Sorry it is a might bit light, but here it is. Thanks as always to those reading this story. Particular thanks to xmag, RhondaAnn, and stinebiene for the feedback.
xmag- The Dupes have a different history in this story, although they are living in the sewers now, in their equivalent of their Pod Chamber. Remember when Tess tried to have the Pod Squad retreat there when everything went wrong with Pierce, after they had freed Max? Something similar happened here when their Protector went missing. They retreated to their Pod Chamber four years ago and leave only to salvage supplies from the world above... And Ava was told that they were the real deal and the Roswell group were the backups. Whether that is true or not, is subject to discussion.
Emily has been subsumed enough under Liz's conciousness to want what Liz wants, it is just she has very few scruples about achieving her goals. Ana did not want her to. Oh, and Ana had Liz for only two hours. Ana's a bit of a threat.
RhondaAnn- As to the letter Maria was reading, that was not explicitly noted in the part, I just made the assumption that Liz would not bring the whole package to school, but would bring something to show Maria what she had.
Hopefully this part answers a couple of questions. The next part will have the big meeting at Alex's party. (Poor Alex)
Stinebiene- Thanks, I hope to keep your interest.
Liz is getting all the flashes because she has not learned how to filter them out. Her powers have developed over the past year, only she did not notice because she has been taking Valerium unwittingly since early last Summer. It has gotten to the point that she is nearly entirely resistant to Valerium, so much so that the dosage is nearly fatal to someone not used to the drug. Tess mistakenly asked for only the dosage she was giving to Liz, and gave that to Maria. That is the reason for her strong reaction to the drug, she's been over dosed.
As to Emily, yes she is violent and territorial in the extreme. Fortunately Ana did not have time to complete her work. (and her workshop was destroyed)
Ava has her part to play.
Disclaimer-Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. Some bits and pieces of EOTW are mentioned during Max's part.
Eidolon chapter 20
Michael-
Michael cursed whatever passing nostalgic thought had let Max persuade him to ride in the Jeep today. Sure it was nice to spend time with his friends. He had thought he could enjoy being with his friends now that the tension level was a little lower between all of them.
Whatever had been causing friction between Max and Isabel had abated. And after the talk he had had with Max and Alex about protecting the girls, Michael had seen Max as more an ally than a rival. But some things never seem to change.
Michael pulled forward from the back seat so he could better see both Max and Isabel, “So what do you think they are here for?”
Isabel brushed a stray hair out of her face, “Does it matter. I mean think of all the trouble they’re causing. I mean, hello, it is not normal to be in two places at once.”
Max looked at both of them, “Well we will just have to be careful and wait for their next move. If they have gotten contact, contact from home, we will have to hear them out.”
Isabel just shook her head, “Even if they have, why were they contacted? Why are there two groups of us anyway?”
Michael cleared his throat, “Maybe we should search for them. Make them stop playing games and actually talk to us.”
Isabel gave him an exasperated look, “Right, we should go wandering around town actively advertising the fact that we all have copies wandering the streets. Nasedo might have shut down the Special Unit, but there are still a lot of wackos out there who would love to get their hands on us.” Her voice was starting to crescendo. “And in case you missed it the town is crawling with Air Force personnel trying to figure out what happened on Saturday! Add in a couple of FBI agents and we are looking at a nightmare here.”
“Isabel is right, the last thing we need to do now is draw attention. We just need to act normal.”
Michael sat back hard against the back seat. “Then you might want to check Liz out, cause she is definitely acting strangely.”
Isabel shivered. “That Emily really creeps me out. You should have seen some of the looks she was giving us.” She gave a quick sarcastic laugh, “Except you Max. I saw her notes for last period and they are full of EPE, only some of them are Elizabeth and some are Emily Parker Evans. So you better watch out!”
“I’m going to the Crashdown after I drop you both off. Don’t forget the party is at seven.” Max turned to Isabel, “Do you need me to pick you up, Iz?”
Isabel was silent for a moment at the car slid into their neighborhood, “Alex will pick me up. I just need to get a couple of things first. And Max, do what you can for Liz.” She got out of the car and walked into the Evans home.
“Well, Michael are you going to come with me to the Crashdown or do you want me to drop you off at your apartment?”
“Just drop me off at home.” Michael was silent for a moment. “You know I really think we are making a mistake….”
“Patience Space boy….”
Cadet Targan sat on a rock and admired Antar. It was so strange, even after all of this time on Kandaris (Antar’s largest moon) to be able to be outside staring at the Home world. Kandaris had been terraformed back in the Third Dynasty, and it had been a main effort by the current Dynasty to repair and replenish it.
Eight years at the Imperial War College and he had botched his final. Oh, he had done well enough to pass, he was not afraid of being released from service. No, it was the coveted Guard positions that he had applied for. He’d be lucky if they let him in the Legions.
He really should have thought through his attack a little better, maybe then he would have seen through the trap. Still he had almost beaten them even with his disadvantage… But he could definitely kiss the Guard goodbye.
“Ah, Cadet Targan. I have been looking for you.”
“Yes, magister.” Just what he needed. Another lecture.
“I must say, your final defense was quite masterful. Your ferocity nearly carried the battle that your lack of planning lost. Audacity is indeed a military virtue, Cadet Targan, but it is not the only one.”
“Yes magister.” I know I need to plan better or I will get myself and my troops killed. But that opening had seemed so real….
“Yes, yes, I am sure that your after action briefing had that pounded into your head. Have you chosen your name?”
Cadet Targan paused. It was customary to pick one of the names of the Companions to honor when one finally graduated. Maybe his other better work had been enough? “Rath, your honor.”
“Rath, not a common name.” The magister paused. “In fact, I do not believe someone has chosen that name for over half a millenia, not since the Fourth Dynasty. Why chose a name with such a blemish, stained as it is in treachery?”
“I checked the records, your honor. Rathinar was my ancestor.”
“And you seek to clear his name? That is a worthy goal. Stick to your principles and you may go far, Rath Targan.”
Rath Targan, Cadet no longer stared at the magister. Had he truly been accepted?
“Come, your Commission awaits.” The magister turned and walked briskly back to the College’s Main Hall.
Rath smiled and followed him back to the Hall.
“Uh, Michael?”
Michael looked over at his friend’s worried tone. “Just a memory. Have you been remembering bits of your old life?”
Max looked down. “Yes.”
Michael looked at him, wondered what he should say… Nah, Liz’ll take care of it. “Come on, you have a date to heal your ex-girlfriend. The faster you get rid of me, the less damage Emily can cause…”
Max shot him a look and started up the Jeep, “You know, you could walk.”
Michael just looked at him.
Max shrugged and drove them both off.
----
Alex-
Alex was a nervous wreck by the time he closed the door to his house. First Maria was sick and her father had just died. Liz had assaulted someone at school. There were duplicates of his alien friends walking the streets of Roswell.
He was lying to his friends and secretly going to decode the Destiny Book to aid his friends, who thought he was going to Sweden. A fact that he himself was only partly aware of, but it added to his anxiety.
But the factor that had sent him into neurotic overdrive was something he had wanted for a long time. Isabel loved him.
What had happened or how things had changed he was not sure. But today at lunch, when Ava had approached them something had changed. Some strange threshold had been crossed. She had reached out to him not to take comfort or to reassure herself.
He had felt a wave of protectiveness sweep over him as they had held each other. He had known, somehow that she had moved to him to protect him. It was strange, felt so very strange, as he always wanted to somehow protect her…
He was halfway to his room when he realized that something was wrong. The alarm keyboard had not beeped when he entered the code. He stopped dead quiet. His father was paranoid when it came to security and with his job had access to a lot of high tech equipment.
That alarm was supposed to be fool proof, by normal burglars anyway. But probably not against someone who could manipulate molecular structures…. He took a step back and saw that the monitor was non-responsive, the circuit altered to not trigger, but to still have power and so not trigger a different alarm.
Alex was not alone. And he doubted it was one of his friends.
Not for the first time he cursed his lack of a cell phone. It was on his list of things to get. He had almost picked one up just last week, but there had been a special on an amp at one of the local music stores. His allowance only stretched so far, particularly now that he had to pay insurance.
He had told himself that the amp would lead to better gigs for his band and would pay for itself in the long run. Not that it mattered. Even after buying that necklace for Isabel, he still had a lot of money left from his work with Brody on Saturday.
Note to self pick up cell phone.
He just stood there next to the security panel and tried to decide what to do. The smart thing would be to leave and get one of his friends to check it out. But that would leave who knows what alone in his house for way too long.
His home, they had invaded his home. Alex felt his hands shake slightly. Not with fear. With rage.
What he was about to do was foolish, and he knew it. But one had to draw the line somewhere. If he could not have helped his friends on Saturday as they defended themselves and Roswell, at the very least he could stand in defense of his own home. So he grabbed the heaviest golf club in the closet and moved through the house, intent on getting it before it got him.
And he saw her. It was Isabel’s Duplicate sitting on the couch, magazine in one hand and a beer in the other. She was not really paying any attention to him, so he could if he wanted to reach her before she could react….
But she was so beautiful. She looked so like his Isabel that he just couldn’t, not unless he had to… Even the differences in dress merely emphasized her Isabelness. He wanted to see her eyes, to see if he could see there what he could see in Isabel. How different were they?
She took a sip from the beer and smiled. “Well come in Opie, I wanted to talk with you.”
“It’s Alex. And I thought you guys were allergic to alcohol?”
She turned and looked at him, a sardonic smile on her face, “You know about that, huh. It’s like with you humans, you build up a tolerance. And it brings such a pleasant buzz…”
Alex quickly read her face, gazed rapidly at her eyes… And was not happy with what he saw there. The vulnerable girl he saw in Isabel was not there, rather he saw a brittle hardness. At some point her life had gone horribly wrong, and somehow he knew that the choices she had made had not helped.
Alex knew then that he was in grave danger. This girl did not see him as more than a thing. If he displeased her she might very well kill him on a whim. “So, what brings you to Roswell?”
She took another pull on her beer before setting it down to intensively look at him. “Now, now, I ask the questions here. What does she see in you? I mean the boys are probably just banging your other friends before settling down, hey they did some of that with us too. But, I would have thought she would have better standards.”
“Excuse me?” Alex briefly closed his eyes and wished that someone would come to his aid. Instinctively he pulled on the weird sensations he had felt over the past couple of days, odd sensations of Isabel.
He needed her.
“Oh, I think you know. I mean, she’s the campus queen or some such. You can’t tell me you’re the most eligible of the guys there. Surely there is some better eye candy there than you, even in a small burg like Roswell.” She got up and moved very close to him. “I can see why you like her, but why does she give a damn about you?”
He was tempted to tell her the truth, a truth which he doubted she would believe nor understand. Isabel cared about him because he loved her. And he did, had ever since that bizarre day she had pulled him out of his room to find Liz and Max. And then that dream baby she had thought she was going to have from Michael…. Yeah, it had been his decision to stick with her no matter what, to accept the baby as his own if need be. Somewhere along the way his lust and admiration had changed to love.
Not that the admiration or lust had faded mind, merely been shaped by circumstances.
But what to say? She was attractive in so many of the ways that Isabel was, he could feel desire course through him, and yet her eyes… To her he was a lesser creature. If he thought Isabel could be cold, then this, this alien was colder.
The phone rang.
Alex looked toward the next room, where the main phone was. “I should probably answer.”
“Oh, I can think of a better activity,” the Duplicate said huskily.
He turned back and she kissed him. Her arms encircled him, and his almost of their own accord did the same. It was a strange feeling, akin to being both dream and nightmare at the same time. For her body felt so right in his arms and yet, it all felt so wrong.
It was hard but he pushed her back to catch his breath.
“Alex, come on Alex, I know your there. Pick up the phone!” Isabel’s voice forcefully said from the answering machine. The phone began to ring again.
“Maybe your not so bad,” the Duplicate said. “You’d better answer the phone though, I recognize that tone.”
Alex shot over to the phone, heart still pounding. “Hello?”
“Alex is that you? Are you okay?”
Was he okay, he wasn’t so sure. “Um, I have a visitor here.”
“What is the matter? Who is there? Is it one of those copies.”
He noticed the Isabel duplicate looking at him with predatory eyes, “Actually yeah, it’s your duplicate. Um, she, well she is, um, trying to… Um is there anyway you could come over? And maybe bring Max or Michael.”
There was a pause on the phone. “She can’t have you. Do you understand Alexander Charles Whitman, you’re mine.”
Okay. “Um, Isabel…”
“No, that’s settled. Now give the phone to my copy.”
Alex shrugged and handed the phone to the Duplicate. “She wants to speak to you.”
She shrugged, “Hey, you must be Isabel… Lonnie… Yes, you know about that?” ‘Lonnie’ looked at him, “Um, we should talk about that latter… No… Hey I was just gonna give him a test drive.”
Alex could hear Isabel’s voice angrily reply, but could not quite make out the words. He did notice a look of chagrin pass over ‘Lonnie’s’ face.
“Alright….Nah, we have something to tell you guys later, but we’ll catch up with you…Alright, see ya… Yeah, yeah, I’ll leave him alone.” She hit the hang up button. “She’s headed over here now, thanks for the beer.”
Alex watched as Lonnie left. He walked over to the couch and flopped down. His life used to be so much simpler…
----
Maria-
Maria sat alone at a booth in the Crashdown looking through the box Liz had given her. The box she said someone had given her of her father’s affects. It was mostly pictures and letters. Returned envelopes with cards in them.
She recognized her mom’s hand writing on a couple of those dictating that the letters be returned.
Where do you start investigating a parent’s life. She had thought she had known what had happened, that she had just been abandoned. And in a way that is what happened. There just was so much, so much to read. She felt the certainty of her past slipped away from her.
Was she even a Deluca? Or was it Ross? Or Ruiz? She could still remember it being Ross, back before her mom got rid of everything related to her father. It had taken her a while to always remember to spell it Deluca, and it wasn’t like her father had had relatives.
At least not as Stephan Ross, as Marco Ruiz, though… She had a grandmother, a couple of new aunts and a bunch of cousins. How many knew she actually existed she did not know.
Courtney strode over to her table, “Hey Maria, I‘m sorry to hear of your loss.”
Maria looked at the blond. It was hard to imagine but just last week she had hated the woman, and now… Times change. “Thanks, it’s just a shock. I mean, I did not really know him… And now I’m finding out about so much that was going on and I did not even know.”
Courtney smiled sadly at Maria, “If there is anything I can get for you?”
Maria chuckled wanly, “I don’t suppose you have some herbal remedy for fatigue? Some alien hocus-pocus, maybe?” Maria was surprised at Courtney’s reaction.
Courtney’s hand shot our and grabbed her chin and looked intently into her eyes. “Maria did you do anything differently last night from Saturday night?”
“Um, no I just was home watching movies with mom, and I just stayed home. I must not have slept well though, cause I woke up so tired. That’s not so strange, but I never really woke up, and then all this stuff kept happening. I haven’t really caught up.”
“Stay here.” Courtney trooped off to the kitchen. She came back moments later, removing her name tag and apron. “Follow me.” She walked into the woman’s restroom.
Maria shrugged gathered her stuff and followed Courtney.
Courtney closed and locked the door, sealing it with her powers to make sure. “Set your stuff down. Um, I want to do something, run a diagnostic. It’s not really made to read human bio-signs but I’ve used it to do so in the past.”
“What? You lost me at diagnostic.”
“A test, I want to run a test on you. Maria, you have not felt good today, not just from all the stress, you’re sick.” Courtney paused for a moment, “And it’s not natural. I don’t know if this is from what Max did to you, or a residual from anything else that happened on Saturday….”
Maria stood there stunned. She was surprised to hear how calm her voice was. “Am I going to die?” She felt like crying, but it was just too much work.
Courtney looked at her, “I won’t lie to you. I’m not sure. Do you know where Max is, he may be able to help you.”
“He’s upstairs healing Liz, trying to get rid of Emily.”
“Great an exorcism, just what we need. Stand still Maria!”
“Sorry it tickles.”
“It’s a variant of the bio-sign tech we use to operate our husks.”
Maria just stood there as she as what felt like snakes slithering through her body. It was a very creepy feeling. She looked at Courtney in askance as it stopped. “Well?”
“I’m not sure. The readings I got, well they were different from any readings I’ve gotten from a human before. But I think, well, I think you’ve been poisoned.”
Her mind reeled at that. “But why me? Why is this all happening to me?”
Courtney looked at her sadly, “You’re part of the Royal’s entourage, you are going to be a target. And I’ll be honest with you Maria, I don’t think you have a way back. Whatever Max did to you yesterday, it changed you. You are different now, marked.”
“What are you saying, that I’m not human? That, that I’m, I’m…” What made it worse is she did feel different, that she felt… changed.
Courtney grabbed the now slightly hysterical Maria and held her. “No, no, it’s not like your alien, just like your friend, Liz. Did I ever tell you how found you guys?”
Maria shook her head and looked at Courtney through tearing eyes.
“It was Liz. That is why I picked the Crashdown out of all of Roswell. I mean, the Communicator had lead me to Roswell, but Liz lead me here. You know I bet Whitaker picked up the same vibe, even if it was subdued when she came back from Florida.”
“How?”
“Liz was moving things without touching them. I’m glad she’s stopped, as while most people edit out things they think they could not have really seen… Not everyone does. I of course knew it was possible, and while I knew almost immediately that she was not one of the hybrids…”
“How could you tell?”
“Most of us who were looking for them were familiar with their energy signature. Basically if we got really close we would recognize them, I certainly recognized Isabel and Michael immediately as who they were when I finally met them. Max was a little harder as I was not a close friend to the king, but still simply by elimination I knew who he was. I was surprised at the distance between him and Tess though, just as I was by all their human contacts. We had always assumed that they would be carefully kept from human contact to avoid attachments. Basically we thought they would all be raised like Tess was.”
“So you like knew the whole time you were here, all that long summer?”
Courtney chuckled, “Yeah, it was kind of amusing in retrospect. Both of us were chasing Michael. I had not realized how much he cared for you and just thought to lead him by adolescent hormones…”
Maria said quietly to her friend, “You almost won. When I saw you come out wearing only a towel, I thought it was over. I thought that I had lost him, that the fight had been for nothing. I mean I had just found your locker stuffed with pictures of him… When I went over there that night, I was trying to do what he was doing I guess, trying to find out who or what you were.” Maria sighed, “Me and Michael should have talked about it, we’re usually pretty good at the investigative stuff together.”
“Maria the two of you are just kids, you’re going to make mistakes. You’re right of course, you should have talked.”
Maria pulled back slightly, “Courtney why do you care? I mean until a couple of days ago you were pursuing Michael for all it is worth, and now you are supportive.”
Courtney looked at her with enigmatic eyes, eyes that for a moment showed her real age, “You are good for him, Maria. He’s good for you too, but I’ll be honest and say that is only a peripheral concern for me. I am here trying to make sure he succeeds, that somehow he thrives. I thought for a while that I could shape him into what I thought he should be, but…” Courtney sighed, “that is not really what I’m here for. I still think he would make a good ruler, better than Max in the long run. But he has so much to learn, so much more to grow to even reach where he was in his previous life. And, and even if he never gets the number one spot, Max is acceptable to me. I never liked Zan, but Max, well Max is better I think, particularly if he listens to Michael.”
There was a frantic knock at the door and a female voice asked, “Come on, can you hurry up!”
Courtney turned to Maria, “Let’s go see if Max is done fixing Liz. Then he can take a look at you.”
Maria picked up her package and backpack. She closed her eyes for a moment and thought of all the changes that had happened in just the last couple of days. Her life had been turned upside down, and she still did not know where it was going to go from here. But maybe things would be okay with friends like Courtney, Liz, and Max. And Michael, oh God, yes, and Michael.
Maybe things would be okay.
-----
Max-
Max looked around Liz’s bedroom. There were a few good memories here, but mostly those were on her balcony. He wandered about the room while Liz was getting a couple of drinks for them.
Flash-
Max stood in his hiding place and watched as Kyle and Liz got ready. He hoped this wouldn’t break his younger self, but it had to be done. They needed to slow down, needed to give Tess some more time.
The addition of Kyle helped too, Kyle would not be seducing Tess now. And maybe, maybe even if he had this would make Tess jealous of Liz because of Kyle rather than of him.
Damned adolescent quadrangle.
He wished it could have been as simple as just talking to Tess, but he did not trust her. He trusted his love, his Liz. This would be hard, would be brutal even, but he knew she could carry it. She was simply the most wonderful creature in creation, stronger than anyone he had ever known.
And surely the day would come when she could tell them all the truth. It would be hard, but he trusted that she could do it.
Max watched as Kyle climbed into bed, boxers only. Part of him wanted to blast him. He had never really liked Kyle, even if they, for having sex with her, for making her see that she would never have Max.
That a few moments of passion had cost her everything.
The fact that Max had already been taken, had already been Liz’s… Max never really understood why Tess had been so sure that Liz was just a passing fad, even after they had slept together.
Just seeing Kyle brought back all those horrible fights, when the Four had broken and all hope had been lost.
He felt a sudden sharp pain, and he knew. Max had seen them, had seen them and believed. His mind still fought it, but Max knew that his younger self would at the very least back away for a while.
Max just had not thought it would hurt this much. had later been colleagues in the War. Part of him still blamed him for making Tess leave
End Flash-
What was that? Max was confused and looked at Liz as she walked back through the door. “Liz, what happened here on the night I thought I saw Kyle and you together?”
“Max?”
“Liz, I just had a flash, and I really don’t understand it. I mean, how could I be here helping you plan to set me up!?”
Liz walked over to her bed and set down the two drinks on a nearby table. “Max come over here.”
Max cautiously walked over to Liz’s bed and sat down next to her.
Liz looked at him sadly. “Those are the same jeans you wore that night aren’t they?”
Max nodded still perplexed.
“Do you still have the condom in the back pocket?”
Max’s face turned a little red, “Liz…”
“No let me continue. That night, that horrible night was supposed to be one of the most wonderful nights of my life.” Liz seemed ready to cry, but she continued in a emotion laden voice, “You see Max, when you originally came to me that night, in the original future, I was not with Kyle. I was alone, and no we did not go to the Gomez concert. You pleaded and pleaded, but I would not give in.” She paused for a moment, “Not to the concert anyway.”
“What happened Liz?”
“We made love, Max. Sexual intercourse, maybe you’ve heard about it? And this, this is what apparently caused the end of the world. For it made Tess leave because she no longer had a chance with you.” Liz shook her head, “There is a twist there, I just can’t remember it…”
“Tess slept with Kyle.”
“What?”
“I got that from the flash that I had from, what do I call it, what a future version of myself?”
“Future Max.”
“I guess.”
“Wow.” Liz sat there thinking, Max could almost hear the wheels of her impressive mind whirling. “Maybe, maybe he did not come back for the reason I thought he did. Maybe, maybe it was really about slowing us down. I don’t know, or maybe. I’m going to have to think about this.”
“So that is why, why you did that?”
Liz nodded.
“And, and you didn’t trust me?” Max could feel a measure of anger simmer.
“You told me not to tell anyone and so I didn’t. And Max there is more, oh God, so much more. Do you remember how you connected to me at school last year, when you were trying to show me that you were still you? That you were not a danger to me?”
Max nodded.
“Can you do that in reverse, can you, can you see me?”
“I do see you.”
“Through the flashes, yes, but I want you to see all of me, to see, to see what I have seen. I don’t know if it’s real, but I, I think it is. So please….”
He looked at her and nodded. How he loved her, even after all the pain she had caused him. No matter how he had tried, he could never stop. “I’ll need to touch you.” The ambient connection that they shared, their sense of each other flared as he reached up to her temple. “Just blank out your mind…”
And the connection flared wider still going from a rivulet, to a stream, to a raging river as his sense of her encompassed all of her experience. He saw everything. He saw her childhood here in Roswell, faint memories of growing up in Wyoming, and their life together in Boston.
The connection leveled off at some point, and he could still feel her memories and thoughts flow through him. He knew somehow that she was doing the same with him. And he could feel distantly as they began to kiss, began to caress each other.
The need to be closer was so very strong…
“Max Evans and Liz Parker, what do you think you are doing,” Max heard Nancy Parker say.
He felt a jolt of fear course though both of them and the connection dialed down to its normal level. Both of them fell off the bed as they tried to untangle their limbs.
Liz’s parents were going to kill him. As he lay there waiting to die, he watched as Liz peeked her head over the bed. He was a little confused at her sudden smile.
Liz said, “Oh, I am so going to kill you two.”
Max peeked over the bed himself before getting up. Maria was snickering and Courtney had a huge grin. “You do realize I just lost ten years of life, don’t you?”
Courtney was chuckling now, “You know, if I could have I would have mimicked Jeff’s voice. I would have loved to see Max jump at that.”
Liz’s face was deep red, “I was just showing Max…”
“Showing him what exactly, Lizzie,” Maria said sweetly.
“Maria!” Liz said her face still crimson.
Max just stood there, trying to reconcile all he had just learned. It was going to take little time. It wasn’t just the future. Although that would take some getting used to. They had another Protector here in Roswell. One that was frightened of them. He owed him his thanks for saving Liz, but he knew somehow that the Shapeshifter would continue to hide from him as long as he could.
Why was he so afraid of Max?
“Earth to Max, did you heal Liz already?” Courtney asked, “Because you should look at Maria too.”
Liz walked over to Maria and gave her a hug.
Max shook his head, “No she was just telling me some things, just clearing the air between us. And well, we got a little… distracted.”
Courtney bit back a smile, “Well, why don’t you do that now. I really think you should take a look at Maria, but she told me about what Liz did at school… And I think we need to know how much of a liability Emily might be.”
Max watched as Maria reluctantly let go of Liz, and Liz walked back to him. And he called up his power to heal as she got next to him. But before he started he gave her a little kiss on the forehead, to try to remove some of the fear he saw in her eyes.
He felt the sudden surge of power flow through his hands as he healed her, as he sought out what was wrong with her. Only this time he could hear a voice murmuring in his head, whispering him advice as he searched. And he found them, wounds in her brain, a twisting of her essence…
Flash- Liz stared intently as Max climbed down her balcony after their final kiss, when he took that step back. Her heart aching.
Flash- Her feelings in turmoil as she ran from the Pod Chamber, her worst fears confirmed.
Flash- Lying on her back as doctors hovered over her, running tests on her…
Max could not help the tears from falling as he healed his Liz. Tears for all the pain that knowing him had caused her as the flashes rolled on…
She was his, now. His forever.
But at what price?
IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Epilogue- 11/29/08
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Forum Moderators
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 20- 03/29/08
Thanks to everyone reading this story. Particular thanks to chanks_girl, Natalie36, Steinbiene, RhondaAnn, and xmag for the feedback.
chanks_girl- Poor Alex is watching as his regular life slowly gets consumed. Its no surprise that he's angry at Lonnie. While the Dupes have a slightly different past, Lonnie is just as abrasive. Lonnie was not trying to pretend she was Isabel, which might have fooled him for a moment or two, but in this case the eyes would have told him. To Lonnie, humans aren't really people.
Natalie36- Thanks
Steinbiene- Is Emily really gone, well that remains to be seen. As to Maria being marked, it has to do with her for lack of better terms, aura. They are still human, but there are noticible differences if you know what to look for. Max doesn't really fully understand what he is doing. At the moment he might as well be leaving calling cards posted to each human that he has healed. With Maria its worse as she has Michael's psiprint all over her too.
RhondaAnn- Sorry about the double post, I had not even noticed it.
Michael had to pick up something.
The Lonnie/ Isabel meeting should be interesting to say the least. To Lonnie humans aren't really people and so she wouldn't really be cheating on Rath. Lonnie was really just interested in why Isabel liked Alex. Zan would likely be hitting on both Maria and Liz. And Tess, too probably. Hell, he'd probably have flirted with Nancy or Amy. Zan probably wouldn't have done anything so as to not hurt Ava.
Xmag has it right, she has been overdosed on Valerium that Tess hid in Maria's vitamins. The only reason she was not affected on Sunday is that she actually slept at Michael's. It wasn't until Sunday evening she caught up on her pill regime.
xmag- You got it right. Tess gave Maria the same dose she was giving to Liz, not realizing that it had taken months for Liz to reach that level of resistance. To Courtney the drug overdose looked like a poisoning, which in a way it is.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon part 21
Tess-
Tess sat alone on the bleachers watching the football team practice. She wasn’t ready to head back home, she needed to think. Tess had a problem.
Kyle. Kyle was her problem, had been for a little while.
It had always been her plan to get Max, to fulfill her measure of Destiny. To try to reestablish the Royal Four, to regain their rightful place back home.
Her friends, if she could truly call them such, really had little clue how much losing Nasedo had rattled her. He had been cold, a demanding task master, but in retrospect she had loved him as her father. It had been his prodding, his certainty of Antaran superiority that had been one of the touchstones of her life. And it was gone.
Instead she had the loyal Sheriff and Kyle. The human Sheriff, who even while knowing that she wasn’t human accepted her into his household and cared for her like his own. It was so strange to have someone who cared for her like that, so strange she had ignored it until this strange day.
And then there was Kyle. When she had first come to Roswell, Kyle had just been one of those boys who had followed her around. Just another horny teenage boy reacting to her engineered good looks. She had been certain that if any of them had known what she was they would run in fear. But Kyle knew and he still wanted her, still cared for her. It was strange, so very strange that he should still care for her after she had used him, after she had basically ignored him, teased him. She had looked down on him, for he was only human.
Tess watched as Kyle finished another drill, looked up, and waved at her. Tess waved back. Tess sighed. She was not really introspective by nature, had not been so even in that previous life. But she was in a quandary about what to do and what she was really feeling. Did she really still want Max? If she did, then why couldn’t she seem to muster the strength to fight for him? She’d been willing to burn herself out on Saturday for Kyle.
What was she going to do?
Tess turned as she heard someone sit down next to her. It was Ava.
Ava looked briefly at her before scanning the field, “You know I was waiting for you in the car. I kind of wanted to talk to you.”
“Talk about what?”
“Nothing really, just what your life had been like. I mean, what was it like growing up in Roswell?”
“I did not grow up here, our Protector raised me. I never knew why he left the others here.”
“Huh, our Protector said that the Others had a protector, one who had been injured and unable to move them.”
“Did your Protector come with you? You only mentioned the other podmates to my friends.”
Ava looked down, “No she went missing. Everything got too dangerous for us in New York, so she sent us into hiding. She said she had to do one more thing before she would come get us. And so we went, left our foster families and our old lives behind us to flee to our Pod Chamber.” Ava fell silent for a moment, “That was four years ago. Four years hiding out in the sewers of New York.”
“You stayed there for four years? Surely there had to be better place to stay?”
Ava looked at Tess with a sad but fond smile, “I take it your Pod Chamber isn’t stocked for emergencies?”
Tess just shook her head.
“Natalie was prepared for almost anything, except getting captured. She got caught by some gangsters who had been helping the Special Unit. They killed her but didn’t turn her over.”
“They can’t die. Well, they can but no human would be able to kill one of them!”
Ava sighed and looked at Tess, “I know that, but what good does it do if I can’t bring her back. Me and Zan made it a priority to find out what happened to her. Lonnie and Rath helped us, for a while anyway. I even have an idea where she was tossed into the ocean, but even if I had her body I couldn’t revive her. We don’t have the right tools.”
Tess looked back at her twin’s soft blue eyes. They had a set of healing stones that could be used to bring her back. Maybe that is why they were here to grab the few tokens they had from their home. It hurt her to think that her sister might only be trying to manipulate her into giving their location away… “So why did you guys come here? If you stayed at your sanctuary for so long, why leave now?”
Ava was silent for another long moment. “We were contacted.”
“Contacted?”
“From home.”
“You mean… home.”
“Yes.”
----
Isabel-
Isabel set the phone down. She walked over to the mirror and checked to make sure she was presentable.
She shook her head. Alex needed her and she was checking her makeup. When did she become so shallow, when had she allowed the disguise to sink in, to become her. It was always a problem with long term operations….
“Maitreise! Wait up for me!” A young woman in an Imperial Security uniform ran after her.
Vilandra watched as Valeris Maloran ran after her. Vilandra had befriended her over a month ago when she had infiltrated this branch of the IS. “What are you so happy about? Make a big break in some case?” By their previous intelligence, Valeris was part of a team looking for Khivar and well, to be blunt, herself.
A little reprofiling could do wonders in the disguise department. She seriously doubted anyone was looking for her in the ranks of the Securitariat.
Valeris smiled, “You know I can’t give you details. But it’s big, and well a little scary.”
“Oh, come one you have to give me more than that!”
Valeris was silent for a long time, “We haven’t caught Him, or Her, but we’re close. Our subject even said that we’ve been infiltrated. Can you believe it, the Securitariat has been compromised, as if that were possible. Still it’s scary to think that they might have access to Chasei or some weird Rhyjhaelian device to hide among us….”
Vilandra walked along as her friend told her much more than she should have. It’s a good thing I learned all those Mithar techniques in my studies. It makes this all so much easier.
Vilandra had needed to learn them for her personal project for the Archadian, functional telepathy. The ability to connect was so limited in space and time, but the Mithar ability to project images into someone’s mind showed some progress in that regard. While she could never master the Eidolon, she had picked up some tricks…
“You’re that close? We should celebrate!”
“Maitrese! Is that your solution to everything? Party?”
Vilandra just nodded with a smile, “You are only young once. We’ll hit the clubs, pick up a few guys and celebrate the downfall of all those who oppose the Regime!”
“I don’t know, I really should go over those numbers again.” Valeris smiled suddenly. “Nah, you’re right, we are only young once. Who knows next time we could be celebrating my promotion!”
“That’s the spirit, Valy.” The two young woman moved quickly toward their assigned dormitory rooms…
--
Hours later Vilandra stared at the shock and horror on her now dead friend’s face. Vilandra reached out and closed Valeris’s eyes. Valeris had reminded her of Karis, her young Rhyjhaelian aide. Not in looks or in outlook really, but both had been so devoted. Both had been so committed to what they thought was right, so very certain.
The horror in her friend’s eyes when she revealed her true identity The brief struggle followed by the torturous mind rape. It had taken all of her connections to learn how it was done, how the military intelligence service used forced connections, again all in the name of research.
What have I become?
She sighed and picked up her com. “Khivar, you are going to have to move and move now. They are almost at your position.”
“How did they find us, love?”
“Never mind that, just meet me at home.”
“Home? We’ve been compromised that bad? I will be there, stay safe, my heart.”
“Wait, Khivar…. You have to promise me…. Never again. Promise me!”
There was a pause on the line for a second, and Vilandra was afraid he had already hung up. “I promise, love, never again. I‘ll see you at home.”
Vilandra stared at her com. This had to end somehow, there had to be a way that the two of them could just live their lives. She looked over at Valeris again. I’m tired of death, tired of all the killing.
There has to be a way to escape it all…
Isabel was nearly hysterical when she got to Alex’s house. What was I? What kind of monster?
----
Alex-
Alex was not sure when it started, but he felt an odd sensation flowing through his body. He could feel his hair stick up all over his body. It was almost like some strange electric current was running through his body.
He restlessly got up and walked toward the door, praying that Lonnie was gone. It was so hard to believe that they shared the same genetic profile. He could not imagine Isabel being so cold and callous.
Even if she was the Ice Princess.
Alex opened the door to find Isabel walking up the path. He looked at her, really looked at her to make sure it was not some trick. He rubbed his arms at the growing electric feeling rolling off of her.
Isabel was shaking, visibly distressed with her eyes downcast. She raised her eyes to look directly in his eyes and said in an odd multi-tonal voice, “Please?”
Alex gasped when he looked at her eyes, her pupils looking almost like almonds taking up most of the eye. There was a strange cast to her face, and for once Alex could say that Isabel looked alien.
She looked at him with an almost sorrowful gaze, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Her arms lifted slightly as if to hug him, but allowing him to make the first move.
He could see the fear of rejection lurking in her eyes, and somehow he could see that she expected to be rejected. That she felt that she should be rejected. His heart went out to her, to all the burdens that she carried, all the insecurities that she tried to hide.
“Please?” She said once more.
This was it, his final choice. Somehow he knew that this would decide his future. That if he gave into her he would never really be able to escape the Alien Abyss anymore than Liz or Maria. But unlike them he had given all of this serious thought. This was not falling into the Abyss like Liz, or coming along for the ride like Maria. Alex was getting the opportunity to jump.
Normality had never seemed so precious. He could almost feel his normal safe life flash before his eyes, and part of him wanted it back. But he had already made his choice, had already given his word.
And he would keep it.
He did not have any delusions about Isabel. He could not be sure that she was not using him again to anchor herself in the here and now, and that she would not leave him again once she felt safe. If she did it would break his heart again, maybe break him.
But he would take that chance, for he loved her. And just as he had needed her before she called, she needed him now. Looking at her now he knew somehow that her call had not been an accident, that she had known…. Known that he had needed her help.
He reached up and wiped a tear off her face. The electric current feeling was even stronger. He was surprised he was not striking sparks as his hand moved to cup her chin. “Isabel, I accept you. You really can trust me.”
“I am ready,” Isabel continued in that strange voice. “Please?”
And so he held her, even as he felt the current flow through him. Even as he felt himself… ripple.
They kissed
He could feel her, somehow he could feel her very essence and just as he knew it would be it was beautiful. He could feel as stray thoughts and sensations roared through his stunned mind.
Flash
the glance that Alex gave her as he walked along chatting with some of her classmates. His gaze was the same as so many of theWalking down a road way with her brother, crying over the other boy who would no longer trust her.
Seeing again the woman who had found them coming once more to the orphanage, her yellow sweater shining like the sun.
Getting off the bus that first day and seeing all the people and all the possibilities.
Noticing boys in her class, and yet that was not what made her look back. She envied how he easily drifted through the various school cliques.
He pulled back for a moment to catch his breath. He looked at her eyes, still somewhat alien looking. But Isabel was in there. She was Isabel.
She just looked back at him, and in her normal voice she said huskily, “Please?”
With a smile he kissed her again. Only this time it was a little different. After a brief moment of sublime ecstasy mixed with excruciating pain Alex collapsed.
----
Michael-
Michael stared at the drawing. It showed Maria walking down the steps in that church on Saturday. He had never seen her more beautiful, with a small smudge on one cheek and her hair a little wild. It was the eyes, those beautiful emeralds that let him see into her.
