Part 17
Roswell, New Mexico - The same day
Alex snapped back to awareness as his chin smashed
against his chest. He had been dozing fitfully in his
chair in front of his computer for hours now. The
translation program was still processing merrily, had
been doing so for close to six days.
They were no closer to finding any answers than they
had been when they started.
That wasn't even the worst part. The four of them
were all beginning to go a little stir-crazy. Alex
was pretty sure that if they had to spend another 24
hours underground, something was going to give - big
time.
Jennetta and Ren were currently not on speaking terms.
Alex hadn't really been able to figure out what the
heck was going on with them, but from the stony faced
looks Ren kept shooting in his direction, he could
guess.
Maria was also acting weird. Anytime Jennetta or Alex
spoke to each other, she'd start jumping all over the
place in some sort of manic frenzy, her goal obviously
to make them turn away from each other.
The whole thing was extremely embarrassing,
particularly since he had absolutely no interest in
Maria's daughter. The other embarrassing fact was
that it was clear that both Ren and Maria were aware
that Jennetta had a crush on him - and they blamed HIM
for it.
He snorted to himself, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Could
he help it if he was irresistible? he thought
sarcastically. The thought was so ludicrous, he
almost burst out laughing.
Oh that would have looked really suave - just start
laughing like a freak Whitman. Make Jennetta think
you're insane - maybe that will drive her away.
Alex turned to stare at Michael and Maria's daughter,
who was currently curled up on one of the nearby cots,
fast asleep. Maria was tossing and turning in the one
beside it.
It wasn't that he didn't find Jennetta attractive. He
did. In fact, she was beautiful. But he just couldn't
think of her as anything other than a little kid.
Not to mention, he was already happily involved with
his fantasy girl. There was no way he would ever risk
his relationship with Isabel for even a minor
flirtation with Jennetta.
There was also no way that he would risk Michael Guerin's wrath. And Max would be none to jazzed either. The thought was even too scary to contemplate.
Alex hoped that she would get over her mini-infatuation soon. He didn't understand it anyway.
What the hell did she see in him? He was a complete goof ball! But then that hadn't stopped Isabel either. Maybe beautiful alien girls were just naturally attracted to their completely opposite counterpart?
Alex's attention was pulled away from Jennetta's
sleeping form when the computer began to beep quietly.
He frowned, quickly hit a button that caused the
scrolling to slow down.
He scanned the words unfurling across the screen.
Nothing of any use to the current crisis jumped out at
him. He had set the program to beep anytime orbs of
any kind were mentioned after all. It was probably just
another treatise on communicator orbs vs. dream plain
orbs. He had actually found one of those a day or so
ago. Apparently this had been a big debate on Illyria
at some point. The whole thing had made his head
spin. Why couldn't a civilization that had the
capability to travel through time and space find a way
to communicate more effectively?
He sighed heavily, realized that the screen was
flashing information about solstices and equinoxes.
He didn't think that the seasonal trajectory of
Illyria was one of their top priorities at the moment.
He was beginning to drift off again when a date
suddenly jumped off the computer screen at him. June
21.
June 21. That was approximately the date of the
summer solstice on EARTH. Why would the information
be in an Illyrian book? Were date and planet
alignment on the same schedule on Illyria as they
were on Earth?
Unless...
Unless the book was somehow discussing the link between Illyria and Earth. He grabbed the mouse,
slowed the scan down to the point where he could scroll through the translation manually.
"EUREKA!" Alex bellowed a minute later, jumping out of his chair.
Maria sat bolt upright on her cot, her blue eyes wide. "What? What?"
Jennetta had rolled over, was staring at Alex with her strange dark eyes narrowed in sleepy confusion.
Alex grabbed Maria by the arm, hauled her up, hugging her hard. "I found it! I found it! It's here!"
Maria seemed to snap out of her lethargy almost immediately. "You found a way to open the portal??"
She started jumping up and down. Alex couldn't help himself. He was so giddy, he joined her.
Jennetta hung back, a wide smile on her face, until Maria grabbed her by the hand, hauling her into their
insanity.
They were all still jumping around like lunatics when a throat clearing itself nearby caused them all to stop abruptly. Of course, it was at that moment that Jennetta lost her footing and fell into Alex, sending them both sprawling onto the floor, Jenny on top of Alex, their faces about two inches apart.
Jennetta barely had time to blink at him before she was hauled away. Alex just stared after her.
Ren was glaring down at him, his hand still on Jennetta's fore-arm.
"What is the meaning of this?" He demanded, his voice sounding brittle to Alex's paranoid ears. Alex turned his head, stared at Maria, who was staring at Ren as though she had suddenly solved a very large puzzle.
"We found a way to open the portal." Alex managed to say, surprised that his voice didn't crack with fear. The expression on Ren's face was extremely intimidating. For the first time Alex understood why Max and Isabel's mother had sent the shapeshifter to protect Jennetta.
When Ren looked like that...well, he looked like he could eat Darth Vader, Darth Maul and three hundred Klingons for breakfast...and then ask for dessert.
And he certainly did not look impressed by the good news either.
Jennetta shook his hand off of her arm. "We were just celebrating." She told him, sounding huffy. "You should be happy. Why must you always behave like a beast?" She moved forward, looked like she was going to help Alex to his feet. Alex quickly got up by himself, not wanting to give Ren any more reason to frown.
For someone who wasn't supposed to have any emotions, the shapeshifter seemed to be displaying quite a few of them lately.
"Right." Maria said, marching over to the computer. "So what did you find Alex?" Alex saw her give Ren a concerned look as she passed him. He was still glowering at Alex and Jennetta by turns. Jenny turned her back on him and joined her mother at the console.
"It's the solstice." Alex explained. "Apparently this is another thing that Earth and Illyria have in common - both of their trajectories around their suns takes 365 days, give or take, but they are mirror images - sort of like the southern and northern hemispheres here in Earth. Twice a year, the two planets are exactly opposite. The summer solstice in the northern hemisphere matches the winter solstice on Illyria - at least in the hemisphere that concerns us. The kingdoms of Illyria and Dernia are in the southern hemisphere of the planet."
