Upon walking into Valenti's living room, Liz quickly realized everyone else already gathered. Liz didn't oversleep. Instead, she dreaded going to the Granolith Chamber. She didn't want to face the potentially life-changing decision that awaited them upon obtaining the Granolith. Until this moment, they worked through so many challenges and obstacles that Liz avoided dwelling on the update the gang received from Larek while on their way to save her from the Special Unit.
First, Liz needed to decompress from the tension of imprisonment at the hands of the Special Unit. That experience started as a terrifying one when Hannah revealed her deception in the alley. She felt so helpless watching Serena get knocked out and then feeling the pinch of the needle that drugged her. Liz braced herself for unimaginable physical and psychological torture before her baffling conversation with Agent Samuelson.
Once free of the Special Unit, Liz learned of Larek's insistence that Max and the rest of the Royal Four return to Antar. Then, she immediately got distracted by Kyle's unexpected presence. She wanted to visit with him more. But once he left, Liz faced the unenviable and stressful decision of whether or not to advise they make an agreement to work with the Special Unit to attack Kivar's ship. And then she grappled with the uphill battle of convincing the rest of the gang that it was a good idea.
During the attack operation, Liz focused primarily on whether or not they could successfully rescue Zan. She almost started to think about Max, Isabel, Michael and Ava jetting off to Antar at the Special Unit's command center. Except her attention quickly shifted to Serena's astute observations that Agent Samuelson might attack the ship with Max still inside. When everyone emerged safely from Kivar's ship, Liz got caught up in the celebration and relief of Zan's safe return.
On the drive to Roswell, Liz still needed to process some of those events. She also thought some about the impact on her life of Max returning to Antar. The conversation about Tess with Zan pulled her attention away from the Granolith and left Liz with some lingering thoughts, too. In many ways the four hours flew by. She thought about how to quietly get into town, which proved unnecessary due to the roadblock setup outside of Roswell.
Upon arriving at Valenti's house, Liz became swept up with reuniting with Maria and Valenti. Even when Liz caught Maria up on everything, that became more about thoroughly filling in her best friend and managing Maria's initial reactions to it all. And of course not long after dinner, events once again prevented Liz from becoming consumed with the thought of Max going to Antar. Kivar kidnapping Isabel and the emergence of Maria's ability both demanded her full attention.
One-by-one all of their other challenges, surprises and curveballs neatly wrapped up. The last several hours finally offered Liz her first opportunity to focus on her thoughts and feelings about Max dutifully returning to Antar. The thought troubled Liz more than anything else she encountered in her wild, adventurous life. So much of her identity was integrated into her life with Max. If he left, a piece of Liz's heart would go with him. And because Liz couldn't imagine Max ever returning to Earth if he left, she felt like his departure would mean part of her dying.
The idea of going to Antar with Max tempted Liz. She knew he wouldn't want her to come with him to an alien war zone. Max would also argue that with him gone and their recent partnership with the Special Unit, that Liz could safely settle down somewhere on Earth without him. Plus, they didn't know if Liz's fully human biology would even allow her to survive on Antar. Tess made it clear that she fled back to Earth because Kivar wanted to kill Zan. She never mentioned whether Zan could biologically survive on Antar. Maybe Ava knew the answer. But Liz knew that Max would insist she stay on Earth regardless. Liz ultimately knew—as difficult as it would be to bid farewell to him—that made the most sense.
Liz started thinking about how she would probably go live with Maria in Flagstaff. After all, she missed her best friend's presence in her life. Practically, Maria could use help with Amy. Emotionally, they could both help each other cope with the loss of their husbands. Of course, she liked the idea of all four of them living in the same town again better. Knowing where she would go didn't alleviate the anguish Liz felt at the idea of losing her soulmate to his alien duties.
In Valenti's living room, everyone in the gang looked serious and somber. Under different circumstances, Liz might attribute much of that to all waking up at the crack of dawn. She knew better. Everyone would be deeply impacted by the Royal Four returning to Antar.
Max made eye contact with Liz. "Ok," he said with a sigh, "it's time to go."
Everyone formed a circle in Valenti's living room and joined hands. Liz held Max in one hand and Maria in the other. She made an effort to navigate to Max's side and Maria found her way to Liz's other side. Liz considered it fitting that the two people she loved the most held her hands for this momentous occasion.