The moment captured was right before she had seen Ragar and ran to push him out of the way. Before she took the blast that would have killed him. Before he saved her, held onto her long enough to put into stasis so that Max could heal her.
He had been sketching on and off since that day in Marathon, Texas. He’d hid it, of course. He did not want to be mocked by Max or Iz over his new hobby. But he liked it, and the calming exercises Tess had taught him seemed to help too. Even on Antar he had liked to draw, although he’d never had enough time from his duties to really pursue it.
But now he had lots of free time. This portrait was initially going to be used as a peace offering for Maria at some future date. It was only a matter of time before he pissed her off enough that he would need something to get back into her good graces. But given the way things had been happening to her, he thought that this would be a good time.
Michael just wanted to see her smile again.
He raised his hand over the drawing and changed it, made it into a more permanent format. It wouldn’t tear or smudge now, and if anything happened to him she would be able to keep it always. Something to keep next to the napkin holder.
Michael got up and put the image in one of his unused school notebooks and walked out the door. Maria was waiting.
----
Liz-
Liz sat there patiently, waiting for Max to finally finish. She could feel him doing something to her, soothing aches she had not even realized she had. Perhaps the best was a persistent buzzing noise that she had not really even noticed until it was gone.
Blessed silence.
She was a little worried how long it was taking. The slow tears falling from Max’s eyes didn’t help either. She could feel her self grow nervous, worried about what Max would say.
And everything seemed to slow down. She could still hear Maria talking to Courtney about Ava, hands dramatically emphasizing each point. Even poisoned and possibly near death, Maria was a drama queen. But her hand motions were so slow. Liz felt like she could see everything in the room all at once…
And suddenly everything was back to normal. Max sighed as he moved his hand from her temple.
Maria turned to Max, only half finished with her comment to Courtney, “So? What’s up doc?”
Max shot Maria a tired grin. “Your next you know.”
Maria just shot her tongue out at Max.
Max’s smile died as he looked back at Liz. Liz could read guilt all over his face. “What is wrong Max?”
“How do you feel Liz?”
Liz sat back. “Honestly, I haven’t felt this good in a while. I guess the stress of holding all that information back was getting to me.”
Max nodded, but there was sorrow in his eyes. “Maybe, that may be part of it. Liz, whenever I have tried to heal you, I have only tried to fix the immediate problem. Whatever this Ana did, well it was much more elaborate. She fixed everything, even did some things she likely considered improvements.”
“Wha…what?”
“I don’t really know what she had planned for you, and I don’t really understand all the changes. But she increased your metabolism and she did something to your nervous system. I think she improved your reflexes somehow.”
Courtney spoke up, “Reprofiled. She’s been reprofiled.”
Max glanced at Courtney, “Maybe, but only cursorily. I could tell that she was only getting started. Something must have distracted her or she never would have left you like that.”
“Like what?” Liz asked.
“Reprofiled? What do you mean by reprofiled?” Maria blurted out, moving over to give Liz a hug. The two girl’s clung to each other, waiting on the rest of the news.
Max sighed again, “She left you unfinished, unstable. That is why Liz was able to regain herself in the first place. If Ana had finished her work, Liz would be only a memory. There would be only Emily. I’m glad we did this now, Liz your mind was starting to collapse under the weight of multiple personalities clashing for dominance. Not only was Emily there, you also absorbed a bit of your future self. The struggle would have driven you mad eventually.”
Liz just clung to her friend, feeling her comfortable warmth. She knew somehow that it was only going to get worse. She wanted to hide, to hide from the words she knew were coming…
Liz heard Maria ask, “What is this reprofiling thingie anyway?”
Courtney cleared her throat, “It is a technology used to change not just a persons looks but also base characteristics. It’s used for healing genetic damage or eliminating annoying genetic quirks. Its molecular manipulation on a large scale, though, no single person could manage all that it has to do simultaneously.”
Liz closed her eyes feeling the tears come. That damn chair. All those changes from that damned dental chair.
Courtney continued, “Of course, some people just use it as an elaborate form or cosmetic surgery. With the added bonus that the changes are permanent. It can change more than just the surface, it can alter the very DNA. You could use it to permanently change your hair color for instance.”
Liz looked back up. She had to ask as she looked between Max and Courtney. “Am I even human now?’
Max looked at Courtney and sighed, guilt laying heavily on his features. “I don’t know.”
chanks_girl- Poor Alex is watching as his regular life slowly gets consumed. Its no surprise that he's angry at Lonnie. While the Dupes have a slightly different past, Lonnie is just as abrasive. Lonnie was not trying to pretend she was Isabel, which might have fooled him for a moment or two, but in this case the eyes would have told him. To Lonnie, humans aren't really people.
Natalie36- Thanks
Steinbiene- Is Emily really gone, well that remains to be seen. As to Maria being marked, it has to do with her for lack of better terms, aura. They are still human, but there are noticible differences if you know what to look for. Max doesn't really fully understand what he is doing. At the moment he might as well be leaving calling cards posted to each human that he has healed. With Maria its worse as she has Michael's psiprint all over her too.
RhondaAnn- Sorry about the double post, I had not even noticed it.
Michael had to pick up something.
The Lonnie/ Isabel meeting should be interesting to say the least. To Lonnie humans aren't really people and so she wouldn't really be cheating on Rath. Lonnie was really just interested in why Isabel liked Alex. Zan would likely be hitting on both Maria and Liz. And Tess, too probably. Hell, he'd probably have flirted with Nancy or Amy. Zan probably wouldn't have done anything so as to not hurt Ava.
Xmag has it right, she has been overdosed on Valerium that Tess hid in Maria's vitamins. The only reason she was not affected on Sunday is that she actually slept at Michael's. It wasn't until Sunday evening she caught up on her pill regime.
xmag- You got it right. Tess gave Maria the same dose she was giving to Liz, not realizing that it had taken months for Liz to reach that level of resistance. To Courtney the drug overdose looked like a poisoning, which in a way it is.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon part 21
Tess-
Tess sat alone on the bleachers watching the football team practice. She wasn’t ready to head back home, she needed to think. Tess had a problem.
Kyle. Kyle was her problem, had been for a little while.
It had always been her plan to get Max, to fulfill her measure of Destiny. To try to reestablish the Royal Four, to regain their rightful place back home.
Her friends, if she could truly call them such, really had little clue how much losing Nasedo had rattled her. He had been cold, a demanding task master, but in retrospect she had loved him as her father. It had been his prodding, his certainty of Antaran superiority that had been one of the touchstones of her life. And it was gone.
Instead she had the loyal Sheriff and Kyle. The human Sheriff, who even while knowing that she wasn’t human accepted her into his household and cared for her like his own. It was so strange to have someone who cared for her like that, so strange she had ignored it until this strange day.
And then there was Kyle. When she had first come to Roswell, Kyle had just been one of those boys who had followed her around. Just another horny teenage boy reacting to her engineered good looks. She had been certain that if any of them had known what she was they would run in fear. But Kyle knew and he still wanted her, still cared for her. It was strange, so very strange that he should still care for her after she had used him, after she had basically ignored him, teased him. She had looked down on him, for he was only human.
Tess watched as Kyle finished another drill, looked up, and waved at her. Tess waved back. Tess sighed. She was not really introspective by nature, had not been so even in that previous life. But she was in a quandary about what to do and what she was really feeling. Did she really still want Max? If she did, then why couldn’t she seem to muster the strength to fight for him? She’d been willing to burn herself out on Saturday for Kyle.
What was she going to do?
Tess turned as she heard someone sit down next to her. It was Ava.
Ava looked briefly at her before scanning the field, “You know I was waiting for you in the car. I kind of wanted to talk to you.”
“Talk about what?”
“Nothing really, just what your life had been like. I mean, what was it like growing up in Roswell?”
“I did not grow up here, our Protector raised me. I never knew why he left the others here.”
“Huh, our Protector said that the Others had a protector, one who had been injured and unable to move them.”
“Did your Protector come with you? You only mentioned the other podmates to my friends.”
Ava looked down, “No she went missing. Everything got too dangerous for us in New York, so she sent us into hiding. She said she had to do one more thing before she would come get us. And so we went, left our foster families and our old lives behind us to flee to our Pod Chamber.” Ava fell silent for a moment, “That was four years ago. Four years hiding out in the sewers of New York.”
“You stayed there for four years? Surely there had to be better place to stay?”
Ava looked at Tess with a sad but fond smile, “I take it your Pod Chamber isn’t stocked for emergencies?”
Tess just shook her head.
“Natalie was prepared for almost anything, except getting captured. She got caught by some gangsters who had been helping the Special Unit. They killed her but didn’t turn her over.”
“They can’t die. Well, they can but no human would be able to kill one of them!”
Ava sighed and looked at Tess, “I know that, but what good does it do if I can’t bring her back. Me and Zan made it a priority to find out what happened to her. Lonnie and Rath helped us, for a while anyway. I even have an idea where she was tossed into the ocean, but even if I had her body I couldn’t revive her. We don’t have the right tools.”
Tess looked back at her twin’s soft blue eyes. They had a set of healing stones that could be used to bring her back. Maybe that is why they were here to grab the few tokens they had from their home. It hurt her to think that her sister might only be trying to manipulate her into giving their location away… “So why did you guys come here? If you stayed at your sanctuary for so long, why leave now?”
Ava was silent for another long moment. “We were contacted.”
“Contacted?”
“From home.”
“You mean… home.”
“Yes.”
----
Isabel-
Isabel set the phone down. She walked over to the mirror and checked to make sure she was presentable.
She shook her head. Alex needed her and she was checking her makeup. When did she become so shallow, when had she allowed the disguise to sink in, to become her. It was always a problem with long term operations….
“Maitreise! Wait up for me!” A young woman in an Imperial Security uniform ran after her.
Vilandra watched as Valeris Maloran ran after her. Vilandra had befriended her over a month ago when she had infiltrated this branch of the IS. “What are you so happy about? Make a big break in some case?” By their previous intelligence, Valeris was part of a team looking for Khivar and well, to be blunt, herself.
A little reprofiling could do wonders in the disguise department. She seriously doubted anyone was looking for her in the ranks of the Securitariat.
Valeris smiled, “You know I can’t give you details. But it’s big, and well a little scary.”
“Oh, come one you have to give me more than that!”
Valeris was silent for a long time, “We haven’t caught Him, or Her, but we’re close. Our subject even said that we’ve been infiltrated. Can you believe it, the Securitariat has been compromised, as if that were possible. Still it’s scary to think that they might have access to Chasei or some weird Rhyjhaelian device to hide among us….”
Vilandra walked along as her friend told her much more than she should have. It’s a good thing I learned all those Mithar techniques in my studies. It makes this all so much easier.
Vilandra had needed to learn them for her personal project for the Archadian, functional telepathy. The ability to connect was so limited in space and time, but the Mithar ability to project images into someone’s mind showed some progress in that regard. While she could never master the Eidolon, she had picked up some tricks…
“You’re that close? We should celebrate!”
“Maitrese! Is that your solution to everything? Party?”
Vilandra just nodded with a smile, “You are only young once. We’ll hit the clubs, pick up a few guys and celebrate the downfall of all those who oppose the Regime!”
“I don’t know, I really should go over those numbers again.” Valeris smiled suddenly. “Nah, you’re right, we are only young once. Who knows next time we could be celebrating my promotion!”
“That’s the spirit, Valy.” The two young woman moved quickly toward their assigned dormitory rooms…
--
Hours later Vilandra stared at the shock and horror on her now dead friend’s face. Vilandra reached out and closed Valeris’s eyes. Valeris had reminded her of Karis, her young Rhyjhaelian aide. Not in looks or in outlook really, but both had been so devoted. Both had been so committed to what they thought was right, so very certain.
The horror in her friend’s eyes when she revealed her true identity The brief struggle followed by the torturous mind rape. It had taken all of her connections to learn how it was done, how the military intelligence service used forced connections, again all in the name of research.
What have I become?
She sighed and picked up her com. “Khivar, you are going to have to move and move now. They are almost at your position.”
“How did they find us, love?”
“Never mind that, just meet me at home.”
“Home? We’ve been compromised that bad? I will be there, stay safe, my heart.”
“Wait, Khivar…. You have to promise me…. Never again. Promise me!”
There was a pause on the line for a second, and Vilandra was afraid he had already hung up. “I promise, love, never again. I‘ll see you at home.”
Vilandra stared at her com. This had to end somehow, there had to be a way that the two of them could just live their lives. She looked over at Valeris again. I’m tired of death, tired of all the killing.
There has to be a way to escape it all…
Isabel was nearly hysterical when she got to Alex’s house. What was I? What kind of monster?
----
Alex-
Alex was not sure when it started, but he felt an odd sensation flowing through his body. He could feel his hair stick up all over his body. It was almost like some strange electric current was running through his body.
He restlessly got up and walked toward the door, praying that Lonnie was gone. It was so hard to believe that they shared the same genetic profile. He could not imagine Isabel being so cold and callous.
Even if she was the Ice Princess.
Alex opened the door to find Isabel walking up the path. He looked at her, really looked at her to make sure it was not some trick. He rubbed his arms at the growing electric feeling rolling off of her.
Isabel was shaking, visibly distressed with her eyes downcast. She raised her eyes to look directly in his eyes and said in an odd multi-tonal voice, “Please?”
Alex gasped when he looked at her eyes, her pupils looking almost like almonds taking up most of the eye. There was a strange cast to her face, and for once Alex could say that Isabel looked alien.
She looked at him with an almost sorrowful gaze, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Her arms lifted slightly as if to hug him, but allowing him to make the first move.
He could see the fear of rejection lurking in her eyes, and somehow he could see that she expected to be rejected. That she felt that she should be rejected. His heart went out to her, to all the burdens that she carried, all the insecurities that she tried to hide.
“Please?” She said once more.
This was it, his final choice. Somehow he knew that this would decide his future. That if he gave into her he would never really be able to escape the Alien Abyss anymore than Liz or Maria. But unlike them he had given all of this serious thought. This was not falling into the Abyss like Liz, or coming along for the ride like Maria. Alex was getting the opportunity to jump.
Normality had never seemed so precious. He could almost feel his normal safe life flash before his eyes, and part of him wanted it back. But he had already made his choice, had already given his word.
And he would keep it.
He did not have any delusions about Isabel. He could not be sure that she was not using him again to anchor herself in the here and now, and that she would not leave him again once she felt safe. If she did it would break his heart again, maybe break him.
But he would take that chance, for he loved her. And just as he had needed her before she called, she needed him now. Looking at her now he knew somehow that her call had not been an accident, that she had known…. Known that he had needed her help.
He reached up and wiped a tear off her face. The electric current feeling was even stronger. He was surprised he was not striking sparks as his hand moved to cup her chin. “Isabel, I accept you. You really can trust me.”
“I am ready,” Isabel continued in that strange voice. “Please?”
And so he held her, even as he felt the current flow through him. Even as he felt himself… ripple.
They kissed
He could feel her, somehow he could feel her very essence and just as he knew it would be it was beautiful. He could feel as stray thoughts and sensations roared through his stunned mind.
Flash
the glance that Alex gave her as he walked along chatting with some of her classmates. His gaze was the same as so many of theWalking down a road way with her brother, crying over the other boy who would no longer trust her.
Seeing again the woman who had found them coming once more to the orphanage, her yellow sweater shining like the sun.
Getting off the bus that first day and seeing all the people and all the possibilities.
Noticing boys in her class, and yet that was not what made her look back. She envied how he easily drifted through the various school cliques.
He pulled back for a moment to catch his breath. He looked at her eyes, still somewhat alien looking. But Isabel was in there. She was Isabel.
She just looked back at him, and in her normal voice she said huskily, “Please?”
With a smile he kissed her again. Only this time it was a little different. After a brief moment of sublime ecstasy mixed with excruciating pain Alex collapsed.
----
Michael-
Michael stared at the drawing. It showed Maria walking down the steps in that church on Saturday. He had never seen her more beautiful, with a small smudge on one cheek and her hair a little wild. It was the eyes, those beautiful emeralds that let him see into her.
The moment captured was right before she had seen Ragar and ran to push him out of the way. Before she took the blast that would have killed him. Before he saved her, held onto her long enough to put into stasis so that Max could heal her.
He had been sketching on and off since that day in Marathon, Texas. He’d hid it, of course. He did not want to be mocked by Max or Iz over his new hobby. But he liked it, and the calming exercises Tess had taught him seemed to help too. Even on Antar he had liked to draw, although he’d never had enough time from his duties to really pursue it.
But now he had lots of free time. This portrait was initially going to be used as a peace offering for Maria at some future date. It was only a matter of time before he pissed her off enough that he would need something to get back into her good graces. But given the way things had been happening to her, he thought that this would be a good time.
Michael just wanted to see her smile again.
He raised his hand over the drawing and changed it, made it into a more permanent format. It wouldn’t tear or smudge now, and if anything happened to him she would be able to keep it always. Something to keep next to the napkin holder.
Michael got up and put the image in one of his unused school notebooks and walked out the door. Maria was waiting.
----
Liz-
Liz sat there patiently, waiting for Max to finally finish. She could feel him doing something to her, soothing aches she had not even realized she had. Perhaps the best was a persistent buzzing noise that she had not really even noticed until it was gone.
Blessed silence.
She was a little worried how long it was taking. The slow tears falling from Max’s eyes didn’t help either. She could feel her self grow nervous, worried about what Max would say.
And everything seemed to slow down. She could still hear Maria talking to Courtney about Ava, hands dramatically emphasizing each point. Even poisoned and possibly near death, Maria was a drama queen. But her hand motions were so slow. Liz felt like she could see everything in the room all at once…
And suddenly everything was back to normal. Max sighed as he moved his hand from her temple.
Maria turned to Max, only half finished with her comment to Courtney, “So? What’s up doc?”
Max shot Maria a tired grin. “Your next you know.”
Maria just shot her tongue out at Max.
Max’s smile died as he looked back at Liz. Liz could read guilt all over his face. “What is wrong Max?”
“How do you feel Liz?”
Liz sat back. “Honestly, I haven’t felt this good in a while. I guess the stress of holding all that information back was getting to me.”
Max nodded, but there was sorrow in his eyes. “Maybe, that may be part of it. Liz, whenever I have tried to heal you, I have only tried to fix the immediate problem. Whatever this Ana did, well it was much more elaborate. She fixed everything, even did some things she likely considered improvements.”
“Wha…what?”
“I don’t really know what she had planned for you, and I don’t really understand all the changes. But she increased your metabolism and she did something to your nervous system. I think she improved your reflexes somehow.”
Courtney spoke up, “Reprofiled. She’s been reprofiled.”
Max glanced at Courtney, “Maybe, but only cursorily. I could tell that she was only getting started. Something must have distracted her or she never would have left you like that.”
“Like what?” Liz asked.
“Reprofiled? What do you mean by reprofiled?” Maria blurted out, moving over to give Liz a hug. The two girl’s clung to each other, waiting on the rest of the news.
Max sighed again, “She left you unfinished, unstable. That is why Liz was able to regain herself in the first place. If Ana had finished her work, Liz would be only a memory. There would be only Emily. I’m glad we did this now, Liz your mind was starting to collapse under the weight of multiple personalities clashing for dominance. Not only was Emily there, you also absorbed a bit of your future self. The struggle would have driven you mad eventually.”
Liz just clung to her friend, feeling her comfortable warmth. She knew somehow that it was only going to get worse. She wanted to hide, to hide from the words she knew were coming…
Liz heard Maria ask, “What is this reprofiling thingie anyway?”
Courtney cleared her throat, “It is a technology used to change not just a persons looks but also base characteristics. It’s used for healing genetic damage or eliminating annoying genetic quirks. Its molecular manipulation on a large scale, though, no single person could manage all that it has to do simultaneously.”
Liz closed her eyes feeling the tears come. That damn chair. All those changes from that damned dental chair.
Courtney continued, “Of course, some people just use it as an elaborate form or cosmetic surgery. With the added bonus that the changes are permanent. It can change more than just the surface, it can alter the very DNA. You could use it to permanently change your hair color for instance.”
Liz looked back up. She had to ask as she looked between Max and Courtney. “Am I even human now?’
Max looked at Courtney and sighed, guilt laying heavily on his features. “I don’t know.”
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 21- 04/10/08
It is a bit short, but hopefully I'll be posting again before the weekend. Thanks to everyone reading this story, particular thanks to xmag, stinebiene, RhondaAnn, and katydid for the feedback.
xmag- Yeah I'm a Stargate fan, although I can not honestly say I've seen the whole series. If I coopted someone it was by accident. Vilandra killed someone to protect herself and Khivar. And his budding Resistance movement. The techniques she used were those she learned in trying to develop telepathy. And understand she didn't just kill her friend, she tortured and mind raped her as well. Not Vilandra's shining hour.
And horrifying to Isabel. There is a lot going on in Isabel's head, and unfortunately her part is not until my next post.
Stinebiene- Maria is waiting for him at the Crashdown. Isabel definately did something to Alex, there is an Alex POV her. Isabel's won't be to the next post unfortunately. Hopefully their worth the wait.
Funny you should mention the mindwarp though....
RhondaAnn- Tess has a lot of thinking to do. As does Isabel. Both of them ironically are opposite sides of the coin on their alien heritage.
If the wrong people got a hold of just about any of the main characters, they could expect a long time in captivity, probably ending in death. Not just the aliens. In any case, Liz would not enjoy the experience.
katydid- All of it covered in this part, although Isabel has a bit to say in the next part. (Ran out of time and felt the need to post something....)
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine, and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 22
Alex-
Alex danced, holding his partner tight. She had chosen him. Him! He could not quite make out her face or form. There was something about her eyes, something about the voice that whispered in his ear.
He didn’t care. He did not care as he danced through a palace lit only by the light of three moons. She would be his.
Their steps at first were hesitant, faltering. But as she whispered those words he could not comprehend, as she spoke to his very soul, their steps grew more certain. He could feel as the words shaped him, as his very being shifted ever so slightly.
He knew that it was reciprocal, that in moving him she was also being moved. He did not know why it was important.
It just was.
And so they danced until she was lighter than air in his arms. Until they flew through the complicated steps of a dance he had never known without fault or fail. Until they moved as one.
It was then that she kissed him…
And he awoke to pain and exhaustion. His clothes felt soaked in sweat.
Isabel cradled his head in her arms as she sat in the doorway. “What have I done? Please, Alex come back. I don’t want to lose you, not now…”
Alex felt so hot and dry. “Water?” Alex managed to croak.
“Oh, Alex.” Isabel held him close.
Alex just lay there as he assessed the situation. Somehow her touch felt more… intense somehow, different. It would be something to savor if he did not feel as if he were about to die of dehydration. “Water,” he quietly said, “please.”
Isabel looked at him gravely, “I’m sorry Alex, I am so very sorry.” She gave his shoulder one more pat before getting up and moving towards the kitchen.
He could FEEL her leave him. It did not quite hurt, but he could feel the lack. It was like she had taken up residence in a part of his mind, a tiny bundle of indescribable feelings. He couldn’t quite understand what he was feeling, just that it weakened as she moved away from him.
It did not go away.
Interesting. Alex slowly got up and walked back to the couch and flopped down. He did not really feel tired as much as over heated. A shower would be good. But first he needed a glass of water or twelve.
He felt her return. He just sat there as he felt her pause before she walked into the room. After he felt her enter the room he turned and looked at her. So beautiful. And at first glance cold, her Ice Princess persona was in full play as she tried to control her feelings.
But he could read her, could read the fear and worry. He could see the guilt. Something had changed. He could read her before, but not this clearly. He drank deeply of his water and composed his thoughts. “What did you do to me?”
“She… I… well….” Isabel’s façade completely cracked. She dropped down in a chair near Alex’s couch.
Alex watched as she fought the tears. He was still puzzled by what had happened, but he could see that until she regained her composure Isabel was not going to talk. He could push her, make her open up…
But looking at her, he could see that the time wasn’t quite right. If he pushed now he might engage her stubbornness and anger. As much as he would like the answers now, he would be paying for it for a while. Better to wait and let her open up on her own. She would, now. Very soon if Alex was any judge.
“Thanks for the water, Isabel.”
Isabel kept her eyes on her hands and nodded.
But he hated waiting.
“Okay, Isabel, I need to change and take a shower. Do you want to meet me at the Crashdown?”
Isabel raised her beautiful eyes to meet his and said softly, “No, I’ll wait.”
But something had changed between them. Something major, and he knew he would not be waiting long.
----
Maria-
Maria felt lost. Everything was changing so fast. An enemy had become a friend. Her mother might be an enemy of sorts. Her father was dead, and so much of the hatred she had felt towards him felt… hollow now.
Madame Vivian had been right, damn her. All her life was in flux. Since meeting the aliens, she had been used to having her world turned upside down. But now she was not even sure who or what she was.
And she was worried for Liz. Liz was really scared, and was hiding it well. But Maria knew her friend was thinking through all the implications of her possible non-human status now. They needed to have a long talk alone over ice cream, and soon.
Maria was feeling a little green around the gills herself.
Max sighed, “I’m sorry Liz. I never wanted any of this to happen to you.”
Maria raised an eye brow at Max.
Max hid a small smile, “Sorry, to either of you.”
Courtney said, “Liz, do you mind if I have a look at you. I’m not sure, but I think you have a tiny bit of what Maria has. And Max can take a look at Maria.”
Maria gave one more hug to her best friend as Liz got up quietly to walk over to Courtney. She gave one last glance at her friend and looked at Max. They were good friends, a friendship forged over the horrible heartbreaking summer just past.
There had been a brief moment during that summer when she had thought that there might be more, but he just wasn’t Michael. And she wasn’t Liz. But they had bonded. She had soothed his fears as he had dealt with her tirades.
Max reached over and started to move his hands a few inches away from her body. He got his strange ‘healing look.’ Maria wondered what Max was feeling, how did it feel to be able to reach into somebody find a problem and fix it?
Max shook his head and stopped.
Why had he stopped? Was she stuck like this? Was she unfixable? Maria began to hyperventilate.
Max looked over at Courtney, “Did you find anything.”
Courtney’s look was grim. “Yes, she’s got the same stuff in her system. But it’s like her body is used to it, that is why it is not as noticeable.”
Liz frowned, “But why would someone do that? Max, could you tell what it does. Is it like some drug or a toxin or what?”
Maria was shaking, trying hard to control her panic.
Max shook his head slightly, “I’m not sure, it feels familiar almost. Like I’ve come across it before.”
Courtney looked thoughtful for a moment, “I’ve never seen the like. We Rhyajael have the best Pharmaceuticals on Antar, but for something like this… If Liz has been affected by this substance for a while, I’m tempted to think it’s a drug and not a toxin.”
Liz nodded, “Although I’ve never really been affected like Maria has been. Could she be allergic? And even if we are assuming that she’s been drugged, we have to as the question, why?”
Maria’s panic was beginning to turn to anger.
Max’s face turned white.
Liz walked over and absently gave Maria a hug, her eyes still focused on Max, “What is wrong Max?”
“I was just thinking about what this stuff is doing, and well it’s mostly blocking certain combinations of chemicals in the brain… And … and I remember a conversation of such a drug.” Max fell utterly silent.
Liz just held onto Maria, trying absently to sooth her.
Courtney moved a little closer to the rest of them, puzzlement on her face. “Where?”
Max’s eyes were full of pain as he lifted them and looked at Liz and Maria. “The White Room. Pierce talked about a drug like this, only it was designed to dampen any alien powers.”
Liz tightened her grip on Maria, “That is absurd. Why would anyone do such a thing, why would they even try. I mean why me or Maria, and not you or Isabel or Michael?”
“I don’t know, but that is what it reminds me of.”
Courtney cocked her head to the side and looked intently at Liz and Maria, “Very interesting. You know I was talking to Maria about something like this. I found Roswell through your Communicator signal, but I found the Crashdown through Liz.”
“What?”
“Yeah, it was you Liz. You were moving things, just small things, small enough that people would edit them out of their memories. But exactly the tell tale signs I was looking for…”
“But….”
Maria had had enough, “Hello, dying girl here. This is all fascinating and all, but can we discuss all this AFTER MAX HEALS ME?”
Courtney looked chagrined.
Liz just held her close, her eyes full of apology.
Maria turned to Max and said wearily, “Please.”
“I’ll do what I can.” He moved his hands over her again, before holding her head.
Maria felt as if her body was melting, her blood boiling away, all while she still felt cold. And then the fog began to lift, and she began to feel again. “He’s almost here.”
Maria extricated herself from a puzzled Liz as she got up. “Thanks Max,” she mumbled as she walked to the Parker apartment door.
She could feel all of their eyes on her as she left the room. It was a little rude maybe, but he was here, for her.
She opened the door just as Michael was about to knock.
And she kissed him.
xmag- Yeah I'm a Stargate fan, although I can not honestly say I've seen the whole series. If I coopted someone it was by accident. Vilandra killed someone to protect herself and Khivar. And his budding Resistance movement. The techniques she used were those she learned in trying to develop telepathy. And understand she didn't just kill her friend, she tortured and mind raped her as well. Not Vilandra's shining hour.
And horrifying to Isabel. There is a lot going on in Isabel's head, and unfortunately her part is not until my next post.
Stinebiene- Maria is waiting for him at the Crashdown. Isabel definately did something to Alex, there is an Alex POV her. Isabel's won't be to the next post unfortunately. Hopefully their worth the wait.
Funny you should mention the mindwarp though....
RhondaAnn- Tess has a lot of thinking to do. As does Isabel. Both of them ironically are opposite sides of the coin on their alien heritage.
If the wrong people got a hold of just about any of the main characters, they could expect a long time in captivity, probably ending in death. Not just the aliens. In any case, Liz would not enjoy the experience.
katydid- All of it covered in this part, although Isabel has a bit to say in the next part. (Ran out of time and felt the need to post something....)
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine, and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 22
Alex-
Alex danced, holding his partner tight. She had chosen him. Him! He could not quite make out her face or form. There was something about her eyes, something about the voice that whispered in his ear.
He didn’t care. He did not care as he danced through a palace lit only by the light of three moons. She would be his.
Their steps at first were hesitant, faltering. But as she whispered those words he could not comprehend, as she spoke to his very soul, their steps grew more certain. He could feel as the words shaped him, as his very being shifted ever so slightly.
He knew that it was reciprocal, that in moving him she was also being moved. He did not know why it was important.
It just was.
And so they danced until she was lighter than air in his arms. Until they flew through the complicated steps of a dance he had never known without fault or fail. Until they moved as one.
It was then that she kissed him…
And he awoke to pain and exhaustion. His clothes felt soaked in sweat.
Isabel cradled his head in her arms as she sat in the doorway. “What have I done? Please, Alex come back. I don’t want to lose you, not now…”
Alex felt so hot and dry. “Water?” Alex managed to croak.
“Oh, Alex.” Isabel held him close.
Alex just lay there as he assessed the situation. Somehow her touch felt more… intense somehow, different. It would be something to savor if he did not feel as if he were about to die of dehydration. “Water,” he quietly said, “please.”
Isabel looked at him gravely, “I’m sorry Alex, I am so very sorry.” She gave his shoulder one more pat before getting up and moving towards the kitchen.
He could FEEL her leave him. It did not quite hurt, but he could feel the lack. It was like she had taken up residence in a part of his mind, a tiny bundle of indescribable feelings. He couldn’t quite understand what he was feeling, just that it weakened as she moved away from him.
It did not go away.
Interesting. Alex slowly got up and walked back to the couch and flopped down. He did not really feel tired as much as over heated. A shower would be good. But first he needed a glass of water or twelve.
He felt her return. He just sat there as he felt her pause before she walked into the room. After he felt her enter the room he turned and looked at her. So beautiful. And at first glance cold, her Ice Princess persona was in full play as she tried to control her feelings.
But he could read her, could read the fear and worry. He could see the guilt. Something had changed. He could read her before, but not this clearly. He drank deeply of his water and composed his thoughts. “What did you do to me?”
“She… I… well….” Isabel’s façade completely cracked. She dropped down in a chair near Alex’s couch.
Alex watched as she fought the tears. He was still puzzled by what had happened, but he could see that until she regained her composure Isabel was not going to talk. He could push her, make her open up…
But looking at her, he could see that the time wasn’t quite right. If he pushed now he might engage her stubbornness and anger. As much as he would like the answers now, he would be paying for it for a while. Better to wait and let her open up on her own. She would, now. Very soon if Alex was any judge.
“Thanks for the water, Isabel.”
Isabel kept her eyes on her hands and nodded.
But he hated waiting.
“Okay, Isabel, I need to change and take a shower. Do you want to meet me at the Crashdown?”
Isabel raised her beautiful eyes to meet his and said softly, “No, I’ll wait.”
But something had changed between them. Something major, and he knew he would not be waiting long.
----
Maria-
Maria felt lost. Everything was changing so fast. An enemy had become a friend. Her mother might be an enemy of sorts. Her father was dead, and so much of the hatred she had felt towards him felt… hollow now.
Madame Vivian had been right, damn her. All her life was in flux. Since meeting the aliens, she had been used to having her world turned upside down. But now she was not even sure who or what she was.
And she was worried for Liz. Liz was really scared, and was hiding it well. But Maria knew her friend was thinking through all the implications of her possible non-human status now. They needed to have a long talk alone over ice cream, and soon.
Maria was feeling a little green around the gills herself.
Max sighed, “I’m sorry Liz. I never wanted any of this to happen to you.”
Maria raised an eye brow at Max.
Max hid a small smile, “Sorry, to either of you.”
Courtney said, “Liz, do you mind if I have a look at you. I’m not sure, but I think you have a tiny bit of what Maria has. And Max can take a look at Maria.”
Maria gave one more hug to her best friend as Liz got up quietly to walk over to Courtney. She gave one last glance at her friend and looked at Max. They were good friends, a friendship forged over the horrible heartbreaking summer just past.
There had been a brief moment during that summer when she had thought that there might be more, but he just wasn’t Michael. And she wasn’t Liz. But they had bonded. She had soothed his fears as he had dealt with her tirades.
Max reached over and started to move his hands a few inches away from her body. He got his strange ‘healing look.’ Maria wondered what Max was feeling, how did it feel to be able to reach into somebody find a problem and fix it?
Max shook his head and stopped.
Why had he stopped? Was she stuck like this? Was she unfixable? Maria began to hyperventilate.
Max looked over at Courtney, “Did you find anything.”
Courtney’s look was grim. “Yes, she’s got the same stuff in her system. But it’s like her body is used to it, that is why it is not as noticeable.”
Liz frowned, “But why would someone do that? Max, could you tell what it does. Is it like some drug or a toxin or what?”
Maria was shaking, trying hard to control her panic.
Max shook his head slightly, “I’m not sure, it feels familiar almost. Like I’ve come across it before.”
Courtney looked thoughtful for a moment, “I’ve never seen the like. We Rhyajael have the best Pharmaceuticals on Antar, but for something like this… If Liz has been affected by this substance for a while, I’m tempted to think it’s a drug and not a toxin.”
Liz nodded, “Although I’ve never really been affected like Maria has been. Could she be allergic? And even if we are assuming that she’s been drugged, we have to as the question, why?”
Maria’s panic was beginning to turn to anger.
Max’s face turned white.
Liz walked over and absently gave Maria a hug, her eyes still focused on Max, “What is wrong Max?”
“I was just thinking about what this stuff is doing, and well it’s mostly blocking certain combinations of chemicals in the brain… And … and I remember a conversation of such a drug.” Max fell utterly silent.
Liz just held onto Maria, trying absently to sooth her.
Courtney moved a little closer to the rest of them, puzzlement on her face. “Where?”
Max’s eyes were full of pain as he lifted them and looked at Liz and Maria. “The White Room. Pierce talked about a drug like this, only it was designed to dampen any alien powers.”
Liz tightened her grip on Maria, “That is absurd. Why would anyone do such a thing, why would they even try. I mean why me or Maria, and not you or Isabel or Michael?”
“I don’t know, but that is what it reminds me of.”
Courtney cocked her head to the side and looked intently at Liz and Maria, “Very interesting. You know I was talking to Maria about something like this. I found Roswell through your Communicator signal, but I found the Crashdown through Liz.”
“What?”
“Yeah, it was you Liz. You were moving things, just small things, small enough that people would edit them out of their memories. But exactly the tell tale signs I was looking for…”
“But….”
Maria had had enough, “Hello, dying girl here. This is all fascinating and all, but can we discuss all this AFTER MAX HEALS ME?”
Courtney looked chagrined.
Liz just held her close, her eyes full of apology.
Maria turned to Max and said wearily, “Please.”
“I’ll do what I can.” He moved his hands over her again, before holding her head.
Maria felt as if her body was melting, her blood boiling away, all while she still felt cold. And then the fog began to lift, and she began to feel again. “He’s almost here.”
Maria extricated herself from a puzzled Liz as she got up. “Thanks Max,” she mumbled as she walked to the Parker apartment door.
She could feel all of their eyes on her as she left the room. It was a little rude maybe, but he was here, for her.
She opened the door just as Michael was about to knock.
And she kissed him.
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 22- 04/21/08
A little later than I wanted it, but here it is. Thanks to everyone reading this story, particularly RhondaAnn, chanks_girl, stinebiene, Sternbetrachter, and xmag.
RhondaAnn- Thanks. I'm trying to get back to a more regular, at least once a week posting schedule. But a coworker had to do something idiotic and suddenly I'm doing the work of two people.
Isabel was trying to blame Vilandra, but even she knows its not true. She was basically channeling Vilandra so to speak, but what happened was all Isabel. The bond is going to take some getting used to for the both of them. For all of our heroes really. All of their bonds are different, though. It is a factor that will progress through the story as we continue. Somehow I doubt Alex really expected this. But you're right, I doubt he will regret it in the long run.
That scene was fun. Maria's powers, now those might cause some problems. No one really knows what she can do, not even Maria.
chanks_girl- Isabel made a choice. She's been toying with completely wiping out the link between them that she forged in the Longest Day, but every moment it held, Alex's love strengthened it. The idea that Lonnie might take him from her, as ridiculous a situation as it may be, reinforced by her need of him... Understand this Vilandra was not a powderpuff princess like she is in so many stories. She did a lot of things that will shock and horrify Isabel, but then Zan and Rath were not lily white pure either.
Stinebiene- That comment was not a trick. I was thinking about that very thing while I was writing my comments. Alex doesn't have a large part in this chapter, but Isabel does as she rationalizes what she had done. How that mind warp will affect future events is in there.
