Chapter Ten:
"Lizzie, are you okay in there?" her father called from outside the door and twisted the handle to come in.
Liz's jaw dropped open and she breathed an almost silent, "Oh my God."
She looked back in time to see the door swing open and her dad peer in.
"Are you okay, princess?" he asked calmly.
Too calmly, she thought.
"You look a little flustered; do you think you are coming down with something?"
She twisted around to look at the space immediately to her right. The spot that she knew Zan was still occupying because she could feel the warmth radiating off of him.
She was coming down with something alright: a crash course on the what it was that made aliens different from earthlings.
She (a little sickly) smiled at her dad, "I'm fine, just a little peaked. I'll be down in a little while."
He smiled back indulgently, "all right. Why don't you stay home today? You don't want to overdo it and then get really sick. Why don't you go back to sleep, I'll check on you again in an hour and see how you are feeling?" He closed the door.
She kept her eyes on the door until she heard him go down the hall and the stairs to the kitchen where her mother was already getting started with breakfast.
She turned around and looked straight into Zan's amused eyes.
"Oh my God," she said, "I saw my life flash before my eyes. I was sure that was it for both of us."
She paused for a second, "how did you do that?"
"It is one of my gifts," he answered.
She waited for him to elaborate. He didn't. "Gifts?"
"Yes, as a member of the royal family I am endowed with gifts. For protection, I am told, though they can be tempered with, which is why I am--er, was required to practice strategy and weaponry often."
"And, what, you can make yourself invisible?"
"In a way, it would be more accurate to say that I can make myself not be seen."
Not understanding the difference just looked at him blankly.
"It's like this. I can manipulate the molecule structure of things. The air around me is made up of molecules, so all I have to do is alter them in such a way that they bend the light rays and make it seem as if I am not there."
She looked at him awestruck. "That's amazing! What else can you do?"
He sighed and made himself more comfortable for what he was sure was going to turn into a long conversation.
He smiled and pulled Liz into his arms. He loved having Liz as a correspondent, but somehow discussing things--anything--with Liz was so much better when he could feel next to him, her head tucked into his shoulder.
****
When Zan did not come to have breakfast with his family. No one thought much of it. They thought that he was mayhap still sulking in his room after having been told that he could not take a vacation.
When his tutor arrived for what should have been his first class and did not find him there. He did not think much of it. Maybe the prince had been unavoidably detained and the last thing he needed was for the king to think of him as either an alarmist or a silly fool that could not control his student. But when Zan had still not shown up half an hour later, he personally informed the king of his absence.
King Treh of Antar was upset. He decided he was tired of his son's silly temper tantrums and marched to his chambers to forcefully guide him to his lessons and read him a lecture on responsibility he would never forget.
But when he got there, Zan was not there. He raised the alarm.
The palace and the palace grounds where searched, the guards on the night watch were questioned, video surveillance was reviewed, but they came up with nothing.
King Treh ordered Zan's room be scanned for clues. Then, he dispatched an order telling everyone that the prince's disappearance be kept a secret.
If news of his disappearance were known, it could be disastrous. If he had left of his own accord--and Treh hoped and prayed he had--his son was out alone, with no protection.
King Treh watched the sun go down over the horizon, wondering where in the four planets hid his son.
TBC...
Notes from Outer Space (M/L), Teen, Ch. 17B 8/25
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
Chapter Eleven:
Liz cuddled closer to Zan, still not quite believing that she was meeting him, speaking to him, seeing him.
"So that's it?" she asked looking up at him.
"Pretty much," Zan answered, "we really are not all that different. According to the Granolith, we are not even different species. Biologically, our differences are so trivial, it would be like meeting someone with a different blood type." He went on, stroking her hair.
Zan looked down at Liz and was filled with conflicting emotions and understood none of them.
In meeting Liz, he felt the same and different. He had known her forever, but was just now seeing her. He was just now putting a face to the name scrawled on all those notes. All those thousands of notes.
He had no secrets from her. She had shared in the worst and the best moments of his life.
He had always shared all his thoughts with her, his opinions. She had always been his best friend, his confidant. The one person that he felt he could talk to about anything.
During the entire length of their correspondence, she had been an extremely important part of his life, but a sexless one.
