Part 40
Michael grabbed Tess by the hand as he saw Pam's had begin to glow.
They had to end this - now.
And he knew exactly what to do.
"Tess, help me!" Michael yelled at his sister. He could feel Tess' indecision. She knew that Danala was their sister, was reluctant to completely destroy her.
Michael felt no qualms whatsoever.
The bitch had hurt his daughter. He owed no loyalty to her.
His loyalty was to his REAL family - Jennetta, Maria, Max, Isabel, Liz, Alex...even Kyle and certainly Tess.
Danala was going down.
He was beginning to go blind from the intensity of the light that Danala was creating. He could feel his eldest sister gathering energy from the walls around her. He realized that the entire complex in which they found themselves was like a giant power conductor, just like Stonehenge had been when Isabel had opened the portal from Illyria.
And Michael understood. Stone increased their power.
Michael threw up his own hand. He had to access some of that power before Danala completely drained it - had to control it so that SHE couldn't. He used his connection to Tess through their linked hands to try and communicate to her what he was trying to do.
~*Tess!*~
**MICHAEL!**
~*Help me Tess!*~
**She's our sister Michael!**
~*She's going to kill us! She does not care a flying fig about either of us. She's one of THEM Tess. You have to help me.*~
**But we'll be alone!**
~*You will never be alone Tess. I promise.*~
Michael could see images whirling through his younger sister's mind, knew her loneliness, recognized in it the same feeling he had always had growing up.
Flash*
Seven year old Tess breaking free of her pod, seeing the other three pods dark and empty, knowing that she had been abandoned.
Flash*
Ten year old Tess decorating Nasedo's house for Christmas, then crying herself to sleep when he never came home.
Flash*
Sixteen year old Tess seeing Isabel across the quad at school, approaching her long-lost friend with her heart in her throat.
Flash*
Tess hearing Max telling Michael how to be romantic, realizing that he was in love with someone else.
Flash*
Max yelling at her, "YOU'RE not one of us!"
Flash*
"I knew it was meant to be!" Ecstatic happiness that her destiny with Max had been confirmed by his mother on the message from the orb.
Max pushing her away from him with a simple, "No," and going after Liz.
Flash*
Michael and Isabel telling her that she had to stay in Roswell while they went to England with Liz, that she couldn't help them bring Max home.
Flash*
Pam coming to Tess, telling her who she really was, renewed hope that at last she wasn't going to be alone.
Flash*
Kyle telling her that he loved her. Tess refusing to accept that it could be true. She had learned not to trust love.
Flash*
Tess realizing that Danala was evil, that she wanted Tess to be evil, that she could not be. She was alone again.
~*Tess! Listen to me! I promise that if you help me, you will NEVER be alone again.*~
He could hear Tess sobbing somewhere outside the connection. **How can I believe you? Everything I've ever been told has been a lie!**
Michael frantically searched his mind for an argument that would convince her. He was still competing with Danala for the energy in the room, felt himself weakening in the battle against his older and more experienced sister. His legs were beginning to give out on him.
He had never been very good at controlling his powers.
He had gotten better - but in a tug-of-war against someone of Danala's experience? He had already lived two separate lives in the years that she had been refining her gifts.
Finally he threw out the first thought that came to mind. ~* You're an aunt!*~
**WHAT! What on Earth are you talking about?**
Michael threw an image of Jennetta in his sister's direction. He showed her all that his daughter was - her intelligence, her sweetness, her dimples and then he threw her the image of Jennetta in the transformation pod, her eyes closed.
~*Help me Tess!*~
Michael felt Tess' rage explode within her - rage that her brother was going to lose his child. He felt the exact moment that she began to help him absorb power from the walls around them.
The brightness of Danala's energy was beginning to fade to the periphery of his vision. He and Tess were handling so much power it was drowning out the other girl.
And Michael knew exactly when they began to win...because Danala spoke to them.
~~Tristandor! Sabrya! Don't betray me again! Please! I cannot bear it!~~
Michael felt his heart contract at her sobs. He felt Tess weakening beside him.
**Danala! We can still stop this!** Tess exclaimed. **YOU can stop this.**
~*Tess, she's playing you!*~ Michael screamed at her with his mind.
~~Think about what the three of us could accomplish on Illyria together.~~ Danala offered.
She sent images of Michael, Tess, Danala, with Jennetta and Maria as well, gathered around a table, laughing, hugging. Michael blinked when he realized that Kyle was there as well. And then he knew...Tess WAS in love with Kyle.
Danala sent a picture of thousands of people in a square cheering for he and his sisters. ~~We can be a family again. All we need to do is rid ourselves of Jaxon Falconer and his silly twit of a sister once and for all. And then we can be together my beloved ones.~~
Michael could feel Tess beginning to let go of their connection. Danala's false promises were too tempting.~*Tess! She's lying! Fight it! You already have a family!*~ He sent her images of Max, Isabel, Liz, Alex, tried to show her how much he loved them, tried to remind her of how much he KNEW she had come to love them.
He sent her images of the carnage in Dernia - disaster after disaster caused by their older sister's emotionless and incompetent rule. He remembered it all thanks to the orb.
He sent her images of the peaceful High Kingdom of Illyria, of how beloved Max and Isabel were there, of how beloved THEY, Michael and Tess, had been there because their marriages had united two ancient enemies with a new hope of peace.
Finally he sent her an image of Danala killing Jennetta with a blast of her hand. The very idea of it made him physically sick, but this was no time for squeamishness.
He was fighting for his sister's soul here. He was fighting for the lives of his nearest and dearest.
He would stop at nothing to win.
Michael sighed with relief when he felt Tess beginning to power up again.
