Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 5:26 am
Crashdown Café, 15th January, Wednesday, 3:25 p.m., Break Room
Liz sighed as she plopped down to the sofa. The lights flickered, and then a loud *CRACK* sound distracted her. She scowled, mainly because she didn't like storms. Even if it was only half 4 p.m., it was dark outside. As if night had fallen before it should or something. She rubbed her arm a bit, trying to relieve some of the muscle ache. She was starting to hate her ability to heal quickly...even from muscle aches. Last Tuesday, she had woken up, put on the weights and went to school. Only when Marcus had pointed it out had she realized that she had been walking pretty much normally, even WHEN she had her weights on. She had been dumbfounded by it, but when Marcus had explained that her body had adapted to the extra weight, she'd been smiling. However, that joy hadn't lasted that long when Marcus had changed her weights to more heavier ones. Instead of wearing 10 extra pounds on her arms and legs, she now wore 15 pounds on each of her limb. Oh, and we can't forget the new vest...which weighted 30 pounds instead of the 20. That meant she was wearing a good 90 extra pounds on her. It wasn't as bad as it had been from the start, but it did slow her down...not to mention caused her a lot of muscle spasms. It was a good thing that the weights were inconspicuous enough to let her wear normal clothes, and no one was even aware that she was carrying extra weight on her. Her wrist weights had been dubbed as 'butt ugly leather armbands'. She found it strange that her friends didn't comment on them, but she had taken some measures to conceal them...even if her waitress uniform wasn't good for that. Still...she had to admit that she felt a bit lighter every time she removed her weights, so maybe there was some kind of benefit from this. Still...it didn't increase her chances in beating Connor. She COULD hold on almost 40 minutes before he would disable her, which irritated her a bit. Her bouts with Marcus were pretty much similar, except he ALWAYS cut it short after 5 minutes. However...Liz had learned some new tricks in the process, but Connor's experience over her didn't give her a chance to utilize them fully. ["One of these days...I'm going to get the best of him, even if I die trying,"] Liz thought, and was brought back to present when Maria walked in from the back door.
"You're late," Liz said, giving a light-hearted glare to Maria. She was too worn out at the moment to care about anything.
Maria opened her locker and pulled out the waitress uniform. "Liz, today is the first day of the rest of our lives," she said.
Liz stared at Maria weirdly for a moment. "Spending time with you mother again?" she asked, and stretched lazily. There was a slight kink in her back...a small *snap* later. ["Ah...much better,"] Liz thought.
Maria shook her head, ignoring Liz's little jibe. "No, I mean it. Aren't you tired of being a slave of men?" she asked.
Liz snorted and said more to herself than to Maria, "Definitely your mom." Maria continued on, as if not hearing her.
"Tired of spending every waking moment pining over them, just for us to get our hearts crushed in the end. It's time to branch out, to explore other possibilities. You and me, babe, together," Maria ranted, and had already turned to face Liz, who was only half-listening to her. But when Liz noticed Maria fingering the hem of her shirt, she frowned.
"Maria, what are you..." Liz started, but was stopped short when Maria pulled the shirt over her head. She stood there, clad in her bras and...a navel ring.
"Tadaaa!" Maria said, gesturing her navel ring.
"Oh my God!" Liz exclaimed, standing up from the sofa, rather slowly thanks to her weights.
"We are turning over a new leaf. We are enjoying our wild and crazy years to the fullest. You know, having fun for a change," Maria said as she stripped away from her pants and started to put on her waitress uniform, but she didn't button up her uniform.
Liz hadn't removed her eyes from the navel ring, and now was frowning at Maria. "Yeah, but skewering my navel isn't exactly my idea of fun," she said. ["Just getting the rest of my body punctured through by Connor's swords is enough for me, thank you very much,"] she thought.
Maria snorted, but in agreement. "Yeah, relax, honey," she said, removing the ring without a problem, much to Liz's surprise. "You think I'd let anyone get near me with a needle?"
Liz raised an eyebrow as she took the ring from Maria and stared at it for a while. Until now, she hadn't really thought about getting a piercing...even IF it would only be her ear. She idly wondered if she COULD get a piercing at all, thanks to her Quickening. She looked at Maria. "Where did you get this?" she asked.
Maria closed her uniform. "Oh, I bought it from a tomfoolery store near my mom's shop," she said.
"Liz, could you give me a hand here?" Jeff yelled from the dining area, and Liz just got a rather wicked idea. Maria stared at her for a moment, but then smirked when she saw Liz place the fake ring on her nose.
"Yeah," Liz said loud enough before walking to the dining area and to the counter. Jeff had his back to her and didn't see her yet. Then he turned around, and his eyes widened.
"Holy God, what the..." he started, but couldn't finish his sentence.
Liz smiled. "Relax, Dad, it's a fake," she said as she removed the ring from her nose, giving it to the snickering Maria.
Jeff stared at her for a moment, and put the box he had in his hands away. "Ok, is there anything else I should know about?" he asked, waving his hand over Liz. "A tattoo, maybe? Or..."
Liz shook her head. "No. Nothing," she said, and made a sign over her heart.
Jeff sighed, shaking his head. It just wasn't enough that her daughter was an Immortal...she had these 'Headhunters' to deal with as well. But even picturing her daughter wearing a tattoo or a piercing was a bit too much. "You've been so busy with school and new friends that...we don't even get a chance to talk," he said. In fact...he was starting to feel old.
Liz sighed as she took a seat. "I know, Dad."
"We could make up for it this weekend," Jeff said, earning a confused look from Liz.
"This weekend?" she asked.
"Isn't that the father's camping weekend?" he asked. "I saw it listed on your school calendar."
Liz nodded. "Yeah, it is this weekend. You're right," Liz said.
"You still want to go, don't you?" Jeff asked hopefully.
Liz was a bit shocked to hear that. Yes, she loved her father. Very much, in fact. But a whole weekend with him? "Yeah...yeah, Dad, I would...I do want to go. It's just that, you know, not that many people I know are actually gonna be going. Because they've sort of...outgrown it," she said.
"Oh," Jeff said, sounding disappointed. "Is that how you feel?" he asked.
Before Liz could answer that, Milton Ross barged into the café, his head whipping back and forth as if searching for something. "Where's Max Evans?" he finally asked from Liz.
Maria frowned. "I thought he worked for you, dude," she said.
Milton ignored the comment, and stared at Liz for a moment. "You...you're Max's girlfriend, right?" he asked, much to Liz's AND Jeff's shock.
"She is?" Jeff asked, slightly dumbfounded. When had he missed THAT little detail?
Liz shook her head. "No, not really," she said.
Milton grabbed Liz's hands, but gently. "I have to find him," he said.
"Why?" she asked, and even Maria was listening with more attention than she normally would. "What's going on?"
Milton actually smiled, like someone had just given him the best Christmas present one could think of. "Just everything we've been waiting our entire lives for. There's been a sighting," he said, and both Liz and Maria stared at him with wide eyes.
************************************************************
UFO Museum, 3:56 p.m.
Max had arrived to the Museum a bit late, something he chided himself for through the whole way. But when he had parked the car in front of the café, the only spot with decent parking lots, Milton had practically jumped him and started to drag him to the Museum, ranting something about 'the biggest thing that ever happened in our history and you are late'. But when Milton had finally stopped to take a breath and explained what was going on to Max, he was at all ears. Now Milton had a map of Roswell in front of him as he briefed everything to Max.
"It was here, out in Frazier Woods," Milton said, as he pointed the spot on the map. "A close encounter. How many of us can say we've had that?"
"How'd you find out?" Max asked, his attention focused on the map.
"Police scanner," Milton said, earning a surprised look from Max. Milton saw the look and said with a knowing look, "You can never trust the law to share information."
Max nodded. "Well, who reported it?" he asked.
"Some hiker named Buzz," Milton said, eyeing the map a bit.
Max blinked. "So...it could all be just a hoax," he said.
Milton shook his head, raising his finger in a 'pay attention' way. "Oh, no, it's real all right," he said. "There's corroboration. Uh, 2 motorists, a family that was camping, and a fly fisherman by the name of Rocky Calhoun. I've seen a lot of hoaxes, Evans. I can smell it a mile away. This..." he pressed his finger to the map, "...is no hoax."
