A/N: I always seem to put them up later than I plan... sorry. There is alot of people in the end of the chapter so I hope it's not too hard to follow. As always, please review and thanks for reading. :)
Showdown
Ava climbed through the half-boarded door, tossing the duffel bag on the floor in front of her. She'd gone out, getting odds and ends for the journey she, Tess and baby Zan would be taking. Her eyes grew wide as she looked up at the statuesque alien standing before her.
"Ava," Liz spoke as the petite girl stumbled back.
"Liz?" Ava looked at her, then back at the young woman standing before her. She sighed a breath of relief as she realized who it was. "Isabel."
"If I were you I wouldn't look so relieved," Isabel said. "I've got a few questions for you."
"I figured," Ava shrugged.
"Let's start with why Alex?" Maria stepped forward. "Why use him? Why kill him?"
"I don't know," Ava was being truthful. "I wondered the same thing and all Loni would say is Nicholas said he was the one."
"Why send him away for so long?" Liz questioned. "Why say he was in Sweden?"
"So that he could finish decoding the book quickly and away from anyone who might break him out of the mind warp," Ava paused briefly. "Leanna came up with the Sweden thing."
"I still don't understand how she's a skin," Liz was always being the scientist. "We checked her blood."
"Tess didn't explain it to you?" Ava watched Isabel shake her head no. "They're parasitic; the husk is made up of human tissue."
"Like the terminator," Kyle said enthusiastically. He continued after they turned towards him with strange looks on their faces. "You know, metal skeleton with living tissue on the outside."
Ava had a thoughtful look on her face, and then nodded. "Sort-of, except what's inside is living too."
Michael thought about Courtney and how she slipped out of one husk and into the other. "I get it, what I don't get is you."
Ava's face scrunched up as she looked back at him. "What?"
"Say Tess didn't kill Alex," Michael walked around her slowly. "You helped them set her up and now what? You're her best friend?"
"I am sorry for what I did to Tess but I was so scared of Loni and Rath," Ava was slightly intimidated by Michael but didn't show it. "I watched them kill Zan like it was nothing but Tess has forgiven me and I'm going to make it up to her."
Isabel knew what she was talking about. "You're not taking Zan anywhere?"
"Why, because he's your family?" Ava rolled her eyes. "I've seen how you treat your family Vilandra."
"That's not who I am," Isabel was fuming.
"Isn't it?" Ava spat. "You're not gonna treat Zan like that; it'll be over my dead body."
"That could be arranged," Michael said matter-of-factly.
"Stop it!" Liz stood between Ava and the other aliens, looking between them. "All of you! We all have blame in this."
"What are you saying Liz?" Maria looked at her best friend. "You believe Tess is innocent?"
"I don't know," Liz shook her head slowly. "I just don't know." She turned and walked away to the other side of the room.
Max stepped through the doorway, noticing that this room was much cleaner than the other areas of the building he'd seen. He took in Tess' demeanor; she looked unnerved and almost surprised to see him which he found a bit strange. She could usually sense him before he said a word.
"I didn't mean to startle you," Max said.
"It wasn't you who startled me," Tess rubbed her forehead. Making the connection with Loni had taken a bit out of her. "So where are the others?"
"Downstairs," Max answered.
"So what are you doing here Max?" Her tone was flip. "I told you, I don't need your help."
"I beg to differ," Max said as he looked around. His eyes fixated on the crib by the wall. Zan was moving. He was attempting to pull himself up, holding onto the sides.
Tess walked over to the crib and scooped Zan up in her arms. She looked down at the big blue eyes that stared back at her. "Do you want to hold him?" She turned to face Max.
Max walked up to her and took Zan from her arms. He held him up, looking his son over as if he couldn't believe he was actually holding him. "He's gotten big."
"He has," Tess nodded as she watched Max, who was grinning, play with Zan. "We have to go soon."
"You can't send him off with Ava," Max stated as if she were asking his permission.
