Part 21

Serena knew the instant that he was on to her. While Zan had always been good at hiding his emotions, his eyes often betrayed him. It was usually only for an instant, but Rowena had once told her what to look for and she saw it happen now. The pupils dilated slightly and there was a superficial narrowing before his expression became once more implacable.

She bit her lip. What was she going to do? She wasn�t ready for her secret to come out, wasn�t ready for Khivar to know the truth. It had to be on her own terms or he would never accept her.

Pretending to be Rowena is the coward�s way out. Pretending to be Rowena was what got you all into this mess in the first place.

The thought was so abrupt and so unexpected, she took an involuntary step backwards. Zan�s eyes were now locked on her. She could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he tried to understand what was going on. Because he was working without his memories, because he only had access to his instinct, he hadn�t quite figured it out, but he knew something was wrong. She should have known that it couldn�t last. His connection to Ro was far too strong. Liz Parker had been mistaken for his soulmate for too long now. The change could not have stayed hidden.

And, so, there was really no way around it. She needed his help. As much as she knew it was a mistake, she was just not ready to confront Khivar. Glancing at him now, she could see the fierce expression on his face as he continued to glare at Zan. Khivar did not take betrayal lightly. She was not ready to risk everything - not until she absolutely knew exactly how much he remembered about before. Because while she knew from his conversations with Liz that he remembered most of it, some of it was wrong. What she didn�t understand was why. She also knew that he had deliberately left things out, accentuating the positive.

He had not told Liz that Rowena had not always been a completely willing wife.

No, that had only changed once she had replaced her sister. And the most horrible part of all was that he was going to figure out that Rowena had never loved him - that Serena had taken her sister�s place to save Ro from a marriage she did not want. He was not going to understand and he was not going to believe that he had ended up with the only one who could have ever been right for him anyway.

He wouldn�t see it that way at all. Because it was not her he loved. And she just could not face it yet.

"I�m with Max," she blurted without thinking. She saw Khivar glance at her, frowning slightly. He couldn�t be suspicious! Liz had told him that she was not going to turn on Max. It wasn�t entirely illogical that she would want to be paired with him now. He did not know that she had taken over Liz�s body, that her essence had established itself through the blood on the scarf around her wrist.

She fingered the scarf lightly, feeling her heart beginning to beat unsteadily. If he knew that it had worked, giving her back the item she had most treasured in her past life, he would immediately get the wrong idea. He would think she was Rowena. And she couldn�t continue that lie any longer. When she revealed herself to him, it would be as Serena and no one else. Until then, she would stay Liz Parker.

Serena swallowed, looking at Zan, whose eyes had narrowed even more. "It might be better if you go with one of the others, Liz," he said, almost challengingly. "We both know the town. It doesn�t make sense for us to be together."

She raised her chin, hoping it wasn�t too suspicious, and insisted. "Alex can take Will and Kate. We�ll send Michael and Maria out together, Isabel with the sheriff and Kyle with Tess. It does make sense Max, if you think about it. This way there�ll be a human and a�" She paused, searching for the code word she knew Liz used for aliens. "Czechoslovakian in each group."

"I don�t like this." Serena sighed, glancing at Khivar, who had returned to glaring at Zan. It didn�t surprise her though. One of the things she had so loved about Khivar before was his complete inability to hide his vulnerability - at least from her. As much as he came across as competent and secure in his position, he had harbored a secret jealousy of Zan, who, despite his father�s disappointment in him, had always been held up in their system as the shining example of what a prince should be. Just because Zan�s father had wanted his son to be even more than he was did not mean Khivar had not known that Zan was worthy of his throne.

Or at least he had been until what happened to him and Rowena. Serena still regretted that she had ever left them, but how could she have known what was going to happen? She could not have known, had not even dreamt it could. It was why she had gone to Zan in an attempt to reason with him after he destroyed Valonia. She really could not believe that he could have changed so much. And she had been right. It was only when she had looked into his eyes right before he had killed her that she had known the truth. And, by then, it was too late.

But the eyes never lied. At least not Zan�s. And right now they were staring at her, burning into her as though he was trying to turn her inside out, as though he was trying to read her thoughts. She tried not to fidget under his regard, forcing even breaths, making herself maintain her facade of calm. She was glad when another voice pulled Zan�s attention away from her.

"Will, stop being so difficult." It was Karana speaking, Khivar�s sister. "We have no choice here. Every minute we waste is a minute less likely we�re going to find Jack."

Khivar stood with his arms crossed, but Serena could see that he was bending. Kara - or Kate, as she was now known - had always been capable of setting him back on the right course. They had always been a great team, Khivar and Karana, had always balanced each other. When one became emotional, the other remained stoic and vice versa, creating a solid sense of capability when they were together. Serena still believed in her heart that, had Khivar and Kara not been separated at the very end, things might have turned out very differently. But when Karana died at Zan�s hands - or so it had seemed anyway - the final denouement of the tragedy that was their past lives had become inevitable. Without his sister, Khivar lost his closest advisor, the only person he would really listen to other than Rowena. And, so, he also lost himself.

As she gazed at him now, Serena could not help but feel glad that he had been given this second chance - that what he had become had not been counted against him when they had all been sent to Earth to rebuild what they had destroyed. She knew though that this was a turning point. If Khivar rejected Zan�s help now�

"Think of it like World War II," Alex suggested, clearly seeing that Khivar was about to agree and wanting to push him over the edge. "We sided with the Soviets to take care of the greater of two evils and then we went right back to hating everything they stood for after." He grimaced, seeming to realize that suggesting that Khivar should go back to hating Zan might not be the best thing. "Or we could all just stay friends," he rushed on to say. Serena tried to look supportive as his eyes met hers. He was expecting Liz of course, so she smiled reassuringly, at him as he mouthed, "I am so lame."

"Fine," Khivar finally ground out through gritted teeth, as though he absolutely had to force it with every ounce of his strength. "But it doesn�t mean anything," he added, meeting Zan�s eyes again.

Zan just shook his head in annoyance. "Whatever. I already said I�m not doing this for you anyway." He looked at Serena again. "I�m going to call Michael and get him to bring Izzy and Tess here. They�re probably already on their way to the motel."

"The motel?" she asked, confused. "Why would they be going there?" Had Zan been planning a confrontation this morning? If Rath, Vilandra and Ava were all on their way to the motel where Khivar and the others had been staying, it seemed a logical conclusion.

She moved forward, taking Zan by the arm and pulling him away from the others, choosing not to look in Khivar�s direction to see how he reacted to it. "Why were you going to the motel, Max? I thought you trusted me to take care of Will." She had to know once and for all what was going through his mind. How much did he know?

"I had my reasons," he replied, his eyes piercing. He glanced past her, then took her hand, pulling her further away from Khivar, Kara, and Alex. Before she knew it, they were behind the garbage bin, which meant that they were concealed from view. It was only later that she realized that he had done it in case he had to kill her. He had not wanted anyone to stop him if that was how it was going to end. She was thankful that she had not realized it at the time. Because Zan had never been frightening to her. Not ever. "And they had nothing to do with not trusting Liz." He continued, once he had her alone. "But you�re not Liz. Are you?"

She blinked at him, not really surprised, but a bit taken aback that he was still as direct as he had ever been. She finally sighed. "No."

His eyes flashed with shock that she actually admitted it. He regained his composure quickly though. He might not remember being a king, but he still was in every way that counted, Serena thought ruefully. "Who the hell are you then? What do you want? Where is Liz? If you�ve hurt her, I swear I�ll�"

"I am still Liz," Serena explained patiently, trying not to flinch as his grip tightened on her arm. "You don�t understand, Zan. I�ve remembered who I really am too. My human side still exists. It�s just that this is really me."

"Rowena." He sounded pained. "How? How did this happen?"

"Why are you upset that I might be Rowena?" she asked gently, reaching out and taking his hand. "You love Rowena." His expression was fierce as he replied, "I love Liz Parker. And you�ve stolen her from me. I don�t know where all these memories came from, but you�ve changed her. You are not the same." He ran a hand across his face wearily, his anger draining out of him abruptly when he met her eyes. He said quietly, "You are not Liz."

"No," she explained. "You don�t love Liz. You got mixed up, Zan. It�s understandable, but Liz was never Rowena. She was me. Rowena�" She trailed off, could feel her throat closing up at the thought of her lost sister. "I don�t know where Ro is, Zan."

Zan stared at her. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Serena just stared at him, unable to mask her sadness any longer. The sheer irony of this having happened was not lost on her. Khivar had been in love with the wrong person in their past lives and this time it was Zan. But he had to be told. There was no help for it. Because the sooner he accepted it, the sooner things could progress as they were meant to. "There were two of us, Zan. You don�t remember now, but you knew then. You were in love with Rowena, but I�m not her. She was my sister." She paused and then continued in a rush, wanting the worst of it out of the way. "And, as far as I know, she no longer exists."

She saw the spasm that ran through Max�s body. She realized instantly that he was not going to accept this easily. "When I tell you everything, you�ll understand. It all started when you�"

"Maxwell! Get your butt over here!"

Zan blinked. "That�s Michael," he said unnecessarily. Serena knew it after all. "What�s he doing here?" He stared at her. "You�re still going to tell me everything."

"I will," she promised. "Just make sure we�re together. Alone."

"Why can�t you just tell everyone. Why all the secrecy?"

"I don�t want Khivar to know," she admitted quietly.

"Why?"

"Because he never knew that there were two of us. It is going to come as a blow."

There was a short pause, then Max said, "I believe you. But I want you to know, that none of it changes how I feel about you. Whether you�re Serena, or Rowena, or the queen of Sheba, you are still Liz and you�re the person I love. And I�m going to get you back to who you really are."

"Zan�"

"Max," he intoned firmly. "We are Max and Liz. Try to remember that." Then he turned and left her staring after him as he went to rejoin the others.

***

Kate grabbed Will by the arm when he made a move to go after Liz and Max. She was not the only one who had felt the weirdness in the air between the two of them. She wasn�t quite sure what it was, but, then, she had never been in the company of both of them at the same time before, except for very briefly on Liz�s balcony the night before. She wasn�t sure how their relationship worked. They were presently engaged in a tense-looking exchange further down the alley. She could actually feel Will�s blood pressure rising when Max grabbed Liz by the hand and pulled her behind the garbage bin.

"She told you she loves him," Kate reminded him quietly, not wanting to hurt him, but wanting him to start accepting reality. "Things might change someday, but, for now, friends is all you�re going to get from her, Will. You have to control yourself around him. She�s not going to put up with it for long."

Will turned his head, glaring at her. "You would side with him. I can�t believe how quickly he�s charmed you again, Kate. He killed you."

"Okay, I�m getting a headache." This was from Alex. "Can we just stop blaming people for things that happened in another life on another planet?" Kate felt a pang of regret at the weary expression on her new friend�s face. Alex seemed to be losing some of his steam today. He was more resigned than cheerful at the moment. "Max would never hurt Liz. I swear to God, I would hurt her first."

"Well, why is he wasting precious time with her now?" Will demanded, obviously searching for another reason to be irritated at Max. "Is he going to help us or not?"

"We can�t do anything until Michael gets back," Alex exclaimed impatiently. "Would you please lighten up?"

Kate tried to hide her smirk as Will stared at Alex, apparently not quite believing that Alex had just told him off. No one ever told Will off. He had barely had any contact with humans before the last few days and everyone else in his life always treated him with the respect due his position. But Alex just didn�t and it seemed to flabbergast Will on a regular basis. It had happened several times the night before during their male-bonding session too. Most of Kate�s enjoyment had been at Will�s fish out of water expense.

Most of it, but not all, she reflected, smiling slightly, as she admired the way Alex�s eyes flashed when he was annoyed. It was entirely different from the way they looked when he was joking, which was most of the time.

Stop it! Kate ordered herself, suddenly horrified. What are you doing? Jack is missing and you�re thinking about how Alex Whitman�s eyes change colors slightly dependent on his mood. Are you crazy?

"Alex! What the hell is going on around here?"

Kate was grateful for the interruption. She turned and backed up slightly. Rath - or Michael as he was now called - had come through the door, taking in her and Will with one glance. His gaze narrowed.

"Where�s Maxwell?" Michael demanded. Kate could see more people following him through the door. They included Ava, a dark-haired boy wearing a letterman�s jacket, and Liz�s best friend, Maria. The latter hung back, her eyes on Alex, her tentativeness apparent. "Why are they here?" Kate could hear Michael�s attempt at disdain, but he could not hide the slight undercurrent of fear in his voice.

"Max and Liz are having a little confab down the alley," Alex replied. He glanced at Will, grimacing slightly. "They�ll be back momentarily, I�m sure. We have a situation here, folks."

"You have a situation?" Michael demanded, abruptly annoyed. "Well, you�re not the only ones." He turned his head and yelled, causing Kate to jump slightly. Why was Rath so volatile? He had never been like this before! "MAXWELL! Get your butt over here!"

Kate glanced at Will, who appeared amused. The lack of respect in Michael�s demeanor when it came to Zan obviously pleased him. It just worried Kate and drove home the point that these were not the same people they had been before. There was no way that Rath would ever have spoken to Zan in such a manner in their past lives.

After a moment, Max�s head poked around the garbage bin further down the alley. He did not seem unduly upset at Michael�s tone when he hurried back in their direction though. All he said when he was close enough was, "I�m glad you�re here."

Kate watched Liz trail after Max, looking worried. She wondered briefly what Max and Liz had been discussing. Max�s frame was extremely tense. He had obviously not liked what he had heard. Kate bit her lip, wondering what this meant for Will. Had Liz made her choice? Had she changed her mind about who she wanted to be with?

"You�re glad I�m here?" Michael retorted. "I thought we were all supposed to be at the motel?"

Max looked behind Michael, his forehead creasing. "Where�s Izzy?"

"It�s why I came back here in the first place," Michael replied. "Instead of going to the motel where you told me to go�"

"Okay, Michael!" Maria exclaimed from behind him. "He gets the picture! We all get the picture! He was supposed to meet you at the motel!"

Max just sighed. "I�m sorry. I got side-tracked. Anyway, everything�s changed again." Kate could almost see him trying to resist looking at Liz.

"You�re damn right it�s changed," Michael replied, reaching into his pocket and tossing something in Max�s direction. Max caught it easily and then stared at it. "I couldn�t find Isabel, but I did find this."

"What the hell is this?" Max asked, sounding confused.

"It�s an orb," Alex supplied helpfully.

"He knows it�s an orb, Alex! We all know it�s an orb. But you�re Mr-Know-it-All these days, aren�t you? And did you hear what came before that? No Isabel! Now where could Isabel be? And why is she staying away from all her friends?" This was Maria again, and she sounded upset, angry and like she wanted to cry all at once. Kate watched as Alex looked at his friend guiltily, like he understood why she was so suddenly annoyed with him. What was this all about? Humans were so confusing. They seemed to constantly have undercurrents in all their relationships. And, ever since Kate had been in contact with them on a regular basis, so had she. It was extremely irritating to not be able to think in terms of black and white any longer.

"I know it�s an orb," Max agreed, looking at Maria, worry on his face, then looking away, deciding to ignore her little outburst. "But it�s not one of our orbs."

"Obviously," Michael said. "It�s green. I found it on the counter in my kitchen," he continued. "I couldn�t make it play though."

There was a long moment of silence as they all stood around looking at each other. Or, at least, the aliens did. Because they all knew the only way to make it work.

"We need a pair from a four square to make it work," Will interjected impatiently when it seemed like no one wanted to move. "Ro and I can do it."

"Or Max and me!" Ava - or Tess, Kate reminded herself - piped up, tossing her blonde curls. Kate saw a brief grimace cross Max�s face at that, but he managed to quickly hide it. She didn�t think that Tess had seen. Kate could not help the slight amusement she felt at it. Obviously Zan was just as reluctant in his chosen mate in this lifetime as in the last. But she should have known it already. Wasn�t he in love with Rowena after all?

"Well, since Jack and Isabel are both missing, I guess that�s true," Max finally allowed. He turned his head and looked at Liz. "Do you want to�" He trailed off uncertainly.

Liz�s eyes were sad as she said, "Okay. We�ll do it."

"Wait a minute!" Alex spoke up again, having apparently recovered from Maria�s little attack. "Are you guys positive that this is a communication device? What if it�s a bomb or something?"

"It�s a communication orb, Alex," Kate told him calmly. "We all recognize it."

"Why were the other ones grey?" Alex demanded. "This one isn�t."

"Grey is the official colour of the House of Antar," Kate replied. "Green represents our planet. It�s probably a message from our people." A threat of some sort, Kate reflected ruefully. This was likely not going to help the whole "working together" situation. But she and Will would be here to defuse it. Or at least she would, she amended, knowing that the last thing her brother had on his mind was peace. He was here at the moment for Jack alone and, as soon as he was found, he would go right back to hating their enemies.

"Oh, okay." This answer seemed to satisfy Alex. Kate liked that he had questioned the situation though. He was obviously only worried. He was, in many ways, an impartial bystander, and it was good to have those voices heard, particularly with all the tension that existed among them all.

Max and Liz were still staring at each other, Kate noticed, when she turned back to them. Max lifted his arm and handed Liz the orb, almost challengingly, as though he was expecting her to prove something with it. She took it carefully, then moved towards Will.

Kate understood abruptly what was going on. If Will and Liz could make the orb work than it was going to prove once and for all that they were the bonded mates. It would make it official, driving a further wedge between Max and Liz.

She bit her lip as she watched Will gently reach out and take the orb from Liz. If this didn�t work, it was going to devastate her brother. Could the fact that Rowena loved someone else - Zan of all people! - interfere with her bond to Will? And, if it did, how would Will react? He was having a hard enough time with everything. If the orb proved once and for all that she no longer belonged to him�It would be all bad, to paraphrase something Alex had said the night before.

Kate waited breathlessly for what was about to happen.

Part 22

Will and Liz had been standing with their hands twined together holding the orb for what seemed like forever.

Alex let out a long sigh when he realized that he was holding his breath. He thought he heard Michael huff with impatience, but he didn�t turn his head to make sure. He didn�t want to miss it�whatever it was.

All he knew was that nothing was happening. He wasn�t really sure what was supposed to happen, being as he hadn�t witnessed that damn destiny message back in the spring, but it was pretty obvious that nothing was happening now.

He didn�t know if this was a good thing or a bad thing. Glancing at Max, who was beginning to relax, he had to think it was a good thing. But from the look of anticipation and hope on Kate�s face, he felt a real spasm of desire for it to work, because she wanted it to, so badly. He couldn�t help the slight admiration he felt that she cared so much about her brother.

Of course, she wasn�t the only alien princess he knew who cared about her brother. Alex felt a flash of guilt as he reflected that it was the first time he had actually thought about how Isabel might react to these proceedings were she around. The fact that she wasn�t�He just knew that it was his fault. Maria had been right to fly off the handle at him earlier. His loyalties were becoming divided and it was wrong. Even if he knew that he and Isabel likely weren�t meant to be, he still owed her his allegiance. In spite of everything, she was his friend and he had hurt her. Sure, she had hurt him a lot over the past few weeks too, but the difference was that she hadn�t done it on purpose.

He had.

As he stared at Kate now, he realized that it was true. Alex had been hurt by Isabel and he had known exactly how to hurt her back and so he had done it. It had been wrong. And now he was forgetting all about her because of the new girl in town.

What if something had happened to her? She was obviously missing and it couldn�t be a coincidence that there had been an orb left on the counter in Michael�s apartment. What if it was a ransom message? What would they do then?

Alex grimaced in frustration. Why wasn�t anything happening?

He saw that Will was starting to sweat. Alex could see his desire to make the orb work imprinted on his face. Liz looked no less determined, but clearly for an entirely different reason. For Will, if he and Liz could activate the orb, it meant they were the mated pair. Alex suspected that all Liz really cared about was getting the information contained within it.

"It shouldn�t be taking this long," Kate whispered to Alex. "I think we should let Max and Tess�"

But Tess had obviously already decided that this was the route to take. "Give that to me," she snapped, having come from behind Kyle to snatch the orb from Liz and Will. "Max, come here."

Liz�s eyes snapped open and she frowned slightly. She didn�t seem mad though, merely confused. Alex watched her gaze meet Max�s. They stared at each other for a long moment. Max�s eyebrow was raised questioningly, but Liz shrugged, then shook her head, beginning to look upset. Alex was surprised to see an expression of satisfaction cross Max�s face.

"Will�" Alex felt Kate move away from his side to comfort her brother. Will had turned his back when Tess had taken the orb. Alex could see the tension he was feeling in the stiff line of his back.

"Liz?" Alex asked quietly. "What happened?"

