Title: Salut
Author: Vegas312
Rating: PG-13 for language
Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell so don’t sue me. If you do all you’d get is my comp and a stack of bills.
Coupling: CC
Summary: Its New Year’s Eve…what’s the gang up to?
AN: Thanks to everyone that read this and a special thanks to everyone that took the time to leave some feedback. You guys don’t know how much that means to me. *hugs* Alright we’ve come to the conclusion and I hope its okay. As usual send all complaints to the muse. Oh yeah Pooh where the hell are my oreos? 
Chapter 9
She walked around the radio tower and smiled to herself. ‘Oh yes it’s almost time and soon I will be the victor in this little game.’ Reaching into the satchel that hung off her right shoulder she pulled out a metallic blue stone of sorts and placed it on the desert floor. She hummed to herself and dug in the satchel again and pulled out another stone. This time the stone was the color of the sun, a bright yellow, and she sat it a few feet away from the other stone. She repeated the process over again until she had eight colorful stones spread out in a wide circle with the radio tower in the center. Stepping back she cocked her head to the right and took in her work. ‘Hmm everything is in place, now I just got to wait for the eight to get here. Hopefully they’ll be here soon because there isn’t much time left.’ She waved her hand over the stones and the eight set off a glow that looked like a rainbow. Satisfied that there was nothing left to do she waves her hand over the stones again and the glowing faded, and with a flick of her wrist the stones seemed to disappear underneath the desert floor.
*******************meanwhile******************
“So the next clue is at the old radio tower,” Kyle asked.
“Yeah that’s where Max and I found the orb one night,” Liz said while trying to avoid eye contact with Max.
“What the heck is an orb? Is that another one of the pod people artifacts,” Kyle asked.
“It’s a communication device of sorts,” Isabel told him.
“Oh, so does this mean you guys can communicate with your home world or whatever,” he asked curiously.
“Yeah we’re going to tell them to come and perform alien rituals on you,” Tess glowered at him.
He put his hands up and told her with a grin, “well if they all look like you or Isabel then yeah I’m all for alien rituals.”
“Kyle!” Several people yelled at him while he ignored them and stared at Tess.
“If you think you’re going to charm your way out of me being mad with you then you better think again.”
“Well at least you’re talking to me,” he told her.
Everyone looked back and forth between the two not exactly sure what was going on and what they had missed between the two earlier. Tess ignoring the stares from the others opened her mouth to say something and then with a shake of her head she turned to Max. “So we’re going to the radio tower? Is there enough time to make it out there? Also do we have any kind of plan incase its Nicholas out there or someone else?”
“Yeah the radio tower isn’t too far away if we pretty much speed it out there. Hopefully the law enforcements are busy elsewhere in town, and I think that maybe the four of us should go and the rest of you go back to the Crashdown until you hear back from us,” Max said.
“What? Are you drunk again because there’s no way we’re leaving you guys to face some threat while we sit at the Crashdown waiting for you,” Maria told him.
“Maria, he’s right. It’s better if you guys just go back to town and let us handle this,” Michael said.
“No way are we leaving you guys,” she said stubbornly while crossing her arms across her chest.
Recognizing that she was determine to go he leaned down and told her softly, “I couldn’t bear if anything happened to you. I wouldn’t know what to do is something happened to you, so please go back and wait for us.”
Her eyes softening she reached up and pulled him further down and said, “No.” Before he could open his mouth to say anything she leaned up and kissed him.
“While those two are getting it on or whatever I just want to say that I agree with Maria on this,” Alex told Max.
Kyle moved to stand next to Alex and nodded his head. “Yeah I’m with Maria and Alex here as well. We might not have any powers, but we have come through on several occasions to rescue your asses. The way I figured it the four of you needs us to help you out so we’re going no matter what.”
“It’s easier if we go by ourselves because if all of you come we’re just going to worry about something happening to any of you. The four of us can protect ourselves, and for all we know it could ugly out there,” Max told them trying to get them to see reason.
“Max, it’s not like we haven’t been in danger before. We took on Sheriff Valenti, the FBI, and the Skins so whatever or whoever is out there we’ll face them together,” Liz said as she moved to stand next to Alex, Kyle, and Maria who had finally detangle herself from Michael.
