Roswell Fanatics

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Part 63

Breakfast was cleaned up quickly before they all gathered in the living room one last time.

They all starred back and forth between one another too many words needed to be exchanged, but there weren’t enough words nor enough time for any of them to even begin.

“So…” Max trailed off truly at a loss as to how to send them off.

“No.”

Everyone turned towards Maria not really all to surprised that she was the one to have something to fill the eerie silence.

“Any thing you say Max is going to sound like a goodbye. It’s been an honor knowing you, fighting with you, caring about you. Blah, blah, blah. Nope. You guys go out there kick as much Skin ass as possible and then come back to me safely alright. If you don’t take out Khivar and all his gross Skin soldiers that’s fine. We’ll come up with a new plan and go back again. Just don’t get killed.”

She looked all of in the eye daring them to disagree with her. Wanting one of them to challenge her demand so she’d have a reason to blow up at them and get rid of some of the nervous energy building within her.

However, too many years of experience with the Hurricane kept Alex, Liz and Kyle quiet. Max, Isabel and Michael definitely also knew better. Christina and Serena being very intoned with thoughts and emotions avoided any comments while Ava and Spencer had learned by now not to disagree with a babbling Maria.

Valenti was the only one who actually managed to smile at Maria as she gave him a glare daring him to even think of the possibility of death. She was very much Amy in that moment and he couldn’t wait to get back to her.

“Okay then. Lets go.”

And with that Maria bounced out the door and plopped herself inside the Toyota. The others paused momentarily still stunned by Maria. Max’s leadership kicked in and he quickly followed,

“Well you heard her, lets go.

And so they filed out of the house in single file Max leading and Michael bringing up the rear. Car divisions weren’t discussed as everyone automatically dividing up into the groups they would be working with. Maria herself had joined Christina’s car load.

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The car rides were long and silent.

When they reached the hotel drop off point, Maria got out of the car and Michael followed her.

They stopped right outside the doors; the others tried not to watch their goodbye.

“Ria.”

“Yes, Spaceboy.”

He couldn’t help but smile and pull her into a passionate kiss. After a moment he broke it knowing they had to leave.

“If we’re not back in…”

“No Michael, I’m staying right here until you all come back to me. Until you come back to me. Promise you’ll come back.”

“I’ll always come back to you Maria. Always.”

She nodded her head tears glimmering in her bright green eyes.

“I’ll hold you to that Spaceboy. I love you.”

Maria stood on her tiptoes, placed a kiss on Michael filled with all the love she had for him. He returned in furiously.

“Love you too pixie.”

They stepped back from each other looking deep into each other’s eyes, holding on for a few more minutes, memorizing everything. Just in case.

Michael turned away first and went back to the cars. Maria waved to the others, smiling brightly at Liz and Alex, she gave Kyle a thumbs up, she winked at Isabel and gave Max a very pointed look which he returned with a slight nod of his head. Then Maria walked through the doors to the motel to get a room. Not strong enough to watch her friends drive off without her.

The cars pulled away as the doors shut behind Maria. She turned taking one last glance towards her loved ones and then fell into the closest chair. She looked onto the smooth surface of the stone that Michael had slipped into her hand as he turned back towards the car.

She smiled briefly before, her brave front crumbled as the tears she was holding on to for dear life finally leaked from her dimming green eyes.

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TBC…

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Part 64

As they had arranged it, they stopped the cars a mile before Khivar’s camp walking the remaining distance. Ava was doing a surface mind-warp to the area so any Skins that might be on surveillance only saw the Royal Four. The closer they got to the camp the more she enforced her mind-warp planted it on a loop in the minds she brushed up against in her subconscious.

She only recognized what was going on with her surroundings due to the connection she shared with Max, Michael and Isabel. It wasn’t long before they again found themselves in front of the camp just like before. She grabbed onto Valenti’s hand and sat down in the sand.

Max and Isabel went to the left of Ava as Michael and Serena went to the right. Alex and Liz followed Max and Isabel standing behind them as Christina stepped in place behind Michael and Spencer stood behind his sister.

Kyle was a little ways off from his dad and Ava.

As far as any of the Skins could tell they were being faced with Max, Michael, Isabel, and Christina.

The main players for the Skins were still absent; the Skins waited for some order by Khivar, Niko, Sundari, Lonnie, or even Jared to attack the Royals.

Back in his tent with the others Khivar was alerted to the arrival of the Royals he gave the command to Caden to instruct the Skins to kill the Royals. He and the others would be along shortly.

Caden sent out the demand mentally to the others. An instant later they started attacking; sending energy blasts, laser beams, and shots of fire towards the Royals as the Royals defending themselves with a shield, occasionally sending a blast back of their own.

At least where the Skins thought the Royals were standing.

Kyle had to laugh at how ridiculous the Skins looked, violently blasting the desert sand. He supposed it was understandable though; he too hated it when sand got in his eyes.

Fifty feet away from where the Skins where attacking stood Michael, Serena, Christina and Spencer beginning to gather their own energy for attack.

It started first with Christina who raised her arm as it flickered sparkles of gold. Michael glanced behind him catching her golden gaze a moment before his brown eyes to transformed into a radiant gold.

He rolled his neck and raised and arm smirking at the Skins who were so clueless.

Spencer cocked his head to the side having noticed the golden glow of the other two. He saw Serena’s eyes too were glimmering the golden hue that had only been previously seen between Christina and Michael. He noticed the golden flicker in his own hand and assumed that his usually deep brown eyes now also held that golden warmth the other three eyes were shimmering.

He almost wished the Skins could see this, as the golden tint surrounded them, enveloping them. The golden hue itself seemed to emanate energy.

“Ready?” Michael wasn’t actually serious when he asked he could feel the energy spilling from the other three begging to be released, violently at that.

Serena smiled, Spencer flexed his fingers then nodded his head; Christina answered the rhetorical question.

“Oh yeah, they’re dust.”


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On the other side of Ava, Max and Isabel had their arms raised with Liz and Alex’s hands on their shoulders respectively. Isabel left hand formed a bright purple shield while Max’s shield expanded from his right hand allowing them to cover the most space.

Liz glanced over seeing the gold color reflect blindingly so with the help of the sun.

“It’s time.”

