Chapter 33 – Tess is Alive?
Liz sat back on her bed writing in her journal reflecting on the past week's events. A lot had happened to their small 'family' that she felt she needed to document these events. Finding Zan, meeting Clark, revisiting Roswell and buying a house were among the major highlights, but everything seemed to come to a head when Max and Isabel received their message from their mother back on Antar. They learned later that they were unable to replay the message for the rest of the group, but because of the connection that she shared with Max she was given a front row seat.
"…Today was a very productive day. Max and I went to Summerholt and this was the first time I was actually able to help the group out. I altered the staff's memories, deleting my visit and Zan's previous visit to their facility. They think a runaway car attacked the place. I was so proud of myself, but I don't want to get over zealous with this gift. Yes, it's very useful, but it can kill."
Liz stopped briefly, reflecting on her lost best friend. It would be so nice to have Alex around again. They had been best friends along with Maria since they were in the fourth grade. 'What would he think of all this?' she wondered to herself.
"We also met one of the kids that Max saved back in Phoenix. He was really impressed with the way she handled herself and her situation. This morning he was really nervous when he learned that Sydney had started showing signs but after meeting Mandy at random, it showed him that what he did was right. Now, we just need to find the other three boys, hopefully they are on the right track too."
Again she paused, now she was going to move onto the overheard message. She wasn't sure if Max realized that the connection was open when they had retrieved the message, but what the group was told was an abbreviated version.
"When we got back home to Smallville, Max and Isabel decided to listen to their message from their mother. Recently, Max and I have discovered that we are more connected than we have ever been. We are more like one person than individuals. I was able to share in his experience.
I wasn't shocked by her true appearance, for I've seen Nasedo, Mira and Sirena in their true form and they are really beautiful creatures, once you get past the fact that they are alien in nature. She was very forthcoming with them, explaining her love for her family and the reason she created them. She explained what had happened on that fateful night when the original Royal Four were murdered and how she had to hide out in a cave all those years on one of their distant planets. She even took the blame for their demise, hoping that Isabel didn't blame herself. I can't imagine having to live in hiding for that long not knowing what was going on in the outside world. But she did find out that her creations survived when Tess returned to have Zan. Tess…everything comes back to her. She was so happy to learn that Max had found Tess appealing, bringing a son into the world. Man, I just wanted to gag. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have Zan in our lives and it is unfortunate that Tess isn't with us anymore, but what will his mother think of me? Will I be worthy enough to be at Max's side?"
"Of course you are worthy enough Liz." Max said to a shocked Liz, who had raised her head at his voice.
"How did you know?" and then answering her own question, she said, "Oh"
Max sat next to her on their bed and responded, "You're right. We are more like one person than individuals. You have nothing to worry about Liz. I thought the same thing, when I heard the message, but it doesn't matter. I married you Liz Parker, not Tess."
"I know, but I feel like I'm always going to be living in Tess' shadow. She was after all the Queen where you hail from. I'm nobody, just a little old human." She leaned back into Max laying her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, embracing her and whispered into her ear, "You're not a little old human anymore my love, you are just as alien as I am human. We are bonded together and no one, human or alien, will be able to come between us."
"I love you Max Evans"
"And I love you Liz." They laid back and enjoyed the quiet time they had together.
Elsewhere in the house Brody was lying on the couch, suffering from what he called an 'alien induced headache' when his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Soon, they resurfaced and Brody lifted himself off the couch. Everything was unfamiliar to him. Looking around, not knowing which way to turn he yelled out, "Zan? Max?"
Hearing his name, Max lifted himself off the bed and retreated to the living room followed closely by Liz. Everyone else had heard Brody yelling and joined Max and Liz in the living room.
"What's going on Brody?" Max asked.
"Larek" Brody said. Max nodded and offered Larek a seat as everyone sat down.
"Even though I was able to prepare this body, I shouldn't stay too long. I will, however, inform you of what has transpired back in the Whirlwind Galaxy and I need to ask you for your assistance too Zan."
"Please call me Max. Go on."
"I've just finished meeting with your mother. She's alive and has been living in the caves of Asterie. I just learned of her existence only recently. She was able to meet with Kathana, the ruler over Asterie and has convinced her and myself to have another summit the day after tomorrow."
"That doesn't give me enough time to make it to New York Larek" Max interjected.
"You don't have to go to New York. You will be coming here to my palace here on Dione."
"I'll be going where?" Max asked, dumbfounded.
"We have discovered a way for you to travel through a portal device. Someone will be transporting to an arranged location on Earth and will show you how to operate the device and you will come back in their place."
"What about me and Michael? We'd liked the opportunity to see our home world too" questioned Isabel.
