Most of the time, Liz happily fulfilled her role of providing the scientific explanations for events affecting her friends and family. However, in this particular moment, she uncharacteristically felt weighed down by that responsibility because of all the complex factors she learned of just minutes before Max, Michael and Ava witnessed them. The trio looked to her to make sense of the crazy sequence of events that took place from the moment they charged out of Valenti's house to the moment they all teleported back into his living room.
Liz figured she could use a few days to work through all the information she learned and the impacts of it. Except nobody wanted to wait for her to meticulously analyze everything, so she knew that she needed to simply tell the story. Liz and Serena were equally qualified to articulate the science of what they observed. However only Liz could weave what happened into the broader alien narrative.
"We started realizing you may have left too hastily almost the moment the door closed behind you all…" Liz began.
10 minutes ago
Liz watched as Max, Michael and Ava bounded out of Valenti's house in pursuit of Isabel and Kivar. Liz wished they could all go, but she understood Max's desire to keep those without powers away from Kivar given his immense displays of power. Maria still looked like she felt guilty for not recognizing an issue with Jesse showing up. Serena and Zan appeared resigned to nervously waiting. Valenti seemed more troubled to sit on the sideline. Liz honed in on him. It looked like something more than just wanting to get in on the action.
"What is it, Sheriff?" Liz asked.
Valenti sighed and then explained, "I should've told you all this the moment I came back home. When you left Roswell, we figured Kyle would go through a similar experience as Liz and develop an ability because Max saved him from that gunshot wound. I agreed that he would cope with that better if he was around all of you. It honestly didn't even occur to me that I might be in the same boat."
"He saved you too, didn't he?" Ava quickly gathered, impressing Liz.
"At Meta-Chem when they kidnapped Michael," Liz added. "I remember now. Max told me you got shot, and he healed you before he… turned to dust. I never even thought about that."
"I don't think any of us did," Valenti told her. "Nevertheless, about a dozen years ago, I was under a lot of stress at the station. I needed to rush out to a crime scene 40 minutes outside of town, and I was concerned I wouldn't get there before highway patrol. I ran out to my cruiser, got inside and when I went to start the car, I fell right on my ass. I got up and realized I instantaneously showed up right where I wanted to go. It's some kind of teleporting power. I can control it now by thinking about a location I want to go to or even a person I want to go to and in an instant I'm there."
"You have powers too?" Maria said to herself with a laugh as she began pacing. "Why should I be surprised?"
Liz recognized Maria becoming overwhelmed but didn't want to turn her attention away from this potentially pivotal development.
"Can you take others with you?" Liz asked Valenti.
"Yeah," Valenti confirmed, "anyone in physical contact with me is along for the ride. Don't ask me how I figured that out... This is why I should've gone with them. I could've teleported us to safety in an instant and really helped everyone out of a jam."
"Maybe you still can," Serena prompted.
"I'm thinking the same thing," Liz agreed. "If you focus on Isabel, you can get right to her, maybe even before Max and Michael find her, and then get her back here."
"Yeah, right," Maria exasperated, "you just pop up right at the scene of the crime, and Kivar might just vaporize you on the spot! And how are we going to signal Michael and Max to come back here?"
Liz prepared to let Maria exhaust herself before approaching to console her. Then, she noticed smoke around Maria's heels as she paced and ranted. If she didn't know better, she'd say Maria paced so fervently that the friction caused the smoke. Liz's scientific background left her with little doubt that Maria could not and did not move anywhere near that quickly.
Maria kept going, "…And what happens if you poof out for Isabel, but she's already dead? Or if Kivar grabs you, and you lead him right to us? Or…"
Liz saw the smoke intensifying and realized it seemed more like fog. It no longer concentrated around Maria's feet. The haze completely surrounded her. Whatever Liz witnessed, Maria apparently caused it.
"Maria," Liz finally interrupted, waiting for Maria to look in her direction before asking, "what is going on?"
Maria stared at Liz through the fog, noticing it for the first time. It caused her to panic even more.
"Is this coming from me?!" Maria asked, "What's wrong with me? Wait a minute, Max healed me too… after the rape!"
Maria collapsed to the ground and small electrical bolts sparked from all over her body. The same thing happened to Liz when she first started developing powers. Once she got a handle on her premonitions, the physical electrical sparks and ability to melt objects or throw someone across the room didn't stick.
Liz crouched down beside Maria, but Maria looked like she experienced some kind of seizure. Liz prepared to take a chance and hug Maria. She hoped that would help and, because the same thing happened to her once, she hoped that meant that she could intervene without getting harmed.
Kneeling down beside her best friend, Liz cradled Maria in her arms. After a few seconds in Liz's firm grip, the electrical sparks stopped, and Maria slowly sat up, appearing much calmer.