‘What the hell? Not that long ago she was telling me she didn’t want to die for me now she’s telling me that she wants to. I’m so confused at all these mix signals that she’s been sending me.’ Sighing he looked back at the other three to see what they thought should be done.
“Well whatever we’re doing we better decide on because time is running out and it’s getting closer to midnight. I think that they would be better off with us then without because this could be a trap to separate us,” Tess reminded him as she pointed to her watch.
“I don’t want any of us to be hurt and I think it’s a good idea if we all stick together,” Isabel told him.
Max looked at Michael who nodded his agreement and he turned back to the others with a sigh, “alright let’s go do this, but at the first sign of trouble the four of you are getting out of there.”
Everyone agreed and started heading towards their respective vehicles and soon the four cars were on the road heading towards who knows what. Liz sat quietly in the jeep trying to figure out what was going to happen in the desert. ‘Future Max never mentioned anything like this. So if it happened in the other timeline we must have gotten through it, but then again this might not have happened in the last timeline. God I wished he would have told me more about the future then just that little bit he told me.’
He looked over at her and saw that she was deep in thought. He wasn’t sure what was going on with her. One minute she didn’t want to be in his life and the next she wanted to be friends. ‘I don’t know what’s going on with her, but my gut is telling me that tonight I’m going to find out.’ Turning back to give his attention to the road he missed her turning to look at him. She sighed and looked out the window to see that they were getting to closer to the site where the radio tower was at.
Coming to a stop a few feet away from the tower he put the car in park and turned the jeep off. The two got out and walked over to meet the others. Michael scanned the area while Max, Isabel, and Tess used their powers to camouflage the vehicles. Everyone knowing that wasn’t much time left listened to the quick plan Max told them and started walking towards the radio tower going in a group of two with each group consisting of a human and an alien. Liz and Max led the way and finally the radio tower was in their sights. Liz seeing a piece of paper taped to the tower hurried to it. She pulled the paper off the tower as the others moved in to surround her to hear what it said. Clearing her throat she read, “Tonight the truth shall set you free. Speak only the truth and all will be well. Release that within that causes pain not only for you but others as well.”
As soon as she finished reading a humming noise started which was joined by a beeping noise. “What the hell is making that noise,” Kyle asked.
“It sounds just like when we found the orb,” Liz said.
The beeping noise got louder and everyone started looking around for it. Unwittingly the group had gone off into eight different directions with each person being drawn to a certain spot.
“Well it’s about time the lot of you made it here,” a voice said interrupting them. One by one they all looked up and turned to see a cloak figure standing in front of them.
“Who are you,” Max asked.
In response the figure pulled the cloak off and there stood a woman who looked to be in her late 20s with long auburn hair and green eyes. “Let’s just say that I’m a friend and leave it at that. Now we really don’t have time to play twenty questions as time is of the importance here.” She raised her hand and the ground shook a little as it reveal eight metallic stones that surrounded the group in what seemed to be a circle of sorts. With another wave of her hand the stones started to glow and a beam shot out of each. The beams struck the antennae of the radio tower and formed a force field of sorts around them which separated everyone from each other.
Shock at what had just happened they could only stare in disbelief at the shield. Max put his hand out to touch the shield when the woman interrupted him, “I wouldn’t do that if I was you. The shield packs quite a punch so I would think twice before touching it.” He looked at her then back at the shield and dropped his hand.
“So what took you guys so long to get here? I would have thought the clues easy enough for you,” she told them as she walked closer to the shield.
“How did you know all of that? And why do you have us trapped in here? Who sent you here,” Max asked.
“It’s my business as to how I know all of that, and I trapped you in this little shield to help you. As for who sent me well that’s on a need to know basis. Now time is running out and it’s almost midnight so you might want to figure out the last clue there.”
“How do we know that once we figured out the clue that you won’t kill us anyway,” Michael asked.
“Simple. I give you my word that none of you will come to harm if you figure out the riddle and complete it. Once the riddle is complete the shield automatically goes down and all of you are free to go.”
Michael opened his mouth to ask another question when she held up her hand for silence. “Enough of your questions and nice try with the stalling, but you have only ten minutes until it’s midnight. I suggest you get to working on the riddle before it’s too late.”
