Chapter 11: Emotions and the Meaning of Everything
Michael
I don’t know how long the three of us stood there. Maria gapped at Liz and I and for the first time since I’ve known Maria, she was actually speechless. Liz stood frozen and her emotions were running wild. Neither Liz or I wanted to have Maria find out this way. {Liz, you OK?}
{Put your shirt on, Michael.}
I grew worried. {Liz…}
{Just do it.}
I reached over and pulled my shirt over my head. Finally, Maria spoke. “I’m trying to think of an explanation for this that doesn’t involve my best friend making out with my ex-boyfriend in the backroom. Feel free to speak up if you think of one.”
“Maria, we didn’t mean to let you find out like this,” Liz said. Maria’s eyes brimmed with tears. I couldn’t tell if she was angry or felt betrayed.
“Is that why you didn’t call me during the summer? Because you didn’t want to tell me?” came Maria’s choked reply. Maria looked at Liz and I with obvious distaste. “How could you guys *do* this to me?”
I couldn’t help but notice the popular opinion that Liz and I were together just to spite Maria and Max. Did it ever occur to either one of them that our relationship was actually about *us*?
“Maria, it’s not like we planned it or anything. We never meant to hurt you,” Liz pleaded with tears in her eyes.
Maria’s eyes turned black with anger. “What about Max, Liz? It wasn’t enough you had Max drooling all over you so you had to go for my Michael. Is that it?” Maria sneered.
That was enough. “No, Maria. That’s not what is going on here,” I said.
“Really, Michael? Than explain to me how you don’t want to be around me because of your powers but you can be around Liz? Tell me how you can say that you love me and than do *this*!”
“Because I lied to you, Maria. I never loved you! How can I love someone who wants me to change constantly? I am who I am, Maria! I can’t be a perfect boyfriend and I can’t be hopelessly romantic. And I can’t give you a normal life. Liz *accepts* that, you don’t.”
Maria scoffed. “Michael, you *do* love me!”
“No, Maria. I love Liz,” I said through gritted teeth. Maria wasn’t going to make this easy, was she?
Than Maria turned to Liz and pointed a finger at her. “I hate you. Don’t come near me or talk to me ever again.”
I could practically hear Liz’s heart breaking from where I was standing. “Maria, don’t do this,” I pleaded.
Liz placed a hand on my arm and looked at Maria. “Don’t bother, Michael. Maria, if this is all it takes to ruin our friendship than it wasn’t that well off to begin with. You and Michael weren’t even in a relationship. Unless you call a relationship you chasing after Michael and him trying to get the hell away from your sorry ass. And we aren’t together to spite you, OK? We *love* each other and it has nothing to do with you. You always wanted out of this alien mess, so here you go! You’re out! You are fired from this restaurant and you don’t have to join in any of our crazy alien adventures!”
I looked at Liz in surprise. {What was that about?}
{I figured that it’s time I fought for us. I’m kind of hoping it will be worth it.}
I smiled at her and noticed Maria was basically blowing steam from her ears. Maria moved forward to slap Liz but I blocked her and caught her wrist in the air.
FLASH
Maria out with a variety of guys during our “relationship”
FLASH
Her frustration that I wouldn’t change for her
FLASH
Her summer spent with many guys
“You are such a hypocrite, Maria!” I said through gritted teeth.
“What?” she said confused.
“You’ve been dating other guys during our so-
called ‘relationship!” I asked and I smirked when she turned pale.
“How do you know that?”
Liz glared at Maria. “Is this true?”
Maria nodded. “Not that it matter now anyway. You were a waste of my time,” she said to me.
Liz was pissed off now. She was unclenching and clenching her fists. Living with Hank, I knew how to anticipate a punch. However, Maria didn’t and was shocked to find that Liz had decked her in the eye. Maria covered her face. “Well, you’ve been a waste of my time for as long as I’ve known you. Now get the hell out of my restaurant,” Liz seethed.
Maria glared at us one more time and stalked out of the restaurant.
********
Liz
I couldn’t believe Maria! She had the nerve to yell at Michael and I when she was the one cheating on Michael the whole time! I can’t believe I was ever friends with her. When she left the room, my emotions were still running high. I was angry at Maria for yelling at us and doing Michael wrong. Yet I was sad because I had just literally lost my best friend. I was angry at our group for falling apart. I was angry at Max. I was angry at Nasedo for putting doubts in my head.
I had all of these feelings inside of me and they were all coming to boiling point. Closing my eyes to calm myself down, I began to take deep breaths. Michael’s voice made me open my eyes.
“Liz, look at your skin,” he said with worry evident in his voice.
“Oh.My.God.” My skin was covered with tiny green volts of energy. They ran up my arms and up to my neck and my hands were a bright green. And what scared me the most was that I could *feel* the hot energy coursing through my veins. I turned to Michael, my eyes wide with terror. “Michael? What’s happening to me?”
Michael looked just as terrified as I did and he began to slowly put his arm out towards me. “NO!” I screamed at him. “Don’t touch me! I could hurt you!” I moved away quickly and jerked my arm away. In the process, I blasted a nearby picture frame. “Oh god,” I said softly.
“Liz, I think your emotions are effecting your powers. You need to calm down,” Michael pleaded with me. His concern and worry was like a hammer nailing a nail into my head.
I put my hands on my head and whimpered. “It’s too much. There’s too much stuff in my head.”
The dull sensation in the back of my head that was usually a result of Michael and mine connection was now beginning to become painful. It felt like my body was on fire. I started to cry the pain was so unbearable.
“I’m going to get Isabel or someone!” Michael said frantically.
Panic rose in me. “NO! Don’t leave me, OK?”
He glanced at me and sighed, “OK. I won’t leave you. I promise.” Michael slowly walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. The pain began to dull. I looked up at him in amazement.
“Michael, hold me.” He wrapped his arms around me and I buried my face in his shirt. The pain was gone but the energy was still coursing through my body. I began to concentrate on Michael. How he smelled; how he looked; how he was *Michael*. My breath came out in even puffs and watched as the green volts went away.
Michael looked in me and let out a sigh in relief. “Don’t ever scare me like that again!”
“What just happened Michael?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t know you could blast things, Liz. I’ve never seen anything like that happen before.”
“But you said that it was my emotions affecting my powers.”
He scratched his head. “Well yeah but it’s never happen to that degree before. It’s never happened so I was in pain.”
“Wait. You’ve gone through this before?”
“When I was first placed with Hank, I was angry. And than well --you know what Hank did to me--and I would get angry. Angry at him, at me, the whole *world* and I would get spells like that where the power would actually *hurt*. Luckily, Hank was too drunk to remember his green glowing foster child.”
His pain about the whole Hank situation permeated my brain. “Hank was a jerk, Michael. There is no excuse for what he did to you. No one should have to go through that. Did you tell Isabel or Max about it?”
Michael shook his head. “They wouldn’t have understood. They didn’t even know about Hank’s abuse.”
I nodded. Michael was right; I doubt Isabel or Max would have understood the circumstances. “How’d you make it stop?”
Michael shook his head sadly, “ I didn’t--not really anyway. I had to blast something and get rid of the energy. Sometimes, it was a chair or some other kind of crap appliance. Occasionally, I’d hit Hank but that was only when it got really out of control. After a while, I was able to control the energy from getting out of control and it hasn’t happened since except with…” Michael trailed off and his eyes darkened.
“With Pierce,” I finished for him. He nodded slowly.
I looked at my hands. “So I could actually, uh, *hurt* someone when I’m like this.” Staring at the demolished picture frame, I thought about if someone was standing there.
“Yeah, Liz, you could. But you didn’t. That’s what matters. I guess it stopped because I calmed you down,” Michael thought out loud.
“I think that it kind of works like conduction,” I said.
“What now?”
I laughed. “Your energy was trying to equalize mine. Maybe it’s because we are so connected.”
“I still don’t like this, Liz,” Michael said worriedly. “I’m alien-you’re not. We don’t know how this affects you.”
Michael was silent for a moment and than he said, “I think we should go see River Dog.”
*******
Michael
I was scared as all hell. It’s not everyday that your girlfriend starts glowing green and is crying is pain because of an energy overload. Liz and I were about to leave the restaurant when I spotted Isabel parking Max’s Jeep in the front. She saw Liz and I and started over. She stopped when she saw the looks on our faces. “What’s wrong?”
“We are going to River Dog,” Liz said.
Isabel’s frowned. “Why? Did something happen?”
I removed my hand from Liz’s and Liz’s hand began to glow green again and she closed her eyes in pain. I quickly took her hand back in mine and glanced at Isabel. “We’ll explain later, Isabel.”
Isabel gestured towards the Jeep. “Let’s go then. Don’t think the two of you are doing this alone.”
Liz and I both smiled at Isabel with gratitude and got in the car. She stepped the pedal down and drove fast to the reservation. I told Isabel what had happened.
“Do you think this is like that disease you had last year?” she asked trying to keep her eyes on the road.
I shook my head helplessly. “I don’t know, Isabel. I don’t’ see any similarities.”
“She’s human, Michael. We can’t be sure.”
I glanced at Liz who had been getting worse as we drove. As much as I kept trying to equalize her energy it wasn’t working anymore. She was sweating and grimacing in pain. Her body was doing the green volt thing again. “Isabel, I don’t know what happening but we have to get help. Can you go any faster?” Liz whimpered next to me and put her hands on her head, her fingers digging into her scalp. I immediately stroked her hair soothingly. “What’s wrong, Liz?”
“I can feel everything! It’s too much, Michael! I can’t..” she sobbed.
“What are you feeling, Liz? You have to tell me!”
She closed her eyes tightly. “Emotions. Yours. Mine. Isabel’s. It hurts.”
Isabel turned to me quickly. “I think she’s overloading, Michael. Her powers are growing but she doesn’t know how to control them.”
“But why are they causing her pain, Isabel? It doesn’t make sense. And why are they growing so fast?” I had so many questions. All I knew was that somehow, someway I was going to fix this. I watched in horror as her eyes began to flutter and close; than open again. “Isabel!” I yelled frantically. “She’s passing out!”
“We are almost there! What if we need the healing stones?”
“Max has them!”
Isabel said reluctantly, “We have to call him and tell him to bring the stones with him!”
“I don’t *care* what you do, Isabel! Just do something, OK?”
Isabel called Max but I was too engrossed in Liz to hear the conversation. “Liz! You need to stay awake, OK? We’re getting you help.”
Her eyes fluttered open and her breathing was shallow. “It hurts, Michael. Make it stop, please.”
My heart lurched. “I will, baby. Just wait a little bit more.”
“Max is going to meet us there, Michael,” Isabel said. Then we saw the ‘Welcome to the Mahavo Indian Reservation’ sign.
Isabel stopped the car and it screeched. I spotted an wooden cabin and jumped out of the car. “I need River Dog! Someone please get me River Dog!”
Finally, a guy who has about our age came out. He glanced at me and than at Isabel. We had laid Liz flat on the seat so no one would see her. His eyes pierced mine. “He is waiting by the cave.”
“I don’t know where a cave is! You have to help us, please.”
“My name is Eddie,” he said. “Follow me.”
“Hold on!” I ran back to the Jeep. “Isabel stay here and wait for Max and tell him to get to a cave!”
Isabel frowned, “What cave?”
Liz opened her eyes painfully. “He knows, Isabel. Max and I have been there before,” she rasped out. If Max didn’t have the stones, for all I cared, he could be lost in the woods and be eaten by wild dogs slowly. But maybe that’s just me. I went to pick Liz up and I recoiled immediately.
“Liz, you’re so hot. You’re burning up,” I said. In response, Liz rolled her head from side to side and began to tremble. I picked up her up and cradled her in my arms. Holding her close, I turned to Eddie. “Let’s go.”
“Michael!” Isabel called out. “Take care of her.”
I nodded at her. Eddie looked at Liz and than at me, “River Dog did not expect her to be this far along.”
“What? He knew this would happen?” I yelled. So this complete stranger was going to tell me that River Dog *knew* this would happen and did nothing to prevent it? I was going to kick that old man’s ass.
I was brought back to reality by Liz’s sharp cry of pain. She must be getting more emotions from Eddie. I stared at him. “Let’s go.”
He guided Liz and I down a grassy hill that lead to a forest-looking area. I followed Eddie until we got to a cave. Eddie turned to me. “He is there.”
I glanced at the cave and when I turned around Eddie was gone. That dude was creepy. I walked into the cave and was grateful that Liz emitted a green light. Otherwise, it would have been pitch dark. I had been walking for a while until I saw River Dog.
River Dog took one look at Liz and frowned. “It is happening too fast.”
River Dog looked the same as he did the last time I saw him. I glared at him, “It shouldn’t be happening at all. You knew this was going to happen and you didn’t tell us.”
River Dog lowered his head and said slowly, “I’m an old Indian chief, visitor, and I have seen many things. But I have never seen a change of person as it has happened in you.”
“Yeah, well, that’s great but can we please help Liz,” I pleaded.
He looked me straight in the eye. “There is nothing we *can* do, visitor. Liz’s body is changing due to her new DNA.”
“How can you be so calm about this? And what do you mean her DNA is changing?”
“That is what cadium X can do you to a human body when it is still alive. When Max healed her, he altered her DNA just enough to grant her mind powers. But *you* gave her physical powers. When a visitor such as yourself or Max heals somebody with such emotion and effort as you did to her, you give your energy to that person. That is all healing really is--the transferring of energy to another. Your energy changes her DNA and your energy is cadium X. Does it make sense now, visitor?”
I put Liz gently on the ground. “Will it hurt her?”
“No. But it will take time before the transformation is complete.”
“Transformation into what?”
“A visitor as you are.”
Could I really do that? Bring Liz into a life of danger? Of hiding? I looked at Liz who had passed out. It was better that way because she felt no pain now. I met River Dog’s gaze. “How do you know all this? Why didn’t you tell us?”
“It was essential that I didn’t. I am very wise you see ,and in a way, can see what will happen before it does. The girl had to have everything that has happened happen to her to get to this point and most importantly, to get her to *you*.”
“So this was all a master plan to get Liz and I together?”
River Dog allowed a small smile. “No. There is no master plan--just the principle that everything happens for a reason.”
“Is there a way to speed the transfer up? With the healing stones?”
“Let nature take its course, visitor. You will need her abilities for tough times ahead and you will need *her* for tough times ahead.”
Alarm shot through me. “Tough times? What is going to happen?”
“You will be betrayed, visitor. From one of your own.”
Tess. “Who? We are already falling apart as it is!”
“I do not cause the future. I just warn you of it and what you do with the information is what matters and what makes the difference.” He paused and glanced at Liz. “And what can save lives.”
I heard the ruffling sounds of footsteps and turned around to see Isabel and Max running towards us. Max was holding the healing stones and Isabel was trailing him. Isabel and Max looked at River Dog and then at Liz’s prone form. “What happened?” Max asked River Dog, ignoring my presence.
River Dog looked at Max. “She is changing and those healing stones will not help her. What is done has to be done.”
“Like hell,” Max said angrily. “There has to be something we can do.”
Isabel lightly touched Max’s shoulder, “Leave it be. River Dog knows what he is talking about.”
“This doesn’t concern you, Isabel,” Max snapped curtly.
“Well it does, Max. You are my *brother*! I don’t care if you think of me as one of your royal subjects but you are my brother to me. And you keep leading this road of self-destruction and I’m not going to stand by and watch you do it,” Isabel choked out.
“River Dog, as you can see we are already falling apart,” but my voice faded as I realized the old man wasn’t there.
Isabel ripped her gaze away from Max. “So what is happening with Liz? Is she OK?”
I explained to them what River Dog said and Isabel looked at me with wide eyes. “She’s turning into one of us?”
I nodded. Max turned concerned eyes on me. “How much longer will it take?”
“River Dog didn’t say exactly when. I guess I’ll just wait here until it’s done.”
“Don’t you think we should talk about this? She’s turning into an alien, Michael. That doesn’t happen everyday,” Max said.
“No, really, Maxwell? I thought she was glowing green because someone forget to turn her off,” I quipped sarcastically.
Max shot daggers at me with his eyes. “Being an alien isn’t exactly a privilege, Michael. We are putting her into a world of constant hiding and secrets. We can’t just do that to her.”
“Don’t you think I *know* that?” I yelled angrily.
“I’m trying to protect her!” Max yelled back.
“She isn’t *yours* to protect anymore, Max! You are meant to be with Tess! The two of you seem fitting seeing as you’re a asshole and she’s the alien equivalent of a rabbit in heat.”
“I don’t love Tess. I love Liz,” he ground out.
I looked Max square in the eyes. “She doesn’t love you, Max. Move on.”
Max’s face shattered and his eyes brimmed with tears. “Don’t you think I want to Michael? Do you know how much it *hurts*? I love her too much to let her go.”
For a split second I felt bad for Max. It would kill me to see Liz with another guy and it would definitely kill me to Liz with Max. “Did you even think about how this would affect me?” Max snarled.
“Don’t even go there, Max. From day one, we thought how it would affect you. The minute we got to Florida we realized we couldn’t tell you that we are living together. We didn’t tell you because we wanted to lie to you, Maxwell! We did it because we wanted to *protect* you. That’s all everyone does! *Protect you*! Well I’m sick and tired of it. You’re a big boy now, Max, you can get *hurt* every once in a while.”
Max stood silent.
“Everything happens for a reason, Max.”
“Than why is everything falling apart?” he choked out.
I remembered River Dog’s words of caution. “They aren’t. Not yet anyway.”
Defying Destiny (UC,Mi/L,TEEN/MATURE) Ch 42 6/30 [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
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Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
-
Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
ch.12
Sorry it took so long but I'm back! ENJOY
Chapter 12: Finally
Liz
There were colors everywhere. Colors I didn’t even know existed and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. My vision was intensified and I could hear things that I wouldn’t normally before. This was weird. My mind was still fuzzy and I was vaguely hearing voices in the back ground.
“She’s waking up,” they were saying.
But the amazing thing was that not only could I hear them, but I could *feel* the energies of the people talking. One of them was friendly but had a bit of a barrier-like feeling and the other one was warm-hearted and comforting. Michael. Michael was here. I wanted to get to him and find out what was going on. Why wasn’t I in pain anymore? Not that I was complaining or anything.
And the energy that was once reeking havoc on my body was a steady hum. I knew it was there but it was calmer than it was before. I felt someone put hands on my shoulders. “Liz, wake up. You’re almost there.”
I opened to eyes and saw Isabel and Michael standing over me. They both had a look of relief when I opened my eyes and gave them a small smile. Realizing I was still in the cave, I shivered because of the coldness. Michael and Isabel looked at me with wide eyes. “What?” I asked in confusion.
“How do you feel?” Michael asked carefully.
“Uh, pretty weird. There’s a lot of colors and I can see a bit better. The energy is gone but it’s equalized I guess,” I glanced at them. “Why?”
Isabel and Michael exchanged looks. “What are you guys not saying?”
Michael scratched his head nervously. “It’s kind of hard to say, Liz.”
“What is kind of hard to say?”
“You’re an alien,” Michael blurted out.
Oh.My.God. “What now?”
“River Dog said that there’s cadium X in your body and it changes a human body into an alien one.”
“And how do I have cadium X in my body?” I asked in confusion.
“Max and I healing you. Cadium X is alien energy basically and when you heal someone, it’s transferring energy from you to another person. Max and I gave you such intense healings that your body is absorbing the cadium X and turning into an alien,” Michael said. He looked closely at me for a reaction.
It could feel his fear coming off in waves. I could practically hear his thoughts of doubt in my head. He was worried if I regretted this. Worried that I would blame *him* if I did. Honestly, I was scared. It wasn’t like I ever planned to become an alien but at the same time it didn’t bother me as much as it normally would have.
“I don’t know what to say. I mean, it’s hard to deal with when you find out that you’ve just turned into an alien but I have you guys so..” Before I could continue, Michael grabbed me and crushed me against him. Our connection roared to life at the contact.
He buried his face in my hair and whispered, “I was so afraid that you wouldn’t be OK with this.”
I pulled away slightly, “Why?”
{Because you didn’t ask for this. It’s a big change, Liz.}
{I’m fine, Michael. And even if I wasn’t OK with this, I wouldn’t blame you.}
{How’d you…}
{I didn’t need a connection to figure that one out.}
“Can you two of you stop talking in your heads? I would like to join the conversation,” Isabel joked, her hands on her hips. Michael and I pulled apart but Michael kept an arm around my waist. Isabel looked at me and smiled, “Glad to see you aren’t glowing anymore.”
I laughed. “That makes two of us. So what did River Dog have to say?”
Michael briefed me on what River Dog had said and I frowned, “What does he mean one of us will betray us?”
Isabel shook her head, “I don’t know. But I think that it is Tess.”
Michael nodded in agreement, “I don’t trust her.”
“Maybe we should keep an eye on her,” I suggested. “I don’t trust Tess either but that doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusions just like that.”
Isabel frowned deeply, “We may already be too late. Once Tess finds out that you are now an alien, she’s going to loose it completely. You heard what she said, she wants to be part of the four square.” Isabel looked at me. “We have our four square now.”
“We can’t tell her about Liz than,” Michael said.
“Max probably already did,” Isabel mused.
“What? Max was here?” I asked.
They both nodded grimly. I disentangled myself from Michael and sat on a near by rock. “We don’t have a four square, you guys. For a number of reasons. One being that if we do just *replace* Tess in the group that will anger her more, we have to accept her or at least pretend to if she’s dangerous. Two being there’s three of us standing here.”
Isabel, Michael, and I turned to see Max standing by us. Isabel said, “What are you doing back?”
Max, ignoring her question, turned to me. “You’re right. We don’t have a four square. But I would like to have one again. We can’t fight whatever we have to fight if we are broken apart.”
“Why the sudden change of heart, Maxwell? Did you get rid of that royal stick up your ass?” Michael quipped. Isabel and I held back a laugh.
Max’s face with flush with anger. “Dammit, Michael, would you shut up? You always yell at me for not leading the group! Well here I am. We have issues, I’m not going to deny that. I know that. You know that. *America* knows that. River Dog warned us so we have to take action against whatever is going to happen.”
“We have to be careful with a traitor lurking among us,” I said.
“We won’t have to if everything that happened today stays between us four.”
“And Alex,” Isabel chipped in.
“And Kyle,” I added.
Max rubbed his eyes, “Sure. They can keep an eye on Tess for us. She has to be the traitor River Dog was talking about. I can’t think of anybody else.”
For once we agreed with Max.
Max looked at Michael and I. “Just for the record, I am trying here. It‘s hard.”
At least Max was making a step. I just wondered if it would be enough.
*****
Michael
I hated Isabel. She told Max and I to ride together back home. Not even that but Liz was with her. We both sat in silence until Max said softly, “Do you love her?”
I turned to Max. “What kind of a question is that, Maxwell?”
Max’s hands clenched the steering wheel tightly. “Listen, Michael. I’m not OK with you and Liz being together. But I can learn to accept it. Do you love her?”
Anger ran through me, “I don’t need your acceptance. Liz and I don’t want it.”
“Dammit, Michael, why are you being so difficult?” Max burst.
I looked out the window and said softly, “Yes, Max. I do love Liz. She’s my everything.”
Max was silent and than he said, “She loves you, Michael. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
I scoffed, “Right. I do. I’m not the one who has made a freakin’ marathon of lies and deceit, Max. So save it.”
Max pulled over and I watched in confusion, “Dammit, Maxwell! Why are we prolonging this torturous ride?” The car came to a stop and he turned to face me.
“I don’t know who I am, Michael,” he began.
I put my hands up, “Max, save the pity sob story for someone who cares.”
Max ignored me and looked out at the vast outstretch of desert. “It’s even scarier to not know who your friends are. I’ve grown up with you and Isabel since we first hatched. I never thought that we would end up like this.”
“I didn’t either, Maxwell.” I admitted. It was true. I always pictured the three of us growing old together, except in separate places of course.
“The three of us have hidden our entire lives. And we’ve been each others’ only real friends. I mean you and I we’d do everything together. We were like brothers. But I don’t think I’ve truly *seen* you until lately.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you’ve always been stonewall Guerin. You refused to ask for help and to be anything but strong. And it never occurred to me that maybe there was more to you than that wall that you put up. Maybe your crazy missions were to protect us from doing them together and that’s why you went alone. And it never occurred to me that you would let anyone in. And a part of me is jealous, that I couldn’t do that for you and Liz did.”
I couldn’t believe this. Max was jealous? Of Liz?
He’s right though, I spent my whole life perfecting those walls. Impermeable and indestructible to anyone. It’s funny how I remembered the exact day they came tumbling down.
~~~Summer~~~
Liz and I had been living together for a couple weeks now and I was surprised at how quickly we became friends. We became accustomed to each other’s little quirks and I even got Liz hooked on Metallica. One night, Liz was out with her aunt and I was watching television. I began to absently think about Pierce and how I killed him. I saw his body falling and Valenti saying he was dead. “You can’t run away from me,” I swear I heard Pierce say. “I’m everywhere.”
My hands began to heat up with energy. I closed my eyes shut and tried to calm down but I saw Pierce’s face in my eyelids. He sneered at me and mocked me. I was killer. I was a killer. I was a killer. I *killed* Pierce. Suddenly the door opened suddenly and my energy released. It was instinct, I thought it was Pierce.
I opened my eyes when I heard Liz’s soft whimper. Fear gripped my heart. I ran over immediately and saw Liz crouching on the ground. “Oh my god! Did I hurt you, Liz?” Her eyes were wide and I noticed the big charred mark on the wall.
“I jumped out of the way,” she said and I released a sigh of relief. “What the hell was that?”
I froze. Don’t let her in. You’re invincible. You weren’t thinking about Pierce. You are in control. Don’t let her get to close. She can’t know. “Nothing,” I said calmly. “Thought you were someone else.”
Liz’s eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to say something and than closed it. I helped her up and she glided into the kitchen, “Did you eat yet?”
I shook my head. It was always like this. I would get spells like this and Liz would act like it didn’t happen. Not because she didn’t care but I think that that is what she knew that was what I needed. I smiled softly and walked over to the kitchen. “What do you have?”
She rummaged through the cabinets and pulled out a couple bags of candy. She grinned sheepishly. “I should have went shopping, huh?”
I rolled my eyes. “We have free room service, Liz.”
“I don’t want to live off of my aunt,” she argued. One thing I learned about Liz was that she was stubborn-possibly more stubborn than me. “Besides, you order pizza half the time anyway.”
I laughed. “Isabel called. She said to tell you to call her back later.”
Liz went to go put the candy back and I noticed she winced and grabbed her back. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
Liz’s eyes danced everywhere around the room but on me. “Nothing,” she dismissed.
Realization and dread dawned on me. “I hurt you,” I said.
Liz immediately protested, “You didn’t mean to, Michael. It was my fault really. I jumped out of the way and I fell the wrong way. That’s all.”
*You’re a killer, Michael. You could have hurt her--killed her.* I backed up away from Liz. She looked at me funny, “What’s wrong?”
I could of hurt her. I could of killed her. Run. Don’t let anyone in. Run. Be strong. Run. I looked up at Liz to find her looking at me with worry in her eyes. “I have to go. I can’t stay here anymore.”
Liz’s face shattered, “What? You can’t just *leave*.”
“Yes. I can. I’m doing it for your own good. I’m dangerous.”
Liz put her hands on her hips, “Don’t pull that crap, Michael.”
I threw my hands up, “What crap, Liz? I’m leaving. End of story.”
“No. We are supposed be doing this together,” Liz argued.
Run. Couldn’t let anyone in. Run. “Why? I have bigger problems than yours. You walked away from your boyfriend and I killed someone. It’s not equal.” Pain crossed Liz’s face. Liz went through so much pain that day.
“It’s more than that, Michael, and you know that,” she said through gritted teeth.
Keep pushing. Run. Push her *away*. Too close. Run. “Really? What’s the point? You know that you are going to run back to him anyway. You couldn’t leave him if you tried. You are too weak to leave him for good and you know that.”
Liz’s eyes cascading tears. “I know what you’re doing, Michael. I’m not Maria! I’m not going to leave you just because you try to push me away!”
And for the first time, I didn’t *want* to push people away. I wanted Liz to see me for who I really was. That notion terrified me more than you’ll ever know. I had to leave before I opened up to her--before I started to actually *care*. Maybe I already did. Otherwise, I’d already be gone by now. I glanced at Liz. She saw right through me. I had to leave. “It’s been fun, roomie, but I got to jet. I’ll call you.”
I didn’t even pack or bring money. I just left our apartment and Liz behind.
