Roswell Fanatics

Title: A Powerless Power

Couples/Category: AU, Zan/Liz , Michael/Isabel, Ari/Les, Rath/Lonnie, Kyle/Ava, Tony/Maria, Larek/Erin

Ratings: YTEEN/TEEN

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Roswell, all rights belong to the creator.

Summary: There are three more aliens. Erin is Michael's and Rath's sister and she was the Royal Consort on Antar. Tony is Larek's brother and he was the Head of the King's Guard. Leslie (Les) is Ava's and Tess's sister and she was the Queen of Varan. They all live in Roswell together, except Tess and Larek. Tess because she betrayed them and Larek because he is head of the resistance. they all have to go home to make themselves known to the Antarin people. As graduation and depature loom closer unexpected events turn the aliens and their friends to a very uncertain future of life of death. The story is pretty CC...I think. If not just yell at me.

Author's notes: There are a few things that will seem strange to the readers. One is that a few characters are off. One Max Evans is Zan Evans and Zan of the Dupes is alive and is named Ari Daniels.



Chapter 1:

Liz Parker hummed as she wiped the tables in the Crashdown. She heard her best friend, Maria Deluca in the back turning off the fryers and cleaning up. Michael Vought, the other employee, must have gotten stuck with pot detail; she could hear him washing as fast as he could. Liz looked up at the clock and was surprised. “Michael! It’s five to 8!”
“I’ll finish those.” Maria’s voice came from the kitchen.
Michael stuck his head into the main room. “Don’t forget, midnight.”
“We won’t forget! Now get out of here!” Liz flicked the cloth at him.
She chuckled as he ducked out.
A few minutes later Maria came out and they sat down at a booth together. She looked grumpy. “Two weeks until graduation.” She sighed.
Liz knew how to get Maria to lighten up. “Does Tony have work tonight?”
The way Maria’s face lit up told her everything. “No, we’re going to cuddle up in front of the TV and watch ‘our movie’. Or at least as much as we can until the meeting.”
Liz laughed. On their first ‘date’ Maria and Tony had doubled with her and her boyfriend, Zan Evans. They went to a theater playing older movies and it was ‘Dirty Dancing’. “You know,” Liz began. “You never told me how ‘Come to Dinner’ night at the Valenti/Deluca’s.
Maria beamed. “You know Kyle and Tony are best friends. Mom adores Tony and Jim liked Tony from the start. Tony answered each question that Mom threw at him. Including the famous one-”
“What are your intentions?” They said in unison.
They laughed. “Yeah, that one.” Maria said. “Tony didn’t even bat an eye. He told Mom his intentions were to date me, until which time we decided to break up or get married and he said he expected to me to go to college before even thinking about getting married. He also said that he didn’t believe in living together before marriage or sex before marriage, so Mom didn’t have to worry about me getting pregnant. Tony was acting like he did this everyday! Mom was just floored by his honesty and of course by his good morals. Mom wants me to keep this one around.”
“So, of course you dropped a hint or two that it might not work out and then you assured her that Tony was staying around for quite awhile.”
“You know me too well, Liz Parker.” Maria grinned.
“Does your mom know that Tony is a Czechoslovakian?” They both giggled at their word for aliens.
“Yeah, she knows. Jim didn’t think it was fair to leave her out of the loop after she stumbled upon us like that. After dinner Mom and Tony had a long talk about who he was and all that. I think she liked the fact that he was a ‘protector’ and she seemed awed by his powers. He even told her what they had been like and that he could attain that level again.”
“Sounds like your Mom’s smitten.”
“She’s not the only one.” Maria looked down smiling. “Liz, Tony is just so great. He makes me feel so alive, Liz. He never makes me feel wrong for doing things different or being myself. He listens to me and truly cares about my ideas.” Maria looked back up and took her friends hand. “Oh, Liz, he really respects me! I don’t know if a guy has ever really, truly respected me for me. I love the feeling that I can trust him in everything. I know, Liz, I know he’s not going to cheat on me, I know I never have to be worried about feeling pressured to have sex with him, and I know that he won’t leave me here. Wherever he goes he’ll take me.” Maria leaned back against the booth. “I never thought I would find a guy like Tony Archais.”
Liz decided to change the subject knowing Maria was now totally placated. “Have you received your acceptance letters yet?”
“You know I can’t pay for college, but I applied to Roswell Community. It works for Erin, Les, Tony and Iz.”
“Yeah, I expect to hear where I am going any day. I applied to the University in Albuquerque so I wouldn’t be too far from Roswell.”
“Liz, you’re the Valedictorian, you can go anywhere and someday you’ll be a famous biologist.”
“You know,” Liz began carefully. “I’ve been thinking about it and talked to Erin too…but well most of the scientists and medical people on Antar have been killed, the few that remain are loyal to Larek. Erin has been able to test out of most classes at RCC and is just trying to further her education.”
“Yeah, her and Kyle get together to go over mechanics on Thursdays.” Maria added.
“With Erin’s help I want to study Human Biology but with an emphasis on Alien Biology. I want to help, Maria, not just stay here all my life. Where Zan goes…well, I’m going too.”
Maria patted Liz’s hand. “I know, we’re all going someday, we just don’t know when or how.” Maria frowned. “Liz, do you ever wonder what it would be like if Erin and Co. had never come into our lives?”
Liz smiled. “Well, we’d never know Alex was ok and happy up there. All of us would be at each other’s throats because of the Michael/Isabel thing and we’d never have known Tess was mind warping us, Kyle would be all alone in the ‘Garage’, need I go on?”
“Kyle’s only not alone because of Miss I’m-small-and-cute-”
“Did I hear my name?” A small bubbly girl about their age came in. She was only about 5’, if that and her hair was blonde mixed with different shades of purple and she also had an eyebrow ring, she did have more but took them out not long ago. A gigantic grin spread across the girls’ face.
“Hi, Ava.” Both Liz and Maria laughed and Ava slid into the booth next to Liz. At first glance it would seem as if the two girls’ had nothing in common but they actually had quite a bit in common. For starters in her other life Ava was married to Zan, the King of Antar and now Zan and Liz were together. For another Liz used to go with Kyle, before junior year and everything got confusing with Zan, now Ava and Kyle were steadies. They had the same taste in guys but not in clothes. Their personalities were actually very similar, both shy and somewhat withdrawn, they were also great friends.
“Whose turn is it to baby-sit tonight?” Liz asked referring to Zan’s son, Jacob.
“Everyone had to work tonight or had class.” Ava explained. “Zan at the UFO museum, Toby at the school, you, Maria and Mikey, here, Ari, Lonnie and Rath at the club, Kyle at the garage, E at the bookshop and me at the mall.” She counted on her fingers’ quickly. “Oh and Les, she took Jacob with her to class.”
“Just as long as she doesn’t take him patrolling.” Liz said.
“She wouldn’t.” Ava said composed and they knew she was about to say something funny. “E would kill her.” E was what the NYC group called Erin.
“Did someone drive you or did you borrow Kyle’s car?” Maria asked.
“I walked.” She said shrugging. “It was a nice evening. I knew we was meeting here to go to the chamber.” Sometimes Ava slipped into her accent and bad English. Erin had tried to cure her of it.
“Let’s go to your room, Liz.” Maria said. “If I am going to be climbing then I might as well have something comfortable on.”
They all got up and Liz shut off the lights on their way out. They went up the stairs and into Liz’s room. “Hey, Av, do you want to borrow some clothes?” Ava was dressed in her ‘work attire’. She worked at a clothing store in the mall, a punk Goth clothing store. She was wearing a tight black T-shirt with a rose on it dripping blood, a dog color, too much make-up, a tight black leather miniskirt, fishnet stockings and black knee-length boots.
Once they were changed they went out on the roof and sat down in folding chairs. Ava was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a cute plaid shirt. She was also wearing a pair of Liz’ old sneakers. From below they heard the soft voice of a tenor singing. Maria giggled. “I’d know that voice anywhere.” She got up and looked over the waist high wall around the roof. She smiled as the grinning face of a young man with spiky black hair and glasses came into sight.
“Ready?” He asked.
“Yes, be down in a minute.” She turned back. “See you guys at midnight.” Then she climbed down the fire escape.
Liz and Ava laughed lightly and looked up into the starlit sky.

Around 11:00 Zan showed up. Liz got into the front seat and Ava got into the back. They were going to pick up Iz at home. Then they were going to the pod chamber. Erin would be driving Michael, Tony and Maria there and Kyle had agreed to pick up Les and Jacob because they were going to be visiting with Amy and Jim. Ari, Lonnie and Rath had to come straight from the club, but they would change before hand.

