Thanks to Misha for the excellent banner.
Summary: Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess all ‘hatch’ at the same time. They are found and adopted. Phillip and Diane Evans adopt Max and Isabel, and Hank Guerin adopts Michael and David and Eileen Harding (NOT Nasedo) adopt Tess. The relationship between the four is strictly brother/sister. They are doing the whole hiding in plain sight thing and searching for answers, until a fateful day at the Crashdown.
A/N: I know that a lot of the dialogue from the first chapter is copied directly from the pilot, but it’s just to re-establish the characters and to make Tess a legit player for the GOOD side.
Prologue
August 1989- Roswell, New Mexico
Max and Isabel were walking down the middle of Magee Road as the headlights of a car approached the pair. They turned around and looked at the car in puzzlement, having never seen one before. The pair of young aliens watched as Phillip and Diane Evans got out of the car and wrapped a blanket around each of them, ushering them toward the car. Isabel and Max looked to Michael and Tess, who were hiding in the shadows, pleading for them to come with their eyes, but the other two aliens backed off and disappeared deeper into the shadows. Max and Isabel then dejectedly allowed themselves to be placed in the Evans car and they drove off towards town.
Michael was later found by Hank Guerin and Tess by David and Eileen Harding, both were adopted as well a short time afterwards..
Chapter 1- Discoveries
Ten Years Later
Crashdown Café
Liz Parker walked up to the two tourists that were sitting at on of the central tables.
“Can I get you anything?” Liz asks politely.
“Uh, yeah. I’ll take an order of Saturn rings and an Alien Blast.” The woman replies.
“Can I get a Will Smith burger and a Blood of Alien smoothie.” The man says afterwards and Liz writes down the order.
“So does your family come from Roswell?” the man asks as Liz puts away the order pad.
“Only four generations.” Liz quips amicably.
“So do you have any stories about the crash?” The woman presses.
“I guess it would be alright to show you this.” Liz says, pulling a photo graph of a fake alien out of her apron and handing it to the couple. “My grandmother took this at the crash site right before the government covered it up.”
“Does anyone know about this photograph?” The woman asks.
“Well, I know, and now you know.” Liz says, and the couple nods in awe. Maria walks by as the couple is staring at the picture. She throws Liz a playfully scolding glance and walks over to two men who are arguing over something.
“Can I get you a refill?” Maria asks politely.
“No, get out of here.” One of the men snaps.
“Oookay, real nice talking to you.” Maria mutters walking to the back. Liz follows her.
“You are bad girl. You just love playing with their heads, don’t you?” Maria teases.
“Makes life interesting.” Liz replies flippantly.
“Oh by the way, Max Evans is staring at you again.” Maria announces, and Liz looks over just in time to see Max turn away from looking in her direction.
“Uh, right. Max Evans, and this? No way.” Liz says, pointing at her face. “And even if it was true, I’m with Kyle. He’s loyal and steady and… He appreciates me.”
“You sound like you’re describing a poodle.” Maria gibes and Liz glares at her. Maria walks away to see if anyone needs a refill. She gets halfway to the front of the building when the two men that were arguing get up after one of them knocks all of the dishes and glasses off of the table and the other pulls a gun. Everyone in the café drops to the floor except for Liz as the two men struggle over the gun.
“Liz!!” Maria screams as she drops to the floor.
Liz stands there shocked, and the gun goes off. She falls to the floor. The two men run out of the resturaunt and take off. Max gets up and starts toward where Liz is laying on the ground. Michael grabs his arm.
“What are you going to do?” Michael demands.
“Whatever has to be done.” Max replies, pulling away and hurrying over to Liz. Michael holds back the tourists who are trying to find out what happened. Max goes up to Liz and rips her top shirt apart, revealing a bullet hole in her abdomen. He places his hand over her wound and places his other hand behind her head, lifting it up slightly. “Liz, you have to stay awake, you have to look at me.” Max says, making the connection and healing her wound. He sees flashes of her life and then she is healed. She looks at him in confusion as he starts to stand up.
Police sirens can now be heard in the background.
Michael snaps his fingers repeatedly. “Keys!” He demands and Max tosses him his set, then turns back to Liz as Michael runs out. He grabs a glass ketchup bottle and smashes it on the edge of the counter. He pours it over Liz’s leftover blood from being shot.
