Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, but to the writers and
producers of Roswell
Spoilers: After Chant Down Babylon, changes happening where Max is
successfully rescued,
and Michael was the one who broke up
with Maria.
***
Convictions are more dangerous enemies
of truth than lies.
-
Friedrich Nietzcshe
***
She had been preparing and preparing, waiting for that day when they would make contact. Of course it didn’t hurt to speed things up just a tad. She had to, apparently the Royal Four, who had messed things up the first time around, intended to do it again.
She peered up at the white mansion. First contact. The woman lifted up the circular medal that rested against her
throat and touched it to her sun-chapped lips.
The plan must work. Please
let it work.
She took a deep breath and ambled up the long stone walkway
to the overwhelmingly large double doors.
Lifting her hand across to her right, she pressed the silver translucent
dome that was set against the white exterior wall of the house. The smooth dome gave way slightly and the
woman could hear the airy chime echo throughout the house.
The double doors opened and a tall skeleton-like frame stood
before her. He was an older man,
dressed in black and white uniform.
“How may I help you?”
~~~
Tess had been through the first page of the long list of
names Khivar had compiled. The nurses seemed
quite nice on the surface, but something inside of her just told her to
wait. Someone was coming.
Khivar had arrived early that morning, just a bit after Tess
had been driven to the house. He
delivered the list of names, which was about 4 pages long. “The more qualified and experienced nurses
are listed on the top. They are coming
for the interviews in that specific order,” he had explained. “I’ve set it all up for you. You don’t have to worry your pretty little
head about anything. All you need to do
is to choose one.”
Tess didn’t know what to say. She knew that many of the people he had put on the list were
bound to be on his payroll. And as the
interviews rolled along, Tess was growing all the more weary that if she did
not chose one, she would have to resort to allowing Khivar choose the
nurse.
“Your Highness, Ava, another interviewee has arrived,
although,” her butler interrupted her thoughts. “She doesn’t seem quite prepared. Should I send her away?”
Tess furrowed her brow in thought. Khivar’s list of nurses had all come immaculately dressed and
groomed. She looked up at the stiff,
almost corpse-like figure, standing before her, awaiting her command. Tess shook her head. “No.
Send her in.”
Unexpectedly, she felt her stomach flip-flop as she waited
for the next interviewee. “Why should
you get excited?” she chided herself.
“It’s probably just another one of Khivar’s traps.”
Tess’s head jerked upwards when she heard the butler leading
the woman into the living room. She
stood up to greet her. Tess held out
her hand to the woman as she stood evaluating the possibilities that she was a
spy. Unconsciously, Tess squinted her
eyes as she studied the nurse.
She was an older woman; older than forgotten faces of past nurses. There was something familiar about her though. It was almost as if Tess recognized her for a moment in time. She motioned for the woman to sit down on the couch behind her. Tess tucked her skirt neatly behind her as she sat down across from the woman in a comfortable plush leather chair.
“My name is Ava,” Tess announced slowly. She always had to remember to address
herself as Ava. It was a slip
she couldn’t afford. “And this is a
picture of my son Zander whom you will be taking care of.” Tess slid a picture of her precious son
across the white coffee table.
The older woman blinked slowly, as she seemed to take the
image of Tess’s son to be the most precious thing in the world. Her mouth opened slightly and she gasped for
breath, her hand resting against her chest.
She swallowed slightly and then pressed the hand that had been against
her chest to her mouth. “I never
thought,” she seemed to whisper to herself.
Tess frowned. It was
an odd reaction to the picture of her son.
“Is there something wrong?”
The woman seemed startled out of her reverie. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye
and shook her head. “No,” she croaked
softly. Taking a deep breath she
smiled. “I’m sorry, I just…well, he
reminds me of someone dear to me.”
Tess softened and nodded her head. She looked down at the paper in her hand. “You are,” Tess scanned down the list of
names to her last interviewee, “Ms. Shrefi?” said Tess finally.
