Grabbing Liz and ripping her from Isabel to try and stop whatever was happening seemed like the only thing to do. Michael pushed past Liz into the back where Isabel sat heaving. He touched her head and felt her temperature. She felt ok, what did Liz do?

"God damn it Liz!" He yelled.

Isabel placed a calm hand on his shoulder. "Its ok, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? What happened?"

Slowly her mouth curved into an awkward smile. "I just remembered something."

She jumped up and opened the van, running out into the desert. Liz quickly followed. Leaving Michael bewildered at their actions. Running to catch up to Isabel, Liz grabbed the hybrid by the arm to stop her. She spun her around to speak with her face to face.

"You remember, don't you?" Liz asked.

She stepped closer, so close they could feel each other's breath. "I do." She said in a tone usual to Isabel.

"You killed me, bitch!" Liz slammed her hand on Isabel – trying to blast her.

Isabel didn't fly back as Liz had intended. In fact, Isabel merely stumbled back slightly, catching her balance almost immediately. She smirked with an evil twinge in her eye that gave Liz a sudden fright.

"You shouldn't have woken her up." Isabel warned, with a look of struggle on her face.

"What are you talking about?"

Isabel continued. "You have no idea what she's capable of."

"Vilondra?" Liz stepped back, frightened and nervous.

She stepped closer – her face distorting into a more calm expression, matching Liz's moves beat for beat she advanced toward the girl. "I should thank you, for giving me this gift… but, I think instead I'll kill you."

Liz screamed and tried to run, but Isabel caught her arm this time and yanked her back hard.

"You want to live this time around? I suggest you go about you business and learn from your mistakes. Any snooping around and I'll kill you all over again. Understand?" She threatened the cowering girl. "Tell no one, or I will exterminate you."

Liz nodded enthusiastically and scampered away at her first chance.

Isabel composed herself and casually walked back to the van, greeting a confused Michael.

"What's her deal?" Michael thumbed toward Liz, who was crying in the corner.

Isabel shrugged. "I don't know."

"Maybe I should go talk to her." He suggested.

She stopped him, kissing his lips teasingly. "I think we should talk… about this." She indicated her stomach which was growing quickly.

Isabel led Michael away from Liz and sat with him outside in the desert air. "It's growing, so fast." She explained, unbuckling the button on her pants to make room for her tummy, which was now a small bump.

Michael nodded, touching her stomach. "It'll be ok." He assured.

"I know."

He looked at her, confused. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing – I'm just seeing things more clearly now."

He stroked her cheek. "As long as you're ok…"

"I'm perfect." She exclaimed with a soft tone.

Rising to her feet, she drew him into a seductive kiss before entering back into the van to away her brother's return.

Their Past Lives

Vilondra glided toward the throne room, in her wedding robes. It was about to be the moment of change. She would rise to the throne, take control and become the leader she was always meant to be. As she moved gracefully toward the ceremony, she scanned the crowd and found Kivar waiting to make his move. Glancing a look toward him, she signaled that everything was going as planned. Rath was in front of her, as she joined him to be wed. He looked very handsome, strong and willful – but his ideals were too much like Zan's. He would never have allowed the type of control she desired – total. Only someone who despised Zan as much as she would be capable of allowing her the throne she wanted.

"You look glorious." He whispered.

Vilondra smiled lovingly at Rath. "Thank you."

Watching as Ava and Zan took their thrones, to announce the commencement of the wedding – Vilondra couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. They were after-all, her family – her kin. She saw her mother sitting along side her brother, and she knew that by this nights fall, she would be devastated; the holy man began to preach.

"We have joined here today to announce to the creator, and to the world that Vilondra of Antar, and Rath second to the King are to be wed in holy matrimony."

As the scene unfolded, Vilondra watched with quiet anticipation of the bloodbath that was about to ensue. She was nervous, like the moments before a performance – this would be the performance of her life. This night would determine her future, and the future of Antar.

Ava clutched her abdomen with her right hand, as she grabbed Zan's arm with her left. Zan touched her gently, questioning her.

"Are you ill?" He asked – the wedding still proceeding in the background.

She moaned in pain. "Something is very wrong." She insisted.

"What is it?"

Shaking her head. "Its blurry – deception is befalling us."

"Deception… from who?" He inquired.