Zan walked into the pod chamber with Liz (Ava and Isabel were taking their time) and found the wall to the crashed ship open. Liz tried not to laugh but Erin was leaning into the main board of the small ship and her feet were off the ground. All you could see was her butt and dangling legs. “How’s it coming?” Zan asked.
A muffled reply came from the woman. “Sorry, we didn’t get that.” Liz said still trying not to laugh.
Arms appeared and the woman hoisted herself from the ship. What appeared was a very lovely woman about a year older than they were. Her long dark blonde hair was pulled back into a bun and her bi-colored eyes showing plainly on an angular face. Erin’s eyes were her most distinguishing characteristic. They were like islands. Around the outside was a deep sea foam green color and around the pupil it was a fawn brown.
Erin was wearing a pair of blue jeans, running shoes and a green T-shirt that brought out her eyes. Her face was softly angular, the contours the same as Michael’s but it produced two very different effects. People never guessed they were brother and sister, more often that they were dating or married because of how close they were.
“I’ve got the main board about to purr like a kitten, after that I’m checking the secondary boards. My main concern is the life-support, but the controls need to be checked. I’m putting Kyle on that.”
Zan smiled. “How soon should the ship be up and running?”
Erin looked thoughtful, but both Zan and Liz knew that she was weighing time, energy and work to be done. “If Kyle and I work together, say 5 days a week? For 4 hours a day we’ll be done the day you graduate. Sooner if we get some help on Saturdays. It’s mostly mechanical work,” She paused. “I don’t want to sound callous, but Alex would have been invaluable with the actual computer programming. I may have to borrow Kharnak for awhile, though Larek will expect something for the trouble.”
Liz couldn’t hold it back any longer. Erin grinned. Zan just shook his head. “We’ll try out the others first. Liz, you, Maria and Iz could come out here and see what you can do. Erin, Rath and Michael should be able to help with the mechanical aspects. I’ll announce the departure date tonight.”
Zan went through the pods into the inner chamber and Liz went over to Erin, who had picked up tools again. “I didn’t expect you guys to leave this soon.”
Erin turned back to the younger girl. “Liz, we won’t be gone forever. As soon as we let the Antarin people know that we are alive we will be back. Liz, we only have so many seats, but I would rather we took the three of you with us. That’s Zan’s decision, though, I can’t override that Liz.”
“But you could order him, can’t you?”
Erin knew Liz wasn’t asking her to order the King around. She was attempting to find out who was in charge. “It is true that I am their guardian, as I was before, but Zan is King. I have the power to order them when they will put others in jeopardy with their actions or if they are lying to me and I need to know the truth. You know I do not and will not abuse my power, Liz.”
“That’s why we trust you.”
“Awwww! The ship!” The cute bubbly voice was in an out very quickly. From the entrance to the ship was less that 5 seconds.
“Ava! Stop playing with the one way viewers!” Erin said looking right at the spot where the controls of the ship were.
In a second the metallic sheen was gone and they could see Ava sitting in one of the two main seats. “How do you always know?”
“Because,” A male voice said behind them, “We don’t call her ‘Mom’ behind her back for nothing.”
Erin turned and in a moment had her little brother in a headlock.
“Mom is it?” The smirking woman asked. “Now, Mikey, I wasn’t aware that I was so touch on you. All I ask is that you keep your room clean and help out with the dishes.”
“And you monthly war on the apartment.” Tony put in.
“You grounded him last week.” Isabel laughed.
“I warned him when I moved here that he had to graduate. To graduate he had to go to class and do his homework. If he didn’t he could kiss his free time goodbye.”
“Erin, we’re agreeing with you.” Tony said. “But you do act a lot like a mom to us.”
“Ok, Mikey, what do you have to say for yourself?” Erin inquired to her brother who was still in the headlock.
“Ummm…I love you?”
“Awwww!” Ava grinned.
Erin let him up and gave him a hug. He gladly returned it hoping she wouldn’t do anything else. “Oh, by the way, you’re on UFO detail for the next two weeks.”
“What about homework and work?” Normally Michael wouldn’t think twice about homework but since it was Erin…
“You bring it here, Mr. Parker called last night. Joe needed some extra hours to help pay for his mom’s medical bills. You need to study anyway for your finals next week. Both you and Kyle need help.”
“Ok.” Michael agreed. “Where’s Zan?”
“In his office.” Liz said jerking her thumb back toward the chamber that once housed the granolith.
“Do you know why Zan needs to see us?” Tony inquired.
“Part of it is about our departure.” Erin said. “But he isn’t talking. Something is going on. I don’t know what, though. Ava, turn off the scanner.” The only two things that worked on the ship and Ava knew how to use them.
“E! Did you know this thing can print read-outs?!”
Les’ arrival was made known then as she brought in a screaming Jacob. Erin rolled her eyes and took the little guy from her. She also took a bottle, handing it to Michael to warm up. “I’m sorry, Jakey, I know it’s past your bedtime. Don’t worry, I’ll put you down in a minute.”
It was a few minutes before he finished his bottle and would consent to being rocked to sleep. Erin set him down into his carrier gently and let him be.
“Natural mom.” Tony chuckled.
“Nonsense!” Erin murmured. “I’ve just had more practice. No one else has really been around babies. Where are the other three?”
Everyone was there except Ari, Lonnie and Rath. It was now 12:30 and they should have been there. “Maybe Yuri kept them over. “Ava suggested referring to the club’s manager.
“If he did I will have to talk with him.” Erin grumbled.
“You’re still mad about when he tried to get Lonnie to sleep with him.” Kyle said from his vantage point at the control board.
“Lonnie knew it was wrong and Yuri definitely knew it was wrong. So I straightened that pig out.” Erin was almost growling now.
It was after one when Ari, Lonnie and Rath rushed in out of breath. “S-Sorry.” Lonnie gasped out. “Shape-shifters…”
“Where?” Erin’s voice was sharp, something most of them had only heard a handful of times.
“At da club.” Ari said finally able to control his breathing.
“We got dem and Lonnie was able to get a story to Yuri.” Rath put in.
“He tinks da generator blew.” Lonnie filled in.
“Did you sense others?” Erin asked.
“No.” Rath shook his head. “But we’s know dat others were watchin’. Deys weren’t actin’ alone.”
“Ari, go give a report to Zan.” Erin leaned against the ship. “We’ll be staring the meeting soon. Better get on the ship.”
Everyone took his or her seats in the ‘cockpit’. Les and Zan always preferred to stand so everyone had a seat…though some were sharing.
Zan and Ari came in a few moments later and everyone grew quiet. Zan started out customarily. “OK, I know everyone is wondering why I called you here, but that answer is simple, the explanations are not. First, though, I will start out and address the current developments. Ari, Lonnie and Rath were attacked by shape-shifters tonight. We don’t know why, but we can guess. They know we are all together and they want us dead. We will be monitoring the situation carefully-Erin what are you doing?”
Erin was on her back on the floor doing something beneath the pilot controls. “Sorry, there was a spark I wanted to make sure that nothing was damaged or getting worse. I’m listening.”
“All right. The ship should be operational the day we graduate. Erin, Kyle, Michael and Rath will work on it when they can. Liz, Maria, and Isabel I need you to see if you can do anything with the computer aspect when they have got everything fixed. I also need to assign stations. Does anyone have memories of flying this thing or of any of the stations?”
“I can fly it.” Erin said. “It isn’t much different than my small two person craft I had on Antar.”
“I remember these controls.” Tony said motioning towards the commanding station. Those controls were for directions, to keep the ship on course.
“Good, let’s see Erin what is this one used for?” He was talking about the one in the middle of the room.
Erin looked up for a moment. “That is the Radar Controls, used for sensing asteroids, comets, approaching ships, planets and how far away they are.”
“I remember using something like this.” Les volunteered.
Erin looked up again. “The ones on my right are the Ship system monitors, the ones to the left of the door as you are coming in are the Shield generator consul, the ones to the right of the door is the Weapons Consul, they work together most of the time and each takes two people to run it. The station on the other side of the room is the Life system monitor. It monitors the actual ship life system and also the people on board. Everything can be run from the controls above me but it isn’t a piece of cake. The two who brought you here were experts.”
“Didn’t you design these ships?” Zan asked.
“Yes, but I am very rusty at flying one, and besides it takes two people, I don’t think anyone else has the experience and I don’t have the patience to teach someone. Besides it would take to long.”
“Rath do you remember the battles we fought?” Michael asked.
“Yeah, I think so. These controls look familiar.” Rath said quietly so you couldn’t hear his accent.
“I think we’d be able to run the weapon monitors.” Michael told Zan.
“And Lonnie and I can run the Shields.” Isabel said.
“Yeah, I remember dis.” Lonnie said checking out the consul.
“Three and four also need two people that can work together.” Erin said.
“That leaves us.” Zan said to Ari.
“Sure does.” Ari said. “I can take the Ship systems easy ‘nough. Yous ok wit da Life systems?”
“Yeah. Erin can explain the finer details.”
“Yes, and all of you had better listen!” Erin’s voice came from under the consul. “You need to practice too, I’ll be darned if I’ll fly this thing without you guys knowing what you’re doing.”
Zan chuckled. “OK, now on to the next item of business. Maria, Kyle, Liz would you mind stepping outside for a moment?”
They nodded and once the door was closed behind them and Erin made sure they couldn’t hear Zan spoke again. “I would like to propose that we take them with us.”
“I think that is a good idea.” Erin said.
“Are there any concerns before we vote on this?” Zan asked. When no one spoke he nodded. “OK, fist out no, hand out yes. Ready, everyone?”
Everyone made a fist close to his or her bodies to get ready. “Go.” Tony said.
All the hands shot outward. Zan looked around. “It’s unanimous. Maria, Liz and Kyle will go with us.”



Chapter 2:

Kyle moonwalked behind Erin who was checking wires on the main board. She turned her head and cocked an eyebrow at him. He had brought a CD player with him and one of his mixes was playing.
Erin barely had time to put the tools down as he grabbed her hand and swung her around. Erin knew most dances, the older ones anyway. Swing, Salsa, Tango, Mambo… she even taught Michael how to dance.
“Oh, this is working?” Kyle had just dipped Erin so she was now looking at an upside down Liz.
They started laughing and fell over, which just caused them to laugh all the more. Liz just set her bag down. “Ava stopped by after my English Review, she told me to tell you that she had to work later tonight, but she will be over to your house in time for dinner.”
“Dad’s working late, I take it?” Kyle asked helping Erin up.
“Yeah, he’s picking her up at the mall after she closes up.”
“Where’s Maria?” Erin asked.
“Her and Michael are bringing up something for you.”
Erin drew her eyebrows together perplexed about Liz’s statement, but her eye lit up when she saw what Michael and Maria were carrying between them. “How did you get this?!” Her hands were running along the surface of the black ebony box.
“Jim found it in the last inventory check at the Police Station.” Maria said. “It’s been in there for ages. Zan said he thought it might be alien.”
“It is…” Erin murmured. “Mikey, do you have any idea what this is?”
“Uh…no.” Her brother said. “All I know is that it’s heavy.”
“I had no idea this was on Earth…”
“But Erin, there’s nothing in it.”
“Of course there is.” Erin waved her hand over the lid, and it opened to reveal a velvety lined box, empty. Her caressed the sides and symbols appeared in neat sectioned off boxes, some long, some short, some square, others round. “Inside those drawers are the things Tihandra, Vilandra and Kevara have been searching for.”
“What do you mean?” Michael kneeled beside her a feeling rising up inside of him unlike anything he had ever felt before.
“Michael, the things in this box are the reasons all of us were killed on Antar. And the reason Tihandra puts so much energy into fighting Larek and Kharnak.”
“No.” Michael said looking at her in shock. “Erin, are you telling me that they have been on Earth this entire time?”
“That is exactly what I am telling you.” Erin sighed then. “Michael I need you to tell Zan we can’t wait until the day after graduation…if he wants to graduate we leave before midnight afterward.”
“Erin, what are you going to do?” Erin had picked up the box and was heading toward the entrance of the ship.
“I’m going to wake up my husband.”
“Do you really think he’s asleep?” Her brother asked incredulously.
“Only if Kharnak put something in his water.” Erin waved her hand over her shoulder, holding the box in one arm. Michael didn’t know how she could…but he was betting that she might be able to make things lighter with her powers. “Now, bro, tell the King we have 10 levels of danger or threat, 1 being probable and 10 meaning imminent. We are at a level 5, but that will change the longer we stay. Tell Zan I need to talk to him as soon as I finish with Larek and Khar-”
Erin’s words were cut short by the sudden shaking of the pod chamber. Erin looked up. “Watch out!” She shrieked as the ceiling suddenly caved in on them.

