Title: New Ties
Summary: After the group leaves Roswell to escape from the FBI (in the final episode of Roswell), they continue to live their destinies. The group meets other hybrids that join them. This fanfic was written after the final episode of Roswell, and may or may not have accurate names in it for the planets mentioned in the V solar system the aliens come from.
Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell or any of its characters. I only claim the characters that I created in this fanfic, not the original ones. I wrote this for fun, not for profit, so please don't sue.
Feedback: Sorry to take so long to get this up guys. Please R&R! Thanks!
Chapter 14
The final judgment…
As the guards moved to pick the women up and hold them in place for judgment, all at once each woman shrugged the soldiers off and defiantly stood up slowly. Staring at the court in front of them, the four looked on silently.
"Rebel Princess of Antar, loyal sister in this lifetime to the rebel King, you have been found guilty of two lifetimes' worth of crimes." As the head of the court spoke, a previously silent and unnoticed figure stepped forward, causing the women to gasp. "Punishment must be given, and yet Antar needs an heir. You will pay for your crimes, you must pay for your betrayals and deception. So you will suffer, but you will be allowed to live this lifetime until the end of it. You will live, and you will wed, it is the final decision of this court that you wed Kivar and bare the heir to Antar."
Wearing a thin smile, Kivar nodded slightly in satisfaction at the judgment of the court. He had previously laid out his case before the ruling body, having been very careful decades before to not eliminate the one system that every member of the V System abided by. Instead, he had chosen to carefully deceive and manipulate it. His success, however, had never before been so apparent as it was this day. Open mouthed, Isabel stared in horror at the loathsome creature before her. He had tricked her into loving him in a past lifetime, and now as he smiled with satisfaction at her, she felt despair so deep that her knees buckled. Looking at her young cousin, Caitlin became concerned. Isabel was visibly paler than just a few minutes earlier and it looked as if she might fall at any moment. Tempted to reach out and support the young woman, Caitlin restrained the motion. She's strong, she'll be fine. Remembering the strength that appeared in Isabel the moment Caitlin had passed her once child's hope and innocence to her, she knew Isabel would survive. Glancing over her features, Caitlin recognized the determination to not appear weak or give in to their captors. Caitlin refused to betray Isabel by reaching out to her.
"Former Princess of Vorak, betrayer of the Royal Four and two planets in the V System, you have been found guilty of all crimes committed in this lifetime and the one in the past. An abomination in the eyes of this court and the planets it serves, you will pay the ultimate price for your betrayals. You will be transferred to Feriz facility, where you will mate with Petrax and produce an heir to the throne of Vorak." The head of the court stared with empty eyes at the hybrid before him. Emotionally unmoved, the being continued as if his previous words entailed an act of mercy. "Your crimes are intolerable, you're lack of respect for life in whatever form is obvious. The birth of your child, the future heir to Vorak, will make amends for the lives you have mercilessly cut short. The child shall live a joyous life, serving the people of Vorak as their rightful ruler. You shall live your remaining days with that knowledge at least. Once your child is born and is no longer nursing, you shall be executed."
Gasping, Isabel, Liz and Maria stared at the court. Looking over at Caitlin, all three women opened their mouths in shock at what they saw. Caitlin's brunette hair reflected the lights surrounding the woman, making the accumulated oils from the lack of showers more than apparent. The withdrawn facial features and the sunken crevices around the eyes showed the shameful lack of food the prisoners had been provided. The now scraggly and torn clothes practically dripped off of Caitlin, showing the effects of not only the lack of food but also the physical torture delivered at each judgment. None of these things, however, was responsible for the thoughts now running through their heads. Instead, it was the complete and utter emptiness in Caitlin's blue eyes. She looked almost soulless, something they never would have thought possible.
Stepping next to Kivar, Petrax smiled. He knew it had been wise of them to use skins on that last attack. The royals altogether were extremely dangerous, and his foresight had saved Kivar and himself. A fact that did not go unnoticed by Kivar, which led him to speak on Petrax's behalf to the court. They had granted him his wish, an heir. Kristlyn would be forced to bare his child. Smiling again to himself, Petrax mentally noted the expression on the woman's face. He would enjoy this, while she lived, and she lived only long enough to bare his child, he would make her suffer. Then he would stand by and watch her die.
