Sacrifice

by Maea

What happens in Roswell when Max leaves for the city... continued by popular demand

2. Simple Truths...

Title: Simple Truths and Complicated Lies

Author: Maea MacDermod

Email: maeve_aislinn@yahoo.com; feedback is like a drug to me! Please, feed the monkey!

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: "Any society that needs disclaimers has too many lawyers." - Erik Pepke (but just in case… Don't sue me, please!)

Spoilers: Meet the Dupes and before.

Summary: follow up fic to my story "Sacrifice". What happens if Liz and the gang follow Max to New York?

Category: Max/Liz; Michael/Maria

Distribution: Want it? Take it… just let me know!

A/N: This is for all those who hounded me to expand this story… it still has one part left, which is forthcoming! Thanks for the feedback.

******

"Why is it that the most complicated lies cover the simplest truths?" ~ Kelly Power and Liz Parker

******

Ava stood with Liz Parker by her side on the dark street of China Town, both staring into the deserted alley.

"This is where it happened?"

The alien teen nodded, afraid that her voice would falter if she even attempted to speak. After a deep breath and a hard swallow, she forced that moment to pass. "Right there," she indicated, her blue eyes searching for a trace of evidence of the evil deed. "We passed some dudes back there and Rath filched their ball. I… I thought that he finally got the point that Zan was trying to protect us, that all."

"Rath?"

"Yeah." Tears began to well up, "Before I knew it, Zan hit the ground and Rath used his powers to speed up a truck, then—" she choked up, unable to continue.

Liz placed her arm around the other girl's shoulders. "Ava.." she started, her voice calm and soothing.

"No!" Ava shook her off. "I let them kill the one guy who was meant for me!" She sank to her knees, touching the soiled pavement. "He's gone… forever."

"Don't be too sure about that, lover," a voice called out from the shadows.

Ava looked up as Zan stepped out from a dark entryway. "Zan?"

"Yeah, baby. Watch anyone die today?" he asked a tinge of bitterness in his tone.

She was still in shock. "I ain't believing… you're here. You're alive."

"With no help from you. Next time you and your pals try and eighty-six someone, check for a pulse before you bolt."

Ava clutched his legs as he neared her, and pulled herself to her feet. "I - I had nothing to do with that, Zan. You gotta trust me."

"I guess that's the problem, Ava."

She whirled around, "Liz?" The alley behind her was empty.

"She can't help you now, babe," Zan brushed her away from him. "You got yourself in a mess, Av, and ain't no one gonna help you now."

"I swear to you, Zan. I swear it on my love for you—"

A harsh chuckle cut her off, "Now, see, that ain't meaning nothin' to me, cause we don't love each other."

Ava shook her head vehemently. "There's one thing I know… I love you."

"Spiffy. Well lemme spell this out for you, then – I. Never. Loved. You. You were just some spicy sweet sauce for my fries. Nothin' more."

Her face crumbled, "Don't say that, Zan—"

"That's my baby… always afraid of the truth."

Ava's stared at him in disbelief, her sapphire eyes boring into his soul. When she spoke, the emotion poured out of her voice. "You know the truth."

The boy nodded slowly, not breaking his gaze from hers. Around them, the alley swirled away, leaving the two in an entirely different part of the city. A place that seemed vaguely familiar to Ava, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Where are we?" she asked, disorientated.

"You know," he replied, motioning to their new setting with a flourish of his hands.

Ava scrutinized her surroundings. "If I knew, I ain't woulda asked." Her expression pleaded with him. "Tell me."

"I can't… this is something you gotta do by yourself. Everything depends on it." Zan stared off into the distance, and Ava followed his attention. Liz Parker reappeared in the entryway to the old building in front of them, searching for something in the night.

"Max?"

Zan moved towards her, his dialect changing as he approached. "Yeah, Liz. I'm here." He reached out for her hand, and she pulled him close.

Ava watched on, confused. "Zan, whatcha doin'?" he didn't answer. "Liz, that's not your Max."

