Thanks as always to all reading this story.
xmag- yes, having the essences of the Royal Four makes a huge difference. But why in this story does everyone assume that the New York group are the real ones? Why did they get the training, while the others were tucked away in a small American town? If you were going to raise someone up to be a King of a powerful and cosmopolitan world wouldn't you choose somewhere other than Roswell?
Why are there two copies?
Ana could indeed have turned anyone given time. Liz would have indeed been a force for evil as Emily. A powerful force. There is a reason the Skins feared her. (An evil Alex. Hmm, haven't seen that one either.) Maria was turned because of her flaws, both personal, and in her case genetic. Plus as I said to AvalonRose, I haven't read a story yet where Maria was at any point the villian, a credible force in her own right that the others had to flee.... Plus it literally gave Future Max no one else to trust. He doesn't know Alex that well. Kyle is not a friend. He neither knows nor trusts Tess. Isabel has Vilandra issues. He doesn't know when Maria was turned, only that she is vulnerable. And Michael will not hurt Maria. (He thinks that Maria killed him hours prior to his leaving for the past.)
That leaves only Liz. Who he would do anything to avoid hurting, but trusts completely.
GreginClearwater- Thanks.
Katydid- Thanks.
RhondaAnn- Michael is a realist bordering on, some would say deep in, pessimistic territory. If it happened before it could very well happen again. The bond will work against it, yes. But Michael doesn't know that. And you are right, if it happens in this timeline, he will turn with her.
And Isabel will not keep that information secret either.
Lonnie and Rath will have a difficult time ahead of them. Assuming they survive.
AvalonRose- Thanks. See my comments to xmag above.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. Some bits and pieces from MitC.
Eidolon chapter 50
Liz-
Liz could feel herself snap back into herself. She opened her eyes and looked straight ahead into Isabel’s warm brown eyes.
“You did it.”
Liz nodded.
Isabel reached her other hand to cover Liz’s. There were unshed tears in her eyes as she gripped her right hand tightly with both of hers. “Thank you, Liz. By the look on your face, he’s okay?”
Liz felt her face blush slightly as she felt everyone’s eyes on her. She bit her lip and nodded. “He’s fine, but it was close.” She looked at Aeron, “Lonnie tried to kill him.”
Aeron nodded.
Maria spoke up, “Liz, what happened? I mean all we could see was, you closing your eyes…. And then it was like you were gone. This lout,” she pointed at Michael, “wouldn’t let me get to you.”
“She was busy.” Michael looked at her, “Weren’t you.”
Getting involved in one of their spats usually was unwise, but for once Michael was right. Liz licked her lips and said, “I was there. I mean, Isabel what are your dream walks like? It felt so real.”
“I’m in their minds, and usually I see what they’ve made up in their heads…. Although with Max, I saw a bit of what he was involved with.”
“Can you see things they can’t?”
Isabel thought for a moment, “I don’t think so. It is all in their head for me.” She looked intently at Liz, “But it isn’t for you. What I felt when you did whatever you did, it was like, like it had a different flavor.”
“It was strange, all of this is strange.”
Isabel smiled at her and waved toward the whole group, “Welcome to our world.”
Liz looked over at Maria who was scuffling her feet, obviously something on her mind. While Liz wanted to know, badly what her friend was thinking about, she needed to know something from Ava….Aeron. It was going to be hard to remember that Aeron wanted to be called that now. She seemed shamed by it, as if being called by something other than Ava was admitting defeat.
And that she was defeated.
Another thing to find out about. Later.
“Aeron, is there anything that Rath and Lonnie might need Tess for?”
“Tess? Other than raping her?” She shook her head, “To think I used to like him. I almost think changing our names was a mistake. I know I don’t deserve to be called Ava…. I don’t know…. “ She looked lost in thought, “Unless, well there are some artifacts that were on our ship that were supposed to be stored here. Particularly the Granolith. But I doubt any of you know about that.”
All the teens looked amongst each other.
Aeron said, “You don’t know where the Granolith is do you? I mean that is supposed to be how we get home.”
Maria gripped Michael’s hand tighter, a look of loss followed by grim acceptance.
Liz felt much the same. If they had a way home….
Michael looked over to Aeron, “How was it supposed to work?”
“You mean, you mean it really is here? No, don’t tell me where. It is better I don’t know.”
Isabel looked at her quizzically, “But do you know how it was supposed to work?”
Aeron shook her head, “It isn’t a Mithar thing. It is part of your shared heritage with the Skins. I, I don’t know. A book, there was supposed to be a book.” She started looking harried. “I, I have to go.” Aeron stood up and moved towards the door.
Michael said, “Wait, you can’t just leave it at that!”
Maria walked away from Michael and sat on the couch in the adjoining living room. Her face still grim and sad.
Liz spoke, “Aeron, will we see you again?”
She stopped at the door. “Yes. I just need to clear my thoughts. I need to speak with Tess at the very least. Apologize to her. I’m sorry, I just….” Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she just left.
Liz stared after the short alien. “What was that about?”
Isabel was staring with her, her eyes slightly sympathetic, “Kyle.”
Liz looked at her, “Kyle? How serious?”
“About as serious as it can get.”
Liz whipped her head over to Isabel, surely she couldn’t mean….
Isabel met her eyes and grimly nodded.
Liz shook her head. Things were getting increasingly complicated. Her hope for holding Tess her with Kyle fading fast.
They needed her. She didn’t know why, but she knew that they did.
And Liz was not about to give up Max.
No.
Not now.
She closed her eyes and felt along their bond. It was stronger now. Whatever Isabel had helped her do had strengthened it somehow.
Max was hers.
But how to keep Tess?
Liz was unaware of the quiet conversation that sprung up in the room. For she was making plans. And plans within plans.
The future was far from certain. But a good plan could spell the difference between success and failure.
And Liz did not plan to fail….
------
Lonnie-
Lonnie tried to pretend that she was free. That she wasn’t prisoner to an irate Protector. He had Marked her.
Any alien with any skill would be able to sense it. Hell some of the more perceptive humans could probably sense it. They could feel a sense of guilt and doom about her.
There was no court that could remove such a sigil that Lonnie would ever want to sit at. Isabel? Michael? Or shudder, Tess.
The worst thought was how he had phrased her attempt on Max as just an attempt. That he had somehow survived.
Lonnie certainly would not wanted to have faced Zan after attempting to kill him. Max had even less reason to care for her. Or Rath.
Could Max heal Rath? Lonnie couldn’t help but feel a tiny thrill of hope. She had managed to bandage up most of his wounds, but he had lost so much blood….
Max could take it all away. Could make him whole.
But after all they had done. After they had betrayed him, would he?
Yesterday, Lonnie would have said yes. He had seemed such a soft touch. But now, after seeing him at the summit, actually replaying the sense of power she had felt rolling off of him.
Lonnie was frightened of him.
And Tess, the one she had thought of as a pointless milksop had nearly killed both herself and Rath. By herself. Nicholas had warned her. Had warned her against Tess. Had warned her to watch her back. To keep an open escape.
Would she ever be free again?
It was that damn sigil. They affected not only those who might be nearby, but their wearers. Made people reconsider their actions. Made them reflect on their crimes. On their sins.
It could break people.
It was breaking her.
How could she have been so blind as to not see how much Rath had loved her? She had known, of course, in a way. And she had ruthlessly used it against him. Would he ever forgive her?
Could she ever forgive herself.
There was her treatment of Ava…. How had she ever lost her friend? How had they drifted so far apart? Once they had been so close.
And Zan. She had killed him. Oh, God, she had killed her own brother! Her own flesh and blood. Well maybe not on Earth, but….
Vilandra was freshly dressed in her scholar’s outfit, still too young to have made the adjustments that had made her famous. She looked stiff and uncomfortable.
And those of her adoptive family weren’t exactly making her feel at home. They hated her. They always had. A memory of the new Queen’s indiscretions.