"I suggest you all close your eyes," Valenti instructed. "It can be a little disorienting otherwise. Ok, on three. One. Two. Three."
Liz felt a calm, desert breeze on her face. She released Max and Maria's hands and opened her eyes. It felt maybe a tick under 70 degrees. Valenti transported them onto the rock formation housing the pod chamber just a few feet away from the entrance. Liz took a moment to take in the pinkish, orange hue in the sky at dawn. The scene around the pod chamber entrance never looked this beautiful.
Max made his way to the pod chamber entrance followed closely by Michael, Isabel and Ava. Zan stayed close to Ava, while Liz, Maria, Serena and Valenti lagged a step or two but didn't fall far behind. Liz watched Max wave his hand across the right spot in the rock face revealing a silver handprint. He placed his hand on the silver handprint triggering a slab of the rock to slide away to open the entrance to the pod chamber.
Once inside, Liz found her way to Max's side. They led the way through entryway they cleared out back in high school and emerged in the small, circular Granolith Chamber room. The chamber could barely hold all nine of them. It looked odd to Liz to see it without the giant ship that Tess blasted off in back to Antar while pregnant with Zan. At that point, they thought the ship was the Granolith and therefore Liz, Max and anyone else had no reason to return since. Only Max and Isabel stayed up until the final moments, but even they fled the chamber shortly before the ship shot out of Earth's atmosphere.
"Ok, Serena," Max told her, "it's finally time. What can you can you tell us about where the Granolith may be."
"The Granolith should be under the base that held the ship," Serena revealed. "River Dog said Nasedo showed him a hidden compartment."
Max waved his hand toward the base the same way he did to open the door. A couple feet to his right, the swirly image from the egg-shaped orbs appeared. Valenti stood almost on top of it and shifted out of the way. Max moved toward it and Liz hovered right next to him. Max pointed his hand at the symbol and a compartment slid open. Liz watched feeling intense suspense even though Max didn't hesitate or take in the moment at all.
Max pulled out a large gem attached to a staff that ran underground. The gem looked kind of like a diamond except all the colors Liz ever saw danced off of it as different rays of light and shadow reflected off the gem. Or at least Liz assumed that as a likely explanation. It kind of looked like a gas or liquid could be swirling inside the stone. The staff itself looked a half-inch taller than Max's hip.
"The Granolith," Isabel said, "the real Granolith."
Max pulled the pentagon-shaped Trithium Amplification Generator from his pocket. "I guess it's time to signal Larek," Max noted.
"Hold on a second," Serena interjected. "Look again. There should be more." She made eye contact with Liz. "You're all not going to like this."
Max reached into the compartment that stored the Granolith and pulled out a black, shiny box that Liz eyeballed at slightly larger than a cigar box.
"What is it?" Michael asked.
Max opened the box, as Liz found Michael, Isabel and Ava closest to Max now. Inside Liz spotted four small crystals resting in slots carved into the bottom of the box. Beside each crystal was an etching of each of the Royal Four's face matching their depiction in the book Tess showed Max in high school.
Liz started to feel deeply unsettled. The last time Max saw those engravings, they learned his destiny supposedly lied with Tess. Seeing the images on something new would've been bad enough, but Serena also warned that they weren't going like what this surprise means, so Liz braced for the worst.
"What are these?" Max asked.
"Some kind of memory crystals," Serena replied.
"What does that mean?" Isabel asked.
"River Dog just told me they were in there and contained the memories of your past lives," Serena explained. "I think the intention was to use these shortly after you awoke from your pods—maybe after some training from Nasedo first."
"These will give us back all of our memories from Antar?" Ava asked.
"Yes," Serena confirmed. She made eye contact with Liz again briefly. "But there's a catch. The memories contained within the crystals contain your full lives from your home world. By using them, your human memories will be… replaced, overwritten… I don't know exactly. These will essentially transform you back into the people you were in your past lives and destroy the people you have become."
For a moment no one said a word. While Liz thought she prepared herself for the worst, she never imagined something like this would come up.
"We might need those memories if we're going to survive there," Michael suggested.
"Michael," Maria exclaimed with anger, anguish and heartbreak.
Liz froze. She didn't know what to say or what to think or even what to feel. The thought of parting company with Max felt painful enough. Now these crystals could apparently revive King Zan in Max's hybrid body and erase Max Evans from existence.
