Majiklmoon - Roswell - Complete

[majiklmoon]

Quietly into the Night

[majiklmoon]

Quietly into the Night

Rating: TEEN for now

Disclaimer: Roswell isn’t mine; the characters belong to Jason Katims, et al. The Prologue is taken directly from the episode Graduation, written by Ron Moore and Jason Katims.

A.N. This is dedicated to the ORBs. You guys are the best!


Quietly into the Night

Rating: TEEN for now

Disclaimer: Roswell isn’t mine; the characters belong to Jason Katims, et al. The Prologue is taken directly from the episode Graduation, written by Ron Moore and Jason Katims.

A.N. This is dedicated to the ORBs. You guys are the best!

Prologue:

“I have a better idea.” “Why don’t we get out of dodge before they land on us?” “We leave!” says Michael
“And where do we go?” asks Kyle.
“Anywhere but here.” “I mean let’s face it, they know who we are, it’s over” “We leave Roswell, we leave fast, and we leave as quietly as we can.” “And we all go separately.” “Separately?” asks Maria
“Right now we are safer as individuals than we are as a group.” “I mean what are we all going to do if we go together, get a van?” “We go quietly into the night, each of us on our own.” “If they get some of us, maybe they don’t get all of us.”


And so we left, not one by one, like Michael suggested, and certainly not quietly, but we did leave. It was hard, harder than anything we had ever done before. It was so hard to leave our homes, our families, everything we had ever known, and to venture out into the unknown. We all traveled together at first, me and Max, Michael, Maria, Kyle and Isabelle. But shortly after our wedding, the FBI closed in on us again. We decided the best thing we could do was split up. None of us wanted to do that, but we knew we had to. The next big decision was where to go.

For Isabelle, the decision was easy. She totally changed her appearance. She made herself look like a totally different person. The change was so dramatic. She went from short dark hair to a long flowing mane of red hair, her eyes were now green. It was incredible what a difference it made. She changed Kyle’s hair to golden blond. He looked like a California surfer. Together they headed to Boston. Isabelle knew she couldn’t be with Jesse, but she could be by him.

Maria’s transformation was a little harder, she had gone through so many hair colors and styles in the past year, but she ended up with black hair, which she wore in a short cap of curls. Poor Michael, he had finally found a hairstyle that suited him, and he had to get rid of it. He ended up sporting black hair like Maria that he wore in a conservative style. He actually made me think of an accountant the first time I saw him like that.

They headed for California shortly after Kyle and Isabelle left. And then, there was Max and I. Max, my husband, I still can’t believe that. Where would we go, how would we survive?


Part 1

Liz walked down the corridor of the small hospital where she worked as a lab assistant. It wasn't a high paying job, but it pays their bills, and more importantly, it provided her with access to very ill children. Liz turned a corner and entered the main admitting area of the hospital. Over by the door, Les, the hospital’s security guard was talking to a man in a dark blue suit. There wasn't anything suspicious about it, but after being on the run for so long, Liz was always cautious. She slowed her steps as she passed the two, trying to catch some of their conversation.

“No, I can’t say I’ve seen the woman in this picture,” said Les. “No sir, I haven’t seen anybody that looks like that at all.” Good afternoon Miss Rebecca, how are you today?” asked Les as Liz passed by.

“I’m just fine Les, just fine,” said Liz as she lowered her head and tried to pass by the two men.

“Miss Rebecca, have you ever seen the young lady in this here picture? This fine gentleman is searching for his daughter. Seems she ran away with her boyfriend several months ago.”

The man in the blue suit handed Liz a photo of herself taken outside the Crashdown two years ago. She looked at the photo of a girl with long dark hair, shook her mop of blond curls and said “I can honestly say, I have never seen that girl around here before.” “Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I need to be on my way.”

Liz walked away calmly, but inside, she was shaking. She headed towards the cafeteria and out a side door into the warm Montana sunshine. Reaching into her pocket, she removed her cell phone and punched in Max’s number.

“It’s me, they found us again. We have to run. Again."

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Two

Liz abruptly terminated her phone conversation with Max and spun around. Standing behind her was the man from the lobby. The man with her picture.

“I’m sorry to bother you again Miss, but when I was talking with Les, I couldn’t help but think that maybe you have seen this girl in the picture before,” he said.

“Your daughter, right?” said Liz, stalling for time. She takes the picture from him and pretends to study it while she studies him instead.

He was just under 6 feet tall, with thinning blond hair and blue eyes. He has no noticeable scars or marks, There was nothing to set him apart at all, except for the fact that he has a picture of her and was claiming to be her father.

“She doesn’t look like you at all,” said Liz conversationally. “Does she take after your wife?”

“Yes, she is the spitting image of her mother,” said the man. “Are you sure you haven’t seen her?”

“I’m positive I haven’t seen her,” said Liz. Suddenly as she was handing the photo back, images began to flash in her mind. Rain falling, running down a street, Isabelle in tears.

“I’ve got to go,” Liz said shoving the picture back at the man. “Good luck finding your daughter.”

She turned and left the man and walked back into the hospital. She stopped at a nearby window, and looked out onto the courtyard where she had just stood. The man reached into his pocket and pulls out a cell phone

Damn, she thought to herself. Why can’t these stupid alien powers include superman hearing?

Liz continued down to the lab and gathered up her belongings. Experience had taught her she needed to travel light. No pictures decorated her work area, no nick knacks. Nothing would indicate that anyone even worked there where it not for the pile of folders on her desk. After she retrieved her belongings, she walked over to the department supervisor.

“Dr. Henderson, I’m not feeling very well at all. If it’s all the same with you, I’m going to head out early. I’ll come in early tomorrow to make up my time,” she said. She hated lying to him; she wasn’t coming back. Tomorrow she’d be at least 100 miles away, trying to start another new life.

“You don’t look at all well,” concurred Dr. Henderson. “Would you like to have one of the doctors on staff, check you out?”

“No, really, I’ll be fine, it’s just a headache. I think if I just go home and lay down; I’ll be fine. Thank you Dr. Henderson, I’ll see you in the morning.”

After Liz left the lab, the doctor reached for his phone.

“The parcel in question is en route right now,” was all he said.

Grabbing his jacket, he left the lab and went down the hall in the same direction as Liz.

Liz was climbing into her car when her cell phone rang.

“Hello,” she said into the phone

Liz, it’s Max, don’t come home. They have someone watching the house. Go straight to the bus station and get the hell out of town.

“Max, listen, the one I talked to earlier stopped me again. I got a flash off of him. It was of Isabelle. Max, I think she’s in danger too.”

We all are Liz. When you get to the bus station, open locker 75. Take the backpack out. Inside the backpack is some money, use it to get your self out of here. You know where to go. I’ll meet you there when it’s safe. And Liz, I love you.

“I love you to Max,” she replied, but it was too late, he was already gone.

Sighing, she started her car and headed towards the bus station, unaware of the late model sedan following her.

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Three

Liz pulled the beat up old Dodge Shadow into the bus station parking lot, and parked the car so it is hidden from view. She took a moment to clear it of anything that could be used to trace the car back to her.

Climbing out, she looks carefully around to make sure nobody was watching. She placed her hand on the car, and changed the color from blue to a nondescript gray color. Another wave of her hand, and the license plates changed.

Grabbing her bag, she hurried into the station and went straight to the lockers. She quickly located locker number 75, she tried to open it, but there was no key. Liz made a quick visual sweep of the area to ensure that she wasn’t being observed and swiftly passed her hand over the lock mechanism and popped it open. She reached in and pulled out a blue nylon backpack and slung it onto her shoulder.

“Ms. Parker, you need to come with me,” said a voice from behind her. “Just do as you are asked, and don’t make a scene. We’ve been trying to find you since you left Roswell. Now, if you come along quietly, and answer all our questions, I won’t have to hurt you.”

Liz thought fast, and slumped her shoulders in defeat. She turned around and came face to face with the man who had cornered her in the hospital

“Ok, I’ll come with you, I’ll do whatever you say,” she said. “I am so sick of running, and I just want to go home and see my mom and dad. Can you help me to get back to Roswell?”

As she spoke, Liz hefted the backpack up onto her shoulder and gripped the shoulder strap tightly. She wanted this FBI agent to think that this bag contained something very important. He didn’t look overly intelligent. Hopefully, she’d be able to trick him.

“Um, excuse me, but before I go anywhere with you, do you think you could tell me your name?” questioned Liz flirtatiously as she gave a little giggle. God, she thought, I hope this works before I make myself sick acting this way.

“Well Ms. Parker, you can call me Feltcher, and as for going back to Roswell, maybe later. There are some people who want to talk to you first. Now, why don’t you let me take that bag from you and we’ll be on our way,” said the agent, preening a little at Liz’s flirting.

“No, really, it’s not that heavy, I can carry it,” said Liz as she wraps both her hands tighter around the shoulder strap of the backpack.

“Don’t make a scene Ms. Parker and give me the bag,” said Feltcher as he reached out and grabbed the handle of the backpack.

Acting fast, Liz grabbed his hand and sent a small jolt of energy into his body. Fetcher’s eyes widened and slowly he collapsed to the ground.

Liz looked around and ascertained that nobody had seen what had just happened. She quickly went to the counter and purchased a ticket for the bus that is boarding in the parking lot. Before boarding the bus, Liz stoped in the ladies room. When she emerged, she had long blond hair and vivid blue eyes.

