Running the brush through my short curly bob I couldn't help wanting someone along with Lucas. Today we would face the pod quad which I hadn't seen in a long long time. It would not be a nice reunion to look forward to after they knew the truth no matter what the intentions were. Even now I wasn't sure I was ready to face them getting angry with me because for a long time they were my whole family. Hearing a knock at the door I crossed the room opening the door to see the last person I would of expected to see.
"You think you can leave a note. Be back when I can... Don't worry... I know it was just you and Lucas for all these years, but it's not that way anymore you hear me, Sis," Clark said standing in my doorway.
"I just want to drag you into my fight," I whispered as I dropped the brush to my side.
"Your my sister, and I will be here... Every time... You gonna let me in," Clark asked holding up the coffee.
Backing up I let him inside, and taking the coffee from him.
"Clark... Mom..." Lucas mumbled as he fumbled out of bed, and went to the bathroom shutting the door behind him.
"What's the plan," Clark questioned taking a seat on the bed.
"Go get breakfast. Tell one of them I'm calling a meeting, and then drive out to the desert where the pods are," I explained taking a seat on the dresser across from him.
Taking the lid off the coffee I inhaled the aroma, and then taking a long slow drink enjoying my caffeine fix.
"Well I wish we had more info about what the situation was now," Clark shrugged as he liked knowing what he was facing.
"Well Micheal has a kid named Maxx. Girl, a year or so younger than Lucas," I spoke up what I did know.
"Married?" Clark inquired eying me carefully like I'd break.
"Don't know," I replied honestly shaking my head.
Pinching the bridge of my nose I closed my eyes take a deep breath. Clearing my head I heard it outside someone was approaching from across the parking lot.
"Door," My eyes snapped opened to see Clark at the window looking out.
"Girl holding a white handkerchief in her hand at her side," Clark barley whispered knowing I'd hear.
"Let her in," I replied not sure why she was here.
Getting down I went to stand by Clark as he opened the door to reveal Maxx standing there.
"A meeting is being call tonight... I'm to hand deliver this to you," Maxx said holding out the handkerchief to me.
Taking the handkerchief I unfolded it to find the necklace from Atherton's... Isabel had had worn it for the longest time, but it had disappeared all together after Alex's death.
"We'll be there," I said looking up at Maxx.
Most of the day we had stayed inside the room not wanting to run into anyone. Actually I didn't want to chance it... Clark had insisted on going to get food from the vending machine. The hours slowly passed by before it was finally time to leave for the pod chamber. Going out to the jeep I got in the drivers seat as Clark got in next to me and Lucas in the back. Starting the engine I pulled out smoothly not getting anyone peeking from the hotel rooms which I was thankful for. Wanting to be careful I took the back roads to make sure I wasn't followed by anyone. Plus next to no one too these old roads at least not when I was growing up. I didn't see any cars or anything so I guess it still rang true even. After what felt like a long drive I parked where my jeep would be hard to spot. Getting out Clark and Lucas followed behind me as we made the walk to the path. We had gotten about half away when I spotted a camp fire in the distance... Max, Isabel, and Micheal were sitting around the fire. Pulling my jacket close it was weird like being outside looking in a place use to be home and family. As we get closer it's Max who looks up first because of the connection from when he saved me from a bullet. The others look to Max, and then they see me with my group.
"Liz," Max whispers as he stands up.
Out of instinct Lucas moves in front of me protectively not trusting the man before him. He knows who it is, but we've been on our own. Clark had to earn Lucas's trust, and so would Max and the others.
"Lucas, it's fine," I said making him look at me.
Reluctantly Lucas moved to stand beside me not liking this at all.
"I wouldn't hurt Liz," Max spoke up looking at Lucas.
"Lying isn't a good start," Lucas warned through gritted teeth.
"Why don't you introduce us," Isabel suggested as she joined Max followed by Micheal.
"This is my brother Clark. It's very complicated. This is Lucas... Well actually he was born Zan," I trailed off at the end.
"Tess left him with you. Why didn't you come back," Max demanded as his eyes went wild.
"Khivar was out to kill him. I know that better than anybody. Tess made me promise to keep him safe. She was convinced you send him away thinking he was human. Two years old he blasted a window out of a hotel room..." I tried my best to explain.
"You could of come to me, and given me a chance," Max countered as his face softened slightly.
"You have no ideal how many close calls there was. Always on the move never in one place and still. How safe would he have been here?" I scoffed at how ridiculous he was being.
