The Same

Isabel leaned against the railing of the patio watching the sun come up. As she watched the horizon go from darkness to a spectrum of beautiful colors, she mulled over the current situation. She flicked at the picture in her hand. She wasn't sure why she kept it but she did. Maybe because it was the last time they were all together; the last time they were all happy, when they'd been full of hope and promise. Isabel longed for that feeling again. Things had been simple then: Alex was alive and Tess was not a traitor.

As she looked at their group picture from prom, she sat down in the lounge chair. The idea came to her last night; she would dream walk Tess and find out if she was telling the truth. She placed her hand over her target as her eyelids closed heavily and her body laid back.

As Isabel entered her mind she could sense that something was wrong; something about her didn't feel quite right. Isabel dismissed it and continued to dredge around. She could see Tess standing underneath a starlit sky rocking Zan back and forth in her arms, and she was not alone.

They were all there, at least Isabel, Max, Michael, and Kyle. Ava was there too. Isabel had intended to speak with Tess but instead held back, watching what went on in the dream.

"You gave me back my family Ava," Tess smiled at her. "Thank you so much."

"You didn't kill Alex Tess," Ava smiled back at her. "Everyone deserved to know what really happened."

"I would never do anything to hurt any of you," Tess turned around facing the others.

"We know Tess," Max wrapped his arms around her. "I should've known that you'd never betray me."

"We all should've known it was something like this," Kyle said. "You're my sister and I should've been on your side."

"She tricked us all," Tess replied.

"If I ever find her…" Michael let his sentence trail off.

"If any of us ever find her, she will pay Tess," The dream Isabel spoke.

"We can't change what happened," Tess replied. "We can only make sure no one ever comes between us again."

"I'll protect you this time," Max took Zan from her arms. "And I'll protect our son, I promise you that."

Just then Tess got a strange look on her face. "Is someone else here?"

Isabel's eyes opened suddenly, the picture still held tightly in her hand. What the hell was that? Does she actually believe she didn't kill Alex or is it her plan to make us believe it?

Tess awoke to a soft murmuring in her ear. She opened her eyes slowly and smiled, looking at the child lying on her chest. She scotched herself up and laid him back in her arms so she could look into the most beautiful face she'd ever seen. Tess studied every feature, every curve on his face, every dimple.

Zan cooed and smiled, looking up at his mother's face adoringly. Tess could hardly believe he was once again in her arms. "My precious Zan, I have missed you so much."

"How'd you sleep?" Ava walked into the room carrying a bag.

"Great," Her eyes never left the bundle of joy before her.

"I got us some food." Ava sat on the edge of the couch where Tess was laying. "You hungry?"

"Ava, you mentioned someone last night." Tess shifted Zan, laying him across her right arm. "A man; who is he?"

"Zsar," to Ava, this one word was a sentence.

"Zsar?" Tess recognized the name but could not remember ever hearing it. "Who is Zsar?"

Ava sat for a moment before speaking. "He's who we were supposed to marry before we met Zan." She adjusted herself to face Tess. "Our parents were arranging it."

Tess just looked at her, waiting for Ava to continue.

"It was more for business than love," Ava shrugged, "at least on our end."

"He loved Ava then?" Tess questioned.

"Yeah," Ava nodded. "In his own twisted way I guess. He and Kivar go way back and he helped him overthrow our throne."

"How do you know all of this?" Tess questioned, remembering none of this herself.

"Some things I remember," Ava paused briefly, thinking of her past life. "The blanks, Vipan filled in. He was our protector."

Tess sat patiently, pausing for the rest of Ava's story.

"From what he told me," Ava continued. "Kivar and Zsar thought they could rule Antar with Vilandra and Ava by their sides."

"We weren't going to-to," Tess stuttered, worry washing over her face. "Was I- Ava… did she betray Zan?"

"No," the dark haired girl shook her head back and forth as a look of relief came over Tess' face. "We knew nothing about their plans. Ava would've never betrayed Zan." She looked directly in her twin's eyes. "I would've never betrayed my Zander just like you did not betray Max."

Tess found comfort in hearing those words. "And this Zsar, he's here now?" She paused briefly. "On Earth, I mean."

"Yes and he's here for you." Ava replied matter-of-factly. "I'm just the back up Tess, you're the real thing and he knows that. He wants to bring you back to Antar so the two of you can rule it together."

Tess got a confused look on her face.

"He found me recently," Ava began to explain. "We were just outside of Roswell at the time. He was after Loni and he told me to get away from her so I came back here."

