At 22:30 both groups assembled in the UFO Center basement. Everyone checked and rechecked equipment, making certain that their part in the plan was perfect and ready to go.
After everything was cleared, the five rescuers got into the Evans jeep and headed for the Compound. Tess, Max Evans, and Isabel followed behind in Maria's Jetta. They would stop at a safe distance from the facility so they could be within Tess' range yet stay hidden. Alex, Liz and Maria had already said their good lucks and goodbyes earlier but that didn't make it any easier watching the car drive away and being left behind unable to help. Logan understood their sorrowful expressions. He'd come very close to begging Max not to do this. He logged into the Manticore mainframe to begin pre-infiltration monitoring. All the groups were linked via earcom. One member of each team linked to Logan, who acted as the headquarters. Logan had asked Alex to help run computer interference with his laptop in case the rescue team needed extra time so he was sitting next to Logan, ready to do electronic battle.
"Nearing target," Zack said quietly. This was it. He'd been waiting for this for months. Finally, some serious payback. He'd make sure Lydecker never even knew what hit him.
"Noted," Logan replied. "Team two?"
"We've reached our location," Max Evans said.
"Right."
Liz and Maria grabbed hands and looked at each other. They had both spent the afternoon with their significant other, keeping on a brave face. Maria was terrified, letting Michael go to that horrible place again. Liz was scared for Max. What if he couldn't handle this? He was strong but this was his worst nightmare revisited. They both took a deep breath but then Maria dove into her purse, grabbing her cedar oil and inhaling deeply.
"Give me some," Liz demanded.
"Target reached," Zack said. Liz held her breath.
"Understood." Logan typed furiously. "Entry secured. You have thirty two seconds to clear the perimeter. On my mark…" he instructed. "Now."
The five raced across the ground, Michael lagging slightly behind. Without pausing the X-5s leapt soundlessly over the first barbed wire wall, Kyle and Zack vaulting Michael with them. They hit the ground running and cleared the second wall with ease. Michael placed his hand over the lock and it glowed for a moment, then clicked open. They filed in quietly.
"Perimeter cleared," Zack murmured.
"Area ahead is open. Proceed," Logan replied as he monitored. The team proceeded forward, Michael unlocking two more doors. They reached the first checkpoint undetected but paused seeing several armed guards and two doctors up ahead. Logan was impressed at the speed and accuracy with which Michael unlocked the doors. He'd bypassed the multiple-security locks with amazing skill. He made a mental note to ask him about it later.
"Maxwell, there's three guards, heavily armed and two doctors conferring with each other. We need to walk passed them and into the elevator," Michael whispered into Zack's ear so Max Evans could hear him directly.
Zack nodded to his group when Max Evans acknowledged that Tess had begun a mind warp. "Go, now." The five walked quickly but calmly passed the enemy group and entered the elevator. Logan disrupted the camera system in the room and the elevator as well as the hallway they would exit into. Tess furrowed her brow in concentration as she deleted the images of the five rescuers from the minds of the three guards and two doctors. Isabel placed her hand on Tess and focused her energy to her, helping Tess so she wouldn't tire.
As soon as the elevator reached the floor they needed, Tess released her hold on the five above them. She breathed deeply and prepared for the next encounter. The five exited the elevator and proceeded down the hall. They were halfway to Brin's cell! Michael unlocked the door and Logan disabled the camera as it turned in their direction.
"Two hostiles approaching from the right," Logan said softly.
The group froze. Tess nodded as Max Evans told her and concentrated again. The two guards walked right passed the group as if no one was there. Zack was thoroughly impressed by this point. Too bad the X-5s didn't have these abilities. They'd be able to take Lydecker down easily. The group continued down the hallway, making three turns and unlocking several more doors and gates. Logan disabled the cameras as they went, releasing each camera as soon as the group passed to avoid security detection. Tess had only one more doctor to manipulate but she was starting to feel tired despite Isabel's help. The rescuers were moving out of her range and it was a considerable effort to sustain a mind warp from such a distance.
They reached the area where the soldiers were housed. There were multiple guards and several doctors moving about the hallways. Logan disabled the cameras but Tess knew she couldn't get inside all of their minds. Zack gestured for Kyle and Max to take out the closest guards while he and Michael went ahead through the door to find Brin's cell. Niyah would stay outside and cancel any new intruders. Tess would only have to deal with five people's minds then. Logan agreed to keep the cameras off line but informed them they had exactly one minute and thirteen seconds to accomplish this before someone would notice.
