The Experiment Series (ML, CC / Mautre) (Complete)

[LivE]

Round 1 Winner







Title: The Experiment
Author: LivE
E-mail: lieselvw@mweb.co.za
Rating: Maybe Mature in some parts
Category: M/L all the way!
Disclaimer: Nothing Roswell is mine, sadly!!!
SUMMARY: This takes place two weeks after Season One’s “Destiny”. Someone from the alien’s race contacts them and takes them to a camp where they were to receive training before returning to their planet. Or maybe for something else! Read and find out…
DISTRIBUTION: Only here please!


THE EXPERIMENT

PART 1

Journal Entry 1

How different they are from us! We told them that we were coming for them tonight. They seemed stunned. Suspicious at first, and then stunned. We carefully watched their moves after we left them. They all went to the other three… Why these particular people? What is it that drives them together?


Max stood outside her window, staring at her sleeping form. He couldn’t stay long, the others were waiting downstairs in the Jeep. She was curled up in a ball in the middle of the bed, hugging herself and the pain in his chest was becoming more unbearable with each passing moment. He hasn’t talked to her much since that day she left him to his destiny at the cave. They both knew why she did it, and he couldn’t blame her for knowing him better than he knew himself. For knowing that he had to come to terms with all these changes, before they could be together again. But now… now he had to leave.

His feet felt like lead as he slowly approached her bed. He prayed that she wouldn’t wake up, because he didn’t think he could go through with this if she did. The moon found each shiny strand of her hair and he ached to run his fingers through it one last time. He knelt by her bed, staring at her face. She was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He clenched his hands in her bedspread in an effort to keep from touching her. There were tear streaks on her cheeks and they made him die inside a little more. “I love you, Liz. Always.” His voice was barely more that a whisper and thick with unshed tears. He placed the single white rose he had taken from his mother’s garden on her nightstand. Looking back at her, he repeated the promise that was written on the piece of paper that lay next to it: “Forever.” If it were ever possible, he would return…

~*~*~*~*~*~

It happened early this morning. He waited until the Evans’ had gone to work before he went to see them. He told them his name was Nick and that he had come to find his leader. He explained that there was a group of them living here on earth. They were here to find Max and the others and teach them all they needed to know before they could all return to their planet. Max had demanded proof and he touched him, creating a connection that flooded him with images. Images of their mother and their planet. Images of them being put in the pods. Images of the crash. Max had stared at him in disbelief. Nick had apologized for the short notice, but said that others knew of them too by now and that they had to leave in a hurry. He would pick them up tonight and take them to the camp. Max’s people were waiting…

~*~*~*~*~*~

It was late at night by the time they arrived at the designated area where they were to be picked up. Max stood staring at the lights of Roswell on the horizon. Somewhere in that bundle of lights, slept his love. He felt like his chest was in an ever tightening vice for the third time in his life. The first time was when Liz was shot, the second when he watched her walk away from him on the day he learned about his cursed destiny. His hands balled into fists in the pockets of his pants. How was he supposed to leave without her? How was he supposed to live without her?

He knew she still loved him, he knew he loved her, but what could he tell her that would change his destiny? By some unspoken agreement, they had decided to stay away from each other until they had more answers. Being together only to be torn apart later would be too hard… He didn’t want to leave, but how could he not do what she had freed him to do? Learn about his history and figure out his destiny. More importantly, figure out how she could fit into his destiny…

The were so caught up in their own little worlds of pain, that none of them realized that one member of their alien quartet had apparently not been invited…

~*~*~*~*~*~

Journal Entry 2

It has begun. I picked them up in the desert and gave him his first test. The reactions were telling… The other two looked uncomfortable, but the leader, he showed only shock.


Michael was the first to break the silence that hung between them. “Why the hell isn’t he here yet?”

Max turned around at that, and for a moment, the other two saw a glimmer of the old Max, the one that Liz had brought out from behind the tree. His eyes were filled with such sorrow and loss for a moment, that Isabel gasped in reaction. Then the mask slid back in place, cutting off all emotion from his onlookers.

“We’ll wait another hour, then we—” Max was cut off by another voice.

“Don’t worry, we’re here!” Nick called from the darkness surrounding them. “We had unexpected business to take care of, but we’re ready to leave now.” He came closer to Max, watching him intently as he brought the person walking behind him into full view.

Tess.

Max stepped back involuntarily. The jumble of emotions at seeing his “bride” rendered him speechless.

Tess didn’t have the same problem. She’s finally going to be alone with him away from Liz Parker. Even though Max and Liz were not together, her presence in the same vicinity as Max was still all that was needed to make Max focus on only one thing: the slender dark-haired girl that held his heart. Tess smiled at him. “Hi, Max! Can’t go home without me can you?” She walked over to him, causing Max to retreat from her further. Tess stopped, uncertain. She had assumed that the fact that Max and the others were here meant that they had accepted their destinies. But Max was looking at her as if he were hoping this was a nightmare that would go away soon.

Michael broke the tense silence. “Hey Tess. We… ah, we’re just surprised to see you!” Isabel elbowed him and he realized how that had sounded. “I mean we thought we’d meet you at the camp, I guess…” He trailed off, not knowing how to help his friend… his brother, through this awkward moment.

“I can’t do this.” Max’s voice was soft. He turned around, looking towards Roswell again. He was shaking and Michael and Isabel rushed to his sides. Isabel hugged him and spoke in a low, urgent whisper. “Max, please! We need you! This isn’t necessarily forever…” Max stood with his head bowed for another minute and then he squared his shoulders, as if gearing up for battle.

He turned to Nick, but continued to avoid Tess’ eyes. “Let’s go. Isabel, Michael and I will follow in the Jeep.” He spun on his heels, not waiting to see if anyone was following his instructions.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Journal Entry 3

We will be arriving at the camp soon. The others have ahead to prepare for their arrival. I can’t wait to see their faces when they see our other surprises! But we’ll show them tomorrow. Springing Tess on them was enough for one night. This experiment is turning out to be more interesting than I anticipated.


The drive to the camp was completed in thundering silence. Max had closed his mind off from everything and only concentrated on following the taillights of the car in front of him. He was afraid to think or feel, because he knew he would lose it if he did. His heart was torn into little pieces by the goodbye to Liz and to top it all off, he would be stuck with his destiny bride for however long this training is going to take. He clutched the steering wheel in a death grip, not paying particular attention to where they were going. He didn’t think it was possible for anyone to be in such pain and not die…

They had driven for about three hours when the camp came into view. It was a sprawling assortment of tents and vehicles and the sight made Max feel sick. Yes, he had always dreamed of what meeting people of his own kind would be like, but his dream had never looked like this. Somehow, he had always pictured the scene to be more joyous. And in his dreams, Liz had been at his side.

A small crowd had assembled by the time the vehicles came to a halt in the middle of the camp. Max got out and helped Isabel alight from the back of the Jeep. She clutched his hand desperately and he shook himself mentally. Izzy, who was normally the Ice Queen herself, was scared and he needed to be strong for her. He swallowed, fighting down all the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

The people bowed low before them when the turned around. Isabel had to fight down hysterical laughter. These people were worshipping her controlling brother! She looked up at Max and saw his grim expression as his hand tightened around hers. He was just as uncomfortable with the whole experience.

Nick, with Tess at his side, stepped forward to welcome them. “Welcome to all of you! We have waited and searched for you for so long. Our people are proud to finally meet you and know that your parents would have been thrilled to see how well you’ve grown up.” Max was getting irritated by the man’s speech. He desperately needed to be someplace by himself so he could deal with all that has happened to him today.
He looked around at all the expectant faces around him. They were all staring at him with a kind of awe and he wanted to scream at them all. Scream at them for taking Liz from him. For reminding him that he was not human. For expecting so much from a 17-year old guy. ‘Liz, I need you so right now!’ But his mouth stayed shut.

When Nick finally ended his spiel, Max only mumbled: “Thank you.”
Nick took them to their tents afterwards, saying that it was late and they were probably tired. Max and Michael got their own tents, but Isabel and Tess shared one. They were too stressed and tired to question why.
Max stumbled into his tent and crawled into bed. Reaction was setting in. He had to fight down the tears and took deep breaths to calm himself. He needed to rest so he could figure out what to do about all he had learned today. He closed his eyes and prayed for sleep. Then he felt it, a whisper of something at the edge of his consciousness. It went away before he could grasp it, but for a moment, just for a moment, it had felt like… Liz was near.

Chapter 2 to follow

BTW, wow, my writing has really come a long way since I started this fic!

