Part 21
Now Amy knew better than to believe Zan’s tale of twins separated at birth, but when Isabel and Max told it to their parents they never doubted it for a second.
Once they laid eyes on Zan how could they? How could anyone doubt him and Max were brothers?
The Evans’ felt like they were lucky enough to be blessed with another son.
Max watched in amusement as his mom and dad interrogated Zan. While they were preoccupied with Zan his thoughts turned back to the phone call he had with Nasedo.
Max could tell Nasedo was less than pleased to have to cancel his appointments in Washington to come out here and find Tess. He scolded Max for not being able to keep track of his Queen.
Max had rolled his eyes at that comment and looked at Liz who squeezed his hand in silent support.
The phone call worked though, Nasedo promised he would be here by the end of this week.
Oh goodie, now they get to deal with a backstabbing shape shifter who could be anyone and had more experience with his powers than any of them. At least that was the generalized censored opinion for most in the group.
Max was contemplating how to keep Zan, Serena, and Ava out of his sight when his mom pulled him out of his thoughts.
“Max isn’t that just horrible.”
“Yeah, sure mom.”
“What do you think we should do about it?”
“Well, I…um…maybe.”
Max looked around he saw Isabel covering her mouth, but he still heard her chuckling. Zan was smirking at him and his dad had laughter in his eyes. Looking at his mom he saw her eyebrow raised in expectation.
“I’m sorry, what? My mind must have been wandering.”
Isabel and Zan both laughed out loud as Diane shook her head in disapproval, but the smile on her lips belied her true feelings.
“Zan was telling us how his parents had died in a plan crash…” Max looked sharply at Zan who shrugged, he turned back to his mom when she kept talking.
“…and his other relatives were so horrible taking away everything he had.”
Max’s head turned as his dad picked up the explanation, “It’s also completely remarkable that even separated at birth you both ended up with the same last name. Although I suppose Evans is pretty common. I tell you fates a funny thing like that.”
Max had stopped listening though and turned to Isabel who just shrugged her shoulders, technically he was their brother and he didn’t have a last name, why couldn’t they share theirs.
He looked at Zan to see him smiling broadly at his father. When Zan glanced his way he smirked, but his eyes held a question to them. Max sighed and nodded. He was family now.
The phone ringing startled all of them and it was Isabel who got up to go answer it.
While she was gone Zan told more stories about growing up in New York as far as Max could tell he was telling the truth, avoiding parts about not really having parents and growing up in the sewers for a while.
It was when Isabel came back and stood in the door way pale that Max and Zan stood. Diane and Philip looked at their children instantly picking up the tension and worrying.
“That was Liz.”
Max tensed, something was wrong with Liz. No, Liz was calling so Liz was probably safe still.
Max watched as Isabel glanced at her parents hesitantly torn between telling them and protecting them.
It was Zan who solved the problem. His accent coming out much heavier in the stressful situation.
“Oh man we’re late for the freakin' surprise party! Aves iz gonna kill us. Iz her own fault thou not tellin us til’ tiz mornin’ what if we had plans yo’?”
Max watched in awe as Zan thanked his parents kindly told them that Isabel and Max would probably just crash between his and Michael’s apartments if that was okay with them. Then he walked passed Isabel and pulled her with him.
Diane and Philip looked at Max, clearing doubting what Zan had told them for the first time that evening, but also knowing their children had secrets.
“Max?”
He shook his head, “It’s okay mom. I’m sorry we have to rush off like this, but Liz and Ava will be really upset if we’re late…even later that is. I love you guys.”
When the back door slammed shut Diane and Philip were both still staring were Max had disappeared from both praying their kids would make it home safe.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Isabel was shaking. She looked at her hands and watched as they trembled in her lap. No matter how hard she clenched them together.
She looked at Zan, he was silent as Max hopped into the driver seat of the jeep.
Taking a deep breath she opened her mouth, but words failed her.
“Iz, where we going. Where do we have to meet them?”
“Michael’s.”
“Okay.”
Isabel watched as Max started the car his own hand shaking a bit. She jumped when Zan leaned forwards and griped her hands in comfort. “What did Liz say on da phone?”
“Maria… Whitaker took Maria.”
Max cursed and slammed his fist onto the wheel.
“Michael?”
Isabel shook her head,
“Liz just said to hurry.”
When they turned onto Michael’s block it was Zan who swore noticing all the street lights were out. Not just out but shattered. The jeep started to die too, the closer they got to Michael's apartment. Max actually had to use his powers to keep the engine running.
When they finally parked, Zan jumped out of the jeep and ran up the stairs.
Isabel went to unbuckle her seat belt and slipped three times before Max gently pushed her hands aside and undid it for her.
Then he walked over to her door and helped her out.
Finally she looked up, “Max…”
Max pulled her into a hug. Isabel let a sob go before pulling herself together. She could fall apart later once Maria was safe.
“Max…Whitaker took her thinking she was me. If anything…if anything happens to Maria…god…Max I’d never forgive myself. And Michael!!! Michael must hate me!”
Tears dropped from her eyes against her will.
Max pulled back and held her shoulders staring into her eyes he told her firmly.
“Isabel this is not your fault. Do not even entertain the idea for an instant. It’s not your fault or mine or Michael’s. It’s Whitaker that did this. We will find Maria and take care of Whitaker. Okay. Isabel are you with me on this?”
Through blurred vision she looked into the eyes of her brother. Her brother who has been with her for so long and just as long has doubted who he was and what they should do. But there was no doubt in his eyes.
Max’s eyes held a fierce determination Isabel had never seen. She had heard about it once though. Michael told her about it a couple of days after Max had healed Liz. He said he’d never seen anything like it in anyone.
Later, after they had heard the ‘destiny’ message Michael told her he knew. He knew Max was a King. Some part of him had known it since Max had given him that look when Michael tried to stop him from healing Liz.
Even through her blurred vision she could see what Michael was talking about. In front of her stood her best friend, her confidant, her brother, but more than all that. In that instant he was a King.
“I’m with you.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ava was sitting next to Michael with her hand on his shoulder.
After he had knocked out the power on the entire block and Serena could no longer block all the exploding things around them with her shield she had pushed him onto the couch with her powers.
Ava sat next to him and connected to him pulling his energy away from him channeling it into harmless things. Michael’s apartment now looked like a rainbow and even as Max and Isabel walked into the apartment their clothes became a part of the constant swirl of colors.
She could feel Zan near by and reached out her hand to him. With their hands claps he got an impression of her idea and shrugged trying to express it was worth a try.
The others watched as Ava dropped her hand. Serena raised her shield as the furniture began to shake.
Zan took Ava’s spot as she stepped back her own body humming with left over energy. He touched Michael’s shoulder and pulled up his shield wrapping it around them in a cylinder shape.
“It’s starting to exhaust itself. All that power, but he still has just enough humming on the surface to collapse this building. He’s struggling to get it under control.”
She fell silent after her explanation and the others just looked blankly around.
Broken and so lifeless without the fiery pixie.
“What happen?”
At the soft question from Max, Liz’s soft cries started again. Both Kyle and Alex put an arm around her. Alex also gripped Isabel’s hand who had joined him. Serena was watching over Zan and Michael so Ava answered his question.
“Maria was visiting Liz at Whitaker’s office today since it was Liz’s first day. They were talking about you and Michael, nothing alien or anything, but…enough I guess for Whitaker who interrupted them to figure out who Michael was.”
Liz spoke softly her voice watery, “Then Michael came and picked Maria up and she was looking at them together, studying them. Dissecting them. I thought it was kind of freaky, but I shrugged it off because Michael and Maria were arguing and then making out in the middle of the sidewalk."
Ava picked up the explanation, "Michael dropped Maria off at home around five. Serena went over at six to talk to Amy and found her bound and gagged. Serena picked up a couple of flashes, saw Whitaker knocking Amy out and dragging Maria away talking about her being beautiful like…”
Isabel choked back a sob, “Like Vilandra was?”
Ava could only nod.
“Serena got Jim over there to console Amy and keep her there in case Maria somehow got home. He brought me and Kyle, and on the way over here we made calls to everyone to get you here. We couldn’t reach your cells phones…so Liz called your house.”
“What do we do? Maria can’t…we have to find her.”
Max pulled Liz into a hug as she broke down again, “We will Liz I promise.”
Alex spoke, the first time since Serena had told them what happen, “We need a plan.”
“Plan. Yes, plans are good.”
With the motivation of a plan Liz pulled herself together.
Ava joined them closer to the kitchen away from the glowing shield surrounding Michael and Zan.
Surprising it was Kyle who spoke, “Okay first we have to locate Maria. Did Serena get anything from the flashes that would help us.”
Ava shook her head no, “Just Maria’s house.”
“Where did Whitaker take her last time? It goes to assume she’d go to the same place.”
Liz was now being logical. She needed to be logical to get through this.
“Electric Power Facility, in Chavez County.” The other’s looked at Serena, “That’s where Whitaker took Tess before.”
Kyle spoke, “We can’t just drive all the way out there and hope she went to the same place.”
“Iz can dream walk her.” Alex spoke up suddenly already pulling out his wallet and handing her a picture.
Isabel looked doubtful but set herself in determination as the shield dropped and Michael’s broken voice filled the quiet room.
“Please Iz.”
She stalked off to his room to lie down, Alex two steps behind her.
“Okay, so Isabel checks and makes sure she’s there then what?” Ava knew finding Maria would be the easy part.
“We have to get out there fast; we’ll need Valenti’s car.” Max scratched his ear trying to figure out beyond that.
“He’s with Amy.” Serena didn’t want to take the comfort away from her friend when her daughter’s life was in danger.
Liz gulped, “I can go there. I mean it’s not like I can help you guys.”
Kyle nodded his head, “Yeah, me, and Liz can go sit with Amy while you guys go bring Maria home.”
Max nodded in acceptance and they left after Max embraced Liz again and placed a tender kiss on her temple.
“This doesn’t make any sense. She moved in too early.” Serena’s brows were furrowed together as she tried to figure it out. Really a pointless idea, considering how much they had messed with the timeline already. The knowledge she had of what should happen was almost useless by this time.
“Nasedo’s not even here yet.” Max had to agree from the little he knew at least.
Then Ava spoke, “Maybe it’s because of whatever Future Isabel did for us.”
The room was bathed in silence again until Isabel and Alex walked back out to join them fifteen minutes later. Tear streaks covered Isabel’s face.
The furniture started vibrating again and Ava looked up in time to see Michael clench his eyes shut and fist his hands together before Zan once again brought up the shield.
“She’s at the Electric Power Facility.”
There was a knock on the door before anyone could ask the question that was on all their minds. How badly was she hurt?
“Ready?” Jim asked, he promised Amy to return with her daughter. He intended to keep that promise.
They all nodded. Isabel, Alex and Ava fled out to his SUV climbing into the back. Serena and Zan followed a second later with Valenti. They were going to follow in Serena’s Toyota.
As Michael was about to walk out the door Max placed a hand on Michael’s shoulder and pulled it away immediately burned by the power just below the surface.
It had the desire effect though, Michael paused.
After a lifetime of being friends Michael spoke before Max could even voice his concern, “I’m going with Maxwell. Try to stop me and all the alien powers in the universe won’t save you.”
Max nodded as he shut the door behind him. He didn’t really expect anything less. It wouldn’t have been Michael if it was.
TBC…
2023 (CC, Mature) Part 55, 4/23 [WIP]
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Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) AN & Part 21 4/14
Last edited by starcrazed on Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:53 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) Part 22 5/11
Part 22
When the cars pulled up to the plant every one got out.
Max took charge showing how he was indeed born to lead.
“Alex and Sheriff you guys stay at the cars. If we’re exiting anywhere but these door Isabel will contact you. I don't need you guys in any more danger. Zan, Ava, and Michael you guys are gonna go east through the doors while Isabel, Serena and I got west. Then well work our way up. Stick together.”
They moved into the facility in two single file lines Isabel leading one, Michael the other. Max and Zan brought up the rears.
Michael touched the side wall; every window exploded outward.
“She can consider that a warning. If she lays one more finger on Maria…” He trailed off not capable of finding the words to describe the pain that would face Whitaker if he lost Maria.
Ava smirked. Zan shook his head in disappointment. He didn’t think she deserved the warning.
*MARIA!*
Isabel got no response. So her group continued their search door by door.
Michael wasn’t checking doors he was leading Zan and Ava throughout a maze of corridors right to Maria.
When he got to the door he touched it. Zan and Ava watched as it melted.
All of them, even Max, Serena, and Isabel on the other side of the building, braced themselves as the building shook when Michael saw Maria lying on the cold concrete. Her beautiful blonde hair caked with drying blood, her bright clothes covered in dirt and grim, her luscious lips split and bleeding.
As Maria looked up she found Max, Isabel, and Serena had already joined the others.
She had a black-eye and a long cut on her opposite cheek. When she tried to speak she coughed up more blood.
Michael bent over her form tears in his eyes.
“Michael.”
He could tell how much effort his name cost her.
“Shh. Ria, no talking.”
She smiled and he saw the pain fill her eyes, “Not on your life, Spaceboy.”
He gave her a gently smile and pushed back her hair, softly cupping her uninjured cheek.
“Well what do we have here? A nice little gathering I see. Not exactly what I imagined, but I guess it will do.”
Michael stood in front of Maria with one arm raised but the others blocked him, forming a wall between Maria, him, and Whitaker.
Whitaker took in the three girls in the line up. “Which one of you is Vilandra?”
“Sorry, sweetum’ nobody here by dat name.” Zan exchanged a nod with Max who backed up to Maria and Michael in order to heal her.
When he got to Michael he saw Michael's eyes had turned black, Max hesitated. Then he decided to ask permission. “Michael can I…?”
Michael stared at Max, he closed his eyes and when they reopened they were back to his usually deep, dark brown. Max moved passed him after his nod.
Ignoring Max and Michael behind her and hoping to keep Whitaker occupied Serena spoke up her voice laced with sarcasm, "That's a nice little scratch you got there Vanessa."
Whitaker placed her hand over the long gash across her own face running from her temple to her mouth. "Guess I underestimated the little bitch."
Michael turned his attention away from Max's glowing hand and looked straight through Whitaker. The rest of them could see the shiver of fear pass through her frame from ten feet away.
Shaking it off and speaking with authority she didn't have Whitaker demanded, “I want Vilandra and the Granilith that’s it. Give me that and I’ll let you walk out of here unharmed."
Zan smirked. “Your outnumbered six da one. What makes you think you’re gonna mak’ it dat long?”
She had the nerve to laugh, “Please, you’re all just children. I’ve been here much longer than any of you. Plus, lived another lifetime. I’ve more strength and control then you can dream about.”
“Wanna put some money on dat?”
Whitaker turned to look at Ava. Her eyes growing wide and her fear returned when she saw the fireball in Ava’s hand growing slowly.
She turned and tried to flee only to find a blue shield of Serena in her way and the voice of Isabel crossing her mind,
*Not gonna happen bitch.*
Zan added a comment before he sent the electrical pulse to the soon to be dusted Congresswoman,
“It’s been fun yo’ but we gots other thing ta do.”
Then as the electric sparks engulfed the Skin, they covered their faces and stepped back. The electricity fired Whitaker and started a fire that continued to burn long after the scream of pain had stopped.
“And I thought I was the dramatic one!”
Then before she knew it Maria was wrapped in a complex five way hug, but through it all her eyes remained locked on Michael.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Don’t you ever do that to me again young lady do you hear me?!”
The volume Amy reached had everyone but Maria flinching, “Yes mom, I’ll try not to get kidnapped by psychotic aliens any more, but you know considering what my friends are, who my boyfriend is, and what I can do, I don’t really see that as a 100% guaranteed. It probably increases the chance of it happening again. Probably more than once. ”
Amy just looked at Maria with tears in her eyes and then hugged her again for all she was worth.
“Oh I can guarantee it. No problem Ms. DeLuca from now on Maria is under constant Michael watch.”
Maria smiled very much liking the idea. Her mother however not so much, “Thanks Michael, it’s appreciated, but I don’t think necessary.”
He nodded his head in agreement, but those who knew him well saw the glint in his eye and knew it would be a long time before Maria was seen without her shadow Michael.
“You kids should all head home. It’s only almost midnight…”
Looking at all the kids expressions Sheriff Valenti sighed, “At least tell me your parents already think you’re staying the night somewhere?”
Max, Isabel, Liz, and Alex all nodded. Kyle and Ava looked at him with puppy eyes and Zan and Serena were already pulling out blankets for everyone.
“Amy you don’t mind do you?”
“Oh for heaven’s sake not at all. I don’t think I can stand to have any of them out of my sight just yet. Although we will have to make a run to the store in the morning for breakfast foods.
Jim and Amy watched as Serena settled onto the couch the rest settling on the floor. Michael stood by Maria who was still sitting in the love seat. Amy walked over, “Come on sweetie I’ll get you in bed.”
As they left the family room Michael took a step only to stop at Valenti’s hand on his shoulder, “I don’t think that’s a good idea son.”
Michael shrugged, “Maybe you should be a little more concerned with how close Zan is to Ava.”
With Valenti efficiently distracted he went and stood in Maria’s doorway watching as her mom tucked her in.
When she finished Amy pushed him out into the hallway and closed the door softly.
She glared at him for a minute and he stared right back.
“You break her heart Michael Guerin and she’ll never forgive you.”
Michael nodded his head.
“And I will hurt you.”
“You won’t have too.”
She stared at him for another minute.
“Stay on top of the covers.”
Michael smiled, leaned down, and kissed her cheek, and then slipped silently into Maria’s room. He crawled onto her bed and wrapped his arms around her tight. She sighed contently.
“Mom threaten your life?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm…she must really like you.”
Michael chuckled.
In the hallway Amy wiped away a tear and smiled herself as she walked off to her own room. But not until after she grabbed Jim’s hand and pulled him with her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was two days later that Alex and Isabel were walking down the street towards the Crashdown when they saw Nasedo in Pierce’s form step out of a car and straighten his suit.
*Ava get out of the Café Nasedo’s here.*
Just as he opened the front door, the back door swung back and forth as Zan and Ava snuck out of it.
They met up with Alex and Isabel around the corner of the Crashdown.
“The man just gets creepier and creepier.” Isabel nodded in agreement at Alex’s statement.
Zan wrapped an arm around Ava and spoke, “We’ll go tell Rena dat the shifter showed up.”
Isabel nodded as Alex asked, “Everyone else is still inside?”
“Yup, Maria was getting up tos cover my shift. Liz and Michael ares working too. We was sitting wit Max when you rang.”
Ava laughed at her own joke. “We’ll catch up with yous all later.”
Her and Zan hurried away as Alex and Isabel turned back to the Crashdown.
“Are you ready for this?”
Isabel sighed, “Do we have a choice?”
“Sure we can run and hide until the big nasty leaves town again.”
Isabel laughed momentarily considering the idea. Her and Alex safe at a beach with a thousand stars at night time, but then she shook her head.
“No it’s time to fight back. Fight for what we want, what we deserve!”
“That’s my girl.”
And Alex being the gentleman his parents raised him to be held open the door as Isabel stormed in and straight to the back room very much like the future warrior she would become ready to face her ‘destiny’ head on.
TBC…
When the cars pulled up to the plant every one got out.
Max took charge showing how he was indeed born to lead.
“Alex and Sheriff you guys stay at the cars. If we’re exiting anywhere but these door Isabel will contact you. I don't need you guys in any more danger. Zan, Ava, and Michael you guys are gonna go east through the doors while Isabel, Serena and I got west. Then well work our way up. Stick together.”
They moved into the facility in two single file lines Isabel leading one, Michael the other. Max and Zan brought up the rears.
Michael touched the side wall; every window exploded outward.
“She can consider that a warning. If she lays one more finger on Maria…” He trailed off not capable of finding the words to describe the pain that would face Whitaker if he lost Maria.
Ava smirked. Zan shook his head in disappointment. He didn’t think she deserved the warning.
*MARIA!*
Isabel got no response. So her group continued their search door by door.
Michael wasn’t checking doors he was leading Zan and Ava throughout a maze of corridors right to Maria.
When he got to the door he touched it. Zan and Ava watched as it melted.
All of them, even Max, Serena, and Isabel on the other side of the building, braced themselves as the building shook when Michael saw Maria lying on the cold concrete. Her beautiful blonde hair caked with drying blood, her bright clothes covered in dirt and grim, her luscious lips split and bleeding.
As Maria looked up she found Max, Isabel, and Serena had already joined the others.
She had a black-eye and a long cut on her opposite cheek. When she tried to speak she coughed up more blood.
Michael bent over her form tears in his eyes.
“Michael.”
He could tell how much effort his name cost her.
“Shh. Ria, no talking.”
She smiled and he saw the pain fill her eyes, “Not on your life, Spaceboy.”
He gave her a gently smile and pushed back her hair, softly cupping her uninjured cheek.
“Well what do we have here? A nice little gathering I see. Not exactly what I imagined, but I guess it will do.”
Michael stood in front of Maria with one arm raised but the others blocked him, forming a wall between Maria, him, and Whitaker.
Whitaker took in the three girls in the line up. “Which one of you is Vilandra?”
“Sorry, sweetum’ nobody here by dat name.” Zan exchanged a nod with Max who backed up to Maria and Michael in order to heal her.
When he got to Michael he saw Michael's eyes had turned black, Max hesitated. Then he decided to ask permission. “Michael can I…?”
Michael stared at Max, he closed his eyes and when they reopened they were back to his usually deep, dark brown. Max moved passed him after his nod.
Ignoring Max and Michael behind her and hoping to keep Whitaker occupied Serena spoke up her voice laced with sarcasm, "That's a nice little scratch you got there Vanessa."
Whitaker placed her hand over the long gash across her own face running from her temple to her mouth. "Guess I underestimated the little bitch."
Michael turned his attention away from Max's glowing hand and looked straight through Whitaker. The rest of them could see the shiver of fear pass through her frame from ten feet away.
Shaking it off and speaking with authority she didn't have Whitaker demanded, “I want Vilandra and the Granilith that’s it. Give me that and I’ll let you walk out of here unharmed."
Zan smirked. “Your outnumbered six da one. What makes you think you’re gonna mak’ it dat long?”
She had the nerve to laugh, “Please, you’re all just children. I’ve been here much longer than any of you. Plus, lived another lifetime. I’ve more strength and control then you can dream about.”
“Wanna put some money on dat?”
Whitaker turned to look at Ava. Her eyes growing wide and her fear returned when she saw the fireball in Ava’s hand growing slowly.
She turned and tried to flee only to find a blue shield of Serena in her way and the voice of Isabel crossing her mind,
*Not gonna happen bitch.*
Zan added a comment before he sent the electrical pulse to the soon to be dusted Congresswoman,
“It’s been fun yo’ but we gots other thing ta do.”
Then as the electric sparks engulfed the Skin, they covered their faces and stepped back. The electricity fired Whitaker and started a fire that continued to burn long after the scream of pain had stopped.
“And I thought I was the dramatic one!”
Then before she knew it Maria was wrapped in a complex five way hug, but through it all her eyes remained locked on Michael.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Don’t you ever do that to me again young lady do you hear me?!”
The volume Amy reached had everyone but Maria flinching, “Yes mom, I’ll try not to get kidnapped by psychotic aliens any more, but you know considering what my friends are, who my boyfriend is, and what I can do, I don’t really see that as a 100% guaranteed. It probably increases the chance of it happening again. Probably more than once. ”
Amy just looked at Maria with tears in her eyes and then hugged her again for all she was worth.
“Oh I can guarantee it. No problem Ms. DeLuca from now on Maria is under constant Michael watch.”
Maria smiled very much liking the idea. Her mother however not so much, “Thanks Michael, it’s appreciated, but I don’t think necessary.”
He nodded his head in agreement, but those who knew him well saw the glint in his eye and knew it would be a long time before Maria was seen without her shadow Michael.
“You kids should all head home. It’s only almost midnight…”
Looking at all the kids expressions Sheriff Valenti sighed, “At least tell me your parents already think you’re staying the night somewhere?”
Max, Isabel, Liz, and Alex all nodded. Kyle and Ava looked at him with puppy eyes and Zan and Serena were already pulling out blankets for everyone.
“Amy you don’t mind do you?”
“Oh for heaven’s sake not at all. I don’t think I can stand to have any of them out of my sight just yet. Although we will have to make a run to the store in the morning for breakfast foods.
Jim and Amy watched as Serena settled onto the couch the rest settling on the floor. Michael stood by Maria who was still sitting in the love seat. Amy walked over, “Come on sweetie I’ll get you in bed.”
As they left the family room Michael took a step only to stop at Valenti’s hand on his shoulder, “I don’t think that’s a good idea son.”
Michael shrugged, “Maybe you should be a little more concerned with how close Zan is to Ava.”
With Valenti efficiently distracted he went and stood in Maria’s doorway watching as her mom tucked her in.
When she finished Amy pushed him out into the hallway and closed the door softly.
She glared at him for a minute and he stared right back.
“You break her heart Michael Guerin and she’ll never forgive you.”
Michael nodded his head.
“And I will hurt you.”
“You won’t have too.”
She stared at him for another minute.
“Stay on top of the covers.”
Michael smiled, leaned down, and kissed her cheek, and then slipped silently into Maria’s room. He crawled onto her bed and wrapped his arms around her tight. She sighed contently.
“Mom threaten your life?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm…she must really like you.”
Michael chuckled.
In the hallway Amy wiped away a tear and smiled herself as she walked off to her own room. But not until after she grabbed Jim’s hand and pulled him with her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was two days later that Alex and Isabel were walking down the street towards the Crashdown when they saw Nasedo in Pierce’s form step out of a car and straighten his suit.
*Ava get out of the Café Nasedo’s here.*
Just as he opened the front door, the back door swung back and forth as Zan and Ava snuck out of it.
They met up with Alex and Isabel around the corner of the Crashdown.
“The man just gets creepier and creepier.” Isabel nodded in agreement at Alex’s statement.
Zan wrapped an arm around Ava and spoke, “We’ll go tell Rena dat the shifter showed up.”
Isabel nodded as Alex asked, “Everyone else is still inside?”
“Yup, Maria was getting up tos cover my shift. Liz and Michael ares working too. We was sitting wit Max when you rang.”
Ava laughed at her own joke. “We’ll catch up with yous all later.”
Her and Zan hurried away as Alex and Isabel turned back to the Crashdown.
“Are you ready for this?”