He could feel Danala beginning to weaken. ~~Tris! Sabbie! No! Please!~~
But Michael felt no emotion from her. She wanted to win for the principle of it but the irony of all ironies was that she was going to lose because she didn't care.
She didn't care about anything enough to win. Tess and Michael were going to defeat her with the power of their love for those they were protecting.
He realized that his sister Danala had been dead from the day she had entered her transformation pod in Dernia a generation ago.
Living without emotion was not really living at all.
Michael grasped Tess' hand and made one last push to drain Danala. He felt her beginning to fade away. She was burning out...THEY were burning her life force out.
And then - with a flicker - she was gone.
Michael began slowly to disperse the energy he held within his fragile human body. He couldn't quite believe the extent of it.
He spoke to Tess in his mind. ~*Let it go slowly Tess. If we release it all at once we might still kill them all.*~ He felt that Tess understood.
It felt like an age before the last of the power they had collected had been released. It then took another few moments for Michael to get his bearings.
He blinked, clearing his vision. He was still seeing dots in front of his eyes due to the damage the intense light they had created had caused.
Michael could see Isabel, Alex and Kyle all huddled protectively in a little group over Max and Liz. Max and Liz had their arms wrapped around each other.
He saw Alex tentatively beginning to open his eyes. "Is it over? Did we win?" His friend asked in confusion. He was looking around, clearly searching for Danala's body, for any sign that she was dead.
"She's gone." Michael told them all quietly.
"You better mean gone as in dead, not gone as in "Uh oh! She escaped and will return to haunt our dreams!" If Alex was joking, it meant he was going to be all right.
"She doesn't exist anymore." Michael replied firmly.
"Michael." He realized that he was still holding Tess' hand. He looked down at his sister. "Thank you." Her blue eyes were shining with unshed tears.
"Thank YOU." Michael returned. He looked across the chamber at Maria, who was crouched against Jennetta's pod. Her eyes were open and she was staring at him, her lips pressed together.
Michael took a deep breath, went to join her. "Are you all right?" He asked as he knelt down next to her.
"That was some light show." Maria replied, her tone unreadable. "Is she really gone?"
"Yes."
"So how are we going to find out how to fix our daughter?" She asked him, licking her lips.
Michael sighed, pulled her into his arms. All the anger he had felt at her for not telling him the truth about Jennetta the moment she found out had drained away. There just wasn't time for it.
Jennetta needed them strong and together.
"I don't know." Michael finally told her, wishing above all things that he did.
Part 41
Max helped Liz to her feet. He saw Isabel and Alex move away to give them a little privacy. Kyle was already across the chamber talking to Tess.
"Are you okay?" He asked with concern. She was rubbing her eyes, clearly trying to refocus after the brightness that had filled the transformation chamber when Michael and Tess had destroyed Danala. Max gently stroked his hand across her eyes, healing the damage that had been done.
Liz blinked up at him. A radiant smile burst across her face. "I am now." She threw her arms around his neck. "I couldn't get to you Max. I was so worried that you were going to do something to Tess that you'd regret." She eyed him seriously. "I've never seen you that angry Max. I was scared you were going to do something crazy."
Max remembered how he had been more than willing to die if it meant being with Liz again. He didn't think he had better let her in on that little piece of information.
"And jumping in front of a bullet wasn't crazy?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
Liz looked momentarily embarrassed, but her eyes were glinting with a hint of anger. "I had no choice. I was NOT going to lose you again. I don't care if you don't remember it Max. You are mine and I will do anything to protect you. You couldn't explain what compelled you to heal me when I was shot the first time and I didn't think before doing what I did. I would die for you." She said fiercely.
Max gazed down at her in amazement, his heart swelling with so much love for her that it nearly brought him to his knees. She didn't know that he had his memory back! She didn't care if he ever got it back. She would die for him. What had he ever done to deserve her?
"You know why I did it Liz." Max whispered, pulling her against him. She shivered as he spoke into her ear. "I was YOU. If I die tomorrow or fifty years from now my destiny will be the same. It's you."
Liz had pulled back, was staring up at him, her mouth parted slightly in shock. "It will ALWAYS be you."
"Max!" He silenced her with a kiss. Her silky hair fell across his hands as he brought them up to cradle her beloved face.
The connection was instantaneous. He saw directly into her soul, saw her as a little girl, saw the first time she realized she loved him, saw the entire story that WAS Liz.
She broke the kiss, pulled his head down so that their foreheads were touching. "I love you. MY Max."
"Always." He kissed her again.
It took a moment for him to realize that someone was clearing their throat. Max brought his head up, pulled Liz close to his side. Isabel was standing there, looking a little disconcerted.
"I don't want to interrupt guys, but I seriously think Michael is going to blow a gasket if you don't get over there Jaxon."
Jennetta! Max started with guilt. How could he have forgotten about his sister?
Grabbing Liz by the hand, he hurried across the chamber. He called over his shoulder to his other sister. "By the way Iz. It's Max, if you don't mind."
"WHAT!" He heard Isabel shriek. He knew that he was going to pay for THAT later.
Michael and Maria were standing near Jennetta's pod, hopeless expressions on both of their faces. Michael had his arm around Maria's shoulders. Max could tell that he was only holding it together for Maria's sake. She was clearly on the verge of a breakdown.
Maria turned her stricken face to Max. "What are we going to do Max? My baby is going to be one of those zombies. If that witch Danala wasn't gone I'd kill her myself."
"Your baby?" Alex and Isabel had come up beside them. Max had no idea where Tess and Kyle had disappeared to. Alex was staring at Maria in shock. "I think we missed that little tidbit."
"It's a long story." Max said. "Suffice it to say for now that's it true. Jennetta is Michael and Maria's child." He looked at Michael warily. "How did you find out?"
