First, Thank you for all your reviews. J The next couple chapters are not for younger people. I suggest that if you are not older than 13, you should not read this.

As always let me know what you thought.

Chapter Ten

" Hello there Stranger " called Mr. Evans from the kitchen.

" Hey dad " said Max nervously.

" Isabel said Michael was going through something and you had to stay with him "

" Yeah Michael has some trouble with something "

" What kind of trouble Max? "

" Nothing really serious. He just needed someone with him "

" Hmm, he knows that he can come to me when he needs anything right? "

" Yeah dad. He just needed a friend for the night just to hang out " Max pinched his lips as he turned around to head upstairs.

" Your mom was worried cause you didn't even call, " said his dad.

" Sorry, I guess it slipped my mind " he said climbing the stairs.

Max was desperate to just get inside his room and lay on his bed. He really hadn't slept much the last couple of days. He had a lot to think about. He swung his door open and went in, closing the door behind him. He leaned with his back to the door and sighed.

" Good Morning my King " said Thaman. He was invisible just in case someone wanted to run through the door just like Max had.

Max gasped in surprise, he watched as Thaman appeared in front of him. " I wish you wouldn't do that "

" I do apologize my King, but I thought it necessary considering I had to stay the night last night "

" Is Isabel all right? I thought you just dropped her off " said Max squinting at him.

" The Princess said she wanted me to stay with her, I was commanded to stay in your room. I hope it does not offend you " he sounded so casual about it that Max felt guilt about being suspicious.

" No, it's ok. I just wasn't expecting you here " said Max, he sat down at the foot of his bed.

Thaman just stood looking at him. " What do you wish to do today my Lord? "

Max thought about last night and tried to push Liz from his mind. " I want to check out those pictures and see what really happened to Sally Jenkins and how she died. I want to check out Pepper's Café with Valenti and Michael also "

" As you wish. What do you wish me to do? "

" You have to take us there and tell us what you know "

" I do not know anything about Sally Jenkins my Lord " answered Thaman " To me she was just another human woman "

Hearing Thaman say that reminded him of Nascedo and how he had addressed all humans as unimportant." She must have found something there and they killed her. But who would be up to something? I haven't had to deal with Nicholas for awhile now and the skins have left us alone. I don't know why this is coming up now "

Thaman didn't say anything.

" Where were you yesterday Thaman? " asked Max

" I would prefer not to tell you that my Lord forgive me "

" I think I need to know where you were, " said Max

" I am not responsible for the death of Sally Jenkins if that is what you are implying my Lord " he said calmly, he looked and saw Isabel in the doorway.

" How could you even think that Thaman would do something like that? " Isabel exclaimed. She couldn't believe that Max would be so quick to turn on Thaman.

Max hadn't even noticed she was there. " I'm just asking him where he was yesterday while we were supposed to be all together "

" Max Thaman is our bodyguard. There is no way that he would do something like that without telling us "

" I'm sorry to say this Iz but we thought Nascedo would be like us too but he wasn't. He kidnapped Liz and killed people without a second thought" he looked at Thaman " How do we know that you won't just kill off our human friends? "

" I can't believe you Max. " she said raising her voice. " You who are always trusting new people are getting suspicious now? You trusted Thaman when he threw that energy ball at you but you don't trust him when… "

" My lady that is enough. I thank you for your trust " said Thaman putting his hand out between Max and Isabel. Isabel looked at him and backed away from Max.

Max looked at Thaman. " It's just hard for me to completely trust you. I trusted Nascedo and look where all of us have ended up? We almost died. From what you've shown me you do deserve my trust, but I can't help but be suspicious of you. I just, I'm worried. "

" You do not have to worry about me kidnapping anyone my Lord. I would do no such thing. Nascedo was an idiot. He was not worthy enough and faulted so that you would be put in the White Room instead of himself. There is no way that I would deliberately jeopardize you or anyone that you care about, especially Liz. But if you wish it my Lord, I will one day show my loyalty "

Isabel looked at him admiringly. He was just so noble and admirable. She couldn't help but smile at him.

" I am sorry Thaman " said Max he said putting his hand on Thaman's shoulder.

" That was just rude Max " remarked Isabel. Max looked at her but didn't say anything.

" I think it best that I depart now and assemble the others " said Thaman " If you think it best My King "

Max nodded. Thaman disappeared again and went out Max's window.

