"Princess?" A Guard stopped her before she could leave the chamber. "What would you like us to do with the body?" He asked.
Vilondra looked carelessly at the corpse and waved it away. "I don't care; just make sure there's nothing left."
"Yes, your royal highness." He nodded, leaving to do as she asked.
Back to the present lifetime
Liz sat up suddenly – panting. Nightmares had woken her, but were they just dreams? She couldn't tell, they seemed more like memories, but how could that be?
They'd had a long, tiring night; another night on the run, another close call. To top it all off they were all angry or upset with each other. Their bonds were beginning to break. Things were falling apart. Max knew if they didn't get off this planet soon things would not end well – for any of them.
"Can't sleep?" Liz asked, coming out to greet him on the bench outside their room.
Max shook his head. "Not so much." He offered her his coat, but she didn't need it.
"Max…" Her voice trembled. She was obviously nervous about something.
He looked into her face and expressed the need to hear her. "What's the matter?"
"I'm starting to remember… something. I think they're dreams, but they seem so familiar." Her eyes met the ground and she twiddled with her shirt.
He focused in on her. "What do you remember?"
She stood up, and stared at the sky for a brief moment. Then turned to Max with a hesitant look on her face. She didn't want to say what she was about to. She didn't want to open this can or worms, and she almost didn't want to know the answer.
"Did Isabel, when she was Vilondra – did she kill anyone?" Liz seemed unnerved.
Max was shocked at her question and didn't know how to answer. "We think that she had something to do with Tess and Me… um, Ava and Zan loosing the throne."
Liz nodded in agreement. "I think she did too. I think she wanted the throne for herself. And…" She began to pull away, trailing off.
"And what?" Max was now completely engrossed in what she was saying – he just had to know.
Liz wrapped her arms around herself and sat on the ground, confused. "I think she killed me… Max… I think I knew you. I think I used to be like you… from Antar."
"That's not possible, you were born human." Max protested.
She nodded, understanding his inability to believe. "I know, I know – its nuts. But in my dreams, you and Tess had me executed for treason, and sent me to Earth… to live as a human."
Max was stunned. "Why would I do that?"
"I don't know, but it feels real Max, really, real." She ardently insisted.
He didn't like seeing his wife shaken like this. He helped her to stand again and kissed her gently, but as their lips met flashes of Tess ran through his head, images of her smiling, laughing, thoughts of them together in this life, and their past filled him. Liz pulled away, hurt. She'd never had to endure seeing Max's affection for another woman through his eyes. Once it had occurred however there was nothing to be done to take it back. Liz stumbled back, and began to tear up.
"You love her?" She could feel the hot lump rising in her throat.
Max tried to sooth her. "It's not what you think…" Honestly, he didn't know what it was. Could it be love?
"Don't deny it – I saw her. She's still in you. Why can't you just let her go?" She asked.
He couldn't answer a question he had no answer to. "I…" Words failed him.
"I can't take this. Not again, I just can't take it. Tess is dead, ok Max? She's dead!" Liz insisted.
Max fell onto the bench and let his head fall into his hands. "You don't know what its like." He began to cry.
Liz fell silent at his words. She just listened as, for the first time; Max bore his soul – his real soul, to her.
"It's like I'm torn in half. One part of me wants to stay here and be with you – forever. This other part of me, it mourns the past and it just can't let go. I thought when Tess died that I'd finally be able to move on. But instead when she died it was like part of me went with her. No matter how hard I try to get that part back, she's holding it, and I can't get past it." At this point, he looked up from his lap into her eyes. "Liz, she was my wife – more than that, she was my love, the one that I…" Max hesitated to tell her this. "I remember her, and what we had. I… I died to protect her, and everyday we're separated is like a day I'm trapped, away from air – I can't breath."
She didn't know what to say. It was like her heart had been torn from her chest and thrown against the wall. There she stood, feeling like a fool. She was in love with a man who was still hung up on his ex-wife. She'd given him her heart and he'd taken it – but not kept it. If she wasn't Liz Evans, who was she? Without Max, who was Liz? Were those dreams true? Was it the truth that Max perhaps had never loved her like he loved Tess? Had he been mistaken? Had she been mistaken?
"I can't believe its happening again!" Liz threw her arms in the air with despair. "You and I had an affair, and Isabel came to me, just before I died, and told me that you fancied me, but didn't really love me. That you loved your wife…" She began to sob. "Is it true, Max? Was I just an affair?"
