Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Melinda Metz, various publishers and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Forgotten

Summary: This story is about one day, in Michael's life, in which several things events will happen. A day that he thinks no-one remembers. It will be a long time before he can forget. A day that will be a long time before anyone could forget. Michael & Isabel centered Fic, Tess & Alex friendship.

For the first time in years, Michael let go of all of his fears and allowed his basic alien instincts to take over. He could literality feel his human-side shrink within himself as his alien-side rejoiced at its freedom.

"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid," a voice whispered into his mind. (1) Michael knew he recognized the voice, but he could not place it.

"Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal," the voice whispered again as Michael clenched his fists. (2) "If you are hearing my voice, a time of great urgency is upon you," the voice whispered.

Shaking his head as to clear it, Michael bits back a groan. 'Naw, shit Sherlock,' Michael contemplated. 'What gave that away? This is not what I need right now.' Taking several deep breathes he surveyed his environment. 'I'm out number, out-powered and running out of time. I need to get to their car without getting killed. How am I going to pull this off?'

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog," the voice whispered. (3) "There were only ten of you sent to Earth to begin with. You, and you alone were the main reason only two sets of protectors where needed. Relax and allow yourself to remember." Images of his past life flooded his mind. Slowly, Michael relaxed as the people within the images become clearer and more recognizable.

"I am Rath," Michael muttered with conviction as he heard someone approaching him from the left hand side.

"Well, if it isn't the General," Ada sneered. "Where are your friends?"

"But fret about them, Adanoma," Michael greeted coldly. "Worry about me."

"How do you know my name? Tell me Guerin!" Ada demanded as she lashed out at him. She blasted him hard in the middle of his chest forcing him back against the rocks.

The sting of pain for the blast slammed against him from the front while zinging pain slowly penetrated his mind from his back. He saw Crane coming at him from his right. This time he was prepared for Crane's attack as he joined powers with Ada.

Michael smirked coldly at them. 'If this is the best they can do, they should have paid more attention to the Corp training,' Michael thought as he closed his eyes. Using his powers he slowly influenced Crane and Ada's energy from attacking him. Opening his eyes, he saw their confusion as he slowly raised his hand reverberating back towards them their own power with a tough of his own.

"I am Rath!" Michael roared as the two skins became dust. "All who dare challenge me shall perish." Growling lowly, he used his left hand to ferret out the enemy that was still hiding somewhere close by.

He knew without any confirmation that Nicholas was there. 'Revenge will be mine!' Michael thought savagely as Vilandra screams of torture rang throughout his mind. 'It's time you experienced one tenth of what she went through!'

He heard Nicholas emerge from the rocks behind him. Michael twisted his body slowly around, always making sure that he kept Nicholas in sight. 'You're going to surfer before I allow you to die.'

"You wear your emotions on your sleeve," Nicholas sneered as he continued to stride closer to Michael. "Vilandra could never love someone like you."

"You say such sweet things, Nickie. But that's not going to stop me from hurting you," Michael laughed coldly. He saw a flash of surprise in Nicholas's eyes as he moved closed.

"You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting. In what world could you possibly beat me?" Nicholas asks as he raised his hand to take on Michael. (4)

"Ahh, arrogance and stupidity all in the same package. How efficient of you," Michael sneered coldly as he effortlessly dodged Nicholas's attack. (5) "Is this the best you can do?"

"I killed you once, I'll kill you again," Nicholas snapped as attempted to blast Michael only to hit nothing but air. Pain exploded all round his body.

"What's the matter, Nickie? Not feeling so good?" Michael mocked as he blasted him again. Michael watched the man who helped Ki'var tear apart his beloved's mind before allowing her to beg for death. Rage spared through him as he built up his power. "Victory will not be achieved this time."

"We have already won," Nicholas mocked as he coughed up blood.

"Really," Michael sneered as he approached Nicholas. He easily defended himself against the puny attack that Nicholas was giving him. Reaching back, Michael slapped Nicholas across his face. A sickening cracking sound is heard upon impact.

"Let me show you, just what you have won," Michael roared softly as he placed both of his hands on either side of Nicholas's head. In that instant Rath took over. He smiled coldly down at the being he cradled in his hands. "Death will be something that you will pray for."

Nicholas's screams echoed around the desert as Rath subjugated him to the same treatment that he foisted upon Vilandra a life time ago. After the screams become whimpers, Rath reached behind Nicholas and felt his back for the seal.

"Please, please," Nicholas begged.

Standing up, Rath looked down at the broken solider. "Pray to your Deity, not to me. For you shall receive no mercy."

"You can't just leave me here. Rath! Don't walk away from me. You can't just walk away," Nicholas screamed as Michael moved away from him. "Ki'var is weak! He needs to bring back one of the royals to pacify the populace. He's coming for Vilandra."

"When?" Rath growled as he stood still.

"By the next cycle… two at the most," Nicholas coughed. "Please Rath, don't leave me like this."