I don’t know how long I walked on the boardwalk and looked out at the beach. I held back a smile as I remembered Liz when she tried to teach me how to swim. She decided to give up on me after I refused to go in the water even with a boogey board. I remembered the look of utter amusement on her face when she brought me little kiddy floaties things that you put on your arms. I remembered her telling me that she knew I could do it if I tried. I smiled when I remembered the absolute giddiness that went through both of us when I actually swam.
But here I was staring out into the ocean, at ten o’ clock at night, with no luggage or money. And yet I planned to leave this place. To leave Liz--the one person who may have actually believed in me. I glanced at the hotel where we stayed at. I’ve spent my whole life running and for the first time, I ran back. I pumped my legs until they were sore until I got to the hotel room. I knocked on the door and placed my hand on wall to steady myself as I caught my breath. Liz opened the door and stared at me blankly. She didn’t speak but moved aside so I could come in. I followed and sat on the couch. She flopped down next to me.
“I thought you’d be on a bus by now,” she said grimly.
I frowned. “Me too.” Silence. “I didn’t mean those things that I said before, Liz. I’m sorry.”
Liz looked at me in surprise. “Did you just apologize to me?”
“Don’t plan on it happening again,” I scowled. I inwardly smiled when Liz chuckled.
“Am I going to have to plan on this again?” she asked, meaning me running away.
“No.”
She smiled. “Good. I hate to say this but I think we need each other.”
I chuckled. She glanced at me. “But I mean, you’re Michael Guerin, you don’t need anybody. So maybe I just need you.”
“No. I need you too. I may not say it a lot or show it but I do.” And I did.
She turned to face me. “I hear you at night. When you have your nightmares. I know you don’t want to talk about it but when you are ready to, I’m here.”
I wasn’t ready. I know I would be someday but not today. “Thanks. I may take you up on that.” She nodded. “You taught me how to swim,” I blurted out.
She looked at me in confusion but than her eyes lit up and she laughed. “Oh. That! with the little kiddie floatie thing.”
I chuckled, “Yeah. I’ll never forget the look on that kid’s face when she saw we had the same color.” Liz put her hand over her mouth and began to rock back and forth in laughter. “But seriously, Liz. I would have given up if it weren’t for you. So thanks for you uh giving me those floatie things.”
Liz bowed her head slightly. I didn’t have to spell it out for her. She knew what I was saying: that I was thanking her for believing in me. “I know you don’t want to get too much into this but I have to say something. I know you would never hurt me intentionally and you may not believe that but I do. I’m not afraid you and I am *never* going to be afraid of you.”
And for the first time, I actually forgot about Pierce all together. It was a first step in a process that I knew I could get through. With Liz’s help of course. She stood up, “So I ordered pizza.”
I laughed and we ate pizza the rest of the night.
Chapter 12: Finally
Liz
There were colors everywhere. Colors I didn’t even know existed and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. My vision was intensified and I could hear things that I wouldn’t normally before. This was weird. My mind was still fuzzy and I was vaguely hearing voices in the back ground.
“She’s waking up,” they were saying.
But the amazing thing was that not only could I hear them, but I could *feel* the energies of the people talking. One of them was friendly but had a bit of a barrier-like feeling and the other one was warm-hearted and comforting. Michael. Michael was here. I wanted to get to him and find out what was going on. Why wasn’t I in pain anymore? Not that I was complaining or anything.
And the energy that was once reeking havoc on my body was a steady hum. I knew it was there but it was calmer than it was before. I felt someone put hands on my shoulders. “Liz, wake up. You’re almost there.”
I opened to eyes and saw Isabel and Michael standing over me. They both had a look of relief when I opened my eyes and gave them a small smile. Realizing I was still in the cave, I shivered because of the coldness. Michael and Isabel looked at me with wide eyes. “What?” I asked in confusion.
“How do you feel?” Michael asked carefully.
“Uh, pretty weird. There’s a lot of colors and I can see a bit better. The energy is gone but it’s equalized I guess,” I glanced at them. “Why?”
Isabel and Michael exchanged looks. “What are you guys not saying?”
Michael scratched his head nervously. “It’s kind of hard to say, Liz.”
“What is kind of hard to say?”
“You’re an alien,” Michael blurted out.
Oh.My.God. “What now?”
“River Dog said that there’s cadium X in your body and it changes a human body into an alien one.”
“And how do I have cadium X in my body?” I asked in confusion.
“Max and I healing you. Cadium X is alien energy basically and when you heal someone, it’s transferring energy from you to another person. Max and I gave you such intense healings that your body is absorbing the cadium X and turning into an alien,” Michael said. He looked closely at me for a reaction.
It could feel his fear coming off in waves. I could practically hear his thoughts of doubt in my head. He was worried if I regretted this. Worried that I would blame *him* if I did. Honestly, I was scared. It wasn’t like I ever planned to become an alien but at the same time it didn’t bother me as much as it normally would have.
“I don’t know what to say. I mean, it’s hard to deal with when you find out that you’ve just turned into an alien but I have you guys so..” Before I could continue, Michael grabbed me and crushed me against him. Our connection roared to life at the contact.
He buried his face in my hair and whispered, “I was so afraid that you wouldn’t be OK with this.”
I pulled away slightly, “Why?”
{Because you didn’t ask for this. It’s a big change, Liz.}
{I’m fine, Michael. And even if I wasn’t OK with this, I wouldn’t blame you.}
{How’d you…}
{I didn’t need a connection to figure that one out.}
“Can you two of you stop talking in your heads? I would like to join the conversation,” Isabel joked, her hands on her hips. Michael and I pulled apart but Michael kept an arm around my waist. Isabel looked at me and smiled, “Glad to see you aren’t glowing anymore.”
I laughed. “That makes two of us. So what did River Dog have to say?”
Michael briefed me on what River Dog had said and I frowned, “What does he mean one of us will betray us?”
Isabel shook her head, “I don’t know. But I think that it is Tess.”
Michael nodded in agreement, “I don’t trust her.”
“Maybe we should keep an eye on her,” I suggested. “I don’t trust Tess either but that doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusions just like that.”
Isabel frowned deeply, “We may already be too late. Once Tess finds out that you are now an alien, she’s going to loose it completely. You heard what she said, she wants to be part of the four square.” Isabel looked at me. “We have our four square now.”
“We can’t tell her about Liz than,” Michael said.
“Max probably already did,” Isabel mused.
“What? Max was here?” I asked.
They both nodded grimly. I disentangled myself from Michael and sat on a near by rock. “We don’t have a four square, you guys. For a number of reasons. One being that if we do just *replace* Tess in the group that will anger her more, we have to accept her or at least pretend to if she’s dangerous. Two being there’s three of us standing here.”
Isabel, Michael, and I turned to see Max standing by us. Isabel said, “What are you doing back?”
Max, ignoring her question, turned to me. “You’re right. We don’t have a four square. But I would like to have one again. We can’t fight whatever we have to fight if we are broken apart.”
“Why the sudden change of heart, Maxwell? Did you get rid of that royal stick up your ass?” Michael quipped. Isabel and I held back a laugh.
Max’s face with flush with anger. “Dammit, Michael, would you shut up? You always yell at me for not leading the group! Well here I am. We have issues, I’m not going to deny that. I know that. You know that. *America* knows that. River Dog warned us so we have to take action against whatever is going to happen.”
“We have to be careful with a traitor lurking among us,” I said.
“We won’t have to if everything that happened today stays between us four.”
“And Alex,” Isabel chipped in.
“And Kyle,” I added.
Max rubbed his eyes, “Sure. They can keep an eye on Tess for us. She has to be the traitor River Dog was talking about. I can’t think of anybody else.”
For once we agreed with Max.
Max looked at Michael and I. “Just for the record, I am trying here. It‘s hard.”
At least Max was making a step. I just wondered if it would be enough.
*****
Michael
I hated Isabel. She told Max and I to ride together back home. Not even that but Liz was with her. We both sat in silence until Max said softly, “Do you love her?”
I turned to Max. “What kind of a question is that, Maxwell?”
Max’s hands clenched the steering wheel tightly. “Listen, Michael. I’m not OK with you and Liz being together. But I can learn to accept it. Do you love her?”
Anger ran through me, “I don’t need your acceptance. Liz and I don’t want it.”
“Dammit, Michael, why are you being so difficult?” Max burst.
I looked out the window and said softly, “Yes, Max. I do love Liz. She’s my everything.”
Max was silent and than he said, “She loves you, Michael. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
I scoffed, “Right. I do. I’m not the one who has made a freakin’ marathon of lies and deceit, Max. So save it.”
Max pulled over and I watched in confusion, “Dammit, Maxwell! Why are we prolonging this torturous ride?” The car came to a stop and he turned to face me.
“I don’t know who I am, Michael,” he began.
I put my hands up, “Max, save the pity sob story for someone who cares.”
Max ignored me and looked out at the vast outstretch of desert. “It’s even scarier to not know who your friends are. I’ve grown up with you and Isabel since we first hatched. I never thought that we would end up like this.”
“I didn’t either, Maxwell.” I admitted. It was true. I always pictured the three of us growing old together, except in separate places of course.
“The three of us have hidden our entire lives. And we’ve been each others’ only real friends. I mean you and I we’d do everything together. We were like brothers. But I don’t think I’ve truly *seen* you until lately.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you’ve always been stonewall Guerin. You refused to ask for help and to be anything but strong. And it never occurred to me that maybe there was more to you than that wall that you put up. Maybe your crazy missions were to protect us from doing them together and that’s why you went alone. And it never occurred to me that you would let anyone in. And a part of me is jealous, that I couldn’t do that for you and Liz did.”
I couldn’t believe this. Max was jealous? Of Liz?
He’s right though, I spent my whole life perfecting those walls. Impermeable and indestructible to anyone. It’s funny how I remembered the exact day they came tumbling down.
~~~Summer~~~
Liz and I had been living together for a couple weeks now and I was surprised at how quickly we became friends. We became accustomed to each other’s little quirks and I even got Liz hooked on Metallica. One night, Liz was out with her aunt and I was watching television. I began to absently think about Pierce and how I killed him. I saw his body falling and Valenti saying he was dead. “You can’t run away from me,” I swear I heard Pierce say. “I’m everywhere.”
My hands began to heat up with energy. I closed my eyes shut and tried to calm down but I saw Pierce’s face in my eyelids. He sneered at me and mocked me. I was killer. I was a killer. I was a killer. I *killed* Pierce. Suddenly the door opened suddenly and my energy released. It was instinct, I thought it was Pierce.
I opened my eyes when I heard Liz’s soft whimper. Fear gripped my heart. I ran over immediately and saw Liz crouching on the ground. “Oh my god! Did I hurt you, Liz?” Her eyes were wide and I noticed the big charred mark on the wall.
“I jumped out of the way,” she said and I released a sigh of relief. “What the hell was that?”
I froze. Don’t let her in. You’re invincible. You weren’t thinking about Pierce. You are in control. Don’t let her get to close. She can’t know. “Nothing,” I said calmly. “Thought you were someone else.”
Liz’s eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to say something and than closed it. I helped her up and she glided into the kitchen, “Did you eat yet?”
I shook my head. It was always like this. I would get spells like this and Liz would act like it didn’t happen. Not because she didn’t care but I think that that is what she knew that was what I needed. I smiled softly and walked over to the kitchen. “What do you have?”
She rummaged through the cabinets and pulled out a couple bags of candy. She grinned sheepishly. “I should have went shopping, huh?”
I rolled my eyes. “We have free room service, Liz.”
“I don’t want to live off of my aunt,” she argued. One thing I learned about Liz was that she was stubborn-possibly more stubborn than me. “Besides, you order pizza half the time anyway.”
I laughed. “Isabel called. She said to tell you to call her back later.”
Liz went to go put the candy back and I noticed she winced and grabbed her back. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
Liz’s eyes danced everywhere around the room but on me. “Nothing,” she dismissed.
Realization and dread dawned on me. “I hurt you,” I said.
Liz immediately protested, “You didn’t mean to, Michael. It was my fault really. I jumped out of the way and I fell the wrong way. That’s all.”
*You’re a killer, Michael. You could have hurt her--killed her.* I backed up away from Liz. She looked at me funny, “What’s wrong?”
I could of hurt her. I could of killed her. Run. Don’t let anyone in. Run. Be strong. Run. I looked up at Liz to find her looking at me with worry in her eyes. “I have to go. I can’t stay here anymore.”
Liz’s face shattered, “What? You can’t just *leave*.”
“Yes. I can. I’m doing it for your own good. I’m dangerous.”
Liz put her hands on her hips, “Don’t pull that crap, Michael.”
I threw my hands up, “What crap, Liz? I’m leaving. End of story.”
“No. We are supposed be doing this together,” Liz argued.
Run. Couldn’t let anyone in. Run. “Why? I have bigger problems than yours. You walked away from your boyfriend and I killed someone. It’s not equal.” Pain crossed Liz’s face. Liz went through so much pain that day.
“It’s more than that, Michael, and you know that,” she said through gritted teeth.
Keep pushing. Run. Push her *away*. Too close. Run. “Really? What’s the point? You know that you are going to run back to him anyway. You couldn’t leave him if you tried. You are too weak to leave him for good and you know that.”
Liz’s eyes cascading tears. “I know what you’re doing, Michael. I’m not Maria! I’m not going to leave you just because you try to push me away!”
And for the first time, I didn’t *want* to push people away. I wanted Liz to see me for who I really was. That notion terrified me more than you’ll ever know. I had to leave before I opened up to her--before I started to actually *care*. Maybe I already did. Otherwise, I’d already be gone by now. I glanced at Liz. She saw right through me. I had to leave. “It’s been fun, roomie, but I got to jet. I’ll call you.”
I didn’t even pack or bring money. I just left our apartment and Liz behind.
I don’t know how long I walked on the boardwalk and looked out at the beach. I held back a smile as I remembered Liz when she tried to teach me how to swim. She decided to give up on me after I refused to go in the water even with a boogey board. I remembered the look of utter amusement on her face when she brought me little kiddy floaties things that you put on your arms. I remembered her telling me that she knew I could do it if I tried. I smiled when I remembered the absolute giddiness that went through both of us when I actually swam.
But here I was staring out into the ocean, at ten o’ clock at night, with no luggage or money. And yet I planned to leave this place. To leave Liz--the one person who may have actually believed in me. I glanced at the hotel where we stayed at. I’ve spent my whole life running and for the first time, I ran back. I pumped my legs until they were sore until I got to the hotel room. I knocked on the door and placed my hand on wall to steady myself as I caught my breath. Liz opened the door and stared at me blankly. She didn’t speak but moved aside so I could come in. I followed and sat on the couch. She flopped down next to me.
“I thought you’d be on a bus by now,” she said grimly.
I frowned. “Me too.” Silence. “I didn’t mean those things that I said before, Liz. I’m sorry.”
Liz looked at me in surprise. “Did you just apologize to me?”
“Don’t plan on it happening again,” I scowled. I inwardly smiled when Liz chuckled.
“Am I going to have to plan on this again?” she asked, meaning me running away.
“No.”
She smiled. “Good. I hate to say this but I think we need each other.”
I chuckled. She glanced at me. “But I mean, you’re Michael Guerin, you don’t need anybody. So maybe I just need you.”
“No. I need you too. I may not say it a lot or show it but I do.” And I did.
She turned to face me. “I hear you at night. When you have your nightmares. I know you don’t want to talk about it but when you are ready to, I’m here.”
I wasn’t ready. I know I would be someday but not today. “Thanks. I may take you up on that.” She nodded. “You taught me how to swim,” I blurted out.
She looked at me in confusion but than her eyes lit up and she laughed. “Oh. That! with the little kiddie floatie thing.”
I chuckled, “Yeah. I’ll never forget the look on that kid’s face when she saw we had the same color.” Liz put her hand over her mouth and began to rock back and forth in laughter. “But seriously, Liz. I would have given up if it weren’t for you. So thanks for you uh giving me those floatie things.”
Liz bowed her head slightly. I didn’t have to spell it out for her. She knew what I was saying: that I was thanking her for believing in me. “I know you don’t want to get too much into this but I have to say something. I know you would never hurt me intentionally and you may not believe that but I do. I’m not afraid you and I am *never* going to be afraid of you.”
And for the first time, I actually forgot about Pierce all together. It was a first step in a process that I knew I could get through. With Liz’s help of course. She stood up, “So I ordered pizza.”
I laughed and we ate pizza the rest of the night.
Love Always
-
Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
ch.13
Chapter 13: More than just an alien
Liz
I had tried really hard not to talk to Michael on the ride home. He and Max had some serious issues to work out and he needed to do it by himself. The connection rested at a dull roar and I smiled at the fact that I could still feel him. I wondered what he was doing. He was experiencing a lot of emotions. Isabel broke me out of my thoughts.
“It’s killing you isn’t it?” she asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.
“What?” I asked startled.
“Michael. The fact you can’t have private conversations.”
I frowned, “Yeah, a little bit. But this is something Michael needs to do by himself.”
“I hope Michael and Max patch things up,” Isabel said with a distant look on her face.
I leaned on my arm and looked out at the desert, “They have a lot to work out. I mean, it’s not just whole the Michael and I issue. It’s a lot of things that they’ve been holding in.”
“Yeah. I hate having to take sides against them.”
“Yeah. I know. Me too,” I said grimly.
Isabel glanced at me, “Ever since I was little, Michael and Max had each other. Sure, they fought like any pair of brothers would but they always had each other. It was always the three of us, y’know. And when Max healed you, suddenly the three of us became the *six* of us. And if someone had asked me if I ever saw that coming, I would have laughed in his face.”
I laughed and sighed. “You’re telling me? I was a small town girl until Max healed me. And now I’m an alien. It’s funny how things work sometimes.”
Isabel looked at me intently, “I guess what I’m trying to say is that even though I had Max and Michael, I always wanted a sister. But I never counted on having a sister and a best friend in one who understands me and stuff like that. So, uh, I found one. In you. So thank you.”
My eyes brimmed with tears at Isabel’s open display of emotion. “That’s really nice of you to say, Isabel. That whole summer was really wreck and you and Michael were there for me. I needed a friend and I came out with two best friends.”
“Maria isn’t going to be too happy that you’ve replaced her,” Isabel joked.
I frowned, “Actually that won’t be a problem. Maria found out about Michael and I and she kind of freaked.”
“Oh. I’m sorry--I didn’t know. How did she found out?”
I blushed, embarrassed and mumbled quickly, “Weweremakingoutinacloset.”
“What?”
I sighed and could feel my face heating up. “We were making out in a closet and she caught us.”
Isabel’s mouth gaped open and she tried to hold in a laugh with no avail. “I’m sure that was a shock. I mean you were *clothed* right?”
I turned even redder causing Isabel to crack up even more. “What? Michael just wasn’t wearing a shirt. That was it,” I said in my defensive as I buried my face in my hands. Isabel continued to laugh. “Do you find this amusing?”
“Actually, I do. The two of you are like rabbits in heat sometimes I swear.”
“We are not!” I protested.
We laughed until we rested into a comfortable silence. I began to wonder about how I got here? Who would have thought that I’d be here right now? Isabel interrupted me from my thoughts. “How do you think the boys are faring?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure. On one side, I know they have issues but on the other, I don’t think they can let go of each other. It’s complicated.”
Isabel rolled her eyes, “It’s always complicated with us, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. I guess it is,” I sighed and I looked out the car window.
*****
Michael
The rest of the car ride was silent. Thinking about the past made me want to get to Liz faster. I began to absently tap my fingers on the dashboard and ignored the looks like that Max kept giving me. I had to admit, I was shocked by Max’s openness of being jealous of Liz. But I knew how he felt. Sometimes I wished that I had healed Liz that day at the Crashdown. Max would have never hurt her then and we’d have been together sooner.
But that didn’t happen. I looked at Max who seemed to be intently focusing on the road. Max was my brother and as much as I may hate him at times, the fact remained that he was my brother. Sometimes, it was difficult to be able to tell what I was mad at Max more for: hurting Liz or hurting me.
“I’m sorry for those things I said when you and Liz told me about the two of you,” Max said. “I know how much Pierce hurts you.”
“That’s why you said it Maxwell, to hurt me,” I growled out.
Max looked away ashamed. “It wasn’t your fault, Michael. We would have killed us if you hadn’t..”
“Killed him?” I interrupted. “I get this speech a lot, Maxwell. I don’t need it from you too.”
Max was silent and than he turned to me briefly before averting his eyes back to the road, “I never thanked you for saving my life. I know you aren’t proud of how you did it but thank you.”
A mocking laugh escaped my mouth, “It’s not everyday that I get thanked for killing someone.”
Suddenly, Max’s eyes flamed with anger. “Can’t you just take an thank you without being a smart ass? I’m trying really hard here.”
“Maxwell, we have to be a group. Not *pretend* to be a group. So maybe you should stop pretending that you want to be civil and tell me what’s really on your mind.”
“I’m not the one with issues, Michael. I know what this is about.”
“Really, Maxwell, enlighten me.”
“You don’t like being told what to do, Michael. You didn’t choose to be our protector--*my* protector--and that pisses you off. You do it but you don’t like it as much as you let off. You’re mad because no matter what you do or who you date, you still think of me as your first priority. That’s why you didn’t tell me about you and Liz.”
“That’s partly true, Maxwell. No matter what I do to escape it, I’m still your protector. But you aren’t my first priority. Not anymore. And yeah, it pisses me off that I can’t escape it. Now I have my own life and I want it to be my own and not one protecting *you*. You have no idea the things I’ve done to protect you, Max.”
Max stopped the car once again. “Dammit, Maxwell,” I protested. “Can’t we argue and drive at the same time?” He didn’t answer me but turned the ignition off and turned fully to face me.
“You blame me for your killing Pierce, don’t you?” came his choked reply.
I looked at him silently. Did I?
“You did it to protect me and you *blame* me for needing protecting that day. You killed him to protect me. Why don’t you say it, Michael?”
I regarded him with a solemn expression and took a deep breath. I did blame him. I didn’t even know I was doing it but I was. “Max, I didn’t…”
“Don’t make excuses, Michael. Just say it.”
“Yeah. I do blame you.” But there was no hatred in my voice but sadness because I blamed my brother for me killing someone.
Max looked me straight in the eye. “Do you think I asked to be protected? Do you think I want to be a King? I’d take it all back, Michael. I would. But instead, I’m responsible for making decisions that will determine the fate of a whole planet. I have to guide these people who I don’t even know and protect *them*. I asked for that just as much as you asked to be my second.”
“The difference between you and me, Maxwell, is that you make a wrong decision and worse comes to worse. So some distant person on a foreign planet dies. Not that isn’t bad. It’s on you and you have to deal with that. But if *I* make a wrong decision, Max, I lose Isabel or *you*. Or even Kyle or Alex. And god, even *Liz*. I don’t have some nameless person that I’m responsible for. I have my *family* that I’m responsible for. That to me is more precious that than any planet out there. You’ve lost that, Max. You’re putting your planet over your family. I guess that I’m not the only one who changed.”
Max looked at me and started the car. I turned to face the road and looked anywhere but at Max. As much as I hated to admit it to myself, maybe Max wasn’t the only problem in the group. Max and I both had to give a little and back down for this to work. I just hoped that we could.
*****
Liz
Isabel and I had been at Michael’s apartment for a while before the boys showed up. Isabel and I were lounging on the couch when the door opened and Max and Michael stepped in. They both looked tired and a bit sad but a calm sense seemed to surround them. They weren’t tense anymore. Michael walked over and sat next to me and kissed me on the forehead.
{How was your car ride?} he thought to me.
{Good. Emotional. You?}
His glance at Max didn’t get passed me. {Did you guys work it out?} His subtle pain was like a ringing in the back of my head. {Michael?}
{Yeah. For the most part, we laid our cards on the table. We know what’s wrong. We might just be able to fix it.}
{I’m really happy for the two of you, Michael.}
{He told me that I blamed him for me killing Pierce.}
{WHAT? Why?}
{Because I do. I just didn’t realize it until now though.}
{Oh Michael…}
The light grimace of thought etched Michael’s face and I soothingly rubbed his knee. He smiled at me and laced his fingers in mine. Isabel glanced at us frowning, “We need an idea about Tess. So we have Alex and Kyle keep an eye on her.”
I nodded, “We have no actual proof that she is the traitor.”
Max looked up, “What if she was working with Nasedo?”
Michael grimaced at the mention of Nasedo but regained his composure, “We have to figure that out.”
I stood up and shook my head. “I’m not putting Kyle and Alex directly in harms way. I’ll tail Tess.”
{No way in hell, Parker}
I glared at Michael pointedly. “What if she figures them out? I mean she could mind warp them or worse,” I reasoned. Isabel seemed reluctant but gave a small nod. I gave her a small grateful smile and turned to Max. He was scowling and was still debating it in his head.
“More the reason for you *not* to go in. She could hurt you too,” Michael argued.
“But she won’t be expecting me having powers. I can defend myself better than Kyle or Alex can,” I disputed.
“Than we can send Isabel in.”
“No.”
Michael stood up and crossed his arms, “I am demanding that you don’t do this.”
“Try and see if I care, Michael. I’m doing this whether you want me to or not,” I said stubbornly.
Michael gestured at Isabel and she dragged Max out of the apartment, gave us a small wave and left the apartment. Michael glared at me, intimidation shadowed in his stance. “You aren’t going in. It’s too dangerous.”
“Michael, I can’t just stay here. I have powers now. I can defend myself,” I said.
“You just got them. You don’t know how to control them yet,” he said.
I raised a eyebrow, “Oh, really?” I turned his attention to a dirty cup on his counter. I raised my hand and blasted it; the cup exploded. Michael looked at me in surprise. “I guess I’m a natural.”
“How?” came his shocked reply.
“I don’t know. All this knowledge is just in me. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like I’ve had these powers all of my life,” was my shaky reply.
Michael sighed and walked over to me. He put his hands gently on my shoulders and leaned his forehand against mine. I sighed and leaned into his lean body. “If anything goes wrong, we’ll have the connection. Nothing is going to happen to me.”
Michael’s eyes shadowed over, “You said that about Whitaker.”
“Whitaker wasn’t the problem. Nasedo was.”
His eyes bore into mine. “I can’t lose you, Liz.”
I kissed him on the lips gently and sighed in contentment, “But you can’t protect me forever either. Look, Isabel told my parents I was staying with her. I’ll stay here tonight and you can protect me all you want.”
*****
Michael was already sleeping when I came into his room later. His arms were thrown over his stomach and his legs were tangled in the sheets. I tugged one of Michael’s shirts that I was wearing. I sighed and slipped into the bed with him. He snuggled closer with me and watched as arm reached over to encircle my waist.
That’s when I heard it. The light beeping noise. The last time I had heard it was when I was looking for the orb. Looking around the room, I saw nothing out of place. Maybe Michael had the orb here. I instantly forgot that idea when I remembered Isabel had mentioned it earlier and how she thought it was unsafe to keep them at the Pod Chamber. Michael didn’t seem to move or notice the noise.
I hissed in pain. Suddenly, the area around my navel began to feel like it was burning. I moved Michael’s arm off my waist and pulled my shirt up and that’s when I saw it.
A V-shaped symbol was on my navel and it was lightly glowing. There were five dots and they all glowed a different color. The burning sensation stopped but the symbol remained on my stomach. I knew I had seen that symbol before but when?
I racked my brain to put the pieces together. When Max and I were researching that constellation, that was when I saw it! But then why was a constellation of stars glowing on my stomach?
Michael slowly opened his eyes and I quickly put my shirt down. I placed my hand over my stomach to block the faint glow of the symbol from seeping through the gray shirt. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you sleeping?” he asked still half-asleep but the concern was evident in his voice.
I thought about how upset he was about me spying on Tess. We always worried about me and took care of me. Even though he wouldn’t say it, I knew he still worried about me turning into an alien and what it meant for me. I was a bit worried too. I hadn’t really had time to think about it that much. The last thing he needed was to worry about his glowing girlfriend. Who apparently, was sporting a symbol of an intergalactic constellation. I frowned deeply.
Michael had always protected me. Now it was time to protect him.
I had to find the orb. It was calling to me; I don’t know how to explain it. It was like that whole time before we found the orb the first time. As I was saying, I had to the find that orb and I had to keep Michael out of danger as I did it.
I turned to Michael and faked a smile, “I’m fine. Go back to sleep OK?”
Ten minutes later he fell asleep and ten minutes after that, I snuck out of the apartment.
Liz
I had tried really hard not to talk to Michael on the ride home. He and Max had some serious issues to work out and he needed to do it by himself. The connection rested at a dull roar and I smiled at the fact that I could still feel him. I wondered what he was doing. He was experiencing a lot of emotions. Isabel broke me out of my thoughts.