[LivE]

PART 2

Journal Entry 4

All except Tess had a restless night. She seemed happy to be out here, but then, she has been least affected by being on earth. The second test proved to be a huge contrast to the first. We need to note the behavior carefully to draw conclusions later.


“Liz!” Max awoke with a start the next morning to unfamiliar surroundings, his heart was pounding and the sound of his own voice rang in his ears. He had been crying out her name again. It had become a regular occurrence since that day at the cave. He would dream about her being with him, happy and carefree, and then the dream would change abruptly and she would suddenly disappear from his arms.

He had slept fitfully throughout the night, his awareness of Liz kept getting stronger. He even imagined her whispering his name in one of the many moments he spent in that gray area between wakefulness and slumber. How could that be? She was in Roswell, probably waking up right now and learning that he had left her. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how hurt she would feel and he prayed that she didn’t believe he left because he didn’t love her. In the bright morning light, the flower seemed so inadequate to express his feelings. He closed his eyes tightly and waited for the intense pain in his chest to subside.

It didn’t…

They were shown around the campsite during the morning and Max was quite impressed at how well equipped it was. There were bathrooms situated in some trailers as well as a communal kitchen and dining area. He was getting very uncomfortable with all the stares and bows they were attracting though. How weird that these people just accepted him as their leader. He was also not used to being in the limelight like this. Max stopped in his tracks when Nick seemingly deliberately skipped a tent during their tour. A desperate need to see what was inside took hold of him.

Michael, Isabel and Tess turned around questioningly at his action. Max was staring at the tent they had just passed. His hands were balled into fists at his sides as if he was trying to keep himself from reaching out to something. Iz walked over to him and touched his arm, making him jump. “Max, what is wrong? You’re acting really strange.”

Max returned his gaze to the tent. He had that feeling again. The one he always got when Liz was near. It was like a feather being run down his spine really softly and it made his body hum with awareness. “I don’t know Iz, but I feel Li—” He cut himself off abruptly. How could he tell Izzy about the weird awareness? He knew they were all missing their significant others and continuing to harp on it will just make things worse. He also didn’t want Tess to hear what he was experiencing. He turned away from the tent. “Its nothing. I’m just… tired, I guess.”

But he had to force his feet to move away.

Nick was watching all this from a distance, an unreadable expression in his eyes. He waited until the group had caught up with him again, noting the reluctance with which his young leader was dragging himself away from the tent. He smiled at them when they drew close: “Let’s go have breakfast!”

Breakfast was a subdued affair and it was clear that three of the four new arrivals at the camp were under tremendous strain. They were just pushing their food around on their plates, while Tess was chattering away happily. Nick explained some of the activities at the camp, but he seemed reluctant to answer their questions about their home planet. He also watched Max continuously, a fact that didn’t escape either Isabel or Michael.

Max felt like he could jump out of his skin with anxiety. The sensation that Liz was thinking of him was really strong and he didn’t know what to make of it. He had never been this intensely aware of her. Sure, they had shared flashes when they kissed and he could also always tell where she was in a room without looking, but this was different. Was it just because of his heightened emotional state and the fact that he worried that she was upset about him leaving? Or was she in trouble? Fear for her was occupying his mind and he had to fight to keep himself from jumping up from the table and running to the Jeep to go home and find her.

The sudden silence around the table brought him back to the present. Everyone was staring at him and he realized he must have missed something during the discussion. Isabel was looking worried again and Michael had a scowl on his face. Nick repeated his question: “Is something bothering you, Max?”

Max looked at him, unsure of what he could, and should, say. Nick was watching him intently and he saw something flicker in the man’s eyes. It was gone before he could place it and Max decided that it was time he took some action or he would lose his mind. “Could you show us what’s inside that tent we missed this morning?”

He expected Nick to hedge or look concerned, but instead he just smiled and nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.”

Max fairly bolted from the table and waited impatiently at the entrance for Nick to precede him. His heart was racing. Somehow he knew that this tent held something important.

When they finally reached the tent, Max realized he was trembling. What the hell was going on with him? He hoped it was just reaction from all that transpired in his life the past few weeks, but deep in his heart he knew that it had much more to do with this awareness of Liz and that she needed him.

“Wait here for a minute.” Nick was looking at Max when he spoke.

Max gritted his teeth and nodded. This was excruciating. He listened to the subdued voices coming from the tent, but couldn’t place any of them.
Isabel was at his side again. “What is in this tent, Max?” she whispered urgently. “Why are you so—” She stopped when she realized that Max wasn’t listening to her, but staring at the entrance of the tent where Nick had disappeared.

Nick appeared in the door and motioned them in. Max, normally such a gentleman, was the first in the door.

The inside was dim and Max blinked a few times to get his eyes accustomed to the reduced light. Four people were standing to the side, watching him anxiously. He swung in a slow circle, puzzled at the barrenness of his surroundings. No furniture was visible, only three beds at the far end. He suddenly felt like the breath was squeezed from his lungs by a giant fist. The three beds were occupied and he knew, without being able to see her, that Liz was in one of them…

~*~*~*~*~*~

Journal Entry 5

He knew she was here. I could see it in his eyes all through breakfast. This human girl, to whom he has no genetic link, was close and he was silently going insane because of it. I wondered how long it would be before he would ask. I was surprised though, that he also knew precisely where she was… But I was not surprised at his anger over our methods.


Max couldn’t remember moving from just inside the door to the side of her bed. He only started functioning again when he dropped to his knees at her bedside. It fleetingly reminded him of last night and that awful farewell, but this time he didn’t hesitate, he grabbed her hand. She was sleeping and didn’t move when he touched her. She looked angelic and peaceful and he loved her even more.

He felt momentarily faint with the relief of seeing her here and realizing she was not in any danger. “Liz!” His voice was filled with all the love and longing he felt for her. He was dimly aware that Michael and Isabel had run to join Alex and Maria at the other beds, but he couldn’t take his eyes of Liz. He leaned forward and put his forehead to hers, closing his eyes and whispering brokenly: “I’ve missed you…”

Instead of hearing her soft voice answering him, he was assailed by images of the night before. Liz waking up soon after he left and finding the rose. The tears coursing down her cheeks as she realized what the scrawled ‘Forever’ meant. Her shock and fear as two men suddenly appeared in her room, bidding her come with them. How she didn’t want to, but was told it would save Max. How she was drugged in the car…

Max pulled away from her and whirled towards Nick, fury in every line of his body. “What did you do to her?” he yelled, advancing on Nick.

Nick held up his hands in defense. “I’m sorry, but we couldn’t let them see how we got here. They’re fine! They will wake up soon.”

Loath to move too far away from her, Max halted and turned back to look at the sleeping Liz. “But why are they here? Why did you bring them here?” His voice had a mingled note of hope and desperation in it.

Nick just smiled that enigmatic smile that they all knew by now. “All in good time, young sir.”

Chapter 3 to follow.

[LivE]

PART 3

Journal Entry 6

It is amazing to watch them together. The air around them is charged with unspoken emotions and they get wrapped up in each other completely. How effortless it all seems!


Max went back to Liz’s side, his fingers skimming her face reverently. Nick could only watch in wonder as his race’s young leader leaned in and softly kissed the girl in the bed, uttering whispered professions of love.

Tess was furious. The biggest obstacle between her and Max Evans’ complete devotion was back. She folded her arms and glared at her nemesis before erupting into speech. “They can’t stay here! It would be too dangerous for us.”

Nobody listened to her, they were all too absorbed in the reunions.

“Max…” Liz called his name softly, still in her drugged state. Tears leaked from her eyelids as she clutched Max’s hand tighter.

Max made a distressed sound and gathered her into his arms. He stood up and faced the silent audience. “I’m taking her to my tent.” His voice was determined and flat. He didn’t wait for any reaction, but strode out with Liz cradled protectively in his arms.

A stir went through the camp following Max’s silent progress towards his tent. He didn’t even notice. His eyes never left Liz.

Back in his tent, he lay her down gently on his bed and slid in next to her. The bed was narrow, but that didn’t matter as he pulled her flush with his body and encircled her with his arms. His heart rate was still not back to normal and he willed himself to calm down for her sake. So many thoughts were racing through his head. ‘Liz is here! Why did they bring her here? She won’t be safe! Liz is here!’ He hugged her close as his heart and soul sighed: ‘Liz is here.’

Liz whimpered softly and stirred. Confusion flooded her. The last thing she remembered was the piece of material over her mouth in an unknown car and the knowledge that she had somehow failed Max again. Then she remembered that Max had left and she moaned, the sound full of despair.