She didn�t answer though, merely narrowing her eyes as Max and Tess moved together and linked hands, holding the green alien communicator between them. Max seemed somewhat reluctant, but Tess was eager, obviously wanting to prove once and for all that she and Max were the matched pair, whether Max wanted to believe it or not.

Alex was really tempted to start tapping his foot when nothing happened this time either.

"Is it just me or is this all a little anticlimactic?" Alex tried not to smirk at Kyle�s loud whisper. He wasn�t quite sure who it was directed at, but this whole process certainly was turning out to be a whole big lot of nothing.

"Okay, is that thing defective?" Michael demanded loudly.

Max�s eyes were open again and he was staring down at the orb, his face etched with concentration. "I can�t feel it," he finally admitted. He looked up at Will, who had turned around again, his face now expressionless. "I mean, I can feel that there�s something there, but it�s like a lock and I don�t have the right key." Alex saw Will nod reluctantly, like he hated to agree with Max, but that he did in spite of it.

"I think Max and Liz should try it." This came from Maria. Alex whipped his head around to stare at her, as did most of the others. "I mean, I don�t care what any of you say," she said, looking right at Liz, who, strangely, seemed uncomfortable. "I�ve always known that they belong together. I bet they can make it work. Especially if everyone�s right and Liz is a Czechoslovakian."

"That�s crazy!" Tess exclaimed. "Max and I made the orb work in the pod chamber. Obviously something�s just wrong with this one."

"I�ve been thinking," Maria continued, ignoring Tess. "Since Max told us last night that Liz is supposedly this Rowena chick. Is it, or is it not, true that anytime Max has made one of those alien thingies work, Liz has been nearby? And I�m not just talking orbs. I�m talking healing stones too."

"This is insane!" Tess said. "What are you even saying?"

Maria looked at Tess, exasperated. "Tess, I�m not trying to step on your toes here. I told you last night that I believe that you believe that you and Max are supposed to be together, but try and look at it from an outsider�s perspective. Because that�s what I am, and I don�t have all the emotional baggage you all do." She turned her head, regarding Michael. "You�ve never believed that you and Isabel have to be together, but you do buy that you�re matched in your four square thingie. You guys have always worked well together and since you�ve known that you are a pair, you�ve been able to control your powers a lot more. Have you noticed that?"

Michael nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe�" He paused, then admitted sheepishly. "Not that I�m very good even now."

"You�re improving," Maria reminded him, "And it�s only been since you found out about the four square. It�s like you found your focus or something."

"Go on." This came from Max, who was listening intently.

"Okay, so think about it. When that orb worked the first time, Liz was there. And when you guys brought Nasedo back to life the first time, she was there too. She wasn�t there when you tried to heal him a few weeks ago and it didn�t work. Maybe the times it did work, Max was tapping into his connection to Liz or something, without even knowing about it."

"This doesn�t make any sense," Will interrupted. "Rowena belongs to our four square. Why would you even think about these things?"

Maria glared at him. "I wasn�t thinking that Liz was an alien, dummy! I was thinking about focus." She looked at Michael. "It�s why I haven�t fully believed that you don�t have feelings for Isabel - because she made you find your focus. I�ve always seen it with Max and knew it was because of Liz, and since your powers have improved lately, I thought it was because of Isabel. I thought you were falling in love with her," she finished quietly. "But now I see that�s it�s because of the four square and because you trust her."

"Maria, are you insane?" Michael demanded. "I don�t love Isabel! You�re the reason I�m more focused. Don�t you remember what I told you? I can�t be sure that I�m not going to hurt you. That�s why I�ve improved - so that I won�t!"

Alex wondered if Michael and Maria were even aware that they weren�t alone anymore. "Michael�"

"Maria, I love you."

"Oh, Michael! I know. I�m just saying that I�m not jealous anymore." She rushed towards him and they started kissing, making Alex�s face flame twelve shades of read. Would Liz and Maria never understand that forcing him to watch such displays was enough to scar him for life?

"Okay, this is sweet and all�" Kyle interrupted, sounding like he would prefer to be anywhere but in the alley. Alex was beginning to agree. "But is there a point somewhere in our future? Maria, keep talking, woman!"

"I think these people are crazy," Alex heard Will mutter to Kate and he was forced to wonder if maybe the alien king was right. While Maria and Michael seemed to understand what the hell they had been talking about, no one else did, if the expressions on his friends� faces were any indication.

Maria turned herself within Michael�s embrace. "Sorry, got a little distracted there. Anyway, as I was saying, maybe it�s because he loves her, maybe it�s alien stuff, or maybe it�s both, which makes sense because Michael has both now too, but, whatever it is, Liz makes Max focus. I think they can make it work."

"Well, if that�s true, why didn�t it work with Max and Tess?" Kate asked quietly. "Liz is here."

"Yes, she is, isn�t she?" Max�s voice seemed strangely challenging to Alex�s ears, like maybe Liz wasn�t, although she was standing right in front of them. He looked at his friend curiously but could see that Max was staring at Liz, his expression grim.

"I don�t think this is a good idea," Liz said, worried and glancing at Will.

"I think it�s a greatidea," Max retorted. "Even if I still have no idea what Maria was really saying, I think it�s the best idea I�ve heard all day."

Alex was beginning to realize that Max and Liz were entering into a battle of wills the rest of them couldn�t possibly understand. What on Earth had they been talking about before?

"Max�"

"Liz." Max�s emphasis on Liz�s name seemed overly significant.

Liz finally sighed. "Fine." She stomped over to him, placing her hands on the orb along with his. "But this is stupid. It�s not going to work. Michael�s right. This orb is defect�"

She was cut off by a blast of light so intense, Alex was forced to shield his eyes. He heard Tess screech in surprise and Michael�s patented, "What the hell?" before he was able to refocus.

"Well, it�s about frigging time," Kyle muttered. Alex realized that the jock was now standing at his elbow, as though having identified the person most likely to commiserate with him through this strange alien sideshow. Alex could hear how pleased Kyle was though, as though he was happy that Max had made the orb work with anyone other than Tess.

Alex did not reply, his entire attention abruptly focused on the image of a short kid, who was now standing in front of them. Or at least a hologram type projection of said kid was standing in front of them.

"Hello, Zan. Bet you thought you�d seen the last of me."

"Nicholas," Michael ground out through clenched teeth. Alex tilted his head and studied the face of their enemy. He hadn�t been in Copper Summit after all and hadn�t seen him before. He didn�t look scary.

His opinion changed abruptly when the image flickered, replaced by that of Isabel tied to a chair. Alex felt his blood run cold. Izzy�s head was lowered, her blonde hair falling into her face. She was quite obviously unconscious. "Imagine my surprise to find Vilandra wandering the streets of Roswell all alone. She hasn�t quite been convinced to change her allegiances again, but I�m working on her."

Alex could hear Maria gasp as Nicholas�s hand came up and planted itself firmly on Isabel�s head. Isabel�s eyes snapped open and rolled up into her head as she screamed. Alex couldn�t tell what the little troll was doing to her, but there was no question that she was in excruciating pain. Nicholas chuckled to himself before moving his hand. Isabel slumped into her chair again.

Oh God! Isabel!

Had she been in that small monster�s clutches since she had run out of the Crashdown yesterday? That was over twenty-four hours ago! Alex clenched his fists at his sides.

"That�s what we on Antar call a mind-rape, Zan. I know you don�t remember them, but know that enough of them can bring religion to even the most hardened atheist. Not only am I getting some interesting information from your sister, I�m also reminding her of exactly what kind of bastard you once were. When I�m done with Vivi here, she�s going to wish she never knew your name. She�ll remember exactly why she turned on you last time and she�ll join Khivar again, too."

Alex turned his head to look at Max. Isabel�s brother was standing ramrod straight, his jaw clenched as he listened. Liz was beside him, holding onto his arm and watching the message, a horrified expression on her face.

Alex looked back and saw Nicholas�s projected image start to pace in front of them. "Of course, as much as I know Khivar wants the lovely Vilandra back in his bed, there is something else he wants more."

"The granolith," Kate gasped. Alex looked at her sharply. She seemed just as dismayed as any of them. "Will, what is he doing?"

"I�d be willing to make a little trade," Nicholas continued, turning back and staring right into whatever was recording him. "Your sister for the granolith. I want its location by six o�clock tonight or Isabel Evans will cease to exist and Vilandra and I will have some fun before I turn her over to Khivar." He quirked a malicious little grin. "Don�t worry about finding me, your highness. I have my eyes on you. I�ll come to you once I know you�ve made your decision."

With that, the image flickered and disappeared. They all stood there in silence for several long moments. Alex knew his mouth was hanging open. His entire being was focused on one fact alone.

Isabel. She was in trouble and it was all his fault.

This was exactly what he was thinking when all hell broke loose.

"SON OF A BITCH!"

Michael was on Will an instant later. Kate screamed as Alex�s friend thrust her brother up against the brick wall of the Crashdown. His rage was a palatable force. "Where is she? Where did your creepy little brat take her?"

Will�s hands were clutching at Michael�s arm, which had him pinned at the neck. He obviously couldn�t breathe, let alone talk and, fortunately, the lack of oxygen seemed to have caused the alien king to forget that he was capable of blasting Michael if he wanted to. Alex crossed his arms, not the least bit concerned that Michael might very well kill Will. What the hell had Will, Khivar, whoever he was, unleashed on them? How could he have allowed Nicholas to take Isabel?

"Alex! Alex, stop him!" Kate had grabbed his arm, and was shaking it. "Will did not authorize this. I swear to God." Alex looked down at her, scowling. Her blue eyes were pleading, but as he watched, they narrowed. "Alex, I don�t want to hurt Michael, but if he doesn�t let Will go, I�m going to have to."

Alex shook her off. In spite of whatever attraction he might feel for her, when it came to a choice between these new acquaintances and Isabel, there was no choice to be made.

He glanced at Max, who stood staring at the scene in front of him, no expression on his face. A muscle twitching in his jaw was the only indication that he was at all upset. "Michael," he finally said, after what seemed like an inordinate amount of time. "Let him talk."

Alex could see that Liz had moved forward, and was tugging on Michael�s arm. "Michael, he needs to be allowed to talk."

Michael growled, but loosened his grip. Alex was amazed that Will still didn�t unleash his gifts. He had been half-expecting it. Instead, he took several deep breaths, coughing slightly, then managed to say, "I swear I had�nothing�to do with this." He raised his head, looking at Liz, who seemed to be the only person whose opinion he cared about. "I don�t know what the hell he was talking about, Rowena. I swear to God I had nothing to do with this."

"I thought Nicholas worked for you," Max interjected. "Why did he take her if not for you?"

Will looked at him, his expression, for once, non-confrontational. "He wants the location of the granolith. It�s the only way to save himself. I did not order this though. This is not how we do things."

"Can you contact him? Make him give her back?" Max asked quietly.

"Maxwell! You don�t believe him?" Michael sounded outraged as he glanced over his shoulder at Max, because he was still holding Will firmly against the wall.

"I can try," Will replied. "But the fact that he went and did this when he knew we were already here working another angle�"

"You expected to convince Liz to tell you where it was," Max said, shaking his head in disgust.

Will shrugged, after finally struggling hard against Michael and managing to break free. "Yes. I admit it. I thought that once Ro remembered who she was, she�d tell us. Once she knew that we weren�t going to use it for anything but good. My only intention, ever, has been to save my people with it. I don�t take playing with the granolith lightly." He paused, as though implying that others - namely Max - might. Will glanced at Liz, who had her head tilted thoughtfully, and seemed to decide to abandon that route. After all, he was trying to convince Max to believe him. Hostility was extremely out of place at the moment. Alex almost felt proud of the arrogant alien king, that Will was, for once, thinking about how what he said might be perceived.

"Anyway, I don�t know what he�s doing," Will continued. "This was not part of the plan. Vilandra is not, nor has she ever been, my enemy."

"I�d guess not, seeing as she betrayed Max for you and all," Michael said sarcastically. Alex whipped his head around and stared at Michael. This was news to him. "But it�s all becoming clear now. You seduced her."

"Who told you that?" Will demanded. "That is a complete lie!"

"Nicholas just said it," Michael retorted. "Didn�t you hear it? We knew that you somehow made Vilandra switch sides, but we didn�t know it was by pretending to love her."

Will was outraged when he snapped, "I did not seduce Vilandra!" He looked at Liz. "Rowena, that is completely untrue!"

"Then why the hell did the troll just say it?" Michael asked, sounding smug, like it amused him that Will wasn�t nearly so perfect as he tried to pretend.

"I heard him," Kyle agreed. "He didsay it."

"I have no idea," Will said, sounding completely confused now. "I really have no idea." The tone of his voice was so unsure that Alex couldn�t help but believe him.

"It doesn�t matter." Alex looked at Max, who gently took Michael by the shoulder and pulled him away from Will. "What happened before is not what�s important." He glanced at Liz again as he said it. "The important thing is the fact that Isabel is being held by Nicholas and that Jack is still missing."

"Oh God!" Kate stepped forward. "Will, he can�t be working with Nicholas?" She appeared on the verge of tears, making Alex�s heart ache in spite of his new resolve to side with his Czechoslovakians. She brightened. "Maybe he mindraped Jack too!"

"You say that like it�s a good thing," Kyle interjected. "Mindraping sounds all bad to me."

"I don�t even know what he means by it," Kate replied, lowering her eyes. "But he seemed to be implying that he could change Vilandra by doing it. Maybe he did the same thing to Jack."

"Maybe," Will said quietly, obviously now upset. "I don�t even know what to think anymore."

"We can figure all this out later," Liz interjected smoothly. Alex noticed that she had taken Max by the hand and was reaching for Will�s as well. "Here�s the thing guys. Whether you like it or not, we�re all in this together now. No one knows what�s going on and the only thing we can do is trust each other."

Alex saw Max�s eyes narrow, but he nodded, "She�s right." He gently let go of Liz�s hand and moved it towards Will. "You can go back to hating me after this is over if you really want to, but right now I need you to help me get Isabel back." He paused, then swallowed. "If you do that, maybe we can talk about the granolith."

"Max!" Tess exclaimed, sounding horrified. "You can�t do this! You�re playing right into their hands!"

"I said we�d talk about it," Max repeated firmly. "And I will do anything to save my sister."

Will continued to hold Liz�s hand for another moment, his eyes glued to Max�s face assessingly. He glanced once at Kate, who Alex saw nod in encouragement. He finally allowed Liz to guide his hand until he was grasping Max�s in a firm handshake.

"You�ve got a deal."

Part 23

"Max, I�m going with them."

Max turned his head and regarded Alex. They had all returned to the Crashdown and were now scattered around it, trying to seem as inconspicuous as possible. They were not taking Nicholas�s threat that he was watching them lightly. Glancing around the caf� now, Max realized that any of the other customers in the restaurant could be Skins, watching, waiting for them to screw up. And making it clear that he was now working with Will would be a screw-up. They couldn�t be sure that Nicholas didn�t already know, after the lengthy meeting in the alley, but they wouldn�t make it easy on him to be sure now either.

And, so, if Will was really going to succeed in liberating Isabel from his rogue henchman, than they couldn�t be seen in each other�s company any longer. To that end, Liz was sitting at a booth with Kate and Will, in order to explain the alien siblings� presence in her parents� restaurant, and Alex was acting as go-between, speaking to Will in the booth for a few minutes and then coming to report his plan to Max, who was seated at the counter beside Tess, nursing a cherry cola. Kyle was on Tess�s other side, and Maria and Michael were in the kitchen since they had been scheduled to work the late afternoon shift anyway. Their presence would not be questioned.

"Alex, I can�t let you�" Max began, then narrowed his eyes at the fierce expression that was beginning to cross his friend�s face. "You�re not going to take no for an answer, are you?"

"Glad you noticed," Alex said. "I really don�t feel up to an argument right now."

"Me either," Max agreed, sighing. He rubbed a weary hand across his eyes, trying not to give in to his fear for Isabel. But if anyone would understand, it was Alex. "This isn�t your fault, Alex. I hope you know that."

"I know I�m not the one hurting her, Max, but if it wasn�t for me, she wouldn�t have been in a position for that little bastard to get his hands on her. I can�t just sit here and wait. I know that if there was any other way, you would be going too. I have the option and I�m taking it."

Max nodded, resigned. "Fine. I�ll be glad to have someone with them that I know I can trust. With you there, I know that they won�t forget that Isabel�s safety is all that matters right now. Getting her out of there is priority number one, Alex. We can find out what Nicholas is really up to after. Make sure that Will remembers that. Please."

Max glanced over at the booth, where Liz sat with Will and Kate, his heart hurting a little. He could see how tense Liz was, even from here. She was uncomfortable, still convinced that she was Serena, and still trying with every ounce of her being not to blurt it out to Will - or Khivar, as she called him. It pained him to see her so conflicted, even though he knew that she was wrong. Somehow he was going to have to make her snap out of whatever mind-control she was presently under, because he absolutely knew that she was not in love with Will. What had happened with the orb had only proven that it was him and Liz who were bonded, not Liz and Will.

They belonged together, no matter who they had been in their previous lives. He didn�t care one bit if he had once loved Rowena. If Liz was Serena now, then it was Serena he wanted to be with. He just needed to prove it to her. As soon as Will left with Kate and Alex, he was going to do his best to make her remember who she really was. He was going to remind her what they meant to each other.

Because, in the end, this life was the only one that mattered. To him anyway. They would deal with all the problems left over from that other life, and then they would forget about them. He was no longer Zan of Antar and he never intended to become him either.

Max did feel guilty that he was so concerned about this when his sister was in such deep trouble. But he also knew that it was absolutely imperative that they straighten this huge mess out once and for all. It was becoming ever more clear that he and Will were not meant to be enemies in this life-time, no matter what Will thought. They had all been sent in the same ship and that had to mean something. It just had to. Nicholas�s betrayal only reinforced this fact.

Nicholas�s threats had revealed to them that memories could be changed. Max was beginning to realize that this was likely what had happened to Will and Kate. They remembered things, but they weren�t remembering them right. It was the only explanation. Maybe they weren�t even supposed to have any memories at all, like he and Michael and Isabel.

Max was even starting to suspect that Tess�s so-called memories were perhaps not natural either. Because, in the end, how much had he ever really trusted Nasedo? Not much. Maybe Tess had been programmed by Nicholas too, just as he was threatening to do with Isabel.

The Skins had killed Nasedo, which was why Max was pretty sure that the shapeshifters were not on Nicholas�s side. Maybe Nasedo had failed somehow, had allowed Nicholas access to Tess at some point during the many years they had been on the run. From some of the things that Tess had revealed over the months Max had known her, it did seem that she had often been left to her own devices. It didn�t seem far-fetched that Nicholas might have gotten his hands on her somehow.

The important fact in all of this was that Nicholas was somehow connected to the shapeshifters, probably having killed them both. The odds were good that the Skins had murdered Will and Kate�s real protector to gain control of their pods. It was the only thing that made any sense. Because there had been two shapeshifting protectors sent on their ship with them. And if the second one wasn�t dead, where was he? He had to be dead.

Unless the shapeshifters were working with Nicholas and the Skins, which didn�t seem to make any sense, considering Nasedo had been murdered. But this conclusion did match the fact that Tess had memories of a life with him that Courtney had denied were true. It also matched the fact that Will, Kate and Jack had been raised in close proximity to the Skins. And if this was the truth, then the other shapeshifter could be alive and working with Nicholas.

Max groaned, dropped his head into his hands, exhausted all over again. Why couldn�t someone just remember and know it was the truth?

"Max, are you okay?" Tess asked, placing her hand on his back.

"No," Max muttered, lifting his head. "But that doesn�t really matter, does it?"

"We�re going to get Isabel back," Alex told him firmly, mistaking his obvious frustration. "I swear to God, I will make sure it happens."

"I know, Alex. Even if this plan doesn�t work, we�ll go after her the old-fashioned way," Max agreed. "I just hope it doesn�t come to that."

Movement across the room drew their attention to the booth where the others were sitting. "Looks like it�s time," Alex said, sounding a little scared, reinforcing to Max the risk Alex was willing to take for his sister.

Max smiled at him reassuringly, abruptly grateful that Alex Whitman had been brought into their circle. They didn�t appreciate Alex nearly enough and Max knew it. "Thanks for doing this, Alex. It will make it easier on Izzy, seeing a familiar face."

"I just hope that this is as easy as Will seems to think it will be," Alex sighed, watching Kate and Will leave through the exterior door. "I have a feeling this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better."

Max grimaced, wishing he didn�t agree. "Good luck," was all he said though.

Silence fell over the counter when the jingling bell of the door signaled Alex�s departure. Maria and Michael had both come out of the kitchen to watch him leave, and Liz had also joined them at the counter.