“It’s killing you isn’t it?” she asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.
“What?” I asked startled.
“Michael. The fact you can’t have private conversations.”
I frowned, “Yeah, a little bit. But this is something Michael needs to do by himself.”
“I hope Michael and Max patch things up,” Isabel said with a distant look on her face.
I leaned on my arm and looked out at the desert, “They have a lot to work out. I mean, it’s not just whole the Michael and I issue. It’s a lot of things that they’ve been holding in.”
“Yeah. I hate having to take sides against them.”
“Yeah. I know. Me too,” I said grimly.
Isabel glanced at me, “Ever since I was little, Michael and Max had each other. Sure, they fought like any pair of brothers would but they always had each other. It was always the three of us, y’know. And when Max healed you, suddenly the three of us became the *six* of us. And if someone had asked me if I ever saw that coming, I would have laughed in his face.”
I laughed and sighed. “You’re telling me? I was a small town girl until Max healed me. And now I’m an alien. It’s funny how things work sometimes.”
Isabel looked at me intently, “I guess what I’m trying to say is that even though I had Max and Michael, I always wanted a sister. But I never counted on having a sister and a best friend in one who understands me and stuff like that. So, uh, I found one. In you. So thank you.”
My eyes brimmed with tears at Isabel’s open display of emotion. “That’s really nice of you to say, Isabel. That whole summer was really wreck and you and Michael were there for me. I needed a friend and I came out with two best friends.”
“Maria isn’t going to be too happy that you’ve replaced her,” Isabel joked.
I frowned, “Actually that won’t be a problem. Maria found out about Michael and I and she kind of freaked.”
“Oh. I’m sorry--I didn’t know. How did she found out?”
I blushed, embarrassed and mumbled quickly, “Weweremakingoutinacloset.”
“What?”
I sighed and could feel my face heating up. “We were making out in a closet and she caught us.”
Isabel’s mouth gaped open and she tried to hold in a laugh with no avail. “I’m sure that was a shock. I mean you were *clothed* right?”
I turned even redder causing Isabel to crack up even more. “What? Michael just wasn’t wearing a shirt. That was it,” I said in my defensive as I buried my face in my hands. Isabel continued to laugh. “Do you find this amusing?”
“Actually, I do. The two of you are like rabbits in heat sometimes I swear.”
“We are not!” I protested.
We laughed until we rested into a comfortable silence. I began to wonder about how I got here? Who would have thought that I’d be here right now? Isabel interrupted me from my thoughts. “How do you think the boys are faring?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure. On one side, I know they have issues but on the other, I don’t think they can let go of each other. It’s complicated.”
Isabel rolled her eyes, “It’s always complicated with us, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. I guess it is,” I sighed and I looked out the car window.
*****
Michael
The rest of the car ride was silent. Thinking about the past made me want to get to Liz faster. I began to absently tap my fingers on the dashboard and ignored the looks like that Max kept giving me. I had to admit, I was shocked by Max’s openness of being jealous of Liz. But I knew how he felt. Sometimes I wished that I had healed Liz that day at the Crashdown. Max would have never hurt her then and we’d have been together sooner.
But that didn’t happen. I looked at Max who seemed to be intently focusing on the road. Max was my brother and as much as I may hate him at times, the fact remained that he was my brother. Sometimes, it was difficult to be able to tell what I was mad at Max more for: hurting Liz or hurting me.
“I’m sorry for those things I said when you and Liz told me about the two of you,” Max said. “I know how much Pierce hurts you.”
“That’s why you said it Maxwell, to hurt me,” I growled out.
Max looked away ashamed. “It wasn’t your fault, Michael. We would have killed us if you hadn’t..”
“Killed him?” I interrupted. “I get this speech a lot, Maxwell. I don’t need it from you too.”
Max was silent and than he turned to me briefly before averting his eyes back to the road, “I never thanked you for saving my life. I know you aren’t proud of how you did it but thank you.”
A mocking laugh escaped my mouth, “It’s not everyday that I get thanked for killing someone.”
Suddenly, Max’s eyes flamed with anger. “Can’t you just take an thank you without being a smart ass? I’m trying really hard here.”
“Maxwell, we have to be a group. Not *pretend* to be a group. So maybe you should stop pretending that you want to be civil and tell me what’s really on your mind.”
“I’m not the one with issues, Michael. I know what this is about.”
“Really, Maxwell, enlighten me.”
“You don’t like being told what to do, Michael. You didn’t choose to be our protector--*my* protector--and that pisses you off. You do it but you don’t like it as much as you let off. You’re mad because no matter what you do or who you date, you still think of me as your first priority. That’s why you didn’t tell me about you and Liz.”
“That’s partly true, Maxwell. No matter what I do to escape it, I’m still your protector. But you aren’t my first priority. Not anymore. And yeah, it pisses me off that I can’t escape it. Now I have my own life and I want it to be my own and not one protecting *you*. You have no idea the things I’ve done to protect you, Max.”
Max stopped the car once again. “Dammit, Maxwell,” I protested. “Can’t we argue and drive at the same time?” He didn’t answer me but turned the ignition off and turned fully to face me.
“You blame me for your killing Pierce, don’t you?” came his choked reply.
I looked at him silently. Did I?
“You did it to protect me and you *blame* me for needing protecting that day. You killed him to protect me. Why don’t you say it, Michael?”
I regarded him with a solemn expression and took a deep breath. I did blame him. I didn’t even know I was doing it but I was. “Max, I didn’t…”
“Don’t make excuses, Michael. Just say it.”
“Yeah. I do blame you.” But there was no hatred in my voice but sadness because I blamed my brother for me killing someone.
Max looked me straight in the eye. “Do you think I asked to be protected? Do you think I want to be a King? I’d take it all back, Michael. I would. But instead, I’m responsible for making decisions that will determine the fate of a whole planet. I have to guide these people who I don’t even know and protect *them*. I asked for that just as much as you asked to be my second.”
“The difference between you and me, Maxwell, is that you make a wrong decision and worse comes to worse. So some distant person on a foreign planet dies. Not that isn’t bad. It’s on you and you have to deal with that. But if *I* make a wrong decision, Max, I lose Isabel or *you*. Or even Kyle or Alex. And god, even *Liz*. I don’t have some nameless person that I’m responsible for. I have my *family* that I’m responsible for. That to me is more precious that than any planet out there. You’ve lost that, Max. You’re putting your planet over your family. I guess that I’m not the only one who changed.”
Max looked at me and started the car. I turned to face the road and looked anywhere but at Max. As much as I hated to admit it to myself, maybe Max wasn’t the only problem in the group. Max and I both had to give a little and back down for this to work. I just hoped that we could.
*****
Liz
Isabel and I had been at Michael’s apartment for a while before the boys showed up. Isabel and I were lounging on the couch when the door opened and Max and Michael stepped in. They both looked tired and a bit sad but a calm sense seemed to surround them. They weren’t tense anymore. Michael walked over and sat next to me and kissed me on the forehead.
{How was your car ride?} he thought to me.
{Good. Emotional. You?}
His glance at Max didn’t get passed me. {Did you guys work it out?} His subtle pain was like a ringing in the back of my head. {Michael?}
{Yeah. For the most part, we laid our cards on the table. We know what’s wrong. We might just be able to fix it.}
{I’m really happy for the two of you, Michael.}
{He told me that I blamed him for me killing Pierce.}
{WHAT? Why?}
{Because I do. I just didn’t realize it until now though.}
{Oh Michael…}
The light grimace of thought etched Michael’s face and I soothingly rubbed his knee. He smiled at me and laced his fingers in mine. Isabel glanced at us frowning, “We need an idea about Tess. So we have Alex and Kyle keep an eye on her.”
I nodded, “We have no actual proof that she is the traitor.”
Max looked up, “What if she was working with Nasedo?”
Michael grimaced at the mention of Nasedo but regained his composure, “We have to figure that out.”
I stood up and shook my head. “I’m not putting Kyle and Alex directly in harms way. I’ll tail Tess.”
{No way in hell, Parker}
I glared at Michael pointedly. “What if she figures them out? I mean she could mind warp them or worse,” I reasoned. Isabel seemed reluctant but gave a small nod. I gave her a small grateful smile and turned to Max. He was scowling and was still debating it in his head.
“More the reason for you *not* to go in. She could hurt you too,” Michael argued.
“But she won’t be expecting me having powers. I can defend myself better than Kyle or Alex can,” I disputed.
“Than we can send Isabel in.”
“No.”
Michael stood up and crossed his arms, “I am demanding that you don’t do this.”
“Try and see if I care, Michael. I’m doing this whether you want me to or not,” I said stubbornly.
Michael gestured at Isabel and she dragged Max out of the apartment, gave us a small wave and left the apartment. Michael glared at me, intimidation shadowed in his stance. “You aren’t going in. It’s too dangerous.”
“Michael, I can’t just stay here. I have powers now. I can defend myself,” I said.
“You just got them. You don’t know how to control them yet,” he said.
I raised a eyebrow, “Oh, really?” I turned his attention to a dirty cup on his counter. I raised my hand and blasted it; the cup exploded. Michael looked at me in surprise. “I guess I’m a natural.”
“How?” came his shocked reply.
“I don’t know. All this knowledge is just in me. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like I’ve had these powers all of my life,” was my shaky reply.
Michael sighed and walked over to me. He put his hands gently on my shoulders and leaned his forehand against mine. I sighed and leaned into his lean body. “If anything goes wrong, we’ll have the connection. Nothing is going to happen to me.”
Michael’s eyes shadowed over, “You said that about Whitaker.”
“Whitaker wasn’t the problem. Nasedo was.”
His eyes bore into mine. “I can’t lose you, Liz.”
I kissed him on the lips gently and sighed in contentment, “But you can’t protect me forever either. Look, Isabel told my parents I was staying with her. I’ll stay here tonight and you can protect me all you want.”
*****
Michael was already sleeping when I came into his room later. His arms were thrown over his stomach and his legs were tangled in the sheets. I tugged one of Michael’s shirts that I was wearing. I sighed and slipped into the bed with him. He snuggled closer with me and watched as arm reached over to encircle my waist.
That’s when I heard it. The light beeping noise. The last time I had heard it was when I was looking for the orb. Looking around the room, I saw nothing out of place. Maybe Michael had the orb here. I instantly forgot that idea when I remembered Isabel had mentioned it earlier and how she thought it was unsafe to keep them at the Pod Chamber. Michael didn’t seem to move or notice the noise.
I hissed in pain. Suddenly, the area around my navel began to feel like it was burning. I moved Michael’s arm off my waist and pulled my shirt up and that’s when I saw it.
A V-shaped symbol was on my navel and it was lightly glowing. There were five dots and they all glowed a different color. The burning sensation stopped but the symbol remained on my stomach. I knew I had seen that symbol before but when?
I racked my brain to put the pieces together. When Max and I were researching that constellation, that was when I saw it! But then why was a constellation of stars glowing on my stomach?
Michael slowly opened his eyes and I quickly put my shirt down. I placed my hand over my stomach to block the faint glow of the symbol from seeping through the gray shirt. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you sleeping?” he asked still half-asleep but the concern was evident in his voice.
I thought about how upset he was about me spying on Tess. We always worried about me and took care of me. Even though he wouldn’t say it, I knew he still worried about me turning into an alien and what it meant for me. I was a bit worried too. I hadn’t really had time to think about it that much. The last thing he needed was to worry about his glowing girlfriend. Who apparently, was sporting a symbol of an intergalactic constellation. I frowned deeply.
Michael had always protected me. Now it was time to protect him.
I had to find the orb. It was calling to me; I don’t know how to explain it. It was like that whole time before we found the orb the first time. As I was saying, I had to the find that orb and I had to keep Michael out of danger as I did it.
I turned to Michael and faked a smile, “I’m fine. Go back to sleep OK?”
Ten minutes later he fell asleep and ten minutes after that, I snuck out of the apartment.
Love Always
-
Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
ch.14
Chapter 14: Questions to Answers
Liz
The beeping was becoming stronger. As I drove, that’s all I could think about. It would grow longer like a ring in my ear and than stop only to begin again. I wasn’t really sure where I was going, but all I knew was that the orb was wherever I was driving to. I wanted answers. I wanted to know why this orb kept contacting me and why I had a symbol on my stomach. Why did I know how to use my powers after only having them for a few hours? I wanted to know why all of this was happening to *me*?
I wiped away frustrated tears from my eyes with one hand. I looked up and realized I was nearing the pod chamber. The orbs had to be here. I was so focused on the goal in front of me that I didn’t realize that my hands were glowing a light blue. I looked at them to see that the symbol that was on the orbs, the swirl looking one, was on each on my hands.
Stepping on the gas, I drove as close as I could to the pod chamber. I raced up to the entrance, my legs pumping to the point of pain. Stopping, I realized I was standing in front of the entrance door. Instinctively, I wiped my hand over the cave wall and it opened loudly. The sound of rock grinding against rock filled my ears.
The door finally opened and I cautiously went in. I was shocked to find Max already in the chamber. He turned to me, his eyes surprised. “What you are doing here?”
Instead of answering, I put my hands up to show him the blue symbols on my palms. I also pulled my shirt up and showed in the symbol on my stomach. My bottom lip trembled in fear. Fear of not knowing what has going on. “Max,” I pleaded. “Please say something.”
In response, Max put up his hands and on his palms, lay the same symbols. My mouth dropped in shock. Why would Max and I have the same symbol? “Do you…”
Max simply nodded and turned around so I could see the back of his neck. On it was the V-constellation. “Max, what’s happening?”
“I don’t know, Liz. I kept hearing this beeping noise and…”
Then I saw the orbs. I don’t know what possessed me but I walked over to them and placed on hand on the small orb. I vaguely saw Max to the same to the one next to it. The orbs light up and began to make a slight humming sound. Max and I exchanged fearful looks. Max looked at me and said, “Liz do you trust me?”
I looked at Max and swallowed thickly. “Yes.”
Max nodded and grabbed my wrist gently. He put our palms together, the two symbols in exact alignment. Suddenly, the orbs began to glow even brighter and our hands had a blue light surrounding them. I watched in amazement as a hologram much like the one of Max’s mother appeared.
Only this one seemed to be of a middle-aged man with white hair. His wrinkled face offset his bright green eyes. Eyes full of wisdom and pride as he looked at us. He first looked at Max and than me.
“Who are you?” Max asked.
He smiled gently at us, “I am Herzon, the seer of Antar. The man full of wisdom who foresees phenomenal events such as this.”
My eyes narrowed in confusion. “What’s happening?”
“The seal has been split in two. It’s power has sought out another who it has faith in,” Herzon said as if it explained everything.
“What seal?” I asked.
Herzon looked at us evenly. “The Royal Seal. The Seal of Antar and it’s people and those who rule them.”
“But I’m the King of Antar,” Max said, confused. “Why would it go to Liz?”
“Were it any other hybrid that saved your life, Liz, you would have turned into a hybrid--half Antarian, half human. However, Max when we was created was given the Royal Seal and when he healed you, his energy flowed into you. Somehow, you received the seal as well. It would have taken years for a normal human to go through the process of receiving her powers etc, but you were healed *twice*. Both healings gave you such energy that the process went faster than predicted.”
“But you said that you can see the future. Wouldn’t you know that Michael would heal me?” I asked.
Herzon shook his head and smiled radiantly, “My dear, seers cannot predict true love. Not the kind that you and Michael have. Very few full Antarians can connect with him in the way that you can. The art of linking of two people is very rare and special.”
I couldn’t help the rush of excitement that went though me. “What does the seal mean?”
“The seal means that you are given the full power and essence of a ruler of Antar. That is why you know everything there is to know about your powers and soon you will see that you can even read Antarian. However, it is much more complicated than that.”
“Is that even possible?” Max asked in annoyance.
Herzon ignored him. “The seal brings out qualities in people that they already possess. Caring, compassion, the need to help others, and the wisdom to know when to sacrifice for their loved ones. Also, powers that are slightly destructive and mind powers. Michael however, gave you the protector seal. A seal given only to great protectors. In that seal, you receive the instinct to protect others and defensive and strong offensive powers.”
It made sense--it was terrifying how much it made sense. I used mind powers to get flashes and I knew *everything* about my powers. My need to protect people was demonstrated just earlier when I didn’t bring Michael with me to protect him and when I didn’t want Kyle and Alex spying on Tess. I sacrificed Max that day at the cave because I thought it would be best for the group. My powers were all those he talked about.
“So what does that mean for me? I’m like the super-alien?” I asked.
“Yes, in a way. You are very powerful. Yet these seals exude an essence. As a royal, it makes those around you want to protect you.” Henroz glanced at me meaningfully, “Before you received the protector seal, you just had the royal seal.”
My heart stopped. “So I gained Max’s protectors because we shared the same seal. That night at the bus stop, Michael followed me to *protect* me.”
Henroz held up a hand. “Do not doubt, child. His need to protect you had nothing to do with him falling in love with you. That was all your doing.”
I smiled gratefully at him. Max cleared his throat. “So does that mean that Liz is my protector too now? Am I still the king?”
“You are still the King of Antar. Liz isn’t a political figure only because you have been anointed as King in your past life and she has not. Protectors are not bound to their rulers, Max. They merely protect the ones they care about. Remember that.”
Max considered this. “What about Tess?”
Henroz’s eyes darkened. “Be weary of her. She is not what you think she is. I must go now. I have brought you here to explain to you what is occurring. I hope you do what is right with the information. Goodbye.”
His hologram shimmered out like a radio signal, leaving Max and I in the cave alone. The orbs went back to their normal state and the symbol on our hands disappeared. However, the royal seal remained on my stomach. Only next to it, was a small drawing of a dagger now. My protector seal. My *Michael* seal. I smiled to myself and offered Max a ride home.
*****
Ever since I had known Max, he was calm and had everything under control. And now he just looked so lost. He sat in the driver’s seat of my car, staring out the window blankly. He hadn’t said anything since Henroz had contacted us. Max’s face was an expression of sadness and defeat. I frowned as I wondered what had happened to the Max Evans from last year? Max was the last person who deserved to be in pain of any kind.
Max turned to me and said softly. “I always wanted to know who I really was you know? Turns out that when I do, it’s the last person I want to be.”
“You mean you being King?”
He nodded sadly and I noticed that his eyes were full on anguish. Oh Max… “I’m not ready to be a leader of a whole planet, Liz. I can’t even be a leader of our group. I let you guys down. I was so caught up in trying to be a King that I forgot to be Max.”
“You were trying to do what was right,” I said.
He smiled at me gently. “See, you always do that. You have this faith in me that I don’t even think I have it in myself. I wish I hadn’t dragged you into this.”
I sighed. “Don’t blame yourself. It’s not just you.” Max
frowned. “Besides, you don’t have to rule us alone anymore. You have me, super-alien to help you.”
Max chuckled. “It must be cool to have all those powers inside of you. All this knowledge.”
“It’s actually pretty scary. I mean, it’s good that I know all these powers but at the same time, it leaves nothing in me that’s human. Do you know what I mean?”
Max nodded and I continued, “I don’t have a problem with me maybe have a power here and there. But I’m apparently a protector and a royal now. And we are going to need all the fire power we need against Tess.”
“I should have listened to you when you said that she was trouble. Instead I believed her over you. And I am really sorry for that,” Max said.
“It’s OK. I mean why would you? She was one of you and I was ,well, me,” I said, voicing my true feelings about that time.
Max’s eyes went wide. “No, Liz,” he said fervently. “Don’t believe that. She mind warped me. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“You have no idea how much I wanted to believe you, Max. She understood you in a way that I never could. You kissed her and there isn’t any coming back from that. You once told me that I made you human. Sometimes I forget that Tess makes you alien,” I said sadly.
“I just want you to be happy, Liz.”
I smiled. “I was. But now I’m happier. However, when Michael wakes up and finds that I’m not there he won’t be too happy,” I finished with a light chuckle.
“I’m glad you’re back, Liz,” Max said quietly.
“I’m glad you’re back, too, Max.” We both shared a small smile. Everything was going to be alright now. I knew it. But by River Dog’s warning, I knew that we had to be if we wanted to defeat our enemies. Glancing at Max, I realized that before we could battle them we all had to battle our personal problems first.
We all had demons. I knew that better than anybody. Sometimes you didn’t even know you had them. Life has a tendency to have you be the last one to realize how you truly feel.
~~Summer~~
“I still don’t get it!” I said, throwing my hands up in frustration.
“Just keep trying, Liz. You’ll get it eventually. Set your own pace.”
“Like this?”
“Yeah. Nice grip. Now go higher.”
“K.”
“Too high! Go low again!”
“Dammit, Michael. I’m trying!” I threw the hockey stick across the ice skating rink. My aunt had a lot of connections so she let Michael and I go to the skating rink after it had closed. Michael had been trying to teach me how to play hockey. Two hours later and I *still* didn’t get it.
Michael crossed his arms and scowled at me. “You are a hard study, Parker.”
“I’m telling you it’s just like ice skating. If you would just let me do it my way,” I argued.
“No. It’s a manly sport. And manly sports do not involve gracefully sliding on ice and gently pushing the puck into the net,” Michael said outraged.
“If it’s such a manly sport, than why are you playing it?” I asked with my hands on my hips, a small smirk across my lips.
Michael laughed mockingly, “Ha ha, Parker. Laugh it up. I’m more manly than you’ll ever know.”
I rose an eyebrow. “Really? Because last I checked, you were getting a bit teary while we watching Lilo and Stitch last night,” I said laughing.
Michael instantly turned bright red, causing me to laugh harder. “I told you to never mention that again,” he growled out playfully. “That little blue dude warms his way into your heart.”
“But I thought you were stone wall, Guerin. No heart, no feelings, just a guy who tries to be intimidating.”
“Try, Parker? I’m as intimidating as they get,” Michael said as he puffed his chest out.
I skated over and picked up my hockey stick. Waving it threateningly at him, I said, “If you think that I’m intimidated by you, than you must be stupider than you look.”
Michael walked towards me slowly threateningly and had a small smirk on his face. “Are saying that I’m stupid?”
I cocked my head to one side and pretended to look him over, “Actually, it’s more just the *hair* really.” I tried not to fall and start laughing with Michael’s hand went immediately to check his hair. Every morning, it would take it forever to do his hair. Insulting the hair was low and I know it. I smiled sweetly at him.
Michael’s eyes narrowed, “That was wrong, Parker. Really wrong. See now you’re going to get it.” He rubbed his hands together and smiled evilly. I gulped loudly. Maybe insulting the hair wasn’t such a good idea.
I began to back up until my back hit the rink border. Michael kept advancing. “You know Michael, the hair really isn’t that bad. It’s kind of nice actually.” I gulped loudly when Michael got closer. His eyes were focused in on me.
“You asked for it, Parker,” Michael said before he leaped and began to tickle me just below my ribs.
I shrieked and screamed until he stopped. We both started to laugh and I reached up and ruffled Michael’s hair with my hand. I stuck my tongue out at him and skated away when he pulled away slightly. Racing over to where the puck was I used my hockey stick to guide it to the goal area. I took one last look at Michael and propelled the puck into the net. I smiled in triumph when the puck made it in.
Michael raised an eyebrow and applauded, “Nice shot, Parker. I got to hand it to you.”
“Just because I can shot doesn’t mean that I still don’t get the principle of hockey.”
“Well, it is very complicated. Nothing a girl would understand,” Michael jokingly replied.
I rolled my eyes. “Right. Whatever Michael, as long as you believe that.”
We both skated over to the border and sat down on the ice. I looked over at Michael and drudgingly said, “I can’t believe we are going to be leaving this soon. Back to Roswell--alien capital of the world.”
“Some of best damn aliens too,” Michael said, giving me a half-smile.
“Well there is this one alien. Tall, brooding kind of guy. Creepy with bad hair,” I said in a serious voice.
Michael nodded, “You must mean Max.”
I frowned at the mention of Max’s name. Michael shrugged apologetically. We were silent until I said, “That night when you returned my journal, Michael. You said that I gave you another reason to envy Max. What did you mean?”
Michael ran a hand through his hair, a gesture he always does when he’s nervous. “It’s complicated, Parker.”
“Michael, we are in Florida running from the complicated,” I said.
“Because you loved him, Liz. People look all of their lives for the love the two of you have for each other.”
“Even you?”
“There are a lot of things that I want that I’ll never have. I learn to deal with it.”
“Like what?” I asked in curiosity.
“Normalcy. Acceptance. Home,” he said while he gazed out to nowhere.
I frowned, “Home.” My heart lurched at the possibility of Michael actually leaving. Michael and I had become so close and he was my support system. I bit my lip to keep from saying something about it. Michael was looking for his home all of his life, why ruin it for him? Why should we worry about Liz Parker on Earth when he had all he ever wanted on Antar?
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Michael asked in concern.
I shook my head and forced a smile on my face. “Nothing. I just….” Glancing at him, I decided to change the subject. “Home, huh? I mean, that’s all you’ve been looking for your entire live.”
Michael looked at his hands and sighed heavily, “I always figured there had to be something out there better for me.”
Watching Michael look up at the ceiling with a strange look on his face, I frowned. “There probably is, Michael.” But why can’t it be me? I wanted to shout at him. I didn’t know where these feelings were coming from.
“I mean on this planet, I’m Michael the screw up. But there I’m this great protector, you know? There’s no school, no crazy missions to find out who we truly are.”
A lump was developing in my throat. It felt like my heart was being constricted. “Yeah,” was all I trusted myself to say.
He turned to me. “I don’t think that anyone knows who I truly am.”
“Well, you are a very complicated person.”
“Except you. You see me and not many people see me the way you do.”
I smiled and tried to push all the confusing thoughts out of my head. Dusting off my pants, I stood up and said, “Maybe we should get going.”
Michael nodded. As we were leaving the rink, I asked him. “Would you go? If a ship arrived right now, Michael, would you go?”
Michael’s face was etched with thought. Every second felt like an hour as I waited for his answer. “I don’t know,” he finally said. His eyes bore into mine and I tried to ignore the strange feeling that went through me. “I’m kind of just hoping that there is something here on Earth for me to stay for.”
I nodded in understanding and we went to the apartment. Maybe tomorrow, all these thoughts would make sense. I couldn’t stop thinking about Michael that night. I curled up in my bed.
It totally slipped my mind that the next day, I had a date with Dirk.
Maybe he would make me forget Max Evans.
Maybe Max wasn’t the alien I needed to get over.
Liz
The beeping was becoming stronger. As I drove, that’s all I could think about. It would grow longer like a ring in my ear and than stop only to begin again. I wasn’t really sure where I was going, but all I knew was that the orb was wherever I was driving to. I wanted answers. I wanted to know why this orb kept contacting me and why I had a symbol on my stomach. Why did I know how to use my powers after only having them for a few hours? I wanted to know why all of this was happening to *me*?
I wiped away frustrated tears from my eyes with one hand. I looked up and realized I was nearing the pod chamber. The orbs had to be here. I was so focused on the goal in front of me that I didn’t realize that my hands were glowing a light blue. I looked at them to see that the symbol that was on the orbs, the swirl looking one, was on each on my hands.
Stepping on the gas, I drove as close as I could to the pod chamber. I raced up to the entrance, my legs pumping to the point of pain. Stopping, I realized I was standing in front of the entrance door. Instinctively, I wiped my hand over the cave wall and it opened loudly. The sound of rock grinding against rock filled my ears.
The door finally opened and I cautiously went in. I was shocked to find Max already in the chamber. He turned to me, his eyes surprised. “What you are doing here?”
Instead of answering, I put my hands up to show him the blue symbols on my palms. I also pulled my shirt up and showed in the symbol on my stomach. My bottom lip trembled in fear. Fear of not knowing what has going on. “Max,” I pleaded. “Please say something.”
In response, Max put up his hands and on his palms, lay the same symbols. My mouth dropped in shock. Why would Max and I have the same symbol? “Do you…”
Max simply nodded and turned around so I could see the back of his neck. On it was the V-constellation. “Max, what’s happening?”
“I don’t know, Liz. I kept hearing this beeping noise and…”
Then I saw the orbs. I don’t know what possessed me but I walked over to them and placed on hand on the small orb. I vaguely saw Max to the same to the one next to it. The orbs light up and began to make a slight humming sound. Max and I exchanged fearful looks. Max looked at me and said, “Liz do you trust me?”
I looked at Max and swallowed thickly. “Yes.”
Max nodded and grabbed my wrist gently. He put our palms together, the two symbols in exact alignment. Suddenly, the orbs began to glow even brighter and our hands had a blue light surrounding them. I watched in amazement as a hologram much like the one of Max’s mother appeared.
