My Assassin My Lover (AU,CC, ADULT) Ch 12 - 10/06/04 [WIP]
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 1:46 pm
My Assassin My Lover
By: Stardance
Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever have owned any of the Roswell characters. If I had the last 2 seasons would have been very different. Unfortunately Melinda Metz, Jason Katims, and 20th Century Fox can claim the honor. So as far as the characters go anyone whose name was never mentioned in any episodes is mine.
Summary: Liz, Maria, Alex, and Kyle are charged with saving two planets from the wrath of the Royal Four, or so their led to believe. However each seems to have a connection with four stellar hybrids. Can the humans over come their inner-demons to find the truth.
Parings: M/L, M/M, A/I, and K/T, K/Ava.
Rating : Right now TEEN may go on to be MATURE or ADULT
Author's Note: Indead this is a crazy story in fact its really AU. Some things don't seem to belong. If any of you have read it before, when it was posted a while back, a lot of the story line didn't always make sense. Especially when I used the Granolith to change time, again. I am going to try and fix that as I go along.
PROLOUG0
“I just can’t do it Ria,” cried Liz desperately.
“I know Lizzy we, Kyle, Alex and I, all feel the same way you do, we feel connections too,” Maria replied softly. But Liz just wasn’t listening.
“We aren’t even sure that they are the royal four. I mean except for the feeling of being connected with them, we don’t have anything else to go on,” ranted Liz.
Finally Maria’s patience with Liz ran out. Grabbing Liz’s arm Maria forced a connection with Liz, usually Liz was always open to Maria but her agitation had blocked the bond that they had shared sense pre-school. She then repeated<< Kyle, Alex, and I feel the same way that you do. Believe us>> The word believe echoed in Liz‘s head, calming her down and returning her to her usual analytical self. Just as she began to feel completely calm Liz watched Maria turn pale and slide down to land on the floor. Maria looked up at Liz and said in a fearful voice, “We failed him, we FAILED Nasedo.”
“I know Ria, but I will not kill Max!”
CHAPTER 1 : To Be or Not To Be?
Liz called a group meeting that night after the Crashdown closed. Liz and Maria need to discuss with Kyle and Alex what they should do now. As they started talking about their options, Liz had a premonition.
*Flash* “Hi, Tess can we talk? “Um sure...” “Daddy this is Liz Parker, she’s a um friend from school.” “Well Tess she will have to stay for dinner.”
“Liz? Hello earth to Liz,” cried Maria gently shaking Li’s shoulder.
“Maria,” breathed Liz, she then shuddered remembering those lifeless eyes.
“What’s up chica, what just happened?”
“Maria, Kyle, Alex. Nasedo is protecting the fourth alien. I swear I just had a premonition of meeting this girl name Tess, and needing to talk to her then meeting her father. Her father whom I didn’t recognize, but when I looked into his eyes I knew him it was Nasedo, the coldness, the emptiness, it was him.”
Kyle stood up, “Looks like we have been lied to about everything, I believe that now we should rely on our instinct. I don’t know about you three but the closer I get to Max, Michael and Isabel the more I feel like I should be protecting them.”
Liz blushed and spoke up, “ I also feel like I’m suppose to be protecting them, but, I also feel like I’m suppose to protect Max more than anything, and um…I …I …I’m beginning to think of him as more than just a friend.”
Maria grinned at Liz and looked over at Kyle and Alex, who looked confused.
“To put in terms you can understand, Liz would like to jump his bones,” she laughed as Liz shot her a dirty look and Kyle and Alex had the grace to brush.
“Hey, that’s not fare, I know you have the hots for Michael,” replied Liz in retaliation.
“I can not deny it so I won’t.”
After the group had recovered from the giggles, Liz brought up the point that Nasedo hadn’t contacted them in four years, so I doubt that we have to worry for a least a couple of weeks, if were lucky a couple of months. Realizing how late it had gotten the group wrapped up the meeting. Maria went to call her mom to say she was staying at Liz’s while Liz showed Kyle and Alex out. Climbing up the steps Maria realized that for all the group talked a lot about the meetings with Nasedo she remembered very little.
“Liz, how much of the actual meetings with Nasedo do you remember?” asked Maria.
“Not much, now that you mention it,” mused Liz.
“Listen I have an idea, but I don’t know if it will work or not…”
“Well,” prompted Liz when Maria lost her train of thought.
“Oh sorry, well here’s the deal, what if Nasedo blocked our memories of the meetings. I was thinking that if we connected maybe you might be able to tell if there were blocks in place and then you might be able to take them down or break through them.”
Liz looked at Maria her eyes a gleam with the prospect of a new science project, but she said quiet calmly, “We can give it a try.”
Maria opened her connection with Liz and tried to relax as Liz sunk deeper into Maria’s awareness. Maria wanted to know what was happening so she contacted Liz and as soon as she did Liz was able to see the blocks, Liz was astounded by the shear number. Liz became violently angry at what had been done to her best friend, and tore through the mind blocks clearing each memory path. Expunging Nasedo’s taint from her friends mind. As soon as she had completed that task Liz pulled out of the merge.
Liz looked at Maria while she cried silent tears but didn’t know what to say. However soon Maria’s tears dried and she turned and said to Liz, “Gear up chica it’s your turn now.”
Liz grinned at Maria, “Bring it on.”
Maria initiated the contact this time and was surprised when she felt Liz’s shields go up. <<Knock, knock chica>> Still Liz’s shields would not come down. After a few moments of intense mental screaming Maria realized that when Liz had helped her they had triggered some sort of silent alarm. Extremely angry Maria grabbed Liz and put all her anger, frustration, resentment into one final push. At last the shields gave way and Maria was able to remove the blocks from Liz’s mind.
Liz looked at Maria after she had gotten control over her own emotions, which weren’t quiet as involved as Maria’s and read trouble in Maria’s eyes.
“Ria, what’s the matter?”
“Liz when you first contacted my mind and we merged, did you have to break through my shields?” asked Maria.
“No, why?” replied Liz.
“Listen I think Nasedo had a warning system or an alarm thingy attached to one of my mental blocks, because when I tried to contact you I couldn’t there were shields up. I’m guessing Nasedo put them up.”
“Maria if that’s the truth how were you able to break through the shields?” asked Liz.
“I was just so angry that Nasedo had done this. The things I remember, now that the blocks are gone, well they filled me with a rage I just couldn’t contain. I gathered those feelings and used them to break through his shields.”
“Thanks Ria, I don’t know about you but I am tired and need to sleep before I think of what you just told me and I think you need to rest too,” said Liz, gently.
“Good idea, night Liz.”
“Night Maria.”
Maria knew he was after her, she had disobeyed him. Maria knew that the man had been sent to train them to kill the royal four. But Maria knew that she was supposed to protect them, especially Rath. He was her soul-mate; she had sworn her loyalty to King Zan and his entourage. She would die for all of them and so would the other three. But they weren’t here to draw strength from so she ran, and ran, running towards the chamber, the pods, the Granolith. Realizing she was about to betray them all she reversed her directions, giving ample time for Nasedo to catch her. Knowing she didn’t have much longer she made every part of her memories about the royal four vanish; from her conscious and subconscious levels. That way Nasedo would never find them. The next thing she knew was that Nasedo had scooped her up and carried her back to the cave. “Now,” he hissed “tell me where the pod chamber is.” “I can’t remember,” sobbed Maria, as Nasedo began to rape her mind looking for the answers.
*Gasp*
“Liz, Lizzy please wake up,” cried Maria shaking her shoulder.
“Mmm, Wha’ you wan’?” she asked sleepily.
“Liz he raped my mind,” croaked Maria.
That statement shook the cobwebs from her head. “Say what?”
Maria burst into to tears, tears that stole her breath and shook her body; Liz held her until she stopped crying. Taking deep breaths Maria got her self under control and told Liz about her dream.
“So I was running away from Nasedo, but I started running towards the pods that had hosted the royal four. I changed directions; I made myself forget about them completely. You, Kyle, and Alex even if you had been there would not have been able to stop him, I knew where the pods were…I mean are located. Liz he raped my mind, but all he found was that I had known about the chamber and the rest of you didn’t. He wasn’t able to find what he sought so he used all of us to achieve his ends by trying to make us believe that we were the people sent to protect everyone from evil aliens.”
“Why didn’t we know where the pods are located and how can you remember now?” asked Liz.
“I can’t tell you until we free Kyle and Alex, the information I need to share needs to be shared mind to mind, not by word of mouth,” replied Maria.
Liz nodded her consent; the scientist in her was going crazy, but she trusted Maria.
CHAPTER 2: Veritas
It took two weeks before Maria and Liz could get a hold of Kyle and Alex at the same time. Getting her mom’s permission for a sleep-over that included to boys, took a little work, but Maria managed it. Her mom, Amy, and Kyle’s dad Jim Valenti were dating. So Maria hinted to the fact that Amy and Jim would get some alone time if Kyle was allowed to sleep over and she promised that she would invite Alex if it made her mom feel better. Amy trusted Alex completely and with Liz being there she gave her consent; besides she was tired of seeing the “yuck face” every time she and Jim kissed.
Soon after Maria’s mom left Kyle and Alex arrived with their sleeping gear. Earlier that day Liz and Maria had decided the best way to go about taking down the mind blocks. Since Liz and Alex were closer that left Maria taking care of Kyle. First though they all had pizza and watched Mar’s Attacks, when everyone was sufficiently relaxed Liz explained what had happened the past couple of weeks and what she and Maria were going to do. Kyle and Alex gave their consent, just wanting to be rid of Nasedo’s taint.
Maria took Kyle to her room while Liz and Alex stayed in the living room. Liz realized the difficulty she faced in trying to break down the shields Nasedo had placed around Alex but she persevered. Finally she broke through, compared with trying to break through the shields taking down the mind blocks was very simple. Soon Liz broke contact with Alex and left him to compose himself. Mean while Maria was finishing up with Kyle she too gave him a few minutes alone before bringing him back to the living room.
“Now, I have some things to share with you, so if you all will open up to me, it would be much easier than trying to share be word of mouth,” explained Maria.
Getting nods from everyone she brought them into the merge. Maria showed the dream she had, had in full detail. All of them shared the terror, the mindless running; the only thing that they couldn’t feel was the last thing that happened to Maria.
*Why can’t we feel this last thing that happened?” asked Alex.*
*Because,” replied Liz, “Nasedo raped her mind, and I don’t think any of us would like to experience that.*
*Now that that has been cleared up can we move on?” asked Maria dryly.*
*I believe the reason that I now remember where the pods are kept is due to the trauma caused by suddenly remembering everything that the mind blocks had kept from me.*
*What I remember is that we all lived on Antar, the planet that the royal four are from. The reason we were sent to protect them is because we all had connections to them. I was Majandra, a warrior and body guard of Princess Vilondra. You, Liz, were Lissa, Queen Avay’an’s handmaiden, and best friend.