Everyone looked at each other and nodded in agreement. Liz looked at the paper in her hand and read it again. “It seems to be saying as long as we speak the truth then we’ll be set free,” she told them.
“That sounds simple enough. Do we just say the truth out loud,” Maria asks.
“I guess so,” Liz shrugs.
Maria looked at the beam in front of her and said, “I really don’t want to be out here.” The beam weakened a bit, but it went back to full strength. “Okay so I guess that’s not exactly what it’s looking for, but the truth is what’s going to get the beams to go down,” Max said.
“How about we go around the circle,” Kyle suggested. “Heck I’ll even go first if it gets us out of this thing. Okay let’s see I’m on the wrestling team, I like popcorn, I could really use a drink right now, and um I’m not really sure why we’re out here.” The beams weakened a little bit each time he told the truth, but at the end the beams were back to full strength.
Tess scolded at Kyle and yelled, “Aren’t you ever serious about anything. I mean we have less than ten minutes to get out of this and here you are giving us a rundown on your likes and dislikes. This is not a singles ad, so would you please be serious.”
“I don’t know why the hell I’m in love with you. I mean you could drive a guy to drink,” he yelled at her.
“You’re in love with me? Oh please you sure as hell don’t act like a guy in love. One minute I think everything is great between us and the next minute you’re sleeping with Liz, and then when we finally get back to being friends you ruin it by calling me a home wrecker no less. It’s ironic that I came here thinking that I knew who I was in love with and how everything was going to be so dandy, but instead I find my so-called husband has fallen in love with someone else and then I fall for you of all of people.”
“I didn’t sleep with Liz if you want the truth, and I didn’t mean to imply that you’re a home wrecker either. I was just hurt that you wanted to ride with Evans and seemed to forget about me,” he told her.
She looked at him and he looked back at her and at the same time both said, “I’m sorry.” Suddenly the shield between the two collapsed down and they were standing outside of the circle. The stones that had been holding them in the shield winked once and then turned off. The others looked in shock at seeing their friends freed and everyone started talking at once. “I guess we just tell what’s been bugging us and say we’re sorry and then we’re out of here,” Isabel said.
“It seems like it so I guess we better hurry up. So who’s going next,” Maria asked.
Michael sighed and said, “I guess I can go next. Maria I just want you to know that nothing happened with Courtney and that you’re the only girl for me. My whole life I’ve been on this quest to find my way back home to be with this wonderful family that I had created, but what I didn’t know was that this whole time I had found my home. My home is with you now and forever if you’ll have me.”
“I love you too. I was really hurt by what you did with Courtney, and I know that I nag you and whatnot, but I only do it because it seems like the only way to get you to tell me what you’re thinking. I guess I’m worried we’re going to be like my mom and dad…one minute in love and the next you’re leaving me and never returning. I know one day that you might have to leave and I just want you to know that I’m okay with that because where you go I’m going.”
With that the shield between the two dropped and two more stones winked off leaving the two free of the shield. They quickly embraced each other and gave a quick kiss before pulling apart to stand next to Kyle and Tess. “I guess we’re up next then,” Alex told Isabel who stared at him icily.
“For the past year I’ve gotten the chance to get to know you and love you. Since we’re being honest here I’ve been in love with you for years and earlier when you told me how you felt you scared me. I mean you’re the Elle McPherson of our school and lets face it I’m just a guy who plays bass in a band. I’m not popular, a jock, or rich, but that doesn’t really matter to me. What really matters to me is that you decided to let me in to see the real you… the you that I’ve always known was there. When you asked for space I gave it to you, but the next thing I know you’re dating that geologist guy. One minute you’re telling me you want to be with me and the next you’re with someone else. I can’t keep doing that, and if you want to be with Grant that’s okay. I’ll always be here for you no matter what, but I won’t allow myself to be used. I just can’t do that, but know that I will always be here for you.”