Without a backward glance, Liz boarded the bus and stared resolutely ahead as it drove out of town.




After 3 bus changes, and 3 appearance changes, Liz wasn’t sure if she was headed north south east or west, but she was sure she was sure she wasn’t being followed. She reached into the backpack and rummages through the contents. Max had thought of everything. There was cash, a map and several changes of clothing as well. She reached into the bag one more time to see if she missed anything and her hand came in contact with something hard. She pulled it out of the bag, and found that she was holding a gold necklace with a heart shaped locket on it. Opening the locket she found an orb symbol inscribed on one side, and on the other side were the letters M&M.

M&M? she thought to herself. Was Max having a chocolate attack when he got me this? She slipped the necklace over her head. Aside from her wedding ring, and the engagement ring Max had made for her, it is the only piece of jewelry she owned. As the miles flashed by, she dozed, intermittently, her fingers clutching the pendant as she slept.

The bus pulled into its next stop, and Liz grabbed her belongings and exited the bus. She was headed into the terminal to buy another ticket when she passed a vending machine. Inexplicably, her eyes were drawn to the package of M&M candy. M&M, M&M, she thought to herself. Michael and Maria, he wants me to get to Michael and Maria. Rushing to the ticket counter, she pulled out her wallet and asked for a one-way ticket to California.

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Four

Liz dozed intermittently as the bus continued on its journey west. Suddenly, she was jerked from sleep by a voice insistently calling her name. Cautiously, she looked around the darkened interior of the bus, but all those within her line of sight were also sleeping. Assuming that she only dreamed the voice, Liz settled back down and stared out the window into the darkness.

Liz, God, Liz, Max, Michael, anybody, can you hear me? the voice shouted instantly in her head.

“Hello,” she whispered softly, but there is no reply.

[/I]Damn, why can’t one of them hear me?”[/I] questioned the voice in her head. Isabelle always could, why can’t any of the others? Isabelle, where are you, are you out there? I came home last week and you were gone! Isabelle, Liz, the voice in her head began to sob brokenly. I don’t know what to do. I came home last week, and our apartment was torn apart, and Isabelle was missing. I grabbed our emergency stuff and headed out right away. I went to our agreed meeting place, but she isn’t here. It’s been 3 days, and I’m really starting to freak out.

“Kyle, oh God Kyle, I wish you could here me.” “Where are you Kyle?” Liz said softly totally distraught at the anguish she could hear in her friends’ voice.

Liz, my God, Liz, can you hear me? I can’t hear you, but I can sense you. You’re there, aren’t you?” continued the voice in her head. I’m in Seattle, I’ll wait for you at the Space Needle. Every day at noon, I’ll stay for 2 hours, every day, until next Friday. God, Liz I hope you are hearing this. I need to find Isabelle. I promised Max and Jesse I’d take care of her.

Liz sat as the tears streamed silently down her face. Their lives were falling apart. Isabelle was missing, she didn’t know where Max was, Kyle was a basket case over Isabelle, and she had to find Michael and Maria in California. After an unplanned side trip to Seattle to find Kyle.

“Oh God!” she cried, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
But even as she gave into a burst of self-pity, Liz knew there was nothing she could do but go on.

At the next bus terminal, Liz disembarked, headed for the terminal and walked straight into the ladies room. After a quick wardrobe change she was dressed in an outfit that would have done Lonnie or Rath justice. She took a quick look under the doors of the stalls, and made certain she was alone. She changed her appearance once again, this time she sported a short spiked hairstyle in bleach blond, and brown eyes. She exited the bathroom just before her bus was ready to leave and climbed aboard. She wanted to sleep during the journey, but she was too afraid she’d miss another message from Kyle.

Two days later, an exhausted Liz arrived in Seattle. She had existed on coffee and catnaps since this mess began. She grabbed her stuff and got off the bus and looked around wearily as she tried to acclimate herself.

Sighing, she headed to the terminal, grabbing a brochure for the space needle on her way. Entering a stall, she changed into a much more conservative looking outfit of jeans and a polo shirt that she had liberated from Max’s wardrobe. A bang alerted her to the fact that someone else had entered the rest room.

Oh well, she thought to herself. I’ve done my presto chango routine so many times, I don’t really need a mirror. In a matter of moments, she has sandy brown hair cut into a pageboy style, and hazel eyes.

She exited the bathroom, stopped at a vending machine for a quick snack then headed out to find Kyle. A quick look at her watch showed her that it was 10:30. Liz gave a small sigh of relief knowing that she had plenty of time to get to the space needle.

Liz arrived at the space needle and took a quick walk around the grounds, checking out the tourists, and trying to figure out how she was going to recognize Kyle.

Great Kyle, couldn’t you have given me a description of yourself, she thought to herself.

Liz oh shit, Liz, is that you? a voice echoed in her head. I’m here, and I can hear you! I’m at a bench across from the main entrance of the needle. I have on a jean jacket, and a Boston Red Sox baseball cap.

Liz abruptly turned around and headed back towards the entrance, and there seated on the bench was Kyle Valenti, with long blond hair, and an earring. Smothering a laugh, Liz sat on the bench next to him. Neither of them said a thing, but Kyle reached down and took her hand in his and held it tight.

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Five

Isabelle ran down the rain sodden streets. Tears streaked down her face, mixing with the rain that was falling from the sky. Lights from an approaching car cut through the darkness and Isabelle ducked into a doorway to trying to stay out of sight. She leaned over, gasping, trying to catch her breath.

“Oh God I can’t believe it,” she gasped. “He is one of them. I can’t believe he is one of them. Kyle, I hope you got away. Please God, let Kyle be safe.”





Kyle took Liz back to the mom and pop motel he was staying at about 25 miles from the space needle.

“When did you start riding a Harley?” questioned Liz with a giggle. “Michael, I can see, but you always struck me as a pick up kind of guy”

“Hey, this bike is all me,” said Kyle, pointing to the painted Buddha on the gas tank of the bike.

The two enter Kyle’s room, and Liz collapsed in a heap on one of the beds.

“Oh, that feels so good, I’ve been riding in busses since forever!” she said, wearily.

“Why don’t you rest up for a while, and I’ll run out and get us something to eat,” said a reluctant Kyle.

“Kyle, no,” said Liz quickly. “Don’t leave me here alone. I, I just don’t think we should allow ourselves to get separated.”

“Yeah, you are probably right,” agreed Kyle “Well, if you can deal with stale nachos and warm soda, we can feast like kings.”

“Look Kyle, all I really want to do is get some rest. I really haven’t slept since I heard you in my head. How did you do that anyhow?”

“My latent alien powers have come to rise,” quipped Kyle. “I’m not very good with it yet, and I’m not sure how it works. Isabelle is the only one I ever did it with. She couldn’t initiate contact with me, I would have to try and contact here, but then she could communicate with me. I’ve tried contacting you, Max, Maria, or Michael, but I never had any luck, until the other night.”

“Kyle, what happened in Boston?”

“God Liz,” said Kyle as he runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t know. When we all split up, I took Isabelle to Boston, and just decided to stick around. We ended up getting a place together. We must have moved in and around that city 10 different times, making sure nobody could find us, but she would never leave the area for long, she would never leave him ,” Kyle spit the last word out angrily. “She always wanted to be close to Jesse.”

Kyle gets up off of the other bed where he had been sitting and begins to pace around the motel room.

“She doesn’t know, but I bumped into him once at a bar.”

At this, Liz gasps, fear evident on her face.

“Don’t worry, he didn’t recognize me,” laughed Kyle bitterly. “Even if I had looked like myself, he probably wouldn’t have anyhow. He was too busy ogling the blonde bimbet he brought with him.”

“Oh no, Kyle, no!” cried Liz. “He didn’t? He promised to wait for her. She tried to give him back his rings, but he wouldn’t take them. He said he was going to wait, no matter how long.”

Tears fell from Liz’s eyes uncontrollably. If asked, she wouldn’t have been able to explain her reaction, but she felt as if something vital had been lost.

Kyle sat beside her on the bed, and held her while she cried. Finally, she was able to bring her breathing back under control. She leaned against her friend, her emotions spent.

Liz looked around the dingy motel room, stained carpet on the floors, and threadbare curtains trying to shade the window.

Is this what my life had become she thought to herself. One dingy room after another? And for what, for love? Well, it looks like love isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.

“Liz, I know your tired, and I know you need to rest, but can you tell me what happened to you?” asked Kyle. “Where is Max, and why aren’t you two together?”

In a sleep-dulled voice, she filled Kyle in on what happened, and why she was traveling alone. As she spook, her eyes began to close, and Kyle laid her down on the bed and pulled the covers up over her shoulders. He got up and prepared to move across the room to the other bed, when Liz’s hand reached out and stopped him.

“Kyle, be my friend, please and hold me,” Liz said, sleepily

“Always Liz, always,” he said. He lay down on the bed beside her and wrapped his arms around her, and the two drifted off to sleep.

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Six

Liz woke up after several hours of sleep feeling better than she had in a couple of weeks. She wasn’t alone anymore. Kyle wasn’t her beloved husband Max, but he was a wonderful friend. Moving slowly so that she wouldn’t wake the sleeping form beside her, Liz slipped off the bed, grabbed her bag and headed to the bathroom. Before she did anything else, she restored her appearance, but the face staring back at her in the mirror no longer seemed familiar. So many changes in her life have caused her to forget who she really is.

