Roswell Fanatics

A/N: Hey guys! I hope you all enjoy this part, and thank you sooo much for all the feedback! I love it, you guys are great!


CH. 21

Alec stood there stunned, his arms hanging loosely around Liz’s small frame. He couldn’t seem to wrap his mind around what she had just said. She wanted him to make love to her… of course he wanted to, nothing would stop him from loving this woman and giving her everything she could ever want and more, but that little nagging voice stopped him cold. It had only been a little over a week since the ordeal in Roswell; their feelings were out in the open, but was it too soon to go through with this?

Alec wanted to more than anything, to feel Liz’s warm skin against his own, have her wrapped around him, loving him, but was she sure? “Kat?” he asked, choking back emotions that threatened to overcome his fragile hold on reality. “Are you sure?” He looked down into her face when she grasped his chin gently.

“I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life, Alec,” Liz said softly. “I want you, all of you! I want to be your mate, your lover, your friend, your safe place to hide when things become to overwhelming… Alec you’re everything to me and I know it seems to soon, but I want you to have me, all of me.” She took his hands in her own and began to gently pull him towards her room. “I love you Alec, and I want you,” Liz said before closing the door behind them. She faced him once more and it broke her heart to see the uncertainty that clouded his eyes, he didn’t want to push her after what happened.

Liz sighed sadly to herself, she didn’t know what to do to make him see that this what she wanted, he was what she wanted. She slowly crossed the small distance between them, placing her hands on his rigid shoulders, unconsciously kneading the tense muscles as she stepped closer, until there was no room between them. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gently pulled his face down to hers, she hesitantly kissed his forehead, sweeping his blonde locks out of his eyes.

Moving across Alec’s face Liz left butterfly kisses on his eyelids, nose, cheeks, chin, until finally she reached his lips… those full, soft lips that she loved. The lips that would kiss her roughly and passionately when they were caught up in the moment or so tenderly it would bring tears to her eyes with the reverence in which he delicately traced the contours of her mouth. “Alec,” Liz whispered, flicking her eyes back up to his, she could see his resolve breaking down. “I love you, and I want you,” she repeated, finally fusing her lips to his in a gently passionate kiss. She moaned into his mouth when he allowed her access and finally gave in.

Alec groaned when Liz finally kissed him, he realized that refusing her would hurt her more. He slanted his mouth more firmly over hers, sweeping his tongue out to dance with hers. He tangled his hands in her hair as he relished the feeling of being wrapped up in her, it was hard to recognize where one of them ended and the other began as their tanned figures blended together, his blonde hair and her chocolate tresses contrasting beautifully. Alec’s hands drifted lower, kneading Liz’s back as he also pulled her closer, unwilling to relinquish the sweetness that was her mouth.

It wasn’t the first time that he actually thanked their creators for giving them the ability to go so long without air. Alec finally pulled away, his eyes mirroring Liz’s as they were darkened in lust, but his heart clinched when this time he saw the obvious love shining through as well. He leaned his forehead down against hers panting slightly, “I love you Kat, and if you get uncomfortable, or want to stop…” He was halted by Liz’s finger pressed against his lips.

Yeah, yeah
It seems like yesterday when I said "I do"
And after all this time my heart still burns for you
If you don't know by now that you're my only one
Take a look inside me and watch my heartstrings come undone

“I want this, Alec, you have nothing to worry about,” Liz sucked in a breath when in response Alec sensuously sucked each of her digits into his mouth. Her eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head as her senses were assaulted with the feel of his warm tongue bathing her fingers, she moaned in loss when he relinquished his hold on her. Recovering slightly she looked at him and smiled, “I want to see you,” she said softly as her hands began insistently pushing his leather jacket off his broad shoulders and to the floor. Once it hit the floor in a heap she immediately began tugging at the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head to join his jacket on the floor. She stood there in awe yet again of his body, he was perfect.

Liz tentatively reached her hand out to skim over his collarbone. She intended to take her time in her study of him this time and was pleased when she glanced back up at him that he understood. He was content to stand there while she explored his body. Liz smiled to herself as she traced his facial features again, skimming her hand over his lips and sighing when Alec leaned into her hand when she cupped his face.

She moved her hands down, tracing over the corded muscles in his shoulders and tracing down his arms. Liz giggled to herself when she ran her fingers through the soft hair on his arms until she took one of his hands in her own. Tracing the veins in his hand and smoothing over his knuckles, kissing each one and cradling his hand to her heart. She knew what these hands were capable of, the good and the bad. Alec was a warrior, a soldier who would protect his family with whatever it took but he was also an artist, he played the piano beautifully. She knew it was only from a mission but it didn’t take away from the beauty he could produce, so much beauty and so much destruction could be wrought with his hands.

Gently dropping his hand Liz traced back up his arms until she reached his chest. She stared in innocent wonder as his nipples hardened when she ran her fingers over his pecks; she looked up at him in curiosity and simply looked back down, following her hands with her eyes when she saw only love and understanding in Alec’s gaze. She raked her nails over them again, satisfaction rushing through her at the sharp intake of breath. Liz realized that while Alec was passively standing by and letting her explore him, it was killing him to not touch her or move; he made her love him even more.

I know I promised you forever
Is there no stronger word I can use
To reassure you when the storm is raging outside
You're my safest place to hide

She let her hands drift down to his stomach, tracing each cut and definition of his abs, feeling a chuckle rumble up in his chest when she grazed his sides; she knew how ticklish he was and smirked at the boyishness that showed through even during a time like this.

Liz slowly walked around him until she was facing his back, watching his muscles bunch and shift with the subtle movements of his body. She gently kissed the back of his neck, bathing Alec’s barcode in her sweet kisses, trying to dispel as many bad memories as possible. Trailing her hand down his back, she crossed around back in front of him, her hand lazily dragging after her. When Liz stood once more in front of him she shakily brought his hands to rest at her waist before moving them up to rest at the hem of her shirt. She leaned up on tip toes to kiss him while releasing his hands and silently giving him permission to take her top off. When she pulled back from the kiss, she was taken aback by Alec’s sudden assault as he pulled her back to him.

Alec couldn’t believe the arousing feelings that were coursing through him, from Liz’s gentle perusal of his body to the sudden rush when he realized she was giving him permission to move forward. It was addicting, she was addicting and he couldn’t not kiss her. He slowly began moving them back towards the bed, all the while not releasing her lips. When he felt the backs of his legs hit the edge, he slowly sank down, finally releasing her. As he sat there, staring up at Liz as she panted from arousal and his kisses, he smirked in pure male satisfaction at her disheveled appearance.

Can you see me, here I am
I need you like I needed you then
When I feel like giving up
I climb inside your heart I still find
You're my safest place to hide

He hesitantly brought his hands back to the hem of her top before looking in her eyes once more for confirmation. He began raising her top, smiling slightly when she raised her arms to help him, her hair falling back down in a curtain around her when her shirt joined his and his jacket. He sucked in a breath at her beauty even as she squirmed slightly under his scrutiny. Alec stood, towering over her as he drank her in, he followed the same pattern she had. When he reached her chest he tentatively reached a hand out to cup her, choking on a gasp when she arched into him. He relished the feeling of her filling his palm, her nipple hardening in response as he slowly, lazily squeezed the pliant flesh. He leaned down to kiss her, taking Liz’s breath away once more as his hands moved to her back, gripping at her heated flesh as he felt more and more of his control slipping.

Fisting his hands in her hair Alec pulled her head back exposing the column of her throat to his torturous assault. He bit down at her pulse point, marking her as his, and growling possessively at her breathy moan and the grip she had in his own hair. Peppering Liz’s skin with kisses as he moved her hair from the back of her neck and gently kissed her barcode. His hands dropped lower until they encountered the clasp of her bra, his fingers fumbled for a moment before it came undone and the sides dropped slightly.

Alec ran his nimble fingers back to her neck and skimmed the down her arms, pulling the material away from her body. Alec’s gaze darkened as he took in her dusky nipples, hardening from the combination of cool air and her current state of arousal. Dipping his head he gently bit down, pride filling him at her gasp. Her hands were tangled in his hair as she pulled him closer, and he wasn’t about to release her for the world. He groaned and bit down harder when she bucked into him. “Kat, if you don’t stop that then I won’t make it,” he moaned.

You see colors no one else can see
In every breath you hear a symphony
You understand me like nobody can
I feel like my soul unfolding like a flower blooming

“I want you Alec, now, please make love to me,” Liz gasped, arching further into his skilled ministrations. She tugged somewhat impatiently at his belt until he reached down and stilled her hands. She was halted from all coherent thought at his drugging kiss.

Liz could feel Alec’s hands lazily tracing paths along her heated skin and could feel all of him as he poured himself into the kiss; she melted into him, giving him complete control. She sighed into his mouth as he delicately ran the work roughened pads of his fingers over the skin at her hips, right above the waistband of her pants.

Feeling him tug slightly on them as his fingers trailed to the snap and zipper, she smirked against his mouth as she continued her searching kiss into the heated depths of his mouth. She traced every recess and moaned at the taste of him, Liz pulled back slightly in shock when she felt cool air hit her legs, she hadn’t even realized he’d rid her of her pants. She stepped back from him as Alec shucked his own pants off to the side, pooling at his feet alongside her own. There they stood, hungry gazes sweeping over exposed flesh, as hungry mouths met once more, feasting on the sweetness that came only from each other.

Alec leaned into her, seeking the warmth that her body offered, groaning in frustration when he felt the barrier his boxers and her panties caused. He turned them; placing Liz’s back to the bed as he leaned them backwards causing her to fall onto the bed. He watched her scoot backwards, reclining against the pillows before crooking a finger in invitation.

Liz felt a feral grin consume her face when Alec climbed onto the bed, crawling towards her, eyes darkened as if he was stalking his prey… and damn did she want him to catch her. When he reached her she held him to her, drinking in all that he had to offer, the heat of his skin, the feel of his hands groping at her own heated flesh, the taste of his mouth, everything about him left her wanting more. She slowly slid her hands down and grasped the waistband of his boxers, she looked him in the eye as she pushed them off his hips and down his legs. Liz’s eyes drifted away from his as his erection caught her eye, she choked back a gasp at the size, disbelief racked her system that he had fit the first time, let alone if he would now.

“Kat?” asked Alec, smirking down at her face in amusement. Alec caught her shaking hands in his own and led them down to his shaft, hissing when she tentatively grabbed him. He stared into her chocolate pools, drowning in her as she looked at him in question. “Just go with what you feel,” he growled low and deep from the pleasure rocketing through him at her small, pleasure providing hands. He let her roll him over onto his back as she stroked him, her hair falling as a curtain around his thighs and adding more tension to his already strained nerves. He smiled tightly at her curiosity and wonder but soon had to pull her up his body, he kissed her senseless and when he pulled away taking in her thoroughly flustered appearance he smirked somewhat sheepishly. “If you had kept it up, transgenic stamina or not, I don’t think I would have made it.” His smirk grew to one of satisfaction as her confused look grew to wide eyes and astonished features.

When this whole world gets too crazy
And there's nowhere left to go
I know you give me sanctuary
You're the only truth I know
You're the road back home

“What you don’t think you can bring me to that point so quickly? Kat, just being near you, practically undoes me.” Alec propped himself up on his elbows, laying his body weight comfortably over her own. He peppered her face with kisses, pausing every now and then to suck her bottom lip into his mouth as he gently caressed her lips with his own, satisfied when they became bruised and swollen from his attentions.