"Liz Parker Evans, wife to the rebel King, you are guilty of aiding the Royal Four and in refusing to prevent the death of the rightful Queen. Your crimes are serious, and you owe this planet that is not yours a great debt. You will be sent to a work facility in one of Antar's remote islands, where you will work your debt off until you have nothing left to give." Staring down at Liz's taunt features, the expressionless being noticed the head held high in the air. The petite human looked undaunted by her sentence, making him question the strength of the puny figure before him. Shrugging off his wandering thoughts, the head of the court moved his attention to the taller blonde with ocean green eyes and large, pouty lips.
"Maria DeLuca, you are guilty of loyalty to the wrong people, people who have you call them friends. For loyalty and love to the rebel Antarian commander, you will serve in a work camp alongside the rebel King's wife. This sentence you will serve for the rest of your days. You have chosen to stand by these people, now you will face the consequences." Silence. No one spoke, no one could. The final judgment had been reached, the sentences given. And through it all the smiling faces of Kivar and Petrax looked on.
Immobile, each woman stood waiting for the sentences to be carried out. One by one the women were taken away, first Isabel, then Caitlin, then Liz, and then finally, Maria. Each convinced they would never see the others again, the four young women stared blankly as they shifted positions and were taken away.
In Isabel's Cell…
Hearing the door open, Isabel looked up to see Kivar walk in. Seeing the satisfied smirk, Isabel sneered.
"What do you want? It can't be a wife, I'm already married." Isabel hissed. Grinning, Kivar continued to stare. Roaming his eyes up and down his soon to be bride, the shapeshifter uttered few words before turning around and walking out. Few though they were, those words echoed in Isabel's ears, You're friends will never make it to the work camp alive.
Sliding to the ground from where she stood against a wall, Isabel stared at the door Kivar walked out of. The only thoughts remaining those of his final words, sending her the chilling knowledge that before long she would be completely alone in this struggle. This struggle against evil, for that was what the barbaric Kivar and monstrous Petrax were. Pure evil. Frozen, Isabel continued to stare at the wall listlessly.
On the way to the transport…
Maria and Liz held each other by the arm, holding on tightly. Looking back every once in a while, both women noticed the blank hallways and the even blanker guards, whose expressions held no emotion. Their sole purpose was to guard prisoners and prevent their escape; they offered the defenseless humans no comfort in the remaining minutes before they were transported far from their home planet.
"Liz?" Maria whispered, unable to continue. Squeezing her best friend closer to her, Liz turned her head and uttered "I know" before falling silent once again. As the two followed the guards, an unnoticed figure moved up behind the last two guards blocking the women. With a quick and deadly motion, the cloaked figure took out the two guards. Looking behind her, Liz stifled a scream as the figure moved past her and eliminated the other two guards in the same fashion.
"What the…?" Shocked, Maria stared on as the mysterious being removed the cloak and showed it's true alien form. Standing motionless for a second, the being stared at the two dumbfounded women before realizing what the problem was. Changing into a blonde human about the same age as the other two, the young woman stepped forward.
"Please, do not be afraid. I am Selena, a loyal servant to the Royal Four. My parents once served Zan and the Royal Four as bodyguards. As their daughter, I have taken their place." Selena whispered, slightly disconcerted.
"Whatever chica! Let's get out of here." Maria exclaimed while looking down the hallways in front of them and behind them. Nodding her head in agreement, Selena understood the urgency very well.
"Follow me. We must hurry, you have to get to safety before someone discovers the guards." Selena said, and then led the way to a corridor leading to a small ship. "Stay in here, you will be safe. I must go back for Princess Volandra."
"Thank you for your help." Liz said, more grateful than she could put into words.
