Title: Hedging Her Bets
Author: blackknight5
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Four Aliens and Baby & Roswell Books "A New Beginning" and "Nightscape".
*Author's Note: I'd like to thank those who have reviewed my story so far, and would like to ask that you keep reviewing.
Part 3
"Maria!" Liz called out as she threw open the sliding door on the VW van.
"Liz, no I'm not going back in there with that...that...ahhh!" Maria screamed as she stormed as away from Liz and the VW van. Looking around the rest area she stormed off toward the restrooms. From behind her she heard someone running to catch up with her. She assumed it was Liz, but she didn't turn around to find out. Before reaching the door to the bathroom she heard Max and Kyle simultaneously ask Michael.
"What did you say to her Michael?"
Inside the bathroom Maria started storming back and forth in front of the stalls trying desperately to keep from just screaming. Calm down Maria, she thought. God, I really wish I hadn't run out of that Cyprus oil. She really could have used something to calm her down. Forcing herself to take a deep breath Maria then walked over to the nearest sink, and began filling it with water. Lowering her head Maria splashed some of the cool water on her face. The coolness the water provided was welcomed after being in the car for so long.
Just then the door to the bathroom opened and Liz came walking in. Maria could see the concern on Liz's face. For a second Maria's anger was about to be unloaded on her friend, but she stopped herself. Liz deserved better from her, and in away she felt like she was disappointing her. Shaking off the last bits of her temper Maria turned to talk to Liz, but Liz spoke first.
"Maria, what's wrong?"
Maria found herself in that strange place between laughter, and crying that she often ended up when angry. Especially when she was angry with Michael, "I'm sorry Liz. This has gotten just so far out of hand."
Liz stepped up and placed her hands on Maria's face. Her soft eye's looking at Maria with compassion, and concern. "It's going to be okay Maria, but can you let me know what happened?" Liz asked.
"Michael and I were actually getting along. Then somehow we started talking, and for some reason we were talking about the future. And you know how Michael....Liz?" Maria stopped as she noticed Liz's eyes started rolling into the back of her head. Before Maria could act Liz Evans dropped to the floor of the restroom like marionette whose strings have been cut. "Oh god! Liz!" Maria screamed. Dropping to her knees Maria started checking for a pulse. It took her a second to find it, but she found it.
No, No, No. Not Liz. She can't die. I can't lose her. Suddenly the answer popped into her head. Max, she thought. I have to get Max. Maria pushed herself from the floor, and started running for the door as fast as she could pound her legs into the ground. She flew past to the door faster then she'd ever believe possible. Once outside Maria turned toward the van, and were the rest of the group had been. Maria started shouting louder then she'd ever had before in her life, and all she had to shout was a single word.
"Max!"
Isabelle watched as Liz started following Maria toward the restrooms, and Max and Kyle turned toward Michael. They both asked the question everyone was thinking. "What did you say to her Michael?" Max and Kyle asked.
I mean dear god is it to much to ask for one day without some crazy fight? Isabelle thought as she found a new level of frustration. Although in all fairness most of her frustration had little to do with the running fight, otherwise known as Michael and Maria's relationship. And it wasn't like there was much she could find to distract herself every time Michael and Maria decided to go into their version of flirting that would end only with passionate makeup sex at the next motel stop.
She felt herself drifting into a moment of self-reflection. She hated this. She was the ice-queen. Always in control, but at certain moments she found that control evaporated like ice in a desert sun. It was at these times that she was confronted by moments of personal reflection, and they always left her feeling angry or vulnerable or both. They always happened when she least wanted them, and so that meant right now was perfect. As Max and Kyle continued to question Michael about his recent fight with Maria, Isabelle confronted herself about her distance from the others in the group.
Jesse. He was the epicenter of her problem, the source of her frustration or more accurately a lack of Jesse. Jesse had made her feel love again. He'd restored a tiny bit of that piece of her that died with Alex. She'd never love Jesse like she'd loved Alex. Alex who had loved her so completely, so with condition, and had only asked she let go of her ice- queen persona enough to try and love him. He'd never know how completely he'd succeeded, or how she'd cursed the universe for giving her a taste of something she'd only believed she could have in her dreams only to have it snatched away from her.
The cruelty of it had nearly killed her, but somehow Jesse had been able to fix her. To put together enough of what had gone wrong so she could love again. Never like Alex, but enough perhaps to find happiness. Then the universe had stepped in again to take even that away from her. She'd had to let go of her heart, and that maybe Liz might be able to understand. But Liz had gotten her Prince, her King back, and Isabelle had a feeling she would not be so lucky. That all these people didn't realize how lucky they were to have each other, and how this fighting just...okay enough, Isabelle decided. I'm not a little girl.
Forcing herself back toward reality she saw as both Kyle and Max made faces of disgust as Michael explained what he said. "Michael, for once would you think before you talk?" Max asked as his voice struggle to keep the anger out of it. He failed.
"I meant it as a joke," Michael offered up in defense.
"A Joke? Michael you really need to work on your sense of humor. But how about we all calm down, and pray Liz can calm down Maria enough for Michael's pleas for forgiveness to work," Kyle said with a calmness that seemed more otherworldly then the anything Max, Michael, or Isabelle could ever cook up.
Deciding she should speak, although she hadn't been paying attention to whatever it was Michael had said. "Look I agree with Kyle. I think we..."Before Isabelle could get anymore out they heard the restroom door fly open, and Maria's frantic voice crying out.
"MAX!"
The color on Max's face paled faster then anything she'd ever believed possible. Less then a second later Michael, Kyle and her took off as well there minds filled with only thoughts of concern for Liz. It would not occur to her later, but a strange thought crossed her mind at that moment. For the when she heard Maria cry out she felt herself worrying about what had happened to the Queen.