He made a cowardly attempt at a shrug. "I don't know anymore…"
As Max and Liz dealt with their emotional epiphanies; in the room beside theirs, Michael and Isabel discussed their problems. Isabel was lying on the bed, rubbing her stomach. In almost 24 hours, she'd gained a couple of pounds – at this rate she'd be giving birth in about three months.
"How are you feeling?" Michael asked.
Isabel answered, annoyed. "How do you think? I'm about to bloat up like a balloon!"
"Right, sorry…" He sat down beside her – touching her tummy. "I just want everything to be ok." He assured.
She nodded, appreciating his sentiment. "I know, I didn't mean to snap at you."
Michael smiled lightly, and kissed her, then bent down and kissed her stomach. She giggled as it tickled her. He then proceeded to tickle her on purpose, causing her to playfully hit him as they began to wrestle on the bed.
After they had tired themselves out, Michael and Isabel began to drift off to sleep together. Michael remained awake though, and watched Isabel as she slept. He watched her stomach moved with each breath – imagining the life growing inside her. Memories of their past lives together began to swim back into his head – thoughts of the flashes and dreams he had with Isabel and their child. It just seemed so wonderful, and yet, it was also very frightening.
A child would bring joy – sure. How would they feed him or her, or educate them, or keep them safe? How could they do this for a child when they couldn't do these things for themselves? The thought of failing in this task brought shivers to his body, and he held Isabel closer, trying to quell his own fears.
As the night moved forward, Max couldn't sleep – even though Liz was now sound asleep. As crazy as it was, he wanted Liz to become Tess again – just for a moment, so that he might ask her what he was feeling, and why. And what Liz had to do with all of this. It was sick, wanting one wife to become the other. It was twisted, yet he couldn't shake the thought.
So, in an attempt to dampen his fears and nerves, he rolled over, and pressed his hand against Liz's forehead. Instantly he got many flashes, some of Liz, some of Tess, others of life on Earth, and yet some were of life on Antar. He saw himself through Liz's past life, and saw what they did to her. Even though these images were disturbing, what haunted him more was a memory that Liz held locked away – she had seen Zan and Ava kiss on a balcony, it had crushed her. When Max saw himself kissing Tess in their former lives, something inside him began to swell with longing. He missed that feeling, that completion she brought to him, like he was built to be with her… ironically he had been built to do just that. Maybe that's what this feeling was. It was his biological design, to long for Tess and for what his past life had. He would never know for sure, unless he could bring Tess back. With his hand still firmly pressed against Liz; Max concentrated on everything he knew about Tess, everything he saw in flashes, both his and Liz's, he thought about their son, and about her death, about seeing her in the pod, and of course watching her leave to Antar. He remembered everything, and slowly he saw Liz's brown hair become blonde, and curly. As her eyes fluttered open, it was blue, not brown that met his gaze. Her tanned skin turned into a soft milky white, and her lips turned a lusty natural red. It was Tess.
"Max?" Her voice was soft and wispy, just as he remembered. She sat up, rubbing her eyes; her expression was groggy.
He smiled softly and touched her soft curls that tumbled by the sides of her face. "Tess."
"How did I get here?" She asked, confused. "I was only able to maintain that transformation for a few minutes before."
He didn't know what that meant. "You mean you're alive?" He gulped. "You're not a ghost?"
She laughed, as if that was a stupid thought. "No, I'm not dead. I think I'm hearing things… you almost sounded happy to think I was alive."
She stood up, stretching her legs and arms, yawning. She then moved to put on a bathrobe and sit down beside a bewildered Max.
"Then where are you?" He took a moment. "And if this is really Liz's body, how are you here?"
Tess smiled, glad he asked. "Those are good questions." She sat down and took his hand. "I'm in a dark place, a room, I've been there since the base blew up – they captured me. They had me on these drugs, and they did a lot of tests, so finally when they didn't get what they wanted they just locked me up. The other night I gathered the last of my energy to send a message to you. Basically I take on whatever form you want me to..." She smiled fondly toward the mirror at the far end of the room. "I'm glad you chose this one."
Max blushed. "Liz… I need to know what you know about her… before."
She scrunched her nose up a bit at the thought. "Her name was Kesia. I didn't know about her until I was in her body, and I got these flashes. I think my presence triggered memories of her past. I had no idea about Liz, honest."
He nodded in agreement. "I saw flashes too… I saw us." He took her hand in his. "I'm remembering us more and more, and everyday it seems like I can't breathe… but right now, I feel ok."
"Max…" Tess was overwhelmed with emotion. "You really mean you remember us, I mean, what we had, the bond, the happiness?"
He nodded.
"Oh… God…" Tess began to break down in tears. "I just wish I could be with you, and our son."