Max and Isabel glanced briefly at each other before nodding and projecting their shields outwards. It impacted with the first row of Skins, the same time Michael and Spencer’s blasts put a sizeable hole in the enemy troops.

The blasts continued from Spencer and Michael obliterating the Skins in different sections, quickly scattering their numbers.

Max and Isabel continued their shield attack, as the line of Skins ended up further back and they had to project the shields even deeper. Noticing this Alex had an idea; the others quickly grabbed onto it as it crossed the linked they shared when joined fighting this way. They redirected all the energy to Alex. When he felt like he would burst any second Alex materialized his own shield over fifty feet away where the Skins were still aiming their own attacks.

Maintaining a shield didn’t require that much energy; it was the fact that they had to raise it so far from their actual position that required more power.

The Skin's own attack turned against them as it rebounded off Alex’s shield and headed back towards the unsuspecting fools.

It wasn’t long before dust particles where floating around the air carelessly having been released from their form. It was the numerous amounts of dust particles floating around the air that finally made Khivar realize something was so wrong.

He sitting in his tent when a few entered the open flap and landed carelessly on his desk.

“What the…I guess the Royals are a bit more difficult for our soldiers. Niko, Jared go see what the problem is.”

By the time Niko and Jared made it to the battlefield, half of the Skins where floating up into the Earth’s atmosphere.

“There’s nothing there why are they attacking the damn sand.”

Ava trembled as she felt Niko enter into the field of her mind-warp. She refused to stop yet though there were still half the Skins left. Not to mention the other five. She tried to impose a lesser version of what the Skins were seeing; letting him see the Warrior Four Square, but none of the others.

Kyle watched in concern as Niko and that other Skin, Jared approached the battle. His concerned grew deeper as he saw Ava tremble and his dad sweating profusely.

Niko stared at the four of them in all their golden glory.

“Well that sure is interesting.”

He raised a hand to blast them, Kyle watched, seeing the Four where too deep in both their connection and the attack on the Skins; he decided to act. He shimmered in behind Niko and Jared hoping that Ava kept him invisible.

He raised his own hand and threw two quick blasted towards Jared’s lower back knowing that’s were the seal of the husk was, but not to hopeful that it would work in this case.

He shimmered to the left of them not waiting to see the impact. When he reformed Niko was looking straight through him and through the dust that once was Jared.

Kyle smiled very proud of himself. He shimmered behind Nicholas and sent another blast towards his head before going back to Ava and his dad.

He found himself much closer to the two and looked up to find Niko turned away from the Warrior Four scanning the area. He smirked and continued to watch over his friends noticing now that Ava to was dripping with sweat.

*Nice moves Kyle*

He looked up startled to find Christina staring at him. He gave a slight nod of his head as she winked at him before turning back to the Skins.

Kyle too looked on realizing Alex’s shield was still going strong effortlessly bouncing back the Skins own blasts onto them destroying them on impact.

With Alex’s shield working to their left, Michael and Spencer were focusing their blasts further right to the deeper lines Max and Isabel hadn’t reached with their own shields.

By now the two Four Squares had managed to take out another two hundred or so troops leaving them with roughly eight hundred more to deal with.

Michael’s arm was getting tired as was Spencer. Sure energy was still cursing through their bodies, but they could only keep their arms raised for so long before they needed a break. Christina sensed this and pushed Michael behind her taking front with Serena.

She raised both arms letting out a wave of Michael and Spencer’s energy. It rippled through the air, Michael’s jaw hung open as he watched the energy wave literally shake the air. It hit the Skins, instantly dusting another hundred of them.

“Neat trick.”

“Thanks General, wanna see it again.”

“Sure Princess, unless of course your too tired.”

Christina noticed the mocking, even picked up the unspoken dare.

“Might want to go get your girlfriend to protect you General.”

Michael laughed taking the time to notice the other Four Square. He saw Alex tiring despite the fact that his shield was still up. Max and Isabel too looked a little worse for the wear.

Then he saw the Skins, although he was pretty sure they still didn’t know what was going on and Kyle had taken care of Nicholas for now. They were closing in, filling the space evacuated by the other Skins when they were taken out.

He wasn’t a war general in his past life for nothing. He opened up his connection with Max and Isabel not only allowing a little more energy to flow into them, but giving them a plan to reorganize and attack the fast approaching troops. He instantly felt Max’s stubborn refusal at such an idea. Michael saw Isabel roll her eyes even across the distance separating them.

He mumbled under his breath,

“Fine, time to play dirty.” Michael focused the idea and pushed it harder into Max. Max stumbled from the force of it, but Michael saw that he reached his attending goal as Liz’s eyes suddenly lit up and she kicked Max in the shin.

She recognized the great plan for what it was after all, Liz did love her plans and she was the least tired of the three of them. Plus, the baby had energy all of its own which she hadn’t even tapped into yet. An energy that allowed her to converse with her mother who was across the country. And she was mad that they had taken her dad. So pissed off in fact Michael was glad she was on their side. Liz took her hand off of Max’s shoulder and aimed it at the Skins.

She raised an eyebrow at Max, feeling both Isabel and Alex pool what little energy they had left sending it to her as Max held back.

He sighed hating that she had to fight his battle for him.

*Help you fight your battles Max. We help each other.* He smiled at his wife as the thought crossed his mind.

He reached deeper within himself for more energy to supply her with. Giving her all that he had, all that he was, not just now, but in all times.

As the energy filled her, Liz knew it was too much to release with one arm so she took a page from Christina’s book and raised both arms as she threw her head back and let go of the power. Outwards it spread gaining force and strength as it sailed away from them towards the Skins. It encountered Christina’s second energy wave doubling both their strengths as it impacted with the Skins decimated another four hundred Skins.

Kyle’s jaw dropped open as he watched the two waves combine and wipe out all those Skins. It was a minutes before he overcame his awe and noticed Ava shaking. He looked around to find Lonnie and Sundari and joined Nicholas on the sphere of the battle.

He watched as Sundari squinted her eyes in their direction she smirked and then whispered into Lonnie’s ear. Lonnie glared towards them and raised her hand sending an energy blast in their direction. Kyle panic and raised his hand praying for some kind of shield. Shocked when the red tint of Serena’s shield appeared before him.