And that, he suddenly realized, was what was bothering him. He had never thought of Liz as a girl, but now, having met her, he could hot ignore it.
She was a girl. She did not chase him down or try to lure him, but she was a girl, and he found himself wishing she would.
Liz looked up to find Zan staring at her intently.
"Liz," he asked, "have you ever been kissed?"
"Uh," was all she could manage to get through her suddenly very dry throat.
"I haven't," he went on, "never wanted to. I think my parents were always afraid that I was maybe not interested in girls and that is why they wanted me to get married so much."
Liz tried to speak again, but all she managed was to soundlessly move her lips.
Zan looked down at them and asked, "Liz, would you mind if I kissed you?"
Liz shook her head. When Zan just looked at her blankly, she squeaked, "no. No, I don't."
Zan lowered his head and touched his lips to hers, but as soon as he had done so the door flew open.
"Liz, Oh my God, I was so worried when I didn't see you in school that I had to come during lunch and check on you. I mean, you never miss school, ever." The blond whirlwind finally stopped as she finally took in the scene before her. "Who the hell is this?"
Zan disengaged his lips from Liz's, and extended his hand the way that Liz had taught him earlier. "Hello," he said, "you must be Maria"
TBC...
A/N: Thanks for all the wonderful feedback. More soon..
Liz cuddled closer to Zan, still not quite believing that she was meeting him, speaking to him, seeing him.
"So that's it?" she asked looking up at him.
"Pretty much," Zan answered, "we really are not all that different. According to the Granolith, we are not even different species. Biologically, our differences are so trivial, it would be like meeting someone with a different blood type." He went on, stroking her hair.
Zan looked down at Liz and was filled with conflicting emotions and understood none of them.
In meeting Liz, he felt the same and different. He had known her forever, but was just now seeing her. He was just now putting a face to the name scrawled on all those notes. All those thousands of notes.
He had no secrets from her. She had shared in the worst and the best moments of his life.
He had always shared all his thoughts with her, his opinions. She had always been his best friend, his confidant. The one person that he felt he could talk to about anything.
During the entire length of their correspondence, she had been an extremely important part of his life, but a sexless one.
And that, he suddenly realized, was what was bothering him. He had never thought of Liz as a girl, but now, having met her, he could hot ignore it.
She was a girl. She did not chase him down or try to lure him, but she was a girl, and he found himself wishing she would.
Liz looked up to find Zan staring at her intently.
"Liz," he asked, "have you ever been kissed?"
"Uh," was all she could manage to get through her suddenly very dry throat.
"I haven't," he went on, "never wanted to. I think my parents were always afraid that I was maybe not interested in girls and that is why they wanted me to get married so much."
Liz tried to speak again, but all she managed was to soundlessly move her lips.
Zan looked down at them and asked, "Liz, would you mind if I kissed you?"
Liz shook her head. When Zan just looked at her blankly, she squeaked, "no. No, I don't."
Zan lowered his head and touched his lips to hers, but as soon as he had done so the door flew open.
"Liz, Oh my God, I was so worried when I didn't see you in school that I had to come during lunch and check on you. I mean, you never miss school, ever." The blond whirlwind finally stopped as she finally took in the scene before her. "Who the hell is this?"
Zan disengaged his lips from Liz's, and extended his hand the way that Liz had taught him earlier. "Hello," he said, "you must be Maria"
TBC...
A/N: Thanks for all the wonderful feedback. More soon..
Last edited by terri25 on Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Chapter Twelve:
"Yes, I am Maria," she said looking at his hand and then back up to his face suspiciously, "who are you?"
Zan smiled with all the charm of someone trained in diplomacy from birth.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he began, "I am--"
"Max!" Liz jumped in behind him. "This is Max; he is an old friend, uh, correspondent, uh, pen pal."
"Hmmmm," Maria began, "I didn't know you had a pen pal, Liz? How long have the two of been," she paused, meaningfully looking at the bed, "corresponding?"
Liz blushed crimson.
Zan sent Maria a stern look. "We have been corresponding since we were children," he answered, every inch the crown prince he was, "though I fail to see how we owe you any explanations."
It was Maria's turn to blush.
"Bu-but," she stammered, pulled out her cedar oil and took a big sniff to regain her composure, "I have known Liz since we were in diapers and she has never mentioned you."
