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CHAPTER FIVE:
"I'm not going with you," said Michael to Max and the others, standing in the Granolith chamber. "My life is here. For better or worse, this is my home."
Max and Michael give each other a hug goodbye. Then, Max looks tentatively at Isabel.
"I'd understand if you wanted to stay," said Max.
"You are my home, Max," said Isabel. "Yeah, I'll be leaving a lot behind here, but...I need to go with you."
"Whoever is going needs to go now," said Tess with frustration. "Whoever isn't better get out."
Michael gives Isabel a hug, then makes his way to the entrance to the chamber. Much to his surprise, when he opens the chamber, he finds Liz and Maria outside, trying to get in.
"Michael!" yelled Liz with surprise.
"What the hell are you two doing here?" asked Michael.
"Michael, Tess mind warped Alex," said Liz.
"She did what?" asked Michael.
"Where's Max?" asked Liz.
"Inside," said Michael. "Come on. He'd better hear this."
The three of them made their way into the Granolith chamber. Max, Isabel, and Tess reacted with surprise when they saw Michael coming back with Liz and Maria.
"MAX!" yelled Liz. "Don't go. Tess lied to you, to all of you. She mind warped Alex."
"What?!" asked Isabel. "What do you mean? What's going on?"
"That's how she was able to translate that book," said Maria. "Alex. She mind warped him, used him to translate the book in Las Cruces, the supercomputer there."
"The whole Sweeden trip was a false memory," said Liz. "To explain his absence. Alex...broke the mind warp this morning. He's...he's in pretty bad shape. He's at Kyle's house, he's with him. Alex warned me, told me what he could, then collapsed unconscious. He is so screwed up because of what Tess did to him."
Max looked at Tess with a stone cold expression. "Is this true?" asked Max. "Did you mind warp Alex?"
"You AUTOMATICALLY believe that little bitch, don't you?!" yelled Tess.
"DON'T TALK ABOUT LIZ LIKE THAT!" screamed Max.
"I AM YOUR WIFE, MAX! She is nothing!" yelled Tess.
"ANSWER ME!" yelled Max.
"Yes, I did," said Tess. "I did what was necessary!"
"You mind warped Alex!" yelled Isabel. Then, she screamed. "YOU BITCH!!" Isabel reached out with her powers and sent Tess flying against the wall of the chamber.
"That won't solve anything, Isabel!" yelled Max. "The baby. You might hurt it. Michael, Isabel, Liz, Maria, get out. Leave. I'll be along in a minute."
"But Max..."began Liz.
"Now, please," said Max.
The others complied, leaving Max alone with Tess in the room. They exited the granolith chamber, and waited outside for Max to come out. In the meantime, Isabel grabbed Liz by the shoulders.
"Liz," she said frantically. "Alex, is he okay?!! Is he hurt?!"
"His mind," said Liz. "The mind warp really messed him up. He was confused, weak, could barely hold a coherent thought. He mustered enough focus to warn me, then collapsed on the ground like a rag doll. We found him at your house. Kyle took him to his place, while Maria and I came out to warn you."
"I wonder how he broke the mind warp," commented Michael.
"He was protecting Isabel," said Maria. "That's what he kept saying. 'Protect Isabel.'"
"He must have somehow known, in his mind, that Isabel was in danger," said Liz. "And that Tess was the cause. It gave him the determination to break the mind warp."
Isabel was crying now, thinking about Alex in pain and broken by what Tess did to him. "He knew," she said, amidst sobs. "He kept warning me to stay away from Tess. Last night, he was so suspicious of what Tess had told us. I should have listened to him."
Michael took Isabel into his arms and held her. "It'll be alright," said Michael. "Max can heal him. He'll be okay."
"Yeah, like he did Brody," said Maria. "Remember, when he took us hostage because of his resurfaced memories from the alien mind link."
"I hope so," said Isabel. "God, why didn't I listen to him. I can't loose him. I CAN'T!"
Max came out of the granolith chamber, and told everyone to run. They took off down the slope of the hill, and turned to look back when they heard an explosion. The group watched as the granolith space ship shot off into the sky like a bullet.
