.

[Caelan]

This chapter is strange and full of thousands of comma splices But they are necessary, I promise.

As for Max and Liz being together, I think there was a bit of confusion on the last part.

Liz intended the "being together," to refer to their relationship and not the actual act of being together. Kind of wanted to clear it up. Sorry for it for being a little oblique. But ya'll already know that's just me.

As always thanks for reading. you are all great.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Twenty Four: The Twins

By the time I reach my destination, I am bruised and am firmly convinced that Max Evans hates me.

Let’s examine the facts.

When presented with the problem of having one Liz Parker, ex girlfriend and formerly supposed dream girl captured by the acid spurting tentacle of doom, the subject, Max Evans, proceeds to do what?

a) Blast the tentacle with his alien supper powers.

b) Favor the caveman like approach by gnawing of the offending digit with his teeth.


c) Takes a page from Keanu Reeves’ character from Speed and allows the very touchy
and feely creature of unknown origin to steal said Liz Parker and materialize her
body through numerous walled structures and not to mention several floors all in an
attempt to bring her to his very small and cramped lair that my would be rescuer will
probably have some trouble coping with it.

All I can say is that I hate him, but my current Max sucks, insert inappropriate image here, takes a backseat as I get a look at the owner of the acid emitting appendage when he drops me unceremoniously at his feet.

He is thinner than he should be despite wearing Alex’s unmistakable face.

His tentacles reverting back to normal arms reinforce the idea that despite sharing a similar phenotype the individual in front of me is not my friend.

I try and squash the threatening customary bout of nostalgia so engrained with any remembrance of his loss, but the desire grows to get lost right along with him. It takes an additional much fuller Alex to emerge from the shadows for me realize that maybe I already am and have been spinning off course, since the day that he left us all.

"I miss you so much."

Both Alexs’ puzzle at my words before the much larger one begins to speak to the smaller one. “What food have you, for us to munch?”

“It is a human, I bring to our brunch.” Baby Alex prods me in presentation.

“She is a pretty one. But where is this ma’am’s man?”

“He has fled with his head in his hands.”

They both chuckle while I start to wonder how I got caught in the “Jabberwocky” poem.

“I like the shape of her face.”

“Cracking it open will only improve her taste.”

“I’ll put an end to our rhyme, and begin to devour what is mine.” Flaps of skin start to pucker around his neck causing him to resemble that of a Cobra.

A blast fizzles in my hand. I try to shein but nothing happens for my brain does not find any version of Alex to be a threat. Scooting back, I am stopped by the other Alex. “Mine, you say. I set the trap that caused her to fall right into our lap.”

“Being the oldest, I will decide what is best.” He grabs me from the other.

“Seconds cost this loss.” The smaller Alex retreats.

“But your brother is not your boss,” I answer.

Both siblings cringe. “Your skills at the rhyme are asinine. We’ve heard better words, uttered by a child of nine.”

“If you spare me some time, I will try and improve my rhyme.”

The oldest rolls his eyes. “Hopeless creature, I do not appreciate your jest. You do not have the skill, and I’m ready to eat my fill and only then will I be at my best, to hunt the one who has survived all the rest.”

“But do you plan to share him or her, with your younger brother.”

“If there are any parts to spare,” the oldest answers.

“Parts to spare, I deserve my equal share.” The youngest shoves him hard.

“You will not face a chance taking on he who survived, where all others have died.”

Baby Alex flexes one scrawny arm. “I am strong.”

“And he has a brawn born from a love fit for a song. Separated from her forever he is, but yet he still longs for one kiss from his lovely lady Liz.”

“What?” I close my mouth abruptly as their eyes narrow in on me.

“She is a clever, one trying to make us go on and on to spoil our fun.” They both move in on me.

“Wait,” I put my hands up. “This man who has survived the rest,” I pause trying to think of my next word. “Is it really necessary for us to rhyme or alliterate or whatever we’re doing?”

The two brothers answer in a growl.

“Alright, alright I ask that you are not rash.”

“Speak fast,” the older one demands.

“Give me the name of this man, who you would like to get into your hand?”

“Max is his name, and what exactly is your game?”

“What do you want with him?”

“To punish him for his sin. He took our brother Grey away, for it he must pay.” The older brother sits down next to me followed by the other in a sign they’ve obviously inherited Alex’s talkativeness.

“Grey was always Khivar’s favorite boy, so when Max was ready he became Grey’s newest toy. He loved to make Max scream, because that always made Khivar beam.”

I pull my legs up to my chest.

