Hear my echo
Liz stood over her assortment of test tubes containing unrecognisable chemical solutions. The high-tech digital screens displayed countless configurations of data, in fact, the entire laboratory contained state-of-the-art laboratory equipment. Liz had worked in some of the most prestigious science institutions to conduct her research, and she'd never had access to this kind of advanced tech. It had all been part of the generous investment that Shivani made to the new Deep Sky laboratory.
The amulet Max had given her lay on the laboratory bench surrounded by the array of running tests and experiments. She'd suspected when Max gave her the amulet that it contained a unique composition, but she'd been shocked when she'd woken up the next morning to find that all injuries she'd sustained from the fight with Clyde had been completely healed. Last six months she'd been devoted to uncovering the regenerative properties of the intergalactic space stone. She'd learnt her lesson the hard way to never cross the line of obsession, that completely losing herself to her own intelligence was its own form of torture. The deep sky had been overseeing her research and had assured her that any potential breakthrough could be published without exposing any alien origins. Liz turned back to her whiteboard writing another present biomarker, despite all the upgraded equipment she couldn't part with her trusty whiteboard. Completing the chemical equation on the whiteboard she tried not to think about Max, but sometimes she swore she could feel his presence, his echo calling out to her.
Liz was so focused on deciphering her chemical equations she didn't hear the clinking of heeled boots, "Max and Dallas are in trouble!" Maria gasped. "What?" Liz choked, whirling around to see Maria's wide eyes staring at her. Maria's clothes were covered in dirt, standing in the middle of Liz's lab trying to catch her breath. "Isabelle and I went down to the gateway and it triggered some kind of vision and…" Maria paused as if unsure whether to continue. "and what Maria?!" Liz exclaimed, unable to bear the slight break in her friend's voice. Maria swallowed, "Max has been taken prisoner, he saw me in the dreamscape, Liz." Liz dropped the whiteboard marker to the ground, suddenly losing all feeling in her body.'His echo was calling out to me' shame twisted in the pit of her stomach. Liz didn't hesitate, "we need to reactivate your vision. Your alien genetic code amplifies the neuron synapse to form the intense psychic connection within your dreamscapes so theoretically, all we have to do is enhance the brain function in your cerebellum and basal ganglia" Liz rambled pacing across her lab grabbing syringes and test tubes.
"There's no need," a deep voice said, Maria and Liz, turned around to see Michael storming into the room, along with Kyle, Alex and Isabelle. Michael was wearing his cowboy hat and holding a large contraption in his hands. "Perks of being an alien engineer is getting to build intergalactic toys," Michael said, placing the weird contraption on Liz's laboratory bench. "You mean assemble intergalactic appliances that serve humanity right?" Alex said, smirking at his husband. "Right," Michael said, returning the smirk. "Alright, honeymoons over so stop with the gross flirty banter and tell us what the hell this thing is," Isabelle said, gesturing to the machinery. "I reconfigured the Lockhart machine with some of my mom's tech to channel the frequencies of the console crystals," Michael said, Liz recognised certain parts of the Lockhart machine that had deconstructed and morphed with alien glass.
"It basically works like a movie projector, the Lockhart machine channels the crystals to form the psychic bridge between oasis and earth, then all we need is someone who has a connection to Max to find him and the machine will project everything you see," Michael explained. "Connection?" Maria asked, "he means the handprint," Liz said. Her fingers lightly grazed the now faded handprint, but Max had once explained to her that while the imprint fades the connection never will.
"You just did this?" Isabelle asked, raising her eyebrow at her brother. "So I've been working on a way to contact Max and Dallas for a while… satisfied?" Michael replied. "Depends, do you have any other covert alien machinery you care to loop us in on?" Isabelle asked. "No not really" Michael shrugged, "guys Max and Dallas are stranded on another planet in danger so can we save the sibling bickering?" Liz snapped, the guilt sinking further in her stomach, "I'll do it."