Isabel sighed, “Do we have a choice?”
“Sure we can run and hide until the big nasty leaves town again.”
Isabel laughed momentarily considering the idea. Her and Alex safe at a beach with a thousand stars at night time, but then she shook her head.
“No it’s time to fight back. Fight for what we want, what we deserve!”
“That’s my girl.”
And Alex being the gentleman his parents raised him to be held open the door as Isabel stormed in and straight to the back room very much like the future warrior she would become ready to face her ‘destiny’ head on.
TBC…
Last edited by starcrazed on Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) Part 23 5/18
Part 23
When Isabel entered the back room she found Michael pacing in front of the couch that seated Liz, Maria and Kyle. She went and leaned up next to the couch against the wall, Alex coming to stand next to her.
Valenti was perched on the other side of the couch staring at the shaper shifter with thinly veiled dislike.
Nasedo glanced at the humans and dismissed them. He turned to Max.
“I don’t feel Tess anywhere in the area.”
A thought crossed Max’s mind that made him frown, “Can you feel all of us?”
The shifter gritted his teeth knowing he was incapable of lying to the King when asked a direct question.
“No.”
Isabel curiously asked, “Why not?”
Nasedo shrugged at her and almost growled when Max repeated the question, “Why not?”
“I’ve spent the past ten years with Tess.”
Nasedo stopped there refusing to explain anymore unless it was demanded of him.
Michael stopped pacing and stood protectively in front of the humans. He was very alert to every move the shape shifter made, ignoring all the small talk going on around him. He had no concerns for the Tess shell, they already knew what happen to Nasedo’s instrument.
“So if she’s not in this area what does that mean?”
Nasedo glared he knew what it meant but refused to tell them straight up that Tess was dead. It would ruin all his plans. He’d just have to make a trip to New York and get her clone. Nasedo's mouth turned upwards in a feature that should have resembled a smile briefly, before his face was again emotionless leaving no signs of his delight for his plan.
Maria shivered as the turn of his evil thoughts took an even darker turn. Michael noticing pressured the shifter, “Well?”
“It means she’s gone. Either moved somewhere else, or the Skins have taken her captive. She might even be dead.”
Not missing a beat and concerned for their cover Liz spoke up, “Ah, what’s a Skin?”
Max gave her a smile of thanks and the others sagged in relief.
Nasedo ignored her until Max crossed his arms and looked at him expectantly.
“They’re your enemies I warned you about. Setting off the communication orbs alerted them to your general location. They’re probably gradually moving into town.”
“Why are they called Skins?”
Nasedo looked at the Vilandra replica; she paled in comparison to her former beauty, at least in his view.
“They shed. The atmosphere on Earth is poisonous to them so they wear Husks to protect them.”
“Husks?”
Nasedo rolled his eyes at the lanky boy. Why did they have so many damn questions? He had important things he needed to be doing.
“Yes Husks. It’s how they survived in the air. They’re only good for 50 years though.” No one noticed the small flinch as Nasedo realized he gave them more information then necessary.
Already knowing the math Michael spoke, “So they’ll be dead soon. We don’t have to worry about them?”
Michael watched carefully as Nasedo nodded.
“Yes they should all have dried up within the next year. After that the planet is free of enemies to you. It’s this year you need to be concerned about.”
Michael glared at the shifter, he glanced at Maria. Her looked proved what he felt. The shifter was lying to them.
Interesting Michael thought, he could lie to anyone but Max. Maybe not Zan either. They’d have to test that somehow.
Suddenly Courtney walked into the back room. She stopped when she saw Nasedo. Her eyes squinted at him.
Maria watched the other girl’s features not really liking the amount of terror that was suddenly radiating off her.
Nasedo was pretty empty as far as emotions went. A shell, but when Courtney realized who he was Maria couldn’t breath the terror was so strong.
As Courtney went to slip back out while Max was still talking to Nasedo she caught Maria’s eye. Maria acknowledged what the girl tried to inform her.
Courtney was warning them about the shifter. Maybe they should give her a chance.
Maria took back the last thought as Courtney’s eyes trailed over Michael before she vanished.
Max sent Nasedo away to search for Tess. He told him to report back weekly.
Nasedo gave Max a withering look who just stared back at him unblinking. “Yes sir.”
Then Nasedo turned to the back door and stomped out.
“What are we gonna do about him Maxwell?”
Max sighed and scratched his ear. “Nothing yet, we need more practice with our powers and he can’t harm us now that we have his number. Maria what was the look Courtney gave you?”
Maria jumped not realizing Max had noticed. “Oh, she’s terrified of Nasedo. She kinda was warning us.”
Max glanced at Michael, “Can you question her. See what she’ll tell us about the Husks, the other Skins and where they’re at?”
Michael nodded and walked out the swinging door. Only stopping when Maria called after him.
“Oh no you don’t Spaceboy, you better wait for me. I don’t trust that skank. She wants to put her peeling hands all over you.”
Michael cringed at the imagery and grabbed Maria’s hand as they headed for Courtney’s. Besides he promised Amy to protect Maria. He could only do that if he kept her insight and out of trouble.
Max looked around the rest of them, “I have to get to work, but somebody should let the others now what’s going on.”
Isabel pushed off away form the wall, “Alex and I can go over there,” she glanced his way to check and continued as he nodded, “we don’t have anything else planned until later anyways.”
Alex put both thumbs up grinning goofily at Liz, “Dinner with the parentals!!!”
Liz laughed. Kyle patted him on the back, “Good Luck man!”
Alex shook his head, “Not her parents.”
Isabel fidgeted, concern marring her features.
Kyle laughed as he followed his dad out the door and through the restaurant.
Liz grinned at the taller girl, “Don’t worry Iz, Mr. and Mrs. Whitman are great. They’ll love you.”
Isabel smiled thanks but still looked worried.
“Well My Lady, we have business in other parts of this fair town shall we?”
Alex held out his hand waiting for Isabel. She laughed and allowed herself to be led away while Liz was left sitting on the couch rolling her eyes.
As far as she was concerned life was pretty good. Maria was safe now and they would figure out a way to deal with Nasedo hopefully before anyone was hurt. Liz was still upset with Maria for tricking her into coming home, but it was slowly wearing away, sped up of course by the close call with Whitaker.
After thinking about how grateful she was Maria was okay, but how she was still hurt, her thoughts turned to her date with Max tonight. Twenty minutes later when Mr. Parker came downstairs he found Liz sitting on the couch with a goofy smile on her face.
He shook his head at her and moved into the kitchen, thinking how sad it was his little girl was growing up so quickly on him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maria jumped off the back of Michael’s motorcycle and Michael followed after her.
She saw Courtney standing in the doorway smirking, “Does your mother know you ride around on that thing?”
Maria snarled at her, “I dunno does your mother know you’re a grubby, indecent wh…”
Maria elbowed Michael in the gut as he put a hand over her mouth to shut her up.
“Ugh…Play nice blondie.”
Courtney had the nerve to laugh and Michael had to hold Maria back, “Not yet Ria. I’ll let you at her later.”
Maybe he should have been alarmed at the hopeful delight that filled her eyes but it only served to amuse him.
“Sure.”
“So what brings you two to my doorstep this loving evening?”
Michael scowled at her, “Cut the crap Courtney. We don’t time for you to play dumb.”
Maria mumbled something under her breath about “not acting” and “trampy idiot.” But both he and Courtney ignored her.
“Why were you so scared of the shifter?”
Her back went rigid and Michael gave her a knowing look. She stepped back and swung open the door,
“You might as well come inside.”
Michael took two steps before he went back and pushed Maria along ahead of him his eyes laughing as she complained every inch of it.
Once they were seated inside, Courtney began right away deciding Michael was right, time to cut the bullshit.
“The shape shifter made a deal with Khivar about thirty years ago.” She paused waiting for them to ask who Khivar was; she was shocked to find they seemed to know all of this already.
“Okay…then. Rathists, the ah Skins who wanted Rath in power instead of Zan are terrified of the shifter because he’s completely ruthless. It doesn’t matter what you are: human, hybrid, host, Skin, if you get in his way he’ll kill you. And it’s not always quick. Most of his kills are innocent beings too. Plus, he has the advantage of being anyone…”
“What’s a host?”
“When the aliens up there, usually the leaders, take over a human body down here. It doesn’t happen often because it requires a lot of resources, but they use it as a way to meet without Khivar finding out usually.”
Michael nodded thinking over what she had said and what Nasedo had mentioned earlier when Maria spoke up. He smiled because her tone was almost polite.
“What about the Husks, is it true you’re all dying?”
Courtney nodded, “Yeah, but that’s supposed to be remedied soon.”
“How?”
Michael scratched his eyebrow as Courtney gave them proof from the other side of Nasedo’s lie.
“The Harvest, over in Copper Summit, Nicholas is growing new Husks for all of us, well most of us. The Rathists don’t have any husks lined up”
Maria looked sad, “So you’ll just…turn to dust.”
Courtney half shrugged, “It’s fine I’ve accepted it, I’m one of the last Rathists here anyway. We never expected it to take so long for you to hatch. I’m privileged to have actually met the Great War Commander before I go”
“Who’s Nicholas?”
If possible Courtney became more terrified than when she saw Nasedo.
“He’s you…we’ll your opposite. He’s Khivar’s Second. He’s vicious. A brutal murderer. Up on Antar, even when I was with Khivar I didn’t want to have to deal with Nicholai. If you’re against him…” Courtney shook her head, “just forget it. You don’t stand a chance. And then if you’re against him and piss him off. There’s no where on this planet or any other you could hide from him.”
Maria had paled at this point, Michael too was concerned. “Is there anything else?”
Courtney examined the two of them, “No, assuming you know how to kill the husks…” they nodded, “that’s the only useful information I had. Well, that and protect the Granilith. Your enemies think your foolish children, don’t let them take advantage of you and especially don’t let them get the Granilith. It doesn’t matter what the trade off is. Our enemies having the Granilith is a thousand times worse, not just for you either. For the entire universe.”
They stood and walked to the door. When they got back to the motorcycle she called out.
“Hey.”
They both stopped and looked at her.
“I’m glad you found her. The woman, who has the capability to bear the children who shall yield all the power of the Granilith.”
Maria smiled.
As Michael handed her the helmet he responded to Courtney.
“Me too.” Then after a second he added, “Thanks, for your help.”
“It’s the least I could do. Just so you know...I’ll be leaving town. I don’t want to draw the others here and they’ll find me eventually so…”
Maria made eye contact with her and for the first time her eyes weren’t filled with dislike, “Thank you.”
Courtney gave a soft smile and shut the door at the motorcycle rode off into the setting sun.
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Isabel entered the back room she found Michael pacing in front of the couch that seated Liz, Maria and Kyle. She went and leaned up next to the couch against the wall, Alex coming to stand next to her.
Valenti was perched on the other side of the couch staring at the shaper shifter with thinly veiled dislike.
Nasedo glanced at the humans and dismissed them. He turned to Max.
“I don’t feel Tess anywhere in the area.”
A thought crossed Max’s mind that made him frown, “Can you feel all of us?”
The shifter gritted his teeth knowing he was incapable of lying to the King when asked a direct question.
“No.”
Isabel curiously asked, “Why not?”
Nasedo shrugged at her and almost growled when Max repeated the question, “Why not?”
“I’ve spent the past ten years with Tess.”
Nasedo stopped there refusing to explain anymore unless it was demanded of him.
Michael stopped pacing and stood protectively in front of the humans. He was very alert to every move the shape shifter made, ignoring all the small talk going on around him. He had no concerns for the Tess shell, they already knew what happen to Nasedo’s instrument.
“So if she’s not in this area what does that mean?”
Nasedo glared he knew what it meant but refused to tell them straight up that Tess was dead. It would ruin all his plans. He’d just have to make a trip to New York and get her clone. Nasedo's mouth turned upwards in a feature that should have resembled a smile briefly, before his face was again emotionless leaving no signs of his delight for his plan.
Maria shivered as the turn of his evil thoughts took an even darker turn. Michael noticing pressured the shifter, “Well?”
“It means she’s gone. Either moved somewhere else, or the Skins have taken her captive. She might even be dead.”
Not missing a beat and concerned for their cover Liz spoke up, “Ah, what’s a Skin?”
Max gave her a smile of thanks and the others sagged in relief.
Nasedo ignored her until Max crossed his arms and looked at him expectantly.
“They’re your enemies I warned you about. Setting off the communication orbs alerted them to your general location. They’re probably gradually moving into town.”
“Why are they called Skins?”
Nasedo looked at the Vilandra replica; she paled in comparison to her former beauty, at least in his view.
“They shed. The atmosphere on Earth is poisonous to them so they wear Husks to protect them.”
“Husks?”
Nasedo rolled his eyes at the lanky boy. Why did they have so many damn questions? He had important things he needed to be doing.
“Yes Husks. It’s how they survived in the air. They’re only good for 50 years though.” No one noticed the small flinch as Nasedo realized he gave them more information then necessary.
Already knowing the math Michael spoke, “So they’ll be dead soon. We don’t have to worry about them?”
Michael watched carefully as Nasedo nodded.
“Yes they should all have dried up within the next year. After that the planet is free of enemies to you. It’s this year you need to be concerned about.”
Michael glared at the shifter, he glanced at Maria. Her looked proved what he felt. The shifter was lying to them.
Interesting Michael thought, he could lie to anyone but Max. Maybe not Zan either. They’d have to test that somehow.
Suddenly Courtney walked into the back room. She stopped when she saw Nasedo. Her eyes squinted at him.
Maria watched the other girl’s features not really liking the amount of terror that was suddenly radiating off her.
Nasedo was pretty empty as far as emotions went. A shell, but when Courtney realized who he was Maria couldn’t breath the terror was so strong.
As Courtney went to slip back out while Max was still talking to Nasedo she caught Maria’s eye. Maria acknowledged what the girl tried to inform her.
Courtney was warning them about the shifter. Maybe they should give her a chance.
Maria took back the last thought as Courtney’s eyes trailed over Michael before she vanished.
Max sent Nasedo away to search for Tess. He told him to report back weekly.
Nasedo gave Max a withering look who just stared back at him unblinking. “Yes sir.”
Then Nasedo turned to the back door and stomped out.
“What are we gonna do about him Maxwell?”
Max sighed and scratched his ear. “Nothing yet, we need more practice with our powers and he can’t harm us now that we have his number. Maria what was the look Courtney gave you?”
Maria jumped not realizing Max had noticed. “Oh, she’s terrified of Nasedo. She kinda was warning us.”
Max glanced at Michael, “Can you question her. See what she’ll tell us about the Husks, the other Skins and where they’re at?”
Michael nodded and walked out the swinging door. Only stopping when Maria called after him.
“Oh no you don’t Spaceboy, you better wait for me. I don’t trust that skank. She wants to put her peeling hands all over you.”
Michael cringed at the imagery and grabbed Maria’s hand as they headed for Courtney’s. Besides he promised Amy to protect Maria. He could only do that if he kept her insight and out of trouble.
Max looked around the rest of them, “I have to get to work, but somebody should let the others now what’s going on.”
Isabel pushed off away form the wall, “Alex and I can go over there,” she glanced his way to check and continued as he nodded, “we don’t have anything else planned until later anyways.”
Alex put both thumbs up grinning goofily at Liz, “Dinner with the parentals!!!”
Liz laughed. Kyle patted him on the back, “Good Luck man!”
Alex shook his head, “Not her parents.”
Isabel fidgeted, concern marring her features.
Kyle laughed as he followed his dad out the door and through the restaurant.
Liz grinned at the taller girl, “Don’t worry Iz, Mr. and Mrs. Whitman are great. They’ll love you.”
Isabel smiled thanks but still looked worried.
“Well My Lady, we have business in other parts of this fair town shall we?”
Alex held out his hand waiting for Isabel. She laughed and allowed herself to be led away while Liz was left sitting on the couch rolling her eyes.
As far as she was concerned life was pretty good. Maria was safe now and they would figure out a way to deal with Nasedo hopefully before anyone was hurt. Liz was still upset with Maria for tricking her into coming home, but it was slowly wearing away, sped up of course by the close call with Whitaker.
After thinking about how grateful she was Maria was okay, but how she was still hurt, her thoughts turned to her date with Max tonight. Twenty minutes later when Mr. Parker came downstairs he found Liz sitting on the couch with a goofy smile on her face.
He shook his head at her and moved into the kitchen, thinking how sad it was his little girl was growing up so quickly on him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maria jumped off the back of Michael’s motorcycle and Michael followed after her.
She saw Courtney standing in the doorway smirking, “Does your mother know you ride around on that thing?”
Maria snarled at her, “I dunno does your mother know you’re a grubby, indecent wh…”
Maria elbowed Michael in the gut as he put a hand over her mouth to shut her up.
“Ugh…Play nice blondie.”
Courtney had the nerve to laugh and Michael had to hold Maria back, “Not yet Ria. I’ll let you at her later.”
Maybe he should have been alarmed at the hopeful delight that filled her eyes but it only served to amuse him.
“Sure.”
“So what brings you two to my doorstep this loving evening?”
Michael scowled at her, “Cut the crap Courtney. We don’t time for you to play dumb.”
Maria mumbled something under her breath about “not acting” and “trampy idiot.” But both he and Courtney ignored her.
“Why were you so scared of the shifter?”
Her back went rigid and Michael gave her a knowing look. She stepped back and swung open the door,
“You might as well come inside.”
Michael took two steps before he went back and pushed Maria along ahead of him his eyes laughing as she complained every inch of it.
Once they were seated inside, Courtney began right away deciding Michael was right, time to cut the bullshit.
“The shape shifter made a deal with Khivar about thirty years ago.” She paused waiting for them to ask who Khivar was; she was shocked to find they seemed to know all of this already.
“Okay…then. Rathists, the ah Skins who wanted Rath in power instead of Zan are terrified of the shifter because he’s completely ruthless. It doesn’t matter what you are: human, hybrid, host, Skin, if you get in his way he’ll kill you. And it’s not always quick. Most of his kills are innocent beings too. Plus, he has the advantage of being anyone…”
“What’s a host?”
“When the aliens up there, usually the leaders, take over a human body down here. It doesn’t happen often because it requires a lot of resources, but they use it as a way to meet without Khivar finding out usually.”
Michael nodded thinking over what she had said and what Nasedo had mentioned earlier when Maria spoke up. He smiled because her tone was almost polite.
“What about the Husks, is it true you’re all dying?”
Courtney nodded, “Yeah, but that’s supposed to be remedied soon.”
“How?”
Michael scratched his eyebrow as Courtney gave them proof from the other side of Nasedo’s lie.
“The Harvest, over in Copper Summit, Nicholas is growing new Husks for all of us, well most of us. The Rathists don’t have any husks lined up”
Maria looked sad, “So you’ll just…turn to dust.”
Courtney half shrugged, “It’s fine I’ve accepted it, I’m one of the last Rathists here anyway. We never expected it to take so long for you to hatch. I’m privileged to have actually met the Great War Commander before I go”
“Who’s Nicholas?”
If possible Courtney became more terrified than when she saw Nasedo.
“He’s you…we’ll your opposite. He’s Khivar’s Second. He’s vicious. A brutal murderer. Up on Antar, even when I was with Khivar I didn’t want to have to deal with Nicholai. If you’re against him…” Courtney shook her head, “just forget it. You don’t stand a chance. And then if you’re against him and piss him off. There’s no where on this planet or any other you could hide from him.”
Maria had paled at this point, Michael too was concerned. “Is there anything else?”
Courtney examined the two of them, “No, assuming you know how to kill the husks…” they nodded, “that’s the only useful information I had. Well, that and protect the Granilith. Your enemies think your foolish children, don’t let them take advantage of you and especially don’t let them get the Granilith. It doesn’t matter what the trade off is. Our enemies having the Granilith is a thousand times worse, not just for you either. For the entire universe.”
They stood and walked to the door. When they got back to the motorcycle she called out.
“Hey.”
They both stopped and looked at her.
“I’m glad you found her. The woman, who has the capability to bear the children who shall yield all the power of the Granilith.”
Maria smiled.
As Michael handed her the helmet he responded to Courtney.
“Me too.” Then after a second he added, “Thanks, for your help.”
“It’s the least I could do. Just so you know...I’ll be leaving town. I don’t want to draw the others here and they’ll find me eventually so…”
Maria made eye contact with her and for the first time her eyes weren’t filled with dislike, “Thank you.”
Courtney gave a soft smile and shut the door at the motorcycle rode off into the setting sun.
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
artwork by: RosDude
Michael: Whoever sent us down here was smart, you know? Because they sent us together, and as long as we stick together, we're gonna make it.
Find all my fics here starcrazed stories
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starcrazed
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Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) Part 24 5/24
Part 24
Isabel and Alex just finished telling Zan and Ava about Nasedo’s visit when Michael and Maria waltzed in through the door.
Zan’s eyes narrowed, “Yo duke, it’s called knockin’.”
Michael lifted his hands and wiggled his fingers, “It’s called molecular manipulation. Learn it, use it, love it.”
Isabel, Alex, and Maria rolled their eyes at the boys Ava just laughed, knowing Zan, so knowing what was about to come out of his mouth.
“You sure bout tat? Cuz I got no prob wigglin’ my fingers. Say when yous entertainin’ certain long-legged, blonde haired, green eyed beauties. I imagine it’d come in real handy.”
As he spoke he let his eyes travel up Maria’s form until he reached her eyes then raised his eye brows suggestively at her before turning his attention back to Michael. For Maria’s credit she managed not to squirm or laugh at Zan’s behavior.
Michael whose eyes began to darken the longer Zan stared at his girl was about to raise his hand and blast him onto his ass when said girl walked up behind him and smack him across the head, “Now who should play nice?”
Michael growled, but Maria just rolled her eyes at him. He turned back to Zan, “I’ll knock.”
“Tat’s all I’m sayin.”
Alex broke up the tension, “So how was Courtney’s?”
Michael half shrugged and joined Zan on the couch as he watched the muted game on TV. Maria took it upon herself to dive into a very interesting retelling of their trip to Courtney’s house.
Michael managed to grunt at the appropriate places when Maria directed a question to him, but other then that the TV had both his and Zan’s undivided attention.
Isabel pondered what Maria was saying, “We’ll probably have to go take care of the husks soon then. I mean it will be worse if we let them…ah…harvest them right?”
Alex nodded as he unconsciously grabbed her hand and rubbed small circles on the back of it.
“Yeah, Isabel said, the ah…other Isabel that is…” with a slightly confused shake of his head Alex continued, “She gave me some particular details about the communities they form. She seemed to believe my computer savvy skills would have me uncovering the other Skin hunts for us so we could take care of those in time too.”
Isabel squeezed his hand, “She’s right. You’ll be able to figure it out. I’ll help you if you want, well, as best as I can that is.”
Maria wiggled her eye brows suggestively at Alex when Isabel turned away he couldn’t help but snort which caused Michael and Zan to look over and catch the ridiculous look Maria was giving Alex.
“Yo Ria, I think Michael’s rubbin’ off on ya.” Ava collapsed into giggles at the dirty look Maria threw her. Her dirty look had the others following Ava’s example and that was how Serena found them all.
“Geeze guys have all the fun while I’m gone. What’d I miss?”
The laughter grew and Maria rolled her eyes, “Sorry Serena one of these goof balls will have to catch you up I have something I need to see to.”
As she breezed out of the apartment Michael chased after her. When they got to the hallway he grabbed her arm lightly.
“Wait up Blondie.”
“Michael you can stay here. I have to go talk to Liz. No boys allowed.”
“I’m not leaving you alone. Something could happen!”
“Michael the Jetta’s still downstairs from earlier. I’ll get into my car and go to the Crashdown like I have a hundred times before.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight!!! Something could happen to you!”
His loud voice set off her anger, “You don’t know that! Michael I’ll be fine!”
“Just let me go with you.”
“Michael you can’t watch me 24/7. I don’t need a babysitter!”
From the apartment the others cringed as their voices continued to get louder.
“Like hell you don’t! Maria you could get hurt. AGAIN! I can’t let that happen to you!”
“Michael, I can’t live my life in fear of something bad might happen to me. It’s no way to live for anyone.”
Michael’s voice was softer, “I can’t lose you Maria. I can’t.”
She cupped his cheek with her hand, “Michael, you won’t.”
“You can’t promise me that.”
“Spapeboy, it will take much more then some wacko Skin to get rid of me. I’m tough Michael. I can handle myself on the way to the Crashdown.”
Seeing he was still much too concerned for her safety she smiled and tried to compromise, “I’ll call you when I get there?”
He pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead. Maria pulled away slowly savoring his warmth.
“Good Luck Blondie. You put our Liz Parker straight.”
As Maria bounced off she hoped she was lucky. Maria had thought Liz was gradually moving past her lie especially since the Whitaker thing, but a now Liz was back to the distance that had cropped up between them. Sure Liz was friendly, but she didn’t seek Maria out anymore and Maria missed her best friend. Maria needed her best friend.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maria closed her cell phone as she got out of her car and looked up into the flashing lights of the UFO. Never in her whole life had Maria ever been so nervous to enter the Crashdown. It’s been like a second home since Liz and she were six.
On the drive over Maria decided, Liz returning to the silent treatment after ensuring Maria was okay after Whitaker just wasn’t acceptable. So Maria found herself planted at the counter in front of Liz ready to beg for forgiveness.
“Hi Chica.”
Liz glanced up and gave a small smile. It only seemed partially forced as she spoke, “Hi.”
“Liz you’re avoiding me.”
“Nonsense. You’re right here and I haven’t gone running.” The tone was a little too sharp even if Maria hadn’t picked up on the sarcasm.
“Liz I can’t live like this. I’m sorry okay I’m sorry I…”
“Manipulated my feelings and tricked me into coming home before I was ready. Sorry you lied to me...your best friend?” The harshness was not offset by Liz whispering it.
Maria allowed her head to fall for a second in shame before she looked directly into Liz’s eyes.
“No.”
The answer obviously startled Liz whose eyes widen and her mouth gapped at Maria. Before Liz could walk off Maria went on,
“I know that tricking you to come home was horrible and I’ll always feel guilty for playing with your feelings too. And I swear to you Liz I’ll never lie to you again. I felt horrible doing it and worse now because you still won’t talk to me. But the result, I don’t regret it. I can’t. Not when I see Max walk in here and you light up like a Christmas tree, not knowing all that we had to do, all that we have to still do to make sure Izzie’s plan works, and not when I know if the circumstances were reversed you would have done the same thing to get me home. Home where I belong.”
