Back from Vegas but Far from Home

 

By: Terri Carter

 

E-mail: Natashadarlink@juno.com

 

Disclaimer: Don’t own em, just enjoy em.

 

Category: Liz/Max, but includes almost the whole cast.

 

Rating: PG-13

 

Summary: A new girl comes to Roswell and has a strange connection to Max. Is she a friend or foe? Will Liz and the others

discover her true identity before it is too late?

 

Author's Comments: This story picks up right after Viva Las Vegas and is dedicated to all the Dreamers out there. Let me

know if ya like it!

 

She walked into the UFO Center and down the stairs, taking in all the alien paraphernalia. She couldn’t help but smile as she

passed the photographs depicting flying saucers as the thought crossed her mind, “If they only knew.” She saw him across the

room and her heart leapt inside. Suddenly her mouth went dry and fear crept into her. She hesitated and then he turned and

saw her standing there and smiled at her. He turned back to his work. She continued towards him.

 

It was a quick look, a glance really the first time. He stopped in his tracks, suddenly frozen in place and looked at her again.

What was it he saw? A flicker of recognition flashed through his eyes and he wondered where he had seen her before. He

didn’t think she was from here, but where? And then she spoke.

 

“Excuse me, but is this where I come to find out everything I ever wanted to know about alien encounters, but was afraid to

ask?” Her thick British accent let him know that she was definitely not from here and surely they have never met before. He

brushed off the prickly feeling growing in the back of his neck and smiled again, giving her his full attention. She was pleasant

to look at, pale skin, blue eyes and long brown ringlets that hung almost to her waist. She was standing next to him now and he

thought he caught a whiff of something familiar. “What is that?” he thought to himself.

 

“Well, you know I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” What was that? He turned red at his own stupid remark. He

was not the flirting type and suddenly he felt embarrassed and shy at his own forwardness. A giggle erupted from the girl and

he laughed in response suddenly aware that he had been holding his breath. He had no idea what to say next and was relieved

when her attention was drawn somewhere else.

 

“Brody! Come give your baby sister a hug!” Brody entered the room and upon seeing his sister threw his arms open wide and

ran towards her. Brody picked the girl up and swung her around. The pair laughed as they tripped on each other’s feet and

nearly stumbled into Max.

 

“Max, I would like you to meet my baby sister Larissa. Larissa this is Max.” Brody beamed like a proud big brother.

 

“Oh, we’ve already met, haven’t we Max?” It was an innocent enough remark, but as she made it she looked directly into

Max’s eyes, no, into his soul and he was paralyzed by it. He stared back at her, transfixed, his mouth moving to speak but the

words were stuck somewhere between his brain and his throat. ‘Brody’s sister?’ he thought, “He never mentioned having a

sister.” Then again they weren’t really all that close. He hadn’t even known Brody had a daughter until Liz told him. “Why is she looking at me like that? Why does that suddenly make me feel as if I should know her?”

 

She broke the spell as she laughed again and Brody tossed her a puzzled look. “Max was going to reveal the secrets of alien

encounters to me, weren’t you Max?” She opened her eyes big in a teasing kind of way.

 

Max managed to tear his eyes away from her and laughed in Brody’s direction, “Not really.”

 

“Well, seeing as how you two have already met why don’t I suggest we go get some dinner so you two can get better

acquainted and you, missy, can fill me in on what’s been going on in your life for the past year.” Brody directed them to the

door and Max felt curious and nervous all at once. Who was this girl? Why did he feel so strange all of a sudden? With all the

weirdness in his life lately he knew one thing, whether friend or foe, he was going to find out who this girl was and why she was

here.

 

 ***

 

The Crashdown was hopping with customers as usual. Liz and Maria were busy serving the Friday night crowd when Max,

Brody, and Larissa walked in. Maria was the first to see the trio. Immediately she looked for Liz; caught her eye and gestured

with her head towards the door. Liz looked up to see Max, Brody and who was this? Liz couldn’t help but notice the pretty

girl they were with. Max saw Liz and grinned at the quizzical look she had on her face. Liz rolled her eyes and smirked back at

Max, he knew her too well. Liz approached them as they chose a booth to sit in. She smiled at Max again, then fixed her eyes

on the new girl and said, “Hey Brody, how’s it goin’?” as if to say, “who is the girl and where did she come from?”

 

Brody smiled and said, ”Liz, I’d like you to meet Larissa, my sister. She’s come all the way from England for a visit, so

naturally I had to take her to the finest restaurant in town right off the bat!” Brody turned to Larissa and said, “They make one

killer sandwich here called a Galaxy Sub; you simply must try it.”

 

“Brody’s sister? From England? Hmm,” Liz’s mind raced a mile a minute with questions. “Stop it Liz!” she silently chastised

herself for analyzing everything and everyone she met who was new to Roswell. How could she help it though after all they had

been through? “Hi Larissa it’s nice to meet you.” Liz smiled and hoped the girl didn’t notice her staring.

 

Liz took their orders for drinks and headed back to the kitchen. She walked through the door and Maria immediately

accosted her. “Well?” Maria demanded, “who’s Rapunzel over there?”

 

“Maria will you stop it? She’s Brody’s sister ok?” Liz tried not to smile knowing the same questions were running through

Maria’s mind as hers. “She’s just here visiting from England.”

 

“Visiting from England? Why in the world would she want to come to Roswell?” Maria queried suspiciously.

 

“I dunno, to visit her brother maybe?” Liz answered a little too sarcastically. “Maria, we’ve got to stop being suspicious of

everyone new who comes to town. She seemed nice; let’s give her the benefit of the doubt ok?” Liz said this as much to

convince herself as Maria.

 

“Benefit of the doubt huh. Well ok, it’s just that everyone else whose been new to Roswell has turned out to be a

shape-shifter, or a skin-shedding hussy, or a skin-shedding little punk, bent on destroying our Czechoslovakian friends - not to

mention present company, or an alien-blue-crystal-bacteria-carrying-crazy person! Still wanna stick with that benefit of the

doubt thing?”

 

Liz looked at Maria with her “ok, don’t you think you’re going a bit too far” look and turned to take the drink orders out. Just

then Michael approached Maria, “What’s up with the new girl sitting with Max and Brody?”

 

Maria turned her gaze on Michael, “Look space-boy, she’s new but that doesn’t mean we have to jump to any conclusions

about her okay? Jeez, everyone is so paranoid around here! Liz says she’s Brody’s sister from England.”

 

“Yeah well what’s she doing in Roswell?”

 

Maria shot Michael her “I can’t believe I have to spell it out for you look”. “To visit her brother?” Maria rolled her eyes as she

looked up and saw Liz staring at her through the window with a “well, well, look who’s changing her tune” look on her face.

 

Liz raised an eyebrow at Maria while she gave Michael her order. “I need two Galaxy Subs, hold the Mayo, extra

pepper-jack and a Sigourney Weaver with Saturn Rings.”

 

Just then Alex walked up to the window next to Liz. “Hey who’s the new chick? She’s cute!”

 

Together Liz and Maria said a little too loudly, “Brody’s sister!”

 

“Sorrrryyy!! Gee, can’t a guy ask a simple question without getting his head bit off? What, is it that time of the month for you

two?” Alex quipped.

 

Michael leaned over the counter and said, “Forget it man. Can’t live with ‘em… can’t kill em.” To which Maria gave him a

sound left elbow to the ribs.

 

“Watch it space-boy or you’ll be playing patty-cake all by yourself!” Maria turned on her heel and left the kitchen and Liz

turned back to Alex. Before she could speak Isabel walked up.

 

“Whatever you do, don’t ask,” Alex warned her.

 

“Don’t ask what?” Isabel said looking around.

 

“About the new girl with Max and Brody. She’s Brody’s sister, isn’t that right Liz?” Alex looked at Liz with a smirk. Liz

closed her eyes, shook her head and walked away.

 

“So she’s Brody’s sister, what’s the big deal?” Isabel demanded.

 

“She’s NEW, that’s what,” said Michael.

 

“Oh Michael,” sighed Isabel. “Can’t we put our paranoia on the shelf for just one lousy day?”

 

“Yeah we could, but then we’d all be dead.” Michael blinked, turned up the corners of his mouth in his usual fashion then went

back to flipping burgers.

 

Back at the table Brody and Larissa were exchanging bits of news about what they had been doing for the past year. Larissa

turned to Max and said, “When I heard that my brother had up and bought himself a UFO Center I simply had to come and

see for myself!”

 

Brody dipped his head embarrassingly and tried to defend himself to Max. “My family is a bit worried that I’ve gone mad

recently - since my abduction anyway.” He looked briefly from Larissa to Max waiting for some kind of reaction to his last

statement.

 

Larissa laughed and said, “Brody dear, I hate to break the news to you, but you’ve always been mad. That’s why we all love

you so much!” She leaned over and planted a loud kiss on Brody’s cheek then laughed as she attempted to wipe off the

lipstick she left behind.

 

Max smiled. He knew Brody’s secret. But even Brody didn’t know what was REALLY happening to him. Poor Brody, he

wished he could tell him the truth, but knew he couldn’t. He wondered what Larissa thought of the abduction story. He

couldn’t read her yet. He was determined not to jump to any conclusions as Isabel and Michael had about Brody, but he was

going to keep his guard up anyway. Just the same he couldn’t help but like Larissa. She was funny, she seemed smart and he

liked that about her. She was pretty too. Suddenly Max found himself drifting off in thought. Something was forming in the

back of his mind when a loud clatter brought him back to earth.

 

“Ok, one Sigourney Weaver with Saturn Rings, and two galaxy subs hold the Mayo with extra pepper-jack. Will that be all

for you? Is there anything else I can get you?” Liz looked at Max, silently pleading with her eyes for him to show her a sign that

everything was ok. She noticed the glassy-eyed-Tess look on his face and it made her nervous.

 

Max smiled up at Liz and said, “No, we’re fine right now, thanks.” He didn’t want Liz to know any of what he had been

thinking just yet; he knew she would get nervous and tell him to stay away from Larissa, yet he knew he couldn’t do that.

There was something about this girl; he just couldn’t put his finger on it and he was determined to find out what it was. He

thought, “Yes, keeping Liz in the dark is best. For now anyway.”

 

 ***

 

Back at the UFO Center Max and Brody went back to their tasks. Larissa told Brody she would see him at home. They

talked a little about arrangements and then Larissa approached Max; “It was really nice to meet you Max. I hope I get to see

you again soon. Maybe you could come over to Brody’s one night for dinner while I’m here.”  Max looked at the ground sheepishly, smiled and mumbled something incoherent.

 

Larissa noticed Max’s getting uncomfortable, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you Max.”

 

Max looked up at her, “Oh um no, I’m not embarrassed, it’s just that…”

 

“Are you with somebody?” Larissa asked.

 

“Um, no, I mean yes, I mean well… it’s complicated.” Max smiled at his own inability to understand his situation let alone

convey it to anyone else.

 

“Well I wasn’t talking about a date; I mean we haven’t had a chance to get re-acquainted - I mean acquainted yet! I was

thinking more along the lines of the three of us again, you know, you, me and Brody. I love my brother but it’s always nice to

make new friends too.” “There, maybe that undid the damage,” she thought. She laughed nervously; maybe he didn’t notice

the slip.

 

Max noticed the slip. “Re-acquainted?” he thought. “What did she mean by that? Was it an innocent slip or something more?”

Now he was really curious. “Um, dinner, yeah, that would be great. Why don’t you set it up with Brody and let me know ok?”

 

 

“Great! It will give me a chance to show off my newfound culinary skills to Brody! He still thinks of me as a little girl I’m

afraid!” Larissa laughed and then turned to head up the stairs and out the door. Halfway up she stopped and turned back to

Max, “I promise, you won’t be disappointed.”

 

Max tucked that one away in his head to ponder later and then headed to Brody’s inner chamber where Brody spent all of his

time. As Max walked into the room Brody turned to him beaming.

 

“Isn’t she great?” Brody didn’t wait for a reply. “She’s all beautiful and grown up now. It’s hard for me to accept that

sometimes. She was such a quiet child you know? Always kept to herself. I didn’t think she would ever be quite so

gregarious! Especially considering all she’s been through.”

 

“Why, what has she been through?” Max hesitated. “ Uh, if you don’t mind me asking.” Max was about to explode with

questions but he knew he had to play it cool.

 

“Oh, not at all! I don’t think she’d mind my telling you. You see, Larissa is adopted. We found Larissa walking down the side

of the road all alone; well actually, my parents did. I was about ten at the time and she was about six, I guess; we don’t really

know how old she is. She doesn’t remember her birthday or anything else for that matter before we found her. The most

horrifying part was that when they found her, she hadn’t a stitch of clothing on! I’d like to find whomever she was with before

and beat the bloody “you know what” out of them! Think of it! What could possibly be so traumatic that you have no

recollection of it what-so-ever…”.

 

But Max had stopped listening. The words, “found her, walking down the road, hadn’t a stitch of clothing on…” rang through

his head. “What could this mean?” he thought. His mind was desperate to find answers. To him it could mean only one thing.

She was an alien like the rest of them. His mind raced, “Is she good or evil? Why is she here? What does she want?”

 

“Max, Max?” Brody was looking at Max with a puzzled expression.

 

“Oh, uh sorry, what were you saying?” Max’s mind had taken off and he had to concentrate hard to bring himself back.

 

“Just that she seems to be ok now. Whatever it was that happened to her doesn’t seem to have affected her too adversely.

She’s quite a girl, well, young woman I should say now shouldn’t I? We are very close. She’s the only one who didn’t try to

commit me when I told my family I had been abducted by aliens. She never even commented on it. She just shook her head

sympathetically as if she knew.”

 

“I’ll bet she did,” thought Max. This was going to be tricky. How was he going to find out what he needed to know without

making Brody suspicious? He would have to be careful, take it slow. He was glad none of the others knew any of this

information. The last thing he wanted was for the rest of them to jump to any conclusions before he had a chance to find out

the facts.

 

 ***

 

The next day found Michael and Maria in the kitchen at the Crashdown debating the new girl. Michael threw a towel onto the

counter. “I say we blast her right now and ask questions later.”

 

“Earth to space-boy!” Maria rapped on Michael’s head as she yelled into his ear. Michael ducked away from her hand,

annoyed. “Could you knock off the Rambo act for just a minute here? Jeez Michael, blasting the crap out of something every

time there is a conflict is NOT the way to handle things okay? Although it would come in handy in case we ever encounter

anymore shape-shifting, skin-shedding alien freaks, but that is not the point here. We have to approach this more intelligently

than that. Find out who she is first, play it cool.”

 

“Now you’re starting to sound like Max.” Michael rammed a toothpick into his mouth, lifted a large bag of flour and slammed

it onto the prep-table.