Max nodded, but he was still a bit skeptical. "Frazier Woods is a big place," he said.
Now Milton really smiled. "Not when you know where the cops are looking," he said, and moved his finger a bit. Max blinked.
"Near the Indian reservation, huh?" he said, hiding quite well his shock. He turned back to Milton. "So...what exactly did these witnesses see?"
************************************************************
Martial Arts Studio, 5:36 p.m.
"A flash of light?" Connor asked from Richie, as he parried one of Liz's cuts. ["Damn, that was too close for me taste,"] he thought.
"Yeah, that's what I saw, Connor," Richie said, taking a swig from his beer. He had been heading back from a quick trip to Lubbock 2 days ago, in his attempt to find parts so he could improve his motorcycle, when that flash of light nearly turned him into a road kill.
"Ya sure ya weren't seeing things?" Connor asked, dodged Liz's thrust and nicked her from the cheek.
Marcus barked some instructions to Liz from the other side of the mat, and Liz nodded. Richie shook his head. "No way, man. That thing nearly blinded me...and caused me to swerve off the road," he said.
"Then what do ya think it was?" Connor asked, parried and punched Liz with his elbow, forcing her to back away. He gave a quick glance to Richie. "I mean...it could've been a bolt of lightning."
"No way, no how THAT was a bolt of lightning. One, it was TOO damn steady. Two, it lasted a LOT longer too," Richie said.
Connor frowned, parried several of Liz's attacks and then blocked a kick that was directed to his groin. He swatted Liz's sword aside and kneed her to the gut, placing the blade against her exposed neck. "Ya're not suggesting that the aliens have landed, do ya?" he asked.
Richie shrugged. "I don't know. But it sure as Hell wasn't a lightning bolt," he said.
Connor shook his head, then turned to Liz. "Not bad, lass. 42 minutes straight. However...I could see that ye were distracted," he said.
"I agree," Marcus said from the side.
"It was that 'sighting'. It's...bothering me," Liz said, and Marcus nodded knowingly. Connor, however, scowled.
"Lass, I wouldn' worry too much about that. Aliens donnae exist," he said.
Richie snorted. "Damn, man. Do you honestly think that we are the only intelligent beings in the Universe?" he asked. Liz found herself nodding in agreement, even if she knew the truth to that already.
"I'm not saying THAT. What I DO wonder is that if there ARE aliens, why they would bother come here?" Connor said.
Richie blinked. "Hey...that's a good point. Maybe they're 'experimenting' with some of the mortals?" he suggested.
Liz scowled. "You've watched too many episodes from X-Files," she said, then she blinked. "Maybe they brought Elvis back."
The 3 other Immortals blinked, then started laughing. Liz watched them in confusion. "Was it something I said?" she asked.
Connor managed to get himself in check. "Lass...*chuckle*...Elvis is an Immortal," he said. Richie was actually rolling on the floor, shaking from laughter. Liz, however, didn't find the situation amusing.
"Oh...so Elvis is an Immortal. You COULD have mentioned THAT little detail earlier," she snapped. Ok, maybe she didn't FULLY believe in the whole 'aliens taking Elvis' thing, but she had never thought about the possibility of him being Immortal.
"Sorry, Liz. But you never asked, and we never thought to bring it up until now," Marcus said.
"Well, *I* am going to take a shower now, and leave. I still have homework to finish," Liz said and marched to the locker room. She closed the door rather harshly, making Richie wince.
"I think we made her mad," he said.
"Nope...she's just angry that we laughed and kept the fact about Elvis from her," Marcus said.
"Well...I hope she gets over from it," Richie said.
Connor waved him off. "Relax, lad. The lass can't stay angry to anyone too long," he said, and wiped some of the sweat away.
************************************************************
West Roswell High, 16th January, Thursday, 9:03 a.m., school hallway
Liz opened her locker and picked up her Advanced Biology book and put away her Trig. book. When she was about to close her locker, she noticed Maria walking towards her...but Liz's eyes then saw that Maria seemed a bit...bigger than yesterday. And if the exclamations from the male students was any indication, they had noticed it too. Maria saw Liz's weirded out expression and smiled, gesturing her 'slightly' enlarged chest.
"It's an aqua bra," she said, and Liz raised an disbelieving eyebrow. "You know, all the fun of implants except without the invasive surgery part."
Liz closed her locker, still staring at Maria. "You have officially lost it, Maria," she said.
Maria shook her head. "No, I have found it, babe, ok? I've had 3 phone numbers already and it's only 2nd period," she said, grinning.
"What?" Liz said, staring at her as if saying 'prove it'.
"Yes," Maria said. Then one of the boys walked to them, except that his eyes were pretty much locked on Maria. ["Or specifically her chest,"] Liz thought with slight disgust.
"Hey, Maria," the student said, still keeping his eyes on Maria when he was walking away.
"Hey, Neil," Maria said, keeping an eye-contact on the boy until he disappeared to another hall. Then she turned to Liz. "Do you see what I'm saying?" she asked, and Liz refused to comment on it. Then Maria smiled. "Ok, do you want to try this thing on?"
Liz shook her head. "Oh, no, Maria! I am not going to..." Liz started, but paused when she saw Max disappear into the Eraser room. "Who is Max meeting in the Eraser room?" she asked.
Maria gave a disapproving glare to Liz. "Ixnay on the ining-pay, remember?" she said.
Liz grimaced. "I am SO not pining over him, Maria," she said, then turned her attention back to the Eraser room. "I'm only curious, that's all. Besides, I hate not knowing what's going on with him."
"His decision, if I recall," Maria said, and Liz nodded in agreement. Then they see Michael walk into the Eraser room as well.
Maria grimaced. "No wonder he couldn't make a commitment," she said. Liz had to snort to hide her amusement. That statement had invoked an interesting idea in Liz's head. One she didn't want to voice out.
They hadn't realized that Alex had walked behind them until he said, "Ok, I give up. What are we staring at?"
Liz and Maria turned to Alex, who raised an eyebrow as he stared at Maria's chest. Maria smiled and thrust her chest up, and Liz gestured them. "This is an aqua bra. Would you like to try it on, Alex?" she said.
Alex grimaced. "Yeah, maybe later. Here, have a flier," he said as he handed both of them a piece of paper. "If I pass out enough of them, then I could raise my P.E. grade from a 'C' to a 'B-'." ["And this is the first time I'm envying Liz when it comes to her training,"] he thought grimly.
Liz read the flier quickly, and her eyes widened. "Oh. Ooh, the father camping weekend?" she asked, and Alex nodded. Liz looked at Alex and Maria hopefully. "I don't suppose either of you would be..."
Alex stopped her before she could finish her sentence. "Did I mention that I'm not very athletic, except in dodgeball?" he said. Liz gave a pleading look to Maria, who quickly shook her head.
"No dad, remember," she said.
Liz sighed in defeat. "Well, I hope mine has finally outgrown it," she said.
Alex frowned. "Hey, I thought Marcus was always as a supervising teacher along with Coach Clay?" he asked.
Liz nodded. "Yeah, and I may love my father and him, but I HATE camping," she said. She frowned when she saw Alex staring past her. "Alex?" she asked.
"Oh, gee, look at the time," Alex suddenly said, surprising Liz. "I gotta go. I'll see ya guys." Liz and Maria stared as Alex walked pass him, and then realization dawned. Isabel was at her locker...alone.
"Like a puppy in heat," Maria said, shaking her head.
"Oh yeah," Liz admitted.
"He's my next project," Maria said, and Liz shook her head in exasperation as she made her way to her class.
Isabel was about to head to the Eraser room where Max had decided to 'summon' her for a meeting. Like she hadn't better things to do. Like watch over her shoulder in case Marcus was there. What he had said had terrified her to the core, and if he was ready to go as far as killing Max if he crossed the line, who said she was out of the possiblity? The feminists most likely, but for some reason Isabel doubted that Marcus would even spare a minute to hear any lectures from them. To him, she wasn't human, which was true. So, killing an alien, hybrid or not, probably wouldn't bother him that much. Still, even at night she felt rather self-conscious before she went to sleep. She hadn't picked him up in her dreams, which was a relief, but she, after what he had said to her...hadn't even dreamed to enter his subconscious. Then Alex appeared next to her. "Hey," he said, and handed out a flier.