Whipping around, Michael blasted Nicholas, within seconds his skin shield eroded away leaving the alien exposed to Earth's harsher elements. Gasps of intense pain came out of Nicholas's mouth.

"Mercy is given to those that deserve it, not those who demand it after betraying and destroying those they were to serve," Rath reiterated as he watched his enemy slowly die in front of him. Closing his eyes, he exhaled gently as to sooth his throbbing headache. With a soft gasp, Michael felt himself become whole. Looking around at the destruction, he was slightly glad that he no longer had to wonder what his past-life was like but he also mourned the lost of his innocent human life.

As he stepped away from the sight before him, pain shot up his back. 'Great, I go from being this indestructible being to being plain old Michael,' he thought as he grimaced in pain. Glancing over the horizon Michael spied the black sadden. 'Suck it up, Izzy's hurt.'

As he forced himself to job over to the sadden, Michael took note of how out of shape he was. Using his powers he quickly opened the car door. Reaching under the seating wheel with practiced easy he hot-wired the car within seconds. Slamming his foot down on the petal, the car roared to life.

Arriving at his destination, Michael lunched out of the car and dashed over to the entrance to the pod chamber. With a wave of his hand the door unsealed itself, allowing him to enter. He saw Alex and Tess huddled around Isabel. 'This can't be good.'

"Car's here, so let's make tracks," Michael suggested as he got closer.

"Now is not the time for bad puns, Michael," Isabel admonished in pain.

"I healed her surface wounds, but I couldn't do much for the internal injuries. So be careful picking her up," Tess whispered as she moved to give Michael access.

"Let's rock and roll, people. If you're not in the car by the time I'm out there, I'm leaving you here," Michael stressed as he bent down. He heard her groan in pain as he gently lifted her up into his arms. 'Stay with me, Izzy. Just stay with me.'

As he put the car in gear, he heard Tess attempting to reach Max using Izzy cell phone. It wasn't until he hit the outer limits of the town that Tess was able to get a signal that the residue tension seeped out of him. However, that peaceful feeling didn't last long as he heard Tess having difficulty getting the individual on the phone to put Max on that he snapped.

"Tess! Give me that phone!" Michael roared. He had to restrain himself otherwise he would have blown the cell phone to bits. Holding the phone up to his ear, he could hear Liz arguing. "Put Maxwell on. Now Elizabeth!" Michael hissed when she attempted to refuse. He could hear Max apologizing to her for his behavior in the background.

"Excuse me if I don't want Isabel to die today!" Michael snapped at Max. "Listen up O'Great leader; you're going to meet us at Valenti's. I said you! Not you and however else you think so come!"

"Michael! Calm down. I'm going to be fine," Isabel instructed as she struggled to breath. "You don't want Max getting into an accident getting to Jim house."

"Fine, get Kyle to drive you," Michael ordered and then proceeded to hang up on Max. The rest of the drive went by in silence that was broken by Isabel's ragged breathing. As he pulled into Valenti's driveway, Michael saw an impatient Max waiting for them. The car didn't even come to a complete stop before the passenger side door was thrown open.

Everyone saw that Max didn't waste any time, he was focusing all of his energy on healing Isabel. While Isabel attempted to reassure everyone that she was really fine. After what seemed like an eternity, Max stumbled backwards.

"There, she's fine now," Max whispered as emotions started to choke him. "Tess, do you have anything that Isabel can wear?"

"I think so," Tess answered as she looked over Isabel.

"Good. Kyle and you too Alex, help Isabel into the house, so she can change," Max ordered softly. "Michael and I need to talk."

Michael waited several minutes after the group entered the house before turning towards Max. Looking into Max's eyes, he was surprised to see Max struggling not to break down.

"Michael, you…. I saw it. I felt her fear for you. I saw… my god. Michael, if it wasn't for you, they would all be dead. Michael, about today… oh, god," Max croaked out as his voice cracked in several places.

"I did what was required," Michael simply offered as he stared at the front door.

"Required?" Max repeated stupidly.

Michael heard Max approach him only to stop a foot or so away. Twisting his head to look at Max, he quirked his eyebrow at the former King. "Yes, I did what the situation required."

"Michael, are you ok?" Max asked softly.

"I remember my life as Rath," Michael answered turning his body to confront Max. "All of it. I remember things, people and events that…. Why didn't you tell me about Vilandra's betrayal?"

"You always were over protective of her. Even though I was mad at her, I didn't want to leave her without a friend," Max offered until he saw Michael's eyes flash. "I didn't want you to be hurt."

"The last time you kept secrets from me, we all wound up dead. Vilandra didn't betray us. Ki'var used Nicholas to take over her mind, and then they proceeded to torture her," Michael told Max as he glanced back at the house. "And if Nicholas is to be believed he's coming back for her."

"No!" Max gasped. "I won't allow it."

