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!
Reviews: So many reviews soo quickly! Ta muchly, guys! I just wanted to shout out to the ones who got in before this chapter got posted and apologise to those that haven't had a chance to … thanks anyway for coming back:
To Dreamers Oasis: Thank you – I wuv you too! Max and Liz won't get a chance together this chapter, but things between them are about to get awkward and angsty pretty soon – just hang on for the good times, cos they are a'coming! I promise!
To KT: Hi – thanks for the review! This chapter might answer you question about Vanessa, but just in case: yep, she's still a Skin, and she's still and evil badass! But hey, she beat up on Tess – that's got give her some merit points! (Yeah – I not nice to Tessie, but I don't like her much!)
To Just Me: Hey, there – I see you kept up the long reviews. Thanks! And if I'm doing things properly, why change the format, right! You get top marks for the Whitaker observation – she's pretty sharp, that one. And I really liked the idea of kicking Nasedo around for a bit, but I don't know if it'll fit in with the current plan – hmmm … ANY ways – glad you liked the kitty-thing; and as for the watcher, things are gonna get cleared up a little soon. Let me know if you think Akela came across as evil, manipulative, etc this chapter, cos I haven't quite finished with her yet! AND, just wait till Liz finally spills the beans on her new powers – you're gonna love it; promise!
To CutUpAngel: Thanks for the review – and yes, things are gonna clear up soon; but not for a bit, cos Akela still has a few games she wants to play, first!
And now on to the next chapter …
Chapter Eight: The Vicious Cycle Begins
Roswell slept peacefully as the moon rose over the white sands surrounding the town. The desert is not the friendliest of places for any man, but for a geologist, it could be counted on as an ally if you treated it with the proper respect. That respect had not gone unrewarded, and it was in the that field that one such man found the one thing that threatened to shake Roswell's foundations and bring to light matters that were best left in shadows. His reward was a discovery certain members of the community hoped no one would ever find. But hope could be a futile emotion, and this time fate was determined to play one nasty trick.
That morning was not the first time Sheriff Valenti had a man in his office that looked like he belonged there, but when he learnt the reason for the newcomer's visit, it was all Valenti could do to control his first impulse to lock the man up and throw away the key. The man identified himself as Grant Sorenson, a geologist hired by a large corporation to conduct a survey, and he carried a bone. A bone that belonged to the skeleton of Special Agent Pierce, former head of the Special Unit ordered to track down any and all extraterrestrials and the one enemy Max Evans and his kind thought they had eliminated for good.
As her friends came to the realization that this wasn't a challenge they could just ignore, the only inclination Liz had that anything was wrong was an unshakeable feeling of pressure building in the back of her head. She sat on a large cushion in the exact center of a vast yet grand empty room in the old Victorian house her tutor now owned. Trying to ignore this feeling she didn't understand, she held the Auron firmly in her grip. Tightening her fist, it might have seemed that she was trying to squeeze out any control from the charm as one would the excess water from a cleaning rag, her eyes firmly closed as her concentration increased. Standing silently in the shadowed recesses of the room, her teacher watched her with intent eyes.
A flash of something hard and unkind passed over her gaze for an instant, and wrapping the shadows around her like a protective cloak, she moved with a lithe grace towards her prey. Liz, with her eyes closed, could not see Akela's approach, and was unaware of any danger. With a devilish smirk, Akela raised her palm, and an energy ball of a dark purple crackled silently over the surface of her pale skin. Her smirk hardened, and she threw the weapon with excess force across the room towards the solitary figure in the center. Even as the energy left her grasp, Akela had danced through the shadows to attack from the other side, her hands sizzling with pure power.
The violet energy ball raced above the polished floor, its dark reflection muted by the lack of true lighting in the room. As it neared its target, Liz's forehead glowed with a blue light that shaped itself in the form of two wingless dragons consuming each other from each end, and a wall of the same energy raised itself at the last minute to absorb the energy ball before it could destroy Liz. Even as her eyes flew open in alarm, another energy ball from her other side raced towards her with deadly accuracy. Rolling off the cushion and out of the way as the material exploded from the attack, her whole body seemed to be consumed by the blue light. When it faded, the charm around her neck had disappeared.
