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Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 11:30 pm
by Misha
Hey guys!

Shame on me for leaving you guys out for so long. I had a grand plan of finishing and posting it all in one go :roll: Alas, I shall re-start the final chapters of The Rebel (we're like 10 chapters away from) in December (right after nanowrimo). Even if it's only a chapter a month, I shall finish this and Of Journeys & Journals!

Anyway, my beta has been swallowed by real life, so if someone is interested in beta-ing, let me know :)

On an unrelated writing matter, the reason I've been away is that I've been writing my own novel. Let me know if you'd be interested in reading and reviewing, and I'll happily send you a copy :D

See ya' soon!

Misha.

Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 10:54 am
by xmag
Still waiting patiently, no problem for me. You know I love your fic!

Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 2:10 am
by Calantha.moon
I've just found and quickly consumed all your stories. Brilliantly written. I'm hoping the next chapter will be out soon.

Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 2:58 am
by rockkitten
I read the first 2 books in your series over on fan fiction.net and then jumped over here to see if book#3 was done and just hadn't been updated over there. Even though it's not complete, I have to say how amazed I am at your dedication! These books are no small feat! Regardless if it's ever done, they've been a fun ride. Thank you for sharing your vision with us!

Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 8:52 pm
by Chrystalkay
I know you finished your first novel, "Underneath". I have read it and it is an amazing book. I hope you mean you have been busy writing the sequel, because that would be amazing too!
Don't worry about this story, you know we will wait for you. We love the story and your writing.
Luv!

Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:30 pm
by Misha
Yes! I'm being suck into the merfolk-hiding-in-plain-sight abyss... alas, this second book is being published by the end of March/early April, so once that's done, I'll be free to go back to my aliens-hiding-in-plain-sight abyss :mrgreen:

And I do WANT to come back! When you least expect it, I'll drag you all back into my alien abyss :lol:

And Chrystalkay, THANK YOU FOR THE AWESOME REVIEW ON AMAZON!!

Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2017 12:20 pm
by xmag
I wish you a happy new year and I really hope you'll come back to finish this story, I've been reading it for so long, I want to know how it ends!

Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2019 11:44 am
by xmag
I can't believe it's been more than 3 years (3 years and 5 months) since you updated. I haven't lost hope that you wil update this fantastic tale. Our Roswellians (and their fans) deserve to know how it ends! Girl, come back please, and update this story.

Well, I hope that you are still around on this board, even if you write professionally, now.

Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:47 pm
by Misha
Hi all!

Just to let you know I'll start posting in July. The Rebel is now officially in production once again :mrgreen:

Big thank you to everyone who kept checking back and especially to those who PMed or left a comment letting me know there's still interest in the story :D You guys are awesome!

Misha.

Re: The Rebel *Sequel* (CC ALL, YTEEN) Ch. 17 - pg. 15 - 9 / 20

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:00 pm
by Misha
I'm sure it's July somewhere :mrgreen:





Part 18 : Home
July 2006 – The Compound


1 : Max


"I can't believe you're even suggesting doing this," Isabel said with a mix of fear and accusation in her voice. Since their memories had become so frequent, Isabel's moods had been a tempest to be navigated with no compass or sail—at least when the three of them were alone.

"I don't think it's such a bad idea," Michael said in a resigned tone, his hand going to his hair in a vain attempt to stop Isabel's glare. "Look, we all remember bits and pieces from Antar. Knowing what happened is—well, it's important, okay?"

She looked betrayed.

Out there, where Jesse and the world could see her, Isabel acted like the perfect woman. Confidence exuded her, her legal skills were legendary, and her imposing nature could make any man squirm, even Ray.

"I'm not saying this because I think we'll remember all the bad things," Max said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "There are a lot of other memories. It's just that we keep bottling them up, fearing them—suppressing them to the point it's only hurting us. We all agree we couldn’t share it with the others yet, but…what about with each other?"

"No," Isabel whispered. "All I remember is tainted. Don't you understand that? I go into those memories knowing full well where they all lead: with you both dead. With the entire planet in war. Do you seriously want me to share that with you both?"

Max looked at Michael and then slowly sat down beside his sister. "Yes. I want you to tell me what Vilandra did, what she thought, everything and anything that comes to your mind. You can't let her win, Isabel. You can't go through life thinking Michael or I will wake up one day and blame you for everything."

"We won't," Michael said pointedly. "Even if we were to wake up tomorrow thinking we're Rath and Zan, we wouldn't. Don't look so surprised, do you honestly think we didn't love you to know the whole thing was Khivar's fault? Isabel, he used you!"

For Max, Zan's memories held the weight of the world on his shoulders. His decisions had far-reaching consequences, with every word measured, every sentence carefully chosen. For Michael, the burden of being responsible for their security and having failed was a heavy load. But Vilandra hosted guilt so extreme it had transcended even death. If Zan was eating him from the inside out, he couldn't even imagine what Vilandra's ghost was doing to his sister.

