Fan Fic and More

Graduation didn't go as planned for this group of podsters living in an alternate dimension. Liz awakens from a coma to learn that she alone survived… until clues suggest that the graves of the others might actually be empty.

Everything up until graduation happened here the same as in the show, except that Tess and Nasedo never showed up in Roswell. Consequently, there was no Max/Tess relationship, no baby, and Alex is still alive. Beginning with graduation, though, their story takes a deadly turn, one that will call on all of Liz’s faith, will, love, and determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds to get to the bottom of.

The Night The Dreams Died is inter-related with the Altered Time series, and though it can be read separately, it unfolds alongside The Four Faces of Rath, at the same time as that story. In fact, the two groups briefly come together in both storylines. I generally recommend reading The Night The Dreams Died before reading The Four Faces Of Rath. It will give you a fuller understanding of that part of The Four Faces Of Rath, and it will allow you to enjoy The Night The Dreams Died without spoilers.

The creators of Roswell, especially Melinda Metz and Jason Katims, deserve the credit for the Roswell concept and pre-existing characters and any mention of events that occurred during the TV series. Anything else, for better or worse, is my own vision.

The Night The Dreams Died



Awake

Chapter 1

I



Liz opened her eyes and looked around. It might have been like any other morning, but it wasn’t. She wasn’t sure how she knew this. Maybe it was just a feeling. Maybe it was because her memories were so foggy. Maybe it was because her room didn’t look like her room. She looked at the walls. They were white. The strange thing is, she couldn’t remember what color they were supposed to be. But something in her was sure that it wasn’t white. It had an unfamiliar feel to it.

Liz turned her head to the other side. Ouch! She must have been sleeping very badly. Her neck hurt when she tried to turn it. She tried again, this time forcing herself to move the sore muscles. That’s when her eyes met the other woman’s. It was hard to say which one was more surprised.

“Who are you,” Liz started to say, but her mouth felt like cotton, and her tongue refused to move. Something mumbled did come out though, and the other woman ran from the room calling for “Mister Parker.”

Within seconds, Jeff Parker was in the room… with Nancy close behind him. Then the other woman came back in.

“She’s awake, Mister Parker! Your daughter is awake! She spoke!”

“Liz?” Jeff looked into Liz’s eyes, and Nancy held Liz’s hand in hers and wiped a tear from her own eye.

“Liz, can you hear me?”

“Yeah, Dad, sure I hear you.” Okay, that didn’t exactly sound like it was meant to. Liz moved her tongue around slowly in her mouth. It felt like she had been given Novocain and her tongue was still numb. What came out sounded more like, “Yay-duh… Shy ear you.” There was nothing wrong with her ears. Something must have made her tongue swell.

“It’s alright, Lizzie. You don’t have to talk. Just relax,” Jeff said. “Can you nod your head?”

“Yeh Da’.” This wasn’t going to be easy. “Da’… con I ‘ve s’wabber.”

“Get her some water,” Jeff said to the other woman. “Just a little in a cup.”

The woman nodded and hurried off to find some water. Well, at least her Dad had understood her. Whatever was happening, she could talk. Not very well… but maybe that would change when she got some water to moisten her tongue with. She hoped so anyway.

The woman returned moments later with the water, and Jeff held it for Liz as she sipped it. Her throat felt parched, and it was hard to swallow. She gagged on the first swallow.

“It’s alright, Lizzie,” Jeff said. “Go a little slower. Here. Try it again.”

Liz took another sip. This time it went down. It felt good… so cool in her throat… on her tongue, too. Her tongue moved more freely now and felt a bit less heavy. But her throat still ached.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah, Lizzie! I’m here!”

“Whe’m… where am I?”

“You’re at home, Lizzie. You’re in your room.”

“No… S’nah my room.”

“It’s changed,” Nancy reminded Jeff softly. Jeff nodded.

“We had your room painted and redone for you before you came home, Lizzie. We wanted it to be…” Jeff’s voice trailed off. “If you don’t like it, we can put it back like it was.”

Liz didn’t answer. She was having trouble remembering how it had been… how it was supposed to look. She just knew that this wasn’t it. This was all too… clinical.

“Da… Daddy?”

“Yes, Lizzie?”

“Wha’s wron’ w’me? Why can’ I talk?”

Jeff looked at Liz for a moment. He seemed to have no immediate answer to give her.

“Damn,” Jeff said silently to himself. He had had four months… four months and ten days, to be exact… to think of what he should say when she woke up… if she woke up. Why hadn’t he planned for something as simple as this before now?

Jeff shook his head slowly. “Don’t think about that now, Lizzie. We’re here for you. That’s what’s important. Everything’s going to be alright.”

Liz rolled her head back and stared at the ceiling. Even the ceiling looked different.

“Dad… I hab to know. I ca’t move my arms.” Liz made another effort, exploring any possibility of getting out of the bed.

“Did I hab… an acciden’?

Jeff nodded slightly then shook his head. “No, Lizzie. It wasn’t your fault. Nothing you did.”

“I ca’t move my legs.”

Jeff closed his eyes momentarily and his lips started to quiver. He quickly pursed his lips together in an effort to mask his emotions, but Liz noticed.

“I… I can’t move, Dad… can I…”

Jeff tried to smile at Liz through the tears forming in his eyes.

“You’ve been asleep, Liz. We weren’t sure what you would be able to do. We still aren’t. But the doctors said…” Jeff swallowed and his voice trailed off again.

It wasn’t necessary for him to continue. Liz understood.

“Can I ‘ve s’more wat’r?”

“Sure.” Jeff held the cup for Liz, and she took a couple more swallows. Her throat was starting to feel almost human again. But it still ached dully. And her stomach ached slightly, as though it were unaccustomed to having anything in it.

“What happened to me, Dad? I need to know. Please. Am I… going to be able to move my legs or arms again?”

Jeff looked at Liz, and she could see the intense caring –and the pain- in his eyes. She saw it in her mother’s, too. This was obviously very hard on them. For a moment, Liz forgot about herself.

“It’s alright, Dad. If it’s too painful, you don’t have to tell me right now.”

That seemed to be the last chink in the wall holding the waters back. Jeff broke down and began to cry. After he managed to find his voice again, he looked at Liz and held her and Nancy’s hands together in his. Then, steeling himself, he looked directly into Liz’s eyes with a deep earnestness.

“You were shot, Lizzie… at your graduation.”

Thoughts began to flood back into Liz’s mind, and she gasped, as the memories began to return.

“Graduation… I was at the graduation… with… with… you and mom… and…”

“Max! Where’s Max?”

Jeff didn’t answer.

“I have to know,” Liz said, her voice trembling. “And Isabel…”

Jeff licked his lips slightly but shook his head.

“Are they…?”

“I’ll read you the story out of the paper if you want,” Jeff said softly. I still have it.”

Jeff reached over and took a folded newspaper from a drawer and opened it to the front page.

“The headline… this was the day after your graduation… The headline says, “Military commandoes shoot up high school graduation ceremony in Roswell. Five killed. Scores more injured.”

Jeff looked up at Liz to gauge her reaction and see if he should continue. Then he looked down at the paper in his hand again…

“West Roswell High School seniors, with thoughts of their future running through their heads, were marching onto the stage to receive their diplomas yesterday, when suddenly their world came crashing down around them in a hail of high-powered gun fire. The bizarre incident, which was blamed on a crazed group of ex-military commandoes who had been on a drinking binge earlier in the night, left four students and the principal of West Roswell High dead and injured scores more. Many of the injured were hurt accidentally in the panic to escape, as others around them fell mortally wounded…”

“Max?” Liz whispered.

Jeff swallowed silently.

“Isabel?”

Jeff swallowed again but did not reply.

“Michael? Michael wasn’t there… was he?”

Jeff looked at the paper again and continued to read…

“The evening took an unusual turn early on, when the lights in the room suddenly went out, leaving all the guests in the dark. Guest speaker, Bryce McCain, a three-time Hugo award winning science fiction novelist, had been getting ready to speak when one of the graduating seniors, Maxwell Evans, came to the microphone in an apparent effort to reassure and calm the uneasy guests and students. Some students reported seeing a red dot appear and disappear on Evans’ head and chest and on the heads and chests of some other students in the room as Evans spoke. At some point in Evans’ impromptu speech, gunfire broke out and a motorbike burst through the doors and up onto the stage, pulling up next to Evans, who jumped on the back with the driver, identified as Michael Guerin, also a student at West Roswell High. The bike spun around and sped back down the stairs and out through the doors it had come in, but Guerin and Evans were apparently struck by several high-powered rifle shots fired from inside the ventilation ducts as they exited. Guerin was able to drive his bike a couple of miles before losing consciousness. The bodies of both Guerin and Evans were found two hours later at the edge of town, where the bike had crashed.