“But a very strange thing happened, Max would not die, even though Grey tried and tried.
It is on account of his lady, but others say it was her baby.”


I press my head to my knees.

“He did not die but part of us now lives in Max.:

The memory forms an entirely different context almost immediately.

“Liz, you knew this day would come. Ripping yourself open isn’t going to delay the inevitable.”

“Excuse me if I’m not willing to sit back and wait for Sierra to be six feet under.”

“She’s asking for you.”

“Give that back.”

“Looking at X-rays you’ve poured over a thousand times before, isn’t what she needs now. The time for pills and test are over.”

“What would have me do then, Brian?”

“Love her for facing your mortality is the hardest thing to conqueror in my opinion.”

“Wake up. Do not go to sleep.” A man looking very much like Alex on steroids growls, “what have you done to her?” He asks his two shaking brothers.

“Nothing, we wanted a taste, so we acted in haste,” the older of the two answers.

“Enough with the rhyming already, it is giving me a headache.” He grabs the smallest Alex. “Was anything done to her? She looks pale, and she’s shivering.”

“No, we are telling the truth,” they answer.

“Fine,” he grabs me and throws me over his shoulder.

“But, we meant to eat her with a bit of wine.”

“Try some cheese with your whine,” he chuckles carrying me out the room down a darkened hallway into what look like an auditorium before setting me down underneath a skylight.

Viewing yet another Alex and seeing no sight of Max, I do want any young woman might do. I lose it. I launch myself at the man. “HE SHOULD HAVE LET THE BULLET KILL ME. HE SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME THERE TO BLEED TO DEATH. EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE. ALEX WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE. MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE.” I grab onto Alex’s collar. “You’re a virus, do want you’re meant to do. Kill me, kill me, kill me,” I repeat over and over falling to my knees. “Just kill me and be done with,” I say hoarsely.

His hands touch my head tenderly. “Leaving you on the floor to bleed to death was never an option that I would be willing to take.”

I lift my head at the sound of his familiar voice. His gaze meets mine wearing almost the same look he used to give me all those years ago.

“How?”

Max pulls me gently to my feet. “Mind warp, even though they are the weaker of Grey’s brothers, they were the first of Khivar’s attempts so they’re mental powers are not as refined as the others. Alpha and Beta would have known exactly who you were. Liz, about what you said.” He starts.

Oh Lord please save me. “Are you sick?” I blurt out. “They said you were.”

“Why did you say all those things? You aren’t to blame for any of them. I want to apologize if I have been implying that you were. It was not my intention.”

“Are you seeing any doctors? It is neurological? Is that why you were seeing Dr. Barbosa?”

“Have you told your therapist about these feelings you’re having?”

“Why aren’t you answering me?” We both say in unison.

He stares at me.

I stare back before breaking contact.

He unfolds his hands to reveal a strand of hair that looks to be one of the Alex’s.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to grasp the finer points of biology, and epidemiology and failing miserably. How about helping your old lab partner out of a jam?”

“My only lab partner.”

“Pardon?”

“I was the odd one out you remember after you and Tess became partners. I got used to working alone, so I made sure that I was always the odd one out in class.”

“So you don’t have to rely on others.” His jaw does a funny little twitchy motion. “You can get DNA from hair, right?”

“Yes.”

“Can it tell you anything that will help?”

“It depends. The key is to find how the viral RNA inserts itself into the human DNA. It’s why we need a valid blood sample from one of the infected individuals.” I tear my eyes away from him.

“Touché.”

“They look so much like Alex. I miss him so much. It’s like this ache that won’t ever go away.”

The circle of his arms finds me with surprising speed. I cling to the warmth, and the strength that he offers. I press into him wanting only to disappear forever into his embrace. “It’s my fault. I messed with time and started this whole ripple. A butterfly flaps it wings in…I don’t remember where, and you get a rainstorm in Shanghai.”


“This isn’t your fault.”

“Yes, it is.”

Max starts to tell me why I’m not responsible, but I’m not listening. I’m too busy watching them lower his casket into the ground waiting for the précised moment when I can jump in there with him.

“Stop, Liz, just stop torturing yourself over this.” He breathes against my forehead.

Hindu women used to throw themselves on their husband’s burning funeral pyres. Only Max isn’t my husband. He isn’t my anything. “Tell me, you aren’t sick?”

His silence provides all the answer I need. “No,” I sob over and over into his chest until my voice goes raw.

“It’s not as bad as you think.” He reassures me while lowering me down into a sitting position. “I’m sorry you found out this way, but it doesn’t change what’s going on right now.” He squeezes my hand, but I’m lost in the land of what if with a newly married couple dancing in a beer smelling dive outside of Phoenix.