Lucas was making eye contact with Clark, and was making plans of escape if needed. He was always making sure he was ten steps ahead of everyone. That's my boy in his element cause I could see those wheels turning fast. We weren't running away or escaping from them not now. It was important that he learn from them everything about where he came from I knew that better than most.
"We can't change things now. You are attacking the only mother he has really known. Look at your son... Really look," Isabel interjected as she looked at Max.
Slowly Max turned his attention from me to Lucas, and I could see him trying to swallow the anger. Under his dad stare Lucas look ticked off more than his occasional moodiness.
"Max, can we walk and talk," Clark asked motioning to the path.
Surprisingly Max nodded slightly and followed Clark off away from the group.
"Please sit," Isabel suggested as Micheal stood there silently by.
"Come on, Lucas," I urged as I pulled him to sit next me as I took a seat by the fire.
"Why are you back?" Micheal asked not about to mince words with me.
"I wanted to Lucas to know his family and where he was from. My knowledge only goes so far... I've learned things, but I'm not Antarian," I answered honestly looking up at Micheal.
"Mom," Lucas whispered in objection.
"I did my best..." I blinked back a few tears.
"Liz, I can see the good job you did. I can only imagine how hard it must have been," Isabel said with sympathy in her eyes.
"I think I've had enough family whatever," Lucas spoke up as he got to his feet.
"Sit now," I demanded using a tone Lucas knew well.
Instantly Lucas sat back down without making a sound.
"Thank you,"
Picking up a long stick I poked at the fire ignoring the looks from Isabel and Micheal. I knew they hadn't expected me to sound like a mom.
"I'm getting out of here. Tell Max that I'll meet him in the morning for breakfast. Liz," Micheal spoke up looking from Isabel to me in one fluid motion, and then left without another word.
"Lucas, can you go back to the Jeep," I asked wanting to talk with Isabel alone.
"Okay," Lucas agreed quickly getting up and leaving.
"He's mad at me," I said as Lucas got out of ear shot.
"Micheal shut down after you left. Never more committed to making things work with Maria, but there was something that was just wrong. I think Maria knew on some level at the end; if she had taken Maxx it would of kill him," Isabel frowned as she spoke and her eyes went darker somehow.
"Lucas had to come first. He didn't ask for any of this," I answered softly.
"I know and I'm thankful. Max is too; if he'll stop for a minute," Isabel sighed giving me a little small smile.
Walking up the old path with Isabel following close behind I want to see it is still there after all these years. Breathing in I can feel that the air is a little thinner, and it's like an old feeling that try to keep fresh in your mind's eye the best you can. The thing is that no matter what it isn't the same not really you just know it. Reaching the entrance Isabel puts her hands in place, and then suddenly there's the opening in front of us. Stepping inside as Isabel stood at the entrance; I looked around remembering everything. The medal frame with the remnants of what looked like popped rubber balloons. Something drew me to them like a moth to the flame. Reaching out my fingers out I touched getting a jolt I wasn't expecting. Everything looked like a dream that was slightly blurry around the edges.
"They are our last hope," came a woman's voice, but she was talking in a language I understood.
Turning I saw my mother Lara standing with an older man and a woman about Lara's age...
"Separating them was the only way to keep them both safe, my darling wife," Jor-El whispered pulling my mother close and gently kissing her forehead.
"Khivar has already destroyed your world, and Antar will meet the same fate if this fails," the other man spoke gravely with out hope.
"Lux, don't lose hope for our children. You're daughter will come for him one day. They're bond is undeniable," Lara smiled hopefully she was right.
Feeling like someone was shaking me I blinked my eyes seeing Clark standing over me worried.
"Don't scare me like that," Clark whispered as he pulled me into a hug.
"Sorry, the memory was strong," I explained knowing he knew what I meant.
"Lara was here in this place with Jor-El and woman named Lux. She wasn't human though... Antarian... They spoke the language and I understood them," I rambled off speaking quickly.
"Slow down and take a breath," Clark instructed me as he helped me sit up.
Taking a couple deep breaths I noticed Lucas was standing next to Isabel, and Max was on the other side of me knelt at my side.
"Lara said Khivar had destroyed Krypton, and would destroy Antar too if he wasn't stopped," I finished as ran my hand through my hair.
"Let me get you back to the hotel, so you can get some rest before you faint again," Clark stated rather than questioned.
Quickly Clark picked me up easily which surprised Max.
"Can I come by tomorrow," Isabel asked as Clark started to leave.
"Lucas will find you when Liz is up to it," Clark answered stopping only a moment at the entrance.
Looking over Clark's shoulder I could make out Lucas following behind his uncle. I knew he was just as worried as Clark because Lucas knew how bad it could have been.