In addition to Max Evans and Michael Guerin, the shooting took the life of the school’s principal, Dr. Martin Van Der Shul, and of graduating seniors, Isabel Evans, who by coincidence, was the sister of Max Evans, and Maria DeLuca…”

Liz gasped, and tears came to her eyes. “Maria? Why Maria? She wasn’t…”

“She wasn’t what, Lizzie?”

“One of them.”

Jeff nodded. “I’m sorry, Liz.”

Jeff was silent for a few moments. “Are you sure you want to hear more of this?”

Liz nodded.

Jeff looked at the paper again.

“The incident left scores of students and family members injured, most of them as a result of the panic that ensued during the gunfire. However, three students were grazed by gunfire apparently intended for the seniors who died in the siege, and one student, Elizabeth Parker, was shot in the head and back. Miss Parker remains in extremely critical condition this morning at Roswell General Hospital, where she was flown by helicopter after the incident.

In the panic and confusion that followed the shootings, the shooters escaped. However, a number of witnesses were able to provide descriptions of the suspects, including a detailed description of the special military uniforms and service patches that the shooters were wearing. Urgent calls from the sheriff and press to the governor and to officials at the local military base resulted in the suspects being apprehended quickly by military police. A spokesperson for General Haggerty, at the army base, told this paper that the men responsible had been on a drinking binge earlier in the night and believed that they were raiding a Viet Cong encampment. The spokesperson said that the army would be handling their trials, which would be closed to the public, and that all those involved would likely receive court-martials.”

Liz closed her eyes. “Court-martials.”

“I know,” Jeff said. “It doesn’t seem like enough for what they did.”

“It’s not that, Dad. It’s not enough. But they won’t get court-martials. They’ll probably get medals.”

“They shot innocent kids… high school seniors at their graduation, Lizzie! They can’t just get away with that.”

“They already did get away with it, Dad.”

“Jeff…” Nancy put her hand on Jeff’s arm. “You’re upsetting her. She just came out of a coma. She isn’t going to remember everything, and her thoughts may be a little… jumbled at first. Let her rest.”

Jeff nodded, and his voice quivered. “Sorry, Lizzie. I just… I just love you… so much…” He took a deep breath to calm his voice, “…and I have a hard enough time thinking they only got court-martials for all the suffering they caused. But there are a lot better things we should be talking about right now, honey. I’ll get Doctor Jennings to look at you in the morning. Now that you’re awake, maybe they can run some new tests that will help you walk again. You’re going to, you know!”

Liz smiled. She couldn’t feel or move her legs or her arms. She couldn’t even feel her hands or fingers, and she wasn’t sure if she could move them or not. But at this one small moment in time, she had one good feeling… the feeling of being loved. That would have to buy her some time… until the realities… and the losses… set in.



tbc


Author’s note: In the near future, look for the army to try to rectify its single “mistake…” its unfinished business. And the army won’t be the only problem facing Liz as she tries to regain some semblance of a life in Roswell. Not everyone is happy with the army’s unusual interest in Roswell, and specifically, in Liz Parker. Also, continue to read “The Four Faces of Rath.” That story and this one will prove to be inter-related soon, though probably not in a way you would expect. We’ll leave it at that. This story will seem to be a radical departure from the “Altered Time” series theme, and in a way, it is. While the other stories run consecutively, in a linear fashion, this one runs separately but is –or will soon prove to be- inter-related.

WTG Gerry - great start - need more though, please

Thanks, Tracie! Here's the next part, chapter 2. It'll probably be a few days before chapter 3 of this is ready... probably before the end of the week, though. I have to update "Four Faces Of Rath" now.

The Night The Dreams Died



A Walk In The Park

Chapter 2

II



“You told me this was already handled. That’s why I called you in the first place. I like things to be done right… the first time! I expect it!”

“It would have been, General. I had no way of knowing that the girl’s father would pull her out of West Roswell General and take her home with no advance warning.”

“Are you sure your man on the inside wasn’t compromised?”

“I’m sure, General. The father pulled her out when she took a turn for the worse. That’s all. Her departure was… unexpected. He hired a private nurse, and he’s using his own doctors now.”

“I’m sure you have some way to get around that. You told me there was no chance of her ever coming out of the coma.”

“There wouldn’t have been, sir, if she had stayed there for just one more day… two at the most. The matter was being… handled.”

“Well, the situation has changed now. The girl is talking. You know what that can mean. Press problems… and other problems. I do not want to be called before Congress to explain this, Barker! So handle it quickly! And this time, Barker, do it right!”

The phone went dead, as the general hung up on Joe Barker, ad hoc leader of the Special Unit. The “Unit” didn’t officially exist since Congress disbanded it after Nasedo, masquerading as the deceased Agent Pierce, testified that all their “proof” of alien presence on Earth was bogus. But the General still had contact with its former members, and the team still stood ready to answer any call to “duty.” Nasedo had disappeared shortly after that.

Three days had passed since Liz had awakened from the coma she had been in for the last four months, and already she was exploring the limits of her physical capabilities. These weren’t very numerous at the present time. She found that she was able to move her fingers and, to some degree, her hands, but her arms felt as though they were simply too heavy to lift, and her legs seemed hopelessly useless. Still, she counted it as a blessing that she could actually feed herself, albeit with some difficulty. She had to have her arm propped up so that she could reach her mouth just by moving her fingers and hand between the bowl and her face.

“Dad, did Kyle or Alex either one say where they were going after graduation?”

“Not to me, Lizzie. I don’t know if they told anyone else or not. I’m sure Alex’s parents must know… and I imagine Sheriff Valenti knows where Kyle went. I don’t think they’re making their whereabouts public knowledge, though. A lot of people around here are still jittery after what happened to the class of 2002.”

“Yeah… but I’ll bet you could find out, Dad. Sheriff Valenti trusts you. So do the Whitmans.”

Jeff smiled. “I’ll see what I can do, Lizzie. I guess having some contact with others from your class… who were there… could be good for you.”

“Yeah, Dad, it would be.”

“Dad?”

“Yeah, Liz?”

“Where are… I mean… where is, you know… where did they bury Max… and Isabel… and Maria?”

Jeff’s face showed strain as he looked back at Liz.

“In the New Haven Cemetery, I think. Liz, you’re not in any shape to be…”

“I know, Dad. I know. But I wanted to know. Maybe soon…”

Jeff nodded and tried to give Liz a smile. “Yeah, maybe soon… when you’re a little better… if you want to…”

Liz tugged at the IV tube that led to her arm. “This can go, Dad. I don’t think I need this anymore.”

Jeff smiled, this time more genuinely. “I’ll see what Doc Jennings says. If he says it’s alright, I’ll have Vera take it out for you. You just got rid of the feeding tube yesterday, Lizzie. Don’t try to hurry things too much. I want you off all this, too, but I want you to have the very best treatment, as well.”

“Vera takes good care of me, Dad. And you and Mom are the best. I can handle it. I just want all of this gone.”

Jeff nodded. “I can understand that. I’ll ask the doc what he thinks… today.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

As Jeff turned to walk out of the room, there was a knock on the door. He looked out the window to see who it was then opened the door.

“Sheriff! We were just talking about you!”

“Well, I reckon that explains why my ears were ringin.”

Jeff laughed. “Come on in, Sheriff. I guess you’ve heard the news.”

“Yeah, I heard. Liz is awake. That’s wonderful news, Jeff. You don’t know how glad and thankful I am for you.”

“Thanks, Sheriff.”

“Just Jim. We don’t need to be formal, Jeff.”

“Jim.” Jeff nodded. “You want to see Liz? We were just talkin’ about you… and Kyle.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Follow me.”

Having overheard the conversation, Liz was prepared when Sheriff Valenti walked into her room.

“Hi, Sheriff. Thanks for coming to see me.”

“Well, now, Liz, you know I couldn’t stay away after I heard you were back awake. I been keepin’ track of how you were doin’. It’s really good to see you lookin’ so good.”

“You don’t have to push it, Sheriff. I know I look like a scarecrow.”

Jim laughed. “No you don’t, Liz. Trust me. You’ve gotta get outta that bed before you can scare any crows. Right now they’d walk all over you.”

“You’re probably right, Sheriff. I’ll work on that.”

“I know you will. And you’ll make it, too.”

