Author's Note: I tried to incorporate all Season 3 events that involved
Antar. So, this is the story of Kivar's attempt to get Isabel from the
point of view of being on Antar.
Chapter Five: The Mission
A couple more months have passed since then. In all that time, I still have not seen Alana, my mother-in-law. I haven't gotten a chance to apologize for betraying her children. I haven't even gotten to tell her that they are okay, safe and happy. I can't imagine not knowing if my son was alive.
Suddenly I realize that that is exactly the situation I have put Max in.
By my reckoning, it's about the middle of November, on Earth, in Roswell. Almost December. I can't help remembering last Christmas, when I tried to get Kyle and Jim to have a nice, homey dinner. They freaked out when I invited Amy DeLuca over for dinner. Kyle had thanked me, though, for making it feel like family.
I realize I'm crying. Angrily, I wipe away the tears. I wish things had gone differently. I wish I hadn't killed Alex, I wish I hadn't mindwarped Kyle, I wish I hadn't set in motion the plan to turn Max, Michael and Isabel over to Kivar. At the time, it seemed like a good idea. It seemed like the only option. All my life, Nasedo had drilled it into me that I had to get home. Filled my head with stories of Antar, helped me recover my own memories. Remembering a time when I was queen of Antar and Max was the king, who loved me, all that mattered was to come back here.
I wonder what's going on back there now. Did I permanently mess everybody's lives up? Have Kyle and Jim been able to forget about me? Is Isabel still grieving for Alex? Are Max and Liz back together?
Although I always loved Max, and wanted him to love me, I was always painfully aware that Liz was his true love. When he was with me, he was always thinking of her. I hated her for that. But now I'm starting to realize what a great wrong I did to them, both of them.
I'm also wondering what Max did after I mindwarped him when Zan was born. I probably shouldn't have done that. I just panicked. I was crazy with worry for my son. I didn't know what to do or where to go. The closest people I had for allies were light-years away on Earth. But now, here in the resistance compound, Zan and I are safe for the time being. Maybe I should mindwarp Max again and let him know his son is safe now. For all I know, he's off on some fruitless search to find a way here. I doubt he could find a way, and it wouldn't be good if he came here. Kivar would kill him. When I had the Deal with Kivar, I thought I would be able to somehow save Max. And Michael and Isabel, too. But now I have no influence. And I don't want Max to die. I do still love him.
Before I have any more time to ponder the idea of doing another mindwarp on Max, Torann approaches me, where I'm sitting in the creche, playing with Zan and keeping an eye on the babies of some of the other resistance fighters.
"I need to talk to you. Come to my office after your shift here is over." Without another word, he leaves.
When I meet with him later in his office, he starts talking as soon as I sit down. "The protests against Kivar's reign have intensified in recent weeks. Kivar's scientists have invented a new method of transportation that will allow someone from Earth to basically slide through a wormhole to our planet. He's planning to use the possession technique to contact Vilandra and convince her to come back with him, using the wormhole. Marrying her will legitimize his rule."
I'm shocked. "Isabel won't go along with that."
"You sure about that? There is a rumor that she betrayed the lot of you the first time around."
I remember how the Skins told Isabel that in her previous life, she had had an affair with Kivar and had betrayed her family. "But that isn't how it happened. I remember........ Kivar told her he wanted peace. He tricked her into letting him into the city, and then once he was in, he was able to take over."
Torann shrugs. "Well, according to our spies in the palace, he believes this is his best chance to quell the uprisings. He plans to transfer his consciousness to a local human and then contact the princess the day after tomorrow. We need to get this wormhole technology."
My head is in a whirl from this bombardment of information. "Why?"
"For one thing, we can't allow Kivar to succeed in bringing back the princess. Secondly, if we could get this technology for ourselves, we might be able to use it to bring the Royal Three back to fight on our side."
I shook my head. "No, no, no. Isabel won't go along with Kivar. You don't need to worry about that. And as for bringing them here, they're not interested. They'd rather stay on Earth, with their human friends." I say that last part rather bitterly.
Torann sighs. "You don't understand. Whether Isabel wants to come or not, it doesn't matter. Kivar will kidnap her if he has to. And, as for the others, surely the King would not abandon his people completely."
"Fine, whatever you say. Why are you telling me all this, anyway?"
"Because we need your help."
I look at him in disbelief. "You need my help? I thought you didn't trust me."
"Well, we don't, not completely yet. But you've been here for three months and haven't done anything to make us regret harboring you --"
"Oh, so I've passed some sort of probation period. Goody!" I say sarcastically.
