Title: Hedging Her Bets
Author: blackknight5
beta by: Strawbehrry Shortcake
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Four Aliens and Baby & Roswell Books "A New Beginning" and "Nightscape".
*Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and review this story. Please continue to Read and Review.*
Part 8
Agent Gapharpt sat back and smiled as his men cuffed the subjects. In less than ten minutes he had captured the bait for the 'Special Units' trap. He did hope the taser used on Jim Valenti didn't have any long-term effects. A vegetable would be of no use to them. The Evans looked so defiant, Amy Deluca seemed enraged, and Jeff Parker seemed to be trying to calm his wife. Nancy Parker seemed about ready to lose it. I shall have to make sure the men restrain her the tightest. Desperation and denial are powerful motivators.
"Sir, how long are we going to be waiting here?"
Gapharpt wasn't sure who asked the question, and he really could careless. "Transport is still thirty minutes away. So I suggest we all relax, and enjoy ourselves," Gapharpt turned to look his subjects in the eye, "I have a feeling this will be the last time you will be seeing this place."
The other Agents laughed. Gapharpt watched as everyone but Amy Deluca shrunk from the sound. Amy Deluca's eyes flared. Such fire, such passion, no wonder Valenti enjoys her company. I bet she is a firecracker in the sack. It is unfortunate that she has no other purpose than bait. Her dissection will not really advance the cause of science. A single bullet to the back of the brain should be extremely merciful.
"What are you looking at you creep?" Amy snarled. I guess I was staring too long, Gapharpt decided.
"Simply trying to figure out what would be more merciful for you Ms. Deluca. You are just an ordinary human, and so is your daughter. Neither of you will provide us with any scientific data that is unless Guerin has managed to knock your daughter up," his last remark brought forth another laugh from the men.
"You're disgusting," Amy answered as she spat at him.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Ms. De Luca. I am the one that will decide whether you and your daughter will have to suffer before your deaths or if we end it quickly," He knew the arrogance in his voice made him sound like a Bond villain, but this was an important success for the 'Special Unit'.
"Go to hell."
Before Gapharpt could comment again Nancy Parker finally lost it. "You can't do this! We are American citizens, we have rights!" Nancy Parker screamed.
"Mrs. Parker those rights only apply if you were going to trial. Believe me that is one thing I can guaranty will never happen. Oh by the way, if you don't stop screaming I will put a bullet through your knee cap," he said as he leveled his pistol at Nancy Parker's right knee.
From behind him Gapharpt heard a series of coughs and sighs. "If you...touch her...I'll...I'll kill you."
"Ahh, and the gallant Jim Valenti rejoins us. You know of all the subjects here, you are the one I most admire. You threw so many roadblocks in our path that we couldn't make a move on...well they aren't kids. You have made a great deal of enemies Sheriff Valenti. Your death will take awhile," Gapharpt said as he kneeled over Jim Valenti. Valenti didn't say anything else, but his eyes said enough. Valenti was down, but he would not go quietly. He would have the lab techs record this man's screams. That will be beautiful. Just then the door to the Crashdown flew open.
Gapharpt turned and found himself looking directly at Michael Guerin and Isabelle Evans.
Los Angeles – Langley's House
The annoying one, or Maria De Luca as the other preferred to call her, had practically pulled him up the stairs of his house. She had told him Liz needed to see him, and Langley had to restrain himself from breaking into a dead run. His devotion to his new Queen was growing more and more, and it was becoming hard not to let that fact slip past his usual indifference. As much as he fought it, Cal Langley knew that at this moment, if Liz asked him to do anything, he would obey her without question.
Liz was staring out one of his windows that looked out over the great expanse of urban sprawl known as Los Angeles. "Maria said you needed to see me?" Langley asked as he noticed the look of determination on Liz's face.
"How long till Garen gets here?" Liz asked.
"About four more hours, why?" Langley asked. Liz turned from the window to face him.
"I had a premonition. It was intense. I saw all of Roswell being burned to the ground. There were other things, things I just sensed at the edge of my awareness. I need those answers," Liz continued.
"I wish I could give them to you, but..." Langley didn't get any farther because Liz interrupted.
"No, you misunderstand me. Do you know if there is a way I can trigger a premonition, or maybe relive one?"
Maria had been silent long enough, and judging by her the conversation clearly was not going the way she had expected. "Liz, that isn't what you told me you were going to do!" Maria screamed as she stepped in front of Langley trying to get Liz's attention.