Max gasped as the sound cut into his heart. He pulled away from her. “Liz! You’re okay. I… You’re okay. Shhh.”

Liz was afraid to open her eyes. Maybe if she kept them closed, this dream would not end. She was in Max’s arms again and it was pure bliss to relive the feelings of love and protection that always resulted from that. As she slowly drifted closer to full consciousness, the sensation of Max’s closeness increased. His arms were crushing her into his body, his breath on her skin, his heart thundering in her ear and finally, his broken words of comfort registered.

Liz jerked away from him abruptly, nearly tumbling over the side of the bed before Max caught her. She stared at him wildly, afraid to believe that what her eyes were showing her was the truth. Then she saw the hurt look on Max’s face and realized that it really was him. He was here… with her.

The fist crushing his heart was back. She was afraid of him. Afraid that he would hurt her again! He had trouble getting his voice to work: “Liz! Please… I…”

She didn’t give him a chance to finish. She flung herself onto him and pressed her mouth to his. She kissed him desperately, curling her arms around his neck and running her hands into his hair. Her breathing was short and labored and the tears falling from her eyes wet his face as she rained kissed all over it. “Oh god, I thought I would never see you again!” she muttered against his lips.

She kissed him again, and Max finally came out of his stupor. He wrapped his arms around her and slid his hand into her hair, deepening their kiss. He never wanted this moment to end. Liz was back in his arms where she belonged and that was all that mattered.

The timber of the kiss changed slowly as desperation was steadily replaced by desire. Max ran his hands down her back, sliding them lower until he reached her thighs. They both groaned as he pulled her astride his hips, her knees resting on the bed at his sides. He cupped her rear with one hand, pressing her closer into his body, while he brought the other one back up to press between her shoulder blades, sealing her to him from breast to thigh. Their tongues danced against each other, tasting and caressing and Max greedily caught each of her soft moans with his mouth.

Liz felt lightheaded. His heat was burning her through her clothes and increasing the ache low in her stomach. She experimentally rubbed herself against him, trying to assuage the building need in her body. Her movements caused a trembling to start deep inside her body, and only served to increase the instinctive need to have Max inside her.

Max moaned against her mouth and rolled her over until she was pinned beneath him. Tearing his mouth away from hers, he kissed down her jaw line to her neck, causing her to arch her head in ecstasy. He bit down her neck to her T-shirt’s neckline and reached up to pull the shirt from her shoulder. He ran his tongue over her collarbone, passionately tasting her.
Liz arched her body into his. “Max, please… touch me!” She grabbed his hand and brought it to the exposed part of her stomach where her shirt had ridden up.

Max pulled away to look at her. His eyes were dark and hooded with passion. He was breathing like he’d run a marathon. His eyes fell to her mouth, swollen as a result of his kisses and he watched as she formed another plea. "Please…”

He took her mouth again almost roughly. Plundering its depths in an almost frantic need to be as close to her as possible. At the same time he slid his hand up under her shirt, trailing fire where he touched. He hesitated when he reached her rib cage, just below her breasts. This was as far as they’ve ever gone, but right now, Liz needed more. She put her hand over his and urged him higher.

“Aren’t you two forgetting someone?” A sharp voice intruded on their haze of passion. The both blinked in an effort to find the origin of the intrusion.

Max finally turned towards the entrance to his tent, his hand slowly slipping from underneath Liz’s shirt. The cold feeling around his heart returned, because in the doorway stood his alien wife.

Chapter 4 to follow.

[LivE]

PART 4

Journal Entry 7

How right we were to bring them all here! Back in their earth homes they were all ignoring the realities around them, not facing the decisions that had to be made. Decisions that would decide the rest of their lives… the rest of our lives. Decisions based on destiny… duty… and this unknown force that drives humans: love.


Max stared at Tess and reality came crashing back in an instant. Nothing has changed. Tess was still his destiny, he still had no answers for Liz about how his life is going to turn out, and worst of all, it still seemed like he would have to leave to go to another planet soon. He felt like screaming at the unfairness of the whole situation, but instead he just said wearily: “Tess, please leave us alone. Liz and I need to talk.”

Tess would have none of it. “I don’t think so! That didn’t look like talking you two were just doing!”

Max heard Liz gasp and looked back at her. Her eyes were swimming with tears and he felt like his heart was being torn to shreds. He instinctively took Liz’s hand, causing another outburst from Tess: “Hey! I’m still here!”

Max nearly lost it. “Get out, Tess! I’ll talk to you later!” Both Tess and Liz looked surprised at the authority ringing in his voice. Max’s leadership was becoming second nature and so did his expectation that people would obey.

Tess pinned Liz with a death stare, causing Max to move in front of her protectively. “Fine! But you remember that to the people in this camp, I am you wife! So you better start acting like a husband.” She turned on her heel and flounced out, leaving a painful silence in her wake.

Max turned to Liz and touched her cheek gently. He didn’t know what to say to her. He wanted to tell her that what had just happened between them was how things were meant to be. That he loved her even more today than ever. That she was made for him and to be in his arms. That no alien bride from the past will ever change that. But his mind reminded him of a duty to a whole population. “Liz… love, I—”

“I can’t be your love, Max.” Liz interrupted him, trying to ignore his distressed gasp. But she couldn’t ignore the hurt in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, she covered his hand on her cheek with hers. “Max, I love you. I love you so much it hurts, but this situation is impossible…” She begged with him with her eyes not to make this any harder on her. “I need you to be what these people need you to be: their leader. You can’t do that being torn in two between me and… and Tess.”

She was humbling him yet again with her unselfish love. Max bit his lip and stared at his hand in hers. It was where it belonged. When he finally looked in her eyes again, his voiced was strong and sure when he spoke: “Liz, I love you. I’ve always loved you and I promise you something today. I promise that I will do whatever I have to do for us to be together. I’ll find a way. I can’t help these people without you. I can’t… and I don’t want to.” He looked at her pleadingly. “Just… trust me, okay?” He took a deep breath and said something he had been afraid to say for so long. “And wait for me…”

Liz was overwhelmed. She so badly wanted to believe in Max. She wanted to believe that he could somehow create a future for them. She knew the longer she stayed with him, the harder it would be to let him go. But wasn’t love worth taking such a chance? Wasn’t Max?

Max watched anxiously as she thought about his request. He didn’t know what he would do if she said no. No wait, he did. He would make her stay with him… even if he had to tie her to his bed! He had to stifle a groan as a picture of her tied to his bed filled his imagination.
Liz ended his daydream. “Yes, Max. I’ll wait.”

The next moment she was crushed against his chest, her head pressed under his chin. Liz reveled in the strength of the arms holding her, in the hardness of his body and in the emotion in his voice as he reiterated his promise: “I’ll find a way. I love you!”


Journal Entry 8

What is this desperate need to be physically close that rules these humans so? Even without genetic programming, the need arises and when denied, it becomes an obsession. In our culture, the need to procreate comes from DNA coding, but here it seems to be an involuntary part of being “in love”. And we’re back to that concept: love.


Liz rubbed her face against his neck and shifted in his arms until she was sitting on his lap. Max helped her closer, but she couldn’t fail to notice that he was carefully keeping her away from the lower part of his body. Now that the emotional side of their reunion was out of the way and she saw a glimmer of hope that things might work out for them, she felt brave enough to be playful. Max has already acknowledged that he loved her, but now she wanted him to acknowledge that he wanted her too. Just like she wanted him…

Sighing languidly, she opened her mouth against the cords in his neck. Slowly running her tongue over his skin. Max jerked away in surprise. She looked at him, not trying to hide the desire in her eyes and he inhaled sharply.

“Liz.” His voice sounded strangled. “We can’t… I have to sort out this mess first.” But he wanted to give in and Liz could see it in his eyes. She decided to allow him a false sense of security for a few minutes.

Getting up from his lap (and noticing how reluctantly he let her go), she turned away to the door. “I guess I have to go find a place to sleep and then I’d dearly like to take a shower.” She only walked a few paces before his voice stopped her.

“Liz wait.” The inflection in his voice was eerily reminiscent of the one he used during their camp-out with their fathers a few months ago. She stopped but did not turn around. The next move was his.

Coming up behind her, he put his arms around her waist. He pressed his face into her hair and held her quietly to him for a few precious moments. Max knew he had to let her go, but he also knew this might be the last time in a long while that he would be able to be this close to her.