"What are you going to do Max, ride around the world in a van with him?" Tess rolled her eyes. "Isabel told me about your little quest." She did not sound impressed.
"I don't trust her," Max ignored her statement.
"Well you don't trust me either," Tess paused briefly. "She'll keep him safe until I can take care of him myself. Say goodbye Max." She held her arms out to retrieve Zan. "Loni's coming."
Max looked at her, puzzled.
"It's the connection," Tess answered before he could ask. "I'm learning to make it go the other way and I have this feeling that she's coming very soon."
"Isabel said that something happened to your mind," Max said hesitantly, then exhaled a deep breath. "I was thinking, maybe I can fix it."
"Fix what?" Her eyes grew wide. "My mind? No way, absolutely not."
"If I can heal your mind then Loni wouldn't be able to track you and you wouldn't have to worry about her." Max looked down at his son then back at Tess. "Then you could take care of Zan." He walked over to the crib, placing him in it.
"I need the link so I can track her, use it to my advantage and take care of her once and for all," Tess replied.
"Not if she's coming here," Max countered. "We'll wait for her and…"
"And what?" Tess scoffed. "You don't even trust me and now you want to help me?"
"I want to help our son," Max replied. "We're on the same side where he's concerned." He didn't want to admit it but he was concerned for her too.
"How can we be on the same side when you don't believe me?" Tess rolled her eyes. "Liz," she said the name in disgust. "She tells you I killed Alex and you don't even question her."
"You admitted it," His voice rose.
"That's not the point," Tess spat, her eyes becoming slits.
"Then what is?" Max exclaimed.
"You wouldn't even hear me out," Tess was fuming. "I was your wife Max or doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"Well so is she!" Max replied then fell silent as they both heard Zan's cries.
Tess turned around and picked up Zan, hiding the hurt in her eyes. Why do I still care so much? She jiggled him around until he calmed down, then placed him in the crib and handed him a toy. "You married her?" Her tone was normal now, almost soft. "Why does that surprise me?"
Neither of them spoke a word for a few minutes. The tension was so thick, you could cut it with a knife; still neither made a move to leave. After a moment, Max began to speak again.
"We were different people then," He ran a hand through his hair. "Zan and Ava, who we were… they're gone."
Tess nodded her back still towards him.
"Tess," Max wanted to say something, anything, but he couldn't find the words. There was a part of Zan that was still alive within him and that part of him still cared for Ava, still cared about her. "I want to help you ensure Zan's safety."
"Will you do something for me then?" Tess turned around to see him nod. "Take Ava and our son and get them to safety. I'll take care of the rest."
"I can't leave you to face them alone," Max replied.
"You're not obligated to me anymore," Tess gave a smirk. "I can handle it."
"I don't doubt that," Max replied. "But I'd feel better knowing you were okay and taking care of Zan instead of someone else."
"Are you okay Tess?" Ava stepped into the room.
"Yes," Tess turned towards her. "Max has agreed to take you and Zan to Estel's."
"Isn't this Estel expecting you?" Max questioned.
"Ava," Tess said, silently telling her to show Max. Ava waved her hand over her body as she transformed into an identical twin of Tess. "She'll never know the difference."
"I…" Max began but she cut him off.
"You should go," Tess picked up Zan and held him close to her. He reached up, yanking softly on one of her curls as he smiled up at her. She kissed him tenderly on his forehead. "Mommy loves you so much. I'll see you soon Zan, I promise." Tess kissed her son again, then handed him to Ava. "Max," her eyes were pleading.
"Under one condition," Max said as he stepped towards her. "You let me heal you."
"Are you okay?" Maria sat on the crate next to Liz.
Liz exhaled deeply. "No," She shook her head. "I'm not. I should be happy that Tess didn't betray all of us but I'm worried."
"About Max?" Maria had a confused look on her face. "Liz, Max loves you; you know that."