“Liz,” he tilts my chin up to meet him. “I am the last one to propose this, because I think you do it too much already, but you have to put this aside for the moment. Nothing can be done about it, but something has to be done about what is happening now because left unchecked it will only get worse.”

“Did you know we danced our first dance as husband and wife to “I’ll Shall Believe?”

“No, we didn’t.” He says gently.

“I bet you twirled me around like you used to, and I would have put a white rose behind my ear.”

“That didn’t happen.”

“We wouldn’t have enough money to get a room. We must have gone to the desert.”

“Stop it, I need you to focus.”

“Don’t you ever wonder?”

“I stopped that years ago.” Giving up on me, he pulls out his phone and frowns.

I know better not to ask.

“We need to go. Things are about to get dicey here. Are you up for some hiking?”

“In the jungle?”

“Yes.”

I’m putting it in a box, bubble or any other holding instrument.

“What happened in Vietnam?”

“I saw my true self, and it wasn’t exactly pretty. How far do we have to go?”

“A day if we make good speed. How’s your leg?”

“The acid ate through the fabric. I have a bit of a burn but nothing serious. We can’t leave without Mani and Lena though.”

“They either got out, or not. At this moment, they shouldn’t be your concern. In life and death situation, it is unwise to let your emotions cloud your objectivity.”

“I’m still going to find them.”

“And if you find them, and they’re in trouble what are you actually going to do?”

“I’ll blast them.”

“And did that work with Grey’s brothers?”

“No.”

“You’re better off if you stick with me right now.”

“I can’t just leave them.”

“You have no intel as to where they are or to the number of threats roaming around. You need to look at the picture not the pieces.”

“So individual lives are inconsequential?”

“In the scheme of things, yes.”

“I understand a part of what you are saying on a subliminal level, but I’ve must tell you I’ve never been a real fan of Social Darwinism. If I’m put in a situation where I can help someone, I’m going to do it no matter what the bigger picture is.”

“Then you’re going to end up getting yourself hurt.”

“Like you did, when you healed me.”

“That has nothing to do with this.”

“What was the bigger picture that justified you saving my life?”

“You haven’t experienced men and woman who will sacrifice thousands to gain nothing more than power while closing their eyes at the true cost.”

“Of course not, because that sort of thing never goes on here.” I answer sarcastically.

“Have you ever been in prison? They’ll take everything away from you if you let them. It amazing how fast your qualms on the sanctity of life go right out the window.”

I swallow realizing Max the healer has turned into Thomas Hobbes. “I agree I may not have your background if you’ll agree that nothing is black and white, and no choice is clear cut or simple. I didn’t mean for those things to happen to you.”

“Then stop blaming yourself for them. I’m only trying to give you some insight as to the world you’re about to enter. You still think all people are intrinsically good. I hope you will be able to keep that, because it’s one of the things I admire most about you. With that in mind, you need to realize that very few people are as selfless as you are. The majority of people are only trying to maintain their own survival, and they will do what they have to achieve it.”

I turn to my clothes for a change in subject and a peaceful way of ending Max’s descent into Hobbesianism. “Speaking of altruistic characters, at least, Tess gave me a hand. I don’t have to worry about getting muddy.”

“Do me a favor, let’s not talk about mud. It gets me off tangent onto other distracting things.”

“What kind of distracting things?”

“Things I am not willing to talk to you about right now, or ever,” he adds.

“We’ll add mud to our list.”

“It’s getting to be pretty long list.” He sighs as opens the door slightly to look out into the hall. “On three, we move, but you stay behind me and alert.”

“Ay, Ay, Captain,” I salute

“I’m actually a General along with Michael.”

“You don’t wear dress whites on your planet, do you?”

“No. Why?”

This proves that Max still favors the ladies.

Because every woman knows The Dress White Theorem:

Men + dress whites= a very big distraction

Addendum to The Dress White Theorem:

Max + dress whites = an even bigger distraction.

Strange I have the sudden need to watch both Top Gun and An Officer and Gentleman.
“Um, dress whites are being put on the list along with your military uniform.”

“I have to wear my uniform if we’re going into battle. It’s custom.”

“You’re planning on going into battle?”

“That’s on the list too.”

“You’re going to fight Khivar? When?”

“That’s classified now less talking and more moving. Stop,” he whispers circling around me. “Walk on the balls of your feet not your heels.”

“Why?”

“Because you sound like a herd of elephants otherwise.”

