A/N: Hey readers and lurkers that I love soooooo much. I’m writing a Christmas story. It’s called A Tail of Three Christmas’s. http://www.roswellfanatics.net/viewtopi ... 610#305610 That’s the link. I hope you will all go and read it and tell me what you think. But that’s not what any of you are here for so without feather ado here’s the next part. Lalala
Chapter Eleven
Max & Liz’s Apartment
After finally being situated into their new apartment things seemed to go relatively well for Max and Liz. They settled in together comfortably, and living together proved to be a wonderful experience for the two of them. Even their parents were dealing with it in an unusually pleasant manner. But although things were going so well for them they had still not yet told their parents about the fact that Max Michael and Isabel were not of this earth. Whenever the topic of when they would tell their parent was brought up, mostly by Isabel, Max would just answer soon. Liz was beginning to worry. She knew that Max feared telling their parents, but they had all agreed that it would be for the best. She knew that Isabel was becoming impatient with her brother and his stalling, so she had promised Isabel that she would discuss the situation with Max.
On the morning she planed to have this little talk with Max, Liz wasn’t feeling very well, an unfortunate side effect from her pregnancy. She had spent most of the morning huddled against the side of the toilet throwing up all of the wonderful breakfast that Max had made for her. She was used to being sick in the morning. As it turned out morning sickness had broadcast itself as a frequent occurrence in her pregnancy. But on this particular morning she was sicker then was customary. The smell of anything had the ability to send her running for the bathroom, and just a slight jarring would have her stomach in knots.
Max, who had insisted that she was too sick to even think about going to school, sat beside her on the bed with a glass of juice, the only thing she seemed to be able to keep down, and a wet warm towel.
“Liz sweetheart, are you sure you don’t want me to stay home with you today?” he asked her for the millionth time as he gently smoothed her forehead over with the towel.
Liz just shook her head and gave Max as reassuring of a smile as she could muster. She didn’t want him to miss school just because she wasn’t feeling well. Morning sickness was something that they would both have to deal with. She knew that Max was scared for her. Pregnancy was new for both of them. And everything was ten times scarier considering they had no clue of the things that were normal to alien pregnancy, and they barely had any inkling of what things were normal to a human pregnancy. So a combination was completely off the wall for them.
“Max, I’m sure.” She said bringing his hand that held hers to her lips and kissing it softly. “I’ll be fine, I promise.”
But she wasn’t fine, in fact, when Max came home from school she was much worse then she had been when he had left in the morning. She was weaker, and sicker, and she could barely move from their bed. Max was pretty sure that she was also running a fever. He was frantic. He didn’t know who to call, or what to do. He wanted to call her parents or his parents, but he wasn’t sure if this was a normal pregnancy or if it were something alien related. So he did the next best thing that he could think of. He called Maria.
“Hello?” she answered on the second ring.
“Hello Maria, is that you? It’s Max, I need help.”
“Max what’s wrong?” Maria asked worriedly, startled by the franticness in Max’s voice.
“I don’t know. It’s Liz. Something’s wrong with her. She’s really sick, and I don’t know what to do.” Max said as he changed the wet cloth on Liz’s forehead.
“Okay, Max calm down. What’s wrong with her?” Maria asked
“Well she was sick this morning when we got up, that’s why she wasn’t at school today, but I just thought that it was a bad case of morning sickness and that by the time I got home she would be fine. But when I came in she was even worse. She’s running a fever and she’s really weak. Is this supposed to be happening?”
Liz moaned softly and rolled her head to one side. Max placed his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. She was still really warm.
“A fever? I’m not really sure, Listen Max I’ll be over in a little bit okay, just try to keep her cool, and um I don’t know see if you can get a flash or something.” Maria said, he could hear moving in the background that suggested that Maria was most likely on her way out the door.
“I’ll call Michael and the other’s and tell them to bring the healing stones.” She finished.
“Okay.” Max said and hung up the phone. Bending over Liz he took her head, which lulled about, in both of his head and forced her to keep it straight.
“Liz look at me baby.” He whispered softly to her. “You have to look at me.”
She could barely keep her eyes open as the gazed into his. They blinked several times then returned to their closed position.
Closing his eyes Max tried to think. He couldn’t make a connection with her if he couldn’t get her to look at him.