"What do we do now, Max?" Tess asked, breaking the tension. Max thought he heard Kyle snort in derision behind him, and sighed again. He wondered briefly if they would all ever just be able to get along.

"Liz and I need to talk," Max replied firmly. He turned his gaze from the door, meeting Liz�s dark eyes. "Right?"

There was a long pause before Liz sighed, appearing resigned that this confrontation could no longer be put off. "I guess so. Let�s go up to my room."

Max hopped off his stool and followed her through the swinging door to the back, not waiting for any of their friends to say anything. What had happened with the orb was between him and Liz. None of them even knew how significant it had been. They did not need in on this conversation, never even needed to know about Serena at all.

Because, as far as Max was concerned, all the Serena nonsense was about to be put to bed once and for all. She couldn�t argue with the orb, with what the fact that they had been the only two able to make it work meant. But he wanted it dealt with and done. Because he needed her, needed the connection back.

He missed her.

Max shut the door to Liz�s room behind him, slowly turning to face her, trying to get his thoughts in order. He still couldn�t feel her, and, so, had no idea what she was thinking. It was making this supremely difficult. When she had been keeping the truth about why she had pretended to sleep with Kyle from him, he had always known somewhere deep within him exactly what she was doing. It was only after he had known the truth that he had realized this, that it was why he had refused to fully accept it.

But, now, since she had decided that she was Serena - someone who no one else seemed to have any idea had ever existed, not even those with their memories intact - he had absolutely no idea how to even begin to guess.

For that reason, the ball was, in many ways, still in her court. He could question her as much as he wanted to. If she didn�t want to find out why the orb had only worked for them, then he was pretty much screwed. And, so, all he said was, "What happened?"

"What do you mean?" Liz asked, sounding tired.

"You know what I mean," Max replied, trying not to sound impatient. "With the orb. I thought you were connected to Will. That�s what you told me."

Liz collapsed on the bed, shaking her head. "I really don�t know, Zan. I have no idea why it did that."

"I asked you to not call me that."

She looked up, meeting his eyes. "Why? It�s your name. Just like my name is Serena, as much as you don�t want to admit it."

Max narrowed his gaze at her, tried not to give in to the urge to just move across the room and pull her into his arms, kissing her until she remembered why he couldn�t buy this, why he couldn�t believe her. "I need more than just your word on this, Liz."

"Serena."

"Liz," Max ground out through gritted teeth. "You are Liz Parker. Even if you are also Serena, you are still Liz. Why can�t you be both? Everyone else with their memories is both. Kate remembers her past life but she knows it�s not this life. Tess too. I think even Will does, as much as he wants things exactly like they were. Where is Liz?"

Liz�s expression shadowed, as though this was the first time she had even thought about it. "I�I don�t know. I just know who I am."

"How?" Max demanded. "How did you remember? What instigated it?"

Liz bit her lip. He could not think of her as Serena, as much as he could see that she was not Liz. This was Liz�s body, but she was not in there. He knew Serena was right about that. He just didn�t understand why.

He watched her closely. She was playing with the piece of fabric wrapped around her wrist, nervous.

"Why are you scared to remember being Liz?"

She closed her eyes, swallowed convulsively. "I�m just tired of it. I�m so tired."

Max felt his heart go out to her. Moving forward, he sat down beside her. He managed to resist the urge to touch her. He didn�t want to upset her any more than she already was. "What are you tired of?" he asked quietly.

"I�m tired of not being allowed to be me," she replied. "But I can�t be. He�ll never accept me."

"Khivar?" Max refused to acknowledge the jealousy that ran through his veins at the mere thought of Liz with Will. She was not saying these things to hurt him. She presently did not even remember why they would hurt him.

"He loves her. He�ll never accept that the life he shared with her wasn�t her at all." Her voice broke as she continued to finger the scarf. Max�s eyes narrowed further, wondering again why it was there.

"It seems to me that he has the right to know," Max suggested, after they had sat in silence for several long moments. He was still looking at the piece of fabric, noticing for the first time that it seemed to be covered with some sort of strange design.

It almost looked like a stain. In fact, it looked a lot like blood.

"What is that?" he demanded, lifting her wrist and examining the cloth more closely. "Why are you wearing this?"

Liz wrenched her arm away from him. "Khivar gave it to me. It�s our wedding cloth. It doesn�t matter."

Max frowned, unsure why he thought that she was wrong. He was pretty sure it did matter, but he couldn�t figure out why. He shook his head, trying to refocus. "I need you to tell me about Zan and Rowena. Why did you take Rowena�s place? How did they meet? What happened to them that made Zan turn into such a monster?"

"He wasn�t a monster," Liz said softly. "That was not him."

"I understand that he wasn�t like that to begin with," Max said, trying to hide his impatience. "What I want to know is why he changed. It obviously had something to do with Rowena."

"Of course it did. Everything was always about her." Her voice was not necessarily bitter, but there was something there that made Max shift uncomfortably. Liz seemed aware of it, because she smiled sadly. "I loved my sister, but it was tiring trying to live up to her."

"You said before that no one knew there were two of you?" Max could feel his confusion growing, rather than lessening. Why couldn�t any of these people just be straight with them? To top it all off, he didn�t even know if he could believe anything Liz was telling him, even if she thought she was Serena. What had happened to her to change her so completely?

The answer came to him so abruptly, he blinked, then stumbled to his feet in horror. How he couldn�t have seen it before was beyond him. What was wrong with him?

Nicholas could change people with his powers. He had as much as said so. He had said that he could make Isabel forget being Isabel, that he could bring Vilandra out and make her change sides again.

Which was exactly what had happened to Liz.

Which could only mean one thing.

Will had lied. He was in on it all along. And Max had just sent him back to his cohort, Alex in tow.

"What�s wrong?" Liz was eyeing him. She perked up. "Did you remember something?"

"We need to go," Max said evenly. "Will isn�t going to be able to get Isabel back." He didn�t say anything more, having no idea how much she remembered about what had happened to her, nor if she had been working with Will all along to keep him off balance.

"What?" Liz called after him as he opened the door and raced down the hallway of the Parker�s apartment. "Max! Max, wait!"

He ignored her, pounding down the stairs into the Crashdown�s back room. The rest of their friends were waiting in the staff lounge. They were all in the process of turning their heads to stare at him as he reached the bottom.

"Max! What�s wrong?" Maria demanded, jumping to her feet. She had been sitting on Michael�s lap on the couch, both of them obviously on a break. "Where�s Liz?"

"I�m right here!" She was coming down the stairs after him, sounding out of breath. "He just freaked out. I have no idea what�s going on. We were talking and then he went crazy."

"We can�t trust them." Max looked directly at Michael. "Will is still working with Nicholas."

"What?" Michael bellowed, already standing. "I told you, Maxwell! Didn�t I tell you?"

"What a minute!" Tess screeched, throwing her hand up in Michael�s direction to cut off his rant. "Max, how did you find this out?"

"Liz isn�t Liz," Max snapped. "She thinks she�s someone named Serena and the only way she could possibly think that is if Nicholas mindraped her."

"Oh my God," Maria gasped. She turned her gaze from Max and stared at Liz. "Lizzie!"

"She won�t answer to that," Max said grimly. "She doesn�t remember being Liz."

"Jesus." This was from Kyle who had been standing listening quietly until that moment.

"Max! No! You�re completely wrong!"

Max turned his head, feeling his heart ache at the thought of what Liz must have gone through. How could he have not realized this earlier? He moved towards her, pulled her gently against him. "I�m so sorry, Liz. This is all my fault. I never should have let you go to that motel last night. They�ll pay for this, I swear. We�ll find a way to get you your memories back and we�ll make them pay."

She was pushing against him though. It took him a moment to realize it, but when he did, he released her instantly. "You idiot!" she snapped. "Will is not working with Nicholas. I wasn�t mindraped." She lifted her hand, pointing at the band of fabric around her wrist. "This is why I remembered."

"What?" Max demanded. "What are you talking about?"

"It has my blood on it. From before I mean," Liz said, more quietly, obviously relieved that she finally had his attention. She glanced around the room at the rest of the group, who were all staring at them in various degrees of shock and bafflement. She turned back to Max. "I�m sorry. I didn�t mean to call you an idiot. And I should have just told you in the first place."

"I don�t understand." Max wondered if anything was ever going to make sense. He had actually, for once, thought that he had broken through some of the confusion, and now it seemed like he had been totally wrong.

"It has my essence in it," Liz explained patiently. "When I touched it, I remembered."

Max stared at her, understanding dawning, followed immediately by horror. "The blood?"

Liz nodded, seemed relieved that he had calmed down.

"What? Essence is portable?" Kyle asked, earning a round of shushes from everyone else. "What?" he demanded, glaring at them all. "If it�s portable, then why the hell have none of the rest of you found yours?"

Max frowned. He could not take his eyes off of the fabric around Liz�s wrist. Was it really responsible for shutting off their connection? What would happen if Liz took it off? Would his Liz come back?

It could not be a good thing that an object was so capable of taking over someone�s mind, whether it belonged to them or not.

"I want you to take that thing off," Max told Liz.

"What?" She looked flabbergasted. "No! It�s mine. Taking it off isn�t going to change anything. I�m still going to be Serena."

He crossed his arms. "Prove it."

"NO!"

"Where did you get it anyway?" Michael demanded. "And do we all have things lying around that might make us remember who we really are?"

"Khivar gave it to me," Liz replied, seeming relieved that he had interrupted Max. "I won�t take it off."

Max sighed heavily. Will had given it to her. He should have known. "Liz, please take it off."

"No!" She was beginning to sound hysterical now, like her control was hanging on by the smallest thread. "I can�t let go again. I need my memories."

He moved forward carefully. She backed up against the wall, looking around like a caged animal. "Serena." Max said it firmly, making her pay attention to him.

Her eyes focused and she stared at him. "I can�t lose myself again, Zan. I can�t."

"Serena, Liz is not you. You know that. She is Rowena. It�s the only thing that makes any sense." Max had no idea where these words were coming from, but somehow he knew he was right. He remembered what Liz had told him on her balcony the night before - that he had recognized her when they were both children. That it was why she had finally believed that Will was telling her the truth about who she really was. "That cloth is screwing everything up," Max insisted now. "It does not belong to Liz. You know it doesn�t."

Liz�s gaze dropped to the cloth. She swallowed. "Then why did this body allow the essence to establish itself? I must be her."

"You�re sisters - twins. Similar DNA. It�s a simple mix-up. Just like before."

"You�re wrong," Liz snapped. "I know you are."

Max tried not to allow his frustration to show. He could feel all of his friends standing tensely behind him. He knew it was probably killing Michael to not just move forward and rip the scarf away from Liz. But they had to do this right.

Because even if Liz wasn�t Serena, someone out there was. And whoever she was, she might want access to the memories Liz was now harbouring. He could not deny that other girl the chance. Because, despite the fact that he had absolutely no intention of ever being Zan of Antar again, having his memories would certainly fix a few of the things presently wrong in his life. He could not deny someone else that option.

And, in the end, whoever she was, she was Liz�s sister.

"You said that even without the scarf on, if you are really Serena, you�ll keep the memories," Max reminded her gently. "Take it off and find out the truth. I promise you that if Liz remembers everything, I�ll stop trying to deny the truth. Even if she doesn�t, I promise that I will not rest until we find the real Serena. I won�t abandon you. This is a win-win situation."

Liz closed her eyes, a shudder running through her small body. He could see her indecision. She was wavering though. All it would take was one more argument to push her over the edge.

"You said that you were tired of not being yourself," Max continued quietly. "You�re tired of being mistaken for your sister. But if you keep doing this, you�ll be condemning Rowena to the same fate. She won�t be free. She�ll be trapped forever and the real Serena - who has to be out there somewhere - won�t ever know who she is. This is wrong. You know it is. Liz is not Serena."

Her eyes snapped open, horrified as his words penetrated. As she understood that he was right. He knew she did. She started to frantically work at the knot on the scarf, as though she could no longer stand to have it around her wrist.

Max hurried forward, gently moved her hand away. "Here. Let me. It�s okay." He quickly undid the piece of cloth, pulling it away from Liz�s arm and thrusting it behind him. Someone - he didn�t care who it was - took it.

Liz collapsed against his chest. He could feel his heart racing. What if he was wrong? What if she still thought she was Serena? What on Earth would he do then?

She was not moving, was simply allowing herself to be comforted. He could feel her small frame trembling against him. He ran his hands soothingly down her slender back. "It�s okay. You�re safe now. It�s okay."

A small sigh escaped and the whisper he heard was so soft, he wondered at first if he had imagined it. But when Liz�s arms came up to wrap tightly around him, he knew he was not wrong.

She had called him Max.

Part 24

Kate watched Alex pace the length of the motel room impatiently, his hands clasped behind his back. He had a frown on his face, his eyes were glued to the floor and, at one point, she actually thought she heard him mumbling to himself.

"Are you okay?" she finally asked softly, grimacing when his head snapped up and his glare was abruptly directed at her.

"Why is this taking so long?" he demanded as he came to a halt. His expression was not modifying itself. He really seemed angry at her, although he certainly knew that she had absolutely nothing to do with Nicholas having kidnapped Isabel. She and Will were just as baffled by their general�s behavior as Zan and the others. "I thought your brother had instant communication with the troll?"

Kate stood, sighing. "I don�t know, Alex. I�m sorry."

They had come back to the motel from the Crashdown so that Will could use his transmitter to contact Nicholas. She and Alex had left Kate�s brother alone in his room to speak privately with the Skin leader. Alex had wanted to stay to listen, but Will told him that, until he knew exactly where Nicholas was holed up, it was best that the general not know that Alex was with them. They didn�t want any delays.

Because from the way Isabel had looked in the message Nicholas had left for Max, it seemed unlikely that time was on the other girl�s side. As much as Kate and Will were finding it hard to believe, their most trusted ally was torturing that girl and in their name.

And, as much as she didn�t want to admit it to Alex now, Kate wasn�t even sure that Nicholas would tell them anything. If he had gone so far out on a limb without Will�s permission, then the Skin was getting desperate. He might use Isabel for what he could get from her - namely the location of the granolith - and then he would dispose of her. Because, in the end, Vilandra of Antar, in whatever form she presently inhabited, was still their enemy as long as she was loyal to Zan. They could not be sure that Nicholas would not hurt Isabel Evans in the end.

It was why they had to find Nicholas as soon as possible. Things were going well between Zan and Will. In spite of what she remembered, Kate was really beginning to believe that maybe they weren�t supposed to be enemies anymore - that maybe they truly could make a new start and rebuild their system together.

But if something happened to Isabel�There would be no hope at all.

Alex was rubbing the back of his neck, obviously becoming increasingly upset. "Why is this taking so long?" he repeated, not really talking to her at all anymore. He collapsed into the chair beside the T.V., staring at her for a long moment. "Who is Nicholas to you guys anyway? If we�re being forced to wait, the least I can do for my friends is get information."

Kate flinched slightly at his tone. The way he said friends, he really seemed to be trying to drive home the point that he didn�t particularly consider her to be one of them. "He�s Khivar�s general. He was sent after our ship to look after us."

"Why wasn�t he sent with your ship?" Alex asked. "Wouldn�t that have made more sense?"

"We were cloned by our enemies," Kate explained. "We were just lucky that Nicholas found us before we came out of the pods, or we might have grown up with them, having no idea who they really were to us."

"Doesn�t it seem kind of weird to you that the same enemies who killed you cloned you? Why would they do such a thing?"

"To control us," Kate replied quietly. "Jack, Ro and I were already dead at home. By sending us with Zan and the others, they wanted us to grow up as Khivar�s enemies, thus weakening him, and strengthening Zan when he made an attempt to take back the throne."

Alex scratched his head. "So why clone Khivar too? Because that�s who Will is, isn�t it? I mean, no one has flat-out said so to me, but it�s been implied." He paused, frowning again. Kate could almost see the wheels turning in his head. "But you just said that you, Jack, and Rowena were already dead. What about Khivar?" He didn�t really seem to be asking her though. It was more like he was working out the problem himself, like he couldn�t entirely trust her to tell him the truth.

It hurt. She wondered at it. He was making it increasingly clear that his loyalties had never been in doubt, no matter what he had told her the day before. Since they had found out that Isabel had been captured, the jig was up. He had been working for Max and the others all along. He shouldn�t trust her.

And, yet, she still wanted to tell him the truth. She did not want him to keep looking at her like that - like she was his enemy now.

"Khivar - the first Khivar - is still alive," she blurted out before she could stop herself. She almost slapped her hands over her mouth. What was she doing? Somehow she had known it would be a mistake to bring Alex with them. It was a bad move to bring the one person whose opinion she cared about in the other group. Because, as much as she believed that Max was Zan as he had once been, she could still not entirely trust him. Michael and Tess were both unimportant in the grand scheme of her relationship with the other four square. She had never been close to Rath or Ava.

For some reason though, Alex Whitman had affected her from the first time she met him. And she had thought that she had touched him in some way too. But since they found out about Vilandra, that was clearly all over.

She hadn�t had any idea that Alex and Isabel were so close.

And why she cared at the moment, when she had just told Alex the one thing he should not know, she could not explain to even herself.

His mouth was presently hanging open as he stared at her in dismay. "What?" he finally managed to force out, sounding slightly strangled.

"Khivar never died," Kate said, knowing that there was no going back now. "Will is his clone, but the original still lives. It�s he who is sitting on the throne of Antar, and it was he who sent Nicholas after us."

"And it will be that Khivar who will attack the Earth fourteen years from now and end it," Alex said, shaking his head in horror. "It�s all beginning to make sense now. It was the one part of this I just didn�t get. How if Max�s enemy was on the planet all along, why would he destroy it? Because he�d be committing suicide in the process."

Kate had frozen at the part about "ending the Earth," however. "What are you talking about?" she whispered.

Alex�s expression softened for the first time since they had left the Crashdown. "Sorry. I forgot you didn�t know about that." He paused, seemed to be searching for the easiest way to explain what he meant. "Liz and Max haven�t exactly been getting along lately," he began. Kate nodded, remembering how she hadn�t understood the tension that she had witnessed between Max and Liz. If they were so madly in love, as Liz�s proclamations and Kate�s earlier connection with Max had seemed to indicate, why all the drama? She was unsure how this had anything to do with the end of the world though. Alex continued, "It all started when Max found out that he�s supposed to be with Tess, but it got much worse a few weeks ago, when Max caught Liz in bed with Kyle."

Kate felt her eyes widen. Alex noticed and grinned wryly. "It sounds a bit like a soap opera, doesn�t it?"

"How could she do that?" Kate asked. "That is totally unlike Rowena, to do something like that!"

"It�s not like Liz either," Alex agreed. "But Max caught them and he stopped trying to get back together with her. I only found out about all of this yesterday as a matter of fact. All any of the rest of us knew was that Max was basically a zombie and Liz was like manic crazy." He paused, shaking his head, as though he was still coming to terms with all of it himself. "Anyway, she finally broke down and admitted that she did it to drive Max to Tess. Because Max had come back from fourteen years in the future to tell her that if Tess and Max weren�t together, the world would end - that Tess would leave town and they wouldn�t be strong enough to repel the attack from their enemies when it came."

Kate brought a hand to her mouth, shocked. "Poor Liz! I don�t understand though. How did Max come back from the future?"

"Apparently they modified the granolith." Alex shrugged. Kate perked up in spite of herself at the mention of the granolith. Alex seemed to notice, because he raised a hand and said, "I don�t know how they used it or where it is, so don�t even bother asking. I wouldn�t tell you anyway."

Kate hadn�t thought he would, but her reaction had been spontaneous. She sighed. "And you think that was Khivar attacking the Earth?"

"Who else would it be?" Alex asked, narrowing his eyes. "They don�t have more enemies out there, do they?"

"Not as far as I know, although with Zan, it�s impossible to say for sure." She answered him off-handedly, still feeling dazed. The very idea of her brother, in any incarnation, being responsible for the destruction of a planet�It was completely beyond her comprehension, particularly after his horror about what Zan had done to Valonia. But, on the other hand, she had absolutely no idea how all the deaths he had been forced to endure might have affected him. She couldn�t say for certain that it wouldn�t be possible.

And that scared her. A lot. Because without her faith that Khivar was the rightful king of Antar, where would she be? Everything she and her brother were fighting for would be for nothing.

Alex was scowling again. "Okay, can we just stop with all the cryptic comments? Can you just tell me what happened back then?"

Kate allowed herself to fall back on the bed, feeling inexplicably weary. "I can, but I don�t even know if I�m remembering any of it right anymore." She sat up as abruptly. Now where had that come from? What was he, her confessor? She hadn�t even realized that she was really having doubts about her own memory until the words had fallen from her lips.

