Summary: (AU) Liz meets another alien while trying to escape from Roswell and the events of the end of Season 1 (the cave - you all know what I mean!)

Could this stranger, friend or foe, hold the key the Liz's own destiny?

Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell so I'm not taking any of the credit from the creators for this fantastic show. Pity: I'd soo love to be mega-rich by now - and better yet, hold creative license over Tess' head (behave, vixen!) :D The OC's are mine, and I will fight viciously to keep them!

I should also probably mention that the actual Auron (its design and its name) are not mine, but it's purpose in relation to this story ie. What it does and what it is meant to represent is different and original to this story!

Reviews: You guys' just keep on coming back – thanks soo so much!

To XxXSarXxX: Thank you muchly for reviewing! I am so glad you love my story, but that you think it's unique – I feel so honoured. I hope chapter five doesn't disappoint you!

To KT: Thanks for coming back for more – and I can promise that Liz's powers will start to develop soon. This chapter might give you an idea of what to expect. As for the rest of the gang, they won't make an appearance until Chapter Seven, but they are coming! Promise!

To Just Me: But you gotta admit I do evil soo well! Cliffhangers are sort of in style now, anyway … but enough from me! I'm glad Chapter Four didn't disappoint, but if you're on to me, don't give away all my secrets, yet – pleeaase! Akela is a character that could swing either way, so you'll just have to wait and see which side she likes better! But I'm glad you think I'm capturing Liz's character correctly – I was so worried about that part of this story, but maybe I haven't dropped the ball yet! And now that my response is longer than your review, you're just gonna have to send me an extra long one …

Previously:

"I know I am right, Elizabeth - but let me prove it to you. There is a test - a way of knowing if you are the one destined to be the Zai'era." Here Liz broke through the haze that was filling her mind and pushed herself up to stand as she began to back away from Akela.

"No, no - you're wrong. I'm not special; I don't have powers. I am human - I'm not like you! I was born here, on Earth, to human parents! I'm not the one you are searching for!" Akela sat still, watching Liz with searching eyes. Her smile changed, morphed into a slight smirk. The way Liz had broken free, and was now edging towards the door as she continued to shake her head in denial, did not bother her.

She wasn't ready to let Liz leave yet; and without her permission, Liz Parker wasn't going anywhere.

And now on to the next chapter …

Chapter Five: There's a Little Alien in All of Us - Part Two

Akela licked her lips in anticipation as she began to draw in her trap, using her newly acquired knowledge that she had taken from deep within Liz's mind.

"There is no point in denying what is the truth, Elizabeth. I have seen all that you are and there is nothing you could say that will make me change my mind. As for you, on the other hand …"

Liz was right when she had said she had been born human; but that was now only a half truth, for the real truth was she had become so much more. Akela had felt the difference in her before, but now she understood where it came from. This Max - Liz's connection to him was searingly strong; so strong that her body had accepted his gift of life in a way Akela was sure neither of them had anticipated. And now, Liz was no longer fully human. She had become part alien - joined to Max's power and made otherworldly by it. Akela had decided it was time Liz knew what she now did, and her voice lowered until it was so soft Liz felt herself instinctively relax.

"Today was not the first time you had faced a gun, was it?"

Her back was pushed firmly against the doorframe as memory flashes shot through her mind at lightening speed. Liz reluctantly shook her head, and Akela had to fight another smile as it became clear that she now had Liz's undivided attention.

"To bring someone back from the dead the way this Max did, would take powers that any connection would need to share. I don't think he meant to do it, or even if he himself is aware of the change, but it has happened, and you are no longer the person you think you are."

Liz had followed the sound of Akela's voice further into the room. She was still standing, and her heart still fluttered as her feet wanted to run as far as she could as fast as she could, but her inner voice had stopped screaming and she wanted to understand what Akela was telling her. Even though Akela still sat on the same cushion below her, Liz did not seem to need to look down to meet her gaze. The look in her eyes almost seemed to mock her, enjoying her bemused confusion, but when she looked closer, all Liz could find was a calm assurance and a friendly concern that almost melted her defenses once more.

"When Max healed your first gunshot wound, bringing you back to life as a result, you became more than mere human. You share a part of his gift, Elizabeth. You may not be aware of it yet, but it is growing within you and I can feel the power emanating from your aura. But even were you completely powerless, you could still be the Zai'era. Power is not important - the Zai'era herself need not have any. It is said she would be known only by the prophesied connection with the Auron, a charm of incredible power that could only be channeled by the Zai'era. That would be your test. If you are who I know you to be, you can bring the Auron to life. Once you are joined, then the test will be complete - and you will know for sure if I speak truth or not."

Liz held her breath, not daring to move in case she somehow validated Akela's arguments. She didn't want to believe what Akela was saying - it couldn't be true; it was just too crazy. But, crazy had been her life for too long, and in a strange way, Akela's arguments made weird a kind of sense. Knowing that Akela was waiting for a response, Liz came to a slow decision and gave a nervous half shrug.

"Ok, I'll do it - but, only so I can prove that I'm not who you think I am. When nothing happens, then I guess I'll have proved my point."