Lonnie’s blast hit the shield and although nobody was harmed Kyle was thrown backwards, and Ava was finally forced to drop the mind-warp.

She looked around groggily seeing Kyle standing back up on his feet slowly. Jim was kneeling on all fours breathing heavily.

Ava’s eyes grew wide as Lonnie took aim again toward them. Then Ava felt Kyle take her hand; she held tighter to Jim Valenti whose she had yet to let go of.

Then they were shimmering out of the war scene to the safety of Maria’s hotel room.

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TBC…

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Part 65

The three of them shimmered out of the battlefield in some bent over state and that was how they appeared in Maria’s hotel room.

Jim managed to pull himself into a chair as he continued with his labored breathing.

Ava passed out cold, slumped against the queen size bed.

Kyle managed to stand, taking in the appearance of the small room. It was on the second take that he noticed the strange man leaning against the dresser smoking a cigar.

“Ah…Maria!”

Maria opened the door from the bathroom and strolled into the room. Concern for Ava and Jim crossed her face as she went help Ava onto the bed.

Are you all okay? What’s wrong with Ava? Kal do something!”

“Kal? Kal Langley, the shapeshifter?” Kyle lifted his hand towards the man.

Kal removed his cigar from his mouth and carelessly waved it around pushing Kyle onto the bed.

“Settle down squirt.” To Maria he explained, “Ava’s just exhausted, nothing to fix.”

“Maria what is he doing here?”

She had finished getting Ava settled under the covers and giving Jim a glass of water. Distractedly she replied to Kyle’s question,

“The baby summoned him.”

“Oh. Max and Liz’s?” She nodded finally turning her attention to Kyle fully.

“Okay. Why isn’t he out there helping then? His job is to protect. Why isn’t he doing that?”

Maria shrugged her shoulders still not to concerned since Kal had assured her earlier that they were fine. The vibes he sent off reaffirmed his words which is the only reason she was trusting him.

“HE is standing right here and can answer your questions.”

Kyle turned towards the shifter, “Well?”

“They aren’t in danger.”

Kyle’s mouth hung open he quickly went from mildly concerned to pissed off.

“They’re at war, facing 2000 Skins plus Khivar and his four lackeys.”

“Exactly. When you three left there was what only three hundred Skins left. Khivar was down one minion. Correct?”

His statement seemed to gather Maria’s full attention. “Only 300 left. Wow. Oh my god are Liz and Alex okay? How is Michael?”

Kyle shook his head trying to adjust to the protectors lack of interest in the heated situation.

“Fine, but I should get back.”

Maria looked at him in confusion, “That’s not the plan, you’re suppose to stay here.”

Kyle looked away from her stealy gaze.

“They might need me. Max, Alex, and Iz looked pretty tired when I left. Plus Lonnie and Sundari had just shown up alongside Niko. Add to the fact Ava’s not there to hide all them now so they’ll need more help.”

Maria sighed and waved a hand at him, “Fine Kyle, but you better not get killed out there. The idea of having a brother is starting to grow on me.”

Kyle smirked and shimmered away.

“The baby summoned me?” Kal raised his eyebrow at her.

“Shut up Kal. There’s no time to explain THAT yet.”

She put a hand on Ava’s forehead. Her labored breathing slowed as she feel into a deeper relaxing sleep.

Maria walked over to Valenti, “You did good Sheriff, mom will be proud.”

As she put her hand on his shoulder she smiled as the AMP automatically absorbed the energy she was about to send his way.

Jim looked up. Confusion crossing his exhausted features as he suddenly sat up filled with renewed energy.

“Maria?”

“I don’t know Sheriff. Something about being an outlet to the Granolith’s energy. Christina can explain it later to everyone.”

Noticing Kal for the first time, Valenti repeat the same questions Kyle asked only moments ago.

Maria threw her hands over her head and walked to the door.

“I’m going for a walk. Kal, you explain your presence to him. I’ll be back in ten.”

Valenti watched as the door slammed shut behind a very agitated Maria. He only turned towards Kal when the quiet chuckling registered in his conscious.

“The General sure knows how to pick em’.”

Valenti gave a small smile, hoping the General and the others were still alive.

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TBC…

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Part 66

As Ava disappeared, all the blasts ceased as the Skins seemed to realize they were fighting sand.

The baffled Skins glanced at each other until they simultaneously noticed not one by two Four Squares. Two Four Squares standing tall and still taking them out. Realizing how few of them were left they turned their efforts on the eight standing up against them.

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Lonnie, Niko, and Sundari watched from the sidelines concern clearly evident on their faces. Fear too, even the small amount, reflected briefly in their eyes.

“Khivar is not gonna be happy.”

“Geeze Lonnie, you think?” Nicholas scowled at his lover.

“How the hell did they pull this off?”

“I don’t know, but it’s time to stop it.” Sundari critically took in the eight, noticing the disappearing boy was back and fighting beside the boy king.

It was the Warriors, who were doing the most damage though.

“Niko, take out Raeanne. Once their connection to the Granolith is gone my brats and their idiot cousin will weaken a whole lot faster.”

Nicholas gave her a look. Attack what he knew to be one of the most powerful beings on this small planet. Was she nuts?

“You’re not scared are you Nicky?”

He strutted off towards the Warriors, grateful that the remaining, albeit dwindling number of Skins were providing a distraction.

Lonnie watched in dismay, as Niko got closer. She wouldn’t let those rejects beat her. She began a mental invasion. Quickly entering Serena’s mind, scrambling her thoughts.

Serena flinched as Lonnie dove into her mind. Many of her blocks were still in place, but Lonnie was capable of a lot of damaged from where she was implanted.

Michael saw Serena stumble and reach for her head in pain. Instantly, he raised Isabel’s shield, hoping it would at least dampen the attack from the duplicate until Serena gained control.

It was the exact movement Niko needed as he snuck through a row of Skins and sent a blast to Christina.

Spencer saw Niko’s intent a moment too late. He still sent his own blast after Niko’s retreating back as he felt the energy impact Christina.

“Nooooo!! Christina!”

Michael watched in slow motion as his baby sister went flying backwards from a hit to her chest. Making sure not to drop the shield from protecting Serena, who he felt was gaining the upper hand, he yelled out.

“Valenti!!!”

Kyle turned when he heard the broken yell from Michael.