Zack nodded at his group and the plan jumped into action. Several guards went down at once but the doctors continued about their business as if everything was fine. Michael managed to get the lock open after a few seconds and he and Zack rushed into the cell. Brin looked up in surprise but Zack anticipated her speed and injected her with a heavy anesthetic before she could react. Kyle and Max dragged the dead guards into Brin's cell as Zack carried Brin out. It took exactly fifty nine seconds to accomplish everything and the group was headed back up the hallway with Kyle carrying an unconscious Brin.
"We have her and are beginning egress," Zack whispered.
"Right. Path clear and cameras disabled. Hurry," Logan replied. Liz and Maria still clung to each other. It was working but they weren't out of it yet. Alex poised over his laptop, ready to start hacking if something went wrong.
Tess trembled from the effort to hold the minds of the remaining hostiles. Both Isabel and Max Evans were lending her their energy but all of them were tiring. The rescue group burst through the main door and ran towards the perimeter wall. Michael and Brin were hoisted over but it slowed them down. The guard dogs picked up their scent and Max stopped, telling them to keep going. She would stay to deal with the canines.
"Tess had to drop their minds. She couldn't maintain them all any more," Max Evans apologized. The group piled back into the Jeep and took off as Max vaulted herself over the wall, running straight for the moving vehicle. The dogs had been easy to dispatch and they hadn't even gotten a bark out. She jumped fifteen feet through the air and landed in the back seat, on top of Zack.
"Thanks," she smiled at him.
He smirked back and checked in with Logan and Max Evans. Spirits were high as the groups headed to meet at the UFO Center. They planned to wake Brin there to assess her state of mind. Everyone high-fived and smiled knowing they'd done a very good job. Liz, Maria and Alex cheered and hugged with relief as Logan disengaged his infiltration. He was a careful hacker and he knew that no one at Manticore would notice he'd been in their system.
Max Evans drove slowly, carefully, giving his tired eyes enough time to take in the road. He was incredibly relieved that this ordeal was over. Even though his position had been over a mile from the Compound it had still been too close. He hoped Liz wouldn't mind him sleeping over again. He didn't want to be alone tonight wrestling with the memories of that awful place. Tess slept curled up in Isabel's arms. The process had proved too much for her and she'd collapsed. Isabel smiled and hugged her 'sister' close, hoping this catnap would revive her.
Grinning, Alex held the door open as Kyle carried Brin in and laid her down on a bench. Max prepared an injection to wake Brin up, Zack holding Brin's hand as Max inserted the needle. Logan slowly approached them. "So, this is Brin."
"Yeah," Max answered, her face bright with excitement. She looked up at Logan. "She looks a lot better then last time I saw her. Just hope they didn't fix too much."
Maria hugged Michael. "I'm so glad you're back, Space Boy," she whispered as she kissed him.
"Me too." Going into that Compound again had given him the creeps. All the sterile white walls and cold, harsh lightening…He wondered how Maxwell was doing.
Max Evans, Tess, and Isabel walked in, Isabel half carrying Tess. Kyle hurried over to them. "What's wrong with her?" he asked, concerned, as Liz and Max Evans hugged and kissed quickly.
"She collapsed after she let go of their minds. I think it's an energy melt out like I had after I healed all those kids," Max Evans replied. Kyle pulled Tess into his arms and kissed her forehead. "Just rest," he murmured. "Its over now."
Everyone focused their attention on Brin as she began to stir. Max held her breath. 'Please let her be okay,' she pleaded, taking Logan's hand for support. Zack knelt next to Brin so she'd see him when she opened her eyes. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered and she moved her head to look at him. "Zack," she whispered. Suddenly, her eyes shot open and she launched herself off the bench, grabbing him in a tight strangle hold. "How do I know if its you or that this is even real!?" she demanded.
"Because it is," Max replied reassuringly. "Its me, Brin. Its Max. We promised to come get you, baby sister, and we have."
Brin looked around wildly, taking in one sibling after the other, Max, Kyle, Niyah, and finally Zack. She released him and took a step back, wary and breathing hard. "Who are they?" she asked, suspicious, indicating the Roswell group.