Isabel blinked, and took it. "Hey," she said, then raised an eyebrow. "Do you want something, 'cause I have to meet my idiotic brother in a minute."
Alex shrugged. "I don't know," he said. Then he seemed almost thoughtful. "Do aliens enjoy cinema?"
"Alex..." Isabel said slowly, glaring him.
"Oh...yeah, the 'a' word, sorry," Alex said, chagrined. "Anyway, there's this Fellini retrospective at the art house theater this Friday night, and I wanted to know if maybe you wanted to go?"
Now Isabel just stared at Alex. Was he asking her on a date? And he even managed to do that without stuttering? Ok, maybe he always had been rather straight with her when they talked, but this was something new. She still shook her head. It wasn't going to be that way between them. It just couldn't. "No, I'm not really into that," she said.
Alex seemed crestfallen for a second, but he covered it well. "Ok," he said.
Was he being blasé about this? ["Since when did he start to play hard to get with me?"] Isabel wondered.
"Then how about a regular movie?" Alex asked, confusing Isabel even more.
"Well...I don't see why not. Sure, I'll go with you," she said.
Alex smiled, but resisted the urge to 'whoop'. "That would be great. See you later, Isabel," he said, and left.
Isabel blinked and shook her head. Had she just agreed to go out with Alex? Well...he wasn't that bad looking, and he didn't exactly back away when she was feeling snappy. And he definitely spoke up his mind when he wanted to. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all..." she murmured, and made her way to the Eraser room. Once there, she muttered acidly, "I can't BELIEVE I'm in the Eraser room with YOU two."
Max ignored her comment. "We need a safe place to talk. Anyway, I found out a lot about the sighting from Milton," he said.
Michael rolled his eyes. "Told you that place would get to you," he said.
Max continued, ignoring Michael, "5 people saw a big flash of light in Frazier Woods."
"5 basket cases," Isabel said, clearly not interested.
"Then why has Valenti already closed off a 4-square-mile area of the forest near the Indian reservation?" Max challenged, and this got Michael's and Isabel's attention.
"You mean near the cave?" Michael asked. Max nodded.
"Max, you don't think this sighting..." Isabel started, but couldn't find herself to finish the sentence. The odds for this sighting to be 'real' weren't exactly great.
"It was no coincidence. We need to get there before Valenti does in case there's something to find," Max said. Lately, Valenti had started to show more interest on the three of them, and it might have been Max's paranoia talking, but Valenti seemed almost dead set to find answers. He already had a bundle of questions.
Isabel nodded in agreement, but then made a valid point. "Yeah, but we have no idea how many guys he has patrolling there. If anybody saw us, then it would just make him more curious than he already is," she said.
Max thought about it. "What do you do in Frazier Woods?" he asked.
Isabel frowned, but still answered, "You hike, you fish, you camp out."
Max seemed sheepish now. "I can't believe I'm going to suggest this, but we could go on that camping trip this weekend," he said.
"You're kidding me, right?" Michael said incredulously.
Isabel nodded. It made sense. "If anybody found us, we would just be kids missing from our school group," she said.
"There's only one problem," Max said, looking at Michael. "It's a...it's a fathers' camping weekend. Get to know your dad kind of thing."
"Guess that leaves me out, huh?" Michael said, his expression non-chalant.
Max nodded. "Guess so," he said.
Isabel eyed the flier she had got from Alex, and saw something disturbing. "Umm...Max," she said, getting his attention. "Mr. Thorne is one of the supervisors there."
"Sucks to be you," Michael commented, which earned glares from Isabel and Max.
************************************************************
Parker household, 9:50 p.m., Bathroom
Liz put on her bathrobe and started to head back to her room. Now when she had been wearing heavier weights on her, it felt weird to walk without them. She felt...so light, that it wasn't even funny. She shook her head, trying to clear her confusion from the fact that her body was going through these changes thanks to Marcus's idea for training. She stepped back into her room, just as her father walked in.
"Hey, now!" he exclaimed, and turned around.
"DAD!" Liz exclaimed as well, cluthing her bathrobe in a self-conscious way.
"Oh, gosh. I should have knocked," Jeff said, shaking his head.
Liz sighed and made sure that her bathrobe was secured. "No, it's ok, Dad," she said as she took a seat on her bed.
Jeff let out a humorless laugh. "I got to get better at this privacy thing," he said.
"It's no big deal, Dad," Liz said. "So...did you want something?"
Jeff turned around slowly. "Yeah, uh...listen, sweetie, about this camping weekend," he said and sat down next to her. "We should just go and take the advantage of the time together. I wouldn't miss that for anything."
Liz gave him a half-hearted smile. "I was actually going to say the same thing."
Jeff nodded. "And I can get to know that guy Max you've been hanging out with and, uh, he has a sister too, right?" he said.
Liz nodded. "Isabel."
"And the guy with the hair?" Jeff asked.
"Michael," Liz clarified.
"Michael, yeah."
Liz nodded again. "Yeah, but I don't think they're even going," she said.
Jeff was slightly confused about that. "Oh. Well, even if they aren't going to be there, I'd...still like to hear about that...Richie character, not to mention that guy with a weird accent...Conner?" he asked.
"Connor...MacCleod," Liz said. "And it would be better if you'd talk with them yourself."
Jeff nodded. "I'll remember that," he said, and hugged her. "Thank you for doing this with me."
Liz returned the hug, but she really didn't feel that comfortable to talk about her training with her father, and she kept hoping that he would change his mind at the last minute. Well, since that wasn't going to happen...she just had to deal with it the best she could. But she had to admit...she was glad that she COULD spend time with her dad. "It's not a problem, Dad."
************************************************************
Crashdown Café, Friday, 2:46 p.m., Break room
Liz descended the stairs, carrying a backpack and some other camping gear with her. Marcus had, surprisingly, cancelled the training session for the day, but Liz suspected that he was making his own preparations for the weekend. While he WAS only as a supervisor there, he always made it look like a survival training than just regular camping. Liz hadn't really given to it that much thought the previous times she had been in this camping expedition, but now she knew differently. However, Marcus HAD told her that they would be performing other form of training at the woods. She idly wondered what he had been talking about...especially when he had told her to pack her knife, which was stashed in her backpack. She was putting the camping gear on the floor along with the tent when Maria walked in.
"Running away from home?" Maria asked, raising an eyebrow to the assorted camping equipment.
Liz put the stuff away and gave a pitiful look to Maria. "Maria, I'm begging you for mercy. Please come with me," she pleaded.
Maria shook her head. "Chica, I told you, my idea of the great outdoors is rolling the window down in my car on the way to the mall," she said. "Come on, I love your dad. *YOU* love your dad."
Liz nodded. "Yes, I do. I love him...but in the normal father role, which is like 5 minutes at a time, just a few times a day...NOT for an entire weekend with no TV," she said.
Maria made a face. "Yeah. I've always found fathers grossly overrated myself," she said.
"And, you know, he has been getting so nosy lately. It's like he wants to know every single detail of my life," she said, but added silently, ["He knows a big part of it already, but I don't think he'd be ok knowing how many times I've been REALLY hurt during those training sessions."] Then she added, "He even asked me about Max and Michael and Isabel."
Maria made an attempt to think about it...for a few seconds, then she shook her head. "Mmmm, no. That's why me and my mom have the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," she said, and turned away.
"I'll pay you," Liz said, stopping Maria. Ok, that was low, but she wanted a friend there to balance things up. Marcus didn't count.
Maria turned back to Liz. "How much?" she asked.
"25 bucks," Liz offered.
"$100," Maria countered.
"Uh, $50."
"$75."
"$62.50."
Maria stared at Liz. "How do you do that math so quickly?" she demanded.
Liz shrugged, then added, "Ok, $62.50 and then I'll do your math homework for a week."
Maria nodded in approval. "You're good," she said.
Liz smiled as she opened her locker and started to count the money. "I know. Thank's for doing this, Maria," she said as she handed the $62.50 to Maria.
"Yeah, just remember that when we're freezing our asses off back there," Maria commented with a disgusted face.