Max agreed. "I want that too. He's better off without us, he's human."
"No Max, that's the thing…" She looked away, clearing her throat. "The men at the place I've been held in. I overheard them talking about other hybrids that they captured. They say our powers are dormant until something triggers them. Our alien powers don't normally manifest until later in childhood, because our human side is more dominant during infancy and early childhood. They've been doing tests on some hybrids, but I couldn't hear who." Tess insisted.
He was shocked. "You mean… oh no." He shook his head in disbelief. "We have to get Zan back; I don't want him to have to hide who he is from everyone he loves. I know how exhausting that is."
Tess looked down, ashamed. "I wish I could go with you." She leaned over and kissed Max's cheek. "But I have to go."
"No, wait…" Max protested.
Tess began to cry, not wanting to go. "Once Liz wakes up, I'll be gone."
"I'll go back for you… I promise." He called out, as she fell onto the bed, sleeping – slowly turning back into Liz.
Their Past lives
It was the day of Vilondra and Rath's wedding. This was supposed to be a great day; a day that generation after generation would speak of in awe.
Vilondra – dressed in royal wedding robes – walked with a long stride down the main hall, into her bedroom chambers. She closed the large double doors, and shooed her servants away. As the last of the servants slipped out the door, a man entered. He was very tall, strong, and confident looking. However, he was not Rath.
"Hello, Princess." He smiled, taking her hands in his and pulling her into his arms.
Vilondra smiled. "After tonight, I will not be a Princess."
"After tonight, I will not be head of the royal guard." His smile turned to a softer expression – bending in to kiss her.
She pulled away after a moment. Becoming serious and quiet – making sure no one was listening.
"Kavar, this is no time to tempt fate. I have to marry Rath first. If the wedding doesn't happen, even if Zan and Ava die – I will not be Queen - I will remain a princess… forever." Her voice was filled with a desperate hatred. "I won't let that happen."
Kavar cupped her face with his hands. "Shush Lonnie, it's alright. Once you are wed, I will have Rath assassinated; with him out of the way you'll be free to appoint a new King; one who won't follow in your brother's idealistic ways."
Vilondra smirked. "It has to look like they are attempting to assassinate me as well. If I am linked to Rath's murder, the council and court will over-rule any appointments I make to the throne – including you." She pressed herself against him. "I have faith in you."
He smiled lightly, running his hands along her sides. As his hand grazed over her stomach, a flash ran through his mind. He saw that she was carrying a child, and it was not his. He broke away from their embrace.
"What's wrong?" She asked, confused.
Covering, he faked a weak smile. "Nothing, I just don't want us to get caught – when we're so close to getting away with everything." He began to move toward the door. "I'll see you later tonight, at the wedding."
Back to their present lives
They had all been awoken with a start by Max. He told them to gather themselves and all their things into the van, and told them to hurry up and be prepared to move. With great haste they did as they were told.
Kyle was the first to make it to the van with everything he owned, one suitcase. Liz was next with her two bags; she slid in next to her husband. Finally, Isabel and Michael ran out of the motel carrying their bags and about forty candy bars that they had taken form various vending machines.
"What's with the candy?" Kyle asked, ready to laugh.
Michael shrugged. "Don't look at me… it was all her." He pointed to Isabel.
"Hey, I'm craving sweets – I can't help it." She blushed.
Max rolled his eyes, annoyed. "Let's just go."
"Um, Maxwell, where is it that we're going?" Michael asked finally.
Max hesitated. "New Mexico."
"You're going back for her. Aren't you?" Liz asked softly.
Max simply nodded as he pressed his foot on the gas and sped down the road.
Michael, Isabel and Kyle all stared at each other. They didn't want to think that they were going to a state where they were sure to be found, all for her. Isabel threw the candy bar she'd been eating and leaned in hopelessness against Michael.
"Wait, Max you're telling us that we're going to go back, for Tess? But she'd dead!" Kyle protested.
Max shook his head. "She's alive, and she's been tortured, and kept hostage. You all don't have to understand why, but I have to do this." He sped the van up.
Their Past Lives
Today would be a good day. Zan was in a great mood. He'd woken up to the soft touch of his wife beside him, was greeted by her smile and kiss. He could not imagine a better way to wake. To make everything even better, today was going to be the day his best friend; his second in command married his sister. Yes, today would be a good day.
Ava took a sip of her drink and set it down beside their bed. She scooted next to her husband and ran her hands over his chest, stopping over his heart. She took his hands, and brought them to her heart.
"What is it?" He asked his wife, confused by her silent gesture.
