Roswell Fanatics

Thanks to everyone following along this story.

AvalonRose- Well Serena has a part to play in the story, yes. But note, she has actually been in Roswell for almost a month. She was in New York for business and well, most of her friends live there. Brody hired her in Eidolon to study the effects of the Time-storm from the end of The Longest Day. But none of the characters save Brody knew she was there. Now they do.

Max is under a lot of stress. He badly over reacted. He really needs to have a nice long chat with Liz to steady him. (Kissing her, while fun, doesn't count!) Plus, Michael's memories of Rath are beginning to surface.... Getting into a fight with him right about now might be hazardous to your health.

RhondaAnn- Thank you as always. In regards to Maria's strength, please note that Liz scares them silly. So Maria is stronger, but....

See above about Michael. Max needs to cool down. He is starting to feel out of control of events, and he's so frazzled at the moment. He can sense that there are lots of secrets being kept from him and it is driving him nuts. Add in the fact he is afraid that he is a coward because he was not willing to help that crash victim in the parking lot. (Not a death like in the show, but still it affected him.)

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. Some bits of A Roswell Christmas Carol are in this part.

Shadows of the Past chapter 10

Alex-

Alex basked in the company of his friends. Isabel just lay her head on his shoulder as he sat in the backseat of Maria’s truck. He could still feel the interplay of their connection and both of them were content to just hold each other.

For now.

Maria was babbling about the goings on in Roswell, as if she hadn’t given him blow-by-blow accounts in her frequent emails. Liz had a smile, but something was worrying her.

But Alex knew that Liz would want a little time to simmer her thoughts, so he gave her a little time while Maria’s voice filled the air. She questioned him of Sweden, of all he had seen and done.

It was a shame he couldn’t really tell her what he’d been doing. He still had not cracked the code yet, but there were some promising ideas he and Becky had chatted about.

It was going to be strange not seeing his new friends. Maria and Liz would like them, he was sure. Isabel certainly had. He would still keep in touch with them, as they would be continuing their work.

Isabel had actually hired them in a little startup company she had formed. It used her people skill’s, Tess’s money, and Alex’s technical knowledge. Of course they were all still young, and had a lot to learn. But it was a start. And when you consider the first stage was just to translate the Destiny Book…. Well, if they only were able to do that they would be vastly ahead of where they were now.

But if they really could translate an alien language, well if the software worked on that why not other languages? Maybe the idea he had used as a cover, real time translation software, might actually be a goal.

Becky and Jenny certainly thought so.

That was another thing. While Becky’s father was an alien possessing a human host, Becky knew very little of her own heritage. Isabel doubted that she had any powers at all. And if so they were very weak.

Poor Becky was surrounded by alien things, was even working on a project translating an alien language for a company founded with mostly alien-hybrid partners… and she didn’t believe in aliens.

Alex missed the days he had not been such a fluent liar.

He looked over and found Isabel sound asleep, her face angelic in repose. To think she had chosen him….

Maria’s chatter had slowly dried up as she noted Liz’s increasing silence.

Alex caught her glance and nodded. “Okay Liz, what is up?”

“What makes you think something is up?”

“Liz I might have been gone for a month, but don’t think I have forgotten you. You are biting your lip and you’ve been staring out the window for the last few miles. What gives.”

Maria said, “It’s Serena, isn’t it?”

“Serena? Who is Serena?”

Liz quietly said, “She’s the woman you were talking to as you got off the plane.”

Alex nodded, still uncertain where this was going. “Okay, yeah she was fascinating. We actually started talking when we were waiting for the plane to board. I was reading a magazine, and scoffing at some bizarre article…. And I don‘t know. She was examining something on her laptop and heard me. I don‘t know, what I said must have caught her attention because we started talking.”

Liz’s voice was somewhat strained as she asked, “Alex, what was in that article. What were you talking about?”

“Um, it was some science magazine, Discover maybe? Or Scientific American? I can’t recall, I bought them both. You know, I’ve always been interested in science, because, hey it totally drives certain types of science fiction, and well is just interesting to know, you know? Hard to laugh at the science of a bad sci-fi flick if you don’t know bad science when you see it. Of course, so many of them have laughable plots, too….”

“Alex…., please.”

“Um, okay. Well, you know how Future Max visited you? Well I’ve been reading up on all the time travel and well just things related with time. There was some article about the plausibility of time travel. And well, I don’t know, it just seemed silly. I may have ranted a little bit. Serena was bored, going through some sort of routine reports. I don’t know, it seems kind of silly I guess, two people arguing about time travel in an airport.”

“Time travel. Of course. How fitting. What did she think? Did she believe it was possible?”

Alex nodded slowly. “She said that while it is not necessarily impossible, she doubted anyone would be able to muster the sheer amount of power involved. But if FTL is possible then time travel of some sort should be possible. Both have the possibility to break causality. Of course…..”

Liz rubbed her eyes, “You know, Alex, on another day I would love to talk about this. We’d probably bore poor Maria to death….”

“Hey!”

Liz gave one of Maria’s arms an affectionate squeeze and continued, “But now is not the time. Did I ever give you all the details of Future Max?”

Alex nodded. He was still confused. He looked up at the mirror, Maria’s gaze was somewhat enigmatic. She obviously knew something he didn’t. “Okay, and how does this affect anything?”

Liz thought for a second and then nodded to herself. “The thing is, when you affect the flow of a timeline what happens to what was supposed to be? To people who were supposed to be? I wonder at the children I was supposed to have, children that even if everything happens right, will never exist. Not as they were. For the world will be different. I will be different. Did they disappear into nothingness? Did I doom countless millions, perhaps billions to a worse fate? Or was Future Max right, is keeping Tess here going to be worth the risk.” Liz shook her head.

“In that life, the life that even now fades from memory, I knew Serena Goodwin. I was her friend. She was the one who helped Max and I reconfigure the Granolith. So it is no surprise she was fascinated by discussion about time travel and its possibilities. The question is why is she here now? In the first timeline I wouldn’t meet her for years. What have we done that has brought her from her comfortable life in New York to Roswell?”

“I don’t really know. She said she had a lab. That she was studying the Roswell incident from a few months back….”

Maria spoke up, “Do you think….”

“The Wipeout. That Time-storm…. That is why the Air Force is here. Maybe even why the government is reopening Eagle Rock.”

“Liz has anything happened, I mean has anything new happened….”

“Aside from a nasty attack on Amy….. It has been quiet. But I can’t help but wonder. Tess is still here. Does this mean we are safe? That we will be strong enough to stop them when they come? Only last time they didn’t know where we were….. Alex we’re all so exposed here. I almost wish I could make you climb back on that plane and have you fly away.”

“Liz, I couldn’t do that. I would never abandon any of you. Never. And now…..” He kissed Isabel’s forehead. He could feel her dream, strong and vibrant dreams. Was she thinking of him? “And now, I am tied as tightly as either of you ever were. Come good or ill. I will stand by you. You know that right?”

Liz’s eyes were bright as she grasped his hand. “I know. I just wish I knew it was safe. That we will all be safe.”

Alex felt as another of his headaches began to form in the back of his head. No. He would not worry them. They were worried enough.

He did wish he could tell them. Tell them that he had been working to help them all along. That his trip to ‘Sweden’ had been more than a vacation.

There had to be a way to translate that book. They needed every bit of knowledge they could get. He couldn’t escape the feeling that he had failed.

That he had failed them all.

And that the price of failure could be high indeed.

-----
Isabel-

Vilandra stared at the specifications of the specimen before her. She seldom had time to conduct research these days. Her field had become more of a hobby than a calling.

Where once she had been involved in bringing down the government, now she was involved in stopping others from doing so. Fighting against her former friends and allies.

Fighting against Khivar.

How she still missed him, missed his touch. Rath was right they were both hopeless.

A sudden smile appeared on her lips. She should invite him. Assuming Zan let her go forward with this insane plan. Yes she would invite Khivar, give him one more chance to come in from the cold.

They would never be lovers again, much as it hurt her to admit it. But maybe they could be friends. Maybe the insanity could stop.

Khivar wasn’t the only revolutionary, but he was the best and his organization was the best. Vilandra should know. She’d helped to build it.

She was aware of Dorian walking through the door, but she took a few spare moments to examine the results of her tests…..

Dorian cleared his throat. “Sorry, Your Grace, I would not intrude if it were not important.”

Vilandra sighed, “Yes, Dorian?”

“Khivar has agreed to talks with the emissary. It is a good first step.”

“And? Please, you know I get to spend so little time….”

Dorian walked over and examined the body that lay on the table, various wires crystals embedded in its skull. “Ugly. And huge.”

“Twenty five percent taller and fifty percent more massive. A heavy metal world. They are late Iron Age and they are playing with radioactive substances already.”

“So where do they rate among the other, what three races?”

“Four. And their the most advanced. They’ve even started to produce aluminum, and that’s far beyond the Gremlins. Good psionic potential, but no signs of development. Fascinating. I’m going to try to persuade Zan to send a mission to study them.”

“You want to go.”

Vilandra gave him a shy smile, “I do. Oh, how I wish I was just a normal woman with all the possibilities open to me. But my duty is here. On Antar.”

Dorian nodded. “You have to be careful. He is dangerous.”

“Who, Khivar? I know, I won’t fall for him again. I miss him, I love him. But I know…..”

“Not him. Rath. He is ambitious.”

“But loyal.”

“For now. He has been approached…..”

“Dorian, if he wanted to he could already conduct a coup. He will keep his oath.”

“I hope so. For all our sakes, I hope you are right….”

“Wake up, love.”

She could feel Alex. Not just his hands on her shoulder, but his mind, his soul brushing up against hers. She opened her eyes to see his. Two weeks had been too long.

“We are here.” Alex smiled and then looked up, “Huh. Why is dad here?”

Maria said, “Hey, don’t mean to rush you, but I’m going to be late if we don’t hurry. Sorry Isabel. We should all get together tomorrow.”

Liz nodded, “We have a lot to discuss. AND someone said he has a bunch of slides from his trip.”

“I do, I do. Sweden was great.”

Isabel was still watching Alex. Why was it so important that they did not know about Alex being in Los Cruces. And why couldn’t she bring herself to tell them. “Well, I do have a few things to do tomorrow. I mean it is almost Christmas. Although I did get a lot of my shopping done yesterday.”

“Mmmm, that was fun.”

“Yeah, we should totally do it again next week! Post-Christmas sales!”

Isabel had to smile at her friends. She opened the door, quietly using her powers to fix a little stiffness in the door.

Alex got out too.

Maria glared at him. “Alex, get back in, I don’t have time to waste!”

“I’ll ride home with dad.”

“Hopeless, just hopeless.”

“Bye, Alex. You will call me later?”

“Sure thing.”

Maria gunned the truck and Isabel and Alex watched as it roared down the street. Both of them walked into the Evans’ house.

Mr. Evans was wandering around the room, waiving some device. He stopped as he saw them. “Oh hi Isabel. Alex? I thought Maria was giving you a ride home? Your mom was expecting you.”

“Uh, well I saw the car and….”

Mr. Whitman looked at Alex. Then he looked at Isabel. Both of them were standing close and holding hands. “Ah. Well I will be another hour or so. Call home and tell her you will be a little late.”

Alex nodded.

Isabel watched as Mr. Whitman started waiving the device around. “Uh, what exactly are you doing anyway? If you don’t mind my asking.”

“Well your father has taken on a couple of important clients, and well he was afraid someone might have bugged his house. You can never be too careful. I am doing his office tomorrow.”

Isabel kept her face carefully controlled. Last year the FBI had placed a camera in Michael’s house. Could they do the same here?

She began to shake slightly.

She led Alex into the living room, where he held her until the shakes were gone. Perhaps he thought they were solely from fear. For that fear was there.

But it was more than just the fear that the FBI might harass them again. There was fear of the rage within, of what it might make her do.

For deep within her, within the part of her remember who she had once been, a hot rage was building.

Vilandra had neither forgotten nor forgiven what the FBI had done to her brother. If they tried to hurt them again….

------
Kyle-

Kyle stared in wonder at how much the house had changed.

It was more than the tree Tess had bullied him into getting. More than the large meal Tess had made for them.

It was the smile on his father’s face as he chatted with Amy over supper.

His only warning of the changes to come had been his father bringing Tess home with a couple of chairs before going into the office to ‘clear up some paperwork.’ He’d promised he’d be there this evening, and even if he’d been worried about something he had been there.

Kyle hated cleaning up, but his father had insisted.

Still, it had been worth it. All the work he had done had been worth it, to see the happiness in his father’s and Amy’s eyes…. To see the satisfaction in Tess’s.

He walked into the kitchen. “Do you need any help.” He saw the turkey. “I can slice that for you.”

Tess smiled and spread her fingers. The turkey was suddenly sliced. It scared him. Her powers scared him.

Buddha help him, but even the thought of his own powers scared him. Even if they were lame powers.

But as he looked into her crystal blue eyes, he felt no animosity, only love. And a happiness that he’d rarely seen in her. Kyle looked around again, “You know, this is great. Ever since, ever since my mom left, Christmas just hasn’t been….”

“Your welcome, Buddha-boy. Now if you will carry this in….”

“I just want to say that this has been the first Christmas that has really felt, well right. Thank you Tess.”

Tess looked over at the table where the Sheriff and Amy were talking and a smile formed on her face. “Your welcome. Nasedo did try. Sometimes. But he just wasn’t a very warm man. And, and,” her eyes were bright, “since both of you have taken me in…. I, I just wanted to see what it was like.”

“Well, it’s great. Really great…” His heart was beginning to beat a little fast.

And she was kissing him. It was quick. Not nearly long enough. Not by half. But in that brief moment, he had felt her. Felt the Tessness of Tess. For a brief shining moment a connection had formed between them.

And they stood there staring at each other, neither sure of the next step….

“Hey, kids, do you need me to carve the turkey?” Sheriff Valenti asked.

And the moment was gone. But the happiness of the evening remained.

Only now it was bolstered by hope. For while Kyle had not received a flash from Tess, he’d gotten a sense of her feelings towards him. More, he had felt as she had gotten the same.

They say the holidays are for families and for hope. Hope and wishes for happiness and good will towards all.

For the first time since he was six, Kyle felt it. And he knew without words that Tess felt the same.

It was going to be a Merry Christmas indeed.

------
Maria-

Maria loved to sing. So every year she volunteered to carol to cheer people up. The group she was with tonight was caroling various people who had reasons to need cheer and hope.

The leader of the group stopped, looked at her notes. “Five year old girl with terminal cancer.”

Sometimes these stops almost made her want to cry. Particularly when a cute little girl, who looked very familiar peeked out the door. She opened the door wide, “Daddy, come here. They are singing!”

And Maria knew why the girl looked so familiar. She saw the familiar form of Brody Davis.

Sydney. The girl’s name was Sydney.

Was her freaky mother about?

Oh, God, that little girl is going to die. Terminal cancer.

If only I could help….

And Maria sang on….

Thanks for everyone reading this story.

nibbles- Thanks.

xmag- Things are definately heading in that direction. There are always consequences. All actions have reprecussions. Not all of them bad.

AvalonRose- Alex's headaches have been getting progressively worse. Lets hope they can save him this time. Sometimes people are just connected, and no matter the change in the timeline you will meet them. And some you won't. Please note that they never met Laurie in timeline one. Or for that matter Alicia, so there are some new threads.

RhondaAnn- He knows something is wrong, but is uable to even believe that Tess would mindwarp him. All part of the mindwarp....

Arianneleigh- Hope you enjoy.

tequathisy- Thanks.

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. Some scenes taken in part from a Roswell Christmas Carol.

Shadows of the Past chapter 11

Brody

Brody looked over his daughters head at the carolers. It was kind of them to come out on this cool evening and sing.

He looked down and saw Sydney all but bouncing as she sang along.

He had to save her. He had to.

Brody closed his eyes for a moment. He would have to confront Max tomorrow. Larek had walked him through a device that could weaken, perhaps nullify the aliens powers. Allow him to confront them without fear.

Larek had however extorted a promise that he would not kill Max.

Like he would even consider that.

“Daddy, what is wrong? Am I singing it wrong?” Sydney said, hugging her father.

“No honey, your doing fine. I just was thinking about something.” He bent down and kissed her forehead.

Sydney smiled and started singing again.

Brody looked again at the carolers and saw a familiar face. Maria met his eyes and he could see the tears in her bright green eyes.

No. He wouldn’t hurt them. All of those he suspected of being alien were good people.

At least those in Roswell itself. Those attackers from a few months ago….

He would confront Max, plead with him to help. And if he had to…. No, let’s not even think of that. Surely they would help him? Once they knew what was going on?

As the carolers finished, and began to walk away, he waved at Maria. “Merry Christmas!”

Maria said something to one of the other carolers and walked up the pathway to his home. “Merry Christmas, Brody. Merry Christmas, Sydney.”

“You know my name! You’re one of those waitresses at that alien restaurant. Where are your?” Sydney made a motion over her head.

“I wear a headband for those. Next time you stop by the Crashdown, I will see if Mr. Parker will let me give you one.”

“Please!”

Maria tousled her hair and said, “I see what I can do.”

Sydney looked up at Maria and touched one of the tears still rolling down her cheeks. She smiled sadly and said, “Bye Maria!“ And ran back into the house.

Both Maria and Brody watched as she left. Maria looked up at Brody, “So.”

“Look, I am sorry I never mentioned her in our little talks. She’s, she’s never far from my thoughts. But….”

“You didn’t need the pity.”

Brody smiled at Maria. She understood.

Maria just shook her head. “I will never understand men sometimes….. If there is anything I can do, let me know. Please. I mean they said she has, has….”

“Cancer. It’s hard.” Brody looked back into the house. “It is so very hard to talk about. That is why I never mentioned it. But, when I went back to New York for Thanksgiving, I talked with Alicia and she said that she and Sydney would be here for Christmas.”

“Alicia?”

“My ex-wife. Another painful subject.”

“Sorry, I guess, I’ll get going….”

“No, Maria, thank you. Sydney really enjoyed the singing. Maybe we’ll drop by the Crashdown tomorrow.”

“I’d like that. I work the early shift tomorrow.”

“Well then, I will see you then. Oh, and how is Michael?”

“He’s good. Still trying to wiggle out of a Christmas present, but good.”

“Have a Merry Christmas, Maria.”

“Merry Christmas, Brody.”

Brody watched as the young woman left.

Tomorrow. He would talk with Max tomorrow.

He just hoped the fallout wouldn’t hurt those he cared for. Like Maria. From the tapes, he was fairly sure that if she wasn’t alien herself, something he wasn’t sure of, she was definitely working with them. And Max was their leader. Leader of the whole group of teens he now suspected.

Funny how they were all children. All born in the early eighties. Strange. He would have to ask Max about that.

Tomorrow.

Brody closed the door and went back inside.

------
Alicia-

Alicia sat back and pushed her salad around. It had been years since she had eaten at a Denny’s. The food was okay, but it was worrying about her daughter that had her in knots.

Sydney wasn’t doing well.

How she knew that Alicia wasn’t certain. But she knew. It had been so hard to watch her go off to spend time with Brody alone. But Brody deserved some time alone with his daughter.

