*******************************
CHAPTER NINETEEN:
Alex and Kyle made their way on foot through the streets of Roswell. Kyle's father had been right to advise them not to take Alex's car, because the Air Force had indeed set up roadblocks everywhere. They were stopping and questioning pedestrians as well, but the two young men knew their home town well and were able to use back alleys and other short cuts to avoid the military.
"How much further is it would you say?" asked Alex.
"I'd say at this rate, we'll be there in twenty-thirty minutes," said Kyle.
"Dammit, this is taking too long!" said Alex.
"Easy, man, I know you're worried, but I'm sure she's okay," said Kyle.
"Maybe we should stop and try to call her," said Alex. "Make sure she is, and make sure she is still at the Evans house."
"Good idea," said Kyle. "There are pay phones a few blocks from here. Come on."
**
"Isabel," said Tess, as she tried to pull herself off of the floor. "I know you're upset."
"UPSET!!" screamed Isabel. "Oooh, upset doesn't even BEGIN to describe what I am feeling now!!! After what you did to Alex, after you MIND RAPED HIM!!!"
She sent another burst of energy at Tess, throwing her across the room and into some bookshelves.
"Isabel!" said a startled voice from behind her.
She and Max turned around and saw their Father staring at Isabel, eyes filled with disbelief. "Daddy," said Isabel. "You...you..."
"Saw it, yes," said Mr. Evans. "We heard you screaming in here. I came...came...what the hell is going on here?"
Max and Isabel looked at each other. "Max," said Isabel. "We...we have to tell him and Mom everything. We can't hide it now."
Max did not react at first, but finally nodded his head. "Come on," said Max. "Mom should hear this, too. No more secrets. We'll tell you everything."
"Tess," said Isabel, turning to see Tess standing, but very shaky. "You're coming, too. But you make one move I don't like, and I will make this pounding seem like a slap on the face!!"
When they got into the other room, Max and Isabel quickly told Mr. and Mrs. Evans about their alien origins, and about who Tess was, what she was doing there, and why Isabel was so angry with her. The elder Evans sat on the couch, absolutely speechless. It was extremely difficult for them to process what they had just heard.
"We have another problem," said Tess. "The military...if they find me, and the baby..."
"They won't know where to look," said Max.
Just then, the phone rang. Mrs. Evans picked it up.
"Hello," said Mrs. Evans. "Oh, Alex, hi. Yes, she's here. Isabel..."
Isabel took the receiver. "Alex!" she said. "Where are you?"
"On my way to you," said Alex. "Kyle and I both are, but we're on foot, and the military is everywhere. They're after someone..."
"Tess," said Isabel. "Alex, Tess...is here."
"WHAT?!" said Alex. "Honey, are you okay...did she hurt you?"
"No, actually, I gave HER quite a pounding," said Isabel.
"That's my Izzy," said Alex. "But, honey...you can't stay there. The military has dogs, and they have Tess' scent. You need to move her, now."
"Max," said Isabel. "Alex says that the military dogs have Tess' scent. He and Kyle are on the way."
"We'll take her to Michael's," said Max. "That will buy us some time, while we figure out what to do. Tell Alex and Kyle to meet us there."
"Alex," said Isabel. "We're going to Michael's. Meet us there."
"Will do," said Alex. "Be careful, baby. Don't trust Tess for a moment. I love you."
"I love you, too," said Isabel.
She hung up the phone, then both she and Max looked pointedly at their parents. "Mom, Dad," said Max. "We're going to need you to cover for us when the military get here."
"I don't understand," said Mrs. Evans. "If...they're the military, and she's a fugitive, then they won't hurt you, will they?"
"Yes, Mom, they will," said Isabel. "We're alien. They...will want to study us, experiment on us. The FBI...already did it to Max, once."
"My God," said Mr. Evans. "I can't...this is all so unreal."
"Dad, Mom," said Isabel. "All you need to know is that Max and I are still your children, and...we need your help. Will you?"
Mr. Evans nodded his head. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll take care of it."
***
A little while later, Max, Isabel, and Tess got to Michael's apartment. When they entered, Michael saw them, and immediately reacted to Tess' presence by jumping up from the couch and putting his hand out, ready to kill Tess.