Her clothing had morphed into tight leather pants and vest that would allow her to move easily to defend herself. Encircled around her upper arms were one wingless dragon on each side; her left arm held the white headed dragon with the fiery red eyes, and on her right was its equal match - the calmer cobalt eyes flashed with strength of purpose. Around her neck was a choker of all three metals, and stamped on her forehead was the Auron's trademark enclosed dragons. Raising her hands before her, a shield of blue crossed with a light pink shimmered before her, stopping two more energy balls from their intended mark. Swinging from her left to her right, she scanned the shadows of the room as all the candles extinguished with a plume of black smoke as an artificial breeze blew around the room. The moonlight broken up by the colored panes on the windows threw eerie lights across gleaming floorboards.
The fight began in earnest as Akela melted forward from the blackness that bordered the room in it's tight grip, and strode purposely towards her. Liz threw up her arms as a blue light erupted from her palms, streaming towards the shadowy form before her. Akela flicked her hand, and a large ornate lamp stand flew effortlessly across the room and took the impact of the blast. Akela never faulted in her step, and Liz backed up to try again. This time, Akela threw up a dark indigo shield that absorbed the light with one hand while conjuring another energy ball with the other. Liz barely lifted her shield in time, and this time it glowed with a darker pink edge as Liz was forced to slide back a few steps. Akela grinned smugly as she leapt forward, levitating through the air to land a hard kick to Liz's chest as her shield fizzled and dropped altogether. She flew backwards across the floor with the force of the blow, hitting her head sharply against one of the paneled edges on the walls.
Akela moved with inhuman speed to follow-up her advantage, but Liz, shaking off her slight dizziness, used both feet to knock Akela backwards and rolled away, stumbling to her feet as she moved to attack. Akela growled out a sound that was almost feral, and yelled out a curse that Liz did not recognize as any human language. Flipping through the air, Akela landing agilely on her feet and met Liz's attack head on. Blocking first one kick then another, she anticipated Liz's roundhouse and shoved her backwards and off balance. Rolling to avoid jarring her shoulder, she used her left arm to throw a beam of energy at Akela, giving her time to get to her feet. Akela dodged the attack, but was momentarily blinded, and Liz used the advantage to land a fierce kick to Akela's chest and another roundhouse to the face.
Swiping off the blackening blood that trickled down from a cut lip, Akela's nose wrinkled as she snarled in anger. Throwing herself forward, she blocked another punch, and using momentum, caught Liz squarely on the side of her face with the heel of her hand. Spinning, she landed a kick that sent Liz flying across the floor, but before she could get up, Akela was atop of her, a fierce looking dagger held to Liz's throat and an energy ball in the other hand. Liz's chest moved jerkily as she drew in a breath, careful not to get too close to the sharply jagged blade, and raised frightened eyes to the girl she had trusted. Akela's seemed soulless and fierce in the darkness that enveloped the room so completely. Neither moved for a moment, and Liz's eyes never lost that frightened gaze as the gauntlet around her left arm flashed its red eyes in fury.
Akela watched it warily, but her face shifted from the empty to the proud, and she broke into a smile as she reared back. Reaching down a hand to help Liz up, she nodded her approval:
"You're improving - that was much better!"
Liz never hesitated; her grin was natural at the praise she had received and she grabbed the hand offered to her as the room echoed with the less than enthusiastic applause that skipped through the shadows. Raising her head to the source of the sound, the Gor'uth emerged from her watchful post, her face lit with a slight sarcastic grin as her body became transparent once more. Liz never noticed the warning glance Akela shot Ari over her head, but as the feline wraith got closer to them, all she saw was her encouragement and ducked her head in embarrassment.
Victus lounged against the doorway, his arms folded against his chest and his face empty of expression. His gray eyes were as cold as ice, and he made no move to join them. Instead, he called across the room, "She needs to work on her strength - a few good shots and her shield dropped. In real battle, she'd be dead by now!"
Akela glanced at him disdainfully over her shoulder, but Liz fired up. "If you can do a better job, why don't you teach me!" Akela turned to face him then, and he caught the glint of amusement in her eye. She knew above all others that he never refused a challenge, and even Ari watched him with a laidback curiosity.
As Victus met Liz's glare, a small part of him acknowledged her spirit, so like the warrior she had been before. He shook his head slightly, rebuking himself - she had never been anything before; Liz was a human, and nothing like his beloved Catriona. She had been dead a long time, and deluding himself into believing he could see her light shinning back at him from the human's eyes would not help him in the fight to come. Twisting his scowl into a smirk, he took one step forward, pushing off from the doorframe with his shoulders as his arms dropped to his side, ready.