"Which means what?" Jenny asked. Alex tried to ignore the admiring way she was looking at him.
"On those two dates the portal alternates itself." Alex replied. "Which means that on those two dates the keys are switched - the key TO Illyria becomes the key to Earth and the key TO Earth becomes the key to Illyria."
"Max and Isabel are the keys." Maria's face lit up. "Which means that on June 21, Isabel will be able to open the portal TO Illyria!"
"You've got it." Alex grinned at her. He could feel his happiness returning quickly. They were going to be able to save their friends after all.
"But that still doesn't explain how Tarsus and Danala got here." Maria interjected.
"Who cares?" Jennetta replied. "We have the answer we need." She put her arm around Maria and squeezed. "Now we just need to get to England so that we can be with Michael and Isabel on June 21."
"We have just under two weeks." Ren put in, sounding a little more civil. "Time to make preparations." He glanced at Jennetta. "Time to prepare you for what you are going to have to do once you reach our home."
Jennetta rolled her eyes. "There's plenty of time for that." Ren frowned again, sighing. "The important thing is getting there."
"I just hope that we're not too late. We have no way of knowing what's happened there. Jaxon and Sabrya could be dead for all we know." Ren replied testily.
"Oh stop being such a grump!" Maria was grinning again. She poked Ren in the side. "We have an answer. Can't you even crack one little smile?"
Ren softened slightly. "Well, it is good news." He looked at Alex, a weird expression on his face. "Well done Alex." He looked like saying that was akin to swallowing a worm in his books.
"We all did it together." Alex insisted. He felt another shiver when his eyes met Jennetta.
She was smiling at him in a way that could only mean trouble.
The Citadel, Illyria
"In fact he sent me."
Max saw Liz's dark eyes widen at his words. "I don't understand." She whispered. "Why?"
"Because he's pretending that I'm his leader again." Max replied matter-of- factly.
"Pretending?"
"Basically, he thinks I'm an idiot." Max felt a flash of rage. He had been doing his utmost to control his anger since he had come face to face with the evil shapeshifter a few hours before but it was getting more difficult. Seeing the terror that was presently displaying itself on Liz's face was making it darn near impossible. "He thinks that I trust him - that I'll believe anything out of his lying mouth."
"He told you that you were his leader?" Liz asked, moving forward and seating herself beside Max on the cot. Max moved instantly to put his arm around her. She lowered her head so that it rested on his shoulder. "Why would he do that?"
"Because he's trying to screw with my mind again I think." Max told her. "But it's time for me to do a little of that of my own." He grinned at Liz. "Let him think I'm a moron. I don't care as long as it means I get to be with you." He leaned forward, touched his forehead to hers. "It's the only reason I came to this damn planet in the first place - to be with you."
Max saw Liz lower her gaze. She bit her lip. "This is so dangerous Max! You're trapped here now too." She looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "Don't you know that the only reason I came here was to protect you? And then you go and give yourself up to Tarsus anyway." She smiled wryly, but her eyes revealed her pain. "You can be very irritating." She paused. "And it still doesn't explain what Tarsus's plan is."
"Whatever it is, we'll deal with it. Don't worry. This time I came with back up." Max replied, kissing her gently on the forehead. "Tess and Kyle are rallying the troops as we speak."
"Tess and Kyle are here?" Liz looked shocked. "Together? How did that happen?"
Max sighed, reflecting momentarily on the hard work Tess had in front of her to get THAT relationship back where it was supposed to be. "Well, together is not exactly the term I would use." He admitted. "But they'll work it out."
Liz pulled away again. "I don't like this Max. It feels wrong somehow. Tarsus is playing some sort of game again."
"Of course he is." Max shrugged. "He lives to play games. He wants to control me. That's what it's always been about."
Liz just shook her head. "I think that's part of it - but not all." She reached behind her, pulled a leather-bound book out from under the pillow. "This told him something about me that made him want ME in particular."
Max frowned. He didn't like the sound of this at all. "What is that?" He took the book from Liz's hands, flipped open to the first page. He quickly scanned the opening letter. "What does your grandmother's journal have to do with any of this?"
Liz's eyes were shiny as she swallowed, took the book from him, pressed it against her heart. "She wasn't really my grandmother." She replied, her voice soft. "But she loved me so much. My parents didn't even know the truth about who she was until the very end..."
Max grimaced when Liz mentioned her parents. He still hadn't told her about what had happened to them.
"Liz, there's something I need to..." But she interrupted him.
"Max, I need to tell you what this says. I've read it from start to finish twice now and you need to hear it all."
Max frowned. "Okay." He brushed her hair back behind her ears. He couldn't stop touching her, couldn't believe that she was really sitting right there with him. He had missed her so much.
"It's the last few entries that are the most important I think." Liz continued. He could feel her shiver lightly as he touched her. "Max, stop it! You're distracting me!"
"Sorry. Really, really sorry." He knew he didn't sound sorry at all. He kissed her gently on her earlobe, started to rain kisses down her soft neck. "I can't help myself here." He could feel Liz's heart beginning to pound in time with his own.
"Max!" She managed to gasp. "This is serious!"
"I know." He reluctantly pulled back, folded his hands in his lap, looked at her expectantly. "I'll be good. I promise."
Liz was blinking at him, her expression dazed. "How did you do that?" She asked, sounding suddenly miffed.
"How did I do what?"
"Just stop like that?"
"You asked me to." Max replied, raising an eyebrow at her. It was actually a very good question. He had no idea how he had stopped, but he was trying to make her as crazy for him as he was for her. His hands were literally itching at the moment to grab her and haul her onto his lap.
Liz stared at him for a moment, breathing erratically. "Hmphhh." She finally replied, flicking her hair over her shoulder, apparently insulted. Max felt his pulse beginning to hammer. He swallowed, forced himself to focus on what she was saying, although it currently all sounded like gibberish to him. He was watching her lips move, almost stopped breathing when her tongue darted out to wet them as she spoke.