The alien male circled the dark-haired human hungrily, like a predator casing it's prey. "She can't hear you, Av." Pausing behind Liz, Zan tenderly placed kisses on her warm neck.

"What are you doing?!" Ava asked, more urgently this time.

Liz moaned as Zan continued his caresses, and the other girl could only watch helplessly. He reached down with experienced hands, pulling up on Liz's sweater exposing her bare midsection.

"I'm showing you the key, babe… you gotta figure out what it unlocks."

As the two false lovers began to fade away, the distraught teen noticed a shimmer of a silver handprint on the human's stomach. "The key?"

* * *

Ava awoke with a contained start, trying to figure out where she was, but in an instant it all flooded back to her. Zan's death, the trip to Roswell, asking Liz for help. Everything. Now here she was on a private jet flying back to the city where she was hatched with duplicates of her 'family' and a handful of humans to save a man with the face of her lover. Typical Tuesday.

She glanced around at the other passengers on the plane, trying not to let them know she was awake. Ava caught a flash of Alex in the cockpit joking around with the pilots, with Isabel right behind him in the first row of seats, alone and too worried to even attempt to sleep. Michael and Maria were sitting together about two rows from her. A second look told the blonde that Michael was not happy to be here. Liz was in the seat to her right, reclined back with her eyes shut.

Studying the human intently, Ava hazily recalled the details to her dream. //The key to what?// she thought silently.

"Can't sleep either, huh?" the brunette asked, her eyes still closed.

"Nah… too wired. You should try though. I know you didn't get much rest last night."

Liz laughed, turning her head and focusing on her newest friend. "Apparently I'm not the only one who was awake last night." Her expression turned melancholy, "I've been trying to figure out what to say to Max if we find him."

"When… not if. And just a mad crazy thought, but try the truth."

"The truth is, uh, complicated," she said, for lack of a better word.

"Ain't it always?"

She nodded knowingly. "Yeah. Why is that?"

"Oh, please. If I knew that, girlie, I'd be getting paid $3.99 a minute as your freaky psychic friend. Wanna rap 'bout it?"

Liz didn't know what it was about this girl… why she could talk to her when she couldn't even tell her best friend about the whole situation, but she could. And she did.

* * *

Maria leaned away disgusted as Michael made more gagging noises into the airsickness bag. When the heaving stopped, she turned back to her boyfriend. "That's your third barf bag, Michael. I thought you were born to fly?"

He was not amused at her attempt of humor. "I'm sure spaceships are different than these crude human devices."

She tried to contain her laughter, "Oh, yeah, I'm sure. But as far as 'crude human devices' go, this is an awesome plane… don't you think?"

Taking a sip of water, Michael pursed his lips. "Peachy."

They were interrupted as the flight attendant, Belinda, stopped by with a fresh bag for the alien. "Mr. Davis has asked me to take extra special care of your group, Miss DeLuca."

"Aw… isn't that just so sweet of Brody?" she asked Michael.

"What a human," he grunted, taking the offered bag and wet towel from the older redhead.

Belinda didn't notice his indifference, "He has also taken the liberty of getting a couple rooms at the Plaza for you and your friends and securing a car for your use. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make your flight more pleasant."

"Thanks," Maria stammered. After the attendant moved over to Isabel's seat, she continued. "Wow! We're going to stay at the best hotel in New York!" she squealed, bouncing around in her cushioned chair.

Michael paused a moment, silently brooding, then turned to her. "So what's the deal with this guy, Maria?" he asked, a harsh tone in his voice.

She immediately put her guard up. "What do you mean? We're just friends."

"A guy doesn't fly you and five of your closest friends across the country and set you up with a posh hotel room if he just wants to be your pal. What's the deal?"

"Oh… I see," she said slowly, then continued on in a sing-songy voice, "someone's getting jealous.."

"Cut the crap and answer the question!"

Maria was taken aback at his hostility. "God, Michael. Calm down. What is this, the Spanish Inquisition? And why the *Hell* are you allowed to get jealous and I'm not?" he started to retort, but she continued. "It's not like you've even pretended that I'm your girlfriend for a while anyway."