He saw Christina lying on the ground at an impossible angle, covered in blood.

He didn’t hesitate as he dropped his hand from Alex’s shoulder and shimmered over. Kneeling at Christina’s side, he put pressure on the wound.

“Get her to Maria.” Kyle nodded pressing harder on the wound as they shimmered away.

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The eyes of the three left behind returned to the normal browns as Christina vanished, and the energy quickly drained with her.

Serena struggled to keep the upper hand.

She reached for her brother’s hand, needing his firepower to end it.

Seeing the clasped hands radiating their own reddish pink, Michael dropped Isabel’s shield. Turning back to the Skins he released all his rage on them.

Sweat dripped from Serena’s brow,

“On three, Spence. Everything.”

He heard one, two, three whispered across his mind and let his built up energy flow across their connection and linked hands into Serena.

Then he watched as Lonnie’s eyes widen in shock before she exploded into a billion particles of dust.


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Maria was close to panicking as Kal hunched over seizing at his chest.

“Who is it Kal? What happen? Kal!!!”

Valenti stood up and pulled the small girl into his chest as she continued to hyperventilate as the shapeshifter wheezed for more air.

At that moment a bloodied Kyle shimmered in clutching Christina to his chest.

“She got hit, she was hit. Hurry Kal do something.”

Tears poured from Maria’s green eyes as she inhaled an unsteady breath.

Kal was still hunched over the dresser holding his own chest in phantom pains.

Vaguely, the yells from Kyle and the blood oozing from Christina’s gapping chest wound registered in her mind.

She pulled her self together, “Kal.” It was pronounced with so much authority, Valetni let her go, Kyle stopped yelling, Kal stood up straight.

“Heal her. I don’t car what it takes you do it. Sheriff, help him.”

The both moved to Christina’s side gently pushing Kyle away. Kyle stood up on shaky feet.

Maria watched as Kal’s hand began to glow a dim silver, as it grew to an almost blinding white once Jim put his hand on his shoulder. Maria turned to Kyle.

“Fix your clothes.”

“Wh…what?”

“The blood, get rid of it. We can’t go back there with you covered in blood, Michael will flip out.”

“Yeah you’re right we…wait what?” Kyle stared at Maria as he waved a hand over himself making all the blood on his clothes and hands disappear.

“Let’s go Kyle. Shimmer us to the battlefield.”

“NO WAY!!! Michael will kill me if I bring you out there. Besides are you freakin’ insane what you going to do-talk the Skins to death?”

“Kyle you have to take me there, you don’t understand.”

“Make me understand.”

Maria took a deep calming breath. Her hands fisted at her sides. She closed her eyes shut tightly. Exhaling the breath slowly.

When she opened her eyes, Kyle saw the gold flickering among the bright green.

“Okay.”

He grabbed her hand and once again he disappeared from the hotel room back to the battlefield. The last thing he saw was Kal and his father bent over Christina struggling to save her life.

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TBC…

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I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!

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Part 67

Serena had collapsed to the ground after she overrode Lonnie’s mind and killed the girl.

Spencer and Michael had stepped in front of her to protect her from the oncoming attacks by the Skins.

With only a hundred and fifty left the Skins were managing to hold their own now that they knew where they were supposed to be attacking.

Niko was left standing on the sidelines as Sundari had gone off to inform Khivar. He saw Michael glance at him more then once and for the first time in his long life experienced a paralyzing fear.

Isabel and Max too had felt the blast when it hit Christina.

The overwhelming sorrow and rage they felt from Michael at the same instant renewed their own dwindling sources of strength and they were able to fuel Liz’s onslaught of continuous blasts as she killed off Skins one by one.

Alex too would manage from time to time to throw up his own shield when he saw a blast escape the notice of Michael or Spencer.

It was as Sundari appeared again at the sidelines that Kyle shimmered in slightly behind Michael with Maria in tow.

Michael spared them a glance pushing away the questions he had about Christina.

“Kyle go back up Alex he’s running low on energy. Maria can you support Serena so she can stand.”

“Yes.” Maria was impressed as her answer only held a slight tremble to it.

Kyle was amazed Michael didn't freak out when he saw Maria with him. Then again he figured Michael probably saw the golden flicker in her eyes too. Little did he know Michael was expecting Maria to show up at some point if necessary.

As Kyle joined Alex in his shield attacks they were able to shimmer the shield around much faster due to Kyle’s abilities taking out more Skins much faster than Alex had managed working solo. Yet this also drained the little energy Kyle still had.

Maria grabbed Serena’s hand and the other girl looked up, startled. She saw the green eyes of Maria speckled with gold. She closed her eyes and when she reopened them they too where scattered with golden flecks.

Not as bright as when Christina was fighting alongside them, but still there. It provided her with the energy she needed to get to her feet.

They took their places, Maria behind Michael, Serena behind Spencer. Maria followed Serena’s lead as she reached out for Michael’s shoulder.

Spencer felt his sister’s touch shocked that she was standing and then even more surprised as he felt the energy of the Granolith cursing through him.

Michael smiled as the energy rushed through his veins it was fueled by a strong desire to protect. Protect family. Protect friends. Protect the Earth. All stemming from Maria’s unwavering love in all of them.

Michael understood know what Christina meant when she opened this connection between them.

For a moment he allowed the memory to overcome all other sensations.


They had been scattered throughout the den for the past hour working out plans for the new battle strategy. Thanks to Maria they now knew who would be working with who. Michael had figured out a way to get them in undetected.

Michael also had a few contingency plans in case they didn’t finish it all off in this upcoming fight. All looked very promising if they had to actually be used.

Christina sighed pulling the other two from their thoughts,

“We still need to figure out a way to channel the Granolith’s energy.”

“Why can’t you just use it? You’re going to be defending a freaking planet that’s not a good enough, noble reason for the energy not to backfire on us?”

She understood Michael’s frustration. She felt it too. It wasn’t fair, but that’s how life went sometimes.

“Too a point. As far as battling with the Skins it shouldn't be a problem, but if Khivar or one of the others show their face for a fight the Granolith would easily pick out my anger and desire for revenge. Not very noble purposes.”

Maria chuckled, “Depends who you ask.”

“Okay, so what about Serena, Isabel, or Ava? They all have strong mental powers going for them.”