God her head was throbbing. The last thing she remembered was her and Maria in the restroom. What the hell happened? Liz thought. Struggling to open her eyes Liz found herself alone in a large open space. As she watched the open space began to take form. The building that seemed to be forming around her seemed like a medieval cathedral. The place felt huge with a high ceiling and large beautiful windows with massive stone pillars supporting the ceiling. Yet, she knew right away the comparison was a failure to describe what she was seeing.
She found herself walking slowly, and taking in the sight she was seeing. The she felt a flash of fear as she a part of her seemed to recognize this place. How can I recognize this place? Is this just another one of my dreams? Why am I here? Then Liz felt a need to turn to face toward a specific part of the building, and at that moment Liz realized she was not alone. Coming toward her was an older woman. Liz couldn't really tell her age for despite the gray that had taken up most of the woman's hair, and the wrinkle's that had started to form on this woman's face there was a fire in her eyes. Some burning passion that made her seem younger simply because of its power.
The woman notices Liz at almost the same moment as Liz notices her, and an expression of shock appears on the woman's face. She quickly moves almost face to face with Liz although the determination from earlier seemed to have become confusion. "Who are you?" She asks her voice echoing in the large room.
Will I never escape that question? She asks herself. Despite her thoughts she does not hesitate in her answer. "I'm Liz Evans," she replies calmly. Then suddenly a white incandescent light starts coming from Liz's right arm. The older woman reaches out, and grabs Liz's right arm pushing back the sleeve that was dimming the light. There was no time for further questions or answers as the room fell away, and Liz suddenly found herself back in the bathroom with Max, Michael, Isabelle, and Kyle all looking over her with massive amounts of concern and fear.
Maria is the first to speak beating even Max. "Liz, please, tell me you are okay?"
Liz nods a yes. Avoiding answering with her voice because she knew she couldn't trust it sound as confident. However judging by the looks she was getting from the rest of the group clearly they didn't believe her, and Max and Maria seemed even more worried. Deciding she had to take a chance Liz cleared her through and tried to speak confidently.
Pushing herself up so she was standing back on her feet, Liz started talking. "Everyone I'm okay and before we continue this conversation could we get out of the bathroom?"
"Especially since this is the woman's restroom," Isabelle said as she glared at the three men who had invaded this sanctum of woman kind.
"Come Izzy, let us guys look around huh? I mean us guys might be on the verge of discovering what it you women find so interesting about this place that you congregate here?" Kyle said in a mocking tone. This brought a small smile to the rest of the group although a Liz was sure she noticed a flash of pain appear quickly in Isabelle's eyes before her own smile appeared. Liz could guess what Isabelle had been thinking after all she'd thought it herself. That was something Alex would have said.
As the group made its way outside into the fresh air Liz was trying to figure out how to tell the group what had just happened. It had felt like a premonition, but different somehow. Could it be connected to my dreams? What is going on with me? Why am I wondering who I am? Yet, Liz could not think of answers to her questions.
Outside Max stopped, and turned to look at her. "Liz what happened in there?" he asked his enforced calm clearly unable to cover his worry for her.
"I'm not sure. I was talking to Maria, and then suddenly I found myself...I don't know where. It was big and reminded me of a medieval cathedral. I don't know how, but somehow it felt old and familiar. At first I was alone, but then an older woman appeared. She seemed confused to see me. It was as if she was expecting someone else."
Max just listened to Liz's explanation of what had happened. He'd noticed something had been happening to her, but until now he'd been able to keep from being concerned. He knew if it was something serious she would tell him. Yet, at this point every protective instinct in him was screaming to grab his wife, and run off somewhere to hold her forever so no one would be able to hurt her. Still something in Max started feeling excited as she began describing her experience. How could he be excited that Liz had collapsed? I promised her I would keep her safe, and yet I just keep getting her into more danger.
Suddenly Liz was standing right in front of him, her hands placed gently on his chest. Her eyes searching for his, and filled with love. "Max, listen to me. Whatever happened is not your fault. I don't know what is happening, but we will work it out together, okay?"
How did she do that? How did she just look at him, and know how to sooth him. He reached around her, and pulled her close to him then laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Okay," he said as the comfort of having her in his arms seemed enough to suppress his doubts and fears.
Liz pulled back a step, and looked back up into Max's eyes. The gagging sound Michael snapped Liz and him out of their little moment. Later, his eyes told Liz. Her eyes responded with an, oh yes. Looking up he noticed how the rest of the group seemed waiting for him to give him a nod, or something. I told them in Roswell I wasn't going to be the King anymore, he said to himself. Yet they refused to let him. Did they conduct some vote I didn't know about, and decide no matter what he's our leader? Didn't they realize how badly he failed in that role? Yet here they are waiting for me to give them the okay to proceed like a king's royal court, or the President's staff.
Max gave them the nod, and the group seemed to become a beehive of activity. "Liz, could you answer some questions about the building you saw?" Isabelle asked. Is it possible felt something familiar about this place, too?
Liz seemed to pause for a second, "I remember there were these massive pillars that reached up to the ceiling. There were some stained glass windows in the ceiling that brought in enough light for the pillars to cast these long shadows..."
Isabelle interrupted suddenly, "And there were these glass windows along the sides that broke up the shadows of the pillars, and the room was long with these massive doors on one side while there was this alter like thing on the other end with two stone chairs on either side. Am I right?"
Liz looked up at Isabelle in shock. Isabelle didn't wait for Liz to answer before answering her own question. "It is isn't it," Isabelle said excitedly.
Then Michael spoke up, "I know that place. Am I the only one that suddenly seems excited that Liz saw this place?"
