Thanks to everyone following along this story.
Natalie36- Thanks
chanks_girl- Thanks. Tess's secrets will not last much longer. Between the flashes and the connection....
Michael's reaction to Maria's status should be interesting to say the least.
DeDe PR- Well the characters don't really know. But it was a combination of the alien stasis drug and Max's healing abilities. Her father will come into this again though.
Ana did not have time to reprofile Pam. She did conduct some tests on what Pam could be used as. Ana lost a lot of equipment on the Longest Day.
RhondaAnn- Yes, they finally figured out part of it. There is still a bit more, including why their cells look like that and yet arre still fully compatable with humans.
The enemy was using Memory Glass, it was used to rip the souls off of prisoners who were considered deserving of a punishment worse than death. Vilandra was executed by Memory Glass. Or at least they tried. They weren't quite successful. This is told in my short, A Short Unhappy Riegn.
What is Ana up to? Nothign good, that much I can tell you. As to why Maria, Alicia, and Pam would have much to do with each other, well that is partly revealed in this part.
You are right about Michael and Brody. Brody should just remain quiet.
AvalonRose- But is Liz completely human? Her cell structure is mostly human yes, but every alien that has run across her has steered clear or come in force. They know what she is and she scares them silly.
The healing in Phoenix is contained in this part. Just so you know, Wes, Pam's cousin, is one of the children in Sydney's room.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. There are some scenes from A Roswell Christmas Carol.
Shadows of the Past chapter 20
Liz-
Liz looked up at Dorian, “What exactly is Gandarium?”
Dorian was silent for a moment. “Gandarium is the substance used to fuse human and Antaran essences.”
Liz just stared at him. He couldn’t mean what she thought he meant….
Maria asked the question in a nervous whisper, “When you mean essences, are you, are you talking about their souls?”
“Yes.” He looked down again. “It also has other effects as well. I should have thought of this before, but we should treat your friend Brody for Gandarium as well. It facilitates possession.”
“Possession?” said Laurie in a frightened voice.
Maria walked over to a chair and sat down heavily.
Both Liz and Isabel moved to comfort her.
Alex looked ready to rise, a worried look on his face. Liz waved him down, motioning to a frightened Laurie. Alex nodded.
Liz spoke up, “We’ve run into it before. At the conference, and maybe a little here.”
“It happened to me last timeline.” Maria said in a small voice. “And I’m infected?”
“You all are. I need to do some tests, contact some people. This could be bad. Or for all I know not. We don’t really know what the long term effects of Gandarium are.”
Liz turned to Dorian, “Wait, it can’t be wide spread! I mean the government would know, right.”
“Liz it is a very small organism. It infects the cell and makes tiny changes. If you don’t know what you are looking for you would miss it.” Dorian sighed and looked at Isabel, “If I had not been in charge of your protective detail on Antar, I probably wouldn’t recognize it myself. I had to understand what you were doing….”
Isabel stared at the shape shifter, “You were spying on me!”
“Yes. First for the King and latter your brother. They both trusted you…. But they wanted to be sure.” Dorian shook his head, “You were a very dangerous woman.”
Isabel slumped on a chair next to Maria.
Maria hugged Isabel.
Alex crossed the room to hold Isabel as well.
Laurie stood up and looked at them and said in a small voice. “Time travel. Other timelines. Aliens. Past lives. What exactly am I involved with?”
“We are good people….”
“I know that. Trust me I do. If I didn’t I would be running out the door. But my intuition has never led me wrong. I know that I am being chased. That there are beings out there who are looking for me, looking for people like me. And there are aren’t there?”
Liz and Maria exchanged glances.
Ana. Ana would want someone like Laurie.
------
Kyle-
Kyle woke up on the couch.
He felt good. Very good.
Had it all been a dream? But there was a smell of ozone that hung in the room. That was out of place. He looked over and saw the remnants of the Mirror carefully being placed in a box.
By a certain blonde temptress who apparently was only wearing one of his jerseys. He watched enthralled as she bent over to pick up another piece of glass…. In the background he could feel a hum that filled him with exhilaration.
He had saved Tess. Somehow he had destroyed that Mirror and saved her soul.
Rage flowed through him. He wanted to chase that bastard down and kill him. Or worse if he could.
He looked at his palms. No green lightning. Nothing special.
Kyle sighed softly. He had done something when he saved Tess but he had no clue what.
He went back to watching Tess. He could stare at her for hours. In fact he had. Part of him wanted to call to her, to talk to her. But mostly he was content to watch her beautiful body move and sway.
After Tess had picked up all of the glass, she turned her face over her shoulder and said, “Enjoying the show?”
Kyle just grinned. But a part of him was worried. Her voice had sounded strange. Almost multi-tonal.
Tess calmly took the glass and set it on the table. She then calmly walked back towards him before jumping on him and quickly straddling his hips.
Not that he was about to complain. But she would not look at him straight in the eye. And that worried him just a tiny bit more.
Was this really Tess?
The answer to that was obvious. He could feel her essence though every inch of skin that touched. And as he was only wearing a t-shirt and track shorts, that was a lot of skin.
But was Tess or Ava dominant? Why wouldn’t she look him in the eyes?
Tess’s hands slipped under his shirt and caressed his chest. And for a moment he did not care. Her touch was pure magic on his skin.
“Oh, yes she has chosen well. Lots of potential here. Mind is unfocused and only selectively disciplined, but we can work on that. I need to work on her, too. Hmmmm.” She said as he slid his own hands up the jersey.
Only there was little doubt now. That voice. Just like Isabel when Vilandra was dominant. Multi-tonal. He stopped caressing her breasts.
Tess hissed in displeasure and glared at him. “Don’t stop!”
It was hard to focus in his now hormone fogged mind, and he instinctively continued his caresses, touching her where he could feel it brought her the most pleasure.
But yeah, her irises were completely expanded, looking almost like large almonds in her eyes.
He should stop….. This wasn’t right….. He didn’t want to cheat on Tess again! Even if technically it was her body.
What to do? He knew what he wanted to do, what it would be oh so easy to do….. But he was trying to the right thing. “Tess is that you?”
“I am afraid that she was damaged. As was I, but she took the brunt. Thank you my hero. Now will you just get on with it!”
It was so damn hard…. “But….”
“Oh, you want to talk about it, do you?” She ground against him instantly inflaming him before rolling off and calmly sitting in a chair, legs intertwined. “Okay lets talk.”
Kyle cursed himself as a damn fool. Surely it could have waited?
“I’m waiting,” Tess said in that multi-toned voice.
His senses, all of them were incredibly heightened. He could feel her frustration and aches like his own. “I don’t want to cheat on her again.”
“You won’t have sex with me because you don’t want to cheat on me? Am I hearing that right?”
Kyle nodded and drank the sight of her in. He was such a fool.
Tess/Ava ran a hand through her hair in frustration. “While your loyalty is commendable I must add that she and I are the same person. I am part of her. So you won’t be cheating on me, because hello! I am me.”
“Still…”
Tess/Ava rolled her eyes. Tess’s eyes changed. She suddenly looked very tired. Drained of substance. “Kyle?” Her voice was normal, but it sounded weak.
Kyle leapt off the couch and held her.
Her suddenly hollowed out eyes stared at him in amazement. “You saved me.”
“Of course, baby.”
“Kyle, what you did is impossible. Memory glass is nearly indestructible. What did you do?”
Kyle thought for a moment, “I don’t know. But it wouldn’t let it take you. I don’t want to loss you, Tess.“
“Why?”
“Because I love you.”
Tess weakly giggled. “Say it again!”
“What? Oh, I love you?”
Tess kissed him, a sweet passionate kiss.
When they broke apart Kyle was ready to finish what they had started earlier.
But Tess looked so tired. She placed one finger on his lips. “I’m going to have to go away for a little bit….” Her eyes rolled back.
“No! Tess!”
Tess’s head came back up, her pupils once again oversized. “She needs to rest. Now, back to business….” She started tugging at his shorts.
“Why?”
“Because we need you. Aeron was right. We of the Roswell group are broken. Unbalanced. We need you. I need you.. The Mithar training is not enough. Your souls are balanced.” She started kissing him lightly, playfully. “When we connect it steadies us. Both physical contact and emotional involvement deepen the connection.”
“So you need me.” Kyle stood, “Is that all this is? You are using me? Am I just a balancing tool?”
“Kyle I love you.” Tess/Ava stood up and pushed him back towards the couch. The bed would be better, but the couch was closer, and she was in no mood to wait. “It’s time to trim that lamp you keep nattering on about.”
Okay. Kyle had had enough. He still had questions. Questions that would be answered. Soon.
But not right now. Right now he was busy. And while she was steering him towards the couch, the bed would be much more comfortable. He lifted her off the ground when she tried to trip him.
And he carried her into her room, with her multi-tonally giggling all the way. Hey his life might be a lot stranger than it used to be….
But there were compensations.
-------
Max-
Max walked down the hallway with Michael. It had taken a lot of persuasion, but eventually Brody had understood that he would not be helping if he got directly involved.
Max hadn’t been really sure what good Michael would be able to do. Except Michael was pretty good at being a watchdog.
Brody was able to find out the room Sydney was in. That had helped.
Now to sneak in and heal her without drawing attention to themselves. Both of them were dressed like they belonged. Still Tess would have been useful right about now.
Max opened the door and looked in. He saw Sydney right away.
Michael gripped his arm, “One knock and someone is coming, two knocks means all is clear, and three knocks means we are totally screwed. Got that Maxwell?”
“Yeah. And Michael, thanks.”
“Whatever. Try to hurry. I’d rather not spend the rest of my life as a lab rat.”
Michael tried to be tough. In fact in some ways he was as callous as he sounded. But Max saw how he peeked into the room.
His look was wistful.
Wondering if someday he and Maria would have children no doubt. He and Liz could, of that Max was sure.
They had last timeline. It bothered him sometimes, if in fixing the past he had destroyed those future children.
Liz no longer thought so, and kept bringing up the idea of other worlds.
Max wasn’t so sure.
He walked into the room and over to Sydney.
She looked up at him. “Are you an angel?”
“I’m just a dream. Go back to sleep.”
She closed her eyes and he placed his hand above her. He had improved over the last year and no longer needed physical or eye to eye contact. Not for someone so small.
He felt as the connection was made and he sent his power rushing along it, searching and fixing all that it could find.
How could he know at that point that some of what he fixed hadn’t actually been broken?
He felt as she was healed and he stopped the flow of power. Her breathing was even and peaceful
She was healthy.
Max was hoping this method, this not completely touching her wouldn’t leave a mark. He was about to check when another one of the kids whimpered softly in pain.
How could he not? How could he not help them when it was in his power to do so?
There were two raps on the door. Everything was still all clear.
Max moved to the second child. A little boy.
Again the rush of images, again the flow of power. Again the altered fate.
The room swam slightly as got to his feet. He walked over to the next child. Another boy.
Michael rapped the door once.
But Max couldn’t stop now…..
Again the rush of images, a life just begun. Again the flow of power. Again the winds of change.
On to the next. This one a girl.
The door rapped three times.
Again Max healed the ailing child. Unknowingly tying the fate of Earth ever tighter to that of Antar.
Michael barged into the room and sealed the door shut.
One more child. Max had to heal one more child. The room was spinning and it was a struggle to maintain consciousness…. But he could feel another that needed him. Another child who would die without his aide.
Another whose fate would be completely altered.
Another Companion.
------
Far away in a cavern protected from any possibility of detection, the Granolith spun and spat power. The Seal was invoked and the power was sent along the bond between King and Device.
It had not been made to heal. But it had been made to serve. To serve, and to protect those under the King’s protection.
And to mark those deemed worthy of portions of its power.
To mark them as Companions.
-------
There were a few who noticed. Noticed that the Granolith had been used again. That the King was alive and well. And apparently active.
Most of them lived on Antar itself and they remained quiet. Such sentiments were safe in neither Khivar’s domain or the Cathian armed resistance.
Perhaps some of the Travellers noticed. But who could say what action they would take? They were genetically engrained to accept the Bearer of the Seal’s orders. But as always they would hide from him if they could.
There were few places on Earth that had the capability to detect it. Most of those that caught an echo of it considered it a glitch. Even General West’s technicians and Serena disregarded the odd pulse.
Really there were only two people trained and able to notice it. One of them spent his life as a director of action movies. And in his spare time acted as the money man for the alien cause on Earth.
Even Michael had money for a scholarship should he need or desire it.
But it was not the old engineer Kallen that would cause the trouble. Rather it was a newer immigrant to Roswell. In the form of a balding forty something Indian man. A physician.
And Khivar’s avatar on Earth.
But there were two others who felt it. And Kyle simply didn’t care. He was busy with Tess/Ava
------
Alicia-
Alicia felt a sense of heaviness surround her. Instinctually she looked at the room her daughter lay in. She needed to get back there.
She looked over at Pam sitting frightened and forlorn in the cafeteria. Alicia needed to go, but she couldn’t just leave the girl. She hurried over to their table, her eyes still drifting to Sydney’s room.
“Pam, we need to go.”
“Pam, my dear, why don’t you introduce me to your friend?”
Alicia looked over at Pam, who looked terrified and unable to speak. Alicia looked over at the woman who had caused the terror. She was short and Hispanic. And there was something… wrong about her.
She felt… evil.
“Excuse me, but we must be going. Pam? Come on, dear.”
Pam’s eyes were wide as she looked between the two women. Her looks were pleading for Alicia to save her.
Alicia felt a hand on her shoulder.
“I am sorry, but the child has an appointment to keep. I need to… fix her.”
Alicia could feel a subtle shadow creep across her consciousness. Persuading her to let the woman take Pam away. Alicia almost gave in and left. There was something happening to Sydney and she needed to be there!
But the look of horror on Pam’s face stopped her. Alicia turned to face the woman. “No I am afraid she is coming with me.”
“You would contest me child?”
Many reasons why she should just go flashed across her mind. A veritable tsunami of mental static.
Alicia would not be moved. The harder Ana pushed, the harder Alicia resisted. A line of sweat appeared across her brow.
Ana was likewise affected, both of them in impasse After a few minutes of glaring Ana nodded. “You may have her. For now. But you will not always be there to protect her. Or for that matter your daughter. Goodbye.” She briskly walked away. Alicia tried to keep track of her, but she disappeared almost immediately.
She needed to get to Sydney!
“Come on Pam, we need to go. Something is happening.”
Pam got up and followed Alicia. “Thank you.. Thank you for saving my life.”
“Well that’s a little dramatic, don’t you think. Who was she anyway.”
“I, I don’t know. It makes my head hurt to think of it.”
“Alright dear, we’ll talk about it later…. What is going on?”
There were several police officers trying to better down the door leading to Sydney’s room.
Pam rushed with her to the door.
“What is going on?” Had that woman already made good on her threat?
“Some crazies locked themselves into the ward….”
The door slammed open. The police rushed in.
The children were playing. The now healthy children.
Sydney looked over at Alicia and smiled as she played patty-cake with the other girl in the room. Alicia felt her self tremble in relief. The thought that her daughter might be harmed….
She fumbled with her phone and called her Grandfather.
And told him everything. Well not Brody’s crazy plan, but everything else.
The end of the conversation startled her thought….
“So the woman was interested in the girl?”
“Yes.”
“I am sending some bodyguards for both of you. If you can keep her there. I would like to talk to this girl.”
“You’re not, you’re not going to hurt her are you?”
“No, but she may know something interesting. Keep me posted. I am leaving for the airport now.”
And there had been more.
For each child was marked with a hand print of silver. And each child was healthy.
The doctors hedged their bets of course, said it was just spontaneous remission.
But Alicia knew.
Her daughter had been healed.
Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Epilogue- 10/31/09
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Forum Moderators
Re: Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chap 20- 05/31/09
Thanks to everyone following along this story. This part is going to be a little different. I am going to do something I normally only do during prologues and epilogues.... This chapter will cover mostly what is going on outside the bounds of the Pod Squad, to see what the enemy is up to. Next chapter will be back to covering our heroes.
Natalie36- Thanks
chanks_girl- Max's POV just seemed to flow. Poor Kyle. For that matter, poor Maria and Alex, and eventually Liz. Really all the aliens need is just a little balance, you know, some deep connections, kind of like what Liz and Max do when the gaze into each others eyes.... Only connections are heightened through physical contact and a heightened emotional state, both on the part of the receiver and sender. So yeah, tough job.
RhondaAnn- Both Maria and Alicia are Companions. There is a good chance Pam will become one as well. Oh, and sorry about that extra part on Weathering the Storm. I just went to post it and Max just begged to have his part in that chapter not the next. Sorry.
AvalonRose- Liz has many talents. This was not one of them. The New York hybrids are actually okay, just a little crazy. The Roswell aliens are just what Lonnie claimed in Meet the Dupes, defective. They are also much more powerful than the New York set, just not as stable. (This is not mental stability I am talking about here, they are not liable to go nuts, just they have less control over their powers. The humans can increase their stability and hence control.)
DeDe PR- Thanks. Alicia has certain strengths, but she is not a hybrid, but rather a Companion. And yes they will need the protection from Alicia's grandfather. Tess did not feel the Granolith. Alicia did, if only because the effects were going on in her near vicinity. Kyle is highly sensitive to alien energies.
nibbles2- Thanks
MagickFantasy86- Hi! Thank you for following along.
Companions do not share the exact same abilities. Plus Liz was altered by Ana. Ana gave her some very useful and dangerous abilities, thinking to use them for herself. Unfortunately, she lost some of the normal more human abilities. Maria has the same problem for a different reason.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past chapter 21
Dr. Rao/Khivar
Khivar floated through the day, absently doing all the mundane tasks this body was used to. It was a strange thing to help people, ordinary common people with their mostly mundane ailments.
These people were so primitive, so unaware of what they were capable of. And they were capable of much more than he had ever dreamed of. He understood Ana’s plan now.
She would raise an army of locals to destabilize the local governments and pave way for a small army to take over the world. And it might just work.
If Khivar could actually spare the troops. Nicholas had bungled badly at the Summit.
The Loyalists now knew an heir was hidden… somewhere. The Cathians had redoubled their efforts to seize the throne before said heir arrived on Antar. Meanwhile his domains on Antar were wracked with rebellion and discontent.
Worse, peace had broken out between Padania and Lemarcia. Sure they had also signed, with Arilan treaty with him….. But they would be able to rebuild, to have their economies flourish and grow, while Cathia and Antar tore each other to bits.
And the reborn Zan was making Companions. Just great. Human Companions to be sure, but still Companions. He wanted to scream, to find Nicholas and exfoliate the little bastard.
He slipped into his office for a few moments of peace. Of course at the moment, being a doctor was the bright part of his existence.
One of his agents was sprawled in one of the chairs. The man was wounded, badly wounded. The body his minion possessed would likely die without immediate treatment. In fact, judging by the damage, it might still die.
The agent looked up weakly at Khivar. “I am sorry, Lord. I have failed.”
“Ava lives?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“You do realize how badly this hampers me and my plans. If that witch gets close to me, she might not even need to see me! She will see through my disguise. I need to know if the Royals plan to return. I can’t trust Nicholas or the Skins. They’ve been here too long. A mistake on my part.”
The agent just coughed wetly, a trace of blood trailing on his lips. “I’m sorry Lord. She had a Protector. A human who, who did things he shouldn’t have been able to. He, he shattered the memory glass I planned to use on her Highness.”
Khivar lifted a virtual device above his head and a vortex formed. This was his addition to the scientific glory that was the Antaran Achadian. Too bad he couldn’t let them know about it until after his death.
Khivar turned to the agent. “I’m sending you back. When you sync up with your regular mind you will report everything to Khivar. Tell him I need to stay a while longer. And tell him that Zan is making human Companions.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Khivar reached over to the agent, his human body near death. He lifted the body towards the vortex. “One last thing. Tell him that Vilandra has already chosen. The link has been broken. If he hasn’t already felt it. She is no longer ours.”
Khivar lifted the body just a trace more and watched as the essence of one of his men raced back to Antar.
One day those vortexes might replace normal space travel, would replace the great ships that traveled the long lonely distances of space. But for now, for his prototype, it could only transmit only the most ephemeral of substances.
He disintegrated the agents human body. A flick of his wrist spread the remaining dust around the room to be cleaned by the janitors later.
Khivar sighed. He knew he wasn’t the real Emperor, that he was only an avatar, but he still felt so much of what the real Khivar felt. He still considered himself Khivar.
And the loss of Vilandra hurt. It hurt so much.
He closed his eyes in pain, a pain that he held for mere moments before willing it away.
He placed his smile back on his face and walked back onto the floor of Roswell Memorial Hospital.
He had to work to do.
-------
Ana-
Ana was frightened. It was not a sensation she was used to. She was used to staying far behind the lines, to send her agents. But first Ragar had been killed. Her hand picked guardian.
And she had lost so much in Roswell. So much of her gear…..
She had thought she could make it up, that she could start slow, without all her more sophisticated tools. And at first it had seemed to be okay. She had sent a few presents to keep the Royals and their human playthings occupied.
Now she was wondering if that had been a mistake. For they and their human playthings were so much more powerful than she had expected. Worse she knew know why she had lost Emily, why her intricate warping of Liz had not taken.
She was a Companion. How many humans had the King raised up?
Had the King also seen the merits of her plan? Did he too plan to raise up an army of uplifted humans to take the Antarans by storm? Sure she planned on helping Khivar…. As long as she needed his help. But her dreams were so much loftier than being a mere Planetary Governor….
Could she still salvage her plans? The existence of Companions shook her to the core. They were Legends, beings used to fight off Them. As far as she was aware the last Companion was raised over five hundred years ago.
No King had trusted an associate with that much power after Rathinar the Bold.
But running into Alicia, fighting her over little Pamela, had shown her the truth. No human could have resisted her. Most Tarans or Antarans in general would have given up and left.
Alicia had stood her ground. And she was human.
Ana was a trained Eidolonics expert and Personality Readjustment Specialist. She could tell the species of a person just by looking at them. And Alicia was human but she also had odd markers. Markers she’d seen on Liz before she had begun the reprofiling effort.
Liz had been a Companion. A Companion who could… Oh, Heaven’s Light, what had she done?
Still if she could turn enough people, turn them young when they were still malleable…. Ana crept towards Alicia’s daughters room.
She might not be able to affect the mother directly, but if she could co-opt the spawn…. She had a mild warp running, enough to make everyone avoid her.
She saw the crowd before the door and crept towards the back way. There was a maintenance corridor that ran right behind the room. The old door had been blocked off, most likely most of the staff did not even realize it was there. But it was in the blueprints, and the maintenance staff still could use it if need be.
She would go through the back way and spirit out the child before the mother arrived.
She was not expecting to run into the reborn Rath Targan. How Michael had known of the door would perplex her for a long time. But he was carrying the unconscious King in his arms. A King that reeked of eldritch energies.
Ana just stood there and watched as Michael rebuilt the wall behind him.
If he saw her she was dead. She had no doubt about it. She needed to make sure she did not draw his attention at all. She stood so very still.
And he picked up the fallen King and ran past her.
So close. Too damn close.
She closed her eyes and sent her talent to scour the nearby room. And was filled with despair. All five children were no beyond her reach. Companions. All five of them.
Why? Why would he do it?
Sydney. He had done it for Sydney. For Alicia.
If Alicia told Michael that she was here…. How much did he remember? Could he still track by essence trail?
Ana had not been nearly careful enough here in Phoenix. She had been so sure she was far enough away. Now she wasn’t so sure. Her small group of minions would not stand up to the King’s Champion. And everything she had seen made her certain he was as loyal in this life as in the last. Unlike his New York born copy.
She nodded to herself. She needed to regroup, to gather allies.
She simply wasn’t safe here anymore.
--------
Lonnie-
Lonnie wondered if she could hate herself anymore than she did now. Of course she’d been thinking that ever since they had taken her from New York and it only got worse.
And there was a tiny part of her, possibly fueled by the Sigil burned into her soul, that felt she deserved it. But it was a tiny part. She knew her decisions had brought her to this low state. But there were limits, limits that shouldn’t be passed.
Nicholas had. He had used her in every depraved manner he could fathom. Had used her as a sex toy for his minions. The only limit he put on them was to not kill her.
She was currently recovering from the kind ‘ministrations’ of one of her new lovers. Nicholas would usually let her heal herself after a day or two. If only to avail him of her services.
Letting him heal her was a mistake she would never again repeat. The feel of his mind pulling every secret, every thought, every dream…. Lonnie shuddered.
What she wouldn’t give to see Rath just one more time. He was still alive. The bond they now shared told her that. But if he was whole and well…. She did not know.
She shivered in fear as she heard the door open. Nicholas carefully limited her powers, allowing her to do little but basic maintenance and healing. And he could deprive her of her powers at will.
Who was she kidding. He could make her do anything. Literally anything.
She was a slave. And when he was done with her, when he tired of playing with her…. She would be fed to a Mirror.
Only it wasn’t Nicholas. It was Greer.
Ever since New York the two had been fighting.
She had known him on Antar. Had cried with him over his lost wife and daughter when Drimordjian had been destroyed. They had been friends and then enemies when she had joined her brother.
She tried in vain to hide her nakedness, to hide her wounds….
“Oh my God! What has he been doing to you?”
Lonnie had been told not to talk unless given permission. She so wanted to tell this man, this well meaning if somewhat unbalanced man what his ally had been doing.
He kept his eyes averted as he walked over and healed her. And then turned aside and retched.
Flashes. He had seen flashes.
But she felt better. Greer was no match for Zan in the healing department, no Rhyajhaelian was. But he was Achadian trained and that meant some facility with healing.
Lonnie felt her heart freeze as she heard Nicholas’s voice sound, “What is this? What are you doing in my quarters Greer?”
Greer’s voice was tightly controlled, but there was little mistaking the fury that filled it. “I had heard reports, hints of what had been done to the prisoner…. But when I healed her, what I saw…. Nicholas there are limits to what I will allow….”
“Allow? You allow me? You are nothing but a pathetic worm!”
“I am the Governor of this Ark. You are not welcome here anymore. Nor are your… associates.”
Nicholas walked over and fondled Lonnie in front of Greer.
All she could do was whimper.
“You are not welcome here Nicholas. You might be able to beat me in a straight up fight, but we are in my home. In the Ark I built. And you are not welcome. GET OUT!”
“What will Khivar say about this? You do remember that he said we needed to work together….”
“After what you have done to this child? No he would kill you himself. It is only his orders that keep me from slaying you out of hand. And I am going to contact him with all the details to allow me to do just that.”
“Come my pet, it is time to leave. Be sure to offer your services to anyone you see on out way out of the station.”
“She stays here.”
Nicholas smiled. “Ah, but remember our deal. You got the boy to train, and I got the girl. I certainly got the better part of that deal. She is mine. My property. By Law and Custom you can not take her from me. To do so would take away your authority until the matter was settled. Who is to say who your replacement would side with? I was their leader long before you.”
Greer’s face fell and he looked straight at Lonnie. “I am afraid he is right. I can’t just seize you. But if I can, if I can somehow free you, I swear I will. I am so sorry.”
Lonnie was in tears as she walked out of what had been her home. Now what would happen to her?
Luckily Greer’s straight-laced ethic had filled most of the Skins remaining in the newly built safe haven. Her offers were only accepted once.
Maybe having her soul slowly eaten wouldn’t be to bad of a trade.
If only she could see Rath just one last time….
-------
Maria- timeline one
Maria stared at the spinning Granolith. “What makes you think they will uncover it, Your Majesty?”
Amy, Queen of Antar, Overlord of Earth, Defender of Seven Worlds, looked at her. “Maria, the past Maria was a Companion. Obviously my father knows how to operate the Granolith at a subconscious level. If only I could gain access to that knowledge!”
“I am sorry about my actions…..”
“Maria, you know I have forgiven you. Ana, Ana drove you to kill my parents. You have always been loyal to me….” Amy sighed, “That is why I must ask more of you. I delved deep into Maria’s, the past Maria’s subconscious and I may have found a key.”
“A key?”
“We no longer have the Book, but there are still some writings on the Granolith…. If only I had a translation key. I believe your younger self has it. We can’t wait here forever, hoping they return. I need you to go in there, into the past and find that key….
“And bring it back.”
Maria stared again at the Granolith, “But….”
“I know you have done so much for me. Now I must ask for more Please?”
Maria nodded. The plan was a frightening one. Who knew what effects this might have?
But there were opportunities, things she had always meant to do….
“Yes, Amy, you know that I will.”
------
SAC-Special Unit Samuel Byrnes-
Special Agent in Charge Byrnes was having a bad day. He had finally been able to get out of Washington, relatively intact, on a short shopping trip in New York with his wife and kids….. When he gets several frantic demands for his presence.
There was another anomaly in Roswell…. That he felt he could leave to Agent Hart. But then there were reports of children sporting glowing silver handprints in Phoenix….
Byrnes had read the reports. Usually these had been found on corpses. But now five small dying children. Children who seemed to all be in remission.
Nope. Not normal.
He had assets that were moving there even now, but this was something he had to see for himself. And fast. If the old reports were true, the signs would fade within twenty-four hours. He needed to be in Phoenix today.
Hence his moving through a packed airport.
Samuel Byrnes had been an agent for almost fifteen years, and he’d been a good one. Highly observant. Sure the airport was crowded, but he was shocked when he felt the man grab him by the arm to get his attention.
The man was so very normal. Normal enough for his eyes to slide right off of him. Only one eye was a bright green and the other a bright blue. And you would think the flaming red hair would give him away, but no, he just seemed so ordinary. Byrnes almost turned away.
“Excuse me sir, but my boss wants to speak with you.”
“I am sorry, I’m busy.”
“The boss knows. But he needs to talk to you first.”
Byrnes looked at the crowd in front of him and sighed. It wouldn’t get any worse in a few minutes … What did it matter.
He followed the man. The man walked into a service corridor and then into a private wing of the airport. “Are we almost there? I really do have some important….”
“Right here.” The man pointed at a room, guarded by two silent professional bodyguards.
Who would go through all of this trouble? If he were on an anti-Mafia case, maybe, but this was just strange.
Seated at a table, nursing a brandy and smoking a cigarette was a familiar face. John Ibanez. Head of Far Sight.
“Well, it is truly a pleasure to see you, Sam. Sit down, sit down.”
“You know as much as I would like to, I really don’t have time. Just say your piece and be done with it.”
“And if I could get you to Phoenix much faster than American Airlines? I have a private jet being prepped on the tarmac now. You can be on that jet. Now sit.”
“John, you know I am not for sale.”
“Look, Sam, there is a lot going on. I just want to make sure that only the right people get hurt. You have to admit the organization you work for now is not known for its finesse.”
“The FBI…”
“I am talking about the Special Unit, Sam. Are you going in guns blazing or are you actually going to try to find out what is going on? I need to know. Because one of the effected children is my great-granddaughter. And I will not stand by as she is dissected like Lucia!” His eyes were now fierce.
It was true. That is what made it so bad. The Special Unit had done some pretty bad things in its hey day. All in the name of stopping an alien killer. A killer they never found.
But they had certainly tortured enough people over it. He still could not believe what had been done to Max Evans, let alone what the technicians in that illegal lab in Florida had admitted to planning on doing to Liz Parker.
Both Liz Parker and Max Evans were suspects. Suspects of being abnormal and worthy of further investigation. One of his teams was supposed to be gathering DNA evidence from those two and several others in Roswell.
Still, the last thing he needed was to have his newly formed Special Unit get involved in a pissing contest with Far Sight. The old Special Unit could probably have gotten away with a lot, but his new unit was just that- new.
It would take a while before he built up the contacts and favors that might let him compete.
“I’m listening.”
“Something happened here. And more than just the little kids. My daughter is protecting an asset, one that an opposing group was looking to recruit. The problem is that as far as I know, there aren’t any active enemy cells in Phoenix. Certainly not in a hospital of all places!”
“You think that someone else might be involved.”
“Look, let me put my cards on the table. There has been a lot of activity lately. My contacts with the assets I have loaned out to the CIA and other intelligence groups all mention another group or groups getting involved. And no its not the Russians or Chinese. Their as perplexed as we are.”
“Surely you can’t mean.”
John violently extinguished his cigarette, “We both know we were visited in the forties and fifties. I think their back. And this time, this time I think they are here to stay….”
“You can’t mean….”
“I do, and that means we need all the allies we can get. You help us, we help you. If you bust some alien murderer or crook, more power to you. That’s not my job and you are welcome to it.”
“You know that if I believe that the interests and welfare of the United States is threatened…..”
“Of course. And I won’t hesitate to shorten the lives of any of your agents who threaten me or mine. We are on the same side. Or at least we should be. If you take down one of mine, make it legal. And trust me I have lawyers who will scrutinize the case. But extralegal action, not against mine. Deal?”
Byrnes glared at him. Of course, he would have to agree at some point…..
“I can tell by that glower that you can’t find a better alternative.” John Ibanez got up, “Come on, we have plane to catch.”
And they left.
Natalie36- Thanks
chanks_girl- Max's POV just seemed to flow. Poor Kyle. For that matter, poor Maria and Alex, and eventually Liz. Really all the aliens need is just a little balance, you know, some deep connections, kind of like what Liz and Max do when the gaze into each others eyes.... Only connections are heightened through physical contact and a heightened emotional state, both on the part of the receiver and sender. So yeah, tough job.
RhondaAnn- Both Maria and Alicia are Companions. There is a good chance Pam will become one as well. Oh, and sorry about that extra part on Weathering the Storm. I just went to post it and Max just begged to have his part in that chapter not the next. Sorry.
AvalonRose- Liz has many talents. This was not one of them. The New York hybrids are actually okay, just a little crazy. The Roswell aliens are just what Lonnie claimed in Meet the Dupes, defective. They are also much more powerful than the New York set, just not as stable. (This is not mental stability I am talking about here, they are not liable to go nuts, just they have less control over their powers. The humans can increase their stability and hence control.)
DeDe PR- Thanks. Alicia has certain strengths, but she is not a hybrid, but rather a Companion. And yes they will need the protection from Alicia's grandfather. Tess did not feel the Granolith. Alicia did, if only because the effects were going on in her near vicinity. Kyle is highly sensitive to alien energies.
nibbles2- Thanks
MagickFantasy86- Hi! Thank you for following along.
Companions do not share the exact same abilities. Plus Liz was altered by Ana. Ana gave her some very useful and dangerous abilities, thinking to use them for herself. Unfortunately, she lost some of the normal more human abilities. Maria has the same problem for a different reason.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past chapter 21
Dr. Rao/Khivar
Khivar floated through the day, absently doing all the mundane tasks this body was used to. It was a strange thing to help people, ordinary common people with their mostly mundane ailments.
These people were so primitive, so unaware of what they were capable of. And they were capable of much more than he had ever dreamed of. He understood Ana’s plan now.
She would raise an army of locals to destabilize the local governments and pave way for a small army to take over the world. And it might just work.
If Khivar could actually spare the troops. Nicholas had bungled badly at the Summit.
The Loyalists now knew an heir was hidden… somewhere. The Cathians had redoubled their efforts to seize the throne before said heir arrived on Antar. Meanwhile his domains on Antar were wracked with rebellion and discontent.