You are right, Ana is in for a shock.
Sternbetrachter- Thanks
xmag- The bond between each of the couples is somewhat different. Max's and Liz's is natural, although it got a huge boost when Max connected with Liz during the Pilot episode, letting her see herself through his eyes. Their connection has slowly been growing this whole time in fits and starts. Maria and Michael have theirs forged by their actions in the Longest Day... They were on the way to a rough connection anyway, but it was hit or miss affair. Michael is not perceptive enough, and Maria did not have enough strength in that fashion to truly notice it. Niether of them can deny it now. Isabel basically used some of Vilandra's vast knowledge to forge a bond between Alex and herself, built on the thread she had cast to save herself in the Longest Day, and Alex's love for Isabel. That is why she nearly killed Alex, she was changing him slightly to make the bond. (And as Alex noted in the last part, in moving him, she was also moved.)
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 23
Isabel-
Isabel stared at her hands. She had nearly killed Alex. She wasn’t sure what she had done exactly, but she did know that. She had pumped so much power into his body that she had dangerously increased his body temperature.
The question was what she had done. She wasn’t her brother, she could not heal like he could, not something major. Not without killing the person. Molecular manipulation caused heat. And as far as she was aware there was nothing wrong with Alex.
Aside from a mild case of heat stroke, brought on by her odd actions.
She closed her eyes for a moment, just to test the filament connection she had built towards him. It was gone. In its place was a massive construct.
Bonded. They were bonded. Why would she do that?
Isabel thought hard on how she had felt, what she remembered of her trip to Alex’s house. She had set the phone down, and then that horrible memory. It had been real too. It had been her, as her previous self. How could she have done something like that?
To protect someone she loved. It had been that simple. Alex’s need, felt through her connection to him, had drawn the memory.
Oh my God.
I’m not just fond of him. I love him.. Isabel drew up her legs to her chest and rocked slightly, and probed ever so gently the love Alex had for her.
It brought swirls of memories in its wake, flashing too quickly for her to quite grasp. They were still there, locked in her mind waiting for a trigger. She would have to deal with them, sooner or later. She would have to deal with what she had done, of who she had been.
But with Alex at her side, she could manage. For he loved her.
Just as she loved him. She could no longer hide, no longer say it was just possible. Isabel Evans, once the powerful and proud Vilandra, loved Alex Whitman.
A sudden bubble of joy filled her heart. She had never really expected this, to have someone who knew what she was, who she had been, and loved her anyway. How had she been so lucky?
Her eyes narrowed in thought. How had they all been so lucky? For all of the lost Royals of Antar to have found and bonded true loves in their Junior year of High School? What were the odds?
Astronomical. The odds were simply astronomical in their sheer improbability. Was it because of their dual nature, or was their something odd at play? It certainly did not work that way for humans. It also would not protect them from hurting each other, just look at Max and Liz.
Something was at work here something powerful, not Tess’s Destiny to be sure. She loved Michael, but not in the way Tess would have her. And Michael, fight it as he might loved spacy little Maria. Isabel was pretty sure she had felt a bond between them…
Maybe it was good that Alex would be going on his trip after all. It was a long shot, but maybe he really would be able to decode that damn book.
Plus Las Cruces was close enough for her to visit. One month was simply too long.
Isabel got up and walked towards Alex’s room. If she was going to be bound to him, she might as well find out what made him tick. A brief surge of guilt laced through her at memories of how she had treated him last summer.
That was going to change. She continued to walk down the hallway, stopping by the bathroom door as she heard the shower run. She touched the door, overwhelmed by sudden desire.
She felt warmth flood through her body. She wanted him. She could feel a pull to open the door and join him.
She was unbuttoning her blouse when it hit her. Alex was day dreaming. Of her.
If anything her face flushed even more. She had never really thought of him in that way. Okay, maybe a little. But she could feel waves of desire pouring from Alex, calling her. Her hand reached for the door handle.
And stopped. It was too much, too soon, too… too real. She could feel her own desire for him begin to build, and she knew that if she opened that door… Things would change.
She wasn’t ready. Not yet. So reluctantly she let the door handle go, and she walked further down the hall.
To his bedroom. Her face felt like it was burning.
Nothing is more true than the fact that her senses were heightened by extremes of emotion. As she walked into his room, she was hit with a sense of Alex. Not of who he is, that she could feel through the bond. But who he was, his hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Her eyes opened wide as the sensations, the barest teases of flashes poured into her.
But one object in the room practically screamed with joy and happiness. Isabel rushed over to his old acoustic guitar. She picked it up and flashes of his life washed over her. So much intense emotion, she could feel herself waver and ripple under the onslaught.
So she did the only thing she could under the circumstances, as the music ran through her veins..
She began to play.
----
Kyle-
Kyle was having a stressful day. After he had introduced Ava to the rest of the group, he never really had had an opportunity to meditate. He really needed some peace and quiet, a little time to try to get a hold of himself.
Football practice had helped some. Physical activity had always been calming for him. It was one of the reasons he was on every sports team he could be. That and the fact he hated to be alone, and his father’s job kept him away from home so much.
Kyle figured a little time spent in their backyard listening to the wind chimes would calm him. Enough so he could face Alex’s going away party. He could not help it, but the LGM’s made him nervous.
Worse, he was starting to feel more akin to them than his old sports buddies.
Very troubling indeed.
So he was surprised to see his father’s SUV at home, but not as much as he was at the presence of the Jetta. Why would Maria be here?
Maybe he would just drop his books off and go.
Kyle walked in through the kitchen and saw his dad sitting at the kitchen table reading through some documents. “Hey, Dad, you’re home early.”
“I had some business to take care of, so I took the afternoon off. Um, Kyle, when you see Max next can you tell him I need to speak with him?”
“Sure thing, Dad. I’ll see him tonight. There are some things you should know about too…” Kyle saw Amy’s purse. “But I guess we can talk about it later…. You know some Czech issues.”
“That might be wise, son. And if you see Maria, tell her I’m sorry about her father.”
Why did his father seem nervous, and pleased at the same time? “Yeah, right, I’ll do that. Um, I’m just going to get ready.” Kyle headed towards the main bathroom, when he heard a voice singing slightly off key.
Not from the main bathroom, from the master bathroom. Amy’s voice. And the shower was running.
Kyle stared at himself in the mirror. Why me? Why couldn’t I have just gone straight to the Crashdown like I usually do?”
He looked down just for a moment, but when he looked up, his face was gone.
Terror shot through him as he gazed at himself in the mirror. Where his eyes should be was a smooth expanse of skin. He reached one hand up towards the mirror, the other slowly moving up his cheek towards his now vanished eyes…
For an instant the mirror seemed to ripple like water, followed by a loud cracking sound.
Kyle saw his steely eyes gaze back at himself, his right fingers right underneath his eyes. He felt a little dizzy and flushed.
That last tackle must have affected him more than he thought. Or… or Tess was playing another of her tricks on him…
He tried desperately to push it from his mind. But he felt different. Not wrong exactly, but not right either.
He quickly got ready, absently said goodbye to Amy and his father as he left. He sat in his car for a moment before leaving, trying to figure out what had just happened.
Maybe, maybe he should talk to Liz? She always seemed to know what was going on. Yeah, as soon as he could he would talk with her, see if she had noticed anything strange lately.
Kyle drove off towards the Crashdown.
----
Michael-
Michael was on the steps heading up towards the Parker apartment when he felt his sense of Maria grow back to its former glory. As he was about to knock he knew that she was right on the other side of the door.
He did not quite expect the kiss though. For a brief moment he forgot completely where he was. He was holding Maria, and his hands were beginning to roam…
Then he felt his life end.
“Michael Guerin, what are you doing with my daughter?” came Amy Deluca’s strident tone…
Michael leapt from Maria, stumbling down a couple of stairs before he caught himself.
Maria just stood there arms crossed staring back into the apartment. “Courtney that was sooo not funny.”
“Hey you laughed when I got Max and Liz,” Courtney said as she poked her head out of the door. “Hey Michael, do you need some help?”
Michael looked up, straining to see Amy… And realized the joke had been on him. He shot Courtney a disgusted look. “I thought you were on my side?” He slowly got up and walked back up the stairs. He reached out and held Maria, who was also shooting daggers at Courtney.
“And you don’t think that the Parkers would not have told Amy that you were kissing her in a public place? And let me tell you that was quite a kiss,” Courtney finished with a smirk.
Michael just shrugged and held Maria closer. Maria smiled at him. God she was beautiful. “Where is Max.”
Courtney’s smirk held on her face. “Oh, they’re in her room. I have to say that I’m starting to think you all need chaperones at all times.
Whatever. He brushed past Courtney towards Liz’s room.
He heard Courtney’s voice behind him, “Hey Michael I think you dropped…” Her voice became softer and tinged with wonder, “Oh my.”
Maria looked up at him shocked and hurried towards Courtney.
Michael slowly followed. He had forgotten the sketch.
Michael looked down the stairwell and watched as Courtney handed the sketch to Maria. He held his breath as Maria looked at it.
She looked up at him, “Michael did you draw this?”
Michael slowly nodded.
Maria looked back at it, “It’s amazing. It looks so real, you really have a lot of talent there Michael.”
Michael just stood there watching her.
Courtney shot a fond glance at Michael and another at Maria. Her smirk had shifted to a proud smile.
Maria just stood there looking at the picture. “Who is it?”
Michael’s breath caught for just a moment. Couldn’t Maria tell?
Courtney shot another glance at Michael and reached out to touch Maria’s shoulder. “You are.”
Maria shot a glance at Michael filled with wonder and looked back at Courtney. “No it can’t be. It’s so beautiful, and, and I’m…”
Michael hesitantly moved down a few steps, eyes only on Maria. “You’re beautiful, Maria. The most beautiful thing in this crappy world.”
Maria’s eyes were full of tears, “Oh, Michael.” She raced up the few steps between them and held him close.
Courtney said quietly, “I’ll be upstairs if you need anything. Just keep the intense PDA’s to a minimum. Last thing we need is extra trouble.”
So Michael just held her, feeling her energy flow into him and his into her.
After a long moment Maria pushed herself away from him, a look of suspicion in her eyes. “Okay, Michael, what did you do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean this picture, I love that you made it for me. But you don’t just make things like this, you don’t just give me things. What is wrong?”
“Nothing.” He paused a second, “I was just worried about you. And now you seem better. I just wanted to see you smile a little, just wanted you to be happy for just a few moments.”
“Is, is that all?” She looked at him, her eyes hopeful, but a small dose of suspicion remaining.
He stared at her for a moment. What could he say to make her believe, really believe him? “Look, Maria, we both have issues. And our lives are far from perfect. We are far from perfect. We will hurt each other. It’s gonna happen, no matter how much we love each other. Just look at Liz and Max, it will happen.” He placed his finger over her mouth as she started to reply, “No let me finish, I’m not good at this. And, and I’m not sure I could start again if I stopped, so please just let me finish.”
Maria just looked at him with those wondrous green eyes.
Michael continued, “We will hurt each other, and I will do what I can for forgiveness, as will you if need be. But Maria, I, I” He couldn’t go on, he just couldn’t…
“Go on Spaceboy…”
He just stared at her for what seemed and eternity. He closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them again he continued, “I love you Maria. I really do. And you’re right, when I finished that picture, I was going to save it. To give it to you to make up for some bone headed action I undoubtedly will make… But today, today you seemed so vulnerable, so broken by the events of the day. Finding out about your father… I just wanted to see you smile. If only for a moment.”
Maria just looked at him, tears sliding down her smiling face. Her eyes seemed to glow. She looked back down at the picture, “So this is how you see me?” she said in a soft voice.
He was hard pressed to keep his voice level, “No, but it’s the best I could draw…”
She clung to him again, and he could feel her love for him surround him.
Tomorrow. He had waited too long as it was. He would show her tomorrow. To let her, to let anyone truly see him…. He could still lose her.
But she should know.
Tomorrow.
----
Courtney-
Courtney left the two on the stairwell and moved back into the main residence toward Liz’s room. She stopped in the doorway and looked at Max and Liz. They were talking softly and holding hands.
Only that, but Courtney could tell that they loved each other.
She moved back to the living room to give them a little space.
She shook her head. Young love… Had she ever been so young? God, but they made her feel so very old….
Courtney closed her eyes and remembered. She had been near there age when she had learned how bad the world could be. When she learned how her home, her whole people had been destroyed.
She had never really had the chance, never really allowed herself to have the chance. Revenge and justice had been all she had desired.
She had few regrets. There were things she wished she had had, but she had done what she had thought was right. As she was doing now.
She was not old by her people’s standards, but she knew that she would never feel life quicken within her. She would never have a family by blood, and her family’s bloodline would die with her.
But she would never again say that she did not have a family.
And she would defend them, defend them all.
No matter the cost.
RhondaAnn- Thanks. I'm trying to get back to a more regular, at least once a week posting schedule. But a coworker had to do something idiotic and suddenly I'm doing the work of two people.
Isabel was trying to blame Vilandra, but even she knows its not true. She was basically channeling Vilandra so to speak, but what happened was all Isabel. The bond is going to take some getting used to for the both of them. For all of our heroes really. All of their bonds are different, though. It is a factor that will progress through the story as we continue. Somehow I doubt Alex really expected this. But you're right, I doubt he will regret it in the long run.
That scene was fun. Maria's powers, now those might cause some problems. No one really knows what she can do, not even Maria.
chanks_girl- Isabel made a choice. She's been toying with completely wiping out the link between them that she forged in the Longest Day, but every moment it held, Alex's love strengthened it. The idea that Lonnie might take him from her, as ridiculous a situation as it may be, reinforced by her need of him... Understand this Vilandra was not a powderpuff princess like she is in so many stories. She did a lot of things that will shock and horrify Isabel, but then Zan and Rath were not lily white pure either.
Stinebiene- That comment was not a trick. I was thinking about that very thing while I was writing my comments. Alex doesn't have a large part in this chapter, but Isabel does as she rationalizes what she had done. How that mind warp will affect future events is in there.
You are right, Ana is in for a shock.
Sternbetrachter- Thanks
xmag- The bond between each of the couples is somewhat different. Max's and Liz's is natural, although it got a huge boost when Max connected with Liz during the Pilot episode, letting her see herself through his eyes. Their connection has slowly been growing this whole time in fits and starts. Maria and Michael have theirs forged by their actions in the Longest Day... They were on the way to a rough connection anyway, but it was hit or miss affair. Michael is not perceptive enough, and Maria did not have enough strength in that fashion to truly notice it. Niether of them can deny it now. Isabel basically used some of Vilandra's vast knowledge to forge a bond between Alex and herself, built on the thread she had cast to save herself in the Longest Day, and Alex's love for Isabel. That is why she nearly killed Alex, she was changing him slightly to make the bond. (And as Alex noted in the last part, in moving him, she was also moved.)
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 23
Isabel-
Isabel stared at her hands. She had nearly killed Alex. She wasn’t sure what she had done exactly, but she did know that. She had pumped so much power into his body that she had dangerously increased his body temperature.
The question was what she had done. She wasn’t her brother, she could not heal like he could, not something major. Not without killing the person. Molecular manipulation caused heat. And as far as she was aware there was nothing wrong with Alex.
Aside from a mild case of heat stroke, brought on by her odd actions.
She closed her eyes for a moment, just to test the filament connection she had built towards him. It was gone. In its place was a massive construct.
Bonded. They were bonded. Why would she do that?
Isabel thought hard on how she had felt, what she remembered of her trip to Alex’s house. She had set the phone down, and then that horrible memory. It had been real too. It had been her, as her previous self. How could she have done something like that?
To protect someone she loved. It had been that simple. Alex’s need, felt through her connection to him, had drawn the memory.
Oh my God.
I’m not just fond of him. I love him.. Isabel drew up her legs to her chest and rocked slightly, and probed ever so gently the love Alex had for her.
It brought swirls of memories in its wake, flashing too quickly for her to quite grasp. They were still there, locked in her mind waiting for a trigger. She would have to deal with them, sooner or later. She would have to deal with what she had done, of who she had been.
But with Alex at her side, she could manage. For he loved her.
Just as she loved him. She could no longer hide, no longer say it was just possible. Isabel Evans, once the powerful and proud Vilandra, loved Alex Whitman.
A sudden bubble of joy filled her heart. She had never really expected this, to have someone who knew what she was, who she had been, and loved her anyway. How had she been so lucky?
Her eyes narrowed in thought. How had they all been so lucky? For all of the lost Royals of Antar to have found and bonded true loves in their Junior year of High School? What were the odds?
Astronomical. The odds were simply astronomical in their sheer improbability. Was it because of their dual nature, or was their something odd at play? It certainly did not work that way for humans. It also would not protect them from hurting each other, just look at Max and Liz.
Something was at work here something powerful, not Tess’s Destiny to be sure. She loved Michael, but not in the way Tess would have her. And Michael, fight it as he might loved spacy little Maria. Isabel was pretty sure she had felt a bond between them…
Maybe it was good that Alex would be going on his trip after all. It was a long shot, but maybe he really would be able to decode that damn book.
Plus Las Cruces was close enough for her to visit. One month was simply too long.
Isabel got up and walked towards Alex’s room. If she was going to be bound to him, she might as well find out what made him tick. A brief surge of guilt laced through her at memories of how she had treated him last summer.
That was going to change. She continued to walk down the hallway, stopping by the bathroom door as she heard the shower run. She touched the door, overwhelmed by sudden desire.
She felt warmth flood through her body. She wanted him. She could feel a pull to open the door and join him.
She was unbuttoning her blouse when it hit her. Alex was day dreaming. Of her.
If anything her face flushed even more. She had never really thought of him in that way. Okay, maybe a little. But she could feel waves of desire pouring from Alex, calling her. Her hand reached for the door handle.
And stopped. It was too much, too soon, too… too real. She could feel her own desire for him begin to build, and she knew that if she opened that door… Things would change.
She wasn’t ready. Not yet. So reluctantly she let the door handle go, and she walked further down the hall.
To his bedroom. Her face felt like it was burning.
Nothing is more true than the fact that her senses were heightened by extremes of emotion. As she walked into his room, she was hit with a sense of Alex. Not of who he is, that she could feel through the bond. But who he was, his hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Her eyes opened wide as the sensations, the barest teases of flashes poured into her.
But one object in the room practically screamed with joy and happiness. Isabel rushed over to his old acoustic guitar. She picked it up and flashes of his life washed over her. So much intense emotion, she could feel herself waver and ripple under the onslaught.
So she did the only thing she could under the circumstances, as the music ran through her veins..
She began to play.
----
Kyle-
Kyle was having a stressful day. After he had introduced Ava to the rest of the group, he never really had had an opportunity to meditate. He really needed some peace and quiet, a little time to try to get a hold of himself.
Football practice had helped some. Physical activity had always been calming for him. It was one of the reasons he was on every sports team he could be. That and the fact he hated to be alone, and his father’s job kept him away from home so much.
Kyle figured a little time spent in their backyard listening to the wind chimes would calm him. Enough so he could face Alex’s going away party. He could not help it, but the LGM’s made him nervous.
Worse, he was starting to feel more akin to them than his old sports buddies.
Very troubling indeed.
So he was surprised to see his father’s SUV at home, but not as much as he was at the presence of the Jetta. Why would Maria be here?
Maybe he would just drop his books off and go.
Kyle walked in through the kitchen and saw his dad sitting at the kitchen table reading through some documents. “Hey, Dad, you’re home early.”
“I had some business to take care of, so I took the afternoon off. Um, Kyle, when you see Max next can you tell him I need to speak with him?”
“Sure thing, Dad. I’ll see him tonight. There are some things you should know about too…” Kyle saw Amy’s purse. “But I guess we can talk about it later…. You know some Czech issues.”
“That might be wise, son. And if you see Maria, tell her I’m sorry about her father.”
Why did his father seem nervous, and pleased at the same time? “Yeah, right, I’ll do that. Um, I’m just going to get ready.” Kyle headed towards the main bathroom, when he heard a voice singing slightly off key.
Not from the main bathroom, from the master bathroom. Amy’s voice. And the shower was running.
Kyle stared at himself in the mirror. Why me? Why couldn’t I have just gone straight to the Crashdown like I usually do?”
He looked down just for a moment, but when he looked up, his face was gone.
Terror shot through him as he gazed at himself in the mirror. Where his eyes should be was a smooth expanse of skin. He reached one hand up towards the mirror, the other slowly moving up his cheek towards his now vanished eyes…
For an instant the mirror seemed to ripple like water, followed by a loud cracking sound.
Kyle saw his steely eyes gaze back at himself, his right fingers right underneath his eyes. He felt a little dizzy and flushed.
That last tackle must have affected him more than he thought. Or… or Tess was playing another of her tricks on him…
He tried desperately to push it from his mind. But he felt different. Not wrong exactly, but not right either.
He quickly got ready, absently said goodbye to Amy and his father as he left. He sat in his car for a moment before leaving, trying to figure out what had just happened.
Maybe, maybe he should talk to Liz? She always seemed to know what was going on. Yeah, as soon as he could he would talk with her, see if she had noticed anything strange lately.
Kyle drove off towards the Crashdown.
----
Michael-
Michael was on the steps heading up towards the Parker apartment when he felt his sense of Maria grow back to its former glory. As he was about to knock he knew that she was right on the other side of the door.
He did not quite expect the kiss though. For a brief moment he forgot completely where he was. He was holding Maria, and his hands were beginning to roam…
Then he felt his life end.
“Michael Guerin, what are you doing with my daughter?” came Amy Deluca’s strident tone…
Michael leapt from Maria, stumbling down a couple of stairs before he caught himself.
Maria just stood there arms crossed staring back into the apartment. “Courtney that was sooo not funny.”
“Hey you laughed when I got Max and Liz,” Courtney said as she poked her head out of the door. “Hey Michael, do you need some help?”
Michael looked up, straining to see Amy… And realized the joke had been on him. He shot Courtney a disgusted look. “I thought you were on my side?” He slowly got up and walked back up the stairs. He reached out and held Maria, who was also shooting daggers at Courtney.
“And you don’t think that the Parkers would not have told Amy that you were kissing her in a public place? And let me tell you that was quite a kiss,” Courtney finished with a smirk.
Michael just shrugged and held Maria closer. Maria smiled at him. God she was beautiful. “Where is Max.”
Courtney’s smirk held on her face. “Oh, they’re in her room. I have to say that I’m starting to think you all need chaperones at all times.
Whatever. He brushed past Courtney towards Liz’s room.
He heard Courtney’s voice behind him, “Hey Michael I think you dropped…” Her voice became softer and tinged with wonder, “Oh my.”
Maria looked up at him shocked and hurried towards Courtney.
Michael slowly followed. He had forgotten the sketch.
Michael looked down the stairwell and watched as Courtney handed the sketch to Maria. He held his breath as Maria looked at it.
She looked up at him, “Michael did you draw this?”
Michael slowly nodded.
Maria looked back at it, “It’s amazing. It looks so real, you really have a lot of talent there Michael.”
Michael just stood there watching her.
Courtney shot a fond glance at Michael and another at Maria. Her smirk had shifted to a proud smile.
Maria just stood there looking at the picture. “Who is it?”
Michael’s breath caught for just a moment. Couldn’t Maria tell?
Courtney shot another glance at Michael and reached out to touch Maria’s shoulder. “You are.”
Maria shot a glance at Michael filled with wonder and looked back at Courtney. “No it can’t be. It’s so beautiful, and, and I’m…”
Michael hesitantly moved down a few steps, eyes only on Maria. “You’re beautiful, Maria. The most beautiful thing in this crappy world.”
Maria’s eyes were full of tears, “Oh, Michael.” She raced up the few steps between them and held him close.
Courtney said quietly, “I’ll be upstairs if you need anything. Just keep the intense PDA’s to a minimum. Last thing we need is extra trouble.”
So Michael just held her, feeling her energy flow into him and his into her.
After a long moment Maria pushed herself away from him, a look of suspicion in her eyes. “Okay, Michael, what did you do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean this picture, I love that you made it for me. But you don’t just make things like this, you don’t just give me things. What is wrong?”
“Nothing.” He paused a second, “I was just worried about you. And now you seem better. I just wanted to see you smile a little, just wanted you to be happy for just a few moments.”
“Is, is that all?” She looked at him, her eyes hopeful, but a small dose of suspicion remaining.
He stared at her for a moment. What could he say to make her believe, really believe him? “Look, Maria, we both have issues. And our lives are far from perfect. We are far from perfect. We will hurt each other. It’s gonna happen, no matter how much we love each other. Just look at Liz and Max, it will happen.” He placed his finger over her mouth as she started to reply, “No let me finish, I’m not good at this. And, and I’m not sure I could start again if I stopped, so please just let me finish.”
Maria just looked at him with those wondrous green eyes.
Michael continued, “We will hurt each other, and I will do what I can for forgiveness, as will you if need be. But Maria, I, I” He couldn’t go on, he just couldn’t…
“Go on Spaceboy…”
He just stared at her for what seemed and eternity. He closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them again he continued, “I love you Maria. I really do. And you’re right, when I finished that picture, I was going to save it. To give it to you to make up for some bone headed action I undoubtedly will make… But today, today you seemed so vulnerable, so broken by the events of the day. Finding out about your father… I just wanted to see you smile. If only for a moment.”
Maria just looked at him, tears sliding down her smiling face. Her eyes seemed to glow. She looked back down at the picture, “So this is how you see me?” she said in a soft voice.
He was hard pressed to keep his voice level, “No, but it’s the best I could draw…”
She clung to him again, and he could feel her love for him surround him.
Tomorrow. He had waited too long as it was. He would show her tomorrow. To let her, to let anyone truly see him…. He could still lose her.
But she should know.
Tomorrow.
----
Courtney-
Courtney left the two on the stairwell and moved back into the main residence toward Liz’s room. She stopped in the doorway and looked at Max and Liz. They were talking softly and holding hands.
Only that, but Courtney could tell that they loved each other.
She moved back to the living room to give them a little space.
She shook her head. Young love… Had she ever been so young? God, but they made her feel so very old….
Courtney closed her eyes and remembered. She had been near there age when she had learned how bad the world could be. When she learned how her home, her whole people had been destroyed.
She had never really had the chance, never really allowed herself to have the chance. Revenge and justice had been all she had desired.
She had few regrets. There were things she wished she had had, but she had done what she had thought was right. As she was doing now.
She was not old by her people’s standards, but she knew that she would never feel life quicken within her. She would never have a family by blood, and her family’s bloodline would die with her.
But she would never again say that she did not have a family.
And she would defend them, defend them all.
No matter the cost.
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 23- 04/28/08
Thanks to everyone reading this story. Particular thanks to xmag, stinebiene, chanks_girl, and RhondaAnn. A couple of notes before I go dashing off into individual replies. First I should note that this part is probably over the teen line and into mature. Second this part got hijacked by a couple of characters, and so some of what I had planned to be in this part is getting moved to the next. Which as I actually have this weekend of, hopefully will be Sunday sometime. Hard to say, as plans can sometimes change. It was either this or have an absolutely huge chapter to you on Sunday.
I hope you folks will still enjoy.
xmag- Thanks. Kyle's powers have actually expressed a couple of times already in this story, although never in big ways. But the side effects of some of the changes are catching up to him, as they did in the show to Liz. It is just that in my story these are affecting them sooner, Liz started to be affected probably around Sexual Healing. Although the biggest factor, that they will see in hind sight in canon are the flashes she got from Nasedo when he kidnapped her. I've added her doing some odd telekinetic stuff in the Crashdown. (Note, it was Liz's actions that drew Courtney to the Crashdown, I believe I've had her mention that a couple of parts back.) There was an incident in Florida that will sooner or later become important to this story, and that is the reason Nasedo started dosing Liz. Liz needed higher and higher doses to cancel out her growing powers, and it was that heavy dose that Tess mistakenly gave Maria. Nearly killing her in the process. While Tess did not realize the extent of possible damage to Maria, she did note the extreme discomfort it put her in.
Tess quite simply can not do that to Kyle. So he hasn't been dosed.
I've always thought that Isabel had walls just like Michael. They were in someways harder to breach. But when she falls, she falls hard.
chanks_girl - Hope you like this part. It was Alex and Isabel that stole this chapter.
Stinebiene- Nope you caught it right. Isabel caught a flash of Tess and Alex planning his trip to Las Cruces... And no she's not mindwarped, not exactly.
RhondaAnn- About Isabel and Alex's bond, in canon Isabel is presented as the one who is closest to a telepath on the show. She doesn't have true telepathy, but she is receptive. Hence Tess's distress call. (Easier for both of them, as Tess would be a projective telepath... It probably would not have worked as well the other way around.) She can pick up others to a limited degree in relationship to the level of connection she had to them. Picking up Alex's stray day dream was a walk in the park for her.
Please note they steal this chapter.
Poor Kyle was never dosed with Valerium. Tess had noticed that it caused a little bit of distress to Liz, and so held off dosing Kyle until she had to. Maria is already stronger than Kyle, due to some special circumstances regarding her healing. And when Tess say how badly the drug affected Maria, she realized she couldn't do that to Kyle. So Courtney won't notice he's been poisoned, because he hasn't.
Thanks. All too often people portray Maria as just a semi violent drama queen, without ever noting how much of her actions are at least partly due to her latent insecurities and low self esteem. Just like Michael, she often over compensates.
As for Michael, yes sometimes tomorrow is too late. Paritcularly if it is perpetually tomorrow that something will be done. That is not a mistake that Michael will make in this lifetime... Nor for that mater will Isabel, as you will see in this part.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon part 24
Brody-
It was strange to be back in New York City, back in his old office. Brody kept it on the off chance he needed to return. Plus it gave a nice central location for the researchers he employed.
He’d offered to pay them to move to Roswell, but none had wanted to leave the City. So he had gone alone, but then he’d needed a change of pace. And while Roswell was much slower and there really wasn’t much to do or see, he had fallen in love with its quirky charm.
He was actually surprised that he was already feeling a little homesick. Funny how things change.
It was a good thing he had decided to keep the old office and connections. One of the graduate students he was supporting was the individual who had isolated the microwave signal he had been so happy to see.
Possible alien contact.
He had to find them.
If only he did not keep getting those blackouts. The dreams were almost as disturbing. He always felt he could almost understand what was going on, but not quite.
In any case, Alan was looking at a nice Christmas bonus. Particularly if this newly minted Ph.D. decided to work for him. He had said she was the smartest person he had ever met. Brody watched as she read the documents that he had given her, both a tiny teaser of the data from what was being called the Second Roswell Incident and a contract.
The amount of money he was offering was hard to sneer at too, particularly with so few strings attached. He just needed her to look over the data he had and consult him on what he had.
She looked up, “Mr. Davis, this is interesting. But I have to ask why you have chosen me?”
“Dr. Goodwin, you come highly recommended. You have done well in your field so far, and yet you are young enough to have an open mind.”
“That may be, Mr. Davis. I do not believe in flying saucers. I have read about you, about what happened last year.”
Brody looked away, “I just want to know what happened in Roswell last Saturday. Something happened, there is no doubt about that. Whether it was a proto type weapon, a rare natural phenomena, or the actions of Little Green Men… I don’t know. But something happened. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one with this data. I sent it to some of my friends in the UFO community, and I’m working with the Air Force as well. I just want an outside observer. One that is reasonably impartial and willing to pursue any open avenue of investigation.”
“And the confidentiality clause?”
“Any of the purely scientific information you discover, you can of course publish. But there may be some situations where… discretion may be needed. If only to protect the innocent.”
Dr. Goodwin snorted. She set down the printouts and picked up the contract to check it again. “So in addition to the grant, you will also cover any reasonable expense incurred while investigating any of the phenomena you wish me to look at? That could get expensive.”
“Reasonable expense. I’m a fairly wealthy man, Dr. Goodwin, but there are limits. I have other projects running as well. Are you interested?”
She looked at him for a few moments before quickly signing her name.
Brody nodded and took the document. “Very good. We’ll be working a bit together, so you can call me Brody, may I call you Serena?”
She looked at the document in his hands and nodded slowly.
He wondered if she was regretting her decision already. Best give her a little more bait. “You know, one of the reasons I was interested in hiring you was a paper you recently wrote on the nature of time. You see, the oddities that happened in Roswell are not limited to just the downtown being subjected to EMP, or the sudden changes in the weather.”
Serena looked at him suspiciously. “Go on.”
“After the blast, every non-digital clock within twelve miles advanced almost six hours all in the blink of an eye.” He saw her sit back and could almost hear her mind working.
He kept his smile to himself. Gotcha.
----
Alex-
Alex stared at himself in the mirror, to see what had changed. He pumped one arm. Nothing. He was still just Alex.
Just cheery goofy Alex who had been not so quietly pining for Isabel for quite a while. And now…
Well he wasn’t quite sure. It was possible he’d been drugged. But that wasn’t likely. Tess could have mind warped him. But why would she bother when he was already doing what she wanted?
Or perhaps it was all a very vivid dream, and he was drooling away in Math. Dreaming of two Isabels since he had seen Ava at lunch. If so it was a good if strange dream.
But he could FEEL her, right there in his head.
Was he just imagining it? Well there was only one way to find out.
He paused a second, looking for his clothes. He hadn’t brought any new clothes with him when he went in the shower. All he had were the sweat stained ones he’d been wearing when he’d greeted Isabel.
Alex wasn’t squeamish, but the thought of putting those things back on was not a pleasant one. So he would make a quick dash to his room, quickly change and confront Isabel.
God, he wanted her. He wanted her so very badly.
Alex took one last sobering look in the mirror before grabbing the largest towel he could find to wrap around himself. He had to be quick. If she caught him, she would tell his friends and he would never live it down.
Alex opened the door and quickly looked both ways. The coast was clear.
However, the corridor seemed a little… windier than normal. And then there was the music coming from his room. Guitar music to be sure, but not a piece he recognized.
Someone was in his room. He briefly considered going into his parent’s room to grab something to wear, but curiosity won out.
Besides he felt… drawn to his room.
Drawn because she was there. Waiting. For him.
His heart started to beat faster as he cautiously moved towards his room. The closer he got the windier the hallway got, until he opened his bedroom door and looked inside.
In his room there was a whirlwind. All of the small items that had covered his shelves and desk were swirling around it’s center. And seated there was Isabel playing the guitar. Alex watched transfixed as the wind whipped her unbuttoned blouse around her body, her tight jeans looking like they had been spray painted on. Her face was serene, with eyes closed, and tears streaming down her cheeks.
He wanted her badly. A fact that given his current state of undress was becoming quite noticeable.
Maybe he should just head back to the bathroom for another shower. This time a colder one. Not that the last one had helped much.
Isabel did not open her eyes, but a smile quirked on her lips. “Well, hello Alex.” Her voice was not quite right, sounding multi-toned. “I had never really understood how much your music has meant to you, not until now.”
Alex just kept looking at her through the wall of flying objects. God, she was so beautiful. “I didn’t know that you played guitar, Isabel.”
“I don’t. Not well anyway. Mom made us learn when we were in sixth grade.” She laughed, “You should hear Max, he simply can not carry a tune.” She sighed and they were quiet for a few moments. “It’s not quite right.”
“What’s not?” Alex did not know how much longer he could just stand here. The view was simply intoxicating, and he wanted more. But there was a wall of swiftly moving objects between him and his love.
“This song. Your guitar isn’t really made to play it, but you love it so much I couldn’t bear to change it. I haven’t played it in decades, not since, not since he left me.” There was a tiny heart rending whimper.
Alex tore his eyes from Isabel to the wall of swirling objects that separated them. He had to get to her, he had to comfort her. He simply could not bear to see her in such pain. He had to figure out a pattern, find some opening…. “What song is it?” He asked, hoping to distract her.
“Part of Drimordjian’s national anthem. Karis taught me the tune, but never the words. It hurt her too much to sing it, but to play it kept part of it alive for her. Oh, how could my father ever been a part of that? So many dead for pointless greed. And it set so much into motion, it changed everything…”
She was lost in a memory. He had to go to her. So he just leapt through the barrier. Most of it missed him, seemed to go out its way to avoid him. But not everything.
A plaque he had earned in a spelling bee in third grade smacked him on the side of the head. This threw off his aim a little bit. He ended up running into her.
It was then that Alex knew that he was going to die. One hand was underneath her, near the small of her back, his face rested squarely on her bare midriff. The other hand was cupping one of her breasts.
And the towel? It got snatched by the roaring wind.
Alex was surely about to die. Isabel would certainly kill him for this accidental transgression. He knew he should move, should try to explain… But it was so comfortable here as he took in her crisp clean scent…
And there was more. Whatever odd sense he had gained today could feel her. Not just physically, but something more. He could feel the bundle of contradictions that made up Isabel, tough and fragile in equal measure. And the fear, the fear she hid from everyone. The fear of herself, of who she had been, of what she might become, and the oh, so human fear of rejection.
It caused her so much pain.
A wave of protectiveness encompassed Alex. He reached deep within himself and tried to bridge the gap between them, to bring comfort to her soul. He could sense that part of her was reaching out to him, and yet part of her was pushing him away.
But he was winning, and he knew given time he would wear her down… No one was more stubborn than a protective Alex Whitman.
He was almost there when he felt Isabel stir.
“Alex?” Isabel wriggled slightly, trying to break free of his embrace.
Alex reluctantly moved, grabbing a pillow to hide his nakedness. He was careful to avoid the wall of wind that even now encompassed the room. He watched as Isabel sat up and looked confusedly at the guitar. He then felt as her gaze settled on him. He watched as surprise, amusement, and longing flashed through her eyes.
“You appear to be naked. Did I, did we do anything?”
“No, I just came upon you in my room playing my guitar. Your little wind wall stole my towel.” Alex pointed out the towel that was fluttering near the ceiling.
Isabel looked past him to the wall of objects flying through the air. “I seem to be doing that a lot lately.” She shook her head, closed her eyes and held her hands out for a moment. Her hands glowed for a second and a look of intense concentration passed across her face.
Alex watched in amazement as the wind began to drop everything exactly were it had been before Isabel moved it. He caught the towel as it drifted back down while the winds failed. “That was amazing. Kind of like how Tess fixed that statue when she first came to town.”
Isabel shrugged and kept her eyes downcast.
“Isabel, what is wrong?” Alex snuck behind his desk chair and rewrapped the towel around himself.
Isabel’s face was contorted with torment as fear and sorrow battled one another for supremacy on her beautiful face. “Why are you still here? Why, Alex?”