“Come on sweetheart.” He said lifting her a little to rest against him. “Just open your eyes for me okay. That’s all I need you to do.”
“Max?” she whispered weakly, and her eyes slid open slightly.
“Yeah, sweetie, I’m right here.” Max said relieved that he had gotten her to open her eyes. But his relief was short lived as her eyes again slid shut.
Sighing, Max allowed her to rest against him for a bit before trying again to get her to open her eyes.
“Liz please, open your eyes. I have to know that you’re alright.”
Again her eyes stayed closed.
So he waited. He waited for the others to arrive with the healing stones in hopes that whatever was wrong with Liz could be cured that way, and he prayed that whatever it was would not hurt her.
About half an hour later Max got up from the bed at the sound of knocking on the door. He was sure that it was Maria and the rest of the gang. He was completely relived when he opened the door and was almost knocked over by Hurricane Maria as she came blowing threw the door.
“Where is she?” she asked immediately.
“She’s in the bedroom.” Max answered as he led the way. “Did you bring the healing stones?”
“Got em right here.” Michael said holding up the box that had the healing stones for Max to see.
“Good, everybody take one, and form a circle.” Max said and began to hand them out to them all.
“Wait Max are you sure we should do this before we know what’s wrong with her?” Isabel asked as they all began to form a circle around Liz.
“Something isn’t right with her, Isabel and that’s all that I need to know.” Max said.
Maria, who was sitting beside Liz on the bed looked up at Max.
”Has anything strange happened to her? Any glowing or things like that?” she asked.
“No” Max said shaking his head at them all. He knew it seemed as if he were overacting, but this was Liz, and there was no way that he was taking a chance with her life, or the life of his unborn child.
“Max I think that we all need to just calm down.” Alex said trying to reason with Max.
“No, stop telling me to calm down, something is wrong with her, and we have no idea what it is. This could be just a normal pregnancy thing, but I highly doubt it. I’ve never seen anything like this, and if it’s an alien thing, how do we know that she’ll get better? She hasn’t you know. She’s gotten progressively worse, and I’m not going to just sit her and let her die!”
All was quite in the small apartment, and slowly the five of them began to form a circle around Liz.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Five heads shot up at the intrusion in fear and in wonder, and all five heads were shocked when they stood face to face with Tess.
Not Far Away
Shellva looked up with a start as he felt a prickling sensation travel threw his body. It was time. Perfect. It seemed as if it had taken forever, but now that the queen was adapting then he could make himself known to the other. He would have to make himself know to the others. He would have to be careful doing this. He didn’t want to scare the rest of them away from him. But he needed them to trust him.
Taking his watch out of his pocket he looked at it again. Hmm, still on schedule. Perfect. Well it was time for him to make his grand entrance.
TBC
And We Will Love (CC,M/L,ADULT) Ch12 1/9/05 [WIP]
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YES!! My goal was to get this part out before it has been a month since I last posted. Another six or seven days and… But anyway, I know that you all have waited a while for this so I just want to say thanks for your patients. It’s not the most exciting chapter, but it is a bit informative. Here it is Lalala.
Chapter (what chapter is this again?) oh yeah Chapter Twelve
Max and Liz’s apartment.
Max looked up at the sound of the intruder’s voice and immediately slipped his healing stone in his back pocket. Isabel’s friend Tess? What was she doing here? How did she even know they were all here? A bad feeling began to form in the pit of his stomach. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all.
“How did you know we were here?” Max asked, not bothering to hide that something was obviously going on here, and Tess didn’t seem too surprised by it.
“No I think the question you’re looking for Maxwell is how did you get in here?” Michael gave Tess a suspicious look. It was obvious that he didn’t trust her either.
Tess walked forward holding her hands up defensively in front of her.
“None of that matters right now. All that matters is that I know what you are, and I can tell you right now that using the healing stones is pointless.”
“What are you doing here Tess?” Isabel asked her friend plastering on a fake welcoming smile. She didn’t know what was going on, but she wasn’t going to give Tess any more information then what she seemed to already have.
Max took his stone out of his pocket and looked at it. So she knew about the stones too. Who was this person? Every since she and Isabel had become friends he had had a weird feeling whenever she was around. Like something wasn’t quite right about her and she wasn’t exactly who she said she was.
