truthSAGA

Max�s head fumed angrily as he numbly walked out the Whitman�s front door. Tess, Isabel, and Michael were at his heels. Once everyone got into Max�s Jeep, in angry silence, Tess put her left hand on Max��s shoulder. �Liz has NO right to blame us for Alex dying!�

Tess jumped and drew her hand away quickly from his shoulder. Everyone just stared out the front windshield. �It was an accident.... wasn�t it?� Max said with emotion stinging each word. No one answered as Max banged his fists against the steering wheel and started the engine.

In the backseat Isabelle let silent tears of anger and sadness roll down her cheeks, still staring straight ahead. Max peeled away from the house and sped the few blocks to his house. He needed to cool down after what Liz had accused him and his kind of doing. The thought of her thinking he was responsible tore at his already wounded conscience.

* * * * * * * * * *
Liz choked out her last sentence before leaving Alex�s room. �I know what I know. And I am gonna find out the truth. I OWE that�� to my friend.� She turns around and walks out, shaken. Max�s eyes flashed with hurt again before her, as they did a few seconds earlier. The look will always haunt her, but that couldn�t keep her from trying to find out the truth. That was what is important.

Later that evening, after pacing across her rooftop deck for what seemed like forever, it began to rain so she climbed back into her room and closed the window. Liz slowly turned her head to her desk where a CD of Beth Orton lay across some of her recently developed roll of Prom pictures. She had to draw in her breath sadly as she caressed the photo�s edges. She picked them up, along with the CD, and carried them down to the Crashdown dining area. On her way she grabbed her portable boombox. As she set things up, without realizing what she was doing, she set the pictures down on one of the tables in piles sorted by size or content. Liz placed the CD in the boombox, and pressed play.   (�She Cries Your Name� by Beth Orton comes on, loudly)

Liz turns around, towards the pictures, feeling the wall of denial she had built up since hearing the news about Alex come slowly crashing down. Eyes wide, she had a flash of Alex at Isabelle�s 18th birthday party just 6 months before, him in his rented cop costume. As the tears blanketed her sight, she shook off the image and got set to work, not knowing the purpose of what she was doing.

The search for the truth has been what has been keeping her tears from falling before now, but with Max so upset at her, and Maria upset that she went to Alex�s crashed car in the compound lot, she felt the search at a dead end, and the tears rushing in to finally break free. Flashes of Alex continued, as she sadly smiled when remembering how ridiculous he looked and danced, the way he made everyone laugh at that party. �Oh god Alex. No, you can�t be gone.�

There were no stopping the tears now as the realization that she�d never have Alex there to make her laugh or comfort her about their whole situation. It became an overwhelming thought. Liz sat down in a booth with the last group photo they�d all ever be in, and finally wailed without trying to quiet it or stop the tears from falling.

Liz�s mind screamed for Alex to come back, but her screams in her mind were interrupted when she heard the knock on the Crashdown�s doors. She gasped and sucked in her tears, wiping her wet cheeks dry with the back of her hands. She opened the door for Danny, and he came inside, soaking.

�I�ve been thinking about what you said,� he replied quickly, �and I remembered something else. His credit card receipt, the company tossed it back because of the way it was signed.� Danny handed the receipt to Liz as she read the sequence of numbers quietly to herself.

�11100100100111011001." Liz looked up slowly, wide eyed. �Does it mean anything to you?� Danny asked. All Liz said was, �Yes. It means�� I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.�

* * * * * * * * * *
Since Max couldn��t sleep, he got up out of his bed, and slipped some jeans on. ��4:37am�� he read off the clock on his bedside table. He groaned, and grabbed his jacket. He didn��t care who he woke up with starting the Jeep. He needed to get out of here. Now. Max got into the Jeep and headed straight out of town.

The desert whipped by him, darker and more empty then Max usually saw it to be. ��Everything is empty and dark now.�� Max stated in his mind. He needed answers, or comfort or something since Liz was turned against him, and he was still very upset that she blamed him. If he discovered the truth, and told Liz it wasn��t an alien related accident, maybe.....

No, even with the truth it would still hurt him to think back at how Liz had stood there and suggested he had some part of Alex now being dead. ��Oh why did he have to die,�� Max thought sorrowfully. His sister Isabelle was so distraught by it, blaming herself, feeling cursed that whoever she got close to gets hurt or dies. But then someone else besides herself blaming her for the involvement of Alex's death had tore at her deeper then before.

Even with the hurt that others thought what she thought, she still managed to stand up to Liz in Alex��s room and walk out with her head held high, like the old Isabelle would do. Only to let it go when she was in the car.The devastation of it all got to Max. He was tired emotionally, more then ever before.

Max suddenly swerved off the road and parked in the middle of nowhere. He got out and looked around, not sure of what he was looking for. He realized where he was, even though he wasn�t told exactly where this place was. He was at the accident site. Max drew in a breath, the air smelling of wet sand and concrete, burnt rubber and something else.... something that Max classified as the smell of�death.

A sharp piercing pain surged through his brain, as he knelt down to touch the semi�s old tire marks. Suddenly a flash of the previous night played at fast speed through his mind, so fast Max was unable to get a clear picture of anything. He just screamed out in an ear-piercing volume, as the images just whizzed by his eyes at 100mph.

Then it all stopped and Max grabbed his head in agony. The memory of that night was in his head, but it was unclear, and Max couldn�t get the images to slow down. But the thing he felt the clearest was the fear that Alex felt that split second before impact, and it burnt a hole deep in Max�s heart. �Ooooh god.� Max wailed slowly, with pain seeping on the words. He had to crawl over to the side of the road and throw up his last meal, it hurt so bad. It took Max over an hour to calm down enough to get up and into the Jeep, where he laid back, nauseous still.

Then, at about 7:15, he felt well enough to start driving back into Roswell. Deep down he had found out the truth, somehow given to him just through the touch of the road, but he couldn��t recall that knowledge up to the front of his mind for some reason. He hated to admit it to himself, but something was out of place about Alex�s death... he just felt it.

This new information that he knew would definitely give him an answer, and he knew either way the answer would have sad and painful consequences. The strain of guilt on poor Isabelle....that��s all Max could think about. Just the chance of affirming her fear of getting involved with Alex had gotten him killed would shatter her already wounded soul.

* * * * * * * * * *
The clock read 6:58am, as Liz finally sat up in bed after a sleepless night. The few clues that Liz had-- the photo with a beheaded Alex, and the credit card receipt with the binary code-- kept Liz up all night. �What do they MEAN?� Liz scrunched up her face in frustration. She walked over to the window and looked out. She remembered the night her and Alex were watching his slide show of Sweden, reflecting on her life in Roswell. Then the thought struck her. The slides....

She picked up the phone and called the Whitman�s. She asks how they are doing, has a brief conversation, then gets to her question. �Do you still have Alex�s host family�s number?� They gave it to Liz and she hung up after a polite goodbye and thank you. She took a deep breath and called the long number. After 7 rings, a man answered the phone. �Hello? Is this Mr. Olson?� Liz asked shyly. �Yah, um who is this may I ask?� the man questioned. �My name is Liz Parker, I was a friend of the student from West Roswell you hosted a month and a half ago.�

�Ah, Charles friend.� �Charles?� Liz said out loud, then covered up her shock. Mr. Olson continued. �He didn�t show up the day he was supposed to come, but he did finally call us the next day from the airport.� Liz blinked in surprise. Alex had left on time and called to say he got there safely the same day. �Well I am calling to see if you knew anything about a girl named Leanna, that Ale--Charles, knew over there.� The man seemed to go from his friendly voice to a huff. �Leanna, ah no one trusted �er, she was mighty shady I tell ya. No one knew where she came from, she just show up aroun� th�time Charles did.� Liz absorbed this shocking information slowly. Her eyes widened as Mr Olson continued.

�Leanna and Nikoliah, her brother, were very strange, but Charles fell for Leanna and ignored our warning of her. She was mean to others when Charles wasn't around. I did not like her.� �Is she around anymore?� Liz asked hesitantly. �No, no she disappeared about three days after Charles went home.�� Liz dropped the phone from the shock, then picked it up and apologized. �Sorry about that. Thank you for all your help, Mr. Olson.� After the goodbyes, Liz hung up slowly and thought this new information through carefully. It was all so confusing and hard to digest. She had more questions then before, but was more certain finding Leanna and talking to her would answer them all. Now how will she be able to find out who Leanna really was?