"....she died...but she managed to create some sort of bonding between us before it happened - or at least I think she intended to."
Max shook his head. This sounded important, although how anything could be more important than kissing Liz at the moment, he had no clue. "Huh?"
Liz frowned at him. "Are you listening to me?"
"Yes."
"You are NOT listening to me." Liz sighed in annoyance, but she didn't really look mad. In fact, she was beginning to stare at his mouth.
Max cleared he throat, quickly looked away. "Maybe you should just give me that book and I'll read it myself." He suggested.
"It's too long to read right now." Liz replied. "But you SHOULD read the end." She flipped through the book, handed it to him, pointing out a passage. "Start here." She stood up and moved across the room, started fiddling with something on the table.
Max looked down at the book, looked back at Liz. "You know this would be much more fun if you'd sit with me while I read it." He eyed her hopefully.
"No." Liz said sternly. "There is no way you are going to read that with me beside you." She looked away, trying to hide a smile.
"Please?"
"Max."
"Fine." He grumbled. He lowered his gaze and began to read.
August 13, 1995
I have been back and forth to Roswell more times in the past year than in all the years since Bill died. I think Nancy is getting sick of me, but it cannot be helped. I must keep an eye on Jaxon and Mirana. I must protect them at all costs.
I have discovered as much about the Evans family as possible. They seem like good people. I am pleased that the twins were kept together, but do wonder what happened to Tristandor and Sabrya. I have still uncovered no trace of them.
September 28, 1995
The most horrible thing has occurred.
I have found Laren and in the process my heart has been broken for the last time. I believed that after Bill's death it could never happen again, but I was mistaken.
I am in Roswell again, staying with Jeffrey and Nancy, keeping an eye on my king and his sister. Liz is growing into an ever more delightful child every day. I also enjoy her two little friends, Maria and Alex. They are all so innocent and full of life.
I have been spending the last few days at the pod chamber, rummaging through some of the debris left there. There is not much there, but it seemed important and so I have done it.
It was there that Laren found me.
I am positive that he was just as shocked to see me as I was to see him. I was fiddling with one of the pods, getting flashes of a little blonde girl with curly hair, one I did not recognize, obviously Sabrya, when the pod chamber entrance opened, causing me to whirl in astonishment.
And there he was. He was squinting in the sudden darkness that greeted him after the brightness of the New Mexico desert, but he seemed aware of my presence almost immediately. "Who's there?"
He was in disguise, had shifted into the body of a middle-aged human with a bald spot and jowls, but I recognized him immediately. His essence sang to me.
"Laren."
I saw him flinch. "By the Ring...Andrina?"
"It is me."
He just stared at me in astonishment for several long moments. Finally he spoke. "My love...but...I was sure that you had perished at the hands of those evil humans!" He moved forward carefully, as though expecting me to disappear in front of him.
I continued to stare at him silently.
"Andrina?"
"I never thought to see you again." I finally managed to say, my voice cracking. "Laren, where have you been?"
"I have been everywhere." He replied wryly. He looked like he wanted to touch me, but held himself rigid instead. He motioned to the empty pods behind me. "Looking for them. I have been searching for forty years - ever since I escaped from those bastards."
I opened my mouth to tell him that I was watching over Jaxon and Mirana, but something stopped me. I pressed my lips together instead. "Have you had any luck?" I asked.
"Sabrya is with me." Laren replied. "The other three were gone when I managed to find this place. That in itself took almost forty years."
I frowned. "You were not responsible for bringing them here?" I asked.
"No. I was captured almost immediately. I moved away from the Crash, led the evil ones away from my charges. I don't think they recognized the pods for what they were." He paused. "I don't know who moved them. My two companions, Silesa and her mate, died in the Crash."
But I knew. It had to have been Jemma and Jendar. I wondered what had happened to them, why they had deserted the four that we were charged to protect.
"Andrina." Laren sounded unsure what to say next. "How have you fared?"
"I have done well, all things considered." I replied. I had to be truthful. "I married a human Laren. I have children. I have a grand-daughter."
His eyes darkened. Although the face was not one I recognized, the eyes were his.
"I thought you had died." I explained in a rush.
"I do not blame you my love." He paused. "Is it too late for us then?"
"My husband is gone."
"I am sorry for it." He sounded genuinely regretful. "It must have been difficult."
"It was. But..." I swallowed. "I never forgot you Laren."
"Nor I you."
And in the next instant we were in each other's arms. He was stroking my hair. "Andrina. My love. My prayers have been answered."
He brought his lips down on mine.
And it was then that everything changed.
I saw evil.
Flash***
A man in the cave on the Mesa Laco reservation staring at me in horror, screaming in terror...
Flash**
A woman lying dead on the pavement, a silver hand-print shining out from her chest...
Flash** Flash** Flash**
Bodies, bodies, bodies...
Flash**
Laren entwined in the arms of a figure that seemed familiar...her face was just beyond my reach...
Flash**
Laren wrenching a small baby away from the shadowed woman...her sobs echoed throughout my mind...
I wrenched myself away from him, my chest heaving, stared at him in horror.
"Laren, what has become of you?"
"Andrina?" He sounded hurt. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing." I forced my voice to moderate itself.
I now knew why I had not told him that I had found the king. Something was seriously wrong here.
He could not be trusted.
I knew it with every fibre of my being.
"It is too late." I finally told him, when he still looked suspicious.
"Andrina! Please."
"I am sorry Laren. I suppose I loved my husband far more than I ever imagined."
He blinked at me, looked unconvinced. "But we will still work together to find the other three will we not?"
I thought of little Sabrya. Could I leave her in his hands? Did the fate of my nephew and niece outweigh leaving an innocent child with one that I could now only see as a monster?
I had no choice.
"No."
And I left him staring after me.
I am unsure if he has followed me, but I know that he will. I do know that I need to leave Roswell immediately. I cannot allow him to be anywhere near the twins.
They will be safe with their human parents.
What will I do without my little Liz?
June 12, 1998
I have allowed myself a quick visit to Roswell.
It is the first time in several years but I think that I have finally lost Laren.