"He wants Loni dead then?" Tess saw Ava nod. "What about Kivar?" Tess asked confused, her mind trying to grasp as much of this as she could.

"Yes," Ava looked at her with sadness in her eyes. "He knows what Kivar did to you when you went back."

Tess thought back to her time on Antar, when Kivar kept her prisoner. She had never encountered anyone with that much power and she had been no match for him when he attacked her. Tess could do nothing but let her mind go elsewhere. She would not scream. She would not cry. Kivar would get no emotion from her. Tess was doing this for her son, so he'd be safe and when he wasn't, she fled the planet that she once thought would be her salvation; the planet she called home.

Ava needn't speak another word. She placed her hand on top of Tess', squeezing it a little.

Maria sat at one of the secluded desks in the lobby area. She was in front of the computer, alternating between typing and jotting down info in a notepad with a pen. She quickly grabbed the mouse and minimized the screen as soon as she heard footsteps behind her. Maria turned to look over her shoulder, and then returned to what she was doing after realizing it was only Michael.

"What is all this?" Michael leaned over her.

"Google," Maria glanced up at him, then back to the monitor.

"Google?" Michael repeated, not catching the meaning.

"You've never heard of google?" She turned back in her seat, wide jawed. "Why am I even surprised?" She let out a short laugh. "It's a website where you can find anything on anything. Look at all these." Maria held up the notebook.

Michael just looked at her blankly.

"These are all major adoption agencies in New York," She paused briefly. "There are ninety-six here."

"I don't think we have time to go to ninety-six agencies Maria," Michael took the notebook from her hands, glancing it over.

"That's what the numbers are for," Maria rolled her eyes playfully. "I'll figure out which ones to call after I'm through narrowing it down. Where's Kyle?"

"Maybe he's chanting or something," Michael laughed. "So how do you narrow these down?"

"By finding the ones in the New York City area first," Maria tossed a highlighter towards him.

"What's this for?" Puzzled, he caught the marker in mid-air.

"Highlight the agencies with these zip codes," Maria smiled up at him. "You weren't just gonna stand there, were you?"

Michael didn't answer. He pulled out the chair from the other booth and sat down next to her. Michael began flipping through the notebook, highlighter in hand while Maria continued typing on the computer.

Max, Liz, and Isabel exited the van in front of the address that was listed on the computer from the previous night. It took them half an hour to find the house through all the small roads. The three of them stood on the wood porch, waiting for their knock to be answered.

The curtains moved before the door opened slightly. "Hello," a red-haired woman looking to be in her early twenties opened the door, robe tightly wrapped around her.

"Hi," Isabel flashed a smile. "I'm so sorry to bother you but we're looking for Earl Collings."

The woman just stared at them, irritation written all over her face.

"Is he here?" Liz's tone was direct.

"No," the woman started to close the door.

Liz stuck her foot in the edge of the doorway. It was a move that even surprised her but they'd come too far to give up that easily. "Can you at least tell us when he'll be back?"

"It's very important we find him," Max spoke calmly, pulling Liz away from the door.

The woman looked him up and down, and then shrugged. "He won't be back. He doesn't live here anymore, thank God."

"Why do you say that?" Isabel questioned.

"What is this about?" The woman looked irked again. "Has he done something?"

"His family is worried about him," Max said the first thing he could think of."

"We're distant relatives," Liz glanced between Max and the woman who was looking at him like he was some sort of prize she'd won.

"He started off as a really nice guy but he got weird after his cousin died," she leaned against the door frame.

"Emma," Liz said blankly.

"Yeah," the woman nodded. "He blamed the company he worked for and made sure they knew it. After he caused one too many scenes, they fired him."

"Why'd he blame the company?' Isabel asked.

"For relatives, you sure don't know much." The woman started to get suspicious.

"We're not very close," Max smiled slightly. "We're just doing our aunt a favor." Keeping so many secrets had made him a quick liar.

The redhead looked at him for a moment before continuing. "She'd come to visit at work and there was a robbery attempt. She was hit by a stray bullet…"

"…And she died." Liz continued the sentence for her.

"He blamed them for not having proper security and even tried to sue." She shook her head. "When he lost the case he really started acting weird, talking crazy and everything so we told him he had to leave."

"Where did he go?" Liz was hoping the girl knew the answer.

"I thought he'd gone back to Texas until he showed up here the other day." She replied. "He's still close to my cousin Billy."

"Can we talk to him?" Max asked.

"He won't be back till tonight," She tilted her head to the side. "You could come back then."

"Thank you," Max replied.

"Your welcome," the girl smiled before stepping back inside and closing the door.