* * * * * * * * * *
Max walked into his front door looking like a zombie. He felt like one too. The sight of his mother at the bottom of the stairs staring at him angrily stopped him in his tracks. �Where were you, Max?� She asked, her arms crossed in front of her robe. Worry was etched on her face. �I, uh, took a drive to think. I couldn�t sleep.� Max muttered. �No one could sleep after the loud exit you made in your Jeep at 4 in the morning!� Mrs. Evans voice rose. �Sorry about that,� Max sighed. Finally his mother calmed down and hugged Max. �You look awful Max, what happened? Are you sick?�

�No, not exactly. Just not feeling to good right now.� Max saw the understanding in his mother�s eyes. �I am gonna go to my room and lie down, 'k Mom?� �Sure sweetie. Oh, I almost forgot, Liz called a few minutes ago, said it was urgent.� �Ok thanks Mom.�� Max walked to Isabelle��s door briefly to see how she was. She was crying softly in her sleep, the sheets tangled about her. Max��s heart sank at the sight, and went in to kiss her on the forehead. Then he went into his room and closed his door. He sat on his bed and grabbed the cordless phone. After a few minutes of thinking, he decided to call Liz back. Before it could ring a second time, Liz answered.

"Max?" Liz asked anxiously, without saying hello. �Glad you called me back, I need your help wi�� She was cut off by Max, �Aren��t you gonna apologize or something first, before asking me a favor?� Max was surprised at his own cruel tone. But he was still angry for Liz blaming him. Liz didn�t say anything for a few seconds, then she stuttered, "I�� I, well, I am sorry Max, for saying it like that, but I was upset that no one would help me find Alex�s real killer.� �You still believe he was murdered? When will you snap back to reality and accept that it was an accident?� Max asked.

�No, I still don�t believe it, especially after talking to Alex�s host family a little while ago. Please just consider that something strange happened,� Liz pleaded. �If you promise not to think of it as other-worldly without any concrete evidence that it was. You shouldn��t turn to us as an excuse for the bad stuff that happened to Alex.� Max stated firmly. Liz was silent a minute, contemplating. �I promise. I��m sorry for assuming aliens were involved, Max.� Max relaxed his shoulders. �Okay, what did you find out?�

"Well lets just say that Leanna is the key to finding out the truth.� �How do you know?� �It�s too complicated to talk about over the phone. Can you come over?� Liz asked, almost shyly. �Sure, I guess. Be over in a bit.� Max replied.�Thanks Max, I really need help right now.� �No problem, Liz. Later.� �Bye Max.� Max hung up the phone and stared at the wall. ��Should I tell her about what happened this morning?�� he thought to himself. �No,� he decided, because he still didn�t understand what he saw so why say anything yet? �Liz will think I agree with her about it being an alien thing, and then what will Isabelle say? Will she think I am blaming her too? She�d die if she thought her brother was against her. I can�t let Isabelle think I blame her. It will only finish off her deeply wounded heart.�

* * * * * * * * * * *
The group fidgeted uncomfortably on their designated side of the apartment, awaiting the arrival of Max and Liz who called them all together. It was obvious that no one had gotten considerably good amounts of sleep since Alex�s death. They were all still uneasy with each other, since they took sides against one another over what happened to Alex.

The separation in the room was apparent to Liz and Max as they walked into the room. Everyone looked up at them at the same time with questions on their minds. �What��s up Max?� Tess asked suspiciously. �Why��d you call us all together?� Kyle questioned. Max looked around the room and looked back at Liz. She cleared her throat to speak. But Max put a hand on her shoulder and spoke up first.

�Some new...information has risen about Alex�s....death that may mean he....well the accident may have not been so accidental...� Max fumbled with his words, watching Isabelle�s reaction carefully so not to upset her too much. Isabelle swallowed hard, and asked, �It doesn�t involve... well us in any way does it??� Isabelle��s eyes were filling with grief, so Max reassured her quickly.

�No, no its still unclear what, but something that happened in Sweden and involving Leanna may have been the reason. Maybe he witnessed something discriminating against a powerful business, or something I don�t know yet.� Liz interrupted, �But thats why we are here together. If we work together as a team again, we can find out, and I...we can finally understand why Alex died.� Max saw everyone�s shoulders kind of relax as they saw that alien involvement wasn�t a problem between the two groups anymore.

Kyle finally took a seat by Tess. Michael stood up and sat on a bar stool next to Maria, whispering apologies to her. She only looked straight ahead at the wall, her eyes emotionless. Everyone felt the tension from Maria and Michael, and sort of waited for it to fade before talking. �Maria, I didn��t know what to do.... I had to think and be with Max. Please don�t be mad at me,� Michael tried to keep the conversation between Maria and himself in low whispers but everyone was listening carefully.

Maria�s eyes started to water but she stubbornly wiped them away. She looked Michael straight in the eyes. �I was all alone last night Michael. I didn�t want to be alone, not now, but you ignored me, left me alone at the worst time in my life.� Her lower lip trembled, as Michael looked down sadly and he whispered, �I�m so sorry Maria.� Maria sighed and hugged him tightly. She had forgiven him, after all he only left her alone for 20 hours. But she still remembered the awful night she had alone after the meeting in Alex�s room after the funeral. She thought Michael had left her for good, and a wall of separation had been firmly built between the aliens and humans. Everyone just sighed as they saw her give in to Michael�s apologies.
Then Liz continued, filling them in on her conversation with Mr. Olson. Max asked Liz not to tell the others about what happened to him that morning, until he figured out what they were. He had told her that was what made him start questioning that it was an accident, because it felt like Alex tried to swerve the car back to his lane in the Flashes. Now, all he had to do was figure out the rest. The group all looked at each other in surprise.

'What happened in Sweden???' they all wondered. They felt too that it had to have been something there that caused Alex�s death. He just wasn�t the same after he got back. They were brainstorming on what to do next, when suddenly Max grabbed his head and yelled in agony. They all gave fearful gasps, calling out to Max and asking him what was wrong. Max just clenched his jaw in pain, his face turning red and the screaming getting louder.

Everyone just watched in shock as Max crumpled to the ground, tearing at his hair, and finally after a few minutes, he stopped and panted breathlessly, face down on the floor. After the shock faded away, Liz bent down, the same time as Tess, to see how Max was. �What just happened Max?� Tess asked. All Max could do was look at them with his bloodshot eyes and shake his head weakly. He couldn�t speak yet. Then, after getting him up onto the couch, he whispered, �Haunting images,� and sighed. Liz was the only one who knew what that meant.

* * * * * * * * * *
�That girl isn�t accepting that Alex died in an accident,� a gruff voice barked. �You gotta do something to her, or else we won�t get HER back before its too late.� �I�m working on it, we�ll be ready to move in a few days,� a familiar voice grumbled. �But now you have to take care of Liz, too,� the other voice growled. �And do it fast, or we won�t get HER away from the rest, and then how are we gonna face Kavar?� The short man paced in the shadows, frustrated by the complication.

"I don�t know, if only Tess hadn�t killed the other one, then we wouldn�t be in this situation.� �If we don��t get back to Sweden by Friday, you and I are as good as dead.� The tall stranger and short guy walked deeper into the shadows outside of Michael�s apartment building, going back to the abandoned wherehouse to come up with a way to get rid of Liz, and get Valandra.

* * * * * * * * * *
The flashes became less intense, and slower during the night. Max was beginning to be able to piece some things together, and control the images so he wouldn�t holler every time it hit. Max was walking to his next class after lunch when a new throb of pain came over him. He started to panic when it became more intense. He ran out to the parking lot and sat in his Jeep, trying to get out of there before it got too bad. He made it as far as the beginning of the desert before pulling over to scream.

He let it pass, then continued deeper into the desert to the cave. His last flash made him feel the urgency to visit the grenolithe. His images so far in the past 24 hrs told him that Leanna, a tall dark man and short guy were part of the reason Alex was dead. He only had a few clues of why. A mirror was in one of his flashes. The northern lights were in another. And a star system with a planet that looked familiar was in another.

He had a deep feeling that the planet in his flash was his home planet. That only scared Max more. �Why is my planet involved with the reason Alex�s isn�t alive anymore?� The thought terrified him, as did not knowing how to tell the others about it without revealing that the reason for Alex�s car crash was now alien related. 'How could I preserve Isabelle�s fragile feelings and still help Liz solve what really happened to Alex?' He entered the cave, making it straight back to the grenolithe. Max was afraid to touch it, knowing how powerful it was, but something pulled his hand down to the base. The full force of the energy that blasted from it made Max collapse to the ground, but his hand stayed on the base.

