Okay so finally I am at the point of sharing two more of the scenes that originally popped in my head and generated this story (more on that at the end). Also to kbeth82, thanks for the review. You totally made my day when you wrote that. :)
Seals, Cliffhangers, Tess and Isabel
They step into the UFO center.
"Brody?" Maria asks.
He says nothing.
"Larek?" Max questions.
The man before him nods. "My King."
"Where is Brody? You haven't hurt him, right?" Maria says accusingly.
Again he is quiet.
"Did you hurt Brody?" Michael asks.
"Brody is fine, prince Rath. He's… asleep in here. Who are they?"
"This is our friend, Maria," Isabel answers. "And these are Alex and Liz."
"I didn't realize you would bring others," he says, looking at Max.
"I don't even know if we should be here," Max counters.
"Good instincts. Trust should be earned."
"So earn it," Michael says. "How do you know about the hatching? What do you want with Adam? And why did you call me prince?"
"You were the General that became her majesty's prince," he says, looking at Isabel. "Though you still seem to be one for action rather than words. Please, join me," he says, lifting his hand and making chairs fly and settle in a circle. "As Zan has probably told you -"
"Max. My name is Max."
"Semantics, old friend. As I told King... Max, I'm Larek, Antarian Ambassador to the outer worlds, Lord of the Ratakians and emissary for the rebellion forces."
"The rebellion… our mother?" Isabel asks.
"Yes. Your son's pod was configured to send a signal to the Queen Mother when the transfer was complete so we could begin preparations for the coming of the next King."
"So that's why you made contact?" Alex asks. Larek looks at him and says nothing.
"Answer him," Tess orders.
"As you wish. No, that's not the reason for my contact. The signal was meant to be one way. Just a notification for us to begin mobilizing. Unfortunately, the skin's surveillance systems intercepted it."
"Skins?" Isabel questions.
"Yes. The ones who murdered you and enslaved our people."
"So our enemies, our enemies know about Adam," Michael states.
"Yes and they're mobilizing. They need the line of the rightful Kings to end."
"The Kings… Max and Adam. They are going to come for Max and Adam, aren't they?" Liz asks, anxiously.
"Say something!" Tess orders.
"Forgive me, my Queen, but I am only allowed to disclose important matters to the Royals and to follow their orders."
"Then we order you to answer any questions our friends come up with!" Michael says.
"As you command."
"So, are they coming for our son and my brother? Tell us!" Isabel orders.
"Yes. And the rest of you," Larek answers.
"Why? You just said they want to end the Kings. The girls and Michael are not in line for that, right?" Alex asks.
"The populace believes in the last Royal Four."
"Why?" Max asks. "If you are so advanced that you could make us and Adam why do you need us? Why can't you just make a new savior?"
"It doesn't work that way. King Zan, you were pivotal in saving all five of you. And before the war, you led the elders and the architects to achieve success rates we had not seen since King Palatkar designed the system of restoration and healing. And the rest of the four… the past four generations have not seen a warrior master the arts of power and battle as the mighty Rath. It took fifteen palars and the skin's second to bring him down after they murdered his princess. Queen Ava was key in the final merger of the Kingdoms and our collaboration with Plateia. She was the one behind our King outsmarting the Inquikros and getting General Rath to train Antarians, Ratakians, Plateiaians and the outer moons allegiance together. And Princess Vilandra… she gave hope to hundreds of sick and injured, assisted with the renewal of food sources all over the Galaxy, and was about to deliver the life bringer. Princess… Lonnie, you once helped save my home. We… we were on the brink of a new Golden Age and now it's gone… it's all…" Larek appears to rethink his words. "What matters is that we can fight back and stop the end. The skins are trying to finish establishing control. They want to take away our last hope. What better way than to kill the rightful Kings, our Prince and Queen, then take the last Valyr Princess, bond to her and try to father a new heir?"
"Like hell!" Michael replies.
"I'm not a breeding horse!" Isabel says. "No!"
"No one is taking my sister or killing us," Max states. His eyes have turned white like clouds and the room is filled with an aura of authority and certainty. He has never sounded more like a King.
"This is what I was hoping to see," Larek says. "I came to warn you that they are coming and to help you fight them with these."