Liz ignored her and kept her focus on Langley. "Not now Maria. Cal, the lives of people I care about, and possible the lives of billions on Earth and Antar depend on us being ready to face Khivar," Liz said. Langley couldn't help but admire her. What the hell did Max ever do to deserve such a woman? She is willing to face any danger to help others, if she so desired she could demand fanatic loyalty.
"Your majesty there is a difference to being prepared, and trying to control the future."
Langley's cautiousness clearly upset his queen, and he watched as the usually passive Liz projected an intense presence that made even him cringe. "I know the future Langley. I do not seek to control it, but make sure that I change it enough that the outcome is better then what I saw," Liz said with force, and to many it would have seemed to be anger. But Langley had been around humans for longer than Liz had lived, and he knew fear when he saw it.
"Liz this is crazy!" Maria called out, but Liz was ignoring her for the moment.
"You majesty..."
"Don't lie to me, Cal. I need you to help me. I am asking for your help," when she asked like that even without the biological imperative Langley would not have been able to resist.
"There is a way," Langley said.
Liz didn't even hesitate on her answer, "Show me."
Roswell – Crashdown
Jim Valenti had seen the kind of ruthlessness this Agent Gapharpt had before. Once from a human, and once from an alien, the irony was that the alien had eventually disguised himself as the human. This guy will torture us and then dissect us just because he wants to see what our livers look like. Out numbered, out gunned, and Nancy Parker had finally lost it. Nothing he could think of would get them free, and most of it just left them dead.
Gapharpt's chilling words, 'Ahh, and the gallant Jim Valenti rejoins us. You know of all the subjects here, you are the one I most admire. You threw so many roadblocks in our path that we couldn't make a move on...well they aren't kids. You have made a great deal of enemies Sheriff Valenti. Your death will take awhile.' Had frightened him, but he had long ago learned to control that fear. Just then the door to the Crashdown opened.
Michael? Isabelle? Jim knew once he got a good look at them that it wasn't Michael and Isabelle. Rath and Lonnie. He's feelings about the situation had suddenly gotten far far worse. The others don't know, and there wasn't anyway he could warn them. Jim could feel his heart break at the looks of hope on the others faces. Jim closed his eyes for a brief second as he offered a single prayer that some higher deity would give him the chance to stop this before people died.
"Well, that was quicker then I expected. Michael Guerin, Isabelle Evans I suggest you surrender now or we kill your 'parents'," Gapharpt said. Jim couldn't help but think Gapharpt you fool.
Rath and Lonnie both smiled and acted compliant. Jim knew at that moment people would die; he just had to make sure it wasn't anyone he cared about. As the agents moved in towards the two, Rath spoke, "Oh, just one little thing."
"What?"
"I'm not Michael Guerin," Rath's hands flew up and energy blast knocked three Agents down. One of them wasn't moving. Lonnie took out two more agents blasting them back so hard into the wall that their necks snapped. Even as Gapharpt opened fire, the sound of the necks being snapped could still be heard. Rath didn't let Gapharpt get off more then two rounds before sending Gapharpt's gun went flying.
"Ya know if you are all that stands between us and the da rest of humanity. Your race is so screwed," Rath said, as he looked Gapharpt in the eyes. Gapharpt didn't flinch, he eyes were not angry. In fact he just smiled.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you. If you would mind a last request, I request a quick death."
Rath and Lonnie looked at each other. "I'm sorry. We don't take requests!" Lonnie said as she blasted Gapharpt and he flew backward.
"Isabelle how could you?" Diane Evans asked in shock.
"She's not Isabelle, Diane," Jim said as he used his elbows to push himself to his knees.
"Ahh, Sheriff Valenti how good it is to see you again." Rath said mockingly. Amy as much confused as anyone else moved to Jim's side. "I some how doubt that. So are you here to kill us, or take us to your Master," Jim asked.
"Neither," Lonnie answered.
"Neither?"
Rath and Lonnie both laughed. In a way it sounded like the evil laugh of some comic book super villain, but there was an underlying malevolence to it that gave it the harsh bite of reality. "Yeah, you see Valenti, why should we take you anywhere when Khivar is on his way here?"
Los Angeles – Langley's house
Liz watched as Maria stormed off. She's going to get Max. "Langley how quickly can you do this?" Liz asked.