Max noticed everyone was suddenly looking around at the 'Czechoslovakians' as if waiting for a better explanation as to why Liz collapsing in a bathroom was a good thing. Yet as he looked at Iz, and Michael he could see in their eyes the same conflicting feelings that he had.
Antar – Resistance Central Command
The Dowager Queen of Antar had gone off to her private quarters after attempting again attempting to contact Queen Ava. Her mind in total confusion over the course events had just taken. All sorts of questions plaguing her mind, and precious little answers. She had told everyone she was not to be disturbed. Despite her best efforts she was unable to achieve the focus necessary to calm her mind, and so she had left her room. She had walked up to a place were she could watch Antar's sun slip beneath the horizon. She waited up there till long after the sunset had passed. Finally, her she heard someone coming up from behind her.
Turning her head she looked back down the path she had taken up here, and found herself looking as her closest aid's concern had finally won out against his need to follow her command. Yet, she could not find the strength to rebuke him for checking on her, and in a sense she was comforted that it was him. It would not take him long before closing the remaining gap between them, and giving her time to turn once more towards the horizon. She found herself looking at the stars as if like some people on Earth believed they could give her the answer she sought.
It took Bal'elt a little longer then she had guessed before he arrived behind her. She turned when she heard his voice ask quietly, ""Your Majesty are you alright?"
She did not have to think about her response it was automatic. "I do not know."
She could see the concern in Bal'elt's dark eyes, and the desire to learn what had so troubled his Queen. "Have you learned something? Felt something?" He asked.
You have no idea my old friend, she thought to herself. Collecting herself she found herself ready to answer his questions. "I have," She answered simply.
"Clearly it must be troubling? What has Queen Ava told you?" "It was not Ava to whom I spoke. Nor was it her duplicate. It was someone else," she said and immediately noticed Bal'elt's strong reaction of surprise, and now for the real shocker. I hope his health can take this she thought. "Yet, she was marked with the Queen's seal."
"Your highness you speak of something impossible. It is impossible for a human to bare the burden of the Royal Seal. Humanity has not advanced far enough physically to handle it."
If the situation had been even a tiny bit different, she might have found the current situation amusing especially Bal'elt's reaction. However, she at this moment could not have been more serious. "I understand your feelings Bal'elt. Do you now understand my reaction from earlier? I know of the reports from our scientist, but yet I know what I saw. Tell me, how is it possible? And perhaps who could this woman be? Is there any human close enough to Zan that something might have happened?"
Bal'elt paused for a second as if struggling over some he knew that he was deciding if maybe he should tell her. "Tell me what you know, Bal'elt?" She said using every bit of commanding presence she could muster, and eliminating any doubt about what her advisor was to do.
"When Queen Ava returned last year some of our informants heard her celebrating her victory over someone. They did not recognize the name, and so I set about trying to contact..."
Raising her hand quickly as a signal she was going to interrupt him. "I do not need to know your methods, I trust you were covert. What was this woman's name?" she asked.
Nodding he answered, "Liz Parker."
For a second she assumed it must be a different woman, but then something from a report on human culture crossed her mind. "Tell was there not something about a human marriage custom that talked of the female engaging in some changing of her name?" The Dowager asked. Bal'elt did not speak immediately, but struggled to remember what information he remembered on human marriage custom. After a minute he seemed to have remembered what she was asking for.
"Yes, it is custom for the woman to take the last name of the man she is to marry. Your highness do you believe this Liz Parker to be the woman you contacted?"
"The woman I contacted introduced herself as Liz Evans. Was my son not given the name of Max Evans by the family that adopted him?"
She just waited as he thought over what she had just said. "Yes...I believe it was, but your highness we both know that humans are at this stage of development unable to physically tolerate the either of the seals. It is impossible...unless."
"Unless what?" She did not usually have to press him for information like
this, but she was forcing him to think along lines no one had believed
possible.
"It is possible your majesty that if Zan healed this woman from a near
fatal trauma to her body it is possible he may have advanced her body's
own evolution. Yet, even if that was the case I do not believe any human
has the ability to accept either of the seals."
"Bal'elt I tell you, what you believe impossible has occurred. Liz Par...ah
Liz Evans has somehow been able to accept the Queen's Seal. I want you
give me a report first thing in the morning on everything you have on
this woman."
"Yes, my Queen. Is there anything else you would ask of me?"
"Yes, I want you to have the best soldiers still loyal to us to gather
here. I also want you to find contact the fastest ship we have. Once here
I will talk to them in private."
"Where will they be going?"
"To Earth. My attempting to contact Queen Ava has now exposed this new
Queen. Khivar will not let this stand. A Royal Four he has no traitor in
would be to great a threat for him to go after. We can only hope our men
will arrive in time."
"They will your majesty."
"Such faith even now? I doubt I have ever made as such a mistake before
now. Ava must have passed the seal to this woman before she died. I
wonder why? But it doesn't matter it seems at the end she did one good
thing, and now we have the opportunity to get rid of Khivar."
"We can only hope, and what was that human saying...ah, yes. 'That fortune
favors the bold.' I believe your majesty it is now time for us to be
bold."
"Then go. You have my orders," She said before turning to watch the
stars. I wish I could have told you what else I saw that this Liz seemed
as shocked as I by seeing the seal on her arm. Ava must have buried the
memory of giving her the seal behind a mind warp. But what? Could she
have had doubts of Liz being able to handle this all right away? Or was
she trying to buy time, trying to keep the emergence of the new Queen
secret from Khivar as long as possible, but only letting the person learn
what she could over time? I hope this woman is worthy of you my son. I
hope she maybe at last what brings you home to me, and to your people.