“Who are you, and what do you know about what’s happening to Liz?” he asked
“I’m one of you, and I’m here to help.” She said smiling at him.
“What do you mean you’re here to help? What’s happening to Liz?” Maria asked. Her voice was a bit hysterical and she was starting to panic. Alex walked over to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Listen, it’s all a long story, and I don’t have time to tell it, but if you want to help Liz then you’re going to have to trust me.” Tess gave Max a look that said she was waiting for them to make a decision.
“I don’t trust you.” Michael said immediately.
“Michael!” Isabel gave him a look.
“What? She just waltzes in here out of the blue claming to be one of the good guys and we’re supposed to trust her? Well forget that. I’m gonna need a little more convincing then because you said ‘trust me’”
“I agree with Michael.” Max said coming to stand protectively in front of the bed. In front of Liz.
“Look” Tess started agitatedly. “I want to help you, and the only way that I can prove that to you is by helping you, but we don’t have much time. You either trust me or you don’t, but let me just worn you if you don’t, than she” Tess pointed to Liz. “Is most likely going to die.”
All were quiet.
Tess watched as Max slowly came towards her.
“Do you know what’s wrong with her? Can you help her?” he asked. Tess could hear the fear that he held that something bad was happening to his precious Liz. Well he didn’t have to worry about that. Keeping Liz safe was her number one priority. That is at least until the baby was born.
“I can’t help her, but I know someone that can. He knew this was going to happen, and he’s waiting for you all right now. But we have to hurry.”
“Wait what? Now you want us to take Liz somewhere else to meet someone that you say can help her when we don’t even trust you? Maxwell if you’re buying this then you must be outta your mi-”
“Shut-up Michael!” Max snapped causing everyone to look at him with surprise. Max groaned and placed his hand on his forehead. Right now the only thing that was of any importance to him was making sure that Liz was okay. That was something that one of them knew for sure.
“I have to make sure she’s alright. None of us know what’s wrong with her. She’s only been getting worse and if we stay here and do nothing she’ll probably continue to get worse. I can’t take that chance with her life.”
“So you’re willing to take the chance that this could be a setup?” Michael asked angrily.
“What do you want me to do Michael? Let her die?” Max yelled at his friend.
“Look you’d better make a decision because times running out.” Tess said.
As if to back up Tess’s words Liz let out a soft moan and began to shift restlessly in the bed.
“Max she’s really hot!” Maria said placing her hand on her friend’s forehead.
Max immediately walked over to Liz’s bedside and lifted her in his arms, taking the blanket with him, he wrapped it around her. She moaned weakly in his arms and then burrowed closer to his body.
“That’s it, we’re going.” He said and he headed towards the door. He was immediately fallowed by Tess, Maria, and Alex. Isabel moved to fallow them as well, but Michael placed his hand on her shoulder stopping her.
“Iz, do you trust her?” he asked
Isabel looked down but didn’t answer with a yes or a no. “Michael she’s my friend. She doesn’t seem dangerous to me. And besides, all that really matters right now is whether or not she can help Liz. That’s all that Max cares about.”
“But what if it’s a trick?”
“Then it’s a trick. Max will risk it for Liz.”
With that Isabel turned and fallowed the rest of them to the cars.
Michael was still weary of Tess, but he fallowed them as well.
Not Far Away (The Pod Chamber)
“Quickly, place her on the ground.” Tess said as she led the way into the cave.
Max fallowed her doing as she instructed and placed Liz so that her body was laid on the gowned where Tess had indicated, and her head rested on his thigh. He briefly took in their surrounding, but at the moment it was not the most important thing on his mind.
It was a place that none of them had ever seen before. It was the inside of a rock formation. Inside the wall there were four indentations that were similar in appearance to the equivalent of a human ambeotic sac. They were punctured and shriveled, as if whatever had been housed inside of them had broken out long ago.
“What is this place?” Isabel asked in wonder as she and the others walked further into the cave.
“It’s where we were born.” Tess said smiling at the others. Well that wasn’t exactly true, but Max Michael and Isabel didn’t need to know that right now. “We call it the pod chamber.” She continued.
“We?” Alex asked looking at her strangely. “Who exactly are we? You said that there would be someone here waiting to help, but there’s no one.” It was evident in his voice that he was worried about his friend.