"You're not the King! How the hell are you planning to stop him?" Michael snapped.

"I don't know!" Maxwell shouted losing control of his powers. The street lamps dimmed then brightened. "I don't know, but no-one is hurting me sister."

"So we start training and stop diddle-dallying?" Michael asked calmly as a smirked formed on his face.

"Yeah, you can set the schedule," Max whispered as the front door opened reviling a cleaner Tess helping a better looking Isabel. "Ah, are you going to help Izzy home."

"Sure," Michael readily agreed. "You were saying something about today?" He heard Max groan as he ran a hand down his face.

"It was all Izzy's idea," Max rationalized. "Look, I didn't forget what today is. I just… I wanted you to know this. She has a party planned. You know to celebrate your being a legal adult…"

"Max, she has been attempting to throw me a surprise birthday party for the last two lifetimes. It seems that tonight, she will succeed," Michael declared with a loving smile on his face.

"Great, but first we have to stop off at the Crashdown," Max ordered as he approached Izzy only to have her continue on her way towards Michael.

"Kyle has given me a clean shirt for you to wear," mention Isabel said as she held out the clean top.

Rolling his eyes, Michael whipped off his shirt and slid into Kyle's top. Running a hand over the top, Michael changed the top from a Hawaii printed shirt to a black top. Opening the car door, Michael gestured for Isabel to take a seat.

"After you, my lady," Michael remarked in a British voice. He noticed her faint blush on her cheeks and winked at her after she took her seat. "Tess, we're headed to the Crashdown, do you and Alex want a ride?"

"Ah… No," Tess laughed as she slipped her arms around Alex's waist. "We'll catch a ride with Kyle and Max."

"Alright my bone lass, we'll see you there," Michael assumed as he continued with his fake British accent. He hopped into the driver's seat. Putting the car into gear, he glanced up into the review mirror and had to smirk. 'Better watch it there, King. If you keep ignoring her, she's going to move on to some else,' he thought before he flashed Isabel a bright smile.

"What has you in such a chipper mood?" Isabel queried as he saw his eyes dance with mischief.

"Just thought of something," Michael mumbled. 'Like no more Liz.' He waited for the other group to get into their car before he pealed out of the drive way. Coming to a complete stop at the parking lot of the Crashdown, Michael starts to feel his body tense.

"I'm going to wait here for Max," Michael mentioned as Isabel started to get out of the car. "We have some issues to discuss."

"Michael, about today, I ...uh… Michael, there is something I should have told you earlier…" Isabel attempted to justify.

"Izzy, this has nothing to do with today. This has to do with tomorrow," Michael interrupted her softly. "I'll be right in." He got out of the car and leaned against the hood.

"Ok," Isabel agreed usually compliant. He saw her glance back several times as she made her way towards the establishment. She was quickly joined by Kyle, Alex and Tess. Nodding to Max, he smirked at him.

"Training will start bright and early. Seven and it will be just us," Michael ordered as he feel inline with Max.

"Great," Max mumbled as he let Michael enter before him.

"SURPRISE!" rang around the room, slightly startling him. Taking note of the exit signs, he also logged the number of people that were there. Seconds pasted before Maria encased her arms around him, while proclaiming loudly that she pulled off a spectacular surprise on him.

"Maria, taking credit for someone else's hard work is deplorable," Michael whispered callously as he escaped from her. Keeping Isabel in sight, he circulated around the room accepting well wishes.

"Izzy, you finally got me," Michael hollered as he lunged for her. Sweeping her up into the air, her delighted laughter was joined with the other patrons.

"Michael, put her down," Liz hissed as she came closer until she saw the Max and Tess were having a private conversation in the corner. Striding over towards them, she was forced to stop when Alex got in her way. "Alex, move."

"No, Liz leave them be," Alex countered as he kept putting his body in her path.

"Alex, I'm Max's girlfriend, besides I was here first," Liz ordered as she tried to move past him.

"Technically, Ava or Tess was there first. She was or is his wife," Alex rationalized until he heard her scuff at him. "I was in the car when Tess was begging you to put Max on. So don't stand there and play Miss Innocent with me! You know damn well what Max's power is and why any one of us would be calling to speak to him. At this point in time, I can't honestly stand to look at you and I'm just your best friend."

"Alex," Liz whispered horrified.

Michael observed the intense confrontation between Liz and Alex with a detected eye. He saw Liz's eyes widen in realization as she frantically looked around, picking out the alien's in their group before rushing after Alex, who was striding away for her.

"Did you get everything you wanted?" Isabel probed as she looked over the gifts he got.

"I had everything I ever needed," Michael commented as he gazed at her. "But I got some pretty cool stuff too."


 The End!

Quotes from:

1): Dwight D. Eisenhower

2): Dwight D. Eisenhower

3): Dwight D. Eisenhower

4): A Knight's Tale Movie Quotes: Rufus Sewell (Adhemar)

5): Londo Mollari, Babylon 5