Only this one seemed to be of a middle-aged man with white hair. His wrinkled face offset his bright green eyes. Eyes full of wisdom and pride as he looked at us. He first looked at Max and than me.
“Who are you?” Max asked.
He smiled gently at us, “I am Herzon, the seer of Antar. The man full of wisdom who foresees phenomenal events such as this.”
My eyes narrowed in confusion. “What’s happening?”
“The seal has been split in two. It’s power has sought out another who it has faith in,” Herzon said as if it explained everything.
“What seal?” I asked.
Herzon looked at us evenly. “The Royal Seal. The Seal of Antar and it’s people and those who rule them.”
“But I’m the King of Antar,” Max said, confused. “Why would it go to Liz?”
“Were it any other hybrid that saved your life, Liz, you would have turned into a hybrid--half Antarian, half human. However, Max when we was created was given the Royal Seal and when he healed you, his energy flowed into you. Somehow, you received the seal as well. It would have taken years for a normal human to go through the process of receiving her powers etc, but you were healed *twice*. Both healings gave you such energy that the process went faster than predicted.”
“But you said that you can see the future. Wouldn’t you know that Michael would heal me?” I asked.
Herzon shook his head and smiled radiantly, “My dear, seers cannot predict true love. Not the kind that you and Michael have. Very few full Antarians can connect with him in the way that you can. The art of linking of two people is very rare and special.”
I couldn’t help the rush of excitement that went though me. “What does the seal mean?”
“The seal means that you are given the full power and essence of a ruler of Antar. That is why you know everything there is to know about your powers and soon you will see that you can even read Antarian. However, it is much more complicated than that.”
“Is that even possible?” Max asked in annoyance.
Herzon ignored him. “The seal brings out qualities in people that they already possess. Caring, compassion, the need to help others, and the wisdom to know when to sacrifice for their loved ones. Also, powers that are slightly destructive and mind powers. Michael however, gave you the protector seal. A seal given only to great protectors. In that seal, you receive the instinct to protect others and defensive and strong offensive powers.”
It made sense--it was terrifying how much it made sense. I used mind powers to get flashes and I knew *everything* about my powers. My need to protect people was demonstrated just earlier when I didn’t bring Michael with me to protect him and when I didn’t want Kyle and Alex spying on Tess. I sacrificed Max that day at the cave because I thought it would be best for the group. My powers were all those he talked about.
“So what does that mean for me? I’m like the super-alien?” I asked.
“Yes, in a way. You are very powerful. Yet these seals exude an essence. As a royal, it makes those around you want to protect you.” Henroz glanced at me meaningfully, “Before you received the protector seal, you just had the royal seal.”
My heart stopped. “So I gained Max’s protectors because we shared the same seal. That night at the bus stop, Michael followed me to *protect* me.”
Henroz held up a hand. “Do not doubt, child. His need to protect you had nothing to do with him falling in love with you. That was all your doing.”
I smiled gratefully at him. Max cleared his throat. “So does that mean that Liz is my protector too now? Am I still the king?”
“You are still the King of Antar. Liz isn’t a political figure only because you have been anointed as King in your past life and she has not. Protectors are not bound to their rulers, Max. They merely protect the ones they care about. Remember that.”
Max considered this. “What about Tess?”
Henroz’s eyes darkened. “Be weary of her. She is not what you think she is. I must go now. I have brought you here to explain to you what is occurring. I hope you do what is right with the information. Goodbye.”
His hologram shimmered out like a radio signal, leaving Max and I in the cave alone. The orbs went back to their normal state and the symbol on our hands disappeared. However, the royal seal remained on my stomach. Only next to it, was a small drawing of a dagger now. My protector seal. My *Michael* seal. I smiled to myself and offered Max a ride home.
*****
Ever since I had known Max, he was calm and had everything under control. And now he just looked so lost. He sat in the driver’s seat of my car, staring out the window blankly. He hadn’t said anything since Henroz had contacted us. Max’s face was an expression of sadness and defeat. I frowned as I wondered what had happened to the Max Evans from last year? Max was the last person who deserved to be in pain of any kind.
Max turned to me and said softly. “I always wanted to know who I really was you know? Turns out that when I do, it’s the last person I want to be.”
“You mean you being King?”
He nodded sadly and I noticed that his eyes were full on anguish. Oh Max… “I’m not ready to be a leader of a whole planet, Liz. I can’t even be a leader of our group. I let you guys down. I was so caught up in trying to be a King that I forgot to be Max.”
“You were trying to do what was right,” I said.
He smiled at me gently. “See, you always do that. You have this faith in me that I don’t even think I have it in myself. I wish I hadn’t dragged you into this.”
I sighed. “Don’t blame yourself. It’s not just you.” Max
frowned. “Besides, you don’t have to rule us alone anymore. You have me, super-alien to help you.”
Max chuckled. “It must be cool to have all those powers inside of you. All this knowledge.”
“It’s actually pretty scary. I mean, it’s good that I know all these powers but at the same time, it leaves nothing in me that’s human. Do you know what I mean?”
Max nodded and I continued, “I don’t have a problem with me maybe have a power here and there. But I’m apparently a protector and a royal now. And we are going to need all the fire power we need against Tess.”
“I should have listened to you when you said that she was trouble. Instead I believed her over you. And I am really sorry for that,” Max said.
“It’s OK. I mean why would you? She was one of you and I was ,well, me,” I said, voicing my true feelings about that time.
Max’s eyes went wide. “No, Liz,” he said fervently. “Don’t believe that. She mind warped me. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“You have no idea how much I wanted to believe you, Max. She understood you in a way that I never could. You kissed her and there isn’t any coming back from that. You once told me that I made you human. Sometimes I forget that Tess makes you alien,” I said sadly.
“I just want you to be happy, Liz.”
I smiled. “I was. But now I’m happier. However, when Michael wakes up and finds that I’m not there he won’t be too happy,” I finished with a light chuckle.
“I’m glad you’re back, Liz,” Max said quietly.
“I’m glad you’re back, too, Max.” We both shared a small smile. Everything was going to be alright now. I knew it. But by River Dog’s warning, I knew that we had to be if we wanted to defeat our enemies. Glancing at Max, I realized that before we could battle them we all had to battle our personal problems first.
We all had demons. I knew that better than anybody. Sometimes you didn’t even know you had them. Life has a tendency to have you be the last one to realize how you truly feel.
~~Summer~~
“I still don’t get it!” I said, throwing my hands up in frustration.
“Just keep trying, Liz. You’ll get it eventually. Set your own pace.”
“Like this?”
“Yeah. Nice grip. Now go higher.”
“K.”
“Too high! Go low again!”
“Dammit, Michael. I’m trying!” I threw the hockey stick across the ice skating rink. My aunt had a lot of connections so she let Michael and I go to the skating rink after it had closed. Michael had been trying to teach me how to play hockey. Two hours later and I *still* didn’t get it.
Michael crossed his arms and scowled at me. “You are a hard study, Parker.”
“I’m telling you it’s just like ice skating. If you would just let me do it my way,” I argued.
“No. It’s a manly sport. And manly sports do not involve gracefully sliding on ice and gently pushing the puck into the net,” Michael said outraged.
“If it’s such a manly sport, than why are you playing it?” I asked with my hands on my hips, a small smirk across my lips.
Michael laughed mockingly, “Ha ha, Parker. Laugh it up. I’m more manly than you’ll ever know.”
I rose an eyebrow. “Really? Because last I checked, you were getting a bit teary while we watching Lilo and Stitch last night,” I said laughing.
Michael instantly turned bright red, causing me to laugh harder. “I told you to never mention that again,” he growled out playfully. “That little blue dude warms his way into your heart.”
“But I thought you were stone wall, Guerin. No heart, no feelings, just a guy who tries to be intimidating.”
“Try, Parker? I’m as intimidating as they get,” Michael said as he puffed his chest out.
I skated over and picked up my hockey stick. Waving it threateningly at him, I said, “If you think that I’m intimidated by you, than you must be stupider than you look.”
Michael walked towards me slowly threateningly and had a small smirk on his face. “Are saying that I’m stupid?”
I cocked my head to one side and pretended to look him over, “Actually, it’s more just the *hair* really.” I tried not to fall and start laughing with Michael’s hand went immediately to check his hair. Every morning, it would take it forever to do his hair. Insulting the hair was low and I know it. I smiled sweetly at him.
Michael’s eyes narrowed, “That was wrong, Parker. Really wrong. See now you’re going to get it.” He rubbed his hands together and smiled evilly. I gulped loudly. Maybe insulting the hair wasn’t such a good idea.
I began to back up until my back hit the rink border. Michael kept advancing. “You know Michael, the hair really isn’t that bad. It’s kind of nice actually.” I gulped loudly when Michael got closer. His eyes were focused in on me.
“You asked for it, Parker,” Michael said before he leaped and began to tickle me just below my ribs.
I shrieked and screamed until he stopped. We both started to laugh and I reached up and ruffled Michael’s hair with my hand. I stuck my tongue out at him and skated away when he pulled away slightly. Racing over to where the puck was I used my hockey stick to guide it to the goal area. I took one last look at Michael and propelled the puck into the net. I smiled in triumph when the puck made it in.
Michael raised an eyebrow and applauded, “Nice shot, Parker. I got to hand it to you.”
“Just because I can shot doesn’t mean that I still don’t get the principle of hockey.”
“Well, it is very complicated. Nothing a girl would understand,” Michael jokingly replied.
I rolled my eyes. “Right. Whatever Michael, as long as you believe that.”
We both skated over to the border and sat down on the ice. I looked over at Michael and drudgingly said, “I can’t believe we are going to be leaving this soon. Back to Roswell--alien capital of the world.”
“Some of best damn aliens too,” Michael said, giving me a half-smile.
“Well there is this one alien. Tall, brooding kind of guy. Creepy with bad hair,” I said in a serious voice.
Michael nodded, “You must mean Max.”
I frowned at the mention of Max’s name. Michael shrugged apologetically. We were silent until I said, “That night when you returned my journal, Michael. You said that I gave you another reason to envy Max. What did you mean?”
Michael ran a hand through his hair, a gesture he always does when he’s nervous. “It’s complicated, Parker.”
“Michael, we are in Florida running from the complicated,” I said.
“Because you loved him, Liz. People look all of their lives for the love the two of you have for each other.”
“Even you?”
“There are a lot of things that I want that I’ll never have. I learn to deal with it.”
“Like what?” I asked in curiosity.
“Normalcy. Acceptance. Home,” he said while he gazed out to nowhere.
I frowned, “Home.” My heart lurched at the possibility of Michael actually leaving. Michael and I had become so close and he was my support system. I bit my lip to keep from saying something about it. Michael was looking for his home all of his life, why ruin it for him? Why should we worry about Liz Parker on Earth when he had all he ever wanted on Antar?
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Michael asked in concern.
I shook my head and forced a smile on my face. “Nothing. I just….” Glancing at him, I decided to change the subject. “Home, huh? I mean, that’s all you’ve been looking for your entire live.”
Michael looked at his hands and sighed heavily, “I always figured there had to be something out there better for me.”
Watching Michael look up at the ceiling with a strange look on his face, I frowned. “There probably is, Michael.” But why can’t it be me? I wanted to shout at him. I didn’t know where these feelings were coming from.
“I mean on this planet, I’m Michael the screw up. But there I’m this great protector, you know? There’s no school, no crazy missions to find out who we truly are.”
A lump was developing in my throat. It felt like my heart was being constricted. “Yeah,” was all I trusted myself to say.
He turned to me. “I don’t think that anyone knows who I truly am.”
“Well, you are a very complicated person.”
“Except you. You see me and not many people see me the way you do.”
I smiled and tried to push all the confusing thoughts out of my head. Dusting off my pants, I stood up and said, “Maybe we should get going.”
Michael nodded. As we were leaving the rink, I asked him. “Would you go? If a ship arrived right now, Michael, would you go?”
Michael’s face was etched with thought. Every second felt like an hour as I waited for his answer. “I don’t know,” he finally said. His eyes bore into mine and I tried to ignore the strange feeling that went through me. “I’m kind of just hoping that there is something here on Earth for me to stay for.”
I nodded in understanding and we went to the apartment. Maybe tomorrow, all these thoughts would make sense. I couldn’t stop thinking about Michael that night. I curled up in my bed.
It totally slipped my mind that the next day, I had a date with Dirk.
Maybe he would make me forget Max Evans.
Maybe Max wasn’t the alien I needed to get over.
Love Always
-
Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
ch.15
Chapter 15: As it Starts
Michael: 2:52 AM
The ringing of the doorbell rudely ripped me out of my slumber-induced stupor. I put my hands on my head and buried my face into my pillow to muffle out the sound. The piercing sound of the bell rang into my brain. I finally half-opened my eyes and reached out to touch Liz. “Who the hell is at the door?”\
Wait. Suddenly alert, I outstretched my hand again to find Liz. My eyes snapped open. The bed was empty. “Liz?” I asked, slightly panicked. No answer.
I searched around the apartment, my movements growing frantic. Where was Liz? She doesn’t usually just leave like this. Not without a note or…. I wish that doorbell would stop ringing. “HOLD ON!” I shouted. Closing my eyes, I tried to find Liz through the connection.
I got no answer. I couldn’t even feel the connection. The breath rushed out of my lungs. We didn’t even *know* how to turn off the connection. That meant she was…
NO! That’s not it! The doorbell ringing turned to insistent pounding. Maybe it was Liz. I rushed to the door and violently opened the door. The sound of my heart beating was loud in my head. My heart dropped when it wasn’t Liz. But it was Maria. She was soaking from the rain and she looked really really pissed.
“Maria, I don’t have time for this, OK? I can’t find Liz!” I said angrily.
Maria began to hit me futilely. “You are hurting Liz!” She shouted.
“What?”
“I saw you, you stupid monkey! You were making her turn green when you touched her! What were you doing to her?” Maria screamed frantically tears running down her face. I had never seen Maria like this.
“I would never hurt Liz, Maria!”
She pointed a finger at me, “She said you were! She said that Liz was in danger and I had to come with her. She said you were hurting her!”
“Who?” I asked in confusion.
Maria suddenly sunk down to her floor. She started to cry hysterically. “She said she would make it better. She made it worse. I can’t…Michael..I can’t. Think! I can’t think! I don’t remember things when I should.” Maria begin to shake her head back in forth.
I began to take a step towards her but she put a hand up and went into a fetal position. She began to rock back and forth. “Don’t touch me! I’m not going to let you mess with my head again! Get AWAY FROM ME!”
My concern began to grow. “Who did this to you, Maria?”
Maria looked at me with wide eyes full of fear. “She told me not to tell. She said terrible things would happen to me. She makes me see things and do things I don’t want to do. Don’t make me go back, Michael.”
Shocked by the sheer panic in her voice, I tried to soothe her. “No one is going to hurt you, Maria. I promise.”
Maria’s sobbed quieted a bit and she looked at me. “Ok, now, Maria. You have to tell me who did this to you.” Whoever did this to her was out there and I didn’t know where Liz was. Calm, Guerin, calm.
Maria bottom lip trembled. “She made me see things and she made me forget things. I can’t..”
I went to Maria and began to shake her gently. “Maria, you don’t get it. Liz is missing. I can’t *feel* her. And whoever did this to you is out there and could be after Liz. After all of us. You have to tell me who did this to you, Maria. Or people will die.”
River Dog’s words rang in my ear. *I do not cause the future. I just warn you of it and what you do with the information is what matters and what makes the difference. And what can save lives*
Maria looked up at me, “If I tell you, will you fix me?”
I nodded. “Please, Maria, tell me.”
“Tess. Tess did this to me.”
My heart sank and all breath escaped my lungs. “Maria, what did she make you do?”
“I had to…had to…I don’t remember,” her voice was defeated.
“Maria, try to remember!”
“I don’t remember, Michael. I don’t.”
Liz: 1:30 AM
Max and I were not too far from home. Something wasn’t right. I couldn’t feel Michael. I thought maybe he was sleeping but now I couldn’t feel him at all. Max looked at me worriedly.
“Are you OK, Liz?”
“I don’t know. I can’t feel Michael. It’s like he’s not there.”
Max frowned. “Do you think he is OK?”
“I hope so,” I said, convincing myself more than him. “He’s probably sleeping.”
“It’s amazing how the two of you are so close,” Max said softly.
“Yeah. Want to hear something funny?”
“Sure.”
“Michael confessed his love for me while he was drunk,” I said. Max began to laugh.
“You and drunk aliens. We seem to be attracted to you.”
“Apparently, but than he passed and didn’t remember any of it until Isabel reminded him.”
“I’ll remember to use that as blackmail one day,” Max said with a half-smirk on his face. We laughed for a while and my thoughts went back to the nonexistent connection.
I was thinking about the possibilities of why our connection was empty, when Max’s voice broke into my thoughts. “Liz! Look out!”
Looking forward, I had a chance to see an incoming car come towards us really fast. Max had a panicked look on his face. I turned the steering wheel to get into the other lane. Away from the car. But the steering wheel wouldn’t move. Instead, it jerked in the opposite direction causing the car to braze the other car.
“Max!” I shouted as the car flipped over. I heard glass breaking and the wrenching sound of metal crushing together. The last thing I saw was Max’s body fly forward and then red in front of my face.
Than it went blank.
Michael
Maria hadn’t improved since and had been reduced to rocking back and forth into a corner. I paced and concentrated on opening the connection with Liz and I still got nothing. Suddenly, the door burst open to reveal an emotional Isabel.
“I can’t find Max, Michael. He isn’t at home and he isn’t answering his phone,” Isabel said frantically.
I ran a shaky hand through my rumpled hair, “Liz is missing too. Do you think that they are together?” I asked, grasping at straws. But than why couldn’t I feel her?
“Why is Maria here?” Isabel asked.
“Tess did something to her,” I replied grimly as I looked at Maria’s shaking form.
Isabel’s face distorted in anger, “Do you think she has Liz and Max?”
I looked away, trying to ignore the possibility. “Isabel, I don’t want to think about that right now.”
“I know that you’re worried, Michael, but we have to figure this out.”
Suddenly Maria leaped up and grabbed my arm. Isabel looked at Maria in confusion. “Michael, don’t make me do it.”
“Do what?” I asked in confusion, hoping Maria was finally remembering something.
Maria’s eyes flashed with fear. “She told me to follow them. She said that I had to stop this…all of this.” Her eyes went in another direction as if she was seeing something. “What’s the car doing? Why is it going so fast! Stop Tess! STOP!” She shrieked.
Maria collapsed and began to tremble violently. Isabel and I immediately ran over and tried to stand her up. She jerked us off of her and shut her eyes tightly. “I didn’t want to hit them! I tried to stop but she made the car move faster and than…” Maria began to whimper.
My heart dropped and my lungs seemed to stop working. Maria didn’t mean Liz and Max did she? Please to god tell me she didn’t mean them. Isabel eyes were filling with tears. Maria looked up at me and she swallowed loudly, “I didn’t mean to. She was my best friend. Why would I--”
“NO!” I shouted. “You’re lying. YOU’RE LYING!” My chest hurt and my head began to spin. That’s why I couldn’t feel Liz. She was hurt or…”NO!”
Isabel put a hand on my shoulder and she had tears carelessly cascading down her cheeks. “Michael..”
“All I saw was the car turn over and it keep going and then the fire…OH GOD! THE FIRE!” Maria moaned. “And then I came here. I don’t know what’s going on.”
I stood frozen. Tess. We had to find her. Had to find Liz. “Maria, no one is mad at you. It isn’t your fault. It was Tess’s and she will be punished for it. I swear.”’
Maria nodded. “Now, Maria, you have to tell me where you where driving. Where you saw the fire,” I said gently. “Where you saw Liz and Max..”
Maria closed her eyes concentrating. “There was a lot of desert.”
I looked at her confused and tried to piece the puzzle together. Isabel’s soft voice interrupted my thoughts, “You don’t think they went to the Pod Chamber do you?”
“No. Why would they go to the Pod Chamber?” I asked in confusion.
“Michael, she said the desert. Where else would Max and Liz go out in the desert?” Isabel reasoned. “Michael, we don’t have much time.”
Considering this, I said, “What about Tess?”
Isabel grabbed her coat and tossed me one of mine. “Don’t worry, Michael. We’ll get her.” She turned to look at me. “But right now, my best friend and brother come first.”
I grabbed Maria’s arm and said to Isabel, “Let’s go.”
I know that is short but the next chapter is the final faceoff between Tess and the pod squad. and it's going to be awfully long.
Michael: 2:52 AM
The ringing of the doorbell rudely ripped me out of my slumber-induced stupor. I put my hands on my head and buried my face into my pillow to muffle out the sound. The piercing sound of the bell rang into my brain. I finally half-opened my eyes and reached out to touch Liz. “Who the hell is at the door?”\
Wait. Suddenly alert, I outstretched my hand again to find Liz. My eyes snapped open. The bed was empty. “Liz?” I asked, slightly panicked. No answer.
I searched around the apartment, my movements growing frantic. Where was Liz? She doesn’t usually just leave like this. Not without a note or…. I wish that doorbell would stop ringing. “HOLD ON!” I shouted. Closing my eyes, I tried to find Liz through the connection.
I got no answer. I couldn’t even feel the connection. The breath rushed out of my lungs. We didn’t even *know* how to turn off the connection. That meant she was…
NO! That’s not it! The doorbell ringing turned to insistent pounding. Maybe it was Liz. I rushed to the door and violently opened the door. The sound of my heart beating was loud in my head. My heart dropped when it wasn’t Liz. But it was Maria. She was soaking from the rain and she looked really really pissed.
“Maria, I don’t have time for this, OK? I can’t find Liz!” I said angrily.
Maria began to hit me futilely. “You are hurting Liz!” She shouted.
“What?”
“I saw you, you stupid monkey! You were making her turn green when you touched her! What were you doing to her?” Maria screamed frantically tears running down her face. I had never seen Maria like this.
“I would never hurt Liz, Maria!”
She pointed a finger at me, “She said you were! She said that Liz was in danger and I had to come with her. She said you were hurting her!”
“Who?” I asked in confusion.
Maria suddenly sunk down to her floor. She started to cry hysterically. “She said she would make it better. She made it worse. I can’t…Michael..I can’t. Think! I can’t think! I don’t remember things when I should.” Maria begin to shake her head back in forth.
I began to take a step towards her but she put a hand up and went into a fetal position. She began to rock back and forth. “Don’t touch me! I’m not going to let you mess with my head again! Get AWAY FROM ME!”
My concern began to grow. “Who did this to you, Maria?”
Maria looked at me with wide eyes full of fear. “She told me not to tell. She said terrible things would happen to me. She makes me see things and do things I don’t want to do. Don’t make me go back, Michael.”
Shocked by the sheer panic in her voice, I tried to soothe her. “No one is going to hurt you, Maria. I promise.”
Maria’s sobbed quieted a bit and she looked at me. “Ok, now, Maria. You have to tell me who did this to you.” Whoever did this to her was out there and I didn’t know where Liz was. Calm, Guerin, calm.
Maria bottom lip trembled. “She made me see things and she made me forget things. I can’t..”
I went to Maria and began to shake her gently. “Maria, you don’t get it. Liz is missing. I can’t *feel* her. And whoever did this to you is out there and could be after Liz. After all of us. You have to tell me who did this to you, Maria. Or people will die.”
River Dog’s words rang in my ear. *I do not cause the future. I just warn you of it and what you do with the information is what matters and what makes the difference. And what can save lives*
Maria looked up at me, “If I tell you, will you fix me?”
I nodded. “Please, Maria, tell me.”
“Tess. Tess did this to me.”
My heart sank and all breath escaped my lungs. “Maria, what did she make you do?”
“I had to…had to…I don’t remember,” her voice was defeated.
“Maria, try to remember!”
“I don’t remember, Michael. I don’t.”
Liz: 1:30 AM
Max and I were not too far from home. Something wasn’t right. I couldn’t feel Michael. I thought maybe he was sleeping but now I couldn’t feel him at all. Max looked at me worriedly.
“Are you OK, Liz?”
“I don’t know. I can’t feel Michael. It’s like he’s not there.”
Max frowned. “Do you think he is OK?”
“I hope so,” I said, convincing myself more than him. “He’s probably sleeping.”
“It’s amazing how the two of you are so close,” Max said softly.
“Yeah. Want to hear something funny?”
“Sure.”
“Michael confessed his love for me while he was drunk,” I said. Max began to laugh.
“You and drunk aliens. We seem to be attracted to you.”
“Apparently, but than he passed and didn’t remember any of it until Isabel reminded him.”
“I’ll remember to use that as blackmail one day,” Max said with a half-smirk on his face. We laughed for a while and my thoughts went back to the nonexistent connection.
I was thinking about the possibilities of why our connection was empty, when Max’s voice broke into my thoughts. “Liz! Look out!”
Looking forward, I had a chance to see an incoming car come towards us really fast. Max had a panicked look on his face. I turned the steering wheel to get into the other lane. Away from the car. But the steering wheel wouldn’t move. Instead, it jerked in the opposite direction causing the car to braze the other car.
“Max!” I shouted as the car flipped over. I heard glass breaking and the wrenching sound of metal crushing together. The last thing I saw was Max’s body fly forward and then red in front of my face.
Than it went blank.
Michael
Maria hadn’t improved since and had been reduced to rocking back and forth into a corner. I paced and concentrated on opening the connection with Liz and I still got nothing. Suddenly, the door burst open to reveal an emotional Isabel.
“I can’t find Max, Michael. He isn’t at home and he isn’t answering his phone,” Isabel said frantically.
I ran a shaky hand through my rumpled hair, “Liz is missing too. Do you think that they are together?” I asked, grasping at straws. But than why couldn’t I feel her?
“Why is Maria here?” Isabel asked.
“Tess did something to her,” I replied grimly as I looked at Maria’s shaking form.
Isabel’s face distorted in anger, “Do you think she has Liz and Max?”
I looked away, trying to ignore the possibility. “Isabel, I don’t want to think about that right now.”
“I know that you’re worried, Michael, but we have to figure this out.”
Suddenly Maria leaped up and grabbed my arm. Isabel looked at Maria in confusion. “Michael, don’t make me do it.”
“Do what?” I asked in confusion, hoping Maria was finally remembering something.
Maria’s eyes flashed with fear. “She told me to follow them. She said that I had to stop this…all of this.” Her eyes went in another direction as if she was seeing something. “What’s the car doing? Why is it going so fast! Stop Tess! STOP!” She shrieked.
Maria collapsed and began to tremble violently. Isabel and I immediately ran over and tried to stand her up. She jerked us off of her and shut her eyes tightly. “I didn’t want to hit them! I tried to stop but she made the car move faster and than…” Maria began to whimper.
My heart dropped and my lungs seemed to stop working. Maria didn’t mean Liz and Max did she? Please to god tell me she didn’t mean them. Isabel eyes were filling with tears. Maria looked up at me and she swallowed loudly, “I didn’t mean to. She was my best friend. Why would I--”
“NO!” I shouted. “You’re lying. YOU’RE LYING!” My chest hurt and my head began to spin. That’s why I couldn’t feel Liz. She was hurt or…”NO!”
Isabel put a hand on my shoulder and she had tears carelessly cascading down her cheeks. “Michael..”
“All I saw was the car turn over and it keep going and then the fire…OH GOD! THE FIRE!” Maria moaned. “And then I came here. I don’t know what’s going on.”
I stood frozen. Tess. We had to find her. Had to find Liz. “Maria, no one is mad at you. It isn’t your fault. It was Tess’s and she will be punished for it. I swear.”’
Maria nodded. “Now, Maria, you have to tell me where you where driving. Where you saw the fire,” I said gently. “Where you saw Liz and Max..”
Maria closed her eyes concentrating. “There was a lot of desert.”
I looked at her confused and tried to piece the puzzle together. Isabel’s soft voice interrupted my thoughts, “You don’t think they went to the Pod Chamber do you?”
“No. Why would they go to the Pod Chamber?” I asked in confusion.
“Michael, she said the desert. Where else would Max and Liz go out in the desert?” Isabel reasoned. “Michael, we don’t have much time.”
Considering this, I said, “What about Tess?”
Isabel grabbed her coat and tossed me one of mine. “Don’t worry, Michael. We’ll get her.” She turned to look at me. “But right now, my best friend and brother come first.”
I grabbed Maria’s arm and said to Isabel, “Let’s go.”
I know that is short but the next chapter is the final faceoff between Tess and the pod squad. and it's going to be awfully long.