She wasn’t a threat to the other Royals. She wasn’t really one of them, even if her mother was Queen Consort.
She did not even know who her father was. Only that it was not the King.
And yet they hated her….
She sat while one by one they greeted their new member. A new Royal. A son. Zan.
Her half-brother.
It was customary for one to bring a gift or a promise at the birth of a Royal.
Lonnie didn’t really own anything. Only herself.
So when it was her turn she pledged that. She walked in, past the omnipresent guards, to stand next to her mother’s bed. Her mother smiled up at her. “Hi, love. Meet your little brother, Zan.”
Lonnie was surprised at the intense look on the baby’s face as it regarded her, his eyes already flecked with gold. She reached out to touch one of his hands, and he gripped one of her fingers.
And connected with her. He had a baby’s mind of course, chaotic and pure. But somehow he knew her.
And she knew him. She smiled, “Little brother, I am sure that many have promised and gifted you with many valuable things. I have little to give. So I gift you my love and loyalty. I promise to stand with you when others would flee. Should ever you have need, I will protect you as I can, even unto death….”
Lonnie could not stop the tears that began to flow. She had killed him, killed the one she had promised to protect…
The sigil’s power was so great she did not hear the others enter the room.
She was aware of Rhyjhaelian blasts streaking out at the Protector. Who calmly raised his shield. A shield that encompassed Tess.
Not Lonnie or Rath. They were traitors. Not worth protecting. Part of Lonnie agreed.
Vilandra had always been a survivor, and Lonnie was no different. She pulled herself out of the line of fire. And in an act that she would not have believed herself capable even that morning, she dragged Rath along too.
She felt as the cut along her body reopened, pain lancing through her. She lay there watching as four Skins marched into the room, Rhyjhaelian blasts still focused on the Protector’s shield.
Nicholas lifted his hand and the other Skins stopped their futile attack. “Well, what do we have here? We must have missed one of you. I thought we had gotten rid of all of you. You must be Kallen then. I thought you happy with your little human life.”
“Vaderian, you have always been a fool. I am not Kallen. I am not Mithar. No Mithar has ever been admitted to the Royal Household Guard. To think our family was so please to have second graduate of the Academy.”
One of the Skins’ face turned pale. “Sir, I think I know.”
Nicholas just stared at the Protector, still shielding himself and Tess. “No. He is dead. I made sure of it.”
“And you failed, nephew. You failed. How many different sides have you been on over the years? How many have you betrayed?”
Nicholas raised his hand and a bar of golden light streamed forth to melt into nothingness on the Protector’s shield.
“Sir, this is pointless. Dorian could hold off armies with his shield. Only Zan in his prime could hold better.”
“We can wear him down. He can’t hold on forever.”
Dorian smiled. “I don’t have to hold on forever. Surely you can feel it, Vaderian. The King is coming. And he is angry. I know you are powerful. You could perhaps beat one of us. But together?” Dorian smile widened.
“Sir, we must flee. If the Granolith is on Earth, if the boy does have the Seal….”
One of the other Skins was already edging towards the door.
Nicholas glared at the offending Skin, who stopped. He turned again to Dorian, “Very well, Uncle. You have won this round. But don’t think I have forgotten you or your protégés. Jeb, Tom, take the two traitors. Don’t worry, Dorian, I’ll be seeing you soon.”
Nicholas left.
Lonnie struggled with the Skin who picked her up. Her offensive powers were weakened by the sigil, and would be until it faded.
It took two of them to carry Rath, and some of his wounds began to open again with their rough care.
Dorian could have freed them at any time. But he just stood there behind his shield, protecting Tess. Letting the Skins have her.
She caught his eyes right before she was taken away to whatever horrid fate Nicholas would decree for her.
There was no mercy in there for her.
Not that she had expected any.
She had killed Zan. She had killed her brother.
-------
Max-
Max rushed into the room. There air was dusty, and a beam of light illuminated Tess, drawing his eyes to her.
There was a sense of someone watching him, but he could not see anyone.
He rushed over to Tess. She looked battered and bruised.
He healed her and a rush of images from her childhood ran through him. Her desire for a family, a real family flooded through him. He could never truly give himself to her, but he could give her a family.
This time, this life he would not drive her from Roswell.
He felt her stir.
“Tess?”
“Max? You came.”
“Of course I did. We’re family. Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“What happened?”
“Rath and Lonnie. They tried to get in my head. I fought back.”
Max looked again at the dust that filled the room. Looked at some of the stains on the floor. Reddish stains.
Blood.
“Where are they?”
“I don’t know.”
“Okay, you are safe now Tess.”
Tess looked up at him blearily. “Let’s go home. Home to Roswell.”
Max kissed her gently on the forehead and helped her up.
And they left.
-----
Alex-
Alex breezed into the Parker apartment. He could feel Isabel’s focus suddenly change to him.
Of the four teens, she was the only one smiling as he entered the apartment. She got up and kissed him.
Alex was surprised by her open actions. He knew that she loved him, he could feel it in his bones. But he also knew that she was skittish about public displays of affection.
There was a reason she was known as the Ice Princess.
Still he enjoyed the feel of her in his arms, the feel of her.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Maria said quietly. “Ready for your trip?”
He kept one arm around Isabel and turned to face Maria. Both Michael and Liz were deep in thought. Not surprising for Liz, but Michael? He wasn’t brooding, like the aliens tended to do. He was thinking intently.
Just like Liz.
Who would have thought. Maria had told him he was fairly bright, that he could quote Milton and Joyce. But it just had never registered when he had seen him.
Isabel released his arm and pushed him to Maria, “Give her a hug already. Don’t you have to be leaving soon? I mean I’m going with you to the airport. “
Maria rolled her eyes. “Thanks I think.”
Alex looked around, “Is everyone okay? What has happened. Did I miss it all again?” Alex could feel the familiar shame. He wanted to help them. But how could he when he was always absent?
Isabel gave him another brief hug. “We’re okay now. I will tell you some of it on the trip.”
Alex looked at her. There was an eagerness, almost a hunger to her. It wasn’t like they would have time to do anything. He looked at his watch. He had maybe ten minutes before they left, and then a half hour to finish up at home.
There was no time. So he hugged Maria. Said goodbye to a revived, but still slightly distracted Liz. Michael surprised him with a smile and promise to keep his girls safe for him.
For which he was pummeled by the protectees…
He would miss this. But in translating the book, he might be able to help them in ways none of them could imagine. Alex only wished he could tell Liz and Maria about it.
The warp had weakened but it still held.
His mom was pleasantly surprised to see him on time. And by the efficiency that Isabel showed in helping Alex finish up.
Alex could feel his mother sizing Isabel up, trying to see what kind of a person she was. When she saw what a wonderful person Isabel was, how could she not help but be charmed?
He always had been. Even that first day in fourth grade when he met Isabel for the first time. She had been kind, courteous, and distant. And he had joined the ranks of the smitten, even if he did not fully understand what he was feeling.
He spent much of that year trying to fit in. It wasn’t until the fifth he had truly bonded with Liz and Maria. But he had always watched Isabel from afar.
Sure he had never really chased her until fate had brought her close, until they shared the same dangerous secret.
But somehow, by the Grace of God, he had won her.
“Well we are done. It is going to be hard not seeing you everyday Isabel.”
“I’m sure. Trust me I’ll be missing you too.” She carefully placed his last bag off the bed and smoothed out the top cover.
He would have to carry it out in a few moments. He smiled up at her. How he wished he had more time!
He was a little worried about her eyes. The irises were slowly expanding into an almond shape. “Isabel, are you okay?”
“I’ve never been better.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a little grey and green orb.
He could sense her voice becoming multi-toned. Vilandra. Part of him wanted to back away. The hunger was back along the bond. “What is wrong Isabel.”
“I want you.”