“Thanks, Sheriff.”

“And you don’t look like a scarecrow, Liz. You look like a little girl. A very determined little girl, of course.

Liz nodded and smiled. “Sheriff, I was wondering what Kyle is doing now…”

“Well, now, you see, that’s sort of part of the reason I’m here right now. Kyle wanted me to bring you this.” Jim handed Liz a sealed envelope.

“A letter?”

“You want me to open it for you?”

“Would you?”

Jim tore open the envelope and handed it back to Liz.

“Kyle wanted to come himself… see how you were doing… but…”

Liz nodded. “I know, Sheriff. It’s better this way… right now.”

“Yeah.”

Liz took the letter out of the envelope and unfolded it with her fingers. After a few moments she refolded it and put it back in the envelope then stuck it where she could reach it again under her pillow.

“Have you heard any information about Alex, Sheriff?”

“Las Cruces. He’s plannin’ on goin’ to college there. The family’s not tellin’ just everybody where he went, though.”

“Sheriff?”

“Yeah?”

“You know, those guys that shot… us… Max and me… and Maria and Isabel… did they have a trial?”

“You shouldn’t be worryin’ yourself over such stuff right now, Liz…”

Liz gave Jim a determined look, and he sighed.

“Truth is, Liz, you’ve got about as good an idea as I’ve got about that. The trial… if there was one… was kept closed to the public, so no one but the army knows what went on in there. It was over quick. We know that much. The men who did it disappeared just as quick, and nobody from the army’s sayin’ where they went. ‘Privacy laws,’ they keep tellin’ the Press when they call. They don’t give me any more sway than the Press, either. What I do know, I didn’t get from the army. I got it from… other sources.”

“And what did your other sources tell you. Can you tell me?”

“That there never was any trial. That the shooters were from the old Special Unit… the one that was disbanded by Congress after Agent Pierce testified that the Unit was all a sham and humiliated Congresswoman Whittaker.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“Well, my sources tell me they’re disbanded, but they’re still out there… and ready to take orders.”

“Whose orders?”

“Well now, that’s the big question, Liz. And I’m afraid it’s one I don’t have the answer to right now. But I do know this, the Special Unit is still a danger. Be careful who you talk to… and what you say. That’s what I came over here to tell you. Take care of yourself, Liz. You’re… family to me.”

Liz smiled.

“Sheriff? Can you take a note back for me… to Kyle?”

“Sure can. You want me to write it?”

“No, I can do it, Sheriff. I can move my fingers. I haven’t mastered writing with the pen between my teeth yet, though.”

Jim smiled. “I don’t think you’ll have to, Liz. Looks like you’re improving very rapidly. You just woke up three days ago. Now look at you. You’re eatin’ regular food and everything.”

“I can feed myself,” Liz said.

Jim seemed surprised. “Well, there you go! Here. I got a pen right here. And I just happen to have a piece of paper and an envelope, too.” Jim smiled.

Liz smiled, too, and began to write. Then she folded the paper and put it in the envelope.

“Would you seal it for me? You can read it first.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“It’s okay. We’re kind of in this together now, aren’t we?”

Sheriff Valenti nodded.

“Well, I better be goin’, Liz. I got other business to attend to.”

“Sheriff?”

“Yeah?”

“You got your job back. I just realized it.”

Jim smiled. “Yeah. I can’t say I like the way I got it back though. Hansen took a lot of blame for what went down at graduation. The town blamed him for not protecting the kids. There was a big outcry, and a lot of folks were demanding the council’s heads. The city council quickly ushered me back in. So Hansen’s my Deputy now, like it used to be.”

“Well, however it happened, I’m glad you’re the Sheriff again.”

“Thanks, Liz.” Jim turned around to leave, but he stopped at the door and looked back.

“Me, too.”

(Four days later)

“You gonna be okay? Can you sit up that long,” Jeff asked with a concerned tone in his voice.

“I’m fine, Daddy. Vera will be pushing me. All I have to do is ride. It’s the good life.”

Jeff smiled and shook his head slightly. “Okay, but if you feel tired or anything, ask Vera to bring you straight back. You don’t need to be overtaxing yourself.”

“I’m just going to the park, Daddy. We won’t be gone long. And Vera is quite capable of taking care of me.”

“You want me to come?”

“No, they need you in the CrashDown, Daddy. I’ll be fine.”

Vera walked into the room and nodded at Jeff Parker then looked at Liz. “You ready, honey?”

Liz smiled. “Yeah. I’m dying to see the trees and the sun again. Let’s go!”

Somewhere else in Roswell, a telephone rang as they spoke.

“Terrier, you ready to go on this?”

“Ready, sir! Was the info correct?”

“It was. The girl’s going to be in the park on the west side of town. They’re just leaving her home now. Are you in position?”

“I will be. I’m almost there now.”

“Alright. Make it good, Terrier.”

“Yes, sir!”

The phone went dead.

At the park, Vera took Liz’s wheelchair out of the car and helped Liz into it.

“Still feel like doing this, sweetheart?”

“Wild horses couldn’t stop me, Vera. I just want to be out here in the fresh air among the beautiful trees and flowers for a while. I want to feel human again. You can understand, can’t you?”

Vera nodded. Then she took the handles of the wheelchair and walked toward the nature trail. Liz was smiling broadly… and taking in all the scenery.

“God, it’s so beautiful, Vera! I think I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be outdoors in the real world. Thank you so much for bringing me!”

“It’s my job, honey. Besides, just between you and me, I like walking in the park.” Vera smiled.

“Terrier is in position.”

“Copy that, Terrier. Go with plan.”

“You think anyone would mind if I pulled one of these little flowers off this bush, Vera?”

“I think there’ll be plenty left, Liz. Go ahead.”

Liz carefully plucked a flower from beside the trail with her fingers. As she did, her arm moved slightly.

“Did you see that, Vera? My arm moved!”

“I saw it.” Vera smiled at her.

“It was just a little, but I actually moved it, Vera! Maybe I’ll be able to walk again some day, too.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it, Liz, knowing you like I do since you woke up. You’re certainly determined. But don’t get yourself too anxious and then get depressed if it doesn’t happen as soon as you think it should… or if it doesn’t happen.”

“It will, Vera. I know it will. I just have to be positive about it.”

Vera smiled and nodded, but she seemed concerned by Liz’s optimism. As they rounded a corner, a man sitting on a bench “reading” a newspaper lifted the paper up in front of his face.

“Pointer here. Target is sighted. Repeat. Target is sighted. Two targets.”

Another voice replied…

“Operation is still go, Pointer. You got that, Terrier? Wait till target is near. You’ll have to take them both, Terrier. Acknowledge.”

“Acknowledged. Terrier out.”

High up in a tree a couple of hundred feet off the trail, “Terrier” prepared his laser scope and high-powered rifle. Then he placed his eye to the scope and pointed it at the trail where the target would be appearing in a few moments, but as he watched, he became increasingly annoyed by the rising noise level in the park.

“Blasted motorcycle! That no-good sheriff should devote some of his time to keeping them out of the park. Sounds like a damn chain saw.”

As he mumbled to himself, he felt the tree begin to sway… then move slightly… then begin a long fall toward the ground. Terrier grabbed hold of the limbs and did the best he could to hold on, as his perch came tumbling down, bringing him crashing to the ground with it. When he looked up from the ground, there was a shotgun in his face. At the other end of it was Sheriff Jim Valenti. And he wasn’t smiling.

“Now, we got a choice here. You can crawl on back to that den you call a Unit and tell them that Jim Valenti said this little girl is off limits… or I can blow your head off right here and be a hero to the whole town for catching one of the ones responsible for what happened at graduation a few months back. The longer I think about it, the more I’m liking the second option.”

Terrier didn’t take the time to answer. Dragging an injured leg, he hobbled as fast as he could to the edge of the park, leaving his gun behind under the tree. A black Mercedes pulled up, and he got in as it sped away. A few moments later, Liz and Vera appeared on the trail.

“Well, hello,” Jim said, tilting his hat slightly. “Fancy meeting you girls here!”

“Hi, Sheriff,” Liz replied with a smile. She looked at the chainsaw and shotgun in Jim’s hand and then at the fallen tree.

“Oh! Yeah… well, caught some guys tryin’ to do some illegal lumbering in the park. Had to confiscate their saw and bust ‘em.”

“Ah,” Liz nodded suspiciously.

“Can I walk with you girls? Suddenly I feel like a walk in the park.”

“Sure,” Liz said. “We’d be glad to have the company.” Vera smiled.