“You’re such a gentleman.”

“In my experience gentlemen are the first to go, scoundrels live a lot longer.” He slings me back behind a counter. Seconds later I hear running that indeed kind of sounds like a herd of elephants.

I peep over but am yanked down by Max.

“The point of hiding is, so they can’t see you.” Grabbing me, the two of us roll over to the far side of the counter. “Here, we’re covered. We can see them, and they can’t see us. You hear how loud she is. She’s telling everyone where she is. You ever have heels take them off. They make pretty good weapons if you’re in a jam.” He tells me like some self- defense teacher.”

Through the crack, I see a swath of black cloth with yellow diamonds run pass. I try and stand up to get her attention but am stopped.

“What are you doing?” Max hisses in my ear.

“Trying to help her.”

“Are you so sure that she needs help?”

“What are you talking about?”

“One of the hardest things for me to learn was that not everything is what it seems. Get all the pieces before you commit yourself to a scenario. She’s too hysterical like she wants to be found.”

I flinch at the sound of a woman’s scream. “You are just going to stand here?”

“Consider this the first lesson of your education,” Max pulls me up. “You stay with me. Do you understand?”

“I’m not a child.”

“The longer we argue the less of there is going to be of your damsel to observe.”

“You can’t really be this snide? She went the other way.”

“The security terminal is this way. There’s also a window with a manageable drop off for us.”

“How do you know that?”

“I studied the schematics, before I came here.” He shrugs his shoulders like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “It’s in here. Stay behind me.” Max kicks open the door to an abandoned octagonal room.

“Looks like, they cleared out of here.” We throw up both of our hands as red star shaped figure flings itself in our direction. Green shoots from his hand while a red comes from my glove. Forming into one beam, it causes the creature to fall at our feet. Forming a net around the squealing creature, its girth grows only tighter till the animal stops struggling all together. An emerald jelly pours from its punctured side.

“Don’t touch it. The meg is poisonous in this form even if it is dead.” He stumbles before righting himself against the desk. “The woman is going to be on this one.”

“Are you all right?”

“Fine.”

“Your hands are shaking.”

“Get the tapes from cameras one and two also.”

“Is loss of muscle control a symptom of your condition?”

“Stop being the scientist and just follow direction for once in your life.”

“If you stop being an asshole first, what happened to including me? Of course, you have to be one of those people’s who rages against any mention of their weakness.” I pause realizing that letting my emotions cloud the issue won’t help. “Being angry is taking away the energy you need to fight this.”

“There is no fighting it.” Max closes his eyes and starts to recite some form of mantra.

Unable to process his words, I revert into science mode. First, I pull out my cell phone and take pictures of the serial codes on the camera equipment that some how found its way into a government building when the local budget for the state Chiapas is miniscule.

Taking a plastic bag out of my purse, I use an empty Styrofoam cup and scoop the Meg into the bag. I’m ejecting the tape showing the basement footage when the ends of close to ten repelling lines touch down in the main atrium.

I cover my cheek protectively remembering the sharp pain from the gun butt that had connected there. Falling was the lie that I had given Brian or Max or both of them.

A lanky figure emerges from the shadows to greet them. Despite, the graininess of the resolution, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to identify Pierce. He and the soldiers disappear off the monitor as the woman in the in the diamond skirt enters on camera three walking casually along with a very muscular Alex. He says a couple of words to her before patting her on the head in the very same way Alex used to do with me.

I turn away from the monitor.

“The smarter ones like Alpha and Beta like to lure their victims. It’s all part of the hunt.” Max says softly free of his trance. “They pick women for some reason and use the Megs to control them.”

“If that’s true then that would mean that…”

“The Meg was after you. It’s more likely it came from the dead woman under the desk.” He says a little too casually. “Listen to me on this, don’t look.”

“And Pierce?”

“We don’t exactly know what his role in all of this is, but the flash drive that I stole from his computer should be of use. We need to go. I know this is a lot to process.” He starts to unlatch the window.

“Like you being sick.”

“It doesn’t impact our current situation, so it ceases to be important. I would appreciate if you would drop it now.” He wraps his arms around my waist, “too bad I left the pixie dust at home.”

“We can’t make that jump.”

“We get so tied up and thinking of what we can do and should do. It’s amazing what happens when you just do and not think about it.” He whispers against the back of my neck causing me to shiver.

“Recklessness never got me anywhere. Things need to be thought out.” I step up onto the windowsill.

“Because you’re so content with being cautious.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I don’t know. Ever have anything on the tip of your tongue, but you can’t get it out.”