Michael frowned slightly. "Not from where I should have apparently. Did you know about this too Maxwell?"
Max grimaced. "Er, I sort of found out when I tried to heal Maria earlier."
Michael just sighed in annoyance. "Why am I NOT surprised? I found a green orb near that Santa Anna Hot Spring." Michael explained. "When I touched it I got a bunch of flashes. All my memories for when we were on Illyria came back." He paused, looked pensive. "It was like they were stored in there or something."
Max felt dawning realization. "That was what I put in your bag before I threw you into the portal to come back." He grimaced. " I saw Tarsus fiddling with them before we came to get you to come back to Earth. I didn't know what they were when I stole them from Tarsus. I thought that you guys might be able to use them to open the portal so that I could come home. I gave one to you too Maria." Max closed his eyes, anger burning through his veins as he realized that Tarsus had tricked him again. "Tarsus must have wanted me to take them, just pretended that he didn't."
"HOLD IT!" Isabel interrupted. "Let's back up. Michael doesn't seem to be the only one with his memory back. Max, how?"
Michael's head jerked at that news. His eyes lit up with hope. "Is it true?" Maria didn't react at all. She had moved directly in front of Jennetta's pod and was tracing the little girl's face through the transparent organic material.
"It came back when I healed Liz." Max explained. "The connection was so strong, it must have bumped everything back where it belonged."
"Return to where it all began." Isabel was muttering under her breath. "Of course! That's what Mother meant when she contacted me the first time."
"What?" Max asked, confused.
"Mother contacted me. It was how we knew that we had to go to Stonehenge to bring you back." Isabel explained. "We thought it was you at first but then I was able to contact her later too." Isabel suddenly looked upset. "Make the sacrifice." She looked at Michael in horror. "You don't think she meant Jennetta? That we had to sacrifice her to get Max back?"
Michael's mouth compressed into a thin line. "That is one sacrifice that I will not be making."
They all stared at each other uncomfortably. Max had no idea what to do. All he knew is that they couldn't bring Jennetta out of the pod until the cleansing was complete. It would kill her. He didn't know nearly enough about how the whole process worked, as it had never been successful on him. He had been brainwashed, but not cleansed.
"Isabel!" Michael exclaimed suddenly "Didn't you talk to your mother by using the stones in the Henge?"
"Yeah, so?" Isabel said.
"I used the stone walls here to tap into enough energy to destroy Danala. You might be able to do it to contact your Mother." Michael said. "You can ask her if there's any way to reverse the cleansing."
"We already know of a way." Maria said quietly.
Everyone whirled to stare at her. "What do you mean Maria?" Liz asked.
"Think Michael. How did your cleansing get reversed?" Maria's face was expressionless. Max watched all the colour drain from his best friend's face.
"The portal." He turned to Max suddenly. "Where are the orbs? We have to go back to Illyria."
"That won't be necessary." Max felt Liz's hand tense in his. A new voice had entered the conversation.
"Eddie!" Max glanced at Isabel uncomfortably. He was pretty sure that by now Eddie had some inkling of the truth about them, but it was still weird to see the Native American man staring at them all standing as they were in front of a bunch of pods.
"What are you doing here?" Michael demanded suspiciously. Max saw that he had moved to stand in front of Jennetta's pod protectively. Alex put his arm around Isabel in a similar fashion.
Eddie just grinned, rolled his eyes. "You'd think that by now you'd know that things are NEVER as they appear."
Max felt his heart stop as Eddie's hand came up and began to glow.
Part 42
Kyle approached Tess cautiously as everyone seemed to be getting their bearings back after the big "Bye-bye Danala" fireworks display.
She was watching Michael and Maria as they ran their hands over Jennetta's pod, clearly trying to figure out how they were going to save her. Kyle stood quietly beside her, waited for her to speak.
"It's my fault. My brother is going to lose his daughter because of me. How could I have been so stupid Kyle?" She asked, her tone sad.
"You did the right thing in the end." Kyle said quietly.
She whirled on him, her blue eyes flashing. "Try telling that to that little girl!" She snapped, whirling on her heel and running down the stone corridor that led out of the transformation chamber. Kyle was on her heels instantly.
He caught her arm just as she was about to escape out the stone doorway that led into the main passage. "You have no right to do this Tess."
She was trying to wrench away from him, but his words stopped her. "Do what?" She asked, sounding confused.
"Run."
Tess eyed him for a moment, blanched, then her expression became panicked. Her eyes were darting all over the place, seemingly anywhere but his face.
"TESS! You owe it to them to help fix this mess!" Kyle yelled. She flinched.
"No one wants me here anyway Kyle." She finally said quietly.
"And what am I?" He demanded. "Oh, I forgot. I'm just a pointless human." He paused, saw Tess' eyes widen at his tone. "I know I might not be anyone important to you, but I want you here." Kyle could feel bitterness drifting into his voice, did his best to suppress it. "And Michael trusted you enough to ask you to help him get rid of the Wicked Witch of Dernia."
"He wasn't thinking." Tess said stubbornly. "As soon as he remembers that I let Danala pod Jennetta he's going to flip out on me." She paused, tears filling her eyes. "And Max is going to hate me for sure. For what he thought I did to Liz, for even letting Danala get near her."
Kyle felt like he had been belted in the stomach. "It always comes back to Max doesn't it." He finally managed to say, keeping his voice steady with all his willpower. For the first time in his entire life he felt like crying over a girl. Even when Liz had dumped him it hadn't been THIS bad. And he and Tess had never even kissed.
You are one hell of chump Valenti, he thought to himself. "To hell with it." He muttered to himself. He let go of Tess' arm, turned away to head back to join the others. "If you want to go, go. If you can't put your faith in anyone, then you don't deserve them anyway."