"They helped us get you out," Zack answered, rubbing his neck. Brin looked around trying to decide if she should trust this situation. Then her face crumpled and seemed about to cry. "You shouldn't have done this," she choked out.
Kyle went to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Of course we should have. We couldn't leave you there once we knew where you were."
"You don't understand. They're tracking me," she insisted, shaking her head and backing up. "I shouldn't be here." Niyah and Max both approached her with confusion on their faces. How could she be tracked if no one knew she was gone? "Don't!" she said forcefully. "I'm a great danger to you. There is a new device Lydecker concocted once he realized that a rescue attempt might succeed. Banking on your success he implanted that device in my spine, a tracker," she stated, quiet but intense.
Michael grasped the situation quickly. "How long before they get here?" his voice was hard and almost cold. This mission had been agreed to based on the promise that no danger would come to the Roswell group. He should have gone with his instincts and kept this rescue from happening.
"I'm monitored constantly so they would know I was missing immediately, as my location changed." A horrible thought occurred to her. "How long was I unconscious!?" she gasped.
Logan looked at his watch. "About twenty three minutes…which could mean they're already in position."
Brin shook her head. "To mobilize at last minute would take a little time. Lydecker isn't at this compound so they'd have to clear it with him before they did anything. I say we have five or six minutes left before they zero in on our position."
Logan whipped open his laptop and logged on again. "Alex, I need some good viral hacking right now," he called out.
"No, wait," Max said. "Let's just get you out of here. Let's leave fast and we'll figure out how to get the thing out of you later."
"No way!! I am NOT putting my sibs in that kind of danger. It would be stupid and you know it," Brin and Max glared at each other. Zack was torn. Brin was right but he couldn't abandon her a second time! "And stop with the computers," Brin continued. "They'll be expecting something like that. They know I can hack." Logan and Alex stopped immediately.
"So, we're screwed," Kyle said, disgusted at the seemingly hopeless situation.
Everyone paused, desperately trying to come up with something. Brin sat down slowly as she reached a conclusion. "You have to…break my spine," she said slowly.
"WHAT?!" Max yelled. "That would kill you.
"No way, girl, that is too much!" Niyah couldn't believe Brin would even suggest that as an option.
"Yes, it's the only way," but Brin could see that no one believed her. "The tracker is in my spinal fluid. You have to break my spine to stop the fluid and therefore disable the tracker, got it?! And there isn't much time…" she checked her watch, "three minutes and counting."
Zack stared at her in disbelief. 'How did this mission go so wrong?! All I wanted was to save my sister…' He nodded, "She's right," his voice cracked over the words. He would have to kill her, kill Brin, his little sister, kill her to protect the others. The room was very quiet and everyone held their breath watching Zack approach her. He looked into her eyes and she nodded her consent and approval. "It's the only way," she whispered. He reached out and took her neck, his hands shaking. "I can't! I'm sorry, I can't," he repeated over and over as he backed away from her.
In an instant Kyle was at her side. He took her by the shoulder and slammed his knee into her lower spine, a spot that would paralyze her and stop the fluid, disabling the device. It wouldn't kill her immediately. Max gasped, "No!" and fell to her knees. Logan wrapped his arms around her. Zack and Niyah froze while the Roswell gang watched spellbound with horror. Kyle stepped back and looked at Max Evans. "Heal her," he pleaded. "Heal her back and dissolve the device. Please! And hurry or she'll die." Cautiously, Max Evans approached the fallen girl and placed his hand on her back. A bright glow emanated from his hand and Brin slowly shook her head as she sat up. "What are you?" she asked him, amazed.
He stood up quickly. "Just someone trying to help," he replied and moved away from her into Liz's waiting arms. Brin looked at her back and touched the spot where his hand had been. Kyle smiled at her. Logan couldn't believe his eyes! What the hell did he just witness?! Wasn't she paralyzed a moment ago and now she was standing?! But that couldn't be possible…
With relief Max turned to Kyle, "You knew he could do that so you planned the blow accordingly." Kyle nodded and Max ran to him and grabbed him in a fierce hug, squeezing the life out of him and then out of Brin. She would be okay! Everyone relaxed and the celebratory mood of the earlier rescue quickly returned. They chattered to one another in relief. Once again, they had averted death and avoided danger; once again they had survived. Slowly, Brin pulled back from the embrace, turned and walked away from the group. They grew quiet, watching her uncertainly.
