Chapter Sixteen
" We never do this, " said Maria as she sighed. The five of them were walking down the streets of Roswell. " It's nice for a change of scenery "
" I think it's good that we go somewhere and not have to think about what's happening, " said Max looking down at Liz.
They had all decided to watch a movie and walk to the theater. Max and Liz walked happily hand in hand, their fingers entwined. Michael walked beside Maria with his arm around her loosely. Kyle walked by himself next to the four of them. As freakish as they were, they were getting interesting to observe he kept telling himself. We have to stick together or else we're not going to make it through, the whatever, we're heading towards, he kept thinking. But man were they uptight all the time. He asked himself why he didn't just hang out with his friends from the team. Cause they won't understand what you're going through like these freaks. He sighed. He suddenly felt very conscious of the fact that he didn't have a girlfriend. It wasn't like he really could cause there were no more aliens besides Isabel. Yeah Isabel was hot but she was too something, he wasn't interested. He walked with his hands in his pockets.
" Oh Kyle " said Maria pointing at the Pharmacy ahead of them. " It's her "
" Oh my God " said Kyle looking at his reflection in the window on the shop they were standing in front of.
Max and Liz looked at him puzzled. They looked at the girl. She didn't notice them as she walked further away from them, towards the theater. Liz looked up at Max, who just looked back at her puzzled. He shrugged his shoulders. Liz couldn't help feel threatened again. The last time they met a new girl it was Tess.
" Go talk to her Kyle, " said Maria pushing him.
He hesitated. He looked at the four of them. They smiled.
" We'll meet you at the theater. Invite her to come with us " said Maria, she didn't see the faces of the other three, who were uncomfortable with the idea. They all watched as Kyle ran ahead of them to catch up to her.
" Why are you encouraging him? " asked Michael " We don't need a new person "
" He needs someone Michael, I feel for him " said Maria. " I felt bad when Max and Liz were all together and I had nobody "
Michael looked at her a little hurt. " You know what I mean Space Boy, " she said kissing him on the cheek. He pulled his head back and squinted.
" Who is she? " asked Liz.
" I don't know. Some girl that's just passing through " said Maria. She looked at Max and Liz. " No she's not some alien that wants to take Max away ". She was scared about the possibility but she didn't need to tell Liz that.
Liz looked at her a little hurt but didn't say anything. She just looked up at Max and continued walking slowly.
" Kyle immediately drooled like a dog at the sight of her " snorted Michael.
" That's what you do when you see Maria, " said Max laughing. He felt at ease. He didn't have any uneasy feelings about the girl. Nothing was going to stop him from being with Liz.
Liz was a little worried but smiled up at Max. They continued walking and watching Kyle as he caught up to the girl. Liz sighed, she didn't look threatening. She managed to push her paranoia aside.
" Hey! " said Kyle as he caught up to her.
" Hey " she said looking at him in surprise. " Were you following me? " she asked looking around her. She saw four other teenagers walking towards them.
" No I was just with my friends and I saw you " said Kyle. She looked at his to see his sincerity. " Look, you wanna go watch a movie with us? "
" Right now? " she asked smiling. The thought of watching a movie and doing something normal seemed relaxing.
" Yeah " said Kyle as the rest of the group caught up to them. " We could all go together "
She looked at the other four teens in front of her. The two girls and one guy looked friendly. She looked at one of the girls. She had brown hair and was a little shorter than her. She sensed something about her.
" Well we have to go so hurry, " said the other guy. He had this arm around the blond girl. She squinted at him.
" That was rude, " she said waving her hand in front of her face, brushing his comment off. " Are you sure you have room for another? " she asked looking back at Kyle. He looked excited.
" Sure we do, " said the brown haired girl.
" Yeah let's all go, " said the blond haired girl.
" I'm Liz, " said Liz walking up to her and holding out her hand. Whatever Liz had been feeling before about being paranoid was gone now. Looking at the girl's face she felt this familiarity somehow.
" I'm Maria, " said the blond as she shook Liz's hand. " That's Michael, the rude boy " she said half laughing.
" Hm " she said looking at Michael indignantly.
" And this is Max " said Liz pointing to the guy she was holding hands with.
" How are you doing? " he asked shaking her hand momentarily before grabbing Liz's hand again. She could tell from their body language that they were close. Oh the joys of being a serious couple. Something she had never had.
" So what's your name? " asked Liz excitedly.
She smiled at her. " I'm Serena "
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" I loved you Thaman " she said looking up at him scared.
" You are mistaken, " he said
" No I'm not. I loved you. The last thought in my head was you. I wanted to tell you all along that I loved you but I never told you "
He looked at her as if not believing her.