She met Alex�s eyes. His expression softened again as he finally seemed to recognize her confusion. "This is all just as hard for you as it is for them, isn�t it?" he finally asked softly, when the silence stretched between them for what felt like eternity.

"I don�t know what to believe anymore," she admitted, unable to deny it any longer. "I know what I remember, but I also know what I saw when Max and I connected." She paused, then added, "I also don�t believe that you would be friends with people you didn�t trust completely. I don�t know why I think that, or what it means, because I know that they�re your real friends, not me, and that you�re only here because of them anyway." Kate looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "I�m trying to understand how we can be so wrong. I�m trying to really remember because I know you want me to."

There was another long pause. Kate felt the bed sink beside her. Alex had come to join her there. "Why do you care what I want?" he finally asked. "You should care for your own sake."

She snorted slightly, turning to look at him. "Don�t you get that it�s easier for me to just call them my enemies? That�s it�s what I�ve always done and it�s what I really want to keep doing? I don�t like questioning everything I�ve been raised to believe. And, yet, I am."

"Why?" Alex asked, his dark eyes meeting hers. He seemed truly perplexed, like he really didn�t understand. Kate scowled at him. What was the matter with him? Did she have to hit him over the head with it?

"Because I care what you think of me!" she exclaimed in exasperation.

Alex blinked. "Oh." Pause. "Okay." His gaze remained locked with hers. "Whatever you tell me, it�s not going to change what I think of you," he continued quietly. "I do believe that you had nothing to do with what happened to Isabel. I�m sorry I made you feel like I thought you did."

"I�m really sorry she�s been hurt, Alex," Kate said. "You have to believe that." She looked down at her hands, then added quickly, "She�s really important to you, isn�t she?"

"Yeah. She is." She closed her eyes, no longer surprised when it hurt to hear it. Because she was no longer denying it to him, she could no longer deny it to herself either. She liked Alex far more than she should. And it did hurt to know that he didn�t feel the same. "She�s my friend and, well, I sort of feel responsible for what happened."

Kate�s head came up and she stared at him. "How can you possibly be responsible?"

"We had a fight," Alex replied. "She was out alone because of me." "That�s ridiculous!" Kate scoffed. "How could you have known what was going to happen?"

Alex shrugged, looking away. She realized that she wasn�t going to convince him that he was wrong, so she decided to let it go for the moment. She decided to try and take his mind off of it. "What do you want me to tell you specifically?"

"I don�t know. Everything?" Alex grinned, obviously trying to forget why exactly they were sitting here in the first place. She could see the lines of tension around his eyes as he tried not to think about what Nicholas might be doing to Isabel at that exact moment. "Start at the beginning. When did you first meet Zan?"

Kate smiled slightly. "Vilandra and I went to school together on Antar. He visited her often, and we became friends." If the memories she had of those early days with Zan did prove to be false, she knew that she would be disappointed. He had been kind to her in a way she was unused to from men of such power and influence. While she and Khivar had developed a close relationship as adults, as children he had little use for her, merely seeing her as an annoyance, as was the way with older brothers. But Zan had never treated Vilandra as anything less than his equal and it had been a revelation to Kate - or Karana as she had been at the time. It was why she had been so devastated by how much Zan changed later in life - so much so that even his sister had turned against him. When Karana heard that Vilandra had changed sides, it was only then that she truly believed that he was capable of the treachery of which Khivar had accused him.

"I may have even had a crush on him for a while," she admitted now, as she recalled how upset she was when she had first heard of his betrothal to Ava from Vilandra. Vi had been upset as well, and it was only later that it had dawned on her that Zan was unhappy with the match. "But he treated me like a younger sister."

"When did things change?" Alex asked, encouraging her to continue.

"Vilandra and I finished our schooling and I went home with her because Khivar was unable to send anyone for me right away. He was preoccupied with a dispute my planet was arguing with Knosis. I�m pretty sure it was over trade rights. I wasn�t really into politics until after the war started." Kate shrugged. "The high king on Antar, Zan�s father, sent him to Valonia, where my brother agreed to meet with the king of Knosis to clear the air, Zan acting as mediator. While he was gone, Zan�s father died and when Zan came back to claim the throne�" She trailed off, frowning. "I don�t know. He was different. The next thing I knew, he sent me home and, when I landed on Sardica, I was told that Zan had declared war on us. The following year, the Antarian sky forces destroyed Valonia. It was awful. I had been trying to get in touch with either Zan or Vilandra to parlay for peace, but they refused to meet with me."

She looked at Alex, who was listening intently. "So something happened on Valonia to change Zan," he finally said. He met Kate�s eyes. "Do you think any of this had to do with Rowena? Could she be what drove the wedge between Sardica and Antar?"

Kate shook her head. "I don�t see how."

"What if Zan met your brother�s wife at the trade conference and wanted her for himself?" Alex suggested.

"Why wouldn�t my brother have told me that?" Kate asked. "He always said he had no idea what Zan wanted from him. He even sent Rowena to plea a truce with Zan. Khivar never would have put her in Zan�s hands if that�s what the whole thing was about�" Kate�s mouth fell open abruptly, as the truth suddenly dawned on her. "Oh my God. How could I not have realized this? Of course that�s what it was. She was the only one Zan would talk to - in her capacity as Queen of Valonia he said, but of course that wasn�t it."

"And the reason that Khivar didn�t tell you was that he didn�t know. Rowena never told him," Alex finished neatly.

Kate stared at him. "But it still doesn�t explain why Zan changed Alex. Even if Rowena rejected him, he never would have reacted that way - by destroying her entire planet. Not the Zan I knew."

Alex appeared deep in thought. "You know, I�m beginning to wonder if absolutely everyone was being played. You brother, Zan, Rowena, Vilandra�everyone."

"But by who?" Kate asked, searching her mind frantically. "Knosis was allied with Antar through Zan�s marriage to Ava. They were small and unimportant anyway. And Wendar was also on Zan�s side."

Just as the door to the room opened, she raised her eyes and met Alex�s.

"I finally reached him," Will said as he entered the room. "He�s being really weird. He wouldn�t admit to me that he had Vilandra."

Kate heard him, but continued to stare at Alex, watching the same thought occur to him that she had just had. She shook her head, disbelieving that the answer had been right at her fingertips all along - well, at least since Isabel had been taken captive without permission from Will.

It was the only thing that made sense after all.

"Nicholas," she and Alex both said at the same time.

Her very own people had somehow betrayed her.

Part 25

When she awoke to a splitting head-ache for the second time in twenty-four hours, Liz moaned. She felt a feather-light touch on her hair, becoming increasingly aware of her surroundings as she slowly drifted back to consciousness. She could feel that she was not alone, and was reassured by it.

What on Earth had happened to her? The last memory she had was of Will handing her the scarf he said had belonged to Rowena and then everything had gone black.

"Will?" she managed to croak. The hand stroking her hair paused, then resumed its gentle ministrations, although more tentatively.

"No, Liz. It�s me."

She struggled to open her eyes, feeling tears of relief forming beneath the lids at the familiar and beloved voice. "Max."

Finally his worried face swam into view. His eyes narrowed slightly as she managed to meet his gaze.

"What happened?" she whispered, reaching out and touching his cheek. "What�s wrong?" It didn�t strike her as odd immediately that they were lying side by side, nor that she couldn�t for the life of her think how she had ended up in her own bedroom with Max.

A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes. "You don�t remember?"

"If I remembered, I wouldn�t have asked," Liz replied, wondering why he was being so cryptic.

His relief was so abruptly obvious, she blinked. "Oh thank God." The next thing she knew, he had pulled her into his arms and his face was buried in her neck. A muffled "Thank you God" reached her ears.

Liz allowed herself to enjoy the butterflies in her stomach for a moment, feeling her strength increasing as she came more fully awake. Finally though, she pulled back slightly, smiling wryly at him. "Well hello to you too."

"Hi." His eyes were melting with some emotion she didn�t understand. Her heart began to pound more quickly as his gaze lowered to her lips.

His kiss, when it came, was tentative. For Liz, it was too gentle. She wasn�t sure why she felt impatient with it, but she did. Winding her fingers in his soft hair, she pulled him towards her, opening her mouth to him. He moaned, sending her blood speeding through her veins.

She rolled onto her back, bringing him with her. He was kissing her frantically now, his hand stroking down her side, causing goose-bumps to rise along her skin. When he started to rain kisses down her neck, she giggled as the most inane thought suddenly occurred to her.

Max pulled back, stared at her, his golden eyes completely befuddled. "What�s so funny?"

"My head-ache�It�s gone."

Max frowned slightly. "Headache? Oh God. Liz! I�m sorry." He pulled back further, taking his warmth with him. "I didn�t even ask you if you were okay!"

Liz smiled at him. "I�m perfectly fine. Or I am now, thanks to your magic touch." Liz picked up his hand, watching in fascination as a light glow permeated from where their fingers were wound together. "Just having you touch me�It makes me feel better."

Max smiled slightly, and bent his head to kiss her lightly on the forehead. She sighed, disappointed, when he sat up fully. "What happened, Max? How did I get here?"

"What�s the last thing you remember?" he asked, running a hand through his hair, which was still messy from where her fingers had been moments before. Liz smirked. She couldn�t help it. He looked adorable.

"I remember Will giving me this." She raised her arm, then blinked when she realized that the piece of cloth that she had wound around her wrist was no longer there. "What happened to it?"

"You took it off," Max replied quietly. Liz could feel his intent gaze. "Liz, it did something to you. You�re sure you don�t remember at all?"

She frowned, searching her mind. "No," she finally said. She raised her gaze, meeting Max�s. "What happened?" she whispered, her heart in her throat.

"I don�t know how to explain it�" Max trailed off, sounding frustrated. "She tried to make me understand why it happened, but I was so desperate to get that thing away from you, I didn�t really listen too closely." He looked right at her. "Liz, you were not yourself. You became someone entirely different."

Liz stared at him, uncomprehending. There was only one person she could feasibly have become. "Rowena?" she finally whispered, unwilling - unable - to fully grasp that this, more than anything that had come before, proved that she was not of this Earth.

She was surprised when Max shook his head. "No. She said her name was Serena. Apparently Rowena had a sister. From what little information she gave me, it seems that they were twins. The scarf belonged to Serena, but it affected you because of your similar DNA." He paused, taking her hand in his again, and stroking lightly. "Liz, there is absolutely no doubt now. You are Rowena."

Liz bit her lip, closing her eyes briefly. She didn�t even know what to think. She had pretty much accepted that Will was telling the truth before, but there were still so many unanswered questions. How had she ended up as Jeff and Nancy Parker�s daughter? She knew for a certainty that she wasn�t adopted. What on Earth had happened?

And she had a sister! Somewhere out there, her twin sister existed, and she had never even known. How was any of this possible?

Serena. Liz shook her head in disbelief, Future Max�s words about her "friend" Serena adapting the granolith for time travel�How could he have kept this from her? This was vital information.

But, of course, they had obviously found Serena in that past life. Future Max would have assumed that this would be the case in this life too. Which meant that she was out there somewhere. She really did exist.

"There�s more, Liz," Max said tentatively. She could hear the fear in his voice. She opened her eyes, wondering at it. His eyes were glued to her face, as though he fully intended to catch any reaction the instant she had it. "You were married to Will in your last life, but you never lived with him that way. Serena took your place. But Will doesn�t know that. He always thought her to be you."

Liz blinked. "Where was I?"

Max smiled sheepishly. "Well, it turns out that�"

But Liz cut him off, already knowing somehow. "I was with you," she finished quietly. She was in absolutely no way surprised. The conclusion that there had been something between Zan and Rowena was too obvious to ignore, although she had not really thought about it in any great detail. Because it was so evident, there was nothing to really think about. She searched his face. "Why do you sound upset about that?"

"I�m not upset," Max replied. He stood, and started pacing. "I�m thrilled about it."

Liz smiled slightly as she watched him. She tilted her head. "You sound it," she told him wryly.

Max paused, looking at her. "It�s not me I�m worried about," he said. "It�s you. Liz, this is all just crazy information. I don�t even know how you�re processing it. And none of it makes any sense with what you�ve always known about yourself."

She shrugged. "I don�t really have much of a choice, Max. It�s what is." She narrowed her eyes. "I�ll admit that I was a little freaked at first�" She remembered back to how she had screamed when it had finally dawned on her that Will was telling her the truth, that somehow she had always known it anyway. Liz breathed a small sigh of relief that Max had not witnessed that.

"Liz, you were more than freaked."

Liz started. "Huh? How did you know that." She instantly thought accusingly of Alex. She was going to kill him!

Max just looked at her, an eyebrow raised impatiently, and the real truth dawned on her.

"Oh, the flashes." Liz grimaced. "Well, you have to understand, Max�"

"Liz, I do understand," Max interrupted. "That�s not the problem. The problem is how you�re going to adjust to all this stuff. Because you are being too calm right now. I don�t like it."

Liz clambered off the bed, went and stood near him. "Max, I don�t even know what you�re talking about." She reached up, tracing a hand down his face until he was forced to meet her eyes. "What is this really about?"

She saw a vein convulse in his neck. He was quite obviously extremely upset about something. "Max?"

"Liz, I can�t help but remember how you felt when Tess first came to town," Max finally said, so quickly, Liz knew that he was just trying to get it out. "You were scared, Liz. In spite of all you knew about me, and Michael, and Isabel, you were scared. And I didn�t know what to do to make you feel less scared. Because this is damn scary stuff and I hate that you even have to feel this way at all."

She could feel her eyes widening as she listened to him. How did he even remember this? She had been scared of Tess, but not because she was an alien, although it had seemed that way at the time. It was Tess who scared her, because Liz felt the threat inherent in the other girl, whether she was Nasedo or not. Reflecting on it now, it amazed her that she hadn�t seen how her comments that day had affected Max though. Because Tess ended up being one of them. And Liz never made it truly clear that - to her - Max was not even different. He was just Max. If there was one person she would never fear, it was him.

"You�re afraid I won�t be able to accept it?" Liz asked. "That I won�t want to accept it?"

"That�s not the only thing," Max sighed, his eyes drifting away again. "Liz, I feel like maybe you�ll start to think that what�s between us has nothing to do with us. That it was inevitable, that we had no choice in the matter."

"What?" Liz exclaimed. "Of course I wouldn�t think that, Max! I don�t even remember Rowena. You don�t remember Zan." She brought her other hand up, made him look at her. "Max, whatever happens, it�s you I love. It doesn�t matter who the hell I was before, or who you were. We may never have even found this stuff out. I have a feeling in that other timeline we never knew any of this - or at least not until it was too late." Which must be true if they had known Serena. She shook her head, forcing herself to concentrate on Max. He was what was important at the moment. "None of it really matters when it comes to you and me. Even if it did turn out that it was me who was married to Will, I still would have fallen in love with, and I would still love you now. You�re the one I want, no matter what."

Max�s eyes softened. He lowered his head until her arms were wrapped around his neck and their foreheads were touching. "How is it possible that I love you even more now than I did two minutes ago?" he demanded quietly. "I can�t bear the thought of ever losing you, Liz. It just freaks me out on a level I can�t even express. If that makes me weak, then so be it."

He kissed her. The flashes were almost instantaneous, making Liz�s knees weak. She felt his love for her so clearly, it was humbling. She kissed him back, throwing her entire soul into it, determined that he would understand exactly how she felt about him, that Zan meant nothing to her. She didn�t even know who Zan had been. It didn�t matter. Even if he had been the monster that he seemed in all the reports they had so far, she was so far from caring, it was ridiculous. Zan and Max were not the same.

It was in that instant that the flashes changed. Thoughts, words, raced through her mind, familiar, and, yet, she knew that she had never had or heard them before.

"I will come back for you. We will be together. I swear it."

"I will wait for you forever."

Flashes of various symbols, some familiar, others not�She had seen them before though. She absolutely knew it.

And, suddenly, unbearable pain ripped through the connection, almost making her black out. Zaaaaaaan! It was so abrupt, she didn�t have time to scream.

It took her several long moments to even get her bearings.

"Max," she gasped. She realized that somehow they had ended up back on her bed. He was panting against her neck. She could feel his skin burning against hers in a way she hadn�t experienced since they found the first orb in the desert months ago.

"God, Liz," he finally managed to breathe, rolling off of her. She turned her head. He had an arm thrown over his eyes. "What the heck was that?"

She reached out, tracing a hand down his other bare arm, feeling her eyes widen when a light glow followed the route her finger-tips were taking. "Max, look," she whispered, her awe so great, she felt tears welling.

Max opened his eyes, watching her hand intently. When he raised his gaze to meet hers, it had darkened considerably again. It was only then that Liz realized that his chest was completely bare. Where the heck had his shirt gone? She looked around, and was astounded to see it on the other side of the room. Liz looked down, and saw that the top buttons of her shirt were undone. In fact, one of them was gone. A dull flush crept up her cheeks. This was so not good. How had they so completely lost control of themselves?

She looked back at Max, and couldn�t help the slight smile that wanted to break out across her face. She was a little upset, yes, but this was Max. It wasn�t like it was unexpected. "Er, well�That was interesting."

Max scowled, and did not seem pleased by her choice of words. It made her want to giggle, in spite of everything. If there was one thing Max hated, it was losing control. And there was absolutely no other way of describing what had just happened. He was opening his mouth to respond, but she kissed him again, succeeding in shutting him up.

This time there was nothing extraordinary about any of it. She felt it down to her toes as his hands twined in her hair, but there were no flashes. It was simply them - Max and Liz. There was something reassuring in it.

He finally broke the kiss, bringing her down gently so that her cheek rested against his pounding heart. "What the heck was that?" he repeated quietly, after they lay there in silence for several long moments.

"I�I think it was from before," Liz admitted, tracing her hand down his arm again. No glow followed. She felt momentary disappointment. "For one minute, I remembered being her."

"Me, too." Max sighed. "God, Liz�Whatever happened to them, it was horrible."

"I know," she replied. She lifted her head so that her chin was resting on his chest, meeting his eyes. "It�s not going to happen to us. I refuse to allow it, Max."

He traced a finger down her cheek, a slight smile on his face. "How are you so strong?"

"You make me that way. No one is going to come between us ever again."

There was another pause. Liz closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his fingers dancing through her hair. She didn�t understand how he could drive her to a frenzy one instant and then, in the next, make her feel so peaceful, it made her want to cry. Was it any wonder she loved him so much?

The flashes started to return as she lay there, clearer now that she wasn�t completely engrossed in him, now that she wasn�t completely distraught by the memory of the painful way Rowena and Zan had been torn apart. The symbols�where had she seen them before? Somehow she knew it was important.

"Max, did you see�" she started to ask but it was at that moment that a knock came at the door. They both jumped, the strange other world in which they had been existing abruptly ended. Michael�s voice came through the door, sounding impatient. "Yo, Maxwell, what�s going on in there? It�s been forever!"

Max sat up, bringing Liz with him. "Oh my God! Isabel!" The expression of guilt that crossed his face made Liz�s stomach drop. "What kind of ass am I?" he demanded. "Coming!" he called out to Michael.

"What�s wrong?" Liz asked. "What about Isabel?"

"Nicholas kidnapped her," Max replied, sliding off the bed after planting one more firm kiss on her lips. She brought her hand up, touching her mouth, a slight frown on her face. A sense of familiarity ran through her at his action. The memory of it was just beyond her grasp�She almost groaned in frustration, forcing herself to pay attention to what he was saying.

"Oh my God! Poor Isabel!" Liz exclaimed, jumping off the bed when his words penetrated. "What on Earth are we doing here?"

Max was pulling his shirt over his head. When his face reappeared, under his tousled dark hair, his expression was grim. "Will agreed to intervene. He and Kate said they had nothing to do with it."

Liz frowned. "You don�t sound convinced," she said, watching him carefully. She absolutely knew in her heart that Will had no idea of what Nicholas was capable. It seemed that Max was not so certain though. But, if he had trusted Will in the first place�

"Liz, he gave you that cloth," Max told her. "He screwed with your mind. Whatever he might be doing right now, I can�t trust that it has anything to do with saving my sister. And that�s not the worst part. We let Alex go with them." He softened slightly, seeming to become aware of the now troubled expression on her face. "We needed to make sure you were all right before we went in after them."

"Why?" Liz asked, surprised.

"We need you, Liz. You�re part of our four square. Well, that�s not the only reason," he amended. "I wouldn�t have been able to think straight if I wasn�t sure before we went."

She blinked, ignoring the second part of this statement, being as it was not unexpected. No, it was the first part she couldn�t quite grasp. "What? What about Tess? What about Will?"