Isabel walked toward her car parked in the almost empty lot. As she neared her car she felt a tremble course through her. Her bag fell from her shoulder and she sank to her knees on the warm asphalt. She felt that something was wrong, everything in her shouted out in protest…she felt as if she was being pulled apart from the inside. With the last amount of strength within her and feeling the blackness all around her she reached out in her mind to whomever was nearest and could help her…all she found was a human mind that could help. AMY!

Tony grabbed his head as the sonar-like vibrations hit him. It overpowered him completely. His Empathic abilities were on overload. The pain it caused was shooting through him like lightening. Tony could feel the power within him seeping out… “No!” He moaned and then blacked out.

Zan walked into Brody’s office. “Hey, Brody, the kids knocked over the displays again.”
“Every time.” The young man said from his computer. “But you’ve got to love them.”
“Of course, hey, I’ve been meaning to tell you, after graduation I need to take a leave of absence.”
“That’s not a problem, going on vacation?” Brody turned to look at him.
“In a matter of speaking. Oh, Erin wanted to know if you wanted to come over for dinner sometime this week?”
“Tell her I’d love to. Is Friday all right?” Brody smiled.
“It should be fine. I’ll-” Zan saw Brody go in and out of focus.
“Zan…” Brody’s voice was far away. “Zan, are you all right?” The man got up and took a step toward him.
Zan felt himself go boiling hot all over and then freezing cold. His head began to hurt and his hand stung and had stabbing pains in it. Zan brought his hands up to see them and the King mark was glowing yellow on his palm. Then he gasped, his lungs were constricting inside of him.
“ZAN!” Brody’s yell seemed to take forever to reach him. Zan felt himself fall to the floor and then he saw the power flow out of his hands. Zan felt the emptiness inside of him and then he lost consciousness.

Ava hummed as she folded T-shirts on a counter. There had been a rush of customers and now nothing. She could probably get Torrance to close up early and then she could walk over to the Police Station. Jim would probably let her sit in his chair and use his computer, if he wasn’t busy that is. Maybe he would let her look at mug shots or take her fingerprints and let her see how long it would take her to get them out of the system. The last time it had taken her half an hour, she thought she could take a few minutes off that time. A sudden pain in her stomach and Ava was sprawled on the floor of the shop sweating and weaker than she had ever been in her life. “Ava?”
Torrance came into the shop from the back room. “Tor...”
The woman breathed out, “Oh my God! Ava!” Her long curly brown hair was floating strangely in Ava’s vision as the woman kneeled next to her. “What is it? What do I do?”
“Call Jim…” Ava gasped out. Torrance scrambled to the phone and Ava felt a burning on her right shoulder right where the Royal Four symbol was…
It seemed only a moment later when Ava opened her eyes again but Jim was kneeling over her. “Ava, can you hear me?”
“Yeah…” Ava’s voice was barely audible.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you help.” Jim’s eyes were getting harder to focus on… until Ava closed her eyes again and didn’t open them.
Jim checked to make sure she was still alive and then he picked her up and hurried out of the mall.
Les aimed a punch toward Ari’s shoulder, but he dodged it and went in for a low kick to knock the girl off her feet. She jumped and crouched low on her way back down because he swung around again missing her head by inches. But then he surprised her and went down on his hands twirling his legs out over him. She was hit on the side and went down. “Darn…” She breathed out. “Most vampires aren’t as limber as you are.”
“No, but what ‘bout if ya gets one that isn’t just outta rigor?” Ari asked her sitting down on the floor.
“Oh, a joy to find one that hasn’t just turned.” Les said jumping up and stretching out. “At least give me a real challenge.”
“Ready?” Ari asked jumping up.
“Yup, and this time, no dance moves, just pure adrenaline and keep it coming, don’t stop.”
“Yer wish is my command.” Only two blocks and four hits later from him Les went all white. “LES!”
She fell forward hard her hands clenching and unclenching beneath her. He rolled her over and his shout had brought Rath and Lonnie into the room. Les was convulsing on the carpet. “Yo, what’s wrong?” Lonnie said scrambling to help Ari hold her down.
“Don’t know she just went down.” He tried to heal her as Rath helped Lonnie but he screamed and fell backward. His hands were burned red and black. “I can’t heal her!” A white light suddenly erupted from his hands and he screamed. Rath and Lonnie were suddenly thrown back from Les’ body. Lonnie hit the wall and came down hard. She was out. Rath hit the desk, a sharp crack sounded when his back made contact; he fell to floor and wasn’t moving. Ari was the only one conscious and he wished he wasn’t. His hands were burning and he felt sure that he was dying. In desperation he tried to call out with his mind. He didn’t find anyone and in a last burst of effort he went farther than he had ever before been able to, knowing that he could permanently damage himself. “LAREK!!!!” The cry ripped from his throat and his mind before he fell to the floor himself silent.

Author's Note: Ok, the third part was very tricky to write since it happens all on Antar or a spaceship going to Earth. You should know that aliens are human, not Terran as Earthlings are, but you would never guess that they weren't Terrans if you saw them on he street. For another you will notice I have added a few characters. I should explain relationships or everyone will be confused.
First of all the old Queen of Antar was Tihandra, she was married to the King, she had two daughters by him, Vilandra and Kevara (alternative to Khivar), but she could not bare him a son. The king had a mistress that did bare him a son, Arisan. Arisan became king and married the Lady Andreya, they had two children Arizan and Vilandra II. They are part of the Royal Eight. Now Kevara had two sons, Nicholas and Kharnak. You all know Nicholas, but Kharnak was different, as you will find out. Kharnack has the family resemblance to Arizan, they could be brothers. All the Terran Aliens, ie, Zan, Isabel, etc, wore born in the same image that they were on Antar. Any other questions feel free to ask. I don't want to leave people confused. A few things have been changed so the reader can understand what is going on. I have used 'Earthterms' to portray a few things.


Part 3


The man was tall. 6'9" barefoot, in his boots he was matching 7'0". His face was serious, a frown line and creases on his forehead bore the signs of worry and sleepless nights. His dark brown eyes were concentrated on a computer-like screen flashing symbols that very few on earth had ever seen . His longish wavy brown hair was pulled back with a band tied at the base of the skull.
"Sir?" The man looked up and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment trying to focus his eyes better.
"Yes?"
"Sir, Lord Kharnak wishes to see you."
"Of course." The man stood and then he was on his knees clutching his head. He heard their voices crying out to him in pain, in anguish...then he felt it...the feeling of his power leaving his body.
"Lord Kharnak!" The man in the doorway was running down the corridor. "Lord Kharnak!"
A man stepped from a room confused. His face was square and his eyes brown. His looked were not unlike his cousins, the King Arizan. "Ranon! What's wrong?"
"It's Advisor Larek! I don't know what's wrong! he fell to his knees and is holding his head--"
Kharnak went white and pushed the man aside. The only thought in his mind was to get to Larek. His race down the hall gave rise to alarm. Kharnak stopped in the doorway seeing his friend kneeling on the ground. Larek looked up with a tear-streaked face. Kharnak swallowed hard, he stepped forward and then blinked in surprise. "Larek, what--"
"They all cried out to me. I felt the power die within us."
"Larek, theres something else..."
"Tay's gone and so is Michael."
"Larek, no..." Kharnak whispered fighting back his tears. "They can't be..."
"They are!" Larek's voice cracked as he roared in pain. "She's dead."