"Kyle..." He could hear some note of pity in Tess' voice. It made him want to throw up.
"Just go." He walked away from her. He had his back to her, but he could tell she hadn't moved.
"KYLE!" The tone of her voice was completely different. She sounded completely caught off guard. Kyle whirled in time to see Eddie walking swiftly past him. He didn't even look at Kyle.
"What the..."
Tess had run up to join him.
"What is he doing here?" She asked, sounding frightened.
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Why do I have the feeling it can't be good?" He started after Eddie at a fast clip.
"KYLE!" Tess yelled again.
Kyle sighed, turned. "Can I help you?" He asked sarcastically.
Tess was biting her lip, clearly undecided. Kyle felt his thoughts drifting to one of his many fantasies about kissing those lips.
Oh for...Don't you have any self-respect you moron? Kyle asked himself. "Have you gotten over yourself yet?" He asked instead, being far meaner than he intended.
After all, it wasn't her fault that she didn't love him, that she loved Mr. Perfect, Max Evans. She had tried to get over it, but the ease with which she had re-embraced her destiny when Danala asked her to - well, it was pretty clear that she was never going to get over Max.
And hey, who could blame her? He was a saint - a bloody, fricking saint - one that Kyle even admired if he told himself the truth.
"I'm coming." She finally said, hurrying past him.
They arrived just in time to see Eddie raising his hand.
Kyle and Tess exchanged looks of horror. The native man had his back to them, but it was clear that he intended harm to their six friends, all of whom were huddled around Jennetta's pod.
Kyle saw Max thrusting Liz behind him, saw Michael raising his own hand, but it was going to be too late.
And then the most unbelievable thing happened. Eddie began to shapeshift.
Isabel seemed to realize what was happening at the exact same time as Kyle because she launched herself at Michael, forcing him to put his own hand down. It had just begun to glow.
When the bright light of his transformation had dispersed, in Eddie's place stood a young man with dark hair. He was shaking his head as though clearing it.
Kyle grabbed Tess' hand, began to move closer cautiously. They were still too far away to hear what was happening.
But there was no way they could miss Maria's shriek of joy. "REN!" She pushed Michael aside, threw herself at the new alien among them. She began to rain kisses all over his face. "Thank God! Thank God!"
Ren looked slightly uncomfortable, but he was laughing. "Please Maria. I'm not used to..." But Michael had already grabbed Maria by the waist and was hauling her off of him. He did not look pleased.
The alien called Ren, whom apparently Maria knew, turned to Max, bowing at the waist. "Your Highness."
Max was frowning. "Where's the real Eddie?" He demanded, clearly understanding something here that was beyond the rest of them.
Kyle and Tess had joined the group near the pod by now, so Kyle could see the shapeshifter's face clearly. Ren looked sad for a moment. "I'm afraid he's dead."
Kyle heard Liz gasp. "Poor Eddie!"
"Tarsus?" Max asked, his tone furious. When Ren nodded, he demanded. "When?"
"Last summer." Ren replied.
"Jesus..." Kyle heard Michael mutter.
"When did you get here?" Maria asked, interrupting the conversation. "Are you here to help us with Jennetta?"
Ren's eyes took in the pod. They were gleaming strangely. "In a manner of speaking." He replied.
Wonderful, thought Kyle, more alien double-speak. Half the time he didn't know why they even bothered to speak English. It wasn't like he ever understood half of what came out of their mouths.
"Who sent you?" Max asked.
"Your mother." Ren replied. "I followed you through the portal when YOU followed Jennetta. You didn't think she would let you go unprotected did you?"
"But where were you?" Liz asked. "We didn't see you."
Ren eyed her, amused. Liz shifted uncomfortably. Max put his arm around her reassuringly. "So this is Liz?" Ren asked. "She is as lovely as I was led to believe." He could see that Liz looked embarrassed, tried to ease it. "I apologize your Highness." Kyle raised an eyebrow at that. Liz eyes widened. Max had a half-smile on his face, as though he wasn't surprised. "I awoke before the rest of you. The force of the explosion after a journey through the portal is not nearly as harmful for me as it is for you. I shapeshifted so that I blended with the stones in the Ring and followed you all when you awoke."
"Who cares about any of this?" Maria demanded, interrupting yet again. "What are we going to do about our daughter?"
"I'm afraid that there is very little that can be done other than to wait." Ren told her. He didn't sound the least bit upset.
"WHAT?" Maria shrieked. "I won't just let my baby be turned into a pod person!" Kyle grimaced. THAT had been piercing. He could see Michael's nostrils flaring, as though he was trying very hard to hold onto his temper.
"Fear not my lady." Ren said soothingly. "Everything has turned out just as it ought. It is all coming to be as it was meant to, as it was written in the stars."
"Are you telling me that my child is meant to be a zombie?" Maria shrieked again. She rounded on Michael. "I won't have it Michael! I mean it. I'll kill her first! My daughter is NOT going to be like Danala and all those freakish Dernians!"
Ren had advanced, touched Maria's shoulder. She whirled, her face a mask of grief and rage. "Why did you even save her if this was what was going to happen anyway?" She yelled at him.
"My lady, please! You misunderstand. Jennetta is not being cleansed!" Ren told her pleadingly.
Michael clamped his hand over Maria's mouth, effectively shutting her up, although she continued to struggle against him. Kyle could see that she was quickly becoming hysterical.
Max had finally stepped up as well. "I suggest that you do tell us what is going on then Ren." He eyed Maria with concern. She seemed to calm down slightly at the look Max gave her. Kyle frowned, wondering if alien voodoo had anything to do with it.
"The salvation of our planet." Ren replied seriously.