She turned the shower taps on full blast, and stood under the stinging spray, allowing the water to mask the tears streamed down her face. She was so sick of running, of being in danger. It had to stop. The pressure was tearing all of them apart. I love Max so much, and I meant it when I said I would follow him anywhere, but this pressure is destroying us, she thought to herself. Things had been tense between her and Max. She understood his need to use his powers to help people. That was why she always tried to find a job in a hospital or doctors office. She could keep track of the terminal patients, and when he could, Max would heal them. It was noble, it was selfless, and it was part of what was killing her, bit by bit.

Liz couldn’t forget her dreams of becoming a scientist. She wanted to help people too, but now, all she could do was help Max. Even her alien powers didn’t provide her with an option to help people very much. Sure once in a while, she received a glimpse into somebody’s future, but usually there wasn’t much she could do to change their path. God knows she had tried but people usually looked at her like she was insane.

She stepped out of the shower and began to towel off.

“I want my life back,” she said to the person staring back at her in the mirror. “I want to be you again.”

She wrapped the towel around her tightly and stepped out into the motel room.

“Kyle, Kyle, wake up!” she shouted.

Kyle sat up groggily on the bed and rubbed his hands wearily across his face.

“God Liz, what is it, is something wrong?” he said as he tried to focus.
“Oh my God, are you nuts, what are you doing, looking like that?” he yelled when his eyes finally focused on Liz, looking like Liz again.

“I’m sick of running Kyle, and I’m sick of all of us being in danger,” Liz stated defiantly. “I’m not going to do it any more. It’s time we took our lives back. All of us!”

“I’m assuming you have a plan for this?” asked Kyle.

“No, not yet, but I will, Kyle, I will,” said Liz. She looked at Kyle, her face a mask of determination, and Kyle knew nothing he said would ever change her mind.

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

Max Evans drove carefully through the winding streets of the upscale Boston Back Bay neighborhood where his sister’s husband lived. Tracking Jesse down wasn’t hard; he could only hope that Jesse had some inkling of where Kyle and Isabelle were staying. It was time for them to take a stand. They couldn’t keep running like this. It was destroying all of them. It hurt Max so much to see Liz hurting. She gave up her dreams and her life to stay with him. It was up to him to get those things back for her.

Max pulled into a parking space and climbed out of the car. Taking a second to get his bearings, he started down the street towards Jesse’s apartment. He could feel energy crackling around him. It was the same feeling he would get when Isabelle or Michael would use their powers.

In the distance, he saw a couple approaching. Max was certain the man was Jesse, but the woman with him wasn’t the right height to be Isabelle. Concerned, Max ducked behind a van and watched as the couple approached. Jesse stopped and pulled the woman to him and began to kiss her passionately. Another woman approached them from across the street. She had long black hair, and was dressed very stylishly. As she neared them, she raised her hand. As soon as he realized what was happening, Max stepped out from behind the van alarmed and grabbed her.

“Isabelle,” he whispered, “Don’t, not here not now, and not over another woman. He isn’t worth it.”

“Max, oh my God, Max, is it you?” she cried softly. Suddenly, she stiffened and pulled away. “Your wrong about one thing Max,” she said, her voice hard as steel. “He isn’t worth it, you’re right about that, but this isn’t over another woman. Jesse is an agent for the FBI!”

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Seven

“What?” Max asked incredulously. “There is NO WAY Jesse is an FBI agent,” he said as he led Isabelle towards his car. “He killed an agent to protect us.”

“Max, he is. I should have listened to you and to Michael when you told me to stay away from him,” Isabel said, her voice tinged with both anger and pain.

The two climbed inside the nondescript late model sedan Max was driving and Max switched on the ignition. Before he pulled away from the curb, he did a quick reconnoiter of the area, to ensure that they hadn’t been followed. Carefully, he eased out into traffic, the silence in the car thickened as neither of the car’s occupants said a word. After about 30 minutes, Max pulled the car into a deserted lot.

“Tell me everything,” he said.

“God Max, ever the King, aren’t you? I haven’t seen you in over a year, and all you can say is ‘Tell me everything,” snapped Isabelle.

“Look Isabelle, we don’t have time for social niceties right now.” “Now tell me what happened,” said Max, struggling to contain the anger that was building up inside him.

“Fine, you win Max, we’ll do it your way, we always do, anyhow,” snapped Isabel. “After we all split up, Kyle and I came out here. For a long time, we blended in with the college crowd. With so many different colleges in this town, it was easy. We moved around to different towns in the area, but we always kept coming back. I couldn’t stay away from Jesse, and Kyle wouldn’t leave me. He took your request,” she put extra emphasis on the word request to let Max know how angry she still was over what he did, “to watch over me very seriously. We had different jobs, but we never stayed at anything too long. I was working as a temp, when I got assigned to Jesse’s law firm. It was a total coincidence, but I took it as a sign that I should let Jesse know I was here. Kyle made me promise not to act rashly, and to make certain everything was safe before I spoke with Jesse.”

“Do you really think it was a coincidence that you got hired to work at Jesse’s firm Iz?” Max asked, gently.
“I did then, but looking back, I know it wasn’t. I was being set up. I’d been there for several nights, when the supervisor in the department I was working in asked me if I could stay late. I didn’t think anything of it, in fact, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to slip into Jesse’s office,” Isabelle confessed.

Max sat quietly refusing to judge Isabelle’s motives. He knew she loved Jesse. He didn’t know if he would be able to exist if he had to give up Liz. Pulling himself back to the conversation at hand, Max forced himself to focus on Isabelle’s soft voice.

“So I waited for an hour and then went up to his office. His door was partially opened, and I could here voices, so I stopped to listen.” She paused to wipe the tears out of her eyes.

“Max, he was in there, having sex with that, that SLUT. It was all I could do not to burst in there and kill them both, but I didn’t. I snuck into the office next to his, and I waited until they, until they finished,” Isabelle struggled to maintain her composure at this part of the story.

“After they left, I snuck into Jesse’s office and went through his files. He’s pretty stupid for an FBI agent Max. He had a safe in his office with a combination lock. He told me one time, he always codes the lock to the same combination, so he won’t forget it. He used his birthday. I didn’t even have to use my powers to break into is safe.”

“What did you find Isabelle?” Max asked, gently

“He had dossiers on all of us, on our power and everything. The only thing he didn’t have was a record of the lawyer Dad brought Zan to.”

At this, Max let out a big rush of breath. Above all things, he wanted Zan to be safe.

“Anyhow, I copied everything I could, and put it back. It took me hours, Max. I went back to our apartment, but Kyle wasn’t there. I forgot that he was working 3rd shift. I started packing up everything I thought we’d need to get out, when I heard footsteps pounding up the stairs. I panicked, and ran out the back door. I just started running. It was raining, and I was so scared, I didn’t know what to do,” cried Isabelle.

“Isabelle, relax you did the right thing,” said Max, trying to comfort her. “Liz saw it happen, she was approached by an agent, and she got a flash off of him and saw what happened to you. That’s why I’m here, I had to make sure you were ok,” Max said as he pulled his sister to him in a comforting hug.

“Liz, where is she?” asked Isabelle.

“I don’t know,” Max said bleakly. “I told her to run. I’m hoping she goes to Michael and Maria, and that’s where we’re going too.”

“Max, we can’t leave yet,” says Isabelle. “Kyle is missing too. I went back to our apartment, and waited, but he never showed up. I’m afraid they have him.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll think of something, I promise, but we can’t stay here,” said Max. “Where is your stuff, and the files you pulled from Jesse.”

“They’re gone Max. I had packed them in one of the panic bags Kyle and I kept, but when I went back to the apartment, both bags were gone.”

Max was upset that the files are gone, but he tried to remain positive for Isabelle’s sake.

“Kyle probably came home, saw that the place was torn apart, grabbed both bags and ran Isabelle,” said Max comfortingly. “Do you two have an emergency place to meet if you get separated?”

“Uh, yeah, the space needle in Seattle,” answered Isabelle.

“Great, Liz and I picked Cinderella’s Carousel at Disneyland,” laughed Max. “It looks like we’re going on a road trip.”

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Eight

“What the hell are you talking about?” Kyle shouted after Liz outlined her plan to him. “Go back to Roswell? Liz are you nuts, the last time we were in Roswell, bad guys with guns wanted to kill us, or have you forgotten about that?”

“No Kyle, I haven’t forgotten about that. I’m the lucky one who got to see those charming images in her visions. Remember that little tidbit?” snapped Liz in an irritated voice.

“Look Liz, I’m not saying your plan sucks, but basically, it sucks,” shouted Kyle.

“Kyle, I am so sick of running and hiding, I think its time for us to be proactive instead of reactive.”

“Hey, I’m not totally disagreeing with you here Liz, but look at it this way, there are two of us, against the FBI. Those are not the best odds going. Why can’t we hook up with the others first, and then do the proactive thing?”

“Because the others will never go for it, that’s why,” said Liz. “Besides, we don’t know where to find them. Max and I had a meeting place planned if we got separated, but I found a message in a locket he left for me, and I think he wants me to try and find Michael and Maria and go there.”

“Isabelle and I agreed to meet here if we split up, so I think we should just wait at the space needle like she and I agreed, and then go from there.”

“God Kyle, how long do you want to wait, you don’t even know where Isabelle is, or even if she is al….” Liz’s voice trailed off uncertainly.

