Chapter Thirty - One – History Lesson
“Come and eat,” said Drinian. “Before we discuss anything, you need to eat.”
“Uh, yeah,” said a distracted Max. His mind was busy going over what Kyle had told him, as well as the news that Cal had taken off for parts unknown.
They sat down to a meal that was a combination of the sweet and spicy foods that were indigenous to Antar as well as several Earth foods that Zan had cultivated as a courtesy to Liz and the others. The talk at the table was nothing more than idle chitchat. Something that had Max chomping at the bit, but he had long ago learned that his father preferred to keep ‘business’ conversation away from the dinner table. Apparently that rule stood firm in times of war too.
“Father, I mean you no disrespect,” said Zan, correctly interpreting the look of frustration on his brother’s face. “I know you like to keep meal times a family time, but we,” he motioned to the others around the table, “seem to work better if we eat at the same time.”
Drinian struggled to contain his laughter. Zan so seldom did anything that was in direct opposition to his wishes. He was pleased to see his son displayed the fortitude to take matters into his own hands, especially at such an important time.
“Thank you, Father,” said Max, sighing with relief. He wanted to begin planning, and the sooner the better. He opened his mouth to speak, only to realize he still didn’t really know what they were fighting.
Again, Drinian struggled to contain his mirth, even at such a trying time. Max was as impetuous as ever; ready to charge headlong into anything that would help those he cared about. It was almost humorous to watch him realize that he didn’t yet know who this new enemy was.
“When our people first fled Earth, it was because of the eminent destruction of our lands, and in fact they thought the entire Earth would have been destroyed as well. Our technology was very advanced, but we couldn’t control nature, and there were several volcanic eruptions that worried us greatly,” explained Drinian. “It was deemed safer to flee. Five hundred people fled Earth. A handful of scientists chose to remain behind and observe what was going to happen. They swore to contact us if they survived.”
“Well, I’m guessing they didn’t,” said Kyle, “Or else you would have returned to Earth, right.”
“They did not contact us by conventional methods,” agreed Drinian. “But the possibility exists that they did survive, but the technology was destroyed.”
“What do you mean?” asked Maria. “Couldn’t they just build another communicator or something?”
“Not if the technology and the resources were destroyed,” said Alex. “If everybody in the world disappeared tomorrow, could you build yourself a car?”
“I get your point,” said Maria. “So you’re guessing that they all died then.”
“Not necessarily,” said Liz, warming to the subject. “There are many things on Earth made by ancient civilizations that just shouldn’t exist, like the pyramids, and Stonehenge.”
“That is correct,” said Kitana, looking fondly at her daughter-in-law. “We have long held out hope that they did survive and made their way to other lands.”
“Look the history lesson is nice,” said Michael. “And a hell of a lot more interesting than what we ever learned in high school, but can we get to the part where we kill the enemy and take back the throne.”
“You are as hot headed as your father was,” said Dijanya, fondly.
Michael glared at his mother, and Max could see Michael that he didn’t take kindly to the comparison. He decided it was a good time to intervene.
“Perhaps some time, you could tell us more about Prija Cladar,” Max said, using the Antarian term for Uncle. “But right now, I think we need to focus on what’s going on up there. What else can you tell us, Father?”
Drinian pushed back away from the table and looked at the others, worried at how they would process this next bit of information.
“When we arrived on Antar, there was a terrible war going on. The indigenous people of the planet were warring with the people from the neighboring planet of Gador,” explained Drinian. “We carved out this world beneath the planet’s surface and prepared to wait out the war.”
“You’re telling me that you ancestors landed here,” interrupted Kyle and carved out this subterranean world and settled in, just like that? I’m having a hard time with that whole concept, and I’m not even one of the scientific ones.”
Everyone laughed, except for Drinian whose face should a combination of frustration and amusement.
“If you would just access the memories of those that came before you,” he said for what he felt was the thousandth time, “You would know all this.”
Max looked at Isabel, and the others, his expression bleak. None of them, Zan included had searched many of the memories of their former selves or the generations of Antarians that had come before them. Not only was it incredibly painful emotionally to access those memories, it also felt like an incredible invasion of privacy. The collective conscious was one aspect of Antarian living that none of them had truly embraced.
“Fine,” said a clearly exasperated Drinian. “Our people had prophesized the end of our world for a very long time. We had scouts out searching for a new home for generations. When they decided Antar was the best option, they began to create this underground world almost immediately. When the time came for us to evacuate Earth, most of this was already completed. After our arrival, we went immediately underground and waited.”
“Waited for what?” asked Liz, who had been listening attentively.
“They waited to see who was going to win and offered to become their allies,” said Michael. “Strategically, it was a sound idea, but morally, kind of a sucky thing to do.”
“How’d you know that, Space Boy,” Maria asked.
“He tapped into the collective consciousness,” said Drinian. “And you are right Michael, it was a sucky thing for them to do.”
Everyone laughed at the sound of the Earth term coming from Drinian. It was slightly incongruous for a man of such regal bearing to be using Earth slang. Drinian smiled, knowing the track their thoughts had taken, and not minding at all their finding amusement at his expense.
“What I can’t understand,” continued Michael “Is how they can be so cold as to wait and see who was going to win before offering to become their allies. How could our people be so cold blooded? Did it matter to them at all that the Gadori wanted to, and did commit genocide?”
“No, it didn’t,” said Dijanya, looking at her son fondly. “I don’t condone what was done here, Michael. None of us do, but they did what they had to in order to ensure their survival.”
“Well, obviously, they made a poor choice, since the Gadori first sold Antar out to Kivar, and now are trying to take over for themselves,” Ava said heatedly. “I don’t care why they did it, selling out the people who used to live here was wrong.”
“And that is why we study history,” said Kitana. “Wise people learn from the mistakes of those who went before them. Why else do you think Drinian is always urging you to tap into the collective consciousness. Learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, or you will be doomed to repeat them.”
The Enemy Unknown (ALL,Teen/Mature) Pt 60 3/24/06 COMPLETE
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Chapter Thirty – Two – Shandar
“So do you think the Gadori have been planning this for a long time?” Alex asked.
“I do not know,” said Drinian. “When our people first arrived, the Gadori were bent on eradicating any species that did not meet their expectations. The native Antarians were such a race.”
“So our people just let an entire race be destroyed,” said Zan, bitterly. “Nice of us.”
“No, we weren’t that bad,” said Dijanya. “We saved as many people as we could, bringing them down to this underground city. We were not innocent, but we weren’t evil either. When Drinian tells you we sided with the Gadori, he didn’t mean we waged all out war against the Antarians. We refused to do.”
“Okay, is anybody besides me confused by all this?” asked Maria. “You sided with the Gadori, but you didn’t. You helped the Antarians, but you didn’t. I don’t get it.”
“If our ancestors had done the right thing,” said Kitana, smiling at Maria’s confusion. “We would have taken the time to find out what was happening, and who was at fault, and why, then offered our assistance. We didn’t do that; instead we bided our time, and allied ourselves with the winning side. We probably could have sided with the Antarians and helped them to fight back, but we didn’t. We rescued as many as we could, and saved them, and their race from being destroyed, but beyond that, we did nothing.”
“Nor did we fight on the side of the Gadori,” said Drinian. “It is important to know that we did not fight with them.”
“But you didn’t stop them either,” said Max.
“Stop it!” said Liz, clearly distressed by the subject. She could see both Max and Zan, as well as Drinian were becoming more and more agitated the longer they discussed the subject. “Drinian, you’re acting as if you’re personally responsible for things that occurred a millennia ago. And Max, you and Zan sound like you’re blaming Drinian for things he had no control over. All of you need to stop it, and take a step back from this and look at it a little less judgmentally.”
Max and Zan looked sheepishly at each other and at their father. Liz was right and they both knew it. Both of them resolved to be more open minded while their father recounted the rest of his tale.
“I thought you told us the Gadori were enslaved by the people of Antar?” Isabel asked.
“They were,” said Drinian, “and they rebelled against the people of this planet. They vowed to completely destroy those who had enslaved them.”
“Then why did they turn against us?” asked Alex. “I mean, if we aided their cause, wouldn’t they want to keep us as allies?”
“Apparently not, Alex,” said Drinian. “From what our intelligence has learned, they have been working, since that time to rid the planets in this star system of intelligent life. The only lives they deem worthy are their own.”
The group sat quietly, still eating while they tried to process this last piece of information, and the ramifications it carried. This was not going to be a situation where a peaceful co-existence could be achieved. If they were to survive, it would mean that they themselves would have to destroy another race of people.
“Talk about holding a grudge,” said Maria, breaking the silence. “I mean give it up already. Don’t they understand that all that hate is bad for their karma?”
“Maria,” said Alex, struggling to hold back his laughter. “I sincerely doubt that they give a rat’s ass about their karma.”
“See, that’s what I mean,” said Maria. “Wait, you’re laughing at me, aren’t you?”
“Well, I’m trying hard not to,” admitted Alex. “But it’s pretty hard,” he added just before he convulsed with laughter.
The infectious sound quickly spread around the table, and soon everyone, including Maria, was laughing merrily. They made short work of their meal, laughing occasionally, but mostly discussing the Gadori and the possibility of defeating them when the sound of shouting interrupted them.
“Get off of my you great ignorant oaf!” a woman yelled. “I am not a spy. Now let go of me before I kill you! I need to see the king!”
“Um, Zan, I think you have company,” said Ava, laughing softly. “What happened, did you say you were going to call and never did.”
The group of friends laughed softly as one of the soldiers assigned to guard their area approached.
“Majesty?” he queried.
“Yes?” answered Zan, Max and Drinian simultaneously.
The guard started to speak, and hesitated, unsure of to whom he should direct his comments. Zan shot a laughing glance at both his father and his brother before he stepped forward.
“What is the problem, Perdren?” he asked.
“We caught an intruder down in the canyon. She claimed she was searching for you, but I don’t believe it. She is a Gadori spy, Sir,” answered Perdren.
“Bring her here,” said Zan.
“But your Majesty,” began Perdren.
“Perdren, do you honesty believe that the twelve of us,” Zan motioned to his friends and family, “Could not subdue one person, if the need arose?”
“With this one, I have my doubts,” Perdren muttered. “Very well, your Majesty,” he added in a louder voice. “Tremdan, escort the prisoner over here please!”
Zan looked at Max, and struggled to contain his mirth when Tremdan appeared with the female prisoner in tow. His face was scratched and bloody, and a large bruise was forming on the side of his cheek. Whoever this woman was, she had put up an incredible fight before Zan’s guards were able to subdue her.
Zan’s gaze switched to the woman, and he felt his heart skip a beat. She was perhaps the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his life. Her hair was a dark brown, darker than Liz’s, and was shot through with vibrant red highlights. Her eyes were a smoky gray color, the color darkening along the outer rim to an almost black color. But it was the way she carried herself that made her stand out. She stood before Zan as is she, and not he were the true ruler of Antar.
“Yes?” queried Zan. “You had something of importance to share?”
“I’ll tell you nothing until your trained buffoon releases me, the woman retorted, angrily.
“And why should I release you?” asked Zan, conversationally. He glanced over to Kyle, and nodded imperceptibly, and Kyle rose and joined them, with Liz trailing behind him.
“Fine, don’t release me,” the woman shot back. “And I won’t tell you what I know.”
Perdren, Tremdan, let her go,” said Zan. “Go and get yourself some food and relax. We’ll be fine.”
The two guards reluctantly released the woman’s arms, and eyed her warily before they stepped away.
“If you need us, King Zan, we wont’ be far away,” said Perdren.”
“I think we’re good,” said Max, when Zan failed to answer, he was too caught up staring at the newcomer. “So, do you have a name?” he asked the woman standing before them.
“I am Shandar,” the woman said. “And I have information for you.”
“Why don’t you start by telling them who you are,” said Drinian, angrily, his arms folded across his chest.
“I just did,” said the woman. “My name is Shandar.”
“That’s right,” said Drinian. “Shandar Blashyn, sister of Kivar Blashyn.”
“That’s right, I am,” said Shandar. “Greetings to you, Prija.”
“So do you think the Gadori have been planning this for a long time?” Alex asked.
“I do not know,” said Drinian. “When our people first arrived, the Gadori were bent on eradicating any species that did not meet their expectations. The native Antarians were such a race.”
“So our people just let an entire race be destroyed,” said Zan, bitterly. “Nice of us.”
“No, we weren’t that bad,” said Dijanya. “We saved as many people as we could, bringing them down to this underground city. We were not innocent, but we weren’t evil either. When Drinian tells you we sided with the Gadori, he didn’t mean we waged all out war against the Antarians. We refused to do.”
“Okay, is anybody besides me confused by all this?” asked Maria. “You sided with the Gadori, but you didn’t. You helped the Antarians, but you didn’t. I don’t get it.”
“If our ancestors had done the right thing,” said Kitana, smiling at Maria’s confusion. “We would have taken the time to find out what was happening, and who was at fault, and why, then offered our assistance. We didn’t do that; instead we bided our time, and allied ourselves with the winning side. We probably could have sided with the Antarians and helped them to fight back, but we didn’t. We rescued as many as we could, and saved them, and their race from being destroyed, but beyond that, we did nothing.”
“Nor did we fight on the side of the Gadori,” said Drinian. “It is important to know that we did not fight with them.”
“But you didn’t stop them either,” said Max.
“Stop it!” said Liz, clearly distressed by the subject. She could see both Max and Zan, as well as Drinian were becoming more and more agitated the longer they discussed the subject. “Drinian, you’re acting as if you’re personally responsible for things that occurred a millennia ago. And Max, you and Zan sound like you’re blaming Drinian for things he had no control over. All of you need to stop it, and take a step back from this and look at it a little less judgmentally.”
Max and Zan looked sheepishly at each other and at their father. Liz was right and they both knew it. Both of them resolved to be more open minded while their father recounted the rest of his tale.
“I thought you told us the Gadori were enslaved by the people of Antar?” Isabel asked.
“They were,” said Drinian, “and they rebelled against the people of this planet. They vowed to completely destroy those who had enslaved them.”
“Then why did they turn against us?” asked Alex. “I mean, if we aided their cause, wouldn’t they want to keep us as allies?”
“Apparently not, Alex,” said Drinian. “From what our intelligence has learned, they have been working, since that time to rid the planets in this star system of intelligent life. The only lives they deem worthy are their own.”
The group sat quietly, still eating while they tried to process this last piece of information, and the ramifications it carried. This was not going to be a situation where a peaceful co-existence could be achieved. If they were to survive, it would mean that they themselves would have to destroy another race of people.
“Talk about holding a grudge,” said Maria, breaking the silence. “I mean give it up already. Don’t they understand that all that hate is bad for their karma?”
“Maria,” said Alex, struggling to hold back his laughter. “I sincerely doubt that they give a rat’s ass about their karma.”
“See, that’s what I mean,” said Maria. “Wait, you’re laughing at me, aren’t you?”
“Well, I’m trying hard not to,” admitted Alex. “But it’s pretty hard,” he added just before he convulsed with laughter.
The infectious sound quickly spread around the table, and soon everyone, including Maria, was laughing merrily. They made short work of their meal, laughing occasionally, but mostly discussing the Gadori and the possibility of defeating them when the sound of shouting interrupted them.
“Get off of my you great ignorant oaf!” a woman yelled. “I am not a spy. Now let go of me before I kill you! I need to see the king!”
“Um, Zan, I think you have company,” said Ava, laughing softly. “What happened, did you say you were going to call and never did.”
The group of friends laughed softly as one of the soldiers assigned to guard their area approached.
“Majesty?” he queried.
“Yes?” answered Zan, Max and Drinian simultaneously.
The guard started to speak, and hesitated, unsure of to whom he should direct his comments. Zan shot a laughing glance at both his father and his brother before he stepped forward.
“What is the problem, Perdren?” he asked.
“We caught an intruder down in the canyon. She claimed she was searching for you, but I don’t believe it. She is a Gadori spy, Sir,” answered Perdren.
“Bring her here,” said Zan.
“But your Majesty,” began Perdren.
“Perdren, do you honesty believe that the twelve of us,” Zan motioned to his friends and family, “Could not subdue one person, if the need arose?”
“With this one, I have my doubts,” Perdren muttered. “Very well, your Majesty,” he added in a louder voice. “Tremdan, escort the prisoner over here please!”
Zan looked at Max, and struggled to contain his mirth when Tremdan appeared with the female prisoner in tow. His face was scratched and bloody, and a large bruise was forming on the side of his cheek. Whoever this woman was, she had put up an incredible fight before Zan’s guards were able to subdue her.
Zan’s gaze switched to the woman, and he felt his heart skip a beat. She was perhaps the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his life. Her hair was a dark brown, darker than Liz’s, and was shot through with vibrant red highlights. Her eyes were a smoky gray color, the color darkening along the outer rim to an almost black color. But it was the way she carried herself that made her stand out. She stood before Zan as is she, and not he were the true ruler of Antar.