Alex knew the next words would be important, perhaps crucial to any hope of a relationship with Isabel. And while he tried, he could not keep all of his anger out of his voice. “Well I could start with the fact that this is my bedroom in my house, but I know that is not what your talking about. God, how many times do I have to say this!” Out of the corner of his eye he saw Isabel flinch when he pounded his computer desk. “I’m involved with you people because I want to. Because I am loyal to my friends, and because you are all good people and someone should help you. But most of all,” Alex could not stop a bitter laugh, “mostly I am here because of you Isabel. I don’t see how it has helped me much, but it is true.”
Alex turned and glared at Isabel. “I know I’m not much. I don’t have special powers and I’m not fully part of your little alien cabal. But I do love you. Somewhere along the line my admiration for your quick wit and your gorgeous looks changed, became deeper. I wasn’t lying to you last year, when you were afraid you were pregnant Isabel with that damn dream baby… So go ahead and mock me, go ahead and do your worst to push me away… I love you not for the disguises that you wear constantly, but for the person they hide. I am nothing special, Isabel… But you will damn well know that I, Alexander Charles Whitman loved you, Isabel Amanda Evans.”
Isabel was silent, her face unreadable.
Alex could feel himself being overwhelmed by the emotions rolling through him, so very many, so very strong. He turned slightly so that Isabel could not see him vainly struggling to hold back his tears. This may very well have been his best chance.
And he blew it.
He braced himself for the coming tirade. He heard her get off the bed and move toward him. She placed a one hand on his shoulder and another on his cheek and turned his face towards hers.
Isabel’s face was full of wonder. She delicately traced a tear from his face. “I’ve been fighting this for a while. I tried to push you away, not just for my sake but for yours. So that you could someday leave and have a normal life with a normal girl. And last timeline I let that happen. In the end that did not save you.” Isabel blinked back a couple of tears.
Alex reached up and wiped away one of her tears. He could feel his own desire to just take her now building. He’d been wrong. This could be good.
This could be very good.
Isabel looked back at him, “It did not even save me. I ended up killed by someone who should have been a friend, but in our desire to ‘protect’ you humans we left you adrift. Easy prey for our enemies. Only Max had it right, to hold the one he loved close. And even then my muddle headed brother came back in time to break himself and Liz up. The lovable fool.”
“But you told me she said you guys need to keep Tess around?”
Or we could keep hashing up the endless angst of our over complicated lives…
Isabel smiled and moved her other hand to his shoulder, holding him close. Not that he minded… “Future Max told her we need Tess to be here. That we needed the Royal Four. But he did not have her try to tie me to Michael now did he? If we all needed to follow Tess’s Destiny he would have. If I don’t have to be with Michael, why would Max have to be with Tess?”
Alex thought for a second. “Yeah that makes sense. So you think he was trying to buy time? Trying to get us all to trust her?”
“No. I think my brother and his noble future wife cooked up a plan they thought would tie her to us. Give Tess what she thinks she wants. Your over noble friend and my over serious brother probably thought that it would be worth it. That they could give each other up to save the world.”
Alex was only half paying attention, admiring as the growing twilight seemed to make her skin glow in the dimming light. “Do you have a better plan?”
“No but your helping her decode that book will help buy us time.”
“Wh-what?”
“Your little trip to Las Cruces. I’d be mad, but your reasoning for help her is solid.”
Alex stared at her speechless.
“Flashes, Alex, you have got to remember the flashes. No more lies to me, okay?”
Alex nodded numbly. “But what do I tell Tess.”
“Nothing, you tell her nothing.” Her hands went around his back, pulling him even closer, eyes smoky with desire. “In a way I’m glad. If you had gone to Sweden, I wouldn‘t be able to visit you and do this.”
So began a heated make out session between them, fueled not only by their connection but also by their comparative state of undress. It ended in frustration for Alex, and giggles for Isabel.
Try as he might, Alex just couldn’t get the damn bra clasp open. Not that Isabel had been any help, she kept… distracting him. Of course she distracted him simply by breathing let alone…
Anyway, he was frustrated as she rolled off the bed, still in jeans and bra. Her blouse had been discarded at some point. Alex looked at her in the now near dark of the house. She looked lovely and sexy all at once. He was happy and amazed he had gotten as far as he had with her today.
But he wanted more. Somehow he knew that he always would.
He watched as she cupped her hands and saw the golden glow. Several faintly glowing blue globes drifted from her hands. They weren’t bright, maybe a little less than candle light.
Isabel frowned at the dim lights. “Candles. Next time we need candles.”
“Next time?” Alex said faintly. Not that he was complaining. The view from here was great. Just he had hoped for more.
Isabel just smiled at him. “You know, you never did ask me why my blouse was unbuttoned.”
“There was a lot going on, my mind was kind of busy.”
Isabel’s smile did not slip, if anything grew larger. “I had thought to join you in the shower.”
Alex’s voice was soft. “I would have liked that.”
“Me too, I think.” Isabel looked away, her voice becoming slightly multi-toned, filled with longing and fear. “But I got scared. You have scared me for a while Alex. I haven’t felt this way about anyone, not since, not since…”
Alex just looked at her with a gaze of longing mixed with a little compassion. “Since Khivar.”
He would have to learn to live with the fact that her memories of her old life would impact her present one. He wondered if it had affected any of his other friends yet. But no matter who she had been, she was still Isabel. And he loved her.
Isabel nodded slightly, still looking at his eyes. “I just, I just want to tell you this before things change between us. But the reason I didn’t was that I did not feel ready. I still don’t. But,” Isabel was trembling slightly, but her eyes were still on his. “But I realized something. I will never find the perfect moment. I will never truly be ready for you. What I feel for you, it’s intense Alex. It’s intense and it’s real.” Isabel looked away.
Alex waited quietly, not certain precisely where this was going. But he did note that the intensity of feelings that he had decreased slightly as she had looked away. It was the connection. He had been feeling some of her desire and longing, and when she looked away it faded slightly. He nodded to himself. That must be why Max and Liz are always staring at each other. It strengthens their connection somehow. Alex felt his hypothesis confirmed as Isabel raised her eyes once more to his. He drank in all the extra sensations, knowing now that they came from her.
“You see, I realized that I had to make a choice. I could keep waiting for a perfect moment that may never come. Or I could seize the moment, knowing it wouldn’t be perfect. And so I have made a choice. For good or ill, Alexander Charles Whitman, I choose you.” She gave him a slightly nervous smile as her hands slid up her back, to that damnable clasp. “And the moment I choose is now.” With one deft motion the bra came free.
He just stared at her for a moment, stunned. “Are you sure?”
Isabel just shot him a wide, slightly wolfish grin. “So, are you going to help a poor girl out of her jeans or what?”
Alex was suddenly flooded with anxiety. But this was not a situation to pass up. So he gave her a nervous and wolfish grin of his own. “Oh, my great lady, what can I a poor humble Earthling do but comply…”
And the rest as they say was history.
I hope you folks will still enjoy.
xmag- Thanks. Kyle's powers have actually expressed a couple of times already in this story, although never in big ways. But the side effects of some of the changes are catching up to him, as they did in the show to Liz. It is just that in my story these are affecting them sooner, Liz started to be affected probably around Sexual Healing. Although the biggest factor, that they will see in hind sight in canon are the flashes she got from Nasedo when he kidnapped her. I've added her doing some odd telekinetic stuff in the Crashdown. (Note, it was Liz's actions that drew Courtney to the Crashdown, I believe I've had her mention that a couple of parts back.) There was an incident in Florida that will sooner or later become important to this story, and that is the reason Nasedo started dosing Liz. Liz needed higher and higher doses to cancel out her growing powers, and it was that heavy dose that Tess mistakenly gave Maria. Nearly killing her in the process. While Tess did not realize the extent of possible damage to Maria, she did note the extreme discomfort it put her in.
Tess quite simply can not do that to Kyle. So he hasn't been dosed.
I've always thought that Isabel had walls just like Michael. They were in someways harder to breach. But when she falls, she falls hard.
chanks_girl - Hope you like this part. It was Alex and Isabel that stole this chapter.
Stinebiene- Nope you caught it right. Isabel caught a flash of Tess and Alex planning his trip to Las Cruces... And no she's not mindwarped, not exactly.
RhondaAnn- About Isabel and Alex's bond, in canon Isabel is presented as the one who is closest to a telepath on the show. She doesn't have true telepathy, but she is receptive. Hence Tess's distress call. (Easier for both of them, as Tess would be a projective telepath... It probably would not have worked as well the other way around.) She can pick up others to a limited degree in relationship to the level of connection she had to them. Picking up Alex's stray day dream was a walk in the park for her.
Please note they steal this chapter.
Poor Kyle was never dosed with Valerium. Tess had noticed that it caused a little bit of distress to Liz, and so held off dosing Kyle until she had to. Maria is already stronger than Kyle, due to some special circumstances regarding her healing. And when Tess say how badly the drug affected Maria, she realized she couldn't do that to Kyle. So Courtney won't notice he's been poisoned, because he hasn't.
Thanks. All too often people portray Maria as just a semi violent drama queen, without ever noting how much of her actions are at least partly due to her latent insecurities and low self esteem. Just like Michael, she often over compensates.
As for Michael, yes sometimes tomorrow is too late. Paritcularly if it is perpetually tomorrow that something will be done. That is not a mistake that Michael will make in this lifetime... Nor for that mater will Isabel, as you will see in this part.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon part 24
Brody-
It was strange to be back in New York City, back in his old office. Brody kept it on the off chance he needed to return. Plus it gave a nice central location for the researchers he employed.
He’d offered to pay them to move to Roswell, but none had wanted to leave the City. So he had gone alone, but then he’d needed a change of pace. And while Roswell was much slower and there really wasn’t much to do or see, he had fallen in love with its quirky charm.
He was actually surprised that he was already feeling a little homesick. Funny how things change.
It was a good thing he had decided to keep the old office and connections. One of the graduate students he was supporting was the individual who had isolated the microwave signal he had been so happy to see.
Possible alien contact.
He had to find them.
If only he did not keep getting those blackouts. The dreams were almost as disturbing. He always felt he could almost understand what was going on, but not quite.
In any case, Alan was looking at a nice Christmas bonus. Particularly if this newly minted Ph.D. decided to work for him. He had said she was the smartest person he had ever met. Brody watched as she read the documents that he had given her, both a tiny teaser of the data from what was being called the Second Roswell Incident and a contract.
The amount of money he was offering was hard to sneer at too, particularly with so few strings attached. He just needed her to look over the data he had and consult him on what he had.
She looked up, “Mr. Davis, this is interesting. But I have to ask why you have chosen me?”
“Dr. Goodwin, you come highly recommended. You have done well in your field so far, and yet you are young enough to have an open mind.”
“That may be, Mr. Davis. I do not believe in flying saucers. I have read about you, about what happened last year.”
Brody looked away, “I just want to know what happened in Roswell last Saturday. Something happened, there is no doubt about that. Whether it was a proto type weapon, a rare natural phenomena, or the actions of Little Green Men… I don’t know. But something happened. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one with this data. I sent it to some of my friends in the UFO community, and I’m working with the Air Force as well. I just want an outside observer. One that is reasonably impartial and willing to pursue any open avenue of investigation.”
“And the confidentiality clause?”
“Any of the purely scientific information you discover, you can of course publish. But there may be some situations where… discretion may be needed. If only to protect the innocent.”
Dr. Goodwin snorted. She set down the printouts and picked up the contract to check it again. “So in addition to the grant, you will also cover any reasonable expense incurred while investigating any of the phenomena you wish me to look at? That could get expensive.”
“Reasonable expense. I’m a fairly wealthy man, Dr. Goodwin, but there are limits. I have other projects running as well. Are you interested?”
She looked at him for a few moments before quickly signing her name.
Brody nodded and took the document. “Very good. We’ll be working a bit together, so you can call me Brody, may I call you Serena?”
She looked at the document in his hands and nodded slowly.
He wondered if she was regretting her decision already. Best give her a little more bait. “You know, one of the reasons I was interested in hiring you was a paper you recently wrote on the nature of time. You see, the oddities that happened in Roswell are not limited to just the downtown being subjected to EMP, or the sudden changes in the weather.”
Serena looked at him suspiciously. “Go on.”
“After the blast, every non-digital clock within twelve miles advanced almost six hours all in the blink of an eye.” He saw her sit back and could almost hear her mind working.
He kept his smile to himself. Gotcha.
----
Alex-
Alex stared at himself in the mirror, to see what had changed. He pumped one arm. Nothing. He was still just Alex.
Just cheery goofy Alex who had been not so quietly pining for Isabel for quite a while. And now…
Well he wasn’t quite sure. It was possible he’d been drugged. But that wasn’t likely. Tess could have mind warped him. But why would she bother when he was already doing what she wanted?
Or perhaps it was all a very vivid dream, and he was drooling away in Math. Dreaming of two Isabels since he had seen Ava at lunch. If so it was a good if strange dream.
But he could FEEL her, right there in his head.
Was he just imagining it? Well there was only one way to find out.
He paused a second, looking for his clothes. He hadn’t brought any new clothes with him when he went in the shower. All he had were the sweat stained ones he’d been wearing when he’d greeted Isabel.
Alex wasn’t squeamish, but the thought of putting those things back on was not a pleasant one. So he would make a quick dash to his room, quickly change and confront Isabel.
God, he wanted her. He wanted her so very badly.
Alex took one last sobering look in the mirror before grabbing the largest towel he could find to wrap around himself. He had to be quick. If she caught him, she would tell his friends and he would never live it down.
Alex opened the door and quickly looked both ways. The coast was clear.
However, the corridor seemed a little… windier than normal. And then there was the music coming from his room. Guitar music to be sure, but not a piece he recognized.
Someone was in his room. He briefly considered going into his parent’s room to grab something to wear, but curiosity won out.
Besides he felt… drawn to his room.
Drawn because she was there. Waiting. For him.
His heart started to beat faster as he cautiously moved towards his room. The closer he got the windier the hallway got, until he opened his bedroom door and looked inside.
In his room there was a whirlwind. All of the small items that had covered his shelves and desk were swirling around it’s center. And seated there was Isabel playing the guitar. Alex watched transfixed as the wind whipped her unbuttoned blouse around her body, her tight jeans looking like they had been spray painted on. Her face was serene, with eyes closed, and tears streaming down her cheeks.
He wanted her badly. A fact that given his current state of undress was becoming quite noticeable.
Maybe he should just head back to the bathroom for another shower. This time a colder one. Not that the last one had helped much.
Isabel did not open her eyes, but a smile quirked on her lips. “Well, hello Alex.” Her voice was not quite right, sounding multi-toned. “I had never really understood how much your music has meant to you, not until now.”
Alex just kept looking at her through the wall of flying objects. God, she was so beautiful. “I didn’t know that you played guitar, Isabel.”
“I don’t. Not well anyway. Mom made us learn when we were in sixth grade.” She laughed, “You should hear Max, he simply can not carry a tune.” She sighed and they were quiet for a few moments. “It’s not quite right.”
“What’s not?” Alex did not know how much longer he could just stand here. The view was simply intoxicating, and he wanted more. But there was a wall of swiftly moving objects between him and his love.
“This song. Your guitar isn’t really made to play it, but you love it so much I couldn’t bear to change it. I haven’t played it in decades, not since, not since he left me.” There was a tiny heart rending whimper.
Alex tore his eyes from Isabel to the wall of swirling objects that separated them. He had to get to her, he had to comfort her. He simply could not bear to see her in such pain. He had to figure out a pattern, find some opening…. “What song is it?” He asked, hoping to distract her.
“Part of Drimordjian’s national anthem. Karis taught me the tune, but never the words. It hurt her too much to sing it, but to play it kept part of it alive for her. Oh, how could my father ever been a part of that? So many dead for pointless greed. And it set so much into motion, it changed everything…”
She was lost in a memory. He had to go to her. So he just leapt through the barrier. Most of it missed him, seemed to go out its way to avoid him. But not everything.
A plaque he had earned in a spelling bee in third grade smacked him on the side of the head. This threw off his aim a little bit. He ended up running into her.
It was then that Alex knew that he was going to die. One hand was underneath her, near the small of her back, his face rested squarely on her bare midriff. The other hand was cupping one of her breasts.
And the towel? It got snatched by the roaring wind.
Alex was surely about to die. Isabel would certainly kill him for this accidental transgression. He knew he should move, should try to explain… But it was so comfortable here as he took in her crisp clean scent…
And there was more. Whatever odd sense he had gained today could feel her. Not just physically, but something more. He could feel the bundle of contradictions that made up Isabel, tough and fragile in equal measure. And the fear, the fear she hid from everyone. The fear of herself, of who she had been, of what she might become, and the oh, so human fear of rejection.
It caused her so much pain.
A wave of protectiveness encompassed Alex. He reached deep within himself and tried to bridge the gap between them, to bring comfort to her soul. He could sense that part of her was reaching out to him, and yet part of her was pushing him away.
But he was winning, and he knew given time he would wear her down… No one was more stubborn than a protective Alex Whitman.
He was almost there when he felt Isabel stir.
“Alex?” Isabel wriggled slightly, trying to break free of his embrace.
Alex reluctantly moved, grabbing a pillow to hide his nakedness. He was careful to avoid the wall of wind that even now encompassed the room. He watched as Isabel sat up and looked confusedly at the guitar. He then felt as her gaze settled on him. He watched as surprise, amusement, and longing flashed through her eyes.
“You appear to be naked. Did I, did we do anything?”
“No, I just came upon you in my room playing my guitar. Your little wind wall stole my towel.” Alex pointed out the towel that was fluttering near the ceiling.
Isabel looked past him to the wall of objects flying through the air. “I seem to be doing that a lot lately.” She shook her head, closed her eyes and held her hands out for a moment. Her hands glowed for a second and a look of intense concentration passed across her face.
Alex watched in amazement as the wind began to drop everything exactly were it had been before Isabel moved it. He caught the towel as it drifted back down while the winds failed. “That was amazing. Kind of like how Tess fixed that statue when she first came to town.”
Isabel shrugged and kept her eyes downcast.
“Isabel, what is wrong?” Alex snuck behind his desk chair and rewrapped the towel around himself.
Isabel’s face was contorted with torment as fear and sorrow battled one another for supremacy on her beautiful face. “Why are you still here? Why, Alex?”
Alex knew the next words would be important, perhaps crucial to any hope of a relationship with Isabel. And while he tried, he could not keep all of his anger out of his voice. “Well I could start with the fact that this is my bedroom in my house, but I know that is not what your talking about. God, how many times do I have to say this!” Out of the corner of his eye he saw Isabel flinch when he pounded his computer desk. “I’m involved with you people because I want to. Because I am loyal to my friends, and because you are all good people and someone should help you. But most of all,” Alex could not stop a bitter laugh, “mostly I am here because of you Isabel. I don’t see how it has helped me much, but it is true.”
Alex turned and glared at Isabel. “I know I’m not much. I don’t have special powers and I’m not fully part of your little alien cabal. But I do love you. Somewhere along the line my admiration for your quick wit and your gorgeous looks changed, became deeper. I wasn’t lying to you last year, when you were afraid you were pregnant Isabel with that damn dream baby… So go ahead and mock me, go ahead and do your worst to push me away… I love you not for the disguises that you wear constantly, but for the person they hide. I am nothing special, Isabel… But you will damn well know that I, Alexander Charles Whitman loved you, Isabel Amanda Evans.”
Isabel was silent, her face unreadable.
Alex could feel himself being overwhelmed by the emotions rolling through him, so very many, so very strong. He turned slightly so that Isabel could not see him vainly struggling to hold back his tears. This may very well have been his best chance.
And he blew it.
He braced himself for the coming tirade. He heard her get off the bed and move toward him. She placed a one hand on his shoulder and another on his cheek and turned his face towards hers.
Isabel’s face was full of wonder. She delicately traced a tear from his face. “I’ve been fighting this for a while. I tried to push you away, not just for my sake but for yours. So that you could someday leave and have a normal life with a normal girl. And last timeline I let that happen. In the end that did not save you.” Isabel blinked back a couple of tears.
Alex reached up and wiped away one of her tears. He could feel his own desire to just take her now building. He’d been wrong. This could be good.
This could be very good.
Isabel looked back at him, “It did not even save me. I ended up killed by someone who should have been a friend, but in our desire to ‘protect’ you humans we left you adrift. Easy prey for our enemies. Only Max had it right, to hold the one he loved close. And even then my muddle headed brother came back in time to break himself and Liz up. The lovable fool.”
“But you told me she said you guys need to keep Tess around?”
Or we could keep hashing up the endless angst of our over complicated lives…
Isabel smiled and moved her other hand to his shoulder, holding him close. Not that he minded… “Future Max told her we need Tess to be here. That we needed the Royal Four. But he did not have her try to tie me to Michael now did he? If we all needed to follow Tess’s Destiny he would have. If I don’t have to be with Michael, why would Max have to be with Tess?”
Alex thought for a second. “Yeah that makes sense. So you think he was trying to buy time? Trying to get us all to trust her?”
“No. I think my brother and his noble future wife cooked up a plan they thought would tie her to us. Give Tess what she thinks she wants. Your over noble friend and my over serious brother probably thought that it would be worth it. That they could give each other up to save the world.”
Alex was only half paying attention, admiring as the growing twilight seemed to make her skin glow in the dimming light. “Do you have a better plan?”
“No but your helping her decode that book will help buy us time.”
“Wh-what?”
“Your little trip to Las Cruces. I’d be mad, but your reasoning for help her is solid.”
Alex stared at her speechless.
“Flashes, Alex, you have got to remember the flashes. No more lies to me, okay?”
Alex nodded numbly. “But what do I tell Tess.”
“Nothing, you tell her nothing.” Her hands went around his back, pulling him even closer, eyes smoky with desire. “In a way I’m glad. If you had gone to Sweden, I wouldn‘t be able to visit you and do this.”
So began a heated make out session between them, fueled not only by their connection but also by their comparative state of undress. It ended in frustration for Alex, and giggles for Isabel.
Try as he might, Alex just couldn’t get the damn bra clasp open. Not that Isabel had been any help, she kept… distracting him. Of course she distracted him simply by breathing let alone…
Anyway, he was frustrated as she rolled off the bed, still in jeans and bra. Her blouse had been discarded at some point. Alex looked at her in the now near dark of the house. She looked lovely and sexy all at once. He was happy and amazed he had gotten as far as he had with her today.
But he wanted more. Somehow he knew that he always would.
He watched as she cupped her hands and saw the golden glow. Several faintly glowing blue globes drifted from her hands. They weren’t bright, maybe a little less than candle light.
Isabel frowned at the dim lights. “Candles. Next time we need candles.”
“Next time?” Alex said faintly. Not that he was complaining. The view from here was great. Just he had hoped for more.
Isabel just smiled at him. “You know, you never did ask me why my blouse was unbuttoned.”
“There was a lot going on, my mind was kind of busy.”
Isabel’s smile did not slip, if anything grew larger. “I had thought to join you in the shower.”
Alex’s voice was soft. “I would have liked that.”
“Me too, I think.” Isabel looked away, her voice becoming slightly multi-toned, filled with longing and fear. “But I got scared. You have scared me for a while Alex. I haven’t felt this way about anyone, not since, not since…”
Alex just looked at her with a gaze of longing mixed with a little compassion. “Since Khivar.”
He would have to learn to live with the fact that her memories of her old life would impact her present one. He wondered if it had affected any of his other friends yet. But no matter who she had been, she was still Isabel. And he loved her.
Isabel nodded slightly, still looking at his eyes. “I just, I just want to tell you this before things change between us. But the reason I didn’t was that I did not feel ready. I still don’t. But,” Isabel was trembling slightly, but her eyes were still on his. “But I realized something. I will never find the perfect moment. I will never truly be ready for you. What I feel for you, it’s intense Alex. It’s intense and it’s real.” Isabel looked away.
Alex waited quietly, not certain precisely where this was going. But he did note that the intensity of feelings that he had decreased slightly as she had looked away. It was the connection. He had been feeling some of her desire and longing, and when she looked away it faded slightly. He nodded to himself. That must be why Max and Liz are always staring at each other. It strengthens their connection somehow. Alex felt his hypothesis confirmed as Isabel raised her eyes once more to his. He drank in all the extra sensations, knowing now that they came from her.
“You see, I realized that I had to make a choice. I could keep waiting for a perfect moment that may never come. Or I could seize the moment, knowing it wouldn’t be perfect. And so I have made a choice. For good or ill, Alexander Charles Whitman, I choose you.” She gave him a slightly nervous smile as her hands slid up her back, to that damnable clasp. “And the moment I choose is now.” With one deft motion the bra came free.
He just stared at her for a moment, stunned. “Are you sure?”
Isabel just shot him a wide, slightly wolfish grin. “So, are you going to help a poor girl out of her jeans or what?”
Alex was suddenly flooded with anxiety. But this was not a situation to pass up. So he gave her a nervous and wolfish grin of his own. “Oh, my great lady, what can I a poor humble Earthling do but comply…”
And the rest as they say was history.
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 24- 05/07/08
Thanks to all those reading this story. Particular thanks to katydid, RhondaAnn, Stinebiene, and C&N214.
katydid- I tell you they hijacked the chapter. Poor Alex originally ended up banging his head lightly on the wall and thinking about another cold shower and patience. But they had so much to say, things that will matter later... That by the time I had nearly finished the chapter, Isabel had changed her mind.
RhondaAnn- See above comments. I certainly hoped any Gazer that happened upon it enjoyed it.
Stinebiene- Alex does not truly understand that he has been mindwarped. Flashes show you the perspective of the person you are getting the flash from, not only what they see, but what they feel. Tess was arguing with Alex about the feasability of translating the book, using her powers to strengthen her arguement so to speak.
While those arguements were not fully persuasive to Alex, he felt persuaded because Tess mindwarped him to feel that way. Isabel doesn't understand how complicated it is going to be (nor does Tess for that matter) so the arguements seemed persuasive to her on their own merit. And as she sensed that Alex agreed, even when he really didn't fully... Well mistakes happen. The bigger warps on Alex avoid his mentioning this to anyone- and that one Isabel broke. At least as it regards to her.
Brody has a very good reason to be looking for aliens. While it was never explicitly stated in the show, my guess is my reason is even canon. If you have not already guessed, it will become apparent in a few parts.
C&N214- Thanks. Here's a part now.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 25
Max-
Max and Liz sat closely together, with Max held and caressed one of her small hands. He had missed this, missed them. There was a certain serenity that his mind only reached with her.
He wanted that back. He wanted his peace of mind back.
Maybe it would even cause the nightmares to cease. At least the part about Kyle sleeping with her should fade. The White Room might take more time.
But with Liz by his side he could do anything. He just wish it hadn’t cost her so much. And that he could be certain that she would stay by his side.
Liz sighed and leaned against him, biting her lower lip slightly.
“So, what are you thinking about?” Max said softly.
“I need to tell everyone.”
“About?”
“Everything. Future Max. The coming storm. Max, I can’t see how things have changed all that much… I just can’t keep giving you up. God it’s so complicated.”
“It’ll be fine. If we’re together it’ll be okay.”
“But what about Tess? I need you Max. I don’t think I realized how much until I was forced to give you up. And I’m afraid that without the hope of eventually getting you, Tess will leave. And we will all die.”
“Liz we don’t know that. We don’t know if that future will come to pass. Things have changed.”
“But was it enough, Max? You four were sent together for a reason. Maybe your supposed to stay together, maybe Tess is right.” Liz snuggled closer to him, eyes welling with unshed tears.
Max thought for a second, trying to figure out a way to calm Liz. “Impossible.”
Liz turned her chocolate eyes to his. They were full of questions and a trace of hope.
Max smiled softly at her. “Do you remember that quote Nesado always used? ‘Timing is everything?’”
Liz gave him a slightly puzzled frown as she nodded.
“Well think about it. If he had access to a time machine, why did he appear now? There are other, better times if all he wanted was to break us up for good. I mean if he asked you to, maybe you would have just stayed in Florida. That would have reduced your involvement and given Tess lots of opportunities.”
Liz sat back and closed her eyes for a moment. “What about Whitaker? Maybe, maybe they wanted us to know about the Skins?”
“Maybe… But seriously in the flash I got when I was waiting for you, the flash from Future Max… Even as he was trying to damp his jealousy of Kyle lying next to you, he thought that what you did would just slow the two of us down. And that maybe it would cause Tess to be more worried about losing Kyle than me. As I said earlier, Tess and Kyle slept together around the same time we were supposed to. Maybe, maybe you were supposed to stop that. What exactly did he have you do, first thing?”
Liz frowned and bit her lip, “He thought the best thing to do would be to try to well, train Tess to attract your attention. So, so I went over to the Valenti’s to talk with her… You know this is hard, talking to you about how I set you up. I’m so sorry, so very sorry I hurt you like that.”
Max kissed her forehead, “I know Liz, trust me I know, I’m sorry too. But I think I’m seeing a bit of what might have happened. Please tell me everything that happened right then. You got to the Valenti‘s and got Tess?”
Liz swallowed, “Well actually it was Kyle who answered the door. He seemed a little flushed, maybe a little excited - he’s never been able to hide his feelings from me, it’s why we tried to be a couple, that’s how I know even though his face was fairly inscrutable like always. He, um, said something about interrupting him because he was happy or something like that.”
Max nodded, “Yes I’ll bet he was. Tess was angry last month. She felt like we were all ignoring her, that we hated her. And she was scared, I mean she had just been tortured by Whitaker… What did she seem like.”
“Well I’m not so good at reading Tess, but well she wasn’t happy to see me. Not surprising really, I guess.” Liz paused for a moment, “She made this really weird comment about trimming a lamp with Kyle too. It must be some in joke with them, because, well it made Kyle, who’d been getting a little disappointed, a little more willing to wait? I don’t know, in retrospect it was really weird, there was a strange vibe going between the two of them… You think I stopped them? I mean I can almost see it… Nothing had happened yet I think, just the glimmer of a possibility. But she forgot all about Kyle when I told her I would help her with you.”
“And we know how well that turned out. You know, the irony of all of this is that how she has been acting towards me lately would give her a better chance to win me over. She’s stopped trying to push Destiny down my throat and has been basically supportive.”
“Do you love her Max? Have you felt anything from your prior life?” Liz looked back up at him
“Yes. Yes, I think I care for her. But not like you, not anywhere like I feel with you. It’s like, like you make me whole. With her I feel, I don’t know a little out of touch?”
“It’s my great fear. That I’m wrecking the best chance you have at saving your world or for that matter mine.”
“Liz, we make our own destiny. It would be nice to know what their plan for us was. I would love to know what they were thinking…” Max shook his head, “But even if they had planned, engineered us to be with each other, well they failed. It is not going to happen. It is up to us to make a new plan, find a new path to save our worlds. And we will, with you by my side we will.”
Max looked intently at Liz’s face, not happy by the new grim overtones he saw there. He sat there holding her, trying to think what other tack he could take to win her over.
It was quiet for a few moments, but when her voice filled the room it was clear. Full of emotion, but clear. And Liz’s eyes were steady and full of resolve. Determined. Max could feel his breath catch as the tentative Liz that he had seen since her return from Florida faded before his eyes…
“You know in a way I am glad this all happened. I feel sorry because of all the pain it caused you. I hurt myself too. All the pointless angst.” She shook her head, “Both of us were fools, Future Max and I. I for thinking I could truly give you up. And Future Max for thinking that we might overcome this. If your right and he just wanted to slow us down, well, we’re not inevitable Max. We’ve hurt each other bad, it it had kept up…” Liz’s voice caught.
Max held her close, “But it didn’t. And I love you Liz, I will do what it takes to make it work. And if we work at it, I can’t see how our relationship won’t work out.”
“But he couldn’t know Max. He could not know that our enemies would attack, that it would force us all together. If it had been quiet, if we’d had peace…. Likely we would have all drifted away from you.”
Max placed a finger on Liz’s lip, “But it didn’t happen. We are all together still, and if anything stronger than ever. There is no point in worrying over the past, it’s not like we could go back in time and change it…”
Liz just raised and eyebrow at him.
“Okay, maybe someday we’ll be able to do that. Though you’d need that Serena to do it.”
“And I know exactly where she should be right now. I doubt that any changes we might have made would have spread that far. Let’s hope it never comes to that. The big thing is we need to keep Tess here in Roswell with us. Any ideas?”
Max just shook his head and held her. He was not going to lose her. Not even to save the world.
For she was his world.
----
Maria-
Maria sat with Michael on the steps from the Crashdown to the Parker’s apartment. It was a nice romantic quiet moment between them.
Maria could already feel Michael’s restlessness. Michael didn’t do quiet romantic moments. Oh, sure, he’d cuddle, but only if they were doing something like watching a movie or a TV… Preferably alone. Michael was surprisingly shy about some things.
So she’d have to enjoy the moment fast. She looked down at the sketch. She still could not believe it was her. Oh she could recognize her features somewhat, but the overall picture was that of sublime beauty.
He loved her.
It somewhat amazed her that anyone could care for her so deeply… What was it with these aliens and emotional intensity anyway? The level of passion he generated in her was simply off the scale.
And she loved him.
Loved him so much it hurt sometimes, as she battered through his defenses. Only, only she had never really expected to win… And she was so very close, she could feel it. She was almost there….
She still half expected something to snatch him away. Part of her wanted to push him away a little now. To protect herself from the inevitable heartbreak.
Only she didn’t think she could. He meant too much to her. She would give her life for him.
In fact she had.
And would again if needed. She could no longer deny it to herself. He was more important to her than she was. If he found out, if he found out how much she cared, how far she would go for him….
She had seen it happen to her mother, how she would fall in love only to be used and then discarded. She had promised herself it would never happen to her. That she would guard her heart and protect it.
Michael held it now. Had for some time really.
It was a secret that few of her schoolmates truly understood about her. Maria had a problem with trust. They saw her incredible loyalty to her friends and always expected her to trust them. She knew that she came across as a flake sometimes, and maybe she had her ditzy moments. But she wasn’t naïve.
It always surprised them when she would see through them.
To be honest, there were only four people in the world that she trusted completely. Michael was not one of them.
She feared for her poor heart in his careless hands. It was only a matter of time really. Nothing good ever lasts.
So she’ll enjoy the good moments while they last…
----
Michael-
Michael started to get nervous as the silence stretched on. The vibes he was getting from her were contradictory if anything. His little pixie was mercurial at best, flashing from anger to happiness and back again.
Women.
He’d never understood them, and to be honest he hadn’t really cared to until Maria came into his life. Now he knew he had no clue what she was thinking half the time. And he was afraid that half the time he thought he knew he was wrong…
If she knew how vulnerable he was to her….
It made walking through a minefield seem safe.
Michael cleared his throat, “Maria, so how are you getting along with your father’s papers?”
Maria looked at him with those luminous green eyes of hers. He could watch a kaleidoscope of emotion swirl through them settling finally on irritation. “I know you want to look at them, Michael, but I want to look at them myself first. I’ll let you know when I’m done.” She got up and dusted herself off.
Michael shrugged and grunted slightly.
Her eyes flicked back to amusement, “Thank you for the picture.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek.
He reached out for her, but she deftly avoided him, dropping down several steps, amusement still painted on her face. It then became thoughtful and she nodded to herself.
“You know Michael, you should talk with Courtney. She probably has a lot of the answers you want. I don’t really know if she’ll talk with the others. I mean she was here to help you and everything.”
Michael nodded and grunted in agreement. Michael got up and started back up to the Parker’s apartment.
“Michael, wait!”
Michael turned around to find her right there behind him. So he kissed her.
After a few timeless moments and decidedly short of breath, they parted. She looked up at him, “Just wanted to give you a proper goodbye. See you in a bit.”
Michael watched as she flew down the steps.
Women.
He’d never understand them, but there were some compensations.
Michael walked into the apartment. Courtney was seated on the couch looking very relaxed.
She looked up at him with a smirk, “You two finished for now? I think the other two love birds are still busy. What did you need?”
“Maria said I should ask you about Antar.”
“I was dropping hints to her about that. Actually I’m surprised you haven’t beaten down my door about that. Um, you know I’m really tired right now. And I’m going to be helping Liz get the food ready for this party in about ten minutes. How about tomorrow evening. We’re both off and Maria works the dinner shift.”
Michael shook his head, “I’m going to be making dinner for Maria. I want to make it special.”
Courtney’s eyes sharpened as they looked at him. “Special how?”
Before Saturday he would have blown her off. But she had done her best to protect Maria. Had nearly died in the attempt. He could afford her a little trust.
He shrugged his shoulders.
Courtney smiled, “How about this. I will stop by after school and help you get ready.”
“Um…”
“Trust me Michael, I can help you. And you’ll get the answers you need. Deal?”
Women.
Indecipherable across species.
But in this case, he had to make sure it was special enough, to make Maria truly understand what she meant to him.
“Okay”
Courtney’s smile just got wider.
Michael just hoped he had not just made a critical error.
For tomorrow had to be perfect. Or he might lose her.
And a life without Maria was too painful to contemplate.
----
Ava-
Ava just sat in the motel parking lot inside Tess’s battered SUV. She stared out into the night.
“You don’t have to do this you know,” Tess said. “We can protect you from them.”
“I just have to do it one more time. One more time and it’ll be up to your Max.”
“He’ll probably have us vote.”
“You guys vote on stuff like this?” Ava turned a disbelieving glance at her sister.
Tess shrugged. “Yeah.”
“Wow.” Very different from her Zan. Of course he’d had to ride heard on Lonnie and Rath…
“Be careful. I’d hate to lose you so soon after…”
“Yeah.” Both were not used to expressing strong emotions.
It wasn’t that they did not feel them, but both had grown up in situations where showing your feelings was unwise.
Ava got out of the SUV feeling her sister’s eyes on her. Ava had been surprised at how fast the bond between them had formed. Only Zan had ever gotten closer.
Ava walked up to Lonnie and Rath’s room, thankful that she had gotten two. She knocked on the door.
Lonnie answered the door not wearing a single stitch. She placed her hands on her hips and said, “Where the hell have you been?”
“I told you, I wanted to meet my Dupe.” Ava pushed her way in. The room stank of sweat and recent sex.
Rath also lay naked on top of the bed and leered at her as she walked in.
Ava flipped him off and he laughed.
Lonnie closed the door and leaned against it, glaring at Ava. “You’re late.”