And staying at his house here in Roswell would make her feel uncomfortable.

She still loved him. And finding out that he wasn’t as nuts as she had once feared changed some of her aversion to him.

She had to think of Sydney first. Her daughter needed her, and she could not let her feelings cloud her determination to do what was best for Sydney.

But it was hard.

Made worse by finding identical twins to Carlos, David, and Aeron. What were the odds of that happening? Sure, she could imagine finding someone who looked like one of her cousins friends, but two? And they felt…. Similar.

She looked up as someone sat opposite of her in her booth. The young woman was reasonably well dressed and smiling. There was something about her….

The woman reached out her hand to Alicia, “Hi, my name is Laurie Dupree. I have been watching you for a few days, since you came. And I still have no clue who you are or what agenda you have. You’re obviously not one of them. You don’t have that feel. And your not a fed. You dress too well. I know your daughter is sick, but why would you be here in Roswell….”

“Excuse me, I do not see what you want from me. Now if you will please leave….” Alicia raised her hand to get the attention of one of the servers. She wanted this strange young woman gone.

Laurie kept smiling, and placed her hand on the arm Alicia had raised. “I really mean you no harm. I just want to warn you. There is a lot going on in this little burg. More than you would think. And while I haven’t met anything threatening yet, they are there. Waiting in the dark. And they would want you as much as me.”

“What are you talking about?” This woman was nuts.

“You have secrets. Much like mine.” She fixed her piercing hazel eyes on Alicia, “But you aren’t willing to admit it. Even to yourself. You know, but you don’t want to. Fascinating….”

“Laurie!” A striking black woman strode up to their table. “What are you doing?”

“You know her?” Alicia asked.

“I was just talking with Brody’s ex-wife. She has secrets. Oh, yes she does.” Laurie said.

“Yes, Laurie, you can’t do something like this!”

“The direct approach works more than you’d think Serena. Plus she knows I mean her no harm. I doubt she’s willing to admit how she knows, but she knows.”

Alicia felt her heart sink. For the girl, Laurie was right. Under normal circumstances she would have done more than just sit here. There was something odd about this girl….

Serena looked at Alicia, “I’m so sorry, sometimes my friend is a little… impulsive.”

Laurie just smiled. “Give my regards to Sydney. If you need anything, just let me know. I’m staying a couple of rooms over at the Tumbleweed. And watch your back. Most of them are friendly. But there are some….” Laurie got up and moved to a different table.

Serena and Alicia just stared at the girl.

Alicia opened her mouth, “Is she okay? I mean….”

“She’s very impulsive. But, I will be honest, she’s very observant. And if she gave you a warning, I’d heed it. She sees things differently than anyone I know. Useful. Very useful in some of the experiments I’ve been conducting lately. Again my apologies. And it is Serena Goodwin at your service.”

“Alicia Ibanez. Now if you don’t mind?”

“Have a pleasant evening.” And Serena walked over to the table Laurie was now sitting at.

Alicia just stared after them. That was strange.

But why did she feel a sense of, of kinship with the girl? It didn’t make any sense, anymore than those same feelings in regard to so Max and several of the workers at the Crashdown.

It just did not make any sense.

Alicia finished her salad, vainly trying to figure out what was going on in her life.

-----
Maria-

Maria’s dreams were troubled. She watched as Sydney slowly wasted away before her eyes.

She watched as her mother did the same, memories of another life.

Memories of Max refusing to help her. Refusing to heal her mother. Her bitter fight with Liz, caustic recriminations flying.

Their friendship had never recovered. Not even being named Amy’s Godmother had truly repaired their bond.

And without her mother, without Michael, without anyone who truly cared for her, Maria had been lost. Rich and respected but lost.

She had tried to fill the void. First with other friends, but the paranoia gained so ingrained in her teenage years kept others at bay. Then she sank herself into her music.

But it hadn’t been enough.

Finally she turned to drugs. And the slow spiral to self-destruction began, halted only by Ana’s ‘cure.’ One that had come with such a price. Such a heavy price…..

Maria was cradling Michael’s dying body, mangled by her own soldiers, when she felt a small hand on her shoulder.

It was the little girl. Her large green eyes looked so sad as she gazed up at Maria. Maria set down Michael, and in the way of dreams the body vanished. She was again in the shadow of the Pod Chamber, in that strange playground.

Maria stood up and looked around. Aside from the child she was alone here. It seemed so quiet. So calm. She heard a little whimper from the girl and looked down. The girl just stared at her, wide eyes pleading….

So Maria picked up the little girl, who snuggled into her. And Maria felt her heart swell. And calm. There was a bond to her, a sense of connection.

This was her little girl. She might not be real, but she was hers. Maria carried her over to a bench, a bench that had not been there moments before.

And Maria sang to her. Maria sang to the little girl, and she could feel as what could only be described as love flowed back into her.

Somehow, Maria knew everything would be alright.

They would make it alright. They would make it safe. Safe for her daughter to be born.

And Maria sang on.

-----
Max-

Max and Liz were quietly sitting on her balcony. Both of them were keeping an ear out for her parents who might not like to see their little girl snuggled up under a blanket with her boyfriend.

But both of them desperately needed to hold the other.

And to talk. Liz told him of Serena, of her significance. Of all that had been worrying her.

And he did the same. He told her of his worries, of his need to help always tempered by the need to hide. Of his fears that everything was spinning out of control.

Finally he had to ask, “When did you know about Alex and Isabel?”

Liz sighed. “You know.”

“That Alex almost knocked up my sister? Yes. That apparently there is a shape shifter hanging around town who refuses to speak with me? Refuses to even let me know of his existence.”

“Alex loves your sister. He loves her and he will stand by her thick and thin. If that dream baby had been real, if it had by some weird alien effect been Michael’s….. He would have still stood by Isabel. He would do anything for her, save one thing.”

“What?”

“Abandon her. He won’t leave her anymore than I would leave you or Maria Michael. We love you. And you are stuck with us.”

Max opened his mouth.

Liz placed a finger on it. “Max, trust me on this. Would you abandon me? If I asked would you leave me and have nothing to do with me?”

“I, I, if that is what was needed….”

“Max, don’t lie to yourself. Even if you could pull yourself away, make me think you had done as I asked, you would still be there. Still be there if I needed you.”

“How did I get so lucky.”

“Karma. You must have been good in a previous life.”

Max winced, there was a slight feeling of memory suppressed, “No Liz. Somehow I doubt that is it. But whatever the reason, I am thankful. I can’t, I can’t imagine what life would be like without you.”

Liz smiled and kissed him.

And they stayed there for a while, still mindful of Liz’s parents, but content in each others arms.

------
Tess-

It was late, and Tess could hear the soft snores coming from the living room. What was she going to do about Kyle. That moment earlier in the evening…. It had almost felt like the distance that had built up between them over the last month had faded away.

That brief searing kiss….

She had felt him. Had for a brief moment connected with him. And he wanted her. He was still confused but he wanted her.

But Tess did not want to share. She wouldn’t. If she was going to go against all that she had ever believed in then she wanted it to be real. Solid.

Her Destiny certainly wasn’t.

She let out a little bitter laughter. Destiny. What a joke. She had been a fool to believe that she could ever take Max from Liz.

Even if she had won she still would have lost. Another life spent watching his love for her fade.

Where had that last thought come from?

Tess shook her head.

Destiny.

Once it had been her life, and now it was like a curse.

She had done so much to gain that vaunted Destiny. Too much.

What was she going to do about Alex? She was meeting him tomorrow. And even if he had not decoded the book, he certainly had tried.

What was she going to do about all the warps, all the constraints she had placed on his mind? If she let them fade, would anyone look at her with anything less than contempt?

Destiny.

She closed her eyes and for the first time in her life prayed. To whom or to what, she had no idea, but she sent her wishes, her devout wishes that there was a way out of the trap she had set for herself.

Thanks to everyone following this story.

AvalonRose- Only part of Max's meeting with Brody is in here. But Brody is going to take few chances. He needs to save Sydney.

RhondaAnn- There is a connection, a reason why so many people feel this connection to each other. It is similar to what Isabel felt towards Tess, drawn for some unknown reason.

Brody is going to take few chances. He is well aware how powerful Max could theoretically be. He has fairly convincing data involving the aliens from both the Special Unit and from Far Sight (which his father in law runs.)

As to whether it is Stephanie, we will see. There is a specific reason why she had that dream, and yes it was a vision of her life from the first timeline. As for what Michael will pick up, we shall see.

Tess has some important decisions to make real soon now.

Arrianeleigh- Yes Laurie persuaded Serena to let her work with her. She was quite persuasive. How and why will be discussed in future parts.

xmag- Possibly. Her name would have been Stephanie.

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. There is a small part from A Roswell Christmas Carol.

Shadows of the Past chapter 12

Maria-

Maria’s eyes flicked open. She was full of wonder and joy. She rubbed her belly.

She would have another chance. A chance to know Stephanie.

A chance to live her life the way it should have been.

She wasn’t ready. Not ready to be a mother. This time, this life she would be. She would miss Amy. Miss knowing the wonderful woman she had turned into.

She shook her head. Somehow her dreams had merged with the other Maria’s. Memories and echoes of a life, a hard life, were slowly fading from her mind.

A dream?

But she knew that that timeline was real. That she had, had…. No she couldn’t even think of what she had done. All that she had done.

Not this time. Not this life.

Stephanie. This time she would know her daughter. For that girl was hers. She could feel it. It was more than a superficial resemblance. Last night she had, had connected with her. With the pure and sweet mind that was her daughter’s.

She should tell Michael. He would freak out, maybe even deny it.

Oh, she knew that he wanted kids someday. He desperately wanted a family. A full and complete family.

She wanted one too.

Maria looked over at the clock. 5 am. Much too early to call him. He got pretty cranky if he didn’t get enough sleep. She couldn’t go back to sleep if she tried.

Liz would be jogging now. A remnant of Emily. Liz only slept four hours a night now. And she was much too cheery in the morning.

Maria felt much too serene for that abundance of cheer. Now in an hour or so….

Maria smiled. Alex. She would call Alex. She dialed a number she hadn’t called for a month. She heard a groggy voice on the other end of the line.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, Alex!”

“Maria do you know what time it is?”

“Um, 5:15 am. It is a little early, sorry. I just wanted to talk to someone.”

“And I am the lucky winner? I wonder if there is another exchange program….”

“Alex!”

“Okay, what do you want to talk about that we didn’t talk about yesterday.”

“Stephanie.”

There was silence on the other end of the line. “Okay. Who is Stephanie?”

“That dream girl.”

“You named her. She‘s a dream and you named her?”

“Alex, just get in your car and get over here. I need to talk.”

“Um, what about your mom?”

“She knows. About everything. And she’s got to work in the shop this morning anyway. Please hurry, I have to get ready for work soon myself. And I, I just wanted to talk with you.”

Alex groaned slightly, “Alright, I am headed over. Say in ten minutes. But you owe me.”

Maria squealed with glee. “Thank you! I’ll add it to the tab. See you!”

She walked toward the bathroom to brush her teeth and make her self look a little more human. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a box. A box she had been ignoring for a couple of weeks.

Her dad’s papers. She lifted the box up and carried it to the table. She opened it up and saw a picture of her and Liz. And Pam.

Funny she had forgotten how close they had all been. Strange how things could change. She certainly had not thought she would ever be friends with Isabel Evans, let alone Michael Guerin.

Life was strange. She paged through the pictures.

-----
Alex-

Alex blearily walked from his car to the Deluca’s house. How had he found himself up this early? Oh yeah, one of his girls.

And he loved them.

He had actually seen Liz jogging on his way here. She had waved to him and he had waved back. The old Liz would not have started a jogging routine in the early morning. He would say that Liz had changed. And it was true.

All of them had been changed by the Abyss.

He shook his head. And now Maria was naming dream children. At least it wasn’t going to be a real baby. Yet.

They would have to be careful. None of them were ready yet. No teenage pregnancy, they had enough drama to deal with.

He knocked softly. Hopefully he wouldn’t wake Maria’s mother….

Amy opened the door. “Come in. Come in, Alex! Oh, it is so good to see you!” She gave him a hug. She pushed him back a little, “Sweden did you good, I think. Come in! I made breakfast for you and Maria. You still like blueberry waffles right?”

“Uh, yeah.” Alex looked around and saw the table cluttered with photos and papers. “Where is Maria?”

“She’s in the shower. I told her that she should get ready since she’d lose track of time talking with you. I know you kids too much! So, she’ll be out in a few minutes. Just sit down while I make breakfast.”

“Okay.” Alex sat down at the table and absently looked at the stuff on the table. He wasn’t trying to snoop, but he was curious…. “Um, is it okay if I look at this stuff?”

Amy’s demeanor went impassive, “Its from her father. Go right ahead. Just pictures. And his journal. I can’t bring myself to read them myself.” She turned away but Alex. Her voice had a slight catch to it as she asked him about Sweden.

And so he told her the same lies he had told her daughter. About the wonders of a country he had never set foot in. He’d done a decent amount of research so as to get it right.

Still it made him wonder why this had to be such a secret.

And then fingering through some of the papers that lay on the table he saw it. Something that shouldn’t be here.

Altaran glyphs. His head began to pound, to throb as they began to writhe on the page. His head felt like it was about to explode….

For next to the sigils were hand written translations of some of the sigils by one of the best if unknown linguists in history.

Marco Ruiz.

-------
Liz-

Liz moved smoothly through her morning shift. Everything seemed to be going well. There hadn’t been any problems this morning. Well nothing she hadn’t been able to fix.

Max was sitting in his booth, enjoying a breakfast. Occasionally she would stop by and say hi for a moment, cutting moments of peace and joy in the normal hassle of the day.

She was going to keep him company later on when his shift started at the UFO Museum. Christmas was not a bumper time for tourists. Even many of the Air Force personnel, people that were becoming regulars, had gone back home for the most part.

Liz smiled at the alien wearing the Santa cap next to the Christmas tree. The energy that had been filling her lately had let her go all out in decorating the Crashdown this year.

Her father had been amazed and please all at once. And worried that she had been working too hard. But she hadn’t.

Besides, a happy Isabel and a not quite as sanguine Maria had helped her. This last month had made Isabel as much a part of her life as Maria had been. It felt strange that they had ever been at odds.

Now to work on Tess, and to tie her as tightly to them. And Tess seemed to be coming around a bit. Certainly she was making herself at home, and Maria and Tess were bonding over Maria’s training.

Tess had tried to have Liz join them, but, well her powers were different. And the control just seemed to be coming naturally to Liz. She still had to refrain from casually using powers that seemed as natural to her as breathing.

It made her wonder how she had ever lived without them.

Not that she could do much. Just move things. No changing lipstick or colors of anything. But Isabel had promised to show both her and Maria how to do that as they got stronger.

In truth, things were going fairly well on the power front. She still picked up flashes from a lot of the things she picked up. But even that seemed to be coming under control.

She felt that everything would be okay today. That everything would be good. That this Christmas would be special. That she would remember it forever.

She smiled at Max, who she smiled back. Her heart swelled with love for him.

She heard the bell ring behind her. “Hey, I’m not cooking for myself you know. A little help here.” Michael said.

Liz was about to say something back when she watched Michael’s face change. A sense of wonder and a brief flash of tenderness flitted briefly across his face. Liz looked back and saw Maria walk through the door.

He had changed.

“Hey, Liz, the food remember? I doubt your tip will be that great if its cold, and I know I’ll get a little annoyed if I have to make it again… So hop to it!”

Liz shot him a fond glance to a returned glare. Maybe not that much. Besides, he wouldn’t be Michael if he weren’t irritable.

How Maria put up with it was any guess.

She took the food to the guest, absently picking up bottles of condiments that they would need. Things that the customer would have asked for. But hadn’t yet.

Liz didn’t notice.

Hours went by, still going so smooth for a Saturday it was almost scary.

She noticed Maria and Michael chatting, even Michael pointing at her. But Liz could hardly care. She was still floating on a cloud.

Even if Max had left to open the UFO Museum she could still feel him, even across the street.

She absently began making a cup of hot chocolate. No one had asked her to yet, but it seemed the thing to do.

Liz heard the bell ring as yet another guest entered. A sense of worry impacted her. Her cheer did not dissipate, but clouds had entered her sunny sky.

She bustled along helping other guests while watching Maria seat the girl and woman who had caused her perfect day to be disturbed. Alicia Ibanez and Sydney Davis. Why the strange mélange of emotions?

Liz reached over and handed Maria the cup of hot chocolate.

“Hey, chica. I need to make a cup of… is this for me. How did you know?”

Liz shrugged. In truth she didn’t know. Her day had just been like that.

“Hey, Liz, do you think your dad would mind if I gave Sydney one of our headbands? You know like the ones we played with when we were kids.”

“Don’t see why not. Hey, what has you so frazzled?”

“God, where to start. Michael’s being Michael, and if he becomes any more Michaeler I am going to have to kill him. And Alex was acting weird this morning.”

“You saw Alex this morning? I saw him driving by when I was going for my jog at five thirty. Tell me you didn’t have him go over that early! He just got back from Sweden, the jet lag has got to be killer.”

Maria shrugged. “I needed to talk to someone and I knew about your morning run. Why do you subject yourself to that?”

“I like it. Wakes me up. So what was wrong with Alex other than being exhausted.”

“I don’t know. He was muttering and pouring through my dad’s stuff.”

“How did he come across it? You’ve been pretty secretive about it.”

“It was on the table. I could show you what set him off. Strange stuff. They seemed kinda familiar, but well I don’t remember where I came across it.”

“Okay, we’ll talk later. The hot cocoa is getting cold, I’ll go get that headband.”

Liz walked into the back to get the headband. Sydney was cute. What was it about Alicia that made Liz nervous? Could it just be the fact she knew the Dupes? She hadn’t said anything.

Maybe they had dodged that bullet. Liz certainly hoped so. It would be hard to explain why so many of her friends looked exactly like someone from New York.

Hopefully she wouldn’t ask any suspicious questions during her stay.

She walked back into the main room with the headband. She handed it to Sydney….

Flash-
Sydney woke. She still felt hot and sick. She looked up at the man who had placed his hand on her stomach. His eyes were a gold and he looked just a little familiar, but she was so tired….

“Are you an angel?” Her mom said that there were angels all around her, protecting her and trying to fix her. That she shouldn’t be scared, even when mommy wasn’t with her.

Because the angels would protect her.

The angel smiled down at her. “I’m just a dream. Go back to sleep.”

Sydney closed her eyes and felt as the warmth began to flood through her body. As the angel healed her….

End Flash-

Liz backed up. Sydney might not have recognized Max. But Liz did.

Sydney looked up at Liz. “You’re like Mommy aren’t you? Thank you for the headband.” She put the headband on and shook her head. The little antennae waved back and forth.

Suddenly the day did not seem to be in control at all.

------
Kyle

Kyle heard knocking at the door. “Hey, Tess, can you get that? Tess?” He looked over at her room. The door was closed. Kyle sighed, and eyes still on the football game walked over to the door.

The door was pounded again.

“Hold on, will you?” Kyle said at the door. He was surprised to see a somewhat frazzled Alex standing there holding a bunch of papers. “Uh, hello. Didn’t you just get back from Sweden?”