“Yes?” queried Zan. “You had something of importance to share?”
“I’ll tell you nothing until your trained buffoon releases me, the woman retorted, angrily.
“And why should I release you?” asked Zan, conversationally. He glanced over to Kyle, and nodded imperceptibly, and Kyle rose and joined them, with Liz trailing behind him.
“Fine, don’t release me,” the woman shot back. “And I won’t tell you what I know.”
Perdren, Tremdan, let her go,” said Zan. “Go and get yourself some food and relax. We’ll be fine.”
The two guards reluctantly released the woman’s arms, and eyed her warily before they stepped away.
“If you need us, King Zan, we wont’ be far away,” said Perdren.”
“I think we’re good,” said Max, when Zan failed to answer, he was too caught up staring at the newcomer. “So, do you have a name?” he asked the woman standing before them.
“I am Shandar,” the woman said. “And I have information for you.”
“Why don’t you start by telling them who you are,” said Drinian, angrily, his arms folded across his chest.
“I just did,” said the woman. “My name is Shandar.”
“That’s right,” said Drinian. “Shandar Blashyn, sister of Kivar Blashyn.”
“That’s right, I am,” said Shandar. “Greetings to you, Prija.”
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Chapter Thirty – Three – Kissin Cousins
“Greetings Uncle,” the woman repeated. “I wasn’t sure if you would recognize me.”
“I recognize you, Shandar,” said Drinian, his voice uncharacteristically cold.
“Uncle?” Isabel whispered, her voice weak. “I thought Kivar was a very distant member of the royal family. She had a look of extreme discomfort on her face, and Alex quickly realized that she was concerned that her clone my have had an incestuous relationship.
“Relax my daughter,” said Kitana. “The royal lineage is very well documented. Kivar’s family was,” she paused for a moment.
“A small insignificant branch on the family tree?” Maria offered.
“Exactly,” said Kitana. “The use of the term Prija was simply one of respect for a family member, no matter how distant.”
“Relax, Isabel,” Alex said, taking Isabel’s hand in his. He squeezed it slightly, and Isabel relaxed slightly.
“I know, it’s just,” she whispered.
“It’s just nothing,” Alex said, smiling reassuringly. “Kivar’s gone, and he isn’t coming back."
“Why is she here?” Ava asked. “I don’t think I like her very much. She looks like a real bitch.”
Maria looked at Ava who was watching the way Zan’s eyes hungrily consumed the newcomer and shot Isabel a knowing smile. Ava was jealous of the newcomer and the way she was claiming Zan’s attention.
Zan had been equally resentful of the place Kyle had in Ava’s life when he first joined the group. However, Kyle was a known entity, as was Zan to some extent. The newcomer, Shandar was worse than unknown, she was the sister of their former enemy.
“Well, it doesn’t look like they’re coming over here,” said Alex. “So I’m thinking we all go over there.”
They quietly joined the others, and Ava pushed her way through her friends to stand beside Kyle and Zan. She surreptitiously pinched Zan’s arm and whispered something. Almost immediately, Zan’s countenance changed and he began to eye the woman in front of him warily.
“What information do you have for us?” he demanded.
“The information I have is important, have no doubt, but what is in it for me?” questioned Shandar. “Surely I should get something out of our exchange.”
“We will pay you for your information, if we deem it worthwhile,” said Zan.
“I don’t want your money,” said Shandar. She through her head back in defiance, and glared at Zan, her eyes filled with anger. “You’re treating me as if I were my brother. I am not Kivar, I had no loyalty to him.”
“So you say, but how do I know that?” asked Zan. “We have no way of knowing if anything you say is true.”
“Zan,” Kitana interjected. “Nothing has to be decided this very second. You and the others should talk before you make any hasty decisions, and in the mean time, perhaps Shandar would like something to eat?” She looked over at Shandar who seemed confused by the kindness she was being offered by the former queen.
“I am hungry,” she admitted. And very tired, she thought to herself. Keeping a wall up to block her true intentions from them had been difficult. She remembered her father telling her that Drinian was skilled at reading emotions, and the rumors said that one of the newcomers was as well. Her gaze passed over them as she assessed each one, and stopped when she reached Kyle. It was he, the one who had mated with Ava. He had the empathic abilities that could cause her so many problems. It wasn’t as if she hiding a lot of information from them. There were just things she’d rather not share with all of them right away.
“Come on, I’ll get you something to eat,” Liz said suddenly, shocking everyone. She stepped away from the group and walked over to the other girl. “I’m Liz, by the way.”
“Greetings, your Majesty,” said Shandar, inclining her head slightly.
“No, I’m Liz,” Liz repeated. “Come on, you must be starving by now.” She smiled reassuringly at the older girl before turning back to look at Max and the others. She was unsurprised so see the varying degrees of shock on the faces of Isabel, Alex and Maria, but the look of intense disgust on Ava’s face upset her greatly. She knew Kyle would explain everything to Ava, but that didn’t make her feel any better about the situation.
Kyle had known right away that Shandar was hiding something from them. She must have realized that they could read her emotions and had blocked them somehow. While Zan questioned the woman, Kyle pulled Liz aside and told her his suspicions. Liz had agreed to try and befriend the woman and find out what she was hiding.
“Why don’t you use your Royal title?” Shandar asked.
“Because I’m not royal,” laughed Liz. “None of us are, or at least we don’t believe we are. We’re just us, you know?”
“But the Granolith chose you to rule,” said Shandar. “When you freed Antar from my brother’s reign of terror.”
Liz looked surprised at the venom she heard in the woman’s voice, but she hid it carefully.
“I take it there was no love lost between the two of you,” she said carefully. She placed a tray full of food in front of the girl and watched in amazement as the woman beside her began to devour the food ravenously. Shandar ate as if she hadn’t seen food in days.
Silently, Liz left the table and returned with more food for the hungry woman. As Shandar ate, Liz opened her mind ad tried to read the other woman. She wasn’t as skilled as Kyle, but she was able to feel the confusion and fear that emanated from the woman.
Liz noticed Maria hovering in the background, and she excused herself from the table and made her way quickly to where Maria waited.
“So you learned a new trick?” Maria asked with a smile.
“Yeah, and I don’t know how Kyle managed to survive when it first started happening to him,” Liz said ruefully. “I feel like I’m being inundated with all these feelings. They’re coming at me from all sides.”
“It’s that bad?” asked Maria, her face a mask of concern for the pain her friend was feeling.
“It’s pretty bad, but at least we had Kyle to help us get through it. I’ll never forget how much he hurt when he was developing his power. If Drinian hadn’t helped him when he did, I don’t think he would have survived.”
“And Max, Isabel and Space Boy have this power now, too?” asked Maria. “So like maybe he’ll finally know when I’m upset, and I won’t have to spell it out for him?”
Liz laughed cheerfully. The noise sounded alien, coming from her mouth. The past week hadn’t given her many reasons to laugh, and she was afraid she had forgotten how, but five minutes alone with Maria had eased that fear. She could always count on her friend to shake her out of her doldrums.
“Well, we all underwent the same process,” Liz said. “But whether it took or not, who knows? Anyhow, I should get back to our guest an see if I can get anything else off of her.”
“That’s why I’m here,” said Maria. “Kyle figured if we threw me in the mix, I would, let me see, what was it he said exactly,” Maria paused as she pretended to search her memory. “Oh yeah, confuse the poor girl so much, she wouldn’t know if she were coming or going, never mind try and block information.”
Liz tried unsuccessfully to contain the laughter that threatened to escape. She covered her mouth with her hands, but nothing could contain the cheerful light that shined from her eyes. Shandar watched them alertly, looking for any signs of treachery or deceit from them.
Liz led Maria over to the table and introduced her to Shandar and watched expectantly. Maria sat down next to the Antarian and began to chatter. Her conversation rambled on about nothing for several minutes, and Liz was pleased to note that Shandar’s eyes began to glaze over a bit. This was exactly what she had been waiting for. She focused intently on the Antarian and opened herself up to her feelings.
Liz’s eyes opened abruptly, and she stared at Maria in shock. Shandar was a mess of conflicting emotions, ranging from jubilance to sheer, unadulterated hate. But still there was something the other woman was hiding, deep within her, and nothing Liz could do would allow her to access it. But the one thing she didn’t feel was the deceit she felt from the Gadori on Earth.
Liz signaled Maria with her eyes, and Maria quickly wound up her conversation and made her excuses to leave. After Maria left, Shandar’s shoulders slumped a little and a look of exhaustion crossed her face.
“Your friend is very energetic,” she said to Liz.
“Yeah, energetic is a really nice way of putting it. Come on, you must be tired. Let’s find you a place to rest. I’m sure whatever information you have for Zan and the others can wait until after you get some rest,” said Liz.
She helped Shandar get settled for the night, along with some unobtrusively placed guards. Liz waited until Shandar was asleep before returning to her place with the others.
Max held out his hand to her, and she settled happily into a large chair with her husband. When she was with Max, she always felt like she was more complete, and it was a feeling she had grown to love. What she wanted, more than anything was to sit in the shelter of Max’s arms, forever.
“Liz, what did you find out?” Michael asked.
Sighing, Liz sat up a little straighter, the interlude in Max’s arms, however brief had to end.
“Well, sending Maria over was brilliant,” Liz began. “The poor girl didn’t know what hit her.”
“The hurricane commonly known as DeLuca did,” laughed Alex, and the others joined in.
“Exactly,” agreed Liz. “Maria had that poor girl so confused, she didn’t know if she was coming or going, but it gave me a good chance to read her. I’m worried though, because I’m not as good as Drinian, or even Kyle. I’m afraid there’s a lot I missed.”
“Why don’t you start with what you found out,” said Kyle, “And we’ll go from there.”
“Well, she’s very confused,” began Liz. “She’s full of a lot of anger, but I can’t pinpoint why. Also, she is hiding something, but I’m not sure what. One thing I do know is that she isn’t a Gadori. I also don’t think she really wants to hurt us. I mean, she’s got her agenda, but I don’t think destroying us is on it.”
Ava had been uncharacteristically silent during the evening. She’d been ashamed at the jealousy that she felt when she’d seen Zan’s reaction to the newcomer. She wanted to find some way to atone for her actions, if only to make herself feel better.
“I think we should trust her,” Ava said, speaking up. “At least for now, until we find out for certain what she’s up to. I also think that Drinian, Kyle and Liz should try and read her again while she’s sleeping, or maybe Isabel could dream walk her. We need more information, and I don’t think she’s going to be entirely forthcoming with what we want to know.”
“I thought I was the second in command,” Michael grumbled good-naturedly. “Ava and Maria are planning me right out of a job.”
“I told you many times that Maria would make a fine general,” said Drinian. “Apparently, I should have included Ava as well. It is a fine plan, and if the others are in agreement, I think we should begin.”
The others nodded their agreement and moved off to perform their various duties, preparing to wage war against the Gadori.
“Greetings Uncle,” the woman repeated. “I wasn’t sure if you would recognize me.”
“I recognize you, Shandar,” said Drinian, his voice uncharacteristically cold.
“Uncle?” Isabel whispered, her voice weak. “I thought Kivar was a very distant member of the royal family. She had a look of extreme discomfort on her face, and Alex quickly realized that she was concerned that her clone my have had an incestuous relationship.
“Relax my daughter,” said Kitana. “The royal lineage is very well documented. Kivar’s family was,” she paused for a moment.
“A small insignificant branch on the family tree?” Maria offered.
“Exactly,” said Kitana. “The use of the term Prija was simply one of respect for a family member, no matter how distant.”
“Relax, Isabel,” Alex said, taking Isabel’s hand in his. He squeezed it slightly, and Isabel relaxed slightly.
“I know, it’s just,” she whispered.
“It’s just nothing,” Alex said, smiling reassuringly. “Kivar’s gone, and he isn’t coming back."
“Why is she here?” Ava asked. “I don’t think I like her very much. She looks like a real bitch.”
Maria looked at Ava who was watching the way Zan’s eyes hungrily consumed the newcomer and shot Isabel a knowing smile. Ava was jealous of the newcomer and the way she was claiming Zan’s attention.
Zan had been equally resentful of the place Kyle had in Ava’s life when he first joined the group. However, Kyle was a known entity, as was Zan to some extent. The newcomer, Shandar was worse than unknown, she was the sister of their former enemy.
“Well, it doesn’t look like they’re coming over here,” said Alex. “So I’m thinking we all go over there.”
They quietly joined the others, and Ava pushed her way through her friends to stand beside Kyle and Zan. She surreptitiously pinched Zan’s arm and whispered something. Almost immediately, Zan’s countenance changed and he began to eye the woman in front of him warily.
“What information do you have for us?” he demanded.
“The information I have is important, have no doubt, but what is in it for me?” questioned Shandar. “Surely I should get something out of our exchange.”
“We will pay you for your information, if we deem it worthwhile,” said Zan.
“I don’t want your money,” said Shandar. She through her head back in defiance, and glared at Zan, her eyes filled with anger. “You’re treating me as if I were my brother. I am not Kivar, I had no loyalty to him.”
“So you say, but how do I know that?” asked Zan. “We have no way of knowing if anything you say is true.”
“Zan,” Kitana interjected. “Nothing has to be decided this very second. You and the others should talk before you make any hasty decisions, and in the mean time, perhaps Shandar would like something to eat?” She looked over at Shandar who seemed confused by the kindness she was being offered by the former queen.
“I am hungry,” she admitted. And very tired, she thought to herself. Keeping a wall up to block her true intentions from them had been difficult. She remembered her father telling her that Drinian was skilled at reading emotions, and the rumors said that one of the newcomers was as well. Her gaze passed over them as she assessed each one, and stopped when she reached Kyle. It was he, the one who had mated with Ava. He had the empathic abilities that could cause her so many problems. It wasn’t as if she hiding a lot of information from them. There were just things she’d rather not share with all of them right away.
“Come on, I’ll get you something to eat,” Liz said suddenly, shocking everyone. She stepped away from the group and walked over to the other girl. “I’m Liz, by the way.”
“Greetings, your Majesty,” said Shandar, inclining her head slightly.
“No, I’m Liz,” Liz repeated. “Come on, you must be starving by now.” She smiled reassuringly at the older girl before turning back to look at Max and the others. She was unsurprised so see the varying degrees of shock on the faces of Isabel, Alex and Maria, but the look of intense disgust on Ava’s face upset her greatly. She knew Kyle would explain everything to Ava, but that didn’t make her feel any better about the situation.
Kyle had known right away that Shandar was hiding something from them. She must have realized that they could read her emotions and had blocked them somehow. While Zan questioned the woman, Kyle pulled Liz aside and told her his suspicions. Liz had agreed to try and befriend the woman and find out what she was hiding.
“Why don’t you use your Royal title?” Shandar asked.
“Because I’m not royal,” laughed Liz. “None of us are, or at least we don’t believe we are. We’re just us, you know?”
“But the Granolith chose you to rule,” said Shandar. “When you freed Antar from my brother’s reign of terror.”
Liz looked surprised at the venom she heard in the woman’s voice, but she hid it carefully.
“I take it there was no love lost between the two of you,” she said carefully. She placed a tray full of food in front of the girl and watched in amazement as the woman beside her began to devour the food ravenously. Shandar ate as if she hadn’t seen food in days.
Silently, Liz left the table and returned with more food for the hungry woman. As Shandar ate, Liz opened her mind ad tried to read the other woman. She wasn’t as skilled as Kyle, but she was able to feel the confusion and fear that emanated from the woman.
Liz noticed Maria hovering in the background, and she excused herself from the table and made her way quickly to where Maria waited.
“So you learned a new trick?” Maria asked with a smile.
“Yeah, and I don’t know how Kyle managed to survive when it first started happening to him,” Liz said ruefully. “I feel like I’m being inundated with all these feelings. They’re coming at me from all sides.”
“It’s that bad?” asked Maria, her face a mask of concern for the pain her friend was feeling.
“It’s pretty bad, but at least we had Kyle to help us get through it. I’ll never forget how much he hurt when he was developing his power. If Drinian hadn’t helped him when he did, I don’t think he would have survived.”
“And Max, Isabel and Space Boy have this power now, too?” asked Maria. “So like maybe he’ll finally know when I’m upset, and I won’t have to spell it out for him?”
Liz laughed cheerfully. The noise sounded alien, coming from her mouth. The past week hadn’t given her many reasons to laugh, and she was afraid she had forgotten how, but five minutes alone with Maria had eased that fear. She could always count on her friend to shake her out of her doldrums.
“Well, we all underwent the same process,” Liz said. “But whether it took or not, who knows? Anyhow, I should get back to our guest an see if I can get anything else off of her.”
