Desert Rock and Cave Enclave

Maxilimilian

"Are you a priestess," I asked choking from the heat. Michael left me out here so long ago the desert heat was getting to me. Here was this apparition sent from the gods to give advice and leave me for dead.

She was so real, I thought I could feel her cool touch as she wiped the sweat off my brow. She must have been because I felt better. I don't feel the burning desire to hurt someone. I am hot, hurt and could die but it like a cooling balm. A good memory that came to the surface.

She frowned, "Not anymore. Although, the spirit lingers to the next life." She continued to wipe his forehead adding, "But, you knew me long ago. A confidant of sorts to you and all the royals."

I chuckled. She was talking about a companion. A priestess could not be a companion though. The level of intimacy was unheard of. "You were a whore. I didn't know a priestess could be one of those." She stopped her soothing touch and stood back. Her face had contorted into a grimace. He made a mistake. He said the wrong thing.

"That would be correct," she stated matter-of-factly and continued on sadly, "A priestess like myself would have been punished for such actions as a defilement of our purity or believed impurities." She leaned down to explain more things. Not everything was good and there was an implication that he was being manipulated by someone before standing back up to leave. Without turning her back her voice drifted to him, "Someone is coming with help. Be kind."

It wasn't long after he heard the sound of a jeep engine coming down the road. I held on until I saw Michael and someone following him before losing conscientiousness. In the black there was peace and no impending dangers.

On the road to Max

Michael & Kyle

Michael and Kyle had jumped into the jeep with no problems. It started off with Kyle's nonchalant attitude. Kyle buckling himself besides Michael and saying, "Off to Ego-Central." It made Michael smile for a second before becoming dour.

Michael was being protective. His girl was laying in the warehouse being watched over by Alex and her last words before fainting alluded to Max's overbearing girlfriend possibly being the clue to who they truly were. He would rather have left Kyle and Alex to pick up the mental case he knew to be in the desert. He couldn't though. Maria would kill him if he left them defenseless against an enraged Maximillian. Which didn't help anything. It did however give him time to ask Kyle what's been going on.

Maria was good about moving around the subject. She didn't give an inch of information. She was holding it all in. Well, not all of it. Get "the Hurricane" moving and some floats out of those lips without trouble. He should have just let her do her thing and take care of him. But, he's supposed to be protecting her not the other way around. He knew she would open up sooner or later. He just had to give her time to work out her plan. He would grill Kyle if he didn't know that Maria would find out. Nope he would just take him into town after picking Max up out of the desert.

Kyle tried to keep up some normal conversation. However, it was turned around on him and Michael couldn't help but ask about Maria. Kyle wasn't going to waste his chance or give over information Michael might turn over. "I have been working at the garage. Maria, Alex, and I have been working on some songs," he stopped there and added, "Mostly it's Maria, she has a gorgeous voice."

"Yeah, she does." Michael knew Tess hurt her. He knew she joggled something up in Maria. He knew sometimes she had a dreamy look. She had a new desire for spicy sweet foods. She might have been all business today but his Maria was still vulnerable.

Kyle had a dorky smile on his face for a jock. He didn't know that though until Michael pretty much called him out and it was no "Penny for your thoughts," inquiry. No it was a crass, "What in the world is so funny?" Except it was more like, "What the f*** are you thinking Valentine?"

"Tess. She pretty much expects me to drop all my plans and jump when she says jump." He chuckled because he knew that wasn't her. She was sweet and gentle. Her attitude and personality was all Nacedo's doing. "I think Maria has a point about her manipulation abilities. You just have to be stronger than her."

He nodded. He had realized her manipulation was a ploy to find the ship. He wasn't going to give it up. He also guarded his thoughts the best he could. He also knew she was forcing a prophecy on them that was completely ridiculous. Whatever Tess wanted out of this was not her idea to begin with. He belonged with Izzy as much as Max was meant to be with Tess. Not at all. "Yah. I can see where you are coming from. Every now and then when she notices me with Maria she puts the screws to me. For a while I black out and act out her perverse idea of what I should be doing." He paused, "then at night I have these dreams that make me want to puke."

Kyle noticed how Michael's face scrunched up and realized he had no idea what he did to Maria. She still loved him and anyone could possibly be an unwilling puppet. He questioned Maria's plan for a moment before continuing, "Maybe you should stay away from her then. I have plans with her this weekend. I heard you and Maria were working the diner that night. What do you think of the menu?"

Tess frustrated him. If he could set her up with an Earth boy, our lives would be so much better. He had to grunt when he realized Valenti had a thing for her. Good for him. "Oh, I try." He took a look in his direction and added, "It is only when she gets wise to us that we get roped into something." Michael realized Izz always had a thing for Alex. He went to sappy movies, no, the movie, over and over again. It's possible she is getting stronger and using these movie times. He felt sick.

He lowered his head slightly still looking straight to keep the sun out of his eyes. Then he let Kyle know he had no desire to be with anyone other than Maria. Kyle sat back and was surprised he opened up, "Alex needs to know that Izzy and I have never done anything more than kiss her. Tess can influence what I say and do but 'Ria has to know I don't mean them."