As they walked, another conversation was taking place elsewhere in town.

“I don’t care what the reasons were! I want results! Get that! Results! If you can’t get that, I’ll put someone in charge who can!”

“Sir, our operation has been compromised. The sheriff is onto us. He mentioned the Unit specifically. And he issued a threat if we didn’t stay away from the girl.”

“I don’t care about the sheriff’s threats. You know how to handle situations like that.”

“The sheriff?”

“Take care of it. And Barker, do not call me back if you do not have good news for me, ‘cause if you do, I may have someone do what the sheriff threatened to do. Am I making myself clear?”

“Yes, sir! Perfectly, sir!”



tbc

Coming next: Valenti is in the cross-hairs, and Liz visits the cemetery.

What a powerful start! Can't wait to see how this will relate to your other story.

Hey! What happened to that wonderful reply I posted after the first part?! It was so long! Sigh, well I'll say it all again:

When i saw you had a new story up I was so excited that I rushed to read it but when I read it, i was just gaping in wonder! I could not believe you had just done all that and in the first chapter no less!! I was expecting something along the lines of the Altered timeline series not Liz crippled!that was not only a very brave move but a very interesting one! It certainly got my attention (not that you hadn't had it before I even read it!) I feel so sad for Liz! Max, Isabel, Micheal and Maria are all gone! And Kyle and Alex are gone too in a way... Why did it have to happen to them? Why?

Liz is very determined. I'm sure she'll get better! And you mentioned that this is interlinked with the Altered time series. i don't know how you'll do it but I'm hoping like crazy that somehow Max, Michael, Maria and Isabel will be alive once again!

Oh and Jim's explanation for that chain saw? He doesn't really expect Liz to believ that does he? :rollin

Great story so far Gerry, just very sad. But that does not mean I will not read it! I will and you better update fast cuz i'm very tense about what's gonna happen next!

oh and how come Alex is alive? Is this where Tess never came or did she never kill him?

<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub129.ezboard.com/bmajiklmoonsr ... gic>Fallen Magic</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.mmmgraphics.org/avatars/mlskate1.gif" BORDER=0> at: 9/16/03 5:00 am<br></i>

Thanks Melisa and FallenMagic! The feedback is greatly appreciated!

Okay, about Alex, there is a very, very good reason he is still alive in this story, and as soon as I figure out what it is, I'll tell you! Actually, I needed him alive, because I have plans for him in the story. I'll be explaining his "liveliness" in an upcoming chapter so it will not seem out of place.

Here's the next chapter.

The Night The Dreams Died



The Sheriff In The Crosshairs

Chapter 3

III



“Hansen, you might as well go on home. I can handle things from here on out… for the rest of the day.”

“You sure, Sheriff? I’ve still got three hours before my shift ends.”

“Yeah, I can handle it. Go on. Get out of here.”

“Okay, Sheriff… but if you need me…”

Jim shook his head, and Hansen walked toward the door. Then he stopped and turned around.

“Sheriff, you’re expectin’ trouble aren’t you?”

“Get out of here, Hansen! That’s an order!”

“You may need some help…”

“Go home.”

“Sir, with all due respect, I’m still on duty. If you’re expectin’ trouble, I should be here to help.”

Jim sighed and turned around to face his deputy. “Thanks, Hansen. I appreciate your diligence, and it’s duly noted… but there’s no point in us both getting’ killed now is there?”

“Sir!”

“Hansen, that’s an order!”

Hansen sighed and walked toward the door. As he reached the door, the phone rang.

Jim picked up the receiver. “Sheriff’s office.”

“Sheriff, it’s Jeff Parker. You got a moment?”

“Yeah, sure, Jeff. What is it?”

“Well, maybe nothing, but… Liz wants Vera to take her over to the New Haven Cemetery, and I was wonderin’ if you could…”

“Jeff, it’d really be best right now if you could convince her to wait until later… maybe tomorrow… better still, a few days.”

“I’m sorry, Sheriff… it’s just that… they already left.”

Jim closed his eyes.

“Sheriff? Are you still there?”

“Yeah, Jeff, I’m here. All right, I’ll keep an eye on ‘em.”

“Thanks, Jim. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”

“Somehow I will,” Jim said to himself as he hung up the phone. Turning around, he noticed that Hansen was still standing at the door looking at him.

“Hansen, what are you doin’ standing around? Your shift doesn’t end for three more hours!”

Hansen grinned, and Jim smiled.

“Yes, sir, Sheriff!”

“Hansen?”

“Sir?”

“How many mirrors do we have in this complex?”

“Excuse me?”

“How many mirrors?”

“I don’t know. I never counted ‘em. There’s the one in the men’s room down the hall. I reckon there’s one in the ladies room as well. I’ve never been in there, but I imagine they put one in there, too. Upstairs there’s two more bathrooms. And there’s a mirror in the lounge on this floor. I guess that’s five… that I know of.”

“Okay.”

Hansen looked at Jim suspiciously.

“You plannin’ somethin’ Sheriff?”

“Yeah. Come on! Help me take the mirror out of the men’s room.”

Hansen followed Jim to the men’s room, and together they carefully removed a large mirror from the wall.

“Sheriff, you wanna tell me what you’re gonna do with this?”

“Create a decoy.”

“For whom?”

“You ask too many questions, Deputy.”

Sorry, Sir.”

“That’s all right. I reckon you’ve got the right to know. I’m expectin’ someone to want to get me out of their way… a special unit of the army… very unofficial… and deadly.”

“The ones who ordered the massacre at graduation?”

Jim looked at Hansen. “What do you know about that, Hansen?”

“More than I wanted to say. I keep my eyes open, Sheriff. But you can’t fight the whole army.”

“Well, Deputy, I’m not plannin’ on havin’ to fight the whole army… just a few renegade sharpshooters… We’re gonna set this mirror up on its end in my chair behind my desk. Then we’re gonna get the mirror out of the ladies’ room and cut it –or break it- in half. I’ll show you what we’re gonna do with it.”

Jim and Hansen carried the second mirror out and placed it on Jim’s desk. Then Jim pulled a small glass cutter out of his drawer.

“You keep a glass cutter, Sheriff?”

“A sheriff never knows what he’s gonna need, Hansen. I might have to rescue someone from a burning building or something.”

“Couldn’t you just break the glass?”

“Hansen!” Jim gave Hansen an exasperated look. “Just help me hold this, okay?”

“Yes, Sir.” Hansen held the edge, as Jim scored the mirror in the middle. Then they placed it over the edge of the desk, and Jim held the inside edge as he gave the glass a rap, breaking it along the score. Jim removed some of the backing from the mirror halves so that light could pass through, then he placed the two parts in front of a small TV, inserted a videotape into the VCR, and turned it on. The video came on, and Jim appeared on the screen, sitting in his chair giving an interview to the local TV news crews after he had got his job back. Jim had recorded the segment off the TV news. He paused the picture momentarily.

Hansen looked at the mirror in Jim’s chair and his mouth dropped open.

“You… you look like you’re sitting in your chair, Sheriff. You look kind of small, though.”

“Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we, Deputy… me lookin’ too small.” Jim moved one half of the glass in front of the TV a little further away from the other half, and the image in the mirror grew larger.

“Dang!” Hansen exclaimed. “If it wasn’t just a little out of focus, I’d swear you was sittin’ there in that chair, Sheriff! Where’d you learn to do that?”

Jim smiled. “I watched some McGyver. And it’ll just have to stay out of focus. We don’t have time to make a masterpiece out of it. I need you to help me with one more thing, Deputy, before I open that curtain up on my window.”

“Sure, Sheriff. What’s that?”

A few minutes later, Deputy Hansen opened the curtains, giving an unobstructed view of the reflected image of Jim sitting in his chair talking and moving his hands. Then Deputy Hansen opened the door and walked out holding the arm of a rather sturdy-looking lady.’’

“Deputy?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“If you ever mention this to anyone…”

Hansen smiled. “Duly noted, Sir.”



“Bulldog here. Someone is coming out… It’s the deputy… and a woman.”

“Hold your fire, Bulldog. We just want Target One. No collateral.”

“Roger that, Samson. I have a lock on Target One.”

“Is there anyone on the street?”

“Two… kids playing down the block.”

“Hold your fire until they’re not in sight.”

“Acknowledged. Bulldog over.”

~Twelve minutes later~

“This is Bulldog. Target One is clear.”

“You have go, Bulldog. Terminate target.”

A second later, a high-powered bullet blasted through the window of the sheriff’s station, shattering the window and the mirror in Jim’s chair.