"Will you be able to get Isabel and Caitlin in time?" Maria asked, seeing a strange look on Selena's face. Mistaking the shapeshifter's look for one of confusion, Maria tried using their alien names and asked again. "I mean, do you think you will be able to get Volandra and Kristlyn in time?" Looking at the pretty blonde girl, Selena considered her words carefully.
"I'll try. Please stay here and stay quiet. There is not much time." With that, Selena left the two women alone hoping to see both of their friends again.
In Isabel's Cell…
Staring straight ahead, Isabel watched as the door silently slid open.
"Princess Volandra, your highness, you must come with me." A slender blonde whispered.
"Who… who are you?" Isabel asked, weary of the unexpected visitor.
"We do not have time, your highness. You must come with me. I will take you to the others, but we must hurry before anyone is discovered missing." Selena did not try to hide the urgency or fear in her voice. Both were very real to her, if she was discovered helping the criminals she would be put to death herself. Deciding the stranger's intentions couldn't be worse than Kivar's, Isabel stood up quickly and followed her out. Moving down the hallways, Isabel kept constant look out as Selena moved down various halls. Coming to a stop, Isabel looked up questioningly when she noticed the blonde open a door. Moving through it, Isabel heard a squelched scream and looked up in time to see Maria and Liz move to hug her.
"I thought I'd never see you guys again." Isabel said, hugging her friends close to her. Smiling at the reunion, Selena gently tapped Isabel's shoulders to get everyone's attention.
"You must leave, you must leave now. They are surely looking for you by now, you cannot be caught." Selena said in a low voice, knowing that the absence of Kristlyn would bring great displeasure.
"Leave? We can't leave without Caitlin. Where is she? You were suppose to bring her with you." Maria said, knowing better than to leave anyone behind. Turning around, Isabel saw the strained look on the blonde's face and began slitting her eyes suspiciously.
"Where is she?" Isabel said, unable to hide her obvious distrust.
"She has already been moved. I don't know where. Please, you must go. Before it is too late and they find you." Selena said.
"Wait, you knew that already. Didn't you? Before you came for us, or went to get Isabel, you knew they'd already taken her." Maria said in a harsh voice. Looking at the alien who called herself Selena, Liz began to think Maria was right.
"Yes, I knew. I'm sorry, but there was nothing I could do. She is being transported to the Feriz facility. Petrax took her there himself." Selena whispered, obviously displeased she had failed in saving the royal from certain torture and death.
"We have to go after her." Isabel stated, knowing she could never go home and face James or Clay without her.
"You can't. You must join the others. They are practically helpless without you. I will take you back to them. You must trust that Kristlyn can take care of herself and is where she belongs." Selena said before the room filled with a blinding light. As each woman lost consciousness, Selena whispered "Please, forgive me." before transporting everyone to a rural area not far from a set of large, winding mountains on the planet Earth.
Baker's Farm…
"I'm going to chop more wood." Kyle said while grabbing his jacket. Glancing over, Max studied the solemn man as he prepared for the cool winds outside. Walking up behind Max, Michael leaned in.
"He seems to be dealing with things okay." Michael said with just a hint of sarcasm.
"He's dealing the best he can Michael." Max said while shrugging his head. "Just like the rest of us." Max started getting up slowly and looked at Michael head on before turning suddenly. Kyle busted through the door, startling the others.
"They're… they're… back." Kyle whispered before fainting. Staring at their friend, Max stood in place as Michael, Clay, and James ran out the door. A few seconds later Max began humming, every fiber in his being reacting to Liz's nearing presence as if electrified. Turning towards the door, Max paused a moment before running out after his friends.
"Liz!" Max yelled, embracing the beautiful brunette in a breath-stealing hug. Winded, Liz pulled away from Max just far enough to seek out his lips in a passionate kiss. As the two clung to each other, Michael continued hugging Maria as Isabel and Kyle hugged each other. Staring on in wonder, James and Clay could hardly believe their eyes. Seeing their three friends reunite with those who loved them most was incredibly bittersweet; both unable to ignore Caitlin's obvious absence.
