Chapter 2: Tales from the Battlefield

Had someone told him that in order to get home you'd have to sacrifice everything including your freedom and your love, then Michael wouldn't have returned. He spent his whole life trying to find where he belonged and always thought he'd find it here on Antar, but what surprised Michael the most was that he found where he belonged and it was on earth. Earth! That thought always made him laugh. The great alien general finds home on earth with a small brunette waitress and motor-mouthed blonde.

He loved Maria and Liz more then life it's self. Sure Maria and him fought all the time, but making up was their specialty. He's waited six years for her and will wait even more if he had too. Then there was the brunette. Liz, she was on his mind a lot lately. He missed his Liz so much, she meant everything to him. He actually missed her more than Maria.

With Liz it was different, he let her see him and she didn't run. Instead it only brought her closer. He never let anyone, even Maria see the real him. That's why Maria never once got a flash from and why Liz always did. He felt safe with Liz, he loved her. He loved her more than Maria, but it could never be. Why you ask? Simple, one word. Max. He couldn't hurt Max like that. Yeah Liz staged sleeping with Kyle, but Max still loved her and did it ever hurt Michael that he could never be with her. So he was forever left with a constant battle in his heart.

He missed their late night talks about nothing and their emotional talks about everything. He can still remember their last conversation before he left.

Six years ago. . .

Michael sits up against the wall of the balcony as Liz leans against his chest, her head under his chin, like they did every single night. Except this time would be their last together. Neither teen talked, they just held each other and stared up at the sky.

Michael looks at Liz, "Come with me." Liz turns her head away from the sky and stares at Michael in shock. "What?" she asks. Michael smiles slightly, "Come with me, to Antar. I don't want to say good-bye to you Liz. I don't know why I should have to say goodbye to both my girlfriend and the best person to ever come into my life all in the same night. Please, I can't say good-bye to you. I don't want to. Please. . . come with me, I need you." Liz's eyes begin to tear at the end of his sentence. She so wanted to go with him. The pain of losing him is too much for her to handle and she cries. Michael, never being able to handle watching girls cry, especially when it's his fault, begins to cry.

Well actually it's Max's fault. He knocked up Tess and now they all had to pay for it. Both teens cry and embrace each other. Hours passed and they were both laying on a sleeping bag, holding each other. Suddenly Liz breaks the silence, "I'm going to miss you Michael." Michael has to fight back the tears once again. "I'm going to miss you too." Liz rolls over and places her head on his chest. "Promise me one thing?" Michael looks down at her, "Anything." Liz, tears rolling down her cheek as she stares into his eyes. "Please, protect yourself and be happy. Even if you don't come back to earth, live and be happy." Michael, fighting the urge to cry, "I'll come back, I promise you I will."

They both stare into each other's eyes. Memorizing the texture, the color, everything. Liz slowly begins to move her head closer and so does he. The anticipation was killing him. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but damn it if he was going to leave he was going to get one kiss from the woman he loved. Both are only inches away, moving slower and slower. Finally their lips lightly touch, which causes bolts of electricity to fly through Michael's body. It felt so good. He felt Liz begin to pull away, so he grabs her back and deepens the kiss.

It was passionate, intense, and the best damn thing he ever felt. Every kiss he had ever experienced before was paled in comparison. Continuing the kiss both teens hands begin to roam over each other's bodies. Michael slowly slides his hand across her stomach causing Liz to shiver slightly in his arms. Still locked in the heated kiss Michael is suddenly hit with a wave of love from Liz. It was warm, soft, caring, and loving. Holy shit! She loved him as much as he loved her! Why now? It wasn't fair to them! It wasn't fair.

Liz slowly pulls away from his lips and looks away, head still on his chest, "I needed you to know how I felt about you. Whether or not you feel the same isn't important, I just needed you to know that I loved you. Just in case it's the last time we see each other."

Sensing her sadness Michael places his hand under her chin and softly turns her head towards him. Was he ready to let her know how much he loved her? How he loved her more than life itself. Was he ready to hurt Max and Maria? Shit Max and Maria, they would be devastated. They would feel betrayed. As much as he wanted Liz for himself, he couldn't destroy everyone else in the process.

"Liz, I love you too, but I just don't want to hurt Max or Maria. It's really confusing in my head right now. Part of me wants to tell everyone I love you, but another part of me doesn't want to hurt everyone else. I just. . .I need you to know I do feel for you. You are the most important part of my life and I don't want to lose you. I promise you when things calm down on Antar, I'll come back and try to figure everything out."

By now both teens are silently crying and staring at the other. Liz slowly looks away and whispers, "Don't make promises you can't keep." After that, both were quiet again. For the next twenty minutes they held each other and eased the others pain. Reluctantly they left their sanctuary and headed towards the others. They walked to his apartment, holding hands, to meet Max and say goodbye to everyone for the last time.