Alex you were, A’ trove, High Commander Rath’s advisor and his second in command. Kyle you were, K’oben, King Zan’s bodyguard and his must trusted assassin and friend*
*Our fates intertwined, like a bad Shakespeare tragedy. I fell in love with Rath, while Alex fell in love with Vilondra. Kyle you and Avay’an fell in love when King Zan came to court her. Same thing with you Liz, you fell in love with King Zan. However due to the class system that existed on Antar and is four sister planets, our loves could never be. Rath and I broke the rule; we had much more freedom than the rest of you. We consummated our relationship. That is why I knew about the pod chamber and you all didn’t.*
*Also we weren’t intentionally supposed to be sent here. The people that brought us here weren’t Antarans. They were another race who believed that the royal four would need more protection than just one watcher. We all agreed to come, we had failed in protecting them the first time and at least on Earth we would have a second chance to be with our soul-mates. The Zindarians, from the planet Zindar, brought us here to earth, but because they didn’t have the same technology as the Antarans we had to have naturally born human bodies. So four women were selected and our essans’’ were merged with the human embryo’s. So we are completely human, but in order to protect the royal four our human brains were also sped up to cope with some of their abilities. That’s why we have the abilities we do.*
One by one each member pulled out of the merge to contemplate what they had just been told. Quietly as so not to disturb each other each one found a quiet niche and curled up to go to sleep. When Amy arrived home she found Liz and Maria on the couch all curled up in the fetal position, while Kyle and Alex were sprawled out on the floor in their sleeping bags. Smiling tiredly she to went off to her bed to sleep.
The next morning Liz and Maria were up early because they had early shifts at the Crashdown. Leaving a note for Kyle and Alex, they went to work. Around noon Alex and Kyle dropped by for a bite to eat. While they grabbed a booth Max Evan’s walked in and also sat down. As Liz was just finishing up taking some orders and walking back towards the kitchen an argument between to customers broke out. One pulled a gun out and began to wave it wildly about he then pulled the trigger. Liz felt the bullet rip through her; she fell, as she lay on the floor she could feel her life ebbing away. Then she looked up as she felt someone’s hand on her stomach. It was Max, she tried to speak his name, but she couldn’t. Slowly warmth spread through her, closing the wound and giving her strength. Liz looked up in wonder at Max.
He looked panicked; quickly he opened a ketchup bottle and poured the contense all over her. “Please don’t tell,” he whispered, as he ran off.
Max walked into the Crashdown hoping to catch Liz on her shift, not that he ever talked to her, but he couldn’t help it he felt drawn to her. He was watching her when the argument broke out and she was shot. Rushing to her side he placed his hand on her stomach, she looked up at him and tried to say his name but couldn’t. At this point all thoughts of the pact that Michael, Isabel and he had made to keep their powers a secrete flitted out of his brain. Max began poring his healing energies in to Liz, reversing the damage the bullet had done and strengthening her life force. Then ignoring the look of wonder in her beautiful brown eyes he grabbed a bottle of ketchup and poured it all over her asking her not to tell. What were Michael and Isabel going to say?
*Later that Day*
“Great Maxwell, why didn’t you just yell, Hey I’m an alien anybody want pictures?” fumed Michael.
“Yeah, “Max- we can’t ever tell anyone,” why was it alright for you to expose us but I can’t tell mom and dad?” cried Isabel.
“Sorry Is, it was a knee-jerk reaction, I just couldn’t let her die.”
“Why not Maxwell, was it because she was your precious little Liz!” yelled Michael.
“No Michael, I would have done it had it been someone else,” Max told him trying to stay calm.
“Really Max?” asked Isabel.
“Look, she doesn’t know what we are, she just knows that I healed her,” Max told both of them. Michael and Isabel just glared at him for a few minutes then walked off.
Through out the week, Michael and Isabel avoided Max, while Max tried to avoid Liz Parker. Then on Thursday, fate took a hand and threw him and Liz together. They had the same science teacher who had assigned them to be partners on a project. At the end of that day Liz cornered Max and dragged him into the “eraser room.” She then proceeded to lift up her shirt and show Max the silver-handprint that he had left on her stomach.
“Would you mind explaining this?” she asked him.
“I’m not from around here,” he told her, wondering where his good sense had gone.
“Not from the U.S.” she persisted.
Max shook his head. Liz looked up at him, put her hand in the air and pointed up. Max gave her a quick nod. Liz stared at him for a few minutes before clearing her throat and saying, “I will give you a call about the project this weekend.” Leaving him with that bit of information she exited the room.
Friday evening after the Crashdown closed, Liz, Maria, Alex, and Kyle all gathered in their usual booth.
“It’s them,” said Liz excitedly. “See,” she said showing them the handprint on her stomach. “I really was shot and Max healed me. Yesterday I cornered him and he actually admitted that he is not of this earth. He trusted me that much to tell me he his secret,” she told them.
“Now Liz don’t get to excited,” said Maria. “Just because he told you who he was does not mean that he feels a connection or remembers anything.” Maria had worked with the rest of the group to help them regain what memories they had of Antar and the lives that they had lead. The didn’t remember everything but they remembered enough. Ever since then Liz and Alex had been besides themselves, wanting to be with their soul-mates, Kyle had to wait for Tess and Maria had decided to remain faithful to her pact to protect the royal four, she wasn’t going to let her self be with Michael. Yet she couldn’t deny that her heart stirred when she was near Michael.
“Does this mean we should tell them about us?” asked Kyle.
“Yes,” answered Maria ignoring the gleam in Alex and Liz’s eyes. “We tell them but not about us being their soul-mates. I don’t think that any of us have forgotten what is was like having destiny shoved down our throats, so what if it wasn’t real we all struggled with it. Besides I think at this point we know more about them than they do.” Not wanting to but seeing the wisdom of Maria’s words the group agreed with her suggestion. They made plans to talk to Max, Michael, and Isabel and then called it a night. The next morning Liz called Max and asked him to bring Michael and Isabel and meet her in the desert, two miles out side of town.
“Max we need to discuss some things,” she told him.
“Your right, but why do you want me to bring Michael and Isabel?” he asked her.
“Because I know about them too,” said Liz, after which she hung-up the phone.
~~~~~~
*Later that Day*
“Is everything ready for the trip?” asked Maria.
“Yeah,” replied Kyle, “We packed enough food to feed an army and a couple of extra sleeping bags just in case the royals don’t come prepared.”
“Good,” said Alex. “Kyle and I are going to go out a little early to make camp.”
“We are?” asked Kyle.
“Yup.”
~~~~
*That Night*
“Why drag us all the way out here Max?” asked Isabel irritably.
“I didn’t tell Liz about either of you, but, she knows and she thinks we should talk about it,” replied Max.
Arriving at the meeting spot Max, Michael, and Isabel stared in surprise at the camp set up before them. Killing the engine, they all climbed out of the jeep. Michael jumped as Maria, sidled up next to him and said, “Welcome to camp Antar, Spaceboy.” Maria then ushered the three of them towards the camp-fire. “Have a seat, please.”
Liz came out of the tent followed closely by Alex and Kyle. “Liz, you told all of them?” asked Max looking at her with hurt in his eyes.
“No, we thought that you all might be aliens long before you saved me, but your saving me confirmed it,” she explained.
“What?” gasped Max, Michael and Isabel in unison.
Maria waited while Kyle, Alex, and Liz situated themselves around the fire, she then proceeded to weave her tale.
“King Zan was of the planet Antar, in the Zegama Galaxy. He had a sister named Vilondra and his second in command was Rath. All three of them had been very close as children. So when Rath was chosen as High Commander, Zan was thrilled. War came to the planet because they people had stopped Listing to the guidance offered to them by the Granolith. Only the royal four and a few faithful people remained. King Zan married for political power to the Queen Ava of the planet Zindar. It was on their wedding day that Kivar attacked and killed the royal four. Kivar had at one time been a friend of the Antaran royal family and was still consider thus when he used his friendship with Vilondra to gain entrance into the palace and kill the royal four. The Benzarians, another race and member of the four sister planets, agreed to help the last few followers of King Zan. They took from Zan, Rath, Vilondra, and Ava their essences and memories. They then paired their essence and alien DNA with that of another race. They created hybrid bodies to insure the royal four’s survival. Then they sent the children, along with the Granolith, and a protector to the planet Earth.”
“You Max are/were Zan, you Isabel, Vilondra and Michael you are/were Rath,” finished Maria.
It took some time for Max, Michael, and Isabel to understand what Maria had told them, but once they had tons of questions surfaced.
“How do you know this about us?” asked Isabel.
“Because,” replied Kyle, “We are your protectors.”
“I thought you said we only had one protector, isn’t that what you said?” asked Max.
“You did only have one,” explained Alex. “But Queen Ava’s people heard of the protector’s death and so they chose four of the royal four’s most trusted comrades and took their essence and memories. However, because Zindarian and Benzarian technology differed the Zindarians were unable to produce stable hybrid bodies in which to host the essence of the chosen four. Instead they abducted four women who were pregnant and placed with in their fetuses, the essences and memories.” “We were denied the alien DNA,” Alex said becoming downcast.
“We set the tents up so that you, Michael and Max would be able to share one,” Liz told Isabel quietly.
Maria looked around the fire and realized that Michael, Isabel, and Max need time to accept what they had learned to night before they heard the rest of the story. Standing up she suggested that everyone get some sleep. “There are some other things we need to discuss with you. However I think that we all need a break, luckily it’s Spring Break so we don’t have to rush back home we will probably stick around another night.”
Maria and Liz linked arms as they headed off to their tent, while Kyle and Alex pushed and shoved the way to theirs. Rising as one Max, Is, and Michael headed to the third and largest tent.
“Do you think we can trust them Max?” asked Is.
“I don’t really know, I mean I believe that they are telling the truth, but that could be because I have feelings for Liz,” he answered her truthfully.
“Well I for one don’t believe,” said Michael, “I mean come on that had to be the biggest peace of bull-shit that I have ever heard. It seems to me that they are probably playing a practical joke on us to see if we buy into it.”
Just as Michael finished speaking his mind, laughter broke out from the tent that Maria and Liz were sharing. Maria’s laughter to be precise.
Maria continued to laugh until she had tears running down her face. Liz waited patiently for Maria to catch her breath before asking Maria what was so funny.
“What gives?” she asked.
“Umm… for a while back I thought that I was starting to lose it. I would keep hearing comments, but no one would be around. I just now realized that I have been hearing Michael. My guess is their powers are starting to develop, anyway he swears the conversation we just had was a load of bull-shit that we fed them because we want to play a practical joke on them,” answered Maria.
“Oh Maria, that is really rich,” laughed Liz, and then suddenly she sobered.