Max's eyes return to normal and they all look at what Larek has pulled from his jacket, five thin rocks with intricate engravings. They are flat circles, like small cds, but made out of a black material they have never seen before.
"These symbols… are these made of the same thing as the destiny book?" Alex asks.
"No. The book is made of the closest material we could find in the Galaxy in our time. These are unique. They are more than ten thousand turns old. From the time of Adameus, the first Valyr King, they have been passed to the Royal Four."
"The Royal Seals," Max says.
"Yes. We had hoped you would find them on your own. They've been on Earth all along, waiting for you. But the need is too great and we couldn't risk the skins finding them. The Queen Mother sent me to get them and bring them to you. For the King, the seal of survival," Larek says, giving Max one of the rocks.
He seems hesitant but takes it and the thing disappears in his hand. The etching from the rock glows purple on Max's forehead and then fades. "What did you do to me?"
"I did nothing. Your powers are your own." Larek repeats the process, giving Tess the seal of wisdom which makes her forehead glow blue; Michael the seal of power, which brings out a red symbol between his eyebrows and Isabel the seal of hope that makes her forehead shine in gold. "Protect the child king and yourselves. Work together. You can defeat them."
"How? How should we train and sharpen our powers?" Tess asks.
He looks at Michael and Max. "You trained the royal defense. Our princess and queen were fast studies and had mind powers that outdid most. You can train together and as king you will lead us all."
"I don't remember that!" Max says with a mix of anger, frustration and regret in his voice.
"I barely have control of my powers," Michael says, running a hand through his face in concern.
"You'll know what to do. One last thing," Larek says, taking Isabel's hand and placing it on Michael's. He then gives them the last seal. "Princess, General, I trust you with the seal of life. No one has controlled it since Adameus the first. It belongs to the life bringer. Give it to him once he's born."
"What exactly is the life bringer? Why does it make Adam so important?" Isabel asks.
"Because he'll bring us back from the brink," Larek says. "Our race, Princess, we're becoming extinct. It's been happening slowly for hundreds of sun turns. We can live for so long, longer than three humans combined and the abilities of the most common citizen of our Galaxy would marvel any earth being that I've come to know. But too many can't have children because of our mutations. Some have through the bond, like me and your parents. You…" He looks at Max. "You bonded me and my Maketia. The skins killed her. But our girls are just like her, fighters in the rebellion."
Everyone is quiet. Larek takes a breath and continues. "Without a rightful King to lead the architects and elders our options are dwindling. Barely any bonds have succeeded since you were killed and even the couples that were already bonded have conceived a minimal number of children. Our kind is slowly disappearing, only the skins and two outer systems remain relatively fertile, but even them… as they gain more powers, they will decay. I know it."
"So you're saying that our baby skywalker will somehow make you all reproduce again?" Maria says.
Larek looks confused. "She means Adam," Michael adds.
"Well yes, he will. It's his destiny."
"Oh God," Isabel says, standing up. "Why would you say that?"
"Because it's true. It was told by Queen Vliona, the enlightened," Larek answers. "True love in times of struggle delivers essence without aid. And the one made without past masteries shall rule as the life bringer and return hope and Antaseti."
"Antaseti?" Maria questions.
"It's what we called conception without the bonding, it's life. It happened twice in the last sixty sun turns, but neither of those children had any powers related to Antaseti. The Royals checked. They were willing to give up the throne if the life bringer was found. Then the Princess broke our laws but her and the General conceived a child and the Queen said he was the one. She believed."
"Me?" Tess asks. "You all believe Adam is this life bringer because of me?"
"Yes and no, my Queen. You mastered all the records of the Royals, every detail from their powers to their history, legends, rights and responsibilities, as well as the Glannak and the treaties and commitments that ensure their continued rule. You made sure you knew it all. You knew the Valyr line carries the genes for healing and the shine. Any child from the King or the Princess would be able to heal if it was male or have the shine if it was female. Your nephew would at least have the power to bond others, but you were sure that it was more. He was conceived by powerful parents without a bond while fighting against all odds. You knew that your sister's son was the life bringer. You just knew. Then the King studied his mcomposition and it was extraordinary. It is him. He is the one that will ensure we have a future."
"What if he doesn't want that?" Max asks. "That's a lot to put on a child who hasn't even been born."