“That’s why I’m here,” said Maria. “Kyle figured if we threw me in the mix, I would, let me see, what was it he said exactly,” Maria paused as she pretended to search her memory. “Oh yeah, confuse the poor girl so much, she wouldn’t know if she were coming or going, never mind try and block information.”
Liz tried unsuccessfully to contain the laughter that threatened to escape. She covered her mouth with her hands, but nothing could contain the cheerful light that shined from her eyes. Shandar watched them alertly, looking for any signs of treachery or deceit from them.
Liz led Maria over to the table and introduced her to Shandar and watched expectantly. Maria sat down next to the Antarian and began to chatter. Her conversation rambled on about nothing for several minutes, and Liz was pleased to note that Shandar’s eyes began to glaze over a bit. This was exactly what she had been waiting for. She focused intently on the Antarian and opened herself up to her feelings.
Liz’s eyes opened abruptly, and she stared at Maria in shock. Shandar was a mess of conflicting emotions, ranging from jubilance to sheer, unadulterated hate. But still there was something the other woman was hiding, deep within her, and nothing Liz could do would allow her to access it. But the one thing she didn’t feel was the deceit she felt from the Gadori on Earth.
Liz signaled Maria with her eyes, and Maria quickly wound up her conversation and made her excuses to leave. After Maria left, Shandar’s shoulders slumped a little and a look of exhaustion crossed her face.
“Your friend is very energetic,” she said to Liz.
“Yeah, energetic is a really nice way of putting it. Come on, you must be tired. Let’s find you a place to rest. I’m sure whatever information you have for Zan and the others can wait until after you get some rest,” said Liz.
She helped Shandar get settled for the night, along with some unobtrusively placed guards. Liz waited until Shandar was asleep before returning to her place with the others.
Max held out his hand to her, and she settled happily into a large chair with her husband. When she was with Max, she always felt like she was more complete, and it was a feeling she had grown to love. What she wanted, more than anything was to sit in the shelter of Max’s arms, forever.
“Liz, what did you find out?” Michael asked.
Sighing, Liz sat up a little straighter, the interlude in Max’s arms, however brief had to end.
“Well, sending Maria over was brilliant,” Liz began. “The poor girl didn’t know what hit her.”
“The hurricane commonly known as DeLuca did,” laughed Alex, and the others joined in.
“Exactly,” agreed Liz. “Maria had that poor girl so confused, she didn’t know if she was coming or going, but it gave me a good chance to read her. I’m worried though, because I’m not as good as Drinian, or even Kyle. I’m afraid there’s a lot I missed.”
“Why don’t you start with what you found out,” said Kyle, “And we’ll go from there.”
“Well, she’s very confused,” began Liz. “She’s full of a lot of anger, but I can’t pinpoint why. Also, she is hiding something, but I’m not sure what. One thing I do know is that she isn’t a Gadori. I also don’t think she really wants to hurt us. I mean, she’s got her agenda, but I don’t think destroying us is on it.”
Ava had been uncharacteristically silent during the evening. She’d been ashamed at the jealousy that she felt when she’d seen Zan’s reaction to the newcomer. She wanted to find some way to atone for her actions, if only to make herself feel better.
“I think we should trust her,” Ava said, speaking up. “At least for now, until we find out for certain what she’s up to. I also think that Drinian, Kyle and Liz should try and read her again while she’s sleeping, or maybe Isabel could dream walk her. We need more information, and I don’t think she’s going to be entirely forthcoming with what we want to know.”
“I thought I was the second in command,” Michael grumbled good-naturedly. “Ava and Maria are planning me right out of a job.”
“I told you many times that Maria would make a fine general,” said Drinian. “Apparently, I should have included Ava as well. It is a fine plan, and if the others are in agreement, I think we should begin.”
The others nodded their agreement and moved off to perform their various duties, preparing to wage war against the Gadori.
-
majiklmoon
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 361
- Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2001 10:55 am
- Contact:
Chapter Thirty-Four – What Liz Saw
Shandar sat quietly, trying to figure out exactly what they were up to. Nobody had really pushed her for any information, and surprisingly, they had been very accepting of her. Their acceptance made it incredibly hard for her to continue with her deception. But she had no choice. Lives depended on it.
She allowed her thoughts to drift as she watched the others plan their day. She thought back to when she was a child, and she thought the sun rose and set on her brother Kivar. If ever there was a child blessed by the double moons of Antar, it was he. Everything came so easy to him, lessons, athletics, and friends. He lacked for nothing while she was the family joke. Nothing she ever did was good enough for any of them.
Shandar remembered one time, when she was about fourteen. She had brought home a particularly good report from her gretkla. She had been so excited; she couldn’t wait to show her parents. That was the same day Kivar received his acceptance to the Training Academy. Her father had barely glanced at her report before focusing all his attention on Kivar – as usual.
Kivar had tried, or she thought he had, to deflect some of the attention back to her, but looking back, she realized that all he had done was call more attention to himself and his accomplishments. It was just a shame that she hadn’t realized any of this before. It would have made her life a lot simpler. But as it was, she hadn’t found out what Kivar’s plan was until it was too late. Plans that he had set in motion before he had died, plans that she had foolishly agreed to, unaware of the far-reaching consequences.
She sat up warily and looked across the large room at Ava and Liz, who were watching her. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs as the walked over to her. She had felt someone probing her mind last night, and it had taken every bit of effort she had to block the attempts. She knew that Ava had the ability to modify minds, and she was afraid of what the young queen would try in an attempt to wrest her secret from her.
“Hi,” said Liz, cheerfully. “Do you mind if we join you?”
“You are a queen,” said Shandar carefully. “You don’t have to ask.”
“I’m nobody’s queen,” Liz reminded her.
“And neither am I,” added Ava. “We just figured you must be kind of bored sitting here and figured you might want some company.”
“Don’t you mean you want to try and modify my mind and get me to tell you everything you want to know,” said Shandar, deciding that the best defense was indeed a good offense.
“No, not really,” said Ava, her voice direct. “I seldom use my powers that way. It’s strictly for recreation,” she added, borrowing a line from Isabel.
“What do you mean, recreation?” asked Shandar, her voice tinged with curiosity.
“Well, you know, to make it look like Brad Pitt or George Clooney were bringing you breakfast,” laughed Ava.
Liz laughed, her infectious giggle echoing off the rocks that surrounded them, but Shandar only looked more confused.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” said Shandar, smiling despite herself at the sound of Liz’s laughter.
“Well, if you promise to trust me, and if I give you my word that I’m not trying anything, I can show you,” said Ava.
Shandar again looked wary as she looked at both Ava and Liz, looking for any signs of duplicity in them.
“It’s okay,” Liz said. “Ava doesn’t lie. If she says you can trust her, you can trust her.” She schooled her features into a mask of pleasantness, all the while fighting down the loathing she felt at what she was about to do. “Come on, it will be fun,” she urged.
“Okay,” Shandar conceded, nervously. She was apprehensive, but wanted very much to trust the two women next to her.
“Give me your hand,” said Ava. “And look across the room, and tell me what you see.”
Shandar looked across the compound and saw a bare chested blond man walking towards her carrying a tray full of food. She watched in amazement as he placed the tray beside her, reached out and took one of her hands and brought it up to her lips.
“Here Shandar, I’ve brought you some of your favorite foods,” the man said.
Shandar looked down beside her at the tray heaped with Antarian delicacies, and her mouth began to water. A yellow flower on the tray caught her attention, and she leaned down and inhaled its heady fragrance.
“Who are you she asked”
“My name is Brad,” the stranger said. “And I am here to serve you. Whatever you wish shall be yours. You only have to ask.”
Shandar swallowed deeply and looked at the gorgeous man standing in front of her.
“What I want is for you to go away,” she said.
No sooner did the words leave her mouth than the vision in front of her vanished. Shandar looked at Liz and Ava and smiled.
“I think I’d like to go you your planet someday,” she said with a shy smile. “If all the men are as beautiful as the Earth men I’ve seen, that is.”
“Shandar, are you talking about a specific person?” Ava asked with a knowing grin. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Liz, who looked back and frowned, shaking her head.
“Shandar, I have to go take care of something,” Liz said, jumping up. “I’ll be back in a while.”
Liz quickly crossed the room and disappeared into a narrow passageway. Once she was out of sight, she leaned against the rock wall gasping for breath, and shaking uncontrollably. She didn’t know what to do. The plan she and Ava had concocted worked better than either of them could have dreamed. While Ava distracted Shandar with a meaningless mind warp, Liz tried to read her emotions, and what she found shook her to the core.
Shandar’s secret was, Liz paused, unable to even fathom the depths Shandar had gone to in order to conceal this information. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to tell Max, but she couldn’t. Not this. Shandar’s information was to private to personal. Liz bit her lip thoughtfully while she contemplated her options, and finally reached a decision. She walked back down the passageway and entered the room where Ava and Shandar sat and talked.
“Ava, can you excuse us please?” Liz asked politely. “I need to talk to Shandar.”
“Sure,” said Ava. She unfolded her legs gracefully and slid off the bed and started to walk away. She shot a questioning look at Liz, and Liz just shook her head imperceptibly and waited while Ava exited the room.
“We need to talk,” Liz said without preamble. “Where is Zan’s baby?”
Shandar sat quietly, trying to figure out exactly what they were up to. Nobody had really pushed her for any information, and surprisingly, they had been very accepting of her. Their acceptance made it incredibly hard for her to continue with her deception. But she had no choice. Lives depended on it.
She allowed her thoughts to drift as she watched the others plan their day. She thought back to when she was a child, and she thought the sun rose and set on her brother Kivar. If ever there was a child blessed by the double moons of Antar, it was he. Everything came so easy to him, lessons, athletics, and friends. He lacked for nothing while she was the family joke. Nothing she ever did was good enough for any of them.
Shandar remembered one time, when she was about fourteen. She had brought home a particularly good report from her gretkla. She had been so excited; she couldn’t wait to show her parents. That was the same day Kivar received his acceptance to the Training Academy. Her father had barely glanced at her report before focusing all his attention on Kivar – as usual.
Kivar had tried, or she thought he had, to deflect some of the attention back to her, but looking back, she realized that all he had done was call more attention to himself and his accomplishments. It was just a shame that she hadn’t realized any of this before. It would have made her life a lot simpler. But as it was, she hadn’t found out what Kivar’s plan was until it was too late. Plans that he had set in motion before he had died, plans that she had foolishly agreed to, unaware of the far-reaching consequences.
She sat up warily and looked across the large room at Ava and Liz, who were watching her. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs as the walked over to her. She had felt someone probing her mind last night, and it had taken every bit of effort she had to block the attempts. She knew that Ava had the ability to modify minds, and she was afraid of what the young queen would try in an attempt to wrest her secret from her.
“Hi,” said Liz, cheerfully. “Do you mind if we join you?”
“You are a queen,” said Shandar carefully. “You don’t have to ask.”
“I’m nobody’s queen,” Liz reminded her.
“And neither am I,” added Ava. “We just figured you must be kind of bored sitting here and figured you might want some company.”
“Don’t you mean you want to try and modify my mind and get me to tell you everything you want to know,” said Shandar, deciding that the best defense was indeed a good offense.
“No, not really,” said Ava, her voice direct. “I seldom use my powers that way. It’s strictly for recreation,” she added, borrowing a line from Isabel.
“What do you mean, recreation?” asked Shandar, her voice tinged with curiosity.
“Well, you know, to make it look like Brad Pitt or George Clooney were bringing you breakfast,” laughed Ava.
Liz laughed, her infectious giggle echoing off the rocks that surrounded them, but Shandar only looked more confused.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” said Shandar, smiling despite herself at the sound of Liz’s laughter.
“Well, if you promise to trust me, and if I give you my word that I’m not trying anything, I can show you,” said Ava.
Shandar again looked wary as she looked at both Ava and Liz, looking for any signs of duplicity in them.
“It’s okay,” Liz said. “Ava doesn’t lie. If she says you can trust her, you can trust her.” She schooled her features into a mask of pleasantness, all the while fighting down the loathing she felt at what she was about to do. “Come on, it will be fun,” she urged.
“Okay,” Shandar conceded, nervously. She was apprehensive, but wanted very much to trust the two women next to her.
“Give me your hand,” said Ava. “And look across the room, and tell me what you see.”
Shandar looked across the compound and saw a bare chested blond man walking towards her carrying a tray full of food. She watched in amazement as he placed the tray beside her, reached out and took one of her hands and brought it up to her lips.
“Here Shandar, I’ve brought you some of your favorite foods,” the man said.
Shandar looked down beside her at the tray heaped with Antarian delicacies, and her mouth began to water. A yellow flower on the tray caught her attention, and she leaned down and inhaled its heady fragrance.
“Who are you she asked”
“My name is Brad,” the stranger said. “And I am here to serve you. Whatever you wish shall be yours. You only have to ask.”
Shandar swallowed deeply and looked at the gorgeous man standing in front of her.
“What I want is for you to go away,” she said.
No sooner did the words leave her mouth than the vision in front of her vanished. Shandar looked at Liz and Ava and smiled.
“I think I’d like to go you your planet someday,” she said with a shy smile. “If all the men are as beautiful as the Earth men I’ve seen, that is.”
“Shandar, are you talking about a specific person?” Ava asked with a knowing grin. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Liz, who looked back and frowned, shaking her head.
“Shandar, I have to go take care of something,” Liz said, jumping up. “I’ll be back in a while.”
Liz quickly crossed the room and disappeared into a narrow passageway. Once she was out of sight, she leaned against the rock wall gasping for breath, and shaking uncontrollably. She didn’t know what to do. The plan she and Ava had concocted worked better than either of them could have dreamed. While Ava distracted Shandar with a meaningless mind warp, Liz tried to read her emotions, and what she found shook her to the core.
Shandar’s secret was, Liz paused, unable to even fathom the depths Shandar had gone to in order to conceal this information. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to tell Max, but she couldn’t. Not this. Shandar’s information was to private to personal. Liz bit her lip thoughtfully while she contemplated her options, and finally reached a decision. She walked back down the passageway and entered the room where Ava and Shandar sat and talked.
“Ava, can you excuse us please?” Liz asked politely. “I need to talk to Shandar.”
“Sure,” said Ava. She unfolded her legs gracefully and slid off the bed and started to walk away. She shot a questioning look at Liz, and Liz just shook her head imperceptibly and waited while Ava exited the room.
“We need to talk,” Liz said without preamble. “Where is Zan’s baby?”
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majiklmoon
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 361
- Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2001 10:55 am
- Contact:
Chapter Thirty-Four – Confrontations
“You bitch,” said Shandar. She reached her hand out and slapped Liz squarely across the face. “How did you find out?”
“Hit me again,” Liz said, her teeth clenched, “And I will kill you, and don’t doubt that I’ll do it.”
“Liz, stop it, what are you talking about, what baby?” Ava cried, using her hand to restrain Liz. “Zan doesn’t have a baby.”
“Zan has a baby,” Liz said, bitterly. “The only problem is that Zan doesn’t know he has a baby, and she’s the mother.”
“No, this makes no sense,” said Ava in denial. “There is no way Zan could have a child and not know about it. It takes two and all that, remember?”
“Not if it’s done in a laboratory,” said Shandar softly.
“What?” Liz cried. “You did that without his knowledge? How?”
“Wait just one second, your Majesty,” said Shandar sarcastically. “I didn’t do anything. It was more like I had it done to me, unwillingly. You’re precious Zan isn’t the only victim in this mess. Maybe you should get the whole story before you start making unfounded accusations.” She drew herself up regally and glared at Liz, her eyes shooting sparks of fire in the smaller girl’s direction. “I had no say in anything that happened. Do you honestly think I would agree to something as heinous as that?”
“Well, gee, now let me see,” Liz said in mock consideration. “Yeah, I guess I’d have to say that I think you would. I mean, you came here under false pretenses and lied to us, so yeah, I guess I would believe you could do something like that.”
Ava stared at Liz, astounded at the venom in her friend’s voice. She’d seen Liz angry plenty of times, but never like this. She was as angry as if Shandar had carried Max’s child. Slowly the realization dawned on Ava. For all intents and purposes, Shandar did carry Max’s child, because Max and Zan were created from the same genetic material. Ava looked at Liz, really looked at her, and saw the fear that was hidden beneath the surface anger. This was uncharted territory, and she didn’t know how to react, and so she was reacting with anger.
“Liz, you need to step back, right now,” Ava said with uncharacteristic firmness. “I know what you’re thinking, but stop. It’s not Max’s baby. Do you hear me, Liz? It’s not Max’s baby.”
Shandar looked at the two girls, her expression a mixture of defiant anger, fear and confusion. She didn’t understand what they were talking about. Valrik was her baby, hers and Zan’s. She couldn’t understand why they were taking about Max.