“Maria when they finally know all of who they are, when they discovered that part of themselves that we can’t tell them about, will you be able to open up to Michael?” she asked her.
“I honestly don’t know, Liz I know it’s hard for you we shared a connection for so long and now we aren’t. I trust you completely; I know you would never hurt me, not intentionally. I just can’t seem to make my mind understand. Nasedo really did a number on it,” replied Maria.
With tears in her eyes Liz pulled Maria into her embrace. “I will always be here for you Ria, don’t ever doubt that, and some how we will get though this.”
“Thanks Liz, I miss you to,” said Maria with a half smile on her face. “Goodnight Lizzy.
“Night Ria.”
*The Next Morning*
“Ouch, I’ll never camp-out again,” said Isabel as she woke up and tried to stretch the kinks out of her body.
“Umm… Is do you think you can get your feet off of my chest?” asked Max.
“Opps, sorry,” she replied grinning. Taking her feet off of Max, Isabel got up to head for the tent door, but tripped over Michael on the way out.
“Grrr… Is what the hell do you think you’re doing. Can’t a man get any sleep,” growled Michael.
“Of course,” replied Isabel sweetly, “when you become a man then I will respect your sleeping form.” Then opening the tent door she walked outside to find Maria and Liz doubled over, grabbing their bellies as they laughed.
“Oh Is…Isabel,” choked Maria, “that was classic, can’t you just see Michael the rest of his life getting stepped on.” “Because I don’t think he is ever going to grow up.”
“You know, I can hear you all,” came Michael’s voice from in the tent. This only caused the girls to laugh harder. Liz reached out to grab Maria for support and found her self with Isabel who was also laughing. That’s when Maria reached for both of them and they all collapsed on the ground in heap of giggles. This continued until the girls all had to stop laughing in order to breath. Around the camp, the girls could hear the grumbling of all the guys that had been woken up.
“So who did we wake up?” asked Isabel as she sat up.
“Well everyone but Kyle,” replied Maria, “he could sleep though a tornado if it came down to it. Isabel grinned at Maria and Liz feeling camaraderie with the other two.
Looking at each of the girls, Isabel said, “I want you to show me who I was, if you can.”
Maria nodded, “We can, but there are some things we need to say to all of you before we offer our help.”
Isabel nodded and stood up, “Okay, now, will some one please tell me where I can use the bathroom.”
“I will show you,” replied Liz.
“And I will get breakfast started,” replied Maria.
Liz led Isabel off and after a few minutes of walking, made Isabel promise never to tell the guys or compromise the location. Although Isabel agreed she wasn’t sure what Liz meant until she saw the bathroom, a real bathroom that had once been attached to a house. Isabel smiled with delight.
“So this is how you are able to stand camping?”
Liz smiled and nodded, “Yup, but if the guys ever found out we would be given such a hard time.”
“Don’t worry you can count on me not to tell,” replied Isabel.
“Here Isabel, I brought the flip-flops I use for the shower, a clean shirt and some clean underwear.” At that comment Isabel raised her eye-brow. “Um… we always bring a couple of unopened packages because the guys like to play practical jokes on us.”
“Oh,” replied Isabel trying not to laugh.
“Do you think you can find your way back, or do you want me to come get you in about half an hour?” asked Liz.
“No I think I can find my way back and Liz, thank you.”
“No problem,” called Liz over her shoulder as she headed back to camp.
About an hour or so later Isabel returned to camp to find that Max and Alex had woken up but the other guys were still sleeping.
“Where have you been Issy?” asked Max.
“Oh I had to use the bathroom, and then I decided to freshen up,” she said smiling as she shook her wet hair at him.
“You?” asked Max incuriously.
“What, did you think that “the ice-queen” couldn’t hack roughing it?” she taunted.
Max started to sputter as Maria and Liz began to snicker. So rather than risk further personal embracement or bodily harm Max held his hands up in defeat. Soon after that Kyle woke up and joined the group. Liz passed out the plates, motioned towards Maria and the chocolate-chip pancakes. Alex, Kyle, and Max made a mad dash toward the pancake pile and once everyone else had gotten their food, they sat down to eat. Maria came up to Isabel and Max and handed them small bottles of Tabasco sauce.
“Thanks,” replied Isabel with a smile on her face.
“No problem, ashek.”
Everyone turned to look at Maria. “Oh my gosh were did that come from?” she asked quietly. No one answered her and silence ensued. A few minutes later Michael crawled out of the tent. “What’d I miss?” he asked. Everyone continued the silence, until Max broke it by saying, “Grab some food Michael while they tell us more about our past.” Liz, Maria, Kyle, and Alex gathered in a semi-circle that faced the other three.
“Do you have any questions?” asked Kyle.
“What is the Granolith?” asked Is as she passed Michael the Tabasco sauce.
“To tell you the truth we don’t really know much about it,” replied Liz. “We know that it was to be used by the King to help lead the planet. Only those with the royal seal could wield it. We also know that it was sent to earth with you and resides with the pods.”
“What pods?” asked Michael sharply, while Isabel and Max looked shocked.
“The pods you all hatched from spaceboy, I know you know what I am talking about. The ones that are in the desert,” replied Maria.
“Bu…But how?” asked Michael.
“Simple spaceboy, everything I told you last night was not a practical joke.”
“Any more questions?” asked Liz.
“There were four pods, who and where is the our number four?” asked Max.
“Her name is Tess, she probably turn up in Roswell in the future, the problem is Nasedo is protecting her. We think he will try and use her to get to you all,” replied Alex.
“Now Michael I want you and Alex to set next each other, the same goes for Kyle and Max and me and Isabel. Liz will stand guard while we help you recover your memories,” said Maria.
She then pathed to her friends *I paired you this way because we each know them more closely than did the soul-mates, plus this way know one will influence them.*
Maria looked over at Liz and saw the pain in her eyes. “Please Liz, understand why it has to be this way. I know you can remember how it was when were being told how to live our lives. Can you honestly push that on them?”
“You’re right Ria,” replied Liz.
Maria returned her attention to the others. “After we’ve helped you, you will probably need to rest and assimilate everything you recover. We earthlings will stand guard while you spacefarers recuperate.”
The humans were so used to linking with each other that it wasn’t hard to link with the aliens. Maria’s was the easiest link while it took Alex a while-due to “Michael’s ability to be open.” Maria quickly found Isabel’s memories she then took a quick peak and smiled slightly. Maria laid out a trail to the memories then connected with Isabel’s awareness telling her how to get to them, after she had explained she pulled out of the connection. A few minutes later Kyle looked up and smiled. “Max asked us to stick around, I think they will remember everything.” As soon as Kyle said that Maria looked at Liz grabbed her keys, “I can’t stay here, I am going to the pod chamber, please tell him why I had to leave. I wish I could stay but I don’t think I can handle it when he remembers everything,” said Maria as she pathed Liz the directions to the pod-chamber. “Here are the directions, it’s only if you absolutely need me. But please try and make him understand. Tell him I still love him.” That said Maria jumped in her car and took off. Liz looked at Alex and Kyle and tried to smile, when that failed she suggested they get Max, Michael, and Isabel in a more comfortable position.
Maria got on the highway and continued to drive as the tears rolled down her face. As much as she loved Liz, Alex, and Kyle ever since she had showed them what had happen she had trouble opening up to them. If she had trouble opening to them how could she open up to Michael. Trying to contain her sobs Maria finally reached the cave. Leaning against the door she suddenly remembered that she was not keyed to open it. Despair washed over her in waves, and then suddenly the door opened. Maria didn’t question why she just went in to Michaels pod crawled into and curled up in it, and let the sobs escape. Where was her cedar oil when she really needed it. After a long while the sobs turned to whimpers and from there she drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile back at camp Alex, Kyle, and Liz kept watch over the comatose aliens. They waited and waited and just when Liz thought she couldn’t take it anymore she felt strong arms enfold her in a hungry embrace. Liz was vaguely aware of similar happenings. When Isabel came to she launched herself at Alex, who caught her in a huge bear hug. It took Kyle clearing his throat a couple of times before the huggers and the huggies returned to earth. Liz suddenly caught her breath as she saw Michael’s lone, lost, forlorn expression.
“Where is Maria?” he asked quietly.
“Oh Michael,” sobbed Liz. “I don’t know what to say, I … I mean I know what to say just not how to say it.”
Max began to rub her back to try and calm her down, “Just start at the beginning.”
Liz nodded and began the story. “It all started about three or four weeks ago. I was complaining to Maria that I didn’t want to kill you all. See Nasedo would visit us as children and tell us we had to kill the royal four. Anyway she told me that she Kyle and Alex all agreed that they felt the same way. We had a group meeting and decided we would not follow Nasedo’s orders. That night Maria was spending the night at my house. As we climbed the stairs she asked me how much of Nasedo’s meeting did I remember. I told her I remembered all the meetings we had… but realized she meant did I remember what went on during the meetings. I told her no, that’s when she realized that Nasedo might have blocked those memories. That night I linked with her and was able to destroy the mind blocks and some compulsions that Nasedo had set. After Ria got herself under control she went to break my mind blocks but we had tipped Nasedo off and he had put shields around my mind. When Ria realized that she got really, really, pissed and just ripped through the shields and broke Nasedo’s control. We were free, we no longer felt the need to kill you. That night Ria woke up because a very horrible memory had surfaced. She waited until we freed Alex and Kyle and then shared her memory… all except the last part.”
Alex looked at Liz and knew she couldn’t say any more so he picked up the story. “In her memory Maria was out in the desert, she was only about six years old. She was being chased by Nasedo, and was running towards the pods when she reversed her direction and headed a different way. Knowing that Nasedo was going to capture her she wiped the location of the chamber from her conscious mind. She locked it deep in her subconscious where it would only surface if faced with a dramatic stimulus.”
Kyle looked at Alex and took up the hardest part. “We weren’t there but after that night we were completely afraid of him. When Nasedo reached her she couldn’t tell him what he wanted to know, he forced…he raped her mind looking for the answer, but they weren’t there.” By now the group gathered around Michael, they all had tears running down their faces. Michael was staring blank-faced at the ground and rocking back and forth.
Liz reached out to Michael forcing him to look at her. “Before she left she asked me to try and make you understand why she could not be here. She wanted to stay, but I think she realized how you would have greeted her and she did not want you to think she was rejecting you by not opening a connection with you. She also made me promise to tell you that she loves you Michael, she always did and she always will.”
Michael looked at Liz a moment longer and broke down, when he had finally regained his self-control he asked, “Please take me to her? I need to tell her that I can wait for ever if she needs me too.”