After several minutes of hugs, kisses, and once-overs, everyone finally regained their senses enough to look at James and Clay head on. The mixed emotions conveyed on both their faces touched the women as nothing else had. Stepping up, Isabel's kind and sad eyes looked over both her newest friends.
"I'm sorry. They took Caitlin before Selena could get to her." Isabel said, reaching out and hugging James before doing the same for Clay.
"Selena?" Max asked, wondering who the stranger was. Tugging on Max's short-sleeved shirt, Liz grabbed his attention.
"Yeah, Selena, a new alley, of sorts. Her parents were the Royal Four's bodyguards. Evidently she has followed in their footsteps." Liz said, her large brown eyes begging Max to trust the stranger as she instinctively did. Turning around swiftly, Clay stalked off ignoring the heartfelt cries of his friends. Staring after the tall "brother" who hadn't stopped brooding since they left the campgrounds, James blinked his eyes and wondered when things would ever fully get better.
Heading to his regular hideaway as if on queue, Clay allowed his memories of Caitlin to flood him. Sitting down forcibly, he closed his eyes as the visions overtook him. Caitlin at thirteen, shy and nose deep into her schoolbooks. Caitlin at fifteen, convinced she'd never live past the age of sixteen. Caitlin at twenty-one, barely able to accept the death of her best friend. Image after image flooded Clay, bringing tears to his tightly shut eyes.
"Hey," Isabel whispered, reaching out and placing a thin hand on Clay's shoulder. Looking up, Clay saw the young woman before quickly turning his head to the side and wiping away the tears. "I'm sorry Clay. We never would have left without her, but Selena took things into her own hands. She must have sent us here herself." Isabel said, her voice heavy with grief. "I'm so sorry Clay." Turning, Clay forced himself to look at Isabel and for the first time noticed how she looked. The dark circles under her eyes, the bones sticking sharply through the thin layer of skin, the heavy bruising splotching Isabel's milky skin in several spots.
"My g… What did they do to you?" Clay asked, shocked at the obvious abuse his friends were forced to endure. Lowering her head, Isabel prayed the images that flooded her sight would go away.
"A lot." At that, Isabel stood up and began walking away. Before leaving completely to return to the others, Isabel stopped and turned around. "I'm really sorry Clay. Caitlin was strong. Always remember that."
"You talk like she's dead." Clay whispered. Tears began sliding down Isabel's cheek as she turned and walked off, leaving Clay staring after her.
Once reunited, the small group from Roswell clumped together. No one knew what to say or how to comfort James or Clay, so they distanced themselves instead. Max, Michael, and Kyle began cooking dinner. Physically drained, the women were grateful when the guys insisted on letting them sleep. Standing close together, refusing to leave each other's side, Isabel, Liz, and Maria walked past the living room and down the hall. Reaching the beautiful country home's master bedroom, the girls opened the door and smiled at the large King-size bed calling to them. Within minutes of laying down they each fell asleep, instinctively holding onto an arm or hand of their dearest friends. They slept off and on, while the guys took turns watching them. Once dinner was done, the guys gently woke up the tired and terrifyingly thin girls to eat. Kyle escorted each girl to a seat at the large, mahogany table. Fumbling over themselves to fix large plates of food, the guys jovially teased and threatened each other over being the first one to return to the table with food for the girls. Smiling, Liz and Maria stifled laughter while Isabel further taunted them.
"I can't believe you guys actually cooked!" Isabel said, smiling sweetly at several guffaws. As dinner was served, everyone ate their fill before debating on desert. Stuffed from dinner, the girls shied away from dessert. Having gone without much food for so long, they each were silently thankful they had managed to eat what was on their plates. It would take time for their appetites to return to normal. Sitting down with his second helping of banana pudding, Kyle looked over hesitantly.
"So, what happened?" Kyle asked quietly. Watching as almost at once the smiles left Liz's, Isabel's, and Maria's faces, Max spoke up quickly.
"You don't have to tell us, if you're not ready." Max said, reaching out a supportive hand to his friends and wife.