Images whipped by him, and for some reason he knew subconsciously that these were images from the near future.He saw Isabelle and Liz in the backseat of a car, being pulled out into the desert at night and Liz being tortured to death by a girl while Isabelle was being taken to a cave. Max cried out for it to stop, trying to pull away but the grenolithe wasn��t finished yet. . He could see some beam of light take Isabelle and the other three assailants up into the waves of the Northern Lights, disappearing forever. Without warning the message was through, and a bolt of painful emotions electrified him, knocking him out cold from agony.

When he opened his eyes, he looked at his watch and it read 6:48pm. He�d been out cold for over three hours. Then he remembered what he just saw. He began to sob as he crawled out of the cave, barely staggering to his Jeep and getting in. He took in deep breaths, but that couldn�t take away the terror he felt. The two girls who he cared about most were in trouble, and he had no idea what to do.

* * * * * * * * * *
Liz felt this unbelievable pain in the pit of her stomach as she was in the doorway to her last class of the day. She bent over in agony, wailing with pain and crumbling to the floor. Everyone in the classroom and passing by in the halls stopped and stared in shock at what was happening. The mumbling in the halls and the cry of pain got Maria�s attention. When she rounded the corner she saw a group huddled around her next class��s door. When she was close enough, she saw Liz was the one on the floor crying out in pain. Both Maria and her teacher came to her side, not knowing what to do.

�What�s wrong Liz? Liz?!?� Maria hollered in fear. A nearby Teacher joined the other and Maria on the floor, and 30 seconds later Liz stopped yelling out in pain and went limp on the floor. There were gasps and people whispering. Maria watched as the second teacher to arrive picked Liz up and rushed her to the Nurses office. When he got in, and set Liz down on the examining bed, Liz sat up stiffly and sucked in a deep breath, looking around in a confused state.

�Where am I?� Liz let out in a hoarse tone. Maria let out a breath of relief, looking at Liz intently with concerned eyes. Liz was trying to tell Maria something with her look, but the teacher asked Maria to step aside, and the Nurse began asking questions. �What happened, Liz?� �You gave us a shock,� Mr. Rowlands, the teacher, replied. �I...I uh, just had a sharp pain in my stomach. Must of been something I ate, but I feel fine now.�

The Nurse and Mr Rowlands looked at each other in surprise. �But you had passed out in pain! Are you sure it isn�t your appendix maybe?� the Nurse suggested. �Should we send you to the hospital?� "No, no don�t bother, it isn�t my appendix. I have just been in a lot of.... emotional stress, and it made my stomach ache worse then usual,.... thats all, really.� Liz finally got her message sent to Maria through looks. ��Get me outta here!�� the look said. Maria caught on and offered to take her home.

�We only have one class left, but I think I should take Liz home to rest. Her parents are out of town and my mom won��t mind me leaving early with Liz.� The Nurse sighed wearily. �I guess, let me just get you some excused passes and you can go. I�ll tell your teacher why you both left.� Maria gave an appreciative smile and helped Liz out to her car after they were checked out. "What was that all about Liz?!? You scared me half to death!� Maria said exasperated, before she turned on the engine.

Liz just looked out her window, thinking it over. �I don��t know what happened to me, but I felt this surge of pain, and..... it seemed to be coming from ....Max.� Liz muttered, fear in her voice. �Is something wrong with Max?� Maria asked. �Not anymore, the pain coming from him stopped, and I passed out from the exhausting ordeal. It was unbelievable, Maria.� Liz looked at Maria with fearful eyes.

�I wonder what happened to Max...� Maria wondered out loud as they headed for Liz��s home.�I�ll call him when I get home,� Liz commented. �Isn�t Max in school still?!?� Maria said suddenly. �I don�t know.... would he be in that much pain at school? Would he be at home yet?� Liz wondered. �Liz, why don�t you just take a quick nap to settle down and call Max when you wake up. By then he�ll be at home whether he was sent home or not, seeing as school will be out soon.�

Liz shook her head, agreeing. �Alright, but I need to find out just what that was about. All I know is it had to do with me and Isabelle.� Liz added quietly, as they pulled up in front of the Crashdown. Liz was really scared for Max, but felt so wiped out she couldn�t help but take a nap first. Then she�ll find out just what happened to herself, and to Max.

* * * * * * * * * *
�Valandra is getting distracted by Liz�s suspicions, Nicholas,� the tall dark man spit out angrily. �Are you and Leanna ready yet?� �Well, we have to wait till tomorrow night to move in, because Leanna is weak from today�s spying. But don�t worry Taramund, we�ll get Liz away from everyone long enough to kill her. Then Isabelle, or should I say Valandra, will leave for San Francisco, and then we�ll get her. Everything has been worked out, nothing can go wrong,� Nicholas concluded, with an evil grin.

�Good, good. Then we can finally return home and Kavar will have the love of his life back. We�ll finally get our big reward.� Taramund gave a wicked laugh and disappeared into the bushes across the street from West Roswell High.

* * * * * * * * * *
Leanna looked into the mirror with a big grin. She liked her new powers. She waved her hand across her eyes and turned them a royal green. She giggled softly, but a few seconds later they faded back to the dull blue they originally were. �Ah, man,� she mumbled in disappointment. She couldn�t change her appearances right after using them for 24hrs straight.The powers faded and wouldn�t restore themselves for another 48hrs, which bummed Leanna out. If only she could do it whenever and however long she wanted.

Leanna attempted trying her powers again. She waved her hand down the back of her head, changing her hair from blonde to dark brown, then making it grow out another 4 inches. She smiled at her new look. But Leanna could only keep it looking that way for 5 minutes, and it changed back.

She suddenly felt drained and went to the room to collapse on the bed. Leanna wished Taramund was with her, he��d be so proud of what she found out today. Isabelle, or so she called herself, had decided to leave even with the pleading of her brother and the situation going on. Her Farewell party was going to be held at the Crashdown tomorrow night at 7pm, and EVERYBODY was gonna be there.

The perfect time to move in. Leanna giggled to herself as she drifted off to a pleasurable dream about Taramund and his mysterious planet. He had shown her everything, and she couldn��t wait to get off this stinking planet to be with him forever. Leanna mumbled a few last words before she drifted off, �Liz won�t know what hit her.�

* * * * * * * * * *
As soon as Liz woke up from her restless nap, she called the Evans. It was 3:31pm, so Max should be home from school. Mrs. Evans picked up, her tone concerned. �Max?� she asked, not replying with a hello. �No, Mrs. Evans it�s Liz. I am guessing Max isn��t there?� �No, his teacher called saying he missed his last 2 classes, then I found out no one has seen him since lunch. I suppose you don��t know where he is, since you are looking for him, too,� Mrs. Evans replied sadly.

�Nope, sorry. But when I find him, I�ll let you know. You probably don�t have to worry about him.� �Thanks Liz,� Mrs. Evans sighed. �No problem. If you see him before I call though, have him reach me on my cell phone, ok?� "Of course,� said Mrs. Evans. �Bye.� �Goodbye Liz.� Liz hung up the phone, grabbed her coat, and began to walk to Michael�s apartment. �He�d know where Max is,� she hoped.

* * * * * * * * * *
Everyone was at Michael�s house by late afternoon, all worried because Max had been missing for 5 hours. �You mean he hasn�t gotten a hold of you either?" Michael asked Liz. The last time he was seen was pulling out of the parking lot after lunch, according to a friend of Isabel�s. Since lunch, Liz hasn�t had any painful episodes, so she hoped that was a good sign that he was okay now, and maybe on his way home. Liz looked at her watch and pouted. �Maria and I have to head to work now, but as soon as he shows up, have him come to the Crashdown. I have a lot of questions to ask him.�

�We all do,� said Tess. Maria and Liz finally left, and Michael sat down on his beat up couch with a sigh. Isabel was sitting next to him, staring off into space; then she quietly breathed,�I am going tomorrow, you know.� Michael looked at her and said just as softly, �Is there anyway we can make you stay, Izzy?� Isabelle looked down and shook her head solemnly. �I can�t stay here, everything�� it�s too painful.�

�But did you even think about how it could effect us? The four of us? What if we weren�t meant to be apart?� Michael exclaimed, his voice raising slightly. �Why does everything I do have to be approved by the rest of you guys!� Isabelle yelled as she stood up. �I can�t stay here, alright? If we can��t be apart, then I guess you guys will have to come to San Francisco with me, because there is NO way I can stay in Roswell.� Isabel spit out �Roswell� with such disgust, and walked to the kitchen, holding her head in her hands and sobbing angrily.