She doubled over in pain again. "Zan…"

Vilondra was listening to the holy man continue his preachy speech, when she happened to see Ava out of the corner of her eye. She was doubled over, as she did often when she was foreseeing an aspect of the future. The king's sister shifted uncomfortably. If the Queen foresaw her betraying them, it would all be over before it could even begin. She glanced quickly at Kivar, giving him a tender – but hectic look. Letting him know right away that something could be very wrong.

"… and so now, with the power of the kingdom bestowed upon me, I pronounce you husband and-"

Just moments before their marriage was to be cemented, Rath flew back, smashing into the wall behind them. The crowd began to scream as hundreds of unmarked troops swarmed into the throne room. Rath's head had hit the wall, blood sprayed Vilondra and witnesses near by.

Vilondra craned her neck to find the source of the energy wave – it was Kivar. Zan stood up, deflecting an attack to himself and his wife. Ava was still doubled over, in severe pain and unable to protect herself. Kivar jumped from the rows where the crowd was seated, onto the stage below where the thrones and the wedding were to take place. He chuckled at the sight of people fleeing.

"Stop it!" Vilondra ordered him.

Kivar smirked. "What's the matter? Not getting your way?"

Zan looked up, seeing the exchange between Kivar and Vilondra; he knew at once that it had been his own sister who had betrayed him and allowed Kivar and his men into the palace. His wife had seen the deception – but it had come too late.

"Get out of here!" He called to his wife and mother. "I'll order the guards to escort you to the end of the palace gates."

Ava shook her head. "I'll not take a step without you." She insisted.

"Guards, take my mother to the gates end." Zan said, frustrated.

Ava took her husband's hand and stood up to rise against their attackers. "Kivar!" She cried – with her palm outstretched.

The enemy of the crown whipped around to find the king and queen, hands joined together – ready to battle him. He laughed with a crazy sound in his voice, ordering his gathering men to take the royal four to the chambers.

Ava began to cry as she watched the men drag Rath's lifeless body with them as they entered the chambers. Although dead, Rath's body held the seal of the royal four, and within that seal was a one forth of a key that unlocks the power that allows the user to rule Antar.

Inside the chambers, Ava, Zan and Vilondra were tied to bed posts. Kivar was reviewing some notes, as he stood over Rath's body like a hunter with his prey.

"It seems as though you planned to condense the army… It's a shame, you can't have a war without an army." Kivar threw the notes to the side and stepped up to Ava. "What's more important is what 'you' were about to do…" He touched her head and began to sift through her mind searching for her secret project to bring the royal four back from death, she fought him as best she could.

Ava protested. "You'll never find what you're looking for."

"Oh no?"

Intrigued by her stern sense of will, he turned his attentions to an angered king. "You know how to pick 'em, don't ya?" He said with a pathetic laugh.

"Get away from her." Zan snarled.

Kivar mocked concern, and then cocked an eye to Vilondra – gorgeous as always. "Hello my love." Vilondra turned away from him, disgusted. "Don't be mad, I lied to you – as you lied to me." He reminded, touching her belly. "You are carrying his child!" He pointed angrily at Rath's body.

Composing herself, Vilondra looked deep into Kivar's eyes. "Don't be mad, I need the child to carry the bloodline." She said.

Kivar touched her neck and cheek, kissing her. Then nodded and untied her, freeing her.

Zan grew even more infuriated. "You betrayed your family. You betrayed your people."

"I did what I had to, to get what I deserve." She explained.

Ava snorted with rage. "What you deserve is death." She spat toward Vilondra.

The spit just missed her well-polished toes, as she took a dainty step back to avoid being hit. Kivar raised an eyebrow to her, and the queen as an idea struck him.

"I agree with the queen – she always was bright."

Vilondra was mortified. "What?"

"I don't need you." He said coldly. "My men are already in control."

With that he wrapped his hands around her throat, as she violently struggled for air – he continued to squeeze. Listening to her gasp for life – as her brother and sister in law yelled for him to stop. Vilondra fell to her knees, pulling at his arms to release her. It was of no use. Her arms fell to her sides, she was dead. Kivar dropped her without much thought, in a heap on top of Rath.

Ava turned away, crying onto her husband's shoulder. Zan kissed her cheek, trying to comfort his wife.

Kivar cleared his throat and called for the guards. He stepped away from the king and queen while he instructed his men on what to do with the bodies – and how to get the royal seal. While he was away, Zan and Ava attempted an escape.