She waved at Rath lying on the bed, “Looks like you found yourself something to pass the time with.” She had to watch herself, she was starting to let her true feelings for them show. She had to watch it.
But it had been so cleansing to actually be able to express herself to someone. Tess had done the same. In fact there were a few things Tess was involved in that worried Ava.
They were unethical at best.
Still it was nice to have someone to confide in. She just had to remember that Tess was gone for the moment.
For Tess probably could protect her. She had combat training after all. Poor Ava was stuck with the meager defensive training the actual Ava had possessed.
Which had been negligible.
“I will tell you that my time was not spent in vain. One of their friends is leaving on Friday. So their having a going away party for him at the UFO Center. Apparently Max is friends with the owner.”
Lonnie shot a wolfish grin at Rath, “How sweet, a going away party.”
Rath said, “I say we crash it. Say Aves are they expecting us?”
“They know we are here. So I guess.”
“And their training?”
Ava hated lying. So she was always overjoyed when her idiotic podmates asked the wrong questions. “No their not well trained. We’ll my sister has some training, but that is it.” That they were also much stronger… Well he hadn’t asked that. And some of their talents were so impossible it was amazing. Their Isabel could actually invade someone’s dreams!
“Piece of cake.”
Ava nodded, “I’ll be waiting in the car.”
Lonnie shot her a grin, “It might take a few minutes, Rath and I have a little, unfinished business.”
“Get over here woman!”
“Unless you want to join us?”
“Um, no I’ll pass.”
Lonnie’s eyes were mean as Ava walked out the door.
Ava sighed and enjoyed the fresh air. She looked up and enjoyed the spangle of stars scattered across the sky. Such a wonderful sight compared to what she could see in the City.
It seemed such a short time, but it was probably closer to an hour when the other two finally left their room. Both of them piled into the car and let Ava drive. She’d been their chauffer through much of the trip after all.
Lonnie and Rath were talking quietly as Ava drove them to the UFO Center. Ava made no attempt to join their conversation.
So it was around eight pm that they showed up and piled out of the car. Tess had said the party would start around seven thirty.
Just close friends, all of whom knew about the aliens.
God that was so strange to think of humans knowing about them and not trying to hurt or bother them. Pleasant. She wistfully remembered some of her classmates from school before she had had to flee to the Pod Chamber. It would be nice to have that back.
They walked through the front door and looked though a window to the room below. A couple of the people she had seen at school were missing. Alex, Isabel, and Liz.
“What a bunch of scrubs,” Rath said.
“What are they doing with all those humans anyway?”
The door opened behind them, and as a group the New York Pod Squad prepared to defend themselves.
Ava let her breath out when she saw it was just Liz and another blonde woman. Who on a more detailed scan was a Skin! What were they doing? Humans were one thing, they were part human after all… But a Skin?
Liz had a small smile on her face, “See I told you Courtney.”
“Hey, I couldn’t lose. Any extra food would have disappeared into Alex or Michael anyway.”
“True. How they stay so thin I will never know.” Liz walked up to Lonnie, who was closest. “Hi, I’m Liz, and you are,” she said with a seemingly genuine smile.
Rath and Lonnie exchanged a glance.
Lonnie looked at Liz like she was some grotesque insect, “Out of my way human.”
God Tarans are so BLIND! Couldn’t Lonnie see the tendrils of power that surrounded the creature, who was certainly not like anything either she or her memories could recognize.
But Ava kept her peace. If Lonnie wanted to get herself killed that was her affair. She and Rath had killed Zan… She owed them nothing.
“Okay. I see that we…”
Lonnie blasted Liz across the hallway, her body making a slight thump as it hit the wall.
The blonde, Courtney, just shook her head. “That was a mistake.”
Lonnie gave her an evil smile, “And what are you going to do about…” There was a flash of blue and Lonnie dropped like a marionette with the strings cut.
Liz walked out, one hand rubbing a split lip. She was holding a device in one hand. “I can’t believe she blasted me!”
It was a Mithar Stun shot. Where did she get that?
Ava could sense Rath building up his power. He would kill the girl. She tried to think of a way to warn her…
Courtney cried out, “Watch out Liz!” She dropped the bags she was carrying.
Of course, she was a Skin… The sensors in her husk would have detected the energy build up, but she’d never get off a shot in time to save Liz.
It was situations like this that made Ava feel useless. She was good at setting up a situation to advantage, or at picking up the pieces. But come the moment she was as helpless as a human to defend anyone other than herself.
With a casual flick of the wrist a killer bolt of energy was flying at the poor doomed girl.
Who dodged.
You can’t dodge a beam of light.
But Liz did.
And with a flash of blue, Rath was down.
Some days are better than others. And if she could keep from getting killed, this would be one of those better days.
katydid- I tell you they hijacked the chapter. Poor Alex originally ended up banging his head lightly on the wall and thinking about another cold shower and patience. But they had so much to say, things that will matter later... That by the time I had nearly finished the chapter, Isabel had changed her mind.
RhondaAnn- See above comments. I certainly hoped any Gazer that happened upon it enjoyed it.
Stinebiene- Alex does not truly understand that he has been mindwarped. Flashes show you the perspective of the person you are getting the flash from, not only what they see, but what they feel. Tess was arguing with Alex about the feasability of translating the book, using her powers to strengthen her arguement so to speak.
While those arguements were not fully persuasive to Alex, he felt persuaded because Tess mindwarped him to feel that way. Isabel doesn't understand how complicated it is going to be (nor does Tess for that matter) so the arguements seemed persuasive to her on their own merit. And as she sensed that Alex agreed, even when he really didn't fully... Well mistakes happen. The bigger warps on Alex avoid his mentioning this to anyone- and that one Isabel broke. At least as it regards to her.
Brody has a very good reason to be looking for aliens. While it was never explicitly stated in the show, my guess is my reason is even canon. If you have not already guessed, it will become apparent in a few parts.
C&N214- Thanks. Here's a part now.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 25
Max-
Max and Liz sat closely together, with Max held and caressed one of her small hands. He had missed this, missed them. There was a certain serenity that his mind only reached with her.
He wanted that back. He wanted his peace of mind back.
Maybe it would even cause the nightmares to cease. At least the part about Kyle sleeping with her should fade. The White Room might take more time.
But with Liz by his side he could do anything. He just wish it hadn’t cost her so much. And that he could be certain that she would stay by his side.
Liz sighed and leaned against him, biting her lower lip slightly.
“So, what are you thinking about?” Max said softly.
“I need to tell everyone.”
“About?”
“Everything. Future Max. The coming storm. Max, I can’t see how things have changed all that much… I just can’t keep giving you up. God it’s so complicated.”
“It’ll be fine. If we’re together it’ll be okay.”
“But what about Tess? I need you Max. I don’t think I realized how much until I was forced to give you up. And I’m afraid that without the hope of eventually getting you, Tess will leave. And we will all die.”
“Liz we don’t know that. We don’t know if that future will come to pass. Things have changed.”
“But was it enough, Max? You four were sent together for a reason. Maybe your supposed to stay together, maybe Tess is right.” Liz snuggled closer to him, eyes welling with unshed tears.
Max thought for a second, trying to figure out a way to calm Liz. “Impossible.”
Liz turned her chocolate eyes to his. They were full of questions and a trace of hope.
Max smiled softly at her. “Do you remember that quote Nesado always used? ‘Timing is everything?’”
Liz gave him a slightly puzzled frown as she nodded.
“Well think about it. If he had access to a time machine, why did he appear now? There are other, better times if all he wanted was to break us up for good. I mean if he asked you to, maybe you would have just stayed in Florida. That would have reduced your involvement and given Tess lots of opportunities.”
Liz sat back and closed her eyes for a moment. “What about Whitaker? Maybe, maybe they wanted us to know about the Skins?”
“Maybe… But seriously in the flash I got when I was waiting for you, the flash from Future Max… Even as he was trying to damp his jealousy of Kyle lying next to you, he thought that what you did would just slow the two of us down. And that maybe it would cause Tess to be more worried about losing Kyle than me. As I said earlier, Tess and Kyle slept together around the same time we were supposed to. Maybe, maybe you were supposed to stop that. What exactly did he have you do, first thing?”
Liz frowned and bit her lip, “He thought the best thing to do would be to try to well, train Tess to attract your attention. So, so I went over to the Valenti’s to talk with her… You know this is hard, talking to you about how I set you up. I’m so sorry, so very sorry I hurt you like that.”
Max kissed her forehead, “I know Liz, trust me I know, I’m sorry too. But I think I’m seeing a bit of what might have happened. Please tell me everything that happened right then. You got to the Valenti‘s and got Tess?”
Liz swallowed, “Well actually it was Kyle who answered the door. He seemed a little flushed, maybe a little excited - he’s never been able to hide his feelings from me, it’s why we tried to be a couple, that’s how I know even though his face was fairly inscrutable like always. He, um, said something about interrupting him because he was happy or something like that.”
Max nodded, “Yes I’ll bet he was. Tess was angry last month. She felt like we were all ignoring her, that we hated her. And she was scared, I mean she had just been tortured by Whitaker… What did she seem like.”
“Well I’m not so good at reading Tess, but well she wasn’t happy to see me. Not surprising really, I guess.” Liz paused for a moment, “She made this really weird comment about trimming a lamp with Kyle too. It must be some in joke with them, because, well it made Kyle, who’d been getting a little disappointed, a little more willing to wait? I don’t know, in retrospect it was really weird, there was a strange vibe going between the two of them… You think I stopped them? I mean I can almost see it… Nothing had happened yet I think, just the glimmer of a possibility. But she forgot all about Kyle when I told her I would help her with you.”
“And we know how well that turned out. You know, the irony of all of this is that how she has been acting towards me lately would give her a better chance to win me over. She’s stopped trying to push Destiny down my throat and has been basically supportive.”
“Do you love her Max? Have you felt anything from your prior life?” Liz looked back up at him
“Yes. Yes, I think I care for her. But not like you, not anywhere like I feel with you. It’s like, like you make me whole. With her I feel, I don’t know a little out of touch?”
“It’s my great fear. That I’m wrecking the best chance you have at saving your world or for that matter mine.”
“Liz, we make our own destiny. It would be nice to know what their plan for us was. I would love to know what they were thinking…” Max shook his head, “But even if they had planned, engineered us to be with each other, well they failed. It is not going to happen. It is up to us to make a new plan, find a new path to save our worlds. And we will, with you by my side we will.”
Max looked intently at Liz’s face, not happy by the new grim overtones he saw there. He sat there holding her, trying to think what other tack he could take to win her over.
It was quiet for a few moments, but when her voice filled the room it was clear. Full of emotion, but clear. And Liz’s eyes were steady and full of resolve. Determined. Max could feel his breath catch as the tentative Liz that he had seen since her return from Florida faded before his eyes…
“You know in a way I am glad this all happened. I feel sorry because of all the pain it caused you. I hurt myself too. All the pointless angst.” She shook her head, “Both of us were fools, Future Max and I. I for thinking I could truly give you up. And Future Max for thinking that we might overcome this. If your right and he just wanted to slow us down, well, we’re not inevitable Max. We’ve hurt each other bad, it it had kept up…” Liz’s voice caught.
Max held her close, “But it didn’t. And I love you Liz, I will do what it takes to make it work. And if we work at it, I can’t see how our relationship won’t work out.”
“But he couldn’t know Max. He could not know that our enemies would attack, that it would force us all together. If it had been quiet, if we’d had peace…. Likely we would have all drifted away from you.”
Max placed a finger on Liz’s lip, “But it didn’t happen. We are all together still, and if anything stronger than ever. There is no point in worrying over the past, it’s not like we could go back in time and change it…”
Liz just raised and eyebrow at him.
“Okay, maybe someday we’ll be able to do that. Though you’d need that Serena to do it.”
“And I know exactly where she should be right now. I doubt that any changes we might have made would have spread that far. Let’s hope it never comes to that. The big thing is we need to keep Tess here in Roswell with us. Any ideas?”
Max just shook his head and held her. He was not going to lose her. Not even to save the world.
For she was his world.
----
Maria-
Maria sat with Michael on the steps from the Crashdown to the Parker’s apartment. It was a nice romantic quiet moment between them.
Maria could already feel Michael’s restlessness. Michael didn’t do quiet romantic moments. Oh, sure, he’d cuddle, but only if they were doing something like watching a movie or a TV… Preferably alone. Michael was surprisingly shy about some things.
So she’d have to enjoy the moment fast. She looked down at the sketch. She still could not believe it was her. Oh she could recognize her features somewhat, but the overall picture was that of sublime beauty.
He loved her.
It somewhat amazed her that anyone could care for her so deeply… What was it with these aliens and emotional intensity anyway? The level of passion he generated in her was simply off the scale.
And she loved him.
Loved him so much it hurt sometimes, as she battered through his defenses. Only, only she had never really expected to win… And she was so very close, she could feel it. She was almost there….
She still half expected something to snatch him away. Part of her wanted to push him away a little now. To protect herself from the inevitable heartbreak.
Only she didn’t think she could. He meant too much to her. She would give her life for him.
In fact she had.
And would again if needed. She could no longer deny it to herself. He was more important to her than she was. If he found out, if he found out how much she cared, how far she would go for him….
She had seen it happen to her mother, how she would fall in love only to be used and then discarded. She had promised herself it would never happen to her. That she would guard her heart and protect it.
Michael held it now. Had for some time really.
It was a secret that few of her schoolmates truly understood about her. Maria had a problem with trust. They saw her incredible loyalty to her friends and always expected her to trust them. She knew that she came across as a flake sometimes, and maybe she had her ditzy moments. But she wasn’t naïve.
It always surprised them when she would see through them.
To be honest, there were only four people in the world that she trusted completely. Michael was not one of them.
She feared for her poor heart in his careless hands. It was only a matter of time really. Nothing good ever lasts.
So she’ll enjoy the good moments while they last…
----
Michael-
Michael started to get nervous as the silence stretched on. The vibes he was getting from her were contradictory if anything. His little pixie was mercurial at best, flashing from anger to happiness and back again.
Women.
He’d never understood them, and to be honest he hadn’t really cared to until Maria came into his life. Now he knew he had no clue what she was thinking half the time. And he was afraid that half the time he thought he knew he was wrong…
If she knew how vulnerable he was to her….
It made walking through a minefield seem safe.
Michael cleared his throat, “Maria, so how are you getting along with your father’s papers?”
Maria looked at him with those luminous green eyes of hers. He could watch a kaleidoscope of emotion swirl through them settling finally on irritation. “I know you want to look at them, Michael, but I want to look at them myself first. I’ll let you know when I’m done.” She got up and dusted herself off.
Michael shrugged and grunted slightly.
Her eyes flicked back to amusement, “Thank you for the picture.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek.
He reached out for her, but she deftly avoided him, dropping down several steps, amusement still painted on her face. It then became thoughtful and she nodded to herself.
“You know Michael, you should talk with Courtney. She probably has a lot of the answers you want. I don’t really know if she’ll talk with the others. I mean she was here to help you and everything.”
Michael nodded and grunted in agreement. Michael got up and started back up to the Parker’s apartment.
“Michael, wait!”
Michael turned around to find her right there behind him. So he kissed her.
After a few timeless moments and decidedly short of breath, they parted. She looked up at him, “Just wanted to give you a proper goodbye. See you in a bit.”
Michael watched as she flew down the steps.
Women.
He’d never understand them, but there were some compensations.
Michael walked into the apartment. Courtney was seated on the couch looking very relaxed.
She looked up at him with a smirk, “You two finished for now? I think the other two love birds are still busy. What did you need?”
“Maria said I should ask you about Antar.”
“I was dropping hints to her about that. Actually I’m surprised you haven’t beaten down my door about that. Um, you know I’m really tired right now. And I’m going to be helping Liz get the food ready for this party in about ten minutes. How about tomorrow evening. We’re both off and Maria works the dinner shift.”
Michael shook his head, “I’m going to be making dinner for Maria. I want to make it special.”
Courtney’s eyes sharpened as they looked at him. “Special how?”
Before Saturday he would have blown her off. But she had done her best to protect Maria. Had nearly died in the attempt. He could afford her a little trust.
He shrugged his shoulders.
Courtney smiled, “How about this. I will stop by after school and help you get ready.”
“Um…”
“Trust me Michael, I can help you. And you’ll get the answers you need. Deal?”
Women.
Indecipherable across species.
But in this case, he had to make sure it was special enough, to make Maria truly understand what she meant to him.
“Okay”
Courtney’s smile just got wider.
Michael just hoped he had not just made a critical error.
For tomorrow had to be perfect. Or he might lose her.
And a life without Maria was too painful to contemplate.
----
Ava-
Ava just sat in the motel parking lot inside Tess’s battered SUV. She stared out into the night.
“You don’t have to do this you know,” Tess said. “We can protect you from them.”
“I just have to do it one more time. One more time and it’ll be up to your Max.”
“He’ll probably have us vote.”
“You guys vote on stuff like this?” Ava turned a disbelieving glance at her sister.
Tess shrugged. “Yeah.”
“Wow.” Very different from her Zan. Of course he’d had to ride heard on Lonnie and Rath…
“Be careful. I’d hate to lose you so soon after…”
“Yeah.” Both were not used to expressing strong emotions.
It wasn’t that they did not feel them, but both had grown up in situations where showing your feelings was unwise.
Ava got out of the SUV feeling her sister’s eyes on her. Ava had been surprised at how fast the bond between them had formed. Only Zan had ever gotten closer.
Ava walked up to Lonnie and Rath’s room, thankful that she had gotten two. She knocked on the door.
Lonnie answered the door not wearing a single stitch. She placed her hands on her hips and said, “Where the hell have you been?”
“I told you, I wanted to meet my Dupe.” Ava pushed her way in. The room stank of sweat and recent sex.
Rath also lay naked on top of the bed and leered at her as she walked in.
Ava flipped him off and he laughed.
Lonnie closed the door and leaned against it, glaring at Ava. “You’re late.”
She waved at Rath lying on the bed, “Looks like you found yourself something to pass the time with.” She had to watch herself, she was starting to let her true feelings for them show. She had to watch it.
But it had been so cleansing to actually be able to express herself to someone. Tess had done the same. In fact there were a few things Tess was involved in that worried Ava.
They were unethical at best.
Still it was nice to have someone to confide in. She just had to remember that Tess was gone for the moment.
For Tess probably could protect her. She had combat training after all. Poor Ava was stuck with the meager defensive training the actual Ava had possessed.
Which had been negligible.
“I will tell you that my time was not spent in vain. One of their friends is leaving on Friday. So their having a going away party for him at the UFO Center. Apparently Max is friends with the owner.”
Lonnie shot a wolfish grin at Rath, “How sweet, a going away party.”
Rath said, “I say we crash it. Say Aves are they expecting us?”
“They know we are here. So I guess.”
“And their training?”
Ava hated lying. So she was always overjoyed when her idiotic podmates asked the wrong questions. “No their not well trained. We’ll my sister has some training, but that is it.” That they were also much stronger… Well he hadn’t asked that. And some of their talents were so impossible it was amazing. Their Isabel could actually invade someone’s dreams!
“Piece of cake.”
Ava nodded, “I’ll be waiting in the car.”
Lonnie shot her a grin, “It might take a few minutes, Rath and I have a little, unfinished business.”
“Get over here woman!”
“Unless you want to join us?”
“Um, no I’ll pass.”
Lonnie’s eyes were mean as Ava walked out the door.
Ava sighed and enjoyed the fresh air. She looked up and enjoyed the spangle of stars scattered across the sky. Such a wonderful sight compared to what she could see in the City.
It seemed such a short time, but it was probably closer to an hour when the other two finally left their room. Both of them piled into the car and let Ava drive. She’d been their chauffer through much of the trip after all.
Lonnie and Rath were talking quietly as Ava drove them to the UFO Center. Ava made no attempt to join their conversation.
So it was around eight pm that they showed up and piled out of the car. Tess had said the party would start around seven thirty.
Just close friends, all of whom knew about the aliens.
God that was so strange to think of humans knowing about them and not trying to hurt or bother them. Pleasant. She wistfully remembered some of her classmates from school before she had had to flee to the Pod Chamber. It would be nice to have that back.
They walked through the front door and looked though a window to the room below. A couple of the people she had seen at school were missing. Alex, Isabel, and Liz.
“What a bunch of scrubs,” Rath said.
“What are they doing with all those humans anyway?”
The door opened behind them, and as a group the New York Pod Squad prepared to defend themselves.
Ava let her breath out when she saw it was just Liz and another blonde woman. Who on a more detailed scan was a Skin! What were they doing? Humans were one thing, they were part human after all… But a Skin?
Liz had a small smile on her face, “See I told you Courtney.”
“Hey, I couldn’t lose. Any extra food would have disappeared into Alex or Michael anyway.”
“True. How they stay so thin I will never know.” Liz walked up to Lonnie, who was closest. “Hi, I’m Liz, and you are,” she said with a seemingly genuine smile.
Rath and Lonnie exchanged a glance.
Lonnie looked at Liz like she was some grotesque insect, “Out of my way human.”
God Tarans are so BLIND! Couldn’t Lonnie see the tendrils of power that surrounded the creature, who was certainly not like anything either she or her memories could recognize.
But Ava kept her peace. If Lonnie wanted to get herself killed that was her affair. She and Rath had killed Zan… She owed them nothing.
“Okay. I see that we…”
Lonnie blasted Liz across the hallway, her body making a slight thump as it hit the wall.
The blonde, Courtney, just shook her head. “That was a mistake.”
Lonnie gave her an evil smile, “And what are you going to do about…” There was a flash of blue and Lonnie dropped like a marionette with the strings cut.
Liz walked out, one hand rubbing a split lip. She was holding a device in one hand. “I can’t believe she blasted me!”
It was a Mithar Stun shot. Where did she get that?
Ava could sense Rath building up his power. He would kill the girl. She tried to think of a way to warn her…
Courtney cried out, “Watch out Liz!” She dropped the bags she was carrying.
Of course, she was a Skin… The sensors in her husk would have detected the energy build up, but she’d never get off a shot in time to save Liz.
It was situations like this that made Ava feel useless. She was good at setting up a situation to advantage, or at picking up the pieces. But come the moment she was as helpless as a human to defend anyone other than herself.
With a casual flick of the wrist a killer bolt of energy was flying at the poor doomed girl.
Who dodged.
You can’t dodge a beam of light.
But Liz did.
And with a flash of blue, Rath was down.
Some days are better than others. And if she could keep from getting killed, this would be one of those better days.
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 25- 05/12/08
Thanks to everyone reading this story. Particular thanks to xmag, RhondaAnn, and Stinebiene for the wonderful feedback.
xmag- Isabel has found out about Los Cruces. She even mentions it in that part, that she knew he was not going to Sweden. But the part of Alex that realizes he is not going to Sweden believes in what he is doing. He is doing it to help Isabel and all of the Pod Squad, to help them have more information so they can decide what to do with their lives. Part of this is rationalization on Alex's part because whether he believed it or not he was going to Los Cruces to decode the book. But no one likes to feel like a complete pawn, and so Alex believes that Tess convinced him. And one problem with flashes is that you see it from the targets view. Isabel views the situation from Alex's skewed view point so she thinks it is a good idea too.
Expect Isabel to change things. No cold Thai food for Alex this go around.
As for Kyle and Tess, timing is everything. Picture Max's response to Tess's repeated pleadings for Destiny after he finds out she has been sleeping with Kyle. Add the fact that Liz never runs from Max again, nor he from her.... Max was not nice to Tess at all, and Tess was not really ready to give him up. Sometimes dreams die hard. But the longer she is around Kyle, the more she sees herself as part human.... Timing is everything.
Maria trusts Alex, Liz, her mother, and Max. Think of it as the 'girlfriend' club. Her trust in her mom is wavering, but is not yet gone. And she trusts Max because Max does not have the power to destroy her. If she loved Max like she did Michael she would not trust him either. Her lack of trust in Michael has more to do with self preservation than anything else. Ever note how possessive and jealous she tends to get?
RhondaAnn- FMax still needs to be dealt with a bit, but they have made a good start.
She still doesn't completely trust Courtney, although she is getting there. See my note regarding Max in my feedback to xmag. And yeah, this would really hurt Michael if he knew.
It is not that Maria doesn't think she doesn't deserve happiness. She just doesn't expect it. Hopefully Michael somehow proves her wrong. (And in so doing proves himself wrong in regards to himself...)
Stinebiene- Michael and Maria need each other. Hopefully they can work it out as there are problems on both ends.
I think xmag and others have pointed out multiple times that if FMax's true goal was Destiny, he would have tried to push Michael and Isabel together too. He did not even try. Therefore, either he was a mind warp by Tess or his goal was different from what was stated.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine, and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 26
Isabel-
Vilandra closed her eyes, trying vainly to deny the dawning of the day. The day when all of her dreams would end and the bliss of her youth would fade.
The day Khivar would leave.
Their arguments had gone long into the night, neither able to persuade the other of the rightness of their respective course of action. It had led both of them to desperation and thence to a level of passion that she could never recall experiencing before.
He was going away forever. And so was she. Both on opposite sides of a war to the knife.
She knew her father. This was Khivar’s last chance. If he did not accept, no mercy would be accorded him no matter how desperately she pled his case. He would be destroyed. His body disintegrated and his soul trapped forever in memory glass in the Hall of Judgment.
There would be no rebirth, no hope of meeting again in some future life. Parted forever.
She wished now that she was in her fertile period, that she might hope to carry a little piece of him with her. But she had run a diagnostic when she had awakened. Less than one percent chance of fertilization. They had been so careful for so long and now, on her last chance to take part of him with her….
She opened her eyes and watched as he dressed. He was so beautiful. In all of her years of being with him she had never stopped desiring him. Ever since those Archadian rallies protesting the destruction of Drimordjian. Even as the protests led them further and further into conflict with the government, to the point that she had had to infiltrate the dreaded Securitariat, to shield her lover from wrath he had drawn upon himself.
Poor Valeris. Vilandra still regretted her actions, regretted having to kill her. She regretted all that she had learned from her dead friend. Not only how close they were, but also the extent of Khivar’s actions.
Oh, she had known he was ambitious, but the level of infiltration in the military and disaffected sectors of society was frightening.
Khivar was planning a revolution. And she’d helped him, been pivotal at times in the organization of his plot. Without her he would never have gotten so far so fast.
And she needed it to stop. She’d pleaded with him to accept a deal she had struck with her father, using her younger brother as an intermediary. Full pardon and the right to marry her. But he would have to help destroy what he had help build. To betray those who would never have actually carried out the missions they had without his leadership. And betray those Rhyajhaelian City States who had provided him so much covert support for his stand against the government regarding Drimordjian.
She could not continue to let herself be used as a weapon against her family. She would take the pardon.
And he would not.
So she watched him dress, knowing that each moment carried him further from her. Until finally he was done, adjusting his collar in the mirror.
“You don’t have to go, Khivar.”
“I do. Just as you have to accept the deal, I can not. What they have done is not just, it is not right and they must be held accountable for their actions! You know this Lonnie!”
“But your way will lead only to death, Khivar. War and death. Haven’t we had enough of that these last few years? This will let you work within the government, you will have a privileged place in Court….”
“Lonnie, I can’t. I just can’t do it. I hate this as much as you do… Why don’t you come with me? You still have enough time to throw something on and we can leave… We can make the world a better place. Please. Come with me.”
Vilandra got up, covers slipping to the floor, her naked body now visible to his admiring eyes. She walked over and held onto him and kissed him one last time. One final time feeling his soul brush against hers.
When they parted, both were flushed and in tears. It was goodbye.
Khivar gave her one last sorrowful look, grabbed his luggage, and walked toward the door. He turned back one last time and said softly, “I will see you again, my love, in this life or the next.”
Vilandra watched him at the door and shook her head. “Our paths part from here, Khivar. I can only hope that one day I might find another that I can love as much as I have loved you. If not in this life, the next.”
Khivar just stared at her for a moment. “You will always be mine.”
Vilandra reached inside of herself, and using the arcane arts she had learned in her quest for telepathy, disrupted their connection. The structures were still there, she could still by an act of will reopen that bond. “You have made your choice and I have made mine. Good bye, Khivar.”
For a moment Khivar looked broken and just stared at her. His eyes were full of pain and sorrow as he finally understood. “Goodbye, my love. For the love I bear you, I wish you luck in your search. And when you are ready, I will be waiting.”
And he left.
Vilandra turned from the door and closed her eyes again, listening to the sound of his boots echoing off the floor slowly get drowned out in the sound of the surf.
She would find another, one that when given the choice between her and his ambitions would choose her. She would.
Her heart was pounding from the dream as she awoke. She felt a moment of disorientation as she tried to figure out where she was. She felt warmth from the body that still clung to her.
Alex’s body. Alex’s naked body clinging to her naked body. And based on the throbbing between her legs they had done more than just hold each other.
Sex. She’d just had sex with Alex. Her face flushed in remembered pleasure at the encounter, and she held the still sleeping Alex even closer.
Vilandra had been looking, desperately looking for someone who would love her for who she was. It had indeed taken another life to find him. But she had.
No longer would she have to fear her own heart. No longer would she fear Khivar. Her heart belonged to another now.
And unlike Khivar, Alex would never betray her. Nor, she promised to his still unconscious form, would she him.
So she just lay there listening to his heart beat. She knew that she would have to wake him soon. Their friends would be waiting. But they had a little time.
His father was out of town, and his mother was teaching until nine. They would be a little late to the party, but it was for Alex, so there wouldn’t be too much harm done.
Just five more minutes. Isabel clung to Alex, feeling flesh against flesh, mind against mind and soul to soul. Just five more.
----
Liz-
Liz’s body was shaking like a leaf after her near death experience. If she had not gotten lucky, had not moved out of the way of that blast she would be dead. Her mind reflexively went back to what Pierce’s body had looked like after Michael had blasted him.
Max had tried to shield her from it, but she had gotten a glance. His chest had been caved in where the blast hit, with significant burns. Most of all she could remember the malignant white glow.
Fourteen months ago she had been in a similar situation. Only she had been faced with merely a hand gun. And she had frozen. Just stared at the barrel of the gun. In some dreams that she had had right after the shooting the gun barrel had seemed to grow until it encompassed her entire being.
She could remember the feeling as the bullet slammed into her. A white hot poker jammed into her gut, spilling out her life blood. The pain had seemed to fade and the world grow dark, until a set of golden eyes had called her back.
It all led to a chain of events that led her here to this time and place. For Max must have kindled some spark within her, made some change in her that allowed her to do these unusual things. And it was those changes that Ana had seen and plotted to use. Ana had tried to remake her, make her into a tool like she had Maria in the previous timeline. Only Ana must be new to this task and was interrupted.
Or Liz would now be answering to Emily. But fragments of what Ana had done to her remained. She was different.
The Liz of fourteen months ago would have been shaking as hard, but she would not also be holding the stun shot in a surprisingly rock steady aim centered on Ava. “Don’t even bother to try anything. I’ll zap you at the first inkling of a warp.”
Shock was written all over Ava’s face. “What are you?”
“Human… I think.”
Ava just stared at her.
Courtney shook her head. “What is with you guys? What made them think they could just blast at will?”
“They thought she was merely human. Harmless and beneath contempt. Stupid arrogant Tarans.”
Liz just stared at the copy of her current nemesis. There was something about her, something different.
Courtney cocked her head sideways, “And you would be…?”
Ava just glared at Courtney, “Vi’at Mithari, Rhyjhael.”
Courtney must have seen Liz’s puzzled look for she translated. “She said, I am Mithar, Rhyajhael. In Mithar no less. You have some of the old memories, your whole group does.”
Liz looked at her with interest. “You remember your former life?”
“Some. Mostly distant memories. It’s, it’s like remembering a really realistic movie or dream… Bits and pieces always seem to crop up. Um, is there any possibility of lowering that thing?”
Liz felt a … kinship with her. She lowered the weapon, but kept it close at hand. Somehow she knew that Ava was not a threat. Part of her worried that it was some trick, some skill that Ava might possess. But her instincts told her to listen if not fully trust the girl. “Why are you here?”
Courtney nodded as she gathered up the bags that had been dropped in the brief scuffle.
Ava looked at her two companions shrugged, “Well I don’t see how this can get much worse….”
Kyle ran up the stairs. “Are you okay?” Kyle looked from Liz to Courtney. His gaze caught on Ava, “Ava? Why are you here? And who are…” He just whistled. “So it’s them.”
Liz could feel the adrenaline begin to subside. And pain began to grow in her side from where Lonnie had blasted her. She coughed and felt pain ripple through her. She felt a wave of dizziness pass through her.
Kyle moved over to help her, “Liz?”
She looked at Kyle. “I think I’ve been hurt.” She coughed again, pain ripping through her chest. “Get Max,” she said faintly. Why did the lights seem to be dimming?
“Please let me through, I can help her,” Ava pled.
“MAX GET UP HERE!” Kyle called out. “I think you have done enough, Ava.” He said coldly to Tess's twin.
Why was Kyle mad with Ava? They were family. Or they would be. Or they could be. She wasn’t sure.
She could hear people in the back ground, some yelling and some crying. She tried to pay attention, but her mind was caught in a wild kaleidoscope of images of what was, what is, and what might be.
Liz found herself standing alone in a desert landscape, like and unlike the desert near Roswell. She looked over and saw a familiar rock formation.
The rock formation that hid the Pod Chamber. And somehow she knew that it housed the Granolith as well.
“Liz!”
She walked up the path to the Pod Chamber. She gingerly placed her hand on the door and gasped as a silver hand print formed.
The door opened to the Chamber, but it had been cleaned and remodeled. The Chamber was well lit now, with a strange bright source-less white light. The pods had been pushed towards the walls to reveal a gleaming door.
But what drew her attention was a small table positioned in the middle of the room. It contained two chairs, in which one a beautiful woman sat.
“Liz, you have to look at me. Please don’t leave me, my love.”
Her hair was raven black and her eyes were an amber brown. Liz’s breath caught at the perfect mix of her and Max. “Amy.”
“Mother it has taken years for me to find you. Please sit, I have much to tell you…”
She met her daughters golden gaze so similar to her father’s…
Liz saw her love’s golden eyes glow before her as she felt warmth flow into her.
“I can’t stay.”
“But I just found you!”
“I love you, Amy.”
Amy looked so very sad as she faded from view…
Liz looked up at Max, at her crying friends, “I love you….”
And there was darkness.
----
Maria-
Maria watched in wonder as Max healed Liz. She saw Liz smile and mumble a few words before falling asleep. Maria looked in askance at Max, “Is she going to be okay?”
Max smiled wanly at her and at the rest of his friends. “She’s going to be fine. She just needs a little rest.”
“What about the others?” Kyle said stiffly.
“I’ll deal with them momentarily.”
Maria cocked her head to the side. “You know it’s too bad we don’t have whatever whomever was drugging me with. Maybe it would weaken their powers or something.”
Max looked at her with surprised respect. “That’s a good idea. If Liz was right, it’s probably a pill or something you take on a regular basis.”
“Um, Max, hate to break this to you, but I take a lot of supplements…”
“So bring them all.” He paused for a moment. “Hey, Courtney.” Courtney looked up from where she was examining the two fallen Duplicates. “Courtney, would you be able to recognize the chemical that was causing Maria such distress.”
Courtney glanced at Maria and then looked back at Max. “I guess. I can’t make any promises, but I certainly can try.” She turned to Maria, “Shall we go?”
Both of them walked towards the exit when Maria remembered a small hitch. She did not have the Jetta tonight. “Courtney, I’ll meet you outside. I need to borrow the Jeep for this.”
Courtney nodded and left.
Maria headed back into the museum. She started as she felt a hand grab her arm.
“I’ll take you,” Kyle said. “I need to talk to you anyway.”
Maria nodded and stopped. “Talk to me about what?”
“Maria, I think I almost caught Dad and Amy, well…”
“No way.”
Kyle sighed. “Your mom was taking a shower in the master bath. You must have gotten your singing voice from your dad, cause your mom can’t carry a tune.”
Maria put her face in her hands. This was just so… so Eww.
Kyle just looked at her.
“Are you sure?”
“The Jetta was parked outside the house. I thought you were there at first. But then I realized….”
“Ewww.”
Kyle sighed and nodded.
“Can my life get more complicated?”
Kyle looked at her. “Don’t tempt it.” And he walked out of the museum.
Maria just stood there, vainly trying to piece together her now completely chaotic life. Instinctively her eyes shot across the room, to Michael. He turned, and while his face stayed impassive, his eyes did not.
It was really true.
He loved her.
Strengthened by one constant in her life she walked out the door to find the drug that had plagued her.
xmag- Isabel has found out about Los Cruces. She even mentions it in that part, that she knew he was not going to Sweden. But the part of Alex that realizes he is not going to Sweden believes in what he is doing. He is doing it to help Isabel and all of the Pod Squad, to help them have more information so they can decide what to do with their lives. Part of this is rationalization on Alex's part because whether he believed it or not he was going to Los Cruces to decode the book. But no one likes to feel like a complete pawn, and so Alex believes that Tess convinced him. And one problem with flashes is that you see it from the targets view. Isabel views the situation from Alex's skewed view point so she thinks it is a good idea too.
Expect Isabel to change things. No cold Thai food for Alex this go around.
As for Kyle and Tess, timing is everything. Picture Max's response to Tess's repeated pleadings for Destiny after he finds out she has been sleeping with Kyle. Add the fact that Liz never runs from Max again, nor he from her.... Max was not nice to Tess at all, and Tess was not really ready to give him up. Sometimes dreams die hard. But the longer she is around Kyle, the more she sees herself as part human.... Timing is everything.
Maria trusts Alex, Liz, her mother, and Max. Think of it as the 'girlfriend' club. Her trust in her mom is wavering, but is not yet gone. And she trusts Max because Max does not have the power to destroy her. If she loved Max like she did Michael she would not trust him either. Her lack of trust in Michael has more to do with self preservation than anything else. Ever note how possessive and jealous she tends to get?
RhondaAnn- FMax still needs to be dealt with a bit, but they have made a good start.
She still doesn't completely trust Courtney, although she is getting there. See my note regarding Max in my feedback to xmag. And yeah, this would really hurt Michael if he knew.
It is not that Maria doesn't think she doesn't deserve happiness. She just doesn't expect it. Hopefully Michael somehow proves her wrong. (And in so doing proves himself wrong in regards to himself...)
Stinebiene- Michael and Maria need each other. Hopefully they can work it out as there are problems on both ends.
