Thanks everyone for your feedback! Here's the next part. ;)


Chapter 2

6:00 pm-Roswell

"5,005…"

"No, I think we're at 5,007."

"Are you sure? I only count 5,005…well 5,006 now." Max asks turning back to face the screen.

"How could you not have seen that guy just kill two guys at once!" Michael asks incredulously jumping from his spot on the couch.

"Max, do you really want to argue with him? He's probably seen 'Braveheart' at least twenty more times than you have." Tess says grinning at their attempt at a correct body count.

"You know, she's right Maxwell. I have seen this more times than you have. Just admit defeat." Michael answers sitting down while popping another piece of popcorn into his mouth satisfied.

"I am NOT admitting defeat." He says stubbornly. "And you." He says turning on Tess. "You're supposed to be on MY side." He says poking her in the arm for emphasis.

"Well, what can I say Maxwell? My sister is just smart enough to know who's right. She's not going to just pick you because you're her boyfriend." Michael answers smugly.

"Is that true?" Max asks sullenly beside his girlfriend.

"Well…" Tess says trying to stall.

"Tess, just save him time and tell him that you'd pick your brother over him any day." Michael says not even moving his eyes away from the screen.

"Sorry Max, I'd pick my brother over you any day." Tess answers while miming to Max that she'd pick him over Michael.

"I understand." Max answers in a disappointed voice while fighting to hide his smile.

"See Maxwell, told you you'd never win." Michael answers still focused on the movie where three more people have already been added to the body count.

"You're right Michael." Max says satisfied and slips his arm around his girlfriend pulling her in closely to whisper in her ear. "Good answer." He whispers receiving a giggle from Tess.

"Uggh, Maxwell. This is why I wanted to have a guy's night." Michael says disgustingly from his position. "I can't properly count up the number of bodies with you over there groping my sister."

"I am NOT groping your sister."

"Well, it looked like you were doing something a minute ago." Michael says suspiciously.

"Well, I wasn't gr-"

"Guys…guys!" Tess shouts effectively stopping their arguing. Turning back to Max she gives him a little peck on the cheek. "It's okay Max, I'll just go see what Izzy's doing. Okay?" She asks waiting for a complaisant answer.

"Okay."

"Good. Now you boys behave." She says in a motherly voice moving towards the stairs. "Oh, and Michael," She says turning back at the foot of the stairs. "Don't think I won't get you back for your little comment later." Tess answers secretively twirling a blonde curl around her finger.

"Oooh. I'm shaking." Michael mutters under his breath.

"What was that?" Tess questions raising one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows.

"Nothing. Tell Izzy I said hi." Michael answers never missing a beat. "OH CRAP!" Michael yells jumping up from the couch and beating at his clothes furiously. "Well don't just stand there Maxwell! Help me!" He yells.

"Help you with what?" Max asks confused.

"With what! With the huge-ass spider crawling all over m-me." Michael answers, realization dawning. "That wasn't funny Tess." Michael warns angrily in the direction of the giggling blonde.

"Oh come on Michael, you deserved it for that groping comment. And besides, I think it's cute that you're afraid of spiders. Big ol' bad-ass alien afraid of little spiders. It's cute." She gets out between giggles.

"I am NOT afraid of spiders. Maxwell, will you tell my sister that I am NOT afraid of spiders? Maxwell? Maxwell?" When Max doesn't answer he turns back to see Max sprawled out on the floor. "Maxwell this isn't funny. Get up." He yells nudging Max with his foot.

"What's wrong Michael?" Tess asks changing from laughing to fearful in a second. Michael ignores her and continues.

"Maxwell!" Still receiving no answer he kneels down beside him and feels for a pulse. Feeling a weak one he turns to Tess. "Tess, go get Isabel. Something's wrong with Max!" Michael yells trying desperately to revive him. Without question Tess charges up the stairs.

"ISABEL!"

"Maxwell, wake up. Fine! You win! It was 5,005." He says frantically trying to heal him but not finding anything physically wrong with him.

"What happened!" Isabel asks hysterically running down the stairs taking them two at a time, Tess hot on her heels.

"I don't KNOW!" Michael answers worriedly. "He just collapsed or something. I thought he was joking, but he won't wake up! I tried healing him. There's nothing physically wrong with his body. He should be awake!" He answers letting Isabel take over and moves to stand next to his sister taking her frightened form in his arms.

"Max? Max!" Isabel yells frightened leaning over his prostrate body when suddenly he sits up gasping for air. "Max! Are you okay?"

"Max." Tess breathes out rushing to his side.