Los Angeles - Cal Langley's House Cal shot up from his bed like a child from some nightmare. No. No. NO! His mind screamed. This was impossible, and even if it were possible it has been months since Tess's death. The seal would never take this long to surface. Yet it was there suddenly today he'd felt another connection establish itself. He'd always had a mental link to his charges that allowed him to know where they were, and if they were alive. When Nasaedo had died he'd suddenly found himself cursed with his charges as well which was why for more then one reason had been overjoyed when Tess had died almost a year ago.
He'd waited at first for one of his other charges blips to go stronger, and tell him which one had become the new queen. Yet nothing had happened. In fact until now he hadn't realized a new connection had begun forming, but rather then come into being all at once it had grown stronger over time. Until suddenly something had caused it to flare to full strength and given him the name of his new charge, a splitting headache, and a shock that would have given a human a heart attack. Liz Parker, she was his new charge and his new Queen.
He hadn't believed it at first after all humans couldn't hold the seal. He'd seen the experimental data. How? He'd spent the last five hours searching for a way to ignore what the imperative was directing him to do. He hadn't felt it this strong since he'd been on Antar. Memories, feelings, and a sense of duty that he'd long since buried in the past hit him like a two by four. Liz Parker had not been a genetically engineered brat, and his study of the Roswell teens had left him feeling she was perhaps the greatest thing ever to happen to the royals. Not that he would ever say that, she had after all fallen in love with Max.
Still he'd been impressed by her. She had overcome by the simple strength of her humanity, the biological programming that had directed Max and Tess be together. Not that he'd ever told Max, but he'd gone to Roswell shortly after the shooting to see what the danger of exposure was. His connections with the 'true believers' out there had allowed him to hear fairly quickly about the incident in the Crashdown. Although the Roswell teens were Nasaedo's responsibility he'd felt compelled to check out the situation himself. He'd seen Liz Parker, and seen her interact with everyone.
She was cool headed, smart, and seemed able to help calm the emotions of those around her. It had caused an interesting thought to gestate in his brain, and he had left Roswell rather quickly. The question of what would Liz be like if she were his queen. It had taken him a long time to suppress such questions and thoughts. Then Max had shown up forcing him to go on that little joy ride. Despite his anger, and disgust he'd found himself advising his king once more. He was trying to fix one mistake, but making a bigger one. Somehow the imperative had forced him to tell Max something to send him home to Liz. More then what Max had done this angered, and terrified him. Why would the imperative care about some human?
When he'd learned of Liz sudden display of powers he realized something more was up. And to his shame he hadn't done anything to help. Especially since he knew what Tess had done to Liz. He knew what she had not even suspected that her 'Future Max' was a mind warp by Tess. He'd avoided it by saying she wasn't his responsibility, and she still ended up with Max. Now with this sudden change he could feel nothing, but shame. Shame for failing to protect his charge something he had never felt before. It had only been a few hours since the new awareness had shaken him to the core, but he couldn't shake what he'd dubbed 'the ideals of the ignorant'. The ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty were now ringing in his head.
For the first time in decades Cal had found someone he could not shake the desire to protect. Still he tried to fight the imperative by saying maybe it was because the two seals were together that was causing this. He fought with himself, fought against the pathetic ideals of heroism, duty, and honor that he had suppressed for so long. He walked into his library, and grabbed a book of poetry he'd bought when he first ended up on this planet. It was a book of the collected works of poetry by Tennyson. He'd felt then as he felt now that the ideals Tennyson expressed in his poems were foolish. Duty, honor, and truth were for fools because only they could hold onto them in the harsh reality of the real world.
Yet, even because of that he'd felt if anyone ever came close to describing a hero it was Tennyson. In Tennyson one received the feelings, good and bad of what it meant to be a hero. He unconsciously turned to the page that held the poem Ulysses. As always he eyes were draw to the last lines of that famous poem. Others might have gone to look at 'The Charge of the Light Brigade', but for Langley the best lines of Tennyson were the closing lines of 'Ulysses'. 'Though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven that which we are, we are. One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will, to strive, to seek, and not to yield.'
He knew that once Khivar learned that a new Queen had arisen he would come to Earth. He'd controlled Ava/Tess, but he would never control Liz Parker. She would never betray Max, Michael, or Isabelle. She would fight for them all till she had nothing left in her body to fight with. She was a woman fit to hold the position of Queen of Antar. Oh god what is wrong with me. Why the hell am I talking like this? Damn Zan, Damn Liz Parker, and Damn this imperative. That has to be what this is. I'm don't talk like this; I'm not some stupid fool. Liz was no different than any other human or antarian. She was no more deserving of his loyalty than anyone else had ever been. She would use him just as all the others had.
Yet a part of him, a part he had long buried, buried with hope of trust with the humans started asking a questions he couldn't answer. 'If she was no different why would Tess have given up her seal to her? How could she have overcome the genetic programming of Max to be with Tess?' He couldn't answer those questions, and so the whole situation ate at him. He placed the old book back in its place and went to look out one of the windows in his library. He would go find the Royals, and the new queen. He would protect her until she proved undeserving of his service. He would even enjoy it until he could find a way to hate her, and he knew once he had that he could fight this imperative.
Then suddenly a strange memory passed his mind. The Guardians Oath. The one he'd sworn so long ago. Through fire, through darkness, through doubt, and despair. I will follow you. Even if it would be unto my own death in the dark places no other will enter. I shall stand on the bridge, and no others will pass. Looking up at the sky he shouted out a string of curses in every language he knew. All he wanted was to be left alone, but god or the universe just wouldn't allow it. His sudden awareness of Liz had overloaded the rest of his abilities, and so he had to think of another way to find the annoying royals. Then an idea popped into his head, and a plan soon after. After that he would find himself one more doing the bidding of anything Royals. He curse not for the first time that the imperative prevented him from killing himself.