“I want you too, Iz, but we don’t have time…”
“That is where you are wrong,” She place on hand on his shirt and began to vaporize buttons, working her way down.
He just stood their stupidly staring at his girlfriend. “Isabel, my mother is right outside the door and she’ll be coming in any minute!”
“Not anymore.” The orb in her hand pulsed.
Alex felt a little disorientation as the world began to spin. He felt Isabel grasp onto his arm and felt as warmth began to flow into him. The world stabilized and he looked up into her normal beautiful brown eyes.
What the hell, you are only a teenager once, right?
So he kissed her, knowing that his mother was going to bust him.
Any moment now.
He let the kiss deepen, let his hands roam. They could only kill him once, right?
After a timeless moment, Isabel backed away and set the orb she had been holding on his dresser. She briskly removed her clothes. She looked at him, still standing there, his shirt half open. “You seem a little overdressed.”
“Isabel….”
“Alex, trust me when I say we have all the time in the world. Well, three or four hours anyway….”
Alex just stared at her.
Isabel walked up to him and sinuously writhed in his arms. “So, about those clothes….”
Alex could feel himself respond. Well what else was he supposed to do?
Resistance was obviously futile.
-------
Aeron
Aeron’s mind was a storm of confusion.
First there was Kyle. What was she going to do about Kyle?
And Tess. Aeron was sure Tess would not react well to her sleeping with her not quite boyfriend.
Particularly when she understood exactly what Aeron had stolen from her.
But the thing that bothered her most was Natalie. Everything her Protector had told her, had sworn was true…. Might be false.
The Roswell hybrids were stronger, much stronger. And while they seemed to fit in well with the humans, so had her group until forced into hiding.
And the Granolith. They had the Granolith.
What she had said to Liz wasn’t wholly true. Her people, the Mithars did have a relationship with the Granolith….
It had been used against them and their parent world several times.
Her people, the group that would later be called Mithar had started as a resistance group against Them. And it was only through using the Granolith that the Third Taran Dynasty had been able to finally crush Them.
The Mithars of Antar had been allowed to settle on the far continent, allowed to terra form it to their desires. And had sworn allegiance to Antar.
But the war had been long and hard and despite all the hard work, Antar slid into a long Dark Age.
Not even her people remembered the name of their home world. But they remembered the threat. And for the most part remembered their oaths.
Certainly, her family had always been loyal.
How much of what she had been told was wrong. Was her group really the Real Royals as they had been told.
Or were they copies.
For she knew Lonnie had Vilandra’s memories…. But she had seen Isabel channeling Vilandra.
None of it made sense.
There was only one way to find out.
She needed to recover Natalie. From what she had heard they had some of the Revival Stones. She would only need a couple. Maybe only one.
She needed somewhere to think, someplace quiet. Not her room. Kyle might still be there. And even if he wasn’t he would be.
The Quarry where she had fixed Tess’s SUV. That would work.
She stopped her car when she saw a truck already parked there. Sean was standing at the edge of the reservoir skipping rocks.
She saw him look at her and start walking towards her car. His eyes were red rimmed with shed tears. “I can go….”
Sean just looked at her.
Aeron was sure she looked a fright herself.
Sean forced a smile. “Nah, we both need to be alone. But why don’t we be alone together.” He handed her a flat rock.
They skipped rocks on the reservoir for a long time.
-----
Maria-
Maria hated closing. Particularly during the holidays. The only thing worse was during a Convention.
She walked into the back to grab a broom.
Michael was still washing dishes.
Still quiet. Still withdrawn. He had been all day since finding out that they had a way home in the Granolith.
Normally this would mean he would be sullen. But tonight he just seemed focused.
Not on her, she was sure. On getting home.
What a week. She finds out her father is dead, no limo for her. He finds a way home. If only he can figure out a way to work it.
She had talked a little with Liz about it. The idea of whether to push them towards Antar or away from it. Liz was surprisingly philosophical about it, certain that Max would choose her over home.
Maria wasn’t so sure. Michael had been quiet really since they had come back from the alternate future. From where he had spent time with the other Maria.
She absently swept the floor, grabbed a mop and mopped it. It seemed mere minutes but it was done.
Michael was waiting for her. He even helped her pour out the dirty water.
Michael being gallant was usually a bad sign. Was she losing him for good?
Maria turned to him as they moved towards the front door to leave. “Okay, I have taken Liz’s advice all night an not pounced on you like I probably should have…. But what gives.”
Michael sighed and waved her over to a booth.
He thought she needed to sit down. Another bad sign. She gingerly sat down opposite of him.
Michael looked straight at her. “I have been thinking about us all night long.”
Huh?
“And I have come to the conclusion that I was right. I never should have gotten involved with you.”
“Wait, Michael, are you breaking up with me?” Maria could already feel her stomach lurch and a tingly feeling begin on her fingers.
“Just let me speak. I won’t be able to finish if you keep jabbering at me.”
“Jabbering, I never jabber. I discuss or converse. You on the other hand….”
“Maria.”
Maria stopped, heart still sinking. Part of her wanted to continue. If he couldn’t talk, he couldn’t say it could he? He couldn’t end it if she just babbled and used up all the air.
But she had known that this day would come.
Just not this soon.
“As I said, it would have been better for you if I never had met you. If, if we had never kissed. But we did. We did. And….”
“No Michael, no. I don’t care what she said. I love you and I won’t let you leave. If, if you go. I will go with you.”
Michael had a little sardonic smile now, a more familiar look than he’d had all night. “Maria, I told you this day would come. When I would have to make a choice.”
Maria felt all the air leave the room.
“And I choose you. It has been what I have feared all along. That I would not be able to leave you. And I have thought about it. I can’t. Not for Max. Not for Isabel. Certainly not for a world I have never seen.”
Maria felt a sudden bubble of joy. She reached across the table and grabbed his hand and pulled it to her cheek. She could feel him. The bond was always strengthened by contact.
And she felt complete.
The door rattled. Amy glared at them. “It’s late and I need to drop Michael off, too. Come on. It is cold out here.”
Michael sent her one of his patented smirks and gave her a quick kiss. “I need another bike.”
“I need a car.”
“We’ll get there, Pixie, we’ll get there.”
Her hand slipped in his, “Together.”
He just smiled.
And they walked out into the night.
IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Epilogue- 11/29/08
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Forum Moderators
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 50- 11/18/08
Thanks to everyone reading this story. This is the last chapter of Eidolon. There will be an epilogue following it, hopefully later this week. And of course, the action will pick back up in Book Three, Shadows of the Past.
GreginClearwater- Thanks
AvalonRose- Lonnie and Rath are in grave peril. Lonnie is beginning to see clearly a bit too late. As for the Tess/Kyle/Aeron triangle, well that will take a while to resolve. Alex's mindwarp is going to be a big part of Shadows. Thank you for the feedback.
RhondaAnn- Dorian would like to avoid meeting with Max for as long as he can.
Those sigils the Antarans use are really quite effective. It really dampens a criminals will to fight if they think they are guilty, if they realize what they have actually done. Lonnie is not a complete sociopath, although she was well along the way....
The scene with Michael was complicated. The decision he made regarding Maria was actually reached very quickly. Michael spent the day thinking about the ramifications of his decision. And there are major ramifications that will affect the next couple of stories because of it.
And from a twisted Michael world point of view, he does blame Maria for disrupting his will to complete his mission.
He is also very very happy that she has. And loves her dearly. He just has no clue how to express it well. Writing Michael can be complicated. And you are right about Maria's reaction, she probably should have been more lukewarm based on what Michael was saying.
Thank you as always for the feedback.
xmag- Just about the end. I just had a few more small scenes and then polish it up with an Epilogue.... Thank you for all the feedback.
katydid- Glad you liked it. Thank you again.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. A tiny bit from MitC.