"Tess was setting us up," said Max. "Nasedo made a deal with Khivar long ago, and Tess was part of the deal. She was going to turn us over to Khivar when we got home."
"She's gone, then," said Michael.
Max nodded. "So is my baby," he said. "That part was no lie, at least."
"I'm sorry, Max," said Liz.
Max turned and took Liz into his arms, holding onto her for dear life.
"You were coming out," said Maria to Michael. "You were staying, for me, weren't you?"
Michael didn't voice a reply. He didn't have to. Maria flung herself into Michael's embrace.
"Max," said Isabel frantically. "Alex needs you."
**
The group arrived at the Valenti home, Maria's car screeching to a halt outside of the house. The whole way there, Isabel had been telling Maria to drive faster.
When they arrived, Isabel was the first to jump out of the car and dart towards the front door of the house. The rest of the group followed at a gallop as well.
Isabel threw open the front door, not even bothering to knock. "ALEX!" she screamed.
"In here, Isabel!" yelled Kyle's voice from his bedroom.
The group raced into Kyle's room, and found him sitting on his bed next to the unconscious form of Alex Whitman. The latter had a troubled expression on his face, and seemed to be writhing in pain or confusion in his sleep.
"Alex," said Isabel, running over to the bed. She fell down to the floor next to Alex, and leaned over him. She ran her fingers through his hair, touched his cheek with the back of her hand, kissed him gently on the lips.
"He's been out since Liz and Maria left," said Kyle. "I didn't know whether I should try to wake him."
"I need him to wake up and look at me so I can heal him," said Max. He knelt down next to Isabel on the floor. "Alex," he said. "Wake up. I need you to wake up."
No response.
"Alex," said Kyle, shaking his unconscious form. "Wake up, buddy."
"You try, Isabel," said Liz. "He'll wake up for you, I know he will."
Isabel leaned in close to Alex. "Alex," she said. "Please, wake up. I need you. I need your help. I'm scared. Please, wake up. For me."
Slowly, Alex opened his eyes, and smiled slightly. "Isabel," he whispered. Then, the look of pain and confusion returned. He tried to retreat back into the comfortable abyss of unconsciousness, but Max grabbed his face.
"Alex, look at me," he said. "I need you to look at me."
Alex stared blankly at Max. The latter kept his hands on the sides of Alex's head. After a few moments, they began to glow, as Max's gaze held Alex's while the healing process took place.
After a few moments, the glowing ceased, and Max removed his hands from Alex's head. The latter began to breath easily, and tried to sit up.
"Max," he said. Then, he looked at Isabel. "Thank God, you're safe."
Isabel leaned in and captured Alex's lips in a kiss. Then, everyone else exhaled with relief at the fact that their friend was apparently going to be okay.
"How are you feeling?" asked Maria.
"Tired," said Alex. "Confused...trying to separate out the false memories Tess planted from the real ones. But, the pain...the inability to focus is gone."
"Rest now," said Liz. "I'm sure you'll feel better after you sleep."
"I'll stay with you," said Isabel, laying down beside Alex on the bed.
"Kyle," said Liz. "Is it okay if he sleeps here for a while?"
"Sure," said Kyle. Then, he turned to the others. "Tess? What about her?"
"She's gone, good riddance," said Michael. "The little bitch was setting us up. And she used Alex to do it."
Kyle closed his eyes, and ran his hands through his hair. "I still can't believe this," he said. "How could she? I...I..."
He quickly darted out of the room, wanting to be alone for a bit. The others heard his front door open and close, indicating the hurt young man had left the house.
"Let's give Alex a chance to rest," said Max. He, Michael, Liz, and Maria, left the bedroom and closed the door.
Isabel lay with Alex on the bed. He was already sound asleep. She rested her head on Alex's chest, and wrapped her arms around him. Then, she too drifted off to sleep.
End of Chapter Five. Chapter Six coming soon.
That crisis might have abated, but the story is far from over, so be sure to tune in for the next installment. Thanks for the reviews I have gotten so far. I really enjoy getting feedback on how the story is going. Please do continue to post reviews for the story, letting me know what you think. Any comments you may have are welcomed.