“Why don’t you tell us what happened, Shandar,” Ava said. “But before you do that, tell us one thing, is the baby safe? That’s what matters right now.”
“Yes, Valrik is safe,” said Shandar, hanging her head. After a moment, she looked back up, and Liz and Ava were able to see the fear and worry that shown in her eyes. At that moment, Liz’s heart went out to Shandar. She remembered the pain she felt for so long at the loss of her own child and she vowed that, no matter how angry she was with Shandar, no matter how duplicitous the woman was, they would keep her child safe.
“Come on,” Liz said suddenly, her voice hardened with resolve. “You can tell us what happened on the way.”
“On the way where?” asked Shandar.
“On the way to get your baby,” answered Liz. “Wherever he is, he isn’t as safe as he would be in your arms.
Ava, more familiar with the subterranean enclave, led them through a myriad of passages and out into a dark forest. The sun was just peeing out over the horizon, filling the sky with a rosy glow.
“Which way?” asked Liz, looking around at the unfamiliar terrain. “I have no clue where we are.”
“This way,” said Shandar, pointing down the hill.
“You also have a story to tell us,” Ava reminded her.
“I know,” said Shandar. She hated to admit how both Kivar and the Gadori had duped her, but if they were telling the truth about protecting Valrik, she was willing to take the risk. They walked in silence for several minutes while Shandar marshaled her thoughts. After several false starts, she began to speak.
“I honestly didn’t know what Kivar had planned,” she told Liz and Ava. Gadori scientists, posing as doctors examined Zan after he took the throne. One of the tests the performed was to harvest, um, reproductive material from him. The material was then mixed with eggs they had taken from me, and a fetus was created.”
“Why did you let them do that to you?” asked Ava.
“It’s not like I knew what they were doing,” Shandar said. “Kivar convinced me I was ill, very, very ill, and that the only thing that could help me was this new kind of treatment. I didn’t know he was lying; I had all these symptoms. Symptoms I later found out he was causing.”
She stopped speaking as they climbed down a particularly treacherous part of the trail. Halfway down, Ava slipped and began to slide precariously down the path. Shandar reacted automatically and fired an energy bolt at a small tree, and it fell in the middle of the trail and stopped Ava’s descent.
“Thanks,” Ava said, shakily after Liz and Shandar caught up with her. “I didn’t think I was ever going to stop.”
“God, Ava, please tell me you’re all right?” Liz begged. “Kyle will kill Max if anything happens to you.”
“What?” asked a thoroughly confused Shandar. “Kyle will Kill Max? Why? Max isn’t even here?”
“I never claimed that the friendship between our husbands made any sense,” said Liz. “But that’s the way it is. Ava,” she added, turning to the petite blond. “Do you want to rest here for a while before we continue?”
“Yeah,” said Ava, moving about, gingerly. She looked down to a patch on her leg that rubbed raw from her fall, and grimaced. “Liz, can you do anything about this?”
“I’ll try,” said Liz. “I’ve been working on my healing, but it’s nothing like Max and Zan’s.” She held her hand over the raw patch on Ava’s leg and directed her energy towards the angry red wound. Within seconds, the would was healed, causing both Liz and Ava to stare at it in surprise.”
“When’d you learn how to do that?” a shocked Ava asked.
“I didn’t,” said Liz. “I don’t know how I did that, unless…”
“Unless what?” asked Ava. “Don’t you dare leave me hanging, or I’ll go all Maria on you.”
“Before we came here, we tried something with the Granolith. It seems that Kyle’s empathic powers can sense the Gadori, so we used the Granolith to try and accelerate that ability in us so we could sense them too. Apparently, it tapped into Max’s healing ability and I got that as well.”
“You have empath powers?” asked Shandar. “That’s how you knew about Valrik, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah,” said Liz. “Ava showed you the Earth eye candy in the hopes that it would lower your defenses. While you were ogling Brad, I ogled your emotions.”
“Very clever,” Shandar said, grudgingly. “No wonder you were able to defeat my idiotic brother. He only saw the obvious problems and the obvious solutions. He never bothered to look at all the options.” She laughed bitterly. “But then again, I guess I didn’t either since you found out my secret.”
“Do you want to finish telling us what happened?” asked Liz. She was still very angry with the Antarian girl, but she was trying to understand how Kivar had duped the girl.
“Kivar had his doctors remove eggs from me, under the guise of trying to find out what was wrong with me. In another procedure, the same doctors implanted the fertilized eggs in my. They did something to accelerate the growth process of the fetus, and two months, I gave birth to a son.”
“I don’t understand,” said Ava. “First, why would he go to such lengths to create a child of Zan’s? He already had his Vilondra clone to give him a legitimate heir? And after he died, why didn’t you just escape?”
“The Gadori,” said Shandar. “They formulated this plan with Kivar, and they weren’t going to let me go. They knew they needed an heir of the Royal Family to activate the Granolith, and they were unwilling to give up their plans, as you have seen.”
“Yeah,” said Liz. “We’ve seen first hand the lengths the Gadori are willing to go to win this war. How did you get away?”
“About a month ago, the had a victory celebration. They had managed to send a ship down to your planet. They were planning on eliminating you.”
“Obviously, they didn’t succeed,” Liz said, dryly. “Ava, are you okay to get moving. We shouldn’t stay in one place for too long.”
Ava nodded her ascent, and the three resumed their journey, while Shandar’s tale unfolded.
“I took the opportunity to grab Valrik and run,” said Shandar. “I’ve been looking for a way to find the Royal Family ever since. I didn’t know what I was going to do when I found them, but I just thought if I could get Valrik to them, he’d be safe.”
“He will be, Shandar,” said Ava. “I promise you that. But where is he?”
“I left him with a childhood friend of mine,” said Shandar. “One who had no love for my brother. Even as children, she could see how devious he was. I never believed her, and it put a great strain on our friendship. I went to her because I had no where else to go, and she took my son in and vowed to protect him with her life.”
“Is it much farther?” asked Liz. “I’d like to get you and him back to safety before too long.”
“What are you going to tell Zan and the others?” Shandar asked, her expression worried.
“Nothing,” said Liz. “You’re going to tell him. Don’t worry, Shandar, Zan isn’t evil. He’ll protect you and your child.”
“It’s just around the bend,” Shandar said, excitedly. She’d only been separated from her young son for a day, but her arms ached to hold him.
The rounded the bend, and stopped and stared in shock at all that remained of the former dwelling. Eddy’s of smoke drifted up from the burned out shell, and rubble littered the yard. Shandar stifled a cry and dropped to her knees.
“Wait, I hear something,” said Liz. They listened closely and heard the faint wail of a baby coming from the woods.
“Valrik!” Shandar cried. She jumped up and ran into the woods towards the direction of the cry. For several minutes the three searched fruitlessly among the trees trying to locate the infant.
It was Ava who finally located him and gave a triumphant shout. Liz and Shandar rushed over to where she knelt down before a manmade cave. She reached in carefully and removed the child and passed him to Shandar. Shandar grabbed the child and held him close, pressing kisses against his downy head. Ava reached into the opening once more and removed a note and a small bundle.
Liz took the note and opened it and read out loud:
My Dear Friend Shandar,
I am sorry I did not believe your tale at first. Please forgive me for ever doubting you. The Gadori managed to track you to our home. I was able to hide Valrik, but I am afraid they will be back. I hope you return to rescue your child. I’m sorry I failed to protect him. Blashdar protect you and watch over you both.
Tralia
A crashing sound in the underbrush alerted them to danger.
“Come on, we have to get out of here,” said Liz. She looked around, trying to locate the source of the noise.
Without another word, the three dashed deeper into the woods, trying to avoid detection, only to find that they were walking right into the arms of the approaching troops.
“You bitch,” said Shandar. She reached her hand out and slapped Liz squarely across the face. “How did you find out?”
“Hit me again,” Liz said, her teeth clenched, “And I will kill you, and don’t doubt that I’ll do it.”
“Liz, stop it, what are you talking about, what baby?” Ava cried, using her hand to restrain Liz. “Zan doesn’t have a baby.”
“Zan has a baby,” Liz said, bitterly. “The only problem is that Zan doesn’t know he has a baby, and she’s the mother.”
“No, this makes no sense,” said Ava in denial. “There is no way Zan could have a child and not know about it. It takes two and all that, remember?”
“Not if it’s done in a laboratory,” said Shandar softly.
“What?” Liz cried. “You did that without his knowledge? How?”
“Wait just one second, your Majesty,” said Shandar sarcastically. “I didn’t do anything. It was more like I had it done to me, unwillingly. You’re precious Zan isn’t the only victim in this mess. Maybe you should get the whole story before you start making unfounded accusations.” She drew herself up regally and glared at Liz, her eyes shooting sparks of fire in the smaller girl’s direction. “I had no say in anything that happened. Do you honestly think I would agree to something as heinous as that?”
“Well, gee, now let me see,” Liz said in mock consideration. “Yeah, I guess I’d have to say that I think you would. I mean, you came here under false pretenses and lied to us, so yeah, I guess I would believe you could do something like that.”
Ava stared at Liz, astounded at the venom in her friend’s voice. She’d seen Liz angry plenty of times, but never like this. She was as angry as if Shandar had carried Max’s child. Slowly the realization dawned on Ava. For all intents and purposes, Shandar did carry Max’s child, because Max and Zan were created from the same genetic material. Ava looked at Liz, really looked at her, and saw the fear that was hidden beneath the surface anger. This was uncharted territory, and she didn’t know how to react, and so she was reacting with anger.
“Liz, you need to step back, right now,” Ava said with uncharacteristic firmness. “I know what you’re thinking, but stop. It’s not Max’s baby. Do you hear me, Liz? It’s not Max’s baby.”
Shandar looked at the two girls, her expression a mixture of defiant anger, fear and confusion. She didn’t understand what they were talking about. Valrik was her baby, hers and Zan’s. She couldn’t understand why they were taking about Max.
“Why don’t you tell us what happened, Shandar,” Ava said. “But before you do that, tell us one thing, is the baby safe? That’s what matters right now.”
“Yes, Valrik is safe,” said Shandar, hanging her head. After a moment, she looked back up, and Liz and Ava were able to see the fear and worry that shown in her eyes. At that moment, Liz’s heart went out to Shandar. She remembered the pain she felt for so long at the loss of her own child and she vowed that, no matter how angry she was with Shandar, no matter how duplicitous the woman was, they would keep her child safe.
“Come on,” Liz said suddenly, her voice hardened with resolve. “You can tell us what happened on the way.”
“On the way where?” asked Shandar.
“On the way to get your baby,” answered Liz. “Wherever he is, he isn’t as safe as he would be in your arms.
Ava, more familiar with the subterranean enclave, led them through a myriad of passages and out into a dark forest. The sun was just peeing out over the horizon, filling the sky with a rosy glow.
“Which way?” asked Liz, looking around at the unfamiliar terrain. “I have no clue where we are.”
“This way,” said Shandar, pointing down the hill.
“You also have a story to tell us,” Ava reminded her.
“I know,” said Shandar. She hated to admit how both Kivar and the Gadori had duped her, but if they were telling the truth about protecting Valrik, she was willing to take the risk. They walked in silence for several minutes while Shandar marshaled her thoughts. After several false starts, she began to speak.
“I honestly didn’t know what Kivar had planned,” she told Liz and Ava. Gadori scientists, posing as doctors examined Zan after he took the throne. One of the tests the performed was to harvest, um, reproductive material from him. The material was then mixed with eggs they had taken from me, and a fetus was created.”
“Why did you let them do that to you?” asked Ava.
“It’s not like I knew what they were doing,” Shandar said. “Kivar convinced me I was ill, very, very ill, and that the only thing that could help me was this new kind of treatment. I didn’t know he was lying; I had all these symptoms. Symptoms I later found out he was causing.”
She stopped speaking as they climbed down a particularly treacherous part of the trail. Halfway down, Ava slipped and began to slide precariously down the path. Shandar reacted automatically and fired an energy bolt at a small tree, and it fell in the middle of the trail and stopped Ava’s descent.
“Thanks,” Ava said, shakily after Liz and Shandar caught up with her. “I didn’t think I was ever going to stop.”
“God, Ava, please tell me you’re all right?” Liz begged. “Kyle will kill Max if anything happens to you.”
“What?” asked a thoroughly confused Shandar. “Kyle will Kill Max? Why? Max isn’t even here?”
“I never claimed that the friendship between our husbands made any sense,” said Liz. “But that’s the way it is. Ava,” she added, turning to the petite blond. “Do you want to rest here for a while before we continue?”
“Yeah,” said Ava, moving about, gingerly. She looked down to a patch on her leg that rubbed raw from her fall, and grimaced. “Liz, can you do anything about this?”
“I’ll try,” said Liz. “I’ve been working on my healing, but it’s nothing like Max and Zan’s.” She held her hand over the raw patch on Ava’s leg and directed her energy towards the angry red wound. Within seconds, the would was healed, causing both Liz and Ava to stare at it in surprise.”
“When’d you learn how to do that?” a shocked Ava asked.
“I didn’t,” said Liz. “I don’t know how I did that, unless…”
“Unless what?” asked Ava. “Don’t you dare leave me hanging, or I’ll go all Maria on you.”
“Before we came here, we tried something with the Granolith. It seems that Kyle’s empathic powers can sense the Gadori, so we used the Granolith to try and accelerate that ability in us so we could sense them too. Apparently, it tapped into Max’s healing ability and I got that as well.”
“You have empath powers?” asked Shandar. “That’s how you knew about Valrik, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah,” said Liz. “Ava showed you the Earth eye candy in the hopes that it would lower your defenses. While you were ogling Brad, I ogled your emotions.”
“Very clever,” Shandar said, grudgingly. “No wonder you were able to defeat my idiotic brother. He only saw the obvious problems and the obvious solutions. He never bothered to look at all the options.” She laughed bitterly. “But then again, I guess I didn’t either since you found out my secret.”
“Do you want to finish telling us what happened?” asked Liz. She was still very angry with the Antarian girl, but she was trying to understand how Kivar had duped the girl.
“Kivar had his doctors remove eggs from me, under the guise of trying to find out what was wrong with me. In another procedure, the same doctors implanted the fertilized eggs in my. They did something to accelerate the growth process of the fetus, and two months, I gave birth to a son.”
“I don’t understand,” said Ava. “First, why would he go to such lengths to create a child of Zan’s? He already had his Vilondra clone to give him a legitimate heir? And after he died, why didn’t you just escape?”
“The Gadori,” said Shandar. “They formulated this plan with Kivar, and they weren’t going to let me go. They knew they needed an heir of the Royal Family to activate the Granolith, and they were unwilling to give up their plans, as you have seen.”
“Yeah,” said Liz. “We’ve seen first hand the lengths the Gadori are willing to go to win this war. How did you get away?”
“About a month ago, the had a victory celebration. They had managed to send a ship down to your planet. They were planning on eliminating you.”
“Obviously, they didn’t succeed,” Liz said, dryly. “Ava, are you okay to get moving. We shouldn’t stay in one place for too long.”
Ava nodded her ascent, and the three resumed their journey, while Shandar’s tale unfolded.
“I took the opportunity to grab Valrik and run,” said Shandar. “I’ve been looking for a way to find the Royal Family ever since. I didn’t know what I was going to do when I found them, but I just thought if I could get Valrik to them, he’d be safe.”
“He will be, Shandar,” said Ava. “I promise you that. But where is he?”
“I left him with a childhood friend of mine,” said Shandar. “One who had no love for my brother. Even as children, she could see how devious he was. I never believed her, and it put a great strain on our friendship. I went to her because I had no where else to go, and she took my son in and vowed to protect him with her life.”
“Is it much farther?” asked Liz. “I’d like to get you and him back to safety before too long.”
“What are you going to tell Zan and the others?” Shandar asked, her expression worried.
“Nothing,” said Liz. “You’re going to tell him. Don’t worry, Shandar, Zan isn’t evil. He’ll protect you and your child.”
“It’s just around the bend,” Shandar said, excitedly. She’d only been separated from her young son for a day, but her arms ached to hold him.
The rounded the bend, and stopped and stared in shock at all that remained of the former dwelling. Eddy’s of smoke drifted up from the burned out shell, and rubble littered the yard. Shandar stifled a cry and dropped to her knees.
“Wait, I hear something,” said Liz. They listened closely and heard the faint wail of a baby coming from the woods.
“Valrik!” Shandar cried. She jumped up and ran into the woods towards the direction of the cry. For several minutes the three searched fruitlessly among the trees trying to locate the infant.
It was Ava who finally located him and gave a triumphant shout. Liz and Shandar rushed over to where she knelt down before a manmade cave. She reached in carefully and removed the child and passed him to Shandar. Shandar grabbed the child and held him close, pressing kisses against his downy head. Ava reached into the opening once more and removed a note and a small bundle.