"And I'd liked to see where the green alien cells that are coursing through my body derived from" popped in Kyle.
Before anyone else could intercede, Larek continued, "Only one person can travel through the portal at a time and since you have already passed the Emissary's test, you will need to represent the Whirlwind Galaxy, as well as Antar."
"Will Khivar be there or a representative?" questioned Max, through the disapproving glances of Michael and Isabel who were each feeling rejected at Larek's explanation.
"It has come to our attention that Khivar has been sent, unbeknownst to him, to a place called the Phantom Zone
"Really?" questioned Clark. "I bet he's not a happy camper."
"Our feelings exactly, but I'm supposed to pass on a little bit of information to you Clark." Intrigued, Clark sat up and listened, "When we learned of his exile, we also learned of the Prophecy in full. We fear that the individuals inside the Phantom Zone could be the evil forces the Prophecy is speaking about, but there is only one way out of the 'Zone'. It's a backdoor. They need to have the blood of a member of the House of El to open up that backdoor. You are the only one that can open that door, so we need to make sure that you don't come close to the Phantom Zone."
"You've never met Milton Fine, who seems obsessed with setting Zod free" Clark stated. Larek gave him a complexed look. "How many people know about this backdoor?"
"Only the people in my immediate counsel and you all" stated Larek.
'And now me' thought Milton Fine, who was again lurking at the outside window. He had been watching the Chamber's house waiting for Zan to return home and had followed Michael and Isabel back to Smallville. Now he had acquired the one thing he knew he needed to release Zod. All he needed to do was to get a little bit of Kal El's blood. 'I can do that' he thought as he continued to listen in.
"What I want to know is who was crazy enough to send Khivar to the 'Zone'?" Michael asked. "I'd like to shake their hand."
"His second in command on Antar named Cattivo. He was King Leonas' personal Royal Protector, but upon the King's death, he remained in the palace as a security officer for the Whirlwind Galaxy. When the Royal Four were murdered, he pledge his alliance to the Queen Mother Ankaa and has been acting as one of our internal spies. He will also be at the summit, just in an advisory position."
"So, when does this exchange take place and who will be bringing me this portal device" questioned Max.
Not wanting to relay this information, but knowing it fell on him to do so, Larek answered, "Another individual, whom was believed to be dead, showed up unexpectedly a few months back." Everyone looked up at him with questioning eyes as he answered with a single word, "Tess".
There were gasped around the room. Liz looked up into her husband's eyes as all the old anxieties came back. Maria looked over at Liz, concerned for her friend's well-being, as Michael stated the obvious, "No freakin way!!"
Max was finally able to find his voice, "What are you talking about? She was killed during the explosion at Rogers." He held Liz tightly in his grasp, reassuring her that she was his only love. He could feel everything going through her mind and for the first time he understood how much he had hurt her by engaging in a relationship with Tess.
"No, she wasn't. Cattivo had befriended her while she was held captive in the Antarian Palace and he was able to design this portal device I'm talking about. He helped her and your son to escape and gave her the portal device to use in case she needed to return. From what I understand, she used the explosion to mask her usage of the device and showed up here at my palace. I placed her with Avanya's family here on Dione, where she has been residing since." Larek stopped, allowing this information to sink in. "It was her idea to use the portal to bring Max here as she came back here in exchange."
"Is she some kind of energizer bunny? She keeps coming back," Kyle said in desperation.
Liz said in a soft whimpered voice, "I thought this part of my life was over."
"It seems like it'll never be over girlfriend," Maria said looking up at Max accusingly.
"Well, I suggest you find somebody else," stated Michael, "because she's not welcome here."
"I agree" Isabel stated. "Send anyone else but Tess. This kind of information needs to be digested before we have her showing up on our doorstep. Plus, Max wouldn't be here to protect her this time."
"But, wouldn't that mean that Max will be reuniting with her back on Dione" Liz said to herself. "I'm going with you. You aren't going by yourself, with 'her' back there."
"I'm sorry Liz, only one individual can travel through the portal at a time and it needs to be Max at this time" Larek reiterated. Liz slumped back into Max.
'It's okay Liz' Max communicated with her, trying to calm her down. 'If I need to go then you need to trust me to go. She means nothing to me. The only thing we have in common is Zan.'
"Zan! That's the other reason Tess shouldn't come," blurted out Liz. Everyone looked towards her. "He's only found about his status and has had a lot dumped on him lately. We've already told him his mother was killed and then to have her show up on our doorstep. I think we need to inform him of these recent developments first and then maybe 'invite' her here to meet her son." Liz bit on these last words. She thought she had put this part of her life behind her, but that was when she thought Tess was out of the picture, but now…She trusted Max, there was no way Tess would get close to him again, but the fear was still there on the surface boiling.