“Just be patient.” Tess said barrowing some of Shellva’s favorite words. “He’s here.”
Max looked up from his position crouched on the floor beside Liz. Who was here? Where were they, and were they watching them?
“Well what is he waiting for?” Michael asked impatiently.
“He’s waiting for all of you to calm down. But since it seems like that feat will not be happening anytime soon why don’t I just introduce myself to you all now. My name is Shellva, and I am here to help you.”
Max wasn’t sure where he had come from, but suddenly a man who seemed to be just a bit older then the seven of them appeared inside the cave. There was nothing peculiar about him. He didn’t seem priestly or otherwise. As a matter of fact he seemed rather normal. He was dressed normally just as they were. He looked normal just as normal as any other human would, aside from the fact that he was obviously not. But he did have a strange aura about him that seemed to say he was a man, or alien if you will, of great power. It was a feeling that was not quite dangerous, and at the same time not in the least safe.
“Shellva?” Michael asked. “What the hell kinda name is that?”
“What the hell kinda name is Michael?” he asked back as if he were asking what the weather would be tomorrow. Also he did not look at Michael as he spoke, his glance remained focused on Liz.
Max heard him whisper something under his breath but he was not sure what it was, nor was sure if he had even heard it for sure.
Slowly, Shellva came to knell beside Max next to Liz.
“Let me touch her.” He said reaching for her.
Max drew back and clutched Liz closer to him.
“How do I know I can trust you?” he asked Shellva now a bit more suspicious then he had been when it was just Tess.
Shellva sighed agitatedly and shook his head. Of course. Trust was such a fickle thing. And to be frank, Max didn’t know that he could trust him. In actuality he couldn’t. But he was not about to hurt Liz. That wasn’t part of his plan, and right now he was the only person that could help Max’s queen. He fought down the urge to reach in his pocket and pull out a cigarette. After all ‘smoking was a bad habit that killed hundreds of people a day.’ Yeah well, back on Antar so did he. But he had the feeling that smoking a cigarette wasn’t going to help his case any.
“Max, you have to make a choice. I know that you want to know what’s wrong with her. Hell, who in your shoes wouldn’t? But I don’t have time to explain it all to you. So you could either accept that I am trying to help you and ask questions later, or you can let Liz die. But if I were you I would think of it this way, If I’m telling the truth and you don’t trust me, she dies, and if I’m lying and you don’t trust me, she dies, so either way if you don’t trust me, she dies. Wouldn’t you rather take the chance that I am telling you the truth, at least that way she has a chance?”
He was right. Max didn’t have a choice. He had to trust him, if he wanted to have any chance of helping Liz.
“Find do whatever it is you have to do, but I swear if you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
Shellva had to stop himself from laughing. That wouldn’t gain Max’s trust. But as much as an empty threat as he saw it, he knew without a doubt whether he succeed or not, if he hurt Liz, Max would undoubtedly try his hardest to kill him. He also noticed that Michael had taken up position directly behind him. Hmm he was guarding his king well.
“I won’t hurt her Max. I’ll only help her.”
Max nodded curtly but said nothing. And then he moved aside to let Shellva take up his place net to Liz. He watched intently as the man knelt beside her and placed his hand over her stomach. He closed his eyes and a bright green humming glow formed around his hands.
Max tensed as he watched Liz’s eyes flutter behind her eyelids. He watched for any sign that she was being hurt in any way, but he found none. And soon, after what seemed like hours but couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, the man that called himself Shellva was finished with whatever treatment he had just given.
“There, it’s done.” He said removing his hand from her abdomen and wiping his now sweating brow. “She should be fine soon.”
“What was wrong with her?” Max asked immediately.
Shellva sighed exhaustedly. More explanations.
“Max, what you just witnessed is something that is known as the adaptation.” Shellva said simply.
“The adaptation?” The five of them, aside from Tess asked.
“Let me finish.” Shellva almost snapped. He had to tamper down his anger. These teens were so…rude.
“The adaptation is a process that Liz is going through in order to be able to successfully carry your child. Basically, Liz is human and you are alien. Because of that your bodies do not…mix properly in the way that they would need to for Liz to give birth. This means that either one of two things is happening. Liz’s body is changing in order to carry your child, i.e. becoming alien, or the fetus is changing so that the mother can carry it. I.E. your child is becoming human.”