Liz took the note and opened it and read out loud:
My Dear Friend Shandar,
I am sorry I did not believe your tale at first. Please forgive me for ever doubting you. The Gadori managed to track you to our home. I was able to hide Valrik, but I am afraid they will be back. I hope you return to rescue your child. I’m sorry I failed to protect him. Blashdar protect you and watch over you both.
Tralia
A crashing sound in the underbrush alerted them to danger.
“Come on, we have to get out of here,” said Liz. She looked around, trying to locate the source of the noise.
Without another word, the three dashed deeper into the woods, trying to avoid detection, only to find that they were walking right into the arms of the approaching troops.
-
majiklmoon
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Chapter Thirty-Six – Confession
“Run!” Shandar cried. She tightened her grip around Valrik, and started to run, but a restraining hand reached out and grabbed her and held her tightly.
“Let go of me you bastard!” she shouted, struggling to break the hold on her arm. “I’ll kill you.”
“Shandar, how enjoyable to see you again,” said the man holding her by the arm. “And how considerate of you to lead us right to your son.”
“Leave him alone,” cried Shandar. “You don’t need him. Let us go.”
“You are very wrong, my dear witless little girl,” said the man. “We do need him. We need him very much.”
Liz looked around, and tried to take stock of the situation. Ten Gadori, looking like Antarian guardsmen, surrounded them on all sides. She glanced at Ava, and tried to will her friend to read her thoughts. If they could work it just right, they could take out at least half of the Gadori, and possibly make a break for it.
“Don’t even waste your time, Your Majesty,” said the Gadori holding Shandar. “If you try it, you’ll die. We have no problem killing you. You’re not our Queen, and honestly, having you dead will save us a lot of difficulties.”
Liz glared at the Gadori, her eyes filled with hatred. She could see into his soul, and it was inky black. It was like there was nothing inside of him but hate and anger. She shuddered and took a step back, trying to put some distance between herself and the Gadori.
“You will come with us,” said the Gadori. “We are taking you back to our stronghold.”
“The hell you are,” said Liz. “You can kill me here, but I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Easily arranged,” said the Gadori with an evil grin. He raised his hand and pointed it Liz’s direction.
Liz stood tall; ready to take his full assault unflinchingly when Shandar stepped beside her.
“Go ahead and kill her,” Shandar taunted, boldly. “But if you do, you’ll be taking a real risk. You may hit the baby instead. Where will you be then, Jenaro?”
“I should have killed you when you gave birth, Shandar,” the Gadori named Jenaro said. “You’ve been nothing but trouble since Kivar brought you to us.”
“So go ahead, do it,” said Shandar. “You want to kill me so bad, just do it.”
“You know I won’t,” Jenaro ground out between clenched teeth. “Much as I hate to admit it, you’re too valuable to us. But believe me when I say that won’t stop me from torturing you. I can’t wait to hear you beg for your life.”
Shandar continued to taunt Jenaro, while the other Gadori looked on. Liz shifted her stance slightly trying to block Ava from view, hoping the petite blond would use the opportunity to escape. Ava was quick to catch on to what Liz wanted, and she carefully began to inch away from the Gadori. Slowly she crept down the hill, until the others were no longer in sight, and then she ran for all she was worth. Hands reached out to grab her, and Ava began to fight like a wildcat, struggling to break free from the arms that held her.
“Ava, stop it, it’s me!” Kyle shouted. “Stop it!”
Ava struggled in his arms, and the two fell to the ground. Kyle finally managed to pin Ava’s shoulders to the ground, forcing her to look up at him.
“Damn, we sure could have used you on the wrestling team,” he said.
“Kyle?” Ava whispered. “Is it really you?”
“Of course it’s me, you goof. Who’d you think it would be?”
“The Gadori, they have Liz and Shandar and Valrik,” she said. “We have to go back and get them.”
“Who the hell is Valrik?” demanded Kyle.
“I’ll explain later,” said Ava, struggling to get up. “Where are the others, are the with you?”
In lieu of an answer, Kyle put his fingers in his mouth and let out a piercing whistle, and Max and Zan appeared, each coming from a different direction.
“Where are Michael and the others?” Ava asked.
“Right here,” said Michael, appearing behind his sister, flanked by Alex and Maria, while Isabel stood behind them.
“Come on, we don’t have much time to lose,” said Ava. She began retracing her steps up the hill, explaining to the others about the Gadori as they climbed.
“We can split up and circle around,” said Michael, and box them in, they way they boxed you in. You said there’s about ten of them?”
“Yeah,” said Ava, “But we have to be careful of Valrik. I don’t think Shandar’s going to be able to do anything but protect him.”
“That’s the second time you mentioned Valrik. Who, or what is Valrik?” asked Kyle.
Ava stopped and looked first at Kyle, then at Zan, her oldest friend, and she struggled to find the words to answer. Finally, she decided the only thing she could do was say it.
“He’s your son, Zan. Do you remember undergoing a battery of physical tests when you first took the throne? Well they weren’t all doctors. Some of them were Gadori, working for Kivar, and they, well they took,”
“Don’t bother saying it,” said Zan. “We all know what they took.”
“Yeah, well they had another Antarian that they forced to submit to some tests too, only those tests were to make her pregnant with your child,” said Ava.
“Shandar,” said Zan, his voice dead. “Kivar’s sister is the mother of my child.”
“Zan, don’t,” said Ava. “It wasn’t like that. She didn’t know what was going on, and she certainly didn’t want any part of it. As soon as she could, she escaped with the baby and tried to bring him to you. Liz read her and she’s telling the truth.”
“Did any of you bother to think that maybe this was all some sort of trap?” demanded Michael. “Kyle and Drinian couldn’t read her, why should Liz, who’s only had the power for like what, a week, be able to succeed when they failed.”
“Because I mind warped her into seeing Brad Pitt!” Ava shouted, whirling angrily on her brother. “While her defenses were down, watching Brad serve her breakfast, Liz managed to break through and read her, that’s why! Now can we stop arguing and go and get them back.”
“I think Zan’s one step ahead of you,” said Max, pointing up the hill.
The others followed his arm and looked up and saw Zan ready to crest the hill. Breaking into a run, the others quickly climbed the rest of the way up the hill and joined him. Michael reached him first and placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. Zan shrugged it off, but stopped and waited for the others to join him. The small group of Gadori was where Ava had left them, with Liz and Shandar still being held in the center of the group.
After a few hurried minutes of planning, Alex, Isabel and Maria took off to come at them from behind, while Michael and Kyle came at them from the front. By unspoken agreement, Max and Zan planned to come in from the side closest to where Liz stood and get both her and Shandar to safety.
It was over in a matter of minutes. The Gadori lay on the ground, dead or dying, with the exception of Janaro who was now a captive.
“Max, we had no choice,” said Liz.
“We always have choices, Liz,” said Max. “You made yours. I’m not saying I agree with what you did, but I understand it.”
“I’d say you’re taking this a lot better than Zan is,” said Liz. They looked over at Zan, and the look of desire that filled his eyes when he looked at Shandar had been replaced with a look of hatred.
“Give me my son,” he said.
“He’s my son,” said Shandar, her voice filled with rage.
“Yes, and he’s mine too, and I said to give him to me!”
“I will die before I give up my child to anyone,” Shandar cried.
“That can be arranged,” muttered Zan, angrily.
“Kids, kids, kids,” interrupted Maria. “This is no time for a spat. How about if I carry the little cutie here, and you two talk while we get the hell out of here. This is still enemy territory you know.”
Maria reached out to a speechless Shandar and took the baby from her arms and began to walk towards the valley that hid their encampment. Zan, realized that arguing with Maria was an exercise in futility and threw a helpless glance back at Michael.
“See why I had no choice?” he asked. “I had to make her a general.”
“Run!” Shandar cried. She tightened her grip around Valrik, and started to run, but a restraining hand reached out and grabbed her and held her tightly.
“Let go of me you bastard!” she shouted, struggling to break the hold on her arm. “I’ll kill you.”
“Shandar, how enjoyable to see you again,” said the man holding her by the arm. “And how considerate of you to lead us right to your son.”
“Leave him alone,” cried Shandar. “You don’t need him. Let us go.”
“You are very wrong, my dear witless little girl,” said the man. “We do need him. We need him very much.”
Liz looked around, and tried to take stock of the situation. Ten Gadori, looking like Antarian guardsmen, surrounded them on all sides. She glanced at Ava, and tried to will her friend to read her thoughts. If they could work it just right, they could take out at least half of the Gadori, and possibly make a break for it.
“Don’t even waste your time, Your Majesty,” said the Gadori holding Shandar. “If you try it, you’ll die. We have no problem killing you. You’re not our Queen, and honestly, having you dead will save us a lot of difficulties.”
Liz glared at the Gadori, her eyes filled with hatred. She could see into his soul, and it was inky black. It was like there was nothing inside of him but hate and anger. She shuddered and took a step back, trying to put some distance between herself and the Gadori.
“You will come with us,” said the Gadori. “We are taking you back to our stronghold.”
“The hell you are,” said Liz. “You can kill me here, but I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Easily arranged,” said the Gadori with an evil grin. He raised his hand and pointed it Liz’s direction.
Liz stood tall; ready to take his full assault unflinchingly when Shandar stepped beside her.
“Go ahead and kill her,” Shandar taunted, boldly. “But if you do, you’ll be taking a real risk. You may hit the baby instead. Where will you be then, Jenaro?”
“I should have killed you when you gave birth, Shandar,” the Gadori named Jenaro said. “You’ve been nothing but trouble since Kivar brought you to us.”
“So go ahead, do it,” said Shandar. “You want to kill me so bad, just do it.”
“You know I won’t,” Jenaro ground out between clenched teeth. “Much as I hate to admit it, you’re too valuable to us. But believe me when I say that won’t stop me from torturing you. I can’t wait to hear you beg for your life.”
Shandar continued to taunt Jenaro, while the other Gadori looked on. Liz shifted her stance slightly trying to block Ava from view, hoping the petite blond would use the opportunity to escape. Ava was quick to catch on to what Liz wanted, and she carefully began to inch away from the Gadori. Slowly she crept down the hill, until the others were no longer in sight, and then she ran for all she was worth. Hands reached out to grab her, and Ava began to fight like a wildcat, struggling to break free from the arms that held her.
“Ava, stop it, it’s me!” Kyle shouted. “Stop it!”
Ava struggled in his arms, and the two fell to the ground. Kyle finally managed to pin Ava’s shoulders to the ground, forcing her to look up at him.
“Damn, we sure could have used you on the wrestling team,” he said.
“Kyle?” Ava whispered. “Is it really you?”
“Of course it’s me, you goof. Who’d you think it would be?”
“The Gadori, they have Liz and Shandar and Valrik,” she said. “We have to go back and get them.”
“Who the hell is Valrik?” demanded Kyle.
“I’ll explain later,” said Ava, struggling to get up. “Where are the others, are the with you?”
In lieu of an answer, Kyle put his fingers in his mouth and let out a piercing whistle, and Max and Zan appeared, each coming from a different direction.
“Where are Michael and the others?” Ava asked.
“Right here,” said Michael, appearing behind his sister, flanked by Alex and Maria, while Isabel stood behind them.
“Come on, we don’t have much time to lose,” said Ava. She began retracing her steps up the hill, explaining to the others about the Gadori as they climbed.
“We can split up and circle around,” said Michael, and box them in, they way they boxed you in. You said there’s about ten of them?”
“Yeah,” said Ava, “But we have to be careful of Valrik. I don’t think Shandar’s going to be able to do anything but protect him.”
“That’s the second time you mentioned Valrik. Who, or what is Valrik?” asked Kyle.
Ava stopped and looked first at Kyle, then at Zan, her oldest friend, and she struggled to find the words to answer. Finally, she decided the only thing she could do was say it.
“He’s your son, Zan. Do you remember undergoing a battery of physical tests when you first took the throne? Well they weren’t all doctors. Some of them were Gadori, working for Kivar, and they, well they took,”
“Don’t bother saying it,” said Zan. “We all know what they took.”
“Yeah, well they had another Antarian that they forced to submit to some tests too, only those tests were to make her pregnant with your child,” said Ava.
“Shandar,” said Zan, his voice dead. “Kivar’s sister is the mother of my child.”
“Zan, don’t,” said Ava. “It wasn’t like that. She didn’t know what was going on, and she certainly didn’t want any part of it. As soon as she could, she escaped with the baby and tried to bring him to you. Liz read her and she’s telling the truth.”
“Did any of you bother to think that maybe this was all some sort of trap?” demanded Michael. “Kyle and Drinian couldn’t read her, why should Liz, who’s only had the power for like what, a week, be able to succeed when they failed.”
“Because I mind warped her into seeing Brad Pitt!” Ava shouted, whirling angrily on her brother. “While her defenses were down, watching Brad serve her breakfast, Liz managed to break through and read her, that’s why! Now can we stop arguing and go and get them back.”
“I think Zan’s one step ahead of you,” said Max, pointing up the hill.
The others followed his arm and looked up and saw Zan ready to crest the hill. Breaking into a run, the others quickly climbed the rest of the way up the hill and joined him. Michael reached him first and placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. Zan shrugged it off, but stopped and waited for the others to join him. The small group of Gadori was where Ava had left them, with Liz and Shandar still being held in the center of the group.
After a few hurried minutes of planning, Alex, Isabel and Maria took off to come at them from behind, while Michael and Kyle came at them from the front. By unspoken agreement, Max and Zan planned to come in from the side closest to where Liz stood and get both her and Shandar to safety.
It was over in a matter of minutes. The Gadori lay on the ground, dead or dying, with the exception of Janaro who was now a captive.
“Max, we had no choice,” said Liz.
“We always have choices, Liz,” said Max. “You made yours. I’m not saying I agree with what you did, but I understand it.”
“I’d say you’re taking this a lot better than Zan is,” said Liz. They looked over at Zan, and the look of desire that filled his eyes when he looked at Shandar had been replaced with a look of hatred.
“Give me my son,” he said.
“He’s my son,” said Shandar, her voice filled with rage.
“Yes, and he’s mine too, and I said to give him to me!”
“I will die before I give up my child to anyone,” Shandar cried.
“That can be arranged,” muttered Zan, angrily.
“Kids, kids, kids,” interrupted Maria. “This is no time for a spat. How about if I carry the little cutie here, and you two talk while we get the hell out of here. This is still enemy territory you know.”
Maria reached out to a speechless Shandar and took the baby from her arms and began to walk towards the valley that hid their encampment. Zan, realized that arguing with Maria was an exercise in futility and threw a helpless glance back at Michael.
“See why I had no choice?” he asked. “I had to make her a general.”
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majiklmoon
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Chapter Thirty-Seven – This Changes Everything
Zan stared morosely into the flickering flames of the fire, lost deep within his own thoughts, until Max placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked.
“What’s there to say?” Zan replied. “She’s either lying, or telling the truth, and I’m inclined to believe she’s telling the truth. That means I have a son, and I didn’t even get a little sumptin sumptin when the deed was done,” he added slipping back, for just a moment into what the others coined dupe speak.
“And is that why you’re concerned?” asked Max, struggling not to smile. “Because you didn’t get to participate in the actual act?”
“No, God, no, of course not!” Zan practically shouted. “But thinking about that is a hell of a lot easier than focusing on the fact that both Shandar and I were totally and completely violated, and that a poor innocent child was brought into this whole mess.”
“Yeah, it does suck,” Max said, calmly. “The question is what are you going to do about it?”
“I don’t get why you’re so calm about this,” said Zan, turning to face Max. He turned away again and added another chunk of wood to the fire and watched the flames flare up, throwing a ghostly glow on the corner of the chamber where they sat.
“This could very well be considered your child as well. Don’t forget we’re the same frigging person.”
“We’re not the same, Zan,” said Max. “Any more than identical twins are the same. Each one has his or her own individual characteristics, and so do we. Much as I’d love to say Valrik was mine, he’s yours and yours alone.”
Zan looked sharply at his brother, hearing the ache of longing in Max’s voice, and he remembered suddenly, that Max and Liz had already lost a child at the hands of Tess. He cleared his throat and smiled at Max.
“Well, you’re going to be the official Godfather,” he said. “Michael, Alex and Kyle can all be unofficial or something.”
“Poor kid is in trouble already if you’re going to be his Godfather,” said Maria, joining the conversation. She squeezed in between Max and Zan and suddenly smiled at them.
“So how are my two best male girlfriends doing today?”
“What do you want, Maria?” Zan asked, his tone suspicious.
“What, I can’t come and spend some time with you two?” She asked. “I have to want something?”
“Yes,” Zan and Max responded simultaneously. “You want something.”
“Well, you’re right,” said Maria. “I do want something. What are you going to do?” she asked Zan.
