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 to 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 basic design – though a little altered here – 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: Thanks for all the reviews; I'm soo glad some of you are still reading my little story:
To XxXSarXxX: Wow – I could have sworn you just channeled Maria for that review and that means a lot! Thanks! I hope this story keeps your interest!
To KT: Heehe – Akela has only just started to play her games; but yeah, unless I was on her side, I wouldn't trust her either! As for Liz's destiny: I can't go telling you anything about that, but don't be so sure she isn't already facing it! Or wasn't … ok, now I'm confusing myself! But thanks so much for coming back and reviewing!
To Dreamer's Oasis: Actually, that's a pretty close analogy; the Zai'era's a little more original and gonna get a lot more complicated, but, man – you got my story all figured out already! NOO! I'm just going to have to work harder to mystify you! Thanks for reviewing, and I promise the rest of the gang will show up in Chapter Seven onwards …
And to Just Me: You could start a story with that review – thanks muchly! I can't spill the beans on any possible connections between the Pod Squad and Akela, so I'm not gonna say a word! And that was neither confirmation nor denial! HAH! I think you've got the measure of Akela, and your concerns about Liz are not unwarranted – but hey, read on and maybe you'll see for yourself!
And now on to the next chapter …
Chapter Six: Knowledge is Power
The sharp clang of metal on metal filled her ears, and she tried to focus on that sound rather than the echo of the screams of dying men that still seemed to race with the winds. Under her feet lay the bodies of the many armies that had faced this warrior before her, but she tried to not let their frozen faces seep into her vision. They had failed to stop the unnatural monster that was laying waste to her home, but she couldn't - she was the last hope, and if she failed, then there would be no chance for her people. Her feet kept sliding in the shiny patches where blood pooled with the mud, but she kept a firm grip on her weapon and parried a low shot, using the momentum to swing high and slash at one her opponents left arms. She tried not to notice that the once green field around her was forever stained a blackened red.
With a sudden screech, her opponent charged her, his bony wings stretched out to use the wind as a propulsion force to give his blade more power. Timing it right, she waited until the last moment to swing beneath the unfolded wings, pivoting on her foot to turn and bring her blade down with all her strength, severing the wings from her opponent's body with one shot. The war cry became a scream of pain and anguish, and her opponent dropped to his knees with a loud sound. The mud flew up and mixed with the blood spray across her front.
A swell of adrenaline pumped through her veins and the encircled dragon charm stamped into the front of her golden armor glowed with a vicious red. Her eyes flashed with the same color, and as the beast on its knees raised its head to snarl at her, she raised her sword once more and bought it down with excess force to slice off its head and cut into it's massive body. A wave of its blood washed across her armor and her face, but with a swipe to clear her eyes, she ignored the sticky wetness. Yelling out a fierce war cry of her own, she lifted the sneering head above her with an arm shaking as exhaustion began to catch up with her …
Liz awoke with a gasp, her forehead sheen with a frantic sweat and the bedclothes all tangled around her legs. Unnoticed, the charm that lay across her chest faded its blue glow as Liz grabbed it with a shaking hand to calm herself as she chanted her now usual mantra: "It's only a dream, it's only a dream, it's only a dream …" Once she had calmed enough to shake off the unnerving feeling that it was something more than a mere dream, Liz pushed off the sheets and quietly made her way to the adjoining bathroom. The clock beside her bed glowed a green 3:15, and with a start Liz realized she had been sleeping for less than four hours.
Once in the bathroom, she splashed icy water across her face, and drying it with the fluffy white towels provided, she leaned against the plastic counter and gazed into the mirror. The luminescent globe gave her skin a sickly hue, and shaking off a mental panic, she quickly turned away from her reflection and flicked the switch. Waiting by the bathroom door for her eyesight to become accustomed to the dark, she came to a realization that she couldn't ignore what was happening to her anymore.
It had been three days since she had run out on Akela. She had tried not to dwell on the events of that afternoon too much in the last few days, but having to lie to her mother about what she had been up to that day had bought it all home to her: that no matter how hard she had tried to escape the alien-ness of her life, it would never leave her alone. Sitting on the edge of her bed, Liz glared at the glowing green numbers on the bedside table and realized that she had to do something - and fast.
Dressing quietly was easy, but leaving the hotel room without her mother hearing her would be more difficult. Holding her breath as she tiptoed past her mother's open door made it easier to go slowly - her first instinct was to rush and she knew that in the process she would probably knock something over in her haste. Even though her heartbeat seemed to pulse through the room, her feet barely made a noise, helped along by the iciness of the white tiles in the foyer that seeped through her thin socks and forced her to keep on her toes.
Once she was outside the hotel, she was surprised at how quickly she found the warehouse that Akela had made into her sanctuary. As she had left in such a hurry, Liz was sure that it would have taken her a while to slow the memory down in order to back track, but checking her watch, she realized that not thirty minutes had passed. The area seemed eerily quiet, and Liz's inner voice returned abruptly to question why she had not seen a soul or heard a sound since she had left the hotel. A cold shiver made its way down Liz's spine, and with a hurried look behind her, she pushed her way into the building by squeezing through the chains that kept the doors bolted shut.
Once inside, her eyes now accustomed to the darkness she found within, she heard a faint sound of metal on metal that reminded her of the first images of her dream. Following the sound until she reached a large room towards the back of the building, Liz paused in the doorway and took in the sight before her.