"I'm not sure what we should tell." Maria said while giving a meaningful look to the other two girls. "We thought we had won and then we wake up, in a cell of some type." Understanding the look, no one knew how much detail to give. Retelling the torture they experienced while separated from the guys was not something anyone wanted to share. Clay and James had remained pretty much silent the entire meal, wanting to try to stay upbeat but failing miserably. Sharing Caitlin's judgments might be more than they could handle.
"Tell us what you can." Michael said, longing to reach out and touch this woman he loved so much. The three girls were once again huddled together though, making any contact from him or the others impossible. Whatever they went through, they must have survived it together.
"I don't know what happened, or what they did, but whatever it was they knocked the four of us unconscious. One by one we woke up, and then it began." Maria said, remembering the events as clearly now as when she lived them. Looking at the blonde, James could not hide the question written across his face. Seeing it, Isabel spoke up.
"The nightmare. I wish it had not been real, I wished it then, and I wish it now." Sighing, Isabel looked down. Unable to contribute anymore and unwilling to go into detail, the blonde with the hauntingly dark eyes stared emptily at the five men in front of her.
"It was real, though. At first, it was almost surreal. We were separated, and all we wanted was to wake up and be back with our family, with you guys." Liz said, looking at Max. Getting strength from his silent encouragement, Liz continued after taking a deep sigh. "They put us on trial. I don't think it was just the Antarians, or people from Vorak, I think it was a group of aliens from each of the five planets in the V System."
"On trial?" James asked, eyes wide in comprehension.
"What for?" Kyle asked angrily.
"You name it. They listed everything from Kristlyn's betrayal of the Royal Four and Volandra's betrayal of the King of Antar to Caitlin's murder of loyal guards of the court of Vorak and Petrax to my support of the Royal Four and Liz's marriage to the rebel King of Antar." Maria spouted sarcastically, greatly displeased with every charge. While she did not know who or what Caitlin and Isabel had been or done as Kristlyn and Volandra, she did not care. It was not who they were in this lifetime, and in her opinion that's what really matters. Staring open eyed at Michael and seeing the tight lines around his mouth, she felt the anger course through her veins as it washed over him. To be tried for loyalty to friends, for love, for self defense from those who would murder you because of your lineage, it all disgusted them.
"Was it a traditional trial? Four parts?" Clay asked, understanding completely what the girls had gone through as Caitlin's absence took on a whole new light.
"Yes," Liz said, looking at the sparkles shining from Clay's blue green eyes in wonder, "there were four parts. They claimed the list of crimes were so numerous they had no choice."
"Why then? All these years, why should the court interfere now?" James asked, confused.
"Because we not only tried to kill Kivar and Petrax, we almost succeeded." Isabel said in understanding. However they survived, it must have been too close a call for them to ignore.
"Why didn't you contact us?" Max looked at Isabel as the words left his lips, free of malice.
"They blocked my powers. It was like they hit a switch and boom! I could no longer dreamwalk. Later…" Isabel began but was unable to finish.
"They hit the switch again and we were unable to feel our connections to you guys at all. There was a sudden loss of… love. I've never felt so alone, so empty before." Liz said, looking at Max with hollowed deep brown eyes.
"All we had was each other, up until the end." Maria said listlessly.
"The final judgment?" James asked, horrified at what a court so misled could have decided on.
"Yes, but before they could carry out the judgments, Selena took out the guards and took us to a transport ship. She went for Isabel, and when they came back… she sent us here." Liz said.
"Without Caitlin." James tried to keep the anger out of his voice, but try as he might he could not stop the ball of pure rage forming in his gut. "Without Caitlin."
"Petrax had already left with her to carry out the judgment. There was nothing she could do." Maria said, looking at James with sad eyes that begged him to believe her.
"The judgment?" Clay whispered.
"Maria and I were supposed to go to a work camp on Antar, Isabel was supposed to marry Kivar and bare his child," Liz spoke softly, loving Max all the more as his heart went out to his sister and the fate that would have killed her if she hadn't escaped with the others. "They wanted Caitlin to give Petrax an heir, who would one day rule Vorak." Looking up, Maria and Isabel saw Liz's reluctance to tell the rest of the judgment.