He stiffened slightly when Liz led his hand to her panties but relaxed as he tugged them down her legs and leaned in again to kiss her deeply. “Are you ready?” Alec asked reassuring her with his caresses and the love in his eyes as he nudged her legs apart.

“I’m ready Alec, take me please, make me yours,” panted Liz as she locked gazes with him. He rolled off to the side for just a moment, in his haze of lust remembering to roll a condom onto his hardened length before returning to rest himself above Liz. He leaned in and kissed her deeply, teasing her by shallowly stroking himself into her and watching the ecstasy etch across her features. “Alec,” Liz growled, becoming frustrated. Arching her hips slightly she watched his eyes widen when he sunk a little deeper into her. She felt pleasure explode in her as he sunk little by little into her, taking the hint after her trick. “I love you,” she gasped as he came to rest inside of her, not moving, giving her time to adjust.

“I love you too,” he whispered, choking on the emotions rushing through him. He leaned forward and kissed away her tears. “Are you okay?” he asked, fearful that he had hurt her in anyway.

“I’m perfect,” she whispered as well, smiling tearfully up at him. “I… I just feel like I’m home. For the first time in my life I feel like I’m truly home, Alec… you’re my home.” Liz shifted a little bit as they kissed and he began moving inside of her, she felt him stroking deeper and deeper and finally she had to rip her mouth away from his as the pleasure mounted. “Oh… oh God, Alec!”

Can you see me, here I am
Standing here where I've always been
And when words are not enough
I climb inside your heart I'd still find
You're my safest place to hide
My safest place to hide

“I know baby, I know,” he grunted. He began moving faster as she bucked her hips into his, wiping her sweat soaked hair off her face he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Clutching at her thigh as she began to squeeze him tighter he moaned as he felt her begin to come apart in his arms.

“I think I’m coming,” she panted, gripping onto his strong arms and raking her nails down his back as she felt her orgasm wash over her. “Oh my God, Alec!” She sunk down into the bed, sated and happy as she felt Alec tense and come inside of her.

Collapsing on top of her, Alec rested his head on her chest, drowsily smiling up at her as she kissed the top of his head. “I love you,” he mumbled sleepily. He managed to roll onto his back and pull her with him before pulling the sheets around their bodies, Liz cradled safely in his arms, her head resting on his chest.”

“I love you too,” mumbled Liz, nearly on the verge of sleep, “and thank you for that Alec, it was beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, hearing her breathing even out, signaling she was asleep. Alec woke hours later by an insistent knocking on Liz’s bedroom door. Opening his eyes groggily he looked up into the sleepy baby browns of Liz who had moved to sleep on top of him. “Hey you,” he whispered smiling, momentarily forgetting whoever was outside.

I know I promised you forever
There's no stronger word I can use
To reassure when the storm is raging outside
You're my safest place to hide

“Hey you,” Liz said back, grinning like an idiot and stretching with all of her feline grace. She winced slightly as she leaned in to give Alec a slow and tender kiss. They were interrupted by the knocking again. Sighing she rested her head on his chest, feeling the rumble of his resigned laugh as she glared at the door. “Who is it?” she called.

“It’s Maxie… you two better get your asses out here, we got problems,” called her sister.

“Okay, give us a few minutes,” called Alec, already rolling over to grab his and Liz’s clothes. Standing he grinned down at a pouting Liz and his grin slid into a purely masculine swell of pride at the marks covering her body. “We got a little amorous didn’t we?” he asked motioning to her body as well as his own.

“Well,” Liz purred, as she crawled to him, almost making him want to forget about the problems of the day and climb back in bed. “I need the world to know you’re mine… and I like having your mark on me,” she shrugged as she slid on a pair of black Capri’s and a black wifebeater. She noted that Alec was wearing black jeans and a black wifebeater. “Well let’s go see what they want,” she sighed as she clasped her hand in his own and opened the door. The two lovers walked out to see Maxie, Zack, and Logan as well as her friends and… “Ava?” she asked in shock.

“Hey cornball… sorry to bust in on your deal but the shit’s about to hit the fan,” said the blonde dupe of Tess.

Oh! Can you see me, here I am
Standing here where I've always been
When I feel like giving up
I climb inside your heart I'd still find
Yeah, yeah
You're my safest place to hide, oh yeah
You're my safest place to hide


lyrics: "Safest Place to Hide" by the Backstreet Boys[/i]

A/N: Hey guys! Don't worry I didn't forget about you! Thanks for all the amazing feedback, I'm so glad ya'll are loving this fic! I see there were cold showers all around after that last part, I'm glad you liked it! I'm also glad you guys are excited to see Ava because if I ever get the rest of the sequel written, she plays a pretty substantial role. I hope you guys enjoy this next part and as a hint, some of the 'family' is in the next ch. but it's probably not who you're thinking of. However, they are two of my favs. Oops, another hint!


CH. 22

Liz stared out at the lights illuminating the city beneath her. The wind whipped her hair around in a flurry but she didn’t notice it, too consumed in her grief and thoughts to pay attention. She couldn’t believe they were dead, her parents, the people who took her in and cared for her regardless of what she was, had been murdered as a means for getting her attention. The breeding cult was getting ballsy to be doing this.

She stared, unseeing at the night life that was happening below her, the happiness and sounds of joy from the masses of Seattle. Liz knew she should go back to the penthouse, go back and strategize with the others, they had after all come all this way to warn her, to tell her, and if Ava was here then things were probably worse than any of them imagined. Liz just couldn’t begin to wrap her mind around what all had been revealed hours earlier. She and Alec had just made love, it was beautiful and then reality had reared it’s ugly head with the arrival of her friends.

I've thrown away again the pills that make me
I've thrown away again the chance to want to change
I've thrown away again I'm standing all alone
I've thrown away again

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“They found us at Crash,” whispered Maxie as Liz looked at her friends. She didn’t know what to make of them being here, she had specifically told them to remain in Roswell and yet here they stood regardless. “You and Alec have been out almost twelve hours… don’t worry we took care of Normal for you.”

“What are you talking about? We were just at Crash earlier.” asked Liz confused. She looked at Zack, Maxie, and Logan; trying to comprehend what they were saying.

“Kat, that was last night,” said Zack; he looked at his sister worriedly. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Liz waved him off before turning to the others. “What are you doing here?” she asked tiredly.

“Damn Liz, did you get in a fight with a hell cat?” asked Michael, motioning to the scratches and marks marring her body. His gaze flicked over to Alec at the look she slid him and he saw similar marks on his own body. A smirk slid over Michael’s features as he looked at the two lovers, “Oh,” was his only response.

“So cornball, I go back to Roswell to see my relatives here and I find out you’re not as much of a cornball as I thought, and they’re skipping town to come find you…” smirked Ava. Her smirk turned into a frown after a moment, “I got bad news,” she said sadly. “You might want to sit down, just in case.” Ava watched Alec come up and wrap his arms around Liz’s waist; she immediately noticed how well they fit together, how comfortable they seemed. “I’m Ava by the way,” she said waving to the others in the room that didn’t know her.

“Zack, Kat’s older brother.”

“Maxie, Kat’s older sister.”

“Alec, Kat’s mate.”

“Logan, Maxie’s boyfriend.”

“Nice to meet you guys. Now we gots to get down to business. I’m sorry Liz, your parents are dead,” she whispered not daring to meet her friend’s eyes. Ava heard the sharp intake from those not in the know and sighed sadly. “They were killed as bait for you, Khivar killed them.”

“Why would Khivar have any interest in the Parkers?” asked Logan, a puzzled expression marring his handsome face. “Unless… he isn’t involved in the breeding cult is he?” He didn’t know what would happen if an alien tyrant was involved, things were quickly going from bad to worse… when were they going to catch a break?

“He is,” confirmed Ava. “I’m sorry I’m the bearer of bad news,” she said turning to Liz. She was disturbed to see no reaction on her friend’s face. “Liz you okay?”

“She’s gone into soldier mode,” said Kyle quietly, “she’s shutting down.” He mourned for his friend, he knew nothing they did could change it but he wished she didn’t have to go through this… at least she wasn’t alone.

Eyes wired shut running through my brain
Pulling back the skin it happens we're getting older
Eyes wired shut running through my brain
It's all the same but in the end it keeps me coming

“Khivar is working with this cult, apparently helping them tap into extra strength reserves and teaching them how to unlock the side of their brains that would control their powers. If he’s able to successfully teach them this, then in as soon as one generation we could have naturally enhanced humans, centuries ahead of schedule. And of course that’s not all… he knows about you Liz, he knows what you’re capable of and unlike White and the others in the breeding cult, he doesn’t want you to die… he wants you for his queen.”

Everyone jumped when they heard the low growl come from Alec, his eyes were narrowed and his growl was deepening as he tightened his grip on Liz. Nobody was taking her away from him, no alien warlord, no breeding cult, nothing. She was his mate, the woman he loved and he would be damned before they were separated again.

“If you were to be given the ability to unlock what powers you could have then you could be more powerful than all of us combined, Khivar wants that. He’s power hungry, craves it in any form. If he gets his hands on you, he could turn you… I know you would fight it, him, but even with your transgenic abilities you’d be no match for being mind raped. He’d strip you of everything that makes you, you. You’d be his queen and puppet, his toy, and his power source… Liz, I’m sorry,” whispered Ava.

Alex spoke up finally. “Right after you guys left, I picked up the pictures that Lydecker left behind. The image of the chimera or whatever it was, that symbol is the same one that Khivar had at his headquarters when he captured me. “We tried to get here as soon as we could but with seven of us it took a while and then we couldn’t find you in the city… we got lucky at Crash. I’m sorry Liz, sorry that we couldn’t reach you, sorry that it took so long to get here.”

“Yeah, same here, as soon as I found out about you, I left. One person was easier to slip through than eight. I was trying everywhere to find you and I got a lead that Crash was where you guys hung out… it was weird running into them there, but it got me here,” explained Ava. “I got your back… you need me, I’m here.”

“How do you know all this Ava? You still haven’t explained it,” asked Tess.

“After I left Roswell, I traveled, blending in wherever I could… I stayed beneath Rath and Lonnie’s radar as best I could. Sooner or later though I knew I would run into something alien and it happened to be Khivar. I was working at a bar and one night he came in, he didn’t recognize me but I immediately realized who he was. I managed to eavesdrop as he was meeting with White and through the alcohol in his system I learned that Vilandra was no longer his priority, he called you the King’s former pet… I’m sorry Liz, I know you’re already involved in this because of who you are but now who we are is dragging you further.

“It’s not your fault Ava,” sighed Liz, leaning back against Alec, snuggling into his embrace to give herself strength. “I knew sooner or later we would have to deal with all of this, I just never realized it would be all at once.”

“We’re so sorry Liz, we tried to get here as soon as possible, but all of us traveling together was hard enough and we didn’t know where exactly to find you and we got lost and Liz… I’m just so sorry,” rambled Isabel, showing a new insight to her concern for her friends as she never rambled.