“About what, Maria? Global warming on Earth, the state of the economy, or the over abundance of Gadori infiltrating my planet?”
“About Valrik, you idiot,” Maria answered, slapping Zan lightly on the arm. “You can’t wage a war with a baby in a snuggli pouch on your chest.”
“Maria, what in the hell are you talking about?” Zan demanded. “Valrik is fine, Shandar’s watching him, and I’m not about to bring him into battle.”
“Guess again,” said Maria, smirking slightly. “Ava is watching Valrik, while Isabel and Liz try and talk Shandar out of leaving.”
“The hell you say!” shouted Zan, jumping up. “She’s not going anywhere. She’s the baby’s mother, and she needs to be with him whether she likes it or not! Where is she?”
“Oh, over there,” Maria said in an innocent voice, pointing across the cavernous enclave. She watched in satisfaction as Zan stormed across the compound and grinned at Max.
“That worked,” she said, smiling complacently.
“Maria, what did you just do?” Max asked.
“Me, nothing,” Maria said. “Max, why do you always assume that I’m up to something?”
“Because you usually are, General,” Max said, placing undue emphasis on the word.
“Fine, if that’s the way you’re going to be about it,” said Maria. “It’s simple. Zan was over here doing a great imitation of you, brooding, and Shandar was over there, worried that Zan was going to go all king like and take her son from her, so I decided to just kind of bring them together.”
“You are such a trouble maker,” said Max, flashing a grin in her direction.
“Yeah, I know, but that’s why you love me,” said Maria. “In a totally platonic and non-romantic way, of course.”
“So you want to go watch the fireworks?” Max asked.
“Are you kidding?” Maria said. “I have Michael and Liz saving us front row seats.
Halfway across the compound they could hear the shouting, and the two hurried over to join Michael and Liz who were watching from behind a stone pillar.
“What did we miss?” Maria asked, sliding in next to her husband and her best friend.
“Not too much,” said Michael, chewing on the Antarian equivalent of potato chips. “Zan came charging in, with a full head of steam, and Shandar is giving it right back to him. She makes Maria look calm by comparison.”
“Jerk,” said Maria. “Now shut up, I’m trying to listen.”
“Eavesdrop you mean,” said Liz, laughing.
“I don’t notice you not trying to listen,” Maria shot back.
Liz flushed a becoming shade of red and answered. “Well, it’s obvious they belong together. We just need to help them along.”
“You’re not going anywhere!” Zan yelled, his eyes flashing sparks as he glared at Shandar. “Valrik is your son, he needs you here.”
“Right!” Shandar spat contemptuously. “You just want me here as a wet nurse for him, and when the time is right, you’ll throw me out. I know I’ll never be able to take him from you, but maybe if I leave now, it won’t hurt me as much!”
Zan drew himself up to his full height, and glared at Shandar, his eyes shooting sparks of fire.
“Oh, shit,” whispered Max. “Don’t do it. Don’t do it, Zan. Don’t play the king card.”
“I am Zan, undisputed ruler and King of Antar, and you will do as I say!” Zan shouted.
“Oh shit, he played the king card,” Max whispered.
Without a word, Shandar drew back and slapped Zan with all her might. Zan staggered a bit under the sudden onslaught, then reached out and grabbed Shandar by her arms and began to kiss her passionately.
“Okay,” said Max, softly to the others. “Maybe the king card wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
Zan stared morosely into the flickering flames of the fire, lost deep within his own thoughts, until Max placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked.
“What’s there to say?” Zan replied. “She’s either lying, or telling the truth, and I’m inclined to believe she’s telling the truth. That means I have a son, and I didn’t even get a little sumptin sumptin when the deed was done,” he added slipping back, for just a moment into what the others coined dupe speak.
“And is that why you’re concerned?” asked Max, struggling not to smile. “Because you didn’t get to participate in the actual act?”
“No, God, no, of course not!” Zan practically shouted. “But thinking about that is a hell of a lot easier than focusing on the fact that both Shandar and I were totally and completely violated, and that a poor innocent child was brought into this whole mess.”
“Yeah, it does suck,” Max said, calmly. “The question is what are you going to do about it?”
“I don’t get why you’re so calm about this,” said Zan, turning to face Max. He turned away again and added another chunk of wood to the fire and watched the flames flare up, throwing a ghostly glow on the corner of the chamber where they sat.
“This could very well be considered your child as well. Don’t forget we’re the same frigging person.”
“We’re not the same, Zan,” said Max. “Any more than identical twins are the same. Each one has his or her own individual characteristics, and so do we. Much as I’d love to say Valrik was mine, he’s yours and yours alone.”
Zan looked sharply at his brother, hearing the ache of longing in Max’s voice, and he remembered suddenly, that Max and Liz had already lost a child at the hands of Tess. He cleared his throat and smiled at Max.
“Well, you’re going to be the official Godfather,” he said. “Michael, Alex and Kyle can all be unofficial or something.”
“Poor kid is in trouble already if you’re going to be his Godfather,” said Maria, joining the conversation. She squeezed in between Max and Zan and suddenly smiled at them.
“So how are my two best male girlfriends doing today?”
“What do you want, Maria?” Zan asked, his tone suspicious.
“What, I can’t come and spend some time with you two?” She asked. “I have to want something?”
“Yes,” Zan and Max responded simultaneously. “You want something.”
“Well, you’re right,” said Maria. “I do want something. What are you going to do?” she asked Zan.
“About what, Maria? Global warming on Earth, the state of the economy, or the over abundance of Gadori infiltrating my planet?”
“About Valrik, you idiot,” Maria answered, slapping Zan lightly on the arm. “You can’t wage a war with a baby in a snuggli pouch on your chest.”
“Maria, what in the hell are you talking about?” Zan demanded. “Valrik is fine, Shandar’s watching him, and I’m not about to bring him into battle.”
“Guess again,” said Maria, smirking slightly. “Ava is watching Valrik, while Isabel and Liz try and talk Shandar out of leaving.”
“The hell you say!” shouted Zan, jumping up. “She’s not going anywhere. She’s the baby’s mother, and she needs to be with him whether she likes it or not! Where is she?”
“Oh, over there,” Maria said in an innocent voice, pointing across the cavernous enclave. She watched in satisfaction as Zan stormed across the compound and grinned at Max.
“That worked,” she said, smiling complacently.
“Maria, what did you just do?” Max asked.
“Me, nothing,” Maria said. “Max, why do you always assume that I’m up to something?”
“Because you usually are, General,” Max said, placing undue emphasis on the word.
“Fine, if that’s the way you’re going to be about it,” said Maria. “It’s simple. Zan was over here doing a great imitation of you, brooding, and Shandar was over there, worried that Zan was going to go all king like and take her son from her, so I decided to just kind of bring them together.”
“You are such a trouble maker,” said Max, flashing a grin in her direction.
“Yeah, I know, but that’s why you love me,” said Maria. “In a totally platonic and non-romantic way, of course.”
“So you want to go watch the fireworks?” Max asked.
“Are you kidding?” Maria said. “I have Michael and Liz saving us front row seats.
Halfway across the compound they could hear the shouting, and the two hurried over to join Michael and Liz who were watching from behind a stone pillar.
“What did we miss?” Maria asked, sliding in next to her husband and her best friend.
“Not too much,” said Michael, chewing on the Antarian equivalent of potato chips. “Zan came charging in, with a full head of steam, and Shandar is giving it right back to him. She makes Maria look calm by comparison.”
“Jerk,” said Maria. “Now shut up, I’m trying to listen.”
“Eavesdrop you mean,” said Liz, laughing.
“I don’t notice you not trying to listen,” Maria shot back.
Liz flushed a becoming shade of red and answered. “Well, it’s obvious they belong together. We just need to help them along.”
“You’re not going anywhere!” Zan yelled, his eyes flashing sparks as he glared at Shandar. “Valrik is your son, he needs you here.”
“Right!” Shandar spat contemptuously. “You just want me here as a wet nurse for him, and when the time is right, you’ll throw me out. I know I’ll never be able to take him from you, but maybe if I leave now, it won’t hurt me as much!”
Zan drew himself up to his full height, and glared at Shandar, his eyes shooting sparks of fire.
“Oh, shit,” whispered Max. “Don’t do it. Don’t do it, Zan. Don’t play the king card.”
“I am Zan, undisputed ruler and King of Antar, and you will do as I say!” Zan shouted.
“Oh shit, he played the king card,” Max whispered.
Without a word, Shandar drew back and slapped Zan with all her might. Zan staggered a bit under the sudden onslaught, then reached out and grabbed Shandar by her arms and began to kiss her passionately.
“Okay,” said Max, softly to the others. “Maybe the king card wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
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majiklmoon
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Chapter Thirty-Eight – Infiltration
Michael walked through the capitol city of Antar, mingling with the crowds. His objective was to gather information; at least that’s what he told the others. His real objective was to find his father, and then, if luck was with him, beat the shit out of him. He ducked behind a building and changed his appearance and stepped out back into the crowd to resume his search.
“Marish!” Is that you?” A voice from the crowd called.
Michael ignored the call until a large beefy hand came crashing down on to his shoulder, almost forcing him into the ground.
“Marish, that is you, you no good cheat!”
Michael turned around and found himself staring at the biggest Antarian he had ever seen.
“Uh, sorry,” said Michael. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken.”
“I’m not mistaken,” the man growled. “You’re Marish, and you owe me seventy five qariks.”
Michael felt his feet leave the ground as the man lifted him up and pinned his back against the wall. He swallowed down a feeling of panic as he tried o figure out what to do. He knew he cold kill the man, but that particular option left him with a feeling of distaste in his mouth. Spying something on the man’s collar, he looked closer and saw that it was the insignia worn by those who fought with them to regain the throne from Kivar.
Risking all, Michael transformed his features and showed his true face to the man, then quickly transformed his features again.
“Lord Michael,” the man whispered. He quickly released his hold on Michael, and he tumbled to the ground. The man reached down and hauled him to his feet and began to dust him off, apologizing profusely all the while.
“I am so sorry, My Lord,” the man said. “Forgive me. I didn’t realize that you were here.”
“Relax,” said Michael. “It’s no big deal.”
“But it is Lord Michael,” said the man. “I attacked one of the members of the Royal Family.”
“Can we lose the Lord Michael thing, and while we’re at it, what’s your name anyhow?”
“I am Wandred, Lord Michael,” said the beefy giant. “Have you and the others returned to aid King Zan in his fight to regain the throne?”
“Look, I said chill with the Lord stuff,” Michael said, brusquely. “And what do you mean, Zan’s fight to regain the throne?” he added cagily. “I thought that all was well between Zan and Lord Kivar.”
“Bah,” Wandred spat. “Whatever that thing is up there, it’s not Kivar, and King Zan would never make any kind of deals with him, even if it were.”
Damn, Michael thought to himself. I wish I had even a glimmer of that empathic power of Kyle’s. I think he’s alright, but I don’t know if I’m wishing or not.
“Hey,” came a voice from behind Wandred. “Got any milk? I brought the HoHo’s.”
“Jesus, Valenti, don’t do that,” said Michael, spinning around. “I could have killed you or something.”
“Lord Kyle,” said Wandred, bowing low.
“Yeah, can we can the Lord stuff,” said Kyle. “Much as I like and enjoy being worshipped, it only really works if it comes from Ava. What’s up?” he added, turning to Michael.
“Can you do your Counselor Troi impression please?” Michael asked.
“Did and done,” said Kyle. “And all is well in the small and insular world of Michael Guerin.”
“Thanks, man,” said Michael. “Look, Wandred, here’s what I need you to do. You can’t tell anyone that you know we’re here. Got it? And, I want you to start meeting with people you know for certain are loyal to King Zan. Don’t tell them anything, but try and feel out some people. Just be careful. You don’t know who you can trust anymore, and the person who looks like your best friend may be your deadliest enemy.”
“Aye, Lord, I mean Michael,” said Wandred. He bowed low, but stood up hastily as he remembered that all of the royals had a blatant dislike of all formality and royal protocol.
“We’ll meet you back here in three days,” said Michael. “Come alone, and the code word is,” Michael paused and searched his memory for a word that would clearly identify Wandred, but wouldn’t be figured out by the Gadori.
“Ho Ho’s,” Kyle interjected. “The code word is Ho Ho’s.”
“Ho Ho’s repeated Wandred,” testing the foreign word on his tongue experimentally. “Very well, I will be back in three days.”
Kyle waited until Wandred was out of earshot before he turned to Michael.
“So did you have any luck finding him yet?”
“Finding who?” asked Michael, being purposely obtuse.
“Your father, numb nuts. And don’t try to tell me you weren’t out here looking for him. It was pretty damn obvious from the second you came up with that lame plan to reconnoiter,” said Kyle.
“You know, that stupid empath power of yours is starting to get on my nerves,” Michael growled.
“D’uh, it wasn’t that,” said Kyle. “Anyone who knows you knows something is up, and those of us who know what’s on your mind know what it is.”
“Great,” said Michael. “I think I liked it better when I was Stonewall Guerin.”
“Give it up, Michael,” said Kyle, slapping him on the back. “Now let’s start looking. I figured you could use some help seeing as Cal probably doesn’t look like Cal anymore.”
“Yeah, thanks,” said Michael, a bit grudgingly. He wanted to be the one to find Cal, and get some answers out of him, before he killed him. “Come on, let’s walk through the market place and see if you can pick up his sent or something.”
“Uh, Michael, I’m not a bloodhound you know,” said Kyle. “It’s not exactly like that.”
“I know, I know,” said Michael. “Max and I were talking about it. We can kind of get what you’re feeling, but it’s just so hard.”
“Is it hard, or are you afraid?” Kyle asked.
“I’m not afraid of anything,” said Michael, his voice tinged with anger.
“Yeah, really, Michael. Try telling me something I will believe,” taunted Kyle. “I saw you when it first happened to me. You were totally freaked by what was happening, and you didn’t want it happening to you. Neither did Max. That’s why the two of you are having such a hard time accessing the ability. You’re blocking it, just like you all block the memories of the collective consciousness.”
Michael glared at Kyle and drew his fist back and punched him in the face. The impact knocked Kyle to the ground but he jumped back up and laid into Michael for all he was worth.
A crowd of people gathered around and watched as the two men pummeled each other. Finally one man reached in and pulled Michael off of Kyle and glared at him.
“Are you insane!” the man shouted. “Drawing attention to yourself. What the hell were you thinking?”
Kyle swiped at his nose and tried ineffectually to stem the stream of blood. “I was thinking,” he said between gasps of breath. “That it worked.”
The man opened his mouth to speak but a tremendous explosion that rocked the ground stopped his words.
“Come on, we have to get out of here,” the man said, pulling himself off of the ground.
“Right,” said Kyle. “And you’re coming with us, Cal.”
Michael walked through the capitol city of Antar, mingling with the crowds. His objective was to gather information; at least that’s what he told the others. His real objective was to find his father, and then, if luck was with him, beat the shit out of him. He ducked behind a building and changed his appearance and stepped out back into the crowd to resume his search.
“Marish!” Is that you?” A voice from the crowd called.
Michael ignored the call until a large beefy hand came crashing down on to his shoulder, almost forcing him into the ground.
“Marish, that is you, you no good cheat!”
Michael turned around and found himself staring at the biggest Antarian he had ever seen.
“Uh, sorry,” said Michael. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken.”
“I’m not mistaken,” the man growled. “You’re Marish, and you owe me seventy five qariks.”
Michael felt his feet leave the ground as the man lifted him up and pinned his back against the wall. He swallowed down a feeling of panic as he tried o figure out what to do. He knew he cold kill the man, but that particular option left him with a feeling of distaste in his mouth. Spying something on the man’s collar, he looked closer and saw that it was the insignia worn by those who fought with them to regain the throne from Kivar.
Risking all, Michael transformed his features and showed his true face to the man, then quickly transformed his features again.
“Lord Michael,” the man whispered. He quickly released his hold on Michael, and he tumbled to the ground. The man reached down and hauled him to his feet and began to dust him off, apologizing profusely all the while.
“I am so sorry, My Lord,” the man said. “Forgive me. I didn’t realize that you were here.”
“Relax,” said Michael. “It’s no big deal.”
“But it is Lord Michael,” said the man. “I attacked one of the members of the Royal Family.”
“Can we lose the Lord Michael thing, and while we’re at it, what’s your name anyhow?”
“I am Wandred, Lord Michael,” said the beefy giant. “Have you and the others returned to aid King Zan in his fight to regain the throne?”
“Look, I said chill with the Lord stuff,” Michael said, brusquely. “And what do you mean, Zan’s fight to regain the throne?” he added cagily. “I thought that all was well between Zan and Lord Kivar.”
“Bah,” Wandred spat. “Whatever that thing is up there, it’s not Kivar, and King Zan would never make any kind of deals with him, even if it were.”