I think xmag and others have pointed out multiple times that if FMax's true goal was Destiny, he would have tried to push Michael and Isabel together too. He did not even try. Therefore, either he was a mind warp by Tess or his goal was different from what was stated.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine, and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 26
Isabel-
Vilandra closed her eyes, trying vainly to deny the dawning of the day. The day when all of her dreams would end and the bliss of her youth would fade.
The day Khivar would leave.
Their arguments had gone long into the night, neither able to persuade the other of the rightness of their respective course of action. It had led both of them to desperation and thence to a level of passion that she could never recall experiencing before.
He was going away forever. And so was she. Both on opposite sides of a war to the knife.
She knew her father. This was Khivar’s last chance. If he did not accept, no mercy would be accorded him no matter how desperately she pled his case. He would be destroyed. His body disintegrated and his soul trapped forever in memory glass in the Hall of Judgment.
There would be no rebirth, no hope of meeting again in some future life. Parted forever.
She wished now that she was in her fertile period, that she might hope to carry a little piece of him with her. But she had run a diagnostic when she had awakened. Less than one percent chance of fertilization. They had been so careful for so long and now, on her last chance to take part of him with her….
She opened her eyes and watched as he dressed. He was so beautiful. In all of her years of being with him she had never stopped desiring him. Ever since those Archadian rallies protesting the destruction of Drimordjian. Even as the protests led them further and further into conflict with the government, to the point that she had had to infiltrate the dreaded Securitariat, to shield her lover from wrath he had drawn upon himself.
Poor Valeris. Vilandra still regretted her actions, regretted having to kill her. She regretted all that she had learned from her dead friend. Not only how close they were, but also the extent of Khivar’s actions.
Oh, she had known he was ambitious, but the level of infiltration in the military and disaffected sectors of society was frightening.
Khivar was planning a revolution. And she’d helped him, been pivotal at times in the organization of his plot. Without her he would never have gotten so far so fast.
And she needed it to stop. She’d pleaded with him to accept a deal she had struck with her father, using her younger brother as an intermediary. Full pardon and the right to marry her. But he would have to help destroy what he had help build. To betray those who would never have actually carried out the missions they had without his leadership. And betray those Rhyajhaelian City States who had provided him so much covert support for his stand against the government regarding Drimordjian.
She could not continue to let herself be used as a weapon against her family. She would take the pardon.
And he would not.
So she watched him dress, knowing that each moment carried him further from her. Until finally he was done, adjusting his collar in the mirror.
“You don’t have to go, Khivar.”
“I do. Just as you have to accept the deal, I can not. What they have done is not just, it is not right and they must be held accountable for their actions! You know this Lonnie!”
“But your way will lead only to death, Khivar. War and death. Haven’t we had enough of that these last few years? This will let you work within the government, you will have a privileged place in Court….”
“Lonnie, I can’t. I just can’t do it. I hate this as much as you do… Why don’t you come with me? You still have enough time to throw something on and we can leave… We can make the world a better place. Please. Come with me.”
Vilandra got up, covers slipping to the floor, her naked body now visible to his admiring eyes. She walked over and held onto him and kissed him one last time. One final time feeling his soul brush against hers.
When they parted, both were flushed and in tears. It was goodbye.
Khivar gave her one last sorrowful look, grabbed his luggage, and walked toward the door. He turned back one last time and said softly, “I will see you again, my love, in this life or the next.”
Vilandra watched him at the door and shook her head. “Our paths part from here, Khivar. I can only hope that one day I might find another that I can love as much as I have loved you. If not in this life, the next.”
Khivar just stared at her for a moment. “You will always be mine.”
Vilandra reached inside of herself, and using the arcane arts she had learned in her quest for telepathy, disrupted their connection. The structures were still there, she could still by an act of will reopen that bond. “You have made your choice and I have made mine. Good bye, Khivar.”
For a moment Khivar looked broken and just stared at her. His eyes were full of pain and sorrow as he finally understood. “Goodbye, my love. For the love I bear you, I wish you luck in your search. And when you are ready, I will be waiting.”
And he left.
Vilandra turned from the door and closed her eyes again, listening to the sound of his boots echoing off the floor slowly get drowned out in the sound of the surf.
She would find another, one that when given the choice between her and his ambitions would choose her. She would.
Her heart was pounding from the dream as she awoke. She felt a moment of disorientation as she tried to figure out where she was. She felt warmth from the body that still clung to her.
Alex’s body. Alex’s naked body clinging to her naked body. And based on the throbbing between her legs they had done more than just hold each other.
Sex. She’d just had sex with Alex. Her face flushed in remembered pleasure at the encounter, and she held the still sleeping Alex even closer.
Vilandra had been looking, desperately looking for someone who would love her for who she was. It had indeed taken another life to find him. But she had.
No longer would she have to fear her own heart. No longer would she fear Khivar. Her heart belonged to another now.
And unlike Khivar, Alex would never betray her. Nor, she promised to his still unconscious form, would she him.
So she just lay there listening to his heart beat. She knew that she would have to wake him soon. Their friends would be waiting. But they had a little time.
His father was out of town, and his mother was teaching until nine. They would be a little late to the party, but it was for Alex, so there wouldn’t be too much harm done.
Just five more minutes. Isabel clung to Alex, feeling flesh against flesh, mind against mind and soul to soul. Just five more.
----
Liz-
Liz’s body was shaking like a leaf after her near death experience. If she had not gotten lucky, had not moved out of the way of that blast she would be dead. Her mind reflexively went back to what Pierce’s body had looked like after Michael had blasted him.
Max had tried to shield her from it, but she had gotten a glance. His chest had been caved in where the blast hit, with significant burns. Most of all she could remember the malignant white glow.
Fourteen months ago she had been in a similar situation. Only she had been faced with merely a hand gun. And she had frozen. Just stared at the barrel of the gun. In some dreams that she had had right after the shooting the gun barrel had seemed to grow until it encompassed her entire being.
She could remember the feeling as the bullet slammed into her. A white hot poker jammed into her gut, spilling out her life blood. The pain had seemed to fade and the world grow dark, until a set of golden eyes had called her back.
It all led to a chain of events that led her here to this time and place. For Max must have kindled some spark within her, made some change in her that allowed her to do these unusual things. And it was those changes that Ana had seen and plotted to use. Ana had tried to remake her, make her into a tool like she had Maria in the previous timeline. Only Ana must be new to this task and was interrupted.
Or Liz would now be answering to Emily. But fragments of what Ana had done to her remained. She was different.
The Liz of fourteen months ago would have been shaking as hard, but she would not also be holding the stun shot in a surprisingly rock steady aim centered on Ava. “Don’t even bother to try anything. I’ll zap you at the first inkling of a warp.”
Shock was written all over Ava’s face. “What are you?”
“Human… I think.”
Ava just stared at her.
Courtney shook her head. “What is with you guys? What made them think they could just blast at will?”
“They thought she was merely human. Harmless and beneath contempt. Stupid arrogant Tarans.”
Liz just stared at the copy of her current nemesis. There was something about her, something different.
Courtney cocked her head sideways, “And you would be…?”
Ava just glared at Courtney, “Vi’at Mithari, Rhyjhael.”
Courtney must have seen Liz’s puzzled look for she translated. “She said, I am Mithar, Rhyajhael. In Mithar no less. You have some of the old memories, your whole group does.”
Liz looked at her with interest. “You remember your former life?”
“Some. Mostly distant memories. It’s, it’s like remembering a really realistic movie or dream… Bits and pieces always seem to crop up. Um, is there any possibility of lowering that thing?”
Liz felt a … kinship with her. She lowered the weapon, but kept it close at hand. Somehow she knew that Ava was not a threat. Part of her worried that it was some trick, some skill that Ava might possess. But her instincts told her to listen if not fully trust the girl. “Why are you here?”
Courtney nodded as she gathered up the bags that had been dropped in the brief scuffle.
Ava looked at her two companions shrugged, “Well I don’t see how this can get much worse….”
Kyle ran up the stairs. “Are you okay?” Kyle looked from Liz to Courtney. His gaze caught on Ava, “Ava? Why are you here? And who are…” He just whistled. “So it’s them.”
Liz could feel the adrenaline begin to subside. And pain began to grow in her side from where Lonnie had blasted her. She coughed and felt pain ripple through her. She felt a wave of dizziness pass through her.
Kyle moved over to help her, “Liz?”
She looked at Kyle. “I think I’ve been hurt.” She coughed again, pain ripping through her chest. “Get Max,” she said faintly. Why did the lights seem to be dimming?
“Please let me through, I can help her,” Ava pled.
“MAX GET UP HERE!” Kyle called out. “I think you have done enough, Ava.” He said coldly to Tess's twin.
Why was Kyle mad with Ava? They were family. Or they would be. Or they could be. She wasn’t sure.
She could hear people in the back ground, some yelling and some crying. She tried to pay attention, but her mind was caught in a wild kaleidoscope of images of what was, what is, and what might be.
Liz found herself standing alone in a desert landscape, like and unlike the desert near Roswell. She looked over and saw a familiar rock formation.
The rock formation that hid the Pod Chamber. And somehow she knew that it housed the Granolith as well.
“Liz!”
She walked up the path to the Pod Chamber. She gingerly placed her hand on the door and gasped as a silver hand print formed.
The door opened to the Chamber, but it had been cleaned and remodeled. The Chamber was well lit now, with a strange bright source-less white light. The pods had been pushed towards the walls to reveal a gleaming door.
But what drew her attention was a small table positioned in the middle of the room. It contained two chairs, in which one a beautiful woman sat.
“Liz, you have to look at me. Please don’t leave me, my love.”
Her hair was raven black and her eyes were an amber brown. Liz’s breath caught at the perfect mix of her and Max. “Amy.”
“Mother it has taken years for me to find you. Please sit, I have much to tell you…”
She met her daughters golden gaze so similar to her father’s…
Liz saw her love’s golden eyes glow before her as she felt warmth flow into her.
“I can’t stay.”
“But I just found you!”
“I love you, Amy.”
Amy looked so very sad as she faded from view…
Liz looked up at Max, at her crying friends, “I love you….”
And there was darkness.
----
Maria-
Maria watched in wonder as Max healed Liz. She saw Liz smile and mumble a few words before falling asleep. Maria looked in askance at Max, “Is she going to be okay?”
Max smiled wanly at her and at the rest of his friends. “She’s going to be fine. She just needs a little rest.”
“What about the others?” Kyle said stiffly.
“I’ll deal with them momentarily.”
Maria cocked her head to the side. “You know it’s too bad we don’t have whatever whomever was drugging me with. Maybe it would weaken their powers or something.”
Max looked at her with surprised respect. “That’s a good idea. If Liz was right, it’s probably a pill or something you take on a regular basis.”
“Um, Max, hate to break this to you, but I take a lot of supplements…”
“So bring them all.” He paused for a moment. “Hey, Courtney.” Courtney looked up from where she was examining the two fallen Duplicates. “Courtney, would you be able to recognize the chemical that was causing Maria such distress.”
Courtney glanced at Maria and then looked back at Max. “I guess. I can’t make any promises, but I certainly can try.” She turned to Maria, “Shall we go?”
Both of them walked towards the exit when Maria remembered a small hitch. She did not have the Jetta tonight. “Courtney, I’ll meet you outside. I need to borrow the Jeep for this.”
Courtney nodded and left.
Maria headed back into the museum. She started as she felt a hand grab her arm.
“I’ll take you,” Kyle said. “I need to talk to you anyway.”
Maria nodded and stopped. “Talk to me about what?”
“Maria, I think I almost caught Dad and Amy, well…”
“No way.”
Kyle sighed. “Your mom was taking a shower in the master bath. You must have gotten your singing voice from your dad, cause your mom can’t carry a tune.”
Maria put her face in her hands. This was just so… so Eww.
Kyle just looked at her.
“Are you sure?”
“The Jetta was parked outside the house. I thought you were there at first. But then I realized….”
“Ewww.”
Kyle sighed and nodded.
“Can my life get more complicated?”
Kyle looked at her. “Don’t tempt it.” And he walked out of the museum.
Maria just stood there, vainly trying to piece together her now completely chaotic life. Instinctively her eyes shot across the room, to Michael. He turned, and while his face stayed impassive, his eyes did not.
It was really true.
He loved her.
Strengthened by one constant in her life she walked out the door to find the drug that had plagued her.
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 26- 05/23/08
Thanks to everyone following this story. Particular thanks to katydid, RhondaAnn, Stinebiene, GreginClearwater, and xmag for the wonderful feedback.
katydid- Thank you. I'm tired of 'Vilandra the pampered foolish/evil princess' myself. In this story Khivar and Vilandra are one of those tragic love stories. Besides Isabel was never portrayed as weak, selfish and short sighted at times, but never weak.
RhondaAnn- Maria often seems to be just a bubble head, that even those who know better are sometimes surprised at how smart she can be. Well let's hope Courtney can do it, because they're going to have a problem dealing with the Dupes.
Stinebiene- Thanks. As for Courtney, if you assume that they can manipulate materials, you have to also assume that some of them can recognize materials or drugs they've had contact with. Plus Courtney has her husk, its basically a chemical filtration device that has to analyze potential toxins.
In timeline one Max and Liz had three children, Jeff, Phillip, and Amy. Amy was the youngest, and was only two when Max went back in time. Just before he left, Maria captured Amy, who had been in the care of Michael. Hence Michael dying a half hour before Future Max left the future. And there is no way that Liz should be able to interact with Amy. That they know of. As for Amy, well that remains for future parts. (Just a subplot to deal with a plot point that annoyed me in the show.)
GreginClearwater- Thanks for the high praise. If they are going to have to deal with their pasts, why not make them heroic? It was a problem I had with the show. While I liked many of the individual episodes in both seasons two and three, the season arcs annoyed me to a degree. Basically, season one built a nice house. Season two the burned it down. Season three the sifted through the ashes.
As for Kyle and Tess, it's going to be a while. They'll probably get there though. Both of them have a lot to deal with before they'll be ready.
And I'm not sure, but I think the original term for a story like this was actually Romance. Not sure though.
xmag- Vilandra loved Khivar, really loved him. And Khivar loved her. But both of them chose to do what they thought was right and ended up on opposite sides. Ironically, in this story, both of them share ideals. It is the ways and means of enabling those ideals that they differ.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine, and I mean no infringement.
Eidolon chapter 27
Kyle-
Kyle waved over Courtney as he and Maria exited the UFO Museum and they headed towards the Mustang. It really was his pride and joy. He was happy also that he’d cleaned it earlier, so there was no clutter stopping the girls from piling in.
He turned on the car and winced as Maria immediately turned the radio station from his favorite country station to KROZ - more stupid bubble gum pop. Well he’d grown used to it lately as Tess loved the stuff. It was amazing what you could get used to if you loved someone enough. To bad her heart was still set after Evans.
Oh, he’d had fun with Vicky. And he’d continue to play the field until Tess came to her senses and realized that she had no hope of wresting Evans away from Liz. The only thing that could separate the two of them was each other. And given past history, even then they would find each other again. This was a battle Tess could never win in the long run.
And he would be waiting for her to realize it. Sure there were no guarantees that he would be the one to win her heart, but it was foolish to even try at the moment.
The thing is, he kind of felt sorry for Vicky. Maybe if Tess wasn’t there he’d be more serious with her. She certainly had been talking about how much she cared for him. It made him feel guilty. He liked her and feared that he was keeping her from looking for someone who might stick around for the long haul.
Maybe he’d have to talk to her.
Funny how things had changed. A year ago he likely would not have cared how his life was affecting Vicky or anyone really. But now, now he cared. Maybe it was the Buddhism. Or maybe, maybe he was growing up.
Hard to say.
Maria finished singing along with one of the songs and looked at Kyle. “So what are you thinking about?”
“Just admiring your singing voice, and wondering if you were up to walking the rest of the way.” Kyle said dryly.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I seem to recall setting the radio to a different station this morning. Funny how it changed.” He shot Maria a quick glance.
He watched as a variety of emotions played across her face. He was taking a risk, but it was his car. At the very least she could acknowledge that she hadn’t even asked for permission
It ended on a smile. “Well Kyle, I wanted to listen to some music.”
Huh? “It was already on a station Maria. And last I heard, Country was still considered music.”
“That’s debatable,” she said with a bit of a smirk.
She’s been hanging out with Guerin too much. Kyle opened his mouth to reply, but Courtney beat him to the punch.
“He’s thinking of a certain blonde alien.”
Kyle looked at Courtney through the rear view mirror. So this is the thanks I get for saving you Saturday?
Maria was quiet for a moment, deep in thought. “You haven’t fallen for Isabel have you? I mean, I don’t know that I could support that. Alex has been after her for so long and for you to just sweep in and take her. I don’t know how Alex would take it, and he’s my friend and so I don’t think I like the fact that you’ve grown sweet on her…”
Kyle just sat there as wave after wave of verbal jabs headed his way steadily increasing in intensity. She’d probably be hitting him soon, he thought vaguely. He just could not understand why she thought that he liked Isabel. Sure she was hot, but then so was Tess. And Tess was cute and funny and sexy too. Isabel was just too cold and aloof for his tastes.
Kyle looked up again at Courtney, who was laughing at his predicament. Their eyes caught for a second and she nodded.
Courtney leaned forward and placed a hand on Maria’s shoulder, stopping her mid tirade. “Think of someone closer to his own size.,” she said with a teasing grin at Kyle.
Maria paused a second, “Wait, you are still after Tess? I mean I know you’ve liked her since she came… But Tess?”
“Are you sure you both don’t feel like walking?” Kyle sighed and continued, “Yeah, I still like Tess. What ever made you think I might have a thing for Isabel.”
“Well the night of the party, you were with Isabel all alone ‘gazing at the stars’ or some such nonsense. I talked a little with Pam, and well she still thought you wanted Tess… But that others saw walk off with Isabel for some tryst or something.”
“She just wanted to ask about why I pretended to sleep with Liz.” He paused a moment, “That night was really weird, I felt like someone was being hunted.”
Courtney cleared her throat, “You know, I really want to thank you about that. I might not have been able to recover in time.” Turning to Maria, “Kyle saved me from another Skin.” She turned to Kyle, “Have you seen any other manifestations of power since?”
Kyle said quietly, “Um, maybe. I wanted to talk with Liz about it first.”
“Why Liz?”
“She was healed first.”
Courtney nodded, “If you notice anything major let me know. I might be able to help some. There are some basic exercises that can help. You too Maria.”
Maria looked quiet and her eyes large as she glanced between Kyle and Courtney. “Exercises for what?”
“Your powers. Both of you are developing them. You have a head start Kyle, but that drug they gave me and Maria… It increased our… plasticity to molecular manipulation. I suspect that it will speed up the changes.” Courtney shrugged.
Kyle just stared at Courtney for a second before recovering. He pulled the car off the road for a moment. He then turned to stare at Courtney. Kyle paused a moment and tried to hold back his hysteria. “So I’m like a freak now?”
Maria just sat back quietly, her face a little pale.
Courtney just looked back at him calmly with an odd detached look. “No. As far as I can tell you are human, well mostly anyway. Liz has been changed more than either of you, but that was because of Ana. It’s fascinating really.”
“Oh, that’s just great. So what is next? This afternoon when I was getting ready my face disappeared. My eyes, my nose, everything. I looked like a damn mannequin. Is this what I can expect?”
Courtney’s eyes still held that clinical detachment as she looked at him, “I really honestly don’t know. What Max does is impossible really. I’ve come to some preliminary conclusions based on my half remembered education from the Archadian….”
Maria asked in a small voice, “What is the Archadian?” She looked scared.
Courtney’s eyes softened as she took in Maria, and she reached over and gave her a one armed hug. “It was, is the most prestigious university on Antar. I met Vilandra and Khivar there.” She turned back to Kyle, “Vilandra is who Isabel was on Antar and she loved Khivar… They were the most romantic couple for such a long time…” Courtney shook her head lost in her own reverie.
“Who was Khivar?”
“Khivar was one of the leaders of the rebellion that overthrew Zan, the man who Max used to be. The Skins, the other Skins, they follow him.”
“So Isabel… what was in love with the leader of the enemies?” Kyle asked.
Courtney sat back and her voice was hesitant. “Yeah, I guess I am saying that. One of the leaders of the revolution.” She sighed and continued, “You children don’t know how lucky you truly are. You live in a land of peace and plenty, even if you are technologically backwards and poor…. Antar wasn’t like that. There were a lot of problems and inequities, and those in power had nothing to gain by addressing them. At least in the short run. Zan proved that if nothing else. His reforms cost him more support than it gained him…” Courtney shrugged and continued. “I doubt you care about Antaran politics. Let’s just leave it at the fact that it was a complicated time and place. And Vilandra’s place in it was as complicated a piece as any.”
Kyle was trying to wrap his mind around what she had told them. She was right, he did not really care about what happened on Antar. Except it was starting to affect his life. What past life pitfalls did Tess have to worry about? He looked over at Maria, her face still pale. He thought he could see her having the same thoughts regarding Michael.
And maybe the changes that could be coming to her life soon.
He knew he was frightened about them.
He reached out to Maria and patted her on the shoulder awkwardly. “It’ll be fine, we’ll just have to face it all together. One big happy dysfunctional family.”
Courtney looked away for a moment and sighed. “Why don’t we see if I can find that drug. Those Dupes won’t be stunned for long.”
Kyle turned the car back on. “Liz can just shoot them again. I tell you, I don’t know why but I was really surprised that Ava was with them. I really thought she wasn’t the enemy.”
Maria shook her head, “I can’t believe I am saying this, but she’s not Tess. We don’t know anything about the copies.”
Courtney just nodded.
“Yeah, maybe that’s it. But she could of really hurt Sean or me when she had us captured. And she did warn us about them.”
“Wait, Sean was involved?”
So as Kyle drove them the rest of the way to Maria’s house he told them of earlier in the day, when he had run into Sean. Maria was less than pleased that her cousin was now in the I Know an Alien Club.
Which was probably nothing compared what the Pod Squad’s reaction would be.
Some days are just trouble. And this one wasn’t even close to being over yet.
-----
Alex-
Alex sat in his car hand in hand with Isabel outside the UFO Museum. They watched as Kyle, Maria, and Courtney drove off.
Alex turned to Isabel, who was looking at him with an odd half smile. “What do you think is up? Are they looking for us?”
“We’re not that late and I called to tell them we were on the way when we stopped at home. Thanks by the way, if mom had found out I had taken the car without using the keys it might have started another round of awkward questions.”
“Speaking of which, I think your mom suspects something happened between us.”
“What makes you think that?”
“While you were doing whatever it was you were doing I was fending off your mother. The last time we dated, well sort of dated, she wasn’t nearly as interested in my life. But this time it was a mini inquisition. I tremble at the thought of what’s going to happen the next time I run into your father.” Alex shook his head slowly.
“Great, that’s just great. What did you say to her?”
“I just talked about my upcoming trip, and she asked what kind of stuff I was interested in. It wasn’t that so much as the glances she gave us when you reentered the kitchen.” Alex’s throat suddenly seemed dry. “You were so beautiful, almost glowing. And… and I love you Isabel, I don’t like trying to hide it. I don’t think I did a good job hiding it from her.”
Isabel reached across and gave him a quick kiss. “I’m sure you did just fine. Besides their going to need to get used to you. I plan on keeping you around.”
Alex could not help but feel his heart glow at her comment. But he had felt like that last year, too. “But Isabel…”
“No, the Ice Princess is dead, Alex. I’m not going to drop you just to keep my cover. I’m not going to give you up just to prove myself to some silly bitches who like to pretend they’re my friends. I’m done.”
“You don’t have to prove yourself to me, Isabel. I‘ll love you anyway.”
Isabel looked at him sternly, “I’m not doing it to prove myself to you. Life is just too short. You don’t have to prove yourself to me either. I mean isn’t that why your going to Las Cruces? For me?”
“Mostly. But, well…” Alex looked away and stared at the Museum. He turned to face her again, with a determined demeanor. “Part of it is I want to help you. Help all of you. You’re my friends, and I am tired of being left out. I want to help, and you need as much information as you can get. I think that is, well, one of the biggest advantages your enemies have. They simply know more about you than you do. If I’m doing it more for you than the others it is simply that you’re my love,” Alex paused for a moment and said, voice filled with wonder, “And now my lover.” He squeezed her hand.
Isabel just smiled and placed another hand on his. They both just sat there in the car, staring at each other, relishing the bond they now fully shared.
Isabel gave his hand one more squeeze and said, “We should go.”
Alex reluctantly nodded. “What shall we tell them.”
“Nothing. It is none of their business. They certainly have tried to keep me out of their love lives, they can certainly do the same for me.”
“And Las Cruces?”
“You’re right. We need to know. And Max would stop you. Part of him doesn’t really want to know. Part of me too. But… I don’t care. If it has information we can use good. If it’s all about this stupid Destiny Tess spouts… I have made my choice, and nothing will change it.”
Alex and Isabel walked arm-in-arm into the Museum.
----
Ava-
Ava was still shaken from the rapid change of events. Lonnie and Rath were still unconscious, but all of them were tied to chairs. Their hands were tied, palm to palm. Worse yet, the knots were well crafted, and with her fingers laced she couldn’t quite touch any of the rope.
Oh, given time she could still manipulate the fiber and break free. But it would take time. Molecular manipulation was always easier if you could channel the power through your hands.
It would almost be amusing to see what Lonnie’s and Rath’s reaction would be to this predicament. If only Lonnie had kept her temper, if only Rath weren’t such a hot head… But then likely Zan would still be alive and they wouldn’t be here.
She could still escape. And a great part of her wanted to. Wanted to just run from this whole mess. She might not be much in a combat situation, but she could still hide. Even Tess would have problems seeing her, and she thought her sister would let her go.
But it would not be the right thing to do.
She should at the very least tell them what was happening in New York on Friday. But how to get them to pay her any attention. The looks everyone gave her were uniformly nasty.
The look of contempt in eyes so similar to her Zan broke her heart. It brought back memories of a better time and place.
She shook her head. I have to focus if I’m going to get out of here. Her eyes flicked from person to person in the room they were in. Towards the edges of the room there were alien themed exhibits scattered around. And along one wall there was a power blast scorch mark.
Obviously they’ve had company before. That would explain how they dealt with Lonnie and Rath so fast.. Her eyes flicked towards the girl that had wrought such havoc. She was small, brunette and obviously smitten with Max. And he with her.
Poor Tess. She doesn‘t stand a chance.
They were bound. Probably could not stop thinking of each other, could not stop loving each other. Mitharans usually avoided power bonds. They caused as much trouble as they solved. The increased intimacy was not worth the havoc it could play in your life.
Love was hard enough.
But Tarans, Tarans sought power bonds out. But even then, not this intense. And it wasn’t just Max and Liz. Their Michael was bound to Maria. Another person whose aura she couldn’t place.
Most human’s auras glow a pale blue-green to her senses. The Tarans glowed crimson and gold. Her sister had the typical Mithar profile of crimson trimmed in gold. But Maria glittered a bright green and gold, and Liz an almost sinister royal blue on navy blue. Nothing she had scanned in this life or the last had looked like that.
She simply did not know what they were.
But Liz was the key to her current dilemma. Whoever or whatever she might be, she held Max‘s heart on a leash. If he listened to anyone it would be her.
And naturally she was the one that her Pod mates had blasted. The fools.
Well now was as good a time as any. Michael was arguing with Max softly but heatedly, arms waving vigorously in her and her Pod mates direction. None of them looked hard enough to kill in cold blood. But Michael by far looked the closest. Tess looked lost in thought. Probably trying to think of a way to help me. I hope.
“Hey, Liz, over here.” Ava called softly.
Liz calmly got up and reached for a bottle of water. She walked over to Ava and said kindly, “Are you thirsty or do you need anything?”
“No, I just wanted to apologize.” Ava licked her lips, “Although a little water would be nice.”
Liz opened the bottle and poured a little water into Ava’s mouth.
The water tasted wonderful. It really was amazing how much even the simplest things seemed wondrous when in danger. For she was in danger.
Liz was Enhanced. That explained her reaction speed, how she had gotten off her stun blast first. How she had dodged Rath’s blast…. Most people wouldn’t notice. But Ava’s father on Antar had several Enhanced bodyguards.
But that was a restricted technology. A restricted Mithar technology. And Liz was no Mithar.
Were there other aliens involved? The Summit was coming, had the other worlds sent operatives already? Was Liz one of them? And if so, from what world? Ava glanced at Max. Not Caithia, not if she was involved with Max. A Caithian operative would simply have killed him.
She would simply have to observe the girl. “Thanks. I’m sorry that the others attacked you.”
“I know.”
Ava watched as Liz’s gaze moved from her to Lonnie and Rath. And for a moment her eyes changed to a cold cobalt blue. A hard ruthless smile flashed across her face, before being replace by her usual pleasant demeanor.
Liz shrugged momentarily. “I’m sure it was a misunderstanding. I certainly don’t blame you.” Liz paused for a moment, “So why are you all here any way?”
Ava licked her lips again. Now she was unsure that she could trust Liz. She could feel Tess’s gaze on her. She looked over and watched as Tess reluctantly nodded. “We’re her because we were contacted.”
“Contacted?”
“The Five Primary Worlds are holding a summit in New York in four days. Zan, our, our reborn king,” Ava could not stop her tears, “He, he died on Saturday. If we are going to meet with them we need a complete Royal Four…”
Liz stared at Ava for a moment. “You’re here for Max,” she said softly.
----
Courtney-
Courtney stared in amazement at the line of pills that Maria set out in front of her. “You seriously take each of these every day?”
“Yeah, let’ see I take those for energy. And of course everyone needs vitamin C…”
“Rhetorical question Maria.” Courtney could feel as both Kyle and Maria stared at her. She rolled her shoulders and waved a hand over the pills. Her hand glowed golden for a moment as she actively scanned the items. She tried to remember exactly the composition of the drug…
All of them turned as they heard the front door open in the living room.
Courtney stopped mid scan.
“Maria?” They heard Amy’s voice sound through the house.
Maria tapped Courtney on the shoulder, “I’ll go talk to her. You keep checking. Kyle you’re our last line of defense. We have to keep my mom from seeing anything strange.”
Kyle nodded, clearly not happy.
Courtney watched as Maria left, and quickly began the scan again. It hadn’t really been anything she’d seen before. It must have been developed by the humans. This would be too useful a drug to not be used on Antar. Probably a native plant extract.
Kyle started pacing nervously, “So do you know which one it is?”
“Just a second…”
“Oww,” Kyle cried.
Courtney looked up.
Kyle looked sheepish as he said, “It’s nothing I just shocked myself. Must have been shuffling my feet too much.”
“Well, I think I have it narrowed down to this one.”
“A multivitamin? Who drugs a multivitamin?”
“Someone who wants you to take it every day. I bet if we went to Liz’s house we would find the same. We should check your house as well. Just because you haven’t been affected yet doesn’t mean you won’t” Courtney began to look around a bit to see what electrical appliance might be malfunctioning. Her husk was recording elevated ozone levels. She shocked herself as she got up.
Kyle had stopped pacing.
Courtney looked at him, one eyebrow raised.
He shrugged, “I kept getting shocked every time I got close to any metal.”
Courtney could hear both Maria’s and Amy’s voices grow increasingly heated, albeit not quite to screaming at each other. Something was wrong, but she could not quite place it. Background energy levels were rising, causing increased static electricity. She shook her head. “We’d better hurry, their having a fight.”
“So that’s it?”
Courtney sighed, “Just one more test to be sure.” She grabbed one of the pills and with her powers crushed it. She took a tiny amount of the powder and tasted it.
Kyle just stared at her. “I thought that stuff was dangerous.”
“My husk should be able to deal with a tiny amount. Plus it should be able to analyze it as well. That’ll tell me what I need to know.” She closed her eyes to interface more closely with her husk. The part she hadn’t told Kyle was that her husk was not really fully mature, and that she was indeed taking a bit of a risk.
It was strange. Her husk was still reading rising levels of ozone. And an energy level warning. Why would that be?
“Uh, Courtney?” Kyle’s voice sounded frightened.
Courtney opened her eyes and looked around. There was a pale blue nimbus surrounding every vertically pointed object in the room.
Saint Elmo’s Fire.
She could hear as the mother/ daughter argument began to crescendo.
Oh. My. God.
She frantically reached over to Kyle and grabbed him by the shoulders. She ignored the tiny shocks she felt as she moved across the room. “Kyle, you need to remove Maria from this house immediately. Do something, anything to get her to calm down!”
“What? Why?”
“Just MOVE KYLE! Before she does something she’ll regret forever. I’ll take care of Amy.”
Kyle nodded and ran into the living room and grabbed a resistant Maria. He took her from the room.
Amy’s normally pleasant face was contorted with rage, “Kyle what do you think your doing.”
“Unhand me you moronic jock!”
Kyle tossed Maria over his shoulder, flung the door open and ran into the night.
Amy tried to follow, but Courtney used her powers to close the door. And held it shut.
The air in the living room was heavy almost oppressive with a heavy tang of ozone.
Amy tried the door again and when she failed to open it turned to face Courtney. “What is going on here!”
Courtney stood her ground and felt as the electric field surrounding the house began to dampen out. She shook her head. “Mrs. Deluca, we need to talk…”
katydid- Thank you. I'm tired of 'Vilandra the pampered foolish/evil princess' myself. In this story Khivar and Vilandra are one of those tragic love stories. Besides Isabel was never portrayed as weak, selfish and short sighted at times, but never weak.
RhondaAnn- Maria often seems to be just a bubble head, that even those who know better are sometimes surprised at how smart she can be. Well let's hope Courtney can do it, because they're going to have a problem dealing with the Dupes.
Stinebiene- Thanks. As for Courtney, if you assume that they can manipulate materials, you have to also assume that some of them can recognize materials or drugs they've had contact with. Plus Courtney has her husk, its basically a chemical filtration device that has to analyze potential toxins.
In timeline one Max and Liz had three children, Jeff, Phillip, and Amy. Amy was the youngest, and was only two when Max went back in time. Just before he left, Maria captured Amy, who had been in the care of Michael. Hence Michael dying a half hour before Future Max left the future. And there is no way that Liz should be able to interact with Amy. That they know of. As for Amy, well that remains for future parts. (Just a subplot to deal with a plot point that annoyed me in the show.)
GreginClearwater- Thanks for the high praise. If they are going to have to deal with their pasts, why not make them heroic? It was a problem I had with the show. While I liked many of the individual episodes in both seasons two and three, the season arcs annoyed me to a degree. Basically, season one built a nice house. Season two the burned it down. Season three the sifted through the ashes.
As for Kyle and Tess, it's going to be a while. They'll probably get there though. Both of them have a lot to deal with before they'll be ready.
And I'm not sure, but I think the original term for a story like this was actually Romance. Not sure though.
xmag- Vilandra loved Khivar, really loved him. And Khivar loved her. But both of them chose to do what they thought was right and ended up on opposite sides. Ironically, in this story, both of them share ideals. It is the ways and means of enabling those ideals that they differ.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine, and I mean no infringement.
Eidolon chapter 27
Kyle-
Kyle waved over Courtney as he and Maria exited the UFO Museum and they headed towards the Mustang. It really was his pride and joy. He was happy also that he’d cleaned it earlier, so there was no clutter stopping the girls from piling in.
He turned on the car and winced as Maria immediately turned the radio station from his favorite country station to KROZ - more stupid bubble gum pop. Well he’d grown used to it lately as Tess loved the stuff. It was amazing what you could get used to if you loved someone enough. To bad her heart was still set after Evans.
Oh, he’d had fun with Vicky. And he’d continue to play the field until Tess came to her senses and realized that she had no hope of wresting Evans away from Liz. The only thing that could separate the two of them was each other. And given past history, even then they would find each other again. This was a battle Tess could never win in the long run.
And he would be waiting for her to realize it. Sure there were no guarantees that he would be the one to win her heart, but it was foolish to even try at the moment.
The thing is, he kind of felt sorry for Vicky. Maybe if Tess wasn’t there he’d be more serious with her. She certainly had been talking about how much she cared for him. It made him feel guilty. He liked her and feared that he was keeping her from looking for someone who might stick around for the long haul.
Maybe he’d have to talk to her.
Funny how things had changed. A year ago he likely would not have cared how his life was affecting Vicky or anyone really. But now, now he cared. Maybe it was the Buddhism. Or maybe, maybe he was growing up.
Hard to say.
Maria finished singing along with one of the songs and looked at Kyle. “So what are you thinking about?”
“Just admiring your singing voice, and wondering if you were up to walking the rest of the way.” Kyle said dryly.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I seem to recall setting the radio to a different station this morning. Funny how it changed.” He shot Maria a quick glance.
He watched as a variety of emotions played across her face. He was taking a risk, but it was his car. At the very least she could acknowledge that she hadn’t even asked for permission
It ended on a smile. “Well Kyle, I wanted to listen to some music.”
Huh? “It was already on a station Maria. And last I heard, Country was still considered music.”
“That’s debatable,” she said with a bit of a smirk.
She’s been hanging out with Guerin too much. Kyle opened his mouth to reply, but Courtney beat him to the punch.
“He’s thinking of a certain blonde alien.”
Kyle looked at Courtney through the rear view mirror. So this is the thanks I get for saving you Saturday?
Maria was quiet for a moment, deep in thought. “You haven’t fallen for Isabel have you? I mean, I don’t know that I could support that. Alex has been after her for so long and for you to just sweep in and take her. I don’t know how Alex would take it, and he’s my friend and so I don’t think I like the fact that you’ve grown sweet on her…”
Kyle just sat there as wave after wave of verbal jabs headed his way steadily increasing in intensity. She’d probably be hitting him soon, he thought vaguely. He just could not understand why she thought that he liked Isabel. Sure she was hot, but then so was Tess. And Tess was cute and funny and sexy too. Isabel was just too cold and aloof for his tastes.
Kyle looked up again at Courtney, who was laughing at his predicament. Their eyes caught for a second and she nodded.
Courtney leaned forward and placed a hand on Maria’s shoulder, stopping her mid tirade. “Think of someone closer to his own size.,” she said with a teasing grin at Kyle.
Maria paused a second, “Wait, you are still after Tess? I mean I know you’ve liked her since she came… But Tess?”
“Are you sure you both don’t feel like walking?” Kyle sighed and continued, “Yeah, I still like Tess. What ever made you think I might have a thing for Isabel.”