"I don't know about this," Isabel stammered.
Liz knew Isabel likely worried about the implications of becoming Vilandra again and bringing her back given Vilandra's betrayal.
"I'm just saying, if we have to go, that past experience could really come in handy," Michael reasoned grimly.
Max made eye contact with Ava. "You've recovered more of your memories from Antar than any of us. Do you think we need to use these?"
Ava looked at Zan and appeared deeply troubled. "My memories are like fragments—a few images here, a feeling there. I got some more detailed memories of an experience, event or conversation, but it's still not as clear as memories from Earth."
"These could unlock new abilities," Max thought aloud, "not to mention help us with how to use technology, navigate the planet and know about the people we're going to meet so we know who to trust."
Liz quickly surveyed the room. Michael, Ava and even Isabel looked resigned to use the crystals based on Max's reasoning, but none of them looked happy about it. It occurred to Liz that they wouldn't have to live with the pain of leaving if they used them. That burden would fall exclusively to the family and friends they leave behind.
Next, Liz made eye contact with Serena. "How could you not tell me about this?"
"I'm sorry," Serena empathized, "but you told me not to share details. You all asked me not to do that."
"I know, but…" Liz immediately conceded Serena was correct, but she started wondering if Serena could've at least shared that the memory crystals were there and how they worked.
"This is just…" Maria whined and threw her arms up before walking out back into the pod chamber.
Liz and Michael swiftly ran after her and the others followed. Liz prepared to console Maria when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I got this," Michael said softly and warmly.
While Michael spoke to Maria, Liz pivoted back toward Max.
"This is even worse than I could've imagined, Max," Liz shared and thrust herself into Max's arms.
A whirlwind of emotions swelled in Liz, including anger toward Serena for not providing a warning, disappointment in Max for wanting to go through with using the memory crystals and frustration with Michael for first suggesting they use them. But she came to the chamber knowing Max's departure from Earth could follow shortly after their arrival, and she didn't want to fight or argue now. She wanted Max to comfort her for possibly the last time. Despite the heartbreak caused by their decision, on some level Liz still managed to comprehend that the rationale discussed among the Royal Four for why to use the crystals made sense.
"I know," Max said, "but if using these is the key to succeeding over there… Look, I don't want to die. But if our enemies kill me and I fail and the wars rage on, then it would all be for nothing. If I'm going to leave my life with you behind, it has to be for something that matters."
Liz pulled back and looked Max in the eyes.
"You're talking about making a noble sacrifice," Liz noted, her voice cracking slightly.
She noticed that Isabel, Ava and Zan stood in ear shot. Isabel wept softly, and Ava held Zan tightly.
"It's not what I want," Max affirmed. "Even after all the things we gave up to be together, I love you and our life together. And I want you to know Liz, that I've cherished every moment—every kiss, every laugh, every smile. You've made it so that every day of my life is like a dream come true. And I wish I could continue growing old with you. I don't know what will happen to Max Evans' soul after I use this crystal, but if it survives in any form, just know that I will forever be grateful for the life we've shared together."
Liz hugged him tightly again. Max's words reinforcing what she meant to him both warmed her soul and pierced her heart because of the grave finality which they represented. She broke off the hug and realized everyone gathered around them now to overhear Max's intimate speech. They were all crying, but everyone looked more resigned than ever to the fate of the human personalities inhabiting the bodies of the Royal Four.
Isabel turned to Valenti. "Can you bring Jesse here for me?" she asked.
Valenti nodded and abruptly vanished. A minute later he appeared with Jesse in tow. Isabel ran to Jesse.
Liz swung around to Max's side and everyone started coming up to them to say a final farewell.
"Max, it's been an honor," Valenti shared. "I didn't know what all was going on or what I was getting myself into when I pledged to protect you. But this is important, and I feel like the sacrifices I made to protect all of you were completely worth it. You're a damn fine human being, Max Evans, and I couldn't be prouder."
Valenti extended a hand for a handshake, but Max stepped forward and hugged him instead. Then, Valenti turned to Liz.
"And if there's anything you ever need," Valenti offered, "I'll still be here for you. We're family, you understand me."
Liz nodded as she wept and hugged Valenti. Next Ava and Zan came over.