“It comes out eventually.”

“Too bad I’m under a time constraint.”

“You’re not that sick, are you?”

“No, I’m talking about a different kind of time constraint. Of course, I could speed things up a bit just so you could wear that tight black dress that shows off your legs to the wake.”

I turn and look at him over my shoulder. “That has to be sickest things I’ve ever heard you say.”

“What do you know? I’m sick. What are the odds?”

“You can’t just give up hope.”

“Hope is a luxury that I can’t afford.”

“You’re right. Why don’t you just sit back and do nothing?”

“I didn’t recall hope doing a lot for Sierra, did it?”

I blink against the closest thing to a verbal slap that I’ve ever received.

“I’m sorry,” he says quickly. “I’m sorry that was out of line.”

Unable to deal with his cynicism any longer, I let go of the frame and plummet. It barely registers when I land on my feet or when Max joins me.

“I thought I was going to have to push you to get you to jump.”

“No revealing another charming aspect to your personality was enough to do that. Let’s get one thing straight, I make my living helping people who are ill. You think this bitter routine of yours is unusual? You think I haven’t seen it before? I’m sorry that you feel weak and powerless. I can only imagine how difficult for you it is, but don’t you ever bring up Sierra’s name again. I have a memory of you. I would appreciate if you would stop dismantling it piece by piece in some attempt to drive me away, because you’re afraid. Afraid of what, I don’t know? Say something please.”

“We need to go. It’s not safe to be in the open like this for so long.”

I shake my head feeling tired, disappointed and just sad.

“I can’t be the person that I used to be. I’m different. I’ve changed. Can we just leave it at that?”

“Yes, we’ll leave it at that. I’m done. I’m just done.”

He responds with only an unreadable stare.

[Caelan]

Chapter Twenty Five: The Seduction

Perched high above on a rocky outcropping, the height grants me the power to see almost ever last detail of Villa Flores from a dog running down a dusty and deserted street to a lone green balloon escaping from some child’s hand up and away until it meets its end.

Sweat plasters my shirt to my skin.

Through it all, I wait.

Wait for Max to do some king thing he can’t do in my presence.

Wait for my heart to stop hurting.

Wait for both hands of my clock to stop spinning rapidly around so that I can tell what time it is.

An eerie red glow from the sky casts its hue down on white washed building. Its touch gives the effect of the entire town being swathed in crimson.

I shiver bringing my arms around my exhausted body.

Throwing my head high, the red brew only deepens above me before running over smothering the twinkling stars within its frothy poison.

A hand’s palm emerges from the carnage. Its index finger beckons in an undeniable message. “No.” I close my eyes and try and center my thoughts on the leaves rustling in the wind but not even there do I find peace as their noise takes on the sound of Khivar’s singing in a language much softer than Antarian. Falling and rising, his words construct an image that my heart easily grabs onto despite my ignorance of his alien tongue. For he does not try the same tact of wooing me with lavish clothes and stunning declarations of his power, he instead presents a single image one whose sparseness contradicts his exorbitant personality, but hits to the heart of who I am and what I want.

The promise ends the moment Max’s voice calls behind me, but my desire stays where it will surely grow with time.

“I’m sorry it took me so long. I had some trouble reaching Michael, because of Seth being scared. I had to explain to Seth that you hadn’t been eaten. He’s just a kid, and he’s worrying about whether people are getting eaten. Sometimes, I just don’t know anymore. Liz, what’s wrong?”

I turn to him.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course, I’m alright.”

Khivar is an illusion.

Max is an illusion.

They’re master sellers these aliens. Yet, what happens when you want what one is selling?

“Can we go already?” I say rather testily scooting off the rock.

“Your eyes are glowing.”

“I guess you missed the memo. I’m part alien now.”

“They’re glowing red.”

“Great, I’m related to Rudolph on top of everything. I guess that I rather have red eyes than a red nose. I wonder if Santa will let me take the sleigh out for a spin?”

“Khivar was here, wasn’t he?”

“Now your eyes are glowing green at least we match. Of course, we can only come out during Christmas or maybe Halloween. Let go of my arm, or I’m blasting your hands off.”

Max grits his teeth as his hand slowly opens. Muscles unclench pulsating with the effort he exerts to let me go. When he finishes, his eyes look off into the distance still carrying their unearthly glow before the two spectacular emeralds converge on me.

“Beautiful so beautiful,” I find myself saying while my fingers creep down his scarred cheek.

His hand stripping my own away from him is enough to break whatever delusion I must be suffering.

