Title: Tempting Buddha
Category: K/T, CC
Rating: Mature
Disclaimer: Of course I don't own them. I couldn't be that lucky.
Summary: Kyle’s still into the Buddhism. Kyle was saved by Max like in Destiny but unlike Destiny Tess wasn’t there neither was Nescado. Tess was raised by Nescado,but she doesn’t want the destiny thing she wants her own life. They are all around 25.
Authors Note: I'd like to think Nicki, and especially Tracie who so rocks as a beta for beta reading this for me.
Part 1
She was alone again for the first time in seventeen years and it scared her more now than it did then. Her protector had abandoned her after all these years. She didn’t know what happened to him. She wondered if the F.B.I had finally outsmarted him instead of the other way around; or if their enemies had finally found him. She was an alien alone and afraid of what was going to happen to her. So she decided to try to find the only other people she knows that are like her.
In 1947, their ship had crashed in Roswell, New Mexico. The four of them were sent to Earth because they were the reincarnations of royalty. A violent war had resulted in their deaths. The scientists from her planet had recreated them by mixing their DNA with human DNA in an effort to preserve the royal line. They hoped that they would one day return and fight off the evil tyrant that had over thrown the royal family and destroyed their planet with the plague of a violent war.
The others had broken out of their pods about year before her. She could feel them leave, but her small body wasn’t quiet ready for the new world, so she had no choice but to stay behind. She tried to call out to them telepathically but she wasn’t able too it wasn’t a power she had access too. And now after seventeen years she is hopefully going to meet them for the first time, in this life anyhow.
The idea of going to Roswell frightened her. She was frightened at what they would think of her, would they accept her after all this time? For so many years Nescado had driven it in her head that she was meant to be with Zan, her husband, on Antar. But that was ages ago – another lifetime ago. She wanted to fall in love with someone, not be with someone for political reasons. She may have loved Zan before but now she was different and she suspected he was too.
She was driving down the seemingly endless deserted stretch of 285 South. The ride seemed endless with nothing but the vast blue sky meeting the horizon to break the monotony of the road. Tess couldn’t believe that in a few minutes she would actually be in Roswell. She was so nervous she could feel the butterflies in her stomach. She wondered what the others would be like? Would they like her? Would they accept her? Would they treat her as a friend or enemy?
The young woman was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the flashing blue lights. ‘Oh shit,’ she thought to herself. She was terrified of the police, or any government official. After years of Nescado’s tutelage, she was afraid they would come after her or worse torture her in some hidden laboratory. The Special Unit, a secret group of alien hunters in the F.B.I., were the in a sense the bogeyman of her worst nightmare, because of all the things Nescado said they would do to her.
Tess pulled over to the side and noticed she was a few feet away from the “Welcome To Roswell” sign. There was a green alien waving on the giant billboard. She shook her head at the irony of it, an alien welcoming an alien. Her shoulder length blonde hair flung in her face from the sudden stop from the sudden burst of wind, she had to spit it out of her mouth. She checked herself in the mirror, quickly brushed her wind blown hair with her hands. She figured she could just use some old fashion charm if the officer was a man. She gave a quick glance at the dashboard mirror she saw the officer walk up to her. He was of average height with, broad shoulders, dusty brown hair.
Sheriff Kyle Valenti walked up to the driver’s side of the sky blue mustang. It wasn’t unusual for him to have a speeder on this stretch of highway. When he walked up to the car he noticed that the driver was a cute little blonde and she was alone.
“Ma’am, do you know how fast you were driving?” The young handsome officer asked her.
She looked at his nameplate and saw that it read Sheriff Kyle Valenti. He has this perfect V shaped body with his sandy brown hair. His voice had a boyish tone to it. He looked kind of sexy in the uniform and she wondered what color his eyes were underneath those designer sunglasses. She looked up at him with pleading ocean blue eyes.
“Sorry, officer I wasn’t paying attention.”
He nodded and gave her a slight smile.
“I’ll need to see your license and registration please.”
Tess turned around and reached inside her purse to retrieve her license and then bent over to open the glove compartment to get out her registration and handed it over to the officer. When their hands met she briefly received a flash and what she saw amused her to the point of content. For some strange reason he had visions of aliens dancing around in his head and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
He looked over at her like she was completely insane. She quickly gained her composure and looked towards him for sympathy.