There was a pause and Shellva looked around at the shocked faces of the teens that listened to his explanation.
“So you’re saying that there is a chance that our child can be completely human?” Max asked in awe. That was what he wanted more then anything in his life. A chance for him and Liz to possibly have a normal life together.
“There is that possibility, but I’m going to tell you right now that it’s more likely that she is becoming alien.”
“Why?” Max and Michael asked at the same time.
Shellva just shrugged “Simple genetics. Alien DNA is more dominant then human DNA. But I’ll tell you right now if she is becoming human then your gonna know in about I don’t know…” Shellva quickly glanced down at his watch. “Hmmm now.”
And just as the words left his mouth all heads except for the ones that were prepared for it turned to Liz as she let out an ear-piercing scream.
Max lifted her head up to rest on his thighs again and gave Shellva a look that is looks could kill would have him writhing on the floor in torturous pain. The others immediately came to his side, aside from Michael who stayed behind Shellva with his hand raised and ready to blast on Max’s word.
“What did you do to her?” Max asked
Shellva rolled his eyes. “I didn’t do anything to her Max.” he stopped and then couldn’t resist a small chuckle. “Actually, it’s what you did to her.”
Max gave him a confused look.
“Like I said, either Liz was going to become alien, or your child was going to become human. Looks like we have a verdict. And alien Liz it is.”
Max smoothed his hand over Liz brow, and she slowly calmed down. He nodded at Michael for him to lower his hand. Then he again looked at Shellva.
“Why did she scream?”
Shellva gave him a drool look. “Well I’ve never been through the adaptation myself seeing as how I’ve always been an alien, but I imagine that all of your internal organs changing to appear the same but function differently is a might painful.”
Michael squeezed his hands together. He was getting sick of this dude real fast.
“Listen Shelly, we don’t know you from lickety or splickety alright, so for future reference why don’t you let us know all the stops on this train before we board it.” Michael said angrily.
Shellva turned around to face Michael.
“Well Mickey, I would of loved to tell you ‘all the stops’ as you so adequately put it. But I didn’t exactly have the time. All of it that you people took getting her here. It’s a small wonder that she didn’t die,”
Shellva couldn’t resist the edge is his voice. It was much different dealing with (what was it seven?) of these teens then it had been just dealing with Tess. Who, he maid mention in his head, was smiling ruefully behind Michael. Oh he bet this was all really funny to her. Well she could laugh it up now. She wouldn’t be laughing later.
“Anyway, Liz will be fine in a little bit. But I can see that you all still don’t trust us, so we’ll leave you to discuss this among yourselves. Come on Tess.”
Shellva turned around and began walking out of the cave. When he reached Tess’s side he grabbed her arm and dragged her out with him.
“Hey what the hell are you doing?” Tess asked when they reached the outside of the chamber.
“Looks like you didn’t do as good a job fitting in with the rest of them as you thought you did. We have to give them time to trust us or this isn’t going to work. And if this doesn’t work then I am going to be very angry.” He said pushing her away by her arm.
She stumbled a bit, but did not fall.
“Well I don’t know how you think I’m supposed to get them to trust you know. You weren’t exactly mister nice and friendly in there. And if I were them I wouldn’t trust you either.” She spat back at him.
Well on that account she was right. He hadn’t exactly been the most inviting in there. He sighed and finally reached in his pocket and pulled out his cigarette. Fine, he would have to be more…welcoming to them.
Shellva sighed and closed his eyes as he took a long hard drag on the cigarette. He would have to change too, if he wanted them to trust him. That was easier said then done. But it was something he was going to have to do because if he ruined all of his carefully laid plans with his own stubbornness. Well that would just be bad form.
TBC
Chapter (what chapter is this again?) oh yeah Chapter Twelve
Max and Liz’s apartment.
Max looked up at the sound of the intruder’s voice and immediately slipped his healing stone in his back pocket. Isabel’s friend Tess? What was she doing here? How did she even know they were all here? A bad feeling began to form in the pit of his stomach. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all.
“How did you know we were here?” Max asked, not bothering to hide that something was obviously going on here, and Tess didn’t seem too surprised by it.
“No I think the question you’re looking for Maxwell is how did you get in here?” Michael gave Tess a suspicious look. It was obvious that he didn’t trust her either.