It was barely an hour later when Kharnak sat in a pilot seat. 'Sir, you can't leave us like this!"
"Corporal." Kharnak gave her a steady, piercing gaze. "My cousin's are in danger of losing their lives. Already two are dead. The King must survive, I pledged my allegiance to him when I was 16 years old, I was second only to Lord Belil in the guard. I wasn't there when they were killed and I have never forgiven myself. I would protect the King, the Queen, the Princess, the General, the Moonqueen, the Consort, the Advisor and the Captain, even if it meant my life. I failed them once, I will not do it again. I care more the people they are than about this planet. " Kharnak took a breat. "I need volunteers. We need at least one more person to fly this ship. Larek is in no state to fly."
"You have that." The Corporal sat down in the other seat. "You weren't the only one that failed them that day."
It was then that he remembered she had been with the Queen Valaya's Elite Lady Knights. "Is Larek aboard?"
"Yes, sir, and the others are being briefed on the situation."
"Good." Kharnak pressed a button and the Holo appeared. "Are we ready?"
"Yes,sir." The woman said from the control in the 'tower'. "You are ready for take-off."
"Good, Verick is in command until we return. We do not know when that may be. Our first priority is to see to the continued survival of the King. We will be in touch. "
"Understood, sir."
Kharnak fired the engines and they wre gone. "Sir, why didn't we use the faster way?"
"Because, Orphena, we cann't take what we need with us, otherwise. We need to ascertain a few things, one, and this is not to be repeated to anyone, as of this moment we have at least two dead and the others powerless."
"Do you know why?"
"No. And if Larek knows, he's not talking."
"Big surprise." Orphena snorted. "Larek isn't exactly Mr. Socialable."
"You were very young when you became a Lady Knight weren't you?"
"I was 12 when I became a Lady Knight and 13 on the Queen's Elite and 13 1/2 when she was killed."
"So, you didn't know her well."
"No, but what are you getting at?"
"You didn't know Larek before that did you?"
"No,b ut I can't imagine he was much different. The man's a total workaholic, Kharnak! His whole life is centered on the resistance and some project involving genetics or something. He has no social life, I mean no one could survive the insanity of all this without a realease of some sort. I mean, God, Kharnak, he's obsessed! He need to do something besides letting his work consume him. But that man is unreachable from his holier-than-thou attitude to his desregard of people. How did he ever become part of the Royal Eight?!"
Kharnak sighed. "Orphena, you didn't know the Royal Eight. They weren't these people of legend and folklore. To me they were the ones I grew up with. My cousins, Arizan and Vilandra, Zan and Landra we called them. Then there was Ava, sweet little Ava. Rath, a sickly boy and a strong man. The Royal Four of Antar. Then there was the Royal Guard. Valaya, Vay, the Moonqueen of Varan, a rebellious and temper-prone woman who always spoke her mind and was unfailingly truthful. Belil, sensitive , feeling and the most bravest and morally strong man I ever knew. But they all had faults and we loved them anyways. Belil took after his brother, Larek, a man of such integrity, such devotion and such wisdom. He loved so much and still does." He grew quiet.
"You forgot Taylaya."
"No, I didn't. I never could. You know that Taylaya was agenius, She had multiple degrees in Mechanics, Medicine, Genetics and so much more. She was the one who designed this type of ship. She also was the one that came up with theories to transplant the Royal Four in pods to be reborn, of course then she had no idea what this could mean, and to tranplant the Royal Guard into Terran hosts."
"She more than a legend." Orphena argued.
"Taylaya was more than that, yes. Taylaya was the most powerful of the Royal Eight, and the most powerful any of us had ever seen. But the power of her mind was matched and even surpassed by the power of her love for the others. She was their protector, she was their confidant. She fell in love early in life. She was very mature for her young age. They marrid when she was 15 and he was 20. They fit together perfectly from their intelligence to their capacity to love. It was once in an eternity of chances, Orphena. True love, eternal love. There could never be anyone else, for either of them. When she was killed he was devastated. This kind and gentle person now saw life differently. With Taylaya everyone would turn out right, no matter the trial, without her he was lost and alone."
"It must have been horrible for him." Orphena whispered. "The poor man."
"That poor man is Larek Tirand."
Orphena looked at his surprised. "Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"The Royal Eight are our leaders, no one likes to talk about what happened. Orphena, Taylaya became a girl named Erin, who was like Taylaya in almost every way...she was just killed on Earth with her brother, Michael, one of Terra's Rath's. Larek thought he lost her when she was transplanted and now he has. Can you really blame him for who he is? You should have seen him with her. He was the man I knew before. She always brought out the best in him and he in her. The only good thing I can say is they never had any regrets. They loved enough for a hundred lifetimes. Don't judge him, he lost so much. The first time he lost her, the rest of the Royal Eight and all their children. There were six of them. Two of Arizan's and Ava's, two of Vilandra's and Rath's and two of their own. Zan and Avaya were the Prince and Princess. Tiratha and Rage were Lady and Lord. Tarel and Dreya...it's hard thinking about them now. Larek and I couldn't stop it from happening...we failed them as we failed their parents...and Larek failed his own children. We couldn't have stopped it and yet we feel as if we failed. He was the only member of the Royal Eight to survive, he had to continue living when all he wanted to do was die. He stayed true to them and he has no reason to feel like he failed, but he feels like he failed his family. He has lost his powers, but he doesn't care, he grieves for the only woman he will ever love. And such a woman she was, I never knew her equal."
"What was it that was so special about her?"
Kharnak pulled on the hyperdrive before answering. "Well, when you look at me what do you see?"
"I see a leader and a man who isn't afraid to fight."
"You see a leader. Taylaya saw the good in me also. She also saw my failings, but she loved anyway. She hated Tihandra and her daughters...my mother, aunt and grandmother. She hated them but saw me differently...yet she still saw the good in those she hated. She always believed they could come back to the good." He paused. "I'm telling this wrong. Taylaya wasn't perfect, but the way she saw people was, the love she always felt for them."
"You loved her, didn't you?"
"We all loved Tay." Kharnak said not looking at her.
"But you were in love with her." Orphena pressed.
Kharnak swallowed. "Yes, I was in love with her."

Author's Note: Ok, this one is a little boring, but I think of it as filler or something that has to happen for everything to make since. You should know that Michael, Liz , Maria and Kyle are dead (or so it seems). I expect a few tomatoes being thrown at me but I promise that everything will turn out fine in the end. Now in case a few people have a hard time imagining what certain people look like I will give a brief description. Erin looks like Rachel Skarsten from Birds of Prey, Tony looks like Hayden Christensen, Les looks like Kiera Knightley, Larek looks like Orlando Bloom and Kharnak looks like Superman...I mean he looks like Tom Welling from Smallville. Do I need a disclaimer to mention them? If so I do not know any of them nor do I hold any rights to the shows above. The rights belong to the creator. Better safe than sorry. Oh, I have decided that after each post I will right a little teaser afterward.


Part 4

Zan opened his eyes and found himself staring at the ceiling of a room painted in a creamy white color. He turned his head and saw Ari in a bed next to him. A hospital bed. Ari's eyes were closed and his hands were heavily bandaged. A bag of clear liquid was dripping into a tube connected to his arm.
Zan sat up blinking and noticed that he too was in a hospital gown. He slipped his legs off the bed and rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands. His head whipped toward the door. A nurse was standing there and she had just dropped a bed pan on the tiled floor. She just stared for a moment open mouthed then she turned. "Doctor!"
The doctor swept past her roughly. The doctor was a woman and she looked to be about 30 with medium length blonde hair, her hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the moment. She used her stethoscope and was listening to Zan's heart. "Lay back." She said adjusting the bed so he could sit up.
"Is he all right?" Zan's throat hurt terribly.
The doctor looked at Ari. "He'll be fine. You know it's not everyday we get two sets of twin's from the same family here."
"Where are we?" Zan croaked out.
"Roswell Memorial Hospital."
"Is everyone else here?"
"Your sisters are across the hall and the rest of your friends are in adjoining rooms." The doctor was checking him out as she spoke. "Everything looks good. Your parents are here with your son and you should be able to see them soon. We'll want to take a few x-rays, your brain did swell a little, but I think it's under control now. Do you need anything?"
"Water?" Zan asked.
"Of course. The nurse will bring you some."
The doctor left. When the nurse brought the pitcher he could hear the doctor talking his parents outside the door. "It is rare for an 18-year-old to experience--" the pitcher rattled and the ice could be heard but not the doctor so Zan missed some words. "--everything looks real good. Ari should be awake soon, maybe he can identify the people that attacked them."
"How are Isabel and Lonnie?" Mrs. Evans asked.
"Lonnie has been awake, though she probably wishes she wasn't. We've had her on morphine. She experienced a broken arm, dislocated shoulder, several broken ribs...we had to take out one of her kidneys, a dislocated hip, a broken femur and the blunt force trauma to the head you know about." She paused. "She was lucky. Mr. and Mrs. Evans I don't think any of this was a coincidence. Tox labs came back positive for texatrizine diacon in Zander, Isabel, Ava, Anthony and Leslie. This drug can cause swelling of the brain, coma, seizures and in rare cases, death. It is also almost impossible to get. Someone was obviously wanting them hurt."
"No one remembers anything though?" Mr. Evans' asked.
"No, one of the things texatrizine diacon causes is localized memory loss from a few hours to a few days previous until the time that they 'wake up' from it. Lonnie and Rath had the blunt force trauma to the head, I don't think any of them will remember what happened, but Ari just might. I think everyone is anxious to see you."
"I'll see the girls." Mrs. Evans' said.
"Ok, I'll see to Zan then Rath."
Zan's dad came in smiling. "Hey, son. How are you feeling?"
"Good, surprisingly good. What day is it?"
"Oh, don't worry, you were only out three days."
"Good, uh, Dad, where's Jacob? Is he with Liz and Erin? Why didn't they come in?"
"Uh, no, Zan, your mom has Jacob with her."
Zan looked at his dad knowing something was wrong. "Dad, where are Liz and Erin?"
"Zander..." His dad was looking uncomfortable. "There was an earthquake at--at the rock."
"Are they all right?"
"No, Zan...when the rubble was cleared..."
"Tell me." Zan said. "Tell me what happened, all of it."
He knew there was no arguing with his son. "Jim and I and many others were called when they found Erin's truck half buried under the rocks. We found Michael's bike and Maria's car soon after we got there. We found Michael, then Erin. It was awhile before Kyle, Maria and Liz were found. Zan, they didn't suffer...they were killed instantly."
"That's not possible." Zan said. "Dad, it can't be, Erin would have created a forcefield...or used her mind...Michael could have broken the rocks apart to stop them...it's just not possible."
"Zan, calm down!" Mr. Evan's said putting his hands on his son's shoulders.
"But, Dad, they can't be dead!"
"They are...Jim identified the bodies. It was very hard on him...finding his son and daughter like that."
"How are Jim and Amy?"
"They are pretty bad off, but they are here seeing Ava and Tony."
"That will be good for all of them. I want to see the bodies, Dad. I have to."
"All right, but wait until you get well, we are postponing the funerals until you are all well enough to go."
"What about the others parents? Are they here?"
"You know Les' parents don't care. Her father wouldn't even leave a board meeting when he heard what happened. Her mother was in Tahiti on her 5th honeymoon, she didn't care, all she asked was if Les had insurance and if it paid for the bills. When I told her that Les almost died she just said she'd send a check to pay for it. I told her not to bother, I would pay for her care myself. I told her off too. I told her that Leslie was the best thing that ever happened to her and if she wasn't smart enough to know that then I felt really sorry for her. Tony's parents left New York soon after he moved here. No one knows where they are. But since they kicked Tony out when he turned 18 I doubt it really matters. Erin's parents never gave a damn about her."
"What do you mean?" Zan asked.
"Her father was an alcoholic, he beat both her and her mother. Her mom was addicted to drugs. Erin saw him kill her mother when she was 16. She put him in intensive care when he came after her with a butcher knife and she put him in prison."
"Why didn't she tell us?" Zan asked confused.
"She told Michael and Larek. Zan, he was paroled two days ago."
"What?" Zan's head whipped up to meet his father's gaze.
"He only got manslaughter and Erin was sent to Juvenile Hall. The law isn't finite, Zan. I got into it hoping to do some real good."
"Like getting Erin off when she caught Hank beating up Michael and laid into him?" Zan said smiling, but feeling an ache in his chest.
"Yeah, like that. I would have done it myself if I had known about it." Mr. Evan's shook his head.
"How's Rath?" Zan asked suddenly. "The doctor didn't say."
"His back is broken, Zan...he was lucky though, the spinal cord wasn't damaged...just the bones. There is a very, very good chance of full recovery."
"Dad, has a very tall man been around?"
"Larek isn't here." Mr. Evan's said. "He went to take care of a few things for Erin and the others. Kharnak is here though. We told them he was your older brother. They believed us...he does look a lot like you."
"Where is he?" Zan asked.
"I'll get him, would you like me to go see Rath now?"
"Yes, I need to talk to Kharnak alone."
A few minutes later Kharnak's face appeared at the door. "Hello." He said.
Zan smiled. "Come on over here. Sit down, we have to talk."
Kharnak came in and sat down like Zan told him to. "Larek has lost his powers."
"I figured as much." Zan sighed. "He knows then?"
"Yes, Ari called out to him but he knew anyway."
Zan nodded. "They were too close."
"He said that he just felt her power go out and he felt no trace of her anyway."
Zan shook his head mystified. "I still don't understand how they were killed. It doesn't seem plausible."
"Nothing is ever what it seems. But Zan, I am here and I am not leaving until I know you are completely all right and to protect you."
"I am thankful for that. I am not sure I am going to be much use trying to adjust to life without powers...and life without Liz."
"Larek said that same thing...only he placed more emphasis on life without Erin than about the powers. I really don't think he cares about losing his powers...just about losing Erin."
"He's lost so much..." Zan said shaking his head. "This is one thing I am not sure about is if the Royal Eight can weather this."
"We have to take it one day at a time." Kharnak said. "It's the only way."
Zan nodded. "I want to know who did this. But I want to make sure everyone is all right first. Can you do anything?"
"My powers are limited." Kharnak said. "All I can do is null the power for awhile."
"I understand. What did you bring with you?"
"Supplies...equipment to measure just how affected you have become and I also brought Orphena."
"Orphena..." Zan said thinking. "I remember that name."
"She was one Vay's Elite."
"Does Les still have her Slayer abilities?" Zan asked.
"It is probable because her slaying abilities do not have anything to do with her powers."
"She never used her powers anyway...too much." Zan said.
"Hers were used as survival instincts, she will be the least affected by all of this."
"We will adapt to these changes, but we will carry on."
"Do you have any orders?" Kharnak asked.
"Yes, make sure the bodies really are Erin, Michael, Liz, Maria and Kyle."
"I'll do my best." Kharnak said.
"Good."
"You know, Zan?" Kharnak spoke as he was leaving the room.
"What's that?"
"You truly have a power about you. A powerless power." Kharnak slipped out, the door shutting behind him.
Zan smiled. "A powerless power." He whispered to himself and to the almost empty room. "Whatever that means."