Max shrugged. "I have no idea. All I know is that we had a communication orb and you and I were the only ones able to make it work, even after you thought you were Serena."

Liz raised her hands, rubbing her temples. "God, Max. Can this get any more confusing?"

He reached out, grasping her elbow gently, and pulling her towards him. "I have a feeling it�s going to get worse before it gets better," he replied. She stared up at him. "But there is one thing that there is no confusion about, one thing that I won�t ever forget again."

She smiled slightly, already knowing where he was headed, but asking anyway, "And what�s that?"

"You and I are meant to be, Liz Parker. No matter how many of our past life wives or husbands show up in the future, no matter how many times you try and convince me otherwise - and this includes pretending to sleep with ex-boyfriends," he added, running his hand lightly through her hair, sending a shiver down her spine, "Absolutely nothing is ever going to make me doubt you again." Max kissed her lightly, taking her by the hand. "C�mon. We have work to do."

Part 26

"Where are we going anyway?" Alex asked. He stared out the window and watched the desert scrub fly past. He swallowed and gripped the door when the car seemed to speed up, if that was possible. Will had been in a desperate hurry ever since they had left the motel. While Nicholas had not admitted to having Isabel in his control, he had told Will where he could be found. Will had put the pedal to the metal from the moment they were back in the newcomers� car.

Not that Alex wasn�t glad. He was. The sooner they got to Isabel, the sooner he could be assured that she was safe. But dying on the way to rescue her was not exactly what he had counted on doing. He was just glad that his voice hadn�t squeaked when he asked, because he was absolutely terrified.

He was glad he had a reason to pretend that it was because of the driver, and not what awaited them at the end of the ride. Alex hadn�t met Nicholas when everyone else had in Copper Summit, but he had heard enough about the little troll to make his skin crawl at the thought of seeing him in the flesh.

Of course, if he really was a Skin, his flesh had to be pretty darn revolting by now, Alex thought inanely. Why he suspected Nicholas might not be a Skin, Alex wasn�t sure. But the more he thought about it, especially since his conversation with Kate, the more he was sure that once they figured out who Nicholas really was, and why he was lying to his king, the more all of this would actually make sense.

"Our birthplace," Will answered shortly.

Alex blinked in surprise. "And that�s near here?"

"Of course," Will snapped. All Alex could see was the back of Will�s head, but he could hear the scowl he was wearing in his voice. The alien king had been in a foul mood for hours - since they left the Crashdown actually. Having Nicholas lie to him had not improved matters. Alex knew that it wasn�t what was really bothering him though. It was still the fact that Liz and Max had made that orb work, the fact that Will and Liz had not been able to do it. Alex absolutely knew it was.

"We were in the Crash," Kate reminded Alex quietly, turning her head to regard him, her blue eyes sad for a reason he didn�t quite understand. "Our guardians hid our pods in the desert near Roswell after we were liberated from the base. We were born there a few years ago and then taken into hiding."

Alex frowned. "I don�t get it," he said. "How did the Skins find you if they weren�t with you? And what happened to your first guardian anyway? He must have been a shapeshifter, right?"

There was a long silence. Kate continued to stare at him, her expression pinched. Alex could see the tension that was increasing in the line of Will�s back.

"We don�t know," Kate finally admitted softly. Alex abruptly understood why she was so sad. Everything they had ever known about themselves was turning out to be a lie. Nicholas had told them where to find him, but he had lied about having Isabel in his clutches. And he had apparently lied about everything else too.

"Shut up, Kate," Will ordered. "You�ve said just about enough."

"Don�t talk to me like that!" Kate shot back. "I have every right to say whatever I want. We don�t even know anything anymore Will. Our only real chance is to work together. We�ll get Vilandra back and then we�ll sit down with Zan and the others and figure this all out."

"We will do no such thing," Will bit out fiercely. "None of them can be trusted."

"We can�t trust anyone anymore!" Kate wailed in frustration. "I�ve connected with Zan. I know he�s not evil. He�ll help us."

"Just like he helped us last time?" Will demanded. Alex felt his blood run cold when the alien king swung the steering wheel hard to the right and off the highway. It took him a moment to realize that they were on a dirt road now, and that the move had not just been random. His heart gradually stopped thudding like it was going to come out through his chest.

"Something happened last time. Something made Zan change. I can�t believe I didn�t understand that before, but it has to be true. No one can become so different without a reason," Kate argued, sounding calmer again. "It is more than clear that nothing we remember is right." There was a long pause. Alex could tell that she wasn�t finished. He met Kate�s eyes again. He saw her take a deep breath, and realized that she had looked at him in order to help her to gather her strength. He felt momentarily dumbfounded, but then smiled at her encouragingly, realizing where she was headed. She was going to tell Will the truth about what they thought they knew. He didn�t understand how this girl had so quickly become attached to him, or why she trusted his judgment so implicitly, but he couldn�t help but feel honoured�and not a little attached right back. He allowed himself to fall into her eyes for a moment.

God, she really was beautiful.

An instant flash of guilt ran through him. Here they were, off to save Isabel, and he was letting himself think about another girl. What kind of ass was he? Particularly considering that it was his fault that Izzy was in danger in the first place.

"Alex and I think that there was something going on between Zan and Rowena, Will." Kate�s rushed confession pulled Alex back to the situation at hand. He grimaced. Ouch. That had been a little harsh.

"Don�t be ridiculous," Will said dismissively. "He�s using her now, confusing her for his own ends. I think I remember my own wife. She didn�t even know Zan."

"She did so," Kate reminded him. "The trade summit, Will. On Valonia. They met then."

Will snorted. "Barely. Ro left for her summer palace almost immediately after his delegation arrived. She was there merely to greet him for formality�s sake. Her father was still alive and it was he who hosted the summit. She had no interest in the dispute between Knosis and Sardica. She chose not to attend, believing that her position as heiress to the throne of Valonia would only confuse matters. Ro wanted nothing to do with it, even as my wife."

"Ro wanted nothing to do with any of it, Will," Kate reminded him gently. "Ever."

"Which is why she left," Will replied triumphantly. "So when would she have met Zan? For long enough for anything to be going on between them I mean?"

Alex was intrigued by Kate�s last statement, and couldn�t help but ask, "What do you mean that Rowena wanted nothing to do with any of it?"

Kate sighed. "Rowena loved her own planet," she explained carefully. "She became a great queen for Valonia. But she really had no interest in politics beyond her planet�s atmosphere. The only time she ever made any sort of move to ally herself anywhere was when she married Khivar." She paused again. "And that was her father�s idea."

"She loved me," Will interrupted, sounding annoyed. "You�re right that she didn�t really care about politics though," he conceded. "Our marriage was a love match. I just happened to be King of Sardica." He sounded slightly amused when he added, "Much to her chagrin. But she was willing enough to marry me once I agreed to live on Valonia. And once the war started, she stood firmly against Antar. It was why Zan destroyed it."

Alex mulled this new information over for a few moments in silence. It was too bad that they couldn�t be certain that any of this was true. Will sounded so certain. But Alex just couldn�t buy it. If this was true - if there was no connection between Zan and Rowena - then why were Max and Liz the only ones able to make that orb work? Why had Max fallen in love with her from the first moment he laid eyes on her ten years before?

"I wonder why Max and all the others don�t have any of their memories," Alex commented. "And why was Liz separated from you all? The other weird thing is that there was absolutely no indication that she was anything other than human until after Max healed her. What is that about anyway? I�m almost positive that if you were to ask Mr. and Mrs. Parker, they would tell you that Mrs. Parker gave birth to her."

"It is strange," Kate agreed. "Maybe the babies were switched? In the hospital, I mean?"

Alex frowned. "Maybe. But if that�s true, then why did she come out of her pod as a baby? Isabel, Max and Michael were born as six year olds. We don�t even know for sure when Tess was born. We just know that she was left behind."

"Well, I know that we were older than that when we came out of our pods," Kate told him. "We were about ten. That�s probably why we have more memories than Zan and the others."

"That makes sense," Alex agreed. A thought crossed his mind. "You know, it would be really useful to know that for sure. We should also ask Tess how old she was when she was born. Because maybe she has memories she can access that she doesn�t know about, if she it was longer than we think. We�ve all just assumed she was born pretty much right after the other three, but we don�t know that for sure at all." Alex felt his suspicious nature regarding Tess rear its head again. He didn�t trust her at all. Never had, never would - and he didn�t think it was just for Liz�s sake.

He realized that now was not the time to think about Tess though. The car was pulling to a halt. Alex stared out the window. Dusk was just settling over the desert, but it was still light enough for him to realize that he recognized this place. "Oh my God," he gasped.

Kate, who had already climbed out of the car, stared back at him in surprise. Will disappeared into the mouth of the cave. "What�s wrong?" she asked.

"I�ve been here before," Alex said, his throat dry. "We�re on the Mesa Laco Reservation, aren�t we?"

"Yes," Kate acknowledged, frowning. "When were you here?"

"Last winter," Alex explained, following her into the dark entrance of the cave. "Michael�well, he was hurt. We used some stones from their planet to heal him."

"That�s weird," Kate replied. She stopped walking, admitting, "We haven�t been here in a long time. Our guardians used to bring us back sometimes, when we first came out of our pods, to read the markings on the walls."

"You can read them?" Alex demanded, his heart thumping.

"Sure." Kate shrugged. "Can�t they?"

"No. All we ever knew was that Nasedo wrote them."

"That�s why our people wanted us to read them. For hidden meanings. They thought the shapeshifters were trading information somehow, probably about where the other four were hidden. They got separated after the Crash of course, after they hid us here and the Royal Four wherever they were born." She paused, looking at him curiously. "Do they know where their pods are?"

Alex narrowed his eyes. "No," he said non-commitally, his conscience hurting at the lie. "They don�t remember." She seemed to accept this readily enough, and he knew he was doing the right thing. Because, even though he had never been there, he did know that it was where the granolith was located. It wasn�t like he�d be able to take Kate or Will there, but he had already told them too much without the others� permission. It was his job to get information for his friends, but not to hand it out on their behalf.

It didn�t matter one bit that he felt like he could trust Kate, or that he wanted to help her more with every passing minute. His loyalties were not with her. They couldn�t be. Not until he was absolutely sure that she would not betray Isabel and the others.

"It�s all just a big jumble though," Kate continued, oblivious to his guilt. "Whatever they were trying to tell each other, we can�t make it out. It�s in Wendarian, but a form we�ve never seen before."

"Hmmmmm," Alex replied, storing the information, but deciding to change the subject. He hated even thinking about the pod chamber and the granolith. He was too scared he was going to leak something accidentally. The secret location of the granolith was the only bargaining tool Max still had, if Will was unable to free Isabel. "I don�t remember any pods in here," he said instead.

"They were destroyed after our birth."

Alex was frowning again though, something having just occurred to him. "Wait a minute! If you guys were only born a few years ago, Nasedo must have known where you were! He wrote those symbols over thirty years ago!"

"Well, he must have been the shapeshifter who hid us," Kate replied reasonably. "He didn�t know where the Royal Four were. They would have been hidden by one of the others."

"But why would he just let you all get taken by the Skins?" Alex demanded. "It doesn�t make any sense. I mean, I�m getting the impression that you were all sent together in an attempt to resolve your differences here. Why did they split you up?"

"I don�t know anything," Kate admitted. "None of it makes any sense, does it? We don�t even know for sure that it�s why were sent together anyway. Maybe Nicholas will know."

"Nicholas. Right. Like we can trust anything he says." Alex felt his stomach clench. He peered into the gloom, and could see the large cave where they had restored Michael�s balance just ahead, obviously lit up. Was Isabel up there? It didn�t seem likely that Nicholas would bring them to the place where he had his prize stashed, considering he had lied to Will about it.

"They�re arguing," Kate whispered. "Can you hear them?"

"Yeah. We should go back Will up." It was the last thing he wanted to do, but if Nicholas was going to admit to Isabel�s location, he needed to hear it.

Alex followed Kate through into the cave proper, just in time to hear Will saying, "�saw the message, Nicholas. I order you to tell me where you have taken Vilandra."

"I don�t know what you�re talking about, highness," the prepubescent twerp was whining. "I have not seen Vilandra since Copper Summit. You have been tricked somehow. Perhaps it was a shapeshifter?"

"Their Wendarian bodyguard is dead," Will snapped. "You had Venora kill him. Or have you forgotten already?" Alex assumed that "Venora" had been Congresswoman Whittaker.

"There were other shapeshifters on that ship, highness," Nicholas argued. "Perhaps one of them."

"A shapeshifter with the ability to mindmeld?" Will asked coolly. "We saw it with our own eyes, Nicholas. It was you."

"Highness, I swear it was not." Alex felt his blood run cold when the boy glanced past Will and right at him, seemingly aware of his presence for the first time. "A human? Why have you brought a human to this sacred place?" he snarled, his face abruptly going from cringing to threatening. "I knew that you should not have come here alone. You are all falling into their traps, aren�t you?"

"Whose traps?" Kate demanded. "We are perfectly safe, Nicholas. Zan and the others�they are not the same. Why did you not tell us they don�t have their memories?"

Nicholas ignored her question though. "Where is Jack?" He shot back, his expression furious. Alex saw Kate flinch at that. "I thought so. So Vilandra is not the only one missing then?" He rounded on Will. "Why did you not tell me this before, highness?"

"We thought he was with you!" Will roared, making Alex jump. "He killed the Rath worshipper and then disappeared."

"Well, this is just peachy." Nicholas started pacing. "We were just about to make up a perfect four square and now you�ve lost Jack?"

Alex watched Will run his hands through his hair in frustration. "It doesn�t matter. Something is awry anyway. Rowena and I�we are not matched."

"What?" Nicholas sounded flabbergasted. "What do you mean?"

"The message orb�We could not make it work. Neither could Zan and Ava. Rowena and Zan were the ones who managed to make it play."

"Well, that makes absolutely no sense." Nicholas glared at Alex, as though it was somehow his fault. He took a step back despite himself. He felt a shiver run down his spine when Kate�s hand came up and rested on the small of his back comfortingly.

"He�s really not that bad, Alex," she whispered.

He looked at her. "You don�t think he�s behind this anymore?"

"Do you?" Kate asked. "He�s either an excellent actor or he really is shocked by all of this."

Alex hated to admit it, but he agreed. Nicholas seemed just as upset as any of them.

"�going to have to consult Khivar," Nicholas was saying. "He is not going to be pleased."

"I really don�t care," Will replied firmly. "We must have the truth. Something is completely wrong with all of this."

"You don�t care, highness," Nicholas snapped sarcastically. "It�s not your neck on the line." He shook his head, muttering. "I can�t believe you lost Jack! And just when their four square has been weakened with Vilandra missing. It would have been the perfect opportunity to take them out."

"But, if Rowena isn�t matched to me anymore�" Alex could hear the sadness in Will�s voice. "What good would it have done anyway?"

"Okay, I�m only beginning to get how weird this all is," Alex spoke up. "Why on Earth were both Jack and Isabel taken at the same time? It�s like someone is trying to keep you all apart, like they don�t want either side to get strong enough to defeat the other."

"It is like that," Kate agreed. "But who? Who else is there?"

"Why me, of course."

They all whipped their heads around and stared at the mouth of the cave. Alex felt his eyes widen in horror.

He should have known. The instant that Max and Liz made that orb work, they really all should have known. Because, in the end, there was no other explanation.

It was Tess.

"And since you�re all getting a little too close to the truth," she continued, "You�re all going to have to join Isabel and Jack." She pulled her hand out from behind her back, a throbbing orb sitting neatly on her palm. Tess smirked at him, tossing it in his direction. "Catch, Alex."

He did, just as it exploded, sending him plunging into darkness.

Part 27

"Where�s Tess?" Max asked as he emerged into the Parker living room behind Liz. Maria and Michael were on the couch and Kyle was leaning against the far wall, his arms crossed, looking annoyed.

"Are you telling me you really care?" Kyle demanded, the challenge in his voice more than obvious. He glanced almost disdainfully between Max and Liz.

Max sighed. Wonderful. It seemed that he had somehow offended Tess again. He knew that he had been preoccupied with Liz over the past twenty-four hours, but he had thought that all of the destiny stuff was finally resolved with Tess the night before. She had seemed okay earlier.

"Oh, Kyle, zip it," Maria exclaimed. "We don�t have time for this crap, and you know darn well that Tess isn�t mad about anything. She went home to get something. She said she�d be back in a few minutes."

Kyle had the grace to look slightly embarrassed, and abruptly changed the subject. "So, are you Liz again?" He addressed this to Liz, who was still standing awkwardly in the doorway.

There was a long pause as Michael, Maria and Kyle all stared at Liz. She blushed. "I�m pleased to report that Liz Parker is present and accounted for," she finally said, sounding a little sheepish. "I�m sorry about what happened. I�ve learned my lesson about alien artifacts the hard way."

Michael stood, moving towards her and then peering into her face. "And we know this for sure?" He glanced over his shoulder at Max, who could feel his blood beginning to boil. He didn�t understand why everyone had to be so difficult all the time. It was just exhausting!

"It�s true, Michael," Max snapped impatiently. "It�s Liz. I know the difference."

Maria pushed Michael aside and pulled Liz against her. "I�m so glad you�re okay, chica." Max could hear the emotion in Liz�s best friend�s voice. "I was so worried."

Liz pulled back slightly. "You�re not mad? Maria, I thought you were mad at me for keeping secrets!"

"I�ve decided to forgive you this time," Maria replied. "If you promise never to do it again. Having you disappear on us for a while there�I guess I just decided that it wasn�t worth the energy," she admitted. "I�m just glad you�re okay. I am a little hurt that you didn�t think you could trust me, but I�ll get over it." Max could tell from her voice that Maria was simply trying to be brave though. She was obviously still extremely hurt that Liz had not turned to her in her time of need.

"It wasn�t that, Maria," Liz insisted. "I couldn�t tell anyone."

"You told Alex," Maria shot back. She looked down. "Sorry. I do forgive you, Liz. And I know it was a really horrible experience for you. I guess we drifted further apart over the summer than I thought we had." She glanced over at Max. "But I do want you to know that just because Max and I are friends, it doesn�t mean you can�t trust me. You do know that?"

Liz smiled. "Of course I do, Maria. And it really had nothing to do with your friendship with Max. I swear. I just knew that you wanted us together, and I didn�t want you giving me all the arguments I was already giving myself. The only reason I told Alex at all was because of the whole Will thing. I couldn�t handle it all on my own anymore."

"The point here is that you shouldn�t have kept any of it to yourself." Max looked at Michael suspiciously. The last thing Liz needed right now was Michael giving her grief. She�d had more than enough. Michael had his arms crossed, but he didn�t seem accusatory, just matter-of-fact, so Max didn�t interrupt him. "We needed the information that Future Max gave you, Liz." Michael looked around. "We need to start depending on each other, trusting each other. It�s the only way we�re ever going to make this work. If we keep fighting amongst ourselves, we�renever going to be able to defeat our enemies."

There was another long moment of silence, then Maria said, "Are we sure Michael wasn�t kidnapped too?" She was smiling though. "If you�re a shapeshifter, you�re doing a pretty poor imitation of my space-boy."

"What�s that supposed to mean?" Michael demanded.

"Was that common sense, or am I hearing things?" Maria teased. Max could hear the note of pride in her voice though. Michael obviously did too, because, although he rolled his eyes, he looked more embarrassed than anything.

Max stepped in before they could truly start bickering. "Michael�s right," he said firmly. "No more secrets between any of us." He looked around and met all of their eyes. "Even if it�s bad new, or we think it�s going to be hard for some of us to hear, we share it. Are we agreed?"

They all nodded or voiced their understanding.

"Well then, in the spirit of this new pact, or sharing circle, or whatever you want to call it," Michael interjected. "I want to know what the hell is going on with Liz."

"And you will," Max promised. "We�ll explain it on the way. But we need to get going." He glanced at his watch. "Dammit! Why did Tess go home right now? We need her here."

"I�ll call her," Kyle volunteered. He moved towards the kitchen to use the phone there.

"Where are we going, Maxwell?" Michael demanded. "I thought we were waiting here until Will tried to bring Isabel back himself. Do we trust that guy, or don�t we?"

Max glanced at Liz, who was watching him carefully. "I don�t know," Max admitted honestly. "Liz thinks we can."

"I know we can," Liz insisted. "I know the whole scarf thing is suspicious, but my instinct is telling me he�s okay. I know he really does care about me and I have to believe that he had no idea what that thing would do to me. He�s just as messed up as we are. He never knew about Serena at all, thought he was married to Rowena the whole time. He can�t be blamed for that."