Tess, who had been quietly watching the conversation from across the room, walked over and touched Isabel�s shoulder softly. �It�s ok, Izzy, I�ll stand by your decision, if thats what will help you move on.� Isabelle looked over at Tess and smiled thankfully. Michael just rolled his eyes and sighed.

�Yeah, me too Iz,� Michael said in agreement. He got up and gave Isabel a hug. �But what about Max?� Isabelle said hoarsely into Michael�s shoulder. �When we find him, we can talk him into standing by your decision. Its just hard for him right now. Can you blame him? You�re his sister, and its gonna be hard for him to accept you not being around like you have his whole life. Give it time,� Michael concluded, wiping the hair off of Isabel�s forehead. Isabel sighed and nodded her head, then looked at her watch. It was 5:53pm. �Where was he?�

* * * * * * * * * *
�Max? Where on earth have you been?!� Mrs. Evans asked, almost hysterical. Max gave his Mom a hug and replied, �I�m really sorry, I wasn�t feeling good so I went out to the desert to take a nap. I lost track of time, I didn�t mean to worry you.�

�You worried everyone, Max. Liz has called here at like 3pm wanting to talk to you about something important, and so has Michael and Tess. I think they headed to the Caf� to see if you�d be dropping by there.� �Ok, lemme go change and I�ll get going over there.� Max gave his Mom a peck on the cheek and ran upstairs, changing quickly and headed back out the door within a few minutes. He checked his watch. 7:18pm. Max sped out to the Crashdown, wondering what Liz has wanted to ask him 4 hours earlier.

�Is she alright? Was my visions telling me she was in trouble right then?� Max hoped Liz was okay. He went up to the front door, and swung it open quickly. As soon as he walked in he saw that Liz was okay, still in her cute waitress outfit, with the others sitting at the regular booth. ��Max!�� Liz, Maria, and Tess said at the same time. Max couldn��t help but smile at the way that sounded. Liz made it over to him first. She pulled him into the kitchen, Tess glaring at them the whole way.

�Max, where did you go this afternoon? Did something bad happen to you? Were you hurt?� the words tumbled quickly out of Liz�s mouth. �Um, I went back to the grenalithe after I started having a pulsing pain in my head. And when I got there....�Max looked down for a moment, and looked back up.

�...Well I got another vision. Of Isabelle being taken away by a tall man from my other visions. And I saw you....� Max didn�t continue. Liz looked up with worry in her eyes. �What about me?� �Well, I saw someone... kill you.� Liz gasped, and saw the deep fear in Max�s eyes. �I am afraid that its gonna happen soon, Liz.� �What time did these visions happen?�Liz asked questioningly. �Um, like at 1:30 or something. Why?� �Because at the same time, I... I think I felt the pain you did when you got the flash. I collapsed at school and was sent home. It was hard trying to convince them it was just a sharp stomach ache that made me faint with pain.�

Liz gave a half smile to Max when she saw his face turn to concern.�But I am okay now, Max. Don�t worry, we�ll figure things out and then we can finally be all safe.� Although Liz sounded brave, she was shaking on the inside. �Could Max have visions of things that are going to come true? Can it be prevented?� She hoped so. �How can I protect Isabelle if she is going to be far away?� Max said, pain mixed with his voice. �The sooner we find who is going to do these things, the sooner we can relax. Let�s go talk to the others.�

Liz pulled at Max�s arms towards the dining area again, but Max stopped her. �I�m sorry,� Max said, his eyes fixed onto the floor in shame. �Sorry? For what?� �For.... Getting involved with you�you and Maria and... Alex.� Liz saw a tear forming on the rims of Max�s eyes as the painful guilt ate at him. Liz�s lip began to tremble, as she reached over and touched Max on the shoulder. �No, Max, you don�t have to be sorry. Your not the one who killed Alex.�

�I may as well have! He never would have been killed if we hadn�t of barged into your lives!� �Max, you couldn�t have known about the enemies out there that got to Alex. It�s not your fault, it's theres. I wouldn�t be here if you hadn�t of gotten involved in our lives. I owe you my life��Max, I ought to be thanking you more for coming into my life.�Liz looked at Max straight in the eye, her love for Max surfacing once more after she�s been hiding it for so long. Max gave her a half smile of gratitude.

�Thanks, Liz...� Max seemed to slowly bend his face down towards Liz, as they stared deeply into each others eyes. Just then Tess barged in the kitchen door, looking annoyed. �Max, care to inform the rest of us where you�ve been while we sat here worrying???� Tess saw how close they were and jealousy glossed over her eyes. Then she composed herself and grabbed Max by the elbow. �Come on, I was so worried.� Tess pulled Max back out into the caf�, looking back at Liz standing frozen in place, looking back at him.

After a minute after Max had joined the others, she came out of the kitchen, after composing herself. Max was filling in the others about where he had been�� but he didn�t mention the visions to them. �....So then I woke up from my nap, and it was 6:40.� Max said, avoiding Liz�s eyes. Tess was snuggling up to Max, sighing in relief. Liz gave her a blank sideways glance.

�We were so worried, you haven�t been acting yourself lately.� �Yeah, let us know before you take off again so we won�t freak out,� Michael said, in his normal nagging voice. As they talked about what was going on, and what to do next, Tess heard a sound in the alley outside the kitchen�s back door. She excused herself, and slipped into the kitchen.

When Tess peaked out the doorway, she saw three figures just running around the corner of the building. She followed quickly, calling out �Hey, you guys!� They stopped, and turned around slowly. Tess gasped as she saw Nicholas, and a tall man standing there, with..... who Tess believe to be Leanna. She recognized her from the photographs. The tall man knocked her to the ground with a wave of his hand, at the same time weakening her powers, so she felt helpless. Tess looked down at her hands in horror. 'Who was this guy?!?'

* * * * * * * *
When she looked up from her hands, he was standing above her. �Wait! Don�t hurt me!� Tess pleaded. Taramund looked at her with a sneer. �Well, well, if it isn�t Queen Avalla..� Taramund did a mock bow, and Nicholas giggled cruelly. Leanna spoke up, �Is she from your planet too? How did she get here?�

Taramund sighed impatiently and turned around. �She came here 50 yrs ago, when they tried to preserve the royal four.� �Oh, so is she going home to Kavar with us?� Leanna asked innocently. Taramund snapped at her, �Shut up you fool!� Tess drew in a deep breath, and asked quietly, �You know a way home?� Taramund turned back to Tess. �Please, I�ll do anything, if you�d just let me come with you,� Tess pleaded. She wanted to go home so bad.

�What could you possibly offer us? We could kill you right now, and its all the same,� Nicholas smirked. �I-I��ll deliver Max to you.� Taramund laughed wickedly, and looked back at Tess. �Hmm, that�d be a nice bonus for Kavar, wouldn�t it, Nicholas?�

�Yeah, getting rid of Max for good.... ha!� Nicholas laughed in delight at the thought. �It�d be fantastic!� �Alright, but if you don�t get Max to come with us, we kill you. If he tries using his power to hurt us, Kavar will just send down more people, and kill you. And, if you don�t show up on time, you will never get a chance to come home... Alive.�

Tess swallowed nervously and shook her head. �Agreed,� she said quietly, then stood up, dusting herself off. �We meet at the bus station at 11pm tomorrow night. Be there, or else.� Taramund waved his hands back over her and she felt her powers return. But when she looked up from looking at her hands, they were gone.
Tess got up slowly, and walked back into the Caf�. �Where�d you go?� Max asked her as she sat back down. �Um, to get some fresh air.� Tess forced a smile for Max and went back to her thoughts. �We�re finally going home, Max. We�re finally going home.�

* * * * * * * *
They all tried to get through the next day at school like normal, but no one could concentrate in class. Isabel was at home packing, trying to fight the tears that kept coming to her eyes. She had a bad feeling at the pit of her stomach about leaving, especially at such a bad time. And Max still hadn't agreed to stand by her decision. In fact, he said he didn't want her to go, because he needed to be near her to protect her right now. But Isabel just thought he was trying to get her to stay because he didn't care about her feelings.

Isabel just shut Max out after last night's argument, and didn't even look at him let alone answer him when he tried talking to her this morning before school. She didn't mean to be cruel but she couldn't look at Max without breaking into tears, so she just didn't look at him.