“Spaceboy, I don’t think power levels really matter it seems to be more about the intent. As far as the Granolith will be able to tell all the aliens will be seeking out revenge for the injustices done to them. Granting we know it’s justified but the Granolith doesn’t have an actual conscious. Does it?”

Christina smirked, “Unfortunately no. It would make this a whole lot easier though.”

“If that’s the case we can’t even use it then. All we have are aliens murdered by Khivar here so all of them will want to kill the bastard and his followers.”

Maria nodded her head in defeat as Michael ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

“I have an idea.”

Maria recognized the sparkle of excitement in Christina’s eyes, “Well?”

“You can do it.”

A shocked Maria and an upset Michael both responded, “WHAT?”

“I’ve had this feeling about you Maria. I didn’t know what it was, but now I do. You can be our link to the Granolith’s energy.”

“It will be able to tell that I want to get ride of Khivar just as badly as you guys.”

“Yeah, but more than that you don’t have the memories of a past life. You want to get rid of him to protect your family, your friends, your planet. I want them annihilated, Michael wants revenge, Spencer and Serena want to see them pay for their crimes. Max and Isabel are driven by fear of what Khivar did to them, leading them to want him gone at any cost. But you, only you desire to see no harm come to your family. You want to shield your loved ones from his destructive hands. That is what the Granolith will pick up on.”

“It won’t backfire on her?”

“No, besides she doesn’t have any powers to begin with. She’ll be like a straw, allowing the Granolith’s energy to funnel into the other three.”

“Three?”

“Yeah. She’ll have to take the place of Serena or me.”

Maria accepting the role she would play, “Okay. How do we do this?”

“I’ll create a bridge, a link so to say between you and I that is built upon the Granolith’s energy and will be used to channel it. When the time comes you'll know how to use it because I've know how to use it. It will be like instinct.”

Maria nodded her head and took Michael’s hand, “Let’s do it.”


Michael shook his head as Maria squeezed his shoulder bringing him back to the present time. There were only a hundred and twenty-five Skins left. Michael growled at them as his brown eyes returned to the sparking gold.

“We take out the rest of the Skins, then we go for Nicholas.” The others nodded their heads.

Michael and Spencer raised their arms back up watching as the golden hue grew more vibrant and began snaking up and down their arms.

Maria had her eyes closed, not exactly sure how this instinct was supposed to work, but focused nonetheless on her mom, on Jim and Kyle, her ever-expanding family. She let memories of Alex and Liz overwhelm her before her friendships with Max and Isabel came into the picture. They grew into a family who would do anything to protect each other. The she saw Christina’s body lying bloodied in the hotel room. She felt Michael’s grief at the sight. All these conjured more energy within her.

Serena allowed some of that energy to flow into her from Maria, building up to an overpowering volume.

Maria’s eyes snapped open as the power rushed out of her through the contact she had with Michael or Serena as a bright green impulse raced through the air touching the remaining Skins and instantly turning them into dust.

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TBC…

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Part 68

Nicholas gulped as he watched the green impulse quake through the air. The edges of it skimmed his husk burning him.

He shook it off as Khivar walked up behind him. He handed Sundari the unconscious body of Jeff Parker.

Khivar looked out at the damage the troublesome Royals had caused him. He smiled humorlessly at all the dust clouding the area.

He slowly began to clap draw the attention of the nine weary souls.

They had congregated somewhere in the middle, where Ava used to sit mind-warping.

Michael turned at the sound of Khivar’s mocking applause and threw a blast towards Nicholas. It hit his shoulder leaving a fair amount of damage.

“Tsk, tsk, General. Wouldn’t want to upset us know would you.” To prove his point he waved Sundari forward and she kicked Jeff Parker’s form in front of her in disgust.

Max spoke up, his voice strong despite the lack of use and lack of strength.

“Are you offering a surrender Khivar.”

He laughed at them. “Hardly. Trying to appeal to your sense of…humanity. I’ve entertained you for now, but unless you turn over the Granolith I will attack your beloved planet before I conquer it all.”

Michael spoke this time, “In case you have noticed, your down an entire army of Skins, plus two of your mindless cronies.”

Khivar sneered at them taking the time to stare at Isabel, “All of which, I assure you General, are easily replaced.” He licked his lips as he continued his perusal of Isabel’s form adding to his point.

Nicholas, who was sitting on the ground due to his bleeding shoulder, noticed the furious whispering of Kyle and Liz, “Khivar, those two are up to something.”

“Zan tell your Queen not to do anything stupid.”

Max grabbed onto Liz’s hand.

“Return the Granolith to me by this time tomorrow and your precious humans can live. They’ll be enslaved, but I’ll allow them to live.

Fail to do so and I’ll destroy a city every hour. After a day of that, if I don’t have the Granolith your Queen’s father dies.”

He turned walking back to his tent. Sundari followed him dragging with her, Mr. Parker.

Nicholas stayed rooted where he was watching the Antarian’s as they gazed back at him.

He didn’t really want to drag this out.

Khivar no longer had the upper hand in this war despite his arrogant boasting. Hadn’t really had it since they showed up with two Four Squares.

He contemplated his options.

He couldn’t trade sides; didn’t even want to.

And he couldn’t beg Max to show him mercy, knew Max probably would, but Nicholas wasn’t really the begging type.

He supposed getting it over with now would be best.

Later on, they would have time to regroup, be stronger, be more pissed off due to the hostage Khivar had taken.

Nicholas sighed in defeat.

He raised his arm to blast, but never got the chance.

The last thought that crossed his mind before he felt the blast hit him square in the chest was that perhaps things would go better in his next life.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC…

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Part 69

Liz took in the sight of his battle tired friends. Many emotions were cascading across their faces.

Max was worried and exhausted. Isabel’s face held relief and concern. Alex looked pained. Spencer, Serena, Maria, all looked very impatient, and extremely anxious. Michael looked close to a full out panic attack Maria style. Kyle looked like he could lie down in the sand and sleep for a week straight. She pondered what she looked like.

“What happens now Max.”

Whoever asked the question was lucky Max was too exhausted to turn towards them because with the remaining strength he had, he would have blasted them onto their ass.

Liz seeing the distress on Max’s features took lead.

“Kyle how many of us can you shimmer back to the hotel?”