Akela's only response was a smug smile, and Liz began to feel increasingly uncertain. She wasn't sure, but she had a strange inkling that she was now exactly where the alien girl wanted her to be.

Akela raised her hand and turned her head to face the far wall to her left. Liz also turned to follow her gaze, preparing for the worst, but all she saw was an intricately carved box on a small stand. Her eyes widened in awe, as with a flick of her wrist, Akela made the box levitate into the air, hovering for a moment before traveling the distance between them with a lazy speed as Akela crooked a come-hither finger. There was no point in trying to hide her awestruck expression from Akela; she caught the emotions even with her head still turned away and as she reached out to take the box from the air with light fingers, she chuckled. Sending a roguish grin Liz's way from under a few loose dark curls, she turned her head as she said, "Wait until you see what the Auron can do!" Instead of responding in like, Liz merely ducked her head, avoiding Akela's gaze as the phrase echoed unpleasantly in her mind. She didn't find the thought in the least comforting.

Holding the box with one hand, Akela gestured towards the cushion, a slight smile the only sign left of her previous amusement. It was time for Liz to be joined to the Auron; time to end it's never ending call. Liz seemed to move towards the cushions without realizing she had, and with a shake of her head, she stilled her feet and tried once more to read past the emotions on Akela's face. The trust was still there inside of her, but Liz had a feeling that Akela knew more of what would happen than she appeared to let on. There was no point in freezing up though, and after straightening her shoulders, she moved back towards the cushions and sat down in the same place she had chosen before.

Without leaving Liz's gaze, Akela lifted the box and with a nod of her head, gestured for Liz to hold out her hands. With only a slight hesitation, Liz bought her hands together and held them open away from her body. Akela nodded her approval, and placed the box gently into Liz's grasp, pulling back only gently. It seemed to happen as soon as Akela pulled away; the box began to glow with a bright light and Liz could feel the power pulsing from the object into her veins. She never noticed the slight flick of Akela's wrist as she pulled away, nor the satisfaction in her eyes at Liz's submission. The box opened itself with a swift click, the lid falling back and the light inside dimming so that Liz could see what was within. The Auron itself looked delicate and Liz almost believed it would be completely harmless, but that thought quickly faded, as the charm itself seemed to hum with its own power, calling to Liz to lift it out of the box.

Liz didn't question how Akela knew to reach out at that time to take the wooden box from her; she was only focused on taking the Auron out of the box. It was a beautifully unpretentious charm about the size of Liz's two palms, made up of two wingless dragons that twisted and circled around each other and seemed to be trying to consume each other from their ends. The scales were made from a metal that seemed similar to yellow, rose, and white gold, with the rose-headed one flashing sapphire eyes and the other flashing ruby eyes in a head of pure white. Liz held her breath as she reached in with shaking fingertips, but as soon as the charm lay in her palms, there was a strong blaze of blue-white light that surrounded the Auron and then Liz herself. Akela did not flinch from the reaction; in fact, she seemed only to smile in contentment as if what had occurred was exactly what she was expecting.

The Auron knew what it had to do: it merged itself to the flesh on Liz's forehead in a blinding burst and with that, Liz's eyes glowed with the same blue light. The connection bought her instantaneous knowledge, and the flashes of memories of each Zai'era of the past become Liz's burden. Just as quickly, the Auron changed from light, back into the charm she had held in her hands, firmly implanted on her forehead before fading into her skin. Throwing her head back as the power fused itself with her body, Liz clenched her fists and stiffened reflexively. The knowledge receded into the depths of her subconscious and the charm appeared to shrink and shift its shape into a much smaller version on a chain around her neck. When Liz opened her eyes again, they had returned to their normal, chocolate brown color, and with a shaky sigh, she lifted her hands to feel her forehead as if the weight of the Auron still pressed against her flesh. Finding nothing, she looked confused, and shot an uncertain glance down at the chain that hung to her chest as her fingers moved of their own accord to stroke the warm metal. Lifting her head to meet Akela's knowing stare, Liz flinched at her words.

"I knew I was right about you - you are the Zai'era. Welcome to your new destiny, Elizabeth!"

Next Chapter:

Chapter Six: Knowledge is Power

Liz never wanted to be anymore than what she was – a good student and a future microbiologist. And she definitely wasn't ready to accept a destiny that would make her as different as the "Czechs" back home. Stuck in the Auron's grasp when all she wanted was to ignore this new revelation, whom can she turn towards to make sense of what is happening to her? And whose plan is she following now: hers, or theirs?

AN: And so the path grows even more twisted and strange! Liz has found her own destiny that is probably just as strange if not stranger than the one the Pod Squad is faced with! That is, if she accepts it – but considering her motto used to run along the lines of "You choose your own destiny", that path may not be the one she intends to walk along. Guess you're just going to have to come back and read chapter six to find that out!

The little purple box is still sitting there, so just give in already and send me a review to let me know what you think. That means you have to come back to at check out the next chapter – no choice in the matter!

Ciao ciao xxxx