“Jesus Liz, you don’t think I know that, but I have to wait, I owe it to her,” he said, his voice breaking on the words.

“I’m sorry Kyle, that was a rotten thing for me to say. Isabelle is fine, you’d know it if she wasn’t, just like I’d know if Max were…”she paused, wanting to acknowledge Kyle’s feelings for Isabelle.

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” Kyle said, grabbing two backpacks off the floor.

“Um, Kyle?” Liz said in a questioning voice. Two backpacks?” “Traveling a bit heavy, aren’t you?”

Kyle looked at the two bags in his hand and sat heavily on the nearby chair.

“One is Isabelle’s,” he admitted. “When I couldn’t find her, I grabbed both our bags and ran.”

“Well, did she leave you a note or anything inside the bag?”

“Damn, I never even looked in her bag, I was focusing on getting here,” he said.

“Do you want me to do it?” Liz asked in a gentle voice. She knew how hard it would be for Kyle to go through Isabelle’s things.

“No, I’ll do it,” he said, yanking on the zipper of the nylon pack. He reached in, and pulled out a change of clothes, some toiletries, and a manila folder full of papers. Kyle opened the folder and began to read, and it didn’t take him long for him to realize what he was looking at.

The folder contained dossiers on himself and the others. Wordlessly, he handed part of the stack to Liz, and she too began to read.

“I don’t understand,” she said. “Where did Isabelle get this information on us?”

“Oh shit!” shouted Kyle. “No, no, no, no, no, it can’t be true, damn it, it can’t be!” He passed Liz the rest of the papers and she glanced over them.

Slowly, the confusion on Liz’s face was replaced by a look of horror.

“Jesse’s and FBI agent?” she whisperd in a shocked voice. “Poor Isabelle, she must be devastated.”

“Okay,”said Kyle in a take-charge voice. We’re going to the space needle, we’ll give her 3 days to get here, and then we take off. We also have to figure out a way to let our folks know that Jesse is an agent, and that they are in danger too.”

”Well, we can’t call, I’m sure their phones are tapped,” said Liz. “And I wouldn’t count on mail getting through either. Kyle, what about a fax?”

“Oh sure Liz, you want to fax my dad at the sheriff’s department? So not loving that idea.”

“Not your dad, Kyle, mine. Mom and Dad put a fax in the restaurant to increase takeout business. Right before we leave, we can hit one of those mail box/copy stores and send a fax.”

“That just might work Liz, I always knew you were the brains of this outfit,” said Kyle as he reached over and hugged his friend.

Three days came and went, and there was no sign of Isabelle at the space needle. On their way out of town, Kyle and Liz stopped at a Mailbox Etc. store and sent a cryptic fax to her parents at the Crash Down.

Jesse wants to order the FBI agent Special. Claudia Parker.

“Man, I hope they figure out what you’re talking about,” said Kyle.

“I hope so too,” sighed Liz, “But I don’t want to come right out and say it in case somebody else picks up the fax. I’m hoping my grandma’s name will clue them into the fact that it’s me.”

“Did you remember to leave a sign for Isabelle at the space needle, so she’ll know that we were here?” questioned Kyle.

“Yeah, yeah I did,” answered Liz with a slight smile.


Four days later, Max and Isabelle walked around the base of the space needle, trying to locate Kyle.

“It’s no use, Max, he’s not here,” said Isabelle leaning up against a low stonewall.

“Isabelle, we just got here. Why don’t we give it a couple of days,” said Max as he looksed around for anything that would indicate that Kyle was around. Suddenly, he started to walk away from Isabelle toward a concrete barrier that was being used to block off a parking area.

Pausing for a second to make sure he wasn’t being watched he waved his hand over the barrier, and began to smile.

Isabelle walked over to where he was standing and began to laugh as well, the sound spilling out of her releasing so much of the tension that had built up inside of her.

There, burnt into the cement, was a glowing heart with the letters ME + LP inside of it, and right next to it, the unmistakable outline of a Mickey Mouse head with a KV in it.

“Well,” said Max grinning in relief, “I guess we’re going to Disney Land.”

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Nine

Kyle and Liz roared down the interstate on Kyle’s motorcycle. A cold rain enveloped them as they traveled, but they were determined to reach their destination as soon as possible. Liz was surprised when Kyle made an unexpected detour. The bike slowed as Kyle pulled into the deserted parking lot of a closed shopping center.

“Kyle, what’s wrong, why are we stopping?” questioned Liz.

“Nothing’s wrong,” he answered. “Now, get off the bike.”

“What, why Kyle, what’s happening?”

”What’s happening is you need to know how to drive this thing in case you need to get away and I’m not around, that’s what,” he said as he climbed off the bike.

“Kyle, don’t talk like that, nothing’s going to happen,” Liz said in a shaky voice.

“Great, fine, nothing’s going to happen, now get your ass back on here and get ready for your first lesson.”

Kyle patiently explained the controls of the motorcycle, and how to shift. After several false starts, Liz began to grasp the basics and was able to circle the parking lot without any mishaps. Stopping the bike in front of Kyle, Liz flushed triumphantly as she removed her helmet and wiped the rain from her face.

“Well, Evel Knievel you are not,” said Kyle, but you’ll do.”

“Who’s Evel Knievel?” asked Liz.

“Never mind,” said Kyle with a sigh. “Just get on the bike. Man, where are Max and Michael when you need them?”


Later that night, when the need for sleep overwhelmed them, they found a motel and checked in. Kyle immediately stretched out on the bed, so Liz grabbed her stuff and headed for the shower.

Standing under the steaming spray, she lathered up her hair. She felt almost decedent as the water cascades off her body and soothed the aching muscles in her back and legs.

Looking good there Parker!

Liz gave a small scream, shocked out of her reverie by the voice. She rubbed blindly at her stinging eyes as the shampoo ran down her face and into her eyes and mouth.

“Kyle, you pervert, get out of here,” she shouted, but there was no answer.

Kyle, you jerk, is that you? she thought to herself.

Yeah, it is. I’m going to try and contact Isabelle, but I just thought I’d make sure it still worked.
It works, it worked, Liz said in her mind. Now get your mind the hell out of my shower. I’ll be out in a minute.

Liz quickly rinsed the shampoo from her hair and stepped out of the shower. She pulled a change of clothes out of her bag and threw them on. We so need to hit a laundromat soon, she thought as she exited the bathroom.

Kyle was still laying on the bed, motionless, an intense look of concentration on his face. Liz sat silently on the other bed and watched as he tried to contact Isabelle. Hope built in Liz when she noticed that his lips were moving, forming silent words. After about 15 minutes, he sat up, and turned to Liz.

“I did it, I reached her!” he shouted in triumph, “She’s not alone, Max is with her. They said we should just continue to the scheduled meeting place, and we’ll make plans there.”

“What did she say about Max, is he ok?” questions Liz. “And how is Isabelle, is she dealing with this whole thing ok?”

“I don’t think she’s dealing with this at all,” Kyle said. “She refused to talk about any of it, not even after I told her we had Jesse’s files.
And Max says to stay safe, and he loves you very much, and he’ll see you in about 3 days.”

Liz’s shoulders slumped in relief when she learned that her husband was safe, and she would be seeing him in a few short days.

“Great, I’m starving,” she said. “Want to go grab a burger or something?”

“That sounds great,” said Kyle, jumping up off the bed.

The two walked over to the door, but before he opened it, Kyle peered out the window overlooking the parking lot. He looked from behind the curtain, for a minute turned to Liz and said calmly, “I’m afraid we have some company out there.”

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Ten

“Company, what do you mean company?” questioned Liz. “Max and Isabelle type company?” she asked in a hopeful voice.

“Nope”

“Um..Michael and Maria company?”

“No, I’m sorry, you have one life line left. Did you wish to phone a friend?”

“Uh, our parents figured out what the fax meant and decided to join us on the road?” asked Liz in a doubtful voice.

“I’m sorry Liz Parker, you are the weakest link,” said Kyle.

“Geez Kyle, did you do anything besides watch television in Boston? Now, please tell me that is not the FBI out there!”

“Ok, it’s not the FBI, but really, it is,” said Kyle.

“Kyle, how can you be so calm about this?” asked Liz, her voice agitated.

“Liz, after all we’ve been through, 4 agents in a car are nothing,” said Kyle. “I want you to take our stuff, and climb out the back window. I’m going to cause a distraction. When I do, I want you take off on the bike, going west. After I get away, I’ll head south, you circle around and pick me up.”

“No way, why don’t we both just go out the back way together and make a run for it?” Liz asked, reluctant to leave Kyle on his own.

“We need the bike Liz, that’s why. I don’t really want to walk the next 500 or so miles.”

“Fine, you take the bike, I’ll make the distraction,” she argued.

“No,” said Kyle, firmly. “Liz, you’re far more valuable, I have to protect you. I failed Isabelle; I’m not going to fail again.”

“Kyle, I am not your responsibility, and I can take care of myself!” Liz shouted, angrily.

“No, you’re not my responsibility, but you are my friend, and I’m not going to lose you too,” said Kyle, reasonably.

Liz acquiesced, but she wasn’t happy about it, and she made sure Kyle realized that, too.

“You know Kyle, you’re my friend too, and I don’t want anything to happen to you either.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t, no pass me my pack for a second,” said Kyle.