No wonder Jake wants me to talk about this.

"I remember the day you were born," Michael said to Isabel, sitting in front of them. "I must have been a teenager, I think, but I remember it clearly. A princess. And I thought, here comes another spoiled brat."

Isabel looked at him, pain behind her eyes. "I was a spoiled brat," she answered, and the three of them chuckled.

"I remember your crowning," Isabel said after a moment. "You were so—"

"—nervous?" Max asked.

"—right for the role," Isabel said, sincerely looking at him. "I stood there, watching my brother become a king, and I suddenly realized we were next. That our time was now. We had responsibilities; we had a world looking up to us. I was so sure the future was bright."

"All I've remembered from that day was that the security detail was a massive headache, and I yelled at some idiot for mixing the list of guests. What the hell did I know about lists of guests?!" Michael said, genuinely puzzled.

"The first time I saw you," Isabel said, looking at Michael, "You were wearing that ridiculous disguise for—"

"The Five Moon Festival," Max and Michael said at the same time.

"Is it me as a human, or was that whole thing stupid?" Michael asked.

Isabel nodded. "It was stupid. But seeing guys dressed like that was just hilarious," she said, laughing. Michael just smirked.

They talked for hours. Three years of combined memories made for a lot of strange tales. The details of the court mingled with security gaps and dull diplomatic affairs. The more they shared, the more it seemed normal.

For the first time since Max had walked into Zan's life, he enjoyed seeing the king's life. Jake was right, there were a lot of things to learn from him, and the more he talked about it—the more Michael and Isabel filled in the missing details of a life full of protocols and etiquette—the more Max started to feel like himself again. Zan was a tale, a legend of another time. And Max was just the lucky guy who got to see the story of intrigues and affairs of an alien kingdom through its monarch's eyes.

He just hoped the feeling would last.



2 : Ray

"I thought Daniel's offer was up?" Ray said, sitting in front of Dave's massive desk, an incomplete puzzle relegated to one corner. Every three months, both men sat down to see a list of deals that were close to expiring. Many of Dave's offers were indefinite. Like a contract that would end when one of the parties grew tired of the other. Some were dependent on circumstances, like someone running from the mob would have to wait for the mob boss to be dead or going to prison.

Someone like Danielle, whose folder he was holding right now, actually. Their French chef was going to be sorely missed now that she no longer needed to hide. On the other hand, Michael wouldn't be so snappy after kitchen duty from now on.

And every once in a while, Dave would get a time set offer. Daniel had been clear he only wanted one year under Dave, and that had been four years ago. Somehow, Dave always managed to drag the kid back, much to Susseth's, Jake's, and Ray’s dismay.

"Danny thinks he wants out, but he just doesn't know better," Dave said dismissively while reading another file. He was busy making notations on the side of the sheets on that tiny handwriting of his that only Dave could understand. "He just needs a good challenge."

"I don't know, he seemed pretty set on leaving last time he talked to the Network guys. Bragging rights about working directly with you are getting old, apparently."

"Hm…" was all his answer.

Dave was a brilliant man in many, many subjects in this world, but people-skills weren't one of those. He could be charming, he could be convincing, and he could undoubtedly be cunning. Still, Dave failed to look at human relationships as dynamic tectonic plates that moved, crushed, and exploded. In many ways, that was his blind spot. Because Jake had always put up with him and they understood each other so well, Dave had never really dealt with people who antagonized him for more than a few months at a time. Susseth and Ray were his friends, yes, but their boss-employee relationship was first. Besides, it wasn't as if they had that much to argue against Dave.

Danny was the sole exception to that routine. Ray abhorred the nickname and suspected Daniel didn't find it so cute either, but the kid put up with it and followed Dave like a Puddle. He was annoying as one, too. The problem was Daniel thought he was as smart—or smarter than Dave, and crashed and burned in epic fights of wills and wits where Dave inevitably won.

"He's going to burn this place down if you don't listen to him," Ray warned, getting a chuckle out of Dave. "I'm serious," he added, leaving his folders aside.

Dave stopped at that, raising a curious eyebrow. "That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

"All I'm saying is give him a little space. Maybe once he realizes how boring life without you is out there, he'll come running back. But you can't force that kid to have a good life if he doesn't think it's a good life."

Now Dave raised both his eyebrows. "I make deals all the time, Ray. I think I know what people want."

Ray raised his palms in the air, in a gesture of all I'm saying…

Maybe this was a lesson Dave had to learn on his own. Danny sure as hell was going to put up a fight this time around.



3 : Dave

Daniel furiously paced from one corner of the room to the next. "I can't believe I fell for it," the hacker said, looking at the ceiling.

