Disclaimer: You know the drill…the characters aren't mine. A lot of stuff in the beginning is taken from End of the World. God knows THAT'S not mine. Anything that makes sense and makes it all better, now that's mine. Seriously, Roswell and all characters belong to Jason Katims, 20th Century Fox etc. I'm just borrowing them.

Chapter Seventy-Three – On a Mission

Liz waited until Ava stepped into the bathroom before she made her move. Without a look back, she climbed out her window, onto her rooftop patio, and then down the fire escape to the ground below. She looked around, and began to walk down the street. As soon as she was out of site of the CrashDown, she looked around once more and then stuck out her thumb.

"Yes, I know hitch hiking is stupid, especially at night," she said out loud to herself and her unborn child. "But I have to get there somehow, and I figure I can pretty much handle anybody that tries to give me a hard time."

Liz didn't have long to wait before a car slowed down and pulled off the side of the road just ahead of her. She approached the car cautiously, and waited until the driver rolled down the passenger side window.

"Did you need a ride, Miss?" asked the elderly gentleman from the driver's seat.

"Yes, please," said Liz.

"Where are you headed?"

"Well, it's kind of a scavenger hunt for school. There is a large sandstone outcropping out in the desert, and I'm supposed to go there and find the next clue."

"It sounds like fun," said the man. Why don't you climb in, and I'll give you a ride." He leaned across the seat and opened the passenger door for Liz.

"Um, if it's all the same with you, sir, I'd rather ride in the back," Liz said.

"You're a smart young lady," said the man with a chuckle. "Makes no difference to me. Climb in, and we'll get you going on your scavenger hunt."

"Thank you," said Liz, climbing into the back seat. "I really appreciate this."

"So, what kind of scavenger hunt is this?" asked the man as he drove Liz out into the desert. "Seems kind of peculiar, if you ask me. Sending young kids out into the desert alone. It's just pure crazy."

"No, really, it's a well organized school activity," said Liz, improvising. "See, we're supposed to work in teams, but my partner was being a real jerk, and trying to take all the credit for herself, so I just thought I'd beat her at her own game, and get to the next meeting place ahead of her."

"Well, it surely does sound as if you're showing some initiative," said the man. "I'm Jake Cartwell, by the way."

"Nice to meet you," said Liz. "I'm Liz Smythe. Oh, Mr. Cartwell, pull over right over there. That's where the next clue is hidden."

"I wish you much luck on your little scavenger hunt, Miss Smythe," said Mr. Cartwell. And please, don't make a habit out of accepting rides from strangers. It isn't safe you know."

"Thank you very much, sir," said Liz as she slid out of the car. "And I promise, no more hitch hiking. You're right, it isn't safe at all."

Liz stepped away from the car and watched while the blue sedan sped off down the road. As soon as it was out of site, she climbed the path to the sandstone outcropping, and activated the door.

She stepped into the cool chamber, and the door slid close behind her she climbed into the chamber that housed the Granolith and stared at it. She pulled her backpack off of her back and opened it, and pulled out a translation of the destiny book.

"May I help you, Your Majesty," said Che'koth, stepping from the shadows of the Granolith.

"Can you activate this thing?" asked Liz, motioning towards the Granolith.

"Yes, it is recharged enough to be activated," answered Che'koth. "May I inquire as to why you wish for it to be activated?"

"No," said Liz.

"Your Majesty, I must urge you not to do anything rash."

"I'm not doing anything rash, and don't call me Your Majesty. My name is Liz," cried Liz.

"I'm sorry Your Maj - Liz," Che'koth said. "I do not mean to make you angry, but I do not think it is wise for you to activate the Granolith at this time."

"Oh, and why is that?" demanded Liz.

"For one reason," began Che'koth. "I am unsure of the harm it may cause your unborn child."

Liz thought for a moment started to speak, and reconsidered. "Fine, she said finally. "You're probably right, but now what? I'm stuck out here with no way to get back to town."

"May I suggest, Majesty – Liz," he amended. "That you just wait here. I believe the king plans on arriving sometime tonight."

"Yeah, fine, whatever," snapped Liz. "I just wanted to end this thing, now."

"How?" asked Che'koth.

"I don't know, really," admitted Liz. "I had some grandiose plan to go to Antar, and blast the hell out of Kivar."

"Admirable," said Che'koth. "But not entirely practical, as you are not familiar with Antar."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't thinking rationally," said Liz. "Let's just blame this on pregnancy hormones and never mention it again."

"As you wish," said Che'koth with a slight bow.

"What do you mean, she's missing?" Michael shouted into his cell phone. "How could she be missing?"

He listened for a few minutes, disconnected the call, and looked at the others in the car.

"Liz is missing," he said. "Ava said she only left her alone for a minute, and when she came back, Liz was gone.

"Oh my God!" cried Maria. "How could Ava let that happen? Where was she, why did she leave Liz alone like that? What was she thinking?"

"She was thinking she had to go to the bathroom, Maria, now calm down," said Michael. "Ava said there wasn't any sign of a struggle, and she didn't hear anything either, so that leads me to believe that Liz left by herself. Now we just have to figure out where she would have gone."

Maria, Alex and Isabelle all stared at Michael as if he had two heads.

"You're kidding, right?" asked Isabelle. "She went to go kill Tess of course."

"We just have to figure out where she went," said Maria. "But first, we have to get you and Isabelle to the Tumbleweed so you can do the presto chango with Rath and Lonnie."

"Then Maria, Kyle, Ava and I can try and track down Liz," continued Alex. "We need to find her before she tries to take Tess down."

Michael pulled out his phone and tossed it to Maria. "Call Ava," he said. "Tell her you'll meet her in thirty minutes, and see if she can get a hold of Kyle too."

"Should we tell Max?" asked Isabelle, as Maria rapidly dialed Ava's phone.

"Hell no," said Michael. "One of them on a rampage is enough. Max would go ballistic if he found out what Liz was doing."

"And, knowing my brother, he'd totally blow off this stupid plan of his to go and rescue Liz," interjected Isabelle.

"Not that Liz needs any rescuing," added Alex. "My money's on Liz. If she comes across Tess before Max does, she'll kill her."

"But what if Tess kills – " began Michael.

"Don't even say it, Space Boy. Don't say it, don't think it, just drive," said Maria, her voice trembling as she stared out into the darkness.