Fan Fic and More

Title: Consanguinity

Author’s Note: No excuses…I just haven’t been writing lately. Those of you who know me, know why. I can’t make any promises as to when the next part will be up, but I will finish this story. This part is for my BFF because even though I swore I wouldn’t be giving her any Gazer lovin…how could I not.



Chapter Sixteen

He watched, from a distance, Vilondra and the human she called Alex as they walked down the path of the city park. It amused him, slightly, to watch the Royal Four form attachments to these lesser beings. It had been no different on Antar – they had gone constantly out into public and consorted with the people. It wasn’t seemly, and it in part was what made it so easy for Kivar to over throw Zan’s regime.

“This isn’t right,” the man muttered angrily. “I need them. I need to get off this planet and go back home. And I need Zan to do it. But nothing is working. What can I do to get close to him? I need him damn it. Everything I’ve tried has failed. But I refuse to fail. Somehow, I’ll make this work. They weren’t supposed to come out together. Somebody did something,” he continued. “Somebody changed things, but who, and how? No matter – I’ll get them on my side, one way, or another.”

** * ** *

Isabel wandered off the shady concrete path that meandered throughout the municipal park and made her way over to one of the many swing sets that dotted the playground. She sat down and pushed off with her feet so that she moved gently back and forth. Alex, without being prompted, stood behind her and began to push gently so that she quickly picked up speed. She laughed gleefully, happy to forget all their worries, if only for a short time.

“Higher!” she yelled, pumping her legs with abandon. “Higher!”

Alex gave one final push and Isabel swung out in an arc, so that she was almost parallel with the ground. She felt almost weightless for one moment, and in that moment, she wondered if that was what it felt like when they traveled from Antar. And with that thought, all her worries should come rushing back to her, and she waited until the swing was at it’s apex and jumped, landing on the ground in a crumpled heap.

“Isabel!” Alex shouted, running over to her. “What happened? Why did you jump like that? Are you okay?” He knelt down beside her, brushed her hair away from her face, and began to feel her arms and legs, looking for broken bones.

“Alex, stop it, I’m fine,” Isabel said, her voice irritable. She shook her hair back from her face and pushed herself up off the ground.

“I’m sorry, Isabel – I,” Alex began.

“No, I’m sorry,” she said, tossing his hair back from her face. “I shouldn’t have snapped, and I’m sorry.”

“It’s no big,” Alex said, still stinging from her rebuke. “Why’d you jump?”

“For a second I felt totally weightless up there,” Isabel explained. “I’d forgotten about everything and then, in an instant, I wondered if that was how we felt in our pods, and it all came rushing back. And I just wanted to, I don’t know, escape it or something, so I jumped.”

“Did it work?”

“No, it didn’t,” Isabel admitted. “All I got was you scared, me angry, and I ripped my favorite pair of pants.” She looked down at the rip in her pants and grimaced before passing her hand over it. Alex watched in amazement as the fabric repaired itself right in front of his eyes.

“That has got to be the coolest thing, ever,” he said, his eyes shining. “I’m in total awe.”

“Yeah, great, I can fix my pants, like that really compensates for the worry of being an alien,” Isabel said.

“Uh, yeah, that was kind of bitchy, you know,” said Alex. “I’m only just trying to help.”

“Why?” Isabel asked.

“Why what?” asked a clearly confused Alex.

“Why are you trying to help?” asked Isabel. “I don’t get it. Why are you putting yourself in danger to help us?”

“You’re kidding, right?” asked Alex. “I mean seriously, you’re not standing here in front of me asking me that question.”

“Yes, Alex, I am seriously standing here in front of you asking that question. I mean, Max and Liz so obviously belong together,” said Isabel. If everything we learned is true, they have some great love that even manages to transcend time, or an alternate reality or whatever this is. And Michael and Maria…well, where Liz goes, Maria goes. But why you, Alex, what’s in this for you?”

Alex reached out and took her hand in his and squeezed it gently, and reached out and brushed a stray lock of Isabel’s hair off her face. He moved forward slowly, bringing his face closer to hers until their lips gently touched. They kissed, gently at first but with more passion. Isabel reached out and wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck and opened her mouth a bit wider. For a few shining minutes they were alone in the world, forgetting everything and everybody, except for each other.

When the kiss ended, Isabel stared at Alex, speechless for once. He looked at her and smiled.

“You, Isabel. I’m here because of you,” was all he said.

** * ** *

He tried to quell the feelings that raged up inside of him. Technically, they weren’t supposed to feel emotion, it had been bred out of them generations ago, but what he felt had to be anger. There was no other word to describe what gripped him when he watched Vilondra kiss the human. Every second of every day the Royal Four forged tighter bonds with those human creatures. He didn’t know how he was going to sever the ties they had formed. There had always been some connection between his charges and the humans, but lately, it had grown deeper. Something had happened to make their bond stronger, and he had to find out what it was and destroy it, but how?

As he watched, the nucleus of an idea began to form in his twisted alien mind. Something happened to them when they all went out to the chamber that housed the Royal Four’s incubation pods. He needed to find out what happened. He could use it against them – break them apart. Then he’d be able to convince the Royals that their duty lay on Antar.

Title: Consanguinity

Author’s Note: No excuses…I just haven’t been writing lately. Those of you who know me, know why. I can’t make any promises as to when the next part will be up, but I will finish this story. This part is for my BFF because even though I swore I wouldn’t be giving her any Gazer lovin…how could I not.



Chapter Sixteen

He watched, from a distance, Vilondra and the human she called Alex as they walked down the path of the city park. It amused him, slightly, to watch the Royal Four form attachments to these lesser beings. It had been no different on Antar – they had gone constantly out into public and consorted with the people. It wasn’t seemly, and it in part was what made it so easy for Kivar to over throw Zan’s regime.

“This isn’t right,” the man muttered angrily. “I need them. I need to get off this planet and go back home. And I need Zan to do it. But nothing is working. What can I do to get close to him? I need him damn it. Everything I’ve tried has failed. But I refuse to fail. Somehow, I’ll make this work. They weren’t supposed to come out together. Somebody did something,” he continued. “Somebody changed things, but who, and how? No matter – I’ll get them on my side, one way, or another.”

** * ** *

Isabel wandered off the shady concrete path that meandered throughout the municipal park and made her way over to one of the many swing sets that dotted the playground. She sat down and pushed off with her feet so that she moved gently back and forth. Alex, without being prompted, stood behind her and began to push gently so that she quickly picked up speed. She laughed gleefully, happy to forget all their worries, if only for a short time.