"Maybe I will, human!"
Akela's eyes settled on Victus as she felt his conflicting emotions. It was obvious that Liz and Victus clashed heads when forced to confront each other, and she often amused herself by throwing Liz and Victus together merely to elicit the usual reactions, but reading the direction his thoughts were heading, she steeled herself to stop whatever he hoped deep inside would happen before it started.
She would not allow him to grow attached to this Zai'era as he had been to the last - Akela could not take the chance that history would repeat itself, and she needed Victus to stay clear in whose side he would stand. Before she could say a word, a muffled ringing could be heard coming from the corridor ahead. Liz recognized the ring tone, and oblivious to the growing tension in the room, rushed to answer the call. Akela turned on Victus then, her voice growing dark as her eyes swirled darkest green pools reflecting her rising anger.
"Don't make me have to do this, Ba'ran. I don't want to have to choose between you, but you know what my choice would be if you force me to make it! Elizabeth can never be whom you hope for - you know it does not work like that. Catriona will never return to you; but I swear we will make them pay for her death - we will make them all pay. Vengeance will be ours! In time …"
Her voice faded to a stop, as she anticipated Liz's reentrance, and used her mental control to ease the rigid expressions her companions held. Liz rushed back in, her own expression worried and unsure, yet still unaware of the tension that was still held in check. Akela held out her palms for Liz's and the girl sighed as she slipped her hands into that comforting grasp. She could easily read the reason for Liz's upset, and she hid a grimace that Liz still felt compelled to rush to her former friends aid when there was trouble.
"It's your choice, Elizabeth, but be careful. You don't want to reveal too much too soon - it could endanger them if they know about your powers before you have learnt proper control."
Liz picked up on the undercurrents in Akela's tone, but she knew that Max - no, Maria needed her and that was where she had to be. As much as she felt left on the sidelines as far as her friends were concerned, she couldn't just ignore their plea for help when trouble found them. A choice had to be made, and Liz knew that even though there was so much she could no longer share with them, she couldn't turn her back on them either. Smiling grimly up at Akela, she nodded her head.
"I know you don't want me to go back there - but I can't leave them behind. Maria was trying to keep calm, but I could tell it was something bad - and you know what, I think I knew it was coming. I'll be careful, I promise! I won't do anything more than what I did for them before. I just … I can't ignore them; I just can't!"
Her eyes were pleading for Akela's understanding, and she gave Liz a slight nod, letting her leave. As the three members watched her walk away, Ari sidled up to Akela.
"Worried about them, are you Ael? I never thought I'd see you so concerned about a bunch of humans, my Ka!"
Akela grunted in annoyance as she turned away from her most loyal companions towards the window and the moonlight beyond.
"Of course not - I needed to tell her something remotely believable as a reason for keeping her new powers a secret from them. I knew she would not be able to hold out from telling at least one of them before long without extra incentive. I believe I may have underestimated her connection to them all."
"Or maybe just to that Max … ?"
"Max Evans is no match for me - I will deal with him when the time is right. Nothing is beyond my power to achieve. Go - watch her. Keep her safe for the time being. I want to know what they are doing!"
Her Gor'uth, wincing from the harsh tone her Ka had used on her as her voice had echoed the deep baritone of her anger, bowed and disappeared into the shadows. Ariane never disobeyed a direct order. Without turning around, she waited until the wraith had left the house before she gave her next order. Victus stood quietly; he had not moved since he had incurred his mistress' displeasure and he waited with a bowed head for what her command would be. When she finally spoke, her voice was so calm he would almost have had to strain to hear it if it hadn't already seemed to echo inside his mind.
"There is a shape shifter in town - he has but lately returned. Follow him; I want to know what he does, where he goes, and whom he does it with. But observe only - do not interfere with the plans fate has already made for him. Report back to me when he is done."
Leaving the same way Ari had left, her Ba'ran moved to do what he was bid. Akela kept her gaze firmly fixed on movement outside her window. She had known why the Auron had responded the way it had that morning during Liz's interview with the Congresswoman, but she had been patient then, and now was the perfect time to make her move.
Reaching through the town with her mind, she found the presence she had felt earlier on, the one she knew could not be left ignored. With a sigh, she felt her anger build up and disappeared from the room as her power of teleportation whisked her body away.