“Yes. Where is Tess?”

“Uh, I guess she’s getting ready. Why, are you doing something today?”

“The project. I think I have made a breakthrough. Where is she?”

“Project? What project?”

“For the Computer Club.”

“Okay. I guess I will see if she’s awake.” Tess was involved with those geeks in the Computer Club? Huh. Kyle knocked on Tess’s door.

She had been quiet today, the spark from last night subdued. But traces of fire could still be seen. There had been one glance she had sent him….

Kyle shook his head.

Tess’s voice was quiet and distracted. “Come in.”

Kyle opened the door and saw Tess staring at the ceiling. “Hey, is something wrong?’

“No. What’s up?”

Kyle wasn’t sure how he knew, but she was lying. She was upset for some reason. Kyle internally shrugged. Women. Who could possibly understand them?

Maybe it was her time of the month or something.

“Alex is here. He said something about the project. That he had made a breakthrough.”

Tess’s eyes widened. “Really?” She sounded excited and surprised. “Is he here?”

“Uh, yeah. He’s right outside.”

Tess was suddenly in motion. “Out Kyle, I need to change. Tell Alex I’ll be right there.”

“What is this about? Alex said something about the Computer Club?”

“Yep. Now scoot, Buddha-boy, I’ve got something important to see to.” She rushed over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Whatever had been bothering her was gone.

Just a small kiss. Nothing like last night. But he couldn’t help from smiling.

Things were going to be okay.

-----
Max-

Max had been working on the exhibits for a couple of hours when Brody asked him to come to the office. He couldn’t think of any reason Brody would need to talk to him.

He walked into the office, staring as always at the device Maria had used on that horrible Saturday last November. Had that only been a month ago? It seemed like ages. “Hey, Brody. I thought you were going to stay home today. Spend time with Sydney.”

“I, yes, well. There has been a contact with the CDC to test some waterborne parasite that’s been spotted near Pullman Ranch. Their sending a team Tuesday.”

“Uh, why is this important? I mean if there was a crash there wouldn’t it have done something long ago? Have there been anymore incoming signals?”

“No, nothing new on that front. But….”

“Have I ever told you why I want to find them?”

“To reestablish contact. To find out why they abducted you. Did you find out anything that happened to you last month?” I hope you never find out exactly what you were doing there Brody. Too many people know already.

“Sydney. All that I have done is for my daughter. You see Max, I was dying all those years ago. I told you this. And they healed me. Sydney is dying as well. And if I find them, well maybe, maybe they can help her like they helped me.”

Max was starting to worry.

“The thing is, I never gave thought to what would happen if I truly made contact. If I truly contacted alien life. And I certainly never expected what I found.”

“Brody….”

“I am sorry to do this Max.” Brody triggered the Trithium Amplification Generator.

And for Max, the world went black.

Thanks again for everyone following along with this story.

AvalonRose- Things are starting to heat up. Liz has gotten flashes like that before, but this one threw her. Brody will do anything if it helps his daughter. Alex found something in one of the journals Maria's dad left her.

Natalie36- What would you be willing to do to save your child's life?

Arrianeleigh- Sydney has noticed a lot of strange things about her mom. So she isn't thrown when someone else acts strange. And yes, Alicia has a part to play. Stephanie would have been the name of the daughter Maria aborted in timeline one. Maria has been having some strange dreams and that girl has been in some of them.

RhondaAnn- Thanks as always. Hope you are feeling better.

Nibbles- Just thought it would be something she would say when Michael was annoying her.

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. Some references to scenes in Ask Not contained herein.

Shadows of the Past chapter 13

Tess-

Tess was sitting next to Alex at a picnic table in the park. She scanned the surroundings, just to be sure.

She could almost feel something. She could almost feel eyes watching her. Hateful eyes.

She shook her head. Nothing was out there. It was a bright sunny morning. She could see anyone who approached long before they could get to them.

“Okay, so Alex, what was so important you needed to drag me out here.”

Alex pulled out a copy of some of the symbols from the book. “I know what this means.”

“How?”

“Maria is going to kill me, but I took this….” Alex placed a notebook on the table. He opened it up and showed Tess. “This is one of her father’s journals. I’m not sure, I only breezed through some of the others, but apparently he was a translator and code breaker of sorts. I don’t know all of the details, but….”

“This, this is High Altaran.” Tess stared at the notebook, at the translation of the sigils. Her head swam a moment as she felt like something was trying to force itself out.

She repressed it firmly.

“I know, well I think it is the same language. With this as a start, as a sort of Rosetta Stone, I think I can translate the Destiny Book. I’ll need to go back to Las Cruces of course….”

“Alex. It is two days until Christmas. It can wait until then. I mean I’m just as eager, but….”

Alex looked at her, a sense of desperation on his face. “I feel compelled to do this Tess. I don’t know if I can wait a couple of days.”

“Alex, what about Isabel. She loves Christmas, you don’t want to disappoint her.”

Alex got up and began to pace rapidly around the table. “I don’t know why this has become so important. I sometimes feel like I can’t sleep. It fills my dreams Tess, these symbols….”

Tess closed her eyes and examined Alex. His mind was heavily distorted. Possibly dangerously so.

By her. By Tess. She had done this. Unbalanced one of the few people in the group everyone liked. All the conditions, all the compulsions….

And there was a thick band that stretched off into the distance. To Isabel.

Was this affecting her too?

But they needed to know. They had to. She had to hold on to him until he solved the book. He was a generalist by nature. Without her warp, he wouldn’t have the same level of focus.

He might not be able to translate it without her help. She looked again at the image in her mind, his distorted mind.

Would he be able to hold out that long?

Tess got up and stopped Alex. “Alex, calm down. Tuesday. We will go on Tuesday. I will go with you.“ Her voice dropped, “And I hope someday you will forgive me.”

Tess reached out and used her power to calm him down, placing desire for Isabel above his desire to finish the translation.

This was not hard to do.

But it wouldn’t hold. The compulsions she had placed were still there. She looked up at Alex’s face. It was slightly blushed and dreamy. “Go to her. Go to your love.”

Warps were always easiest if you made them do or see something they already wanted. She worked carefully now, cautiously. Had her warps always done this type of damage? Had her compulsions always had this effect.

Had she been seriously hurting people?

Alex’s attention snapped back as she finished warping him. Alex smiled, “So I just wanted you to know that we have a lead. Um, is it okay if we go there after Christmas. I have a couple of presents I want to give Isabel in person. Just the thought of seeing her smile….”

“Get out of here, Alex. It’s been a while, and I’m sure she wants to spend time with you. And Alex, thanks for all of your help.”

“No problem. Um, do you need me to give you a ride home?”

“Nah, its only a block. Go get her. I just want to sit her and think for a while.” Tess watched as Alex all but skipped to his car.

Did Kyle love her as much? Would he still after he found out the truth?

She had to know what that book held. Was everything Nasedo had raised her to believe a lie, or….

Could she somehow release Alex without her ‘friends’ hating her?

Next week. She had until next week.

Tess sat there for a long time.

-------
Isabel-

Every Saturday she worked in her parents’ law office. She typically just helped organize files and did a little research.

Today she was finding it hard to concentrate. Ever since early this morning she had been on edge. And she could not think of a reason why.

It was all over and Alex was home. And if home wasn’t perfectly safe, at least he was close enough that she could protect him if she needed to.

So why did she keep thinking of Michael? Oh it wasn’t the passion she’d had a few days ago. But she could not help thinking how important to her he was.

That they were tied together somehow.

Flash-

Vilandra hesitantly moved through the massively columned hall. The Hall of Judgement it was called. Reserved for those not deserving of final rest.

The court was empty. Rare was the time a trial would be considered great enough to warrant the Hall of Judgement.

She looked over at the far walls and saw the Hall was not entirely void of occupants. There were those who for whatever reason came to visit the Damned.

She herself had come to see the remnants of a man. A man she now believed might be her father. She wished her mother would just tell her. That she could finally know.

What was the big secret anyway?

It wasn’t like she was the daughter of royalty. Sure her mother had a small level of status at Court, and even not held a position on Her Royal Consorts staff. But the Queen Consort was dying. So that wouldn’t last.

How could the knowledge possibly cause trouble?

So she walked over to the wall where the Memory Glass Mirrors were placed. Inside of them the various imprisoned spirits wailed or just watched. There was a faint sound, sound that only she could hear that came from the mirrors.

That ability excited some of her Magisters. That level of increased sensitivity was almost unknown in Tarans, being more a strength amongst the Mithar. And it was different than the Mitharan Eidolonics, something new.

She stood in front of a Mirror and gazed at the name inscribed in gold along the base. Direk Alans Alarin. She looked at the picture and tried to see herself in the man’s ghostly image. An image that silently pleaded for release.

She just wasn’t sure….

“Well, well, well. What is a good Archadian girl doing in a place like this? Researching a better capture method?”

Vilandra looked up and saw a young military officer looking at her with a tinge of disdain. He wasn’t bad looking in a rough sort of way. Not as good looking as Khivar, but passable.

If only Khivar would give her the time of day. Maybe after she stopped being a student…..

She shook her head, “Research, yes personal research. I hate these things. They are evil.”

The soldier nodded. He looked at the picture she was gazing at, “Gods above he was a bastard.”

“Excuse me? The man you are maligning may very well be my father….”

The soldier laughed. “Not possible ma’am. I was on the op that took him down. The Secretariat tracked down all of his kin, just to be on the safe side. You weren’t on the list. Still, even if he was an evil bastard that deserved to die, well, he didn’t deserve this.”

“Who the hell think you are!”

“The name is Rath Targan, Lieutenant of Third Company, Second Legion. So do you want to join me for a couple of drinks?”

Vilandra just stared at him. “Why do you think I would want to spend a pico-second more in your presence more than I must?”

Still he was cute. And anything would beat spending time in the palace listening to her mother’s ‘friends’ snipe at her.

“Only if you want to know the truth.” And he began to walk away.

That man was infuriating! Still…..

She glanced at the picture again. Any knowledge would be useful.

Vilandra followed.End Flash-

Isabel shook her head and tried to focus on the papers again. That had been happening more and more lately. Images of her past. Images of Vilandra.

She heard voices as her mother finished up with her latest client. Some contested property, a lot of which was in Arizona. Strange that the client would choose her father….

Apparently there was some family connection.

The door to Diane Evan’s office opened and a young blonde walked out. There was something familiar about her. Like there was some connection….

The last time she had felt this was with Tess.

The girl stiffened as she saw Isabel, her face turning completely white. Like she had seen a ghost.

Diane smiled as she saw Isabel, “And have you met my daughter? No? Laurie, this my daughter Isabel. Isabel, this is my new client, Laurie Dupree.” She paused a moment, “Are you feeling okay, Miss Dupree?”

“I’m fine, just need to get lunch. Skipped breakfast I’m afraid. Um, I will be by Tuesday?”

“You know you are welcome to join us for Christmas dinner?”

“No thank you. I already have plans. Excuse me.” Laurie hustled out of the office.

“An interesting case. Say, honey, you don’t look so good yourself. Why don’t you enjoy the afternoon off? I hear a certain Alex Whitman is back in town.”

“Mom, no really, I am fine.”

“Go ahead Isabel. I’ll be fine. Just be home by dinner, say around seven?” Diane walked back into her office.

Isabel felt suddenly light headed, as if something in her head had shifted. Finding Alex suddenly seemed like a very good idea.

Suddenly she needed him right now.

She gathered up all of her possessions in her purse. But there was one she wanted to make absolute sure was there. She stared at the glowing crystal.

It had a treasured place in her heart.

She went to go find Alex.

------
Michael-

Michael had watched Liz zip all over the restaurant this morning. And he began to notice some things. Eerie things.

Like she knew exactly how many glasses of water they wanted before they were seated. And she’d started heading back to the serving station… before he rang the bell.

She’d been lucky all morning long. She’d even caught a glass before it had fallen off Alyssa’s tray. She’d been ten feet away when Alyssa had stumbled. With her back turned.

Liz had always been graceful, that Michael would reluctantly concede. Certainly more than his klutzy girlfriend. But this was getting ridiculous. No one was this agile.

And okay, maybe he’d been a little brusque with Maria. Who the hell was Stephanie anyway? And why should he care?

He could all but feel her fury as she cleaned up after that freaky mother and kid. God she was hot. Make up would be fun. Painful maybe, but the fun afterward would make it all worth it.

He focused his thoughts on the here and now and watched Liz as she once more swept through a table on the other side of the restaurant.

Michael had promised he would watch her for Max. To protect her. To protect all the girls. But more he wanted to know what was going on with her. If she kept up this behavior people might notice.

Because Michael had a theory. It wasn’t a good theory, but it was all he could think of at the moment. And it fit. It fit much to well.

Liz could see the future. And not just in flashes.

He winced as he watched Maria walking toward the kitchen door. The morning was slowing down, and now she had some free time. Time to make him pay.

Michael sighed and tried to think of the make-up sex they’d try to work in later. But he braced for the pain he was likely to get now. Not that he’d show Maria he was afraid of her.

Jose laughed, “Oh, that chica is seriously mad at you this time. Why don’t you, uh, take a break. No need for me to lose my hearing as well.”

Michael turned to his friend, “Traitor.”

Jose just smiled.

Michael met Maria just outside of the kitchen.

Maria glared at him for a moment, “Okay, what is up with you? I know you’re a bastard, and trust me you will pay for brushing me off later. But why are you setting up Liz?”

Damn she had noticed. “I’m not doing anything.”

Maria nodded knowingly, “Trust me I can sense sabotage when I see it. I thought you were over this kind of petty stuff. But I guess I was wrong. What kind of messed up thinking is going on that rocklike substance you jokingly call a brain anyway?”

“Just conducting a test.”

“Test? What kind of test? And even if this were for the best of reasons it has really worn Liz down, I mean she was on cloud nine when I came in and now she’s, well she’s more subdued than I have seen her in a while. So tell me, and it better be good, pally or you are going to have a long discussion on the treatment of friends. Particularly the treatment of my friends! So START TALKING!”

Michael couldn’t help a lopsided grin start to form. He loved Maria. So fiercely loyal. “Why tell you when I can show you.”

“What are you up to.”

“Just wave Liz back here. I will, uh, I will apologize.”

“Why don’t I believe you. But Michael if you hurt her….” Maria waved Liz over to the door.

Michael carefully stood out of sight of the door and watched Maria. He could read her like a book. (He still didn’t understand her, mind. He doubted he ever would. But he could read her.) From her body language Liz would be through the door….

Michael threw the glass at Liz, right as she entered the hallway between the break room and the kitchen.

Liz caught it.

He’d never really seen Liz angry. Annoyed, but not angry. He stepped back at the force of her blue tinged eyes.

Maria just stood there slack-jawed, seemingly unable to believe that Michael would do such a thing.

You would think she would know him better by now. Besides, he’d been pretty sure Liz would react exactly as she had.

Liz’s voice was harsh, “What the hell is wrong with you Guerin! And Maria, what is going on here.”

Maria looked pained as she looked at Liz, “I didn’t know, I.” She turned and glared at Michael. There was a tiny flicker of green along her right arm.

Okay. He was now officially in danger. Hopefully they would leave enough for Max to revive so he could hide in some South American village.

He doubted it though.

Maybe he should have explained his plan to Maria first.

“Liz. I, uh, just needed to know. Um, Maria was right, I uh, have been making your life a little harder today.”

“Making my life harder? You’ve been a bastard, but then that’s nothing new. I’ve grown to overlook that. Partly because it is your overcompensation for your vast insecurities, but mostly because I love Maria. But why did you try to hurt me. Threaten me, intimidate, browbeat, all of these are normal. Are you now an enemy?” The blue was taking over a larger and larger portion of her eyes.

“Michael you had better speak fast or I will never speak to you again.” Maria said crossing her arms over her chest.

She was perplexed, but she hadn’t closed herself off to him. Not yet.

Michael sighed. “Liz can see the future. Maria think how fast she grabbed that glass. There was no way she could see me. No way. I don’t care how fast she is now. She saw it coming, but not with her eyes.”

Maria looked away from Michael and at Liz.

Liz just stood there, mouth slightly agape.

“Liz, is it true? I mean you’ve told me of the flashes. But he’s right. How did you know?”

“I, I don’t know. I’ve gotten flashes, but… Michael, why didn’t you talk to me about this? Why did you try to….”

“Liz, we’re not friends. I don’t know if we will ever be friends. But I would never try to hurt you. I love Maria too much. But this, this, I don’t know how else I could have tested it. How else would you not have known?”

“I…. How long have you been watching me, how long have you been observing this?”

“A while. It has been real noticeable today. Very noticeable.”

Liz looked down, her eyes her normal soft brown. “I don’t know. I haven’t been doing anything special. I did get a flash though, one I wanted to talk to Max about.”

“What?”

“You said I can see the future….”

Michael nodded.

“Well I saw Max healing that little girl out there. I saw him heal Sydney.”

Michael just stood there staring at Liz. It is one thing to make a hypothesis and test it, it is another for it to be proven all too true.

-----
Max-

Max awoke with a start. He felt weak. A feeling he’d only had once before.

He opened his eyes. He was secured to a chair. He struggled for a moment, but it was no use.

It was the same chair he’d tied Pierce to.

He heard Brody speak from behind him. “I do hope you forgive me about this Max. But I have read some information about your… kind that has made me a little cautious.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Max, I know. Look, up there on the screen.”

Max looked at the screen and saw himself, Isabel and Michael walk into the Museum. They had come to kill Brody. But Max had stopped them. Max watched as the shield he’d used to hold back Michael and Isabel was clearly shown.

“Nice trick by the way. I wish I could hear what you were saying. You know it has taken me a better part of a month to gather all of this data. I’ve been searching for aliens, and one of them has been working for me the whole time. Ironic.”

Max remained silent, trying desperately to figure out a way to escape. But his powers were gone. His eyes were drawn to the pentagon shaped thing, a Trithium Amplicication Device, Richard had called it.

They should have taken it like Michael had wanted. But Max had not wanted Brody to be suspicious.

Other images flashed across the screen, mostly him mundanely working away at one exhibit or another. Giving tours to visitors. Then he saw Maria, Tess, and Courtney walk in. And their battles with the Skins as Maria activated the TAD.

“I bet you are wondering why, if I had all of this on tape, I did not confront you before this. Well, part of me wanted to be sure. You see, I only check the camera’s footage if something odd has happened. I save the footage, because, well you never know. Sometimes the normal things aren’t so normal. Like the visit of an employee that had just been fired in the middle of the night. You and your friends, you were here to kill me weren’t you? Because it, “ he patted the TAD, “zapped your friend. You thought I was possibly an enemy. And yet you went on ahead to check. Brave, that. And I thought you were just an abductee!”

“Brody, look this is all wrong. I’m Max Evans and I go to school here and I work at this very place. How can you believe any of this.”

“Because of New York. Because Larek finally talked to me. I just needed proof.” Brody sighed. “Look, Max. I don’t want to hurt you. I just needed you to know that I know.” He pulled a gun out of one of the drawers of his desk. “And that I could have hurt you. I could have, and I didn’t. So now I am going to trust you. And ask that we can talk like rational beings. I have so many questions.” He walked over and cut Max’s bonds.