Dave patiently watched him, waiting for this latest tantrum to run its course. "You didn't fall for anything—"

"You tricked me!" the youngster roared, pointing a finger in Dave's direction. "I asked for one year, one! You just kept luring me back, letting me know I could still learn more, still achieve more. And here we are, four years later, and you still won't let me go!"

"That was perfectly clear. Every time the year was up, I offered a renewal. I don't see what has you so tight now."

"Oh, I don't know, all my assets are frozen, my credit cards invalid. I'm a virtual prisoner of yours!"

"I actually thought it would be fun to see you getting through the hurdles... beating me up at my own game, sort of speak."

If Danny could kill him with his eyes, Dave would have died about three and a half years ago. "Look, kid—"

"I'm not a kid anymore!"

"Okay, young man, every year you've been here, you've learned something new. You've pushed your boundaries way beyond what you thought was possible. You know now more than you did when you first came here, and the only reason that happened is because you were here, with me, learning."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"You came here a boy, and now you're a man. And the thing is, Daniel, you still have a lot to learn. You have so much undeveloped potential, it's painful."

This time, Danny walked straight to him, stopping mere inches away. "I want out. Is that clear enough for you? I don't care what grand schemes you have for my life. I don't care how many secrets you keep in that mind of yours, you don't get to decide what I do with my life."

Dave looked at Daniel's full of hatred eyes. He was still a teenager, although one that towered two inches over him. For all the lessons, all the travels, all the time Dave had invested in him, Daniel hadn't changed his selfish ways. He couldn't plan beyond next week—something that drove Susseth nuts—and didn't care who was in his way—something that drove Ray nuts—and the part that hurt the most was that Jake kept telling Dave he couldn't save someone from their own self-destructive tendencies.

He's not you Dave, his best friend's voice kept echoing in his mind. He's not you, and you can't save him, and you can't save yourself through him.

"I'm not offering a petty thing, and you know it, Daniel. No one has ever worked so close to me, no one has gotten so good. Ever."

"Rah-rah. I'm tired of your codes. I want to do mine. Hell, I want to do them in my old ratty couch, having beers with my friends, and getting stupidly drunk for the first time in four years with people who will do the same. You—you just don't get it, do you? I'm sick of being around old people!"

Old? Dave wasn't even forty, but that didn't matter to the twenty-two-year-old in front of him. He was ancient from Danny's perspective.

"So, let me get this straight: you want to leave this empire, the one you searched for years, so you can go get drunk with people who have half your IQ?"

"It sounds stupid when you say it that way. But I'm going to spell it so you can understand it: I don't want to be around you. Y-O-U. You're controlling as hell, always needing to know where I am, what I'm doing. ‘Have I cracked the code yet? What do I think about this? Why don't we go here instead of there? Oh, no, this is not good for you.’ At first, I thought you were right. Hell, I thought you could never be wrong. You have this vision, this sense of the grand scale of things that separate you from mere mortals. But you don't see the people around you. Oh, we see you all the time. We're impressed with how you go from the abstract to the concrete, no matter what. But you expect everyone to fall in line. Everyone to behave the way your plans say we should in your head. We're just pawns for you and your schemes. And I'm sick of it. I'm sick of being your heir, of being expected to be your replica or something. So what if I want to screw up my life? Has it ever occurred to you that what you want is irrelevant to what I want?"

"You don’t—you don't—" Dave started to say, and then froze.

You don't know what's best for you, the words got stuck in his throat. The same words McKay had told him every month, every time Dave found a new way to rebel.

David, you don't know what's best for you. You don't understand the good you're going. You don't know, and I do.

"I don't what?” Daniel asked, confused. “I don't understand? Ask me if I care! But mark my words, one way or another, I will disappear!"

Daniel thought he had struck a nerve, won his case, and his triumphant eyes shone with the light of victory. But Dave's eyes were stuck in a different time, on a different place.

You don't know what's best for you but I do, I always do, and I will make you make the right choices.

"I don't want to keep you prisoner," Dave whispered, feeling his hands going cold. Daniel was right, he had every right in the world to screw up his life. He wasn't a six-year-old anymore. Hell, Dave had already started building this by the time he'd been Daniel's age. No one had known better back then about what to do with his life.

"Then show me! Sign the papers, call the Network hounds, whatever it is you do when you're done with a contract. I'm outta here."

The door slammed shut behind his protégé. Outside, the summer heat scorched the earth much the same way Daniel's words had scorched Dave's memories.

I'm not like McKay, he started repeating at the back of his mind. On the screen, his latest report to Van about the kids waited unfinished.

It had been a long time since he'd second-guessed his plan with Max and the others, but he'd never thought he was keeping them prisoners. In the dark, absolutely. Against their will, never.

I'm not like McKay, he said one last time, feeling the loss of his would-be heir more acutely with every passing moment. What had he done to Daniel?

Worse, what if he was doing this to Max?