Liz tilted her head to the side and pressed her cheek to his. Her arms came up to rest on his and she tangled their fingers together. When Max still didn’t move, she turned her head further, her mouth inches from his. “Kiss me goodbye, Max.”

Max closed his eyes and then opened them again as he turned his face to reach her mouth. He kissed her slowly and deeply while they stood as they were, her back to his front. It wasn’t nearly enough for both of them. Max shifted her slightly and pressed her head into his shoulder as he increased the pressure on her mouth. He let one hand move to her hip, while the other slid into her shirt once again. The skin of her stomach was smooth and taut and his fingers registered the tiny tremors that followed his touch. Liz made a small sound in the back of her throat, while her hands came up to circle his neck. This time no one interrupted them and Max finally let his hand come to rest in the hollow between her breasts. He pressed his palm against her, feeling the racing beats of her heart reverberate through his hand.

They pulled apart breathlessly. Staring into each other’s eyes for endless moments. ‘I love you.’ It remained unspoken, but rang clearly between them.

Liz turned towards him slowly, causing his hand to brush over her breast. The fleeting touch was electrical and she bit her lip to keep herself from crying out. She heard Max’s short expelled breath and when she finally faced him, his eyes were running hungrily over her chest.

Max was fighting to get air into his lungs. Lust was slamming through his body and the small rational voice inside his head was rapidly being drowned out. Pulling her to him forcefully, his mouth descended on hers again. He devoured her lips. His open mouth slanting over hers as their tongues tangled together. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears and felt his blood race through his veins. This was heaven and he wanted it all.

Only a nagging little thought kept him from carrying Liz to his bed. He had a wife…

Pulling away from her, he stumbled away a few paces, not looking at Liz. If he looked at her now, he would never let her leave. He jammed his hands into his pockets and spoke quietly, a note of desperation in his words: “Just go… please. I’ll see you later.”

Liz was hugging herself to make up for the sudden chill of his physical absence. Watching him, she could see tension screaming from every line of his body. It was killing him to let her leave. Licking her lips that were puffy and tender from his passionate assault, she nodded and left quietly.

Max felt her absence immediately. The awareness of her dimming to a soft whisper at the periphery of his soul. He was still desperately trying to get his breath back, but his mind was already jumping ahead to all the things he needed to get done. He needed to talk to that Nick guy and find out exactly what the deal was with his “destiny bride”. He needed to know what was expected of him as leader. He needed to know how long it would be before he could be with Liz again…

He balled his hands into fists as the sensations of touching her came rushing back. Dreaming of touching her was one thing, but the reality was something else. Max wondered how on earth he was going to keep his distance from Liz until he figured out a way to be with her legally. Wanting her was an ache in his gut and it was going to take all his strength to keep his hands off her from now on…

Chapter 5 following soon...

[LivE]

PART 5

Journal Entry 9

Its always interesting to see what the addition of an unknown element will do to an experiment. Whether the original elements will retain their basic characteristics or whether they will change into something new altogether.


When Liz came out of Max’s tent, the bright sunlight hurt her eyes momentarily. The parting was bittersweet. She knows now that he still loved her deeply and that he wanted to be with her more than anything else. But Max’s overriding sense of duty was driving her crazy. Her heart was wondering why he couldn’t just say ‘screw destiny’ and leave this place with her, but her mind reminded her that she loved him because he was so serious and responsible. The only thing was, she didn’t think she could be without Max… ever again! She had tried to do the noble thing, but it nearly killed her to walk away from him like that. She could never do that again. Max had to find a way for them to be together. He just had to!

Liz looked around at the assortment of tents and trailers around her. She suddenly realized that she didn’t have a clue where to go. The only time she’s been awake in this camp was when she was with Max just now…

“Liz Parker?” A voice interrupted her thoughts. The speaker was an attractive, tall man with piercing green eyes. He wore a pair of jeans and a loose shirt, his faced was tanned and he had a mop of sandy blonde hair.

Liz was feeling really uncertain of herself right now, so she only nodded. She wished she could run back into Max’s arms and wait for him to sort everything out, but Max had made it clear that he needed some time alone.

The guy came forward with a smile, his hand outstretched. “Hi, my name is Jans. Nick sent me to help you to your tent.”

Liz stared at him suspiciously, causing him to drop his hand and broaden his smile. “Maria is waiting for you! And we’ve put your bag in there already.” He pointed: “It’s this way.”

Liz was really tired after all the stress of the previous evening and the recent intensity with Max, so she followed him meekly. After a while, she noticed he was staring at her and she frowned at him.

He looked away, embarrassed. “Sorry, it's just… you’re really lovely!” He blurted out. “Its like you shine from within.”

Liz’s face softened in a smile. “Thank you.” She knew exactly why she looked like that. Max Evans loved her…

Jans was being really charming, telling her what some of the tents and trailers were being used for. He kept throwing glances in her direction as he talked. He said that they were all really exited that their leader and his family were finally here. Liz had been listening to the story intently, desperate to learn everything she could about Max’s people. But his last comment reminded her abruptly of the fact that, in the eyes of the inhabitants of this camp, Max had a wife.

She was relieved when he finally stopped in front of a tent, on the other side of the camp from Max’s, and said that this was where she would stay with Maria. She tried to smile up at Jans before she went inside. He was the only person apart from Max, Michael and Isabel and her human counterparts that she knew here and who knows, she might need him again.

He stopped her, his hand on her arm. “That is your bathroom trailer.” He pointed past their tent. “And I’ll come find you later this afternoon for the official tour.”

Liz smiled back at him in thanks and went inside.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Lizzie!” Maria squealed as soon as she laid eyes on her and nearly ran her to the ground. “I was beginning to wonder what Max was doing with you!” She said with an evil grin. “And from the looks of you, I was right to worry!”

“Maria!” Liz cried, mortified, but smiling. “We… we had to talk about a few things…”

Maria was still grinning. “Hmm, yeah, those lips are so puffy from a lot of talking! Riiight!” She hugged Liz and whispered in her ear: “But I’m glad to see you smiling again, chica! I was worried.”

Liz couldn’t help blurting out the good news. “Oh Maria, he still loves me! And he’s working on a plan to get out of this destiny thing!” She hugged Maria again. “So tell me, how did it go with Michael?”

Maria grinned and shrugged. “You know Michael, non-verbal communication only! Not that I complained!” She was laughing now. “Anyway, from the non-verbal communication I gathered that he wasn’t too thrilled about his destiny either!”

The two friends smiled at each other. There was hope after all!

“Let’s go shower!” Maria yelled. “And then I need to find out how long we’re going to have to stay here!”

~*~*~*~*~

Max decided to go see the others after he had a shower. A long cold one. He ran into Tess when he came out of the showers and the look on her face told him he didn’t want to have this discussion right now.

“Max!” Tess planted herself in his path, her hands on her hips. “You need to stop encouraging Liz Parker in her fantasy that you two will get together some day. Its really unfair towards her.” Max gaped at her, but Tess continued blithely: “I mean, rather break her heart now. Its not nice to prolong the torture!”

Max couldn’t believe his ears. How deluded was this girl? Did she honestly see that scene in his tent and think he was humoring Liz? He opened his mouth to retort, but realized they were gaining an audience, so he pulled her into his tent by her arm.

Tess pressed against him as soon as they were inside. “See, I knew you wanted me!”

Max stepped away from her. “No Tess, I’m sorry, but I don’t. There’s only one girl I want and that’s Liz. How many times do we have to have this discussion?” His voice was weary. “And I’m going to be honest with you. If there’s any way out of this destiny thing, I’ll use it to be with Liz.”

Tess’ mouth drew into a thin line with anger. “No Max, you are wrong and I’m going to prove it to you!” She stormed out of the tent for the second time that morning.

Max immediately went in search of Michael and Isabel. He found them in Michael’s tent. They looked a little happier than the last time he had seen them, but not much.

Max frowned. “What’s up with you two?”

Isabel and Michael glanced at one another before Izzy spoke: “Its just… we have Alex, Liz and Maria back here, but we’re living in a fool’s paradise Max. We can’t be with them! Not here in this camp full of people from out planet! People who are waiting for us to fulfill our destinies and save our planet! I didn’t think our situation could get any worse, but it has…”

Max had turned grim halfway through her speech. “No Isabel. I don’t accept that. We need to talk to Nick to sort out what our destinies entail exactly. I don’t see why I have to be with Tess for me to help my people. I need Liz too much…”

Michael got angry. “Maxwell, this is about much more than your idea of true love. This is about saving a planet. How can you be so self-absorbed that you can’t see that?”

