Max, Isabel, Tess, Michael, and Quandara watched as Kavar entered with two guards on both sides.
Nicholas smiled, "Kavar, this is Xan, the former king, his queen, his loyal second, and of course Vilandra. Everyone, this is Kavar."
Max froze, he knew that if he could be diplomatic somehow the situation would be better, but he suspected that Kavar didn't come to talk. Still, he made no attempt to stop Kavar when he walked forward toward them.
Kavar was a tall man, a bit fat, with long brown hair tied back into a ponytail, with a goatee as well. His voice was deep and gruff. After he walked around and examined the group, he spoke, "This," he said, gesturing to Max, and laughing, "this is Xan, the once proud and powerful leader." Then to Max directly, "You are a weak little boy, powerless compared to me." He laughed again and continued, "You are pathetic!"
Michael didn't like hearing Max treated this way, he saw a loose rock by Kavar and smashed it.
"Oh," said Kavar noticing it, "you want to smash rocks?" Suddenly the ceiling behind the Royalty crumbled and several rocks fell to form a wall. Then Kavar disintegrated the newly formed wall into a pile of dust, all without lifting a finger.
Max didn't like this impressive show of power, so he put up his forcefield. "Leave us alone, Kavar," Max said with command in his voice.
"Or what?" Kavar said, still somewhat humored by the weakness of the once all-mighty, all-powerful Xan.
Michael stepped to his king's aid, "You heard him," he said, "besides, don't you have to go pick your skin off or something?"
"Actually," said Kavar, "I'm a clone, just like you. I'm not stupid enough to risk everything coming here; my counterpart is safe on my world. Although the real Kavar is in telepathic contact with me, he is controlling me to some extent."
"So," said Tess, "you're a coward. You couldn't come to face us in person. What were you so afraid of?"
"Don't try me little girl," Kavar said angrily.
"Leave her alone!" Max said, "and leave Michael alone too!"
Kavar waved his hand and Max's forcefield was gone. Michael, Tess, and Isabel had silently worked out targets during Kavar's ranting and raving. All three raised their hands. Michael and Tess took out the guards, as Isabel managed to knock Nicholas off his feet. All three were stunned, not killed. Max looked Kavar in the eye. Kavar would have normally been terrified if Xan looked at him with anger, but when Kavar looked into Max's eyes; he didn't see the look to kill; that primitive rage built up and ready to be shot out in fury. Kavar smiled and held out his hand at Max. Max quickly erected his forcefield and Kavar's blow was deflected. Max let up the forcefield quickly knowing that if Kavar forced it out and attacked again, he would have no defense. Michael quickly stepped up and held out his hand to Kavar. A blinding white flash started, but as the light reached Kavar he spread his arms out and clasped his hands together. He looked at them with the eyes of a madman and smiled, not saying a word. He released his hands, guiding his palms in their direction. A white flash of light was released as the Royal Four and Quandara were flown back. Somehow, Kavar had seized the power of Michael's energy, and reversed it back on him and the others.
Hanson found himself on the street with everything normal. He turned the corner in his patrol car and saw the UFO Center with dozens of people frantically running from something. Hanson got out of his car and ran to investigate. All the cars that were driving by had been stopped and abandoned. Hanson saw someone wearing a silver jumpsuit, pulled out his gun and ran forward to confront this stranger.
"This is the Police, mister," Hanson said, "now, you just put your hands on your head and walk right on out here to the light."
The man in the silver jumpsuit did not acknowledge this. Instead, he held out his hand toward one of the cars. As this happened, the car's headlights turned on, the engine started, and the radio began blasting. The car now seemed to be controlled by the man in the silver jumpsuit. The car swung around, as the alien guided it with his hand, and started racing at Hanson at full speed.
Valenti was afraid of something like this. He had just left the UFO Center after looking in on Kyle and his friends when he saw Hanson under attack. Valenti pulled out his gun, "Hanson get back!" Hanson did manage to avoid the car, and once seeing that his former deputy was safe, Valenti shot the alien. With that the alien fell, the car powered down. Valenti and Hanson, guns in hand, ran up to the fallen man. They knelt down to examine his medical condition.