Author's Note: Yes, I am making a habit of these. This is a very sentimental post and I was crying at the end...I was writing the darn thing! Ok, that said you have been warned about the mournful meter.

Part 5

Ava sat down at the end of Lonnie's bed pulling her robe tightly around her. Lonnie put an arm around the smaller girl. They had just told Ava about Kyle. Isabel was more composed. "It's like Alex all over again." Isabel closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. "I have to be cursed. Every guy I have ever cared about is dead."

"Don't be silly." Les said. "I"m the one who's cursed, first I fall for a vampire, who is killed...ummm....again and now I have an alien practically throwling himself at me."

Isabel smiled. "He did throw himself at you, Les, remember at Christmas when he bribed Erin to wrap him in gift paper for you?"

They all laughed glad for the reprieve of the all-consuming sorrow, as they remembered the happy times they could get through these first few days without doing anything too bad. "This one time Kyle brought me dinner at work and I thought that was sweet enough." Ava giggled. "That was the night he asked me to go steady and gave me my promise ring." Ava smiled down at the purple crystal ring with plain metal band on her left hand. "It was all he could afford to give me, but I would have been happy with one out of the machines. The pure love he gave this to me with was all I ever needed."

"It makes you think, though," Les contemplated. "Maybe I've spent too much time running from everything. I tried convincing myself I was searching for something more, trule love maybe, but what I've really been doing is running away from the thing that could be true love. It was in front of me this whole time."

"Why is Erin always right?" Lonnie asked suddenly.

"Because she is Erin." Les sighed. "I've gotten used to the fact I should listen to her, but if she doesn't command it I usually don't. "

"Typical teenage rebellion." Iz said.

'That's a good way to put it." Les said smiling. "She always did what was best for us."

"She tutored Michael all year, he would have graduated with a 3.7 for his senior year. You know Mr. Polanco was floored when Erin came in for the conference. He was suspiscious about Michael having his 19-year-old sister as his guardian. He didn't want Michael back in school after last year. But Erin told him that Michael finally had astable home life and he couldn't keep Michael from graduating."

"Erin can be very persuasive." Ava commented.

Les looked toward the window. "Happiness is something we strive for and when we attain it we hold on tight."

"We must not have held on tight enough." Lonnie murmured.

"Because we just lost five pople we couldn't imagine ever losing." Isabel sighed.


Les stood outside Zan and Ari's room. She just couldn't bring herself to knock. She turned sighing. "This is hopeless." she murmured.

The door opened. "Les? Isn't everything all right?"

She turned to see Zan standing in the doorway. "Is Ari here?"

"No, the doctor wanted to see his hands in a sterile environment. Come on in."

Les sat down on Zan's bed as he closed the door. "I usually go to Erin with my problems."

"What can I do for you?" Zan asked sitting down next to her.

"Zan, I'm afraid." Les stated. "I can admit that to you. The only thing I was ever afriad of was getting hurt. I never let anyone in...until Tony and then Erin. I didn't want to fall in love and worse yet, I didn't want to admit it to myself why I kept pushing people away. Ari is the only one that stuck around. The only one that couldn't be put off or fought off. He acutally enjoys sparring with me. He's not afraid to hurt me like that."

"How are you going to tell him?" Zan asked.

"Well I was thinking something like this..." She took a deep breath.

Ari walked down the hall wearing a pair of antiseptic gloves over his burns. They were supposed to elp im heal faster. He took the knob in his hand and pushed in. He was surprised to see Les sitting on Zan's bed. She was turned away from him.

"I don't want to die alone..." Les looked at him almost pleading. "We've lost so much and I don't want to lose everything without knowing love..." She looked into the face of the once King of Antar. "I love you..."

Zan looked up. "Ari--" He stood up and Les turned surprised. Ari clenched his jaw and turned letting the door slam shut behind him.

Les and Zan were off the bed in a moment but by the time they got to the hall Ari was gone.

Les let out a sigh. "Of all my horrible timings this has got to be the worst."

"He'll calm down and when he does we can explain what happened." Zan said.

"Yeah." Les said unconvincingly. Zan put an arm around her and she smiled. "Yeah."


Part 6

It had been a week and all of them were out of the hospital. Lonnie and Rath were laid up however. They wouldn't miss the funerals for anything though.

Zan was leaning over the balcony of their apartment with a cup of coffee in his hands. It was just after dawn but he couldn't sleep any longer. He couldn't stop thinking about Michael and Erin and their empty rooms. It was hard not hearing Erin moving around in the kitchen cokking breakfast and humming. She would be tsking about their open school books on the table from staying up late studying. She would clear this up and put everything in the proper bags and then make eggs and toast or bacon omelets. If anyone didn't get a good breakfast it was their own fault.

When breakfast was on the table she would and drag Michael out of bed and push him into the bathroom. Then she would drag Les out of bed and into the kitchen. Les was always hard to get awake after a night out on patrol.

Erin would get Jacob fed and dressed, checking the schedules that day to see who was babysitting and get them off to school, work, etc. If it was Saturday she would be handing out work details.Zan would invariably get stuck with laundry detail, Michael would get bathrooms, Tony got dusting and watering the plants, Les, the grunt work of moving furniture to clean under them and Erin basically saw to trash (though Zan got to take it to the shoot), folding clothes, putting them away, checking under beds for stray trash and dishes, vaccuuming and checking to make sure everyone was actually working. Ava would be there to play with and wach Jacob.

This was one Saturday that Zan knew there would be no complaining about cleaning.

Zan sighed, all this time and it was just now that he realized that Erin was doing more than making them clean, she was teaching them responsibility. She was teaching him to be King again.

"Zan." The voice surprised him and he jumped a little spilling coffee over the railing. Larek leaned over next to him, the tall man looked a little unkempt. Zan had never eally seen him look anything but together and neat. Larek, normally a sharp dresser in dress shirt and jacket could step off the pages of GQ. But today he looked like he had slept in his clothes. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair messy. Zan notices that Larek hadn't shaved in a while. "Sorry."

"No, I was just thinking about Erin."

"I know how that feels. I woke up during the night and reached for her before I remembered she wasn't there. I keep expecting her to come into the room, to hear her singing in the shower or in the kitchen making breakfast."

"You know I just realized what Erin was doing when she made us clean and get to work on time and manage our time effectively."

Larek smiled. "She used the guise of work and rules to make you be the King you once were."

"She knew what she was doing." Zan shook his head.

"Zan, my wife very rarely ever did anything without knowing what she was doing." Larek said looking out across the city.

"Did the mortician give you everything?"