Zan smiled, happy to hear that Liz too had been loyal to their pact.
"No one knew," he said, "we were secret friends, but now that I am here that became a moot point."
"Liz?" Maria asked looking at her.
"Z-Max is very important to me," she answered, "I care about him a lot. We agreed to keep our correspondence a secret a long time ago. I would think that you would want me to be loyal to all of my friends."
"Of course," Maria said shamefaced, "of course. I'm sorry, you just took me by surprise."
Her expression then changed to one of extreme curiosity, "now, about what I walked in on..."
Zan and Liz looked at each other and blushed, and Maria knew that this was going to be good.
****
Rath looked around Zan's chambers still not quite believing that he was gone.
He would be his second in command, his chief of security and his friend, and he had failed him.
He looked at the brochures and at the files on different beaches and resorts that he had found in Zan's organizer. At least they were reasonably sure that Zan had left on his own, he thought with some relief.
Rath took one last look at the room not able to help feeling that he was missing something.
Somewhere inside that room, he was sure, lay the key to finding Zan.
He just had to find it.
TBC...
"Yes, I am Maria," she said looking at his hand and then back up to his face suspiciously, "who are you?"
Zan smiled with all the charm of someone trained in diplomacy from birth.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he began, "I am--"
"Max!" Liz jumped in behind him. "This is Max; he is an old friend, uh, correspondent, uh, pen pal."
"Hmmmm," Maria began, "I didn't know you had a pen pal, Liz? How long have the two of been," she paused, meaningfully looking at the bed, "corresponding?"
Liz blushed crimson.
Zan sent Maria a stern look. "We have been corresponding since we were children," he answered, every inch the crown prince he was, "though I fail to see how we owe you any explanations."
It was Maria's turn to blush.
"Bu-but," she stammered, pulled out her cedar oil and took a big sniff to regain her composure, "I have known Liz since we were in diapers and she has never mentioned you."
Zan smiled, happy to hear that Liz too had been loyal to their pact.
"No one knew," he said, "we were secret friends, but now that I am here that became a moot point."
"Liz?" Maria asked looking at her.
"Z-Max is very important to me," she answered, "I care about him a lot. We agreed to keep our correspondence a secret a long time ago. I would think that you would want me to be loyal to all of my friends."
"Of course," Maria said shamefaced, "of course. I'm sorry, you just took me by surprise."
Her expression then changed to one of extreme curiosity, "now, about what I walked in on..."
Zan and Liz looked at each other and blushed, and Maria knew that this was going to be good.
****
Rath looked around Zan's chambers still not quite believing that he was gone.
He would be his second in command, his chief of security and his friend, and he had failed him.
He looked at the brochures and at the files on different beaches and resorts that he had found in Zan's organizer. At least they were reasonably sure that Zan had left on his own, he thought with some relief.
Rath took one last look at the room not able to help feeling that he was missing something.
Somewhere inside that room, he was sure, lay the key to finding Zan.
He just had to find it.
TBC...
Last edited by terri25 on Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Chapter Thirteen A:
"Okay, let me see if I understand this. I am by no means very responsible. In fact, I often rely on Liz here to be the responsible one in our relationship, but what you are telling me here is that you," she said looking at Zan, "ran away from home to come visit Liz."
"And you," she continued looking at Liz, "are helping him and hiding him. Now, I am no expert, but I think that is a crime, isn't it?"
Zan looked at her unwaveringly, "you need not worry that I will ever do anything to put Liz in any danger."
"Oh, yeah," Maria responded skeptically, "and who is going to protect Liz from her parents when they find out that she has been hiding a boy in her bedroom?"
"If and when that happens, I will," Zan answered firmly.
"And when they send you home to your parents, who is going to protect her then? You two," she said pointing back and forth between them, "are crazy."
Zan pulled Liz into his arms before answering. "When I return home," he said, voicing a decision he hadn't even been aware he'd made, "I won't be alone."
TBC...
I know it's short, but I wanted to get this little bit out today. The rest will be up either Tuesday or Wednesday.
"Okay, let me see if I understand this. I am by no means very responsible. In fact, I often rely on Liz here to be the responsible one in our relationship, but what you are telling me here is that you," she said looking at Zan, "ran away from home to come visit Liz."