 

“Well maybe that’s because Max is always right! Well, most of the time anyway.” Maria looked out of the order window and

saw Liz ferociously wiping down the countertops. Every now and then Liz would glance over to the booth where Tess and

Kyle were seated. “ It’s Liz I’m really worried about. It’s bad enough Tess wants Max all to herself. Now she has Kyle

wrapped around her little finger.”

 

“Why would Liz care about Kyle? And besides, I thought she and Max weren’t seeing each other any more.” Michael was

truly clueless to the romantic twists and turns of the group.

 

Maria turned back to Michael to try and explain; then stopped and shook her head. “Michael look, you obviously have no

understanding of the workings of the female mind or anything having to do with the dynamics of romance, so you’re better off

just remaining clueless and keeping your mouth shut, kay? All you have to do is keep that charged up alien testosterone of

yours in order and everything will be just fine.”

 

“Whatever.” Maria won these debates because Michael was always too exhausted and confused by the end of them. It was

easier to let her win rather than continue arguing with her. She frustrated the heck out of him. He knew he wouldn’t have it any

other way. He turned back to the grill with a slight grin on his face not daring to let Maria see.

 

Liz was wiping the counter in front of her in jerky scrubbing motions. Her eyes locked onto Tess and Kyle seated at the booth

directly across from her. Thoughts and feelings were rampaging through her mind. “Why didn’t I tell him? I had the opportunity

right there in Las Vegas! I mean he SAW us! He had a flash of us getting married! But what was I gonna say? “Yes Max it

was real, but it didn’t really happen, or it was going to happen but I had to change the course of history to save the planet.”

Not a conversation you start on a dance floor. And there she sits, with Kyle. Obviously Kyle is reason enough for her to stay,

right? I mean it doesn’t appear she’s interested in Max anymore, right? Or what? What is she thinking? That she can get what

she wants from Kyle while she is waiting for Max to wake up and embrace his destiny with her?” Liz was completely oblivious

when Isabel walked in and sat slightly to her right.

 

“If you keep that up you’re going to wear a hole into the Formica.” Isabel smiled at Liz knowingly. “You know, you may have

developed death ray eye power too, so if you don’t watch it you may actually burn a hole through Tess, Kyle and the wall.”

 

Liz smiled and stopped her mad wiping frenzy. Suddenly she felt exhausted and reached up to rub her shoulder, “Was I that

obvious?”

 

“Yes.” Isabel was looking at her amused. “But understandably.” Isabel didn’t know all the facts between Liz and her brother,

but she did know one thing: Liz was still hopelessly in love with him.

 

Under her breath Liz replied, “You don’t even know the half of it.”

 

“What was that?” Isabel heard but didn’t let on.

 

“Nothing, nothing. Can I get you anything?” Liz asked but never really took her eyes off the booth.

 

“Yeah, I’ll have a pink flamingo, with a side order of blue crystals.” Isabel realized Liz was still somewhere else but couldn’t

resist teasing her a bit more.

 

“Ok, great, coming right up.” Liz turned to go then stopped and turned back. “Sorry. Did it again didn’t I?”

 

“Yep.” Isabel laughed and tossed her hair back. “Ok Liz,” Isabel suddenly looked serious. “Look me in the eyes.”

 

Liz turned hearing the serious tone in her voice and obliged, feeling that Isabel was about to tell her something very important.

 

Isabel looked directly into Liz’s eyes; she enunciated each word slowly and clearly. “I’ll have the breakfast platter, bacon

instead of sausage and a large glass of orange juice.” Isabel flashed Liz a smile. Liz rolled her eyes, smiled and turned away to

place her order, grateful for a diversion from her obsessing.

 

Isabel turned to view Tess and Kyle sitting across from each other lost in conversation, their hands occasionally touched.

Isabel recognized the tiny signs of intimacy and was glad they were happy together. She thought of Grant and how they never

had a chance to develop their relationship. She thought, “Yet another casualty of war. A war he never knew about or asked to

be a part of. Is it always going to be this way? Will I ever find what everyone else around me so obviously has? And when or

if I do find him will he be alien or human?” Isabel continued her silent questioning. She was lost in her thoughts when Alex

entered the Crashdown.

 

“Boy, that’s a pretty serious look you’ve got going there. Care to unload on an understanding ear?” Alex sat next to Isabel at

the bar and leaned his elbows in her direction.

 

Isabel turned to Alex. Alex, her faithful friend. She knew he had at one time, longed to have something more with her, but

recently that changed. Ever since he returned from Sweden he seemed different, more mature. “Hey Alex.” She didn’t really

want to tell him what she was thinking for fear that it might hurt him somehow. “Just pondering the universe.”

 

“Hmm, pondering the universe - that’s where my mind always wanders when I have some free time.” He wasn’t buying it but

respected her enough not to pry. He turned his attention to the order window and yelled, “Hey, can I get some service around

here?”

 

Liz walked out of the back with Isabel’s order and placed it on the counter in front of her. Maria came up to Alex and

remarked, “You know, you’d better be nice to the waitresses here, they have a tendency to do nasty things to the food when

people give them a hard time.” Maria looked at Alex sideways and pulled out her order pad. Cheesily she smiled at Alex.

“Now, what would you like?”

 

“Hmm, maybe I’ll just skip breakfast.” Alex gave Maria a wary look.

 

Maria reached across the counter and slapped Alex on the shoulder. “Just kidding! What do ya want?”

 

“And now they’re abusing the customers! Jeez! I can just go to gym class for this kind of treatment!” Alex smiled as he looked

around him at Tess and Kyle, then Michael at the order window and then at Liz. “Well it appears the gang’s all here! Except

Max.”

 

Liz took this opportunity to pump Isabel for info. “Um, yeah where is Max by the way?”

 

Isabel replied, “He’s at the UFO Center working.”

 

“Oh of course. Saturday, right. Um, will he be working late you think?” Liz tried not to be too obvious but Isabel knew better.

Isabel looked down, tried to repress a smile and said, “Um, no actually he’s going over to Brody’s later for dinner, so he’ll

probably leave early.” Isabel raised her eyes to see Liz looking at Maria, Maria looking at Michael, Michael shaking his head

and Alex raising his eyebrows at everyone.

 

Alex was the first to speak. “Did I miss something here?”

 

Isabel looked at the group disgruntled. “Yeah, rampant paranoia.”

 

“Not paranoia, just being cautious that’s all.” Liz was always the first with a rational response.

 

Maria piped in speaking in low tones, “Yeah I mean what do we really know about this girl other than she’s Brody’s sister

from England?”

 

Michael looked at Maria with confusion. “I thought you said…”

 

“Forget what I said Michael…” Maria waved a hand behind her at Michael.

 

Alex looked from person to person trying to figure out what was going on. “Are we talking about Brody’s sister? The one from yesterday? I don’t get it, what’s the big deal? Is she an alien or something?”

 

Isabel looked at the front door and said, “I don’t know, why don’t we ask her?” The group all turned to see Larissa walk in.

 

“Hullo everyone!” Larissa stood just inside the doorway looking a bit lost.

 

Isabel was the first to greet her. She jumped down out of her stool and walked over to where Larissa was standing. “Hello!

We haven’t been introduced yet. I’m Isabel and this is Alex.” Isabel gestured to each of the group members, “Maria, Liz whom you’ve met.” Liz waved weakly. “That’s Michael behind the counter, and over here we have Tess and Kyle…. I said,

Tess and Kyle!” she said a little louder trying to rouse them from their deep conversation.

 

Kyle turned around and waved politely not knowing exactly who this was or why he was being introduced. When he turned

back to Tess she was staring at the girl with a shocked expression. Her mouth moved to speak but no words came out.

 

Isabel continued her introduction noting the odd response coming from Tess, “and everyone this is Larissa, right?” She looked

back at Larissa and then to Tess again. “She’s Brody’s sister from England.”

 

The room was suddenly silent as everyone turned to Larissa and Tess who had locked eyes. No one was sure what to do or

what was going to happen next.

 

Kyle was the first to move. He rose out of the booth and offered his hand to Larissa. “Hey, how ya’ doin’?” She reached over

without looking and shook his hand, her eyes still fixed on Tess.

 

After what seemed like an eternity, Larissa walked over to Tess and said, “Is there somewhere we can go to talk?” Tess

nodded and as if in a trance, turned and walked out the back door with Larissa close behind.

 

Like statuary, the group watched the door swing back and forth after Tess and Larissa had long disappeared.

 

Eyes still on the door, Kyle said, “Well that was weird.”

 

In unison both Michael and Maria said, “This can’t be good.”

 

They all looked at each other not knowing exactly what to say next.

 

“Ok, let’s just be calm and not jump to any conclusions.” Liz picked up her rag again and began to scrub the countertops with

renewed zeal.

 

 ***

 

Hours had gone by at the park where Tess and Larissa were seated on a secluded bench beneath some trees. Tess found

herself staring at Larissa still unable to grasp what she was seeing and what Larissa had told her.

 

“So do you understand now Tess? Do you understand why they sent me?” Larissa looked at Tess, searching her eyes for a

sign that what she has told her has registered.

 

“I still can’t believe it’s you, but, well, I guess it’s not really you after all is it?” Tess looked at her hands, bit her lip and shifted

uncomfortably on the bench. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea; if I had known I never would have…”

 

Larissa cut her off before she could complete her thought, “It’s ok Tess, you didn’t know; how could you? That’s all in the

past now and if we ever make it back, well, we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it ok?”

 

“Ok.” She looked at Larissa again and suddenly became emotional. “It must’ve been horrible for you. I can’t imagine.”

 

“Shhh, it’s ok Tess really.” Larissa leaned back a little and examined Tess. “They did a good job with you didn’t they? You

look smashing!” She laughed trying to lighten the mood.

 

“Well, I’d have to say the same about you!” Tess laughed back and then became serious again. “But I would’ve known you no matter what you looked like.”

 

“I knew that you would; that’s why I came to you first.” Larissa reached out and touched a strand of Tess’ hair. “I like the color. It suits you.”

 

“100% genetically engineered and look,” Tess leaned her head down, “no roots!” The girls laughed again and then Larissa

stood to leave.

 

“I have to go now. I’m cooking dinner for Brody and Max.” Larissa looked upward nervously and took in a huge breath and

then let it out slowly. “Just keep breathing right?”

 

Tess stood and reached over to hug Larissa. “Good luck, you’re going to need it. He’s stubborn to say the least.”

 

“Well, that’s our Zan isn’t it?” The two girls linked arms and walked back towards town.

 

 ***

 

It was late afternoon and Liz was finished with her shift. She threw herself on her bed wearily and tried to logically examine

everything she’d witnessed in the past two days. Out loud she listed off the things she was sure of. “Ok, number one, Brody

has a sister we didn’t know about. That’s not so odd; we didn’t know about his daughter either. Number two, Brody’s sister

is from England; that’s not unusual, Brody is from England. Number three, Brody’s sister decides to come visit Brody all the

way from England. Ok, that’s not exactly strange, she wants to visit her brother whom she hasn’t seen in over a year,

expensive maybe, but Brody is loaded.”

 

Liz continued this line of logic, gesturing to the ceiling on occasion for emphasis, until she reached point twelve. “Twelve, Tess

flips out when she sees Larissa whom she’s never met before, as far as we know, and the two of them go off somewhere to

talk. Ok… that’s definitely weird. Very weird.” At this point Liz raised herself off the bed and began to pace still talking to

herself.

 

“Max is in trouble, I just know it. There’s just something about that girl. I have to do something! Okay, but what am I gonna

do? He’s going over there for dinner and Brody will be there. That’s good. But what if she tries to pull a mind warp on all of

them, or some other weird alien mind game, assuming she’s an alien, then what? Okay, I have to come up with a plan. I’ll go

over there and say, what will I say? I don’t know, something, anything! Think Liz, think!” Liz was pacing frantically back and

forth now. She stopped and slammed her hands down on her desk in frustration. Suddenly she looked up.

 

“I’ve got it! I’ll go over there and say,” Liz pointed her finger at an invisible Max, “I’ll say… ‘Max you have to come with me

because… because, you have to help me with that science project due Monday,’ even though there is no science project due

Monday, ‘and tonight is the only night I can work on it.’ There, that should do it. Max will realize something is wrong and

come with me. Okay, that’s a plan.” Liz was still talking to herself as she went downstairs and through the café. Isabel and

Alex were having their second conversation of the day about the new girl Larissa, and were seated at the counter when Liz

rushed past them.

 

“Hey Liz…” Isabel motioned to Liz as she walked past them. Liz, still muttering to herself, kept walking without hearing her,

and exited out the door.

 

 ***

 

Larissa hummed as she checked the oven to see whether or not the chicken was done. Brody came up behind her and took in

a huge whiff. “Mmmmm, that smells delicious! What is that you are humming?”

 

“Oh, just a tune I heard as a child.” Larissa flit about the kitchen preparing different dishes, occasionally wiping her hands on a

towel.

 

“Sounds familiar,” Brody said as he picked at some of the vegetables Larissa was cutting into small pieces.

 

Larissa smiled to herself and thought, “No, I don’t think you know this, tune!” She playfully slapped his hand away from the

food. “What time did you tell Max to come?”

 

“He should be here any minute.” The doorbell rang and Brody raised his eyebrows at Larissa. “Am I good or what?” He

answered the door to find Max standing there with a small bundle of flowers. He looked sheepishly at Brody.

 

“Come on in Max,” said Brody smiling at Max’s nervous behavior.

 

Larissa walked up behind Brody and Max held out the flowers to her. With his head down to avoid too much eye contact he

said, “Here, these are for you.”

 

Larissa said, “Thank you Max.” Hiding an enormous grin behind the flowers she pretended to smell them. “I’ll go put them in

water right now.” She turned and headed back toward the kitchen to find a vase to put the flowers in. She thought to herself,

“Hmm, maybe this won’t be as hard as I thought.”

 

An hour or so went by and found Larissa, Max and Brody all seated at the table finishing up their meal. They were laughing at

the stories Brody and Larissa had been exchanging about their childhood. Brody rose from the table, picked up his and

Larissa’s plates and said to her, “Don’t worry about the dishes I’ll do them later. Rule is; if you cook you don’t have to clean.

Unless you live alone like me of course and then you do both! But I’m used to it.”

 

Brody turned to leave, turned back, dropped the plates back on the table and grabbed his chest. Larissa looked at him

suddenly concerned. “Are you okay Brody?”

 

“I’ve been getting these weird chest pains lately. They usually pass, but they make me very tired and I find myself in bed

without remembering how I got there.” Brody rubbed his chest and looked at Max and Larissa who were both looking down

uncomfortably. “I’ll be okay, really; I just need to go lie down for a spell. You two don’t mind do you?”

 

Max and Larissa both shook their heads “no” simultaneously and Max rose to help clear the dishes off the table as Brody

headed toward his room.

 

Larissa looked after him with a worried expression and commented, “I worry about him, he has these… spells.”