"They couldn't say no. I am the closest relative to Erin and Michael. Jim knew enough to call off the search after finding them. Kharnak went and made sure nothing would be found."

"Good. Are they having seperate services?"

"Yes, but the graveside will be the same. " Larek cleared his throat. "Liz's funeral is at noon. Maria and Kyle's at 2 and Erin and Michael's at 6."

"Why so late?" Zan asked.

"The funeral home figured there wouldn't be as many people and I am not sure he isn't right."

"Not many people knew Michael very well. He was just a troubled youth and Ein hasn't been here very long."

"The graveside will be at 8. You know when the mortician saw Michael's name he was going to send him to...I believe he called it 'Potter's Field'."

"That's where they bury those who can't afford a funeral."

"I straitened him out and told him the headstone better read 'Vought' and not 'Guerin'. Sometimes I just don't understand."

"Michael had a run-in with him when Alex was killed. He must have assumed that MIchael was still the same."

Larek shook his head. "There is nothing the same about him. He completely changed his life. Even if there aren't many people there, they will be people who loved them." Larek stood and went to the door. "I have to have the clothes their by ten. Any suggestion?"

"Better ask Les or Tony. I've never been good with that sort of thing." Zan heard the door close behind Larek.

He could feel everything rising up inside of him and nothing seemed real anymore...so this was what Larek felt all those years, he thought. And he didn't see how Larek had survived it. Zan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Michael...Erin...I'm so sorry. Liz...Maria...Kyle...I failed you...I'm sorry."

Part 7
(Lyrics uses from We are One: Lion King II: Simba's Pride and
On My Father's Wings: Quest for Camelot. All rights belong to the writers and creators.

Mr. Parker stood in front looking down at his daughter's casket. "There is so much in life that we just don't understand. But we can believe that this happened as part of a greater purpose. Liz lived life on her terms and I don't believe she ever regreted one moment. She found love, she found friendship, she found a calling much higher than herself and embraced all of them wholeheartedly."

As you go through life you'll see
There is so much that we
Don't understand

Zan sighed as he laid one hand on the casket. "Liz...so many loved your happy attitude and your unfailing zeal of life. We planned to go to college and you planned to become a biologist. We planned to get married one day and have children together...life usually doesn't go as you plan, though. Life is what happens when you forget the plan and just do what your heart tells you..."

And the only thing we know
Is things don't always go
The way we planned

Isabel dried her eyes with a tissue before continuing. "He was there when you needed him. He never said he didn't have time to listen or lend a helping hand. We have lost so much in such a short time. All of us have...First we lost Alex...so senselessly and now we have lost 4 more of our number. The ones we went to highschool with. Kyle was the guy that all the girls loved from afar. Maria was the girl with the great voice and was never afraid to speak her mind. Liz was shy, but confident of herself, even if she never saw it in herself. We aren't just going to forget about them."

But you'll see every day
That we'll never turn away
When it seems all your dreams come undone

"Maria was my pride and joy." Amy said not succeeding in holding back her tears. "She was so confident and so sure of herself and all that she did. She had a plan, for the first time in her life. She was going to go to college and she even decided what she was going to major in. She had found out how much she loved working with computers. She was looking forward to graduating and pursuing her goals and dreams. There was a fierce pride in my daughter, I guess she got that from me. She was proud of her achievement and most of all she was proud of her family. She didn't even bat an eye when Jim and I decided to get married and she would have a new step-brother. She was thrilled with the fact and so was Kyle. They were already like brother and sister in their relationship that it just seemed normal to make it legal." Amy laughed and cried at the same time.

We will stand by your side
Filled with hope and filled with pride
We are more than we are
We are one

"Kyle once asked me if he could be who he was and still be who he must be..." Ava cleared her throat speaking slowly so she didn't sleep into her accent. "I loved Kyle, so much. He looked past what I was on the outside and just loved me for who I was on the inside. When they went through his things they found an engagement ring. I don't know how he ever scraped enough money together..." Ava wore the ring now lovingly fingering the purple hued diamond. It wasn't of the best quality, but it was hers, all hers. "On the band he had our names engraved. Kyle and Ava...forever. I would have said yes...I would have gladly become Mrs. Kyle Valenti. I never met anyone like him before in my life. He was everything I always wanted and I was everything he wanted."

If there's so much I must be
Can I still just be me
The way I am?

"She was my daughter. I loved as if she was my own. I wonder every day how this could be part of the plan? I don't know how it can be...but I trust that it is. What else can I do? If I look at it as an accident that didn't have to happen...then I could lose my heart. Maria was a breath of fresh air in our lives. She loved with no thought of return, until she met Antonio Archais. Tony found his heart with her and never thought twice about giving it to her. Neither did she. Maria once told me that when they went out for the first time all they did was talk and talk and talk. I know about that part because they had seen a movie with Zan and Liz and then came back to our place and just sat on the couch talking. They were still talking when we got up in the morning. I never knew just how they found more to talk about after that night, but whenever I saw them they were talking. They had their arguments, they had a fight or two, but it was never something that would keep them apart. Maria always said that one little difference didn't mean you should throw away a relationship, or even that a huge difference should. You work it out until there is nothing there. Maria didn't always win their arguments but she did always come away with a new bit of insight and a greater love for Tony." Jim swallowed. "We have lost both a son and a daughter...and now we have two more with us to help each other through this sorrow."

Can I trust in my own heart
Or am I just one part
Of some big plan?

"Liz, Maria, Kyle, Michael and Erin. They are always with us." Les said. "I will never forget Erin waking me up in the mornings after a long night or Michael taking all the hot water in the shower. I will never forget Kyle sparring with me or Maria and Liz taking me out shopping. They were all my friends. I was one of those people that believed that I didn't need anybody. I grew up rich, I had everything but my parent's love. I had a nanny who really didn't care what I did as long as I wasn't causing a ruckus. I was kicked out of every private school in the country practically that would allow me past their doors. At 15 I met Tony and it just felt right I should let him in. Then at 18 there was Erin, who was a mother to me than my own mother could ever be. Erin was a mother to all of us, but she was also a friend and someone you could go to no matter what."

Even those who are gone
Are with us as we go on
Your journey has only begun

Les stood before the gaping holes in the ground beside Tony. She grasped onto his hand and they began to sing. They sang Amazing Grace in honor of Maria. They sang You'll Be In My Heart from Tarzan for Erin and Mikey. They sang other songs for the others, their voices faultering from the pain and from the tears but they continued, their hearts breaking. The heavens seemed to open open as they finished. The rain came from the darkening sky.

Tears of pain, tears of joy
One thing nothing can destroy
Is our pride, deep inside
We are one
We are one, you and I
We are like the earth and sky

One family under the sun
All the wisdom to lead
All the courage that you need
You will find when you see
We are one


Part 8

Zan sat alone on top of Alex's tombstone. The others had been buried nearby. He didn't want to tell anyone but his memories had begun to overwhelm him. He was remembering his father, Arisan. He couldn't help comparing his weak leadership to his father's seemingly unfaultering one. He admitted to himself that what he needed was his father right now. He always set him strait and always loved him so unconditionally. He had been raised a King and right now he felt like a pampered prince. He sighed.

If you were with me now
I'd find myself in you
If you were with me now
You're the one who knew
All the things we planned to do

Zan stood looking up at the sky and almost shouted,
"I want to live my life
The way you said I would
With courage as my light
Fighting for what's right
Like you made me believe I could."

Zan swallowed. "You're the only reason I was set to lead our people. I don't know if I can ever be my fathers' son."

And I will fly on my father's wings
To places I have never been
There is so much I've never seen
And I can feel his heartbeat still
And I will do great things
On my father's wings

"I will never see this world...but the world I was set to rule...I knew every hamlet...I knew ever town...every mountain. I was the Prince...and now..."

This world I'll never see
My dreams that just won't be
This horse's stride with one day's ride
Will have covered more distance than me

"Perhaps you will there to guide me...Father...please guide me to our home..."

And I will fly on my father's wings
To places I have never been
There is so much I've never seen
And I can feel his heartbeat still
And I will do great things
On my father's wings

"Someday Father...perhaps the power within me will return and I will be able to lead our people."

Someday with his spirit to guide me
And his memory beside me
I will be free

Then from the depths of his soul or perhaps the far reaches of the universe he heard a voice..."It was never your power that set you apart as the Prince and King of our people. It was your heart and the love that you felt for that people."

To fly on my father's wings
To places I have never been
There is so much I've never seen
And I can feel his heartbeat still
And I will do great things
On my father's wings
On my father's wings

Part 9

Later that same night....

A car pulled into the cemetery. A dark shadow moved to one of the freshly filled-in graves and started to dig. A crowbar opened the top of the casket and a clasp inside the casket opened the bottom. A light shone on the lovely blonde woman lying peacefully in the casket in her wedding gown. A hand slipped down the neck of the dress to reveal a shoulder. A gasp was audible in the stillness. The bare shoulder was perfect and white....no trace of anything...no freckles that mapped out the Antarin Constellation. The gown was slipped back up and a black metallic box was set over the casket. Her legs were positioned carefully, bent at the knees and off to one side. The box slipped neatly into the vacated spot and the bottom closed just barely clicking into place. The top was closed and someone climbed out of the grave. They shoveled the dirt back in and left.

As the car drove out of the cemetery a tall woman cane into the moonlight. Her long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. She looked down at Erin's grave. "Something is right about this, E."


_____________________________________________________________


Teaser!

A tall handsome 16-year-old came into the kitchen. The woman was a little older but her hair was still streaked with purple and she was still as beautiful as ever. A ten-year-old girl sat at the table drawing. "Jacob, will you set the table please?"

"Sure, Mom." Jacob said. "Hey, LIzzie, you want to set out the silverware?"

The little girls' face lit up and she hurried to count out the silverware needed. "Mommy? Where's Kyle?"

"He's outside playing in the snow with Daddy, Eliza." The woman said.

A/N: Ok, 15 years have gone by between the last post and this one.


Part 10

The blonde boy moved through the mist , hearing someone calling his name. "Ja-a-cob!" The voice seemed far away and almost lilting. "Ja-a-cob!"

