As the granolith shot off into the great beyond the cave shook. Everyone ran out of the cave in time to see the white cloud the granolith had made. They clung to one another all sadden by the departure of their children and friends. They all quietly paired off and went home.
Maria couldn't believe she was now engaged and now her husband-to-be, her friends, and her best friend in the universe was shooting off to another planet, only to meet gruesome war. Alex and Kyle helped her to the car. She noticed that not a single person had a dry face. Tears were the only thing that showed somewhat of the pain they felt inside. Not a word was spoken since they royal four and Liz left. What can one say? Maria knew that no matter what happened after this nothing would be the same.
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They group watched the planets fly right pass them. The view couldn't be described by words. Between the miseries of leaving people they love and the shear beauty of the planets silenced them.
Liz held Max's hand then rested her head against his chest while a single tear trickled down her face. She was happy and sad at the same time. The bittersweet departure left her with a lot to think about. Not long ago she found out she was part alien, and supposed to bring peace to a planet she didn't know. She also was soon to become Liz Evans. 'Wow.' That pretty much summed up the last few days. Liz wasn't sure if she could do what was expected of her. She knew she had this incredible power deep inside her and could kill an entire race. Last time killing just the skins in a building almost killed her, how could she repeat that but multiply it to entire planet? Were all skins bad? Liz didn't want to kill, but she knew that she either killed or everyone she loved including herself would die.
Max held Liz's hand. He knew she needed to feel him; that it comforted her. He was ecstatic that he and Liz would marry; it was his dream since he was 8. On the other hand he was petrified. Sure he was glad he could meet his family, but he knew that there wasn't going to be a reunion waiting for him when he got there. People were enslaved, and it was his along with the rest of the royal four and his bride-to-be to stop the skins. Could he do it? 'Stop focusing on what you can't help. Ease some of Liz's pain, she's been through so much in such little time.' When Liz placed her head on his chest he felt some of his frustrations and fears slowly drain. 'I can do this.' Max tried to convince himself. Liz looked up at him and thought to him 'You can do this, you won't be alone.' Max smiled, 'Yeah, we'll be okay.'
Isabel Michael and Tess looked at the plants whiz by. The three longed for their boyfriends and fiancée. This was all they ever wanted. All of them thought countless times on their time on Earth about what it would be like on their planet. Soon they would find out and that scared them. What if it's not like I think it is? Can we really beat the skins? I wonder if my parents love me? What are we getting into? These where what they couldn't help but think.
Tess couldn't believe that after those years with Naseado that she wasn't happy about returning to Antar. He had beaten the idea of returning home and responsibility to her people, but when she met Kyle all of it flew out the window. At first she ignored the butterflies in her stomach every time she saw or thought about him. When they started dating, it was like life suddenly became brighter and better. Tess knew that Antar would never be home, not when Kyle was still on Earth.
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The group was startled when the granolith landed on Antar. They slowly got out and looked around. It looked much like Earth in a lot of ways. 'No wonder they sent us here.' Max thought. The group didn't get too cozy though, because they did not know who to trust, especially since they stuck out like sore thumbs. They tried to walk in crowds, not letting anyone recognize who they are. The pod squad had no trouble with this since they had done it most of their lives. Liz on the other hand wanted so badly to talk the citizens. The Antarians looked the same as people on Earth except that they wore different clothing. Liz couldn't figure out what it was made of, so she dismissed it as another element that does not exist on Earth.
They thought they were doing well with blending in, but the pod squad and Liz started to hear whispers of joy and whispers of doubt. "It's King Zan! The royals are back! Salvation!" Liz heard one-woman whisper. The other woman just whispered back. "Shh. They died; stop believing in that stupid fairytale. Everyone knows they didn't have time to reproduce them. Besides even if that is them, they look like children what can they do? And with you calling attention to them won't get us out our work so common!"
Liz whispered to Max about what she just heard. Max turned his head towards Isabel, Michael, and Tess. "We've been spotted." Isabel looked like a ghost. "What do we do? Do we admit who we are, or do we run?" Max shrugged. He had no idea what to do. They were on Antar, the rules they had on Earth couldn't apply anymore because they nowhere to run to.
TBC