Kyle reached into his bag and pulled out a small bottle of scotch, and took a small sip. He swished it around in his mouth and spit it out into the trashcan. He then proceeded to pour half the bottle on himself.
“This is your plan?” Liz asked. You’re going to get drunk?”

“No, my plan is to act drunk. I haven’t had even a beer since my alien powers came to the surface. Remember how Max was that one time? I don’t ever want to act like that,” said Kyle, grinning as he remembered how totally out of control Max was.

“Damn it Kyle, this isn’t going to work,” said Liz, trying to mask the fear in her voice with anger.

“Well, it’s all we got, so lets do it. Check out the back window, is anybody out there?”

Liz goes to the back of the room and looked out side. Fortunately, their room overlooked a steep hill, and there weren’t any agents in sight.

“I don’t see anyone out there,” said Liz.

“Ok, I’ll help you out and pass the bags to you, remember wait until you hear me out there before you head for the bike,” said Kyle.

“Kyle, be careful, please,” she said softly.

“I will be.” “Now, if we don’t hook up by tomorrow at noon, I want you to head straight to meet the others.” “Promise me Liz.”

Liz looked doubtful, but nodded swiftly and quickly hugged Kyle before climbing out the window. Kyle passed their packs to her, and she snuck off around the side of the building.

A few minutes later, she heard someone singing loudly. American Pie? she thought to herself. Doesn’t he know any other songs? She paused to wipe a tear from her eye as she remembered Kyle and Alex, trapped underground with the gandarium crystals. A loud crashing noise brought her back to the present, and she tried to focus on what was going on. She waited several seconds that seemed to stretch on for hours when she finally heard Kyle banging on the hood of a car.

“Hey, you guys wanna drink?” he shouted.

Liz peered around the corner of the building and saw Kyle trying to get the FBI agents to get out of their car.

“She dumped me?” he shouted. “Can you believe she dumped me? She wants to go find herself or something.”

The FBI agents climbed cautiously out of their car and scouted the area. After a quick look around assured them that Kyle was no more than a heart broken drunk, and they walked over to him.

“Sir, we’re going to have to ask you to step away from our vehicle. We’re here on official business.”

“Are you guys cops? Hey, maybe I could be a cop. I bet Lurleen would come back to me if I was a cop,” said Kyle, slurring his words. “She never liked my job anyhow. I don’t know why, there is nothing wrong with pumping out septic tanks.”

“Sir, we need to have you step away from this vehicle, immediately,” said on of the agents.

Liz, go now Kyle's voice echoed in her head.

Liz crept quietly out from the side of the building and ran to Kyle’s motorcycle. She pushed it out of the parking lot to the side of the road and climbed on.

Turning back, she looked at Kyle, who by now, was lying across the hood of the FBI agent’s car. She heard Kyle’s voice in her head, urging her to leave, and she kick started the bike and took off down the highway.

[majiklmoon]

Chapter Eleven

Jim Valenti walked through the doors of the CrashDown restaurant and sat at the counter.

“Hey there, Geoff, can I have a chocolate time warp shake to go please,” he asked, nodding to Liz’s father.

“Sure thing Sher, I mean Deputy. Here, why don’t you take a look at the menu while I make your shake,” said Geoff, shooting Jim an intense look.

“Okay, actually, I am kind of hungry,” Jim said, reaching for the menu. He opened and saw the fax from Liz. He read it quickly and looked at Geoff, raising his eyebrow.

“You know Geoff,” Jim said casually, “Amy and I were wondering if you and Nancy would like to go to dinner at that new place over in Alamogordo some time?”

“Yeah, as a matter of fact, Nancy was just saying the other day, we don’t get to see enough of you two,” agreed Geoff. “Carol,” he said to a passing waitress. “Can you go make sure the two gentlemen in the corner are all set.”

Jim turned to watch the waitress make her way over to the table in the corner where two strangers sat. He gave Geoff a questioning look, and Geoff subtly nodded. Both men were sure the strangers were FBI agents, but they had no way to confirm it. Nancy Parker walked into the restaurant and stepped behind the counter to hug her husband.

“Hi Jim, how are you?” she said, smiling at the former sheriff.

“Hey Nancy, Geoff and I were just discussing how great it would be if you and he could join Amy and I for dinner at that new place in Alamogordo,” said Jim.

Nancy looked startled at the mention of Jim and Amy as a couple, but she managed to hide her amazement. She saw the fax hidden in the menu, and realized that Geoff had shown it to Jim.

“Actually Jim, Geoff and I were planning on meeting Philip and Diane for dinner tonight at that new Italian place. Why don’t the two of you join us? Here’s the address, and why don’t we say 7:00,” said Nancy. “Maybe if you two start spending some time with the old married couples, you’ll decide to join the ranks.” Nancy quickly scribbled the address on a blank order pad and handed it to Jim.

“Well, I can’t promise you that will happen, but I’m sure we’ll have a great time tonight. We’ll see you about 7:00.”

“Here’s your shake Jim,” said Geoff, passing him a take out container. “Come on, I’ll walk out with you. I wanted to ask you about starting a civilian patrol unit.”

The two men walk out of the restaurant, discussing the need for a community patrol, and Nancy purposefully placed the order pad on the counter and walked back towards the grill area. As soon as she exited the room room, one of the men sitting at the corner table got up and grabbed the order pad off of the counter.

“Perfect,” he said to his partner. “It has a carbon in it. We can have surveillance stake the restaurant out before they get there.”

Nancy peeked out from the pick up window, and smiled to herself when she realized they fell for the bait. Outside the CrashDown, Jim and Geoff made plans to meet at a restaurant in East Grand Plains. After several minutes, the two men shook hands, and Geoff turned and walked back into the café.

“Honey, it’s all set,” he yelled to Nancy. “Jim’s going to get the information from Sheriff Hanson, and we’ll hold the first community patrol meeting here, next week.”

“That’s great, Sweetie,” said Nancy. “I know you’ve been concerned about the increase in crime. I’m glad we can do our part to help.”

Outside, Jim climbed into his vehicle and drove down the road. As luck would have it, Phillip Evans drove past him, heading out of town. Falling in behind him, Jim turned on his flashing lights and pulled Phillip over. Wasting no time, he filled the other man in on the situation and showed him the fax.

“Jesse?” he asked. “I can’t believe that Jesse would do this to Isabelle. He loves her so much, Jim. As a matter of fact, he called us just the other day asking if we had heard anything at all from Isabelle and Max.”

“Well, my guess is, he wasn’t caring too much about how Isabelle is, as opposed to where she, and the rest of them are,” said Jim.

“And you say Geoff has federal agents in the café? Philip asked.”

“Well, neither one of us can prove it, but looks that way,” said Jim.

“Okay, look, I’ll head home and let Diane know, and we’ll meet all of you tonight,” said Philip. He shook his head, unable to accept the fact that the man he had grown to love like a son had betrayed them.

“Watch your back Philip,” said Jim, heading back to his vehicle.

“Looks like we’re all going to have to watch each other’s backs,” said Philip. He climbed into his car, and turned around and headed back to town.

[majiklmoon]

Part 12

“That’s them, that’s them, lets get out of here!” shouted one of the agents, shoving Kyle out of his way.

“Now that’s not very nice,” said Kyle drunkenly. “Here I am, just trying to be nice, and you shoved me.”

“Sir, you need to get out of our way now,” shouted one of the agents as the back door of the car opened. A tall man stepped out and assessed at the scene before him.

“Agent Feltcher, why are we still here?” he asked.

“Sir, this civilian is being difficult. He won’t get out of our way,” whined Feltcher.

“Are you, or are you not a federal agent, trained to deal with situations like this?”

“Yes Dr. Henderson, you are correct,” the agent said in a sulky voice.

He shoved Kyle who staggered a bit. Feltcher then proceeded to raise his fist and strike Kyle in the jaw, knocking him unconscious.

“Very good Agent Feltcher, I was beginning to believe you had no desire to catch Ms. Parker,” said Dr. Henderson as he climbed back into the car. “Both you and Agent Morris here,” he said nodding at the other agent, “Have let her slip through your grasp on several different occasions.”

“Ah, we realize that Sir,” said Feltcher. “She’s very clever, but don’t worry, we will catch her.”

“Yes, we will,” said Henderson ominously, as the car headed down the road in the direction Liz took. “The transmitter we planted is very effective indeed.”

Getting up of the ground, Kyle dusted himself off and called out to Liz.

Liz, get off the main road now, they just left. They’re following you. I’m going to head out now on Old Mill Rd. Swing back and pick me up.

Kyle, I’m so glad you are safe, Liz answered back. Old Mill Rd, that’s the road that runs perpendicular to the motel, right? I’ll be there in 30 minutes.

Liz, wait, Liz, they’re tracking you….Liz? shouted Kyle in his mind, but it is too late, the connection was broken.

Kyle surveyed the area, still pretending to be drunk in case any of the agents remained. Finally satisfied that he was alone, he jogged to the road and started walking down the road to meet up with Liz.

Liz took the next turn off, and headed back towards the hotel using back roads and trails whenever possible. She crossed an empty field, and pulled out onto what she hoped was Old Mill Road. As she drove, she checked constantly over her shoulder to make sure she wasn’t being tailed. She followed the road back towards the hotel her heart pounding with fear. In the distance, she saw a figure walking up the road. When she pulled closer, she was happy to realize it was Kyle, who was limping as he walked. Liz pulled the bike up beside him.