“You broke a bottle when you fell. Don’t tell anyone, please.” Max asks before fleeing. He passes the two tourists that Liz gave the photo to, and Maria on the way out. Liz stands, looking shell-shocked as Max runs out of the Crashdown, and jumps into the jeep that Michael is driving. The two of them take off.
Crashdown- A short time later
The front doors open and Liz’s father Jeff Parker walks in. He walks over to Liz.
“Lizzie?! Are you okay?” Jeff asks worriedly.
Liz nods. “Yeah dad, I’m fine. It was just really loud and then it was over.” Liz tells him and he gives her a hug.
On the other end of the Crashdown, Maria is talking to Deputy Blackwood.
“One of the guys was like a muscular Beavis, and the other was like a beefy Butthead.” Maria tells the deputy.
“I’m gonna need a better description then that, I’m assuming they weren’t actually cartoon characters.” Blackwood says.
“Uh, yeah. Hold on a second.” Maria says, turning away and unscrewing the top of a small bottle. She sniffs it as the Sheriff walks into the building and gives her a look.
“Cypress oil. It, um, reduces stress.” Maria says holding the bottle so that the sheriff can see. He nods and walks towards Liz.
“Are you okay?” The Sheriff asks.
“Yeah, thanks Sheriff. I’m just a little shaken up.” Liz answers.
“Sheriff, the suspects ran out just after the incident occurred. A couple of outsiders. No apparent robbery, and no injuries other than the girl who fell. Just seems like an argument that got out of hand.”
Sheriff Valenti looks over at the table where Max and Michael had been sitting and sees the empty Tabasco bottles.
“There were two boys sitting there, about her age and when the bullet went off, one of them went up to her and-“ The female tourist says.
“Yeah, you know what, I really didn’t recognize them so they must have been tourists.” Liz cuts in.
“No, no. It sure looked like she knew them to me.” The male tourist said confidently and Liz looked at Valenti cautiously.
Liz’s Bedroom
Liz walks into her room and takes off her coat. She looks into the mirror and sees a silver handprint on her stomach.
“Oh my god…” Liz stammers.
Roswell High School
Liz is sitting at a desk in the science lab. Tess is sitting at a desk a few rows up. Max walks in and sits next to Liz.
“Mr. Evans, so nice of you to join us.” The teacher says. “Okay, we’ve spent the last week talking about Genus, and phylum. Today we’re going to get a little more specific, and talk about the difference between species. For today’s experiment we’ll be working in teams of two.”
Max pulls a pencil out of his pocket and sticks it in his mouth.
“Okay, everyone on the right prepare a slide with the vegetable sampling and everyone on the left take a toothpick and get a sample from your cheek.” The teacher says and both Max and Tess raise their hands. “What is it you two?”
“Can I get a hallway?” Max asks.
“High maintenance today aren’t we Mr. Evans?” The teacher asks, handing Max the pass. He leaves.
Liz watches him go and picks up the pencil that he left behind and swabs it with a Q-tip and places it on the slide. She puts it under the slide and looks at it. The cells are completely different than hers. She looks up from the slide and sees Tess turned around in her chair, staring at her dead on, a grim expression on her face. Tess turns away after a moment and Liz gets a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Hallway
Liz comes out of the science classroom, looking around for Max. She spots him and runs over to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him into a classroom that is empty except for Kyle Valenti.
“Hey Liz. Max.” Kyle greets, giving Liz a kiss. Max nods over at him returning the greeting.
“So did you get my message?” Kyle asks Liz, who nods after a moment.
“Uh, yeah. I was just a little-“ Liz starts
“Shaken up.” Kyle finishes for her.
“That’s what it was.” Liz agrees quickly.
“I know. My dad told me about the gun going off. Must have been scary.”
“Yeah, it was just loud and then it was over.” Liz tells Kyle.
“So what are you guys doing?” Kyle asks.
“Studying.” Tess’s voice rings out pleasantly. Kyle, Max and Liz look over at the petite blonde as she walks over. “Max, can I talk to you for a moment? In private?”
Tess’s tone of voice was cheery, but there was a definant air of authority in it that was not to be questioned.
“Yeah.” Max agrees and he and Tess walk over to the other end of the room as Kyle leaves and Liz is waiting for Max.
“Max. Why did Liz take a sample off your pencil in science?” Tess asks abruptly and continues without waiting for an answer. “Liz did get shot at the Crashdown didn’t she?”