“This is Bulldog. Come back!”

“Go ahead, Bulldog.”

“Something’s not right here. I need clearance to enter the target site.”

“Do it. Stay on it, Bulldog. Report back.”

“Bulldog out.”

The agent climbed quickly down the fire escape from the roof of a nearby building and crossed over to the sheriff’s station. Kicking the door in, he looked around the inside with his rifle ready for any resistance. He found none… just a TV and a VCR running, two pieces of a broken mirror, and in Sheriff Jim Valenti’s chair, a pile of broken glass.

“This is Bulldog. Outcome Negative. Repeat. Outcome Negative.”

“You missed?”

“Target One had a decoy. Target has evaded the net.”



Vera helped Liz out of her wheelchair, and she sat down on the ground in front of the granite memorial marker. Then she reached out and touched it, running her hand over the engraved words…
Tears filled up her eyes, and she wiped her fingertips across her cheek, but it was like trying to drain the sea with a straw. The tears rolled down her face faster than she could wipe them away. She stopped even trying.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this, Max. We were supposed to live happily ever after. You should never have healed me. Look what it got you!” Liz began to sob, and Vera helped her wipe some of the tears away with a handkerchief.

“If you hadn’t healed me, you would still be alive. Nobody would have ever known about you. Why did you have to love me? You weren’t even supposed to love me. You just did. And you’re the one who got hurt. I couldn’t help loving you, Max. I couldn’t help myself. I loved you so much. I’ll always love you! Always, Max! I can’t even imagine my life without you? You are my life. You’re my soul! I was everything with you… I’m nothing without you…” Liz began to sob again, and Vera tried to coax her to leave, but Liz shook her head.

“Who’s going to save your people now, Max? I betrayed them all by loving you. Because of me, Kivar wins. Where’s the fairness in that, Max? All I ever did was love you! Why did you have to die?”

Liz sank to the ground and sobbed, not caring that her face was pressed into the grass and she was unable to move or stand up. At the moment, she would just as soon have stayed that way until she could join Max and have the life she so yearned for with the one person she knew she would ever truly love.

“Liz… sweetheart… let me help you up.”

“Leave me, Vera. I don’t want to get up. I want to be with Max.”

“Max isn’t here, sweetheart. He’s gone on to… wherever he was meant to go. It won’t do anyone any good for you to pine your heart away here.”

“Can’t you understand, Vera?”

Vera was silent for a moment, then she sat down beside Liz and stroked her back gently.

“I do understand, honey. I lost someone, too… in Viet Nam.”

Liz looked at Vera and wiped her eyes. “A… boyfriend?”

Vera nodded. “Fiancé. We were going to get married when he returned.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It was a long time ago, honey. I haven’t stopped loving him. But I’ve gone on with my life.”

“How, Vera? I don’t know how to…” Tears started to run again from Liz’s eyes.

“I know it doesn’t seem possible now, Liz, but time heals wounds.

“Some wounds never heal, Vera. The bullet that went through my head and the bullet that crushed my spine made wounds that will heal… at least outside… but…” Liz motioned toward Max’s grave. “This wound will never heal for me.”

“I know. But life will go on, Liz. And you will go on.”

Liz looked up to see Sheriff Valenti standing there.

“Ladies.”

“Sheriff! You surprised me,” Vera said. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I have to be everywhere, Vera. Wherever duty calls.”

“Is this duty?”

“A sheriff is always on duty. But since I just happen to be here right now, maybe I can talk to Liz a bit. Would you mind, Liz?”

“I don’t mind. Vera, would you help me up, please?”

Vera reached out with both arms to help Liz up and back into her wheelchair.

“Did you visit the other graves yet, Liz?”

Liz nodded. “I can’t look at these markers, sheriff, and think about Maria being there… being gone… or Michael… or Isabel. Much less…” She motioned toward Max’s grave, and tears began to run down her face again.

“It just doesn’t seem right or real. Maria was so alive and happy. Michael and Maria were so great together… Now they’re gone. These graves… they’re so sad. And Max… Max was my heart. What am I without him? I don’t know how to go on.”

Vera handed Liz her handkerchief, and Liz passed it over her eyes.

“That’s your emotions talking, Liz. You can be whatever you put your mind to,” Jim said. “I know you. You’re strong inside. And you’re smart. You can do anything… and you will.”

“Then why do my emotions have to hurt so bad, Sheriff? I’d rather have another bullet in my head…”

“I know,” Jim said softly. “What you’re feeling right now is normal.”

“Sheriff?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you see the… you know… the bodies?”

“I was at the graduation, Liz, remember? …to see Kyle graduate… when it happened.”

“Yeah, but did you see the bodies?”

“Well, Max and Michael were found with their bike… a couple of miles from the school, so I never saw their bodies. They were taken straight to the hospital. I saw you and Maria and Principal Van Der Shul… and Isabel… after you were shot… before they took you away.”

“But I was still alive.”

“Yeah.”

“Then the others were… dead?”

“Principal Van Der Shul was already dead. The others were alive… barely, but they died before they were transported, Liz. They were all DOA.”

“Did you see them die?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you see… Did they… have a funeral?”

“You mean did I see them in the caskets? No. The hospital sealed the caskets. They said it was best… considering the wounds… and the parents agreed.”

Liz seemed to sit up straighter. She was silent for a moment.

“Did you see the autopsy reports, Sheriff?”

“Yeah.”

“Max’s? And Michael’s? And Isabel’s?”

“Yeah. I know what you’re thinking, Liz. Believe me, I checked it out. I questioned the coroner intensively… without telling him exactly what I was looking for. Fact is, he did very limited tests on the bodies. The wounds were obvious. Nobody questioned how it happened. There was no reason to do a complete autopsy.”

“I thought in the case of murder a complete autopsy was kind of the norm, Sheriff?”

“Well, it is… normally. Like I said, I checked it out. The coroner assured me that he didn’t have to do anything, because the bullet wounds were the obvious cause of death. That’s what he certified as the cause of death.”

“And the… you know, the ones who shot them… didn’t try to get autopsy reports or see the bodies or get samples or something? Doesn’t that seem odd to you, Sheriff?”

“Yes, it does. Of course, they did get copies of the autopsy report, but like I said, it didn’t say anything.”

“They wouldn’t let a chance like that pass, Sheriff. I know it. If they didn’t ask for samples, they got them somehow. You can count on it.”

“I suspect you’re right, Liz. But they already knew… I don’t know what good it would do them. Max and Michael and Isabel can’t be touched by them now.”

“And Maria?”

“She can’t either,” Jim said.

“I know. But something isn’t right. I feel it inside.”

“Oh, I forgot! The coroner gave me something. I kept it in my pocket all this time. After all these months, I just about forgot about it.” Jim pulled a ring out of his pocket and handed it to Liz.

“It was Max’s. I thought you’d like to have it, Liz. It’s inscribed inside. You gave it to him.”

Liz smiled and took the ring. As it touched her hand, a shock suddenly ran through her body.

“Liz!”

Jim looked at Liz, and she was as white as a ghost. He touched her cheek and looked into her eyes.

“Liz! Are you okay? You kind of left us there for a minute! What happened?”

Liz looked at Jim, her eyes wide.

“It’s Max… He’s alive.”



tbc


Coming Next: Confusion reigns for Liz as she tries to find Max but sees visions and sights that make her begin to think that she might actually be going insane. Liz begins to keep a diary of her visions, and the town council pressures Jim Valenti to convince Liz’s family to leave Roswell with her… for the “good” of Roswell.

Yay Max is alive! I know it! Liz's flashes are never wrong! And the caskets and autospy reports all point that they all may be alive! You can not believ how happy that makes me!

Jim is very smart! I loked the way he tricked those men! And Hansen may not be as dumb as he seems

You've done it again Gerry! Managed to pull me into a vortex of kick as$ writing! Thanks!!!



<p> <!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:white;font-family:century gothic;font-size:medium;">Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.</span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:olive;font-family:century gothic;font-size:medium;">Rudyard Kipling, English author</span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br> < </p><i></i>

hey !! a new story and I didn´t know about it !!!

Give me some time to read these chapters and I will come back soon with fb

Thanks, Fallen Magic, Melisa, and Veca for the feedback!

Here's the next chapter!

The Night The Dreams Died



Voices From The Grave

Chapter 4

IV



“He’s alive,” Liz gasped, eyes wide and appearing to be in shock.