Tess walked forward holding her hands up defensively in front of her.
“None of that matters right now. All that matters is that I know what you are, and I can tell you right now that using the healing stones is pointless.”
“What are you doing here Tess?” Isabel asked her friend plastering on a fake welcoming smile. She didn’t know what was going on, but she wasn’t going to give Tess any more information then what she seemed to already have.
Max took his stone out of his pocket and looked at it. So she knew about the stones too. Who was this person? Every since she and Isabel had become friends he had had a weird feeling whenever she was around. Like something wasn’t quite right about her and she wasn’t exactly who she said she was.
“Who are you, and what do you know about what’s happening to Liz?” he asked
“I’m one of you, and I’m here to help.” She said smiling at him.
“What do you mean you’re here to help? What’s happening to Liz?” Maria asked. Her voice was a bit hysterical and she was starting to panic. Alex walked over to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Listen, it’s all a long story, and I don’t have time to tell it, but if you want to help Liz then you’re going to have to trust me.” Tess gave Max a look that said she was waiting for them to make a decision.
“I don’t trust you.” Michael said immediately.
“Michael!” Isabel gave him a look.
“What? She just waltzes in here out of the blue claming to be one of the good guys and we’re supposed to trust her? Well forget that. I’m gonna need a little more convincing then because you said ‘trust me’”
“I agree with Michael.” Max said coming to stand protectively in front of the bed. In front of Liz.
“Look” Tess started agitatedly. “I want to help you, and the only way that I can prove that to you is by helping you, but we don’t have much time. You either trust me or you don’t, but let me just worn you if you don’t, than she” Tess pointed to Liz. “Is most likely going to die.”
All were quiet.
Tess watched as Max slowly came towards her.
“Do you know what’s wrong with her? Can you help her?” he asked. Tess could hear the fear that he held that something bad was happening to his precious Liz. Well he didn’t have to worry about that. Keeping Liz safe was her number one priority. That is at least until the baby was born.
“I can’t help her, but I know someone that can. He knew this was going to happen, and he’s waiting for you all right now. But we have to hurry.”
“Wait what? Now you want us to take Liz somewhere else to meet someone that you say can help her when we don’t even trust you? Maxwell if you’re buying this then you must be outta your mi-”
“Shut-up Michael!” Max snapped causing everyone to look at him with surprise. Max groaned and placed his hand on his forehead. Right now the only thing that was of any importance to him was making sure that Liz was okay. That was something that one of them knew for sure.
“I have to make sure she’s alright. None of us know what’s wrong with her. She’s only been getting worse and if we stay here and do nothing she’ll probably continue to get worse. I can’t take that chance with her life.”
“So you’re willing to take the chance that this could be a setup?” Michael asked angrily.
“What do you want me to do Michael? Let her die?” Max yelled at his friend.
“Look you’d better make a decision because times running out.” Tess said.
As if to back up Tess’s words Liz let out a soft moan and began to shift restlessly in the bed.
“Max she’s really hot!” Maria said placing her hand on her friend’s forehead.
Max immediately walked over to Liz’s bedside and lifted her in his arms, taking the blanket with him, he wrapped it around her. She moaned weakly in his arms and then burrowed closer to his body.
“That’s it, we’re going.” He said and he headed towards the door. He was immediately fallowed by Tess, Maria, and Alex. Isabel moved to fallow them as well, but Michael placed his hand on her shoulder stopping her.
“Iz, do you trust her?” he asked
Isabel looked down but didn’t answer with a yes or a no. “Michael she’s my friend. She doesn’t seem dangerous to me. And besides, all that really matters right now is whether or not she can help Liz. That’s all that Max cares about.”
“But what if it’s a trick?”
“Then it’s a trick. Max will risk it for Liz.”
With that Isabel turned and fallowed the rest of them to the cars.
Michael was still weary of Tess, but he fallowed them as well.
Not Far Away (The Pod Chamber)
“Quickly, place her on the ground.” Tess said as she led the way into the cave.
Max fallowed her doing as she instructed and placed Liz so that her body was laid on the gowned where Tess had indicated, and her head rested on his thigh. He briefly took in their surrounding, but at the moment it was not the most important thing on his mind.