"It won't work," she started, her back to them. "You've stopped the tracker for the moment but its already growing back."
"Impossible. I dissolved it entirely," Max Evans replied.
Brin whirled around. "It's like our barcodes only faster. It's genetically encoded into me, which is why I said you have to kill me!!! This will only prolong the inevitable. I have two options and only two. Go back to Manticore where they will eventually succeed in making me a bounty hunter designed to track and kill the X-5s or…you kill me now and end my personal hell!" she shook with anger and emotion. Didn't they see?! Couldn't they understand the struggle it had been not to give in to her forced training and be that perfect assassin? She'd fought for them, her siblings, battling her demons in Manticore! Lydecker wanted her to be the one to capture and kill them, the sick fuck! She knew if she went back she'd eventually break. Zack had to see that this was the only way out for her.
Kyle dropped his head into his hands, desperately trying to find that Buddhist calm. "This can't be happening, can't be happening…" he continued to mutter under his breath.
"No, there has to be another way," Max refused to accept that Brin had to die just to save them.
Brin smiled sadly at her. "You said once that you'd rather die then go back to Manticore. So would I," she looked at her siblings. "Please…just let me go."
Zack looked at her with tortured eyes. He was the leader. It was ultimately his decision. As he walked towards her, Max got in front of him. "Please don't do this, Zack. There has to another way," she pleaded. Zack paused momentarily but finished walking up to Brin. His face was set, hard, and cold. 'Emotions only get in the way,' he fiercely reminded himself. The two stared at each other for a moment and then everything went into slow motion. Liz and Maria turned away, unable to watch as Zack grabbed Brin's neck in a strangle hold. Zack and Logan locked eyes for a moment before Zack looked away. Kyle yelled "NO!" and ran to stop Zack, Tess desperately trying to hold him back. Max collapsed against Logan, sobbing as Niyah watched numbly. There wasn't anything she could do to change this moment; this had to happen, even if it tore her heart out. Isabel, Max Evans, and Michael stood rooted with horror as Alex threw up behind them. When her neck crunched Zack let out a loud, harsh sob, his heart tearing apart as he felt her go limp. He'd done it. He'd killed her. In shock, he slid to the floor with Brin in his arms.
The room spun crazily as time seemed to regain its former speed. "You BASTARD!!" Kyle screamed and punched Zack so hard he flew across the room. He stalked after him, intent on ripping him to shreds. Max scooped Brin into her arms as Niyah dashed to head off Kyle. Logan looked at the Roswell group for help. Jolted out of their stunned thoughts Max Evans and Michael ran to where Kyle and Niyah were struggling. Zack put up no fight whatsoever. He kept repeating, "I'm so sorry," to no one in particular. Max Evans and Michael helped shield Zack as Niyah got Kyle under control.
"STOP!" she yelled at him. "It had to happen. Stop it, Kyle!"
Kyle shoved away from her, shaking his head. "How could you? How could you!?" he spat accusingly at Zack and he ran out into the night. Tess ran after him. Isabel watched her go, knowing that she could comfort him if anyone could. Alex recovered from his nausea but sat as far away from the body as possible. Isabel crouched down next to him, holding him as she remembered wanting to be held after seeing Grant's dead body. Max gently laid Brin out on the bench again, touching her face sadly. She looked at Logan, "There wasn't any other way…was there?" she managed between hiccups and tears. Logan heart broke to see her so devastated. He wanted to kiss her and hold her until the pain disappeared but he knew that no amount of comfort would ease the pain caused tonight.
"No, I don't think there was," he replied softly. Max looked over at Zack. Niyah sat down next to him, trying to comfort him by just being there. Max Evans mumbled something about needing to leave and the Roswell group got up to go. As they neared the stairs Maria turned back. "If there is anything…that we can do…" Logan nodded and the group left.
The agonizing slowness of this journey was driving him crazy! He sensed he was already too late. As soon as he and the trucker reached the city limits he dashed from the truck cab in his haste to finish the last leg of his trip. Running down a side street, he checked each vehicle for possibilities, settling on a relatively new Ducati 996. A simple swipe of his hand and the license plate read ANTAR from California instead of 234 XJA from New Mexico. Another few hand swipes and he drove off towards Roswell.