She shook her head. "I don't know." She seemed worried. "I feel something in the air, Zan. It's heavy and weighs down upon my soul. I fear something will go wrong today."
"I'm sure everything will be fine." He smiled, soothing her as they leaned in and warmly kissed each other.
As the morning pressed on, Ava and Zan discussed a project that could potentially ensure their rule beyond their own deaths. It was an idea presented to them by a loyal scientist. The royal four, Zan, Ava, Rath and Vilondra all had surrendered their DNA for the experiment. Although only the king and queen knew why, the others were not told of it. They feared that Rath and Vilondra would not consent to such an idea. So they had made plans without them, ensuring the Royal four would have a back-up plan.
"We'll probably never need this anyway." Zan sighed, signing the last of the papers.
Ava smiled. "We can only hope."
Back to their present lives
It was barely dawn of the second day of travel, when Max noted a sign saying they had reached the desert area about twenty miles outside Roswell. He slowed their van to a stop and got out. The others began to wake, realizing that they were no longer in movement.
"Why did we stop?" Isabel asked.
Max turned to his friends, who had joined him in the desert. "We have to make this very quiet. In and out, with as little notice as possible." He took a breath. "Anyone who doubts their abilities to do this must stay here."
After a moment, Isabel began to step back. She sat on the top of the van's engine hood and looked into her brother's face with discontent.
"I'm pregnant Max; I won't jeopardize my child for your crusade." She explained.
Michael nodded in agreement. "I'm staying with her." He sat next to Isabel.
"I won't help you save her." Liz said, hanging her head.
Finally Max turned to Kyle. "What about you?"
"It's weird, I get why she was scared about Alex, and even why she did what she did. None of it was on purpose, and now that I'm alien, I get it, I do. Plus, Buddha preaches forgiveness." Kyle patted Max on the shoulder. "I'm with you."
Max sighed. "Fine, it's just us. You all stay here; be careful. If anyone finds you… contain the problem at all costs."
His order shook them with its finality. He meant for them to kill anyone who would attack them. That was something he'd never told them to do before. Then again they had not split up like this since they'd gone on the run. Things had changed, and so their tactics had to become more brutal.
It had taken Kyle and himself almost a full twenty-four hours to walk the twenty miles to Roswell. The desert slowed them down, its heat making it impossible to move at times. They would not have gone directly to Roswell, but Jim Valenti was their only link to law enforcement, and therefore their best hopes of finding the base where Tess was being held. Roswell also had information to his son's whereabouts. Only his father could give him that information, so no matter what way he looked at it, they had to come back here and risk exposure.
Kyle ducked into the ally beside the Crashdown café and whispered to Max. "I'm going to run in the back door and use the bathroom. I gotta go, now!" He persisted.
"Alright, I'll wait here – be quick about it." Max ordered, he wanted to laugh at Kyle's squirming, but he maintained his composure and kept quiet.
The Sheriff's son turned Alien ran along the side of the building, to the backdoor. He used his alien abilities to unlock the metal door, and slip into the backroom. He was stunned when he bumped into Maria, taking out the trash. Instinctively he held out his palm, ready to blast anyone who might threaten him.
"Whoa, space-cadet!" She backed away. "Me ally, me friend." She joked.
Kyle rolled his eyes, letting down his guard. "I have to pee." He exclaimed, his face contorting into funny faces.
Maria giggled and nodded the ok, the bathroom was empty. She watched as he ran, with knees together toward the toilet. Waiting for the flush, Maria stood up as she heard Kyle re-emerging from the bathroom.
"So, can I know what you're doing back here so soon, or did you like, never leave?" She was sincere in her concern for him.
He shook his head. "Max and I had to come back, but its better that you don't know the details." He gave an apologetic look. "Hey, has my dad been here for lunch yet?"
Maria smiled. "Twice, actually; He had to come back for his hat." She paused. "He should be back at the station by now." She concluded.
"Thanks, Maria." He hugged her warmly and slipped back out the door.
The waitress watched him go with a soft smile. Part of her wished she was still part of the craziness, but the more logical – smarter part knew that would be like asking for an early grave. Which was something Maria De Luca was not willing to risk.
"How long is this going to take?" Isabel sighed, falling back onto the side of the van.
Michael grunted, looking out on the horizon where he'd seen Max and Kyle last. "I have no idea…"
He walked a few feet away from the van, and squatted down. Staring at the ground, he watched a small beetle crawl from him. He waved his hand over the bug, and transformed it into a baby snake. He picked the new creature up and smiled at himself. He was getting very good at manipulating live things. It was getting to the point where it scared Max enough that the king had told his second to resist the urge to change living things into different species. But why should he obey his feeble leader? Max had brought all of them nothing but anguish and pain.