 

Max tried to reassure to her, “I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Although Max was not convinced himself that he would. Max and

Larissa finished clearing off the dishes and headed toward the living room. Max took a seat in a club chair and Larissa sat on

the sofa nearest him. She looked around and thought, “Well it’s now or never.” She turned to Max and waited for him to look

her in the eyes. “Max, there is something I must say to you and all I ask is that you hear me out before you speak. Can you do

that for me Max?”

 

Max thought to himself, “This must be it.” And nodded yes to her.

 

Larissa cleared her throat and began. “Max, I’m from your planet.” She looked down the hall briefly to make sure Brody was

not about, then looked at Max and continued. “Well, you didn’t run screaming from the house, so I imagine that is not a

surprise to you?” Max nodded, waiting to hear the rest before he spoke.

 

“You’ll have to excuse me Max, it’s just that I have been looking for you my whole life and now that I have found you, well,

I’m not exactly sure how to start. I’ve played this scene over and over in my head and now that we are actually here, I’m

nervous.” Larissa took a deep breath and let it out. “Just keep breathing,” she said mainly to herself. She began again.

 

“A long time ago, back on our world, when you were Zan, and I was Larissandra, we were in love, but I’m getting ahead of

myself. I know you don’t remember any of this and that is why I’m here. That is why they sent me. When they sent you down

here there were eight pods; two sets of you in case one set didn’t survive. Well, it turns out they knew that statistically one

group of pods would come with their memories of our planet intact and the other would not. Unfortunately your group didn’t

retain their memories and the other group did. After the summit Larec contacted me. He’s my real brother you see, and told

me where to find you.” Larissa paused to let what she was telling Max sink in. “I’ve been sent to give you your memories

Max.” She stopped and looked into his eyes again.

 

Max was reeling inside. He believed what she was saying but still couldn’t quite understand her reason for being here. “My

memories? What do you mean?”

 

“Actually they are Zan’s memories. They knew, that is your mother and mine, that if you didn’t remember who you were that

you could not effectively fight for us. That is to say, they knew the dangers of sending you here, of your getting attached to this

life and these people. But they thought that if you remembered your other life and the people you loved there, then you would

want to go back and rescue them. Does that make sense Max?”

 

Just then Brody entered the room. Max and Larissa rose and Larissa spoke, “Is everything all right Brody?”

 

“It’s Larec, and we don’t have much time. You’ve been discovered Larissandra. You must act quickly or all is lost.”

 

“But I was so careful! What happened?” Larissa began to panic. Fear surged through her and she began to shake.

 

“They must have followed me after the summit. They heard me talking to you. Larissandra you must do this now! I don’t know

how much more this body can take. I may not be able to contact you again.” Larec’s voice became softer and he reached out

to Larissa and placed his hand on her cheek. “Be careful baby sister, so you can come back to us; we love you.”

 

Brody collapsed and Max and Larissa rushed over to him. Max checked his pulse; it was still strong. He nodded to Larissa,

“Let’s get him back into bed.” The two picked him up and carried him back to his room and laid him on the bed. “We can

come back and check on him in a little while.”

 

 ***

 

Outside under the window Liz sat with her back to the wall, knees pulled up to her chest and her head in her hands. She had

been watching for about ten minutes and then turned away just before Brody entered the room. Earlier she had wandered the

streets waiting for it to get dark before she ended up at Brody’s.

 

“Talking, they’re just talking. I feel so stupid. Here I am coming to rescue Max, and find not only is he not in danger, but he’s

having a swell time talking to Larissa,” Liz spoke her name sarcastically to herself. She sat there a few minutes longer,

debating with herself what to do next. “What am I doing here? This is nuts.” Liz rose to leave but glanced in the window one

more time just to be sure. What she saw stopped her cold.

 

 ***

 

Back inside Larissa and Max had come back into the living room and were seated next to each other on the sofa.

“What was Brody talking about when he said you’ve been discovered?” Max was still a little confused about the whole thing.

 

“Kevar doesn’t know I’m here, or didn’t until just recently. He knew about the eight of you, but was counting on you not

surviving. He knew the statistics of your memory constraints as well. He knew that without them you were not an adversary he

had to be concerned about. Do you see Max, do you see why we must do this and do this now?”

 

Larissa spoke with such urgency and force, it made Max uncomfortable. He wasn’t any good at snap decisions. He had to

have time to think things through, know all the facts before he acted. He also knew the weight of what was about to happen.

He was content with his life the way it was. He wasn’t sure he wanted the responsibility that came with these memories, he

needed time to think and knew he wasn’t going to get it. He needed to buy some time so he said, “Well, what do we have to

do? How does this work?”

 

Larissa sighed with relief; she wasn’t sure Max was going to cooperate. “Okay all we have to do is form a connection and

then I can transfer the memories to you.” She looked at Max expectantly but he was looking somewhere else.

 

Flashes went through Max’s mind: his kissing Liz when things were good between them, then hearing Liz say he had a destiny

that she couldn’t be a part of, and seeing her run away from him in the desert. Hearing Liz tell him over and over that she

wanted to end it with him, that she wanted a normal life with normal boys and didn’t want her life to be in danger anymore.

And then he saw her with Kyle again, in bed. His heart sank deeper. Every time he had asked her if they had really slept

together she had said yes. What about Vegas and the flash he had of their getting married? Where did that fit in with all of this?

He wondered.

 

Then in a split second he made a decision. He had to know who he really was. He was going to embrace his destiny. Max

knew they could form a connection just by holding hands, but he didn’t want to do that. He wanted, no, he needed to do this.

Max reached over and placed his hands on either side of Larissa’s face and pulled her to him and kissed her.

 ***

 

Outside Liz jerked herself away from the window and leaned against the house to keep from falling. Her knees went weak and

she slid down the wall to the ground. Just then a familiar voice said, “Liz Parker, what on earth are you doing sitting in the

bushes outside of Brody’s house? I didn’t realize you were the voyeur type.”

 

Liz looked up to see Isabel standing in the grass looking smug. She stood up and wiped the tears off her face and replied,

“Making a fool of myself apparently.” She climbed out of the bushes and walked over to Isabel.

 

“So Nancy Drew, what did you find out about our newcomer?” Then she noticed Liz had been crying and said, “Uh, oh, what

happened?”

 

“Oh, nothing, really just a bunch of talking… right up until he kissed her.” Liz unleashed a new round of tears and covered her

face with her hands.

 

Isabel reached over and pulled Liz into a hug. She was not afraid to show her emotions anymore, especially after losing Grant.

She wanted Liz to know she understood and cared. She tried to cheer Liz up, “Well, seems the English are less reserved than

I thought!”

 

Liz laughed slightly and pulled back from Isabel, wiping her new tears away. “Here I was thinking I was going to rescue Max

from this, this…” Liz didn’t know how to classify Larissa now. She had been so sure Larissa was an alien bent on destroying

Max.

 

Isabel filled in the missing word, “Hussy?” Liz laughed again and Isabel put an arm around her. “Well, when I saw you leave

the Crashdown earlier with that determined look on your face, I somehow knew you would end up here. So I just came to see

if you needed a ride home?”

 

“And that’s all?” Liz stepped back from her and gave her a suspicious look.

 

“Well, okay, and maybe to check and see if everything is alright.” Isabel tossed her head admittedly. “Why don’t we take one

more peek, just to make sure.” Isabel looked at Liz and smiled.

 

“You go ahead, I don’t think I can watch anymore.” Liz plopped down on the ground to wait for Isabel to make her

inspection.

 

Isabel went over to the window and peeked in. She jerked away immediately and yelled, “ Max is in trouble!”

 

 ***

 

Max pulled Larissa close. The connection was instantaneous. Max’s mind was suddenly bombarded with images. They were

coming so fast he felt as if his head would explode. Colors he had never seen before swirled before his eyes. He could taste

and smell and touch everything he was seeing in his mind. Then suddenly the world he knew fell away. He was no longer

aware of his surroundings. He became lost in a New World, on a planet he had never been to, but that seemed oh so familiar

to him. His planet, his memories, his story began to unfold before him and he was taken by it.

 

He saw his planet from a distance. It didn’t look much different from earth, but as he grew closer, the shapes and colors

changed and all the things he had associated with them. The cityscape was incredible. Large, blue, bubble-like domes covered

significant areas of the city and inside them were buildings in marvelous shapes. Spires rose atop tall and narrow pyramid

shaped structures; lower buildings were more biomorphic in shape and color. It was the color that overwhelmed him the most.

He watched in awe as his field of vision narrowed to a particular dome. Inside it was a magnificent palace with gardens and

waterfalls, unlike anything you would ever see on earth. And then he was struck with the realization; this was his home.

 

He saw himself as Zan. He saw his mother and although the people there were not human, they were not the gray-skinned,

big-eyed monsters that people here associated them with. They were… beautiful. He saw his childhood with Isabel, or rather

Vilandra, and how they were raised surrounded by splendor and privilege. He saw his father the king and marveled at his

power and strength as a leader. He saw himself grow into a teenager, awkward and shy, something he could finally relate to.

He saw Isabel again and she was self-centered and spoiled. He saw how she used her beauty to manipulate people into giving

her what she wanted. He could identify with parts of Zan and he could see some of Vilandra in Isabel, but they were not the

same, not entirely. Their human DNA must’ve influenced who they had become on earth.

 

He saw Michael or Rath, his best friend. He saw them play together as children. He saw them on imaginary battlefields,

pretending in their innocence to kill an evil foe. He saw Michael as a teenager, strong and secure. Already he was becoming a

leader, a force to be feared and respected. What a contrast to his earthly counterpart!

 

Then he saw himself as a young man walking in the gardens with a beautiful girl. She was lovely and graceful. By the way they

touched each other and laughed, he knew they were in love.

 

Suddenly he found that he was no longer an observer, but a participant. He saw through Zan’s eyes now, and heard himself

speak through Zan’s mouth.

 

“Larissandra,” Zan pulled the girl to him and they gently touched foreheads.

 

“Yes my love.” Larissandra gazed into his eyes with a deep abiding love.

 

“When I first met you and looked into your eyes, I knew that one day we would stand here together like this, and I would tell

you these words.” Zan reached up and tenderly cupped Larissandra’s cheek with his hand. “Larissandra, you complete me.

When I found you, I found the parts of me that were missing. One day I will be King and have to rule these unpredictable

colonies, and all I can think about is having you by my side, as my Queen.” Zan paused to see her reaction, looking for any

signs of hesitation before he continued.

 

“Larissandra, will you marry me? Will you be my Queen?” Zan stepped back to take all of her in his sight.

 

Larissandra couldn’t bear the short distance between them, threw her arms around his neck then whispered in his ear, “Yes!

Yes! A thousand times, yes!”

 

Zan picked her up and whirled her around. Still holding her close he let her slide slowly back down to the ground. They

looked into each other’s eyes, formed a connection between their souls and kissed, sharing the intimacy of their memories as

well as their passion for one another.

 

Their kiss was interrupted by a familiar voice. “Caught you kissing in the garden again didn’t I? Don’t you two ever give it a

rest?” Zan looked up to see Ava standing there smiling at them.

 

Somewhere in the back of his mind a name formed, “Tess.” But quickly it dissipated and he addressed his friend. “And I see

you are spying on us once again! What’s the matter Ava? Does your beau not keep you well enough occupied that you have

to come and disrupt our private interludes?” Sarcastically he continued, “It’s bad enough we have to dodge the palace guards

all the time. It seems whenever I look up, there you are!”

 

Larissandra broke free from Zan’s embrace to rush over to her friend. She grabbed Ava by the shoulders and beamed, “How

would you like to be my Lady in Waiting?” She looked into her best friend’s eyes as the realization struck her friend. Together

they jumped up and down and hugged, girlish squeals of joy erupted from them both.

 

“Well its about time is all I can say!” Ava and Larissandra linked arms and began to dance in a little circle around Zan.

 

“Now is this behavior befitting a future Queen and her Lady…” but the words faded away as a new scene was played out

through Zan.

 

 *

 

Zan and Rath were in a great hall seated at a large round table. The room was dark with the exception of blue orbs glowing in

the walls near the ground stationed all around the room. Off in the distance there was a slight booming sound. Rath was the

first to speak, his voice reverberating through the empty hall.

 

“I’m sorry for your loss Zan, we knew Kivar was growing restless but we never anticipated an assassination like this. I just

want you to know, I am here, at your command.” With that Rath lowered himself to one knee before Zan and placed Zan’s

hand upon his head as a sign of fealty.

 

Zan placed his hands on Rath’s shoulders and lifted him up. He kept his hands firmly on his friend’s shoulders and looked into

his eyes. “Rath, you are my best friend. There is no one I trust more than you, but what‘s about to happen is serious. We are

no longer fighting an invisible enemy; this enemy is real, and I am their next target. If you do this, your life will be in danger as

well.”

 

Rath clasped Zan’s arms in return and replied, “I’ve been training for this my whole life Zan. You can count on me; I won’t let

you down.”

 

Zan dropped his arms and smiled, “I just had to ask, give you one last chance to run for your life.” Rath laughed and Zan

continued his jest, “and of course you know this means you are stuck marrying my sister. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst

enemy. There is still time to back out.”

 

“C’mon Zan, how bad can she be? If she’s any trouble, I’ll just kill her.” Rath smiled big and threw his arm around Max’s

shoulder and led him toward the door. The thought entered Zan’s mind, “That is so Michael,” and then faded away as it was

replaced with a new scene.

 

 *

 

Zan and Larissandra were joined by the rest of the royal family, their friends and relatives, and by thousands of onlookers as

the funeral procession reached its destination. Zan turned to Larissandra and softly whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry this has

postponed our wedding my love.” Before he could continue Larissandra turned and whispered back, “Shhh, my darling. This

is a tragedy, a great loss; you need time to mourn your father and prepare for all that is ahead. I will still be here my love, I’m

not going anywhere.” They held each other’s hands tightly as the funeral commenced.

 

Eulogies were given and mournful tears were shed as Zan’s father and the King of his people was remembered. The King’s

body was entombed in a crystal cylinder. His features made him appear as though he were simply sleeping peacefully. The

cylinder was lifted and placed into a shaft resembling a large cannon, concealing all but the very end. The end was then opened

and one by one the royal family went up and placed objects into the cylinder. Some were locks of hair woven into beautiful,

tiny, intricate, designs. Some were small silvery discs that turned into holograms when tilted. The holograms varied from

likenesses of the people giving the disc, to images such as sunsets and beaches, flowers and landscapes of beautiful places on

their world. Once all who wanted to place these items in the cylinder did so, an attendant sealed the end with the wave of his

hand and everyone stepped back.

