Title: The Crucible

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Author's note: First of all, thank you to all who reviewed. I love getting them, (and Ellelthiel-your review was neither too long nor pointless). Instead of answering specific reviews, I am doing a sort of bulk answer. So, here goes:

I don't think this story is going to end up as a rebel story, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. It is mostly because I really don't like Max. I mean, his wife comes to town and shows them all who they were in the passed life. She answers his questions, helps him escape the white room, saves their lives dozens of times (remember New York, Max?), and what does he do? Reject her.
Now, I don't believe in the whole 'Tess killed Alex' deal. I mean, it totally ruined the show (noticed how it got canceled?) So, in that case, Max gets his wife pregnant and sends her off to his sworn enemy. Brilliant.
Now let us suppose that we actually do buy into the 'Tess killed Alex' thing. In which case, Max breaks Liz' heart, impregnates an evil murderer, sends her away with his unborn son, and then actually has the nerve to ask Liz to take him back.
And Liz does take him back. So I guess that was the point where I stopped liking Liz.
Also, to answer a few of the questions and comments that have arisen, I already have an idea of how Max is going to find out about how Alex really died. And yes, I am following the show to a certain extent for season three, although since I am currently not on Earth, that doesn't really matter at the moment. But a few things will happen that will tie in with the events of season three. And lastly, yes, we all like Larek. I ended up writing him into the story a lot more than I was originally going to, because I decided Tess needed at least one friend.

Sorry this chapter is going to be a little slow. It is mostly just a filler so that I can get to the real meat of the story, but it does explain a few things. I promise the next chapter will have more action in it.

crucible: an object made stronger as it is passed through fire

The Council Meeting

Day 2

It was a large room, shaped liked a circle. In the center of the room, three long tables were arranged into a U shape, with a smaller table sitting at the head of the U. The floor was carpeted with a lush green rug. The room was on the fifth floor of the palace, well above ground level. One side of the room was entirely windows that looked out over a large body of water. The other three walls were covered with portraits of past rulers, each wearing the somewhat gaudy golden crown.

At each of the three long tables, men and women clustered together, peering at maps and files of paper, discussing plans and counter plans in an undertone. As Larek and Tess entered the room, they all turned and stood to attention, nodding respectfully to Larek. But all eyes were fixed on Tess, and they stared at her with open wonder.

Tess shifted, uncomfortable, and followed Larek to the front of the room. Larek took a seat at the small head table and gestured for Tess to do the same. Once she was seated, the other occupants in the room seated themselves as well.

"Ava, let me introduce the others in this room," Larek said formally. He nodded to the man sitting directly to Tess' right. "This is Lord Audin. He is the diplomat to my world from the planet Byor. As I told you earlier, Byor had diplomatic relations with Antar under Zan's rule. He is sympathetic to your cause."

Audin nodded to Tess and rapped his fist sharply against his chest. Tess nodded her head respectfully, assuming that the fist-to-chest gesture was some form of salute. She studied Audin for a moment, taking in his dark skin and black eyes. Like Larek, he was taller than the average human, but he was stocky as well, with thick limbs and a tree-like torso. She thought fleetingly that this was not a man she would want to face in battle.

"Next to Audin is Lady Arya," Larek continued, pointing to a tall, willowy woman, with silver hair and silver eyes. Even her skin seemed silver. "She was the regional ruler from the province of Tel'ai, in Southern Antar. She is a member of the Resistance against Khivar, and was recently disposed from Tel'ai when Khivar found out about her true loyalties."

Tel'ai. Tess recognized the words instantly and murmured, "Dimaras Rock."

A murmured rippled through the others and Larek smiled softly. "Yes," he said. "It was in her region that you met Zan." There was a silence, then Larek continued, "And next we have General Khai. He was Rath's second in command, and one of the leading generals of the Royal Army under Zan."

Tess nodded to Khai. Strangely, the man did not nod back. He was staring at Tess with open hostility and contempt, his dark eyes seeming to mock her.

Larek hurried on. "Sria is one of my advisors, originally from the planet L'so in the Southern Beltway," he said, pointing to the woman who was sitting at the far back of the room. She was short and slightly stocky, with thick red hair and brilliant green eyes that regarded Tess with warmth.

"You may not remember me, my Lady," Sria said, her voice a rich contralto, "but you and I were quite good friends when we were younger. I was your Maid on Honor at your wedding."

Tess looked at the woman, startled, then turned to Larek for confirmation. He nodded shortly, and she felt a pang or loss for the life she no longer remembered. "I'm sorry I do not recognize you, Lady Sria," Tess said. "Perhaps my memories will return with time."

"Perhaps," Sria replied, nodding. "But I am not a Lady. Technically, I would be Advisor Sria, but as you are a Queen, you do not need to use titles. Just call me Sria."

