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.
***
So dear I love him that with him,
All deaths I could endure.
Without him, live no life.
-
William Shakespeare
***
Tess hadn’t expected everything to happen so quickly. Andaria had disappeared earlier on that night. She suspected Andaria had gone to check on Zander after Tess had been mentioning him every couple of minutes. Tess was left to the task of assimilating all the information that had been laid before her.
Medgio helped in large by giving her some space to think,
though always standing by to answer any questions she may have. Her mother had shown her plans for Tess’
return to Earth under Khivar’s nose.
Tess had fretted over leaving her son.
She didn’t know what Khivar had up his sleeve in regards to
Zander; it could have been anything.
Down in her gut, Tess just knew he was waiting for an opportunity to use
her son in retaining his throne. Khivar
would rule for a lifetime if he had Zander under his thumb.
“What if he finds out?” Tess asked, breaking the silence.
“Andaria would not allow that to happen Your Highness,”
Medgio answered calmly. “You will
return before Khivar has realized you even left Antar.”
“But if something goes wrong? What then?” she countered.
“What if I can’t get back or Khivar does something to my mother?” Tess began to pace back and forth at the
horrible possibilities.
Medgio placed his strong slender hands on her shoulders and
forced Tess to look up into his older and wise, gentle grey eyes. “If you know your mother, you know that
Khivar is the one that needs to worry, rather than Andaria, about him.”
Tess cracked the first smile she’d had since phasing through
that wall. She felt her heart lighten
at the servant’s confidence in her mother.
“Really?” she laughed as she patted his arm.
Medgio seemed to remember his station again and placed his
hands stiffly down at his sides. He
bowed his head and stood about an arms’ length away from Tess. “You are very much like your mother,” he
murmured.
Tess shook her head slightly. She was nothing like Andaria.
Tess may have looked like her mother, but Tess thought her mother was
wiser and stronger than she could ever be – no matter how brave a front Tess
put on.
Tess thought Medgio read her thoughts as he spoke his next
words. “Do not doubt that you are your
mother’s daughter. She is as proud of
you as she has ever been, even when you were raised on Antar.”
~ * ~
The time drew near as Medgio led her through a darkened
corridor. Tess felt anxious, yet also
anticipation during their short jaunt through the winding tunnel. There were small round spotlights
illuminating their path. The lights
were about three inches in diameter and spaced intermittently against the
smooth wall, which encased them.
As they arrived at their final destination, the tunnel began
to expand and open into a large room built out of the familiar iridescent charcoal-colored
metal she’d seen in Khivar’s house. The
metal had the strength of adamatium, but a strange malleability when pressed
under heat.
Medgio led her to a cushioned swivel chair, which was
positioned before a large panel of lights and buttons. As she settled into her seat, Tess waited expectantly
as Medgio began pressing buttons and flipping unknown switches on the
panel. Just as she was about to ask
Medgio a question, a short plump man in a contemporary military uniform –
rigid, sharp and clean cut – appeared up from behind the control panel.
Medgio’s eyes lit in recognition. “Hammon, you are here!” he exclaimed excitedly. He stepped aside and allowed Tess a clearer
view of the stranger. “Your Highness
this is Major Hammon; Major Hammon, this is Her Highness, Tess, or as she was
formerly known, Ava.”
The young major seemed beside himself. An immediate sweat broke out upon his smooth
brow. He couldn’t have been older than
in his early thirties by Earth standards.
Major Hammon smiled awkwardly and began to fidget, shifting from one
foot to another. “Your…uh, Your
Highness,” he stammered as he bowed. “We
have…waited, uh, so long for your return.”
Tess nodded her head in acknowledgement of the Major. So far she’d met three in a supposed army of
Loyalists. Sometimes she felt as if it
was all a dream and everything was happening was all in her mind. Tess sighed softly as she unconsciously
cradled her arms.
Zander. It had been
only a few hours since she’d left him in Khivar’s house, but it already felt
like days. Tess swallowed hard and
strengthened her resolve. She would
save Max and return to her son – Maxwell or no Maxwell.
“Your Highness?” Medgio beckoned softly.
Tess awakened from her reverie and followed Medgio’s gaze
over to a set of doors at the far left corner of the room. It was Andaria. She had come back.
~ * ~
“Come,” Andaria summoned.