The room was filled with rough sand and in the middle of the room was a large ring that was surrounded by a few large stones spread around the circle. The room was lit entirely with burning torches, but what Liz noticed straight away was the two figures in the center of the circle, swirling around each other with raised swords that clashed in their sparring. Akela had her black curls tied back in a high ponytail, her shoulders gleamed a shiny cream color under her sweat, and her striking sea green eyes flashing and alive with the exertion. A darkly tanned man with bulging muscles under a black tank top, swung and parried his larger sword against her, and Akela laughed with energy. But what she noticed more than anything else, and had her frozen in shock, was the ebony skeletal wings that sprouted from his back, elongated and glowing in the firelight.
As Liz pulled away from the sight she was seeing but not understanding, her one thought, that she had made a mistake in coming back, was interrupted by a silky voice behind her.
"Welcome back, Zai'era"
Liz started and turned towards the voice - the shadows shifted and a voluptuous female emerged with reddish black hair and a cat-like grin. Her features gave her a feline appearance but it was the flicking tail, that sweeped the air behind her, that had Liz stumbling backwards in turmoil. A familiar voice broke up the scene and Liz noticed for the first time that the clanging of swords had stopped.
"Ari, I have warned you to be delicate with Elizabeth - she is new to this!" Akela admonished with an affectionate inflexion. Before Liz exclaim, Akela continued as she came to stand between them.
" Her name is Ariane, and she is my Gor'uth. She has been my protector and confidant since I was four. And yes, that is a tail. Gor'uths are of a race that has similar traits to Earth's large cats. They are also predators, but this one is harmless!" As she said that last bit, she reached and pushed at Ari, who hissed half-heartedly through a partial grin.
As Liz wondered not for the first time how Akela always managed to answer her questions before she asked them, Akela again responded, with a slight chuckle.
"Haven't you heard my thought among your own, Elizabeth? I know what you are going to say before it is spoken because you have already shown me your question!"
Her smile however evaporated, as Liz seemed to only appear confused. There was an annoyed gleam in her eye, but she reached out with her hand, and laid two fingers against Liz's forehead, and to her surprise, and voice like Akela's spoke directly into her mind.
I cannot share with you if you keep your mind closed against the connection, for I do not wish to force my thoughts into your mind. Tell me what is wrong, Elizabeth. Open up to me, and I can help you
Liz closed her eyes as she felt the warm comfort of Akela's voice melting with her inner voice, and she began to relax. She tried to show Akela the dream through their connection by bringing the images back into her own thoughts, and she heard Akela's breathing change as she succeeded
There was a flash of recognition in the alien girl's eyes, but she pulled away into the flickering shadows before Liz could see it. Unaware, Liz began instead to talk, as if the words she had held back would not be contained any longer. She spoke of the feelings the Auron had goven her, and the impression she had been touched by another presences each time she had the dream. She told of snatches of memories that told of a great many things, but when she tried to pull them to the fore, they would disappear like melting fog. Her frustration was evident, and Akela took pity on her. With a grave nod, Akela put out a hand and once Liz had stopped, Akela spoke.
"The Auron has set the path for you to walk, Elizabeth. It has shown you the way, but like the others before you, you will have to start from the beginning and get there on your own. I can train you; help you to focus your mental barriers to control the Auron. Knowledge is power, Elizabeth, and you have both. You just have to learn to use it."
Liz nodded gratefully. She had been afraid that she was meant to walk the path alone, but knowing that Akela would be by her side for some of the way, made her destiny that much more bearable. Roswell would be easier to cope with if Akela was with her. And with plans made to follow Liz on her journey forward, and strange bonds just beginning, Liz left to return to her mother with an easier heart, forgetting the real intention of her visit.
Akela watched her go, feeling her aura leave the neighbourhood and make her way back to the hotel. Focusing her powers in keeping her safe wasn't difficult; she had ensured Liz had found her way to them. Ari stood beside her silently, sharing Akela's satisfaction that their plans were back on track.
"I told you she would come to us when she was ready. You have to be patient with her; how does that Earth saying go: something about using honey over vinegar. If we had tried to force her, she would have pulled away even further – now she has come to us of her own volition. After all, Ari, we never wanted someone who would be easy to control. The Auron is in good hands with her."
Turning away from the doorway, Akela did not have to see her Gor'uth to know that she wore an acquiescent grin, and grabbing sword, moved back into the fire-lit room and the Training Ring. Victus stood at the ready, his wings half-folded as he lifted his weapon to meet her. As she raised her won in salute to begin, her thoughts lay for a moment on the new Zai'era. She had expected the dreams to begin soon, but not of that particular memory. Perhaps the Auron had plans of it's own that Akela would have to take into account. At least she could console herself that Liz had not seemed to recognise the similarity of her Ba'ran's wings and the wings of the beast in her dreams. The sharp clang of metal on metal filled the air.
Next chapter:Chapter Seven: Home Sweet Home.
Liz has returned to Roswell. Let's face it; it was inevitable that the time would come. But a lot has changed since she was last there, and the questions remains: who really are her friends now? And where does she belong? …
AN: So ... chapter seven is only a tomorrow away - and then little Lizzie will be back in Roswell, face to face with everything she had run away from in the first place! AND, no big cliffhangers to hang nasty big clouds over everyones head ... ok, so maybe just a little one!
ANYWAYS ... please review to let me know what you think (ok, so it's just that I'm an egomaniac and I thrive on praise ... does that make me more pathetic!) Hey, I can handle pity and censure! I'll stop teasing now - lack of sleep has gone to my head ...
Til next time, ciao ciao xx