Damn, Michael thought to himself. I wish I had even a glimmer of that empathic power of Kyle’s. I think he’s alright, but I don’t know if I’m wishing or not.
“Hey,” came a voice from behind Wandred. “Got any milk? I brought the HoHo’s.”
“Jesus, Valenti, don’t do that,” said Michael, spinning around. “I could have killed you or something.”
“Lord Kyle,” said Wandred, bowing low.
“Yeah, can we can the Lord stuff,” said Kyle. “Much as I like and enjoy being worshipped, it only really works if it comes from Ava. What’s up?” he added, turning to Michael.
“Can you do your Counselor Troi impression please?” Michael asked.
“Did and done,” said Kyle. “And all is well in the small and insular world of Michael Guerin.”
“Thanks, man,” said Michael. “Look, Wandred, here’s what I need you to do. You can’t tell anyone that you know we’re here. Got it? And, I want you to start meeting with people you know for certain are loyal to King Zan. Don’t tell them anything, but try and feel out some people. Just be careful. You don’t know who you can trust anymore, and the person who looks like your best friend may be your deadliest enemy.”
“Aye, Lord, I mean Michael,” said Wandred. He bowed low, but stood up hastily as he remembered that all of the royals had a blatant dislike of all formality and royal protocol.
“We’ll meet you back here in three days,” said Michael. “Come alone, and the code word is,” Michael paused and searched his memory for a word that would clearly identify Wandred, but wouldn’t be figured out by the Gadori.
“Ho Ho’s,” Kyle interjected. “The code word is Ho Ho’s.”
“Ho Ho’s repeated Wandred,” testing the foreign word on his tongue experimentally. “Very well, I will be back in three days.”
Kyle waited until Wandred was out of earshot before he turned to Michael.
“So did you have any luck finding him yet?”
“Finding who?” asked Michael, being purposely obtuse.
“Your father, numb nuts. And don’t try to tell me you weren’t out here looking for him. It was pretty damn obvious from the second you came up with that lame plan to reconnoiter,” said Kyle.
“You know, that stupid empath power of yours is starting to get on my nerves,” Michael growled.
“D’uh, it wasn’t that,” said Kyle. “Anyone who knows you knows something is up, and those of us who know what’s on your mind know what it is.”
“Great,” said Michael. “I think I liked it better when I was Stonewall Guerin.”
“Give it up, Michael,” said Kyle, slapping him on the back. “Now let’s start looking. I figured you could use some help seeing as Cal probably doesn’t look like Cal anymore.”
“Yeah, thanks,” said Michael, a bit grudgingly. He wanted to be the one to find Cal, and get some answers out of him, before he killed him. “Come on, let’s walk through the market place and see if you can pick up his sent or something.”
“Uh, Michael, I’m not a bloodhound you know,” said Kyle. “It’s not exactly like that.”
“I know, I know,” said Michael. “Max and I were talking about it. We can kind of get what you’re feeling, but it’s just so hard.”
“Is it hard, or are you afraid?” Kyle asked.
“I’m not afraid of anything,” said Michael, his voice tinged with anger.
“Yeah, really, Michael. Try telling me something I will believe,” taunted Kyle. “I saw you when it first happened to me. You were totally freaked by what was happening, and you didn’t want it happening to you. Neither did Max. That’s why the two of you are having such a hard time accessing the ability. You’re blocking it, just like you all block the memories of the collective consciousness.”
Michael glared at Kyle and drew his fist back and punched him in the face. The impact knocked Kyle to the ground but he jumped back up and laid into Michael for all he was worth.
A crowd of people gathered around and watched as the two men pummeled each other. Finally one man reached in and pulled Michael off of Kyle and glared at him.
“Are you insane!” the man shouted. “Drawing attention to yourself. What the hell were you thinking?”
Kyle swiped at his nose and tried ineffectually to stem the stream of blood. “I was thinking,” he said between gasps of breath. “That it worked.”
The man opened his mouth to speak but a tremendous explosion that rocked the ground stopped his words.
“Come on, we have to get out of here,” the man said, pulling himself off of the ground.
“Right,” said Kyle. “And you’re coming with us, Cal.”
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majiklmoon
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Don't faint, don't pass out...yes, this is an UPDATE
Chapter Thirty-Nine – Reunion
Michael glared at Kyle. “How the hell do you do that?” he groused.
“What?” laughed Kyle. “Know that Cal was nearby, or the serious kicking I gave your ass?”
“You did not kick my ass,” said Michael, shooting Kyle with a glare that would have felled a lesser man.
“Yeah, I did,” Kyle said, smugly.
“He did,” said Cal, joining the conversation. “Now can the two of you stop arguing like a bunch of old ladies? That explosion was not a part of the fourth of July fireworks you know.”
“What was it?” asked Michael.
“I blew up a weapons storehouse,” said Cal. “And conveniently enough, it was located right next to a facility that housed a lot of the Gadori ships. Unfortunately for them, the explosion probably wiped it out, as well.”
“Well great. Zan can give you a medal or something after we get you back to Sanctuary,” said Michael. “Come on, let’s get out of her.”
“I’m not going back with you,” said Cal.
“It’s not open for discussion,” said Michael. “So just shut up and let’s get going.”
As Michael argued with Cal, Kyle stepped up behind and surreptitiously pressed his hand on Cal’s back. He gave a small nudge with his mind, and Cal fell unceremoniously to the ground, unconscious.
“Nice work,” said Michael.
“Thanks, I am to please, “ was Kyle’s response. “Now, how do we get him back?
“Um, we could drag him through the streets by his feet,” Michael offered hopefully. “But then, Max or Zan would probably want to heal him or something, and I don’t want them wasting their power on him.”
“I’ve got an idea,” said Kyle. “Help me lift him up.”
He reached down and pulled on of Cal’s arms around his neck, while Michael did the same on the other side. Kyle placed his hand on the small of Cal’s back and focused intently. He focused a minute burst of energy towards Cal’s spine, and to his satisfaction, and Michael’s amazement, Cal’s legs began to move of their own accord.
“How the hell did you do that?” asked Michael in amazement.
“Well, body movement occurs when the brain sends out an electrical impulse through the nervous system to the part of the body that it wants moved. I figured we could bypass the brain part and use our won electrical impulses to move him.”
“Who the hell are you, and what happened to Kyle?” demanded Michael. “What, are you channeling Alex or Liz, or something?”
“I, uh, I read a book this past summer about spinal injuries, and it sort of stuck with me. Kind of sucks that that particular alien power didn’t manifest itself in high school or something.”
“Buddha would have frowned up on you using your powers for evil, Kyle,” Michael teased.
“Shut up,” Kyle said amicably. “Or you can carry your father all by yourself.”
“How hard can it be?” asked Michael. “All I need to do is give him a jolt of energy right about here, right?”
“No! Michael, don’t do it!” Kyle shouted, but it was too late.
He put his hand on Cal’s back and shot a burst of energy into his back. Cal’s body stiffened momentarily, and his legs began to move as if he was running a race. Both Kyle and Michael lost their grip on the older man, and he moved forward several feet, but without their support, his unconscious fell in a heap on the ground. Michael and Kyle looked down at the crumpled body, legs jerking spasmodically and struggled not to laugh.
“Guess I should have read the book,” said Michael.
“Gee, ya think?” asked Kyle.
“What I wouldn’t give for a camera right now,” said Michael, still fighting the urge to explode into full-fledged laughter. “Come on, let’s get him back to the others. Much as I hate the guy, this is one reunion that needs to happen sooner, rather than later.”
They hefted Cal’s body, and led him down the steep incline into the ravine that hid the entrance to their underground hiding place. Once inside, Michael sent a soldier to locate Drinian, Kitana and Dijanya, while he and Kyle dragged Cal’s body to a secluded section of the cavern set aside for the royal family’s use.
“Kyle, can you go find Max and the others and have them come here?” he asked. “But maybe you’d better keep Maria and Ava away until I have a chance to talk to them.”
“Are you nuts?” Kyle asked. “Why don’t you want them here?”
“Mostly because I haven’t told either one of them about Cal,” said Michael.
“Well, I told Ava,” said Kyle. “I don’t keep secrets from my wife. She deserved to know.”
“How’d she take it?” asked Michael, his face a mask of worry. The last thing he wanted was for anybody to cause his sister any pain.
“She took it better than you,” said Kyle. “At least she didn’t try to track him down and kill him, but I don’t think she’s going to be asking him to Sunday dinner any time soon. Why didn’t you tell Maria?”
Michael shot Kyle a knowing look, and Kyle laughed. “I know, because General DeLuca would have marshaled her troops to find him and kill him, right?”
“Exactly,” said Michael. “She would have torn the planet apart looking for him, and we didn’t need that. Well, can you go get the others. All the others,” he added pointedly. “And bring them here, while I wake sleeping ugly over her back up, and it won’t be with a kiss, I can promise you that.”
Kyle jogged off into the recesses of the cavern and quickly found Max, Isabel, Alex, Ava and Liz. He whispered his news to them and told them where Michael was waiting. Max promised to get Zan and Shandar who were sequestered away somewhere trying to come to terms with the fact that they were parents.
He tracked Maria down and pulled her away from her strategy meeting and asked her to meet the others in the royal quarters. She grumbled a bit, but when Kyle told her Michael needed her, she dropped everything without another word and made her way across the cavern, Kyle trailing worriedly along behind her. He didn’t have a good feeling about what was going to happen, and he wasn’t sure that Maria was going to react well to the news.
“Maria, wait!” Kyle called. “Maybe I’d better tell you something before you go in there.”
“Tell me what, Kyle?” Maria said. “Is it important. I mean, can it wait, because if Michael needs me, I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
“Well, it’s kind of about Michael,” said Kyle.
“He’s all right, isn’t he?” Maria demanded, her face going white. “You’d tell me if he was hurt or anything, right? Kyle, tell me he’s all right!”
“Maria, relax, look, I said that all wrong,” said Kyle. “Physically, Michael is fine, but something happened back home. Something he didn’t tell you about. He was going to, but then something else happened, and he decided he wasn’t the right time.”
“Kyle, you’re starting to totally freak me out,” said Maria. “Plus, you’re rambling, and that’s like my job, remember?”
“Yeah, well you’ve kind of been busy being a General lately, and maybe I decided we needed a little rambling,” said Kyle in an attempt to delay the inevitable.
“Now you’re stalling. Just tell me,” said Maria.
“We met someone back home, and well, this someone, Jesus, Maria, this is hard, well, this someone is Michael and Ava’s father. We brought him back with us, but he escaped, and Michael just tracked him down and we brought him back here,” Kyle said in a rush.
Kyle quickly explained Cal’s role as member of the Gadori ship that brought the pod squad to Earth, and his subsequent attempts to contact them, and how after he couldn’t make contact with them after various attempts, he wrote them off as not wanting any part of their Antarian heritage.
“Oh, I see,” said Maria, her face devoid of all expression, and her voice flat. “And Michael didn’t see fit to tell me this because?”
“Because he knew you loved him enough to want to tear apart the planet until you found Cal and that you’d forcibly drag him back here if you had to.”
“And what about you, or Liz, Max, or even Isabel?” Maria said in a voice laced with venom. “Why didn’t any of THEM tell me?”
“Uh, Maria, this might not be the time to point it out to you, but we are in the middle of a war, things have been a little crazy around here. Factor in a missing sister of Kivar’s, and Zan finding out that he’s a father without any of the usual pleasantries that go with making a baby, and you wonder why none of us thought to tell you? Damn it, Maria, get over yourself, will you. Now your husband needs you, and I suggest you get your ass into the family quarters and be there for him!”
“I’m not finished with you, Valenti,” Maria said. “We’ll finish this later.”
She turned abruptly and stalked across the cavern fuming at Kyle and Michael and the world in general as she walked. By the time she reached the area set aside for the royal family, her temper had cooled enough to allow her to stand beside Michael without blowing him up.
“Is that him?” she asked her husband who stood near Cal’s still unconscious body with a guilty look on his face.
“Uh, it depends on who him is?” asked Michael, stalling for time.
“Give it up, Space Boy. Kyle caved and told all, or at least the short version. So, is this him, or isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s him,” said Michael. “Look, Maria, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, really I am.”
“Later, Michael. We don’t have time for this right now.” She leaned over and slapped Cal across the face. “Hey, you! Daddy-in-law! Wake up!”
Cal groaned and instinctively covered his face with his hands to ward off any more of Maria’s slaps.
“Daddy, I’d like you to meet your daughter-in-law, Maria,” said Michael with a smile. Maria, meet my father.”
“I’d say it’s a pleasure,” said Maria. “But it’s not. You filthy son of a bitch, get up so I can kill you.”
“Oh, did I forget to mention that Maria is one of Zan’s top Generals?” Michael added with a smirk.
“This day is not going anything like I planned,” said Cal.
“Rough day, Cal?” said Max, entering the room with Liz. “Pity.”
“This him?” asked another voice as Zan walked in, holding his son in his arms, Shandar at his side. Alex, Isabel, Ava and Kyle filed in behind them and joined the others, but Cal virtually ignored them when he saw his oldest and dearest friends walk into the room, flanking his beloved wife.
“Cladar,” Dijanya whispered before falling to the ground.
Chapter Thirty-Nine – Reunion
Michael glared at Kyle. “How the hell do you do that?” he groused.
“What?” laughed Kyle. “Know that Cal was nearby, or the serious kicking I gave your ass?”
“You did not kick my ass,” said Michael, shooting Kyle with a glare that would have felled a lesser man.
“Yeah, I did,” Kyle said, smugly.
“He did,” said Cal, joining the conversation. “Now can the two of you stop arguing like a bunch of old ladies? That explosion was not a part of the fourth of July fireworks you know.”
“What was it?” asked Michael.
“I blew up a weapons storehouse,” said Cal. “And conveniently enough, it was located right next to a facility that housed a lot of the Gadori ships. Unfortunately for them, the explosion probably wiped it out, as well.”
“Well great. Zan can give you a medal or something after we get you back to Sanctuary,” said Michael. “Come on, let’s get out of her.”
“I’m not going back with you,” said Cal.
“It’s not open for discussion,” said Michael. “So just shut up and let’s get going.”
As Michael argued with Cal, Kyle stepped up behind and surreptitiously pressed his hand on Cal’s back. He gave a small nudge with his mind, and Cal fell unceremoniously to the ground, unconscious.
“Nice work,” said Michael.
“Thanks, I am to please, “ was Kyle’s response. “Now, how do we get him back?
“Um, we could drag him through the streets by his feet,” Michael offered hopefully. “But then, Max or Zan would probably want to heal him or something, and I don’t want them wasting their power on him.”
“I’ve got an idea,” said Kyle. “Help me lift him up.”
He reached down and pulled on of Cal’s arms around his neck, while Michael did the same on the other side. Kyle placed his hand on the small of Cal’s back and focused intently. He focused a minute burst of energy towards Cal’s spine, and to his satisfaction, and Michael’s amazement, Cal’s legs began to move of their own accord.
“How the hell did you do that?” asked Michael in amazement.
“Well, body movement occurs when the brain sends out an electrical impulse through the nervous system to the part of the body that it wants moved. I figured we could bypass the brain part and use our won electrical impulses to move him.”
“Who the hell are you, and what happened to Kyle?” demanded Michael. “What, are you channeling Alex or Liz, or something?”
“I, uh, I read a book this past summer about spinal injuries, and it sort of stuck with me. Kind of sucks that that particular alien power didn’t manifest itself in high school or something.”
“Buddha would have frowned up on you using your powers for evil, Kyle,” Michael teased.
“Shut up,” Kyle said amicably. “Or you can carry your father all by yourself.”
“How hard can it be?” asked Michael. “All I need to do is give him a jolt of energy right about here, right?”
“No! Michael, don’t do it!” Kyle shouted, but it was too late.
He put his hand on Cal’s back and shot a burst of energy into his back. Cal’s body stiffened momentarily, and his legs began to move as if he was running a race. Both Kyle and Michael lost their grip on the older man, and he moved forward several feet, but without their support, his unconscious fell in a heap on the ground. Michael and Kyle looked down at the crumpled body, legs jerking spasmodically and struggled not to laugh.
“Guess I should have read the book,” said Michael.
“Gee, ya think?” asked Kyle.
“What I wouldn’t give for a camera right now,” said Michael, still fighting the urge to explode into full-fledged laughter. “Come on, let’s get him back to the others. Much as I hate the guy, this is one reunion that needs to happen sooner, rather than later.”
They hefted Cal’s body, and led him down the steep incline into the ravine that hid the entrance to their underground hiding place. Once inside, Michael sent a soldier to locate Drinian, Kitana and Dijanya, while he and Kyle dragged Cal’s body to a secluded section of the cavern set aside for the royal family’s use.
