Everyone’s jaw dropped by Liz’s announcement. “This is just too much. My head’s exploding.” Kyle stated to no one in particular.
“What do you mean she’s pregnant?” Zack asked practically shouting.
“As in having a baby. If you don’t know how that happens then I feel bad for Ava.” Liz said irately.
“I know that Liz. I’m just shocked.” Zack said.
“If you acted like this when Tinga told you about Case then it doesn’t surprise me it took her so long tell you.” Liz said. After their sister Tinga’s death, her husband and son had fled to Canada to hide from Lydecker. They felt it was safer for them to stay there even after Lydecker’s death. Liz had never been able to meet her nephew and wished that she could. She had only seen him in her sister Max’s memories when they had connected once.
“Guys, calm down. We need to go meet the others.” Kyle said.
“You’re right. We need to hurry, we don’t know how fast they’ll find us.” Zack ordered.
“Let’s load up everything now. We can open the portal there.” Max stated. “I’m staying here until I meet with Larek.”
“Max.” Liz started but Max stopped her. “I have to meet with him or they won’t turn on the portal’s energy source and we won’t be able to go to Antar. Take the jeep, I’ll take Michael’s bike and meet you at Laurie’s.”
Everyone moved to gather the stuff from the podchamber while Liz pulled Max to the side. She slid a piece of hair behind her ear before she said, “Max, I’m not going. I can’t.”
Thinking she was trying to protect him, he said, “Liz, I’ll be fine. I’ll stay at the UFO Center in the back. No one will see me and I’ll leave right after the meeting.”
“No, Max you don’t understand what I’m saying. I can’t leave Earth, not right now, not with my family being hunted again. I know what I told you about wanting to be with you and I love you but I can’t just leave and be safe on Antar knowing that they’re not safe here. We don’t know how the alien changes in her blood will affect her pregnancy and the baby. Kyle and I are the only ones like her. I’m going to help her anyway I can. I’m sorry.”
Max looked into her eyes and could see that her decision was tearing her in two. She wanted to be with him, to become his wife but she loved her family too much to leave them in danger. Her selflessness was one of the things he loved about her. One of many things and he wasn’t about to let her go that easy. “Then I’m staying too. We’ll just wait until we can get the army off the trail and then we can go.”
“That could take years. You can’t put off going back, Antar needs her king.”
“Antar needs their queen, too. Almost as much as her king.” Max said as he put his forehead to hers.
“When you guys go through the portal the rest of us will leave. I can use my powers to make up fake documents for all of us. We’ll head for the border and hide out.” Liz said absently. Although she had been safe in Roswell for all those years, Zack had made sure that they had a back up plan in case they had to leave. She pulled away and headed to the others. The last thing was to say good bye to their parents.
Max headed over to where Isabel was hugging their mom. Although they had known this time would come in a few days, it was still hard. “How are you going to meet with Larek if you leave Roswell?” His dad asked.
“I’m not leaving yet. I’ll go after my meeting but I won’t see you guys before I leave.”
His dad nodded. “Well I won’t ask where you’ll be.”
Max looked at both of his parents, “Thank you for everything. We couldn’t have asked for better parents, I’m sorry we lied to you all those years. But we’re glad you know now.”
Diane came up and hugged Max hard, “My little boy. Remember that we love you.”
“I will, Mom. I will.”
“Go make us proud.” His dad said.
Liz walked over to where her parents, Maria’s mom and the Sheriff were standing. She looked at the Sheriff first, “Thank you. I don’t know what Ky and I would have done if you hadn’t found us that night or looked after us over the years. I’m going to miss you.” She said before hugging him.
“I should be thanking you. If you hadn’t gotten him to trust me that first night, I never would have know what it was like to have a son. Take care of him.” Sheriff Valenti said.
“I promise I will. Look after them for me?” Liz asked, the Sheriff nodded. After saying good bye to Amy Deluca-Valenti, Liz moved over to where Kyle, Ava and Zack were saying good by to her own parents. The Parkers had been second parents to Kyle and the only parents Ava and Zack had ever. When they were done, Liz walked up to hug the only mother she’d ever known. “I know I haven’t been easy to live with but thank you. You risked so much for me. I love you and Daddy more than anything.” She reached over to hug her dad; “I owe you guys so much.”