"It is," Larek admits. He is quiet for a few seconds. "The Queen mother said that he will get the help he needs to succeed. It is the duty of the Royals. Please. You must protect him and lead him. This is his destiny."
That night Isabel has a hard time sleeping. The skins are coming after them and Adam has this insane destiny to fulfil. How are they supposed to guide him to bring life back to a planet? A galaxy? She can't even make sense of her own stupid destiny. She's barely managing her current human life. None of them are ready to face enemies or deal with this, even with the seals.
She tosses and turns and wants to go see Adam. She also wants to have a meltdown of some sort and release her pent up energy and foreboding thoughts. But she doesn't want to worry Michael anymore than he already is. She could probably handle seeing him be quietly supportive and concerned and trying to make things better without admitting it, as has happened lately. She wouldn't even mind him losing his temper or running away from his problems or plain acting like a rebellious child and an asshole of the grandest kind. He's done that in the past. But she cannot deal with seeing him as insanely anxious as he was today after Larek. He looked so torn, stuck somewhere between wanting to scream at the unfairness of it all and run and be a jerk and wanting to take responsibility for everything and take care of them and fix things that he couldn't possibly fix. She's never seen him look quite this lost. The whole thing is unnerving and she doesn't know what to do either. Eventually she drifts off.
She looks outside to a wilted yellow field from a balcony. There are workers spreading a golden liquid and then using their powers on an area with dead grass. Blue plants begin to emerge in full force and after a few minutes the workers start gathering a large purple vegetable. She knows that they are following a process just as she instructed and that what they are harvesting is called picatok.
The sky is red and she can feel the heat of the silver suns on her skin. She breathes in the air and feels completely at peace. The satisfaction of a job well done brings a smile to her face. She's energized and somehow feels the twinkle from the seal on her forehead, revitalizing her even further. Then she sees him coming and smiles as she notices that sparkle of affection in his eyes. His curls are free of the usual ponytail and look wild.
"My lord," she says, beaming sincerely.
"My princess."
"How can I ever repay you?"
"There is no need for that. I would battle the entire galaxy for you. More so when you say you need me."
"You're good to me. You listen."
He smiles. "To you, always. Don't let anyone make you feel like you are anything less than a queen. The General is only a soldier who thinks too highly of himself."
"Of course, but Ava is the Queen and the General saved my life."
"That is his job. He has his and you have yours," he says, pointing to the field below them. She nods and smiles at him, acknowledging the truth in his words. He comes closer. "What you can do is incredible. You're magnificent."
He kisses her. She knows what he wants and she gives in and lets him kiss her in that way he so needs. She cares about him. His words are always just what she needs to hear. She'll give him everything he wants soon enough.
The scene changes and she's in a black room, the only light around is on her. She is wearing the most spectacular wedding dress she has ever seen. She's happy, excited about what comes next. Then the lights turn on and it's beautiful around her. She knows this place it's one of the banquet rooms they use often for wedding receptions. It looks perfect. She sees him, black curls and green eyes, dressed in a tux. He walks to her and then kisses her intensely and she can't help but return his kiss and his embrace. It's like he's swallowing her whole and she will get lost in him forever.
Then she sees the desert. He's on top of a cliff, extending his hand, beckoning her. She separates from the man before her.
"Who are you?"
"You know who I am, Vilandra."
"Kiv. You're Khivar, but my name is Isabel."
"No, you are my Princess. I'm here to take you back, Vilandra."
"I'm not her. She died."
"She didn't, she lives, within you. You are the last princess of the Valyrs and you will always be mine."
"No!"
Her look changes and she's in a dress that looks like the night sky. She is kneeling by the four square symbol on the ground and feels him touch her hair. He looks into her eyes and their lips meet. They stand and remain liplocked. His voice echoes in the warm air around them, "this is the way things are meant to be." Then they're on top of their desert cliff, kissing and caressing. Her body comes alive under his hands and lips. His black t-shirt is gone and her dress is slowly disappearing. She's never known this kind of pleasure. She's pulled back to the black room. Khivar janks her and kisses her again. She pulls away.
"I said no!"