Michael grabbed Tess by the hand as he saw Pam's had begin to glow.
They had to end this - now.
And he knew exactly what to do.
"Tess, help me!" Michael yelled at his sister. He could feel Tess' indecision. She knew that Danala was their sister, was reluctant to completely destroy her.
Michael felt no qualms whatsoever.
The bitch had hurt his daughter. He owed no loyalty to her.
His loyalty was to his REAL family - Jennetta, Maria, Max, Isabel, Liz, Alex...even Kyle and certainly Tess.
Danala was going down.
He was beginning to go blind from the intensity of the light that Danala was creating. He could feel his eldest sister gathering energy from the walls around her. He realized that the entire complex in which they found themselves was like a giant power conductor, just like Stonehenge had been when Isabel had opened the portal from Illyria.
And Michael understood. Stone increased their power.
Michael threw up his own hand. He had to access some of that power before Danala completely drained it - had to control it so that SHE couldn't. He used his connection to Tess through their linked hands to try and communicate to her what he was trying to do.
~*Tess!*~
**MICHAEL!**
~*Help me Tess!*~
**She's our sister Michael!**
~*She's going to kill us! She does not care a flying fig about either of us. She's one of THEM Tess. You have to help me.*~
**But we'll be alone!**
~*You will never be alone Tess. I promise.*~
Michael could see images whirling through his younger sister's mind, knew her loneliness, recognized in it the same feeling he had always had growing up.
Flash*
Seven year old Tess breaking free of her pod, seeing the other three pods dark and empty, knowing that she had been abandoned.
Flash*
Ten year old Tess decorating Nasedo's house for Christmas, then crying herself to sleep when he never came home.
Flash*
Sixteen year old Tess seeing Isabel across the quad at school, approaching her long-lost friend with her heart in her throat.
Flash*
Tess hearing Max telling Michael how to be romantic, realizing that he was in love with someone else.
Flash*
Max yelling at her, "YOU'RE not one of us!"
Flash*
"I knew it was meant to be!" Ecstatic happiness that her destiny with Max had been confirmed by his mother on the message from the orb.
Max pushing her away from him with a simple, "No," and going after Liz.
Flash*
Michael and Isabel telling her that she had to stay in Roswell while they went to England with Liz, that she couldn't help them bring Max home.
Flash*
Pam coming to Tess, telling her who she really was, renewed hope that at last she wasn't going to be alone.
Flash*
Kyle telling her that he loved her. Tess refusing to accept that it could be true. She had learned not to trust love.
Flash*
Tess realizing that Danala was evil, that she wanted Tess to be evil, that she could not be. She was alone again.
~*Tess! Listen to me! I promise that if you help me, you will NEVER be alone again.*~
He could hear Tess sobbing somewhere outside the connection. **How can I believe you? Everything I've ever been told has been a lie!**
Michael frantically searched his mind for an argument that would convince her. He was still competing with Danala for the energy in the room, felt himself weakening in the battle against his older and more experienced sister. His legs were beginning to give out on him.
He had never been very good at controlling his powers.
He had gotten better - but in a tug-of-war against someone of Danala's experience? He had already lived two separate lives in the years that she had been refining her gifts.
Finally he threw out the first thought that came to mind. ~* You're an aunt!*~
**WHAT! What on Earth are you talking about?**
Michael threw an image of Jennetta in his sister's direction. He showed her all that his daughter was - her intelligence, her sweetness, her dimples and then he threw her the image of Jennetta in the transformation pod, her eyes closed.
~*Help me Tess!*~
Michael felt Tess' rage explode within her - rage that her brother was going to lose his child. He felt the exact moment that she began to help him absorb power from the walls around them.
The brightness of Danala's energy was beginning to fade to the periphery of his vision. He and Tess were handling so much power it was drowning out the other girl.
And Michael knew exactly when they began to win...because Danala spoke to them.
~~Tristandor! Sabrya! Don't betray me again! Please! I cannot bear it!~~
Michael felt his heart contract at her sobs. He felt Tess weakening beside him.
**Danala! We can still stop this!** Tess exclaimed. **YOU can stop this.**
~*Tess, she's playing you!*~ Michael screamed at her with his mind.
~~Think about what the three of us could accomplish on Illyria together.~~ Danala offered.
She sent images of Michael, Tess, Danala, with Jennetta and Maria as well, gathered around a table, laughing, hugging. Michael blinked when he realized that Kyle was there as well. And then he knew...Tess WAS in love with Kyle.
Danala sent a picture of thousands of people in a square cheering for he and his sisters. ~~We can be a family again. All we need to do is rid ourselves of Jaxon Falconer and his silly twit of a sister once and for all. And then we can be together my beloved ones.~~
Michael could feel Tess beginning to let go of their connection. Danala's false promises were too tempting.~*Tess! She's lying! Fight it! You already have a family!*~ He sent her images of Max, Isabel, Liz, Alex, tried to show her how much he loved them, tried to remind her of how much he KNEW she had come to love them.
He sent her images of the carnage in Dernia - disaster after disaster caused by their older sister's emotionless and incompetent rule. He remembered it all thanks to the orb.
He sent her images of the peaceful High Kingdom of Illyria, of how beloved Max and Isabel were there, of how beloved THEY, Michael and Tess, had been there because their marriages had united two ancient enemies with a new hope of peace.
Finally he sent her an image of Danala killing Jennetta with a blast of her hand. The very idea of it made him physically sick, but this was no time for squeamishness.
He was fighting for his sister's soul here. He was fighting for the lives of his nearest and dearest.
He would stop at nothing to win.
Michael sighed with relief when he felt Tess beginning to power up again.