“Look I’m really anxious and preoccupied. I just lost the man who raised me and I’m here looking for some family members. You see back in 1989 I was left stranded in the desert along with my brothers and sister. I was adopted and we moved out of town. I’m here to find out more information.”
It took Kyle a minute to register what she was saying. He knew exactly whom she was talking about; they were his family. Well one of them was anyway. ‘Michael Guerin was his brother-in-law, his deputy, and he was not of this Earth. He had been found in the desert wondering around Puhlman’s Ranch and he was also not of this earth, so did that mean that she was…. Oh wow!’ Kyle thought to himself. He had to contact Michael right away and tell him to get his butt out there. He remembered the pod squad, as his stepsister Maria so affectionately called them, talking about another girl who had been with them. They had been looking for her for years, but gave up hope in finding her.
“Wait here,” He commanded.
The Sheriff was trying his hardest to remain calm although inside he was a bundle of nerves as he walked back to his vehicle.
He looked down at her license and noted that her name was Tess Harding, she was 24, and she lived in Colorado. Once at the Blazer he relayed the information to the dispatcher. He wanted to make sure she didn’t have any outstanding warrants, or if there was even a Tess Harding. He also planned on making a quick call to his brother-in-law.
Michael Guerin was in his on Blazer on the way to the CrashDown for lunch when he received a call on his cell phone. A quick glance at the caller id told him it was Kyle.
“Hello, what do you want?” he asked, agitated that his lunch was interrupted.
Kyle just shook his head at Michael’s lack of people skills. Despite Maria’s working on him all these years, he still managed to revert back to his caveman behavior every now and then.
“Michael get your butt out at mile mark 115 quick. I think we have a Czechoslovakian related problem.”
Before he could finish the sentence the line went dead, no doubt Michael was flying like a bat out of hell to get there. Michael was one of his deputies. He didn’t think Michael would be able to work on the force, because during high school he got arrested several times while he was on a quest to find information about his past, but his dad pulled a few strings before he retired. By the time his dispatcher came back with the information, Michael screeched to a halt beside him you could see tire treads on the pavement behind his cruiser.
Michael got out the patrol car and strode up to Kyle with a “what did you drag me out here for?” look. Even though Kyle was technically his boss Michael seldom looked at him, as the authority and Kyle never acted like he was. They were more of a team.
“You know I was getting ready to go grab lunch.”
Kyle rolled his eyes Michael always seemed to think about food he was surprised the guy wasn’t fat it must be the alien genetics. Michael looked over towards the mustang and saw that there was tiny blonde woman inside and let out a laugh.
“This is your problem? One chick?”
Kyle shook his head at the laughing alien and pulled him back behind the cruiser.
“Michael, remember Isabel is one chick who happens to be an alien and I know you don’t like to be on her bad side. Tess mentioned that she was found in the desert around the same place you were and that she’s looking for her brothers and sister. Ring a bell?”
Michael looked back at the car mouth a gaped. Could this be the one that they left behind? He still felt guilty about leaving her behind just as much as he felt ashamed for running away from the Evans car that night.
“Okay I’ll just go up and talk to her.”
Kyle looked over at him knowingly. “Just don’t do anything stupid okay.”
“Yeah, and you stay back here until I find out something.” Michael didn’t want Kyle to get caught in a possible alien showdown if the woman wasn’t who she claimed to be.
Michael cautiously walked up to the Mustang.
“Hello, I’m Deputy Michael Guerin and I heard from the Sheriff that you were looking for some family members. I may be of some help.”
Tess turned towards the newcomer. He was different she could tell because of the energy that was surging through him. He didn’t look too happy to see her and showed it when he reached down and grabbed hold of her arm.
“Who are you?” he demanded, anger flashing in his eyes.
She looked deep into his eyes and at that moment Michael received a flash of when he was younger. A young Michael standing behind a dark haired boy and blonde hair girl in the cave waiting impatiently for them to venture outside they were staring at another curly blonde girl who was still asleep in her pod.
Michael quickly pulled his arm away and shook his head in disbelief. It can’t be her it was too easy. Tess rolled her blue eyes at him and sighed. This one must be the one Nescado called Rath, who he said was a great General but a very stubborn man.
“You saw it. It was a memory. Your memory of when you guys left me Rath.”