Author: blackknight5
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Four Aliens and Baby & Roswell Books "A New Beginning" and "Nightscape".
*Author's Note: I'd like to thank those who have reviewed my story so far, and would like to ask that you keep reviewing.
Part 3
"Maria!" Liz called out as she threw open the sliding door on the VW van.
"Liz, no I'm not going back in there with that...that...ahhh!" Maria screamed as she stormed as away from Liz and the VW van. Looking around the rest area she stormed off toward the restrooms. From behind her she heard someone running to catch up with her. She assumed it was Liz, but she didn't turn around to find out. Before reaching the door to the bathroom she heard Max and Kyle simultaneously ask Michael.
"What did you say to her Michael?"
Inside the bathroom Maria started storming back and forth in front of the stalls trying desperately to keep from just screaming. Calm down Maria, she thought. God, I really wish I hadn't run out of that Cyprus oil. She really could have used something to calm her down. Forcing herself to take a deep breath Maria then walked over to the nearest sink, and began filling it with water. Lowering her head Maria splashed some of the cool water on her face. The coolness the water provided was welcomed after being in the car for so long.
Just then the door to the bathroom opened and Liz came walking in. Maria could see the concern on Liz's face. For a second Maria's anger was about to be unloaded on her friend, but she stopped herself. Liz deserved better from her, and in away she felt like she was disappointing her. Shaking off the last bits of her temper Maria turned to talk to Liz, but Liz spoke first.
"Maria, what's wrong?"
Maria found herself in that strange place between laughter, and crying that she often ended up when angry. Especially when she was angry with Michael, "I'm sorry Liz. This has gotten just so far out of hand."
Liz stepped up and placed her hands on Maria's face. Her soft eye's looking at Maria with compassion, and concern. "It's going to be okay Maria, but can you let me know what happened?" Liz asked.
"Michael and I were actually getting along. Then somehow we started talking, and for some reason we were talking about the future. And you know how Michael....Liz?" Maria stopped as she noticed Liz's eyes started rolling into the back of her head. Before Maria could act Liz Evans dropped to the floor of the restroom like marionette whose strings have been cut. "Oh god! Liz!" Maria screamed. Dropping to her knees Maria started checking for a pulse. It took her a second to find it, but she found it.
No, No, No. Not Liz. She can't die. I can't lose her. Suddenly the answer popped into her head. Max, she thought. I have to get Max. Maria pushed herself from the floor, and started running for the door as fast as she could pound her legs into the ground. She flew past to the door faster then she'd ever believe possible. Once outside Maria turned toward the van, and were the rest of the group had been. Maria started shouting louder then she'd ever had before in her life, and all she had to shout was a single word.
"Max!"
Isabelle watched as Liz started following Maria toward the restrooms, and Max and Kyle turned toward Michael. They both asked the question everyone was thinking. "What did you say to her Michael?" Max and Kyle asked.
I mean dear god is it to much to ask for one day without some crazy fight? Isabelle thought as she found a new level of frustration. Although in all fairness most of her frustration had little to do with the running fight, otherwise known as Michael and Maria's relationship. And it wasn't like there was much she could find to distract herself every time Michael and Maria decided to go into their version of flirting that would end only with passionate makeup sex at the next motel stop.
She felt herself drifting into a moment of self-reflection. She hated this. She was the ice-queen. Always in control, but at certain moments she found that control evaporated like ice in a desert sun. It was at these times that she was confronted by moments of personal reflection, and they always left her feeling angry or vulnerable or both. They always happened when she least wanted them, and so that meant right now was perfect. As Max and Kyle continued to question Michael about his recent fight with Maria, Isabelle confronted herself about her distance from the others in the group.
Jesse. He was the epicenter of her problem, the source of her frustration or more accurately a lack of Jesse. Jesse had made her feel love again. He'd restored a tiny bit of that piece of her that died with Alex. She'd never love Jesse like she'd loved Alex. Alex who had loved her so completely, so with condition, and had only asked she let go of her ice- queen persona enough to try and love him. He'd never know how completely he'd succeeded, or how she'd cursed the universe for giving her a taste of something she'd only believed she could have in her dreams only to have it snatched away from her.
The cruelty of it had nearly killed her, but somehow Jesse had been able to fix her. To put together enough of what had gone wrong so she could love again. Never like Alex, but enough perhaps to find happiness. Then the universe had stepped in again to take even that away from her. She'd had to let go of her heart, and that maybe Liz might be able to understand. But Liz had gotten her Prince, her King back, and Isabelle had a feeling she would not be so lucky. That all these people didn't realize how lucky they were to have each other, and how this fighting just...okay enough, Isabelle decided. I'm not a little girl.
Forcing herself back toward reality she saw as both Kyle and Max made faces of disgust as Michael explained what he said. "Michael, for once would you think before you talk?" Max asked as his voice struggle to keep the anger out of it. He failed.
"I meant it as a joke," Michael offered up in defense.
"A Joke? Michael you really need to work on your sense of humor. But how about we all calm down, and pray Liz can calm down Maria enough for Michael's pleas for forgiveness to work," Kyle said with a calmness that seemed more otherworldly then the anything Max, Michael, or Isabelle could ever cook up.
Deciding she should speak, although she hadn't been paying attention to whatever it was Michael had said. "Look I agree with Kyle. I think we..."Before Isabelle could get anymore out they heard the restroom door fly open, and Maria's frantic voice crying out.
"MAX!"
The color on Max's face paled faster then anything she'd ever believed possible. Less then a second later Michael, Kyle and her took off as well there minds filled with only thoughts of concern for Liz. It would not occur to her later, but a strange thought crossed her mind at that moment. For the when she heard Maria cry out she felt herself worrying about what had happened to the Queen.
