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.
Chapter Sixty – One – Max is Outed
The dining area was again covered with posters, and now and again, snatches of music would be heard, but the Director and the faculty were unable to determine who was doing it. Liz looked around and realized that the entire song was posted, in bits and pieces around the dining hall. The director was reluctant to cancel classes again, and he announced to the students that they should ignore what the saw in the dining hall.
"Long live King Zan!" shouted one of the students in response to the Directors announcement.
"Students!" shouted the Director. "The Training Academy has always been, and will always be a non partisan school. You are here to learn, the instructors to teach. You are all entitled to your own beliefs, but I ask, nay, implore that you do not allow them to interfere with the learning."
The students quieted down, trying to respect the wishes of the Director.
"Thank you," said the Director. "I appreciate your cooperation in this matter. I do not wish to cancel classes again, nor do I think you want that to happen. I am going to ask all of you to proceed to your classes. I won't be foolish and ask you not to talk about what's going on, but I will ask you to keep it out of the academic environment as much as possible. Thank you."
The students began to talk again, this time more softly, when General Kobodi's voice rang out across the hall.
"All Aberjani trainees will report to the training room, immediately."
The Aberjani trainees stood, and left the dining hall. As they left, Max managed to walk past Liz and squeeze her hand. "Just a few more days, and I will all be over," he whispered to her. "I love you."
"Ma'nith and Kahtair, come to the front," shouted General Kobodi. Kyle and Zan looked at each other and shrugged and stepped to the front of the room. Kobodi examined them the way someone would look at something nasty they found on their shoe before he spoke again. "Perhaps we should ask Za'nith to join you at the front," said Kobodi, his voice silky.
Max, Kyle and Zan looked up at Kobodi, their gazes unblinking as Kobodi paced in front of them.
"I don't see any sense in wasting anybody's time. I want to know which one of you is Zan," he said.
The three looked at each other, in feigned confusion.
"Zan?" said Max. "I'm not sure what you mean. I am Ma'nith, my brother is Za'nith, and this is Kahtair. None of us are known as Zan."
"Don't lie to me!" screamed Kobodi. One of you activated the throne, and I demand to know which one of you it was."
"As we explained to you, and Lord Kivar, that symbol was already on the throne when we entered the room," said Kyle. "Lord Kivar believed us. Are you saying that Lord Kivar is wrong?"
"Impudent pup!" roared Kobodi. He directed an energy bolt at Kyle but before it could reach its mark, Max threw up an energy shield to protect the three of them. At the same time, Michael fired a bolt at Kobodi, knocking his already weakened body off its feet.
Max grabbed Kyle and Zan, and turned to run when he stopped, shocked by the site of the other Aberjani trainees kneeling down on one knee, their hearts covered by their right fists.
"Hail King Zan!" they shouted as one. "Long live King Zan."
"Stop it," said Max. Stand up, all of you. There are no kings here."
"If it pleases Your Majesty," said Quortoth, rising from where he knelt. "Only the King can produce a protective shield such as the one you produced."
"I've seen plenty of you throw up a shield in training," said Max.
"True, but none have had the Antarian seal on it," said Quortoth.
"Antarian seal?" asked Max, weakly. "It didn't, did it?"
"Yes, Sire. You must have activated it when you took the throne. It was you that sat on the throne, was it not?"
Max glanced quickly at Michael and the others and saw that all of them wore looks of resignation. Max shook his head at Michael, Zan and Kyle, as he passed his hand over his face and changed his appearance to its original form.
"You are alive," said Quortoth. "How may we serve you, My King?"
"Stop calling me that, for one," said Max. "At least for now. Right now, we have to figure out what to do with him." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder and pointed at the body of General Kobodi.
"He's not going to be out long," said Michael. "I was set on stun."
Max quickly changed his appearance back to that of Ma'nith and turned to face Kobodi who was starting to stir. He moved forward t stand next to Zan and Kyle, unaware of what was occurring behind him.