Liz nodded and looked around. “Maria went to the cave were your pods were stored. I know you would all like to see the cave but I think we need to let Michael and Maria have this night.” Turning to look back at Michael she continued, “We will meet you there tomorrow morning,” after which she pathed him the directions. Michael turned to Max and before he could open his mouth Max handed him the keys to the jeep. “We’re all here if you need us.”
As soon as Michael left, Kyle decided he would go freshen up in the stream, while Alex cradled Isabel till she fell asleep. Liz turned to Max and buried her face in his shoulder. Max picked up Liz and carried her over to a small outcropping of rocks. Settling down with his back against the rock he wrapped Liz in his arms content to have the love of his life where she belonged.
Michael drove down the highway like the demons of hell were chasing him. Reaching the cave he pressed his hand against the lock and the cave opened up to him. As he walked in he was surprised by a soft green glow admitted by the pods. When he drew nearer the pods his glowed brighter than the others, there inside his pod was Maria, his Maria, his pixy, his lover, his soul. He sat down in front of his pod and watched her sleep.
He was still watching her when a few hours later she woke up. When Maria realized Michael was there she buried her face in her hands unable to look at him or say anything. Michael reached in the pod and pulled her out into his arms. “I’m here,” was all he said, but it was enough. Soon Maria’s tears were again sliding down her face caressing Michael’s neck. He wrapped her even more in his embrace. When Maria was finally able to look at him he said, “I wont let him hurt you again, even if I have to kill him, I promise, I promise I will protect you.”
He nearly jumped when Maria began to laugh, not that he didn’t enjoy the sound of her laughter, just that he didn’t want her laughing at him.
“What’s so funny?” he asked a little put out.
Hearing the tone in his voice only caused Maria to laugh harder. When she was finally able to stop Michael had returned to his general stone-cold attitude.
“I am sorry Michael, it’s just that I should be protecting you not the other way around. That’s why we were sent. I mean I really enjoyed what you just said to me but I also thought about how ironic it was,” replied Maria.
“OH, right,” said Michael beginning to crack a grin.
Maria leaned against Michael savoring the feeling of being in his arms, at that moment not being connected with him she realized just how much he was able to turn her on. His physical nearness was enough to keep her from breathing. She looked up at him as she wet her lips. Michael took that as an open invitation. He leaned down and kissed her. At first she was un-responsive but soon she was savoring his slow gentle kiss, his tongue then began to tease her lips open. Slow little ducks in and out of her lips. She thought she wasn’t going to be able to take it anymore when at last his tongue plunged into her mouth, where she began to ravish it, then she sucked on it trying to keep them physically connect for as long as she could. When they finally broke a part Maria was to say the least a little shocked by the way that kiss had rocked her. She looked up at Michael and he smiled. Then he checked his watch, “We had better get some sleep, the other are coming up here tomorrow morning bright and early.” Maria nodded and they both settled down into a more comfortable position falling asleep in each others arms. “Maria, I can wait forever, if you need me to.”
Back at camp everyone had decided to settle down for the night. Liz and Isabel decided to share a tent while Kyle, Alex, and Max shared another one. Isabel, Alex, Max, and Liz had wanted to sleep in each others arms but decided due to Kyle’s momentary stagness that it wasn’t fair since Tess wasn’t here.
Chapter 3: Danger Zone
Maria woke up first and thought that there was a large animal growling in the chamber, when she realized it was Michael’s stomach she began to laugh. This caused Michael to wake up, and he started to grumble. This only afforded Maria more pleasure,
“You laughin’ at me Earthgirl?” he asked her smiling.
“You better believe it Spaceboy,” she replied still giggling.
“Well are you going to let me in on the joke?”
“Michael, you need to tell your tummy to quiet down, it was growling when I woke up and at first I thought a larger hairy animal was in here with us till I realized it was you,” she teased.
Michael smiled at Maria as he tousled her hair, glancing at his watch he realized that the others would soon be on their way. Standing up and giving Maria a hand the walked over to his pod.
“You know, even though I couldn’t be there when you recovered your memories, I came here because being close to your pod meant being close to you. When I was curled up in there I felt completely safe for the first time in my life, and when you put your arms around me I knew nothing bad could ever happen, Thank-you,” Maria said quietly.
“Listen Maria, I know how hard that was for you to admit, the thing is I am less like Rath in the openness department. Things have happened in my life that I am not ready to share with anyone, not Max, not Isabel. I am not even sure I can tell them to you. I want you to understand that I don’t need to rush into a connection. Truth be told I know I am not emotional mature enough to handle that, yet.”
Maria looked at Michael realizing just how much this was costing him. So offering the same words as he had to her last night she to said, “Michael, I can wait forever if you need me to.”
Michael turned to Maria after she said those words. “Maria, I just want you to know that I am not like Max. I don’t go for the whole sensitive guy thing. I’ll probably end up pissing you off more than you think.”
Maria just looked at him and smiled, “Michael we haven’t been friends, not really good friends anyway. But I’ve watched how you act and I know exactly what you’re going to be like. Besides you pissed me off plenty of times on Antar.”
He grinned, “Yea I just don’t want to hurt you and I am afraid we will start to fight.”
“But that’s the best part about fighting, you get to make up,” laughed Maria.
“Oh, really?”
“Mmmha,” she said flirtatiously as she looked into his eyes. When she saw the hungry look in them it stole her breath away. She knew if she didn’t say something to break the spell that she and he would get in some trouble. “Michael I…I…I think we should probably go wait for them outside next to the cars.”
“Good idea,” he said. They walked hand in hand down to the cars. As they neared the jeep Michaels stomach started to growl again. Laughing Maria made her way to the jetta and grabbed some granola bars and tabasco sauce.
Taking one bar for her self she grabbed two more for Michael and handed him the small bottle of sauce. “You know you’re a life savor, Maria.”
Maria grinned at Michael, “I know, you had just better remember that.”
As the sat there munching away on the bars each had the eerie sensation of being watched. To Maria it felt like being hunted, she and Michael were the prey and some where out there was the predator. They started to wonder what was going on. Michael checked his watch and realized that the other should be here by now. He turned to Maria just as she grabbed his arm. “Michael, I don’t like this feeling. Can we go back to the chamber and wait for the others?” she asked.
Michael nodded his head and they climbed back up to the chamber and entered it. Michael turned to the door way and sealed it and lock it. As Maria watched him lock them into the chamber she still couldn’t shake the feeling of being hunted. Michael grabbed her hand and they moved closer to the pods. The closer they got the more at ease they felt. Michael crawled into the pod and leaned against the back, when he got settled Maria crawled in and sat on his lap. Michael wrapped his arms around Maria and they stared out into the dimly lit chamber. Everything went into slow motion. Michael saw the shadow move. It raised its hand a second before him and fired a second be for him. Michael knew he had gotten the shadow when it burst into dust. He also felt the power of the shadow hit Maria. The next thing Michael knew was that he tumbled back into another cave. He picked up Maria and gently moved her into the new chamber. His breath caught as he saw the blood at the corner of her mouth and felt the blood that soaked through her clothing on to him.
Meanwhile Max, Liz, Kyle, Isabel and Alex had just arrived at the bottom of the mountain. Parking the cars next to the other ones they began to hike up to the chamber. Out of nowhere came this blinding light. Max looked around wildly and saw that Alex had thrown Isabel to the ground and fell on top of her trying to protect her with his body. Another blast went off, exploding the rock next to Max’s head.
Everything went into slow motion as he heard Liz scream his name. He swiveled his head and saw his attacker rise up from behind a boulder. He watched as the power hurtled his way, closing his eyes he waited for the inevitable. When nothing happened he looked down to see Kyle holding his side unconscious from the pain. Looking up Max raised his hand not quiet sure of what he was doing and suddenly a blue light flashed toward the attacker causing him or her to burst into dust. Max turned to Kyle kneeling next to him Max began to heal him. Kyle’s eyes fluttered open and Max slumped back in relief, he felt completely drained.
“Alex…Alex… Alexxx,” cried Isabel.
Max crawled over to Alex and gathered the last of his power. Unfortunately he didn’t think he had enough power to heal him. Max was filled with despair until a new wild current of energy coursed through his body. Looking up at Liz he smiled. Liz continued to touch his shoulder and concentrated on giving him ever ounce of power she had. Liz began to tremble; she started to feel weak and she wondered how much longer. Just as she collapsed Alex opened his eyes. Isabel threw her arms around his neck. Kyle did not want to interrupt the moment but he did.
“Listen I think we should get moving. We don’t know how many others are out here.” Alex and Isabel nodded. Isabel walked over to Liz and helped her to her feet, as Alex and Kyle hoisted Max between the two of them.
Michael looked at Maria the tears running down his cheek and on to hers. He watched her eyes flutter open. “Michael,” she whispered softly, “I want you to link minds with me.”
“No I told you I would wait,” he cried.
“Please,” she whispered “You said you’d wait for ever, but I don’t think I’ll get to for ever, please Michael I need you.”
Michael nodded his head and gently linked his mind with her, he saw what Nasedo had done to her and it infuriated him. However as their minds began to merge he could feel the dirtiness, the horribleness slip away, and he knew that it was because of him. Maria too could see things. She saw his loneliness and she saw what Hank was doing to him. At that moment she swore to her self that if she lived through this she would kill Hank. At last they pulled out of the merge. Michael looked at Maria and was about to say something when he saw that her attention was caught by a glowing object in the center of the cavern.
“Michael take me to the light,” Maria commanded. He got to his feet and carried her towards the object. When she could reach out and touch it she turned to him and said, “I love you.” She then placed her hand on the object. All the colors in the world shot out in ribbons wrapping themselves around Maria until she was cocooned in a glowing sphere. Lifting up out of his arms Maria was raised above the object and light began to spread out from her lighting the darkest corners of the cavern. It only lasted a few moments then she was returned to his arms. The ribbons unwound themselves from her body and returned to the object. Michael looked down at Maria and watched in wonder as her eyes meet his. She smiled at him and he knew she was alright.
“Michael put me down, the others are here.”
When Michael heard this he looked through the pod out into the chamber but couldn’t see them. All of a sudden he was blind as the sealed door opened to admit the others.
“We are in here,” called Maria as she waved to them.
They crawled through Michael’s pod and into the chamber. “We were attacked,” said Liz as she crawled through.
“So were we, Maria got hit before I could stop that thing that hitting us. Then we fell in here and that glowing thing healed Maria,” replied Michael.
As Liz looked at the object she realized that they had found the Granolith. Liz turned to help Max and then they both approached the Granolith. Liz reached out and touched it before Max could stop her and a single bell tone filled the room. Suddenly all seven of them were touching the Granolith.
*Greetings young ones. I will be here to help you and guide you. But right now we are not complete. Until the royal eight appears I need you to return to your homes and not come here again. Not unless it is an emergence. Do not worry, the attackers were only two. You will be safe for now. Go*
With that the Granolith returned to a glowing object, it was no longer pulling them towards it. The group crawled from the cave and made there way back to their normal ordinary human lives.