“Hey stranger, looking for a lift?”

“Liz, we’ve to get the hell out of here, now, they have a transmitter planted somewhere on you.”

“Oh shit,” she yelled. “I never thought of that, but how did they manage to do that?”

“It doesn’t matter how the did it, we have to find it and get rid of it,” said Kyle.

“Ok, lets head back towards town, I have an idea,” Liz said. She waited while Kyle climbed on the bike and they drove off into the night.


Kyle and Liz pulled into a busy McDonald’s parking lot and began to search her belongings. They located the transmitter which had been sewn the lining of her pocketbook.

“I don’t get it,” she said to Kyle. “This was a new bag. I bought it the night before I left. The only time it was out of my sight is when I was at work. I’d leave it in my desk drawer.”

“Well, that means somebody at that hospital where you worked put it in there,” said Kyle. “There’s no sense in trying to figure out who it was, just throw the darn thing out and let’s get out of here.”

“No,” said Liz with a gleam in her eye. I have a better idea.”

She walked away from the motorcycle and stopped beside a large motor home. After conversing with the occupants for a while, she smiled and walked away. But as she walked past the rear of the RV, she casually dropped her backpack on the ground. She bent down to pick it up, and at the same time, fastened the transmitter to the rear of the RV. She quickly walked away, stopping briefly at a trash can to toss her pocketbook in the trash before heading back to Kyle.

“All set,” she said, cheerfully. “Let’s go.”

“Liz, what did you do? Are you insane? You just put those people in danger!” shouted Kyle.

“Oh, I don’t think so, that’s Lt. Col. David McGuire USAF retired,” said Liz, her expression smug. “He and his wife are taking their grandchildren on a tour of the United States. If and when the feds catch up with them, they’ll run the plates first, so they should be all set.”

“Liz, you are evil…truly evil. I’m really glad you are on our side,” said Kyle with a laugh. “Now can we please get out of here?”

“Anything you say,” said Liz. “You’re the boss.”

“Right, I’m the boss,” muttered Kyle under his breath. “I haven’t been the boss of shit since the alien invasion entered my life.”

“And you wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Liz.

“You know it,” Kyle replied.

The two climbed on the motorcycle, and headed back out of town.

[majiklmoon]

Part 13




“Oh shit, that hurt!” yelled the man when the wrench he was turning slipped from his grasp and he jammed his hand against the motorcycle he was repairing. “This piece of crap bike is never going to run again, so why the hell am I trying to fix it!”

A bell rang in the other room, signaling that a customer had entered the small shop. The man grabbed a rag and wrapped it around his bleeding hand and walked out front to the counter where he found a woman waiting at the counter. The man looked at her for a moment, missing nothing from her long blond hair that was drawn back into a ponytail to the cheap sneakers on her feet.

“Help you?” he asked the woman, none to pleasantly.

“Ah, yeah, my bike broke down,” said the woman. “Luckily, I was just down the street, so I pushed it to your repair shop. Do you think you can take a look at it?”


“Yeah, sure, here, fill out this work order, and I’ll bring your bike around back,” the man said. He passed the woman a form and vaulted over the counter, and walked out the door.

The woman checked him out as objectively as he had checked her out, noting his tall, muscular build, and the long black hair he wore pulled back in a ponytail. She watched as he pushed the bike around the back. She turned her attention to the form, and quickly filled it out with false information.

Liz, you ok in there, asked Kyle from a bench across the street. I wish you had let me bring the bike in there, instead.

Yeah, I’m fine Kyle, and I think my bringing it in playing a ditzy girl is a better plan.

Yes, I know, you informed me of that in no uncertain terms about a hundred times, said Kyle, in a long suffering voice.

“So, like, is it going to be all right?” she yelled when the guy brought the bike into the work area.

“I don’t know, I have to look at it first,” snapped the repairman as he walked back out front to retrieve the work order.

“Look Miss White,” he said looking at the repair order. “This is going to take a while. Why don’t you go grab a bite to eat and come back in about an hour.”?

“Oh please, it’s my boyfriends bike, and he’ll be so upset if he finds out that I broke it,” Liz said in breathy voice.

“Yeah whatever. Look, let me patch up my hand here, and I’ll get right on it,” said the man as he unwound the rag from his hand.

Liz watched as he removed the rag, figuring she can lend a hand if it’s a bad cut. Looking at his hand, she gasped, her eyes drawn to a ring the man has on his right hand. The man looked up and caught her staring at his hand.

“Sorry,” he said. “I’ll bandage it right up and get to work on your bike.”

Liz kept staring at the ring, swallowing convulsively. Finally she found her voice. “Michael?” she asked.

The man step back and raises his hand. “Who the hell are you?” he shouted.

“Oh my God, Michael, it is you,” said Liz, tears streaming down her face. “Is Maria here too?”

“I said, ‘Who the hell are you’? You better answer me quick.”

“Michael, it’s me, it’s Liz!”

[majiklmoon]

Part 14

A surveillance van parked across from Lombardi’s Restaurant in Alamogordo. Agent Burns walked from his car and entered the restaurant.

“How many in your party?” asked the hostess.

Agent Burns looked at his watch, which read 6:50. “Actually, I don’t think the rest of my party has arrived yet. Would you mind very much if I waited here for them?” he answered, stalling for time.

“Oh no sir, not at all,” replied the hostess. “Would you care to give me their names, I can check to see if they already arrived?”

“It would either be under Valenti, Evans or Parker,” answered the agent. “My wife usually makes all the arrangements when we all get together, but she’s out of town, and I’m kind of hopeless.”

“That’s all right, sir,” said the hostess. “It happens all the time.” She checked the seating chart. “You are right sir, they haven’t arrived yet, but I’m sure they’ll be along any minute. We do have a reservation for Evans at 7:00 pm.”

The phone at the hostess station rang and the hostess answered while Agent Burns tried to listen to her conversation without being obvious.

“Lombardi’s Fine Italian Restaurant. How may I help you? Oh, good evening Mr. Evans. You want to cancel your reservation? No, that won’t be a problem. I do hope nothing is wrong. Ok, fine, I’ll explain to the rest of your party. Good evening Mr. Evans.”

The hostess turned toward the FBI agent. “That was Mr. Evans on the phone, he called to cancel his reservations for tonight. But he did ask me to give you a message. He said to tell you that family comes first, and that you’d know what he means.”

“Yes, I know exactly what he means,” said the agent. He spun around and stormed out of the restaurant. He headed over to the surveillance van and climbed inside. “We were set up, they’re on to us!”

At a small diner on the outskirts of East Grand Plains, Philip Evans disconnected his cell phone and turned towards the others. “I think it worked. I know for a fact Diane and I weren’t followed out here.”

“No, neither were Amy and I,” says Jim

“I don’t think we were either,” says Geoff. “Well, now that we’re here, what do we do?”

“I think one of the first things we should do is check our homes for electronic bugs, and try and use cell phones whenever possible.”

“Jim, what about our kids? Are they going to be ok,” asked Amy.

“I’m sure they will. They are very smart kids, and they’ve managed to survive with this secret for a long time,” said the former sheriff, playing with a straw.

“God, how can you just sit there so calmly?” shouted Amy. “You knew about this for 3 years, and you never bothered to tell us what was going on with them.”

“Don’t you think I tried,” said Jim. “I begged them to tell you, but they were so afraid of what you’d think of them if you knew. It wasn’t my secret to tell. I’m sorry if that bothers you, but that’s just how it had to be.”

“Jesus Amy, calm down,” hissed Nancy. “We’ve been through all of this countless times. He couldn’t tell us, it was too dangerous, plus, would you have believed your daughter was dating an um a Czechoslovakian?”

Amy DeLucca calmed down almost as quickly as she flared up. “I know, it’s just so hard, I didn’t get to say good bye to my baby.”

“None of us really did,” said Diane reacing across the table to take Amy’s hand. “But you know Maria loves Michael, and that all of them will do whatever it takes to protect each other.”

A waitress approached the table and placed glasses of water in front of each person. “I’ll be right back to take your order,” she said before she walks away.

“I’m glad she brought this,” said Jim picking up the glass full of icy water. It’s hot in here.” He brought the glass towards his mouth, but as he did, the water in the glass began to bubble and spill over the edge. “Damn, that water is hot!” shouted Jim.

“No, it’s not Jim, I think you made it hot,” whispered Geoff. “You said Max healed you, right. Well, what happened to Lizzie after he saved her? And why did Kyle leave? I think you are starting to change.”

[majiklmoon]

Part 15

The man behind the counter slowly lowered his hand, but looked doubtful. “Liz, I don’t know anyone named Liz,” he said.

“Bull,” said Liz, “And I can prove it.”

“You want to prove to me that I do know you, go ahead, the more time I waste out here talking to you, the longer it takes to fix your bike,” said the man. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against a desk.

“Ok,” said Liz. “All hail the Christmas Nazi. Candy Cane the Elf reporting for duty Santa! Where is Snowflake, Santa, is she ok?”

Michael vaulted over the counter and grabbed Liz in a hug.

“Holy Shit Liz, what are you doing here? Where’s Maxwell?” he asked looking around.

“Michael. Michael, you’re crushing me!” said Liz gasping for breath.

“What? Oh, sorry,” said an unrepentant Michael as he released her.

