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

Chapter Forty-Three

Antar – Capitol City

The smoke from the battle rose to the vaulted ceiling of the great hall. The surviving rebels began to gather in the center of the room. Very few guardsmen remained standing, and those that did held their arms up in the universal gesture of surrender. Michael supported and injured Maria as she limped to the center of the room, to where Max knelt beside Naloch's body and tried to heal him.
"Max, don't," said Jereon, touching the King on the shoulder. "It is too late for my father, but there are others who need your help."
Max lifted his battle-stained face and gazed blankly at Jereon.
"I tried," he said, his voice thick with tears. "I tried, but I couldn't save him.
"Max, don't," said Liz, placing her hand on his arm. "He knew it was going to happen. He made his peace with it. You have to do the same."
"What do you mean, he knew?" questioned Max.
"Not here, not now, Max," said Liz, looking over to where Jereon now stood, comforting his sister. "I need to talk to them first, they deserve to hear it first."

Max nodded and motioned to Kyle and Michael.
"Can you two contain what's left of the guardsmen?"
"Yeah, Maxwell, we can. Just what do you have planned?" answered Michael.
"Liz and Isabelle can set up a kind of triage area for the wounded, and I'll start healing them," said Max.
Michael nodded and began to round up the remaining guardsmen and herd them across the room.
"And Michael," Max called out. "Maria will be first, don't worry!"
Michael flashed a smile of acknowledgement as he and Kyle crossed the room. Isabelle and Liz began to organize the wounded. Liz struggled to move one of the guardsmen when a shadow fell across the prone body. Liz looked up and saw Saranara standing over her.

"May I help?" asked the Antarian girl.
"Of course," Liz responded. "But only if you want to."
"It's better than standing in the corner being sad," said Saranara. "I'll feel better if I'm doing something."
"Saranara, I'm truly sorry," said Isabelle, joining the conversation.
"Thank you Isabelle."
"How is Jereon doing?" inquired Isabelle.
"I'm not sure," said Saranara. "He decided to go over and help Michael and Kyle." Saranara looked across the hall longingly where her brother worked with Kyle.
"Saranara," said Liz, interpreting the other girls gaze. "If you'd rather be over there, go ahead. Isabelle and I can manage over here."
"No, I'll stay here. Besides, I do have some healing power. I may be able to help Max a little." As she spoke, she placed her hands over the burned area of he guardsman Liz had been struggling to move. There was a faint glow from her hand, and the burn, while not healed, was significantly improved.

After several hours of hard work, most of the wounded hand been healed. The guardsmen that had survived quickly pledged their loyalty to Max. Though doubtful of their true allegiance, Max released them. An emergency meeting of all the rebel leaders was called, and those not already at the palace began to slowly arrive. A small stream of leaders arrived at first, followed by a steady stream of those who supported the Royal Family. Within several hours, the palace was filled with the leaders from all the rebel factions on Antar. Max, with the help of Jereon, Saranara and Kyle explained the type of government they had in the United States. The Antarians were intrigued, but were unwilling to give up their idea of a royal family. Liz quickly stepped forward and explained to the Antarians, the type of government used in Great Britain, with their House of Parliament, and the monarchy as the symbolic head of the country. After much discussion and debate, the Antarians agreed that a government similar to that of the United States and United Kingdom was acceptable, but with one exception. They insisted that there be a member of the Royal Family to lead the country in conjunction with a parliament of elected officials.

Max ended the meeting, pleased that they had accomplished so much, but concerned over the stipulation that a member of the Royal Family remain on Antar to rule.
"What are we going to do?" he asked his friends. "I love this world, but I love Earth more. I don't belong here. Isabelle, what do you think? Do you want to stay?"
Isabelle looked over at Jereon, with regret and longing in her eyes, and shook her head. "No," she whispered. "I want to go home."
"Michael, what about you?"
"Maxwell, I think that battle fried your brains. I'm not royal; besides, I belong with Maria and Beth. I made my decision years ago. My home is on Earth." Maria smiled at her husband's pronouncement and reached over and squeezed his hand tightly.
"Kyle, what about you? I know the only thing royal about you is the pain you give me in my ass," Max said with a grin, trying to inject some levity into the situation. "Would you want to stay? Maybe they'd accept you in some type of advisory position instead."
Kyle thought for a moment, and glanced over at Saranara, who was staring hard at her hands. Before he could answer, Liz spoke up.