Isabel leaned hard onto the top of the suitcase, trying to get the bulging bag to close. Then she went downstairs for lunch. After staring off to space while chewing on her sandwich, she got up and headed to the door. "Going for one last drive, Mom," Isabel called to her Mom who was in the Den. "Ok sweetie, but be back by 3pm, so we can get to your plane on time." Isabel grabbed her Mom's car keys and closed the door behind her.Somehow she found herself parking at the school and walking slowly to the table where she and Alex used to sit and eat lunch.

She got caught up in her thoughts while she stood in the empty patio that she didn't notice the school's lunch bell ring. She only snapped out of her thoughts when someone bumped into her as they went to find a table to sit at. Max was walking with Tess out to the patio for lunch when he saw Isabelle.

He walked slowly over to her, hoping she was there to finally talk. He had to get her to stay. Or else, he was afraid she'd be gone forever. When Max turned Isabel around, Max saw the tears in her eyes. "I have to go, Max. I can't stand the memories of Alex anymore. I'm sorry Max, I don't want to leave you, but I can't stay," Isabelle wailed, then turned around and ran towards the fields.

Max ran after her, catching her as she jogged under the bleachers. "Isabel," was all Max could manage to say, and then he hugged her to him. He just wanted her to stop being in so much pain. "I'm going to miss everyone, but...I can't," her voice broke as she sobbed some more. "Just stay, Isabel, and we can all work through this tragedy together. I don't think you should be alone in a new place so soon, not right away..." Max pleaded but Isabel stepped back. "You don't understand," Isabelle wailed. "I'm not staying, Max. Why don't you just tell me you will accept that?"

"Because you can't leave, Isabel, I can't protect you while your in--" "I don't NEED your protection!" shouted Isabel. "I NEED to get away! Just leave me alone if you won't be happy for me!" Isabel turned around and ran back to the car, peeling out of the parking lot as she drove away. Max looked at her leave, and tears began to fill his eyes. He grabbed his face and cried. Tess walked over from where she was standing at the edge of the field, and hugged Max. "It'll be okay, soon, Max," Tess hushed him soothingly, as she stared blankly out behind him.
"Soon."

* * * * * * * *
As Max drove to the airport after school, along with Liz in the passenger seat, and Michael following in Maria's car with her, Kyle, and Tess (who was unhappy Max didn't let her ride with him), he sighed miserably as he thought, 'Is there any hope for getting Isabelle to stay? I have a feeling we aren't supposed to ever separate from each other. I don't feel whole without Izzy.' Liz was thinking the same thing. 'After all I did to make sure Tess stuck around because they'd all die if they weren't together, and now Isabel is leaving. What's gonna happen? They'll be weak without her!' Liz had a panicked look on her face.

"Max..." she began. He looked over at her and frowned. "What's the matter? You look scared." "Max, she can't leave. The four of you HAVE to stay together. Your only hope for beating your enemies is to stick together!"Max looked at her with furrowed brows. "What? What do you mean? How do you know that?" Liz covered her mouth and looked down quickly. She couldn't tell Max how she knew. Then she'd have to explain the whole future Max thing and she couldn't. Or should she, since they were in danger of repeating the "future" any-ways.... " Max, I just know, you have to trust me," Liz looked determinedly into Max's worried eyes.

He knew she was telling the truth, but he had no idea how. "Liz, what are we going to do about my flashes? If we could just find Leanna, maybe we can prevent Isabelle from getting hurt, and you...." Max took in a deep breath and sagged his shoulders. "Oh Liz, I dunno what to do anymore." Liz could see how troubled he was by everything that was going on. Max wanted to always protect everyone, but when he couldn't, he fell apart.

Liz didn't know how to comfort him, so they drove the rest of the way in silence. When they got there, and were walking toward the airport doors, Tess caught up to Max. "Hey Max, I gotta tell you about my dreams I've been having..." Tess exclaimed, a little out of breath from trying to catch up to him and Liz. She gave Liz a look then continued while they quickly walked to where Isabelle was waiting for her plane. "I think I know a way to keep Isabel from going to San Francisco."

* * * * * * * * * *
To their luck, they talked Isabelle into at least delaying her flight until the next morning at 6am, but Max hadn��t told her everything Tess had informed him of at the airport. He had only mentioned she had to stay because they were figuring out a real way �home�. Now they were all back at Michael��s apartment, all on the edge of their seats.

�So you�re saying you found a way home? Are you sure or is this a plot to keep me home longer?� Isabelle asked, annoyance and fear mixed in her words. She never thought about the chance that she may be able to go home. �Tess had this vivid dream,� Max began, looking over to Tess speculatively. �It was like I was soaring through the air like a plane over the desert, over our cave, and it kept going. It was showing me the way to the place we need to go where a ship is held.

All of a sudden it zoomed my vision down into this cave, which is in the desert outside of Santa Fe,� Tess began, becoming more animated by the second. �Inside there were four dug-out terminal pods, and a keyhole to stick the healing stones in. They work as the key to transporting us as well as they do heal!� Tess squealed with excitement, while everyone else sat back in silent wonder. So they know how to get home? �So now that we know a way home...� Michael began to say slowly, �we can sort of decide when we want to leave?�

"No!" Tess jumped up, then calmed herself down, "I mean, there is only one chance to go every 20 years, and that is when the Northern Lights and a solar Eclipse happen upon the same day, which is tomorrow.""Whoa," Maria said in shock, to break the silence after hearing the news. Everyone sat around looking at each other, unable to think of anything to say. Liz spoke up timidly. "Max...." Max looked over at her and said, "I rather wait 20 more years then to just pick up and leave tomorrow. I... won't be able to leave by then." Max locked his eyes on Liz��s while saying this, seeing her tense face relax a little, but then look down.

"But Max, if this is your way home, and your home planet is in trouble, it needs you now, it can't wait another 20 years...." Her words got quieter as she spoke, unable to make eye contact with Max again. Tess had a smile begin to finally spread on her face. ��She��s more of a help after all��. Tess came up besides Max and rested her hands on his shoulders. "Max, they��ve already waited 50 years for us, if we don��t go soon, there might not BE a planet to go back to." Michael and Isabelle stood up.

"Max, we can��t go, we��re not even ready to fight yet. What are we gonna do, just beam up there without knowing what we��re going up against? Forget it, I��m not going."Maria looked at him carefully, and Michael strode up to her, locking her in a warm embrace. "I can��t leave this life behind after all, Maxwell," Michael concluded. Isabelle stood up, tears in her eyes as she said, "I can��t go back there, not after what I did in my past life, I��m not ready to face it yet. Max, I can��t go either, not now. I need to live my life. I��m going to San Francisco, not to our 'planet��."

Isabelle got up and left the apartment, slamming the door behind her. Tess was tense and didn��t know what to say. She looked pleadingly at Max, who sat there with an unreadable sorrow in his eyes. ��What do I do?�� was all Max could think. "Max, please, your planet needs YOU back at least, so Kavar won��t be hurting your people anymore. I��m sure there is a way back after you get rid of Kavar. You and me together, we can go back home and help your people, Max. YOUR people. I know you're ready, just believe in yourself. Believe in me."

Tess let her words sink in and left the apartment too, hoping her words would strike home, otherwise it was plan B. Maria and Michael went into Michael��s room and shut the door, leaving Max and Liz alone to soak it all in. Liz never looked up from her spot on the carpet, too painful to look at Max and tell him what he needed to do. Because the last thing she wanted was Max to leave her, probably forever. "Max..." Liz said shakily, "you know better then anyone how much I hate saying this, but maybe Tess..... is right."

Max looked up at Liz, who was still looking at the ground, tears crawling out of his eyes. "I can��t NOT save my people, but...." Max wiped away his tears harshly, "I don��t think I am ready to go yet, Liz. I don��t know what to do, and I can��t go without my sister and best friend, it��d ..." Max couldn��t finish his sentence, he just grabbed his face in frustration and let out a shutter of sobs.

"What do I do, Liz? How do I save my people and not leave you? All of you?"Liz finally looked up, and Max and her stared deeply into each others eyes. They say eyes are the window to your soul, and Liz saw Max��s soul consum-ed with sorrow and yearning to stay with her. Her eyes were probably the same about him, but Liz wasn��t sure what was the right thing to do. "I guess you��ll have to think it over, Max.... but I��ll always be here for you, whatever you decide."

