Disclaimer: Roswell, and its characters do not belong to me. Melinda Metz, Jason Katims and 20th Century Fox have that particular pleasure. I'm simply borrowing them until the Season 2 DVD's get released.

Tomorrow's Yet to Come

Chapter Thirty-Seven Secrets and Lies

"You're really one for the big entrances, aren't you, Che'koth?" Michael said, calmly. "Now, before everybody, myself included has a giant freak out, why don't you tell us what you're talking about."

"Listen to mister calm, cool and collected," Maria whispered to Liz, Ava and Isabel. "I bet you if someone were to sneak up and grab him, he'd,"

"Blow them up," finished Liz with a smile. "Right, like you want to freak Michael out? You know how his powers get." The four girls shook with silent laughter, and tried to calm down to listen to whatever ominous warning Che'koth had brought.

"You are right about the manipulation," said Che'koth, setting a large bundle down on the floor. "Zan, you lack the trust that the others have. You are wise to question the ease in which you have attained so much in such a short time. However your trust has not been misplaced. There has been manipulation, but it has been done on your behalf. Liz being chosen to work on the special project, and being paired with Maria and Ava was set up by Plash Nevenia. And Isabel being one of the students chosen to interview was also arranged by a member of the resistance who is on staff here. However, she will either be accepted to the program on her own merits, or not. We have no control over that. We also could not have arranged for the four of you," he pointed at Max, Zan, Michael and Kyle, "To be chosen for the Aberjani was something you accomplished on your own."

"So what you're saying then, is that they," Liz pointed to the four guys, "Are capable of accomplishing great things on their own, be we need our hands held to get anything done?" She shot a wink at Maria, and tried to keep a serious face as she posed her question to Che'koth.

"No, Majesty, that is not what I meant," said Che'koth, clearly flustered by Liz's comment. "Nobody helped you with the project you are working on, any success is yours, and yours alone."

"Right," said Maria, drawing out the word, slowly. "And I suppose Ava and I are simply here for decoration?"

"No, I, that is," Che'koth said, wildly, turning to face Maria. The room exploded with laughter, and Liz hugged Che'koth.

"Gotcha," she said. "That couldn't have worked out better if we had planned it."

"You arrogant little whelps," said Che'koth with a smile. "I ought to put each and every one of you over my knee. I believe that is the correct Earth expression."

"You would dare to spank the royal bootay?" asked Maria. "I think not."

Again the room filled with laughter, and each one of them, reveled in the sound, and the relaxed feeling it engendered in each of them. Max turned to Zan and clapped him on the shoulder.

"You were right to be worried, and to question, Zan. You don't know us, you don't know Che'koth, and you are right, everything was coming too easy. We've had the luxury of dealing with Che'koth already, and we knew he'd do anything he could to smooth our path."

"Yeah, yeah, enough of the boring stuff," said Maria. "Whatcha got in the bundle, Che'koth?"

Leave it to Maria to cut right to the chase," said Michael.

"Actually, you're parents had already started a collection of items to send back with you," said Che'koth. "And Kyle's father has decided to check the pod chamber on a daily basis, and we've agreed that he will leave items for you there, as well as pick up the things I bring back to the soldiers that are guarding your families."

"Hot damn!" shouted Maria. "Give me my music."

"About that," Che'koth said, hesitantly. "I'm afraid we have a bit of a problem."

"Problem?" asked Maria. "Exactly what do you mean, we have a problem. Either you brought me some music, or you didn't. If you did, we don't have any problems, and if you didn't, WE still don't have a problem, Che'koth. YOU have a problem. One thing, one simple little thing, that's all I asked for, and are you going to stand there and tell me that you couldn't bring me back a few freaking cd's?" By now, Maria wasn't talking, she was shouting, louder than anyone, including Michael, had ever heard her shout.

"Maria, what's wrong?" Michael shouted, pulling her into his arms. "Tell me what's wrong, and I'll fix it." He rubbed Maria's back ineffectually as he tried to soothe her. "It's okay," he said, moving his hand up and stroking the back of Maria's head as her tears moved to slow sobs. "Maria, talk to me." He looked over Maria's head, panicked by her outburst, and unsure of what to do next.

"I- I just hate it here," Maria sobbed. "I never get to see you, and that woman is always criticizing me, and telling me how hopeless and worthless I am."

"What woman?" Michael asked, his voice hard. "Because I'm going to kill her, right now."

"Jara Kobodi," Ava said, softly. "And for some reason, she seems to take great pleasure in constantly deriding both Maria and myself. It's almost as if it's become her soul purpose in life."

"She's a vile, evil, bitch, and I'd kill her myself in a second if it wasn't going to put everyone in jeopardy," sniffled Maria. "I just thought that maybe, if I had some music or something to listen to, it would, oh I don't know, relax or something, and now Che'koth is saying that he didn't bring me any. I know in the grand scheme of things, it isn't important, but I really wanted my music."

"Jara Kobodi is a horrible woman," agreed Che'koth. "But Maria, you are right, you can't kill her, but I promise you this, if the opportune time ever does arise, I will personally paint a target on her and hold her still, just for you."