"Watch your attitude," he warns me. "Kivar's men are still looking for you. They're combing every city on the northern continent. You've been declared Public Enemy Number One, and anyone who sees you is supposed to notify the authorities or be charged with treason. You need us. We're the only thing standing between you and a public execution."
I roll my eyes, although I have to admit, I feel a quiver of fear. "So, what do you need me to do?"
********************
I'm huddling in the bushes about a mile from the palace's south entrance. About ten resistance fighters are with me, including Torann. In a minute, I will head toward the palace and allow the guards to capture me. This will cause a distraction, so that Torann and his team can sneak in through a service entrance and make their way toward the laboratory where they are working on the wormhole. Because of Kivar's current "absence", most of the guards in the palace are guarding his body in the Transference Chamber, so this is the best time to grab the technology that we're after.
I look over and see the two young people that talked to me that day in the dining room. What were their names? Tirana and Kural. They're checking to make sure their weapons are charged. This is like a real commando raid that we're launching here. I shiver, but not because it's cold. It's not. By some trick of the ecology, Antar has no seasons. All year round, the weather remains the same: temperate, summer-like weather. The air is soft, and smells slightly like cinnamon. Constant reminders that I'm on an alien planet.
Wait. Where did that thought come from? When did I start thinking of Antar as an alien planet? All my life, I've thought of this place as home, and couldn't wait to get back here. Now that I'm here, suddenly it's alien?
I have no more time to ponder this, because Torann steps up beside me. "You ready? You have the device?"
"Yes." I pat the side of my boot, and feel the lump of the small metallic cylinder that I'll use to make my escape. I'm supposed to allow 15 minutes for the commandos to get the wormhole technology, and then detonate this small gas grenade that will knock out all the guards around me for enough time for me to get out of there. And I might have to get out in a hurry, too. If the resistance fighters are unable to obtain the technology, they are under orders to destroy it, so at least Kivar won't have it and be able to make any more attempts to get Isabel.
I wonder once more why I'm bothering with this whole crazy scheme. Like I care about the political maneuverings of Kivar and his cronies. Of course, Torann is basically blackmailing me, threatening to turn me out into the streets if I don't help. But I think what it basically comes down to is I don't want Kivar to succeed in kidnapping Isabel. Max, Michael and Isabel were kind of like my family, and I regret betraying them. I would hate myself if I were to let anything bad happen to any one of them.
"Okay, here I go." I get up from behind the bushes and start walking toward the palace. As I approach the gate, I hear a commotion from up ahead. "FREEZE!!!!" a guard shouts. Floodlights sweep over me. I stop walking and put my hands up in the air. Within seconds, I am surrounded.
********************
I am deep inside the palace. I'm not sure where they're taking me. Probably to some sort of holding cell. I am counting the seconds in my head to be sure to give the commandos enough time to complete their mission before setting off on my escape. As we make our way down corridor after corridor, I see panicked looking palace servants running to and fro, and squadrons of soldiers running purposefully. Alarms are blaring so loud it's hard to think.
Is it time? I think it's almost time. I'll fake stumbling, and then I can grab the gas grenade from my boot and set it off. I've been inoculated against this particular knock-out gas, so it won't affect me.
I better wait a few more minutes, just to be on the safe side.
I let the guards lead me along, and then suddenly there is a huge explosion, and the corridor is plunged into darkness as I go flying through the air, suddenly free from the grip of my escorts. On landing, I slam my head against a wall, and my vision gets dim. No, no, don't lose consciousness now, Tess, you have to get out of here!! I drag myself to my feet, and reach down to my boot. I grab the gas canister and open the safety catch and throw it down on the floor, next to the guards who are just starting to get to their feet. The cloud of gas starts to spread, and I head off down the corridor the way I came. I run as fast as I can, hiding whenever I hear footsteps. Once, I hear a whole bunch of footsteps and I quickly duck down a side hall, then lean around to sneak a peak. There's about six or seven guards running down the hallway. I try to mindwarp them, but I can't seem to focus. I feel dizzy and all I want to do is fall down and go to sleep. I press against the wall, and shrink into the shadows. Once the group has passed, I continue on my way.
I manage to go the rest of the way to the service door without incident, falling down a few times, but not running into any more guards. I slam through the door, and stumble down some steps. I fall to my knees on the walkway. I take a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself, to get ready to run some more, but my head is swimming, and the world around me is going black. I slump to the ground, and my last thought before losing consciousness is for my son, for Zan.