"Look at this…" He said proudly.
Isabel looked up at it and smiled, supportive. "That's lovely, Michael. Maybe you could whip up something for us to eat?"
He shrugged, and set the snake down. He waved his hand over it again, this time with more focus. He transformed the snake into a chicken. He picked the bird up and grinned.
"Hey, you need it cooked?" He asked, joking.
Viciously, he held his hand on the bird. It died, and when waved his hand over the corpse, decapitating it, and plucking it. Then, he did it again, cooking the bird to a golden color. He smiled proudly. Grabbing some plastic plates and cups, he once again used his powers to change them into real dining wear.
Smelling the food, Liz poked her head out. She was amazed to find Isabel and Michael chewing down on a chicken. She sat down, taking a plate of food that was offered to her by Michael. She began to eat it, and then frowned at its taste.
"This tastes… weird." She snorted.
Isabel giggled. "Yea, well… it was cooked by Michael."
"Don't listen to her, its fine. Eat up." He insisted.
Liz took another bite. "You know, this doesn't taste like Chicken… where did you guys get this?"
The aliens grinned. Michael sighed, putting his food down for a moment, swallowing the remainder of chewed bird in his mouth.
"Look, chickens don't exactly grow in the desert. So… I improvised." He laughed.
Liz gagged. "Eeew. What was this? Was it a bug or something?"
"It started out as a bug, but then it went through some changes." Isabel explained. "I think snake was among them."
Liz stood up, disgusted. "You know, I think I'm just going to go to sleep."
Meanwhile, in Roswell Max and Kyle were patiently waiting to Jim to get back with any information about the where Tess might have been taken. They were lying back on the couch, using their powers to play cards with napkins.
"Hey that's cheating!" Kyle exclaimed.
Max scoffed. "I have no clue what you're talking about…" He grinned.
"You just made a fifth Ace." Kyle sneered.
The king shook his head, protesting the claims. "I never cheat." He assured.
"Yea, alright… you're majesty." He joked.
Max shifted uncomfortably. Kyle saw his friend become upset, and he put down his cards. Folding his arms, he leaned in to speak.
"Can I ask you something, Alien to Alien?" Kyle began.
Max shrugged. "Sure."
"What's going on here; with you and Liz, and now this whole thing with Tess?"
He groaned at the question. "Liz and I… things are just not the way I thought they would be." Max relented.
"I see." Kyle nodded. "You know, it takes a lot to love someone. You love her, don't you?" He questioned.
Max nodded. "I do. I always will. I'm just starting to realize that maybe I can't love her the way I should."
As they were about to discuss this, Kyle's father came through the door, papers and maps in hand. He saw the boys talking and announced his arrival. Sitting down with them, he spread out everything he had gathered on the coffee table.
"There are two bases that she could have been taken to." Jim explained, pointing to a map that had been marked.
Max studied the map. "These are huge bases. Which one do you think is holding her?"
Jim stared at him a moment. "Max, honestly… I don't know." He said.
Kyle patted his dad's back. "But if it were you, which one would you, start with?"
"Fort Callahan; It's large, and a very big portion of it has never been inspected by outside authorities. If it was me, I would start there." He answered.
Max stood up, taking the map and papers. "Thank you."
"Listen, I'll come for you guys in the early morning, here." Jim pointed to a spot on the map. "It's about a mile into the desert."
Kyle nodded. "Thanks."
He hugged his father and they exchanged goodbyes once again. Jim watched his child leave on a mission that could possibly kill him. His boy had grown up, brave, courageous and strong. Now there was nothing that he could do but sit back and hope, and prey that his son would walk away from this, and live to see another day.
The van was rocking back and forth. Liz was sitting outside, also rocking back and forth. Michael and Isabel had been in there, alone, for at least an hour. Suddenly, as she watched the vehicle violently move right and left, its metal body was covered in hot electric current. Liz stood up amazed. She waited as the electric passed, and held her breath; wondering if that was a usual occurrence with their 'alone time'.
A moment later, Michael came sauntering out with a grin on his face. His hair was mussed and he seemed to be in utter bliss. Liz approached him, briefly gazing at the van where Isabel still remained.
"Hey… so um, that was uh… hot?" She was uncomfortable with the subject.
Michael smiled wide. "You betcha!"
"Right, but that doesn't always happen, right?" She shyly questioned.
He smirked. "If it didn't, I'd be mightily disappointed."