I have been attempting to get my hands on Sabrya, but while he follows me, he also avoids me.
I do not know where he is at the moment, but I do know that he is nowhere near Roswell. I feel his presence still and he is not near now.
It has hurt my family that I have been so scarce over the last few years, but there has been little choice. I have used the excuse of my adventurous spirit. Jeffrey buys it I think. I am not as sure about Nancy.
I am here mainly to check on the twins. They have both grown by leaps and bounds, both look much more mature than their fifteen years would warrant. I would assume that this is due to their alien DNA, but it has become clear to me that they are both more human than anything else.
I saw them today in front of the high school. They were with another boy, who was tall with the most peculiar hair. I am almost positive that he is Tristandor. The air practically hummed with energy around the three of them, like they were a unit bound by love and loyalty.
It has become clear to me that Jaxon and Mirana know that they are special. While Mirana plays at the high school popularity game, she is clearly distant from her many "friends." Jaxon is a loner, only ever with the boy I believe is Mirana's husband.
And yet, in the few days that I have watched them, it is ever more clear to me that Jaxon is in love with my grand-daughter. He and the other boy are in the Crashdown more often than they are not, Mirana often with them as well. He watches Liz as she waits her tables, as she giggles with Maria, as she sits at the counter doing her homework. He turns the most charming shade of red whenever she speaks to him, which is usually only when they are discussing school or she is taking his order.
Liz still seems unaware of his existence on any level other than as platonic school friends, but I think it is because she believes that he would never be interested in her. I heard Maria teasing her about Max in her room last night.
"Maria, you are insane!" Liz told her best friend. "Max Evans would never be interested in someone like me! Have you seen what he looks like? He could have anyone in the school!"
"Have you seen what YOU look like?" This was Alex speaking. He was a charming boy, one who adored my grand-daughter. He was her biggest cheerleader. "I'm a guy Liz. Max Evans would have to be blind not to think you were beautiful."
Liz sounded embarrassed when she replied, "You're both crazy." She insisted. "He's my lab partner. That's it. I swear."
"Riii-gghh-tt!" Both Alex and Maria sing-songed in unison.
And so I still wonder if my hopes will be realized. I will never force my beloved Liz to do something against her will. The bonding will only take place if she wants it to.
There is still plenty of time. I am getting old, but I have a few years left in these bones yet.
Max looked up at Liz, a bemused expression on his face.
"Well?" Liz asked anxiously.
"Well, that was embarrassing." Max replied, setting the book down beside him on the bed. "Why did no one ever tell me I was that obvious?" He muttered to himself. "A complete STRANGER saw it for God's sake."
"Max!"
He smiled at her. "Not that I'm ashamed of it or anything. Falling in love with you was the best decision I ever made."
Liz smiled back at him, then shook her head resolutely. "It's no good Max Evans. You're not going to distract me again!"
Max just continued to smile at her, his dark eyes smoldering. "Darn." He patted the cot beside him. "So, come over here and tell me what you think is so important about this." He frowned when she didn't move. "Liz?" He finally sighed, sounding extremely long-suffering. "Fine. So what I gather from this is that your grandmother was my aunt?"
"Yes. But we're in no way related." Liz hurriedly replied. "She wasn't really my grandmother. She adopted my dad."
"And?"
"The bonding Max. Did you not read that?"
Max frowned, glanced down at the last entry again. "Do you think it took place? I mean, I don't remember anything like that."
"My grandmother died about a year and a half after that last entry." Liz explained. "The letter she wrote to go with it was written the night she went into the hospital."
"Which begs the question as to how she was able to be in the hospital in the first place." Max interjected. "She was fully alien after all - not even a hybrid. The doctors should have been able to tell that she was otherworldly."
"Hmmmmm..." Liz hadn't even thought of that. "Well, we can wonder about that later." She stared at him. "The point is, the day before my grandma went into the hospital, Maria and I were talking to her about boys..."
Max raised his eyebrow again. "Well, this sounds interesting." He grinned at her. "Pray tell Ms. Parker. Did my name happen to come up in that conversation?"
"Right after Kyle's." Liz replied. Max looked stunned and then scowled. Liz started to laugh at the expression of disgust on his face. "Actually now that I think about it, MARIA was the one who brought your actual NAME up. I didn't even mention you specifically."
"Liz..." His expression was seriously put out.
Liz moved forward, threw her arms around him. "Of course, it was you I was thinking about when the topic of soulmates was discussed."
"I should hope so." He grumbled. Liz began to rain kisses across his face. "Now who's doing the distracting?" He managed to say in a strangled voice a few minutes later.
"Do you forgive me?"
"No."
Liz smiled to herself over his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
He sighed heavily again, his voice long-suffering as he joked, "Fine. I guess if you managed to get past my destined bride running around Roswell, I can move beyond Kyle Valenti."
"Thank you. I think. Anyway..." Liz continued. "The point is, I think Tarsus thinks that this bonding must have taken place, which is why he wanted me."
"But obviously it didn't." Max replied. "I never even MET your grandmother." He paused. "Which on reflection seems kind of weird since she apparently followed me around for half of my life."
"Be that as it may, I can't think of anything else that Tarsus could possibly want me for."
"Other than to torture me." Max told her. He ran his hands through her hair, causing a shiver to descend Liz's spine. "He knows that without you I couldn't go on." He whispered against her ear.
Liz sighed. "Max. Oh my God, I missed you so much." The fact that he was actually there with her...While she had done everything in her power to avoid having Max wind up in Tarsus's power again, she couldn't help but be happy.
She was never truly complete unless they were together.
"I missed everyone so much, Maria, Alex, my parents..." She continued, her arms wrapped around his neck, her face buried in his neck. She felt Max tense beneath her. "But I could almost do without any of them to be with you." She finished. "I feel so guilty about that, but you were all I really thought about this whole time."
Max was still stiff in her arms. He was stroking her hair gently, but she could tell that there was something on his mind. "Max? What's wrong?"
"Liz, there's something I need to tell you." Max said quietly, pulling back and looking directly into her face. He swallowed. "It's about your parents."