Maria huffed as she tried to think of anything she left out. She didn’t get to continue though as Liz finally spoke up.
“I’m sorry Maria. It’s just I never thought you could lie to me. And I completely believed it. Logically, I knew what you were saying wasn’t true because why would Max go off to help Nasedo, by himself, but my heart wanted to believe you. Worse probably my heart wanted to believe my head knowing Max wasn’t here but allowing you to give me a reason to come home. Where I belong.”
Maria gave Liz a slightly confused look, but managed to gather what she was trying to say, “Friends?”
Liz reached across the counter and hugged her. “Best.”
Maria returned the hug, “Always.”
Liz nodded as she pulled back. “No more lies.”
Maria chuckled at Liz’s raised questioning eyebrows.
“Definitely no more lies, no matter who drops in from the future.”
Liz laughed and plopped a cherry coke in front of Maria, “So you and Michael seemed pretty cozy after the whole Whitaker thing?”
“Michael and me! Please you and Max were practically in the same sleeping bag!”
“You and Michael WERE in the same BED!”
“Lizzie!!!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Staring at the computer screen for the past three hours straight couldn’t be good for his eyes. He certainly didn’t notice as the sun finished going down and Isabel grew more impatient sitting on his bed reading her magazine.
“Alex give it a break. Serena said she would ask Kal more to see if there was anything she'd missed after her scouting trip out there. We can deal with the Skins there before we go rushing off to other Skin camps. We’re going to be late for the movie.”
Alex grinned a bit, “I think we’re going to have reschedule our date Isabel. I can’t stay awake for a movie after staring at this screen for so long.” His grin faded at Isabel’s confused look.
“Alex who said anything about a date? I though we were just hanging out. You know two really good friends. Having a good time and being there for each other.”
Alex was visibly upset by the time she was finished though he managed not to raise his voice and startle his parents who were still in the kitchen, “What the hell have we been doing these past few days if not dating? For Pete sake Isabel we just had dinner with my parents as if you’re my girlfriend.”
She blushed shocked at his tone, “I know Alex and I don’t have a problem with that because you know I want to be your girlfriend eventually, but there’s so much going on right now and I want you to be sure about this because you know after watching Max and Liz and Michael and Maria I’m starting to actually realize once you take that plunge there’s no going back and I want to make sure you’re ready for that. Make sure that I’m ready for that. So I just thought we were going to take this slow.”
Alex’s emotions had hit a range in her brief passionate speech. But even through his own rampant emotions he saw her fear. He sighed, she was always so afraid.
“Isabel. You don’t have to hide from me. Not your human side or your alien side. You can be just Isabel with me. I’ve seen you at your worst. I’ve seen you at your best. I’ve seen you a hundred other ways in-between. I know you, even if you want to think I don’t. I know you and I love you. All of you, every little idiosyncrasy that makes up Isabel Evans I’m in love with. I've already taken that plunge. It doesn’t matter if you keep me at arms length or not, I’m already in this and I’m not leaving. But let me love you and it doesn’t have to be a bittersweet love and a life filled with half pleasures. You’re scared. So am I, but let’s be scared together.”
Slowly, Isabel nodded and a smile appeared on her face. Alex was hesitant to let his own grin burst free.
“I love you Alex. I’m in love with you. And I want to be scared with you.”
Alex smiled softly at the blush that covered Isabel’s cheeks. “Are you sure Iz. I’m not handing you an ultimatum that says you have to decide right now.”
“I’m sure Alex. I’ve never been more sure. It’s not just because of what Future me said, although that doesn’t hurt. It’s the flowers you brought me that morning. It’s your unwavering support and friendship to me; your loyalty and protectiveness to Liz and Maria. Even if that does mean standing up to Max and Michael who have powers and way more muscle then you. It’s the way your eyes smile and fill with joy before the rest of you laughs or shares the joke with the rest of us. It’s the kindness that overflows from your spirit. It’s you Alex. You inspire me to be braver than I thought I could. You invoke feelings in me that sometimes I don’t understand. It may have taken me longer to realize it without Future Isabel’s help, but then we would have had such a short time. I want everyday to be as wonderful as possible and that can’t happen if we’re holding each other at arms length afraid to get hurt. So we have to face our fears together like you said. I can do that.”
He was already leaning closer at this point, but before his lips touch hers and the images exploded across both their minds he whispered so close Isabel felt the breath on her cheek.
“Together we can do anything.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kyle stared at Ava who stared at Jim who stared at Kyle.
“I was thinking of cleaning out the den for Ava’s room.”
Kyle’s head spun around to meet his father’s gaze.
Ava watched fascinated as some sort of silent communication went on between the two Valenti men. She watched as they decided her fate. Couch or bed. Living room or a real bedroom.
“Mom’s old stuff is there. The stuff she forgot when she left.”
Jim just nodded at Kyle’s comment. It was the reason the den hadn’t been touched in eight years.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Ava’s blue eyes widen, “Now?!”
Jim stood up, “Of course now. We can’t leave Kyle on the couch forever. It wouldn’t be nice. Besides when Amy was over the other day she was giving us funny looks.”
Ava giggled as she followed her boys into her future room.
“After we move all the stuff out we can paint it, I know this color is kind of…”
“Boring.”
“Outdated.”
“Lame.”
“Nauseatin’.”
“Alright kids I get it.”
Nobody flinched at the title, Ava simple put her hand to the wall and started changing the colors, “I gots it.”
So while Jim and Kyle did all the heavy lifting Ava changed wall colors and refurnished the desk and dresser that were already in the room. She finally decided the white desk and dresser would match well with bright purple walls.
It made Kyle cringe and he was about to mock her until she wiggled her fingers threateningly and he figured it would be in his best interest to stay on the alien’s good side.
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Isabel and Alex just finished telling Zan and Ava about Nasedo’s visit when Michael and Maria waltzed in through the door.
Zan’s eyes narrowed, “Yo duke, it’s called knockin’.”
Michael lifted his hands and wiggled his fingers, “It’s called molecular manipulation. Learn it, use it, love it.”
Isabel, Alex, and Maria rolled their eyes at the boys Ava just laughed, knowing Zan, so knowing what was about to come out of his mouth.
“You sure bout tat? Cuz I got no prob wigglin’ my fingers. Say when yous entertainin’ certain long-legged, blonde haired, green eyed beauties. I imagine it’d come in real handy.”
As he spoke he let his eyes travel up Maria’s form until he reached her eyes then raised his eye brows suggestively at her before turning his attention back to Michael. For Maria’s credit she managed not to squirm or laugh at Zan’s behavior.
Michael whose eyes began to darken the longer Zan stared at his girl was about to raise his hand and blast him onto his ass when said girl walked up behind him and smack him across the head, “Now who should play nice?”
Michael growled, but Maria just rolled her eyes at him. He turned back to Zan, “I’ll knock.”
“Tat’s all I’m sayin.”
Alex broke up the tension, “So how was Courtney’s?”
Michael half shrugged and joined Zan on the couch as he watched the muted game on TV. Maria took it upon herself to dive into a very interesting retelling of their trip to Courtney’s house.
Michael managed to grunt at the appropriate places when Maria directed a question to him, but other then that the TV had both his and Zan’s undivided attention.
Isabel pondered what Maria was saying, “We’ll probably have to go take care of the husks soon then. I mean it will be worse if we let them…ah…harvest them right?”
Alex nodded as he unconsciously grabbed her hand and rubbed small circles on the back of it.
“Yeah, Isabel said, the ah…other Isabel that is…” with a slightly confused shake of his head Alex continued, “She gave me some particular details about the communities they form. She seemed to believe my computer savvy skills would have me uncovering the other Skin hunts for us so we could take care of those in time too.”
Isabel squeezed his hand, “She’s right. You’ll be able to figure it out. I’ll help you if you want, well, as best as I can that is.”
Maria wiggled her eye brows suggestively at Alex when Isabel turned away he couldn’t help but snort which caused Michael and Zan to look over and catch the ridiculous look Maria was giving Alex.
“Yo Ria, I think Michael’s rubbin’ off on ya.” Ava collapsed into giggles at the dirty look Maria threw her. Her dirty look had the others following Ava’s example and that was how Serena found them all.
“Geeze guys have all the fun while I’m gone. What’d I miss?”
The laughter grew and Maria rolled her eyes, “Sorry Serena one of these goof balls will have to catch you up I have something I need to see to.”
As she breezed out of the apartment Michael chased after her. When they got to the hallway he grabbed her arm lightly.
“Wait up Blondie.”
“Michael you can stay here. I have to go talk to Liz. No boys allowed.”
“I’m not leaving you alone. Something could happen!”
“Michael the Jetta’s still downstairs from earlier. I’ll get into my car and go to the Crashdown like I have a hundred times before.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight!!! Something could happen to you!”
His loud voice set off her anger, “You don’t know that! Michael I’ll be fine!”
“Just let me go with you.”
“Michael you can’t watch me 24/7. I don’t need a babysitter!”
From the apartment the others cringed as their voices continued to get louder.
“Like hell you don’t! Maria you could get hurt. AGAIN! I can’t let that happen to you!”
“Michael, I can’t live my life in fear of something bad might happen to me. It’s no way to live for anyone.”
Michael’s voice was softer, “I can’t lose you Maria. I can’t.”
She cupped his cheek with her hand, “Michael, you won’t.”
“You can’t promise me that.”
“Spapeboy, it will take much more then some wacko Skin to get rid of me. I’m tough Michael. I can handle myself on the way to the Crashdown.”
Seeing he was still much too concerned for her safety she smiled and tried to compromise, “I’ll call you when I get there?”
He pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead. Maria pulled away slowly savoring his warmth.
“Good Luck Blondie. You put our Liz Parker straight.”
As Maria bounced off she hoped she was lucky. Maria had thought Liz was gradually moving past her lie especially since the Whitaker thing, but a now Liz was back to the distance that had cropped up between them. Sure Liz was friendly, but she didn’t seek Maria out anymore and Maria missed her best friend. Maria needed her best friend.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maria closed her cell phone as she got out of her car and looked up into the flashing lights of the UFO. Never in her whole life had Maria ever been so nervous to enter the Crashdown. It’s been like a second home since Liz and she were six.
On the drive over Maria decided, Liz returning to the silent treatment after ensuring Maria was okay after Whitaker just wasn’t acceptable. So Maria found herself planted at the counter in front of Liz ready to beg for forgiveness.
“Hi Chica.”
Liz glanced up and gave a small smile. It only seemed partially forced as she spoke, “Hi.”
“Liz you’re avoiding me.”
“Nonsense. You’re right here and I haven’t gone running.” The tone was a little too sharp even if Maria hadn’t picked up on the sarcasm.
“Liz I can’t live like this. I’m sorry okay I’m sorry I…”
“Manipulated my feelings and tricked me into coming home before I was ready. Sorry you lied to me...your best friend?” The harshness was not offset by Liz whispering it.
Maria allowed her head to fall for a second in shame before she looked directly into Liz’s eyes.
“No.”
The answer obviously startled Liz whose eyes widen and her mouth gapped at Maria. Before Liz could walk off Maria went on,
“I know that tricking you to come home was horrible and I’ll always feel guilty for playing with your feelings too. And I swear to you Liz I’ll never lie to you again. I felt horrible doing it and worse now because you still won’t talk to me. But the result, I don’t regret it. I can’t. Not when I see Max walk in here and you light up like a Christmas tree, not knowing all that we had to do, all that we have to still do to make sure Izzie’s plan works, and not when I know if the circumstances were reversed you would have done the same thing to get me home. Home where I belong.”
Maria huffed as she tried to think of anything she left out. She didn’t get to continue though as Liz finally spoke up.
“I’m sorry Maria. It’s just I never thought you could lie to me. And I completely believed it. Logically, I knew what you were saying wasn’t true because why would Max go off to help Nasedo, by himself, but my heart wanted to believe you. Worse probably my heart wanted to believe my head knowing Max wasn’t here but allowing you to give me a reason to come home. Where I belong.”
Maria gave Liz a slightly confused look, but managed to gather what she was trying to say, “Friends?”
Liz reached across the counter and hugged her. “Best.”
Maria returned the hug, “Always.”
Liz nodded as she pulled back. “No more lies.”
Maria chuckled at Liz’s raised questioning eyebrows.
“Definitely no more lies, no matter who drops in from the future.”
Liz laughed and plopped a cherry coke in front of Maria, “So you and Michael seemed pretty cozy after the whole Whitaker thing?”
“Michael and me! Please you and Max were practically in the same sleeping bag!”
“You and Michael WERE in the same BED!”
“Lizzie!!!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Staring at the computer screen for the past three hours straight couldn’t be good for his eyes. He certainly didn’t notice as the sun finished going down and Isabel grew more impatient sitting on his bed reading her magazine.
“Alex give it a break. Serena said she would ask Kal more to see if there was anything she'd missed after her scouting trip out there. We can deal with the Skins there before we go rushing off to other Skin camps. We’re going to be late for the movie.”
Alex grinned a bit, “I think we’re going to have reschedule our date Isabel. I can’t stay awake for a movie after staring at this screen for so long.” His grin faded at Isabel’s confused look.
“Alex who said anything about a date? I though we were just hanging out. You know two really good friends. Having a good time and being there for each other.”
Alex was visibly upset by the time she was finished though he managed not to raise his voice and startle his parents who were still in the kitchen, “What the hell have we been doing these past few days if not dating? For Pete sake Isabel we just had dinner with my parents as if you’re my girlfriend.”
She blushed shocked at his tone, “I know Alex and I don’t have a problem with that because you know I want to be your girlfriend eventually, but there’s so much going on right now and I want you to be sure about this because you know after watching Max and Liz and Michael and Maria I’m starting to actually realize once you take that plunge there’s no going back and I want to make sure you’re ready for that. Make sure that I’m ready for that. So I just thought we were going to take this slow.”
Alex’s emotions had hit a range in her brief passionate speech. But even through his own rampant emotions he saw her fear. He sighed, she was always so afraid.
“Isabel. You don’t have to hide from me. Not your human side or your alien side. You can be just Isabel with me. I’ve seen you at your worst. I’ve seen you at your best. I’ve seen you a hundred other ways in-between. I know you, even if you want to think I don’t. I know you and I love you. All of you, every little idiosyncrasy that makes up Isabel Evans I’m in love with. I've already taken that plunge. It doesn’t matter if you keep me at arms length or not, I’m already in this and I’m not leaving. But let me love you and it doesn’t have to be a bittersweet love and a life filled with half pleasures. You’re scared. So am I, but let’s be scared together.”
Slowly, Isabel nodded and a smile appeared on her face. Alex was hesitant to let his own grin burst free.
“I love you Alex. I’m in love with you. And I want to be scared with you.”
Alex smiled softly at the blush that covered Isabel’s cheeks. “Are you sure Iz. I’m not handing you an ultimatum that says you have to decide right now.”
“I’m sure Alex. I’ve never been more sure. It’s not just because of what Future me said, although that doesn’t hurt. It’s the flowers you brought me that morning. It’s your unwavering support and friendship to me; your loyalty and protectiveness to Liz and Maria. Even if that does mean standing up to Max and Michael who have powers and way more muscle then you. It’s the way your eyes smile and fill with joy before the rest of you laughs or shares the joke with the rest of us. It’s the kindness that overflows from your spirit. It’s you Alex. You inspire me to be braver than I thought I could. You invoke feelings in me that sometimes I don’t understand. It may have taken me longer to realize it without Future Isabel’s help, but then we would have had such a short time. I want everyday to be as wonderful as possible and that can’t happen if we’re holding each other at arms length afraid to get hurt. So we have to face our fears together like you said. I can do that.”
He was already leaning closer at this point, but before his lips touch hers and the images exploded across both their minds he whispered so close Isabel felt the breath on her cheek.
“Together we can do anything.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kyle stared at Ava who stared at Jim who stared at Kyle.
“I was thinking of cleaning out the den for Ava’s room.”
Kyle’s head spun around to meet his father’s gaze.
Ava watched fascinated as some sort of silent communication went on between the two Valenti men. She watched as they decided her fate. Couch or bed. Living room or a real bedroom.
“Mom’s old stuff is there. The stuff she forgot when she left.”
Jim just nodded at Kyle’s comment. It was the reason the den hadn’t been touched in eight years.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Ava’s blue eyes widen, “Now?!”
Jim stood up, “Of course now. We can’t leave Kyle on the couch forever. It wouldn’t be nice. Besides when Amy was over the other day she was giving us funny looks.”
Ava giggled as she followed her boys into her future room.
“After we move all the stuff out we can paint it, I know this color is kind of…”
“Boring.”
“Outdated.”
“Lame.”
“Nauseatin’.”
“Alright kids I get it.”
Nobody flinched at the title, Ava simple put her hand to the wall and started changing the colors, “I gots it.”
So while Jim and Kyle did all the heavy lifting Ava changed wall colors and refurnished the desk and dresser that were already in the room. She finally decided the white desk and dresser would match well with bright purple walls.
It made Kyle cringe and he was about to mock her until she wiggled her fingers threateningly and he figured it would be in his best interest to stay on the alien’s good side.
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
artwork by: RosDude
Michael: Whoever sent us down here was smart, you know? Because they sent us together, and as long as we stick together, we're gonna make it.
Find all my fics here starcrazed stories
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starcrazed
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- Posts: 247
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:46 pm
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Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) Part 25 6/4
Lines taken from “Summer of 47” and “Harvest” I altered them slightly please don’t get mad!
Part 25
Michael walked down the hallway and saw Maria leaning on the locker next to his, “Hey. New gel?" Ignoring his eye roll she rushed on, "So, um, Portishead tickets went on sale this morning. Did you get my messages?”
Michael nodded as he pulled books from his locker, “Yeah, I’ll go after school since I don’t have work today.” Michael raised an eyebrow at her as he shut his locker. She smiled kissed his cheek and bounced away as Max joined Michael,
“Nice.”
Michael ignored Max as they walked towards their first class of the day. Liz appeared out of now where in front of them,
“Oh, Max…look, I don’t know what to do. Calls keep on coming into Congresswoman Whitaker’s office. Should I return them or…”
Michael rolled his eyes, “You know Serena is checked out Copper Summit. She's gonna tell us about it after work tonight. Can’t we hold off until then?”
Liz nodded, to Max she added, “We’ll talk in trig.” Then she went off in another direction.
Max turned to Michael, “You know, mean people suck.”
Michael was about to open his mouth to respond when his history teach walked up to them.
“Mr. Guerin, true or false? We’re not even a month into the semester, and you’re already failing my class. This is a new record.”
Michael cursed in his head. He knew there was some subject he was neglecting. This whole adjusting to life on Earth thing took time; did they expect miracles over night?
“To be perfectly blunt with you, sir, World War II just doesn’t do it for me.”
He ignored the look Max gave him. He had a reputation to uphold as it was.
The teacher, as if expecting this answer sighed, “Well, try doing this. The 509th bomb group is in town this week for a reunion. Your biographical account of one veteran’s wartime experience will be on my desk by 5 o’clock.”
“Old People creep me out.”
The teacher laughed, “Then think of them as living history.”
The history teacher was gone around the next corner as Michael and Max attempted to continue their way to class.
It was as they were sliding into their seats that Max spoke, “What about the Portishead tickets?”
“Damn. Blondie’s gonna kill me.”
Max solemnly nodded pondering if he could take out an add for a new Second-in-Command in the local paper.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maria was slightly more forgiving then Max and Michael expected her to be; especially after Michael told her all about Hal Carver and how he ended up saving their pods. And got her amazing tickets for Portishead.
Not only did the ticket cost him a boat load, he had to pay off Zan to go get them. He was never gonna hear the end of it from Zan either. Michael actually considered, if only for a brief second facing Maria’s wrath instead of Zan’s ego. But in the end his self-protective instincts kicked in and he was tossing Zan the keys to his motorcycle.
Serena got back from work later on that day and finally had a free moment to share with everyone what she had learned in her brief trip to Copper Summit. Luckily between the two apartments everyone, but Valenti was hanging around.
She walked straight to the couch and collapsed completely ignoring the scrambling Ava, Kyle and Liz who were already seating on the couch.
Zan hung up the phone after her third heavy sigh telling Maria to get her butt and everyone else’s over here.
Naturally they charged in through the door with the arms raised.
“What’d I say bout’ knockin’?”
Michael turned to Maria and scowled, “Blondie.”
“What he sounded impatient on the phone?”
She shrugged. It so wasn’t her fault.
She gave Zan a charming smile to ease his anger as she went over and joined Serena and Isabel on the couch. Ava was now digging through the refrigerator looking for drinks and Liz was going through the cabinets for snacks. Max took a seat in the recliner as Kyle took the other one. Alex perched himself on the arm next to Isabel while Zan squatted in front of Serena. Michael obviously decided to pace the room.
“Hey sis’ yous okay?”
He watched cautiously as Serena nodded slowly. As her gaze met Zan’s she seemed to take in the rest of their audience gathered in the apartment and shook herself out of her inner thoughts.
“Hey guys sorry. I was just thinking.”
Most of them nodded and gave encouraging smiles for her to continue. Ava gave her a glass of water and was rewarded with a small smile.
Isabel wrapped an arm around Serena in comfort. “Are you sure you’re okay. You look shaken?”
Serena nodded more convincingly this time.
“Yeah, it’s just. It was big. The set up they have in Copper Summit it was bigger than I was expecting. And Future Isabel forgot to mention where exactly the Husks would be stored so it took longer than I thought. I did narrow it down to three possible locations though.”
Max felt the burden that seemed to be constantly resting on his shoulders take on a bit more weight, “We shouldn’t have let you go there by yourself Serena.”
She looked up, the weariness in her eyes cast aside as her brother tried to take on more guilt and responsibility that weren’t his to begin with.
“You didn’t LET me do anything. I’m the OLDER sister here. I have more experience with my powers and I don’t have parents to answer to or school to attend like the rest of you. Listen to me now and listen well. All of you. This habit you have to take it all on yourself, it’s not gonna cut it. It’s just going to get us all killed a lot sooner. We are a TEAM. Max may be King, and Michael may be the Commander, but ALL of us are EQUALLY involved in this fight. We will all have roles to play now and in the future. WE have to TRUST each other to do our parts. It will never work if one person tries to carry it all. It just won’t, and frankly I don’t think I want to stick around if that’s how it’s going to be.”
Serena leaned back into the couch, sighing. She ignored them all for a few minutes allowing them to reflect on what she had said.
It was something Future Isabel had warned her about. Something she said in passing, but the remorse and guilt in her eyes when she mentioned it was too much for Serena to pass it off as an insignificant detail in the larger scheme of things.
If they did continue on this way, fearing to trust and work together completely, it was a lost cause. Future Isabel would have come back for no reason.
It was Max who spoke. “She’s right guys. Serena you’re right. All I can promise though is to try and change. Some habits are hard to break and I have a feeling this will be one of them, but I have no doubt with you three around it will be easier.”
“Yous gots tat right bro.” Zan smirked and Max returned it with a warm smile of his own.
“Enough with the mushy stuff. What was in Copper Summit?”
Serena gave a mock salute to Michael that had everyone else rolling their eyes and laughing.
“There were only three buildings that were large enough to hold any substantial number of husks. And I doubt they would be willing to have different locations for their goods. Plus, all three are pretty much in the center of town. They have a Conference Hall with a couple of smaller meeting rooms adjacent to the main hall. Then there was the rec center. It had two gymnasiums, a pool, and a track. Last was the Stage Coach Museum. I didn’t even notice it until I was leaving the area. It’s like a big ranch house and was all creepy, covered in dust. But it’s large enough.”
“And they obviously don’t want outsiders to be attracted to it, since you barely noticed it.”
Serena nodded at Kyle. “Yeah, that’s what I figured, there was enough activity going on around the building, but none actually inside the building. Almost like it was abandoned.”
Maria huffed, “Yeah or filled with disgusting empty human shells for evil aliens to inhabit and take over the Earth.”
“Well yeah, of course there’s always that option, Ria.”
She responded with a very mature crossing of her eyes towards Alex who just laughed in response sticking out his tongue and crossing his own eyes.
“Anyways…”
Isabel tried to get them back on track. She wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. Her and Alex were having their first official date tonight.
“I’ll have to go with whoever ends up going to Copper Summit. I’m the only legitimate connection to Congresswoman Whitaker. Even if it is only a façade and they know about it. The Skins might not know who you are so…”
Liz trailed off as the others seemed to accept this even if a bit reluctantly with a nod of their heads.
Max spoke up as the outlines of a plan started to form.
“I don’t want you guys to be offended, but I think Maria, Kyle, and Alex, you guys should all stay here. Just because so many of us missing will draw attention and I don’t want to put you guys in that kind of danger. WE can’t afford to take a chance with your lives in a town filled with Skins.”
The three of them nodded, surprisingly it was Michael who objected, “No way Maxwell. I’m not leaving Maria here alone unprotected! We shouldn’t leave any of them alone without one of us here to watch out for them.”
Apparently it was a point all the aliens agreed on because they turned to look at each other in silent questioning. Finally it was Zan who spoke.
“Fines. I’ll stay here and watch the humans whiles yous all go off and blasts some Skin husk. Besides I don’t think we needs two kings down there. Wouldn’t want somethin’ to happen to both us.”
Michael was glaring at Zan by this point suspecting Zan having ulterior motives for volunteering to stay back.
Zan saw the stare and smirked as he raised his hands up in a surrendering position, “Duke, I alreadys told ya, she’s not my type. No offense, Blondie, but I’m kinda alreadys taken’.”
“Kinda?!” Ava’s arms crossed over her chest and her blue eyes darkened.
“Definitely taken’.”
“Damn.”
Zan tore his gaze away from the slightly amused Maria and the pissed off Ava to see Kyle utterly devastated.
It was Michael’s turn to chuckle, assured that he didn’t have to worry about Zan making a move on Maria. Not that she would go for it but still. His eyes danced with amusement as Zan took on the role of jealous territorial boyfriend.
He raised his arm and sent an electrical zap to Kyle who shot out of his seat, “Owww… dude I was KIDDING!!”
Catching sight of Ava raising her own hand and small flames beginning to flicker he raised his hands up in peace,
“No Ava you’re beautiful…ahh.. not that beautiful, I mean your gorgeous obviously, but not for me.”