 

A low humming sound began to emerge from the shaft. The shaft then began to rotate rapidly, sending out an array of colors

shooting out in all directions. The colors faded to a soft glow surrounding the shaft and in an instant, with barely a sound, the

crystal cylinder was shot into space. The crowd gasped in unison as the rocketing cylinder disappeared past the security of the

blue dome and out into the inky darkness.

 

“Now he will live among the stars.” Zan said, still gazing heavenward long after his father’s tomb had disappeared. Half jesting,

half serious, Zan turned to Larissandra and said, “Maybe he will take up residence on some far away planet.” Then once again

the scene faded as Zan’s history continued to unfold in Max’s mind.

 

 *

 

Angry sounds became clearer as the scene opened and Zan found himself facing Vilandra and Rath. “No!” he yelled, “No! I

will never believe she betrayed me!!!” Zan paced furiously in front of the two, every now and then looking at Vilandra

accusingly.

 

Cool and calm Vilandra was not about to be intimidated by her brother. She was in control and she knew it. She gazed at her

fingernails and emotionless she responded, “Dear deluded brother, how could you not see that Larissandra and Kivar were

conspiring against you and this family? How else could he have gained access to the palace to assassinate our father?”

 

“It could have been anyone. A guard maybe.” Zan came menacingly close to Vilandra. “Or maybe it was you dear sister,” he

said through gritted teeth.

 

“Oh my, now we are accusing the family are we? Why don’t we just say mother did it and then execute her?” She casually

deflected his accusation, only slightly worried that he would discover the truth: that she was actually the one who had

conspired with Kivar. He would find out, but it would be too late when he did.

 

Rath tried to comfort his friend. “Zan, I’m sure there is another explanation for her disappearance. I’ll have some of my

soldiers look into it, okay? Look, I don’t mean to be insensitive right now, but Kivar is not going to back down. He gave us

time to mourn the King and now he is ready to go to war.”

 

Zan was consumed with grief. He didn’t want to listen to what Rath was saying, even though he knew he should. Where could

she be? It was the eve of their wedding and Larissandra had not been seen in days.

 

Vilandra took this moment of silence to drive the dagger deeper into her brother’s back. “Rath could send all his soldiers and

they still wouldn’t find her, unless of course they checked Kivar’s bed.” She knew this would be his final undoing so she turned

and started to walked away, leaving Rath to contain her brother from coming after her. “Thus begins the slow unraveling of

Zan, and the beginning of a New Kingdom, where I am Queen,” she thought as she glanced over her shoulder to look at her

brother one last time.

 

Rath released his hold on Zan once Vilandra was out of range. Zan turned to him and said, “You know that isn’t true. You

know that could never be true, don’t you?” Rath looked at the ground, afraid to answer. He knew he could never convince his

friend of any betrayal on his fiancé’s part. He didn’t really know one way or another.

 

Zan knew in his heart that Larissandra would never betray him. She had let him see into her soul. How could she have

concealed being in love with someone else? No, he wasn’t buying it. He would never believe it, not in a million years. Only one

other person was as sure as he was. Ava. Zan looked up to see her standing a little distance away. Tears were streaming

down her face. Zan turned to Rath and said, “We’ll talk later.”

 

Rath sighed and replied, “Don’t wait too long Zan. We must prepare for …” The look on Zan’s face stopped him and he

shook his head. “Ok, later.”

 

Zan turned back to Ava and held out his arms. They embraced as Ava cried, soaking the front of his clothes. Zan spoke,

“How much of that conversation did you hear?”

 

“Enough. But I will never believe it. And don’t you either Zan. It’s all lies. Something terrible has happened to her, I know it.

And we’ve got to find her!” Ava tried to gather herself together; she knew she needed to be strong for her best friend and for

Zan. “Larec will be here later. I’ll ask him again if he has seen her. Maybe he will have some answers for us.”

 

 *

 

For a moment Max and Zan split apart, and Max felt all the grief in his heart over Liz again, but this time it was two fold and he

thought he heard himself cry out.

 

Max became Zan again and looked up to see a bride walking down an aisle. In his heart he pleaded, “Let it be her, please, by

some miracle, let it be her.” As the bride drew nearer he heard gentle sobbing and knew his wish had not come true.

 

Ava stood next to Zan as the two exchanged vows, vows that were each written for someone else. Both of their hearts were

broken. Ava glanced over to her love, to the man she had intended to marry and he would not look at her. Her heart sank. In

one day she had lost her best friend and her true love. She turned back to Zan and put a finger to his lips as he was reciting

words he would never mean.

 

“I offer myself willingly to you Zan of Avitar. As Larissandra’s Lady in Waiting it is my duty to wed you in her absence.” She

would not admit to Larissandra’s betrayal or death, and promised in her heart that if she ever returned she would relinquish her

right as Queen. She continued, “You are my beloved friend. It is an honor and a privilege to take you for my husband. I will

honor you and comfort you and fulfill my duties as Queen the best I can. Will you have me Zan?”

 

Zan looked at Ava and tears welled in his eyes. His true love was gone; he had to face it. He knew that somehow he had to go

on without her although he wasn’t sure how he ever could. Words would not come as the tears spilled over and he grabbed

Ava and embraced her. She was a dear friend and he vowed he would treat her with the honor she deserved. He knew he

was not the only one who had suffered loss, at least they would have each other to comfort.

 

 ***

 

Isabel used her powers to open the door. She ran into Brody’s living room with Liz close behind her. Together they rushed

over to where Larissa was kneeling beside Max, holding his hand.

 

Isabel looked menacingly at Larissa, and demanded. “What did you do to him!”

 

“I’m so sorry! I had no idea he was going to kiss me!” Larissa was clearly shaken by the incident. “He was only supposed to

hold my hand so we could form a connection!”

 

“What are you talking about?” Isabel looked down at her brother and knelt beside him, opposite Larissa. “Isabel, I’m from

your planet,” Larissa began to explain, “I was sent here to give Max his memories.”

 

Max let out an audible cry and Liz rushed to kneel beside him.

 

Isabel, frightened by the sight of her brother’s condition, grabbed Larissa by the shoulders. “What is happening to my brother!” They all looked down at Max. He was shaking violently and his eyes were moving rapidly back and forth in his head.

 

Suddenly there was the sound of breaking glass in the back of the house and Larissa looked around desperately and started to

panic. “Oh, no! He’s found me!”

 

Isabel wouldn’t release Larissa until she gave her the information she wanted. “Larissa tell me what’s going on, or I swear to

God…”

 

“There isn’t time! I have to get out of here!” Larissa tried to break free from Isabel’s grasp.

 

“Tell me and I’ll let you go!” Isabel still had a firm hold on Larissa.

 

Liz was holding Max’s hand and trying to get him to come around. “Max? Max? Can you hear me?”

 

“Don’t try to wake him, it will only make things worse!” Larissa turned to Isabel and said, “I told you I came here to give him

his memories, or rather Zan’s memories. When he kissed me he made the connection more intense. Your human bodies can’t

handle the rapid information transfer and it made him start to convulse.” Isabel gave her a horrified look. “He’ll be okay, you

just need to watch him. He’ll eventually come out of it once his mind has finished processing the information.” Larissa was

speaking rapidly now and struggling to break free from Isabel.

 

There was a loud crash and the sound of struggling drawing nearer. Larissa pleaded to Isabel, “Now will you please let me go?”

 

Isabel released her hold as Brody and Nicholas stumbled and fell into the room. Larec had taken over Brody again and yelled

at Larissa, “Go! Go! I’ll be ok, you must get out of here, now!”

 

Larissa gave Max, Isabel and Liz one last look, then ran out the front door and into the night.

 

Immediately after Brody & Nicholas had entered the room Liz had thrown her body over Max’s to try and conceal him from

Nicholas.

 

Nicholas angry and frustrated at losing his prey threw Brody off of him so violently that he smashed into the wall on the

opposite side of the room. He looked over at Isabel and Liz, who were trying desperately to conceal Max from him, and

remarked, “I’ll deal with you later. First, I’ve got a traitor to kill.” And then he was gone.

 

Liz and Isabel rushed over to Brody once they were sure Nicholas was gone. “He hasn’t got a pulse! We need to call an

ambulance!” Liz stood up to go and find a phone, but Isabel caught her hand and stopped her.

 

“No! Liz we can’t! They’ll see Max and try to take him too! We can’t risk it! This happened once before and Max did CPR

on him and he was okay. Let’s try that first.” Isabel began to breathe for Brody. Liz looked from Max to Brody and then went

over and assisted Isabel with the CPR.

 

After a minute or two with no response from Brody, Liz stopped.

 

“Liz! What are you doing? You can’t stop!” Isabel said between breaths.

 

“It’s not working Isabel. We have to call an ambulance now, or he will die! Look, we can take Max back to Brody’s room

and close the door; they will never see him, okay? Okay?” Liz anxiously awaited her reply.

 

Isabel looked over at Max. His condition hadn’t changed, but he didn’t appear to be in any real danger that she could determine, so she nodded and Liz ran to the phone and dialed 911.

 

After Liz told the operator the address she and Isabel each took one of Max’s arms and dragged him back to Brody’s room.

They pulled him up onto the bed. Liz paused to run a hand down his cheek and softly said, “Come back to us Max.” Then she

and Isabel ran back to where Brody was and began CPR again.

 

 ***

 

Back inside Max’s head the visions continued. Max was no longer able to separate himself from Zan. The two melted into one

person.

 

“Where’s Vilandra?” Zan shouted at Rath unable to control his temper any longer. “Why isn’t she here?”

 

Rath looked around nervously; he didn’t want to tell Zan what he had discovered.

 

Zan noticed his nervousness and grabbed Rath’s arm and swung him around to face him. “What are you not telling me Rath? I

need to know! Now is not the time to be keeping secrets!”

 

Reluctantly Rath answered him; “One of the guards saw her leave… with Kivar.”

 

Shock and then realization struck Zan all at once and he swayed on his feet. For a long time he couldn’t speak as her betrayal

began to unravel itself in his mind. Finally he spoke, choking on words he never thought could be true. “Then it was her, all

along. She had father assassinated for Kivar; she kidnapped Larissandra because she knew it would undo me.”

 

Zan found a chair to collapse in. They were alone in the Great Hall where his father always conducted his political affairs. He

put his head in his hands. Anguish overcame him as he thought about Larissandra and what must’ve become of her. “I will kill

her. If I ever find my sister I will kill her myself.” Anguish was replaced with rage; Zan stood up, capsizing the chair and turned

on his heel to leave.

 

Rath grabbed Zan’s arm and tried to reason with him. He knew Zan’s emotions were out of control and that was exactly what

Kivar was banking on. “Zan, we will find her, and she will be punished. On that you have my word. You have to stop and

gather yourself. Kivar undoubtedly made sure we saw Vilandra leave with him, just to ensure you would act rashly and make

yourself vulnerable. We must think this through or we are all dead.”

 

Zan calmed somewhat at Rath’s words. He knew his trusted second in command was right. But how could he be rational. His

own sister had betrayed him to the enemy. She had taken away his one true love and, for that alone, he would never forgive

her.

 

At that moment Larec entered the room. He marched straight up to Zan with a fierce expression on his face. “Is it true Zan? Is

it true that Vilandra has betrayed us into the hands of Kivar?”

 

“Yes,” Zan replied with dismay and disgust, “it is true.”

 

“Then I must return to my home planet and help my father prepare for war. This is a grave day for the Colonies, you realize

that don’t you Zan?”

 

Zan nodded. He had been unable to face Larec, his longtime friend, ever since Larissandra had disappeared, and now with

this new discovery he was even more ashamed. “I must also tell you my friend, I fear Vilandra has had a part in the

disappearance of your sister.”

 

Larec softened a bit. He knew how much Zan loved his sister. “When I heard about Vilandra's betrayal I suspected as much.

Maybe Larissandra is still alive. We can always hope, and pray.” Larec turned at that and left.

 

“If she is alive, then I will find her,” Zan said softly to himself as he watched Larec leave.

 

 *

 

Max was given a bird’s-eye view of Zan’s city. One by one the blue domes were destroyed. Large lightning charges ate away

at the surface of the domes until they collapsed. Buildings disappeared completely in yellow bubble-like explosions, leaving no

trace of rubble, or people. The city was under siege and they didn’t appear to be taking any prisoners.

 

Zan placed his mother and her attendants on the space shuttle Larec was taking back to his planet. Larec assured him he

would see to it that Kivar would not find them. Zan had tried to make Ava leave with them, but she had insisted she would

remain by his side no matter what. The two friends embraced one last time. Then Zan and Ava watched in silence as the

shuttle lifted away into the night. Zan wondered if he would ever see his mother or his friend again.

 

The next day, Zan, Rath and Ava led an army of soldiers to the epicenter of the battle. There they faced off with Kivar and his

second in command, Nicholas. Zan thought he saw Vilandra somewhere in the crowd on Kivar’s side and pain stabbed at his

heart. All around them explosions could be heard as one by one Kivar was destroying the buildings that made up the Royal

Palace.

 

Zan called out across the distance between them. “Stop this madness Kivar! You are shedding innocent blood! Let us put

down our weapons and go back to the Palace to talk about our differences reasonably!”

 

Kivar’s laughter rang mockingly in the air. He stepped forward arrogantly to face Zan and his army. “The time for talk has

come and gone! I will stop only when you and your sorry excuse for Royalty are dead! Oh! But with one exception!” The

crowd behind Kivar parted; Vilandra stepped forward and took her place beside the enemy leader.

 

Zan braced himself. He knew this moment was inevitable, but he never anticipated the pain it would cause him. He tried to

shake off his emotions. He could feel Rath beside him tensing. In one swift motion he raised his arm and bellowed, “Then the

time has come to rid ourselves of this evil!” In one swift movement he lowered his arm and yelled, “Attack!”

 

The two armies converged with Zan and Rath in the lead and Ava close behind. Kivar and Vilandra slowly backed away

allowing Kivar’s men to take the front. Zan saw this and marveled at his opponent’s cowardice. Laser weapons of every

variety were deflected with protective fields of energy raised with the wave of a hand as the battle commenced. Small

explosive devices concealed in the hand were placed on unsuspecting victims. In one movement the device was attached and

activated. The victim would then find himself engulfed in an electrical field that evaporated him instantaneously. This form of

attack was most effective with those who did not have the ability to raise a protective shield around themselves. Only certain

lasers were able to penetrate the protective shield and only high-ranking officers had them.

 

Zan and Rath tried to break through the barrier of men protecting their leader. One by one they attached the explosive devices

onto the approaching enemy soldiers and one by one they disappeared. Nicholas confronted Rath and the two of them faced

off.

 

Zan continued to push his way forward deflecting laser and energy blasts until he spotted Kivar and Vilandra a little distance

away. He caught Vilandra’s eye and a look of fear spread across her face. Zan raised his hand to blast her, but something

stopped him. Even with all the hate he felt for her, he knew he couldn’t kill her. Something inside him wouldn’t let him. He

lowered his hand and she smiled triumphantly. She knew her brother well after all. Kivar took advantage of this opportunity

and blasted Zan with his laser.