“I know that Michael! I want to help these people, I just don’t see why it cannot be on my terms.” Max’s voice was rising in anger. “And we’re just assuming a lot of things about our destinies, we need to go on real facts before we make a decision! And I’m not letting Liz leave this camp until I have some answers!”

“Maxwell, I like Liz and she’s done a lot for us, but this obsession with her has gotten us… has gotten YOU into a lot of trouble before and you better get a hold of yourself. Liz is only a girl—”

Max interrupted him. “No Michael. She’s not ‘only a girl’. She’s Liz.” He said that as if it provided all the answers. “I love her and I’m not giving her up.”

A stunned silence greeted his announcement. Of course they had all assumed that Max was in love with Liz, but hearing him say it out loud was still a shock. Even more so because Michael and Isabel knew that Max would not say something like that lightly.

After a few moments of silence, Max turned around. “Let’s go find Nick.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Journal Entry 10

So they’ve all met with the humans. I knew the questions were coming, but there was no way that I could answer them now without hampering the experiment. Could physical attraction become a threat to what is supposed to be? We needed to change the setting for the experiment one more time to find some clues to this.


Nick was outside the tent when they came out. He noticed that Isabel looked worried, Michael sullen and Max determined.

“Nick, we need to speak to you. Right now.” Max didn’t even realize how overbearing he sounded. Nick stifled a smile. The past was slowly gaining on his young leader.

“Actually, I was coming to get you. We need to start with your training—”

Max didn’t let him finish. “No, this is more important. We need some answers.”

Nick looked at him steadily. “No, your training is more important. We are running out of time.” He saw the shock in Max’s eyes. “We need to leave the camp for a few nights to train. You better go pack and get ready. We leave in an hour.” He turned to Max: “I’m sorry. We may get some time to talk in the desert.”

He left them there, staring at his back as he walked away.

~*~*~*~*~

Liz was lying on her bed when Maria came running in. “Liz, they’re leaving!”

Liz sat up, a cold hand clutching her heart. “What do you mean ‘they’re leaving’?”

“Michael just told me that they were going into the desert to train for a few days. And that we should stay here and stay out of trouble.”

Maria was on the way out again when she saw Liz still sitting on her bed, hugging her knees. “Aren’t you coming to say goodbye?”

“Is Tess going?”

Maria frowned. “Yes… but Lizzie, he loves you don’t worry!”

Liz dropped her head to her knees. “Tess will only cause a scene if I’m there, Maria. He knows I love him and that I’ll miss him…” Her head snapped up suddenly. “No wait, could you give him something from me?” She scrambled to her bag and dug out her journal and a pen. She tore out a clean sheet and wrote something on it. “Here, please give this to him. But don’t let—”

Maria sighed. “Don’t let anyone see. I know! I don’t’ know why you and Max make everything so hard for yourselves, but yes, I’ll give it to him.” She left shaking her head.

Max, Tess, Isabel and Michael were standing at Max’s Jeep with Nick when Maria arrived. She saw how Max looked beyond her, obviously wondering where Liz was. His gaze came back to Maria and, not for the first time, Maria marveled at the emotion Liz Parker was able to inspire in stoic, serious Max Evans. She took a deep breath, walked over and hugged Max, handing him the piece of paper so that no one else could see it. When she pulled away, everyone was staring at her in surprise. Everyone but Michael, that is. Maria chuckled when she saw the death stare Michael was giving Max. More non-verbal communication!

Max was oblivious to all the undercurrents around him. The piece of paper was burning a hole in his pocket and he excused himself saying he forgot something in his tent. Running around the first corner he could find, he stopped and opened the note. Her handwriting, so familiar from all those combined biology notes, filled the page:

With this note I’m sending you a kiss for every minute we’ll be apart. My heart is already with you, it always has been. But my body will miss being close to you while you’re away. Come back soon!
Love,
L

Max took a deep breath and reread the note. He couldn’t leave without saying goodbye! He took off in the direction of Liz’s tent, praying that the group waiting for him will not come looking for him.
Liz was still sitting on her bed when Max came barging in. He didn’t stop but scooped her up into his arms and kissed her. The kiss was full of longing and hunger and desperation for the time apart that was coming. Liz wrapped her arms around his neck and held on, marveling in his passion. His tongue teased her lips until she opened her mouth and he made a satisfied sound as he deepened the kiss. He used his arm around her waist to lift her up into his body and his other hand tangled in her hair, arching her neck to allow him complete access to her mouth.

Liz tasted all he didn’t have time to say on his lips. That he would miss her. That he would come back. That he loved her more than life itself.

They finally broke apart, both gasping for air. Max hugged her against him so hard that she had trouble breathing. But that was fine with her!

He finally stepped back from her and stared in her eyes. “Liz…”

“I know. Me too…” she whispered back. Then he was gone.

Chapter 6 coming up.

[LivE]

PART 6

Journal Entry 11

The training went well. Michael needs some work, but Max, he was focussed and effective. Was it because the girl wasn’t here? We decided to increase the pressure on him, watching his reactions. Nothing really affects him deeply, nothing but the possibility that the girl may leave his life. The evidence is piling up.


They were gone for four days. Four days in which Liz’s body was starting to ache from being separated from Max’s. She would wake shaking and aroused during the nights, knowing without evidence that he was thinking of her. Knowing that he had been dreaming of her… of them. She would whisper his name: “Max…” hoping he would hear somehow and know she thought of him too.

During the days, Liz, Maria and Alex spent most of their time with Jans. He took them around the camp, had lunch with them, told them stories about the people in the camp. He seemed entranced by Liz, his eyes followed her everywhere and he touched her whenever he got a chance. Hugging her lightly when she laughed, pushing her hair out of her face when it escaped its ponytail. Maria and Alex looked at each other every time this happened, wondering how Max would take all of this.

Liz didn’t seem to notice. Half of her thoughts were always with Max. She wondered how he was doing with Tess. She had moments where it felt like he was standing next to her, about to touch her and she could feel the heat of his hand on her skin. These moments were so real that they disorientated her and she had to make up excuses for her lapses in concentration to her friends. She was getting comfortable with Jans and was hungry to learn everything that she could. She so wanted to make Max proud.

Most of the people in the camp were involved in crafts that they could sell later to buy supplies for the camp. Maria had immediately joined some women who were making clothes. Mostly shirts and blouses in wonderful colors. Alex seemed a bit lost until he found out the camp had a few computers from which the group was doing some research. He subsequently volunteered to help with the software.

This left Liz alone with Jans again. So they talked about biology and how little difference there was between Max, Michael and Isabel’s bodies and those of humans.

~*~*~*~*~

Max was frustrated after the first two days of training. Not with the training, but with Nick’s unwillingness to tell him anything that would help him and Liz. He had carefully avoided answering any of Max’s questions about his past. About their home planet and their parents. And mostly about him being married to Tess.

Tess was also doing her best to make his life hell. She practiced her mind control almost exclusively on him, sending him images of them being together in the most basic of ways. The situation only improved when he exploded after a particularly graphic vision that left him trembling with an assortment of emotions. Nick had taken her to the side and spoke to her quietly while Max tried to get the images from his mind. They were so different from the ones his imagination conjured up on its own accord. Those were filled with images of Liz. Of how perfect she would look and feel, lying in his arms with her bare skin next to his. He grimly realized that the only thing Tess’ visions managed to do was increase his fantasies about Liz.

He would wake up in the night, his body hard and aching, and his heart racing. The dreams of Liz felt so real that he was surprised every time his hands didn’t find her next to him.

On the third night, Nick sent him to find Tess who hadn’t returned from a walk in the desert. Max went, because he felt responsible for all of them, but he was not prepared for what he found.

She was standing at the base of a rock formation, her bare skin shimmering in the pale moonlight. Max was speechless.

She smiled when she saw him: “I was waiting for you.” Her voice was soft and sultry as she slid her hands over her naked body.

Max let his eyes travel over her. She was beautiful and she was the first girl he had ever seen like this, but he felt… nothing. His body remained unaffected and his heart untouched. This was nothing like her mind control visions that created false reactions from him. This was real and he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he would never feel about her the way he felt about Liz. With Liz, his body reacted instinctively, explosively, without needing conscious inducement from her.

Tess was coming closer and he held up his hand. “No Tess, whatever you thought was going to happen here, is not.” He watched her halt in confusion. “Let’s just go back and forget this happened.” He turned around and started walking away. “I’ll wait for you over there. Get dressed.”