"What?"

"You know what I'm talking about. When was the last time you kissed me? Or wanted to kiss me? Or just held my hand and made me feel, you know… needed?"

The demeanor of malice in his actions softened. "It's been crazy lately… I—"

Maria was so angry now, she didn't want to hear any of his excuses. "You haven't done any of those things since Courtney left."

He closed his eyes at the mention of the Skin who became his friend. "She didn't leave, Maria… she sacrificed herself to keep the Granilith safe."

She flipped her golden hair over her shoulder, and exhaled sharply, echoing her disgust. "Some thing she wouldn't have had to do if you just kept your big mouth shut, Space Boy," Michael looked like she had just physically slapped him. "And now I have to fight for you with an alien martyr… not the easiest thing to do. Is it any wonder that I might look for comfort with another man?" Maria stood and quickly walked to the back of the plane, locking herself in the tiny bathroom before he could see her cry.

Michael could only sigh and knock his head against his headrest. At least his airsickness went away.

* * *

Liz finished telling Ava the whole story just as Maria went running past. The alien sat for a moment, taking all the information in.

"Whoa, that's deep," she said, her expression wild. "You're stronger than I would have been."

"Really?"

"Same sitch scenario in my world, I ain't too sure I coulda done the good thang… but I would have tossed one hell of an end of the Earth party."

Liz ran her fingers through her hair, a nervous habit she always had. "The worst part is, I don't know if this version of the future is going to be any better. With Max *and* Tess gone this time, they're even more divided than before."

"It's always darkest before dawn, Liz. Sometimes it's gotta get crazy bad before it gets to the good stuff."

Liz smiled, "I never expected you to be an optimist, Ava."

"Yo, I'm just one big ball of surprises," she glanced over her shoulder at the closed restroom door. "Your girl seemed like she was trippin' a sec ago. Maybe…"

"Are you okay if I go?"

Ava rolled her eyes, "Come on, I was the queen of entire race. Go."

After Liz walked back to the rear of the plane, Ava leaned her head back in a poor attempt to rest, until she sensed a presence standing over her, "You might as well sit, Mikey."

He settled into the plush chair. "It's Michael."

"Uh-huh, whatever," she opened one eye to peek at him. "What can I do you for?"

The sandy-haired alien hesitated, then pushed himself to his feet. "Nothing. It was a stupid idea."

Laughing, Ava tensed her whole body in a yawning stretch. "Zan used to say that there was never any stupid ideas… only stupid people." He remained silent. "Chill, take a joke, Michael… it won't hurt." Nothing. "Yo, sit down. Ask me what you're gonna ask me… unless that look is 'cause you're gonna hurl again. Then go away."

After a moment, he sat again. "Liz said you got memories of our world."

"Yep, but something tells me you ain't interested in hearing about our scenic haunts, huh?"

"Do you remember anything about a faction against Max, uh, Zan as king?"

"Yeah, Pack, his name was Kivar."

"No," Michael shook his head, "not him. Me. Rath. A bunch of renegades who wanted us, me… him, whatever, to take the throne from Zan?"

An expression of panic crossed the girl's face, though she quickly tried to cover it. "Nah, Mike… who would lay some smack like that on you?"

"You're lying, Ava."

"And you ain't as stupid as Rath. He don't remember the force that was started in his name, and I hope he don't ever. You was too loyal for that though… I don't think it ever crossed your mind to overthrow Zan, even tempted with the power you would have gained."

Michael opened his mouth several times, trying to form words but none would come out. He paused and tried again. "He was a good leader?"

"The best," she said, closing her eyes and remembering her old life. "Don't read me wrong, he had some crazy faults, and one of his greatest was caring too much about our peeps. He thought he had the best plan to keep the peace, but it backfired, and Kivar was there with a double edged sword to take us all down. The war killed us, but it hurt Zan most of all to see his people suffer."

Michael jumped to his feet at the sound of the bathroom door opening, and he watched as Liz led a red-eyed Maria back to her seat. Ava reached up and grasped his slack hand, squeezing reassuringly. "The Rath I remember… the Rath who you are… hated to see people suffer too. Especially the ones he loved."