"And you," she continued looking at Liz, "are helping him and hiding him. Now, I am no expert, but I think that is a crime, isn't it?"
Zan looked at her unwaveringly, "you need not worry that I will ever do anything to put Liz in any danger."
"Oh, yeah," Maria responded skeptically, "and who is going to protect Liz from her parents when they find out that she has been hiding a boy in her bedroom?"
"If and when that happens, I will," Zan answered firmly.
"And when they send you home to your parents, who is going to protect her then? You two," she said pointing back and forth between them, "are crazy."
Zan pulled Liz into his arms before answering. "When I return home," he said, voicing a decision he hadn't even been aware he'd made, "I won't be alone."
TBC...
I know it's short, but I wanted to get this little bit out today. The rest will be up either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Last edited by terri25 on Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Chapter Thirteen B:
Zan pulled Liz into his arms before answering. "When I return home," he said, voicing a decision he hadn't even been aware he'd made, "I won't be alone."
Maria's jaw dropped to the floor as Liz scrambled out of Zan's arms.
"Za-Max! Are you sure--I mean--Canada is kind of far away; are you sure I can make the trip?" Liz asked shocked.
Maria finally found her voice, "You cannot take Liz with you when you leave! Are you crazy? You are teenagers, you can't take care of yourselves. Seriously, you are losing your grip on reality." She stopped to catch her breath and turned to Liz pleadingly, "Liz, you could go to Harvard."
Zan turned to Liz, "You can make the trip, and, like I said earlier, Canada really isn't all that different. You'll survive, you might even like it."
The more he thought of it, the more he liked the idea of taking Liz with him. Showing her around Antar, introducing her to the important people in his life, getting her thoughts and opinions. He had always envisioned Liz as a permanent part of his life, but if he took her with him maybe she'd like it and want to stay.
He wanted her to choose him, like he was choosing her. Zan knew that this was right, his life had been moving in this direction ever since he had gotten the first message.
Liz looked back and forth between Zan and Maria. She could not speak to Zan about going to Antar Maria was gone, but she also did not want him to think that she was ignoring his offer.
She made her decision, "Maria, this is all a moot point since I haven't gotten caught and not in a position to have to run away. You shouldn't worry about any of this, really, we can handle this. We won't get caught and Max would never do anything to harm me. I trust him implicitly. I have known him almost as long as I have known you. Trust me to know what it best."
"Okay," Maria whispered, "I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I won't," Liz answered with conviction.
Maria wiped a tear off her face and looked down at her watch. "Well, I better go, or I won't make it to class on time, and God knows I cannot afford any more tardies I am this close to losing credit," she said almost pinching her thumb and index finger together.
"It was good to meet you, Max," she finished and left.
Liz turned to Zan, "I would love to go to Antar, and not only if I got in trouble."
TBC...
Zan pulled Liz into his arms before answering. "When I return home," he said, voicing a decision he hadn't even been aware he'd made, "I won't be alone."
Maria's jaw dropped to the floor as Liz scrambled out of Zan's arms.
"Za-Max! Are you sure--I mean--Canada is kind of far away; are you sure I can make the trip?" Liz asked shocked.
Maria finally found her voice, "You cannot take Liz with you when you leave! Are you crazy? You are teenagers, you can't take care of yourselves. Seriously, you are losing your grip on reality." She stopped to catch her breath and turned to Liz pleadingly, "Liz, you could go to Harvard."
Zan turned to Liz, "You can make the trip, and, like I said earlier, Canada really isn't all that different. You'll survive, you might even like it."
The more he thought of it, the more he liked the idea of taking Liz with him. Showing her around Antar, introducing her to the important people in his life, getting her thoughts and opinions. He had always envisioned Liz as a permanent part of his life, but if he took her with him maybe she'd like it and want to stay.
He wanted her to choose him, like he was choosing her. Zan knew that this was right, his life had been moving in this direction ever since he had gotten the first message.
Liz looked back and forth between Zan and Maria. She could not speak to Zan about going to Antar Maria was gone, but she also did not want him to think that she was ignoring his offer.
She made her decision, "Maria, this is all a moot point since I haven't gotten caught and not in a position to have to run away. You shouldn't worry about any of this, really, we can handle this. We won't get caught and Max would never do anything to harm me. I trust him implicitly. I have known him almost as long as I have known you. Trust me to know what it best."