The older woman shook her head. “No I am not Ms. Shrefi.
Just Maia,” she explained.
“Okay, so you’d rather just be called Maia, instead of Ms.
Shrefi?” Tess clarified.
“No, no. I am not
Ms. Shrefi. I am Maia. Just Maia.”
Tess ran down the names on the list. The interviewees had come in on time, in the
order of the list like clockwork. She
didn’t quite understand. “So where are
you on this list?” asked Tess, showing her the papers.
Maia smiled softly.
“I am not on the list.”
She didn’t know what to make of the situation. Tess didn’t know how she could have heard
about the interviews. She suspected
Khivar had lined up a contingent of his staff and army to deluge her in
lies. Tess sat there for a moment,
studying the woman. Her face was filled
with laugh lines and her dark brown eyes were filled with some sort of
knowing. Her hair was pinned up in a
bun with dark tendrils framing her face.
“Have you been a nurse before?” Tess asked curiously.
“I’ve raised four children in my lifetime,” Maia
whispered. “And I know that they are
fine men and women. They have always
done me proud, no matter what others think of them.”
There seemed to a lament in her voice, a heavy sadness about
her. Tess didn’t know what to think of
the woman. She thought that she might
be able to trust her more because she hadn’t been on the list, but Tess felt
some hesitation in hiring this strange woman.
Tess shook her head slightly, smiled and stood up. She bridged the gap between herself and
Maia, who had followed suit and stood up.
Tess reached out her hand and grasped the woman’s frail hand, which had
been stretched out to meet hers. As she
was about to thank her for coming, Tess felt a sudden weakness overcome her.
The older woman smiled graciously and helped Tess onto the
couch, Maia’s petite stature and frail appearance seemingly masked a hidden
strength. “Thank you,” Tess whispered
as she held her forehead. “I don’t know
what came over me.”
Maia sat down beside Tess, gently stroking her hair. “You have to eat my child,” the older woman
chided, clucking her tongue as she squeezed Tess’s narrow arms. “You need to keep up your strength.” Her gaze locked with Tess’s, seemingly
trying to convey some sort of message.
Tess felt herself drawn into the dark pools and felt like
she was falling helplessly into darkness. Maia grasped her shoulders and shook her gently. “Time is precious my girl. And so is that boy of yours. I will take good care of him,” she stated,
her voice dropping low, that it also seemed to hide a certain strength in it.
Tess took a deep breath and smiled. She stood up and watched the woman slowly
push herself up from the white couch.
“Thank you. I will let you know
who I have chosen tomorrow morning.”
Maia looked up at her knowingly. “I will be at Khivar’s tomorrow morning.” She seemed to spit at the name. The older woman chuckled to herself as she
made her way towards the door. She
turned as she stepped up into the foyer and gazed at Tess. “You will need me more than you did Aziza.”
Tess felt a shiver run up her spine as the older woman spoke
that name. She couldn’t seem to put her
finger on it, but the woman seemed to know her well. And Tess didn’t know if that was a good thing, or something to be
worried about.
~~~
Michael and Isabel had been silent the rest of the ride up to
the cliffs. A word hadn’t passed
between them since Isabel had informed Michael that Jesse was arriving home
that night. Isabel swallowed as she
followed Michael up the path to the caves.
And just as they had almost reached the top, Michael stopped. He turned and looked at Isabel alarmingly.
Isabel frowned. What
could be wrong? As she took a couple
steps further, Isabel felt it too.
Suddenly felt an overwhelming bout of nausea. They quietly made their way up the cliff to the entrance. Michael looked at Isabel and took her
hand. He led them into the darkened
cave. Both were ready for anything, and
definitely ready to hurt whatever might be in there.
Isabel licked her lips and tried to mask their presence from
whatever lurked in the shadows. When
they had reached the Granolith chamber, which held Maxwell, both were stunned
and shocked at what they saw.