“Yeah, we left as soon as we could but with no sector passes it was hard; they make life really tough up here,” sighed Max, annoyed with the current situation… when were they going to be free?

“Listen guys, I need some time to deal… sort it all out in my head. I’ll be back later,” she sighed as she grabbed her leather jacket and walked out the door. Liz turned to look at Alec, Maxie, and Zack once more before the door shut, nodding she gave them permission to come to her later… they knew where she’d be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And now here she was a few hours later, the rain pouring down on her, rain in Seattle… what an unusual occurrence. But Liz felt clean, she let it wash away everything, purifying the earth in it’s light fall.

Liz slicked back her hair and shut her eyes, drinking it in. Tilting her head back she let the tears come, mixing and mingling with the rain, cleansing her soul as much as it was cleansing the city. She didn’t move or acknowledge the presence of the others as they came and sat silently beside her. Leaning back against Alec’s chest as he loosely wrapped his arms around her, Liz knew it was time to talk but she held out a few more moments, washing away the last remnants of her old life.

There was nothing solid binding her to Roswell anymore. Sure she had her friends but her life was now in Seattle, with Alec… with Maxie and Logan and Zack. Turning tearstained eyes on Alec he gently took her hand before nodding to either side where she turned and saw Zack and Maxie. The four transgenics sat atop the Space Needle, sharing each other’s pain, loneliness, hatred, anger, passion; everything that made them human and yet more.

They huddled together a ball of emotion and fire packaged into four perfect beings that were about to bring hell on earth to those who dared hurt them. Flame and retribution was about to spill out in the night and nothing would stand in their way.

I've blown away again the fear of failing
I've blown away again the lies that make me sane
I've blown away the chance to make it right
I want to be I want to see I want to make it back to me

“It’s time,” muttered Liz, voice hoarse from crying and the pent up emotion. She stood, staring down at the city again with her family around her. “After tomorrow night, nothing will ever be the same again.”

“Tomorrow night?” asked Maxie confused. “Shouldn’t we go in as soon as possible?”

“We need to rest, gather our strength. The others can’t work under the same conditions as we can and I have a feeling we need to be at our best. This will be our toughest mission yet… I’ll understand if you don’t want to come.”

“Hey, hey…” exclaimed Zack. “We’re family, family doesn’t fight alone. We’re here for you.”

“Thanks guys, you really don’t know what this means to me.” She turned to look at each of them, studying each of them and committing everything to memory. “We need to go back to the penthouse and sleep, time will come soon enough for planning, for now we spend time with each other and gear up. Rest you guys, I’m serious… this is gonna be one tough bitch to beat.” She grabbed Alec’s hand and turned to walk back up the slope of the tower, Maxie and Zack falling into step behind them.

Time seemed to stand still as the four walked back into the penthouse. Everyone’s eyes swiveled to them immediately and Liz tensed for a minute under the penetrating stares. Finally moving she walked to the closet and grabbed pillows and blankets. “Rest, we’ll deal in the morning, we plan in the morning and we go in tomorrow night.” She and Logan moved around the room, setting everyone up in temporary beds spread out across the penthouse before she and Alec retired to her room. Zack stayed in the other room and Logan and Maxie left for his room.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“You okay?” asked Alec quietly as he gently rubbed his hand up and down Liz’s back. He craned his neck down to look at the top of Liz’s head as she rested on top of his chest. He felt his heart tug as protectiveness surged through him. She had been through so much, as much, if not more than he and the others. Something about Liz drew out the need to keep her safe from the world, but he knew that was impossible, she was strong but he couldn’t shake the feeling. Alec could see it in her eyes, in the way she carried herself that it wouldn’t be appreciated and that she had already seen far too much to just turn a blind eye now. Alec looked back down at Liz as she tried to burrow further into him. “You can’t get inside my skin, Kat,” he joked.

“Why not?” Liz asked softly. “With you I feel safe, why can’t I burrow so far inside of you, be with you where no one can get to me?”

“Technically you’re already in me,” Alec smirked down at her when she looked up at him in surprise. “C’mon Kat, you should realize that you’re everything; the air I breathe, my heart and soul. You’re so fucking deep inside of me that it hurts sometimes, but I relish it because I know I’d be empty if it weren’t for you. You said I was your guardian angel that night at prom, but if it weren’t for you saving me, I could have turned out much differently. Your friendship, your love, saved me.” Alec tenderly kissed her lips as Liz sighed and tried to deepen it. Pulling away he wrapped his arms tighter around her, inhaling the sweet fragrance that was all her. “Rest, we’ll take care of things later, we’ll get all of them, but right now, rest.”

Liz turned her head and dropped a soft kiss on Alec’s bare chest where his heart was. “You are my home,” she cried softly as her tears dripped onto his skin. Liz hastily wiped them away and looked back at Alec. “I meant it… we’ll save each other Alec, you’re my home and as long as we’re together, I believe we can conquer anything that gets thrown at us.” She kissed him again, long and slow, soft and deep; before settling back down and letting his steady breathing lull her to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I’m worried about her,” said Max, breaking the silence that had settled over the living room. He heard a few groans and a few choice curses coming from the others but plowed on anyways. “I’m serious,” he exclaimed. “She’s been through so much, why should she have to deal with this? She doesn’t deserve it and I can’t help but feel like she’s going to crack.”

Kyle rolled over and looked at the former king and his quasi friend. “Listen, I don’t want to be rude-“

“That’s a first,” snorted Maria, staring at him in wide eyed innocence when he glared at her.

“As I was saying, as bad as it sounds, Liz was made for this… this is who she is as much as you guys being aliens. Nothing we do or say can change it and because of everything that has happened, she has to do this.” Kyle sighed and lay back again, pulling Tess closer to him as he did so. He was worried too, but he had faith in his friend. Liz could pull this off, he knew she could.

“You know me, I hate agreeing with Max, but I’m worried about her too; we don’t know how Liz is going to deal with all this, what will the fallout be?” asked Maria, nervously twirling her hair around her finger as she sat up to look at everyone.

“Liz can do this, Maria,” said Alex, Michael nodding next to him. “I thought we decided to stand by her no matter what.”

“We did,” said Isabel, looking at everyone. “We promised we had Liz’s back, no matter what happened. When did that change? I know you’re worried about her but she can handle this.”

“Isabel’s right, we have to have faith in Liz… now can we please go back to sleep?” came Ava’s muffled voice. She was buried under blankets, having tried to block out their little powwow and when that didn’t work she just decided to butt in.

“Thank you, a voice of reason that’s straight and to the point,” muttered Michael as he lay back down.

Sleep soon overtook the group once more; each one was restless though, with thoughts of what was coming.

Max knew he would take on Khivar and defeat him, he was confident in that, but at what cost?

Isabel could feel the nerves from her brother and snuggled closer to Alex in search of soothing comfort.

Tess and Kyle were prepared for whatever was coming, they had Liz’s back.

Michael was trying to figure out how to get the transgenics to let him actually go with them as an extra source of firepower and he was unconsciously soothing Maria by tracing lazy designs on her arm as she slept.

Ava and Alex simply slept, soon after the informal meeting broke, their thoughts mirrored each others, that no matter what happened they would do everything in their power to help Liz. With those thoughts they both fell into a deep slumber.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

'Cause I just waste away the chance the time to face the change
To make myself to think that things are better

“You okay?” asked Logan as he and Maxie got ready to slide into bed. He looked at his lover in concern when she didn’t answer immediately. “Hey,” Logan whispered, “It’ll be okay, nothing bad is going to happen this time. Just think, this time in a couple of days we’ll be hanging at Crash again.” He smiled softly, trying to alleviate any subconscious worries that were in Max.

“I have faith in our own abilities,” began Maxie, she trailed off, sighing at herself in disgust when she couldn’t find the words to express how she felt. She stood, pulling away from Logan and began pacing the room. Running frustrated hands through her long brown hair as she turned to him and began ranting. “We don’t know anything about this cult besides what Lydecker told us, and how do we know we can trust him? He’s been hunting us for the past ten years of our lives and isn’t exactly on our Christmas list. He could be setting us up for all we know-“

“But he did help us save Alec,” interrupted Logan. He held his hands up in surrender at the murderous glare Max shot him. “Hey now, I don’t like the guy either but he did help with Alec and he did help you, Zack, Krit, and Syl take out the DNA lab at Manticore. I’m most definitely not his biggest fan but he has helped some.”

“You’re right,” sighed Maxie… “Damn it, I know you’re right and it just makes me even more mad because I know he has helped.” She growled as she tipped her head back, rubbing her temples. “I don’t know if we’re strong enough,” Maxie admitted at last. “It took everything we had to kill just three of them, Logan, what does that mean for us? I mean, are we not as strong as we thought we were? And what’s up with this whole, Kat and I have breeding cult blood flowing through our veins? It’s all very suspicious if you ask me.”

Maxie groaned before crawling back into bed and back into Logan’s welcoming arms. Resting her head on his chest she breathed deeply, allowing his scent to calm her. “I’m scared Logan, I know this won’t be decided by just this battle tomorrow night, no matter what Kat thinks… this is just the beginning.”

~*~*~*~*~

Zack lay in the dark confines of the room he was currently set up in. He couldn’t help but agree with Maxie. This was just the beginning, and he hoped they could handle themselves. He didn’t know what was coming but he would be damned if any more of his family was hurt in any way by these bastards. He eventually fell into a restless sleep as thoughts continued to plague him, strategies for the next night and worries about what was to come.

Eyes wired shut running through my brain
Pulling back the skin it happens we're getting older
Eyes wired shut running through my brain
It's all the same but in the end it keeps me coming

lyrics: "Eyes Wired Shut" by Edgewater

CH. 23

Where do I take this pain of mine
I run, but it stays right my side

Liz looked around her cell, she was curled up in a little ball, trying to keep the monsters, both in her head and in real life, away. It had been a week since she had been brought back, one week of being back in hell and being tortured mercilessly. They wanted her to break, to become their perfect little soldier again but she wouldn’t do it and the strain was finally starting to take its toll. Psy-Ops was everything she remembered it to be only now they let her scream, it was as if they took pleasure in her pain.

She hated them; they were the monsters, not her, not their precious creation. Liz had lived the past nine years, running, always looking over her shoulder. Although she never left Roswell, there was always the underlying panic and doom that would set in occasionally. Liz knew her family was in danger as well, now that she was back, she couldn’t help if the time came. She constantly prayed to the Blue Lady that she would keep them safe.

Liz could feel hatred coursing through her as the click of Renfro’s heels came closer to her cell. The bitch had taken everything from her, brought her back here, and kept her locked up trying to reindoctrinate her to no success. Standing, Liz stretched out her tense muscles and faced the door bravely as it swung open to reveal the bane of her existence in the flesh. “What do you want?” she spat derisively. Glaring at the ice cold bitch before her, Liz promised herself she wouldn’t back down. They wanted her back and they got her, but she didn’t have to go along with them… Liz would make it just as hard on them to keep her around as it was for her to be there.

“Time to go, 254,” smirked Renfro, taking in the spitfire before her. She had read 254’s file, knew she was the youngest of the escapee’s and it made her curious. How did one so young and so obviously in need of direction and control become one of the most sought after escapees and second in command of the most elite unit in Manticore.