God her head was throbbing. The last thing she remembered was her and Maria in the restroom. What the hell happened? Liz thought. Struggling to open her eyes Liz found herself alone in a large open space. As she watched the open space began to take form. The building that seemed to be forming around her seemed like a medieval cathedral. The place felt huge with a high ceiling and large beautiful windows with massive stone pillars supporting the ceiling. Yet, she knew right away the comparison was a failure to describe what she was seeing.
She found herself walking slowly, and taking in the sight she was seeing. The she felt a flash of fear as she a part of her seemed to recognize this place. How can I recognize this place? Is this just another one of my dreams? Why am I here? Then Liz felt a need to turn to face toward a specific part of the building, and at that moment Liz realized she was not alone. Coming toward her was an older woman. Liz couldn't really tell her age for despite the gray that had taken up most of the woman's hair, and the wrinkle's that had started to form on this woman's face there was a fire in her eyes. Some burning passion that made her seem younger simply because of its power.
The woman notices Liz at almost the same moment as Liz notices her, and an expression of shock appears on the woman's face. She quickly moves almost face to face with Liz although the determination from earlier seemed to have become confusion. "Who are you?" She asks her voice echoing in the large room.
Will I never escape that question? She asks herself. Despite her thoughts she does not hesitate in her answer. "I'm Liz Evans," she replies calmly. Then suddenly a white incandescent light starts coming from Liz's right arm. The older woman reaches out, and grabs Liz's right arm pushing back the sleeve that was dimming the light. There was no time for further questions or answers as the room fell away, and Liz suddenly found herself back in the bathroom with Max, Michael, Isabelle, and Kyle all looking over her with massive amounts of concern and fear.
Maria is the first to speak beating even Max. "Liz, please, tell me you are okay?"
Liz nods a yes. Avoiding answering with her voice because she knew she couldn't trust it sound as confident. However judging by the looks she was getting from the rest of the group clearly they didn't believe her, and Max and Maria seemed even more worried. Deciding she had to take a chance Liz cleared her through and tried to speak confidently.
Pushing herself up so she was standing back on her feet, Liz started talking. "Everyone I'm okay and before we continue this conversation could we get out of the bathroom?"
"Especially since this is the woman's restroom," Isabelle said as she glared at the three men who had invaded this sanctum of woman kind.
"Come Izzy, let us guys look around huh? I mean us guys might be on the verge of discovering what it you women find so interesting about this place that you congregate here?" Kyle said in a mocking tone. This brought a small smile to the rest of the group although a Liz was sure she noticed a flash of pain appear quickly in Isabelle's eyes before her own smile appeared. Liz could guess what Isabelle had been thinking after all she'd thought it herself. That was something Alex would have said.
As the group made its way outside into the fresh air Liz was trying to figure out how to tell the group what had just happened. It had felt like a premonition, but different somehow. Could it be connected to my dreams? What is going on with me? Why am I wondering who I am? Yet, Liz could not think of answers to her questions.
Outside Max stopped, and turned to look at her. "Liz what happened in there?" he asked his enforced calm clearly unable to cover his worry for her.
"I'm not sure. I was talking to Maria, and then suddenly I found myself...I don't know where. It was big and reminded me of a medieval cathedral. I don't know how, but somehow it felt old and familiar. At first I was alone, but then an older woman appeared. She seemed confused to see me. It was as if she was expecting someone else."
Max just listened to Liz's explanation of what had happened. He'd noticed something had been happening to her, but until now he'd been able to keep from being concerned. He knew if it was something serious she would tell him. Yet, at this point every protective instinct in him was screaming to grab his wife, and run off somewhere to hold her forever so no one would be able to hurt her. Still something in Max started feeling excited as she began describing her experience. How could he be excited that Liz had collapsed? I promised her I would keep her safe, and yet I just keep getting her into more danger.
Suddenly Liz was standing right in front of him, her hands placed gently on his chest. Her eyes searching for his, and filled with love. "Max, listen to me. Whatever happened is not your fault. I don't know what is happening, but we will work it out together, okay?"
How did she do that? How did she just look at him, and know how to sooth him. He reached around her, and pulled her close to him then laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Okay," he said as the comfort of having her in his arms seemed enough to suppress his doubts and fears.
Liz pulled back a step, and looked back up into Max's eyes. The gagging sound Michael snapped Liz and him out of their little moment. Later, his eyes told Liz. Her eyes responded with an, oh yes. Looking up he noticed how the rest of the group seemed waiting for him to give him a nod, or something. I told them in Roswell I wasn't going to be the King anymore, he said to himself. Yet they refused to let him. Did they conduct some vote I didn't know about, and decide no matter what he's our leader? Didn't they realize how badly he failed in that role? Yet here they are waiting for me to give them the okay to proceed like a king's royal court, or the President's staff.
Max gave them the nod, and the group seemed to become a beehive of activity. "Liz, could you answer some questions about the building you saw?" Isabelle asked. Is it possible felt something familiar about this place, too?
Liz seemed to pause for a second, "I remember there were these massive pillars that reached up to the ceiling. There were some stained glass windows in the ceiling that brought in enough light for the pillars to cast these long shadows..."
Isabelle interrupted suddenly, "And there were these glass windows along the sides that broke up the shadows of the pillars, and the room was long with these massive doors on one side while there was this alter like thing on the other end with two stone chairs on either side. Am I right?"
Liz looked up at Isabelle in shock. Isabelle didn't wait for Liz to answer before answering her own question. "It is isn't it," Isabelle said excitedly.
Then Michael spoke up, "I know that place. Am I the only one that suddenly seems excited that Liz saw this place?"