"Okay, what?" Maria asked, looking increasingly perplexed and not a little freaked out. "We�re working from a different book here Lizzie."

"Serena and Rowena were sisters," Liz explained patiently. "We�ve figured out that, from what I told Max when I thought I was Serena, they changed places at some point. Rowena was the one betrothed to Khivar, but she didn�t marry him. That was Serena."

"And Will doesn�t know this?" Maria sounded horrified. "That poor guy!" She paused, then asked the next most logical question. The one Max only wished they had an answer for. "But where is Serena?"

"She�s on Earth," Liz replied. "We know that for sure. Future Max told me it was a Serena who fixed the granolith so that he could come back here."

Maria stared at Liz, "You mean you have a sister out there somewhere?"

"I do," Liz said quietly. "And we�re going to find her."

"Do you think maybe you should talk to your parents about this?" Michael suggested. "Even if just to find out exactly how you came to be with them?"

Liz shook her head. Max watched her with concern. She looked sad. "I really don�t think they have any idea, Michael. They think I�m their daughter. I know they do." There was a slight hitch in her voice as she continued, "If I�m not, it means that something happened to their real child so that I could replace her. I can�t�until I know what that was, I can�t bring any of this up with them. It�s a last resort. I�m sorry but it�s just the way it has to be."

Max moved towards Liz, and put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her. "The Parkers are Liz�s decision, Michael. We don�t have any right to get them involved unless she wants us to."

"Hey!" Kyle called from the kitchen. "Where should I tell Tess to meet us?" He paused. "We are going somewhere, are we not?"

"Is that her?" Max asked, giving Liz a little squeeze in apology for changing the subject.

"No," Kyle snapped. "It�s Queen Elizabeth." When they all stared at him, he grimaced. "Sorry. Old habits die hard." He sighed. "It is Tess, your highness."

Max rolled his eyes. "Tell her to meet us at the pod chamber."

Kyle�s eyes widened, but he nodded. "Okay." He disappeared into the kitchen again.

"What? Maxwell, are you crazy?" Michael demanded. "The Skins will follow us. The twerp said in his message that they were watching us."

"That�s what I�m counting on," Max replied grimly. "It�s time to bring all the players together and the only bait we have is the granolith. I refuse to allow my sister to suffer a minute longer. The game ends here."

"We�re just going to hand it over to them?" Maria�s voice was a little squeaky, her fear evident.

"No," Max amended. "They don�t know it�s there, and they won�t unless there�s no other choice. But I want it easily accessible if necessary." He looked down at Liz. "Can you call Alex�s cell? Tell him to bring Will, Kate and Nicholas to the cliffs."

"I still think this is a bad idea, Max," Michael complained as Liz went to the kitchen to see if Kyle was off the extension. Maria followed her. "The granolith is our only ace in the hole. I don�t like letting that little jerk get anywhere near it."

"I don�t either," Max admitted. "But I don�t know what else to do, Michael. We need to get Izzy back and we need to do it now."

Michael glanced towards the kitchen, lowered his voice. "So you believe Liz? You trust Will? Be honest here, Maxwell. She can�t hear you."

Max narrowed his eyes, thinking about it for a moment. "I do, Michael. Now I just need to figure out why. And until we�re all together, there�s no way I can do that."

"You think that the Skins are purposely trying to keep the eight of us apart?" Michael asked, obviously following Max�s train of thought.

"Yeah."

"Okay, then. But I still don�t like it."

"Thanks, Michael. I appreciate you backing me up here," Max said. "I know it�s not the most natural thing in the world for you," he added, grinning slightly.

"It�s becoming easier," Michael replied honestly. "Doesn�t mean I won�t keep riding your ass when I think you�re not thinking something through. Although you pretty much do," he admitted grudgingly. "Unless it comes to Liz." He smirked.

"I have a feeling that was true in both lifetimes," Max allowed. "We need to find out what happened, Michael, so that we don�t repeat the same mistakes."

"It�s just too bad that Nasedo isn�t still around to sort some of this out for us," Michael sighed, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Life would be a hell of a lot easier, wouldn�t it?"

"Which is probably why he was killed in the first place," Max replied. "They don�t want us to know what really happened."

"But who the heck are �they�?" Michael demanded. "It has to be the Skins�"

He was cut off by Maria, who came rushing back into the room. "We can�t reach Alex! His phone is ringing, but he�s not picking up!"

"Calm down, Maria," Michael ordered, although he moved towards her and pulled her against him in comfort. "I�m sure he�s fine. He probably just left his phone somewhere."

Max felt a shiver run down his spine. His eyes met Liz�s as she came from the kitchen behind Maria. She shook her head slightly, her fear obvious. "He told me he�d keep it on," Max said. "Something�s happened."

"Goddamit!" Michael exclaimed. "I knew we couldn�t trust that guy!"

"It wasn�t Will," Liz said firmly. "I tried his phone too. He didn�t answer. Something has to have happened to all of them."

Max ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Well, this sucks, but it doesn�t change anything. We�re still going to the pod chamber. We have even less choice now."

Kyle spoke up. "Should I call my dad?"

Max grimaced. He hated to bring the sheriff into it again, but with two of their number now missing, there didn�t seem to be any other choice. "Do it," he instructed Kyle. "Ask him to put out an APB on Alex and Isabel, just in case they try and transport them somewhere. I�m betting that Nicholas will bring them with him if we take him to the granolith, but we can�t be sure."

"Max, if you do that, there�s no way you can keep this from your parents," Liz reminded him. "People are going to talk."

"Damn!" Max exclaimed. "You�re right!" He started to pace, his fear for his sister beginning to overtake him. He was having trouble thinking straight. "Call the sheriff anyway, Kyle. He needs to know what�s happening here. I don�t want him at the pod chamber. Someone needs to stay behind in case something happens to us."

"Oh, God," Maria moaned, from where she was huddled against Michael. Max looked at her sharply. "I�m okay," she said, although she was shivering. "I just want them back. This is horrible!"

"Maria, you don�t have to come," Max reminded her gently. "It might be better if you didn�t," he added, glancing at Michael, whose lips were pressed together. Max knew he was right to suggest this. Michael would be a whole heck of a lot easier to deal with if he wasn�t worried about Maria. Max looked at Kyle too. "It will be safer. This isn�t your fight, you guys. And I can�t guarantee your safety."

"I�m coming," Maria said quickly. "Please. I can�t bear to sit at home waiting. I know I don�t have any powers or anything, but I have to be there."

"Me, too," Kyle added. "They�re our friends too." Max met his nemesis�s eyes squarely. Kyle stared right back at him. "I owe you, Evans. I�m not going to desert you now."

"Besides, Max," Liz said, "They might just come after Kyle and Maria while we�re gone. They know they�re important to us. It�s better if we all stick together."

"Agreed," Michael stated. "I don�t want to leave anyone behind anymore. We can�t afford to lose anyone else."

"We have to hurry, Max," Kyle reminded him. "We don�t want Tess to get there before us. She shouldn�t be alone."

Max sighed, giving up. "Fine. Let�s go then."

As he watched his friends file out through the kitchen, intending to use the back-door, he paused, swallowing hard. He realized he was scared. The fact that Alex, Will and Kate all seemed to have disappeared on them too was extremely frightening. They were completely losing control of this situation. He intended to find out what the granolith was for before making any decisions, hoped that Plan A proceeded as planned. If he felt he could give it to the Skins, he would, but if he couldn�t�

Max knew that there was only one other way to insure that Nicholas released his sister. He didn�t like it, but he would do it. He felt guilty that he hadn�t told the others what he was planning, but this last secret was for their own good. First of all, they would refuse and, second of all, he didn�t have time to argue with them in order to convince them.

Because the only way to save his sister, if he couldn�t hand over the granolith, was to hand himself over. He would trade his life for hers. If there was no other way, he knew he would do it, and he also knew that the Skins would accept. And he had a feeling that it was entirely likely that it would come to that.

"Max, what are you doing?" Liz�s head poked through the doorway again. "Aren�t you coming?"

He took a deep breath, smiled at her reassuringly. "Yeah." He took the hand she held out to him and followed her out the door.

Part 28

It was his voice that brought her back. She heard it as though from a great distance, felt it was too much trouble to acknowledge it. All she wanted to do was sleep. She had never been more exhausted in her life.

But, in the end, its desperation was more than she could ignore.

"Kate! Open your eyes. C�mon, please?" Her body was shifting and then, "Oh, dammit." She momentarily felt like she was falling, then moaned when her head smashed against something hard. "Hell. I�m sorry. Are you okay? Will you please just wake up before I accidentally kill you?" Something was moving against her back. It took her another moment to understand that it was, in fact, someone.

Alex. Twisting her hands slightly, she realized that she was brushing against body parts that did not belong to her. What�Oh. They were tied together, back to back. How on Earth had that happened?

It was then that her thoughts managed to finally focus themselves. His face was the last one she had seen before passing out during the explosion. He had been completely shocked, but also more than that. He had also been extremely pissed off when Tess had tossed that orb at him, shaking his head as though he was, in the end, not surprised at all.

It was all Kate had time to process before she was knocked unconscious by the explosive device.

She pried her eyes open, blinking a few times. It didn�t help. It was still pitch black. She tried to speak, swallowing when it came out as a croak. Eventually, though, she was able to make sounds come out of her mouth that approximated words. "A�Alex?"

She felt him breathe a sigh of relief against her back. "You�re awake! Thank God!"

"Where�where are we?"

"I think we�re in the back of a truck."

She strained her eyes. Her cheek was pressed against the floor, which was coldly metallic. Well, that explained the falling sensation. She had obviously been slumped against Alex�s back and he had somehow managed to knock them both over so that they were now lying on their sides, still attached together. "We�re not moving," she said, stating the obvious, but still trying to collect her thoughts.

"We stopped. They opened the door and took Will out and then shut us in again."

"Who are they? Ava? Nicholas?"

"No. Two guys I didn�t recognize. But I heard Tess." His voice trailed off and then he muttered, "I can�t believe that she betrayed us. I thought I hated her before. I was so wrong. I now literally understand the concept of seeing red."

"Did they know you were awake?" Kate asked. "Was Will okay?"

"He was still unconscious too," Alex replied. "I couldn�t see much because the sun was shining in my eyes, but I think they knew I was awake. They came to check on you, and basically ignored me. They don�t want me." He paused, sounding a bit relieved. "I�m surprised they haven�t just killed me."

Kate felt a shudder run down her spine at the thought. "Don�t say that!"

"I�m just saying�"Alex said. He paused. "Sorry. I didn�t mean to upset you."

"It�s okay."

There was another long silence. She felt his fingers slide gently over hers where they were linked at the wrists. Her heart started to pound more quickly in her chest.

Oh, behave, she thought disdainfully to herself. This is so not the time. But Alex�s thoughts seemed to be heading much in the same direction as hers because when he spoke again, his voice was low, gentle. "Are you okay? You were out of it for a long time. I think that was more of an alien smackdown weapon. It didn�t seem to work very well on me. I woke up long before you."

"Yes. Just a little dizzy," she admitted.

He was still tentative when he continued, "Do you think you can use your powers on these ropes? We need to get out of here to warn everyone else."

"Is that wise? We have no idea what�s going on. The last thing we want to do is to bring Rowena and the others into something dangerous." She didn�t know why, but she was feeling incredibly protective of all of them now. Her thoughts were focused on Will and Jack and what danger they might be in, but she was just as concerned about Vilandra, was just as worried about somehow causing Zan and the others to fall into their enemies� hands.

She guessed that it was because it was now completely obvious that they did indeed have enemies in common. Whoever Tess was working with, she was obviously not on any side that Kate wanted a part of.

Unless Zan had somehow planned this whole thing as a means to get Will into his power. The thought came unbidden, making her frown. Perhaps Vilandra�s abduction had been a ruse all along, a way to make Rowena continue to trust Zan and to put Will off balance.

But, as soon as she thought it, Kate rejected the idea. She trusted Zan. She had connected with him. He was as he had once been , as he was when she had loved him like a brother.

"Well, whether we call them or not," Alex said, beginning to sound impatient, "Lying here doing nothing is pretty much the last thing we should do. Can you untie us or not?"

She felt her stomach clench a bit at the tone of his voice. She wondered if he suspected the direction in which her thoughts had been traveling. Because, for some reason, he seemed really annoyed at her all of a sudden.

"I can try," she replied quietly. "If they�re just regular ropes, it shouldn�t be a problem."

She twisted her hand beneath his until her fingertips were brushing one of the cords around his wrist. Closing her eyes and ignoring the pounding that still continued in her head - God! What had that thing been that Ava had thrown at Alex? - she concentrated on manipulating the molecules. She nudged them apart with her mind, feeling the twined cords beginning to melt beneath her touch.

"Good job!" Alex exclaimed as he managed to struggle free. The next thing she knew, he was standing up, then turned her around so that she was facing him. For one moment, she truly felt like she was going to be sick. His shadowed form was swimming in front of her. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her stomach. She didn�t really realize what she was doing as she lowered her head so that she was leaning against his chest.

When she finally managed to steady herself, the first thing of which she became aware was his heart beating a swift tattoo against her cheek. Her breath caught in her throat. Kate glanced up at him. She could not see his expression in the dark, but his breath was coming in short puffs.

She hurriedly stepped back, grimacing slightly when her pounding head screeched in protest. Kate ran her hands across her eyes, sending a small healing pulse into her temples. She was not a skilled healer, but could do minor things, like curing headaches and the like.

"Okay, I think you�re right," Alex was saying, his speech very rushed for some reason. She blinked when she understood that he was nervous - and she didn�t think it was because of the dire circumstances in which they now found themselves.

She was probably just imagining things though. After all, the only reason he had come with her and Will at all was to save Isabel. It had been made more than clear to her that there was something beyond friends between Alex and Zan�s sister. While Kate had never officially met Vilandra in this lifetime and, so, could not really make any sort of educated guess as to their relationship, nor had Alex said that they were a couple, his concern for her seemed to indicate otherwise.

"Right about what?" Kate forced herself to ask, shaking her head, dismayed that she should be so concerned about this when she certainly had other things to worry about.

"We need to case out the situation before we bring the others in on it," Alex said. Even in the darkness, she could see his shadow moving towards the door at the back of what she could now see was indeed a large truck of some sort.

Just as he bent at the knees to slide up the back-door, she heard voices.

"Alex!" Kate hissed, stumbling towards him and grabbing him by the elbow. "Someone�s coming!"

"Crap." She could feel his panic, but did not blame him a bit because it matched her own. She was upset that she was proving to be so useless in a crisis. She had never experienced anything like this before. She understood that she and her brother and her cousin were overprotected, but she had never realized how much until now. How on Earth had their guardians ever expected them to manage on their own? They knew nothing! Will played at being in charge, but when it came right down to it, he had turned out to be just as useless and clueless as the rest of them. He had ended up captured as well, likely by the very people that were supposed to be his allies.

"What do we do?" she demanded, trying to modify her tone, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

"Quick!" She felt warmth run up her arm as his fingers closed around hers. "Get down. We�ll pretend we�re still out."

He pulled her to her knees, then pressed his back up against hers. His hands twined with hers, so that they would look like they were tied together.

"But, Alex, I thought they knew you were awake?" she whispered.

"Shhhh! Just do it!"

She snapped her gaze shut as the door Alex had been about to open slid up. She felt the bright sun on her face, was glad that she had her eyes closed. She would have been blinded anyway.

She had absolutely no idea what time it was, but it was obviously still daylight, which had to be a good thing. They couldn�t have been unconscious for very long, as it had already been late afternoon when they�d left the motel.

Unless, of course, they had been out of it for a full twenty-four hours. Kate decided to ignore that possibility. For now, it was best to go on the assumption that they were still living the same day.

"�demand that you release us! Your quarrel with Zan has nothing to do with us!"

Her brother�s voice made her sit up straighter. Alex squeezed her fingers warningly.

"That�s what you think. You�ve always had your head stuck up your ass, Khivar. This is just as much about you as it is about him." Kate didn�t recognize the voice, which was male, but she felt Alex flinch against her back. She wondered if it meant that he did.

"I have absolutely no idea what you�re talking about. Zan of Antar and I have nothing in common." Will sounded outraged, but Kate heard the underlying fear in his voice. If there was one thing her brother hated it was feeling out of control and he quite obviously felt out of control now, although he was trying to hide it.

Another voice, this one female, said, "Is this a good idea? Maybe we should transport them all separately. The last thing we need is for them to band against us."

"That won�t happen," the man replied. "We have Zan and Rowena exactly where we want them. One peep out of these brats and we destroy them." Two distinct thuds shook the truck as what Kate feared might be bodies were tossed into the truck. She strained her ears, could hear weak breathing from nearby. She reached out with her mind�

And felt her blood run cold. Her thoughts had very briefly meshed with one of the other prisoners. The turmoil in the other person�s thoughts was so complete, she forced herself to leave immediately. The last thing she needed was to get lost in someone else�s head.

She was brought back to what was going on around her when her brother spoke again. "If you touch Rowena, I will kill you." Will�s tone was perfectly steady. Kate felt a flash of pride. He had obviously mastered his fear and now he was quite simply furious. Of course it would take a threat to Rowena�s life to achieve that, but it was better late then never.

Kate felt the floor thud under her again as something heavy was thrown into the truck. She realized that it was Will because he was quite obviously now only a few feet away from her. "I�m warning you, you bastards! If you touch her, I will kill�" The door slammed shut, cutting off Will�s threat. He finished it anyway. "�you. God dammit!" This last was a wail of such frustration, Kate shivered.

She waited for the truck�s engine to start up and for the vehicle to rumble into motion before she called out to her brother. "Will!" Kate opened her eyes again, tried to readjust to the dark.

He was breathing unsteadily, his anger barely under control. She could feel it coming off him in waves, his usual self-control completely absent. He finally seemed to get a hold of himself though because when he said her name, his tone was steady. "Kate?"

She moved away from Alex, crawling towards the sound of her brother�s voice. "Just wait a second. I�ll untie you. Alex and I were just about to get out of here when they came back."

"Are you okay?" Will demanded as she reached over his body and started to untangle the ropes that bound his wrists together. She realized a moment later that it was far quicker to just melt them as she had Alex�s bonds and proceeded to do so.

"I�m fine," she replied. "What the heck is going on Will? Who are these people?"

"In a minute," Will said. He was already moving away from her and towards the two other dark shapes nearby. "Jack�s here, Katie, and he�s hurt. Really hurt."

Kate�s heart stood still. "What happened to him?" she whispered, her voice cracking slightly.

"I have no idea. As far as I could tell in the short time I was alone with him, they did something to his mind." There was a pause, as though, for once, Will was actually weighing his words, reflecting on how they might affect someone else. "Whatever it was, they did it to Vilandra too."

There was a long silence. Kate almost felt this news hit Alex like a punch in the gut. His breath hitched slightly, but when he spoke, his voice was quietly calm. "Is�is she here?"

"Yeah," Will said softly. "She�s right here."

She could hear Alex sliding towards them. "Is there any way to get some light in here?" he demanded impatiently.

Kate frowned, realizing that there was indeed. She wasn�t really sure why she hadn�t thought of it before, but could only blame the fact that she had been pretty out of it since that device had knocked her unconscious. Again she wondered what it had been.

She raised her hand, concentrating on stirring up the molecules above her palm, enough so that they sent off a dull glow.

A thin blue light cast itself around the enclosed space. Her eyes cast themselves down to Jack�s still face. She swallowed, bringing the back of her other hand up against her mouth to muffle her sob. "He looks�Will, he looks dead!"

"He�s not dead," Will said grimly. "They told me what they did to them. One of them wanted to do it to me too, but Ava said she wanted me fully aware of everything that was going to happen to Rowena, and that they couldn�t do it to me until Ro was with me."

"What�what did they do?" Alex asked hesitantly. Kate looked over at him, where he was huddled over Isabel Evan�s unconscious form. He had one of her hands in his, and was stroking it lightly, his gaze glued to her face. Kate briefly closed her eyes, then shook her head, forcing herself to look away.

If there had ever been any doubt left that it was ridiculous to continue allowing these silly feelings for the human boy, it had now been completely squashed. Which was all to the good. She had to worry about Jack now. Her cousin was all that mattered.

"They removed their essences," Will told them. "I don�t know exactly what they meant, but from what they were arguing about, it sounds like they took out the part that made them Vilandra and Jondar." He paused, then said in a rush. "Their alien part."

Kate knew that her eyes were as round as saucers, but she couldn�t even grasp what this meant - or how it had been done. "But, why?" she whispered in horror.