Eidolon chapter 51
Liz-
Liz stared at herself and Max through the mirror. She smiled at him. He looked good, maybe a little different. A little more sure of himself. A little less shy.
But also a little less innocent.
And while part of her mourned the loss, both in him and in herself, of that innocence, another part recognized the necessity.
Failure was not an option.
But this was not a time for grim planning, this was a lighter time.
“So what did your parents say?”
“It was, well a little strange talking to them about all of this. Oh, and I am likely grounded.”
“Will you be in trouble for coming over here?”
“No, they were trying to figure out what to punish me with. I have a feeling I have a bunch of household chores coming at me soon.”
“Well, I am just glad you came back. We need you, Max. I need you.”
“You know, I never did thank you for saving me.”
“Well, I guess we are getting closer to even then.”
Max looked like he was going to say something but stopped.
Liz cocked her head and looked deeper into the mirror, to see if it showed some of the deeper changes.
It didn’t.
“You know, I keep expecting to see something….”
Max placed two fingers behind her head and slowly rose them, like unfurling antennae.
Liz laughed, “Yeah, like that.”
Max smiled widely, but just as fast it faded. Replaced by the brooding that too often marred his features. “I am sorry Liz for dragging all of you into this dangerous situation. Maybe it would have been better if we had just left….”
“Max, two things. First you mean the world to me. Losing you, losing the opportunity to have you, would be a tragedy of immense proportions. I love you, get that into your thick skull. I am here by my choice. And I choose to stand by you. I choose you, Max.” She shook her head and turned to face him. She placed a hand on his cheek. Small flashes began to play about her consciousness, but she didn’t focus on any of them. “I love you Max.” And she kissed him.
For a split second he was hesitant, but he quickly gave in.
A little while later, both of their breathing a little ragged and still holding on to the other, Liz turned to him. “So what was I saying?”
“I’m not sure, but I liked point one.”
Liz gave him a quick kiss and backed away for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “Oh yeah, Max, you are not to blame for this. Even assuming that the aliens left us alone, they are still here. And the world would still end.”
“What! The world ended because we chased Tess away….”
“Maybe, and there has to be a reason we need her. But the aliens are here. Ana was not sent to fetch you. She was sent to prepare an invasion. It will take them years to get ready. But they are coming. And even if I knew none of this, if I was simply still the smallest of small town girls, they would still be there. Only I wouldn’t know. But it would not really change anything. Ignorance would not have protected me, me or my world.
“Max they are coming. And we have to stop them. We have to.”
------
Brody-
Brody had waited in vain for the promise contact from the Presence in his mind that called itself Larek. He sat now on the plane waiting to go home.
He did not notice his left hand bringing up a notepad.
“Brody. I can’t really talk to you. And the space I use is partitioned to keep it from damaging your consciousness. Doing this, writing you a message is the best I can do without overwhelming your mind.”
Brody stared at the page. Part of him thought he had finally lost it. But if he had, what harm with playing along?
He wrote, “Why are you using me?”
“Your world is still a neutral place. And while people who can hold a possession is small, it is larger on your world than on any of ours. You took part in a Peace Summit.”
“Great, I am an unwitting interplanetary ambassador? What do I get out of it? You have ruined my LIFE!” The last was deeply imprinted into the notebook.
“We saved your life. Your cancer was terminal with the primitive technology your world possesses. All of the people we used made a deal with us. We just erased your memory of the deal.”
Brody stared at the page. They had cured him. A large part of him was resentful for being used as a glorified cell phone….
But if they could cure Sydney….
“Can you….”
“Unfortunately no, we can not cure your daughter the same way we healed you. She is too small. The shock would kill her. But I have some of my men working on an alternative.”
“Why?”
“It has come to my attention that a willing and alert agent on Earth might be useful. And you are better placed than you know.”
Brody thought on some of what he had learned in the last few days.
“Perhaps. But how do I know I can trust you not to mess with my mind?”
“You have my word. And while that should be good enough, there is no way you could know. Certainly not based on what we have done in the past. I have several children and the thought of losing one…. I want to help, but I can only do so if you help us.”
Brody thought for a long while, and gave the only answer he could honestly give. “I will consider your offer.”
“I will be in contact soon.”
Brody felt a tiny pressure, one he hadn’t really noticed before leave. He stared at the notebook for a long time. Had he finally truly gone crazy, or had he just been recruited by an alien power?
------
Aeron-
The meeting with Tess had gone much better than Aeron had expected.
Part of her had expected Tess to kill her. Tess was certainly capable of it.
There was even a small part of her that had thought she had deserved to die. She had failed Zan. She had failed Natalie. She had even failed Tess.
And the thought she could replace Zan so quickly….
But the feel, the savor of Kyle’s mind and soul resting against hers…. Forming connections that would last a lifetime, perhaps beyond.
She wanted it. She wanted it bad.
The sex had been awesome, too.
Even now a part of her wanted to find Kyle, to find Kyle and finish what he had started yesterday. To claim him and make him hers.
But he did not love her. Not really. He was confused, she had confused him.
He had wanted Tess.
Aeron was afraid she might have ruined that for them.
And she wanted them to be happy. She loved her sister. They were so close, and yet so different.
She was the only one who could truly understand how she saw the world.
And Kyle. She wanted Kyle to be happy. He deserved it. He deserved someone who wouldn’t use him or abandon him.
She loved him, too.
But did she really love him, or was he only a rebound? A way to hold off her sorrow over Zan.
Had she stolen Kyle’s love for Tess only to feel alive?
Aeron rubbed the two healing stones in her hands. Tess had gotten them from Isabel. Tess knew her plan.
To revive the New York Protector.
It would get her out of Roswell for a little while. It would give them all time to think.
It would give them time.
-----
Maria-
Maria stared at Sean. She had not really spent that much time with him since he had come to Roswell. He had only been here a week and now he was leaving.
And he was selling her his truck.
“Are you sure?” She said as she looked at the new title. A title in her name.
Her first real vehicle. Not her mom’s Jetta that she had used more than her mom, but her own vehicle.
Sean just smiled at her. Sorrow was deeply etched into his eyes, and there seemed to be a depth to someone she had considered the most shallow person on the earth. “I can’t stay here, Maria. I can’t. And if I go with Aeron, if I help her, she will fix up a different car for me when we are done.”
“Is she going to steal this car first?”
Sean shook his head. “I’ve watched her, Maria. It would take her a little bit, but she could fix up an older car for me. Make it as good as new. Maybe better.” He smiled, “Give her a career outside of the alien chaos.”
“I’m sorry about Courtney.”
“Yeah. Me too. But at least for a few days….” His expression darkened, “I have to tell you M, I don’t know if I will ever really recover. I was with Beth for almost three years, and I never felt as close to her as I felt to Courtney. And we only had five days.”
Maria nodded. “It’s strange. It is like they put a spell on you or something, the emotional connection, the passion….”
Sean nodded, his eyes slightly teary.
Maria hugged her cousin. It was a strange world, one in which she had to keep reassessing everything.
Even her loser cousin.
“M try to keep out of trouble.”
“Hey, Sean, this is Maria Deluca here. You are the one going into the lion’s den. What if Lonnie or Rath….”
“Aeron knows the City. It will be nice to be in civilization, too.”
Maria shook her head. “Come on, Sean. Let’s go get something to eat.”
“You just want to drive your new truck.”
Maria could only smile. “Hey it is the least I can do.”
It had been a rough week. But despite all the heartache and the danger…. They were going to make it.
Maria drove them off in her truck.
------
Tess-
Tess lay alone in her room at the Valentis.
The sheets had not been changed from Kyle and Aeron’s night of passion.
Part of her wanted to take those sheets and burn them. Burn any memory of her loss of Kyle.
The smells that reached her nose were of him…. And of her.
It would have been so easy to just cut her sister down. A quick wave of her palm and Aeron would have been dead.
But that would not regain Kyle.
It should have been her.
It could have been her.