Worse, peace had broken out between Padania and Lemarcia. Sure they had also signed, with Arilan treaty with him….. But they would be able to rebuild, to have their economies flourish and grow, while Cathia and Antar tore each other to bits.
And the reborn Zan was making Companions. Just great. Human Companions to be sure, but still Companions. He wanted to scream, to find Nicholas and exfoliate the little bastard.
He slipped into his office for a few moments of peace. Of course at the moment, being a doctor was the bright part of his existence.
One of his agents was sprawled in one of the chairs. The man was wounded, badly wounded. The body his minion possessed would likely die without immediate treatment. In fact, judging by the damage, it might still die.
The agent looked up weakly at Khivar. “I am sorry, Lord. I have failed.”
“Ava lives?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“You do realize how badly this hampers me and my plans. If that witch gets close to me, she might not even need to see me! She will see through my disguise. I need to know if the Royals plan to return. I can’t trust Nicholas or the Skins. They’ve been here too long. A mistake on my part.”
The agent just coughed wetly, a trace of blood trailing on his lips. “I’m sorry Lord. She had a Protector. A human who, who did things he shouldn’t have been able to. He, he shattered the memory glass I planned to use on her Highness.”
Khivar lifted a virtual device above his head and a vortex formed. This was his addition to the scientific glory that was the Antaran Achadian. Too bad he couldn’t let them know about it until after his death.
Khivar turned to the agent. “I’m sending you back. When you sync up with your regular mind you will report everything to Khivar. Tell him I need to stay a while longer. And tell him that Zan is making human Companions.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Khivar reached over to the agent, his human body near death. He lifted the body towards the vortex. “One last thing. Tell him that Vilandra has already chosen. The link has been broken. If he hasn’t already felt it. She is no longer ours.”
Khivar lifted the body just a trace more and watched as the essence of one of his men raced back to Antar.
One day those vortexes might replace normal space travel, would replace the great ships that traveled the long lonely distances of space. But for now, for his prototype, it could only transmit only the most ephemeral of substances.
He disintegrated the agents human body. A flick of his wrist spread the remaining dust around the room to be cleaned by the janitors later.
Khivar sighed. He knew he wasn’t the real Emperor, that he was only an avatar, but he still felt so much of what the real Khivar felt. He still considered himself Khivar.
And the loss of Vilandra hurt. It hurt so much.
He closed his eyes in pain, a pain that he held for mere moments before willing it away.
He placed his smile back on his face and walked back onto the floor of Roswell Memorial Hospital.
He had to work to do.
-------
Ana-
Ana was frightened. It was not a sensation she was used to. She was used to staying far behind the lines, to send her agents. But first Ragar had been killed. Her hand picked guardian.
And she had lost so much in Roswell. So much of her gear…..
She had thought she could make it up, that she could start slow, without all her more sophisticated tools. And at first it had seemed to be okay. She had sent a few presents to keep the Royals and their human playthings occupied.
Now she was wondering if that had been a mistake. For they and their human playthings were so much more powerful than she had expected. Worse she knew know why she had lost Emily, why her intricate warping of Liz had not taken.
She was a Companion. How many humans had the King raised up?
Had the King also seen the merits of her plan? Did he too plan to raise up an army of uplifted humans to take the Antarans by storm? Sure she planned on helping Khivar…. As long as she needed his help. But her dreams were so much loftier than being a mere Planetary Governor….
Could she still salvage her plans? The existence of Companions shook her to the core. They were Legends, beings used to fight off Them. As far as she was aware the last Companion was raised over five hundred years ago.
No King had trusted an associate with that much power after Rathinar the Bold.
But running into Alicia, fighting her over little Pamela, had shown her the truth. No human could have resisted her. Most Tarans or Antarans in general would have given up and left.
Alicia had stood her ground. And she was human.
Ana was a trained Eidolonics expert and Personality Readjustment Specialist. She could tell the species of a person just by looking at them. And Alicia was human but she also had odd markers. Markers she’d seen on Liz before she had begun the reprofiling effort.
Liz had been a Companion. A Companion who could… Oh, Heaven’s Light, what had she done?
Still if she could turn enough people, turn them young when they were still malleable…. Ana crept towards Alicia’s daughters room.
She might not be able to affect the mother directly, but if she could co-opt the spawn…. She had a mild warp running, enough to make everyone avoid her.
She saw the crowd before the door and crept towards the back way. There was a maintenance corridor that ran right behind the room. The old door had been blocked off, most likely most of the staff did not even realize it was there. But it was in the blueprints, and the maintenance staff still could use it if need be.
She would go through the back way and spirit out the child before the mother arrived.
She was not expecting to run into the reborn Rath Targan. How Michael had known of the door would perplex her for a long time. But he was carrying the unconscious King in his arms. A King that reeked of eldritch energies.
Ana just stood there and watched as Michael rebuilt the wall behind him.
If he saw her she was dead. She had no doubt about it. She needed to make sure she did not draw his attention at all. She stood so very still.
And he picked up the fallen King and ran past her.
So close. Too damn close.
She closed her eyes and sent her talent to scour the nearby room. And was filled with despair. All five children were no beyond her reach. Companions. All five of them.
Why? Why would he do it?
Sydney. He had done it for Sydney. For Alicia.
If Alicia told Michael that she was here…. How much did he remember? Could he still track by essence trail?
Ana had not been nearly careful enough here in Phoenix. She had been so sure she was far enough away. Now she wasn’t so sure. Her small group of minions would not stand up to the King’s Champion. And everything she had seen made her certain he was as loyal in this life as in the last. Unlike his New York born copy.
She nodded to herself. She needed to regroup, to gather allies.
She simply wasn’t safe here anymore.
--------
Lonnie-
Lonnie wondered if she could hate herself anymore than she did now. Of course she’d been thinking that ever since they had taken her from New York and it only got worse.
And there was a tiny part of her, possibly fueled by the Sigil burned into her soul, that felt she deserved it. But it was a tiny part. She knew her decisions had brought her to this low state. But there were limits, limits that shouldn’t be passed.
Nicholas had. He had used her in every depraved manner he could fathom. Had used her as a sex toy for his minions. The only limit he put on them was to not kill her.
She was currently recovering from the kind ‘ministrations’ of one of her new lovers. Nicholas would usually let her heal herself after a day or two. If only to avail him of her services.
Letting him heal her was a mistake she would never again repeat. The feel of his mind pulling every secret, every thought, every dream…. Lonnie shuddered.
What she wouldn’t give to see Rath just one more time. He was still alive. The bond they now shared told her that. But if he was whole and well…. She did not know.
She shivered in fear as she heard the door open. Nicholas carefully limited her powers, allowing her to do little but basic maintenance and healing. And he could deprive her of her powers at will.
Who was she kidding. He could make her do anything. Literally anything.
She was a slave. And when he was done with her, when he tired of playing with her…. She would be fed to a Mirror.
Only it wasn’t Nicholas. It was Greer.
Ever since New York the two had been fighting.
She had known him on Antar. Had cried with him over his lost wife and daughter when Drimordjian had been destroyed. They had been friends and then enemies when she had joined her brother.
She tried in vain to hide her nakedness, to hide her wounds….
“Oh my God! What has he been doing to you?”
Lonnie had been told not to talk unless given permission. She so wanted to tell this man, this well meaning if somewhat unbalanced man what his ally had been doing.
He kept his eyes averted as he walked over and healed her. And then turned aside and retched.
Flashes. He had seen flashes.
But she felt better. Greer was no match for Zan in the healing department, no Rhyajhaelian was. But he was Achadian trained and that meant some facility with healing.
Lonnie felt her heart freeze as she heard Nicholas’s voice sound, “What is this? What are you doing in my quarters Greer?”
Greer’s voice was tightly controlled, but there was little mistaking the fury that filled it. “I had heard reports, hints of what had been done to the prisoner…. But when I healed her, what I saw…. Nicholas there are limits to what I will allow….”
“Allow? You allow me? You are nothing but a pathetic worm!”
“I am the Governor of this Ark. You are not welcome here anymore. Nor are your… associates.”
Nicholas walked over and fondled Lonnie in front of Greer.
All she could do was whimper.
“You are not welcome here Nicholas. You might be able to beat me in a straight up fight, but we are in my home. In the Ark I built. And you are not welcome. GET OUT!”
“What will Khivar say about this? You do remember that he said we needed to work together….”
“After what you have done to this child? No he would kill you himself. It is only his orders that keep me from slaying you out of hand. And I am going to contact him with all the details to allow me to do just that.”
“Come my pet, it is time to leave. Be sure to offer your services to anyone you see on out way out of the station.”
“She stays here.”
Nicholas smiled. “Ah, but remember our deal. You got the boy to train, and I got the girl. I certainly got the better part of that deal. She is mine. My property. By Law and Custom you can not take her from me. To do so would take away your authority until the matter was settled. Who is to say who your replacement would side with? I was their leader long before you.”
Greer’s face fell and he looked straight at Lonnie. “I am afraid he is right. I can’t just seize you. But if I can, if I can somehow free you, I swear I will. I am so sorry.”
Lonnie was in tears as she walked out of what had been her home. Now what would happen to her?
Luckily Greer’s straight-laced ethic had filled most of the Skins remaining in the newly built safe haven. Her offers were only accepted once.
Maybe having her soul slowly eaten wouldn’t be to bad of a trade.
If only she could see Rath just one last time….
-------
Maria- timeline one
Maria stared at the spinning Granolith. “What makes you think they will uncover it, Your Majesty?”
Amy, Queen of Antar, Overlord of Earth, Defender of Seven Worlds, looked at her. “Maria, the past Maria was a Companion. Obviously my father knows how to operate the Granolith at a subconscious level. If only I could gain access to that knowledge!”
“I am sorry about my actions…..”
“Maria, you know I have forgiven you. Ana, Ana drove you to kill my parents. You have always been loyal to me….” Amy sighed, “That is why I must ask more of you. I delved deep into Maria’s, the past Maria’s subconscious and I may have found a key.”
“A key?”
“We no longer have the Book, but there are still some writings on the Granolith…. If only I had a translation key. I believe your younger self has it. We can’t wait here forever, hoping they return. I need you to go in there, into the past and find that key….
“And bring it back.”
Maria stared again at the Granolith, “But….”
“I know you have done so much for me. Now I must ask for more Please?”
Maria nodded. The plan was a frightening one. Who knew what effects this might have?
But there were opportunities, things she had always meant to do….
“Yes, Amy, you know that I will.”
------
SAC-Special Unit Samuel Byrnes-
Special Agent in Charge Byrnes was having a bad day. He had finally been able to get out of Washington, relatively intact, on a short shopping trip in New York with his wife and kids….. When he gets several frantic demands for his presence.
There was another anomaly in Roswell…. That he felt he could leave to Agent Hart. But then there were reports of children sporting glowing silver handprints in Phoenix….
Byrnes had read the reports. Usually these had been found on corpses. But now five small dying children. Children who seemed to all be in remission.
Nope. Not normal.
He had assets that were moving there even now, but this was something he had to see for himself. And fast. If the old reports were true, the signs would fade within twenty-four hours. He needed to be in Phoenix today.
Hence his moving through a packed airport.
Samuel Byrnes had been an agent for almost fifteen years, and he’d been a good one. Highly observant. Sure the airport was crowded, but he was shocked when he felt the man grab him by the arm to get his attention.
The man was so very normal. Normal enough for his eyes to slide right off of him. Only one eye was a bright green and the other a bright blue. And you would think the flaming red hair would give him away, but no, he just seemed so ordinary. Byrnes almost turned away.
“Excuse me sir, but my boss wants to speak with you.”
“I am sorry, I’m busy.”
“The boss knows. But he needs to talk to you first.”
Byrnes looked at the crowd in front of him and sighed. It wouldn’t get any worse in a few minutes … What did it matter.
He followed the man. The man walked into a service corridor and then into a private wing of the airport. “Are we almost there? I really do have some important….”
“Right here.” The man pointed at a room, guarded by two silent professional bodyguards.
Who would go through all of this trouble? If he were on an anti-Mafia case, maybe, but this was just strange.
Seated at a table, nursing a brandy and smoking a cigarette was a familiar face. John Ibanez. Head of Far Sight.
“Well, it is truly a pleasure to see you, Sam. Sit down, sit down.”
“You know as much as I would like to, I really don’t have time. Just say your piece and be done with it.”
“And if I could get you to Phoenix much faster than American Airlines? I have a private jet being prepped on the tarmac now. You can be on that jet. Now sit.”
“John, you know I am not for sale.”
“Look, Sam, there is a lot going on. I just want to make sure that only the right people get hurt. You have to admit the organization you work for now is not known for its finesse.”
“The FBI…”
“I am talking about the Special Unit, Sam. Are you going in guns blazing or are you actually going to try to find out what is going on? I need to know. Because one of the effected children is my great-granddaughter. And I will not stand by as she is dissected like Lucia!” His eyes were now fierce.
It was true. That is what made it so bad. The Special Unit had done some pretty bad things in its hey day. All in the name of stopping an alien killer. A killer they never found.
But they had certainly tortured enough people over it. He still could not believe what had been done to Max Evans, let alone what the technicians in that illegal lab in Florida had admitted to planning on doing to Liz Parker.
Both Liz Parker and Max Evans were suspects. Suspects of being abnormal and worthy of further investigation. One of his teams was supposed to be gathering DNA evidence from those two and several others in Roswell.
Still, the last thing he needed was to have his newly formed Special Unit get involved in a pissing contest with Far Sight. The old Special Unit could probably have gotten away with a lot, but his new unit was just that- new.
It would take a while before he built up the contacts and favors that might let him compete.
“I’m listening.”
“Something happened here. And more than just the little kids. My daughter is protecting an asset, one that an opposing group was looking to recruit. The problem is that as far as I know, there aren’t any active enemy cells in Phoenix. Certainly not in a hospital of all places!”
“You think that someone else might be involved.”
“Look, let me put my cards on the table. There has been a lot of activity lately. My contacts with the assets I have loaned out to the CIA and other intelligence groups all mention another group or groups getting involved. And no its not the Russians or Chinese. Their as perplexed as we are.”
“Surely you can’t mean.”
John violently extinguished his cigarette, “We both know we were visited in the forties and fifties. I think their back. And this time, this time I think they are here to stay….”
“You can’t mean….”
“I do, and that means we need all the allies we can get. You help us, we help you. If you bust some alien murderer or crook, more power to you. That’s not my job and you are welcome to it.”
“You know that if I believe that the interests and welfare of the United States is threatened…..”
“Of course. And I won’t hesitate to shorten the lives of any of your agents who threaten me or mine. We are on the same side. Or at least we should be. If you take down one of mine, make it legal. And trust me I have lawyers who will scrutinize the case. But extralegal action, not against mine. Deal?”
Byrnes glared at him. Of course, he would have to agree at some point…..
“I can tell by that glower that you can’t find a better alternative.” John Ibanez got up, “Come on, we have plane to catch.”
And they left.
Re: Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chap 21- 06/08/09
And now back to our normally scheduled protagonists. Seriously though, thanks to everyone following this story.
RhondaAnn- Companions were those entrusted to use a portion of the Granoliths power. Thanks as always.
AvalonRose- All of last chapter was set up for the next couple dozen chapters. BIts and pieces will be coming out soon in the next few parts. Thanks again.
Chanks_girl- Thank you.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past chapter 22
Tess-
Tess could hear Kyle’s even breathing. She could feel Ava packed back into the corners of her mind. But still there.
It had been scary to so completely lose control. To feel another move her body. To feel her body’s excitement as her mind slowly drifted off into darkness.
At least Ava had left the memories. It wasn’t the same, but at least she could feel echoes of it. And her connection to Kyle was solid. She could feel as their souls communicated beneath her surface mind.
He knew. If he hadn’t seen, Kyle would know that something was wrong with her. He would give her space, he had changed from the brash infatuated jock she had known when she had first gotten here.
The whole alien chaos had gotten him to start thinking. And while he was still fumbling a bit, he was at least looking. And there was a well of maturity growing under his somewhat shallow shell.
He would wait for her to talk about it, to open up to him. But as he was changing so was she.
She had nearly died. Again. But even more than that she was beginning to truly see who and what she had been. Ava had left more than just memories of lovemaking with Kyle.
It left a little mental critique of some of her recent actions. It did not tell her what to do. But it spelled out in stark terms of the likely fallout of her actions, particularly what she had done to Alex. It gave possible solutions and their likelihood of working…. From running to complete honesty. And some cold advice that even she found… disturbing.
She couldn’t do that! Kill Alex? Use him up in discovering the secrets to the Book so she could go home. Warp Kyle into forgetting her, wrest Max from Liz and fulfill Nasedo’s crazy backup plan?
Like the Cathians would accept a half-Mithar human hybrid child as an heir in the first place.
She felt as Kyle’s arms tightened around her shivering shoulders.
But that was the road she was taking. Alex needed immediate help. She was killing him with her warps.
And letting Isabel wander in a half fog, unaware that Alex was being warped into serving Tess. Letting Alex’s warped mind warp her friend’s mind in turn.
And there was more. Kyle’s balance had settled, had healed her damaged and off balance soul. What was Alex doing to Isabel? Sure he was stable, probably the most stable of all of them at the core…. But her warps…..
Was she damaging, killing Isabel, too? Was she killing her? And what about all the other warps she had put on everyone else, ever so casually. Ava had assured her that it took serious, deep level work to unbalance a mind, but… in hindsight, the risk…..
Had he known? Had her father known exactly what her powers could do? What the long term effects could be?
Probably. She had known she’d held humans in contempt. Finding out he had been a casual murderer had hurt, but it had not truly surprised her. Would he have cared if Tess had seriously harmed or damaged or even killed a human in either training or routine tasks?
No. Thinking back some of his ideas, his wanting her to constantly keep up a low-level on Liz. Tess shook her head. It was a wonder Liz’s mind wasn’t Swiss cheese by now. Tess had been warping her on and off ever since she had arrived.
Somehow Liz had always been resistant to anything but mild suggestions. Tess wasn’t sure why, but she was glad. Things would be complicated enough without a mind damaged Liz to explain.
She felt Kyle’s gaze on her. She smiled at him.
“Tess? Is that you? Are you okay?”
“All better. Um, we should clean up this mess before your dad gets home. And, and, I’ll make lunch.”
Kyle’s eyes tightened, “Tess, what is wrong? Ava said there was something wrong with you, that you were damaged. Buddha help me, you frightened me!”
“I have something to tell you. But I, I want to be clean and, well it’s been a while since either of us has eaten…..”
Kyle’s stomach rumbled.
Tess smiled, “See. And then, then I have something to say.”
“I… see.”
“NO, no Kyle. It’s not that. I, I love you, Kyle. And I don’t want to lie to you anymore. But I need a few minutes to….”
He looked at her, his face switching back to an enigmatic mask. He moved to extricate himself and get out of bed. He then turned around and looked at her again. “Tess, you know how I feel about you. You shouldn’t have to worry about saying it right. When you’re ready let me know.”
She couldn’t keep a small smile from her face as she admired his body. She watched as he moved to the bathroom to wash up.
Her plan set firmly in her head she let herself revel in the echoes of afterglow, in the vivid memories that Ava had saved for her. For Ava had also used her remorseless logic to find a possible way of getting out of her dilemma.
It would not be fun, and there was no guarantee they would ever fully trust her again after this. But it was the right thing to do. First she would tell Kyle. And then she would visit Alex.
Soon Kyle would be done and she could clean her body. And then she could begin to clean her soul.
------
Michael
Michael staggered out of the hospital with a still semi-conscious Max.
Why had he done it? Why had he pushed himself so hard? Healing one person, healing them as completely as Max always did, was extremely costly in personal power.
Michael wouldn’t have been able to fully heal Sydney, let alone five children. FIVE!
Was he trying to get them all caught? Was he so stubborn stupid in his desire to help others he would kill himself in the attempt?
And underneath it all was a tiny whisper of envy, of desire to be able to do more than break things….
Why die he, Michael get stuck with the evil powers? He no longer thought of himself as evil…. Maria had finally pounded that into his soul, but still…. His powers made it so easy to destroy.
He wished that he could have helped Max. That he could have healed one of the children, that he had the power to do so.
He didn’t. It was that simple. It hurt. It hurt so bad.
But he could protect. And he would protect his friend. He almost wished something would appear so he could blast it into nonexistence.
------
Michael had no idea that he had saved Max from Ana. Or that Max could be safe to have his powers so heavily invested in healing precisely because he had such a strong protector….
Both of them had a lot to learn. But both of them, teamed with Isabel made a formidable team.
As time would tell.
------
Liz
Liz walked with Maria and Isabel like conquerors into the local mall. Twas the day before Christmas and the mall was completely insane.
But then so were the sales.
Laurie had need to think everything through so they had dropped her off at her hotel. They had promised to call her that evening to see how she was.
Alex had also begged off, citing some household projects that needed to be done. Although truth to tell Liz looked forward to a little female bonding time with her friends. Particularly as each flash she got from Isabel led her further and further from the conceit that Alex was one of the girls.
Isabel did not see him as that, and, and there had to be a way to tone down her flashes. There just were some things she really did not want to know.
But sometimes it could be useful. She had a clue as to why Isabel and Alex had been reticent to call Kyle…. Time to confirm her suspicions.
“So when you were driving by the Valentis, why didn’t you stop to pick up Tess or Kyle.”
Isabel’s cheeks flushed a little. “We actually drove past the house a couple of times before we realized what Tess was doing.”
Maria was strangely silent, just walking along.
Liz looked at her friend. Probably just worrying about Michael. Liz was certainly worried about Max. She turned back to Isabel, “And?”
“Tess had the whole house warped off from normal view. The harder we looked the harder it was to find. And I could tell, there is a feel, a build up of energy…..”
“Excuse me?”
Maria looked up at Liz, seeming a little surprised at where she was. She shook her head and said, “Alien sex, except no imitations.”
Isabel cleared her throat. “Um, apparently, we, uh, use our powers spontaneously during sex.” Her head tilted, “Of course, we don’t really know if that has any effect on the actual act, or if it’s just like muscle spasms only with our powers…..”
Liz looked over at Maria. If that were true, Maria and Michael could be dangerous if left alone….”
“Relax, nothing happens. But, Iz, I think the bond does something.”
“And you would have what to compare this to?”
Maria opened her mouth. She closed it. “You got me there. I’ve only slept with Spaceboy. And I presume you and Alex are exclusive?”
“Yes. And it is going to stay that way.”
“Yeah, well I have no plans to cheat on Spaceboy myself. But still…. Liz do you remember how we used to complain that their kisses were explosive, you know almost addictive….”
Liz nodded, noting Isabel’s fascination. “Yeah, Isabel, maybe you’ve never noticed it, but your brother. I mean, kissing him….”
Isabel just gave her a flat stare and sighed. “I’m going to have to get used to this aren’t I?” She shook her head, “Liz, Max is my brother.”
“Alex might as well be mine. Face it Isabel, we are all stuck together. We’re going to have to get used to it.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it. But, yeah, Alex mentioned something about that. He’d always been lusting after me, you know, in his totally sweet Alex fashion, but after I kissed him to try to find you and Max that time both of you went missing…..”
“What?”
Maria laughed. “Oh, we have sooooo much to talk about. Awkward some of it will be, but girl, we have wasted so much time not being friends.”
Isabel laughed in agreement. She then turned to face Liz, “Well it was the first time I ever had flashes off of him and…..”
So they spent the afternoon and early evening. Forgetting for a moment the stresses and struggles of their lives in a bout of power shopping laden with shared stories.
And while a portion of her worried for Max, mostly she lived in the moment and enjoyed the camaraderie between the three of them. She had always enjoyed shopping with Maria, adding Isabel made it even more fun.
She ignored the part of her, the cool calculating part of her that applauded her efforts. But pointed out that she still needed to integrate Tess into their outings.
Liz Parker had a plan, a vast and complicated plan to make this the best of all worlds. For her and her friends at the very least, for all of Earth if she could manage.
She would succeed. Failure was simply unacceptable.
-------
Kyle-
Kyle paced back and forth in agitation.
He turned and faced Tess, still not quite able to keep the anger from his voice, “So you just used him?”
Tess’s voice sounded tired, “I had talked to him about it, just about the possibility of translating the language. And he mentioned a new computer in Las Cruces.”
“Did you ask him? I mean, Alex is pretty handy with computers, but why him? You say Nasedo left you money, why didn’t you just hire someone?”
“And if they succeeded? Alex was safe. And after we argued for a bit he agreed that it was possible.” She paused a moment and looked off into the distance. “Of course, its possible I was warping him then, too. I don’t know. What I do know is that he wanted to talk it over with everyone before he started.”
“Would that have been so bad?”
“In retrospect, no. But at the time…. Kyle at the time, I still thought humans were inferior, just tools.”
“And now?”
“I, I was wrong. Is that what you want to hear? That I was wrong? Fine, I admit it. I wish I could go back and change it, but I can’t.”
Kyle looked at her. She meant it. He could feel it. She was telling him the truth.
Unless, of course, she was warping him.
But then, why would she lie about something that would make the others not trust her?
No he would just accept what she was saying.
“Okay. So what do we do now?”
She looked up at him and there were tears in her eyes. She said softly, “We?”
Kyle snorted, “Of course. Did you think I would abandon you over this? No, Ava was right.”
“Ava? What did she say!”
“That you had secrets. That if I truly loved you I would help you work them out. And I do. I guess I am in this thick or thin. I just wish…..”
“Yeah, I wish I hadn’t done this either.”
Kyle nodded and walked over an picked up the Mustang’s keys. “Okay, lets go.”
“Go? As in right now?”
Kyle smiled, “Tess, you told me that you are afraid of what this might be doing to Alex, and possibly even Isabel. Come on, we can face this together.”
“Together.” Tess looked away for a moment and then sprang up and walked swiftly for her room. “Let me grab my coat.” She stopped and looked at Kyle, “You know this might be easier if you called him to let him know we are coming. Or finding out where he is….”
Kyle chucked at the good sense and walked over to make a few calls.
This was going to make for a tense next few days. But it wasn’t like she had killed anyone. And she was trying to make amends.
They would get through this. Together.
------
Pam-
Pam was frightened. Ana had nearly taken her again.
She had been so certain Alicia would leave her. Would leave her to Ana.
Pam could not remember what Ana had done to her. Only that it had been horrible. And that if Ana ever got hold of her again, she would cease to exist. That even if her body lived on, it would not be her.
Alicia might think she was exaggerating, but Pam knew that her existence was on the line.
What made it worse was she was starting to feel things, vague impressions. And there were flickers of blue and green about Alicia. Those should make her frightened of her as much as she feared Ana. But for some reason Alicia made her feel safe….
And Wes was awake and active. That was totally bizarre. Not his being awake, but he hadn’t been this active in quite a while. Even the asthmatic wheeze he often exhibited was gone. Simply gone.
That silver handprint made her think of something. She had run across that before in some of her research. She would check if she ever went home.
If she ever felt safe enough to go home.
Her aunt Sally was here and while she was ecstatic about her son, Pam could tell she was a little reserved about it. So many of her male cousins had died, sometimes after spontaneous remission.
Sally still worried about Wes.
So why was Pam sure he was fine? That he was healed?
It made no sense. She wasn’t as addicted to the scientific method as Liz Parker or Max Evans, but she liked logic in her world. She didn’t like these vague feelings or impressions.
Aunt Sally walked over to her, “Alright Pam, we need to go. The doctors need to hold Wes at least for a couple more days. We need to go.”
Pam looked over at Alicia. Would she be safe away from the older woman? Or would Ana be able to snag her without her being there.
Alicia looked over at her and kissed her daughter before walking over. She reached her hand to her Aunt. “Hi, my name is Alicia Ibanez. I take it you are her aunt?”
Pam was surprised at the flash of shock that rolled through her eyes at the Alicia’s last name. Aunt Sally shook her head. “It is a pleasure to meet you. But we have to go. There is a party that my husband is throwing and I need Pam to be there.”
Alicia nodded, but that stubborn look the one she had held with Ana flashed across her face. “I am afraid that I need Pam to stay. There is someone who needs to speak with her, about what happened here.” Alicia looked in askance at Pam, as if asking her if she had told her aunt about Ana.
Pam shook her head.
Alicia nodded very slightly.
“Look, lady, I don’t know who you are or who you think you are, but I am taking my niece home.”
“And if I said it was national security.”
Aunt Sally just sneered at Alicia with contempt.
Alicia looked at Pam and sighed, “I really didn’t want to share this with you, but your niece is in danger. My grandfather can protect her, can detail someone to track whoever was hunting her. But he needs to talk to her. I am sorry, Pam has to stay.”
“Please, Aunt Sally. I, I really was scared. If he can help me….” Pam just wanted to keep the safeness that seemed to radiate from Alicia near her as long as possible. And who knows, maybe this guy could help her.
For her very existence was on the line.
“How long?” She asked Alicia.
“They should be arriving at the airport in twenty minutes. Say another half hour after that.”
Pam looked at her Aunt. Why was she even considering it. Sure, Pam wanted to stay, but that usually meant nothing to Aunt Sally. She wanted what she wanted and made others do what she wished.
Aunt Sally looked down for a moment and licked her lips nervously. She then tentatively looked up at Alicia and said in a slightly quavering voice, “Can I ask you a question?”
Alicia still had a bright smile, “Sure. I can’t promise I can answer it, but ask away.”
“Is, is your grandfather, John Ibanez of Far Sight?”
Alicia’s smile if anything became broader, “Why yes. Yes he is.”
Aunt Sally said nothing. She just walked over to a chair and sat down heavily. She gave Pam only one single despairing look.
Pam looked again at Alicia, who smiled at her and walked back over to her daughter.
Pam was one of the chief journalists at West Roswell High School Paper. Who was John Ibanez and what was Far Sight.
And more importantly, how did her aunt know of him?
RhondaAnn- Companions were those entrusted to use a portion of the Granoliths power. Thanks as always.
AvalonRose- All of last chapter was set up for the next couple dozen chapters. BIts and pieces will be coming out soon in the next few parts. Thanks again.
Chanks_girl- Thank you.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past chapter 22
Tess-
Tess could hear Kyle’s even breathing. She could feel Ava packed back into the corners of her mind. But still there.
It had been scary to so completely lose control. To feel another move her body. To feel her body’s excitement as her mind slowly drifted off into darkness.
At least Ava had left the memories. It wasn’t the same, but at least she could feel echoes of it. And her connection to Kyle was solid. She could feel as their souls communicated beneath her surface mind.
He knew. If he hadn’t seen, Kyle would know that something was wrong with her. He would give her space, he had changed from the brash infatuated jock she had known when she had first gotten here.
The whole alien chaos had gotten him to start thinking. And while he was still fumbling a bit, he was at least looking. And there was a well of maturity growing under his somewhat shallow shell.
He would wait for her to talk about it, to open up to him. But as he was changing so was she.
She had nearly died. Again. But even more than that she was beginning to truly see who and what she had been. Ava had left more than just memories of lovemaking with Kyle.
It left a little mental critique of some of her recent actions. It did not tell her what to do. But it spelled out in stark terms of the likely fallout of her actions, particularly what she had done to Alex. It gave possible solutions and their likelihood of working…. From running to complete honesty. And some cold advice that even she found… disturbing.
She couldn’t do that! Kill Alex? Use him up in discovering the secrets to the Book so she could go home. Warp Kyle into forgetting her, wrest Max from Liz and fulfill Nasedo’s crazy backup plan?
Like the Cathians would accept a half-Mithar human hybrid child as an heir in the first place.
She felt as Kyle’s arms tightened around her shivering shoulders.
But that was the road she was taking. Alex needed immediate help. She was killing him with her warps.
And letting Isabel wander in a half fog, unaware that Alex was being warped into serving Tess. Letting Alex’s warped mind warp her friend’s mind in turn.
And there was more. Kyle’s balance had settled, had healed her damaged and off balance soul. What was Alex doing to Isabel? Sure he was stable, probably the most stable of all of them at the core…. But her warps…..
Was she damaging, killing Isabel, too? Was she killing her? And what about all the other warps she had put on everyone else, ever so casually. Ava had assured her that it took serious, deep level work to unbalance a mind, but… in hindsight, the risk…..
Had he known? Had her father known exactly what her powers could do? What the long term effects could be?
Probably. She had known she’d held humans in contempt. Finding out he had been a casual murderer had hurt, but it had not truly surprised her. Would he have cared if Tess had seriously harmed or damaged or even killed a human in either training or routine tasks?
No. Thinking back some of his ideas, his wanting her to constantly keep up a low-level on Liz. Tess shook her head. It was a wonder Liz’s mind wasn’t Swiss cheese by now. Tess had been warping her on and off ever since she had arrived.
Somehow Liz had always been resistant to anything but mild suggestions. Tess wasn’t sure why, but she was glad. Things would be complicated enough without a mind damaged Liz to explain.
She felt Kyle’s gaze on her. She smiled at him.
“Tess? Is that you? Are you okay?”
“All better. Um, we should clean up this mess before your dad gets home. And, and, I’ll make lunch.”
Kyle’s eyes tightened, “Tess, what is wrong? Ava said there was something wrong with you, that you were damaged. Buddha help me, you frightened me!”
“I have something to tell you. But I, I want to be clean and, well it’s been a while since either of us has eaten…..”
Kyle’s stomach rumbled.
Tess smiled, “See. And then, then I have something to say.”
“I… see.”
“NO, no Kyle. It’s not that. I, I love you, Kyle. And I don’t want to lie to you anymore. But I need a few minutes to….”
He looked at her, his face switching back to an enigmatic mask. He moved to extricate himself and get out of bed. He then turned around and looked at her again. “Tess, you know how I feel about you. You shouldn’t have to worry about saying it right. When you’re ready let me know.”
She couldn’t keep a small smile from her face as she admired his body. She watched as he moved to the bathroom to wash up.
Her plan set firmly in her head she let herself revel in the echoes of afterglow, in the vivid memories that Ava had saved for her. For Ava had also used her remorseless logic to find a possible way of getting out of her dilemma.
It would not be fun, and there was no guarantee they would ever fully trust her again after this. But it was the right thing to do. First she would tell Kyle. And then she would visit Alex.
Soon Kyle would be done and she could clean her body. And then she could begin to clean her soul.
------
Michael
Michael staggered out of the hospital with a still semi-conscious Max.
Why had he done it? Why had he pushed himself so hard? Healing one person, healing them as completely as Max always did, was extremely costly in personal power.
Michael wouldn’t have been able to fully heal Sydney, let alone five children. FIVE!
Was he trying to get them all caught? Was he so stubborn stupid in his desire to help others he would kill himself in the attempt?
And underneath it all was a tiny whisper of envy, of desire to be able to do more than break things….
Why die he, Michael get stuck with the evil powers? He no longer thought of himself as evil…. Maria had finally pounded that into his soul, but still…. His powers made it so easy to destroy.
He wished that he could have helped Max. That he could have healed one of the children, that he had the power to do so.
He didn’t. It was that simple. It hurt. It hurt so bad.
But he could protect. And he would protect his friend. He almost wished something would appear so he could blast it into nonexistence.
------
Michael had no idea that he had saved Max from Ana. Or that Max could be safe to have his powers so heavily invested in healing precisely because he had such a strong protector….
