A.N. Chapter is a little short but not by much. Sorry for the long delay. I was trying to work out the Valenti chapter but that's shaping up to be a little further ahead.

Chapter 6

3:05 a.m.; Evans Household

Isabel two minutes earlier had left her room. She'd taken so long that Michael made a move every minute to get her only to be stopped by Tess each time. Finally when the tall female left her room her eyes were puffy and red but held a steel edge of determination. She'd make it through, later she'd break down but in that moment she'd do what needed doing.

Tess seeing Max wouldn't be taking charge any time soon stepped up to the plate. "Okay everyone, stay next to either Michael or me. We move silently and together, no crazy attacks just try to avoid these things if at all possible."

Michael stared at her in awe, if he didn't know any better he would have thought she was the General in their past. "Keep this walkie-talkie with you." He handed her the device. It was an old toy that Max never threw away, it didn't have batteries but that wouldn't be a problem with their powers. All that was required was a quick electrical charge and it'd work. "Isabel you're coming with me, Max you'll be with Tess. Nasedo can go with Tess and Max."

"But we should go together. Why are we splitting up? Tess just said to stick together." Max questioned. It didn't make sense; they'd be more effective as a unit.

Michael, in that brief sentence knew why he was the General on their home planet. He could think clearly in a crisis and do what needed to be done. Max couldn't look ahead and see they weren't splitting up but in the event it was needed they'd know whom to follow. "We're not. In case of a problem we won't be franticly searching for who we're supposed to be with."

"But I want to stay with Max." Isabel firmly told them. She didn't want to be separated from her brother, not now. Surely Michael could understand that.

"I'm sorry Isabel but this is the best idea right now. You and Max aren't the clearest thinkers at the moment. Splitting up the way Michael divided us ensures the highest probability of survival." Years of Nasedo training her gave her an advantage over the others when it came to strategizing. She's never been happier to have that training than right then.

"Why?" Isabel fumed, angry that Tess was taking charge so easily. It should have comforted her but it did nothing except light her fire. "Max and I can think just fine. Don't assume that we can't." She argued.

"The fact that you said that proves my point." Tess fought to keep her voice at a whisper so Diane wouldn't hear them from downstairs and come look for them. "You and I don't have defensive powers. What are you going to do if we get split up and Michael is not with you? Dreamwalk them trying to find out how they tick? What am I going to do if Max or Nasedo are not with me and I have no weapon of any kind? Mindwarp them into leaving me alone? Michael can blast them, Max can shield us, and Nasedo can fling them away."

"Why not? There has to be some brain still left in them?" How else could she believe if she ever wanted to get her mother back to who she was?

Irritated she sighed. "You've never seen a zombie movie have you? Have they ever showed brainpower? Deep meaningful thinking? No, they haven't. And since zombie movies are all I have to go on, I'm trusting that. I can't mindwarp a creature whose brain is the equivalent to mush."

"Don't talk to her that way." Max stepped closer to Tess trying to intimidate her into leaving Isabel alone. "Back off her." They just lost their parents; the least she could be was kind and understanding. Iz didn't need to be yelled at like that.

"She needs to understand Max that she can not have her way right now." She hated that she had to be tough as nails but it's what was needed. "You and her have been dealt a traumatic blow, nobody could expect you to think clearly after learning what you have. Let Michael and I be in charge."

"No, we need input too." He forced the issue.

"And you will but not now. I've been trained all my life in both of my lives, learning how to push past my own pain to get the job done. Michael has the instincts and memories of a highly trained General. Rath, on Antar, taught Nasedo himself. While you and Vilandra attended parties, listened in on meetings, played in the Purple Fields of our planet. So let Michael and I do what we were trained for. When we're safe you can get upset and be offended all you want but not now." She grabbed the walkie-talkie from Michael ignoring his open mouth of shock, clipping it onto her jeans.

"We ready?" Michael took a deep breath preparing for the gauntlet outside.

Tess sighed. "One more thing, be cautious when approaching the Crashdown." She thought the reason would be obvious even to those who had half a brain but apparently that wasn't the case, even Michael looked at her strangely.

Nasedo smirked despite the tense situation. "Good to know all my training didn't go to waste on you." He actually felt proud, for the first time in years, of Tess. Since arriving here she had only gone after Max half-heartedly, like she didn't care that he was her destiny.

Tess closed her eyes. Was it weird to feel both insulted and warmed by his comment. Hadn't she been doing a good job with his lessons and assignments?

"What are you talking about?" Isabel bit at her cheek to keep from yelling.

"Basically, it's hell on Earth and that makes most people hesitant to let strangers in." Still confusion was on all their faces.

"But we're not strangers?" Michael pointed out.

"No, you're not. But you're not family either. And the Crashdown is the Parker's family restaurant. Don't be surprised if they shoot first and leave our bodies outside to be eaten." She put the gun back in her pocket and tied her hair into a ponytail. "Not saying it'll happen but I can tell you right now that if all of you weren't my family I'd leave you out to die."

"No you wouldn't." Max didn't believe that she'd be that cruel. That uncaring.

"Don't be so sure. I wouldn't let someone I didn't know come into my home and eat my food, food that could be used to keep me alive a little longer. Use my shelter, shelter that'd keep me warm, relatively safe. The Parker's may be one of the few people who will let us in, but don't count on it. As of now all we have is each other."

Michael nodded his head, he understood. "And on that note. It's time." Time to head out and face the scary world they now lived in.

TBC