Liz took a deep breath. “Michael, Max isn’t here, we got separated. I’m here with Kyle, and there is just so much to tell you. I don’t even know how to start.”

Just then, the door burst open and Kyle came running in and tackled Michael.

“Run! Run, I’ve got him, get out of here, now!”

Liz started to laugh hysterically, tears streaming down her face.

“Damn it Valenti, will you get the hell off of me!” shouted Michael.

“Kyle, stop,” Liz gasped between bursts of laughter. “That’s Michael Kyle, it’s Michael! You can let him up.”

“Michael? Really? Damn, I’m sorry man, I didn’t know,” said Kyle, standing up.

“You’re not supposed to, that’s part of the whole separating and hiding thing, remember?” grunted Michael, pulling himself up off of the floor.

“Yeah, that’s Michael, sarcastic as ever,” said Kyle.

“What the hell are you doing here anyhow, and where are Max and Isabelle?” demanded Michael.

“Look Michael, it’s a long story, is there someplace that’s safe to talk? And where’s Maria, she needs to be here to,” said Liz, looking around the dingy bike shop.

“Maria’s working at a daycare over on Main St.,” explained Michael. “She gets off in about an hour. Look, let me close up here and we can head over there together.”

“Wait, what about my bike?” questioned Kyle.

“[I[Your[/I] bike? I should have known with the picture of Buddha on it,” said Michael. “We can come back here after we get Maria and some food and I’ll fix it then.”

Michael closed up the shop and led the others over to the daycare where Maria worked. The sound of children laughing and shouting filled the air, as they get closer to the playground. Michael leaned against the fence and looked for Maria.

“There she is, over there, the one with the short curly black hair,” he said, pointing.

Maria spied Michael against the fence and waved to him. She started to approach him cautiously, a questioning look on her face.

“Hi Mariah,” said Michael, a relaxed smile on his face. “My cousins from Nebraska stopped by on their way through town. You remember me mentioning them. Grasshopper, Candy Cane, this is Mariah.”

Maria put her hands over her mouth to prevent the screams from escaping. “Oh my God! Oh my God, it is SO good to see you. When did you get here? Can you stay long?” she squealed.

“Look Mariah, why don’t you see if you can escape early, and we’ll go grab something to eat. We have a lot to catch up on,” suggested Michael. “These guys have a lot of family stuff to catch us up on.”

Maria ran across the playground to another one of the adults and began to speak. The others were unable to hear what she was saying, but were able to see that her arms were flying about in a million different directions.

“Well, it’s good to see some things never change,” said Liz with a small grin as Maria disappeared inside of the building. She emerged a few minutes later carrying her coat and a backpack.

“Girlfriend, I am so happy to see you,” whispered Maria to Liz. “And you Buddha Boy, come here and give me a hug!”

The friends hugged briefly then headed out to get some food and return to Michael’s bike shop. They sat around eating while Liz and Kyle filled them in on all that had happened.

They decided that Kyle and Liz would camp out in the bike shop, for the night, and in the morning, Michael and Maria would pick them up and they could all head to Disney Land together. Liz and Kyle walked through the back of the shop with Michael and Maria so that they can lock up after they left. Maria paused at the door to hug Liz one more time.

“Chica, I wish you could come home with us,” she said

“Me too, but this is safer, for everyone,” said Liz. The two girls hugged goodbye while Michael and Kyle stood outside the door making plans for tomorrow. Suddenly, and explosion rocked the building.

[majiklmoon]

Part 16

The warm California sun beat down on the pavement; throwing heat back up and making Max and Isabelle feel as though they were in an oven.

“I’m telling you Max, if I have to listen to It’s a Small World one more time, I am going to scream,” said Isabelle as she lifted her long black hair the back of her neck. “Why did you and Liz pick such a stupid place to meet anyhow? What’s wrong with a nice air conditioned hotel or something?”

“Because it’s out in the open, and there are plenty of people around so that we can just blend in with the crowd. It’s also a very romantic spot,” he whispered under his breath as he turned away.

“What was that Max, I didn’t quite catch what you said,” laughed Isabelle. “Did you say it’s a romantic spot?”

“Shut up Isabelle, and keep your eyes peeled. We don’t know what they’re going to look like.”

“Look Max, we’ve been here since this stupid park opened, can’t we go get something to eat and get in the shade for a while?”

“I don’t want to miss them when the get here Isabelle?” said Max.

“Look, I told you if Kyle’s near by, I’m going to know it, NOW can we go get something cold to drink?”

“How reliable is this power of Kyle’s?” asks Max. “None of us have ever been able to communicate nonverbally, why should he?”

“I don’t know Max, but I do know if you don’t go get me a water, I’m going to scream,” snapped Isabelle.

“Fine, fine, there’s an ice cream place across from the carousel, we can go there and still keep an eye on things,” said Max, angrily. “Anything to keep you happy.”

“Thanks Max, you’re so loving and giving and generous in your nature,” said Isabelle in a saccharine voice.

After getting their drinks, Isabelle managed to convince Max that it would be ok for them to walk around the park. They explored the different areas, always returning back to the carousel to check for Liz and Kyle. As night fell, Max began to get discouraged.

“They should be here by now Iz. Something must have gone wrong,” Max said with fear in his voice. Behind him, fireworks light up the night sky.

“Max, I think you’re worrying about nothing. I’m sure they just got delayed and they’ll here soon. But, I don’t think it’s going to be tonight. Now come on, let’s go ride on Space Mountain. That will shake you right out of this funk you’re in.”

Max agreed, and the two waited for their turn on the ride. When their turn finally arrived, they climbed into the faux rocket ships and were strapped into their seats, and the ride began its ascent up into the inky darkness. The ride began its twisting and turning descent through the darkness, and Max head screams coming from behind him.

Laughing out loud he shouted back to his sister, “I guess this was a good idea. Having fun Isabelle?”

The ride came to an end and the pair climbed out of the car. Max reached back to help Isabelle and was shocked to see that she was in tears.

“Isabelle, what is it? Come on, it was only a ride.”

“No Max, not the ride. It’s Kyle. I can’t feel him anymore. I heard him scream out in pain, and then there was silence.”

[majiklmoon]

Part 17

“Damn,” said Jim. “I wish this wasn’t happening now. I can’t believe it happening now. I don’t understand WHY it’s happening now. Liz’s powers didn’t show up for almost 2 years according to her, and Kyle’s hadn’t even begun to manifest themselves before they left. Why me, and why now?”

“I don’t know Jim, but maybe age has something to do with it,” answered Philip. “In any event, do you have any ideas about what is going to happen to you?”

“No. In the beginning, Max didn’t realize this would be a side effect of his saving anybody. Let me think, the first time Liz’s abilities showed up was when Max and Tess were in New York.”

“That’s right,” said Geoff. “Liz wrote something about astrally projecting to warn Max of danger. Well Jim, have any good out of body experiences lately?”

Everyone at the table laughed and the tension eased a bit. The waitress approached and the group placed their orders and waited for her to depart before they continued their conversation.

“As I see it, we have several issues we need to focus on,” said Philip. “The FBI is on our tail, and my own son-in-law is apparently one of them. We also have Jim’s new, ah, gifts, to cope with. Anybody have any ideas about how to proceed?”

“Jim, did Max, or Isabelle or Michael ever talk about what they did to develop their powers?” asks Amy

“A little, but not much. Why?” asked Jim.

“Well, it just seems to me that you would want to develop these things,” answered Amy. “You never know when you may need to use them.”

“Amy’s right Jim,” said Nancy. “It doesn’t look like the danger has disappeared from our lives.”

“I just can’t believe the kids left to protect us, and it was for nothing. I mean, here we are being tailed by the FBI,” said Diane Evans. “The kids should have just stayed here.”

“Honey, they thought they were doing the right thing,” said Philip. “They were trying to protect us, as well as themselves.”

“And their still trying to protect us by letting us know about Jesse,” added Geoff. He stopped talking as a horrific thought occurred to him. “You don’t think they’ll try and come home because of Jesse, do you?”

“God, I hope not,” said Philip cradling his head in his hands. “We have to go out of our way to not let Jesse know we are onto him.”

“Well, it’s a little bit late for that after the game of cloak and daggers we played with the FBI today,” said Nancy.

“Damn, that’s right. We’ll have to figure out some way to do damage control,” said Philip. “Anybody have any ideas?”

The three couples remained silent as the waitress brought their meals to the table. They all picked at their food as they tried to figure out some way to justify their change of plans to the FBI.

“Oh, oh, I have an idea,” said Amy in an excited voice. “My nephew Sean just got arrested again. Suppose, just suppose, I approached Jim to be his lawyer, and that’s what we were doing tonight instead of going out to dinner.”

“That might work,” mused Geoff. “But what about the message we had the hostess give the agent?”

“Well, we didn’t say specifically who that message was for, it could have been for you and Nancy,” said Philip. “Yeah, in fact, I’m betting you anything that our friendly FBI agents will be in the CrashDown tomorrow. Both Jim and I will have to make a point of stopping by to make sure you got the message I left for you at Lombardi’s.”

“You know, it just might work,” Nancy added thoughtfully “And Amy, I really think you Diane and I need to have coffee at the CrashDown tomorrow so you can tell us all about the problems your nephew is having.”

They finished up their meals quickly and made plans to head back to Roswell. Geoff and Nancy decided to drive down to Alamogordo, and head into town that way, just in case the FBI was watching them. They three couples walked out to the parking lot of the diner and prepared to get into their cars.