He could feel Danala beginning to weaken. ~~Tris! Sabbie! No! Please!~~
But Michael felt no emotion from her. She wanted to win for the principle of it but the irony of all ironies was that she was going to lose because she didn't care.
She didn't care about anything enough to win. Tess and Michael were going to defeat her with the power of their love for those they were protecting.
He realized that his sister Danala had been dead from the day she had entered her transformation pod in Dernia a generation ago.
Living without emotion was not really living at all.
Michael grasped Tess' hand and made one last push to drain Danala. He felt her beginning to fade away. She was burning out...THEY were burning her life force out.
And then - with a flicker - she was gone.
Michael began slowly to disperse the energy he held within his fragile human body. He couldn't quite believe the extent of it.
He spoke to Tess in his mind. ~*Let it go slowly Tess. If we release it all at once we might still kill them all.*~ He felt that Tess understood.
It felt like an age before the last of the power they had collected had been released. It then took another few moments for Michael to get his bearings.
He blinked, clearing his vision. He was still seeing dots in front of his eyes due to the damage the intense light they had created had caused.
Michael could see Isabel, Alex and Kyle all huddled protectively in a little group over Max and Liz. Max and Liz had their arms wrapped around each other.
He saw Alex tentatively beginning to open his eyes. "Is it over? Did we win?" His friend asked in confusion. He was looking around, clearly searching for Danala's body, for any sign that she was dead.
"She's gone." Michael told them all quietly.
"You better mean gone as in dead, not gone as in "Uh oh! She escaped and will return to haunt our dreams!" If Alex was joking, it meant he was going to be all right.
"She doesn't exist anymore." Michael replied firmly.
"Michael." He realized that he was still holding Tess' hand. He looked down at his sister. "Thank you." Her blue eyes were shining with unshed tears.
"Thank YOU." Michael returned. He looked across the chamber at Maria, who was crouched against Jennetta's pod. Her eyes were open and she was staring at him, her lips pressed together.
Michael took a deep breath, went to join her. "Are you all right?" He asked as he knelt down next to her.
"That was some light show." Maria replied, her tone unreadable. "Is she really gone?"
"Yes."
"So how are we going to find out how to fix our daughter?" She asked him, licking her lips.
Michael sighed, pulled her into his arms. All the anger he had felt at her for not telling him the truth about Jennetta the moment she found out had drained away. There just wasn't time for it.
Jennetta needed them strong and together.
"I don't know." Michael finally told her, wishing above all things that he did.
Part 41
Max helped Liz to her feet. He saw Isabel and Alex move away to give them a little privacy. Kyle was already across the chamber talking to Tess.
"Are you okay?" He asked with concern. She was rubbing her eyes, clearly trying to refocus after the brightness that had filled the transformation chamber when Michael and Tess had destroyed Danala. Max gently stroked his hand across her eyes, healing the damage that had been done.
Liz blinked up at him. A radiant smile burst across her face. "I am now." She threw her arms around his neck. "I couldn't get to you Max. I was so worried that you were going to do something to Tess that you'd regret." She eyed him seriously. "I've never seen you that angry Max. I was scared you were going to do something crazy."
Max remembered how he had been more than willing to die if it meant being with Liz again. He didn't think he had better let her in on that little piece of information.
"And jumping in front of a bullet wasn't crazy?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
Liz looked momentarily embarrassed, but her eyes were glinting with a hint of anger. "I had no choice. I was NOT going to lose you again. I don't care if you don't remember it Max. You are mine and I will do anything to protect you. You couldn't explain what compelled you to heal me when I was shot the first time and I didn't think before doing what I did. I would die for you." She said fiercely.
Max gazed down at her in amazement, his heart swelling with so much love for her that it nearly brought him to his knees. She didn't know that he had his memory back! She didn't care if he ever got it back. She would die for him. What had he ever done to deserve her?
"You know why I did it Liz." Max whispered, pulling her against him. She shivered as he spoke into her ear. "I was YOU. If I die tomorrow or fifty years from now my destiny will be the same. It's you."
Liz had pulled back, was staring up at him, her mouth parted slightly in shock. "It will ALWAYS be you."
"Max!" He silenced her with a kiss. Her silky hair fell across his hands as he brought them up to cradle her beloved face.
The connection was instantaneous. He saw directly into her soul, saw her as a little girl, saw the first time she realized she loved him, saw the entire story that WAS Liz.
She broke the kiss, pulled his head down so that their foreheads were touching. "I love you. MY Max."
"Always." He kissed her again.
It took a moment for him to realize that someone was clearing their throat. Max brought his head up, pulled Liz close to his side. Isabel was standing there, looking a little disconcerted.
"I don't want to interrupt guys, but I seriously think Michael is going to blow a gasket if you don't get over there Jaxon."
Jennetta! Max started with guilt. How could he have forgotten about his sister?
Grabbing Liz by the hand, he hurried across the chamber. He called over his shoulder to his other sister. "By the way Iz. It's Max, if you don't mind."
"WHAT!" He heard Isabel shriek. He knew that he was going to pay for THAT later.
Michael and Maria were standing near Jennetta's pod, hopeless expressions on both of their faces. Michael had his arm around Maria's shoulders. Max could tell that he was only holding it together for Maria's sake. She was clearly on the verge of a breakdown.
Maria turned her stricken face to Max. "What are we going to do Max? My baby is going to be one of those zombies. If that witch Danala wasn't gone I'd kill her myself."
"Your baby?" Alex and Isabel had come up beside them. Max had no idea where Tess and Kyle had disappeared to. Alex was staring at Maria in shock. "I think we missed that little tidbit."
"It's a long story." Max said. "Suffice it to say for now that's it true. Jennetta is Michael and Maria's child." He looked at Michael warily. "How did you find out?"