Max stood up and rubbed his arms. “Why? There isn‘t much I can tell you.”

Brody smiled. “I need your help. My daughter is dying. Can you, can you help her?”

Max stared at Brody.

To heal another person.

A child.

A part of him wanted to leap at the chance. Another remembered the fear.

What should he do now?

-----
Alicia-

Alicia smiled at her now quiet daughter. She’d been active all morning long. She must be so tired to need a nap so early.

Alicia walked over to put her daughter in her bed. She arms felt cool, her skin clammy. Her forehead was burning.

Sydney was sick.

A sense of fright filled Alicia. Sydney had been so active! Why so close to Christmas?

For the first time, Alicia regretted coming to Roswell. It had been good for her daughter, but New York was where her doctors were.

Alicia rushed Sydney to the hospital.

And prayed. Prayed that someone or something would save her daughter.

Thanks to everyone reading along this story. I will be having a Author's chat on Saturday the !8th of April at Roswellheaven. Hope to see you there.

RhondaAnn- Alex's warp is affecting Isabel. Which as you see is affecting Michael, and through him Maria..... Tess manages to partly warp herself in this part. All over that stupid book. As to that memory, well that will be important later. As will how and why she blocked it.

Often in the stories I have read, the connection becomes little more than a form of limited telepathy. The Antarans were not telepathic, nor for that matter are humans. Isabel/Vilandra comes the closest. So it is similar to what Liz and Max had in the show. And we know how well that worked at fixing problems. It provides a very limited range empathy and location detection. It also increases the odds of a flash developing. And flashes are not telepathy, but psychometric impressions.

yeah, not too useful. Except when it is.

Well if Liz really can see the future, Max will heal Sydney.

Alicia's story will come out in a few chapters. She's human. Sort of.

AvalonRose- Michael would be the one to notice that. If someone started to do dramatically better than usual, well he would want to know why. Particularly if it risks exposure. And Michael really should have told Maria first. Or he really will end up parbroiled one of these days. All Alex really needed was a key. His mind has been so focused that he now doodles in Antaran, yeah, Tess has a bit to pay for. And there is a chance things are about to spin out of control no matter what Tess does. We shall see.

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.

Shadows of the Past chapter 14

Brody-

Brody stared at Max. It was really fascinating to actually make contact. Although, technically he’d made first contact some years before.

Brody was sure Larek had not told him everything.

“So what do you say Max? Will you heal my daughter? Or will you let her die?”

“What makes you think….”

“Max, do you think I would possibly accuse someone of this if I wasn’t sure. I know you think I am a little strange, and you are likely correct. But I am not a fool. And I really mean you no harm. If it were your daughter, what would you do?”

-----
Max-

Max stared at Brody.

“If it were your daughter what would you do…” What would you do, do, do……

Flash-
Max held his wife as she cried, nearly shattered. It was too much. Michael was dead, defending his little girl. And now he had sent his two sons to be sheltered and protected by a man who hated him with a near consuming passion.

But Kyle would protect them. Kyle might hate him, but he loved Liz’s kids. He and Laurie would be enough to protect them.

They would have to be. Max was the last of his kind. The last hybrid. Where had it all gone wrong? If they had all stayed together, could they have truly defeated the invasion?

Or should they have followed Destiny after all? How could he possibly conceive of not loving Liz?

Liz pushed back and looked at his face. “Max, I know this is hard. But we need Tess. She’s the only Mithar we’d have. She’s the only one who can see what Ana can do, and God I hope she can counter her. We need her to stay. You have to make her stay. You have to!”

“But…”

“Max, I am tired of fighting my friends. Of looking over my shoulder and wondering if one of the people I know and care of might be possessed.”

“What of the twins? What of Amy?”

Tears freely swum down her face. “Maria has her, Max. Maria has my little girl! No force remaining on Earth could free her. Our only hope is another toss of the dice, another chance. Maybe Tess will realize her true love in time. Maybe we will have another chance. But we have to try Max. If we fail…. At least Jeff and Phillip will be safe.”

Their only hope lay in destroying all they had sought to preserve. He would no longer have Liz. How much would he have to give up to keep Tess in Roswell? All for another toss of the dice.

Max held onto Liz tightly.

Timing this would be tricky. Too early and they might not find out about Whitaker, to late and he and Liz would make love.

And be forever bound. Max knew himself. Once he and Liz got that close, he would never be able to even pretend with Tess. She had always annoyed him.

But they needed her.

If only he’d had one more chance to see Amy. One last chance to hold his daughter….
End Flash-

Max looked up at Brody. “Yes. Yes, I can try. But there will be… conditions.”

------
Liz-

Liz watched as Maria and Michael left. Maria was still sniping at Michael, but she held him close.

Michael’s little experiment should have infuriated her. Instead it made Liz feel cold.

Liz had thought it was just the flashes. The flashes and remembering not to move things. But how could she avoid doing whatever she was doing. She didn’t even realize she was doing it!

Should she deliberately start making mistakes?

Her father walked up behind her. “What is this about your sending Michael and Maria home early?”

“We’ll be fine. Breakfast rush is over. Michael will be back around noon. Don’t worry dad, we’ll be fine.” Liz shuddered slightly. For she KNEW! She knew that the lunch rush would be intense, but would start late…. Around noon.

Liz could feel his eyes on her. A brief memory of him holding her head underwater surfaced. It took all her strength to not react, to not push him away.

It was so unfair. It hadn’t been him!

“You seemed more focused than I have seen you in some time. Any thing new I should be aware of? Are you and Max on or off at the moment?” He had a small twinkle in his eye, and a slight smirk.

“Dad! That is none of your business. Besides we are doing fine.”

“So drop the sympathy and put the fear of God in him? He seems like such a nice kid, but sometimes…..”

“Daddy, we talked about this. You know, about privacy?”

Jeff ruffled her hair. “Lizzie, you will always be my little girl. And I will always try to protect you. That is not going to change, so get used to it.” He shook his head. “It’s strange, but I just feel that he’d always be there for you. Not going to stop me from harassing him, but I do think he cares.”

“Loves, the word is loves.”

“Lizzie, you’re both in high school. What can you truly know about love? About what it can cost you.” His face was dark.

He was thinking about Rose. Liz had always wondered what he’d been thinking about when he muttered something like that. He was thinking about her birth mother.

“Dad, it will be okay.”

Jeff smiled, “Alright, well you had better get back out there. Alyssa will be all by herself with Maria gone. I better go see if Jose needs help in the kitchen. Liz, next time let me know before you do something like this….” He walked off to the kitchen.

Liz stared after him for a brief moment before looking out to the main restaurant. Could she still pretend to be normal?

If Michael was right she might have to try. Only how?

Maybe he shouldn’t be the only one conducting experiments. Maybe she could figure out how long into the future she could see. Hmm, how could she do this?

Liz floated through the remainder of the morning trying to think of a way to measure her new ability. She was blissfully unaware of her aura of implacable competence as she unconsciously used a power that had only been slightly more sought out and feared on Antar than telepathy….

------
Alex-

Alex’s mind was heavily fogged with desire as he exited the car. He needed Isabel. And he needed her now.

She felt the same, he could feel it along the bond. The bond that had suddenly seemed so clear and so demanding. He felt compelled to seek her out.

He absently brushed by a frightened blonde who was exiting the Evans’ law office. He turned to apologize and found her staring open mouthed at him. “I, uh, I’m sorry?”

She reached out and touched his face, her face full of worry and latent horror. “What have they done to you? Is this what I must fear? Who did this to you? Was it her?” Her other hand pointed to the office. “She isn’t human! You know that right?”

Alex stared at the girl in confusion. What the….

Her hand twitched away from his face. “My God…. You do know. Is she one of Them or is she, is she a hy, hybrid….” The girl’s voice was chattering with suppressed fear.

Alex turned away from the girl, a presence that filled his mind had exited the door. He couldn’t help it. His face flushed and his face hurt from the massive grin that filled his face.

Isabel.

Her cheeks were flushed and the pupils of her eyes were dilated, looking almost like almonds. In one hand she held what he had come to term the Stopwatch, a glowing crystal that now was filled with a swirling blue light. He felt as the power surged from the Stopwatch, as Isabel surged along the bond to hold him.

The girl behind him screamed. He spared a glance in her direction as she ran off.

He should be concerned. He knew he should. The Stopwatch would push out all the normal people, stopping time for a set period. It should worry him that it no longer worked on him.

That he was no longer normal. That should worry him.

But his eyes were filled only with Isabel. His fingers were already unbuttoning his shirt, a hungry smile as her skirt slid to the sidewalk. The Stopwatch had made them both adventurous….

FlashFlashFlashFlash

Once again he saw her, saw her as she saw herself. Saw things through her eyes, her strengths, her weaknesses. The moments of pride, joy, and shame all filling his conscious mind, deepening their already strong connection.

He knew her…. And she knew him.

The intensity became too much, the need too great. But the compulsion drove him on, and drove her in turn.

He/She/They blacked out, their conscious minds overwhelmed. Their bodies continued for a few moments longer until both stiffened and shuddered in ecstasy, and spent joined their intertwined souls in repose.

-------
Maria-

Maria opened her eyes and gazed at the blue sky. There was a slight greenish tinge to the bright morning sky. That should mean something to her. Should worry her.

But she was cold. And stiff. But her body still trembled, and not just from the cold. What they had done still sent shivers of pleasure all along her entire body. Particularly where her body met Michael’s.

Flickers of green lightning ran along her skin. Her bare skin.

She was outside. Naked outside. She shot up and gathered her uniform, whipping the grass stained garment around her.

They were in Centennial Park. They had just made love in Centennial Park on a Saturday morning. This was just so wrong on so many levels.

The moment she moved away even slightly from Michael she felt the lack. Their connection dwindled to its normal murmur. She reached out and touched him, only partly to wake him.

At the touch her sense of him rushed back to full. She pushed him to consciousness not only with her hand but with her essence. She felt as he ignored her hand, but reacted to her mind.

His eyes opened. They were his usual burnished brown, but the irises were swollen.

“Michael?”

He said something to her. It wasn’t human. But through the connection she knew, just knew he was declaring his undying love for her. In a way that Michael might feel, but never express.

Rath. Rath loved her.

Should this worry her? Shouldn’t she be running right about now? I mean surely there were limits.

Right?

Her love was cold. She sent the lightning that coursed along her body to run along him as well, warming them both.

Centennial Park. Remember where you are!

“Michael?”

The cast on his face changed, his eyes becoming normal. “Maria,” he said hoarsely. “I’m sorry. I, I don’t know what came over me. I promise, promise it won’t happen again.”

Silly fool. They were linked. Through the connection she caressed his soul. And sighed in contentment as he did the same to her. “You may drive me crazy Spaceboy, but you are mine. Forever.”

Michael muttered that alien word, this time fumbling. Like he knew it but not how to pronounce it. He frowned. “Where are we?”

“Centennial Park.”

“Oh, shit!” He looked down his state of undress and hurriedly threw on his clothes.

Again Maria felt the lack as he pulled away. Sorrow washed through her. She wanted more, more closeness. She reached out a hand to touch him. Her sense of him snapped back to full.

Both of them sighed in contentment. She felt that he had felt the lack as keenly as she. He hated it. Not her, never her. But the weakness he thought it brought.

He hated being dependent on her. But he was. Why did this make her dizzily happy? That he needed her so much. That he would not abandon her. That he couldn’t abandon her.

Not this time. Not this life.

“You will make a wonderful father.”

That freaked him out. But she could tell, could feel through the bond that maybe this would not be a bad thing….

“I thought you said that Dorian guy said you weren’t pregnant.”

“I hope he is right. Not that I don’t want her, but well, we aren’t ready. None of us is ready. Not yet. But I long for the day I see Stephanie’s bright hazel eyes.”

“Who is Stephanie? You were nattering on about her at the Crashdown.”

She absently hit him on the shoulder. “Stephanie will be, should have been our daughter. But I, I….”

Michael held her, “Oh. Maria, this time will be better. This time we will be better….”

Maria caught a girl staring at them. Oh yeah, they were in a park.

Funny that no one had disturbed them before now. Wasn’t there going to be a Christmas Pageant nearby? How was she ever going to live this down!

Her mother would kill her!

But aside from the young woman’s ragged breathing, Maria didn’t hear anything else. Not even traffic.

“No this can’t be. There can’t be two of you! But he never mentioned them being able to be in more than one place at the same time. So there must be… and the girl, what is the girl? Like and yet unlike. Almost but not quiet? Hybrid? Dif, different species? Oh, God, why didn’t I just go home. Or better yet stay in Pinecrest. No, no they would have found me there…..”

“Excuse me, uh, is something wrong?”

The girl burst into a bought of bitter laughter. For just one moment Maria felt she recognized the girl, she looked so familiar….

“Hey. Stop that. We won’t bite or anything.”

“You, you are dead. But you look so like him. Just like she did. I was right. Grandpa was right. I just wish he was here to see this.”

Maria could feel confusion and irritation build up in Michael. This girl knew something. And Michael wanted to know.

And while he was trying his patience was rapidly being depleted. Maria had to think fast before he did something drastic.

“Hi, I’m Maria and this is Michael. I, uh, I am sorry if we, uh, embarrassed you a little bit ago….”

“So they wish to keep up the pretense. Well there is no point in running. I’m trapped in this area. Are we even still on Earth. It feels like Earth. It smells like Earth, but then how would I know. He said they have much better control over the world than we do. What can it hurt?”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Michael barked at the young woman.

“He even has grandpa’s temper. Is this why they took him? But why is he with her? If they were going to copy them both you would think they would be together.”

Maria looked at Michael, her left hand still holding on to his right. “Excuse me, but what is your name.”

The girl nodded and sighed. “I guess it will cause little harm. They haven’t killed or harmed me. Nor have they tried to steal my mind. Very well, my name is Laurie Dupree.” She looked firmly at Michael, “And the body you are wearing was once my grandfather’s.”

------
Tess-

Tess felt the pulse. First she felt as desire flooded through her. Through her link. Her link to her podmates.

According to Nasedo this should push her towards Max, and do the same to her. That this was their Destiny. That their programming would overcome whatever puny animal instincts these human bodies carried.

And like so many things, on this account Nasedo was wrong. She was full of a seemingly endless hunger now, awakened by the programming. Right now any male human would do.

Except they wouldn’t.

She called up in her mind the idea of Max, a day dream she’d carried for a while….

And it was immediately discarded. She didn’t want Max. And not just because he was Liz’s. That wouldn’t stop her at the moment. She wanted someone and she wanted him now, damn it.

But not Max.

Wow.

So much for Destiny.

Her seemingly aimless wandering brought her home. He felt him long before she saw him.

He would be perfect. Her mind immediately began to weave a web for him, to inflame him with desire for her.

No.

She. Would. Not. Do. That. To. Him

Not to him. Never to her Kyle.

She wanted him to want her. Not to be compelled, but to actually want her for herself.

But it hurt. Her whole body ached. The colors in the world began to shift, to change….

“Ky, Kyle….” Her voice husky and heavy with desire.

“Tess what is wrong with your eyes?”

Tess smiled and walked over to him. It was so hard to not just reach out and…. No she must not. Never to him. But it was hard as she felt his desire and need for her.

Both banked because he feared losing her.

Surely just a tiny push…. No. No. No.

She didn’t want to just use him. She wanted what Liz had. What Maria and Isabel had.

She would not steal him. She wanted him to offer himself to her as she would offer herself to him.

“P,please, Ky,kyle. I w, want y, you.”

“Are you feeling okay. Dear Buddha, your burning up!”

What was Kyle waiting for? He wasn’t shy. She wouldn’t be his first, although he would be hers. First and last if she had anything to say about it.

Aeron. Memories of Aeron. She was suddenly full of rage and resentment. Why had her sister done it? Why had she stolen him…. Kyle was hers!

Although it burned her, scalded her mind she would. Not. Warp. Him.

But her powers were not the only tool in her arsenal. She kissed him. And against all instincts, in a battle as hard fought as her unwillingness to mind warp Kyle, she opened her mind. She left her soul open.

She was full of sudden anxieties. What if he didn’t like her. What if she didn’t compare to Aeron. Aeron had had so much more experience in this.

She’d dated but had saved herself for Max….

He held back for just a moment. And then she felt as he opened himself to her. And she saw him. All his hopes, aspirations and desires were open to her. And all his fears and disappointments.

Kyle was hers. He broke off the kiss and looked at her. She could tell he felt her need, and his own raging need met hers. But she felt him calm, felt him breathe in and calm his desire.

No. No he was not going to stop!

He smiled at her. “If we are going to do this, let’s do it right. God I hope dad doesn’t come home anytime soon.” He kissed her again lightly and picked her up. “Let’s make your first time a memory worth cherishing.”

And he did.

He needn’t have worried about his father coming home. All the repressed power, for once used with complete abandon formed a Do Not Disturb sign that anything with more mental activity than an insect would find itself compelled to obey. They wouldn’t know why, but they would obey.

-------
Even the killer who had been stalking her could not find a way in. But then again, Mithars always made the hardest prey.

He could wait.

Thanks to everyone following along this story.

xmag- Laurie's grandparents were the donors for both Isabel and Michael. She wasn't sure with Isabel, was just uncomfortable when they met in the Evans's law office. But when she saw Alex, saw that he had been tampered with.... And then Isabel used the Temporal Stasis Device they captured in Eidolon.... Well Laurie went running. She came across Maria and Michael in the park, which is near the edge of the stasis area Isabel had set up.

Michael and Maria may have made love in the park, but all the normal humans were gone at the time.

Tess has enemies that she doesn't even know about. She would not survive long alone.

AvalonRose- Poor Max and Liz. Always missing the party. They would have been as affected as the others but for one thing. The device that Brody is using to damp Max's powers. Max did not feel the pulse to activate his programming. And so did not affect Liz through their bond. Please note Kyle was not affected either, but then the humans were only affected because of their bonds to their respective partners. And don't worry about Max and Liz. Their moment is coming.

The thing about Laurie is that everything she said was the complete truth as she sees it. And she sees things others miss.

Liz unfortunately does not have any control over her foresight. Still it has let her save a few people already, and provide great guest service in the Crashdown.

RhondaAnn- You win a prize. That is exactly right. Laurie's grandmother was Isabel's human donor. Quite a shock to her actually. At least she had been able to run before seeing anything compromising with Isabel..She was not so lucky in regards to Maria and Michael.

Yes. An induced heat-wave at tjat. More on what I mean by that in later parts. Lets just say it was a domino effect that set it all off. It is all Tess's fault.

The bonds they share are not neccessarily useful. And their need to be together is still fueled by what started it all in the first place. And subconciously both Maria and Michael felt the TSD pulse. If someone had been around they would have sought a more private spot, but as the humans had all been warped out....

I don't think they have. Maria undoubtably noticed it. But Laurie was rambling there. Maria probably noticed it, but might not think anything of it. yet.

DeDe PR- Wow. That is a bit of reading. Thank you.