Max and Isabel quickly walked back to the van while Liz lingered behind.

Max turned around to see Liz looking at him with a strange look on her face. "What's wrong?"

"What was…?" Liz stopped mid-sentence as she touched the railing at the end of the stairs. She began to see flashes of Earl and another man talking, a dark room, a cement floor, and the explosion again. Liz closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breathe in before opening them again slowly.

"What did you see?" Max had rushed to her side with Isabel.

"It's happening tonight Max," she answered softly. "We have to stop it."

"We will."

Kyle sat on the floor in indian style; eyes closed, arms elevated with his palms facing upward. He took several deep breathes in and out before dropping his arms to the side and opening his eyes. This is not working.

He'd spent the last twenty minutes, trying to mediate on what he was feeling. He wanted to be upset that Tess was alive but instead he was relieved; …still mad at her but relieved, he thought to himself.

"Hey," Maria's voice caused him to look up suddenly. "Are you okay Kyle?"

"Yeah," His voice showed that he was anything but.

"Okay, spill." Maria plopped next to him on the edge of the bed. "It's Tess, right?"

Kyle looked at her from the corners of his eyes, not knowing if he should say anything.

"Come on, we're on a deadline here." The pushy blonde snapped her fingers at him. "Tell me what's going on."

"Alright," Kyle said slowly, taking a deep breathe before continuing. "I'm not unhappy that she isn't dead."

"Okay," Maria nodded. She could tell from the look in his eyes her mild response was not what he'd been expecting. "Go on."

"I'm…" Kyle took a moment to find the right word. "I'm relieved that Tess isn't dead even though I'm still angry at her." He waited for Maria to tell him he was crazy.

"You thought of her as your sister Kyle; your bound to still care about her in someway." Maria gave a half smile, trying to be supportive. "Sean is a screw-up, plain and simple but he's still my cousin and I love him. Now he never killed one of my friends and tricked me into helping him or anything like that but I think you get what I'm saying."

"Thanks, I guess." Kyle looked at her a bit strangely but knew she was trying to help.

"Anytime," Maria patted him on the shoulder.

"Hey," Liz stood in the doorway.

"Any luck?" Kyle questioned.

"He's not living there anymore but his ex-roommate was helpful when she wasn't flirting with Max," Liz replied. "And I had another vision."

"Who was flirting with Max?" Maria questioned in that best friend tone.

"Maria," Kyle shook his head.

"Okay, we'll talk later chica." Maria replied. "So what did you see?"

"It's happening tonight," Liz said in a rather calm tone. "Max went to get Michael so we could talk about it. Any luck on your end?"

"I've got it narrowed down to ten adoption agencies that the Evans' could've gone to." Maria replied. "That's still a lot but it's a start."

"Where did you get all you information from?" Liz questioned.

"Google," Maria shrugged, "Can you believe Michael never even heard of it. I realized today how much I still have to teach him." She smiled at the thought.

As Liz, Maria, and Kyle walked in the living room they heard Michael's voice, He was telling Max and Isabel about the adoption agencies.

"…so I'm like, you've never heard of google?" Michael stops abruptly when he sees Maria standing there.

"Go ahead Michael, don't let me stop you." Maria grinned at him. She found it amusing how he always took credit for her ideas.

Michael shrugged. "We narrowed it down to ten agencies."

"Good," Max nodded. "After we stop this, we have to leave for New York tonight."

"Has she tried to contact you again?" Kyle asked.

"No." Max answered abruptly. "We need to move on this as quickly as possible." As he looked around at the faces staring at him, he caught an odd look on his sister's face. "Isabel, what is it?'

Isabel hesitated for a second, wondering if she should tell him about the dream walk. "No, nothing." She shook her head. "You're right, we should leave tonight."

Liz began to discuss what went on with her vision and the group started to plan a course of action. They only had a few hours to stop her vision and everything had to be done just right.

Tess sang softly while she rocked Zan for his nap. His eyes were heavy but they kept opening up ever so slightly, fighting sleep from taking over. She was amazed by his tiniest movements. Tess kissed her son on the forehead tenderly before laying him down in the crib. She turned back, looking at the hybrid behind her. "I'd be content just watching him. I'm so glad I was wrong."

"Wrong about what?" Ava walked closer to her.

"I had this feeling that Zan was in danger but he's fine." Tess was relieved to see her baby safe and happy. "Thank you for talking such good care of him."

"I'm not so sure he's out of danger," Ava replied. "Zsar, he'll do anything to accomplish his goals; even kill Zan if he thinks he posses a threat to his plans. And there's always Kivar…" Ava paused, biting at the corner of her lip. "And Loni, eventually she'll try to find him and do something."