"What the HELL is she doing here?" asked Michael.
"Michael, calm down," said Isabel.
"CALM DOWN!" said Michael. "I get it, she's mind warped you! Max, Isabel, step away from her!"
"Michael, the baby," said Max, indicating the fact she was holding the baby.
"Fine, take the baby, so I can KILL her," said Michael.
"Its complicated, Michael," said Max. "If you kill her, you kill the baby."
Max took the baby from Tess. "Nice to see you, too, Michael," said Tess.
"Yeah, right," said Michael. "So, that must have been you who crashed in the desert that night."
"You always were the quick one, Guerin," said Tess.
Then, suddenly, Tess was thrown to the floor with an unseen force. Max and Michael looked towards the door, and saw Liz standing there, her arm extended.
"Get up, bitch!!" said Liz.
Tess, slightly stunned, pulled herself off of the ground. "She...she can do that?" asked Tess.
"Result of Max's healing of her," said Isabel. "Unforeseen side effect."
"Welcome home," said Michael.
"Yeah, well, I am getting pretty tired of being thrown around like a rag doll," said Tess.
"What did you expect?" asked a voice from the doorway. They all turned to see Alex was the source. "Chocolates and flowers?"
"Alex," said Isabel, who ran over and threw herself into Alex's arms. Alex met her halfway across the room, and Kyle stepped into view.
"KYLE!" said Tess, her voice filled with relief. "Thank God you're here!"
"Tess," said Kyle. "Um, I...I wish I could say it was nice to see you."
"I know," said Tess. "Kyle, there are...so many things I want to say to you..."
"Spare them," said Kyle. "You betrayed my trust, my Father's trust, after we took you into our home and gave you shelter. I don't want to here your excuses for it."
"Kyle, I'm sorry," said Tess.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," said Kyle, tipping his head in Alex's direction.
"Don't bother," said Alex, still holding Isabel in his arms. "I don't want to hear apologies from my mind rapist."
"Alex, the mind warp..." said Tess.
"Mind RAPE!" said Alex. "Because that's what it was. That's what it FELT LIKE!!"
"He almost DIED because of you!" yelled Liz. "Why are we letting this bitch live?!"
"Liz, its complicated," said Max. "But if we harm her, we harm Zahn, the baby."
"Convenient," said Liz.
"He's right," said Alex. "We...we can't take the chance, if the baby is going to be hurt. He's an innocent in all this, after all."
"He's been through a lot," said Tess. "The journey here, then the Air Force....reactionary humans."
"Yeah, well the air space is pretty well guarded since September 11th," said Michael.
"September 11th?" asked Tess.
"Oh, yeah," said Kyle. "You missed the war starting, you were literally on another planet."
"Too bad, we could have found some way to blame her for that, too," said Isabel.
"Look, we need to discuss what we're going to do," said Michael.
"We need to get Tess and the baby out of town," said Max.
"That's going to be difficult," said Kyle. "The military has road blocks up everywhere."
"We have to try," said Max. "Tess, are you up for a mind warp?"
"I think so," said Tess.
"Good," said Max. "Here's what we'll do. Michael, you and I will try to drive Tess and the baby out past the road blocks. Tess, you mind warp the sentries as we are checked through. Let's go."
"Be careful, Max," said Liz, kissing Max goodbye.
"I will," he replied.
****
While Max and Michael were trying to get Tess and the baby out of town, Isabel, Alex, Kyle, and Liz were waiting at Michael's apartment for word from them. Isabel and Alex sat cuddled together on the couch, while Liz sat staring at the phone and Kyle stood alone on the porch.
"Alex, are you alright?" asked Isabel. "I know it must have been hard to see her again."
"I'm okay," said Alex. "Its just...her return stirs up a lot of bad memories. But...those memories are the past. This is the here and now, and I have to live in the here and now."
"You think they may still track her here?" asked Isabel.
"Hopefully since you came by car," said Alex, "they won't be able to."
"Just looking at her makes me furious," said Isabel. "I wanted to kill her."