Kyle was cringing behind the recliner as he yelled all this out, hoping to avoid the wrath of not just the possessive boyfriend, but now the insulted girlfriend.
“Zan I swear, I mean she lives with us now. Ava’s like my sister now, she’s part of the family. It’s not horrible if I happen to notice my sister is attractive.”
Kyle stopped speaking as Zan gave him a dubious look. Ava too had her eye brows raised. “Sister?”
Kyle nodded energetically. “Yeah sister.”
Ava gave a kind smile and Zan just shrugged. When they both looked away Kyle’s eyes widen and he silently questioned his sanity as he mumbled sister to himself a few times in absolute confusion from where the idea had come from.
Michael who had taken to leaning against the wall some time ago was distracted as his own girlfriend had gotten up and wandered into the kitchen. She was stretching up for the higher cabinets which she knew had good snacks and her tank top had ridden up. He was imagining what he could do with the nice span of porcelain skin.
It was Alex snorting at Kyle that drew his attention back to the other three.
Michael decided had to get everyone back on track. He needed to explore some of those ideas with Tabasco and skin soon.
“Alright everybody. Kyle, Ava’s your sister…whatever. Zan is Ava’s boyfriend. Nobody but me touches Maria and we’re all happy. Max can you figure out a way to get us all out of school on Friday. We can take off Friday morning hopefully be back Saturday night?”
Serena interjected before Max could answer, “That works perfect I saw on the News the other day, ‘A controversial New Mexico congresswoman is dead…just outside her hometown of Copper Summit, Arizona, where a tragic single-car accident cut short a life of public service.’ The funeral is supposed to be on Saturday. We could blend in.”
Kyle laughed, “Aliens blending with aliens…makes perfect sense to me.”
He was rolling his eyes so didn’t notice or have time to duck before Isabel smacked him in the back of the head. He gave her a dirty look and rubbed the sore spot as Max returned to Michael’s previous question.
“Yeah, I can find excuses for most of us. I'm sure the Sheriff could call Ava in sick or something. And Michael, you don’t have anyone to answer to so…”
“Mental health day sounds good.”
Max nodded.
“Sure.”
“Okay, so that gives us six of us in Copper Summit. I think we could have two teams of three each check out one location each, then meet up at the third one, probably the museum since it seems highly suspicious to me.”
Michael had begun pacing as he explained the rough plan he thought of as far as strategies went. He’d leave the boring plans to Max. He would plan all the battle strategies; maybe he’d even let Zan help him at some point.
Serena spoke up for the first time in a while, “Max and Liz can’t be on the same team. You’ll be too distracted by her.”
The last part was said softly in hopes that only Max would hear, but that wasn’t the case.
Max was about to object when she continued, “Max I’ll protect her.”
“So will I Max.” He smiled at both his sisters.
“So I guess tat puts me wit da King and Commander.”
Everyone in the apartment nodded and started moving around.
“Well I think that’s enough for one day. It is only Saturday, we have almost a week to make any other adjustments so…”
“So… we should chill, catch a movie or something?”
“Alex and I have a date.” Isabel stood pulling Alex with her and before anyone could respond they were gone.
“Maria and I got plans too.”
“We do?”
Maria furrowed her eyebrows together trying to recall said plans. She didn’t remember anything.
But Michael had already taken her hand and was leading her back to his apartment.
The rest sat silent in Serena and Zan’s apartment for a full minute before the laughter broke out.
TBC…
Part 25
Michael walked down the hallway and saw Maria leaning on the locker next to his, “Hey. New gel?" Ignoring his eye roll she rushed on, "So, um, Portishead tickets went on sale this morning. Did you get my messages?”
Michael nodded as he pulled books from his locker, “Yeah, I’ll go after school since I don’t have work today.” Michael raised an eyebrow at her as he shut his locker. She smiled kissed his cheek and bounced away as Max joined Michael,
“Nice.”
Michael ignored Max as they walked towards their first class of the day. Liz appeared out of now where in front of them,
“Oh, Max…look, I don’t know what to do. Calls keep on coming into Congresswoman Whitaker’s office. Should I return them or…”
Michael rolled his eyes, “You know Serena is checked out Copper Summit. She's gonna tell us about it after work tonight. Can’t we hold off until then?”
Liz nodded, to Max she added, “We’ll talk in trig.” Then she went off in another direction.
Max turned to Michael, “You know, mean people suck.”
Michael was about to open his mouth to respond when his history teach walked up to them.
“Mr. Guerin, true or false? We’re not even a month into the semester, and you’re already failing my class. This is a new record.”
Michael cursed in his head. He knew there was some subject he was neglecting. This whole adjusting to life on Earth thing took time; did they expect miracles over night?
“To be perfectly blunt with you, sir, World War II just doesn’t do it for me.”
He ignored the look Max gave him. He had a reputation to uphold as it was.
The teacher, as if expecting this answer sighed, “Well, try doing this. The 509th bomb group is in town this week for a reunion. Your biographical account of one veteran’s wartime experience will be on my desk by 5 o’clock.”
“Old People creep me out.”
The teacher laughed, “Then think of them as living history.”
The history teacher was gone around the next corner as Michael and Max attempted to continue their way to class.
It was as they were sliding into their seats that Max spoke, “What about the Portishead tickets?”
“Damn. Blondie’s gonna kill me.”
Max solemnly nodded pondering if he could take out an add for a new Second-in-Command in the local paper.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maria was slightly more forgiving then Max and Michael expected her to be; especially after Michael told her all about Hal Carver and how he ended up saving their pods. And got her amazing tickets for Portishead.
Not only did the ticket cost him a boat load, he had to pay off Zan to go get them. He was never gonna hear the end of it from Zan either. Michael actually considered, if only for a brief second facing Maria’s wrath instead of Zan’s ego. But in the end his self-protective instincts kicked in and he was tossing Zan the keys to his motorcycle.
Serena got back from work later on that day and finally had a free moment to share with everyone what she had learned in her brief trip to Copper Summit. Luckily between the two apartments everyone, but Valenti was hanging around.
She walked straight to the couch and collapsed completely ignoring the scrambling Ava, Kyle and Liz who were already seating on the couch.
Zan hung up the phone after her third heavy sigh telling Maria to get her butt and everyone else’s over here.
Naturally they charged in through the door with the arms raised.
“What’d I say bout’ knockin’?”
Michael turned to Maria and scowled, “Blondie.”
“What he sounded impatient on the phone?”
She shrugged. It so wasn’t her fault.
She gave Zan a charming smile to ease his anger as she went over and joined Serena and Isabel on the couch. Ava was now digging through the refrigerator looking for drinks and Liz was going through the cabinets for snacks. Max took a seat in the recliner as Kyle took the other one. Alex perched himself on the arm next to Isabel while Zan squatted in front of Serena. Michael obviously decided to pace the room.
“Hey sis’ yous okay?”
He watched cautiously as Serena nodded slowly. As her gaze met Zan’s she seemed to take in the rest of their audience gathered in the apartment and shook herself out of her inner thoughts.
“Hey guys sorry. I was just thinking.”
Most of them nodded and gave encouraging smiles for her to continue. Ava gave her a glass of water and was rewarded with a small smile.
Isabel wrapped an arm around Serena in comfort. “Are you sure you’re okay. You look shaken?”
Serena nodded more convincingly this time.
“Yeah, it’s just. It was big. The set up they have in Copper Summit it was bigger than I was expecting. And Future Isabel forgot to mention where exactly the Husks would be stored so it took longer than I thought. I did narrow it down to three possible locations though.”
Max felt the burden that seemed to be constantly resting on his shoulders take on a bit more weight, “We shouldn’t have let you go there by yourself Serena.”
She looked up, the weariness in her eyes cast aside as her brother tried to take on more guilt and responsibility that weren’t his to begin with.
“You didn’t LET me do anything. I’m the OLDER sister here. I have more experience with my powers and I don’t have parents to answer to or school to attend like the rest of you. Listen to me now and listen well. All of you. This habit you have to take it all on yourself, it’s not gonna cut it. It’s just going to get us all killed a lot sooner. We are a TEAM. Max may be King, and Michael may be the Commander, but ALL of us are EQUALLY involved in this fight. We will all have roles to play now and in the future. WE have to TRUST each other to do our parts. It will never work if one person tries to carry it all. It just won’t, and frankly I don’t think I want to stick around if that’s how it’s going to be.”
Serena leaned back into the couch, sighing. She ignored them all for a few minutes allowing them to reflect on what she had said.
It was something Future Isabel had warned her about. Something she said in passing, but the remorse and guilt in her eyes when she mentioned it was too much for Serena to pass it off as an insignificant detail in the larger scheme of things.
If they did continue on this way, fearing to trust and work together completely, it was a lost cause. Future Isabel would have come back for no reason.
It was Max who spoke. “She’s right guys. Serena you’re right. All I can promise though is to try and change. Some habits are hard to break and I have a feeling this will be one of them, but I have no doubt with you three around it will be easier.”
“Yous gots tat right bro.” Zan smirked and Max returned it with a warm smile of his own.
“Enough with the mushy stuff. What was in Copper Summit?”
Serena gave a mock salute to Michael that had everyone else rolling their eyes and laughing.
“There were only three buildings that were large enough to hold any substantial number of husks. And I doubt they would be willing to have different locations for their goods. Plus, all three are pretty much in the center of town. They have a Conference Hall with a couple of smaller meeting rooms adjacent to the main hall. Then there was the rec center. It had two gymnasiums, a pool, and a track. Last was the Stage Coach Museum. I didn’t even notice it until I was leaving the area. It’s like a big ranch house and was all creepy, covered in dust. But it’s large enough.”
“And they obviously don’t want outsiders to be attracted to it, since you barely noticed it.”
Serena nodded at Kyle. “Yeah, that’s what I figured, there was enough activity going on around the building, but none actually inside the building. Almost like it was abandoned.”
Maria huffed, “Yeah or filled with disgusting empty human shells for evil aliens to inhabit and take over the Earth.”
“Well yeah, of course there’s always that option, Ria.”
She responded with a very mature crossing of her eyes towards Alex who just laughed in response sticking out his tongue and crossing his own eyes.
“Anyways…”
Isabel tried to get them back on track. She wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. Her and Alex were having their first official date tonight.
“I’ll have to go with whoever ends up going to Copper Summit. I’m the only legitimate connection to Congresswoman Whitaker. Even if it is only a façade and they know about it. The Skins might not know who you are so…”
Liz trailed off as the others seemed to accept this even if a bit reluctantly with a nod of their heads.
Max spoke up as the outlines of a plan started to form.
“I don’t want you guys to be offended, but I think Maria, Kyle, and Alex, you guys should all stay here. Just because so many of us missing will draw attention and I don’t want to put you guys in that kind of danger. WE can’t afford to take a chance with your lives in a town filled with Skins.”
The three of them nodded, surprisingly it was Michael who objected, “No way Maxwell. I’m not leaving Maria here alone unprotected! We shouldn’t leave any of them alone without one of us here to watch out for them.”
Apparently it was a point all the aliens agreed on because they turned to look at each other in silent questioning. Finally it was Zan who spoke.
“Fines. I’ll stay here and watch the humans whiles yous all go off and blasts some Skin husk. Besides I don’t think we needs two kings down there. Wouldn’t want somethin’ to happen to both us.”
Michael was glaring at Zan by this point suspecting Zan having ulterior motives for volunteering to stay back.
Zan saw the stare and smirked as he raised his hands up in a surrendering position, “Duke, I alreadys told ya, she’s not my type. No offense, Blondie, but I’m kinda alreadys taken’.”
“Kinda?!” Ava’s arms crossed over her chest and her blue eyes darkened.
“Definitely taken’.”
“Damn.”
Zan tore his gaze away from the slightly amused Maria and the pissed off Ava to see Kyle utterly devastated.
It was Michael’s turn to chuckle, assured that he didn’t have to worry about Zan making a move on Maria. Not that she would go for it but still. His eyes danced with amusement as Zan took on the role of jealous territorial boyfriend.
He raised his arm and sent an electrical zap to Kyle who shot out of his seat, “Owww… dude I was KIDDING!!”
Catching sight of Ava raising her own hand and small flames beginning to flicker he raised his hands up in peace,
“No Ava you’re beautiful…ahh.. not that beautiful, I mean your gorgeous obviously, but not for me.”
Kyle was cringing behind the recliner as he yelled all this out, hoping to avoid the wrath of not just the possessive boyfriend, but now the insulted girlfriend.
“Zan I swear, I mean she lives with us now. Ava’s like my sister now, she’s part of the family. It’s not horrible if I happen to notice my sister is attractive.”
Kyle stopped speaking as Zan gave him a dubious look. Ava too had her eye brows raised. “Sister?”
Kyle nodded energetically. “Yeah sister.”
Ava gave a kind smile and Zan just shrugged. When they both looked away Kyle’s eyes widen and he silently questioned his sanity as he mumbled sister to himself a few times in absolute confusion from where the idea had come from.
Michael who had taken to leaning against the wall some time ago was distracted as his own girlfriend had gotten up and wandered into the kitchen. She was stretching up for the higher cabinets which she knew had good snacks and her tank top had ridden up. He was imagining what he could do with the nice span of porcelain skin.
It was Alex snorting at Kyle that drew his attention back to the other three.
Michael decided had to get everyone back on track. He needed to explore some of those ideas with Tabasco and skin soon.
“Alright everybody. Kyle, Ava’s your sister…whatever. Zan is Ava’s boyfriend. Nobody but me touches Maria and we’re all happy. Max can you figure out a way to get us all out of school on Friday. We can take off Friday morning hopefully be back Saturday night?”
Serena interjected before Max could answer, “That works perfect I saw on the News the other day, ‘A controversial New Mexico congresswoman is dead…just outside her hometown of Copper Summit, Arizona, where a tragic single-car accident cut short a life of public service.’ The funeral is supposed to be on Saturday. We could blend in.”
Kyle laughed, “Aliens blending with aliens…makes perfect sense to me.”
He was rolling his eyes so didn’t notice or have time to duck before Isabel smacked him in the back of the head. He gave her a dirty look and rubbed the sore spot as Max returned to Michael’s previous question.
“Yeah, I can find excuses for most of us. I'm sure the Sheriff could call Ava in sick or something. And Michael, you don’t have anyone to answer to so…”
“Mental health day sounds good.”
Max nodded.
“Sure.”
“Okay, so that gives us six of us in Copper Summit. I think we could have two teams of three each check out one location each, then meet up at the third one, probably the museum since it seems highly suspicious to me.”
Michael had begun pacing as he explained the rough plan he thought of as far as strategies went. He’d leave the boring plans to Max. He would plan all the battle strategies; maybe he’d even let Zan help him at some point.
Serena spoke up for the first time in a while, “Max and Liz can’t be on the same team. You’ll be too distracted by her.”
The last part was said softly in hopes that only Max would hear, but that wasn’t the case.
Max was about to object when she continued, “Max I’ll protect her.”
“So will I Max.” He smiled at both his sisters.
“So I guess tat puts me wit da King and Commander.”
Everyone in the apartment nodded and started moving around.
“Well I think that’s enough for one day. It is only Saturday, we have almost a week to make any other adjustments so…”
“So… we should chill, catch a movie or something?”
“Alex and I have a date.” Isabel stood pulling Alex with her and before anyone could respond they were gone.
“Maria and I got plans too.”
“We do?”
Maria furrowed her eyebrows together trying to recall said plans. She didn’t remember anything.
But Michael had already taken her hand and was leading her back to his apartment.
The rest sat silent in Serena and Zan’s apartment for a full minute before the laughter broke out.
TBC…
Last edited by starcrazed on Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
artwork by: RosDude
Michael: Whoever sent us down here was smart, you know? Because they sent us together, and as long as we stick together, we're gonna make it.
Find all my fics here starcrazed stories
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starcrazed
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:46 pm
- Location: somewhere in the Windy City
Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) Part 26 6/12
Part 26
The days flew by quickly. Throughout the week they solidified and confirmed all the plans for the weekend.
When Friday arrived the two cars, Serena’s Toyota and Max’s jeep, were already hitting the highway by 8am. It would be a long drive. Max, Isabel and Liz were in the jeep while Serena, Ava, and Michael were driving in the Toyota.
Most of the ride there was spend with Isabel in the back either rolling her eyes at Max and Liz as they held hands and murmured to each other, or she herself was murmuring into a phone to Alex during his lunchbreak.
The other car was much more eventful. Michael avidly listening to all the tales Ava and Serena told that he hadn’t heard yet. Then Ava went into the music experience of New York City.
Michael was amazed. Positive Maria would be jealous. Hell he was jealous. Roswell wasn’t known for its happening night life. Let alone such great live bands every night, all night.
Halfway there they stopped for lunch and made phone calls back to the others who stayed behind. Reassuring them the trip was going fine so far and making sure they were staying out of trouble.
Max, Liz, and Isabel watched amused as both Ava and Michael yelled into the phone.
Serena raised an eyebrow, “I knew Zan could be bad. But Maria too?”
Max and Liz smiled and nodded then got distracted looking into each others eyes. Isabel laughed,
“Oh yeah. Maria’s horrible left to her own devices. Thinking about it, it probably wasn’t such a good idea to leave her and Zan alone. Who knows what they’ll get into?”
Max smirked, “Not to mention Kyle.”
Liz and Isabel both paled as Michael and Ava rejoined them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile back in Roswell, the above mentioned, plus Alex where all gathered in Serena and Zan’s apartment now that school was over for the weekend.
“Faster, Maria you got to go faster!”
She huffed, “I’m going as fast as I can. Kyle”
Zan chuckled, “No way man it’s all about impact. You have to hit it harder Maria. Harder!”
She sighed and tried to do as instructed before Alex intervened, “No Maria look I’ll show you. It doesn’t matter how hard you do it or how fast. It’s about precision. Accuracy. You need to hit the right spot.”
Maria nodded her head watching Alex and then took over again.
A minute later the TV screen blew up signaling the death of Maria’s character. For the fourth time in less then twenty minutes.
She stood up and threw the controlled.
“I quit.”
“Watch the merchandise!” Zan yelled as he picked the controller off the floor inspecting it for damages.
“This game is stupid and pointless.”
Kyle held a hand to his chest as if she personally insulted him before standing to defend the game. “Stupid! Pointless. That game is a new art form! You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Alex let the words slip before even thinking about them. Wishing as he formed them he could take them back, “Silly girl.”
The room froze.
Alex gulped, preparing himself for the worst.
“Silly girl. SILLY GIRL! You did NOT just call me a SILLY GIRL!!!”
Kyle and Zan were already backing up slowly and Alex was trying to bury himself into the couch.
The three were not prepared for what happen next.
Maria burst out in hysterically laughter clutching her sides. Hesitantly, Zan and Kyle approached while Alex sat up a little straighter.
When the laughter abruptly stopped, all three froze. She glared at the three of them for a moment ensuring that they heeded her warning.
“Ever call me that again and you’ll pay.”
They all nodded very enthusiastically before sinking back to their seats.
Alex spoke first, “I miss Isabel.”
Maria nodded understanding. “I miss Michael.”
Zan sighed, when they both looked at him he rolled his eyes, “I kinda miss Ava too.”
“Whimps.”
Kyle didn’t have time to run as they all started attacking him with pillows and their fists.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As they had decided before leaving they stopped at a motel right before reaching Copper Summit to spend the night and then head out in the morning to blend in with the crowds from the funeral.
They had three rooms, one for Max and Michael and another for Serena and Isabel, the last for Ava and Liz.
It was still pretty early in the evening as they all gathered in Liz and Ava’s room for pizza.
They were just finishing up briefly discussing who would check out where tomorrow when Isabel let out a long sigh.
“I miss Alex.”
Liz gave her a sympathetic smile as Max tightened the grip he had on her waist.
Ava nodded too, “Yeah I miss Zan toos. Kinda”
Michael was flipping through a couple sheets of papers they had written brief notes on when he noticed the silence.
He looked up to find them all looking at him expectantly. He scowled at them and tried to go back looking for the note he wrote earlier, but their stares only got more intense, finally he stood up scattering the papers. He tossed his hands in the air.
“I miss Blondie. There happy?”
When the girls smiled at him and Max gave him a ‘sucker’ look. He growled and spun on his heal, “I’m going to bed. See you guys at 8 am sharp tomorrow.”
They didn’t even bother to wait until he had the door shut before they started laughing at his expense.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was before 8am that they were all out waiting by the cars ready to go. The only thing left to do was check out, which Serena was in the middle of doing.
Copper Summit was by no means a large town. It was barely a town at all. Driving down the main street, all squeezed into the jeep Liz commented, “Okay so we passed the recreation center right before turning onto Main Street. I see the Stagecoach Museum up ahead, but where’s the church?”
Serena pointed towards the left, a few blocks from where they were currently parking.
Isabel saw the sign first, “Universal Friendship League?”
Serena just nodded her head scanning the area for anybody who might find them suspicious. The streets were still relatively deserted though.
“Could that be any creepier?”
“Probably not Iz. I grew up in da sewers and neva heard nothin’ that creepy.”
Michael threw in his two cents. “First place I’d check for aliens.”
“And if the town is full of them?”
He glared at Max.
Serena broke up the potentials of yet another disagreement on how to find the Husks.
“We stick to the plan. My team checks out the recreation center while you guys head to the Universal Friendship League. It will be were everyone is gathered for the funeral so be careful.”
Michael picked up the explanation. “If we don’t find anything in the basement we get out of there as quick as we can and meet you at the Stagecoach Museum. Whoever finds it, destroys the harvest and maybe we get home in time for that hockey game.”
Isabel and Liz rolled their eyes.
“Hell ya.”
Liz and Isabel turned disbelieving looks to Ava, “What? Sweaty, hot men beatin’ the crap outta each other? I’m all over tat.”
Only Serena laughed, the rest unsure if she was joking or not.
Isabel, Liz, and Serena finally jumped out of the jeep and headed towards the recreation center. Max watched them go worriedly.
“Don’t worry Maxwell. They’ll look out for each other.”
Ava smirked, “I sure as hell wouldn’t wanna get between Serena or Isabel let alone the twos of em together.”
Max smiled and nodded his head reaching out to open his own door.
The three of them began walking down the side walk, Ava tucked away in the middle. The closer they got, the more congested the street got.
Max face grew even more serious as they drew a few suspicious glances.
“Chill Maxwell.”
With a quick nod of his head, Max schooled his features as did Ava and Michael.
As they slipped inside and headed for the basement, an older woman grabbed Max’s arm.
“The service is in here son.” Michael barely refrained from raising his arm when he saw the woman reach for Max.
She squinted at them, “Do I know you.”
Ava stuck her hand out and shocked both Max and Michael as she completely dropped her accent. “We’re so sorry for you’re loss. We knew Vanessa, a friend of ours worked with her and we got to know her really well. It’s such a great loss to the community.”
The woman nodded, but all three could still see the suspicious look in her eyes. “I’m Ida Crawford, Vanessa’s mother. This is Walt, my husband.”
From seemingly nowhere she reached out an arm and pulled Walt in front of them.
“What did you saw your name was dear?”
“A…”
“Amanda, she’s Amanda and I’m Mark. This is our friend Randy. It’s a great pleasure to meet people who raised such a wonderful person.”
Max ignored the glare that Michael sent his way as he shook Walt’s hand.
Before they knew it the three of them found themselves seated in the back of the Universal Friendship League for the funeral of their enemy that apparently still had a body by the looks of it.
Michael leaned across Ava and whispered to Max, “Now what Maxwell.”
Max scanned the crowd. Many of the ‘people’ where attentively listening to the eulogy but twice as many kept sneaking glances back at them while simultaneously scratching at their skin.
“Wait and see.”
Michael leaned back and was temped to roll his eyes, but Ava elbowed him in the gut before he could ever start the reaction, “We need an opening.” She managed to get it out barely opening her mouth.
He nodded and agitatedly settled into his seat. Hoping if he fell asleep during this service he at least didn’t snore.
No good to offend the Skins and get them all pissed off before they took care of them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As the other end of the small town Isabel, Serena and Liz exited the Recreation Center.
“Well that was a bust.”
Serena nodded and Liz pulled out a cobweb from her hair. “I guess they don’t get to much use there huh?”
Serena smirked, “Guess not. Let’s go. We’ll head over to the museum.”
When they got there they found the doors unlocked. Serena slipped in first followed by Liz. Isabel checked the streets before following the two of them.
They walked around the inside the building twice finding nothing. It wasn’t until Liz leaned up against the huge stagecoach in the lobby and it started to roll did they notice the grove in the floor.
Isabel sighed, “Great more secret doors.”
Serena gave her a baffled look, but Liz smiled at the memory. “No Topolsky this time at least.”
“Yeah just a race of evil aliens.”
This caused Liz to pause and drop her smile. “Good point.”
Serena shushed them as she ran a glowing hand across the grove in the floor and watched as it slid back revealing a set of stairs.
She looked up with a self satisfied smile on her face. “Jackpot ladies.”
She started down the stairs. Isabel went to follow when Liz grabbed her arm, “Maybe we should wait for…”
Isabel cut her off, “Liz they’ll be fine. They’ll be here soon obviously sense the Friendship League is a bust. We can handle this.”
Liz nodded and followed after Isabel as they disappeared beneath the ground.
When they reached the bottom they were shocked at the rows upon rows of cylinder shaped containers with human like bodies inside. They were blurred by the condensation gathering on the outer glass.
“Well look what we have here.”
Suddenly the three turned to find a man gazing at them darkly.
“I don’t think you have the authorization to be down here.”
He walked closer to them. Serena took a step in front of Isabel and Liz while Isabel pulled Liz closer to her.
The man looked past Serena to Isabel. “It’s nice to see you again Vilandra. It’s been so long. We’ve missed you.”
Isabel gave the man a dirty looked, “It’s Isabel.”
Surprisingly the man laughed, “Oh these weak human names. Very well if you prefer them. I'm Greer. I’m, I guess you could say pastor of the Universal Friendship League.”
Serena spoke, “Cute name.”
“No one asked you Zillana.”
She tried to mask her shock, but he caught a glimpse of it.
“How naïve you all are. You think I would not know the younger Zillana when she is placed right in front of me. Are you here so I can kill you again?”
For the first time Serena raised her arm.
With a flick of his hand Greer sent Liz across the room. She hit the wall hard and slide down not moving.
Isabel held back from calling out to Liz as she too lifted her arm towards Greer.