"Okay," Maria whispered, "I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I won't," Liz answered with conviction.
Maria wiped a tear off her face and looked down at her watch. "Well, I better go, or I won't make it to class on time, and God knows I cannot afford any more tardies I am this close to losing credit," she said almost pinching her thumb and index finger together.
"It was good to meet you, Max," she finished and left.
Liz turned to Zan, "I would love to go to Antar, and not only if I got in trouble."
TBC...
Chapter Fourteen A:
Liz turned to Zan, "I would love to go to Antar, and not only if I got in trouble." She reached up and caressed his cheek.
Zan pulled her into his arms and whispered, "I will take you, but, as for now, let's go out and see some of your planet."
****
Rath was tearing Zan's room apart. He pulled out the carpet, moved the armoire off the wall and emptied it of its contents. He took the drawers out of his desk and examined evey piece of paper in, on and around it.
He made his way into the walk-in closet and searched every pocket, every box.
Exhausted, frustrated and angry, he threw himself on his friend's bed. Zan had been missing for five days now, and none of them had heard a word. Rumors were starting to fly around that the Crown Prince was missing and some of the radical groups were already claiming to have him.
He had failed him. He had not protected him. What kind of security expert could he be if he could not protect his friend? If he could not find him?
He got up abruptly and, in doing so, rattled the cubby under Zan's bed. Hearing it, he looked under the bed and, seeing it, he pulled the cubby out.
He was examining the contents, trying to make sense of the papers with the strange symbols on them, when Princess Vi walked in.
She had been visiting her brothers room every day since he had gone missing. They had never been especially close, but being in his room made her feel better especially with all the rumors flying around.
She noticed Rath staring at the things on her brother's bed. "What's going on?"
"I don't know," Rath answered, "but I think these have something to do with why your brother is missing?"
TBC...
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this out. My computer crashed and I had to get it fixed. Unfortunately, when I got it back all my files were gone and I have no backup. So it might be a little slow getting the next few parts out since I will have to rewrite them. Happy Holidays, everyone.
Liz turned to Zan, "I would love to go to Antar, and not only if I got in trouble." She reached up and caressed his cheek.
Zan pulled her into his arms and whispered, "I will take you, but, as for now, let's go out and see some of your planet."
****
Rath was tearing Zan's room apart. He pulled out the carpet, moved the armoire off the wall and emptied it of its contents. He took the drawers out of his desk and examined evey piece of paper in, on and around it.
He made his way into the walk-in closet and searched every pocket, every box.
Exhausted, frustrated and angry, he threw himself on his friend's bed. Zan had been missing for five days now, and none of them had heard a word. Rumors were starting to fly around that the Crown Prince was missing and some of the radical groups were already claiming to have him.
He had failed him. He had not protected him. What kind of security expert could he be if he could not protect his friend? If he could not find him?
He got up abruptly and, in doing so, rattled the cubby under Zan's bed. Hearing it, he looked under the bed and, seeing it, he pulled the cubby out.
He was examining the contents, trying to make sense of the papers with the strange symbols on them, when Princess Vi walked in.
She had been visiting her brothers room every day since he had gone missing. They had never been especially close, but being in his room made her feel better especially with all the rumors flying around.
She noticed Rath staring at the things on her brother's bed. "What's going on?"
"I don't know," Rath answered, "but I think these have something to do with why your brother is missing?"
TBC...
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this out. My computer crashed and I had to get it fixed. Unfortunately, when I got it back all my files were gone and I have no backup. So it might be a little slow getting the next few parts out since I will have to rewrite them. Happy Holidays, everyone.
Last edited by terri25 on Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Notes from Outer Space (M/L), Teen, Ch. 14A 12/17 [WIP]
Chapter Fourteen B:
Zan and Liz made the most of their almost week together. They explored the desert, went to the quarry, even attended the Annual Crash Festival. Liz was slightly embarrassed. Zan thought it an interesting social phenomenon.
There had been no more kisses.
They just talked. Explored the desert and fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Zan, however, was starting to feel antsy being cooped up by himself in Liz’s room during the day when she was at school. At first, he had not minded so much, it gave him a chance to get a better feel of Liz. He explored her room the way they explored the desert since both were equally new and foreign to him.