She couldn’t help but feel angry and hurt. A part of her knew it wasn’t their fault; they were born into a world that was completely alien to them. There was also a part of her that wished they had waited for her. She would have rather been with them than Nescado, or at least have them with her, so then maybe he wouldn’t have expected so much from her. Tess knew she wasn’t that important to her guardian. Her only reason for existence was to be reunited with the King and without the King she was nothing to Nescado
Michael could feel the anger, hurt, and resentment radiating off of her like a tidal wave. He knew the feeling very well. It was one he felt towards Max and Isabel for years. They had the perfect family and the perfect life. But then Maria came into his life and now he wouldn’t trade her or his kids for the world. Michael placed his hand gently on her shoulder in attempts to comfort her, and when he did he received more flashes this time from her.
He saw a younger Tess opening up her eyes for the first time, and breaking free from the incubator. The little girl’s eyes widen with wonderment and fear.
Tess was looking around only to discover that she was alone, and panicking when a stranger entered the cave.
A man clothed the frightened child and connected to her to reassure her that he would protect her.
“It was you.” Michael said, his voice filled with wonderment. He gave her shoulder a slight squeeze of assurance.
“We’ve looked for you. We’ve always wondered what happened,” Michael told her softly.
He was overwhelmed with the fact that a part of their life was finally coming to a closure. He always wondered if this fourth one was perhaps his sister or cousin. He wondered if he had a family member out there and maybe she was it. He always considered Max and Isabel his family, but they were a real brother and sister towards each other, they were blood, and their bond to each other was closer than their bond to him.
Kyle watched from his cruiser; he was leaning on the side of it, waiting to see if Michael needed some help. He studied the interaction between Michael and that Tess person and wondered what was up. Kyle was shocked that Michael was showing so much emotion; it was something the brooding alien hardly ever did. The look on Michael’s face reminded Kyle of a similar look his brother-in-law had the first time he gazed upon his daughter. Kyle stood up, dusted his pants, and walked over towards his deputy.
“Michael, what’s up?” Kyle asked as he walked up to the convertible.
Michael looked over at Kyle with a smirk, and gave him a playful shove. “Tess happens to be a relative.”
Kyle never did like knowing that there were really aliens around. He always complained about how the aliens wreaked havoc on his life. Although, if it wasn’t for Max Evans’ healing powers he wouldn’t even be alive today. Not to mention the fact that Max’s sister Isabel was his best friend. With the new knowledge that there was another alien, Kyle made a dramatic scene of throwing his hands up to the sky.
”Great, just great, just when everything was semi-normal, we get invaded again,” Kyle complained dramatically.
If she were anything like Isabel, he would be in trouble. Isabel was a great friend, but the tall statuesque alien was also a tad manipulative, and during Christmas time she was Hitler. Out of all the aliens, Kyle liked her the best. They had the most in common, especially back in high school. They were both part of the so-called in crowd. They never really hung out a lot in high school until Alex Whitman almost died in a car wreck. Ever since that day they had become great friends.
Tess shook her head at the dramatics.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Sheriff. I can assure you I’m not planning an invasion. I’m just here to reunite with my family. You have no idea what it’s like to be separated from someone for so long.”
Kyle had a far away look in his eye. He very much so knew what it was like to be separated from someone for along time. His mother left him as a child and he hadn’t seen her much since.
Michael patted his brother-in-law on the back. He knew he was thinking of his mother. His own wife, Maria still often thought about her dad who also left her as a child. The New Mexico sun was beating down on them and it was too hot to deal with emotional stuff out in the desert heat.
“ I have a lot of questions for you, starting with why did you call me Rath? Why don’t you follow us into town and I’ll introduce you to my wife and we’ll call the others for a meeting.” that one I have others. Why don’t you follow us into town? I’ll introduce you to my wife.”
Tess looked up at him and wondered if it was possible that he had married Volandra.
“Wife? So did you marry Volandra? And what others? Do you have children?” She was never sure if aliens and humans could interact, so to speak, so she automatically assumed it was Volandra. Which wouldn’t surprise her because they were engaged a lifetime ago.
Kyle laughed hysterically as Michael started to wrinkle his nose in disgust and looked at Tess like she was nuts.
Kyle figured he should explain.
“I’m guessing this Volandra is probably Isabel and Isabel Whitman would never have kids with Michael. She’d kill him first.”
Michael shook his head and gave Kyle a deadly glare.
“No, I’m not married to Isabel who I guess is Volandra. She’s like a sister to me. I’m married to a human named Maria, and so are Max and Isabel.”
Tess felt a little embarrassed at assuming he was with Isabel. “Oh. Then I have a lot of questions to ask, so let’s get going.”