Michael frowned slightly. "Not from where I should have apparently. Did you know about this too Maxwell?"
Max grimaced. "Er, I sort of found out when I tried to heal Maria earlier."
Michael just sighed in annoyance. "Why am I NOT surprised? I found a green orb near that Santa Anna Hot Spring." Michael explained. "When I touched it I got a bunch of flashes. All my memories for when we were on Illyria came back." He paused, looked pensive. "It was like they were stored in there or something."
Max felt dawning realization. "That was what I put in your bag before I threw you into the portal to come back." He grimaced. " I saw Tarsus fiddling with them before we came to get you to come back to Earth. I didn't know what they were when I stole them from Tarsus. I thought that you guys might be able to use them to open the portal so that I could come home. I gave one to you too Maria." Max closed his eyes, anger burning through his veins as he realized that Tarsus had tricked him again. "Tarsus must have wanted me to take them, just pretended that he didn't."
"HOLD IT!" Isabel interrupted. "Let's back up. Michael doesn't seem to be the only one with his memory back. Max, how?"
Michael's head jerked at that news. His eyes lit up with hope. "Is it true?" Maria didn't react at all. She had moved directly in front of Jennetta's pod and was tracing the little girl's face through the transparent organic material.
"It came back when I healed Liz." Max explained. "The connection was so strong, it must have bumped everything back where it belonged."
"Return to where it all began." Isabel was muttering under her breath. "Of course! That's what Mother meant when she contacted me the first time."
"What?" Max asked, confused.
"Mother contacted me. It was how we knew that we had to go to Stonehenge to bring you back." Isabel explained. "We thought it was you at first but then I was able to contact her later too." Isabel suddenly looked upset. "Make the sacrifice." She looked at Michael in horror. "You don't think she meant Jennetta? That we had to sacrifice her to get Max back?"
Michael's mouth compressed into a thin line. "That is one sacrifice that I will not be making."
They all stared at each other uncomfortably. Max had no idea what to do. All he knew is that they couldn't bring Jennetta out of the pod until the cleansing was complete. It would kill her. He didn't know nearly enough about how the whole process worked, as it had never been successful on him. He had been brainwashed, but not cleansed.
"Isabel!" Michael exclaimed suddenly "Didn't you talk to your mother by using the stones in the Henge?"
"Yeah, so?" Isabel said.
"I used the stone walls here to tap into enough energy to destroy Danala. You might be able to do it to contact your Mother." Michael said. "You can ask her if there's any way to reverse the cleansing."
"We already know of a way." Maria said quietly.
Everyone whirled to stare at her. "What do you mean Maria?" Liz asked.
"Think Michael. How did your cleansing get reversed?" Maria's face was expressionless. Max watched all the colour drain from his best friend's face.
"The portal." He turned to Max suddenly. "Where are the orbs? We have to go back to Illyria."
"That won't be necessary." Max felt Liz's hand tense in his. A new voice had entered the conversation.
"Eddie!" Max glanced at Isabel uncomfortably. He was pretty sure that by now Eddie had some inkling of the truth about them, but it was still weird to see the Native American man staring at them all standing as they were in front of a bunch of pods.
"What are you doing here?" Michael demanded suspiciously. Max saw that he had moved to stand in front of Jennetta's pod protectively. Alex put his arm around Isabel in a similar fashion.
Eddie just grinned, rolled his eyes. "You'd think that by now you'd know that things are NEVER as they appear."
Max felt his heart stop as Eddie's hand came up and began to glow.
Part 42
Kyle approached Tess cautiously as everyone seemed to be getting their bearings back after the big "Bye-bye Danala" fireworks display.
She was watching Michael and Maria as they ran their hands over Jennetta's pod, clearly trying to figure out how they were going to save her. Kyle stood quietly beside her, waited for her to speak.
"It's my fault. My brother is going to lose his daughter because of me. How could I have been so stupid Kyle?" She asked, her tone sad.
"You did the right thing in the end." Kyle said quietly.
She whirled on him, her blue eyes flashing. "Try telling that to that little girl!" She snapped, whirling on her heel and running down the stone corridor that led out of the transformation chamber. Kyle was on her heels instantly.
He caught her arm just as she was about to escape out the stone doorway that led into the main passage. "You have no right to do this Tess."
She was trying to wrench away from him, but his words stopped her. "Do what?" She asked, sounding confused.
"Run."
Tess eyed him for a moment, blanched, then her expression became panicked. Her eyes were darting all over the place, seemingly anywhere but his face.
"TESS! You owe it to them to help fix this mess!" Kyle yelled. She flinched.
"No one wants me here anyway Kyle." She finally said quietly.
"And what am I?" He demanded. "Oh, I forgot. I'm just a pointless human." He paused, saw Tess' eyes widen at his tone. "I know I might not be anyone important to you, but I want you here." Kyle could feel bitterness drifting into his voice, did his best to suppress it. "And Michael trusted you enough to ask you to help him get rid of the Wicked Witch of Dernia."
"He wasn't thinking." Tess said stubbornly. "As soon as he remembers that I let Danala pod Jennetta he's going to flip out on me." She paused, tears filling her eyes. "And Max is going to hate me for sure. For what he thought I did to Liz, for even letting Danala get near her."
Kyle felt like he had been belted in the stomach. "It always comes back to Max doesn't it." He finally managed to say, keeping his voice steady with all his willpower. For the first time in his entire life he felt like crying over a girl. Even when Liz had dumped him it hadn't been THIS bad. And he and Tess had never even kissed.
You are one hell of chump Valenti, he thought to himself. "To hell with it." He muttered to himself. He let go of Tess' arm, turned away to head back to join the others. "If you want to go, go. If you can't put your faith in anyone, then you don't deserve them anyway."