“If I’m lucky…me.”

Liz frowned, “Okay take Max with you so he can heal Christina.”

Kyle sighed reluctantly reaching his hand towards Max’s arm as they disappeared hoping that they got there in one piece.

“Okay the rest of us lets start our trek to the cars.”

Isabel put her arm around Alex’s waist seeing that he was about to stumble over. She pulled her hand back when it encountered a sticky substance. She saw the blood glistening on her fingers.

“Oh my god. ALEX!”

He dropped from her grip. She reached down to heal him only to have Michael pull her back.

“Michael what the hell do you think your doing!”

“You can’t heal him, you’ll draw energy from Max and Christina is on the edge of death’s door. She’ll die if you take what little energy Max has to heal Alex.”

Angry tears filled her eyes, “So what I’m suppose to let Alex die in favor of your sister?”

Her tone relayed all the disgust and anger she felt.

Michael’s eyes soften a little “Izzie you think I would let that happen. Jesus, Liz will you take care of Alex.”

Isabel turned to find Liz already next to Alex her hand over his wound.

“Michael…I…”

“Forget it Iz. Maria lets go. Isabel stay here with these two. We’ll send Spencer back here with a car to pick you all up.”

She nodded her head turning back to watch Liz and Alex.

Michael took Maria’s hand and they headed out with determination for the cars. Spencer and Serena followed a few feet behind them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Max and Kyle shimmered into the room to find Kal bent over Christina’s body.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Max yelled towards Kyle who had fallen onto the bed next to Ava.

Jim provided Max with an answer. “He’s keeping Christina alive. He said he couldn’t heal the damage. It’s too extensive, but he’s managing to keep her alive until you get here.”

Max crawled over to Christina scanning her body to figure out how bad it was.

“Kyle! Did we bring the healing stones with us? Who has the healing stones Kyle?”

Kyle’s eyes shot open as Max yelled. He groggily replied, “Ah…yeah Maria grabbed them. I think.” Then he shut his eyes again and fell into a deep sleep.

“Sheriff, find the stones. There energy so just scan the room of something for energy. Check by our bags.”

Valenti did as he was told, dumping Maria’s purse upside down and gathering the five stones in his hand.

Max took them from Jim and arranged them around Christina’s head and chest. He placed his hand to the right of her chest wound connecting with her immediately with the boost to his powers thanks to the stones.

He felt Kal in the connection surprised by the care he felt from him towards Christina,

“Thanks Kal, I got it from here.”

Kal removed his own hand from Christina’s head and fell back resting against the wall.

Jim looked at him in concern, “Are you okay.”

Kal nodded, “I’ll live.”

“Will she?”

Kal frowned just as worried for his young charge as the Sheriff.

“I hope so Jim, she’s the only family I have left.”

Jim was surprised by the admission, but understood what he meant. For so long Kyle had been the only family he had and he didn’t know what he would do if anything happen to Kyle. That didn’t change as the family got bigger, it just expanded to include all the members. Jim realized that would include the aged shape shifter now too, even if he didn’t acknowledge it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spencer pulled back up to the combat zone just as Liz pulled away from a newly fixed Alex.

He got out of the car to help Liz into it and heard Isabel admonishing the poor boy,

“Alex, why didn’t you say anything when you got hurt. You could have bled to death.”

He gave her a sheepish look, “It’s wasn’t that bad, besides I didn’t want to drain energy from us when we were fighting.”

Isabel shook her head in disapproval. Spencer jumped in to defend Alex,

“I would do the same thing Isabel, hidden it from Ava. We don’t want to seem weak in front of you. Besides Alex had the greater goal in mind. He had good intentions.”

Isabel glared at him. “That doesn’t make it okay.”

Spencer conceded defeat and hopped back into the drivers seat as Isabel and Alex climbed into the back.

They drove off into the rising sun, never noticing Sundari watching them from the cliff.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC…

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Part 70

Michael stormed into the room looking around frantically for his sister.

“Where is she?”

Serena walked in behind Michael taken over by the emotions coming off him.

She noticed Kyle asleep on the bed with Ava. Jealousy briefly crossed her face, but then she shook it off as she felt the waves of exhaustion still coming from both of them.

She noticed Kal resting against the wall his head in his hands. She was pretty sure she picked up a slight tremor of concern for all of them. How curious.

Jim too was overpowering her with the waves of apprehension flowing from him.

“Sheriff where…”

Michael trailed off as he noticed Christina and Max on the floor surrounded by the healing stones. Each one was glowing their amber glow in time with Max’s steady breathing.

Christina was still very pale, but the gapping hole in her chest was gone and the bleeding had stopped.

Michael sunk into the closest chair, he put his head in his hands matching the shape shifters position. His hands were trembling.

Serena sat on the bed next to Kyle pushing the hair slightly off his forehand.

Maria walked into the room, “The other’s just pulled up. I got them another room.”

Jim and Serena were the only ones who acknowledged her. “Is Alex…”

Maria nodded, “Yeah, Liz took care of him.”

Maria turned to see Michael in the chair by now his whole body was trembling in fear for his sister.

She went over and sat at his feet wrapping her arms around his leg and resting her chin on his knee. He buried his nose into her hair hiding his face and the tears that slide silently down his face.

Max inhaled sharply drawing everyone’s attention to him. He removed his hand from Christina’s chest and he fell backwards onto the floor.

Kal and Jim were up instantly. Jim helped Max to the vacant chair, while Kal scanned over Christina.

He looked up into Michael’s demanding eyes.

“He fixed her heart and repaired the damage to her lungs. He closed up all the arteries and veins that were ripped open by the blast too. She’s still low on blood though. She’ll probably sleep for a long time to restock it. Unless Max can replenish it after he rests for a little.”

Michael nodded, relief washing over him.

Maria spoke up quietly, “What about Liz? Could she…?”

At that moment Liz and the others burst into the room.

“What, what do you need?”

Michael looked at Liz pleadingly, his voice coarse from tears,

“Max healed her, but he couldn’t…she needs more blood.”

Liz walked over to Christina sitting down next to her slowly. She placed one hand over Christina’s heart the other on her own stomach.

She connected with Christina quickly using Max’s connection to her.