Roswell, New Mexico - The same day
Alex snapped back to awareness as his chin smashed
against his chest. He had been dozing fitfully in his
chair in front of his computer for hours now. The
translation program was still processing merrily, had
been doing so for close to six days.
They were no closer to finding any answers than they
had been when they started.
That wasn't even the worst part. The four of them
were all beginning to go a little stir-crazy. Alex
was pretty sure that if they had to spend another 24
hours underground, something was going to give - big
time.
Jennetta and Ren were currently not on speaking terms.
Alex hadn't really been able to figure out what the
heck was going on with them, but from the stony faced
looks Ren kept shooting in his direction, he could
guess.
Maria was also acting weird. Anytime Jennetta or Alex
spoke to each other, she'd start jumping all over the
place in some sort of manic frenzy, her goal obviously
to make them turn away from each other.
The whole thing was extremely embarrassing,
particularly since he had absolutely no interest in
Maria's daughter. The other embarrassing fact was
that it was clear that both Ren and Maria were aware
that Jennetta had a crush on him - and they blamed HIM
for it.
He snorted to himself, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Could
he help it if he was irresistible? he thought
sarcastically. The thought was so ludicrous, he
almost burst out laughing.
Oh that would have looked really suave - just start
laughing like a freak Whitman. Make Jennetta think
you're insane - maybe that will drive her away.
Alex turned to stare at Michael and Maria's daughter,
who was currently curled up on one of the nearby cots,
fast asleep. Maria was tossing and turning in the one
beside it.
It wasn't that he didn't find Jennetta attractive. He
did. In fact, she was beautiful. But he just couldn't
think of her as anything other than a little kid.
Not to mention, he was already happily involved with
his fantasy girl. There was no way he would ever risk
his relationship with Isabel for even a minor
flirtation with Jennetta.
There was also no way that he would risk Michael Guerin's wrath. And Max would be none to jazzed either. The thought was even too scary to contemplate.
Alex hoped that she would get over her mini-infatuation soon. He didn't understand it anyway.
What the hell did she see in him? He was a complete goof ball! But then that hadn't stopped Isabel either. Maybe beautiful alien girls were just naturally attracted to their completely opposite counterpart?
Alex's attention was pulled away from Jennetta's
sleeping form when the computer began to beep quietly.
He frowned, quickly hit a button that caused the
scrolling to slow down.
He scanned the words unfurling across the screen.
Nothing of any use to the current crisis jumped out at
him. He had set the program to beep anytime orbs of
any kind were mentioned after all. It was probably just
another treatise on communicator orbs vs. dream plain
orbs. He had actually found one of those a day or so
ago. Apparently this had been a big debate on Illyria
at some point. The whole thing had made his head
spin. Why couldn't a civilization that had the
capability to travel through time and space find a way
to communicate more effectively?
He sighed heavily, realized that the screen was
flashing information about solstices and equinoxes.
He didn't think that the seasonal trajectory of
Illyria was one of their top priorities at the moment.
He was beginning to drift off again when a date
suddenly jumped off the computer screen at him. June
21.
June 21. That was approximately the date of the
summer solstice on EARTH. Why would the information
be in an Illyrian book? Were date and planet
alignment on the same schedule on Illyria as they
were on Earth?
Unless...
Unless the book was somehow discussing the link between Illyria and Earth. He grabbed the mouse,
slowed the scan down to the point where he could scroll through the translation manually.
"EUREKA!" Alex bellowed a minute later, jumping out of his chair.
Maria sat bolt upright on her cot, her blue eyes wide. "What? What?"
Jennetta had rolled over, was staring at Alex with her strange dark eyes narrowed in sleepy confusion.
Alex grabbed Maria by the arm, hauled her up, hugging her hard. "I found it! I found it! It's here!"
Maria seemed to snap out of her lethargy almost immediately. "You found a way to open the portal??"
She started jumping up and down. Alex couldn't help himself. He was so giddy, he joined her.
Jennetta hung back, a wide smile on her face, until Maria grabbed her by the hand, hauling her into their
insanity.
They were all still jumping around like lunatics when a throat clearing itself nearby caused them all to stop abruptly. Of course, it was at that moment that Jennetta lost her footing and fell into Alex, sending them both sprawling onto the floor, Jenny on top of Alex, their faces about two inches apart.
Jennetta barely had time to blink at him before she was hauled away. Alex just stared after her.
Ren was glaring down at him, his hand still on Jennetta's fore-arm.
"What is the meaning of this?" He demanded, his voice sounding brittle to Alex's paranoid ears. Alex turned his head, stared at Maria, who was staring at Ren as though she had suddenly solved a very large puzzle.
"We found a way to open the portal." Alex managed to say, surprised that his voice didn't crack with fear. The expression on Ren's face was extremely intimidating. For the first time Alex understood why Max and Isabel's mother had sent the shapeshifter to protect Jennetta.
When Ren looked like that...well, he looked like he could eat Darth Vader, Darth Maul and three hundred Klingons for breakfast...and then ask for dessert.
And he certainly did not look impressed by the good news either.
Jennetta shook his hand off of her arm. "We were just celebrating." She told him, sounding huffy. "You should be happy. Why must you always behave like a beast?" She moved forward, looked like she was going to help Alex to his feet. Alex quickly got up by himself, not wanting to give Ren any more reason to frown.
For someone who wasn't supposed to have any emotions, the shapeshifter seemed to be displaying quite a few of them lately.
"Right." Maria said, marching over to the computer. "So what did you find Alex?" Alex saw her give Ren a concerned look as she passed him. He was still glowering at Alex and Jennetta by turns. Jenny turned her back on him and joined her mother at the console.
"It's the solstice." Alex explained. "Apparently this is another thing that Earth and Illyria have in common - both of their trajectories around their suns takes 365 days, give or take, but they are mirror images - sort of like the southern and northern hemispheres here in Earth. Twice a year, the two planets are exactly opposite. The summer solstice in the northern hemisphere matches the winter solstice on Illyria - at least in the hemisphere that concerns us. The kingdoms of Illyria and Dernia are in the southern hemisphere of the planet."