Fury took hold of Tess the likes of which she has never experienced before. How could he be immune to her? He was a 17-year old guy, for crying out loud. Even worse, he was an inexperienced 17-year old guy. Little Miss Prim was the reason for his actions, she just knew it! Nick had told her to stop with the visions and try the reality. To try and seduce Max the normal, human way. And look where it got her! Max was even more determined to stay away from her. She dragged her clothes back on, her movements jerky with anger. She would just have to target the weak link in this triangle: Liz Parker…

~*~*~*~*~*~

They arrived back at the camp late in the afternoon. Maria and Alex came running up, exited to see their aliens again, though they were careful not to hug or kiss them. If there was anything they learned these few days, it was the high esteem the people in the camp had for their “royal family” and their destiny.

Max got out of the Jeep, his tiredness disappearing in the light of the fact that he would see Liz again. His Liz. He felt her near, but couldn’t see her yet. He listened with one ear to the chattering around him, but his eyes were scanning the area for a glimpse of her.

Then he saw her. His first impulse was to run over to her and drag her back to his tent. Any tent. She had been away from him too long and his heightened physical awareness of her was driving him insane. But the reunion was not how he pictured it. Some guy had his arm around her and she was laughing up at him. Max felt a red haze of jealousy settling over his vision. It blurred everything but the view of another man with his hands on Liz. He clenched his hands into fists and started towards them when Michael grabbed his arm.

“Max! You can’t do this!” Michael’s voice was low, but it held an urgent note. Max looked ready to kill the guy with Liz and this would not be a smart thing to do with half of the camp’s inhabitants staring at them. He took a step back as Max swung around, ready to flatten whoever was keeping him from tearing the guy of Liz.

“Max!” It stopped him short when he heard his name, said by the one voice that could always get his attention

Liz had stopped a few paces away, trying not to create a scene. She had seen Max’s reaction to Jans being with her and she desperately wanted to tell him that he had nothing to worry about. She wanted to tell him that her body had known the moment he had arrived back at the camp. That she had to force herself no to run into his arms. That she had temporarily forgotten the name of the guy next to her when she saw him look at her.

She tried again, seeing the wild look still in Max’s eyes. “Uhm… welcome back. I… We missed you.” Max was staring at her, his eyes slowly running over her as if trying to see if Jans had left a mark on her with his touch. She watched as the look in his eyes slowly transcended into something new. Those wonderful hazel eyes were becoming darker as they traveled back up her body from her feet. Stopping for a few moments in some places before continuing their burning path to her face. It felt like he was touching her with his hands, skimming his fingers over her naked skin and Liz forgot to breathe. She crossed her arms over her chest protectively as his gaze finally lifted from her breasts to her lips. His eyes were hungry and hot and created a sharp need low in her stomach.

Michael still had a hold on Max’s arm and started to drag him away from Liz. He had watched with concern while Max ate Liz with his gaze. Hell, he was sure everyone was watching Max devour Liz with that look. If he left him and Liz together like that for any longer, they would melt the Jeep!

Max was looking back at Liz while Michael continued to force him in the direction of the showers. ‘Tonight’, he thought. Tonight NOTHING will keep him from Liz. Not his destiny and certainly not the disapproval of his friends.

Liz blinked in surprise when Max finally disappeared around a corner. She had heard the word clearly in her mind. Max had thought: ‘Tonight.’

Chapter 7 coming up.

[LivE]

PART 7

Journal Entry 12

He rejects the destiny proclaimed by the orbs with every new minute. We had hoped for… but this, it is so different from what we were expecting. It affects the plan.


The camp was quiet and Liz could hear Maria’s deep breathing in the dark tent next to her. Maria had returned from seeing Michael earlier and reported what she knew of the training. It had gone well and Nick seemed pleased, she said. Liz could sense there was something she didn’t want to say, but didn’t ask. She was afraid of what it would be. She preferred to remember the way she and Max had parted this afternoon. She hadn’t seen him again. He didn’t come to dinner. Neither did Tess and Liz tried not to think what that could mean.

She was lying on her bed, fully clothed. She wore the same red button-down sweater she wore that night long ago when she and Max went to the desert and found the orb. The sweater held some good memories. But she was starting to feel like an idiot. It was really late and he wasn’t coming. She had imagined hearing him think about tonight.

Sighing wearily, she stood up and started unbuttoning her sweater when two arms encircled her from behind unexpectedly. One hand caught her hands, stopping them from completing their task with the buttons, the other hand cupped her mouth to stifle her startled yelp. Her body told her it was Max immediately.

Max practically carried her from the tent and only stopped outside to put her down and enfold her in one of his jackets. Thrusting her arms through the sleeves, he buttoned it quickly and took her hand. They stared at each other for a few moments, both panting for air. Then Max turned around and dragged her behind him into the desert. Liz had to run to keep up and after a while she pulled on his hand, trying to make him go slower. She only succeeded in making him pick her up. He hugged her tight against his chest and continued his urgent flight into the night.

Liz was mesmerized by the play of his muscles she could feel underneath his shirt with each stride he took. Yes, she had touched that chest once, but never had the chance again and her hands were itching to rediscover that smooth, hot skin. “Max.” The word was slurred with passion and it had an immediate effect on Max.

He came to halt near some rocks so suddenly that they nearly toppled to the ground. He let her legs drop to the ground and they both groaned as she slid down against his body. He ran his finger over her cheek and down her jaw and watched as it finally came to rest on her mouth. That beautiful, lush mouth that drove him crazy. “Too long…” his voice was gravelly. He fused his mouth to hers hungrily while his arms crushed her to him.

They kissed as if they were starving for each other. Liz clutched at his shoulders, trying to remain upright. Their connection came to life again, causing a momentary lapse in the intensity of the kiss. Max saw some of what she had been doing the past few days, but most of all he saw her waking up in a sweat after dreaming of him. And he saw the dreams. The same dreams he had been having. Of them together, their naked limbs tangled in passion.

Liz saw Max training with Michael and Isabel and she saw… Tess… naked in the moonlight. She tore herself from Max with a cry of such pain that it shocked Max out of his passionate haze. He caught her as she tried to stumble away from him. “Liz, what—”

Liz had her face turned away from him, trying to twist out of his arms. She was saying ‘no’ over and over again.

Max forced her head towards him with his hand on her chin. “What?” he cried, scared to see her like this.

Liz finally quieted down, but tears were squeezing from below her closed lids. Max was getting frantic. “Liz! Please tell me!” And for the second time in his life, her words threatened to bring his world crashing down around him.

“I saw Tess. In the desert. Naked. With you.” Liz forced the words through clenched teeth, hoping to get through this moment without crumbling completely.

“Oh god, Liz! That’s not what happened! I mean, yes… she tried, but I…” Max was shaking so badly he had trouble forming a sentence. “Just… please kiss me again. You’ll see. Trust me! Please!”
The desperate note in his voice got her attention and she slowly opened her eyes. Max was wiping the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs and his eyes were pleading with her. Pleading with her not to believe the lie.
He leant closer, carefully watching her for any sign of distress until their lips touched. “I love you.” His breath whispered over her lips with his declaration. He kissed her softly at first, seemingly afraid that she would bolt, but when she didn’t, he deepened the kiss. His tongue traced her lips, begging for her to open up to him.

Liz couldn’t fight him, not when he was kissing her like this. Like she was the air he needed to breathe. Her mouth opened with a sigh and this time, the flashes were not painful at all. She saw him walk away from Tess, unmoved by her nudity. And she saw him wake up trembling from a dream later that night, the same dream she had been having over and over again. The one in which he finally completed his possession of her: heart, mind, soul and… body.

This time when they broke apart, it was to stare at each other in amazement. They were having the same dreams!

Max reached out to take the clip from her hair. He did it almost reverently, sliding his fingers through the softness as the strands swung free. He inhaled her scent like a drug, needing it inside his lungs, inside his body. Her eyes caught the light of the millions of stars twinkling over their heads and he thanked the parents he had never known for sending him to this planet. For allowing him to find Liz, his other half. His soulmate.

As his hands lifted to the top button of his jacket still enfolding her body, he saw desire flaring to life in her gaze. She matched his action, her fingers finding his buttons and undoing them as fast as she could. Their hands got tangled in their efforts to remove the clothes, causing Max to drag her hands away from him and finishing his own buttons first. Turning slightly away from her, he spread his jacket on the sand next to them. When he turned back, Liz was opening her jacket and his heart stopped as she slid the garment from her shoulders and laid it next to his on the ground. Her action had caused the half-opened edges of her sweater, left like that in their haste to get away from the camp, to pull apart further. The gaping material revealed more of her soft, bare skin than he had ever seen.