Tess knew Ava was right even though she did not want to hear the words. "Then I'll have to find her first."

Ava just looked at her with a tense look on her face.

"You said yourself that there's a connection between me and Loni," Tess continued. "I just have to make it work the other way and use it to my advantage."

"What if she finds you first before you're ready?" Ava questioned with sincerity in her eyes.

"I want her to find me," Tess said plainly.

"What?" Ava's eyes grew wide.

"As long as she's alive, we're all in danger." Tess paused, then said thoughtfully, "But I need to keep Zan safe. There's a place you can go and keep him safe for me until I return."

"This ain't right Tess," Ava shook her head. "Zan needs his mother; what happens if you don't come back?"

"You told me I was the original," Tess was unwavering. "That's got to mean my gifts are stronger."

"Yeah but Loni's more experienced at using hers," Ava was biting at her lip again. "She taps into something evil."

"So what do you think I should do, just sit around and wait till she finds me and attacks my son?" Tess looked back at her sleeping child, and then back at her twin. "You told me you were sorry and that you wanted to make up for it, well here's your chance." Her tone was very serious.

Ava stood still for a moment, and then nodded slowly. "Where do I go?"

"Lubbock Texas," Tess smiled, remembering Estel's kind words.

If you ever need anything at all, you can always come back here.

"You'll have to pretend to be me though," Tess paused briefly. "You can do that, right? I remember Loni and Rath could impersonate Isabel and Michael."

"I can do it," Ava waved her hand over her face and down her body, mirroring Tess' image, then waved her hand back and returned to her own form. "I'm glad I can do this for you and that you trust me even though I'm not sure why you do."

"Because you've taken care of Zan just like he was your own, the way I would've." Tess looked at the only friend she had at this moment. She needed to trust her; she needed to trust the words Ava had spoken to her. "Because we're the same."

Michael and Maria sat in the jeep across the street from Earl's old address, crouched down in the seats waiting for the friend in Liz's vision to leave.

"Do you think Liz was sure it was happening tonight?" Maria peeked up from her slouched position. "I mean, he's taking a long time to come out of there."

"Keep your head down Maria; we don't want him to see us." Michael said in a rather annoyed voice. She had been babbling since they parked out front and it had begun to get on his nerves.

"Do you think he'll ever come out?" Maria continued with her endless questions. "Why do we always have to do the stakeouts?"

"Shhh, there he is." Michael whispered as a man came out of the house.

The man got in a white Nissan and started driving down the block with Maria and Michael following from a safe distance.

Maria retrieved the walkie-talkie from the glove box and held it up to her mouth. "We're following him now."

"Good, you know what to do." Max's voice came through the speaker.

Michael followed the car a few more blocks before speeding it up. "Brace yourself." He glanced at Maria for a moment before cutting in front of the man and slamming on the brakes. The nissan's tires screeched as it crashed into the jeep in front of it.

"Are you okay?" Michael reached over to check Maria.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She nodded.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" The man yelled as he stepped out of his car.

Michael exited the jeep quickly. "You slammed into me guy." He enjoyed detaining people.

"I don't have time for this," he began walking back to his car.

"You're not going anywhere," Michael walked over to the Nissan and placed his hand on the hood. "Who's gonna pay for my car?"

The two ensued in an argument just as Michael planned. He and Maria were to detain the man from reaching Earl and bringing him whatever it was Earl was thanking him for in Liz's vision. Maria got out the jeep and leaned against the door, suppressing the laughter that threatened to erupt watching the scene in front of her.

Isabel ran up to Max, who was standing by the van in the Convention Center's parking lot.

"I just saw him hanging around in the front near the crowd," Isabel said. "Was Michael able to stop his friend?"

Max smiled, and shook his head, replaying what Maria just told him. "He got in an accident with him."

A look of concern spread across Isabel's face.

"They're fine." Max replied. "He's arguing with him now over damages."

"Only Michael," Isabel smiled. "Let's go then." She began to walk around the side of the Convention Center as Max followed her.

The outside of the Convention Center was crowded with people gathering around and standing in lines out front. It was opening day of an event that was set to last the whole week and the hours had been extended.

Max and Isabel scanned the crowd, yet there was no sign of Earl.

"We should checked around back," Max suggested quietly.

The two of them searched around the back of the building and still no sign of who they were looking for. Max looked at the door for signs it'd been tampered with but found nothing. He put his hand over the door and unlocked it, silently telling Isabel they should check inside.