So tear me open, pour me out
There's things inside that scream and shout
And the pain still hates me
So hold me, until it sleeps

“Torture or tests?” sneered Liz as she was physically dragged out of her cell. She struggled but to no avail, the X5’s that held her were firm and she had too many drugs coursing through her system to put up any real kind of fight.

“Tests,” replied Renfro casually. “Why are you the most sought after X5 of the escapees? What makes you so special?” she queried, looking pointedly at the female before her.

“It must be my sparkling personality or quick wit,” bit Liz.

“No matter. We will get our answers,” shrugged Renfro, uncaring of 254’s indifference. “Also, a bit of information you may use as you will. Your unit, the traitors, are still the elite group. No other unit has come close to reaching your perfection.” Renfro zeroed in on 254’s sudden flash of surprise. “That surprises you,” she remarked. Interesting, she thought. She waved the door open and followed 254 into the room, watching with cold eyes as the girl was strapped down to the table before her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So tear me open, but beware
There's things inside without a care
And the dirt still stains me
So wash me, until I'm clean

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” came an outraged voice from the fog that had overtaken Liz.

Liz had been minding her own business after training when she had been jumped by almost an entire unit of X5’s. They had beaten her, ganged up on her and now here she was on the ground in a pool of her own blood as they continued to kick the shit out of her. But Liz had heard a familiar voice, it sounded like Alec and hope had flared, but she couldn’t be sure.

The next thing she knew the other transgenics were being physically ripped from her. “Alec, is that you?” she asked weakly, hating herself for getting into this situation and not being able to fight her way out of it… damn Renfro and her tests. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened,” Liz coughed, spitting out some blood as she struggled to sit up. Gasping in pain, Liz looked around at the soldiers glaring down at her. “Fuck you,” she spat, standing on shaky legs as Alec came and helped brace her.

“You are to report back to the barracks and never come near her again. If I even hear a whisper of you even looking at her wrong you won’t even see me coming,” Alec glared, gaze icy cold as he took in the pathetic transgenics before him. They had to gang up on technically one of their own just to feel justified and safe. “That’s an order,” he barked, before turning away from them in disgust and looking over Liz as he heard them running away from the scene. “You okay?” he asked softly.

“Yeah, I’m good… fuckers ganged up on me,” growled Liz. She was halted from saying anything more by the arrival of two transgenics she had never seen before.

So tell me why you've chosen me
Don't want your grip, don't want your greed

“Hey Alec,” whispered the male as he and a female approached them cautiously. “You okay?” he asked, directing the question her way.

“Yeah, but…?”

“Where the hell were you two?” growled Alec as he took in his friends. “She needed help and you were no where to be found!”

“Hey man, we were coming to help but you basically ripped them apart as it was, you didn’t need any help… besides we got rags,” shrugged the male as he looked at his friend in affront.

“Kat, this is Biggs and CeCe,” introduced Alec, sighing at his friends and just the situation they were in. “After you named me, I got these two jokers names-“

“Alec’s different since he met you,” reported CeCe, smirking at her CO’s horrified expression. “Here you go,” she winced at the girl before her as she handed over the rag that she and Biggs had grabbed before coming over.

“Thanks,” grimaced Liz as she took the offered rag and began cleaning off the cuts and blood. “Really? I guess I have that effect on people,” Liz stuck her tongue out at Alec when he mock glared at her.

“Yeah, he’s a lot less grumpy now,” smirked Biggs, meeting Alec’s glare with one of his own.

“So I’m guessing you guys are in Alec’s unit?” Liz hissed as she wiped away the already drying blood.

“My designation is 593 and I’m Alec’s SIC, CeCe’s my mate and 569,” smirked Biggs as he was smacked on the head by CeCe, wincing he turned puppy dog eyes on her. “She’s her own woman,” he explained, mimicking the way she had obviously explained it to him.

I'll tear me open, make you gone
No more can you hurt anyone
And the fear still shakes me
So hold me, until it sleeps

“I’m Zack’s SIC,” smirked Liz as she watched Biggs and CeCe’s antics. “So I guess besides our mutual friend Alec here, we have something in common.” She didn’t notice Alec’s slightly uncomfortable stance when she addressed Biggs.

“Aren’t you the youngest in your unit?” asked CeCe, scanning the surrounding area for any others.

“Yeah, I’m seventeen now,” shrugged Liz as the pain started lessening and she was able to move more fluidly.

“Wow, you’re the youngest SIC in Manticore history,” she looked at Liz in awe.

“Well damn, I don’t feel that special anymore,” joked Biggs.

“You’re still special, Special Olympics kind of special but hey whatever you can get right?” quipped Alec.

The four transgenics continued talking as they helped Liz back to her cell, none wanted to draw attention to her injuries… it would just land them all in more trouble and put her through more pain.

“Kat, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” smirked Biggs, trading a glance with CeCe at the look on Alec’s face. Neither one of them had ever seen their friend and CO this turned round by a girl.

“Yeah Kat, things should be even more interesting now, but we can keep these guys in line,” laughed CeCe as she high-fived the girl before her. She, Alec, and Biggs unfortunately had to go back to their sector

Leaving Liz in the ‘care’ of the guards as she locked herself back in her cell. After that night, Liz enjoyed hanging out with Biggs and CeCe when the opportunity presented itself. She had fun with them; they complemented each other well and seemed to enjoy picking at Alec as much as she did.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“You were in a dogfight in the yard?” asked Renfro, scowling down at the female X5.

“You’re little pets started it,” growled Liz, glaring at the woman before her from behind her curtain of dark hair as she was bent over gasping in pain.

“You’ll learn some respect before you go out again,” snarled Renfro, backhanding 254 and enjoying the satisfying smack of flesh hitting flesh and the red mark that began to appear on her cheek.

“You’ll never break me,” hissed Liz. “No matter what you do, I’ll never be your little play thing again.” Wincing to herself as she was dragged over to the chair and strapped down.

The pain intensified as she tried to hold back. She wouldn’t let them have the satisfaction of hearing her scream. Liz lay there, pain rocketing through each and every one of her nerve endings but she thought of Alec, how he had been there for her and she thought of her new friends in Biggs and CeCe. She wouldn’t let them down.

I'll tear me open, make you gone
No longer will you hurt anyone
And the fear still shapes me
So hold me, until it sleeps...

Until it sleeps...

lyrics: "Until it Sleeps" by Metallica[/i]

A/N: hey guys, i'm so sorry it took me so long to get this up! i hope you enjoy it, it's the beginning of the end basically. thanks for all your amazing feedback! i love it, seeing what you think, it cracks me up sometimes. like i said, hope you enjoy it!

CH 24

Liz looked around the room’s occupants as they all leaned over the table. They had been at it for hours now, committing to memory every little detail of the building’s plans. Lydecker had come through and found out where White and his goons were holed up now that the warehouse was exposed. It was a compound on the outskirts of Seattle, secluded in the woods, much like Manticore had been.

After the location had been revealed, it had been only a matter of time for Logan to come up with the blueprints. Maxie and Liz had gone out on a ‘reconnaissance’ mission to secure extra firepower and funding for their little expedition. The sisters had received numerous disapproving looks from Max and the others but they just shrugged them off; this is who they were.

Liz looked up at Max and saw something in his eyes, something that she had never seen before. She cocked her head and looked at him quizzically, studying him when he averted his gaze back to something Michael was saying. Liz shrugged it off, whatever was bugging him would come out sooner or later, for now they had a mission to plan. It hadn’t taken long for her, Alec, Maxie and Zack to memorize the layout with their photographic memory, but Michael, Max, Tess, Isabel, and Ava were taking a bit longer.

The plan was for Liz and her family to go in with Michael, Isabel, Kyle and Max. They would all split off, Alec and Zack would go find White and begin planting explosives while Liz and Maxie would hit the computer mainframe, they would download the cults plans and then trash the place, blow it to hell was more along the lines of Liz’s thoughts.

Liz had her own plans on finding Renfro but that would come later.

Kyle and Max were going after Khivar and planting explosives, while Michael and Isabel would plant explosives and be extra help wherever needed. Ava and Tess were in charge of keeping their entrance and activities on the down low with a huge mindwarp.

Maria, Alex, and Logan would watch over them from the van and Logan would keep an eye out for security to warn the others.

Took from me all that I had
With my soul and spirit dead
Killing everything in me
What is one use to be free

“Renfro’s mine,” said Liz calmly, never looking up from where she was spray painting her blades black. She and Alec were both working on that so they wouldn’t reflect light and be an additional hazard while they were all inside.

“After everyone’s out, before you throw the switch for the grand finale, I’m going in and I’m taking her out.” Liz looked up at her friends stunned faces; Alec’s understanding yet worried one, and Zack and Maxie’s disturbed faces. “She’s taken more from me than anyone else here, and I refuse to let her live another day. Her last breath will come at my hands and nothing is going to stop me.” Liz halted her speech and simply went back to work on her knives.

“While we’re on the subject of personal vendettas,” smirked Alec, although there was no real amusement behind it. “White’s mine, a little payback is in order, from using me as bait to even daring to go after Kat” Alec stared Liz down before she could say anything. “It’s personal, babe. He hurt you and I won’t stand for it; he needs to know who he’s dealing with and that you’re mine.”

“I’m all for destroying evil, but if you guys aren’t careful, you’ll become exactly what you want to defeat,” cautioned Kyle.

Now to drive away the pain
I'll destroy all I distain
I'll become what I despise
Living someone elses life

(Don't ever back down)

The silence that had fallen on the room at Kyle’s comment was broken by Maxie. “Men,” she snorted, scowling at the representatives of the male species in the room. “So territorial,” she spat derisively at Alec for his comment. “As if we can’t take care of ourselves…”

“Well if you want to make a statement about Liz belonging to you, shouldn’t you go after Khivar?” joked Maria uncomfortably.

“He’s mine,” said Max quietly but firmly. Everyone turned and looked at him, stunned.

“Anyone else want to claim a person or alien to take on?” asked Alex, shaking his head uncomfortably at the three before him. “Are you guys nuts? I can’t even say it’s in the family because Max isn’t family to you two, but damn…”

“So, Max is taking out Khivar, I’m taking out White, and Kat’s taking on the spawn of Satan,” confirmed Alec. He looked around the room, and saw the fear and hesitation on everyone’s faces at their plans. Maxie and Zack were the only two in the same element. This is what the four of them had been made for and they were going to take care of business. “Finish up,” he said, standing and stretching. “We move out in one hour.” Alec and Liz put the finishing touches on the blades before tossing two each to Max and Zack. The four transgenics retired to their individual rooms to change, leaving the aliens and humans to their own devices.

Don't ever back down
Don't ever turn around
My end has come
So now I come for you

Logan walked over to his Eyes Only room. He sat before the computer set up and sent out a streaming freedom video bulletin as per Liz’s request.

