Title: Truth
Author: Dark Roswellian Angel
Elizabeth McDowell
Disclaimer: I don't own any of it. If I did, "Roswell" would still be airing, and Tess would not have turned out the way she did.
Copying/Downloading/Posting: Please let me know first, and let me know where my work will be posted as I would love to come visit it. Make sure that it is put under my name, as I would love to hear how others feel about it. Thanks ;)
T due to some violence
This is part of at least a 2-fic series crossover. Possibly 3, depending on what kind of response I get.
A.U. that is still very loosely based on the series. It will eventually be mostly CC.
I actually started writing this quite a while ago, so if it seems a little disjointed it's probably because my writing style has changed a bit. I've gone over it and tried to change it to my current style, but I guess only time will tell. Or you could let me know through that little button down there (hint, hint) :)
Synopsis: The aliens tell their families the truth and think that everything will be okay. But they still have a prediction to prevent. And a bunch more secrets are about to get out.
Pomp and Circumstance
"Three, two, one!" The group smiled widely while they were blinded by the flash. One more "last." They looked around the group, some moved to tears, others attempting stoicism. All of the wide picture grins of a moment before were gone. Some were replaced by more genuine smaller smiles. Though the emotions of each were different, or at least differently balanced, all were turbulent. There was so much to say that no one could find the words, but they knew the others could feel what was in their hearts. And that was enough.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Graduates, please return to backstage and line up- just like we practiced this morning." The principal wiped the sweat from his brow. This was his favorite time of the whole school year. When his students took their place in the spotlight and stepped out into the futures that were waiting for them. But it was also the most stressful as he tried to make it perfect for the parents and students who were looking to him as a leader for possibly the last time.
With one more group hug, the group regretfully separated. Each of them was struck by the feeling that it was quite possibly for the last time. It didn't make sense- they knew the teens weren't leaving until later that night, yet something instinctual was telling them the departure was sooner than they thought.
As the lights dimmed, the audience quieted, and each of the graduates emerged individually from the plush maroon curtain hiding those still waiting from the searching eyes of the audience. Some nervous, some proud, some eagerly anticipating a bright future, others fretting about the hazy road before them, some focusing on the past, and others even now forgetting all they were leaving behind, each individual walked down the carpet to their seats.
When everyone was seated and the audience had quieted down again, the principal stood to introduce this year's valedictorians and salutatorians. The Evans beamed as Max was named one of the valedictorians and left his folding chair on the stadium floor to sit with his fellow top-ranking classmates. Each valedictorian was allowed five minutes to speak, and each spoke of promises and dreams, hopes for the future, and beliefs in themselves and their classmates. Some, like Max, also addressed the blessings they'd received so far in their lives, the people and things they were most grateful for, and what they regretted leaving behind as they took their first steps into their futures. Max and a few others took a moment to thank God for the lives that they had been given- past, present, and future.
After the valedictorians had delivered their speeches, Maria joined the rest of the choir to sing some of the songs that had been most memorable to them over the past four years.
There was a blinding session as each graduate was called to the stage to finally receive his or her long-sought diploma while their parents, families, and friends hooted and hollered and used up vast rolls of film and multiple memory cards.
Finally it was time for the last speaker of the ceremony. The principal stood to announce him. "As some of you know, the last speech of our ceremony is traditionally reserved for our local congressional representative. As Congresswoman Whittaker passed away last month, we have no local congressional representative to give this speech. As we deliberated together to determine who we should ask to give this speech, one name was dominant. When we asked him, he generously agreed. And so I am proud to present a man who truly needs no introduction in our alien-themed community, author Bryce McCain."
As the short, older, balding man approached the stand, Max heard a gasp. He looked over to see a severely paling Isabel staring in open-mouthed, eyes-widening horror at the speaker. Max turned back expecting to see the man growing a second head at least. However, there was nothing wrong with the man that he could see, but as Max studied him and began to turn back to Isabel to find out what the problem was, a mindnumbing realization hit him. Her vision! He's the man from her vision! They're not waiting for later! They're attacking now!! He mentally slapped himself as he thought of the tassel he had hung from his rearview mirror earlier that day. He'd bought a second one earlier that year so that he could hang it up on graduation day. It hadn't even occurred to him that it could be the duplicate that was part of Is's vision. Or that, since they were changing things, it no longer had to be located specifically on the Jeep's rearview mirror or that he no longer had to have been driving it here. He turned back to Isabel, whose eyes were wide in shock. He didn't need her saying, "It's him," to know. He nodded his head to let her know he understood and looked around for Michael.
It took a moment to get Michael's attention as he was currently moving around in his robes trying to get more comfortable. As soon as Michael's attention was drawn to Max, Maria's eyes were torn from where she'd been staring at Michael to Isabel. The siblings both mouthed, "It's him! We've got to go NOW!" to their best friends, and after the second it took for the words to register, and a glance toward the speaker, the couple both sat upright, urgency and panic evident in their postures though they desperately tried to keep their expressions calm.
While Isabel and Maria stared into each other's eyes in a panic, Max and Michael looked around the auditorium bleachers as subtly as possible trying to find their would-be assassin. Max found him first and turned to Michael to point him out. If they worked this right, they'd be able to take him out before he got off a shot without anyone being the wiser. They could make it look like a heart attack. But when he caught the still-searching Michael's attention and pointed towards the dark-clad man, Michael shook his head and pointed over Max's left shoulder. Confused and becoming even more concerned, Max turned in the direction Michael had pointed. Sure enough, there was another assassin in that direction. "Two?" Max mouthed to Michael. This would make things a bit more difficult. But it was still doable. When Michael shook his head again and mouthed, "10," Max felt like the floor had been taken out from under him and replaced with unset Jell-o. How are we going to get out of this?!!