Both of them had a lot to learn. But both of them, teamed with Isabel made a formidable team.
As time would tell.
------
Liz
Liz walked with Maria and Isabel like conquerors into the local mall. Twas the day before Christmas and the mall was completely insane.
But then so were the sales.
Laurie had need to think everything through so they had dropped her off at her hotel. They had promised to call her that evening to see how she was.
Alex had also begged off, citing some household projects that needed to be done. Although truth to tell Liz looked forward to a little female bonding time with her friends. Particularly as each flash she got from Isabel led her further and further from the conceit that Alex was one of the girls.
Isabel did not see him as that, and, and there had to be a way to tone down her flashes. There just were some things she really did not want to know.
But sometimes it could be useful. She had a clue as to why Isabel and Alex had been reticent to call Kyle…. Time to confirm her suspicions.
“So when you were driving by the Valentis, why didn’t you stop to pick up Tess or Kyle.”
Isabel’s cheeks flushed a little. “We actually drove past the house a couple of times before we realized what Tess was doing.”
Maria was strangely silent, just walking along.
Liz looked at her friend. Probably just worrying about Michael. Liz was certainly worried about Max. She turned back to Isabel, “And?”
“Tess had the whole house warped off from normal view. The harder we looked the harder it was to find. And I could tell, there is a feel, a build up of energy…..”
“Excuse me?”
Maria looked up at Liz, seeming a little surprised at where she was. She shook her head and said, “Alien sex, except no imitations.”
Isabel cleared her throat. “Um, apparently, we, uh, use our powers spontaneously during sex.” Her head tilted, “Of course, we don’t really know if that has any effect on the actual act, or if it’s just like muscle spasms only with our powers…..”
Liz looked over at Maria. If that were true, Maria and Michael could be dangerous if left alone….”
“Relax, nothing happens. But, Iz, I think the bond does something.”
“And you would have what to compare this to?”
Maria opened her mouth. She closed it. “You got me there. I’ve only slept with Spaceboy. And I presume you and Alex are exclusive?”
“Yes. And it is going to stay that way.”
“Yeah, well I have no plans to cheat on Spaceboy myself. But still…. Liz do you remember how we used to complain that their kisses were explosive, you know almost addictive….”
Liz nodded, noting Isabel’s fascination. “Yeah, Isabel, maybe you’ve never noticed it, but your brother. I mean, kissing him….”
Isabel just gave her a flat stare and sighed. “I’m going to have to get used to this aren’t I?” She shook her head, “Liz, Max is my brother.”
“Alex might as well be mine. Face it Isabel, we are all stuck together. We’re going to have to get used to it.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it. But, yeah, Alex mentioned something about that. He’d always been lusting after me, you know, in his totally sweet Alex fashion, but after I kissed him to try to find you and Max that time both of you went missing…..”
“What?”
Maria laughed. “Oh, we have sooooo much to talk about. Awkward some of it will be, but girl, we have wasted so much time not being friends.”
Isabel laughed in agreement. She then turned to face Liz, “Well it was the first time I ever had flashes off of him and…..”
So they spent the afternoon and early evening. Forgetting for a moment the stresses and struggles of their lives in a bout of power shopping laden with shared stories.
And while a portion of her worried for Max, mostly she lived in the moment and enjoyed the camaraderie between the three of them. She had always enjoyed shopping with Maria, adding Isabel made it even more fun.
She ignored the part of her, the cool calculating part of her that applauded her efforts. But pointed out that she still needed to integrate Tess into their outings.
Liz Parker had a plan, a vast and complicated plan to make this the best of all worlds. For her and her friends at the very least, for all of Earth if she could manage.
She would succeed. Failure was simply unacceptable.
-------
Kyle-
Kyle paced back and forth in agitation.
He turned and faced Tess, still not quite able to keep the anger from his voice, “So you just used him?”
Tess’s voice sounded tired, “I had talked to him about it, just about the possibility of translating the language. And he mentioned a new computer in Las Cruces.”
“Did you ask him? I mean, Alex is pretty handy with computers, but why him? You say Nasedo left you money, why didn’t you just hire someone?”
“And if they succeeded? Alex was safe. And after we argued for a bit he agreed that it was possible.” She paused a moment and looked off into the distance. “Of course, its possible I was warping him then, too. I don’t know. What I do know is that he wanted to talk it over with everyone before he started.”
“Would that have been so bad?”
“In retrospect, no. But at the time…. Kyle at the time, I still thought humans were inferior, just tools.”
“And now?”
“I, I was wrong. Is that what you want to hear? That I was wrong? Fine, I admit it. I wish I could go back and change it, but I can’t.”
Kyle looked at her. She meant it. He could feel it. She was telling him the truth.
Unless, of course, she was warping him.
But then, why would she lie about something that would make the others not trust her?
No he would just accept what she was saying.
“Okay. So what do we do now?”
She looked up at him and there were tears in her eyes. She said softly, “We?”
Kyle snorted, “Of course. Did you think I would abandon you over this? No, Ava was right.”
“Ava? What did she say!”
“That you had secrets. That if I truly loved you I would help you work them out. And I do. I guess I am in this thick or thin. I just wish…..”
“Yeah, I wish I hadn’t done this either.”
Kyle nodded and walked over an picked up the Mustang’s keys. “Okay, lets go.”
“Go? As in right now?”
Kyle smiled, “Tess, you told me that you are afraid of what this might be doing to Alex, and possibly even Isabel. Come on, we can face this together.”
“Together.” Tess looked away for a moment and then sprang up and walked swiftly for her room. “Let me grab my coat.” She stopped and looked at Kyle, “You know this might be easier if you called him to let him know we are coming. Or finding out where he is….”
Kyle chucked at the good sense and walked over to make a few calls.
This was going to make for a tense next few days. But it wasn’t like she had killed anyone. And she was trying to make amends.
They would get through this. Together.
------
Pam-
Pam was frightened. Ana had nearly taken her again.
She had been so certain Alicia would leave her. Would leave her to Ana.
Pam could not remember what Ana had done to her. Only that it had been horrible. And that if Ana ever got hold of her again, she would cease to exist. That even if her body lived on, it would not be her.
Alicia might think she was exaggerating, but Pam knew that her existence was on the line.
What made it worse was she was starting to feel things, vague impressions. And there were flickers of blue and green about Alicia. Those should make her frightened of her as much as she feared Ana. But for some reason Alicia made her feel safe….
And Wes was awake and active. That was totally bizarre. Not his being awake, but he hadn’t been this active in quite a while. Even the asthmatic wheeze he often exhibited was gone. Simply gone.
That silver handprint made her think of something. She had run across that before in some of her research. She would check if she ever went home.
If she ever felt safe enough to go home.
Her aunt Sally was here and while she was ecstatic about her son, Pam could tell she was a little reserved about it. So many of her male cousins had died, sometimes after spontaneous remission.
Sally still worried about Wes.
So why was Pam sure he was fine? That he was healed?
It made no sense. She wasn’t as addicted to the scientific method as Liz Parker or Max Evans, but she liked logic in her world. She didn’t like these vague feelings or impressions.
Aunt Sally walked over to her, “Alright Pam, we need to go. The doctors need to hold Wes at least for a couple more days. We need to go.”
Pam looked over at Alicia. Would she be safe away from the older woman? Or would Ana be able to snag her without her being there.
Alicia looked over at her and kissed her daughter before walking over. She reached her hand to her Aunt. “Hi, my name is Alicia Ibanez. I take it you are her aunt?”
Pam was surprised at the flash of shock that rolled through her eyes at the Alicia’s last name. Aunt Sally shook her head. “It is a pleasure to meet you. But we have to go. There is a party that my husband is throwing and I need Pam to be there.”
Alicia nodded, but that stubborn look the one she had held with Ana flashed across her face. “I am afraid that I need Pam to stay. There is someone who needs to speak with her, about what happened here.” Alicia looked in askance at Pam, as if asking her if she had told her aunt about Ana.
Pam shook her head.
Alicia nodded very slightly.
“Look, lady, I don’t know who you are or who you think you are, but I am taking my niece home.”
“And if I said it was national security.”
Aunt Sally just sneered at Alicia with contempt.
Alicia looked at Pam and sighed, “I really didn’t want to share this with you, but your niece is in danger. My grandfather can protect her, can detail someone to track whoever was hunting her. But he needs to talk to her. I am sorry, Pam has to stay.”
“Please, Aunt Sally. I, I really was scared. If he can help me….” Pam just wanted to keep the safeness that seemed to radiate from Alicia near her as long as possible. And who knows, maybe this guy could help her.
For her very existence was on the line.
“How long?” She asked Alicia.
“They should be arriving at the airport in twenty minutes. Say another half hour after that.”
Pam looked at her Aunt. Why was she even considering it. Sure, Pam wanted to stay, but that usually meant nothing to Aunt Sally. She wanted what she wanted and made others do what she wished.
Aunt Sally looked down for a moment and licked her lips nervously. She then tentatively looked up at Alicia and said in a slightly quavering voice, “Can I ask you a question?”
Alicia still had a bright smile, “Sure. I can’t promise I can answer it, but ask away.”
“Is, is your grandfather, John Ibanez of Far Sight?”
Alicia’s smile if anything became broader, “Why yes. Yes he is.”
Aunt Sally said nothing. She just walked over to a chair and sat down heavily. She gave Pam only one single despairing look.
Pam looked again at Alicia, who smiled at her and walked back over to her daughter.
Pam was one of the chief journalists at West Roswell High School Paper. Who was John Ibanez and what was Far Sight.
And more importantly, how did her aunt know of him?
Re: Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chap 22- 06/16/09
Thanks to everyone following along this story.
Arianneleigh- thanks.
AvalonRose-Tess has made some major errors, but she is willing to make amends. As for Kyle, he loves Tess, and as long as she's not evil, will support her. As for John Ibanez and Sally Troy (which is not her current name, but I haven't given her a married name yet), part of their interactions will be in this part. More of it in the next part.
RhondaAnn- Thanks. Some of John and Sally's ties are in this part. More in the next part.
DeDe PR- Thanks. They never seemed to spend much downtime together on the show. I am trying to fix that a little here. As for Tess's revelations, well it will take a little while for them to trickle all the way down to the girls. Why will be explained in this part.
The Troys have a secret that will be coming out. It involves Liz's mother.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. Some scenes and dialogue paraphrased from A Roswell Christmas Carol.
Shadows of the Past chapter 23
Alex-
Alex was puttering around the garage. One of his friends had called asking whether or not they were going to restart the band now that he was back.
Alex wasn’t sure if he wanted to. It was so hard to remember why he had wanted to have a garage band in the first place. So many of the activities he used to enjoy seemed pallid and insipid to him now.
Those figures, those alien sigil…, they called to him even now. All to often it was all he could think of. The only thing that seemed as important to him was Isabel.
He closed his eyes and felt along the bond they shared.
Wow. It was so hard to believe that she had actually chosen him…..
He shook his head and tried to concentrate.
Kyle’s Mustang pulled up the drive. Both Tess and Kyle were in the car, Tess looked nervous and Kyle grim.
Had something happened? Alex closed his eyes and felt along the bond….. No Isabel was alright. Why were they here, Kyle had said it was important.
Tess got out of the car and walked up to Alex, looking in askance at Kyle.
Kyle nodded, as if to lend her support.
What is going on?
Tess, “Alex. I have to do something. But first, I just have to say something.”
“Okay. What is wrong Tess.”
Tess’s eyes shined. “You were right Kyle. I needed to come tonight. Maybe we should wait for Max to return. We might need him.”
Kyle shook his head, “Tell him Tess.”
Tess took a large breath, “Alex, do you remember when we started to discuss Las Cruces?”
“Uh, Tess? What are you talking about?” Alex’s heart began to beat fast. Kyle was here. Alex had been told, programmed to make sure no one found out. Under any circumstances.
Tess had been fairly loose about what needed to be done if the truth was found out. But she had programmed Alex’s mind very thoroughly. No one not cleared could know.
Alex Whitman had gone to Sweden. Ray White had gone to Las Cruces. The fact that they were the same man was unimportant. It had been drilled so deep within him to hide this secret. It had been reinforced when Tess had realized that the warp on Alex was working on Isabel.
Tess had wanted to be certain no one else could know.
Tess said, “Kyle knows.”
Kyle knows! Impossible. No one was allowed to know. Under any circumstances. But if Kyle knew then some one did know.
There was only one option to maintain the masquerade.
Eliminate Kyle.
Alex said, “I see. Come in both of you. Do either of you need a drink.” His usually foggy brain began to clear as he planned carefully.
Let’s see, how do I open that gun safe again?
-----
Max-
Max’s eyes felt gummy as he finally opened them.
Where was he?
He looked around to see a fairly nondescript motel room. Michael was pacing back and forth mumbling to himself.
“Michael?” Max croaked.
“Max! You’re awake!”
“Where are we?”
“Brody got a motel room. He’s going to stay here. Here with Sydney. He said he’d be back in a few minutes. He’s trying to find out what happened in the hospital.” Michael paused a moment, “What the hell were you thinking? I had to carry you out of there.”
“Thank you, Michael.”
Michael brushed off the thanks. “You owe me one. Now, what were you thinking? I mean, healing Liz and Kyle nearly wiped you out. And you were pretty tired after fixing up Maria. So what made you think you could cure a small room of cancer kids?”
Max looked up at his friend. Michael seemed angry….. But it was a different kind of angry. Strange. “I couldn’t help it, Michael. After I healed Sydney, one of the boys. I think it was Wesley, cried out in pain. I, I couldn’t just leave them.”
Michael turned away.
“Look I know you are angry. And I know that I once again risked us all, it’s just that…..”
Michael said, “Max, I’m not pissed at you. Well, I am a little I guess. But mostly, mostly it is because I couldn’t help anyone there.” He looked at his hands. “I have all this power Max, I can feel it. The power to destroy. And I wish….” He shook his head, “I saw what you did Max. It’s strange, but I’ve never really watched you. Even with Maria, I had my mind focused on something else. I’ve never actually just watched you. I mean, I figured we were just lab rats at that point anyway, so I watched. And, and… I just wish I could have helped at least one kid, you know. Helped someone, anyone.”
“You helped me. I would never have gotten out of there without you. We’re a team, Michael, we work best together. And, and I can try to show you what I do. I, I don’t fully understand it myself….”
“Enough, Max, enough.” Michael flopped into a chair and turned on ESPN.
Max studied his friend for a moment, and tried to clear up some of the wrinkles in his clothes.
Nothing happened. His powers were gone.
Brody walked through the front door. He turned to Max, his face beaming. “Max, I owe you. I owe you everything. Sydney is healed.”
Max stared at his hands. At the lack of a glow. He reached out to feel Liz…. She was still there, still there for him. He tried not to shake.
He needed her so badly right now……
“Of course she’s fine, Maxwell can….“ Michael said “What the fuck….”
Max looked up and saw Brody, his jaw agape. Michael looked shocked. His eyes met Michael’ with a questioning gaze.
Michael just pointed behind him.
Max tiredly turned around. Part of him wanted to jump out of his skin. The rest of him felt as if the cavalry had arrived in the nick of time.
Liz was here.
Just as she had in New York an image of her smiled sadly at him.
He reached out for her. He needed her so much and…..
Connection. There were no flashes, no sudden insights into the wonder that was Liz. But he could feel her, could feel as information was passed along their bond. As he drank her in, and she did the same.
And he knew. Just knew that everything would be okay. The connection ceased, its work done. He smiled at her.
She tiredly smiled back. And she was gone.
Brody’s voice was hushed as he said, “So Liz, is one of you.”
Max turned to face Brody and Michael. “Not exactly. We can discuss the details when we are back in Roswell.”
“I am staying with Sydney until she is released. I probably won’t be back until the day after Christmas.”
Michael glared at Brody.
“We can talk then. I don’t think I need to tell you how dangerous all this is…..”
Brody was nodding his head. “I will do what I can on my end. I owe you, Max.”
Michael snorted, “Great, so we can get going then?”
Max was curious as to how this would play our. There was a feeling, and image of what was going to happen that seemed to fill him. Not his, Liz’s. Strange. It felt, so very strange. Like a case of staged déjà vu.
He said, “Yeah, we need to hurry up. I want to be home for Christmas.” He glanced at Michael curious if he would play his part.
He did.
Michael did not look happy. He turned to Max, “Hey, do you mind if we make a stop. I still need to get something for Maria.”
Max’s eyes pivoted to Brody. Brody smiled, just as Max had known he would.
Brody said, “Here, buy her something nice, it’s the least I can do.” He handed Michael several hundred dollars. He walked over to Max and did the same. “I owe you both. See you back in Roswell.” And he left, smile still on his face.
Max was amazed. He had known, KNOWN this would happen.
Liz could really see the future. And somehow she had passed what she had seen through their connection.
Max pocketed the money. He had an idea of what to get Liz. And what he could persuade Michael into getting Maria. “Come on, Michael, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
And they left.
-------
Kyle-
Kyle followed both Tess and Alex into Alex’s house.
Alex was acting a little strange, muttering to himself and looking at Kyle oddly. He sat them at the table and said he would get them something to drink.
Kyle turned to face, “What is wrong, Tess? I was sure you were just going to tell him then and there.”
“Kyle, I am worried. Something isn’t right. Alex’s mind, its, its….”
Alex walked out of the kitchen, a shotgun in hand. “Tess, move away from Kyle.”
“Alex, what is wrong?”
“Tess, I don’t like this any more than you must, but it has to be done. Move away, I don’t want you to get hurt.”
What the hell?
“Alex put down the gun, you don’t want to hurt Kyle. Come on, let me in, let me in Alex…..”
“No, no, you’re not even Tess are you? You’re an imposter! And you know, I must, I must….” Alex fumbled with the safety on the shotgun.
Maybe Tess would have done something, certainly from the strain on her face she was trying to warp him.
And it wasn’t taking. Kyle had never actually seen anyone do that.
Kyle didn’t wait. He did something. He really wasn’t sure what. It was similar to what he had done to that intruder earlier. Only there he had a baseball to wrap it around.
Right now all Kyle had was a ball of air. So he threw that. It shimmered as it flew at Alex, throwing him hard against the wall.
Alex just lay there limply, the shotgun laying awkwardly at his feet.
Kyle reached over to grab the gun as Tess checked on Alex.
Tess shook her head, “What did you do to him Kyle? It wasn’t a powerblast. It might have well have been. Kyle, I, I don’t know if I can heal this.”
“I should call Max.”
“He’s, he’s still in Phoenix.”
“Okay, then I’ll call the paramedics.” Kyle pulled out his cell phone. This might be hard to explain, but better than if he died.
“No, wait, I, I don’t think that I can heal this but maybe, maybe….” Her voice changed timber, becoming oddly multi-tonal. “I can. Kyle, I think I have this under control. Yep, there we go. All better. Oh, all right Tess, I’ll clear out the cobwebs for you.”
Alex stiffly started moving. He started at both of them, particularly with Kyle holding a shotgun. “What is going on? Was there some sort of odd party going on or something and no one bothered to tell me?”
Tess shook her head, her voice becoming her own again, “I am sorry Alex. I am so very sorry. For everything…..”
Alex shook his head, a look of growing horror on his face. “My God, Tess, what did you do to me?”
“I mind warped you. I made you go to Las Cruces to decipher that book. It, it affected Isabel through your bond. I am sorry.”
Alex stood up and brushed himself off. “Tess, I would have helped you anyway, I would have….”
“I, I didn’t trust that the others would let you. And by the time I knew they would, it was too late. And I could fool myself that you wanted to do this.”
“Tess, Isabel is going to kill you. When she finds out about this, about how close this all got to….”
Tess began to cry, “I know. And I deserve it, its just…..”
Kyle said, “Hey she is trying to make amends here, don’t you think you are laying it on a little thick.”
“Kyle, even you are aware that Isabel has a bit of a temper?”
Kyle nodded.
“Vilandra’s is much, much worse.”
Kyle looked at Tess, at the glimmer of Ava that still looked out her eyes. And he knew. Alex wasn’t just being metaphorical. Isabel might actually kill Tess over this.
Kill her dead.
That was not acceptable.
“Okay, so how do we fix this so that they can live and let live.”
Tess shook her head, “I doubt she will ever forgive me.”
Alex disagreed, “Tess, it’s not that she won’t forgive you, it is surviving long enough for her to.” He sighed, “Look, thank you for at least freeing me up. I mean, the world, everything so much clearer. I was starting to really think I was losing my mind there. All I could think of were those stupid Antaran symbols. That and Isabel.”
“I, I changed it. When you found that key in Maria’s father’s journal….. You wanted to go right then. And I changed your priorities. I made you want to be with Isabel for the holidays first, to make them happy for her. I know she loves Christmas. I’m starting to grow fond of the holiday myself.”
“Okay, none of this is helping us figure out how to defuse the Isabel bomb.”
Alex rubbed his face, “Well, we certainly can’t tell her tonight. Or tomorrow. Tomorrow is Christmas day. In fact,” He looked at Tess intently, “I think we need to keep doing what we planned on doing. We need to go to Las Cruces on Tuesday. And pray this key does the trick. Because one thing that might soften her anger is success.”
Tess nodded slightly.
Kyle shook his head, “I don’t get how that would help.”
Alex said, “I never would be this far if she hadn’t warped me. I probably wouldn’t have recognized the symbol’s in Maria’s father’s journals.” He looked over at Tess, “In a way you helped me there, if only by driving out other thoughts.”
“I’m sorry, I, I didn’t really fully understand what I was doing.” She hugged Alex. As she backed away, she hiccupped. Tears were still flowing down her face, and her expression was one of contrition and hope. “I must look like a fright.”
Alex said softly, “The bathroom is down the hall.”
Tess left quietly.
Both Alex and Kyle were silent for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts.
Kyle broke the silence first, “I’m surprised you forgave her so fast.”
Alex sighed, “I haven’t forgiven her as much as I am trying to move forward. I’ve spent a lot of time with her lately, and well I like her. What she did to me was abominable, and it’s going to take a lot of time before I feel like I can fully trust her. But…. She’s one of us, one of our little family. And she’s trying to make amends as you said. She didn’t have to tell me. I don’t think I ever would have known.”
Kyle nodded. “Would you really have shot me?”
Alex looked him in the eye, “Yes Kyle, I really would have. I, I needed to protect the secret. I had to….”
Both of them looked down the hallway Tess had gone down, both lost again in their thoughts.
Kyle would have to watch Tess, protect her as much from herself as from anything else. Her power was just so very dangerous.
He would have to meditate on it when he got home.
-------
Pam-
Pam watched as the room that had once been so quiet was now filled with life. It was more than just the children had a new vitality, their parents seemed so full of hope.
A genuine Christmas miracle.
So why did her aunt seem so depressed. Her youngest son had just been miraculously healed of a fatal illness and all she could do was mope.
Enough.
Her aunt had always seemed so strong, so assured. So bossy. But now, now that they were waiting for this man, this John Ibanez; she wanted to know who he was and how Aunt Sally knew him. So Pam reached out and shook her aunts arm.
Sally looked at her, her eyes still full of despair.
“Who is John Ibanez?”
For a moment, Pam was certain her aunt would not talk. But she did, her voice low.
“John Ibanez does many things. But where I know him from, what I am afraid of is what he did to your aunt. He runs a facility for the gifted. And your aunt certainly was smart, bright, and special. She was a lot like you in some ways.”
Pam ran through her head which aunt this could be. As far as she was aware none of the other aunties were anything like her.
“Rose was special. Everyone could see it, she could just light up a room.” Sally shook her head, “But she wanted her freedom so badly. She wanted to go to college on her terms, not father’s. And she loved that despicable excuse of a man. What she ever saw in him….” She shook her head in disgust and continued, “She needed to find a way to finance her education, father wouldn’t help her, not while ‘he’ was involved.”
“Not while John Ibanez was involved?”
“No, that man, you know the one whose child she was carrying when she died. Jeff Parker. I swear he was a worthless drug addict at the time. How he ever managed to get that restaurant to be successful I will never know!”
“Okay, so John Ibanez?”
“Rose worked for him. He was conducting tests. Not just here of course, lots of places. But he was the man behind the scenes. And he still is, even now. But back then he was working directly for the government. The Soviets were working on it, so we had to too right?”
Pam was starting to get a little frustrated. What exactly had her aunt done?
Sally continued, “Even if it was so ridiculous,” She giggled nervously, “Your aunt was involved in psychic research. I mean it was hard to take seriously. But supposedly she could do things. I never saw any of it myself.”
“Psychic research? You’re kidding me right?”
Sally giggled again and nodded, “Silly, isn’t it. Only, he must have powerful friends somewhere because even after the Cold War ended, he still got some funding. Craig was able to dig some information up about them when he was doing a couple of cases…..”
Pam looked up as three men entered the room. Two of them were older gentlemen wearing suits. The other was a red head with mismatched eyes.
Her aunt immediately stiffened. One of them must be the dreaded John Ibanez.
Why was she frightened of him. Come on, psychic research? Was he involved in all the psychic hotlines and….. The man with mismatched eyes met her gaze and suddenly she wasn’t sure anymore.
There was something there. And he flickered ever so slightly green and blue.
The man smiled at her and began walking towards her.
The two older gentlemen walked over and were talking with Alicia.
The redheaded man, with one eye blue and the other green kept her in his gaze. Pam could feel her cheeks heating, and she wished she had worn something a little more flattering. He was a little older than she was, in his late teens, possibly in his early twenties. One hand smoothed her hair while the other tried to straiten out her blouse.
He reached a hand out to her, “Hi, my name is Adam Balkov. You must be Pam Troy.”
She grasped his hand, his touch sending electric shivers down her arm and through her body. She wanted him. Right here and right now.
“Now, Pam, I will need your permission to do this. Don’t worry, no one else will notice….”
“Anything, you can do anything,” she said breathlessly. Her heart was starting to pound in excitement.
Why couldn’t her boyfriend ever make her feel like this?
Adam placed his fingers on her temples and then….. Walls of light careened across her mind, followed by wave after wave of pleasure.
And then darkness as she collapsed.
Arianneleigh- thanks.
AvalonRose-Tess has made some major errors, but she is willing to make amends. As for Kyle, he loves Tess, and as long as she's not evil, will support her. As for John Ibanez and Sally Troy (which is not her current name, but I haven't given her a married name yet), part of their interactions will be in this part. More of it in the next part.
RhondaAnn- Thanks. Some of John and Sally's ties are in this part. More in the next part.
DeDe PR- Thanks. They never seemed to spend much downtime together on the show. I am trying to fix that a little here. As for Tess's revelations, well it will take a little while for them to trickle all the way down to the girls. Why will be explained in this part.
The Troys have a secret that will be coming out. It involves Liz's mother.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. Some scenes and dialogue paraphrased from A Roswell Christmas Carol.
Shadows of the Past chapter 23
Alex-
Alex was puttering around the garage. One of his friends had called asking whether or not they were going to restart the band now that he was back.
Alex wasn’t sure if he wanted to. It was so hard to remember why he had wanted to have a garage band in the first place. So many of the activities he used to enjoy seemed pallid and insipid to him now.
Those figures, those alien sigil…, they called to him even now. All to often it was all he could think of. The only thing that seemed as important to him was Isabel.
He closed his eyes and felt along the bond they shared.
Wow. It was so hard to believe that she had actually chosen him…..
He shook his head and tried to concentrate.
Kyle’s Mustang pulled up the drive. Both Tess and Kyle were in the car, Tess looked nervous and Kyle grim.
Had something happened? Alex closed his eyes and felt along the bond….. No Isabel was alright. Why were they here, Kyle had said it was important.
Tess got out of the car and walked up to Alex, looking in askance at Kyle.
Kyle nodded, as if to lend her support.
What is going on?
Tess, “Alex. I have to do something. But first, I just have to say something.”
“Okay. What is wrong Tess.”
Tess’s eyes shined. “You were right Kyle. I needed to come tonight. Maybe we should wait for Max to return. We might need him.”
Kyle shook his head, “Tell him Tess.”
Tess took a large breath, “Alex, do you remember when we started to discuss Las Cruces?”
“Uh, Tess? What are you talking about?” Alex’s heart began to beat fast. Kyle was here. Alex had been told, programmed to make sure no one found out. Under any circumstances.
Tess had been fairly loose about what needed to be done if the truth was found out. But she had programmed Alex’s mind very thoroughly. No one not cleared could know.
Alex Whitman had gone to Sweden. Ray White had gone to Las Cruces. The fact that they were the same man was unimportant. It had been drilled so deep within him to hide this secret. It had been reinforced when Tess had realized that the warp on Alex was working on Isabel.
Tess had wanted to be certain no one else could know.
Tess said, “Kyle knows.”
Kyle knows! Impossible. No one was allowed to know. Under any circumstances. But if Kyle knew then some one did know.
There was only one option to maintain the masquerade.
Eliminate Kyle.
Alex said, “I see. Come in both of you. Do either of you need a drink.” His usually foggy brain began to clear as he planned carefully.
Let’s see, how do I open that gun safe again?
-----
Max-
Max’s eyes felt gummy as he finally opened them.
Where was he?
He looked around to see a fairly nondescript motel room. Michael was pacing back and forth mumbling to himself.
“Michael?” Max croaked.
“Max! You’re awake!”
“Where are we?”
“Brody got a motel room. He’s going to stay here. Here with Sydney. He said he’d be back in a few minutes. He’s trying to find out what happened in the hospital.” Michael paused a moment, “What the hell were you thinking? I had to carry you out of there.”
“Thank you, Michael.”
Michael brushed off the thanks. “You owe me one. Now, what were you thinking? I mean, healing Liz and Kyle nearly wiped you out. And you were pretty tired after fixing up Maria. So what made you think you could cure a small room of cancer kids?”
Max looked up at his friend. Michael seemed angry….. But it was a different kind of angry. Strange. “I couldn’t help it, Michael. After I healed Sydney, one of the boys. I think it was Wesley, cried out in pain. I, I couldn’t just leave them.”
Michael turned away.
“Look I know you are angry. And I know that I once again risked us all, it’s just that…..”
Michael said, “Max, I’m not pissed at you. Well, I am a little I guess. But mostly, mostly it is because I couldn’t help anyone there.” He looked at his hands. “I have all this power Max, I can feel it. The power to destroy. And I wish….” He shook his head, “I saw what you did Max. It’s strange, but I’ve never really watched you. Even with Maria, I had my mind focused on something else. I’ve never actually just watched you. I mean, I figured we were just lab rats at that point anyway, so I watched. And, and… I just wish I could have helped at least one kid, you know. Helped someone, anyone.”
“You helped me. I would never have gotten out of there without you. We’re a team, Michael, we work best together. And, and I can try to show you what I do. I, I don’t fully understand it myself….”
“Enough, Max, enough.” Michael flopped into a chair and turned on ESPN.
Max studied his friend for a moment, and tried to clear up some of the wrinkles in his clothes.
Nothing happened. His powers were gone.
Brody walked through the front door. He turned to Max, his face beaming. “Max, I owe you. I owe you everything. Sydney is healed.”
Max stared at his hands. At the lack of a glow. He reached out to feel Liz…. She was still there, still there for him. He tried not to shake.
He needed her so badly right now……
“Of course she’s fine, Maxwell can….“ Michael said “What the fuck….”
Max looked up and saw Brody, his jaw agape. Michael looked shocked. His eyes met Michael’ with a questioning gaze.
Michael just pointed behind him.
Max tiredly turned around. Part of him wanted to jump out of his skin. The rest of him felt as if the cavalry had arrived in the nick of time.
Liz was here.
Just as she had in New York an image of her smiled sadly at him.
He reached out for her. He needed her so much and…..
Connection. There were no flashes, no sudden insights into the wonder that was Liz. But he could feel her, could feel as information was passed along their bond. As he drank her in, and she did the same.
And he knew. Just knew that everything would be okay. The connection ceased, its work done. He smiled at her.
She tiredly smiled back. And she was gone.
Brody’s voice was hushed as he said, “So Liz, is one of you.”
Max turned to face Brody and Michael. “Not exactly. We can discuss the details when we are back in Roswell.”
“I am staying with Sydney until she is released. I probably won’t be back until the day after Christmas.”
Michael glared at Brody.
“We can talk then. I don’t think I need to tell you how dangerous all this is…..”
Brody was nodding his head. “I will do what I can on my end. I owe you, Max.”
Michael snorted, “Great, so we can get going then?”
Max was curious as to how this would play our. There was a feeling, and image of what was going to happen that seemed to fill him. Not his, Liz’s. Strange. It felt, so very strange. Like a case of staged déjà vu.
He said, “Yeah, we need to hurry up. I want to be home for Christmas.” He glanced at Michael curious if he would play his part.
He did.
Michael did not look happy. He turned to Max, “Hey, do you mind if we make a stop. I still need to get something for Maria.”
Max’s eyes pivoted to Brody. Brody smiled, just as Max had known he would.
Brody said, “Here, buy her something nice, it’s the least I can do.” He handed Michael several hundred dollars. He walked over to Max and did the same. “I owe you both. See you back in Roswell.” And he left, smile still on his face.
Max was amazed. He had known, KNOWN this would happen.
Liz could really see the future. And somehow she had passed what she had seen through their connection.
Max pocketed the money. He had an idea of what to get Liz. And what he could persuade Michael into getting Maria. “Come on, Michael, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
And they left.
-------
Kyle-
Kyle followed both Tess and Alex into Alex’s house.
Alex was acting a little strange, muttering to himself and looking at Kyle oddly. He sat them at the table and said he would get them something to drink.
Kyle turned to face, “What is wrong, Tess? I was sure you were just going to tell him then and there.”
“Kyle, I am worried. Something isn’t right. Alex’s mind, its, its….”
Alex walked out of the kitchen, a shotgun in hand. “Tess, move away from Kyle.”
“Alex, what is wrong?”
“Tess, I don’t like this any more than you must, but it has to be done. Move away, I don’t want you to get hurt.”
What the hell?
“Alex put down the gun, you don’t want to hurt Kyle. Come on, let me in, let me in Alex…..”
“No, no, you’re not even Tess are you? You’re an imposter! And you know, I must, I must….” Alex fumbled with the safety on the shotgun.
Maybe Tess would have done something, certainly from the strain on her face she was trying to warp him.
And it wasn’t taking. Kyle had never actually seen anyone do that.
Kyle didn’t wait. He did something. He really wasn’t sure what. It was similar to what he had done to that intruder earlier. Only there he had a baseball to wrap it around.
Right now all Kyle had was a ball of air. So he threw that. It shimmered as it flew at Alex, throwing him hard against the wall.
Alex just lay there limply, the shotgun laying awkwardly at his feet.
Kyle reached over to grab the gun as Tess checked on Alex.
Tess shook her head, “What did you do to him Kyle? It wasn’t a powerblast. It might have well have been. Kyle, I, I don’t know if I can heal this.”
“I should call Max.”
“He’s, he’s still in Phoenix.”
“Okay, then I’ll call the paramedics.” Kyle pulled out his cell phone. This might be hard to explain, but better than if he died.