“We love you too, Liz. And tell the rest of your family that if they need our help, let us know.”
“I’ll try to come and see you if I can.” Liz hadn’t told them she was staying on Earth. They would be worried sick if they knew, so she decided to let them think she was safe on Antar.
“Just remember you will always be our daughter and that we love you.” Liz hugged each of them one last time and went to join the others.
Kyle walked over to his Dad; “I’ll tell them that I think you’re heading up north. It won’t be a complete lie.” The Sheriff said.
“Thank you.” Kyle said.
“It’s the least I could do for all you have given me. Thank you, for listening to your sister that night I found you. That night was one of the best of my life.”
“When we were little Liz and I would go on the roof and talk about what we wanted if we made it on the outside. She always said she wanted love. I thought she was crazy, thinking someone could love us with what we were but I was wrong. You proved me wrong,” Kyle reached up and hugged his dad. “I love you Dad.”
“I love you too son.” The Sheriff said back. When they pulled away Kyle looked at his dad and Amy who had an arm around Maria, placing a hand on her stomach. “Tell him or her that they have a brother out there who loves them.” Amy nodded before hugging Kyle.
They all said goodbye to the other parents before The Parkers, the Evans, and the Valenti’s looked at their kids one last time then all got into their cars. With tears in their eyes they watched their parents leave. Once they were gone they load up into the vehicles. Kyle, Isabel, Maria and Michael went in Kyle’s car while Ava, Zack, and Liz were going in the jeep.
Michael argued with Max about staying with him but Max made the point that it would be easier for one of them on one bike to slip out of Roswell if it got closed off. He gave Isabel and Ava a hug before he kissed Liz quickly and headed for the UFO center. He had a plan that would fix this whole thing if it worked.
Part 14
Morning of Max's meeting, one day until Departure
Liz pulled the jeep up along side of Kyle’s car and parked it. It was just before dawn and the sky was beginning to turn pink. Except for gas stops they had been able to drive all night to Tucson. They had made good time taking back roads and didn’t have any problems. Krit, Zane, and Syl were behind them by a couple of hours but had hit the border to Arizona. The drive from Seattle would take Logan and her sister longer since they were making sure that they weren’t followed. They were expected to arrive around noon.
Max had told Liz that she and Logan had a surprise for them. They had called and been given directions to the house. Josh, Jack, and Jondy had farther to go but had checked in with them.
“Liz, you okay?” Zack asked worriedly. She had already told him and Ava that she was staying here to help her family.
“Yeah, just worried about everyone.” She answered
“He’ll make it out of Roswell, don’t worry.” Zack stated.
“I know. And then I’m going to have to say goodbye.” Liz said. Not wanting to talk about it she jumped out of the jeep and headed up to the house. Zack and Ava watched her go.
“I know you want to protect them.” Ava said knowing how important it was to Zack to keep his family safe.
“I always have.” Zack stated. He flashed back to a long buried memory. He was a little boy, peaking into the nursery. He snuck in there often to see their littlest brother but he had heard one of the nurses earlier talk about a new baby. He saw a newborn Liz and an older Ky, at the time unnamed, lying side by side in the nursery with all the medical personal swarming around them. They were both crying, but the adults ignored them. He banged on the door, trying to tell them the babies were crying. In the end he had gotten in trouble, but from that moment on he knew he had to protect everyone. He saw that no one else cared what happened to them except for their brothers and sisters. All he could think was about how small an innocent they were and he had only been a toddler himself. He was taken back to the playroom and told the others quickly about the new babies in their family.
“And I know you want to stay too.”