"Which means what?" Jenny asked. Alex tried to ignore the admiring way she was looking at him.
"On those two dates the portal alternates itself." Alex replied. "Which means that on those two dates the keys are switched - the key TO Illyria becomes the key to Earth and the key TO Earth becomes the key to Illyria."
"Max and Isabel are the keys." Maria's face lit up. "Which means that on June 21, Isabel will be able to open the portal TO Illyria!"
"You've got it." Alex grinned at her. He could feel his happiness returning quickly. They were going to be able to save their friends after all.
"But that still doesn't explain how Tarsus and Danala got here." Maria interjected.
"Who cares?" Jennetta replied. "We have the answer we need." She put her arm around Maria and squeezed. "Now we just need to get to England so that we can be with Michael and Isabel on June 21."
"We have just under two weeks." Ren put in, sounding a little more civil. "Time to make preparations." He glanced at Jennetta. "Time to prepare you for what you are going to have to do once you reach our home."
Jennetta rolled her eyes. "There's plenty of time for that." Ren frowned again, sighing. "The important thing is getting there."
"I just hope that we're not too late. We have no way of knowing what's happened there. Jaxon and Sabrya could be dead for all we know." Ren replied testily.
"Oh stop being such a grump!" Maria was grinning again. She poked Ren in the side. "We have an answer. Can't you even crack one little smile?"
Ren softened slightly. "Well, it is good news." He looked at Alex, a weird expression on his face. "Well done Alex." He looked like saying that was akin to swallowing a worm in his books.
"We all did it together." Alex insisted. He felt another shiver when his eyes met Jennetta.
She was smiling at him in a way that could only mean trouble.
The Citadel, Illyria
"In fact he sent me."
Max saw Liz's dark eyes widen at his words. "I don't understand." She whispered. "Why?"
"Because he's pretending that I'm his leader again." Max replied matter-of- factly.
"Pretending?"
"Basically, he thinks I'm an idiot." Max felt a flash of rage. He had been doing his utmost to control his anger since he had come face to face with the evil shapeshifter a few hours before but it was getting more difficult. Seeing the terror that was presently displaying itself on Liz's face was making it darn near impossible. "He thinks that I trust him - that I'll believe anything out of his lying mouth."
"He told you that you were his leader?" Liz asked, moving forward and seating herself beside Max on the cot. Max moved instantly to put his arm around her. She lowered her head so that it rested on his shoulder. "Why would he do that?"
"Because he's trying to screw with my mind again I think." Max told her. "But it's time for me to do a little of that of my own." He grinned at Liz. "Let him think I'm a moron. I don't care as long as it means I get to be with you." He leaned forward, touched his forehead to hers. "It's the only reason I came to this damn planet in the first place - to be with you."
Max saw Liz lower her gaze. She bit her lip. "This is so dangerous Max! You're trapped here now too." She looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "Don't you know that the only reason I came here was to protect you? And then you go and give yourself up to Tarsus anyway." She smiled wryly, but her eyes revealed her pain. "You can be very irritating." She paused. "And it still doesn't explain what Tarsus's plan is."
"Whatever it is, we'll deal with it. Don't worry. This time I came with back up." Max replied, kissing her gently on the forehead. "Tess and Kyle are rallying the troops as we speak."
"Tess and Kyle are here?" Liz looked shocked. "Together? How did that happen?"
Max sighed, reflecting momentarily on the hard work Tess had in front of her to get THAT relationship back where it was supposed to be. "Well, together is not exactly the term I would use." He admitted. "But they'll work it out."
Liz pulled away again. "I don't like this Max. It feels wrong somehow. Tarsus is playing some sort of game again."
"Of course he is." Max shrugged. "He lives to play games. He wants to control me. That's what it's always been about."
Liz just shook her head. "I think that's part of it - but not all." She reached behind her, pulled a leather-bound book out from under the pillow. "This told him something about me that made him want ME in particular."
Max frowned. He didn't like the sound of this at all. "What is that?" He took the book from Liz's hands, flipped open to the first page. He quickly scanned the opening letter. "What does your grandmother's journal have to do with any of this?"
Liz's eyes were shiny as she swallowed, took the book from him, pressed it against her heart. "She wasn't really my grandmother." She replied, her voice soft. "But she loved me so much. My parents didn't even know the truth about who she was until the very end..."
Max grimaced when Liz mentioned her parents. He still hadn't told her about what had happened to them.
"Liz, there's something I need to..." But she interrupted him.
"Max, I need to tell you what this says. I've read it from start to finish twice now and you need to hear it all."
Max frowned. "Okay." He brushed her hair back behind her ears. He couldn't stop touching her, couldn't believe that she was really sitting right there with him. He had missed her so much.
"It's the last few entries that are the most important I think." Liz continued. He could feel her shiver lightly as he touched her. "Max, stop it! You're distracting me!"
"Sorry. Really, really sorry." He knew he didn't sound sorry at all. He kissed her gently on her earlobe, started to rain kisses down her soft neck. "I can't help myself here." He could feel Liz's heart beginning to pound in time with his own.
"Max!" She managed to gasp. "This is serious!"
"I know." He reluctantly pulled back, folded his hands in his lap, looked at her expectantly. "I'll be good. I promise."
Liz was blinking at him, her expression dazed. "How did you do that?" She asked, sounding suddenly miffed.
"How did I do what?"
"Just stop like that?"
"You asked me to." Max replied, raising an eyebrow at her. It was actually a very good question. He had no idea how he had stopped, but he was trying to make her as crazy for him as he was for her. His hands were literally itching at the moment to grab her and haul her onto his lap.
Liz stared at him for a moment, breathing erratically. "Hmphhh." She finally replied, flicking her hair over her shoulder, apparently insulted. Max felt his pulse beginning to hammer. He swallowed, forced himself to focus on what she was saying, although it currently all sounded like gibberish to him. He was watching her lips move, almost stopped breathing when her tongue darted out to wet them as she spoke.
"....she died...but she managed to create some sort of bonding between us before it happened - or at least I think she intended to."