 

“No!” Vilandra caught herself yelling. Without really knowing why, she grabbed Kivar’s hand and jerked it up in the air.

 

The special-made laser hit Zan in the shoulder and it slammed him to the ground. When he looked up he saw Vilandra holding

off Kivar. He picked himself up and put his shield back up immediately. He retreated a little ways to recover from the blast.

He wondered why she had saved him, but didn’t stop to analyze it. A sound in the distance caught his attention and he ran

toward it. It was Ava.

 

She was screaming as she held her hand out trying to keep her protective shield intact. Soldiers surrounded her with lasers,

They were firing on her all at once to try and weaken her shield. Zan ran toward her to help, but just as he got within reach she

collapsed and withdrew her hand. Her eyes looked up in time to see Zan running towards her. Once her shield came down the

soldiers shot her over and over, her small body jerking with each blast.

 

“No!” Zan screamed as he ran to attack her executioners. He threw up his hand and blasted them with his own energy,

sending their bodies flying in every direction. Energy blasts weren’t generally strong enough to kill someone, but this blast

would take several hours to recover from.

 

Zan reached Ava and expanded his protective shield to incorporate her. He reached down and gently picked her up in his

arms. With her last breath she looked into his eyes and said, “I’m sorry.” Her body went limp in his arms and he pulled her

closer to him and kissed her forehead. He found some bushes and tried to hide her body in them. He vowed he would give her

a proper burial and not let them disintegrate her.

 

Zan turned back to the battle. It seemed so surreal; he was having trouble grasping what was happening around him. Then

something overtook him-rage. His emotions rose violently to the surface; he could no longer keep them down. He let out a

battle cry that came from the very pit of his soul and charged into the middle of the battle, slaying soldiers on every side of him.

His energy blasts took on a deadly force and those who witnessed it first hand did not rise again.

 

The battlefield was strewn with the bodies of victims blasted with lasers. Those who had been disintegrated would never be

seen again. The crowd of soldiers on both sides had diminished rapidly. And then he saw them. Nicholas was standing

triumphantly over the body of Rath. Zan ran toward them in hopes of arriving in time to aid his friend. Nicholas looked up and

saw him approaching. An evil smile spread across his face and he aimed his special laser right at Rath’s heart. Before Zan

could get close enough he blasted. Nicholas then turned and sneered at Zan.

 

His sneer quickly faded when Zan did not stop his advance. Zan plowed into Nicholas sending them both crashing to the

ground. Before Nicholas could react, Zan wrenched the laser gun from his hand and pointed it at Nicholas’ head. Zan looked

Nicholas in the eyes and spit out the words, “ Go now and spend eternity with all the evil that has gone before you.” And with

that Zan shot a hole through Nicholas’ head.

 

Zan picked himself up and turned to see Vilandra standing a short distance away. She beckoned him over to her with her

hand. Hesitantly he made his way closer to her. As he got closer, he noticed a strange expression on her face. Her eyes were

unfocused and she appeared to be levitating slightly off the ground. He came within feet of her when the realization struck him

too late. She was already dead. Her body slumped to the ground, a laser hole right through her middle, and there behind her

stood Kivar with his laser gun pointed at Zan. Kivar saw Zan hesitate and opened fire on him.

 

Zan never felt the blast. It ripped through him so quickly he never had a chance to feel it. Another one hit him and then another

until he finally fell to the ground. The world around him quickly faded. Tiny lights flickered in front of his eyes like fireflies; he

felt himself drifting away as though he were floating off into space.

 

 *

 

Max and Zan separated. Max was trying desperately to break free from the spell he was under. He tried to force himself to

wake up. The pain of these memories was more than he could bear. He struggled but soon he was aware of a new vision

opening up before him. He heard a familiar voice and allowed himself to be taken in by it.

 

“Larissandra! You are alive!” Max thought as he drifted toward the sound.

 

“Oh Zan, how I miss you. When this nightmare is over we will be together again.” Larissandra was gently weeping to herself.

As the vision sharpened, Max could see her sitting in a large room encased in an eerie blue light. Vertical beams of light, about

7 feet in diameter encircled her. She sat with her chin resting on her knees and her arms wrapped around her legs. Gone were

her beautiful clothes; replaced with a simple straight gown that came just below her knees.

 

Max realized these must be Larissandra’s memories he was seeing. Larissa must have transferred them with Zan’s to him when

he kissed her. Max felt himself being pulled closer to her. In an instant he was inside her, seeing what she saw and feeling what

she felt. He tried to distance himself a little in his mind and keep his perspective. Her feelings for Zan rushed over him and he

felt them as though he was still Zan. He tried in his mind to reassure her he was there, to somehow send out a message to her,

but he felt nothing in return, no connection. He could not ease her pain, he could only watch.

 

A second voice was heard laughing from across the room. Max recognized the laugh; it was Kivar’s. “Well, well, little

princess. Are we sad because we miss our love? Isn’t that sweet.” Kivar came closer to the cell she was in and continued to

mock her. “I fear I have some bad news for you princess.”

 

Larissandra rose to her feet and Max could feel her dread. She stared icily at Kivar and raised her chin in defiance. She knew

in her heart what he was going to tell her, but she was not about to let him know how it was destroying her inside.

 

“It seems my dear that you will never be Queen.” Kivar looked at her to see her reaction. Her features never betrayed her true

feelings. “An Avitarian Queen that is. The once and future king is dead.” He paused to let these words take their effect.

 

Larissandra did not react. She continued to stare at Kivar with a fixed expression. Only Max knew the internal anguish she

was feeling.

 

Kivar seeing that his words did not have the effect he was hoping for continued, “I killed him myself. Poor, naïve Zan. His own

sister betrayed him to me, but when she stopped me from killing him the first time, I had to dispose of her.” Kivar was walking

back and forth in front of the cell, stopping occasionally to gaze at his fingers or pick some small bit of fluff off his clothing. “Of

course I didn’t do it myself; that would’ve been beneath my station to have to kill a traitor, so I had one of my soldiers do it for

me.”

 

Max felt his rage rising again, feeling sure he could leap out from inside Larissandra and murder this villain himself.

 

“You should’ve seen their faces,” Kivar laughed. He mimicked a look of shock and disbelief and then laughed again. He

pretended to wipe away a tear. “Tragic really isn’t it? Vilandra could’ve been such an asset to my royal court; after all she is

beautiful. Oops, I’m sorry… was beautiful.” Kivar stopped as if he were remembering her. “But she can be replaced easily

enough. Which is the only reason you, my dear, are still alive.”

 

Kivar came closer to the cell and inspected Larissandra. His eyes slid over her body. His inspection made her feel as though

insects were crawling all over her. She recoiled and Max tried desperately to lunge himself at Kivar, forgetting for a moment

that these were memories that could not be changed.

 

“What? No response? Don’t you want to be Queen, princess?” Kivar pretended to look astonished.

 

“I would rather die,” Larissandra slowly replied; her jaw clenched in fury.

 

“My, my, such passion!” Kivar responded sarcastically. “Oh yes, that’s right, you and Zan formed a ‘Lifebond’ didn’t you?

How quaint the old traditions still exist in some places. Well, it seems the old traditions are about to change, permanently. Out

with the old and in with the new, I say!” Kivar strolled arrogantly around the cell. “That ancient relic, the Granolith, didn’t help

you and your people this time did it? All that power and no one to properly channel it. What a shame. I guess I will have to

find a better way to put it to use, won’t I?”

 

“Oh, and your death has already been arranged. I just wanted to give you one last chance to see things my way, but I guess

the old ways die hard don’t they? Yes, well… they will certainly die, one way or another.” With that Kivar left and

Larissandra was left alone to grieve.

 

Max felt her grief over losing Zan and it tore at his heart.

 

Before she could indulge herself in tears a new figure entered the room. Larissandra, having slumped to the ground, rose and

steadied herself for what she thought was the end. A cloaked figure approached her cell. Larissandra’s heart began to pound

as she anticipated what was to come. Max found himself in a panic; he had to stop this somehow, but he had no idea how. He

was as trapped as she was.

 

The cloaked figure waved its hand over a panel in the floor and the beams surrounding Larissandra retracted. The person ran

over to her and took her hand. She could finally see the figure’s face and recognized her as one of Zan’s mother’s attendants.

Her look of bewilderment soon faded as the attendant spoke.

 

“I haven’t got much time.” She looked around her anxiously. “Here take this and store it in your memory.” With that she

pressed a small round disc into Larissandra’s hand. “It’s too risky to rescue you now, but we will come back for you soon. I

must go.” She hugged Larissandra briefly and turned to leave reinstating the beams around her. “Don’t lose hope my Queen.

There is still a way to bring peace back to our planets.” And she was gone.

 

Larissandra sat on the floor again with her back to the entryway and tilted the disc in her hand. A holographic image appeared

and she opened her mind to it, not only seeing it, but also storing it securely in her memory. Max saw what she saw as the

hologram played out before them.

 

It was the battlefield. The fighting had just begun and Max saw himself again as Zan but from a new perspective. He saw four

cloaked figures like the one that just came, and all were in various hiding places around the field. He saw Ava fighting

desperately for her life and he saw Zan run to save her too late. He saw Zan place her body in the bushes and then once Zan

was gone he saw one of the figures go over to her and kneel beside her. The figure took out a vial and placed some of Ava’s

tissue into it.

 

Then one by one, as each of the Royal four were slain; these cloaked figures went over to them and took similar tissue

samples. They went unnoticed by Kivar and his men and stole quietly away when they were finished. Max and Larissandra

watched as they headed back to the Royal Palace. Inside the bombed out building they carefully picked their way over to a

secret panel still intact. A sliding door was revealed in the wall and once a code was entered it rose to allow them passage.

 

The four descended deep into the ground in a compartment similar to an elevator. The door opened into a large room with

control panels and what appeared to be a command center. The four went over to it and began to rapidly enter information

into the system. Another door slid open and the four entered a smaller chamber housing a large, black, inverted conical shape.

Max recognized it immediately. It was the Granolith Chamber.

 

Once inside they began to work. Quickly they took the four vials and deposited them in cylinder shaped holes around the base

of the Granolith. Hidden panels in the walls of the chamber opened to reveal more controls. Swiftly they made their way to

them and started entering codes. The Granolith began to rotate, at first gradually and then faster. Once the Granolith had

reached a certain speed, one of the figures reached over to the control panel and placed his hand over a glowing square. His

handprint left a silver impression. Then four large lightning bolts shot out from the top of the Granolith and into the four vials at

the base. Once the lightning disappeared, the Granolith slowed its rotation and came to a complete stop.

 

The four figures each took one of the vials and carried them into the previous room. They split the contents into four other vials

and then deposited them into eight smaller containers. The containers were clear and round in shape. Once inside them the

vials seemed to melt away causing the contents to be exposed to the ball-like container. Quickly they placed these balls into

eight larger containers. With the wave of their hands they sealed the containers with a thick translucent membrane.

 

Max watched in awe as the two sets of containers were then hung on the walls in the control room. Max recognized them;

these were Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess’ pods, as well as Zan, Lonnie, Rath and Ava’s. Understanding began to dawn on

him.

 

He watched as the four attendants began to strip their clothing and discard it. One by one they entered the Granolith chamber

and took a position around the massive cone shaped structure. Each of them placed a hand onto the large black inverted cone

and with the other placed a cylindrical shaped crystal into a shaft at the base. When all of the crystals were in place a greenish

light began to envelop the four figures. Their features began to change. Their bodies started to shrink in size as if all the fluid in

them was being sucked out. Their heads appeared to increase and dark almond shaped lenses grew over their eyes. Their skin

took on a greenish cast and appeared tough and leathery. “This was to protect them during space travel!” Max thought as he

watched with fascination. Once the transformation was complete the four figures left the Granolith chamber and went back into

the control room. They emitted a soft white glow as they went about the room to their various tasks. Max knew one of these

figures must be Nasedo, but he had no way of knowing which one.

 

A low humming sound could be heard and the control room began to vibrate. It was then Max realized that this was not just a

room buried in the ground; it was a spaceship! Their spaceship! With a loud ominous sound, the ground above them separated

as the spaceship rose out of its secure hiding place. In the blink of an eye it vanished carrying with it the future hope for peace

on Avitar and its surrounding colonies.

 

The hologram faded as Larissandra wiped tears away. The thought entered her mind, “There is hope for us as well my love.”

Max wanted desperately to hold her and comfort her and tell her that all would be well, but his thoughts were interrupted by

another presence in the room.

 

 

Kivar strode up to Larissandra’s cell and sneered at her. It was obvious he was agitated as he began to pace back and forth in

front of her. He took in a deep breath and pulled himself together. He turned to face her and said, “Well, well, well, it seems

my adversary is more clever than I thought. A ship was detected leaving the atmosphere just a little while ago. It seems some

of your people have escaped.” He looked at Larissandra for a sign that she had any previous knowledge of this information.

 

Larissandra knew she had to guard the information she had just received. “I’m glad they escaped!” she said defiantly. “I hope

they get as far away from here as they can!” Then as pathetically and innocently as she could she asked, “Who got away?

Was my mother on the ship?” She thought that if she feigned ignorance it would throw Kivar off.

 

It worked. Kivar laughed loudly. “Wouldn’t you like to know little princess! What’s the matter? Do you miss your mommy?”

Kivar strolled in a circle around her cell. “There, there, don’t fret dear. You and your mother will soon be reunited,” Kivar said

with mock sympathy. I have promised to return you to her as a peace offering. Of course you’ll be dead, but she doesn’t

know that yet. My only regret is that I won’t get to see you disintegrated. As far as the ship is concerned, once we have

located the whereabouts of the Granolith, we will have no problem destroying it and all that are on it. And that my dear is

simply a matter of time.”

 

Kivar waved his hand over the control panel in the floor, lowering the beams to half their previous height. Larissandra

squeezed the disc into her hand. She knew its discovery would be detrimental so she dug it deep into her skin. Pain seared

through her hand, but it never showed on her face. She knew her blood would damage the disc and the information would be

destroyed.

 

Max’s heart began to race. He knew what was about to happen and he knew he was helpless to stop it.

 

Kivar stepped to the side to allow one of his soldiers access to the control panel. In his mind Max screamed out, “Coward!”

He could feel Larissandra’s heart racing with his own. It was so unfair for her to die like this. Rage and hatred filled his heart

again towards Kivar. He vowed that somehow, someday, he would avenge her death and that Kivar would pay for his crimes.

 

 

Larissandra resigned herself to her fate and never flinched, or pleaded for her life. She simply closed her eyes and repeated in

her mind, “Zan… Zan… Zan… soon we will be together again my love.”

