Children of the Vindicated (FF, Adult) Thread #1

[nickimlow]

Alexander

I stood frozen for a while, but then I realised that I looked like an idiot and nodded. "Thanks, Dad," I said briefly. For a moment, our gazes were locked. And then I turned again and walked out of the library and back to my room.

When I entered, everything seemed so different. I had subconsciously thought that I was going to my bedroom, the one back home. This, and everything else here, seemed like a whole new world to me. Well, actually, it was.

I sat on the bed and fell back. At that moment, I heard a small crush sound. Quickly bouncing back up, I looked down at the bed to see what it was.

It was a note, written in Sarah's neat script. I picked it up and looked at the short message.

I'm sorry. I love you. Love Sarah.

I smiled to myself, moving my fingers over the words for a while. I had been so preoccupied with the sister I had just found that I seemed to have ignored the sister I had grown up with. It wasn't really fair to her, really. She had always hated her powers, wanting desperately to be like everyone else. Now, as if things hadn't been bad enough, she was on her father's home planet, surrounded by aliens, and feeling left out.

I wondered if I could establish a connection with her, just a brief one. I just needed to let her know that I wanted to see her. It was time for that brother-sister talk.

I was still new to it. With Xadalyn, it seemed to come a bit easier. But with everyone else, I needed a bit of concentration. If I didn't do this properly, I might accidentally get the line crossed with Xadalyn or my father. I closed my eyes and tried to focus . . . I was looking for Sarah . . .

Hey kiddo, where are you? I asked her. Hmm, that wasn't so bad. I need to speak with you.

[Dreamer_Dreaming]

OCC: I'm not going to wait for Justin this rpg moving too fast, and I'm getting alittle behind and I dont want the other to be as well because of me.

~*~Sarah~*~

*Sarah honey…your father and I are in the library…Xan and Xada are here too…do you want to join us…I think there’s some stuff we need to talk about,Sarah! Please come back to your mom's room now. There's going to be a big banquet tonight and you need to be fitted for a gown*

My mother and father kept sending me messages in my head and it was getting kind of annoying. “Justin we have started heading back, there some kind of...." I heard some sort of speaker speaking in English. There was some kind of ball.” Come let’s get going.

I got up from the swing and Justin and I walk together to the castle. I enter the castle and begin climbing the step when I heard Xan voice in my head * Hey kiddo, where are you? I need to speak with you.* I heard Xan voice in my head and that never happened. I wonder what Xan wanted to see me for? Does he want me to follow his new and favorite sister? Yes I am still jealous but I can’t help it, everyone I love is not looking at me the way they use too. They are now looking right past me. I didn’t even get to say how I felt about Xada to my father. He ran to her rescue.

I am at top of the stair and go to Xan's room. I knock and enter his room. I stare at him where he was sitting, which was on the bed. I don’t smile or show any emotions or expressions on my face “Yes Alexander?" I only called him that when I'm mad at him, or feel hurt by him. I sometimes called my parents names as well when I am mad at them as well.

[nickimlow]

Alexander

I didn't get a reply from Sarah and guessed something must have gone wrong with my trying to reach her. But a few minutes later, she appeared at my door. "Yes Alexander?"

I looked up and saw my little sister standing there, unsmiling. I knew that tone and that face, and she hadn't used my nickname, which was a bad thing. "Why so upset? I thought you said you love me," I said, extending my arm, inviting her to sit down. In my other hand, I held out the note she'd left for me.

[KatnotKath]

OOC: sorry for the delay, hope this works

~Liz~

I don’t know what any of them saw, but from the look in their eyes it was definitely something… If Xan and Xada wanted to ‘see’ the truth about Tess, I can’t imagine what they might have seen… Certainly Max’s memories would hardly be pleasant, much as my own…

I wait in silence, not wanting to intrude for the moment as Max steps forward, placing an arm around Xan, and offering his other to Xadalyn. I want to comfort them too of course, especially Xan, but for the moment I think it best if I keep out of it. Xada takes the hand Max offers, and the three of them just seem to stand there for a moment.

Whether anyone was going to say anything or not is unknown though, because now one of the servants enters. He’s speaking in Antarian of course, but through Max I am able to gather that guests are arriving. The fact that it is so soon does somewhat surprise me, and I have to admit I do wonder about the earlier offer of dresses… Will there be time now…?

Xada says that she has to go, effectively ending this encounter, although adding that she will arrange for some translators for myself Justin and Sarah.