“Well the night of the party, you were with Isabel all alone ‘gazing at the stars’ or some such nonsense. I talked a little with Pam, and well she still thought you wanted Tess… But that others saw walk off with Isabel for some tryst or something.”
“She just wanted to ask about why I pretended to sleep with Liz.” He paused a moment, “That night was really weird, I felt like someone was being hunted.”
Courtney cleared her throat, “You know, I really want to thank you about that. I might not have been able to recover in time.” Turning to Maria, “Kyle saved me from another Skin.” She turned to Kyle, “Have you seen any other manifestations of power since?”
Kyle said quietly, “Um, maybe. I wanted to talk with Liz about it first.”
“Why Liz?”
“She was healed first.”
Courtney nodded, “If you notice anything major let me know. I might be able to help some. There are some basic exercises that can help. You too Maria.”
Maria looked quiet and her eyes large as she glanced between Kyle and Courtney. “Exercises for what?”
“Your powers. Both of you are developing them. You have a head start Kyle, but that drug they gave me and Maria… It increased our… plasticity to molecular manipulation. I suspect that it will speed up the changes.” Courtney shrugged.
Kyle just stared at Courtney for a second before recovering. He pulled the car off the road for a moment. He then turned to stare at Courtney. Kyle paused a moment and tried to hold back his hysteria. “So I’m like a freak now?”
Maria just sat back quietly, her face a little pale.
Courtney just looked back at him calmly with an odd detached look. “No. As far as I can tell you are human, well mostly anyway. Liz has been changed more than either of you, but that was because of Ana. It’s fascinating really.”
“Oh, that’s just great. So what is next? This afternoon when I was getting ready my face disappeared. My eyes, my nose, everything. I looked like a damn mannequin. Is this what I can expect?”
Courtney’s eyes still held that clinical detachment as she looked at him, “I really honestly don’t know. What Max does is impossible really. I’ve come to some preliminary conclusions based on my half remembered education from the Archadian….”
Maria asked in a small voice, “What is the Archadian?” She looked scared.
Courtney’s eyes softened as she took in Maria, and she reached over and gave her a one armed hug. “It was, is the most prestigious university on Antar. I met Vilandra and Khivar there.” She turned back to Kyle, “Vilandra is who Isabel was on Antar and she loved Khivar… They were the most romantic couple for such a long time…” Courtney shook her head lost in her own reverie.
“Who was Khivar?”
“Khivar was one of the leaders of the rebellion that overthrew Zan, the man who Max used to be. The Skins, the other Skins, they follow him.”
“So Isabel… what was in love with the leader of the enemies?” Kyle asked.
Courtney sat back and her voice was hesitant. “Yeah, I guess I am saying that. One of the leaders of the revolution.” She sighed and continued, “You children don’t know how lucky you truly are. You live in a land of peace and plenty, even if you are technologically backwards and poor…. Antar wasn’t like that. There were a lot of problems and inequities, and those in power had nothing to gain by addressing them. At least in the short run. Zan proved that if nothing else. His reforms cost him more support than it gained him…” Courtney shrugged and continued. “I doubt you care about Antaran politics. Let’s just leave it at the fact that it was a complicated time and place. And Vilandra’s place in it was as complicated a piece as any.”
Kyle was trying to wrap his mind around what she had told them. She was right, he did not really care about what happened on Antar. Except it was starting to affect his life. What past life pitfalls did Tess have to worry about? He looked over at Maria, her face still pale. He thought he could see her having the same thoughts regarding Michael.
And maybe the changes that could be coming to her life soon.
He knew he was frightened about them.
He reached out to Maria and patted her on the shoulder awkwardly. “It’ll be fine, we’ll just have to face it all together. One big happy dysfunctional family.”
Courtney looked away for a moment and sighed. “Why don’t we see if I can find that drug. Those Dupes won’t be stunned for long.”
Kyle turned the car back on. “Liz can just shoot them again. I tell you, I don’t know why but I was really surprised that Ava was with them. I really thought she wasn’t the enemy.”
Maria shook her head, “I can’t believe I am saying this, but she’s not Tess. We don’t know anything about the copies.”
Courtney just nodded.
“Yeah, maybe that’s it. But she could of really hurt Sean or me when she had us captured. And she did warn us about them.”
“Wait, Sean was involved?”
So as Kyle drove them the rest of the way to Maria’s house he told them of earlier in the day, when he had run into Sean. Maria was less than pleased that her cousin was now in the I Know an Alien Club.
Which was probably nothing compared what the Pod Squad’s reaction would be.
Some days are just trouble. And this one wasn’t even close to being over yet.
-----
Alex-
Alex sat in his car hand in hand with Isabel outside the UFO Museum. They watched as Kyle, Maria, and Courtney drove off.
Alex turned to Isabel, who was looking at him with an odd half smile. “What do you think is up? Are they looking for us?”
“We’re not that late and I called to tell them we were on the way when we stopped at home. Thanks by the way, if mom had found out I had taken the car without using the keys it might have started another round of awkward questions.”
“Speaking of which, I think your mom suspects something happened between us.”
“What makes you think that?”
“While you were doing whatever it was you were doing I was fending off your mother. The last time we dated, well sort of dated, she wasn’t nearly as interested in my life. But this time it was a mini inquisition. I tremble at the thought of what’s going to happen the next time I run into your father.” Alex shook his head slowly.
“Great, that’s just great. What did you say to her?”
“I just talked about my upcoming trip, and she asked what kind of stuff I was interested in. It wasn’t that so much as the glances she gave us when you reentered the kitchen.” Alex’s throat suddenly seemed dry. “You were so beautiful, almost glowing. And… and I love you Isabel, I don’t like trying to hide it. I don’t think I did a good job hiding it from her.”
Isabel reached across and gave him a quick kiss. “I’m sure you did just fine. Besides their going to need to get used to you. I plan on keeping you around.”
Alex could not help but feel his heart glow at her comment. But he had felt like that last year, too. “But Isabel…”
“No, the Ice Princess is dead, Alex. I’m not going to drop you just to keep my cover. I’m not going to give you up just to prove myself to some silly bitches who like to pretend they’re my friends. I’m done.”
“You don’t have to prove yourself to me, Isabel. I‘ll love you anyway.”
Isabel looked at him sternly, “I’m not doing it to prove myself to you. Life is just too short. You don’t have to prove yourself to me either. I mean isn’t that why your going to Las Cruces? For me?”
“Mostly. But, well…” Alex looked away and stared at the Museum. He turned to face her again, with a determined demeanor. “Part of it is I want to help you. Help all of you. You’re my friends, and I am tired of being left out. I want to help, and you need as much information as you can get. I think that is, well, one of the biggest advantages your enemies have. They simply know more about you than you do. If I’m doing it more for you than the others it is simply that you’re my love,” Alex paused for a moment and said, voice filled with wonder, “And now my lover.” He squeezed her hand.
Isabel just smiled and placed another hand on his. They both just sat there in the car, staring at each other, relishing the bond they now fully shared.
Isabel gave his hand one more squeeze and said, “We should go.”
Alex reluctantly nodded. “What shall we tell them.”
“Nothing. It is none of their business. They certainly have tried to keep me out of their love lives, they can certainly do the same for me.”
“And Las Cruces?”
“You’re right. We need to know. And Max would stop you. Part of him doesn’t really want to know. Part of me too. But… I don’t care. If it has information we can use good. If it’s all about this stupid Destiny Tess spouts… I have made my choice, and nothing will change it.”
Alex and Isabel walked arm-in-arm into the Museum.
----
Ava-
Ava was still shaken from the rapid change of events. Lonnie and Rath were still unconscious, but all of them were tied to chairs. Their hands were tied, palm to palm. Worse yet, the knots were well crafted, and with her fingers laced she couldn’t quite touch any of the rope.
Oh, given time she could still manipulate the fiber and break free. But it would take time. Molecular manipulation was always easier if you could channel the power through your hands.
It would almost be amusing to see what Lonnie’s and Rath’s reaction would be to this predicament. If only Lonnie had kept her temper, if only Rath weren’t such a hot head… But then likely Zan would still be alive and they wouldn’t be here.
She could still escape. And a great part of her wanted to. Wanted to just run from this whole mess. She might not be much in a combat situation, but she could still hide. Even Tess would have problems seeing her, and she thought her sister would let her go.
But it would not be the right thing to do.
She should at the very least tell them what was happening in New York on Friday. But how to get them to pay her any attention. The looks everyone gave her were uniformly nasty.
The look of contempt in eyes so similar to her Zan broke her heart. It brought back memories of a better time and place.
She shook her head. I have to focus if I’m going to get out of here. Her eyes flicked from person to person in the room they were in. Towards the edges of the room there were alien themed exhibits scattered around. And along one wall there was a power blast scorch mark.
Obviously they’ve had company before. That would explain how they dealt with Lonnie and Rath so fast.. Her eyes flicked towards the girl that had wrought such havoc. She was small, brunette and obviously smitten with Max. And he with her.
Poor Tess. She doesn‘t stand a chance.
They were bound. Probably could not stop thinking of each other, could not stop loving each other. Mitharans usually avoided power bonds. They caused as much trouble as they solved. The increased intimacy was not worth the havoc it could play in your life.
Love was hard enough.
But Tarans, Tarans sought power bonds out. But even then, not this intense. And it wasn’t just Max and Liz. Their Michael was bound to Maria. Another person whose aura she couldn’t place.
Most human’s auras glow a pale blue-green to her senses. The Tarans glowed crimson and gold. Her sister had the typical Mithar profile of crimson trimmed in gold. But Maria glittered a bright green and gold, and Liz an almost sinister royal blue on navy blue. Nothing she had scanned in this life or the last had looked like that.
She simply did not know what they were.
But Liz was the key to her current dilemma. Whoever or whatever she might be, she held Max‘s heart on a leash. If he listened to anyone it would be her.
And naturally she was the one that her Pod mates had blasted. The fools.
Well now was as good a time as any. Michael was arguing with Max softly but heatedly, arms waving vigorously in her and her Pod mates direction. None of them looked hard enough to kill in cold blood. But Michael by far looked the closest. Tess looked lost in thought. Probably trying to think of a way to help me. I hope.
“Hey, Liz, over here.” Ava called softly.
Liz calmly got up and reached for a bottle of water. She walked over to Ava and said kindly, “Are you thirsty or do you need anything?”
“No, I just wanted to apologize.” Ava licked her lips, “Although a little water would be nice.”
Liz opened the bottle and poured a little water into Ava’s mouth.
The water tasted wonderful. It really was amazing how much even the simplest things seemed wondrous when in danger. For she was in danger.
Liz was Enhanced. That explained her reaction speed, how she had gotten off her stun blast first. How she had dodged Rath’s blast…. Most people wouldn’t notice. But Ava’s father on Antar had several Enhanced bodyguards.
But that was a restricted technology. A restricted Mithar technology. And Liz was no Mithar.
Were there other aliens involved? The Summit was coming, had the other worlds sent operatives already? Was Liz one of them? And if so, from what world? Ava glanced at Max. Not Caithia, not if she was involved with Max. A Caithian operative would simply have killed him.
She would simply have to observe the girl. “Thanks. I’m sorry that the others attacked you.”
“I know.”
Ava watched as Liz’s gaze moved from her to Lonnie and Rath. And for a moment her eyes changed to a cold cobalt blue. A hard ruthless smile flashed across her face, before being replace by her usual pleasant demeanor.
Liz shrugged momentarily. “I’m sure it was a misunderstanding. I certainly don’t blame you.” Liz paused for a moment, “So why are you all here any way?”
Ava licked her lips again. Now she was unsure that she could trust Liz. She could feel Tess’s gaze on her. She looked over and watched as Tess reluctantly nodded. “We’re her because we were contacted.”
“Contacted?”
“The Five Primary Worlds are holding a summit in New York in four days. Zan, our, our reborn king,” Ava could not stop her tears, “He, he died on Saturday. If we are going to meet with them we need a complete Royal Four…”
Liz stared at Ava for a moment. “You’re here for Max,” she said softly.
----
Courtney-
Courtney stared in amazement at the line of pills that Maria set out in front of her. “You seriously take each of these every day?”
“Yeah, let’ see I take those for energy. And of course everyone needs vitamin C…”
“Rhetorical question Maria.” Courtney could feel as both Kyle and Maria stared at her. She rolled her shoulders and waved a hand over the pills. Her hand glowed golden for a moment as she actively scanned the items. She tried to remember exactly the composition of the drug…
All of them turned as they heard the front door open in the living room.
Courtney stopped mid scan.
“Maria?” They heard Amy’s voice sound through the house.
Maria tapped Courtney on the shoulder, “I’ll go talk to her. You keep checking. Kyle you’re our last line of defense. We have to keep my mom from seeing anything strange.”
Kyle nodded, clearly not happy.
Courtney watched as Maria left, and quickly began the scan again. It hadn’t really been anything she’d seen before. It must have been developed by the humans. This would be too useful a drug to not be used on Antar. Probably a native plant extract.
Kyle started pacing nervously, “So do you know which one it is?”
“Just a second…”
“Oww,” Kyle cried.
Courtney looked up.
Kyle looked sheepish as he said, “It’s nothing I just shocked myself. Must have been shuffling my feet too much.”
“Well, I think I have it narrowed down to this one.”
“A multivitamin? Who drugs a multivitamin?”
“Someone who wants you to take it every day. I bet if we went to Liz’s house we would find the same. We should check your house as well. Just because you haven’t been affected yet doesn’t mean you won’t” Courtney began to look around a bit to see what electrical appliance might be malfunctioning. Her husk was recording elevated ozone levels. She shocked herself as she got up.
Kyle had stopped pacing.
Courtney looked at him, one eyebrow raised.
He shrugged, “I kept getting shocked every time I got close to any metal.”
Courtney could hear both Maria’s and Amy’s voices grow increasingly heated, albeit not quite to screaming at each other. Something was wrong, but she could not quite place it. Background energy levels were rising, causing increased static electricity. She shook her head. “We’d better hurry, their having a fight.”
“So that’s it?”
Courtney sighed, “Just one more test to be sure.” She grabbed one of the pills and with her powers crushed it. She took a tiny amount of the powder and tasted it.
Kyle just stared at her. “I thought that stuff was dangerous.”
“My husk should be able to deal with a tiny amount. Plus it should be able to analyze it as well. That’ll tell me what I need to know.” She closed her eyes to interface more closely with her husk. The part she hadn’t told Kyle was that her husk was not really fully mature, and that she was indeed taking a bit of a risk.
It was strange. Her husk was still reading rising levels of ozone. And an energy level warning. Why would that be?
“Uh, Courtney?” Kyle’s voice sounded frightened.
Courtney opened her eyes and looked around. There was a pale blue nimbus surrounding every vertically pointed object in the room.
Saint Elmo’s Fire.
She could hear as the mother/ daughter argument began to crescendo.
Oh. My. God.
She frantically reached over to Kyle and grabbed him by the shoulders. She ignored the tiny shocks she felt as she moved across the room. “Kyle, you need to remove Maria from this house immediately. Do something, anything to get her to calm down!”
“What? Why?”
“Just MOVE KYLE! Before she does something she’ll regret forever. I’ll take care of Amy.”
Kyle nodded and ran into the living room and grabbed a resistant Maria. He took her from the room.
Amy’s normally pleasant face was contorted with rage, “Kyle what do you think your doing.”
“Unhand me you moronic jock!”
Kyle tossed Maria over his shoulder, flung the door open and ran into the night.
Amy tried to follow, but Courtney used her powers to close the door. And held it shut.
The air in the living room was heavy almost oppressive with a heavy tang of ozone.
Amy tried the door again and when she failed to open it turned to face Courtney. “What is going on here!”
Courtney stood her ground and felt as the electric field surrounding the house began to dampen out. She shook her head. “Mrs. Deluca, we need to talk…”
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 27- 06/04/08
Thanks as always to those reading this story. Particular thanks to Natalie36, RhondaAnn, and xmag for their feedback.
Natalie36- Thanks.
RhondaAnn- None of the humans have a firm grip on their abilities yet. Poor Amy. Maria is not the only one who is going to have a trying week.
You are onto something with the auras, but I can tell you that Ana would read a solid Mithar pattern of Crimson bordered in Gold. And Kyle's is a nice Blue Green. Hmm... think of it as similar to a color chart. Maria moved closer to yellow and Liz moved father away.
Two more parts including this one to Monday, including a nice candy moment in next weeks chapter.
xmag- Courtney is in an awkward position. If she tells Amy too much she risks everything, but if she doesn't tell her enough Amy won't understand why she should keep quiet about the whold situation.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 28
Max-
Max stared at Liz while she talked softly with Ava. The revelations of the past few days had brought him hope. And with it fear. Fear that once more hope would be withdrawn.
That she would run from him again.
But at the moment there was peace between them. Something had changed, changed inside her. Possibly also inside of him. He wasn’t sure. He could feel their connection buzz and crackle with an intensity he had not felt since before Tess had arrived.
God he loved her.
He watched as a soft smile spread upon her lips and she gazed at him soulfully for a brief second. And he knew, that despite all the problems that they had had she loved him back. He smiled at her and she nodded slightly before turning back to Ava.
Ava looked surprised at the exchanged glance although what shocked her Max wasn’t sure. Tess looked on with grim resignation, before turning to once more gaze on their doubles.
What had possessed their creators to make two sets? Could he trust anything that Ava said? She and Liz certainly seemed to be becoming friends. Certainly the other two probably could not be trusted.
Assuming Liz ever let them wake.
There was another blue flash as Rath fought his way to consciousness. Only to lose it to another stun shot.
Michael winced as his double got zapped for the third time. “I wonder if that hurts?”
Max turned to his friend. “I don’t know. You could ask Liz to shoot you.”
“I’ll pass. Good job of fixing up the girlfriend too.”
“I can’t fix what isn’t broken. She’s, well, she’s probably healthier than she ever has been before. I don’t really fully understand what’s been done to her, but… she’s in excellent physical condition.”
Michael muttered something. The words seemed familiar, and yet, and yet entirely foreign.
“What did you say Michael?”
Michael frowned for a moment, scratched above one eyebrow, and said, “I didn’t say anything.” He then turned and looked off into the distance. His face settled into his usual mask that he wore when he didn’t feel like talking. But his eyes were worried and he kept glancing off into the distance.
Max pondered how to pull the information out of his impulsive friend before he did something rash. But his thoughts were interrupted as his sister and Alex waltzed into the UFO Museum.
Isabel had a broad smile on her face that faded as she saw the three tied up prisoners, only one conscious.
Alex had been whistling some jaunty tune that stopped dead as he saw what was going on.
Max did notice Alex pull Isabel closer and move slightly in front of her, as if to defend her. He watched in surprise as she flashed a hundred watt smile back at Alex and held him closer. But what worried him more was the tight smile that her face settled into. It was a perfectly pleasant smile… if you didn’t know Isabel. It was the smile that usually crossed her face before she attacked… usually verbally, but not always as Max knew to his rue. Isabel could be utterly ruthless.
But why the sudden need to protect Alex like he was her property?
And why wouldn’t Alex meet his eyes?
He hated, absolutely hated things going on without his knowledge. How could they stay safe if they were not all on the same page? He was about to say something when Michael abruptly began to walk to the door.
Max paused for a moment before following his friend. He could not quite here what Michael said to Isabel. But he did catch the word ‘Vilandra.’ Isabel just looked at him and smiled. Alex looked puzzled and surprised.
Liz also got up to see what was going on and she laid one small hand on his arm, questions in her eyes… Briefly before she jerked her hand away as if burned, her face flaming red. But her voice was steady. “Go to her, Michael. She needs you.”
Max felt as any understanding of the situation faded. “Michael?”
Michael turned and looked at Max. His pupils were enlarged, almost almond shaped. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” And he left the Museum.
Max followed and watched as Michael wordlessly gathered his helmet and drove off on his bike. Toward Maria’s house. He felt a small hand softly grab his hand.
“He’ll be fine, Max. Come on, I have to tell you what Ava has told me.”
Max let him be led back into the Museum, feeling as though everything were spiraling out of control.
-----
Courtney-
Courtney sat back and sipped her Chamomile tea. Her gaze was firmly on Amy Deluca on the off chance she had any other surprises to offer. Amy’s mouth had opened wide when Courtney had calmly wiped away the Mace that Amy had shot directly into Courtney’s face.
Such a simple chemical irritant was no match for her husk.
Courtney smiled at Amy, “Isn’t this better?”
Amy gave her a cold glance and sipped from her cup. “I am still waiting for answers.”
“Your daughter is very special.”
“You said that before, but you haven’t explained why you are keeping me hostage here while Kyle carries off my daughter. And you better believe the Sheriff is going to hear about this.”
“Telling the Sheriff would be fine, I guess. I am going to tell you a little story. But before I begin I need to ask you this. When the FBI agent came to your house to discuss Agent Pierce and your husband, did he leave this bottle of pills?” Courtney pulled out the nearly full bottle of multivitamins and slammed them on the table. She used all of her experience as an operative to watch Amy’s face and judge her reaction.
She was gratified to see honest shock and puzzlement.
“What? That’s just a bottle of vitamins. What are you trying to imply?”
“One last question. Have you noted any behavioral changes in Maria since Saturday?”
“Since Saturday, not really. She’s been down a bit lately, but this weekend she was her usual bouncy self.” Amy sighed, a tear forming in one eye. “But today, she seemed… withdrawn, maybe a little pale.”
“These pills are toxic for her. At least they are now.”
Amy suddenly stood up animatedly, “Maria’s been poisoned? How do you know? Has she seen a doctor? Is she okay? Can, can I go see her and make, make sure she’s… she’s okay?”
“Mrs. Deluca sit down. Your daughter is fine. She just needs to calm down. Until then it’s probably not safe for you both to be together. She might do something inadvertently she would regret forever.”
“You make it sound like my daughter is dangerous.”
“She is, and I doubt that she knows it. I have given her the keys but she doesn’t know how to use them.”
“What are you talking about?”
Courtney stopped for a moment, taking a sip of tea to buy a little time to marshal her thoughts. “Something both wonderful and horrible happened on Saturday. That strange storm, you remember?”
Amy nodded, her face betraying both interest and worry in equal measure.
“To understand that storm, and the changes it wrought in your daughter, I am going to tell you a little story. Once upon a time…”
“I think I have quite outgrown fairytales, Courtney. Tell me about my daughter. She means everything to me… Everything I have done, all of it has been for her…” Amy took a tissue and wiped a few tears from her eyes. “And if I have lost her, I , I don’t know what I would do…”
“Do you believe in reincarnation, Amy? From what Maria has said of you makes me believe you have an open mind.”
Amy snorted, “It may be open but I am not a fool. As for reincarnation, well it’s a possibility. Are you trying to imply that my daughter is some reincarnated important person?”
“No, under normal circumstances, my beliefs do not include reincarnation. But listen to this story, for there is an exception for me. You see long ago and far away there was a kingdom. It was not a happy kingdom, there was war and strife and the King barely kept what little peace there was. One day the King’s best friend had an idea to change the power structure of the planet, strengthening him and his friend the King.”
Amy was silent, just staring at Courtney. Impatiently waiting.
“His plan failed and millions died. War came again to the weary planet, and yet the King would not act against his friend. Even his own daughter protested against him over it. It was her and a man by the name of Khivar who whipped the sense of injustice against the Crown to such a level that he had to act.
“But it was too late. It took more than three years for the King to act, and by then the Kingdom had fractured. And the world flooded with war and bloodshed, even unto the King itself, as he and most of his family was assassinated on one horrible day. Only two remained, and one was not of the Royal line. It was Vilandra, the adopted daughter of the King, the one who had lead so many of the early protests. She could not be Queen, or so we thought.
“The last of the Tarenons was a quiet intelligent man who had spent his life not learning to kill but to heal. At this he was rumored to have an almost… miraculous touch. But he was a healer, not a statesman. And while he sought to heal the wounds the threatened to tear Antar apart, he needed help. His sister, helped of course, her plans and ruthlessness were necessary components to success. But like all leaders he needed an army, and as his father had been killed in an attempted coup, he needed someone he could trust.
“There really was only one man. Rath Targan. He had the one quality that the new King needed most. Loyalty. He was not the smartest strategist, nor the savviest politician, nor yet the best general, but he could be trusted. And his men loved him.
Courtney paused remembering those brief heady days when it looked like they would succeed. They had been so close! “But at the moment of their penultimate triumph they were betrayed. The sister survived but a few days more, but she did not strive to hold the throne. Instead she used all of her considerable might and arcane knowledge to find a way to bring them back. To give them all another chance.
“She succeeded, for Michael is Rath Targan reborn. And even now his enemies fear him and the reborn King. And on Saturday they attacked. They used a device to cause most of the humans to… well to shift out of time for a little while. It was just your daughter and some of her friends to help defend the town.
Courtney was a little misty eyed as she continued, “I had misjudged her, misjudged him as well. Your daughter was so brave, so selfless. I saw the enemy sneak in, but, but I couldn’t talk. And I saw her save him, saw as she pushed him out of the way of something that would have killed him.”
Courtney licked her lips nervously, there just was no way to sugar coat this… “It killed her instead.”
“What! I have sat her quietly waiting for you to get to the point… And all you give me is a useless fairy tale? Is this some kind of prank? Who do you think you are?”
“Do you have any clue how hard this is to tell you? That useless fairy tale that your rejecting is real. I WAS THERE! I worked for Vilandra. I helped the King. And I came to respect Rath, to understand how important his role truly was. He should have been King, not Zan. He could have held it together, but his loyalty, the very thing that made him the right man kept him from wresting control from his King…” Courtney shook her head.
“You are clearly delusional. Do you truly think I would buy such a wacky story?”
“You don’t believe me. I guess an example is in order.” Courtney picked an empty vase, decorated with UFO’s of course, and blasted it. “Now, your daughter is special. Whatever Max does when he heals those who should be dead, well for a variety of reasons its affecting her faster than normal. She doesn’t know what she can do, and I did not want to take the risk of her doing something she would never forgive herself for.”
Amy looked from the pulverized vase to Courtney. “And my daughter…”
Courtney shrugged. “I don’t really know. But she is already stronger than I am. I did not want to risk it. Speaking of which if you name this to your former friends in the FBI they will likely keep your precious daughter as a lab rat for the rest of her life.”
“I still find it hard to believe you can remember a past life that clearly…”
Courtney let slip her training, her skills at hiding the age in her eyes. For while she was not old according to the notions of her race, she had seen, had done so much. And for once she let it show. “That little tale, as I said, I was there. And I was. We tracked them down, to the world they would live in, but we did not know who they would be. Or,” She chuckled bitterly, “Even when they would be reborn. It was my homeland the King’s friend destroyed. MINE! And so I loyally helped Vilandra and Khivar raise up a movement against the Crown that would not be stopped! But when Vilandra tried to persuade the resistance to back down, to accept that what we had demanded had been given. And it had. That we had no right to keep adding demands, that we would cause more harm by trying to over turn the government that trying to shape it. Only I stood by her, not necessarily agreeing with her, but unwilling for her to be totally alone in Court. And I served there for nearly ten years, working my ass off to try to make the world a better place. We were so close! So very close.” Courtney finished softly.
Amy had backed up as far as she could and still be in the kitchen. Shakily she said, “What are you?”
Both of them turned at the signature sound of a bullet being chambered in a pistol as Sean entered the room pistol centered on Courtney. “She’s an alien, Aunt Amy…”
----
Kyle-
Kyle kept running until he was in a nearby small park. Maria was fairly light, but he was feeling the strain of carrying her.
At first he felt his hair stand on end and occasional shocks as she pounded his back with her tiny fists. But she only fought for a little while, before she became very quiet. Then the tears began.
At first it was only semi quiet sobbing. Then came the heart rending sounds as she cried her heart out. He stopped then, and set her softly on the ground. He tried awkwardly to comfort her, but he’d never really been close to Maria. When he’d dated Liz, he’d known that Maria did not approve of him for her.
Even after becoming a participant in the whole alien fiasco, they still had never really talked. Which made it hard to calm her down. As she talked about being evil and killing her friends. About losing her father and her mother. About being alone.
Well that last he could sympathize with. He hated to be alone himself. Half of the sports he was involved in, he joined just to do something other than be alone in the Valenti house.
Not that she paid him any attention, even as she clung to him.
And then she stopped and cocked her head. She backed up and straightened her clothes. She did not bother to fix her now devastated makeup.
“What is it Maria.”
She still did not look at him, but said in a voice filled with sorrow and wonder, “He’s coming.”
And low and behold Kyle could hear a motorcycle approach. Michael, of course. Michael’s eyes seemed a little strange, but they were all on Maria. They hugged briefly before they both got on the bike.
Never speaking a single word to Kyle.
Kyle glowered at the motorcycle as it drove off. “Your welcome!” he sarcastically cried after them as they drove off.
And Kyle walked back to his car, still parked near Maria’s alone.
----
Liz-
Liz stared at her friends as they sat around the table. Alex was making short work of his second burger, while Isabel dragged a fry back and forth through a little puddle of
Tabasco sauce.
Tess looked at her, arms crossed, “Well?”
Liz sighed, “I had really hoped to be able to just say this once, but I don’t know how long our friends will be gone. Soooo, I talked with Ava. And they are here to invite Max to a summit meeting with the head of the main worlds that your home planet was involved with. Apparently they need the whole Royal Four to get their attention. But they lost their King. So they need Max.”
Isabel looked up. “When is the meeting to be held? Where?”
Liz quietly said, “Friday in some room in New York. Apparently Rath as second has more of the details.”
Isabel’s brows furrowed briefly, “There is no way we can make that meeting. Thanksgiving is Thursday, there is no way we could get there in time.”
Max reached out and caressed one of Liz’s hands, “We’ll have to let one of them wake. We have to know more. This may be an opportunity we can not refuse. It did not happen last time.”
Tess looked at Max puzzled, “Last time? What do you mean by last time.”
“Tess, do you remember earlier on this month, when I came to your house to help you win Max?”
Tess nodded, glanced at Max, and shrugged slightly.
“I received a visitor Tess. Max had come from the future, from a horrific future, with one purpose in mind. To make sure you did not leave. And you were thinking of leaving weren’t you?”
Tess looked defensive, “Well, I didn’t feel like you needed me. I did not feel wanted. And none of you were willing to face your Destiny.”
Isabel looked up at her and said, “Screw Destiny. Whoever sent us has failed in so many other ways that I’m not inclined to follow their plans now.”
Liz placed a hand on Isabel to calm her…
Flash- Her heart was pounding from the dream as she awoke. She felt a moment of disorientation as she tried to figure out where she was. She felt warmth from the body that still clung to her.
Alex’s body. Alex’s naked body clinging to her naked body. And based on the throbbing between her legs they had done more than just hold each other.
Sex. She’d just had sex with Alex. Her face flushed in remembered pleasure at the encounter, and she held the still sleeping Alex even closer.
End flash
Liz felt her cheeks burn again as she pulled her hand from Isabel’s. “Sorry, I’m just going to have to watch that.” She felt all their eyes on her. “It was just a flash, um don’t worry about it guys, okay?” But now that she knew what to look for, Liz could see the changed subtext between Isabel and Alex.
Now I know why they were late. Her cheeks still burned. She raised an eyebrow at Isabel, who nodded slightly. She was impressed that Isabel’s cheeks were still cool, nothing marring her impassive demeanor. They would have to talk about this. And about what she had seen when she had touched Michael.
Maria had never kept a secret like that from her before.
Liz shook her head, “Anyway, we need you Tess. If you don’t stay then we will all die..”
“I’m listening.”
Liz paused for a moment, giving Max another sorrowful but loving look as she prepared to tell again the whole sordid tale. “It all started when Maria took me and Alex to a Fortune Teller…”
Natalie36- Thanks.
RhondaAnn- None of the humans have a firm grip on their abilities yet. Poor Amy. Maria is not the only one who is going to have a trying week.
You are onto something with the auras, but I can tell you that Ana would read a solid Mithar pattern of Crimson bordered in Gold. And Kyle's is a nice Blue Green. Hmm... think of it as similar to a color chart. Maria moved closer to yellow and Liz moved father away.
Two more parts including this one to Monday, including a nice candy moment in next weeks chapter.
xmag- Courtney is in an awkward position. If she tells Amy too much she risks everything, but if she doesn't tell her enough Amy won't understand why she should keep quiet about the whold situation.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Eidolon chapter 28
Max-
Max stared at Liz while she talked softly with Ava. The revelations of the past few days had brought him hope. And with it fear. Fear that once more hope would be withdrawn.
That she would run from him again.
But at the moment there was peace between them. Something had changed, changed inside her. Possibly also inside of him. He wasn’t sure. He could feel their connection buzz and crackle with an intensity he had not felt since before Tess had arrived.
God he loved her.
He watched as a soft smile spread upon her lips and she gazed at him soulfully for a brief second. And he knew, that despite all the problems that they had had she loved him back. He smiled at her and she nodded slightly before turning back to Ava.
Ava looked surprised at the exchanged glance although what shocked her Max wasn’t sure. Tess looked on with grim resignation, before turning to once more gaze on their doubles.
What had possessed their creators to make two sets? Could he trust anything that Ava said? She and Liz certainly seemed to be becoming friends. Certainly the other two probably could not be trusted.
Assuming Liz ever let them wake.
There was another blue flash as Rath fought his way to consciousness. Only to lose it to another stun shot.
Michael winced as his double got zapped for the third time. “I wonder if that hurts?”
Max turned to his friend. “I don’t know. You could ask Liz to shoot you.”
“I’ll pass. Good job of fixing up the girlfriend too.”
“I can’t fix what isn’t broken. She’s, well, she’s probably healthier than she ever has been before. I don’t really fully understand what’s been done to her, but… she’s in excellent physical condition.”
Michael muttered something. The words seemed familiar, and yet, and yet entirely foreign.
“What did you say Michael?”
Michael frowned for a moment, scratched above one eyebrow, and said, “I didn’t say anything.” He then turned and looked off into the distance. His face settled into his usual mask that he wore when he didn’t feel like talking. But his eyes were worried and he kept glancing off into the distance.
Max pondered how to pull the information out of his impulsive friend before he did something rash. But his thoughts were interrupted as his sister and Alex waltzed into the UFO Museum.
Isabel had a broad smile on her face that faded as she saw the three tied up prisoners, only one conscious.
Alex had been whistling some jaunty tune that stopped dead as he saw what was going on.
Max did notice Alex pull Isabel closer and move slightly in front of her, as if to defend her. He watched in surprise as she flashed a hundred watt smile back at Alex and held him closer. But what worried him more was the tight smile that her face settled into. It was a perfectly pleasant smile… if you didn’t know Isabel. It was the smile that usually crossed her face before she attacked… usually verbally, but not always as Max knew to his rue. Isabel could be utterly ruthless.
But why the sudden need to protect Alex like he was her property?
And why wouldn’t Alex meet his eyes?
He hated, absolutely hated things going on without his knowledge. How could they stay safe if they were not all on the same page? He was about to say something when Michael abruptly began to walk to the door.
Max paused for a moment before following his friend. He could not quite here what Michael said to Isabel. But he did catch the word ‘Vilandra.’ Isabel just looked at him and smiled. Alex looked puzzled and surprised.
Liz also got up to see what was going on and she laid one small hand on his arm, questions in her eyes… Briefly before she jerked her hand away as if burned, her face flaming red. But her voice was steady. “Go to her, Michael. She needs you.”
Max felt as any understanding of the situation faded. “Michael?”
Michael turned and looked at Max. His pupils were enlarged, almost almond shaped. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” And he left the Museum.
Max followed and watched as Michael wordlessly gathered his helmet and drove off on his bike. Toward Maria’s house. He felt a small hand softly grab his hand.
“He’ll be fine, Max. Come on, I have to tell you what Ava has told me.”
Max let him be led back into the Museum, feeling as though everything were spiraling out of control.
-----
Courtney-
Courtney sat back and sipped her Chamomile tea. Her gaze was firmly on Amy Deluca on the off chance she had any other surprises to offer. Amy’s mouth had opened wide when Courtney had calmly wiped away the Mace that Amy had shot directly into Courtney’s face.
Such a simple chemical irritant was no match for her husk.
Courtney smiled at Amy, “Isn’t this better?”
Amy gave her a cold glance and sipped from her cup. “I am still waiting for answers.”
“Your daughter is very special.”
“You said that before, but you haven’t explained why you are keeping me hostage here while Kyle carries off my daughter. And you better believe the Sheriff is going to hear about this.”
“Telling the Sheriff would be fine, I guess. I am going to tell you a little story. But before I begin I need to ask you this. When the FBI agent came to your house to discuss Agent Pierce and your husband, did he leave this bottle of pills?” Courtney pulled out the nearly full bottle of multivitamins and slammed them on the table. She used all of her experience as an operative to watch Amy’s face and judge her reaction.
She was gratified to see honest shock and puzzlement.
“What? That’s just a bottle of vitamins. What are you trying to imply?”
“One last question. Have you noted any behavioral changes in Maria since Saturday?”
“Since Saturday, not really. She’s been down a bit lately, but this weekend she was her usual bouncy self.” Amy sighed, a tear forming in one eye. “But today, she seemed… withdrawn, maybe a little pale.”
“These pills are toxic for her. At least they are now.”
Amy suddenly stood up animatedly, “Maria’s been poisoned? How do you know? Has she seen a doctor? Is she okay? Can, can I go see her and make, make sure she’s… she’s okay?”
“Mrs. Deluca sit down. Your daughter is fine. She just needs to calm down. Until then it’s probably not safe for you both to be together. She might do something inadvertently she would regret forever.”
“You make it sound like my daughter is dangerous.”
“She is, and I doubt that she knows it. I have given her the keys but she doesn’t know how to use them.”
“What are you talking about?”
Courtney stopped for a moment, taking a sip of tea to buy a little time to marshal her thoughts. “Something both wonderful and horrible happened on Saturday. That strange storm, you remember?”
Amy nodded, her face betraying both interest and worry in equal measure.
“To understand that storm, and the changes it wrought in your daughter, I am going to tell you a little story. Once upon a time…”
“I think I have quite outgrown fairytales, Courtney. Tell me about my daughter. She means everything to me… Everything I have done, all of it has been for her…” Amy took a tissue and wiped a few tears from her eyes. “And if I have lost her, I , I don’t know what I would do…”
“Do you believe in reincarnation, Amy? From what Maria has said of you makes me believe you have an open mind.”