Tess nodded, and Larek turned to the last two people in the room. They were a man and woman, both tall and thin like Larek. The man had dark skin and dark, friendly eyes. The woman was stunningly beautiful with pale skin, long blonde hair, and gentle blue eyes. "And these are Lotho and Kani. Lotho is my General and leader of my Royal Army. Kani is his very beautiful, very lovely wife. Unfortunately her taste in men leaves something to be desired." A ripple of laughter ran through the room, and Tess turned confused eyes to Larek. "We almost married, Kani and I," he whispered in an undertone.

"Now," Larek said, turning to the others in the room, "let's begin, shall we?"

Kani was the first to speak. "Obviously, our first concern is to provide for the safety of the Queen and the Heir. We, unfortunately, cannot keep Queen Ava's presence hidden from Khivar indefinitely."

"Ideally, Queen Ava would come to Antar and join the Resistance," Arya replied. Her voice was wispy, and seemed to float in the air. Lotho nodded in agreement, and Kani inclined her head to Arya, acknowledging the sense in her words. Khai, however, pursed his lips, and shook his head.

"What good would that do?" he demanded. "She does not remember her life before, does she? Taking Ava to the Resistance would only mean that they would end up having to baby-sit her."

"Queen Ava," Sria hissed.

Khai rolled his eyes. "She is not the Queen," he spat back. "She is just a hybrid, one-half Ava. She remembers nothing."

Audin cut in before an argument could start. "Issues of respect aside, General Khai does have a point. What good could she do?" he asked gently, casting an apologetic glance at Tess. "She does not know how to fight or how to lead. At least here, she is safe."

"For how long?" Sria spoke up. "You know as well as I that Lord Larek cannot keep her here forever. What if Khivar were to find out? Lord Larek has declared, to the Council of the Worlds, that he is impartial in this matter, and harboring the Queen would be akin to proclaiming support for Zan."

"Then we have to make sure that Khivar does not hear of her presence," Lotho replied in a heavy baritone.

"Easier said than done," Larek interjected. "News will spread."

"How do we know he doesn't know already?" Tess asked. All eyes turned to her, and she glanced to Larek. "They know about what happened with Alex?" At Larek's nod of confirmation, she turned back to the others and pointed out, "If Khivar framed me, he must know that I left Earth. If I am not on Antar, wouldn't he automatically assume that I am here? Larek is the only one I remember."

This drew a murmur of agreement from the others and a few concerned looks were exchanged. "If Khivar knows, it is only a matter of time before he confronts you, Lord Larek," Lotho said solemnly.

"Perhaps it would be best if we took Queen Ava somewhere else?" Audin suggested. "I'm sure Byor would take her. Or L'so?" he finished, turning to Sria.

"Of course L'so would take her," Sria nodded.

"And then it would only be a matter of time before Khivar attacked one of those worlds. Sending Ava…Queen Ava… to any place that is sympathetic to the Royals would not make a difference in her safety. Khivar would think to look there," Khai objected with a sneer.

"I don't think he framed you," Arya said softly.

Tess turned to Arya in confusion. "What?" she demanded.

Arya frowned and said, "I understand from Lord Larek that a human boy saw you kill this…Alex?" Tess nodded, and Arya continued, "Well, what if it was not a mind-warp? What if he actually saw it?"

"I didn't kill Alex," Tess snapped defensively.

"I never said you did," Arya replied, unperturbed by Tess' anger. "What I am saying is that the human boy saw you…or someone who looked like you… kill Alex."

"A shape-shifter?" Larek asked, intrigued. "Why do you think that, Arya?"

Arya leaned back in her seat and surveyed the others through half-closed eyes. "I know Khivar better than anyone else in this room. And I know that, if he knew Queen Ava was here, he would have already come after her. She is carrying an Heir, the greatest threat to Khivar's rule since the first Zan. He would not hesitate, for fear that she and her son would escape his grasp. Since he has not come for her, I can only conclude that he is unaware of her presence. And that means that he did not know she left Earth, and therefore did not frame her."

"It makes sense," Kani conceded. "But why would he send a shape-shifter to impersonate Queen Ava? What would he stand to gain by that?"

But Tess knew the answer. "The Granolith."

"What?" All eyes turned to her.

"Alex was killed because he was being mind-warped into translating the Destiny Book. Among other things, the Book had the location and operating instructions for the Granolith," Tess explained. She paused, then turned to Larek. "Although I am still not entirely sure what the Granolith is…"

"Strictly speaking, it is energy. Pure, unadulterated, powerful, energy," Lotho answered. His eyes gleamed as he spoke about it, as though he was speaking about a god. "Imagine all the powers of the Royal Four combined. Then imagine that amount multiplied by several thousands. That is the amount of power the Granolith holds."