Isabel glared at him as she turned to walk out the door.

" Why are you so easy to trust him? " he asked.

" Max, he's done nothing wrong " said Isabel.

" You know something don't you? About Thaman " he looked at questioningly.

" How would I know anything Max? I don't remember Thaman. I just know that since he's appeared he could have killed us at anytime or treated Liz, Maria or Kyle bad but he hasn't. He's been trustworthy consistently. I just don't understand how you can be like that when you trusted Liz, Maria when me and Michael didn't. I think Thaman deserves our trust more than you gave Liz. "

" Will you please drop it? " he said raising his voice.

" Max I'm not blaming you for trusting people. I'm just saying that you shouldn't cut someone, who obviously isn't out to get us, some slack and not point fingers. We don't know how Sally Jenkins died. We don' t know what happened "

" I'm sorry, I don't know why I feel that way about him, " he said. But he did know why. There was something going on with Thaman and Isabel. He wasn't sure what that was but something about it bothered him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Oh Liz " shrieked Maria as they both sat on her bed. " I think I'm in Michael heaven "

Liz smiled at her friend. She was so happy that finally Maria was being treated the way that she deserved. She knew Michael loved her, but he ended up hurting her most of the time. Since Alex's death Michael had changed and he had proven himself human after all. Instead of totally thinking about himself, he had stuck with Maria's side. If it weren't for Michael, Max would probably be half way to Antar by now. She was eternally grateful to him for that.

" Liz did you ever think that I could be this happy with Space Boy? "

" Yes Maria. Michael's loved you this whole time. He just couldn't express it, cause… "

" He's Michael " finished Maria rolling her eyes. She sighed and then her face changed. " But Liz, things are getting weird again aren't they? "

" You feel it too? "

" Do you think we'll ever have normal lives? "

" I doubt it, because they're…"

" Different "

" We just have to be there for them and encourage them "

" Like little wifies that welcome their men from battle? "

" Kind of. But I have a feeling we'll be fighting along side them. It's not just them anymore Maria, it involves all of us. Do you think you could? I mean kill an alien? "

" If they tried anything on Michael I would kill them " she said making a striking motion with her hand. " But I know you definitely would "

" You think so? " asked Liz thinking it over. The thought of killing another living being, that wasn't a bug or rat, scared her.

" You've already proven that. You have that gift " she said

" That was so terrifying Maria. I can't believe I did that. I actually did that " she said, her voice raising. " But that was only shielding Max, it wasn't like killing someone. "

" I can, Liz you always had the 'I have to protect everyone' thing going. I think what you are, is reflected on your gift. Being with these Czech's has taught us that things that weren't possible, totally are "

Liz nodded.

" I just feel a little left out. I don't have any gifts "

" Maria that is so untrue. Only you have the gift over Michael. "

Maria smirked at her. " I did tame the wild beast haven't I? "

They both laughed. They both stopped when they heard someone climbing up the ladder. They saw Max's head pop up and he jumped onto the balcony. Liz's face immediately started glowing. She sighed. Then they saw Isabel, Michael, Kyle, Valenti and Thaman. Maria looked at Valenti. He had the pictures in his hand.

" I'm not sure I should let you kids see these pictures, " said Valenti taking them out of the envelope. " They're pretty disturbing "

" Sheriff, we need to see them, " said Liz

Valenti smiled a little. It still amused him that though he wasn't the sheriff anymore, they still called him that.

" I think they should all see the pictures Jim, " said Thaman taking the pictures from his hand. He looked at them one by one but didn't say anything. He passed it to Max when he was finished. " My Lord " he said handing it to him.

Max looked at the pictures and kind of cringed. It wasn't because Sally Jenkins' body was mutilated or anything, but her facial expression was so chilling. She looked absolutely petrified. She reminded him of how Topolsky looked the last time he saw her. How many more people would have to die before this would all be over with? Hubble, his wife, Topolsky and countless other people died because of them. His face stared deeply at the Red Triangle on her chest. He looked down at Liz who was standing next to him, waiting for him to hand her the picture.

" Are you sure you want to see this? " he asked

" Yes " she said holding her hand out with a determined face.

" Come on Maxwell. Let us see what they look like " said Michael grabbing the other pictures from Max's hand impatiently. He quickly glanced at them and handed them over to the rest of the group.

" Oh God dad " said Kyle putting his face away. " She looks awful. "

" She doesn't look like the person we saw on the news, " said Maria with her mouth open.