Max shook his head. This sounded important, although how anything could be more important than kissing Liz at the moment, he had no clue. "Huh?"
Liz frowned at him. "Are you listening to me?"
"Yes."
"You are NOT listening to me." Liz sighed in annoyance, but she didn't really look mad. In fact, she was beginning to stare at his mouth.
Max cleared he throat, quickly looked away. "Maybe you should just give me that book and I'll read it myself." He suggested.
"It's too long to read right now." Liz replied. "But you SHOULD read the end." She flipped through the book, handed it to him, pointing out a passage. "Start here." She stood up and moved across the room, started fiddling with something on the table.
Max looked down at the book, looked back at Liz. "You know this would be much more fun if you'd sit with me while I read it." He eyed her hopefully.
"No." Liz said sternly. "There is no way you are going to read that with me beside you." She looked away, trying to hide a smile.
"Please?"
"Max."
"Fine." He grumbled. He lowered his gaze and began to read.
August 13, 1995
I have been back and forth to Roswell more times in the past year than in all the years since Bill died. I think Nancy is getting sick of me, but it cannot be helped. I must keep an eye on Jaxon and Mirana. I must protect them at all costs.
I have discovered as much about the Evans family as possible. They seem like good people. I am pleased that the twins were kept together, but do wonder what happened to Tristandor and Sabrya. I have still uncovered no trace of them.
September 28, 1995
The most horrible thing has occurred.
I have found Laren and in the process my heart has been broken for the last time. I believed that after Bill's death it could never happen again, but I was mistaken.
I am in Roswell again, staying with Jeffrey and Nancy, keeping an eye on my king and his sister. Liz is growing into an ever more delightful child every day. I also enjoy her two little friends, Maria and Alex. They are all so innocent and full of life.
I have been spending the last few days at the pod chamber, rummaging through some of the debris left there. There is not much there, but it seemed important and so I have done it.
It was there that Laren found me.
I am positive that he was just as shocked to see me as I was to see him. I was fiddling with one of the pods, getting flashes of a little blonde girl with curly hair, one I did not recognize, obviously Sabrya, when the pod chamber entrance opened, causing me to whirl in astonishment.
And there he was. He was squinting in the sudden darkness that greeted him after the brightness of the New Mexico desert, but he seemed aware of my presence almost immediately. "Who's there?"
He was in disguise, had shifted into the body of a middle-aged human with a bald spot and jowls, but I recognized him immediately. His essence sang to me.
"Laren."
I saw him flinch. "By the Ring...Andrina?"
"It is me."
He just stared at me in astonishment for several long moments. Finally he spoke. "My love...but...I was sure that you had perished at the hands of those evil humans!" He moved forward carefully, as though expecting me to disappear in front of him.
I continued to stare at him silently.
"Andrina?"
"I never thought to see you again." I finally managed to say, my voice cracking. "Laren, where have you been?"
"I have been everywhere." He replied wryly. He looked like he wanted to touch me, but held himself rigid instead. He motioned to the empty pods behind me. "Looking for them. I have been searching for forty years - ever since I escaped from those bastards."
I opened my mouth to tell him that I was watching over Jaxon and Mirana, but something stopped me. I pressed my lips together instead. "Have you had any luck?" I asked.
"Sabrya is with me." Laren replied. "The other three were gone when I managed to find this place. That in itself took almost forty years."
I frowned. "You were not responsible for bringing them here?" I asked.
"No. I was captured almost immediately. I moved away from the Crash, led the evil ones away from my charges. I don't think they recognized the pods for what they were." He paused. "I don't know who moved them. My two companions, Silesa and her mate, died in the Crash."
But I knew. It had to have been Jemma and Jendar. I wondered what had happened to them, why they had deserted the four that we were charged to protect.
"Andrina." Laren sounded unsure what to say next. "How have you fared?"
"I have done well, all things considered." I replied. I had to be truthful. "I married a human Laren. I have children. I have a grand-daughter."
His eyes darkened. Although the face was not one I recognized, the eyes were his.
"I thought you had died." I explained in a rush.
"I do not blame you my love." He paused. "Is it too late for us then?"
"My husband is gone."
"I am sorry for it." He sounded genuinely regretful. "It must have been difficult."
"It was. But..." I swallowed. "I never forgot you Laren."
"Nor I you."
And in the next instant we were in each other's arms. He was stroking my hair. "Andrina. My love. My prayers have been answered."
He brought his lips down on mine.
And it was then that everything changed.
I saw evil.
Flash***
A man in the cave on the Mesa Laco reservation staring at me in horror, screaming in terror...
Flash**
A woman lying dead on the pavement, a silver hand-print shining out from her chest...
Flash** Flash** Flash**
Bodies, bodies, bodies...
Flash**
Laren entwined in the arms of a figure that seemed familiar...her face was just beyond my reach...
Flash**
Laren wrenching a small baby away from the shadowed woman...her sobs echoed throughout my mind...
I wrenched myself away from him, my chest heaving, stared at him in horror.
"Laren, what has become of you?"
"Andrina?" He sounded hurt. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing." I forced my voice to moderate itself.
I now knew why I had not told him that I had found the king. Something was seriously wrong here.
He could not be trusted.
I knew it with every fibre of my being.
"It is too late." I finally told him, when he still looked suspicious.
"Andrina! Please."
"I am sorry Laren. I suppose I loved my husband far more than I ever imagined."
He blinked at me, looked unconvinced. "But we will still work together to find the other three will we not?"
I thought of little Sabrya. Could I leave her in his hands? Did the fate of my nephew and niece outweigh leaving an innocent child with one that I could now only see as a monster?
I had no choice.
"No."
And I left him staring after me.
I am unsure if he has followed me, but I know that he will. I do know that I need to leave Roswell immediately. I cannot allow him to be anywhere near the twins.
They will be safe with their human parents.
What will I do without my little Liz?
June 12, 1998
I have allowed myself a quick visit to Roswell.
It is the first time in several years but I think that I have finally lost Laren.