After a few days, though, he was starting to get bored, and boredom had never been his friend. It had gotten him in trouble at six for taking his train apart, and it would likely yield a similar result when Liz came home to find her laptop replaced by a pile of chips and wires.
He had waved his hand over it, and it had come together. Just incorrectly.
He rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand and leaned on his elbows in front of it.
So concentrated was he on the problem in front of him that he did not hear the bedroom door open. He did, however, hear the scream that followed.
TBC…
Zan and Liz made the most of their almost week together. They explored the desert, went to the quarry, even attended the Annual Crash Festival. Liz was slightly embarrassed. Zan thought it an interesting social phenomenon.
There had been no more kisses.
They just talked. Explored the desert and fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Zan, however, was starting to feel antsy being cooped up by himself in Liz’s room during the day when she was at school. At first, he had not minded so much, it gave him a chance to get a better feel of Liz. He explored her room the way they explored the desert since both were equally new and foreign to him.
After a few days, though, he was starting to get bored, and boredom had never been his friend. It had gotten him in trouble at six for taking his train apart, and it would likely yield a similar result when Liz came home to find her laptop replaced by a pile of chips and wires.
He had waved his hand over it, and it had come together. Just incorrectly.
He rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand and leaned on his elbows in front of it.
So concentrated was he on the problem in front of him that he did not hear the bedroom door open. He did, however, hear the scream that followed.
TBC…
Re: Notes from Outer Space (M/L), Teen, Ch. 14B 7/19
Chapter Fifteen A:
Rath and Vilondra spent the better part of the day sorting through the stuff they found in the cubby. Most of it, they deduced, were notes--years of them--written in some type of code.
The only thing they did recognize was the communication orb.
"Have you ever seen any of this stuff?" Rath asked Vi.
She shook her head no, "Some of it is quite old. Do you see this? This was written on the back of one of his school notes from seven years ago. Whoever these notes are from, he has been touch with him for a long time.
"You don't think...." She trailed off unable to finish the thought.
"What?" Rath said roughly, still not really believing that his friend was able to keep a secret like this for so long.
"Well, a lot of the rebel groups are claiming responsibility. You don't think that one of them has him, do you? You don't think that one of them was able to build a relationship with him for years finally getting his trust enough to induce him to run away, right?"
"Your brother knows better, Vi. He'd never do anything to jeopardize the Crown."
"I don't know." She paused, "I think I need to tell you something."
Rath gestured mutely for her to continue.
"About a week before he disappeared, I saw Zan coming out of the Granolith chamber. I didn't think much of it. You know how when he was younger he'd go there to think and he had been so upset lately, but in light of this...."
Rath nodded. "I don't think we should mention this to anyone else until we have investigated further. If Zan left of his own volition to meet this friend, we don't want to put him in any additional danger by allowing someone to figure out where he is before we do. And right now," he said looking around, "I don't know who I can trust."
"We should begin in the Granolith chamber. it is the only real link we have," Vilondra said. "It should respond to me since I am just as royal as Zan."
"We'll meet there tonight. Don't worry," he said giving her a brotherly pat on the cheek, "we'll find him." And then, he added to himself, I'll teach him to keep secrets of this magnitude from his future chief of security.
TBC...
A/N: Thank you for all the enthusiatic feedback. It feels great to be back.
Rath and Vilondra spent the better part of the day sorting through the stuff they found in the cubby. Most of it, they deduced, were notes--years of them--written in some type of code.
The only thing they did recognize was the communication orb.
"Have you ever seen any of this stuff?" Rath asked Vi.
She shook her head no, "Some of it is quite old. Do you see this? This was written on the back of one of his school notes from seven years ago. Whoever these notes are from, he has been touch with him for a long time.
"You don't think...." She trailed off unable to finish the thought.
"What?" Rath said roughly, still not really believing that his friend was able to keep a secret like this for so long.
"Well, a lot of the rebel groups are claiming responsibility. You don't think that one of them has him, do you? You don't think that one of them was able to build a relationship with him for years finally getting his trust enough to induce him to run away, right?"
"Your brother knows better, Vi. He'd never do anything to jeopardize the Crown."
"I don't know." She paused, "I think I need to tell you something."
Rath gestured mutely for her to continue.