"It was used to power the core of the ship that you returned in, but it can be used for many other things as well," Kani continued. "Time travel, space travel, manipulating DNA or molecular structure, powering electricity and technology, healing…"

"It is the power of the House of Yonor, which is the ruling house that King Zan belonged to," Sria added. "Legend has it that, every time a royal dies, their life force is added to the power of the Granolith."

"It is like the Royal seal," Larek finished.

Tess absorbed all of this in shocked silence. "Where is it now?" she asked.

"I have it," Larek replied. "I had Lotho bring me the core of this ship that you crashed in."

Again, Tess was silent, thinking over what she had learned. Her head was swimming with the incredible amount of information. Finally, she frowned slightly and asked, "But why would Khivar chose me to impersonate? Why not Max, Isabel, or Michael?"

Larek glanced at the others in the room and said quietly, "She is referring to the human hybrids of Zan, Vilandra, and Rath."

Tess noted the flash of fury that appeared momentarily in both Arya's and Khai's eyes at the mention of Vilandra. Even after all this time, some betrayals are not easy to forgive.

Some traitors don't deserve a second chance.

"Actually, that makes sense," Larek continued, turning to Tess. "Some shape-shifters have no powers on there own. Conversely, when they shift form, they take on the abilities of the person they have become. However, in order to shift, they must first have access to a sample of the original person's DNA." He looked down at his hands for a moment, then said, "These shape-shifters are some of Khivar's most elite assassins."

Tess raised an eyebrow. "So all they would have to do would be to break into my room, take a strand of hair from my hairbrush, use the DNA from that to shape-shift into me, and then they could mind-warp?"

"Yes," Sria said gravely.

"But the shape-shifter would have figured out what had happened, that I had left. And she would have told Khivar, and Khivar would have come for me," Tess objected.

"Not quite," Larek replied. "Yes, at some point, she would know what happened. But she has no way of telling Khivar. Because it was powered by the Granolith, your ship was one of the most powerful machines in the Universe. It brought you here in a single day. Whatever ship she has access to, it would take her at least two weeks."

"Can't she possess someone on Antar and talk to Khivar the way you possessed Brody?" Tess asked Larek.

"Not exactly," Larek explained. "You can only posses someone who uses a smaller percentage of their brain then you do. Possession takes place in the portion of the brain that we use, but that they do not. It is why we can posses humans, but they cannot possess us. Likewise, all members of the Outer Worlds-those planets that are in the same galaxy as Antar-use the same percentage of their brain, and therefore cannot possess each other. The shape-shifter would be out of touch with Khivar until she returned to Antar."

"When is the Heir due?" Audin spoke up quietly, his eyes fixed on Tess' slightly rounded stomach.

Tess placed a hand on her abdomen and felt her son kick. "Three or four days," she replied softly, a gentle smile creeping onto her face.

"So, theoretically, the Heir will be born before Khivar even knows of his existence? If we assume that Khivar does not know what is happening on Earth, then that means he does not know that Queen Ava is pregnant," Sria pointed out. "That will work in our favor."

"I still see a flaw in Arya's reasoning," Tess objected. "How do we know that Khivar has not possessed someone on Earth to keep tabs on the shape-shifter?"

"We don't," Arya replied. "All I can say is that I don't believe he would feel that he has a reason to. If he sent one of his elite assassins, he must assume that she will be successful. Once she completes her task, she will inform him. Until then, he has no reason to keep an eye on her."

"Besides," Kani added, "the Resistance has been very active lately. Khivar has other things on his mind."

"So, let me get this straight," Tess said quietly, rubbing her eyes. "A shape-shifter impersonates me and kills Alex. Kyle sees this, but the shape-shifter mind-warps him. He breaks out of the mind-warp and tells the others right before we get into the Granolith. I leave on my own. The shape-shifter will eventually find out, and contact Khivar, but, because she does not have the Granolith, it will take her about two weeks to reach Antar and report the news."

"Which means we have, at best, a two week window of opportunity in which to do something before Khivar realizes what has happened," Sria added.

A silence fell over the room, then Arya said, "I still think she should come to Antar and lead the Resistance. She will give them a hope they have not had in a long time."

"She will be a burden," Khai repeated his objection. "She does not have the knowledge of her past of life, of what it meant to be Queen."

"But she is still Ava," Arya countered. "Even without all the knowledge, she has what it takes to be the Queen she once was. She just has to relearn it."

"It took her years, decades, to become the Queen she was," Khai scoffed. "She cannot relearn it in two weeks."

"I can try," Tess cut in. Khai turned to look at her, and she held his gaze, her blue eyes filled with determination. "Arya is right, I am still Ava. Teach me how to be a Queen."

Next Chapter: General Khai

Due: Friday 11/18

Please let me know if you have any questions about this chapter, I wasn't sure if everything in it is clear .