By: Stardance
Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever have owned any of the Roswell characters. If I had the last 2 seasons would have been very different. Unfortunately Melinda Metz, Jason Katims, and 20th Century Fox can claim the honor. So as far as the characters go anyone whose name was never mentioned in any episodes is mine.
Summary: Liz, Maria, Alex, and Kyle are charged with saving two planets from the wrath of the Royal Four, or so their led to believe. However each seems to have a connection with four stellar hybrids. Can the humans over come their inner-demons to find the truth.
Parings: M/L, M/M, A/I, and K/T, K/Ava.
Rating : Right now TEEN may go on to be MATURE or ADULT
Author's Note: Indead this is a crazy story in fact its really AU. Some things don't seem to belong. If any of you have read it before, when it was posted a while back, a lot of the story line didn't always make sense. Especially when I used the Granolith to change time, again. I am going to try and fix that as I go along.
PROLOUG0
“I just can’t do it Ria,” cried Liz desperately.
“I know Lizzy we, Kyle, Alex and I, all feel the same way you do, we feel connections too,” Maria replied softly. But Liz just wasn’t listening.
“We aren’t even sure that they are the royal four. I mean except for the feeling of being connected with them, we don’t have anything else to go on,” ranted Liz.
Finally Maria’s patience with Liz ran out. Grabbing Liz’s arm Maria forced a connection with Liz, usually Liz was always open to Maria but her agitation had blocked the bond that they had shared sense pre-school. She then repeated<< Kyle, Alex, and I feel the same way that you do. Believe us>> The word believe echoed in Liz‘s head, calming her down and returning her to her usual analytical self. Just as she began to feel completely calm Liz watched Maria turn pale and slide down to land on the floor. Maria looked up at Liz and said in a fearful voice, “We failed him, we FAILED Nasedo.”
“I know Ria, but I will not kill Max!”
CHAPTER 1 : To Be or Not To Be?
Liz called a group meeting that night after the Crashdown closed. Liz and Maria need to discuss with Kyle and Alex what they should do now. As they started talking about their options, Liz had a premonition.
*Flash* “Hi, Tess can we talk? “Um sure...” “Daddy this is Liz Parker, she’s a um friend from school.” “Well Tess she will have to stay for dinner.”
“Liz? Hello earth to Liz,” cried Maria gently shaking Li’s shoulder.
“Maria,” breathed Liz, she then shuddered remembering those lifeless eyes.
“What’s up chica, what just happened?”
“Maria, Kyle, Alex. Nasedo is protecting the fourth alien. I swear I just had a premonition of meeting this girl name Tess, and needing to talk to her then meeting her father. Her father whom I didn’t recognize, but when I looked into his eyes I knew him it was Nasedo, the coldness, the emptiness, it was him.”
Kyle stood up, “Looks like we have been lied to about everything, I believe that now we should rely on our instinct. I don’t know about you three but the closer I get to Max, Michael and Isabel the more I feel like I should be protecting them.”
Liz blushed and spoke up, “ I also feel like I’m suppose to be protecting them, but, I also feel like I’m suppose to protect Max more than anything, and um…I …I …I’m beginning to think of him as more than just a friend.”
Maria grinned at Liz and looked over at Kyle and Alex, who looked confused.
“To put in terms you can understand, Liz would like to jump his bones,” she laughed as Liz shot her a dirty look and Kyle and Alex had the grace to brush.
“Hey, that’s not fare, I know you have the hots for Michael,” replied Liz in retaliation.
“I can not deny it so I won’t.”
After the group had recovered from the giggles, Liz brought up the point that Nasedo hadn’t contacted them in four years, so I doubt that we have to worry for a least a couple of weeks, if were lucky a couple of months. Realizing how late it had gotten the group wrapped up the meeting. Maria went to call her mom to say she was staying at Liz’s while Liz showed Kyle and Alex out. Climbing up the steps Maria realized that for all the group talked a lot about the meetings with Nasedo she remembered very little.
“Liz, how much of the actual meetings with Nasedo do you remember?” asked Maria.
“Not much, now that you mention it,” mused Liz.
“Listen I have an idea, but I don’t know if it will work or not…”
“Well,” prompted Liz when Maria lost her train of thought.
“Oh sorry, well here’s the deal, what if Nasedo blocked our memories of the meetings. I was thinking that if we connected maybe you might be able to tell if there were blocks in place and then you might be able to take them down or break through them.”
Liz looked at Maria her eyes a gleam with the prospect of a new science project, but she said quiet calmly, “We can give it a try.”
Maria opened her connection with Liz and tried to relax as Liz sunk deeper into Maria’s awareness. Maria wanted to know what was happening so she contacted Liz and as soon as she did Liz was able to see the blocks, Liz was astounded by the shear number. Liz became violently angry at what had been done to her best friend, and tore through the mind blocks clearing each memory path. Expunging Nasedo’s taint from her friends mind. As soon as she had completed that task Liz pulled out of the merge.
Liz looked at Maria while she cried silent tears but didn’t know what to say. However soon Maria’s tears dried and she turned and said to Liz, “Gear up chica it’s your turn now.”
Liz grinned at Maria, “Bring it on.”
Maria initiated the contact this time and was surprised when she felt Liz’s shields go up. <<Knock, knock chica>> Still Liz’s shields would not come down. After a few moments of intense mental screaming Maria realized that when Liz had helped her they had triggered some sort of silent alarm. Extremely angry Maria grabbed Liz and put all her anger, frustration, resentment into one final push. At last the shields gave way and Maria was able to remove the blocks from Liz’s mind.
Liz looked at Maria after she had gotten control over her own emotions, which weren’t quiet as involved as Maria’s and read trouble in Maria’s eyes.
“Ria, what’s the matter?”
“Liz when you first contacted my mind and we merged, did you have to break through my shields?” asked Maria.
“No, why?” replied Liz.
“Listen I think Nasedo had a warning system or an alarm thingy attached to one of my mental blocks, because when I tried to contact you I couldn’t there were shields up. I’m guessing Nasedo put them up.”
“Maria if that’s the truth how were you able to break through the shields?” asked Liz.
“I was just so angry that Nasedo had done this. The things I remember, now that the blocks are gone, well they filled me with a rage I just couldn’t contain. I gathered those feelings and used them to break through his shields.”
“Thanks Ria, I don’t know about you but I am tired and need to sleep before I think of what you just told me and I think you need to rest too,” said Liz, gently.
“Good idea, night Liz.”
“Night Maria.”
Maria knew he was after her, she had disobeyed him. Maria knew that the man had been sent to train them to kill the royal four. But Maria knew that she was supposed to protect them, especially Rath. He was her soul-mate; she had sworn her loyalty to King Zan and his entourage. She would die for all of them and so would the other three. But they weren’t here to draw strength from so she ran, and ran, running towards the chamber, the pods, the Granolith. Realizing she was about to betray them all she reversed her directions, giving ample time for Nasedo to catch her. Knowing she didn’t have much longer she made every part of her memories about the royal four vanish; from her conscious and subconscious levels. That way Nasedo would never find them. The next thing she knew was that Nasedo had scooped her up and carried her back to the cave. “Now,” he hissed “tell me where the pod chamber is.” “I can’t remember,” sobbed Maria, as Nasedo began to rape her mind looking for the answers.
*Gasp*
“Liz, Lizzy please wake up,” cried Maria shaking her shoulder.
“Mmm, Wha’ you wan’?” she asked sleepily.
“Liz he raped my mind,” croaked Maria.
That statement shook the cobwebs from her head. “Say what?”
Maria burst into to tears, tears that stole her breath and shook her body; Liz held her until she stopped crying. Taking deep breaths Maria got her self under control and told Liz about her dream.
“So I was running away from Nasedo, but I started running towards the pods that had hosted the royal four. I changed directions; I made myself forget about them completely. You, Kyle, and Alex even if you had been there would not have been able to stop him, I knew where the pods were…I mean are located. Liz he raped my mind, but all he found was that I had known about the chamber and the rest of you didn’t. He wasn’t able to find what he sought so he used all of us to achieve his ends by trying to make us believe that we were the people sent to protect everyone from evil aliens.”
“Why didn’t we know where the pods are located and how can you remember now?” asked Liz.
“I can’t tell you until we free Kyle and Alex, the information I need to share needs to be shared mind to mind, not by word of mouth,” replied Maria.
Liz nodded her consent; the scientist in her was going crazy, but she trusted Maria.
CHAPTER 2: Veritas
It took two weeks before Maria and Liz could get a hold of Kyle and Alex at the same time. Getting her mom’s permission for a sleep-over that included to boys, took a little work, but Maria managed it. Her mom, Amy, and Kyle’s dad Jim Valenti were dating. So Maria hinted to the fact that Amy and Jim would get some alone time if Kyle was allowed to sleep over and she promised that she would invite Alex if it made her mom feel better. Amy trusted Alex completely and with Liz being there she gave her consent; besides she was tired of seeing the “yuck face” every time she and Jim kissed.
Soon after Maria’s mom left Kyle and Alex arrived with their sleeping gear. Earlier that day Liz and Maria had decided the best way to go about taking down the mind blocks. Since Liz and Alex were closer that left Maria taking care of Kyle. First though they all had pizza and watched Mar’s Attacks, when everyone was sufficiently relaxed Liz explained what had happened the past couple of weeks and what she and Maria were going to do. Kyle and Alex gave their consent, just wanting to be rid of Nasedo’s taint.
Maria took Kyle to her room while Liz and Alex stayed in the living room. Liz realized the difficulty she faced in trying to break down the shields Nasedo had placed around Alex but she persevered. Finally she broke through, compared with trying to break through the shields taking down the mind blocks was very simple. Soon Liz broke contact with Alex and left him to compose himself. Mean while Maria was finishing up with Kyle she too gave him a few minutes alone before bringing him back to the living room.
“Now, I have some things to share with you, so if you all will open up to me, it would be much easier than trying to share be word of mouth,” explained Maria.
Getting nods from everyone she brought them into the merge. Maria showed the dream she had, had in full detail. All of them shared the terror, the mindless running; the only thing that they couldn’t feel was the last thing that happened to Maria.
*Why can’t we feel this last thing that happened?” asked Alex.*
*Because,” replied Liz, “Nasedo raped her mind, and I don’t think any of us would like to experience that.*
*Now that that has been cleared up can we move on?” asked Maria dryly.*
*I believe the reason that I now remember where the pods are kept is due to the trauma caused by suddenly remembering everything that the mind blocks had kept from me.*
*What I remember is that we all lived on Antar, the planet that the royal four are from. The reason we were sent to protect them is because we all had connections to them. I was Majandra, a warrior and body guard of Princess Vilondra. You, Liz, were Lissa, Queen Avay’an’s handmaiden, and best friend.