“Higher!” she yelled, pumping her legs with abandon. “Higher!”

Alex gave one final push and Isabel swung out in an arc, so that she was almost parallel with the ground. She felt almost weightless for one moment, and in that moment, she wondered if that was what it felt like when they traveled from Antar. And with that thought, all her worries should come rushing back to her, and she waited until the swing was at it’s apex and jumped, landing on the ground in a crumpled heap.

“Isabel!” Alex shouted, running over to her. “What happened? Why did you jump like that? Are you okay?” He knelt down beside her, brushed her hair away from her face, and began to feel her arms and legs, looking for broken bones.

“Alex, stop it, I’m fine,” Isabel said, her voice irritable. She shook her hair back from her face and pushed herself up off the ground.

“I’m sorry, Isabel – I,” Alex began.

“No, I’m sorry,” she said, tossing his hair back from her face. “I shouldn’t have snapped, and I’m sorry.”

“It’s no big,” Alex said, still stinging from her rebuke. “Why’d you jump?”

“For a second I felt totally weightless up there,” Isabel explained. “I’d forgotten about everything and then, in an instant, I wondered if that was how we felt in our pods, and it all came rushing back. And I just wanted to, I don’t know, escape it or something, so I jumped.”

“Did it work?”

“No, it didn’t,” Isabel admitted. “All I got was you scared, me angry, and I ripped my favorite pair of pants.” She looked down at the rip in her pants and grimaced before passing her hand over it. Alex watched in amazement as the fabric repaired itself right in front of his eyes.

“That has got to be the coolest thing, ever,” he said, his eyes shining. “I’m in total awe.”

“Yeah, great, I can fix my pants, like that really compensates for the worry of being an alien,” Isabel said.

“Uh, yeah, that was kind of bitchy, you know,” said Alex. “I’m only just trying to help.”

“Why?” Isabel asked.

“Why what?” asked a clearly confused Alex.

“Why are you trying to help?” asked Isabel. “I don’t get it. Why are you putting yourself in danger to help us?”

“You’re kidding, right?” asked Alex. “I mean seriously, you’re not standing here in front of me asking me that question.”

“Yes, Alex, I am seriously standing here in front of you asking that question. I mean, Max and Liz so obviously belong together,” said Isabel. If everything we learned is true, they have some great love that even manages to transcend time, or an alternate reality or whatever this is. And Michael and Maria…well, where Liz goes, Maria goes. But why you, Alex, what’s in this for you?”

Alex reached out and took her hand in his and squeezed it gently, and reached out and brushed a stray lock of Isabel’s hair off her face. He moved forward slowly, bringing his face closer to hers until their lips gently touched. They kissed, gently at first but with more passion. Isabel reached out and wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck and opened her mouth a bit wider. For a few shining minutes they were alone in the world, forgetting everything and everybody, except for each other.

When the kiss ended, Isabel stared at Alex, speechless for once. He looked at her and smiled.

“You, Isabel. I’m here because of you,” was all he said.

** * ** *

He tried to quell the feelings that raged up inside of him. Technically, they weren’t supposed to feel emotion, it had been bred out of them generations ago, but what he felt had to be anger. There was no other word to describe what gripped him when he watched Vilondra kiss the human. Every second of every day the Royal Four forged tighter bonds with those human creatures. He didn’t know how he was going to sever the ties they had formed. There had always been some connection between his charges and the humans, but lately, it had grown deeper. Something had happened to make their bond stronger, and he had to find out what it was and destroy it, but how?

As he watched, the nucleus of an idea began to form in his twisted alien mind. Something happened to them when they all went out to the chamber that housed the Royal Four’s incubation pods. He needed to find out what happened. He could use it against them – break them apart. Then he’d be able to convince the Royals that their duty lay on Antar.

Hmmm, I hope he doesn't find out enough to succeed in his plan! At least he's been frustrated so far, though.

Great chapter!

huggles my dear tracie.

love the part. to the big bad...stop trying to break up our couples. (although it makes one heck of a plot device.) am i crazy cause i am just as interested in the big plan of as i am of how the gand will handle it. and your gazer rocks

Title: Consanguinity

Author’s Note: Okay, I’m stupid. I originally thought that I’d completed part 16, then I thought that I hadn’t, so I wrote this, only to find out that I did indeed finish part 16. What does that mean…it means that we now have this part 17 and what I thought was part 17 just needs to be typed up and posted as part 18. In any event, I put in some extra gazer goodness for my bff Truelovepooh, who totally needs some Alex/Izzie action this week. I love you bff!


Chapter Seventeen

“But why, Alex, that’s what I don’t get. What’s so special about me? Honestly, I’m nothing special. In fact, if we can believe what the other Max said, I’m pretty shallow in that other time line.”

“Isabel, I don’t remember that other time line, but even if I did, it wouldn’t matter,” said Alex. “I loved you then, and I love you now.”

“You love me?” Isabel asked, her voice quavering.

“In this lifetime, that other lifetime and any other lifetime we may be we may be given,” said Alex, brushing a strand of hair away from Isabel’s delicate features. “On my planet or yours, it doesn’t matter, Isabel, I love you ad always will.”

“Oh,” Isabel whispered. “Alex, I…”

“It’s okay, Isabel, you don’t have to say it back. I know someone like you could never love me. You’re funny, smart, popular and I…”

“But I do, Alex,” Isabel said, softly.

“Could never expect you to - you what?” Alex said, pausing.

“I do,” said Isabel. “How could I not? You make me feel safe, Alex. I’ve never really felt safe before. Even though I’ve always had Max, Michael and Tess, I’ve always felt so alone. I don’t feel that way with you. I’ve always felt like a part of me is missing, and when you’re around, I feel, I don’t know, complete or something. Maybe it’s love; maybe it’s forever, I don’t know. All I do know is I’ve never felt this way before and I can’t imagine feeling this way about anybody else,” Isabel finished in a rush.

The two teens looked at each other, unsure of how to handle their emotional outbursts. After several awkward moments, they both grinned and laughed.

“Wow,” said Alex.

“Yeah, wow,” Isabel agreed. “So uh, now what?”

“Uh, how about we put this on hold for a while and meet up with everyone? I kinda think I may have a plan,” said Alex.

“About the shooting?” Isabel asked eagerly.

“Yeah,” Alex said, reaching out and taking her hand in his. “Come on, I think it might work.”

Isabel squeezed his hand gently and followed his lead through the Roswell city park towards the CrashDown Café.

** * **

They assembled in the CrashDown, gathered around two tables that Kyle and Michael pushed together. Kyle and Tess told the others of the book that they found and gave them brief summary of the events that occurred when they found it.