Immediately she noticed the Granolith’s energy gently humming along Christina’s own veins revitalizing her strength, healing the less minor damage Max didn’t get too. Liz decided to focus that energy into the production of red blood cells. Her task complete she checked to make sure Christina would wake up. She was assured when she realized Christina had fallen into a deep slumber.

She sat back on her heels. “Michael.” He looked towards her. “She’s fine now, just sleeping.”

Kal stood up. “Which is what all of you should be doing.”

Maira went to object, “Khivar has Liz’s dad. He gave us 24 hours to hand over the Granolith.”

Kal gave her a stern fatherly look, “Exactly. Even more reason you should all rest. It’s just past eight now. You have time to rest up; not sleeping isn’t an option if you actually want to save Mr. Parker’s life.”

He waved his arm and the closet next to the bathroom opened up. Sheets and towels floated across the room changing into pillows and comforters. Before falling to rest next to each of them.

“I assume none of you want to be separated. I’ll keep watch outside. I’ll have food arranged in the other room for when you all wake up. I better not see any of you until at least 2 o’clock. Is that understood?”

“For a man who despises taking orders you sure don’t mind giving them.”

Kal chuckled at Alex’s observation. “All part of Hollywood lifestyle. Now get some shut eye.”

Everyone moved slowly setting up misshaped beds around the floor.

Michael moved Christina up to the couch. He and Maria laid out next to it. Serena snuggled in bed next to Kyle. Spencer sprawled out at the foot of the bed. Max and Liz set up camp on the other side of the bed while Alex and Isabel set there stuff up a few feet in front of the door. Jim reclined in one of the chairs falling asleep instantly.

Kal turned out the lights as they all settled down. Before he quietly shut the door he heard the relaxed breathing of his precious charges; all too exhausted to even stay up worrying despite how much they wanted to.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC…

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Part 71

It was just after 2 o’clock when the door opened quietly and Jim Valenti stepped outside closing it behind him softly.

The shape shifter cast him a glance as he continued scanning the deserted roads.

“I was thinking about going to pick up that food now. Can you keep watch over the kids while I’m gone?”

Sheriff looked at the man in front of him, “Sure, but I don’t have any active powers if Khivar or Sundari show up.”

Kal nodded knowingly, “That’s okay Ava’s awake now just resting, and Christina will be awake shortly.”

“How do you…”

Kal rose an eyebrow, “I’m very attuned to my charges well-being. Both physical and mental.”

Valenti seemed genuinely impressed before the full implications of that statement registered in his mind.

“Have you always been aware of them.”

Kal nodded distracted by his surveillance of the area.

“How the hell do you call yourself their protector than? Why are you here now? It wasn’t good enough to come and help them out when they were being hunted by the Skins or chased by FBI agents. Being tortured and having to kill to survive doesn’t rank high enough on your scale to protect your so called charges?!”

Kal gave his full attention to the Sheriff for the first time since he walked outside.

“You mean coddle them.”

“No, saving them from having to go through all that when they were still children would not be coddling them.”

“So it would have been better for me to step in say when you were handing over Liz’s uniform to Agent Stevens?”

Kal watched as Valenti’s head fell in shame, still feeling guilty for the act.

“Or perhaps when word of Pierce’s list gained my attention. Maybe when Nasedo and Tess, who I had a feeling were up to now good infiltrated the small group? Maybe I should have run to Roswell while Michael was battling demons in jail for murder or when Isabel was busying killing Whitaker.”

Valenti just stared at the shape shifter as he continued growing in his own anger at the other man’s questioning.

“It could have been better possibly if I had stepped in when Liz was changing the future or they all ran off to Copper Summit. Better yet, showing up at the Pod Chamber to deal with Tess properly.”

Valenti had heard enough, “You’ve had numerous chances to be there for them, to shield them from this world.”

Kal nodded his head in agreement knowing it was truth. Accepting that he could have done that, but then he shared with Jim the reason he hadn’t.

“And let me ask you Sheriff, do you really think those 11 so called children in there would be peacefully sleeping right now? Two of them married, four more engaged, and the other four blissfully happy in their bickering and flirting, if I hadn’t let them grow into who they are now? If I had run to their rescue at the first obstacle they faced, do you truly believe they would all be alive right now after what they had to just dealt with.”

Jim frowned and shook his head no. Knowing for a fact the same kids he perused endlessly to discover the truth would have never made it this far so well intact.

“Coddling them is exactly what lead to their deaths in the first place. It wouldn’t be much of a second chance if everything was repeated now would it?”

Jim halted his accusations seeing the truth and logic to Kal’s argument.

“You care so much, why then the hostility towards Max when he came to you in L.A. ”

Kal actually looked slightly guilty.

“Well I suppose after so long a little humanity did in fact rub off on me. I agree I was wrong in my actions towards Max, which I will apologize for today.

It was a combination of disappointment with myself and anger with Max. I was distressed that my own negligence of the Tess situation allowed the need for Max to send her away. Yet at the same time, I was quite furious that he had sent the very thing Khivar wanted most in the six worlds to him. Practically gift wrapping it and setting it in his lap. Allowing the traitor to give to Khivar the Granolith is inexcusable. Would have been unforgivable had Max not caught a lucky break.”

“Lucky break?”

“Yes, it is most fortunate for all of us here today that once back on Antar, Tess’s memories and consciousness of Ava returned to her. It was that guilt combined with the desire to save her son that drove her running back here with Khivar’s favorite toy. If Tess had not grown that conscious and we were still without the Granolith my regretful attitude towards Max would have been more then justified.”

Jim was quiet for a moment reflecting, “I’m sorry for coming out here and throwing the blame solely on you. It’s not fair me doing that to you, nor is it fair that these young adults have to deal through all this. However, I shouldn’t let that injustice rest on you. ”

Kal nodded agreeing with the other protector of the group turning back to watch the streets.

“Can I ask you a question though? Out of curiosity, not indicting or anything like that?”

Kal glanced at Jim telling him with his eyes to ask away.

“The Tess situation. I mean the fact that she had done that to Alex. How could you have not stepped in there?”

Kal sighed,

“Trust me Jim. I wanted to very much, but by the time my informants caught me up to date it was far too late. Alex was believed dead. I had no knowledge of Rath and Ava’s heroics so I did the best I could and planted some clues for the Queen.”

Valenti frowned, “Queen?… Oh Liz.”