“Liz, you’ve been through a lot,” Jim replied gently. “Coming out here to Max’s grave may not have been the best thing for you right now. This is your heart talking… It’s making you imagine things…”

Liz shook her head. “No, Sheriff! Max is alive. I know it.”

“What makes you think that, Liz?”

“When I touched the ring… I heard him call me.”

“You heard his voice?”

“More like his mind… calling to me.”

“Like he was looking for you?”

“No. Like he’s in trouble.”

“Do you really think if Max was in trouble he would call you and have you put yourself in danger, too, Liz?”

“You don’t understand, Sheriff. Max and I have… a connection. I can’t describe it. He wouldn’t have to call out to me. I would just know.”

Jim looked at Liz for several moments then nodded.

“You know what, Liz? Strange as it seems, I believe you. If any two people ever had a connection with each other it was you and Max. I’ve seen the two of you… how you are together. But you know this brings up a whole bunch of questions and problems. If you’re sensing Max, and he’s alive… then what’s in that grave? And where is Max? And if Max really is alive… then what about the others? I saw them die… some of them… but if Max is alive, I think I ought to check all of them.”

“Would that be a problem, Sheriff?”

Jim whistled slightly. “I’d have to get permission from the families to exhume the bodies. Either that or get a judge’s order. Judge Lewis isn’t exactly my biggest fan. He’s not likely to grant me an order.”

“He’s the one that fired you.”

“Yeah. Well, he suspended me. The city council had to make it official. And when the city council was taking so much heat after graduation, Judge Lewis tried to get ‘em to hire a sheriff from a big city to come take over. But the council just wanted the heat off them as fast as possible. Rushing me back into the job was the fastest and easiest and cheapest way for them to do that. I can’t say as how Judge Lewis was very pleased with their decision.”

“So you need Max’s parents to give permission…”

“Yeah.”

“I think I can get it,” Liz said. “What about Maria?”

“Amy,” Jim said, closing his eyes and showing more stress than normal. “I really wish I didn’t have to ask Amy to do that… If Amy thought there was even a small chance that Maria might be alive, she’d dig that grave up herself with her own hands. I just don’t want to get her goin’ and then have to break her heart again, you know what I mean?”

Liz nodded.

Jim groaned then sighed. “I’ll figure out somethin’. Maybe if we open Max’s grave and Michael’s… Michael was an emancipated teen. I might have the authority to open his grave without Judge Lewis’ consent. Even if Hank was still around, he wouldn’t have any say.”

“And if you don’t find Max or Michael here, Sheriff, will you speak to Amy?”

Jim nodded. “If Max and Isabel and Michael aren’t here… I think then I’d be bound by every right and duty to check Maria’s grave, too.”

Liz smiled.

“Thanks, Sheriff.”

“Can I walk you back to your car, Liz?”

“I’d appreciate that,” Liz said. Vera smiled and nodded, too.

“Liz, did you get any feeling for where Max is? I mean, that’s assuming he’s alive, of course.”

“No. Just a sudden voice in my head, like a call, only not a call… sort of a momentary connection.”

Jim nodded. “Well, we’ll get to the bottom of it. If there’s somethin’ to it, we’ll find out soon enough, I promise.”

Jim walked to Vera’s car and waited to open the door. Can I help you, Vera?”

“No thanks, Sheriff. She’s very light.”

“I’ll hold the door for you.”

Vera helped Liz out of the wheelchair and into the front seat of the car then she closed the door and turned to Jim…

“Sheriff, do you think what you’re doing is a good idea?”

“What’s that, Vera?”

“Leading this little girl on like that. Humoring her the way you were. She’s confused right now. I’m just not sure pretending to agree with her… her fantasies… is the right thing for her.”

“Ah! I see. Vera, there are more things on this Earth and in the universe than either one of us knows about or is likely to ever understand. I’m not leading Liz on. I believe her.”

Vera stood there for a moment looking at the sheriff, not knowing what to say.

“Well, I’d just hate to see her get hurt any more than she already has been…”

“I would, too, Vera. But I owe her this. And if Liz says she thinks Max is alive, that’s good enough reason in my mind for me to check it out at least.”

Vera smiled slightly then nodded and got into her car. Jim watched as she pulled out and drove down the road, then he followed in his own vehicle, just far enough back not to be noticed. When Vera and Liz were safely back in the apartment above the CrashDown, Jim turned around and drove back to the Sheriff’s station.



Back at the station, Jim stepped out of his vehicle and started to walk toward his office. Then, noticing a car parked nearby, he walked over to check it out.

“Rolls Royce! Royal blue! Nice! Not on a sheriff’s salary!” Jim chuckled to himself then walked into his office prepared to sprawl out on the sofa for a few minutes to relax, but he found the sofa already occupied.

“Judge! Won’t you come in?”

“I think you’ll notice I already am in, Sheriff.”

“I just thought I’d invite you so I wouldn’t have to go to the trouble of arrestin’ you for trespassing… not to mention breaking and entering?”

“I’ve got a key, Jim. I’m a judge. I’m also on the city council… unofficially. It’s not trespassing.”

“That might be a matter for some debate, Judge, but you’re here, so what can I do for you?”

“I want you to stop spending valuable city time running around after that girl.”

“She needs protection, Judge. I’m the sheriff. That’s my job.”

“Your job, Jim, is to do what I tell you to do, and I’m tellin’ you to stay away from that girl!”

“Why are you all of a sudden so interested in the fact I’m protecting her, Judge?”

“That’s not your business, Sheriff.”

“It’s mine now,” Jim replied sternly.

“Thing is, Sheriff, I got a visit from the army last night. You are being accused of impeding an army investigation into the happenings at graduation.”

“Is that what they’re calling it? Impeding an investigation?” Jim sneered. “I would’ve called it attempted murder.”

“Jim, you’re in contempt! The army wants to clear this mess up, and it’s in the best interest of this city to let them do that… as fast as possible… and get on with our business.”

“I thought they already tried those guys that did it, Judge. Seems to me the army said they had it all wrapped up already. What could they possibly want now?”

“The army, Jim, is very important in this city! They pay a lot of salaries. They spend money in this town… lots of it!”

Jim looked out the window. “Is that a Rolls Royce you drove here in, Judge? Looks new. Bein’ a judge has gotten to be a lot more lucrative lately, has it?”

Judge Lewis glared at Jim then stood up and walked to the door.

“I’ll let myself out, Sheriff. You heed my words. The council may want you here now, but you’re treadin’ on thin ice… very thin ice. Stay away from that Parker girl! That’s not a request… That’s an order!”

After Judge Lewis had driven away, Jim picked up the phone and dialed Hansen’s number.

“Hello?”

“Hansen? You still want some overtime?”

“Sure, Sheriff. What do you need?”

“I need you to help me watch Liz Parker.”

“I thought you wanted to do that yourself, Sheriff.”

“And I still intend to, Hansen. I’m doubling the protection she’s getting.”

“Why?”

“Because Judge Lewis wants me to keep away from her… and the army wants me to keep away from her.”

Hansen was quiet for several moments before answering. “That sounds like a good enough reason to me, Sheriff.”



Vera pushed Liz’s wheelchair into the apartment then turned around to shut the door and lock it.

“Hello, Liz.”

Liz turned her head around quickly, recognizing the voice.

“Kyle! Omigod! What in the world are you doing here? How’d you get in?”

“Your Dad let me in. He had to go back down and flip some more burgers. He said I could wait for you here. Is that alright?”

“Alright? Kyle! It’s wonderful! Come here and give me a hug!”

Kyle smiled and walked over to Liz. Liz put her arms around him.

“I’ve almost gotten the full use of my arms back now, Kyle. I still can’t feel my legs, but I haven’t given up. Does your Dad know you’re here?”

“No, and I’d rather keep it that way. He thinks he’s protecting me. He wants me to stay out of Roswell… as far out of it as possible for the time being.”

“He just wants to make sure you stay alive, Kyle. I understand.”

“Yeah, I know. But what’s life without a few risks, huh, Liz?”

Liz shook her head and smiled. “Well, you know I’m glad to see you, Kyle. I haven’t seen any of our friends since… graduation.”

“I know,” Kyle said sympathetically. “I can’t believe that Alex and I are the only ones left… besides you, I mean.”

“Can I tell you something, Kyle?”

“Anything, Liz. You know that.”

“Well, this may sound kind of crazy.”

“I’ll consider the source,” Kyle said with a grin.

“Oh, thanks, Kyle,” Liz said, returning the grin. “That makes me feel soooo much better.”

“What did you want to tell me, Liz?”

“I don’t think Max is dead. No… I know Max isn’t dead. Michael and Isabel and Maria may not be, either.”