“I don’t understand why you hang out with these humans. They are beneath us. Not only do you socialize with them. You choose to mate with them? Disgusting! Don’t worry though Vilandra I’m sure Khivar will forgive the digression.”
“I don’t want his forgiveness.” With that Isabel sent him backwards a few feet with her minimal telekinesis she had as the rage washed through her.
Greer just laughed, raising his own arm he sent a small blast at them, but Serena was quicker and her blue shield materialized a second before it was too late, absorbing the blast harmlessly. The shield fell away but Serena still had her arm raised.
“You won’t win Zillana. You couldn’t win on Antar and you won’t win here. Khivar will conquer all.”
“Khivar’s a moron.”
Perhaps it was a careless move, but Serena couldn’t help it as the comment slipped passed her lips. A second later she realized her mistake as Greer turned a nice shade of red a moment before an energy blast hit her square in the gut taking her to the floor.
“Watch you mouth you defiled creature.”
Serena wanted to cry out at the pain, but there was no time because a second later she passed out not two feet from Liz.
Isabel glanced at the two of them in fear before turning back to Greer. Instantly she brought up her shield to protect herself as well as the now defenseless Serena and Liz.
*Max? Michael? Ava? A little help would be good. Like NOW!*
She felt them all mentally flinch as they received her message.
She felt Michael’s energy swirling around her trying to gather the energy pattern to return a thought to her.
*Kinda busy here Iz*
*Liz and Serena are unconscious*
*SHIT. Be there in a minute.*
Michael refocused on the situation going on around him. It was about ten minutes ago that the skins decided they would much rather confront them then glance at them throughout a fake funeral.
He didn’t know it but currently Max and Isabel were in the same pose, shields holding strong against the enemy. Well enemies, in Max’s case, which is why Ava was lending him some of her energy.
Michael leaned over to her ear and whispered, “Ava you gotta warp them. I gotta get out of her, Iz needs help.”
Ava gave him a look that screamed, 'Are you kidding me?' He nodded.
She groaned.
Still whispering he told her what to do when he left.
“You and Max can deal with these guys with his electrokinesis and your prokinesis. They’ll be dust in no time.”
“Too many.”
“Nah…you can do it.”
He touched Max’s arms giving him a brief boast of strength and unknowingly the idea he just told Ava.
A second later he was sprinting down the street to the Stagecoach Museum.
He opened the doors and immediately his eyes were drawn to the hole in the floor with the stairs.
Michael crept down them quietly keeping to the shadows. He saw Serena and Liz lying a few feet from the bottom of the stairs both unconscious. Liz just looked like she was asleep, but Serena looked to be in pain. It was then he noticed the scorch marks on her shirt.
“Shit.”
He ducked his head around the wall and saw Isabel wavering behind her shield as some creep of a guy towered over her talking about Vilandra.
Michael instantly sent a blast towards Greer when he crept to the edge of Isabel’s shield.
It was strong enough to take down the shield and hit Greer full in the chest.
Michael was immediately at Isabel’s side sending another blast to Greer.
Greer dodged it by ducking behind a husk cylinder. It shattered and the form inside dropped to the ground.
“Glad you could join us Rath. I was beginning to miss you stupidity.”
Michael just sent another blast towards him taking out another container.
Greer sent a blast towards Isabel and Michael. She was a moment to late with her shield and the impact of the blast had her stumbling backwards tripping over something.
Michael sent another blast at Greer hitting him in the leg as he dodged around yet another cylinder container.
Greer stood up and was aiming at Michael when movement in the corner caught his eye.
“NOOOO!!!”
He sent a blast at Isabel with the pipe raised over her head ready to swing down and make contact with the operating crystal, but he was too late to stop her.
The crystal shattered as she made contact.
A second later Isabel was blasted in the chest and throw backwards.
Michael spun Greer around with his telekinesis giving himself a perfect shot at the seal of the husk.
As Greer turned to dust and floated to the ground his yelled no was still echoing around them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When the doors closed behind Michael, Ava dropped the warp and Max dropped his shield. Immediately they started aiming at the husks. Ava sent quick streams of fire toward them. A few instantly caught on fire and started yelling. As others tired to escape she put up a firewall around most of the building.
Some skins started to panic. Rubbing at their arms, covering the faces with their shirts.
Others got pissed off and sent energy blasts at them, but Max dealt with them easily with his shield. He manipulated his shield to have the electricity jump off it and zap the skins.
They started moving closer despite the jolts.
Suddenly they were all clutching their heads; some even fell to their knees.
A second later Max’s heart stopped as he felt the pain hit Isabel.
“Ava…It’s Iz.”
She nodded, “I gots this.Go”
Max didn’t need any more encouragement as he took of sprinting in the direction Michael had just ran down.
Ava smirked at the skins in front of her, some of them on bended knee. Her smirk grew as they seemed unable to focus and the energy around her grew.
“Aw, tat’s so sweet. Bowing and everything, but I ain’t no Queen anymore so really it’s unnecessary.”
The taunting seemed to set them off, but only Ida was able to raise an arm and even attempt an attack.
It was already to late though as the fire climbed the walls and Ava backed away slowly. As she reached the door she lifted her arms up to them and sent the wall of fire through the room.
She cringed at their yells as she took off at a run moments behind Max and Michael.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs Michael was lifting Serena into his arms and Max’s hand over Isabel’s chest was glowing. She saw Liz slowly sitting up against the wall weary and worried.
Ava joined her and grabbed the other girls hand in support.
Michael watched with Serena in his arms reassured by the steady breathing he heard. His own breath was held as he waited for Max and Isabel; they were his family, he couldn’t lose them.
It was only a moment later that Isabel’s eyes shot open and she had a coughing fit. Max slumped against her pulling her to his chest and holding onto her tightly.
“God Isabel you scared me to death.”
She felt a few tears drop onto the top of her head.
“Max. I’m fine. You fixed me up all better.” But even as she said the words to reassure him she clung to her brother.
“Yeah, but I was almost…” His throat closed and he couldn’t continue.
“I can’t lose you Iz.”
She pulled back and smiled at him, “I can’t lose you either.”
Then she was startled to find two smaller girls pulling her into a three way hug.
“Ava, Liz. I’m okay. Really. Maybe a little sore, but I’m good.”
The pulled back a little checking for themselves before nodding.
“Max, Serena needs help too.”
Max turned from Isabel’s concerned brown eyes to find his other sister lying in Michael’s arms.
He walked over and stumbled on the way. Liz and Ava barely managing to keep him up right.
“Okay Maxwell, Serena can wait. Everyone to the car, it’s time to go home.”
The beaten but victorious group slowly climbed the stairs.
Max in the lead staggering along with Liz’s assistance as Isabel was helped along by Ava in the middle, Michael carrying Serena brought up the end of the line.
They were a slightly bit more damaged then when they got there, but in much better shape then the citizens of Copper Summit.
They would go home. They would mend. They would live, hopefully for a long time to come.
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The days flew by quickly. Throughout the week they solidified and confirmed all the plans for the weekend.
When Friday arrived the two cars, Serena’s Toyota and Max’s jeep, were already hitting the highway by 8am. It would be a long drive. Max, Isabel and Liz were in the jeep while Serena, Ava, and Michael were driving in the Toyota.
Most of the ride there was spend with Isabel in the back either rolling her eyes at Max and Liz as they held hands and murmured to each other, or she herself was murmuring into a phone to Alex during his lunchbreak.
The other car was much more eventful. Michael avidly listening to all the tales Ava and Serena told that he hadn’t heard yet. Then Ava went into the music experience of New York City.
Michael was amazed. Positive Maria would be jealous. Hell he was jealous. Roswell wasn’t known for its happening night life. Let alone such great live bands every night, all night.
Halfway there they stopped for lunch and made phone calls back to the others who stayed behind. Reassuring them the trip was going fine so far and making sure they were staying out of trouble.
Max, Liz, and Isabel watched amused as both Ava and Michael yelled into the phone.
Serena raised an eyebrow, “I knew Zan could be bad. But Maria too?”
Max and Liz smiled and nodded then got distracted looking into each others eyes. Isabel laughed,
“Oh yeah. Maria’s horrible left to her own devices. Thinking about it, it probably wasn’t such a good idea to leave her and Zan alone. Who knows what they’ll get into?”
Max smirked, “Not to mention Kyle.”
Liz and Isabel both paled as Michael and Ava rejoined them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile back in Roswell, the above mentioned, plus Alex where all gathered in Serena and Zan’s apartment now that school was over for the weekend.
“Faster, Maria you got to go faster!”
She huffed, “I’m going as fast as I can. Kyle”
Zan chuckled, “No way man it’s all about impact. You have to hit it harder Maria. Harder!”
She sighed and tried to do as instructed before Alex intervened, “No Maria look I’ll show you. It doesn’t matter how hard you do it or how fast. It’s about precision. Accuracy. You need to hit the right spot.”
Maria nodded her head watching Alex and then took over again.
A minute later the TV screen blew up signaling the death of Maria’s character. For the fourth time in less then twenty minutes.
She stood up and threw the controlled.
“I quit.”
“Watch the merchandise!” Zan yelled as he picked the controller off the floor inspecting it for damages.
“This game is stupid and pointless.”
Kyle held a hand to his chest as if she personally insulted him before standing to defend the game. “Stupid! Pointless. That game is a new art form! You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Alex let the words slip before even thinking about them. Wishing as he formed them he could take them back, “Silly girl.”
The room froze.
Alex gulped, preparing himself for the worst.
“Silly girl. SILLY GIRL! You did NOT just call me a SILLY GIRL!!!”
Kyle and Zan were already backing up slowly and Alex was trying to bury himself into the couch.
The three were not prepared for what happen next.
Maria burst out in hysterically laughter clutching her sides. Hesitantly, Zan and Kyle approached while Alex sat up a little straighter.
When the laughter abruptly stopped, all three froze. She glared at the three of them for a moment ensuring that they heeded her warning.
“Ever call me that again and you’ll pay.”
They all nodded very enthusiastically before sinking back to their seats.
Alex spoke first, “I miss Isabel.”
Maria nodded understanding. “I miss Michael.”
Zan sighed, when they both looked at him he rolled his eyes, “I kinda miss Ava too.”
“Whimps.”
Kyle didn’t have time to run as they all started attacking him with pillows and their fists.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As they had decided before leaving they stopped at a motel right before reaching Copper Summit to spend the night and then head out in the morning to blend in with the crowds from the funeral.
They had three rooms, one for Max and Michael and another for Serena and Isabel, the last for Ava and Liz.
It was still pretty early in the evening as they all gathered in Liz and Ava’s room for pizza.
They were just finishing up briefly discussing who would check out where tomorrow when Isabel let out a long sigh.
“I miss Alex.”
Liz gave her a sympathetic smile as Max tightened the grip he had on her waist.
Ava nodded too, “Yeah I miss Zan toos. Kinda”
Michael was flipping through a couple sheets of papers they had written brief notes on when he noticed the silence.
He looked up to find them all looking at him expectantly. He scowled at them and tried to go back looking for the note he wrote earlier, but their stares only got more intense, finally he stood up scattering the papers. He tossed his hands in the air.
“I miss Blondie. There happy?”
When the girls smiled at him and Max gave him a ‘sucker’ look. He growled and spun on his heal, “I’m going to bed. See you guys at 8 am sharp tomorrow.”
They didn’t even bother to wait until he had the door shut before they started laughing at his expense.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was before 8am that they were all out waiting by the cars ready to go. The only thing left to do was check out, which Serena was in the middle of doing.
Copper Summit was by no means a large town. It was barely a town at all. Driving down the main street, all squeezed into the jeep Liz commented, “Okay so we passed the recreation center right before turning onto Main Street. I see the Stagecoach Museum up ahead, but where’s the church?”
Serena pointed towards the left, a few blocks from where they were currently parking.
Isabel saw the sign first, “Universal Friendship League?”
Serena just nodded her head scanning the area for anybody who might find them suspicious. The streets were still relatively deserted though.
“Could that be any creepier?”
“Probably not Iz. I grew up in da sewers and neva heard nothin’ that creepy.”
Michael threw in his two cents. “First place I’d check for aliens.”
“And if the town is full of them?”
He glared at Max.
Serena broke up the potentials of yet another disagreement on how to find the Husks.
“We stick to the plan. My team checks out the recreation center while you guys head to the Universal Friendship League. It will be were everyone is gathered for the funeral so be careful.”
Michael picked up the explanation. “If we don’t find anything in the basement we get out of there as quick as we can and meet you at the Stagecoach Museum. Whoever finds it, destroys the harvest and maybe we get home in time for that hockey game.”
Isabel and Liz rolled their eyes.
“Hell ya.”
Liz and Isabel turned disbelieving looks to Ava, “What? Sweaty, hot men beatin’ the crap outta each other? I’m all over tat.”
Only Serena laughed, the rest unsure if she was joking or not.
Isabel, Liz, and Serena finally jumped out of the jeep and headed towards the recreation center. Max watched them go worriedly.
“Don’t worry Maxwell. They’ll look out for each other.”
Ava smirked, “I sure as hell wouldn’t wanna get between Serena or Isabel let alone the twos of em together.”
Max smiled and nodded his head reaching out to open his own door.
The three of them began walking down the side walk, Ava tucked away in the middle. The closer they got, the more congested the street got.
Max face grew even more serious as they drew a few suspicious glances.
“Chill Maxwell.”
With a quick nod of his head, Max schooled his features as did Ava and Michael.
As they slipped inside and headed for the basement, an older woman grabbed Max’s arm.
“The service is in here son.” Michael barely refrained from raising his arm when he saw the woman reach for Max.
She squinted at them, “Do I know you.”
Ava stuck her hand out and shocked both Max and Michael as she completely dropped her accent. “We’re so sorry for you’re loss. We knew Vanessa, a friend of ours worked with her and we got to know her really well. It’s such a great loss to the community.”
The woman nodded, but all three could still see the suspicious look in her eyes. “I’m Ida Crawford, Vanessa’s mother. This is Walt, my husband.”
From seemingly nowhere she reached out an arm and pulled Walt in front of them.
“What did you saw your name was dear?”
“A…”
“Amanda, she’s Amanda and I’m Mark. This is our friend Randy. It’s a great pleasure to meet people who raised such a wonderful person.”
Max ignored the glare that Michael sent his way as he shook Walt’s hand.
Before they knew it the three of them found themselves seated in the back of the Universal Friendship League for the funeral of their enemy that apparently still had a body by the looks of it.
Michael leaned across Ava and whispered to Max, “Now what Maxwell.”
Max scanned the crowd. Many of the ‘people’ where attentively listening to the eulogy but twice as many kept sneaking glances back at them while simultaneously scratching at their skin.
“Wait and see.”
Michael leaned back and was temped to roll his eyes, but Ava elbowed him in the gut before he could ever start the reaction, “We need an opening.” She managed to get it out barely opening her mouth.
He nodded and agitatedly settled into his seat. Hoping if he fell asleep during this service he at least didn’t snore.
No good to offend the Skins and get them all pissed off before they took care of them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As the other end of the small town Isabel, Serena and Liz exited the Recreation Center.
“Well that was a bust.”
Serena nodded and Liz pulled out a cobweb from her hair. “I guess they don’t get to much use there huh?”
Serena smirked, “Guess not. Let’s go. We’ll head over to the museum.”
When they got there they found the doors unlocked. Serena slipped in first followed by Liz. Isabel checked the streets before following the two of them.
They walked around the inside the building twice finding nothing. It wasn’t until Liz leaned up against the huge stagecoach in the lobby and it started to roll did they notice the grove in the floor.
Isabel sighed, “Great more secret doors.”
Serena gave her a baffled look, but Liz smiled at the memory. “No Topolsky this time at least.”
“Yeah just a race of evil aliens.”
This caused Liz to pause and drop her smile. “Good point.”
Serena shushed them as she ran a glowing hand across the grove in the floor and watched as it slid back revealing a set of stairs.
She looked up with a self satisfied smile on her face. “Jackpot ladies.”
She started down the stairs. Isabel went to follow when Liz grabbed her arm, “Maybe we should wait for…”
Isabel cut her off, “Liz they’ll be fine. They’ll be here soon obviously sense the Friendship League is a bust. We can handle this.”
Liz nodded and followed after Isabel as they disappeared beneath the ground.
When they reached the bottom they were shocked at the rows upon rows of cylinder shaped containers with human like bodies inside. They were blurred by the condensation gathering on the outer glass.
“Well look what we have here.”
Suddenly the three turned to find a man gazing at them darkly.
“I don’t think you have the authorization to be down here.”
He walked closer to them. Serena took a step in front of Isabel and Liz while Isabel pulled Liz closer to her.
The man looked past Serena to Isabel. “It’s nice to see you again Vilandra. It’s been so long. We’ve missed you.”
Isabel gave the man a dirty looked, “It’s Isabel.”
Surprisingly the man laughed, “Oh these weak human names. Very well if you prefer them. I'm Greer. I’m, I guess you could say pastor of the Universal Friendship League.”
Serena spoke, “Cute name.”
“No one asked you Zillana.”
She tried to mask her shock, but he caught a glimpse of it.
“How naïve you all are. You think I would not know the younger Zillana when she is placed right in front of me. Are you here so I can kill you again?”
For the first time Serena raised her arm.
With a flick of his hand Greer sent Liz across the room. She hit the wall hard and slide down not moving.
Isabel held back from calling out to Liz as she too lifted her arm towards Greer.
“I don’t understand why you hang out with these humans. They are beneath us. Not only do you socialize with them. You choose to mate with them? Disgusting! Don’t worry though Vilandra I’m sure Khivar will forgive the digression.”
“I don’t want his forgiveness.” With that Isabel sent him backwards a few feet with her minimal telekinesis she had as the rage washed through her.
Greer just laughed, raising his own arm he sent a small blast at them, but Serena was quicker and her blue shield materialized a second before it was too late, absorbing the blast harmlessly. The shield fell away but Serena still had her arm raised.
“You won’t win Zillana. You couldn’t win on Antar and you won’t win here. Khivar will conquer all.”
“Khivar’s a moron.”
Perhaps it was a careless move, but Serena couldn’t help it as the comment slipped passed her lips. A second later she realized her mistake as Greer turned a nice shade of red a moment before an energy blast hit her square in the gut taking her to the floor.
“Watch you mouth you defiled creature.”
Serena wanted to cry out at the pain, but there was no time because a second later she passed out not two feet from Liz.
Isabel glanced at the two of them in fear before turning back to Greer. Instantly she brought up her shield to protect herself as well as the now defenseless Serena and Liz.
*Max? Michael? Ava? A little help would be good. Like NOW!*
She felt them all mentally flinch as they received her message.
She felt Michael’s energy swirling around her trying to gather the energy pattern to return a thought to her.
*Kinda busy here Iz*
*Liz and Serena are unconscious*
*SHIT. Be there in a minute.*
Michael refocused on the situation going on around him. It was about ten minutes ago that the skins decided they would much rather confront them then glance at them throughout a fake funeral.
He didn’t know it but currently Max and Isabel were in the same pose, shields holding strong against the enemy. Well enemies, in Max’s case, which is why Ava was lending him some of her energy.
Michael leaned over to her ear and whispered, “Ava you gotta warp them. I gotta get out of her, Iz needs help.”
Ava gave him a look that screamed, 'Are you kidding me?' He nodded.
She groaned.
Still whispering he told her what to do when he left.
“You and Max can deal with these guys with his electrokinesis and your prokinesis. They’ll be dust in no time.”
“Too many.”
“Nah…you can do it.”
He touched Max’s arms giving him a brief boast of strength and unknowingly the idea he just told Ava.
A second later he was sprinting down the street to the Stagecoach Museum.
He opened the doors and immediately his eyes were drawn to the hole in the floor with the stairs.
Michael crept down them quietly keeping to the shadows. He saw Serena and Liz lying a few feet from the bottom of the stairs both unconscious. Liz just looked like she was asleep, but Serena looked to be in pain. It was then he noticed the scorch marks on her shirt.
“Shit.”
He ducked his head around the wall and saw Isabel wavering behind her shield as some creep of a guy towered over her talking about Vilandra.
Michael instantly sent a blast towards Greer when he crept to the edge of Isabel’s shield.
It was strong enough to take down the shield and hit Greer full in the chest.
Michael was immediately at Isabel’s side sending another blast to Greer.
Greer dodged it by ducking behind a husk cylinder. It shattered and the form inside dropped to the ground.
“Glad you could join us Rath. I was beginning to miss you stupidity.”
Michael just sent another blast towards him taking out another container.
Greer sent a blast towards Isabel and Michael. She was a moment to late with her shield and the impact of the blast had her stumbling backwards tripping over something.
Michael sent another blast at Greer hitting him in the leg as he dodged around yet another cylinder container.
Greer stood up and was aiming at Michael when movement in the corner caught his eye.
“NOOOO!!!”
He sent a blast at Isabel with the pipe raised over her head ready to swing down and make contact with the operating crystal, but he was too late to stop her.
The crystal shattered as she made contact.
A second later Isabel was blasted in the chest and throw backwards.
Michael spun Greer around with his telekinesis giving himself a perfect shot at the seal of the husk.
As Greer turned to dust and floated to the ground his yelled no was still echoing around them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When the doors closed behind Michael, Ava dropped the warp and Max dropped his shield. Immediately they started aiming at the husks. Ava sent quick streams of fire toward them. A few instantly caught on fire and started yelling. As others tired to escape she put up a firewall around most of the building.
Some skins started to panic. Rubbing at their arms, covering the faces with their shirts.
Others got pissed off and sent energy blasts at them, but Max dealt with them easily with his shield. He manipulated his shield to have the electricity jump off it and zap the skins.
They started moving closer despite the jolts.
Suddenly they were all clutching their heads; some even fell to their knees.
A second later Max’s heart stopped as he felt the pain hit Isabel.
“Ava…It’s Iz.”
She nodded, “I gots this.Go”
Max didn’t need any more encouragement as he took of sprinting in the direction Michael had just ran down.
Ava smirked at the skins in front of her, some of them on bended knee. Her smirk grew as they seemed unable to focus and the energy around her grew.
“Aw, tat’s so sweet. Bowing and everything, but I ain’t no Queen anymore so really it’s unnecessary.”
The taunting seemed to set them off, but only Ida was able to raise an arm and even attempt an attack.
It was already to late though as the fire climbed the walls and Ava backed away slowly. As she reached the door she lifted her arms up to them and sent the wall of fire through the room.
She cringed at their yells as she took off at a run moments behind Max and Michael.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs Michael was lifting Serena into his arms and Max’s hand over Isabel’s chest was glowing. She saw Liz slowly sitting up against the wall weary and worried.
Ava joined her and grabbed the other girls hand in support.
Michael watched with Serena in his arms reassured by the steady breathing he heard. His own breath was held as he waited for Max and Isabel; they were his family, he couldn’t lose them.
It was only a moment later that Isabel’s eyes shot open and she had a coughing fit. Max slumped against her pulling her to his chest and holding onto her tightly.
“God Isabel you scared me to death.”
She felt a few tears drop onto the top of her head.
“Max. I’m fine. You fixed me up all better.” But even as she said the words to reassure him she clung to her brother.
“Yeah, but I was almost…” His throat closed and he couldn’t continue.
“I can’t lose you Iz.”
She pulled back and smiled at him, “I can’t lose you either.”
Then she was startled to find two smaller girls pulling her into a three way hug.
“Ava, Liz. I’m okay. Really. Maybe a little sore, but I’m good.”
The pulled back a little checking for themselves before nodding.
“Max, Serena needs help too.”
Max turned from Isabel’s concerned brown eyes to find his other sister lying in Michael’s arms.
He walked over and stumbled on the way. Liz and Ava barely managing to keep him up right.
“Okay Maxwell, Serena can wait. Everyone to the car, it’s time to go home.”
The beaten but victorious group slowly climbed the stairs.
Max in the lead staggering along with Liz’s assistance as Isabel was helped along by Ava in the middle, Michael carrying Serena brought up the end of the line.
They were a slightly bit more damaged then when they got there, but in much better shape then the citizens of Copper Summit.
They would go home. They would mend. They would live, hopefully for a long time to come.
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
artwork by: RosDude
Michael: Whoever sent us down here was smart, you know? Because they sent us together, and as long as we stick together, we're gonna make it.
Find all my fics here starcrazed stories
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starcrazed
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- Posts: 247
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:46 pm
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Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) Part 27 6/18
Part 27
Michael drove them back to the motel to pick up the other car. When they got there Ava finally began to feel the drain on her energy from using so much power.
Serena had been joined on the dream plane by both Max and Liz. And Isabel looked dead on her feet.
Michael ran a hand through his hair, “We should get some rest.”
Isabel tried to focus on him as he continued, “You’re barely standing, Ava’s about to follow into the land of dreams, and I sure as hell can’t drive two cars.”
Isabel nodded, “Not here though. Too close.”
“Can you make it to the next town?”
Isabel rubbed her eyes and shook her body. “Yeah, I can make it to the next town. You take the jeep though.”
Michael nodded and moved Serena into the back of the jeep since Ava was already curled up in the front seat.
He made sure Max and then Liz were secure in the back of the Toyota.
“You sure Iz.”
She nodded her eyes finally refocusing. “Yes. I’ll follow you.”
“Alright.”
Half an hour later Michael was renting them rooms and came back to the cars with two keys.
It took another twenty minutes to get everyone settled. He moved Max and Liz first and Isabel crawled up on the other bed and that room.
He smiled at the three sleeping forms before sealing the door shut with his powers.
Then he moved Ava to the other room placing her on one bed before going back and finally moving Serena to the last bed. He sealed their door shut and sprawled out on the couch.
He closed his eyes, but then they shot open as he reached for the cell phone on the table.
He dialed the familiar number and the put the phone to his ear and closed his eyes.
When the other line picked up he smiled.
“Hey Blondie.” His smile grew as she shrieked and then rambled. He could hear Kyle and Alex in the background. He assumed Zan was there too.
“Yeah, we’re all fine.”
He nodded ever though she couldn’t see him.
“Harvest is destroyed and Skins are dust.” A soft chuckle escaped his lips, “Yeah I know literally.”
He paused and focused on her voice as it relaxed him, lulling him to sleep.
“No we’re stopped to rest for the night.”
“We were tired….I know we were supposed to come back tonight, but stuff came up. It was more exhausting then we thought.”
He listened to her silence for a minute before he found his eyes wide open at her hesitant question.