Back at the café, about an half an hour later, Max, Isabel and Michael were talking about when River Dog had come to see Michael last night, and had told him that the sighting was genuine. Isabel, however, had come there to tell Alex that they couldn't go to the movies because of the fathers' camping weekend.
"So River Dog saw the light?" Max asked from Michael, who nodded.
"The dog himself," he said.
"And he said it was real?" Isabel asked from Michael, who nodded again. "You do realize what this could mean?"
"Our first real proof. Could even lead to actual contact," Max said.
"If we haven't had it already," Michael commented, getting Max's and Isabel's attention.
"What do you mean?" Max asked from Michael, who gave him a look that said 'Isn't it obvious?'
"Why is River Dog following me?" he asked. Max shrugged, and Isabel stared at Michael. "I mean, why does he care?"
"Because he knew the fourth alien," Isabel said.
Michael nodded, but his expression said that he didn't believe that explanation. "Yeah, that's what he said."
"And you don't believe him?" Max asked.
"How does he know so much?" Michael asked from Max, who had to admit it was pretty odd. "I mean, how did he know how to heal me when I was sick? I mean, that's some memory from when he was a kid. And where did he get those stones from? Maybe River Dog is the guy we've been looking for all along."
"The fourth alien?" Max asked incredulously.
"I think he's our father, Maxwell," Michael said.
Isabel shook her head. "I don't think so, Michael," she said, then thought of something. "Maybe it's Marcus."
That received a sarcastic laugh from Michael and a dumbfounded look from Max. "What gave you THAT idea?" Michael asked.
"He dream walked me," Isabel said plainly. THAT sunk in better.
"He did WHAT?" Michael demanded, nearly standing up, but repressed the urge. "And you didn't tell us THIS until now?"
Isabel sighed. "I didn't remember it until a week ago. Although, he DID say that he wasn't one of us, and most definitely not Nasedo," she said.
"If he isn't, then how was he able to do that...let alone make you forget the whole thing?" Max asked.
Isabel shook her head in exasperation. "I don't know, Max. But the fact is that Thorne is something a lot more than he allows us to believe. We already know he's not 'normal', but really, how FAR does 'normal' describe him?" she asked.
"Nothing is normal about him," Michael said, shaking his head. "And I highly doubt he's our father...considering the pure hostility he has shown to us...or you 2 specifically." Then Michael narrowed his eyes to Isabel. "And WHY wouldn't River Dog be our father? Because you 2 already have one?"
Isabel shook her head. "No, that's not why I..." she started, but Michael cut her off.
"River Dog knows more about us than Philip Evans ever will, no matter how many camping trips you guys take," he said, silencing Isabel and Max for a moment.
Meanwhile, on the booth a good distance away from the E.T. booth, Alex, Maria and Liz are talking. Alex tried to appear as casual as he could, but he just couldn't ignore the giddy feeling inside him. "Ok...is she looking at me?" he asked casually.
Liz and Maria exchanged a look. Liz glanced towards the three aliens, and then back at Alex. "No, she's not really looking at you," she said.
Alex chuckled to himself, and the girls looked at him weirdly. "Isabel Evans and Alex Charles Whitman out on a date?" he asked from himself. "I thought she'd say 'no' right there and then, but that she actually said 'yes'? That's miraculous all in itself."
"You ok, Alex?" Liz asked worriedly.
"Hmm?" Alex mumbled, as if not hearing her for a moment. Then he nodded. "Oh, I'm fine...it's just that so long I've fantasized about this moment...and it's actually happening. It's amazing...wait...," he frowned, "why DID she agree to go out with me? Did she find me attractive or...was it out of pity? Wait, it's a joke! It's a practical joke!" He glared at Liz and Maria. "You two are in on it. YOU bastards!"
Liz made a 'calm down' gesture. "Alex, calm down...I think your paranoid schizophrenia is kicking in again," she said.
"Right," Alex said simply, then shook his head. "I'll just...go to the bathroom and have a little talk with myself." With that, he got up and left. Maria shook her head as she and Liz headed back to the counter.
"See what I'm saying?" she said, gesturing at Alex's general direction. "These Czechoslovakians have way too weird of an effect on us. And if you don't stay away from them, Liz, I'm going to be picking up the pieces of your heart for the rest of your life."
["Somehow I doubt that,"] Liz thought, and shook her head as they reached the cash register. "No, you're not, 'cause I'm staying away from him, Maria. Max and I haven't even talked to each other for days," she said.
"Really?" Maria asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Liz said, wondering what Maria was getting at.
Maria seemed almost triumphant now. "Then why has he been staring at you since he came in?" she asked.
Liz blinked, and gave an incredulous look to Maria. "He HAS?" she asked.
Maria was surprised to not see an hopeful look from Liz. "Well, glad that I don't have to go do an intervention on you, but Liz, you have to make him think you're over him. That your life is so exciting," she said, and Liz snorted to that. "Lie if you have to. It's for your own good."
"I'm not so sure about that," Liz managed to say just before Michael and Max walked to the register.
"Hey," Max said.
"Hey," Liz said back, but there wasn't much of pining in her voice, much to Maria's delight.
Max shifted his weight from one foot to another, much to Michael's annoyance. "Haven't seen you lately," he said.
Liz nodded. "I've been busy," she said curtly.
"She means she's been kind of busy," Maria stepped in, earning a confused look from Liz AND Max. "We've BOTH been kind of busy."
"I can see that," Michael remarked dryly.
Maria nodded. "You know, getting ready for the big weekend and all," she said, giving a wink to Liz, and completely missing the ever intensifying glare she kept sending to her.
"You have a big weekend?" Max asked, slightly confused and a bit hurt.
Maria nodded. "Dates," she said, and now Liz was only barely able to restrain herself from knocking Maria's lights out. If THIS was supposed to be helping her, then it was NOT working. "We have dates...with men."
Michael raised an unamused eyebrow. "Men?" he asked.
"These college guys we met during winter break and, um, they're taking us to dinner...an expensive dinner," Maria said, grinning like Cheshire cat now. Liz was now wishing that the earth would open up and swallow her.
"Great," Max said, his eyes dim. "Well, have a good time." He paid their drinks and he and Michael left. Liz turned to Maria.
"Maria, next time when you get an urge to help me...DON'T," she said, and went to the coffee maker.
"What? I was doing you a favour," Maria said, and Liz snorted.
"Oh, no. You only made me feel uncomfortable...not to mention humiliated. And do you have any idea what Marcus would have said if he had heard you?" Liz demanded silently.
"Well, considering the way he feels about the aliens, I'd say he'd be thrilled," Maria said. Liz shook her head.
"No, he'd probably find those 'college men' and killed them on the spot," she said, and then she saw Alex walking to the booth where Isabel was still sitting. Maria frowned and turned as well, then sighed defeatedly. "Oh, great," she muttered.
Alex had taken a seat opposite to Isabel. "So, Isabel..." he started, and Maria shook her head in disappointment. "Another one being sucked into the alien abyss." Liz gave a disapproving glare to Maria, and prayed that Isabel wouldn't hurt Alex emotionally.
"Listen, about our plans tonight..." Alex started, but Isabel's eyes suddenly widened and she started to apologize.
"Oh, God, Alex, I'm so sorry," she said, earning a confused look from Alex. "My dad is insisting we go on this lame camping trip together. I...I have to cancel."
"Cancel?" Alex said, disappointed.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry, Alex," Isabel said. In fact, she would have preferred to go to a movie with him instead to this camping expedition if it weren't for the sighting. She frowned when Alex's expression changed from dejected to almost thoughtful. Then he started to shake his head.
"No, not at all. Don't worry about it," he said, and now Isabel felt officially lost. "It's funny, 'cause I was just about to tell you that I was gonna have to cancel 'cause of this of this fathers' camping weekend fiesta. I mean, you know how dads can be sometimes."
Isabel blinked. "YOU'RE going camping?" she asked.
Alex nodded. "Some coincidence, huh?" he said, but inwardly he smacked him to his temple...repeatedly. ["How stalker does THIS feel to you, Whitman?"] he asked from himself.
"Huh," was all Isabel could say.