Kyle had not hidden his desire for her. But Tess had been so driven, so certain that Max would be hers….
And now.
What did she do now?
Max was gone. They would only be friends.
Nasedo’s backup plan was a failure.
Just as well. Tess wasn’t sure she could have pulled it off alone anyway.
She wasn’t sure she wanted to.
Kyle….
Pain wracked through her body at the thought of losing Kyle. Tess had connected to Aeron.
Tess knew what she could have had.
What she should have had.
If she had only reached out….
And now.
What did she do now?
Tess stared at the ceiling, the smell of her sister and Kyle mixed together filling her nose.
And cried.
GreginClearwater- Thanks
AvalonRose- Lonnie and Rath are in grave peril. Lonnie is beginning to see clearly a bit too late. As for the Tess/Kyle/Aeron triangle, well that will take a while to resolve. Alex's mindwarp is going to be a big part of Shadows. Thank you for the feedback.
RhondaAnn- Dorian would like to avoid meeting with Max for as long as he can.
Those sigils the Antarans use are really quite effective. It really dampens a criminals will to fight if they think they are guilty, if they realize what they have actually done. Lonnie is not a complete sociopath, although she was well along the way....
The scene with Michael was complicated. The decision he made regarding Maria was actually reached very quickly. Michael spent the day thinking about the ramifications of his decision. And there are major ramifications that will affect the next couple of stories because of it.
And from a twisted Michael world point of view, he does blame Maria for disrupting his will to complete his mission.
He is also very very happy that she has. And loves her dearly. He just has no clue how to express it well. Writing Michael can be complicated. And you are right about Maria's reaction, she probably should have been more lukewarm based on what Michael was saying.
Thank you as always for the feedback.
xmag- Just about the end. I just had a few more small scenes and then polish it up with an Epilogue.... Thank you for all the feedback.
katydid- Glad you liked it. Thank you again.
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended. A tiny bit from MitC.
Eidolon chapter 51
Liz-
Liz stared at herself and Max through the mirror. She smiled at him. He looked good, maybe a little different. A little more sure of himself. A little less shy.
But also a little less innocent.
And while part of her mourned the loss, both in him and in herself, of that innocence, another part recognized the necessity.
Failure was not an option.
But this was not a time for grim planning, this was a lighter time.
“So what did your parents say?”
“It was, well a little strange talking to them about all of this. Oh, and I am likely grounded.”
“Will you be in trouble for coming over here?”
“No, they were trying to figure out what to punish me with. I have a feeling I have a bunch of household chores coming at me soon.”
“Well, I am just glad you came back. We need you, Max. I need you.”
“You know, I never did thank you for saving me.”
“Well, I guess we are getting closer to even then.”
Max looked like he was going to say something but stopped.
Liz cocked her head and looked deeper into the mirror, to see if it showed some of the deeper changes.
It didn’t.
“You know, I keep expecting to see something….”
Max placed two fingers behind her head and slowly rose them, like unfurling antennae.
Liz laughed, “Yeah, like that.”
Max smiled widely, but just as fast it faded. Replaced by the brooding that too often marred his features. “I am sorry Liz for dragging all of you into this dangerous situation. Maybe it would have been better if we had just left….”
“Max, two things. First you mean the world to me. Losing you, losing the opportunity to have you, would be a tragedy of immense proportions. I love you, get that into your thick skull. I am here by my choice. And I choose to stand by you. I choose you, Max.” She shook her head and turned to face him. She placed a hand on his cheek. Small flashes began to play about her consciousness, but she didn’t focus on any of them. “I love you Max.” And she kissed him.
For a split second he was hesitant, but he quickly gave in.
A little while later, both of their breathing a little ragged and still holding on to the other, Liz turned to him. “So what was I saying?”
“I’m not sure, but I liked point one.”
Liz gave him a quick kiss and backed away for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “Oh yeah, Max, you are not to blame for this. Even assuming that the aliens left us alone, they are still here. And the world would still end.”
“What! The world ended because we chased Tess away….”
“Maybe, and there has to be a reason we need her. But the aliens are here. Ana was not sent to fetch you. She was sent to prepare an invasion. It will take them years to get ready. But they are coming. And even if I knew none of this, if I was simply still the smallest of small town girls, they would still be there. Only I wouldn’t know. But it would not really change anything. Ignorance would not have protected me, me or my world.
“Max they are coming. And we have to stop them. We have to.”
------
Brody-
Brody had waited in vain for the promise contact from the Presence in his mind that called itself Larek. He sat now on the plane waiting to go home.
He did not notice his left hand bringing up a notepad.
“Brody. I can’t really talk to you. And the space I use is partitioned to keep it from damaging your consciousness. Doing this, writing you a message is the best I can do without overwhelming your mind.”
Brody stared at the page. Part of him thought he had finally lost it. But if he had, what harm with playing along?
He wrote, “Why are you using me?”
“Your world is still a neutral place. And while people who can hold a possession is small, it is larger on your world than on any of ours. You took part in a Peace Summit.”
“Great, I am an unwitting interplanetary ambassador? What do I get out of it? You have ruined my LIFE!” The last was deeply imprinted into the notebook.
“We saved your life. Your cancer was terminal with the primitive technology your world possesses. All of the people we used made a deal with us. We just erased your memory of the deal.”
Brody stared at the page. They had cured him. A large part of him was resentful for being used as a glorified cell phone….
But if they could cure Sydney….
“Can you….”
“Unfortunately no, we can not cure your daughter the same way we healed you. She is too small. The shock would kill her. But I have some of my men working on an alternative.”
“Why?”
“It has come to my attention that a willing and alert agent on Earth might be useful. And you are better placed than you know.”
Brody thought on some of what he had learned in the last few days.
“Perhaps. But how do I know I can trust you not to mess with my mind?”
“You have my word. And while that should be good enough, there is no way you could know. Certainly not based on what we have done in the past. I have several children and the thought of losing one…. I want to help, but I can only do so if you help us.”
Brody thought for a long while, and gave the only answer he could honestly give. “I will consider your offer.”
“I will be in contact soon.”
Brody felt a tiny pressure, one he hadn’t really noticed before leave. He stared at the notebook for a long time. Had he finally truly gone crazy, or had he just been recruited by an alien power?
------
Aeron-
The meeting with Tess had gone much better than Aeron had expected.
Part of her had expected Tess to kill her. Tess was certainly capable of it.
There was even a small part of her that had thought she had deserved to die. She had failed Zan. She had failed Natalie. She had even failed Tess.
And the thought she could replace Zan so quickly….
But the feel, the savor of Kyle’s mind and soul resting against hers…. Forming connections that would last a lifetime, perhaps beyond.
She wanted it. She wanted it bad.
The sex had been awesome, too.
Even now a part of her wanted to find Kyle, to find Kyle and finish what he had started yesterday. To claim him and make him hers.
But he did not love her. Not really. He was confused, she had confused him.
He had wanted Tess.
Aeron was afraid she might have ruined that for them.
And she wanted them to be happy. She loved her sister. They were so close, and yet so different.
She was the only one who could truly understand how she saw the world.
And Kyle. She wanted Kyle to be happy. He deserved it. He deserved someone who wouldn’t use him or abandon him.
She loved him, too.
But did she really love him, or was he only a rebound? A way to hold off her sorrow over Zan.
Had she stolen Kyle’s love for Tess only to feel alive?
Aeron rubbed the two healing stones in her hands. Tess had gotten them from Isabel. Tess knew her plan.
To revive the New York Protector.
It would get her out of Roswell for a little while. It would give them all time to think.
It would give them time.
-----
Maria-
Maria stared at Sean. She had not really spent that much time with him since he had come to Roswell. He had only been here a week and now he was leaving.
And he was selling her his truck.
“Are you sure?” She said as she looked at the new title. A title in her name.