Alex you were, A’ trove, High Commander Rath’s advisor and his second in command. Kyle you were, K’oben, King Zan’s bodyguard and his must trusted assassin and friend*
*Our fates intertwined, like a bad Shakespeare tragedy. I fell in love with Rath, while Alex fell in love with Vilondra. Kyle you and Avay’an fell in love when King Zan came to court her. Same thing with you Liz, you fell in love with King Zan. However due to the class system that existed on Antar and is four sister planets, our loves could never be. Rath and I broke the rule; we had much more freedom than the rest of you. We consummated our relationship. That is why I knew about the pod chamber and you all didn’t.*
*Also we weren’t intentionally supposed to be sent here. The people that brought us here weren’t Antarans. They were another race who believed that the royal four would need more protection than just one watcher. We all agreed to come, we had failed in protecting them the first time and at least on Earth we would have a second chance to be with our soul-mates. The Zindarians, from the planet Zindar, brought us here to earth, but because they didn’t have the same technology as the Antarans we had to have naturally born human bodies. So four women were selected and our essans’’ were merged with the human embryo’s. So we are completely human, but in order to protect the royal four our human brains were also sped up to cope with some of their abilities. That’s why we have the abilities we do.*
One by one each member pulled out of the merge to contemplate what they had just been told. Quietly as so not to disturb each other each one found a quiet niche and curled up to go to sleep. When Amy arrived home she found Liz and Maria on the couch all curled up in the fetal position, while Kyle and Alex were sprawled out on the floor in their sleeping bags. Smiling tiredly she to went off to her bed to sleep.
The next morning Liz and Maria were up early because they had early shifts at the Crashdown. Leaving a note for Kyle and Alex, they went to work. Around noon Alex and Kyle dropped by for a bite to eat. While they grabbed a booth Max Evan’s walked in and also sat down. As Liz was just finishing up taking some orders and walking back towards the kitchen an argument between to customers broke out. One pulled a gun out and began to wave it wildly about he then pulled the trigger. Liz felt the bullet rip through her; she fell, as she lay on the floor she could feel her life ebbing away. Then she looked up as she felt someone’s hand on her stomach. It was Max, she tried to speak his name, but she couldn’t. Slowly warmth spread through her, closing the wound and giving her strength. Liz looked up in wonder at Max.
He looked panicked; quickly he opened a ketchup bottle and poured the contense all over her. “Please don’t tell,” he whispered, as he ran off.
Max walked into the Crashdown hoping to catch Liz on her shift, not that he ever talked to her, but he couldn’t help it he felt drawn to her. He was watching her when the argument broke out and she was shot. Rushing to her side he placed his hand on her stomach, she looked up at him and tried to say his name but couldn’t. At this point all thoughts of the pact that Michael, Isabel and he had made to keep their powers a secrete flitted out of his brain. Max began poring his healing energies in to Liz, reversing the damage the bullet had done and strengthening her life force. Then ignoring the look of wonder in her beautiful brown eyes he grabbed a bottle of ketchup and poured it all over her asking her not to tell. What were Michael and Isabel going to say?
*Later that Day*
“Great Maxwell, why didn’t you just yell, Hey I’m an alien anybody want pictures?” fumed Michael.
“Yeah, “Max- we can’t ever tell anyone,” why was it alright for you to expose us but I can’t tell mom and dad?” cried Isabel.
“Sorry Is, it was a knee-jerk reaction, I just couldn’t let her die.”
“Why not Maxwell, was it because she was your precious little Liz!” yelled Michael.
“No Michael, I would have done it had it been someone else,” Max told him trying to stay calm.
“Really Max?” asked Isabel.
“Look, she doesn’t know what we are, she just knows that I healed her,” Max told both of them. Michael and Isabel just glared at him for a few minutes then walked off.
Through out the week, Michael and Isabel avoided Max, while Max tried to avoid Liz Parker. Then on Thursday, fate took a hand and threw him and Liz together. They had the same science teacher who had assigned them to be partners on a project. At the end of that day Liz cornered Max and dragged him into the “eraser room.” She then proceeded to lift up her shirt and show Max the silver-handprint that he had left on her stomach.
“Would you mind explaining this?” she asked him.
“I’m not from around here,” he told her, wondering where his good sense had gone.
“Not from the U.S.” she persisted.
Max shook his head. Liz looked up at him, put her hand in the air and pointed up. Max gave her a quick nod. Liz stared at him for a few minutes before clearing her throat and saying, “I will give you a call about the project this weekend.” Leaving him with that bit of information she exited the room.
Friday evening after the Crashdown closed, Liz, Maria, Alex, and Kyle all gathered in their usual booth.
“It’s them,” said Liz excitedly. “See,” she said showing them the handprint on her stomach. “I really was shot and Max healed me. Yesterday I cornered him and he actually admitted that he is not of this earth. He trusted me that much to tell me he his secret,” she told them.
“Now Liz don’t get to excited,” said Maria. “Just because he told you who he was does not mean that he feels a connection or remembers anything.” Maria had worked with the rest of the group to help them regain what memories they had of Antar and the lives that they had lead. The didn’t remember everything but they remembered enough. Ever since then Liz and Alex had been besides themselves, wanting to be with their soul-mates, Kyle had to wait for Tess and Maria had decided to remain faithful to her pact to protect the royal four, she wasn’t going to let her self be with Michael. Yet she couldn’t deny that her heart stirred when she was near Michael.
“Does this mean we should tell them about us?” asked Kyle.
“Yes,” answered Maria ignoring the gleam in Alex and Liz’s eyes. “We tell them but not about us being their soul-mates. I don’t think that any of us have forgotten what is was like having destiny shoved down our throats, so what if it wasn’t real we all struggled with it. Besides I think at this point we know more about them than they do.” Not wanting to but seeing the wisdom of Maria’s words the group agreed with her suggestion. They made plans to talk to Max, Michael, and Isabel and then called it a night. The next morning Liz called Max and asked him to bring Michael and Isabel and meet her in the desert, two miles out side of town.
“Max we need to discuss some things,” she told him.
“Your right, but why do you want me to bring Michael and Isabel?” he asked her.
“Because I know about them too,” said Liz, after which she hung-up the phone.
~~~~~~
*Later that Day*
“Is everything ready for the trip?” asked Maria.
“Yeah,” replied Kyle, “We packed enough food to feed an army and a couple of extra sleeping bags just in case the royals don’t come prepared.”
“Good,” said Alex. “Kyle and I are going to go out a little early to make camp.”
“We are?” asked Kyle.
“Yup.”
~~~~
*That Night*
“Why drag us all the way out here Max?” asked Isabel irritably.
“I didn’t tell Liz about either of you, but, she knows and she thinks we should talk about it,” replied Max.
Arriving at the meeting spot Max, Michael, and Isabel stared in surprise at the camp set up before them. Killing the engine, they all climbed out of the jeep. Michael jumped as Maria, sidled up next to him and said, “Welcome to camp Antar, Spaceboy.” Maria then ushered the three of them towards the camp-fire. “Have a seat, please.”
Liz came out of the tent followed closely by Alex and Kyle. “Liz, you told all of them?” asked Max looking at her with hurt in his eyes.
“No, we thought that you all might be aliens long before you saved me, but your saving me confirmed it,” she explained.
“What?” gasped Max, Michael and Isabel in unison.
Maria waited while Kyle, Alex, and Liz situated themselves around the fire, she then proceeded to weave her tale.
“King Zan was of the planet Antar, in the Zegama Galaxy. He had a sister named Vilondra and his second in command was Rath. All three of them had been very close as children. So when Rath was chosen as High Commander, Zan was thrilled. War came to the planet because they people had stopped Listing to the guidance offered to them by the Granolith. Only the royal four and a few faithful people remained. King Zan married for political power to the Queen Ava of the planet Zindar. It was on their wedding day that Kivar attacked and killed the royal four. Kivar had at one time been a friend of the Antaran royal family and was still consider thus when he used his friendship with Vilondra to gain entrance into the palace and kill the royal four. The Benzarians, another race and member of the four sister planets, agreed to help the last few followers of King Zan. They took from Zan, Rath, Vilondra, and Ava their essences and memories. They then paired their essence and alien DNA with that of another race. They created hybrid bodies to insure the royal four’s survival. Then they sent the children, along with the Granolith, and a protector to the planet Earth.”
“You Max are/were Zan, you Isabel, Vilondra and Michael you are/were Rath,” finished Maria.
It took some time for Max, Michael, and Isabel to understand what Maria had told them, but once they had tons of questions surfaced.
“How do you know this about us?” asked Isabel.
“Because,” replied Kyle, “We are your protectors.”
“I thought you said we only had one protector, isn’t that what you said?” asked Max.
“You did only have one,” explained Alex. “But Queen Ava’s people heard of the protector’s death and so they chose four of the royal four’s most trusted comrades and took their essence and memories. However, because Zindarian and Benzarian technology differed the Zindarians were unable to produce stable hybrid bodies in which to host the essence of the chosen four. Instead they abducted four women who were pregnant and placed with in their fetuses, the essences and memories.” “We were denied the alien DNA,” Alex said becoming downcast.
“We set the tents up so that you, Michael and Max would be able to share one,” Liz told Isabel quietly.
Maria looked around the fire and realized that Michael, Isabel, and Max need time to accept what they had learned to night before they heard the rest of the story. Standing up she suggested that everyone get some sleep. “There are some other things we need to discuss with you. However I think that we all need a break, luckily it’s Spring Break so we don’t have to rush back home we will probably stick around another night.”
Maria and Liz linked arms as they headed off to their tent, while Kyle and Alex pushed and shoved the way to theirs. Rising as one Max, Is, and Michael headed to the third and largest tent.
“Do you think we can trust them Max?” asked Is.
“I don’t really know, I mean I believe that they are telling the truth, but that could be because I have feelings for Liz,” he answered her truthfully.
“Well I for one don’t believe,” said Michael, “I mean come on that had to be the biggest peace of bull-shit that I have ever heard. It seems to me that they are probably playing a practical joke on us to see if we buy into it.”
Just as Michael finished speaking his mind, laughter broke out from the tent that Maria and Liz were sharing. Maria’s laughter to be precise.
Maria continued to laugh until she had tears running down her face. Liz waited patiently for Maria to catch her breath before asking Maria what was so funny.
“What gives?” she asked.
“Umm… for a while back I thought that I was starting to lose it. I would keep hearing comments, but no one would be around. I just now realized that I have been hearing Michael. My guess is their powers are starting to develop, anyway he swears the conversation we just had was a load of bull-shit that we fed them because we want to play a practical joke on them,” answered Maria.
“Oh Maria, that is really rich,” laughed Liz, and then suddenly she sobered.