He stared down at their joined hands, this stranger with the face of Tess, and returned the gentle pressure. "Thank you, Ava."

"Yeah, yeah… don't go spreadin' it around. I got a mean rep to keep," she released his hand, and waved him off.

Michael crossed the plane slowly, hoping Maria would not freak at his presence. He tapped Liz gently on the shoulder. "Uh," he stammered when she glanced up, " can I talk to her?"

Liz looked back to her best friend who nodded, though rather hesitantly. Without a word, she returned to her seat next to Ava.

The boy took a minute to gather the right words to say, and in that time Maria wouldn't even meet his eyes. Staring out of the small window, she spoke.

"If the first sentence out of your mouth doesn't have something to do with being sorry, you'd just better go away now."

He let out a breath he didn't even realize that he was holding. "I *am* sorry, Maria."

Finally she turned away from the window. "Good."

"It wasn't fair of me to put all that pressure on you about Brody… and this whole thing with Courtney was, uh, bad." Michael paused, running his fingers through his hair, then sat in the chair next to her. "I wanted her to tell me so many things…"

"Oh great," Maria interrupted. "There's no pressure now! How am I going to be able to compete with that?"

He placed his index finger to her full lips, quieting her outburst. "Wait… let me say what I gotta say, before I chicken out." Maria nodded, encouraging him to continue. "I wanted to know who I was. I wanted Courtney to tell me everything, but that's not what I needed. All that is the past. It's got nothing to do with who I am now. What I need is you… I need you to show me who I am today, who I can become. Whatever she told me would never change who I am, but everything you show me makes me a better person… a better human. Hell, before I met you, that was the last thing I ever wanted to be.

"All my life I wanted to know why I'm here, where I'm from and what my purpose is… then I found out, and then all I wanted was for it all to go away. You got such a hold on me now, it scares me… but in that good kind of scared, not trapped by an alien hunter scared. Do you know what I'm saying?"

Maria could only stare at him openmouthed, unable to think about how to answer him. She spoke, her voice shaky, "Who are you and what have you done with my boyfriend?"

Michael laughed, one loud uncontained chuckle. "What you see is what you get, Maria. Michael Guerin, uncut, unplugged, in all my hair gelled glory."

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned in pressing her cheek to his, and whispered into his ear, "You're not just saying this because it's what I want to hear, are you?"

She could feel his grin widen, "No… I'm saying it because it's how feel… it's true." He tenderly nibbled on her ear, earning a shrill squeal from her, "Besides, when have I ever done what was expected of me?"

"Good point!" Their conversation ended with a serious make out session

Alex climbed out of his seat in the cockpit and moved over to sit next to Isabel. She still had the same vacant anxious expression on her face that she had when Liz told them her brother went to New York. "The pilot says were going to be landing in about ten minutes."

She bit her lip, "What if we don't find him in time, Alex?"

"Don't think like that. We're going to find him."

"It an awfully big city down there… it's not going to be easy."

"Pah! We're going to land in New York, you're going to pick him up on your beautiful, alien radar, and we'll be back home in time for Turkey Day and your mom's sweet potato pie."

Isabel looked at him strangely. "Pah? Okay, Mr. 'The Glass is Half Full'. Just know that I'm going to keep you to that promise. Oh, and, uh… I don't recommend even trying to swallow Diane Evan's sweet potato pie… it makes a better wood glue than food item."

His smile widened in amusement. "Thanks for the warning."

"Thanks for the cheering up, Alex."

Belinda's voice sounded out over the small plane's speaker. "The captain has informed me that we are approaching the airport. If you would, I ask that your return all chairs and tray tables to their full and locked upright position, and please fasten your seatbelt. Thank you."

Ava leaned over Liz and glanced out the window. "It don't look the same."

"The city?"

"Yeah. I ain't ever been her without Zan before… it looks foul and…" she searched for a word.

"Scary?" Liz offered, and the other girl nodded somberly. "That's how Roswell seemed to me after Max left. We're gonna be fine though, Ava."