“No!” Isabel cried out.
~~~
Liz thought she’d understood her purpose. As she began the process of concentrating
her powers on Max, Liz could help but feel pleased with the pulsing energy that
throbbed with in her. It was just as
Max had described, when Liz had once asked him what it felt like to heal
someone.
She knew it was working because she’d actually seen some
change within Max. He’d almost become
lucid before he felt back into the deep sleep he’d been in for the past
month. “I’m here Max. It’s just the two of us,” she whispered as
she began to focus more intensely on the energy she was transferring into Max.
When things were looking up - Max was moving slightly and
mumbling – Liz poured the last ounce of energy that she had into his body,
leaving herself drained. Liz licked her
lips and gazed up at Max, as she lay down beside him. She brushed a lock of hair away with her shaking hand. Liz waited as she lay there, thinking about
how normal their life would be after he woke up.
The last thing she remembered was kissing Max on the cheek
as she felt herself slip into a deep sleep.
~~~
Michael didn’t know what to make of the scene before
him. Liz was laying beside Max, as pale
and ashen as he’d ever seen her. The
few blankets that Liz and Maria had scrounged up had been neatly folded at
Max’s feet and his shirt was lifted up.
“No!” Isabel cried out.
Michael watched as she ran to the unconscious Max and
Liz. Her hands ran over Max’s stomach
and she peered over at Michael.
“Michael, look!”
He frowned as he made his way over to Max. Max looked like he had more colour, but
there was something not right about the picture. Michael’s gaze followed Isabel’s down to Max’s chest and stomach,
which were exposed. There, imprinted on
Max’s chest and stomach, were two golden handprints.
Michael felt his heart catch in his throat. “What did she do?” Michael exclaimed.
He kneeled down beside Isabel, with Max in front of
them. Gently pushing Isabel behind him,
he leaned over Max’s face and slapped his cheek softly. “Max?
Are you okay?”
Michael could hear Isabel mumbling to herself, pacing back
and forth over top of their two unconscious friends. Michael sat back on his heels and then turned to Liz. He rolled her onto her back and slapped her
face gently. “Liz?” he called
worriedly. “Are you okay?”
She seemed cold and limp in his arms. Michael lowered his head to her mouth and
listened for sounds of breath. He
closed his eyes as he thanked God that she was still alive and breathing. Michael peered up at Isabel who seemed a
wreck. “She’s alive.”
Isabel let out a muffled gasp. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, trying to stifle
the sobs that shook her body. “We have
to do something Michael!”
Just as the words left Isabel’s mouth, Michael felt movement
underneath him. As he glanced down
Michael heard coughing coming from Liz.
“Liz!” he cried happily.
Liz’s whole body curled up in a ball as she began to have a
coughing fit. Isabel kneeled beside the
pale figure and began to rub her back, hoping that it would calm her cough.
Michael swallowed and wiped his brow. Maybe now they would have some answers to
what happened here.
As both he and Isabel helped Liz sit up, they looked at each
other warily. “Liz,” Isabel said
soothingly. “What happened?”
Liz began to rub her temples. “I’m so dizzy.” She
leaned against the strength of Michael and Isabel’s arms that were propping her
up. “What happened?
Michael sighed impatiently.
He straddled Liz’s legs and held her shoulders in both of his hands,
making her look squarely into his eyes.
She seemed disoriented. Her head
lolled like a rag doll. “Liz!” Michael
commanded. “Look at me.”
Liz seemed to hear him and obeyed. Tiredly, Liz’s eyes drooped as she tried to gaze up at the dark
chiseled face. She frowned. “Max?”
Michael shook her a little, trying to awake her from this
stupor. “What have you done to Max?”
hissed Michael.
Liz looked up at him curiously, eyes hooded. But suddenly Liz’s eyes widened and her
mouth dropped open. “Max!” The brunette turned to her right and gazed
upon Max’s still figure. Liz leaned
over on her side and touched Max’s face.