“So you were like seeing yourselves do this?” Maria asked.

“Yeah, I can only think that it was something that the other Max saw, and he put the memory in us, so we’d find the book or whatever it is,” said Tess. “It’s important. I think it’s the book that Alex went to Las Cruses to decode. The – the one I killed him for.” She hung her head, but not before the others saw tears glistening on her eyelashes.

“Stop it Tess,” Alex said. “Isabel and I were talking about this earlier. What happened in that other time line doesn’t matter. We’re not there, we’re here, in this time line. And nobody can be held accountable for things that happened in a time line that may or may not exist.” He reached out and took Tess’ hands in his. “Tess Evans, you are one of my best friends, and I know that you would never do anything to hurt me.”

“He’s right, you know,” said Liz, giving her friend a brief hug after she set a plate of Orbit fries on the table. “We’re not the same people that existed in that other time line. We’ve changed so many things.”

“Now let’s just hope we can change Liz getting shot,” said Max. “Alex, why don’t you tell us your idea?”

Alex outlined his plan to the others while Liz and Maria paused to listen in between customers. When the rush died, Liz grabbed a couple of sodas for herself and Maria and they sat down to hash out the finer details of the plan.

“It’s seems kind of risky,” said Max. “You’re putting a lot of pressure and responsibility on Tess.”

“Are you worried that I can’t handle it?” Tess demanded, gesturing with a French fry she’d been ready to bite. “I can do it, Max.”

“Of course you can, Tess,” Kyle said, coming to her defense and shooting Max a malevolent glare. “And nobody is going to say you can’t. Right Max?” he added pointedly.

“No, Tess, that’s not what I’m saying at all,” Max said in a rush. “But what if something goes wrong. I’m just worried that you’re going to feel responsible if something happens.”

“Nothing’s going to happen, Max,” Tess said, her jaw set resolutely.

“You don’t know that, Tess. Nobody can predict how anybody is going to react.

“Max, relax,” Michael said. “If Tess says she can handle it, she can handle it.”

“Handle what?” asked Kyle’s father, Sheriff Valenti, who had snuck up on them unnoticed.

“Oh, pack a picnic lunch for everybody,” said Tess, her bright smile lighting up the room. “We were talking about having a picnic tomorrow and I said I wanted to make the food for everybody. That’s all.”

“Hey, Jim, how’re you doing?” asked Jeff Parker who’d left his spot behind the register when he saw the sheriff enter the café. He clapped the sheriff on the counter and smiled at the kids. “Can I get you something, it looks like my two best waitresses are taking a well deserved break.”

“I just stopped in for a cup of your famous coffee, Jeff when I heard Miss Evans over here planning on preparing a picnic meal for this thundering herd. Better watch out or she may put you out of business,” joked the sheriff.

“A picnic, really?” asked Mr. Parker. “Well, I’ll tell you what. As a way of thanking you for spending your hard earned allowances in here so often, why don’t you let me make your picnic lunch tomorrow? I’ll pack you a picnic to end all picnics in fact.”

“Dad, really, you don’t have to do that,” said Liz.

“No, really, it’s my pleasure,” Jeff said, smiling. “It will be a great way to kick of the school year. Oh and Jim, I’ll go get you that cup of coffee.”

The sheriff waited until Liz’s father was out of earshot before he turned back to the kids.

“A picnic, huh?” he asked, doubtfully.

“Yeah, Sheriff, a picnic,” said Max. “Like Mr. Parker said, to kick of the school year.”

“Yeah, to kick off the school year,” Michael added, the thought of school bringing an unbecoming scowl to his face.

“Really?” asked the sheriff. “Are you sure there isn’t anything else you want to tell me about?”

“No, dad, we’re good,” said Kyle, looking at the others as if for confirmation.

“Well, if you’re sure,” the sheriff said, turning away.

“Dad, wait!” Kyle said suddenly. “There is something. Do you mind if I go on a picnic tomorrow?”

I need to get to reading in this! It looks really good so far. I've started at the beginning and like how you put such detail into it! I was able to imagine the episode and Future Max's reaction when he arrived in the Pod Chamber...that was funny by the way (his reaction!) : Great story, Tracie!

jim knows something. i know he does. oh man i hope fm didn't visit him too? then again it'll be like old but better times. to funny. way to funny.

i love this part.

Title: Consanguinity




Chapter Eighteen

Kyle cocked his elbow back and then brought it forward and watched the trajectory of the football with satisfaction as the ball left his fingers and spiraled across the cloudless blue sky. The ball arced almost effortlessly, falling gracefully toward Michael’s outstretched hands, until suddenly, and without any earthly explanation, the ball veered to the right. Liz reached up and plucked the ball from the air and ran back up the field to score the winning touchdown.

“Goal!” Maria yelled, throwing her arms in the air, gleefully.

“Touchdown,” whispered Tess.

“Oh yeah, right,” Maria said, not missing a beat. “Touchdown!”

“No way!” shouted Kyle, charging back up the field. “That was interference!”

“What?” Liz shouted. “How was that interference? You’re just mad because the girls won.”

“No way,” Max said, joining the argument. “That ball was Michael’s.”

“That ball, Max Evans,” Liz said, gritting her teeth, “Was mine. Jealousy does not become you,” she added, standing toe to toe with Max.

“J-jealousy?” Max sputtered. “I’m not jealous of a bunch of cheating girls.”

“Cheat!” Liz practically shrieked. “We didn’t cheat. How could we have possibly cheated?”

“Someone obviously used their powers to make that ball change it’s path,” said Max.

“Oh yeah, and who would that be, me, or Liz?” demanded Maria, joining the argument. “Cause from where I was standing, Tess was busy being tackled by Alex, and Isabel, well Isabel was busy dong her nails.”

“It had to be Tess,” said a furious Michael.

“Hey!” cried Tess, who was rubbing ineffectually at the grass stains on her shirt.

“It wasn’t Tess,” said Alex. “I was practically sitting on her. There was no way she could have used her powers to do anything. So that just leaves Isabel.”

As one the group looked over at Isabel who was still painting her nails and studiously avoided looking at the small group. After several minutes Max finally said, “Fine, it must have been a fluke downdraft or something. Whatever, the girls get to pick the movie tonight.”

“Great, now that we’ve finally solved the world’s problems, can we please eat? I’m starved,” said Kyle.

“There’s a surprise,” said Tess, linking her arm with his. “Name five times when food wasn’t on your mind.”

“Um, never,” said Kyle, causing everybody to laugh. “Now what is there to eat?”