“Tess….” Max starts.
“Don’t you dare tell her anything Max Evans. I will not have my existence jeopardized over this.” Tess snaps, keeping her voice down just enough so that Liz can’t hear what she’s saying. “I’m gonna mindwarp her into forgetting about the incident.”
“No, you’re not Tess. This isn’t a game, we can’t just go around using our powers on humans like that.” Max replies.
“You had no problem doing it yesterday.” Tess snaps angrily.
“That was to save a life, not to destroy one.” Max snaps back and Tess goes stiff. She begins to tremble in rage at Max’s words.
“Is that what you think I do?” Tess manages to get out through clenched teeth. “Fine, Max. You made this mess, you get out of it.” Tess says and storms out of the room, leaving a confused Liz looking after her. Max walks over to Liz.
“What was that all about?” Liz asks, innocently.
“Nothing.” Max replies shortly.”What did you want to talk about?” He asks.
“Ummm… This is gonna be a little ackward, but….” Liz trails off, lifting her shirt to show him the silver handprint emblazoned on her abdomen.
“Wow.” Max says.
“Um… I-I scraped some cells from your pencil. This is really hard to say and I’m trying to keep from blacking out here. Um, the cells- they weren’t normal. So, Max, what I’m going to suggest is that you and me go back to the science lab and I take a sample so that I can see what I’m thinking is wrong, you know. That I got the wrong cells…” Liz says, trailing off at the end and staring deep into Max’s eyes.
Max is silent for a moment, weighing what Liz knows and how to keep Michael, Isabel and Tess safe.
“You didn’t.” Max says finally.
Liz rubs her forehead with the palm of her hand. “Okay, um. So help me out here Max. I mean, what are you?”
“Well…… I’m not from around here.” Max answers.
“Where are you from?” Liz ask quietly and Max slowly raises his finger upwards. “Up north?”
Max points higher.
“You’re not an- an alien, I mean. Are you?” Liz stammers.
“Well I prefer the term not of this Earth.” Max says, somewhat jokingly. “Sorry, not a good time to joke. Yes, I am. Wow, it feels weird to actually say it.”
Liz is obviously overwhelmed by the information and starts to walk away.
“Liz….” Max says, following her.
“Um… Max, you know, I have, I’m gonna be late for my US Government class, so I’m just going to-“ Liz stops as Max cuts her off at the door.
“Liz, listen to me. You can’t talk to anyone about this. Not your parents. Not Maria. No one. You don’t understand what will happen if you do. Liz, please? Now my life is in your hands.” Max says and lets Liz exit the room.
Cafeteria
Maria and Alex Whitman are sitting together at a table.
“Well it says right here that a shot was fired but no one was injured.” Alex reads from the newspaper.
“Then where the heck is Liz?? I mean, why is she avoiding me? Okay first of all, Liz is never late, right? She walks into homeroom today and goes and sits next to Pam Troy. She like, hates Pam Troy and goes around like openly admitting it…. And …. And…. Alex, are you even listening to me?” Maria complains.
“Yeah, yeah. Maria, I hear you. But this is just you being you, alright? Liz is fine, nothing happened, it’s all right here in black and white.” Alex tries to assure her.
“No. I know that something is definantly up.” Maria insists.
Papa Hanley’s Taco Stand
Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess are having lunch together at one of the stand’s picnic tables.
“I can’t believe this Max. You know, I finally feel like I have a quasi-normal existence here, and you ruin it all with one random act of lunacy.” Isabel complains.
“I second that.” Tess puts in, looking everywhere but at Max.
“How could you let my misguided brother do this?” Isabel asks Michael.
“Hey don’t look at me, I’m not the one who thinks he’s a superhero.” Michael responds quickly.
“I said I was sorry.” Max defends himself.
“You broke the rules Max, the rules we made. It was like a sacred pact.” Tess says.
“You and Isabel use your powers all the time.” Max points out.
“Yeah, recreationally.” Isabel says. “The point is we have to contain this. We just have to figure out what to say to Miss Scientist.”
Max hokes on the sip of soda he’s just taken and the other three aliens look at him. Tess puts the pieces together first.
“Wonderful. He told her.” Tess states, not a question.
“I didn’t have a choice.” Max says.
“Yes you did. I knew she was on to you and I offered to mindwarp her into forgetting, but you wouldn’t let me do it.” Tess reminds him angrily.