“I’m…s,” The touch of his lips against my fingertips silences me.

“We need to go, now.” Max says softly. “Will you come with me?”

I nod my head.

“You need to say it. It’s important.”

“Yes. That’s weird the red doesn’t look so intense.”

“Yes, it doesn’t. It gets a little rough up here.”

“I’ll be right behind you.”

“Try right beside me.”

“Beside works to, but I don’t know if I can keep up with you. Your legs are a lot longer than mine.”

“Then I’ll slow down then.”

The leaves move above us spurned on by the wind.

I stop but my heart continues right along pounding as I make the mistake of staring up at the dome of trees that now surround us. A vibrant jade color completely blocks out the sky.

“This is the first time you’ve been back in the jungle since Vietnam, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” I frown at my sudden slip into honesty.

“Is this going to be a problem for you?”

“No.”

“You’re not moving.”

I glance behind me finding our trail has been eaten up by rows and rows of freakishly giant trees. “We came that way, right?”

“No, we sloped up from our left and then straightened out here.” Max explains patiently.
“I know where we’re going.”

“This is a jungle. There are trees everywhere. Everything looks the same, believe me.”

“I studied the map.”

“Do you have the map with you?”

“It’s in my head.”

“You have a photographic memory?”

“Yes.”

“Since when?”

“Since I was a kid, I guess.”

“You never told me that.”

“It never came up. Can we go now?”

“Sure.” I chew on my bottom lip bothered by the fact that memory has enhanced our relationship into this pinnacle of closeness. While the ideal continues to bloom, it poisons the soil for all that come after it. I am chasing after a ghost, or a person who never actually existed in the first place.

“Is the pace okay for you?”

“It’s fine.”

We walk on with me trying to reason through my Disney inspired Prince Charming fantasy while Max is just Max, which could mean a number of things that are no longer apparent to my eyes. “Can we stop for a little? I need to catch my breath.”

He pulls out a bottle of water from his sack. “Here.”

“What happened to not having any water? I’m been walking around tasting throw up for hours.”

“Water in a field of a battle is reserved for need situations. I gave you some gum.” He adds.

“You’re a real gentleman.” I drain half of it then hand it to him.

He stares at it dumbly.

“Water,” I jerk the bottle toward him.

“Go on drink the rest, I’m fine.”

“Show me you have another one first.”

He flips up the top of his sack to reveal three more bottles, “satisfied?”

I put the cap on the bottle and put it back into my bag. “I just wanted to be sure that you weren’t giving it all to me.”

“Like you said, I’m not a gentleman.”

“I don’t know who you are or aren’t at the moment. On one side you’re a caring father, you love your son.”

“And the other side?”

“You’re distant and withdrawn. I think it enables you to make the decisions that others can’t.”

“We need to get going.” He says roughly. I chase after him, and his incredibly long strides.

“Do you want to wait up?” I call after him.

He turns on me angrily. “You don’t know, alright? You just don’t know, and I would like to keep it that way. You’re good and kind. I love that in you. You gave me the bottle. It could have been the only one in there, and you were going to share it with me.”

“That’s not normal?”

“No, it’s not.” He takes off again.

“Then what is normal?”

“Disloyalty, intolerance, brutality.”

“There has to be some good? There is always good.”

“I’ve seen so much bad that the good is hidden from me.”

“I don’t think you’re actually looking for it.” A drop of water lands on my nose, “rain. Guess, we’re getting wet?” Wind stirs the leaves faster.

“There’s a cave in a quarter mile. The rain’s close though. It’s going to be a bad storm.”

“You know this, how?”

“I can smell it, less talking and more moving.”

“Remind me again, why we can’t take a car or a bus?”

“When you become the sudden subject of interest for many, it is best to be where there are few.”

“Glad to see you’ve picked up the political trait of being as vague as possible.”

“What happened to the walking?”

“I am walking.”

“Turtles move faster than you’re going right now.”

“Bite me.”

“I have been known to do that from time to time.” He grins. “You always did have a nice neck.”

“Your seduction attempts are a little rusty.”

“If I was trying to seduce you Liz, we’d both be naked right now and in a lot better mood.”

My head snaps ahead. I pick up my speed.

He catches back up with me in three long strides.

“You think that you’re really funny, don’t you?”

“You are walking faster.”

“Which was your sole goal in baiting me,” I roll my eyes, “because you and me would be just …”

“Just what?”

“I don’t know. You fill in the adjective.”

“You’re the one that went to an Ivy League school.”

“You’re the one that rules a planet.”