Since there was hardly anyone on the road he sped down the highway at 130 mph. He could feel her, Niyah, his love, his heart. She was in pain and she needed him, her grief threatening to drown him if he didn't temper the connection. The closer he got the stronger the connection grew. He purposefully kept his side shut down. He couldn't risk scaring her if she was in a difficult situation. He prayed that she was safe, that Lonnie and Rath didn't have her. The rage in is chest grew at the thought that she might be hurt despite her genetically enhanced abilities. 'I'm comin'. I'll be there soon,' he thought, wishing he could send her reassurance through their connection.
Kyle ran. He ran until his lungs burned and his enhanced body begged for mercy, needing air. And still he ran, running until he collapsed somewhere in the desert. Out here, no one could hear his ragged sobs, his screams as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. Brin was dead! Zack had killed her willingly, sacrificing any chance of her survival for them, for him. WHY!? He needed to find his calm. Buddha could show him why, show him how to survive this, if he could just find that calm place. He lay on the ground, crying until he had no more strength. Then a calm settled over him. He focused on keeping that calm and began a meditation.
Tess crept slowly towards Kyle. She hadn't been able to keep up with him as he ran but she followed the sounds of his agony and eventual saw him meditating. She sat close to him, content to give him comfort through her presence. Eventually he'd come out of his trance and she wanted to be there, be whatever he needed to help him through this. No one helped her when she'd lost Nasedo and she determined not to let that happen to Kyle.
Michael and Maria went to his apartment but sleep eluded them. "How could he?" Maria asked in amazed revulsion. "How could he kill his own sister?"
Michael looked at Maria for a few minutes, contemplating how to answer this question. "He had to. Brin told him what the deal was and she was right. If he hadn't done it, the tracker would have activated again. You heard that."
"I know but still, I mean, to actually take her neck and…" Maria shuddered. She sat on the couch in Michael's arms. "What do you think Max would have done in that situation? Our lives or Isabel's?" she asked quietly. It was the question Michael had been pondering since they left the UFO Center. He honestly didn't know.
"He probably couldn't. He'd try to find another way, even if there wasn't one."
"What about you? Could you?" she asked after a moment.
Michael held her closer. He hated knowing that he probably would. Hell, it was in his DNA to be a protector at all costs. It was why he'd pushed Maria away for so long. He couldn't imagine that she could really love a killer like himself. Maria sighed. She knew his answer even though he didn't speak it out loud. He would be able to, if it meant survival for the rest. "I don't want to think about this anymore tonight," she said, reaching up to kiss him. "Make me forget?" she pleaded as she pulled her shirt off. Michael knew that this topic would have to be discussed eventually but he agreed with her. Tonight, they needed to forget and what better way then in each other's arms.
Zack still sat on the floor of the UFO Center although he'd stopped apologizing to the air. He stared blankly off into space, in shock. Niyah sat with him, quietly grieving. So many losses lately. First Zan, then Ava and now her baby sister Brin. Zack had to snap out of this or they would never get to Canada. She knew she couldn't lead, she wasn't capable enough, but Zack was. If only she knew what to do or how to reach him.
Max approached Zack. She could tell that he was in severe shock. Putting her grief aside for the moment she knelt in front of him. "Zack," she said softly. "Zack, please look at me, please hear me," she reached out and touched his face. Watching them, Niyah realized that it would be Max who would reach him not her. Those two had always had a special bond. She was relieved to know that Max could do this, could get to Zack. He looked at Max but didn't really see her. Instead he saw Brin, begging him to kill her. He hadn't wanted to do it but it was the only way! Right?
"Zack," Max said again as she held his chin.
His eyes slowly focused on her face. The enormity of the situation hit him in the chest and took his breath away. "Max," he gasped, tears trickling down his cheeks as he dropped his head in his hands. "Oh god, oh god, oh god, what have I done?" The weight of Brin's death pulled him down into a fetal position on the floor. Max enveloped him in her arms.
"Shhhh," she crooned, gently rocking him and stroking his hair. Zack had never felt comfort like this. No one had ever offered it before, not that he would have accepted it. As for where Max had learned it was beyond him but at this moment he felt so scared and small and helpless. Her strong arms cuddling him to her was all the shelter he needed. He felt safe. He felt he could let go of the responsibility he carried all the time. His sobs were quiet but racked his entire body until there were no more tears to cry. Niyah sat beside them resting her head on Max's shoulder. They stayed like this for almost an hour, quietly comforting each other as best they knew how.