“Yes, she did quite well too.”

Jim agreed still regretting the fact that he didn’t trust Liz and her instincts.

“So assuming by your presences here now, you’re here to protect them. How do we go about doing that?”

Kal gazed at Valenti respecting the inclusive term ‘we.’

He was grateful that he wouldn’t have to fret over the kids alone in the last few battles of this war. And they were in fact, in some cases, still children.

Despite their many life experiences, and lack of innocence they still did not have the wisdom that comes from age alone. Plus, they deserved to indulge the child within each of them that they had to stifle over the years in order to survive in this hostile land.

Kal pondered how did they go about protecting them. How do you shield a group of people who had grown so accustom to saving themselves. When he found his answer he didn’t hesitate in sharing it with Valenti

“Anyway we possibly can. Perhaps even at the expense of our own lives.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC…

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Part 72

It was just before three in the afternoon when Ava and Maria slipped out of the room giggling.

Valenti smiled at them in question.

“Kyle snores!”

Valenti didn’t find that particularly humorous.

“And Alex hums songs to himself.”

Maria picked up the explanation,

“Max drools.”

The giggling was close to hysterical laughter at this point.

Valenti took the bait,

“And Michael?”

The laughter was too much they clutched at their sides gasping for breath. At this point Kal had pulled back up in his shiny black car. He was holding bags of food and curious as to what was so funny.

Valenti quickly caught him up as the girls tried to regain control of themselves.

“Apparently Kyle snores, Alex hums songs to himself, and Max drools.”

“Michael?”

“Still waiting for an answer.”

“He… he…” gasping for breath Maria failed in her attempt to share with them.

“He talks in his sleep.”

Jim and Kal looked at each other unsure if they had missed something that made all of this so hilarious.

“That’s it?”

“I don’t think that’s funny.”

Maria at this point had managed to pull herself together and share the whole story.

“You would if you had heard him going on about him and Prince Max rushing to the aid of Princess Izzie who was at risk of being captured by the evil Alex Band geek. It was of the utmost importance to stash her away where Alex couldn’t find her.”

“Yeah, and then apparently Prince Max suggests the gym.”

“Cuz Michael responds, ‘Yes, yes dodgeball season is long over no reason for evil Whitman to find the Princess in the athletic center’.”

They were both back to fits of giggles.

Valenti smiled finding the humor. But Kal just shook his head still not getting the humor. It was a good things he avoid comedies.

He walked over to the other room to set up the food with Ava and Maria close behind him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Throughout the hour the others had found their way into the other room and joined Ava and Maria on satisfying their appetite. Jim had joined them as Kal took up watch again.

The door opened cautiously as a bed rattled Michael walked into the room his hair sticking up in all directions. Bewilderment covered his expression when a moment later all the girls burst out into laughter. Kyle and Alex too where laughing loudly. Max allowed a few chuckles to slip by before he gained control over them for the sake of his still half asleep friend.

“What?”

The growled question only caused the laughter to rise in volume. Alex literally fell out of his chair he was laughing so hard. Kyle too was balance precariously on the side of the bed in danger of ending up on the floor. Michael crossed his arms over his chest trying to imitate them into answering him with fear.

The girls only laughed harder. Maria finally gasped out, “Is that how you kept evil Alex away from Princess Izzie?”

The look Michael gave was priceless as he grabbed a sandwich and went back outside slamming the door shut behind him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The laughter followed him through the door all the way to Kal’s car, where he leaned against the hood.

“Humans!”

Kal chuckled at the General’s frustration. “Yes, they are very peculiar.”

“So any ideas how we do this?”

“Rescue Mr. Parker you mean?”

“Yeah. My brain is to tired to think of anything, except blast.”

“That will probably work.”

“Seriously?”

“Well it will obviously have to be a bit more detailed then that, but that will be the general gist of the plan. Khivar and Sundari are the only ones left?”

“Yeah, as far as we know, unless some other Skins stayed back.”

Kal reflected momentarily recalling all he knew about the tyrant.

“Hmm… no maybe at most a simple servant to wait on him and run errands, but nobody we will need to worry about.”

Then the shape shifter started spitting out a few ideas to get the Generals mind functioning because ultimately it would be Michael who led them in and out of this next obstacle. He wasn't at all surprised when Michael finally spoke.

“Two teams. One will be a rescue team made up of Kyle and someone with a lot of firepower. They’ll get Jeff out of there. The rest of us will take out Sundari and Khivar. Are you gonna go in with us?”

Kal was surprised though to be asked, so used to being ordered to do something. “That’s why I’m here Michael.”

Michael nodded chewing on his sandwich as he thought more about Jeff’s rescue.

“We’ll have to get Iz to dream-walk him. I’m sure they’ve cleared out of their camp by now.”

Kal agreed with the boy, “He probably went to one of the larger factory buildings on the outskirts of town.”

“Okay, Can you go get Izzie and Ava so they can contact him. I really don’t want to go back in there.”

Kal snorted at Michael’s noticeable embarrassment.

He began to walk away when Michael's arm shot out and pulled him back.

Kal looked at Michael expectantly.

“Thank you. For getting here when Maria called you and for saving Christina.”

Kal gave Michael a rare smile that wasn’t laced with malice. “She’s family.”

Michael shook his head in agreement.

“You know you’re going to have to inform the others about Maria recent connection to the Granolith.”

Michael shrugged his shoulders, “Maybe if they could pull it together long enough to stop laughing at me they’d have some answers.”

“Hmmm… maybe. I’ll be back after I grab some food.”

Michael nodded distractedly as he ran different scenarios through his head trying to find the best way to save Mr. Parker.

It was a few minutes later that he noticed Isabel next to him looking at him sorrowfully. He turned his attention to her fully, "What's wrong Iz?"

Tears swam in her eyes as she tried to speak. "Is this about eariler with Alex?" Isabel nodded her head quickly as she wiped at the tears that escaped.

"It's okay Iz, really. You were concerned for Alex and I was in a hurry to get back to Christina. I know you didn't think what I said, none of us would ever make any of the other pick between saving one person's life as opposed to the other." He pulled her closed to his side hugging her with one arm. "It'll be okay Iz. I promise."

As long as he could help it they weren’t going to lose anybody. Not on his watch.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC…

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