Teary eyed she looked at him and said, “I know that I’ve been giving you mix signals over the past year. It’s not because I don’t love you it’s because I do that I’ve been giving you these mix signals. I mean you’re the first guy to ever look at me not through me. When I first heard that you knew our secret I thought that you would think I was some kind of freak or something, but you were just excited to know more about who we are than even we were. You say I scare you, but the truth is that you scare me. Here’s this great guy who’s smart, kind, talented, and he loves me even though he knows what I am. I mean talking about being scared I was scared shitless, so when we got that message from my mom I seized upon it as an excuse to push you away. I thought things would go back to normal and that I would be safe since I didn’t have to worry that you would break through the rest of my barriers since we took a step back. Instead the more you were gone the more I miserable I was and the more I tried to prove that I wasn’t miserable without you. I don’t want to be with Grant or anyone else. It’s you who I want to be with Alex. I love you and I always will.”
A second later the shield went down around the two of them and he offered his hand to her. With a smile she took his hand and the two moved over to where the others stood. Turning around they looked on at the last two of their group. It was up to Max and Liz to get out of the shield and hopefully whoever this lady that was holding them hostage would leave them alone, but if not then they were prepared to rescue their friends no matter what. Max seeing that everyone was out of the shield turned to Liz. He looked through the light blue shield that separated them and for the first time in months he felt hope. Hope that tonight that everything would be alright and that he and Liz would be reunited. Looking at her he saw the way she was biting her lower lip and he knew that she was nervous. He caught her eyes with his and smiled a smile full of hope and love. “I guess it just the two of us now and there’s not much time left. I know for a fact that you didn’t sleep with Kyle, but a part of me has always known that. I’m not sure what your reason was for that pretense, but I know you wouldn’t have done anything like that without a good reason. I won’t lie and say that what you did didn’t hurt because it did. God for so long I wanted to hate you for what I thought you had did, but I just couldn’t. Something inside of me knew that none of it made sense but you denied it so much that I just let it go. I know you Liz Parker from your head to your toes to your soul and I know that no matter what I’ll always love you. In two minutes it’ll be midnight and the New Year will have begun and I’m hoping that we’ll be ringing it in together.” He held his hand out towards her and said simply, “I love you.”
She had tears in her eyes and she slowly backed away from the shield that separated them. Shaking her head she told him, “I can’t tell you why I pretended to sleep with Kyle. I made a promise and I can’t break it. I’m sorry, but there’s just too much to lose if I break my promise.”
He looked at her in disbelief and his voice rough with emotion, “Liz the only way we’re going to get out of this is tell the truth. You have to tell the truth otherwise we’re all going to die. Whoever you made that wouldn’t want you to die to keep it would they.”
Tears blurring her vision she tried to think of what to say that wouldn’t break her word, but would get them out there. She opened her mouth when all of a sudden she was hit with a wave of intense pain. Her back felt as if it was on fire and as if the fire was taking over her whole body. She fell to the ground in a soundless scream as everyone watched in shock as a blue light shone through her coat and the light formed a symbol that was familiar… it was the v formation of the five planets in the whirlwind galaxy.
“LIZ!!” Everyone screamed her name in horror and shock. A voice interrupted them, “it will only get worst the more she lies. She has denied her soul, body, and heart’s wish instead she has been stubborn to the end. One more minute to midnight and all of your fates will be decided then.”
“Did you do this to her,” Max demanded.
With an eyebrow raised she said amusingly, “nope I didn’t have a hand in this one. The symbol is like when she got the rash last year when the two of you broke up only this is worst because the symbol gives off pain. It reacts to her emotions and well she’s so conflicted about what to do that it’s shocking the hell out of her.”
“How did you know about the rash? Who the hell are you?”
“Again that’s something you don’t need to know, but you only have less than a minute to get that last shield down or I’m afraid I’m going have to kill you all which is a shame since you all seem to be such nice people.”
The others looked at her in disbelief and anger while Max turned back to the shield. Raising a hand he tried to manipulate the shield, but that didn’t work. He glanced at his watch and knew that he didn’t have any time to spare. Making a quick decision he stepped back an inch and ran into the shield which he easily slipped through. The woman feeling stares looked at the others and shrugged, “well so I told a lie. Get over it already.” Ignoring them she turned to watch the scene being played out before her with a mixture of hope and desperation. ‘Come on Max I know you can do this. Too much is riding on this for you to fail now.’