“No, wait, I, I don’t think that I can heal this but maybe, maybe….” Her voice changed timber, becoming oddly multi-tonal. “I can. Kyle, I think I have this under control. Yep, there we go. All better. Oh, all right Tess, I’ll clear out the cobwebs for you.”
Alex stiffly started moving. He started at both of them, particularly with Kyle holding a shotgun. “What is going on? Was there some sort of odd party going on or something and no one bothered to tell me?”
Tess shook her head, her voice becoming her own again, “I am sorry Alex. I am so very sorry. For everything…..”
Alex shook his head, a look of growing horror on his face. “My God, Tess, what did you do to me?”
“I mind warped you. I made you go to Las Cruces to decipher that book. It, it affected Isabel through your bond. I am sorry.”
Alex stood up and brushed himself off. “Tess, I would have helped you anyway, I would have….”
“I, I didn’t trust that the others would let you. And by the time I knew they would, it was too late. And I could fool myself that you wanted to do this.”
“Tess, Isabel is going to kill you. When she finds out about this, about how close this all got to….”
Tess began to cry, “I know. And I deserve it, its just…..”
Kyle said, “Hey she is trying to make amends here, don’t you think you are laying it on a little thick.”
“Kyle, even you are aware that Isabel has a bit of a temper?”
Kyle nodded.
“Vilandra’s is much, much worse.”
Kyle looked at Tess, at the glimmer of Ava that still looked out her eyes. And he knew. Alex wasn’t just being metaphorical. Isabel might actually kill Tess over this.
Kill her dead.
That was not acceptable.
“Okay, so how do we fix this so that they can live and let live.”
Tess shook her head, “I doubt she will ever forgive me.”
Alex disagreed, “Tess, it’s not that she won’t forgive you, it is surviving long enough for her to.” He sighed, “Look, thank you for at least freeing me up. I mean, the world, everything so much clearer. I was starting to really think I was losing my mind there. All I could think of were those stupid Antaran symbols. That and Isabel.”
“I, I changed it. When you found that key in Maria’s father’s journal….. You wanted to go right then. And I changed your priorities. I made you want to be with Isabel for the holidays first, to make them happy for her. I know she loves Christmas. I’m starting to grow fond of the holiday myself.”
“Okay, none of this is helping us figure out how to defuse the Isabel bomb.”
Alex rubbed his face, “Well, we certainly can’t tell her tonight. Or tomorrow. Tomorrow is Christmas day. In fact,” He looked at Tess intently, “I think we need to keep doing what we planned on doing. We need to go to Las Cruces on Tuesday. And pray this key does the trick. Because one thing that might soften her anger is success.”
Tess nodded slightly.
Kyle shook his head, “I don’t get how that would help.”
Alex said, “I never would be this far if she hadn’t warped me. I probably wouldn’t have recognized the symbol’s in Maria’s father’s journals.” He looked over at Tess, “In a way you helped me there, if only by driving out other thoughts.”
“I’m sorry, I, I didn’t really fully understand what I was doing.” She hugged Alex. As she backed away, she hiccupped. Tears were still flowing down her face, and her expression was one of contrition and hope. “I must look like a fright.”
Alex said softly, “The bathroom is down the hall.”
Tess left quietly.
Both Alex and Kyle were silent for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts.
Kyle broke the silence first, “I’m surprised you forgave her so fast.”
Alex sighed, “I haven’t forgiven her as much as I am trying to move forward. I’ve spent a lot of time with her lately, and well I like her. What she did to me was abominable, and it’s going to take a lot of time before I feel like I can fully trust her. But…. She’s one of us, one of our little family. And she’s trying to make amends as you said. She didn’t have to tell me. I don’t think I ever would have known.”
Kyle nodded. “Would you really have shot me?”
Alex looked him in the eye, “Yes Kyle, I really would have. I, I needed to protect the secret. I had to….”
Both of them looked down the hallway Tess had gone down, both lost again in their thoughts.
Kyle would have to watch Tess, protect her as much from herself as from anything else. Her power was just so very dangerous.
He would have to meditate on it when he got home.
-------
Pam-
Pam watched as the room that had once been so quiet was now filled with life. It was more than just the children had a new vitality, their parents seemed so full of hope.
A genuine Christmas miracle.
So why did her aunt seem so depressed. Her youngest son had just been miraculously healed of a fatal illness and all she could do was mope.
Enough.
Her aunt had always seemed so strong, so assured. So bossy. But now, now that they were waiting for this man, this John Ibanez; she wanted to know who he was and how Aunt Sally knew him. So Pam reached out and shook her aunts arm.
Sally looked at her, her eyes still full of despair.
“Who is John Ibanez?”
For a moment, Pam was certain her aunt would not talk. But she did, her voice low.
“John Ibanez does many things. But where I know him from, what I am afraid of is what he did to your aunt. He runs a facility for the gifted. And your aunt certainly was smart, bright, and special. She was a lot like you in some ways.”
Pam ran through her head which aunt this could be. As far as she was aware none of the other aunties were anything like her.
“Rose was special. Everyone could see it, she could just light up a room.” Sally shook her head, “But she wanted her freedom so badly. She wanted to go to college on her terms, not father’s. And she loved that despicable excuse of a man. What she ever saw in him….” She shook her head in disgust and continued, “She needed to find a way to finance her education, father wouldn’t help her, not while ‘he’ was involved.”
“Not while John Ibanez was involved?”
“No, that man, you know the one whose child she was carrying when she died. Jeff Parker. I swear he was a worthless drug addict at the time. How he ever managed to get that restaurant to be successful I will never know!”
“Okay, so John Ibanez?”
“Rose worked for him. He was conducting tests. Not just here of course, lots of places. But he was the man behind the scenes. And he still is, even now. But back then he was working directly for the government. The Soviets were working on it, so we had to too right?”
Pam was starting to get a little frustrated. What exactly had her aunt done?
Sally continued, “Even if it was so ridiculous,” She giggled nervously, “Your aunt was involved in psychic research. I mean it was hard to take seriously. But supposedly she could do things. I never saw any of it myself.”
“Psychic research? You’re kidding me right?”
Sally giggled again and nodded, “Silly, isn’t it. Only, he must have powerful friends somewhere because even after the Cold War ended, he still got some funding. Craig was able to dig some information up about them when he was doing a couple of cases…..”
Pam looked up as three men entered the room. Two of them were older gentlemen wearing suits. The other was a red head with mismatched eyes.
Her aunt immediately stiffened. One of them must be the dreaded John Ibanez.
Why was she frightened of him. Come on, psychic research? Was he involved in all the psychic hotlines and….. The man with mismatched eyes met her gaze and suddenly she wasn’t sure anymore.
There was something there. And he flickered ever so slightly green and blue.
The man smiled at her and began walking towards her.
The two older gentlemen walked over and were talking with Alicia.
The redheaded man, with one eye blue and the other green kept her in his gaze. Pam could feel her cheeks heating, and she wished she had worn something a little more flattering. He was a little older than she was, in his late teens, possibly in his early twenties. One hand smoothed her hair while the other tried to straiten out her blouse.
He reached a hand out to her, “Hi, my name is Adam Balkov. You must be Pam Troy.”
She grasped his hand, his touch sending electric shivers down her arm and through her body. She wanted him. Right here and right now.
“Now, Pam, I will need your permission to do this. Don’t worry, no one else will notice….”
“Anything, you can do anything,” she said breathlessly. Her heart was starting to pound in excitement.
Why couldn’t her boyfriend ever make her feel like this?
Adam placed his fingers on her temples and then….. Walls of light careened across her mind, followed by wave after wave of pleasure.
And then darkness as she collapsed.
Re: Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chap 23- 06/24/09
Thanks to everyone following along this story.
keepsmiling7- thank you.
chanks_girl- As I see it they really do not have any good options here. Isabel will lash out at Tess for what she did to Alex. And the part of her that was Vilandra is incredibly dangerous, and is as deeply in love with Alex as Isabel. A dangerous mix.
As far as Alex shooting Kyle, well that was mostly to show how badly messed up the warps were making Alex. His mind was twisting itself into pretzels to accomidate her demands.
RhondaAnn- How pleased that Isabel will be that her boyfriend has been used as a tool to find out some information that they need, well she will be very angry. But Tess, Alex, and Kyle have to find a way to calm her down. Somehow.
GregInClearwater- Thank you for the compliments. I hope you continue to enjoy.
AvalonRose- Liz is Rose's daughter. Liz actually found out in Eidolon, in a flash from a picture that her parents have. Liz's parents visit Rose's grave on major holidays.
I think Max should check out Alex soon too. As for Isabel. She is going to be very very angry.
DeDe PR- As to who or what Adam is, and why he can do what he does, well that will be discussed in further parts. But Adam is human. Completely human.
Tess has a lot to make up for.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past chapter 24
Tess-
Tess stared at herself in the mirror.
Calm. She was calm. Placid. Serene.
Alex had forgiven her. She had nearly killed him and he had forgiven her.
Tears began to streak down her cheeks, ruining all the work she had done cleaning her face up. She just felt so, so ashamed…..
And Alex was just the tip of the iceberg. What about all the others? How much damage had she done to her friends?
How could she make amends? How could she be, be good?
She wanted to be good, damn it! She didn’t want to be evil. And her actions, her actions with Alex in particular and the others as well….
Her stomach roiled at the memory, at the knowledge that Ava had supplied her. At what she had done. At what she had been becoming.
She moved over to the toilet and vomited.
It had taken this long, this long for Ava’s cold and serene appraisal of her, of Tess to fully strike home. Of how far she had strayed from the person she had been on Antar, of what she could be here and now.
Her life wasn’t tied to the King’s. It wasn’t tied to Destiny.
It was tied to her decisions. To her choices.
Nothing that she had done was shielded from Judgment. She had not been forced by Destiny to make these choices. It did not matter what she had thought at the time, at what she had deceived herself into thinking. That what she thought she wanted she must have, because it was destined. Because her father had told her so.
She wiped her mouth of with some tissue. She stared deeply into the mirror. Who was she?
Who was this girl called Tess really? Without Destiny, without her plans for the future…..
Not Ava. Perhaps she truly was Ava reborn, but that did not make her Ava. None of them were truly who they had been.
It was an epiphany. They were themselves. Who they had been would shape them, would influence who they were.
Most people did not truly have their past versions stuck in their head to hold conversations with.
But in the end they were themselves. They would make their own lives, shape their own destinies. Claim their own lives.
Find their own true loves.
Tess blushed a little as she reached out and felt along the bond she now had with Kyle.
This was who she was. She was Tess Harding. She loved and was loved by Kyle Valenti. And a friend to Alex and the others.
She had made mistakes and she would atone for them.
Tess knew what Ava wanted her to do. To swear service to the Eidolon. To bind herself to serve truth, to serve a higher power.
But Tess was not Ava. And she would do what she had to do to protect her friends. And some of the techniques she knew, some of her talents were forbidden.
And they might need them.
No she was not yet ready to swear to that. Not yet.
She would be herself. Chart her own path. There was one thing she would acknowledge, one thing she would accept…..
Tess raised her hand to the mirror and said, “Viat Mithar.”
It was who she was. No matter that she was in a human body, her mind, her soul was Mithar. And if she would not be bound by the covenants of the Eidolon….
She would accept those of her people.
Tess smiled wanly at herself. It felt good to let go of the sense of entitlement. The sense of fate. A tiny part of herself felt adrift, cast off.
Max had told her, on many occasions that they shaped their own fate. And so they would.
Now she just had to think of a way to make it a pleasant one for herself and her loved ones.
-------
Alicia-
Alicia watched Adam catch Pam. “Grandfather? What did you have him do?”
John looked over at Adam as he carried the comatose girl. “He wasn’t supposed to do that. I just asked him to get an impression.”
Sally, got up and started fussing over Pam. Softly berating Adam about it all.
Adam had a strange look as he brushed a lock of hair from Pam’s face. Shock? What had he seen?
John walked over to Adam, “Report.”
Adam looked around. “Is there a conference room or someplace we can talk. Without disturbance.”
Agent Byrnes nodded, “Let me go find one.”
Sally looked terrified. “You aren’t taking her!”
Alicia laid her arm on Sally’s, “Your niece is in danger. These men might be able to help her.”
Sally snorted, “Yeah, help her. Just like they helped Rose.”
Alicia was surprised at what came next. Her grandfather was usually such an aloof man.
But he closed his eyes in the memory of pain. “I promise we will protect Pam. You have no idea how much I regret Rose‘s death. I have tried to make amends. You know this, Sally Reynold. Your son is only here because of the aid I have given.”
“What are you going to do with her?”
Adam spoke up, “This isn’t really the place to speak about these things. But, she needs help, ma’am. What I did, it shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have been able to….” He clamped his mouth shut. And he delicately ran a hand through Pam’s hair.
Agent Byrnes came back. “Come on, I have one of the local offices that we can use. My men will continue to work with the locals to see what happened here.”
Alicia could not help but say, “A miracle.”
“Maybe so. But it is my job to understand how it happened regardless.” He started walking towards the room he had found.
Sally looked torn, but stayed with her son.
Alicia would have stayed herself with Sydney if Brody had not shown up. He hadn’t said a word to her, just gave her a quick hug and rushed over to Sydney.
That man knew something. Had Max really come and healed her daughter? Somehow she knew that Brody been involved.
Later, she could deal with that later. Alicia followed the group as it walked to the empty office. Adam carried Pam protectively.
There was a haunted look on Adam’s face, now that the shock was receding. He kept looking at Pam in mix of fear, astonishment, and, and reverence….
Alicia had so many questions. No. She would let Adam get a hold of himself before subjecting him to questions. He had always been fair to her, time for her to return the favor.
So instead of questioning Adam she walked up next to her grandfather and asked, “Who was Rose?”
He looked at her warily, his mind moving rapidly. But he nodded as he made some internal decision. “Rose Troy was one of the most talented finds I have run across. Like Adam in a lot of ways.” He stopped for a moment, “Alicia, the thing with what I do, the talents I find is that most people have little or no ability. Many of those that do have ability, do not have it reliably. They are still useful to develop, as sometimes it can get you information that you might not get otherwise. It still needs to be confirmed through other sources, but it gives a place to start. Whittles down on some of the straw in the haystack so to speak.”
Alicia walked along in silence.
Her grandfather continued, “Rose was one of those rare individuals that have both. And she was so very smart. She reminded me of your own mother. Maybe that is why her death struck me so hard, so soon after your parents’ died.”
“My mother could she….”
“Yes, but her gifts were unreliable. It was how she met your father.”
She opened her mouth and closed it. He never talked about her parents. She felt a familiar wash of pain as she remembered them.
She had been nine when they died.
Both of them were silent for a little while. Her grandfather was the first to break the silence. “What happened to my son and your mother was tragic, but at least it was an accident. Rose was killed, murdered because of what she was. She and her unborn child.”
Agent Byrnes, who had been quietly walking with them spoke up. “You are talking about Rose Troy?”
“Yes. I always hate it when one of mine die. Sometimes, what with the business many of them are in, it is unavoidable. But she was pregnant. Nine months pregnant.” John shook his head in anger and sorrow.
Agent Byrnes nodded as if to himself, “The child lived.”
John stopped suddenly, “Excuse me?”
“The baby survived. I’ll admit it was touch and go at first, but she lived.”
“A girl?”
“I thought you knew. We were talking about her on the plane.”
Alicia had never seen her grandfather thrown like this before. Anger, regret, sorrow, and astonishment all flickered across his face. His face resumed his normal impassive mien. He just looked at Agent Byrnes.
Byrnes continued. “Liz Parker. I really thought you knew. It took some investigation on my part, but then I’ve had an interest in her for a little while. I still think she knows more about what happened to Pierce than she lets on.”
“Liz Parker.”
“Yes, Liz Parker is Rose Troy’s daughter.”
John turned to Alicia and said, “I must meet with her. I will be going to Roswell with you after we leave here.” He rubbed his chin and nodded. “Besides, there is another matter I can take care of while I am there.” He turned to Agent Byrnes, “And Sam, Liz is under my protection. I owe her that. If not for my involvement, if not for my carelessness, the Soviets would never have killed her mother.”
“I will still need to talk with her.”
“I know. Just remember our agreement.” And they walked on.
Alicia was silent. So much was going on. She felt like the bottom to the world was dropping out and she was slipping into some twilight world, one where things were different from the normal world she had always lived in.
A world her grandfather lived in.
But she wanted answers. And maybe her grandfather could answer some of them.
-------
Isabel-
Isabel felt strange. Like her mind was drifting.
And she couldn’t stop smiling. Her sense of Alex seemed clearer than ever, and she felt a pulse of love stream across it.
She sent one back.
Her mind felt so very clear, perhaps a bit dreamy but crystal clear. And it was Christmas. And she was shopping with her friends.
Could life get any better?
Liz was browsing a rack nearby.
Both of them were waiting for Maria, who was changing into a couple of outfits both of them wanted to evaluate on her.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Liz stiffen. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell.
Isabel rushed over to her friend’s side. At a touch she sense something was wrong with her. Liz felt… hollow. Like she wasn’t home.
And then just as sudden Liz was back, looking up wearily at Isabel.
One of the store associates was there as well. “Are you okay.”
Isabel just glared at the woman. Of course something was wrong.
Liz said quietly, “I’m fine. I just need something to drink.”
The associate rushed off to get her some water.
Liz looked up at Isabel. “Your brother healed them. He is okay. A little weak, but fine.”
“What did you do?”
Liz looked around, making sure they were alone. “He felt so scared Isabel. I, I went to him.”
“Went to him?”
“Like I did in New York.”
“Oh.” She hugged Liz. Liz had promised she wouldn’t take him away. And she hadn’t. Instead she had added another layer of protection for him.
And for her.
What would her life be without her human friends. Well mostly human friends, anyway.
Miserable. She would be miserable. But she wouldn’t even truly realize it, killing time with her obnoxious friends. People she could never truly trust.
Trust like she could Liz and Maria.
Like she could trust Alex. Without him, she wasn’t sure she would ever have lowered her defenses. She would have been alone. And no matter how many lovers she might have taken that wouldn’t have changed.
For she would never have trusted them. Would have kept up her façade forever.
They had saved her.
-------
Maria-
Maria’s head felt… foggy. It had all day. And from time to time she felt like there was someone there, someone she couldn’t see.
She looked up at the dress she was about to try on. And stopped. Why she stopped she wasn’t sure. But she turned, still dressed only in panties and bra and looked at herself in the mirror.
She was so young! She smiled as she ran her hands along her body.
Sixteen. She was still sixteen, her seventeenth birthday less than two weeks away. She felt as her younger self’s memories poured into her.
Wow. She had known that they were close this timeline…. But she had already slept with Michael? And they were, were…..
Maria felt along the bond.
My God.
She hugged herself and cried. How much she would have given for that….
It truly was a different world. Maybe a better one. She nodded to herself. She would do what she could to help them. She still had to complete her mission….
But these were not her enemies. Not here. Not now.
She promised her younger self a little time later on today, but now, just now she wanted to spend some time with her friends. Friends she had not spent time with in decades.
Friends that she had in another timeline killed.
She looked up at the dress and evaluated it. Um, not too bad. Not her own personal style…. But then this Maria was decades younger.
She put it on, adjusting it with her powers. Not too bad.
She went out to meet Liz and Isabel. And a different world.
It had to be. It was her world’s only hope. And Amy was counting on her.
-----
Liz-
Liz lay back on her bed. It had been a shame that their shopping interlude had been cut so short. But her trip to aid Max had drained her so.
Both Maria and Isabel had been understanding, both of them planning on doing a little more shopping after they dropped her off.
Liz had to smile at that. Those two had really come a long way from a year ago. She had thought Maria would never have gotten over her fear of the tall blonde. And now they were all fast friends.
Bonds that, if Liz had her way, would never be broken. Not this lifetime.
And then there were the flashes. Fragments nothing more. Except for one.
One that she just could not believe, let alone understand.
Flash-
Tess walked into her room meekly, her face tearstained.
“Tess what is wrong.”
“Isabel tried to kill me.”
“What!”
“She had her reasons. The Royal Four is finished. I just came here to tell you that.”
Fear and anger swept into Liz. She had tried so hard, had given up so much……
Tess looked up at her, “Not your fault. Mine. I’ve, I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately. And, and, I know you might need me to stay. But I am not one of them. I never have been. Thinking so has only lead to pain.”
No! This can’t be happening! “But, Tess, what if we need you?”
Tess hiccupped, her tears starting up again. “I don’t want to leave. But what I have done….. No. I want to stay. But I will not be part of them. Those ties, those connections…. They are gone. Gone forever.”
End flash-
What did it mean?
Liz was still asking those questions as she faded into a sound sleep.
-----
Max-
Max watched the scenery fly by as Michael drove the Jeep home. Max reached out and tried to use his powers. He could almost feel something…..
“Your powers still on the fritz?”
Max sat back in his seat and sighed. “Yeah. But I think they are coming back.”
“Good.”
The Jeep was full of silence.
Michael was the first to break it. “Maxwell.”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks.”
“For?”
“Maria’s present.”
“No problem.”
“How exactly did you learn all that crap about what they would like?”
“Well…. Some of it was mom. But mostly it was self defense. Isabel is my sister after all.”
“Oh. Yeah. I can see that. All hail the Christmas Nazi.”
Max’s laughter filled the Jeep and spilled into the chilly open air as he and his friend drove home.
This was going to be the best Christmas ever.
------
The man lowered his rifle. This would be a perfect shot. But orders were orders.
And there were shoot to kill orders on only one of the Royals.
keepsmiling7- thank you.
chanks_girl- As I see it they really do not have any good options here. Isabel will lash out at Tess for what she did to Alex. And the part of her that was Vilandra is incredibly dangerous, and is as deeply in love with Alex as Isabel. A dangerous mix.
As far as Alex shooting Kyle, well that was mostly to show how badly messed up the warps were making Alex. His mind was twisting itself into pretzels to accomidate her demands.
RhondaAnn- How pleased that Isabel will be that her boyfriend has been used as a tool to find out some information that they need, well she will be very angry. But Tess, Alex, and Kyle have to find a way to calm her down. Somehow.
GregInClearwater- Thank you for the compliments. I hope you continue to enjoy.
AvalonRose- Liz is Rose's daughter. Liz actually found out in Eidolon, in a flash from a picture that her parents have. Liz's parents visit Rose's grave on major holidays.
I think Max should check out Alex soon too. As for Isabel. She is going to be very very angry.
DeDe PR- As to who or what Adam is, and why he can do what he does, well that will be discussed in further parts. But Adam is human. Completely human.
Tess has a lot to make up for.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past chapter 24
Tess-
Tess stared at herself in the mirror.
Calm. She was calm. Placid. Serene.
Alex had forgiven her. She had nearly killed him and he had forgiven her.
Tears began to streak down her cheeks, ruining all the work she had done cleaning her face up. She just felt so, so ashamed…..
And Alex was just the tip of the iceberg. What about all the others? How much damage had she done to her friends?
How could she make amends? How could she be, be good?
She wanted to be good, damn it! She didn’t want to be evil. And her actions, her actions with Alex in particular and the others as well….
Her stomach roiled at the memory, at the knowledge that Ava had supplied her. At what she had done. At what she had been becoming.
She moved over to the toilet and vomited.
It had taken this long, this long for Ava’s cold and serene appraisal of her, of Tess to fully strike home. Of how far she had strayed from the person she had been on Antar, of what she could be here and now.
Her life wasn’t tied to the King’s. It wasn’t tied to Destiny.
It was tied to her decisions. To her choices.
Nothing that she had done was shielded from Judgment. She had not been forced by Destiny to make these choices. It did not matter what she had thought at the time, at what she had deceived herself into thinking. That what she thought she wanted she must have, because it was destined. Because her father had told her so.
She wiped her mouth of with some tissue. She stared deeply into the mirror. Who was she?
Who was this girl called Tess really? Without Destiny, without her plans for the future…..
Not Ava. Perhaps she truly was Ava reborn, but that did not make her Ava. None of them were truly who they had been.
It was an epiphany. They were themselves. Who they had been would shape them, would influence who they were.
Most people did not truly have their past versions stuck in their head to hold conversations with.
But in the end they were themselves. They would make their own lives, shape their own destinies. Claim their own lives.
Find their own true loves.
Tess blushed a little as she reached out and felt along the bond she now had with Kyle.
This was who she was. She was Tess Harding. She loved and was loved by Kyle Valenti. And a friend to Alex and the others.
She had made mistakes and she would atone for them.
Tess knew what Ava wanted her to do. To swear service to the Eidolon. To bind herself to serve truth, to serve a higher power.
But Tess was not Ava. And she would do what she had to do to protect her friends. And some of the techniques she knew, some of her talents were forbidden.
And they might need them.
No she was not yet ready to swear to that. Not yet.
She would be herself. Chart her own path. There was one thing she would acknowledge, one thing she would accept…..
Tess raised her hand to the mirror and said, “Viat Mithar.”
It was who she was. No matter that she was in a human body, her mind, her soul was Mithar. And if she would not be bound by the covenants of the Eidolon….
She would accept those of her people.
Tess smiled wanly at herself. It felt good to let go of the sense of entitlement. The sense of fate. A tiny part of herself felt adrift, cast off.
Max had told her, on many occasions that they shaped their own fate. And so they would.
Now she just had to think of a way to make it a pleasant one for herself and her loved ones.
-------
Alicia-
Alicia watched Adam catch Pam. “Grandfather? What did you have him do?”
John looked over at Adam as he carried the comatose girl. “He wasn’t supposed to do that. I just asked him to get an impression.”
Sally, got up and started fussing over Pam. Softly berating Adam about it all.
Adam had a strange look as he brushed a lock of hair from Pam’s face. Shock? What had he seen?
John walked over to Adam, “Report.”
Adam looked around. “Is there a conference room or someplace we can talk. Without disturbance.”
Agent Byrnes nodded, “Let me go find one.”
Sally looked terrified. “You aren’t taking her!”
Alicia laid her arm on Sally’s, “Your niece is in danger. These men might be able to help her.”
Sally snorted, “Yeah, help her. Just like they helped Rose.”
Alicia was surprised at what came next. Her grandfather was usually such an aloof man.
But he closed his eyes in the memory of pain. “I promise we will protect Pam. You have no idea how much I regret Rose‘s death. I have tried to make amends. You know this, Sally Reynold. Your son is only here because of the aid I have given.”
“What are you going to do with her?”
Adam spoke up, “This isn’t really the place to speak about these things. But, she needs help, ma’am. What I did, it shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have been able to….” He clamped his mouth shut. And he delicately ran a hand through Pam’s hair.
Agent Byrnes came back. “Come on, I have one of the local offices that we can use. My men will continue to work with the locals to see what happened here.”
Alicia could not help but say, “A miracle.”
“Maybe so. But it is my job to understand how it happened regardless.” He started walking towards the room he had found.
Sally looked torn, but stayed with her son.
Alicia would have stayed herself with Sydney if Brody had not shown up. He hadn’t said a word to her, just gave her a quick hug and rushed over to Sydney.
That man knew something. Had Max really come and healed her daughter? Somehow she knew that Brody been involved.
Later, she could deal with that later. Alicia followed the group as it walked to the empty office. Adam carried Pam protectively.
There was a haunted look on Adam’s face, now that the shock was receding. He kept looking at Pam in mix of fear, astonishment, and, and reverence….
Alicia had so many questions. No. She would let Adam get a hold of himself before subjecting him to questions. He had always been fair to her, time for her to return the favor.
So instead of questioning Adam she walked up next to her grandfather and asked, “Who was Rose?”
He looked at her warily, his mind moving rapidly. But he nodded as he made some internal decision. “Rose Troy was one of the most talented finds I have run across. Like Adam in a lot of ways.” He stopped for a moment, “Alicia, the thing with what I do, the talents I find is that most people have little or no ability. Many of those that do have ability, do not have it reliably. They are still useful to develop, as sometimes it can get you information that you might not get otherwise. It still needs to be confirmed through other sources, but it gives a place to start. Whittles down on some of the straw in the haystack so to speak.”
Alicia walked along in silence.
Her grandfather continued, “Rose was one of those rare individuals that have both. And she was so very smart. She reminded me of your own mother. Maybe that is why her death struck me so hard, so soon after your parents’ died.”
“My mother could she….”
“Yes, but her gifts were unreliable. It was how she met your father.”
She opened her mouth and closed it. He never talked about her parents. She felt a familiar wash of pain as she remembered them.
She had been nine when they died.
Both of them were silent for a little while. Her grandfather was the first to break the silence. “What happened to my son and your mother was tragic, but at least it was an accident. Rose was killed, murdered because of what she was. She and her unborn child.”
Agent Byrnes, who had been quietly walking with them spoke up. “You are talking about Rose Troy?”
“Yes. I always hate it when one of mine die. Sometimes, what with the business many of them are in, it is unavoidable. But she was pregnant. Nine months pregnant.” John shook his head in anger and sorrow.
Agent Byrnes nodded as if to himself, “The child lived.”
John stopped suddenly, “Excuse me?”
“The baby survived. I’ll admit it was touch and go at first, but she lived.”
“A girl?”
“I thought you knew. We were talking about her on the plane.”
Alicia had never seen her grandfather thrown like this before. Anger, regret, sorrow, and astonishment all flickered across his face. His face resumed his normal impassive mien. He just looked at Agent Byrnes.
Byrnes continued. “Liz Parker. I really thought you knew. It took some investigation on my part, but then I’ve had an interest in her for a little while. I still think she knows more about what happened to Pierce than she lets on.”
“Liz Parker.”
“Yes, Liz Parker is Rose Troy’s daughter.”
John turned to Alicia and said, “I must meet with her. I will be going to Roswell with you after we leave here.” He rubbed his chin and nodded. “Besides, there is another matter I can take care of while I am there.” He turned to Agent Byrnes, “And Sam, Liz is under my protection. I owe her that. If not for my involvement, if not for my carelessness, the Soviets would never have killed her mother.”
“I will still need to talk with her.”
“I know. Just remember our agreement.” And they walked on.
Alicia was silent. So much was going on. She felt like the bottom to the world was dropping out and she was slipping into some twilight world, one where things were different from the normal world she had always lived in.
A world her grandfather lived in.
But she wanted answers. And maybe her grandfather could answer some of them.
-------
Isabel-
Isabel felt strange. Like her mind was drifting.
And she couldn’t stop smiling. Her sense of Alex seemed clearer than ever, and she felt a pulse of love stream across it.
She sent one back.
Her mind felt so very clear, perhaps a bit dreamy but crystal clear. And it was Christmas. And she was shopping with her friends.
Could life get any better?
Liz was browsing a rack nearby.
Both of them were waiting for Maria, who was changing into a couple of outfits both of them wanted to evaluate on her.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Liz stiffen. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell.
Isabel rushed over to her friend’s side. At a touch she sense something was wrong with her. Liz felt… hollow. Like she wasn’t home.
And then just as sudden Liz was back, looking up wearily at Isabel.
One of the store associates was there as well. “Are you okay.”
Isabel just glared at the woman. Of course something was wrong.
Liz said quietly, “I’m fine. I just need something to drink.”
The associate rushed off to get her some water.
Liz looked up at Isabel. “Your brother healed them. He is okay. A little weak, but fine.”
“What did you do?”
Liz looked around, making sure they were alone. “He felt so scared Isabel. I, I went to him.”
“Went to him?”
“Like I did in New York.”
“Oh.” She hugged Liz. Liz had promised she wouldn’t take him away. And she hadn’t. Instead she had added another layer of protection for him.
And for her.
What would her life be without her human friends. Well mostly human friends, anyway.
Miserable. She would be miserable. But she wouldn’t even truly realize it, killing time with her obnoxious friends. People she could never truly trust.
Trust like she could Liz and Maria.
Like she could trust Alex. Without him, she wasn’t sure she would ever have lowered her defenses. She would have been alone. And no matter how many lovers she might have taken that wouldn’t have changed.
For she would never have trusted them. Would have kept up her façade forever.
They had saved her.
-------
Maria-
Maria’s head felt… foggy. It had all day. And from time to time she felt like there was someone there, someone she couldn’t see.
She looked up at the dress she was about to try on. And stopped. Why she stopped she wasn’t sure. But she turned, still dressed only in panties and bra and looked at herself in the mirror.
She was so young! She smiled as she ran her hands along her body.
Sixteen. She was still sixteen, her seventeenth birthday less than two weeks away. She felt as her younger self’s memories poured into her.
Wow. She had known that they were close this timeline…. But she had already slept with Michael? And they were, were…..
Maria felt along the bond.
My God.
She hugged herself and cried. How much she would have given for that….
It truly was a different world. Maybe a better one. She nodded to herself. She would do what she could to help them. She still had to complete her mission….
But these were not her enemies. Not here. Not now.
She promised her younger self a little time later on today, but now, just now she wanted to spend some time with her friends. Friends she had not spent time with in decades.
Friends that she had in another timeline killed.
She looked up at the dress and evaluated it. Um, not too bad. Not her own personal style…. But then this Maria was decades younger.
She put it on, adjusting it with her powers. Not too bad.
She went out to meet Liz and Isabel. And a different world.
It had to be. It was her world’s only hope. And Amy was counting on her.
-----
Liz-
Liz lay back on her bed. It had been a shame that their shopping interlude had been cut so short. But her trip to aid Max had drained her so.
Both Maria and Isabel had been understanding, both of them planning on doing a little more shopping after they dropped her off.
Liz had to smile at that. Those two had really come a long way from a year ago. She had thought Maria would never have gotten over her fear of the tall blonde. And now they were all fast friends.
Bonds that, if Liz had her way, would never be broken. Not this lifetime.
And then there were the flashes. Fragments nothing more. Except for one.
One that she just could not believe, let alone understand.
Flash-
Tess walked into her room meekly, her face tearstained.
“Tess what is wrong.”
“Isabel tried to kill me.”
“What!”
“She had her reasons. The Royal Four is finished. I just came here to tell you that.”
Fear and anger swept into Liz. She had tried so hard, had given up so much……
Tess looked up at her, “Not your fault. Mine. I’ve, I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately. And, and, I know you might need me to stay. But I am not one of them. I never have been. Thinking so has only lead to pain.”
No! This can’t be happening! “But, Tess, what if we need you?”
Tess hiccupped, her tears starting up again. “I don’t want to leave. But what I have done….. No. I want to stay. But I will not be part of them. Those ties, those connections…. They are gone. Gone forever.”
End flash-
What did it mean?
Liz was still asking those questions as she faded into a sound sleep.
-----
Max-
Max watched the scenery fly by as Michael drove the Jeep home. Max reached out and tried to use his powers. He could almost feel something…..
“Your powers still on the fritz?”
Max sat back in his seat and sighed. “Yeah. But I think they are coming back.”
“Good.”
The Jeep was full of silence.
Michael was the first to break it. “Maxwell.”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks.”
“For?”
“Maria’s present.”
“No problem.”
“How exactly did you learn all that crap about what they would like?”
“Well…. Some of it was mom. But mostly it was self defense. Isabel is my sister after all.”
“Oh. Yeah. I can see that. All hail the Christmas Nazi.”
Max’s laughter filled the Jeep and spilled into the chilly open air as he and his friend drove home.
This was going to be the best Christmas ever.
------
The man lowered his rifle. This would be a perfect shot. But orders were orders.