Max noticed everyone was suddenly looking around at the 'Czechoslovakians' as if waiting for a better explanation as to why Liz collapsing in a bathroom was a good thing. Yet as he looked at Iz, and Michael he could see in their eyes the same conflicting feelings that he had.
Antar – Resistance Central Command
The Dowager Queen of Antar had gone off to her private quarters after attempting again attempting to contact Queen Ava. Her mind in total confusion over the course events had just taken. All sorts of questions plaguing her mind, and precious little answers. She had told everyone she was not to be disturbed. Despite her best efforts she was unable to achieve the focus necessary to calm her mind, and so she had left her room. She had walked up to a place were she could watch Antar's sun slip beneath the horizon. She waited up there till long after the sunset had passed. Finally, her she heard someone coming up from behind her.
Turning her head she looked back down the path she had taken up here, and found herself looking as her closest aid's concern had finally won out against his need to follow her command. Yet, she could not find the strength to rebuke him for checking on her, and in a sense she was comforted that it was him. It would not take him long before closing the remaining gap between them, and giving her time to turn once more towards the horizon. She found herself looking at the stars as if like some people on Earth believed they could give her the answer she sought.
It took Bal'elt a little longer then she had guessed before he arrived behind her. She turned when she heard his voice ask quietly, ""Your Majesty are you alright?"
She did not have to think about her response it was automatic. "I do not know."
She could see the concern in Bal'elt's dark eyes, and the desire to learn what had so troubled his Queen. "Have you learned something? Felt something?" He asked.
You have no idea my old friend, she thought to herself. Collecting herself she found herself ready to answer his questions. "I have," She answered simply.
"Clearly it must be troubling? What has Queen Ava told you?" "It was not Ava to whom I spoke. Nor was it her duplicate. It was someone else," she said and immediately noticed Bal'elt's strong reaction of surprise, and now for the real shocker. I hope his health can take this she thought. "Yet, she was marked with the Queen's seal."
"Your highness you speak of something impossible. It is impossible for a human to bare the burden of the Royal Seal. Humanity has not advanced far enough physically to handle it."
If the situation had been even a tiny bit different, she might have found the current situation amusing especially Bal'elt's reaction. However, she at this moment could not have been more serious. "I understand your feelings Bal'elt. Do you now understand my reaction from earlier? I know of the reports from our scientist, but yet I know what I saw. Tell me, how is it possible? And perhaps who could this woman be? Is there any human close enough to Zan that something might have happened?"
Bal'elt paused for a second as if struggling over some he knew that he was deciding if maybe he should tell her. "Tell me what you know, Bal'elt?" She said using every bit of commanding presence she could muster, and eliminating any doubt about what her advisor was to do.
"When Queen Ava returned last year some of our informants heard her celebrating her victory over someone. They did not recognize the name, and so I set about trying to contact..."
Raising her hand quickly as a signal she was going to interrupt him. "I do not need to know your methods, I trust you were covert. What was this woman's name?" she asked.
Nodding he answered, "Liz Parker."
For a second she assumed it must be a different woman, but then something from a report on human culture crossed her mind. "Tell was there not something about a human marriage custom that talked of the female engaging in some changing of her name?" The Dowager asked. Bal'elt did not speak immediately, but struggled to remember what information he remembered on human marriage custom. After a minute he seemed to have remembered what she was asking for.
"Yes, it is custom for the woman to take the last name of the man she is to marry. Your highness do you believe this Liz Parker to be the woman you contacted?"
"The woman I contacted introduced herself as Liz Evans. Was my son not given the name of Max Evans by the family that adopted him?"
She just waited as he thought over what she had just said. "Yes...I believe it was, but your highness we both know that humans are at this stage of development unable to physically tolerate the either of the seals. It is impossible...unless."
"Unless what?" She did not usually have to press him for information like
this, but she was forcing him to think along lines no one had believed
possible.
"It is possible your majesty that if Zan healed this woman from a near
fatal trauma to her body it is possible he may have advanced her body's
own evolution. Yet, even if that was the case I do not believe any human
has the ability to accept either of the seals."
"Bal'elt I tell you, what you believe impossible has occurred. Liz Par...ah
Liz Evans has somehow been able to accept the Queen's Seal. I want you
give me a report first thing in the morning on everything you have on
this woman."
"Yes, my Queen. Is there anything else you would ask of me?"
"Yes, I want you to have the best soldiers still loyal to us to gather
here. I also want you to find contact the fastest ship we have. Once here
I will talk to them in private."
"Where will they be going?"
"To Earth. My attempting to contact Queen Ava has now exposed this new
Queen. Khivar will not let this stand. A Royal Four he has no traitor in
would be to great a threat for him to go after. We can only hope our men
will arrive in time."
"They will your majesty."
"Such faith even now? I doubt I have ever made as such a mistake before
now. Ava must have passed the seal to this woman before she died. I
wonder why? But it doesn't matter it seems at the end she did one good
thing, and now we have the opportunity to get rid of Khivar."
"We can only hope, and what was that human saying...ah, yes. 'That fortune
favors the bold.' I believe your majesty it is now time for us to be
bold."
"Then go. You have my orders," She said before turning to watch the
stars. I wish I could have told you what else I saw that this Liz seemed
as shocked as I by seeing the seal on her arm. Ava must have buried the
memory of giving her the seal behind a mind warp. But what? Could she
have had doubts of Liz being able to handle this all right away? Or was
she trying to buy time, trying to keep the emergence of the new Queen
secret from Khivar as long as possible, but only letting the person learn
what she could over time? I hope this woman is worthy of you my son. I
hope she maybe at last what brings you home to me, and to your people.