Amy snorted, “It may be open but I am not a fool. As for reincarnation, well it’s a possibility. Are you trying to imply that my daughter is some reincarnated important person?”
“No, under normal circumstances, my beliefs do not include reincarnation. But listen to this story, for there is an exception for me. You see long ago and far away there was a kingdom. It was not a happy kingdom, there was war and strife and the King barely kept what little peace there was. One day the King’s best friend had an idea to change the power structure of the planet, strengthening him and his friend the King.”
Amy was silent, just staring at Courtney. Impatiently waiting.
“His plan failed and millions died. War came again to the weary planet, and yet the King would not act against his friend. Even his own daughter protested against him over it. It was her and a man by the name of Khivar who whipped the sense of injustice against the Crown to such a level that he had to act.
“But it was too late. It took more than three years for the King to act, and by then the Kingdom had fractured. And the world flooded with war and bloodshed, even unto the King itself, as he and most of his family was assassinated on one horrible day. Only two remained, and one was not of the Royal line. It was Vilandra, the adopted daughter of the King, the one who had lead so many of the early protests. She could not be Queen, or so we thought.
“The last of the Tarenons was a quiet intelligent man who had spent his life not learning to kill but to heal. At this he was rumored to have an almost… miraculous touch. But he was a healer, not a statesman. And while he sought to heal the wounds the threatened to tear Antar apart, he needed help. His sister, helped of course, her plans and ruthlessness were necessary components to success. But like all leaders he needed an army, and as his father had been killed in an attempted coup, he needed someone he could trust.
“There really was only one man. Rath Targan. He had the one quality that the new King needed most. Loyalty. He was not the smartest strategist, nor the savviest politician, nor yet the best general, but he could be trusted. And his men loved him.
Courtney paused remembering those brief heady days when it looked like they would succeed. They had been so close! “But at the moment of their penultimate triumph they were betrayed. The sister survived but a few days more, but she did not strive to hold the throne. Instead she used all of her considerable might and arcane knowledge to find a way to bring them back. To give them all another chance.
“She succeeded, for Michael is Rath Targan reborn. And even now his enemies fear him and the reborn King. And on Saturday they attacked. They used a device to cause most of the humans to… well to shift out of time for a little while. It was just your daughter and some of her friends to help defend the town.
Courtney was a little misty eyed as she continued, “I had misjudged her, misjudged him as well. Your daughter was so brave, so selfless. I saw the enemy sneak in, but, but I couldn’t talk. And I saw her save him, saw as she pushed him out of the way of something that would have killed him.”
Courtney licked her lips nervously, there just was no way to sugar coat this… “It killed her instead.”
“What! I have sat her quietly waiting for you to get to the point… And all you give me is a useless fairy tale? Is this some kind of prank? Who do you think you are?”
“Do you have any clue how hard this is to tell you? That useless fairy tale that your rejecting is real. I WAS THERE! I worked for Vilandra. I helped the King. And I came to respect Rath, to understand how important his role truly was. He should have been King, not Zan. He could have held it together, but his loyalty, the very thing that made him the right man kept him from wresting control from his King…” Courtney shook her head.
“You are clearly delusional. Do you truly think I would buy such a wacky story?”
“You don’t believe me. I guess an example is in order.” Courtney picked an empty vase, decorated with UFO’s of course, and blasted it. “Now, your daughter is special. Whatever Max does when he heals those who should be dead, well for a variety of reasons its affecting her faster than normal. She doesn’t know what she can do, and I did not want to take the risk of her doing something she would never forgive herself for.”
Amy looked from the pulverized vase to Courtney. “And my daughter…”
Courtney shrugged. “I don’t really know. But she is already stronger than I am. I did not want to risk it. Speaking of which if you name this to your former friends in the FBI they will likely keep your precious daughter as a lab rat for the rest of her life.”
“I still find it hard to believe you can remember a past life that clearly…”
Courtney let slip her training, her skills at hiding the age in her eyes. For while she was not old according to the notions of her race, she had seen, had done so much. And for once she let it show. “That little tale, as I said, I was there. And I was. We tracked them down, to the world they would live in, but we did not know who they would be. Or,” She chuckled bitterly, “Even when they would be reborn. It was my homeland the King’s friend destroyed. MINE! And so I loyally helped Vilandra and Khivar raise up a movement against the Crown that would not be stopped! But when Vilandra tried to persuade the resistance to back down, to accept that what we had demanded had been given. And it had. That we had no right to keep adding demands, that we would cause more harm by trying to over turn the government that trying to shape it. Only I stood by her, not necessarily agreeing with her, but unwilling for her to be totally alone in Court. And I served there for nearly ten years, working my ass off to try to make the world a better place. We were so close! So very close.” Courtney finished softly.
Amy had backed up as far as she could and still be in the kitchen. Shakily she said, “What are you?”
Both of them turned at the signature sound of a bullet being chambered in a pistol as Sean entered the room pistol centered on Courtney. “She’s an alien, Aunt Amy…”
----
Kyle-
Kyle kept running until he was in a nearby small park. Maria was fairly light, but he was feeling the strain of carrying her.
At first he felt his hair stand on end and occasional shocks as she pounded his back with her tiny fists. But she only fought for a little while, before she became very quiet. Then the tears began.
At first it was only semi quiet sobbing. Then came the heart rending sounds as she cried her heart out. He stopped then, and set her softly on the ground. He tried awkwardly to comfort her, but he’d never really been close to Maria. When he’d dated Liz, he’d known that Maria did not approve of him for her.
Even after becoming a participant in the whole alien fiasco, they still had never really talked. Which made it hard to calm her down. As she talked about being evil and killing her friends. About losing her father and her mother. About being alone.
Well that last he could sympathize with. He hated to be alone himself. Half of the sports he was involved in, he joined just to do something other than be alone in the Valenti house.
Not that she paid him any attention, even as she clung to him.
And then she stopped and cocked her head. She backed up and straightened her clothes. She did not bother to fix her now devastated makeup.
“What is it Maria.”
She still did not look at him, but said in a voice filled with sorrow and wonder, “He’s coming.”
And low and behold Kyle could hear a motorcycle approach. Michael, of course. Michael’s eyes seemed a little strange, but they were all on Maria. They hugged briefly before they both got on the bike.
Never speaking a single word to Kyle.
Kyle glowered at the motorcycle as it drove off. “Your welcome!” he sarcastically cried after them as they drove off.
And Kyle walked back to his car, still parked near Maria’s alone.
----
Liz-
Liz stared at her friends as they sat around the table. Alex was making short work of his second burger, while Isabel dragged a fry back and forth through a little puddle of
Tabasco sauce.
Tess looked at her, arms crossed, “Well?”
Liz sighed, “I had really hoped to be able to just say this once, but I don’t know how long our friends will be gone. Soooo, I talked with Ava. And they are here to invite Max to a summit meeting with the head of the main worlds that your home planet was involved with. Apparently they need the whole Royal Four to get their attention. But they lost their King. So they need Max.”
Isabel looked up. “When is the meeting to be held? Where?”
Liz quietly said, “Friday in some room in New York. Apparently Rath as second has more of the details.”
Isabel’s brows furrowed briefly, “There is no way we can make that meeting. Thanksgiving is Thursday, there is no way we could get there in time.”
Max reached out and caressed one of Liz’s hands, “We’ll have to let one of them wake. We have to know more. This may be an opportunity we can not refuse. It did not happen last time.”
Tess looked at Max puzzled, “Last time? What do you mean by last time.”
“Tess, do you remember earlier on this month, when I came to your house to help you win Max?”
Tess nodded, glanced at Max, and shrugged slightly.
“I received a visitor Tess. Max had come from the future, from a horrific future, with one purpose in mind. To make sure you did not leave. And you were thinking of leaving weren’t you?”
Tess looked defensive, “Well, I didn’t feel like you needed me. I did not feel wanted. And none of you were willing to face your Destiny.”
Isabel looked up at her and said, “Screw Destiny. Whoever sent us has failed in so many other ways that I’m not inclined to follow their plans now.”
Liz placed a hand on Isabel to calm her…
Flash- Her heart was pounding from the dream as she awoke. She felt a moment of disorientation as she tried to figure out where she was. She felt warmth from the body that still clung to her.
Alex’s body. Alex’s naked body clinging to her naked body. And based on the throbbing between her legs they had done more than just hold each other.
Sex. She’d just had sex with Alex. Her face flushed in remembered pleasure at the encounter, and she held the still sleeping Alex even closer.
End flash
Liz felt her cheeks burn again as she pulled her hand from Isabel’s. “Sorry, I’m just going to have to watch that.” She felt all their eyes on her. “It was just a flash, um don’t worry about it guys, okay?” But now that she knew what to look for, Liz could see the changed subtext between Isabel and Alex.
Now I know why they were late. Her cheeks still burned. She raised an eyebrow at Isabel, who nodded slightly. She was impressed that Isabel’s cheeks were still cool, nothing marring her impassive demeanor. They would have to talk about this. And about what she had seen when she had touched Michael.
Maria had never kept a secret like that from her before.
Liz shook her head, “Anyway, we need you Tess. If you don’t stay then we will all die..”
“I’m listening.”
Liz paused for a moment, giving Max another sorrowful but loving look as she prepared to tell again the whole sordid tale. “It all started when Maria took me and Alex to a Fortune Teller…”
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 28- 06/11/08
Thanks to all reading this story. Particularly to those of you leaving feedback.
Natalie36- Don't worry, Liz is going to have a little talk with Tess about that.
xmag- Thanks. That is high praise coming from you. Hopefully I can keep it up.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
A/N- I would say this chapter is firmly in the Mature category.
Eidolon chapter29
Sean-
Sean took a sip of his tea. Chamomile wasn’t his favorite, but he’d had plenty over the years whenever he’d visited Aunt Amy.
And when an alien you’ve just tried to kill offers you tea after kicking your ass, you take the tea.
Amy glowered at both of them.
It was going to be a long night.
Courtney’s smile was almost as bad.
Is she flirting with me?
Both Courtney and Amy were talking about Maria and some tie she now had with the aliens. Sean had always known his cousin was a little strange, but now she could… do… things apparently. Courtney was going to watch over her for a couple of days.
Sean rubbed his aching head wondering if Courtney, or his aunt for that matter would let him get up for some aspirin. He stiffened as he felt a foot glide along his pant leg towards his inner thigh. He looked at Courtney but she shot him an innocent look.
Amy looked from Sean to Courtney with a slightly worried look on her face.
Courtney just smiled. An innocent smile that just screamed guilt.
Amy opened her mouth, prepared to say something when Kyle entered the room.
Kyle looked around and sensing the tension said, “Am I interrupting something?”
Courtney’s face grew serious again. “Where is Maria?”
“I don’t know Michael got her.”
“You’re sure it was him.”
Kyle just stared at her for a second. “Yeah, tall guy on a motorcycle with no manners. Maria certainly believed it was him.”
Amy stood up and walked toward Kyle, “Maria is alone with, with that Michael? Where did they go?”
Kyle shook his head, “I don’t know Ms. Deluca. Neither of them talked to me as they drove off. I might have as well not even existed.” Kyle finished bitterly.
Amy’s face blanched.
Courtney placed an hand on her arm, “It’ll be okay Amy.” She turned to Kyle and handed her. “Take this to Max. Tell him I think half a pill should be okay. It probably won’t block them completely but they’ll be weakened significantly. I’m going to grab some things for Maria so if she shows up there have her call me. And her mom.”
Kyle just stood there a moment staring at the bottle.
Sean took the moment to get up and grab a couple of aspirin for his aching head. He kept an eye on the action. Okay, fine, he kept an eye on Courtney. Sure he’d threatened her not more than ten minutes ago, and yeah maybe she was a little green around the gills. But there was something about her…
Courtney half dragged Amy to Maria’s room.
Sean watched as Courtney swayed out of the room. It had been a while. He looked back towards the kitchen and noticed Kyle staring at him.
“You have no idea what your getting into,” Kyle stated.
“What is there something bizarre I should be concerned of?”
“Not that I am aware of. It is just that the more attached you become to them the harder it will be for you to leave. You’ll find yourself tied to them.” Kyle looked away. “You’ll find yourself unable to avoid getting drawn into the abyss. And man, it will eat your life away.”
“What life?”
Kyle looked at him for a moment. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He turned to go.
Sean stopped him, “Hey aren’t you going to take Courtney with you?”
Both of them turned to the living room as they heard Amy giggle.
Kyle raised an eye brow in a cynical pose, “Somehow I think she’ll be getting alternative transportation.” Kyle left, bouncing the pill bottle in his hand.
Sean sat down and took another sip of his tea. He looked up as the two women entered, both giggling.
Amy looked half amused and half scandalized. She turned to Courtney, “And you promise you will try…”
“I’ll do what I can. I mean there is no hurry. But it will happen Amy. It will.” Courtney paused for a moment, “Um, how about a late lunch tomorrow. There’s a lot I want to tell you, say around two thirty?”
Amy nodded, “I’ll be at my shop.”
“I’ll bring lunch.” Courtney turned to face Sean. “Say Sean, it seems that Kyle has left, can you give me a ride home?”
Sean stared at Courtney trying to remember that she was an alien. A hot alien, but still an alien.
Oh, what the hell, it wasn’t like he really had a chance with Liz. She only had eyes for Max. Sean was tired of being second best.
So he said, “Sure.”
Courtney’s smile was just a little predatory as she thanked him.
Amy was just shaking her head as they walked out.
Maybe the night wouldn’t be a total bust after all.
----
Lonnie-
Lonnie slowly awoke from her ongoing nightmare. She kept seeing a snarling Liz Parker shooting her again and again, her mind flashing blue repeatedly.
Her whole body ached and for the first time in her life she truly felt cold. She reached within herself, to where her power lurked and tried to warm herself.
Nothing happened.
She stiffly got up only to see Rath unconscious beside her. They were in their hotel room. Ava was seated in a chair facing them.
Lonnie shook her head slowly and tried to clear her head. No hangover that she had ever felt had filled her head with so many cobwebs. “What happened,” she said hoarsely.
Ava glared at her. “You had to act without thinking. You knew she was his girlfriend. Damn it, you had to know he loved her. What the hell were you thinking?”
“I thought she was just human…”
“You did not even ask. Neither of you. I could have told you to be careful, but hey you wouldn’t have paid any attention to little Ava anyway. Would you have?”
“Screw you. What good have you ever been anyway. You’re no good in a fight. You can heal, but not like Zan. All you can do is spin those silly illusions and hide.” Lonnie spat back.
“You never really understood why they included me do you? Stupid Taran thinking. Spinning lies is only half of what the Eidolon can do…” Ava stood up and stared Lonnie in the face. “Its real value is that it enables you to see the truth. But you could never understand that. Zan, even my Zan could. Shit, both Vilandra and Rath could. That is why they accepted me as much as they did. But you Lonnie. What ever happened to you? What happened to my friend? What happened to Clarissa?”
“My NAME is LONNIE!”
Rath stirred slightly beside her.
Ava just shook her head and walked towards the door.
Lonnie would loved to have blasted her. Would have loved to put Ava in her place.
But she was so cold. So very, very cold.
Ava stopped at the door. She turned around to face Lonnie. “You know, I told them why you are here.”
Lonnie couldn’t help but seem eager, “And?”
“They’re thinking about it. That’s as best as you can hope for given the circumstances. They want you to stay here tomorrow. One of them will meet with me tomorrow night at the Crashdown to tell me their decision. I will let you know.”
“But…”
“Oh, my powers haven’t been weakened Lonnie. You couldn’t threaten a paper bag right now. Rath will be the same. Stay here. Drink yourself into a stupor. Fuck each other senseless. I don’t care. But stay here.”
Lonnie stared as Ava left the room. She looked over at Rath. This had not gone how she had planned. She shook Rath to wake him.
“No, Lonnie, I’m so cold…”
“Wake up. We’re in trouble. And, and…” She tried her hardest to hold them back but a tear slipped from a jaded eye. All she could do was cling to him like he was the last solid thing on Earth.
He clung to her, trying vainly to regain the warmth that both had felt since they had first woken from their pods.
But for now their powers were gone.
----
Tess-
Tess sat in her SUV alone as she watched Isabel, Alex, Max, and Liz talk in the Tumbleweed Motel’s parking lot. She could have joined them she guessed, but she had a lot to think about.
They needed her.
That was great to hear. Of course, something had happened between Alex and Isabel. They were bound as tight as Maria and Michael now. As tight as Max and Liz in their own way.
It weakened her case for Destiny. As did the Dupes. They had formed the required group but still had not been stable.
And she was back to square one regarding Max. Liz had him wrapped around her finger once more. Tess wasn’t sure what to do about it.
At least now she had their need of her to make them do at least some of what she wanted. They would have to at least listen to her now.
She watched as the group broke up and was surprised as Liz walked up to her SUV.
Liz smiled, “Mind if I catch a ride with you back to the Crashdown?”
Tess was mildly intrigued and said, “Sure.”
Liz waved to the others, who waved back.
Tess started the vehicle and they drove for a few minutes in silence. “Did you have something to say to me?”
Liz sat back for a moment, seeming lost in thought. “Yeah, I do. Pull over and I’ll tell you.”
Tess complied.
“Tess, I know you said you don’t like to bond, but you’re going to have to learn to. If we are all going to succeed we are going to all have to trust one another, so we can’t have any loose cannons running around.”
“Well, I don’t know how much I’m the one that needs to change. I mean you guys need me.”
“See that’s just it. You need us. You see, in all of my memories of that harrowing future, I never remember you after you leave. And you’re a pretty ambitious sort. I’m sure that if you were able you would have chosen sides. It was Maria who ended up as one of the leaders of the enemy after all. If you had been available, I’m sure they would have used you. I know that we would have.”
“What are you trying to imply.”
“Tess, you may not want to admit it, but you need us too. I don’t know what happened, but something must have. You just disappeared Tess. The Sheriff did try to find you, you do know that. He loved you. Kyle loved you. The both love you now.”
Tess was silent. What could she say. She could tell that Liz believed what she was saying. That did not make it true, but… Could she risk it?
“And Tess. Me and Max. I can not say that I truly own him. You don’t either. But I do love him and I am not going to pretend I don’t anymore. If he ends up choosing you then that is his choice, and I will always love him. But you will have to accept that he might not choose you. That he will choose me. He cares for you, and as much as it pains me to admit this he is attracted to you.” Liz sighed. “And maybe if he had never met me, he would be yours now. But Tess, he did. He did meet me. And he has loved me since the third grade, Tess. He cares for you, but he loves me.”
Tess just glared at Liz, unable to hide her hate.
Liz reached up for the door latch. “Oh, and I will walk from her. And Tess?” Liz looked back at her. “We have never been friends, we may never be friends, but we will be working together. I will make sure we succeed this time. And if you leave us, if you decide that you would rather work against us… Well, I know things Tess. Many things that probably won’t be now, but I have a firmer grasp on what is to come than anyone else I think. We will succeed, with or without you. And, Tess we have only ever been rivals. I have never been your enemy. That is a misfortune you do not want to experience Tess.”
“Liz are you threatening me?” Tess was truly astonished.
Liz smiled her Emily smile and her eyes flashed blue. “A girl has to have a plan.” Liz closed the door and started walking briskly back to her home.
Tess sat there watching Liz walk away. Her world once more in shambles. She was not sure how many more shocks she could take.
She drove home. Kyle was already there, sitting on the couch watching some cop drama. For someone who swore he wanted nothing to do with the Police when he got older, he certainly was addicted to every program that involved them in the slightest way. Trying to get closer to his dad probably.
She had things she needed to do, but at the moment she did not want to be alone. So she sat next to Kyle.
He smiled at her, but did not say anything. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. And Kyle held her as he watched his show.
For the first time in her brief life she felt safe.
----
Michael-
Michael pulled away from the kiss, breath ragged. His heart continued to pound. She always made it pound. He sometimes wondered how it had ever had even beat without her.
He wished he was worthy of her, of someone so wonderful. But how could he be? He closed his eyes at the memories of all his failures poured into his mind. Once she knew, why would she stay?
But he had to show her. Tomorrow after dinner. He would have Courtney help him make it as romantic as possible. His chances might be poor, but he had to play his best hand. She had to know what she meant to him.
She pulled back slightly and stared at the stars. “It is amazing to think that you come form there. That one day you’ll go back.”
“Maria…”
“Shhhh. It’s okay, Spaceboy. I’ve reconciled myself.”
The wind picked up and Maria shivered.
Michael got up. “We should get inside. It’s getting cold.”
“I don’t want to go home.”
“To my apartment?”
“No.”
“Then where, little Pixie?”
“Take me back to where you were born. Take me to the Pod Chamber.”
Michael scratched an eyebrow in confusion. But he could not think of a reason to deny her. It was warmer in there.
Maria was unusually intense this evening. And along the bond he could feel energy surging between them. His whole body was tingling with an almost electric feel as they drove off.
He wanted her. He always had.
They pulled up to the angled rock formation. He hid his bike, on the off chance someone happened by.
Maria walked towards the door. She lifted her hand up fearfully towards where she remembered the others placing it. He heard her sigh when a silver hand fitfully glow beneath her small palm.
The door did not open.
Michael just stared for a moment. What was happening to his Pixie? For in the pale moon light she seemed to almost glow.
She smiled sadly at him. “Aren’t you going to open the door?”
He placed his hand on hers, and the silver hand print flared into life. And the door did open. That he expected. The electric sensations coursing through him through her little hand, filling his body with the most delicious sensations.
He held her and she melted in his arms. All along his body, wherever she touched seemed to tingle with pleasure and anticipation.
How long they stood there on the door step he wasn’t sure. Not long enough. As she broke from his grasp and slipped into the Pod Chamber.
Her eyes floated around the Chamber taking in all of the Pods, her hands caressing the one to the side of the one Isabel had opened up when she had revealed the Granolith Chamber. “This one was yours. It just feels like you.”
Michael nodded. “Yeah, I think that one was mine. Do you want a Snapple? I came out here this summer and well some nights it just made me feel safe. So I left some stuff on the off chance I had a bad night.”
“Do you remember anything from your previous life?”
“A little. Battles mostly, I think. I keep seeing people die. Look Maria, I really don’t want to talk about it.”
She looked around the Chamber again. “You know it is pretty dusty in here. Why don’t you bring your stuff into the other room. We can talk there.”
Talk. Well that wasn’t what he was really interested in, but for his Maria… Something was wrong with her, that much he could tell. And he wasn’t really good at this stuff, but maybe just talking at him could help her?
Besides given her mood, they’d probably have an awesome make out session after. So he did not grumble too much at gathering his stuff, the sleeping bag and the sodas.
A few minutes later as he dragged everything into the Granolith Chamber. He could not see her. “Maria?” But his gaze drifted over to the side, where he saw what looked like her clothes neatly stacked. “Maria?” He set everything down and frantically looked for her.
He stopped when he rounded enough of the Granolith to get a glimpse of her. And she was indeed naked. She was facing away from him, but his eyes hungrily admired every curve. In the strange light of the Granolith her body was covered in a Gold and Green nimbus that just screamed Maria.
It took all of his will to just stand there, to not just grab her and make love to her. He closed his eyes, briefly, as he did not want to miss a moment of the beautiful sight. “Maria?” He said softly.
“I’ve lost everything, Michael. Everything. My father is dead before I even got to know him. And my mother, oh Michael, it hurts…. The things we said to each other.” Maria laughed bitterly, “Even Liz is frightened of me, frightened I will kill her again.” She turned around.
Michael’s mouth went dry as his body went into over drive at the sight of his Maria before him. He wanted to take away all of her pain, to protect her from the world.
“And you. Losing you will be the hardest I think. But I was only promised forty eight hours.” She closed the small gap between them and firmly pressed her body into his. “And I want them now.”
“Maria, I…”
“Shhhh…. “ She lifted those luminous green eyes of hers to his and said huskily, “Make love to me Space boy.”
How could he refuse?
Natalie36- Don't worry, Liz is going to have a little talk with Tess about that.
xmag- Thanks. That is high praise coming from you. Hopefully I can keep it up.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
A/N- I would say this chapter is firmly in the Mature category.
Eidolon chapter29
Sean-
Sean took a sip of his tea. Chamomile wasn’t his favorite, but he’d had plenty over the years whenever he’d visited Aunt Amy.
And when an alien you’ve just tried to kill offers you tea after kicking your ass, you take the tea.
Amy glowered at both of them.
It was going to be a long night.
Courtney’s smile was almost as bad.
Is she flirting with me?
Both Courtney and Amy were talking about Maria and some tie she now had with the aliens. Sean had always known his cousin was a little strange, but now she could… do… things apparently. Courtney was going to watch over her for a couple of days.
Sean rubbed his aching head wondering if Courtney, or his aunt for that matter would let him get up for some aspirin. He stiffened as he felt a foot glide along his pant leg towards his inner thigh. He looked at Courtney but she shot him an innocent look.
Amy looked from Sean to Courtney with a slightly worried look on her face.
Courtney just smiled. An innocent smile that just screamed guilt.
Amy opened her mouth, prepared to say something when Kyle entered the room.
Kyle looked around and sensing the tension said, “Am I interrupting something?”
Courtney’s face grew serious again. “Where is Maria?”
“I don’t know Michael got her.”
“You’re sure it was him.”
Kyle just stared at her for a second. “Yeah, tall guy on a motorcycle with no manners. Maria certainly believed it was him.”
Amy stood up and walked toward Kyle, “Maria is alone with, with that Michael? Where did they go?”
Kyle shook his head, “I don’t know Ms. Deluca. Neither of them talked to me as they drove off. I might have as well not even existed.” Kyle finished bitterly.
Amy’s face blanched.
Courtney placed an hand on her arm, “It’ll be okay Amy.” She turned to Kyle and handed her. “Take this to Max. Tell him I think half a pill should be okay. It probably won’t block them completely but they’ll be weakened significantly. I’m going to grab some things for Maria so if she shows up there have her call me. And her mom.”
Kyle just stood there a moment staring at the bottle.
Sean took the moment to get up and grab a couple of aspirin for his aching head. He kept an eye on the action. Okay, fine, he kept an eye on Courtney. Sure he’d threatened her not more than ten minutes ago, and yeah maybe she was a little green around the gills. But there was something about her…
Courtney half dragged Amy to Maria’s room.
Sean watched as Courtney swayed out of the room. It had been a while. He looked back towards the kitchen and noticed Kyle staring at him.
“You have no idea what your getting into,” Kyle stated.
“What is there something bizarre I should be concerned of?”
“Not that I am aware of. It is just that the more attached you become to them the harder it will be for you to leave. You’ll find yourself tied to them.” Kyle looked away. “You’ll find yourself unable to avoid getting drawn into the abyss. And man, it will eat your life away.”
“What life?”
Kyle looked at him for a moment. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He turned to go.
Sean stopped him, “Hey aren’t you going to take Courtney with you?”
Both of them turned to the living room as they heard Amy giggle.
Kyle raised an eye brow in a cynical pose, “Somehow I think she’ll be getting alternative transportation.” Kyle left, bouncing the pill bottle in his hand.
Sean sat down and took another sip of his tea. He looked up as the two women entered, both giggling.
Amy looked half amused and half scandalized. She turned to Courtney, “And you promise you will try…”
“I’ll do what I can. I mean there is no hurry. But it will happen Amy. It will.” Courtney paused for a moment, “Um, how about a late lunch tomorrow. There’s a lot I want to tell you, say around two thirty?”
Amy nodded, “I’ll be at my shop.”
“I’ll bring lunch.” Courtney turned to face Sean. “Say Sean, it seems that Kyle has left, can you give me a ride home?”
Sean stared at Courtney trying to remember that she was an alien. A hot alien, but still an alien.
Oh, what the hell, it wasn’t like he really had a chance with Liz. She only had eyes for Max. Sean was tired of being second best.
So he said, “Sure.”
Courtney’s smile was just a little predatory as she thanked him.
Amy was just shaking her head as they walked out.
Maybe the night wouldn’t be a total bust after all.
----
Lonnie-
Lonnie slowly awoke from her ongoing nightmare. She kept seeing a snarling Liz Parker shooting her again and again, her mind flashing blue repeatedly.
Her whole body ached and for the first time in her life she truly felt cold. She reached within herself, to where her power lurked and tried to warm herself.
Nothing happened.
She stiffly got up only to see Rath unconscious beside her. They were in their hotel room. Ava was seated in a chair facing them.
Lonnie shook her head slowly and tried to clear her head. No hangover that she had ever felt had filled her head with so many cobwebs. “What happened,” she said hoarsely.
Ava glared at her. “You had to act without thinking. You knew she was his girlfriend. Damn it, you had to know he loved her. What the hell were you thinking?”
“I thought she was just human…”
“You did not even ask. Neither of you. I could have told you to be careful, but hey you wouldn’t have paid any attention to little Ava anyway. Would you have?”
“Screw you. What good have you ever been anyway. You’re no good in a fight. You can heal, but not like Zan. All you can do is spin those silly illusions and hide.” Lonnie spat back.
“You never really understood why they included me do you? Stupid Taran thinking. Spinning lies is only half of what the Eidolon can do…” Ava stood up and stared Lonnie in the face. “Its real value is that it enables you to see the truth. But you could never understand that. Zan, even my Zan could. Shit, both Vilandra and Rath could. That is why they accepted me as much as they did. But you Lonnie. What ever happened to you? What happened to my friend? What happened to Clarissa?”
“My NAME is LONNIE!”
Rath stirred slightly beside her.
Ava just shook her head and walked towards the door.
Lonnie would loved to have blasted her. Would have loved to put Ava in her place.
But she was so cold. So very, very cold.
Ava stopped at the door. She turned around to face Lonnie. “You know, I told them why you are here.”
Lonnie couldn’t help but seem eager, “And?”
“They’re thinking about it. That’s as best as you can hope for given the circumstances. They want you to stay here tomorrow. One of them will meet with me tomorrow night at the Crashdown to tell me their decision. I will let you know.”
“But…”
“Oh, my powers haven’t been weakened Lonnie. You couldn’t threaten a paper bag right now. Rath will be the same. Stay here. Drink yourself into a stupor. Fuck each other senseless. I don’t care. But stay here.”
Lonnie stared as Ava left the room. She looked over at Rath. This had not gone how she had planned. She shook Rath to wake him.
“No, Lonnie, I’m so cold…”
“Wake up. We’re in trouble. And, and…” She tried her hardest to hold them back but a tear slipped from a jaded eye. All she could do was cling to him like he was the last solid thing on Earth.
He clung to her, trying vainly to regain the warmth that both had felt since they had first woken from their pods.
But for now their powers were gone.
----
Tess-
Tess sat in her SUV alone as she watched Isabel, Alex, Max, and Liz talk in the Tumbleweed Motel’s parking lot. She could have joined them she guessed, but she had a lot to think about.
They needed her.
That was great to hear. Of course, something had happened between Alex and Isabel. They were bound as tight as Maria and Michael now. As tight as Max and Liz in their own way.
It weakened her case for Destiny. As did the Dupes. They had formed the required group but still had not been stable.
And she was back to square one regarding Max. Liz had him wrapped around her finger once more. Tess wasn’t sure what to do about it.
At least now she had their need of her to make them do at least some of what she wanted. They would have to at least listen to her now.
She watched as the group broke up and was surprised as Liz walked up to her SUV.
Liz smiled, “Mind if I catch a ride with you back to the Crashdown?”
Tess was mildly intrigued and said, “Sure.”
Liz waved to the others, who waved back.
Tess started the vehicle and they drove for a few minutes in silence. “Did you have something to say to me?”
Liz sat back for a moment, seeming lost in thought. “Yeah, I do. Pull over and I’ll tell you.”
Tess complied.
“Tess, I know you said you don’t like to bond, but you’re going to have to learn to. If we are all going to succeed we are going to all have to trust one another, so we can’t have any loose cannons running around.”
“Well, I don’t know how much I’m the one that needs to change. I mean you guys need me.”
“See that’s just it. You need us. You see, in all of my memories of that harrowing future, I never remember you after you leave. And you’re a pretty ambitious sort. I’m sure that if you were able you would have chosen sides. It was Maria who ended up as one of the leaders of the enemy after all. If you had been available, I’m sure they would have used you. I know that we would have.”
“What are you trying to imply.”
“Tess, you may not want to admit it, but you need us too. I don’t know what happened, but something must have. You just disappeared Tess. The Sheriff did try to find you, you do know that. He loved you. Kyle loved you. The both love you now.”
Tess was silent. What could she say. She could tell that Liz believed what she was saying. That did not make it true, but… Could she risk it?
“And Tess. Me and Max. I can not say that I truly own him. You don’t either. But I do love him and I am not going to pretend I don’t anymore. If he ends up choosing you then that is his choice, and I will always love him. But you will have to accept that he might not choose you. That he will choose me. He cares for you, and as much as it pains me to admit this he is attracted to you.” Liz sighed. “And maybe if he had never met me, he would be yours now. But Tess, he did. He did meet me. And he has loved me since the third grade, Tess. He cares for you, but he loves me.”
Tess just glared at Liz, unable to hide her hate.
Liz reached up for the door latch. “Oh, and I will walk from her. And Tess?” Liz looked back at her. “We have never been friends, we may never be friends, but we will be working together. I will make sure we succeed this time. And if you leave us, if you decide that you would rather work against us… Well, I know things Tess. Many things that probably won’t be now, but I have a firmer grasp on what is to come than anyone else I think. We will succeed, with or without you. And, Tess we have only ever been rivals. I have never been your enemy. That is a misfortune you do not want to experience Tess.”
“Liz are you threatening me?” Tess was truly astonished.
Liz smiled her Emily smile and her eyes flashed blue. “A girl has to have a plan.” Liz closed the door and started walking briskly back to her home.
Tess sat there watching Liz walk away. Her world once more in shambles. She was not sure how many more shocks she could take.
She drove home. Kyle was already there, sitting on the couch watching some cop drama. For someone who swore he wanted nothing to do with the Police when he got older, he certainly was addicted to every program that involved them in the slightest way. Trying to get closer to his dad probably.
She had things she needed to do, but at the moment she did not want to be alone. So she sat next to Kyle.
He smiled at her, but did not say anything. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. And Kyle held her as he watched his show.
For the first time in her brief life she felt safe.
----
Michael-
Michael pulled away from the kiss, breath ragged. His heart continued to pound. She always made it pound. He sometimes wondered how it had ever had even beat without her.
He wished he was worthy of her, of someone so wonderful. But how could he be? He closed his eyes at the memories of all his failures poured into his mind. Once she knew, why would she stay?
But he had to show her. Tomorrow after dinner. He would have Courtney help him make it as romantic as possible. His chances might be poor, but he had to play his best hand. She had to know what she meant to him.
She pulled back slightly and stared at the stars. “It is amazing to think that you come form there. That one day you’ll go back.”
“Maria…”
“Shhhh. It’s okay, Spaceboy. I’ve reconciled myself.”
The wind picked up and Maria shivered.
Michael got up. “We should get inside. It’s getting cold.”
“I don’t want to go home.”
“To my apartment?”
“No.”
“Then where, little Pixie?”
“Take me back to where you were born. Take me to the Pod Chamber.”
Michael scratched an eyebrow in confusion. But he could not think of a reason to deny her. It was warmer in there.
Maria was unusually intense this evening. And along the bond he could feel energy surging between them. His whole body was tingling with an almost electric feel as they drove off.
He wanted her. He always had.
They pulled up to the angled rock formation. He hid his bike, on the off chance someone happened by.
Maria walked towards the door. She lifted her hand up fearfully towards where she remembered the others placing it. He heard her sigh when a silver hand fitfully glow beneath her small palm.
The door did not open.
Michael just stared for a moment. What was happening to his Pixie? For in the pale moon light she seemed to almost glow.
She smiled sadly at him. “Aren’t you going to open the door?”
He placed his hand on hers, and the silver hand print flared into life. And the door did open. That he expected. The electric sensations coursing through him through her little hand, filling his body with the most delicious sensations.
He held her and she melted in his arms. All along his body, wherever she touched seemed to tingle with pleasure and anticipation.
How long they stood there on the door step he wasn’t sure. Not long enough. As she broke from his grasp and slipped into the Pod Chamber.
Her eyes floated around the Chamber taking in all of the Pods, her hands caressing the one to the side of the one Isabel had opened up when she had revealed the Granolith Chamber. “This one was yours. It just feels like you.”
Michael nodded. “Yeah, I think that one was mine. Do you want a Snapple? I came out here this summer and well some nights it just made me feel safe. So I left some stuff on the off chance I had a bad night.”
“Do you remember anything from your previous life?”
“A little. Battles mostly, I think. I keep seeing people die. Look Maria, I really don’t want to talk about it.”
She looked around the Chamber again. “You know it is pretty dusty in here. Why don’t you bring your stuff into the other room. We can talk there.”
Talk. Well that wasn’t what he was really interested in, but for his Maria… Something was wrong with her, that much he could tell. And he wasn’t really good at this stuff, but maybe just talking at him could help her?
Besides given her mood, they’d probably have an awesome make out session after. So he did not grumble too much at gathering his stuff, the sleeping bag and the sodas.
A few minutes later as he dragged everything into the Granolith Chamber. He could not see her. “Maria?” But his gaze drifted over to the side, where he saw what looked like her clothes neatly stacked. “Maria?” He set everything down and frantically looked for her.
He stopped when he rounded enough of the Granolith to get a glimpse of her. And she was indeed naked. She was facing away from him, but his eyes hungrily admired every curve. In the strange light of the Granolith her body was covered in a Gold and Green nimbus that just screamed Maria.
It took all of his will to just stand there, to not just grab her and make love to her. He closed his eyes, briefly, as he did not want to miss a moment of the beautiful sight. “Maria?” He said softly.
“I’ve lost everything, Michael. Everything. My father is dead before I even got to know him. And my mother, oh Michael, it hurts…. The things we said to each other.” Maria laughed bitterly, “Even Liz is frightened of me, frightened I will kill her again.” She turned around.
Michael’s mouth went dry as his body went into over drive at the sight of his Maria before him. He wanted to take away all of her pain, to protect her from the world.
“And you. Losing you will be the hardest I think. But I was only promised forty eight hours.” She closed the small gap between them and firmly pressed her body into his. “And I want them now.”
“Maria, I…”
“Shhhh…. “ She lifted those luminous green eyes of hers to his and said huskily, “Make love to me Space boy.”
How could he refuse?