“He’s not awake yet?”
Michael stood up and let go of the disoriented Liz. He walked over to Isabel and whispered, “Do
you think she made those marks?” Both
Isabel and Michael studied Liz as she was whispering into Max’s ear.
Suddenly Michael heard a squeal. Liz looked up excitedly at Isabel and Michael and pointed at the
handprints. “I told you! I told you that it would work!”
Isabel stepped forward, to a more lucid Liz. “What would work Liz? What did you do to Max?”
Liz pushed her long hair out of her face and swallowed. “I used the powers that Max gave me to heal
him.”
Michael watched as Isabel’s head drooped and her body
slumped down to the ground. He shook
his head in disbelief. “Even after
we told you that we were handling it?”
Liz rolled her eyes.
“Look at the handprints! I did
heal him.” She frowned as if trying to
remember something, and then her furrowed brow relaxed and she smiled. “Yes!
I saw him moving. He was even
talking!” protested Liz.
Michael couldn’t believe what she’d done. “How could you do this?” Michael
exploded. “There’s no way you could
heal him! For all we know you might
have just killed him!”
Liz stood up tentatively and pointed at Michael
angrily. “Look Michael, I had the
powers Max gave me. And it can heal
him. Look at the handprints!”
Michael couldn’t look at her. “Liz, you shouldn’t have done this!” He turned his back on her, but Liz persisted in trying to
convince him that she was doing the right thing.
“Look, I got these powers after we made love. And he happened to get sick just when my
powers showed up. How can you deny the
fact that I am supposed to use them to help him!”
Michael shook with frustration. He didn’t know how to talk to her when he was this upset. He didn’t want to yell at her because it
really wasn’t her fault. She
believed that she could heal him.
Michael opened his mouth to say something, although he wasn’t sure
what. “Liz…”
Then Isabel’s voice interrupted. “Liz, we didn’t want to tell you, but we know it wasn’t a
coincidence that you had those powers right after Max got sick.”
Liz turned around to look at Isabel. “Then why are you fighting me on this?”
cried Liz. She looked at both of them
with uncertainty. “What is it that you
haven’t told me?”
Michael held Isabel’s gaze and nodded. They had to tell her. Isabel swallowed and let out a single breath. “Liz, let me say it in a different way.” She paused a moment to push the hair out of her eyes.
Liz narrowed her eyes at Isabel. “What?”
“It wasn’t a coincidence that you had gotten your
powers, after you and Max had sex,” Isabel said slowly.
Liz shook her head.
“I still don’t get it,” Liz sighed exasperatedly.
“And it wasn’t a coincidence that Max got sick
after he had sex with you.”
There was a huge lull of silence. Liz shook her head.
“T-t-that’s not true,” whispered Liz.
As she stood between the two, Michael watched her look at
Isabel and then him. And then back at
Isabel. Liz was silent, trying to find
the words to tear apart this horrible lie.
Michael walked towards her as Liz’s knees buckled. He moved to hold her up, but Liz pushed him
away. “Don’t! You guys are lying! I
don’t know what you’re trying to do, but it’s all lies!” cried Liz as she
walked over to Max.
Liz kneeled before Max and pressed her cheek against
his. Tears began to run down her
face. “Max, wake up. Come on.
Show them that they’re wrong,” choked Liz, as her body began to shake.
Michael closed his eyes.
He couldn’t bear to watch Liz.
He knew that it would break her, if she knew that she was the cause of
this. Or should he say, their making
love.
Michael turned and hit his fist against the wall. This was all such a mess. What were they going to do now?
He had hoped to heal Max and then they would have never had
to know. Michael pressed his forehead
against the wall. Who was he
kidding? They eventually would have had
to tell them. It probably would happen
every time they went to make love. In
the beginning, Michael had known falling for a human would only cause pain and
turmoil.
Michael turned and looked down at Max and Liz. And he had been right. Or at least in Max’s case.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. “Michael,” Isabel whispered. “Are you okay?”