"Don't want that," said Alex. "Sweetie, I know you've killed before...Whitaker. And I also know you had a hard time living with it. Remember that before you decide whether or not you want to kill Tess."
"Maybe...you have a point," said Isabel. "Its just hard for me to control the rage."
"I know," said Alex. "Her return has had an adverse effect on all of us. Um, look, I want to go have a talk with Kyle. Why don't you keep Liz company while I do."
"Okay," said Isabel, kissing Alex on the cheek, then letting go of him so he could get up off of the couch. He stepped onto the porch, and closed the door behind him.
"Kyle," said Alex. "You okay?"
Kyle looked back at him and smiled slightly. "Not really," he said. "I've just...got these mixed emotions, at seeing her again. I mean, thinking about what she did to you, but also...trying to reconcile that with...well, the fact I was close to her at one point."
"She was like your sister, I know," said Alex.
"Yeah, right, something like that," said Kyle. He exhaled and then turned to look up at the stars. "You know, I...I've wondered, since she left, whether there was something I could have done, some...things I could have told her, that would have prevented her decision to mind warp you."
"Like what?" asked Alex.
"Oh, just, if I had been more honest with her about...some things," said Kyle.
"Kyle, you can't second guess yourself," said Alex. "Tess made her decision on her own accord."
They heard a commotion in the apartment, and turned to see Max, Michael, and Tess rush in. Alex and Kyle joined the others inside.
"It didn't work," said Max. "We couldn't get through. We need to work out something else."
"We should all meet," said Alex. "Maria and Valenti should be here, too."
"Agreed," said Max. "Let's call them."
An hour later, Maria and Valenti had joined the group, and they were all gathered to make a decision. "The way I see it, we have two options," said Max. "One, we hide Tess, and hope they don't find her. Or two...we turn her over to them."
"What about the baby?" asked Isabel.
"We'd have to chance it if we took that option," said Max. "But...this isn't a decision I can make alone. I don't want to. We...we should decide as a group, vote on it."
"Democracy in action, I can deal with that," said Michael. "I vote he turn her over."
"Me too," said Maria. "And I hope they dissect the bitch!"
"This is wrong," said Valenti. "I vote no."
"I'm afraid I do, too," said Max. "I just...I can't do it."
"Neither can I," said Kyle. "No, I say no way. We can't turn her over to them."
"Alex, Isabel," said Max. "I...I think we know your votes."
"No you don't," said Alex. "Because I vote no."
"WHAT!" said Maria. "Alex, after what she DID TO YOU!!"
"Maria, if we turn her over to them," said Alex, "then we are no better than she is! I mean, this whole thing...voting on whether we kill someone or not. Its like some twisted INQUISITION!!! I for one am not going to stoop to her level! I vote no!"
"Isabel," said Max.
"I...I, don't know," said Isabel. "I...I abstain."
"That leaves just Liz," said Max. "I assume your vote would tie us."
"No, Max," said Liz. "I vote no. I can't do it. And Alex is right, this is twisted! I won't vote to condemn her."
"I don' believe this," said Michael. "We have to protect her now, and hope they don't find her. They're going to keep looking, and if we get caught with her, then we're all screwed."
"I just means we need to put our heads together and think," said Liz.
"For now, though, I think we should get some rest," said Max. "Its been a long night."
End of Chapter Nineteen. Chapter Twenty coming soon.
Author's Note: Okay, you may notice some differences in reaction from the others to Tess' arrival. I want everyone to remember something, because it is crucial to understanding what is going to happen next. In this alternative universe of events, Tess did not actually KILL Alex. She mind warped him, or "mind raped" him as they were calling it in this installment, but Tess is not being faced by them as a murderer. Back stabbing bitch and mind rapist, yes. Killer...no. The differences in reaction reflects a difference between what Tess did in the events as they played out in the series, and what she has done in this story. As I said, this is important to remember, because it will greatly effect what is going to happen next. Just as events have played out somewhat differently so far, they will continue to do so. If you think you know what is going to happen with Tess next, THINK AGAIN!
Don't miss the next installment to find out what happens. In the meantime, keep those reviews coming. Feedback is always appreciated.