Her looks change one more time. She's in a simple floral dress with a light pink sweater. He's on the cliff again wearing more grown up clothing and holding a blond toddler that has his eyes. They share joyous smiles as they make yellow flowers bloom and glow around them. She hears his voice echoing through the desert again, "I've never been that happy before." Isabel starts to move towards them. Khivar grabs her arm. She turns to him, her forehead shining with the golden seal, and then he's flying through the air. She gets closer to the boys but soon… they're on fire.
"NO! NO!"
"You don't want him or his son, Vilandra. You are mine."
She is bawling, staring at the ash remains that are flying in the warm air. "No! Adam! Michael!"
"They're gone. Come, Vilandra. You belong at my side."
"No! Please! No! Leave us alone! Leave us alone! Leave! Adam! Michael!"
She's screaming their names as she awakens. Her breath is ragged and she puts a hand on her heart, feeling fear and desperation.
"Isabel!" Michael calls as he runs into the room. She leaps off the bed and runs towards him. "What is it?"
"You were on fire… you…he killed you… you and Adam," she murmurs, as she touches his chest and his shoulders double-checking he's unharmed.
"It was just dream," he says, pulling her to him and hugging her tightly. "It was just a dream."
"You were gone, just ash. It was real. I lost you."
"You didn't. I'm right here. Everything is fine."
"I need to see Adam."
"Okay. Get changed and we'll go."
The next day at their apartment.
"So you saw him? You actually saw your enemy?" Maria asks.
"Khivar. His name is Khivar. He kills Adam and Michael."
"It was just a dream."
"And what if it wasn't? The last time our dreams were this vivid they were about Adam and he's real! What if this is what Larek warned us about? What if he comes and I go with him and get you killed?"
"You won't."
She gives him a look of disbelief and walks to the other side of the living room, well away from him. Michael doesn't know what to say. He's been fighting with her over this since the night before. But she will not let go. He called Max and Tess to see if they could help and Tess brought freaking half of town with her! At least Liz isn't here, but Tess telling Kyle and Alex, who then told Maria, isn't what they needed at the moment. Isabel is convinced that this Khivar is coming and that it is somehow her fault.
"You said he has black curly hair and green eyes?" Tess asks. Isabel nods. "And a part of you wanted to do what he said, you wanted to follow him?" Isabel nods again. "He's very handsome, like some man-God that couldn't possibly belong on Earth?"
"Yes!"
"What does that matter?" Kyle asks. Tess doesn't answer, just stands and paces and looks like her world is crumbling.
"What's wrong?" Max asks worried.
"I… I need to show you something," Tess says, moving towards Isabel. She lifts her hand and points at Isabel's head who suddenly looks terrified. She lifts her own hand and lets out beams of power, making the dining table explode.
"What the hell are you doing?" Michael screams, heading towards Tess.
Max gets in the way. He sees Tess lowering her hand and moving to hug Isabel. "You've seen him, too," Isabel says, holding onto her friend.
"Do you trust me?" Tess asks.
Isabel nods. Tess puts her hands on Isabel's temples and gets her to do the same. They start to glow blue and gold. No one knows exactly what is happening, but they all feel this incredible fear and sorrow taking over. It's like they have no control over their lives and everything around them is darkness. The girls stop glowing and hug.
"Oh my god! Why didn't you tell us?" Isabel asks.
"You've been through so much so fast and you just got back on your feet. Michael is too busy working and watching after you and Adam. I wasn't sure a human would get it. And Max… I'm just a thorn on his side."
"Listen to me. I don't care if there is too much going on or if I'm on death's doorstep. If it happens again, you come to me," Isabel orders. Tess nods.
"One of you better explain what the hell is going on, right now," Michael growls.
"Khivar. I think he's a dream walker, like me," Isabel says. "But he doesn't just visit. He… he like controls the dreams. I think… I think he can hurt us."
"Hurt you how? What did she show you?" Max asks.
"How he attacks her mind," Isabel answers. "Last night was my turn."
"What?" Michael, Alex and and Kyle say together, obviously troubled and wanting to make sure they're alright.
Tess gives them a weak smile and says, "We're okay."
Max looks like he wants the earth to open up and swallow him. "What did he do to you? How can we help?" he asks, showing sincere concern.
