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CHAPTER TEN:

"Me," said Max. "If you're going to go hurt someone, do it to me!"

"NO!" said Isabel. "Drain me instead!"

Nicholas laughed. "Well, what have we here?" he asked. "A mutual admiration and sacrificial society! Valandra, you wouldn't have sacrificed yourself for your half whit brother in your past life?"

"New life," said Isabel. "New outlook."

"Look, just leave them alone," said Michael. "Go into my mind! Hell, I'm the one that destroyed your collection of husks, remember?"

"Yes," said Nicholas. "I do. VIVIDLY! But....Max is the leader. He would have been the one to plan any deception. I think..."

"Shh," said Rath. "You here somethin?"

Everyone got quiet. Faint footsteps could be heard coming towards the cave outside. The sound was that of someone trying to sneak up on the cave entrance, but failing at stealth due to lack of experience.

"Rath, Lonnie," whispered Nicholas. "Against the wall." He then looked at Max, Isabel, and Michael. "You three...first person who makes a sound...DIES!"

Nicholas stood right behind Max, Michael, Isabel, and Ava, while Rath and Lonnie hid against the walls of the cave, using the shadows for cover. Two figures crept into the cave, but could not be seen by those inside due to the shadows. As they got closer, the shapes of two people, one tall, one short, could be made out as they stepped into the light.

"Welcome to the party," said Nicholas. "Come forward, where we can see you."

Alex and Liz stepped out of the shadows and into the light. "LIZ!" said Max, grabbing her and taking her into his arms. "What are you doing here?!"

"Max, we had to come," said Liz.

"Well, well," said Rath, coming out of the shadows with Lonnie from behind Alex and Liz. "If it isn't Max's little love bunny? Who's the tree trunk?"

"That's Isabel's squeeze," said Lonnie. "Or, one of them."

"Isabel," said Alex, coming over to Isabel, and pulling her into his embrace. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"I'm fine," said Isabel. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"How cute," said Nicholas. "Your human playmates where trying to rescue you."

"No we weren't," said Alex. "We know we'd be no match for you. We came to try and save their lives, though."

"Are you deliberately trying to be confusing, Gomer?" asked Lonnie.

"They're lying to you," said Liz. "Tess didn't take off in the granolith. She just...took off, when Max dumped her for me."

"LIZ!" yelled Max.

"We have to tell them, Max!" said Alex. "Its not worth it! The granolith is not worth your lives!"

"So the granolith is here," said Rath. "I knew it!"

"You know where it is?" asked Nicholas.

"Yes, and we'll take you there," said Liz.

Max was about to protest, but Alex put his hand on his shoulder. "Max," said Alex. "We have no choice. Trust me. We have thought about this."

Something in Alex's voice made Max hold his tongue. He looked at Isabel and Michael, and sighed. "He's right," said Max. "Enough of this charade. We'll take you to the granolith. Just...take it, go, and leave us alone."

Nicholas smiled. "Its about time you wised up," he said. "Come on. Let's go."

Alex, Liz, Max, Michael, Isabel, and Ava, were ordered out of the cave, with Nicholas, Rath, and Lonnie, escorting them from behind. As they walked, Liz whispered, "when I tell yell 'run', hold your breath, close your eyes, and run."

Max, Isabel, Michael, and Ava, all made quiet noises to signal their understanding of the instructions. When they got outside, and were a few feet away from the cave, Liz yelled, "RUN!"

Just as she did, several canisters fell among them, and exploded. Max, Michael, Isabel, Ava, Alex, and Liz, ran out of the smoke that spewed from the explosions, holding their breath and closing they're eyes. Even doing that, they began to tear up and cough from inhaling the gas that was coming out of the canisters. But they were not as bad off as Nicholas, Rath, and Lonnie, who were caught by surprise in the attack. They were coughing and blinded by the gas, and could not stop they're prisoners from escaping.

Max, Michael, Isabel, Ava, Liz, and Max, ran to Max's car, which the pod squad and Lonnie had driven in to get to the cave. They found a truck parked right behind it, and saw Kyle, Maria, and Jim Valenti, running towards it.

"You guys okay!" yelled Jim.

"Sheriff!" yelled Max, using the former title of their friend who lost his job protecting them. "What are you doing here?"

"We got him here," said Maria, who ran up and grabbed Michael in a hug. "He helped us to get you away."

"Seems aliens don't like tear gas either," said Kyle.

"We've got to go," said Michael. "We'll talk later."

"Where are we going?" asked Isabel.

"We'll go to the old mine, where we hid from Agent Pierce and the Special Unit," said Jim. "We'll be safe there for now."

Kyle, Jim, Isabel, and Alex, jumped into the Valentis' truck, while Max, Michael, Maria, Liz, and Ava, jumped into Max's car. As they drove off across the desert, the rescued aliens were filled in by their human friends on how the rescue was planned. Kyle, Liz, Maria, and Alex, contacted Jim Valenti, and got his help in calling Sheriff Hanson to put out an APB on Max's car. It was seen heading down Route 90, where Kyle and Jim knew were caves large enough to be used to hide in. The humans went out to the caves, found Max's car, and set up the trap. Alex and Liz were the bait, while Jim, Kyle, and Maria, waited outside with tear gas canisters that Jim still had at his house from the time he was Sheriff.

"I still can't believe you guys did it," said Isabel, as Alex cuddled her close to him in the seat of the Valentis' truck.

"Guess we're not so weak and helpless after all, huh," said Alex.

"Alex," said Isabel. "There's so much I want to say to you. I thought a lot about you when I was in that cave."

"Later," said Alex. "When this is over, we can talk."

"Thank you, Alex," said Isabel. "For coming for me."

Alex leaned down and kissed Isabel gently on the lips. "I love you," he said.

**

Nicholas, Rath, and Lonnie, recovered quickly from the tear gas attack. They tried to catch their escaping prisoners, but they had already taken off in their vehicles.

"Those bastards!" said Rath. "They tricked us! They're DEAD!"

"What are we gonna do now?" asked Lonnie. "They know the area, we don't. They could be hidin anywhere."

"But they're loved ones can't hide," said Nicholas. "They don't know to."

"What do you mean?" asked Rath.

"The town," said Nicholas. "We'll go to the town."

"They wouldn't go back there," said Lonnie. "They know that's where we'd look for them."

"Doesn't matter," said Nicholas. "Its their hometown. Everyone they know and care about is there. If we threaten that town, Max, Michael, Isabel, and their human compatriots will have to respond. They will come after us to save the town. Then, we'll get them, and get the truth from them about the granolith. Once and for ALL!!"

End of Chapter Ten. Chapter Eleven coming soon.

Sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. Its been busy for me lately, and doesn't show any signs of letting up this week. I'll try to post another chapter this week, but if I don't, have no fear-the story will be continued. Just keep checking back. Thanks for continuing to read my story, and please do continue to provide feedback by posting reviews. Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.