"Now who's the optimist?"

* * *

"We should get started searching right away," Isabel said, after the girls were all settled into their huge room at the Plaza.

Ava disagreed. "Get real, girlie. They're still at least a half a day out of the state. Rath's a speed demon, but he still gotta deal with the laws of time and space. You guys stay here and get all freshened up, or whatever. I gotta get over to my crib and snag some essentials before the others get back," she started for the door.

"No, um, Ava… do you think it's okay to go alone?" Liz asked, blocking to exit.

"Thanks for bein' all gushy and concerned, but I can handle my city."

"Oh, well, uh…" she stammered, "can I go?"

Isabel and Maria visibly didn't like the thought of that. "Nuh-uh. No… Nope. Michael wouldn't like that at all," said Maria.

Liz raised her eyebrows, "Well, Michael's not the boss of me… and neither are you guys. Can I come Ava?"

She hesitated, glancing at the other two females, then nodded. "Sure, we gotta take a pit stop in China Town, though."

"I don't mind."

Five minutes later, the remaining girls were still wondering what to do about Liz and Ava leaving, when Michael knocked on their door.

"Hey, the guy who brought our bags up—"

"The bellboy," Isabel commented.

"Yeah, he said there's a restaurant downstairs, and we can charge it to our rooms. Get Ava and Liz and let's go."

Maria studied the carpet in front of her. "Uh, we can't."

"What? Why? Are they sleeping?"

"No… they… kinda left."

"Kinda left? What the hell does that mean? They're downstairs? They're at the pool?"

"No," the other alien stepped in, "they went to Ava's place."

"WHAT!" he exclaimed. "You let them leave… alone? This is *not* good. If anything happens to Liz, Maxwell will kill me!"

"Calm down, Michael… nothing's going to happen." Isabel tied her hair up into a ponytail. "This is Ava's territory… she'll watch after Liz."

"Oh great! That's wonderful… too bad I don't trust that squirrley little blonde. For all we know she just used us to get a ride home." Both girls glanced at each other nervously, his paranoia sinking into them. "Iz, go get Alex. We're going after them."

"But we don't even know where she lives!" Isabel insisted.

Maria looked up, "We know they're going to China Town… we can have the driver take us there and head them off."

"Well, lets go then!"

* * *

Ava and Liz stood on the darkening street of China Town, both staring into the deserted alley, nightfall enveloping the city.

"This is where it happened?"

The alien teen nodded, pushing away the eerie sense of deja vu as she recalled her dream. After a deep breath and a hard swallow, she forced the sensation to pass. "Right there," she indicated, her blue eyes searching the asphalt. "We passed some dudes back there and Rath filched their ball. I… I thought that he finally got the point that Zan was trying to protect us, that all."

"Rath?"

"Yeah." Tears began to well up, "Before I knew it, Zan hit the ground and Rath used his powers to speed up a truck, then—" she choked up, unable to continue.

Liz draped her arm around the other girl's shoulders, following the dream as if this conversation was scripted for her. "Ava.." she started, her voice calm and soothing.

"No!" Ava shook her off. "This is the same… this all happened before. Zan was trying to tell me something in my dream, and I don't get it." She called out into the impending dusk, "What am I supposed to do, Zan?! What does the key unlock?!"

An eerie silence followed her outburst, as the girl strained to hear a response. Nothing. Liz stepped forwards and placed her hand on Ava's arm, reassuring her that she was still there. "It was just a dream, Ava."

She looked over with fresh tears in her eyes. "You don't get how much I wanted it to be more than that… how much I want him to be alive and kicking."

A voice from behind startled them, "What do you think you were doing, leaving the hotel alone?"

"Rath?" Ava twirled around in fear, only to see the rest of the Liz's gang. "Oh, it's just you, Mikey." She wiped her face of any expression. "Yo, like I told Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum over there, I need some stuff from my crib."

He was not amused, "Well from now on, we all go together."

"Joy. How did you find us?"