"About a week before he disappeared, I saw Zan coming out of the Granolith chamber. I didn't think much of it. You know how when he was younger he'd go there to think and he had been so upset lately, but in light of this...."
Rath nodded. "I don't think we should mention this to anyone else until we have investigated further. If Zan left of his own volition to meet this friend, we don't want to put him in any additional danger by allowing someone to figure out where he is before we do. And right now," he said looking around, "I don't know who I can trust."
"We should begin in the Granolith chamber. it is the only real link we have," Vilondra said. "It should respond to me since I am just as royal as Zan."
"We'll meet there tonight. Don't worry," he said giving her a brotherly pat on the cheek, "we'll find him." And then, he added to himself, I'll teach him to keep secrets of this magnitude from his future chief of security.
TBC...
A/N: Thank you for all the enthusiatic feedback. It feels great to be back.
Re: Notes from Outer Space (M/L), Teen, Ch. 15A 7/27
Chapter Fifteen B:
Zan whipped around to see Liz bearing down on him.
"What happened?" she asked pausing between words shocked to see her computer or what used to be her computer.
"Well, you see..."
"Liz, are you okay, honey?" her mom asked as she made her way down the hall to Liz's bedroom.
"Fine, mom." She answered as her mom came into her room. "I just had a little accident with my computer," she explained looking around to make sure that Zan had "disappeared."
"A little accident?" Nancy asked stepping further into the room. "Where is it? Maybe we can take it in to Mike..." she began, stopping when she saw her daughter shaking her head looking at the congealed mess of technology on the floor.
"I don't think that Mike can do much for it, mom."
"What happened?" Nancy asked in the same tone her daughter had used only a few moments earlier.
"Well, you see..." Liz began trying to come up with a plausible explanation.
"I ran over it with my automobile," said Zan popping up behind Liz's mom, "I apologize once again and it will, of course, be replaced."
"Who are you?" Nancy asked the young man in front of her.
"I'm... Max. From Canada," he explained remembering their cover story.
"From Canada, huh?" she murmured noticing his accent. "And Max, do you normally barge into young women's rooms without asking permission or knocking?"
"Well Max, " said Liz stepped in making her way to his side and grabbing ahold of his forearm, "was coming over to study. I told him to just come in."
"How did he know which room was yours?" Nancy asked narrowing her eyes at "Max".
"He has a really good sense of direction," Liz responded.
"Right," Nancy responded suspicious, "the door stays open, Liz. I will leave the two of you to sort out the computer mess."
She left reminding herself to come check on them every so often.
"Canadian?" she muttered to herself, "what do these kids take me for?"
TBC...
Zan whipped around to see Liz bearing down on him.
"What happened?" she asked pausing between words shocked to see her computer or what used to be her computer.
"Well, you see..."
"Liz, are you okay, honey?" her mom asked as she made her way down the hall to Liz's bedroom.
"Fine, mom." She answered as her mom came into her room. "I just had a little accident with my computer," she explained looking around to make sure that Zan had "disappeared."
"A little accident?" Nancy asked stepping further into the room. "Where is it? Maybe we can take it in to Mike..." she began, stopping when she saw her daughter shaking her head looking at the congealed mess of technology on the floor.
"I don't think that Mike can do much for it, mom."
"What happened?" Nancy asked in the same tone her daughter had used only a few moments earlier.
"Well, you see..." Liz began trying to come up with a plausible explanation.
"I ran over it with my automobile," said Zan popping up behind Liz's mom, "I apologize once again and it will, of course, be replaced."
"Who are you?" Nancy asked the young man in front of her.
"I'm... Max. From Canada," he explained remembering their cover story.
"From Canada, huh?" she murmured noticing his accent. "And Max, do you normally barge into young women's rooms without asking permission or knocking?"
"Well Max, " said Liz stepped in making her way to his side and grabbing ahold of his forearm, "was coming over to study. I told him to just come in."
"How did he know which room was yours?" Nancy asked narrowing her eyes at "Max".
"He has a really good sense of direction," Liz responded.
"Right," Nancy responded suspicious, "the door stays open, Liz. I will leave the two of you to sort out the computer mess."
She left reminding herself to come check on them every so often.
"Canadian?" she muttered to herself, "what do these kids take me for?"
TBC...