"I don't know if you can. He… he shows me executions in Antar. After we died, he had my parents and Rath's aunt, the one that raised him after his parents died, all killed. He… he helps me remember them; shows me memories of the palace and our families and then the ones I recognize the most... the ones I know that I loved always die or get hurt. He says..." She's quiet and taking deep breaths.
"That if you don't help him get to Adam and me, he will kill your brothers," Isabel says. "But you still helped us with Adam. He makes you see your two brothers imprisoned and you still help me."
"You're my family too and there's no guarantee he's showing me the truth. Maybe my brothers are already dead and he's lying to me to get me to betray you. And without Adam I wouldn't have cleared my head enough to realize he was the enemy. I used to think he was my friend. That he visited me and helped me remember so that I could get us home. He's been in here all along," Tess says, pointing to her head. "Nasedo gave me to him. He's league with them."
"What?" Max says.
"I finally remembered. When we used the mold and started the hatching. Adam, Isabel's shine and your energy and Michael's Alkalean gazes… you four like… fixed me. It started when we first went to see the baby, but after that day, once we set Adam to develop to be born, it got clearer and clearer. Nasedo brought me to them, the skins. It's been a few years and I didn't remember before, but he made a deal with them. He made me the back-up."
"The back-up for what?" Kyle asks.
"Isabel. Khivar wants Vilandra back in Antar as his mate. But in case it didn't work, in case she resisted, they wanted a back-up to provide an heir," she answers.
Now Kyle's freaking out. Alex got him up to speed on the alien meeting and he knows what they want from Isabel. And dammit he just got a sister and those aliens can't have her. Hell no!
"But you are not of the line of the Valyr's. That's what Larek said, right? They want an heir from them, the line of the Kings. Even if you were Queen you wouldn't have the right genes. They don't need you," Alex says, looking like that idea is salvation.
"You really pay attention," Tess says. "It's great."
"I try," he answers, beaming at her.
Maria wants to puke. Honestly, maybe Tess isn't so bad, but still... stupid boys, stupid Alex. "So, we've established that you wouldn't be the right baby mama for the intergalactic stalker -"
"Maria," Alex says like a warning.
"She's right," Tess says. "I wouldn't work for Khivar but I could work…" She takes a breath and continues. "For Max."
He looks at her, "What are you talking about?"
"I know you don't want anything to do with me. You've made that clear. But once upon a time I was your wife and they were counting on you and I remembering that. Nasedo brought me to Roswell and made me believe that we would be a family, the four of us and an heir, and then go home. That's why I mindwarped you when I first got here. I had to get the two of us to be together at all costs."
"So you were trying to get Max to sleep with you and knock you up?" Maria asks.
"I… yeah. Look, the point is I realized the truth. I had already decided that destiny was not the right option when we used the instrument, but after that, knowing their full plan… They wanted us to forget about Adam and move on. They thought either Isabel would fall for Khivar or I would get Max to make an heir since we were a compatible bonded pair in Antar. They brought me here to try to get pregnant and take us home. If the alignments hadn't made Isabel and Michael remember and find Adam, I would have gotten us killed and given them the heir they want." She looks at Max. "I won't do it. I won't seduce you to make a baby. So there is no need to avoid me and not remember and not train. Please, I need to remember. I need to learn and find a way to fight back. I want to go home, but on my terms not theirs."
He looks completely floored. Tess, she has been fighting the enemy all along, alone. She resisted their plan and protected Adam and Isabel while he's been… a coward who kept getting in their way, a fool that made her feel unwelcome and unwanted. This entire time he's been fighting his family.
"That's when he started showing you all that other stuff, isn't it?" Isabel asks. "He realized you walked away from Max so now he threatens your brothers' lives."
Tess nods. "I can't stop him. When he comes I see what he wants me to see, follow him wherever he wants and I'm stuck. But not you, you fought back. He wanted you to go with him and give in but you said no."
"But I did go with him. I was in a wedding dress, making out and ready to marry the bastard!"
"You didn't tell me that," Michael says.
"I know," Isabel says, ashamed.
"It's not your fault," Tess counters. "He brought you there and made you want things. That's the point. He needs to seduce you and make you want him so that when he comes you are ready to leave with him. But you didn't follow, you changed the dream, you wanted-"
"Stop, okay. I know what happened. The dream changed and instead of kicking him out, I got to see him killing Adam and Michael."