This is a streaming freedom video bulletin. The cable hack will last exactly 60 seconds. It cannot be traced, it cannot be stopped and it is the only free voice left in the city. There is a group of people in the world today who are ‘genetically empowered’ they are not the mutants you believe them to be… these people are worse. They are a part of a breeding cult, they have brought about the most powerful and supreme beings on the planet to repopulate it in their image… or so they think. Your time is at an end, the truly powerful will defeat you. They are strong in mind, spirit, heart, and body… you don’t stand a chance. We are coming for you.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Liz stood before the sliding glass door that led out onto the balcony. She looked out on the city, her favorite thing to do and let the wind whip her hair around. She was clad in skintight black pants and a matching long sleeve black shirt. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders and she could feel the cold steel of her knives against her legs as they were strapped into sheaths. Liz glanced back briefly at Alec when he came up behind her, dressed in a similar fashion. His gaze was hard, but Liz could see the true warmth flickering behind his veiled eyes. “We can do this Alec,” she said evenly. “It may not end exactly as we want it too, but I know we can eliminate most of the threat tonight. And I promise you, Renfro will die by my hand,” Liz growled.

Now obsession rules my mind
This commotion makes me blind
Searching out who ever runs
Or has stolen away my life

“Kat I want you to be ready for the truth that this night might not end as you want it too,” said Alec, holding his arms around her as she stiffened in his embrace. “We will fight as hard as we can and the others will prove to be valuable assets, but we’ve never actually gone up against people who are just as strong as we are if not more so and have more of them than we have ever seen. Just be ready,” he cautioned.

“I know Alec,” whispered Liz. “I know we might all die, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take in order to eradicate the bad guy. We have to try.”

“Just don’t get in over your head; you being dead would definitely put a crimp in my future plans,” Alec joked slightly. He turned her in his arms and tilted her face up to his. Leaning down, Alec felt her shaky breath flutter across his face as Liz’s eyes drifted closed.

She was beautiful, soft and full of life, but had the strength of steel running through her. Alec gently caressed her face before fusing his lips to hers in a breath taking kiss. They both fought for dominance in the frantic kiss, pouring all their love and passion into it, trying to tell the other how they felt without the need for words. They ripped their mouths apart minutes later, both breathing heavily and faces flushed. Alec fisted his hand in Liz’s hair and pulled her to his chest, squeezing her as close as he could, they were in fact the same soul, inhabiting two bodies. “I love you,” he choked out, voice husky with suppressed emotion.

“I love you too,” whispered Liz, burying her face in Alec’s chest. Inhaling his scent and committing it to memory before she pulled away and looked him in the eye, nodding he grabbed her hand and the two walked out to rejoin the others.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“The bulletin was sent out,” confirmed Logan when he saw Liz and Alec walk back out.

“Thanks Logan.”

“I guess those of us going in should change our clothes?” asked Kyle. He was blatantly staring in awe at the transformation the four seemed to go through, they all were. Sure they had all seen them go into ‘soldier mode’ but seeing them geared up for battle, all in black, and he knew weapons had to be strapped to them at different places… it was insane, it made everything so much more real.

Max and Zack already had on their leather jackets and even Logan was dressed in all black, his silver glasses the only thing that separated him from the other four… that and he wasn’t even remotely as intimidating as the others. Kyle understood everything now, why they were made the way they were; they were scary as hell like this. If he was their enemy, he would rather surrender than go up against them.

Don't ever back down
Don't ever turn around
My end has come
So I come for you

“Everybody change now,” ordered Liz, “and wear black.” She watched as Max, Michael, Isabel, and Kyle waved their hands over their bodies and transformed them into black cargos and black long sleeve shirts and in Isabel’s case the same black pants as Liz and Maxie were wearing. Isabel turned and waved her hand over Alex, changing his clothes and Michael did the same for Maria.

“Wow, those could come in really handy,” remarked Zack.

“You planning on making yourself over?” smirked Maxie, breaking the solemn mood that had fallen on the room’s occupants.

“Yeah, anything to fix your ugly mug,” laughed Liz.

“I’ll have you know I am perfect,” exclaimed Zack. He tilted his head back and turned different angles, pretending he was a model. He chuckled to himself at the amusement on his sister’s faces. “Anyways,” he coughed.

“Yeah,” sighed Liz. She looked around the room one last time. “I guess it’s time to move out.” She grasped Alec’s hand in her own and felt more than saw Zack and Maxie fall into line with them as the four walked to the elevator. She turned and nodded to her friends who would come down after them; the four transgenics would go in first with their bikes and wait at the rendezvous point for the others.

Liz, Maxie, Alec, and Zack arrived on schedule, the gentle hums of their bikes shut off and they were surrounded by silence. They hadn’t needed the headlight from their bikes because they could see in the dark and it would just draw unwanted attention.

You trip on everything
I'll take your tired breath
I can't feel anything
I live to see you to your death

A new heart with me
As might be just as quick
Through your tortured expens
Cuz I'll never back down

“So this is it,” said Zack quietly as he looked around at the woods that surrounded them. It had been a long, hard road from the time they left Manticore and now it was basically coming full circle. They were getting more closure from this than they had blowing up the DNA lab. “What are we going to do when this is over?” He looked at his sister’s and Alec, realization setting in that after this they could possibly have a new life... a real life.

“I don’t know about you guys but I think I’ll sleep for a month,” sighed Liz dramatically. “The whole not needing sleep thing only really works for a few weeks, not almost a year of nearly no sleep,” she grumbled. She snickered at her family, “But seriously, I’m looking forward to really living, actually going to work… well maybe” she amended when she looked at Maxie who snorted. “I’m looking forward to just being able to be me with you guys, no added worries or looking over my shoulder.” She shrugged looking to Alec and Maxie.

“I’m looking forward to being able to be with Logan,” sighed Maxie. “We wasted so much time and even in the last couple of weeks we haven’t had that much time. It’ll be nice to just be… like you said.”

“I’m looking forward to having a more active sex life. OW! Damn woman, I was kidding!” groaned Alec as he rubbed his shin and his stomach. He had gotten hit by both Liz and Maxie and it hurt like a bitch, more literally than he had ever intended it. He glanced up and saw Zack glaring at him. “It was a joke,” he grimaced, “Damn; don’t you guys have a sense of humor?”

“The others are here,” said Liz, straightening and forgetting her lover’s pain for the moment. “Alright, everyone’s here… Logan you gave out the earpieces?”

“Yeah, here are yours too, we’re on the second frequency.”

“Can do,” said Liz as she pushed the small piece of plastic into her ear. “Everyone set?” At the nods, she motioned forward with her hands and she and Maxie disappeared into the darkness, blending and vanishing even though everyone was still watching the exact spot where they had been.

“Whoa,” breathed Alex, seeing firsthand only the beginning of what his best friend was capable of.

“Let’s move out,” ordered Zack, moving off in a different direction than what his sister’s had just taken. He heard Alec following softly behind him and the others split off as well, leaving Logan, Maria, Alex, Tess, and Ava to stay behind at the van.

~*~*~*~*~

“You ready Kat?” asked Maxie as she and her sister stood before the chain link fence bordering the perimeter of the facility. She glanced over at her silent sister and watched the different emotions flicker across her face before shutting down into cold indifference.

“Let’s roll,” said Liz, leaping over the fence and landing softly on the other side. It was time to take care of business.

I'll drive you down
I'll beat you to the ground
My end has come
So now I come for you

DON'T BACK DOWN!

lyrics: "The End Has Come" by Ben Moody[/i]

CH 25

So are we lost or do we know
Which direction we should go
Sit around and wait for someone to take our hands and lead the way

Things had been quiet from the moment they leapt over the fence, Liz felt they were to quiet, especially when bitch of the year and White knew they were coming… courtesy of Logan’s little broadcast. She knew it was a cocky move, but she needed to show them they were unafraid, that even though Renfro thought she knew them, she really had no idea what she was dealing with.

Liz cocked her head to the side before looking at Maxie, making a series of hand motions the two sisters crept off into the darkness again. They used the shadows to their advantage, slipping in and out of the light, using the cover that was provided.

Upon reaching their point of entry, Liz placed one of the detonators at the first structural weakness as dictated by the blueprints. She then waved Maxie forward, bringing up the rear and looking around for any signs of an ambush.

“Max, Kat, you’ve got two men coming up from the right hand corridor,” crackled Logan’s voice from across the comm. He was scanning for trouble for all the teams but he couldn’t help but watch extra hard for them. “ETA, one minute.”

Cause every day we're getting older
And every day we all get colder
We're sick of waiting for our answers

“Roger,” whispered Kat, nodding when Maxie motioned for them to split apart in the hallway. Liz plastered her back to the wall, noting that her sister was in the same position opposite on her. When the two men walked around the corner, Liz wrapped her arms around one’s neck and twisted as hard as she could, the surprise attack gave her the advantage she needed. Hearing the satisfying crack she looked up to see Maxie in a more compromising position.

As it were, the other man had her pinned to the wall, arms held on either side of her and legs wrapped around his waist. After his friend had been taken out he reacted quickly, quicker than anticipated. Maxie was squeezing him as hard as she could but to no avail, she twisted and squirmed but nothing was breaking the guys hold. Liz slinked up behind him and slammed the heels of her hand into either side of his head; the extreme pressure against his temples killed him instantly. He slumped down against Maxie as she gingerly lowered herself to the floor.

“Thanks,” whispered Maxie as she and Kat both grunted trying to move the two bodies into the nearest empty room.

“You guys okay?” asked Logan, the slight twinge to his voice told both girls that he had seen everything.

“We’re good,” soothed Maxie. “We’re moving on to our primary target, keep us posted.” She and Kat fell into step, both praying that things would continue to progress as easily as they had.

“How are the others doing?” asked Liz as she crouched low, slinking along the wall and trying to stay as out of the way as possible. She and the others may have Tess and Ava mindwarping everyone and Logan looking out but it never hurt to be sorry.

“They’re good; they’re all approaching their primary targets. Be careful.”

The two girls continued creeping along the hallway, their destination just around the corner when the hallway was plunged into darkness. Warning lights began flashing and sirens began going off. Liz and Maxie traded worried glances but pressed on. “Logan what the hell is going on?” snapped Liz into her comm.

~*~*~*~*~*

Wake up, Wake up, Wake up,
Yeah I'm so tired of waiting, waiting for us to
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up,
Yeah I'm so sick of waiting, for us to make a move

“It’s almost like home sweet hell,” deadpanned Alec as he and Zack crept along the maze of hallways. “Is it preprogrammed in a bad guy to set up their base in a certain fashion?”

“Alec,” growled Zack in irritation.

“I mean do they get their own version of ‘Better Homes and Garden’ or whatever?” he continued, completely ignoring Zack.

“Alec,” Zack said again, his voice laced with warning. “Shut up.”

“Aww c’mon Zack, this should be a piece of cake, lighten up.”

“Do you want to live to see my sister again?”

“You wouldn’t do anything to me; Kat would kill you too or castrate you... whichever came first.”

“At least I’d die with the satisfaction of knowing I killed the annoying gnat that’s buzzing around me.”

“Buzz.”

“Alec!”

“What? Don’t worry, geez nothing bad is going to happen-“Alec stopped in mid sentence as the hallway was plunged into darkness and sirens began wailing in the distance. The emergency lights flickered on around them giving their surroundings an eerie, red glow.

“Nothing bad will happen,” mimicked Zack. “This will be a piece of cake! How does this look like a piece of cake?” he whispered loudly in extreme aggravation. Zack had known putting the two alpha males together was a bad idea. They were both the former CO’s of their units and their personalities were not meshing well together for a mission. “This is going to be one of those nights,” he groaned, glaring at the sheepishly smiling Alec.