CHAPTER FIVE:
"I'm not going with you," said Michael to Max and the others, standing in the Granolith chamber. "My life is here. For better or worse, this is my home."
Max and Michael give each other a hug goodbye. Then, Max looks tentatively at Isabel.
"I'd understand if you wanted to stay," said Max.
"You are my home, Max," said Isabel. "Yeah, I'll be leaving a lot behind here, but...I need to go with you."
"Whoever is going needs to go now," said Tess with frustration. "Whoever isn't better get out."
Michael gives Isabel a hug, then makes his way to the entrance to the chamber. Much to his surprise, when he opens the chamber, he finds Liz and Maria outside, trying to get in.
"Michael!" yelled Liz with surprise.
"What the hell are you two doing here?" asked Michael.
"Michael, Tess mind warped Alex," said Liz.
"She did what?" asked Michael.
"Where's Max?" asked Liz.
"Inside," said Michael. "Come on. He'd better hear this."
The three of them made their way into the Granolith chamber. Max, Isabel, and Tess reacted with surprise when they saw Michael coming back with Liz and Maria.
"MAX!" yelled Liz. "Don't go. Tess lied to you, to all of you. She mind warped Alex."
"What?!" asked Isabel. "What do you mean? What's going on?"
"That's how she was able to translate that book," said Maria. "Alex. She mind warped him, used him to translate the book in Las Cruces, the supercomputer there."
"The whole Sweeden trip was a false memory," said Liz. "To explain his absence. Alex...broke the mind warp this morning. He's...he's in pretty bad shape. He's at Kyle's house, he's with him. Alex warned me, told me what he could, then collapsed unconscious. He is so screwed up because of what Tess did to him."
Max looked at Tess with a stone cold expression. "Is this true?" asked Max. "Did you mind warp Alex?"
"You AUTOMATICALLY believe that little bitch, don't you?!" yelled Tess.
"DON'T TALK ABOUT LIZ LIKE THAT!" screamed Max.
"I AM YOUR WIFE, MAX! She is nothing!" yelled Tess.
"ANSWER ME!" yelled Max.
"Yes, I did," said Tess. "I did what was necessary!"
"You mind warped Alex!" yelled Isabel. Then, she screamed. "YOU BITCH!!" Isabel reached out with her powers and sent Tess flying against the wall of the chamber.
"That won't solve anything, Isabel!" yelled Max. "The baby. You might hurt it. Michael, Isabel, Liz, Maria, get out. Leave. I'll be along in a minute."
"But Max..."began Liz.
"Now, please," said Max.
The others complied, leaving Max alone with Tess in the room. They exited the granolith chamber, and waited outside for Max to come out. In the meantime, Isabel grabbed Liz by the shoulders.
"Liz," she said frantically. "Alex, is he okay?!! Is he hurt?!"
"His mind," said Liz. "The mind warp really messed him up. He was confused, weak, could barely hold a coherent thought. He mustered enough focus to warn me, then collapsed on the ground like a rag doll. We found him at your house. Kyle took him to his place, while Maria and I came out to warn you."
"I wonder how he broke the mind warp," commented Michael.
"He was protecting Isabel," said Maria. "That's what he kept saying. 'Protect Isabel.'"
"He must have somehow known, in his mind, that Isabel was in danger," said Liz. "And that Tess was the cause. It gave him the determination to break the mind warp."
Isabel was crying now, thinking about Alex in pain and broken by what Tess did to him. "He knew," she said, amidst sobs. "He kept warning me to stay away from Tess. Last night, he was so suspicious of what Tess had told us. I should have listened to him."
Michael took Isabel into his arms and held her. "It'll be alright," said Michael. "Max can heal him. He'll be okay."
"Yeah, like he did Brody," said Maria. "Remember, when he took us hostage because of his resurfaced memories from the alien mind link."
"I hope so," said Isabel. "God, why didn't I listen to him. I can't loose him. I CAN'T!"
Max came out of the granolith chamber, and told everyone to run. They took off down the slope of the hill, and turned to look back when they heard an explosion. The group watched as the granolith space ship shot off into the sky like a bullet.