Isabel woke up to find Quandara, Michael, and Tess lying on the ground unconscious. Kavar was gone, Max was gone, the guards were gone, but Kavar did leave behind everyone's favorite brat, Nicholas.
"Hello darling," Nicholas said as leaned over Isabel, "how was your nap?"
Michael arose next, finding Nicholas leaning over Isabel. Michael rose to his knees, held up a hand, and using his powers, flung Nicholas up against the wall.
"Why you…" Nicholas said angrily and rose to his feet, "Do you want me to kill you again. Last time you were at least a bit of challenge, but hey, I'll be nice this time and make your death swift."
With the wave of Nicholas's hand Michael was lying of the floor with his hands pressed against his temples, screaming in agony.
Nicholas smiled, "Maybe I will torture you after all. Just goes to show how much I really did hate you in your past life."
Isabel couldn't let Nicholas do anything to hurt Michael. How could she go up against power like that though? Then she remembered, her unique gift of getting inside someone's head, dream walking she called it. She normally couldn't withstand Nicholas's resistance, but he was concentrating greatly on harming Michael right now, so his defenses were not as strong. It would still be difficult. Isabel closed her eyes and focused in on invading young Nicholas's complex mind.
Seconds later, Michael stopped screaming.
"What?" Nicholas said, "You! Ah, no, stop it! Get out of my head!"
Somehow, Isabel was able to induce images from home into Nicholas. She could see, and make him see, who he used to be, who Vilandra used to be, and the relationship he had wished between them. Isabel got kicked out before long, and her eyes opened and she began breathing heavy. Nicholas was a bit disoriented, and, at this point, Michael was up on his feet again. This time, he didn't bother to use any alien ability. He took care of Nicholas the human way, and gave him a good sucker punch to the face, knocking him unconscious. Then, he ran up to Isabel.
"You all right?" Michael asked.
"Yeah," Isabel responded, "I'll be fine."
At this point Tess woke up. She groggily looked around. When she noticed who of the four was missing she stood up. Michael and Isabel turned to look at her, "Max?" Tess asked.
"Gone," said Michael simply.
Tess began to cry. Then, Quandara, who they had all forgotten about, began to moan.
The three remaining of the Royal Four ran up to her. Michael shook her.
"Wake up," said Michael, "we need your help."
"Why have you been weakened so much more than the rest of us?" Isabel asked, concerned to see her mother in such bad shape. She was much more hurt than the rest; she definitely could not stand.
"I," Quandara said weakly, "absorbed as much of the power as I could to minimize injuries to the four of you."
"Three of us," Michael corrected, "Max is missing, and we gotta get him back. Just one question: How?"
"What makes you think she'll know?" asked Isabel.
"They're her people," Michael said.
"Our people," added Tess.
"Not anymore," said Michael.
"There's only one thing you can do for Max now," Quandara explained, "the ship. Go to the ship, find the engine room, and sabotage the equipment. Max won't be killed until Kavar gets him home, and Kavar can't get him home if his ship is damaged. I'm too weak, I can't go. Let me just stay here and rest."
"Okay Michael," said Tess, "what are we going to do? It's your call now."
"Let's go to Kavar's ship before they can leave," Michael said boldly. Tess nodded in support. The two ran off to leave, but then stopped. Isabel was still by Quandara. "Isabel," Michael said, "c'mon, lets go."
"I'll be fine, dear," Quandara told her daughter, "go. Save your brother, save your king."
Isabel stood up and the three of them headed out. Before they started to open the door, it began opening. They stood back, ready, in case their enemies had returned. That was not the case.
Michael looked at him, "Brody?" he said, "what are you…"
"It's Larick, actually," said Larick, "and I thought you could use the help of somebody who actually knows what he's doing."