"I know he does but he was with Tess," Liz replied. "If she hadn't been set up, they might still be together."
"You don't know that," Maria rolled her eyes. "Ana anyways, he would've never slept with her if he hadn't been in such a bad place. Alex died, Isabel was leaving, Michael was being Michael and you…"
"I pushed him into her arms," Liz cut her off as she laid her head in the palm of her hand. "I know that Max loves me but he must love her too and they have a son."
"He married you," Maria replied.
"He married her too Maria," Liz retorted.
"In another life," Maria reached over to hold her hand. "He loves you in this one."
Liz froze the moment Maria touched her hand. As she gasped for air, her mind suddenly flooded with image of a man attacking Max and Liz sobbing in Maria's arms.
Michael, Kyle, and Isabel rushed over, hearing Maria calling Liz's name over and over.
Liz came out of her translucent state and looked around at the four sets of eyes that were staring at her.
"What did you see Liz?" Michael questioned.
"Someone's coming," Liz stood up quickly, her eyes threatening to fill with tears. "I think Max is going to die."
The five of them turned around quickly as the wood that was hammered across portions of the doorway were blasted inside. Immediately after Loni, Rath, Leanna and another woman entered through the hole now in the side of the wall. The four of them stood with their arms out in front of them as well as Michael, Isabel, and Liz.
Loni stood a few steps in front of her group of aliens. "Where's Tess?"
It took some convincing but Max as well as Ava finally got Tess to agree to let him heal the damage done by Loni. At first Max questioned Ava's motives for helping Tess but she explained her side and how sorry she was.
Ava told Max how alone she felt since her Zan died and how in the short time Tess and her son had become her only family and that she would d anything to set them free. He wasn't completely convinced but decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and take her at her word.
Max was now standing in front of Tess. He put his hands around her head, leaving about two inches of space between them and her. He stared at her intensely; his breathing slowing as she lightly closed her eyes and let her defenses down.
Max concentrated deeply, feeling out the damage that had been done as he started to heal it. His mind begun to experience flashes of her past life first: Ava as a small child running through a field of indigo colored grass, her diving off of Dimaras Rock into the red water below, their wedding, and finally her death.
His eyes felt heavy as he delved deeper into her mind. Soon more flashes came: Tess breaking out of the pod and finding them gone, the first time she saw him in this life, what happened in New York between her and Loni, them making love, and a pregnant Tess flying off in the granilith seeing Liz already in his arms. He could feel all of her emotions as he healed her.
His heart began to beat faster as he finished the healing process. Still more visions clouded him: Tess arriving on Antar, the birth of Zan, Kivar attacking her, her escape, a kind woman who took care of her and finally finding Zan. It had taken maybe a minute but with all he had seen, it felt like hours.
Max stepped back as the connection ceased, his breathing labored as he steadied himself against the couch. Tess felt an immediate relief after Max was done. The dull pain in her head was finally gone. She opened her eyes and noticed how uneasy he now looked.
"Are you okay Max?" The look of his face was making her nervous.
Max looked up at her; his eyes full of caring, admiration, and sorrow. "Are you okay?"
"Max, what is it?" Tess looked worried. Had something gone wrong?
He reached out, taking her hands into his. "I'm so sorry Tess." He'd seen everything and felt everything that she'd felt. He felt like he'd let her down. Max wished he could think of more to say to her but he couldn't seem to find the words. "I am so sorry for everything."
"Wh -What?" Tess stopped, knowing what he was talking about. She felt uncomfortably vulnerable; he'd seen all her memories, her thoughts, her feelings. She pulled her hands from his. "Don't Max." She did not want or need his sympathy.
Max just looked at her with such sadness in his eyes. She never betrayed me. I let her down. What am I going to do?
"Don't feel sorry for me," Tess took a step back. "I'm fine."
"I…" Max stopped midsentance as they heard a crash coming from downstairs.
They looked at each other for a second than dashed towards the door.