Max exhaled a breath he had been holding without knowing and gathered Liz into his arms. For the first time in a long time, he kissed Liz deeply, wanting to memorize this feeling just in case he would never get the chance to hold her again.With his dangerous existence, he never knew when he��d lose someone or be killed himself. Now this realization made him appreciate Liz even more. They spent the rest of the night in each others arms, cradling each other to sleep on Michael��s couch.

* * * * * * * * * *
"Looks like we��re going to have to go with plan B and force Max to come with us, aren��t we, Queen Avalla," Taramund snickered as Tess looked down at her shoes at his response. "When do we start," Tess said quietly.

"It��s already begun, my dear," Taramund said in his hoarse tone, and walked briskly down the sidewalk from the bus terminals. "As we speak, Nicholas and Leanna are attaining Valandra, or as you know her, Isabel."Taramund smiled an evil grin. "All we need you to do is....."

* * * * * * * * * *

Max woke up at 4am, looking down at Liz in his arms, and smiling briefly. �I should get home before Mom gets up to take Isabel to the airport again,� Max thought wearily, and gently unwrapped his arms from around Liz to sit himself up. But he woke Liz in the process.

"Mmmm.... good morning Max," Liz mumbled sleepily, making Max grin again.
�She�s so cute when she�s just waking up.� Immediately after the thought he frowned sadly, but tried to answer casually, "Morning Liz. I gotta get going,"Liz sat up and scooted over as Max stood up and stretched his arms above his head. Liz looked at the clock on Michael�s microwave.

"Oh my God, my Mom is gonna freak! Max, can you give me a ride home?" Max took Liz�s hand and helped her stand up. "Sure, Liz," he replied, gazing thoughtfully at her face. "What?" Liz asked, narrowing her eyes and smiling shyly. "Oh, nothing," Max replied, almost in a sad tone, and they walked down to the Jeep.

Max pulled up behind the Crashdown 8 minutes later and Liz turned to Max. "Hey, can you come pick me up in an hour? You know, so I can go to the airport with you guys to say goodbye to Isabel, ...again."Liz tried to smile, but sighed and her smile disappeared. It hurt her to see Max so tortured by all of what��s happening to him; saying goodbye not just to Isabelle now, but probably...... to everyone.'If he decided to go, that is.... ' Liz thought to herself, then cursed herself for being so selfish. 'His planet needs him more then you do', Liz scorned herself as she got out. "Okay no problem," Max said, breaking her thoughts.

"Hmm?" Liz said, forgetting what he was responding to. After Max gave her a perplexed look, she remembered. "Oh yeah, thanks, Max. Just come tap on my window so my parents won�t wake up." Liz gave him a smile and bent into his window, giving him a soft but long kiss on his lips. She broke away and climbed up to her balcony, sliding into her room.

Max�s lips still tingled from Liz�s as he drove off to his house. When he got there, he saw a dark figure at the side window of his house. �That�s Isabel�s window,� Max realized as he began to panic. Was his visions from the Grenolithe real? Was she being kidnapped? Max parked his car right where it was and raced out to the figure who it was. They were quickly going around the corner to the back of the house with another figure in their arms.

He looked into Isabel�s bedroom window and saw her bedroom with things thrown every which way. That�s when Max knew something was wrong. He didn�t waste another second looking in the room, turning around the corner to see the figure barely making it around the next corner of the house. Max picked up speed and saw just in time for the figure to throw the person from his arms, who he knew was Isabel, into a back seat and dive in himself. The car sped away, and he saw a face poke its head out the passenger side window, a grin on his face. Max gasped and choked in a sob as he continued running after the car......... It was Nicholas.

Max finally gave up when his heart felt like it was going to burst and his lungs burned. He could only watch the car speed around a corner and disappear. �It�s not too late,� Max reminded himself, and raced back to his car, speeding after the direction which Nicholas and his car was going. 'Now who were the driver and dark figure he saw in the car too?' Max couldn�t catch up or find where the car went, and turned sharply towards the Crashdown. Maybe Liz knew, she must have saw some visions after she got those pains from him when he was receiving them. She�d know where to start looking. Liz was his only hope to getting his sister back.

* * * * * * * * * *
"Get your hands off me!" Liz screamed before some tape was slapped over her mouth. The stranger just smiled down at her and swung her over his shoulder, scaling down the ladder to a waiting car. When she was pushed in the back seat, she saw an unconscious Isabelle, some sort of metal alien device on her forehead. Liz�s eyes grew wide in horror.
'These were aliens that were kidnapping her, and if they could disable Isabelle then..... what was going to happen to her?' She finally looked forward at the driver seat. Liz gasped in shock, as she recognized Leanna, from the photos. Leanna was smiling with delight at Liz, then got out of the car. Liz watched as she moved her hand slowly across her face, changing it to look just like ...HER.

Then she worked her hand slowly down her body, changing its tall stature to Liz�s thin, slightly shorter size. Liz saw HERSELF giggle and climb back up into her room. The stranger was behind the car, changing its appearance and license plate before getting into the car and starting the engine. "Hello, Liz. We��re gonna have a nice ride together," the stranger said with a cruel low voice, seeping Liz��s heart with fear.

�Max!� she cried out with her brain, but she was afraid there was nothing she could do. Max would come back for her in 45 minutes, where the imposter would keep him from suspecting anything. �By then,� thought Liz, �It might be too late anyways...�
* * * * * * * *
Max screached to a hault at the edge of the alley and ran to Liz's ladder leading to her balcony. "Liz! Liz come quick! Isabelle was just taken, and I nee --" Max rambled as he raced up the ladder and swung his body over onto the balcony, but Liz interrupted him quickly."Whoa Max, slow down! Whats wrong? What happened to Isabel?"

"She was taken! By Nicholas! I don't know where they are going, but since I predicted she would be kidnapped, and you saw my flashes too because of our connection I just thou--" "Max, take a breath. Explain on the way okay? I'll help if I can. Let's go," Liz said in a calm voice. Max panted as the worry started to fade from his brow. 'I knew Liz would help, she always was the calm and rational thinker.' "Do you remember anything from the flashes the other day, like any images? Or was it just, you know, feelings you felt? " Max rushed the questions as they made their way quickly down the ladder and into his Jeep.

"All I felt was feelings of fear, sorry." Liz said as she stared at Max with a somewhat blank expression. Max just stared and was silent for a second. He couldn't believe how calm she was. "Although..." Liz said suddenly with some enthusiasm. "Is something coming back to you?" Max asked eagerly as he squealed around a turn towards the vicinity of where he saw the car turn that held a captured Isabel last.

"I remember a highway sign,the 285 South, near the border I believe," Liz said with positivity. "I'm sure of it." Max sighed with some relief and sped toward the highway. "Thank you so much Liz. I hope we find her before its too late." "Me too," Liz said with an eerie smile. She stared intensely at Max, until he finally looked back. "What?" Max said with a nervous laugh. "Just wondering what it was like to kiss you," she said, then fumbled, "I mean since its been longer then I can stand not being in your embrace. A little reminder wouldn't hurt." Max smiled at Liz as she brang her face to his.

"I'm uh, kinda driving now, but what the hey," he gave one last glance at the road then looked at Liz right before she leaned in. Then during the kiss Max got these painful jerks, and cloudy images, nothing he usually got from Liz. He pulled away in bewilderment. When he glanced back at Liz, there was a flinch in her shoulder, and the left side of her face sort of change shape right in front of his eyes, but only for a second.

Then she grabbed her face and turned away in horror. "What in the--" Max stuttered. "L-Liz?" ' Liz ' began to twitch and curse under her breath as she tried to keep hold of the form she was in. "DARN!" ' Liz ' replied as she lost all grip of the form of Liz and turned back to Leanna. Max gasped in shock and suddenly squealed on his breaks, fighting for control of the car.

They jolted to a halt at the side of the desert road, kicking up dust all around the vehicle. Leanna tried to go out the passenger door but Max used his powers to keep her locked in and buckled up tight. She tried to act casual. "Well I guess my masquerade's over." Max just grabbed her shoulder's tightly and yelled, "Where is Liz?? What'd you do with her?" Leanna just smiled at Max in a mock sweet manner. "Well I would be lying if I told you she was in safe company." Max just screamed in frustration.

"TELL ME where Liz is or I swear to God.....!" Max was losing control, and the Jeep was shaking from his anger. Then a power he was never capable awoke from the emotional strain. As Max closed his eyes, his grip on Leanna's shoulders tightened and she screamed out in pain. Max's new strength suddenly made him able to tear the answers he wanted from Leanna's mind, in turn damaging Leanna physically. She cried out in pain. "STOP! Your hurting me! AAAUGH!!!"