“Av….” Zack started to say but Ava interrupted. “And I’ll stay with you. I’ll go with you and your family into hiding.” She was going to do whatever she had to, to be able to be with Zack. Even if it meant not going with the others. He had been willing to give up his own family once for her but she couldn’t ask him to do it with such a cloud of danger hanging over them. Things just kept getting flipped. First they had to decide to go now it didn’t matter because they had to stay anyway. Back and forth, back and forth. “I can help us get across the border, mindwarp the border patrol. Besides they don’t need be back there. Max is king, Isabel is a princess, Michael’s the Commander. Max and I aren’t together; I wouldn’t be considered queen so I’m not expected to come back. When I’m with you I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
Zack looked at her with wide eyes not even attempting to hide his surprise. She wanted to stay with him. For all of his years he was this hard person, never showing emotions. He had to be the strong one and he always thought love would make him weak but Ava proved him wrong. They had both been through so much, which made them understand each other. There relationship was a strong one that neither questioned about the outcome. He had never ever thought about actually getting married before but he did with Ava.
There are several reasons; he hadn’t allowed himself to feel emotions. They always lived every day in fear, watching every person that you came into contact with. It’s was the best way to make sure that you lived to see another day. Getting involved with people was dangerous. They wouldn’t be able to defend themselves, making them liabilities, to be used to lure one of us out of hiding, and give up. Lastly, telling anyone is completely out of the question. They would just betray you, and you’d be captured. That was how he had always lived his life. But then he had settled in Roswell and everything was different. All of his reasons seemed to fly out the window. Manticore and Lydecker were gone and he didn’t have to run anymore well until now. Ava, although he still didn’t like her in dangerous situations, could defend herself with her powers. And she knew already knew what he was and would never turn him in.
He in some way had loved her ever since he had laid eyes on her. There had been something about her that made him feel at ease. She understood him, understood what it was like to be chased, and hunted down, just because of your DNA. She understood what it was like to always be hiding. She was a strong person. She brought feelings in him that he never wanted to experience, because he was afraid. But, now, it felt like with Ava by his side, he could face anything.
When Ava had first gotten to know him, Ava found it hard not relate to Zack’s view of the world. He had always looked at the world as something that would turn against him in a heartbeat. His view was why he always felt he had to protect his younger siblings, the older brother to all of them. And he always blamed himself, for the death of his siblings, all of them. She herself didn’t have the burden of being the protector but, on the other hand, she knew what it was like to feel responsible for someone’s death. She knew at the time she should have done something to protect Zan but she had been so scared. She felt stronger now. If she ever found herself in the same situation again she would do everything in her power to stop it.
Zack leaned forward and kissed her gently, “Okay.” He said simply. Ava was surprised that she didn’t have to argue with him more but was relieved she hadn’t had to put up a fight. He grabbed her hand and headed off in the direction that his baby sister went.
Part 15: Day of Max's meeting, one day until Departure
Zane, Krit, and Syl arrived later that morning. Zane had brought his German Shepherd Millie with him and she was keeping Liz company while she sat outside thinking about Max. She stood up when she saw Logan’s car at the gate. She opened it and made her way over to the car after it was parked. She saw Max and Logan getting out of the car but it was the third occupant that stopped Liz dead in her tracks. He was tall, about the same age as her older siblings. He had dark blonde hair, hazel eyes and looked like he was in good shape from what Liz could make out hidden under his black leather jacket, black T-shirt, and blue jeans, but it was his face that drew her attention. She had seen that face in her sister’s memories when they had connected once. “Ben?”
“Alec.” He said correcting her as he walked up. “I’m the sane one.”
“Shut up Alec.” Her sister Max snapped.
“Well from what I heard it’s true.”
Liz was confused but her sister quickly told her what was going on. “He’s not Ben. He’s his twin, designation 494. He escaped last year when we blew up Manticore.”
“How did you find him?” Liz said directing the question to her sister and Logan.
“I can talk for myself.” Alec said.
“Sorry. I’m just a little shocked.”
“I met Max a month ago at Jam Pony. She recognized me and knew I was from Manticore. Who are you?”
“Liz. I’m the youngest.”
“Oh, so that would make you 435.” Alec said with a smile.
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t call any of us by our designations if I were you.” She turned her attention back to her sister. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Liz asked her sister.
“I didn’t want to tell any of you over the phone. I was going to mention it when we came to Roswell, Alec was going to try and come with us but he couldn’t. Then one thing or another came up. First your graduation, then Max’s proposal, then the news that you were leaving. I didn’t want to upset you more.”