Her first real vehicle. Not her mom’s Jetta that she had used more than her mom, but her own vehicle.
Sean just smiled at her. Sorrow was deeply etched into his eyes, and there seemed to be a depth to someone she had considered the most shallow person on the earth. “I can’t stay here, Maria. I can’t. And if I go with Aeron, if I help her, she will fix up a different car for me when we are done.”
“Is she going to steal this car first?”
Sean shook his head. “I’ve watched her, Maria. It would take her a little bit, but she could fix up an older car for me. Make it as good as new. Maybe better.” He smiled, “Give her a career outside of the alien chaos.”
“I’m sorry about Courtney.”
“Yeah. Me too. But at least for a few days….” His expression darkened, “I have to tell you M, I don’t know if I will ever really recover. I was with Beth for almost three years, and I never felt as close to her as I felt to Courtney. And we only had five days.”
Maria nodded. “It’s strange. It is like they put a spell on you or something, the emotional connection, the passion….”
Sean nodded, his eyes slightly teary.
Maria hugged her cousin. It was a strange world, one in which she had to keep reassessing everything.
Even her loser cousin.
“M try to keep out of trouble.”
“Hey, Sean, this is Maria Deluca here. You are the one going into the lion’s den. What if Lonnie or Rath….”
“Aeron knows the City. It will be nice to be in civilization, too.”
Maria shook her head. “Come on, Sean. Let’s go get something to eat.”
“You just want to drive your new truck.”
Maria could only smile. “Hey it is the least I can do.”
It had been a rough week. But despite all the heartache and the danger…. They were going to make it.
Maria drove them off in her truck.
------
Tess-
Tess lay alone in her room at the Valentis.
The sheets had not been changed from Kyle and Aeron’s night of passion.
Part of her wanted to take those sheets and burn them. Burn any memory of her loss of Kyle.
The smells that reached her nose were of him…. And of her.
It would have been so easy to just cut her sister down. A quick wave of her palm and Aeron would have been dead.
But that would not regain Kyle.
It should have been her.
It could have been her.
Kyle had not hidden his desire for her. But Tess had been so driven, so certain that Max would be hers….
And now.
What did she do now?
Max was gone. They would only be friends.
Nasedo’s backup plan was a failure.
Just as well. Tess wasn’t sure she could have pulled it off alone anyway.
She wasn’t sure she wanted to.
Kyle….
Pain wracked through her body at the thought of losing Kyle. Tess had connected to Aeron.
Tess knew what she could have had.
What she should have had.
If she had only reached out….
And now.
What did she do now?
Tess stared at the ceiling, the smell of her sister and Kyle mixed together filling her nose.
And cried.
Re: IDS Eidolon (CC ALL, Teen/Mature) Chapter 51- 11/26/08
Thanks again to everyone who has read this story. This is the end of the road for Eidolon, if not for the story. It will continue in Shadows of the Past, the first part of which I should post sometime next week. Thank you again.
AvalonRose- Thank you very much. I hope you like book three, too. The thing about Tess is there is so much potential there, aching to be used. As for Sean and Aeron, well maybe. Realize neither of them are really looking at the moment. But maybe. Thank you again.
RhondaAnn- Michael's decision is fateful, but not neccessarily bad for him or Maria. Realize he had already made this decision in truth in The Longest Day (IDS). He just had not fully thought out the ramifications. Now he has. Things will change. Sort of.
Well Maria did say "Note to self, get four-wheel drive." in Surprise. Now she has one.
In Kyle's defense, if there is one, he had not yet returned home by the time Tess had returned. He and Aeron had gone straight from the Crashdown to her hotel room.... Still yeah, not nice.
Tess is just beating herself up. Expect those sheets to be destroyed at some point off screen. She's just too tired and depressed to do anything about it in that scene.
As for Brody, well that could get interesting.
As always thank you.
xmag- As I said to AvalonRose, it is a maybe for them. But I will say that I agree. Both Aeron/Kyle and Sean/Courtney were whirlwind affairs.... Strenghtened way beyond normal by psionic connection....
But even if they just end up friends they will still be good for each other. And maybe....
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
A/N- Until the last story in IDS the Epilogues will reflect more on what is going on behind the scenes and beyond my view point characters view.
Eidolon Epilogue
Special Agent Hart stood beside one of the local highways to Roswell. A few of his men, a couple of local police, even a few of General West’s airmen were searching the area.
The Geiger counters the Air Force personnel had were making the locals nervous. Truth to tell the fact that they thought they might need them was making him nervous too.
But as a senior agent of the Special Unit, there was no way he could let something as mundane as concern mar his calm demeanor. He adjusted his sunglasses slightly. It was amazing how bright it could be out here so late in the year.
The Lieutenant sent to herd over the airmen walked over to him, a slight look of perplexity to his face. “Sir, General West sent us to help you, but… Do you have any idea what we are looking for?”
“Just to observe what might have happened here. Have you talked to the locals?”
“The bike is licensed to a Michael Guerin. We have picked up some blood samples. But we couldn’t find any of the powder you were looking for. And sir, we found this.” He held up a sample of fused green glass with a set of tongs.
“What is that, Lieutenant?”
“Well that is what I needed to talk to you about. It is called ‘trinitite.’ The only way I have heard of it being formed is when glass is fused by a nuclear explosion, sir. What the hell happened here?”
“You work for West. You know what we might be looking for.”
The Lieutenant swallowed. “You mean…. “ He made a wave encompassing the sky, “Here?”
“Maybe. What about the bike?”
The Lieutenant calmed himself, regaining his composure.
In truth, if Agent Hart had not been an expert in reading people, he might not have noticed the man’s lapse. Probably his first field assignment. One a little more exciting than anticipated. It was one thing to believe in aliens on Earth in the abstract, another to see possible proof.
“Agent Hart, the bike looks like it was hit with, I don’t know, a particle beam weapon. We’ll be taking it in, get a closer look. It is a little hot.”
“Hot?”
“Radioactive, sir. Whatever hit it did more than melt it…. I’m sorry, sir, you will get a comprehensive report.”
“Tell General West he can use Eagle Rock for his tests. He’ll be setting up a liaison there anyway.”
The Lieutenant blinked, “I thought they needed to do repairs before it reopened.”
“General West will understand.”
I only wish I did. Hopefully Byrnes is having a better time of it in DC.
------
If there was one talent Special Agent in Charge, Special Unit, Samuel Byrnes possessed it was finding things. Things, people, places…. It was just a knack he had. It was why he had done so well with the Inspector General. Why he was called on to find missing people.
Sometimes those tasks had merged.
It certainly had with the Ibanez case. He had found her, found her vivisected corpse.
He could usually find things, but not always in time.
That case, that situation had led him here. It had led him to suspect Daniel Pierce. Led him to find the hidden Special Unit.
One day it would lead him to Pierce himself. No matter how well he was hid, Agent Byrnes would find him.
It had lead him to find that the Special Unit might be needed. Convincing the Congress and the Director that the Subagency he had helped shut down might just be needed…. That had not been fun.
But General West had backed him. And the evidence was there. The mysterious occurrence at Roswell, all the missing people, the footage from Copper Summit….
He had even had feelers sent his way by John Ibanez of all people.
Daniel Pierce had done a number on the evidence collected by the Special Unit over the years. But either he hadn’t known about General West’s Special Projects Group, or Ibanez’s Far Sight, or he had not considered them threats.
Byrnes had been able to collect some of the data that had been purged. But not all.
That was were his experience working with the Inspector General came in handy. He had asked for and gotten a couple of men he had worked with before. Neither of them were exactly the sort you looked to for fast answers.
But they searched with such ominous precision, leaving no stone unturned. And often it led to something of interest. Like now.
He was walking through a federal institution for the criminally insane. The woman he was looking for certainly had not deserved this. She had been a rising star before she’d been selected for the Special Unit. Before she disappeared.