Again Max communicated with her, 'You're right love, there is no way she'll ever get close to me again. You are my life; you've always been…even when I was with her.'
'That's what she said' Liz thought.
'What do you mean?' Max questioned.
'Before she left, she said each moment the two of you had together, you were thinking of me, not her and that you loved me.'
'And she was right' Max stated as he embraced her even more. "Well then, it's agreed. Tess will not be coming in exchange for me, so I suggest you find another body."
Clark finally spoke up, "Did you say Tess was staying with Avanya's parents, Mirek and Tara?"
Larek nodded. "Why don't you see if Tara could come in her stead? I would really like to meet her." Clark said with pleading eyes. There were still so many unanswered questions and maybe Tara, his mother's sister could fill in the blanks.
"That's a great idea Clark" Max said and then looking towards Larek he asked, "Do you think she'll consent to taking Tess' place?"
"She will be delighted, I'm sure" Larek stated, finally feeling relieved that they were able to come to a compromise. "Now, where should we have her meet you?"
"I believe Max will have to go back to Roswell, since Tess is the one that knows how to operate the device and she'll have to input the coordinates" suggested Isabel.
"I think Clark and myself will be joining Max on his trip to Roswell," stated Liz. There was no way he was going to traverse across the galaxy without her giving him a proper sendoff and nobody was going to go against her line of thinking. Max smiled at her.
"How about at my house?" suggested Jim. "I've got to get back to work anyway and I need to bring Brody and Sydney back too. I've got room for a couple more bodies."
"Then it is agreed upon." Max said. He looked at his watch, "I want to see Zan first, which should be in a half hour," he said looking at Clark, who nodded and sped away to pick up Zan, "and then I'll break the news to him and then we can go back to Roswell. Give us three hours before you open up the portal."
Larek nodded, "I will make the arrangements, until then may the stars and moons of the Whirlwind Galaxy look over you."
"And you as well" Max said as Brody's body relaxed and his eyes retreated to the back of his head again. Regaining consciousness he sat up and said, "Can I get some water?"
Isabel left to get him a glass of water and then the group reflected back on the news, Tess was alive.
Metropolis Middle School
The last bell rang as Zan got up and grabbed his bag and made his way to his locker. Following Melissa, he realized that his attentions weren't focused on her so much anymore as they were on her sister. It was nice being able to talk to her during PE today and she knew the real Zan, not this 'freak' that walked down the hallways. Even though he was in eighth grade, he looked like he should be in elementary school still. He was able to take the 'peewee' jokes and such, but it did hurt that Melissa didn't see him the same way he saw her, but Mandy. It didn't seem to bother her. Mandy was in the seventh grade, a year behind her sister, but she didn't look much older than Zan. She was in fact 12 years old, but because of all the treatments she had endured her growth cycle was stunted. It didn't seem to bother her though and she seemed so much more intelligent than the other kids in his class. This was probably from her being stuck in the hospital ward most of her life and turning to books and the television for entertainment. He liked her.
He was throwing his books and binders into his locker and shutting the door when Mandy came up behind him, bringing him back into the real world.
"So, whatcha thinking?"
'What, you're not listening in?' quipped Zan.
'No. I was told to use 'selective' listening' she responded. "So, where are you off too?"
"My mom's classroom, why? What do you have planned?" Zan said putting his bag over his shoulder and closing his locker door.
"I've got to wait for my mom to pick me and Melissa up. We're going to the mall to go shopping."
"Sounds like fun." Zan said walking towards his mother's classroom, followed closely by Mandy.
"Hi mom" Zan said, as he entered her classroom and going up to her he embraced his mother. Mandy stood off to the side just inside the door. She had never met a boy his age that was so opening affectionate. "So, is Clark here yet?"
"Hey Zan" Clark said, just entering the doorway. He hadn't seen Mandy standing to the side. "Are you ready to go?"
Brenda noticed Mandy and then looked towards Clark who finally noticed her and who realized his slip up. "I mean…" he stammered, trying to correct himself.
Remembering the previous day, Zan thought, 'Clark, what wrestling match did you just participate in over the weekend?'
Clark looked over at the young girl apprehensively, not wanted to answer.
'What's going on Zan' she questioned.
'A test' he answered.
"It's okay Clark, she knows who I am," Zan stated. Brenda, as well as Clark looked towards Zan awaiting an explanation. But Zan wasn't going to go any further until Clark answered the question.
Relenting he said, "The Alien Takedown." Zan nodded and then turned towards Mandy.