"Because you were winning. He got desperate because you didn't bend. You didn't want what he was showing you so changed the dream with what you want. You even attacked him because you lo-"
"Don't. I know where you're going. Just don't."
"Fine. But I'm right. And Isabel, once the dream got really bad you woke up. I don't. I try and try and still only wake up when he tells me I'm allowed. But he couldn't make you do that. You kept walking away. You were winning."
"If that's winning, I don't want to know what losing is like."
"I know. But, Iz, I've never been able to do what I saw you do in that dream. Maybe it's because you're a dream walker. I think you can hurt him back and stop him. If you were able to resist like this on his first try then -"
"It wasn't the first try," she interrupts. Everyone looks at her. "It started slowly in the summer. I thought they were memories that were coming back as dreams and flashbacks. That's how I knew his name. And he teased me about it... how I know who he is…. how I'm... his."
Michael pales and says nothing.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Max asks.
"I don't know."
"Izzy," Michael says with so much worry in his voice it's unnerving. "Why?"
"There was so much going on. I… didn't think it mattered. But, it had never been like this… before he just… and then... I can't do this," she says and runs into the bedroom.
Michael starts going after her, but Tess gets in the way. "I think she needs to talk to a girl."
He looks ready to argue, but Maria interrupts. "I think she's right." Michael looks at her surprised that for once she agrees with Tess. "I know, okay." She faces Tess. "Look, I'm not a big fan of yours, but I also know that if I had some man in my head, trying to seduce me, I wouldn't want to discuss it with a bunch of boys. We have to help." He relents and Tess and Maria walk into his bedroom.
The room is quiet for a while. Then Kyle speaks. "You still have the book?" he asks, looking at Alex.
"Yeah."
"You should keep doing the translation. Tess thinks it's important."
"I know. We're going to Santa Cruz next week to use the supercomputer again. You can come too. Might be better if two of us are with her, just in case."
"One of us will come too," Max says. Alex looks at him surprised. "You're right that it's better if we're with her. If Khivar comes for Tess or Isabel in person instead of dreams, one of us should be with them to back them up," he adds, looking at Michael.
"I take Isabel. You take Tess," Michael replies.
Max looks hesitant, "She's my sister."
"Who lives with me, Maxwell. You know I'm right."
Max nods. Alex is not thrilled about this. He had plans and Max is the last person he would have wanted around. But he has the kind of powers that would help if an alien came after her. So he gives Max the details of their trip and they set-up a time to meet to go. Then they sit and wait.
"How long do you think they'll be in there?" Kyle asks.
"It's girls. No way to know," Alex answers.
"You guys can go," Max says. "Maria has the Jetta and I'll give Tess a ride home."
Both boys look hesitant. Michael speaks, "No point in you wasting your day as well. I already called in and Max doesn't have a shift today. We'll be here."
"Alright," Alex says.
Once they leave, Michael looks at Max. "What are we gonna do? You know we can't be with them twenty-four seven. Not with work and Iz graduating before us. I would leave school, but we both know she won't let me. And if you say we need to keep a low profile, I will kick our ass, Maxwell."
"I wasn't going to say that. I… you were right, okay. You and Tess. We have to prepare. We'll start training again and have Tess lead memory retrieval sessions as soon as possible. If she's right, then Isabel can fight this. We'll figure out how."
"We'll remember and train hard," Michael adds. "We'll make sure our girls can fight and stay safe."
It's lunchtime and Max is beyond anxious.
"Where could they be?"
"At the mall," Maria answers.
"What?"
"Look, we all know Ami has been a bit… off her game the past couple of weeks. So I told Michael to take a day off and take her to do something she liked. Shopping made sense. So they should be at the mall."
"Michael, you got Michael Guerin to spend a day at the mall?" Alex says.
Maria shrugs. Kyle starts laughing. "This is too good. Mr. there's been no takeover is at the mall. The mall! Totally whipped."
"This is not responsible. There's a psycho after my sister and Michael is taking her shopping!"
"Oh, get off your high horse," Maria says. "Whenever you are not at school or work you four have been training and remembering and preparing. But Isabel is going insane thinking and rethinking the whole Khivar thing and not sleeping. She needed a break and this is perfect. They are in a public place. You're the one that said those were safe. That even your enemies probably don't want the world finding out that ET is very much not home. So they should be perfectly safe."