And there were shoot to kill orders on only one of the Royals.
Re: Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chap 24- 07/04/09
Thanks to everyone following this story.
chanks_girl- Tess always fought against admitting the reality of her present self at the expense of who she had been. Her past mind is still not fully integrated into her present self yet. None of the Roswell group's is. They are defective after all.
You will find out who will be shot in two, possibly three parts. Most likely two.
keepsmiling7- Liz actually had a flash of her mother in Eidolon. Christmas day is a Monday, the shots will be fired on Tuesday.
RhondaAnn- Adam saw more than he bargained for. And some of that was about Ana.
The questions you posed, and a couple others are what the next dozen parts or so should answer. As well as why timeline one Maria is involved in timeline two.
DeDe PR- All I can say is that Tuesday will be a very busy day for all the poor PodSquad. (This part ends on Sunday evening, Christmas is on Monday.)
AvalonRose- Unless things change, yes, the Royal Four are finished.
Nibbles- A couple of differences in this timeline. Michael has some extra cash. Maria has a truck, one that they haven't wrecked yet. (give them time.) And Max took Michael in hand to buy the right gift for Maria.
Michael is still kind of clueless on the gift department... But at least he's a little more aware of the fact that he is indeed clueless.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. Some small part from A Roswell Christmas Carol.
Shadows of the Past part 25
Alicia
Alicia made herself comfortable. She looked at the others. Her grandfather was still lost in thought. Probably thinking of Liz Parker.
Alicia had always thought the girl felt… strange. But then so had Michael and Maria.
Was Roswell infested with the Gifted? Did Brody gain a line on one of them, one with strange and vast powers. Well better that than her other theory.
That Roswell was infested with aliens.
She’d read a couple of the reports on them that her grandfather had given to Brody. They were powerful and immensely dangerous.
No better to assume normal, okay, not so normal, Gifted individuals.
From the little she had gleaned working for her grandfather, she had always thought they were somewhat limited in real world effects. The most talented could pick up impressions or plant them, whether off of a person or thing.
And as far as she knew Adam was her grandfather’s most talented find.
Adam made them all coffee. He was still jittery. And his eyes kept being dragged back to the girl.
They were waiting for Agent Byrnes who had to talk with some of the local police about the incident with the kids. They might even have some video evidence of the people who had done it.
She wanted to thank the man who had saved her daughter personally. And if her grandfather planned on harassing him….. Well she would cross that bridge soon she feared.
Her grandfather looked up, “Adam, give me a brief synopsis of what happened back there. You weren’t supposed to knock the girl out. Just take a quick read.”
“I got one. And more. She was stripped, sir.”
“Stripped?” Alicia asked.
“A normal mind….”
He was interrupted by Agent Brynes walking into the room. “Sorry that took me a little longer than I thought. The local SAC is a good man and he’s lent me a couple of agents. They should have the videotapes pulled soon.” He looked around, “Did I miss anything?”
“I was just asking why Adam caused poor Miss Troy to collapse. Now you won’t be able to get an impression off the room.”
Adam shuddered. “No problem with that. Sir, there was a lot of power used there. And I mean a lot.”
“Was it the same person who affected Miss Troy?”
“No. The room was saturated with power. And, and it was nothing like I ever felt before. Strange. Almost, almost alien.”
Agent Byrnes looked flatly at Adam, “Alien?”
Adam looked at John pointedly, making a gesture towards Alicia.
“No, you can say anything in front of her. Well anything that involves this incident. She has already read a lot of the pertinent data.”
Agent Byrnes looked at her impassively. Filling it away no doubt.
This might well be the point of no return. If she stayed she might be stuck in this shadow world for the rest of her life. She might already know too much, but she wasn’t yet fully directly involved.
Being here and now would change that. She would become part of it all.
“I’m aware of some of the incidents involving potential extraterrestrial involvement. But then most of it peaked in the fifties and sixties and has declined ever since.”
John Ibanez smiled, “Not entirely correct, my dear. I fill you in on much that you might not know on the way to Roswell.” He turned to face Adam, “Continue, please.”
“As I was telling Mr. Ibanez, when I entered the room I could feel a massive residue of whatever had happened in the room. I’ll likely be able to get another reading after we are done here.”
John Ibanez nodded. “And the girl?”
“Pam’s mind has been stripped of her mental defenses. It is probably struggling overtime to understand what it is seeing now.”
“Was it the same individual?”
“No,” Adam shuddered. “No, it most definitely was not. Ana, her name is Ana. And she is, she’s not human. Not fully.”
The room was silent.
“So,” Agent Byrnes said softly, “You are saying that Miss Troy was attacked by an alien. Here?”
“More than once. Pam probably doesn’t remember it all, but she was tortured for information. And they, they did things to her. I, I….”
“But why? Why her?”
“I don’t know. I’m not even sure what Ana was looking for. But I do know that Pam is deathly afraid of the woman. She is certain that is she falls into Ana’s hands she will be… erased.”
“Erased?” Agent Byrnes looked over at her grandfather shocked, “Can you people do that?”
John’s voice was tight, “No. No better than you could with chemicals or normal techniques. I will send one of my psiwar techs to give you an executive briefing on the state of terrestrial psionics.”
“Thank you. I am beginning to think I might need it.” Agent Byrnes turned to Adam, “Did you pick up anything else? Anything about this Ana’s plans?”
Adam shook his head. “Only that Pam had something she might find useful. That it wasn’t perfect, but that she could use Pam somehow.”
Alicia looked at the still unconscious girl. She felt a … kinship to her. She’d felt it ever since she’d met the girl. It had made her protective and much more open that she might have normally been.
She felt a bit like her daughter. Like, like Adam.
Flash-
She was in a room in her cousin Carlos’s house. His parents were out, and he had a few friends over. Special friends.
“Dammit Zan! What were you thinking?” Said a girl who would be beautiful when she grew up. The signs were all there. Unfortunately she knew it too.
“My name is Carlos. Just because we have those memories does not make us them.”
“Natalie says….” said a angry young man, dark brown hair cropped short.
Both Lucia and a quiet smaller blonde just sat watching. Lucia shot Alicia a weak smile, and then shot an adoring look at Carlos.
Carlos and Lucia had always been close. But lately Alicia had been a little worried at some of the glances between the two of them. Fine, Carlos had been adopted, but still…. Alicia shook her head and only partly listened to the arguments between Carlos and his friends.
“She shouldn’t be involved, none of the humans should be involved. Our world is at stake!”
“So I should have just let them die?”
Both the pretty girl and the angry boy both cried out “Yes!”
“Look Carlos was only doing what was right?” Lucia spoke up.
“Stay out of this human. None of you should be involved.”
Carlos moved over to stand with Lucia, she gazed up adoringly at him.
Alicia wished she didn’t feel that there was a tragic Romeo and Juliet feel between the two of them. And they were only eleven. “I wish there were a way I was not involved. Not that I don’t want to help you, Carlos. I really do. And thank you. Both for your trust and for saving me. It is just that, Grandpa…..”
Carlos looked up at her with his serious brown eyes. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Alicia wrapped her arms around herself, “He’s smart. If I ever let anything slip…. He already is very curious about you. I wish there were a way to forget.”
The small blonde stared at her lap. “Maybe there is.”
“Hah! I am out of here, are you coming Clarissa, I mean Lonnie?”
“Sure thing David.”
Both of them left. Alicia watched them go. She turned back and looked at Aeron, who seldom said anything around the others.
She had the bluest eyes. And there was a knowledge there, a deep understanding ill-fitting her youth. “I know a way. But there will be a risk. There always is. “
Alicia looked up at Carlos and swallowed. “I said I would help.”
“There are two ways I can do this. Both of them will need your help. In one, I can block your memories from you forever. You will never have to worry about recovering them. We will be safe.” Her tone was clear that this option was a bad one.
“Alright, what is wrong with it.”
“It carries with it the chance of mental paradox, of isolating portions of your mind that you will need. Forcing it to use others, I, I don’t fully understand all the theory. But from what I still remember from my past life, I gather the mental paradox can lead to terminal existence failure. It would likely take quite a while, years most likely.”
“Excuse me?”
“She means you could die. Okay, you have to scratch that option. Carlos didn’t save her for you to kill her with your Eidolonics.”
“Okay, I am lost.”
Aeron continued, “Option two carries different risks. Less for you, more for us. The mental blocks will not be as firm. They will give way, preventing mental paradox and its resultant breakdown. But someday you would remember. Everything.”
“Oh.” Alicia thought, “How long would it hold up?”
“It depends. It all varies depending on how much you need to access the blocked off areas. It is possible, even likely you would never need the information, that these missing moments would just be another forgotten memory. Functionally they act the same, the difference is in how sturdy the block is. To strong a block on something you access frequently….” Aeron shrugged.
Carlos said definitively, “Option two.”
“Hey, it is my mind, don’t I get a vote?”
“I will not risk your life for our safety. Aeron can you do it.”
Aeron nodded and walked over to Alicia. “This will depend in part on your desire to not know. And remember, it may fade at any time. If ever you have questions or if you begin to remember. Please talk to one of us.”
“Okay.”
And Alicia forgot. Forgot it all.
End Flash-
And it all came back to her in a rush. Her brief involvement with the reborn alien royalty in New York.
And she knew without a doubt that Max Evans had healed her daughter. That he too shared a portion of Zan of Antar.
She had not been able to help Carlos. But she would help Max. She just wasn’t sure how.
But she knew, knew personally that the aliens could indeed suppress memories. How much harder would it be to alter them? To brainwash them with a level of thoroughness that no human could hope to.
Yet.
Ana could really destroy this girl, destroy all that made her who she was. To make her into someone else. Something else.
But why? As far as Alicia could tell Pam wasn’t that out of the ordinary. Just a normal girl.
Click. Click. Bang. It all began to fall into place.
But first, a question. “Agent Brynes, I have a question. Have there been an increase in the number of missing teens in the area? Runaways, that sort of thing.”
“I can ask…. But what does that have to do with anything.”
“Maybe nothing. But I bet you will find an increase. Possibly a small one, but an increase.”
Her grandfather looked at her quizzically, “You are obviously one to something, child. But I can’t quite see how this relates…..”
“Sepoys.”
Agent Byrnes blinked a couple of times, “Excuse me?”
Her grandfather knew what she was talking about. The European Conquest of India had been area of interest of hers in school.
Click, click, bang. She could see it in her grandfathers eyes. Fear that she was on to something. But it was not a new fear.
Suddenly she wondered at all of the different historical discussions she’d had with her grandfather. So many of them had dealt with conquest and infiltration by outside forces.
She looked over at Agent Byrnes…. The new head of the Special Unit…. One of several organizations that had been developed to counter a perceived alien threat.
The last bit of normalcy fell out of her world.
“What my granddaughter is trying to say is that she believes this Ana is trying to set up a fifth column on Earth…. To build a local army to assist in its conquest.”
The room was silent as the impact of what they had stumbled on really took hold.
“We must stop them.”
-------
Liz-
Liz sat there under the stars with Max and her friends and family for the midnight service. Isabel sat with her family and Alex and his family sat close enough for Alex and Isabel to hold hands. Tess was there, her eyes bright with happiness. Kyle and the Sheriff sat beside her. Michael and Maria sat together, Maria’s head draped on his shoulder.
And the choir sang.
Peace on Earth, Good will towards all men.
Liz knew better. Oh she hoped that all would be quiet. That their enemies would truly leave them alone.
But she knew better. She KNEW it. Trouble was coming for them. She wasn’t sure what, but it was coming.
And she would be ready.
But she knew one more thing. Tomorrow would be perfect.
It wasn’t that their enemies weren’t out there, were somehow taking the day off like much of the nation. No, they were scheming and plotting tomorrow as hard as they were today and would be on the next day.
But for what ever reason, Liz knew that tomorrow would not be the day their attack landed.
For tonight and tomorrow they were safe.
And it was hard, very hard not to worry about it all. To not obsess and plan her heart out to protect her friends.
But it would only ruin it. Ruin tomorrow for herself and for the others. For Max.
Days like tomorrow were precious. They shouldn’t be squandered.
They might need it. To remember one bright shining day. Something to hold onto during the darkness that might yet fall.
She let herself lean into Max. And enjoyed the subtle interplay of their connection as it deepened with their touch.
And watched as the snow began to fall.
-------
Aeron
Aeron sat admiring the view from Richard Williams house in Vail, Colorado.
So beautiful.
She took a sip of hot chocolate and watched the snow softly fall outside.
Had anyone asked her where she would have been this Christmas, she would never have believed them. New York had been her home and the rest of the group her family.
How had it gone so badly so fast?
Richard had agreed to help them. Not only had he put them up in his home for Christmas, but he would be going with them to New York.
They would find Natalie. Natalie had known so much, so much that might help them. They needed that knowledge.
She looked up as another girl walked into the room. Rebecca, Richard’s daughter. Someone he did not want involved in any of this.
Rebecca nodded to her and they stared out at the picturesque landscape for a long time. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
It was silent for a few moments longer before Rebecca began again, “Aeron can I ask you a question.”
“Sure. Ask away. I can’t promise I’ll answer it, but I’ll listen.”
“Are you related to Tess Harding?”
“She’s my sister.”
Rebecca nodded and took a sip of her own cup. “I thought so…. Do you know what she is doing in Las Cruces? I mean, I am working for her, and we are translating something. A cipher she called it. But those symbols…. I thought I had seen them before. And tonight I went into Dad’s study. And I saw some of them again.”
Aeron was silent.
“It is just that, well, I know my father’s obsessions. And I wonder, am I involved in it now too? I mean Alex and Isabel seem so straight forward. But your sister…. I don’t know, just who are you people?”
“I honestly don’t know all the details of Tess’s project. I believe that it is just a translation idea. Trying to see if what she found is significant or just a bunch of random scribbles I guess.”
“Yeah, that is what Alex said. Still I wonder…..”
Aeron was silent. She did not want to lie, but she wasn’t about to offer one bit extra to the girl.
“So, he tells me that you are headed to New York next week.”
“We are looking for someone.”
“Who?”
Aeron looked over at the girl. How could she tell her the truth? Of what Natalie meant to her? To how her knowledge could save her and her sister. And her new friends.
And possibly more. Possibly even this inquisitive college student and the rest of her world.
But there was one true thing she could say, could say and have it be completely misunderstood. To be taken as completely normal.
“My mother, we are going to be looking for my mother.” Natalie might not have raised her, might not have birthed her…. But she had been the only one truly concerned with her well being.
She had been her mother, more so than any of the foster parents she had had.
“Oh. Well. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
And they stared out onto the quiet scene outside for quite sometime. The snow falling gently from the sky.
chanks_girl- Tess always fought against admitting the reality of her present self at the expense of who she had been. Her past mind is still not fully integrated into her present self yet. None of the Roswell group's is. They are defective after all.
You will find out who will be shot in two, possibly three parts. Most likely two.
keepsmiling7- Liz actually had a flash of her mother in Eidolon. Christmas day is a Monday, the shots will be fired on Tuesday.
RhondaAnn- Adam saw more than he bargained for. And some of that was about Ana.
The questions you posed, and a couple others are what the next dozen parts or so should answer. As well as why timeline one Maria is involved in timeline two.
DeDe PR- All I can say is that Tuesday will be a very busy day for all the poor PodSquad. (This part ends on Sunday evening, Christmas is on Monday.)
AvalonRose- Unless things change, yes, the Royal Four are finished.
Nibbles- A couple of differences in this timeline. Michael has some extra cash. Maria has a truck, one that they haven't wrecked yet. (give them time.) And Max took Michael in hand to buy the right gift for Maria.
Michael is still kind of clueless on the gift department... But at least he's a little more aware of the fact that he is indeed clueless.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. Some small part from A Roswell Christmas Carol.
Shadows of the Past part 25
Alicia
Alicia made herself comfortable. She looked at the others. Her grandfather was still lost in thought. Probably thinking of Liz Parker.
Alicia had always thought the girl felt… strange. But then so had Michael and Maria.
Was Roswell infested with the Gifted? Did Brody gain a line on one of them, one with strange and vast powers. Well better that than her other theory.
That Roswell was infested with aliens.
She’d read a couple of the reports on them that her grandfather had given to Brody. They were powerful and immensely dangerous.
No better to assume normal, okay, not so normal, Gifted individuals.
From the little she had gleaned working for her grandfather, she had always thought they were somewhat limited in real world effects. The most talented could pick up impressions or plant them, whether off of a person or thing.
And as far as she knew Adam was her grandfather’s most talented find.
Adam made them all coffee. He was still jittery. And his eyes kept being dragged back to the girl.
They were waiting for Agent Byrnes who had to talk with some of the local police about the incident with the kids. They might even have some video evidence of the people who had done it.
She wanted to thank the man who had saved her daughter personally. And if her grandfather planned on harassing him….. Well she would cross that bridge soon she feared.
Her grandfather looked up, “Adam, give me a brief synopsis of what happened back there. You weren’t supposed to knock the girl out. Just take a quick read.”
“I got one. And more. She was stripped, sir.”
“Stripped?” Alicia asked.
“A normal mind….”
He was interrupted by Agent Brynes walking into the room. “Sorry that took me a little longer than I thought. The local SAC is a good man and he’s lent me a couple of agents. They should have the videotapes pulled soon.” He looked around, “Did I miss anything?”
“I was just asking why Adam caused poor Miss Troy to collapse. Now you won’t be able to get an impression off the room.”
Adam shuddered. “No problem with that. Sir, there was a lot of power used there. And I mean a lot.”
“Was it the same person who affected Miss Troy?”
“No. The room was saturated with power. And, and it was nothing like I ever felt before. Strange. Almost, almost alien.”
Agent Byrnes looked flatly at Adam, “Alien?”
Adam looked at John pointedly, making a gesture towards Alicia.
“No, you can say anything in front of her. Well anything that involves this incident. She has already read a lot of the pertinent data.”
Agent Byrnes looked at her impassively. Filling it away no doubt.
This might well be the point of no return. If she stayed she might be stuck in this shadow world for the rest of her life. She might already know too much, but she wasn’t yet fully directly involved.
Being here and now would change that. She would become part of it all.
“I’m aware of some of the incidents involving potential extraterrestrial involvement. But then most of it peaked in the fifties and sixties and has declined ever since.”
John Ibanez smiled, “Not entirely correct, my dear. I fill you in on much that you might not know on the way to Roswell.” He turned to face Adam, “Continue, please.”
“As I was telling Mr. Ibanez, when I entered the room I could feel a massive residue of whatever had happened in the room. I’ll likely be able to get another reading after we are done here.”
John Ibanez nodded. “And the girl?”
“Pam’s mind has been stripped of her mental defenses. It is probably struggling overtime to understand what it is seeing now.”
“Was it the same individual?”
“No,” Adam shuddered. “No, it most definitely was not. Ana, her name is Ana. And she is, she’s not human. Not fully.”
The room was silent.
“So,” Agent Byrnes said softly, “You are saying that Miss Troy was attacked by an alien. Here?”
“More than once. Pam probably doesn’t remember it all, but she was tortured for information. And they, they did things to her. I, I….”
“But why? Why her?”
“I don’t know. I’m not even sure what Ana was looking for. But I do know that Pam is deathly afraid of the woman. She is certain that is she falls into Ana’s hands she will be… erased.”
“Erased?” Agent Byrnes looked over at her grandfather shocked, “Can you people do that?”
John’s voice was tight, “No. No better than you could with chemicals or normal techniques. I will send one of my psiwar techs to give you an executive briefing on the state of terrestrial psionics.”
“Thank you. I am beginning to think I might need it.” Agent Byrnes turned to Adam, “Did you pick up anything else? Anything about this Ana’s plans?”
Adam shook his head. “Only that Pam had something she might find useful. That it wasn’t perfect, but that she could use Pam somehow.”
Alicia looked at the still unconscious girl. She felt a … kinship to her. She’d felt it ever since she’d met the girl. It had made her protective and much more open that she might have normally been.
She felt a bit like her daughter. Like, like Adam.
Flash-
She was in a room in her cousin Carlos’s house. His parents were out, and he had a few friends over. Special friends.
“Dammit Zan! What were you thinking?” Said a girl who would be beautiful when she grew up. The signs were all there. Unfortunately she knew it too.
“My name is Carlos. Just because we have those memories does not make us them.”
“Natalie says….” said a angry young man, dark brown hair cropped short.
Both Lucia and a quiet smaller blonde just sat watching. Lucia shot Alicia a weak smile, and then shot an adoring look at Carlos.
Carlos and Lucia had always been close. But lately Alicia had been a little worried at some of the glances between the two of them. Fine, Carlos had been adopted, but still…. Alicia shook her head and only partly listened to the arguments between Carlos and his friends.
“She shouldn’t be involved, none of the humans should be involved. Our world is at stake!”
“So I should have just let them die?”
Both the pretty girl and the angry boy both cried out “Yes!”
“Look Carlos was only doing what was right?” Lucia spoke up.
“Stay out of this human. None of you should be involved.”
Carlos moved over to stand with Lucia, she gazed up adoringly at him.
Alicia wished she didn’t feel that there was a tragic Romeo and Juliet feel between the two of them. And they were only eleven. “I wish there were a way I was not involved. Not that I don’t want to help you, Carlos. I really do. And thank you. Both for your trust and for saving me. It is just that, Grandpa…..”
Carlos looked up at her with his serious brown eyes. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Alicia wrapped her arms around herself, “He’s smart. If I ever let anything slip…. He already is very curious about you. I wish there were a way to forget.”
The small blonde stared at her lap. “Maybe there is.”
“Hah! I am out of here, are you coming Clarissa, I mean Lonnie?”
“Sure thing David.”
Both of them left. Alicia watched them go. She turned back and looked at Aeron, who seldom said anything around the others.
She had the bluest eyes. And there was a knowledge there, a deep understanding ill-fitting her youth. “I know a way. But there will be a risk. There always is. “
Alicia looked up at Carlos and swallowed. “I said I would help.”
“There are two ways I can do this. Both of them will need your help. In one, I can block your memories from you forever. You will never have to worry about recovering them. We will be safe.” Her tone was clear that this option was a bad one.
“Alright, what is wrong with it.”
“It carries with it the chance of mental paradox, of isolating portions of your mind that you will need. Forcing it to use others, I, I don’t fully understand all the theory. But from what I still remember from my past life, I gather the mental paradox can lead to terminal existence failure. It would likely take quite a while, years most likely.”
“Excuse me?”
“She means you could die. Okay, you have to scratch that option. Carlos didn’t save her for you to kill her with your Eidolonics.”
“Okay, I am lost.”
Aeron continued, “Option two carries different risks. Less for you, more for us. The mental blocks will not be as firm. They will give way, preventing mental paradox and its resultant breakdown. But someday you would remember. Everything.”
“Oh.” Alicia thought, “How long would it hold up?”
“It depends. It all varies depending on how much you need to access the blocked off areas. It is possible, even likely you would never need the information, that these missing moments would just be another forgotten memory. Functionally they act the same, the difference is in how sturdy the block is. To strong a block on something you access frequently….” Aeron shrugged.
Carlos said definitively, “Option two.”
“Hey, it is my mind, don’t I get a vote?”
“I will not risk your life for our safety. Aeron can you do it.”
Aeron nodded and walked over to Alicia. “This will depend in part on your desire to not know. And remember, it may fade at any time. If ever you have questions or if you begin to remember. Please talk to one of us.”
“Okay.”
And Alicia forgot. Forgot it all.
End Flash-
And it all came back to her in a rush. Her brief involvement with the reborn alien royalty in New York.
And she knew without a doubt that Max Evans had healed her daughter. That he too shared a portion of Zan of Antar.
She had not been able to help Carlos. But she would help Max. She just wasn’t sure how.
But she knew, knew personally that the aliens could indeed suppress memories. How much harder would it be to alter them? To brainwash them with a level of thoroughness that no human could hope to.
Yet.
Ana could really destroy this girl, destroy all that made her who she was. To make her into someone else. Something else.
But why? As far as Alicia could tell Pam wasn’t that out of the ordinary. Just a normal girl.
Click. Click. Bang. It all began to fall into place.
But first, a question. “Agent Brynes, I have a question. Have there been an increase in the number of missing teens in the area? Runaways, that sort of thing.”
“I can ask…. But what does that have to do with anything.”
“Maybe nothing. But I bet you will find an increase. Possibly a small one, but an increase.”
Her grandfather looked at her quizzically, “You are obviously one to something, child. But I can’t quite see how this relates…..”
“Sepoys.”
Agent Byrnes blinked a couple of times, “Excuse me?”
Her grandfather knew what she was talking about. The European Conquest of India had been area of interest of hers in school.
Click, click, bang. She could see it in her grandfathers eyes. Fear that she was on to something. But it was not a new fear.
Suddenly she wondered at all of the different historical discussions she’d had with her grandfather. So many of them had dealt with conquest and infiltration by outside forces.
She looked over at Agent Byrnes…. The new head of the Special Unit…. One of several organizations that had been developed to counter a perceived alien threat.
The last bit of normalcy fell out of her world.
“What my granddaughter is trying to say is that she believes this Ana is trying to set up a fifth column on Earth…. To build a local army to assist in its conquest.”
The room was silent as the impact of what they had stumbled on really took hold.
“We must stop them.”
-------
Liz-
Liz sat there under the stars with Max and her friends and family for the midnight service. Isabel sat with her family and Alex and his family sat close enough for Alex and Isabel to hold hands. Tess was there, her eyes bright with happiness. Kyle and the Sheriff sat beside her. Michael and Maria sat together, Maria’s head draped on his shoulder.
And the choir sang.
Peace on Earth, Good will towards all men.
Liz knew better. Oh she hoped that all would be quiet. That their enemies would truly leave them alone.
But she knew better. She KNEW it. Trouble was coming for them. She wasn’t sure what, but it was coming.
And she would be ready.
But she knew one more thing. Tomorrow would be perfect.
It wasn’t that their enemies weren’t out there, were somehow taking the day off like much of the nation. No, they were scheming and plotting tomorrow as hard as they were today and would be on the next day.
But for what ever reason, Liz knew that tomorrow would not be the day their attack landed.
For tonight and tomorrow they were safe.
And it was hard, very hard not to worry about it all. To not obsess and plan her heart out to protect her friends.
But it would only ruin it. Ruin tomorrow for herself and for the others. For Max.
Days like tomorrow were precious. They shouldn’t be squandered.
They might need it. To remember one bright shining day. Something to hold onto during the darkness that might yet fall.
She let herself lean into Max. And enjoyed the subtle interplay of their connection as it deepened with their touch.
And watched as the snow began to fall.
-------
Aeron
Aeron sat admiring the view from Richard Williams house in Vail, Colorado.
So beautiful.
She took a sip of hot chocolate and watched the snow softly fall outside.
Had anyone asked her where she would have been this Christmas, she would never have believed them. New York had been her home and the rest of the group her family.
How had it gone so badly so fast?
Richard had agreed to help them. Not only had he put them up in his home for Christmas, but he would be going with them to New York.
They would find Natalie. Natalie had known so much, so much that might help them. They needed that knowledge.
She looked up as another girl walked into the room. Rebecca, Richard’s daughter. Someone he did not want involved in any of this.
Rebecca nodded to her and they stared out at the picturesque landscape for a long time. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
It was silent for a few moments longer before Rebecca began again, “Aeron can I ask you a question.”
“Sure. Ask away. I can’t promise I’ll answer it, but I’ll listen.”
“Are you related to Tess Harding?”
“She’s my sister.”
Rebecca nodded and took a sip of her own cup. “I thought so…. Do you know what she is doing in Las Cruces? I mean, I am working for her, and we are translating something. A cipher she called it. But those symbols…. I thought I had seen them before. And tonight I went into Dad’s study. And I saw some of them again.”
Aeron was silent.
“It is just that, well, I know my father’s obsessions. And I wonder, am I involved in it now too? I mean Alex and Isabel seem so straight forward. But your sister…. I don’t know, just who are you people?”
“I honestly don’t know all the details of Tess’s project. I believe that it is just a translation idea. Trying to see if what she found is significant or just a bunch of random scribbles I guess.”
“Yeah, that is what Alex said. Still I wonder…..”
Aeron was silent. She did not want to lie, but she wasn’t about to offer one bit extra to the girl.
“So, he tells me that you are headed to New York next week.”
“We are looking for someone.”
“Who?”
Aeron looked over at the girl. How could she tell her the truth? Of what Natalie meant to her? To how her knowledge could save her and her sister. And her new friends.
And possibly more. Possibly even this inquisitive college student and the rest of her world.
But there was one true thing she could say, could say and have it be completely misunderstood. To be taken as completely normal.
“My mother, we are going to be looking for my mother.” Natalie might not have raised her, might not have birthed her…. But she had been the only one truly concerned with her well being.
She had been her mother, more so than any of the foster parents she had had.
“Oh. Well. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
And they stared out onto the quiet scene outside for quite sometime. The snow falling gently from the sky.
Re: Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chap 25- 07/12/09
Thanks again to everyone following along this story.
Arrianeleigh- Thanks
keepsmiling7- Thanks
RhondaAnn- Michael probably could. But it wouldn't be easy. Future Maria is still a form of Maria, one that has access to all of present Maria's memories. It could be done, he would feel that she felt strange. But would he act if Maria seemed normal?
Ava/Aeron's mindwarps on her have completely failed. Now she knows everything she learned about Antar after Zan/Carlos healed her.
AvalonRose- Ana will settle for nothing less than world conquest. Of course she has to start small.... but in say, fourteen years.....
Tess and Alex are headed to Las Cruces in this part. They will confess when they get back.
DeDe PR- Well it is Tuesday in the story. And things are beginning to happen.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past part 26
Maria-
Maria was dreaming. She was back by that strange swing set in the desert. Only the play area was larger than it had been.
Sure it was only a dream, but it was Christmas. And she had given Stephanie a gift. A bright red tricycle.
And somehow, in the manner of dreams, an area of pavement appeared for her to ride on. And she was squealing with joy as she careened about.
The little girl still couldn’t talk, no matter how hard Maria tried. But when Maria held her….. She could feel things.
Feel things like she could sometimes with Michael.
And sometimes she would know what Stephanie wanted.
“Oh that is so cute!”
Maria whirled around, hands glittering with green sparks.
It was Isabel. She just looked at Maria with a sardonic grin. “Sorry, I just thought I would see if she was here.”
Maria turned to look at the girl again. “She’s always here when I am. Are there….”
“Oh, yeah. Of course, I don’t come here as often as you do. But sometimes its not here. This whole playground is her construct I think.”
“A construct?”
“Yeah. I think she’s a dream walker of sorts. Not sure. This is new to me. To Vilandra too.”
“Vilandra is still popping up? I mean I thought that was over.”
Isabel shook her head. “It is strange, like the lines are blurring. Like we are merging sort of. What about Michael? Have you noticed anything different about him?”
“Maybe. It is hard to say. He doesn’t really want to talk about it. Like he ever wants to talk about anything. Men!”
“Did you two have a fight or something?”
“No. Not really. I mean he and Max went and healed all those kids. And he got me a cool set of earrings.” Maria showed her ears, where the earrings sat. “But then he had to go ruin it by saying how Christmas was all a marketing ploy and…..”
Isabel nodded gravely.
Both of them watched Stephanie whirl about on her tricycle.
“Where did she get the tricycle?”
“I gave it to her.”
“You gave a dream a present?”
“I thought you thought she was real?”
“Yeah, but even so, she’s well, even if she is real, a dream tricycle?”
“She’s enjoying it isn’t she? Hey, where is Alex?”
“Alex is still awake, I gather. I couldn’t find him anywhere.”
“I wish I could go somewhere other than here. It’s great that I can see Stephanie, but it must be great to visit everyone’s dreams and….”
“Oh, it gets boring there too. And sometimes you really just don’t want to know. I mean really.”
“Oh.”
“And it’s not like I can change anything. I mean I can talk. Sometimes make suggestions, but that’s it. And if I’m not careful, if the dreamer sees me, I can get drawn into their dreams. And some of those dreams are deeply unfun. Particularly when I can’t break free.” Isabel shuddered slightly at some bad memory.
“Maybe I don’t want to know then.”
Isabel shrugged.
Maria looked at the taller girl. It was nice to be friends with her. To have someone else to gossip with. Maria knew that Liz wanted to include Tess into their little circle, but for now Maria was happy to have Isabel. And who knows, maybe Laurie too.
Isabel stiffened.
Stephanie stopped suddenly and looked worried. She fell trying to get off her little tricycle.
Both Isabel and Maria walked over to help her. The fussed over the little cuts and bruises she had.
Isabel healed them.
Maria said, “Now that is a power I would like….”
Stephanie put her thumb in her mouth and with the other hand gestured behind them.
A woman stood behind them. Her hair was grey and her gown was green with a glittering golden embroidery. Bright green eyes blazed out of her half smiling face.
Maria knew her. Knew her well.
It was her after all.
Her future self.
“What are you doing here?”
Stephanie clung to Maria.
Isabel looked at the woman and then back at Maria. “My God. She looks just like you. Only old.”
“That is because she is me.”
Future Maria smiled, “Nice to see you again, Isabel. Or do you prefer Lonnie or Vi?”
“My name is Isabel.”
“Fascinating. All of this is so fascinating. You know we have dozens of scientists struggling to figure out how you could do all of this unaided. With only the lightest of connections. Pictures wasn’t it?”
Maria said, “Why are you here?”
Her future self smiled. It was a genuine smile.
Maria knew not to trust it. This was the woman who had killed all of her friends!
Isabel just looked between the two of them, flabbergasted.
Future Maria looked sardonically at Isabel, “Didn’t she tell you about me?”
“You, you killed me. And Liz. And Michael.”
Future Maria winced. “I did not kill Michael. I should have saved him. Surely he would have come around eventually…. Your Michael shows me what could have been. Keep up the good work.”
Maria blinked. “Okay. Um, all of this is like way over my head and all, but why are you here. And how are you here. Shouldn’t your world have just gone poof when Future Max came back and….”
“Ah. So that self righteous fool talked about Serena? Her ideas. Well, I hate to tell you this. But she was wrong. Wrong about so very many things. There is just so much the Antarans knew that we didn’t. Of course, they never would have tried what Serena did. Serena didn’t know she had done the impossible. You have no idea the number of cherished theories died that day.”
Isabel was nodding faintly. “They split the time stream?”
Future Maria said, “It’s highly technical, my dear. I could not begin to tell you the details. You should know that we have never been much into science. But I guess that would be an easy way to say it. Maybe I could cajole Amy into visiting. She could explain it better.”
Isabel looked at Maria, “Amy?”
“Liz’s daughter.”
“Queen of Antar, Ruler of the Seven Worlds, and well I could go on but it would be pointless. Amy will never be born in this world. Let’s get to business, shall we?”
“Why are you here?”
“You possess something we need. Something that was destroyed in our world.”
“So what?”
“I would like your help.”
“Um, why should I care? I mean really? You’re like, you’re like my worst nightmare. Not only to I not get the guy, but I kill all of my girlfriends?”
“And Max. Let’s not forget Max. I regret it now, all of it now. Except for him. Isabel, try to keep your brother from being an ass, okay?”