"What happened?" Maria asked, calmer but also a bit groggy. "What—what's wrong with me?"
"It looks like you've been blessed with a gift as a result of Max healing you," Liz jumped in to frame it in a more comforting fashion.
"Well, why not?" Maria asked herself, rising to her feet. "It's almost like a rite of passage to be in the whole alien family."
"Yes, I know it's a lot to take in all of the sudden," Liz said to relate to her unexpected surprise, "but the timing of your ability blossoming could be fortuitous."
"What do you mean?" Maria asked.
"Well… Wait, are you asking me why, or do you not know what fortuitous means?" Liz asked.
"Liz," Maria sounded slightly annoyed and very eager to see Liz continue, "we're not 16 anymore. Of course I know what fortuitous means. I'm just trying to figure out what thoughts are going through that big 'ol brilliant brain of yours."
"Right, sorry. Ok. So, you brought up a good point before when you said Kivar could attack Sheriff Valenti as soon as he gets to Isabel," Liz explained. "But if you go with him and use your ability, you can keep everyone safe in a shroud of fog."
"What?" Maria asked. "No, no, no. No way! I don't even know how to control this. I can't just go bounding into an alien battle all of the sudden, Liz."
"I can actually teleport us near Isabel but not right on top of her," Valenti said. "Then that fog of yours could help us get to her so we have enough time to pull her out unharmed."
"But the genie just popped out of the bottle," Maria contested, "I don't know how to control this."
"It doesn't appear to be an ability that requires a lot of precision," Serena suggested.
Maria shot Serena a disapproving glare. Liz made eye contact with Serena in an effort to communicate non-verbally that Liz could best get through to Maria. Serena seemed to understand and took a couple steps back.
"She's right," Liz insisted. "I've been through this, so I can help you. Michael's life may depend on it."
Liz gambled by mentioning the danger Michael faced. In the worst case scenario, it would escalate Maria's exasperation, threatening to let her emotions spiral out of control. But in the best case scenario, it would provide Maria with something to focus on to help her get a handle on her feelings.
Despite Maria's expressive nature, Liz usually benefitted from betting on Maria's ability to find a way to come through when it mattered most. Fortunately, dropping Michael's name seemed to trigger courage in her, so Liz continued.
"You saw me struggle, but we were just kids then," Liz explained. "I had a hard time because I was freaking out, fighting with Max, blaming Max."
"It's true," Valenti reinforced. "I didn't struggle the way Liz did at first. I understood the healing caused it and managed to stay calm and explore how the ability worked. I didn't get much of those sparks, either. I'm guessing that's because I didn't get too worked up about it."
"Ok," Maria said with a sigh, "what do I need to do?"
"Focus on your love for Michael," Liz advised. "When you're in the heat of the moment out there, just remember that you're doing it for him and your family, and trust that your instincts will guide you. I'll be there too."
"You sure?" Valenti asked.
"If Max is there, he'll mobilize everyone to us more quickly if I'm the one who reaches out," Liz reasoned.
"I should go too," Zan declared.
Valenti and Maria looked at Liz like they didn't know what to make of that. Serena shook her head no ever so slightly so that only Liz would notice. Liz found it difficult to objectively make decisions related to Zan without Max or Ava around. She didn't want to allow something Max or Ava wouldn't, but she also wanted to build trust as part of developing a good relationship with her newfound stepson. Serena knew Zan about as well as Liz did, and she trusted her new friend's ability to provide an unbiased read on the situation. Liz walked over to Zan.
"That's very brave of you, Zan," Liz started on a positive note, "but you haven't sorted out just what your abilities are or how to use them. It's different with Maria and Valenti because they have one specialty that we know can be useful. Besides, your parents may never forgive me if I let you tag along, especially if something happens to you. I know you want to help, but it's safer for you to stay here with Serena."
"Ok," Zan conceded, as he hung his head in disappointment.
Liz then moved over toward Valenti and Maria followed her. They each stood on one side of him.
"Are you ready, Sheriff?" Liz asked.
Valenti grabbed each of their hands.
"It's best if you close your eyes," Valenti suggested.
When Liz felt the cool, night breeze on her face, she opened her eyes. She recognized the small park in Valenti's neighborhood. Liz, Valenti and Maria stood behind a large tree and some shorter shrubs. Valenti quickly signaled for them to crouch down.
"I think that's Isabel on that bench," Maria observed with a whisper.
"And that must be Kivar standing over her," Liz added.
"Agreed," Valenti said, panting with a shortness of breath.
"Are you ok?" Liz asked.
"I didn't mention it back at the house, but this ability really drains me," Valenti replied. "I'll be all right, though."
"What do we do now?" Maria asked.
"He's too close to her for the fog to be a problem," Valenti decided.
