Author's Note: Thank you so much for all your support especially yaba
who's reviews have given me such a boost. This is the penultimate chapter,
hope you like :-)
CHAPTER 18
Max's team were making good progress on the distraction front, four aliens and a gun-toting human made quite an impression on shit scared rebels. However, their luck was beginning to run out as a group of people came out of one of the rooms and lined the balcony above them. Michael and Kyle recognised them to be the group who had arrived earlier, the one's with very strong powers.
Max put up his energy shield, which was reinforced by Michael, Isabel and Serena, but it began to waver when each of the rebels began to blast at the small group below them. Kyle began shooting at the rebels and smiled proudly as a few slumped to the ground.
From one of the doors, a tall dark figure appeared and walked to the centre of the balcony and smirked at Max. He raised his arm and the rebels ceased their attack.
"We finally meet, Zan!" Khivar shouted down to his nemesis. Khivar looked over the group, his eyes rested on Isabel for a moment too long before flicking his gaze back to Max.
"Come down here, Khivar. You and me. It's our time now - long overdue if you ask me!" Max called down to him, his anger reaching boiling point.
Khivar laughed and jumped over the balcony. He seemed to fly before landing in front of Max, the marble floor cracking beneath his feet.
"Zan, Zan, Zan. Your boy looks like you. He's a good kid, smart too. It's a shame I have to kill him." Khivar sneered as he watched Max's voice visibly tighten.
Max signalled for the others to back off and deal with the other aliens. "Well, Khivar. This is finally it, our showdown." The two began to circle each other in the large hallway.
"It is indeed. I'm going to enjoy killing you again." Khivar laughed as he sent an energy blast straight into his chest.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
At the other end of the house, the second team were frantically searching every room for Josh. Tess was calling out his name and trying to sense his presence. Finally she could sense her boy in a room at the other end of a long hallway. At the opposite end, a man appeared in front of the door. Tess somehow knew that it was Jez and Rohan confirmed this for her. Alex, Maria and Liz were immediately by her side.
Jez smiled at Tess. He finally had his beauty in his grasp.
"Jez, how the hell have ya been?" Tess smiled casually at Jez. She wanted to make this as quick as possible.
"So you know me, my Queen?" Jez beamed - she recognised him.
"Of course, how could I not know my own brother, huh?" The group continued to walk towards him. "Come on Jez, you should know better than to take my son. Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned." Tess sent a blast towards Jez, sending him crashing through the door.
Josh was already on his feet as his mother ran into the room, toward him. He ran into her arms, his face streaked with tears. Tess clinged to her son, unable to control her sobs. She had been waiting for this moment for 5 weeks, waiting to hold her baby boy in her arms.
Jez began to pick himself up again as Tess handed Josh to Liz. She turned to face him and kicked him in the stomach before he could stand up.
"You bastard! You goddam psycho!" Tess looked at the others and told them to get to the car.
"Tess, come with us, let's go!" Liz yelled. Tess looked pleadingly into the eyes of the brunette and Liz understood. Tess didn't want Josh to see what she was about to do.
Jez finally lifted himself up and looked at his sister. "You bitch! We could have been together! Come with me, Ava? Come back to Antar?" Jez cried desperately. Tess actually felt sorry for him. She walked towards him and placed her hand on his cheek. He smiled at her, the sadness leaving his eyes.
"I'm sorry Jez - but that's just sick." Jez's smile faded as he realised too late that Tess was killing him. She sent a shock through his brain, killing him instantly. At least he didn't feel any pain. Tess calmly walked out of the room and exited the house.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Before Rohan, Liz, Alex and Maria could get Josh into the car, he wriggled from Liz's grasp.
"Liz, I have to go help! Daddy needs me!" Josh cried as he ran back towards the house. Of course, they followed, bumping into Tess on the way back in.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It seemed like Max and Khivar had reached round 100 in their bitter battle; the energy blasts and shields were wearing both aliens down. Their dual had taken them to another part of the house, leaving Michael, Isabel, Serena and Kyle to fend for themselves. The group had split.
Max was lying on the floor, battered and broken from Khivar's latest attack. Khivar walked slowly towards him, energy crackling from both hands. Max could taste his own blood in his mouth and he was sure a couple of ribs were broken.
"Are you beaten yet, Zan?" Khivar sneered, hovering over Max's broken form. "Are you ready to beg for your life? Don't worry Zan, I'm going to keep you alive long enough for you to watch me murder everyone you care about."
Suddenly, another presence was in the room, but before Khivar could turn to see who it was, he was propelled through the adjacent wall, brick and plaster falling around him.
Max raised his head to see Josh standing in the doorway of the large room. Josh ran towards his father and began to help him up. Max hugged his son. "Josh what are you doing here? Get out of here. Where's your mom?"