 

The soldier waved his hand over the control panel; the beams bent in half and were sent coursing through Larissandra’s body.

Max could feel her pain. It was intense and excruciating. “No!” Max screamed to deafened ears. Hot tears burned in his eyes

and spilled over onto his cheeks as he witnessed and felt this beautiful creature being tortured and killed.

 

Larissandra slumped to the floor and Max separated from her. He seemed to float just above her. The beams retracted into

the floor and Kivar came and stood over her. He regarded her with no remorse, no feeling. The coldness in his heart had

spread through his body like a cancer. “Good bye princess. Soon you will be joined by your family and all who oppose me.”

 

 ***

 

Liz had been sitting next to Max for about an hour. They had decided she would stay with him while Isabel went to the hospital

with Brody. Liz held Max’s hand and helplessly watched as his body continued to shake and sweat poured from his brow.

“What is going on in there?” she wondered out loud. Occasionally she worried that Larissa would come back bringing

Nicholas with her, so she listened with intensity to every sound she heard in the house.

 

Liz got a wash cloth and mopped Max’s brow with it now and then. Once in a while, Max would throw his head back and

forth as if he were in pain. Liz tried to rouse him and then stopped herself, as Larissa’s words would come back to her, “Don’t

try to wake him It will only make things worse!” She finally curled herself up next to his head and gently stroked his hair and

prayed this seizure would be over soon.

 

Liz dozed off a few minutes later. Her hands were resting on Max’s chest and her head was just above his. She woke in a

panic when Max yelled out, “No!” and started thrashing around on the bed. She thought to herself, “To hell with Larissa!” and

tried desperately to wake Max. She came around beside him and took his shoulders and shook him hard, but he did not

respond. Tears began to course down his face and Liz became frightened.

 

Liz tried to calm herself and not to panic. She had an idea; before she had time to analyze it to death, she went with it. She sat

beside Max on the bed and took his hand again, but this time she focused her mind and tried to form a connection with him.

She thought maybe he would hear her calling out to him and it would bring him back. In her mind she pleaded with him, “Max,

come back! Come back to us! You need to wake up Max! Please!” And then before she could stop herself she sent out the

thought, “Max, I love you, please come back to me. I love you Max. I love you.”

 

Max stopped his mad thrashing. He grew still and his breathing slowed. He became still, very still, too still! Liz dropped his

hand and placed her hands on his face. “Max!” she called out loud. “Max! Can you hear me!” She pulled her hands away as

Max’s eyes slowly opened. He appeared to have trouble focusing so Liz reached over and turned on the bedside lamp.

Cautiously Max sat up and looked around him. He caught Liz’s eye and her heart skipped a beat. He didn’t seem to recognize

her.

 

 ***

 

“Max, are you ok?” Liz sat down beside him and tried to take his hand but he pulled away. She watched as he stood up and

tried to orient himself, it was obvious he was still somewhere else in his mind. “Max, you’re in Brody’s room. You had a

seizure. Isabel and I brought you in here so you’d be safe.”

 

The name Isabel made him turn and look at Liz.

 

She could see him struggling to place Isabel’s name, so she continued hoping to jar his memory. “Yes, you came over here to

have dinner with Brody and Larissa…”

 

Max jerked his head up at Larissa’s name; his memory was beginning to come back to him. He interrupted Liz and said, his

voice full of emotion, “Where is she? Where is Larissandra?”

 

Liz paused at that name. “Why is he calling her that?” she wondered.

 

Max ran over to her and grabbed her shoulders and shook her slightly. “Where is she?” he said with such a force that Liz was

suddenly frightened.

 

“She ran out about an hour ago.” Liz swallowed hard.

 

Max let her go and turned to run out of the room.

 

“Max wait!” Liz called after him. Max stopped and looked briefly behind him at her. She was still not sure if he recognized her.

“Max, Nicholas is after her, you have to be careful…” but her words trailed off as Max turned back and ran out of the house.

Liz had no idea what was really going on, but she knew Max’s life was in danger with Nicholas on the loose. She knew she

had to do something and do it fast so she grabbed the phone and called Michael.

 

Michael picked up on the other end, “What?”

 

“Michael, this is Liz, look, I don’t have time to explain so I’ll make it short. Larissa is from your planet. She came here to give

Max his memories, or rather Zan’s memories, I don’t know, anyway, he kissed her and went into this seizure or something,

and then Nicholas broke in and now he’s after her.”

 

Michael, obviously confused and wanting more details tried to interrupt Liz, “What? She did what? Nicholas is here? Who’s

after whom? Liz you’re not making any sense.”

 

“Michael listen! There’s no time to explain it all. Max is ok; he woke up a few minutes ago and went charging out of here to

find her. Michael, you have to get Tess and go find him. If he runs into Nicholas…” Liz didn’t finish her sentence. Michael

hung up after “Nicholas” and was out the door.

 

Liz grabbed her coat and ran out, she headed to the hospital to find Isabel.

 

 ***

 

Isabel was sitting in the waiting room at the hospital. She had called her mom and told her about Brody’s heart attack and told

her that she and Max were going to wait there to see how he was. She hated lying to her mom, but the truth was not an option.

 

Brody was still in critical care. The doctors told her they were going to have to operate to save him. So she went to the waiting

room to sit. She had made Liz promise to bring Max here when he came to.

 

She was casually flipping through a magazine when Liz ran in. Seeing that Max was not with her, Isabel dropped the magazine

and ran to meet Liz. “Where’s Max?” Isabel yelled before she even reached Liz.

 

“He’s gone.” Liz grabbed Isabel’s arm and started heading her towards the door.

 

“Gone? What do you mean gone?” Isabel stopped and jerked her arm free.

 

“Look, Isabel, there’s no time! I’ll tell you on the way! We have to go!” Liz grabbed Isabel’s arm again and together they ran

toward the car.

 

 ***

 

Larissa was unfamiliar with the city, so she didn’t know which way to run when she left her brother’s house. She had not

anticipated having to deal with Nicholas and she was scared.

 

All her life, she had wanted to tell Brody the truth. Even more so when Brody told her he had been abducted and that the

aliens healed him of his cancer. Her real brother Larec had warned her against telling him. He didn’t want anything to

jeopardize her mission. Larec told her that he had healed Brody out of convenience, but she had known that wasn’t the whole

truth. Larec had seen how good a brother Brody had been to her and was moved with compassion for him. She knew Larec

was looking after her and Brody.

 

Now she was terrified. Larec had said two things that stabbed at her heart as she ran through the streets. One was that Larec

would not be able to contact her again, and two that Brody’s body wasn’t going to survive this. She felt abandoned and alone.

She prayed in her heart that Brody would be okay and then focused her attention on hiding from Nicholas.

 

She had managed to throw Nicholas off successfully for about an hour. She was hiding in someone’s empty house; she used

her powers to unlock the door. She sat crouched beneath the window listening and tried to catch her breath. Her heart was

pounding loudly in her ears. She thought she heard him coming, but more than that, she felt him, so she ran.

 

She ran for what seemed like forever and it wore her down. She was running down an alley near the UFO museum when she

heard him behind her. She knew she could no longer outrun him, so she stopped, and turned to face him. She thought about

Max and hoped she had been successful with the memory transfer, and she hoped that he was okay. Her mind briefly

wandered to Zan, she missed him so much, but Nicholas interrupted her thoughts.

 

“Well, if it isn’t the infamous Princess Larissandra. Long time no see, princess. What? Dying wasn’t fun enough for you the first

time so you thought you’d come here and do it again?” Nicholas’ sarcasm dripped from his impudent, adolescent smile.

 

“I could say the same for you Nicholas,” Larissandra threw back. She wasn’t about to let Nicholas see the fear in her. And

although her heart was pounding furiously in her chest, she appeared calm. And as she stood there facing her enemy one last

time, she became calm. She began to realize that her time with Zan was over and could never be again. Even though she had

given Max his memories, things would never be the same. Max simply wasn’t Zan.

 

She took in Nicholas’ appearance and began to laugh. “You seem to be a little late in developing Nicholas. Kivar must’ve

waited a while to send you. How did they manage to alter you without the Granolith?”

 

“We have other ways.” Nicholas tried to hide his insecurities with arrogance. “Or are you not smart enough yet to realize

Kivar is King now and that he is not about to be outsmarted by some pig-headed, little girl trying to save her long lost love?”

 

“Hmm, resorting to name calling are we now? How very grown up of you Nicholas.” Larissa retorted.

 

“Well, let’s dispense with the pleasantries, shall we?” Nicholas frowned.

 

Larissa immediately threw up a protective shield in front of her. Nicholas sneered at this and laughed, “Do you honestly think

that is going to protect you for very long?” Nicholas raised his hand at her and scowled.

 

The force of his energy blast made Larissa falter. She had never felt one that strong before. She regained her footing and

continued to shield herself using all the strength she had left. She knew she would not be able to maintain her shield for long,

and then it would be over.

 

Nicholas grew weary of this game and pulled his hand back in and yelled, “Enough of this! Now it will be over!” He pulled a

weapon out of the back of his pants and aimed it at her. “After all Larissandra, you have failed in your mission and now it’s

time to die… again.”

 

 ***

 

Michael grabbed the keys from Maria and ran out the door. Maria ran after him yelling, “Where are you going Michael?

Michael! I swear if you wreck my mother’s car…” But it was too late, Michael was long gone. He picked up Tess at Kyle’s

house. Without a word he had grabbed her when she came to the door and led her to the car. Tess yelled something about an

important meeting to Kyle when he showed up at the door looking bewildered and the two disappeared in the Jetta. Tess

didn’t have to ask Michael what this was about. She knew it involved Max and Larissa.

 

Michael roamed the streets looking for any sign of Max. Tess spotted him running towards the UFO center. Michael sped up

until he came beside him. He pulled the car around in front of Max and cut him off.

 

Michael jumped out of the car and ran up to Max. “What’s going on Max? Liz called me and said Nicholas was here. Where

is he?”

 

Max looked at Michael, and for a moment Michael became Rath in his eyes. Max grabbed Michael’s arms the way Zan

would have, and looked into his friend’s eyes.

 

Michael had a flash of another planet, of he and Max, no, he and Zan and understanding flickered across his face. He grabbed

Max’s arms in return and said, “ Where to Max? Lead the way.”

 

Max released his friend and looked around. A greenish glow was coming from a nearby alleyway. Max pointed to it and said,

“Over there.” Tess had gotten out of the car and was standing beside Michael looking at Max, her eyes full of questions.

“Later Tess,” Max said softening a bit, “we will talk.”

 

Tess simply shook her head affirmatively and followed them as they ran towards the alley.

 

Just behind them Isabel and Liz pulled up. Simultaneously they jumped out of the car and ran after Max, Michael and Tess. Liz

had seen Maria’s car and had pointed it out to Isabel. She was relieved they had not arrived too late.

 

 ***

 

“No!” Max screamed as he rounded the corner into the alley. Larissa was falling. Nicholas had blasted a hole through her. The

scene took on an eerie déjà vu to Max and things began to slow down in his mind. He looked and saw Larissa hit the ground

with a hollow thud and instantly he turned on Nicholas and threw up his hand sending an energy blast so strong it picked

Nicholas up and sent him crashing down at the far side of the alley.

 

Isabel and Liz rounded the corner to see Nicholas flying through the air. Liz spotted Larissa injured on the ground and ran over

to her.

 

Max turned back to them and yelled, “Get her somewhere safe!”

 

Liz and Isabel quickly dragged Larissa’s body around the corner and Liz knelt down next to her to assess her injuries. Isabel

disappeared back around the corner to assist Max and the others.

 

A black charred hole was exposed on Larissa’s stomach and Liz winced at the sight of it. She frantically looked around to find

something to bandage it with but found nothing. She looked at Larissa’s face and was amazed to see her eyes open. Liz

grabbed her hand and Larissa turned to look at her. Liz saw flashes of unusual beings and heard a language she could not

understand. The images were blurred and she could not decipher them.

 

Larissa spoke softly to Liz. “It’s you. I should’ve known it was you by the way you looked at him that day at the Crashdown.”

Larissa smiled weakly up at Liz.

 

Back around the corner Max was talking fast to Michael, Isabel and Tess. “There is only one way to defeat Nicholas; we must

stick together. Separately we are no match for him. Do you understand?” The group nodded, they had never seen Max so

forceful. He had a wild and determined look in his eyes and was speaking to them with authority and control.

 

Isabel thought she saw a flash of another man in Max’s place, he was foreign looking to her, but had a familiarity about him.

She shook this vision off as Max spoke again.

 

Max turned around to see Nicholas picking himself up off the ground. “Now when I say, Michael you put your hand over

mine. Tess and Isabel you stay on either side of us and when I give the signal I want you to channel all your energy into

Michael and me. Is everybody clear?” The group nodded again and braced themselves as Nicholas approached them.

 

“Well, if it isn’t the Royal Four?” Nicholas tried to appear casual, but they could tell he was still reeling from the energy blast.

“How nice of you to show up altogether like this. It will save me from having to hunt you down individually to kill you.”

 

Back where Liz was, she looked at Larissa bewildered. Larissa continued, “You are Max’s true love Liz. Just as I was Zan’s.

I realized when Max kissed me that he was in love with you, but I didn’t want to admit it. I saw his memories too Liz and you

were the biggest and happiest part of them.” Larissa paused and looked away for a moment. “But it seems you have a secret,

don’t you Liz.”

 

Liz’s mind told her to jerk her hand away but her heart convinced her to hold fast. She was tired of hiding her secret and she

wanted to hear what Larissa had to say. She could hear Max fighting with Nicholas, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of

Larissa.

 

“Liz, listen to me very carefully.” Larissa looked at Liz with concern and compassion in her eyes.

 

Liz nodded, anxious about what Larissa was about to say.

 

“In our lives, Liz, we may love many people, but there is only one who completes us and makes us whole. It is a rare thing to

find, but when and if you do, you must hold onto it with everything you’ve got. When you love someone that strongly, not even

death can separate you. I realize that now, but there are two things which can come between you; secrets and lies.” With that

Larissa squeezed Liz’s hand and placed her other hand on top. “Tell him Liz. Tell him the truth. He needs you Liz.”

 

Max took a step closer to Nicholas and said, “Couldn’t stay dead the first time I killed you Nicholas?”

 

Michael and Isabel both gave Max a quick look.

 

“Why are you really here Nicholas? I think it’s because you can’t go home. You see I wondered why you didn’t die with the

other skins when Tess did the mind warp, and then it occurred to me. Kivar sent you here after us in a pod, just like ours. He

is using you, like the coward that he is, to kill us before we can return home and destroy him. That is the only way you will ever

be allowed to return home, isn’t it Nicholas?”

 

“Well it seems you have recovered from your bout of amnesia Zan.” Nicholas clapped his hands together loudly. “Very good,

you get the gold sticker.”