“Everything,” said Isabel, capping her bottle of nail polish. “Liz’s dad sent us tons of fried chicken and all the Saturn Rings you could ever imagine eating.”

“Cold Saturn Rings?” said Maria, plopping down on the blanket next to Michael. “Perish the thought.”

“You forgetting my superior reheating skills,” said Isabel passing her hand over the container holding the onion rings. “As well as my other unsung skills,” she added in an undertone, winking. “Nice catch, Liz. You’re quite the player.”

Max whipped his head around at the saccharine sound of Isabel’s voice and glared at her. She looked at him guilelessly and continued setting out the food, and he shrugged and grabbed a plate.

The eight friends talked and laughed among themselves, enjoying the food and the day, and by their previous agreement, no talk at all about the events that were slated to occur during the Crash Festival. The teased each other mercilessly, the way good friends will, and just enjoyed being together – until their cell phones began to ring. One by one, they answered the incoming calls, varying expressions of shock and disbelief crossing their faces. Isabel ended her call first and she wordlessly began to ram the contents of their picnic back in the basket.

“That was Dad,” she said finally, struggling to hold back tears. “We need to get home right away, the house was broken into and vandalized.

“Hey, so was mine,” said Kyle. “That was my dad.”

“Mine too,” said Alex, looking shocked.

“My mom said our house was broken into, too,” said Liz.

“That was my mom,” Maria said, closing her cell phone and reaching fro a vial of cedar oil. “S-someone broke into our house. Our house! Strangers were in our house!”

“Maria, breath,” Michael said, pulling her into his arms. Someone broke into all our houses.

“Why? Why is this happening? What does it mean?” Maria asked.

“It means somebody’s on to us,” said Max, grimly.

“Do you think it’s the same person who…” Tess began.

“After us?” Max continued. “Yeah, or at least I hope it is.”

“What?” Isabel asked, her voice rising a bit. “Why?”

“Because if it isn’t, that means we have more than one person to worry about,” said Michael, suddenly. “Max is right. We’re better off if it’s that Nescado person – the one the other Max warned us about.”

“Okay, fine, he’s on to us,” said Kyle. “But why rob our homes? What does he expect to find?”

“The stash of playboys you have under your bed, maybe?” Isabel teased trying to inject some humor into the somber moment.

“Nah, those are safe, they’re hidden way under my bed next to the stuff that Max….” Kyle said, his voice trailing off.

“I guarantee that’s what he’s after,” said Max. “Come on, let’s get out of hear and head home. We can meet up later and try and make sense of all of this.”

The formally happy group quickly packed up the remains of their picnic and made their way to their cars. Their goodbyes were reluctant, but necessary and filled with worry for none of them knew what they would find when they returned home.

Several hours later, the somber group reassembled in the CrashDown Café, along with their parents. It wasn’t planned, but none of the parents felt up to the rigors of cooking and cleaning after the stress of their day. Talk quickly turned to the break-ins and all the parents, with the exception of Jim were surprised to find out the others had also been robbed.

“Isn’t it funny,” Diane Evans asked. “That all of our homes were broken into while all our kids were together?”

“That’s right, Sheriff,” said Jeff Parker. “All the kids were together today on that picnic. Do you think there’s any connection?”

“I doubt it,” said the Sheriff. “But if it’s all the same with you, I’d like to talk to the kids after we’re all done with dinner. No sense in ruining Jeff and Nancy’s fine cooking with shop talk,” he added jovially while he fixed his steely glare on each one of the kids.

“You don’t think they’re involved, do you sheriff?” Amy Deluca asked.

“No, of course not, Miz, Deluca,” said the Sheriff. “I just thought that if the kids and I talked informally, one of them might remember overhearing something that could help us.”

“So you’re not charging them with anything, is that correct?” Philip Evans asked, slipping into lawyer mode.

“Of course not, Philip,” said Jim. “Don’t be ridiculous. In fact, all of you are welcome to stick around while I talk to the kids. I just thought the kids might speak more freely if you weren’t here. If we’re lucky, maybe they’ll remember something, no matter how innocuous that can help us.”

One by one the parents reluctantly agreed, and when they finished their meals, they departed the café, after agreeing to return in an hour to pick up the kids. The sheriff made small talk with the nervous group, killing time until a reluctant Jeff Parker closed the café and retreated upstairs with his wife. For several nerve wracking minutes the sheriff walked around staring at each one of the kids until they all squirmed uncomfortably in their seats. When he was certain that he had their attention, he reached into a briefcase pulled out some papers and another item and slammed them on the table with a resounding crack.

“Well Zan,” he said. “Were you planning on filling me in any time soon? No? Or you, Ava?” he continued, glaring at Tess. “Since apparently at one time I took you into my home. Or how about you Liz, or you, Kyle, my own son? I just found out that you and Liz are both supposed to get shot within the next six months. Did any of you think that maybe, just maybe you should take me into your confidence?”

Silence filled the room while varying looks of shock and amazement played across the faces of the eight friends. Here was their worst nightmare – an adult knowing there secret – but instead of scoffing disbelief, he was somebody who wanted to help.

Title: Consanguinity




Chapter Eighteen

Kyle cocked his elbow back and then brought it forward and watched the trajectory of the football with satisfaction as the ball left his fingers and spiraled across the cloudless blue sky. The ball arced almost effortlessly, falling gracefully toward Michael’s outstretched hands, until suddenly, and without any earthly explanation, the ball veered to the right. Liz reached up and plucked the ball from the air and ran back up the field to score the winning touchdown.

“Goal!” Maria yelled, throwing her arms in the air, gleefully.

“Touchdown,” whispered Tess.

“Oh yeah, right,” Maria said, not missing a beat. “Touchdown!”

“No way!” shouted Kyle, charging back up the field. “That was interference!”

“What?” Liz shouted. “How was that interference? You’re just mad because the girls won.”

“No way,” Max said, joining the argument. “That ball was Michael’s.”

“That ball, Max Evans,” Liz said, gritting her teeth, “Was mine. Jealousy does not become you,” she added, standing toe to toe with Max.

“J-jealousy?” Max sputtered. “I’m not jealous of a bunch of cheating girls.”

“Cheat!” Liz practically shrieked. “We didn’t cheat. How could we have possibly cheated?”

“Someone obviously used their powers to make that ball change it’s path,” said Max.

“Oh yeah, and who would that be, me, or Liz?” demanded Maria, joining the argument. “Cause from where I was standing, Tess was busy being tackled by Alex, and Isabel, well Isabel was busy dong her nails.”

“It had to be Tess,” said a furious Michael.