CHAPTER NINETEEN:
Alex and Kyle made their way on foot through the streets of Roswell. Kyle's father had been right to advise them not to take Alex's car, because the Air Force had indeed set up roadblocks everywhere. They were stopping and questioning pedestrians as well, but the two young men knew their home town well and were able to use back alleys and other short cuts to avoid the military.
"How much further is it would you say?" asked Alex.
"I'd say at this rate, we'll be there in twenty-thirty minutes," said Kyle.
"Dammit, this is taking too long!" said Alex.
"Easy, man, I know you're worried, but I'm sure she's okay," said Kyle.
"Maybe we should stop and try to call her," said Alex. "Make sure she is, and make sure she is still at the Evans house."
"Good idea," said Kyle. "There are pay phones a few blocks from here. Come on."
**
"Isabel," said Tess, as she tried to pull herself off of the floor. "I know you're upset."
"UPSET!!" screamed Isabel. "Oooh, upset doesn't even BEGIN to describe what I am feeling now!!! After what you did to Alex, after you MIND RAPED HIM!!!"
She sent another burst of energy at Tess, throwing her across the room and into some bookshelves.
"Isabel!" said a startled voice from behind her.
She and Max turned around and saw their Father staring at Isabel, eyes filled with disbelief. "Daddy," said Isabel. "You...you..."
"Saw it, yes," said Mr. Evans. "We heard you screaming in here. I came...came...what the hell is going on here?"
Max and Isabel looked at each other. "Max," said Isabel. "We...we have to tell him and Mom everything. We can't hide it now."
Max did not react at first, but finally nodded his head. "Come on," said Max. "Mom should hear this, too. No more secrets. We'll tell you everything."
"Tess," said Isabel, turning to see Tess standing, but very shaky. "You're coming, too. But you make one move I don't like, and I will make this pounding seem like a slap on the face!!"
When they got into the other room, Max and Isabel quickly told Mr. and Mrs. Evans about their alien origins, and about who Tess was, what she was doing there, and why Isabel was so angry with her. The elder Evans sat on the couch, absolutely speechless. It was extremely difficult for them to process what they had just heard.
"We have another problem," said Tess. "The military...if they find me, and the baby..."
"They won't know where to look," said Max.
Just then, the phone rang. Mrs. Evans picked it up.
"Hello," said Mrs. Evans. "Oh, Alex, hi. Yes, she's here. Isabel..."
Isabel took the receiver. "Alex!" she said. "Where are you?"
"On my way to you," said Alex. "Kyle and I both are, but we're on foot, and the military is everywhere. They're after someone..."
"Tess," said Isabel. "Alex, Tess...is here."
"WHAT?!" said Alex. "Honey, are you okay...did she hurt you?"
"No, actually, I gave HER quite a pounding," said Isabel.
"That's my Izzy," said Alex. "But, honey...you can't stay there. The military has dogs, and they have Tess' scent. You need to move her, now."
"Max," said Isabel. "Alex says that the military dogs have Tess' scent. He and Kyle are on the way."
"We'll take her to Michael's," said Max. "That will buy us some time, while we figure out what to do. Tell Alex and Kyle to meet us there."
"Alex," said Isabel. "We're going to Michael's. Meet us there."
"Will do," said Alex. "Be careful, baby. Don't trust Tess for a moment. I love you."
"I love you, too," said Isabel.
She hung up the phone, then both she and Max looked pointedly at their parents. "Mom, Dad," said Max. "We're going to need you to cover for us when the military get here."
"I don't understand," said Mrs. Evans. "If...they're the military, and she's a fugitive, then they won't hurt you, will they?"
"Yes, Mom, they will," said Isabel. "We're alien. They...will want to study us, experiment on us. The FBI...already did it to Max, once."
"My God," said Mr. Evans. "I can't...this is all so unreal."
"Dad, Mom," said Isabel. "All you need to know is that Max and I are still your children, and...we need your help. Will you?"
Mr. Evans nodded his head. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll take care of it."
***
A little while later, Max, Isabel, and Tess got to Michael's apartment. When they entered, Michael saw them, and immediately reacted to Tess' presence by jumping up from the couch and putting his hand out, ready to kill Tess.