Tess frowned as she rose from her chair, quickly bowing her
head to Major Hammon and Medgio, who knelt before her. As she fell into step with her mother, Tess
voiced her confusion. “I thought I was
going back? Is something wrong?”
Andaria smiled and stroked Tess’ hair. “No, not yet. We must prepare Max for what is about to happen and you need to
know exactly what you’re facing. Dalia
will explain precisely what is ailing Maxwell and the best course of action.” The older version of Tess brought her to a
small room with a white leather chair, almost like an over-sized beanbag
chair. The room was filled with
candles.
“What is this?” Tess asked curiously.
“This,” a low voice answered gently from a dark corner of
the room, “is where you’ll be safe and speak with Zan, or as he prefers,
Maxwell.”
Tess felt her heart leap as the stranger startled her. She strained forward in attempt to catch a glimpse
of the stranger’s face. There was no need.
The woman stepped out from the cover of
darkness and revealed a tall slender woman in her forties. Her dark hair was tightly pulled back into a low
ponytail, and in the glow of the candlelight, a light flashed across the woman’s
face. It was just below her dark brown
eyes. Tess realized she was wearing an
unusual pair of glasses, with no frames or nosepiece. “Your Highness,” the mysterious
woman greeted humbly.
Tess acknowledged the woman with a nod and a polite smile. As she glanced at her mother for an
introduction, Tess watched as Andaria moved forward to shake the woman’s
hand. “Tess,” Andaria said, presenting
the stranger, “this is Dalia, the woman I was telling you about.”
A weary smile was about all Tess could muster. For all of the sudden she grew very
tired. She wanted to get down to
business already and back to her son. “Tell
me what you know Dalia,” Tess ordered. “I
know Max is sick because of his…well, his liason with Liz, but why?”
The brunette took a deep breath and smiled. Clasping her hands together as if readying
herself for this moment, Dalia began slowly explaining in latent terms what was
happening to Max. “Well Your Highness,
Max’s healing gift enables, as you know, Max to heal physical illness and
disease.” Dalia paused waiting for some
sign of understanding from Tess.
Tess nodded, “Yes.
Go on. I’ll stop you if I don’t
understand,” she commanded.
Dalia smiled at her quiet authority and motioned for Tess to
have a seat in the white chair. “Well,”
she continued, “when Max heals a human body he manipulates and regenerates
certain molecular structures in the human genes.” Dalia began pacing as if the movement helped her think. She briefly glanced up at Andaria and Tess
and resumed her story. “When Max healed
Liz, he restructured her genetic make up somehow, causing the development of
her ‘so-called’ powers.”
“Now these would have appeared slowly over time and would
have gradually faded as the energy he exerted into her body wore off; though
the body would be healed because Max was just speeding up the process.”
Tess was on the edge of her seat. She never knew the science of Max’s powers and it was quite
fascinating. “And?” Tess coaxed.
Dalia’s eyes twinkled as she was asked continue. “Well as Liz apparently had some anomaly
within her genetic makeup already, which pre-deposed her to a physical, and on
some level a spiritual connection with Zan.
I mean Max,” she explained excitedly.
The scientific mind continued to work beneath those brown eyes and a low
chuckle escaped her lips.
Tess still didn’t see what exactly she was getting at. She couldn’t quite grasp where it could possibly
lead. Tess shook her head. “I still don’t see how that could put Max in the
state he’s in,” Tess complained. “So what
if Liz was genetically flawed?”
Dalia’s face fell and once again she was reserved and composed,
as when Tess had first set foot in the room. “The point is, as far as I can theorize without Max’s physical body
here, is that when Max and Liz had se, their connection was made again and the remaining
energy or power, whatever you would call it, ignited some genetic acceleration within
the two bodies. For Liz it accelerated the
process of her ‘powers’ emerging, but for Max it had an adverse reaction, sending
his body into a spiral.”
Tess rested her head in the palms of her hands. It was so much to take in. She thought most of it made sense, but would her
powers not wreak more chaos and havoc to Max’s body? Tess had never even healed anyone before. What made them think she could do it now?
“But how am I supposed to fix it?” Tess groaned.