Before Michael could begin a false story about how he tracked them down, Maria interjected. "Dumb luck. We drove past and Alex saw you in the alley. The driver's waiting for us on the street."

Ava took off down the alley, "You might as well send him on his way. We're close to my crib… and where we're going, a car can't follow."

Isabel went around the corner to tell the driver they'd be all right, as the rest of the followed the New York alien. She rushed to catch up.

They were only on the streets for a few more minutes, then moved down into the subway tunnels, and eventually the sewers.

"God! How can you stand that smell?" Iz asked, crinkling her nose.

Ava walked on in silence, but Alex spoke. "Actually, once you get used to it, it's not so bad." Everyone stared at him strangely. "Well, I'm not saying that I'd bottle the scent and try to sell it, but I no longer feel the need to vomit every time I breathe."

The narrow tunnel opened up into a large cavernous chamber filled with miscellaneous furniture and other things. "You live here?" Liz questioned, wide eyed and amazed. One whole wall contained the empty pods Ava and the others came to earth in.

"Home sweet home," mumbled Ava. "Don't touch anything," she growled at Michael, who was reaching out to take a worn hockey stick. "They'll know you were here, and right now surprise is our best weapon."

"Why don't we just wait here for them to come and tell Max what we came here to tell him?" questioned Isabel.

Ava rolled her eyes in response, "Because if we try to 'front them on their turf, Rath and Lonnie will most likely kill us all."

Michael pursed his lips, "We can hold our own in a fight."

"Sure, you can distract them with your amazing gel hair, while the princess turns them into various condiments. You don't frickin' get it, do you. They're together," she said stressing that last word. "Like in the biblical sense… knockin boots… makin' the alien love…"

"All right! We get the point!" he said exasperated, the thought of being with Isabel that way making him queasy.

"Nah, Pack, I don't think you do. Bein'… uh… intimate with one another gives us more power, a special connection. Plus you ain't got as much alien in you as us. The only one who can take my peeps on is Max. He'll always have more hard-core power than Lonnie and Rath."

Liz was confused, "Why, Ava?"

"Cause his power comes from pure love… from you. They're together cause there's no one else, but Max loves you by choice. We need him on our side to stop them."

"Fine. So get your stuff and let's blow this place. I'm hungry."

* * *

The car with Max and the others was not as far out of town as Ava thought. Rath ditched the car about five blocks from the subway entrance and they all walked on from there.

Tess stared around in amazement at the huge city. In all her travels with Nasedo, they had never once come to New York. "Look, Max! The Plaza Hotel… very expensive and totally exclusive…"

"Yeah, honey… we stay there all the time," Lonnie said a serious expression on her face.

"Really?" Tess's eyes grew with surprise.

Rath chuckled, "Yo… Lonnie and me met the Queen of England here last week for afternoon tea. You know, we gotta be choosy about who we spend our time with." The New York aliens laughed loudly, causing a frown from the petite blonde.

"I'm just saying that I saw the Plaza in a movie…" she trailed off.

"Chill, girlie-o. We're just messin' with ya," Lonnie patted Tess not too gently on the back, the other girl gasping from the rough blow. "Yo, why don't you guys go check out the sights… say, uh, the Empire States Building. It's three blocks thattaway."

They two Roswellians looked concerned about getting separated in the big city, so Rath reached over and stole a map from a mobile sightseeing booth nearby. "Here's a map, go have fun. We got some business to take care of."

"Meet you back here in an hour?" Lonnie asked, pushing Max and Tess of in the direction she pointed out earlier.

"Uh, sure…" Max put his arm around Tess, and guided her away from the two. "Let's go."

As soon as they were out of sight, Rath walked over to a phone booth and grabbed the phone receiver, dialing a number. "This is the Royal Four. We're willing to hear what you gotta say… Yeah, all of us… He'll be there to meet the Emissary. Peace out." After settling the phone back onto the cradle, he gave Lonnie a high five, "The stage is set… we just gotta get the King to the throne."

* * *

"So what's exactly our plan here? Sit in our expensive hotel room while your people kill my brother?" a frustrated Isabel asked Ava.