"Fine. But that's my sister. You and Michael should have talked to me," Max says.
"As you said, she's your sister, not your property or your subject," Tess argues. "Maybe instead of a bodyguard or a boss, she needs someone who listens and values her ideas and decisions and stands by her side and makes her realize she's not alone. Maybe that's what will keep her sane."
"Are we still talking about my sister?"
"Of course we are."
"Tess."
"Don't Tess me," she says, walking away from him. She says something to Maria and the human girl leaves with her.
"Alright… what?" Maria says after they've put a good amount of distance from everyone else.
"I call a truce."
"What?"
"Look, you may not be my fan but I think we could be allies. I hope I have at least shown you that space slut can have some redeeming qualities."
"Ummhh... you…"
"DeLuca you're a lot of things, like obnoxious and opinionated, but quiet is not one of them. Of course I know. I'm not saying we're going to be friends because we both know the chances of that. But… that was a good thing you did." She stares at her. "Getting Michael to take Izzy out. It couldn't have been easy on you. And before you argue about being over Michael, I'm not saying you're some sort of martyr or feeling sorry for you. I just know a thing or two about having to let go."
"And before you argue about how you've let go of Max know that I'm not buying. I see the way you look at him when you think no one is watching. You still want him."
"No, maybe… maybe a part of me still wants Zan. It's Ava that remembers these… moments. But Max is just boy with an immovable attitude, who made us beg him to accept his responsibilities because an infatuation with a human was more important."
"He loves her. They are special. They belong together. They were… like a dream. He saved her life, risking everything and was so devoted to that love."
"Exactly. Max was living out some human teenage love dream. Zan would have known better. He would have never let down his family."
"He didn't, he has always cared for Michael and Isabel. He helped them and Adam."
"I could argue on the many times he didn't, but I wasn't talking about them. I was talking about me."
"You?"
"Like it or not I was his family and he let me down more times that I can count and even now he keeps at it."
They stay silent for a few seconds.
"So what do you want from me, space slut?"
"To keep helping Michael and Isabel, hippie motor mouth."
"Kyle."
"The thing about boys, they don't know how to keep things from their sisters. Kyle and Alex are like open books."
"Is that really what Kyle and Alex are to you?"
She nods and smiles. "They remind me of the real ones. Anlo and Anquio."
"Hey," Liz interrupts.
"Hi chica."
"Hello ladies."
"This is Congresswoman Whitaker," Liz adds. "She's here to connect with young voters. Last push, you know."
"Hi, I'm Maria. So, you're the reason our Liz is so busy and has been away from us this fall."
"Election year, dear. Have you registered to vote? Two more days. It's your civic duty."
"Still seventeen until January."
"Too bad, how about you..."
"Tess."
"Tess… You are a classic beauty, aren't you? Have we met in the past?"
"I don't think so."
"Voting age?"
"Yeah."
"Perfect."
"You know I was supposed to meet Alex to go over some… history. Talk again later?" She asks, looking at Maria.
"Why not."
Whitaker talks again after Tess leaves, "She even looks like a homewrecker."
"She's not so bad."
"There's our table. Find some more eighteen year olds and send them my way, Parker."
"Yes, off course."
Whitaker walks away. "You told her about space slut."
"Not like that, Ria. Just this one day, she was drinking over Pierce. I think they had an affair before… you know."
"The back stabbing Czech uncle took over him."
"Yeah and I felt bad and we started talking. Next thing I know I'm telling her how my boyfriend had a girl from his past back in his life and it's over between us. That's it."
"You could still have Max, you know."
"Maria, let it go."
"Come on Liz, even now, he still loves you. I just don't get it. Why would you sleep with Kyle? And not even date him afterwards? You still love Max, don't you?"
"Maria, please, I'm not constantly asking you about Michael."
"That's because there's nothing to ask. I've slowly moved on. You helped me do that. And I know where Michael's heart lies. He can say whatever he wants, but I know better. But Max is different."
"It doesn't matter. Come on Maria, I think we can agree that we all have bigger problems."
"Fine you're right."
Max knocks at their apartment door loudly. They better be back. It's after six.