"Before you make a decision Kyle, I need to say something. Jereon, Saranara, you need to know about your father. He knew that his chances for surviving this battle were very slim. He asked me to tell you that he loved you both very much, and not to mourn his passing too much. He wanted you to celebrate his life, and the fact that he died fighting for something he believed in so strongly." Liz had been looking down at the ground while she spoke, but as she finished, she looked up, and the tears in her eyes, mirrored those shining in both Jereon and Saranara's.

"What else did he say, Liz?" asked Jereon, his voice thick with tears. Isabelle moved from where she was sitting and sat next to Jereon, and placed her arms around him.
"He wanted you to realize that there are all sorts of avenues opened to you now. Your destiny is NOT carved in stone."
The word destiny caused Kyle to look up sharply. He had had many talks about the future with Naloch, and he was anxious to hear what Liz had to say.

"Your father loved you both very much and above all, he wanted you to be happy. He just wasn't certain that you would," she paused, looking for the right words. "Find your happiness here on Antar," she finished in a rush.
Her words caused Kyle to smile. He and Naloch had talked about finding a way back to Earth many times, and bringing Jereon and Saranara with them. Now all he needed was for Saranara to make her decision. Once he knew what she was doing, he could give Max an answer. He didn't want to stay on Antar, but if it was the only way to stay with Saranara, he would.
"Earth," said Jereon slowly. "He wanted us to go to Earth, didn't he?"
"I think so," said Liz. "He wanted you to have a chance to heal, and he wasn't sure that would happen here on Antar, with all the memories.

Liz's pronouncement caused varying degrees of excitement in her friends. Isabelle said nothing, but her eyes were filled with longing. Kyle sat back and looked at the others, his expression carefully schooled to hide his thoughts. Two bright spots of color shown on Saranara's cheeks, while Jereon chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip.
"Saranara, what do you think?" he asked his sister.
"I-I want to go," she said in a rush, looking at Kyle with love in her eyes.
"I rescind my offer," whispered Max to Kyle. "You are too much of a pain in the ass to remain here as a royal advisor."
"Shut up idiot," said Kyle, shoving his friend. "You're just afraid that the Antarians would like me better, that's all."
"I refuse to dignify that remark with an answer," said Max, smiling. "Jereon, what about you?" asked Liz. "What do you want to do?"
"I think it would be best if I were to remain here," he said regretfully. "I don't belong in your world. There is no place for me there."

"You stupid, selfish, self-centered arrogant idiot!" shouted Isabelle. "What do you mean there is no place for you. How do you know that? Have you ever been to our world? You don't know anything about our world! And what about your sister? Do you think she's going to be able to leave here and go to Earth, knowing that you are here on Antar?"
"There isn't any need for me to go to Earth, Princess!" shouted Jereon. "Saranara has Kyle, she doesn't need me. She'll be fine without me. I'd just be in the way."
"Well what about me? Did you ever think that maybe I'd need you, you stupid jerk!" she shouted. The two stared at each other, anger and tension filling their faces with color.
"I did, but I wasn't sure you did," said Jereon softly.
"I do," said Isabelle. "I need you, but if you won't come back to Earth, then I'll stay here with you."
"No Princess," said Jereon, pulling her into his arms. "I've shown you my world. Now it's your turn to show me yours."
"Well, that's decided," said Michael. "What are we going to do about the royal ruler?"
"I think I can help with that," said an elderly voice from the doorway.

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