"Who will be the two stooges?" Michael stood against the window out to
Liz's balcony, his arms folded forbodingly across his chest. His eyes
looked upon Zhandia and Tarik, not giving away any of his thoughts or
emotions. Zhandia had an overwhelming sense of his former self. He had been
this way even then. He was hard to read, only giving you as much as he was
willing.
"I have yet to figure that part out. If we were to choose someone, they would have to be mind warped. We cannot have them remember or be aware of what is going on. They must not know what is taking place. You are familiar with this planet. Perhaps you have a suggestion?" Zhandia searched the faces of those around her, hoping for some suggestions, because she was at a loss. She didn't dare take just a random person off the street. It would be too risky.
"Kyle. what about your father? He could do this, and since he knows all about what's going on, he won't need to be mind warped. " Alex looked over at Kyle who had been looking at the pictures around Liz's mirror - mainly of her and Max. He turned to stare incredulously at Alex.
"Are you crazy? Get my father into this mess?! No way."
"But Kyle, he's the perfect choice. Who else do you know who could pull this off. He could make things more believable than a complete stranger. And he was a Sheriff. He should know how to protect himself.."
"Yeah, against humans. He'd be going against Khivar." Kyle walked up to Alex, standing toe-to-toe with him, glaring down at him.
"Stop it! We do not have much time, for each moment that Maria is in Khivar's care, something dire could happen. Save your squabbles for later. Do you not understand the graveness of the situation, Kyle? If we do not stop Khivar now, there will be no later. If he were to get away with what he has done. He will surely take over Antar, and soon after, he would be setting his sights elsewhere. Perhaps even this ill-prepared planet. Do you want that to happen? Do you want countless innocents die, or a handful? Think of the consequences. Besides, it should be your father's decision." Zhandia laid a calming hand on Kyle's shoulder, surprising him for he didn't even see her move across the crowded bedroom.
"Decision for what?" Sheriff Valenti stood in the doorway of Liz's bedroom, looking at the group of teens. He sensed that there was something major going down from the somber looks on their faces, and from the tension that radiated off of every rigid body.
"You are this boy's father? You are this Sheriff that they mentioned?"
Valenti nodded in Zhandia's direction, wondering where this was going. "Yes, I am him. And you are?"
"I do not have much time to explain myself. Suffice to say, I am Zhandia, Queen of Antar. I was sent to Earth to collect the rest of the Royal Four and to bring them back to save my planet. While trying to succeed in my mission, a grave mishap occurred. Maria was taken by men posing as FBI agents. Unfortunately, from the visions I received off of these men, that wasn't the case. They work for Khivar, and I am afraid that he is somehow on this planet, plotting something. He must be stopped. And we need your help."
"I'll do it."
"But dad, you don't even know what they're asking. You'll be going up against Khivar."
Jim spared Kyle a look before meeting Zhandia's earnest ones. "Kyle, it doesn't matter. If they need my help, then I'll do what it takes. It's my job."
"Not against aliens!"
"Enough! He has agreed. We will have to find someone else to become Vilandra. Any suggestions?"
"I'll do it." Liz finally spoke up from her position by the bed next to Izzy. She didn't even acknowledge Max's protests, instead she walked over to stand next to Jim. "Maria's my friend, and I told her I'd always be there for her. Who else would be better? We can't take the risk of someone finding out about us. I'll be Vilandra."
"Thank you, Liz. I appreciate your help. When Tarik and I transform you, you must keep your mind blank. Do not try to resist our powers, otherwise it will not work. It does not hurt, but you will feel a weird sensation, almost as if you were floating. Are you two ready?"
Jim and Liz took a deep breathe before nodding their head. Zhandia walked over to Liz, gently placing her hands on either side of Liz's head, resting her fingertips against her temples. Tarik in the meantime, did the same with Valenti. They both closed their eyes, and concentrated. A warm glow encased the four of them, and when it died down. there stood Michael and Isabel. Everyone in the room gasped at the transformation. It was remarkable. They turned their eyes to watch Tarik slowly transform himself into Max. It was so flawless, you couldn't tell the real ones from their doubles.