Andaria kneeled before Tess and clasped her hand. “Tess, you and Maxwell are connected; not just
by your past, but as partners you are physically linked. That is why you felt nauseous and dizzy the day
of my interview when Max was hurting.” Andaria
locked gazes with her daughter. “I know
you don’t want to hurt Max, but trust me when I say that you are his only hope.”
Tess nodded slowly, accepting the fate of the love of her life
into her hands. “And am I just going to
‘know’ what to do?” she asked somberly. “All Nasedo taught me was how to protect myself and mind warp, a power
I already had.”
Dalia smiled. “Your
healing Max is something inherent in each of the Royal Four. When you were created, they sent you to
Earth with the knowledge that there would always be the possibility that you
would could be hurt or ill and there wouldn’t be a physician-of-sorts to heal
you.” She took a deep breath and
continued on in the history of the weird story that was her life. “So they connected you to your partner in a
way that you would always be able to heal each other physically.”
Tess stood up and ran her fingers through her curly
hair. “This is amazing,” gasped
Tess. “I mean these are big things that
I never knew, and Nasedo never even bothered to tell me.”
Andaria pushed herself up until she was standing eye to eye
with Tess. “He didn’t know,” she
explained. “There was a limited amount
of time to teach those who would guard you and teach you all that you needed to
know to return to Antar.”
Tess stared at the two women, who had her life locked up
inside their heads, standing before her.
They were her first true link to who she was. Nasedo gave her guidance and some sense of purpose, but now to
have her mother and now this other fountain of knowledge in her grasp, Tess
felt unusually calm and ready. “So am I
ready?” Tess asked softly.
Andaria folded her arms across her chest. “You tell me Tess,” her mother challenged.
Tess turned around and looked at the white plush chair,
which sat in the middle of a circle of candles. She let out a sigh and straightened her posture as she
nodded. “I need to talk to Max.”
***
Max hadn’t expected the visit from Andaria. And he sure didn’t know what to make of
their conversation. As she spoke about
Antar and his people, once again Max felt the weight of an unknown people fall
upon his shoulders.
He’d even tried to remember his past life. Max tried to focus on his mother. What had she looked like? It was the first time he’d asked himself
that question since the fateful shooting at Crashdown. Max used to imagine what it would be like to
meet his parents. He and Isabel would lay
in the dark, in his room and talk about who she was and what she would be like.
Maxwell rubbed his tried face. He didn’t know what to do.
Every part of him ached for some rest, but there was no sleep in this
place.
“Max?” Tess voice called out.
Suddenly in the dark nothingness, Tess appeared before him -
life size and real to the touch. It was
an odd sensation, but somewhere deep down in his gut; Max knew that this would
be their final meeting. “Tess?”
The petite blonde smiled and clasped his hand in hers. “Max, there isn’t much time to explain
everything, but it’s happening Maxwell.
We’re going to get your out of here.”
Max was filled with an abundance of emotion. He didn’t quite know what exactly to feel
first. The first reaction he had was to
wrap his arms around her waist and swing her around. “I’m getting out of here!” he shouted out in elation.
Suddenly Max realized who he held in his arms and set Tess
down, her body slowly slid down as she braced herself against his chest. Their faces were only inches apart. Max didn’t quite know exactly how he got
here, but as he was about to pull away, Tess caressed his face and suddenly the
darkness, which once enveloped him, flickered and opened a portal of
light. His brow creased in wonder. Was it going to be this fast?
“Max,” Tess whispered.
“You need to find the past to step back into the present. Will you go?”
Max looked at Tess hesitantly. How could he trust her?
How could he trust the woman who murdered Alex? Never before had he not trusted his
instincts about a person, and the one time he did, it brought him the death of
one of his close friends.
But he needed to get home, and there was just something
about Tess. Even now, looking at her,
Max had the feeling there was more to her stories and lies than she’d let him
know. Max came back to the present, or
whatever it was. Time didn’t
necessarily seem to apply in that dark place.
“What is it? Is it taking me
back?”
Tess lowered her gaze.
“To be honest Max, I don’t exactly know. But Andaria told me that it would be dangerous and there is a lot
working against you here,” Tess said bluntly.
“She said that if you didn’t go through this, there would be no going
back Max.”
He didn’t like the sounds of this. “Do you know what’s going on Tess? I’d like to know before I take this leap of faith again and find
myself in some web of lies that you’ve created to trap me,” Max demanded. “And you know Andaria?”
