Note to RunningWild22 (an explanation)—NASEDO in 'The White Room': "Humans are weak – which doesn't bother me – and wasteful. Their brains are incredible machines they haven't even begun to use. When you were engineered, you were given the capacity to do everything the human brain is capable of… Those are your powers, Michael. Everything you can do is human. You were just programmed to be several thousand years ahead of mankind, that's all." Their bone structure is also human, which leads me to believe that they are "Humanoid", except for their blood. So, in that way, yes, Tess can be pregnant with a human child. (Just imagine a "STAR TREK" philosophy, in that most humanoid species could mate—and did on a daily basis, if you've ever seen the series.)


Chapter Six: Kept in the Dark

Maxwell Evans watched in disgust as his older sister paraded around practically naked with her friends, then proceeded to ridicule anything and everything that was in the area. He shook his head, playing with the idea of taking a picture with his cell-camera phone in order to show his mother what her "little princess" was up to. The idea passed just as quickly, there was no way that he'd hurt his mother like that; it was better (and safer) for them all if he'd let her maintain her illusions.

What had happened to make his sister this—there was no other way to say it—complete bitch in front of his very eyes? How did she become a selfish, spoiled, and hurtful person? Their parents had always thought of him as the stoic one, the one they worried about and forced into counseling in order to 'get in touch with his emotions.' His sister, on the other hand, was the favorite—of that he had no doubts—the perfect child who could do no wrong in their eyes. Shaking his head again, he wondered what they'd say if they knew the truth.

Deciding to ignore Isabel, he turned back to Alex, and agreed that he'd try to draw HER, even though his artistic skills were nil. He reached into his backpack and grabbed a notebook. With a deep breath, he focused on not ruining his mental image of the beauty that lay within his soul.

The strokes were short and unsure at first, not quite knowing where to start. From the first mark, he knew that it was wrong—it wasn't her. He ripped the paper out, then crumpled it into a ball to toss in the middle of the table to start fresh. Alex huffed at him, mumbling that it was going to take all day for him to draw a line.

Their waitress Liz, brought them their drinks, then walked away to help Maria with Isabel's order. Making sure that no one was watching, he poured a little Tabasco sauce in his coke before taking a long sip. The cool flavor of spicy and sweetness eased his now dry throat. Closing his eyes, he decided to let his mind draw for him. Catching Alex's eye, he silently asked him to watch his back. He barely touched the pencil as it started moving, practically floating on the paper. He lightly held the pencil, in case anyone was watching. His eyes still closed, he felt the image take her form. The curls, eyes, lips, even her dimples as she smiled at him were portrayed in the simple sketch.

Opening his eyes, he smiled at the finished picture. It was perfect.

Alex twisted his head in attempt to look at it upside down. Taking pity on his friend, he rotated the picture for him to study. Alex's eyes lit up in wonder, "Wow, Max. She's gorgeous. I think that if she was my dream girl, I probably wouldn't be getting any sleep either." He smiled at his best friend, wiggling his eye brows for effect. With a big smile, he just shook his head at him. It was a typical Alex thing to say.

Alex stood up, threw a couple dollars on the table, then pointed to his watch. "I've got to get back, Max. I'm sorta late for work. I'll call you later, buddy." Max nodded, then waved at his departure, his attention now on the drawing of the girl who held the answers to all of his questions, his back to the front door.


Alex sped out the door pushing past two guys and a girl walking in. In a hurry, he didn't even notice the glare the spiky-haired one gave him or the way the girl calmed him before letting her friend lead her to the nearest table. Michael directed her and Kyle to sit in front of him. Rolling her eyes at him, she decided to forgo the 'stop being overprotective' speech.

Kyle looked confused, but caught on quickly as Michael's eyes trailed each and every person who walked in before looking around the room, assessing threats. He supposed if he had lived his life like Michael and Tess, he'd be a little paranoid around strangers as well.

Tess grabbed the menu, commenting on how good everything looked, laughing that she wanted to order one of everything on the menu. Michael laughed too, finally turning away from the door to smile at his sister and friend.

The girls who'd been sitting at the bar had been gossiping loudly hit his radar, especially the blonde one. For some odd reason, he felt like he knew her—and for some odd reason, he didn't trust her. It irritated him, making him squirm minutely in his seat. He watched her as she laughed at the waitresses handing her and her friends their drinks.

One of the girls caught his staring, pulling her friend's attention to his table. Her voice was harsh and stuck-up in a light airy tone of superiority, "Look at her! I mean, give me a break. She drags around two guys with her because she probably doesn't know which one of them knocked her up!"

The girl sitting next to her didn't even need encouragement as she also shot her mouth off at his sister and new friend, "That's Kyle Valenti! Holy shit! Knowing Kyle, they probably did her at the same time! What do you think, Isabel?" She turned towards the blonde beauty he'd been staring at earlier, waiting for her response. When it didn't come, the girls just laughed to themselves.

Tess always remarked to him that he had a bad temper. That the smallest things would make him mad; he usually didn't argue with her—she knew that every fight he'd fought in his life was to protect her and her honor. This case was no different. No different from the time he'd beat up a jock that grabbed her butt in the hall. No different from the time a teacher tried to blackmail her into giving him a blow-job. (He'd gotten suspended for attacking a teacher, however no one bothered to ask the teacher why he didn't press charges against him.) Or the ad written about her in the school's rag newspaper. The rumors had been flying—and his reputation was solid as rock in town. No one messed with his sister!