"To take away the claim they have to the thrones of Antar and Sardica. Vilandra is still Zan�s heir after all and Jondar is next in line for Sardica�s, after you, Katie. But from what Ava was saying, they aren�t really sure why they won�t wake up. Their human sides were supposed to have been enough to keep them alive." He paused, then said, as though disbelieving, "I don�t think they really want us dead at all. They want us to live on, as humans, knowing what we lost."

"Who are they?" Kate repeated her earlier question, totally incapable of understanding how anyone could hate all of them so much. It simply made no sense. "Nicholas can�t have anything to do with this!"

"I know one of them," Alex stated, his tone grim and not entirely surprised if Kate was not mistaken. "His name is Grant Sorenson. Isabel has been dating him. I knew there was something wrong with that guy."

"Well, you were right," Will said. "I�m not sure exactly who he is in terms of our system, but he�s definitely alien. The only thing that makes any sense though, being that Ava seems to be leading them, is that it�s a rogue faction of Knosians. I don�t understand how that�s possible though! They shouldn�t even be here. None of them were sent in the ship, and they�re supposed to be allied with Antar anyway."

"But not if Max isn�t married to Tess." This came from Alex, who had a slight frown of concentration on his face, as though this was now all a gigantic jigsaw puzzle he was determined to figure out. Kate had become used to that expression by now. He wore it almost every time they held a conversation and she told him something about what she remembered from her past. "Without that alliance, Tess�s planet has no status at all, isn�t that right?"

"Pretty much," Will agreed. "Are you saying that Ava turned when it became clear that Zan was never going to honour their marriage?"

"I didn�t even think that it was clear," Kate added. "Didn�t you tell me that Max and Liz have been at odds for a couple of weeks?"

"It all makes perfect sense," Alex sighed. "Future Max came back to make Liz drive Max to Tess to avoid any of this happening. What happened fourteen years in the future must have been because of Tess in the first place."

"What?" Kate asked, totally confused by now.

"Don�t you get it?" Alex demanded, his anger clear. "It wasn�t Khivar and the Sardicans who were supposed to attack Earth fourteen years from now. It was Ava and the Knosians. For revenge. To pay back Max and Liz for their marriage and for finding happiness together. But it all got screwed up. He only made it worse. Because, somehow, when Future Max came back, he linked Tess up with her own people way earlier. They must have been in Copper Summit. It�s the only explanation. She met them there, which was something that never happened in that last lifetime."

"Are you saying what I think you�re saying?" Kate was trying to modify her breathing, but her burgeoning panic was making the process slightly difficult.

"Wait a minute," Will interrupted. "Future Max? Have you two gone insane?"

But both Alex and Kate ignored him. Her gaze was locked with his, and she read the truth of it on his face. Alex snorted. "I guess he got what he wanted. He stopped the end of the world. It�s not going to be necessary anymore�" He trailed off, waiting for Kate to finish his train of thought. Which she could, because she knew exactly where he was headed.

The voice of one of their mysterious captors rang through her mind, only reinforcing Alex�s fear.

We have Zan and Rowena exactly where we want them.

"Because there won�t be any Max or Liz to seek revenge on in fourteen years," Kate whispered. "They�ll already be long dead."

Part 29

Liz sat in the passenger seat of the Jeep, enjoying the sensation of the wind in her hair. She was surprisingly calm, considering it was entirely likely they were driving into a trap. But, since she had woken up in her bed next to Max, all seemed right with her world. She felt extraordinarily upbeat, as though all the answers to their numerous questions were only just beyond their reach, but that she and Max, together, would find them.

Of course, this new optimism didn�t mean that she wasn�t aware that he was keeping something from her.

Since acknowledging that she was Rowena - since that flash of memory they had both experienced when they had been kissing on her bed and they had made each other glow - she was more in tune with everything about him. She was pretty sure he felt the same way. It was why he had known when to comfort her and when to let her stand alone during the conversation with Michael, Maria and Kyle in her living room. She was also almost positive that, unlike her, he wasn�t yet consciously aware of the new intensity of their connection.

If he was, he certainly wouldn�t be lying to her. Liz was surprised to find that she wasn�t angry at him for it. He was Max. He worried and he tried to take the world�s problems onto his shoulders. It was just the way he was. If loving him and being with him meant that she had to remind him that he wasn�t allowed to do it every once in a while, it was a price she would gladly pay.

She knew that she had to confront him before they got to the pod chamber though, which was why she had asked the others if she could ride with Max alone. Michael had seemed on the verge of protesting, his likely arguments that they were safer together valid, but when he saw the determined line of Liz�s mouth, he relented, pretending that he had always thought it was a good idea that they have two vehicles at their disposal. Liz and Maria had exchanged an amused glance, but no one commented. And, so, Michael, Kyle and Maria were bringing up the rear in the Jetta, while Liz tried to figure out the way best to broach the subject with Max.

She knew he was going to be a little freaked out that she was onto him. She was a little freaked out too if she was honest with herself. It wasn�t like she could read his mind. She just felt what he felt more clearly than she ever had before. And she had felt the resolve that had run through him when she had taken his hand to leave her parents� apartment and, somehow, she understood what he was planning. It wasn�t completely explicable yet, maybe never would be, but it just was.

"You�re awfully quiet," Max commented, his voice slightly raised to be heard over the breeze. He reached out, then gently ran a hand down her hair. Liz shivered slightly, reveling in the feel of his fingers dancing through the strands. She wondered if she�d ever tire of the way he made her feel, whether she would ever grow weary of how every touch sent an electrical charge surging through her veins. She doubted it. It just seemed to become more intense with time. It couldn�t all be attributed to their past lives either. She somehow knew that it also had a great deal to do with the fact that he was just Max and she adored him, and had done so since long before she ever even heard of his destiny. That hers was now officially entwined with his�well, it just made it better.

Liz decided that since he had brought it up, she might as well just grab the bull by the horns, so to speak. She knew he was going to be stubborn about whatever it was he was planning, because she also knew that the only possible reason he could have for lying was that he was going to do something ridiculous in an attempt to keep the rest of them safe. She wondered how many more of them would have to be kidnapped before it dawned on him that they were all in this together, and that it couldn�t just be about him anymore. He had to accept that he hadn�t caused any of this to happened to them, that he hadn�t put them in danger. They were all in danger anyway. He could not save them. He had to learn to let them save themselves.

She knew Max and she knew that unless she got through to him about this, they were doomed to fail. In the end, wasn�t this side of Max�s character what Future Max�s visit had been about? It was his attempt to save them all, damning the consequences to himself. He really hadn�t changed all that much at all, that future version of the boy she loved. He always tried to put everyone else first and, this time, Liz would not allow it. Because, in her world, he came first, which was why she had helped Future Max in the first place. It was all confusing and messed up and she and Max had to end it now. They needed to be on the same page or they were going to end up exactly where that other Max and Liz had.

Somehow she knew that things were not necessarily better in this time-line. The fact that Serena had existed in Future Max�s world meant that the other Liz and Max must have known something about who they really were to each other. Which meant that, just because they had found out about Serena and the occupants of the other pods, it didn�t mean that they had changed things enough. They needed to work together to figure it all out, but first Max was going to have to accept that she was just as much a part of this as he was.

Starting now.

"I�m just wondering what excuse you gave yourself about why it�s okay for you to keep things from the rest of us, when you made all of us promise we wouldn�t do that," Liz replied quietly. She tried to impress on him that she wasn�t angry, just aware, and that she wanted to know the truth.

There was a long silence. She turned her head and looked at him. She could see that his face had gone white. She almost smiled. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she would have eventually seen through him anyway, with or without the new intensity of their bond. Once upon a time, Liz found Max difficult to read, but since he had healed her, the mystery surrounding him had become easier to decipher. Since knowing that loving her was the centre of his universe, it really wasn�t that hard to figure out what he was thinking in any given situation. It was why she had been able to affect him so negatively by pretending to sleep with Kyle, and it was why she knew she was going to get her answers now.

"I�m not mad," Liz finally told him. "I just wanted you to know that I�m aware of it."

"Liz�"

"Max, just tell me," she sighed. "I swear, I�m not mad."

"Do you understand that I have to do whatever it takes to get Isabel back?" he asked, beginning to sound a bit upset. It reminded her of the time he blew up at her in the Crashdown when he was worried that his mother was onto him and Isabel. He wasn�t really angry, just frustrated and feeling helpless. She certainly understood it. It was one of the things they had most in common after all, that need to be in control. It was why she screamed when she first realized that Will was telling her the truth about who she was. Because with that realization had come the knowledge that the one founding principle of her existence - that she was Liz Parker, human - had been torn away from her and along with it, her control over her own destiny.

She was coming to terms with the fact that maybe destiny wasn�t the worst thing in the world. If she got to be with Max, then, in fact, it was pretty damn great. But Max hadn�t really accepted that yet. He still felt trapped by it, felt that he was, in fact, inflicting in on her as well. That she wouldn�t have loved him if it wasn�t for destiny.

Liz knew that it was the most ridiculous thing in the world. She loved him before she knew who Rowena was. For her, destiny was just a confirmation that they belonged together. It was the rubber stamp, not the contract. They got to write the contract. They got to decide what being Zan and Rowena meant for them.

They were in control. They were getting exactly what they wanted. The final answers about why would all be just a bonus.

"I do," Liz replied now, sad that he truly still believed that he was less valuable than any of the rest of them. "Do you understand that if I lose you again, I will lose myself?"

"What?" His tone was slightly peevish, like she was being silly, as though she couldn�t possibly love him as much as he loved her, or as much as he loved the rest of them.

She took a deep breath, trying not to let her growing irritation take over. "Do you think that you have the exclusive rights on wanting to protect the people you love, Max? Because you don�t."

"Liz�"

"No, let me finish," Liz ordered. "You�re planning to try and trade yourself for Isabel, aren�t you?"

"I never said�"

"Max, please. I�m not stupid and I know you." Liz glared at him. His eyes were fixed on the road. He was obviously refusing to look at her, because he didn�t want to see the truth of what she was saying to him written on her face. Because if he finally understood just how important he was - and not just because he was Zan, King of Antar, but because he was Max Evans, of planet Earth, well-loved in spite of himself - he would not be able to hate himself any longer.

Finally, this was the crux of the matter. He had grown up not knowing who he was, scared of betrayal and what would happen to him if he were discovered. His worst nightmares had come true after he healed her in the Crashdown. The sheriff had hunted him for months and, then, even worse, Agent Pierce had tortured him in the White Room, bringing all of his fears to vivid life. The only thing that had kept him sane through all of that was the fact that he was beginning to understand that she loved him. That someone, anyone, loved him. And, then, she had ripped that away from him as well, first by walking away from him at the pod chamber and then, even more drastically, only a few weeks ago, because Future Max asked her to.

"You are going to have to accept that you are just as valuable to me as I am to you." Liz found that she was no longer angry at all, just sad, but also determined that he would finally get it. "I love you. You may think that because you�ve loved me longer, you win, that you have more right to protect me, but that�s not fair. And it�s not true. Because how was I ever given the chance to love you? You never let anyone in."

"Liz�"

"I�m not done," Liz interrupted him again. "I also don�t want you to start convincing yourself that I had no choice but to love you because of who we both are. Who the hell cares anyway? We could have been two worms in love in our past lives and it wouldn�t make a shred of difference, because the facts are the facts. I love you. It�s the simplest thing in the world, and it�s the most complicated and, yeah, weird, there�s a lot of past baggage, but even if the past baggage didn�t exist, I would still love you. Love is. You can�t stop it, you can�t control it, and you can�t decide whose love means more. That�s all there is to it. And if you think you�re giving yourself up - for Isabel, for me, for anyone - then you are really messed up in the head. Because I know for a fact that Isabel wouldn�t want that. I saw her when you were in the White Room, Max. You didn�t. And no one else will let you do it either."

"Are you done?" Max asked tentatively after Liz stopped talking, finally having run out of steam.

She thought about it for a moment. "I think so, yes," she said, folding her arms over her chest. She realized that she wasn�t breathing altogether easily, so she concentrated on taking even breaths.

"Okay then," Max continued. "I�I don�t quite know what to say to all of that."

Liz looked at him sharply. She was momentarily convinced that he sounded amused, but the expression on his face was entirely serious. "Well, I don�t care what you say. Just say something."

"I can only think of one thing," Max admitted. "I�m sorry, you�re right, and I love you too." His voice softened on the last bit, making Liz�s heart beat faster.

"That was three things," she told him, reaching out and taking the hand that wasn�t on the steering wheel. "And you didn�t say I�ll never do it again. Nor did you deny that it was what you were planning."

"I can�t deny it," Max sighed. "And I am sorry. I guess� I guess when I think of the people I love suffering, any physical torture that might be inflicted on me seems a lot easier than the way it feels knowing that it�s happening to anyone else. I know it�s not fair and it�s actually kind of selfish. I never thought of it that way before, but you�re right. I was thinking of myself and what would make me feel better."

"And it does you credit, Max," Liz insisted. "I can�t blame you for loving us and wanting to protect us. But I can blame you for not understanding that protecting yourself for us has to be just as big a priority."

"Says the person who went marching into the enemy�s camp determined to spy for us." Max was now certainly amused, but Liz wasn�t annoyed this time. "Which I still can�t believe I let you do by the way."

"You had no choice, Max, first of all," Liz retorted. "Second of all, it proves that you can be reasonable and can understand that sometimes you have to let other people do things. And third of all, they weren�t our enemies. They aren�t. And you knew it, even then."

"I guess I did." She looked at him. He had turned his head, and was smiling at her. The loving way he did it sent another shiver through her. "I am sorry," he repeated. "I promise to try not to do it again."

Liz frowned. "Try?"

"If I promised more than that, I�d be lying," Max admitted sheepishly. "Sometimes I do it without thinking. Like when I healed you. I can�t change who I am, Liz. I can try and make it so that I think a little before I act, but I can�t totally change."

She stared at him, then smiled too. "I know." She removed her seat-belt, climbed closer to him and kissed him on the cheek. "And I wouldn�t want you to change completely. But we are agreed though? You�re not going to try and trade yourself?"

"We�re agreed," Max replied. Liz settled back in her seat, continued looking at him though, trying to detect a glimmer of regret or deceit on his face. She saw none.

"Good. So what�s the new plan then?"

Max shrugged, sighing. "I wish I could say that I had a better one then to wait for them to find us, but I don�t. I won�t really hand over the granolith until I totally understand what it is."

"Didn�t you tell Michael you would?" Liz asked, a bit confused.

Max glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, one eyebrow raised. "How did you know that?"

"Well, I might have overheard you," Liz replied, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Kyle was still on the phone! I can�t help it if you were talking loudly," she exclaimed, although she knew it wasn�t really a justification for eavesdropping. Nor had they been speaking particularly loudly, if she was honest with herself.

"I did tell him that," Max said, not sounding angry, only amused again. "But I just really don�t think we can give it up without knowing what it is. I mean, what if it�s some kind of super weapon or something? It sort of looks like that. I really just have no clue."

"I hate not having a real plan," Liz told him after a few moments of silence as she mulled this over. "Don�t get me wrong. I think you�re right that they - whoever they are - can�t have the granolith. But what�s to stop them from just killing us all when they understand we�re not going to give it to them?"

"They don�t know where it is," Max reminded her. "They need at least one of us alive to tell them. And they have to know that if they really hurt any of us, the others won�t ever tell them." There was a pause. Liz could almost hear the wheels turning in his head. "I just feel that this is about more than the granolith anyway."

"How so?"

"The fact that we were separated from Will and the others," Max replied pensively. "Whoever said it�I can�t remember who it was, but I think they were right. We were all sent in that ship together. Whatever our past relationships, we were meant to work together this time. But someone has taken great pains to make sure that doesn�t happen. They�ve been fed lies about us, or at least lies about what we�re like this time around."

"Max, you don�t still think that Zan was evil?" Liz demanded, understanding immediately why he had modified his last statement.

"I�I don�t know," he replied. "I don�t think so. I mean, if we�re right and Zan and Rowena were together, I can�t see how he was totally bad.

"He couldn�t have started that way," Liz reminded him. "Didn�t you get from Kate in that connection that he changed?"

"Yeah. I just don�t know!" The last was practically a wail of frustration. "God. I wish that there was someone around who was there, someone impartial like Courtney who could at least give us their version of the truth."

"Why do you think Nasedo kept all the information about who we really are from us?" Liz asked him, having reached out to squeeze his hand reassuringly again. His thumb was running lightly over her palm, distracting her slightly, but obviously serving to calm him down.

"I really don�t think he knew who you were," Max told her. "He didn�t really have much time to tell us anything before he died either. He was in Washington taking care of disbanding the Special Unit for all those months and, then, he was killed so quickly after coming back to Roswell. I also think he wanted us to remember on our own."

"Which means that you can remember." Liz frowned thoughtfully. "But how?"

"I�ve been thinking about that," Max replied. "I think we need to find our talismans. Like Serena�s scarf. We all must have one. Serena told me that if you were really her, you wouldn�t forget being her when the scarf was removed."

"But I did because I�m not Serena," Liz picked up his train of thought. "I�m Rowena. So you think that maybe we need our talismans to activate our memories, but then after that we won�t."

"Maybe," Max said. "The problem is that I don�t want to be taken over by any talisman. Until we can be sure that we won�t be possessed like you were, that we won�t forget who we are now, we can�t use them."

Liz sighed. "I guess it never crossed the minds of the people cloning us that we would want to remember who we are now."

"Probably not. But we can�t know that for sure either. Don�t forget that Will and Kate have more memories than we do. Didn�t you tell me that Will said that they came out of their pods when they were about ten?"

"Yes. So you think that if you�d all been in your pods longer, you might have more natural memories."

"Right." Max shook his head slightly. "It�s all just speculation though. I don�t know that we�ll ever really know anything. And, at this point, it doesn�t really matter either. All I care about right now is making sure that Izzy and Alex are okay."

"And Will and Kate," Liz added firmly. "Max, they�re part of this now too."

"I know." She saw Max quirk a grin in her direction. "Kate anyway."

"Max!"

"What? I�m just being honest!"

Liz stared at him. He was still smiling, as though he was teasing her, but Liz could see his underlying concern. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about where Will is concerned," she reassured him gently. "Max, I might have been drawn to him, but I never, not for an instant, stopped thinking about you when it was happening. My main concern through the whole thing was how it was going to hurt you."

"It�s not you I�m worried about, Liz," Max replied firmly. "It�s him. He really believes that you and he are meant to be together. If we don�t find Serena, if we don�t find a way for her to tell him the truth without him freaking out�well, it could still get ugly. He may not believe her."

"Then we�ll just have to make sure he does."

Max grinned at her. "Liz, you don�t get it, do you? No guy in their right mind would ever give up a chance to be with you without a fight. Didn�t I prove that clearly enough earlier this fall? I sang under your balcony for God�s sake." Liz smiled slightly to herself at the memory. It warmed her heart even more that the tips of his ears were turning red at the though. It had been difficult for Max to serenade her, it practically going against everything that made him Max, but he had done it anyway. For her. "He is not going to be easy to convince," Max was saying, obviously trying to get off the topic entirely.

"Be that as it may," Liz said. "It can�t matter right now. We have to make sure that he�s alive to be convinced." She turned her face forward, feeling her heart beginning to beat more quickly. They had reached the point in the high-way where they turned off to head for the pod chamber. "I hope this works, Max."

"Me too." He squeezed her hand again, bringing it to his lips and kissing it.

They didn�t say anything else until the cliffs came into sight, just enjoying the last few moments alone in safety.

"Tess is here." Liz spoke into the silence after recognizing Tess�s SUV parked near the rocks. She lowered her eyes, sighing, then grimaced, hoped Max hadn�t heard.

Really, it was only a natural instinct. She realized that, for once, thinking of the blonde girl hadn�t either made her sad or set her blood boiling. She knew that Tess had not necessarily given up her claim to Max, but also knew that her rival had promised not to leave town. What the meant in the long-run, Liz wasn�t sure, but what it did mean now was that Tess was on their side and it was important to make sure she was safe too. Keeping her in Roswell would serve little purpose if they let her get killed instead.

"Shit."

The word was so sudden and so unlike Max, Liz�s head snapped up and she stared at him. They were pulling to a stop beside Tess�s vehicle. She glanced behind them, saw the Jetta only a few moments away. "What?" She looked around, but couldn�t see anything amiss.

"They beat us here." Max�s tone was grim as he swung out of the Jeep and hurried towards Tess�s car. Liz still couldn�t see anything wrong. It was only when he started to move past it that she noticed the small foot peeking out from in front of the SUV.

Liz�s blood ran cold, knowing that it could only be one person.

Tess.