The heatwave won't. Its not a programmed thing, not like what happened to M/L in season one. That was internal. This was external, and Max's powers are currently being blocked by Brody. Poor Max did not feel a thing. Nor did Liz, as the heatwave would have roared down her connection to Max.

They will have their opportunity.

Why is Laurie not affected by a TSD? Good question. Some of it will be in this part. And yes, Laurie's grandmother was Isabel's donor. Alex needs help badly. Unfortunately, he's been programmed not to see it. As has Isabel, mostly through Alex.

Isabel's feelings for Michael are echoes of the essences of their human donors. It is amplified a little by their programming, but in truth the programming did not take well to the Roswell group for several reasons. That baby Isabel and Michael dreamed of in season one was Laurie's father. Their programming only included a forced sense of desire between them, or tried to. that is what Max felt towards Tess. An empty programmed desire for Tess. Not love. That can't be programmed.

But Laurie's grandparents did love each other. Quite a lot actually. And a tiny bit of the human donors essence was neccessary to bind the alien's soul to the human body. Isabel as Isabel considers Michael a brother, one that she loves quite a bit. But as a brother. Michael is attracted to Isabel, but she's not Maria, anymore than Michael is Khivar. Yes Khivar. Isabel/Vilandra's true soul mate is Khivar. But she has made a concious decision to change that.

Alex isn't second best, he's the new number one. And Michael/Rath has been looking for Maria for a while. Naturally he didn't notice her right there in front of him. Max was unbelievably lucky. If you believe in luck.

Okay, its late and I have to stop rambling. Thanks to everyone who left feedback.

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.

Shadows of the Past chapter 15

Michael-

Michael tried to rein in his irritation with the girl, Laurie. He was using her grandfather’s body? What the hell?

Flicker-

Michael shook his head. For a moment he’d been back on Antar. He didn’t have time for….

Flash-

Rath walked briskly towards the bar where he was going to meet up with Vilandra. He’d just gotten a promotion and was in the mood to celebrate. Coordinating their free time was difficult. Between his tours and her schooling….

He opened the door and looked inside and saw Vilandra, her delicate neck curled back laughing at some jest by another man at their table. The man was too handsome by half. And they were sitting much too close.

He knew their affair was over when he saw Vilandra kiss the other man. It was not a chaste kiss.

Not at all.

Well this just sucked.

Rath sighed. What now. He had known they had not been made to last, but he’d hoped for at least one more romp.

His eyes began to scan the bar. He was not going home alone tonight. Not after his promotion. It might take a little more work, but he was wearing his Legion casuals.

The uniform would definitely help, particularly once they saw he was an officer….

He was still scanning the bar when he felt a hand on his arm. He looked over and saw a smiling Vilandra.

“Hey, Rath. How is my favorite soldier?”

“Fine. Just fine.” He couldn’t quite keep the hurt and jealousy out of his voice. “Khivar?”

Vilandra looked him in the eyes, looking to see how he would take it.

Damn it he had known. Had known she’d been carrying a serious torch for the guy. But it still hurt.

“Congratulations. How long?”

“A few weeks. We were working late on a protest meeting, and well….”

“Finally wore him down. Congratulations. Now if you’ll excuse me….”

“Rath, come on, don’t be like that. You knew what we had wouldn’t last. What we had, well it was fun, but.”

“I get it, Lonnie I do. But why didn’t you tell me?”

“You wouldn’t have come. I wanted you to meet him. And I want us to still be friends, you know?”

Lets be friends. Right. He looked around and began to scan the bar again for likely conquests. He was not going home alone tonight. Not tonight.

Lonnie reached up and moved his head back to face her. “Rath, Rath, Rath, do you think I wouldn’t have brought someone for you? You two would be perfect together. She’s not quite as reactionary as you, but….”

Rath looked back over to the table he had seen Khivar and Vilandra kiss. Sitting there was red haired knockout. He could feel Vilandra’s eyes on him as he looked at the girl she had brought. “She’s Mithar.”

“And that’s a problem? Trust me you and Reyla should be able to hit it off quite easily.”

“No, just surprised.” Rath looked at Reyla, her low cut dress revealing a lot of the telltale reddish skin. He saw her lift her gaze and look at him appraisingly.

There was heat and passion in the gaze.

Maybe the night wouldn’t be a bust after all.
End Flash-

He felt Maria steady him, felt her concern.

“Michael? Are, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He looked away from her for a moment. Reyla. He could still feel the pain of her death. Even now.

He felt as Maria held him, felt the evanescence of her soul brush his. He’d never loved Reyla, not like he did his Pixie.

Maria would have liked her.

“Michael come back to me. Please?”

“I’m fine.” At least that is what he meant to say. What he actually said sounded alien even to his ears.

Flicker

The world seemed to shift.

Why was this happening to him now?

Flash-
Rath stared at the grave marker. Reyla Tehin Mitharos.

Why had she done it? Why had she leapt on the attacker?

But he knew. She had loved him.

Pain mixed with guilt as he remembered that while her body was cooling in his arms he had seen, had connected with… with Her. An alien exotic.

Had all those years with Reyla meant nothing to him?

Even now he could feel the touch, the presence of the alien girl. It felt particularly strong at the moment, almost like she was right there with him. Mourning with him.

For just a moment he thought he heard a name, an alien phrase spoken on the wind….

“Michael, please, come back to me….”End Flash-

Michael shook his head. Had he really seen…. Was that a memory or, or what?

He looked down at Maria, worry in her green eyes.

Laurie chose that time to restart her rambling, “That was amazing. I have never seen that happen before. Two auras merging. Fascinating.”

Michael shot her an annoyed look. It brushed off the young woman.

He felt Maria, still worried holding on to him tight. And not just with her arms, her soul enfolded his. Contentment.

Her holding him just felt so right, so very precious. How could he have ever thought he could send her away? How could he not have recognized her like Max had with Liz?

Had Max, had Zan ever felt what he had as Rath? Had he also felt Liz when he had been alive on Antar, or had he just gotten unbelievably lucky.

Rath had known Maria. How? Rath loved her.

Michael felt chills run through him. Did he as Michael love Maria? Or was it all Rath? Was he capable of loving someone as fine as Maria?

Or had Hank been right all along. Did Maria love him, or the part of him that was, had been Rath? He looked up and gazed into her beautiful eyes….

He felt as she poured into him. As she allayed his fears. As she trusted him.

He felt as his insecurities about his insecurities grew. Could he care for her, could he support her when she needed him? Could he rely on himself to be reliable?

Yes. For her. He would do anything for her.

In his mind he stopped running. And he felt content.

Serene.

Maria snuggled deeper into his chest, and he could feel her calm. Both of them calming. Serenity.

Who would ever have thought they could feel serene. Michael sure had not.

He let out a sigh and looked around. Laurie was still just staring at them, a look of wonder on her face.

It was very quiet. Maria had said they were in Centennial Park. But they should get moving if they wanted to avoid being arrested. He was surprised it hadn’t already happened.

Maria could be quite vocal during sex.

But it was completely silent. He quickly looked to the sky.

The blue of the morning sky was tinged with green.

Temporal distortion. The Skins were back again. And here he and Maria had lain, so very much unaware of their surroundings.

How could he have been so careless?

“Maria, we are in trouble.” He turned to look at Laurie. “You. Tell me what you know. And tell it too me now! What the hell is going on? Who do you work for.”

“Oh, God, he doesn’t know. That means there may be others. Still these ones haven’t harmed me yet. He did say that some could be trusted, as long as you didn’t get in their way.”

“What are you babbling about? Who are you! Do you work for Nicholas? Is this some kind of horrible joke?”

He felt as Maria pulled away, reluctance filling the connection. “Michael, I don’t think she means us any harm.”

“Maria, you know that these things push out any normal human. She’s here. So she’s not normal.”

“You are right.”

Michael kept his glare up at Laurie, “So talk!”

“Who do I work for? Good question. I help Serena Goodwin quite a bit in the lab. Fascinating stuff. But mostly I am here to learn about my grandfather’s past. And try to get back what is mine. That will be good. Now it is my turn, and I do hope you do not kill me for asking. What exactly are you? I mean, what planet are you from and what do you mean to do here. Grandpa wasn’t real specific.”

“Hmmp. Maria, Courtney showed you were one of the seal for the husks were right? Go check to see if our Miss Dupree is a Skin.”

“What is a Skin?”

“Do you think she could be?”

“Not a risk I am willing to take. Check her Maria.”

“Well then turn your back, Michael.”

“No.”

“Michael!” Maria glared at him. “The seal is on her back. Turn around.”

“Maria I am not risking your life over a bit of bourgeoisie sentimentality. You know better than anyone that I don’t want anyone but you. So get over it.”

Laurie’s look was flat, “Well some things don’t change. Is this going to be a cavity search or a little more thorough?” She started working on the buttons of her blouse…..

Maria sighed and shot him a glance. She was not amused.

Tough.

“Keep your shirt on Laurie. I just need to check your back. Yeah right there…. Well she’s not a skin, happy Spaceboy?”

“She could be….”

“Stuff it lover-boy.”

“She could be a plant…. I mean if she’s human.”

“Me and Liz didn’t get wiped out either. And I hadn’t, hadn’t….” Maria grew silent.

Sometimes being able to read her caused as much pain as it averted. He could she was thinking of that horrible Saturday.

Michael sighed and looked at the sky. By judging the variations of color variance he could calculate the center point. Which should lead them to the enemy, or their base anyway.

He froze. He knew where it had to be. He could tell just by looking.

Which was impossible. He couldn’t do calculations like that in his head.

Or rather Michael couldn’t. Michael shivered again. He remembered last week Isabel relating some of the things that had been leaking through. Skills and traits Vilandra had had. Things Isabel couldn’t know.

Rath was waking up.

He closed his eyes and looked at both Laurie and Maria. This was a problem he could obsess about at a later time.

He needed to save Maria first. And that meant getting out of her alive. “Come on, I think I know where to go.”

--------
Isabel-

Vilandra closed her eyes calming herself and allowing her thoughts to synchronize with the machine. There was a moment of disorientation.

And she was there. Inside the human body. She opened her eyes, noting how the lighting looked different. But it was very clear. There was no distortion at all.

She swung the body’s legs off the table and stood up. Heaven’s Light this human was tall. She towered over an amused Karis.

“So how does it feel?” Karis asked.

Her voice was much higher and somewhat restricted in pitch. But it could manage Antaran. Mostly. “Strange. I feel, well everything.” She brushed her hand against her host’s skin. So soft and sensitive.

She walked over to the mirror and looked deeply at the strange rounded pupils that served in its eyes. And no nictating membrane. A normal seeming brown filled the iris, even if the eyes were small.

Sharp though. As good and possibly better than Antaran.

The hair was a yellowish color and the skin… The skin tone was so very pale. Their heat exchange system was so very efficient, but such pale skin would surely burn.

Such a strange body.

Isabel flashed awake. Her head swam and for a moment she was confused.

Who was she?

Was Isabel just a dream? Was she still on Antar getting ready for the mission?

That had been her body. Her body!

No. She could feel the body pressed against her, snoring slightly. She and Alex were still entangled, her legs still firmly wrapped around him. She held him tight, trying to drink in his humanness.

Why couldn’t she be normal? Why couldn’t she be human?

She shivered as thoughts, alien thoughts flashed through her head. There and gone.

“Are you trying to squeeze me to death, Iz? Mind you I’d die happy, but…”

“Oh, Alex, sorry.” There was an awkward moment as they disentangled. Both of them were stiff from laying in the doorway.

Good thing all the humans had been zapped. Except that Isabel vaguely remembered her mother’s new client running off screaming.

Must have been imaging things.

Isabel quietly healed the scratches she’d given Alex. Part of her wanted to leave him marked, proof that he was hers.

But… the better part of valor dictated that she heal them. Alex’s mom already knew they were sleeping together. No need to add fuel to that fire.

Gloria Whitman was a scary woman. She’d taken Isabel out to the shooting range several times, was even training Isabel to shoot. They were becoming friends.

But Isabel knew, just knew if she ever seriously hurt Alex….. It wasn’t Mr. Whitman she’d have to fear.

Alex smiled at her and moved to give her a shoulder massage.

She sighed as she felt his hands on her bare skin. He had been so nervous those first few times, something that had amazed her when she’d gotten the flashes. But now…

She turned to give him a quick kiss. “Later Alex. Really I promise there will be a later. But its not safe to keep this up for too long.” She kissed him again, this time lingering just a little longer.

They played around for a little while longer, things getting quite heated.

Well a little longer wouldn’t hurt….

Flash-
Vilandra stared at her mother in annoyance. “What do you mean they’re flawed? We used the best samples, the best specimens. Sure we had to do a little adjusting, but the melding was a success. I did not give up a part of my soul for nothing!”

And Vilandra knew. She could feel the little piece of her still residing in the tiny seed.

It had been deemed safer if the hosts were grown on site, as the dangers of space travel were well known.

All of the crew and even most of the mission specialists had been converted to Chalsei. The implanted ability to shift their form gave them an advantage for the long dangerous journey. Each had been given imprints of the human form, to aid in disguise on Earth.

“It’s the programming. We can’t be sure it will work. There is some sign of possible rejection….”

“So?”

“The first group should be scrapped. You added too much of the hosts human essence. Surely you can see how such primitive essence might war with their Antaran programming?”

“Your saying they are too human?”

“Yes. They are defective. We must start again. Their hosts’ memories and essence must not interfere with our programming. Else what would be the point. We need them able and willing to return. Willing to work with us to overthrow the Council.” She paused a moment. “Are you sure you will not reconsider? What you plan is foolish. What good is throwing your life away going to do? “

Vilandra sighed. Her mother never listened. Was still the Queen Consort in her own mind. Still able to persuade those with power to do her will. Only Zan had been immune.

And Zan was dead. Her brother was dead. The hollow feeling was back.

She too was dead. She simply hadn’t lain down yet. She had maybe a week. She’d be dead or worse long before that.

This was actually her mother’s project. But Vilandra was Queen. It was her call. “I will see to it, mother. Just have the next batch ready before I will consider disposing this group.”

“Thank you.” Her mother gave her a quick kiss and left.

Vilandra looked at the pods that contained the essences of herself, her brother, Rath, and Ava. Just tiny seeds wrapped in a protective cocoon. Could she kill them? Deny them another chance.

She loved them. Even as they were, she could feel the essence that had been grafted onto the human seed. They would be true hybrids.

No. No she could not do it.

Maybe this would be better. To have a second set. One that an even smaller group would know of. Maybe they could live out normal lives. Human lives, different from what they would have here, but still…..

Vilandra often wondered what it would have been like. To have a normal life. To have a normal family.

To actually know her father.

She closed her eyes for a moment. And summoned Dorian.

There was more. But the pleasure, the waves of ecstasy were too much for her to hold the flash.

------
Maria-

Maria was starting to get worried about Michael. From time to time he would shake his head.

Flashes. He was getting flashes.

And not from her.

From Rath. It had to be Rath.

Oh she was getting flashes too. But besides some good blackmail material she wasn’t getting anything useful. If they had been alone she would have pestered Michael until he told her what he was seeing.

But there was Laurie. She seemed quiet and calm now. But Maria could feel Laurie’s gaze on her.

“So you know what Michael is?”

“He’s an alien. Maybe a hybrid. Not sure. But you. You have me stumped.”

“How can you tell?”

“I see auras. And not just the surface ones. That green and blue shell might fool some, but not me. Nope, Crimson and gold. Not human. Not even close.”

Strange. Sometimes she thought she caught flashes of color off of people. Mostly blue and green.

Laurie looked at her again. “But you, well grandpa told me to watch for crimson and gold, that those were their colors. That and um, black and silver, with slivers of gold. Those are their servants. They are really dangerous. The crimson and gold guys just experimented on him. Grandma wouldn’t talk about it, but grandpa said she’d been abducted too, long before they had met. Ada Jane. I wish we had met. Maybe it would have made it easier.”

“Easier how?”

“Well they used her body too. I ran into her before I ran here. Before I realized there was no point in running. You guys were almost at the border. You seem to be taking this calmly. I presume it happens often?”

“No. But our enemies, well they have a device that can stop time. And it sort of pushes out the normal humans. Which leads me to ask you, why are you here?”

“I’m not normal.”

“You’re not normal? That’s it?”

“Pretty much. They did something to grandpa and grandma. It left something, I don’t know, some sort of strangeness in us. Bad blood. That’s what Uncle Bobby calls it. I can see things others can’t. They tried to say I was crazy, but I’m not. I am not.”

“So why are you here?”

“They are chasing me. The voices. I can stop them. For now. But if they get a hold of me, if they find me….” Laurie shuddered.

“And you are not afraid of us?”

“I was. And maybe I should be. But I’m not. You aren’t with them. I’m not sure how I know, but I do know.”

Maria thought of Ana. Thought of her mother trying to hurt her. Mrs. Evans attempted suicide and Jeff Parker’s attack on Liz. Even poor Madame Vivien. A sudden surge of intense anger flooded through her.

How dare they? How dare they meddle with their lives, unwilling to even face them or try to discuss a peaceful solution. Instead they stole innocent peoples free will and used them as weapons.

There was a background hum and Maria was all but coated in green lightning.

Michael was still off on some flash. And Laurie had stopped and just looked at her.

Maria stopped and looked back at her. “Laurie, I can’t promise for everyone. But I mean you no harm. And its likely, no probable that your enemies are our enemies too. I will not let them take you.”

Laurie softly smiled. “Thank you, but you don’t….”

“I won’t have it. I won’t let them take you. Or anyone if I can. I have my reasons. Maybe someday I will tell you, but for now know that I will aid you as I can.

“And a Deluca never breaks her word.”

Thanks as always to everyone following along.

chanks_girl- Thanks. If you had another mind surface, one that you believed was a past version of yourself, wouldn't you wonder how much of what you thought and believed was actually from you and not from the past version? Particularly as the lines became blurred?

And you might get that scene with Mrs. Whitman. Its just she's always shown as the quiet homemaker type, when she is shown at all. I figured maybe something a little different was in order....

RhondaAnn- Aren't memories great? Seriously someone needs to help Alex, yes help Alex, or this is just going to get worse. Using the TSD only makes them more suseptable to the flashes. And yes, it should help. Eventually.

Reyla and Rath were in an informal on and off relationship for many years. Rath was in his fifties when he died. (For the record, Vilandra was in her forties,Zan late twenties, and Ava was the baby in her early twenties when she died.) Michael is going through what Isabel went through in Eidolon when Vilandra began to wake up.

Michael needs a lot of work to build up his self esteem. Saying he has issues is an understatement. At this point he's not thinking of running now, he's just not sure he is up to the challenge. He is having insecurities about his insecurities. The fact that he is worrying about his sanity is not helping. He's tougher than he thinks he is.

Yes, but then Michael acted as her protecter publically, while Maria did the work. Michael always did try to claim the credit.

Nibbles2- Thanks

AvalonRose- Maria is protective over Laurie because she believes the enemy who has been manipulating everyone around the Podsquad is out to get her too. And she's not far wrong. As to Michael, well you must understand that if Maria has little faith in others, Michael has little faith in himself. Both of them need each other in a great deal because they really cover each others weaknesses quite well. So yes, he needs to trust in his feelings. But first he has to truly trust himself. And that is a work in progress.