"What the HELL is she doing here?" asked Michael.
"Michael, calm down," said Isabel.
"CALM DOWN!" said Michael. "I get it, she's mind warped you! Max, Isabel, step away from her!"
"Michael, the baby," said Max, indicating the fact she was holding the baby.
"Fine, take the baby, so I can KILL her," said Michael.
"Its complicated, Michael," said Max. "If you kill her, you kill the baby."
Max took the baby from Tess. "Nice to see you, too, Michael," said Tess.
"Yeah, right," said Michael. "So, that must have been you who crashed in the desert that night."
"You always were the quick one, Guerin," said Tess.
Then, suddenly, Tess was thrown to the floor with an unseen force. Max and Michael looked towards the door, and saw Liz standing there, her arm extended.
"Get up, bitch!!" said Liz.
Tess, slightly stunned, pulled herself off of the ground. "She...she can do that?" asked Tess.
"Result of Max's healing of her," said Isabel. "Unforeseen side effect."
"Welcome home," said Michael.
"Yeah, well, I am getting pretty tired of being thrown around like a rag doll," said Tess.
"What did you expect?" asked a voice from the doorway. They all turned to see Alex was the source. "Chocolates and flowers?"
"Alex," said Isabel, who ran over and threw herself into Alex's arms. Alex met her halfway across the room, and Kyle stepped into view.
"KYLE!" said Tess, her voice filled with relief. "Thank God you're here!"
"Tess," said Kyle. "Um, I...I wish I could say it was nice to see you."
"I know," said Tess. "Kyle, there are...so many things I want to say to you..."
"Spare them," said Kyle. "You betrayed my trust, my Father's trust, after we took you into our home and gave you shelter. I don't want to here your excuses for it."
"Kyle, I'm sorry," said Tess.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," said Kyle, tipping his head in Alex's direction.
"Don't bother," said Alex, still holding Isabel in his arms. "I don't want to hear apologies from my mind rapist."
"Alex, the mind warp..." said Tess.
"Mind RAPE!" said Alex. "Because that's what it was. That's what it FELT LIKE!!"
"He almost DIED because of you!" yelled Liz. "Why are we letting this bitch live?!"
"Liz, its complicated," said Max. "But if we harm her, we harm Zahn, the baby."
"Convenient," said Liz.
"He's right," said Alex. "We...we can't take the chance, if the baby is going to be hurt. He's an innocent in all this, after all."
"He's been through a lot," said Tess. "The journey here, then the Air Force....reactionary humans."
"Yeah, well the air space is pretty well guarded since September 11th," said Michael.
"September 11th?" asked Tess.
"Oh, yeah," said Kyle. "You missed the war starting, you were literally on another planet."
"Too bad, we could have found some way to blame her for that, too," said Isabel.
"Look, we need to discuss what we're going to do," said Michael.
"We need to get Tess and the baby out of town," said Max.
"That's going to be difficult," said Kyle. "The military has road blocks up everywhere."
"We have to try," said Max. "Tess, are you up for a mind warp?"
"I think so," said Tess.
"Good," said Max. "Here's what we'll do. Michael, you and I will try to drive Tess and the baby out past the road blocks. Tess, you mind warp the sentries as we are checked through. Let's go."
"Be careful, Max," said Liz, kissing Max goodbye.
"I will," he replied.
****
While Max and Michael were trying to get Tess and the baby out of town, Isabel, Alex, Kyle, and Liz were waiting at Michael's apartment for word from them. Isabel and Alex sat cuddled together on the couch, while Liz sat staring at the phone and Kyle stood alone on the porch.
"Alex, are you alright?" asked Isabel. "I know it must have been hard to see her again."
"I'm okay," said Alex. "Its just...her return stirs up a lot of bad memories. But...those memories are the past. This is the here and now, and I have to live in the here and now."
"You think they may still track her here?" asked Isabel.
"Hopefully since you came by car," said Alex, "they won't be able to."
"Just looking at her makes me furious," said Isabel. "I wanted to kill her."