“Hey!” cried Tess, who was rubbing ineffectually at the grass stains on her shirt.

“It wasn’t Tess,” said Alex. “I was practically sitting on her. There was no way she could have used her powers to do anything. So that just leaves Isabel.”

As one the group looked over at Isabel who was still painting her nails and studiously avoided looking at the small group. After several minutes Max finally said, “Fine, it must have been a fluke downdraft or something. Whatever, the girls get to pick the movie tonight.”

“Great, now that we’ve finally solved the world’s problems, can we please eat? I’m starved,” said Kyle.

“There’s a surprise,” said Tess, linking her arm with his. “Name five times when food wasn’t on your mind.”

“Um, never,” said Kyle, causing everybody to laugh. “Now what is there to eat?”

“Everything,” said Isabel, capping her bottle of nail polish. “Liz’s dad sent us tons of fried chicken and all the Saturn Rings you could ever imagine eating.”

“Cold Saturn Rings?” said Maria, plopping down on the blanket next to Michael. “Perish the thought.”

“You forgetting my superior reheating skills,” said Isabel passing her hand over the container holding the onion rings. “As well as my other unsung skills,” she added in an undertone, winking. “Nice catch, Liz. You’re quite the player.”

Max whipped his head around at the saccharine sound of Isabel’s voice and glared at her. She looked at him guilelessly and continued setting out the food, and he shrugged and grabbed a plate.

The eight friends talked and laughed among themselves, enjoying the food and the day, and by their previous agreement, no talk at all about the events that were slated to occur during the Crash Festival. The teased each other mercilessly, the way good friends will, and just enjoyed being together – until their cell phones began to ring. One by one, they answered the incoming calls, varying expressions of shock and disbelief crossing their faces. Isabel ended her call first and she wordlessly began to ram the contents of their picnic back in the basket.

“That was Dad,” she said finally, struggling to hold back tears. “We need to get home right away, the house was broken into and vandalized.

“Hey, so was mine,” said Kyle. “That was my dad.”

“Mine too,” said Alex, looking shocked.

“My mom said our house was broken into, too,” said Liz.

“That was my mom,” Maria said, closing her cell phone and reaching fro a vial of cedar oil. “S-someone broke into our house. Our house! Strangers were in our house!”

“Maria, breath,” Michael said, pulling her into his arms. Someone broke into all our houses.

“Why? Why is this happening? What does it mean?” Maria asked.

“It means somebody’s on to us,” said Max, grimly.

“Do you think it’s the same person who…” Tess began.

“After us?” Max continued. “Yeah, or at least I hope it is.”

“What?” Isabel asked, her voice rising a bit. “Why?”

“Because if it isn’t, that means we have more than one person to worry about,” said Michael, suddenly. “Max is right. We’re better off if it’s that Nescado person – the one the other Max warned us about.”

“Okay, fine, he’s on to us,” said Kyle. “But why rob our homes? What does he expect to find?”

“The stash of playboys you have under your bed, maybe?” Isabel teased trying to inject some humor into the somber moment.

“Nah, those are safe, they’re hidden way under my bed next to the stuff that Max….” Kyle said, his voice trailing off.

“I guarantee that’s what he’s after,” said Max. “Come on, let’s get out of hear and head home. We can meet up later and try and make sense of all of this.”

The formally happy group quickly packed up the remains of their picnic and made their way to their cars. Their goodbyes were reluctant, but necessary and filled with worry for none of them knew what they would find when they returned home.

Several hours later, the somber group reassembled in the CrashDown Café, along with their parents. It wasn’t planned, but none of the parents felt up to the rigors of cooking and cleaning after the stress of their day. Talk quickly turned to the break-ins and all the parents, with the exception of Jim were surprised to find out the others had also been robbed.

“Isn’t it funny,” Diane Evans asked. “That all of our homes were broken into while all our kids were together?”

“That’s right, Sheriff,” said Jeff Parker. “All the kids were together today on that picnic. Do you think there’s any connection?”

“I doubt it,” said the Sheriff. “But if it’s all the same with you, I’d like to talk to the kids after we’re all done with dinner. No sense in ruining Jeff and Nancy’s fine cooking with shop talk,” he added jovially while he fixed his steely glare on each one of the kids.

“You don’t think they’re involved, do you sheriff?” Amy Deluca asked.

“No, of course not, Miz, Deluca,” said the Sheriff. “I just thought that if the kids and I talked informally, one of them might remember overhearing something that could help us.”

“So you’re not charging them with anything, is that correct?” Philip Evans asked, slipping into lawyer mode.

“Of course not, Philip,” said Jim. “Don’t be ridiculous. In fact, all of you are welcome to stick around while I talk to the kids. I just thought the kids might speak more freely if you weren’t here. If we’re lucky, maybe they’ll remember something, no matter how innocuous that can help us.”

One by one the parents reluctantly agreed, and when they finished their meals, they departed the café, after agreeing to return in an hour to pick up the kids. The sheriff made small talk with the nervous group, killing time until a reluctant Jeff Parker closed the café and retreated upstairs with his wife. For several nerve wracking minutes the sheriff walked around staring at each one of the kids until they all squirmed uncomfortably in their seats. When he was certain that he had their attention, he reached into a briefcase pulled out some papers and another item and slammed them on the table with a resounding crack.

“Well Zan,” he said. “Were you planning on filling me in any time soon? No? Or you, Ava?” he continued, glaring at Tess. “Since apparently at one time I took you into my home. Or how about you Liz, or you, Kyle, my own son? I just found out that you and Liz are both supposed to get shot within the next six months. Did any of you think that maybe, just maybe you should take me into your confidence?”

Silence filled the room while varying looks of shock and amazement played across the faces of the eight friends. Here was their worst nightmare – an adult knowing there secret – but instead of scoffing disbelief, he was somebody who wanted to help.

Well Tracie I've finally got here and all I can say is your story rocks!!! I am anxious to see how Valenti is going to help them... PPMS!

Title: Consanguinity




Chapter Nineteen

“Didn’t you hear me?” the sheriff asked. “Did I not make myself clear? I asked when you were going to let me know what was going on?”

“Dad, where’d you find that?” Kyle asked his voice cracking slightly. “I thought…”

“You thought it got stolen in the break in,” said Jim. “But apparently under your bed, sandwiched between Penthouse and Playboy is an excellent hiding place. I commend you on that, but not the fact that you’re keeping secrets from me.”

Kyle reached out to take the papers and the book he and Tess had recovered from the library, but his father was quicker.

“I’ll just be keeping those,” he said.