"Who dared to fire upon me?" shouted Kobodi as he dragged himself to his feet.
"I did, General," rang out in the room, and a shocked Max turned to see the other trainees, moving to stand next to him. Even more amazing was the fact that all of them had modified their appearances to resemble Ma'nith and Za'nith.
"I'll destroy you all!" shouted Kobodi. He raised his hand to fire when a voice rang out.
"Cease this foolishness this instant, General Kobodi," came a voice from the back of the room. "What is going on here?"
"Director, it is none of your concern," said Kobodi with all the strength he could muster. "This matter shall be handled by myself, or Lord Kivar."
"Lord Kivar instructed me to come find you, and instead, I find you threatening my students. You there," he added, pointing at one of the trainees. "What is going on here?"
"General Kobodi accused one of the other trainees of being King Zan. We all know it to be nothing but foolishness, but the General was quite insistent."
"Fine, fine," said the Director, "But why have you all changed your appearance to look the same?"
"Because, Director, if he accuses one, he accuses all. We are a team," explained the student.
"Very admirable," said the Director. "General Kobodi, Lord Kivar is here, he wishes to address the trainees."
"No!" shouted Kobodi. "That is, I mean, now is not a good time." He looked out over the trainees, all of them looking exactly alike, and he broke out in a cold sweat. "I will talk to Lord Kivar, and tell him,"
"Tell me what, General," said Kivar, walking into the room. He stepped up onto the podium, next to Kobodi, surveyed the trainees and exploded with laughter.
"Would you care to explain the meaning of this, Kobodi" Kivar asked, his voice silky.
"Actually, Lord Kivar," said Max, stepping forward. "We were working on a plan to show General Kobodi.
"And what would that plan be, if I may ask?" said Kivar.
"We were trying to find a way to figure out who was spreading the filthy lies about Zan being alive," improvised Max. "We thought that if we took the guise of Zan, and went out into the city, we might be able to draw out some of the rabble rousers."
"Yes, but none of you look like Zan," said Kivar.
"General Kobodi was doubtful about the success of our plan, and wanted proof, so we all changed to look like one of the trainees, and we were going to go out into the school, and see if we could fool the other students."
"Now we know why I was in charge of strategic planning," Michael whispered to Kyle. "There is no way Kivar is going to buy that load of bull."
"Interesting," said Kivar, his voice hardening a little. "Are you sure that is all there is to it?"
"Yes, Lord Kivar," said Michael, still in his Ma'nith disguise, stepping forward.
Kivar's face darkened with anger as he looked from the trainees to General Kobodi. He wasn't sure if they were telling the truth, or if they were lying to cover their tracks, or Kobodi's.
"And which one of you came up with this plan?" he asked.
"I did, Lord Kivar," said Quortoth stepping forward. "We were all sickened by the filthy rumors that have been spread about, and we wanted to do something to help."
"Show your true selves, all of you!" demanded Kivar.
The trainees restored their appearances and faced Kivar with unflinching dignity.
"Again, which one of you came up with this plan?"
"It was I, Lord Kivar," said Quortoth.
"And you are?" asked Kivar
"I am Quortoth Slenia," answered Quortoth.
"Slenia, Slenia, oh yes, your father is one of my lieutenants is he not?"
"Yes he is," said Quortoth.
"He is a very loyal soldier," said Kivar, as are you. I like your plan, but at this time, I do not want it implemented. You have shown great initiative by devising such a plan and your ingenuity will not go unrewarded. Director, what do you suggest I give this young man?"
"Perhaps a day free of classes?" offered the Director.
"So be it," said Kivar. Quortoth Slenia, you are free from your classes for the rest of the day.
"Thank you Lord Kivar," said Quortoth.
"Kobodi, come with me!" snapped Kivar. He strode out of the room, the Director and General Kobodi trailing in his wake.