Isabel’s face burned with rage and she blasted Future Maria.
To no effect. Future Maria deftly deflected it. And sat there regarding her nails. “You do realize I have spent the better part of thirty years practicing my powers. I’m simply better than you. At the moment.”
Stephanie reached up and tried to kiss Isabel, hugging tightly to her leg.
Future Maria frowned at the child, and then continued. “I am prepared to make you both a deal. I will come back and train you both a little if you will help me.”
Maria and Isabel looked at each other and turned back to face Future Maria and shook their heads simultaneously.
Isabel spoke up, “This Maria is my friend. She will never be you. Go back to your world.”
Future Maria’s voice became angry. “You do realize I am trying to make a gesture here. A ’I come in peace’ gesture? I don’t need to do any of this. If I want to I can just take what I need. But I want to help you. I, I like the way this world is heading. I like the life Maria might lead this time.”
Maria felt a sense of disquiet seep through her. How did this woman know so much about how her life was now? They were in a different timeline. Things had changed. How could she….
Isabel stuck to her guns, “We will never serve you!”
“I do so look forward to the day when you stop being melodramatic my dear.”
Isabel bridled and was about to say something…..
Future Maria just said, “Isabel. Go to sleep.”
Isabel’s eyes flickered for a moment.
And she was gone.
Maria clung to Stephanie, who held tightly back.
Future Maria tuned back to Maria, her smile back in place. “So are you willing to be more reasonable?”
“What did you do to her?”
“My dear, this dream walking business….. This is something the Antarans do not fully understand, mind warping on the other….. Well lets just say that Ana was a good teacher.”
“So is this is? Are you going to rewrite my mind? Make me into an image of you?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Isn’t that why you are here?”
Future Maria sighed and looked away. “Maria, have you noticed you have been having missing moments of time? Maybe a little dizziness sometimes. Dreams you can’t quite remember?”
Maria felt herself grow cold. She’d had all of those things. She’d meant to mention them to Liz or Michael, but somehow she kept putting it off. “You are possessing me. Like Larek possesses Brody.”
Future Maria’s smile was sad. “Yes. If I wanted to, I could take possession of you for a while. And there would be little you could do about it. Not even Tess would know. I am you.”
“No, no, no, this can’t be happening. This is a nightmare! That is it! This is just a nightmare and I will wake up and everything will…..”
“Not be okay.”
Maria felt… strange, distant and detached.
Future Maria flickered a little. “Just writing you a little note. You have no clue how skilled Ana was with this. She used to use me like a puppet all the time.”
“Then why are you doing it to me!”
“Maria, this is no joke. My world is in trouble. The Granolith is the key. It is how they were beaten the last time. But we don’t know how! It has to be in that book, it just has to be.”
“Book?”
“The Destiny Book. It was so much more than we ever thought it was. It was supposed to be a primer for the Royals. Not only to master their abilities, but also the Granolith. The information we need has to be in there. And, and our father’s notes. We need them too. They’re the key.”
Maria was feeling very scared. She held onto Stephanie so tightly and relished in way the sense of her flowed back and forth between them. It made her feel not so alone. And then there was her link to Michael. Would he notice when her future self took over?
She could hope.
“So will you help me?”
“What choice do I have?”
“More than you think. Um, for now though, I think you need your sleep. I will meet you here? Tomorrow night?”
“Sure.”
“And tell Isabel, that I will train her if she wants. I always liked her.”
“You killed her.”
“Only because I had to. Um, one last thing. I just have to know….. Are you pregnant? I know that you and Michael are sexually active. And that child looks so much like him….”
“Stephanie?”
Future Maria winced. And quietly said, “Stephanie….”
“No, I’m not pregnant. But she does look like me. And Michael. Strange. I kind of, kind of wish she was my daughter. But, no I’m not pregnant.”
“She is connected to you. As you say, strange. Good night.” And she was gone.
Maria held onto Stephanie for a very long time.
-------
Tess-
Tess looked at Alex through the mirror.
He looked so serious. And well dressed. Too bad Isabel couldn’t see, she would definitely approve.
Isabel had picked out Alex’s wardrobe for his trip to Las Cruces. Well dressed and professional, but not overboard.
The enormity of what they were going to try to do, of what she would have to say to her friends when they got back….
Tess was very nervous.
This had to work.
-------
Isabel-
Isabel was not an outdoors person. Not at all.
She didn’t like to camp. She didn’t like to hike. She certainly had never had gone hunting.
So why was she out there in the cool morning shooting at targets with Gloria Whitman?
Oh yeah.. Trying to bond with her future mother-in-law.
Alex had already proposed.
Three times.
Once had been in a dream. He had caught her trespassing. And would not let her go.
Not that she had minded.
That had been a pleasant dream.
Isabel shook her head. Why did dreaming seem so significant to her this morning.
The thought went away.
She looked instead at Gloria Whitman. So very focused on firing a tiny bit of metal into a small read circle much to far away. A couple of shots later Gloria set the rifle down.
“Well that is enough of that for now. Hmm, I’ll show you how to use a pistol. Like I promised. I have to tell you, this is the only part I miss about the army. To shoot a machine gun again…..“ Gloria smiled, “But first, a couple of questions.”
“Okay.”
“Are you toying with Alex? I mean, what are your intentions with him. He was pretty broken up about you earlier. And now the two of you are thick as thieves. And I already know the two of you are sleeping together.”
“I love your son.”
“That is what he says. But you are both so young. I know what Alex thinks, what he said to me.” She shook her head, “And let me tell you that was a pretty surreal conversation over Christmas breakfast. Too bad Chuck missed it. Anyway, Alex has a pretty good head on his shoulders, but you are both so young….”
Isabel looked away. “You are right. We are young. And I wish I could explain. I wish I could prove to you that this isn’t just a phase, it isn’t something both of us are going to grow out of. We love each other. And, and he will marry me one day.”
“He said he already proposed and you turned him down.”
“We should at least be out of high school, don’t you think? I don’t know. To me it is not a race. It will happen. It just hasn’t happened yet. And, well my wedding, I want it to be perfect….” Isabel sighed. “I didn’t turn him down so much as postponed it.”
One day I will be able to tell you why I know it will happen. I want you to know. I am tired of keeping secrets from those who should know.
Even Max agreed that their parents knowing was a good thing.
Mrs. Whitman just looked at her for a moment. “Just, Isabel, if you do sleep together, if you do have sex, be careful. I’m not ready to be a grandmother.”
“I will be.”
Mrs. Whitman shook her head and muttered something about them being too young. She then spoke up, “Why don’t we scare up some breakfast, and I’ll teach you some basic self defense…. Any female relative of mine should know how to defend herself…..”
Isabel couldn’t quite keep a smile off her face.
If she only knew…..
--------
Alicia-
Alicia entered the room that Pam was kept in. Adam stood guard.
As he had since her grandfather had given orders to protect her.
Her grandfather and Agent Byrnes had both headed to Roswell. Alicia had planned on joining them, but Sydney had been kept for observation.
The medical authorities could see something had happened, they just had no clue what.
A couple more days in Phoenix was more than tolerable if it meant her daughter would live.
Live and more. Adam had said that something had been done to her daughter. That she had been changed.
What that might mean for the future, he wasn’t sure. But he was fairly sure she would develop Gifts. Strong Gifts. All of the Christmas Children would.
All of them now had Far Sight as a secret godparent. Watching out for them, nurturing them….. And if they had something useful, offering them employment.
Just like they would with Pam.
Of course, if Alicia’s theory was right, those kids might find themselves drafted in a war to save the planet.
Pam was still unconscious. A state Adam was keeping her in as he built up some level of protection for her.
“How is she?”
“Better. She should be able to go home in a few days. Pity about her missing Christmas. But it is better this way. Safer for her and for us.”
“So she’ll recover?”
Adam swung his head. “Her old life is over. Oh, she’ll still go to the same school. Lots of things will be the same. But she will need to work on her mental defenses every day….. For the rest of her life.”
Both of them were silent for a while. Adam’s hand swept down and squeezed one of Pam’s
Alicia looked at the expression on his face and said, “You love her.”
He did not look at her, kept his gaze on Pam. “I saw things. Things I shouldn’t have seen…. There is a, a connection between us now. Only she is only seventeen and I am twenty-five. She has her whole life in front of her.”
Alicia just looked at him. Had she ever thought she was old in her twenties? Had she ever been that, that, silly? Still eight years at their age was quite a gulf. “Do you love her?”
“I can’t explain it. I wish I could.”
“Is this going to be a problem.”
“I already told the boss. He just told me to protect her and to train her. And to watch out if our friend Ana comes calling.”
“I see.”
“He also said that I need to be careful. That there might be others in Roswell. Other potential threats or possible recruits.”
Alicia didn’t say a word. She knew very well that there were several very powerful Gifted individuals in Roswell.
She owed Max for saving Sydney. She had promised herself that she would try to protect him. To help him if she could.
But would she be willing to gamble the world over it?
Both of them were quiet as the watched over yet another pawn in a vast interstellar game of chess.
One that was far from over.
Arrianeleigh- Thanks
keepsmiling7- Thanks
RhondaAnn- Michael probably could. But it wouldn't be easy. Future Maria is still a form of Maria, one that has access to all of present Maria's memories. It could be done, he would feel that she felt strange. But would he act if Maria seemed normal?
Ava/Aeron's mindwarps on her have completely failed. Now she knows everything she learned about Antar after Zan/Carlos healed her.
AvalonRose- Ana will settle for nothing less than world conquest. Of course she has to start small.... but in say, fourteen years.....
Tess and Alex are headed to Las Cruces in this part. They will confess when they get back.
DeDe PR- Well it is Tuesday in the story. And things are beginning to happen.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past part 26
Maria-
Maria was dreaming. She was back by that strange swing set in the desert. Only the play area was larger than it had been.
Sure it was only a dream, but it was Christmas. And she had given Stephanie a gift. A bright red tricycle.
And somehow, in the manner of dreams, an area of pavement appeared for her to ride on. And she was squealing with joy as she careened about.
The little girl still couldn’t talk, no matter how hard Maria tried. But when Maria held her….. She could feel things.
Feel things like she could sometimes with Michael.
And sometimes she would know what Stephanie wanted.
“Oh that is so cute!”
Maria whirled around, hands glittering with green sparks.
It was Isabel. She just looked at Maria with a sardonic grin. “Sorry, I just thought I would see if she was here.”
Maria turned to look at the girl again. “She’s always here when I am. Are there….”
“Oh, yeah. Of course, I don’t come here as often as you do. But sometimes its not here. This whole playground is her construct I think.”
“A construct?”
“Yeah. I think she’s a dream walker of sorts. Not sure. This is new to me. To Vilandra too.”
“Vilandra is still popping up? I mean I thought that was over.”
Isabel shook her head. “It is strange, like the lines are blurring. Like we are merging sort of. What about Michael? Have you noticed anything different about him?”
“Maybe. It is hard to say. He doesn’t really want to talk about it. Like he ever wants to talk about anything. Men!”
“Did you two have a fight or something?”
“No. Not really. I mean he and Max went and healed all those kids. And he got me a cool set of earrings.” Maria showed her ears, where the earrings sat. “But then he had to go ruin it by saying how Christmas was all a marketing ploy and…..”
Isabel nodded gravely.
Both of them watched Stephanie whirl about on her tricycle.
“Where did she get the tricycle?”
“I gave it to her.”
“You gave a dream a present?”
“I thought you thought she was real?”
“Yeah, but even so, she’s well, even if she is real, a dream tricycle?”
“She’s enjoying it isn’t she? Hey, where is Alex?”
“Alex is still awake, I gather. I couldn’t find him anywhere.”
“I wish I could go somewhere other than here. It’s great that I can see Stephanie, but it must be great to visit everyone’s dreams and….”
“Oh, it gets boring there too. And sometimes you really just don’t want to know. I mean really.”
“Oh.”
“And it’s not like I can change anything. I mean I can talk. Sometimes make suggestions, but that’s it. And if I’m not careful, if the dreamer sees me, I can get drawn into their dreams. And some of those dreams are deeply unfun. Particularly when I can’t break free.” Isabel shuddered slightly at some bad memory.
“Maybe I don’t want to know then.”
Isabel shrugged.
Maria looked at the taller girl. It was nice to be friends with her. To have someone else to gossip with. Maria knew that Liz wanted to include Tess into their little circle, but for now Maria was happy to have Isabel. And who knows, maybe Laurie too.
Isabel stiffened.
Stephanie stopped suddenly and looked worried. She fell trying to get off her little tricycle.
Both Isabel and Maria walked over to help her. The fussed over the little cuts and bruises she had.
Isabel healed them.
Maria said, “Now that is a power I would like….”
Stephanie put her thumb in her mouth and with the other hand gestured behind them.
A woman stood behind them. Her hair was grey and her gown was green with a glittering golden embroidery. Bright green eyes blazed out of her half smiling face.
Maria knew her. Knew her well.
It was her after all.
Her future self.
“What are you doing here?”
Stephanie clung to Maria.
Isabel looked at the woman and then back at Maria. “My God. She looks just like you. Only old.”
“That is because she is me.”
Future Maria smiled, “Nice to see you again, Isabel. Or do you prefer Lonnie or Vi?”
“My name is Isabel.”
“Fascinating. All of this is so fascinating. You know we have dozens of scientists struggling to figure out how you could do all of this unaided. With only the lightest of connections. Pictures wasn’t it?”
Maria said, “Why are you here?”
Her future self smiled. It was a genuine smile.
Maria knew not to trust it. This was the woman who had killed all of her friends!
Isabel just looked between the two of them, flabbergasted.
Future Maria looked sardonically at Isabel, “Didn’t she tell you about me?”
“You, you killed me. And Liz. And Michael.”
Future Maria winced. “I did not kill Michael. I should have saved him. Surely he would have come around eventually…. Your Michael shows me what could have been. Keep up the good work.”
Maria blinked. “Okay. Um, all of this is like way over my head and all, but why are you here. And how are you here. Shouldn’t your world have just gone poof when Future Max came back and….”
“Ah. So that self righteous fool talked about Serena? Her ideas. Well, I hate to tell you this. But she was wrong. Wrong about so very many things. There is just so much the Antarans knew that we didn’t. Of course, they never would have tried what Serena did. Serena didn’t know she had done the impossible. You have no idea the number of cherished theories died that day.”
Isabel was nodding faintly. “They split the time stream?”
Future Maria said, “It’s highly technical, my dear. I could not begin to tell you the details. You should know that we have never been much into science. But I guess that would be an easy way to say it. Maybe I could cajole Amy into visiting. She could explain it better.”
Isabel looked at Maria, “Amy?”
“Liz’s daughter.”
“Queen of Antar, Ruler of the Seven Worlds, and well I could go on but it would be pointless. Amy will never be born in this world. Let’s get to business, shall we?”
“Why are you here?”
“You possess something we need. Something that was destroyed in our world.”
“So what?”
“I would like your help.”
“Um, why should I care? I mean really? You’re like, you’re like my worst nightmare. Not only to I not get the guy, but I kill all of my girlfriends?”
“And Max. Let’s not forget Max. I regret it now, all of it now. Except for him. Isabel, try to keep your brother from being an ass, okay?”
Isabel’s face burned with rage and she blasted Future Maria.
To no effect. Future Maria deftly deflected it. And sat there regarding her nails. “You do realize I have spent the better part of thirty years practicing my powers. I’m simply better than you. At the moment.”
Stephanie reached up and tried to kiss Isabel, hugging tightly to her leg.
Future Maria frowned at the child, and then continued. “I am prepared to make you both a deal. I will come back and train you both a little if you will help me.”
Maria and Isabel looked at each other and turned back to face Future Maria and shook their heads simultaneously.
Isabel spoke up, “This Maria is my friend. She will never be you. Go back to your world.”
Future Maria’s voice became angry. “You do realize I am trying to make a gesture here. A ’I come in peace’ gesture? I don’t need to do any of this. If I want to I can just take what I need. But I want to help you. I, I like the way this world is heading. I like the life Maria might lead this time.”
Maria felt a sense of disquiet seep through her. How did this woman know so much about how her life was now? They were in a different timeline. Things had changed. How could she….
Isabel stuck to her guns, “We will never serve you!”
“I do so look forward to the day when you stop being melodramatic my dear.”
Isabel bridled and was about to say something…..
Future Maria just said, “Isabel. Go to sleep.”
Isabel’s eyes flickered for a moment.
And she was gone.
Maria clung to Stephanie, who held tightly back.
Future Maria tuned back to Maria, her smile back in place. “So are you willing to be more reasonable?”
“What did you do to her?”
“My dear, this dream walking business….. This is something the Antarans do not fully understand, mind warping on the other….. Well lets just say that Ana was a good teacher.”
“So is this is? Are you going to rewrite my mind? Make me into an image of you?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Isn’t that why you are here?”
Future Maria sighed and looked away. “Maria, have you noticed you have been having missing moments of time? Maybe a little dizziness sometimes. Dreams you can’t quite remember?”
Maria felt herself grow cold. She’d had all of those things. She’d meant to mention them to Liz or Michael, but somehow she kept putting it off. “You are possessing me. Like Larek possesses Brody.”
Future Maria’s smile was sad. “Yes. If I wanted to, I could take possession of you for a while. And there would be little you could do about it. Not even Tess would know. I am you.”
“No, no, no, this can’t be happening. This is a nightmare! That is it! This is just a nightmare and I will wake up and everything will…..”
“Not be okay.”
Maria felt… strange, distant and detached.
Future Maria flickered a little. “Just writing you a little note. You have no clue how skilled Ana was with this. She used to use me like a puppet all the time.”
“Then why are you doing it to me!”
“Maria, this is no joke. My world is in trouble. The Granolith is the key. It is how they were beaten the last time. But we don’t know how! It has to be in that book, it just has to be.”
“Book?”
“The Destiny Book. It was so much more than we ever thought it was. It was supposed to be a primer for the Royals. Not only to master their abilities, but also the Granolith. The information we need has to be in there. And, and our father’s notes. We need them too. They’re the key.”
Maria was feeling very scared. She held onto Stephanie so tightly and relished in way the sense of her flowed back and forth between them. It made her feel not so alone. And then there was her link to Michael. Would he notice when her future self took over?
She could hope.
“So will you help me?”
“What choice do I have?”
“More than you think. Um, for now though, I think you need your sleep. I will meet you here? Tomorrow night?”
“Sure.”
“And tell Isabel, that I will train her if she wants. I always liked her.”
“You killed her.”
“Only because I had to. Um, one last thing. I just have to know….. Are you pregnant? I know that you and Michael are sexually active. And that child looks so much like him….”
“Stephanie?”
Future Maria winced. And quietly said, “Stephanie….”
“No, I’m not pregnant. But she does look like me. And Michael. Strange. I kind of, kind of wish she was my daughter. But, no I’m not pregnant.”
“She is connected to you. As you say, strange. Good night.” And she was gone.
Maria held onto Stephanie for a very long time.
-------
Tess-
Tess looked at Alex through the mirror.
He looked so serious. And well dressed. Too bad Isabel couldn’t see, she would definitely approve.
Isabel had picked out Alex’s wardrobe for his trip to Las Cruces. Well dressed and professional, but not overboard.
The enormity of what they were going to try to do, of what she would have to say to her friends when they got back….
Tess was very nervous.
This had to work.
-------
Isabel-
Isabel was not an outdoors person. Not at all.
She didn’t like to camp. She didn’t like to hike. She certainly had never had gone hunting.
So why was she out there in the cool morning shooting at targets with Gloria Whitman?
Oh yeah.. Trying to bond with her future mother-in-law.
Alex had already proposed.
Three times.
Once had been in a dream. He had caught her trespassing. And would not let her go.
Not that she had minded.
That had been a pleasant dream.
Isabel shook her head. Why did dreaming seem so significant to her this morning.
The thought went away.
She looked instead at Gloria Whitman. So very focused on firing a tiny bit of metal into a small read circle much to far away. A couple of shots later Gloria set the rifle down.
“Well that is enough of that for now. Hmm, I’ll show you how to use a pistol. Like I promised. I have to tell you, this is the only part I miss about the army. To shoot a machine gun again…..“ Gloria smiled, “But first, a couple of questions.”
“Okay.”
“Are you toying with Alex? I mean, what are your intentions with him. He was pretty broken up about you earlier. And now the two of you are thick as thieves. And I already know the two of you are sleeping together.”
“I love your son.”
“That is what he says. But you are both so young. I know what Alex thinks, what he said to me.” She shook her head, “And let me tell you that was a pretty surreal conversation over Christmas breakfast. Too bad Chuck missed it. Anyway, Alex has a pretty good head on his shoulders, but you are both so young….”
Isabel looked away. “You are right. We are young. And I wish I could explain. I wish I could prove to you that this isn’t just a phase, it isn’t something both of us are going to grow out of. We love each other. And, and he will marry me one day.”
“He said he already proposed and you turned him down.”
“We should at least be out of high school, don’t you think? I don’t know. To me it is not a race. It will happen. It just hasn’t happened yet. And, well my wedding, I want it to be perfect….” Isabel sighed. “I didn’t turn him down so much as postponed it.”
One day I will be able to tell you why I know it will happen. I want you to know. I am tired of keeping secrets from those who should know.
Even Max agreed that their parents knowing was a good thing.
Mrs. Whitman just looked at her for a moment. “Just, Isabel, if you do sleep together, if you do have sex, be careful. I’m not ready to be a grandmother.”
“I will be.”
Mrs. Whitman shook her head and muttered something about them being too young. She then spoke up, “Why don’t we scare up some breakfast, and I’ll teach you some basic self defense…. Any female relative of mine should know how to defend herself…..”
Isabel couldn’t quite keep a smile off her face.
If she only knew…..
--------
Alicia-
Alicia entered the room that Pam was kept in. Adam stood guard.
As he had since her grandfather had given orders to protect her.
Her grandfather and Agent Byrnes had both headed to Roswell. Alicia had planned on joining them, but Sydney had been kept for observation.
The medical authorities could see something had happened, they just had no clue what.
A couple more days in Phoenix was more than tolerable if it meant her daughter would live.
Live and more. Adam had said that something had been done to her daughter. That she had been changed.
What that might mean for the future, he wasn’t sure. But he was fairly sure she would develop Gifts. Strong Gifts. All of the Christmas Children would.
All of them now had Far Sight as a secret godparent. Watching out for them, nurturing them….. And if they had something useful, offering them employment.
Just like they would with Pam.
Of course, if Alicia’s theory was right, those kids might find themselves drafted in a war to save the planet.
Pam was still unconscious. A state Adam was keeping her in as he built up some level of protection for her.
“How is she?”
“Better. She should be able to go home in a few days. Pity about her missing Christmas. But it is better this way. Safer for her and for us.”
“So she’ll recover?”
Adam swung his head. “Her old life is over. Oh, she’ll still go to the same school. Lots of things will be the same. But she will need to work on her mental defenses every day….. For the rest of her life.”
Both of them were silent for a while. Adam’s hand swept down and squeezed one of Pam’s
Alicia looked at the expression on his face and said, “You love her.”
He did not look at her, kept his gaze on Pam. “I saw things. Things I shouldn’t have seen…. There is a, a connection between us now. Only she is only seventeen and I am twenty-five. She has her whole life in front of her.”
Alicia just looked at him. Had she ever thought she was old in her twenties? Had she ever been that, that, silly? Still eight years at their age was quite a gulf. “Do you love her?”
“I can’t explain it. I wish I could.”
“Is this going to be a problem.”
“I already told the boss. He just told me to protect her and to train her. And to watch out if our friend Ana comes calling.”
“I see.”
“He also said that I need to be careful. That there might be others in Roswell. Other potential threats or possible recruits.”
Alicia didn’t say a word. She knew very well that there were several very powerful Gifted individuals in Roswell.
She owed Max for saving Sydney. She had promised herself that she would try to protect him. To help him if she could.
But would she be willing to gamble the world over it?
Both of them were quiet as the watched over yet another pawn in a vast interstellar game of chess.
One that was far from over.
Re: Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chap 26- 07/23/09
Thanks to everyone following along this story.
AvalonRose-The book will be translated in the next part. As to who and what Stephanie is, that is a little bit off, maybe six to ten parts off until the understand what she is. Thanks.
Arrianeleigh- Thanks.
Keepsmiling7-Thanks. Lots of different mysteries are going to be clearing up in the next few parts I think. The Destiny Book will be translated next part for instance.
RhondaAnn- Future Maria is out to save her world. And maybe have some fun while doing it. But she could mind wipe current Maria at any time. Well partially anyway.
Well, Isabel does want to get to know Gloria better, to judge if she could ever share her secret with the woman. Future Maria wiped that memory from Isabel. Remember Future Maria was trained by and the best student of Ana in her timeline....
Chanks_girl- In a regular stand up fight, Gloria would win. She teaches self defense and is a fire arms instructor. But Isabel could make Mrs Whitman into paste if she used her powers.... Isabel is far from defenseless. Particularly if Vilandra comes out to play.
But you are right that Gloria Whitman was trying to intimidate Isabel, to get a feel for the girl. To see if she is worth her son.
The Kyle, Alex, Tess team had better talk fast and be very very convincing. Or they will be in a world of hurt. Particularly Tess.
DeDe PR- Thanks. Pam will be involved, but well you will see what part she will play. As far as Stepahine is concerned, well there are tiny hints throughout the last two books as to who and what she is. But then I only see them because I know they are there. (ANd I might be fooling myself, I mean, I do know and might not have planted some of the clues I thought I have.) As for Future Maria's reaction.... Stephanie was the name Timeline one was going to give the girl she was pregnant with but aborted.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past part 27
Liz-
Liz walked behind the counter to fetch herself and Max a couple of drinks. It was late morning, after most people have had their breakfast but before they were ready for lunch.
Business was slow. Slow enough that she didn’t need to be worried about getting drafted to help.
Both her father was in the kitchen and her mother was working on the schedule.
The man would be here soon.
Liz wished her vision had been clearer, that she knew more of what would happen. But she only had vague impressions.
This man was important and could play a big part in their lives.
Either for good or ill.
He could not be alienated from them.
She walked over and gave Max his Cherry Coke. She sipped at her coffee.
“Liz, why are you so nervous? Is something going to happen? Have you seen something?”
Liz looked at Max, at the serious demeanor. He believed her. More, he believed IN her. She reached out and took one of his hands. And felt the connection deepen.
She desperately wanted to look into his eyes, to lose herself there. But she tended to lose track of time when she did that. And she needed to be attentive to her surroundings.
But it was hard. And she could feel Max’s disappointment mingling with her own.
Her sense of him had been growing so much more intense lately.
“Liz?”
She looked over at the door. And said quietly, “A man will walk through that door in just a few minutes. And my life will change. He knew my mother. She worked for him. And, and she was more important I think than we know.”
“But your mom is…. Oh…. Rose.”
Yesterday had set a new tradition in the Parker family. Or rather had added to it.
Liz had visited Rose Troy’s grave with her parents. And they told stories. They went out for breakfast and remembered her.
Their emotions had been so strong. So very strong. They had loved her so very much.
She knew. For interspersed amongst the stories, she had gotten flashes. Bits and pieces of Roses life as seen by her parents.
When she had come back, Max had been waiting, eager to hand her a Christmas gift.
And they had talked. She had told him everything about her biological mother. Everything that she knew.
And her mother, the one that had raised her was still holding secrets. Still trying to protect her daughter from the shadows of the past.
Shadows that would be revealed and dispersed today, no matter what her parents desired.
She just wished she could put a name on this mystery man. All she knew about him was that he had been there at the Crash site. That he had participated in the cover-up.
And her mother had worked for him.
That meant something. Something unusual. And Nancy knew. Knew what Rose had been involved with.
Click.
Another piece of the puzzle slipped into place. Nancy had worked for him too. In a different way.
So many secrets. So many shadows.
Who was Liz Parker anyway?
Max squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her.
Liz smiled back at him. What would she do without him? Separated they would just flail in the dark. But together, together they could take on the world.
And it was just possible that they might have to.
--------
Tess-
Tess was nervously bouncing in her chair. “So what now?”
Alex sat back in his chair. “We wait.”
Tess frowned and nodded.
“You know Tess, you actually are pretty good at this stuff. I mean, I know you joined the Computer Club just to ask questions about translating this book, and well now that were actually going to do it, you’ll probably stop going. But seriously, you do have some talent. I mean its not cool or anything but…..”
“Nasedo made sure I knew how do work a computer. It was one of the ways he made his money. And how he was always able to cobble up some sort of fake life for us. I think, I think he wanted me to be able to do it if I had to. You know in his own psychopathic way, I think he really did care about me.”
“So why did you do it. Why did you warp me. It can’t all be because of your fear of the Skins and Khivar.”
She rocked back and forth, “You know a lot of it was just that. Particularly after Whittaker….” Tess shuddered.
Alex shook his head, “But surely you had some of this already thought out. I mean how many people did you need to fool to get everyone to think I was going to Sweden?”
“Not many, not after I warped you to help me. Trust me when I say that people will often believe what they want to believe. And all too often what they read. I was actually expecting it to be harder than it was.” Tess shrugged.
“But why was it so important? Why would you do that? I mean it seems so risky.”
“The Book is a primer. It was supposed to teach us about ourselves, about how to use our powers. A fall back plan in case the others teachers died.”
“Okay. I guess that makes sense. But why couldn’t Nasedo just have read it to you? Or for that matter just lied about it?”
“You don’t know do you?” She placed a hand on his arm, “Well how could you. I didn’t know until I talked with Aeron about it all. The Book is written in old Arhyjhaelian. Nasedo couldn’t read it.”
“Nasedo couldn’t read!?!”
“How well do you read Latin?”
“Um, I see your point.”
“Nasedo was just a guard. An important guard, one that knew a lot about Earth and the original mission here. But still just a guard/ spy. Dorian’s the same I think. Now Aeron’s Natalie, she could probably have translated it. But she’s dead.”
“Wait, if this language is so rare that most of the people sent with you can’t read it, what good would it do as a backup?”
Tess was silent for a moment. She pulled her legs up and hugged them to her chest. “We’re broken. Me, Max, Michael, Isabel, we are all broken. Defective.”
“Why would you say that!”
“Because we are. We are supposed to remember, Alex. We should know. I thought, I thought that the techniques Nasedo had shown me were working…. But Aeron, she remembers. Not all of it, but a lot.”
“Then why didn’t you have her translate it when she was here?”
“Viat Mithar.”
“Excuse me?”
“Both of us, me and Aeron, we aren’t the same people as the others. Or language, customs, our race…. We are different. Not quite a different species, but close.”
“Well you are human now. One of us.”
“Yeah…. Human.”
There had been a time when that would have been insulting. It still stung a little. Which was stupid, because this body she was in was indeed human.
But what about her mind? Her soul?
When you sloughed off this body, what was she?
And it came to her.
She was Tess Harding. A Mithar/ human hybrid. A bit of each.
And if she was to venerate her Mithar ancestors, to honor the pacts her people had made when they had chosen to serve Truth…..
Shouldn’t she also venerate her human half too?
I’m nervous about what is in the Book. Nervous that it will say I have to be with Max. That everything Nasedo said was right…..
Too bad.
She wasn’t about to give up Kyle.
She would use whatever information she could in the Book to further her ends.
To have the best possible life on her world.
She felt as more of the shackles that had weighed her spirit down for so long came undone. As she realized that Earth wasn’t just a place she had to abide until she went home.
It was her home.
Alex was surprised to say the least when she squealed with a joy she could not contain and hugged and kissed his cheeks.
She had a lot to atone for, a lot to make up for. To Alex, to Isabel, to all of her friends and family.
And it would be hard.
But she was free. No matter what the Book said….. Tess Harding was free.
------
Maria
Maria woke up with a groan.
She’d had the most disturbing dreams. Of war and death and betrayal. And so much of it had seemed…. Off. Like it had been her, but not really her.
Her muscles ached. Everything ached.
And yet she felt good, content. Happy.
She was in bed. With Michael.
She snuggled a little closer to him and felt his arm tighten around her even in sleep.
She just lay there for a moment, soaking in the sensual pleasures of his body next to hers, relishing his warmth. And everywhere they touched, she could feel their souls touch as well. Adding to the pure bliss she was feeling.
She stiffened suddenly.
She didn’t remember sleeping with Michael. Oh there were vague memories, dreamlike suggestions that one of her dreams had featured him quite prominently.
But this was not a dream….
She extricated herself reluctantly. And looked down at Michael. At her lover.
Her cheeks flushed at the thought. Followed by anger.
For another thought intruded. Another memory. Of a different dream.
Of her future self.
Surely she wouldn’t have. Surely she couldn’t have…..
Damn it woman, the man is mine! You had your Michael and you blew it!
The room began to fill with a sharp ozone smell and the shadowed room filled with a green glow.
There was a note. The note she had told her she had left:
Sorry, my dear. I just could not resist. I do hope you realize how lucky you are. For I could feel that even as my mind drove your body, it was your soul he was connecting to.
It was fabulous enough as it was, I can only imagine what it must feel to you.
We have much to discuss.
See you tonight,
Love,
Maria.
And lightning began to lash out all across her room.
-------
Max
Max could feel the nervousness that Liz was trying to hide. He could feel her drawing strength from him. Could feel her trust that he would back her up flowing through her skin.
It was like the last eight months with all of their trials and divisions had passed away. No, more like they had never happened, that instead they had strengthened their relationship instead of pulling apart.
Max was not going to make the same mistake that both he and Liz had made. So confident in their bond, in the flashes that they shared.
He still believed that they were soul mates, that they were meant for each other. But he no longer believed it was inevitable. No longer believed that it would work with out work. That they could take each other for granted.
They still had a lot to talk about. A lot to discuss.
Max heard the door chime ring.
Liz nervously looked up.
Max followed her gaze. His heart sank as he saw what could only be two agents walk into the Crashdown. They had dark suits and mirror shades. Their hidden eyes scanning the restaurant looking for threats.
Worse he could feel something as their gazes had swept across him. Somehow they didn’t notice him.
But they noticed Liz. Oh yes. He could all but feel the intensity of their gaze on his girlfriend.
He would not let them take her. He would wait for them to make the first move, but he would not let them have her.
The two agents exchanged glances and headed back outside.
For whatever reason Liz seemed to calm down. She reached across to him, “Max, it will be okay. They’re his bodyguards. And, and they’re different. Somehow more.”
The door chimed again and another man, this one an older impeccably dressed man walked in. And his eyes locked on Max’s
“Carlos?”
“NO. GET OUT! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!” came Jeff Parkers booming voice.
Nancy floated in front of Liz’s table, “No, please…. Don’t take her. Please, John. She’s my daughter….”
“Nancy, you are looking well. You really should have told me.”
“You never asked.”
“I shouldn’t have had to.”
Nancy was silent.
Jeff walked up and confronted John Ibanez. “I said you are not welcome here. If you don’t leave…..”
“You will call the local authorities? Really, my dear Jeff, you know how little that will affect me. I will just talk to her at school.” He turned to go.
Liz stood, “Wait! I, I want to talk with you. I want to discuss what happened to my birth mother.”
“Liz, it’s not safe. He’s dangerous….”
“It will be ok, daddy. It will. We’ll just talk here. And you can watch us and make sure nothing happens.”
