Season 4 – Episode 2: Peace and Love
Disclaimer: Melinda Metz wrote the books and one episode. Jason Katims, Ronald D. Moore, Thania St. John, Gretchen J. Berg, Aaron Harberts, Toni Graphia, Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner, Breen Frazier, David Simkins, John Harmon Feldman wrote the show. I personally have no rights to any of the characters or the story. This is for entertainment only.
Author's note: I was amazed and extremely pleased with the response of the first episode. Thank you so much to those of you that took the time to comment. It was incredibly encouraging. I only hope that I don't let any of you down with this or any future episodes. Important Note Part of this ep. exceeds the television rating but this isn't tv so I can do what I want. Lol Just be warned.
Summary: Larek explains himself. TLC all around. And a bit of crack plot. Enjoy!
"We can't stay here" Maria said panicked as they all filed into the single room of the motel. Michael went straight to the bed and sat down with Maria in tow. She hadn't left his side since they left the alley. "Just everyone calm down" Max responded rubbing his neck. He looked at Larek cautiously. The man had saved Michael but none of them were truly at ease with him. "I think you need to start talking. You said you were Larek. As in the Larek that possessed Brody?"
Larek looked at the teens and nodded. "Yes. That's right. Though as you can see, I came in person this time." Michael chimed in "Yeah about that. Why do you look like a human if this is your actual body?" That made Larek chuckle. "We don't look all that different from humans. The environment of our planets is very similar to the environment here so it makes sense that nature would see it fit to make us look similar. Though there are differences." Max didn't know how to take that. "Differences?" The man gave him a small smile then reached for the light switch. "Do not be alarmed. I will show you." Hitting the light, they were plunged into darkness. Max could feel panic start to creep up but then they saw Larek glow. Dim at first and then brighter. His skin was a soft white while his eyes burned green. "Oh my god" Liz muttered in the dark. He turned the lights back on.
For a moment he continued to glow until he closed his eyes and his skin returned to normal. The teens sat stunned. "I seemed to have rendered you all speechless" Larek said with a smile. "I do have to ask though. Didn't Queen Ava, er, uh, I mean Tess. Did Tess make it back to you?" The silence in the room was deafening. "Yeah she made it back to us" Maria said spitefully. "She's the whole reason we have to live like this. She brought the military literally to our door." Liz placed a hand on her friend's arm. "She… she died. When it didn't look like we could safely get Zan out of Roswell, she sacrificed herself so they would stop looking." Maria scoffed. "It was the least she could do after what she did to Alex."
Larek looked deeply troubled by the news. "I… I should have found a way to keep her safe. I knew it was a bad idea to send her back." Max was confused by the depth of emotion Larek was expressing. "Were you… close to Tess?" The alien swallowed hard and nodded a bit. "When she left Earth in the Granolith, we intercepted before she could make it to Antar. We heard of the arrangement Nasedo had with Khivar. I wasn't sure if Tess would welcome our interference or not. I was afraid we would have to restrain her but she was thankful. She understood that the Granolith is far too powerful to just hand over to Khivar. She stayed with my family in the final stages of her pregnancy and even assisted with certain aspects of the resistance. Her and my wife…" Larek paused a moment looking even more distraught. "Had known I was employing a spy for Khivar, I never would have kept her there. The day Tess gave birth, Khivar made an attack on my home. He knew exactly where the Granolith was kept. He was precise and exacting but even he didn't know that he wouldn't be able to activate the machine. He needed a true royal. His men captured Tess and my wife and took them to the Granolith. Tess began going into labor before she even made it to him. I wasn't with them. I should have been but I was detained. From what one of my men told me, Khivar threatened her and Tess did not waiver. Then he threatened my wife…" Larek looked at Max with sad eyes. The teen could tell that the story was hard for him. It was hard for Max too. There was still so much anger he held over her. The lies, Alex, the killing… She was exactly what Max wanted to avoid becoming. If he embraced that alien inside him like she did, would he do what she did?
"Tess reluctantly agreed to let him use Zan to activate the Granolith if he agreed to spare them and just leave with it." Larek continued. "But while the child was your heir, Max, he was human and therefore unable. Khivar was furious. First he… killed my wife… and then he turned to Tess and the baby. That is when I arrived. We fought but we were outnumbered. My second got Tess and Zan to a pod. She asked him to set the coordinates for Earth. I think she felt you would be able to protect them. I barely escaped at all but was able to hide the Granolith. They are still fighting. Khivar is attempting to rule over my home too now. The people, your allies, are losing hope. With every spirit broken, he gains more ground. That is why I have come. Your people need you Max and now so do mine."
The group needed a few minutes to discuss amongst themselves so Larek took his leave. "We can't trust him" Maria said as soon as the door was closed. Max looked at her squarely. "Are you saying that because he seems untrustworthy or because of what he said about Tess?" His voice was gentle but firm. "What the fuck Max?" The girl exclaimed. "He just comes out of nowhere and now we are supposed to believe that Tess was some hero? What about Alex?!" Liz moved next to her best friend. "Maria, I know it's hard to think about but… I think I believe him. She may have killed all those men at the base but I don't think what she did to Alex was intentional." Maria jumped off the bed and glared at Liz. "God, you too!? Alex is dead because of her. Our friend is dead and you are defending his murderer." She was trembling she was so angry. "Maria…" Liz started but her pouty lipped friend wouldn't hear what she had to say. Maria simply glared at the brunette and raised her hand. "No! Just… no." Then turned on her heels and left the room. Everyone sat there for a second then everyone looked at Michael expectantly. "Michael" Max said and motioned for the door. With a sigh, swung his long legs off the bed and lumbered after her.