“Save Courtney’s Husk?... No yeah, you’re right. But they weren’t done. Not even close. I’ll tell you about it when I get home okay.”
His eyes dropped closed again, “I love you Blondie.” He smiled as she whispered back her response and hung up her phone.
Michael was asleep before he could hang up his.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz smiled as consciousness came back to her. She had no idea where she was but she could fell Max’s warmth surrounding her. She stretched as she buried her small frame closer to him. Her smile turned to a full out grin when Max’s arm fell over her and pulled her even closer.
Twenty minutes later though Liz was lifting the dead weight of Max’s arm off her and scrambling to the bathroom. Well as best she could with the bruises impeding her progress. She was sore all over from her impact with the wall. It was this thought that had Liz’s memory recall all the events of yesterday.
She opened the bathroom door to find Iz sleeping on the other bed, and then she saw the note on the door about Michael and the others in the next room. She sighed in relief and went back to the bathroom for a quick shower.
When she finished and had dried her hair and put on a fresh pair of clothes, Liz was going to head out in search for some breakfast, but after unlocking the doors she found it still wouldn’t budge. Concluding it was sealed with alien powers she had no choice, but to wait for Max or Isabel to wake up or for someone in the other room to come get her.
It took over an hour as she flipped through the channels on the muted TV before there was a soft knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
“Liz its Michael is Max up yet?”
“No, but can you let me out I’m really hungry.”
Liz heard the click of the door and swung it open to find Michael smiling sheepishly.
“Sorry about that.”
“No it was a good idea with them completely oblivious to the world and all.”
“Serena’s awake I was hoping Max would be up to heal her by now.”
“No he’s still totally out of it. I think Isabel was a lot more injured then either let on. She’s still sleeping. We should probably head back?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind driving?”
“Nah. I’ll try to wake them, if not could you…”
“Yeah no problem, I’ll get Serena and Ava out to the cars and then come back to check on you guys. Lock the door.”
Liz tried to wake both Max and Isabel. Max didn’t respond at all. Isabel mumbled something, but made no move to get up. When Michael came back he effortlessly lifted Isabel from the bed and headed towards the jeep putting her in the back with a groggy Serena.
When he came back for Max, Liz had all three of their bags in her hands. She held the door open for Michael and then checked them out of the motel as Michael got Max situation in the front seat of Serena’s car.
Michael and Liz raided the vending machines before they headed to the driver sides of the two vehicles.
“We should probably try to drive straight through; I don’t like the idea of Serena in so much pain. And I don’t know how much damage there could be.”
“Couldn’t you?” Liz wiggled her fingers and gestured towards Max.
“Not while he’s asleep. And I was too out of it yesterday to heal her while Max was working on Isabel.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Can you handle driving straight through?”
Liz nodded contemplating it, “Yeah, if I need a break I’ll just call. We should go to your place.”
Michael agreed with a nod of his head, “Follow me, stay close okay.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An hour before Roswell,Max stirred in his seat next to Liz.
“Hey, sleepy head.”
He mumbled something incoherent and Liz giggled causing him to sit up straighter and hit his head in the confined space.
“Ow.” This only made Liz laugh harder.
Max rubbed his head and glanced over at Liz as she laughed keeping her eyes on the road.
“Think that’s funny?”
Liz bit her lip and shook her head no furiously, but Max could still see the laughter dancing in her eyes.
He reached an arm over and tickled her side, “Max I’m driving!” She screeched pulling away from his arm and trying to keep the car steady. Max took his hand back and chuckled to himself.
“Fine, Liz but I will get even.”
She glanced at him quickly and gave him a sultry look that had him gulping for air.
“I look forward to it.”
“O…kay. How are the others?”
Liz grinned as Max changed to safer subjects. “Michael’s fine and so are Isabel and Ava they’re both just resting still as far as I know.”
“Serena?”
Liz looked over gauging Max to see if he could handle it
“Liz. No secrets.”
“She was in a lot of pain and Michael wasn’t sure how much more damage the blast from Greer caused which is why we’re currently driving back to Roswell instead of just waiting for you all to wake up.”
“Zan.”
“Yeah, we don’t want her to have to suffer for any more then she has too. We weren’t sure when you’d wake up and when you’d have your powers back.”
Guilt instantly clouded over Max’s features, “Hey don’t do that.” Liz reached for his hand and squeezed it gently.
“It’s not your fault. You exhausted yourself dealing with the Skins and then healing Isabel. Isabel wouldn’t have made it this long. Serena will be fine. We’re almost back and then Zan can take care of her.”
“Zan probably could have healed everyone yesterday.”
Liz could detect the resentment. She tugged on his hand to get her to look at him while she continued to drive glancing at him briefly to make sure he was listening to her.
“No Max. Zan would have done the same thing as you. It’s not some competition between the two of you. It’s not about who makes the better KING. You’re brothers. You’ll do this together. Remember what Serena said? We’re a team in this and I promise she’ll be fine. We’re all going to make it through this and the next challenge that comes our way.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Liz gave a half shrug. “Lots of little things, most of which have nothing to do with the fact that your aliens with powers.”
“Such as?”
Max was curious now. If it wasn’t their alien powers that would get them through this what was it?
“For starters I guess is the very fact that we are all determined to make it through this, there really isn’t any other option for us. We realized failure's a possibility, but we’re doing everything we can to avoid it. Failure in this situation is just unacceptable. But like I said it’s the other stuff: there’s Isabel’s fierce protectiveness over her family, Michael’s strength and loyalty to his friends, Ava’s spunk, Zan’s attitude, Alex’s sharp mind and computer savvy skills, Kyle’s sense of humor and values, Jim’s never-ending support and resources, Serena’s knowledge and concern for all of us, Amy’s wacky perspective and enthusiasm, Maria’s generous heart and energetic spirit, and then there’s you Max. The responsibility you feel for all of us. You’re gentle soul and loving gaze." Liz paused to focus on the road more carefully and avoid his gaze while her cheeks turned bright pink.
"You care so much about all of us. You have the ability to stay calm in any situation and think of a solution clearly. Max, it’s all these things that add up and make it unquestionable that we will make it through this.I’m not saying it will be easy and that will make it through unscarred, but someday we’ll get that happily ever after we all want.”
Max smiled, “With a white picket fence?”
Liz rolled her eyes, “Sure Max if that’s what you want.”
“I don’t really care about a fence Liz, as long as I have you. As long as I have you, intacked with all your little traits that make you so essential to our team, every little detail about you that makes you vital to me. As long as we fight this thing side by side and when it’s over I get you. I don’t care if there is no fence at all.”
Tears gathered in her eyes as she smiled at him before wiping them away and concentrating on the road in front of her.
“That’s good because I was thinking along the same exact lines.”
Max grinned, “You don’t like fences either!”
Liz laughed then, she couldn’t help it.
The rest of the car ride was filled with a comfortable silence as both Max and Liz fantasized about the future. A magnificent wedding, friends joined together in laughter as the celebrated all big events in their lives, beautiful children running around an inviting home, sometimes with, sometimes without a fence.
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Michael drove them back to the motel to pick up the other car. When they got there Ava finally began to feel the drain on her energy from using so much power.
Serena had been joined on the dream plane by both Max and Liz. And Isabel looked dead on her feet.
Michael ran a hand through his hair, “We should get some rest.”
Isabel tried to focus on him as he continued, “You’re barely standing, Ava’s about to follow into the land of dreams, and I sure as hell can’t drive two cars.”
Isabel nodded, “Not here though. Too close.”
“Can you make it to the next town?”
Isabel rubbed her eyes and shook her body. “Yeah, I can make it to the next town. You take the jeep though.”
Michael nodded and moved Serena into the back of the jeep since Ava was already curled up in the front seat.
He made sure Max and then Liz were secure in the back of the Toyota.
“You sure Iz.”
She nodded her eyes finally refocusing. “Yes. I’ll follow you.”
“Alright.”
Half an hour later Michael was renting them rooms and came back to the cars with two keys.
It took another twenty minutes to get everyone settled. He moved Max and Liz first and Isabel crawled up on the other bed and that room.
He smiled at the three sleeping forms before sealing the door shut with his powers.
Then he moved Ava to the other room placing her on one bed before going back and finally moving Serena to the last bed. He sealed their door shut and sprawled out on the couch.
He closed his eyes, but then they shot open as he reached for the cell phone on the table.
He dialed the familiar number and the put the phone to his ear and closed his eyes.
When the other line picked up he smiled.
“Hey Blondie.” His smile grew as she shrieked and then rambled. He could hear Kyle and Alex in the background. He assumed Zan was there too.
“Yeah, we’re all fine.”
He nodded ever though she couldn’t see him.
“Harvest is destroyed and Skins are dust.” A soft chuckle escaped his lips, “Yeah I know literally.”
He paused and focused on her voice as it relaxed him, lulling him to sleep.
“No we’re stopped to rest for the night.”
“We were tired….I know we were supposed to come back tonight, but stuff came up. It was more exhausting then we thought.”
He listened to her silence for a minute before he found his eyes wide open at her hesitant question.
“Save Courtney’s Husk?... No yeah, you’re right. But they weren’t done. Not even close. I’ll tell you about it when I get home okay.”
His eyes dropped closed again, “I love you Blondie.” He smiled as she whispered back her response and hung up her phone.
Michael was asleep before he could hang up his.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz smiled as consciousness came back to her. She had no idea where she was but she could fell Max’s warmth surrounding her. She stretched as she buried her small frame closer to him. Her smile turned to a full out grin when Max’s arm fell over her and pulled her even closer.
Twenty minutes later though Liz was lifting the dead weight of Max’s arm off her and scrambling to the bathroom. Well as best she could with the bruises impeding her progress. She was sore all over from her impact with the wall. It was this thought that had Liz’s memory recall all the events of yesterday.
She opened the bathroom door to find Iz sleeping on the other bed, and then she saw the note on the door about Michael and the others in the next room. She sighed in relief and went back to the bathroom for a quick shower.
When she finished and had dried her hair and put on a fresh pair of clothes, Liz was going to head out in search for some breakfast, but after unlocking the doors she found it still wouldn’t budge. Concluding it was sealed with alien powers she had no choice, but to wait for Max or Isabel to wake up or for someone in the other room to come get her.
It took over an hour as she flipped through the channels on the muted TV before there was a soft knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
“Liz its Michael is Max up yet?”
“No, but can you let me out I’m really hungry.”
Liz heard the click of the door and swung it open to find Michael smiling sheepishly.
“Sorry about that.”
“No it was a good idea with them completely oblivious to the world and all.”
“Serena’s awake I was hoping Max would be up to heal her by now.”
“No he’s still totally out of it. I think Isabel was a lot more injured then either let on. She’s still sleeping. We should probably head back?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind driving?”
“Nah. I’ll try to wake them, if not could you…”
“Yeah no problem, I’ll get Serena and Ava out to the cars and then come back to check on you guys. Lock the door.”
Liz tried to wake both Max and Isabel. Max didn’t respond at all. Isabel mumbled something, but made no move to get up. When Michael came back he effortlessly lifted Isabel from the bed and headed towards the jeep putting her in the back with a groggy Serena.
When he came back for Max, Liz had all three of their bags in her hands. She held the door open for Michael and then checked them out of the motel as Michael got Max situation in the front seat of Serena’s car.
Michael and Liz raided the vending machines before they headed to the driver sides of the two vehicles.
“We should probably try to drive straight through; I don’t like the idea of Serena in so much pain. And I don’t know how much damage there could be.”
“Couldn’t you?” Liz wiggled her fingers and gestured towards Max.
“Not while he’s asleep. And I was too out of it yesterday to heal her while Max was working on Isabel.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Can you handle driving straight through?”
Liz nodded contemplating it, “Yeah, if I need a break I’ll just call. We should go to your place.”
Michael agreed with a nod of his head, “Follow me, stay close okay.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An hour before Roswell,Max stirred in his seat next to Liz.
“Hey, sleepy head.”
He mumbled something incoherent and Liz giggled causing him to sit up straighter and hit his head in the confined space.
“Ow.” This only made Liz laugh harder.
Max rubbed his head and glanced over at Liz as she laughed keeping her eyes on the road.
“Think that’s funny?”
Liz bit her lip and shook her head no furiously, but Max could still see the laughter dancing in her eyes.
He reached an arm over and tickled her side, “Max I’m driving!” She screeched pulling away from his arm and trying to keep the car steady. Max took his hand back and chuckled to himself.
“Fine, Liz but I will get even.”
She glanced at him quickly and gave him a sultry look that had him gulping for air.
“I look forward to it.”
“O…kay. How are the others?”
Liz grinned as Max changed to safer subjects. “Michael’s fine and so are Isabel and Ava they’re both just resting still as far as I know.”
“Serena?”
Liz looked over gauging Max to see if he could handle it
“Liz. No secrets.”
“She was in a lot of pain and Michael wasn’t sure how much more damage the blast from Greer caused which is why we’re currently driving back to Roswell instead of just waiting for you all to wake up.”
“Zan.”
“Yeah, we don’t want her to have to suffer for any more then she has too. We weren’t sure when you’d wake up and when you’d have your powers back.”
Guilt instantly clouded over Max’s features, “Hey don’t do that.” Liz reached for his hand and squeezed it gently.
“It’s not your fault. You exhausted yourself dealing with the Skins and then healing Isabel. Isabel wouldn’t have made it this long. Serena will be fine. We’re almost back and then Zan can take care of her.”
“Zan probably could have healed everyone yesterday.”
Liz could detect the resentment. She tugged on his hand to get her to look at him while she continued to drive glancing at him briefly to make sure he was listening to her.
“No Max. Zan would have done the same thing as you. It’s not some competition between the two of you. It’s not about who makes the better KING. You’re brothers. You’ll do this together. Remember what Serena said? We’re a team in this and I promise she’ll be fine. We’re all going to make it through this and the next challenge that comes our way.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Liz gave a half shrug. “Lots of little things, most of which have nothing to do with the fact that your aliens with powers.”
“Such as?”
Max was curious now. If it wasn’t their alien powers that would get them through this what was it?
“For starters I guess is the very fact that we are all determined to make it through this, there really isn’t any other option for us. We realized failure's a possibility, but we’re doing everything we can to avoid it. Failure in this situation is just unacceptable. But like I said it’s the other stuff: there’s Isabel’s fierce protectiveness over her family, Michael’s strength and loyalty to his friends, Ava’s spunk, Zan’s attitude, Alex’s sharp mind and computer savvy skills, Kyle’s sense of humor and values, Jim’s never-ending support and resources, Serena’s knowledge and concern for all of us, Amy’s wacky perspective and enthusiasm, Maria’s generous heart and energetic spirit, and then there’s you Max. The responsibility you feel for all of us. You’re gentle soul and loving gaze." Liz paused to focus on the road more carefully and avoid his gaze while her cheeks turned bright pink.
"You care so much about all of us. You have the ability to stay calm in any situation and think of a solution clearly. Max, it’s all these things that add up and make it unquestionable that we will make it through this.I’m not saying it will be easy and that will make it through unscarred, but someday we’ll get that happily ever after we all want.”
Max smiled, “With a white picket fence?”
Liz rolled her eyes, “Sure Max if that’s what you want.”
“I don’t really care about a fence Liz, as long as I have you. As long as I have you, intacked with all your little traits that make you so essential to our team, every little detail about you that makes you vital to me. As long as we fight this thing side by side and when it’s over I get you. I don’t care if there is no fence at all.”
Tears gathered in her eyes as she smiled at him before wiping them away and concentrating on the road in front of her.
“That’s good because I was thinking along the same exact lines.”
Max grinned, “You don’t like fences either!”
Liz laughed then, she couldn’t help it.
The rest of the car ride was filled with a comfortable silence as both Max and Liz fantasized about the future. A magnificent wedding, friends joined together in laughter as the celebrated all big events in their lives, beautiful children running around an inviting home, sometimes with, sometimes without a fence.
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Last edited by starcrazed on Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
artwork by: RosDude
Michael: Whoever sent us down here was smart, you know? Because they sent us together, and as long as we stick together, we're gonna make it.
Find all my fics here starcrazed stories
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starcrazed
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- Posts: 247
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:46 pm
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Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) Part 28 7/1
Part 28
“What do you mean they’re gone?”
Isabel turned her icy glare towards Liz as her fear escalated.
“Exactly what I said, they are gone. Missing. Taken. They were supposed to meet me an hour ago and none of them showed.”
“Izzie you know Ava, she’s always running late.”
Isabel turned to Max frustrated, “Yeah Ava’s always ten minutes late for everything, but Kyle’s always early and Alex would never stand me up.”
Serena came back into the living room of her apartment, “None of them are answering their cell phones.”
Isabel almost screamed at them, “I already told you I’ve tried calling them and communicating with them. Neither worked.”
“Iz, calm down.”
“No Michael, I will not calm down. Four weeks ago when Maria was kidnapped by Whitaker you would have had this place a pile of rubble if it wasn’t for Ava. Compared to that I am very calm”
“Well you’re no good to us if you’re freaking out.”
“I’m not freaking out. I just don’t understand why none of you are realizing that this is a big deal. Alex, Kyle, and Ava did not just take a wrong turn somewhere on the way to the mall.”
Just then the door burst open and Michael, Serena, and Isabel spun around with their arms raised only to see a very out of breath Zan huffing and puffing half bent over trying to take in air.
“She’s right.”
Isabel rolled her eyes. “Thank you.”
“What do you mean Zan?”
Zan looked up into the concerned eyes of Serena malice reflected from his own.
“Valenti saw them.”
“Saw them where?”
Zan cast a look towards Michael to silence him.
“At the mall.”
Isabel went to open her mouth, but Zan’s glance silenced her.
“With Isabel.”
Max scratched the back of his neck, “Isabel I thought you said they didn’t meet you at the mall.”
The others watched as Isabel shook her head furiously, Zan finally slumped to the floor, and Serena paled.
For the first time Maria spoke up, “Okay guys, you’re freaking me out what’s going on. You three obviously know something the rest of us don’t.”
Liz gasped. “It wasn’t Isabel. It was her duplicate…”
“Lonnie.” Serena filled in while Liz was searching her memory for the name.
“Shit.”
“I’d say that about sums it up Michael.”
“Gee you think Blondie.”
Before the two hotheads could get into a sparring word match Max cut them off, “Okay so Lonnie and probably Rath have Kyle, Alex, and Ava. We need to go get them.”
Maria sighed, “I knew our four weeks of peace was too good to last. It’s almost Thanksgiving so of course we’re going to be attacked by crazed alien duplicates.”
Maria shrugged as some of the others raised their eyebrows at her, but most were too deep in thought trying to figure out a way to save their friends to even hear her comment.
Liz spoke up. “We need a plan and we need not to panic. It’s Rath and Lonnie so we have them out numbered in terms of aliens.”
Zan snapped as the reality of the situation hit him, “That’s great Liz, cept that Rath and Lons are ruthless and ain’t give a care whos they hurt tryin to gets what they want.”
Max stepped between the two, “She has a point. There are more of us to plan, and watch out for each other. You and Serena know how they think, and from what you told us I’m sure neither one of them will be too concerned with watching each other’s back.”
Maria jumped in, “So we just have to find them.”
Isabel grabbed the framed picture of the group off the counter and gave them a determined look, “I’m on it.”
As she slammed the bedroom door behind her Max released Liz’s hand and joined Zan on the couch, “What exactly did Valenti say?”
Zan rubbed his face and sighed. Now that he had calmed a bit, the New York accent that had faded in their weeks in Roswell again retreated, “He wanted to know how come I wasn’t at the mall with them, and he asked if Isabel and Ava were fighting.”
Liz eyebrows came together as the question left her mouth, “Why would they be fighting?”
Serena sighed, “Because Ava probably realized it was Lonnie a minute after it was too late and Alex and Kyle were too close to her.”
Zan nodded his head, “Valenti said Alex had his arm wrapped around her as Ava was givin’ Isabel a dirty look and slouchin’ over to ‘em.”
“We shouldn’t have let our guard down. Damnit.”
“Michael don’t. The blame game isn’t going to help us and neither would have living in a state of fear of what could happen. Besides I knew Lonnie and Rath would figure it out sooner or later with Zan, Ava, and me packing up and leaving.”
Before anymore blame could be taken up Isabel walked back into the room looking just as frustrated as when she entered the apartment. “Ava’s head is to crowded. I can’t get it.”
“Crowded?” Maria’s eyes clouded in confusion, “What the hell does that mean?”
“It’s Lonnie.”
Everyone turned to Zan for the answer. “She does dis thing. She uses her dreamwalkin’ to talk in your head while your awake and it reaches different levels in your brain and you hear like eight voices at once. It really fucks with your sanity, makes it impossible to concentrate.”
“So Ava’s basically powerless.”
“Yes.”
An overwhelming amount of fear began to gather in Liz’s eyes as Maria pulled out her bottle of cedar oil.
“Iz did you reach Kyle or Alex?”
Tears gathered in her eyes, “Alex was…unconscious I guess just blank. Kyle was…” she wiped away a tear, “Kyle was in too much pain. I got kicked out right away.”
“Let me try.”
“What?”
“You could dream walk somebody else and I can channel the right energy pattern to dream walk Kyle. With Hank I learned to withstand a lot of pain so maybe I’ll be able to get some details from Kyle.”
Regret filled the eyes of Max and Isabel as Maria reached out her hand in comfort, “Michael…”
He gave her a small smile but side stepped her hand, “It’s okay guys. Izzie we can do this.”
“Liz can you call Valenti and tell him what’s going on. Maria can you let your mom know.”
“Max?”
“I’m going try to form a connection with Michael and Isabel maybe heal Kyle through the connection.”
Zan stood up, “Let me.”
Max looked doubtful almost possessive. Zan spoke before Max did.
“Max look you’re the leader I’ll follow you wherever you’re taking us, but you don’t know Rath and Lons like I do. You shouldn’t have to deal with the pain Kyle’s probably in, Isabel shouldn’t of dealt with it.”
“I can handle it.”
“Yeah, probably, but you shouldn’t have to.”
“Neither should you.”
Zan smirked, “Yeah, but I did. It’s just the cards we were dealt Max. Let me do this while you make up our great rescue plan.”
Max nodded his head and turned to Serena.
“So tell me about Rath and Lonnie.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Zan?”
“Hi.”
“What’s up man?”
“While you’re tryin’ to get information from Kyle I’m gonna try and heal him, at least take away some of dat pain.”
“Can we do that?”
Zan half shrugged, “Max thinks so.”
Michael turned to Isabel, “Izzie?”
“Well, we’re gonna try it.”
Michael studied her for a moment and watched as the fear took a back seat and the hard determination of Future Isabel found a home in their Izzie. He smiled knowing they were all well on their way of becoming the people Future Isabel had left behind, the people she loved so much she risked everything to save.
Michael shook himself out of the thought as Isabel curled up on the bed and he laid down next to her, their hands clasped between them. Zan pulled up a chair next to Isabel and held her arm as her finger rested on the smiling face of Kyle.
Isabel was the first to close her eyes and Michael followed soon after. Zan was beginning to think it wasn’t working when suddenly his head dropped to the mattress.
Zan opened his eyes and found himself in the middle of a football game. Literally. He turned and saw the running back coming at him and dove out of the way.
“What the hell?”
“Kyle’s big on foot ball.”
Zan turned to find Michael and Isabel standing next to him.
“You don’t say. Iz I thought you said…”
He trailed off as Isabel pointed and Michael and Zan watched as Kyle was tackled. The pain that accompanied it however was ten times as strong as it would have been in a normal football game.
Isabel flinched and her image wavered. Michael absorbed the pain into him and flinched, but his image stayed strong. Zan swore but his image didn’t waver at all.
“I won’t be able to handle another tackle guys.”
“Just fade into the background Iz, you don’t actually have to be in Kyle’s dream now, go dream hopping till were done.”
Isabel gave them a hesitate look, but with their reassuring nods she nodded her head and disappeared.
“Now what?”
Michael shrugged. “I dunno never really done this before.”
Zan nodded in agreement before cupping his hands over his mouth and yelling, “Hey Valenti get you ass over here!”
Michael and Zan were both amazed that Kyle pulled himself out of the pile and trudged over to them.
“What’s up Coach?”
Zan and Michael exchanged a look, “Where are you Valenti?”
“What do you mean Coach? I’m at the game?”
“NO Kyle, Lonnie and Rath have you. You and Alex and Ava.”
“Who?”
Kyle looked at them befuddled. Zan sighed in frustration as Michael scratched his eyebrow, “I think we have to stick to the football metaphor.”
“Valenti why you letting these little bitches kick our team’s ass?”
“Coach they came out of nowhere and we can’t go up against them especially when our star quarter back is out of commission.”
“Ava, shit.”
“What about the second stringer?”
Kyle let out a bark of a laugh, “Yeah right he managed one hit to the chest and went down hard. I’d be surprised if he woke up anytime this year. I understand his pain though, right to the chest. It knocks the wind right out of you, makes it hard to breathe.”
Zan reached out a hand to Kyle’s chest and concentrated letting Michael to figure out his part, “How come you guys are playing here Valenti, I thought we were playing at home today?”
Kyle rolled his eyes, “Don’t you remember Coach? Senior prank, they planted a bunch of flowers and shit in our field. It won’t be ready again for a week. It’s a real shame though became I hate the smell of cheese out here at our backup field. You’d think the stench from the factory would give us an edge, but I keep forgetting these guys lived by the sewers. Evil bastards…”
Kyle trailed off and Michael watched as awareness seemed to fill his eyes for a moment. Michael reached out a hand but suddenly Kyle spoke again, more hurriedly then before.
“It’s half time now Coach, I don’t think I’ll make it the next half and the quarterbacks probably won’t make it much longer after that. You get what I’m saying Guerin.”
Michael startled at hearing his name, but nodded his head as Kyle tried to step back. Zan’s hand held him in place, Kyle smiled a genuine Kyle smile, “Tell Coach Evans thanks and that his brother better come up with one hell of a play to save our asses.”
Suddenly the ref blew his whistle and the two were shoved out of the dream.
Zan pulled away from the bed as Michael sat up. “He had seven broken ribs.”
Michael with stormy eyes turned to Zan, “They don’t have a lot of time left.”
Zan shook his head in agreement, “No they don’t.”
They both jumped as Isabel spoke up, “We better more our asses then.”
Isabel was out the bedroom door before either of them stood.
“I’m sure as hell glad she’s on our side.”