"It would take, but a moment for the process to begin. I have to warn you though. If you do this I cannot wake you. You are the only one who can control when this ends," Langley said. The tone of his voice clearly showing he didn't like this plan one bit.
"Do it," Liz said. Closing her eyes, Liz offered a silent prayer that someone was watching out for her because right now she needed all the help she could get.
She felt the energy pass through her, and suddenly she was having a flash. *Isabelle crying. Liz took a step closer, but after two steps stopped. The closer she got to Isabelle, the more she could feel Isabelle's pain. Isabelle's heart was broken, shattered, like a beautiful piece of glass. You could try and fix it, but it would never be the same. Why are you crying Isabelle? What has happened? Then she saw it. Isabelle's arms in a death grip around a picture frame. Liz risked the pain and walked closer till she could see the face on the picture. JESSE! ** The pain disappeared, and suddenly she was standing in the middle of a burning Roswell. The Crashdown almost totally consumed by flames. The heat of the fire was causing her to sweat, but she couldn't see anything else. ** Then she heard the mumbling voice of Alex. Concentrating she managed to clear up a few words. 'She has to...', 'Liz now!', 'Jesse...'. *
Liz waited for the usual snap as reality clicked back into place, but none came. Instead she found herself back on the balcony outside her room in Roswell with the black figure standing directly in front of her, and on its left and right was standing Alex and Tess. Alex's reassuring smile contrasting with Tess's more unnerving one. "Hello Liz," Alex said.
"What is going on?" Liz asked.
Tess answered this time, "Liz Parker. You are just going to get what's coming to you."
Los Angeles – Langley's House
Max didn't hesitate and his fist drove straight into Langley's face. "How could you do this to her!" He screamed.
"It was her choice. I didn't force her into anything, not that I could."
"Yeah right. You manipulated her," Maria shouted.
"I told her only what I know. Nothing more."
"Understand this Langley. If Liz dies, so do you." Max said as he picked up Liz. Max knew that they only had a few minutes before they had to leave to pick up Garen. As Max looked at Liz's unconscious form he couldn't help but feel that he had once again brought Liz pain. Wrapping his arms around her, Max softly kissed her forehead, and then cried in her shoulder.
Author: blackknight5
beta by: Strawbehrry Shortcake
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Four Aliens and Baby & Roswell Books "A New Beginning" and "Nightscape".
*Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and review this story. Please continue to Read and Review.*
Part 8
Agent Gapharpt sat back and smiled as his men cuffed the subjects. In less than ten minutes he had captured the bait for the 'Special Units' trap. He did hope the taser used on Jim Valenti didn't have any long-term effects. A vegetable would be of no use to them. The Evans looked so defiant, Amy Deluca seemed enraged, and Jeff Parker seemed to be trying to calm his wife. Nancy Parker seemed about ready to lose it. I shall have to make sure the men restrain her the tightest. Desperation and denial are powerful motivators.
"Sir, how long are we going to be waiting here?"
Gapharpt wasn't sure who asked the question, and he really could careless. "Transport is still thirty minutes away. So I suggest we all relax, and enjoy ourselves," Gapharpt turned to look his subjects in the eye, "I have a feeling this will be the last time you will be seeing this place."
The other Agents laughed. Gapharpt watched as everyone but Amy Deluca shrunk from the sound. Amy Deluca's eyes flared. Such fire, such passion, no wonder Valenti enjoys her company. I bet she is a firecracker in the sack. It is unfortunate that she has no other purpose than bait. Her dissection will not really advance the cause of science. A single bullet to the back of the brain should be extremely merciful.
"What are you looking at you creep?" Amy snarled. I guess I was staring too long, Gapharpt decided.
"Simply trying to figure out what would be more merciful for you Ms. Deluca. You are just an ordinary human, and so is your daughter. Neither of you will provide us with any scientific data that is unless Guerin has managed to knock your daughter up," his last remark brought forth another laugh from the men.
"You're disgusting," Amy answered as she spat at him.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Ms. De Luca. I am the one that will decide whether you and your daughter will have to suffer before your deaths or if we end it quickly," He knew the arrogance in his voice made him sound like a Bond villain, but this was an important success for the 'Special Unit'.
"Go to hell."
Before Gapharpt could comment again Nancy Parker finally lost it. "You can't do this! We are American citizens, we have rights!" Nancy Parker screamed.