Logan sat by Brin's body, watching the group. He realized they needed each other and stayed away. He had enough on his mind. What the hell had happened tonight? What had gone wrong? And who were those others, who were they really? During the rescue he'd thought Michael was skilled but maybe it was more than that. How had Max Evans healed Brin? That just wasn't possible. Obviously the X-5s knew what the secret was since no one had seemed too shocked when Brin magically stood back up. Once things calmed down a bit he would ask Max. He looked at his watch. It was 1:26 am. No wonder he was tired.
The group stirred and Logan glanced back at them. Max helped Zack to his feet and the three walked over to Brin. "We need to put her somewhere," Niyah stated after a pause. They continued to look down at her. Zack trembled a bit. He didn't know if it was from emotion or just that he was low on Tryptophan.
"Why don't we put her in one of the caves around here, to preserve the…body. Then you can have a funeral when it suits you," Logan offered quietly. Max nodded and gave Logan a small smile of gratitude. Niyah lifted Brin but Zack stopped her. "Let me," indicating that he wanted to carry her. The four walked out of the UFO Center, creating a sad little procession with Zack carrying Brin at the head. They got into Logan's car and drove out into the desert.
Brody sauntered into his lab, checking over his programs with an almost careless ease. He was in a good mood today. Last night he'd dreamed of Maria, a very arousing dream no less, and he refused to let the magic of that memory fade, unrealistic though it was. He knew it was just a dream but if that's all he'd get then that's what he'd hold on to. Sydney was doing well in school, he had a new possible partner for his research and he was certain he'd found the link to his missing hour. Life was good. At least as good as it got for Brody.
The missing hour corresponded with the blips he'd noticed on May 14th. It was definitely an alien occurrence, of that he had no doubt. But it wasn't the same as the previous abductions. It felt different. He believed it was connected to when Isabel had tried to put him under hypnosis. Her brother Max was an admitted abductee. Maybe she was one too and didn't realize it. That could be where she gotten her psychic gift. Either way, the answer to his missing hour was connected to Max, Isabel and that hypnosis attempt. All he had to do was wait until they got out of school and ask them.
Liz's alarm blared loudly at 7:00 am. She groaned and smashed a pillow down on top of it. Max laughed. "Getting rid of some aggression are we?" he teased.
"I am NOT getting up and going to school!" she replied vehemently, trying to snuggle back under the covers.
"What? The studious Liz Parker is skipping?!"
She swatted him. "Max, after last night…I don't know. That was so horrible and I just…"
"I understand," he said quietly, his face somber. "But we need to keep going, you know, move on. We don't want anyone getting suspicious. Not after what Valenti had to go through last week." Max wondered if Valenti would ever get his job back as Sheriff.
Liz sighed and got out of bed. It amazed Max that he and Liz were back together, that everything was good between them, and most of all that he had spent three nights in bed with her. Granted, they'd always been exhausted from some ordeal or another but sleeping next to her was paradise regardless of the surrounding circumstances. "I know, Max. I just wish there was more I could do, that we all could do to help Kyle…and the others. They didn't deserve their difficult life anymore then you did. Its so unfair."
"It is but we'll help them. And this isn't the time to discuss anything. You need to get ready for school."
"And what are you going to do?" Liz inquired, amused.
"First, kiss you," and he kissed her passionately, "then run home and hope that my parents didn't notice that I never came home last night."
Liz laughed at his adorable worried expression. "I'm sure Isabel covered for you." He nodded and kissed her again, leaving out the window since Liz's parents were home. She sighed happily. It was hard to remain depressed when you had a man like Max in your life. Her head still spun from his kisses.
Michael and Maria both missed first period but that wasn't so unusual. In fact, the teacher hardly noticed and Liz was definitely not concerned. Alex and Isabel were present as was Max. That left Tess and Kyle. No one had classes with those two until third period, leaving them nothing to do but wait.
By third period, Liz had herself tied into knots worrying. She'd never seen Kyle as out of control as he was last night. What if Tess hadn't been able to find him or if she did, what if he hadn't listened to her? As the bell rang Kyle surprised everyone by walking in looking quite calm with Tess right next to him. He glanced at the others and nodded. Maria gave Tess the 'What's up?' sign and Tess mouthed 'Later' as she sat down.