Last edited by Polarchica516 on Sun Oct 26, 2003 2:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
ch.16
Chapter 16: When It Ends
Liz
It hurt to open my eyes. It hurt to move at all. I couldn’t feel my left side and I was sure a couple ribs were broken. A few bad-looking burn scars marked my arms and my forehead throbbed and bled from when I had hit the windshield. A few solitary orange-red flames danced around me and the car was wrecked. I had somehow ended up a few feet from the car. “Max..” I whispered softly.
I began to cough violently and with every cough a piercing pain would run through my stomach and ribs. Trying to roll over to see beyond what was around me, I painfully pushed myself up and stood on painful legs. I began to limp towards the car, my right arm cradling my numb left one. No sign of Max. He must be in the car, I thought. Please let him be OK, I pleaded to the night air.
My heart lurched at the low possibility of finding Max in the mutilated car. Kneeling down next to the car, I used my powers to distinguish the fires. I could feel my energy getting low. Than I caught a glimpse of a dark head and frantically began to move parts out of the way to disentangle Max from the heap of metal. I carefully lifted Max out. Max was beaten up pretty badly.
I knew my energy was low but I had to heal him. His condition was much worse than mine and his breathing was shallow. Closing my eyes, I began to gather my energy. I placed my hands on Max’s chest and began to breathe in even with him. Focusing on everything Max, my energy went to seek out all injured parts of his body.
Broken ribs, burns all over, concussions, internal bleeding, bruises, cuts. I could *feel* the energy being sapped out of my body. I pulled away abruptly and began to feel light-headed. Closing my eyes, I began to sway back and forth but didn’t when Max caught me. He looked brand new, as if he didn’t have a scratch on him. Smiling weakly, “You feel better?”
He nodded but looked at me in concern, “Liz, I’m not the one you should be worried about.”
Shaking my head, “I’m fine, just a bit drained from healing you.”
“Thanks for that. Have you tried contacting Michael?”
“Not enough energy,” I said breathlessly.
Max looked around, “Ok, than. Maybe we can find our cell phones then. We can try calling his apartment. I’m going to be right back. Try not to make any sudden movements, OK?”
I heard Max scuffling around. “Neither he or Isabel are picking up their phones, Liz!”
Damn. I tried to gather enough energy to jump-start the connection. No use. Max came up next to me and said worriedly, “Liz. I’m going to take you to the Pod Chamber and try to use the healing stones on you, OK?”
I nodded meekly. Max picked me up and I winced in pain. “What hurts, Liz?” he asked.
“Everything,” I moaned as I almost passed out from the pain.
“Liz, I’m going to give you some of my energy OK and heal you a bit. Than I want you to try to connect with Michael again so we can get you help,” I heard him vaguely say.
Max’s hands began to glow and I could feel the flow of his energy come into me. I realized that I could feel my left side and my ribs weren’t tender anymore. “Thank you.” Closing my eyes, I tried to reach out to Michael.
{Michael? Michael?}
“I’m not getting anything, Max.”
Max closed his eyes and his brow began to curve in concentration. “I’m trying to come into it. Help you get some energy. Try again.”
{Michael? Michael!}
{Liz? Is that you?}
I almost passed out in relief. It felt so good to hear his voice. Tears of joy began to stream down my face. {Yeah. Michael, we tried calling your apartment but no one answered.}
{That’s because we are on your way to you. God, baby, are you OK?}
{I’m fine, Michael. How do you know where I am?}
{Maria.}
{Maria?}
{Long story. How far are you from the Pod Chamber?}
{About ten minutes.}
{Max and I are walking back to get the healing stones, Michael. Get here soon please. I need you.}
{I know, Angel. Why did you leave in the middle of the night, Liz?}
{Long story. I had something to do and I had to keep you out of it. Sorry.}
{It’s all right, Angel. We’ll talk when I get to you, OK?}
{Michael, the connection is weakening…}
{I know. Just hold on until I get there. I’m *going to get there*, Liz.}
The connection violently tore apart. My energy count was so weak that all I could do was hear Michael’s thoughts but I couldn’t get any emotions off of him.
Max looked at me curiously, “Did it work?”
I nodded. “Yeah. They are on their way.” I realized that Max had been walking the whole time I was talking to Michael and the Pod Chamber was in sight. Everything around me began to spin and my body ached terribly despite Max healing my ribs and side. Max looked at me worriedly, “Liz, you need to stay awake, OK?”
Nodding heavily, “But it’s hard, Max.”
“I know but you can’t give up. You’re a fighter, Liz. You always have been. We are almost at the chamber, Liz.”
My head began to feel heavy and my eyelids were filled with lead. Rotating between darkness and the dull light of Roswell night, I couldn’t tell how long we had been walking. Finally, I heard the familiar scratching sound of rock against rock. Trying really hard to open my eyes and focus, I saw Max grab the small pale stones from a bag near the orbs. Max gently laid me down on the cold ground.
“Liz, just stay still OK?” he said gently.
“Trying but it hurts, Max. Please make it stop,” I groaned.
“I’m trying to, OK? Just relax, Liz.”
I closed my eyes and tried to think clearly. Than I felt it. Raw energy was flowing into my body. My veins were coursing with power and my body was repairing itself. My connection with Michael began to roar to life and I could feel him as if he were right next to me. My eyes snapped open to find Max leaning over with a huge smile on his face.
“Glad you’re back, Liz,” Max said as he put out a hand to help me get up.
“Me too. It’s less painful this way,” I said with a smile.
“Really?” said a voice from the chamber door. “Because I’m thinking we should make this as painful as possible.”
Max and I both turned to see Tess with a menacing grin on her face.
******
Michael
“Michael, he can’t save anybody if you *kill* all of us on the way!” Isabel hollered at me. She and Maria in the back seat of Max’s Jeep. Maria was still shaking and making incoherent comments every once in a while.
“Isabel, we have to get to Liz soon. Something is wrong. She’s really weak; we could only hear each other. I couldn’t feel her,” I said.
“We are only about fifteen minutes from the Pod Chamber, Michael,” Isabel reasoned.
Glancing at Maria, I asked. “How is she doing?”
Isabel frowned. “Not so good. She doesn’t deserve this. Tess has no right to mess with people like this.”
“Do you think you could help her? You’re good with mind powers,” I said.
“I could try but I’m not sure if it would work.”
“Try anyway. We can’t leave her like this.”
Through the rearview mirror, I watched as Isabel placed her hands on Maria’s face. At first Maria flinched but relaxed and her eyes shut closed. Isabel closed her eyes in concentration.
Turning back to watch the road, I began to wonder if I’d make it in time. Isabel’s startled gasp made my attention go to the back of the car. “What?”
Isabel’s face was sweating from the effort of it all. “I did it.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Yeah but Tess knows about Liz’s transformation. Tess thinks that Liz has a seal or something like that. Michael, she’s going after Liz.”
Crap.
****
Liz
Standing up next to Max, I glared at the smaller blonde girl. “What do you want, Tess?”
“Only what’s rightfully mine,” she sneered. “The seal, Liz. I want my seal.”
I almost laughed out loud at her. How did she suppose it was her seal? “It’s not yours to have in the first place. The seal chose me, deal with it.”
Tess’s face went red with anger. “You’ve done nothing but ruin my life, Liz! You stole my husband from me! My *husband*!” She pointed angrily at me and turned to Max. “She is screwing around with your *best friend*, Max, and you would still choose her over me!” Facing me and narrowing her eyes she continued, “I thought I’d just get it over with and kill you but you’re just too damn resilient!”
“You’re the one who hit us, aren’t you?” Max asked in realization.
Tess smirked, “Not me, Max. *Maria*. It’s very simple how the human mind works. Prey on their weaknesses and you have them under control. I made Maria hit you two. I killed two birds with one stone.”
Anger ran through me, “You killed her?”
“No. She’s probably in her room having a mental breakdown with the condition I left her mind in.”
“You’re sick,” I said. “You have no drop of human in you, do you?”
“Humans are our weaknesses. They stand the way of my plans.”
Max clenched his fists, “You don’t belong with us. You never did.”
“Haven’t you figured it out, Maxie Boy? I am your wife from that life, Max, don’t doubt that. But I’m also the reason that you died. You, Isabel, Michael. You see, I had an alliance with Khivar--your enemy. All I had to was get pregnant with your child which would automatically give me the royal seal and than the royal court would mysteriously die. And I would be queen. Unfortunately, I didn’t get out of the castle in time and I died with you fools.”
I stood in shock. Max’s expression matched mine. He spoke before I could. “Was that your plan this time? To get pregnant and than kill us?” he shouted in anger.
“Actually, to get pregnant and then leave the planet was the plan. Nasedo and I had it all worked out. But yet again, Liz ruined it for me. Nasedo is engineered to protect the Royals. After Michael healed you, he did something and somehow the royal seal was fully implanted inside of you. Nasedo can’t even touch one hair on your head in a threatening way if you have that seal. So what use of he to me if he can’t do anything?”
“You killed him, didn’t you? You made it look like one of the skins did it,” I said in disbelief.
“Oh no. A skin really did kill Nasedo. I ordered him to. You see Khivar is the leader of the skins. Bet you didn’t see that one coming did you?”
I sent an energy blast at Tess and she hit the wall with a satisfying thud. “Go find the others, Max!” I shouted to Max. He looked at me reluctantly.
“I’m not leaving you here, Liz.”
Tess regained her composure and sent an energy blast right at Max. On instinct, I put up a green glowing shield around Max. Max took one last look at me and left the chamber. Tess looked at me with wide surprised eyes, “How did you do that? That’s not a royal power.”
She didn’t realize that I had the protector seal also. Dammit. “Tess, you have no idea what the extend of my powers are.”
“Really? Some royals powers can’t save you, bitch.” Tess sent an energy blast at me and I went flying back with amazing force.
I stood up and faced her, “This is a royal power,” I said. I used a strong energy blast and sent her flying a good few feet. “This,” and I used my powers to manipulate her body and it raise in the air and she stay suspended mid-air. “Is my protector power.”
Her eyes were wide with fear. “You can’t kill me,” she said with a sneer. “You’re too good.”
I tightened the molecules in her throat. The gerbil began to make choking sounds. “You’ve done nothing but ruin my life. I hate you for that more than you will ever know. But no, I can’t kill you. But don’t test me.”
Tess dropped to the ground and grabbed her throat with her hand. “This doesn’t end it, Liz.”
I began to walk towards the exit of the chamber. Torn between letting her live and killing her, I paused at the door. I couldn’t let her hurt my friends but at the same time, I didn’t want to kill her either. Turning to face her, I said solemnly. “You’re right. Your presence will always loom over us. The damage you’ve done will always be remembered. But I can’t let you run free and cause more.”
Her eyes widened in realization. Sending her a highly strong blast, she went flying and hit the wall. Her body convulsed with pain and the electricity. She smirked weakly at me and said, “If I’m going down than you’re coming with me.” Raising her hand, she sent up what must have been the last of her energy at the top of the chamber. Than she lay still.
Suddenly, the chamber made a low rumble and small pebbles began to fall from the ceiling. I steadied myself as the walls began to shake. Dammit. I ran to the entrance and fell on my butt when a near by wall collapsed, blocking the entrance.
{Michael! I’m blocked in!} I thought frantically. Flinging my arms up to protect myself from flying rock debris, I heard the loud crash of a wall crumpling completely. Opening my eyes, I saw that behind the wall was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
It was cylinder shaped in a way and was swirling with blue and green colors. Strangely enough, it began to hum lightly as if it saw me too. Transfixed, I began to walk towards it. Before I knew what happened, I was standing next to it. The swirling colors mesmerized me and my eyes were locked on them. But I could feel power coming off of it.
I was broken out of my reverie when Michael thought to me, {Hang on! We’re coming to get you out!}
Taking a glance at Tess’s body, I saw that it was covered in pebbles and rocks. I watched in horror as a large crack formed on the ground of the cave. “Oh god,” I said and backed up.
As soon as my back hit the granolith--wait! How did I know what it was called? It began to make a low churning noise as it were charging and then it sent out a wave of energy. It looked like a ripple in a pond that expanded throughout the whole cave. I watched in amazement as every rock and pebble the wave came in contact with, placed itself neatly back in place as if nothing ever happened. It even made Tess’s corpse disappear into nothingness.
When everything was back into place and stable, I took a glance at the granolith. What was the granolith and what did it do? Before I could ponder it anymore, Michael, Isabel, and Max came running into the cave. Michael and Isabel enveloped me in a hug.
{You scared the crap out of me once again. You are going to give me a heart attack, Parker.}
Isabel and Michael finally let me go. “Where’s Tess?” Max asked.
“She’s dead,” I said evenly.
Isabel half-smiled, “I know you probably didn’t want to do that but thank you. Max told us about her plan. How she was betraying us.”
“Isabel! We have to find Maria! Tess said…”
She held up a hand. “I know. She’s with us and I fixed her. She’s fine now.”
Relief flooded through me, “Thank you.”
Michael looked the chamber, “You said you were blocked in. We got in just fine. What happened?”
“The granolith made it stop,” I said. Still not so sure what the deal was with the granolith, I gestured towards the mysterious object. All of their eyes went wide. “That’s the granolith.”
“What is it here for?” Max asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. Michael came over next to me and I leaned on his shoulder. Max gave us a small smile and stood next to his sister who smiled at him warmly. I leaned in closer to Michael and closed my eyes enjoying being near him.
{We’ve found it.} I thought to him.
{Found what?}
{Our four square.}
Hey, everyone! I hope you liked that chapter! Anyway, I am here basically to beg. Well it's just that (shuffles feet nervously) there are this noms going on on this board. now i know that there are much better writers than little old me but if you *want* to nominate me for a category please do! I know i prob. won't win but just a nom. would mean alot to me. g2g. love always!
Liz
It hurt to open my eyes. It hurt to move at all. I couldn’t feel my left side and I was sure a couple ribs were broken. A few bad-looking burn scars marked my arms and my forehead throbbed and bled from when I had hit the windshield. A few solitary orange-red flames danced around me and the car was wrecked. I had somehow ended up a few feet from the car. “Max..” I whispered softly.
I began to cough violently and with every cough a piercing pain would run through my stomach and ribs. Trying to roll over to see beyond what was around me, I painfully pushed myself up and stood on painful legs. I began to limp towards the car, my right arm cradling my numb left one. No sign of Max. He must be in the car, I thought. Please let him be OK, I pleaded to the night air.
My heart lurched at the low possibility of finding Max in the mutilated car. Kneeling down next to the car, I used my powers to distinguish the fires. I could feel my energy getting low. Than I caught a glimpse of a dark head and frantically began to move parts out of the way to disentangle Max from the heap of metal. I carefully lifted Max out. Max was beaten up pretty badly.
I knew my energy was low but I had to heal him. His condition was much worse than mine and his breathing was shallow. Closing my eyes, I began to gather my energy. I placed my hands on Max’s chest and began to breathe in even with him. Focusing on everything Max, my energy went to seek out all injured parts of his body.
Broken ribs, burns all over, concussions, internal bleeding, bruises, cuts. I could *feel* the energy being sapped out of my body. I pulled away abruptly and began to feel light-headed. Closing my eyes, I began to sway back and forth but didn’t when Max caught me. He looked brand new, as if he didn’t have a scratch on him. Smiling weakly, “You feel better?”
He nodded but looked at me in concern, “Liz, I’m not the one you should be worried about.”
Shaking my head, “I’m fine, just a bit drained from healing you.”
“Thanks for that. Have you tried contacting Michael?”
“Not enough energy,” I said breathlessly.
Max looked around, “Ok, than. Maybe we can find our cell phones then. We can try calling his apartment. I’m going to be right back. Try not to make any sudden movements, OK?”
I heard Max scuffling around. “Neither he or Isabel are picking up their phones, Liz!”
Damn. I tried to gather enough energy to jump-start the connection. No use. Max came up next to me and said worriedly, “Liz. I’m going to take you to the Pod Chamber and try to use the healing stones on you, OK?”
I nodded meekly. Max picked me up and I winced in pain. “What hurts, Liz?” he asked.
“Everything,” I moaned as I almost passed out from the pain.
“Liz, I’m going to give you some of my energy OK and heal you a bit. Than I want you to try to connect with Michael again so we can get you help,” I heard him vaguely say.
Max’s hands began to glow and I could feel the flow of his energy come into me. I realized that I could feel my left side and my ribs weren’t tender anymore. “Thank you.” Closing my eyes, I tried to reach out to Michael.
{Michael? Michael?}
“I’m not getting anything, Max.”
Max closed his eyes and his brow began to curve in concentration. “I’m trying to come into it. Help you get some energy. Try again.”
{Michael? Michael!}
{Liz? Is that you?}
I almost passed out in relief. It felt so good to hear his voice. Tears of joy began to stream down my face. {Yeah. Michael, we tried calling your apartment but no one answered.}
{That’s because we are on your way to you. God, baby, are you OK?}
{I’m fine, Michael. How do you know where I am?}
{Maria.}
{Maria?}
{Long story. How far are you from the Pod Chamber?}
{About ten minutes.}
{Max and I are walking back to get the healing stones, Michael. Get here soon please. I need you.}
{I know, Angel. Why did you leave in the middle of the night, Liz?}
{Long story. I had something to do and I had to keep you out of it. Sorry.}
{It’s all right, Angel. We’ll talk when I get to you, OK?}
{Michael, the connection is weakening…}
{I know. Just hold on until I get there. I’m *going to get there*, Liz.}
The connection violently tore apart. My energy count was so weak that all I could do was hear Michael’s thoughts but I couldn’t get any emotions off of him.
Max looked at me curiously, “Did it work?”
I nodded. “Yeah. They are on their way.” I realized that Max had been walking the whole time I was talking to Michael and the Pod Chamber was in sight. Everything around me began to spin and my body ached terribly despite Max healing my ribs and side. Max looked at me worriedly, “Liz, you need to stay awake, OK?”
Nodding heavily, “But it’s hard, Max.”
“I know but you can’t give up. You’re a fighter, Liz. You always have been. We are almost at the chamber, Liz.”
My head began to feel heavy and my eyelids were filled with lead. Rotating between darkness and the dull light of Roswell night, I couldn’t tell how long we had been walking. Finally, I heard the familiar scratching sound of rock against rock. Trying really hard to open my eyes and focus, I saw Max grab the small pale stones from a bag near the orbs. Max gently laid me down on the cold ground.
“Liz, just stay still OK?” he said gently.
“Trying but it hurts, Max. Please make it stop,” I groaned.
“I’m trying to, OK? Just relax, Liz.”
I closed my eyes and tried to think clearly. Than I felt it. Raw energy was flowing into my body. My veins were coursing with power and my body was repairing itself. My connection with Michael began to roar to life and I could feel him as if he were right next to me. My eyes snapped open to find Max leaning over with a huge smile on his face.
“Glad you’re back, Liz,” Max said as he put out a hand to help me get up.
“Me too. It’s less painful this way,” I said with a smile.
“Really?” said a voice from the chamber door. “Because I’m thinking we should make this as painful as possible.”
Max and I both turned to see Tess with a menacing grin on her face.
******
Michael
“Michael, he can’t save anybody if you *kill* all of us on the way!” Isabel hollered at me. She and Maria in the back seat of Max’s Jeep. Maria was still shaking and making incoherent comments every once in a while.
“Isabel, we have to get to Liz soon. Something is wrong. She’s really weak; we could only hear each other. I couldn’t feel her,” I said.
“We are only about fifteen minutes from the Pod Chamber, Michael,” Isabel reasoned.
Glancing at Maria, I asked. “How is she doing?”
Isabel frowned. “Not so good. She doesn’t deserve this. Tess has no right to mess with people like this.”
“Do you think you could help her? You’re good with mind powers,” I said.
“I could try but I’m not sure if it would work.”
“Try anyway. We can’t leave her like this.”
Through the rearview mirror, I watched as Isabel placed her hands on Maria’s face. At first Maria flinched but relaxed and her eyes shut closed. Isabel closed her eyes in concentration.
Turning back to watch the road, I began to wonder if I’d make it in time. Isabel’s startled gasp made my attention go to the back of the car. “What?”
Isabel’s face was sweating from the effort of it all. “I did it.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Yeah but Tess knows about Liz’s transformation. Tess thinks that Liz has a seal or something like that. Michael, she’s going after Liz.”
Crap.
****
Liz
Standing up next to Max, I glared at the smaller blonde girl. “What do you want, Tess?”
“Only what’s rightfully mine,” she sneered. “The seal, Liz. I want my seal.”
I almost laughed out loud at her. How did she suppose it was her seal? “It’s not yours to have in the first place. The seal chose me, deal with it.”
Tess’s face went red with anger. “You’ve done nothing but ruin my life, Liz! You stole my husband from me! My *husband*!” She pointed angrily at me and turned to Max. “She is screwing around with your *best friend*, Max, and you would still choose her over me!” Facing me and narrowing her eyes she continued, “I thought I’d just get it over with and kill you but you’re just too damn resilient!”
“You’re the one who hit us, aren’t you?” Max asked in realization.
Tess smirked, “Not me, Max. *Maria*. It’s very simple how the human mind works. Prey on their weaknesses and you have them under control. I made Maria hit you two. I killed two birds with one stone.”
Anger ran through me, “You killed her?”
“No. She’s probably in her room having a mental breakdown with the condition I left her mind in.”
“You’re sick,” I said. “You have no drop of human in you, do you?”
“Humans are our weaknesses. They stand the way of my plans.”
Max clenched his fists, “You don’t belong with us. You never did.”
“Haven’t you figured it out, Maxie Boy? I am your wife from that life, Max, don’t doubt that. But I’m also the reason that you died. You, Isabel, Michael. You see, I had an alliance with Khivar--your enemy. All I had to was get pregnant with your child which would automatically give me the royal seal and than the royal court would mysteriously die. And I would be queen. Unfortunately, I didn’t get out of the castle in time and I died with you fools.”
I stood in shock. Max’s expression matched mine. He spoke before I could. “Was that your plan this time? To get pregnant and than kill us?” he shouted in anger.
“Actually, to get pregnant and then leave the planet was the plan. Nasedo and I had it all worked out. But yet again, Liz ruined it for me. Nasedo is engineered to protect the Royals. After Michael healed you, he did something and somehow the royal seal was fully implanted inside of you. Nasedo can’t even touch one hair on your head in a threatening way if you have that seal. So what use of he to me if he can’t do anything?”
“You killed him, didn’t you? You made it look like one of the skins did it,” I said in disbelief.
“Oh no. A skin really did kill Nasedo. I ordered him to. You see Khivar is the leader of the skins. Bet you didn’t see that one coming did you?”
I sent an energy blast at Tess and she hit the wall with a satisfying thud. “Go find the others, Max!” I shouted to Max. He looked at me reluctantly.
“I’m not leaving you here, Liz.”
Tess regained her composure and sent an energy blast right at Max. On instinct, I put up a green glowing shield around Max. Max took one last look at me and left the chamber. Tess looked at me with wide surprised eyes, “How did you do that? That’s not a royal power.”
She didn’t realize that I had the protector seal also. Dammit. “Tess, you have no idea what the extend of my powers are.”
“Really? Some royals powers can’t save you, bitch.” Tess sent an energy blast at me and I went flying back with amazing force.
I stood up and faced her, “This is a royal power,” I said. I used a strong energy blast and sent her flying a good few feet. “This,” and I used my powers to manipulate her body and it raise in the air and she stay suspended mid-air. “Is my protector power.”
Her eyes were wide with fear. “You can’t kill me,” she said with a sneer. “You’re too good.”
I tightened the molecules in her throat. The gerbil began to make choking sounds. “You’ve done nothing but ruin my life. I hate you for that more than you will ever know. But no, I can’t kill you. But don’t test me.”
Tess dropped to the ground and grabbed her throat with her hand. “This doesn’t end it, Liz.”
I began to walk towards the exit of the chamber. Torn between letting her live and killing her, I paused at the door. I couldn’t let her hurt my friends but at the same time, I didn’t want to kill her either. Turning to face her, I said solemnly. “You’re right. Your presence will always loom over us. The damage you’ve done will always be remembered. But I can’t let you run free and cause more.”
Her eyes widened in realization. Sending her a highly strong blast, she went flying and hit the wall. Her body convulsed with pain and the electricity. She smirked weakly at me and said, “If I’m going down than you’re coming with me.” Raising her hand, she sent up what must have been the last of her energy at the top of the chamber. Than she lay still.
Suddenly, the chamber made a low rumble and small pebbles began to fall from the ceiling. I steadied myself as the walls began to shake. Dammit. I ran to the entrance and fell on my butt when a near by wall collapsed, blocking the entrance.
{Michael! I’m blocked in!} I thought frantically. Flinging my arms up to protect myself from flying rock debris, I heard the loud crash of a wall crumpling completely. Opening my eyes, I saw that behind the wall was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
It was cylinder shaped in a way and was swirling with blue and green colors. Strangely enough, it began to hum lightly as if it saw me too. Transfixed, I began to walk towards it. Before I knew what happened, I was standing next to it. The swirling colors mesmerized me and my eyes were locked on them. But I could feel power coming off of it.
I was broken out of my reverie when Michael thought to me, {Hang on! We’re coming to get you out!}
Taking a glance at Tess’s body, I saw that it was covered in pebbles and rocks. I watched in horror as a large crack formed on the ground of the cave. “Oh god,” I said and backed up.
As soon as my back hit the granolith--wait! How did I know what it was called? It began to make a low churning noise as it were charging and then it sent out a wave of energy. It looked like a ripple in a pond that expanded throughout the whole cave. I watched in amazement as every rock and pebble the wave came in contact with, placed itself neatly back in place as if nothing ever happened. It even made Tess’s corpse disappear into nothingness.
When everything was back into place and stable, I took a glance at the granolith. What was the granolith and what did it do? Before I could ponder it anymore, Michael, Isabel, and Max came running into the cave. Michael and Isabel enveloped me in a hug.
{You scared the crap out of me once again. You are going to give me a heart attack, Parker.}
Isabel and Michael finally let me go. “Where’s Tess?” Max asked.
“She’s dead,” I said evenly.
Isabel half-smiled, “I know you probably didn’t want to do that but thank you. Max told us about her plan. How she was betraying us.”
“Isabel! We have to find Maria! Tess said…”
She held up a hand. “I know. She’s with us and I fixed her. She’s fine now.”
Relief flooded through me, “Thank you.”
Michael looked the chamber, “You said you were blocked in. We got in just fine. What happened?”
“The granolith made it stop,” I said. Still not so sure what the deal was with the granolith, I gestured towards the mysterious object. All of their eyes went wide. “That’s the granolith.”
“What is it here for?” Max asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. Michael came over next to me and I leaned on his shoulder. Max gave us a small smile and stood next to his sister who smiled at him warmly. I leaned in closer to Michael and closed my eyes enjoying being near him.
{We’ve found it.} I thought to him.
{Found what?}
{Our four square.}
Hey, everyone! I hope you liked that chapter! Anyway, I am here basically to beg. Well it's just that (shuffles feet nervously) there are this noms going on on this board. now i know that there are much better writers than little old me but if you *want* to nominate me for a category please do! I know i prob. won't win but just a nom. would mean alot to me. g2g. love always!
Last edited by Polarchica516 on Sun Oct 26, 2003 2:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
ch.17
Chapter 17: Sacrifices
Michael
Deciding to call it a night, the five of us were on our way home. Liz and I sat in the front while Max, Maria, and Isabel were in the back. Maria had barely even looked at Liz since she saw us come out of the cave. Maria just stared out the window and avoided any contact with Liz.
{Hey, you OK?}
Liz took a quick glance at Maria from the front view mirror and than averted her eyes. The look of pain that crossed her face and was present in the connection didn’t go by me. {It’s just that you and Max fixed things. And yet, I have this sinking feeling that Maria and I will never be able to.}
{I’m sure that right now she’s just upset.} I said trying to comfort her.
{All Maria has ever wanted was to be out of this alien mess. Underneath it all, that’s all she wanted. But now I’m the exact thing that she wants to escape from. And I respect her wanting to be normal and to *be* normal. But in order to do that, she has to let go of me.}
Liz’s faraway look out the window made my heart lurch. Her slightly damp eyes didn’t make me feel any better either. {She’s still your best friend.}
{I’d be hurting her if I asked her to do this with us. After what Tess did to her..}
{Don’t blame yourself.}
{It’s kind of hard not to, Michael.}
Our unknown conversation was interrupted when Isabel spoke up, “When I fixed Maria, I saw things. About Tess.”
Liz turned around to look at her. “How is that possible?”
Max shrugged. “Maybe a mind warp works two ways. You subconsciously receive information from the other person.”
“What did you see?” I asked Isabel.