Author's Note: What happens next? Review and you'll see.
Chapter Five: The Mission
A couple more months have passed since then. In all that time, I still have not seen Alana, my mother-in-law. I haven't gotten a chance to apologize for betraying her children. I haven't even gotten to tell her that they are okay, safe and happy. I can't imagine not knowing if my son was alive.
Suddenly I realize that that is exactly the situation I have put Max in.
By my reckoning, it's about the middle of November, on Earth, in Roswell. Almost December. I can't help remembering last Christmas, when I tried to get Kyle and Jim to have a nice, homey dinner. They freaked out when I invited Amy DeLuca over for dinner. Kyle had thanked me, though, for making it feel like family.
I realize I'm crying. Angrily, I wipe away the tears. I wish things had gone differently. I wish I hadn't killed Alex, I wish I hadn't mindwarped Kyle, I wish I hadn't set in motion the plan to turn Max, Michael and Isabel over to Kivar. At the time, it seemed like a good idea. It seemed like the only option. All my life, Nasedo had drilled it into me that I had to get home. Filled my head with stories of Antar, helped me recover my own memories. Remembering a time when I was queen of Antar and Max was the king, who loved me, all that mattered was to come back here.
I wonder what's going on back there now. Did I permanently mess everybody's lives up? Have Kyle and Jim been able to forget about me? Is Isabel still grieving for Alex? Are Max and Liz back together?
Although I always loved Max, and wanted him to love me, I was always painfully aware that Liz was his true love. When he was with me, he was always thinking of her. I hated her for that. But now I'm starting to realize what a great wrong I did to them, both of them.
I'm also wondering what Max did after I mindwarped him when Zan was born. I probably shouldn't have done that. I just panicked. I was crazy with worry for my son. I didn't know what to do or where to go. The closest people I had for allies were light-years away on Earth. But now, here in the resistance compound, Zan and I are safe for the time being. Maybe I should mindwarp Max again and let him know his son is safe now. For all I know, he's off on some fruitless search to find a way here. I doubt he could find a way, and it wouldn't be good if he came here. Kivar would kill him. When I had the Deal with Kivar, I thought I would be able to somehow save Max. And Michael and Isabel, too. But now I have no influence. And I don't want Max to die. I do still love him.
Before I have any more time to ponder the idea of doing another mindwarp on Max, Torann approaches me, where I'm sitting in the creche, playing with Zan and keeping an eye on the babies of some of the other resistance fighters.
"I need to talk to you. Come to my office after your shift here is over." Without another word, he leaves.
When I meet with him later in his office, he starts talking as soon as I sit down. "The protests against Kivar's reign have intensified in recent weeks. Kivar's scientists have invented a new method of transportation that will allow someone from Earth to basically slide through a wormhole to our planet. He's planning to use the possession technique to contact Vilandra and convince her to come back with him, using the wormhole. Marrying her will legitimize his rule."
I'm shocked. "Isabel won't go along with that."
"You sure about that? There is a rumor that she betrayed the lot of you the first time around."
I remember how the Skins told Isabel that in her previous life, she had had an affair with Kivar and had betrayed her family. "But that isn't how it happened. I remember........ Kivar told her he wanted peace. He tricked her into letting him into the city, and then once he was in, he was able to take over."
Torann shrugs. "Well, according to our spies in the palace, he believes this is his best chance to quell the uprisings. He plans to transfer his consciousness to a local human and then contact the princess the day after tomorrow. We need to get this wormhole technology."
My head is in a whirl from this bombardment of information. "Why?"
"For one thing, we can't allow Kivar to succeed in bringing back the princess. Secondly, if we could get this technology for ourselves, we might be able to use it to bring the Royal Three back to fight on our side."
I shook my head. "No, no, no. Isabel won't go along with Kivar. You don't need to worry about that. And as for bringing them here, they're not interested. They'd rather stay on Earth, with their human friends." I say that last part rather bitterly.
Torann sighs. "You don't understand. Whether Isabel wants to come or not, it doesn't matter. Kivar will kidnap her if he has to. And, as for the others, surely the King would not abandon his people completely."
"Fine, whatever you say. Why are you telling me all this, anyway?"
"Because we need your help."
I look at him in disbelief. "You need my help? I thought you didn't trust me."
"Well, we don't, not completely yet. But you've been here for three months and haven't done anything to make us regret harboring you --"
"Oh, so I've passed some sort of probation period. Goody!" I say sarcastically.