" You were always just my bodyguard. You only thought of me as a mission, an assignment. You never cared about me personally. Whenever I would try to talk to you, you were always distant, like you had this wall and I couldn't get through. I cried for you, I wanted you. That's how I met Khivar. I was crying one night and he saw me and that's how things started. I never wanted Khivar or Nicholas or anybody but you. The only reason why I went for Khivar was because you wouldn't have me "
Thaman looked at her still not believing her. He could feel his chest ache at the thought of her crying her sweet eyes for him and loving him and he kept away from her. All the things that he had built that wall from were crumbling down. His princess, Vilandra and Isabel loved him. He was a soldier who was always in control. It was forbidden for him to love her. Now he couldn't keep his control in check. He couldn't hope before. Now he was, but he couldn't, this was not supposed to be. But was this true? If he had told her of his feelings all their deaths could have been avoided? No it couldn't be that, it was because of the politics. It was all unavoidable wasn't it? He couldn't be responsible for her death, for any of their deaths. It would have happened anyway. She couldn't love him. She loved Alex and he...
Isabel walked over to a boulder and sat on it. She brought her legs up and hugged her knees. She looked shaken and scared. What had she just done? She told him to his face. She didn't even try to hide it from him. She just said it. As if she couldn't help but say it, but why didn't she just tell him in their other life? Did she have to die before she realized that she had to tell him? She had felt Vilandra's feelings. Because I am Vilandra, she said in her head. Her feelings are mine. She had never thought of herself as Vilandra. Vilandra was just a person that people said she was, but it didn't really sink in. Now that she remembered that life, Vilandra really was her. These memories were real and scary. Out of no where he just appeared into her life and before she knew it, she was in love with and didn't know why. His presence had triggered her memory. Her feelings were opened up to her and she was so confused and scared. She didn't know she was capable of feeling this way.
" Thaman? " she said looking over at him.
" Yes? " he said in a monotone voice.
" Could you please, hold me? " she asked slowly.
He could hear the pleading in her voice. " I do not think that is a good idea my Princess "
" Please? "
She was half hopeful that he would actually do it. He walked over to where she was sitting and sat beside her, but he only looked at her. She was desperate. She needed to have him hold her. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he pulled her close to him. She sighed in relief in his embrace. She grabbed onto his collar scared he let go before she wanted him to. She hid her face in his neck and he rocked her gently.
" Thank you my Princess " he said touching her hair.
" For what? " She said still clinging to him.
" For telling me how Vilandra really felt "
" Why do you say it like she's a different person? " she looked up at him. He was trying to avoid her. Taking attention away from her.
" I know that you do not personally love me. The Vilandra in you remembers me. But the Isabel Evans in you does not love me " he said calmly. He was trying to believe the words he was saying.
Isabel just sighed. He was right but wrong. Her feelings are Vilandra's. So if Vilandra loved Thaman then she loved him as well. She knew it was useless to convince him of that. But she realized something, Max still didn't have these feelings for Tess when he first saw her. His first feelings were dread and fear. If she was really remembering her feelings so vividly then why wouldn't Max? His feelings would have come out as well wouldn't they? And they did. Zan never loved Ava. Maybe he did at first. She snapped back into reality when she felt Thaman withdraw from her.
" No Thaman don't let go. Don't let go of me " she said trying to grab him
" I should not have done it in the first place, " He said calmly getting up.
Isabel felt herself panic. She knew that he wasn't really going anywhere but the thought of him pulling away from her made her panic. She grabbed his arm and got up with him. He grabbed her shoulders gently and pushed her away from him. He walked over to the other side of the chamber as if he was looking for something. She didn't see him close his eyes to shut fighting within himself. Isabel followed him. She followed his steps with pleading in her eyes. She wanted him to look at her. But he wouldn't look at her. Frustrated and determined she grabbed his face with both her hands and kissed him hard on the lips.
Immediately images flashed in front of her. She felt this feeling of total bliss. No wonder Max and Liz couldn't stop themselves. This feeling was amazing and intense. Thaman was standing on a ledge looking out over the city. Most of it was burned down. The palace half gone from the fire. He could hear the blasts of Khivar and his men in celebration in the distance. He knew it was only a matter of time before they would find them. He didn't care though. Zan, Rath and Vilandra were now dead. There was no hope. Nobody was left to fight against Khivar. Even if they managed to escape what would he do with himself? His purpose for living was now gone. There was nothing he could do. Vilandra...
Isabel felt what he felt and cried the tears he cried. Oh Thaman please let me in. Please let me be with you.
Thaman was paralyzed. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to push her away. He broke through and looked into Isabel. He felt her sadness. He felt her guiltiness about Grant and Alex. The two men that she cared about and had cared about her, that were now dead. All the men in her life left her. He felt her happiness in knowing that he was there with her. How much she needed him to be with her. He broke the connection and backed away.