“It’s going to be okay.” Max says calmly.
“Don’t you realize that everything has changed?” Isabel asks.
“No it hasn’t.” Max insists.
“Max, she’s right. We’re screwed. It’s time to leave Roswell.” Michael says, getting up. The other three exchange a look and follow him.
“Michael, we can’t just up and leave.” Tess reasons.
“Yeah we can. We’ve always known that this day would come. We said that when it did we’d be prepared.” Michael reminds.
“And where are we gonna go?” Isabel asks. “You know Roswell’s home.”
“Roswell isn’t home. It’s not even in our solar system.” Michael replies flippantly.
“It’s the closest thing we have to one right now.” Tess says.
Michael is silent for a moment. “For the three of you, maybe. It was you guys that the Evans and the Hardings found on the road. My foster dad just keeps me around for the monthly check.”
“This is gonna be okay. We should just go back to school, lay low and act normal.” Max says.
“Act normal?” Isabel asks. “That’s your great plan?”
“Yeah Max, don’t you realize that it’s only a matter of time before they find out about us and turn us in to some government agency where they’re gonna test us, and prod us, and oh yeah, exterminate us.” Tess says darkly as the four aliens get into Max’s jeep and drive away.
School Bathroom
Liz walks into the bathroom and splashes water on her face. Looking up, she sees Maria walk out of one of the stalls.
“Hey.” Liz greets quietly.
“So I called like, thirty-seven times.” Maria starts.
“I know, I’m sorry.” Liz apologizes.
“Liz, what happened?” Maria questions.
“What are you talking about Maria? You were there, you saw what happened.” Liz claims.
“Did I, cause um… This isn’t ketchup.” Maria says, holding up Liz’s order pad. “This looks a lot like blood to me. What did Max do to you”
Liz doesn’t answer her. She just washes her hands and walks out of the bathroom, leaving a confused Maria behind.
Max’s Jeep
Max is driving, with Michael riding shotgun, and Issy and Tess riding in the back. Isabel is holding up a cd in her hand in between her and Tess’ head and they are listening to it.
“Isabel, would you please cut that out?” Max asks sharply.
“Yeah like listening to a cd is the problem.” Isabel snaps.
“I couldn’t let her die alright.” Max says.
Behind Max’s jeep the flashing lights of a police car go on and Isabel and Tess turn around to look.
“Oh my god, is he pulling us over?” Tess asks.
“He does it all the time to kids. Just stay calm.” Max tells them.
Max pulls over and the cop car pulls up behind him. The officer gets out of the car and it’s Sheriff Valenti. Valenti walks over to where Max is parked and looks at each of the four aliens in turn, he looks at Max last.
“Licence and registration please.” Valenti requests and Max pulls out his licence and takes the registration out of the glove box.
“Of course, officer.” Max complies, handing the requested items over. Valenti looks at them, then hands them back to him.
“Thank you Mr. Evans. We had a little trouble at the Crashdown Café yesterday. You kids be careful out there.” Valenti advises.
“Yes sir.” Max nods. He moves his foot towards the gas pedal and accidentally knocks a bottle of Tabasco. Valenti sees it.
“Watch your speed. Arrive alive.” Valenti says, giving the four of them a final look before heading back to his car.
Max waits until Valenti passes him, then starts up the car and the four of them drive off towards town.
Outside the Parker apartment
Liz and Kyle walk up to the front door of Liz’s house, hand in hand. Liz turns to Kyle when they reach the door.
“Well, goodnight.” Liz says.
“Oh right, right. Listen Liz, you’ve, you’ve been somewhere else all night.” Kyle says.
“I know, I’m sorry.” Liz apologizes. “Kyle, do you ever wonder if…”
“Do I ever wonder what?” Kyle asks.
“When you see me, do you… do you feel things?” Liz answers.
“Yes, of course I feel things. Like what?” Kyle questions.
“Nevermind, I don’t know what I was talking about. I’m just gonna go get some sleep.” Liz says, reaching up to turn off a light. Kyle sees the handprint.
“Liz?” Kyle asks, pointing it out and Liz quickly pulls down her shirt to cover it.
“Goodnight Kyle.” Liz says shortly.
“Goodnight Liz.” Kyle says and walks off.
Classroom
Liz is in the band room again, looking for her bag. Alex walks in, looking for her.
“Hey.” Alex greets.