"Liz, you were always the most kind to me," Ava told her warmly. "I appreciate that more than I probably show it." Liz nodded. "And Max… I'm glad I had a chance to reconnect with my own kind again. It was good for me, and it was good for Zan to get to know his dad."
Ava stepped aside and Zan took center stage. "I couldn't have asked for a better Dad or Stepmom. I'll never forget either of you, and I wish we had more time together."
They both hugged Zan. Serena tentatively stepped forward next.
"I'm not sure if you want to say anything to me," Serena mused.
Max smiled warmly, dismissing the notion for both of them. "Don't be silly. You stuck with us throughout this whole journey, and I'm not sure we would've found the Granolith had we not connected with you."
"I'll never forget how you healed my wound," Serena told him.
"Which you only got because of us," Liz reminded her. "You've been a great friend, and we should stay in touch after this is all over. I'm going to need all of my friends."
"And I'll always be there for you," Serena promised.
"If I had to guess you're not much of a hugger…" Liz started.
"Normally, no," Serena stated flatly, before smiling at her warmly, "but come here. This is a special occasion worthy of an exception."
After Serena and Liz hugged, Serena moved off. Isabel left Jesse's side to come over.
"I can't believe this is happening," Isabel told them.
"I know," Max acknowledged, "I'd come to think we'd never reach the end of this road."
Isabel turned to Liz. "You've been a great partner for Max," she told Liz, "and you've helped us out on countless occasions. Looking back, I'm so thankful that Max saved you at the Crashdown and that it brought you into our lives."
Liz hugged Isabel.
"I hope Vilandra doesn't…" Isabel started telling Max.
"Don't do that," Max cut her off, though spoke softly and lovingly in doing so. "If Zan and Vilandra are at odds, that really has nothing to do with us. You've been a loyal, strong, loving sister from the moment we emerged from these pods."
"Thanks, Max," Isabel said, "thanks for everything. The only thing missing from my life with Jesse and the girls was that you weren't able to be a bigger part of that."
"But I was always there in spirit," Max told her, "and I thought about you all the time. Maybe that's how this psychic bond formed between us. For you to come find us when you sensed something was going on… It's meant everything to me having you with us."
The siblings hugged. Finally, Maria and Michael came over.
"Well Maxwell, who would've thought this moment would come and neither of us would want to do it?" Michael asked Max.
Liz recalled how throughout most of high school Michael strove to find his way to an alien home in the hopes of returning to a life better than living with Hank. When they found the Granolith Chamber and that opportunity actually came, Michael's relationship with Maria deepened to the point where he couldn't leave her. Max wanted to go for the sake of Zan, at least up until the point where Liz revealed Tess' treachery moments before the ship launched.
"I don't care what we were to each other back on Antar," Max said. "You're my brother."
Michael nodded, smiling and fighting back tears, "You helped me become the man I am today. Without you and Isabel, I don't know what would've happened to me…"
"We were always going to be there for you," Max assured him. "And I'm so proud of the man you've become."
"Liz, you're all I have left now," Maria stated dramatically through tears.
"That's not true," Liz contested through tears of her own. "But we're going to help each other get through this."
Max added a final thought, "All those years when it was just the four of us on the road, we're all family. I love you all."
Maria and Liz migrated toward the pod chamber exit with Jesse, Serena and Valenti. Max, Michael, Isabel and Ava made their way toward the back near the tunnel from the pod chamber to the Granolith Chamber. Zan stood in-between.
"You can all wait out here," Max advised, "but… We're not going to recognize you after we use the crystals. Jim, you need to get everyone back to safety if we come out and act… hostile toward you."
Valenti nodded. Liz watched with tears glossing her vision, and she clutched Maria as the Royal Four turned toward the tunnel.
"Let me come," Zan called out. They stopped and turned back toward him. "Once I establish I'm the son of the king and queen, I don't think you'll hurt me."
Max glanced at Ava who nodded slightly. Then he made eye contact with Zan and also nodded to flag that Zan could join them. The five of them walked through the tunnel and out of sight.
Maria buried her face into Liz's shoulder as she began to cry hysterically and uncontrollably. Liz somehow remained more composed, but she could relate. They each saw their husbands for the final time. Liz couldn't take her eyes off the entrance to the Granolith Chamber. Feelings of agony and despair numbed her to the core. When Max receded out of sight, it felt like a piece of her soul withered and died inside of her.