In my backstory, Vilandra survived the initial attack on the Royal Four. She became queen, the Seal prominent on her cheek. She lasted five days. She knew she would fall so she took precautions. How she knew and why she took the precautions will be the subject of further flashes in Shadows. Interestingly she was not in the line of succession, as she was not the King's born daughter. She was Zan's half-sister through her mother. She was a Tarenon only by adoption.

DeDe PR- Thanks. Reyla is not Maria. None of the humans were involved on Antar. Because of a broken TSD, Michael almost got trapped in his past self and was saved by Maria bringing him out of it. But it affected the original Rath as well. Lonnie and Rath are alive and well.... Okay, they are alive. They won't play a big part in Shadows, but will in Redemption.

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended

Shadows of the Past chapter 16a

Michael-

Michael walked down the street, both fully aware of all that was going on and lost in his memories.

Rath’s memories.

Flash-
Rath stared at the reddish skinned woman who lay like a goddess in his bed, her flame colored hair splayed around her nude form.

“When they said an emissary would be waiting for me in Nikaros, I did not expected you.. And even if I had, I certainly would not have expected… this.”

Reyla smiled and stretched dramatically, knowing full well the effect on him. “My uncle sent me. I am to be your liaison.”

“Reyla! This is not a game! This is a war, a war being fought against your people. Do you know what they will say about you?”

“I don’t care. This is a stupid war, and we are in the wrong.”

“Did Vilandra….”

“Yes, we talked. I tried to calm her down. But, I, I doubt she paid any attention to me. She hates us. Hates all Mithar. She said, no, I don’t want to talk about it. No, it has been nearly a year. A year Rath. Too long. So get in here, we have much to… discuss.”

Rath sighed Vilandra had made her choice. Not for the first time he was glad he was here in Mithar rather than trying to chase her down in the Northern Taran provinces.

Where had the bright-eyed woman determined to free the Damned in the Hall of Mirrors?

Rath walked over and poured a glass of brandy. He looked over at Reyla, lifting another glass.

She gathered a sheet from the bed and wrapped it around her, sealing it with her abilities. She was strong for a Mithar, but then she had been in the Archadian. She walked over and took a glass from him, downing it in a single gulp. “So what is your plan?” Her gaze was serious, all business now.

“Are you really my liaison with House Mitharos?”

“Yes. We’ve already contacted the Secretariat. I have friends there. The sooner this war is over the better for all of us.”

“They know about us?” Rath took a sip of the potent liquor. It left a warm glow behind the initial harshness.

“Yes. Our relationship provides a good cover. Rath, the Council is foolish if they think they can win. Not now. So many of our best troops died when Drimordjian was destroyed. Two years isn’t nearly long enough. My uncle was expecting the demands, actually he expected them long before this. Harsh demands, but then considering….”

“How long have you worked for your uncle?”

“Long enough. Don’t worry, I am loyal to the Crown. And there’s enough distance between my branch of the family and the main one, trust me we ran this through the Secretariat.”

“They will be watching us.”

Reyla filled her glass again, this time sipping slowly. A slight smile formed as she placed one hand on his chest. The other loosened her power wrought ties holding the sheet to her body. “So lets give them something to watch….”End Flash-

Reyla hadn’t seen the end of the war. One of her own people had killed her. Had killed her when she had tried to protect him.

She had been the closest to a true love Rath had ever had. Until Maria.

Only he hadn’t known who she was. Just a phantom dream girl. One he’d had to hide from his compatriots. Only Vilandra had known.

Michael, who he was might have doubts, might worry about his capability. Rath didn’t. He loved Maria. He would protect her. Against anyone anytime.

She was precious to him.

Rath gazed on this new self, this second awkward adolescence. Afraid of his own desires and ambitions. Afraid of himself and abandonment.

The girl suffered some of the same flaws. But together, together they would heal each other and prosper.

And if they needed him he would be here.

He heard Maria’s declaration to Laurie. He looked over at the other girl. Kin of a sort if she was right.

He had always wanted a family. Even on Antar, he’d never had much of one.

Rath had much to think on. So he went to sleep, to hide again in the dusty corners of Michael’s mind….

------
Isabel-

Isabel was never more thankful that her parent’s office had a full bathroom. Her father rarely worked late enough for it to matter, but it had happened. It let him go directly from the office to court or wherever he needed to go without having to rush home first.

There were even a few spare suits in a little closet nearby.

And the couch was certainly comfortable. She blushed slightly at the memory of her and Alex on that couch…..

She could hear the water running as Alex cleaned up. He’d let her go first of course. Had even offered to share….. She’d been tempted, but really they needed to clean up and end this.

Isabel knew that there were limits to the amount of time that should be looped. And so she was walking around the office removing signs of their play.

Alex had offered to help. But he couldn’t do what she could, literally removing all signs of their presence. Her hands smoothed the fabric of the couch, the stains from the sweat and other fluids disappearing under her glowing palm.

She had cleaned both of their clothes the same way.

Flash-
Vilandra stared at Khivar. It had been so long. The dark hair had streaks of grey in it now, and his eyes looked so tired.

Ten years. Ten long years.

She wanted him still. The hunger, the desire was still there. And more. Her soul ached for his.

And in his eyes he could see the same.

But it was too late. Much too late. She would marry Rath in five days. “So. You wanted to speak with me?”

“Thank you for inviting me. I’ve just finished talking with your brother. And my organization will be laying down arms. His offers, well, they were quite generous.”

It would buy them time. Khivar lead the most organized and effective group of rebels. If Zan had given him what they had discussed, well it was generous. But Khivar would have to pacify the region they were ceding him. And he would be tied to the Crown. He might still rebel, might use his position later to great effect….

But in the interim, they would be able to crush the others. And they would be watching him. He had to know that.

They were so close, so very close to having peace. The damn aristocracy and the Cathians could be finally be put into their place.

“Its good to see you. I’m glad you listened to Zan.”

Khivar shook his head, “He’s not your father. If I had known that he would be the one to assume the throne. If I had known.” He sighed deeply in pained despair. “Things would have been different. I would have, we would have…”

“But you didn’t and we didn’t. It’s too late Khivar. Our chance has passed. You simply made the wrong choice.”

He looked at her, “Will you be happy?”

How could he not know? How could he not know that he was still the one for her? So she did something foolish. Something she desperately wanted to do.

She kissed him.

And it was still there. The fire. The passion. The desire. She wanted, no she needed him.

Who dissolved whose clothes was pointless, for it was but mere moments before the two of them were skin on skin. And she made love to Khivar.

It was only later, as she lay in his arms that she wondered what she had done. Why? How could she have done this, fell for him yet again. She felt him waken.

He kissed her, “I told you Lonnie, no matter what happens, no matter how much you run. You will always be mine. Always.”

Vilandra stiffened and began to extricate herself. “You are wrong Khivar. I will never be yours again. Not in this life or another.” Her mind was a mix of guilt and determination.

“I love you Lonnie. I always will. And I wish you and Rath the best. I do. But that will never change it. It will never change what should have been. What we have, it will never fade. No matter how hard you try to run for it. You love me. You always have. You always will.”

Shame and rage filled her as she stared down at the man who was her soul mate. She was afraid he was right. That they were tied together by bonds she could not break. And he meant every word he had said. She had seen them in the flashes she had gotten. Dreams of her yes, but also placid plans for settling down. Of settling for something less than her, because he knew she would never forgive him for all that he had done.

He would compromise as he knew that she had done. Accept the pain of separation, a pain felt keenly every single day. And pray that someday, someday either in this life or the next things would change. That they would have another chance.

Part of her wanted the same thing desperately. But what she’d done under his influence, what she had let him persuade her into doing…. No. It would be better for them to never be.

“One day Khivar, I will find another. Another who loves me as much as you do.”

“But will you be able to let him in, my dear?”End Flash-

“Yes. Yes I will.“ She shook her head, something had disrupted the rest…..

She heard a noise coming from outside.

Had one of her enemies tracked her here? If so she was ready. She just wished she had a gauntlet or some decent tools….

Isabel shook her head. That last thought had been… different. She shivered. Vilandra.

She still went to see what was going on. Her mother’s new client was leading several others into the office.

“This is where I saw her last. She had this crystal. And when it flashed all the people where gone. Except for this tall kid, kind of cute in a dorky way. He seemed, well possessed.”

Maria’s voice chimed up, “What do you think, Michael? Alex?”

Isabel heard Michael’s distinctive grunt agreeing with his girlfriend. Had she made the perimeter too large? How had Laurie ended up here?

Isabel walked around the corner. “What are you all doing here?”

“Good question. Why are we here, Iz?” Michael said shortly.

“What are you talking about, I asked you first!”

Alex naturally came out of the office right then, “Isabel where did you leave my clo….” He froze for a moment, wearing only a towel, before ducking around the corner again. “Maria! What are you doing here!”

Laurie was just looking between the teens, a small smile on her face.

“Alex your clothes are on mom’s desk. I cleaned them.”

“Uh, thanks.”

Michael raised an eyebrow at Isabel, finger pointing towards where Alex was dressing.

Isabel snorted and pointed at Maria.

Maria just shook her head slowly. Then her face brightened. “Does this mean you have a shower here? Can I use it! And Michael, I can speak the honest truth, but if you can you should really take one too. Or Liz will totally know what you were doing.”

“Like she couldn’t guess.”

“Whatever. So Isabel, a shower?”

“Sure, but you guys will have to be quick. We are running out of time. It isn’t safe to run this thing too long.” Isabel raised the captured TSD.

Maria’s face was a smirk. “So you’ve using that for a little extra time with lover boy?”

Isabel couldn’t stop the blush. She’d just needed him so bad at that moment. And he’d felt the same.

Almost like they’d been driven, compelled to seek each other out.

From the other room Alex came out, now fully dressed. He sheepishly gave Isabel a kiss and glared at Michael and Maria. Laurie he looked quizzically at.

Maria said, “She’s with us. Now a shower? Please?”

Isabel showed her where the shower was and gave her a towel.

Maria grabbed her arm, “Next time maybe you can share. Anyway, we need to talk. Seriously.”

“Talk away.”

“Were you, like busy, as soon as you activated that thing.” There was a slight blush on Maria’s cheeks. “Michael and I, well, all of a sudden we just.”

“I get the picture, no need to scar my mind more. Please, Maria!” She was thoughtful for moment. “Yes. But, I don’t know. I felt drawn to him even before. And I’m not talking normal. But then that happened between Michael and me too.”

“If it was anything like what I felt with Michael, I am surprised you didn’t cave. Is this some sort of alien thing, like last year with Max and Liz. Speaking of which, do you think that they….”

Isabel slapped her hands over her ears, “Please Maria, its bad enough to think about you and Michael, but my brother. Just please.”

“But we were talking about….”

“Maria, not right now. Take your shower. I’ll send Michael in when you are done. And Maria, please hurry. You don’t want to be mid shower when it fails.”

“Oh.” Maria began to remove her clothes. Isabel waited a few moments.

“Uh, Isabel is there something else you need?”

“Your clothes. I’ll clean them for you. Kind of hard to explain… Grass stains? Where exactly were you and Michael anyway.”

Maria removed more of her clothing and muttered something under her breath.

“Excuse me?”

“Centennial Park, okay? Me and Michael had hot steamy sex in Centennial Park!”

“But it’s Saturday. There must be a million people there, even with the cold.”

Maria just glared at her, holding her work uniform out for Isabel to clean.

“I’m hosting a Christmas Pageant there. Ugh. Why Maria, why there?”

“I just had to. I had to….”

“Oh, God. We need to check on my brother. And Tess. Why couldn’t I just be a normal girl, with normal problems! All I want to do is enjoy a nice life and have a Merry Christmas! Is that too much to ask!”

“Apparently.”

There was an awkward pause.

“Sorry I yelled, its just….”

“Yeah, I totally get it. Trust me.”

Isabel left her to her shower and absently cleaned out the stains. All she could do is hope that what ever had effected them had not spread outside the dome she had formed with the TSD.

It could magnify some psionic effects.

She shivered again. For she knew that it could. She’d written a thesis on it once.

Written it on Antar.

Those had been becoming more frequent. Why?

They needed that book translated. There had to be a way she could help Alex translate it. Somehow.

------
Max-

Max and Brody left the Museum. While Brody was locking up, Max looked across at the Crashdown. He closed his eyes and felt for Liz. He sighed as he felt her, felt her presence sooth his.

He needed it. He knew he should talk to the others, should clear what he was about to do. For just a moment he thought he saw a flicker of green coming from Centennial Park, but then it was gone.

Max walked over to Brody’s car and got into the passenger’s seat.

Brody was quiet.

“So will they be waiting for us? Does your wife know?”

“I told her it was possible. I told her that I suspected. And, and there is something she’s not telling me. Something about Carlos. But Max you have to do this. You have to save her. She’s my life.”

Max stared at Brody. He had wanted to be able to save someone. He had wanted to even the balance, to use his powers for the good.

Surely saving Sydney was worth the risk.

They drove off to Alicia’s hotel.

-----
SAC Byrnes, Special Unit

Special Agent Byrnes was sitting next to a somewhat nervous Topolsky. Getting her release from the institution she had been placed in had been harder than he had expected.

First she’d been listed as dead. Her boyfriend had already long since moved on. Was engaged to be married. Most of the rest of her family was dead.

Her old life was gone.

Worse, she’d been experimented on.

Oh, not by the federal institution she’d been placed in. They were only to monitor her and limit her contact. The guys back at the lab weren’t sure what had been done to her. But releasing her into the general public was not wise. They simply did not know what she was capable of.

Most of the records that had involved her had been destroyed when the Unit was disbanded. But scuttlebutt from the few agents he’d questioned led him to believe she was not the only one.

Pierce had left one hell of a mess behind him.

That did not even include a list of potential alien artifacts that had also gone missing. And after talking with West and his chief of the Special Projects Group, he definitely believed in aliens now. They had been here. Might be here now. They simply did not know.

They needed to know. The whole shoot first ask questions later approach the Unit had had was far from optimal… But at least someone had been looking.

And after finding Copper Summit, well it was time someone kept up the vigil.

His phone rang. “SAC Byrnes.”

“Sir, we have another confirmed anomaly in Roswell. General West is tracking it now.”

“Very good. Keep me posted.”

Something was happening in Roswell. And he was going to find out.

------
Alicia Ibanez-

Alicia stared after the plane that was taking her daughter away.

Letting her daughter out of her sight had been the hardest thing she’d ever had to do. But Sydney needed help immediately.

Hopefully the program in Phoenix lived up to its hype.

In her haste she’d left her cell phone back at the hotel. No time to return for it now. She asked for directions to the nearest pay phone.

“Grandpa, I need help. Sydney is sick, and, and she had to be evacuated out. ---- No, no she’s not going back to New York. Remember that program I was talking about in Phoenix? ---- I need to get there fast.---- Albuquerque? I am on my way.”

She hung up the phone and called the nearest taxi.

It wasn’t until they were half way to Albuquerque (and the private jet that awaited her there) that she remembered she should have called Brody as well…..

Thanks to everyone following this story.

DeDe PR- Sydney is off to Phoenix, just like in the show. And patience with Max and Liz, they will have their day.

chanks_girl- Thanks. That part should be right after Christmas hits this story. So, maybe four or so parts.

RhondaAnn- Rath went back to sleep yes, but not as deep as he had been. Watchful and waiting.

Alicia's father is John Ibanez. He had a small part in Eidolon, when Brody visited Alicia in New York. He is the informal head of the Far Sight organization. This is a civilian organization with tight ties to various government groups dealing with possible alien involvement. He also is the man Liz had a flash of in In Detiny's Shadow. He was the sergeant who had spent WW2 patching up planes, and was cleared to work with the nuclear ordinance of the 509th bomber group. He was a natural person to tap for first practical insights into the crashed vessel at Roswell. His actions would later gain him a commision and also many useful contacts he would parlay into a very successful business career.

Natalie36- Thanks

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.

Shadows of the Past chapter 17

Max-

Max hung back slightly as Brody led the way. The enormity of what he had agreed to do was finally starting to catch up to him.

This could lead to them being discovered. Could end up with one of them in the White Room being experimented on. Max closed his eyes in pained memory.

But he hade promised. The idea of a child dying like that, when he could possibly help….

Plus, Brody already knew too much. How long he had suspected, how long had he been watching them?

Did it matter?

Brody stopped at a door and knocked.

There was no answer.

One of the doors further down opened. A Hispanic man that seemed somehow familiar walked out, locking his door. He saw them and said, “Are you here for that nice woman and her child?”

“Yes, have you seen them?” Brody asked eagerly.

The man sighed and nodded. “It’s the saddest thing. The girl’s sick, cancer I think. They left for the hospital a couple hours ago. It’s such a shame, it being Christmas and all. Are you relatives?”

Brody tightly said, “I’m her father. Come on Max. We have to find her.” He waved thanks to the helpful man and moved quickly back to his car.

Max said quietly, “Thank you. That was very kind of you.” Max turned to go. He stopped and remembered to say, “Merry Christmas.”

“If there is anything I can do to help….”

Max just smiled. There were times when he was reminded that not all humans were like Pierce.

He followed Brody.

-------
Dorian-

Dorian stared after Max and Brody.

Fascinating. Max was likely going to heal that little girl. Dorian nodded. It was only right, Alicia was a Companion after all.

Not Max’s of course. At some point Carlos must have chosen her.

It was almost funny. No Tarenon had chosen a Companion in their entire reign, and yet their young descendants had already chosen four. Possibly more. Human Companions to boot.

How many people had Carlos healed? How many had he forged such a deep connection….

Did either of them even realize what they had done?

He shook his head at the folly of youth. His intervening directly had carried risks. But that little girl had been so sick….

-------
Pam Troy-

Pam hated hospitals. Hated them with a passion.

She’d lost too many people here. And now Wes, one of her cousins was sick. Dying. At age seven. Too damn young.

There was a sickness in her family. A genetic weakness to a certain series of virulent cancers. The doctors had not found the exact sequence, but one thing was known. Of the seven boys in her generation of her extended family, only three yet lived. Three plus Wes, who if the prognosis was correct had at most six months.

None of the females in her family were effected.

Her aunt had managed to get Wes into an experimental treatment, one that was promising…. But the same had been done for her brother five years ago.

James had died.

So Pam sat here, with her dying cousin and tried to comfort him. Oh the rest of her family would visit, too. They would show up with gifts and prayers for his good health.

But Wes was far from the first of the extended Troy family to go through this. And so to protect themselves, to snatch the tiniest bit of enjoyment of the season, they would avoid him.

Pam couldn’t do that. Couldn’t just leave him with a couple balloons and some flowers. She spent so little time in Phoenix, so the time she was here, she would let him know he was loved.

So she watched him sleep. And visited with the other children in the ward. She knew their parents, knew their hopes and dreams. She had even managed to befriend quite a few of the staff.

Pam knew how to listen, how to get people to open up. And she had a memory to match. It was had made her such a formidable gossip at school.

Her most cherished memory was talking with Topolsky. Pam had known there was more to her than her cover….. Not that it would have paid to let Topolsky know that she knew….

Topolsky had given her a card and told her to call her after she graduated. That they should talk.