“Maria when they finally know all of who they are, when they discovered that part of themselves that we can’t tell them about, will you be able to open up to Michael?” she asked her.
“I honestly don’t know, Liz I know it’s hard for you we shared a connection for so long and now we aren’t. I trust you completely; I know you would never hurt me, not intentionally. I just can’t seem to make my mind understand. Nasedo really did a number on it,” replied Maria.
With tears in her eyes Liz pulled Maria into her embrace. “I will always be here for you Ria, don’t ever doubt that, and some how we will get though this.”
“Thanks Liz, I miss you to,” said Maria with a half smile on her face. “Goodnight Lizzy.
“Night Ria.”
*The Next Morning*
“Ouch, I’ll never camp-out again,” said Isabel as she woke up and tried to stretch the kinks out of her body.
“Umm… Is do you think you can get your feet off of my chest?” asked Max.
“Opps, sorry,” she replied grinning. Taking her feet off of Max, Isabel got up to head for the tent door, but tripped over Michael on the way out.
“Grrr… Is what the hell do you think you’re doing. Can’t a man get any sleep,” growled Michael.
“Of course,” replied Isabel sweetly, “when you become a man then I will respect your sleeping form.” Then opening the tent door she walked outside to find Maria and Liz doubled over, grabbing their bellies as they laughed.
“Oh Is…Isabel,” choked Maria, “that was classic, can’t you just see Michael the rest of his life getting stepped on.” “Because I don’t think he is ever going to grow up.”
“You know, I can hear you all,” came Michael’s voice from in the tent. This only caused the girls to laugh harder. Liz reached out to grab Maria for support and found her self with Isabel who was also laughing. That’s when Maria reached for both of them and they all collapsed on the ground in heap of giggles. This continued until the girls all had to stop laughing in order to breath. Around the camp, the girls could hear the grumbling of all the guys that had been woken up.
“So who did we wake up?” asked Isabel as she sat up.
“Well everyone but Kyle,” replied Maria, “he could sleep though a tornado if it came down to it. Isabel grinned at Maria and Liz feeling camaraderie with the other two.
Looking at each of the girls, Isabel said, “I want you to show me who I was, if you can.”
Maria nodded, “We can, but there are some things we need to say to all of you before we offer our help.”
Isabel nodded and stood up, “Okay, now, will some one please tell me where I can use the bathroom.”
“I will show you,” replied Liz.
“And I will get breakfast started,” replied Maria.
Liz led Isabel off and after a few minutes of walking, made Isabel promise never to tell the guys or compromise the location. Although Isabel agreed she wasn’t sure what Liz meant until she saw the bathroom, a real bathroom that had once been attached to a house. Isabel smiled with delight.
“So this is how you are able to stand camping?”
Liz smiled and nodded, “Yup, but if the guys ever found out we would be given such a hard time.”
“Don’t worry you can count on me not to tell,” replied Isabel.
“Here Isabel, I brought the flip-flops I use for the shower, a clean shirt and some clean underwear.” At that comment Isabel raised her eye-brow. “Um… we always bring a couple of unopened packages because the guys like to play practical jokes on us.”
“Oh,” replied Isabel trying not to laugh.
“Do you think you can find your way back, or do you want me to come get you in about half an hour?” asked Liz.
“No I think I can find my way back and Liz, thank you.”
“No problem,” called Liz over her shoulder as she headed back to camp.
About an hour or so later Isabel returned to camp to find that Max and Alex had woken up but the other guys were still sleeping.
“Where have you been Issy?” asked Max.
“Oh I had to use the bathroom, and then I decided to freshen up,” she said smiling as she shook her wet hair at him.
“You?” asked Max incuriously.
“What, did you think that “the ice-queen” couldn’t hack roughing it?” she taunted.
Max started to sputter as Maria and Liz began to snicker. So rather than risk further personal embracement or bodily harm Max held his hands up in defeat. Soon after that Kyle woke up and joined the group. Liz passed out the plates, motioned towards Maria and the chocolate-chip pancakes. Alex, Kyle, and Max made a mad dash toward the pancake pile and once everyone else had gotten their food, they sat down to eat. Maria came up to Isabel and Max and handed them small bottles of Tabasco sauce.
“Thanks,” replied Isabel with a smile on her face.
“No problem, ashek.”
Everyone turned to look at Maria. “Oh my gosh were did that come from?” she asked quietly. No one answered her and silence ensued. A few minutes later Michael crawled out of the tent. “What’d I miss?” he asked. Everyone continued the silence, until Max broke it by saying, “Grab some food Michael while they tell us more about our past.” Liz, Maria, Kyle, and Alex gathered in a semi-circle that faced the other three.
“Do you have any questions?” asked Kyle.
“What is the Granolith?” asked Is as she passed Michael the Tabasco sauce.
“To tell you the truth we don’t really know much about it,” replied Liz. “We know that it was to be used by the King to help lead the planet. Only those with the royal seal could wield it. We also know that it was sent to earth with you and resides with the pods.”
“What pods?” asked Michael sharply, while Isabel and Max looked shocked.
“The pods you all hatched from spaceboy, I know you know what I am talking about. The ones that are in the desert,” replied Maria.
“Bu…But how?” asked Michael.
“Simple spaceboy, everything I told you last night was not a practical joke.”
“Any more questions?” asked Liz.
“There were four pods, who and where is the our number four?” asked Max.
“Her name is Tess, she probably turn up in Roswell in the future, the problem is Nasedo is protecting her. We think he will try and use her to get to you all,” replied Alex.
“Now Michael I want you and Alex to set next each other, the same goes for Kyle and Max and me and Isabel. Liz will stand guard while we help you recover your memories,” said Maria.
She then pathed to her friends *I paired you this way because we each know them more closely than did the soul-mates, plus this way know one will influence them.*
Maria looked over at Liz and saw the pain in her eyes. “Please Liz, understand why it has to be this way. I know you can remember how it was when were being told how to live our lives. Can you honestly push that on them?”
“You’re right Ria,” replied Liz.
Maria returned her attention to the others. “After we’ve helped you, you will probably need to rest and assimilate everything you recover. We earthlings will stand guard while you spacefarers recuperate.”
The humans were so used to linking with each other that it wasn’t hard to link with the aliens. Maria’s was the easiest link while it took Alex a while-due to “Michael’s ability to be open.” Maria quickly found Isabel’s memories she then took a quick peak and smiled slightly. Maria laid out a trail to the memories then connected with Isabel’s awareness telling her how to get to them, after she had explained she pulled out of the connection. A few minutes later Kyle looked up and smiled. “Max asked us to stick around, I think they will remember everything.” As soon as Kyle said that Maria looked at Liz grabbed her keys, “I can’t stay here, I am going to the pod chamber, please tell him why I had to leave. I wish I could stay but I don’t think I can handle it when he remembers everything,” said Maria as she pathed Liz the directions to the pod-chamber. “Here are the directions, it’s only if you absolutely need me. But please try and make him understand. Tell him I still love him.” That said Maria jumped in her car and took off. Liz looked at Alex and Kyle and tried to smile, when that failed she suggested they get Max, Michael, and Isabel in a more comfortable position.
Maria got on the highway and continued to drive as the tears rolled down her face. As much as she loved Liz, Alex, and Kyle ever since she had showed them what had happen she had trouble opening up to them. If she had trouble opening to them how could she open up to Michael. Trying to contain her sobs Maria finally reached the cave. Leaning against the door she suddenly remembered that she was not keyed to open it. Despair washed over her in waves, and then suddenly the door opened. Maria didn’t question why she just went in to Michaels pod crawled into and curled up in it, and let the sobs escape. Where was her cedar oil when she really needed it. After a long while the sobs turned to whimpers and from there she drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile back at camp Alex, Kyle, and Liz kept watch over the comatose aliens. They waited and waited and just when Liz thought she couldn’t take it anymore she felt strong arms enfold her in a hungry embrace. Liz was vaguely aware of similar happenings. When Isabel came to she launched herself at Alex, who caught her in a huge bear hug. It took Kyle clearing his throat a couple of times before the huggers and the huggies returned to earth. Liz suddenly caught her breath as she saw Michael’s lone, lost, forlorn expression.
“Where is Maria?” he asked quietly.
“Oh Michael,” sobbed Liz. “I don’t know what to say, I … I mean I know what to say just not how to say it.”
Max began to rub her back to try and calm her down, “Just start at the beginning.”
Liz nodded and began the story. “It all started about three or four weeks ago. I was complaining to Maria that I didn’t want to kill you all. See Nasedo would visit us as children and tell us we had to kill the royal four. Anyway she told me that she Kyle and Alex all agreed that they felt the same way. We had a group meeting and decided we would not follow Nasedo’s orders. That night Maria was spending the night at my house. As we climbed the stairs she asked me how much of Nasedo’s meeting did I remember. I told her I remembered all the meetings we had… but realized she meant did I remember what went on during the meetings. I told her no, that’s when she realized that Nasedo might have blocked those memories. That night I linked with her and was able to destroy the mind blocks and some compulsions that Nasedo had set. After Ria got herself under control she went to break my mind blocks but we had tipped Nasedo off and he had put shields around my mind. When Ria realized that she got really, really, pissed and just ripped through the shields and broke Nasedo’s control. We were free, we no longer felt the need to kill you. That night Ria woke up because a very horrible memory had surfaced. She waited until we freed Alex and Kyle and then shared her memory… all except the last part.”
Alex looked at Liz and knew she couldn’t say any more so he picked up the story. “In her memory Maria was out in the desert, she was only about six years old. She was being chased by Nasedo, and was running towards the pods when she reversed her direction and headed a different way. Knowing that Nasedo was going to capture her she wiped the location of the chamber from her conscious mind. She locked it deep in her subconscious where it would only surface if faced with a dramatic stimulus.”
Kyle looked at Alex and took up the hardest part. “We weren’t there but after that night we were completely afraid of him. When Nasedo reached her she couldn’t tell him what he wanted to know, he forced…he raped her mind looking for the answer, but they weren’t there.” By now the group gathered around Michael, they all had tears running down their faces. Michael was staring blank-faced at the ground and rocking back and forth.
Liz reached out to Michael forcing him to look at her. “Before she left she asked me to try and make you understand why she could not be here. She wanted to stay, but I think she realized how you would have greeted her and she did not want you to think she was rejecting you by not opening a connection with you. She also made me promise to tell you that she loves you Michael, she always did and she always will.”
Michael looked at Liz a moment longer and broke down, when he had finally regained his self-control he asked, “Please take me to her? I need to tell her that I can wait for ever if she needs me too.”
Liz nodded and looked around. “Maria went to the cave were your pods were stored. I know you would all like to see the cave but I think we need to let Michael and Maria have this night.” Turning to look back at Michael she continued, “We will meet you there tomorrow morning,” after which she pathed him the directions. Michael turned to Max and before he could open his mouth Max handed him the keys to the jeep. “We’re all here if you need us.”