"I have my hands almost free…. There!" He whispered and untied his wife as well.

Ava nodded toward the door, where Kivar stood with his back turned. "We have to kill him, his men will back down with out him to lead them."

"Yes."

Their Present Lives

Flashing lights swooped into through the shadow of night. The flashes of red and blue woke Max out of a sound sleep. He sat up to find Jim standing a few feet away, shining a flashlight in his hand. Kyle was walking toward him – informing him of what had happened.

Max turned over to wake Tess. She was lying peacefully beside him. Still bruised and battered he'd not had the energy to heal her yet. He stroked her cheek, watching her eyes flutter open. She was dazed at first, but he saw recognition as she realized where she was.

"How long was I-"

He smiled. "A few hours."

"Max! Tess!" Kyle called.

"Is that… Jim?"

Max nodded. "We're going to get our son."

Tess nodded happily at that thought, and brought herself to her feet, Max helping her to walk to the Sheriff's jeep. Jim helped Tess get situated in the back, letting her lay back to rest. Then he summoned Max outside the jeep, to speak with him in private. He'd always acted as an advisor of sorts, and this was no different.

"She looks bad." He started.

Agreeing, the alien king say in an exhausted tone. "I just don't have the energy to heal her – the escape took too much."

"Max, you might want to think about taking her to a doctor." He warned.

Max glanced through the windshield at Tess as she slept. "Why?" His concern was evident.

"Well, I've seen my fair share of long-term violence victims… the purple around her eyes, and the color of her skin…"

Hurried, Max sped him up. "What is it?"

"It looks like internal bleeding – bad. If she doesn't get help soon she's going to die."

Kyle watched their lips move. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but judging by the look on Max's face when he glanced at Tess, it wasn't good. He took a moment to judge for himself Tess' condition. She looked purple and yellow; like a giant bruise. Her eyes were sunken in from dehydration and starvation. Her eyes – when open – were glassy and red around the edges. He hadn't noticed until now, but there was a chunk of skin missing from her forearm, and some needle marks scattered all over both arms, and her neck. Her fingernails had been either bent back or torn off on all ten of her fingers. All this remained as wounds even after Max had healed her enough so she could stand. God only knew what kind of pain she had been in before, and still was now. He shuddered at the thought of being locked up in some cell like that – no one even knowing you're there. The government was sick. She may have killed Alex, but Kyle was beginning to see that perhaps there was more to her story after-all; maybe she wasn't as soulless as he though. She did after all; give up her life to save them.

Max got in the back, letting Tess rest her head on his shoulder. He could feel her temperature rising against his skin – a sign of a fever, which meant she had an infection. He knew he couldn't sit there and stress or he'd never gather the energy needed to heal her. So, taking her hand in his, he leaned his hand back and decided to nap as Jim drove them to meet Isabel, Michael and Liz in the desert. His dreams would bring him no form of rest however. Violent flashes of his former life began to swirl in his head. Memories that haunted him like a ghost he could never be purged of.

Jim turned his radio on, to listen for any reports that might indicate the military's location relative to their own. Kyle stared out the window, looking up at the stars. He noticed this, and decided to speak with his son.

"You do that often?" He asked.

Kyle broke from his stare, and turned to his father. "I guess, yea."

"Why?"

His son shrugged. "Sometimes… I wonder. You know, which one is mine."

"What?"

Kyle turned away, looking at up at the sky. "Antar – I wonder where it is sometimes."

"You called it 'mine'?"

Shifting, he answered. "My powers – my alien side is so much stronger than my human side now, Dad. I don't even taste things the same, or see them the same… it weird, never mind."

"No, tell me. What do you mean you don't 'see' things the same. Max and the others never mentioned anything like that."

He nodded. "That's because they never saw the world any other way – but they… we… see things with this weird outline, everything is more defined. More clear."

"That doesn't sound bad."

Sighing, he continued. "Maybe, but with that clarity comes an overwhelming realization that I'm not human anymore. It's scary – I miss the secure feeling I had, knowing I was home, on Earth… now I don't even know where home is." He explained, looking back to the sky.

"Kyle, son, your home will always, always be with me. I love you." Jim consoled his son.

He gave his father a shy smile. "Thanks."

An hour after Isabel and Michael had fallen asleep; Liz crept out of the van. She walked about twenty yards, squatted in the sand and dirt, and held her hand over the ground. Nothing happened. Frustrated, she closed her eyes and took a long deep breathe – just as Max had taught her to do, to control her powers better.