“Oh hey Alex. Have you seen my bookbag anywhere?” Liz asks.
“No, I haven’t. Can I talk to you for a second?” Alex says.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Well, I’m your friend and I’m Maria’s friend too. So if you lie to Maria, it’s sort of like lying to me.” Alex explains.
“Alex, what did Maria tell you?”
“Well, frankly it’s vague. I mean, everything needs to be put through the Maria filter. But she said something about finding blood on your order pad. Liz, what’s going on?”
“Alex, Maria is a total drama queen. Nothings going on. I’m fine.”
“Okay, I just wanted to make sure. So you’re ok.”
“I’m okay.” Liz assures.
“And what ever happened.. is over now.”
“It’s totally over.”
“Alright.” Alex says and goes to leave. The door opens and the school principal and Deputy Blackwood walk in.
“There she is.” The principal says. Liz and Alex look at him.
“Ms. Parker, the Sheriff needs to ask you some questions.” Blackwood informs her.
Gym- Later that Day
Max is wrestling another student when Liz walks in and looks at him. He looks over concerned. He gets up and excuses himself from his wrestling partner, then follows Liz out of the gym and to an empty classroom. Liz tosses her bag onto a desk.
“I need to know the truth Max. I need to know, everything. Or I’ll- I’m just gonna go to Valenti and tell him everything I know.” Liz says quickly.
“Okay.” Max concedes.
“Okay. Okay. Alright. Where did you come from?” Liz asks.
“I don’t know. When the ship crashed I wasn’t born yet.” Max answers.
“So there was a crash?”
“All I know is that it wasn’t a weather balloon that went down that night.”
“So the ship crashed in 1947, you’re sixteen.”
“We were in some kind of incubation pods.”
“We?” Liz questions.
“Ah…” Max starts, realizing his slip. “Michael, Isabel and Tess are also…”
“Oh. Well that answers that question.” Liz says. “Um… What powers do you have?”
“We can connect with people, as you know. We can manipulate molecular structures.”
“What does that mean?”
Max moves over to a clay statue of some guy with a long beard and moves his hand down over it, changing it to a flat rounded mass of clay. He moves it back up and it returns to normal.
“That’s how I was able to heal you.” Max says.
“Who else knows about this?”
“We don’t tell anyone.” Max says. “We sorta think our lives depend on it.”
“So when you healed me, you risked all this getting out, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“It was you.”
Liz smiles for a moment, then frowns. “Um Max, Valenti showed me a picture of a corpse, a murder victim, with the same silver handprint on his chest. The photograph was marked 1959.” Liz tells him.
“That’s impossible.” Max says.
“Kyle say the handprint on my stomach and Valenti found my bookbag with the bullethole in it. He just asked me if you were in the Crashdown the day of the shooting. Max, he suspects you.”
“I have to go.” Max says and leaves the room in a hurry. Liz follows but loses him in the crowd of people.
Evan’s household
Isabel and Tess are in Isabel’s room, putting on their costumes for the Crash Festival. Max opens the door and the two of them look at him.
“Forget the festival. It’s time to leave.”
Jervis Park
Michael comes running out and hops in the back of the jeep that Max, Isabel and Tess are already waiting in.
“Where’s your stuff?” Tess asks curiously.
“I’m wearing it.” Michael replies stiffly and Max puts his foot on the gas and drives off.
Liz’s bedroom
Liz is sitting on her bed, writing something on a notebook, when Maria bursts in.
“All right. Before I go to this idiotic Crash Festival, I want to know everything. Or I’m gonna go to Valenti and tell him everything I know.”
“What do you know?” Liz asks with a sigh.
“Well I know that Max Evans was in the Crashdown that day and that he went up to you when you were shot and did something to you. And I know that the only person I thought I could completely trust is lying to me.”
“You have to promise that you are not going to freak out.”
“Liz, this is me.” Maria says
A few moments later, Maria runs out the front door of the Parker apartment, shrieking. Liz runs after her.
“Mariaaaa!”
Max’s Jeep
Michael is leaning forward in between the gap of the seats.
“So what we’re seeing with this photograph is that there’s more of us?” Michael asks.
“One more. At least there was in 1959.” Max replies.
“So then there’s hope. I mean if we can find him he can tell us where we came from and why we’re here.”
“Michael calm down. We have one potential relative forty years ago, all we know about him is that he’s a potential killer.” Isabel snaps.