Michael smirked, “You have no idea. Lonnie may be an evil, ruthless bitch. But you don’t mess with Izzie’s family. Not if you enjoy living on earth.”
It was Zan’s turn to smirk as he stood from the chair, “Since Lons and Rath hate it here so much it won’t be a big deal when Iz sits ‘em straight.”
Michael nodded as he joined Zan and the others, “When WE set them straight. Isabel’s not the only one protective of her family.”
“Ain’t dat the truth.”
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“What do you mean they’re gone?”
Isabel turned her icy glare towards Liz as her fear escalated.
“Exactly what I said, they are gone. Missing. Taken. They were supposed to meet me an hour ago and none of them showed.”
“Izzie you know Ava, she’s always running late.”
Isabel turned to Max frustrated, “Yeah Ava’s always ten minutes late for everything, but Kyle’s always early and Alex would never stand me up.”
Serena came back into the living room of her apartment, “None of them are answering their cell phones.”
Isabel almost screamed at them, “I already told you I’ve tried calling them and communicating with them. Neither worked.”
“Iz, calm down.”
“No Michael, I will not calm down. Four weeks ago when Maria was kidnapped by Whitaker you would have had this place a pile of rubble if it wasn’t for Ava. Compared to that I am very calm”
“Well you’re no good to us if you’re freaking out.”
“I’m not freaking out. I just don’t understand why none of you are realizing that this is a big deal. Alex, Kyle, and Ava did not just take a wrong turn somewhere on the way to the mall.”
Just then the door burst open and Michael, Serena, and Isabel spun around with their arms raised only to see a very out of breath Zan huffing and puffing half bent over trying to take in air.
“She’s right.”
Isabel rolled her eyes. “Thank you.”
“What do you mean Zan?”
Zan looked up into the concerned eyes of Serena malice reflected from his own.
“Valenti saw them.”
“Saw them where?”
Zan cast a look towards Michael to silence him.
“At the mall.”
Isabel went to open her mouth, but Zan’s glance silenced her.
“With Isabel.”
Max scratched the back of his neck, “Isabel I thought you said they didn’t meet you at the mall.”
The others watched as Isabel shook her head furiously, Zan finally slumped to the floor, and Serena paled.
For the first time Maria spoke up, “Okay guys, you’re freaking me out what’s going on. You three obviously know something the rest of us don’t.”
Liz gasped. “It wasn’t Isabel. It was her duplicate…”
“Lonnie.” Serena filled in while Liz was searching her memory for the name.
“Shit.”
“I’d say that about sums it up Michael.”
“Gee you think Blondie.”
Before the two hotheads could get into a sparring word match Max cut them off, “Okay so Lonnie and probably Rath have Kyle, Alex, and Ava. We need to go get them.”
Maria sighed, “I knew our four weeks of peace was too good to last. It’s almost Thanksgiving so of course we’re going to be attacked by crazed alien duplicates.”
Maria shrugged as some of the others raised their eyebrows at her, but most were too deep in thought trying to figure out a way to save their friends to even hear her comment.
Liz spoke up. “We need a plan and we need not to panic. It’s Rath and Lonnie so we have them out numbered in terms of aliens.”
Zan snapped as the reality of the situation hit him, “That’s great Liz, cept that Rath and Lons are ruthless and ain’t give a care whos they hurt tryin to gets what they want.”
Max stepped between the two, “She has a point. There are more of us to plan, and watch out for each other. You and Serena know how they think, and from what you told us I’m sure neither one of them will be too concerned with watching each other’s back.”
Maria jumped in, “So we just have to find them.”
Isabel grabbed the framed picture of the group off the counter and gave them a determined look, “I’m on it.”
As she slammed the bedroom door behind her Max released Liz’s hand and joined Zan on the couch, “What exactly did Valenti say?”
Zan rubbed his face and sighed. Now that he had calmed a bit, the New York accent that had faded in their weeks in Roswell again retreated, “He wanted to know how come I wasn’t at the mall with them, and he asked if Isabel and Ava were fighting.”
Liz eyebrows came together as the question left her mouth, “Why would they be fighting?”
Serena sighed, “Because Ava probably realized it was Lonnie a minute after it was too late and Alex and Kyle were too close to her.”
Zan nodded his head, “Valenti said Alex had his arm wrapped around her as Ava was givin’ Isabel a dirty look and slouchin’ over to ‘em.”
“We shouldn’t have let our guard down. Damnit.”
“Michael don’t. The blame game isn’t going to help us and neither would have living in a state of fear of what could happen. Besides I knew Lonnie and Rath would figure it out sooner or later with Zan, Ava, and me packing up and leaving.”
Before anymore blame could be taken up Isabel walked back into the room looking just as frustrated as when she entered the apartment. “Ava’s head is to crowded. I can’t get it.”
“Crowded?” Maria’s eyes clouded in confusion, “What the hell does that mean?”
“It’s Lonnie.”
Everyone turned to Zan for the answer. “She does dis thing. She uses her dreamwalkin’ to talk in your head while your awake and it reaches different levels in your brain and you hear like eight voices at once. It really fucks with your sanity, makes it impossible to concentrate.”
“So Ava’s basically powerless.”
“Yes.”
An overwhelming amount of fear began to gather in Liz’s eyes as Maria pulled out her bottle of cedar oil.
“Iz did you reach Kyle or Alex?”
Tears gathered in her eyes, “Alex was…unconscious I guess just blank. Kyle was…” she wiped away a tear, “Kyle was in too much pain. I got kicked out right away.”
“Let me try.”
“What?”
“You could dream walk somebody else and I can channel the right energy pattern to dream walk Kyle. With Hank I learned to withstand a lot of pain so maybe I’ll be able to get some details from Kyle.”
Regret filled the eyes of Max and Isabel as Maria reached out her hand in comfort, “Michael…”
He gave her a small smile but side stepped her hand, “It’s okay guys. Izzie we can do this.”
“Liz can you call Valenti and tell him what’s going on. Maria can you let your mom know.”
“Max?”
“I’m going try to form a connection with Michael and Isabel maybe heal Kyle through the connection.”
Zan stood up, “Let me.”
Max looked doubtful almost possessive. Zan spoke before Max did.
“Max look you’re the leader I’ll follow you wherever you’re taking us, but you don’t know Rath and Lons like I do. You shouldn’t have to deal with the pain Kyle’s probably in, Isabel shouldn’t of dealt with it.”
“I can handle it.”
“Yeah, probably, but you shouldn’t have to.”
“Neither should you.”
Zan smirked, “Yeah, but I did. It’s just the cards we were dealt Max. Let me do this while you make up our great rescue plan.”
Max nodded his head and turned to Serena.
“So tell me about Rath and Lonnie.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Zan?”
“Hi.”
“What’s up man?”
“While you’re tryin’ to get information from Kyle I’m gonna try and heal him, at least take away some of dat pain.”
“Can we do that?”
Zan half shrugged, “Max thinks so.”
Michael turned to Isabel, “Izzie?”
“Well, we’re gonna try it.”
Michael studied her for a moment and watched as the fear took a back seat and the hard determination of Future Isabel found a home in their Izzie. He smiled knowing they were all well on their way of becoming the people Future Isabel had left behind, the people she loved so much she risked everything to save.
Michael shook himself out of the thought as Isabel curled up on the bed and he laid down next to her, their hands clasped between them. Zan pulled up a chair next to Isabel and held her arm as her finger rested on the smiling face of Kyle.
Isabel was the first to close her eyes and Michael followed soon after. Zan was beginning to think it wasn’t working when suddenly his head dropped to the mattress.
Zan opened his eyes and found himself in the middle of a football game. Literally. He turned and saw the running back coming at him and dove out of the way.
“What the hell?”
“Kyle’s big on foot ball.”
Zan turned to find Michael and Isabel standing next to him.
“You don’t say. Iz I thought you said…”
He trailed off as Isabel pointed and Michael and Zan watched as Kyle was tackled. The pain that accompanied it however was ten times as strong as it would have been in a normal football game.
Isabel flinched and her image wavered. Michael absorbed the pain into him and flinched, but his image stayed strong. Zan swore but his image didn’t waver at all.
“I won’t be able to handle another tackle guys.”
“Just fade into the background Iz, you don’t actually have to be in Kyle’s dream now, go dream hopping till were done.”
Isabel gave them a hesitate look, but with their reassuring nods she nodded her head and disappeared.
“Now what?”
Michael shrugged. “I dunno never really done this before.”
Zan nodded in agreement before cupping his hands over his mouth and yelling, “Hey Valenti get you ass over here!”
Michael and Zan were both amazed that Kyle pulled himself out of the pile and trudged over to them.
“What’s up Coach?”
Zan and Michael exchanged a look, “Where are you Valenti?”
“What do you mean Coach? I’m at the game?”
“NO Kyle, Lonnie and Rath have you. You and Alex and Ava.”
“Who?”
Kyle looked at them befuddled. Zan sighed in frustration as Michael scratched his eyebrow, “I think we have to stick to the football metaphor.”
“Valenti why you letting these little bitches kick our team’s ass?”
“Coach they came out of nowhere and we can’t go up against them especially when our star quarter back is out of commission.”
“Ava, shit.”
“What about the second stringer?”
Kyle let out a bark of a laugh, “Yeah right he managed one hit to the chest and went down hard. I’d be surprised if he woke up anytime this year. I understand his pain though, right to the chest. It knocks the wind right out of you, makes it hard to breathe.”
Zan reached out a hand to Kyle’s chest and concentrated letting Michael to figure out his part, “How come you guys are playing here Valenti, I thought we were playing at home today?”
Kyle rolled his eyes, “Don’t you remember Coach? Senior prank, they planted a bunch of flowers and shit in our field. It won’t be ready again for a week. It’s a real shame though became I hate the smell of cheese out here at our backup field. You’d think the stench from the factory would give us an edge, but I keep forgetting these guys lived by the sewers. Evil bastards…”
Kyle trailed off and Michael watched as awareness seemed to fill his eyes for a moment. Michael reached out a hand but suddenly Kyle spoke again, more hurriedly then before.
“It’s half time now Coach, I don’t think I’ll make it the next half and the quarterbacks probably won’t make it much longer after that. You get what I’m saying Guerin.”
Michael startled at hearing his name, but nodded his head as Kyle tried to step back. Zan’s hand held him in place, Kyle smiled a genuine Kyle smile, “Tell Coach Evans thanks and that his brother better come up with one hell of a play to save our asses.”
Suddenly the ref blew his whistle and the two were shoved out of the dream.
Zan pulled away from the bed as Michael sat up. “He had seven broken ribs.”
Michael with stormy eyes turned to Zan, “They don’t have a lot of time left.”
Zan shook his head in agreement, “No they don’t.”
They both jumped as Isabel spoke up, “We better more our asses then.”
Isabel was out the bedroom door before either of them stood.
“I’m sure as hell glad she’s on our side.”
Michael smirked, “You have no idea. Lonnie may be an evil, ruthless bitch. But you don’t mess with Izzie’s family. Not if you enjoy living on earth.”
It was Zan’s turn to smirk as he stood from the chair, “Since Lons and Rath hate it here so much it won’t be a big deal when Iz sits ‘em straight.”
Michael nodded as he joined Zan and the others, “When WE set them straight. Isabel’s not the only one protective of her family.”
“Ain’t dat the truth.”
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
artwork by: RosDude
Michael: Whoever sent us down here was smart, you know? Because they sent us together, and as long as we stick together, we're gonna make it.
Find all my fics here starcrazed stories
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starcrazed
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Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) Part 29 7/22
Part 29
Kyle pried open his eyes in the dark room. It was such a simple thing but it hurt like hell to do it. He saw Rath and Lonnie off to one side of the room apparently yelling at each other.
He turned his squinted gaze to the floor and saw Alex sprawled out, his chest rising and falling as he took shallow breaths. From the corner of his eye he was able to make out Ava crouched in the corner clutching at her head. Her eyes clinched shut tightly as she mumbled incoherent words under her breath.
He didn’t even try to sit up knowing his leg was broken and he wouldn’t be going anywhere. He refused to leave Ava and Alex alone with these two, even if he could have left. Kyle was able to realize that each breath didn’t cause him unbearable pain anymore though.
Kyle closed his eyes and tried to be anywhere but in that room with all the pain.
The pain was making it hard to think, to remember what had happened, but one thing was certain. The second Isabel opened her mouth at the mall and spoke he realized it wasn’t their Isabel. And unfortunately it wasn’t another future version of her either.
Alex too realized his error and tried to pull away. Looking at Ava, Kyle knew she had already realized the tall statuesque blonde was the wrong one, moments before either of them had but still too late to save them from this current nightmare.
After what seemed like hours Kyle opened his eyes again as he heard Rath slam a fist into the wall. Their heated argument was finally loud enough for him to overhear some of it.
“She’s doin’ something!”
“What?”
“I dunno know what it is…holds up…she stopped doin’ it, but shes was doin’ somethin’. I’m tellin’ yo she’s a hell of a lots stronger dan when she left us. If Zans and those other freaks dis strong too we’s gonna have a problem.”
“Da shifter didn’t say nuffin bout them havin’ stronger powers dan us.”
“No shit Rath, because than we wouldn’ts be out here riskin’ our hides!”
Kyle held his breath as they lapped into silence.
“It don’t matter what kinds powers theys gots. Theys don’t know what it means to be an alien on a hostile planet. We’ll give them a treats. Lets thems sees what growin up in da city woulda been like. Don’t worry Lons these kiddies are softies like Nasedo said. Livin’ up the comfy life, theys don’t likes to play dirty.”
“I’m not worried you imbecile. I’d just hates to sees you get hurt by these backup rejects.”
Rath smirked at her at Kyle almost groaned out loud at the suggestive look he sent her way.
“Liar. You love in when I’m in pain.”
Kyle really did groan when Lonnie giggled in response.
“Oh lookie whats we got here. The human woke up. Ready for round two?”
Kyle just glared at them and they both laughed.
“Oh Rath, I thinks the little baby is in some pain.”
“Well, Lon a powerblast or three cans do that to yay.”
As they were about to walk over to Kyle, he heard a door slam open from somewhere above him.
“Rath, Vilranda get up here now!”
Kyle watched as Lonnie rolled her eyes and Rath spoke up, “You’d think dat the shifter be grateful since wes doing him a favor and all.”
“The Shifter don’t give a shit bout nobody but himself Rath. That’s why we have to deals with him afters we take care of our clones and we have to deals with Zannie.”
“Zan’s gonna be so pissed we touched Aves.”
Kyle watched as an evil snarl covered her face, horrified at the grotesqueness it added to the beautiful face of his friend.
“Probably, but takin’ the bitch will get the fool here, then we don’t have to deal with the boy king no more.”
“What about Max?”
“You heards the shifter, Maxie boys a pushover.”
“RATH!”
“Dudes freakin’ out.”
“Do yous blame him, Khivar ain’t too happy with his puppet Nasedo.”
“LONNIE!”
Kyle sighed in relief as they both disappeared up at set of stairs.
As soon as the door at the top of the stairs slammed shut he was startled to notice Ava’s eyes pop open.
“Kyle, are you okay?”
He nodded mutely for a moment as she stood gracefully and ran a hand over Alex.
“My leg’s broken. Is Alex…?”
“He’s okay, just unconscious. Listen Isabel was here…”
“What!?”
She gave him a stern glance and he shut his mouth.
“She dream walked you, tried to get into my head, but I couldn’t let her because Lonnie would have noticed. They’re probably on their way to get us. When Lonnie and Rath get back in here I’ll make them forget you woke up. You need to pretend to be unconscious too because if they get too bored they won’t hesitate in killing you.”
Ava watched hesitantly as Kyle paled. She put her small hand on his arm. “And it would really suck to lose my brother.”
Kyle watched the fear dancing in Ava’s eyes as it flirted with the spark of danger knowing when the two combined Lonnie and Rath would be in for a treat.
“Yeah, having a sister has kind of grown on me, but I would really appreciate it if you stopped leaving all your girlie things in my bathroom.”
Ava let out a soft chuckled and Kyle smiled as the fear receded a bit.
“You have to get Alex and yourself out of here while I’m distracting Lonnie and Rath.”
Kyle was already shaking his head no, “I’m not leaving you here alone Ava. Besides, my leg is broken.”
Ava glared at him touched the leg and realized that it was indeed broken in two different places. She though about mindwarping him away from the pain again like she did with the football game, but to do that and take care of Lonnie and Rath would require too much from her.
“Fine we’ll wait for the others to get here.”
“How long do you think that will be.”
Ava shot him a gloomy look, “Hopefully not too long, because I don’t think we have that much time left before those three get bored.”
Kyle nodded his head solemnly and grasped Ava’s hand quickly as she stood to go back to her corner as the feet upstairs got closer to the door for the basement.
“Ava…everything’s going to be alright. Right?”
Ava game him an encouraging smile as the remaining fear in her eyes touched the danger lurking about and a fierce determination shined through.
“You can bet your ass Valenti. Nobody's gonna mess with my family and get away with it.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“What I can’t figure out is how theys found us?” Zan checked the rearview mirror as he turned off the main highway onto the road that led to the cheese factory.
“It was probably Nasedo.” Max raised an eyebrow at Michael as Isabel turned in the front seat.
“What? He had that plan for you to knock up Tess so he could go home. He comes back here probably knows we took care of his Tess thing and needs the back up for his plan to work.”
Isabel nodded beginning to see where Michael was going with this, “So he went to get Ava in New York and only finds Rath and Lonnie which pisses him off.”
“But how would he know Ava and Zan are here?”
“Maybe he doesn’t. Maybes he just made some sorta deals with Lons and Rath.” Zan looked at Max as he took the final turn for the factory.
“Yeah maybe they’ll get to take our place.” Michael exchanged glances with Isabel who merely shrugged and then as a thought occurred to her she paled.
“Maybe they want the Granilith.”
Max spoke up trying to contain their fear from getting out of hand. It was bad enough Ava, Kyle, and Alex were already kidnapped; evil plots to capture the Granilith might just push somebody over the edge.
“Guys, everyone wants the Granilith. It’s safe as long as we don’t know where it is. We just have to go in there and stick to the plan.”
“Maxwell, it’s a pretty flimsy plan. We don’t even know if she’ll be able to do it.”
“That’s what Isabel is going to check when we get there. The rest of us are for distracting.”
“Yo bro, I dunno how I feel bout using my bod as a distraction for the evil duo.”
“Trust me guys it will work. I have faith in her.”
Isabel changed the subject, “Do you think Liz and Maria will ever forgive us.”
Zan chuckled as Max and Michael fell silent. “That was pretty shady, draggin Amy in to make sure they stayed behind.”
“It’s too dangerous.” Max defended the action even though he was dreading returning.
“Our life will always be dangerous Maxwell.” Michael seemed surprised all the sudden. Isabel watched in confusion at Michael’s announcement.
“Please tell me you are not just realizing this Michael?”
He slowly nodded but then on second thought clarified, “No Iz, I think out of the three of us I’ve always been the most conscious of the type of lives we’ll have, but it’s not going to change.”
“So…” Isabel turned in her seat again as the cheese factory finally came into view, “So… if we keep shoving them to the side and go off to battle they’re going to think we don’t trust them or…”
Max cut him off, “That’s not true Michael we just want them to be safe.”
“Yeah and by keeping them safe we may lose them. They don’t want us running off to fight for our lives just as much as we don’t want them too and sooner or later if we keep holding them back from fighting with us it will cost us.”
Zan frowned at the thought; gratefully he didn’t have to deal with such a dilemma. Ava was a handful enough as it was. He was glad she could look out for herself if she had too and he wasn’t forced to face her anger. At least not because he kept making her stay behind.
Fear crept into Isabel’s voice, “But they wouldn’t be in THESE situations...”
Max seemed to finally grasp what Michael was saying. “It’s too late Isabel. They’ll always be in these situations from now on. They’ve chosen this life and embraced it just as fully as we’ve tried with our human lives. The only way to make sure they stay as safe as any of us can be is to keep them with us.”
Zan pulled the car to a stop. And Michael lowered his voice as he spoke. “Okay we go in here rescue our family and then stop being so stubborn towards protecting our humans. Deal.”
Max nodded and Isabel smiled as Zan got out of the car.
“You threes done with the mushiness yet? We got family to save.”
“We’re right behind you.”
“Good.” Zan stood to the side as Michael blasted the door off the hinges then Zan leaned in the doorway and called out.
“HONEY!!! I’m home.”
Max shot him a look and Zan shrugged as he heard a door slam open from further inside. “I’m da man. They’re about to remember dat.”
Zan and Michael entered the dark room first closely followed by Max and Isabel.
*KYLE!*
*ALEX!*
*AVA!*
Isabel waited a beat before she felt a tug at her conscious and a weak response.
*Izzie?*
“Ava’s okay.”
Max nodded and whispered under his breath as an eerily familiar figure entered the room with them, “Find where they are. Tell her the plan.”
Isabel did as she was told and then directed Max towards the basement as Zan stood off against Rath.
“Miss me bro? Zat why you cames all the way to Roswell?”
Rath grinned like a maniac, “Nah, wes here to catch us some aliens.” His eyes lit up like a child on Christmas and Isabel felt a cold shiver run down her back as another person entered the room and spoke up.
“Now sugar plum, don’t you go spoilin’ our plans. What do we gots here?”
Rath pulled Lonnie tight to his side and the grin, if possible grew wider. He whispered in a loud voice so they could hear him, “Me thinks it’s the rescue party. Here to gets their human pets.”
Isabel sent a mental shove at him as he insulted the humans but it merely made him laugh. “Oh sweet Vilandra clone, it’s gonna takes mores then that if yous gonna deals with the Rathman.”
Suddenly Michael and Zan found Isabel in front of them spitting out at Rath, “The name is Isabel.” She raised a hand and sent a stronger wave of power at him that had him flying backwards to the wall.
“Get it straight.”
Lonnie started to clap. “You just learn dat Princess, cuz Is got news for ya. We’ve been doing those simple parlor tricks since we was eight.”
“Yeah, but you see sis,” Zan stepped forward deeply disturbed by the image of Isabel facing off with Lonnie “We just gots ourselves a little more juice.” As Zan spoke he allowed the electricity to jump between his outstretched fingers.
Before Lonnie or Rath knew what happened next electrical sparks hit them both square in the chest and they went flying backwards. With them effectively down Isabel went running past them to the door they had emerged from. Max followed closely behind her as Michael took over his spot and blasted Lonnie again as she rose to her feet.
Isabel flew down the stairs two at a time holding the railing so she didn’t fall face first downwards. When she reached the bottom she immediately rushed to Alex’s side and found a pulse. She released a sob as the fierce princess that had just blasted Rath fell away for a moment.
Max seeing Isabel with Alex checked on Kyle who’s eyes immediately snapped open at the gently touch of Max’s hand to his shoulder.
“Hey Evans. It’s about time.”
Max rolled his eyes as he scanned Kyle’s body and then rested his arm on the broken leg.
Kyle watched as Max’s hand began to glow and quietly called out to Ava.
“Ava, time to get out of here.” When she didn’t move he grew concerned. “Ava?”
Isabel finally spoke up. “She’s busy.”
“Busy with what?”
Max helped Kyle to his feet, “Our escape.”
Kyle didn’t have time for further questioning as suddenly he found himself being pushed up the stairs as Isabel led Ava by the hand.
Kyle was still very confused as Ava was passed from Isabel to Zan and then horrified to find Lonnie and Rath turning their attention to them as Max reached the top of the stairs holding Alex in his arms, still unconscious.
Isabel sent a blast at Rath who easily deflected it but the distraction was enough for Zan and Ava to get closer to the door. Kyle was distracted as power blasts began to fly back and forth before Max carefully handed Alex over to Michael and zapped Lonnie with an electrical spark.
At the horrifying screeching Kyle spun and saw Isabel clutching at her chest as the scotch marks burned her clothes. Kyle thought he stopped breathing as Lonnie suddenly grabbed Ava distracting Zan by blasting Max in the back. Kyle caught Michael’s eyes a second before Rath’s blast hit his shoulder.
As their eyes made contact everything in Kyle’s mind suddenly clicked, but at the same time he reached the door and ran smack into it hitting his head and falling to the concert ground.
Lonnie watched in delight at Rath’s last power blast hit Zan in the back bringing him down instantly. It was as Zan’s body crumbled to the grown that Alex suddenly awoke to find utter devastation surrounding him. Michael, Isabel, and Zan were dead. Ava was in the grips of Lonnie and Max was barely breathing. Alex panicked as he also saw the form of Kyle a few feet from the exit.
He briefly wondered how it was he was still alive, still moving forward. He watched as Lonnie stood there smiling and turning Ava’s wrists red from holding them so tight and Rath just laughed. Alex’s head fell as the realization that all Future Isabel had come to accomplish was now lost.
How could one trip to the mall have turned out so badly? If only he had realized that Isabel wasn’t really Isabel then Ava would have been able to do something instead of letting all this death be their final outcome.
Maria and Liz were going to be devastated and the Evans. Oh God Serena too. Her entire family was just completely killed.
Alex felt tears coming to his eyes as he dropped to the cold ground. His head dropped to his hands as Alex was overcome. Suddenly a hand dropped to his shoulder and he feared it was Rath, finally coming to finish him off. Alex looked up and through his teary vision found the dark brown eyes of… “Michael?”
TBC…
Kyle pried open his eyes in the dark room. It was such a simple thing but it hurt like hell to do it. He saw Rath and Lonnie off to one side of the room apparently yelling at each other.
He turned his squinted gaze to the floor and saw Alex sprawled out, his chest rising and falling as he took shallow breaths. From the corner of his eye he was able to make out Ava crouched in the corner clutching at her head. Her eyes clinched shut tightly as she mumbled incoherent words under her breath.
He didn’t even try to sit up knowing his leg was broken and he wouldn’t be going anywhere. He refused to leave Ava and Alex alone with these two, even if he could have left. Kyle was able to realize that each breath didn’t cause him unbearable pain anymore though.
Kyle closed his eyes and tried to be anywhere but in that room with all the pain.
The pain was making it hard to think, to remember what had happened, but one thing was certain. The second Isabel opened her mouth at the mall and spoke he realized it wasn’t their Isabel. And unfortunately it wasn’t another future version of her either.
Alex too realized his error and tried to pull away. Looking at Ava, Kyle knew she had already realized the tall statuesque blonde was the wrong one, moments before either of them had but still too late to save them from this current nightmare.