It was a place that none of them had ever seen before. It was the inside of a rock formation. Inside the wall there were four indentations that were similar in appearance to the equivalent of a human ambeotic sac. They were punctured and shriveled, as if whatever had been housed inside of them had broken out long ago.
“What is this place?” Isabel asked in wonder as she and the others walked further into the cave.
“It’s where we were born.” Tess said smiling at the others. Well that wasn’t exactly true, but Max Michael and Isabel didn’t need to know that right now. “We call it the pod chamber.” She continued.
“We?” Alex asked looking at her strangely. “Who exactly are we? You said that there would be someone here waiting to help, but there’s no one.” It was evident in his voice that he was worried about his friend.
“Just be patient.” Tess said barrowing some of Shellva’s favorite words. “He’s here.”
Max looked up from his position crouched on the floor beside Liz. Who was here? Where were they, and were they watching them?
“Well what is he waiting for?” Michael asked impatiently.
“He’s waiting for all of you to calm down. But since it seems like that feat will not be happening anytime soon why don’t I just introduce myself to you all now. My name is Shellva, and I am here to help you.”
Max wasn’t sure where he had come from, but suddenly a man who seemed to be just a bit older then the seven of them appeared inside the cave. There was nothing peculiar about him. He didn’t seem priestly or otherwise. As a matter of fact he seemed rather normal. He was dressed normally just as they were. He looked normal just as normal as any other human would, aside from the fact that he was obviously not. But he did have a strange aura about him that seemed to say he was a man, or alien if you will, of great power. It was a feeling that was not quite dangerous, and at the same time not in the least safe.
“Shellva?” Michael asked. “What the hell kinda name is that?”
“What the hell kinda name is Michael?” he asked back as if he were asking what the weather would be tomorrow. Also he did not look at Michael as he spoke, his glance remained focused on Liz.
Max heard him whisper something under his breath but he was not sure what it was, nor was sure if he had even heard it for sure.
Slowly, Shellva came to knell beside Max next to Liz.
“Let me touch her.” He said reaching for her.
Max drew back and clutched Liz closer to him.
“How do I know I can trust you?” he asked Shellva now a bit more suspicious then he had been when it was just Tess.
Shellva sighed agitatedly and shook his head. Of course. Trust was such a fickle thing. And to be frank, Max didn’t know that he could trust him. In actuality he couldn’t. But he was not about to hurt Liz. That wasn’t part of his plan, and right now he was the only person that could help Max’s queen. He fought down the urge to reach in his pocket and pull out a cigarette. After all ‘smoking was a bad habit that killed hundreds of people a day.’ Yeah well, back on Antar so did he. But he had the feeling that smoking a cigarette wasn’t going to help his case any.
“Max, you have to make a choice. I know that you want to know what’s wrong with her. Hell, who in your shoes wouldn’t? But I don’t have time to explain it all to you. So you could either accept that I am trying to help you and ask questions later, or you can let Liz die. But if I were you I would think of it this way, If I’m telling the truth and you don’t trust me, she dies, and if I’m lying and you don’t trust me, she dies, so either way if you don’t trust me, she dies. Wouldn’t you rather take the chance that I am telling you the truth, at least that way she has a chance?”
He was right. Max didn’t have a choice. He had to trust him, if he wanted to have any chance of helping Liz.
“Find do whatever it is you have to do, but I swear if you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
Shellva had to stop himself from laughing. That wouldn’t gain Max’s trust. But as much as an empty threat as he saw it, he knew without a doubt whether he succeed or not, if he hurt Liz, Max would undoubtedly try his hardest to kill him. He also noticed that Michael had taken up position directly behind him. Hmm he was guarding his king well.
“I won’t hurt her Max. I’ll only help her.”
Max nodded curtly but said nothing. And then he moved aside to let Shellva take up his place net to Liz. He watched intently as the man knelt beside her and placed his hand over her stomach. He closed his eyes and a bright green humming glow formed around his hands.
Max tensed as he watched Liz’s eyes flutter behind her eyelids. He watched for any sign that she was being hurt in any way, but he found none. And soon, after what seemed like hours but couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, the man that called himself Shellva was finished with whatever treatment he had just given.
“There, it’s done.” He said removing his hand from her abdomen and wiping his now sweating brow. “She should be fine soon.”
“What was wrong with her?” Max asked immediately.
Shellva sighed exhaustedly. More explanations.