For the first time she found emotion in Thaman's eyes. He looked at her the same way Max looked at Liz. The same look that always had Max and Liz in this trance. That look of timeless and undying love. The look she had always wanted was finally given to her. She was shocked at this that she stood there motionless when he left the Pod Chamber. " Wake up Isabel "yelled her inner voice. She ran out after him.
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Liz looked at Serena. Her eyes were wide in surprise. That name rang in her ears. Serena, the girl that would tell them how to use the Granolith as a time machine, was standing there talking to them. Future Max said that she was going to be her friend one-day. She hadn't thought about her after he mentioned her. But here she was standing in front of her. She was here, fulfilling destiny and fate. Of course they couldn't use the Granolith as a time machine anymore because it was gone but still, Serena had come to Roswell and had no idea, it seemed, that she belonged here. She tried to remember if Future Max said anything about her being alien. He didn't say anything like that.
" Is there something wrong? " asked Serena curiously.
" I, I just like your name that's all " Liz managed to say.
" Oh Thanks " she said lightly.
" What does it mean? " asked Kyle. He didn't notice Liz's strange reaction.
Max looked at Liz and started worrying. Did Liz sense something about this girl that he couldn't? Was she a skin or something?
" It means calm, serene, " she said waving her arms like they were waves. " But I'm not really what you would call calm or relaxing " she said rolling her eyes.
Maria elbowed Liz when she failed to say anything to Serena. Liz looked up at Serena again.
" Are you sure you're ok? " asked Serena looking a little worried. She hoped she didn't say anything to make Liz uneasy. She didn't think that she did. Maybe she thinks that she might try things on her boyfriend. Oh stop it Serena that's so absurd, she told herself.
" It's just weird I'm sorry, " said Liz without thinking.
" What do you mean weird? " asked Serena
" Yeah what's weird? " asked Kyle looking at Liz. He was thinking that she was just being paranoid.
" It's like I heard your name before but I don't remember where, " said Liz smiling shyly.
" Oh ok " said Serena still confused. She looked at Kyle. " So what movie are we going to watch? "
Her, Kyle and Maria started thinking it over. Liz and Max followed behind. Liz was feeling her head. Max squeezed her hand a little harder. She looked up at him and saw his worried eyes. She quickly smiled to reassure him.
" What is it? " he asked
" The Future you told me about her " she answered softly so that no one would hear her.
" I did? " he asked
" Yeah, she's the one that told us how to modify the Granolith and travel back in time "
" What? "
" Yeah he told me that a girl named Serena would be our friend one day and she told us how to travel back in time "
" That's her? " he asked pointing at her. Serena was talking to Kyle and gesturing as she walked, not noticing Max and Liz staring at her. " Then we can trust her, " he said looking at Liz. She shrugged her shoulders.
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Isabel ran out of the Pod Chamber. All she saw were the other boulders and cactuses. The heat was beating down on her skin and she could feel her skin start to burn. There was a slight breeze but it was a hot breeze. She looked in all directions but she didn't find him.
" I know you're still here Thaman " she called. She started crying loudly. " Why are you hiding from me when I need you so much? ". She spun around yelling at the open sky. " Just like my mother. She came and told us things, important things and then she just left us. She explained so much but left us with more questions and then she just left. She left us here all alone. You're the same way, you gave me so many answers and you just get up and disappear when I need you. You're the only one I can talk to about this " She looked down. Her breathing so heavy her voice lowered to a whisper. " Like all the men in my life. All the men that loved me, they all just left "
She walked back into the Pod Chamber. " I must be cursed. Everyone ends up leaving me. So I'm left alone " The darkness showed the green glow between the rocks, where the Pods were still glowing. How could they still be glowing? But she ignored her own question. The green glow was the only light in the Chamber. Isabel looked around aimlessly in a daze. " Everyone one leaves me " she said again looking at the green glow.
" He'll never leave you "
Isabel shook as she turned around. " Alex " she said. She felt relief as she looked at the familiar expressionless vision standing against the wall with his arms crossed looking at her." Where have you been Alex? " she said rushing over to him. He was her stabilizer, her sanity. Her sanity, she couldn't be sane if she was always seeing visions of people dead.
" You have to stop depending on Alex " he said making no advance towards her. " You have Thaman now "
" Thaman? He'll leave me like everyone else will "
" He'll never leave you and you know that. You have to respect his decision. He can't allow himself to follow his feelings. What's happening now is more important, we don't have much time "
" What do you mean now? Don't we have 14 years? "
" Think Isabel, it'll be sooner than that "
Isabel nodded. She could feel it.
" Thaman is struggling right now Isabel, you need to see that "
" I know " Isabel looked at Alex and squinted in thought. Something triggered in her mind. A question that was never answered and nobody bothered to ask. " But there's something else isn't there. Another reason why he won't let me in. She had felt a little of it when she kissed him. What was he thinking? He had blocked that out from her " Alex smiled at her. " He's planning something " she said her thoughts too fast to speak. " Alex? " she looked at him but he still stood there nodding, urging her to continue thinking. She wracked her brain to think. Something about Alex. She closed her eyes and thought. The answer was there, she just needed to concentrate.