It had saddened Pam when she had read that she had died.

She still valued the card.

Pam was startled as a voice broke her reverie.

“Such a sweet child to be watching over these poor sick children. What is your name, my dear?”

Pam looked at the woman. She was small, a little taller than five feet. She had a slight smug look on her face, a sense of superiority, that Pam knew she was trying to hide.

Pam’s heartbeat began to speed up. She was in danger. She wasn’t sure how, but this woman was dangerous. Pam schooled her features to project a smile, hoping it did not look forced. “My name is Pam Troy. A pleasure to meet you. Are you one of the relatives of the other children?”

The woman smile broadened, looking almost predatory. She reached out a hand to touch Pam’s cheek. Her eyes seemed to bore into Pam’s soul. “My name is Ana, and I think we should talk. Yes. You show potential.”

“I, I c,can’t. I need to be with, with Wes. He’s sick….” She wanted to run. To scream, to do something.

She felt like she was rooted to the spot.

“Yes, well as you are there is little you can do for him now is there. But you humans show such promise. Who knows, maybe someday you could help him. Let’s go now dear.”

Pam felt as she stood up, trapped in her own body. Inside as her mind shrieked with the need to escape, she followed Ana.

And then nothing. She remembered nothing.

-------
Liz-

Liz was still thinking on how to hide her foreknowledge when Michael and Maria came crashing through the door. Both Maria and Michael seemed close. Very close with Maria’s hand gripping Michael’s.

Not something you would usually see in public, not with Michael.

Behind them came another woman. Young and blonde, seeming somewhat familiar to her.

She stopped when she saw Liz, muttered something under her breath and came in. For some reason she looked to Maria to protect her.

Strange.

“Hey guys. You’re back early. Michael you aren‘t due back for another half-hour. Do you want me to get you some lunch?”

Michael looked at Maria and the other girl and when he looked back at Liz he nodded.

Maria hugged Liz quickly.

Liz brushed aside a couple of awkward flashes from her friend. Her foresight wasn’t the only power she needed to get under better control. She was happy for her friend, but there were just some things she didn’t need to know or feel.

She determinedly did not look at Michael.

Instead she introduced herself, “Hi, I’m Liz. Welcome to the Crashdown Café. Is there anything I can get for you?”

“Oh, right. Liz this is Laurie. Um, it’s a little complicated, but she’s related to Michael.”

Laurie smile was lopsided as she grasped Liz’s hand, “Nice to see you again. Nice to know you aren’t a ghost.”

Flash-
Laurie was sick of all of this. She was going home.

She reached in and felt along the lock for exactly the right spots to move, and placed her jury rigged lock pick to open the door.

She needed to make a couple of unsupervised phone calls.

Something had changed in the air. Had they found her?

She looked around and saw a girl standing there confused. Who ever or whatever it was, it meant her no harm. She could tell. So she waved…..
End Flash-

“Liz?”

“Maria can I talk with you. Alone?”

Maria nodded.

Liz looked at Michael, a tiny blush forming despite her attempts to control her demeanor. Those flashes were a little too vivid sometimes. “I’ll bring the usual? Laurie?”

Laurie looked around, clearly amused by the surroundings. “Cheeseburger and fries, if you sell them here. Oh, and a Coke.”

Liz quickly wrote down the order and placed it with Jose. She then bustled over to talk with Maria.

Maria looked at her strangely, “What is wrong Liz?”

“How much do you know about this girl?”

“Not a lot. But I think our enemies are out to get her. And I promised to protect her if I can. And you didn’t answer my question. What is wrong?”

“Nothing. At least nothing that matters.”

“A flash or something? Or did you see something, some future thing you aren’t willing to share. Is something bad going to happen? Is…”

“Calm down Maria. Nothing like that.”

“So, uh, Liz…. Did you, uh, feel any need to be with Max, say about a half hour or so?”

“A need to be with Max? No more than usual.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “That is strange. Max isn’t at the UFO Museum anymore. He was supposed to be there until after lunch. We were going to go out for a while.”

“Well, I guess I will need to speak with him later. So no sudden, uh, surges in desire?”

“Maria, what are you talking about?”

“Isabel did say that rock thingy did strengthen the effect. But you and Max, the love you share is undeniable. I was pretty sure you’d be affected too.”

“Affected by what?”

Maria looked carefully around them, “Do you remember the rock thingy we took from the Skins last month?”

“The TSD? Sure. What has happened? I know you and Michael had sex. But, you wouldn’t be issuing a million questions if it were just that.”

“Isabel has been using the TSD to get extra time with Alex.”

“What? I thought we agreed it was too dangerous to use casually….”

Maria grinned. “Well for whatever reason she used it. Me and Michael were caught at the edge. And, Liz, I remember you describing how you felt last year, you know, when you and Max found the Orb?”

“Okay?” Liz was a little confused. She could still remember that pulsing compulsion to be with Max. But what did that have to do with Maria?

“It happened to us. And Alex and Isabel. Poor Laurie was caught in the effect too.”

“Maria, the TSD makes normal people disappear.”

“She’s not normal. There is something about her, Liz…. I don’t know, maybe it has to do with whatever they did to her grandparents. I don’t know. But I thought you could break out the old microscope and….”

“Oh. Um, let me call Dorian. And Isabel. He said he wanted to do some tests too. Might as well get it all done with.”

Maria hugged her again. Again the flashes came, only this time Liz was ready for them. She let them slide past her, leaving only fleeting impressions on her mind. She hugged her friend back.

“I need to get back to work. We’ll do this after work. Okay. And no sneaking Michael away, I’ll need him during lunch.”

“Do you need me to help?”

It would be busy. “Let me ask dad, I think he’ll say yes. Just remember that you offered.”

“Just until the main rush is over.” Maria walked over to the booth Michael and Laurie were sitting at.

Liz watched her go. Things were beginning to get complex again, and she could feel forces moving into position beyond her sight.

This time they would be ready.

------
Isabel-

Isabel watched as Alex drove carefully down the street yet again. They kept missing the Sheriff’s house. Which was simply crazy, they had all been there from time to time.

Isabel was starting to get annoyed. There were things she needed to be doing.

Sure she was happy to be spending time with Alex. But she could just as easily be spending them with Alex doing one of her little projects.

The Pageant needed work in particular. Sure the other organizers were fairly competent, but they lacked her zeal for perfection. This was going to be the best year ever!

She softly looked over at Alex.

It already was in so many ways. Why had she kept him out of her life for as long as she had? To have someone she could share her every thought and dream….

There had been a time when that confidant had been Max. but the last few years had strained their relationship. She still trusted her brother, still confided in him. But not like she could with Alex.

Alex was precious to her.

It was then, that she felt it. A mental force keeping them from finding the Valenti household. The harder she tried to fix on it, the harder it was to hold. “Alex, stop the car.”

He looked over at her quizzically, but did as she asked. As soon as he put the car in park, he placed one hand on hers in support.

She smiled at him, his trust in her warming her heart.

She concentrated on the odd sensation…. Actually there were two, one much stronger than the other. The stronger of the two felt familiar, very familiar…..

Tess. Tess was using the Eidolon to hide the Valenti house away. But why?

She felt along the thin bond that connected her to her friend. She closed her eyes to get a better feel….

And she felt echoes of passion. A giggling voice. Tess’s. A deeper sardonic voice answering her. Kyle.

Isabel blushed quietly and left the weak connection. Tess had made her choice it seemed. And she had chosen Kyle. She opened her eyes and turned to see Alex. His eyes so clear and loving. She kissed him briefly and said, “Let’s go.”

“Go where? What did you see?”

“Tess and Kyle are together. I doubt they want us to drop in at the moment.”

And by together you mean…” He waggled his eyebrows in question.

Isabel laughed, “Exactly. Come on. Um, do you mind if we go to the park and check up on how the preparations for the Pageant is going?”

“Only if we stop for lunch first.”

“Deal.”

As they were driving away she saw another man, saluting her as they drove past. He too, felt familiar. And she knew she was no threat to herself or Alex.

Vilandra had known him. He was a friend.

She shook her head. There wasn’t anybody there. Maybe she needed lunch more than she thought..

They drove off.

------
Alicia-

The first thing Alicia did when getting to Albuquerque, after making sure that her daughter’s flight had gone smoothly was to call Brody.

He had been frantic, desperate to find out what had been going on.

Whatever you might say about his sanity, he did love his daughter. And he would be joining her in Phoenix. There had been more, a subtext she hadn’t quite understood.

Something about Max wanting to help.

She sighed and sat back and remembered. Remembered when her life had started to become complicated. Remembered what she had trained herself to forget.

But now, what was the point in forgetting. Carlos was dead. Her word to him and Lucia meant little now. No need to save them.

And so she remembered, remembered why she had forgotten….

Alicia felt like she was on fire, like her blood was lava floating through her body. Her heart was beginning to beat wildly, arhythmatically spasming in pain. Her eyes searching the woods for her two wards.

She needed them to be safe. Bad enough that she was about to die at twenty. They needed to be safe. Carlos could take care of Lucy.

He always had.

She felt Lucy grab her arms and prop her up. She wanted to tell her to run, the thing that had bitten her could threaten Lucy! But she couldn’t speak, the tremors wouldn’t let her.

“Carl, you have to help her! She’s dying.”

“Lucy, we can’t let anyone know. Not even her.”

“Please! She would never hurt us. She loves us.”

“I….”

Alicia felt as silence began to fill her as the world began to darken and fade….

“Please! Carl!”

Alicia distantly felt another set of hands grasp her head firmly. “You have to look at me. Alicia, look at me…..”

Alicia had sworn she would tell no one. That she would forget. Forget that her adopted cousin was exactly what Grandpa was looking for. She would never betray them.

And she hadn’t. She had deliberately smothered all of it under other things, deliberately sought to forget. Until Brody began making noises about being abducted. And the memories started to return.

And more. No she still refused to think about that. No.

She’d had to get away from Brody, had to make him go away. She’d loved him, loved him still, but she had promised. Promised that she would never tell.

Carlos was dead. And her daughter was dying.

Could she hope for a miracle twice in one life? Max looked so much like Carlos, even some of the mannerisms. She had watched him whenever she was at the Museum.

Could Max truly heal Sydney like Carlos had healed her?

There. She had admitted it. Carlos had healed her. And more.

No. No. Still not going to think about it. No.

Lucky. I am just lucky.

Tears streamed down her face as the memories she had smothered started to come back. As the carefully wrought wards Ava had once spun came undone in Alicia’s desperate need.

Thanks for everyone following along this story.

RhondaAnn- Alicia promised she would never tell. And Ava/Aeron made sure of it by blocking those memories. With Alicia's permission it should be added. She won't even let herself admit it happened. But now, well her daughter is dying and maybe, just maybe Max could help....

Ah, but what are Ana's plans for Pam? How could she know she's from Roswell. Maybe there is somethign else Ana is looking for.

GregInClearwater- Ultimately everything will tie together. Just, oh, I don't know? Many, many parts left to go. At least twenty more for Shadows. We should see Sean and Ava in probably five or six parts. After Christmas.

DeDe Pr- Ana certainly is looking for something. But why would she be interested in Pam? Remember, she was interested in Maria not just for her close connections to Max and company, but because of a useful genetic combination.

Before Liz astroprojected to Max, she took a shorter less concentrated trip. One of the people she saw was Laurie breaking into the office to make some unauthorized calls. Please note that Laurie could see her perfectly, although Alex, who she also appeared to could not. So no, Laurie doesn't know about Emily. Not yet anyway.

Not sure entirely what you are asking about your last question, but I will give it a go. Part of the mental conditioning on Alex is to not question whether mental conditioning has been placed on him. That has fed into Isabel through the connection. Neither one of them can conciously think about whether or not Alex has been mindwarped because they have been mindwarped not to.

When this breaks down it could cause some serious trouble for Tess.

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.

Shadows of the Past chapter 18

Kyle-

Kyle quietly got up from the bed he’d recently shared with Tess. She still slept, her face angelic in repose.

She confused him. She still confused him. He knew somehow she always would.

He was connected to her now. All it would take is a touch and he could feel the soul within. He had always known she was complicated. There were still walls there, places she would not let him see.

Knowing Tess, there probably always would be. Secrecy was simply who she was.

And then there was Ava.

Kyle was a Buddhist. He believed, firmly believed in reincarnation. But there was a part of Tess that not only remembered her past, it was her past self.

It was completely different from Tess. Highly social. Honest. Forthright. Serene and pacific.

You could see bits and pieces of it shining through, portions of what she could be. But her training, her intense training both in the use of her powers and how to deal with people….

Nasedo had not been a nice guy. He had taken care of Tess, in more ways that Tess had ever admitted. There was a reason she thought of him as her father. But her training had been harsh.

Nasedo had tried to make her a warrior princess, when her talents did not directly lend themselves to it. He had changed her in so many ways….

There was a quiet war going on inside of her. Her training and upbringing fighting against her slowly awakening former self.

Tess was going to need help. Kyle wasn‘t sure he was up to the challenge. He was scared enough about the changes in himself, how could he help her deal with the same?

He was going to have to grow up fast. For losing her was not an alternative.

He needed to clear his thoughts. He was still a little stiff, but a walk was in order.

Kyle always thought better when in motion.

So Kyle kissed Tess, whispering, “I love you.” Before heading to take a quick shower and a walk.

He had a lot to think about.

------
Liz-

Liz sat on her bed staring into the mirror, brush slowly working through her hair.

She was both excited and scared about testing Laurie‘s blood. Was she alien too? Only it wasn‘t only going to be Laurie who was tested.

Liz was going to test Maria and herself. And Kyle if they could get a hold of him. She‘d called a couple of times over to the Valenti House, but there had been no response save voice mail. Isabel and Alex had shared knowing grins when she‘d mentioned it, but had not said anything.

Annoying.

She‘d have Maria bully it out of them. That girl was good at cracking secrets.

Liz should know.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Max walked in. “Hi, can we talk?”

“Always Max. Always.”

“I have a problem.” Max was looking at everything but her.

“Max, I can’t help you if you don’t talk.”

“I want to heal someone.”

“Sydney.”

Max looked up at her suddenly. “How did you know?”

“I had a flash. I saw you healing her, Max. Does Brody know?”

Max’s laugh was bitter, “Brody knows almost everything. We haven’t been as careful as we should have been.”

“Oh, Max.” She reached over and held him. It had to be hard to know such a dangerous secret was so easily exposed. For if Brody knew…..

“He hasn’t shared it with anyone. And, and there is something about his wife.”

“Alicia?”

“Yeah, she knew Zan and all of them. Apparently she and Zan were fairly close.”

“Maybe Brody picked up something from her. We all think she’s kind of strange. Kind of like, I don’t know. Maybe she’s like Laurie.”

“Laurie?”

Liz winced. It was one thing for one stranger to find out, but two so close in time…. “Laurie is related to Michael.”

“What, there is another alien in Roswell. Besides that shape shifter that won’t show himself to me for some reason.”

“Not exactly. She’s, well, she’s the granddaughter of Michael’s donor. And Isabel’s. Apparently their donors were happily married. But something was done to them, I mean both of them had been abducted. We’re going to do some tests on her, find out if her cells are different. Or what kind of connection she has to them.”

“I wish I had never brought you into all of this. I wish we had just left.”

“And leave me to discover my new tricks all alone? Let me die on the Crashdown floor? There’ve been times I’ve thought that might have been the best for all of us myself, but…. Not now. I can’t say why…. But I just feel that things are moving in the right direction for a change. That everything will be okay….. Eventually.”

“Okay. Still….”

Liz nodded. “We should get a plan together, just in case we all need to leave suddenly. I know you all planned some of that….”

Max laughed, “Liz, it never went beyond heading to the hills and trying to find a way to escape the government or whoever was chasing us.” He looked down at his lap. “I’ve never been good at plans, not the long range ones anyway.”

Liz reached up and caressed his cheek, “You’ve done well so far. You have held us together through some fairly scary stuff. Besides long range planning is my specialty.”

He kissed her lightly, “So. I guess we make a good team.”

Liz looked into his eyes, searching for an invitation…. And found it. They kissed for a few moments, savoring their growing closeness….

Maria barged in. “Oh, Uh, excuse me.”

Both Liz and Max looked at each other and then looked at Maria.

Maria blushed. “I, uh, I’m totally sorry, but Michael’s ready to leave and Max told him to wait…..”

Liz looked at Max.

Max said, “I wanted to tell them about my plan to heal Sydney.”

“Oh, we already know about that. And Michael’s not happy, but well I guess he can live with it. Michael hides it well, but he really loves kids.”

Liz looked, semi-exasperated with her friend, “Maria?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I have a moment with Max? I promise we’ll be right down.”

“Oh, Oh! Okay. Um, just please hurry?” Maria sauntered out.

Max sighed.

Liz held him closely. “It will be okay. Really it will.”

Max looked at her. “Liz, somehow you make my life a brighter place. You make the struggles worth it.” He reached into his pocket, for a small box. “It’s not all I’m getting you for Christmas, but, well I just wanted to give you something to remember me by if…..”

“Max don’t even think that. If anything ever happened to you….”

Max opened the small jewelry case. In it was a small pendant. On one side there was the spiral symbol like Isabel’s amulet, but on the opposite side there were several tiny gems set in black enamel.

They formed a ‘V.’

“Its silly, I know, but I just, well I just felt I needed to give this to you. I have dreamt of it and you on and off for a little while….”

Liz just kissed him again. He had used his powers on it. She could feel his essence engrained in the metal…. And it strengthened her sense of him.

With it, she would always be able to find him. Anywhere, anytime.

After a few moments Max broke away. He placed the pendant around her neck. “I should talk with Isabel and Michael before they get too antsy.”

Liz just looked at him and nodded, a few tears spilling from her eyes.

Max smiled and left.

Liz concentrated on the pendant that now circled her neck and felt as she accompanied Max down the stairs. Part of her had followed him.

Liz smiled. It was tiring. But she would try it again later, to see how far she could still be there with him. It made him feel like he was still in the room with her.

Her thoughts began to stray into more daring territory. He had been in her room. On her bed. They had kissed on her bed.

She wanted more. The time wasn’t quite right, she wasn’t quite ready…. But she wanted it now.

Flash-
Liz stared up at the ceiling. At the mirror on the ceiling. She played with the necklace he had given her so long ago. It had never left her body.

She could still feel him, still all but touch him as he took his shower. He the gentleman that he was had already let her take hers.

She’d already used her powers to clean up the mess and the sheets. But there was just something about the clean feeling of a shower….

Maybe she should raid his. She looked at the clock. They had almost an hour…..

She’d promised Michael that she would be there for Maria. He had a surprise prepared for her mercurial friend. Maria had always wanted to do a Lounge act in Vegas….

She looked again at the mirror and remembered. She waved to herself. “Its worth it. It is all worth it. And I know it is strange, you being me and all, but well, some privacy?”End Flash-

Liz’s breath could still feel echoes of her future self’s memories. Memories of Max. Of their love.

Her heart clenched. But what future. The one she could have had…. The one she had lost?

No.

Max had never given her a necklace like this, nothing so blatantly Antaran…. No, that was what would be, what could be.