Max's jeep rounded the corner, followed by Alex's silver Honda and Valenti's Bronco. All three cars pulled up in front of the complex and all the occupants empty out. No one spoke for several minutes, sad for having to leave.

Max was the first to break the silence, "We should probably be going soon." The group nods sadly in silence. Kyle, next to Tess, turns to her, "Tess, I know in the beginning I was an ass to you and your kind and an even bigger ass about sharing the house, but over these past few months I've never felt more complete. I have to thank you for coming into my life. Not only are you my closest friend, you are my sister. You will always be family to me. Dad and I love you so very much." Tess, surprised by the caring words begins to tear up, "Kyle, I love you too. You and Jim are the closest thing I have to a family and you will always be one to me. Thank you for loving me back." Kyle and Tess embrace followed by Jim. "Take care of yourself and that baby," Jim cracks out. Jim turns to Max, Isabel, and Michael, "You guys protect my daughter and my grandson or I'm going to come to Antar and kick some ass." The group laughs softly. "I promise I'll protect them with my life. I love them," Max says to Jim. Tess walks to the rest of the aliens. . .

Suddenly alarms wail, awakening Michael from his daydream. "Alert, Alert, All units to the courtyard. The Antarian Army is with in our borders, all available troops report to the courtyard immediately. This is not a drill." comes over the loud speaker. Michael snaps out of his stupor and quickly retrieves his gear. "Why wasn't I fucking told about this?! So much for the designated peace," Michael yells as troops rush past his open door. He grabs his silver light body armor, energy blade, and xtty plasma riffle and rushes into the hall. Men rush down the hallway towards the open doors.

As Michael approaches the open doors he stops to look at his reflection in one of the dormitory windows. No longer was the face of a young Michael, the abused boy who had turned his life around, full of love and life. Replaced was a man he didn't recognize. No in front of him was a man full of guilt and regret. His skin covered in scares from battles past, his long beard dirty and scraggly, his hair wild and unmanageable.

What stuck with him though were his eyes. They were empty. . .lost. So much death and destruction fills his life, so many he's killed. This man was not Michael, no Michael died with a little brunette girl. Yet there's still hope in these eyes, barely there but still there. The kind of hope that love will save his soul. A soldier bumps into him and runs out the door, effectively break Michaels trance. He sighs and joins the crowd.

Once out the door he takes in the scene before him. The courtyard is a spacious command center, capable of holding thousands of troops. The entire base is covered in large ion cannons and hundreds of small anti-aircraft weapons. Buildings also litter the grounds, containing officers quarters, armories, and training facilities. On the west side of the complex lays their huge vehicle bay containing all their heavy and light assault vehicles, and their very small airstrip, all of which t is surrounded by large slick silver walls each with small gunnery towers.

Men were rushing about, gathering gear and weapons. Michael spots a group of officers and makes his way through the crowds. Once reaching outside the compound he spots Larek, Max's best friend from a previous life and currently one of the rebels few allies, assembling the troops. "General Larek!" Michael yells over the noise and approaches Larek.

"I see Max's peace talks are going well." Larek smirks. "Yes very well. The other planets have agreed to terms, but Kivar will have none of it. He still sees the rebels as enemies to the way of Antarian life." Michael shakes his head, "A nice way of saying traitorous dogs. Kivar will never have peace, until all the planets fall." Larek nods as a rebel soldier on a hover bike speeds into the compound.

The bike stops in front of the two men as the captains and other officer's ready the men for battle. "Sirs, our scouts spotted two battalions of Antarian soldiers approaching from the east approximately five thousand fixels away." Michael silently laughs as he remembers how hard it was to figure out that a thousand fixels we're 10 miles in earth measurements. "Christ! Very good Captain, speak with Colonel Jasix in the armory. Tell him we need all ion cannons fully function in the next five minutes. Go!" Michael yells as the small captain rushes towards the armory.

When Michael was first given control over his army, he decided to run it exactly as the American army, including rank. Amazingly enough his men were glad to accept it and were even happy to see a change in their battle tactics. They won many wars under Michael's leadership and Michael would have to thank America for it. Unfortunately he wouldn't have time right now. With close to five thousand well-trained troops heading in their direction, he would have to prepare for the largest and sure to be bloodiest battle he has ever fought. God protect him.

Michael pulls out two pictures. One of the pictures is of Maria and the other of Liz. Both pictures we're old and slightly discolored from the years of war he has fought. Liz's picture was worn more because he constantly looked at it. He was slightly jealous of the fact that Max, Isabel and Tess got to stay in the large capital of New Antar, a city they called Roswell, but he new his duty as a soldier.

He did not enjoy killing, but he figured that if he didn't then they would kill him, which would break the promise he made to Liz. "Stay alive," he shakily whispers to himself. He places Maria's in his helmet and places the one of Liz in his battle stimulant pack in his front pocket, just over his heart. "For my girls."