“She wanted to go after you because of a seal. What does a seal have to do with anything?”
Max and Liz exchanged looks and Isabel and I regarded them with curiosity. Liz took a deep breath. “I have the seal,” Liz said. This warranted startled looked from Isabel and I.
Max held up a hand, “I’ll explain. When I healed Liz, the Royal Seal transferred a part of itself to Liz. That seal gives her all the knowledge she has about our powers and whatnot. The process was supposed to take longer than it did but when Michael healed her he completed that transformation. But he also transferred the protector seal to her. That’s why Liz has all those powers.”
I almost crashed the car, I was so shocked by Max’s words. Max, catching my reaction, said, “But it won’t hurt her. That’s why we were at the Pod Chamber to begin with. The orbs were making these beeping noises and they wouldn’t stop.”
I listened at Max and Liz both explained how the orbs contacted Henroz. Isabel and I listened in fascination at their story. Neither Max or Liz left out a single detail. After they were done, I turned to Liz. “That’s amazing, Liz.”
“So you’re not mad that I snuck out of the apartment?” she asked nervously.
I laughed. “I can’t blame you if you did it to protect me. Which is technically my fault for giving you the seal.”
{You don’t regret it do you?} .
{No. Do you?}
{No. Of course not. I mean there was always this part of me that felt like if I was human, there was something holding me back from being part of the group.}
{You don’t have to be alien to be a part of me, Liz.}
I saw her give me a small smile. Max and Isabel talked softly in the back of the car until we got to Maria’s house. Maria took a glance at all us and said, “Thank you for saving my life.” And she went towards her house.
Liz glancing longingly at her. Making a decision, I reached over Liz and opened her car door. She looked at me in surprise. I simply smiled at her and said, “You didn’t let me lose my best friend. I’m not about to watch you lose yours.”
She looked at me and frowned.
She went after Maria.
****
Liz
I never meant to cause you trouble,
And I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
O no, I never meant to do you harm.
O no I see,
A spider web and it's me in the middle,
So I twist and turn,
Here I am in love in a bubble,
Singing, I never meant to cause you trouble,
I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
Although I never meant to do you harm.
--Trouble by Coldplay
I caught up with her and she spun around to face me. Her eyes lit up in surprise and than they softened. “What are you doing, Liz?”
“I want to fix things, Maria. We can’t just leave things like this,” I pleaded. *Please don’t let us leave things like this, Maria.* She bit her lip nervously. It seemed like hours before she gestured towards her house and I followed her inside. Maria opened her door with her spare key and we went inside.
“My mom won’t be back in town until tomorrow,” she said and she sat down on the couch.
We both were in silence until I said, “I never meant to hurt you. With the whole Michael thing.”
Maria ducked her head and said softly, “The two of you are better of anyway. That whole eternal love thing and all. Y’know when you left, I didn’t know what to do. I know that you needed space from the whole destiny thing and I know why you left. I would have too. But you left without telling me and that hurt.”
“Maria…”
“I always felt that since the aliens came into our lives, we’ve drifted apart. You would and have jumped off bridges for them and other things that I would not have half the courage to attempt. You had Max and Alex had Isabel and Michael would always go off and do this own thing,” she said while messing with her fingers.
Tears brimming my eyes, I sat next to Maria on the couch. “But we are still friends, Maria. You’ve always been there for me for as long as I can remember. I don’t want to lose that.”
“I want a normal life,” Maria said. She looked me evenly in the eye; we were both about to cry by this point. “A life without aliens and running. I know that it’s probably selfish but I need to live my own life. My mom is out today because she’s with my dad. She’s helping him do the house do I can move in with him.”
My lungs collapsed from lack of air and my heart lurched painfully. “You’re leaving?” I asked in a choked voice.
“I have to. I feel stuck here in Roswell, Liz. I have dreams and goals and they aren’t here in Roswell. You and Alex don’t need me anymore. You have Michael and Isabel.”
I began to feel sick to my stomach. “You deserve to have a normal life, Maria. You do but…”
Maria embraced me tightly and I buried my head in the crook of her neck. We both began to cry unabashedly. We finally pulled apart and we wiped away our tears. “You should probably leave now,” Maria said reluctantly.
I nodded, numb and was at the door when she said, “Don’t call me or anything until I leave. If you do, I probably won’t be able to.”
Taking one last look at my friend, I left the house silently.
****
Michael found me an hour later at Roswell Park. I had been swinging on the swing absently just thinking for a while. Michael wordlessly came up behind the swing and began to gently push. “How did it go?”
I took a deep breath, “She’s leaving Roswell, Michael. For good.”
God, it hurt to say the words. Tears immediately sprung to my eyes. I stopped pumping my legs, making the swing to come to a short motion. “She wanted a normal life, Michael.” Placing my face in my hands, I moaned, “I never should have brought her into this.”
Michael kneeled in front of me and placed his large hands on my knees gently. “We can’t change the past, Liz.”
Removing my face from my hands, I regarded him with sad eyes. “She never asked to be dragged into this, Michael.”
Michael gave a half-smile, “You never asked Max to heal you either.”
“That’s different, Michael. Maria just wants a sense of normalcy that we can’t give her. That her alien best-friend can’t give her.”
“But you wish you could.”
Looking off into the sky, I sighed heavily. “I have all these powers, Michael. But yet, I can’t fix this,” I said my helplessness becoming evident.
Michael frowned and stood up. He took my hands and prompted me to stand also than he framed my face in his hands. “You’re an alien, Liz. Not God. Not superwomen. Not all problems can be fixed.”
I nodded and his said in a serious voice, “Maria can make her own choices and she did. Don’t beat yourself up about it. You’ve brought our group together more than it has been in a long time. No wonder why the seal picked you.”
Blushing, I hugged Michael tightly. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being you.”
Michael and I reluctantly let go of each other and we intertwined our fingers. We walked back to his apartment and slept. A girl can get tired after being hit my a car y’know.
I knew our problems were far from over. The skins were still out there.
But right now, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Michael and I laying on his bed half-asleep and watching the sunset through his window.
Michael
Deciding to call it a night, the five of us were on our way home. Liz and I sat in the front while Max, Maria, and Isabel were in the back. Maria had barely even looked at Liz since she saw us come out of the cave. Maria just stared out the window and avoided any contact with Liz.
{Hey, you OK?}
Liz took a quick glance at Maria from the front view mirror and than averted her eyes. The look of pain that crossed her face and was present in the connection didn’t go by me. {It’s just that you and Max fixed things. And yet, I have this sinking feeling that Maria and I will never be able to.}
{I’m sure that right now she’s just upset.} I said trying to comfort her.
{All Maria has ever wanted was to be out of this alien mess. Underneath it all, that’s all she wanted. But now I’m the exact thing that she wants to escape from. And I respect her wanting to be normal and to *be* normal. But in order to do that, she has to let go of me.}
Liz’s faraway look out the window made my heart lurch. Her slightly damp eyes didn’t make me feel any better either. {She’s still your best friend.}
{I’d be hurting her if I asked her to do this with us. After what Tess did to her..}
{Don’t blame yourself.}
{It’s kind of hard not to, Michael.}
Our unknown conversation was interrupted when Isabel spoke up, “When I fixed Maria, I saw things. About Tess.”
Liz turned around to look at her. “How is that possible?”
Max shrugged. “Maybe a mind warp works two ways. You subconsciously receive information from the other person.”
“What did you see?” I asked Isabel.
“She wanted to go after you because of a seal. What does a seal have to do with anything?”
Max and Liz exchanged looks and Isabel and I regarded them with curiosity. Liz took a deep breath. “I have the seal,” Liz said. This warranted startled looked from Isabel and I.
Max held up a hand, “I’ll explain. When I healed Liz, the Royal Seal transferred a part of itself to Liz. That seal gives her all the knowledge she has about our powers and whatnot. The process was supposed to take longer than it did but when Michael healed her he completed that transformation. But he also transferred the protector seal to her. That’s why Liz has all those powers.”
I almost crashed the car, I was so shocked by Max’s words. Max, catching my reaction, said, “But it won’t hurt her. That’s why we were at the Pod Chamber to begin with. The orbs were making these beeping noises and they wouldn’t stop.”
I listened at Max and Liz both explained how the orbs contacted Henroz. Isabel and I listened in fascination at their story. Neither Max or Liz left out a single detail. After they were done, I turned to Liz. “That’s amazing, Liz.”
“So you’re not mad that I snuck out of the apartment?” she asked nervously.
I laughed. “I can’t blame you if you did it to protect me. Which is technically my fault for giving you the seal.”
{You don’t regret it do you?} .
{No. Do you?}
{No. Of course not. I mean there was always this part of me that felt like if I was human, there was something holding me back from being part of the group.}
{You don’t have to be alien to be a part of me, Liz.}
I saw her give me a small smile. Max and Isabel talked softly in the back of the car until we got to Maria’s house. Maria took a glance at all us and said, “Thank you for saving my life.” And she went towards her house.
Liz glancing longingly at her. Making a decision, I reached over Liz and opened her car door. She looked at me in surprise. I simply smiled at her and said, “You didn’t let me lose my best friend. I’m not about to watch you lose yours.”
She looked at me and frowned.
She went after Maria.
****
Liz
I never meant to cause you trouble,
And I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
O no, I never meant to do you harm.
O no I see,
A spider web and it's me in the middle,
So I twist and turn,
Here I am in love in a bubble,
Singing, I never meant to cause you trouble,
I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
Although I never meant to do you harm.
--Trouble by Coldplay
I caught up with her and she spun around to face me. Her eyes lit up in surprise and than they softened. “What are you doing, Liz?”
“I want to fix things, Maria. We can’t just leave things like this,” I pleaded. *Please don’t let us leave things like this, Maria.* She bit her lip nervously. It seemed like hours before she gestured towards her house and I followed her inside. Maria opened her door with her spare key and we went inside.
“My mom won’t be back in town until tomorrow,” she said and she sat down on the couch.
We both were in silence until I said, “I never meant to hurt you. With the whole Michael thing.”
Maria ducked her head and said softly, “The two of you are better of anyway. That whole eternal love thing and all. Y’know when you left, I didn’t know what to do. I know that you needed space from the whole destiny thing and I know why you left. I would have too. But you left without telling me and that hurt.”
“Maria…”
“I always felt that since the aliens came into our lives, we’ve drifted apart. You would and have jumped off bridges for them and other things that I would not have half the courage to attempt. You had Max and Alex had Isabel and Michael would always go off and do this own thing,” she said while messing with her fingers.
Tears brimming my eyes, I sat next to Maria on the couch. “But we are still friends, Maria. You’ve always been there for me for as long as I can remember. I don’t want to lose that.”
“I want a normal life,” Maria said. She looked me evenly in the eye; we were both about to cry by this point. “A life without aliens and running. I know that it’s probably selfish but I need to live my own life. My mom is out today because she’s with my dad. She’s helping him do the house do I can move in with him.”
My lungs collapsed from lack of air and my heart lurched painfully. “You’re leaving?” I asked in a choked voice.
“I have to. I feel stuck here in Roswell, Liz. I have dreams and goals and they aren’t here in Roswell. You and Alex don’t need me anymore. You have Michael and Isabel.”
I began to feel sick to my stomach. “You deserve to have a normal life, Maria. You do but…”
Maria embraced me tightly and I buried my head in the crook of her neck. We both began to cry unabashedly. We finally pulled apart and we wiped away our tears. “You should probably leave now,” Maria said reluctantly.
I nodded, numb and was at the door when she said, “Don’t call me or anything until I leave. If you do, I probably won’t be able to.”
Taking one last look at my friend, I left the house silently.
****
Michael found me an hour later at Roswell Park. I had been swinging on the swing absently just thinking for a while. Michael wordlessly came up behind the swing and began to gently push. “How did it go?”
I took a deep breath, “She’s leaving Roswell, Michael. For good.”
God, it hurt to say the words. Tears immediately sprung to my eyes. I stopped pumping my legs, making the swing to come to a short motion. “She wanted a normal life, Michael.” Placing my face in my hands, I moaned, “I never should have brought her into this.”
Michael kneeled in front of me and placed his large hands on my knees gently. “We can’t change the past, Liz.”
Removing my face from my hands, I regarded him with sad eyes. “She never asked to be dragged into this, Michael.”
Michael gave a half-smile, “You never asked Max to heal you either.”
“That’s different, Michael. Maria just wants a sense of normalcy that we can’t give her. That her alien best-friend can’t give her.”
“But you wish you could.”
Looking off into the sky, I sighed heavily. “I have all these powers, Michael. But yet, I can’t fix this,” I said my helplessness becoming evident.
Michael frowned and stood up. He took my hands and prompted me to stand also than he framed my face in his hands. “You’re an alien, Liz. Not God. Not superwomen. Not all problems can be fixed.”
I nodded and his said in a serious voice, “Maria can make her own choices and she did. Don’t beat yourself up about it. You’ve brought our group together more than it has been in a long time. No wonder why the seal picked you.”
Blushing, I hugged Michael tightly. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being you.”
Michael and I reluctantly let go of each other and we intertwined our fingers. We walked back to his apartment and slept. A girl can get tired after being hit my a car y’know.
I knew our problems were far from over. The skins were still out there.
But right now, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Michael and I laying on his bed half-asleep and watching the sunset through his window.
Last edited by Polarchica516 on Sun Oct 26, 2003 2:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
ch.18
Chapter 18: Normalcy
Michael
Liz was beginning to make this a habit of hers. I woke up ,yet again, without Liz being in the bed. Groaning as I stretched my stiff muscles, I smiled when I felt the gentle humming of Liz and mine’s connection in my head. The smell of bacon reached my nose and lured me into the kitchen. I stood at my bedroom door and watched Liz bustle around my kitchen in one of my big shirts, her small feet padding around the wood floor. Her hair was tousled and she had next to no make up on.
I’ve never seen her look more beautiful. I sighed contently and than cleared my throat to catch my girlfriend’s attention. She spun around and smiled radiantly at me with a spatula in hand. “Good morning,” she said cheerfully and moved aside so I could see plates of eggs, sausage, and bacon on the table along with toast and orange juice. And of course, Tabasco sauce.
“What’s all this for? Not that I’m complaining but..”
Liz gave me a small smile. “This is for running away in the middle of the night last night. And all the other trouble I’ve been burdening you with.”
Striding over to her, I hugged her lightly and kissed her forehead. “I’m always up for breakfast at three o’clock in the afternoon so thank you. But you really aren’t any trouble, Liz.”
Liz pulled away to put some bacon on a plate. “Just because I’m worth it, Guerin, doesn’t mean I’m not a handful,” she joked as she tossed a wide grin my way.
“I hate to ruin our obviously cheery demeanor but may I ask why you are so happy?”
“What? I can’t do something nice for my boyfriend every once in a while?” she said as she turned the kitchen equipment off with a wave of her hands.
“Well, Liz, it’s just that after last night…”
Liz turned around and placed her hands on her hips. “After last night, Michael, I realized that Maria was right. Sometimes you just *want* to be normal. And I accept that that is something I’ll be dealing with now more than I was before. But, Michael, you *are* my normalcy. This is normal to me,” she said gesturing at her surroundings. “I just want to bask in this for as long as I can before something goes wrong.”
She wrapped her arms around my arms and pressed her cheek against my chest. “Can’t we just be normal teenagers in love right now?”
Sensing that Liz needed this right now, I nodded. We both sat down to eat and I said, “Times like these I feel like we never left Florida.”
Liz finished sipping her orange juice and replied, “What do you mean?”
Looking down at my plate, I murmured, “Us living together. Waking up and you being the first person I see, it kind of feels like..”
“Home,” Liz finished. We both shared a secret smile and conversed comfortably while our love simmered in the connection.
I watched as Liz used her powers to clean up the dishes when we were done. Amazed by how comfortable she was with her powers, I gapped at her openly. “What?” she asked.
“It seems like you’ve been an alien your whole live,” I said.
Liz’s eyes darkened a bit but they recovered quickly. “What wrong?”
“It’s just that--how am I going to tell my parents, Michael?” and she plopped down on the couch.
“You don’t have to. Max and Isabel haven’t told their parents yet and it’s been years,” I reasoned with her. I didn’t want her to worry herself about something more than she already had. Liz’s parents seemed to be pretty cool people. I didn’t know them that well but I knew them well enough to know that they loved their daughter.
Liz waved her hand dismissively. “You’re probably right, Michael. I’m just thinking too much about it.”
“Maybe you should talk to Isabel. It’s not like I have parents so I never had to worry about stuff like this and I know that Isabel has been wanting to tell her parents for a while now.”
“Yeah,” Liz said absently while looking at the wall intently.
I sat down next to her, held her hand, and sent her calming thoughts. “They love you. They won’t disown you or anything.”
“Right,” she snorted. “Just like Maria didn’t.”
“What?” I asked in surprise.
“I became the exact thing that Maria wanted to escape from, Michael. You can’t sit there and tell me that that didn’t make her scared--didn’t make her run.”
“You know that isn’t true, Liz. Maria would never be afraid of you.”
“It’s not so much the *who* I am but the *what* that worries me.”
“You are Liz Parker. What species you are doesn’t change that,” I said gently.
Liz smiled and said sadly, “I’m going to miss being here so much when school starts up on Monday. Between the job and the school, how do we plan on battling evil skins?”
I chuckled, “With our textbooks in one hand and the other can send energy blasts. It’s actually very simple.”
Liz got up. “I’m going to take a shower and head home. I don’t want my parents to think I’m moving in with Isabel.”
Sad to hear she was leaving, I said, “Yeah.”
“I was actually thinking of stopping by Alex’s later to tell him about everything. Kyle told me he wants to help the group out some more. Now, I’m not so sure if we can do that to him,” she mused while biting her bottom lip.
“It’s his choice, Liz. We tried to stop you, didn’t we?”
Liz smirked, “Did you think that you’d get rid of me that easily? You guys are stuck with me now.”
“Don’t worry. I plan on keeping you around for a long time,” I said without thinking. Liz smiled at me and went to go take her shower.
****
Liz
After I left Michael’s apartment, I headed off to my house to put some new clothes on. Seeing as I didn’t have a car, I walked back. Explaining to my parents how I crashed their car was going to be difficult. Not that that was the first of my worries, I still was worked up about how they would react about my new alien status. On one side, I wanted to tell them but I didn’t want to put them in danger like I had Maria. And then there was this nagging thought in my mind about whether or not they’d accept it--accept me.
Luckily they weren’t home when I got home, and I went to my room to change. My eyes were drawn to the picture of Alex, Maria, and me on my bed stand. My mouth went dry when it hit me that Maria was leaving today. I had tried not to think about it but it didn’t change anything.
Turning my thoughts away from Maria, I began to get nervous about how Alex would react. Isabel had probably already told him about it by now. A part of me knew that Alex wouldn’t freak out but I had thought that Maria wouldn’t have reacted the way she did. I didn’t think I could handle it if Alex deserted me too.
With a wave of hand, I changed my hair into a curly style. Going over to my closet, I changed into a pair of sweatpants and one of Michael’s shirts. The only way to get over this was so confront Alex and tell him. I left my parents a note telling them that I came home and was going out to Alex’s.
I was about to leave when the phone rang. Picking it up quickly because I was eager to get this over with, I said, “Hello?”
“Hey, Liz,” came Isabel’s response.
“Oh, hey, Iz. Wassup?”
“Actually, Michael told me to call you. Is something wrong?”
Smiling at Michael’s concern for me, I responded, “Not really. It’s just that I was kind of worried about telling my parents about my new alien status.”
“Do you want me to come over so we can talk, Liz?”
Glancing at the clock, I said no. “I’m about to head over to Alex’s to tell him first. I figure I should start small. You didn’t already tell him did you?”
“No. It’s not my place to tell him. But I told him everything else that happened that night.”
“Thanks, Isabel.”
“I heard about Maria, Liz. You alright?”
“It’s hard but I’m coming to terms with it. That’s kind of why I’m a little bit nervous to tell Alex. I mean Maria basically left Roswell.”
“That wasn’t the only reason she left.”
“But it played a part and I *know* that Alex wouldn’t do that but it’s still just kind of *there*.”
“Don’t worry yourself about it. Alex is a great guy. You’ve always told me that.”
“I’m not doubting Alex, Iz. Look, I really want to get going. Can you come over later so we can talk about the whole parents thing? I’d really like that.”
“Of course. Later, Liz.”
“Bye.”
I put the phone down, grabbed my coat, and left to go to Alex’s house.
*****
Waiting until someone answered the door of the Whitman Residence, I fiddled with my hands nervously. I was so consumed by my nerves that when the door opened, I jumped. Mr. Whitman looked at me in amusement.
“A bit jumpy, Liz?” he said chuckling. “I take it you are here to see my son.”
“Yeah, if he’s not too busy.”
Mr. Whitman let me into the house and than he looked at me strangely. “You look different, Liz? Did you do something new?”
Panicking, thinking I was turning green or something, my hands flew to my head. “No. Why? How do I look different?” I asked quickly, my voice pitchy.
Mr. Whitman leaned in and started to look closely at my head on the left side. Please don’t let there be antennas, I repeated in my head. I sighed in relief when instead of an alien body part, he pulled out a quarter and smiled at me widely. “This never gets old,” he said goofily, waving the quarter at me.
I laughed nervously. Alex came down the stairs and smiled when he saw me. “Hey, Liz. You wanna come up?”
Saying goodbye to Mr. Whitman, I followed Alex upstairs. I was surprised to see Kyle already in his room on the computer. “Hey, Kyle. What are you doing here?”
Kyle turned around and frowned, “I found this disk at my house and I’m trying to decode it. It’s weird. I think it’s Tess’s. When my dad found Nasedo’s body, he offered to let Tess stay with us for a while. She had this disk by my computer and I put it in my accident thinking it was mine, but it was awfully suspicious considering Tess’s agenda.”
“Why?” I asked.
“It’s heavily protected. And seeing that Tess was plotting against us the whole time, maybe there’s something here that can help us fight the skins,” Alex said. “It may take a while to decode.”
“Oh.” I said, wondering what was in the disk. Putting that thought aside, I decided to say what I was here to say. “Actually, Alex, the last couple of days, something happened to me.”
Kyle and Alex listened attentively as I told them about my new alien status and the whole seal thing. I managed to not look at Alex or Kyle the whole time, afraid of their reactions. I finished my story and Alex hugged me tightly.
“As long as you’re OK, Liz, that sounds pretty cool,” Alex said. I let out a sigh of relief.
“Are you sure because Maria kind of freaked.”
Alex nodded, “If you’re wondering if I plan to leave the country, I’m not.”
My eyes widened. “How do you know about Maria?”
“She called me last night to say goodbye,” he said, his eyes darkening at the memory.
Kyle looked at me and smiled, “So you’re like super-alien now?”
I chuckled, “You guys seem to keep calling me that. I’m not a superhero.”
“Either way, with you being in the alien part of the group now, you guys are going to need a human to take your place.”
“What are you saying, Kyle?”
“Well, I figured that since I’m already one of the few people who know of alien’s existence on Earth, I might as well befriend them.”
“Kyle, this is a big decision,” I began.
“Yeah, I know. But I want to make a difference. You guys saved my life and kept my father out of jail. And now, I seem to be helping you guys out with this disk thing. There isn’t an intuition thing for this group is there?”
Seeing that Kyle was firm in his decision, I smiled. I was happy that Kyle decided to stick with us. He was a great friend. “Well actually,” I said. “You have to get shot and be brought back to life.”
“Well than I guess I’m in,” Kyle said.
Turning to Alex once again, I asked, “And this whole alien thing doesn’t bother you?”
“Are you still my best friend?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Are you still Liz Parker?”
“Of course.”
Alex smiled widely, “Than why would I care?”
Alex was amazing. Everyone should have a friend like him. Looking at Kyle, I realized that he really could be an asset to our group. I flopped down on Alex’s bed and said, “So this disk thing. How do we decode it?”
And we went to work.
******
{Michael, it’s really weird. This file is so heavily decoded. Tess must have really not wanted anyone to see it.} I thought to Michael as I was walking home from Alex’s house with Kyle.
{Did you guys figure out how to decode it?}
{No, Michael, we didn’t. I’m beginning to worry about what is in those files.}
{Me too. I take it Alex didn’t freak out.}
{No. How did you know I was going to tell Alex?}
{A little bird told me, you could say.}
{Right. The same bird who called me earlier about my parents.}
{Yup, that one.}
{I’ll call you when I get home, Michael. Kyle and I are almost there. I love you.}
{Love you too, Angel.}
Kyle was shaking his head at me with a grin on his face. “What?” I asked.
“You and Guerin. Do you always do that mind thing?”
“Not always just when we want to talk,” I explained. “Kyle, are you sure about joining our group?”
Kyle rolled his eyes, “You keep asking me that, Parker. And yes, I am sure.”
“Kyle, I only ask because this is a huge decision. So far, you are the only one who isn’t forced into the group.”
“Forced?” Kyle asked, a half-smile on his face.
“Maybe I said that wrong,” I said scratching my head. “What I’m trying to say is that so far everyone who is in the group didn’t really have a choice in the matter. But Kyle, you can walk away from this and not be connected with us.”
Kyle turned to look at me, “I know that you guys want me to really think about this. And I get that. You guys aren’t living a very easy life. But I want in. And you honestly can’t tell me that any of you regret being who you are--I know you can’t.”
Considering this, I replied, “You’re right, Kyle. I’ve been through a lot and I’ve lost..people. But I’ve made some best friends and found Michael. But this comes with a high risk factor. You can’t trust people because of who they might be. You can’t have a normal life. I *want* you in the group. But it’s a very life altering decision.”
“But its mine to make and I’ve made it. I’ve known you since we were about ten. I’ve spent half that time madly in love with you but either way, Parker, you’re one of the strongest people I know. Things have just been hectic in the past week and you’ve been doing this for about a year. I can’t imagine the things that you’ve had to do. I’m glad that you look out for all of us. You’ve done that even before you had that seal.”
Blushing and humbled by his words, I changed the subject. “So you are serious about this, huh?”
Kyle nodded with vigor and than smirked. “There isn’t a initiation ceremony or anything, is there? Besides getting shot and whatnot.”
Then I came up with a devious idea. I grinned widely and Kyle stopped in his tracks and frowned. “Liz, what are you thinking?”
******
Michael
“Chug! Chug! Chug!” Isabel, Max, Alex, Liz, and I yelled in sync. Liz had told me to get Isabel and Max and meet her at the Crashdown and Isabel had to plead Alex to get away from his computer. So here we were and what we were witnessing was quite possibly the funniest thing in all the universe.
A Crashdown Burger: $4.80
A Side of Fries: $2.00
Pouring two containers of Tabasco on the burgers and fries and watching Kyle Valenti down them: priceless.
It was cruel but all Liz’s idea. Although I wish I had come up with such genius. His face was turning red and he was now breaking into a sweat and he still had the whole burger left. His ears were turning a flattering shade of red.
Max was doubling over in laughter and Isabel had Alex supporting her or she would have fallen out of the booth. Liz was began to snort she was laughing too hard. Kyle, however, did not find this so funny and glared at us.
“This better be worth it,” he growled causing us to laugh even harder.
“Hey, Valenti,” Max said. “I think you’re tearing up. Can’t handle the heat?”
Kyle snorted and began to eat the burger, his male pride on the line. He finished and began to lick the plate clean. My stomach began to hurt I was laughing so hard. Kyle displayed the spotless plate proudly and we all cheered, getting annoyed looks from the other customers.
Liz smiled at him, “You’re in, Kyle. Congratulations.”
Kyle smiled weakly, “That’s nice but now I have to go and vomit.” Holding his stomach, he ran in the direction of the bathroom. Liz leaned on me and began to laugh so hard that she hiccupped. Max and Isabel were about to cry and Alex was shaking his head.
“What?” I asked him.
Alex raised an eyebrow, “When are you guys going to tell him that I didn’t have to do that in order to be with you guys?”
Liz and exchanged a look. “Never, Alex. Unless, you *want* to be officially initiated in our group,” Liz said, pushing a Tabasco bottle at him.
Alex’s eyes went wide with fear and nodded passionately, “That’s OK, Parker.”
And we began to laugh again and in that distinct moment, I understood what Liz was saying before. We all wanted to be normal, even a small part of us wanted that. But right now, I *felt* normal. I was a normal guy with his girlfriend and his best friends laughing at the dumb ass they convinced to down a Tabasco covered burger and fries. It felt *good*.
But nothing this good can last forever, especially since things were about to get worse.
They always do.