“Okay.” Kyle mulled what Liz had said over in his mind for several seconds. “Coming from almost anyone else, Liz, I’d say no way, but… why do you think they could be alive?”

“I felt a connection with Max today. I felt it! He’s alive.”

“And the others?”

“I… I know I don’t have anything to go on to suggest that they could be alive, Kyle. I just thought that if Max is still alive, maybe… You know?”

Kyle nodded.

“And, Kyle… there’s something else. I haven’t told anyone yet… not even Daddy.”

Kyle looked at Liz questioningly, and Liz rolled her chair into her room and returned with a small diary.

“I’m keeping a diary, Kyle.”

“There’s nothing strange about that, Liz. You always kept a diary.”

“Not like this one.”

“What do you mean?”

Liz picked up the diary and began to read…

We went diving in the Golden Sea today. Max looked so gallant standing there with his hand out waiting for me to step into the surf with him. I don’t know how many times we’ve dived together now… I’ve lost count. It is so beautiful. And our children love coming here. Andya is getting to be quite proficient on the Sysscha board. Maya has even dived with us a couple of times. JoLeesa loves the beach. She would rather sun herself on the beach than almost anything. Alyyx is only seven, and he’s almost as proficient as Andya now on the Sysscha board, and he’s already talking about how he wants to try a zoombor board. I think that’s still a few years away for him, though. And Jeffy… little Jeffy really loves sitting in the gentle waves. I can’t help being overprotective of him, even though I know that with his powers, he probably couldn’t drown…”

“Do you want me to go on, Kyle?”

Kyle seemed at a loss for words. Then he nodded. “Well, I think it’s nice, Liz. It’s like a novel or something. There’s nothing wrong with expressing our inner desires and our feelings as stories or fables. Buddha…”

“You don’t understand, Kyle.”

“I think five kids sounds a little unbelievable, though, Liz.”

“Well, three of them are triplets. Look, Kyle, This isn’t something I’m just making up. I’m seeing it. I’m feeling the emotions. And I write it down. Listen to this.”

Max and I went over to see Kyle and Jeliya this afternoon. Rayyn and Taz came out to meet us. They're getting to be such handsome boys. Rayyn looks a lot like Kyle, and Taz looks more like his mama. But I see Kyle’s mischief in both of them's eyes…”

“Hold it! Hold it! Liz. You’re saying you’re seeing the future or something, and I’m married… with kids…?”

“I don’t know, Kyle. I see these visions sometimes… and I feel these feelings, and it’s like I’m there. I don’t know where there is. Well, I do… kind of. It’s on Max’s planet… Antar. I just don’t know why I’m seeing myself there. And I see these children… They’re supposed to be mine… and I know them… but they don’t exist. Am I going crazy, Kyle? If I’m hallucinating about these visions, could I be hallucinating about feeling Max today, too? ‘Cause if I am…”

Liz didn’t finish.

Kyle struggled for something to say. Finally, he seemed to find his voice again. “I don’t know what you’re seeing, Liz… but you’re not crazy… or hallucinating either. You’ve had visions before, and they always mean something. I’m not sure I believe that you and Max have five kids and live on Antar in some future or something… or that I’ll ever live on Antar and marry someone named Jeliya… We were married, right?”

“Yeah.”

Kyle nodded. “But your visions always mean something.”

“Thanks, Kyle. I knew it, too. I did feel Max today. I wasn’t hallucinating. I just wish I knew what these visions meant… and why I’m having them now.”

“We’ll figure it out, Liz. Once we do, I know they’ll make total sense.”

“I hope so.”

“They will.”



~On the other side of Roswell, meanwhile~


“Have you handled the situation with Sheriff Valenti, Judge?”

“I did. He won’t be around the girl any more. You can complete your investigation now gentlemen.”

“Good.”

“Just what are you investigating now, if I might ask?”

The agent pulled out a wad of money and counted out twenty-two hundred dollar bills, tossing them on Judge Lewis’ desk.

“Did you have a question, Judge?”

“I forgot.”

“Let’s keep it that way.”



tbc


Next time: Valenti tries to reopen Max and Michael’s graves but is confronted by Judge Lewis with an order to desist. And Liz feels another connection… this time to Maria, who brings a message.

ohhhhh evil judge! hate him, hate him! Can't he die a horrible death? Thank god Valneti is protecting Liz! And I like Hansen all eager to help! This is so much better a portrayl than the one on the show! And yay! Kyle came to see Liz! I like that! But where is Alex? Isnt he coming too? Can't wait to see what's gonna happen next!

BUMP!

Thanks, FallenMagic! I appreciate the feedback and the bump, too. As soon as I get this part posted everywhere, I'm coming back to read the latest chapter of Shadows, which I'm loving!

Here's the next part. Hope everybody likes it!

The Night The Dreams Died



Deadly Secrets

Chapter 5

V



Jim watched, with Deputies Hansen, Carter, and Davis right behind him, as Judge Lewis picked up his golf club and stepped into the sand trap.

“Jim, I wouldn’t let you reopen that girl’s grave if you did have some kinda proof that something wasn’t right… And you don’t! Right now you’re just ruining my handicap. And that’s all I have to say on the matter.”

Jim shook his head in frustration. “You don’t have one good reason not to allow me to check the DeLuca girl’s grave, Judge. If I’m right…”

“If you’re right, Jim… That’s a mighty big ‘if.’ You’re grasping at straws to try to salvage your reputation at that young girl’s expense… at her family’s expense.”

“You’re letting your feelings about me cloud your judgment, Judge. Maria DeLuca only had her mother, and her mother’s a good friend of mine.”

Judge Lewis stopped and looked up then leaned on his club, as he wagged his finger. “That’s right! You and her mom had a thing together once, didn’t you, Jim? That’s just all the more reason I won’t permit you to do this. You’re obsessed. This whole thing with this girl is an obsession with you.”

“Judge, you know if it was anyone else but the DeLuca girl…”

“If it was anyone else, you could do what you wanted, Jim. But it’s not anyone else! You’re obsessed with this girl, and I’ve said No! That’s the end of it!”

Jim looked at his deputies and gave a nod. “Let’s go, guys. Thanks, Judge.”

Judge Lewis swung his club, sending up a powder of sand and dropping the ball just outside the sand pit. He groaned and glared at Jim as he walked away, then he stepped out of the sand pit and shook his head. “Imbecile! Made me ruin a perfectly good shot. Don’t thank me, Jim! I ain’t done you no favors… and I ain’t goin’ to.” But Jim was already out of earshot.

“What are you plannin’ to do now,” Hansen asked.

“…Open Max Evans’ grave, Deputy. And then I’m gonna open Isabel Evans’ and Michael Guerin’s graves.”

“But Judge Lewis…”

“…said if it was anyone else but the DeLuca girl I could do what I wanted. You heard him, Hansen.”

“Yeah, but I’m not sure he meant…”

“Carter? Davis? What’d the judge say?”

“That you could do what you wanted, sir, as long as it wasn’t the DeLuca girl,” Deputy Carter replied. “But, Sheriff, I don’t think he expected…”

“Shhh! We’re not going to second guess the judge, are we, Carter?”

“Well, no sir…”

“Then let’s go check out those other graves.”

“You set the judge up, didn’t you, Sheriff,” Hansen said quietly. “It was the other graves you wanted to open all along.” Jim smiled but didn’t answer.



~Las Cruces, doña Ana County, New Mexico~

Alex sat down at a desk in the second row and looked around. He was early, and only a few other students had arrived yet, so he opened the class textbook. As he began to thumb through it idly, a voice got his attention…

“Hi. You new here?”

Alex looked up at the blonde haired girl who had just sat down in the seat beside him and smiled. “Yeah. You, too?”

The girl smiled and nodded. “Yeah. Where you from?”

“Roswell. How about you?”

“All around. We moved a lot. Daddy works for the government.”

Alex nodded. “Any place you call home?”

“Virginia… well, at least it was for a while. We spent a couple of years there. Dad could be close to D.C. there. We lived a couple of years in San Francisco, too… near the Air Force Base.”

“Kind of a ‘Military Brat’ huh,” Alex said with a grin.

“No, not really. Daddy wasn’t in the military. He just did contract work for the government.”

“Ah.”

“What’s your name?”

“Alex… Alex Whitman.”

“Hi, Alex. I’m, uh… Angie. Angie Lee.”

“Nice to meet you, Angie Lee.”

The girl smiled. “I guess we’ve got calculus together.”