“Kyle, can you go find Max and the others and have them come here?” he asked. “But maybe you’d better keep Maria and Ava away until I have a chance to talk to them.”
“Are you nuts?” Kyle asked. “Why don’t you want them here?”
“Mostly because I haven’t told either one of them about Cal,” said Michael.
“Well, I told Ava,” said Kyle. “I don’t keep secrets from my wife. She deserved to know.”
“How’d she take it?” asked Michael, his face a mask of worry. The last thing he wanted was for anybody to cause his sister any pain.
“She took it better than you,” said Kyle. “At least she didn’t try to track him down and kill him, but I don’t think she’s going to be asking him to Sunday dinner any time soon. Why didn’t you tell Maria?”
Michael shot Kyle a knowing look, and Kyle laughed. “I know, because General DeLuca would have marshaled her troops to find him and kill him, right?”
“Exactly,” said Michael. “She would have torn the planet apart looking for him, and we didn’t need that. Well, can you go get the others. All the others,” he added pointedly. “And bring them here, while I wake sleeping ugly over her back up, and it won’t be with a kiss, I can promise you that.”
Kyle jogged off into the recesses of the cavern and quickly found Max, Isabel, Alex, Ava and Liz. He whispered his news to them and told them where Michael was waiting. Max promised to get Zan and Shandar who were sequestered away somewhere trying to come to terms with the fact that they were parents.
He tracked Maria down and pulled her away from her strategy meeting and asked her to meet the others in the royal quarters. She grumbled a bit, but when Kyle told her Michael needed her, she dropped everything without another word and made her way across the cavern, Kyle trailing worriedly along behind her. He didn’t have a good feeling about what was going to happen, and he wasn’t sure that Maria was going to react well to the news.
“Maria, wait!” Kyle called. “Maybe I’d better tell you something before you go in there.”
“Tell me what, Kyle?” Maria said. “Is it important. I mean, can it wait, because if Michael needs me, I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
“Well, it’s kind of about Michael,” said Kyle.
“He’s all right, isn’t he?” Maria demanded, her face going white. “You’d tell me if he was hurt or anything, right? Kyle, tell me he’s all right!”
“Maria, relax, look, I said that all wrong,” said Kyle. “Physically, Michael is fine, but something happened back home. Something he didn’t tell you about. He was going to, but then something else happened, and he decided he wasn’t the right time.”
“Kyle, you’re starting to totally freak me out,” said Maria. “Plus, you’re rambling, and that’s like my job, remember?”
“Yeah, well you’ve kind of been busy being a General lately, and maybe I decided we needed a little rambling,” said Kyle in an attempt to delay the inevitable.
“Now you’re stalling. Just tell me,” said Maria.
“We met someone back home, and well, this someone, Jesus, Maria, this is hard, well, this someone is Michael and Ava’s father. We brought him back with us, but he escaped, and Michael just tracked him down and we brought him back here,” Kyle said in a rush.
Kyle quickly explained Cal’s role as member of the Gadori ship that brought the pod squad to Earth, and his subsequent attempts to contact them, and how after he couldn’t make contact with them after various attempts, he wrote them off as not wanting any part of their Antarian heritage.
“Oh, I see,” said Maria, her face devoid of all expression, and her voice flat. “And Michael didn’t see fit to tell me this because?”
“Because he knew you loved him enough to want to tear apart the planet until you found Cal and that you’d forcibly drag him back here if you had to.”
“And what about you, or Liz, Max, or even Isabel?” Maria said in a voice laced with venom. “Why didn’t any of THEM tell me?”
“Uh, Maria, this might not be the time to point it out to you, but we are in the middle of a war, things have been a little crazy around here. Factor in a missing sister of Kivar’s, and Zan finding out that he’s a father without any of the usual pleasantries that go with making a baby, and you wonder why none of us thought to tell you? Damn it, Maria, get over yourself, will you. Now your husband needs you, and I suggest you get your ass into the family quarters and be there for him!”
“I’m not finished with you, Valenti,” Maria said. “We’ll finish this later.”
She turned abruptly and stalked across the cavern fuming at Kyle and Michael and the world in general as she walked. By the time she reached the area set aside for the royal family, her temper had cooled enough to allow her to stand beside Michael without blowing him up.
“Is that him?” she asked her husband who stood near Cal’s still unconscious body with a guilty look on his face.
“Uh, it depends on who him is?” asked Michael, stalling for time.
“Give it up, Space Boy. Kyle caved and told all, or at least the short version. So, is this him, or isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s him,” said Michael. “Look, Maria, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, really I am.”
“Later, Michael. We don’t have time for this right now.” She leaned over and slapped Cal across the face. “Hey, you! Daddy-in-law! Wake up!”
Cal groaned and instinctively covered his face with his hands to ward off any more of Maria’s slaps.
“Daddy, I’d like you to meet your daughter-in-law, Maria,” said Michael with a smile. Maria, meet my father.”
“I’d say it’s a pleasure,” said Maria. “But it’s not. You filthy son of a bitch, get up so I can kill you.”
“Oh, did I forget to mention that Maria is one of Zan’s top Generals?” Michael added with a smirk.
“This day is not going anything like I planned,” said Cal.
“Rough day, Cal?” said Max, entering the room with Liz. “Pity.”
“This him?” asked another voice as Zan walked in, holding his son in his arms, Shandar at his side. Alex, Isabel, Ava and Kyle filed in behind them and joined the others, but Cal virtually ignored them when he saw his oldest and dearest friends walk into the room, flanking his beloved wife.
“Cladar,” Dijanya whispered before falling to the ground.
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Chapter Forty – Altercations
Michael shoved Cal out of the way and rushed to his mother’s side and shook her gently.
Cal shot Michael a withering glare before he stepped forward and knelt before Drinian.
“My Lord, I have failed you,” he said, his head bowed.
“Stand up my friend,” said Drinian. “How could you have failed? We thought that you had died. I myself saw your body. But we can get to that later. See to your wife.”
Drinian stepped aside and motioned to Cal to step forward to Dijanya’s prone form.
“Cladar?” Dijanya whispered, opening her eyes. “Can it really be you?”
“Dijanya,” Cal replied, his voice brusque.
Dijanya struggled to rise, her eyes reflecting the hurt she felt at Cal’s abrupt answer. “Cladar, what is wrong?”
“Don’t mind Cal, Dijanya,” Kyle said, moving next to his mother-in-law, his soft tone doing much to ease the wounds left by Cal’s treatment. “He’s having a difficult time adjusting to life back on Antar. In fact, he got separated from us when we first arrived. Michael and I have been searching for him since then.”
Kyle’s look dared Cal to say anything different, and Cal, if possible seemed to shrink slightly before Kyle’s withering glare.
“Thank you, my sons, for this precious gift you have brought me,” said Dijanya. She reached out and took Kyle and Michael’s hands in hers. “You have made my family whole again. There is no greater gift.”
She released their hands and turned toward Ava and Maria.
“My daughters,” she said, softly. “Don’t stand back, come join us. Make our family circle complete.”
Maria took a hesitant step toward the small group. In one swift glance, she saw pain and suffering that was masked behind the stone face of Michael Guerin; a face she had not seen in quite a long time. She looked from Michael to Cal. She moved a bit closer and looked closely at Cal. Something about him seemed familiar, and she searched her mind, trying to recall where she had seen that face. With amazing clarity the memory rushed back, and for a moment, she was transported back to the CrashDown restaurant.
That’s it, she thought to herself. I saw him there, at the CrashDown. He’d come in, stare at Michael for a while and leave.
Without further warning, Maria balled her small hand into a fist and drove it into Cal’s stomach with her not inconsiderable strength. Cal doubled over, his breath leaving his body with a gusty whoosh, and Maria fled the small room where the reunion took place.
“Well, that went as well as could be expected,” said Kyle, to nobody in particular while Liz rushed after her friend. “Though I really wasn’t expecting Maria to be the one to take Cal down.”
** * ** *
“Maria, Maria wait!” Liz shouted, chasing after her friend. “Maria, what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong? I’ll tell you what’s wrong. That bastard, that insufferable, selfish bastard, that’s what’s wrong. I’ve seen him before. He’s been at the CrashDown. I’ve seen him there, staring at Michael. Jesus, Liz, that’s his father. His whole life, the one thing Michael has wanted was a family and there was his own father coming in to gawk at him. And don’t tell me that bastard didn’t recognize him. I’ve seen pictures of him when he was younger. Michael looks just like him, but with better hair.”
“Maria, I,” began Liz.
“And another thing, why the hell didn’t you tell me any of this before. I’m your best friend, Liz. We’re not supposed to have any secrets from each other. You knew. You helped to bring him back here, but you didn’t bother to tell me!”
“Maria, I,” Liz tried again.
“Don’t bother, I don’t want to hear any more excuses,” said Maria. She turned as if to walk away. Liz reached out and grabbed her arm and spun her back around with considerable strength.
“Maria, will you shut up and listen!” Liz shouted. “You’re absolutely right, Cal did come to the CrashDown, probably on a number of occasions. He also left messages in Antarian around town many different times for Max, Michael and Isabel. When none of them responded, he assumed that they didn’t want anything to do with him, or their lives on Antar, so he didn’t try to contact them.”
“Well, how could they respond?” asked Maria. “None of them could read or write Antarian back then.”
“Right,” said Liz. “But Cal didn’t know that. Remember how surprised Drinian was when he found out none of them knew anything about their previous lives?”
“Oh shit,” said Maria. “I just sucker punched my father-in-law right in the stomach. This is not going to buy me any bonus points at Christmas time.”
“Relax, Maria. Cal probably appreciates it more than you know. Besides, Michael’s taken more than a few swings at him as well. To say they haven’t bonded would be the understatement of the century.”
“Liz, why didn’t you tell me?” Maria asked in unaccustomed seriousness. “I deserved to know.”
“It wasn’t my secret to tell, Maria. It was Michael’s. But in his defense, he wasn’t dealing too well with it himself. Plus, he was afraid you’d tear apart the planet looking for Cal yourself.”
“I probably would have,” Maria admitted.
Liz motioned to a pair of unoccupied chairs, and the two girls went and sat down. Liz filled Maria in on everything that had happened on Earth prior to their arrival, this time omitting no details. Thanks to the developing empathic powers of Kyle, Liz could feel Maria’s rage as she told her of Cal’s terrible attitude toward them. But thanks to the same power, she was able to understand the pain that Cal had been dealing with and share some of it with Maria. When her story ended, Maria looked at Liz with a new sense of understanding in her eyes.
“I guess you were having just as much fun down there, as we were up here,” she said.
“I don’t know General, I think you’ve been having a little bit of fun being in charge.”
“Okay, well that part’s pretty cool, but Liz, I don’t know how were going to beat these guys. I mean, we can’t have you and Kyle going up to all of them and trying to sense if they have a soul,” said Maria. “They have to have some weakness.”
“We’ll figure it out Maria,” said Liz. “Together. Just like we always do. Are you ready to go back and be with the others.”
“I guess,” said Maria, standing up. “Do you suppose I ought to apologize to Cal for sucker punching him?”
“What do you think?” asked Liz with a laugh.
“I’m going with no,” Maria replied, smiling. “He was a lousy tipper, anyhow.”
Michael shoved Cal out of the way and rushed to his mother’s side and shook her gently.
Cal shot Michael a withering glare before he stepped forward and knelt before Drinian.
“My Lord, I have failed you,” he said, his head bowed.
“Stand up my friend,” said Drinian. “How could you have failed? We thought that you had died. I myself saw your body. But we can get to that later. See to your wife.”
Drinian stepped aside and motioned to Cal to step forward to Dijanya’s prone form.
“Cladar?” Dijanya whispered, opening her eyes. “Can it really be you?”
“Dijanya,” Cal replied, his voice brusque.
Dijanya struggled to rise, her eyes reflecting the hurt she felt at Cal’s abrupt answer. “Cladar, what is wrong?”
“Don’t mind Cal, Dijanya,” Kyle said, moving next to his mother-in-law, his soft tone doing much to ease the wounds left by Cal’s treatment. “He’s having a difficult time adjusting to life back on Antar. In fact, he got separated from us when we first arrived. Michael and I have been searching for him since then.”
Kyle’s look dared Cal to say anything different, and Cal, if possible seemed to shrink slightly before Kyle’s withering glare.
“Thank you, my sons, for this precious gift you have brought me,” said Dijanya. She reached out and took Kyle and Michael’s hands in hers. “You have made my family whole again. There is no greater gift.”
She released their hands and turned toward Ava and Maria.
“My daughters,” she said, softly. “Don’t stand back, come join us. Make our family circle complete.”
Maria took a hesitant step toward the small group. In one swift glance, she saw pain and suffering that was masked behind the stone face of Michael Guerin; a face she had not seen in quite a long time. She looked from Michael to Cal. She moved a bit closer and looked closely at Cal. Something about him seemed familiar, and she searched her mind, trying to recall where she had seen that face. With amazing clarity the memory rushed back, and for a moment, she was transported back to the CrashDown restaurant.
That’s it, she thought to herself. I saw him there, at the CrashDown. He’d come in, stare at Michael for a while and leave.
Without further warning, Maria balled her small hand into a fist and drove it into Cal’s stomach with her not inconsiderable strength. Cal doubled over, his breath leaving his body with a gusty whoosh, and Maria fled the small room where the reunion took place.
“Well, that went as well as could be expected,” said Kyle, to nobody in particular while Liz rushed after her friend. “Though I really wasn’t expecting Maria to be the one to take Cal down.”
** * ** *
“Maria, Maria wait!” Liz shouted, chasing after her friend. “Maria, what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong? I’ll tell you what’s wrong. That bastard, that insufferable, selfish bastard, that’s what’s wrong. I’ve seen him before. He’s been at the CrashDown. I’ve seen him there, staring at Michael. Jesus, Liz, that’s his father. His whole life, the one thing Michael has wanted was a family and there was his own father coming in to gawk at him. And don’t tell me that bastard didn’t recognize him. I’ve seen pictures of him when he was younger. Michael looks just like him, but with better hair.”
“Maria, I,” began Liz.
“And another thing, why the hell didn’t you tell me any of this before. I’m your best friend, Liz. We’re not supposed to have any secrets from each other. You knew. You helped to bring him back here, but you didn’t bother to tell me!”
“Maria, I,” Liz tried again.
“Don’t bother, I don’t want to hear any more excuses,” said Maria. She turned as if to walk away. Liz reached out and grabbed her arm and spun her back around with considerable strength.
“Maria, will you shut up and listen!” Liz shouted. “You’re absolutely right, Cal did come to the CrashDown, probably on a number of occasions. He also left messages in Antarian around town many different times for Max, Michael and Isabel. When none of them responded, he assumed that they didn’t want anything to do with him, or their lives on Antar, so he didn’t try to contact them.”
“Well, how could they respond?” asked Maria. “None of them could read or write Antarian back then.”
“Right,” said Liz. “But Cal didn’t know that. Remember how surprised Drinian was when he found out none of them knew anything about their previous lives?”
“Oh shit,” said Maria. “I just sucker punched my father-in-law right in the stomach. This is not going to buy me any bonus points at Christmas time.”
“Relax, Maria. Cal probably appreciates it more than you know. Besides, Michael’s taken more than a few swings at him as well. To say they haven’t bonded would be the understatement of the century.”
“Liz, why didn’t you tell me?” Maria asked in unaccustomed seriousness. “I deserved to know.”
“It wasn’t my secret to tell, Maria. It was Michael’s. But in his defense, he wasn’t dealing too well with it himself. Plus, he was afraid you’d tear apart the planet looking for Cal yourself.”
“I probably would have,” Maria admitted.
Liz motioned to a pair of unoccupied chairs, and the two girls went and sat down. Liz filled Maria in on everything that had happened on Earth prior to their arrival, this time omitting no details. Thanks to the developing empathic powers of Kyle, Liz could feel Maria’s rage as she told her of Cal’s terrible attitude toward them. But thanks to the same power, she was able to understand the pain that Cal had been dealing with and share some of it with Maria. When her story ended, Maria looked at Liz with a new sense of understanding in her eyes.
“I guess you were having just as much fun down there, as we were up here,” she said.
“I don’t know General, I think you’ve been having a little bit of fun being in charge.”
“Okay, well that part’s pretty cool, but Liz, I don’t know how were going to beat these guys. I mean, we can’t have you and Kyle going up to all of them and trying to sense if they have a soul,” said Maria. “They have to have some weakness.”
“We’ll figure it out Maria,” said Liz. “Together. Just like we always do. Are you ready to go back and be with the others.”
“I guess,” said Maria, standing up. “Do you suppose I ought to apologize to Cal for sucker punching him?”
“What do you think?” asked Liz with a laugh.
“I’m going with no,” Maria replied, smiling. “He was a lousy tipper, anyhow.”