"Are you saying I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, Che'koth?" Maria asked with a watery smile.

"No, and believe me, she is as wide as some of your Earth barns, isn't she?" asked Che'koth. "Now Maria, I believe you misunderstood me, before. What I was trying to tell you is that I was unable to get any of your music, but Kyle's father sent you everything he had in his truck, even though he wasn't sure it was to your liking. He also asked me to bring you this." Che'koth withdrew from the small room and went back into the tunnel. When he returned, he was carrying an old guitar. "Kyle's father already had this in his truck for me to bring back to you. He said you would need this to feed your soul, as much as the food he sent would feed your body."

"Oh Che'koth, I'm so ashamed," said Maria, taking the guitar into her hands and caressing it lovingly. She sat down, and immediately began to strum the guitar, and hum softly.

While Maria played, and Che'koth unloaded the rest of his bounty, Michael pulled Max and Alex aside.

"I think we need to send Maria back," he said. "This is too much for her, and I don't want to put her to have to go through it."

"Maria's tougher than you think," said Alex. "Not to mention the fact that she'll kill you if you try and send her back."

"Yeah, I know, that's why I was hoping one of you could talk to her instead, and convince her that she should leave," said Michael.

"Are you insane?" Alex asked, his voice rising slightly with shock. "No way, no freaking way. I'd rather punch you in the mouth again."

"You punched him in the mouth?" Zan asked, walking over and joining the conversation. "Why?"

"He was cheating on Maria," said Alex.

"I was not cheating on Maria," Michael said. "I keep telling everyone, Courtney was a Michael worshiper."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," said Alex. "There was this skin that had a thing for him, and I though he was cheating on Maria with her, so I decked him."

"Was this before, or after you got your powers?" asked Zan.

"Before," Max, Alex and Michael all answered.

"Man, you got guts," said Zan.

"Yeah, but not enough to tell Maria that Michael things she should go back to Earth," said Alex.

"Max, will you do it?" Michael asked, imploringly.

"No way in hell am I going down that path," said Max.

"Zan?" Michael asked hopefully.

"Not a chance, besides," he said, pointing at Maria, who was now laughing at some cd's Kyle was showing her. "I think she's going to be okay."

Michael went to sit next to Maria, and took the cd out of her hand. "The Kit-Shickers?" he asked. "Who the hell are they?"

"Sad as it is for me to admit," said Kyle. "It's my dad's band. He and some friends formed it our last year in high school. I can't believe they spent money to make a cd."

"Yeah, well, we won't hold it against you, Valenti," said Michael. He tossed the cd into a pile and looked at Maria.

"You okay?" he asked, softly.

"Yeah," she replied. "And I'm not going back, so don't even say it."

"How'd you know?" Michael asked, his voice tinged with shock.

"You don't do clandestine very well," said Maria. "Hey!" she shouted to the room in general. "We don't have a cd player."

"I can fix that," said Isabel. She took a cd and held it in her hand, and the room filled with music.

"Cool, I like Pat Benatar," said Maria. "Can you show me how to do that, Isabel? Cause if you're going to be all ambassador in training like, I don't think you'll have too much time to play music for me."

"It's not hard," said Isabel. She explained to Maria how she used her powers to get the music to play, and in a few minutes, Maria had mastered the skill.

"Aren't you worried about going into the palace, Isabel?" Liz asked softly, so that nobody else could hear.

"Terrified, and don't you dare tell Alex," Isabel admitted. "I've purposely kept myself from tapping into Vilondra's memories, but I'm worried that once I'm in there, surrounded by everything she knew they'll all come rushing back."

"Promise me that if it gets to be too much, you'll pull out?" asked Liz. "I'm sure Che'koth and all of his connections could find some way of getting you out of the program."

"It's not going to be too much," said Isabel, her voice suddenly resolute. "I'm not going to let it be too much. Kivar killed my family, and he's going to pay for that."

"Kivar killed the royal family, Isabel," Liz said, gently. "Your family is right here. Don't forget that."

"It's almost time for lights out," said Max, moving over next to Liz. "We need to get back."

One by one, they bid Che'koth a good night, and thanked him for the food and other things he brought back with him. Maria hugged him, and whispered something in his ear, and he nodded slightly. "You guys go on ahead," Maria said. "I just have a couple of things my mom sent that I need to get together."

"Want me to wait and walk with you?" Ava asked.

"No, thanks, Ava," Maria said with a smile. "I'll be okay. I'll see you in the morning, okay."

"Maria, you coming?" Michael asked, hanging back by the door.

"I'll be there in a minute, Guerin. Go on ahead without me. I promise, I'll be okay," said Maria as she made a shooing motion with her hands. She waited until everyone was gone before she turned to Che'koth.

"Okay," she said. "This is what I want to do." She quickly explained her plan, and waited while Che'koth thought about it. "Do you think we can do it?"

"Are you sure about this, Maria?" he asked. "It could be very dangerous."

"Yes I'm sure, but what I want to know is do you think it will work?"

"Not only do I think it will work, I think it's brilliant," said Che'koth.

"Okay then, lets stop talking, and get to work."