“I helped Max get out of the hospital after I found out from our boss that she had been shipped there. I caught a ride with them when they fled Seattle. Max had told me you guys would help.”
“After I revive them.” Liz muttered. She looked at Max and Logan, “How much does he know?”
“Nothing.” Logan stated.
“Well I’ll wait until Max gets here before we decide to tell him anything. I don’t think he’ll care since they’re all leaving.”
“What do you mean they’re leaving? What about you?” Max asked
“I’m not leaving, I’m going to stay here and help you. We don’t know how your pregnancy is going to progress with all the differences in our blood.” She said knowing Max would understand the meaning behind it. “How are you?”
“I’m better. I slept on the way and got something to eat. I didn’t have any idea or I would have been more careful.”
“I should have known something was up,” Logan jumped in.
“I’m just glad you’re okay and I’m going to be an aunt again, this one I’ll get to see.” She looked over at her sisters’ boyfriend. “And by the way Logan, I suggest you stay away from my brothers. They’re not too happy with you right now. Come on I’ll take you in.”
Liz showed them in the house and into the main room yelling for everyone to join them. Kyle, Krit, Zack, and Zane were glaring at Logan so much that they didn’t even notice Alec. “Guys, what’s done is done. Leave him alone. They’ve been living together for almost a year did you think they didn’t have sex?”
“Okay, that’s a mental picture I didn’t need.” Krit said.
“Since you guys are too busy thinking of ways to torture Logan you haven’t noticed we have an added person, this is Alec.” The guys turned their attention to Alec and Liz saw Zack’s eyes widen. “I know what you’re thinking but he’s not Ben. He and Ben were twins, so he’s one of our family. He wants to go with us.”
“Where are we going?” Syl asked.
“The border. Lay low down in Mexico. Spanish is the one language we’re all fluent in.” Zack explained.
They all nodded. “I need everyone’s Ids and any other papers so I can come up with aliases.” Liz announced.
Knowing her friend was hurting Maria jumped up. “Want some help?”
“Sure.” Liz collected all of the stuff before the two girls left.
“What’s stuck up her ass?” Alec asked after Liz left. “And who put her in charge?”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about so I suggest you keep your mouth shut until you do.” Zack stated. They all listened to Liz because she was the link between the two groups. Sure Zack and Kyle were dating aliens too but it was Liz that had been the first one to bring them together. They also knew that Liz needed something to keep her mind occupied until Max got back. They were worried about her, she had already told them of her decision to stay and they knew it was tearing her up inside.
“She’s going through a rough time right now. Besides she’s doing stuff that going to save your ass so that we can get across the border.” Jack added.
“And how does she know that she can trust whoever is doing the paperwork for us?” Alec asked clueless as to how they were going to acquire what they needed.
“Because she’s doing it herself. Don’t worry about it Liz knows what she’s doing.” Zack said.
Part 16
Night of Max's meeting, one day until Departure
Max had hidden in the back archives of the UFO center waiting until he had to meet Larek. From a pay phone his dad had called his cell phone and was able to tell him what was going on. The army had descended a few hours after everyone else had left. But they had been discreet. They had gone to everyone’s house and talked to their parents, dragging their parents in for questioning. But all the parents had told them that the kids were gone, they didn’t know where only that they headed north. Thinking the parents were lying they tried to scare them. They told the parents that their kids were dangerous some of them killers, that needed to be taken into custody. The army never figured that the parents already knew their children’s story and wasn’t frightened. Finally they resorted to threats. They tried to threaten them into telling them where the kids were, saying they would be put into cells. But Max’s father, being a lawyer, had made sure that the army knew that he was aware they were empty threats. Finally letting them leave the army had set up surveillance. Of course with the kids gone, they were doing nothing but following them around town.
Max waited as patiently as possible. He was on edge wanting to get out of Roswell. Once he knew the Center was closed he ventured out stealthily looking around for Brody. He knew the army had questioned Brody as well but of course they didn’t say anything about why they were after Max. But Brody wouldn’t rat him out even if he had to tell him the truth. But it didn’t come to that, Brody walked up a few minutes later, “Max have you settled your affairs?”
“Well Larek, there’s something I need to talk to you about.” Max started.