He knew that voice. the sweet, motherly sound was so familiar, if from some distant past. He couldn't quite remember. The voice continued to call to him. He saw a bright light in front of him, exuding a feeling of warmth and security. "Jacob." He heard the voice clearly now and felt a rising sensation in his gut. "You've grown so much..."

"Umm...thanks." Jacob swallowed.

The voice laughed. "It's been 15 years, Hon." She faultered. "Jacob, listen, please...there is little time left. Tell Larek that the answer to the question is in the box....please, Jacob, hurry...repeat it back to me."

"Tell...Larek?....that the answer to the question is in the box." He repeated.

"Good. Jacob, you mustn't forget. All of our lives depend on it..." Her voice receded quickly.

Jacob sat strait up in his bed, sweat pouring from him. He let out his breath slowly. He had had the same dream everynight for a month now. Everything about the dream just made him wonder even more. Who was she? And who the hell was this Larek?! That name also sounded familiar! It was driving him crazy! "Laya..." The name popped from his lips. "Laya!" His fist slammed into his bedside table.

He hit the floor practically running. He threw open his door and knocked on his parents' door. He opened it. "Dad, I need tot alk to you now."

His father sat up looking at the clock. "Jake, it's 2 o'clock in the morning."

"Zan, what's going on?" His mom sat up groggily.

"Nothing, Av, your son would like to talk."

"Before sunrise he's your son." Ava said rolling back over.

Zan sighed getting up. "What is it?"

"It's about Larek--"

"In the living room, now!" His dad cut him off and bodily moved him out of the bedroom into the livingroom.

"Dad, you have to listen--"

"Quiet." Zan sat him down. "Now, you have five seconds to tell me how you know about Larek."

"I don't." Jacob said. "Dad, I've been having a dream for the past month. The exact same dream."

"Dreams aren't real." Zan practically shouted at him.

"But Dad, Laya--"

"I forbid you to say another word!" Zan yelled then quieted. "Do not mention this to your mother, do you hear me?"

"Yeah." Jacob said. "I hear you."

"Good, now go back to bed." Zan left him sitting there.

Great, Jacob thought, what else is he hiding from me? And why was he acting like there's a stick up his ass?

Jacob got up and got onto his computer. He looked up newspaper articles from 15 years previous. What happened in 2002, when he was only a year old?

He skimmed most of it until he came to the end of June and found an obituary for a Kyle James Valenti. Valenti was his grandparents last name. He saw Kyle was 17....and he saw that Kyle died on the same day as his step-sister, Maria Deluca. He backtracked a few days and stared at what he saw...



Five Dead In Desert Earthquake




Elizabeth Parker, Maria Deluca, Kyle Valenti, Michael Guerin-Vought, Erin Vought. Was there a connection?

Elizabeth and Maria worked together at the crashdown....and it was strange that his little brother and sister were named Eliza and Kyle...and his cousins...Maria, Michael and Erin.

He searched for Elizabeth Parker and found a few articles as well as a picture of her and....his father, Zan Evans. In the picture also was his aunt, Isabel, Kyle Valenti, Maria Deluca and Michael Guerin. They all went to school together.

He typed in 'Erin Vought' and found more articles, one caught his eye, a wedding announcement.

The picture showed a lovely blonde woman in a white dress and a man who stood a foot taller than her. He looked pretty serious. His hair was longisha nd wavy and he had a perfectly groomed mustache and goatee. Below was the little paragraph.

Tirand-Vought
Erin Marie Vought (231 Silver St, formerly of New York) and Larek Minias Tirand (until recently resided in Italy) were married Tuesday, Decemeber 24 at Roswell's Church of the Divine Mother in Roswell, New Mexico. Father Deraggio performed the ceremony. The bride was given in marriage by her brothers, Michael and Matthew (Rath) Vought. The Maid of Honor was Ava Daniels and bridesmaids were Maria Deluca, Isabel Evans, Lonnie Daniels and Elizabeth Parker. The Best Man was Antonio Archais, the groom's brother and the attendants were Zander Evans, Ari, Daniels, and Kyle Valenti. The reception was held at the home of Sheriff James Valenti. The couple went on a short honeymoon camping in the desert. They will make their home at 231 Silver St.

Larek was Erin's husband...and they were obviously all friends. So why didn't his father want to talk about Larek? Where was Larek? Did he go back to Italy when Erin was killed? Oh, he wished he could remember something more than Laya's name. And who was Laya? He was getting very confused, even more so now that he knew that his father, mother and all his aunt and uncles had been lying to them for their entire lives....well not all of his, they probably didn't lie to him before he turned one. But one way or another he was going to get the answers even if he had to do some lying of him own.

Authors' Note: Sorry, it has been awhile. Busy with college and such and HP3 came out today so I had to watch it right away. But here is the new post. I hope you all like it.


Part 11

Jacob came into the kitchen. The woman was a little older but her hair was still streaked with purple and she was still as beautiful as ever. A ten-year-old girl sat at the table drawing. "Jacob, will you set the table please?"

"Sure, Mom." Jacob said. "Hey, Lizzie, you want to set out the silverware?"

The little girls' face lit up and she hurried to count out the silverware needed. "Mommy? Where's Kyle?"

"He's outside playing in the snow with Daddy, Eliza." Ava said.

When Eliza went into the dining room Jacob took his chance. "Mom, do you know anyone from...Italy?"

"Not that I know of." She said unconcerned. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, someone just said that you might have known someone that's all. How long have you lived in Roswell?"

"Oh, about 16 years."

"16 years, mom?"

"Yes."

"When did you meet Dad?"

Ava suddenly looked up and looked at him. "I met him when I moved to Roswell. "

"Oh, where were you from?"

"New York City." She turned from him and he knew why.

"Oh, is that where you lived with Uncle Ari, Uncle Rath and Aunt Lonnie?"

"Yes." She said tensing.

"Is that where Aunt Les and Uncle Tony were from too?"

"They are from New York State."

"Oh, did Erin lived with you or them?"

The bowl she was mixing crashed to the floor. "How do you know about Erin?" She was clutching at his arms.

"I dreamed her Mom. Dad told me not to mention her but I have to. She said to tell Larek that the answer to the question is in the box."

"What box? And how do you know about Larek?"

"She told me to tell him. I don't think she could get through to you. But Mom, I think she's alive."

"That's not possible!" Ava shook him. "Erin is dead, Jacob."

"Along with Michael, Kyle, Liz and Maria, right Mom?"

"Jacob, you don't want to bring up the past." She pleaded with him.

"Is that why when we tell you that we aren't like other kids you blow us off, Mom?! Why am I able to to see what people are thinking sometimes?! Why can I hear people when I am alone?! Why can Eliza make people think and do things?! Why can Kyle heal?! Mom, I know something is going on! And if you won't tell me then I am going to find someone who will!"

He paused looking at her and when she didn't say anything he ran from the house. "JACOB!"

Ava ran after him but she ran into Zan. "Why didn't you tell me!?" She sobbed. "Jacob has been dreaming of Erin and Larek! And they might be alive! Why didn't you tell me?! Didn't you know that they have powers, Zan! How couls he know about the box?!"

"What?" Zan asked him. "The box? How could he know?"

"The only way is if Erin really is talking to him, Zan! You have to go after him. "

"They're alive..." Zan whispered. "Ava, call everyone together...I think Larek left one of the communicators...Ari has it. Tell him to get Larek here, now. We have no time to lose." When she ran back into the house Zan saw Kyle standing there beside him.

"Dad, I think Jacob might go to where you were born."

Zan swallowed. "The Pod Chamber..."

He was about to leave when Ava ran back out. "Zan, Rath and Lonnie said that Little Erin has been having dreams too and she's gone."

"I think I know where they are. I will be back as soon as I can. "

"Hurry." Ava said holding her little son to her.