"Perfect. We are ready.
"I have yet to figure that part out. If we were to choose someone, they would have to be mind warped. We cannot have them remember or be aware of what is going on. They must not know what is taking place. You are familiar with this planet. Perhaps you have a suggestion?" Zhandia searched the faces of those around her, hoping for some suggestions, because she was at a loss. She didn't dare take just a random person off the street. It would be too risky.
"Kyle. what about your father? He could do this, and since he knows all about what's going on, he won't need to be mind warped. " Alex looked over at Kyle who had been looking at the pictures around Liz's mirror - mainly of her and Max. He turned to stare incredulously at Alex.
"Are you crazy? Get my father into this mess?! No way."
"But Kyle, he's the perfect choice. Who else do you know who could pull this off. He could make things more believable than a complete stranger. And he was a Sheriff. He should know how to protect himself.."
"Yeah, against humans. He'd be going against Khivar." Kyle walked up to Alex, standing toe-to-toe with him, glaring down at him.
"Stop it! We do not have much time, for each moment that Maria is in Khivar's care, something dire could happen. Save your squabbles for later. Do you not understand the graveness of the situation, Kyle? If we do not stop Khivar now, there will be no later. If he were to get away with what he has done. He will surely take over Antar, and soon after, he would be setting his sights elsewhere. Perhaps even this ill-prepared planet. Do you want that to happen? Do you want countless innocents die, or a handful? Think of the consequences. Besides, it should be your father's decision." Zhandia laid a calming hand on Kyle's shoulder, surprising him for he didn't even see her move across the crowded bedroom.
"Decision for what?" Sheriff Valenti stood in the doorway of Liz's bedroom, looking at the group of teens. He sensed that there was something major going down from the somber looks on their faces, and from the tension that radiated off of every rigid body.
"You are this boy's father? You are this Sheriff that they mentioned?"
Valenti nodded in Zhandia's direction, wondering where this was going. "Yes, I am him. And you are?"
"I do not have much time to explain myself. Suffice to say, I am Zhandia, Queen of Antar. I was sent to Earth to collect the rest of the Royal Four and to bring them back to save my planet. While trying to succeed in my mission, a grave mishap occurred. Maria was taken by men posing as FBI agents. Unfortunately, from the visions I received off of these men, that wasn't the case. They work for Khivar, and I am afraid that he is somehow on this planet, plotting something. He must be stopped. And we need your help."
"I'll do it."
"But dad, you don't even know what they're asking. You'll be going up against Khivar."
Jim spared Kyle a look before meeting Zhandia's earnest ones. "Kyle, it doesn't matter. If they need my help, then I'll do what it takes. It's my job."
"Not against aliens!"
"Enough! He has agreed. We will have to find someone else to become Vilandra. Any suggestions?"
"I'll do it." Liz finally spoke up from her position by the bed next to Izzy. She didn't even acknowledge Max's protests, instead she walked over to stand next to Jim. "Maria's my friend, and I told her I'd always be there for her. Who else would be better? We can't take the risk of someone finding out about us. I'll be Vilandra."
"Thank you, Liz. I appreciate your help. When Tarik and I transform you, you must keep your mind blank. Do not try to resist our powers, otherwise it will not work. It does not hurt, but you will feel a weird sensation, almost as if you were floating. Are you two ready?"
Jim and Liz took a deep breathe before nodding their head. Zhandia walked over to Liz, gently placing her hands on either side of Liz's head, resting her fingertips against her temples. Tarik in the meantime, did the same with Valenti. They both closed their eyes, and concentrated. A warm glow encased the four of them, and when it died down. there stood Michael and Isabel. Everyone in the room gasped at the transformation. It was remarkable. They turned their eyes to watch Tarik slowly transform himself into Max. It was so flawless, you couldn't tell the real ones from their doubles.
"Perfect. We are ready.