"If I can conjure that up," Maria disclaimed.
"Do you hear that?" Liz asked, "It sounds like footsteps."
Liz peered over the shrub and looked back to her left. Sure enough Max, Michael and Ava came charging onto the scene.
"This may be our chance," Liz advised her group, and then to Maria. "Remember, just take deep breaths and think about your love for Michael."
Maria sat below the shrub line with her back to the action, sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed in a meditative pose. Liz watched as Michael looked to strike Kivar, causing him to dart away in the opposite direction of where Isabel lay on the bench. It put the space between them that they needed. Liz's optimism turned to concern as Kivar put up a shield to block a combined attack Max, Michael and Ava attempted. She knew they needed to move quickly.
"Now Maria," Liz whispered.
To Liz's relief, heavy amounts of fog built up around Maria, and she somehow managed to guide it toward the rest of the action. Within seconds the whole area became shrouded in a thick fog.
"Let's move," Valenti commanded.
Following Valenti's lead, the three of them rushed toward the bench and gathered around Isabel. Liz took note of Max, Michael and Ava's location before they became obscured by fog. Liz knew that Max and Michael would likely stay put when confronted with the unknown smoke screen, so Liz focused her call to join them to that last spot where she laid eyes on them.
"Max, come to Isabel," Liz called out.
Max didn't respond verbally. Liz worried that he failed to hear her or that they couldn't get their bearings of where to go through the thick fog. She preferred not to call out again since she didn't know if calling out could attract Kivar, too.
Liz felt relieved when Max, Michael and Ava came into view moments later. They looked as confused as she expected.
"Hurry," Valenti instructed, "we have to all be connected like a chain for this to work."
Max rushed to Liz's side with Michael in tow. Ava swung around to Maria and everyone linked up as Valenti instructed.
"That's everyone," Liz informed Valenti.
Present time
"…And that's when we ended up back here," Liz concluded telling the incredible story.
After a brief pause, Max managed to simply say, "Wow…"
Michael walked over to Maria.
"Are you doing ok with all of this?" he asked her.
"I think so," Maria replied, "I'm just glad you're ok."
Liz smiled, moved by Michael's loving concern as she watched the two hug. At this point, he knew Maria as well as she did. Michael clearly understood that Maria would still need time before becoming completely comfortable with the idea that she received her own alien ability.
"Valenti," Max called out and moved briskly toward him, "are you ok?"
Liz got so focused on recalling the tale and then getting swept up in Michael and Maria that she didn't even think to check Valenti. She looked over now. She saw that Valenti left Isabel on the ground, scooted away from her slightly and now sat on his knees, with his hands on his thighs. He breathed a little heavier than normal, and Liz noticed sweat all over his face.
"I will be," Valenti replied, looking up at Max, "I just need a little time to catch my breath."
"Here, let me help you up," Max said, extending a hand and pulling Valenti up.
Max guided Valenti to his couch where he sat down.
"Can I heal you or something?" Max asked.
Valenti shook his head. "Not unless fatigue is a condition you can heal. My ability takes a lot out of me, but it'll pass. I could use a glass of water, though."
"I'll get it," Zan offered.
Max stayed with Valenti, clearly concerned. Liz noticed how much older Valenti looked now and figured Max keyed in on that too. By all indications, Valenti stayed in great shape for his age, but Liz couldn't help but see him as more fragile or vulnerable compared to their teenage years. Max likely shared that feeling.
As Zan made his way back from the kitchen with a glass of water, Liz noticed that Michael and Maria paid attention to the interaction with Valenti but continued to console each other. Liz also spotted Ava and Serena engaged in a conversation, though also nearby enough to follow along. Liz took a brief moment to wonder what they might be discussing but nothing obvious jumped out.
Instead she refocused on Max's effort. Everyone stood by and let Max, the healer, do his thing.
"Maybe you can do more for Isabel," Valenti suggested, gesturing toward her with his left hand while taking the glass of water from Zan in his right.
Liz saw Max turn and look over at his sister. Liz quickly looked over at Isabel too, as she lay peacefully on the floor.
"I'm not sure what I can do," Max shared. "There's no obvious signs of any physical injuries, though we don't know exactly how Kivar attacked her. If she's only unconscious for now, her body may simply not be ready to wake up. I've learned over the years that my powers work best when there's something to repair."
Through their years of adventure, Liz knew exactly what he meant since she helped him chart his capabilities more precisely than they ever knew in high school. Physical injuries like cuts, scrapes and gunshot wounds were the easiest for Max to heal. He could also help remove a blockage during a heart attack or stroke, but he couldn't so as much to repair damaged tissue after the fact. Max used his powers on concussions on several occasions. It always helped, but sometimes the concussed person reported still feeling some symptoms.