"Tess was setting us up," said Max. "Nasedo made a deal with Khivar long ago, and Tess was part of the deal. She was going to turn us over to Khivar when we got home."
"She's gone, then," said Michael.
Max nodded. "So is my baby," he said. "That part was no lie, at least."
"I'm sorry, Max," said Liz.
Max turned and took Liz into his arms, holding onto her for dear life.
"You were coming out," said Maria to Michael. "You were staying, for me, weren't you?"
Michael didn't voice a reply. He didn't have to. Maria flung herself into Michael's embrace.
"Max," said Isabel frantically. "Alex needs you."
**
The group arrived at the Valenti home, Maria's car screeching to a halt outside of the house. The whole way there, Isabel had been telling Maria to drive faster.
When they arrived, Isabel was the first to jump out of the car and dart towards the front door of the house. The rest of the group followed at a gallop as well.
Isabel threw open the front door, not even bothering to knock. "ALEX!" she screamed.
"In here, Isabel!" yelled Kyle's voice from his bedroom.
The group raced into Kyle's room, and found him sitting on his bed next to the unconscious form of Alex Whitman. The latter had a troubled expression on his face, and seemed to be writhing in pain or confusion in his sleep.
"Alex," said Isabel, running over to the bed. She fell down to the floor next to Alex, and leaned over him. She ran her fingers through his hair, touched his cheek with the back of her hand, kissed him gently on the lips.
"He's been out since Liz and Maria left," said Kyle. "I didn't know whether I should try to wake him."
"I need him to wake up and look at me so I can heal him," said Max. He knelt down next to Isabel on the floor. "Alex," he said. "Wake up. I need you to wake up."
No response.
"Alex," said Kyle, shaking his unconscious form. "Wake up, buddy."
"You try, Isabel," said Liz. "He'll wake up for you, I know he will."
Isabel leaned in close to Alex. "Alex," she said. "Please, wake up. I need you. I need your help. I'm scared. Please, wake up. For me."
Slowly, Alex opened his eyes, and smiled slightly. "Isabel," he whispered. Then, the look of pain and confusion returned. He tried to retreat back into the comfortable abyss of unconsciousness, but Max grabbed his face.
"Alex, look at me," he said. "I need you to look at me."
Alex stared blankly at Max. The latter kept his hands on the sides of Alex's head. After a few moments, they began to glow, as Max's gaze held Alex's while the healing process took place.
After a few moments, the glowing ceased, and Max removed his hands from Alex's head. The latter began to breath easily, and tried to sit up.
"Max," he said. Then, he looked at Isabel. "Thank God, you're safe."
Isabel leaned in and captured Alex's lips in a kiss. Then, everyone else exhaled with relief at the fact that their friend was apparently going to be okay.
"How are you feeling?" asked Maria.
"Tired," said Alex. "Confused...trying to separate out the false memories Tess planted from the real ones. But, the pain...the inability to focus is gone."
"Rest now," said Liz. "I'm sure you'll feel better after you sleep."
"I'll stay with you," said Isabel, laying down beside Alex on the bed.
"Kyle," said Liz. "Is it okay if he sleeps here for a while?"
"Sure," said Kyle. Then, he turned to the others. "Tess? What about her?"
"She's gone, good riddance," said Michael. "The little bitch was setting us up. And she used Alex to do it."
Kyle closed his eyes, and ran his hands through his hair. "I still can't believe this," he said. "How could she? I...I..."
He quickly darted out of the room, wanting to be alone for a bit. The others heard his front door open and close, indicating the hurt young man had left the house.
"Let's give Alex a chance to rest," said Max. He, Michael, Liz, and Maria, left the bedroom and closed the door.
Isabel lay with Alex on the bed. He was already sound asleep. She rested her head on Alex's chest, and wrapped her arms around him. Then, she too drifted off to sleep.
End of Chapter Five. Chapter Six coming soon.
That crisis might have abated, but the story is far from over, so be sure to tune in for the next installment. Thanks for the reviews I have gotten so far. I really enjoy getting feedback on how the story is going. Please do continue to post reviews for the story, letting me know what you think. Any comments you may have are welcomed.