"They're not my people… and no that ain't the plan." Ava sighed, "I don't know what to do anymore than you do."

"Great! Well, at least I'll be in the city to collect Max's body, if it shows up!" she exclaimed, exasperated.

"Isabel! That's not going to happen," Liz stepped in as the voice of reason. "Arguing amongst ourselves is not going to solve our problem. We have to think rationally about how to find Max."

Silence surrounded the group, as they all thought. "If we don't know where they are, we'll never find them. The best idea is to wait around your place for them," Michael offered.

"We've already discussed that, Michael." Maria covered his hand with hers, "Ava says that they could kill us."

He pulled away, "Fine! Then you guys stay here, I'll stake out the sewers."

"Oh, no you won't! That is not acceptable," the blonde human stated in a huff.

"If we just knew where the summit was, we could crash that," Ava said, quietly.

"What?" the five others asked in unison.

She looked around, avoiding their eyes, "I said, 'If we knew where the summit was, we could crash that'."

"What's the difference between confronting them at your place and confronting them at the summit?"

"The *peace* summit," she started, stressing the word peace, "is held on neutral ground. Any aggression by them would be considered… uh… disrespectful to the other delegates. This is a 'no weapons, no attitude' zone, though I'm sure there will be plenty of attitude to go around."

"So where's the summit?"

"Pay attention, Pack. I don't know! It's in one of the old buildings downtown." Ava received a vision from her dream that morning, a flash of Zan and Liz standing in the entrance to a large brick building. A wave of dizziness swept over her.

"Are you all right?" Liz asked, her tone full of concern.

"Yeah, I'm good… just tired, I guess."

Maria looked at her watch. "Well it is after midnight in Roswell, so maybe we should get to bed and get rid of this jet-lag."

No one objected, though Michael seemed as if he wanted to, so the group broke up and went to their own rooms.

All her life, Ava had never really been a sound sleeper, so it was surprising to her when she slipped into unconsciousness almost immediately. In an instant, she found herself facing Zan in front of the building from her earlier dream.

"This is it… this is what I need to find, ain't it?" He nodded, as Ava studied the architecture of the structure looming before her. "I've been here before?" Again he nodded. "Why can't I remember? How am I ever gonna find this place in the whole freakin city?"

Zan shrugged, "The knowledge is in you, lover. This is your most important purpose in life yet. You must bring the key to rest in the lock."

"What is up with this mystery-riddle bull, Zan!?" she asked, aggravated. "If there's anytime in my life that I need you to help me, it's now!" Ava's gaze followed as his attention was drawn to the top of the building, or more correctly, the night sky above it.

The stars began to swirl around in a light mist, then they detached from their positions and swiftly dropped to street level, reforming in the shape of a V. "Do you see the importance of this place now, Av?"

"Yo, this is where the summit will take place… but how will I ever find it? And if I do, what am I supposed to do about this freaky 'key' business?" she looked to him for the answers, but his body started fading away. "Please don't leave me again!" the girl lost her toughness and implored him with fear in her voice. "Zan?!"

"'And in the time after the rein of our gracious King, he and his family will lead lives unlike the ones they have now. In this life, he shall find a love greater than any other he has experienced…'" the alien recited, as if he'd been memorizing these words all his life.

Ava recognized what he was saying, and took the next line, "'With this love, they shall face many trials and tests, and in the end if the love is true and strong, they shall prevail'. You think this dusty, old prophecy is about you? It was never proven."

"It was never disproved…" the empty air responded, Zan's voice strained and hollow.

"The love… it ain't me, or Tess, is it? It's Liz… but I can tell you she's already lived a life as Max's wife, and our enemy destroyed the earth."

"'There will be trails of faith and love, trust and doubt, transcending through life and death in all planes of time – past, present and future…'"

"'And if they are together in purity, our people shall experience a peace that will last all eternity,'" Ava said, then realized that she was no longer asleep, but sitting upright in bed, with a worried Liz at her side. "What?"

The brunette frowned, "You were talking in your sleep… it seemed kinda important."

"I'm sure it ain't nothin. Go back to sleep, girlie."