"Mrs. Parker those rights only apply if you were going to trial. Believe me that is one thing I can guaranty will never happen. Oh by the way, if you don't stop screaming I will put a bullet through your knee cap," he said as he leveled his pistol at Nancy Parker's right knee.
From behind him Gapharpt heard a series of coughs and sighs. "If you...touch her...I'll...I'll kill you."
"Ahh, and the gallant Jim Valenti rejoins us. You know of all the subjects here, you are the one I most admire. You threw so many roadblocks in our path that we couldn't make a move on...well they aren't kids. You have made a great deal of enemies Sheriff Valenti. Your death will take awhile," Gapharpt said as he kneeled over Jim Valenti. Valenti didn't say anything else, but his eyes said enough. Valenti was down, but he would not go quietly. He would have the lab techs record this man's screams. That will be beautiful. Just then the door to the Crashdown flew open.
Gapharpt turned and found himself looking directly at Michael Guerin and Isabelle Evans.
Los Angeles – Langley's House
The annoying one, or Maria De Luca as the other preferred to call her, had practically pulled him up the stairs of his house. She had told him Liz needed to see him, and Langley had to restrain himself from breaking into a dead run. His devotion to his new Queen was growing more and more, and it was becoming hard not to let that fact slip past his usual indifference. As much as he fought it, Cal Langley knew that at this moment, if Liz asked him to do anything, he would obey her without question.
Liz was staring out one of his windows that looked out over the great expanse of urban sprawl known as Los Angeles. "Maria said you needed to see me?" Langley asked as he noticed the look of determination on Liz's face.
"How long till Garen gets here?" Liz asked.
"About four more hours, why?" Langley asked. Liz turned from the window to face him.
"I had a premonition. It was intense. I saw all of Roswell being burned to the ground. There were other things, things I just sensed at the edge of my awareness. I need those answers," Liz continued.
"I wish I could give them to you, but..." Langley didn't get any farther because Liz interrupted.
"No, you misunderstand me. Do you know if there is a way I can trigger a premonition, or maybe relive one?"
Maria had been silent long enough, and judging by her the conversation clearly was not going the way she had expected. "Liz, that isn't what you told me you were going to do!" Maria screamed as she stepped in front of Langley trying to get Liz's attention.
Liz ignored her and kept her focus on Langley. "Not now Maria. Cal, the lives of people I care about, and possible the lives of billions on Earth and Antar depend on us being ready to face Khivar," Liz said. Langley couldn't help but admire her. What the hell did Max ever do to deserve such a woman? She is willing to face any danger to help others, if she so desired she could demand fanatic loyalty.
"Your majesty there is a difference to being prepared, and trying to control the future."
Langley's cautiousness clearly upset his queen, and he watched as the usually passive Liz projected an intense presence that made even him cringe. "I know the future Langley. I do not seek to control it, but make sure that I change it enough that the outcome is better then what I saw," Liz said with force, and to many it would have seemed to be anger. But Langley had been around humans for longer than Liz had lived, and he knew fear when he saw it.
"Liz this is crazy!" Maria called out, but Liz was ignoring her for the moment.
"You majesty..."
"Don't lie to me, Cal. I need you to help me. I am asking for your help," when she asked like that even without the biological imperative Langley would not have been able to resist.
"There is a way," Langley said.
Liz didn't even hesitate on her answer, "Show me."
Roswell – Crashdown
Jim Valenti had seen the kind of ruthlessness this Agent Gapharpt had before. Once from a human, and once from an alien, the irony was that the alien had eventually disguised himself as the human. This guy will torture us and then dissect us just because he wants to see what our livers look like. Out numbered, out gunned, and Nancy Parker had finally lost it. Nothing he could think of would get them free, and most of it just left them dead.
Gapharpt's chilling words, 'Ahh, and the gallant Jim Valenti rejoins us. You know of all the subjects here, you are the one I most admire. You threw so many roadblocks in our path that we couldn't make a move on...well they aren't kids. You have made a great deal of enemies Sheriff Valenti. Your death will take awhile.' Had frightened him, but he had long ago learned to control that fear. Just then the door to the Crashdown opened.
Michael? Isabelle? Jim knew once he got a good look at them that it wasn't Michael and Isabelle. Rath and Lonnie. He's feelings about the situation had suddenly gotten far far worse. The others don't know, and there wasn't anyway he could warn them. Jim could feel his heart break at the looks of hope on the others faces. Jim closed his eyes for a brief second as he offered a single prayer that some higher deity would give him the chance to stop this before people died.