“He’s dangerous honey, more dangerous than anyone you’ve ever met.”
Nancy looked at Liz, placed a hand on Jeff’s arm, “Come on. We can’t protect her forever.” Her gaze was sharp when it moved from her husband to John Ibanez’s. “But we will be watching.” She stalked off.
Jeff reluctantly followed her, his gaze stricken as he looked again at his daughter.
What was Liz getting them into?
One of the waitresses came over and shakily said, “Welcome to the Crashdown, can I get you something to drink?”
“Coffee, with sugar and cream, my dear.” John turned his gaze toward Liz. “My name is John Ibanez and I owe you more than I can possibly give. It is my fault your mother died. A man I trusted betrayed me, and betrayed her in turn.” He turned to Max, “Excuse me, son, but I really need to talk with Liz at the moment.”
Max squeezed Liz’s hand and prepared to get up.
But Liz stopped him. “I trust him. Entirely. He can hear what you have to say.”
John just looked at both of them.
The waitress came back and handed him his coffee. He took a sip and smiled at the waitress. “That will be all.” He continued to study both of them. “So just like Lucia. It is just as well. I have things to say to you as well, Max Evans. I take it you trust this slip of a girl as much as she trusts you?”
Max gripped Liz’s hand tightly and nodded.
John looked at them, “Excellent. That will save me time. Now I have much to tell you Elizabeth, but first I must ask a question of your boyfriend. A question and a promise. A limited promise, but a promise never the less/”
“Go on.”
“Max, did you heal Elizabeth like you healed my great granddaughter and the other children in Phoenix?”
AvalonRose-The book will be translated in the next part. As to who and what Stephanie is, that is a little bit off, maybe six to ten parts off until the understand what she is. Thanks.
Arrianeleigh- Thanks.
Keepsmiling7-Thanks. Lots of different mysteries are going to be clearing up in the next few parts I think. The Destiny Book will be translated next part for instance.
RhondaAnn- Future Maria is out to save her world. And maybe have some fun while doing it. But she could mind wipe current Maria at any time. Well partially anyway.
Well, Isabel does want to get to know Gloria better, to judge if she could ever share her secret with the woman. Future Maria wiped that memory from Isabel. Remember Future Maria was trained by and the best student of Ana in her timeline....
Chanks_girl- In a regular stand up fight, Gloria would win. She teaches self defense and is a fire arms instructor. But Isabel could make Mrs Whitman into paste if she used her powers.... Isabel is far from defenseless. Particularly if Vilandra comes out to play.
But you are right that Gloria Whitman was trying to intimidate Isabel, to get a feel for the girl. To see if she is worth her son.
The Kyle, Alex, Tess team had better talk fast and be very very convincing. Or they will be in a world of hurt. Particularly Tess.
DeDe PR- Thanks. Pam will be involved, but well you will see what part she will play. As far as Stepahine is concerned, well there are tiny hints throughout the last two books as to who and what she is. But then I only see them because I know they are there. (ANd I might be fooling myself, I mean, I do know and might not have planted some of the clues I thought I have.) As for Future Maria's reaction.... Stephanie was the name Timeline one was going to give the girl she was pregnant with but aborted.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past part 27
Liz-
Liz walked behind the counter to fetch herself and Max a couple of drinks. It was late morning, after most people have had their breakfast but before they were ready for lunch.
Business was slow. Slow enough that she didn’t need to be worried about getting drafted to help.
Both her father was in the kitchen and her mother was working on the schedule.
The man would be here soon.
Liz wished her vision had been clearer, that she knew more of what would happen. But she only had vague impressions.
This man was important and could play a big part in their lives.
Either for good or ill.
He could not be alienated from them.
She walked over and gave Max his Cherry Coke. She sipped at her coffee.
“Liz, why are you so nervous? Is something going to happen? Have you seen something?”
Liz looked at Max, at the serious demeanor. He believed her. More, he believed IN her. She reached out and took one of his hands. And felt the connection deepen.
She desperately wanted to look into his eyes, to lose herself there. But she tended to lose track of time when she did that. And she needed to be attentive to her surroundings.
But it was hard. And she could feel Max’s disappointment mingling with her own.
Her sense of him had been growing so much more intense lately.
“Liz?”
She looked over at the door. And said quietly, “A man will walk through that door in just a few minutes. And my life will change. He knew my mother. She worked for him. And, and she was more important I think than we know.”
“But your mom is…. Oh…. Rose.”
Yesterday had set a new tradition in the Parker family. Or rather had added to it.
Liz had visited Rose Troy’s grave with her parents. And they told stories. They went out for breakfast and remembered her.
Their emotions had been so strong. So very strong. They had loved her so very much.
She knew. For interspersed amongst the stories, she had gotten flashes. Bits and pieces of Roses life as seen by her parents.
When she had come back, Max had been waiting, eager to hand her a Christmas gift.
And they had talked. She had told him everything about her biological mother. Everything that she knew.
And her mother, the one that had raised her was still holding secrets. Still trying to protect her daughter from the shadows of the past.
Shadows that would be revealed and dispersed today, no matter what her parents desired.
She just wished she could put a name on this mystery man. All she knew about him was that he had been there at the Crash site. That he had participated in the cover-up.
And her mother had worked for him.
That meant something. Something unusual. And Nancy knew. Knew what Rose had been involved with.
Click.
Another piece of the puzzle slipped into place. Nancy had worked for him too. In a different way.
So many secrets. So many shadows.
Who was Liz Parker anyway?
Max squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her.
Liz smiled back at him. What would she do without him? Separated they would just flail in the dark. But together, together they could take on the world.
And it was just possible that they might have to.
--------
Tess-
Tess was nervously bouncing in her chair. “So what now?”
Alex sat back in his chair. “We wait.”
Tess frowned and nodded.
“You know Tess, you actually are pretty good at this stuff. I mean, I know you joined the Computer Club just to ask questions about translating this book, and well now that were actually going to do it, you’ll probably stop going. But seriously, you do have some talent. I mean its not cool or anything but…..”
“Nasedo made sure I knew how do work a computer. It was one of the ways he made his money. And how he was always able to cobble up some sort of fake life for us. I think, I think he wanted me to be able to do it if I had to. You know in his own psychopathic way, I think he really did care about me.”
“So why did you do it. Why did you warp me. It can’t all be because of your fear of the Skins and Khivar.”
She rocked back and forth, “You know a lot of it was just that. Particularly after Whittaker….” Tess shuddered.
Alex shook his head, “But surely you had some of this already thought out. I mean how many people did you need to fool to get everyone to think I was going to Sweden?”
“Not many, not after I warped you to help me. Trust me when I say that people will often believe what they want to believe. And all too often what they read. I was actually expecting it to be harder than it was.” Tess shrugged.
“But why was it so important? Why would you do that? I mean it seems so risky.”
“The Book is a primer. It was supposed to teach us about ourselves, about how to use our powers. A fall back plan in case the others teachers died.”
“Okay. I guess that makes sense. But why couldn’t Nasedo just have read it to you? Or for that matter just lied about it?”
“You don’t know do you?” She placed a hand on his arm, “Well how could you. I didn’t know until I talked with Aeron about it all. The Book is written in old Arhyjhaelian. Nasedo couldn’t read it.”
“Nasedo couldn’t read!?!”
“How well do you read Latin?”
“Um, I see your point.”
“Nasedo was just a guard. An important guard, one that knew a lot about Earth and the original mission here. But still just a guard/ spy. Dorian’s the same I think. Now Aeron’s Natalie, she could probably have translated it. But she’s dead.”
“Wait, if this language is so rare that most of the people sent with you can’t read it, what good would it do as a backup?”
Tess was silent for a moment. She pulled her legs up and hugged them to her chest. “We’re broken. Me, Max, Michael, Isabel, we are all broken. Defective.”
“Why would you say that!”
“Because we are. We are supposed to remember, Alex. We should know. I thought, I thought that the techniques Nasedo had shown me were working…. But Aeron, she remembers. Not all of it, but a lot.”
“Then why didn’t you have her translate it when she was here?”
“Viat Mithar.”
“Excuse me?”
“Both of us, me and Aeron, we aren’t the same people as the others. Or language, customs, our race…. We are different. Not quite a different species, but close.”
“Well you are human now. One of us.”
“Yeah…. Human.”
There had been a time when that would have been insulting. It still stung a little. Which was stupid, because this body she was in was indeed human.
But what about her mind? Her soul?
When you sloughed off this body, what was she?
And it came to her.
She was Tess Harding. A Mithar/ human hybrid. A bit of each.
And if she was to venerate her Mithar ancestors, to honor the pacts her people had made when they had chosen to serve Truth…..
Shouldn’t she also venerate her human half too?
I’m nervous about what is in the Book. Nervous that it will say I have to be with Max. That everything Nasedo said was right…..
Too bad.
She wasn’t about to give up Kyle.
She would use whatever information she could in the Book to further her ends.
To have the best possible life on her world.
She felt as more of the shackles that had weighed her spirit down for so long came undone. As she realized that Earth wasn’t just a place she had to abide until she went home.
It was her home.
Alex was surprised to say the least when she squealed with a joy she could not contain and hugged and kissed his cheeks.
She had a lot to atone for, a lot to make up for. To Alex, to Isabel, to all of her friends and family.
And it would be hard.
But she was free. No matter what the Book said….. Tess Harding was free.
------
Maria
Maria woke up with a groan.
She’d had the most disturbing dreams. Of war and death and betrayal. And so much of it had seemed…. Off. Like it had been her, but not really her.
Her muscles ached. Everything ached.
And yet she felt good, content. Happy.
She was in bed. With Michael.
She snuggled a little closer to him and felt his arm tighten around her even in sleep.
She just lay there for a moment, soaking in the sensual pleasures of his body next to hers, relishing his warmth. And everywhere they touched, she could feel their souls touch as well. Adding to the pure bliss she was feeling.
She stiffened suddenly.
She didn’t remember sleeping with Michael. Oh there were vague memories, dreamlike suggestions that one of her dreams had featured him quite prominently.
But this was not a dream….
She extricated herself reluctantly. And looked down at Michael. At her lover.
Her cheeks flushed at the thought. Followed by anger.
For another thought intruded. Another memory. Of a different dream.
Of her future self.
Surely she wouldn’t have. Surely she couldn’t have…..
Damn it woman, the man is mine! You had your Michael and you blew it!
The room began to fill with a sharp ozone smell and the shadowed room filled with a green glow.
There was a note. The note she had told her she had left:
Sorry, my dear. I just could not resist. I do hope you realize how lucky you are. For I could feel that even as my mind drove your body, it was your soul he was connecting to.
It was fabulous enough as it was, I can only imagine what it must feel to you.
We have much to discuss.
See you tonight,
Love,
Maria.
And lightning began to lash out all across her room.
-------
Max
Max could feel the nervousness that Liz was trying to hide. He could feel her drawing strength from him. Could feel her trust that he would back her up flowing through her skin.
It was like the last eight months with all of their trials and divisions had passed away. No, more like they had never happened, that instead they had strengthened their relationship instead of pulling apart.
Max was not going to make the same mistake that both he and Liz had made. So confident in their bond, in the flashes that they shared.
He still believed that they were soul mates, that they were meant for each other. But he no longer believed it was inevitable. No longer believed that it would work with out work. That they could take each other for granted.
They still had a lot to talk about. A lot to discuss.
Max heard the door chime ring.
Liz nervously looked up.
Max followed her gaze. His heart sank as he saw what could only be two agents walk into the Crashdown. They had dark suits and mirror shades. Their hidden eyes scanning the restaurant looking for threats.
Worse he could feel something as their gazes had swept across him. Somehow they didn’t notice him.
But they noticed Liz. Oh yes. He could all but feel the intensity of their gaze on his girlfriend.
He would not let them take her. He would wait for them to make the first move, but he would not let them have her.
The two agents exchanged glances and headed back outside.
For whatever reason Liz seemed to calm down. She reached across to him, “Max, it will be okay. They’re his bodyguards. And, and they’re different. Somehow more.”
The door chimed again and another man, this one an older impeccably dressed man walked in. And his eyes locked on Max’s
“Carlos?”
“NO. GET OUT! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!” came Jeff Parkers booming voice.
Nancy floated in front of Liz’s table, “No, please…. Don’t take her. Please, John. She’s my daughter….”
“Nancy, you are looking well. You really should have told me.”
“You never asked.”
“I shouldn’t have had to.”
Nancy was silent.
Jeff walked up and confronted John Ibanez. “I said you are not welcome here. If you don’t leave…..”
“You will call the local authorities? Really, my dear Jeff, you know how little that will affect me. I will just talk to her at school.” He turned to go.
Liz stood, “Wait! I, I want to talk with you. I want to discuss what happened to my birth mother.”
“Liz, it’s not safe. He’s dangerous….”
“It will be ok, daddy. It will. We’ll just talk here. And you can watch us and make sure nothing happens.”
“He’s dangerous honey, more dangerous than anyone you’ve ever met.”
Nancy looked at Liz, placed a hand on Jeff’s arm, “Come on. We can’t protect her forever.” Her gaze was sharp when it moved from her husband to John Ibanez’s. “But we will be watching.” She stalked off.
Jeff reluctantly followed her, his gaze stricken as he looked again at his daughter.
What was Liz getting them into?
One of the waitresses came over and shakily said, “Welcome to the Crashdown, can I get you something to drink?”
“Coffee, with sugar and cream, my dear.” John turned his gaze toward Liz. “My name is John Ibanez and I owe you more than I can possibly give. It is my fault your mother died. A man I trusted betrayed me, and betrayed her in turn.” He turned to Max, “Excuse me, son, but I really need to talk with Liz at the moment.”
Max squeezed Liz’s hand and prepared to get up.
But Liz stopped him. “I trust him. Entirely. He can hear what you have to say.”
John just looked at both of them.
The waitress came back and handed him his coffee. He took a sip and smiled at the waitress. “That will be all.” He continued to study both of them. “So just like Lucia. It is just as well. I have things to say to you as well, Max Evans. I take it you trust this slip of a girl as much as she trusts you?”
Max gripped Liz’s hand tightly and nodded.
John looked at them, “Excellent. That will save me time. Now I have much to tell you Elizabeth, but first I must ask a question of your boyfriend. A question and a promise. A limited promise, but a promise never the less/”
“Go on.”
“Max, did you heal Elizabeth like you healed my great granddaughter and the other children in Phoenix?”
Re: Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chap 27- 08/02/09
Thanks to everyone still following along this somewhat convoluted story. This part is a little short, but it will give a taste of what is coming.
Arrianeleigh- Thanks. Well we will meet up with FMaria in the next part. You do get to read a letter from VIlandra that is connected to what she needs, though.
keepsmiling7- Thanks. There is a little bit of that discussed here. More in the next part. Things are going to be moving pretty fast (at least that is what I plan) in the following chapters. But there have to be bits of information to make it make sense.
AvalonRose- Yep, Alex gets to read the first bit of the book in this part. Please note that Zan was the adopted son of one of John's sons. So while he will talk about Rose, most of that conversation is in the next part.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past part 28
Michael
Michael woke up to Maria pounding on him.
Alright, what did I do now?
And he could smell smoke.
The shutters were closed but the air was glowing green.
At least she wasn’t zapping him yet.
“HOW COULD YOU?”
Michael rubbed his eyes, trying vainly to stay calm and composed. A hard thing to do when Maria was in a rampage, but necessary. The last thing he wanted to do was add fuel to the fire.
“HOW COULD YOU SLEEP WITH HER!”
Michael goggled.
Okay.
Let’s see, my girl friend, who is still naked from the sex we had a little bit ago is accusing me of, what exactly?
“Maria calm down. You know there’s no one else for me.” God, she’s hot when she’s angry. Hmm, maybe I can turn this to my advantage. “Unless you have an evil twin or something.”
Maria stopped hitting him and just stared at him, her green eyes luminous in the dimly lit room. And burst into tears.
Okay.
Michael slipped out of bed. With one arm he pulled Maria to him. The other he put out the tiny fire Maria had inadvertently set. He then took the other hand and ran it down her smooth back.
He opened his side of the connection as wide as he could, and was dismayed at how closed off she was.
For a brief moment he was afraid she was going to build up another wall like she had in late November. It hadn’t lasted long, Maria really wasn’t one to bottle her feelings.
And it burst, and Michael felt as a wall of possessiveness and fear and worry flowed through her. And through it all there was her, her essence. And her love for him.
So he kissed her.
She kissed back, holding him so very tightly. When they broke for air, she glared at him. “You’re mine, got that Guerin. MINE.” And kissed him again.
There was a tiny bit of worry nagging at him as he picked her up. Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
And he knew the problem wouldn’t go away.
Too bad. Sex now. Talk later.
--------
Max-
Max stared at John Ibanez.
Did the man just say he knew that Max was responsible for healing the kids in Phoenix? That he knew that Max could heal…..
I am so dead.
Through the bond he could feel Liz’s shock. And her support.
Whatever happened, they would be together.
John Ibanez’s face had a slight smile, “I understand the quandary you are in Max, I can call you Max?”
“Yeah.”
John continued, “You see, I’m the head of one of the groups you have likely spent your entire life running from. Luckily for you, I mean you no harm. And I would say that even if you did not have the lovely Elizabeth Parker beside you. A young woman I owe so much to. No, I think you have done a wise thing indeed trying to stay under the radar as much as you have.”
Max continued to look at John, trying to figure out what he wanted.
Liz squeezed his hand under the table.
John continued, “For you see, Max, there are groups who would want to hurt you. Experiment on you. Perhaps even kill you. And yes, I have seen the tapes of what was done to you in the White Room. I know quite a bit about you, young man. Enough to know that you are quite dangerous. And that you have done nothing to warrant extra attention save through occasion heroics.
“At Far Sight, we use people like you. No Max, you and your friends are not alone. There are others out there with similar gifts. Albeit not nearly as strong.
“And the time may come when we may need you. America may need you. Hell, the whole world may need your help. But your not ready for that yet. Here is my promise to you, keep a low profile and I will strive to keep the others off your back. If you must do something heroic and noble, for heaven’s sake keep it hushed up.
“But I am warning, we will be watching. And if you turn out to be a danger, well we will put you down. Make no mistake. You won’t even see it coming.”
John took a sip of his coffee, “But enough threats. Thank you for saving Elizabeth, and for saving Sydney for that matter.”
“Why are you telling me all of this?” Max quietly asked.
“Because I like you. And what the Special Unit did…. Not just to you, but to others….”
Liz quietly said, “Lucia.”
John looked away a moment. Almost the glimmer of a tear in his eyes. It was gone when he looked back at them. “Yes.” He sighed. “I should have known you would know. Did you pick up the vibe off of Alicia, or just some random inspiration.”
Liz was quiet.
Max could feel her disquiet. She hadn’t meant to say anything, it had just slipped out. And now she was worried.
Well so was he. They would have to have a meeting about this…. Only if they knew about him, did they know about the others. Would he just be leading them to the others?
John sat back and looked at Liz. “You look so much like her. Bits of Jeff, too. But mostly, Rose. She was a find. Psychometry is not that rare of a gift. But her scope and range. And reliability. It was the reliability that truly made her special. It wasn’t random or sporadic. She had control.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “And that is why they killed her.”
------
Alex-
Alex sat back and watched as the computer began to spit out more results.
Only these were different. Here and there words, translated words began to appear.
They might actually succeed!
Alex looked over at Tess. She was smiling and humming slightly. But very much asleep.
Looks like a pleasant dream.
Alex’s mouth quirked up. He and Tess had talked about their respective significant others, and what their plans were for the rest of the break.
Both of them knew there would be some unpleasantness over the whole Sweden thing. But he had provisionally forgiven Tess. She seemed different. Happier.
Kyle was a lucky man.
If not nearly as lucky as Alex. Alex let a fond day dream play out.
It was really strange here in the Litvack building. When he had been there before he’d always had to fight for time on the computer. Not at the moment. Aside from a couple security personnel and some janitors it was dead. The whole campus had all but shut down for the holidays.
There were other users of the new computer who were using the down time, but they’d had to refine some of their programming and so he and Tess had quite a while before they had to worry about others demanding their time on the big machine.
He was still half aware as another sheet of results from the translating software printed up.
He looked down and his heart stopped. He could read it.
He knew he should wake up Tess, but he’d been working so hard for so long….. Surely she wouldn’t mind if he just peeked first.
…..How many generations has it been since we have been forced to such an anachronistic method of preserving data? How have things come to pass that I should be pushed to such straights, to take such a risk with the fate of my world, my people.
For you see the Granolith has shown me things, both great and terrible to behold. How my brother stood it I do not know. If indeed it affected him so. He trusted me, but it isn’t really the sort of thing to idly chat about, even to his favorite sister and prime confidant.
I miss him. Oh how I miss him.
And Rath. I think in my own way I did love him, even if our hearts were firmly owned by others. We would have been content if not ever totally happy.
I even miss prim and naïve Ava. She tried so hard to impress me.
So many regrets. We were so close. I don’t know if the histories encompassed herein will convey that enough. So close to success. To peace and reconciliation.
And we need it so badly. They are watching us. The Dadarion. The histories will touch on them lightly, mostly not even mentioning them by name, as mere legends and myths. But they are real.
They are real and waiting.
I can only hope that someone competent comes to the fore quickly and establishes themselves as ruler. It will only buy us time, but it may be enough . Enough for you or your counterparts to grow and accept your role.
To raise an army capable of protecting us. And incidentally your new homeworld. I deliberately chose Earth for its very distance from us and from them. It will buy even more time.
Just the thought that the Companions stand ready to face them will hold them off. We nearly destroyed them last time, and they will do what they can to prevent our being able to defend ourselves again. They will attack when they think their victory is inevitable.
And in too many of the futures I see, they win. All life under their sway forced to their arcane purposes, our souls drained to feed their bloated hunger.
They seek to remake existence. To become gods as they vainly believe they are destined to be. That they deserve to be.
And this time there will be no Mithar Schism to divide them. They must be stopped. The Companions must stand ready to defend not just Antar but all of existence.
I sit here pondering my words, perhaps my last written words, and wonder who will indeed read them. This crazy plan is by no means guaranteed of success. And those I have chosen, those I consider my children, are to be destroyed. I hope it is one of you, of the defective batch that is the one who has decoded this book.
Maybe it is small of me, to wish that I am right, and my mother and councilors wrong. But I still feel that it is the right soul and not the right mind that will be deciding factor.
Or perhaps it is one of the primitive indigenous population that has managed to decode this. Impressive feat if true.
If you have, then it means that the plan on my part has completely failed. I can only hope that you will be able to use the information stored herein and provide some counter to protect your world. And maybe the knowledge to set the galaxy free.
The Didarion are evil. Do not trust them.
There is so much I would like to write to you. To share my love with you, with you, my children. But I am running out of time.
Live life. Find love. Be good.
And save us.
Vilandra Mitarin Tarenon
Queen of Antar
Arrianeleigh- Thanks. Well we will meet up with FMaria in the next part. You do get to read a letter from VIlandra that is connected to what she needs, though.
keepsmiling7- Thanks. There is a little bit of that discussed here. More in the next part. Things are going to be moving pretty fast (at least that is what I plan) in the following chapters. But there have to be bits of information to make it make sense.
AvalonRose- Yep, Alex gets to read the first bit of the book in this part. Please note that Zan was the adopted son of one of John's sons. So while he will talk about Rose, most of that conversation is in the next part.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past part 28
Michael
Michael woke up to Maria pounding on him.
Alright, what did I do now?
And he could smell smoke.
The shutters were closed but the air was glowing green.
At least she wasn’t zapping him yet.
“HOW COULD YOU?”
Michael rubbed his eyes, trying vainly to stay calm and composed. A hard thing to do when Maria was in a rampage, but necessary. The last thing he wanted to do was add fuel to the fire.
“HOW COULD YOU SLEEP WITH HER!”
Michael goggled.
Okay.
Let’s see, my girl friend, who is still naked from the sex we had a little bit ago is accusing me of, what exactly?
“Maria calm down. You know there’s no one else for me.” God, she’s hot when she’s angry. Hmm, maybe I can turn this to my advantage. “Unless you have an evil twin or something.”
Maria stopped hitting him and just stared at him, her green eyes luminous in the dimly lit room. And burst into tears.
Okay.
Michael slipped out of bed. With one arm he pulled Maria to him. The other he put out the tiny fire Maria had inadvertently set. He then took the other hand and ran it down her smooth back.
He opened his side of the connection as wide as he could, and was dismayed at how closed off she was.
For a brief moment he was afraid she was going to build up another wall like she had in late November. It hadn’t lasted long, Maria really wasn’t one to bottle her feelings.
And it burst, and Michael felt as a wall of possessiveness and fear and worry flowed through her. And through it all there was her, her essence. And her love for him.
So he kissed her.
She kissed back, holding him so very tightly. When they broke for air, she glared at him. “You’re mine, got that Guerin. MINE.” And kissed him again.
There was a tiny bit of worry nagging at him as he picked her up. Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
And he knew the problem wouldn’t go away.
Too bad. Sex now. Talk later.
--------
Max-
Max stared at John Ibanez.
Did the man just say he knew that Max was responsible for healing the kids in Phoenix? That he knew that Max could heal…..
I am so dead.
Through the bond he could feel Liz’s shock. And her support.
Whatever happened, they would be together.
John Ibanez’s face had a slight smile, “I understand the quandary you are in Max, I can call you Max?”
“Yeah.”
John continued, “You see, I’m the head of one of the groups you have likely spent your entire life running from. Luckily for you, I mean you no harm. And I would say that even if you did not have the lovely Elizabeth Parker beside you. A young woman I owe so much to. No, I think you have done a wise thing indeed trying to stay under the radar as much as you have.”
Max continued to look at John, trying to figure out what he wanted.
Liz squeezed his hand under the table.
John continued, “For you see, Max, there are groups who would want to hurt you. Experiment on you. Perhaps even kill you. And yes, I have seen the tapes of what was done to you in the White Room. I know quite a bit about you, young man. Enough to know that you are quite dangerous. And that you have done nothing to warrant extra attention save through occasion heroics.
“At Far Sight, we use people like you. No Max, you and your friends are not alone. There are others out there with similar gifts. Albeit not nearly as strong.
“And the time may come when we may need you. America may need you. Hell, the whole world may need your help. But your not ready for that yet. Here is my promise to you, keep a low profile and I will strive to keep the others off your back. If you must do something heroic and noble, for heaven’s sake keep it hushed up.
“But I am warning, we will be watching. And if you turn out to be a danger, well we will put you down. Make no mistake. You won’t even see it coming.”
John took a sip of his coffee, “But enough threats. Thank you for saving Elizabeth, and for saving Sydney for that matter.”
“Why are you telling me all of this?” Max quietly asked.
“Because I like you. And what the Special Unit did…. Not just to you, but to others….”
Liz quietly said, “Lucia.”
John looked away a moment. Almost the glimmer of a tear in his eyes. It was gone when he looked back at them. “Yes.” He sighed. “I should have known you would know. Did you pick up the vibe off of Alicia, or just some random inspiration.”
Liz was quiet.
Max could feel her disquiet. She hadn’t meant to say anything, it had just slipped out. And now she was worried.
Well so was he. They would have to have a meeting about this…. Only if they knew about him, did they know about the others. Would he just be leading them to the others?
John sat back and looked at Liz. “You look so much like her. Bits of Jeff, too. But mostly, Rose. She was a find. Psychometry is not that rare of a gift. But her scope and range. And reliability. It was the reliability that truly made her special. It wasn’t random or sporadic. She had control.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “And that is why they killed her.”
------
Alex-
Alex sat back and watched as the computer began to spit out more results.
Only these were different. Here and there words, translated words began to appear.
They might actually succeed!
Alex looked over at Tess. She was smiling and humming slightly. But very much asleep.
Looks like a pleasant dream.
Alex’s mouth quirked up. He and Tess had talked about their respective significant others, and what their plans were for the rest of the break.
Both of them knew there would be some unpleasantness over the whole Sweden thing. But he had provisionally forgiven Tess. She seemed different. Happier.
Kyle was a lucky man.
If not nearly as lucky as Alex. Alex let a fond day dream play out.
It was really strange here in the Litvack building. When he had been there before he’d always had to fight for time on the computer. Not at the moment. Aside from a couple security personnel and some janitors it was dead. The whole campus had all but shut down for the holidays.
There were other users of the new computer who were using the down time, but they’d had to refine some of their programming and so he and Tess had quite a while before they had to worry about others demanding their time on the big machine.
He was still half aware as another sheet of results from the translating software printed up.
He looked down and his heart stopped. He could read it.
He knew he should wake up Tess, but he’d been working so hard for so long….. Surely she wouldn’t mind if he just peeked first.
…..How many generations has it been since we have been forced to such an anachronistic method of preserving data? How have things come to pass that I should be pushed to such straights, to take such a risk with the fate of my world, my people.
For you see the Granolith has shown me things, both great and terrible to behold. How my brother stood it I do not know. If indeed it affected him so. He trusted me, but it isn’t really the sort of thing to idly chat about, even to his favorite sister and prime confidant.
I miss him. Oh how I miss him.
And Rath. I think in my own way I did love him, even if our hearts were firmly owned by others. We would have been content if not ever totally happy.
I even miss prim and naïve Ava. She tried so hard to impress me.
So many regrets. We were so close. I don’t know if the histories encompassed herein will convey that enough. So close to success. To peace and reconciliation.
And we need it so badly. They are watching us. The Dadarion. The histories will touch on them lightly, mostly not even mentioning them by name, as mere legends and myths. But they are real.
They are real and waiting.
I can only hope that someone competent comes to the fore quickly and establishes themselves as ruler. It will only buy us time, but it may be enough . Enough for you or your counterparts to grow and accept your role.
To raise an army capable of protecting us. And incidentally your new homeworld. I deliberately chose Earth for its very distance from us and from them. It will buy even more time.
Just the thought that the Companions stand ready to face them will hold them off. We nearly destroyed them last time, and they will do what they can to prevent our being able to defend ourselves again. They will attack when they think their victory is inevitable.
And in too many of the futures I see, they win. All life under their sway forced to their arcane purposes, our souls drained to feed their bloated hunger.
They seek to remake existence. To become gods as they vainly believe they are destined to be. That they deserve to be.
And this time there will be no Mithar Schism to divide them. They must be stopped. The Companions must stand ready to defend not just Antar but all of existence.
I sit here pondering my words, perhaps my last written words, and wonder who will indeed read them. This crazy plan is by no means guaranteed of success. And those I have chosen, those I consider my children, are to be destroyed. I hope it is one of you, of the defective batch that is the one who has decoded this book.
Maybe it is small of me, to wish that I am right, and my mother and councilors wrong. But I still feel that it is the right soul and not the right mind that will be deciding factor.
Or perhaps it is one of the primitive indigenous population that has managed to decode this. Impressive feat if true.
If you have, then it means that the plan on my part has completely failed. I can only hope that you will be able to use the information stored herein and provide some counter to protect your world. And maybe the knowledge to set the galaxy free.
The Didarion are evil. Do not trust them.
There is so much I would like to write to you. To share my love with you, with you, my children. But I am running out of time.
Live life. Find love. Be good.
And save us.
Vilandra Mitarin Tarenon
Queen of Antar
Re: Shadows of the Past (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chap 28- 08/13/09
Thanks as always to those following along this story.
RhondaAnn- The part I was discussing with be at the end. And it will have its price.
Keepsmiling7- Well Michael knows a good thing when he sees it. And he'll take the opportunity whenever it arises. Don't really blame him. But there will be a price to his eventually finding out what was wrong with Maria.
GreginClearWater- Ana no longer has the tools she used to. The fact that Liz was a Companion was a plus. It meant that the various factors that keep humans from using the powers they could theoretically use were already cleared away. But without those tools, just using what she's managed to cobble together using human technology.... Not a chance. (By extension, Maria is safe this timeline as well. Until Ana gets another shipment anyway.)
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past part 29
Liz-
Liz stared at John Ibanez. So her mother had died in her own version of the alien abyss. Obviously more was going on during the Cold War than she’d been taught in school.
And her mother had been part of it.
John smiled at her. “There is so much I want to tell you. Unfortunately much of it is classified. But your mother was a find.” He shook his head, “Your family seems to be, special. On both sides. Your father loved you mother so much. He never wanted much to do with me or any of us ‘fascistic government types.’ What happened later, I doubt changed his mind about that. And it is my fault. All my fault.
“You see, while these talents are not as rare as people think they operate so sporadically that they might as well be nearly nonexistent. But your mother was so determined to pay her way through college. That she would try anything. You can ask Nancy about some of it, those two were close. All three of them were, Jeff, Nancy, and Rose.
“Jeff might have disliked me and the group I worked for, but it did give his girlfriend a steady job. One that paid fairly well, particularly when we got some of the results. It is really a pity as the one test we took of him, well that is a different tale….
“Even Nancy got into the act, working the data tables and helping out. She was almost as valuable as Rose, lack of talent or not. Knowing what I know now, I can see why she did not take up my offers to relocate her to other facilities. She was hiding you. Although whether that is from me or despite me I am not sure. You must know that I would have done whatever I could to have protected you.”
Liz just looked at John. Why was her mother killed? Why would she have been in danger? If her mother could get flashes, well that was useful, but not something to kill over.
Was it?
John continued, “The Eighties were a strange decade. The Cold War felt like it was heating up again. And out security had gotten somewhat slack. It wasn’t like we were developing some new weapon or something that could turn the tide….. Until you mother that is. Such a simple thing. She could pick something up and just know who had used it last, and if their emotions were strong enough she could get into their head. Could see the scene as if she were that person. Could have the whole memory as if it were her own. Emotions seemed to drive it, both positive and negative. Do you have any idea how useful this talent was? It could be used to solve crimes, yes. And I think that is what Rose believed it would be used for. But the potential for espionage is just as great.
“Both I and Alexei could see that immediately. That Rose’s talent could be a useful tool in the Cold War. Unfortunately Alexei thought through the implications before I did. And he set your mother up. Your mother’s pregnancy set both of plans back a bit. I had planned to show her off in DC, but she wanted to carry you to term first.” John sighed and shook his head sadly. “Alexei had more resources than I did. I was a fairly influential member of the Council that ran Far Sight at the time. But Alexei was not just a colleague of mine, but also a spy for the Soviets.
“I think they would have liked to snatch you. But as potentially useful as your mother might be, it was not something that important yet. So they didn’t send the best agents. And they botched it. They killed your mother. And I thought you had died to. Nancy had assured me. And I made a mistake of my own. I did not personally check. But Kevin had just died, and I, I just couldn’t.
“I trusted Nancy. Trusted that she had not lied to me. I even sent a card when I found out she had moved back to Roswell with a child.”
Max squeezed her hand, and the bond sent such support….. Together they could do anything.
Flicker. Flicker. Flicker.
For a moment Liz was buried by all that might be.
“Liz?” asked Max.
John just looked at her, his face now impassive but keen.
He would use her if Liz let her. Would protect her and give her so much. But she would be a resource.
And she would be used.
She had a fine tightrope to walk here. They needed Far Sight. They would be crucial in defeating the enemies that had infiltrated their world.