Given the fact that something of the sort wasn’t mentioned earlier, I am somewhat surprised I have to admit, but I suppose I should simply be grateful for the offer of something that will, without a doubt, make it a lot easier for however long we stay on the planet. “Thank you…” I echo Max’s thanks after which he tells Xada we will see her later.

Once she’s gone, he turns his attention to the servant though, asking what the banquet is for. I have to admit it did occur to me as a question earlier, and I am interested to ‘hear’ the answer…

As Max continues to provide a translation telepathically, I hear the word come over clearly in my head and my brow creases in confusion. “Her birthday…? But Xander’s isn’t for another two weeks…” I will never forget that day when we were at the lake when Max ‘felt’ Xan for the first time… Anyway, we have a bit of a party arranged with Maria, Michael, Isabel and Jesse…Xan’s having some friends over separately, but we usually try to have something with the ‘family’ as well… Of course that’ll be nothing compared to a banquet now…I do hope he’s not disappointed if we’re back on Earth by then…

Xan looks no less confused than myself, but apparently this is something that Max seems to understand perfectly well. He explains about the slight variation in time scale, and then ends by wishing Xan happy birthday.

Xan’s reaction is somewhat subdued it seems to me, but I suppose that it is somewhat natural given everything that’s happened. It’s his birthday apparently, he’s found out that I’m not his birth mother, and the met his twin sister no one knew about… It has to be a little overwhelming… He tells Max and I that he’ll see us later and then heads back to his room after acknowledging an offer from Max to answer any questions he might have later. I watch him go and chew my lip nervously. I’m so scared I might lose him…I can only hope that I don’t…

Almost before he’s gone even, Max reminds me that Sarah and I need to go back for a ‘fitting’ too… I nod, knowing that he’s right, but as he says he’s staying I do wish there was another way. I’d rather stay with him, but I suppose we’ll have enough time together later…. “Okay…but remember to fill me in when you get back…” I instruct him, smiling as I lean over to press my lips against his.

I’m about to leave when something else occurs to me and I look back at him. “Oh…any requests for colour if I get a choice…?”

[Dreamer_Dreaming]

~*~Sarah~*~

"Why so upset? I thought you said you love me," Xan offer me to sit down and hand me back the note I wrote to him earlier. I look down at the note and back at him. My expression change giving in emotions, I felt like going break down and cry, all my inside was shakey. I fight to stay stronge. "I wrote this, this morning when I wasnt thinking clear.....But now things change" I shrug.

I guess I have act like a adult, and be the person I'm meant to be someday. "Xan I'm happy for you and dad that you found the missing link to our so called family. I'm happy for you really....But, I'm not part of this fmily anymore......" I said trying to sound cheer for him, but deep inside i wasnt. My world is turning upside down and I'm no longer apart of the world anymore....

[isabelle]

*Max*

Alexander says thanks and leaves, not really looking at all re-assured. I frown, but I know there's not much I can do about it right now. I know this is going to take some time to sort out in everyone's minds and hearts, including my own. I know what role I was supposed to have here, but this hasn't been anything like what I thought my return to Antar would be like. Khivar is gone and the war is over. Nobody's expecting me to be King. They all think I'm dead and that's what I feel like. I'm a ghost in the palace -- not really here. At least, not officially.

Liz leans in close for a sweet kiss and I close my eyes for a brief moment. With her in my arms, I'm happy and I'm home. No matter what my place is on this world, I know who I am when I'm with Liz.

She asks me to fill her in later, although I know she knows that would have happened without her asking. She's my other half. "You got it." I tell her.

Liz heads to the door and I turn away, glancing at the shelves. I'm not thinking just yet. Just 'feeling' to remember what this room is like. Where I might start to look for what I need.

“Oh…any requests for colour if I get a choice…?” Liz asks, and I turn to see her poised in the doorway, waiting for my response.

I have to smile at the coy expression on her face. "I think you know what I like," I tell her.

[nickimlow]

Alexander

Her words made my heart break. I loved Sarah, but never this forcefully; I had never had the obligation to protect her because I had never needed to. But my strong little sister seemed to be on the verge of breaking down and that was almost unthinkable for her.

"Come on," I said gently, put an arm around her shoulders. "Don't be silly. You'll always be my little sister, kiddo; nothing - not Antar, not Xadalyn - is going to change that. This family will only be complete with all of us in it, Sarah- including you. And remember, while Xadalyn's my twin, she's your sister as well. So we're all in this together."