Los Angeles - Cal Langley's House Cal shot up from his bed like a child from some nightmare. No. No. NO! His mind screamed. This was impossible, and even if it were possible it has been months since Tess's death. The seal would never take this long to surface. Yet it was there suddenly today he'd felt another connection establish itself. He'd always had a mental link to his charges that allowed him to know where they were, and if they were alive. When Nasaedo had died he'd suddenly found himself cursed with his charges as well which was why for more then one reason had been overjoyed when Tess had died almost a year ago.
He'd waited at first for one of his other charges blips to go stronger, and tell him which one had become the new queen. Yet nothing had happened. In fact until now he hadn't realized a new connection had begun forming, but rather then come into being all at once it had grown stronger over time. Until suddenly something had caused it to flare to full strength and given him the name of his new charge, a splitting headache, and a shock that would have given a human a heart attack. Liz Parker, she was his new charge and his new Queen.
He hadn't believed it at first after all humans couldn't hold the seal. He'd seen the experimental data. How? He'd spent the last five hours searching for a way to ignore what the imperative was directing him to do. He hadn't felt it this strong since he'd been on Antar. Memories, feelings, and a sense of duty that he'd long since buried in the past hit him like a two by four. Liz Parker had not been a genetically engineered brat, and his study of the Roswell teens had left him feeling she was perhaps the greatest thing ever to happen to the royals. Not that he would ever say that, she had after all fallen in love with Max.
Still he'd been impressed by her. She had overcome by the simple strength of her humanity, the biological programming that had directed Max and Tess be together. Not that he'd ever told Max, but he'd gone to Roswell shortly after the shooting to see what the danger of exposure was. His connections with the 'true believers' out there had allowed him to hear fairly quickly about the incident in the Crashdown. Although the Roswell teens were Nasaedo's responsibility he'd felt compelled to check out the situation himself. He'd seen Liz Parker, and seen her interact with everyone.
She was cool headed, smart, and seemed able to help calm the emotions of those around her. It had caused an interesting thought to gestate in his brain, and he had left Roswell rather quickly. The question of what would Liz be like if she were his queen. It had taken him a long time to suppress such questions and thoughts. Then Max had shown up forcing him to go on that little joy ride. Despite his anger, and disgust he'd found himself advising his king once more. He was trying to fix one mistake, but making a bigger one. Somehow the imperative had forced him to tell Max something to send him home to Liz. More then what Max had done this angered, and terrified him. Why would the imperative care about some human?
When he'd learned of Liz sudden display of powers he realized something more was up. And to his shame he hadn't done anything to help. Especially since he knew what Tess had done to Liz. He knew what she had not even suspected that her 'Future Max' was a mind warp by Tess. He'd avoided it by saying she wasn't his responsibility, and she still ended up with Max. Now with this sudden change he could feel nothing, but shame. Shame for failing to protect his charge something he had never felt before. It had only been a few hours since the new awareness had shaken him to the core, but he couldn't shake what he'd dubbed 'the ideals of the ignorant'. The ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty were now ringing in his head.
For the first time in decades Cal had found someone he could not shake the desire to protect. Still he tried to fight the imperative by saying maybe it was because the two seals were together that was causing this. He fought with himself, fought against the pathetic ideals of heroism, duty, and honor that he had suppressed for so long. He walked into his library, and grabbed a book of poetry he'd bought when he first ended up on this planet. It was a book of the collected works of poetry by Tennyson. He'd felt then as he felt now that the ideals Tennyson expressed in his poems were foolish. Duty, honor, and truth were for fools because only they could hold onto them in the harsh reality of the real world.
Yet, even because of that he'd felt if anyone ever came close to describing a hero it was Tennyson. In Tennyson one received the feelings, good and bad of what it meant to be a hero. He unconsciously turned to the page that held the poem Ulysses. As always he eyes were draw to the last lines of that famous poem. Others might have gone to look at 'The Charge of the Light Brigade', but for Langley the best lines of Tennyson were the closing lines of 'Ulysses'. 'Though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven that which we are, we are. One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will, to strive, to seek, and not to yield.'
He knew that once Khivar learned that a new Queen had arisen he would come to Earth. He'd controlled Ava/Tess, but he would never control Liz Parker. She would never betray Max, Michael, or Isabelle. She would fight for them all till she had nothing left in her body to fight with. She was a woman fit to hold the position of Queen of Antar. Oh god what is wrong with me. Why the hell am I talking like this? Damn Zan, Damn Liz Parker, and Damn this imperative. That has to be what this is. I'm don't talk like this; I'm not some stupid fool. Liz was no different than any other human or antarian. She was no more deserving of his loyalty than anyone else had ever been. She would use him just as all the others had.
Yet a part of him, a part he had long buried, buried with hope of trust with the humans started asking a questions he couldn't answer. 'If she was no different why would Tess have given up her seal to her? How could she have overcome the genetic programming of Max to be with Tess?' He couldn't answer those questions, and so the whole situation ate at him. He placed the old book back in its place and went to look out one of the windows in his library. He would go find the Royals, and the new queen. He would protect her until she proved undeserving of his service. He would even enjoy it until he could find a way to hate her, and he knew once he had that he could fight this imperative.
Then suddenly a strange memory passed his mind. The Guardians Oath. The one he'd sworn so long ago. Through fire, through darkness, through doubt, and despair. I will follow you. Even if it would be unto my own death in the dark places no other will enter. I shall stand on the bridge, and no others will pass. Looking up at the sky he shouted out a string of curses in every language he knew. All he wanted was to be left alone, but god or the universe just wouldn't allow it. His sudden awareness of Liz had overloaded the rest of his abilities, and so he had to think of another way to find the annoying royals. Then an idea popped into his head, and a plan soon after. After that he would find himself one more doing the bidding of anything Royals. He curse not for the first time that the imperative prevented him from killing himself.