The shrill from Leanna made Max snap out of it and everything went quiet. Leanna lay limp on the passenger seat, bruises becoming visible all over her forehead and shoulders. Max gasped out in shock. He'd never hurt anyone with his powers before. Then again he never had THESE powers before. He felt a part of him awakening that was dangerous, which truly scared him.

"I'm sorry," Max whispered as he made a U-turn and headed North on the 285. He knew where Liz was, but Leanna had lead him in the wrong direction. And he knew now that Isabel was in the same place as Liz was. Outside of Santa Fe.He had to race against time to save them both.He only prayed he would get there before it was too late.

* * * * * * * * *
Leanna's eyes fluttered open while Max sped down the dark highway towards Santa Fe, looking around to see where she was. "Your not an alien, are you?" Max asked calmly as reality began to sink in for Leanna, who cowarded away from Max.

She rubbed her shoulders and neck tenderly, looking at Max with bitter distaste. She shook her head no, then straightened her back in defiance. "Nothing can happen to me with Taramund protecting me and giving me some powers. You'll never get her out alive, you know." Max tightened his grip on the steering wheel in anger but calmed himself down. "Believe what you want." Leanna and Max sat in angry silence until Leanna asked timidly, "What are you gonna do with me?"

"I just thought you'd like to come along for the ride. But I guess I could use you for my benefit, unless you'd rather be tied up and dumped in the middle of the desert. Whichever." Leanna huffed and looked out the window the rest of the way to the warehouse Max saw in his vision. �Why did you drag Alex into this?� Max asked suddenly in the quietness of the car. Leanna gave him a sideways glance, and shrugged. �Taramund said the only way to figure out how to get home is to make him help us translate some book. Then Taramund got rid of him when he decided he was no longer needed.� Max felt crushed by the revelation. So they were responsible indirectly for his death. It was confirmed.

In a way Max wished he hadn�t asked or ever found out, it would have been easier for him. Max sighed heavily and pressed the gas pedal the rest of the way to the floor board. As he got closer to the place, he could feel Liz calling out to him in her mind, telling him to hurry. 'I'm almost there, Liz. I'm almost there.'

* * * * * * *
Michael paced the whole length of his livingroom floor impatiently as he waited for Max and Liz to answer either of their phones. "Where are they?" Michael wondered out loud, a deep feeling of urgency prompting him to find the two of them. Maria just sat on the couch searching through her purse for some cidar oil. She hadn't needed to be calmed down this bad in a while. She too could feel that something was wrong, but they didn't know what to make of it.

* * * * * * * *
Tess checked Isabel's pulse and sighed. Still strong. Taramund whipped Tess around by the shoulder, scolding her. "Stay away from her!" "But I was just--" "Shut up!" Taramund glared harshly at Tess until she looked away in fright. "Go escort Liz to the backroom until I get around to her!" Taramund demanded Tess, as he unloaded Isabel from the backseat. When Tess opened Liz's side door, Liz's eyes widened in shock, then her eyebrows furrowed in anger. 'I should have known Tess was involved,' Liz thought bitterly.As Tess quietly led Liz to a corner office, Tess whispered, "Sorry it had to be this way, I only wish you had minded your own business about Alex."

Liz mumbled an angry insult to Tess that came out incoherent because of the tape over her mouth. Tess smiled slightly to herself. 'At least she'll be out of me and Max's way forever, finally.' Now no one stood in the way of what she wanted.

**************
Max screeched to a hault at the Exit 113 sign and park off to the side of it. "Why are we parked so far fr--" Leanna complained until Max grabbed the back of her neck and disabled her ability to speak. "That'll keep you quiet," Max mumbled as he grabbed her wrist and dragged her along while he sprinted. She barely could keep up, she stumbled trying to get her legs to move that fast.

But within a minute they were at the warehouse and staring into the window. Liz was being tied to a chair by.... Max gasped. Tess?! Through the corner of the window where the glass was broken off the rest of the glass panel, Max could hear Tess whisper to Liz, "Why couldn't you just mind your own business about Alex." Max couldn't believe it. Tess.... had been involved in Alex's death as well as Liz and Isabel's disappearance?

Tess spun around when she heard Max's gasp and an expression of horror crossed her face. She hurried out to a back door and made her way to Max, who was telling her to stay where she was with his energy field out inbetween them. "Max? Max, let me explain, I--" "I don't want to hear your lies anymore Tess. How could you? And to think I was considering you to be a friend of all of us."

Tess began to get frustrated tears in her eyes. "But Max, wait! I was only helping them for our sakes! I did it for you!" "How is hurting Liz and Isabel helping?! And what do you know about Alex's death? I can't believe y--" "Max, if you'd just let me touch you I could give you all the details, but I don't have much time." "I'd never let you touch me, ever again Tess." Max said coldly.

Tess let out a choked sob. "Max please, I'll do anything, just let me get a chance to explain..." "If you help me get Liz and Isabel out of here safely, I'll give you that chance." Tess hesitated and looked back through the window at a wide eyed Liz who wanted Max to just come in right now and untie her.

Max saw the urgency of Liz's expression and forgot all about Tess and Leanna being there. He was about to just take off into the building and get her, but Tess stopped him with her hand. At that contact, Tess relayed all the details she knew and the purpose of her supposed betrayal. All this information was transferred to him within a split second.

Max then asked Tess through their minds to do something about saving liz and Isabel, and Tess took a few seconds to relay a plan.Leanna took advantage of the opportunity and began to sprint around the building corner to the large door, Max on her heel. But Max screeched to a hault and whipped his back against the corner of the building when he saw Nicholas and Taramund open the door.

He returned to Tess and pleaded with her to not let him get caught saving Liz. With a few intense pleading stares, Tess finally shook her head and replied in a whisper. "You can count on me, Max. I won't let you down. Promise." Max smiled a brief smile of relief, and followed Tess to the back door she came out of.

He waited exactly 3 minutes, took a deep breath, and pulled open the door quickly, sprinting to the office Liz was tied up in and grabbing her, taking her to the bushes , then sprinting back in the building.

(Meanwhile, 3 minutes earlier when Tess had re-entered the door...)

Tess made her way to where Taramund was walking with Leanna, who had her voice back. "So then he touched me and started ripping the information from my mind. It hurt so bad. But that's not all, once we got here, he took my voice, and Te--" Tess came up behind Leanna and touched her neck, using her mind to erase Leanna's memories of the past 2 hours. In an instant, it was done and Tess let go. He was about to open his mouth to ask Leanna what happened next, when Tess scuffled in front of them both and interrupted.
"Taramund, we have a problem. Max and Michael are outside! They found us!" "What?! I'll take care of them once and for all." Taramund began to walk out the side door, but turned around and said, "Tess, why don't you have the honor of getting rid of our Liz situation, hm? And have it done by the time I get back."

"It'd be an honor, Taramund. Thank you," Tess replied pleasantly, then entered the office. When Taramund stepped outside and looked around, he heard Liz scream and looked in the window, a smile playing on his face. He made his way to the front of the building where he saw Michael and Max fighting Nicholas, and sent the two flying across the desert air, landing in a pile of tumbleweeds.

He finished them off as he grabbed each of their shoulders, and sent a wave of power ripping their bodies apart in the inside. They screamed for a split second before going silent and limp. Satisfied, Taramund looked up at the sky, seeing the sun begin to rise. "Perfect timing," Taramund replied, and let out an evil laugh. But in his mind he had this throbbing ache, and a feeling that was unsettling. "That seemed a little too easy..." Taramund shook his head roughly and shrugged away the doubt.He turned around and headed back inside to grab Isabel. He swung her over his shoulder, her limp body swinging dully as he walked out to the car and put her in the backseat.

"Tess! Nicholas! Leanna! We gotta go, its time. Get in the car!" Nicholas came up and asked, "What about Liz?" "Tess took care of her, I saw Liz collapse with my own eyes." Taramund had a cruel grin glued to his face as he got in the car.Tess came and slid into the backseat, holding her head in pain. "What wrong with you?" Nicholas asked cruelly. Tess just glared at him, stone faced as they sped off for the airport. Max watched the car go and panicked. 'Isabel!'

* * * * * * * * *
Max tried his best to keep up without being detected by Taramund as they entered downtown Santa Fe a while later. It was about 7:50 am, and the earliest flight out going to Stockholm, Sweden was 9 am. Taramund entered the employee parking lot at the Santa Fe International Airport a few minutes later, parking near the back of the large lot. "Stay in the car, Liz. If it gets to be too dangerous, I want you to get out of here, even if it's without me," Max instructed in a whisper.