“Liz.” Her name was a hungry moan that fired her blood to boiling point.

Max hauled her to him roughly, fastening his mouth to hers, kissing her with almost violent passion. And Liz reveled in it. She pressed closer, rubbing herself against him in an effort to appease the ache in the pit of her stomach. Max picked her up and laid her on their jackets. He knelt over her, his eyes dark with intent.

“Take off your shirt, Max.” Liz was staring up at him as he hastily complied, tearing the shirt open in haste. The sight of him stole her breath. He was sleek and muscled and hard. She put up her hand to touch him wonderingly and they both groaned at the contact. He let her caress him for a while, watching with heavy-lidded eyes as her gaze traced the movements of her hands on his body almost helplessly. His skin burned her hand and she became aware of the labored movement of his chest under her hand.

Her touch on his stomach was electric and Max closed his eyes in reaction. Liz let her eyes drift lower, from the ridged muscles of his stomach to the front of his pants. He was very much aroused and she was surprised to find that the thought didn’t scare her. In fact, it elated her that she was doing this to him.

Max came out of his passionate trance when her hands started roaming lower, to the edge of his pants. He caught her hands and brought them to his lips. He kissed each finger before bending over her, placing their linked hands above her head. Leaning closer to her mouth, he growled: “My turn.” He pulled her bottom lip into his mouth, nipping at it with his teeth. Liz was making helpless little noises in the back of her throat and each one excited him more. He curled her fingers into the edge of the jacket above her head, silently commanding her to keep them there. Leaning away from her, he did what he had only ever imagined doing. He undid the last few buttons of her sweater and pushed it apart with a shaking hand. She was completely naked underneath and her beauty stole his soul.

His eyes drank in the sight of her thirstily. Memorizing every inch of exposed skin until looking wasn’t enough anymore. Liz arched helplessly as he hesitantly touched her curves. His hand stroked a path from the place on her stomach where he had healed her to the valley between her breasts. She cried his name as he finally moved his hand over her breast, causing a trembling to start deep in her body. She gave up her efforts to keep her hands above her head. Instead, she brought her hands down, digging her nails into his hard back as he kept up the torturous caresses on her flesh.

She pulled him down on her, bringing their bare skin into contact. Max braced himself on his elbows, lost for a moment in the sensation of feeling her breasts against his chest, unhampered by clothes for the first time. He kissed her again, his lips causing a feast of sensations in her body and she opened her thighs, allowing him to settle between them.

The heat blazed between their bodies and drove Max to the brink of control. He rolled them over, so that she was lying on top of him, cradled on his chest. Putting his arms around her, he pressed her to him urgently. He ran one hand down the indentation of her spine until he could cup her rear, arching her against his hardness, but also trying to still her instinctive movements. His restraint was fast becoming a thing of the past.

“Liz.” His voiced sounded drugged. “Please stop… Please…” Nothing made much sense to Max right now. The only thing he knew was that this was not the way he wanted their first time to be like. Liz deserved so much more. She deserved not having the uncertainty of his destiny hanging over them. She deserved a real bed in a nice room. She deserved to have his promise to be eternally true to her. None of which he could give her right now.

He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her gently. “Please stop.” He repeated softly, pleading with her not to make this impossible for him. Because if she wanted to, she could break his resolve. It would be laughably easy.

Liz could barely hear him above the pounding in her temples. Her body was on fire and unsatisfied. She inhaled deeply as Max pressed her face into his chest, slowly realizing that this wasn’t going any further tonight. The thought made her unhappy and relieved all at once. But she could feel little tremors still running through Max’s body underneath her and she understood how hard this was for him. Damn his ever-present control! Sighing against his bare skin, she vowed that when the timing was right, she would strip Max Evans of every last drop of control. Even if it killed her!

Chapter 8 to come.

[LivE]

PART 8

Journal Entry 13

We decided to give them some of the answers they were looking for. It was still not the ones they needed to hear, but it was something. The impact was immediate and so exactly what we had expected. This experiment is teaching us more in a few days than we had learned in years alone in this camp.


They walked back to the camp silently, hand in hand. Max had waited until their bodies had calmed down a bit and then gently and lovingly fastened her sweater. His eyes drank in each disappearing inch of bare skin as his fingers completed their task. He had helped her into her jacket and hugged her fiercely before they started for home.

Stopping outside her tent, he told her earnestly: “You are the most beautiful thing in my life, Liz Parker.” He stepped closer, leaning his forehead against hers in an action that was becoming characteristic of their gentle moments. “I don’t want to feel like I’m just having an affair with you. Like you’re my mistress or concubine or something. I want you to feel like your… special.” He pulled away slightly and took a deep breath. “To feel like… like my wife.”

Liz’s eyes grew large, staring up at him in shock. He was watching her anxiously, as if waiting for her to deny what he had just said. “Your… your wife?” Liz could barely get the words out. This was turning into one of the most wonderful nights of her life!

“Yeah. I know it’s… soon and we’re really young, but I want that, Liz. I want to marry you some day… I don’t know much about who I am and what’s going to happen to me, but I’m sure of this one thing. You have to be a part of the rest of my life!”

Liz interrupted his impassioned speech by flinging her arms around his neck and pressing her face to his. “Yes! I want that too. I want you to be mine forever.”

Their kiss sealed this promise and it was a long time before Max could get himself to leave Liz and go back to his tent. His heart was singing with joy and tomorrow… tomorrow he would put an end to this destiny lunacy forever.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Tess waited until Max was gone and Liz safely back in her bed before coming out of the shadows from where she had been watching the nauseating scene. Time to put her plan in action…

~*~*~*~*~*~

Max cornered Maria after breakfast the next morning. “Where’s Liz?” he asked worriedly. “She didn’t come to breakfast.”

Maria gave him an innocent look. “Hmmm, I don’t know? Could it be that she is worn out from late night excursions into the desert? Or from the dreams she had the rest of the night during which her moaning kept me awake?” She laughed at Max’s embarrassed look. “Yeah, and you two used to say Michael and I were bad! Well Mr Leader-of-an-alien-race, what did you do to her last night?” Her eyes grew when a thought hit her. “You two didn’t… you know!”

“Calm down, Maria! Everything is fine!” Max steered her further away from any onlookers. He didn’t want his sex life, however little that meant right now, to be overheard by the rest of the camp. “Could you just make sure she’s all right, please? I have to meet with Nick right now and I’m getting a weird sense from Liz right now.”

“Excuse me! A ‘weird sense’? What the heck are you talking about?” Maria’s voice was rising.

Max sighed. He loved Maria, but she was really too much sometimes. “I can’t really explain right now, but I can ‘feel’ her sometimes.” He went on when Maria opened her mouth to ask more questions. “I don’t know how it works either, so just trust me and GO, will you?” To help her along, he gave her a push in the direction of their tent.

Then he went to find Isabel, Michael and Tess. “We need to meet. With Nick. Right now.” The others looked at him in surprise. They were getting used to Max using a tone of voice that brooked no argument, but the urgent note was new.

They found Nick waiting for them outside the breakfast tent. He always seemed to know where to be at what time, and Max wondered about that for the umpteenth time. He was even more surprised when Nick just quietly led them to the tent where Liz, Maria and Alex slept their first night in the camp. Once inside he turned to Max and waited.

Max took a deep breath and sent up a small prayer that this wouldn’t turn out to be the worst day of his life. “I need some answers about the things we saw in the orb transmission.” Both Michael and Isabel gasped and focussed on Nick. The answers to Max’s questions meant a lot to them too. Tess just folded her arms.

Max started with his most important problem. “The orbs… it said I was sent here with my ‘young bride’. I want to know exactly who that is and how it can all still be true if I’m a completely new and different person here on earth?”

Nick saw the anxiety Max was trying to hide. “Yes, Max you were sent here with your bride from your previous life. And I think you already know the answer to your first question.” His eyes went to Tess, seeing the satisfied grin on her face.

Max felt like a huge fist was squeezing the air from his lungs. “You mean I’m still married to her? Right now? How can that be? I’m seventeen! I had no choice in the matter!”

Max was starting to yell and Nick held up his hand. “I didn’t say that.”
The silence following those four words was deafening. Max had to stop himself from running over to Nick and shaking the truth out of him. When he spoke, his voice was soft, but Michael and Isabel knew that this soft tone meant Max was very angry. “Then what are you saying?”

“I’m saying that you were all sent here with your genetically-coded mates from a previous life.”