Michael continued by changing the subject and added how great it has been to be the taste tester in the restaurant. "The menu is great. The flavors – It's like I have never been able to taste how wonderful these dishes could be," he claimed excitedly and added, "They are absolutely delicious. It must be her Italian blood because they are great."

Kyle was wondering if Michael had connected the dots to her odd behavior and this new attitude. That was until Michael pointed out, "Italian or not," Then added after looking around, "I worry about her." This weird out of body experience she's having makes me worry even more. "So," he kept his eyes on the road and added, "Look, Valenti, Whatever you and Alex are doing, keep it up." Then added to himself, because you will not be doing it for long when I take over.

Kyle knew a "Thank You!" when he heard one and grinned. Then asked about the new menu again and their shift Saturday on Valentine's. ". . . You do know Tess made a point to call on Maria so we could get good seats. I don't know what Maria's thinking. No one wants to go to family night on Valentine's."

Michael had seen the register recently and there was only a table for two. Actually, there were two tables for two. "I don't know Valenti. Women are strange like that. But, I would ask the Sheriff if he was going with you."

Kyle had to squint his eyes to look at Michael. "Or I could ask Maria. She's been acting odd lately." She's the one making plans. But, if Tess asked for them that's another story. Michael agreed on both accounts. What mattered more was the fact that she not only scheduled the evening and events but placement cards for the tables. She even organized a raffle with an unknown prize.

"Are you just realizing that? She's been attacked." At least that is what he wanted to say. He knew they were watching over her. He had a strange feeling she was staying in that wherehouse and these Earth Boys were taking care of her. "Maybe a little. But what do you expect?"

Michael made a turn and knew he didn't have enough time to explain. Her emotions have still not evened out after whatever happened and now was not the time to go in to specifics. "Alex told you already. If you want more information, come by when we are rehearsing. We could always use some more muscle. Ask Mrs. D for a schedule."

"I don't want to take her money," he put the car in park and jumped out. Maria made sure he had food and water to placate the grumpy dehydrated pompous donkey's back end. At least that was what Kyle muttered under his breath as he helped load the jeep to begin with.

The heat seemed worse than normal and it clawed at them as they unpacked and carried the provisions into the desert. Agitated Kyle just followed until they found their possibly unwilling patient. What they found was deplorable. Max was burnt and talking to himself. It wasn't intelligible.

Michael recognized the speech and began responding automatically. He was talking about some sort of apparition from their home planet. He told Michael about her and her advice about Nascedo. Once he had enough water and food in his system he began speaking in English, "Can you believe she had the audacity to tell me history was repeating its self? That this Liz woman is my real soulmate. That I fight like a baby and you fight me because I act like one. That I never in this life and the last could never match you."

Michael sat back on his haunches and closed his eyes. What was Maria doing? Why did she say these things? Then opened them to see Max as he once was. Peaceful. Max looked up to Michael and whispered so Kyle couldn't hear, "I think she is right."

Max had not felt this peaceful in a long time. The apparition had the power to put his soul at rest with her voice alone. He didn't tell Michael about how she had even more powerful effect with only a feather light touch. It wasn't romantic or lustful. It cleared his head of fog. He didn't know if what she said was true, but it certainly made him doubt Tess and Nascedo's place in his life. Whether, he was really some sort of king on another planet Nascedo even as an advisor shouldn't be dictating his life. But, he had to ask himself who was this Liz? What role did she play in the here and now? Is this a trick?

Kyle couldn't believe Maria was so foolish. But the risk was worth it. A seed was planted just as she said it would. He had a somewhat date with Tess this coming Saturday under the pretense it was because of family. He would play it cool but dress up for the occasion. He wouldn't be surprised if she laid out his clothes for the evening.

Kyle grabbed another sandwich out of the bag and passed it to Max. He looked at him funny and Kyle couldn't help laughing "Maria made these. What do you think," he asked to break the tension. Michael grabbed it out of Max's hand. He didn't know she made the food.

Max scrunched his eyes as if to challenge him. However, after watching him take a bite of pure pleasure he knew why. He could taste it. Having been so dehydrated he never took in the flavor of the food he was being fed. He usually had to drench his food in hot sauce or ketchup to get a hint. He grabbed whatever was left of Michael's sandwich and took a big bite. Michael grabbed it right back, "What do you think you are doing? She makes these for me."

After finishing his big bite he flaunted it by making moaning sounds over how good the food was. He ignored Michael and asked for another from Kyle, "She makes good food. You should share. This stuff is great." Max had grabbed another bag Maria put together and just to be a brat Michael kept him from grabbing at the box. Eventually he went back to driving but not before he made sure to grab a few more sandwiches for himself. Gruffly he took a few bags out of Kyle's box and set them aside, meanwhile, muttering under his breath, "Valenti you are a dead man."

Although Michael was annoyed because he saw any food she made as his, he realized Max had come back. For how long, he didn't know. Any sign of improvement was a plus in his books. He looked in his rearview mirror and laughed. He had never seen Max enjoy food so much. He shrugged and looked on toward Roswell.