Usually, talk didn't bother him—they were both securely tied to the rumor mill—but this time, he saw red. He stood up quickly, pushing the chair away in attempt to walk over to the bar area. All eyes were on him as he leaned in towards the blonde girl—he assumed she was in-charge of the idiots around her.

Personal space was purposely invaded as he leaned his entire body in towards her; she tried to back up, leaning against the bar, but he wouldn't allow it—pressing even closer to her. The entire room silent now, he leaned his face to hers, a hair-breath away from her lips as he spoke softly. "Do you have something to say about my sister?"

Isabel's breath caught in her throat. This was not the first time a jealous boyfriend tried to intimidate her; she was not the type to back down from what she wanted either. Smiling darkly, she tilted her head up closer to his in attempt to make him back away. He surprised her by not pulling away. "Nothing that we haven't already covered." She purred at him.

He pushed her further against the bar, "Take it back and apologize. Now."

Her eyes locked onto his, "No." It was said in a breath. Just as quick, she looked past him; it was the only indication before he was tackled from behind.


Max lost himself in the portrait, specifically in the girl's eyes. They were full of sadness. He really didn't let emotions get the better of him—but in this case, this girl affected him. Her sadness became his.

He didn't know how long he stared at the picture, how long he let his mind wander back to their meetings under the stars. In those dreams, she wasn't sad or afraid. She was a temptress, letting him chase her around the desert before succumbing to his will. She was passionate and sure of herself, kissing him in secret places and letting him kiss her as well. It was as if she knew him, knew every part of him, body and soul. In those moments, the world no longer their playground—the universe was open to their every desire.

He blinked a few times when he'd realized he was back in the Crashdown, not the desert—and not with her. Immediately, he felt something was wrong, but it took him a few seconds to realize that no one was talking. And since no one was staring at him, he figured it must be something else. He turned in his seat to look at his sister.

His heart leaped in his throat, pounding hard as he realized that she was in danger. He launched himself up and flung the man who he assumed was threatening his sister to the ground, tackling him with his body before pulling back his fist in order to punch him in the face.

The man—boy under him spoke, "Hold it there. Don't h—hit me."

Max stopped. He didn't know why—but he listened and studied him. There was nothing that would normally make him back down, the boy's attitude and body language was ready for a fight. But the way that he said 'hit' made him slow. It wasn't a stutter or anything, but it was said with fear, even though he didn't show it.

Isabel stepped down from the stool, her hands on her hips. He looked up at his sister, "Max! God! That's it! He practically attacks me and you SIT ON HIM!" She shook her head at him, making a scene for her friends, "I'd like to see what you would've done if he tried to hit me or something. God. What's the point of having a brother?"

Max just looked at her as she, head held high like royalty, walked up to Liz. "Liz. I'm not paying for a single thing! I mean, I was assaulted in your restaurant. It's been such a trauma, that I don't think we'll ever come back here." Liz tried to stop her, but stopped after her father, who was in the back room shook his head to let them go. It wasn't worth losing business over.

Mr. Parker walked over to the two boys still on the ground and pulled them up by their arms, "I'm sorry gentlemen. I'm going to ask you both to leave now! I don't want to see either of you in my restaurant." He walked them to the door, surprised when Kyle Valenti and a small blonde girl ran up to the other boy.

He stared at the young girl—it was obvious she was pregnant. He turned towards the other boy, "You were just protecting her, I know that. Those girls are awful. I wish there was something that I could do, but wish for them to grow up someday. Both of you just take a break, you can come back tomorrow. Alright?" Not waiting for them to answer, he walked back into his restaurant.

Max stared at the door, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what had happened and that he over-reacted. He turned towards the guy he attacked in order to apologize, but found himself face to face with the woman of his dreams.

Breathing was no longer a priority, his mind went blank. She was there! In front of him!

And she was screaming at him.


To be continued…

Okay, maybe a few little things that you might've missed.

1. "Hold it there! Don't hit me"—Michael said that in "The Morning After" (2nd episode). It was just the way that he said it. The word "HIT" was said with a tiny stutter. He curled into a ball and covered his face. It was a classic sign that Hank had been abusing him. If you don't believe me, watch it again. You'll notice it right away.

2. If you didn't notice, Isabel is more Vilandra than Isabel. "The flighty little princess that cared more about jewels than study." Where her character goes is still a question in my mind.

3. Liz doesn't even know Max exists. He doesn't save her life, so she really never talks to him.

4. Alex is at the UFO Center, not Max. (Maybe Max'll get a job one day…)

5. Of course, Tess is pissed that Max tried to beat up her brother, but will she recognize him? (In Tess, Lies, and Videotape, he doesn't know who she is until she shows him the "Destiny Book".) Which leads me to how exactly is Max going to find it? (For now, no Nasedo or Kal.)

6. PLEASE REVIEW! I need your encouragement to write. Otherwise I feel like no one is reading my story and that I'm writing it for myself.