Part 30

"I think we�re slowing down," Alex said into the silence that had fallen over the truck in which he, Will, Kate, and the unconscious Isabel and Jack were being transported. It was pitch black again, Will having let the blue light from his hand die after they understood that they weren�t really going to be able to do anything for Isabel or Jack until they knew exactly what had been done to them.

This didn�t mean that they hadn�t managed to come up with a very weak plan. Alex knew instinctively that the friends he had left behind at the Crashdown were no longer there. He and the two new aliens had been gone for too long. There was no way that Max and Michael would have managed to stay where they were for this long. They were both likely going insane with worry over Isabel by now. Which was also what Alex knew their enemies wanted.

We have Zan and Rowena exactly where we want them.

Well, wherever that was, the goal of the trio in the truck was to get Max and Liz as far away from there, as quickly as possible.

They had to somehow get word to Max and Liz that they were in mortal danger, and there was only one person who could do it. Kate, with her teleporting gift, was their only hope of getting to Alex�s friends and keeping them away from wherever it was they were headed.

Unfortunately, Alex, when he suggested the plan, learned that Kate couldn�t safely teleport from a moving vehicle. It was too risky. Any abrupt stop or jolt while she was focused on her "leap," as she called the process, could throw her concentration totally out of whack, in turn jeopardizing her life.

"She might lose control of her molecules," Will explained. "And if that happens�"

Alex grimaced. "Let me guess. Losing molecules means losing Kate."

"Basically," Will agreed.

"I can try," Kate argued. "It is possible."

"No," Alex said firmly. "I�" He had paused, blinked, then modified that. "We can�t risk you. It�s better to wait and have it done safely, then to screw up the only chance we have."

He could still feel the heat that had risen into his cheeks at his slip of the tongue, one that he didn�t quite understand. Here he was sitting with Isabel Evans�s head in his lap, his concern for his friend deep, but his worry for a girl he had only known for two days felt infinitely more real and immediate.

What the heck was happening to him?

Even now his stomach was twisted in knots at the thought that something might happen to Kate while she was gone. He much preferred having her right in front of him, so that he knew she was safe. He couldn�t even begin to analyze why this was so important to him. All he knew was that it was.

"I�m ready," she said now, her voice soft.

"Don�t do anything stupid, Katie," Will ordered. "I mean it." He sounded gruff, but Alex could hear the underlying fear and frustration in the young king�s tone. He absolutely hated sending his sister out there alone. Alex didn�t blame him one bit. Look where splitting up had gotten Jack and Isabel.

An image of Kate lying as lifeless as Isabel popped into his brain, sending a shiver down his spine. He immediately thrust it aside.

"Yes, sir," Kate replied sarcastically. Even though he couldn�t see her face in the darkness, Alex could tell from her voice that she was frightened. She had no idea where she was going. She could be teleporting herself right into the middle of an even bigger mess. They were relatively safe in the back of this truck, after all. At least for the moment.

Alex heard movement close to him. He realized that Kate was inching past him towards a more open part of the truck. She was stumbling slightly with the motion of the vehicle, which was still moving at a fairly rapid clip over much bumpier terrain. They were quite obviously nearing their destination though. It was almost time.

He felt her shoulder brush his, and reached out abruptly, almost against his will, stopping her.

"What?"she asked, after a long moment of silence.

His voice seemed stuck in his throat, but he finally cleared it and managed to stutter, "Be careful." He grimaced, shaking his head in annoyance.

"I will," she whispered. She fell against him slightly when the truck finally ground to a halt. He felt the brush of her soft curls against his neck and then nothing.

She was gone, as though she had never existed at all.

And just in time, too. Because, an instant later, the back doors to the truck were wrenched open. Alex squinted, his eyes expecting to be blinded by the late afternoon sunlight. He gradually opened them wide again when he realized it wasn�t going to happen. A very dull glow entered the truck, but nothing major.

"Grant, nice to see you out and about, buddy," Alex said, more annoyed than scared at the sight of Grant Sorenson climbing into the back of the truck. He looked over at Will. "I so knew this guy was bad news from the first moment I laid eyes on him."

Grant merely smirked, setting Alex�s blood to a boil. "Can�t help it if Isabel digs older men, kid."

"Right. That alien mojo must make you really attractive to all the chicks." Alex knew he was being ridiculous, but it was much better to be pissed off than scared. Of course, with Kate gone and Isabel unconscious, there really wasn�t anyone around to impress. Like he cared what Will thought.

Admit it, Whitman, the annoying voice in the back of his mind taunted. You�re petrified.

Smart people get scared, Alex retorted. Smart people know when they are about to die horrible, alien-related deaths, perhaps involving probes and other instruments I�d rather not reflect too long about.

"Where�s your sister?" Grant was saying to Will, as Alex shook his head, ridding it of his split personality for the moment.

"Gone," Will snapped.

"Gone?" another voice demanded.

Alex turned his head, did a double-take, then stared. "Oh crap." Oh crap. Oh crap. Oh crap.

"Who are you?" Will asked. "And what the hell do you want with us?"

The person Alex knew he could not be seeing ignored Kate�s brother though, throwing Grant aside like a rag doll. "What kind of idiot are you?" he roared. "You let her wake up? She�s a teleporter. She�s gone straight to Zan, and she knows about Tess."

"She was unconscious when I threw them all in here," Grant whined from where he lay on the floor. "And no one told me she could do that. How was I supposed to know?"

"I am going insane. Clearly, I am insane," Alex muttered to himself.

"What�s wrong?" Will asked.

"Don�t you know who that is?" Alex demanded. "Well, of course you don�t. Because you�ve never seen him. That�s Nasedo. He also goes by Ed Harding - at least in this form."

"I thought Nasedo was dead," Will replied, his voice slightly raised. "I thought their guardian was dead!"

"Apparently not," Alex retorted. "Because that�s him. Which, of course, only makes sense because Tess is a traitorous little backstabber." He sighed, glancing at Nasedo, who had stopped yelling at Grant and was eyeing Alex in a way that was making him entirely uncomfortable. "Hi, Mr. Harding," he said weakly. He didn�t quite know what else to say. And, well, his mother had always told him that, when in doubt, be polite.

"Why is this human still alive?" Nasedo demanded.

"No one told me to kill him. I follow orders, but I�m not a murderer. If you want him dead, you have to tell me these things," Grant replied peevishly, getting up and moving towards Alex. Alex stared at him as he advanced. He wondered why his body wasn�t moving in the opposite direction. Of course, the fact that Isabel�s head was still in his lap might have been one reason, the other being that all pretense of not being scared out of his mind was now completely gone. He was frozen with fear. Great.

"Leave him alone." Will was now on his feet, and had moved between Grant and Alex. "I don�t know who the hell you think you are and what the hell you think you�re doing, but he has nothing to do with any of this. Let him go."

"Not possible, your highness," Nasedo said firmly. "We will not be leaving any remnants of our little Earthly adventure behind, and that includes any humans you�ve come into contact with."

"You say that as though our time here will soon be over," Will said.

"In a manner of speaking," Nasedo told him. "You�ll be dead and we�ll be gone. It will be as though none of us were ever even here. These idiot humans can�t handle the truth, so we�ll let them continue to exist in their little fantasy of being alone in the universe by ridding this planet of all evidence to the contrary." He turned his fathomless gaze on Alex again. "Including witnesses."

Ack! Say something! Say anything to make this psycho realize that keeping you alive it in his best interests.

For a long moment, his mind was a complete blank. And, then, Alex was surprised to hear himself say, "So you�ve decided not to destroy my entire planet this time then." Nasedo looked at him again, one eyebrow raised. "Thanks for that," he finished lamely. Shut up! the little voice said. Just shut up and pretend you�re not here. Talking is a bad plan.

Nasedo�s gaze was narrowing though. He seemed interested. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, just the fact that in some alternate timeline a bunch of aliens destroyed the Earth fourteen years from now," Alex replied. "But carry on. Forget I said anything."

He grimaced as Nasedo continued to stare at him, his expression unreadable. "Who told you this?"

"What do you care?" Alex snapped. "If you�re leaving, it�s not going to happen, so what does it matter?"

"I want to hear this story," Nasedo responded firmly. He looked at Grant. "He can live. For now. Get them all out of here." With that, the shapeshifter turned on his heel and left the vehicle.

Alex heaved a sigh of relief, having no idea how he had just managed to preserve his sorry hide for at least a little while longer, but pleased nonetheless.

Now all he and Will had to do was figure out exactly what was going on here and how to make sure their friends didn�t fall into the trap Nasedo was obviously setting for them.

Sure, no problem that.

He flinched as Grant came near and picked Isabel up carefully. Alex considered ordering him not to touch her, but changed his mind when he got a look at the so-called archeologist�s face. Forbidding was the only way to describe it. "Come," Grant ordered. He looked over at Will. "Bring your cousin."

Alex got up, jumped down from the truck, and then helped Will maneuver Jack out of the transport. They both took one of his arms over their shoulders and dragged him after Grant.

He managed to glance around as they struggled to carry Jack�s dead-weight. They were in some sort of huge cavern, big enough for the truck which had transported them to have been driven right in.

"What are we going to do?" Alex stage-whispered to Will, after they let Grant get a little ahead.

"Play along for now," Will replied. "And, then, when we get the chance, we kill them. There are only two of them."

As the words left the young king�s mouth, he and Alex rounded a corner after Grant and both came to an abrupt halt. "You were saying?" Alex muttered, sighing as they came face to face with at least ten more men and women. They were all staring at them, various degrees of menace in their expressions.

This was bad. And it was getting worse by the minute. The only hope left was that Kate had gotten to Max and Liz, and had managed to convince them to stay way. Because it was very clear by now that the entire goal of this operation was to bring all eight hybrids together. Ironic that, when up until now it had seemed that the whole purpose of everything that had gone on had been to drive them apart.

How did Alex know that the plan had changed? Well, it was very simple really. The eight glowing cages looming behind the pack of enemy aliens told him so. He watched in dismay as Grant dumped Isabel in one, stepped out, and then fiddled with some controls on the door. The fake archeologist came towards him and Will, grabbed Jack�s body and tossed it into the cage beside Isabel�s, repeating the same process.

"This can�t be good," Alex muttered to Will. "Nope. Not good at all."

Alex winced when he realized that someone was standing behind him. Turning his head, he met Nasedo�s cold eyes. "Come, Mr. Whitman. It�s time for you and I to have a little chat about this alternate timeline to which you referred."

Alex exchanged a glance with Will, who shrugged. "Do what you want to do."

"What happens if I refuse?" Alex asked Nasedo, although he was pretty sure he already knew.

"You die," Nasedo replied sternly.

"Hmmm, decisions, decisions," Alex muttered. Nasedo was already walking away, obviously knowing what his answer would be. He was forced to break into a light jog to catch-up.

***

"Tess! Tess, wake up."

Max propped the small blonde up against his arm, shaking her slightly.

At first he thought she was dead. He felt the flash of fear that ran through Liz and knew that she thought exactly the same thing. They both jumped into action at the same time when Tess moaned lightly, falling to their knees beside her.

After doing a cursory exam, Max was unable to uncover any physical reason for why Tess was unconscious, no visible signs for him to heal so that she would open her eyes. Now he was just trying to wake her up.

"What happened?" Michael demanded, coming up behind Liz. Maria and Kyle were on his heels.

"Oh, hell," Kyle muttered, hurrying forward and dropping down beside Liz. "Tess!"

"I don�t know," Max snapped, his frustration at their complete lack of control of this situation getting the better of him and making him sound more angry then he meant to. He raised his head, looking around at his assembled friends. "We need to get into the pod chamber. Whoever did this� They�ll be back and likely sooner rather than later."

Max got to his feet, carefully balancing Tess in his arms.

"I thought they were supposed to be following us, Maxwell," Michael complained, striding along at Max�s elbow. "How the hell did they beat us here?"

"I have no idea," Max ground out. "They�re obviously playing games with us. They�re trying to throw us off balance. We can�t let them. We keep the original plan."

"To just wait for them to show themselves?" Michael asked, sounding incredulous. "I don�t think�"

"There�s nothing else we can do," Max interrupted firmly. Because he was standing on the bottom of the slope that led up to the pod chamber, he was looking down on the other four, who were all staring up at him, various degrees of anger and fear reflected on their faces.

He met Liz�s eyes. She gazed steadily back at him, her will to be with him through anything making him decide that it was time to give it to them all straight. "We have to take a stand. I�m tired of looking over my shoulder all the time. I, for one, am ready to die here today, rather than have to keep living like that. I was going to give myself up to make sure that none of you had to do that anymore, but Liz made me see that�s it not my right to make that decision for you. It�s going to be bad. I know it is and we may not come out of this alive. But it�s just time to take back our lives, time to find out exactly who we are and what our role is on our home planet and what it means for us on this one. If there�s anyone here who isn�t in agreement, then you�re free to go."

"I�m not going anywhere," Liz said quietly, not unexpectedly. But Max nodded anyway, accepting her right to say it. It still wasn�t easy for him to think of her potentially dying, but this was her fight now too. And, in the end, he�d rather have her by his side, where he could protect her as much as possible, anyway.

There was a long silence, then Michael said, "Well, I guess I�d be a fool to back out now. I�m the one who always wanted the answers, aren�t I?"

Maria moved up, taking Michael�s hand, not saying anything more. Kyle merely stood with his arms crossed, obviously with no intention of going anywhere either.

"Fine then. Let�s stop talking about it and get up there. I want to take a look at the granolith while we still can, to try and figure out exactly what it is." Max shifted Tess�s weight in his arms. She moaned again, but didn�t open her eyes.

Within minutes they had climbed the slope and Michael was placing his hand against the silver hand-print on the rock face. The entrance to the pod chamber slid open. Max welcomed the sensation of coming home he always felt within the cave of his birth. He realized that he had always suspected that the answers to all of his questions were here, from the first moment Tess had showed it to him. He only hoped that today proved him right.

He ducked his head, taking care to shield Tess as well. He moved into the main cave, gently laying the small blonde down near the lightly glowing pods.

"What do you think�s wrong with her?" Kyle asked, sounding concerned.

"I wish I knew," Max sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stared down at the unconscious girl. He felt Liz come up beside him. He brought his arm up and around her, taking strength from her presence. In spite of his bravado outside, he was terrified. Because, in the end, he did not want to die today. Not when he and Liz had just reunited and the thought of really living was again full of the promise of happily ever after.

Simply having the chance to openly love her and be with her was all the happily ever after Max would ever need.

Max kissed her lightly on the temple, taking her hand in his. Looking down at her, he raised an eyebrow. "Want to see what all the fuss is about?"

Her eyes lit up, just as he knew they would. In spite of her fear, the prospect of seeing a real alien device, particularly one that was capable of time-travel, was almost balm enough for her science-loving soul.

He looked around at the others. "C�mon."

"I�ll stay here with Tess," Kyle called after them as they moved towards the pods.

Max got down on his hands and knees and crawled through into the granolith chamber. He stood up, reaching down to help Liz to her feet. He watched her reaction, smiling slightly at the awe that crossed her face. "This is amazing, Max. God�"

She moved away from him, reaching out with her hand and touching the glowing base of the metallic structure. When she looked back at Max, her eyes were bright with tears. "This�this is where he left her. Fourteen years from now, it�s where you would have left me."

Max hurried forward, gently pulled her against him. "It�s not going to happen this time. I swear to God, Liz. No matter what, we won�t be separated again."

"I can feel them here," she whispered, clutching at him. "They�we�re everywhere."

He stroked her hair lightly, desperate to comfort her. He�d had absolutely no idea that she was going to react this way. It humbled him actually. Because, for the first time, truly he understood how hard it had been for her to push him away. But she had done it, simply because another version of him had asked her to. What had he ever done to deserve such loyalty?

"You love me. It�s reason enough," she said quietly, as though she had heard his very thoughts, which maybe she had. She had demonstrated an entirely too perceptive ability to do so in the Jeep on the way here after all.

It was only when Michael came crawling through that Max realized that he and Liz had been alone in the granolith chamber for several minutes, just taking comfort from being in each other�s arms, fear pushed aside in the face of how right they were for each other.

But cold reality set in as he looked over Liz�s head at his friend. He felt the warm feeling in his heart fade at the expression on Michael�s face. "What�s wrong?" he asked.

"Tess, she�s�" Michael grimaced. "Maxwell, she�s awake."

Max frowned. "And that�s not a good thing?" Liz turned her head against his chest. She was still pressed firmly to Max, but was obviously now listening to Michael too.

"Well�" Michael sighed. "She�s acting a little weird. I think you better come see for yourself. She�s asking for you." Max nodded, but Michael grabbed his shoulder as he passed him. "Maxwell, you need to know something." Max simply stared at him, waiting for him to go on. "Maria, she elbowed me and I noticed�Max, she�s wearing Serena�s scarf."

Max glanced at Liz, his surprise reflected on her face. Max hadn�t really thought about what had happened to Serena�s scarf since he had taken it away from Liz earlier. Now he frowned. What the heck was Tess up to?

They hurried back through the pods. Tess had obviously been waiting for him if the sigh of relief that escaped her at the sight of him was any indication. She was standing against the far wall, a strange look on her face. In fact, she looked distinctly freaked.

Max climbed to his feet, then moved towards her carefully. He paused briefly, glancing behind him with concern when he heard a gasp from Liz, who was just now emerging from the pods. She was staring at Tess, as though she had seen a ghost.

Max grimaced. He realized that he was going to have to deal with Tess first, although his instinct was to return to Liz. He didn�t like the look on her face. But Tess really seemed on the verge of bolting at the slightest misstep from any of them. "Tess?" He reached out, gently touching her shoulder, which made her look at him. Her blue-eyed gaze had been glued to Liz after her first glance at Max. "What�s wrong? Can you tell us what happened to you?"

Tess bit her lip, then glanced past him. Max turned his head. He saw that she was looking at Liz again. Max�s heart started to beat more rapidly. What the hell was the matter with her? "Tess, what is it?"

"I�I got here a bit early. I locked myself in the car to wait for you," Tess explained slowly, swallowing, as though she was coming out of a dream - or maybe a nightmare was a better word for it. "When you didn�t come, I got scared, so I decided to come up to the pod chamber, thinking I�d be safer."

"Okay�" Max prompted when it seemed that she wasn�t going to continue.

Tess�s eyes widened and Max realized that she was on the verge of tears. "Max, I don�t quite�I don�t know how to tell you this!"

"Tess, just tell me," Max ordered.

"If I tell you, you aren�t going to listen to me. But you have to understand! He made me do it! I didn�t know who I was! He raised me to�He told me all these things about who I was and about how if I didn�t act, I was going to turn out just like I had before. He lied to me, Max."

Max could feel himself beginning to get a little annoyed, his impatience getting the better of him. "Tess!"

He felt someone move past him, gently nudging him aside. "Max, let me try."

"Liz, I really don�t think�" he began, but trailed off, watching in amazement as Tess�s hand came up and her fingers trailed lightly across Liz�s cheek. The blonde almost seemed transfixed as she narrowed her gaze and stared directly into Liz�s eyes. It took all of Max�s strength not to reach out and drag Liz away from the other girl.

But there was nothing threatening in Tess�s regard, Max realized, when Liz didn�t even flinch. Instead, her caress was entirely loving, almost reverent.

"It�s okay. You can tell us," Liz said softly. "I think I know anyway. I�I�m just sorry I didn�t realize it before."

"You didn�t know who you were," Tess replied. "It�s not your fault. It�s mine. I should have known. I should have recognized you. But�He told me you were my enemy. I thought you were human. And I didn�t know who I was. I swear it."

"Maxwell, what the hell is going on here?" Michael demanded in a low tone, coming up to stand next to him. "They�re both freaking me out here."

"You�re not the only one," Max replied. "Liz�"

Liz turned her head, regarding Max. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. Max took a surprised step forward. "Liz?"

"Max, I�m so stupid. How could I not have realized?"

"Liz, what?"

"We�ve found her, Max. It�s Tess. Of course it�s Tess."

Max raised his hands in frustration. "Liz, I don�t know what you�re trying to tell me."

Liz put her arm around Tess�s shoulders. The two girls were of a height, blonde and brunette heads level with each other.

Max blinked. He shook his head, when a flash momentarily blinded him. For one instant, neither Liz, nor Tess was standing in front of him. He was staring at two small, grey figures, identical down to their serene dark eyes. Completely the same, in every way. And he knew them. He knew them both.

Because how could he not recognize the one who was his very heart and the other who was his saviour?

Oh, God.

He met Liz�s eyes - because she was Liz again - the radiance of her happiness shining on her face, coming directly from the soul he had loved for two lifetimes. She nodded once.

Max shifted his gaze to Tess and smiled. "Serena."