************************************************************
Liz sighed as she plopped down to the sofa. The lights flickered, and then a loud *CRACK* sound distracted her. She scowled, mainly because she didn't like storms. Even if it was only half 4 p.m., it was dark outside. As if night had fallen before it should or something. She rubbed her arm a bit, trying to relieve some of the muscle ache. She was starting to hate her ability to heal quickly...even from muscle aches. Last Tuesday, she had woken up, put on the weights and went to school. Only when Marcus had pointed it out had she realized that she had been walking pretty much normally, even WHEN she had her weights on. She had been dumbfounded by it, but when Marcus had explained that her body had adapted to the extra weight, she'd been smiling. However, that joy hadn't lasted that long when Marcus had changed her weights to more heavier ones. Instead of wearing 10 extra pounds on her arms and legs, she now wore 15 pounds on each of her limb. Oh, and we can't forget the new vest...which weighted 30 pounds instead of the 20. That meant she was wearing a good 90 extra pounds on her. It wasn't as bad as it had been from the start, but it did slow her down...not to mention caused her a lot of muscle spasms. It was a good thing that the weights were inconspicuous enough to let her wear normal clothes, and no one was even aware that she was carrying extra weight on her. Her wrist weights had been dubbed as 'butt ugly leather armbands'. She found it strange that her friends didn't comment on them, but she had taken some measures to conceal them...even if her waitress uniform wasn't good for that. Still...she had to admit that she felt a bit lighter every time she removed her weights, so maybe there was some kind of benefit from this. Still...it didn't increase her chances in beating Connor. She COULD hold on almost 40 minutes before he would disable her, which irritated her a bit. Her bouts with Marcus were pretty much similar, except he ALWAYS cut it short after 5 minutes. However...Liz had learned some new tricks in the process, but Connor's experience over her didn't give her a chance to utilize them fully. ["One of these days...I'm going to get the best of him, even if I die trying,"] Liz thought, and was brought back to present when Maria walked in from the back door.
"You're late," Liz said, giving a light-hearted glare to Maria. She was too worn out at the moment to care about anything.
Maria opened her locker and pulled out the waitress uniform. "Liz, today is the first day of the rest of our lives," she said.
Liz stared at Maria weirdly for a moment. "Spending time with you mother again?" she asked, and stretched lazily. There was a slight kink in her back...a small *snap* later. ["Ah...much better,"] Liz thought.
Maria shook her head, ignoring Liz's little jibe. "No, I mean it. Aren't you tired of being a slave of men?" she asked.
Liz snorted and said more to herself than to Maria, "Definitely your mom." Maria continued on, as if not hearing her.
"Tired of spending every waking moment pining over them, just for us to get our hearts crushed in the end. It's time to branch out, to explore other possibilities. You and me, babe, together," Maria ranted, and had already turned to face Liz, who was only half-listening to her. But when Liz noticed Maria fingering the hem of her shirt, she frowned.
"Maria, what are you..." Liz started, but was stopped short when Maria pulled the shirt over her head. She stood there, clad in her bras and...a navel ring.
"Tadaaa!" Maria said, gesturing her navel ring.
"Oh my God!" Liz exclaimed, standing up from the sofa, rather slowly thanks to her weights.
"We are turning over a new leaf. We are enjoying our wild and crazy years to the fullest. You know, having fun for a change," Maria said as she stripped away from her pants and started to put on her waitress uniform, but she didn't button up her uniform.
Liz hadn't removed her eyes from the navel ring, and now was frowning at Maria. "Yeah, but skewering my navel isn't exactly my idea of fun," she said. ["Just getting the rest of my body punctured through by Connor's swords is enough for me, thank you very much,"] she thought.
Maria snorted, but in agreement. "Yeah, relax, honey," she said, removing the ring without a problem, much to Liz's surprise. "You think I'd let anyone get near me with a needle?"
Liz raised an eyebrow as she took the ring from Maria and stared at it for a while. Until now, she hadn't really thought about getting a piercing...even IF it would only be her ear. She idly wondered if she COULD get a piercing at all, thanks to her Quickening. She looked at Maria. "Where did you get this?" she asked.
Maria closed her uniform. "Oh, I bought it from a tomfoolery store near my mom's shop," she said.
"Liz, could you give me a hand here?" Jeff yelled from the dining area, and Liz just got a rather wicked idea. Maria stared at her for a moment, but then smirked when she saw Liz place the fake ring on her nose.
"Yeah," Liz said loud enough before walking to the dining area and to the counter. Jeff had his back to her and didn't see her yet. Then he turned around, and his eyes widened.
"Holy God, what the..." he started, but couldn't finish his sentence.
Liz smiled. "Relax, Dad, it's a fake," she said as she removed the ring from her nose, giving it to the snickering Maria.
Jeff stared at her for a moment, and put the box he had in his hands away. "Ok, is there anything else I should know about?" he asked, waving his hand over Liz. "A tattoo, maybe? Or..."
Liz shook her head. "No. Nothing," she said, and made a sign over her heart.
Jeff sighed, shaking his head. It just wasn't enough that her daughter was an Immortal...she had these 'Headhunters' to deal with as well. But even picturing her daughter wearing a tattoo or a piercing was a bit too much. "You've been so busy with school and new friends that...we don't even get a chance to talk," he said. In fact...he was starting to feel old.
Liz sighed as she took a seat. "I know, Dad."
"We could make up for it this weekend," Jeff said, earning a confused look from Liz.
"This weekend?" she asked.
"Isn't that the father's camping weekend?" he asked. "I saw it listed on your school calendar."
Liz nodded. "Yeah, it is this weekend. You're right," Liz said.
"You still want to go, don't you?" Jeff asked hopefully.
Liz was a bit shocked to hear that. Yes, she loved her father. Very much, in fact. But a whole weekend with him? "Yeah...yeah, Dad, I would...I do want to go. It's just that, you know, not that many people I know are actually gonna be going. Because they've sort of...outgrown it," she said.
"Oh," Jeff said, sounding disappointed. "Is that how you feel?" he asked.
Before Liz could answer that, Milton Ross barged into the café, his head whipping back and forth as if searching for something. "Where's Max Evans?" he finally asked from Liz.
Maria frowned. "I thought he worked for you, dude," she said.
Milton ignored the comment, and stared at Liz for a moment. "You...you're Max's girlfriend, right?" he asked, much to Liz's AND Jeff's shock.
"She is?" Jeff asked, slightly dumbfounded. When had he missed THAT little detail?
Liz shook her head. "No, not really," she said.
Milton grabbed Liz's hands, but gently. "I have to find him," he said.
"Why?" she asked, and even Maria was listening with more attention than she normally would. "What's going on?"
Milton actually smiled, like someone had just given him the best Christmas present one could think of. "Just everything we've been waiting our entire lives for. There's been a sighting," he said, and both Liz and Maria stared at him with wide eyes.
************************************************************
UFO Museum, 3:56 p.m.
Max had arrived to the Museum a bit late, something he chided himself for through the whole way. But when he had parked the car in front of the café, the only spot with decent parking lots, Milton had practically jumped him and started to drag him to the Museum, ranting something about 'the biggest thing that ever happened in our history and you are late'. But when Milton had finally stopped to take a breath and explained what was going on to Max, he was at all ears. Now Milton had a map of Roswell in front of him as he briefed everything to Max.
"It was here, out in Frazier Woods," Milton said, as he pointed the spot on the map. "A close encounter. How many of us can say we've had that?"
"How'd you find out?" Max asked, his attention focused on the map.
"Police scanner," Milton said, earning a surprised look from Max. Milton saw the look and said with a knowing look, "You can never trust the law to share information."
Max nodded. "Well, who reported it?" he asked.
"Some hiker named Buzz," Milton said, eyeing the map a bit.
Max blinked. "So...it could all be just a hoax," he said.
Milton shook his head, raising his finger in a 'pay attention' way. "Oh, no, it's real all right," he said. "There's corroboration. Uh, 2 motorists, a family that was camping, and a fly fisherman by the name of Rocky Calhoun. I've seen a lot of hoaxes, Evans. I can smell it a mile away. This..." he pressed his finger to the map, "...is no hoax."
Max nodded, but he was still a bit skeptical. "Frazier Woods is a big place," he said.