"Answer just one more question." Clay stated with grim determination. "Did Petrax take her to the Feriz facility?" Surprised, Isabel nodded slowly while James exhaled sharply. Seeing the confirmation of his worst fears, Clay stood up and walked away. Heading towards the area that allowed him to think and grieve freely, everyone stared after Clay in confusion.
"The Feriz facility?" Kyle asked, confused.
"Petrax will mate with her, then they will kill her. It's the sole reason the facility exist. It is reserved for those whose crimes against life are so severe they have to give life to atone for them." James uttered before standing up and walking to his bedroom. Hearing the door close, the girls looked at Max, Michael, and Kyle solemnly. Beyond tears, the girls stared on as the guys struggled with the knowledge they had lost one of the group's newest members so early on. As the minutes passed, the group slowly fell into a routine. The guys picked the new things in their lives back up as the girls took advantage of the comfortable King size mattress.
Taking turns with the farm's chores established a week earlier, Max, Michael, and Kyle rotated between the chores, watching those that slept, and spending time with their loved ones. Clay had not returned from his private sanctuary, and no one found it necessary to disturb him. James spent most of the time in his bedroom, finding it difficult to stay conscious. Noticing his listlessness, Maria secretly wondered if he was becoming depressed. Unable to blame him, the frail blonde looked on as she reacquainted herself with the man whose love she would endure all the pain in the universe for.
"Maria," Tired of trying to put into words everything he was feeling, Michael leaned in to kiss Maria for the hundredth time since her return. Understanding, Maria responded ardently to his touch. All barriers crumbled as a rush of pure heat melted the cores of each lover. Uniting body, mind and soul, Michael and Maria closed one chapter in their lives to begin another, together. Finding peace within each other at last, the fiery couple shared their experiences along with their grief over the last month's events. Now resting, Maria clung to Michael's sweating body as if to a lifeline.
"I love you Michael." Maria whispered, smiling as Michael acknowledged for the first time since their powerful lovemaking his knowledge of the extent of her love for him that existed behind the words with a tender kiss.
"I love you, Maria." Michael whispered, smiling as the soft words caressed Maria into the first night's peaceful sleep in weeks.
In space…
Walking into Caitlin's room, Petrax smiled wickedly.
"Hello, Kristlyn. I see you haven't taken to your surroundings yet. What a shame! After all the trouble I went through to have those chains made especially for you, the least you can do is struggle." Petrax laughed, greatly pleased Kristlyn had finally lost the desire to fight. Rolling her head upwards to look Petrax in the eyes, Caitlin attempted to stare him down.
"Anything I can do to bring you displeasure." Caitlin said, her voice weak from a lack of strength due to her imprisonment. Unable to hold the stare any longer, Caitlin once again looked down.
"You know, Kristlyn, you really should save your strength for what's to come. Being a hybrid, it might not be easy to get you pregnant. I'll probably have to try, and try, and try…" Petrax laughed once again. "Yes, you should save your strength." Pleased to see Caitlin's eyes lose their defiance in favor of hopelessness, Petrax walked out.
Alone, Caitlin prayed silently for an honorable death. Please, let me go out fighting. Let me do my family proud. Remembering Clay's beautiful, loving face and James' teasing, protective nature, Caitlin tried once again to make contact. Each time she thought she came closer to breaking through the heavy void, only to be jerked back to reality by the inevitable emptiness. This time, she refused to give up and continued to focus.
Clay… Clay… Clay… Try as she might, Caitlin wasn't able to make contact; she couldn't feel so much as a flicker of the warmth and love that signaled the return of her connection with Clay. Frustrated but determined, Caitlin moved her focus to James. James… James… James… Feeling a tiny flicker of hope, Caitlin concentrated twice as hard. She felt James reaching out to her, but every time she expanded her reach to connect with him he proved further than she thought. Unsuccessfully calling to him, Caitlin took heart in the fact that he was trying to contact her as well. Just knowing that someone was out there, just beyond her reach yes but still out there gave her the hope and strength to continue fighting.