Are we meant to take the pain
Should we sit around and wait
Are we being saved
Or was it another lie you made to make us hate

“Logan what the hell is going on?” asked Alec, glaring up at the camera stationed above him.

~*~*~*~*~*

“Kyle… you are going to stand down and let me deal with Khivar right?” asked Max as he and his friend snuck through the base. They had placed the detonators they were supposed to and were now headed to find Khivar. Max had a feeling in his gut that he wouldn’t make it out of this encounter alive but he would be damned before letting Khivar leave the building alive. If he had to go down fighting to defeat him, so be it.

“Evans, you can have your little showdown with Khivar but I won’t leave you. I’m your back up and you’re stuck with me, besides Michael, Isabel and Tess would kill me if I let anything happen to you. Tess already promised no sex and Isabel castration; actually if Isabel castrated me I wouldn’t have to worry about it anyways.” The shorter man shuddered, running a hand through his brown hair and mussing it even more. “C’mon, let’s find this fucker and get out of here… this place gives me the willies, no wonder the others wanted to get out of Manticore… if it was anything like this.”

Cause every day we're getting older
And every day we all get colder
We're sick of waiting for our answers

Max looked at his friend, a ghost of a smile playing across his lips at the other’s bluntness and stubbornness. Max knew what he had to do, he just hoped everyone understood. Both men stopped when their hallway was plunged into darkness. Looking around and then at each other they both reached for their comm.’s at the same time. “Logan!” they shouted.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Michael!” whispered Isabel as she walked down another hallway. “Michael?” she called again. She couldn’t believe they had gotten separated and now she was slightly lost. “Damn it,” she hissed. “Why does this always happen to me?” Creeping around the corner Isabel stopped short when she saw two men coming towards her. Ducking back down, Isabel breathed a sigh of relief realizing they hadn’t seen her. Craning her head back around she glanced up and down the hallway but didn’t see anyone. All of a sudden a hand landed firmly on her shoulder and pulled her up, “Aaahhh!” she screamed, muffled by the hand clamped over her mouth.

“Shit Isabel, it’s just me!” exclaimed Michael as he slowly released his grip on her.

“Fuck you Michael, you scared me!” Isabel began hitting Michael over the head in retribution, pausing when she heard a gun cock.

“Turn around slowly with your hands up and you won’t be hurt,” sneered a voice.

Wake up, Wake up, Wake up,
Yeah I'm so tired of waiting, waiting for us to
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up,
Yeah I'm so sick of waiting, for us to make a move

Isabel turned around again, sliding Michael a glance and nodding slightly from what she saw. Facing the man with the gun she saw it was the two men from earlier.

“Stupid transgenics sending in ordinaries after us,” sneered the other man.

“Heh, yeah, stupid…” smirked Michael, his expression icing over as his hand began heating up. “Except we’re not ordinaries,” he glared as he blasted both men. He watched their bodies collapse against the far wall and sighed in resignation. Turning to Isabel, Michael saw her slightly shocked expression. “Hey,” he soothed. “It’s okay. But stay with me! I promised Max and Alex I’d take care of you.”

“I can take care of myself Michael!” Isabel looked back at the two crumpled bodies on the floor. A bitter smirk flickered across her face. “They did say put your hands up.” She moved over and grasped the arms of one man, grunting as she dragged him over and threw him in a room.

Turning, Isabel saw Michael with the other one flung over his shoulder. Shutting the door and sealing it with their powers the two friends looked up and down the hallway before moving on once more before halting in their tracks when the corridors were plunged into darkness.

“Damn it, what now?” asked Michael aggravated. He and Isabel both looked at each other as best they could before trying to make it out of the building.

Wake up, Wake up, Wake up,
And we will never lose
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up,
it's time to make a move
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up,
And we will never lose
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up,
it's time to make a... move!

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Are they okay?” asked Logan, never looking from his monitors in the van but concerned about Tess and Ava all the same.

“Yeah, this whole mindwarp shebang is just a little wearing,” sighed Maria. She was bored and on edge and wanted to do more to help than just sit here. She began bouncing her leg up and down again and nearly jumped out of her skin when Alex’s hand slammed down on her knee. “Shit, are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Maria glared, gasping and clutching her chest.

“Sorry,” mumbled Alex, “but you’re driving me nuts with the bouncing… just breathe and calm down.”

“How can I stay calm when almost everyone I love and care about is risking their life out there without me and could probably die hence the risking their life and even though they have alien powers and are transgenics they are going up against people who have been breeding the best of the best of the best, sir, for hundreds of years!” shrieked Maria all in one breath, her voice inching higher and higher as she went along.

Alex slammed his hand over his best friend’s mouth. “Shhh…” he soothed. “Calm down, they’ll be alright.” His own eyes betrayed him with the worry he was trying to keep buried. “By the way,” he smirked. “Nice Men in Black reference.” He just shrugged when Logan shot him a weird look. “Being friends with Maria for so long, you learn.”

Alex looked back over at Tess and Ava, both of them had sweat beginning to bead on their foreheads and intense looks of concentration on their faces. He hoped they could keep this up for as long as needed. Sighing, Alex glanced back up at the screen before looking away. Halting, he whipped his head back around in shock, “Logan! That’s Khivar!” he exclaimed in panic as the alien tyrant’s face filled the screen. Watching Logan zoom in on the screen, Alex sat back almost hyperventilating. “They have to get out of there now!”

It's not enough
To let it run
Where's the truth
It's all wrong

“I can’t get through, the power has been shut down and the comm.’s are jammed,” growled Logan, throwing his headset down in frustration. He watched as best he could as Maxie and the others looked around in confusion. “They’re going to have to get out on their own.” Logan felt Alex and Maria crowd on either side of him.

“Tess and Ava are back,” whispered Maria. “They’re really out of it, somehow the mind warp broke.”

“SHIT!”

“We have to get them out of there, Logan,” pleaded Alex.

“I know, but it’s not like we can just go in there… the explosives are set and timed and Kat, Max, and Alec are settling their own problems,” he groaned.

“Why are Maxie and Zack leaving Alec and Liz alone in the halls?” screeched Maria as she pointed to the fuzzy figures on the darkened screen.

“Look, Michael and Isabel just ran into them… but where are Max and Kyle?” exclaimed Alex, chewing on his nails in nervousness. He looked down at Logan, waiting for the answer to just pop out of him or for the others to just appear before them.

“I don’t know where Kyle and Max are,” sighed Logan. Ripping off his glasses he rubbed furiously at his eyes before looking back at the screen. “That’s it,” he snapped his fingers before looking at the other two. “Khivar, Renfro, and White are leading the other three to exactly where they want to be. They want the showdowns to be on their turf…” He paused, trailing off before looking back at the two teenagers on either side of him. “This is bad.”

We're sick of waiting for our answers...

lyrics: "Make a Move" by Lost Prophets

A/N: Hey guys! Well we've pretty much reached the end. There's one more part after this, and hopefully I'll get over my writers block and start posting the sequel soon. Thank you guys so much for reading this and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Also thanks so much for the Nom. I'm so excited! I don't even care if I win, just the fact that I was nominated means a lot! I hope you guys enjoy this and thank you again so much!

CH. 26

Liz looked around at her surroundings. She had sent Maxie back, it had taken a lot of coercion but her sister finally left her alone and Liz had continued on throughout the dark corridors on her own. She couldn’t hear or see anyone coming and she no longer had Logan as her extra set of eyes; somehow the comm.’s got blocked. The only thing on her mind was getting to Renfro and making her suffer for every crime against Liz and the others in her family, along with the other transgenics. The bitch was going down and nothing would stand in Liz’s way.

She stopped, whirling her head back and forth trying to place the sound she had just heard. Still unseeing she closed her eyes and focused everything on what her heart was telling her. Flicking her eyes down the darkened hallway she took off in a silent run. Racing around the corner, she came upon a single door. The window darkened in but it was the only door in the area and Liz’s gut told her this was where she was supposed to be. Stopping suddenly when the door opened hard of seemingly it’s own volition, Liz sharpened her gaze and saw Renfro standing alone in the darkened room. Knowing this confrontation was going to happen regardless, Liz shrugged and walked forward, the door closing behind her.

“Hello 254.”

“Hello bitch.”

“Now, now, is that any way to treat me? After all I took you in and I saved your boyfriend from the clutches of the aliens. Ah, you didn’t know that we knew about them specifically. Khivar has been a most useful ally.”

“Yeah well how about we get down to business and you can meet up with Khivar and White in hell?” Liz began circling Renfro, keeping her eyes locked on the woman before her, never giving the slightest sign of wavering. “You took my family from me,” she growled. “You put us through hell and weren’t happy until you had some of us back in Manticore. How does someone like you sleep at night?”

“Easily, I’m doing what I believe is right. You were all born for greatness! You could have done so much but you ran,” spat Renfro. “You ran and even when we brought you back you fought. You needed direction and when we tried to give it to you; you threw it back in our faces. 254, your time has come… I will both enjoy this and regret it at the same time.” Renfro shrugged out of her suit jacket and threw it to the floor. She dropped into a fighting stance and arched a brow at Liz. “Let’s see what you’ve got,” she sneered. “One on one, none of your little friends or family to back you up”

I know what darkness means
(and the void you left for me)
The isolation stings
(So think it wants to bleed)
The echoes in my brain
(Of the things you said to me)
You took my everything
Now I'm coming for you!

Liz glared at the woman before her. The woman who brought on so much pain and suffering, it was time to finish this. She didn’t know if she would walk out of her alive or uninjured but she would be damned before letting Renfro go to bring more horrible things on other people. Calming herself, she breathed deeply and crooked her finger at Renfro, beckoning her forward, and the fight began.

Renfro ran at Liz with a flying sidekick, it almost landed but Liz was able to shift at the last second, catching Renfro’s ankle, shifting it and slamming her down on the ground. Hearing the grunt of pain, Liz took momentary satisfaction before once more bringing her guard up. She stayed on the defensive, allowing Renfro to tire herself out and giving Liz what little advantage it afforded. Charging Liz once more, Renfro hooked her arms around Liz’s waist and slammed her into the wall. A curtain of brown hair obscured Liz’s features as she sank down in pain, flipping it away she grimaced as she rose to her feet.

“I think I’ll enjoy reindoctrinating your family. We have more advanced methods than Manticore, they won’t stand a chance.” Renfro smirked when she saw the anger flare in Liz’s eyes. “Now, now, 254, we taught you better; emotions are a weakness, you shouldn’t give away your weaknesses.”

“That’s what you think,” spat Liz. “Emotions fuel our abilities, anyone’s abilities. See what you don’t realize is right now I am feeling, anger, hatred, rage, frustration, and it’s all going to be brought down on your lying, manipulative ass.” Liz blurred to where Renfro was standing, she threw punch after punch and blocked just as many. Bringing her knee up she connected with Renfro’s stomach as the woman was bent over in pain. Punching her one last time, Liz sent Renfro flying into a nearby pillar. The beam cracked under the strain and Liz looked around in concern as the roof began shaking. She was flung to her knees when Renfro tackled her, but both of them were shaken apart when a blast rattled the buildings foundations.

“You’ll never make it out of here alive,” grunted Renfro as she shakily got to her feet. “Your time’s up, you’ll die by your own explosives.”