Crawling back into her own bed, Liz curled into a ball and returned to sleep almost instantly. Ava waited until her roommate's breathing was deep and even for a few minutes, then quietly pushed her covers to the side. She rose from the warm bed and gathered her meager belongings. The alien tiptoed out of the room and down the hall, completely unaware that anyone was following her. Once the doors to the large elevator began to slide shut, Liz Parker jumped onto the car out of nowhere, alarming the other girl.

"Liz?! What do you think you're doin'?" she asked, jabbing at the 'door open' button. Ava led her back out into the empty hall corridor.

"Wondering the same thing with you."

The blonde sighed, "I'm gonna call in owed favs from some peeps in my hood… and I'm gonna go alone."

"So you think." Liz's expression was full of stubborn resolve. "Either I go with you, or I wake up Michael and we all go. You choose."

"Are you trying to blackmail me?" Liz nodded, resulting in a smile from the normally passive Ava. "I like that… let's go."

Their arrival in the lobby brought movement by the nocturnal hotel staff. Liz glanced over at the ornate clock situated above the registration desk. 12:45 am. Awfully late for two single girls to be venturing out into the big bad dark night of New York City.

One of the uniformed bell boys, a stocky, dark haired guy in his mid-twenties, approached the duo. "Shall I call the car for you, Miss Parker?"

She looked to Ava, who shook her head. "Nah."

The burly hotel employee fidgeted, "I strongly suggest you take a driver, Miss. This is no place for you—"

Ava dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. "Chill, Dudley Doright… this is my town. We got it under control.

His professional façade faltered a moment as frustration crossed his features, but the bellhop stepped to the side allowing the teens to pass. "As you wish, ladies… have a nice walk."

Once they hit the street, Liz was forced to pull her coat closer around her neck to try and combat the fierce wind of the cold November night. An immediate chill rapidly jolted through her body, making her wonder if this desire to follow was a mistake. "Where are we going?"

Ava pulled her into a darkened alley. "Someplace where they don't take too kindly to outsiders." She took a step back and evaluated the condition of Liz's wardrobe. "I'm gonna have to do a makeover, Liz."

Before Liz could ask what that was all about, Ava held her hands out and began altering the human's appearance. Liz's hair became lighter, until it was finally bleached out, then she added blue and purple highlighted strands in haphazard spots. She then added a few piercing and enough makeup for any good Halloween party. Finally, Ava moved her hands down and took care of Liz's outfit… adding rips and shortening hems and such. After a few moments, the human girl looked like one of the dupes.

Liz stared at her reflection in a partially broken window. "Oh my God!"

Ava performed the same alien alterations to her own attire. "Don't worry, girlie… I'll put it all back the way it was. But for now, you're Tiz… my cousin from Jersey. Kosh?"

Liz's attention was transfixed onto the barely reflective surface, but at the sound of Ava's voice she nodded numbly. "Uh, sure."

"Just let me do all the talking once we get there. I know these people… they owe me."

The two punk females rejoined the night society on New York's streets, walking quickly and with purpose to their destination. "So… just who are these people we're meeting?"

"Maelarna is… uh, let's just say she's a knowledgeable city guide." Liz stopped her forward motion, and Ava knew she would have to explain further. "Um, she sees things… she'll be able… uh, all of our questions will finally be answered."

Alarms began to blare in the human's mind. "Wait! No, no, no! She's not a fortune teller, Ava! Tell me she's not a fortune teller!"

"She's a prophet."

Liz planted her feet firmly, refusing to move. "I don't do fortune tellers anymore. Come on, you know what happened—"

"She's our only hope, Liz."

Surprised at the vulnerability in Ava's tone and the tinge of fear in her eyes, Liz could only sigh. "Are you sure we need this?"

"Larna is more than just a fortune teller. She's the only one I know who knows the whole freakin' city. I think I can find Max, and to do that I need to consult her. Chill, okay? Everything will fall into place."

The journey started again, though Liz could not help but to have an ominous sensation of trepidation at their destination.

**

Last part coming soon!