“Dad, you can’t,” Kyle said. “We need them.”

“Right, you need them,” said Jim. “Well, I need some information. You give me what I need and maybe, I’ll give you what you need.”

Kyle stared at his friends helplessly; he didn’t know how to proceed. Normally he and father got along very well, and Kyle didn’t want to put his relationship with his father in jeopardy, but on the other hand, this wasn’t his secret to share.

“Please, Sheriff, just give it back to Kyle. Please,” Max practically pleaded.

“You want me to give it back, Max?” Jim asked. “Well what about what I want? I want answers. Are you ready to give me what I want?”

“Sheriff, I can’t,” said Max. “I can’t give you what you want.”

“Well then I can’t give you what I want,” said the Sheriff. “In fact, how about if I give your parents a call and tell them all what I found?”

Max felt his stomach lurch. Their parents couldn’t learn their secret. It would put them in danger.

“Damn it!” Max exploded, fear making his voice sharp. “Give Kyle our stuff and just leave us alone!”

Without another word, the sheriff handed Kyle the book and papers, turned and exited the café.

“What the hell?” Michael breathed. “That has got to be the freakiest thing we’ve ever seen, and we’ve seen some pretty freaky things.

“Something is way wrong,” said Kyle. “My father would never do that. There’s no way he’d just walk out like that after giving us what we wanted. Leave with it maybe, but without, no way.”

“Tess, did you maybe do that thing you do?” Alex asked hopefully.

“I didn’t do anything. Honest,” Tess said, her voice thick with unshed tears.

“Sh, Tess, it’s okay, nobody expected you to –“ said Kyle, trying to comfort her.

“I expected me to,” said Tess. “And I tried, I really tried, but his mind, it was so dark, so black. It scared me, it’s like he wasn’t human or something. Kyle, I don’t think that was your father.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Tess, of course it was his father,” said Isabel, fear giving her voice a hint of disdain. “Who else could it have been?”

“Nescado,” said Liz, who had been flipping through the copy of the other Max’s message. “It’s right here, remember the other Max said that Nescado could change his appearance?”

“My dad,” said Kyle in a panic. “Do you think he’s okay? I swear, if that bastard did anything, I’ll…”

“You’ll what, Kyle,” Michael asked being the voice of reason. “It’s not like you have any powers or anything. You can’t stop him. I don’t even know if we can stop him,” he added softly.

“So fine, I don’t have powers,” said Kyle. “But I’m supposed to get them, or I did get them or whatever. Max healed me, like he healed Liz, and both of us got powers. Heal me now, so I can get powers. I have to protect my father. I have to, he’s – he’s all I have.”

“Kyle’s right,” Maria said. “We have to do something.”

“We’re will do something,” said Max. “But we can’t go charging out of here all half assed without a plan. Liz, what else does it say in there about Nescado?”

“Well, we know he’s supposed to be your protector and yea right here it says that he can change his appearance and oh- this is good – if one of you four gives him a direct order, he has to obey it, no questions asked.”

“Well that explains why he gave us this stuff back, no questions asked,” said Maria. “But we still have to find out what’s going on with Kyle’s father.”

Alex slid his cell phone across the table to Kyle.

“Call the station ad ask if he’s there and how long he’s been there,” he instructed.

Kyle picked up the cell phone and quickly dialed the number of the Roswell Sheriff’s Department. While he waited for the call to go through, he looked around the CrashDown, noticing for the first time years, the alien decorations that filled the place. He decided he much preferred the aliens he was sitting with, especially the cute little blonde who held his hand tightly, trying to comfort him.

“Uh, hi, Deputy Hansen,” he said when the call connected. “It’s Kyle. Listen; is my dad there? He is? Really?” he said, his face brightening. “Yeah, uh look, how long has he been there? A couple of hours? Fantastic. No, wait, I don’t need to talk, uh, oh hi dad, how’re you doing? Listen, we’re all at the CrashDown. Can you come here please? We need to talk to you. It’s important. Great, we’ll see you in a few minutes.”

After Kyle ended the call, he glared at the others, a look of defiance playing upon his face.

“We need to be tell my dad what’s going on,” he said in a voice that dared the others to argue with him.

Max opened his mouth to argue, but Liz quickly stepped in. “He’s right,” she said. “Nescado was right when he said the sheriff knew about our secret in that other time line. The other Max said it too, that’s how Nescado knew. He read it in the message the other Max left us.”

“That means he knows Liz is going to get shot this weekend,” said Isabel quietly. “Max, Kyle’s right. We need to tell his dad.”

“Tell his dad what?” asked the sheriff.

“Lot’s of things,” said Max, quietly. “Tess, is it him?”

Tess closed her eyes and focused all her energy on the sheriff for a minute and then smiled. “It’s him,” she said, happily.

“What do you mean, it’s me. Of course it’s me,” said the sheriff. “What are you kids talking about and what do you have to tell me.”

“Dad, maybe you’d better sit down,” said Kyle, reaching out with his foot and dragging another chair over to the table. “This is going to take a while.”

Wow! Tracie! I knew if I went away for a few days on business to St Pete, you'd write several new chapters! See, it worked! Great chapters, too!

“Stop it Tess,” Alex said. “Isabel and I were talking about this earlier. What happened in that other time line doesn’t matter. We’re not there, we’re here, in this time line. And nobody can be held accountable for things that happened in a time line that may or may not exist.” He reached out and took Tess’ hands in his. “Tess Evans, you are one of my best friends, and I know that you would never do anything to hurt me.”

Alex always was the analytical, level-headed one. Though he can throw out some great wry zingers, too, when he wants to.

“That was my mom,” Maria said, closing her cell phone and reaching fro a vial of cedar oil. “S-someone broke into our house. Our house! Strangers were in our house!”

“Maria, breath,” Michael said, pulling her into his arms. Someone broke into all our houses.

Yes, and I'm thinking he had something to do with the football turning, too, though I'm not sure why. Nascedo.

For several nerve wracking minutes the sheriff walked around staring at each one of the kids until they all squirmed uncomfortably in their seats. When he was certain that he had their attention, he reached into a briefcase pulled out some papers and another item and slammed them on the table with a resounding crack.

“Well Zan,” he said. “Were you planning on filling me in any time soon? No? Or you, Ava?” he continued, glaring at Tess. “Since apparently at one time I took you into my home. Or how about you Liz, or you, Kyle, my own son? I just found out that you and Liz are both supposed to get shot within the next six months. Did any of you think that maybe, just maybe you should take me into your confidence?”