Re: Notes from Outer Space (M/L), Teen, Ch. 15B 7/31
Chapter Sixteen A:
Rath waited for Vilandra in the Granolith chamber with the contents of the cubby spread out in front of him. He had tried to organize them as best he could, but it was all a mystery to him.
He had tried to question the Granolith, but, since he was not a royal, it refused to answer his questions beyond the obvious.
So far, all it would say is that the items were of a "foreign" origin from a planet with which Antar did not have regular contact. As if he was not able to see that for himself. He might be more inclined towards more physical than scholarly pursuits, but he was able to recognize all sixteen alphabets known to be used in the seven galaxies Antar associated with. This came from none of them. As far as he could tell, they were just squiggles and lines.
He glanced down at his time piece. Vilandra was late. Not that that was surprising, the princess had never been known to be on time. Rath had always thought that punctuality and efficiency seemed to be in short supply among the females of the species. There was a reason that men tended to be at the helm of important matters such as government and warfare.
"Women," he muttered, only to be smacked on the back of the head.
"Unless you were about to go into a soliloquy on the wonder of women you deserved that," Vi responded to his wounded expression, bending down next to him. "What have you found out?"
"Nothing useful," Rath said frustrated, "the Granolith has not been big on cooperation, shall we say."
"Hmmm. Granolith!" she called out.
"Princess Vilandra."
"Where is my brother?" she asked directly.
"He is in a planet called Earth in the Milky Way galaxy."
"The Milky Way? I did not know that we had any contact with any planet there. How did he get there?" she asked tapping her chin with right index finger.
"He got there with my help, of course."
Vilandra thought about what was not said. The Granolith did not expound on Antar's relationship with the planet which meant, of course, there was none. Any contact between the two had been unofficial.
"We will have to go after him," she told the Granolith.
"I would advise against it."
"Why?" she questioned.
"Your brother spent years learning their language and culture. The two of you know nothing. You could never blend in, and, as I informed your brother, these earthlings are not prepared to know of life on other planets."
"Then we will need a crash course on planet Earth" Rath said stepping into the conversation, tired of being on the sidelines.
Vi nodded her assent. "Tell us what we need to know to rescue my brother."
TBC...
Rath waited for Vilandra in the Granolith chamber with the contents of the cubby spread out in front of him. He had tried to organize them as best he could, but it was all a mystery to him.
He had tried to question the Granolith, but, since he was not a royal, it refused to answer his questions beyond the obvious.
So far, all it would say is that the items were of a "foreign" origin from a planet with which Antar did not have regular contact. As if he was not able to see that for himself. He might be more inclined towards more physical than scholarly pursuits, but he was able to recognize all sixteen alphabets known to be used in the seven galaxies Antar associated with. This came from none of them. As far as he could tell, they were just squiggles and lines.
He glanced down at his time piece. Vilandra was late. Not that that was surprising, the princess had never been known to be on time. Rath had always thought that punctuality and efficiency seemed to be in short supply among the females of the species. There was a reason that men tended to be at the helm of important matters such as government and warfare.
"Women," he muttered, only to be smacked on the back of the head.
"Unless you were about to go into a soliloquy on the wonder of women you deserved that," Vi responded to his wounded expression, bending down next to him. "What have you found out?"
"Nothing useful," Rath said frustrated, "the Granolith has not been big on cooperation, shall we say."
"Hmmm. Granolith!" she called out.
"Princess Vilandra."
"Where is my brother?" she asked directly.
"He is in a planet called Earth in the Milky Way galaxy."
"The Milky Way? I did not know that we had any contact with any planet there. How did he get there?" she asked tapping her chin with right index finger.
"He got there with my help, of course."
Vilandra thought about what was not said. The Granolith did not expound on Antar's relationship with the planet which meant, of course, there was none. Any contact between the two had been unofficial.
"We will have to go after him," she told the Granolith.
"I would advise against it."
"Why?" she questioned.
"Your brother spent years learning their language and culture. The two of you know nothing. You could never blend in, and, as I informed your brother, these earthlings are not prepared to know of life on other planets."
"Then we will need a crash course on planet Earth" Rath said stepping into the conversation, tired of being on the sidelines.
Vi nodded her assent. "Tell us what we need to know to rescue my brother."
TBC...