Now Milton really smiled. "Not when you know where the cops are looking," he said, and moved his finger a bit. Max blinked.
"Near the Indian reservation, huh?" he said, hiding quite well his shock. He turned back to Milton. "So...what exactly did these witnesses see?"
************************************************************
Martial Arts Studio, 5:36 p.m.
"A flash of light?" Connor asked from Richie, as he parried one of Liz's cuts. ["Damn, that was too close for me taste,"] he thought.
"Yeah, that's what I saw, Connor," Richie said, taking a swig from his beer. He had been heading back from a quick trip to Lubbock 2 days ago, in his attempt to find parts so he could improve his motorcycle, when that flash of light nearly turned him into a road kill.
"Ya sure ya weren't seeing things?" Connor asked, dodged Liz's thrust and nicked her from the cheek.
Marcus barked some instructions to Liz from the other side of the mat, and Liz nodded. Richie shook his head. "No way, man. That thing nearly blinded me...and caused me to swerve off the road," he said.
"Then what do ya think it was?" Connor asked, parried and punched Liz with his elbow, forcing her to back away. He gave a quick glance to Richie. "I mean...it could've been a bolt of lightning."
"No way, no how THAT was a bolt of lightning. One, it was TOO damn steady. Two, it lasted a LOT longer too," Richie said.
Connor frowned, parried several of Liz's attacks and then blocked a kick that was directed to his groin. He swatted Liz's sword aside and kneed her to the gut, placing the blade against her exposed neck. "Ya're not suggesting that the aliens have landed, do ya?" he asked.
Richie shrugged. "I don't know. But it sure as Hell wasn't a lightning bolt," he said.
Connor shook his head, then turned to Liz. "Not bad, lass. 42 minutes straight. However...I could see that ye were distracted," he said.
"I agree," Marcus said from the side.
"It was that 'sighting'. It's...bothering me," Liz said, and Marcus nodded knowingly. Connor, however, scowled.
"Lass, I wouldn' worry too much about that. Aliens donnae exist," he said.
Richie snorted. "Damn, man. Do you honestly think that we are the only intelligent beings in the Universe?" he asked. Liz found herself nodding in agreement, even if she knew the truth to that already.
"I'm not saying THAT. What I DO wonder is that if there ARE aliens, why they would bother come here?" Connor said.
Richie blinked. "Hey...that's a good point. Maybe they're 'experimenting' with some of the mortals?" he suggested.
Liz scowled. "You've watched too many episodes from X-Files," she said, then she blinked. "Maybe they brought Elvis back."
The 3 other Immortals blinked, then started laughing. Liz watched them in confusion. "Was it something I said?" she asked.
Connor managed to get himself in check. "Lass...*chuckle*...Elvis is an Immortal," he said. Richie was actually rolling on the floor, shaking from laughter. Liz, however, didn't find the situation amusing.
"Oh...so Elvis is an Immortal. You COULD have mentioned THAT little detail earlier," she snapped. Ok, maybe she didn't FULLY believe in the whole 'aliens taking Elvis' thing, but she had never thought about the possibility of him being Immortal.
"Sorry, Liz. But you never asked, and we never thought to bring it up until now," Marcus said.
"Well, *I* am going to take a shower now, and leave. I still have homework to finish," Liz said and marched to the locker room. She closed the door rather harshly, making Richie wince.
"I think we made her mad," he said.
"Nope...she's just angry that we laughed and kept the fact about Elvis from her," Marcus said.
"Well...I hope she gets over from it," Richie said.
Connor waved him off. "Relax, lad. The lass can't stay angry to anyone too long," he said, and wiped some of the sweat away.
************************************************************
West Roswell High, 16th January, Thursday, 9:03 a.m., school hallway
Liz opened her locker and picked up her Advanced Biology book and put away her Trig. book. When she was about to close her locker, she noticed Maria walking towards her...but Liz's eyes then saw that Maria seemed a bit...bigger than yesterday. And if the exclamations from the male students was any indication, they had noticed it too. Maria saw Liz's weirded out expression and smiled, gesturing her 'slightly' enlarged chest.
"It's an aqua bra," she said, and Liz raised an disbelieving eyebrow. "You know, all the fun of implants except without the invasive surgery part."
Liz closed her locker, still staring at Maria. "You have officially lost it, Maria," she said.
Maria shook her head. "No, I have found it, babe, ok? I've had 3 phone numbers already and it's only 2nd period," she said, grinning.
"What?" Liz said, staring at her as if saying 'prove it'.
"Yes," Maria said. Then one of the boys walked to them, except that his eyes were pretty much locked on Maria. ["Or specifically her chest,"] Liz thought with slight disgust.
"Hey, Maria," the student said, still keeping his eyes on Maria when he was walking away.
"Hey, Neil," Maria said, keeping an eye-contact on the boy until he disappeared to another hall. Then she turned to Liz. "Do you see what I'm saying?" she asked, and Liz refused to comment on it. Then Maria smiled. "Ok, do you want to try this thing on?"
Liz shook her head. "Oh, no, Maria! I am not going to..." Liz started, but paused when she saw Max disappear into the Eraser room. "Who is Max meeting in the Eraser room?" she asked.
Maria gave a disapproving glare to Liz. "Ixnay on the ining-pay, remember?" she said.
Liz grimaced. "I am SO not pining over him, Maria," she said, then turned her attention back to the Eraser room. "I'm only curious, that's all. Besides, I hate not knowing what's going on with him."
"His decision, if I recall," Maria said, and Liz nodded in agreement. Then they see Michael walk into the Eraser room as well.
Maria grimaced. "No wonder he couldn't make a commitment," she said. Liz had to snort to hide her amusement. That statement had invoked an interesting idea in Liz's head. One she didn't want to voice out.
They hadn't realized that Alex had walked behind them until he said, "Ok, I give up. What are we staring at?"
Liz and Maria turned to Alex, who raised an eyebrow as he stared at Maria's chest. Maria smiled and thrust her chest up, and Liz gestured them. "This is an aqua bra. Would you like to try it on, Alex?" she said.
Alex grimaced. "Yeah, maybe later. Here, have a flier," he said as he handed both of them a piece of paper. "If I pass out enough of them, then I could raise my P.E. grade from a 'C' to a 'B-'." ["And this is the first time I'm envying Liz when it comes to her training,"] he thought grimly.
Liz read the flier quickly, and her eyes widened. "Oh. Ooh, the father camping weekend?" she asked, and Alex nodded. Liz looked at Alex and Maria hopefully. "I don't suppose either of you would be..."
Alex stopped her before she could finish her sentence. "Did I mention that I'm not very athletic, except in dodgeball?" he said. Liz gave a pleading look to Maria, who quickly shook her head.
"No dad, remember," she said.
Liz sighed in defeat. "Well, I hope mine has finally outgrown it," she said.
Alex frowned. "Hey, I thought Marcus was always as a supervising teacher along with Coach Clay?" he asked.
Liz nodded. "Yeah, and I may love my father and him, but I HATE camping," she said. She frowned when she saw Alex staring past her. "Alex?" she asked.
"Oh, gee, look at the time," Alex suddenly said, surprising Liz. "I gotta go. I'll see ya guys." Liz and Maria stared as Alex walked pass him, and then realization dawned. Isabel was at her locker...alone.
"Like a puppy in heat," Maria said, shaking her head.
"Oh yeah," Liz admitted.
"He's my next project," Maria said, and Liz shook her head in exasperation as she made her way to her class.
Isabel was about to head to the Eraser room where Max had decided to 'summon' her for a meeting. Like she hadn't better things to do. Like watch over her shoulder in case Marcus was there. What he had said had terrified her to the core, and if he was ready to go as far as killing Max if he crossed the line, who said she was out of the possiblity? The feminists most likely, but for some reason Isabel doubted that Marcus would even spare a minute to hear any lectures from them. To him, she wasn't human, which was true. So, killing an alien, hybrid or not, probably wouldn't bother him that much. Still, even at night she felt rather self-conscious before she went to sleep. She hadn't picked him up in her dreams, which was a relief, but she, after what he had said to her...hadn't even dreamed to enter his subconscious. Then Alex appeared next to her. "Hey," he said, and handed out a flier.