She wanted to teach them all a lesson. Make them pay for what they had done to her – in this life and every other. Max had broken her heart, again. He'd left her for Tess, again. To top it all off, they had murdered her in her past life. How could she forgive them? How? They were fools for thinking she'd just let it roll off.

Soon a small hole in the ground began to open, as she used her powers to manipulate the earth. When the opening was big enough to put her arm in, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the alien orb with the symbol of Antar on it. Liz tossed it into the hole and smirked as she closed it back up. Now that she remembered exactly what those orbs where capable of, she knew how to use them – better yet she could keep the others from using them. Vilondra… er, Isabel might think she's won, but as far as Liz was concerned that was far from the case. She would keep up her dainty, broken appearance so Isabel wouldn't figure things out. Then, she'd pick up where Kesia left off all those years ago…

Just as Liz was approaching the van again, car lights beamed at her from behind. She turned to find the sheriff's jeep coming toward them slowly. It pulled to a stop. Liz froze. Max was back, already? She opened the van and called inside to let Michael and Isabel know. The three remained at a distance – watching.

Kyle hopped out and rushed his way to the back seat, opening the door to let Max out. He was carrying Tess – who looked more like a shredded piece of meat than a person. Michael at this point ran to help, seeing Max was tired. Isabel appeared irritated by his act of humanity toward the traitor, Tess. Liz simply watched, not willing to help, but not without understanding either.

"Get her… do you have her?" Max asked, transferring Tess from his arms to Michael's.

Michael nodded. "Yea… yes… hey, let go." He said taking her from him.

"Lay her down… over there." Max pointed to a spot on the ground.

He did as Max told him. Michael had never seen someone look this beaten before. He wondered why Max hadn't healed her yet. Her skin was fire-hot, and her eyes were puffy. She looked like she was dying.

"Is she going to die?" Michael asked, bluntly.

Max glared. "No."

"Right…" He said with an unsure tone. "Maxwell…" He droned, indicated her current state. "She looks like death."

Michael was right. Tess did look like death. In fact, Liz had never seen someone look quiet that torn up. She had to have some serious injuries. Why hadn't Max healed her? She watched with mixed feelings of loathing and concern, as Max, Kyle, Jim and Michael worked to set bones, and patch up the ailing alien.

"Max, heal her." Jim said. "Her fever is higher than Isabel's was when she got shot… I can barely touch her – it burns."

Kyle agreed. "This is bad."

"Why haven't you healed her yet, anyway?" Michael wondered.

The alien king couldn't take all of them barking at him, again and again. Finally he snapped, grabbing Michael by the shirt and dragging him down to the ground where Max sat next to Tess.

"Don't you think I would've healed her, if I could?"

Michael was baffled. "What's that mean?"

"I tried, but I need more energy – I just don't have it in me. The injuries… these wounds…" He said, lifting her shirt to reveal a large wound on her side. "They're worse than anything I've ever healed before. Ok?" He gasped for a breath. "I had to use my powers to get us out of the base; it took a lot out of me."

Just as Max was about to let into Michael again, a small, wispy voice called out to him. It was Tess.

"… Max… stop."

Letting go of Michael, he said. "Tess?"

"Don't fight..."

He took her hand and nodded. "I'm sorry… I just… I'm frustrated."

"It'll be ok." Tess assured him, and then slipped back into unconsciousness.

Max sighed. He stood up and ran his fingers through his hair. "If she hadn't used her powers to help us escape, her immunity to infections would have been higher… but now that she's tapped her body is collapsing."

"If she hadn't used her powers, we'd be dead right now." Kyle reminded.

Isabel raised her arms in frustration, and let them fall loudly at her sides. "Who cares… she's better off dead." She muttered before turning around and slamming the van door behind her. Michael followed her – seeing his queue to leave this sticky situation.

Jim and Kyle walked to the side, talking about strategies in which to get them safely out of Roswell – now that the military was out to find them, there would probably be check points lined up – just waiting for them to leave.

Liz gulped back her fears and approached Max, who was sitting with Tess on the ground. She squatted near the sleeping alien and for a moment took pity upon her. She had, after all – given up so much to try and save them, a group of people who wished her dead. Perhaps Tess had been misunderstood. Max had married her in a past life – so there had to be something good about her, right? What am I thinking? Liz yelled at herself for being so conflicted. She had plans, and they deserved what they would get.