“I don’t rule the whole thing.”

“You are so much like your son. All you do is argue with me.”

“You argue back.” He smiles obviously amused.

“Like that is some novelty in your world.”

“It is. Most people like to tell me how great I am, but plot behind my back. At least, you always call me out when you think that I’m doing something boneheaded.”

“I don’t recall you particularly liking that attribute about me.”

“You’re talking about the day that I tried to stop you from going to Sweden.”

I frown not believing how we’ve stumbled back onto this chapter in our relationship. “Forget, it’s over. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“I was wrong. I should have listened, but I didn’t. I was angry with you, and my judgment had been clouded since that night.”

I stumble.

He quickly grabs me. “There’s a couple bad passes coming our way, but once we get through them it’s going to go a lot smoother.”

“Will it get smoother? I want to believe that.”

“The land evens out more, because we’ll be making our way into the highlands.”

“You’re talking about the land, right.”

“It’s important for you to know that I’m not going to go ballistic if you choose to contradict me but in that same token we aren’t always going to be of like minds either. Our experiences vary too much.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“That I value you, and your thoughts on matters,” he adds.

I stare at him speechless. Funny for someone who is not trying to seduce me, he’s just unearthed how.

Another droplet lands on my nose. The single droplet soon multiplies into a dozen watery prisms bearing down in a torrent. The thin soil rapidly transforms into mud that easily splashes onto our clothes.

“Wait,” I huff over the clamor of the rain’s descent. “I can’t run anymore.”

Max licks his lips against the water building there. “We’re almost there.” His eyes follow a path down to my breasts before shooting back up to my face.

“My shirt is see through.”

“I sort of noticed that. Come, on.” We start running again.

Seeing the yawning mouth of stone, I center all my energy on climbing up the hill to the cave’s opening before collapsing onto its floor. Catching my breath, I lean back on my elbows and watch Max standing motionless but resolute against the storm’s onslaught. Finally understanding, I stick my head then body slowly out before moving back toward him.

Rain travels in rivulets down his wet hair. The soaked white of his shirt reveals swatches of his bronze stomach. It takes the water pouring into my mouth for me to realize that my mouth is indeed open.

“Get inside Liz.” His eyes wide as saucers fall again on the cave behind me. “You can’t stay out here.”

“Neither can you,” I yell over the rain.

“Go.”

“I’m perfectly fine staying out here.” My confidence suffers a speedy death as a throaty boom falls down from the sky above. “Oh God, I hate thunder.” I shriek wrapping my arms snuggly around any part of him that I can get. His skin radiates a heady warmth despite being wet. Wanting more, I press my body harder unable to get enough of the feel of him against me, and the safety it brings.

The rumble sounds again causing Max’s arms to tighten in response. “You’re okay.”
Max looks down at the growing standing water at our feet.

“We can’t stay in this water if it’s lightening.”

“I know that.” The tendons in his neck grow taut, but he still doesn’t move.

“We could be in a flood plain for all we know.”

A blue vein bulges in his forehead.

“Come inside with me. We’ll stay right up in front, so once you turn around you won’t even be able to tell we’re inside.”

“You’ll be with me.” He adds obviously trying to reassure himself.

“Yes, I’ll be with you.”

“Then I can do it then as long as you’re with me.”

I take his larger hand in mine.

His grip constricts painfully as we reach the entrance. “This will be good. You won’t be able to hear the thunder as much inside, so there’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“It will be much better,” I answer deciding to play along with him.

“It’s just a cave. It has been here for millions and millions of years. It isn’t like it’s going to fall in on you, or you’ll be trapped without any light, so you can’t tell what day it is.” He says much softer.

I will back my tears.

“And we’re not on fault line, are we?” He asks still looking wet and lost.

“No,” I lie stepping into the cave, but Max does not follow.

“Right, we’re not on a fault line.” He tells me still not moving. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

“But I’m still scared of the thunder. If you could…no,” I shake my head.

“Could what?” He ventures.

“It’s just so embarrassing.”

“You can tell me Liz.”

“Hold me, it always made me feel so much better when you did.” I say truthfully.

“I haven’t held you, since I left.”

“But you did when you were Brian.”

“There’s no way for you to know that was me.”

“I’m beginning to know when it was you.”

“Do you? Do you really?”

Sound waves crash from outside. Adrenaline surges to life within my veins. “I’m so tired of being stupid and weak.”

“Don’t you ever say that you’re stupid or weak. You are none of those things.” It takes the gentle feel of Max’s arms encompassing me for the realization to hit of his new location. The undeniable proof that he came, because I needed him despite his fear adds an entirely different dimension that I am unable to process.

