Chapter Eight: Night Advances

Michael didn't notice that Kyle suddenly stopped laughing and slowed the van right down, until the jolting and juddering as it pulled off the road nearly threw him across the seat. His instinctive response to danger allowed him to recover his balance and dive for the driver's seat, with the intention of grabbing the wheel and turning it so they wouldn't hit the wall ahead of them.

He found Kyle enveloped in a green haze and the van slowly rolling to a halt a few inches short of the wall.

Keeping his eyes on Kyle, he pulled Maria out of her seat, used his powers to open the nearest door and pushed her towards it.

***Maria, get the hell away from the van. I don't know what the f*ck's goin' on with Valenti, so stay outside and keep your distance. Wait for the others***

*** No. I'm not leaving you***

***I want you safe, so go. NOW***

***If you stay, I stay, Michael. I'm safest with you, so don't even think about arguing. Kyle wouldn't hurt us, anyway. Is he OK? What happened? Why did he pull over?***

***Let me check him out before we do anything else, Maria. At least he's stopped glowing. Man, that was scary for a minute, back there, thought we were gonna crash into the wall***

***What do you mean, "glowing"? Kyle was glowing? Look, he's starting to come round. Out of the way, Michael, let me get to him***

She moved him aside and climbed over the back of the passenger seat. Kyle was blinking in a dazed way and turned to look at her as she gently took his face in her hands to inspect him for damage. He appeared to be unhurt, though tired, and he made an effort to pull himself together under her concerned gaze. Michael, now crouched behind them, gripped his friend's shoulder briefly in reassurance.

"Let Maria check you over, Valenti, you musta had some kind of blackout there for a while. How do you feel?"

Kyle thought about it. His head hurt real bad and he still ached all over from remembered pain. He guessed that he'd had some kind of delayed shock reaction with his life passing before his eyes. Or was that when you were drowning? He couldn't remember.

"Uh, I don't feel so good, I guess. Maybe I got dazzled by the sunset, or something. I remember the light was green and . . . pain . . . and then, nothing. Is the van ok?"

"Yeah, it's fine. It's you we're worried about, Kyle. Are you up to moving to the back of the van? You should lie down for a while. Get some rest. Michael will drive. I'll stay in back with you."

He didn't argue, just opened the door and got very slowly and stiffly out onto the ground, where he stood for a moment to breathe deeply.

Maria and Michael came round the outside of the van to join him, Maria sounding puzzled and a little worried as she suddenly remembered the rest of the group in the Chevy.

"Michael - the others, they should have been here by now. They must have seen us pull off the road, they'd know something was wrong. Why aren't they here? Why didn't they stop?"

"Maria, they'll be waiting for us at the next rest station, thinking we've got some engine problem or something. We're only a few minutes behind them, don't panic".

"Guess I'll get back in the van so we can get movin' again, Guerin. Shouldn't keep Liz and Isobel waiting too long or they'll start to really worry."

"I'll just get one of the new pillows to make you comfortable on the back seat, Kyle, it won't take a moment."

"Thanks, Maria, but I don't want to make any fuss. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine when I've had some rest."

"One pillow isn't making a fuss, Kyle. Get in the van and I'll be with you in a second."

He was glad to obey her, as his head continued to ache and sleep was all he wanted right then.

Moments later, the van was moving again with Michael driving and Maria sitting sideways with her legs across the middle seat, so she could check on Kyle and still see Michael as he drove.

***What exactly happened back there, Spaceboy? I could feel you panic, try to push me out of the van (which, by the way, we will be discussing later) and then suddenly you were fine, barely worried at all. Did you say Kyle glowed? Why aren't you worried?***

***Because, princess, you know what? I think it's his alien mojo starting to kick in. Valenti, an alien, better yet . . . a glowing green alien? Oh, man, I can't wait to break the news to him when he wakes up***

***Michael, that's a good thing for Kyle, right? I mean, the more powers we have as a group the better we can protect ourselves and survive. He won't have to be like Liz and go through it all alone, he'll have all of you to help him***

***All of us to help him including you, Maria, don't exclude yourself just because you're the only full human now. Human, alien, whatever, you're as vital to the group as anyone else, princess, and a you've made a damn sight more useful contributions than some people I could name. Ok, ok, I won't go there, you'll only get mad at me***

***Thank you for making me feel better, Michael. I guess I was letting myself get a little bit jealous about everyone having secret powers apart from me . . . Oh, but I wish we could have some time alone together, Spaceboy, I really need you to put your arms around me and hold me tight***

***First chance we get I'll be all over you like a rash, princess. Meantime, if this new mind thing isn't a secret power, what is?***

***Oooh, yes, Michael, I never thought of that***

***Maria, I want this to be our secret, just for us. I don't want to share it with anyone else, is that ok with you?***

***Yes, I want it to just be our own special thing, too, Spaceboy. It's such an incredibly romantic secret to have***

***Guess maybe I can be romantic after all, Blondie. Just let that be our little secret, too, ok? Here's the rest station coming up. Wanna bet on whether or not Isobel has killed Liz yet? Winner gets oral sex when we stop for breakfast***

***That's the kind of bet I like, Spaceboy - everyone wins! I bet it's the other way round, though, and Liz has killed Isobel***

He turned the van into the parking lot, noting that it was fairly full in the brightly lit area, but the remoter parts were dark and empty except for one now familiar vehicle. Isobel must have shot the lights out.

"There they are, over in the corner. Better brace ourselves for the fall- out."

As he spoke, Michael drew the van up beside the Chevy. Before he had switched off the engine the Chevy's door opened, Liz emerged and stalked purposefully over to the van.

***Still too soon to call, princess. She could be fresh from her kill or walking wounded . . . ***

Liz climbed in the side door and sat next to Maria, resting her head on her best friend's shoulder.

"What the hell kept you, Michael? Oh, don't even bother to tell me, I'm not interested. I'm riding with Maria from now on. You and Isobel can deal with His Royal Majesty the Former F*ucking King of Antar."

"Lizzie, chica, something's happened with Max. What's wrong now?"

"Yes, something's happened with Max. Ask Isobel; she'll tell you. I have finally, FINALLY had enough. Max Evans and I are over for good."

***I think we should just call it a draw, princess, don't you? We'll maybe skip breakfast so we both get some action, ok, babe***

***Michael, she's so hurt - I can't leave her alone until I find out what happened***

Michael was more than happy to leave Liz to Maria. Isobel would give him the story without all the emotional drama that Liz seemed to indulge in. He sighed to himself as he left the van. He hoped Valenti woke up soon. Maybe he wouldn't even give the guy a hard time over the glowing green alien thing. It just wasn't that funny any more.

TBC.