“Fine by me as long as you die right here with me,” growled Liz as she took Renfro down again. The two traded blow after blow. Liz had the upper hand even as the building was crumbling around them. She sat astride Renfro’s back, her arms pinned up and Liz’s knee pressing painfully into the small of her back. Her face was smashed down against the concrete floor and she could feel the tiny particles digging into her skin.

“You really want to die like this, 254? We could escape together and you could help me rebuild all of this. We could run it together,” she gritted out as Liz pressed harder.

“You know that pesky thing called emotion you were damning earlier,” asked Liz calmly.

“Yes.”

I won't back down
I will not bow
I've come to bring you hell
I can’t forget
Things you did
I've come to bring you hell

“Just wanted you to know that it’s the reason you’re about to die.” Liz whispered as she flipped Renfro over and threw her across the room again. She hit the same pillar as before and it cracked completely under her weight. Liz blurred across the room and dragged Renfro away from danger. “Can’t let you die like that, I have a promise to keep.” Liz glared into the eyes of the one person she hated most letting her see every emotion that Liz had felt, all the horror and disgust she felt, and then she snapped her neck. Snarling in disgust, Liz dropped Renfro’s body to the ground before struggling to stand and run out of the collapsing building. Rounding the corner she stumbled straight into Max’s confrontation with whom she could only guess was Khivar.

“Liz!” called Kyle from his post at the other end of the room, the exit to the corridor leading out. He motioned her over as the two men in the center of the room continued to fight for dominance both physically and with their powers.

Liz moved swiftly, reaching Kyle and shoving him out the door. “Get out, now!” She halted his protests swiftly. “The building’s coming down! Get out Kyle,” she softened her tone. “Go, for Tess!” Turning she once more returned her gaze to Max and Khivar. She enhanced her hearing to pick up the fight but it was pointless because they shot themselves apart with two blasts and went flying to opposite ends of the room. “MAX” screamed Liz as she ran over to help her friend back to his feet. He had a cut across his forehead that was bleeding rather severely and several burn marks on his clothing, giving way to scorched skin from blasts.

“So this is my future queen” smirked Khivar as he righted himself. “I’m sure since you’re here it means my dear Madame Renfro has been disposed of; no matter, she was of no consequence.”

“You’ve got another thing coming if you think I’m going to be your queen!” growled Liz, glaring at the alien before her.

“Liz, get out of here,” whispered Max weakly. “I can take care of him, just go!”

“No Max,” she argued, wrapping her arms around his waist so he could lean on her. “Friend’s don’t abandon each other. I’m staying.” The two looked back at Khivar as he paced back and forth.

“Think of the power, with your abilities plus what I can teach you; you’d be unstoppable. Join me.” He held out his hand to her in invitation.

“No.”

Khivar’s face hardened. “Very well, I’m sorry to have to do this.” He raised his hand to blast both his arch enemy and Liz to oblivion.

“NOO!!” screamed Max as he shoved Liz away from him. Throwing up a shield to block her, he sent his own blast back at Khivar. They both held, frozen in midair, the power crackling and the two forces pushing against the other. Liz stared transfixed; pausing in her attempts to get free as they finally merged and sent both Khivar and Max flying again, neither moving.

The shield collapsed around Liz and she rushed over to Max. Kneeling she pulled his head into her lap and smoothed the hair away from his face. “Hey you,” she whispered tearfully as his eyes fluttered open.

“Hey,” he choked. “I’m sorry Liz.”

“Shh… save your strength, we have to get out of here.” Liz looked up and saw the beams weakening. “C’mon.” She tried to pull him up with her.

“Liz!” hollered Kyle; he had come back when he felt the blast. “Liz we have to get out of here.” He stopped short when he saw the condition both she and Max were in. He dropped to his knees next to them in shock. “What happened?” he asked hoarsely, taking in the condition of Max and flicking his eyes to the still form of Khivar. “Is he?” he asked, motioning over.

“Yes.”

“Liz,” Max took her hand in his own weak one. “I knew coming into this that I wouldn’t make it.” He shushed her by gripping harder on her hand. “I knew it, and I accepted it because I knew this was how it had to be. I knew,” Max paused as pain wracked his body. He writhed in agony before falling back weaker than ever. “I knew that I would protect all of you from him and I have. I’m just sorry I won’t be able to be with all of you from here on out.” He coughed again, blood leaking out of his mouth as he stared up at a stoic Liz, tears threatening to fall and break her stone appearance. “Take care of them Liz, promise me… promise me,” he demanded.

“I promise Max.” Liz bowed her head to his and let the tears come as she felt his last breath leave his body. She sobbed for him and his family, for all of them. Feeling the pain of everything that he would never experience and all the time they had wasted being apart and not trying to make their friendship work. Liz cried and cried, never noticing the flames and smoke rising until it was too late. The roof collapsed on the three of them as X5-254 cradled one of her best friends to her in grief of his death. Max was gone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The shadows that you see
(In the places that you sleep)
Are memories of me
(Better pray your soul to keep)
The truth behind your eyes
(You know that place you never see)
Your darkest little lies
Are coming for you!

“Well, well, well,” smirked Alec as he walked around the corner and straight into the lab housing White. “Lookie what I found.” His face hardened as he took in the man before him that had tried to hurt Liz, tortured him and gone after countless others that he knew. “Let’s see how tough you are when you don’t have your goons to beat the shit out of me for you.”

“Don’t you think you should get out of here before the building collapses?” sneered White. “Run back to your little girlfriend. After all I know it was her that planned all this, couldn’t stand the thought that we might actually become more than what you are, with the help of our advisor of course.”

“Oh you mean Khivar? Yeah I’m sure he’s being taken care of as we speak.”

“No matter, I’m not afraid of you. We have already surpassed you and your freak family. Well, if you’re going to stand there, let’s see what you got.” White rushed Alec, wrapping his strong arms around Alec’s midsection as he lifted him up and slammed him into the wall. Pinning him there he tried to squeeze the air out of his lungs but Alec brought his fist down repeatedly on White’s face and soon his grip loosened allowing Alec to slip free.

Wiping the blood off his lip, and gingerly touching his already swelling eye, White glared at Alec as the other man quirked an eyebrow at him in cocky amusement. “That all you got?” Alec shifted his weight from foot to foot, itching for White to charge him again and anticipating how he would come. Before either man could move however, another shifting of the building sent them to their knees, debris falling and blocking them from each other. Alec growled in frustration as he searched for another way to get to White. This couldn’t be the end; he refused.

“Well, well, looks like we’ll have to finish this riveting conversation later.” White’s voice carried over the mountain of concrete and support beams that blocked him from the transgenic. “Sorry to have to run, but you know the building is coming down after all.” He turned and ran out another door, attempting to make it out of the building safely. The Conclave wouldn’t be pleased.

“Shit,” snarled Alec as he too began making his way out of the weakening building. Bursting through the smoke and flames he made it outside onto the grounds only to look up and see the others come running towards him. “What the hell’s going on? Why aren’t you guys at the van?”

“Everyone’s gone,” shrugged Maria from her spot next to Michael. Her arms were firmly wrapped around him and she didn’t appear willing to let him go any time soon.

“So what happened in there?” asked Alex, he too was tangled up in Isabel and Maxie and Logan were together, even Zack and Ava were standing together. “Wait a second, where’s Max, Kyle and Kat?” He turned concerned eyes on Tess and Maxie.

“Kat went after Renfro, I left her when the power went out and that’s the last I saw of her.” Maxie looked worried, she began chewing on her lower lip, a trait she’d obviously picked up on from her little sister. She shook her head sadly as Alec turned back to the building in time to see one last fireball shoot into the sky and it collapse in on itself.

“KAT!” screamed Alec as he took off running for the building. He was stopped by Maxie and Zack gripping onto his arms. He struggled, kicking and swinging, trying to wrench his way out of their grip, but they held on and managed to wrestle him to the ground. The three lay there sobbing on the ground, Kat was seemingly gone. After everything they had been through, she was gone.

The sounds of the others grieving could be heard as well, but Alec wasn’t registering anything except the feeling of his heart shattering into a million pieces. She couldn’t be gone; she was his world, everything to him. She was his redemption and light, if she was gone he didn’t know what he would do. They had been happy for a little over one glorious week, they had been happy.

Alec wearily shrugged Maxie and Zack off of him as he staggered to his feet. He sharpened his gaze when he thought he saw three figures staggering out of the smoke. His heart began beating again when the smallest figure looked to one of the others and nodded. That was all Alec needed as he took off running for her.

Liz ran at Alec, she ran as fast as she could as tears of happiness mingled with sadness. They met in the middle, both crying in relief as Liz jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and burying her face in his neck. She felt Alec fist his hands into her hair and sighed at the feeling of being with him once more. “I love you,” she cried, “I love you so much!” She slammed her lips down on his, kissing him passionately and pouring everything into it as she felt him pull her in closer to his body.

Liz was pulled out of her joy by the sounds of the others moving towards them and Kyle. Liz slid down Alec’s body and took his hand silently leading him closer to the others. When they reached Kyle, Liz helped him lay out Max’s body on the ground and the tears began flowing.

Isabel collapsed into Alex’s arms, sobs wracking her body as her only brother’s body was lying before her, no life left in him at all. Tess felt tears streaming down her face as she mourned for a past husband and a present friend as she gripped Kyle’s hand tightly and buried her face into his chest, simply relieved that he was okay. Michael, ever the stoic soldier simply stood there but Maria could have sworn that she saw one solitary tear slip down his cheek. She squeezed his hand and looked down at Max’s body. He had sacrificed his own life and future happiness to save them all from an evil tyrant; they would forever be in his debt.

“We should get going,” whispered Liz, voice roughened from emotion. She looked at Alec and he nodded. The four transgenics, Ava, and Logan helped the other back to the van. Zack carried Max’s body and laid it in the back, while the others simply stood there, their grief palpable.

“What now?”

“I don’t know,” shrugged Liz helplessly as she mounted her bike. Wiping the residual tears away, she gunned the engine and took off, Alec following on his own bike. The others all stared after them until finally Logan broke the silence by starting his own engine and soon after everyone began loading back up.

All the scars that never heal
All the wounds that will not seal
I will not forget the day
These memories never fall

lyrics: "Won't Back Down" by Fuel

A/N: Thanks so much guys! This story was so much fun to work on and I loved having all of your feedback! Just want to let you know that I will hopefully start posting a new story sometime in January. I don't think it will be the sequel but it will be another Xtremer fic, and who knows if my muse cooperates then I will start posting my polar fic on the UC board. Thanks again guys, you mean a lot to me and here's something that you guys helped me get!



CH. 27

Liz looked out over the bustling city, all lit up and sparkling; she smiled softly at the knowledge that the people down there were living their lives the way they wanted to. There was no interference, no higher calling, no genetic purpose; just everyday people doing everyday things.

It had been a month since the attack on White’s setup, a month since Maria and the others had gone back to Roswell, a month since they buried Max.

Those few days were hard; the news had to be broken to the Evan’s and they seemed to have seen it coming. They knew Max would do whatever it took and they were proud of him, but it didn’t lessen the blow. The day of the funeral had felt appropriate; it was dark and overcast, the weather reflecting the mood.