"Well, that was quicker then I expected. Michael Guerin, Isabelle Evans I suggest you surrender now or we kill your 'parents'," Gapharpt said. Jim couldn't help but think Gapharpt you fool.
Rath and Lonnie both smiled and acted compliant. Jim knew at that moment people would die; he just had to make sure it wasn't anyone he cared about. As the agents moved in towards the two, Rath spoke, "Oh, just one little thing."
"What?"
"I'm not Michael Guerin," Rath's hands flew up and energy blast knocked three Agents down. One of them wasn't moving. Lonnie took out two more agents blasting them back so hard into the wall that their necks snapped. Even as Gapharpt opened fire, the sound of the necks being snapped could still be heard. Rath didn't let Gapharpt get off more then two rounds before sending Gapharpt's gun went flying.
"Ya know if you are all that stands between us and the da rest of humanity. Your race is so screwed," Rath said, as he looked Gapharpt in the eyes. Gapharpt didn't flinch, he eyes were not angry. In fact he just smiled.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you. If you would mind a last request, I request a quick death."
Rath and Lonnie looked at each other. "I'm sorry. We don't take requests!" Lonnie said as she blasted Gapharpt and he flew backward.
"Isabelle how could you?" Diane Evans asked in shock.
"She's not Isabelle, Diane," Jim said as he used his elbows to push himself to his knees.
"Ahh, Sheriff Valenti how good it is to see you again." Rath said mockingly. Amy as much confused as anyone else moved to Jim's side. "I some how doubt that. So are you here to kill us, or take us to your Master," Jim asked.
"Neither," Lonnie answered.
"Neither?"
Rath and Lonnie both laughed. In a way it sounded like the evil laugh of some comic book super villain, but there was an underlying malevolence to it that gave it the harsh bite of reality. "Yeah, you see Valenti, why should we take you anywhere when Khivar is on his way here?"
Los Angeles – Langley's house
Liz watched as Maria stormed off. She's going to get Max. "Langley how quickly can you do this?" Liz asked.
"It would take, but a moment for the process to begin. I have to warn you though. If you do this I cannot wake you. You are the only one who can control when this ends," Langley said. The tone of his voice clearly showing he didn't like this plan one bit.
"Do it," Liz said. Closing her eyes, Liz offered a silent prayer that someone was watching out for her because right now she needed all the help she could get.
She felt the energy pass through her, and suddenly she was having a flash. *Isabelle crying. Liz took a step closer, but after two steps stopped. The closer she got to Isabelle, the more she could feel Isabelle's pain. Isabelle's heart was broken, shattered, like a beautiful piece of glass. You could try and fix it, but it would never be the same. Why are you crying Isabelle? What has happened? Then she saw it. Isabelle's arms in a death grip around a picture frame. Liz risked the pain and walked closer till she could see the face on the picture. JESSE! ** The pain disappeared, and suddenly she was standing in the middle of a burning Roswell. The Crashdown almost totally consumed by flames. The heat of the fire was causing her to sweat, but she couldn't see anything else. ** Then she heard the mumbling voice of Alex. Concentrating she managed to clear up a few words. 'She has to...', 'Liz now!', 'Jesse...'. *
Liz waited for the usual snap as reality clicked back into place, but none came. Instead she found herself back on the balcony outside her room in Roswell with the black figure standing directly in front of her, and on its left and right was standing Alex and Tess. Alex's reassuring smile contrasting with Tess's more unnerving one. "Hello Liz," Alex said.
"What is going on?" Liz asked.
Tess answered this time, "Liz Parker. You are just going to get what's coming to you."
Los Angeles – Langley's House
Max didn't hesitate and his fist drove straight into Langley's face. "How could you do this to her!" He screamed.
"It was her choice. I didn't force her into anything, not that I could."
"Yeah right. You manipulated her," Maria shouted.
"I told her only what I know. Nothing more."
"Understand this Langley. If Liz dies, so do you." Max said as he picked up Liz. Max knew that they only had a few minutes before they had to leave to pick up Garen. As Max looked at Liz's unconscious form he couldn't help but feel that he had once again brought Liz pain. Wrapping his arms around her, Max softly kissed her forehead, and then cried in her shoulder.