" What about Alex? " she heard Liz say again. She was outside the Pod Chamber where they had first met Thaman.
" What about Alex? " said Thaman
" How come Max couldn't heal him but then the healing stones would have had a chance? It's too late to be telling us about their power to heal humans. Why do you tell us this now? " asked Liz.
" Yes it is now. But I wouldn't worry about it "
" Don't worry about it? Alex was my friend and I could've prevented his death if you would have told us how to save him "
" I said not to worry about. I have taken care of it "
" I have taken care of it " played over and over in her mind. What did he mean by he took care of it? She looked at Alex again.
" Now you know " he said fading slowly.
" Oh my God " she said, she ran around the Chamber looking for something, anything that would help her.
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" What is going on? " asked Maria. Her, Michael, Max and Liz were in the jeep speeding down the highway. " Why are we going to the Pod Chamber? "
Michael was sitting next to her. Max was driving, his face showing he didn't want to answer any questions. Liz looked at Max and put her hand on his as he changed gears. He grabbed her fingers and held her hand as he put his hand on her knee.
" There's nothing there anymore right? " asked Maria. " Hello! I'm here asking a question "
" It's hard to explain Maria, "said Liz looking back at her. " Isabel's there and she's in trouble "
" Another alien thing " she said sitting back on Michael. " God can we do anything and not be bothered? "
Liz looked back at Max. " The sooner we get through these things the sooner things can be normal " said Max looking back at Liz. She squeezed her hand.
" How do we know Isabel is in trouble? " asked Maria
" I saw her Maria " said Liz. " She needs us there with her "
Maria looked at Liz. Why was it that in times like these Liz seemed so calm? Yeah Liz did occasionally lose it but when things were confusing she always managed to stay calm. Maria looked at Michael. He was jumpy as he watched as they got closer to the Pod Chamber. She sighed feeling left out. She had no special alien powers like Liz. So she probably just couldn't understand.
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Isabel was running around the room trying to figure out what exactly she was looking for. Anything, anything that would stop her head from aching. She knew something was here and it had to do with Alex. She was scared to actually imagine what it was but her mind would not stop racing if she didn't find out soon!
Max was the first one to run in and find her in this dazed state. He grabbed her by the shoulders.
" Isabel what's wrong? "
She looked at him, almost relieved he was there. " Max " she said pulling away from him, trying her search in another spot. She saw Liz, Michael and Maria follow. " These damn rocks are all in the way, " she said.
" Isabel what the hell is going on? " asked Michael
She looked at him. " Thaman's done something I'm not sure what it is but I'm trying to find it. I know it's here somewhere " she said. There was no where else to look. " Damn it " she said pounding on the wall.
" Isabel " said Liz
Isabel looked at her.
" Did you hear that? " said Liz walking towards her.
" Hear what? " asked Maria.
Liz pounded on the wall. " You hear that? "
Isabel pressed her ear against the wall. She could hear a familiar thumping sound. " Oh God that's it " she said. Liz stepped back as Max and Michael joined Isabel in front of the wall.
" Stand back " said Michael to Liz and Maria. They both stepped back as Michael, Max and Isabel held out their hands towards the wall. They all heard a loud cracking sound as the wall started to bend towards them. It started cracking from the pressure and it sounded like a chain reaction of sounds. The metal snapped out making a large hole. Isabel was the first one to run through the door. She stood there frozen with her eyes wide. Max and Michael ran through and stopped dead in their tracks behind Isabel. Maria and Liz almost crashed into the guys from the sudden stop. The both of them peered over them and gasped. Maria screamed.
" What the hell? " asked Michael.
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" I'm sorry for my friends just leaving us like that " said Kyle walking Serena to her hotel room.
" That was strange. Seemed like a set up to me " she said looking at him.
" Oh no it wasn't that " he said but he didn't know how to explain. " They're just strange sometimes "
" Ok sure " she said turning her key in the door knob.
" I had a nice time " blurted Kyle. Why was he stumbling across every sentence?
" Me too " she said
" We should do this again some time, before you leave "
" All right " she said hitting on the shoulder and laughing. " I'll see you later " she said. She looked at him as she closed the door.
Kyle finally let the shiver go up his spine. " Yes " he said under his breath as he walked away from her room. " Now I have to find out where the freak show has moved. What is up with that? " He stopped walking when he head his phone ring. " Kyle " he said. " What? Say that again? Are you sure? I'll be right there "
He looked up and saw Brody. " Hey " he said as he tried to pass. But Brody grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air. Kyle looked into Brody's eyes. This isn't Brody.