"How do we know it will work?" Maria asked. "He's using cognitive neuroscience, the crystals act as EMGs but for a psychic body it's brilliant," Liz said. "And yet you all still doubt me," Michael said, taking the crystals and placing them inside the machine. The group stood back as the machine lit up and the alien glass rotated around configuring the direct pathway to Oasis. Liz held her breath, as she positioned herself behind the machine putting her hands in place. She could feel the crystal's energy flowing through her, tingling all over her body. Until she felt something lock inside her she opened her eyes and gasped Max's handprint was glowing on her chest. Peeking through her lab coat, like a beacon calling out into the endless void.
The alien glass started to rotate reflecting particles of cosmic light, the rest of the group stood completely awed as the particles morphed together to form stars and planets that began circling around the room. It was disorienting watching the infinity of the galaxy narrow in on Oasis, Liz tried to keep her mind clear and not allow any fear to creep in. The handprint directed the movement reaching out to its other half, suddenly tunnelling through the darkness. Liz felt everything close in around her, stumbling slightly forcing her legs to stand steady. Alex reached his arm out to grab her holding her upright, and giving her arm a small squeeze.
Everyone stared into the darkness and nobody dared to speak. A pair of dull brown eyes stared back at everyone. Liz sucked in a breath, markings covering his entire body just like the ones that Tessa bore in true alien form. Liz couldn't take her hands out of the machine otherwise she would've covered her eyes. Seeing Max's frail limbs and harrowed face made her stomach coil, he'd been left beaten in that cell. "He didn't have markings when we saw him," Maria said, her voice coming out strangled.
Everyone was silent."Max?" Liz whispered. Max lifted his chin alert, "Max can you hear me?" Liz asked. "Liz?" Max said, his voice hoarse. "Are you real?" he asked, turning his dull eyes to stare directly at her. "Yes I'm real," Liz replied. "You got my message. I was hoping Maria would be able to reach me" Max said, giving her a relieved smile. "We're going to save you and Dallas just tell us how to get to you and …", "no you can't come for me Liz this is much bigger than any of us…" "Don't you dare go all martyr on us Max" Michael said. "Where's Dallas?" Maria asked, not seeing Dallas next to Max. "That's what I needed to warn you about, Oasis has been taken over by Jones's extremist followers and they've got Dallas," Max said. "What do they want?" Maria choked."They're demanding that the descendants of the rebel triad come forth to summon an ancient comet called the Piscis Austrinids or they'll declare war on earth" Max said.
Liz could only feel the blinding rage come over her, "so basically a bunch of alien wackos are demanding that we call upon a giant rock before handing over ourselves to be obliterated?" Michael said, the sarcasm seething from his voice. "I think I'll pass," he said, "I second that," Isabelle agreed. Alex stepped forward, "how long?" His voice was calm, and the room went silent. The realisation hit Liz, execution…Max is the leverage they're gonna kill him, she could feel Max's eyes on her. "Our only option is a rescue mission and to set a base of operations here," Alex said the command in his voice setting the room at slight ease. "We're not actually talking about an alien invasion," Kyle said. "What else is new?" Isabelle muttered. "We don't have much time, listen they want the blue flame I don't know how, but it's all connected somehow," Max said. "Max, we're gonna get you out, just hang on a little longer" Isabelle pleaded. "No, they've bound me to the pillars to syphon my power, if you set me free the bonds will break and Oasis will fall," Max said, refusing to break eye contact with Liz. "Liz" Max's voice was soft but laced with pain. "I love you and I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise, but you can't save me," Max said, his face contorted in pain. Liz took a deep breath trying to contain her rage, "I love you too, but there's no way I'm leaving you behind," she said, taking her hands out of the machine. The alien glass slowed and the particles disappeared instantly. Everyone stood speechless in the lab, "what now?" Maria said, breaking the eerie silence. Liz looked around the entire room seeing her family waiting for her response.
"It means we're gonna save Dallas and Max, and the entire planet," Liz said.
"Always the overachiever" Michael smirked.