After what seemed like hours Kyle opened his eyes again as he heard Rath slam a fist into the wall. Their heated argument was finally loud enough for him to overhear some of it.
“She’s doin’ something!”
“What?”
“I dunno know what it is…holds up…she stopped doin’ it, but shes was doin’ somethin’. I’m tellin’ yo she’s a hell of a lots stronger dan when she left us. If Zans and those other freaks dis strong too we’s gonna have a problem.”
“Da shifter didn’t say nuffin bout them havin’ stronger powers dan us.”
“No shit Rath, because than we wouldn’ts be out here riskin’ our hides!”
Kyle held his breath as they lapped into silence.
“It don’t matter what kinds powers theys gots. Theys don’t know what it means to be an alien on a hostile planet. We’ll give them a treats. Lets thems sees what growin up in da city woulda been like. Don’t worry Lons these kiddies are softies like Nasedo said. Livin’ up the comfy life, theys don’t likes to play dirty.”
“I’m not worried you imbecile. I’d just hates to sees you get hurt by these backup rejects.”
Rath smirked at her at Kyle almost groaned out loud at the suggestive look he sent her way.
“Liar. You love in when I’m in pain.”
Kyle really did groan when Lonnie giggled in response.
“Oh lookie whats we got here. The human woke up. Ready for round two?”
Kyle just glared at them and they both laughed.
“Oh Rath, I thinks the little baby is in some pain.”
“Well, Lon a powerblast or three cans do that to yay.”
As they were about to walk over to Kyle, he heard a door slam open from somewhere above him.
“Rath, Vilranda get up here now!”
Kyle watched as Lonnie rolled her eyes and Rath spoke up, “You’d think dat the shifter be grateful since wes doing him a favor and all.”
“The Shifter don’t give a shit bout nobody but himself Rath. That’s why we have to deals with him afters we take care of our clones and we have to deals with Zannie.”
“Zan’s gonna be so pissed we touched Aves.”
Kyle watched as an evil snarl covered her face, horrified at the grotesqueness it added to the beautiful face of his friend.
“Probably, but takin’ the bitch will get the fool here, then we don’t have to deal with the boy king no more.”
“What about Max?”
“You heards the shifter, Maxie boys a pushover.”
“RATH!”
“Dudes freakin’ out.”
“Do yous blame him, Khivar ain’t too happy with his puppet Nasedo.”
“LONNIE!”
Kyle sighed in relief as they both disappeared up at set of stairs.
As soon as the door at the top of the stairs slammed shut he was startled to notice Ava’s eyes pop open.
“Kyle, are you okay?”
He nodded mutely for a moment as she stood gracefully and ran a hand over Alex.
“My leg’s broken. Is Alex…?”
“He’s okay, just unconscious. Listen Isabel was here…”
“What!?”
She gave him a stern glance and he shut his mouth.
“She dream walked you, tried to get into my head, but I couldn’t let her because Lonnie would have noticed. They’re probably on their way to get us. When Lonnie and Rath get back in here I’ll make them forget you woke up. You need to pretend to be unconscious too because if they get too bored they won’t hesitate in killing you.”
Ava watched hesitantly as Kyle paled. She put her small hand on his arm. “And it would really suck to lose my brother.”
Kyle watched the fear dancing in Ava’s eyes as it flirted with the spark of danger knowing when the two combined Lonnie and Rath would be in for a treat.
“Yeah, having a sister has kind of grown on me, but I would really appreciate it if you stopped leaving all your girlie things in my bathroom.”
Ava let out a soft chuckled and Kyle smiled as the fear receded a bit.
“You have to get Alex and yourself out of here while I’m distracting Lonnie and Rath.”
Kyle was already shaking his head no, “I’m not leaving you here alone Ava. Besides, my leg is broken.”
Ava glared at him touched the leg and realized that it was indeed broken in two different places. She though about mindwarping him away from the pain again like she did with the football game, but to do that and take care of Lonnie and Rath would require too much from her.
“Fine we’ll wait for the others to get here.”
“How long do you think that will be.”
Ava shot him a gloomy look, “Hopefully not too long, because I don’t think we have that much time left before those three get bored.”
Kyle nodded his head solemnly and grasped Ava’s hand quickly as she stood to go back to her corner as the feet upstairs got closer to the door for the basement.
“Ava…everything’s going to be alright. Right?”
Ava game him an encouraging smile as the remaining fear in her eyes touched the danger lurking about and a fierce determination shined through.
“You can bet your ass Valenti. Nobody's gonna mess with my family and get away with it.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“What I can’t figure out is how theys found us?” Zan checked the rearview mirror as he turned off the main highway onto the road that led to the cheese factory.
“It was probably Nasedo.” Max raised an eyebrow at Michael as Isabel turned in the front seat.
“What? He had that plan for you to knock up Tess so he could go home. He comes back here probably knows we took care of his Tess thing and needs the back up for his plan to work.”
Isabel nodded beginning to see where Michael was going with this, “So he went to get Ava in New York and only finds Rath and Lonnie which pisses him off.”
“But how would he know Ava and Zan are here?”
“Maybe he doesn’t. Maybes he just made some sorta deals with Lons and Rath.” Zan looked at Max as he took the final turn for the factory.
“Yeah maybe they’ll get to take our place.” Michael exchanged glances with Isabel who merely shrugged and then as a thought occurred to her she paled.
“Maybe they want the Granilith.”
Max spoke up trying to contain their fear from getting out of hand. It was bad enough Ava, Kyle, and Alex were already kidnapped; evil plots to capture the Granilith might just push somebody over the edge.
“Guys, everyone wants the Granilith. It’s safe as long as we don’t know where it is. We just have to go in there and stick to the plan.”
“Maxwell, it’s a pretty flimsy plan. We don’t even know if she’ll be able to do it.”
“That’s what Isabel is going to check when we get there. The rest of us are for distracting.”
“Yo bro, I dunno how I feel bout using my bod as a distraction for the evil duo.”
“Trust me guys it will work. I have faith in her.”
Isabel changed the subject, “Do you think Liz and Maria will ever forgive us.”
Zan chuckled as Max and Michael fell silent. “That was pretty shady, draggin Amy in to make sure they stayed behind.”
“It’s too dangerous.” Max defended the action even though he was dreading returning.
“Our life will always be dangerous Maxwell.” Michael seemed surprised all the sudden. Isabel watched in confusion at Michael’s announcement.
“Please tell me you are not just realizing this Michael?”
He slowly nodded but then on second thought clarified, “No Iz, I think out of the three of us I’ve always been the most conscious of the type of lives we’ll have, but it’s not going to change.”
“So…” Isabel turned in her seat again as the cheese factory finally came into view, “So… if we keep shoving them to the side and go off to battle they’re going to think we don’t trust them or…”
Max cut him off, “That’s not true Michael we just want them to be safe.”
“Yeah and by keeping them safe we may lose them. They don’t want us running off to fight for our lives just as much as we don’t want them too and sooner or later if we keep holding them back from fighting with us it will cost us.”
Zan frowned at the thought; gratefully he didn’t have to deal with such a dilemma. Ava was a handful enough as it was. He was glad she could look out for herself if she had too and he wasn’t forced to face her anger. At least not because he kept making her stay behind.
Fear crept into Isabel’s voice, “But they wouldn’t be in THESE situations...”
Max seemed to finally grasp what Michael was saying. “It’s too late Isabel. They’ll always be in these situations from now on. They’ve chosen this life and embraced it just as fully as we’ve tried with our human lives. The only way to make sure they stay as safe as any of us can be is to keep them with us.”
Zan pulled the car to a stop. And Michael lowered his voice as he spoke. “Okay we go in here rescue our family and then stop being so stubborn towards protecting our humans. Deal.”
Max nodded and Isabel smiled as Zan got out of the car.
“You threes done with the mushiness yet? We got family to save.”
“We’re right behind you.”
“Good.” Zan stood to the side as Michael blasted the door off the hinges then Zan leaned in the doorway and called out.
“HONEY!!! I’m home.”
Max shot him a look and Zan shrugged as he heard a door slam open from further inside. “I’m da man. They’re about to remember dat.”
Zan and Michael entered the dark room first closely followed by Max and Isabel.
*KYLE!*
*ALEX!*
*AVA!*
Isabel waited a beat before she felt a tug at her conscious and a weak response.
*Izzie?*
“Ava’s okay.”
Max nodded and whispered under his breath as an eerily familiar figure entered the room with them, “Find where they are. Tell her the plan.”
Isabel did as she was told and then directed Max towards the basement as Zan stood off against Rath.
“Miss me bro? Zat why you cames all the way to Roswell?”
Rath grinned like a maniac, “Nah, wes here to catch us some aliens.” His eyes lit up like a child on Christmas and Isabel felt a cold shiver run down her back as another person entered the room and spoke up.
“Now sugar plum, don’t you go spoilin’ our plans. What do we gots here?”
Rath pulled Lonnie tight to his side and the grin, if possible grew wider. He whispered in a loud voice so they could hear him, “Me thinks it’s the rescue party. Here to gets their human pets.”
Isabel sent a mental shove at him as he insulted the humans but it merely made him laugh. “Oh sweet Vilandra clone, it’s gonna takes mores then that if yous gonna deals with the Rathman.”
Suddenly Michael and Zan found Isabel in front of them spitting out at Rath, “The name is Isabel.” She raised a hand and sent a stronger wave of power at him that had him flying backwards to the wall.
“Get it straight.”
Lonnie started to clap. “You just learn dat Princess, cuz Is got news for ya. We’ve been doing those simple parlor tricks since we was eight.”
“Yeah, but you see sis,” Zan stepped forward deeply disturbed by the image of Isabel facing off with Lonnie “We just gots ourselves a little more juice.” As Zan spoke he allowed the electricity to jump between his outstretched fingers.
Before Lonnie or Rath knew what happened next electrical sparks hit them both square in the chest and they went flying backwards. With them effectively down Isabel went running past them to the door they had emerged from. Max followed closely behind her as Michael took over his spot and blasted Lonnie again as she rose to her feet.
Isabel flew down the stairs two at a time holding the railing so she didn’t fall face first downwards. When she reached the bottom she immediately rushed to Alex’s side and found a pulse. She released a sob as the fierce princess that had just blasted Rath fell away for a moment.
Max seeing Isabel with Alex checked on Kyle who’s eyes immediately snapped open at the gently touch of Max’s hand to his shoulder.
“Hey Evans. It’s about time.”
Max rolled his eyes as he scanned Kyle’s body and then rested his arm on the broken leg.
Kyle watched as Max’s hand began to glow and quietly called out to Ava.
“Ava, time to get out of here.” When she didn’t move he grew concerned. “Ava?”
Isabel finally spoke up. “She’s busy.”
“Busy with what?”
Max helped Kyle to his feet, “Our escape.”
Kyle didn’t have time for further questioning as suddenly he found himself being pushed up the stairs as Isabel led Ava by the hand.
Kyle was still very confused as Ava was passed from Isabel to Zan and then horrified to find Lonnie and Rath turning their attention to them as Max reached the top of the stairs holding Alex in his arms, still unconscious.
Isabel sent a blast at Rath who easily deflected it but the distraction was enough for Zan and Ava to get closer to the door. Kyle was distracted as power blasts began to fly back and forth before Max carefully handed Alex over to Michael and zapped Lonnie with an electrical spark.
At the horrifying screeching Kyle spun and saw Isabel clutching at her chest as the scotch marks burned her clothes. Kyle thought he stopped breathing as Lonnie suddenly grabbed Ava distracting Zan by blasting Max in the back. Kyle caught Michael’s eyes a second before Rath’s blast hit his shoulder.
As their eyes made contact everything in Kyle’s mind suddenly clicked, but at the same time he reached the door and ran smack into it hitting his head and falling to the concert ground.
Lonnie watched in delight at Rath’s last power blast hit Zan in the back bringing him down instantly. It was as Zan’s body crumbled to the grown that Alex suddenly awoke to find utter devastation surrounding him. Michael, Isabel, and Zan were dead. Ava was in the grips of Lonnie and Max was barely breathing. Alex panicked as he also saw the form of Kyle a few feet from the exit.
He briefly wondered how it was he was still alive, still moving forward. He watched as Lonnie stood there smiling and turning Ava’s wrists red from holding them so tight and Rath just laughed. Alex’s head fell as the realization that all Future Isabel had come to accomplish was now lost.
How could one trip to the mall have turned out so badly? If only he had realized that Isabel wasn’t really Isabel then Ava would have been able to do something instead of letting all this death be their final outcome.
Maria and Liz were going to be devastated and the Evans. Oh God Serena too. Her entire family was just completely killed.
Alex felt tears coming to his eyes as he dropped to the cold ground. His head dropped to his hands as Alex was overcome. Suddenly a hand dropped to his shoulder and he feared it was Rath, finally coming to finish him off. Alex looked up and through his teary vision found the dark brown eyes of… “Michael?”
TBC…
Last edited by starcrazed on Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
artwork by: RosDude
Michael: Whoever sent us down here was smart, you know? Because they sent us together, and as long as we stick together, we're gonna make it.
Find all my fics here starcrazed stories
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starcrazed
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- Posts: 247
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:46 pm
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Re: 2023 (CC, Mature) Part 30 8/28
Part 30
Michael grinned at Alex and nodded helping him to his feet. “Sorry man, it’s a mind warp. Ava must not have realized you woke up. I didn’t until you tried standing up on your own and starting looking around with such guilt. I pulled you out of it as quick as I could. ”
Alex wiped at his face to look past Michael and saw Lonnie and Rath standing where he last saw them grinning like fools while Ava was directed out of the building with the help of Zan, Isabel was keeping look out as Max helped Kyle who was rubbing his head hobbling out of the building. She was waving frantically at the two of them.
“Ready?” Alex looked at Michael and nodded as they got to Isabel she squeezed in between them and took over Michael’s spot of helping Alex walk.
“God, Alex are you okay?”
He smiled and kissed her temple. “I am now.”
She beamed at him, nodding as they continued out the door.
“Michael what are we going to do about those two?”
“We’ll figure something out Iz. We need to regroup right now though.”
Michael saw the look in her eyes. Eyes that were clearly unsatisfied with that plan, but they had little choice in the matter right now. Max was exhausted from healing Kyle, Ava was almost completely drained and Alex had just woken up.
“Iz, we’ll deal with them soon. We just need to make sure everyone’s safe first.”
She rolled her eyes but continued out the door anyway knowing he was right about their safety. Michael stopped, frozen in the doorway watching as Zan helped Ava into the back of the jeep and Max made sure Kyle was okay on his own before turning back. Isabel and Alex were leaning by the passenger door as Max went back toward the factory where Michael was still frozen in place.
“Let’s go Michael Ava’s not gonna be able to hold this much longer.”
“Yeah I know…”
“Michael?”
“They aren’t going to give up Max. They’re going to come back and get somebody else and next time we may not be able to stop them.”
“We’ll taken care of them later.”
“Why later?”
“Michael, there’s no time.”
“Maxwell we could use the Granilith.”
“Ava’s…” Max never got to finish as Isabel came to stand behind them interrupting the debate, “We can do this. We don’t need Ava for this.”
“You guys it’s…”
Isabel and Michael shared a look, the same warrior protectiveness they shared allowed them to understand each other as Isabel spoke, “It’s not murder Max. The Granilith would just...” She trailed off unsure how to finish Max gave her a doubtful look.
“Hey!”
The tree turned back to see Zan running over. “Ave’s isn’t gonna be able too hold on much longer.”
Zan looked between the three of them and saw the determination in Michael’s eyes, the doubt in Max’s and the protectiveness in Isabel’s. He looked passed them into the building where his sister and brother stood motionless.
Realizing the dilemma he shrugged his shoulders. “You have about two minutes to make a decision Max.”
Max looked torn before a faraway look suddenly came across his features.
Ten seconds later he snapped out of it and nodded his head. “Do it Michael. Zan make sure…”
Zan nodded and ran back to the car.
Isabel had straightened her back and raised her arm. Her eyes turning black just like Michael’s who also had an arm raised. Max was unaware that his own amber eyes had also taken on the dark shade as the power of the Granilith began to hum in the air around the three of them. Re-energizing Max when only moments ago he felt like sleeping for a week straight.
Without realizing it, Max found his own arm rising slowly as he stepped forward next to Isabel and Michael took a step back so he was in-between the two of them.
Suddenly Lonnie blinked once. Twice. She looked around to find Rath running a hand through his hair before he froze and quickly ducked as an electric blue force came zooming at the two of them. Lonnie who was watching Rath also ducked not knowing why.
After a moment she stood and turned to find Isabel, Max, and Michael still with their arms raised and eyes black as coal. Ava’s mind warp collapsing once she passed out.
Rath was next to her in a second and she felt his left hand slip into hers as a connection sprang to life and they pooled their energy. But even as it swirled between them for a moment before Rath sent it forward she knew it wasn’t enough.
Lonnie couldn’t see it but she felt Rath’s power blast get obliterated as the energy from the other three channeled through the air straight at them.
The last thing Rath was aware of was Lonnie yanking her hand away and diving for cover. It was too late though as they both felt the power of the Granilith zap their own energy and extinguish their lives. They both had only seconds to marvel at its power. Their last conscious thought even as they were both dying, the only regret that filled them was that neither were able to control such energy for their own means before their lives came to an abrupt end.
First Isabel and Max shook off the power of the Granilith and their eyes returned to normal. It took Michael a few seconds longer, but when he did he turned to look at the others with only a hint of remorse in his eyes.
“Let’s get home.”
Isabel nodded and threw her arm over Max’s shoulder. Max slid his arm around Isabel’s waist as Michael squeezed her shoulder and the three of them tiredly trailed to the jeep.
When they got there they stopped, seeing Zan in the driver seat and Alex in the passenger seat. Kyle was in the back as was Ava.
Max scratched at his ear as the lack of room in the jeep suddenly became apparent.
Isabel sighed, “Why didn’t we think of this before we left?”
“Because you were being too stubborn trying to protect us weak little humans.”
The trio turned to find Liz and Maria walking towards them.
Liz smiled, “Lucky for you though we’re just as stubborn.”
“But much more intelligent.” Maria added before Liz continued,
“So we decided even though you were…”
“Pigheaded jerks.”
“Maria!” Maria only rolled her eyes at Liz.
“Even though you were being stubborn and overprotective we would come and rescue you.”
Michael’s mouth dropped open. “Rescue us? Rescue us from what exactly Parker?”
Maria stepped in front of Liz who was suddenly as bright as a tomato.
“From sun burn and heat stroke you jerk!” Michael rolled his eyes but Isabel was already stepping forward and hugging a surprised Liz and Maria.
“Thanks guys. We’re sorry for leaving you behind even though we had good intentions.”
It was Liz and Maria’s turn for their mouths to open in surprise. Max started to explain, “We realized on the way here that we didn’t want to lose you by trying to protect you.”
Isabel stepped back and continued, “And that’s exactly what would happen if we keep making you stay behind.”
Michael gave them both an apologetic smirk, “Thanks for coming out here, even though I think we could have dealt with a little sun burn.”
By this point Alex had wandered over to see what was going on, “Sure Michael, but I don’t think even you could handle the Hurricane.”
No one was all that surprise when Michael shut his mouth and turned his glare to Alex.
Max spoke up again, “So somebody was saying something about going home.” A few of the others nodded.
“Yeah Jim’s ordering pizza as we speak and my mom said we could hang out at my house.”
Alex wandered back to the jeep as the trio followed behind Liz and Maria who led the way back to the Jetta and Serena who was leaning relaxed up against her car. Her proud smile radiating back towards all of them.
Thirty minutes later they were all gathered in the DeLuca kitchen reaching for cups and plates and digging into the pizza as Ava slept on peacefully in Maria’s room.
TBC…
Michael grinned at Alex and nodded helping him to his feet. “Sorry man, it’s a mind warp. Ava must not have realized you woke up. I didn’t until you tried standing up on your own and starting looking around with such guilt. I pulled you out of it as quick as I could. ”
Alex wiped at his face to look past Michael and saw Lonnie and Rath standing where he last saw them grinning like fools while Ava was directed out of the building with the help of Zan, Isabel was keeping look out as Max helped Kyle who was rubbing his head hobbling out of the building. She was waving frantically at the two of them.
“Ready?” Alex looked at Michael and nodded as they got to Isabel she squeezed in between them and took over Michael’s spot of helping Alex walk.
“God, Alex are you okay?”
He smiled and kissed her temple. “I am now.”
She beamed at him, nodding as they continued out the door.
“Michael what are we going to do about those two?”
“We’ll figure something out Iz. We need to regroup right now though.”
Michael saw the look in her eyes. Eyes that were clearly unsatisfied with that plan, but they had little choice in the matter right now. Max was exhausted from healing Kyle, Ava was almost completely drained and Alex had just woken up.
“Iz, we’ll deal with them soon. We just need to make sure everyone’s safe first.”
She rolled her eyes but continued out the door anyway knowing he was right about their safety. Michael stopped, frozen in the doorway watching as Zan helped Ava into the back of the jeep and Max made sure Kyle was okay on his own before turning back. Isabel and Alex were leaning by the passenger door as Max went back toward the factory where Michael was still frozen in place.
“Let’s go Michael Ava’s not gonna be able to hold this much longer.”
“Yeah I know…”
“Michael?”
“They aren’t going to give up Max. They’re going to come back and get somebody else and next time we may not be able to stop them.”
“We’ll taken care of them later.”
“Why later?”
“Michael, there’s no time.”
“Maxwell we could use the Granilith.”
“Ava’s…” Max never got to finish as Isabel came to stand behind them interrupting the debate, “We can do this. We don’t need Ava for this.”
“You guys it’s…”
Isabel and Michael shared a look, the same warrior protectiveness they shared allowed them to understand each other as Isabel spoke, “It’s not murder Max. The Granilith would just...” She trailed off unsure how to finish Max gave her a doubtful look.
“Hey!”
The tree turned back to see Zan running over. “Ave’s isn’t gonna be able too hold on much longer.”
Zan looked between the three of them and saw the determination in Michael’s eyes, the doubt in Max’s and the protectiveness in Isabel’s. He looked passed them into the building where his sister and brother stood motionless.
Realizing the dilemma he shrugged his shoulders. “You have about two minutes to make a decision Max.”
Max looked torn before a faraway look suddenly came across his features.
Ten seconds later he snapped out of it and nodded his head. “Do it Michael. Zan make sure…”
Zan nodded and ran back to the car.
Isabel had straightened her back and raised her arm. Her eyes turning black just like Michael’s who also had an arm raised. Max was unaware that his own amber eyes had also taken on the dark shade as the power of the Granilith began to hum in the air around the three of them. Re-energizing Max when only moments ago he felt like sleeping for a week straight.
Without realizing it, Max found his own arm rising slowly as he stepped forward next to Isabel and Michael took a step back so he was in-between the two of them.
Suddenly Lonnie blinked once. Twice. She looked around to find Rath running a hand through his hair before he froze and quickly ducked as an electric blue force came zooming at the two of them. Lonnie who was watching Rath also ducked not knowing why.
After a moment she stood and turned to find Isabel, Max, and Michael still with their arms raised and eyes black as coal. Ava’s mind warp collapsing once she passed out.
Rath was next to her in a second and she felt his left hand slip into hers as a connection sprang to life and they pooled their energy. But even as it swirled between them for a moment before Rath sent it forward she knew it wasn’t enough.
Lonnie couldn’t see it but she felt Rath’s power blast get obliterated as the energy from the other three channeled through the air straight at them.
The last thing Rath was aware of was Lonnie yanking her hand away and diving for cover. It was too late though as they both felt the power of the Granilith zap their own energy and extinguish their lives. They both had only seconds to marvel at its power. Their last conscious thought even as they were both dying, the only regret that filled them was that neither were able to control such energy for their own means before their lives came to an abrupt end.
First Isabel and Max shook off the power of the Granilith and their eyes returned to normal. It took Michael a few seconds longer, but when he did he turned to look at the others with only a hint of remorse in his eyes.
“Let’s get home.”
Isabel nodded and threw her arm over Max’s shoulder. Max slid his arm around Isabel’s waist as Michael squeezed her shoulder and the three of them tiredly trailed to the jeep.
When they got there they stopped, seeing Zan in the driver seat and Alex in the passenger seat. Kyle was in the back as was Ava.
Max scratched at his ear as the lack of room in the jeep suddenly became apparent.
Isabel sighed, “Why didn’t we think of this before we left?”
“Because you were being too stubborn trying to protect us weak little humans.”
The trio turned to find Liz and Maria walking towards them.
Liz smiled, “Lucky for you though we’re just as stubborn.”
“But much more intelligent.” Maria added before Liz continued,
“So we decided even though you were…”
“Pigheaded jerks.”
“Maria!” Maria only rolled her eyes at Liz.
“Even though you were being stubborn and overprotective we would come and rescue you.”
Michael’s mouth dropped open. “Rescue us? Rescue us from what exactly Parker?”
Maria stepped in front of Liz who was suddenly as bright as a tomato.
“From sun burn and heat stroke you jerk!” Michael rolled his eyes but Isabel was already stepping forward and hugging a surprised Liz and Maria.
“Thanks guys. We’re sorry for leaving you behind even though we had good intentions.”
It was Liz and Maria’s turn for their mouths to open in surprise. Max started to explain, “We realized on the way here that we didn’t want to lose you by trying to protect you.”
Isabel stepped back and continued, “And that’s exactly what would happen if we keep making you stay behind.”
Michael gave them both an apologetic smirk, “Thanks for coming out here, even though I think we could have dealt with a little sun burn.”
By this point Alex had wandered over to see what was going on, “Sure Michael, but I don’t think even you could handle the Hurricane.”
No one was all that surprise when Michael shut his mouth and turned his glare to Alex.
Max spoke up again, “So somebody was saying something about going home.” A few of the others nodded.
“Yeah Jim’s ordering pizza as we speak and my mom said we could hang out at my house.”
Alex wandered back to the jeep as the trio followed behind Liz and Maria who led the way back to the Jetta and Serena who was leaning relaxed up against her car. Her proud smile radiating back towards all of them.
Thirty minutes later they were all gathered in the DeLuca kitchen reaching for cups and plates and digging into the pizza as Ava slept on peacefully in Maria’s room.
TBC…
Last edited by starcrazed on Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
artwork by: RosDude
Michael: Whoever sent us down here was smart, you know? Because they sent us together, and as long as we stick together, we're gonna make it.
Find all my fics here starcrazed stories