No one got a chance to talk to Kyle the entire day and all that Tess would say was that he was doing better and would get through this in time. Max and Isabel caught up to Kyle in the parking lot after school. "Hey," Max started, "Ah, you're okay now?" he continued tentatively.
Kyle looked at both of them, incredulous. "Okay? Yeah, sure. I'm swell! Never better."
"Maybe okay was the wrong word…is there anything we can do to help?" Isabel replied to his sarcasm.
Kyle glanced down the street and then looked back at them. He and Tess had spent hours talking last night. With her gentle presence she'd helped him finally admit to himself that there was no other way to 'save' Brin. He didn't have to like it but he could accept it now. As he'd found his Buddhist calm, the rage he'd held inside dissipated. "Yeah, tell me if you've seen Niyah or Max."
Isabel shook her head. "No, we've been in school all day…"
"Thanks," he cut her off and drove down the street, wincing at the harshness he'd used towards Isabel. He may be ready to accept things but they still hurt.
Niyah and Zack sat on the couch in Logan's hotel room. They'd placed Brin's body in a cool cave and planned to go back in a few hours to bury her. Logan and Max were curled up in each other's arms on a chair. Logan drifted off to sleep as Max played with his hair. Earlier, Niyah had filled Logan in on the Roswell group's alien status, which he seemed to take rather well considering how shocking that information could be to some minds. But no one had spoken much in the last few hours. There was no need. Zack seemed to be calmer and less despondent so Niyah chanced a nap, reassured that Max would help him if he needed someone.
Max looked at Zack and studied this man she called her brother. He was so strong yet so incredibly fragile. She'd never imagined that he could break but when she'd held him in her arms earlier that night he'd been as broken as a person could be. She didn't blame him or hate him for what happened. He'd done the only thing he could do. The more she thought about it the more she realized that it had to be done and Zack was always doing the right thing, the smart thing. That's what she loved the most and hated the most about him. She wasn't sure if Zack could be any other way or if she'd even want him to change. He looked up at her and she smiled at him. A ghost of a smile played on his face but there was such a terrible sadness in his eyes. "Zack," she whispered, putting all the love and caring she felt into that one word. He nodded and rested his head back on the couch to sleep.
They both jumped up at the knock on the door. Niyah sat up and Logan opened his eyes, wide-awake. Before the second knock finished Zack opened the door to find Kyle standing there. Everyone tensed, waiting to see if a confrontation would happen. The two boys looked at each other intently. Then Kyle nodded and brushed by him to enter the room.
"Hey, Kyle," Niyah said gently, getting up and taking his hand. She searched his face to make sure he was okay.
Kyle smiled. "I'm fine. Thanks for the concern but I'll be all right. We all will," he took a calming breath. Buddhism rocked. After he'd meditated he'd been able to consider the tragedy with a clear perspective. It still hurt like hell that Brin was gone but the anger had vanished. "And Zack, I'm sorry I lost it last night. I should have seen that…it was the only thing you…I should have trusted you. You've never led us wrong before." Zack nodded, acknowledging the apology. Kyle held his eyes for a moment to make sure there was no lingering tension. Niyah smiled, surmising that this sudden but welcome change of heart had something to do with Buddha. Everyone relaxed as the moment passed.
"Where is she?" Kyle asked.
"In a cave nearby," Max answered. "Thought we could go up and bury her properly later."
Niyah nodded. "We wanted to wait until you would come with us."
He smiled a little and took a deep breath. "Well…let's go do this."
The group drove in silence out into the desert towards the cave. As Zack and Kyle dug the grave, Kyle chuckled to himself, thinking about the vast amount of digging he'd been doing lately. The ceremony was simple. Each of the X-5s kissed Brin and told her goodbye in their own way. Zack took the longest, adding an apology to his farewell. Then they laid her in the ground and covered her up, piling stones on top to mark the site. Not ready to leave her alone just yet they milled around the desert, talking softly to one another or sitting quietly.
Logan sat apart from them both during the ceremony and after it, feeling out of place. Zack slowly sat down next to him. "Yeah?" Logan asked a little brusque, unsure of why Zack would single him out here. He didn't feel like getting into an argument over Max right now. They stared at each other for a minute.