Isabel still hadn't said anything. Her big brown eyes were lined with tears but none had fallen. After a few minutes she stood up and left too. Kyle gave Max a pat on the shoulder sympathetically and followed her leaving only the married couple still in the room. "Perfect" Max groaned as he sat on the end of the bed. Liz crawled up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her head rested against his back. He raised his hand up to her arm and caressed it with his thumb. "Did you mean what you said… about Tess?" He asked softly. "Yes" she replied just as quietly. "When I drove her to the base, we had a chance to talk. I was so mad at her, Max, but she looked so… sorry. She told me that you always thought of me when you were with her. That she could see it in your head. I can't imagine what it must have been like for her. To be raised by a man like Nesado with only one dream… to find her family… to find you. Then to find out that you loved me. We never really accepted her except Kyle. I was so scared of losing you to this grand destiny that I never wanted to get to know her. I've had a long time to think about her this summer. What would I have done if I were her? All alone. Every dream I ever had wrapped up in a man that was in love with someone else. Then to be pregnant?" She squeezed him a little tighter. "If I had been Tess I would have wanted to go home too."
Max turned to look at her. "But you wouldn't have killed people." Her pause disturbed him a bit. "I'd like to think I wouldn't. Just like I didn't vote to turn her in but the truth is Max… I don't know. She didn't have parents like we did. She didn't have friends like Michael did to care about her. She had Nasedo. That's it. No love, no home, just survival and that one dream." Max looked into her eyes in awe. The depth of this woman continually astounded him. He could live for a hundred years and never meet another woman half as intelligent, beautiful, or sweet. Cupping her cheek, he kissed her gently. Just the barest brushing of lips but it sent a familiar jolt through him. He wanted to get lost in that kiss but his thoughts brought him back. "I just can't help but think how she lied us. To me. That she went behind our backs with the translation thing and Alex died because of it. Then to turn around and kill all those men at the base. Innocent people just doing their jobs."
Liz looked at him and stroked the side of his face. "I know."
She was lying on her side staring at the wall when Michael came in. These sorts of situations always made him uncomfortable. He just didn't do emotions well so being with someone like Maria was almost torture at times.
Crossing the room, he sat on the bed next to her and patted her hip. At first she didn't acknowledge his presence then all at once she rolled over and wrapped her arms around him. She had caught him a little off guard but he recovered quickly by enveloping her in his embrace. "I miss him so much. I miss everything so much. My mom. Roswell. Even the Crashdown. How can they even talk about forgiving Tess when she took all that away from us?"
Michael kept his mouth shut. For him, Roswell hadn't been home. It had been a temporary pit stop in the journey of his life. The only thing that even resembled home was the people with him now. He rubbed her back softly. Michael knew she was crying. He could feel the hot wetness of her tears coming through his shirt. At least she wasn't screaming or making a fuss.
After a few minutes, she shifted so her face was buried in his neck. She lifted a hand to his neck and pushed his hair away. He could feel her soft lips on his pulse as she started to kiss him. Michael's eyes closed as his hand slid under her hair and caressed the back of her hair. It caused her to look up at him. First his eyes then his mouth. Michael knew she was waiting for a kiss and he didn't intend to make her wait very long. His full mouth lowered to hers and she sighed. This was more like it.
She moved around to straddle him without breaking the kiss. Michael had to shift her so not to hurt him. He'd almost died today and now Maria seemed bent on having sex. It was enough to get any man's blood pumping. Her slender fingers tugged up his once blood soaked shirt and he let her break the kiss so she could pull it over his head. The room was a bit cold but her hot touch was enough to shed the chill. Their mouths moved over each other's feverishly while Michael worked to get her top off as well. It wasn't coming off as quickly as he wanted so he used his power to rip it from her body. This got a squeal of surprise from her but she didn't stop kissing him.
Finally, Michael needed more so he turned and rolled them onto the bed with him on top. His hands moved between their bodies and unbuttoned her pants then his own. They both squirmed out of the remains of their clothes. "Wait Michael! The door!" Maria gasped as he was positioning himself above her. "It's locked" he breathed against her skin. "Kyle has a key, Brainiac." Rolling his eyes, he lifted a hand to the door and melted the lock to the frame. "There" he replied. He could tell she was going to say something so he covered her mouth quickly with his and slid into her. She gasped against his mouth again then adjusted to him and his rhythm.
They didn't need ceremony. Neither of them could have stopped or slowed down. She held on to him for dear life as he took them higher until the sweat shone over their skin and their pants were practically in unison. He knew he wouldn't be able to last but thankfully she was making that mewi sounding noise he liked and knew she was as close as he was. Michael felt her tense under him and her muscles clamp down over him then they were both propelled into their respective flashes as their souls touched. He pulled her as close as he could as they tried to catch their breath. He'd felt her terror at seeing him dying. He felt her confusion over Larek. But most of all her felt her longing for home. It was stronger now than it had ever been and for a second he was afraid of what that could mean for them.