Michael
Liz was beginning to make this a habit of hers. I woke up ,yet again, without Liz being in the bed. Groaning as I stretched my stiff muscles, I smiled when I felt the gentle humming of Liz and mine’s connection in my head. The smell of bacon reached my nose and lured me into the kitchen. I stood at my bedroom door and watched Liz bustle around my kitchen in one of my big shirts, her small feet padding around the wood floor. Her hair was tousled and she had next to no make up on.
I’ve never seen her look more beautiful. I sighed contently and than cleared my throat to catch my girlfriend’s attention. She spun around and smiled radiantly at me with a spatula in hand. “Good morning,” she said cheerfully and moved aside so I could see plates of eggs, sausage, and bacon on the table along with toast and orange juice. And of course, Tabasco sauce.
“What’s all this for? Not that I’m complaining but..”
Liz gave me a small smile. “This is for running away in the middle of the night last night. And all the other trouble I’ve been burdening you with.”
Striding over to her, I hugged her lightly and kissed her forehead. “I’m always up for breakfast at three o’clock in the afternoon so thank you. But you really aren’t any trouble, Liz.”
Liz pulled away to put some bacon on a plate. “Just because I’m worth it, Guerin, doesn’t mean I’m not a handful,” she joked as she tossed a wide grin my way.
“I hate to ruin our obviously cheery demeanor but may I ask why you are so happy?”
“What? I can’t do something nice for my boyfriend every once in a while?” she said as she turned the kitchen equipment off with a wave of her hands.
“Well, Liz, it’s just that after last night…”
Liz turned around and placed her hands on her hips. “After last night, Michael, I realized that Maria was right. Sometimes you just *want* to be normal. And I accept that that is something I’ll be dealing with now more than I was before. But, Michael, you *are* my normalcy. This is normal to me,” she said gesturing at her surroundings. “I just want to bask in this for as long as I can before something goes wrong.”
She wrapped her arms around my arms and pressed her cheek against my chest. “Can’t we just be normal teenagers in love right now?”
Sensing that Liz needed this right now, I nodded. We both sat down to eat and I said, “Times like these I feel like we never left Florida.”
Liz finished sipping her orange juice and replied, “What do you mean?”
Looking down at my plate, I murmured, “Us living together. Waking up and you being the first person I see, it kind of feels like..”
“Home,” Liz finished. We both shared a secret smile and conversed comfortably while our love simmered in the connection.
I watched as Liz used her powers to clean up the dishes when we were done. Amazed by how comfortable she was with her powers, I gapped at her openly. “What?” she asked.
“It seems like you’ve been an alien your whole live,” I said.
Liz’s eyes darkened a bit but they recovered quickly. “What wrong?”
“It’s just that--how am I going to tell my parents, Michael?” and she plopped down on the couch.
“You don’t have to. Max and Isabel haven’t told their parents yet and it’s been years,” I reasoned with her. I didn’t want her to worry herself about something more than she already had. Liz’s parents seemed to be pretty cool people. I didn’t know them that well but I knew them well enough to know that they loved their daughter.
Liz waved her hand dismissively. “You’re probably right, Michael. I’m just thinking too much about it.”
“Maybe you should talk to Isabel. It’s not like I have parents so I never had to worry about stuff like this and I know that Isabel has been wanting to tell her parents for a while now.”
“Yeah,” Liz said absently while looking at the wall intently.
I sat down next to her, held her hand, and sent her calming thoughts. “They love you. They won’t disown you or anything.”
“Right,” she snorted. “Just like Maria didn’t.”
“What?” I asked in surprise.
“I became the exact thing that Maria wanted to escape from, Michael. You can’t sit there and tell me that that didn’t make her scared--didn’t make her run.”
“You know that isn’t true, Liz. Maria would never be afraid of you.”
“It’s not so much the *who* I am but the *what* that worries me.”
“You are Liz Parker. What species you are doesn’t change that,” I said gently.
Liz smiled and said sadly, “I’m going to miss being here so much when school starts up on Monday. Between the job and the school, how do we plan on battling evil skins?”
I chuckled, “With our textbooks in one hand and the other can send energy blasts. It’s actually very simple.”
Liz got up. “I’m going to take a shower and head home. I don’t want my parents to think I’m moving in with Isabel.”
Sad to hear she was leaving, I said, “Yeah.”
“I was actually thinking of stopping by Alex’s later to tell him about everything. Kyle told me he wants to help the group out some more. Now, I’m not so sure if we can do that to him,” she mused while biting her bottom lip.
“It’s his choice, Liz. We tried to stop you, didn’t we?”
Liz smirked, “Did you think that you’d get rid of me that easily? You guys are stuck with me now.”
“Don’t worry. I plan on keeping you around for a long time,” I said without thinking. Liz smiled at me and went to go take her shower.
****
Liz
After I left Michael’s apartment, I headed off to my house to put some new clothes on. Seeing as I didn’t have a car, I walked back. Explaining to my parents how I crashed their car was going to be difficult. Not that that was the first of my worries, I still was worked up about how they would react about my new alien status. On one side, I wanted to tell them but I didn’t want to put them in danger like I had Maria. And then there was this nagging thought in my mind about whether or not they’d accept it--accept me.
Luckily they weren’t home when I got home, and I went to my room to change. My eyes were drawn to the picture of Alex, Maria, and me on my bed stand. My mouth went dry when it hit me that Maria was leaving today. I had tried not to think about it but it didn’t change anything.
Turning my thoughts away from Maria, I began to get nervous about how Alex would react. Isabel had probably already told him about it by now. A part of me knew that Alex wouldn’t freak out but I had thought that Maria wouldn’t have reacted the way she did. I didn’t think I could handle it if Alex deserted me too.
With a wave of hand, I changed my hair into a curly style. Going over to my closet, I changed into a pair of sweatpants and one of Michael’s shirts. The only way to get over this was so confront Alex and tell him. I left my parents a note telling them that I came home and was going out to Alex’s.
I was about to leave when the phone rang. Picking it up quickly because I was eager to get this over with, I said, “Hello?”
“Hey, Liz,” came Isabel’s response.
“Oh, hey, Iz. Wassup?”
“Actually, Michael told me to call you. Is something wrong?”
Smiling at Michael’s concern for me, I responded, “Not really. It’s just that I was kind of worried about telling my parents about my new alien status.”
“Do you want me to come over so we can talk, Liz?”
Glancing at the clock, I said no. “I’m about to head over to Alex’s to tell him first. I figure I should start small. You didn’t already tell him did you?”
“No. It’s not my place to tell him. But I told him everything else that happened that night.”
“Thanks, Isabel.”
“I heard about Maria, Liz. You alright?”
“It’s hard but I’m coming to terms with it. That’s kind of why I’m a little bit nervous to tell Alex. I mean Maria basically left Roswell.”
“That wasn’t the only reason she left.”
“But it played a part and I *know* that Alex wouldn’t do that but it’s still just kind of *there*.”
“Don’t worry yourself about it. Alex is a great guy. You’ve always told me that.”
“I’m not doubting Alex, Iz. Look, I really want to get going. Can you come over later so we can talk about the whole parents thing? I’d really like that.”
“Of course. Later, Liz.”
“Bye.”
I put the phone down, grabbed my coat, and left to go to Alex’s house.
*****
Waiting until someone answered the door of the Whitman Residence, I fiddled with my hands nervously. I was so consumed by my nerves that when the door opened, I jumped. Mr. Whitman looked at me in amusement.
“A bit jumpy, Liz?” he said chuckling. “I take it you are here to see my son.”
“Yeah, if he’s not too busy.”
Mr. Whitman let me into the house and than he looked at me strangely. “You look different, Liz? Did you do something new?”
Panicking, thinking I was turning green or something, my hands flew to my head. “No. Why? How do I look different?” I asked quickly, my voice pitchy.
Mr. Whitman leaned in and started to look closely at my head on the left side. Please don’t let there be antennas, I repeated in my head. I sighed in relief when instead of an alien body part, he pulled out a quarter and smiled at me widely. “This never gets old,” he said goofily, waving the quarter at me.
I laughed nervously. Alex came down the stairs and smiled when he saw me. “Hey, Liz. You wanna come up?”
Saying goodbye to Mr. Whitman, I followed Alex upstairs. I was surprised to see Kyle already in his room on the computer. “Hey, Kyle. What are you doing here?”
Kyle turned around and frowned, “I found this disk at my house and I’m trying to decode it. It’s weird. I think it’s Tess’s. When my dad found Nasedo’s body, he offered to let Tess stay with us for a while. She had this disk by my computer and I put it in my accident thinking it was mine, but it was awfully suspicious considering Tess’s agenda.”
“Why?” I asked.
“It’s heavily protected. And seeing that Tess was plotting against us the whole time, maybe there’s something here that can help us fight the skins,” Alex said. “It may take a while to decode.”
“Oh.” I said, wondering what was in the disk. Putting that thought aside, I decided to say what I was here to say. “Actually, Alex, the last couple of days, something happened to me.”
Kyle and Alex listened attentively as I told them about my new alien status and the whole seal thing. I managed to not look at Alex or Kyle the whole time, afraid of their reactions. I finished my story and Alex hugged me tightly.
“As long as you’re OK, Liz, that sounds pretty cool,” Alex said. I let out a sigh of relief.
“Are you sure because Maria kind of freaked.”
Alex nodded, “If you’re wondering if I plan to leave the country, I’m not.”
My eyes widened. “How do you know about Maria?”
“She called me last night to say goodbye,” he said, his eyes darkening at the memory.
Kyle looked at me and smiled, “So you’re like super-alien now?”
I chuckled, “You guys seem to keep calling me that. I’m not a superhero.”
“Either way, with you being in the alien part of the group now, you guys are going to need a human to take your place.”
“What are you saying, Kyle?”
“Well, I figured that since I’m already one of the few people who know of alien’s existence on Earth, I might as well befriend them.”
“Kyle, this is a big decision,” I began.
“Yeah, I know. But I want to make a difference. You guys saved my life and kept my father out of jail. And now, I seem to be helping you guys out with this disk thing. There isn’t an intuition thing for this group is there?”
Seeing that Kyle was firm in his decision, I smiled. I was happy that Kyle decided to stick with us. He was a great friend. “Well actually,” I said. “You have to get shot and be brought back to life.”
“Well than I guess I’m in,” Kyle said.
Turning to Alex once again, I asked, “And this whole alien thing doesn’t bother you?”
“Are you still my best friend?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Are you still Liz Parker?”
“Of course.”
Alex smiled widely, “Than why would I care?”
Alex was amazing. Everyone should have a friend like him. Looking at Kyle, I realized that he really could be an asset to our group. I flopped down on Alex’s bed and said, “So this disk thing. How do we decode it?”
And we went to work.
******
{Michael, it’s really weird. This file is so heavily decoded. Tess must have really not wanted anyone to see it.} I thought to Michael as I was walking home from Alex’s house with Kyle.
{Did you guys figure out how to decode it?}
{No, Michael, we didn’t. I’m beginning to worry about what is in those files.}
{Me too. I take it Alex didn’t freak out.}
{No. How did you know I was going to tell Alex?}
{A little bird told me, you could say.}
{Right. The same bird who called me earlier about my parents.}
{Yup, that one.}
{I’ll call you when I get home, Michael. Kyle and I are almost there. I love you.}
{Love you too, Angel.}
Kyle was shaking his head at me with a grin on his face. “What?” I asked.
“You and Guerin. Do you always do that mind thing?”
“Not always just when we want to talk,” I explained. “Kyle, are you sure about joining our group?”
Kyle rolled his eyes, “You keep asking me that, Parker. And yes, I am sure.”
“Kyle, I only ask because this is a huge decision. So far, you are the only one who isn’t forced into the group.”
“Forced?” Kyle asked, a half-smile on his face.
“Maybe I said that wrong,” I said scratching my head. “What I’m trying to say is that so far everyone who is in the group didn’t really have a choice in the matter. But Kyle, you can walk away from this and not be connected with us.”
Kyle turned to look at me, “I know that you guys want me to really think about this. And I get that. You guys aren’t living a very easy life. But I want in. And you honestly can’t tell me that any of you regret being who you are--I know you can’t.”
Considering this, I replied, “You’re right, Kyle. I’ve been through a lot and I’ve lost..people. But I’ve made some best friends and found Michael. But this comes with a high risk factor. You can’t trust people because of who they might be. You can’t have a normal life. I *want* you in the group. But it’s a very life altering decision.”
“But its mine to make and I’ve made it. I’ve known you since we were about ten. I’ve spent half that time madly in love with you but either way, Parker, you’re one of the strongest people I know. Things have just been hectic in the past week and you’ve been doing this for about a year. I can’t imagine the things that you’ve had to do. I’m glad that you look out for all of us. You’ve done that even before you had that seal.”
Blushing and humbled by his words, I changed the subject. “So you are serious about this, huh?”
Kyle nodded with vigor and than smirked. “There isn’t a initiation ceremony or anything, is there? Besides getting shot and whatnot.”
Then I came up with a devious idea. I grinned widely and Kyle stopped in his tracks and frowned. “Liz, what are you thinking?”
******
Michael
“Chug! Chug! Chug!” Isabel, Max, Alex, Liz, and I yelled in sync. Liz had told me to get Isabel and Max and meet her at the Crashdown and Isabel had to plead Alex to get away from his computer. So here we were and what we were witnessing was quite possibly the funniest thing in all the universe.
A Crashdown Burger: $4.80
A Side of Fries: $2.00
Pouring two containers of Tabasco on the burgers and fries and watching Kyle Valenti down them: priceless.
It was cruel but all Liz’s idea. Although I wish I had come up with such genius. His face was turning red and he was now breaking into a sweat and he still had the whole burger left. His ears were turning a flattering shade of red.
Max was doubling over in laughter and Isabel had Alex supporting her or she would have fallen out of the booth. Liz was began to snort she was laughing too hard. Kyle, however, did not find this so funny and glared at us.
“This better be worth it,” he growled causing us to laugh even harder.
“Hey, Valenti,” Max said. “I think you’re tearing up. Can’t handle the heat?”
Kyle snorted and began to eat the burger, his male pride on the line. He finished and began to lick the plate clean. My stomach began to hurt I was laughing so hard. Kyle displayed the spotless plate proudly and we all cheered, getting annoyed looks from the other customers.
Liz smiled at him, “You’re in, Kyle. Congratulations.”
Kyle smiled weakly, “That’s nice but now I have to go and vomit.” Holding his stomach, he ran in the direction of the bathroom. Liz leaned on me and began to laugh so hard that she hiccupped. Max and Isabel were about to cry and Alex was shaking his head.
“What?” I asked him.
Alex raised an eyebrow, “When are you guys going to tell him that I didn’t have to do that in order to be with you guys?”
Liz and exchanged a look. “Never, Alex. Unless, you *want* to be officially initiated in our group,” Liz said, pushing a Tabasco bottle at him.
Alex’s eyes went wide with fear and nodded passionately, “That’s OK, Parker.”
And we began to laugh again and in that distinct moment, I understood what Liz was saying before. We all wanted to be normal, even a small part of us wanted that. But right now, I *felt* normal. I was a normal guy with his girlfriend and his best friends laughing at the dumb ass they convinced to down a Tabasco covered burger and fries. It felt *good*.
But nothing this good can last forever, especially since things were about to get worse.
They always do.
Last edited by Polarchica516 on Sun Oct 26, 2003 2:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
Ch.19
Chapter 19: Being There
Michael
“Dammit!” I exclaimed angrily and began to pace. I *hate* rocks. Sure they look at innocent and immobile but really, they are pure evil. The damn things won’t move! For the past two weeks, Liz had been trying to show us how to do other things with our powers.
It felt like the calm before the storm because all of us were waiting for the skins to attack but life had been strangely normal. School had started and we all had part-time jobs. Max, Isabel, Liz, and I spent a lot of time at the quarry practicing our powers while Alex and Kyle tried to decode the disk.
Channeling my frustration at the rock, I blew it up and tiny shards of rock flew everywhere. I threw up my shield (courtesy of the teaching of Ms. Parker) to protect myself. Liz came over later and asked, “Are you ready to go? It’s beginning to get dark.”
Liz’s presence calmed my tense mood immediately but I was still determined to move this rock. Looking at it’s ruins, I decided maybe I should find another one. Liz, sensing my thoughts, walked over to the ruins of the rock and built a new one for me. Smiling at her gratefully, I said, “Just give me a little bit more time, OK?”
Our powers had grown in an amazing rate. It was actually quite simple. Our powers revolved around manipulating particles and whatnot. So all I had to do was separate that rock’s molecules and have them form again but in a different spot.
Also, my connection with Liz grew stronger because of my high energy level from advancing my powers.
Closing my eyes and concentrating on the rock’s particles, I willed them apart with my mind and tried to hold on to the energy enough to move it. Opening my eyes, I saw Liz smiling proudly at me.
“Aliens beware! Michael can move rocks,” she mocked rolling her eyes.
“Didn’t you say something about leaving?” I asked and smiled as I saw the rock in it’s new spot.
Liz laughed, “Don’t get too full of yourself. Rocks is only the beginning. Next time we work on people.”
My eyes widened in shock, “People?”
“Yeah. Only we can do it. It’s a defensive power to move someone out of harms way. I just thought we’d start small seeing as I don’t want you blowing anyone up,” she finished with a smirk.
“Ha ha. Very funny, Parker. Me blowing up things makes me unpredictable.”
“Right. And crazy also.”
“You say crazy, I say talented,” I said rolling my eyes.
Isabel and Max walked over and Isabel asked, “You guys ready to go?”
Liz frowned deeply. This happened everyday. Liz had been avoiding her parents since she found out she was a alien like us. If she wasn’t working or out at the quarry, she was in school or over one of our houses. It was stressful for Liz and I knew it wasn’t easy for her parents either. Her father and mother would look at her longingly while she was working. They felt like they were losing her daughter.
“Yeah,” I said.
{Michael, don’t start.} Liz warned inside my head. We could hear each other’s thoughts unknowingly if they were strong enough now. And Liz’s distress was pretty damn strong.
{Liz, you’ve been avoiding your parents for two weeks now.}
Liz ignored me and began to walk towards the Jeep with Isabel and Max. I sighed and followed them. Liz briskly got in the car and began to look out the window. Isabel and Max looked at me questionably trying to figure out why Liz was upset. I shrugged at them but quite an eye on Liz.
I knew this whole thing with her parents was tearing her up inside. But she and I hadn’t talked about since the day she told Alex. Isabel and she had talked and agreed to not tell them unless it was necessary. Liz didn’t want to put her parents in danger and by telling them that’s what she knew she’d be doing.
I didn’t want to hurt Liz but she had to deal with this or it would eat her up inside. Liz was quiet the whole ride home until we pulled up to her house. Liz and I got out of the car and waved Isabel and Max goodbye. We stood by her ladder to her balcony and she finally spoke, “You don’t understand, Michael. I want you to but you don’t.”
“I know that you’re making things worse by avoiding them and your feelings,” I said scolding.
Liz’s eyes flashed anger. “Feelings, Michael? I *can’t* be around them because I can’t look them in the face and *lie* to them. I know that I have to protect them but they’re my *parents*, Michael. I want to tell them everything but I *can’t* and I’m afraid that they won’t be able to handle it. So don’t stand there and tell me about *feelings*, Michael Guerin because you have idea.”
“Actually, I do, Liz. It’s all that I get from you. I have *known* that you’ve felt that way but you have to let yourself feel those things.”
Liz shook her head slightly and her moist eyes glistened in the pale moon light. “It’s hard. I don’t want to think about the fact that my parents may not accept this--*me*. I’ve lost my best friend, Michael. I can’t lose my parents too.”
My heart breaking at her raw pain, I said, “You’re trying to push them away aren’t you? They are your parents, Liz, you can’t just think that will solve it.”
Liz laughed dryly, “Don’t tell me that you, the poster boy for pushing people away, is telling me to not to push them away.”
“Liz, you know I’m not like that anymore,” I said, slightly hurt my her comment.
Liz’s gaze stayed locked on my eyes and she said, “Goodnight, Michael.” And she went up her ladder. I know I should have followed her but Liz had to deal with this by herself.
****
Liz
Barely seeing through my tears, I opened my bedroom window only to find my parents sitting on my bed with angry expressions on their faces. Standing still, I wiped away my tears and swallowed hard. “Mom, Dad, what you guys doing in my room?”
My mom glared at me, “I think the question is why you lied to us. You weren’t at Alex’s. So where were you, Liz?”
Thinking quickly I responded, “I was at Isabel’s. You must have heard me wrong.”
My dad stood up and looked me straight in the eye, “Is it drugs, Liz?”
“Is it…What? No, of course not. Why would you think that?”
“You’ve been acting strangely and you refuse to talk to us about anything. You’re always off with that Michael boy and the Evans!” My dad yelled pinning me with an accusatory expression.
“They are my friends, Dad. I’m entitled to be with my friends,” I said defiantly.
“Not if they are a bad influence on you,” my dad began.
Holding up my hands I yelled, “It’s not drugs. I don’t *do* drugs. You know me well enough to know that I wouldn’t do that.”
“Than what is it, sweetie?” my mom asked softly. “Is it Maria leaving?”
I don’t want you to leave me too, Mom, I thought to myself. “No. I want to tell you but I can’t.”
“Are you protecting someone? Did someone hurt you?” my dad asked.
“No, Dad. Would you just let me talk please?” I pleaded.
My mom began to cry softly, “I feel like I’m losing you, Liz.”
Guilt ripped through me for hurting her and anger consumed me because my dad was being irrational about this. The soft sound of my mom’s sobs and the harsh yelling of my father clogged my brain and I couldn’t think straight. I could feel it. The energy building up whenever I got highly emotional. Trying to stop it before it released, I tried to calm down but it was too late.
The lamp next to my mother exploded. She shrieked and scrambled over to my father. My dad looked at me with wide eyes. My mom was so scared to think about how it happened but my dad did. His gaze stayed locked on mine. I began to tremble.
Please understand, Dad, I pleaded to him without speaking. His gaze turned cold and he stared at me. “Who are you?”
“Dad, I can explain..”
“What have you done with my daughter?”
Every single way that you could feel any form of pain, it was happening to me right now. My dad was acting like I was a totally different person and my mom was looking at me in fear. “Dad, it’s me, Liz.”
“No! My daughter couldn’t have done that. You exploded that lamp!”
He was in denial. “Mom..” I pleaded trying to get through to her. I took a step towards her and they both stepped back. Tears began to sting my eyes. They were *afraid* of me. “You guys have to let me explain.”
My dad must have gotten out of his state of denial because he asked, “How did this happen?”
Like I was a accident or something. How did *I* happen? “It’s complicated, Dad.”
“Well please try to make me understand.”
“I’m not human, Daddy. I have these powers now and..”
My mom stepped forward and half-sobbed, “But you were human when I gave birth to you? What happened?”
“I’m still Liz. I’m just different now,” I pleaded, wanting them to understand.
“Different how? If you aren’t human, what are you?”
I felt like I had been punched. My father just called me a ‘what’. Oh god. “I’m…I’m..” At a loss for words, I slowly pointed my finger towards the sky. Their eyes widened in realization.
“That’s impossible,” my mom said.
“It’s really, really complicated and hard to understand. But I’m still you’re daughter.” The more I said it, the more I wondered who I was trying to convince: them or me.
“No you aren’t,” my dad said and left the room. My heart broke and it hurt so much to watch him walk away. From *me*. My mom just looked at me and she finally spoke.
“I love you, Liz. But this is really hard to digest right now.”
Beginning to sob openly now, I smiled at my mom’s confession of love. “Thank you and I know that.”
“Maybe if you gave us some space,” she said sadly.
Making a decision, I nodded. “I’ll leave. I’ll stay at Michael’s for a while. Until you guys come around.”
She must have been really out of it because she gave me permission to live with my boyfriend by ourselves. And than she look one look at me and left to find Dad.
Numbly, I went to pack. Throwing clothes into a book bag and getting my school supplies, I came across a picture of me and my parents from when I was little. Collapsing I began to sob so hard that I began to shake. I don’t know how long I cried but I heard the window open. I didn’t have to turn around to see who it was.
Michael stood there and simply said, “I could feel you hurting.”
Wiping away my tears I choked out, “They didn’t take it well.”
Michael sighed and took me into this arms. Stroking my hair and letting me cry on his shoulder, he said soothingly. “We’re going to get through this, Liz.”
Snuggling closer and basking in the security of his arms, I just nodded. He held me tighter and kissed the top of my head. No matter how safe I felt, it didn’t stop the pain. But I knew we’d get through this. We had to.
When you're all alone,
and you need a light,
someone to guide you through the night,
just remember that I am here,
to hold you close and dry your tears.
Oh-ooh
And just when you thought you were falling,
but you know I'll always be right there.
When you're all alone,
and you need a friend,
someone to help you to the end,
when you need someone to catch you when you fall,
I'll be there through it all.
oh-oh
Cause just when you thought you were losing,
but you know I'll always be right there.
--I’ll always be right there by Michelle Branch
Michael
“Dammit!” I exclaimed angrily and began to pace. I *hate* rocks. Sure they look at innocent and immobile but really, they are pure evil. The damn things won’t move! For the past two weeks, Liz had been trying to show us how to do other things with our powers.
It felt like the calm before the storm because all of us were waiting for the skins to attack but life had been strangely normal. School had started and we all had part-time jobs. Max, Isabel, Liz, and I spent a lot of time at the quarry practicing our powers while Alex and Kyle tried to decode the disk.
Channeling my frustration at the rock, I blew it up and tiny shards of rock flew everywhere. I threw up my shield (courtesy of the teaching of Ms. Parker) to protect myself. Liz came over later and asked, “Are you ready to go? It’s beginning to get dark.”
Liz’s presence calmed my tense mood immediately but I was still determined to move this rock. Looking at it’s ruins, I decided maybe I should find another one. Liz, sensing my thoughts, walked over to the ruins of the rock and built a new one for me. Smiling at her gratefully, I said, “Just give me a little bit more time, OK?”
Our powers had grown in an amazing rate. It was actually quite simple. Our powers revolved around manipulating particles and whatnot. So all I had to do was separate that rock’s molecules and have them form again but in a different spot.
Also, my connection with Liz grew stronger because of my high energy level from advancing my powers.
Closing my eyes and concentrating on the rock’s particles, I willed them apart with my mind and tried to hold on to the energy enough to move it. Opening my eyes, I saw Liz smiling proudly at me.
“Aliens beware! Michael can move rocks,” she mocked rolling her eyes.
“Didn’t you say something about leaving?” I asked and smiled as I saw the rock in it’s new spot.
Liz laughed, “Don’t get too full of yourself. Rocks is only the beginning. Next time we work on people.”
My eyes widened in shock, “People?”
“Yeah. Only we can do it. It’s a defensive power to move someone out of harms way. I just thought we’d start small seeing as I don’t want you blowing anyone up,” she finished with a smirk.
“Ha ha. Very funny, Parker. Me blowing up things makes me unpredictable.”
“Right. And crazy also.”
“You say crazy, I say talented,” I said rolling my eyes.
Isabel and Max walked over and Isabel asked, “You guys ready to go?”
Liz frowned deeply. This happened everyday. Liz had been avoiding her parents since she found out she was a alien like us. If she wasn’t working or out at the quarry, she was in school or over one of our houses. It was stressful for Liz and I knew it wasn’t easy for her parents either. Her father and mother would look at her longingly while she was working. They felt like they were losing her daughter.
“Yeah,” I said.
{Michael, don’t start.} Liz warned inside my head. We could hear each other’s thoughts unknowingly if they were strong enough now. And Liz’s distress was pretty damn strong.
{Liz, you’ve been avoiding your parents for two weeks now.}
Liz ignored me and began to walk towards the Jeep with Isabel and Max. I sighed and followed them. Liz briskly got in the car and began to look out the window. Isabel and Max looked at me questionably trying to figure out why Liz was upset. I shrugged at them but quite an eye on Liz.
I knew this whole thing with her parents was tearing her up inside. But she and I hadn’t talked about since the day she told Alex. Isabel and she had talked and agreed to not tell them unless it was necessary. Liz didn’t want to put her parents in danger and by telling them that’s what she knew she’d be doing.
I didn’t want to hurt Liz but she had to deal with this or it would eat her up inside. Liz was quiet the whole ride home until we pulled up to her house. Liz and I got out of the car and waved Isabel and Max goodbye. We stood by her ladder to her balcony and she finally spoke, “You don’t understand, Michael. I want you to but you don’t.”
“I know that you’re making things worse by avoiding them and your feelings,” I said scolding.