"Kyle..." He could hear some note of pity in Tess' voice. It made him want to throw up.
"Just go." He walked away from her. He had his back to her, but he could tell she hadn't moved.
"KYLE!" The tone of her voice was completely different. She sounded completely caught off guard. Kyle whirled in time to see Eddie walking swiftly past him. He didn't even look at Kyle.
"What the..."
Tess had run up to join him.
"What is he doing here?" She asked, sounding frightened.
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Why do I have the feeling it can't be good?" He started after Eddie at a fast clip.
"KYLE!" Tess yelled again.
Kyle sighed, turned. "Can I help you?" He asked sarcastically.
Tess was biting her lip, clearly undecided. Kyle felt his thoughts drifting to one of his many fantasies about kissing those lips.
Oh for...Don't you have any self-respect you moron? Kyle asked himself. "Have you gotten over yourself yet?" He asked instead, being far meaner than he intended.
After all, it wasn't her fault that she didn't love him, that she loved Mr. Perfect, Max Evans. She had tried to get over it, but the ease with which she had re-embraced her destiny when Danala asked her to - well, it was pretty clear that she was never going to get over Max.
And hey, who could blame her? He was a saint - a bloody, fricking saint - one that Kyle even admired if he told himself the truth.
"I'm coming." She finally said, hurrying past him.
They arrived just in time to see Eddie raising his hand.
Kyle and Tess exchanged looks of horror. The native man had his back to them, but it was clear that he intended harm to their six friends, all of whom were huddled around Jennetta's pod.
Kyle saw Max thrusting Liz behind him, saw Michael raising his own hand, but it was going to be too late.
And then the most unbelievable thing happened. Eddie began to shapeshift.
Isabel seemed to realize what was happening at the exact same time as Kyle because she launched herself at Michael, forcing him to put his own hand down. It had just begun to glow.
When the bright light of his transformation had dispersed, in Eddie's place stood a young man with dark hair. He was shaking his head as though clearing it.
Kyle grabbed Tess' hand, began to move closer cautiously. They were still too far away to hear what was happening.
But there was no way they could miss Maria's shriek of joy. "REN!" She pushed Michael aside, threw herself at the new alien among them. She began to rain kisses all over his face. "Thank God! Thank God!"
Ren looked slightly uncomfortable, but he was laughing. "Please Maria. I'm not used to..." But Michael had already grabbed Maria by the waist and was hauling her off of him. He did not look pleased.
The alien called Ren, whom apparently Maria knew, turned to Max, bowing at the waist. "Your Highness."
Max was frowning. "Where's the real Eddie?" He demanded, clearly understanding something here that was beyond the rest of them.
Kyle and Tess had joined the group near the pod by now, so Kyle could see the shapeshifter's face clearly. Ren looked sad for a moment. "I'm afraid he's dead."
Kyle heard Liz gasp. "Poor Eddie!"
"Tarsus?" Max asked, his tone furious. When Ren nodded, he demanded. "When?"
"Last summer." Ren replied.
"Jesus..." Kyle heard Michael mutter.
"When did you get here?" Maria asked, interrupting the conversation. "Are you here to help us with Jennetta?"
Ren's eyes took in the pod. They were gleaming strangely. "In a manner of speaking." He replied.
Wonderful, thought Kyle, more alien double-speak. Half the time he didn't know why they even bothered to speak English. It wasn't like he ever understood half of what came out of their mouths.
"Who sent you?" Max asked.
"Your mother." Ren replied. "I followed you through the portal when YOU followed Jennetta. You didn't think she would let you go unprotected did you?"
"But where were you?" Liz asked. "We didn't see you."
Ren eyed her, amused. Liz shifted uncomfortably. Max put his arm around her reassuringly. "So this is Liz?" Ren asked. "She is as lovely as I was led to believe." He could see that Liz looked embarrassed, tried to ease it. "I apologize your Highness." Kyle raised an eyebrow at that. Liz eyes widened. Max had a half-smile on his face, as though he wasn't surprised. "I awoke before the rest of you. The force of the explosion after a journey through the portal is not nearly as harmful for me as it is for you. I shapeshifted so that I blended with the stones in the Ring and followed you all when you awoke."
"Who cares about any of this?" Maria demanded, interrupting yet again. "What are we going to do about our daughter?"
"I'm afraid that there is very little that can be done other than to wait." Ren told her. He didn't sound the least bit upset.
"WHAT?" Maria shrieked. "I won't just let my baby be turned into a pod person!" Kyle grimaced. THAT had been piercing. He could see Michael's nostrils flaring, as though he was trying very hard to hold onto his temper.
"Fear not my lady." Ren said soothingly. "Everything has turned out just as it ought. It is all coming to be as it was meant to, as it was written in the stars."
"Are you telling me that my child is meant to be a zombie?" Maria shrieked again. She rounded on Michael. "I won't have it Michael! I mean it. I'll kill her first! My daughter is NOT going to be like Danala and all those freakish Dernians!"
Ren had advanced, touched Maria's shoulder. She whirled, her face a mask of grief and rage. "Why did you even save her if this was what was going to happen anyway?" She yelled at him.
"My lady, please! You misunderstand. Jennetta is not being cleansed!" Ren told her pleadingly.
Michael clamped his hand over Maria's mouth, effectively shutting her up, although she continued to struggle against him. Kyle could see that she was quickly becoming hysterical.
Max had finally stepped up as well. "I suggest that you do tell us what is going on then Ren." He eyed Maria with concern. She seemed to calm down slightly at the look Max gave her. Kyle frowned, wondering if alien voodoo had anything to do with it.
"The salvation of our planet." Ren replied seriously.