Sacrifice
A Sequel to Quietly into the Night
Conventional Couples
Rating: PG-13

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Antar – Capitol City

The journey up the mountain was cold and tiresome for the band of weary travelers. A wet snow fell from the sky, hampering their journey as well as making it easier for them to be traced. Michael and Jereon walked behind the others, trying to obliterate their trail as much as possible. After what seemed like hours, Naloch finally called a halt in front of a stone structure. He opened the door and the group went in and collapsed almost where they stood.
"I'll help you get everyone settled Max," said Naloch, "And then I must head back down to the city and try and find out what happened. We need to find out gave away our location. Until we do, it isn't safe for any of us."

"Is there any idea who is behind all this?" asked Michael as he shed his sodden outer clothing. "I mean, the last time we played this game with Kivar and his lackey's, they had used bugs to track us. Are they doing the same thing here?"
"It's unlikely, Michael," answered Naloch. "We haven't used that type of technology in centuries. The bugs Kivar used on Earth were procured from there. No, much as it pains me to say this, it's more likely that one of the members of our resistance group. Now we just have to figure out who it is."
"Naloch, I have to say, I don't think that it's safe for you to go back to down there right away," said Liz. "Kivar's going to be looking for you everywhere. He's got to know that you were behind my escape."
"Father, their right," said Jereon. "You need to stay here. I'll go down and gather information and supplies. If I leave now, I can be back by morning."
"Jereon, I –" began Naloch.
"It's a great idea," said Isabelle. "And since I'll be going with him, I can keep an eye on him for you."

Maria nudged Liz, as Jereon shouted his displeasure at Isabelle's pronouncement. Kyle and Michael both stifled grins. Naloch turned to Max to disguise his amusement.
"I feel that in this matter, I should defer to our King. Max, what do you feel is best?"
"Oh, I, uh, I think that Isabelle should most definitely go with Jereon and scout things out," said Max.
"Max, Your Majesty," said Jereon. "I don't think that having the Princess join me is the best thing. She'll slow me down, and she doesn't know her way around the city. It wouldn't be safe for her."
"I think it's a wonderful idea Jereon," said Saranara, getting into the game. "Isabelle can pose as your wife. Nobody is going to stop a pair of newlyweds."
"Newlyweds?" said Isabelle. "I don't think we have to go that far."
"Auntie Isabelle?" said Lexie tugging on Isabelle's shirt. "Are you and Jeremy getting married?"
"Oh, no sweetie. We're just playing a game, pretending to be married. It's a make believe game."

"Well, if she's coming with me, she'd better hurry. I'm leaving now," said Jereon, heading towards the door.
"She's not deaf, and she's ready now," said Isabelle. "And if you continue to speak around me instead of to me, I'll blow you up." She pushed past him and walked out the door. Jereon slung a pack over his shoulder and followed Isabelle out the door. As soon as the door shut behind him, everyone exploded into to laughter.
"I have to say," said Liz, erupting in giggles. "That was probably the most fun I've had since I've been on Antar."
"Isabelle is nothing like you described her Kyle," said Saranara. "You made her sound so sweet."
"That was sweet," said Kyle. "She only threatened to blow him up, she didn't actually do it."

"I suppose we should scope this place out and get ourselves organized," said Maria. "Naloch, are there bedrooms, or are we playing girl-scout camp here?"
"I'm not sure what a girl scout is, but there are sleeping quarters up there," he said pointing towards the second story.
"I'll show them Father," said Saranara. "Lexie, do you want to help me show your Mother where you we are going to sleep?"
"Ok Serena," said the little girl. "Can Kam come too?"
"Of course he can," she said as she held out her hands to both children. Maria and Liz followed Saranara up the stairs. Kyle watched with an undisguised look of longing on his face.
"Kyle, what are you going to do?" asked Max.
"What do you mean?"
"When we finally get to go home. It's obvious how you feel about her. Are you just going to leave her here and go back home?"
"I don't know, but I suppose since none of us can go home right now, it doesn't really matter," snapped Kyle.
"Hey, I'm sorry," said Max. "I was just trying to help."
"Yeah, well don't," said Kyle as he slammed out the door.

"What was that all about?" asked Michael, sitting down next to Max.
"If I knew, I'd tell you," answered Max. "What's Naloch doing? I feel kind of useless just sitting here. Can't we go chop wood or something like that?"
"Chop wood?" asked Michael incredulously. "Who do you think you are, Paul Bunyon or something?"
"There is no need to chop wood Max," said Naloch, walking back into the room. "We don't use fossil fuels on Antar. I've activated the heating unit. It should be warm soon."
"You got anything to eat around here?" asked Michael. "I'm starving."
"Yes, Michael," said Naloch with a faint grin. "I believe there are provisions here."
"What's so funny Naloch?" asked Max.
"Michael is so much like General Rath. He was always hungry during times of great stress."

"I still find it difficult to accept the fact that you knew Zan and Rath. I know you've explained to us that the passage of time on Antar is far different than on Earth, but it's still very difficult for me to understand," said Max.
"It's difficult for me as well Max," said Naloch. "Your father, Rath's father and I were great friends, and I watched you grow up. And now I sit here and talk to you, and I find it difficult to remember that you have know knowledge of me before four years ago."
"What was he like – my father?" asked Michael.
"Your father was a very brave man Michael. He loved both you and your mother deeply. He never really got over the death of your mother, and threw himself into his work. He was the King's second in command. A role he groomed you for from the day he first held you in his arms." While Naloch was speaking, Maria came down the stairs and sat down next to Michael and took his hand in hers.
"After your mother died, your father kept you with him as much as possible. The only time he left you in the care of others, was when he was on a mission that he felt was too dangerous."

"How much of Rath and Zan are in Michael and Max, and how much comes from the human DNA they were cloned with?" asked Maria.
"Virtually all of their characteristics are similar to Rath and Zan's," said Naloch. "When the first set of clones were made, we found that they contained too much of their human counterparts. After we realized our mistake, we corrected our errors and created you. We decided to preserve the other clones and send them to Earth as well, as a safe guard, but you know that already I believe."
"Yeah, we met them," said Max. "A real charming bunch."
"But I don't understand something," said Maria. "Laurie Dupree. She had a picture of her grandfather that was an exact replica of Michael."
"Laurie Dupree is real," said Naloch. "But her grandfather was not the provider of the human DNA. "She was being controlled by Kivar's people; the picture wasn't real either."
"Oh," said Michael, his face downcast. "I liked Laurie, and I really liked thinking I had family somewhere."

"Michael," said Maria. "You do have a family now. You have me, and Beth."
"And you have me and Liz, and Isabelle, and Kyle and all the parents as well. Haven't you learned by now that family isn't simply a matter of genetics," said Max.
"I know," said Michael. "I thought I was past all this feeling sorry for myself. I guess its just being here. It makes me wonder about my family. You know, what they looked like, and who they were."
"I may be able to help both of you with that," said Naloch. "I think I still have them up here," he said cryptically. He got up and walked across the room and passed his hand across a panel on the wall. A handprint glowed and the panel slid back to reveal a small hiding place. He reached inside and removed something and came back to where the others were sitting.
"This is the Antarian equivalent of what you call a photograph album on Earth. As I said earlier, your fathers were my closest friends, and our families spent a lot of time together. This book is my gift to you."