" She's scared out of her mind. Of course she doesn't look l the same " remarked Kyle.

Michael and Liz just started at the Red Triangle. They weren't paying attention to her face at all. Thaman looked at them urging them to remember where they had seen this image before.

" I've seen this before, " said Liz finally.

" Yeah me too " said Michael.

Max looked at Liz worried. " Where have you seen this before? " he asked.

Liz's mind was whirling again. She was trying to remember where she had seen that image before. It wasn't on a body. It was a faint image but so familiar. Suddenly she thought about Alex and his death. She started thinking about her investigation on his murder and where it had led her. Her, Maria and Michael had gone to Leanna's dorm room to see what she knew. It led them to this shed in the middle of no where. Wait a minute, the shed… something about the shed. They had almost died cause there was something in there waiting for them. Something that Michael saw and threw out the shed and it exploded. The thing, it was a Red Triangle.

" Liz didn't we? " asked Michael

" That's what almost killed us at that shed that day Michael " she said

" What? " said Max looking angry. " What do you mean it almost killed you? "

" It was when we were looking in Las Crusas to look for Leanna and we went to this shed and in it there was a Red Triangle. " explained Michael trying to calm Max down. " It was just waiting there like a trap. I threw it out the window and it exploded "

" Yeah, it looked exactly like that, " said Maria. " I remember now, it was just floating in the air waiting to blow us into a million little pieces " She stepped back a little. She was not helping. She looked at Max's expression and hid behind Michael.

" Someone wanted you to be there so that they could kill you, " said Max. He grabbed Liz and held her close to him. " Oh God if only I had been there for you… "

" Max, it's over now. Michael took care of it "

" Well obviously not " said Kyle. " Whoever set that up there is still out there "

Max looked at Thaman, who was still quiet. But Thaman had a smile on his lips.

" Why are you smiling? " asked Max

" Because I am just so proud that you have such bright company with you my Lord. You have chosen your peers well. It still does not cease to amaze me "

" I wouldn't call them all bright " said Michael looking at Kyle

" Hey! " complained Kyle.

" What does this symbol mean? " Max asked Thaman showing him the picture.

" It is their trademark. Just as you have leave a silver hand print, they leave a Red Triangle "

" Who's they? " asked Michael.

" Khivar's men "

" We have to get to Pepper's Café before anyone else does " said Max

" But the cops were there last night. Don't you think they would have checked the inside as well? " said Kyle

" They probably just checked the outside of it. I doubt they actually looked inside " said Max.

" Let's go, " said Liz.

" No, I don't want you to go, " said Max holding her back.

" But Max "

" Liz, no " he said gently, shaking his head at her. She paused.

" You're not going either, " said Michael to Maria

" I do not think you should go either Your Highness " said Thaman to Isabel. " I think that all the girls should stay here. They need to cover for us in case anyone asks and all of us going is only going to make scene "

" Thaman's right, you guys need to stay here, " said Kyle.

" Kyle, you should be here too " said Valenti

" But dad, I want to… "

" Kyle no. You have to stay and watch the girls " said Valenti

" Why do I always get left behind when Heckle and Jeckle get to go every time? " he said squinting at Max and Michael.

" We do not even need to answer that Kyle, " said Thaman. He looked at Max. " My King, we must go now. Before it is too late "

Max nodded. He turned to Liz and kissed her forehead. " I'll be back, " he said reassuringly.

" You better " she said with a worried look on her face.

Michael looked at Maria. She hugged him, pressing her face against his chest. " Come back to me in one piece Space Boy " she said.

Isabel looked at Thaman. She wanted to say something to him but it would seem awkward with all the couples saying their good byes. She had to fight the urge to go give him a hug. He looked at her. Even though his expression didn't show anything she could hear him say, " I will bring them back Your Highness ". She nodded slowly and tried to smile. She knew that he would protect them, she just didn't want him to die saving them like she knew he would if he had to. She couldn't lose him, not now, now when she was feeling these feelings for him. Now when he had given her such a new perspective of her life. She had hope now and she couldn't lose her hope and lose him.

Kyle and the girls watched as Max, Michael, Valenti and Thaman get into Valenti's jeep and drive off.

" Now I'm stuck with watching the babies while the grown ups go and play " said Kyle. All the girls whacked him in the arm. " Hey! What did I say? "