"Mom, Clark this is Mandy Montgomery. Mandy, this is my Mom and Clark Kent" Clark finally realized who this young girl was, but Brenda was still left hanging.
"Um, Brett. I thought we were suppose to keep some 'things' between us," she said apprehensively.
"It's okay Brenda, Max told us about Mandy. Isn't there something I needed to sign before leaving?"
"Oh yes, I almost forgot. If you can follow me, we can take care of this little bit of paperwork. Brett, you can wait for Clark here and we'll be right back." Zan nodded as Clark and Brenda went to the front office. Clark explained what they had learned about Mandy and what she was privy to on their way.
"Okay Zan, spill. What's going on? What was this test you were speaking about?"
Zan looked over at Mandy, what should he tell her? "Well, Clark is a friend of the family and he's come here each day to pick me up to take me to my dad's house."
"Wow, he drives everyday, back and forth from Metropolis to Smallville. That's crazy!!"
'Not necessarily' thought Zan, before realizing what he was doing.
"What do you mean, not necessarily? And what was this test you were talking about?"
"Mandy, what happened to selective listening" Zan said reproachfully, sitting down in a nearby desk, closing his mind off to Mandy again.
"Sorry Zan. It's hard for me to just turn it off sometimes" Mandy said, sitting in a nearby desk. "So, do you want to let me know what's going on…or not?"
Zan sat at the desk, not sure how to proceed. What was taking his mom and Clark so long? He looked at Mandy and said, "Remember when I mentioned that our enemies had tricked us, well the 'test' was created so I can insure that Clark is who he says he is. I ask him a question and he answers it. That's all."
"Okay" she said, knowing there was more to the story, but allowing Zan to tell it on his own terms. Each of them sat in the room in silence, when Zan finally spoke. "I think you need to go and meet your mom and sister. I'll talk to you later on tonight, okay."
"Okay" Mandy said somberly. Had she gone too far? She wasn't sure. She gathered her book bag off the floor and preceded to the door, when she turned and asked, "Do you have my number?"
"No, I guess I don't." Zan retrieved a piece a paper from his mother's desk and wrote down Mandy's phone number and put the piece of paper in his pocket. "Hey Mandy. I'm sorry."
"For what?"
Zan stood there for a moment, gathering his thoughts. Finally speaking he said, "I don't mean to be so testy with you, it's just like I said before, I need to speak with my dad and family before I'll feel more comfortable talking about 'things' openly with you." Mandy gave him a questionable look, as Zan continued. "I understand you've got the basic story about who I am which is quite a bit to begin with, trust me I was there on Friday when I found out, but there is much more to the story than you realize. Just give me some time; I'm sure you will understand once you are fully inducted into the 'I know an alien club'.
This brought a smile to her face. "I look forward to hearing this story. Well, I better get going, Mom is probably waiting for me." They each stalled, looking into each other's eye and then Clark and Brenda interrupted their stance. "Bye Mrs. Chambers, Clark. I'll see you tomorrow Zan" Mandy said and then turned and left the room, as Zan watched her retreat down the hallway.
"She's very nice" Brenda said about Mandy, "but it looks like we're going to have to have a little talk later on and not just about her. You need to remember to keep both me and your dad in the loop."
"I'm sorry, but I just found out about Mandy and then I didn't have a chance to talk to you" Zan said apologetically.
"That's okay, I understand. Clark was able to fill me in."
"How did you find out about her?" Zan asked Clark.
"Max filled us in when he and Liz returned earlier this morning." Zan nodded.
"Well you better get going, don't want you to show up late for your first training session," suggested Brenda.
"Sure" Zan said and then turning Clark, "ready when you are."
"I thought we would start off your training now," Clark said.
"What do you mean?" asked Zan.
"Well, if you've got some Kryptonian blood running through your veins, you should be able to follow me, instead of me carrying you." Zan looked up at Clark with a 'are you serious' look.
Clark picked up on his anxiety and explained, "All you got to do is visualize where you want to go and start to run. If this works, I'll be following closely behind you so you don't get lost."
"This should be interesting" Zan said.
"But I think we should go outside, don't want you bouncing off the lockers" Clark said with a smile. They said goodbye to Brenda and made their way to the front of the school. Once they were outside and noticed no one was around Clark looked down at Zan.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah" Zan closed his eye and concentrated on Clark's farm, since he hadn't been to his father's house yet. Opening his eyes, he heard Clark say, "Now just run." Zan began to run. At first, he was jogging at a normal pace and then all of a sudden something kicked in and things were blurring by him. Clark was following closely behind him. They didn't make the mark, but they were close. Zan ended up in a cornfield two counties over, but they eventually made it to Smallville and eventually his father's house. This was just another day in his strange developing life.