She was really interested in the alien/human relationships. She never had a physical relationship with anyone because Nescado always told her that aliens and humans don’t mix. Obviously they did, and now maybe she could have a chance at happiness.
Both Tess and Kyle agreed that going into town would be better than conducting a meeting in the middle of the desert under the hot sun. Michael and Kyle walked back to their cruisers and proceeded toward town with Tess in tow. When they reached the main part of town, they stopped at the CrashDown, an alien themed restaurant.
Michael couldn’t believe that they had finally found their forth and would possibly get answers to the questions of their past. Walking through the Crashdown he remembered that it was a little over ten years ago to the day when his best friend, Max Evans saved Liz Parkers life. Max had been in love with Liz all his life but due to his non-human status and a pact they made with each other he stayed away. On that September day there when they were hanging out at the CrashDown as the frequently did, an argument broke out between two customers. During the heated argument the men pulled out a gun, during the struggle it went off, and was aimed at the unexpecting Liz Parker. Max, being who he was, couldn’t let Liz die and saved her in front of the patrons.
Across the street she saw the UFO Center. It was the end of September, and the streets were crawling with tourists. She noticed a banner coming into town that said ‘Welcome visitors to the Crash Festival.’
She stepped out of the car and made her way over to Michael. She wanted to know what was going on. “So what is this Crash Festival?”
Michael looked around at the madness.
“It’s this stupid convention where they celebrate our landing every year.” Michael explained to his fellow alien. He always hated this time of year with the festival. It always made him wonder about home and why they never came back for them.
Tess nodded her head solemnly she often wondered what it would be like to grow up in a town that makes a mockery of her existence. Michael said nothing further and quickly walked into the restaurant. Kyle remained in the car talking to someone over his CB radio.
The restaurant was at a maximum volume of chatter. Nearly all the patrons were having conversations amongst themselves. There were framed newspapers about the crash along the walls and paintings of green aliens that seemed to be waving a greeting.
Michael looked around but didn’t spot his wife in the immediate area, “Come on, Maria’s probably in the back.”
As they headed towards the back Michael gave her a little history of the place.
“The restaurant used to be owned by Max’s wife’s parents. It’s where it all started for us but that’s a story I’ll tell you latter(later). Two years ago the Parkers decided on early retirement. They had left the place to Liz, Max’s wife, who was at Harvard at the time. Maria was like a second daughter so they left her in charge, she’s been the manager of the restaurant since Liz left for college.”
Once they were through the swinging blue kitchen doors Michael shouted for his wife.
“Maria! Maria, are you back here?”
In a few seconds a woman walked out of the office with a pissed off look on her face. She was a little taller than Tess herself, with curly honey blond hair and green eyes. She walked over to Michael and slapped him over the head. Michael’s body flinched at the impact, he should be used to his wife’s assaults by now. He had this ‘what did I do this time’ look on his face.
“Michael, I just put Matthew down for his nap. If you need me, then look, don’t yell. You know what a nightmare he is if he wakes up early.”
Kyle walked through the kitchen doors at that time and grinned at his stepsister. “’
That kid could sleep through an earthquake.”
Maria looked over at him with a knowing smile.
“Yes, but you know how cranky he gets if he wakes up from his nap early. He’s like his Daddy.” Michael hated to get up early unless there was some compensation.
Maria eyed the petite blonde woman that seemed to be hiding behind her husband’s larger frame.
“ Michael, who is that woman hiding behind you?” she demanded with a hit (hint)of jealousy.
Michael twisted around and glanced at Tess. He shook his head at the sound of jealousy in his wife’s voice. He didn’t understand how after all this time she could still think he’d leave her for someone else.
“Well, this is Tess. She’s a fellow Czechoslovakian.” He explained casually.
Maria stepped back and her mouth dropped, “She’s what?”
Maria looked at the girl and Michael with her mouth a gaped. ‘Oh my God,’ she thought to herself. ‘She’s the fourth one.’
“Is she the fourth?” Maria questioned; she remembered Michael telling her about their fourth back in high school.
Michael gave her a positive nod. Before he walked over to the phone.
“Yes, and we need to call everyone for a meet and greet.”
He strode over to the phone on the wall and started calling up the others.
Maria stood up from the couch, walked over to the new comer, and eyed her curiously.
“Why the hell are you here?” she asked bluntly.
tbc...