Landing in a heap next to Liz he quickly sat up and grabbed hold of a too still Liz. He pulled her in his arms and pushed her hat off her head and cradles her face in his hands. “Liz you have to look at me for this to work. Please we don’t have much time.” Moaning she opened her eyes and stared at the pleading amber eyes before her. Max seeing her open her eyes he quickly leaned down and kissed her. Soon the flashes overcame both of them and he finally saw the reason why she was so determine to keep her promise. She had made a promise to a future version of him and she broke her heart in the process. Feeling her despair and pain he poured every bit of love he had for her into the connection and soon she was kissing him back with all the love that she had kept hidden for the past few months. Everyone watched in awe as the shield came down around their friends and the eight stones that circled them glowed and a beam from each covered the two left in the circle. The beams formed into one large beam and hit the radio tower antennae and with a crackle the energy went up into the sky forming a “V” formation symbol. Just as quickly as it had formed it had disappeared that fast and the stones shut off again.
Having missed the light show Max and Liz broke their kiss to get some air. He reached over and pushed a strand of hair behind her hair and rested his forehead against hers. She closed her eyes happy that everything had finally come out. ‘I guess the riddle was right. The truth did set us free,’ she thought to herself. “Thank you,” he whispered to her. Looking up at him she said, “I didn’t do anything that the rest of you wouldn’t have done in my place.”
“I think there’s more to you then you let on, but I’m going to enjoy learning more about you,” he told her as he stood up and helped her up too. She just winked at him and the two turned to see their friends smiling at them. Everyone looked at the mysterious woman and saw her smiling at them.
“Congrats! You have passed your test and now you’re free to go. Just remember that as long as you’re truthful with each other then all will be right. May the new year usher in much happiness and joy to the eight of you,” she told them.
Slowly she started to disappear and Liz yelled out quickly, “wait, who are you?”
The woman smiled at her and said, “It doesn’t really matter who I am. Just remember that the eight of you must stay strong and to look for the evil within for your enemies will try to separate you. I wait for the days when I can hold you in my arms again and until that day comes I will continue to look out for you all.” Before anyone could respond she had disappear just like that. The four hybrids looked at each in shock and confusion.
Isabel turned to Max and asked, “Was that our mother?”
“I don’t know, but if it was I think she just gave us her blessings to be happy,” he told her.
The two siblings smiled at each other and everyone smiled at the implication. “Hey if that was your mom then she was pretty young looking. If everyone looks like that up there then I’m ready to be beamed up,” Kyle joked. The girls groaned at the joke while the guys laughed and Tess just patted Kyle on the arm. “What I thought it was funny,” he told her. “Buddha boy we’re so going have a talk about you and your jokes,” she told him.
Max and Michael moved to the circle to check out the stones and looking at them closely they were surprised to see that on each stone was the v formation symbol and underneath that was each individual name and inscription that read, “a love born underneath the stars. May your day be full of love and happiness.” Catching up with the others they showed everyone the inscriptions and passed out each of the stones to their respective owner. The girls ooh and ahh over the stones while the guys looked at the stones curiously. Finally everyone started the walk back to their cars and decided that they would head back to the Valenti’s house to celebrate the night.
*********half an hour later at the Valenti’s house**********
There was bowls of popcorn on the table with soda cans and bottles of Tabasco as well as a couple of boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts. There had been a box of Oreos, but no one could figured out what happened to them although a few people had the sneaky suspicion that Maria had something to do with it. Music flowed out the stereo as the friends enjoyed the rest of the night. Maria and Michael were dancing despite Michael’s grumbling that he didn’t want to. Alex and Isabel were looking out the window at the stars and whispering among themselves. Liz and Max were where they wanted to be…they were on the sofa watching a replay of the ball dropping while snuggled up to each other. While the New Year hadn’t started the way the eight had assumed it would, it had started in a way that none of them could complain about. That night truths had come out and for that they were making new bonds that night that would last them forever.
Elsewhere up in a place far, far away a woman looked in a crystal ball of sorts and smiled happily at the sight before her. ‘Hmm maybe I can visit again soon if they have a need of me. For now they have form stronger ties with each other and Khivar will have a hard time trying to destroy them when he decides to make a move.’ Picking up a crystal glass next to her she tipped it in a silent toast at the ball and said, “Salut my children, until next time we meet.”
Hmm what's up with the glowly tatoo? Keep reading you'll find out soon.