Chapter Four: Four Go, Four Stay
"I can't believe you're doing this," Michael exclaimed, his arms crossed over his chest, watching Max and Liz prepare for the trip to Roswell. "We have to do this, Michael," Liz told him calmly, "somebody has to help. Do you want Earth to be wiped out like your planet was?" He didn't respond. "That's what I thought." "This doesn't feel right," Alex said, coming into the room, "we should all be going. I can help too." Max shook his head, abandoning his suitcase on the bed. "We can't risk anyone contracting the disease. You can come when we have it under control." Michael scoffed. "And what do you think you can do? You're two people who know nothing about this disease. How do you think you can help?" Liz shrugged meekly, looking down at her hands. "All we can do is try." She looked up to Max. "I mean, maybe we can get the CDC to help, but just not tell them it's alien. I don't know." She sank onto the bed and cradled her head in her hands. Alex sat with her, rubbing her back. "How can you keep from anyone that it's an alien virus?" Michael asked, "one way or another, someone's gonna find out."
"I can help." The four looked up to see Tess standing in the doorway. "Let me come with you. I can mindwarp everyone into thinking it's just a human disease." "Tess, that's too much," Max insisted, "you'll burn yourself out. We're talking about an entire town here, maybe more." She shrugged, moving into the room. "Well, then, we'll tell everyone what it really is, what we really are. When everything's under control, I can erase everyone's memories." Michael stared at her, incredulous. "You can do that? Since when?" She shook her head. "It's something I've always been able to do. Nasedo taught me when I was very young." She looked up to Max, her eyebrows raised in question. "Can I do this? Can I help?" He sat next to Liz on the bed, taking her hand in his. "I don't know," he whispered, "if they find out that we're aliens, they could use us for research. They won't care what they do to us as long as they get their cure. I can't let that happen to any of you." "You're forgetting, Max. We're stronger than they are. We can protect ourselves." He sighed, frustrated, and wishing that he didn't have to make all the decisions. "Talk to Kyle," he finally said, "we're leaving tomorrow."
**
"I still don't think you should come," Max said, as they piled their things in the trunk of the car. Kyle shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, you wouldn't allow Liz to go alone. It's the same thing. I can't let Tess go without me." Max regarded Kyle carefully. "You really love her, don't you?" Kyle nodded, closing the trunk with a snap. "Yeah, I do. She's my destiny." Max grinned. "Better yours than mine." Kyle laughed, slapping Max on the back. "I've called my dad," he said, as they walked back onto the driveway, "he'll meet us at the airport." Max nodded, putting his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "What if he's already contracted the disease? If he was with Larek and Liz's dad, that's a real possibility." Kyle was silent. "Yeah, I know. He said he's been feeling fine though. Still, he promised to wear some gloves and not touch us at all." Max sighed. "I hope that's enough."
Everyone came from the condo then, Tess and Liz in front. "Ready?" Kyle called, holding his hand out to Tess. She nodded, slinging her small bag over her shoulder. "Ready as we'll ever be," Liz said quietly, moving to Max's side. "Be careful," Isabel said worriedly, reaching out to Max and giving him a hug. "We will," he promised. "And call us every day with updates," Alex insisted, "if you need us, we'll be there in a second." Liz nodded, wrapping her arms around him. Maria, fighting back worried tears, went to the two of them and joined in their hug. She grabbed Kyle's sleeve as she did and pulled him in with her.
The aliens stood by silently, watching their human partners say goodbye. More proof of how close they had all become in their two-year absence. Tess turned to Isabel and hugged her, then looked awkwardly at Michael. They all remembered everything that happened on their now ruined planet and occasionally didn't know how to act around each other. Michael rolled his eyes, reaching for Tess and hugging her quickly. "I know you'll do good," he told her stiffly. She smiled. "Thank you Michael." He nodded and shrugged, looking at Max, who gave him a smirk. "You know I don't do emotions and goodbyes and stuff," Michael said. Max smiled. "Yeah, I know." Michael sighed in resignation and pulled Max in for a hug. He slapped him on the back before releasing him. "Like Alex said, you better call if anything happens. Got it?" Max nodded. "Yeah. We will. Don't worry." Liz pulled away from her friends. "We'd better go," she said.
**
Max drove, with Liz beside him, and Tess and Kyle in the backseat. "Do you think they're doing the right thing?" Maria wondered, leaning her head on Michael's shoulder. He rubbed her arm, watching as the car turned a corner and left their view. "I hope so," he answered. "Come on," Alex said quietly, pulling Isabel along with him. "Now we wait."