Silence filled the room while varying looks of shock and amazement played across the faces of the eight friends. Here was their worst nightmare – an adult knowing there secret – but instead of scoffing disbelief, he was somebody who wanted to help.

Okay, I was saying "Way to go, Sheriff..." until this:

“I expected me to,” said Tess. “And I tried, I really tried, but his mind, it was so dark, so black. It scared me, it’s like he wasn’t human or something. Kyle, I don’t think that was your father.”

Oh, oh! Not good!

“We need to be tell my dad what’s going on,” he said in a voice that dared the others to argue with him.

Max opened his mouth to argue, but Liz quickly stepped in. “He’s right,” she said. “Nescado was right when he said the sheriff knew about our secret in that other time line. The other Max said it too, that’s how Nescado knew. He read it in the message the other Max left us.”

Common sense rules the day. :D They're letting Valenti in on the situation. That's a smart move... especially after what's been happening.

“Dad, maybe you’d better sit down,” said Kyle, reaching out with his foot and dragging another chair over to the table. “This is going to take a while.”

Uh... yes, I think so! "Dad, about aliens... and my friends..."

i love jim. that was great. he's in the know. oh man i would have loved to have seen their faces. great new part.

oh now this is just but he's going to know now right. what i really enjoy about this story is that it is very clear these are a group of kids. it was something the show soemtimes lost site of. they may have these very grown up things going on in their life, but they are still kids. and those vulerable moments we have with them or those fun moments it reminds us. and in reminding us of this, the things and issues and choices they make right or wrong are so much more profound. we truelly see them as teenagers with the weight of the world on their shoulders. and it makes our heart bleed for them and sucks us in totally and completlly. mind you why i am shocked i don't know. you stories are always one of magic.

Ti88 wrote:mind you why i am shocked i don't know. you stories are always one of magic.

hee hee hee - no, they're MAJIK

Title: Consanguinity




Chapter Twenty

It was a perfect summer day in Roswell. The sky was a bright blue and white fluffy clouds dotted the sky. The streets teemed with people in town for the annual Crash festival. Alien hunters and skeptics rubbed shoulders with residents, all of them enjoying the carnival atmosphere, all of them except for nine people. Nine people who were doing everything in their considerable powers to ensure that one of their own survived the day.

Jim Valenti sat in his office at the Rowell Sheriff’s Department, trying to wrap his mind around everything he learned last night. Those kids, those poor crazy kids ha tried so hard to deal with so much on their own.

The story of the Evans children was amazing in itself. It explained so much, but at the same time, left them with thousands of questions to which they may never have the answers. He let his mind drift back to the day before the Evans children had been found. He remembered the stranger he’d met on the side of the road. The stranger, that for all intents and purposes the same Max who was now headed to the CrashDown. It was a lot for him to take in. It changed so much, including his relationship with his father, but that was something he didn’t even want to think about right now. Right now, he had to focus on keeping Liz alive, and if possible, not shot. He had to give the kids credit. They’d come up with a viable plan. A lot of the plan hinged on variables that they couldn’t control. But still, he’d examined the situation from every possible angle, and he couldn’t come up with a better plan. He marveled at the way these kids pulled together. They were an amazing team. He was just glad they’d decided to fill him in on what was happening, even if it took an evil shape-changing alien to convince them to do so.

Jim picked up the sheaf of papers Max had reluctantly given him and scanned them for what had to be the thousandth time since last night. If what they said were true, they’d had quite an amazing life in that other timeline. Liz was shot, Kyle was shot, hell, even he got shot. But the worst, the absolute worst was finding out that Alex died, and that Tess was responsible for his death. But those kids, those amazing, incredible kids had done everything in their power to convince Tess that what had happened in that other timeline had nothing to do with this timeline. It wasn’t her fault, and now, in this timeline, it was never going to happen. They, all of them, were determined to make sure none of the bad things happened. Jim admired their determination, but he also wondered about all the good things had happened. The Isabel in the other timeline belonged to countless service organizations and did charity work. Max had healed all those children with cancer, and even Max and Liz stopping the mugging of a CrashDown customer late one night. Who knew how many wonderful and amazing things would happen in the future as a direct result of Liz getting shot. It was the butterfly effect – if you kill a butterfly here, it could cause an earthquake in a galaxy a million light years away. It was a mind-boggling concept, but Jim knew he couldn’t worry about what may happen in the future. He needed to deal with today and making sure Liz didn’t get shot. And if he and the kids were right, their so called protector was going to do everything in his considerable power to make sure the original timeline was restored as much as possible.

Jim grabbed his hat and keys and made his way to his Bronco. It was almost time for him to take his position at the CrashDown. It felt strange following a plan devised by a teenager, but he’d do it, and he’d do it willingly if it would keep those kids safe. His approach to the Bronco slowed as the way it sat penetrated his consciousness. All four tiers were flat, causing the SUV to list. He cursed softly. This he knew was no teenaged prank. He was certain that this was the work of Nescado. He sprinted across the parking lot and began to run down the crowded streets to the CrashDown.

“Liz, where’s Sheriff Valenti?” Maria asked, her voice filled with panic.

“He’ll be here, Maria,” Liz said.

“Oh my God, Chica, how can you be so calm? I’d be a basket case if I were you.”

“Well, you’re not me, and you’re already a basket case enough for the both of us. Besides, everyone else is here.”

Liz looked around and saw Tess and Kyle in a booth that gave them a good vantage point of the entire café. Isabel and Alex sat in a booth near the kitchen, effectively blocking the back entrance and Michael and Max sat at a booth near the front door. The only one missing was the Sheriff whose main role in their plan was to just be visible and hopefully be a deterrent to the shooter.

Liz smiled wanly a Maria, the strain of projecting an air of confidence was beginning to take its toll. Her hands shook as she paused to take an order from two would be alien hunters. For fun, she showed them a picture of an old doll that had been left out in the hot desert sun, it’s melted face making it resemble something otherworldly. It always got her good tips and she figured what the heck, maybe having some change in her pocked would deflect the bullet if things didn’t go according to Alex’s plan. She slipped the picture and her order pad into her apron pocket and turned to see to big burly men walk into the café. Liz blanched when she saw them. If the other Max’s descriptions were right, one of those men was wielding the gun that could potentially end her life.

All of them were on alert as Maria walked over to take the orders of the two men. Her hand shook as she poured the coffee, causing it to spill on the table. One of the men growled at her, and Maria jumped back in fear. Michael started to stand up and only Max’s hand held him in check. Maintaining a semblance of normalcy was hard for all of them but it was the only way they could be certain their plan would succeed.