I have been attempting to get my hands on Sabrya, but while he follows me, he also avoids me.
I do not know where he is at the moment, but I do know that he is nowhere near Roswell. I feel his presence still and he is not near now.
It has hurt my family that I have been so scarce over the last few years, but there has been little choice. I have used the excuse of my adventurous spirit. Jeffrey buys it I think. I am not as sure about Nancy.
I am here mainly to check on the twins. They have both grown by leaps and bounds, both look much more mature than their fifteen years would warrant. I would assume that this is due to their alien DNA, but it has become clear to me that they are both more human than anything else.
I saw them today in front of the high school. They were with another boy, who was tall with the most peculiar hair. I am almost positive that he is Tristandor. The air practically hummed with energy around the three of them, like they were a unit bound by love and loyalty.
It has become clear to me that Jaxon and Mirana know that they are special. While Mirana plays at the high school popularity game, she is clearly distant from her many "friends." Jaxon is a loner, only ever with the boy I believe is Mirana's husband.
And yet, in the few days that I have watched them, it is ever more clear to me that Jaxon is in love with my grand-daughter. He and the other boy are in the Crashdown more often than they are not, Mirana often with them as well. He watches Liz as she waits her tables, as she giggles with Maria, as she sits at the counter doing her homework. He turns the most charming shade of red whenever she speaks to him, which is usually only when they are discussing school or she is taking his order.
Liz still seems unaware of his existence on any level other than as platonic school friends, but I think it is because she believes that he would never be interested in her. I heard Maria teasing her about Max in her room last night.
"Maria, you are insane!" Liz told her best friend. "Max Evans would never be interested in someone like me! Have you seen what he looks like? He could have anyone in the school!"
"Have you seen what YOU look like?" This was Alex speaking. He was a charming boy, one who adored my grand-daughter. He was her biggest cheerleader. "I'm a guy Liz. Max Evans would have to be blind not to think you were beautiful."
Liz sounded embarrassed when she replied, "You're both crazy." She insisted. "He's my lab partner. That's it. I swear."
"Riii-gghh-tt!" Both Alex and Maria sing-songed in unison.
And so I still wonder if my hopes will be realized. I will never force my beloved Liz to do something against her will. The bonding will only take place if she wants it to.
There is still plenty of time. I am getting old, but I have a few years left in these bones yet.
Max looked up at Liz, a bemused expression on his face.
"Well?" Liz asked anxiously.
"Well, that was embarrassing." Max replied, setting the book down beside him on the bed. "Why did no one ever tell me I was that obvious?" He muttered to himself. "A complete STRANGER saw it for God's sake."
"Max!"
He smiled at her. "Not that I'm ashamed of it or anything. Falling in love with you was the best decision I ever made."
Liz smiled back at him, then shook her head resolutely. "It's no good Max Evans. You're not going to distract me again!"
Max just continued to smile at her, his dark eyes smoldering. "Darn." He patted the cot beside him. "So, come over here and tell me what you think is so important about this." He frowned when she didn't move. "Liz?" He finally sighed, sounding extremely long-suffering. "Fine. So what I gather from this is that your grandmother was my aunt?"
"Yes. But we're in no way related." Liz hurriedly replied. "She wasn't really my grandmother. She adopted my dad."
"And?"
"The bonding Max. Did you not read that?"
Max frowned, glanced down at the last entry again. "Do you think it took place? I mean, I don't remember anything like that."
"My grandmother died about a year and a half after that last entry." Liz explained. "The letter she wrote to go with it was written the night she went into the hospital."
"Which begs the question as to how she was able to be in the hospital in the first place." Max interjected. "She was fully alien after all - not even a hybrid. The doctors should have been able to tell that she was otherworldly."
"Hmmmmm..." Liz hadn't even thought of that. "Well, we can wonder about that later." She stared at him. "The point is, the day before my grandma went into the hospital, Maria and I were talking to her about boys..."
Max raised his eyebrow again. "Well, this sounds interesting." He grinned at her. "Pray tell Ms. Parker. Did my name happen to come up in that conversation?"
"Right after Kyle's." Liz replied. Max looked stunned and then scowled. Liz started to laugh at the expression of disgust on his face. "Actually now that I think about it, MARIA was the one who brought your actual NAME up. I didn't even mention you specifically."
"Liz..." His expression was seriously put out.
Liz moved forward, threw her arms around him. "Of course, it was you I was thinking about when the topic of soulmates was discussed."
"I should hope so." He grumbled. Liz began to rain kisses across his face. "Now who's doing the distracting?" He managed to say in a strangled voice a few minutes later.
"Do you forgive me?"
"No."
Liz smiled to herself over his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
He sighed heavily again, his voice long-suffering as he joked, "Fine. I guess if you managed to get past my destined bride running around Roswell, I can move beyond Kyle Valenti."
"Thank you. I think. Anyway..." Liz continued. "The point is, I think Tarsus thinks that this bonding must have taken place, which is why he wanted me."
"But obviously it didn't." Max replied. "I never even MET your grandmother." He paused. "Which on reflection seems kind of weird since she apparently followed me around for half of my life."
"Be that as it may, I can't think of anything else that Tarsus could possibly want me for."
"Other than to torture me." Max told her. He ran his hands through her hair, causing a shiver to descend Liz's spine. "He knows that without you I couldn't go on." He whispered against her ear.
Liz sighed. "Max. Oh my God, I missed you so much." The fact that he was actually there with her...While she had done everything in her power to avoid having Max wind up in Tarsus's power again, she couldn't help but be happy.
She was never truly complete unless they were together.
"I missed everyone so much, Maria, Alex, my parents..." She continued, her arms wrapped around his neck, her face buried in his neck. She felt Max tense beneath her. "But I could almost do without any of them to be with you." She finished. "I feel so guilty about that, but you were all I really thought about this whole time."
Max was still stiff in her arms. He was stroking her hair gently, but she could tell that there was something on his mind. "Max? What's wrong?"
"Liz, there's something I need to tell you." Max said quietly, pulling back and looking directly into her face. He swallowed. "It's about your parents."