The room she appeared in was as dark as the one she had left, but it was cluttered in a way all office spaces tend to be. A lamp illuminated a desk in the end room, and the faint light lit up the far doorway like a welcoming beacon. Keeping the shadows close to her, she prowled towards the open door with silent steps. The only other occupant sat at the desk leaning back from the light as they studied a photo held carelessly in one hand. A lone glass glinting with amber liquid lay forgotten by an elbow. Akela smirked as she took in the appearance before her.
"I never thought I would see you again, Valora."
The older woman looked up with a start, a mix of fear and suspicious loathing filled her brown eyes. The fluorescent globe lit up the features of Congresswoman Vanessa Whitaker as she moved forward in her chair, giving her face a malevolent glow.
"Akela! Why are you here?"
Akela grinned sarcastically, and tilted her head to one side as she lent against the doorframe and placed one hand at her waist.
"You know why I am here. Let's not play games, you and I!"
Whitaker leaned back again giving off a false sense of ease; Akela was not fooled. Vanessa had just had a rather useless confrontation with the local Sheriff, and wasn't in the mood to lose any more ground. Akela pushed off the doorframe and moved with stealth like grace into the room.
"The last time we met, I warned you to stay out of my way! I'm going to give you one last warning, Valora, and you and your kind had better listen: stay out of my affairs. Don't get involved in what has nothing to do with you. If you get in my way, there will be no other warning; I will not hesitate to dispose of you!"
Whitaker growled and leapt forward, her eyes flashing as her own anger threatened to explode.
"You should be the one watching your back, Akela. Khivar has no mercy for those who interfere in his plans, and neither do I!"
Akela only laughed, but her laughter held a vicious edge. She closed the distance between them, her hands resting on the old wooden desk as her forehead almost touched the Congresswoman's as she held her gaze with a blazing force.
"Don't threaten me, volgaraan; you do not frighten me. Khivar is a despot with an ambitious streak but he is no match for me. None of you are! So unless you want to start a battle you will not walk away from, I suggest you heed my warning. Stay away from Elizabeth Parker, or I will come for you, and I will teach you the true meaning of fear!"
Valora eyed her warily, but remembering what had happened to her superior, Korin, when she had faced Akela many years before, she stepped back to put some distance between them. She may be a fierce warrior, but Valora wasn't suicidal, or stupid, and she thought quickly.
"Khivar's one goal is to eliminate the Reborn Royals and to take back what their loyalists stole from Antar. If you agree to stay out of our fight with them, I can promise you, no one of us will come after your human. Is it agreed?"
Akela felt rather than heard the thought racing around in Valora's head; she knew Valora was biding her time until she could learn what it was about Elizabeth Akela wanted so badly; but biting back a smile, she knew that that time would be enough to back Valora into a trap she would not be able to escape from, and maybe fate would solve one of the growing problems she was now facing without her having to reveal too much.
"Khivar's petty squabble over the throne of Antar does not concern me; if you want the
Reborn King and his cronies, I care not. Just heed my warning, and you and I will never have to meet again."
Valora could not hide the smirk at their arrangement, but Akela paid no attention. Once the words were spoken, she had vanished as if she had never been there. Whitaker sunk back into her seat to ponder over the new turn of events, and wondered how she could use Liz Parker for her own benefit.
Next Chapter:
Chapter Nine: First Strike:
All bets are off and the boundaries have been set. The war has begun between the Royal Four and their Skin enemies, but Max has already had to bear the first casualty … and as the school year begins, is the real threat closer than anyone of them can imagine?
AN: Well, Vanessa has joined the story, as have the Skins. The next chapter will happen after Nasedo's death (sorry, Just Me – it was a good idea, but …), which happened the same way as the true version of events. I just thought I'd clear that up as this chapter changed some of the canon-events from the episodes. I won't spill too much, though, because things are changing, but Chapter Nine probably won't be up for a little while (two weeks-ish is the plan!) so I thought as Chap Eight was already completed, I'd post it as a peace offering! No shooting, please!
Anyways – I wasn't too evil this chapter … I think! Hehee – if you keep the reviews coming I might play nice next chapter – NOT! Let me know what you think of Akela's actions this time around: is she still appearing as mysterious or definitely evil now! I thought she was pretty evil myself – but what you guys think is important! It's the purple box on the left in case you get lost!
Duck from flying volleys> HEY! Don't mind me so much!
Ciao Ciao xx