"Don't want that," said Alex. "Sweetie, I know you've killed before...Whitaker. And I also know you had a hard time living with it. Remember that before you decide whether or not you want to kill Tess."
"Maybe...you have a point," said Isabel. "Its just hard for me to control the rage."
"I know," said Alex. "Her return has had an adverse effect on all of us. Um, look, I want to go have a talk with Kyle. Why don't you keep Liz company while I do."
"Okay," said Isabel, kissing Alex on the cheek, then letting go of him so he could get up off of the couch. He stepped onto the porch, and closed the door behind him.
"Kyle," said Alex. "You okay?"
Kyle looked back at him and smiled slightly. "Not really," he said. "I've just...got these mixed emotions, at seeing her again. I mean, thinking about what she did to you, but also...trying to reconcile that with...well, the fact I was close to her at one point."
"She was like your sister, I know," said Alex.
"Yeah, right, something like that," said Kyle. He exhaled and then turned to look up at the stars. "You know, I...I've wondered, since she left, whether there was something I could have done, some...things I could have told her, that would have prevented her decision to mind warp you."
"Like what?" asked Alex.
"Oh, just, if I had been more honest with her about...some things," said Kyle.
"Kyle, you can't second guess yourself," said Alex. "Tess made her decision on her own accord."
They heard a commotion in the apartment, and turned to see Max, Michael, and Tess rush in. Alex and Kyle joined the others inside.
"It didn't work," said Max. "We couldn't get through. We need to work out something else."
"We should all meet," said Alex. "Maria and Valenti should be here, too."
"Agreed," said Max. "Let's call them."
An hour later, Maria and Valenti had joined the group, and they were all gathered to make a decision. "The way I see it, we have two options," said Max. "One, we hide Tess, and hope they don't find her. Or two...we turn her over to them."
"What about the baby?" asked Isabel.
"We'd have to chance it if we took that option," said Max. "But...this isn't a decision I can make alone. I don't want to. We...we should decide as a group, vote on it."
"Democracy in action, I can deal with that," said Michael. "I vote he turn her over."
"Me too," said Maria. "And I hope they dissect the bitch!"
"This is wrong," said Valenti. "I vote no."
"I'm afraid I do, too," said Max. "I just...I can't do it."
"Neither can I," said Kyle. "No, I say no way. We can't turn her over to them."
"Alex, Isabel," said Max. "I...I think we know your votes."
"No you don't," said Alex. "Because I vote no."
"WHAT!" said Maria. "Alex, after what she DID TO YOU!!"
"Maria, if we turn her over to them," said Alex, "then we are no better than she is! I mean, this whole thing...voting on whether we kill someone or not. Its like some twisted INQUISITION!!! I for one am not going to stoop to her level! I vote no!"
"Isabel," said Max.
"I...I, don't know," said Isabel. "I...I abstain."
"That leaves just Liz," said Max. "I assume your vote would tie us."
"No, Max," said Liz. "I vote no. I can't do it. And Alex is right, this is twisted! I won't vote to condemn her."
"I don' believe this," said Michael. "We have to protect her now, and hope they don't find her. They're going to keep looking, and if we get caught with her, then we're all screwed."
"I just means we need to put our heads together and think," said Liz.
"For now, though, I think we should get some rest," said Max. "Its been a long night."
End of Chapter Nineteen. Chapter Twenty coming soon.
Author's Note: Okay, you may notice some differences in reaction from the others to Tess' arrival. I want everyone to remember something, because it is crucial to understanding what is going to happen next. In this alternative universe of events, Tess did not actually KILL Alex. She mind warped him, or "mind raped" him as they were calling it in this installment, but Tess is not being faced by them as a murderer. Back stabbing bitch and mind rapist, yes. Killer...no. The differences in reaction reflects a difference between what Tess did in the events as they played out in the series, and what she has done in this story. As I said, this is important to remember, because it will greatly effect what is going to happen next. Just as events have played out somewhat differently so far, they will continue to do so. If you think you know what is going to happen with Tess next, THINK AGAIN!
Don't miss the next installment to find out what happens. In the meantime, keep those reviews coming. Feedback is always appreciated.