What damn well better be!

That was one memory she was going to have!

How old had that Liz been, how far into the future?

Vegas, huh? This could be fun.

Liz walked down stairs to find Max.

-------
Tess-

Tess was humming along some boppy tune she’d picked up from Maria. Their music choices had been a lot closer than she’d have thought.

Kyle was still gone. Still on his little trek to figure out his life.

Well it had given her a little time to clean up. Now it was like their little tryst had never happened.

Only it had. And its repercussions were careening through her soul.

Tess was no longer alone. Kyle loved her. Really loved her. Not because he had to, not because of fate.

But because she was hot and he liked her. It was that simple. She mattered to him. Not because she was useful. Not because she was an alien….

In truth that last was not a point in her favor. It all confused him. And though he’d die rather than show it, it scared him silly.

Her lover….. Stop that thought….. Savor it, savor it…..

Anyway, her lover was determined to protect his friends at all costs. Even if it scared him, even if he didn’t understand what was going on.

And she was first in line on that queue.

She frowned momentarily. She’d been with Alex too much lately.

What was she going to do about Alex?

Maybe she could have come up with a concrete plan…. But at that time the door opened…..

Tess said, “Excuse me?”

The strange man lifted up a device that spat a bright green bolt that hit Tess firmly in the chest.

And her world went dark.

-------
Max-

Max glanced at his friends, trying to judge their reactions. Isabel looked worried, but Alex just smiled at her.

He still needed to have a serious talk with Alex about Isabel, but….. He seemed to make her happy.

Michael on the other hand seemed pissed. What else was new.

“Phoenix? You need to go to Phoenix?”

“Michael, she doesn’t have much time. I don’t know how long she’ll be this close. Her mother lives in New York…. And trust me there are a lot more people there.”

“Michael, you said you would listen….” Maria held his arm.

There was little doubt the petite blonde was good for Michael. Even Michael could see that. Max smiled.

He was happy for them.

“I’m going with you.”

“What Michael, you can’t…..”

“Why not? Someone has to be there to cover your ass if something goes wrong. No it is final, if you are going, so am I.”

“Brody’s coming too.”

“Yeah, and you said he already knows about me. Does he know I wanted to kill him?”

Max shook his head. “No, the audio wasn’t good on that tape. But I doubt he thought you were delivering cookies.”

“Max, we were just trying to protect ourselves. And as it turned out, he could still be a threat. Maybe Michael and I weren’t wrong.”

“No Iz, killing him would have been the wrong decision. Maybe, maybe it would have made us safer, but none of us is truly a killer.” He looked at his friends and saw shadows in both Michael and Isabel’s eyes. And even more sadly in Liz’s and Maria’s.

Being around him had forced them to do things they would never have had to otherwise.

Liz walked over, “No guilt trips Max. Just go do it. Save her.” She gave him a quick kiss, and sat next to him. He could feel a subconscious hum pass between them through their connection.

She made his fears go away.

“We’ll be back by Christmas.”

“You’d better be. Spaceboy owes me a gift.” Maria playfully hit Michael, “You hear me? A real gift this time!”

Everyone save Michael laughed.

Maybe everything would be okay after all.

-----
Alicia-

Alicia walked into the communal room Sydney was in. It was brightly decorated for the Christmas holiday, but it was fairly empty of visitors.

Only one girl besides the patients was in the room. She looked a little familiar…..

That waitress! That little dark haired girl, the one that made her so nervous….

There had been something about her, her and the blonde. Not to mention all the creepy copies of Carlos and his friends.

Alicia checked on Sydney. She was sleeping and her color was a little better than it had been.

The doctors had not been optimistic about her chances. Even with the new drug.

She heard the girl behind her whimper and moan. Obviously a nightmare.

Alicia walked over and hovered over the girl. Should she wake her?

Or should she…. There was a trick, just a quick massage of the temples that always seemed to make Sydney’s nightmares disappear…..

She licked her lips. She was nervous. What if the girl objected, what if….?

The girl cried out in pain.

Alicia seized the girl and rubbed her temple. She devoutly ignored the light golden glow glittering from her hands.

She didn’t see it. It wasn’t there.

She was lucky. That was all. Lucky and a good mother. Just a special touch…..

The girl woke and gasped. At first she fought against Alicia.

Alicia’s mind worked overdrive trying to figure out what to tell the girl…. When the girl suddenly stopped and held her. Held onto Alicia like she was all that held her from damnation.

“You’re not her, oh thank God, you’re not her.”

“There, there, you are safe, safe and well.” Alicia kept murmuring calming platitudes into the girls ears for quite some time before she calmed down.

But in an odd way it made her feel good. There was so little she could do to help Sydney…..
-------
And so Alicia Ibanez soothed the mind ravaged Pam Troy….. Neither knowing the other, nor understanding the parts they had yet to play.

For Alicia had the power to heal…. Her gift was different than Max‘s, nowhere near as powerful, and yet in its own way as profound.

And that fact could change everything.

Sorry for the wait. Thanks for everyone following along this story.

Natalie36- Thanks

RhondaAnn- Thank you as always.

chanks_girl- Thanks. Brody, Max, and Michael will be in Phoenix next part. thanks for the bump.

DeDe PR- Yep. It is why she's always impecibly dressed, and why her clothes never stain.... She was healed by Carlos around, I think eight years ago. Aeron helped her repress those memories, but those blocks are becoming very frayed. Now she is mostly pretending that she doesn't notice that she's doing the impossible.

Ana did a lot of bad things to her. And to others off screen. She's not a nice person at all. She has some long term plans....

Thanks.

AvalonRose- Ana is taking lots of people. In timeline one, Maria was not the only human she used as a catspaw, merely one of the more effective ones. Ana sees people as tools.

Alicia is more like Kyle. She got caught in a situation that Carlos could help her, and Lucia asked.... Lucia was his Liz. Understand that Carlos had no clue the long term effects of his healing her. Alicia did not want to be part of it, and was happy to have her memories suppressed and willing to help them unknowingly of the whole secret. But as I mentioned above, those warps are weakening....

Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.

Shadows of the Past chapter 19

Tess-

Tess groggily came back to life. The world seemed… empty.

Her powers were gone. She was limited to the normal senses of a human being. She struggled with her bonds, but they were much too tight.

She was seated in the Sheriff’s old desk chair, still wearing only one of Kyle‘s old jerseys. And she was staring at a mirror, a tiny golden gem attached to one temple. It was shimmering, almost hypnotic.

Part of her recognized it. A deep part of her.

But it was not the gem that deep part of her feared.

It was the mirror. Tess examined it. It had an odd golden sheen and seemed somehow…. Deeper. Almost calling for her.

Calling for a part of her.

An alien word rolled through her mind. One she didn’t recognize, one that deeper self uttered. And yet she knew.

Memory glass. The mirror was made of inactive memory glass.

“Welcome back.” The speaker was a fairly nondescript man. Without her powers she could not be sure of what he was, but something told her he was not human. “So who am I addressing? The traitorous little bitch who can’t even stay loyal to the King? Was your human that good of a lay? Does His Majesty know? Or is it the damnable Mithar witch who is responsible for everything falling apart?”

“I, I don’t know what you are talking about!” There had to be a way to escape. Memories of being captured by Whittaker were beginning to overtake her.

Whittaker had almost killed her. Had tortured her and hurt her. And now here she was, yet again, helpless.

Tess was an expert at laying a calm façade on top of whatever she was really feeling. But she could feel it breaking down, feel herself becoming hysterical.

She couldn’t die now! Not now. Not now that she had Kyle…..

Her capture grinned wickedly. “Very nice. So my sources were right. Your old selves are still buried deep.” He waved a wand like crystal over her. It glowed red and crimson, slightly overlaid by a thin layer of green and blue.

It could see her aura. He certainly wasn’t Mithar. If he were he wouldn’t need it. She had to think of a way to escape.

“But you are obviously Ava reborn. Its too bad your Protector was slain, we would have liked to interrogate him. You see, we know all about your plan. Your plan to betray them. No, there is no need to make any futile denials, Ava. We have contacts at the highest level of the Cathian Court. If you really honestly believe they would house a half-breed heir…..”

“What are you talking about?” God they knew about Nasedo’s fall back plan? Even assuming that she was stupid enough to think she could wean Max away from Liz….. The odds of the two of them sleeping together anytime soon was remote.

And oddly the thought seemed vaguely repellent to her. The memory of her actions in New York not long ago seemed almost aberrant.

Wait, why? Why should she feel this way?

“What did they promise you and him anyway? That you would be treated as royalty? Lauded as heroes for delivering the rightful king to an ambush by his repellent kin?”

Part of her was calmly watching observing her captor, absorbing every detail…. But the rest, perhaps in a denial of reality was absorbed at her change of heart in regards to Max.

And it hit her. She had bonded Kyle. It wasn’t something Mithars did. Not normally. Ava had never truly bonded with Zan. She had loved him, but that last step…. She had almost but not quite…..

But Tess wasn’t Ava. Or not just Ava.

For Ava was part of her. Was with her even now. Calming and soothing her nerves.

Ava was fond of Kyle, too. Considered him a bit unpolished and unrefined. But then she thought the same of Tess.

It was with not a little fear and trepidation that she let the gentle but alien presence of Ava fill her. It was so strong, held such a sense of self. She’d always been afraid it would never let her, let Tess ever surface if she lt it out.

But now…..

Tess could feel herself dwindle under its presence. It was not entirely her who responded to her captor. Her own voice sounded strange, almost multi-tonal. “I am ever and always a supporter of the true heir to Antar.”

“There is nothing you can say to me witch, not one word. As soon as the aide is finished downloading your mind, I will feed you and your worthless soul to the Mirror. Thus ever to Traitors to Antar!”

Tess’s last thought before disappearing was the fact that Ava was speaking in Antaran….. And that while Ava had never been a warrior in the normal sense of the word, she had always used words as her weapons. That there had been fear in her captors voice in his refusal to listen to her.

But he would. The Eidolon was not the only reason Zan had considered Ava a worthy mate.

Tess’s face curled into a pleasant smile as Ava sought to save her soul from eternal torment…..

--------
Liz-

Liz stood in Dorian’s home and stared at all of the equipment that was in front of her. It was top of the line, much better than what she had ever used at school. There was a part of her that just wanted to experiment with all of the cool new toys…..

“Welcome, Liz. Welcome, Isabel and Alex. And you as well Maria. Where is Michael?”

“They had to go to Phoenix.” Liz said quietly.

“So he still plans to heal the child? Good for him. As soon as we are done here I will follow and work my magic to clean up any traces they might leave behind. But first…. You must be Laurie.”

Laurie was hanging back, a slight tremor of fear on her face. She stood slightly behind Maria. “You are not human.”

Dorian smiled, “Very astute observation. And one of the reasons I wanted you to be tested.”

“No, I am not going to be a guinea pig for some alien experiment!”

Maria turned to calm her down, “Look all we are going to do is draw a little blood. And all these tools, well their human. Dorian’s been here a while.”

“Fifty-three years and counting. Do not worry, I mean you and yours no harm. As long as you are not a threat to my charges of course.”

Isabel cleared her throat, “When we were talking about those pregnancy tests, you said I was human. That my body is human. But my cells…. Well they aren’t human.”

“Yes my dear, so Liz has told me. Apparently that is how she found your brother out. And it is something we need to discover ourselves. Because that is quite a weakness. Come, my dears, blood tests all around.”

“I think I will sit this one out,” Alex said, “Nothing strange has happened to me.”

“That we know of. Come, if your cells are normal, then you can act as our control.”

And so they took their blood tests.

The results were not exactly expected….

------
Pam-

Pam felt traumatized. She could not remember precisely what had happened to her, only that it had been horrible.

She had a vague flash of being naked on an operating table and things being done to her. She had been cut open and….

No.

No she would not remember. She couldn‘t. She wouldn’t let herself remember.

She rubbed a few more tears from her eyes.

Alicia handed her another tissue. “Are you feeling any better now, dear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Alicia flinched slightly, “Please call me Alicia, or Allie, or anything but that okay?”

Pam smiled weakly and tried to remember what had happened when the older woman had come in.

The world did not … feel the same way it had this morning. There was something about this woman that made her feel safe. That she would and could protect her.

And that she needed protection.

But from what?

Flash-
Ana laughed softly. “I can’t seem to escape them. But you are a fortunate find.”

Pam struggled at the bindings that held her in place.

“It truly is a pity I lost so much of my equipment on Nicholas’s failed attempt on the Four. This would have gone so much smoother. Oh well, I still haven’t found a less painful way to do this, but you my dear simply know too much useful information to go to waste…. Besides, it will let me conduct some experiments I’ve been meaning to have done. Its not like you will miss a few dozen eggs anyway..”

Several other medically garbed individuals entered the room.

Ana turned to them, “Now, I expect you to conduct these experiments without any excessive harm to Miss Troy. The last thing we need is another missing teen so soon after….” Ana shook her head. “Oh, and make sure you don’t jostle this Aide.”

Ana took out what looked like a small gem. Pam felt as it was placed on her right temple.

Pam’s screams started when she felt it boring into her skull….

Ana left Pam to the unkind ministrations of her minions.

None of them paid any attention to her entreaties, to her whimpers. To her screams.
End Flash-

Pam placed her hand gently against her right temple, fully expecting it to be scarred and bandaged. Only to find whole clear skin.

It had seemed so real…..

“Are you okay?”

“Just a bad dream…. So while I wait for my cousin to wake and you watch over your daughter, why don’t you tell me about yourself.”

Alicia smiled. And they talked. And talked. And talked.

It would become a joke between Wes and Sydney, how Pam and Alicia could talk the world down. (It would only get worse once Maria had joined the chat fests.) A story they would tell their children and grandchildren. Children and grandchildren that existed only as possibilities now, part of the spreading butterflies from Future Max’s intervention.

Even now that future was not yet set. For without a miracle, neither would live more than a few months….

------
Brody-

Brody resisted the urge to floor the car. Getting stopped by the police would slow them far more than a little speeding would save them.

But if Max could truly heal Sydney…..

He resisted the urge, but it was hard. Very hard.

Max was quiet, lost in his own thoughts.

Michael was quiet too, but Brody could all but feel the broody teens animosity. He was not happy Brody knew. He was here for damage control.

And somehow Brody knew that if Michael considered him potentially dangerous to Max, or to his friends in Roswell…. Well Brody had read the reports.

Somehow he doubted he would get any of his answers at the moment. But he could hold the questions in if it meant a healthy Sydney…..

-------
Maria-

Maria looked unbelievingly at Dorian. “What do you mean I’m a hybrid?”

------
Kyle-

Kyle was jogging along on, well he wasn’t sure how many miles he’d jogged since this morning. He hadn’t come to any idea of what he was going to do.

But he was much calmer now. And he missed Tess already. He began to head home.

And then he began to feel uneasy, worried. About Tess.

She needed him.

He began to run.

He felt as if his insides were being torn out, as if his very soul was being pulled out of him. As if he were being cored like an apple.

He knew exactly where Tess was. She was in their home. And she was in danger. Horrific and evil danger.

The door was closed. Hell it could be locked, he certainly had bolted it before he left.

But Tess needed him. He went through the door.

There was a man who stared at him in complete shock as Kyle barreled though the locked door. He lifted something that spat green fire at him.

Kyle barely dodged as he tried to slow himself down. He fairly hard against a wall. But he was tough, all the years of sports inuring him to the damage he was doing to himself.

He had to save Tess! He quickly searched for a weapon of some sort….

The alien fired at him again, and again missed.

Kyle in desperation grabbed a baseball and threw it as hard as he could at the alien. He could feel as he… twisted something around the ball. It flickered green as it flew straight and true.

It hit Tess’s captor hard, with bone crunching force. He dropped his weapon and fled.

Kyle stared after him tempted to follow and destroy him. But he could still feel the horrible piercing pain that coursed along his bond.

He turned to face Tess. Only there were two Tess’s. Her body rested, bound to a chair in front of a mirror. The Mirror reflected nothing, only glowed with a dire golden glow. The second Tess was pierced in several places by long glowing tentacles that flowed from the Mirror into her. And were trying to pull her in.

The second Tess was translucent. Her soul. He was seeing Tess’s soul. And that Mirror was trying to devour her. To eat her soul.

He would lose her forever. All that was Tess would be forever gone, beyond his reach in this life or the next.

He began to walk toward her to help her resist…..

Tess’s soul saw him, saw him and started to fight harder. To fight for them. Kyle felt pride in her as he got ever closer….

And the Mirror began to stalk him as well, various tentacles bunching up to attack him.

His eyes caught Tess’s soul’s. And he knew what she was going to do.

Once the Mirror captured her, it would be quiescent. It would no longer be hunting to add more souls.

Not until it had digested Tess. Not until she was no more.

She was going to save him by giving in. By allowing her soul to be captured and slowly eaten until its eternal existence was extinguished.

She loved him.

“NOOOOOO!” Kyle grabbed a bat, and once more he … twisted reality around it. And he threw it with all of his might at the mirror as his beloved was drawn into its surface.

And it exploded.

Kyle fell unconscious., totally spent.

-------
Maria-

Maria tried to keep calm. To slow down her breathes. Breathe…..

Which would be great except for the fact she was still hyperventilating. Her cells looked exactly like Isabel’s Green and glowy.

Not human.

She wasn’t human.

Was she even Maria Deluca? Because last she had checked Maria Deluca had been human. And if she wasn’t human she couldn’t be her.

And if she wasn’t herself who was she? Was she some kind of clone or some alien….

Slap!

She glared at Isabel. “What was that for!”

“Calm down. Unless you want to fry us all!”

Maria stared at her arms. Green lightning was arcing to most of the nearby metal.

Breathe.

Maria closed her eyes and began one of Tess’s meditation tricks and felt as she began to calm down.

She was still totally freaked about it all, but she was trying to keep it under control.

Both Liz and Dorian were still calmly examining slides and discussing things quietly.

Alex and Laurie were also talking quietly on the other side of the room. Isabel sent a warm glance towards her boyfriend.

Maria immediately missed Michael. Sure he’d probably say something she’d get mad at.

But he’d be here.

Isabel gave her a hug, “I’m sure it will all be okay.”

“Yeah, but how did this happen? I mean, am I even me? Or do I just think I am?”

Isabel pushed her back, “Tell me about it. At least you don’t have a past life self popping up from time to time.”

“Not yet anyway.”

Liz walked over and gave both Maria and Isabel quick hugs. “Okay, well we checked. And it seems that well Laurie and Alex are fully normal. I’m mostly normal. Look like normal cells, so Max must have done something different with you.”

Dorian walked up, “I wish we’d been able to get a hold of Kyle. Having him here would confirm so much. Are his cells like Liz’s or Maria’s. And why.”

Liz shook her head, “I wish we could talk to a real specialist about this. I know a little bit about this, but….”

Dorian just shook his head. “We need to do more tests. Unfortunately we don’t have anyone more qualified. I wish Natalie were still alive, this would be right up her alley.” He sighed deeply.

Liz looked at him, “Is there something wrong?”

“Yes. And its something you all share, but its strongest in Isabel and Laurie.”

“What?”

“Gandarium, all of you are infected with Gandarium.”