"Stay behind us with Zan," Tess ordered as they came down the stairs. She heard Loni questioning the others about her. "You want me," Tess stood in front of Isabel and Michael. "Come and get me bitch."
"Look who's all grown up," Loni gave a cold smile, and then looked to the blonde standing behind Tess. "How cute, now there's two of you."
"I bet Tess is the one wit the baby," Rath replied.
Loni placed her hand on the side of her head, tying to connect to see which one was actually Tess.
"What's wrong?" Leanna asked.
"My connection…" Loni looked angry.
"Is gone," Max was now standing next to Tess. "You won't be reading her thoughts anytime soon."
"Max, this has nothing to do with you." Loni almost laughed. "How 'bout you guys go back to Mayberry and let us grownups talk. Tana," she looked at the other woman with them. "Get the baby."
"I've had enough talking," Tess blasted Loni to the ground. "You will never touch my son."
Rath held his hand up; attempting to blast Tess but Max created a shield, sending the blast back towards the alien with the mohawk. Loni threw a ball of yellow-orange light, which seemed to be pure energy, at Liz. The impact tossed her across the room, slamming into some old crates before she crashed into the concrete floor.
"Liz!" Max blasted Loni, hitting her into the wall. He rushed to his wife's side and helped her to her feet.
Loni tried to get up but Tess stunned her back to the ground, attacking her with her powers over and over again. Tess could feel her powers getting stronger as she overpowered the reject princess. She was angry. Loni had stolen her whole life from her and she wouldn't stand idly by and let her continue to be threat to her son.
Tess felt the energy growing within her as she stood over Loni's laying body. She felt the energy building up as she saw this bright ball of white light forming in her hand. She was just about to finish Loni off when she felt something knock the wind out of her. When she looked up, she was lying on the floor and Nicholas was standing before her.
Michael got in between the two of them and blasted Nicholas but it barely moved him.
"I'm glad you kids worked it out," Nicholas replied arrogantly. "Now I can kill you at the same time, again."
"I don't think so," Tess blasted him from the ground then glanced at Michael. They attacked him at the same time, knocking him to the floor this time. He tried to fight back but Tess and Michael were relentless.
Loni had risen from the ground and shot an energy ball at her look-alike. Isabel fought back and they each exchanged blast but they seemed to offset on another.
Nicholas got up and smiled, seeing Rath behind them. He had run to the tiny room and pulled Ava, along with the baby out in the open.
"We're just gonna take the kid and go," Nicholas said, alerting them to what had taken place.
Ava looked at Tess, and then their eyes darted to Rath and back to each other .Tess nodded slightly as Ava jerked back and kicked Rath away from her. Tess blasted him from across the room as Ava squatted to the floor and created a protective green bubble around her and baby Zan. Rath tried to attack but he felt a shock from the force field that was now surrounding them.
Loni threw her arm to the side, slamming Isabel into the wall. She dashed towards Tess and blasted the petite blonde in he back. Tess stumbled to keep her balance and turned quickly to return the attack.
Michael and Rath were now going head to head as Leanna attacked Liz and Nicholas went after Max. Loni threw an onset of blows at Tess, hurling her to the cement floor. She winched in pain as she rolled over, facing her attacker.
Michael finally blasted Rath into the wall, all his energy bursting to the surface as the alien with the Mohawk slid to the floor unconscious.
Tess felt the energy building up in her but she knew that Loni would not give her the chance.
"It's been a real blast," Loni gave one last crocked smile before her body exploded into dust.
They all stopped, looking at the man who just blew Loni into ash. He walked over Tana's lifeless body that lay on the floor as if it were a rug.
"Who is that?" Isabel questioned as she balanced herself against the wall, her body sore from the beating she'd just taken.
Max stared at him for a moment, not remembering his face but knowing his essence. He knew immediately who it was. This was another one of his enemies; maybe even worse than Kivar. A look of disdain came across his face as he spoke the man's name, "Zsar."