"What's wrong?" Max asked, genuinely concerned.

Liz shrugged. "I'm just confused."

"About?"

She sighed. "You… her… this whole mess."

"It's confusing."

She continued. "Like, I want to understand why you're doing this to me, again – and then I remember Ava, and Zan – and what kind of people they were, and how they were together. When I think about that, I realize that what you two shared, is exactly what I thought we shared. At the same time, I really just want to let her lie here – and die. I just want it, more then I thought I would. That scares me. It scares me that something that dark can be inside me."

"We all have darkness, Liz. We all have demons, and things about ourselves that we struggle to cope with, or understand. I love you, Liz. I do. If things were different…" He began.

She interrupted. "If things were different, you would have chosen me… I know, I get it. Things are never different with you, are they? They're always the same. You lead me on, and you break my heart. Again, and again… and again."

"I never meant to-"

Liz snapped. "But you did – you always do."

"Liz…" He reached out to touch her cheek.

She pulled away. "Don't do that. You can sit here, holding her hand, and think its ok to touch me. You just can't."

"You know… you and Tess are similar."

She gave a disgusted look. "Right…"

"You are. You both tap into this super-emotional state where the whole world seems wrapped up in your heart. You're both smart, and funny… and strong." Annoyed, Liz starts to walk away. "Liz, I married you because my soul-mate is you!" She stopped, turning to listen. "What you see… what you hear. This isn't how I look, or how I sound. Somewhere, a long time ago some other guy owned my face, had this human soul. That human soul loves you with every inch of its being."

"But?" She whimpered.

"But I'm not human." He breathed. "Inside… Where I start… I'm not that guy."

"You could be that guy. If you wanted to be." She suggested, weakly.

He gave her a meek smile. "But then I'd never be whole. With Tess I can be myself – my whole self. Good, bad, alien, human. None of that matters. With Tess I can be a father, and a king, and…" He trailed off.

Liz began to cry. "And with me you can't." She ran off to cry alone.

Inside the van, Isabel grew tired of these games she was playing with Michael. She wanted him to either side with her to overthrow Max, or to rid herself of him if he sided against her. He was lying down in the back of the van, with his arms under his head. She scooted against him, and placed her hand in his. He turned to look at her, and smiled. She concocted a smile in return.

"How ya feeling?" He asked gently, touching her belly.

Isabel sighed. "Alright, could be better."

"I know, I think we all could." He suggested, mildly pointing toward Liz, who was once again crying in the passenger's seat.

She grew serious and pulled herself close to him. "Michael…" She started.

The sound in her voice was deep, and somewhat cold. His ears perked, as he knew this must be important. He sat slightly, leaning into her, so she could whisper more easily.

"I don't trust Max…" She began again.

His eyes widened. "Why?"

"I think He and Tess plan to take off, without us."

He jolted a bit, and snapped his head to the window, straining to see Max outside. "What makes you think that?"

She could tell by the sound in his voice that he was already uneasy about Max and Tess. Having him this close to turning against her brother meant that she had to be very careful, as not to spook him into figuring anything out.

"I dream-walked him, and he was dreaming of taking off to Antar without us. He plans to betray us!" Her voice writhed with venom.

Michael was surprised. "I can't believe that. Maybe it was a nightmare… or something." He was beginning to waver,

"No Michael. It was a happy, fulfilled dream. Max doesn't want us around anymore. Tess has clouded his judgment."

Watching as the idea was planted in his mind, Isabel took comfort in the notion that now she had her partner. Besides, if everything went to hell she was going to kill him anyway. She laid her head down beside him, and with a smile spread across her face, she went to sleep.

In the passenger's seat, Liz reminisced about her former life. Like a doorway that could not be shut once opened, her memories as Kesia were permanent fixtures against her life as Liz Parker.

Their Past Lives

"You're highness."

Zan turned to find Kesia majestically set upon Vilondra's throne. "You're lucky my sister isn't here to see this."

"Where is the princess?"

He stepped closer, noticing her deep V-neck dress. "She's with the queen and Rath. They're at a ceremony to open the new city square." He smirked, running his hands on the sides of her hips.

"My lord…" She breathed, placing his hands on her chest.

He began to pull away. "I shouldn't…"