"Thank you for helping us," Zack said quietly. This was not easy for him but it needed to be said. "Thank you for helping Max…and for, for being what she needs," he stopped to take a deep breath. "I love her, I'll always love her but she loves you…and you can give her as close to a normal life as she'll ever get. I'd only keep her on the run…" his expression changed, growing darker. "But make certain she's safe…and happy. She deserves at least that much," his voice had dropped almost to a growl.
Logan nodded, still holding Zack's gaze. "She wants the same for you, you know," he dared to venture.
Zack tensed and quickly looked at the ground. He smashed down the pain in his heart, the pain that came from knowing that he'd only be happy with Max and knowing that he could never have her. The other three approached them hesitantly, unsure of whether to interrupt or not. Max looked at her two boys, sensing that they'd made some sort of peace between them. 'Good,' she thought with a smirk. 'Bout damn time!' The group walked back to the car and drove slowly towards the hotel.
Max and Isabel watched Kyle's car disappear down the street.
"Well, this sucks!" Isabel exclaimed loudly as she and Max got into his Jeep. "Too many people have gotten hurt or died lately and I don't know how much more I can deal…oh my god!" her words died out as she saw the man getting off the motorcycle across the street.
Max looked over at the man and blinked in disbelief. "What the hell?!" he exclaimed.
Zan walked towards them, taking calm, deliberate strides. He'd scoured Roswell last night but hadn't spotted Niyah or Lonnie and Rath. He still couldn't sense his sister or her partner in crime. Either they were long gone or they never came here in the first place. Niyah was definitely nearby but without fully opening the connection he couldn't pinpoint her location. Asking these look-a-likes how the situation stood was the next step. "So this is my other half?" he murmured as he neared the two.
Max cleared his throat before answering, "Um, and you are?" he asked, letting the question hang.
"Zan. And you?"
"But that's impossible!" Isabel said as she stared. "Ava said that they…this can't be true."
"So you met Ava?" His fellow Dupes had been to Roswell. Interesting. 'I wonder if they suckered this one into going to the Summit.' "You went to the Summit?" he asked, turning to Max.
"Um, yeah. Can you explain how…you're, alive?" Max replied haltingly.
"Sure. Whateva'. Was the Summit a set up?"
Max quickly recovered from the shock of seeing his double. "How do I know that you are Zan?" he said low and menacing.
Zan chuckled. "Right, I get it. Can you trust me? Yes. The real question is, can I trust you?"
The two leaders eyed each other, checking for weaknesses. Isabel stood by, wary and ready. "Why should we believe you?" she asked.
Zan sighed. This was getting him nowhere fast. "Look. Chill, I ain't here to take your spot, g. Believe me, I never wanted to be King, so be my guest and take the damn job. But I have to find those two fucking freak shows and soon. Got a little score to settle. So just point me in the direction they went and I'll be off." They still looked as if they didn't believe him. "I ain't a ghost, aiight? I was never dead. Lonnie n' Rath had to think I was though so they'd lay off. Glad to see that you managed the Summit without getting whacked. Not an easy feat considerin' my sister's desperation to get home."
Max and Isabel looked at each other but kept an eye on Zan. For some reason he seemed to be telling the truth and it wasn't like he could be much of a threat. There were four aliens and four X-5s in town. Those were good odds. Isabel nodded and Max looked back at Zan. "They're dead," he said simply.
Zan paused. This was not at all what he'd expected. Surely he would have felt it if they'd died. "Not possible. Don't give me static. No way you took them out."
"Well, we had help."
Zan considered this. "Who?"
"Niyah," he replied, knowing that would get Zan's attention but not wanting give away too much just yet. Zan eyes went wide at that statement. Niyah!? She helped to whack his sibs?!
"Any chance you were going to tell Niyah that you're actually alive?" Isabel inquired.
Zan nodded and his face softened. "Know where she is?" he asked quietly.
"I think the best possibility is Logan's hotel room," Isabel replied looking at Max. "Its the only safe place they could be right now."
Zan's face clouded over. "What the hell?" he asked, furious that she'd be in danger and who the hell was Logan and what was she doing in his hotel room?
Max shook his head and indicated that Zan get in the jeep with them. "I'll explain on the way. Which hotel is it, Is?"
"No idea, but there aren't too many in Roswell."
Max sighed. They'd just have to check them all.