Without warning, Tess deviated from the plan. She whispered something to Kyle and crossed the floor over to where Max and Michael sat, making sure she walked by the table where the two men sat. One of the men glared at her, his hate filled eyes burning a hole in her back as she walked past him. Shuddering slightly, Tess slid in the booth next to Michael and whispered something to him and Max, and then looked over at Kyle and nodded.

Kyle jumped up and met Liz in the center of the café as loud angry voices erupted from the front.

“Oh my God, Liz!” Maria shouted as two shots rang out.

“Tess, now!” Max shouted.

Tess closed her eyes and focused all her energy, projecting an image of normalcy into the minds of everyone in the restaurant. Instead of gunshots and chaos, they saw people eating and chatting amicably. Isabel rushed to the front door and used her powers to seal it shut, while Alex mounted guard in the rear. Michael jumped up and grabbed the man who held the gun.

“Rath, don’t. I’m your protector,” the man said.

“And you just shot my friends, and I’m their protector,” said Michael. He focused his mind and sent a burst of energy into the man’s chest. He stiffened and fell to the floor, and Michael watched in horror as the creature reverted to its natural form before disappearing completely. Michael blanched at the sight but shoved it from his mind and rushed over to where Max knelt on the floor in a pool of blood.

“Liz, you have to look at me,” Max said. “Michael, see if you can help Maria!”

Michael turned and looked and saw Maria kneeling on the ground trying to staunch the flow of blood from Kyle’s chest.

“Oh my God, Kyle!” cried the sheriff who’d come in through the back door. “Help my son, Max. Please help my son.”

A visibly exhausted Max dragged himself across the floor and placed his hand on Kyle’s wound and used his last reserves of strength to heal Kyle’s injuries. Isabel left her position by the door and using her powers quickly removed all traces of blood from Kyle, Liz and Max’s clothing, while Michael used his powers to erase the blood from the floor.

Alex and Michael dragged a weakened Max back to his seat while Isabel unsealed the door. Jim moved to stand next to Tess and whispered in her ear, “You did it Tess.” The shock of his voice pulled her from her mind warp and she collapsed into his arms. “You did it. You held it together and Max was able to heal both Liz and Kyle.”

“Kyle?” Tess questioned, weakly.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Jim. Nescado put my car out of commission. I got here too late for everything. When I walked in, Kyle and Liz were both lying in pools of blood. Max was healing Liz and Michael and Maria were trying to stop Kyle’s bleeding.

”Kyle went to go warn Liz that the shooter was Nescado, and to watch out for anything, not just a gun,” said Tess. “He must have gotten caught in the crossfire.”

“Well, he’s okay now” said Jim. Thanks to you and Max. And look,” he added, looking around the café at the patrons eating their meals. “Nobody even has a clue that anything happened.”

Title: Consanguinity




Epilogue

It was a somber group that stat in the Valenti group that at in the Valenti living room gathered around the low scarred coffee table that was dotted with snacks nobody had touched. Nobody wanted to eat, and while they wanted to talk, nobody was exactly sure how to begin. It was Alex who finally broke the silence.

“Well, that’s one mighty fine hulking elephant you have there, Kyle.”

Liz’s lips began to twitch as she tried to suppress a smile. A giggle escaped from Maria while Isabel gave a very unladylike snort at the thought of a giant invisible elephant in the Valenti living room. And with that, they all visibly relaxed and began to joke in a more normal manner. Jim Valenti walked in, carrying several steaming boxes carrying pizzas, and the kids descended on him like a hoard of locusts. And like locusts, they cut a swath of destruction through the food, leaving only some half eaten pizza crusts in the empty boxes when they were done.

Their appetites finally sated, Jim brought up the topic none of them wanted to discuss – what had happened in the CrashDown. He was especially concerned for Michael who had taken a life today – not a human life – but a life nevertheless.

“We need to talk about what happened today. You kids were incredible.”

“Not incredible enough” said Isabel. “Liz still got shot, and Kyle got shot ahead of schedule.” She bit her lip and then began to giggle uncontrollably. “I’m sorry,” she said when she finally calmed down. “That just sounded so funny. Imagine having a schedule of when you should be shot.”

“It does sound funny,” agreed the sheriff, smiling slightly. “But that’s one of the things we need to talk about. You didn’t stop the shooting, but you did manage to save two lives today while still protecting yourselves. That was no small feat. And you managed to erase all evidence of the shooting from the CrashDown. You did good, and don’t you forget it.”

“Maybe you’re right, Sheriff,” said Max. “According to the other Max’s message, Liz’s bloodstained uniform was the only evidence that the FBI’s special unit had when they started tracking us, and Isabel took care of that. The question is, what do we do now?”

“I think you should all just go be kids,” said the sheriff. “Enjoy yourselves. You’re only young once. Keep your eyes open, of course, but don’t let fear keep you from living your lives to the fullest.”

Behind the CrashDown, a figure dressed in black rummaged through the garbage cans. Pushing aside some half eaten food in disgust, he pulled out and item and shined a flashlight on it. Agent Daniel Pierce smiled in satisfaction at the blood stained order pad he’d just recovered. Whoever had called in that anonymous tip was right. Something interesting had happened at the CrashDown today, and he planned to find out what it was.

The End

ok admittedly I am nowhere near cuaght up and I don't even know in which chapter they were in 5th grade or when Tess was taken at the mall.. those are the things that I remember last reading.

BUT... I did not like the ending one bit, the ending which i admit, I just skipped to, the ending with PIERCE.... NOOOO!!!!!!

I guess you are looking for a sequel or a series status again huh?

Tell me where I last was please, see above, so that I can start to wade through it again.

Rhonda

OK, that just has sequel written all over it, Tracie! You know you can't leave it like this. Who called Pierce? That's what I want to know. Michael killed Nascedo, and nobody else in the Crashdown was the wiser about what had happened. But somebody knew. Who? Great ending though! You really set us up for the next book. I liked Jim's advice to them to live like the youngsters they are. It's good advice. And except for Pierce appearing, they might have escaped any further scrutiny of their lives. But no! This is Roswell after all.

And if he and the kids were right, their so called protector was going to do everything in his considerable power to make sure the original timeline was restored as much as possible.

This line got me to wondering. I wonder if Nascedo called Pierce because he knew what was going to happen beforehand... so he called Pierce as a way to try to ensure their eventual return to the other timeline if something happened to him and he couldn't fulfill that mission.

Great story, Tracie! But it just can't be over! Oh yeah, wait... SEQUEL TIME!

Awesome ending, Tracie!! I'm excitedly hopeful that you will come up with a sequel as Gerry and the others have said!