The most challenging conditions Max healed were advanced diseases like cancer, AIDS, Parkinson's, etc. Those healing efforts took a stronger physical toll on Max, much like Valenti experienced with his teleporting. Max learned that as early as his Christmas miracle healing of Brody's daughter and the other children in the cancer ward junior year of high school.
Liz and Max often talked about how he wasn't a god. She believed the reason these types of healing took so much out of him was because on some level he wasn't meant to interfere with those conditions. Liz considered Max's temporary death after healing Clayton Wheeler's old age as a consequence of when he tried to take his healing ability too far. Both agreed that could happen again and that he might not return the way he did the last time.
"Should we also move Isabel?" Liz asked, thinking she might wake up sore from the floor.
Max nodded and took a step toward her when Isabel started stirring. Max rushed to her, knelt down and gently cradled her in his arms. Isabel's eyes cracked open and Max smiled warmly at her.
"Welcome back," Max said softly.
Isabel sat straight up with alarm and surveyed her surroundings. Liz saw that she relaxed a little recognizing Valenti's house but not completely.
"How did I get here?" Isabel asked. "Did Jesse bring me here? Jesse… Not Jesse. Kivar came disguised as Jes…"
"We know," Max cut her off. "We figured it out. We found you and managed to ward him off for now."
Isabel breathed a sigh of relief as Max helped her to her feet and guided her to the couch to sit beside Valenti. Liz was already nearby. Michael and Ava walked to the front of the couch to join her and Max so that they could face Isabel and Valenti. Maria, Serena and Zan hung back behind the couch, but they paid close attention to the ensuing conversation.
"Could he be coming back here?" Isabel asked with concern.
"We…" Max faltered a bit, "…don't know."
Max then looked over at Michael.
"The way I see it that would be pretty stupid," Michael suggested.
"Oh yeah?" Ava asked.
Liz didn't take that as Ava challenging Michael's notion. Instead, it sounded like Ava wanted him to explain why. For that matter so did Liz, and Michael appeared to interpret the question the same way.
"He obviously hates us, but he's not careless," Michael reasoned. "I don't think he'll attack all of us by himself again, especially knowing that we'd be ready for him. Hopefully he'll still have no luck getting help from his ship."
"That's a big assumption," Max said, taking a more cautious read on the situation.
"I think he's right," Isabel said. "Besides, hunting all of us down and killing us isn't Kivar's number one goal."
"The Granolith," Ava announced, ensuring everyone followed.
Liz smiled at the recognition of what she started to view as a typical blunt, simple and yet also perceptive comment from Ava.
"Do you think Kivar thought he could coerce Vilandra into taking him to the Granolith?" Max asked.
"Maybe," Isabel replied. "All I know is that certainly wasn't the only thing on his mind once he got me alone."
"Oh…" Max blurted out and started to blush as he broke off eye contact with Isabel.
Liz fought the urge to laugh at Max's predictable bashfulness and managed to merely flash a slight smile that only Maria noticed. They exchanged a look that said a lot between Liz and her best friend, but nobody else would think anything of it if they even noticed anything going on at all.
Ava turned to Michael. "Ok, so if you're Kivar, what do you do next?"
Michael hesitated a little as the rest of the group wouldn't typically ask him that question. He looked at Maria who gestured for him to open up and share his thoughts.
"Probably shapeshift into someone we won't recognize or suspect and then stake out the house," Michael speculated, "wait for us to leave and try to follow us to the Granolith."
"Makes sense," Ava added.
"I guess that's where I come in," Valenti interjected. "I can take all of us straight there, and he won't even know we left the house."
"It certainly looks like you need a little time before using your ability again," Serena observed callously.
"I'm afraid she's right," Valenti acknowledged. "Sorry, Max."
"No need to apologize," Max said, putting a hand on Valenti's shoulder. Then, addressing the full group, "We could all use a little time to rest and regroup. We need to be at our best when we go for the Granolith." He looked at a wall clock. "We'll take six hours. That'll put us right around sunrise. We'll split into two hour shifts again to keep watch just in case Kivar shows up."
Max made sure to assign a hybrid to every shift. He decided Valenti shouldn't take a shift, since he already stayed up late working the graveyard shift and then exhausted himself using his teleporting power. Valenti didn't even object, which Liz took as a sign he truly needed the six hours of sleep. Ava, Zan and Serena would watch first. Liz got the middle shift with Michael and Maria. Max and Isabel would take the last shift.
Liz could tell Max wanted a chance to spend some time alone with Isabel. Between killing Nicholas and then getting kidnapped and knocked out by Kivar, Liz understood the need for him to catch up with his sister.
Curling up in Max's arms in Kyle's old bedroom, Liz knew her best rest would come in the first two-hour shift where neither her nor Max needed to keep watch.