"Do you think he'd move ahead without him?" Isabel asked softly as she followed her brother through the corridors. "I though Liz said his friend was bringing him something important."

"Obviously not what we thought," Max replied as he opened another door, heading into the facility. "We have to find the bomb, maybe we should split up."

"No," Isabel's tone was resolute. She was not letting something happen like the Meta-Chem incident, they weren't splitting up.

Max nodded, knowing what she was thinking of. A soft beep came from his pocket all of the sudden. He reached into his jacket, pulling out the walkie-talkie and pressing down the button on the side. "What's going on Maria?"

"Max, this is Kyle." His voice came through the speaker, barely above a whisper. "Liz is gone."

Liz blasted the lock off of the emergency exit door located on the side of the building. Her powers were still new to her and somewhat undeveloped but she'd learned to control little things.

She'd been waiting in the van with Kyle for everyone else to take care of her vision when she decided to do something about it herself. She told Kyle she was going to wait outside for the others but ran across the parking lot to the building in front of her instead. She was sure, by now, he'd informed Max of her escape.

Liz looked around, trying to find objects that looked familiar from her visions. She crept down a set of stairs that led to the basement area. She walked across the room slowly and approached a door leading to another room. Liz steadied her hand on the handle; pushing down the lever with her thumb she opened it slowly. As she stepped inside, a pair of brown eyes stared into hers.

"He's not coming," Liz stated calmly. "I've come to help you."

"Who are you?" Earl asked, startled by her presence.

"I'm a friend," she said plainly. "You can't do this."

"Do what?" Earl had a strange feeling she knew everything but how. Did Billy tell someone?

"I know what it's like to lose someone you love," Liz thought of Alex. Her thoughts had drifted to him more than usual as of late. "And to have someone murder them and get away with it; it doesn't seem fair, does it?"

Earl studied her for a moment. There was something in her eyes that spoke the truth. "No, it doesn't seem fair."

"They never caught the man who shot her?" It had been more of a statement than a question.

"How do you know so much?" He wondered if he was imagining this; he had been drinking quite a bit earlier.

"I told you, I'm a friend." Liz said simply. She now knew what her vision was about. She wasn't here just to stop the explosion; she was here to save him. "This won't bring Emma back Earl, it'll only make you lose yourself."

He stared at her, wondering if she was his guardian angel.

"I know what it's like to be consumed by grief and to want to push everyone else out of your life," Liz continued. "You have to stop this and turn yourself in and get the help you need."

"I'm not going to jail!" Earl became angry. "They killed her and they got away with it."

"So now you'll kill innocent people who had nothing to do with her death?" Liz questioned. "This isn't you. Do you think that's what she would want?"

"We grew up together and I was supposed to protect her," Earl buried his head in his hands. "She was the only one who was ever there for me."

"This is not the way to be there for her," Liz's tone was comforting. She could see she was getting through to him. "Where is it?"

He knew what she was looking for. "It's in the corner but it's too late," Earl replied. "I can't turn it off."

"How long do we have?" Liz questioned.

"About fifteen minutes," He looked just as worried as she did.

"Call the police and I'll take care of the bomb," Liz ordered.

"You must be an angel." Earl said before dialing 911 on the cell phone.

Liz began to pace the floor. Think Liz, Think.

"Liz," Max came up behind her with Isabel following closely behind.

"The bomb's going to detonate," Liz turned to face him. "The cops are on their way but it might be too late."

"Is, get Earl into the other room," Max commanded.

Isabel lead Earl out of the room and closed the door behind her. Max placed his hand over the began to glow as he concentrated on adjusting the mechanics inside of the explosive device. After a few moments, his hand stopped glowing and the timer on the bomb stopped with 30 seconds remaining. Liz and Max quickly exited the room, joining Isabel and Earl. They could hear a knocking coming from the door above the steps.

"We know you're down there," a voice called. "This is the police, open up."

"Don't worry," Liz half smiled. "Now you can save yourself by doing the right thing."

"Thank you for stopping me," Earl replied right before the door burst open and cops swarmed in.

Max, Liz, and Isabel exited through a side door and made it to the parking lot unseen through the chaos of people that were scampering after being told of the bomb threat. When they got in the van, Michael, Maria, and Kyle were already there waiting.

Kyle backed out of the parking lot and began heading down the street.

"What were you thinking Liz," Max paused briefly. "…going off like that?"

"I had to," Liz replied. "I had another vision and I knew it was him I was supposed to save. Grief can consume you and I know what that's like. I had to save him, we were the same."