Michael peered into Isabel’s beautiful eyes. They were big and round and worried about
him. He reached out and touched her
face. She was so beautiful. Michael opened his mouth to put his thoughts
to words when Liz ran over and dragged Michael over to Max.
“Michael do something!” cried a ragged Liz. “He’s not breathing!”
Michael fell to his knees and listened for any breath
sounds. “Michael?” Isabel gasped. “Tell me what’s happening!” pleaded Isabel.
There were none.
As Michael was about to rise, he pressed his hand against
Maxwell’s chest and oddly enough, felt a pulsing. Michael frowned as he looked at both Liz and Isabel. Both had expectant looks upon their
faces. He lowered his ear to Max’s
chest, in the area of where his heart lay.
Concentrating for any signs of life, Michael realized that
Max’s heart was beating. Shaking
his head, he grunted. “What?” Liz
cried, pressing against Michael’s shoulder.
“Is he alive?”
Michael looked over his shoulder at Liz and then
Isabel. “His heart is still
beating.” Both Liz and Isabel’s bodies
relaxed, but still anxiously waited for more information.
“I don’t understand it, but he’s still alive,” Michael
reported in confusion.
Liz wormed her way beside Max, leaving Michael out in the
cold. She turned her head and
smiled. “I told you he was all right,”
sighed Liz.
Michael watched Liz disturbingly. She seemed in quite a daze.
He didn’t think anything that had happened in the past hour or so was
actually sinking in. Michael stood up
and looked over at Isabel, who knew something was wrong. “What is it Michael?” Isabel asked
fretfully.
“Isabel,” Michael said quietly, pulling her to the side
where Liz couldn’t hear them. “He’s not
breathing.”
Isabel stared at him in confusion. “W-w-what? What do you mean
he’s not breathing?” she demanded, peering at Max over his shoulder.
“He’s not breathing, but his heart is still beating.”
Isabel pushed away from Michael and walked over to her
brother, arms folded across her chest.
“What do you mean? That doesn’t
make any sense,” Isabel spat. “How can
his heart still be beating if he’s not breathing?”
Liz looked up at Isabel and Michael. Suddenly the glaze over her eyes had
dissipated and she seemed to have come back to reality. “What do you mean? I can feel his heart beating under my hand.” She looked down at her tanned hand that lay
with her palm against his heart.
Michael shook his head.
“I don’t know. He’s not
breathing, you can tell. I didn’t hear
anything coming from his mouth or nose and you can see that his chest is not
moving.” He swallowed. He didn’t know anything about medicine or
the human body. Could he be wrong about
all of this? Could he be in some sort
of danger and not know it?
The trio, which stood in the stark white chamber, averted
their gaze from each other to Max. “Is
there anything we can do to find out?” Liz whispered, stroking Max’s
forehead. “We need a doctor, or
something!”
Michael didn’t know what to do. Again this overwhelming feeling of helplessness kept him
frozen. Finally Isabel walked over to
the other side of Max, across from Liz, who hovered over him. “Maybe I can contact him. See if he’s alive?”
Michael swallowed and tried to say some encouraging
words. “Yeah. Besides, we’d know it if he was dead, wouldn’t we?” The words didn’t come out as he had planned
and he closed his eyes and kicked himself for even trying.
Isabel took a deep breath and closed her eyes. All eyes were on the tall voluptuous woman
who was kneeled beside Max. She seemed
to fall into a trance quickly and Michael moved in beside her, just in case she
passed out, or became weary as she had done before.
It seemed like hours before Isabel awoke. Liz and Michael had said nothing, both
seemingly holding their breath, as if one little noise would tip the scales of
Max’s fate. Isabel came out slowly, and
unscathed.
“Isabel?” Michael sighed, and relaxed a bit. He always felt anxious when she went into
these trances.
“He’s still alive.
But I think he’s fading fast Michael.”