"He's back," Vilandra shrieked throwing open the door to her brothers room and hurrying in.

"Who's back Vilandra?" Zan asked confused by her sudden appearance in his chambers

"Rath. One of the watchmen said they saw him approaching the town limits. Oh, I'm so thankful that he is okay. I was so worried that we would never see him again."

Just then Ava was walking down the hall and at hearing Vilandra's outburst hurried to Zan's chambers to see what was going on. "Worried that you would never see who again?" she asked walking in behind Vilandra.

"Rath. He's just been spotted making his was back to Roswell."

"What a relief," the small blonde said.

***

Maria ran as fast as she could through the hot desert trying to get back to her village as soon as she could. She had to convince Kyle and the others that they had to help the Antarians or they would all die. "Maria," she heard someone call our to her.

She stopped in her tracks. Who could it possibly be? The voice was familiar. She began to turn in circles trying to find the source of the voice. The cry came again, "Maria."

"Who's there?" she called out into the desolate desert.

"Maria, you're okay," the voice called again.

"Who is that?" she screamed beginning to get frightened.

"It's Laurie," the girl called back.

Maria sighed in relief. It was then that she spotted her friend. She was coming from the desert spring. "What are you doing out here?" Maria called as she began to move towards her friend.

"Looking for you. What were you thinking leaving like that? Kyle and the others were worried sick. We all were. If we lost you we would all be dead. You're our leader," the girl replied as they finally came face to face.

"There was nothing to be worried about. I went to protect everyone, even though I now know that it was not necessary."

"What do you mean?"

"I have so much to tell you. I'm sure there are other search parties looking for me, am I correct?"

"Yes, Kyle sent out a bunch. We are all to report back in 3 days."

"Three days, there is no way we can make it back by then."

"Yes we can. I brought one of the horses with me."

"What? We need then for farming, not for rescue missions. I can't believe that Kyle would permit this."

"He suggested it. Come on. Now that I've found you we can be back by mid day tomorrow."

"Yes, we have to get back as soon as possible."

"Why? What is the urgency for? What aren't you telling me? Did you ever find the Antarian commander?"

"You'll find out everything, but right now we have to get back. I must speak with Kyle, Alex and Liz as soon as possible."

Laurie, slightly confused by what was going on, led her friend back to the horse and they began off on their way back to the spring.

***

"So you were unable to find help then?" Zan asked as Rath entered the castle.

"Glad to know that my well being is of such importance to you."

"We don't have time for this now. I need to know what happened, what you have found."

"I can guarantee you nothing. I found only one living human but she proclaimed there were more and that she would try to convince them to help us."

"You are a liar. There are no humans. You knew this all along as well as I did. There was no reason for you to go. You have wasted valuable time, which we could have used to prepare for the war but instead you were gone for nearly 2 weeks trying to find the remains of an extinct race. Now that this foolishness is over its time for us to get back to work!"

"No, they are out there and anyone who is willing to help will be in Roswell within the next two weeks."

"You're crazy. They're dead, all of them, they could never survive. And even if they are still alive, they would never help us."

"They will, you will see, they will help us."

Just then Vilandra and Ava came running into the foyer to greet Rath. Vilandra ran up to him and threw her arms around him, "Rath, I'm so relieved that you are well. I was so worried that you I would never see you again."

"There is nothing to worry about my dear, I am in good health and our help will be arriving in 2 weeks."

Ava gasped, "You mean you found them? And they are willing to help us?"

He smiled at her and nodded. "Yes, I met them and they are going to help us. I explained how if they do not we would all die them included. They seemed only too happy to help."

"Oh, this is terrific new!" Ava exclaimed with a smile.

"Come, you must be tired, go rest and we can discuss this all later. I'm just happy that you're home and safe," Vilandra said leading him off.

"He didn't find anything," Zan said bitterly when they were out of earshot.

"What?" Ava asked confused.

"He did not actually find help. He found a girl, one girl, she claimed that there were others and she would convince them to help, but I think that is all just a lie. The whole thing was a waste, a pointless waste of time."

Ava looked at him with tears in her eyes, "We cannot defeat him ourselves Zan."

"I know."