"She killed Jez, Dad. And I'm here to help you kill Khivar." Josh smiled at his father and Max's heart broke. His 8-year old son didn't deserve this kind of life, a life where killing was a part of everyday life. Max was now more determined to end this, right here, right now.
Max grabbed Josh's hand as Josh began to channel as much energy as he could into his father. Max looked up as Tess and Liz rushed into the room. He nodded to both women as they grabbed Josh and pull him out of the room.
"Daddy! NO! Don't die, Daddy, please don't die!" Josh screamed and kicked to get out of their tight grasp.
Max turned away and began to focus his remaining energy on Khivar's unconscious form. Khivar awoke dazed and looked up at Max as he stared hard at Khivar. At that moment, Khivar could see what was happening - he knew there was no escape. He angrily, yet clumsily tried to get up but Max blasted him and made him lose his balance. Josh's energy crackled from Max's fingertips, flowing through every part of his body.
"Well Khivar, are you beaten yet? Are you ready to beg for your life?" Max moved closer to Khivar.
"If you kill me Zan, you'll have to go back to Antar and be King. What will your skinny bitch human wife think of that?" Khivar laughed weakly, before Max sent a large ball of energy through his face. Khivar's body slumped down amongst the bricks and plaster.
"It's over." Max collapsed onto the floor and stared at Khivar's dead body. Michael and Isabel entered the room, both bloodied and injured.
"Maxwell?" Michael called to him as they walked towards where Max was sitting in a pile of rubble. Michael and Isabel stood at either side of Max as all three looked at the mutilated body of their tormenter. "Is he dead?" Michael asked. Max nodded.
"Good" Isabel said coolly.
The three looked at each other and smiled. Michael reached out his hand to help Max up, as Isabel grabbed his other hand.
"It's over, Max. Can you believe it?" Isabel began to cry as she and Michael helped their brother to walk. With Michael and Isabel on either side of him, Max left the house.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As they exited the house, Kyle was starting a fire, preparing to burn down the house and the alien bodies inside. Liz, Maria and Alex rushed over to their other halves, crying as they smothered each other with hugs and kisses. Josh jumped from the car across the street, Rohan unable to stop him, and ran across to his parents.
Josh hugged each member of the gang and clung to his mother like never before. He approached Max and looked up at him.
"Why didn't you let me help you, daddy?" Josh asked, fear and doubt in his eyes.
"You did, Josh. You helped me more than you'll ever know." Max smiled and pulled his tearful son into a tight embrace.
Serena and Rohan watched as the gang limped away from the now blazing house. They looked at each other and smiled. Their work here was done.
CHAPTER 18
Max's team were making good progress on the distraction front, four aliens and a gun-toting human made quite an impression on shit scared rebels. However, their luck was beginning to run out as a group of people came out of one of the rooms and lined the balcony above them. Michael and Kyle recognised them to be the group who had arrived earlier, the one's with very strong powers.
Max put up his energy shield, which was reinforced by Michael, Isabel and Serena, but it began to waver when each of the rebels began to blast at the small group below them. Kyle began shooting at the rebels and smiled proudly as a few slumped to the ground.
From one of the doors, a tall dark figure appeared and walked to the centre of the balcony and smirked at Max. He raised his arm and the rebels ceased their attack.
"We finally meet, Zan!" Khivar shouted down to his nemesis. Khivar looked over the group, his eyes rested on Isabel for a moment too long before flicking his gaze back to Max.
"Come down here, Khivar. You and me. It's our time now - long overdue if you ask me!" Max called down to him, his anger reaching boiling point.
Khivar laughed and jumped over the balcony. He seemed to fly before landing in front of Max, the marble floor cracking beneath his feet.
"Zan, Zan, Zan. Your boy looks like you. He's a good kid, smart too. It's a shame I have to kill him." Khivar sneered as he watched Max's voice visibly tighten.
Max signalled for the others to back off and deal with the other aliens. "Well, Khivar. This is finally it, our showdown." The two began to circle each other in the large hallway.
"It is indeed. I'm going to enjoy killing you again." Khivar laughed as he sent an energy blast straight into his chest.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
At the other end of the house, the second team were frantically searching every room for Josh. Tess was calling out his name and trying to sense his presence. Finally she could sense her boy in a room at the other end of a long hallway. At the opposite end, a man appeared in front of the door. Tess somehow knew that it was Jez and Rohan confirmed this for her. Alex, Maria and Liz were immediately by her side.
Jez smiled at Tess. He finally had his beauty in his grasp.
"Jez, how the hell have ya been?" Tess smiled casually at Jez. She wanted to make this as quick as possible.
"So you know me, my Queen?" Jez beamed - she recognised him.
"Of course, how could I not know my own brother, huh?" The group continued to walk towards him. "Come on Jez, you should know better than to take my son. Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned." Tess sent a blast towards Jez, sending him crashing through the door.