The orderly opened the padded cell, the patient facing away from the door. She turned to look at him with slightly dazed eyes.
Who knew what medication they were dosing her with?
“Kathleen Topolsky, my name is Special Agent Samuel Byrnes. I am here to take you from here.”
“No. Not again. Please? Please!”
“I’m sorry, Kathleen. But I need what you know….”
-----
Ana studied her breakfast plate intently, paying only cursory attention to the bustling in the diner she was eating in.
She was scanning. Looking for a target, for someone with potential for her to recruit. Or possess from time to time.
Madame Vivian had died. She had been one of the few people that had been good prospects out here. She needed a larger population pool.
Somewhere close to Roswell so that she could monitor them, but far enough away to be safe.
Those children were dangerous.
Nicholas’s men had failed to eliminate them a second time. Ana had thought that might happen, even if she would have liked it better that she had recovered Emily or that Deluca girl.
Delivering a reborn Vilandra to Khivar would have been a sweet bonus. As it was, Nicholas would present the other copy. Quite a pity.
Why had they made two copies anyway? What was the point?
Ana sighed and stopped scanning. There was no one useful nearby. Oh, there were a couple that might make decent foot soldiers in the later stages of her plan. But she wanted to build up a strong cadre first.
There was no doubt, she needed a city. Preferably one uncomfortable for a Skin.
Nicholas may be an ally, but that did not stop her hatred of him. She had always hated the Rhyajhaelians, and while Greer was almost bearable, Nicholas….
She was just thankful she wasn’t burdened with a husk.
Much better to be a hybrid.
Ana paid her bill and went off to begin her work.
Earth would belong to the Antaran Empire.
------
Khivar glared at Nicholas and Greer. “This is getting us nowhere.” He sighed. “Show me the girl.”
Nicholas put on a smile.
But Khivar could read the fear. Nicholas had failed him badly. Not only had he failed to secure the Royals, he had revealed the lack of the Granolith.
Khivar wasn’t superstitious. He did not need an ancient artifact to rule Antar. But there were those he did think he did. More in the colonies than on Antar itself, but he really had wanted peace.
There was so much to rebuild on Antar, so much that still needed to be done. But the war sapped so many of the resources Khivar could have used to help his people.
Still the Summit would be a net negative for him now. It would hearten his enemies and form doubts in some of his allies.
He would still beat them. But it would make it harder. Slow down his plans….
It was foolish, but his heart began to speed up. The reborn Vilandra would be much too young for him. Plus she would be human.
But…. He loved her still.
He had tried to forget her, to move on. He had married. He had children by his last wife.
But she had never been Vilandra. The whole thing had been a duty, a necessity to preserve his dynasty.
He’d rather the Tarenons return than let the Cathians win.
Nicholas led him into a room where two humans lay bound. The human body he possessed found the female attractive.
But it wasn’t her. There was no connection. No resonance of long parted souls. Nothing.
It wasn’t her.
Nicholas woke the female and presented her to him, “Lonnie this is Khivar.”
Khivar could feel the sigil even though it had faded.
Traitor. Regicide. Murderer.
Lonnie looked up at him with a mix of hope and fear. There was a livid scar running up her face stopping just shy of her right eye. She started to open her mouth, but he made a motion with his hand and she stopped.
Khivar glared at Nicholas. “It isn’t her you fool. She is just a copy.”
Lonnie spoke up, “No I am Vilandra. I am.”
Khivar did not even look at Lonnie. He started to walk back to the door.
He knew Vilandra was alive. He had felt her. She was hiding from him. But she was aware of him now.
She had started to awaken.
Realistically it was foolish to hope, to dream of rebuilding what had been.
But he loved her still. He always would. Many were the days when he wished he had given up his cause for her. If he had, maybe things would have worked out. Maybe the Royals would never have had to flee to this dusty world.
Maybe his children would be hers as well.
Nicholas called out from the room, “So what do I do with them?”
Khivar took one last look into the room, where the female held on to the wounded male. “Do what you will with them.”
And he left. Still trying to dampen his disappointment.
He really would have liked to see her. Even if only one last time.
Khivar had loved Vilandra. And he always would.
His mind returned to more important things.
-----
Alicia Ibanez Davis stared at her image in the mirror.
Brody was off back to his pointless quest in Roswell. Sydney was off at the Ibanez Estate.
She had set up this date long in advance of learning of Brody’s return. And now a long anticipated reunion with an old flame from college was soured.
She still cared for Brody, damn him.
And her Grandfather had made it worse. Instilling in her a belief that maybe Brody was more than a crackpot…. That she had been wrong.
She hated being wrong.
She rarely ever was.
For Alicia was a truly lucky woman. Things were never stuck for her. Her clothes never stained. Her hair was always tractable, and not even the best hairdresser she had used could get her hair color just so.
But she could. Broken machines worked for her. Doors were never locked to her touch.
She was lucky. Very lucky.
If she sometimes felt like she could feel something happening, well she was a rational woman. And no one could do things like that.
She couldn’t help a few tears tracking down her face. How she had wished she had been able to talk to Carlos before he had died. To think he had lived so close and yet never contacted her….
She consciously regained her composure, and with a few quick movements repaired her makeup. She sighed and steeled herself for her date.
Damn Brody for making her love him.
As she left the bathroom she turned off the light.
Unaware that her fingers came no closer than two inches from the switch….
TBC in Shadows of the Past
AvalonRose- Thank you very much. I hope you like book three, too. The thing about Tess is there is so much potential there, aching to be used. As for Sean and Aeron, well maybe. Realize neither of them are really looking at the moment. But maybe. Thank you again.
RhondaAnn- Michael's decision is fateful, but not neccessarily bad for him or Maria. Realize he had already made this decision in truth in The Longest Day (IDS). He just had not fully thought out the ramifications. Now he has. Things will change. Sort of.
Well Maria did say "Note to self, get four-wheel drive." in Surprise. Now she has one.
In Kyle's defense, if there is one, he had not yet returned home by the time Tess had returned. He and Aeron had gone straight from the Crashdown to her hotel room.... Still yeah, not nice.
Tess is just beating herself up. Expect those sheets to be destroyed at some point off screen. She's just too tired and depressed to do anything about it in that scene.
As for Brody, well that could get interesting.
As always thank you.
xmag- As I said to AvalonRose, it is a maybe for them. But I will say that I agree. Both Aeron/Kyle and Sean/Courtney were whirlwind affairs.... Strenghtened way beyond normal by psionic connection....
But even if they just end up friends they will still be good for each other. And maybe....
Disclaimer- Roswell is not mine and no infringement is intended.
A/N- Until the last story in IDS the Epilogues will reflect more on what is going on behind the scenes and beyond my view point characters view.
Eidolon Epilogue
Special Agent Hart stood beside one of the local highways to Roswell. A few of his men, a couple of local police, even a few of General West’s airmen were searching the area.
The Geiger counters the Air Force personnel had were making the locals nervous. Truth to tell the fact that they thought they might need them was making him nervous too.
But as a senior agent of the Special Unit, there was no way he could let something as mundane as concern mar his calm demeanor. He adjusted his sunglasses slightly. It was amazing how bright it could be out here so late in the year.
The Lieutenant sent to herd over the airmen walked over to him, a slight look of perplexity to his face. “Sir, General West sent us to help you, but… Do you have any idea what we are looking for?”
“Just to observe what might have happened here. Have you talked to the locals?”
“The bike is licensed to a Michael Guerin. We have picked up some blood samples. But we couldn’t find any of the powder you were looking for. And sir, we found this.” He held up a sample of fused green glass with a set of tongs.
“What is that, Lieutenant?”
“Well that is what I needed to talk to you about. It is called ‘trinitite.’ The only way I have heard of it being formed is when glass is fused by a nuclear explosion, sir. What the hell happened here?”
“You work for West. You know what we might be looking for.”