 

Liz’s mind was racing. “But what about Tess? What about the invasion?”

 

Larissa tried to reassure Liz. She moved to sit up, but winced and lay back down. “Liz, Tess will be fine. Now that Max has

Zan’s memories, it will all be sorted out, you’ll see.”

 

Liz was not convinced. She attempted to ask Larissa what she meant by her last statement but she noticed her eyes began to

roll back in her head. She picked up Larissa’s hand and gently patted it. She saw no response and began to panic, “Larissa,

please don’t die on me okay? Stay with me Larissa, you’ve got to hang on!”

 

Nicholas continued, “But just because you have your memories back, doesn’t mean you will be able to return home or defeat

Kivar.”

 

“Then why is there fear in your eyes Nicholas?” Max took another step closer to Nicholas. Michael stepped up beside him, his

arms folded tightly across his chest. Nicholas tried to appear unafraid, but Max noticed him take a small step back at his

remark.

 

“What me? Afraid of you?” Nicholas laughed unconvincingly. “I don’t think so, or your sorry excuse for a second in

command. You were a miserable failure on your planet and you are a miserable failure here. I’m just here to wipe up the last of the mess.”

 

Nicholas moved his eyes around rapidly to look for his weapon. He spotted it about ten feet away under some trash. With one

swift movement he shot out his hand and the weapon flew up into his grasp. Nicholas smiled at his own quick retrieval. He

pointed the gun at the group and said, “Now, which one of you would like to go first? How about Tess, or should I say Ava;

she always was my favorite.”

 

Nicholas pointed the gun at Tess, but before he could fire, Max yelled, “Now!” and the four joined forces just as they planned.

A large fiery yellow beam shot out from Max and Michael’s joined hands and into Nicholas. Nicholas was held fast by the

beam. He threw his head back in agony and his weapon dropped clumsily to the ground. The four continued their assault and

watched with fascination and horror as Nicholas’ body began to come apart.

 

Nicholas was glowing bright yellow inside as large cracks appeared all over his body. One by one the cracks widened; pieces

of Nicholas flew apart and disintegrated in mid-air, until he was completely gone.

 

The four lowered their hands and stood there silently gazing at the spot where Nicholas once stood. Michael was the first to

speak, “I had no idea we could do that.” He looked at Max for some kind of explanation.

 

“We have a lot to talk about… all of us.” Max looked from one to the other.

 

Liz came racing around the corner. She looked around for Nicholas; seeing no sign of him she ran over to Max and yanked at

his arm. “Max, it’s Larissa, she’s hurt really bad. You have to help her!” With Max in the lead, they ran back to where Larissa

was lying on the ground. Max knelt beside her and placed his hand over her wound.

 

“No Max.” Larissa reached up and touched his cheek with her fingers. “It’s too late.”

 

Max wouldn’t hear it. He shook his head and said, “No! I won’t let you die this time! I won’t lose you again!” He turned to

Michael and said, “I’ve got to get her out of here. We’ll take her back to your place.” Without hesitation Michael ran ahead to

the car to make room. Max gently lifted Larissa and the rest of them hurried back to their cars and head to Michael’s.

 

Michael quickly unlocked the door to his apartment and found a startled Maria waiting there. She moved aside to allow Max

and Larissa room to pass. Max laid Larissa carefully down on Michael’s bed and placed his hand again on her wound. He

focused all of his healing energy into her, but her body did not respond. Tears of anger and frustration ran down his face. He

turned to the others that have all gathered around them and in between gasps of air said, “Leave us… please.”

 

Liz looked from Larissa to Max. She knew Larissa was dying and she could see how Max felt about her by the way that he

was cupping her hand to his chest. She turned away from them and wiped her own tears away. She followed the others out

the door to wait. Feeling lost and confused she decided to leave.

 

Maria ran to catch up with her. “Liz, what is going on?”

 

“Not now Maria,” Liz whispered as new tears streamed down her face.

 

“Will you at least let me drive you home?” Maria touched Liz’s arm to comfort her.

 

Liz pulled away from her and said, “No thanks Maria, I need to walk.” Liz walked away leaving Maria to worry and wonder

what had happened.

 

Max looked at Larissa and reached up to cup her face in his hand. “Larissandra, is it really you?”

 

Larissa took Max’s hand and pulled it to her lips. She kissed his fingers and smiled. “Yes, my love.”

 

Max gently pulled her into his lap, careful not to add to her pain, and held her close. “This can’t be happening. Not again!” his

voice wavered with emotion as his tears dripped steadily onto Larissa’s face. He tenderly stroked her cheek, wiping away his

tears, which were now mixed with hers.

 

“We had our time together, when you were Zan and I was Larissandra, and it was wonderful. But Max and Larissa were

never meant to be. As much as I wanted you to be Zan; you’re not him. You may share the same genes, and now you share

his memories, but you carry a different soul Max. And your heart, belongs to someone else.” Larissa placed her hand on

Max’s heart and through their connection Max saw his own memories of Liz.

 

Max closed his eyes and tried to remember when things were good between him and Liz. His memories always ended the

same, with Liz and Kyle in bed together. He shook his head in torment.

 

Larissa, feeling his pain, said, “Max, you must go to her. She has something to tell you. Please Max, don’t throw this away.

She is your true love.” Larissa begins to weaken rapidly. Her voice is reduced to a whisper. “I must go now Max, Zan is

waiting for me. Tell Brody I love him.” Larissa reached up for one last time and placed her fingertips on Max’s lips, and then

she was gone.

 

Max kissed her fingers then reached up and closed her eyes with his hand. He pulled her closer to him. All at once a tidal

wave of despair crashed over him. His pain combined with Zan’s rose up from within, and the two met like huge waves

crashing together out at sea. Great sobs wracked his body as he surrendered himself to his pain.

 

Still clutching Larissa tightly, he slowly rocked back and forth; lost in agony to the world around him.

 

 ***

 

The next morning Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess drove out to the desert near their pod chambers and the Granolith. Max

found a spot near a desert tree and he and Michael began to dig. Once the hole was deep enough they carefully lowered

Larissa’s body. They wrapped her in one of Michael’s blankets the night before. Tess and Isabel brought flowers and placed

them in the hole with Larissa.

 

Tess walked away as Michael and Max began to cover Larissa with dirt. Tears streamed down her face as they placed small

rocks in a V shape on her gravesite.

 

Max walked over to Tess and put his arm around her. Tess turned to Max and buried her face in his chest. He held her until

she stopped crying, gently stroking her hair as she wept. His mind flashed back to a similar scene when he was Zan and Tess

was Ava. Tess finally pulled back and attempted to wipe away her tears on her sleeve. “I still can’t believe I found my best

friend and then lost her again, all in one day.”

 

“I know.” Max replied.

 

Tess looked into his eyes and said, “I’m sorry Max, I should have told you about her, but it was still a little fuzzy to me, until I

saw her.”

 

“Shh, it’s ok Tess. I probably wouldn’t have listened to you anyway.” Max attempted a smile.

 

Michael and Isabel joined them and Michael put a hand on Max’s shoulder and said, “You know, we don’t have to do this

now. We can always wait….”

 

Max cut him off with a shake of his head. “No, now is the time. Let’s go.” Max turned and headed up the cliff to the pod

chamber. Michael, Isabel and Tess followed close behind.

 

 ***

 

The sun rose to find Liz still awake, wrapped in blankets, and sitting in her lawn chair out on her balcony. An empty box of

tissue lay on the floor next to her with it’s crumpled remains piled in her lap. Her eyes were red and swollen; she stared into

space, not seeing anything except what was being played out in her head over and over. She thought Tess had been Max’s

destiny, the person he was meant to be with, even though she knew he didn’t love her. By the way Max had held Larissa so

tenderly, she wondered if she was wrong again and that Larissa was the one he was supposed to be with. She was distraught

and confused. Who was Larissandra? She didn’t understand what was going on and she felt ashamed of herself for thinking

this way when Larissa was so seriously injured, or even dead by now.

 

The look on Max’s face when he asked everyone to leave was emblazoned in her memory. “How ironic,” she thought, “now I

know how Max must’ve felt when he saw me with Kyle.” This started a new batch of tears, but she let them fall without trying

to wipe them away.

 

She remembered how Max had come to at Brody’s and how he didn’t even recognize her. Or maybe he had and his feelings

for her were no longer there. What if now that Max had all of Zan’s memories, his own memories were destroyed? A million

questions like this went through Liz’s mind as the morning wore on.

 

Finally she was pulled from her obsessing by a familiar voice coming through the window.

 

“I thought I’d find you out here.” Maria climbed through the window and sat down on the ground next to Liz’s chair. “How

you doin’ girl? Not real good from what I can see.”

 

Liz looked at Maria and started to cry all over again. Maria patted her hand and said, “That’s ok, you don’t have to tell me

anything now. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here.”

 

Liz whispered, “Thank you Maria.”

 

“Looks like you plowed through that box of tissue! Here let me get you some more.” Maria stood up and went inside Liz’s

room to her bathroom. She came back with a roll of toilet paper in her hand and placed it in Liz’s lap. “Here, this is all you

had.” She shrugged her shoulders; “It’s softer anyway right?”

 

Liz smiled and tore some off to wipe her face.

 

“I know this probably isn’t a good time, but I thought I should be the one to tell you… Larissa didn’t make it. She died shortly

after you left.” Maria looked at Liz, searching for some word to make her feel better. She knew that sometimes words didn’t

help, so she remained silent.

 

Liz covered her face with her hands and was amazed at the grief she felt for a girl she didn’t even know very well. But she

knew Max was grieving. He had become such a big, undeniable part of her that she felt his pain as if it were her own.

 

Liz suddenly dropped her hands and looked at Maria, “What about Brody? How is he? Is he okay?”

 

Maria shook her head, “No, he’s hanging by a thread. They operated on him last night, but he’s not responding to the

treatment well. They don’t think he will make it through the day.” Maria paused. “I’m sorry Liz; I hate to be the bearer of bad

news here. I’m waiting for Michael to get back into town. We were all going to go over to the hospital to wait for news about

Brody.”

 

“Get back in town…?” Liz gave Maria a puzzled look.

 

“They went out to the desert near the pod chamber to bury Larissa this morning,” Maria continued. “They still aren’t sure what

they’re going to tell Brody… if he makes it.” Maria’s voice trailed off.

 

“I’m going too.” Liz got up from her chair and climbed back through the window to change clothes.

 

“Are you sure Liz? I mean you’ve been through a lot…” Maria followed her back through the window.

 

Liz shook her head, “No, Maria; if I stay here any longer I’m gonna go crazy. I need to stop thinking about myself and go be

there for Brody. He deserves that much.”

 

Maria waited for Liz to change and then the two left for the hospital.

 

 ***

 

Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess entered the pod chamber. The three turned to Max to see what to do next. Max went into the

Granolith chamber and they followed him. He stood there, gazing at the large black cone, as each of them entered the room. “I

don’t know if this will work, but I think we should try it.”

 

Isabel looked questioningly at him, “If what will work Max?”

 

“Larissa transferred Zan’s memories to me through a connection between us. Maybe if we stand here around the Granolith

and hold hands we can form a similar connection and I can transfer the information she gave me to all of you at the same time.”

 

 “Sounds like a plan Maxwell.” Michael stood opposite Max with the Granolith between them. Tess and Isabel stood between

them on opposite sides as well. They held hands and waited for something to happen.

 

Max closed his eyes and concentrated on forming a connection. Just as Michael was about to say, “I don’t think it’s going to

work…” the Granolith began to hum. Isabel, Michael and Tess exchanged worried glances and looked over at Max. His eyes

were still closed and he appeared to be in a trance like state.

 

One by one they closed their eyes as images began to flash in front of them. Max tried to sort through the images to pick and

choose which ones they saw, but they were coming too fast and he could not stop them.

 

Gradually they opened their eyes as the process came to an end. They looked around them somewhat disoriented. None of

them were sure how much time had passed.

 

Tess sat down on the floor and said, “Wow. That was intense. I thought I had memories, but they were nothing like that!”

 

“It was just like watching a movie,” Michael remarked.

 

Isabel looked over at Max; he looked exhausted. She reached out and took his hand again and squeezed it. “I’m so sorry

Max.” Tears welled in her eyes and she tried to quickly cover her face with her hands.

 

Max turned her around to face him and pulled her hands down. She looked at the floor ashamed. Max lifted her chin with his

hand. “Isabel, what happened back then, is in the past. I know you are not Vilandra, remember?” She shook her head but still

could not bear to look at him. “One of the things Larissa told me before she died was that, although we may have the same

genes as Zan, Vilandra, Ava and Rath, we have our own souls. Isabel, do you understand?”

 

Isabel raised her eyes to meet his. She knew what he was telling her must be true. She felt it in her heart, but was still afraid.

“Max, I understand what you are saying, but what if…”

 

Max brought a finger to her lips, “Shh, no ‘what ifs’ Isabel. We take one day at a time remember?”

 

Isabel nodded and they embraced.

 

Michael walked over to Max as he released Isabel and the two friends turned to face each other. Michael grabbed Max in a

bear hug. Max hesitated, a little stunned and then returned the hug. Michael put him out at arm's length; “Guess I’m not the

only one who has a problem with acting on impulse am I?” They both laughed.

 

“Yeah, I guess so.” Max replied, “Michael…”

 

Michael cut him off, “Nuff said Maxwell. I understand, more so now than I ever have before.”

 

Max looked at each one of them. He could see them as their Royal counterparts, but more importantly he could see them for

who they really were. Each one of them was special, with special gifts and talents. He knew that separately they each had

something unique to bring to the group but that together there was no telling what they could accomplish.

 

“We’ve been through a lot these past two days. We’ve been given a lot to think about. We should take some time to try and

sort through everything we’ve just experienced and then come back together and talk.” Max waited to see if anyone had any

objections, but they all shook their heads in agreement. “Then let’s go see how Brody is.”

 

They filed out one at a time and headed back to their cars and to Roswell.

 

 *

 

At the hospital Sheriff Valenti greeted them in the waiting room. Liz and Maria were sitting on a sofa reading magazines.

 

Valenti walked over to them. “Liz and Maria tried to fill me in on the details of what happened last night. I came down here to

see if Brody was okay and to see if you needed any help with…”

 

“No, sheriff.” Max interrupted knowing he meant Larissa’s body. “We took care of it.”

 

“Okay. Well I’m going to head out then. Call me when you find something out about Brody.” Valenti left and the group

walked over to where Liz and Maria were sitting. Liz had her head on the armrest and had fallen asleep.

 

Maria whispered to Max, “She fell asleep just a few minutes ago. She’s was up all night, uh, thinking.” She paused when she

realized what she was saying.

 

Max nodded and looked at Liz sleeping. Part of him wanted to kiss her cheek and watch her wake up, and the other wanted

to run away and never look back. His emotions were still raw and he was glad she was asleep so he didn’t have to face her

right now. “That’s okay, let her sleep. We’re going to go look in on Brody.”