They needed the Special Unit for the same reason. Destroying it had be a mistake. But one that might be a good one in the long run. The original Unit had become tainted. This new Unit, well maybe.
Only time would tell.
But she needed to be a free agent.
She wished she had been able to retain more details in her visions. But that much she knew.
Liz licked her lips. Her mom was right. John Ibanez was dangerous. “So what now?”
“Whatever you would like, my dear. I hear you are interested in attending Harvard. Take care of the academic portion and I can help with the rest. You too, Max. I want to see both of you reach your potential.” Almost as an aside he added, “Also, if either of you wish to take some tests to figure out what you might be capable of…..”
Max’s hand tightened on her.
Liz’s voice was clipped, “I can not believe you would offer that. You said you know what the Special Unit did to Max and yet you offer to…..”
“Miss Parker, Liz, I would never do that to him. Or to you. But things are darker than they seem. And we may need you. The more you know about yourselves, the more you can do. The more useful you can be. And Max for one may need medical assistance due to his altered biochemistry.”
Liz could feel Max stiffen and could feel his need to flee.
But he wasn’t done, “And you, Liz, your mother’s family contains some rather nasty genetic markers. With your permission I would like to map them out. And make sure that your as healthy as you think you are.”
“I will think about it.”
Max’s face was impassive. But she could feel a total uproar of emotions through her bond.
John Ibanez nodded. He handed both of them cards. “Call me if you change your minds. Or if you need help. I was not kidding about the fact that there are other originations out there who are much more ruthless in this regard. And I will protect you. Both of you. Keep yourselves out of trouble and call me if you need me.” He stood up. “It was a pleasure meeting both of you.”
Liz stood and shook his hand, as did Max.
John turned to go. He stopped and turned around. “By the way, Liz, did you see your friend Maria Deluca get a package from her father recently?”
Liz and Max looked at each other and just shook their heads.
“Well, that is too bad. If you see her, tell her I will be by to see her.” And he left.
Nancy who had been hovering. “Liz, Max, I want both of you to go upstairs. We are busy tonight, but I just want to keep both of you safe. I doubt he would do anything, not after announcing his presence. But…. I have a lot to tell both of you. Could you stay for dinner Max?”
“I would need to call my parents…..”
“Do that.” She nodded to herself. “In fact invite them. We all need to talk. Get it all out in the open.”
Max nodded and opened his phone to call his parents.
Nancy stopped him. “No Max. Its not safe. Use the house phone upstairs. Liz will be up in a minute.”
“Liz….”
“I’ll be right up.” Liz looked up at the woman she had always had thought of as your mother.
Still thought of as her mother in truth.
“Did he hurt you?”
“No. But you didn’t tell me everything, did you?”
“No. I didn’t.” Nancy looked away. “You don’t understand. I raised you. I’ve protected you all your life from this. From all of the dangers that Rose and I blithely got ourselves involved in. I still check for phone taps, even now. And, and….. I don’t want you to get hurt.” She turned back to face Liz, her eyes bright with unshed tears, “I love you. You’re my daughter. And I love you.”
Liz moved to hug her mother. To give reassurance.
“Mom, because that is how I see, no matter what I find out. You are my mom, I need to know everything. Everything. It could mean our survival.”
“Tonight at dinner. I promise. Go on honey, and Liz….”
“Yes, Mom?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Liz walked up towards the apartment making a stop to give her father a quick kiss. He scanned her eyes and gave her a quick hug.
And Liz went upstairs.
It was going to be an eventful night.
------
Michael-
Michael lightly ran his fingers over Maria, tracing her body while she slept. He did it in part to claim her. That she was his forever.
And he could feel emotions boil along the bond that grew deeper with each passing day.
He still needed to speak with her, find out what had got her so angry before. But poor Maria was so tired.
So Michael used his powers to heal her. Soothing aching muscles and scratches as he traced along his love. Maybe if she felt less achy she’d be less likely to be angry at him for whatever inane thing he had done.
Or that she thought he had done.
He would pay for both, he knew that. And she was more than worth it.
He had hurt her. Many times. Mostly through inaction, sometimes through a desire to rile her. She was cute and hot when angry. But there had to be a way to do it without hurting her.
Because through the flashes he’d been getting he could feel the pain he had caused.
Michael looked up at her face, her cheeks still slightly blushed. And her eyes moved under her lids.
Maria was dreaming.
Michael wished he could join her. But he’d never gotten a hang of Dreamwalking.
A shame.
Wait. Alex didn’t have any powers as far as he was aware of. And he had visited Isabel.
So. Well. Maybe.
Why the hell not.
How had he said he had done it?
Michael concentrated on Maria. Only on Maria. It was like making a connection only harder.
And Michael passed out.
--------
Alex
Alex was driving home with an incredibly excited Tess.
She was reading bits and pieces of the Destiny Book. Quite often aloud.
Which didn’t bother Alex all that much. His mind was very much on the details he had read therein. On the History of Antar in fact.
“Tess have you found anything like that letter that Vilandra left?”
“No. I’m just fascinated by all of this. I mean my people didn’t even live on Antar until a thousand years ago. I mean, like wow.”
“Tess you already knew that, you know that whole ‘viat Mithar’ speech you gave me on the way to Las Cruces.”
“Alex, it is one thing to know. Or at least think you know, and another to actually have proof.”
Alex looked sidelong. “Proof. Proof that you were indeed married to Max. Is this going to drag that up.”
“If you read between the lines, and God this whole thing is such propaganda you have to, I married Max as much for political convenience as anything else. Besides Ava is part of me, but she’s not all of me.”
Alex was silent.
“Wait this isn’t about me is it. Your afraid Isabel will pull away. Why, there is nothing in there that say anything about undying love between Rath and Vilandra. Unless, surely you don’t think this will make her want to hook up with Khivar. I mean, not only he involved in the Rebellion, he also would be, what almost a century older than her now?”
“Not quite. But still here she was this important woman. I mean, she was one of the prime movers on Antar for a long time. On both sides.” The mind boggled at the idea of his Izzie acting as a terrorist. “I’m just an ordinary guy. Nothing special.”
“Uh, I have to disagree. I mean we have translated the Destiny Book! And you did so much of the heavy lifting on it.”
“I did have help. Those notes of Maria’s…. Can you picture her dad working away at complex alien symbols for years?”
Tess was silent for a moment, absently paging through the copies they had made. “It worries me. Where did her father get a hold of those symbols. I mean, did we even use all of them?”
“No. And I have no clue. All we can hope for is more information from Maria. That her father left her some more information. And…..”
“And what?”
“I think your people have had more contact with us than we know about. Unless….”
“What? Come on your making me nervous here.”
“Maria’s dad worked with the government. I mean it was an army guy that dropped off the package at the Crashdown. So maybe he was like, I don’t know, like Daniel Jackson on Stargate…..”
“Alex, come on! You can’t think there was some worm hole technology out there. Or we would be crawling in Skins.”
“No. But what if Maria’s father was working on translating symbols from you ship. Or a different ship.”
Tess was silent.
Alex waited for her replay.
And undoubtedly she would have if Alex had not suddenly swerved.
It was stupid, and if there had been heavy traffic it could have killed him.
Alex swerved to avoid a jackrabbit in the road.
And it saved a life. Namely Tess’s
For the bullet that would have gone through her skull instead impacted the back window, shattering it.
Alex struggled, trying to get his car back under control as Tess screamed in shock.
Alex did not realize he was under gunfire until the second round hit Tess, causing her to cry out in pain. Alex took a quick look at her.
The third bullet hit a tire popping it, throwing the car back out of control.
By the time Alex looked forward to try to regain control they had impacted a boulder.
I’m sorry Isabel, I tried to be careful. I love you…..
And he remembered no more.
-------
Isabel-
Isabel was quietly painting her nails. Her activities today had chipped them fairly badly.
She’d still had fun.
Not so much the shooting part. But spending time with Gloria Whitman was fun. That was when the woman was not trying to make sure that if she hurt her little boy she would be hurt as well.
Well, Isabel was over that anyway. She’d made her choice. And she planed to keep it. She’d discussed her plans of leaving High School early.
Gloria had been excited for her. And pushed the local community college she worked for.
All in all, Isabel was pleased with her efforts at charming the future in-law.
But her nails and skin had taken a beating.
Isabel groaned. And that wasn’t the only thing that was going to be hurting soon. Gloria had ‘persuaded’ her to sign up for a personal defense course. And had asked her to persuade Liz and Maria about it.
Isabel smiled. Well if she had to suffer, might as well have company. She’d invite Tess, too.
The irony of it all being that all four of them could defend themselves already. But how could she prove that to Gloria.
Without using her powers.
Isabel couldn’t.
And while she had every intention of letting the Whitmans in on the secret, she wanted to make sure it was safe for all involved.
Thinking of them made her think of Alex. Thoughts of which warmed her considerably.
She punched in his new cell phone number. No answer.
Isabel pouted for a moment.
Their whole family was going over to the Parkers for dinner. She had hoped that Alex would have been done by now.
A whole day without him. She’d already wasted so much time, she wanted to make the most of what she could before they went back to school next week.
She was in a dreamy state when she felt a thrill of terror roar through her. She felt an immense surge along her bond. And in her mind she heard…..
‘I’m sorry Isabel, I tried to be careful. I love you …..’
Then the bond dwindled, not quite reaching nothing. But close. Much too close.
And Isabel screamed in anguish.
------
Pam-
Pam looked up at all of the medical equipment that surrounded her. She tried to remember what had happened.
Everything seemed bright and all the electronics seemed to… glow somehow. Little rivers of power seemed to surround her.
How long she lay there pondering this strange development, she did not know. But she felt as the atmosphere changed.
And he entered.
Adam was much like she had remembered. Only more so. He was also glowing, thick warm bands of green and blue. A tiny line stretched from him to her.
A smile formed on her face. They were connected somehow.
She would like to be connected to him in a whole different way. She couldn’t help it, she wanted him. Here and now would be nice.
She struggled to get up. One arm weakly lifted.
“Sorry Pam, the drugs we had to use to stabilize you will leave you weak for a few days. I was able to fix some of the damage. But….”
“But what? Am I sick or, or dying?”
“No. Nothing like that. But whatever Ana did to you, well it took down all of your natural barriers. I’ve tried to rebuild some of them. But I will be honest, who ever Ana represents they are better at this than me.”
“So you know about Ana.”
“Alicia told us everything. She will be by later.”
Pam had always been a good read of people. There was something bad he was holding back. Something she would not like at all. “What about my family?”
Adam looked away.
“Is Wes, is he okay?”
“Yes he is fine. But Pam. Your old life is over. In more ways than I ever imagined.”
“That is it, my old life is over. What the hell is going on?”
“You were attacked by an enemy agent. Why? We don’t know. But apparently she liked what she saw in you. You were not alone. Near as we can figure, Ana took at least a half dozen teens over the last few weeks. Some of those might just be runaways, but we have positive identification on at least three.”
“So Ana is after me.”
“Yes. Again we don’t know why. What we do know is she changed you. She broke down barriers that protect the human mind from outside influences. One of the reasons I am still here is that I need to train you. And to protect you from Ana.”
“Where is my family? I mean, I know it is the holidays, but surely they want to see me….”
“You have been disowned. Your mother is coming to Phoenix to pick you up. But most of your family….” Adam paused a moment, “You know, I didn’t mean to say this, but I really have to. Your grandfather is a certified bastard. First seventeen years ago and now again. How that man sleeps at night I will not know.”
Pam felt a sudden heaviness on her chest. Her family had been close. And if her mother was coming to pick her up…. Well her mother may have married into the family, but she was not a true Troy. Not by her families standards. Which is why she asked. “My father, did he, did he?”
Adam turned to face her, “Yes. Apparently their relationship was on the rocks for a while. I think they were waiting for you and your younger brother to graduate.”
“So she comes here. And then what. What do I do now?”
“You go back to Roswell. You try to salvage what you can of your childhood.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“It is. And I am afraid I and the organization that I represent are responsible. In part.”
“Why?” Pam couldn’t help the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.
“Because we are not going to let you just wander off Pam. We can not afford to. Ana is dangerous. You know this. Alicia said you thought Ana would destroy you. Well, I don’t think I am in Ana’s league, but I can show you how to protect yourself. And that is more than you can do alone. Alone, without the standard barriers the human mind projects, well the projections aren’t good. You would likely go mad within a week or two. Or not. It’s not like we’ve ever seen anyone, so… exposed before. This is new.”
I am bait. They want to capture Ana. And I am bait.
But then what choice did she have?
“Okay. When do the lessons start.”
Adam smiled. “They start now…..”
As Adam taught her to shield her mind. Pam fought against the despair that washed through her.
Why me?
But Pam knew better than to ask. Life was life and you dealt with it.
What other choice did she have?
-------
Maria-
Maria was doing what it seemed like she did every time she realized she was dreaming.
She was playing with Stephanie.
Funny how attached she had grown to the little girl. How important she had become to her.
Right now the girl was cuddled up with her, helping Maria eat some chocolates. Her little face was practically covered in the sweet confections.
“So Stephanie, what do you think? As far as I can tell, Michael didn’t know. So am I mad that he didn’t notice? That he didn’t knowingly stray….”
Stephanie gave her a chocolate covered kiss.
“I mean he has this wonderful soul, and his body feels so good against mine. I just with I could believe he would be true. That I am worthy of his love. I mean, he can see me right. See the endless insecurity that I’m always hiding. And yet somehow he loves me. I mean I know that he doesn’t think he deserves me, but I still think he’ll leave as soon as he comes to his senses. Or some alien harlot gets her claws into him. Or, or, I’m sure something will happen. And it will kill me. I will just die….”
“So you can peer into my soul and you still don’t trust me? What do I need to do, woman?”
“Michael! What are you doing here?”
Stephanie trundled over to Michael to give him a chocolate kiss as well. And after she had, she started trying to drag him over to Maria.
Michael had one of his patented smirks, “I followed you. I will always follow you, Maria. I will stay where you stay and go where you go. And that is not going to change.”
“And if you suddenly had a way back home? If you could go home in an instant wouldn’t you?”
“Yes. Yes I would.”
Maria felt as a part of her died. She knew it!
“But the thing you don’t seem to understand is that YOU are my home. I’m not much. I don’t own anything, and my powers can be shaky at best. The most I can offer you is myself. And you already know what being with me brings. I have enemies, people who know more of who I was than I do. And some of them want me dead. But if you will have me…..”
“Michael, I… Of course I want you, its just that….”
“What are you afraid of Maria? That you’ll go nuts and kill us all again? Well that wasn’t you. Besides. If you do decide to go all dark side on me, clue me in. If, if I couldn’t stop you…. I would join you. I need you. But Maria, I also need you to trust me. To trust in me.”
“I… I. Oh, Michael its horrible!”
“What?”
“My future self has been impersonating me! She’s, she’s been possessing me.”
“Okay. I have to tell you I haven’t noticed you being any wackier than usual.”
Maria hit him fondly. “It’s not funny, Michael. I’m really scared. And then, then she slept with you.”
“Didn’t happen.”
“She left me a note!”
She felt a shift inside of him, as if a part of him were moving. A part of his soul….
In a semi creepy duotone, Michael said, “I would know, darling. Trust me. I will protect you. From her, from anything.”
Maria looked into Michael’s darkened eyes, the pupils almond shaped. Rath. Only…. Michael was there too.
“I will have to remember. It will take time. But I will remember. Your protection is well worth the pain….” And Michael shimmered away.
“No, come back! Come back Michael!”
Stephanie was crying, sobbing against her leg.
Maria gathered the little girl into her arms. She needed to follow him. To stop him if what he was doing could hurt him.
But she couldn’t just leave Stephanie.
The little girl had become so important to her.
Had become hers.
Her daughter.
So despite her worry she cradled the little dream girl in her arms.
RhondaAnn- The part I was discussing with be at the end. And it will have its price.
Keepsmiling7- Well Michael knows a good thing when he sees it. And he'll take the opportunity whenever it arises. Don't really blame him. But there will be a price to his eventually finding out what was wrong with Maria.
GreginClearWater- Ana no longer has the tools she used to. The fact that Liz was a Companion was a plus. It meant that the various factors that keep humans from using the powers they could theoretically use were already cleared away. But without those tools, just using what she's managed to cobble together using human technology.... Not a chance. (By extension, Maria is safe this timeline as well. Until Ana gets another shipment anyway.)
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
Shadows of the Past part 29
Liz-
Liz stared at John Ibanez. So her mother had died in her own version of the alien abyss. Obviously more was going on during the Cold War than she’d been taught in school.
And her mother had been part of it.
John smiled at her. “There is so much I want to tell you. Unfortunately much of it is classified. But your mother was a find.” He shook his head, “Your family seems to be, special. On both sides. Your father loved you mother so much. He never wanted much to do with me or any of us ‘fascistic government types.’ What happened later, I doubt changed his mind about that. And it is my fault. All my fault.
“You see, while these talents are not as rare as people think they operate so sporadically that they might as well be nearly nonexistent. But your mother was so determined to pay her way through college. That she would try anything. You can ask Nancy about some of it, those two were close. All three of them were, Jeff, Nancy, and Rose.
“Jeff might have disliked me and the group I worked for, but it did give his girlfriend a steady job. One that paid fairly well, particularly when we got some of the results. It is really a pity as the one test we took of him, well that is a different tale….
“Even Nancy got into the act, working the data tables and helping out. She was almost as valuable as Rose, lack of talent or not. Knowing what I know now, I can see why she did not take up my offers to relocate her to other facilities. She was hiding you. Although whether that is from me or despite me I am not sure. You must know that I would have done whatever I could to have protected you.”
Liz just looked at John. Why was her mother killed? Why would she have been in danger? If her mother could get flashes, well that was useful, but not something to kill over.
Was it?
John continued, “The Eighties were a strange decade. The Cold War felt like it was heating up again. And out security had gotten somewhat slack. It wasn’t like we were developing some new weapon or something that could turn the tide….. Until you mother that is. Such a simple thing. She could pick something up and just know who had used it last, and if their emotions were strong enough she could get into their head. Could see the scene as if she were that person. Could have the whole memory as if it were her own. Emotions seemed to drive it, both positive and negative. Do you have any idea how useful this talent was? It could be used to solve crimes, yes. And I think that is what Rose believed it would be used for. But the potential for espionage is just as great.
“Both I and Alexei could see that immediately. That Rose’s talent could be a useful tool in the Cold War. Unfortunately Alexei thought through the implications before I did. And he set your mother up. Your mother’s pregnancy set both of plans back a bit. I had planned to show her off in DC, but she wanted to carry you to term first.” John sighed and shook his head sadly. “Alexei had more resources than I did. I was a fairly influential member of the Council that ran Far Sight at the time. But Alexei was not just a colleague of mine, but also a spy for the Soviets.
“I think they would have liked to snatch you. But as potentially useful as your mother might be, it was not something that important yet. So they didn’t send the best agents. And they botched it. They killed your mother. And I thought you had died to. Nancy had assured me. And I made a mistake of my own. I did not personally check. But Kevin had just died, and I, I just couldn’t.
“I trusted Nancy. Trusted that she had not lied to me. I even sent a card when I found out she had moved back to Roswell with a child.”
Max squeezed her hand, and the bond sent such support….. Together they could do anything.
Flicker. Flicker. Flicker.
For a moment Liz was buried by all that might be.
“Liz?” asked Max.
John just looked at her, his face now impassive but keen.
He would use her if Liz let her. Would protect her and give her so much. But she would be a resource.
And she would be used.
She had a fine tightrope to walk here. They needed Far Sight. They would be crucial in defeating the enemies that had infiltrated their world.
They needed the Special Unit for the same reason. Destroying it had be a mistake. But one that might be a good one in the long run. The original Unit had become tainted. This new Unit, well maybe.
Only time would tell.
But she needed to be a free agent.
She wished she had been able to retain more details in her visions. But that much she knew.
Liz licked her lips. Her mom was right. John Ibanez was dangerous. “So what now?”
“Whatever you would like, my dear. I hear you are interested in attending Harvard. Take care of the academic portion and I can help with the rest. You too, Max. I want to see both of you reach your potential.” Almost as an aside he added, “Also, if either of you wish to take some tests to figure out what you might be capable of…..”
Max’s hand tightened on her.
Liz’s voice was clipped, “I can not believe you would offer that. You said you know what the Special Unit did to Max and yet you offer to…..”
“Miss Parker, Liz, I would never do that to him. Or to you. But things are darker than they seem. And we may need you. The more you know about yourselves, the more you can do. The more useful you can be. And Max for one may need medical assistance due to his altered biochemistry.”
Liz could feel Max stiffen and could feel his need to flee.
But he wasn’t done, “And you, Liz, your mother’s family contains some rather nasty genetic markers. With your permission I would like to map them out. And make sure that your as healthy as you think you are.”
“I will think about it.”
Max’s face was impassive. But she could feel a total uproar of emotions through her bond.
John Ibanez nodded. He handed both of them cards. “Call me if you change your minds. Or if you need help. I was not kidding about the fact that there are other originations out there who are much more ruthless in this regard. And I will protect you. Both of you. Keep yourselves out of trouble and call me if you need me.” He stood up. “It was a pleasure meeting both of you.”
Liz stood and shook his hand, as did Max.
John turned to go. He stopped and turned around. “By the way, Liz, did you see your friend Maria Deluca get a package from her father recently?”
Liz and Max looked at each other and just shook their heads.
“Well, that is too bad. If you see her, tell her I will be by to see her.” And he left.
Nancy who had been hovering. “Liz, Max, I want both of you to go upstairs. We are busy tonight, but I just want to keep both of you safe. I doubt he would do anything, not after announcing his presence. But…. I have a lot to tell both of you. Could you stay for dinner Max?”
“I would need to call my parents…..”
“Do that.” She nodded to herself. “In fact invite them. We all need to talk. Get it all out in the open.”
Max nodded and opened his phone to call his parents.
Nancy stopped him. “No Max. Its not safe. Use the house phone upstairs. Liz will be up in a minute.”
“Liz….”
“I’ll be right up.” Liz looked up at the woman she had always had thought of as your mother.
Still thought of as her mother in truth.
“Did he hurt you?”
“No. But you didn’t tell me everything, did you?”
“No. I didn’t.” Nancy looked away. “You don’t understand. I raised you. I’ve protected you all your life from this. From all of the dangers that Rose and I blithely got ourselves involved in. I still check for phone taps, even now. And, and….. I don’t want you to get hurt.” She turned back to face Liz, her eyes bright with unshed tears, “I love you. You’re my daughter. And I love you.”
Liz moved to hug her mother. To give reassurance.
“Mom, because that is how I see, no matter what I find out. You are my mom, I need to know everything. Everything. It could mean our survival.”
“Tonight at dinner. I promise. Go on honey, and Liz….”
“Yes, Mom?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Liz walked up towards the apartment making a stop to give her father a quick kiss. He scanned her eyes and gave her a quick hug.
And Liz went upstairs.
It was going to be an eventful night.
------
Michael-
Michael lightly ran his fingers over Maria, tracing her body while she slept. He did it in part to claim her. That she was his forever.
And he could feel emotions boil along the bond that grew deeper with each passing day.
He still needed to speak with her, find out what had got her so angry before. But poor Maria was so tired.
So Michael used his powers to heal her. Soothing aching muscles and scratches as he traced along his love. Maybe if she felt less achy she’d be less likely to be angry at him for whatever inane thing he had done.
Or that she thought he had done.
He would pay for both, he knew that. And she was more than worth it.
He had hurt her. Many times. Mostly through inaction, sometimes through a desire to rile her. She was cute and hot when angry. But there had to be a way to do it without hurting her.
Because through the flashes he’d been getting he could feel the pain he had caused.
Michael looked up at her face, her cheeks still slightly blushed. And her eyes moved under her lids.
Maria was dreaming.
Michael wished he could join her. But he’d never gotten a hang of Dreamwalking.
A shame.
Wait. Alex didn’t have any powers as far as he was aware of. And he had visited Isabel.
So. Well. Maybe.
Why the hell not.
How had he said he had done it?
Michael concentrated on Maria. Only on Maria. It was like making a connection only harder.
And Michael passed out.
--------
Alex
Alex was driving home with an incredibly excited Tess.
She was reading bits and pieces of the Destiny Book. Quite often aloud.
Which didn’t bother Alex all that much. His mind was very much on the details he had read therein. On the History of Antar in fact.
“Tess have you found anything like that letter that Vilandra left?”
“No. I’m just fascinated by all of this. I mean my people didn’t even live on Antar until a thousand years ago. I mean, like wow.”
“Tess you already knew that, you know that whole ‘viat Mithar’ speech you gave me on the way to Las Cruces.”
“Alex, it is one thing to know. Or at least think you know, and another to actually have proof.”
Alex looked sidelong. “Proof. Proof that you were indeed married to Max. Is this going to drag that up.”
“If you read between the lines, and God this whole thing is such propaganda you have to, I married Max as much for political convenience as anything else. Besides Ava is part of me, but she’s not all of me.”
Alex was silent.
“Wait this isn’t about me is it. Your afraid Isabel will pull away. Why, there is nothing in there that say anything about undying love between Rath and Vilandra. Unless, surely you don’t think this will make her want to hook up with Khivar. I mean, not only he involved in the Rebellion, he also would be, what almost a century older than her now?”
“Not quite. But still here she was this important woman. I mean, she was one of the prime movers on Antar for a long time. On both sides.” The mind boggled at the idea of his Izzie acting as a terrorist. “I’m just an ordinary guy. Nothing special.”
“Uh, I have to disagree. I mean we have translated the Destiny Book! And you did so much of the heavy lifting on it.”
“I did have help. Those notes of Maria’s…. Can you picture her dad working away at complex alien symbols for years?”
Tess was silent for a moment, absently paging through the copies they had made. “It worries me. Where did her father get a hold of those symbols. I mean, did we even use all of them?”
“No. And I have no clue. All we can hope for is more information from Maria. That her father left her some more information. And…..”
“And what?”
“I think your people have had more contact with us than we know about. Unless….”
“What? Come on your making me nervous here.”
“Maria’s dad worked with the government. I mean it was an army guy that dropped off the package at the Crashdown. So maybe he was like, I don’t know, like Daniel Jackson on Stargate…..”
“Alex, come on! You can’t think there was some worm hole technology out there. Or we would be crawling in Skins.”
“No. But what if Maria’s father was working on translating symbols from you ship. Or a different ship.”
Tess was silent.
Alex waited for her replay.
And undoubtedly she would have if Alex had not suddenly swerved.
It was stupid, and if there had been heavy traffic it could have killed him.
Alex swerved to avoid a jackrabbit in the road.
And it saved a life. Namely Tess’s
For the bullet that would have gone through her skull instead impacted the back window, shattering it.
Alex struggled, trying to get his car back under control as Tess screamed in shock.
Alex did not realize he was under gunfire until the second round hit Tess, causing her to cry out in pain. Alex took a quick look at her.
The third bullet hit a tire popping it, throwing the car back out of control.
By the time Alex looked forward to try to regain control they had impacted a boulder.
I’m sorry Isabel, I tried to be careful. I love you…..
And he remembered no more.
-------
Isabel-
Isabel was quietly painting her nails. Her activities today had chipped them fairly badly.
She’d still had fun.
Not so much the shooting part. But spending time with Gloria Whitman was fun. That was when the woman was not trying to make sure that if she hurt her little boy she would be hurt as well.
Well, Isabel was over that anyway. She’d made her choice. And she planed to keep it. She’d discussed her plans of leaving High School early.
Gloria had been excited for her. And pushed the local community college she worked for.
All in all, Isabel was pleased with her efforts at charming the future in-law.
But her nails and skin had taken a beating.
Isabel groaned. And that wasn’t the only thing that was going to be hurting soon. Gloria had ‘persuaded’ her to sign up for a personal defense course. And had asked her to persuade Liz and Maria about it.
Isabel smiled. Well if she had to suffer, might as well have company. She’d invite Tess, too.
The irony of it all being that all four of them could defend themselves already. But how could she prove that to Gloria.
Without using her powers.
Isabel couldn’t.
And while she had every intention of letting the Whitmans in on the secret, she wanted to make sure it was safe for all involved.
Thinking of them made her think of Alex. Thoughts of which warmed her considerably.
She punched in his new cell phone number. No answer.
Isabel pouted for a moment.
Their whole family was going over to the Parkers for dinner. She had hoped that Alex would have been done by now.
A whole day without him. She’d already wasted so much time, she wanted to make the most of what she could before they went back to school next week.
She was in a dreamy state when she felt a thrill of terror roar through her. She felt an immense surge along her bond. And in her mind she heard…..
‘I’m sorry Isabel, I tried to be careful. I love you …..’
Then the bond dwindled, not quite reaching nothing. But close. Much too close.
And Isabel screamed in anguish.
------
Pam-
Pam looked up at all of the medical equipment that surrounded her. She tried to remember what had happened.
Everything seemed bright and all the electronics seemed to… glow somehow. Little rivers of power seemed to surround her.
How long she lay there pondering this strange development, she did not know. But she felt as the atmosphere changed.
And he entered.
Adam was much like she had remembered. Only more so. He was also glowing, thick warm bands of green and blue. A tiny line stretched from him to her.
A smile formed on her face. They were connected somehow.
She would like to be connected to him in a whole different way. She couldn’t help it, she wanted him. Here and now would be nice.
She struggled to get up. One arm weakly lifted.
“Sorry Pam, the drugs we had to use to stabilize you will leave you weak for a few days. I was able to fix some of the damage. But….”
“But what? Am I sick or, or dying?”
“No. Nothing like that. But whatever Ana did to you, well it took down all of your natural barriers. I’ve tried to rebuild some of them. But I will be honest, who ever Ana represents they are better at this than me.”
“So you know about Ana.”
“Alicia told us everything. She will be by later.”
Pam had always been a good read of people. There was something bad he was holding back. Something she would not like at all. “What about my family?”
Adam looked away.
“Is Wes, is he okay?”
“Yes he is fine. But Pam. Your old life is over. In more ways than I ever imagined.”
“That is it, my old life is over. What the hell is going on?”
“You were attacked by an enemy agent. Why? We don’t know. But apparently she liked what she saw in you. You were not alone. Near as we can figure, Ana took at least a half dozen teens over the last few weeks. Some of those might just be runaways, but we have positive identification on at least three.”
“So Ana is after me.”
“Yes. Again we don’t know why. What we do know is she changed you. She broke down barriers that protect the human mind from outside influences. One of the reasons I am still here is that I need to train you. And to protect you from Ana.”
“Where is my family? I mean, I know it is the holidays, but surely they want to see me….”
“You have been disowned. Your mother is coming to Phoenix to pick you up. But most of your family….” Adam paused a moment, “You know, I didn’t mean to say this, but I really have to. Your grandfather is a certified bastard. First seventeen years ago and now again. How that man sleeps at night I will not know.”
Pam felt a sudden heaviness on her chest. Her family had been close. And if her mother was coming to pick her up…. Well her mother may have married into the family, but she was not a true Troy. Not by her families standards. Which is why she asked. “My father, did he, did he?”
Adam turned to face her, “Yes. Apparently their relationship was on the rocks for a while. I think they were waiting for you and your younger brother to graduate.”
“So she comes here. And then what. What do I do now?”
“You go back to Roswell. You try to salvage what you can of your childhood.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“It is. And I am afraid I and the organization that I represent are responsible. In part.”
“Why?” Pam couldn’t help the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.
“Because we are not going to let you just wander off Pam. We can not afford to. Ana is dangerous. You know this. Alicia said you thought Ana would destroy you. Well, I don’t think I am in Ana’s league, but I can show you how to protect yourself. And that is more than you can do alone. Alone, without the standard barriers the human mind projects, well the projections aren’t good. You would likely go mad within a week or two. Or not. It’s not like we’ve ever seen anyone, so… exposed before. This is new.”
I am bait. They want to capture Ana. And I am bait.
But then what choice did she have?
“Okay. When do the lessons start.”
Adam smiled. “They start now…..”
As Adam taught her to shield her mind. Pam fought against the despair that washed through her.
Why me?
But Pam knew better than to ask. Life was life and you dealt with it.
What other choice did she have?
-------
Maria-
Maria was doing what it seemed like she did every time she realized she was dreaming.
She was playing with Stephanie.
Funny how attached she had grown to the little girl. How important she had become to her.
Right now the girl was cuddled up with her, helping Maria eat some chocolates. Her little face was practically covered in the sweet confections.
“So Stephanie, what do you think? As far as I can tell, Michael didn’t know. So am I mad that he didn’t notice? That he didn’t knowingly stray….”
Stephanie gave her a chocolate covered kiss.
“I mean he has this wonderful soul, and his body feels so good against mine. I just with I could believe he would be true. That I am worthy of his love. I mean, he can see me right. See the endless insecurity that I’m always hiding. And yet somehow he loves me. I mean I know that he doesn’t think he deserves me, but I still think he’ll leave as soon as he comes to his senses. Or some alien harlot gets her claws into him. Or, or, I’m sure something will happen. And it will kill me. I will just die….”
“So you can peer into my soul and you still don’t trust me? What do I need to do, woman?”
“Michael! What are you doing here?”
Stephanie trundled over to Michael to give him a chocolate kiss as well. And after she had, she started trying to drag him over to Maria.
Michael had one of his patented smirks, “I followed you. I will always follow you, Maria. I will stay where you stay and go where you go. And that is not going to change.”
“And if you suddenly had a way back home? If you could go home in an instant wouldn’t you?”
“Yes. Yes I would.”
Maria felt as a part of her died. She knew it!
“But the thing you don’t seem to understand is that YOU are my home. I’m not much. I don’t own anything, and my powers can be shaky at best. The most I can offer you is myself. And you already know what being with me brings. I have enemies, people who know more of who I was than I do. And some of them want me dead. But if you will have me…..”
“Michael, I… Of course I want you, its just that….”
“What are you afraid of Maria? That you’ll go nuts and kill us all again? Well that wasn’t you. Besides. If you do decide to go all dark side on me, clue me in. If, if I couldn’t stop you…. I would join you. I need you. But Maria, I also need you to trust me. To trust in me.”
“I… I. Oh, Michael its horrible!”
“What?”
“My future self has been impersonating me! She’s, she’s been possessing me.”
“Okay. I have to tell you I haven’t noticed you being any wackier than usual.”
Maria hit him fondly. “It’s not funny, Michael. I’m really scared. And then, then she slept with you.”
“Didn’t happen.”
“She left me a note!”
She felt a shift inside of him, as if a part of him were moving. A part of his soul….
In a semi creepy duotone, Michael said, “I would know, darling. Trust me. I will protect you. From her, from anything.”
Maria looked into Michael’s darkened eyes, the pupils almond shaped. Rath. Only…. Michael was there too.
“I will have to remember. It will take time. But I will remember. Your protection is well worth the pain….” And Michael shimmered away.
“No, come back! Come back Michael!”
Stephanie was crying, sobbing against her leg.
Maria gathered the little girl into her arms. She needed to follow him. To stop him if what he was doing could hurt him.
But she couldn’t just leave Stephanie.
The little girl had become so important to her.
Had become hers.
Her daughter.
So despite her worry she cradled the little dream girl in her arms.