Once the meeting was done, Max went out the back entrance into the alley. He headed towards where he had hidden Michael’s bike half a mile away. He crept out of Roswell and circled around to make sure that he hadn’t been followed before heading to Tucson. The meeting had gone just the way he wanted it and he needed to talk to Liz.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liz and Maria started out by making a list of different names they could use. Liz tried to keep her mind off of everything but it was hard considering what she was doing. She couldn’t believe that after all these years that she was going to have to go on the run. It made her realize how much she had taken the safety of Roswell for granted. Hopefully they could find some little town in Mexico and start over. She would help her sister with her baby and try to be happy. But with Max gone to Antar she knew that a part of her would be empty.
“Talk to me Chica.” Maria said. “And before you say nothing is bothering you I know you’re lying. I’m getting hit with just waves of your emotions despite blocking you.”
Liz sighed, knowing that Maria wasn’t going to let her slide. “I have so much going through my head right now I can’t sort it out. I want to protect my family to make sure they’re safe but I’m going to miss Max and you guys so much.”
“Liz, you know he’ll come back for you. And he’ll keep coming back until you can go back with us. Wherever you’re hiding, he’ll find you. But I think there is more you’re not telling me.”
“I’m scared. I mean running is something I’ve had to live with for so long but after a while the possibility seemed less likely. I felt safe in Roswell. Now no where is safe. This is bigger than before. If one of us who was changed gets caught they’re dissect us.”
“Then we’ll have to change what you look like so you won’t get caught. Hair color, length, any thing we can do to make you unrecognizable.” Maria said. She was going to miss Liz. It was hard to think that she wouldn’t be with them.
When they were done changing everyone’s Ids to match their new names they started figuring ways of changing their physical appearances. What would look good on who, it took awhile to do that because she had to do it so they didn’t look fake, like Liz couldn’t suddenly have blonde hair because it just didn’t look right on her. When they were done Maria had gone in search of Michael while Liz took her walk to think.
Part 17:
Departure next day
That evening Liz was taking a walk of the grounds to get some air. She walked the whole perimeter of the large grounds even hiking up a few hills. Liz wished she hadn’t sold sell her bike or she would have gone for a ride.
“Why the long face?” She heard a voice say interrupting her thoughts. She looked over to see Alec sitting by the pool. She made her way over to him and sat down in the lounge chair next to him. She still couldn’t get over his resemblance to Ben, from what she could tell he wasn’t anything like him. She wondered fleetingly if he would look so much like him tomorrow when she changed his hair.
“So are you going to tell me or just stare at me?” Alec asked.
“Sorry.” Liz said before sitting down on the pool ledge, she took off her shoes and dangled her feet in the water. “I’m just a little spaced out at the moment. I was just thinking about having to go on the run.”
“I can see why that would depress you, I’ve only been at it a year and it’s not something I recommend.”
“Well Kyle and I only had to run for the first few months after the escape. Then we settled down and having been living there ever since. I just realized how lucky I was to be able to do that instead of run constantly like Zack. Here catch.” She said as she tossed Alec his new Id. She saw him wince a little as he caught it and noticed he had a bandage on his arm. “What’s that?” She asked. She moved closer to get a better look.
“A hole in my body made by a bullet.” He stated.
“Been there, done that. How did you get it?” She asked as she examined the bandage. She couldn’t help it, it was just instinct to check to make sure people were okay.
“Ow! I think you got the same bedside manner as your sister.”
“Sorry, I’m a little tense at the moment.”
“I got it when I helped Max get out of hospital. The soldiers decided to use us as target practice. Glad they weren’t very good shots.” Alec looked over his ID and let out a low whistle. “These are good. D*mn good. Make good money on the black market. You’ll have to teach me how you do it.”
“Trust me you could do it if you tried.” Liz said smiling. She wasn’t being cocky; she had used her powers so Alec wouldn’t have been able to do it.
“You guys are pretty trusting of me.” Alec said offhandedly.
Liz shrugged. “Maxie trusts you. And you’re as much our brother as Ben was, the same DNA flows through your veins. Which mean you share the same things with us as he did. Only difference is you weren’t raised with us.”