" I'm not leaving without you, Max," Liz responded in a matter-of-fact tone. Max sighed. Max opened the door of the car, after parking it on the other side of the lot, and began to jog as quietly as possible over to where Isabel and the evil aliens   were.Taramund had her over his shoulder and was walking quickly through an opening of a fence to where the airplanes were kept. 'Think Max, think,' he ordered himself, trying to figure out what to do. He was up against Nicholas and Taramund, a powerful alien he'd never dealt with before. He had no idea what powers Taramund had, making it dangerous for Max to go against him at all.

But he wasn't going to just stand there and watch them take Isabel. Max creeped up to the fence and through the open crack, disappearing from Liz's sight totally. 'I can't just sit here and watch Max go up against those powerful aliens alone!' Liz thought desperately, trying to figure out a way to help.Max got as close as he thought possible without giving himself away and stopped, working out a plan in his head. But he began to panic when he saw they were ready to board the plane from the rear. He closed his eyes and said a little prayer, then opened them and shot out his powers at Nicholas' back, knocking him out cold.

********
Tess was holding her head, trying to get rid of her dull headache when she saw Nicholas fly to the ground, unconscious.Instantly she realized what was happening and whipped around in time to see Taramund dropping Isabel roughly to the ground. Before Tess could think of reacting, Taramund threw out a surge of energy at Max, barreling at him in amazing speed.

Miraculously, Max had been prepared enough to put up his energy field that protected him from the blast, but the force of it had threw him to the ground and the energy field dissipitated.Tess saw the flash of fear in Max's eye, and began to panic. 'I can't let Taramund kill Max!' Tess heard the thought scream a warning in her head to do something. She closed her eyes and concentrated on bringing up as much of her powers as possible, straining against the pain and pressure.

Meanwhile Max had conjured up as much energy to fight back with a blast of power that was easily deflected by Taramund, causing a luggage caravan to explode and bounce high into the air. Coincidentally, it landed right on top of Nicholas, making Taramund dive to the ground from the close impact."Isabel!" Max screamed as he saw her begin to wake up. Max was shaking as he realized how close Isabel had been to where the car came crashing down. Taramund looked up, his eyes glowing with hatred. "Enough!" he screamed, bolting up into a standing position in amazing speed.

Taramund closed his eyes, seemingly asleep standing up, but in actuality he was applying a heavy ammount of pressure on Max's lungs, causing him to gasp and grab at his shirt. Max felt as if the life was being squeezed out of him. His eyes began to bulge, but he closed them tightly, trying to fight it.

Suddenly the pressure ceased and Max breathed heavily, opening his eyes to see that Isabel had knocked him down with her own powers. Then she ran to Max's side and they hugged each other tightly. But their reunion was short because Taramund recovered quickly, his anger was so obvious that Max and Isabel could feel the heat from fifty feet away as Taramunds blood began to boil.Tess was still standing nearby, eyes closed in this deep trance.

Max put up another energy field around himself and Isabel quickly as he saw a large bolt of energy escape from Taramunds hand. Max's energy field absorbed the shock but the force once again made both of them go flailing backwards, slamming into the chainlink fence.

Liz saw this from where she was waiting and shreaked, "Max! Isabel!" Then, as suddenly as all this started, everything stopped. As Liz was running towards Isabel and Max, there was a blinding eruption of power that sent Liz flying back in the opposite direction she was running. She hit the pavement hard, causing the wind to get knocked out of her. She quickly covered her face with her arms to shield from the heat and light of the power. As soon as it began, though, the light was vaccuumed down to its source and was gone. Everything seemed eerily still.

Meanwhile, Max and Isabel slowly opened their eyes, first surveying the spot where Taramund had been. After seeing he was laying deathly still in a strange position on the ground, they turned immediately to each other, trying to see if the other was hurt in any way. "Are you okay?" they both said at the same time, and let out a laugh filled with relief. They helped each other up, both groaning at the soreness in their bodies from the past 12 hours, and the battle.

Then Max's face went serious and he turned to his right, where Tess had been, and still was. Only she was on the pavement, her face pale-blue and her eyes staring blankly up at the sky. "Tess?" Max whispered as he jogged over to her side and knelt down. Then everything that had just happened in that split second came together. Tess had saved their lives, and sacrificed her own to stop Taramund. Max let a tear drop from his watering eyes as a feeling of guilt and sadness swept over him briefly.

"I can't believe I was so quick to judge Tess as one of the bad guys," Max replied quietly, more to himself then to anyone. He scooped her up from the ground and began to walk her back towards the parking lot behind the chainlink fence. "Max, look!" Isabel called out and Max turned around. He saw the arm that belonged to Nicholas, which was sticking out from under the burning vehicle, crumble into ashes and be blown away into the breeze that had suddenly picked up.

The same thing happened to Taramund's body, as Max and Isabel watched in slight wonderment. Then they could hear the sirens of Airport security in the distance and realized where they were. "Good thing most of the evidence has blown away," Isabel commented, but looked at the burnig pile of twisted metal and suitcases. "Max, wha-" isabel began, but Max was already on it.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he began to moove his hand slowly across the length of the car from where he was standing. The car began to melt and bubble as it seeped down into the pavement, dissappearing from sight. Max opened his eyes and replaced the hand back under Tess' body for more support. "Let's go," Max said in a monotone voice, and they left the scene of their alien confrontation.

********************

Liz was standing by the car she had fell by, frozen in place as she watched Max pick Tess up from the ground and make the burning object disappear into the ground. Then she snapped out of it as Max called to her. "Go start the car!" Max said and she immediately turned around, jogging to the Jeep. Liz hopped into the driver's seat and started the ignition, while Isabel came up to the passenger door and opened it, letting Max move into the backseat and sitting in the front after closing the Jeep door. "Hurry, let's get out of here before security arrives."

"You think they saw anything?" Liz asked as they peeled out of the employee parking lot and down the airport road. "I bet they saw the smoke and flames from the car, at least," Isabel replied, and then touched her head gingerly, flinching from the pain. "You gonna be okay, Izzy?" Max asked, the worry wrinkled still etched in his forehead from the long, stressful night. "Yeah, just gonna have a major headache for a while."

They all went silent and listened to the road whipping under the car at 60mph, as they reach the highway and began the trip back to Roswell. Liz broke the silence when her curiosity got the better of her. "What happened... you know, to Tess?
Is she...."
"She had pushed all of her strength and power into killing Taramund when he was about to finish me and Max off," Isabel replied in a quiet tone. "That's what the blinding light was, I suppose." Max looked down at Tess in his arms and took in a breath as he realized her eyelids were still open. He shut them reverently and shuddered.

"I couldn't let her lie there ..... to tell you the truth, I don't even know if she will crumble into dust like the others had because.... well, she was part human." "And the others weren't..." Isabel finished, all of them contemplating the fact. Liz looked into the rearview mirror, meeting Max's gaze and communicating with her eyes how sorry she was about Tess. Max gave her an appreciative smile, adoring her even more for being as wonderful about the whole situation as she has been.

They ended up going to the caves before getting home, making a little grave for Tess right outside the cave enterance in a clearing where the rocks were less abundant. Max closed his eyes and said a little thank you to Tess, then they all held onto each other and finally headed the rest of the way home.

****************
"What?" Michael gasped, pounding his fist on the countertop at the Crashdown Cafe that afternoon. The three had told Maria and Michael what had happened that night, and they weren't very happy. "I can't believe you guys didn't tell us about it! We are suppose to work together!"

Maria lectured for a minute about the dynamics of their group, until Michael finally interrupted, "I'm just pissed that I got left out of some actual alien combat! It's not fair, Maxwell!" Max, Isabel, and Liz just looked at each other warily, shaking their heads with a bit of a smile playing on their lips. "Look, you guys," Max replied, "all that matters is we know now what happened to Alex, and that Liz and Isabel are back here safe and sound."

Max sighed and looked at his hands folded in his lap, his shoulders drooping slightly. Maria touched his shoulder comfortingly. "Hey Max, we'll always remember what Tess did for you guys. Try not to feel any of those guilty feelings you're popular for! She's a hero." They all nodded their heads and Max smiled, and Liz tried to lighten the mood. "Who wants some shakes! On the house!" They all agreed, and Liz went with Maria into the kitchen. The weight of the truth about Alex's death lifted off everyone's shoulders once and for all.

                                                         The End.