CHAPTER 15

Everyone had once again returned to the apartment but this time it was only the 'inner circle'. They would not be informing the police of Jez's whereabouts. Kyle and Michael were calling business contacts and trying to arrange some weapons for what lay ahead.

"Ok, so we know they're in Texas. What next?" Isabel was pacing the large living room. Alex grabbed her hand and pulled her onto his lap, but she instantly got back up. "No Alex, I need to pace."

After Rohan had passed out Max and Kyle had moved him to the spare bedroom where Max and Serena had healed his bloodied and broken form. He then told them how he had managed to beat information out of one of Jez's cronies, but then to be attacked by another. However, he had managed to get an address before he had killed both aliens.

Max stepped out of his room, Liz behind him. He had changed into a pair of black combats and a tight fitting T-shirt. He addressed the large group that had assembled in his apartment.

"We leave in an hour. This is it, the big one. We end this war tonight. Jez, Quentin and whatever army they have are going down, there will be no mercy." Max looked over each person's face and the faces of his friends and family. Michael stood and faced his best friend, an understanding passed between them - they were depending on each other, they would watch each other's backs.

"We are going to be up against some very powerful aliens so I think it would be best if this was an alien-only operation." Max turned around, mentally preparing himself for the backlash of his last comment.

"WHAT?!?!" Liz, Maria, Kyle and Alex each exclaimed at the same time.

"Max, you are not excluding me from this!" Kyle yelled as he looked to Tess for support. She looked away, unable to hide the guilt in her eyes. "So that's the way it is?" Kyle laughed "It's already been agreed that us lowly humans will stay here and wait for the Pod Squad to come home."

Kyle began pacing and found a vase to vent his frustrations. He swung for it and everyone winced as it smashed against the wall.

"Kyle, stop it!" Max demanded.

"NO! You bastard, you stabbed me in the back, Evans! He's my son too!" Kyle screamed, ten years of anger and jealousy now bubbling to the surface. "You can't do this to us, Max! The alien-only club ended 10 years ago, we're a part of this now." Kyle was fighting to keep control of himself, trying desperately to stop himself from saying or doing something he may regret.

"You'll get yourself killed, Kyle! We have no idea how strong these guys are, or how many! You, Liz, Alex or Maria could die in an instant!"

"So could you Max, and then where does that leave us?" Maria calmly stood between the two arguing men who had become brothers to her. "Max, this isn't just your war, it's OUR war now. Can't you see that? Kyle, Alex, Liz and I chose this life. United we stand, Divided we fall, I've said that to you a hundred times, girlfriend." Maria looked at Michael who smiled at her and looked at her in admiration.

"You're not the Royal Four anymore, Max. We are the Royal Eight. This is our fight as much as it is yours." Maria and Max stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Max finally understood that he wasn't the boy he was in high school. He, Michael, Isabel and Tess were not alone and they never would be. He smiled at his strawberry blonde pixie as he took her hand and kissed it. He then looked at Kyle and offered his hand.

"Kyle.I'm sorry. I know you love Josh as much as I do and you should be a part of this."

Kyle took Max's hand and shook it as he nodded. Max decided a handshake wasn't enough and pulled Kyle into a tight hug and whispered into his ear. "I need your help Kyle."

"You got it" Kyle whispered back.

From the door of the spare bedroom, Rohan cleared his throat.

"Guys, Jez and Quentin won't be our only problem in Texas."