Michael opens the door, looking completely relaxed. "Max." He gives him a glare. "What?"
"The mall? Seriously?"
"Max?" Isabel calls.
"Izzy."
"What are you doing here?"
"Checking if you are okay. You weren't in school and with Khivar after you…"
"Please stop. We had a 'free of Khivar or crazy alien things' day. I'd like to keep it that way," Isabel says.
Max sees a mountain of bags and boxes in the living room. "Wow. I know you like to shop, but it's not like you have no clothes." She giggles and Michael smirks. "What?"
"It's Adam's," Michael says.
"I spared Michael from the mall experience and we went to Babies R Us and a car lot and a restaurant in Albuquerque. I was out of town and fake belly free," she says excitedly. "And he won't admit it, but he had fun, too."
"She lies," Michael says. "Except for the motorcycle part. That I can do anytime."
"Whatever Doc, Bugs knows better," she says in a funny voice while using a Bugs Bunny stuffed animal to poke Michael's neck.
"Knock it off," Michael replies, looking annoyed, but not really.
Max stares at them. "Motorcycle?" he asks.
"Yeah. Did you know Michael has a motorcycle license? I thought it was kind of cool so when we went to look at cars we also looked at some bikes, but the dealer didn't allow test rides for those. So, we rented one for a day, just for fun."
"You rode a motorcycle?" Max asks Isabel.
"Yeah," she answers proudly.
"Your nagging sister actually managed to look decent as a bike chick."
"I look great in leather and I don't care what you say. You want dinner?"
"I could eat," Michael answers.
"I wasn't asking you. You always eat between six and eight so I know you'll eat. Max is a bit more unpredictable about these things."
Michael shrugs. Max keeps staring.
"So?" Isabel asks.
"Yeah, sure."
"Great. Michael is making Gyros."
"What!"
"You said and it's Tuesday so it's your turn. Plus that meat will go bad soon and I don't know how to cook it."
"Fine, but you're a spoiled nag that needs to learn to not always get her way. So it's only this one time."
"Try to not make a disaster in that kitchen," she says, smiling.
"You better do the dishes and stuff after dinner, cleaning Nazi."
"Fine, but be quick so we have enough time with Adam. I want to give him Mr. Wiggles and read him some of the Dr. Seuss books."
"Mr. Wiggles?" Max asks.
"It's the cuddliest bear," Isabel says.
Michael shakes his head. "Explain to her how Adam can't cuddle anything yet."
"He can look at it."
"Sure, okay. Bring Fox in Socks. That's the best book in that pile."
"Is not, the best is Cat in the Hat."
"Talk to her. She's gone insane," he says to Max before walking into the kitchen.
A few days later Max gets a phone call from Liz. They call the gang to meet up at Michael's apartment.
"Whitaker has been taping my phone conversations at work. I found a CD while we were packing the campaign this morning"
"Did you talk about us?" Michael asks.
"Sometimes with Maria and Alex. But the thing is... how come she hasn't busted me yet?"
"Maybe she thinks it's us joking or something," Alex says.
"I don't think so. We talked about Pierce. There were enough clues that this is legit and I found these."
She hands over paper clippings about the shooting where Max saved her life and an FBI file with Max, Isabel and Michael's pictures in it.
"Where are Tess and Isabel?" Max asks, looking at Michael, Kyle and Alex.
"Tess picked up Isabel at the Crashdown almost two hours ago," Maria says.
"And you came to the house and told Tess you had remembered something important and wanted to show her. She told you she had plans with Isabel so she would meet you after she got your sister," Kyle says.
"Nasedo!" Max says.
"Dammit! Isabel hasn't answered her phone since I talked to you," Michael says. He stands and starts calling again. There's no answer. "He has them Max! Nasedo has them!"
Alright another crazy long chapter and still not done with the whopper chapter. So I guess it's getting broken into three pieces and not just two. The scene with the seals and the dream are two of the ideas I had when I started this story. I thought they were a bit out there in sci-fi mythical alien stuff, but I had to write them. I also figured it would be cool to combine the Khivar dream with the original dreams of the four-square episode all with a little twist. I love that episode. And hopefully I have kept to the promise of referencing at least one episode in some way in every chapter.
Anyway let me know if you liked it. :)