Isabel blinked, and took it. "Hey," she said, then raised an eyebrow. "Do you want something, 'cause I have to meet my idiotic brother in a minute."
Alex shrugged. "I don't know," he said. Then he seemed almost thoughtful. "Do aliens enjoy cinema?"
"Alex..." Isabel said slowly, glaring him.
"Oh...yeah, the 'a' word, sorry," Alex said, chagrined. "Anyway, there's this Fellini retrospective at the art house theater this Friday night, and I wanted to know if maybe you wanted to go?"
Now Isabel just stared at Alex. Was he asking her on a date? And he even managed to do that without stuttering? Ok, maybe he always had been rather straight with her when they talked, but this was something new. She still shook her head. It wasn't going to be that way between them. It just couldn't. "No, I'm not really into that," she said.
Alex seemed crestfallen for a second, but he covered it well. "Ok," he said.
Was he being blasé about this? ["Since when did he start to play hard to get with me?"] Isabel wondered.
"Then how about a regular movie?" Alex asked, confusing Isabel even more.
"Well...I don't see why not. Sure, I'll go with you," she said.
Alex smiled, but resisted the urge to 'whoop'. "That would be great. See you later, Isabel," he said, and left.
Isabel blinked and shook her head. Had she just agreed to go out with Alex? Well...he wasn't that bad looking, and he didn't exactly back away when she was feeling snappy. And he definitely spoke up his mind when he wanted to. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all..." she murmured, and made her way to the Eraser room. Once there, she muttered acidly, "I can't BELIEVE I'm in the Eraser room with YOU two."
Max ignored her comment. "We need a safe place to talk. Anyway, I found out a lot about the sighting from Milton," he said.
Michael rolled his eyes. "Told you that place would get to you," he said.
Max continued, ignoring Michael, "5 people saw a big flash of light in Frazier Woods."
"5 basket cases," Isabel said, clearly not interested.
"Then why has Valenti already closed off a 4-square-mile area of the forest near the Indian reservation?" Max challenged, and this got Michael's and Isabel's attention.
"You mean near the cave?" Michael asked. Max nodded.
"Max, you don't think this sighting..." Isabel started, but couldn't find herself to finish the sentence. The odds for this sighting to be 'real' weren't exactly great.
"It was no coincidence. We need to get there before Valenti does in case there's something to find," Max said. Lately, Valenti had started to show more interest on the three of them, and it might have been Max's paranoia talking, but Valenti seemed almost dead set to find answers. He already had a bundle of questions.
Isabel nodded in agreement, but then made a valid point. "Yeah, but we have no idea how many guys he has patrolling there. If anybody saw us, then it would just make him more curious than he already is," she said.
Max thought about it. "What do you do in Frazier Woods?" he asked.
Isabel frowned, but still answered, "You hike, you fish, you camp out."
Max seemed sheepish now. "I can't believe I'm going to suggest this, but we could go on that camping trip this weekend," he said.
"You're kidding me, right?" Michael said incredulously.
Isabel nodded. It made sense. "If anybody found us, we would just be kids missing from our school group," she said.
"There's only one problem," Max said, looking at Michael. "It's a...it's a fathers' camping weekend. Get to know your dad kind of thing."
"Guess that leaves me out, huh?" Michael said, his expression non-chalant.
Max nodded. "Guess so," he said.
Isabel eyed the flier she had got from Alex, and saw something disturbing. "Umm...Max," she said, getting his attention. "Mr. Thorne is one of the supervisors there."
"Sucks to be you," Michael commented, which earned glares from Isabel and Max.
************************************************************
Parker household, 9:50 p.m., Bathroom
Liz put on her bathrobe and started to head back to her room. Now when she had been wearing heavier weights on her, it felt weird to walk without them. She felt...so light, that it wasn't even funny. She shook her head, trying to clear her confusion from the fact that her body was going through these changes thanks to Marcus's idea for training. She stepped back into her room, just as her father walked in.
"Hey, now!" he exclaimed, and turned around.
"DAD!" Liz exclaimed as well, cluthing her bathrobe in a self-conscious way.
"Oh, gosh. I should have knocked," Jeff said, shaking his head.
Liz sighed and made sure that her bathrobe was secured. "No, it's ok, Dad," she said as she took a seat on her bed.
Jeff let out a humorless laugh. "I got to get better at this privacy thing," he said.
"It's no big deal, Dad," Liz said. "So...did you want something?"
Jeff turned around slowly. "Yeah, uh...listen, sweetie, about this camping weekend," he said and sat down next to her. "We should just go and take the advantage of the time together. I wouldn't miss that for anything."
Liz gave him a half-hearted smile. "I was actually going to say the same thing."
Jeff nodded. "And I can get to know that guy Max you've been hanging out with and, uh, he has a sister too, right?" he said.
Liz nodded. "Isabel."
"And the guy with the hair?" Jeff asked.
"Michael," Liz clarified.
"Michael, yeah."
Liz nodded again. "Yeah, but I don't think they're even going," she said.
Jeff was slightly confused about that. "Oh. Well, even if they aren't going to be there, I'd...still like to hear about that...Richie character, not to mention that guy with a weird accent...Conner?" he asked.
"Connor...MacCleod," Liz said. "And it would be better if you'd talk with them yourself."
Jeff nodded. "I'll remember that," he said, and hugged her. "Thank you for doing this with me."
Liz returned the hug, but she really didn't feel that comfortable to talk about her training with her father, and she kept hoping that he would change his mind at the last minute. Well, since that wasn't going to happen...she just had to deal with it the best she could. But she had to admit...she was glad that she COULD spend time with her dad. "It's not a problem, Dad."
************************************************************
Crashdown Café, Friday, 2:46 p.m., Break room
Liz descended the stairs, carrying a backpack and some other camping gear with her. Marcus had, surprisingly, cancelled the training session for the day, but Liz suspected that he was making his own preparations for the weekend. While he WAS only as a supervisor there, he always made it look like a survival training than just regular camping. Liz hadn't really given to it that much thought the previous times she had been in this camping expedition, but now she knew differently. However, Marcus HAD told her that they would be performing other form of training at the woods. She idly wondered what he had been talking about...especially when he had told her to pack her knife, which was stashed in her backpack. She was putting the camping gear on the floor along with the tent when Maria walked in.
"Running away from home?" Maria asked, raising an eyebrow to the assorted camping equipment.
Liz put the stuff away and gave a pitiful look to Maria. "Maria, I'm begging you for mercy. Please come with me," she pleaded.
Maria shook her head. "Chica, I told you, my idea of the great outdoors is rolling the window down in my car on the way to the mall," she said. "Come on, I love your dad. *YOU* love your dad."
Liz nodded. "Yes, I do. I love him...but in the normal father role, which is like 5 minutes at a time, just a few times a day...NOT for an entire weekend with no TV," she said.
Maria made a face. "Yeah. I've always found fathers grossly overrated myself," she said.
"And, you know, he has been getting so nosy lately. It's like he wants to know every single detail of my life," she said, but added silently, ["He knows a big part of it already, but I don't think he'd be ok knowing how many times I've been REALLY hurt during those training sessions."] Then she added, "He even asked me about Max and Michael and Isabel."
Maria made an attempt to think about it...for a few seconds, then she shook her head. "Mmmm, no. That's why me and my mom have the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," she said, and turned away.
"I'll pay you," Liz said, stopping Maria. Ok, that was low, but she wanted a friend there to balance things up. Marcus didn't count.
Maria turned back to Liz. "How much?" she asked.
"25 bucks," Liz offered.
"$100," Maria countered.
"Uh, $50."
"$75."
"$62.50."
Maria stared at Liz. "How do you do that math so quickly?" she demanded.
Liz shrugged, then added, "Ok, $62.50 and then I'll do your math homework for a week."
Maria nodded in approval. "You're good," she said.
Liz smiled as she opened her locker and started to count the money. "I know. Thank's for doing this, Maria," she said as she handed the $62.50 to Maria.
"Yeah, just remember that when we're freezing our asses off back there," Maria commented with a disgusted face.
Back at the café, about an half an hour later, Max, Isabel and Michael were talking about when River Dog had come to see Michael last night, and had told him that the sighting was genuine. Isabel, however, had come there to tell Alex that they couldn't go to the movies because of the fathers' camping weekend.