“Max, what you just witnessed is something that is known as the adaptation.” Shellva said simply.
“The adaptation?” The five of them, aside from Tess asked.
“Let me finish.” Shellva almost snapped. He had to tamper down his anger. These teens were so…rude.
“The adaptation is a process that Liz is going through in order to be able to successfully carry your child. Basically, Liz is human and you are alien. Because of that your bodies do not…mix properly in the way that they would need to for Liz to give birth. This means that either one of two things is happening. Liz’s body is changing in order to carry your child, i.e. becoming alien, or the fetus is changing so that the mother can carry it. I.E. your child is becoming human.”
There was a pause and Shellva looked around at the shocked faces of the teens that listened to his explanation.
“So you’re saying that there is a chance that our child can be completely human?” Max asked in awe. That was what he wanted more then anything in his life. A chance for him and Liz to possibly have a normal life together.
“There is that possibility, but I’m going to tell you right now that it’s more likely that she is becoming alien.”
“Why?” Max and Michael asked at the same time.
Shellva just shrugged “Simple genetics. Alien DNA is more dominant then human DNA. But I’ll tell you right now if she is becoming human then your gonna know in about I don’t know…” Shellva quickly glanced down at his watch. “Hmmm now.”
And just as the words left his mouth all heads except for the ones that were prepared for it turned to Liz as she let out an ear-piercing scream.
Max lifted her head up to rest on his thighs again and gave Shellva a look that is looks could kill would have him writhing on the floor in torturous pain. The others immediately came to his side, aside from Michael who stayed behind Shellva with his hand raised and ready to blast on Max’s word.
“What did you do to her?” Max asked
Shellva rolled his eyes. “I didn’t do anything to her Max.” he stopped and then couldn’t resist a small chuckle. “Actually, it’s what you did to her.”
Max gave him a confused look.
“Like I said, either Liz was going to become alien, or your child was going to become human. Looks like we have a verdict. And alien Liz it is.”
Max smoothed his hand over Liz brow, and she slowly calmed down. He nodded at Michael for him to lower his hand. Then he again looked at Shellva.
“Why did she scream?”
Shellva gave him a drool look. “Well I’ve never been through the adaptation myself seeing as how I’ve always been an alien, but I imagine that all of your internal organs changing to appear the same but function differently is a might painful.”
Michael squeezed his hands together. He was getting sick of this dude real fast.
“Listen Shelly, we don’t know you from lickety or splickety alright, so for future reference why don’t you let us know all the stops on this train before we board it.” Michael said angrily.
Shellva turned around to face Michael.
“Well Mickey, I would of loved to tell you ‘all the stops’ as you so adequately put it. But I didn’t exactly have the time. All of it that you people took getting her here. It’s a small wonder that she didn’t die,”
Shellva couldn’t resist the edge is his voice. It was much different dealing with (what was it seven?) of these teens then it had been just dealing with Tess. Who, he maid mention in his head, was smiling ruefully behind Michael. Oh he bet this was all really funny to her. Well she could laugh it up now. She wouldn’t be laughing later.
“Anyway, Liz will be fine in a little bit. But I can see that you all still don’t trust us, so we’ll leave you to discuss this among yourselves. Come on Tess.”
Shellva turned around and began walking out of the cave. When he reached Tess’s side he grabbed her arm and dragged her out with him.
“Hey what the hell are you doing?” Tess asked when they reached the outside of the chamber.
“Looks like you didn’t do as good a job fitting in with the rest of them as you thought you did. We have to give them time to trust us or this isn’t going to work. And if this doesn’t work then I am going to be very angry.” He said pushing her away by her arm.
She stumbled a bit, but did not fall.
“Well I don’t know how you think I’m supposed to get them to trust you know. You weren’t exactly mister nice and friendly in there. And if I were them I wouldn’t trust you either.” She spat back at him.
Well on that account she was right. He hadn’t exactly been the most inviting in there. He sighed and finally reached in his pocket and pulled out his cigarette. Fine, he would have to be more…welcoming to them.
Shellva sighed and closed his eyes as he took a long hard drag on the cigarette. He would have to change too, if he wanted them to trust him. That was easier said then done. But it was something he was going to have to do because if he ruined all of his carefully laid plans with his own stubbornness. Well that would just be bad form.
TBC