“So we’re not… married in this life?” Isabel’s voice was tremulous.
Nick seemed surprised that she had spoken. This had been a silent duel between him and Max up to this point. “You need a ceremony for that. A ceremony to make it official in this life. When you’re ready, it will be performed.” He waited for their reaction, his eyes coming back to Max once again.

“What will happen if we marry someone else?” Max heard the small gasp from Tess. “Will it impact on the war? On our race?”

“Yes, it will.” Nick said, an unrecognizable emotion creeping into his voice.

Max still wouldn’t give up. “How?”

Nick stayed silent, causing Max to step closer to him, his hands clenched in fists at his sides.

“How?”

“I can’t tell you that right now.”

Max was losing his temper. “Why not?”

“Its not the right time,” was the enigmatic answer. Nick gave them one final look, his eyes lingering on his young leader the longest. He could see the war going on inside Max. Then he stepped out of the tent. Tess ran after him.

Max swung around to Michael and Isabel, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “What is such a big secret about all this? Why will they not tell us anything about our planet?”

Isabel stood up and put her arm around her brother. “We have to be patient, Max. I’m sure there’s a reason. And at least we know one more thing for now.” She squeezed him and smiled. “No bride.”

Max couldn’t stop a goofy grin from spreading across his face. “Yeah. I… I have to go.”

Michael and Isabel watched him leave and turned to each other. “So, we’re still family right? Brother and sister?”

Michael hugged her. “Yeah.”

“So go tell her!” Isabel rolled her eyes. Did she have to think for these two idiot brothers of hers all the time?

~*~*~*~*~*~

Max ran into a breathless Maria as he came tearing around a tent on his way to Liz. “Max, she won’t wake up! You have to come help her!” Maria sounded panicked.

The cold hand around his heart returned. Something awful was going on with Liz.

Chapter 9 next.

[LivE]

PART 9

Journal Entry 14

Maybe we made a mistake bringing her here… but no, it was essential to the test.


Max entered Liz’s tent in a dead run, only to find Jans on his knees next to her bed. Max was having a bad day and Jans got the brunt of it. The first thing Jans knew was Max yanking him away from Liz with such force that he ended up in a heap against the side of the tent.

“Stay. Away. From. Her!” Max’s voice sent chills down the spines of the people that followed him into the tent. He whirled on all of them. “Get out! All of you. She needs me.”

The tent was hastily cleared and Max turned to the sleeping form of the love of his life. She was lying on her side, her face turned towards him. A small frown was marring her features and he knelt next to the bed. “Liz. Love… Please wake up!”

Only Max, who knew every gesture and feature by heart, could see the little twitch of her mouth at the sound of his voice. “Oh god, Liz! What is wrong? I love you!” He touched her face, running his fingers over her cheeks and jaw line, willing her to wake up. “I need you… What is wrong!”

Maria was hovering concernedly in the door. Liz was her best friend and she was not afraid of Max, instead his disjointed mutterings and gentle actions brought tears to her eyes. She caught sight of Nick out of the corner of her eye, also watching this whole scene. He seemed entranced by all the emotions on Max’s face: fear, love, despair, guilt.

Max suddenly turned around, startling all the people standing in the door. His eyes were bright with tears when they finally located Maria in the group. “Maria. Get Isabel!” Maria had barely swung around to do his bidding when Izzy was rushing into the tent.

Isabel faltered when she saw Max’s face. He had only ever looked like that once in his life. Just after Liz left him to his destiny at the cave. “Max. I’m here. I’ll do it.” She touched his shoulder softly, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from Liz.

Isabel watched as Max clutched Liz’s hand tighter, not willing to let go. “Max, you have to let go so I can work with her. You’ll just confuse her if…”

“I can’t.” Max sounded more distraught by the minute.

Isabel turned to Michael, who was hugging Maria just inside the door. “Come help me with him.”

Michael came forward and pried Max away from Liz. But he only managed to move him a few feet. “Liz.” There was a wealth of pain in the one word.

Isabel put her hands on Liz and concentrated. It was like trying to punch through a brick wall. But she could feel the anxiety coming of Max in waves and, taking a deep breath, she tried again. This time she could discern a terrified cry that shook her to her core and caused her to jerk her hands away involuntarily.

Max was at her side immediately. “What!” he cried, grabbing Liz’s hand again.

Isabel decided not to upset him further. “I couldn’t get in.”

Max turned pleading eyes to her. “Iz, please. She’s my life…” Neither Max nor Isabel heard the gasp that went through the small group of people still milling about in the door of the tent.

Isabel didn’t know what to do. Liz, or something, was blocking her. She looked back up into her brother’s desperate face. “You try. I’ll create the connection.” She took his hand and put her other hand on Liz. Closing their eyes, Isabel and Max concentrated. The power of feeling pouring from Max to Liz made Isabel feel dizzy and she wondered how they all could have been so blind as to make fun of the love between her brother and this petite girl.

Max was crying out to Liz in his mind, urging her to come to him or to wake up when he sensed another presence. His eyes snapped open. “I’m going to kill her!” With that, he took off out of the tent, scattering people in front of him.

“Oh god, Michael! Stop him!” Isabel cried, pushing Michael after Max.

Michael wasn’t fast enough. He found Max already on his way back, dragging Tess by the arm. Michael attempted to talk sense into Max. “Hey Maxwell, calm down! You’re not helping Liz like this!”

Max just brushed him out of the way and pulled Tess into the tent. “What the hell are you doing to her?” He spoke through gritted teeth.

“Nothing!” Tess wailed. “She must just be really tir—”

“NO!” Max yelled, making everyone jump. “I felt you! In her mind. Undo whatever you did or you’re out of here. For good.”

“You’re insane!” Tess was struggling to get out of his grip.

Black fury shone from Max’s eyes and his voice dropped to just above a whisper. “No, insane is what I’ll be if anything happens to Liz. She is the reason I’m on this planet. To love her. To have her love me back, and so help me, if she’s not here anymore, you won’t be either. Now fix it!” He pushed her towards the bed, still holding onto her arm.

Tess stared at him in fear. He was even more angry than the time he thought she was Nacedo and that she wanted to hurt Liz. She turned around. “Nick, help me!” she begged. But Nick just folded his arms and watched her with an expressionless face. She turned back towards Max and conceded defeat. His face told her that even if Liz were gone, she would always be the one that held his heart. That there would never be anyone to take her place.

Closing her eyes, she removed the part of her from Liz’ subconscious that kept Liz afraid to wake up.

Tears began to seep from Liz’s eyelids immediately. Max was down on the bed next to her in an instant, cradling her against his body and wrapping his arms around her fiercely. “Love, please don’t cry. I’m here…”

Isabel and Michael were herding all the onlookers from the tent when Liz cried out in pain. It was the same awful sound that Isabel heard while she was dreamwalking. The sound held such despair and fear that it sliced through everyone close enough to hear.

Max felt like his heart stopped and he held Liz tighter when she tried to struggle up. “Max, you have to let me go! You… hurt… I can’t… No!”

“What are you talking about? Liz, whatever Tess told you, it’s not true! I’m fine!” He held her face in his hands, kissing her eyelids, cheeks, nose, anything that he could reach in a desperate attempt to get her to calm down. He held her until the shaking lessened and she reluctantly opened her eyes.

Looking up at Max, Liz saw the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. Reaching up a trembling hand, she cupped his cheek. “I’m sorry. For scaring you.”

Max inhaled deeply, relief etching his face and he unconsciously repeated the words from long ago that started it all for them. “You’re all right now. You’re all right.” He cradled her to him, rocking her, as much in an effort to calm himself as for her. Liz clung to him. Here in his arms, she always felt safe. She always felt like she was home.

Max leant away from her. “Liz, what happened? What did she do to you?”

Liz escaped his probing look by pressing her face into his neck. He had to strain to hear her muffled words. “Can we talk about it later? I… I’m… It’s too soon. Please.”

Max ran his hand through her hair, not knowing whether to press for an answer or not. She seemed really upset still and he didn’t want to make things worse. Taking a decision, he got up, hugging her against his chest. Walking out of the tent with her, he passed Maria, standing in Michael’s arms. “Please bring her stuff to my tent. She stays with me from now on.”

There were some stunned faces in the crowd, but Nick wasn’t one of them. He watched as Max strode off with Liz still in his arms and a small smile tugged at his lips.

Chapter 10 next.

[LivE]

I can't get the links to the stories to work are they post somewhere else that I could go?

No, sorry! All the sites where these stories were up (that I know of) have been taken down. So if you have some patience, they will all be up here on this thread eventually.

LivE