"So River Dog saw the light?" Max asked from Michael, who nodded.
"The dog himself," he said.
"And he said it was real?" Isabel asked from Michael, who nodded again. "You do realize what this could mean?"
"Our first real proof. Could even lead to actual contact," Max said.
"If we haven't had it already," Michael commented, getting Max's and Isabel's attention.
"What do you mean?" Max asked from Michael, who gave him a look that said 'Isn't it obvious?'
"Why is River Dog following me?" he asked. Max shrugged, and Isabel stared at Michael. "I mean, why does he care?"
"Because he knew the fourth alien," Isabel said.
Michael nodded, but his expression said that he didn't believe that explanation. "Yeah, that's what he said."
"And you don't believe him?" Max asked.
"How does he know so much?" Michael asked from Max, who had to admit it was pretty odd. "I mean, how did he know how to heal me when I was sick? I mean, that's some memory from when he was a kid. And where did he get those stones from? Maybe River Dog is the guy we've been looking for all along."
"The fourth alien?" Max asked incredulously.
"I think he's our father, Maxwell," Michael said.
Isabel shook her head. "I don't think so, Michael," she said, then thought of something. "Maybe it's Marcus."
That received a sarcastic laugh from Michael and a dumbfounded look from Max. "What gave you THAT idea?" Michael asked.
"He dream walked me," Isabel said plainly. THAT sunk in better.
"He did WHAT?" Michael demanded, nearly standing up, but repressed the urge. "And you didn't tell us THIS until now?"
Isabel sighed. "I didn't remember it until a week ago. Although, he DID say that he wasn't one of us, and most definitely not Nasedo," she said.
"If he isn't, then how was he able to do that...let alone make you forget the whole thing?" Max asked.
Isabel shook her head in exasperation. "I don't know, Max. But the fact is that Thorne is something a lot more than he allows us to believe. We already know he's not 'normal', but really, how FAR does 'normal' describe him?" she asked.
"Nothing is normal about him," Michael said, shaking his head. "And I highly doubt he's our father...considering the pure hostility he has shown to us...or you 2 specifically." Then Michael narrowed his eyes to Isabel. "And WHY wouldn't River Dog be our father? Because you 2 already have one?"
Isabel shook her head. "No, that's not why I..." she started, but Michael cut her off.
"River Dog knows more about us than Philip Evans ever will, no matter how many camping trips you guys take," he said, silencing Isabel and Max for a moment.
Meanwhile, on the booth a good distance away from the E.T. booth, Alex, Maria and Liz are talking. Alex tried to appear as casual as he could, but he just couldn't ignore the giddy feeling inside him. "Ok...is she looking at me?" he asked casually.
Liz and Maria exchanged a look. Liz glanced towards the three aliens, and then back at Alex. "No, she's not really looking at you," she said.
Alex chuckled to himself, and the girls looked at him weirdly. "Isabel Evans and Alex Charles Whitman out on a date?" he asked from himself. "I thought she'd say 'no' right there and then, but that she actually said 'yes'? That's miraculous all in itself."
"You ok, Alex?" Liz asked worriedly.
"Hmm?" Alex mumbled, as if not hearing her for a moment. Then he nodded. "Oh, I'm fine...it's just that so long I've fantasized about this moment...and it's actually happening. It's amazing...wait...," he frowned, "why DID she agree to go out with me? Did she find me attractive or...was it out of pity? Wait, it's a joke! It's a practical joke!" He glared at Liz and Maria. "You two are in on it. YOU bastards!"
Liz made a 'calm down' gesture. "Alex, calm down...I think your paranoid schizophrenia is kicking in again," she said.
"Right," Alex said simply, then shook his head. "I'll just...go to the bathroom and have a little talk with myself." With that, he got up and left. Maria shook her head as she and Liz headed back to the counter.
"See what I'm saying?" she said, gesturing at Alex's general direction. "These Czechoslovakians have way too weird of an effect on us. And if you don't stay away from them, Liz, I'm going to be picking up the pieces of your heart for the rest of your life."
["Somehow I doubt that,"] Liz thought, and shook her head as they reached the cash register. "No, you're not, 'cause I'm staying away from him, Maria. Max and I haven't even talked to each other for days," she said.
"Really?" Maria asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Liz said, wondering what Maria was getting at.
Maria seemed almost triumphant now. "Then why has he been staring at you since he came in?" she asked.
Liz blinked, and gave an incredulous look to Maria. "He HAS?" she asked.
Maria was surprised to not see an hopeful look from Liz. "Well, glad that I don't have to go do an intervention on you, but Liz, you have to make him think you're over him. That your life is so exciting," she said, and Liz snorted to that. "Lie if you have to. It's for your own good."
"I'm not so sure about that," Liz managed to say just before Michael and Max walked to the register.
"Hey," Max said.
"Hey," Liz said back, but there wasn't much of pining in her voice, much to Maria's delight.
Max shifted his weight from one foot to another, much to Michael's annoyance. "Haven't seen you lately," he said.
Liz nodded. "I've been busy," she said curtly.
"She means she's been kind of busy," Maria stepped in, earning a confused look from Liz AND Max. "We've BOTH been kind of busy."
"I can see that," Michael remarked dryly.
Maria nodded. "You know, getting ready for the big weekend and all," she said, giving a wink to Liz, and completely missing the ever intensifying glare she kept sending to her.
"You have a big weekend?" Max asked, slightly confused and a bit hurt.
Maria nodded. "Dates," she said, and now Liz was only barely able to restrain herself from knocking Maria's lights out. If THIS was supposed to be helping her, then it was NOT working. "We have dates...with men."
Michael raised an unamused eyebrow. "Men?" he asked.
"These college guys we met during winter break and, um, they're taking us to dinner...an expensive dinner," Maria said, grinning like Cheshire cat now. Liz was now wishing that the earth would open up and swallow her.
"Great," Max said, his eyes dim. "Well, have a good time." He paid their drinks and he and Michael left. Liz turned to Maria.
"Maria, next time when you get an urge to help me...DON'T," she said, and went to the coffee maker.
"What? I was doing you a favour," Maria said, and Liz snorted.
"Oh, no. You only made me feel uncomfortable...not to mention humiliated. And do you have any idea what Marcus would have said if he had heard you?" Liz demanded silently.
"Well, considering the way he feels about the aliens, I'd say he'd be thrilled," Maria said. Liz shook her head.
"No, he'd probably find those 'college men' and killed them on the spot," she said, and then she saw Alex walking to the booth where Isabel was still sitting. Maria frowned and turned as well, then sighed defeatedly. "Oh, great," she muttered.
Alex had taken a seat opposite to Isabel. "So, Isabel..." he started, and Maria shook her head in disappointment. "Another one being sucked into the alien abyss." Liz gave a disapproving glare to Maria, and prayed that Isabel wouldn't hurt Alex emotionally.
"Listen, about our plans tonight..." Alex started, but Isabel's eyes suddenly widened and she started to apologize.
"Oh, God, Alex, I'm so sorry," she said, earning a confused look from Alex. "My dad is insisting we go on this lame camping trip together. I...I have to cancel."
"Cancel?" Alex said, disappointed.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry, Alex," Isabel said. In fact, she would have preferred to go to a movie with him instead to this camping expedition if it weren't for the sighting. She frowned when Alex's expression changed from dejected to almost thoughtful. Then he started to shake his head.
"No, not at all. Don't worry about it," he said, and now Isabel felt officially lost. "It's funny, 'cause I was just about to tell you that I was gonna have to cancel 'cause of this of this fathers' camping weekend fiesta. I mean, you know how dads can be sometimes."
Isabel blinked. "YOU'RE going camping?" she asked.
Alex nodded. "Some coincidence, huh?" he said, but inwardly he smacked him to his temple...repeatedly. ["How stalker does THIS feel to you, Whitman?"] he asked from himself.
"Huh," was all Isabel could say.
************************************************************
. Well, you can always give the FB when you e-mail the betaed parts I send you. That would work. 
Thanks...I think. Hope your doing much better now than when you wrote the FB. 
Hey, I DO remember saying that Alex has more backbone now than he did in the show? Were you that surprised?