Liz’s eyes flashed anger. “Feelings, Michael? I *can’t* be around them because I can’t look them in the face and *lie* to them. I know that I have to protect them but they’re my *parents*, Michael. I want to tell them everything but I *can’t* and I’m afraid that they won’t be able to handle it. So don’t stand there and tell me about *feelings*, Michael Guerin because you have idea.”
“Actually, I do, Liz. It’s all that I get from you. I have *known* that you’ve felt that way but you have to let yourself feel those things.”
Liz shook her head slightly and her moist eyes glistened in the pale moon light. “It’s hard. I don’t want to think about the fact that my parents may not accept this--*me*. I’ve lost my best friend, Michael. I can’t lose my parents too.”
My heart breaking at her raw pain, I said, “You’re trying to push them away aren’t you? They are your parents, Liz, you can’t just think that will solve it.”
Liz laughed dryly, “Don’t tell me that you, the poster boy for pushing people away, is telling me to not to push them away.”
“Liz, you know I’m not like that anymore,” I said, slightly hurt my her comment.
Liz’s gaze stayed locked on my eyes and she said, “Goodnight, Michael.” And she went up her ladder. I know I should have followed her but Liz had to deal with this by herself.
****
Liz
Barely seeing through my tears, I opened my bedroom window only to find my parents sitting on my bed with angry expressions on their faces. Standing still, I wiped away my tears and swallowed hard. “Mom, Dad, what you guys doing in my room?”
My mom glared at me, “I think the question is why you lied to us. You weren’t at Alex’s. So where were you, Liz?”
Thinking quickly I responded, “I was at Isabel’s. You must have heard me wrong.”
My dad stood up and looked me straight in the eye, “Is it drugs, Liz?”
“Is it…What? No, of course not. Why would you think that?”
“You’ve been acting strangely and you refuse to talk to us about anything. You’re always off with that Michael boy and the Evans!” My dad yelled pinning me with an accusatory expression.
“They are my friends, Dad. I’m entitled to be with my friends,” I said defiantly.
“Not if they are a bad influence on you,” my dad began.
Holding up my hands I yelled, “It’s not drugs. I don’t *do* drugs. You know me well enough to know that I wouldn’t do that.”
“Than what is it, sweetie?” my mom asked softly. “Is it Maria leaving?”
I don’t want you to leave me too, Mom, I thought to myself. “No. I want to tell you but I can’t.”
“Are you protecting someone? Did someone hurt you?” my dad asked.
“No, Dad. Would you just let me talk please?” I pleaded.
My mom began to cry softly, “I feel like I’m losing you, Liz.”
Guilt ripped through me for hurting her and anger consumed me because my dad was being irrational about this. The soft sound of my mom’s sobs and the harsh yelling of my father clogged my brain and I couldn’t think straight. I could feel it. The energy building up whenever I got highly emotional. Trying to stop it before it released, I tried to calm down but it was too late.
The lamp next to my mother exploded. She shrieked and scrambled over to my father. My dad looked at me with wide eyes. My mom was so scared to think about how it happened but my dad did. His gaze stayed locked on mine. I began to tremble.
Please understand, Dad, I pleaded to him without speaking. His gaze turned cold and he stared at me. “Who are you?”
“Dad, I can explain..”
“What have you done with my daughter?”
Every single way that you could feel any form of pain, it was happening to me right now. My dad was acting like I was a totally different person and my mom was looking at me in fear. “Dad, it’s me, Liz.”
“No! My daughter couldn’t have done that. You exploded that lamp!”
He was in denial. “Mom..” I pleaded trying to get through to her. I took a step towards her and they both stepped back. Tears began to sting my eyes. They were *afraid* of me. “You guys have to let me explain.”
My dad must have gotten out of his state of denial because he asked, “How did this happen?”
Like I was a accident or something. How did *I* happen? “It’s complicated, Dad.”
“Well please try to make me understand.”
“I’m not human, Daddy. I have these powers now and..”
My mom stepped forward and half-sobbed, “But you were human when I gave birth to you? What happened?”
“I’m still Liz. I’m just different now,” I pleaded, wanting them to understand.
“Different how? If you aren’t human, what are you?”
I felt like I had been punched. My father just called me a ‘what’. Oh god. “I’m…I’m..” At a loss for words, I slowly pointed my finger towards the sky. Their eyes widened in realization.
“That’s impossible,” my mom said.
“It’s really, really complicated and hard to understand. But I’m still you’re daughter.” The more I said it, the more I wondered who I was trying to convince: them or me.
“No you aren’t,” my dad said and left the room. My heart broke and it hurt so much to watch him walk away. From *me*. My mom just looked at me and she finally spoke.
“I love you, Liz. But this is really hard to digest right now.”
Beginning to sob openly now, I smiled at my mom’s confession of love. “Thank you and I know that.”
“Maybe if you gave us some space,” she said sadly.
Making a decision, I nodded. “I’ll leave. I’ll stay at Michael’s for a while. Until you guys come around.”
She must have been really out of it because she gave me permission to live with my boyfriend by ourselves. And than she look one look at me and left to find Dad.
Numbly, I went to pack. Throwing clothes into a book bag and getting my school supplies, I came across a picture of me and my parents from when I was little. Collapsing I began to sob so hard that I began to shake. I don’t know how long I cried but I heard the window open. I didn’t have to turn around to see who it was.
Michael stood there and simply said, “I could feel you hurting.”
Wiping away my tears I choked out, “They didn’t take it well.”
Michael sighed and took me into this arms. Stroking my hair and letting me cry on his shoulder, he said soothingly. “We’re going to get through this, Liz.”
Snuggling closer and basking in the security of his arms, I just nodded. He held me tighter and kissed the top of my head. No matter how safe I felt, it didn’t stop the pain. But I knew we’d get through this. We had to.
When you're all alone,
and you need a light,
someone to guide you through the night,
just remember that I am here,
to hold you close and dry your tears.
Oh-ooh
And just when you thought you were falling,
but you know I'll always be right there.
When you're all alone,
and you need a friend,
someone to help you to the end,
when you need someone to catch you when you fall,
I'll be there through it all.
oh-oh
Cause just when you thought you were losing,
but you know I'll always be right there.
--I’ll always be right there by Michelle Branch
Last edited by Polarchica516 on Sun Oct 26, 2003 2:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Polarchica516
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 6:01 pm
- Location: In my own Roswell World of Michael and Liz
ch.20
Chapter 20: Translations
Michael
Liz is the strongest person I know. She’s jumped off bridges, been in fires, and been made into a hybrid superwomen. But sometimes, I forget how human she can be. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with--watching her cry herself to sleep and being able to do nothing but hold her.
In her sleep, she looked anything but peaceful. Liz would toss and turn. If it were up to me, I would have marched over to her house and tell her dad off. Clenching my fists in anger, I tried to think about other things. But no matter how hard I tried, all I could feel was Liz’s pain radiating in my head.
I finally fell asleep and when I woke up Liz wasn’t in the bed. Running out of the room while rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I saw Liz sitting on the couch. She was looking off into space and had a blanket curled up around her feet. Liz looked so small sitting there. She looked helpless.
“Hey,” I said softly, drawing her attention to my presence.
Liz turned to face me, her long brown hair softly framing her face. “When I was little, my dad would take to me to the park and he would push me. We went to the park everyday for like six months. And everyday he would try to get to play on something else but all I wanted to do was to play on the swing. And you know why?”
I shook my head and sat next to her. She leaned on me slightly and intertwined her fingers with mine. “Why?”
“Because my dad would push me. Everything else I played on, he would go sit on the bench. So whenever I played on the swing, he was right there and he smiled at me and he said, ‘you have to promise me that you’ll be my little girl forever’. And I was little so I was confused why he would ask me that. I told him that of course I would. It just never occurred to me that I would actually stop being his little girl.”
Liz began to sob and I held her closer, stroking her silky hair. “They just need some time, Liz.”
“I know but the way they looked at me, it was like they were looking at a stranger. Maybe they were.”
“No,” I protested. “Don’t. You are Liz. You’ve changed and change is very rarely dealt with gracefully.”
Liz was about to say something when the phone rang. I glanced at her apologetically and went to pick up the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey,” came Alex’s reply.
“Alex, now isn’t a good time.”
“I’ll make it quick. Kyle and I think we’ve decoded the disk. You and Liz might want to take a look at this.”
****
“What is it?” I asked in fascination as I looked at the computer screen. Kyle and Max were behind me staring also while Liz and Isabel were looking over the files Alex had printed out.
Alex scrolled down the screen and said, “It looks like a map of some kind but what is it a map for?”
“And why does Tess have it?” Kyle finished.
“Any luck with the files?” Max asked Isabel and Liz.
They both shook their heads and went back to going through the pages. Liz looked at Max and sighed, “It’s a lot of papers. Where the last copies?”
Kyle went over and went through the papers quickly, “It should the bottom ones. It was the last format the computer got to. Here.” Liz smiled gratefully and took the papers from him.
The minute she laid on them, her face went a deathly pale. “Oh my god,” she gasped out.
We all rushed over. Maybe something was wrong with us because all we saw were strange symbol things. “What is it?”
Liz met all of our eyes, “It’s in Antarian.”
Kyle glanced at her, “You can read Antarian?”
Max glared at him, “Now really isn’t the time, Kyle.” With wide eyes, he focused on Liz. “Do you know what it says?”
Liz’s eyes danced over the papers and she frowned. “Yes.”
We all looked at her expectantly and she began to read, “If you are reading this, than Antar’s biggest fears has come to life. Antar is no longer in existence. Our beloved home planet has been torn apart by war and famine. Some of our population has settled on a neighboring planet, but Antar as we know it is gone.
This scares us because this means that The Great Prophecy is about to take place. The Great Prophecy is a tale that foretells great pain and great joy. The first event that was foretold was the destruction of our planet. The second event was a reincarnated royal family. The third event prophesied was that one of the royals would be a traitor and only one with the truest of hearts could see it. But a very special, powerful human will take her place. Her greatness brought upon her by the blessings of two seals residing in one vessel. She alone will be able to restore Antar and it’s people--and save Earth--from war.”
Liz looked at me with wide eyes, “Is that me?”
Before I could respond, Max replied. “It has to be. All those events in the prophecy came true. You were the only one who never really trusted Tess and the two seals…it has to be you.”
Liz looked at me fearfully and than ran out of the room. I was about to run after her but Isabel grabbed my arm gently and said, “Let me handle this OK?”
Glancing at the door and than back at Isabel and I nodded reluctantly and watched at she ran after Liz. “What’s wrong with Liz?” Kyle asked in concern.
“I don’t know,” I replied and frowned deeply.
****
Liz
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I had no idea where I was running to but I kept running until my legs began to hurt. Kneeling over to even my breathing and ease the burning sensation in my lungs. “Oh God,” I groaned at tears streamed down my face.
There was no running from destiny. There never was. Collapsing against a nearby wall, I saw Isabel running up to me. Her face was red from the running. “Liz, what the hell was that back there?” she asked when she caught up to me.
“I can’t tell you,” I said through clenched teeth.
“No,” Isabel said. “I don’t buy that. Are you upset that you have to save the world?”
“No!” I exploded. “I don’t have to *do* anything.”
“Why are you so upset?” Isabel yelled, angry now. “This is the last thing that should upset you! We’ve gotten through tougher things than this! You‘re a fighter!”
Rising my defeated eyes to meet hers, I said, “We lost.”
“We what?”
Standing to my full height I continued, “We didn’t fight anything. We just went along with what destiny had in store for us, Isabel. Max and Tess were never meant to be together. You and Michael were never meant to be together. That book just said that you were *engineered* to do. But *this*, this very exact moment, is what was supposed to happen. What is truly meant to happen is terrible. We have to control over our lives, Isabel. We all have purposes in a huge plan and once we do them, we die.”
Isabel shook her head, “Liz..”
“There is more to the prophecy. There will be a huge war. The skins will come to Earth and they will destroy it and kill everything in their path. And than they will kill all of you. Kyle, Max, Alex, Michael like picking flies off of a wall. But I can save both worlds. The basis of every thing on our planets is energy. The granolith is the source of infinite energy. All I have to do is combine my energy with the granolith and Antar and Earth will come back anew. The granolith will compensate for all lives lost and Antar will completely rebuild itself but see, the thing is that I die in the process. All of you will be alive and every single soul on Antar will be alive. Great joy. Me, being dead and having to know that all of you are dead, great pain.
That is my destiny and it always has been. I’m the way I am for a reason. I get the stop the end of two worlds but mine ends. So, no, I didn’t fight anything.”
Isabel looked at me with disbelief, “Maybe you read it wrong.”
I shook my head sadly, “I wish I had but I didn’t. I don’t know how much we have left. So please don’t tell the others. What amount they have left, they should spend it being happy and not wondering when their lives are going to end. If you want, I can take this out of your memory so you can too.”
Isabel took a step back and held up a hand, “No. You aren’t even going to tell Michael?”
“I can block certain things out of the connection. Iz, I can’t say goodbye to him. I can’t.”
She nodded in understanding, “So there’s no chance to make it end differently?”
“I don’t think so. But we will fight the skins and we may lose but we are going to try. I know that.”
Isabel hugged me tightly, “You don’t deserve this.”
Smiling through my tears, I choked out. “I’m dead yet.”
Pulling away, Isabel replied, “But you will be.”
“And you’ll be alive and happy. All of you and that’s worth dying for.”
She smiled gratefully and we walked back to Alex’s house. Turns out that the map was the structure of a new housing development in LA. After some serious hacking done on Alex’s part, we found out the only current resident who had already reserved a house of a guy named Cal Langley.
In three days, we were heading out to LA to find out who this Cal Langley was.
*****
“Are you guys ready?” Alex asked for the last time before we began to head out to our supposed “Camping Trip” in Arizona for a school project. It’s amazing how well you can forge papers with a few alien tricks.
Michael and I smiled at each other and hopped into the van we had rented. Max and Isabel were in the front because Max was driving and Isabel chipped the rest of us out shotgun. Kyle was in the back with Michael and I. Michael and I had the back seats and since Alex was the smallest, he was in the back with the luggage. A place that he complained about constantly.
“You know if it weren’t for me, we weren’t even be finding this Cal Langley guy,” Alex tried to reason.
I turned around and smiled sweetly at him, “And we thank you so very much, Alex.”
Alex made a face at me and said, “Just because you’re all Buffy the vampire slayer-stopping Armageddon and what not, doesn’t give you the right to boss people around.”
Faltering at his comment about stopping Armageddon, Isabel caught my reactions and smiled sadly. We both didn’t talk about the prophecy much and I tried not to think about. Michael didn’t even have a clue because I had blocked it out of the connection. I was brought out of my thoughts my Kyle shouting, “Who wants music?” Holding up his CD holder, the car was filled by the six of us shouting out different music groups.
Kyle held up a hand and said, “I have the CD that can cure all of your problems.”
My eyes went wide with fear, “No, Kyle, don’t.”
“What?” came Isabel’s reply.
“Well Kyle has this strangely unnatural creepy obsession with…”
“The Spice Girls!” Kyle announced proudly while holding up the CD’s.
“NO!” we all yelped simultaneously.
“But come on guys, just *one* song!” he pleaded.
“Sure,” Max said. “If you want me to vomit all over the steering wheel which could result in a terrible car accident.”
We all laughed and than Max turned to Isabel, “Hey, Isabel. Didn’t you have an obsession with the Spice Girls too?”
“No,” she protested immediately.
“It was someone. Who was it?” Max said while giving her a look.
Propping my chin on Isabel’s car seat, I looked at her with a smirk on my face. “Who? C’mon, spill!”
Isabel turned bright red and mumbled something incoherent. “What?” Alex asked the back. “I couldn’t hear you!”
“Hanson! OK?” She shouted.
The car was silent for a moment and than we all busted out laughing. “It’s not that funny,” she said. “Like we all don’t have our little quirks!”
“Not as bad as an obsession with Hanson!” Kyle said back.
Michael pretending to think really hard, “Y’know I can’t remember if they were boys or girls.”
Ignoring Michael’s comment and turning on Kyle, Isabel remarked, “As if the Spice Girls are any better!”
Kyle glared at her, “Hey! That one chick was hot!”
“That is absolutely disgusting,” Isabel said.
Alex held up his hands and joked, “Well I have a confession to make. I have a very strange liking to The New Kids on The Block!”
Max, obviously not catching that it was a joke, replied. “Are you serious? Me too!”
I think he got the hint when we all started to laugh hysterically that Alex was joking. Max turned the radio on and a Dave Matthews Band song was on the radio.
When the world ends
Collect your things
You’re coming with me
When the world ends
You tuckle up yourself with me
Watch it as the stars disappear to nothing
The day the world is over
We’ll be lying in bed
I froze and everything kind of just went into slow motion. It suddenly hit me full force that I, quite possibly very soon, could not ever see these people again. My friends.
I’m gonna rock you like a baby when the cities fall
We will rise as the building’s crumble
Float there and watch it all
Amidst the burning, we’ll be churning
You know, love will be our wings
The passion rises up from the ashes
When the world ends
It was then that I realized that I was going to do anything in my power to fight this. I had given up and accepted my fate but maybe now wasn’t the time to stop fighting. It may be useless-it probably is--but if these people were worth dying for than they were worth fighting for too.
When the world ends
You’re gonna come with me
We’re going to be crazy
Like a river bends
We’re going to float
Through the criss cross of the mountains
Watch them fade to nothing
When the world ends
You know that’s what’s happening now
I’m going to be there with you somehow, oh...
__When the world ends by David Matthews Band
Michael
Liz is the strongest person I know. She’s jumped off bridges, been in fires, and been made into a hybrid superwomen. But sometimes, I forget how human she can be. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with--watching her cry herself to sleep and being able to do nothing but hold her.
In her sleep, she looked anything but peaceful. Liz would toss and turn. If it were up to me, I would have marched over to her house and tell her dad off. Clenching my fists in anger, I tried to think about other things. But no matter how hard I tried, all I could feel was Liz’s pain radiating in my head.
I finally fell asleep and when I woke up Liz wasn’t in the bed. Running out of the room while rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I saw Liz sitting on the couch. She was looking off into space and had a blanket curled up around her feet. Liz looked so small sitting there. She looked helpless.
“Hey,” I said softly, drawing her attention to my presence.
Liz turned to face me, her long brown hair softly framing her face. “When I was little, my dad would take to me to the park and he would push me. We went to the park everyday for like six months. And everyday he would try to get to play on something else but all I wanted to do was to play on the swing. And you know why?”
I shook my head and sat next to her. She leaned on me slightly and intertwined her fingers with mine. “Why?”
“Because my dad would push me. Everything else I played on, he would go sit on the bench. So whenever I played on the swing, he was right there and he smiled at me and he said, ‘you have to promise me that you’ll be my little girl forever’. And I was little so I was confused why he would ask me that. I told him that of course I would. It just never occurred to me that I would actually stop being his little girl.”
Liz began to sob and I held her closer, stroking her silky hair. “They just need some time, Liz.”
“I know but the way they looked at me, it was like they were looking at a stranger. Maybe they were.”
“No,” I protested. “Don’t. You are Liz. You’ve changed and change is very rarely dealt with gracefully.”
Liz was about to say something when the phone rang. I glanced at her apologetically and went to pick up the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey,” came Alex’s reply.
“Alex, now isn’t a good time.”
“I’ll make it quick. Kyle and I think we’ve decoded the disk. You and Liz might want to take a look at this.”
****
“What is it?” I asked in fascination as I looked at the computer screen. Kyle and Max were behind me staring also while Liz and Isabel were looking over the files Alex had printed out.
Alex scrolled down the screen and said, “It looks like a map of some kind but what is it a map for?”
“And why does Tess have it?” Kyle finished.
“Any luck with the files?” Max asked Isabel and Liz.
They both shook their heads and went back to going through the pages. Liz looked at Max and sighed, “It’s a lot of papers. Where the last copies?”
Kyle went over and went through the papers quickly, “It should the bottom ones. It was the last format the computer got to. Here.” Liz smiled gratefully and took the papers from him.
The minute she laid on them, her face went a deathly pale. “Oh my god,” she gasped out.
We all rushed over. Maybe something was wrong with us because all we saw were strange symbol things. “What is it?”
Liz met all of our eyes, “It’s in Antarian.”
Kyle glanced at her, “You can read Antarian?”
Max glared at him, “Now really isn’t the time, Kyle.” With wide eyes, he focused on Liz. “Do you know what it says?”
Liz’s eyes danced over the papers and she frowned. “Yes.”
We all looked at her expectantly and she began to read, “If you are reading this, than Antar’s biggest fears has come to life. Antar is no longer in existence. Our beloved home planet has been torn apart by war and famine. Some of our population has settled on a neighboring planet, but Antar as we know it is gone.
This scares us because this means that The Great Prophecy is about to take place. The Great Prophecy is a tale that foretells great pain and great joy. The first event that was foretold was the destruction of our planet. The second event was a reincarnated royal family. The third event prophesied was that one of the royals would be a traitor and only one with the truest of hearts could see it. But a very special, powerful human will take her place. Her greatness brought upon her by the blessings of two seals residing in one vessel. She alone will be able to restore Antar and it’s people--and save Earth--from war.”
Liz looked at me with wide eyes, “Is that me?”
Before I could respond, Max replied. “It has to be. All those events in the prophecy came true. You were the only one who never really trusted Tess and the two seals…it has to be you.”
Liz looked at me fearfully and than ran out of the room. I was about to run after her but Isabel grabbed my arm gently and said, “Let me handle this OK?”
Glancing at the door and than back at Isabel and I nodded reluctantly and watched at she ran after Liz. “What’s wrong with Liz?” Kyle asked in concern.
“I don’t know,” I replied and frowned deeply.
****
Liz
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I had no idea where I was running to but I kept running until my legs began to hurt. Kneeling over to even my breathing and ease the burning sensation in my lungs. “Oh God,” I groaned at tears streamed down my face.
There was no running from destiny. There never was. Collapsing against a nearby wall, I saw Isabel running up to me. Her face was red from the running. “Liz, what the hell was that back there?” she asked when she caught up to me.
“I can’t tell you,” I said through clenched teeth.
“No,” Isabel said. “I don’t buy that. Are you upset that you have to save the world?”
“No!” I exploded. “I don’t have to *do* anything.”
“Why are you so upset?” Isabel yelled, angry now. “This is the last thing that should upset you! We’ve gotten through tougher things than this! You‘re a fighter!”
Rising my defeated eyes to meet hers, I said, “We lost.”
“We what?”
Standing to my full height I continued, “We didn’t fight anything. We just went along with what destiny had in store for us, Isabel. Max and Tess were never meant to be together. You and Michael were never meant to be together. That book just said that you were *engineered* to do. But *this*, this very exact moment, is what was supposed to happen. What is truly meant to happen is terrible. We have to control over our lives, Isabel. We all have purposes in a huge plan and once we do them, we die.”
Isabel shook her head, “Liz..”
“There is more to the prophecy. There will be a huge war. The skins will come to Earth and they will destroy it and kill everything in their path. And than they will kill all of you. Kyle, Max, Alex, Michael like picking flies off of a wall. But I can save both worlds. The basis of every thing on our planets is energy. The granolith is the source of infinite energy. All I have to do is combine my energy with the granolith and Antar and Earth will come back anew. The granolith will compensate for all lives lost and Antar will completely rebuild itself but see, the thing is that I die in the process. All of you will be alive and every single soul on Antar will be alive. Great joy. Me, being dead and having to know that all of you are dead, great pain.
That is my destiny and it always has been. I’m the way I am for a reason. I get the stop the end of two worlds but mine ends. So, no, I didn’t fight anything.”
Isabel looked at me with disbelief, “Maybe you read it wrong.”
I shook my head sadly, “I wish I had but I didn’t. I don’t know how much we have left. So please don’t tell the others. What amount they have left, they should spend it being happy and not wondering when their lives are going to end. If you want, I can take this out of your memory so you can too.”
Isabel took a step back and held up a hand, “No. You aren’t even going to tell Michael?”
“I can block certain things out of the connection. Iz, I can’t say goodbye to him. I can’t.”
She nodded in understanding, “So there’s no chance to make it end differently?”
“I don’t think so. But we will fight the skins and we may lose but we are going to try. I know that.”
Isabel hugged me tightly, “You don’t deserve this.”
Smiling through my tears, I choked out. “I’m dead yet.”
Pulling away, Isabel replied, “But you will be.”
“And you’ll be alive and happy. All of you and that’s worth dying for.”
She smiled gratefully and we walked back to Alex’s house. Turns out that the map was the structure of a new housing development in LA. After some serious hacking done on Alex’s part, we found out the only current resident who had already reserved a house of a guy named Cal Langley.
In three days, we were heading out to LA to find out who this Cal Langley was.
*****
“Are you guys ready?” Alex asked for the last time before we began to head out to our supposed “Camping Trip” in Arizona for a school project. It’s amazing how well you can forge papers with a few alien tricks.
Michael and I smiled at each other and hopped into the van we had rented. Max and Isabel were in the front because Max was driving and Isabel chipped the rest of us out shotgun. Kyle was in the back with Michael and I. Michael and I had the back seats and since Alex was the smallest, he was in the back with the luggage. A place that he complained about constantly.
“You know if it weren’t for me, we weren’t even be finding this Cal Langley guy,” Alex tried to reason.
I turned around and smiled sweetly at him, “And we thank you so very much, Alex.”
Alex made a face at me and said, “Just because you’re all Buffy the vampire slayer-stopping Armageddon and what not, doesn’t give you the right to boss people around.”
Faltering at his comment about stopping Armageddon, Isabel caught my reactions and smiled sadly. We both didn’t talk about the prophecy much and I tried not to think about. Michael didn’t even have a clue because I had blocked it out of the connection. I was brought out of my thoughts my Kyle shouting, “Who wants music?” Holding up his CD holder, the car was filled by the six of us shouting out different music groups.
Kyle held up a hand and said, “I have the CD that can cure all of your problems.”
My eyes went wide with fear, “No, Kyle, don’t.”
“What?” came Isabel’s reply.
“Well Kyle has this strangely unnatural creepy obsession with…”
“The Spice Girls!” Kyle announced proudly while holding up the CD’s.
“NO!” we all yelped simultaneously.
“But come on guys, just *one* song!” he pleaded.
“Sure,” Max said. “If you want me to vomit all over the steering wheel which could result in a terrible car accident.”
We all laughed and than Max turned to Isabel, “Hey, Isabel. Didn’t you have an obsession with the Spice Girls too?”
“No,” she protested immediately.
“It was someone. Who was it?” Max said while giving her a look.
Propping my chin on Isabel’s car seat, I looked at her with a smirk on my face. “Who? C’mon, spill!”
Isabel turned bright red and mumbled something incoherent. “What?” Alex asked the back. “I couldn’t hear you!”
“Hanson! OK?” She shouted.
The car was silent for a moment and than we all busted out laughing. “It’s not that funny,” she said. “Like we all don’t have our little quirks!”
“Not as bad as an obsession with Hanson!” Kyle said back.
Michael pretending to think really hard, “Y’know I can’t remember if they were boys or girls.”
Ignoring Michael’s comment and turning on Kyle, Isabel remarked, “As if the Spice Girls are any better!”
Kyle glared at her, “Hey! That one chick was hot!”
“That is absolutely disgusting,” Isabel said.
Alex held up his hands and joked, “Well I have a confession to make. I have a very strange liking to The New Kids on The Block!”
Max, obviously not catching that it was a joke, replied. “Are you serious? Me too!”
I think he got the hint when we all started to laugh hysterically that Alex was joking. Max turned the radio on and a Dave Matthews Band song was on the radio.
When the world ends
Collect your things
You’re coming with me
When the world ends
You tuckle up yourself with me
Watch it as the stars disappear to nothing
The day the world is over
We’ll be lying in bed
I froze and everything kind of just went into slow motion. It suddenly hit me full force that I, quite possibly very soon, could not ever see these people again. My friends.
I’m gonna rock you like a baby when the cities fall
We will rise as the building’s crumble
Float there and watch it all
Amidst the burning, we’ll be churning
You know, love will be our wings
The passion rises up from the ashes
When the world ends
It was then that I realized that I was going to do anything in my power to fight this. I had given up and accepted my fate but maybe now wasn’t the time to stop fighting. It may be useless-it probably is--but if these people were worth dying for than they were worth fighting for too.
When the world ends
You’re gonna come with me
We’re going to be crazy
Like a river bends
We’re going to float
Through the criss cross of the mountains
Watch them fade to nothing
When the world ends
You know that’s what’s happening now
I’m going to be there with you somehow, oh...
__When the world ends by David Matthews Band
Last edited by Polarchica516 on Sun Oct 26, 2003 2:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.