As soon as Michael left, Kyle decided he would go freshen up in the stream, while Alex cradled Isabel till she fell asleep. Liz turned to Max and buried her face in his shoulder. Max picked up Liz and carried her over to a small outcropping of rocks. Settling down with his back against the rock he wrapped Liz in his arms content to have the love of his life where she belonged.
Michael drove down the highway like the demons of hell were chasing him. Reaching the cave he pressed his hand against the lock and the cave opened up to him. As he walked in he was surprised by a soft green glow admitted by the pods. When he drew nearer the pods his glowed brighter than the others, there inside his pod was Maria, his Maria, his pixy, his lover, his soul. He sat down in front of his pod and watched her sleep.
He was still watching her when a few hours later she woke up. When Maria realized Michael was there she buried her face in her hands unable to look at him or say anything. Michael reached in the pod and pulled her out into his arms. “I’m here,” was all he said, but it was enough. Soon Maria’s tears were again sliding down her face caressing Michael’s neck. He wrapped her even more in his embrace. When Maria was finally able to look at him he said, “I wont let him hurt you again, even if I have to kill him, I promise, I promise I will protect you.”
He nearly jumped when Maria began to laugh, not that he didn’t enjoy the sound of her laughter, just that he didn’t want her laughing at him.
“What’s so funny?” he asked a little put out.
Hearing the tone in his voice only caused Maria to laugh harder. When she was finally able to stop Michael had returned to his general stone-cold attitude.
“I am sorry Michael, it’s just that I should be protecting you not the other way around. That’s why we were sent. I mean I really enjoyed what you just said to me but I also thought about how ironic it was,” replied Maria.
“OH, right,” said Michael beginning to crack a grin.
Maria leaned against Michael savoring the feeling of being in his arms, at that moment not being connected with him she realized just how much he was able to turn her on. His physical nearness was enough to keep her from breathing. She looked up at him as she wet her lips. Michael took that as an open invitation. He leaned down and kissed her. At first she was un-responsive but soon she was savoring his slow gentle kiss, his tongue then began to tease her lips open. Slow little ducks in and out of her lips. She thought she wasn’t going to be able to take it anymore when at last his tongue plunged into her mouth, where she began to ravish it, then she sucked on it trying to keep them physically connect for as long as she could. When they finally broke a part Maria was to say the least a little shocked by the way that kiss had rocked her. She looked up at Michael and he smiled. Then he checked his watch, “We had better get some sleep, the other are coming up here tomorrow morning bright and early.” Maria nodded and they both settled down into a more comfortable position falling asleep in each others arms. “Maria, I can wait forever, if you need me to.”
Back at camp everyone had decided to settle down for the night. Liz and Isabel decided to share a tent while Kyle, Alex, and Max shared another one. Isabel, Alex, Max, and Liz had wanted to sleep in each others arms but decided due to Kyle’s momentary stagness that it wasn’t fair since Tess wasn’t here.
Chapter 3: Danger Zone
Maria woke up first and thought that there was a large animal growling in the chamber, when she realized it was Michael’s stomach she began to laugh. This caused Michael to wake up, and he started to grumble. This only afforded Maria more pleasure,
“You laughin’ at me Earthgirl?” he asked her smiling.
“You better believe it Spaceboy,” she replied still giggling.
“Well are you going to let me in on the joke?”
“Michael, you need to tell your tummy to quiet down, it was growling when I woke up and at first I thought a larger hairy animal was in here with us till I realized it was you,” she teased.
Michael smiled at Maria as he tousled her hair, glancing at his watch he realized that the others would soon be on their way. Standing up and giving Maria a hand the walked over to his pod.
“You know, even though I couldn’t be there when you recovered your memories, I came here because being close to your pod meant being close to you. When I was curled up in there I felt completely safe for the first time in my life, and when you put your arms around me I knew nothing bad could ever happen, Thank-you,” Maria said quietly.
“Listen Maria, I know how hard that was for you to admit, the thing is I am less like Rath in the openness department. Things have happened in my life that I am not ready to share with anyone, not Max, not Isabel. I am not even sure I can tell them to you. I want you to understand that I don’t need to rush into a connection. Truth be told I know I am not emotional mature enough to handle that, yet.”
Maria looked at Michael realizing just how much this was costing him. So offering the same words as he had to her last night she to said, “Michael, I can wait forever if you need me to.”
Michael turned to Maria after she said those words. “Maria, I just want you to know that I am not like Max. I don’t go for the whole sensitive guy thing. I’ll probably end up pissing you off more than you think.”
Maria just looked at him and smiled, “Michael we haven’t been friends, not really good friends anyway. But I’ve watched how you act and I know exactly what you’re going to be like. Besides you pissed me off plenty of times on Antar.”
He grinned, “Yea I just don’t want to hurt you and I am afraid we will start to fight.”
“But that’s the best part about fighting, you get to make up,” laughed Maria.
“Oh, really?”
“Mmmha,” she said flirtatiously as she looked into his eyes. When she saw the hungry look in them it stole her breath away. She knew if she didn’t say something to break the spell that she and he would get in some trouble. “Michael I…I…I think we should probably go wait for them outside next to the cars.”
“Good idea,” he said. They walked hand in hand down to the cars. As they neared the jeep Michaels stomach started to growl again. Laughing Maria made her way to the jetta and grabbed some granola bars and tabasco sauce.
Taking one bar for her self she grabbed two more for Michael and handed him the small bottle of sauce. “You know you’re a life savor, Maria.”
Maria grinned at Michael, “I know, you had just better remember that.”
As the sat there munching away on the bars each had the eerie sensation of being watched. To Maria it felt like being hunted, she and Michael were the prey and some where out there was the predator. They started to wonder what was going on. Michael checked his watch and realized that the other should be here by now. He turned to Maria just as she grabbed his arm. “Michael, I don’t like this feeling. Can we go back to the chamber and wait for the others?” she asked.
Michael nodded his head and they climbed back up to the chamber and entered it. Michael turned to the door way and sealed it and lock it. As Maria watched him lock them into the chamber she still couldn’t shake the feeling of being hunted. Michael grabbed her hand and they moved closer to the pods. The closer they got the more at ease they felt. Michael crawled into the pod and leaned against the back, when he got settled Maria crawled in and sat on his lap. Michael wrapped his arms around Maria and they stared out into the dimly lit chamber. Everything went into slow motion. Michael saw the shadow move. It raised its hand a second before him and fired a second be for him. Michael knew he had gotten the shadow when it burst into dust. He also felt the power of the shadow hit Maria. The next thing Michael knew was that he tumbled back into another cave. He picked up Maria and gently moved her into the new chamber. His breath caught as he saw the blood at the corner of her mouth and felt the blood that soaked through her clothing on to him.
Meanwhile Max, Liz, Kyle, Isabel and Alex had just arrived at the bottom of the mountain. Parking the cars next to the other ones they began to hike up to the chamber. Out of nowhere came this blinding light. Max looked around wildly and saw that Alex had thrown Isabel to the ground and fell on top of her trying to protect her with his body. Another blast went off, exploding the rock next to Max’s head.
Everything went into slow motion as he heard Liz scream his name. He swiveled his head and saw his attacker rise up from behind a boulder. He watched as the power hurtled his way, closing his eyes he waited for the inevitable. When nothing happened he looked down to see Kyle holding his side unconscious from the pain. Looking up Max raised his hand not quiet sure of what he was doing and suddenly a blue light flashed toward the attacker causing him or her to burst into dust. Max turned to Kyle kneeling next to him Max began to heal him. Kyle’s eyes fluttered open and Max slumped back in relief, he felt completely drained.
“Alex…Alex… Alexxx,” cried Isabel.
Max crawled over to Alex and gathered the last of his power. Unfortunately he didn’t think he had enough power to heal him. Max was filled with despair until a new wild current of energy coursed through his body. Looking up at Liz he smiled. Liz continued to touch his shoulder and concentrated on giving him ever ounce of power she had. Liz began to tremble; she started to feel weak and she wondered how much longer. Just as she collapsed Alex opened his eyes. Isabel threw her arms around his neck. Kyle did not want to interrupt the moment but he did.
“Listen I think we should get moving. We don’t know how many others are out here.” Alex and Isabel nodded. Isabel walked over to Liz and helped her to her feet, as Alex and Kyle hoisted Max between the two of them.
Michael looked at Maria the tears running down his cheek and on to hers. He watched her eyes flutter open. “Michael,” she whispered softly, “I want you to link minds with me.”
“No I told you I would wait,” he cried.
“Please,” she whispered “You said you’d wait for ever, but I don’t think I’ll get to for ever, please Michael I need you.”
Michael nodded his head and gently linked his mind with her, he saw what Nasedo had done to her and it infuriated him. However as their minds began to merge he could feel the dirtiness, the horribleness slip away, and he knew that it was because of him. Maria too could see things. She saw his loneliness and she saw what Hank was doing to him. At that moment she swore to her self that if she lived through this she would kill Hank. At last they pulled out of the merge. Michael looked at Maria and was about to say something when he saw that her attention was caught by a glowing object in the center of the cavern.
“Michael take me to the light,” Maria commanded. He got to his feet and carried her towards the object. When she could reach out and touch it she turned to him and said, “I love you.” She then placed her hand on the object. All the colors in the world shot out in ribbons wrapping themselves around Maria until she was cocooned in a glowing sphere. Lifting up out of his arms Maria was raised above the object and light began to spread out from her lighting the darkest corners of the cavern. It only lasted a few moments then she was returned to his arms. The ribbons unwound themselves from her body and returned to the object. Michael looked down at Maria and watched in wonder as her eyes meet his. She smiled at him and he knew she was alright.
“Michael put me down, the others are here.”
When Michael heard this he looked through the pod out into the chamber but couldn’t see them. All of a sudden he was blind as the sealed door opened to admit the others.
“We are in here,” called Maria as she waved to them.
They crawled through Michael’s pod and into the chamber. “We were attacked,” said Liz as she crawled through.
“So were we, Maria got hit before I could stop that thing that hitting us. Then we fell in here and that glowing thing healed Maria,” replied Michael.
As Liz looked at the object she realized that they had found the Granolith. Liz turned to help Max and then they both approached the Granolith. Liz reached out and touched it before Max could stop her and a single bell tone filled the room. Suddenly all seven of them were touching the Granolith.
*Greetings young ones. I will be here to help you and guide you. But right now we are not complete. Until the royal eight appears I need you to return to your homes and not come here again. Not unless it is an emergence. Do not worry, the attackers were only two. You will be safe for now. Go*
With that the Granolith returned to a glowing object, it was no longer pulling them towards it. The group crawled from the cave and made there way back to their normal ordinary human lives.