Alec smiled at her in thanks and said, “Well I have to say I came out on the better end of the deal.” He said looking around. “Because when you guys go out on the lamb you do it with style.”
“Don’t get used to it. We’re leaving tomorrow. Max, Maria, Michael, and Isabel are going to be leaving. I don’t want to be putting Laurie in anymore danger than we have to.”
“Whose is Max? I heard you mention him earlier when we arrived.”
“He’s my fiancée. He should be here soon.” She said looking at her watch. She couldn’t believe she had been walking around for two hours.
“But he’s not going with us?” Alec asked curiously upon seeing the pain flash across Liz’s eyes.
“No, he has some place else he needs to be.”
“So that’s the real reason for the long face, you’re going to miss him.” Alec said sarcastically.
“Hey, I happen to love him a lot. You wouldn’t understand.”
Alec lowered his head, “No, of course I wouldn’t, after all I’ve been locked up in Manticore until the last year. You know I bet you never once thought about the rest of us when you left. They wanted to make sure it wouldn’t happen again, that the thought of escaping hadn’t spread past the fourteen of you. So they hauled us into psycops for evaluations. While you were out in the world living the dream, we were the one’s suffering. It was the second worst time of my life. The worst was after they found out about Ben, then it was back to psycops.”
“I’m sorry. But living on the outside not all peaches and cream either although I’d prefer it to Manticore.” Liz started to say before she was hit by a surge of emotion. Fear, worriment, and frustration but they weren’t from her. They were from Max and she felt them through their connection.
“Liz? Liz?” Alec asked.
“I’ve got to go Max is in trouble.” She ran inside with Alec on her tail. She headed for where she had last left her pack to get her cell phone. She ran Zack, Ava, and Michael who looked after Liz in confusion. They saw Alec and asked him what was going on.
“I don’t know we were out by the pool talking then all of a sudden she said Max was in trouble.”
“If Liz said he’s in trouble than he is.” Ava said as they headed after her. They found her on her phone talking to someone. When she hung it up Zack asked her what was up.
“Max is stuck at the border to Arizona. He can’t find anyway through, I’m going after him to help.” She grabbed the keys to the jeep and headed for the door.
“Wait, I’m coming with you.” Michael said as they hurried after.
“No, you are staying here. If Max can’t make it back, you will open the portal when the crystal starts to glow and go to Antar. If Max can’t go then you guys are next in line for the throne. I’m not risking any of you getting caught. Jack, Jondy, and Josh should be here within the hour.” She said as she ran out the door and headed for the jeep.
“Liz, you can’t go by yourself.” Zack said as he grabbed her. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
Liz kicked him as hard as she could sending him flying back. She turned to the others and with her hand and powers sent the others flying back. She jumped in the jeep and started the engine. Just before taking off she yelled, “I’m sorry.”
She sped out of the driveway and headed for the state line. She hoped the others would forgive her but she didn’t want to risk them. Max had told her that there were soldiers at the roadblock. He himself had told her not to come, that he would stay there until the morning and try to get across when they switched guards. She’d been driving about ten minutes when Ava appeared in the passenger seat.
“AVA!” Liz yelled as she swerved.
“What? You didn’t think I was going to let you go alone did you?”
“How in the hell did you sneak in here?”
Ava looked at her like she was insane. “Mindwarp, duh. You were so busy fighting with Michael and Zack, that I was able mindwarp you and you didn’t see me sneak into the jeep. As soon as you took off out of the house I knew what you were planning. You’re going to need me.”
“Even though I didn’t want you to risk yourself, thank you. “
“Hey, you’re my best friend and the closest thing I’ll ever have to a sister. If I can help it, I’m not going to let you get caught.” Just then Liz’s phone rang. “I think I’ll answer that. I’m probably the better one to try and calm him down.” Ava said knowing it was Zack, and that he wasn’t going to be happy. Liz nodded and floored the jeep.
Part 18
By the time Zack got to his feet, Liz was already heading down the driveway. She had hit him hard and he hadn’t been expecting it. “You guys okay?” He looked over at Alec and Michael that’s when noticed Ava wasn’t next to him. “Where’s Ava?” Both guys shrugged that’s when Zack figured out what had happened. “I’m going to kill both of them.” He muttered to himself.