“But Michael’s right, he could help us find out who we are.” Tess says.
“We’ll figure it out later.” Max says.
Maria’s car
Maria is driving and Liz is in the passenger seat.
“Liz what happened to you? You were on this whole valedictorian path. You were on your way to be like, this world renowned scientist and I was gonna be your waky friend. I can’t be a wacky friend to some one who’s already wacky. Ity would be like redundant.” Maria stammers.
“Maria, you’re babbling.” Liz says.
“I think I’ve earned the right to babble, all right. Just deal with it.” Maria snaps.
Liz looks out the front windshield and sees Max and the others drive by, heading in the opposite direction.
“Oh my god Maria! That was them! Cut a U-ie!”
“Cut a U-ie? Liz we’re in a jetta!”
Liz grabs the wheel and jerks it so that the jetta spins around and careens over the concrete and down the other direction.
“Oh my god, you’re a crazy person!” Maria shrieks.
“Just follow them!” Liz exclaims.
Max’s Jeep
Max sees Valenti patrolling and drives his car into an alleyway and Maria follows, blocking them in.
“Wonderful.” Tess mutters as Liz and Maria get out of the jetta. Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess get out of the jeep as well. The two groups approach one another.
“What are they doing here… No please don’t tell me there’s four.” Maria says quietly to Liz.
“Well……” Liz trails off.
“I think I’m gonna be sick.” Maria mutters, as the two groups reach eachother.
“Maria knows.” Liz says.
“Unbelievable.” Michael mutters and Tess runs a hand through her hair in frustration.
“Look, I promise I won’t tell anyone.” Maria says and Michael walks toward her. Maria steps behind Liz as if it would protect her.
“Move your car.” Michael demands.
“I don’t think that you should try and leave. It’s just gonna show people that you’re guilty.” Liz says.
“Guilty of what? Saving your life?” Tess questions.
“Look, I think I have an idea here. If we can all just work together here maybe we can throw Valenti off.” Liz says.
“We’re not together. Our lives are at stake, not yours. Now move the car.” Michael snaps.
“Michael, this can’t last forever, this secret. And I don’t want it to.” Max says.
“Look, I can’t change what happened. But if you run, Valenti’s gonna know it’s you. You’d be proving it for him.” Liz protests.
“She’s right.” Max agrees.
“I should have known you’d side with her.” Isabel says sharply.
“I’m not on anyone’s side here.” Max argues.
“Yeah, well. You need to get on a side Max, cause we’re running out of time.” Tess tells him.
Max turns to Liz. “You need to move the car. I’m turning myself in to Valenti.” Max says.
“Max we said we were leaving.” Michael argues.
“I can’t leave without you.” Isabel says.
Tess turns to Liz. “What’s your plan?”
Valenti’s House
Liz, now dressed in skintight leather, walks up and knocks on the door. Kyle answers after a moment and looks at her.
“I waited for you for an hour and a half.” Kyle complains.
“Kyle, I know I’ve been acting like a real jerk and I’m sorry.” Liz says giving Kyle a look of cute innocence.
Crash Festival
Isabel, Maria and Tess are walking together through the crowds, and they pass Alex who is wearing a mask.
“Hey Alex.” Isabel says as they walk by. Alex stops, pulls off his mask and follows the trio.
“Isabel, hey. Maria.. Tess.”
“Hey.” Tess and Maria say at the same time.
“Uh, nice cones.” Alex says, and Isabel grins as the three of them walk on.
Tess breaks away from the group and walks over to one of the Sheriff’s deputies to distract him so that Isabel and Maria can do their part.
Valenti’s House
Kyle and Liz are standing out in front of the house.
“Look, we don’t even need to go to the Crash.” Kyle says.
Kyle, it’s okay. I am going to meet you in front of the podium in half an hour, okay.” Lliz tells him and he nods. Liz walks off as Kyle walks back into the house. Liz walks behind a row of bushes and calls Max on her cell phone. She waits for him to pick up.
“We have half an hour.” Liz says over the phone.
Max’s Jeep
“Got it.” Max says and hangs up. He looks at Michael.
“It’s not going to work.” Michael predicts as the two of them drive down the road.
Festival
Deputy Blackwood is standing in the crowd. Tess is standing nearby, watching him but he doesn’t see her. Valenti walks over. He doesn’t notice Tess either.
“Where is he?” Valenti asks.