“I really think you all need to consider the fact that our kids will be coming home,” said Jim. “I know they’re your children, and you think you know them best, but I’ve seen how they work in dangerous situations. Taking care of the ones they love is what matters to them. If they think we’re in danger, they’re going to come home.”

“Jim, I hope you are wrong, but it’s something we have to be prepared to deal with,” said Geoff. “First, lets appease the FBI, and then we’ll start planning for a possible homecoming.”

[majiklmoon]

Part 18

Liz made the slow climb back to consciousness, only to find the motorcycle shop engulfed in flames.

“Maria!” she screamed. “Maria, where are you?” She searched throughout the back of the bike shop but was unable to locate her friend.

“Maria!” she screamed one final time, but there was no answer.

Coughing from the smoke, as well as the tears she was holding back, Liz paused for a moment to get her bearings. The heat from the fire grew more intense, and the flames drew closer. A large beam fell from the ceiling consumed by flames. She spied Kyle’s motorcycle, not yet touched by the raging flames. Next to it she saw their bags.

Liz ran to the bike and hopped on, praying that Michael managed to get it running enough to get her out of the burning building. She grabbed their bags, climbed on the bike, pressed the starter and it miraculously roared to life. She roared through the back of the shop, and out the rear door, which had been blown loose from the explosion.

In the back alley, she jumped off the bike and looks around. Lying unconscious next to the door was Maria. Liz thanked God as she ran to her friend.

I guess the explosion was strong enough to blow her out the door, she thought to herself as she pulled Maria away from the burning building.

She saw Kyle and Michael lying in a heap, across the alleyway. Oh damn, I wish I had healing powers like Max, she thought. That would make all of this so much easier. A groan from Kyle sent Liz back across the alley.

“Kyle, Kyle, wake up, can you hear me?” she shouted.

“I hear you, I hear you,” he groaned. “What the hell happened? Did the world get invaded or something?”

“The building exploded. Kyle, we have to get Maria and Michael out of here before the police and fire department get here.”

Even as Liz spoke, the sounds of sirens filled the air. Kyle crawled over to Michael and tapped him lightly on the face.

“Michael, Michael, buddy, come on, snap out of it.” Kyle turned to look at Liz. “He better not need mouth to mouth, because I draw the line at kissing him.”

“Kiss me, and I will kill you,” said Michael as he tried to sit up. “Where’s Maria? Is she ok?”

“She’s over there Michael, but she’s still unconscious. We have to get her out of here,” said Liz.

Michael dug around in his pocket and passed a set of keys to Kyle.

“You guys get her to our place. I’m going to stay here and try and figure out what happened.”

“Man, you can’t stay, the cops will be all over this place in a matter of minutes!” shouted Kyle.

“Look, don’t you think it will look more suspicious if I’m not here considering I own the stupid place! I’ll get home as soon as I can find out what’s going on. But get Maria and yourselves the hell out of here.”

Liz tossed Michael the keys to Kyle’s bike. “Here, ride this home. The three of us certainly can’t ride it now.”

“You saved my bike?” asked Kyle incredulously. “You went back in there for a damn motorcycle? Liz, are you insane?”

“Yes, I saved your bike, no, I didn’t go back in there for it, and no, I am not insane. I guess when the explosion occurred; I ended up being blown to the side of the shop. I was still inside when it happened, and I didn’t get blown clear like Maria did. When I woke up. I looked for Maria, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. So, I grabbed our bags, hopped on the bike and drove it out.”

“I think I love you,” said Kyle jokingly. “Now, how are we going to get Maria home?”

“Take my car,” said Michael, handing them some keys. “It’s that gray Honda across the street.”

“Let me bring it closer to the alley so we don’t have to carry Maria as far,” said Kyle as he starts to walk down the alley. I’ll be right back.”

Michael picked Maria up in his arms, and he and Liz walked down to the entrance of the alley.

“Liz, did you really stay in there looking for Maria?” he asked.

“Of course I did Michael, she’s my best friend,” she answered simply.

“You are the best thing that could have happened to any of us. Max did a good thing in saving you.”

“Michael, no, if he didn’t save me, none of this would be happening,” said Liz

“You can’t know that Liz. We were bound to get caught using our some time. This way, though, we have you on our side.”

Kyle pulled up beside them, and Michael opened the door of the Honda and carefully laid Maria on the back seat. Liz climbed in behind her and Michael shut the door.

“Go!” he shouted. “Here come the police.”

The car pulled away, just seconds before the police and fire department arrived. An officer climbs out of the car and approached Michael.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to step back from the building. It isn’t safe.”

“I can’t believe this happened,” said Michael. “That’s my shop! I was driving by a few minutes ago, and I saw the flames. I went around back to see if I could get inside but the fire was too strong.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you didn’t try to get inside sir. Now, would there have been anyone else in the building?”

“No,” said Michael, trying to act distraught. “Um Officer, I parked my bike down in the alley. Do you think it would be ok if I went down there to get it?”

“I’ll escort you down there sir, just to make sure nothing happens, and then, I’ll need to ask you some questions for the report.”

“Ah, yeah, sure,” said Michael as he looked around. He felt a pounding in his chest when he looked across the street and saw a black sedan with four men sitting in it, staring at the fire, and at him.

[majiklmoon]

part 19

Kyle droves down the streets of the unfamiliar town at breakneck speeds. Liz sat in the back with Maria’s head in her lap. So far, the girl hadn’t moved at all, and both of them were concerned for their friend’s safety. Liz softly stroked Maria’s hair and quietly whispered to her to wake up. Liz paused to wipe a smear of dirt from Maria’s face, when she got a flash. Liz standing next to Michael and Kyle, all three of them with hands raised to send out an energy blast. Maria shouting something. Sheriff Valenti, with his gun drawn and pointing at something in the distance. Her parents crying. Isabelle crying in Max’s arms.

“Oh God, I hate this,” she shouted. “What does it mean? Why can’t they ever be straightforward and simple?”

“Ah, Liz, are you having some sort of attack back there that I need to be aware of?” asked Kyle as he turned down Michael and Maria’s street.

“No, I just had another flash. Not that it makes any sense at all, but I did get a flash.”

“Well, what did you, OH SHIT,” says Kyle. “Looks like Michael and Maria have company too. See the nice non descript black sedan we just past. It had four of our wonderful friends in it.”

“God, I am so sick of this,” said Liz, turning to look out the back of the car. “How are we going to let Michael know?” While she was speaking, her cell phone let out a shrill ring.

“You have a cell phone?” asked Kyle. “You were going to share this with me when?”

“I got it at that last store we were at. It’s one of those pre-paid limited minutes things. Hello?”

Liz, it’s Michael, we have a situation here at the shop.

“Yeah, we have that same situation here at your apartment. Do you and Maria have anything valuable you need from your apartment? We’ll figure out a way to get it.”

Maria’s the only valuable thing I have Liz. I threw our backpacks into the trunk of the Honda after we got back from picking up Maria, came Michael’s static filled reply over the cell phone

“How did you know to call me on this number Michael?”

I had stuffed your work order from the shop in my pocket. You wrote the number down as a contact number.

“God, that seems like a lifetime ago,” said Liz, rubbing her head. “Ok, how do you want to play this Michael?”

I’ll meet you tomorrow at your original meeting spot. Liz, is Maria ok? Did she wake up yet? Even through the cell phone, Liz could hear the pain in Michael’s voice

“No Michael, she hasn’t yet, I’m sorry.”

Just keep her safe Liz, and when she wakes up, tell her I love her.

“I will Michael. I promise.”

I know you will Liz; I know you will. Ok, I have to get out of here, our friends across the street are getting suspicious.

“Bye Michael,” says Liz before she terminated the call. She filled Kyle in on what has happened. He pulled the car into and empty Krispy Kreme Donut shop. While he ran in to grab some food, Liz hopped out of the car and did a quick paint and plate change. When she was finished, they climbed back into the car, and headed off down the road.

* * * * * * * * * *


“Officer, do you think this is going to take much longer?” asked Michael to the officer who is taking his statement. “That was my girlfriend on the phone, she heard about the fire on the news, and she’s a total basket case.”

“No Mr. Davis, I think we’re about set here. If there are anymore questions, we’ll give you a call,” said the officer, closing his book.

“Thank you Officer, uh Weston,” Michael said, stealing a look at the man’s nametag. “You have been so helpful and informative.”

Michael found himself choking on the polite phrases, but he knew he had to do everything he could to get out of there as quick as possible. “I’m just going to run across the street and grab a cup of coffee, and head home. Would you care to join me?” he asked, striving to sound like a stressed out business owner.

“Well, Mr. Davis, that’s very thoughtful of you, but I really can’t. On duty and all that, but I will walk across the street with you, you are looking a bit pale,” said the officer.

The two walked across the street to a nearby coffee shop and Michael quickly placed a to go order. He quickly drank it down, trying hard not to show his disgust at the bitter taste.

“Thanks Officer Watson, that’s just what I needed. I think I’m ready to head out now,” he said as the two walked back across the street. They walked past the car belonging to the FBI agents Michael casually placed his hand on the hood. All four tires slowly begin to leak air, and there was a faint buzzing and cracking from the engine. All of which went unnoticed with all the noise from the fire crews. Thanking the officer again, Michael climbed on his bike and headed out of town.