"Watch your attitude," he warns me. "Kivar's men are still looking for you. They're combing every city on the northern continent. You've been declared Public Enemy Number One, and anyone who sees you is supposed to notify the authorities or be charged with treason. You need us. We're the only thing standing between you and a public execution."
I roll my eyes, although I have to admit, I feel a quiver of fear. "So, what do you need me to do?"
********************
I'm huddling in the bushes about a mile from the palace's south entrance. About ten resistance fighters are with me, including Torann. In a minute, I will head toward the palace and allow the guards to capture me. This will cause a distraction, so that Torann and his team can sneak in through a service entrance and make their way toward the laboratory where they are working on the wormhole. Because of Kivar's current "absence", most of the guards in the palace are guarding his body in the Transference Chamber, so this is the best time to grab the technology that we're after.
I look over and see the two young people that talked to me that day in the dining room. What were their names? Tirana and Kural. They're checking to make sure their weapons are charged. This is like a real commando raid that we're launching here. I shiver, but not because it's cold. It's not. By some trick of the ecology, Antar has no seasons. All year round, the weather remains the same: temperate, summer-like weather. The air is soft, and smells slightly like cinnamon. Constant reminders that I'm on an alien planet.
Wait. Where did that thought come from? When did I start thinking of Antar as an alien planet? All my life, I've thought of this place as home, and couldn't wait to get back here. Now that I'm here, suddenly it's alien?
I have no more time to ponder this, because Torann steps up beside me. "You ready? You have the device?"
"Yes." I pat the side of my boot, and feel the lump of the small metallic cylinder that I'll use to make my escape. I'm supposed to allow 15 minutes for the commandos to get the wormhole technology, and then detonate this small gas grenade that will knock out all the guards around me for enough time for me to get out of there. And I might have to get out in a hurry, too. If the resistance fighters are unable to obtain the technology, they are under orders to destroy it, so at least Kivar won't have it and be able to make any more attempts to get Isabel.
I wonder once more why I'm bothering with this whole crazy scheme. Like I care about the political maneuverings of Kivar and his cronies. Of course, Torann is basically blackmailing me, threatening to turn me out into the streets if I don't help. But I think what it basically comes down to is I don't want Kivar to succeed in kidnapping Isabel. Max, Michael and Isabel were kind of like my family, and I regret betraying them. I would hate myself if I were to let anything bad happen to any one of them.
"Okay, here I go." I get up from behind the bushes and start walking toward the palace. As I approach the gate, I hear a commotion from up ahead. "FREEZE!!!!" a guard shouts. Floodlights sweep over me. I stop walking and put my hands up in the air. Within seconds, I am surrounded.
********************
I am deep inside the palace. I'm not sure where they're taking me. Probably to some sort of holding cell. I am counting the seconds in my head to be sure to give the commandos enough time to complete their mission before setting off on my escape. As we make our way down corridor after corridor, I see panicked looking palace servants running to and fro, and squadrons of soldiers running purposefully. Alarms are blaring so loud it's hard to think.
Is it time? I think it's almost time. I'll fake stumbling, and then I can grab the gas grenade from my boot and set it off. I've been inoculated against this particular knock-out gas, so it won't affect me.
I better wait a few more minutes, just to be on the safe side.
I let the guards lead me along, and then suddenly there is a huge explosion, and the corridor is plunged into darkness as I go flying through the air, suddenly free from the grip of my escorts. On landing, I slam my head against a wall, and my vision gets dim. No, no, don't lose consciousness now, Tess, you have to get out of here!! I drag myself to my feet, and reach down to my boot. I grab the gas canister and open the safety catch and throw it down on the floor, next to the guards who are just starting to get to their feet. The cloud of gas starts to spread, and I head off down the corridor the way I came. I run as fast as I can, hiding whenever I hear footsteps. Once, I hear a whole bunch of footsteps and I quickly duck down a side hall, then lean around to sneak a peak. There's about six or seven guards running down the hallway. I try to mindwarp them, but I can't seem to focus. I feel dizzy and all I want to do is fall down and go to sleep. I press against the wall, and shrink into the shadows. Once the group has passed, I continue on my way.
I manage to go the rest of the way to the service door without incident, falling down a few times, but not running into any more guards. I slam through the door, and stumble down some steps. I fall to my knees on the walkway. I take a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself, to get ready to run some more, but my head is swimming, and the world around me is going black. I slump to the ground, and my last thought before losing consciousness is for my son, for Zan.
Author's Note: What happens next? Review and you'll see.