Josh was already on his feet as his mother ran into the room, toward him. He ran into her arms, his face streaked with tears. Tess clinged to her son, unable to control her sobs. She had been waiting for this moment for 5 weeks, waiting to hold her baby boy in her arms.
Jez began to pick himself up again as Tess handed Josh to Liz. She turned to face him and kicked him in the stomach before he could stand up.
"You bastard! You goddam psycho!" Tess looked at the others and told them to get to the car.
"Tess, come with us, let's go!" Liz yelled. Tess looked pleadingly into the eyes of the brunette and Liz understood. Tess didn't want Josh to see what she was about to do.
Jez finally lifted himself up and looked at his sister. "You bitch! We could have been together! Come with me, Ava? Come back to Antar?" Jez cried desperately. Tess actually felt sorry for him. She walked towards him and placed her hand on his cheek. He smiled at her, the sadness leaving his eyes.
"I'm sorry Jez - but that's just sick." Jez's smile faded as he realised too late that Tess was killing him. She sent a shock through his brain, killing him instantly. At least he didn't feel any pain. Tess calmly walked out of the room and exited the house.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Before Rohan, Liz, Alex and Maria could get Josh into the car, he wriggled from Liz's grasp.
"Liz, I have to go help! Daddy needs me!" Josh cried as he ran back towards the house. Of course, they followed, bumping into Tess on the way back in.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It seemed like Max and Khivar had reached round 100 in their bitter battle; the energy blasts and shields were wearing both aliens down. Their dual had taken them to another part of the house, leaving Michael, Isabel, Serena and Kyle to fend for themselves. The group had split.
Max was lying on the floor, battered and broken from Khivar's latest attack. Khivar walked slowly towards him, energy crackling from both hands. Max could taste his own blood in his mouth and he was sure a couple of ribs were broken.
"Are you beaten yet, Zan?" Khivar sneered, hovering over Max's broken form. "Are you ready to beg for your life? Don't worry Zan, I'm going to keep you alive long enough for you to watch me murder everyone you care about."
Suddenly, another presence was in the room, but before Khivar could turn to see who it was, he was propelled through the adjacent wall, brick and plaster falling around him.
Max raised his head to see Josh standing in the doorway of the large room. Josh ran towards his father and began to help him up. Max hugged his son. "Josh what are you doing here? Get out of here. Where's your mom?"
"She killed Jez, Dad. And I'm here to help you kill Khivar." Josh smiled at his father and Max's heart broke. His 8-year old son didn't deserve this kind of life, a life where killing was a part of everyday life. Max was now more determined to end this, right here, right now.
Max grabbed Josh's hand as Josh began to channel as much energy as he could into his father. Max looked up as Tess and Liz rushed into the room. He nodded to both women as they grabbed Josh and pull him out of the room.
"Daddy! NO! Don't die, Daddy, please don't die!" Josh screamed and kicked to get out of their tight grasp.
Max turned away and began to focus his remaining energy on Khivar's unconscious form. Khivar awoke dazed and looked up at Max as he stared hard at Khivar. At that moment, Khivar could see what was happening - he knew there was no escape. He angrily, yet clumsily tried to get up but Max blasted him and made him lose his balance. Josh's energy crackled from Max's fingertips, flowing through every part of his body.
"Well Khivar, are you beaten yet? Are you ready to beg for your life?" Max moved closer to Khivar.
"If you kill me Zan, you'll have to go back to Antar and be King. What will your skinny bitch human wife think of that?" Khivar laughed weakly, before Max sent a large ball of energy through his face. Khivar's body slumped down amongst the bricks and plaster.
"It's over." Max collapsed onto the floor and stared at Khivar's dead body. Michael and Isabel entered the room, both bloodied and injured.
"Maxwell?" Michael called to him as they walked towards where Max was sitting in a pile of rubble. Michael and Isabel stood at either side of Max as all three looked at the mutilated body of their tormenter. "Is he dead?" Michael asked. Max nodded.
"Good" Isabel said coolly.
The three looked at each other and smiled. Michael reached out his hand to help Max up, as Isabel grabbed his other hand.
"It's over, Max. Can you believe it?" Isabel began to cry as she and Michael helped their brother to walk. With Michael and Isabel on either side of him, Max left the house.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As they exited the house, Kyle was starting a fire, preparing to burn down the house and the alien bodies inside. Liz, Maria and Alex rushed over to their other halves, crying as they smothered each other with hugs and kisses. Josh jumped from the car across the street, Rohan unable to stop him, and ran across to his parents.
Josh hugged each member of the gang and clung to his mother like never before. He approached Max and looked up at him.
"Why didn't you let me help you, daddy?" Josh asked, fear and doubt in his eyes.
"You did, Josh. You helped me more than you'll ever know." Max smiled and pulled his tearful son into a tight embrace.
Serena and Rohan watched as the gang limped away from the now blazing house. They looked at each other and smiled. Their work here was done.