[isabelle]

*Max*

As Liz left, I realize that Kyria was gone, too. I suppose she went to help Xadalyn get ready for the banquet. Or perhaps she had other security duties to attend to. In any case, it looked like I was on my own for the moment.

I pick up a book on biology and opened the covers. When I turn the metallic page, the symbols seem to shift beneath my fingers, as the subject I was seeking came to the surface. There was only a bare reference indicating that two children conceived and brought to term simultaneously would be called twins. Nothing more.

Returning the book, I pull out one on legends. Again, the words shift beneath my fingers as I turn the pages. Here I find references to twins being generally unlucky for a family, and some more details of the legend that the Oracle had mentioned. It was all just as she said.

Nodding, I decide it’s time for me to get to the serious work. I need to remember more about this world. About Khivar and my family. About why I was killed in the first place. I need to know about Xadalyn’s life here both with the insurgency and as an under-aged Queen and who has been her regent since her mother’s death because I am certain it was not Dom.

First, I find the information on Khivar and his dispute with Antar. It seems this has been going on for well over a hundred years with both worlds trying to take over the other in a long rivalry. Unfortunately, I can find few hints of the origins of that rivalry save that Antar seemed to have better mineral and agricultural resources while Khivar’s world, Sados, had a better location for interstellar trade. Although there’s also a reference to a dispute over a narrow defeat in a sporting competition, but was that the cause or a result of the feud? In any case, it’s clear why Khivar would want to seduce Volandra and kill me. That would make his child ruler of both worlds. But in the end, he killed her, too. He must have figured out that she wouldn’t go along with his scheme…

The door opens behind me and I look up, feeling suddenly defensive, although I’m sure it is only Sarah and Justin or perhaps Skyler. “You’re here!” someone says, joyously. It sounded like it should have been a shout but was kept at normal conversational levels with an effort either for simple politeness or to prevent being overheard. “I’d heard it but I wanted to see for myself. It’s so good to have you back, Xanakin. Or should I say, Max?”

The man looks young, but then, everyone here looks young. I feel that I should recognize him. It certainly seems as though he knows me. And there’s something about his posture, attitude, and even his words, that are all very familiar but somehow just out of reach. “Yes, I’m here,” I say as I try to guess who he is. The fact that he called me Max seems to be a large clue. Skyler and the others know my Earth name but this one uses it like he’s done so before… “Larak?”

“Of course. I knew you’d remember me,” he says, smiling. Apparently unaware how narrowly I happened to deduce his name in time. Only now does his face start to look familiar to me. So different than Brody’s but I seem to remember it from that other lifetime. I notice that Larak is dressed formally with a long, calf-length sleeveless green robe over his silken shirt and trousers.

“Are you here for the birthday banquet?” I ask, remembering that he currently ruled another world in the Antarian system and no doubt had duties there.

“Yes, my son and I are both here. He’s about two years older than your daughter,” Larak explains.

“Actually, I have two other children as well,” I tell Larak, proudly. “A son and another daughter. They’re here, with Liz and me.”

Larak looks blank for just a fraction of a second before he puts it together. “Ah. Liz Parker.”

“Liz Evans,” I say quickly, but Larak continues without a pause. “Well, then you know how hard it can be to raise a teenager,” he says, shaking his head, ruefully. Then he abruptly changes the subject. “I feel a lot better knowing that Khivar is gone.”

I feel a need to interrupt him, to explain or something, but Larak sees my reaction and he quickly assures me. “We’ve issued an official statement that says that he’s ‘escaped.’ His supporters will be looking for him and not plotting against you or your family.”

I nod. I hadn’t realized that a statement had been issued, but it seems like a valid story for the moment. As Larak says, it may be safer for the short term. I wonder briefly who ‘we’ are that they’re issuing statements for the palace. I imagine Xadalyn was consulted although nothing was mentioned to me. It brings to mind the many other questions on my mind. “Maybe you can answer some questions for me,” I say settling into a chair.

“Of course,” Larak replies.

“Tell me about Xadalyn. What has her life been like? Who’s been her regent since Tess died?” I ask.

“I have,” Larak says. My eyes widen although I hardly know why that’s surprising. He’s obviously been with the resistance since I was killed. I know he was involved in the arrangements to have me re-incarnated as a human hybrid. “Well, I’ve helped, anyway,” he clarifies. “Your father fostered me every other summer when we were growing up. It seemed appropriate for me to take a hand in raising your daughter.”