She took a deep breath before raising her eyes to meet
his. “Max, look, your body’s sick from your
connection with Liz. I need to go back
and heal you. But before I could, Andaria,
my mother, told me that you needed to take a journey of your own, while I
prepare for mine.” Tess swallowed hard
and her pale hands slid from his chest down to her sides.
“Your mother?” he said disbelievingly. “You met your mother?”
Tess nodded. “But we
can talk about the mushy stuff later Max.
You need to walk through that light.”
All of this sounded so surreal. “So I need to take ‘a trip’,” he repeated slowly, debating
whether this could possibly be the truth. “And you’ll be going back to Earth to
heal me?”
Tess rolled her eyes.
“I know that this sounds so surreal,” she laughed in disbelief, “but
this is the truth Max.”
Now it was his turn to laugh. “Since when do you deal with the ‘truth’ Tess?” Max retorted.
She shook her head in frustration and Max watched as her
blonde locks fell neatly against her shoulders. “You either take this trip Max and realize that I am not
trying to hurt you or you can just fade away Max,” she spat
angrily.
Max fazed out during Tess’ tirade. He was surprised at the understanding Tess had of what he’d been
experiencing. He had felt weary and
faint. Max did fear he was just fading
away. Suddenly Tess’ voice brought him
back from his thoughts and questions. “I
am not trying to kill you, it’s just the opposite, and if you knew what I went
through to keep you alive…” She stopped
short of finishing her thought.
Max frowned. “What
do you mean, what you went through?
What did you ever go through that…?”
Tess shook her head and turned her back to him. “Never mind Max. It doesn’t matter. All
that matters is that time is running short and our people are counting on me to
bring back their king alive.”
Max smirked. He knew
there was a catch. “I’m not going back
to Antar, Tess. And if you think that
you can trick me into some sort of…” Tess interrupted him before he could
finish. “Look Max I don’t care what you
think right at this point. I’m on Antar
and I have taken on my responsibilities and duties as the mother of the heir to
Antar. I will not have my child
grow up on a planet ruled by Khivar,” growled Tess. “My son will not be a puppet.”
He was taken aback.
Max never thought about how ruthless Khivar when it came to his
son. But Max belonged on Earth with
Liz; he had made that choice; actually Tess made it for him.
“Listen,” Tess commanded, grabbing his shoulders and shaking
him. “I don’t care about the future, or
what’s going to happen later on and the choices you will and won’t make. Right now, I’m here to tell you to walk
through that light and help me to save you.”
Max swallowed hard.
He’d sworn to himself that he’d do whatever it took to get out there,
but now the time had come and Max had become unsure of what choice to make. His gaze fell upon Tess’ beautiful face; it
showed nothing of the murder and betrayal that hid beneath the surface.
***
Tess saw the uncertainty in his face. There had to be a way to convince him to
step through that door, which held keys to their past, and who he was. She cautiously approached Max and placed
both hands on his brow. Closing her
eyes she let him into mind and the private places there.
As she opened herself to Max’s painful and scrutinizing
eyes, Tess let him roam free. She had
nothing to hide. Though she secretly
hid the lies she had told him about Alex’s death hidden in the darkness, but in
plain sight, Tess prayed Max would look into the recesses of her mind and
realize quickly that she had nothing but the best intentions.
Tess could feel Max raking through her memories and her dreams
of the future. Max was leafing through
the joy of giving birth to their son Zander and the memories of his first laugh
and the smell of his hair after she’d just given him a bath. He’d seen all of it.
Suddenly she felt Max pull away from her mind link and yet
again Tess stood before the scrutinizing gaze of her would-be husband. Tess felt herself grow faint, gasping after
that painful search. “Did you see
Max? Do you know that I’m not lying to
you?” she panted, holding her head gently.
“I’m going to do it Tess,” Max announced stoically. “But I warn you Tess, if you try to pull
something.”
Tess looked up at the man she loved. It hurt deep inside to see distrust and
anger burning beneath his dark brooding eyes.
But she wouldn’t allow him to know that. Max would not get the satisfaction of knowing how much it hurt to
be separated from him and seeing his face everyday in Zander’s eyes. She took a deep breath and sighed
warily. “I’m not Max.”