Part 12

Jacob raced through the desert on his motorbike. He felt drawn to the desert. He had never really been out here before. His father and mother didn't like him to go out onto the desert if he didn't need to. It also meant that even though Aunt Lonnie and Uncle Rath lived only about 10 miles across the desert he hardly ever got to see them and his cousins, Erin and Rage. Erin was 13 and the oldest of his cousins, he also had more in common with her since she became a teenager. Rage was 7 and Kyle's best friend...along with Maria, who was also 7 and Uncle Tony and Aunt Isabel's daughter. Tony and Iz had another child, nine-year-old Michael. They called him Micky. Well, everything was making sense now. Why they had the names they had. Jacob had two more cousins, Vin (Vincent) and Lessa. They were his Uncle Ari's and Aunt Les' 12-year-old twins. Unlike the others Ari and Les never got married and Les was away on business a lot. When they were younger they imagined that Les was a CIA Agent or something like that. She was tough and knew how to take care of herself and those around her, but when Jacob was thinking about it, late last night, he realized that Les actually distrusted most government officials, not that she was in the minority with that. She was a good mother but different than his own or even Iz or Lonnie. Lonnie and Rath and Ari were different also, but it was complicated. Jacob didn't even really know why he thought this, he just did.
Jacob neared a rubble of rocks on the desert floor and saw a blonde girl standing there next to her own motorbike. He should have known. Jacob stopped beside his cousin, Erin. "What are you doing here?"
"The same thing you are." She said quietly. "I've had the dreams too, Jake. I think the others have too, to some extent. But we're the oldest and it is up to us. What have you found out?"
He quickly recapped last night and this morning. She listened with a calm, serious expression. "It is as I thought." She said when he finished. "Now we know they have been hiding something from us."
"What are we going to do about it?"
"We have to find out what happened to them, of course."
"But our parents won't listen and she told us to tell Larek--"
"About the box, yes." She finished. "Something happened here, Jake, before I was born. You were about a year old. I feel it in the air...I have always felt it...a fear from our parents and a kind of longing from us. But why? Why do they fear this place? Have they ever been here?"
"This might be the place where they were born..." Jacob said suddenly not knowing where he got that from.
"Yes!" Erin exclaimed. "This was where they were born...but not quite...there was no one here but them...four of them were here." Erin suddenly seemed to go into a trance, but he could tell that she was fully aware of herself. "Arizan...Zander. Vilandra...Isabel. Rath...Michael. Ava....Tess. Our parents are...are...are..."
"Our parents are aliens." Jacob said. "And that means..."
Erin looked at him. "So are we."
They whirled toward the rumble and they saw the sun sink back below the horizon and then appear on the other side and back through it's orbit...time seemed to be moving in reverse, very swiftly. They felt a kind of reverse earthquake and the cliffs were in front of them. Jacob had seen a picture of what it looked like before the earthquake. They stood there as a car pulled up. A young woman got out of the passenger door. Jacob recognized her as Erin Vought and out of the drivers' side a young man got out. Kyle Valenti. They took tool boxes from the trunk and walked up the rocks, from their vantagepoint they could see a entrance way appear in the rock and Erin disappear inside with Kyle. The entrance didn't disappear behind him but stayed there.
Jacob and the other Erin waited a while. Another car pulled up and three people jumped out. "Hey, Liz, you go on up, Michael and I can take the box."
He recognized them as Liz Parker, Maria Deluca and Michael Vought. Liz agreed and grabbed her backpack. Maria and Michael took a black metallic box from the trunk and followed more slowly. "Let's follow." Jacob said.
Erin nodded and they made their way after Michael and Maria. It was slow going, but since they had never climbed the rock before they were glad they were going slow. Once inside they heard Erin exclaim, "How did you get this?!” Her hands were running along the surface of the black ebony box.
“Jim found it in the last inventory check at the Police Station.” Maria said. “It’s been in there for ages. Zan said he thought it might be alien.”
“It is…” Erin murmured. “Mikey, do you have any idea what this is?”
“Uh…no.” Michael said. “All I know is that it’s heavy.”
“I had no idea this was on Earth…” Jacob noticed the awe in her voice.
“But Erin, there’s nothing in it.” Michael said.
“Of course there is.” Erin waved her hand over the lid, and it opened to reveal a velvety lined box, however it was empty. She caressed the sides and symbols appeared in neat sectioned off boxes, some long, some short, some square, others round. “Inside those drawers are the things Tihandra, Vilandra and Kevara have been searching for.” Jacob felt a foreboding when she said those names.
“What do you mean?” Michael kneeled beside her.
“Michael, the things in this box are the reasons all of us were killed on Antar. And the reason Tihandra puts so much energy into fighting Larek and Kharnak.”
“No.” Michael said looking at her in shock. “Erin, are you telling me that they have been on Earth this entire time?”
“That is exactly what I am telling you.” Erin sighed then. “Michael I need you to tell Zan we can’t wait until the day after graduation…if he wants to graduate we leave before midnight afterward.”
“Erin, what are you going to do?” Erin had picked up the box and was heading toward the entrance of the ship.
“I’m going to wake up my husband.”
“Do you really think he’s asleep?” Michael smirked.
“Only if Kharnak put something in his water.” Erin waved her hand over her shoulder, holding the box in one arm. Jacob thought this kind of strange since it had taken both Michael and Maria to get it there. “Now, bro, tell the King we have 10 levels of danger or threat, 1 being probable and 10 meaning imminent. We are at a level 5, but that will change the longer we stay. Tell Zan I need to talk to him as soon as I finish with Larek and Khar-”
Erin’s words were cut short by the sudden shaking of the pod chamber. Erin looked up. “Watch out!” She shrieked as the ceiling suddenly caved in on them.
Jacob grabbed the other Erin and protected her from the falling debris. He was surprised when nothing fell on him. He looked up and noticed the others were equally as perplexed. They were floating in the air above where the chamber had been. Below them they saw themselves buried in the debris. "That's not us." Erin said. "What's going on?" Erin closed her eyes. "My powers are blocked...no...there gone...Michael!"
Michael put his hand out concentrating on something and then he looked at his palms. "It's gone...it's all gone..." He looked at Liz. "Are we alive."
Liz pinched herself. "I feel alive...so I assume so...Erin what do you think?"
"I have my body still...if we weren't alive then we would just be spirits...so yes, we are alive...and besides if we had died we wouldn't be here still." Jacob sensed a great knowledge within this woman and also a feeling of...
"Laya! She's Laya, Erin!" He told the girl beside him.
"Laya?" She whispered. "The one you always speak of...I thought you said she was like your mother."
"She was, I remember, I was very young...I shouldn't be able to remember that far back, but I do. She loved me like she was my mother. Maybe she is...maybe she was the one that gave birth to me."
"Wouldn't that make Larek your father?"
"Yeah, maybe Mom and Dad aren't my real parents..." Jacob said.
Suddenly the others looked up and they saw a ship...a real space ship! It was hovering above them. Michael's eyes grew large. "Oh, fu--"
"Michael!" Jacob noticed Erin just did that out of habit since she was staring just as intently and just as fearfully at the ship. "I think we're in trouble now." She whispered.
"No kidding." Kyle said.
The five of them suddenly disappeared and the ship also. Jacob opened his eyes and found Zan kneeling over him. "What happened?"
"Their alive, Dad!" Jacob exclaimed. "We saw it all! From when Erin and Kyle got here and then Michael, Liz and Maria. Michael and Maria were carrying a shiny black box. We followed them into the chamber and Erin opened it, she said that what was in there was the reason that Tihandra killed on Antar in the first place and what she was still trying to find! And then the earthquake hit...but it wasn't an earthquake! It was a ship, a space ship! Erin said that they were in trouble but they aren't dead and the box, the ship didn't find it! And in my dream Erin said to tell Larek that the answer to the question is in the box!"
Zan looked stunned while Jacob took a breath. "Let's get you two home. We'll discuss this then...the situation is has just taken a turn for the worse."

Part 13

Jacob, his siblings and his cousins were all lined up on the couch according to age. Jacob, Erin, Vincent, Lessa, Eliza, Michael, Kyle, Maria, and Rage. Across from them standing it was even worse. His mom and dad stood flanked by by three on each side. Ari, Rath and Lonnie beside Ava and Isabel, Tony and Les beside Zan. Zan finally spoke. "We decided we had to tell you the truth. We have all been living a lie these last 15 years. We are aliens. All of us. We were part of what was known as the Royal Eight on a planet called Antar in the system of Antarix. I was the king, Arizan, as was Ari. Ava was the queen. Isabel and Lonnie were my sister Vilandra II. Rath was the General and also married to Vilandra. Tony was Belil, the Head of the King's Guard and Les was Valaya, the Moon Queen of Varan and Ava's sister. There were two more of our number, Larek, the King's Advisor and Taylaya, the Royal Consort. We were betrayed and killed by my grandmother, Tihandra and my aunts, Kevara and Vilandra I. Only Larek survived and set up the resistance on Antar. The reason we were killed was so Tihandra could her hands on the artifacts of our people. There were eight of them and they belonged to us as the Royal Eight. They had been handed down for many thousands of years. They were stored in a box, known as the Caste of Tretia. Tretia was what the land used be called on Antar. I was given responsibility of the Sword of Re-Taan, this sword is the right to rule. Only one with the sword has any claim to the throne. Tihandra rules now only by force, the people will not follow her, because she does not have the sword."
"I was given the Necklace of Lo-Enya." Ava said. "The necklace is really a channeler for our powers. You see we each have a different set of power that we were born with. Zan and Ari had the physical powers of healing. I have the mental abilities of the mindwarp. Isabel and Lonnie had the mental powers of dreamwalking. Rath and Michael had the physical ability to destroy things. Tony had the mental powers of empathy. Les had the physical powers of the Voice and the Moon, which was why she was known as the Moon Queen. Larek had the physical powers of knowledge and wisdom and was able to weild those in battle. Erin had the mental powers of knowledge and wisdom and she was to undo mindwarps. 15 years ago we all lost our powers."
Lonnie nodded to Isabel, who spoke. "I was the Keeper of the Horn of Royalle. It has always sounded when the true rulers of Antar and Antarix have taken their places on the thrones."
Rath swallowed. "I was Weilder of the Axe of Giquethegauaion."
"I had the Sceptor of Daben." Tony said.
"I was gifted the Bow of Elvaris." That was from Les who looked a little wistful, not at all like her.
"I commanded the Staff of Kinesin and Tay was the only one able to control and then weild the Ring of Alexcine." They all turned to see a tall man in the doorway with long wavy hair. Across his face was a scar that made him look almost menacing.
"Larek." Zan said stepping forward and embracing his old friend. "They are alive."
"As I thought." Larek said shortly. "Where is the box?"
"15 years ago I saw someone in Roswell Cemetery." Everyone turned to Les. "They dug up Erin's grave. I have known for 15 years that that was not Erin is that coffin. Whoever it was did not have the Antarix System on her shoulder. Whoever dug her up knew it too, they put the box in with the imposter."
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Zan asked.
"You would not have listened." Was all she said. "You barely have listened when we have been in danger, Zander! These last 15 years I have been the only one that has been fighting the Abdeash and the Shapeshifters that have come after us!" The tall brunette hissed. "And that and my own work to stop the undead from this world!"
"The undead?" Jacob whispered.
"Mom is the Vampire Slayer." Vincent wispered back.
Well, now that explains alot. "Zan, I have been searching for clues since it happened! You never wanted to listen! You forbade us from telling our children of their heritage and you only listen when you have proof or if your son threatens to expose it! He doesn't even know his own heritage!"
"I knew it!" Jacob said springing up. "I'm not your son am I?" He asked his mother.
"No." Ava said quietly.
"I know who my mother is!"
"How do you know about Tess?" Ava asked surprised.
"Tess?" Jacob asked.
"Tess was my dupe." Ava said. "Like Lonnie is Isabel's. Tess betrayed us all before you were born. We trusted her even after we found out that she had killed Alex...and then she betrayed us again...only Erin was able to bring us back from where she had sent our minds. Then she left you here. Erin was like a mother to you after that, teaching us to take care of you."
"Laya." Jacob said.
"Yes, Laya." Zan said. "That was your first word. She loved you as if you were her own son."
"She's alive, Dad. She is. And she still loves me. She loves all of us." Jacob turned to Larek. "She told me to tell you that the answer to the question is in the box."
Larek nodded. "I think we have to get the box."