The only people present were Liz and the others along with the parents of everyone else. It turned out to be not just a day of mourning Max, but Jeff and Nancy as well; in the end though, the sun peaked out, beams of sun shining down on the small gathering and it was fitting to have a little brightness in the suddenly darkening world, hope springing eternal in the hearts and minds of everyone.

When the hour is upon us
And our beauty surely gone
No you will not be forgotten
No you will not be alone

A month since it all ended, and it had been a month since Logan, Maxie, Zack, Alec, Liz, and Ava had returned to Seattle for a new beginning.

Yes, Ava decided to settle down in Seattle with the others. Liz smiled to herself at the signs of how close Ava and her brother Zack had gotten. It was only a matter of time before one of them cracked and they officially ended up together.

Although she was back in Seattle, Liz hadn’t forgotten her promise to Max. She would take care of the others no matter what, but they were safer in Roswell and all of them had lives there. They knew how to contact her; they all had her cell and beeper number and Isabel could dreamwalk her if necessary.

Liz would watch over them from a distance, trying to keep them as safe as possible.

She looked around at the graffiti on the Space Needle, the slightly decayed look to almost everything around her, but she felt at peace. Maxie had asked her a very good question; ‘why was it called a depression if no one was depressed?’ Why, indeed.

The top of the Space Needle was quickly becoming Liz’s favorite place. She was able to come up here and just think about things, everything seemed simpler up here.

Liz was frustrated that White had escaped but took grim satisfaction in knowing that Renfro and Khivar had not made it. Sooner or later though their peace would break and it would be all out war. Liz just wished she knew whose DNA and blood she shared, it might help things along; give her and the others an unknown advantage.

When Logan found out Liz and Ava were both staying in Seattle, he officially told them they were staying with him, making the housing arrangements of all of them complete; for the time being. Alec and Zack were living together, and Maxie was still with O.C.

Things in the penthouse were interesting since it was the first time Logan had shared it with two females. Being that one was a transgenic and one a hybrid alien just made it all the more interesting, plus it was still Grand Central for all things transgenic; after all Liz and Maxie were the designated leaders of Terminal City.

And when the day has all but ended
And our echo starts to fade
No you will not be alone then
And you will not be afraid
No you will not be afraid

It had become the safe haven for all of the soldiers; it kept those who didn’t look ‘normal’ out of harms way from prying eyes and gave everybody a place to actually live.

More and more were flooding in everyday and when it became apparent that they needed some sort of hierarchy, Maxie and Liz had been appointed as the leaders with Alec and Zack acting as seconds. Liz, herself was still unsure of how she got the job, especially when she and Maxie had always been second to Zack, even Alec had been a CO. She thought it had something to do with the funny looks she was getting from Zack and Ava whenever Maxie walked into the room lately.

Liz had the sneaking suspicion that Maxie had volunteered her for the job. Whenever she and the others weren’t at Terminal City, they continued their jobs at Jam Pony and Ava had even gotten a job at Crash, so she gave them yet another reason to hang out there, as if they needed another. Liz smiled softly as she felt a presence behind her. “Hey you.”

“Hey yourself. Didn’t you know it’s dangerous to stay up here all on your lonesome?”

“I guess I’ll have to call my big strapping boyfriend to come and protect me” snickered Liz, rolling her eyes.

“I’m sure that can be arranged” chuckled Alec as he slid down behind her. Stretching out his long legs on either side of Liz and wrapping his arms around her waist, he rested his chin on her shoulder and glanced over at her. “What are you thinking about?” he asked softly.

“Nothing much” Liz sighed. “Just thinking about everything that’s gone down in the past month. We’ve been through a lot, haven’t we Alec?”

“Yeah we have, and unfortunately it’s not over, but we’ll make it. We always do” he whispered. They sat there like that, wrapped up in each other as they both looked out over the city, the slight wind tugging at their clothes but otherwise nothing disturbed them.

Finally Liz shifted slightly, turning to face Alec. She gently ran her fingers through his hair and smiled when Alec shut his eyes and groaned in contentment, relaxation sliding over his body as he melted into her caress. Kneeling in front of him she carefully leaned in and placed a delicate kiss on his lips. Moaning when he grabbed the back of her head, fisting his hand in her hair and deepened it almost instantly.

The two lovers, battled for dominance as the kiss became more intense. Tongues darted back and forth, tasting the sweet recesses and learning all over again everything about the other, every contour. “I love you” whispered Alec what seemed like hours later as the two parted.

“I love you too.” Liz snuggled further into Alec’s embrace, breathing in his scent and thanking God yet again that they were together. “So, not that I’m not glad you’re here or anything but what’s up?”

Alec seemed to ponder the question for a few minutes, smirking to himself at the irritated look beginning to take form on Liz’s face. “Well…” he drawled, snickering when Liz glared at him and slapped his chest.

“C’mon, spit it out already!”

“Actually I can’t tell you, I’m just supposed to get you to Crash A.S.A.P.” Alec stood and stuck his hand out for Liz to grab hold of. Pulling her up a little harder than necessary Alec smirked as she fell into his arms. Wrapping his arms around her waist once more, he anchored her to him. “What would you do without me?”

“I’d be a hell of a lot saner!” snapped Liz playfully as she swatted Alec and pulled out of his grip. “Besides, I’d just find another strapping young X5 and hook up with him.” Liz giggled at the shocked look on Alec’s face. “I’m just kidding baby, you’re it for me, my mate.”

“Damn right I am; you’re mine!” Alec growled possessively.

Linking his hand with her own, Liz began the trek back down. “Let’s go lover boy, I ain’t got all night!” Alec and Liz both jumped on their bikes when they reached the bottom, making it to Crash in no time due to their Jam Pony sector passes. They both shut the motors off and walked inside.

The bar was smoky as usual and Liz saw that Ava was busy mixing drinks and pouring drafts. The X-games were playing on one of the t.v.’s and the news on another. Sketchy was, as usual hitting on anything in a skirt, and Liz arched a brow in his direction smirking as he just waggled his eyebrows and moved on. “So why are we here?” Liz pouted as she quickly waved at Ava.

“You’ll see” hinted Alec. “Now then close your eyes and don’t peek.”

When the fog has finally lifted
From my cold and tired brow
No I will not leave you crying
And I will not let you down
No I will not let you down
I will not let you down

“Alec, this is completely childish” argued Liz. “Just let me see where the hell I’m going.”

“Oh like you don’t know every detail about this place like Maxie, Zack and I do.” Alec quirked a brow at her, daring her to argue with him. “That’s what I thought. Now then, close your eyes and I will walk with you to our destination.”

“Fine” she grumbled, shutting her eyes and continuing to hold Alec’s hand. After being led a few feet she heard a clear sound of the smack of balls and realized they were over by the pool tables. “Can I open them now?”

“Well I don’t know if you want to look at his ugly mug, but you can if you want” came a familiar female voice.

“Hey, I resent that! You know you love me and think I’m dead sexy” came a second familiar voice, this one definitely masculine.

Liz’s eyes shot open in surprise. “CeCe, Biggs!” she squealed, launching herself at her friends. “When did you guys get here? Why didn’t you let us know? Where are you staying? Where are you working?”

“Kat, breathe, it’ll be okay” smirked Biggs, as he embraced the younger girl in a brotherly hug. He pulled back and arched an amused brow at Alec who simply shrugged. CeCe shouldered in and hugged Liz next.

“So I see you finally grew a pair and hooked up with her” remarked Biggs, snickering at the indignant look on his former CO’s face. He turned to look at the others, gathered around. “So let’s see, you’re Logan, that’s Ava by the bar, and you two have to be Zack and Maxie.” He said motioning to the others.

“Yeah, it’s good to meet you Biggs,” said Zack, firmly clasping the other X’s hand. “And you CeCe.” Turning away he glanced quickly at Ava before looking back at the others only to be met with both sister’s knowing gaze. Shrugging uncomfortably he looked around again. “So who wants to play pool?”

“Ooh me!” exclaimed Alec as he made a grab for one of the pool cues.

“Hell no, I’m not playing against you!”

“Oh yes you are, because I’m going to catch up with Biggs and CeCe,” ordered Liz.

“You give them a little bit of power and they just run away with it” muttered Zack as he set the table and lined up his first shot to break.

Liz snickered at her brother, turning back to the other two. “So, what’s been happening since we all made the great escape?” She eagerly bounced her leg on the edge of the stool, anxious to hear how her friends had done.

“We wandered for a while, never staying too long in one place” began Biggs. He shot CeCe an amused look at Liz’s rapt attention. “Obviously we soon heard about a certain brunette leading an attack on the breeding cult and so we decided to come check out sunny Seattle.” He looked over when CeCe snorted at his last comment and just threw her a lopsided smirk that reminded both females a lot of Alec.

“Wait how do you know about that?” asked Liz, perplexed.

“Sweetie, it’s all over, everyone who has anything to do with us knows about it. You’re a hero,” explained CeCe.

“Or an annoying fly, depends on who you ask.”

“But I didn’t kill White,” snarled Liz bitterly.

"I believe that was my job!" called Alec as he sunk another ball.

“Hey, hey, he’ll be taken care of in due time. For now we rest and regroup. You and Maxie are our leaders and we’ll follow you.” CeCe placed a comforting hand on the younger girls shoulder. "Don't worry."

“Yeah well watch out for Maxie, she seems to be slowly slinking her way out of leadership and leaving it all to me. If you’re not careful she’ll get on your case too and make you two generals with Alec and Zack.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Biggs shifted uncomfortably at the thought. “So to answer your flood of questions from earlier Ms. ‘I’m too good to call’,” he chuckled at her indignant look. “We got here the other day and were able to track down Alec. He talked to Logan and looks like we’re living in the same area as Maxie and the others; it’s nice to have hookups. Anyways, we’re both working at Jam Pony and we’re here for you if you need us.” Biggs shrugged a little uncomfortably at the appreciative look on Liz’s face, but let himself be dragged into a hug with CeCe and Liz regardless.

Before Biggs knew it though, Alec had seen them and decided to do a ‘group hug’, pulling Maxie and Zack in too. The six transgenics all huddled together, talking and laughing, reminiscing the few and far between good times. Logan and O.C. were joined by Ava when she finished her shift and they were content to simply sit back and watch.

“Hey,” called Liz as they all exited Crash later. “It’s all good!” she smiled getting answering smiles from everyone else. “Let’s blaze.”

“Does she mean what I think she means?” asked Biggs, glancing at CeCe before shooting Alec a pointed stare.

“Yes,” sighed Alec, looking heavenward before letting a devilish smirk cross his handsome features. “Yes she does.”

“Woo hoo!” shouted CeCe as she jumped on her own silver Ninja, while Biggs jumped on his green one.

The six transgenics all took off, leaving their slightly more ordinary friends shaking their heads after them. It had taken them a long time to get to where they were and everyone intended to enjoy it. Things would change, White would come for them with a vengeance, and more revelations would ensue; but for now, they were normal.

Now comes the night
Feel it fading away
And the soul underneath
Is it all that remains
So just slide over here
Leave your fear in the fray
Let us hold to each other
Till the end of our days

Alec looked over at Liz when they stopped for a break. “Hey baby”

“Hey yourself”

“I love you”

“I love you too”

lyrics: "Now Comes the Night" by Rob Thomas