“There.” Blackwood answer, pointing Max out. “What did this kid do Jim?”
“I’ll take it from here Owen.” Valenti says and starts walking toward Max.
Festival Parking Lot
Isabel and Maria are near Maria’s jetta. Maria is rolling around on the ground, getting dirt all over her costume.
“Come on, roll.” Isabel says harshly.
“I’m rolling.” Maria replies sharply.
“Alright, that’s better.” Isabel says after a few more moments. “Keys?”
Maria looks at Isabel for a moment. “Okay, I know that my mom’s car doesn’t look like much, but not destroying it is the key to mine and her relationship.” Maria says as she hands over the keys.
“Whatever.” Isabel replies flippantly and takes the keys.
Max walks up to a trash can and drops the remains of his corndog into it. Valenti walks into the small alley and looks at him.
“I have some questions for you.” Valenti says.
“What kind of questions?” Max asks.
“Were you at the Crashdown the day of the shooting?” Valenti questions.
“Yes.” Max answers after a moment.
“What did you do to Liz Parker?”
“I didn’t do anything to her.” Max tells him.
“I don’t believe that.” Valenti says and handcuffs Max.
“Aren’t you going to read me my rights?”
“Do you have any?” Valenti asks.
Elsewhere, Liz bumps into the two tourists as she’s walking through the crowd. Isabel stages hitting Maria with the jetta and runs off.
“Maria!!” Liz yells running over. Valenti, Blackwood, Max, Alex and the two tourists run over as well. Michael, dressed in a Star Wars costume reaches Maria first and places a hand on her chest. Alex runs up to them.
“Hey! What’s going on?” Alex demands and Michael knocks him over as he runs off. Valenti, Liz, Max and the others reach Maria.
“Are you okay?” Valenti asks Maria, who nods. Valenti sees the silver handprint on her chest.
“Yeah, I think so.” Maria answers slowly.
“There he goes Sheriff!” Blackwood exclaims, pointing out Michael. Valenti pushes Max toward his deputy.
“Watch the kid.” Valenti says and gives chase. A few moments later, he spots someone in the crowd in front of the podium, wearing the same costume. He runs up and grabs the person by the shoulder. The person turns around and pulls off the mask- it’s Kyle.
“Dad, hey. You scared the hell out of me. Have you seen Liz around? She was supposed to meet me here like fifteen minutes ago.” Kyle asks.
Jim shakes his head. “No.”
“Mmmmkay.” Kyle nods and looks away.
Alleyway
Valenti pushes Max into the side of a trailer.
“You think you’re a real smart guy don’t you?” Valenti says harshly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Sheriff.” Max insists.
“Don’t play games with me, Mr. Evans. This is paint.” Valenti says, holding up his hand so that Max can see. “You went up to Liz Parker in that café and you did something to her, and I need to know what it was.”
“I had a hamburger, when the gun went off I ran away. Did I break the law? Sheriff are you arresting me?” Max questions quickly.
“No. Your parents would have you out in an hour. Let me tell you something, Max, I am going to find out the truth. You can count on it. You’re a real smart guy Max, well so am I.” Valenti says, uncuffing Max and walking away.
Isabel, Michael and Tess are standing in front of where Jonathan Frakes is counting down. Max walks up.
“Is everybody ready?! 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, Blastoff! Yahh!!!” Frakes yells as the model alien spaceship is released from the tree and crashes down into the desert nearby, sending a half dozen small alien figures flying out of the craft. They land on the dirt and burn. Max, Michael, Isabel, and Tess watch sullenly as the rubber aliens burn. Everyone one around them is laughing and cheering. Max looks away and sees Liz. He goes over to talk to her.
“Hey.” Max greets.
“Hey.” Liz replies, and Max reaches a hand out to her head and tucks a few strands of hair behind her head.
“You had a…” Max starts.
“A hair thing, yeah.” Liz finishes.
“Sure. Liz, it’s not safe. For you and me to… it’s not safe.”
“I don’t care.” Liz says
“Liz, I really wish that this could be something, you know, more. But it can’t. We’re just…”
“Different.”
“Yeah.” Max says. “I’ll see you in school.”
Max starts to walk away.
“Max?” Liz calls out and he turns back. “I never got a chance to thank you, for saving my life.”
“Thank You.” Max say slowly. Liz smiles and watches as Max turns and walks away.
TO BE CONTINUED……