I nod, remembering that Volandra and I had spent the alternate summers at his home. I think our fathers may have had some thought that Volandra and Larak would become close, but it didn't work out that way. Instead, she fell for my other best friend.

"Thank you," I tell Larak, glad that my old friend was looking out for my daughter along with Dom and the others. “Go on.”

“We found Tess and Xadalyn when your daughter was about five. They’d been on the run since shortly after she was born with only the Oracle to help them. We had all thought the Oracle was a traitor when she’d refused to leave the palace after Khivar took over. She’d insisted she needed to be there at the birth of Antar’s heir. We thought she meant Khivar’s child, but she was talking about Xadalyn. She’d seen the future and knew that your child would be born there and would need her help. She helped them both escape and kept them safe for more than four years until they found us. We were all elated. Especially Wajolria and Kyria.”

“Kyria?” I ask, recognizing the Dannion’s name.

“Yes. She’s the Oracle’s granddaughter. Wajolria is the Oracle’s daughter, Kyria’s mother,” Larak explains.

I nod. That was interesting. I hadn’t realized the two were related. I didn’t know if that was important, but it was still good to know. “Then what?” I prod.

“We continued our fight against Khivar and prevailed about two years later. Ava assumed the regency until she died and then a council of advisors was selected, including me. In a few years, she would have been old enough to assume the throne, but it became apparent to us that her royal seal was not activating and we knew that in spite of what Ava would have had us believe, you were not dead.”

I nod, knowing the story from here. “That’s when Kyria was sent to fetch me from Earth,” I say.

“That’s right,” Larak confirms. “You’re lucky. There are those on the council who had advocated your assassination instead. It would have assured the transfer and left them with a Queen they knew and might be able to control, instead of a man they couldn’t predict.”

My eyes widen at that. Antar’s own council seeking my death? I’d come to expect Khivar’s assassins but I never would have thought my own people would have tried the same thing. I suppose I should be grateful to Tess for letting Khivar believe I was dead since that was likely the reason no assassins had come for us in many years. The lie shielded us and protected Xan, while allowing her full control of Xadalyn with nobody looking to displace her by searching for us…

“I take it I have you to thank for that?” I ask. I'm not so certain an assasination attempt would have been successful but it would have been disheartening to be defending myself against my own court.

“Not just me. Most were opposed to that plan, including Xadalyn, of course,” he assures me. “If you’ll please excuse me,” Larak says, getting to his feet. “I must find my son and be sure he is preparing for the banquet.”

“Yes, of course,” I tell him, standing as well. “I, too, need to get dressed. Thank you for your help.”

Larak turns on last time, giving me a warm smile. "It's great to have you back where you belong." Then he goes out the door, leaving me to wonder, is this where I belong?

[Athenea]

Larak Tal`Lens- Ruler of the planet Taltos (tto the right of Antar in the V constellation). Grew up with Xanakin Arrios and was a close friend right up until his death. Helped in the fight against Khivar in order to restore the Arrios name back to the throne.

Powers include- Invisibility and the ability to create force fields.

*see isabelle’s last past for more information

Daimeon Lander Tal’Lens- Next in line for his father’s throne but has no desire to be a king and clearly shows it. Even though he has be betrothed to a princess since he was born he is notorious for his womanizing. According to the gossips though he slowed down on his bedding any female he could about six months ago. The gossips have a variety of reasons for this but no proof as to why the Prince’s sudden change of heart.

Powers include- Seduction (can charm or seduce anybody) and Invisibility.

***If anybody wants them PM me for more information, otherwise Larak is an open character and I will take Daimeon.

[Athenea]

~Xadalyn~

I get reluctantly led away for the one thing in the world that I absolutely hate…getting my hair and makeup done. I know its not normal to be a woman and not like to get dressed up but when you do it as often as I do It gets old rather quickly. I was always a bit of a tomboy growing up…I had rather be on some great adventure than getting ‘dolled up’… an expression my Mother used.

I get into the my large water pool (bathtub) and for a moment enjoy the hot water on my skin relaxing my muscles trying to wash this day away. My Mother…a traitor. After all she taught me, after all we’d been through, her original plan had been to betray her people.

I close my eyes in an effort to clear my head, taking in the fragrence of the perfumed scented water, but images run through my mind, memories, but not my own, my father's. I finally give up and get out and dry off and start getting ready for the banquet. Afterall its supposed to be the biggest celebration on Antar...the day of my birth. How ironic.