“Thank you.” Overcome, I seek out my comfort spot lying just where his neck meets the shoulder. “Hmm.”

“What?”

“My head fits that never happened before with anyone on the account of my huge head.”

“You don’t have a big head.”

“Believe me, it’s huge. You have to practically shove my haz mat mask on.”

“I think it’s a pretty shape.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Are you okay?”

“I am now. Are you?”

“Perfect,” I lift my head up suddenly. “I’m not crowding you, am I?”

“With your giant head,” he teases before stiffening in realization of where he is.

“No, don’t leave me,” I grab on to him hard as he literally tries to bolt back outside.

A bright yellow light flashes before another rumble falls down upon us.

“You can’t leave me.” I beg refusing to let go and no longer caring how ridiculous or clingy I must look to him. “Don’t leave me. It’s always worse when I’m alone.”

“We’ll just wait it out.”

“Thank you, I know that this is hard for you.”

“I don’t have a problem with being in here.” His shallow breaths say otherwise.

Sitting down, I scrunch myself up into a ball. “Will you sit with me please?”

He stares at me for a long time before casting one mournful glance out into the worsening weather. “I’m tired of walking anyway.”

“Thank you,” I say again as he drops down beside me.

“Save your thanks for when I actually do something thanking me for.”

“You are.” I answer easily finding a safe spot within his arms.

“If you say so.”

I bring his chin down to me to keep his eyes from wandering around our cramped quarters.

“I’m not claustrophobic. I’m not.” He vows voice trembling in fear.

“Shhh,” I press my forehead against his.

“I just want to forget sometimes so badly, have a minute’s peace.”

“What brings you peace?”

“You,” he states simply. “You always have from the first day we met. I was shy and awkward, but you always made the effort.”

“You make it sound like it was such a chore. It was never that.”

Parting my loose hair, his hand comes to rest at my cheek. “Liz…I..”

I draw back. “Your skin is like ice.” I rub both his arms. “It’s like your circulation has stopped completely. You were fine a second ago.”

His dark eyes regard me. A moody irritation settles into their vibrant depths that effectively erases the vulnerability of only seconds ago.

Understanding the source makes it easier to ignore, I continue in my ministrations.

“I don’t need you to be my nurse maid.”

“Here I was looking forward to wearing my stilettos, and my itsy, bitsy white skirt.” I tease hoping to use humor to get by his refusal to accept help. The thought that it is just my help he detests leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

“You don’t have stilettos.”

“Because you’ve spent so much time in my closet riffling around?”

“Well, no.”

“The hat is priceless. You aren’t going to rob me of the pleasure of wearing my nurse’s hat.”

“Has anyone ever told you are stubborn?”

“All the time, so you might as well sit back and take it.” I smile wide.

“What are you doing? I can untie my own shoes Liz.”

“I guess that throws out the notion of you having a harem back home that waits on you hand and foot.”

“I don’t have a harem.”

“How about nubile temple maidens?”

“My sex life is no where that interesting. What, you’re going to take of my socks to?”

“Your socks are wet.”

“My clothes are wet. Are you planning on taking those as well?” He cocks his head. “I think I saw a movie like this. The hero and the heroine have to huddle together naked to keep warm.”

“Sounds like a porn movie.” I swat at his questing hands, “paws of my pants your highness.”

“But I’m coldddddd,” he chatters rubbing his hands together for effect. “Decrease blood flow has been known to bring on cardiac arrest.”

“Has that happened to you before?” I demand.

His playing acting stops abruptly. “It’s raining. People get cold when they’re out in the rain.” His words come out in short staccato bursts.

“We’re in a tropical rainforest. You shouldn’t be as cold as you are. Plus, only a handful of the general public is aware that hypothermia can trigger a heart attack.”

“What can I say, I constitute the handful.”

“You’re skin isn’t turning blue, but you’re temperature is way off. Is being in here triggering it?”

“I’m not claustrophobic.”

“Then has it something to do with your illness?”

“I’m not one of your patients Liz, nor will I be one of your patients, or anyone else’s for that matter.”

“No, you’re my friend. I can’t lose you again. The first time just about killed me. I just want to help you. Why can’t you see that or accept that?” Lifting up his shaggy hair from his forehead, I kiss both his eyelids then top of his nose pausing as he turns those magnificent earthy eyes of his to full watt.

We linger millimeters apart leaving no way of knowing if it is me or Max that provides the force that brings our lips finally together.