The Lieutenant swallowed. “You mean…. “ He made a wave encompassing the sky, “Here?”
“Maybe. What about the bike?”
The Lieutenant calmed himself, regaining his composure.
In truth, if Agent Hart had not been an expert in reading people, he might not have noticed the man’s lapse. Probably his first field assignment. One a little more exciting than anticipated. It was one thing to believe in aliens on Earth in the abstract, another to see possible proof.
“Agent Hart, the bike looks like it was hit with, I don’t know, a particle beam weapon. We’ll be taking it in, get a closer look. It is a little hot.”
“Hot?”
“Radioactive, sir. Whatever hit it did more than melt it…. I’m sorry, sir, you will get a comprehensive report.”
“Tell General West he can use Eagle Rock for his tests. He’ll be setting up a liaison there anyway.”
The Lieutenant blinked, “I thought they needed to do repairs before it reopened.”
“General West will understand.”
I only wish I did. Hopefully Byrnes is having a better time of it in DC.
------
If there was one talent Special Agent in Charge, Special Unit, Samuel Byrnes possessed it was finding things. Things, people, places…. It was just a knack he had. It was why he had done so well with the Inspector General. Why he was called on to find missing people.
Sometimes those tasks had merged.
It certainly had with the Ibanez case. He had found her, found her vivisected corpse.
He could usually find things, but not always in time.
That case, that situation had led him here. It had led him to suspect Daniel Pierce. Led him to find the hidden Special Unit.
One day it would lead him to Pierce himself. No matter how well he was hid, Agent Byrnes would find him.
It had lead him to find that the Special Unit might be needed. Convincing the Congress and the Director that the Subagency he had helped shut down might just be needed…. That had not been fun.
But General West had backed him. And the evidence was there. The mysterious occurrence at Roswell, all the missing people, the footage from Copper Summit….
He had even had feelers sent his way by John Ibanez of all people.
Daniel Pierce had done a number on the evidence collected by the Special Unit over the years. But either he hadn’t known about General West’s Special Projects Group, or Ibanez’s Far Sight, or he had not considered them threats.
Byrnes had been able to collect some of the data that had been purged. But not all.
That was were his experience working with the Inspector General came in handy. He had asked for and gotten a couple of men he had worked with before. Neither of them were exactly the sort you looked to for fast answers.
But they searched with such ominous precision, leaving no stone unturned. And often it led to something of interest. Like now.
He was walking through a federal institution for the criminally insane. The woman he was looking for certainly had not deserved this. She had been a rising star before she’d been selected for the Special Unit. Before she disappeared.
The orderly opened the padded cell, the patient facing away from the door. She turned to look at him with slightly dazed eyes.
Who knew what medication they were dosing her with?
“Kathleen Topolsky, my name is Special Agent Samuel Byrnes. I am here to take you from here.”
“No. Not again. Please? Please!”
“I’m sorry, Kathleen. But I need what you know….”
-----
Ana studied her breakfast plate intently, paying only cursory attention to the bustling in the diner she was eating in.
She was scanning. Looking for a target, for someone with potential for her to recruit. Or possess from time to time.
Madame Vivian had died. She had been one of the few people that had been good prospects out here. She needed a larger population pool.
Somewhere close to Roswell so that she could monitor them, but far enough away to be safe.
Those children were dangerous.
Nicholas’s men had failed to eliminate them a second time. Ana had thought that might happen, even if she would have liked it better that she had recovered Emily or that Deluca girl.
Delivering a reborn Vilandra to Khivar would have been a sweet bonus. As it was, Nicholas would present the other copy. Quite a pity.
Why had they made two copies anyway? What was the point?
Ana sighed and stopped scanning. There was no one useful nearby. Oh, there were a couple that might make decent foot soldiers in the later stages of her plan. But she wanted to build up a strong cadre first.
There was no doubt, she needed a city. Preferably one uncomfortable for a Skin.
Nicholas may be an ally, but that did not stop her hatred of him. She had always hated the Rhyajhaelians, and while Greer was almost bearable, Nicholas….
She was just thankful she wasn’t burdened with a husk.
Much better to be a hybrid.
Ana paid her bill and went off to begin her work.
Earth would belong to the Antaran Empire.
------
Khivar glared at Nicholas and Greer. “This is getting us nowhere.” He sighed. “Show me the girl.”
Nicholas put on a smile.
But Khivar could read the fear. Nicholas had failed him badly. Not only had he failed to secure the Royals, he had revealed the lack of the Granolith.
Khivar wasn’t superstitious. He did not need an ancient artifact to rule Antar. But there were those he did think he did. More in the colonies than on Antar itself, but he really had wanted peace.
There was so much to rebuild on Antar, so much that still needed to be done. But the war sapped so many of the resources Khivar could have used to help his people.
Still the Summit would be a net negative for him now. It would hearten his enemies and form doubts in some of his allies.
He would still beat them. But it would make it harder. Slow down his plans….
It was foolish, but his heart began to speed up. The reborn Vilandra would be much too young for him. Plus she would be human.
But…. He loved her still.
He had tried to forget her, to move on. He had married. He had children by his last wife.
But she had never been Vilandra. The whole thing had been a duty, a necessity to preserve his dynasty.
He’d rather the Tarenons return than let the Cathians win.
Nicholas led him into a room where two humans lay bound. The human body he possessed found the female attractive.
But it wasn’t her. There was no connection. No resonance of long parted souls. Nothing.
It wasn’t her.
Nicholas woke the female and presented her to him, “Lonnie this is Khivar.”
Khivar could feel the sigil even though it had faded.
Traitor. Regicide. Murderer.
Lonnie looked up at him with a mix of hope and fear. There was a livid scar running up her face stopping just shy of her right eye. She started to open her mouth, but he made a motion with his hand and she stopped.
Khivar glared at Nicholas. “It isn’t her you fool. She is just a copy.”
Lonnie spoke up, “No I am Vilandra. I am.”
Khivar did not even look at Lonnie. He started to walk back to the door.
He knew Vilandra was alive. He had felt her. She was hiding from him. But she was aware of him now.
She had started to awaken.
Realistically it was foolish to hope, to dream of rebuilding what had been.
But he loved her still. He always would. Many were the days when he wished he had given up his cause for her. If he had, maybe things would have worked out. Maybe the Royals would never have had to flee to this dusty world.
Maybe his children would be hers as well.
Nicholas called out from the room, “So what do I do with them?”
Khivar took one last look into the room, where the female held on to the wounded male. “Do what you will with them.”
And he left. Still trying to dampen his disappointment.
He really would have liked to see her. Even if only one last time.
Khivar had loved Vilandra. And he always would.
His mind returned to more important things.
-----
Alicia Ibanez Davis stared at her image in the mirror.
Brody was off back to his pointless quest in Roswell. Sydney was off at the Ibanez Estate.
She had set up this date long in advance of learning of Brody’s return. And now a long anticipated reunion with an old flame from college was soured.
She still cared for Brody, damn him.
And her Grandfather had made it worse. Instilling in her a belief that maybe Brody was more than a crackpot…. That she had been wrong.
She hated being wrong.
She rarely ever was.
For Alicia was a truly lucky woman. Things were never stuck for her. Her clothes never stained. Her hair was always tractable, and not even the best hairdresser she had used could get her hair color just so.
But she could. Broken machines worked for her. Doors were never locked to her touch.
She was lucky. Very lucky.
If she sometimes felt like she could feel something happening, well she was a rational woman. And no one could do things like that.
She couldn’t help a few tears tracking down her face. How she had wished she had been able to talk to Carlos before he had died. To think he had lived so close and yet never contacted her….
She consciously regained her composure, and with a few quick movements repaired her makeup. She sighed and steeled herself for her date.
Damn Brody for making her love him.
As she left the bathroom she turned off the light.
Unaware that her fingers came no closer than two inches from the switch….
TBC in Shadows of the Past