 

The four went up the elevator to the critical care unit of the hospital and found Brody’s room. The nurse would only allow one

visitor at a time to go in so Tess went in first. Then Michael went in, and then Isabel. Isabel came out and walked over to her

brother. He had his head down and looked away when she approached. “Max, what are you thinking?” she asked him

suspiciously.

 

Max looked up into her eyes. “There’s been so much death Isabel.” Max didn’t give her a chance to interrupt, “Look, I know

what you’re going to say…”

 

Isabel interrupted him anyway, “Oh, you do, do you? Well what if I said okay?” She looked at Max and saw his stunned

expression. “You think you know me so well.”

 

“Okay? Really?” Max had to admit he was surprised.

 

“Okay, what?” Michael and Tess came over to see what was up. Michael looked from Isabel to Max. “Oh, no you’re not

seriously…” Michael rubbed his face with his hands and then said, “I’m not gonna win this one I can tell; so just one question.

What are you going to tell him when he sees the silver handprint?”

 

Tess piped in, “We could tell him the aliens abducted him again while he was in the hospital, and when he came to it was

already there.”

 

“Or we could tell him the truth.” Max looked from one to the other. “He’s already considered a freak who believes he’s been

abducted; telling him the truth certainly won’t add to his credibility. I think he will be an ally to us and besides,” Max looked

down, “Larissa would want him to know. We have to come up with an explanation for how she died anyway, and I think he

deserves to know the truth.”

 

Michael shook his head, “Okay, just one more question. How do we explain the handprint to the doctors and nurses?”

 

“I have an idea.” Isabel gave them a mischievous grin and headed towards the nurse’s station.

 

The other three watched as Isabel turned on the charm and talked to the nurses at the desk. She ducked her head and looked

apologetic as she tried to convince them of something. Of what, the other three had no idea.

 

She jogged back over to them trying not to look too triumphant.

 

“What in the world did you say to them?” Tess asked trying not to laugh.

 

Isabel grabbed Tess and said, “Come with me to the gift shop.” She turned to Max and Michael and said, “Don’t go

anywhere, we’ll be right back.”

 

Michael and Max looked at each other and then to Tess and Isabel as they disappeared down the hall and shrugged.

 

 *

 

Close to an hour later the four entered the waiting room to see Liz, Maria and Alex talking. They walked up just as Alex was

shaking his head and saying, “Geez! Will I ever not be the last to know around here?”

 

“Trust me Alex, sometimes that’s for the best,” Maria replied as they all gather around to hear what happened with Brody.

“Well, from the looks on your faces, I take it he is better?”

 

“We feel sure he will make a full recovery,” Isabel said with a huge grin on her face.

 

“No thanks to the ‘silver hand print bandit’,” Added Michael.

 

Liz, Alex and Maria all looked at Max with disbelief.

 

Tess laughed and said, “Let’s just say, Brody’s ‘religious beliefs’ dictate that he have his body covered in silver hand prints

before he dies, so that the aliens will know where to find him when they come to pick him up.”

 

They all looked at each other a moment and then burst out laughing.

 

“Well, I guess we have one happy ending,” Alex observed as their laughter began to fade.

 

Liz stole a glance at Max just as he glanced over at her. They both looked away simultaneously. Liz remarked, “Well, I guess

we can all go home now. Oh,” she happened to think as she looked at Max again, “what are you going to tell Brody about

Larissa?”

 

“The truth. I’m going to go over there later, once he is home and tell him everything.”

 

Liz nodded and turned to leave as the others began to file out.

 

“Liz wait.” Max caught her arm and she stopped. “We need to talk.”

 

Liz tried to be casual as she replied, “Um, yeah, okay. Talk.”

 

“I’ll come by your place later, okay?” Max looked at her and tried to smile.

 

Liz nodded and tried to smile back. “Yeah, that sounds great.”

 

 ***

 

Liz was in her room pacing. She had been pacing for the past 3 hours. Every once in a while she would take a seat on her bed

to rest and in thirty seconds she was up again. Pacing. She had taken a piece of paper and twisted it beyond recognition. On it

were all the reasons she should tell Max the truth and all the reasons she shouldn’t. The “shouldn’t list” went on to the

backside of the paper, but it was number nine on the “should list” that kept gnawing at her. She loved him, plain and simple.

“Screw the world,” was number ten, but did she have any right to “screw the world’? She couldn’t decide and that was why

she was pacing.

 

That and because she knew that any minute he would be there and things between them would change…again. She was

having this thought as she heard a familiar tapping outside her window. She went over to the window and raised it, allowing

Max to come through.

 

“Hey Max,” she said hoping he hadn’t noticed her pacing.

 

“Hey Liz.” He noticed how nervous she was and it made him want to get this over with as soon as possible. At the same time

they said, “Larissa told me….”. They laughed and it broke the tension a little. Again at the same time they said, “You go first…

no that’s okay, you…”. They smileed, trying not to feel so awkward with each other.

 

“Okay, I’ll go first.” Liz took a breath and said; “Larissa told me that now that you have Zan’s memories, that everything

would be sorted out between you and Tess.”

 

Max nodded but gave her a confused look. He wandered how many times he had to tell her he didn’t love Tess before she

would believe him.

 

“Okay, look Max. What I need to know before I can tell you this… this thing I have to tell you, um… is that things between

you and Tess are okay. That you two have a good relationship or whatever, but most of all that she won’t leave Roswell.”

Liz‘s heart was beating fast and she felt lightheaded, so she went and sat on the bed.

 

“Liz what are you talking about?” Max looked down at her even more bewildered. “Leave Roswell, why would Tess leave

Roswell?”

 

“Please Max, just answer the question. I need to know.” Liz started to think she had made a mistake and stood up and started

pacing again.

 

“I’m not exactly sure what the question is, but I’ll try. Tess and I are friends. It turns out she was only my wife in my other life

because Larissandra,” Max clarified, “that is Larissa to you, was kidnapped by Kivar. Tess and Larissa were best friends and

it was her duty as Larissa’s Lady in Waiting to marry me, Zan, if something were to happen to Larissandra.” Max noticed

Liz’s odd expression. “Do you understand Liz?” Liz nodded her head as she looked at a spot on the floor and sat down again.

“So Larissa, Larissandra, was really your wife?”

 

“Yes.” Max wasn’t ready to talk about her just yet so he kept his answer simple.

 

“That must’ve been really hard,” Liz looked up at Max with tears in her eyes. “I mean losing her like that.”

 

Max was moved by her understanding and went and sat next to her on the bed. “Yes, it was.” He shifted his body toward her.

“Liz, Larissa told me something and I’ve been thinking about it a lot since then.

 

“She said that although we, Isabel, Tess, Michael and I have the same genes as Zan, and the others, we each have our own

souls, our own destinies Liz. She understood that I wasn’t Zan and that I had to choose my own path. She let me go Liz; she

released me from my past. I know it sounds weird, but when she gave me Zan’s memories, she also gave me a choice. A

choice whether or not to be Zan or to be Max. I can choose for myself where my life will lead, and who I will love.” Max

dropped his gaze. He didn’t tell her what Larissa said about his heart belonging to her. He couldn’t. It would hurt too much

now to be rejected again.

 

The room was quiet as Liz and Max each considered what had been said. Liz’s heart began to race, she knew now was the

time to finally tell him, but she was scared. The future seemed so scary and unsure. Now that Max had a choice, what would

he choose? Could she be for him what he needed? Would she lose him to his alien destiny one day? “Number nine,” she

murmured softly to herself.

 

She turned to face Max, and raised his chin to look at her. “Max, I can tell you now.” She hesitated. “But I would rather show

you.” With that she leaned in and kissed Max. Softly at first, they were both still hesitant, then more intensely as Liz’s

memories began to flow into Max, and he saw what she had been unable to tell him for so long.

 

Max saw his future counterpart; he was momentarily distracted at his own appearance. “I look old and tired,” he thought to

himself, “and sad.” He saw this future Max trying to convince Liz it was him. He smiled at her disbelief; it was exactly the way

he would expect her to react. He saw himself through Liz’s eyes as he was singing to her. Before he could relive the humiliation

he had put himself through to get her attention, he heard future Max tell her that fourteen years from now aliens took over the

planet and that he needed her to keep that from happening. He saw them again in Liz’s room and heard future Max explain to

her how Tess left after the terrible way he had treated her, and how he needed Liz to help him fall out of love with her.

 

Max pulled away from Liz and cupped her face in his hands. “Liz…” He looked into her eyes and saw the pain there. He

brushed her cheek with his finger; he was beginning to understand. He wanted to finish. He wanted to see it all, just as she

lived it, so he kissed her again, tenderly.

 

The flashes started again. Max saw Liz talking to Tess; he knew how hard this must’ve been for her. He saw Liz and the future

Max hiding in Whitaker’s old office spying on he and Tess. He heard Liz ask if they got married. He saw future Max hesitate.

He knew somehow that he was only trying to protect her, and then he saw him give in and tell her. He never could keep

secrets from her. The words “we went to Las Vegas, got married in the Elvis Chapel” rang in his head. The flash he had in

Vegas was real! Liz tried to tell him, but she couldn’t. She had been acting so strange that day and now he understood why.

 

He saw himself crash in on Liz and kiss her. He relived the flashes she had in her mind and felt the torment they were causing

her. Then he saw them in Liz’s bedroom as future Max became angry with her and told her that on the night of the Gomez

concert they had made love and how that had cemented them. He remembered that night and although he never really dreamt

in a million years that he and Liz would make love that night, he had put the condom in his pocket anyway…just in case.

Future Max chastised her for not changing. He placed the fate of the whole world on her shoulders and told her it was up to

her. How could he have done that to her?

 

He traveled with her to his own room where she told him she didn’t want to die for him, and heard again all the excuses she

gave him for wanting to end it between them. But now he saw them for what they really were, lies. He felt her dread at having

to try and break his heart. He saw Liz and future Max back on her balcony. He saw her sitting in a chair, weeping over what

she had just done. Her agony came coursing through him and tears sprang to his eyes.

 

He was angry with his future self for putting her through this. She was begging him to find another way. She was telling him she

couldn’t do it anymore, to find somebody else, but he didn’t listen to her. How could he have placed this burden on her like

this? Then he heard future Max tell her that just two weeks before the end, Isabel died and that right before he came here, he

had held Michael in his arms, dead. This tore at his heart as he remembered Zan’s memories of watching Rath murdered.

Once again he saw Vilandra slowly fall to the ground with a laser hole through her middle and he understood why he did it. He

tried desperately in his mind to think of another way he could have changed things, but he could see none. He knew himself

too well.

 

He knew what this was leading up to but he maintained the connection, he had to see it through her eyes, to feel what she felt.

He saw her ask Kyle for his help. He saw future Max, hiding out in the bathroom while Liz prepared. He saw the torment on

his own face as future Max said, “If he tries anything…” He saw Liz slide beneath the sheets, self conscious and nervous. And

then he saw himself come to the window and see them in bed together. His feelings were now overshadowed by Liz’s. He felt

the knot in the pit of her stomach turn into anguish and remorse. He felt her helplessness.

 

He saw her sitting with future Max on her balcony again. He heard future Max say that watching her do that was the hardest

thing he’s ever had to do, then tell her that maybe this was for the best. He heard her reply, “Don’t you realize what you are to

me, what you’ll always be? You’re the love of my life. Everyone else will be second best. There will never be another you.”

He choked as the tears rolled down his face, but he kept going. He saw her ask him to dance with her. He watched as they

dance together. The only wedding dance she thought that she would ever have with him. And then he watched as his future self

disappeared, leaving her standing alone and feeling lost. He felt her loss and heard her wonder if she would ever be truly happy

again.

 

Max pulled away; he could not bear to see anymore. His hands were still cupping her face as he tried to wipe away her tears.

Liz, unable to hold back her emotions any longer, surrendered herself to them and began to sob uncontrollably. Max pulled her

into his arms and held her, gently stroking her hair.

 

When Liz was finally able to stop, she looked up at him and whispered, “Now you know.”

 

Max pulled her to him again; he hurt so badly for her and all that she had been through because of him. “Liz, I am so sorry.

This is all my fault. If I had not been so selfish… if only I had understood then what I know now about the four of us needing

to be together as a team… but all I could think about was wanting to be with you, and it nearly cost me everything. Liz, I am

so sorry, you did it all for me. You took this huge burden and you carried it all alone, how could I have ever doubted you?”

 

Liz smiled for the first time in what felt like years to her. “It’s okay, Max. How could you have known? Besides, it’s over now,

and you know the truth. But, I would do it again, Max. I would do anything for you.” She looked down, suddenly self

conscious again.

 

“All this time, all this wasted time, because of me. Liz can you ever forgive me?” Max ran his hands up her neck and felt her

hair. It felt so good to touch her again. It had been so long.

 

Liz placed her arms around his waist and gazed lovingly up at him. “Max, how can I forgive you for something you had no

control over.”

 

“Liz, please, I need to hear you say it.” Max looked with such intensity into her eyes that she could not refuse him.”

 

“Yes Max, I forgive you.” She said to him softly. “Do you forgive me… for deceiving you? I know how much I hurt you.”

 

“Liz, what you did, it only makes me love and respect you more. But if you need to hear it then, yes, I forgive you.” Max

gently traced her face with his finger. She smiled and closed her eyes under his touch.

 

She opened her eyes to find him watching her. “This may sound weird, but now that is all over, I’m kinda glad it happened.

Things are better with Tess and, I mean, think about it, it worked Max, you did it! You saved the world by coming back like

you did.”

 

“Technically, I think you saved the world, Liz.” Max grinned at her and caressed her back.

 

Liz laughed, “Okay, how bout we both saved the world, how’s that?” It felt good to be in his arms again.

 

“I think we make a pretty good team don’t you? I mean, after all we’ve saved the world from near destruction at least four

times now.” Max was playful with her now and tickled her waist. She giggled and tried to pull away from him but he held her

fast.

 

He became serious again as his eyes wandered over her face, taking in each small detail and storing it in his memory. “Liz, I

don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know what will happen this afternoon, let alone tomorrow. The only thing I am sure

of is that I want you with me, for as long as that is possible. You complete me Liz; you make me a whole person. And as much

as I need Isabel, Michael and Tess, I need you too Liz Parker. Will you…be with me?” His eyes searched hers for the answer

he was longing for.

 

“One day at a time?” Liz raised her brow at him.

 

Max smiled and pulled her face within an inch of his. “Yeah, one day at a time.”

 

Liz whispered softly, their lips brushing slightly as she replied, “Then how could I possibly refuse?”

 

They looked into each other’s eyes, formed a connection between their souls and kissed, sharing the intimacy of their memories as well as their passion for each other.

 

 The End