“What the hell just happened? How did Liz just toss us with no more than the wave of her hand?” Alec asked.
“Great. This is all we need.” Michael said as they headed back to the house. “I’m just glad Maria is asleep or she’d kill me for letting Liz go by herself.”
“She didn’t go by herself. Ava’s with her.” Michael looked around at Zack’s statement. “Shit!”
“Alec we will explain everything in just a minute.” Zack pulled his phone out and dialed Liz’s phone. A minute later he heard Ava’s voice, “Hello?”
“Don’t hello me Ava. I’ve told you not to do that mind shit on me.”
“And you would have let me go if I didn’t?” She asked.
“Of course not. I didn’t want Liz to go either but that neither one of you listens to me.” He muttered.
“Zack, you have to understand why we’re doing this. Liz doesn’t want you to risk yourselves and I could let her go by herself. She needs me. I’m the only one who can mindwarp and we’re going to need that power to get him through the roadblock. We can’t let Max get caught. Not again.” She pleaded. He knew how important Ava’s friends were to her. They were her family. She was closer to them then the group she had been raised with. In the year she had lived in Roswell they had become a close family.
“Call me as soon as you guys get him through. And tell my sister I still want to have a chat with her when you get back.”
“Love you.” Ava said
“Me, too.” Zack said before hanging up the phone. Despite what he said, he understood why his sister had done what she had done. He would do the same thing for Ava. He would do anything for her especially if she was in danger. He put his thoughts aside and went to deal with Alec. Although he was no longer the CO of his unit he was the oldest of his family and they still all looked up to him. It was one reason why him and Max didn’t get along so well but they were getting better.
He walked into the living room where everyone was waiting and saw Michael had already told Alec the basics of the aliens’ story. He waited until he finished before he said anything. Alec looked like he was having a hard time believing despite what he saw Liz do. “If you have these ‘special powers’ show me something.”
Michael waved his hand over a near by plant and turned it into a stature then back again. Alec’s face stayed blank just like they had been trained but Zack could see the surprise in his eyes. “Alec, three of our family, X5s just like you have been changed because of the aliens. All three of them almost died but Max stepped in and healed him. He has also healed all of us of the seizures, but it didn't change us like the others. We have all sworn to keep their secret just as they have kept ours. They helped us bring down Manticore, and we helped them with their own enemies. Now because of that they are able to go home which they are tomorrow. Liz, Kyle and I were going to go with them but then we had to go on the run.”
“Maxie is one that was healed isn’t she?”
“Yes, she was. She was shot when we blew up Manticore.” Krit answered.
“From what she told me the doctors were able to see X5 traits as well as alien properties in her blood. Liz and Kyle are the other ones who were healed, Liz first. Because this is the first pregnancy that one of the changed females has had we don’t know what differences there may be. We don’t even have anything to base it on. The only X5 we know that has gotten pregnant is our sister Tinga, she was a regular X5, and her husband was a regular human. We have all kind of combinations. X5 and alien, changed X5 and alien, changed human and alien, changed X5 and human. Pick a mixture and we have it.”
“They’re the foursquare that Logan mentioned in his message aren’t they?” Alec asked.
“Yes, they are. Is everything clear?” Zack asked.
“Yeah.”
Zack walked over to stand in front of Zane, Krit, and Josh. The four boys looked at Alec and assumed a threatening posture. “If you betray us and expose them you will be endangering three siblings as well as our future niece or nephew. For that we will catch up with you and make sure you pay for it, brother or not. They might be leaving but Kyle, Maxie, and Liz will still be here.”
Alec knew that they were serious, deadly serious. “I won’t tell.”
“You’re taking this pretty well.” Michael said.
“If you guys were going to hurt me you would have already done it. You haven’t except for Liz throwing me across the driveway. You’re just trying to get through life just like us. And if they trust you, which is a hard thing for us to do then I do too.”
“Good, Jack, Jondy, and Josh should be here soon and then we have to is wait for Liz, Ava, and Max to get back.” Zack said impatiently. They all sat back and began the wait.
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