“Looks like it,” Alex said. He motioned toward an old, leather-bound book that the girl was carrying between her other books. “What class is that for?”

“This? Oh… I brought it from home. It’s not a textbook. Well, it might be a textbook… in a way. But it’s not for my classes.”

“It looks old.”

“Yeah. It is.”

“Can I see it?”

The girl looked at the book for a moment then closed her eyes. As she did, four pictures in the book disappeared. She handed it to Alex. Alex opened the cover and thumbed through several pages.

“What is it, Egyptian or Native American or something? Looks like old runes.”

“I think it’s a forgotten language,” the girl said.

“Do you know what it says?”

Angie shook her head. “I’ve tried to find out, but it seems to be unknown.”

“You don’t know anyone who can read it?”

“Well, I think my Dad could… but… he’s…”

“Oh,” Alex said, “I’m sorry. Wasn’t there anyone else who could read it?”

The girl shook her head again. “I don’t think this language exists here anymore. It’s totally unknown.”

“Really,” Alex asked, starting to show a considerable interest in the book. “Totally unknown? You know, they have a great new computer here that might be able to help you translate it.”

“Yeah, I heard that,” Angie said. “But I’m not the world’s greatest computer expert.”

“Well… if you need any help…” Alex said, “I might be able to help you.”

The girl smiled. “Are you good at math and languages?”

“I did okay. I know a little Swedish and a bit of Spanish. And I got A’s in Algebra and Trig.”

The girl raised her eyebrows. “I’m impressed. I was going to go over to the Litvack computer sciences building tonight at around eight. If you want to, you could join me… if you’re really interested.”

“Sure! I like figuring things out. This looks like it could be a real challenge!”

“I guess it’s a date then.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Alex said. “I never could resist a good mystery. I hope you don’t think I was hitting on you…”

The girl smiled. “Actually, I kind of hoped you were.”



~At about the same time, somewhere in Area 51~


“Mathers! What the hell are all these alarms and horns going off for? I don’t see any fires or any foreign armies attacking!”

“No, sir! It’s the ‘guests’, sir.”

“What about the guests?”

“They’re gone, sir.”

General Hawkins stared at Colonel Mathers for several moments with an intensity that left Mathers feeling uncomfortably warm. “Gone? How could they be gone? That’s impossible!”

“I don’t know how, sir. They just are.”

“Did they get off the base?”

“Unknown, sir. We don’t think so.”

“Okay… Make sure that they don’t! And Mathers… find them! Otherwise, our ‘guest’ facilities will be open for new occupants… Am I making myself clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good!”

As the alarms continued to blare, soldiers and guards were dispatched to all the perimeters of the base to seal off the exits and any potential escape routes… not that there were very many of these to begin with. But the problem that faced the General was admittedly a little unusual for Area 51. The guards and soldiers posted at the fences usually had to prevent unwanted “snoops” from sneaking in to see what went on in Area 51. It was almost inconceivable to the General or to anyone else inside that anyone or anything could escape from the “guest quarters,” much less get off of the base. But now it appeared that something had at least done the former.

General Hawkins walked swiftly to Containment Area B. Stopping only momentarily to submit to a fingerprint and eye scan at the entrance, he passed quickly through, escorted by the guards.

“Lieutenant! Is everything in order?”

“Yes sir!”

“Have extra guards posted around the craft… as a precaution.”

“Already done, sir.”

“Good.” General Hawkins looked around the large hangar-type room. Everything appeared to be secure. He nodded and left as quickly as he had come, heading for Containment Area A, which was usually referred to internally as the “guest quarters” or “guest facilities.” The name was misleading, even sadistic in its own way. It implied a benign purpose, but the truth was somewhat different. No “guest” who had ever stayed there ever did so willingly, and no guest -ever- had checked out… at least not until now.



Liz sat nearby watching from her wheelchair as the men dug. Her father and Kyle Valenti stood beside her on one side. Alex Whitman stood beside her on the other side. Jim Valenti had been less than happy with Kyle’s decision to return to Roswell to be present for this, or with Alex’s decision to be here for that matter, but he understood. These were their friends. Kyle and Alex had been there when their friends were killed. They wanted to be here now. Jim knew that in Kyle’s place, he would do exactly the same thing, and nothing could stop him. He doubted that his son was any different. Jim had also been less than enthusiastic about Liz being present. The last thing he wanted her to see was what he hoped he would not find. He knew that Liz was firmly convinced that Max would not be here. He hoped to God that she was right.

“Let’s stay busy here, guys,” Jim barked. “We are pressed for time.”

“What’s the rush, Sheriff,” Deputy Carter asked. “We’ve got five and a half hours left before the sun starts to go down.” Jim didn’t respond.

The diggers dug quickly into the soft ground, and it wasn’t long before they reached Max’s coffin and placed belts around it, which they attached to a small crane-like hoist. Then they began to raise the coffin. As the coffin cleared the grave, Jim and the others were suddenly confronted by a group of men rushing to the site. At the front of the group was Judge Lewis. Without saying a word, Judge Lewis produced a written order barring the unearthing of any of the graves of those killed at graduation. Behind Judge Lewis stood eight state troopers and someone else whom Jim recognized.

“Dan Lubetkin! Don’t tell me you have an interest in this, too!”

“Jim, the state police board investigated you before. This time, they’re probably going to take your license. You’re out of control.”

Jim nodded. “If doing my job is being out of control, Dan, then I guess I’m guilty as charged.”

“You’re not doing your job, Jim. You’re living in a fantasy here… chasing aliens… imagining empty graves…”

“Then prove me wrong, Dan. Just let me open this one casket.”

Dan shook his head. “You know I can’t do that, Jim.”

Judge Lewis motioned to two of the state troopers, and they placed handcuffs on Jim’s wrists.

“Jim, you are hereby under arrest,” Judge Lewis told him somewhat sanctimoniously.

“Shall I read myself my rights, Judge, or do you know them?”

“You have the right to… to a trial… to an attorney… to, uh… Oh hell, Jim, you know your rights!”

Suddenly, a loud crash brought everyone’s attention back to the suspended coffin. But it was no longer suspended. It lay on the ground, half open.

“Sorry,” Kyle said. “I must have accidentally pulled on one of these cinches.

Judge Lewis stood with his mouth open, as Alex rushed to help Kyle set the coffin back upright, accidentally rolling it over. As they did, a body rolled out, coming to rest face up. There was a collective gasp, even among the state troopers. Liz turned white and buried her face in her hands then began to sob.

“You happy now, Sheriff,” Judge Lewis said, somehow seeming not at all unhappy with this turn of events. Jim stood speechless.

“Arrest him,” Dan said to the troopers. “Take him to county in Albuquerque. We’ll book him there.”

“Uh, gentlemen…? Gentlemen, can I have your attention for a moment?”

Everyone turned around, and Kyle tossed an apparently mangled and bloodied hand to Judge Lewis, who gasped loudly, turned white, and brushed it away as though it were an attacking swarm of ghosts.

“My God, Sheriff! Does this run in your family! What are you?”

“The question, your honor,” Alex said, “might ought to be, ‘what is this?’” Alex twisted the head off the body and held it up, and Liz began to laugh uncontrollably, unable to stop herself, as she realized the truth. It was hard to tell if Judge Lewis was amused or not. He was lying sprawled out on the ground, passed out cold.

Jeff Parker looked at the body and the severed head, then he carefully peeled a latex mask off the face. The mask looked like Max’s face. Jeff was willing to bet that all the rest of the mannequin precisely matched Max’s measurements and appearance, too.

“Dan? Can you explain this,” Jeff asked Lubetkin.

Lubetkin shook his head, his mouth open but nothing coming out. Jim raised his wrists behind his back, and Dan motioned to the troopers who had placed the handcuffs on him to remove them.

“Thank you, gentlemen,” Jim said. “Now, Dan, how about we check out these other graves.”



tbc

Coming Next: Agents from the FBI and the army visit Judge Lewis again, and their request is more pointed this time. Judge Lewis looks for other ways to have Liz “neutralized” or turned over to the army’s control, as Liz begins a search for Max and the others.

Yikes! That was close! If the judge had stopped it... I can't believ he fainted! ROFL!!! :rollin So this means Max and the others are alive?! Are they in the 'guest' area of that base *shudder*

And who was that girl talking to Alex?! She has powers!!!!

ps-thanks for your lovely feedback (times 3

What an awesome update! Way to go Kyle! I thought maybe they would pull Jim away before they got to see what was or wasn't in the coffin!

Angie Lee? Please tell us she is not evil...please....