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 Forty-Two – Serious Repercussions

"He did what?" Max roared. "Of all the stupid, idiotic, asinine things to do. Throwing himself in front of a blast meant for you has got to be the most ridiculous thing Michael has ever done."

"Gee, thanks, Max, I didn't know you cared quite so much," said Zan, leaning against a wall.

"Don't be stupid," said Max. "That's not what I mean, and you know it. Saving somebody like that is something an Aberjani so wouldn't do. Why would he do something so stupid?"

"Maybe because he didn't want me to die?" Zan asked dryly.

"Jesus, will you chill?" snapped Max. "That's not what I mean, and you know it, so stop giving me shit! I mean, no Aberjani would ever sacrifice himself for another. Michael did nothing but draw attention to us, and it's going to cause problems for us. I know it."

"Don't have such a freak out, Max. Maybe we can spin this to our benefit," said Zan.

"Right," said Max, his voice dripping with scorn. "Or we could just wear signs that say 'Hi, we're the cloned Royal Family,' to make it easier for them to hunt us down and kill us."

"Look, if you want to sit here and worry about things that just aren't going to happen, be my guest," said Zan. "I'm hungry, and I'm going down to dinner. If you have half a brain, and I know you do, because I do, and you're me, you'll come with me, we'll find the others, an figure out a way to use this to our benefit."

"You are such an ass," said Max, a small grin appearing on his face. "So I guess I must be too. Lets go get something to eat and figure out how we're going to fix this mess. Just don't say anything to the others until we're all together, okay?"

"Okay," replied Zan. "Let's jam!"

Max looked across the dining hall to where Liz sat, chatting animatedly with Maria, and Ava. Isabel sat with them smiling occasionally, but was far more subdued. Liz caught his eye and gave him a lascivious smile, which caused his blood to boil. Max felt his face begin to burn, but he held onto his composure long enough to wink at Liz. He turned away and searched for the table where Michael and the others were sitting.

Kyle stood part way up and waved to Max, signaling for him to join him. Max gave a half wave, and made his way over to where his friends were sitting.

"Hey," said Kyle. "Did you have fun playing soldier today?"

"I won, so yeah, I guess I did," said Max. "What happened to you?"

"I got hungry, so I let myself get killed early. Besides, Alex needed to talk to me."

"Kyle, can you think of anything besides food?" Max asked with a laugh.

"Yeah, I can think about what has you so jazzed off," said Kyle. "Why the inner freak fest, Max? And don't tell me it's because of the little mind game Liz just played with you."

"I thought you weren't going to say anything," Max said, glaring at Zan.

"I didn't," said Zan, holding up his hands. "Honest."

"Well you must have," Max said, trying to be reasonable, "If Kyle knows already."

"Relax, Max," said Kyle. "Nobody said anything. It's just pretty obvious that you're wound tighter than a slinky. What gives?"

Max just stared at Kyle, wondering when his friend had become so observant. Kyle was a lot of things, but he'd never been the compassionate, touchy feely type.

"I think Max is concerned about what happened during our GI Joe games today," Zan said, diplomatically.

"Yeah, it was a total mistake," Michael said. "But I didn't think. I just reacted to it."

"What happened, what was a total mistake?" asked Alex, clearly confused.

"Zan was about to get killed today in a mock training exercise, and I threw myself in front of the energy bolt and saved him," Michael said, his voice grim. "It was a stupid thing to do, and I don't even know why I did it."

"Ah, you saved a friend," said Alex. "Since when is that a bad thing?"

"Since it's something the Aberjani would never do," said Max. "They are so not team players. But Zan has some idea of how we can use this to our advantage," Max added.

"Yeah, well before we get into that," interrupted Kyle. "Alex, I think you need to go check in with Isabel. She's really bummed about something."

"How do you know?" asked Alex, looking across the hall to where Isabel sat. "Did she tell you? And why are you just waiting until now to tell me?"

Kyle sighed heavily, and rubbed his forehead. "No, she didn't tell me. I haven't talked to her since last night. But look at her. She isn't eating, she isn't talking, and her hair is falling out of that twisty thing, and she hasn't done anything about it."

"You're right," said Alex in amazement, looking over at Isabel. "She looks like hell. Okay, guys, I'm out of here. I'm going to bring Isabel downstairs and talk to her. I'll see you all there later on, right?"

Zan and Michael nodded, and Kyle smiled wearily, signifying his agreement, but Max just stared at Kyle, noting for the first time, how tired and drawn his friend looked.

"So, what's the plan?" asked Michael. "Cause I'm thinking, if anybody saw what I did, we're in a complete and total world of hurt."

"Well, we're supposed to go back out again tomorrow, right?" Zan asked. "Well I was thinking, if all of us started trying to save other people, it might throw suspicion off of what Michael did. But the thing is, I don't think we'd better try and save each other. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves in that way, but if we start saving other trainees, maybe it will throw them off our tails."

Zan sat back nervously and waited while the others thought about his suggestion. He wasn't big on the whole teamwork thing. It was still hard for him to open up and be as trusting as the others were. He felt as if he was laying his soul on the line as he waited for their opinions.

"That's a great idea!" Max said. "In fact, if we take it one step further and try and 'save' some of the students that General Kobodi favors, and a couple of the students that usually aren't as successful, it may throw them totally off."

"Speaking of which," said Kyle. He lifted his chin, using it to point to the front of the room where General Kobodi stood staring out over the students. "He's here, and he is pissed. Michael, I'd suggest you get the hell out of here, now."

Michael opened his mouth to argue, saw the look on Kyle's face and thought better of it. He grabbed his plate and slipped out the side door before the General noticed him.

"He is really ripped," said Kyle, staring intently at the General. "But not just at Michael."

"Kyle, what the hell are you talking about?" asked Max. "How can you know he's mad, and who he's mad at? It makes no sense."

"It does to me, and right now, I think we'd all better get out of here. Max, I want you to take Ava out of here right now. While you're over there, tell Liz to come sit with me, and Maria to meet Zan over by the windows. It's not much, but it may confuse him a bit."

"Kyle, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I think you've snapped or something," said Max.

"Yeah, great, fine, I've snapped. Now shut the fuck up and do what I tell you," whispered Kyle.

Max stared at Kyle. In all the years that they had known each other, he'd never seen him act like this. Max simply nodded and walked across the dining hall to where Ava and the others sat. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. She looked confused but nodded and grabbed her belongings and stood up. She leaned over to Liz and Maria and whispered something and giggled loudly, smiled adoringly, and followed Max out of the room.

A troubled and confused Liz and Maria both stood up and grabbed their possessions. Maria walked over to the large windows where Zan stood waiting for her, and Liz crossed the hall and sat at the table that was now occupied only by Kyle. She slid into the seat next to him, and looked closely at her friend.

"Kyle, oh my God, Kyle, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with panic. "You aren't looking too great. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," said Kyle, the sweat beading on his face. "Listen, can you not think so loud or something?"

"Not think so loud?" Liz asked, puzzled. "What do you mean? Kyle, are you reading my thoughts?"

"Not your thoughts, no, but your emotions, I think. I can usually block them out, but when I'm with you guys, it gets kind of overwhelming."

"Come on, let's get you out of here," Liz said. She slipped her arm around Kyle's waist and helped him up. "Come on Valenti, make it look like you love me. Put your arm around my waist, will you."

Kyle slipped his arm around Liz's waist, and the two walked out of the dining hall under the angry glance of General Kobodi.