Tomorrow's Yet to Come

Chapter Thirty-One Crash into Me

"Relax, Liz, it's me," Che'koth said, holding Liz tightly by the arms to stop her fall. "Plash Nevenia told me she was going to send you to me today. When you didn't arrive, I became worried. Where have you been, Liz?

"Oh, Che'koth, it was horrible!" cried Liz. "There was an uprising or something in the market place, and I got caught in it. I tried to get away, but one of the Aberjani grabbed me."

"Liz, are you alright?" Che'koth asked. He pushed her away from him slightly, and his eyes ran up and down her body, the way a parent would look over their child after she had been in a dangerous situation.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she answered, despite the pounding in her heart. "I-well, he wouldn't let go of me, so I kind of made him let go of me."

"Majesty, please tell me you did not use your powers on an Aberjani in public?" begged Che'koth.

"No, of course not," said Liz. "I used a good old fashioned self defense technique which brought him to his knees. Unfortunately, that General Kobodi saw it. He had a major cow."

"He had a bovine?" asked Che'koth, clearly puzzled.

"No, it means he freaked, he wasn't happy, you know," said Liz. "Come on Che'koth, stay with me here."

"You sound much like your friend Maria, Liz. She above all of you consistently confuses me. I think she takes pleasure in it," said Che'koth. "But let's get you off of the streets. I want to hear the rest of your tale." He lead her down a small alley, and into a dingy shop. "Before we do anything else," he said. "Here is what Plash Nevenia sent you to get."

"Can we trust her?" Liz asked. "I want to trust her. My instincts are telling me to trust her, but my common sense is saying trust no one."

"You can trust her with your life, Majesty," said Che'koth. "She, like I, would die to protect you."

"Well, it's not going to come to that," Liz said, her voice grim. "Nobody else I know is going to die, at least not if I have anything to say about it. And don't call me Majesty."

"As you wish," said Che'koth, with a nod of his head.

"Right, if only it were that easy. Look, Che'koth, I have a million and one questions for you, but I really have to get back to the Training Academy. Plash was adamant about that."

"Come with me, Liz. We will talk while I show you something very important," said Che'koth. He led her to the back of the store, and lifted up a trap door in the floor. "This tunnel will take you back to the Training Academy. It goes directly to the hidden room that Plash told you about." He climbed down the ladder and waited to help Liz.

Liz climbed down the ladder, and missed the last couple of rungs, and fell into Che'koth's arms. "Thanks," she said, a bit breathless. "That really would have hurt my, um my dignity."

"You are all right, Liz?" Che'koth asked. When he nodded, he relaxed his grasp on Liz and placed her on the floor. "Follow me," he said over his shoulder. "You will want to know that an emissary was sent to Roswell, as you requested. He made contact with Sheriff Valenti. The emissary, along with Sheriff Valenti, met with your families, and explained everything."

"Oh, God," whispered Liz. "How bad was it?"

"That is not important," said Che'koth. "What matters is that your families know the truth, and they support you."

"They know everything?" Liz asked, faintly.

"Yes, they know the truth about the crash, and about Max and the others coming out of the pods. They know how Max saved you, and how Tess tried to destroy you all," said Che'koth."

"Do they, do they know about?" Liz asked softly, her voice breaking slightly.

"Yes, they know that you were married, and about the child that you lost in battle."

"Oh, God," whispered Liz. "They must hate us."

"On the contrary. They are awed by your resourcefulness, and saddened that you were not able to share these burdens with them," said Che'koth. "They want all of you to know how much they love you. They wish that they could be here to fight with you, but know that it isn't possible."

Liz stopped and grabbed Che'koth by the arm. "Just who was the emissary that went to see Jim?" she asked.

"I did, Majesty," said Che'koth. "Along with a contingent of guards."

"Guards, why?" asked Liz.

"To protect your families from the Aberjani," said Che'koth. "If this angers you, Majesty, I can arrange to have them removed."

"Angers me? Che'koth, it's a wonderful idea. I only wish I had thought of it myself, and don't call me that," said Liz.

"If you will remember, Liz, you had a great many things on your mind the night we discussed sending somebody back to Roswell to tell your parents. And, even if you had thought of it, you never would have requested it. You find it so hard to even hear your title, you would never use it for yourself," said Che'koth.

"Well, I will this time," said Liz with a smile. "I command you to give me a hug."

"That is one thing you will never have to order me to do," said Che'koth, hugging Liz. "Now, we must make haste, Liz, for it is getting late."

The two hurried down the dark tunnel. Liz felt herself begin to go down a slight incline, and then the tunnel widened out, and stopped at a heavy door. Che'koth reached out and opened the door, and escorted Liz into a small room. "Where are we?" she asked. "Is this the room in the Training Academy?"

"It is," said Che'koth. "Now, I want you to walk out that door, turn left, and go up two flights of stairs. You will come out in a small hallway adjacent to the common study area. Are you able to find your way from there?"

"I'll be fine Che'koth, but what about you?" asked Liz.

"I will wait here until you and the others return, tonight. We have much to talk about. Be safe, Liz."

"And you," said Liz. She smiled, and slipped quietly out the door, and into the hallway