"Aislinn." He whispers, eyes not focusing on anything.

"Max. Are you okay?" Isabel repeats. As if someone had just splashed cold water on him he becomes aware of his surroundings.

"W-what happened?"

"You passed out. We couldn't wake you up." Michael supplies.

"I-I saw a girl."

"A girl?" Tess echoes a little wary.

"Yeah. She was running from this guy…he-he hit her. She was so scared. She tried to stop him; he was too strong for her…he pulled a gun on her…"

"Oh God; did he kill her?" Isabel asks worried.

"That's just it. Right as he was about to pull the trigger…she blasted him." He muttered confused.

"Blasted him?" Michael questions; looking around trying to gauge everyone else's reactions to this news. "What? Like with powers?" He asks earning an affirmative nod from Max.

"For some reason I could feel everything she was feeling. After she blasted him she felt sadness, she knew him and…and he killed someone she loved. I could feel her fear…she was scared, not just for herself but for someone else too. And-and I felt her confusion."

"Confusion?" Isabel parrots.

"Yeah, she was confused over how she could blast him. She was under the impression her powers weren't working against him. Something about this device he had in his pocket."

"Well, if she couldn't use her powers on him, how was she able to-?"

"Me."

"Max, what are you talking about?" Tess asks confused at the meaning of his words.

"I said…me. She somehow connected with me and used my power. I don't think she knows she did it though."

"What! But how is that even possible? We don't even know her. How could she even do that?" Tess spits out incredulously jumping to her feet and pacing the floor.

"I don't know about that Tess." He says thoughtfully.

"You mean you recognize her? Do we know her?" Michael wonders aloud.

"Well, I don't think we've met her, but when I saw her…one name filled my mind. Aislinn. I-I think she's one of us." At everyone's cautious looks he continues. "I mean how else could she connect with me to use my power?"

"You guys don't honestly believe this do you!" Tess cries out incredulously. "This could be something cooked up by our enemies to trick us and you guys are just eating it up!"

"Tess, I know what I felt. I can feel it. She's one of us. Besides, out of all of us you should be the least likely to question this. You and Nacedo didn't find us until five years ago. How do we know that you weren't sent by our enemies to trick us?" He bites out frustrated.

"I see." Tess says quietly tears filling her eyes.

"Max!" Isabel bites out harshly. Realizing how that sounded he stands up and moves to where Tess stands crying.

"Tess. Tess, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it…" He tries moving his arms to wrap around her body. Hurt, she shoves him away.

"If you didn't mean it, you wouldn't have said it." She says moving a hand up to wipe away a tear. "I thought you knew me Max. God, Max we are supposed to be together. It's our destiny, how can that be when you don't trust me?"

"I'm sorry Tess, I didn't mean to say that. I just don't see why you're freaking out."

"Well how do you want me to react Max? You passed out minutes ago and we had no idea what was wrong with you! I thought you were going to die! Then you wake up and tell us you saw a girl. That you had a 'connection' with her? What, am I just supposed to jump for joy! Yay! The guy I'm supposed to be with is dreaming of another girl! Woohoo!" She shouts out sarcastically throwing her arms in the air.

"Tess-"

"NO! I'm not done." She yells moving away from his arms. "And then you DEFEND her, without even knowing who she is or considering the fact that she might be an enemy. Did you consider the fact that there are only FOUR pods…how COULD she be one of us! And-and then," she continues hysterically, "in effort to defend HER you ignore everything you know about me and accuse ME of being an enemy. ME Max. ME. Now tell me which part of all that I am not supposed to freak out about. Huh?" Silence fills the room. "That's what I thought." Turning on her heel, she storms out the door.

"Nice going Max." Isabel says angrily rushing out the door after Tess.

"Well, it appears you really screwed up this time Maxwell." Michael says clapping his hand down on Max's shoulder. "Don't worry, she'll get over it. Although she did have some strong points, Max. There are only four pods…how COULD this girl be one of us?"

"I don't know Michael. I just know that she is. I can feel it."

"You can feel it? You're going to have to do a lot better than that Max."

"Well I CAN'T Michael. That's the best I can do. I just feel it."

"Well, do you even know where this girl is?"

"Aislinn."

"What?" Michael asks confused.

"Her name is Aislinn."

"Well, do you know where 'Aislinn' is?"

"No. The only thing I could distinguish is that it was in a city." He answers sitting down on the couch and bringing his head to rest in his hands.

"Well do you know anything about this 'Aislinn' besides her name?" Do you know what she looks like?

"What's weird Michael, is, I remember exactly what she looks like…and she looked a lot like you."